Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
Guys, I have a request. I'm short on my college sem fees, and if you could donate, that would help me immensely!
paypal.me/Un1que01
I will gift everyone who donates a membership to my patreon equivalent to their donation. I will appreciate your help!
******
*Early Morning.*
"Ah!"
Gwen opened her mouth wide, insisting that Mike check how many of her teeth were loose.
Mike took a quick look and said, "Nothing to worry about, just one."
Gwen gently touched her front tooth, her face filled with concern. "If it falls out, will it grow back?"
She imagined herself missing a front tooth—
Too ugly. Absolutely unacceptable.
Mike paused for a moment, then nodded seriously. "Nope, it won't grow back."
"Liar! You're lying!"
Gwen panicked.
Mike continued in a solemn tone, "You must've been sneaking candy again. That's why your tooth is loose."
"I haven't!" Gwen waved her little hands in protest. "I ran out of candy!"
"Then all your teeth will fall out, and you won't be able to chew meat anymore!"
Gwen swallowed nervously, then shouted, "Daddy, you're a big fat liar!"
Mike nodded. "Yep. I tricked you."
Gwen: o(Д)っ!
"Haha!"
Seeing Gwen's dramatic reaction, Mike chuckled. "Relax, it'll grow back."
Gwen patted her chest, relieved. She glanced at the clock and gasped, "I have to go! The school bus is coming!"
She hurriedly pulled on her hat, and Mike wrapped a scarf around her neck before helping her put on her gloves.
Not far from their home was a bus stop where the school bus would pick up the kids.
Mike walked Gwen to the stop, watching her board the bus before turning back toward the house.
This little troublemaker had outright refused to let Mike drive her to school, insisting that since all her classmates took the school bus, she had to take it too.
"Chinese New Year is coming soon, isn't it?"
Mike did a quick mental calculation and felt a surge of energy.
Three days left. Time to start preparing.
Speaking of which, he wondered how Erik was doing.
He muttered to himself as he walked.
Just then, a car pulled up beside him, and the window rolled down.
"Morning, Mike!"
Mike turned to see his neighbor greeting him with a smile. He nodded back. "Morning, John. Heading to work?"
John Brennan nodded, flashing a polite smile.
He was a handsome, refined literature teacher—yet his gray-green eyes always carried a hint of melancholy.
"Good morning, Uncle Mike!"
A delicate-looking boy with golden hair peeked out from the back window and greeted Mike with a rare smile.
Mike reached out and ruffled the boy's hair. "Good morning, Luke."
Luke Brennan glanced around Mike, looking a little disappointed.
Noticing his expression, Mike smiled. "Gwen took the school bus. She refused to let me drop her off."
Luke nodded obediently.
"Come over and play after school."
Mike extended the invitation casually.
Luke turned to his father, who gave him a slight nod. Seeing this, the boy's face brightened with a smile.
He and Gwen attended the same school and were in the same grade, though not the same class.
When Gwen first moved here, she didn't have many friends, and Luke, for certain reasons, was also somewhat isolated at school. Being neighbors naturally brought them together, and they became friends.
Gwen often invited Luke over to play, and sometimes she visited his house. Over time, their families grew closer.
"See you later, Uncle Mike."
Luke waved goodbye.
Mike nodded at the father and son, watching them drive away.
John was a gentle person, but from the way he carried himself, Mike could tell he had a story.
Since John never talked about it, Mike never asked. All he needed to know was that he had a good neighbor.
"Time to go shopping. Tonight, we'll have hot pot when Gwen gets home."
Mike smacked his forehead as he remembered, then turned and strode toward the house.
After Tidying Up, Off to Chinatow
After tidying up the house, Mike hopped into his car and drove off toward Chinatown.
Many ingredients and spices could only be found there, and with the Lunar New Year just around the corner, the place was already bustling with festive energy.
By the time he was done shopping, it was already noon. Since he was in the area, he decided to grab lunch at a local restaurant.
Savoring a bowl of spicy, flavorful Youpo Noodles, Mike felt completely satisfied.
The restaurant was new, but the taste was excellent.
Just as he was enjoying his meal, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
Slurp!
Mike took another bite of his noodles.
"Mike, where are you?"
"I'm in Chinatown."
"What are you doing there? Get back home, now! Maria and I are waiting at your doorstep!"
"My doorstep?" Mike's face twitched. "You really have nothing better to do, huh?"
"Nothing better to do? I'm very busy!" Peggy Carter, her once-gray hair now completely white, waved her fist in excitement. "I just learned a few moves from a Chinese master! You better be ready to lose everything, even your underwear!"
"Peggy!"
Maria smacked Peggy lightly, scolding her.
Peggy cleared her throat. "Anyway, we're waiting at your place. Hurry up and get back!"
Mike stared at his phone, which had just gone dead, and shrugged.
"Another free donation!"
He chuckled, shaking his head, then quickly finished his noodles, paid the bill, and headed to the supermarket.
With those two showing up unannounced, they were definitely staying for dinner. He needed to buy more ingredients.
Meanwhile, Outside Mike's House
Peggy Carter and Maria sat inside their chauffeured car, waiting for Mike to return.
"There's just the three of us, right?"
Peggy frowned. "That's one player short. What do we do?"
Maria turned to the driver. "Happy, do you know how to play cards?"
"Nope!"
Happy Hogan shook his head quickly.
He was Tony Stark's bodyguard, but today, he had been assigned as the driver for these two elderly ladies.
His boss was probably—
Happy's expression turned envious.
Hopefully, Mr. Stark didn't overexert himself last night.
"You're useless! You don't even know how to play cards. How did Tony even hire you as a bodyguard?"
Peggy scoffed, looking completely unimpressed.
Maria rolled her eyes, while Happy just smiled awkwardly.
Ever since Peggy retired, her personality had completely changed—she was far less restrained and much more outspoken.
"Boss?"
Suddenly, Happy's phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, he hurried to pick it up. "Boss!"
"Happy."
Tony Stark yawned on the other end. "Where are you? Come pick me up."
"Boss, didn't you tell me to follow Madam's orders today? I'm at a friend's house with them."
Happy cautiously reminded him.
Tony gently pried himself free from the embrace of a supermodel, flashed her a charming smile, and winked before getting up and heading to the bathroom.
"Ah… I forgot. Never mind, don't come get me. I'll head back myself later."
Happy nodded. "I—"
Before he could finish, Maria snatched the phone from his hand.
"Head back? Head back where?!"
At that moment, a very familiar voice rang through the phone.
Tony cleared his throat and, with a suddenly serious tone, said, "Mom, I'm heading back to the office. I have a lot of work to do."
(End of Chapter)