Future's First Marriage, Later Love - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

And if it’s wasted, it’s wasted.

Pollack scooped Mai Hai up horizontally and headed upstairs. Mai Hai hooked his arms around Pollack’s neck, occasionally giving him a “smack” kiss on the face. Once in the room, Pollack tossed Mai Hai onto the large bed and went into the bathroom to shower. He washed up quickly and came out, ready to “unpeel” the snack that had delivered itself to his door, only to find that the one who started the fire had already fallen asleep…

Pollack looked at the culprit on the bed who had already entered dreamland, then looked at a certain part of himself that was still on fire. He had no choice but to go back into the bathroom for a tragic “self-service” session.

Once the flames were extinguished and he came back out, Pollack looked at Mai Hai, whose breathing was steady and even. He gently helped him take off all his clothes, tucked him under the quilt, and then slid into the covers himself, hugging Mai Hai as he turned off the light to sleep.

The next morning, when Mai Hai woke up, his head still ached a bit. Looking at the wall of flesh in front of him, he was still a bit confused about the situation. Then, seeing himself completely naked except for a pair of small boxers, he desperately began to recall what happened last night. Surely he hadn’t drunk too much, laid hands on Pollack, and then been stripped and “eaten” clean…

Mai Hai shifted his body slightly and found that, aside from the hangover headache, there were no abnormalities in other parts of his body. Only then did his heart settle back into his stomach. Right then, Pollack woke up. He looked at Mai Hai and said, “No drinking next time.”

Mai Hai gave a couple of awkward laughs, then nodded and asked, “I didn’t do anything very strange yesterday, did I?”

Pollack calmly withdrew the arm hugging Mai Hai, pulled back the quilt, and got out of bed. While putting on his pajamas, he said, “No.”

Mai Hai still felt a bit guilty in his heart. He knew he tended to do strange things when drunk, but since Pollack denied it, he decided to continue playing dumb. After Pollack finished washing and dressing and headed downstairs, Mai Hai finally climbed out of bed to freshen up.

When he went downstairs, he saw Pollack standing by the tank with a gentle expression, feeding the little jellyfish. Mai Hai didn’t know Pollack had such a gentle side, and he couldn’t help but stare blankly.

When Pollack turned around and saw Mai Hai watching him dazed from behind, he held the jellyfish food and said, “I’ve made breakfast. Eat it while it’s hot.”

Now Mai Hai was even more astonished; Pollack actually knew how to cook. However, he didn’t show it. He nodded and walked toward the dining room, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Looking at the steaming egg noodles, he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

After Mai Hai finished breakfast, Pollack said, “Get dressed and come out. I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Where are we going?” Mai Hai asked. Since they got married, Pollack had never gone out with him except for that aborted honeymoon trip. This sudden outing took Mai Hai by surprise.

Pollack was wearing casual clothes today. Mai Hai noticed a matching set hanging in the wardrobe—a “couple’s outfit.” He let out a sigh. Although he wasn’t keen on it, he took the clothes out and changed. By the time he reached the door, Pollack was already waiting there in his small spaceship.

It was the first time Mai Hai had seen Pollack’s personal transport. Once he buckled in, Pollack pushed a button, and the small ship took off with a whoosh. Mai Hai watched the scenery on both sides recede rapidly. After about ten minutes, the ship came to a halt.

Pollack pulled out the key and said, “Let’s go.”

Mai Hai opened the door and stepped out, only to find that Pollack had brought him to the Giant Planet’s marketplace for various handicrafts. He asked Pollack, “What are we doing here?”

Pollack said, “You gave me jellyfish yesterday. As a return gift, I brought you here to pick something you like. Aren’t you interested in traditional handicrafts?”

Mai Hai nodded. “Yes, I like them very much.”

Pollack naturally took Mai Hai’s hand. In that instant, Mai Hai felt a sensation like an electric shock running through his body; he almost instinctively broke away. On the Giant Planet, two men holding hands, kissing, or hugging might be no big deal, but on Earth and Planet Pandora—where Mai Hai had lived for many years—these were inconceivable things. It was no wonder he found it a bit hard to accept.

Mai Hai let Pollack lead him by the hand through the shops. Then, in a shop specializing in crystal products, he saw a dolphin sculpture that reached up to his knees.

Pollack saw Mai Hai’s reaction and asked, “Do you like it?”

Mai Hai nodded. “It’s very beautiful.”

