Chapter 264 - Company Books Of Accounts

In Sofia's place, Heiz and Jing Jing were casually chatting about random things. But most of the time, it was Jing Jing who would take the initiative to open a topic of their discussion. 

Sofia left them with an excuse that she would need to buy notebooks. While waiting for her, Jing Jing took her time to narrate all of her observations to the Chronos squad members and their plans.

"May I ask a private question?" Heiz suddenly asked after listening to Jing Jing for half an hour. She gently lifted her baby and positioned the delicate body on the mattress that was still on the floor.

Jing Jing nodded her head and replied, "Sure! What do you want to ask?"

Heiz hesitated for a moment. "I'm just curious... who is helping Sofia to begin her business and assemble the Chronos squad?"

"No one! But I did process all her bank accounts and transactions to buy the property. It's under my name but I have a contract with Sofia that she would pay me with the company share. Let me tell you a secret, Heiz. The moment I saw Sofia, I don't know why but, I completely believe in her ability," Jing Jing confidently answered.

"You mean no one is directing her?" Heiz probed again.

"No, no, no," Jing Jing waved her hand several times. "I was with Miss Sofia all this time. All the decisions of starting a business come from her own accord. She just encouraged the other Chronos members to spend their prize money in accordance with her plan."

"Ohh," Heiz slightly nodded her head and became deeply quiet again.

Jing Jing mentally made a face palm as the silence enveloped them once more. This kind of silence was totally natural for they just met however, she still felt it was unbearable. She cleared her throat and tried to open another topic of their conversation. However, the door was pushed open and Sofia entered with several large notebooks in her hand.

"Miss Sofia, those notebooks are bigger than most students used. What are those for?" Jing Jing started and gestured to take the notebooks. Then, she flipped it open and frowned. The pages contained lines and columns that formed into a table. Aside from the page, there were numbers on the left side that were printed in sequence.

Jing Jing continued to flip the pages of the notebook and found out that all pages have identical prints.

"This notebook is weird. Do you have a school project that requires you to use this kind of notebook?" she could not help but mumble before returning the notebook to Sofia.

"Sister Jing, is this your first time seeing this kind of notebook?" Sofia inquired and place the notebooks on the mini table.

"It is. What are they for?" Jing Jing curiously pointed it.

"It's usually for accounting. We will use this notebook to list all our transactions to monitor the flow of our capital and profit. Sister Heiz, I will entrust you for this matter," Sofia said.

"Okay. But, you have to tell me how to do it," Heiz stated and took one notebook and opened it. "It looks complicated."

"Only at first, it is complicated. But, once you get used to it, it will be easy. Here," Sofia said and started explaining how to enter data in the notebook.

"What if we don't record?" Jing Jing asked after listening to Sofia's explanation.

"No, it's mandatory to do this for the transparency of our money. And the tax bureau would also require us to have this. Without this, we will be penalized. Normally, this is a work of an accredited accountant. But, our business is still small. For now, we can do it on our own. Once we expand, we can hire an expert to do this," Sofia said. She suddenly remembered that in the past, she would only need to read and sign for approval the report of their company treasurer and auditor when it comes to company accounts. Now, she had to be hands-on with these things.

"Ohh... so, having a business is actually a lot of work. I thought we will just manage the capital and profits," Jing Jing whispered.

"Hehe, sister Jing, it's manageable," Sofia smiled at her before she turned towards Heiz. "I will help you, sister Heiz with these records. The company is not that big yet. So, it's not hard to record our expenses and income. Actually, this is very important. Make sure that all data are correct."

"Okay, I will try!" Heiz said. "When do I start putting data in this notebook?"

"On Saturday. We have to ask the bureau to stamp this notebook first. Without their signature on the first page, the notebook is not useful. Sister Jing, go with me?"

"Sure! Hehe, My previous job is not related to accounting. So, I am not familiar with these kinds of  notebooks. I can only help you get it stamped," Jing Jing agreed.

