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Peggy Carter turned her head to see John running over. She remained calm and said, "This is my friend's house. I've already informed them."
"No way!" John Brennan rushed to the door, blocking their path. "Stop right there! I'm calling the police!"
He had never encountered such a brazen old lady before!
Maria tensed for a moment, but then, to her own surprise, she felt a bit excited. "He's calling the police?"
She—Maria Stark—had lived so many years, yet she had never been arrested before!
Peggy Carter frowned. "This really is my friend's house. If you don't believe me, I can call them right now."
John hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't buy it. Scammers these days always work in teams. You could have already coordinated with your accomplice."
Peggy sighed in exasperation.
She was Peggy Carter, founder of S.H.I.E.L.D., and she was being mistaken for a thief?
"Have you ever seen a thief this old?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them. She immediately pinched the bridge of her nose.
Did I really just say that?
John scrutinized the two women with a puzzled expression.
Just as the standoff continued, Mike arrived, carrying a large load of groceries. One glance at the scene was enough for him to figure out what was going on.
"Hahaha!"
He burst into laughter as he walked up to the trio. Seeing Peggy Carter and Maria fuming while John stood there, bewildered, only made him laugh even more.
Setting the bags down, he patted John on the shoulder. "Thanks, John. You really did me a favor by stopping these two crazy old ladies."
Peggy Carter and Maria's faces darkened instantly.
John looked at the three of them, realization dawning. "Wait… you are friends?"
Mike nodded. "Yeah. I had to step out for a bit, and they came over. Since it's cold outside, they just wanted to wait inside."
John let out an exasperated sigh but quickly composed himself. "My bad."
Stepping aside, he helped Mike carry the groceries into the house.
"Thanks," Mike said with a smile.
"No problem."
John returned his smile before heading back out.
"Hotpot tonight?" Mike offered.
John glanced at the two still sulking on the couch, then shrugged. "Next time."
"No problem!"
Mike chuckled, waving him off before closing the door.
He then brought over two cups of hot tea, setting them in front of Peggy and Maria while suppressing a grin. "So, learned any new card tricks?"
At his words, the two women, who had been fuming just moments ago, immediately perked up and started chatting excitedly with Mike.
"But we're short a player," Mike pointed out, spreading his hands helplessly.
Maria remained unfazed. "No problem. I'll call Tony."
Peggy shot Mike a cool glance. "Just wait. You'll see how good I am in a bit."
Mike snorted. "If you were leading an army or commanding agents, I'd believe you. But cards? Ha!"
Peggy immediately felt deeply insulted. She shot Mike a fierce glare and then snapped, "Where the hell is Tony?"
"I'll go prepare some snacks while we wait," Mike said casually.
Hearing this, Maria's eyes lit up. "Now that's a good idea."
Mike's cooking was pretty great.
A plate of cookies and a plate of macarons—both originally made for Gwen as snacks—were now being repurposed. Mike would just have to make something else for her later.
After refilling their tea, the three middle-aged friends lounged on the sunlit sofa, each taking a deep breath in unison as they enjoyed their treats.
"Ahh… this is nice."
Peggy Carter squinted contentedly, holding a macaron delicately between her fingers before taking a small bite. "Mike, not opening a bakery is a real waste of talent."
"What bakery? Playing cards with you two is already more profitable than any business."
"Cough, cough!"
Maria choked on her tea, glaring at Mike with an expression of pure exasperation.
Peggy bit into her macaron a little harder than necessary, ready to argue—but then realized, to her dismay, that Mike was absolutely right.
Every time they played, they were the ones losing.
Watching them, Mike chuckled to himself.
The kids often called him childish, but these two? They were even worse.
Maybe it was because they had finally let go of their burdens—these past few years, they had been living more freely, more lightheartedly than ever before.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang. Mike got up, opened the door, and welcomed the two guests inside.
"Tony?"
"Mike… Uncle Mike."
Even after all these years, Tony Stark still sounded reluctant to say it.
It wasn't his fault—Mike just looked way too young.
Pepper Potts, though surprised by Mike's youthful appearance, maintained a polite smile as she extended a greeting. "Hello, sir. Nice to meet you. I'm Pepper Potts, Mr. Stark's assistant."
"Mike Kent."
Mike shook her hand while subtly sizing her up.
Tall, not a classic beauty, but she carried a sharp, independent air that was undeniably attractive.
So this was "Little Pepper"?
She seemed like a solid woman.
"Come on in," Mike called out, waving them inside.
"Tony!"
Maria beamed with delight. "You finally made it!"
She pulled Tony into a brief hug before he turned to Peggy Carter. "Sorry for being late, Aunt Peggy."
Peggy nodded with a smile. "Just make up for it by letting me win a few extra hands later."
Tony chuckled, unfazed.
"Let's get started already!"
Maria urged impatiently, turning to Mike. "Go get the cards!"
Then, she swiftly pulled Pepper Potts over. "Come, sit down! Have some snacks—Mike made them himself, and they're really good."
Pepper nodded politely, though still a little reserved.
Meanwhile, Tony wandered over to the coffee table, grabbed a cookie, and took a bite. His eyes lit up. "This is actually pretty good."
Pepper tried one as well, silently impressed. She made a mental note to ask Mike for the recipe later—maybe she could make some for her boss.
At that moment, Mike returned, carrying a mahjong case that looked like a small briefcase. He set it down on a square redwood table by the window.
Peggy and Maria, clearly pros at this, wasted no time picking their seats.
Pepper watched curiously, while Tony yawned and plopped down in the remaining chair—after all, he was the one who had gifted them this whole mahjong set.
"Let's go! Let's go!"
Peggy dramatically flipped open the mahjong case, her expression turning serious. Pressing her palms together, she muttered in broken Mandarin, "Fa guo bao you."
Maria quickly followed suit, repeating the phrase.
Mike nearly crushed the tile in his hand.
Who the hell taught them this?
"What does 'fa guo' mean?" Tony asked, casually stacking his tiles into a neat 'Great Wall.'
Maria grinned. "It's from God of Gamblers!"
Peggy nodded enthusiastically. "I heard some of my Chinatown mahjong friends say it before their games. Later, they actually won money! So I memorized the spell."
Mike sighed. "They won because you guys play like amateurs."
His remark earned him one thumbs-up and two murderous glares.
(End of Chapter.)