The Next Day.
Morning.
The summer sun was hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds, casting a grey, misty pall over the city.
The air was noticeably cooler than it had been for the past few days.
As soon as he woke up, Johny Lee felt a prickle of discomfort.
His thoughts immediately drifted to his underwear and socks, which were still held hostage next door at Maggi's apartment.
He hurried over to apartment 302 and rang the doorbell.
After all, Maggi was the woman of his dreams, and Johny desperately wanted to show her his best side.
Having his dirty laundry—literally—in her home was just too embarrassing.
Sigh... I should have fought harder to get them back last night! I hope she hasn't washed them yet.
Click.
The door opened.
"Oh, it's Johny. I was just about to leave for work. Come in."
Maggi lived alone.
Her home always smelled fragrant, carrying the unique, soft scent of a woman's sanctuary.
The small living room was immaculate, the windows spotless.
Stepping inside, Johny awkwardly rubbed his nose, his face flushing.
"Uh, about my clothes..."
Maggi was kneeling on the floor near the entryway, bending over to smooth out her flesh-colored stockings, which had wrinkled slightly around her ankles.
Hearing him, she looked up and smiled, nodding her chin toward the bathroom.
"Your clothes are hanging in the bathroom.
I washed them yesterday, but they might not be completely dry yet.
What?
Need to wear them in a hurry?
Should I get you a hairdryer?"
One of her legs was bent low, the other slightly higher.
The hem of her skirt rose just enough to offer a glimpse of shadow, sparking Johny's imagination.
Johny's face grew even hotter.
"Ah, no, no need.
I'll take them back to air dry. Thank you, Maggi."
Maggi rolled her eyes playfully.
"What are you being polite for?
If anyone should say thank you, it's me."
She continued wiping her shoes by the door, so Johny slipped into the bathroom to retrieve his dignity.
His T-shirt and pants were hanging on the rack with a few towels.
On the metal bar behind them, his underwear and socks were clipped up.
Johny quickly stepped forward, grabbing the clothes off the hangers without looking and hugging the bundle to his chest.
The thought of Maggi's soft hands scrubbing his underwear made him feel a complicated mix of excitement and shame.
Lost in his thoughts, Johny turned to leave. But as he looked down at the bundle in his arms, he froze.
Resting on top of his clothes was a delicate, flesh-colored, lace-trimmed thong.
Holy crap.
He had picked up the wrong thing.
This wasn't his underwear—it was Maggi's.
Johny mentally slapped his forehead.
His hand trembled as he held the scrap of lace, intending to put it back on the rack. But the slightly damp touch of the fabric made his heart flutter.
He hesitated for a split second, pinching the delicate material.
Fueled by a sudden, overpowering curiosity, he pulled the elastic band slightly to look closer.
So this is Maggi's...
It's beautiful.
Just as Johny was lost in his trance, a head poked in from the hallway.
"Hurry up and grab them, I have to get to work..."
The sentence died in Maggi's throat.
Her eyes locked onto the flesh-colored thong in Johny's hand.
Her face instantly turned a deep crimson.
Johny almost fainted on the spot. Reflexively, he threw the underwear onto the washing machine like it was burning his fingers.
"Maggi! No! It's not what it looks like!"
Maggi glared at him, her mouth pressing into a thin line.
She didn't say a word.
It's over. It's all over!
Johny felt his image in Maggi's eyes shatter into a million pieces.
He stammered, desperate to fix it.
"It's not like that! I... I just picked up the wrong one! I..."
It was useless.
There was no explanation that didn't make him look like a pervert.
Suddenly, he remembered.
I haven't tested my power today!
He immediately shouted in his mind:
BACK!
...
Flash!
The scene warped.
The next moment, Johny saw his own hand reaching out in mid-air, subconsciously moving to grab the flesh-colored thong hanging on the metal rack.
It was exactly one minute ago.
It worked again!
Time reversed!
He quickly retracted his hand, letting out a massive sigh of relief.
He carefully grabbed only his own clothes, hugged them to his chest, and walked out of the bathroom with a straight face.
"Maggi, I... I'm heading back now."
Maggi smiled and hummed a response, completely unaware of the crisis that had just been averted.
"If you have dirty clothes in the future, just bring them over.
Don't be shy."
Phew. That was close.
After returning home, Johny tried saying "BACK" a few more times.
Nothing happened.
It seems this ability is indeed limited to once a day.
I'm going to be rich.
Absolutely rich!
Breakfast was porridge made from yesterday's leftover rice, a single boiled egg, and a plate of pickled cucumbers.
Because the price of eggs had risen recently, Johny and his mother hadn't dared to eat them for days.
Swallowing dryly, he carefully peeled the shell while sitting across from his mother, savoring every bite.
"Your Aunt Sue might come over later," Sarah said, looking up from her bowl. "How's your preparation for the civil servant exam going?"
"So-so." Johny's good mood evaporated instantly.
He sighed. "But there's not much hope.
You know I've never been very good at studying."
The main reason he hadn't found a job immediately after graduation was to prepare for this exam.
However, Johny had attended a painfully average university, and his grades were mediocre at best.
The probability of him passing the civil service exam was minimal—practically impossible.
"It's alright. If you don't pass this time, there's always next time.
If not, just find a job first," Sarah said, stroking his hand gently.
"You'll pass eventually."