"Then, sister Heiz, we will leave you first. Here is my phone, you can look at some videos online to have an idea of how to put data in this notebook," Sofia said and gave Heiz her phone.

"Miss Sofia, just use my phone for Heiz. Just in case you need to answer emails on our way to the bureau," Jing Jing immediately pushed back Sofia's phone and gave hers to Heiz.

"O-okay. Let's go," Sofia said and waved goodbye to Heiz.

After they stepped outside her apartment, Jing Jing placed a hand on Sofia's shoulder. "Miss Sofia, please don't be so trusting! Your phone contains confidential information. What if Heiz will read it?"

"Sister Jing, Heiz has nothing but her baby. There is no reason for her to betray us," Sofia defended.

"That is exactly the reason why you must not trust her easily. She has only her baby. If someone bribes her money to harm us, she would definitely agree! Remember, you are also a public figure now. If she read some information about the Chronos squad, I'm worried if she leaked it to the public," Jing Jing spoke anxiously.

Sofia pondered her behavior and also realized that she really trusted Heiz without reservation. This kind of inclination was new to her. "I don't know why I feel familiar with Heiz. There is something in her that I could not describe." Sofia said while staring at her wristwatch.

"Maybe you feel sympathetic because of her situation. But, please, don't trust other people easily," Jing Jing said in a serious tone.

Sofia curled her lips and combed her hair. "Yes, thank you for your reminder, sister Jing! However, I have already decided for sister Heiz to handle our company accounts. Such data is also confidential."

"Don't mention it. In any case, it's not your personal phone!" Jing Jing pouted.

Not long after, they drove towards the south road and arrived at the office of the tax bureau. Sofia only knew that the notebooks requires a stamp from the office. But, she had never done this kind of work.

The two of them stood a few meters away from the entrance and read all the signs that were plastered in the wall. 

"Miss Sofia, where should we go? There are so many counters here," Jing Jing said while observing the place. It was her first time to step foot in such a place too.

"I'm not sure which counter is for business. Let's ask the security guard. Hehe," Sofia slightly laughed at amusement. Her new life was indeed more interesting than the past.

"I will ask him," Jing Jing initiated while looking at the security guard at the entrance door. Then, the two of them stepped forward and approached the man. "Hello, chief! May I ask you to guide us where to get a stamp for these notebooks?"

The guard looked at the notebook and then pointed at the last counter. "Ma'am, go to that desk. There are two stamps there. One is for the registration of information. The other is for the 'received' stamp. The front page of your notebook must be stamped. Fill-out the form there. Then, get a priority number."

"Thank you," Sofia and Jing Jing expressed and followed the instructions of the guard. 

When their priority number was called, the two of them also approached the bureau official together. Jing Jing stood behind Sofia. The man was in his early thirties and had an approachable expression on his face.

"Good morning! Are you authorized? We require a special power of attorney," the officer asked Sofia after she passed the notebooks to him.

Jing Jing frowned and whispered at Sofia, "Why is he asking for SPA, Miss Sofia?"

"Don't worry, sister Jing. He may have misunderstood us," Sofia whispered back.

"Good morning! This is for our business," Sofia answered. At first, she was also slightly confused when the officer asked her if she was authorized. But when the man asked them for special power of attorney, she quickly understood that the man must have assumed that they were representatives.

In any case, special power of attorney is a notarized legal document that representatives must present to the officer as proof that they were authorized by the business owner for the transaction.

Upon hearing Sofia's response, the man looked startled and eyed Sofia suspiciously. "May I borrow your ID?"

Sofia nodded her head. She took a step aside and signaled Jing Jing to step forward.

"Here, officer," Jing Jing quickly gave her ID.

"Okay," the officer said and started typing in his keyboard. After a few seconds, he signed the notebooks and gestured for them to leave.

"That's it?" Jing Jing asked.

"Yes.. They only need to register these notebooks," Sofia easily said as they went out of the office.