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*****
Heh, hehe, hehehehe...
At this moment, Gwen's mind echoed endlessly with her own laughter.
It just wouldn't go away.
She was so embarrassed she wanted to transform right there on the spot.
Rubbing her face, Gwen pretended to be calm and said, "Ha, haha, so it was me laughing after all. How strange, why was I laughing? Haha!"
"Your forced laughter can't hide your embarrassment," Mike commented lightly.
Gwen: "..."
"Then... I'll be going?" Gwen asked in a low voice, grumbling as she shuffled out of the VIP room.
"How was it? Were you satisfied?" Winnie asked quietly when she saw the father and daughter emerge.
"It wasn't fun at all," Gwen said, her face taut, as she walked quickly toward the exit.
Mike smiled and shook his head, saying to the confused Winnie, "Don't mind her. She had a lot of fun, she's just a little embarrassed."
With that, Mike paid the bill and walked out of the store.
Just as Mike reached the entrance, Winnie suddenly called out, "Mr. Kent, thank you so much for everything you've done for the mutants."
Mike paused, then smiled. "This is all thanks to your own hard work. I just provided a place for you to put in that effort."
After speaking, Mike saw Gwen waving to him in the distance and quickly jogged to catch up.
Watching Mike leave, Winnie's eyes shone with gratitude.
"Mike Kent, we will remember everything you've done for the mutants. But... your Kent family is truly not suited to be the masters here. Mutants were born to belong to that Lord..." she murmured to herself. As she thought of that Lord, her eyes filled with a fiery passion.
Mike and Gwen walked down the main street. Everywhere they went, they were met with looks of respect.
Mike was fine, practically ignoring the stares, but Gwen felt a bit uneasy.
"Dad, let's just go home."
It wasn't that she'd never been stared at before, but this kind of reverent gaze put an immense pressure on her.
"You should learn to get used to these looks."
"Get used to them?"
Gwen mulled it over. Thinking of the Kent family's current special status, she nodded. "I understand."
If this sort of thing was unavoidable, then she could only get used to it and try her best not to let it affect her.
Gwen lifted her head high and, under all those gazes, walked with Mike toward the Kent residence.
The Kent family's home on Planet Kent was a palace.
The family hadn't given it any special name; they just called it "home."
In their hearts, no matter how the place they lived changed, it was still just their home.
And when others on Planet Kent spoke of it, they also simply referred to it as the "Kent Home."
Kent Home—an ordinary name, yet because of Mike and his family, it had taken on a special meaning.
Under the watch of the crowds along the way, Mike and Gwen arrived home.
Currently, only the two of them were in the massive palace. Everyone else was essentially at work.
Thinking about it that way...
Mike and Gwen glanced at each other.
Good grief. They were the only two slackers.
"Sigh!" Gwen let out a breath. "I've discovered that living in a place that's too big is no fun, either. It doesn't feel very homey."
Mike couldn't help but laugh. "It'll be better once everyone comes back."
"Yeah!"
Gwen nodded, then suddenly asked, "Dad, is my little brother going to be born soon?"
Mike thought for a moment.
"It should be in early May."
Gwen was delighted. "Doesn't that mean there's only a month left?"
Mike nodded.
"Have you picked a name yet? If not, I have a few suggestions!"
A name?
Mike was taken aback.
Come to think of it, even though he had four children now, he hadn't named a single one of them himself.
〒▽〒
And now, he had completely forgotten about the whole naming business.
What would be a good name?
Mike pondered, looking at the eager Gwen.
"Let's hear them."
Perhaps she would give him a spark of inspiration.
"Tom. Jerry. How about those?"
Why did that sound so familiar?
Mike frowned, thinking hard.
Tom and Jerry!
Mike squinted at Gwen.
Gwen gave an awkward laugh. "Maybe a little inappropriate, huh."
"How about..."
"I think I'll just come up with one myself."
Before Gwen could say more, Mike cut her off. After she sighed, he lightly flicked her on the forehead.
"Stop thinking about that. If you have time, help me think about how to plan the wedding."
"Wedding?"
Gwen looked as if she'd heard something unbelievable, her mouth forming a perfect 'O'.
"Dad, you and Auntie Raven are..."
"Yes."
Mike smiled and nodded. "I want to get it done before the baby is born."
