Future's First Marriage, Later Love - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

So childish? If so, should he go burn some incense and pray to a Buddha? Oh… he seemed to have forgotten; it was now the year 3011, and they were on the Giant Planet. There was no Buddha here, only robots.

“Mmm, whatever, I’ll like anything you make,” Kedexin said, looking as if he hadn’t eaten in eight hundred years.

Chris was slightly better; he said, “Ooh, anything is fine!”

Kedexin stood up from the sofa and said, “I want to take a shower. Mai Hai, show me the way.”

Before Mai Hai could agree, Pollack stood up, lunged forward, and said, “I’ll take you.”

Watching Pollack, Chris couldn’t help but lean against the sofa and start laughing hysterically. Mai Hai clearly hadn’t figured out what was happening, so he asked Chris, “What’s wrong with Pollack?”

“Nothing,” Chris replied, finally managing to stop laughing.

Mai Hai nodded and said, “Oh, then I’ll go cook.”

Chris asked, “Do you need my help?”

“No need,” Mai Hai answered.

Actually, for a long time, cooking had been one of Mai Hai’s great joys. Since he was young, he had been easy-going about everything: average grades were fine, enough money was sufficient, not being ugly was enough… Only when cooking did Mai Hai fully immerse himself. Perhaps this is a human trait; some are born sensitive to music, others to painting… and Mai Hai was sensitive to cooking.

Mai Hai sang to himself while cooking, completely unaware of what was happening upstairs.

Pollack led Kedexin to the upstairs guest bathroom and then said to him, “Stop provoking him!”

Kedexin looked at Pollack provocatively: “Little Spinach, don’t you dislike him?”

“Who said I don’t like him!” Pollack realized only after saying it that he had been so light-headed with anger that he was blurting out anything.

Kedexin laughed and closed the door. Ever since Pollack and Mai Hai got married, he found Little Spinach becoming more and more fun. Having teased Pollack, Kedexin started his shower in high spirits, completely ignoring Pollack, who was left outside the door agonizing over his own thoughts.

Pollack agonized for so long that Kedexin finished his shower. When the two came downstairs together, Chris looked at them and said, “My god, did you shower together? A ‘mandarin duck’ bath?”

Pollack took a few steps forward in disgust and then said, “You’re thinking too much.”

Kedexin, however, leaned in playfully, putting his arm around Pollack and saying to Chris, “Yeah, yeah, Little Spinach smells wonderful.”

Just then, Mai Hai finished cooking and came out to tell them dinner was ready. He heard Kedexin’s words and saw Pollack flushed while being held by Kedexin. He finally understood why Pollack’s reaction had been so intense when Kedexin asked him to take him upstairs to shower earlier. It turned out their relationship was unconventional! Tsk tsk, it was a bit too arrogant to start blatantly doing things they shouldn’t in front of him, the “legal spouse.” He had even sentimentally thought earlier that Pollack was uncomfortable because Kedexin and Chris saw his (Mai Hai’s) body; it turned out Pollack just didn’t want Kedexin looking at him!

Seeing Mai Hai, Pollack pushed Kedexin away, gave a dry cough, and said stiffly, “Is the food ready?”

“Yes,” Mai Hai said with a cold smile, looking at Pollack. “I just don’t know if you’ll be satisfied?”

Pollack didn’t know why Mai Hai was suddenly speaking so sarcastically. Confused, he turned to look at Kedexin and the others sitting on the sofa watching the show. They all put on “I don’t know either” expressions and shrugged.

It proved that even a cornered rabbit will bite, and even a little lamb will lash out when pushed. Mai Hai didn’t say another word to Pollack until they saw off Kedexin and Chris. Pollack felt very innocent. At first, he felt bewildered and wanted to appease Mai Hai, but then he thought: Why should he appease this person? He was the husband, the one representing supreme authority. Mai Hai was clearly the one who had done something wrong; why should he be the one to apologize? Thinking this, Pollack felt relieved and decided to ignore Mai Hai.

Mai Hai didn’t know why he was stooping to Pollack’s level; he was really regressing as he aged… Sulking with a brat so many years younger than himself—wasn’t that just asking for trouble? And what exactly was he angry about? Because of the “thing” between Kedexin and Pollack? What an international joke! He liked beautiful women with big chests! It must be because he had been Pollack’s partner for too long, so his psychology was starting to warp. No, he had to contact Toffler as soon as possible and leave this godforsaken place.