Facing his mother's unwavering support, the pressure on Johny's shoulders felt crushing. "I... I'll do my best."
Sigh. Civil servant. Civil servant.
With competition so fierce, could he really squeeze through?
It wasn't just him; even his classmates with excellent grades weren't guaranteed to pass.
There were two hurdles: the written exam and the interview.
And for the position he was applying for, they usually hired only one person.
A one-in-ten-thousand chance.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone was at the door.
Sarah quickly grabbed Johny and went to greet the guests.
Standing outside were two people: a middle-aged woman in her forties and a young man in his mid-twenties wearing glasses.
It was their neighbor, Aunt Sue, and her son, Tony.
Behind them, a middle-aged man with a noticeable belly and the demeanor of a minor bureaucrat was walking down from the fourth floor.
As soon as Sarah saw him, she greeted him warmly. "Section Chief , going to work?"
Johny added, "Section Chief , Aunt Sue."
Section Chief Sue gave a slight, imperious nod, not bothering to speak to Johny or Sarah, and continued his descent down the stairs.
Aunt Sue called out to his retreating back, "Our son has his exam soon!
Come home early tonight and we'll go out to eat!"
Section Chief and Aunt Sue were husband and wife.
Rumor had it he was promoted recently to a leadership role at the customs office. Regardless of the specifics, he was doing well.
However, Johny didn't like their family, especially Section Chief .
The man was used to being flattered; his eyes were always looking up, never acknowledging the 'little people' around him.
After Sarah welcomed Aunt Sue and Tony into the apartment, Johny could still hear neighbors greeting Section Chief Sue downstairs.
"Oh, Section Chief , so early today?"
"Section Chief , thank you for your help the other day.
Let me treat you to dinner!"
Their voices dripped with flattery.
Johny felt a pang of envy.
Sigh, being an official is good.
If only I could pass the exam too.
Inside the living room, Sarah brought out their best tea, reluctantly brewing two cups for the guests.
But this "good tea" was only good by the Lee family's standards; Aunt Sue and Tony barely touched it.
Aunt Sue took a sip, frowned, and put the cup down.
"Sarah, I heard your son is also taking the exam at the No. 15 Middle School center?
Do you think he has a chance of passing the baseline?"
Sarah pulled Johny down to sit beside her, sighing.
"Not much hope, alas.
Tony should be fine, right?"
Tony pushed up his glasses, staring sullenly at an essay review book.
He didn't say a word, radiating the same arrogance as his father.
Aunt Sue smiled proudly.
"Of course Tony will pass.
He was careless during the national exam last year, so his essay score didn't reflect his true level.
If he reviews seriously this year, getting into the top rank is no problem." She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"I'm only telling you this, but Tony's dad has already arranged things with the customs office.
As long as Tony passes the interview score line, they will definitely let him in."
"That's really great.
Your son has such a bright future," Sarah said, blinking enviously. She leaned closer to Aunt Sue.
"If Tony isn't too busy... could he maybe tutor Johny?"
Tony was already annoyed that his mother had dragged him here.
Hearing this, he turned his head sharply. "Mom, I don't have time."
Seeing his mother being shut down so rudely, Johny's temper flared.
"You think I have time?!"
Sarah got anxious and nudged Johny with her elbow.
"What are you doing?
Where are your manners?"
The atmosphere grew tense.
Aunt Sue chuckled dismissively.
"Actually, your Johny doesn't necessarily have to rush into the exam.
Look at today's graduates; they work for a few years to gain experience first.
How can you take the exam without knowing how society works?
How many fresh graduates pass?
Not even one in a thousand!"
Sarah gave a dry laugh and didn't respond.
Johny thought to himself, Are you cursing me?
How do you know I can't pass?
It was obvious now.
Aunt Sue had only brought her son here to show off.
Half an hour later, the guests left. Before walking out, Tony gave Johny a cold, dismissive look.
In his eyes, Johny was trash—destined to live at the bottom of society forever.
Afternoon.
Sarah went to her room for a nap.
Johny sat in the living room with a stack of past exam papers, trying to start his final sprint review.
But he couldn't focus.
He felt that even if he performed exceptionally well, he wouldn't reach the baseline score.
It felt like a waste of effort.
Sigh... what am I doing?
Suddenly, faint sounds of weeping drifted into his ears.
It was coming from his mother's room.
Johny walked over and gently cracked the door open.
He saw Sarah holding his father's black-and-white photo.
She was sniffing and wiping away tears with her sleeve, crying silently.
"Why can her son get into the government office, but mine can't?
Husband... you must bless our son so he passes.
As long as our son can get into the government office, I... I'll trade years of my life for it. It's fine."
"...Mom!" Johny's voice trembled.
He strode into the room.
Caught crying, Sarah's face flushed.
She quickly wiped her eyes and forced a smile.
"Mom's fine. I'm fine."
Standing in front of his mother, Johny felt something harden inside his heart.
He gritted his teeth.
"Don't worry, Mom.
I will pass this exam. I'll pass even if it kills me."
Seeing his mother's sorrow ignited a fire in Johny's soul.
A man lives on pride.
Why should other people's parents be officials while his mother suffers?
Why couldn't he give her a better life?
Everyone has one head and two shoulders. He wasn't worse than anyone else!
He must pass this exam!
This time, he wasn't just fighting for a job.
He was fighting for his mother's dignity.
Authors Note:-
That's end of chapter 4
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