Tuesday
The balance from selling the stocks couldn't be transferred out on the same day; it required one business day to settle.
So, at noon today, Johny Lee eagerly used the trading software to transfer all twenty thousand yuan into his bank card.
Seeing that Director Zane had gone to the hospital to get his medication and wasn't at the office, Johny left a bit early. He went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and waited in line.
He wired 3,000 yuan to his mother's bank card, hoping she could live a little more comfortably.
After that, Johny took out his phone and called his mother.
Beep, beep, beep......
A woman's voice answered on the other side. "...Hello, Huitian Township Middle School."
Johny said, "Hello, excuse me, I'm looking for Sarah Lee."
"Looking for Teacher Lee? Wait a moment." The voice paused, then shouted away from the receiver, "Teacher Lee! Phone call! It might be your son!"
A few seconds later, his mother's voice came through. "...Johny?"
Johny sat down on a blue plastic chair in the bank lobby. "Mom, you must be eating lunch, right? Nothing urgent, just wanted to let you know I got paid. I just sent you 3,000 yuan. Take it out when you have time. It's getting cold soon; buy yourself a warm coat or something.
Consider it a gift from me."
His mother had lost a lot of money in the stock market years ago. Johny knew that if he said the money was earned through trading, she would worry and lecture him. And he couldn't explain the "BACK" ability, so he simply omitted the details.
His mother's voice came from the other end, full of reproach. "Mom doesn't need your money. I have enough here. Why don't you save it to buy something for yourself?"
Johny sighed. "I already sent it. Don't worry about it."
"Sigh." Sarah sighed, sounding both annoyed and content. "Well... alright then. But just this once. Don't send Mom money next time. My salary is enough; I don't need yours. Save as much as you can for yourself. Alas, our family has been poor these years, and Mom never managed to buy you decent clothes. Now that you're working in a government office, we can't let people laugh at you. Throw away those patched shirts and go buy some new ones."
Johny looked down and tugged at his fading T-shirt. "Uh, I'll go buy some tonight then."
Sarah felt bad about wasting money on the long-distance phone bill, so she briefly asked about Johny's work situation and then hung up.
Evening, After Work
Johny, having squeezed onto the crowded bus, sent Maggi a text message:
"Are you working overtime today? Should I cook and wait for you to come home?"
After sending it, Johny couldn't help but feel a little giddy.
Oh my, why does this tone sound like a married couple?
Ding, ding, ding.
While he was basking in the feeling, Maggi's reply came back:
"No, wait for Big Sister to come back and cook for you... By the way, we seem to be out of groceries, and I don't know what you want to eat. How about this: come pick me up at my office. I'm almost off work, and we can stop by the vegetable market on the way to buy some food."
Johny saw the message and happily replied with a "Good."
North Second Ring Road
Beijing Daily Headquarters
Although Johny had gotten along very well with Maggi over the years, it was limited to ordinary neighborly relations, so his understanding of her wasn't particularly deep. It was only after saving her life last month that Johny gradually entered her world.
For instance, after Maggi graduated from university, she partnered with friends to open a company, but it went bankrupt due to mismanagement shortly after.
Later, she found a position in the Advertising Department of the Beijing Daily, and now she seemed to be the supervisor of a subordinate team.
Ten minutes passed, and people began leaving work one after another.
This was Johny's first time picking up Maggi at her workplace. He didn't know which building she would emerge from, so he strained his eyes, searching through the crowd.
Suddenly, Maggi's voluptuous and mature figure emerged from a small office building in the distance.
With her hair pinned up, a crisp white shirt, a coffee-colored pencil skirt, nude stockings, and black high heels, her capable attire was endlessly captivating.
Johny was once again mesmerized by Maggi's beautiful face and figure.
Alas, why is Big Sister so stunning?
"Group Leader Maggi, see you tomorrow."
"Mhm, see you tomorrow." Maggi nodded reservedly to her colleagues.
"Sister Maggi, what about that proposal from yesterday?"