Gwen happily slapped Mike's arm.
"Hahaha! Dad! You're finally getting married! You've been dragging your feet for so long, I was starting to think you were a scumbag! Turns out you're a responsible man after all!"
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Gwen laughed joyfully, the sound punctuated by her continuous slapping.
Mike: ?_?
So, in this little girl's eyes, I was just a scumbag?
Noticing Mike's expression, Gwen's movements froze. She put on a fawning smile.
"Um, I wasn't saying you are a scumbag, Dad! Just that you're like a scumbag."
Mike: (???)
"Ah, because only handsome guys are qualified to be scumbags! I was just saying you're really handsome, Dad! It's how young people give compliments."
Gwen explained hurriedly, adding a bright smile for good measure.
Mike: "..."
I may be getting older, but that doesn't mean I'm an idiot.
Mike smiled faintly and said to Gwen, "In that case, you're a scumbag-girl, too."
Gwen: "..."
Well, great.
She had just lifted a rock and dropped it squarely on her own foot.
"Dad, let's just talk about the wedding! Where are you planning to hold it?"
"Right here."
Mike pointed around the palace, smiling. "When the time comes, Planet Kent will definitely be very lively."
Gwen's eyes lit up. "Dad, are we going to accept 'fenziqian'?"
"'Fenziqian'..."
Mike looked at Gwen, speechless. "Where do you even learn these things?"
"Heehee!" Gwen grinned. "From 'The Complete Guide to Chinese Festivals'."
That's a real thing!?
"Don't even think about it, you little money-grubber."
Mike smiled and poked Gwen's forehead. "When Raven gets back, we'll return to Earth, and then we can start preparing."
He paused, then added, "Don't tell anyone else about this. Especially don't let Raven find out."
"Got it!"
Gwen agreed. Her eyes darted around, and she said to Mike, "Dad, I'm going back to my room."
Before Mike could reply, she trotted back to her room, grabbed her phone, and pulled every family member except Raven into a new group chat.
Clark, Erik, Charles, Hope, Jean, and Hela.
Gwen: I have major news!
Charles: What? Did you find some money?
Gwen: So vulgar. Do you really think that would count as major news?
Clark: He's right. If Gwen found money, she'd never be willing to tell us about it.
Erik: Haha.
Gwen: (?益?)
Gwen: Do you guys want to know or not?!
Clark: We were wrong. Please elaborate, Miss Gwen.
Gwen: Hmph!
Hope: Just tell us.
Gwen: Dad is going to have a wedding with Auntie Raven!
Everyone: !
Clark: Are you sure?
Gwen: Of course! Dad told me himself!
Gwen: By the way! Don't let anyone else find out! Especially Auntie Raven!
Everyone: Got it.
Kent Academy for Gifted Heroes.
Charles's Office.
Charles put his phone down on the desk and pumped his fist joyfully.
"That's wonderful!"
Charles couldn't help but shout in excitement.
"What's going on?"
Logan, who had come to give Charles a work report, looked at him in confusion.
Charles said happily, "My dad is marrying Auntie Raven!"
Logan froze for a second, then beamed. "That's great! So that old bastard is finally having his day!"
Charles nodded, then paused.
That... sounded a little off...
Seeing Logan's excitement, Charles quickly added, "Don't go spreading this around! And especially, don't let Auntie Raven find out!"
Logan grinned.
"Don't worry. You could beat me to death, and I wouldn't say a word."
Earth. San Francisco. Hank Pym's House.
Ever since Clark had come to Hope's house last time and taken her away right in front of Hank Pym, he had gotten progressively bolder. Recently, he had even started shamelessly staying over.
"Awesome!"
Hearing the shout from upstairs, Hank Pym put down his coffee cup, puzzled. He hid his face behind his newspaper, tilted his ear slightly, and held his breath.
Can't hear a thing!
Just then, Clark and Hope came downstairs, chatting and laughing. Hank Pym snorted softly, quickly sat up straight, and pretended to calmly lift his coffee cup again.
As the two approached, he put the cup down, folded his newspaper, and was just about to speak when Hope said cheerfully, "Hank! I have great news for you!"
Hank Pym was slightly taken aback, but a smile spread across his face.
"What is it?"
"Uncle Mike is getting married!"