Mai Hai decided not to hold a grudge against Pollack. He peeled a plate of the fruit Pollack usually liked best and brought it to him: “Eat.”

Pollack took it, looked up at Mai Hai, and asked, “What was that craze you were having just now?”

Mai Hai was determined to play dumb to the end: “Was I? What did I do just now?”

“Nothing,” Pollack said, speechless, only able to answer gloomily.

Mai Hai asked Pollack again, “By the way, have you considered that matter?”

The hand Pollack was using to eat fruit stopped mid-air. He froze for a good while before remembering that Mai Hai was asking about his work. He thought about it and said, “It’s not impossible for me to agree.”

Mai Hai had originally asked casually, knowing that with Pollack’s personality, he wouldn’t agree easily. But Pollack’s words today were unexpected. He asked, “Oh?”

Pollack ate a piece of fruit and said, “We must have three simple rules.”

“Oh?” Mai Hai was curious which three they were.

Pollack said, “First, you must come home immediately after work every day…”

Before he could finish, Mai Hai interrupted: “What about overtime?”

“Then you must tell me.” Seeing Mai Hai nod, Pollack continued, “Second, no drinking. Third, you are not allowed to be naked anywhere in the house except the bedroom.”

After hearing this, Mai Hai let out a long sigh of relief. He thought Pollack was going to make things difficult for him, but it was just these few points. He said, “No problem. I don’t like drinking anyway, and I’m not a nudist. You don’t have to worry about these at all.”

Only then did Pollack unbutton the top two buttons of his uniform, take a small robot out of his pocket, and press it a few times. The little robot spat out a piece of paper. Pollack handed it to Mai Hai and continued eating fruit from the plate.

In Mai Hai’s hand was the paper he had given Pollack a few days ago. It now had Pollack’s signature and stamp. He finally had Pollack’s permission. Starting tomorrow, he could return to work and finally escape the life of a professional house husband.

Improving Relationship

Because he was in an excellent mood, Mai Hai made many delicious dishes for Pollack that night. Pollack was, of course, very pleased with Mai Hai’s attempts to please him.

Compared to the previous few meals with their eerie atmosphere, the vibe of this meal was quite good. Pollack even poured a little wine, though he didn’t give any to Mai Hai; he was truly traumatized by the drunken Mai Hai.

After dinner, the two sat together to watch TV for the first time. With Pollack there, it was naturally impossible for Mai Hai to watch his favorite programs. However, to his surprise, Pollack actually watched “Miraculous Species of the Universe”… He had originally thought someone like Pollack would be more interested in things like interstellar wars.

“What do you usually do?” Pollack suddenly asked, his eyes still fixed on the TV.

Mai Hai thought and said, “Read books, or play games.”

“What do you play?” Pollack continued.

Mai Hai found it a bit strange; usually, Pollack didn’t care what he was doing. Why the sudden change of character today? Mai Hai looked at Pollack suspiciously, trying to find something different on his face, but he didn’t see anything unusual. When his question went unanswered for a while, Pollack turned to Mai Hai and asked, “What are you staring at me for?”

“Nothing.” Mai Hai wasn’t stupid enough to tell Pollack he was checking to see if he had a screw loose today.

Pollack turned back to the TV in confusion. The two chatted idly about various things. Around twelve o’clock, Mai Hai said he was tired and wanted to go upstairs to sleep. Pollack turned off the TV and went upstairs with him.

After turning off the lights and getting into bed, they were originally back-to-back. Pollack was still a bit awkward, but Mai Hai didn’t care much. He was the first to turn around and say to Pollack, “I’m a bit cold.”

Hearing this, Pollack also turned around and reached out to hold Mai Hai: “I’m only holding you because you’re cold.”

Mai Hai nodded: “Mm, you’re doing it for my own good.”

Pollack thought to himself: I really am a good man. Mai Hai is so lucky to have met me!

The next day, as soon as it was light, Mai Hai got up to make breakfast. He had already contacted his former boss, Wells, yesterday, saying he had received his partner’s approval and could return to work today.

After so many days, Mai Hai was very happy to join the ranks of the working class again. The days of being a house husband were really…