Maggi tilted her head and said professionally, "Oh, Luke has already finished it. You can discuss it with him tomorrow."
"Alright, please be safe on your way. Bye."
Indeed, Maggi had the air of a successful career woman, allowing Johny to witness a side of her he rarely saw at home.
Maggi spotted Johny, quickened the pace of her high heels, and walked over with a smile. "Have you been waiting long? Why didn't you go inside? There are seats in the reception area."
Johny stopped gawking and smiled. "I was too lazy to register at the front desk."
Maggi chuckled and pointed diagonally across the street. "Come on, let's go to the vegetable market first."
After crossing the road, Johny saw Maggi rubbing her shoulder and quickly asked with concern, "Are you tired? Should I carry your bag?"
Maggi handed it over and led him into the covered market. "It's fine. After all, I'm working for someone else now, so the physical exhaustion is bearable. When I first graduated and started my own company, that was exhausting, physically and mentally."
In front of a vegetable stall, Maggi's career woman aura was instantly replaced by that of a savvy housewife.
"How much are the eggs... 4.3 yuan? That's too much. I'll take two jin if you make it 4.0... How much are the chicken wings here? Oh, those look fresh. I'll have some..."
After haggling, Maggi smiled wistfully, continuing the previous topic. "It's a shame. I was young back then and didn't know anything. If I were given a company now, I could definitely manage it better than I did then."
"You still want to start your own business later?"
"That's the plan, but I don't have the capital. I'll wait until I've earned some money for a few years."
Johny felt that their goals were quite similar: he wanted to be a high-ranking official, and Maggi wanted to make a fortune.
North Entrance of Peace Street
Johny originally wanted to help Maggi cook, feeling embarrassed about always eating free meals, but she flatly refused.
She insisted on shooing Johny back to his own apartment to shower and change, telling him to come back only when the food was ready.
Unable to withstand her nagging, Johny reluctantly obeyed.
Room 302, Maggi's Residence
Johny, having dried his hair, rang the doorbell.
As soon as the door opened, the aroma of beer-braised chicken wings wafted out. Johny took a deep, enjoyable breath, turned sideways, and quickly entered.
"Phew, that smells great. Is the food ready?"
Glancing at the steaming dishes on the dining table, Johny's appetite surged. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to sit down and start eating.
Smack!
Maggi playfully slapped the back of his hand. "You little glutton! Go! Wash! Your! Hands! First!"
Johny stammered, "I just took a shower."
"Didn't your hands touch the door when you opened it? Didn't your hands touch the doorknob when you locked it?" Maggi poked his forehead. "You little dirty cat, hurry up."
Johny chuckled awkwardly, rubbed his nose, and turned into the kitchen.
Maggi, wearing a floral apron over her work clothes, couldn't help but smile at his back. "Bring two pairs of chopsticks when you come out."
"Got it."
Maggi's cooking skills were beyond reproach; she would be more than qualified to be a head chef at a 5-star hotel.
Johny ate until he was completely stuffed. He sat on the sofa, rubbing his stomach and burping, watching Maggi clean up the dishes. He felt incredibly happy and just wanted to close his eyes and drift off to sleep right there.
Alas, alas... whoever manages to marry Maggi would be happy for the rest of his life, wouldn't he?
Just as he was gazing at Maggi's fair legs moving around the kitchen and letting his imagination run wild, those legs suddenly stepped toward him.
"...What are you thinking about?" Maggi stood in front of him, hands on her hips.
Johny quickly averted his gaze like a thief caught red-handed. "Ahem, well... I just got paid, and I was hoping you could accompany me to buy some clothes."
Maggi smiled and pinched his cheek. "Sure! Big Sister will give you some fashion advice and dress up my Johny to be a handsome guy."
Johny said awkwardly, "Could you stop making fun of me? With my looks, nothing I wear will make me handsome."
"Nonsense!" Maggi hit him lightly on the head. "If I say you're handsome, then you're handsome! Let's go to the mall!"
Authors Note:-
2nd BONUS CHAPTER today....
Enjoy....
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Reviews are appreciated...