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*****
The charity sale ended successfully. Since Gwen gave her prize to Peter, he remained in a blissful daze until the event was over, occasionally letting out silly giggles. Even so, he didn't forget that the prize he received also belonged partly to Luke.
After promising to treat Luke and Gwen to a meal sometime, Peter was dragged onto the school bus by the two, and then personally escorted home by them because they were worried about him.
The charity event took place in the morning, and there were no classes in the afternoon—which meant Gwen's much-anticipated summer vacation had finally begun.
As she hummed a tune and returned to the restaurant, she saw the place was packed because it was dinner time. Being thoughtful, Gwen put down her backpack and started helping out.
After serving meals to a few customers, she happily walked into the kitchen and said to Mike, "Dad, summer break has started!"
"Oh?"
"I'm officially on summer vacation now!"
"Mm-hmm."
"I really am—starting tomorrow, I don't have to go to school!"
Listening to Gwen's increasingly obvious hints, Mike chuckled silently and pulled out a map. "I've already prepared this for you! Pick a place!"
Gwen cheered, grabbed the map, ran out of the kitchen, and plopped herself at a random table, excitedly scanning for travel spots.
Thor glanced enviously at Gwen and asked Mike, "What do you need to prepare for a trip?"
"We're going on vacation. It has nothing to do with you."
Thor's hand paused slightly as he held a kitchen knife. "Nothing to do with me?" he asked in shock.
"That's right." Mike flipped his wrist, sending the sizzling food in the pan into a neat roll before continuing, "It's a family trip. Why would you tag along?"
"But I'm an employee. I should get some benefits too!"
Employee benefits?
Who told him that?
Mike shot Thor a sideways glance while plating a dish. "What kind of benefits are you expecting?"
Thor grinned, his increasingly chubby face suddenly exuding a mischievous air. "I want a vacation too."
"A vacation? What for?"
"I'm going to find Jane and surprise her."
"Well, I never thought a brute like you could be romantic," Mike teased. "Alright, go ahead."
"Uh…" Thor rubbed his hands together, a little embarrassed. "About my salary…"
"Salary?" Mike wiped the oil from the rim of a plate. "With how much you eat, what salary could possibly be left?"
"None at all?" Thor asked, his eyes wide. "Seriously, there's nothing left?"
Seeing Thor's expression, Mike couldn't help but laugh internally—but he still nodded.
"You've got to be kidding. That's impossible!"
After a brief pause, Thor straightened his face and declared, "I am a god of Asgard! I demand a salary befitting my status!"
Mike's eye twitched. "Where did you learn to talk like that?"
A god of Asgard...
Now he was using that as a reason to ask for a raise? Odin would be so proud.
Damn it, what happened to your Asgardian dignity?
Mike couldn't help but wonder silently.
Thor scratched his head and said, "Gwen taught me."
"I did not!" Gwen poked her head through the kitchen door and shouted. "I would never betray Dad!"
She then cautiously glanced at Mike.
Mike gave the two of them a helpless look. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since you put it that way, and out of respect for Asgard, I'll give you a raise—500 more!"
"Five hundred?" Thor lit up but tried to keep a stern face. "I'm the son of Odin!"
"One thousand…"
"My mother is Frigga!"
The goddess of marriage and family, huh?
"One thousand five hundred…"
"My brother is Loki! He's—"
"Minus five hundred!"
"Huh?"
Thor froze.
Damn that Loki! Useless Loki! Why does just mentioning your name cost me money?
Thor gave Mike a pitiful look.
Mike rubbed his temples and said, "Alright, how much do you need?"
"At least…" Thor looked at Gwen, who held up three fingers. Thor quickly said, "Three thousand!"
Gwen smacked her forehead with a loud slap.
Thor: (O_O)?
"Five—five thousand?"
Mike crossed his arms. "How much exactly?"
"I think he meant thirty thousand!" Gwen blurted.
Thor's eyes widened. So three fingers meant thirty thousand?
"Thirty thousand?"
Mike raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. "That's too much."
"Then how about o—"
Gwen kicked Thor's leg. Thor quickly corrected himself, "Twenty thousand. Not a penny less!"
Gwen nodded and added, "Dad, Thor's so pitiful. If he doesn't have enough money, he might not even be able to buy a gift. He could go hungry and end up dying on the road—becoming the first god ever to starve to death."
Thor nodded along from the side.
Mike looked at the two of them, silently chuckling to himself.
He had already seen through their little scheme.
Reaching into his dimensional pocket, he pulled out twenty thousand and handed it to Thor before turning back to his cooking.
It was a small sum—he'd win it back the next time he played mahjong anyway.
Thor cheerfully pocketed the cash, picked up the freshly stir-fried dish, and walked out.
Gwen silently cheered, the corners of her mouth rising uncontrollably as she quickly followed Thor out of the kitchen.
Once Thor had served the dish, Gwen grabbed his hand and pulled him outside the shop. The two high-fived and broke into delighted laughter.
Thor ruffled Gwen's hair with a grin. "You really are something, kid."
Gwen stopped laughing and stretched out her hand. "Hand it over!"
Thor pulled out two 100-dollar bills and passed them to her.
Gwen: "?"
Wasn't it supposed to be 20%?
"I don't want to be the first god to starve to death," Thor said with a light cough.
Gwen snapped, "Damn it, Thor! Are you even a god anymore?"
"I'm just a regular guy now," Thor replied, winking at her. Then, with Gwen fuming behind him, he turned and walked back into the restaurant.
When he stepped back into the kitchen, he found Mike watching him with an amused expression. Thor coughed and said, "You saw everything?"
"Childish," Mike said with a laugh.
Thor handed the remaining money to Mike with a smile. "Just having a bit of fun with Gwen. The little rascal is full of tricks."
Mike waved a hand. "Keep it. We're closing the shop while we're away. Go find Jane and enjoy your vacation."
Thor paused for a second, then tucked the money away. Suddenly, he added, "In that case, this money doesn't count as part of the raise."
Mike pointed at him in mock accusation.
Thor had changed. He had started finding his ordinary self again.
At this rate, he wasn't far from being worthy of picking up the hammer once more.
"Haha!"
Thor burst out laughing with joy.
"Don't take in any more customers," Mike instructed. "Once the current diners are done, we're closing up."
With that, he smiled and began preparing lunch for the three of them.
A little while later, after the last guests had left, Thor shut the restaurant's doors, and Mike finished making their lunch.
After they finished eating, Gwen finally made her decision.
Texas.
P.S.: Totally spaced out—I got the chapter number wrong.
The content's correct though, no worries.
Can't fix it myself, will contact the editor tomorrow to sort it out…
(End of Chapter)