Pollack called the owner over directly and had him pack the dolphin to be delivered to his home. After buying the gift, Pollack flew Mai Hai to a sightseeing spot on the Giant Planet. From here, one could see the entire panorama of the planet, and there was a telescope for observing the Giant Starry Sky.

Pollack said to Mai Hai, “I used to come here alone every time I was in a bad mood.”

“Is that so?” Mai Hai said.

Pollack continued, “Because my grades were excellent, I’d occasionally sneak out of class with a school spaceship. The instructors would just turn a blind eye.”

“I thought you were always a ‘good student,'” Mai Hai teased.

“Is that right…” Pollack asked Mai Hai, “You can’t remember anything from the past. Doesn’t that make you sad?”

Mai Hai asked back, “Why should I be sad?”

Pollack thought for a moment and said, “True. Some things are better left forgotten.”

Mai Hai didn’t know much about Pollack’s past, but he could feel that Pollack deeply needed and expected care and love from someone, even though he would never say it out loud. This perhaps had to do with his former family. Mai Hai really wanted to tell Pollack, It’s okay, I will stay with you, but he knew his current self could only go so far. He could care for him as much as possible, but he couldn’t give Pollack a promise he couldn’t keep. Because one day, he would return to his original path. If Pollack believed his promise, and one day the people from Pandora found him, the hurt Pollack suffered upon his departure would be even deeper.

…

Destined (Part I)

Pollack had booked a table at a restaurant and took Mai Hai there for dinner. Mai Hai felt that today’s Pollack was so good it felt a bit unreal.

Pollack himself didn’t seem to realize it; he just felt he hadn’t been very good to Mai Hai before and wanted to compensate him, which is why he brought him here today. He didn’t expect to run into an acquaintance—and one who actually knew Mai Hai as well…

When Mai Hai saw Kedexin, he looked different from when they first met; his large bag was nowhere to be seen. Seeing Mai Hai, he appeared very excited. He abandoned his companions and walked straight toward Mai Hai, saying excitedly, “Hi! I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Mai Hai replied, “Yeah.”

Pollack saw how familiar the two were and couldn’t help but frown. “You two know each other?”

Mai Hai nodded. “Yes, we met during the journey.”

Only then did Kedexin notice Pollack’s presence. He patted Pollack on the shoulder and said, “Little Spinach, what are you doing with Mai Hai?”

Pollack answered irritably, “Mai Hai is my partner.”

“What?!” Kedexin looked at Mai Hai and Pollack in disbelief. He remembered that Pollack always liked beautiful-looking people—like Finael, for example. If Finael weren’t a colleague like himself, Pollack probably would have been very interested in him.

Mai Hai gave a small smile and didn’t speak. He never would have guessed that Kedexin was Pollack’s colleague…

“What a pity.” Kedexin looked at Mai Hai regretfully. He had originally thought he’d have a chance to marry Mai Hai and bring him home; he didn’t expect someone else to have beaten him to it, and that person was his best colleague, Pollack.

Pollack gave a huff and asked, pretending not to care, “What’s so ‘pity’ about it?”

“Hey, if there’s a day you don’t want him anymore, you must tell me first,” Kedexin said with a mysterious smile to Mai Hai, before leaning into Pollack’s ear to whisper.

Pollack snorted and said nothing. He pulled Mai Hai along and said to Kedexin, “We’re going to eat. Those people over there have been waiting for you for a long time.”

Kedexin watched their backs and thought, This guy is still so unlovable, he doesn’t know how to cherish a tender soul at all.

The originally warm atmosphere had become somewhat unpleasant due to Kedexin’s sudden appearance. During dinner, Pollack remained silent, and Mai Hai found it hard to say anything. In his eyes, Pollack was like a child; he would yield to and tolerate Pollack in many ways.

After finishing the meal, the two got into the spaceship. Pollack stared straight ahead, controlling the small craft as it flew around aimlessly. After a while, he asked Mai Hai irritably, “Why are you so casual about striking up conversations with others?”

“Well, because we were on the same path, so…” Hearing Pollack’s interrogation, Mai Hai tried to explain.

But Pollack wasn’t buying it. He didn’t wait for Mai Hai to finish before interrupting: “So you just talk to other men whenever you want?”

Mai Hai didn’t defend himself further. He looked at Pollack, who was acting like a sulky child, and laughed inwardly.

Because he remained silent, Pollack became even more furious. Thinking about how Mai Hai only married him because he couldn’t defy the law, and…