Future's First Marriage, Later Love - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“and I won’t let you two meet!”

Regarding Spinai, Mai Hai was already very calm… he ignored those words directly and went straight to the point: “What time?”

Spinai also restrained his joking attitude, glanced at the multi-functional watch on his wrist, and said: “There are still over twenty minutes.”

Mai Hai nodded and said: “Then let’s go inside and prepare.”

Although Spinai usually looked like a loafer, he was reliable when doing things; Mai Hai was reassured by this. During these twenty minutes, neither Spinai nor Mai Hai spoke, they just waited quietly. Finally reaching the appointed time, they found there was no response to the signal Spinai sent out, which caused them a flurry of frantic activity. Once they finally connected, Spinai slipped out.

Mai Hai also knew that given Spinai’s current identity, it was indeed unsuitable for him to show his face, so he was the only one watching the screen and waiting. Mai Hai didn’t know how much time had passed when Toffler’s familiar figure appeared on the other end of the screen. Toffler looked at Mai Hai and said: “Prince! We have finally found you!”

Mai Hai looked at Toffler and asked skeptically: “Did you guys even look…”

“Of course!” Toffler agreed immediately, dragging over Nesbit from beside him and saying, “Bit can prove it. During that time, I was so worried I couldn’t eat or sleep, every day I…”

“Enough.” Mai Hai intended to cut off Toffler’s words; he knew that if he let Toffler keep talking, he wouldn’t finish even by tomorrow. Meeting such a mentor, he really didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

Only then did Toffler reluctantly shut his mouth. Nesbit, unable to stand it any longer, pushed Toffler aside and asked Mai Hai: “Your Highness, what is the situation on your end now?”

“Well, I’m not too clear on the specifics. I’ve only learned about the situation on Planet Giant roughly from a friend,” Mai Hai said, deliberately not mentioning his situation with Pollack, “Find a way to take me away.”

Nesbit showed a difficult expression and said: “Your Highness, you might have to stay there for a while longer…”

Hearing this, Mai Hai asked quite calmly: “Why?”

“We have always planned to establish diplomatic relations with Planet Giant, but there are still some problems. Now that you have finally entered Planet Giant… this is also a great thing for us. Yesterday, I already requested instructions from His Majesty the King.” Nesbit weighed his words carefully.

The more Mai Hai listened, the more speechless he became, but he still asked calmly: “What did Father say?”

“His Majesty the King said that this counts as a test for you. Please be sure to obtain Giant’s core secrets…” Nesbit continued, “As for the detailed plan, I will transmit it to you immediately. Someone there will coordinate with your actions at that time. The secret code is PD-3144.”

“What connection does that secret have with establishing diplomatic relations?” Mai Hai asked in confusion.

Nesbit explained with good temper: “We have tried many times to contact and negotiate with Giant’s high-level officials, but ultimately failed…”

His words were interrupted by Mai Hai before he could finish. He said: “So you want to rely on stealing their planet’s secrets to use as blackmail?”

“No!” Nesbit immediately denied Mai Hai’s thought. He explained, “Planet Giant once had a slight dispute with us. Much data indicates it is related to Giant’s core secret, so no matter what, we must obtain it so that we can understand the reason!”

After hearing Nesbit’s explanation, Mai Hai’s complexion looked a bit better. He said: “I understand.”

“Your Highness, please rest assured, the action will not have any danger. First, contact our person, and then they will tell you the detailed situation. I have transmitted both the contact method and the detailed content of the action to you; please be sure to read them carefully.”

Mai Hai nodded and said: “Mm, I know.”

“Looking forward to your triumphant return…” Nesbit performed a salute toward Mai Hai on the other side of the screen.

Mai Hai nodded, turned off the screen and machine, organized the documents, and held them as he opened the door to go out and find Spinai. Spinai was teasing the little kitten, having the time of his life. Seeing Mai Hai come out holding documents, he asked: “Finished talking? When are they coming to pick you up to go back?”

“I might have to stay here for a while longer…” Mai Hai said with annoyance.

Spinai asked with great surprise: “Why?”

Mai Hai said: “There’s a mission. I might still need your help…”

“I’m very expensive, you know!” Hearing this, Spinai picked up the little kitten and used his hand to grab its front paw to wave at Mai Hai.

Mai Hai was in no mood to joke with Spinai, so he pulled out one page. After looking through the others carefully, he threw them to Spinai and instructed: “Keep these safe.”

Spinai wailed, saying: “Why! You are the prince, I’m not. I’m just an unemployed wanderer right now, okay?!”