"What!"
Hank Pym yelped, whipping his head around to look at Clark.
Clark gave a firm nod.
A smile returned to Hank Pym's face, but he couldn't stop himself from muttering under his breath, "Raven... That old fossil... he's really scored."
He wasn't jealous. Not one bit.
"By the way, don't tell anyone about this. Especially not Raven."
"I know!"
Hank Pym waved his hand dismissively. After watching the two leave, he picked up his newspaper again.
Suddenly, his phone, which was sitting beside him, rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and casually answered.
"Hank! Get over here! We're short one player for mahjong!"
Peggy Carter's voice was full of excitement.
Hank pursed his lips. "I'm in San Francisco right now!"
"So what if you're in San Francisco? Just fly over."
"Fly over? You're insane, woman!" Hank said, exasperated. "Why can't you learn from Mike and do something productive, like finally holding your wedding with Steve!?"
"Me and Steve... wait, did you say Mike is holding a wedding?!!"
An eardrum-piercing shriek made Hank Pym's head ring.
Remembering the warning from Clark and his daughter, Hank Pym quickly said, "I didn't say anything!"
He paused, then couldn't help adding, "Just make sure Raven doesn't find out. That old dog Mike seems to be planning a surprise for her."
"Got it!"
Peggy Carter excitedly hung up, completely forgetting about needing a fourth player.
The very first thing she did after hanging up was turn to Maria, who was sitting next to her, and declare, "Mike's getting married!"
"What!"
Maria's expression was identical to Peggy's.
But she quickly became gleeful. "Well, as his old friends, we'd better prepare some really good gifts and help him design the wedding!"
She sprang to her feet excitedly, pacing back and forth in front of Peggy as thrilling ideas popped into her head one after another. "No, this won't do. I have to go back and start preparing immediately!"
"Preparations are fine, but you must not, under any circumstances, tell anyone else. Especially not Raven."
"I understand."
A few minutes later, Maria was saying the exact same thing to Tony.
Don't tell anyone else, and definitely don't let Raven find out.
A short while after that, Tony was gravely impressing the same warning upon Pepper Potts.
Don't tell anyone else, and definitely don't let Raven find out...
In an instant, that sentence was spreading among everyone like wildfire.
Evening. Planet Kent.
The setting sun cast a warm, orange-yellow glow, paving a gentle path for those returning home.
Raven finished her classes for the day, checked the time, and began walking out of the school.
"Goodbye, Teacher Raven."
"Goodbye."
Raven smiled in response to the children. She watched them roughhousing and laughing as they left the school, just like any ordinary kids, and her eyes filled with emotion.
She was finally seeing the sight she had always longed to see.
Stepping into the sunlight, Raven walked toward the school gate. When she saw the person standing in the light, smiling at her, a grin brighter than the sun instantly bloomed on her face, and she quickened her pace.
"What are you doing here?"
She hugged Mike's arm in a happy surprise.
Mike naturally took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I came to pick you up from school."
"Pick me up?" Raven said, amused. "I'm not a child anymore, you don't need to pick me up."
Despite her words, the corners of her mouth, which refused to stay down, betrayed her wonderful mood.
Mike just smiled, held her hand, and started walking home.
"What do you want to eat tonight?"
"I'm good with anything. Whatever you make is delicious."
"Well, that part's true."
"You... you're still..."
The two murmured to each other, cloaked in a beautiful orange glow by the setting sun.
Not far behind them, Charles watched their retreating backs, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
He had left at basically the same time as Raven. Why didn't Dad see him?
He cast a resentful gaze at his father.
That night, the Kent family gathered for a lavish dinner.
It had been a while since they were all together, making today a rare, joyous occasion.
Just as they had finished eating, cleared the dishes, and settled down to chat about work and life... Raven suddenly looked at Mike with a smile.
"So, when are you planning to hold the wedding with me?"
Mike: !
He had wanted to get everything ready first and give her a huge surprise.
Mike's mouth twitched. His gaze shot across the room, scanning everyone else.
"It wasn't me!"
"Nothing to do with me!"
"I don't know anything!"
"It wasn't you?"
Mike squinted at the group and sneered, "So, how exactly did this news reach Raven's ears? Who was it that leaked the secret!?"
(End of Chapter)