Chapter 23.2 - Selling meng to your sister?

Li Xinwen had walked some distance when he checked the time on his phone. He still wore his disguise and now that he was in an open street where pedestrians were walking around, he no longer looked suspicious. 'The bank opens around this time, I should hurry there. Let's see... the nearest branch is...' Li Xinwen opened his map application once more to check for the nearest bank location. The original had decided to put his savings on the Aegis Bank System, and luckily, Li Jinghua also had a savings account there.

It took Li Xinwen roughly half an hour before he finally reached the bank. Unfortunately, when he tried to enter, the guards standing by the entrance stopped him from entering.

"I'm sorry, sir. If you wish to enter, please take off your sunglasses and mask. If you have a cold, you can wear them again after you get past the door," the guard said in a polite tone. Li Xinwen didn't oppose and removed his sunglasses and mask. "Ah, it's actually Mr. Li. You can go in now. I apologize if I have offended you," the guard said as soon as he saw Li Xinwen's face.

"It's alright. I know you were only doing your job. Keep up the good work!" Li Xinwen said with a smile on his face. After that, he entered the bank and didn't bother to cover up again. He went to get his queue number, then looked around for an empty seat. While waiting for his turn, Li Xinwen sent a message to his sister, telling her that he was already at the bank and asked for her bank account details.

In less than a minute, Li Jinghua replied with the account name and account number. She also told him to be careful and to check before leaving the bank. Li Xinwen gave a short reply, telling her not to worry then returned his attention to the screen above the counters. He was lucky that he came early and was the third person in the queue. And although there was hardly anyone in the bank, the problem was, there was only one teller working while the rest were still preparing.

'How inefficient...' Li Xinwen complained in his mind as he continued to wait. Fortunately, he didn't wait too long for his turn. Li Xinwen went to the counter and sat down but when the clerk saw him, her face turned red and started to squeal.

"Umm... excuse me, but you are the actor Li Xinwen, right?" she asked.

"Ah, no. But I do get that a lot... but I am not him," Li Xinwen lied, putting on an awkward expression as he did, as if this was actually a normal occurrence whenever someone mistook him for himself. When he said that, the disappointed clerk put on her professional expression once more. "Anyway, I'm here to make a money transfer to my elder sister." Li Xinwen advised, and then leaned in to whisper to the clerk "It's a huge amount."

"A huge amount?" the clerk glanced at Li Xinwen worriedly. "Sir, are you sure it is your sister? These days, there are scammers going all around posing as relatives..."

"I am sure," he assured the clerk. "I even talked to her last night, face to face." Li Xinwen added when the clerk seemed to want to try advising him again.

"Oh, I see. Very well. Can I please ask for your ID and your bank book or your account number?" she inquired as she began to work.

Li Xinwen provided everything, including the account number that Li Jinghua gave him earlier. After confirming the recipient details and the amount, the bank employee proceeded to transfer the amount to Li Jinghua's account.

"The amount has been transferred but due to our policy, the beneficiary won't be able to use it until three days later since the amount you transferred is more than 5 million yuan," the clerk informed Li Xinwen while she returned the ID to Li Xinwen. "Is there anything else you'd like to do?"

"That's alright. I've done what I've come for. Thank you for the hard work," Li Xinwen gave the employee a smile and the employee's face turned red once more.

"Hey... are you sure that you're not the actor Li Xinwen? Even the name is written the same, you're not playing with me, right?" she asked once more and this time, Li Xinwen just placed a finger to his lips, quietly telling her to keep it a secret. Upon realizing that it was indeed her idol in front of her, she timidly slid a notebook and a pen to Li Xinwen. "A signature to buy my silence," she said in a shy manner.

Li Xinwen chuckled and signed the notebook. "Don't tell anyone, alright? At least not until I'm out of the building," he reminded the employee before he put on his disguise once again.

As soon as he stepped out of the building, his phone rang. Taking it out of his pocket, Li Xinwen stared at the caller ID before answering the call as he continued to walk.

"Hello, Hua-jie, what's wrong? Is there a problem with the transfer? The bank employee said that because of the amount, you can't use it until three days later," Li Xinwen explained as soon as he answered the call, thinking that was Li Jinghua's reason for calling.

"Ah'Wen, that's not it... why did you transfer eight million? I only asked for half a million, ah! This amount is too much!" Li Jinghua said, and Li Xinwen could hear the distress from her tone.

"But Hua-jie, you said it yourself. During the apocalypse, money has no value. So might as well give it all to you!" Li Xinwen replied in a relaxed manner. "I'll leave everything to you, Hua-jie. All the early preparation and all of those things that I am not good at, I'm sure you have a better idea."

Li Xinwen could hear the female sigh on the other end before he picked up her voice again. "Alright. Leave everything to me. I promise you that you will not suffer during the apocalypse," Li Jinghua said and Li Xinwen unconsciously nodded his head.

"By the way, is there anything else that I would need? Maybe like umm... underwear?" Li Xinwen asked, the last word barely audible, like a whisper.

Li Jinghua was actually hiding in one of the employee toilet cubicles of her company in order to call Li Xinwen. Upon hearing Li Xinwen's remark, she had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud and to avoid causing suspicion. "Hua-jie?" she heard Li Xinwen call her out when she didn't answer for a while. She calmed herself down before she replied.

"Yes, yes. You should prepare those. But not too much. Maybe 500? I can help you store them in my space first," Li Jinghua said while she tried her best to hold back from laughing.

"Alright. Thank you, Hua-jie!" Li Xinwen said before the call was cut off.

Li Jinghua stared at her phone before finally breaking into a giggle. "Xinwen, ah... why are you trying to sell meng to your own sister?" Li Jinghua mumbled softly while shaking her head.

* * *

Mini Theatre:

Li Xinwen: Hua-jie, do I need anything else? What about underwears?

Li Jinghua: Pfft-!

Li Xinwen: Hua-jie, what's wrong? Are you okay?

Li Jinghua: Haha...wait... hahaha! Ah'Wen, I'll call you again later, okay?

-Li Jinghua cut off the call and started to laugh at Li Xinwen's silliness-

Li Xinwen stared at his phone with a questioning look: Did I say something wrong? Hua-jie was laughing earlier, right?