Chapter 25: Such a Lazy Person

I carried two laptops upstairs; they were incredibly light, weighing only 998 grams each.

Back in the room, I set them down and went to knock on Zhao Xiangjun’s door. When she opened it and saw me, she said, "Come in, take a seat, it’ll be ready in a moment."

Wow, it smelled divine! Today, she had braised brisket with potatoes, steamed prawns, a vegetable dish, and a soup.

"Zhao Xiangjun, I’ll show you my skills sometime!"

"You know how to cook?"

"Who are you looking down on? When I was in high school and living in a rental, I cooked for myself all the time. I was famous for it back then—many classmates would come over just to mooch a meal."

Zhao Xiangjun asked, "Were they really that desperate just to save a few bucks on a meal?"

Damn, what was that supposed to mean? I wasn't going to let that slide. I had to prove my culinary prowess right then and there.

Seeing me like that, she asked what I planned to make.

"Shredded potatoes with green peppers. It’s my signature dish."

"Go ahead then, I’ll take a break."

"What break? I only do the cooking. You don’t expect me to peel and shred the potatoes too, do you?"

She looked at me in shock. "That’s how you cook?"

Forget it. She didn't count on me anyway and just sat on a small stool to peel the potatoes. Such a charming beauty, sitting there looking like a complete pushover.

I truly only handled the stir-frying; she even had to add the oil and salt herself. She was speechless. When I finished, I proudly presented it to her, asking her to taste it and give me a score.

"Hmm, it's great. Don't cook again in the future!"

What did that mean? I was annoyed. "Why strip me of my right to cook? Are you jealous of my talent? Trying to hide my light under a bushel? What if my skills deteriorate?"

"Big brother, is there any room for your skills to deteriorate? Besides, it’s more exhausting for me to watch you cook than to do it myself!"

Whatever, time to eat! I didn't bother arguing. This guy was incredibly lazy; I bet he’d need someone to wipe his butt if he could manage it.

Zhao Xiangjun’s cooking was indeed excellent. I ate with gusto, enjoying the dinner more than I had since I started school and began working.

"Eat more."

"You are a feast for the eyes; I’m already full just looking at you."

"Speak like a normal person!"

"When I meet people, I speak human language; when I meet ghosts, I speak ghost language. What kind of language do you think I'm speaking?"

"Nonsense. Are you done eating? If so, get going. You're so annoying!" Zhao Xiangjun pouted.

"You talk so much. Can't you keep your mouth shut while you eat?" she complained.

Bickering with her was fun. It felt warm, happy, and filled with tenderness.

"Why aren't you eating the shrimp?"

"It’s a bit of a hassle," I replied.

"You’re hopeless." Even as she said it, she began peeling the shrimp one by one and placing them into the dipping sauce bowl for me.

"Xiangjun, I got my bonus today. I'm paying you back!"

"You struck it rich, master! No wonder you actually cooked today."

She accepted the transfer on WeChat—2,000 yuan for the advance payment she’d covered. She didn't stand on ceremony.

After dinner, she brought out some fruit, but noticed I wasn't moving.

"Eat your fruit. Why are you just sitting there?"

I pointed at a banana. "It has a peel. How am I supposed to eat it?"

She rolled her eyes in frustration, picked it up, peeled it in two seconds, and handed it to me. "I don't know how you haven't died of laziness yet. How did you even grow up?"

*Heh*, it’s all because you spoil me. I didn't dare say that out loud, though—if I did, I’d lose this special treatment.

"Xiangjun, your phone looks old. Do you want to replace it?"

"Why would I? It works fine."

"I went to the store last time and noticed all your colleagues have the latest models."

"What does that have to do with me? Mine isn't broken."

"..." She really knew how to kill a conversation.

"Wait here a second, I need to get something."

I went back to my room and brought over the pink MateBook X Pro. I handed it to her, and she looked at me, puzzled. "What is this?"

"I got my bonus today. This is a gift for you! You sponsored my clothes, so I’m sponsoring your laptop."

"What’s wrong with you? Buying something so expensive! I’m just a sales clerk; I don't deserve this. You use it yourself!"

"You deserve the best. Besides, I have my own. As a grown man, I definitely wouldn't use a pink one."

"Take it back and get a refund. Why would a shop assistant need such an expensive computer?"

"Zhao Xiangjun, it’s my first time giving you a gift with my bonus and you’re refusing? You’re not giving me any face. Please spit out the shredded potatoes I cooked for you..."

"Are you disgusting?" She laughed at my antics.

"Chen Xiao, I know you made money on that deal, but you need to learn to save. You'll need money for many things in the future—buying a house, a car—those are huge expenses."

"Yeah, I know. Are you planning to buy a house?"

Zhao Xiangjun sighed. "I can't afford it. I earn this miserable pittance every month, but I spend it without any restraint. I send 5,000 to my family, my brother’s kids visit often, so I give them some money, and I have to buy supplements and medicine for my grandmother. What’s left of those scraps is barely enough for anything!"

"I handled a 15 million deal this time, and the commission alone was 750,000. How about I support you?"

"Save it. You should focus on sorting out your own life first!"

Hearing that I’d closed a 15 million deal, she was happy for me, but in Jiangzhou, a 100-square-meter apartment cost at least 3 million, so 750,000 really wasn't much.

"Hey, let me tell you, I’m a millionaire. I’m done pretending. The cat’s out of the bag!"

"Are you sleepy? You're already talking in your sleep. Go back to bed!"

I was kicked out, but I insisted on leaving the laptop behind.

After a shower, I lay in bed and saw a WeChat notification. It was from Zhao Xiangjun: a transfer of 5,000 yuan.

"What’s this? Are you really trying to keep me?"

"Yes, I’m keeping you! I’m broke lately, so I’ll send you a monthly allowance. If you think it's too little, just turn in your resignation three months in advance!"

I knew she was trying to pay me back for the laptop because she was afraid I wouldn't accept it, and she probably didn't have that much cash on hand to pay me all at once.

"Only a fool would resign. Being kept by my Xiangjun is a one-of-a-kind privilege!"

"Disgusting. Go to sleep!"

I accepted the money. On one hand, if I didn't, she might return the laptop; on the other, I could always make it up to her later. But this 5,000 yuan...

*Ding!* Zhao Xiangjun provided the host with dinner. Cost: 50 yuan. "Opposite-Sex Blessing Fund" activated. Cash back: 9,600 yuan!

*Ding!* Detected that Zhao Xiangjun voluntarily transferred 5,000 yuan to the host. Awarded Zhao Xiangjun a specialized "Opposite-Sex Blessing Fund" of 960,000 yuan. Current fund balance: 1.18 million yuan.

My goodness, Zhao Xiangjun, you really know how to save money for yourself. You’re truly a gold-medal sales champion!

My "minimum living standard" level had risen to Level 2, and the rewards had increased significantly. I was basically a special figure in the company now. The department manager didn't dare to boss me around, other departments were incredibly polite to me, and even Feng Feifei would grant any request I had.

So, my office life was quite laid-back: drinking tea, listening to music, and clicking away on my mouse.

Don't get the wrong idea—I mean clicking the mouse, not holding the little hand of Ma Jing, who was always passing me snacks!

Ma Jing had been completely corrupted; she spent every day watching my screen and even demanded that I shouldn't work alone, but should take her along to "click" together.