Mai Hai opened the door to Spinai’s house and left one sentence behind: “I don’t care, deal with it yourself.”

Then he left. After waiting for Mai Hai to leave, Spinai rubbed the kitten’s head twice, got up, and re-entered the room.

For some reason, sitting in the spaceship on the way home, a sense of dissonance—a feeling of being plotted against—faintly rose in Mai Hai’s heart. Was everything that happened just an accident, or was there another hidden story…

Normally in this situation, shouldn’t they quickly take the person back? Why had it turned into the way it was now? In other words, he still had to spend a long time with Pollack, and later he might even have to steal his password data and such things while Pollack was asleep?!

The more he thought, the eerier it felt… somehow, various scenes of 007 uncontrollably floated into Mai Hai’s mind.

Convalescent Care (Part I)

When Mai Hai returned home, it was only one o’clock in the afternoon. Looking at that slip of paper in his hand written with the way to contact the Pandoran people, he was a bit lost. For some reason, he just didn’t want to do it; there was always a feeling of being sorry toward Pollack.

When Pollack returned home, he saw Mai Hai sitting on the sofa in a daze, still holding a slip of paper. He walked over just wanting to ask Mai Hai what he was doing, but Mai Hai looked up, smoothly folded the paper and tucked it away, then asked him: “Why did you come back so early today?”

Seeing Mai Hai’s unhurried manner, Pollack didn’t have too many suspicions. He said: “Oh, there was nothing to do, so I came back early.”

“Let’s go out to eat today; I didn’t cook.” Mai Hai looked at Pollack apologetically.

Pollack didn’t say anything either, nodding and saying: “Wait for me a moment, I’ll go upstairs to change my clothes.”

Mai Hai said: “Mm, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

Waiting for Pollack to change into a suit of casual clothes and come down, the two walked out side-by-side. Pollack said to Mai Hai: “I know a place nearby where the food is prepared quite well.”

Mai Hai said with a smile: “Then I’ll listen to you and go eat at that place.”

Pollack led Mai Hai across two streets and then turned into a small alley. Mai Hai then saw a small shop—it was small but fully equipped and very clean. Many plants were planted at the entrance, making it look very warm. Mai Hai liked it quite a lot.

Pollack was clearly very familiar with the owner of this place. After he saw Pollack, he came up enthusiastically to greet him: “Yo, Little Spinach, it’s been a long time since you’ve come to Uncle’s place. Eh…”

When the owner saw the gentle-faced, smiling Mai Hai beside Pollack, his crackling speech didn’t continue. Instead, he looked at Mai Hai and teased Pollack: “So it was because of this, Little Spinach… no wonder you haven’t come to Uncle’s shop for so long.”

Pollack actually didn’t contradict the shop owner; it seemed their relationship really wasn’t just “ordinarily” good, Mai Hai thought.

Walking into the shop, Pollack went straight toward the seat by the window in the corner. After the Uncle brought over two glasses of ice water, he asked Pollack: “What do you want to eat today? Uncle will personally go to the kitchen to fix it for you.”

Pollack smiled slightly and said: “The usual, and today let’s add one of Uncle’s specialty dishes and a jug of Uncle’s home-brewed wheat wine.”

“Alrighty, you two sit and chat for a bit, it’ll be ready right away.” The Uncle left enthusiastically.

Mai Hai looked at Pollack and then unconsciously asked out loud: “Heavens, did you just smile?”

“Can’t I smile?” Pollack immediately withdrew his smiling face and said embarrassedly.

Mai Hai quickly shook his head and said: “I didn’t mean that.”

“Then what did you mean?” Pollack asked.

Mai Hai lowered his head and thought in his heart, Pollack really is as awkward as can be, and also very “split-personality.” One second he was as well-behaved as the big boy next door, the next second his face changed immediately.

“Forget it, forget it, I won’t bicker with you.” Pollack looked at Mai Hai’s lowered head and thought he was sad, “Truly fragile, just saying a few words and you put on a sorrowful look.”

Pollack would not admit it was because his own words were harsh. Mai Hai’s head was lowered actually because he was afraid he would accidentally make a sound from laughing, so he lowered his head and tried his best to hold back the laughter; who knew he would actually be misunderstood by Pollack.

During the interval while waiting for the owner to serve the food, Pollack went out for a moment. Mai Hai, being bored, stood up to wander around and actually wandered into the back kitchen. Seeing it was Mai Hai, the owner wasn’t angry or losing his temper; instead, he asked kindly while stir-frying: “Hungry? Wait a bit longer, it’ll be ready soon.”