CHAPTER 88: MINA SECRET DONATION

Far away in Savannah, Jake drove Sister Mina back to her home.

The daytime view of the Western-style house was even more charming than at night.

True to a woman who decorated her office with flowers and plants, the entire two-story house was surrounded by lush green vegetation, interspersed with various types of flowers—red, orange, yellow, and green, all present.

Though not as grand or luxurious as his mother-in-law’s villa, it was still elegant and picturesque.

Once home, the cleanliness-loving Mina went straight to her room to change clothes, telling Jake to wait for her in the dining room.

The small first-floor space wasn’t as large as Jake had imagined, but it had everything one could need.

Sister Mina’s home was quite smartly automated. From the moment one entered, various appliances could be activated by voice command, keeping Jake entertained for the time being.

However, Jake had always had a bad habit: aside from Sunshine Orphanage and the rented apartment he had lived in for a long time, he felt somewhat uncomfortable in any other place, even if he had visited a few times before.

This time was no exception. Wandering around, Jake arrived at the dining room. Unlike his aunt’s home, Sister Mina’s kitchen was semi-open, with no barriers between the dining area and the kitchen, which Jake found refreshing.

To ease his discomfort, Jake decided to find something to do.

Before returning, he had already made plans with Sister Mina to prepare some snacks for drinking. After all, being drunk under the table by her last time had been downright embarrassing.

Drinking was something innate to men, always carrying that unyielding spirit—much like the saying "a man can never admit he’s weak." As long as one could drink and had decent alcohol tolerance, they would never back down at the table, especially when the opponent was a woman.

This kind of situation wasn’t new. Back at his old company, he had been outdrunk by a pot-bellied female client, and his colleagues never let him live it down afterward.

At Sister Mina’s place, he didn’t have to worry about that, but Jake still felt a bit humiliated. This time, at least, they weren’t drinking on an empty stomach, so Jake was confident he could outdrink her.

Sister Mina’s refrigerator was a double-door smart fridge. Opening the freezer, the array of items inside was dazzling. Jake blinked, focusing his attention.

The contents of the freezer were varied but neatly arranged. Skincare masks, perfumes, lipsticks, and other cosmetics were placed on the middle shelf, while fruits and vegetables were stored in the bottom freezer. Opened snacks and side dishes were kept on the sides.

"Sister Mina, really..." For a moment, Jake couldn’t find the right words to describe it.

After carefully selecting for a while, Jake decided to make three of his signature dishes. Judging by the freshness of the ingredients, Sister Mina must have bought them within the last three days.

Jake wasn’t wrong. As a modern woman, single and well-off, living alone in a Western-style house, Mina never deprived herself. These ingredients had been delivered by a dedicated person from the market. Whenever Mina was on vacation at home and not out traveling, she would place orders in advance. She had probably planned to invite Jake yesterday but happened to run into him when he was heading back to Sunshine Orphanage.

Washing the green peppers and leeks, slicing the pork for later use, and deveining the shrimp—Jake busied himself in the kitchen, showcasing his culinary skills.

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Second-floor bedroom.

After changing, Mina admired herself in the full-length mirror.

The beauty in the mirror had a tall, curvaceous figure, a delicate and fair oval face, red lips, and white teeth—utterly stunning.

Mina draped a golden nightgown over herself, tightly wrapping her voluptuous body. Staring at her reflection, she murmured, "I told you, I’m greedy. I don’t believe I can’t win you over."

Then, her beautiful eyes glanced at the bedside before she headed downstairs.

On the expensive golden sandalwood nightstand lay a book titled How to Please a Man.

"It smells so good." Catching the aroma, Mina quickened her pace and entered the dining room.

Jake’s tall figure moved busily around the stove.

"I said I’d cook. Why are you..." Mina was surprised Jake could cook. Perhaps she was too used to spoiled rich kids who, aside from work and socializing, left everything else to servants, claiming it was about "enjoying life" and not wasting a single second on trivial matters.

Mina had her own perspective: life was personal. Whether rich or not, experiencing every little detail of life firsthand was what made life worth living.

"It’s all the same, Sister Mina. Every time I come empty-handed, drinking and eating your food, if I don’t put in some effort, I’d feel bad."

Jake didn’t turn around, but Mina could still sense the playful tone between friends, which instantly relaxed her. They say that being with someone you like puts your heart at ease—the books were right.

"La la la..." Just as Mina was about to respond to Jake, her phone rang at an inopportune moment.

Jake pulled his phone from his pocket, glanced at the caller, turned around, took off his apron, and apologized to Mina: "Sister Mina, sorry. Could you take over? The dishes are already cooked, just stir-fry the meat slices again."

"Go ahead."

"Thanks." Jake walked straight to the balcony and answered the call.

Mina watched Jake’s back, then sniffed the dishes in the pan, as if further solidifying her resolve.

"Hello, Director Alexon, what’s up? Is it about the kids’ down jacket sizes?"

"Jake, no rush on that. Hurry up and thank Mina for me." Director Alexon’s voice was choked up.

Jake sensed something was off and quickly asked, "What happened?"

"Here’s the thing. Not long after you left, during the noon break, Mina left an envelope in my room’s drawer. Inside was a full 10,000 dollars in cash. In the letter, Mina said this was a donation for the kids and asked me not to refuse, or else she wouldn’t come back next time."

Mina had played her cards well. Her feelings for Jake were one thing, but her attitude toward the orphanage was another. Having lost her parents in childhood just like Jake, she felt a familiar attachment to Sunshine Orphanage. She had guessed that Director Alexon saw her as Jake’s girlfriend and hoped this gesture would make it easier for him to accept her kindness.

Moreover, she had really hit it off with that little girl and looked forward to their next meeting.

Director Alexon rambled on, and Jake could only respond with "Mhm, mhm," but his gaze remained fixed on the graceful figure busy in the kitchen. A pang of emotion rose in his chest.

When they had gone shopping before visiting the orphanage, Sister Mina had excused herself for a moment—she must have gone to withdraw cash then.

"Jake, don’t let down a good girl like Mina. Next time you come back, be sure to bring her along. This old man wants to thank her properly in person." Director Alexon spoke earnestly, while Jake felt a headache coming on.

"Director Alexon, don’t play matchmaker so recklessly," Jake grumbled inwardly.

"Jake, Jake? You hear me?"

"Uh... Oh, got it, Director Alexon. I will." What he thought didn’t matter—what mattered was reassuring Director Alexon.

"Good. This time, thank her on my behalf. Remember to treat her to a meal. Seize the opportunity."

"Understood..."

Click.

"Tsk, this old man, hanging up before I could finish again." Jake had mixed feelings toward Director Alexon.

This fatherly concern was the driving force that had carried Jake through countless hardships. Now, though, he also had Mia, his aunt, and others.

After some thought, Jake sent a WhatsApp message to his aunt, saying he wouldn’t be back tonight. Then, he called a designated driver service, booking a ride for the latter half of the night and paying the deposit in advance.

Everything was set.

Jake returned to the dining room, where Mina had already plated the dishes and set them on the table: a plate of scrambled eggs with chives, stir-fried pork, braised prawns, and two bottles of clearly expensive red wine standing on either side.

The clever Jake immediately understood Sister Mina’s thoughtful intentions. Given his previous experience of being drunk on foreign liquor, Sister Mina had deliberately chosen red wine with a lower alcohol content—partly for the better taste, and partly to avoid getting too drunk. It was perfect for chatting.