Chapter 14: Date Battle?
"Relax, Peter, think about the Expo, think about the exhibitions you're really excited about." Peter kept taking deep breaths.
"Are you ready, Peter? Gwen and Mary Jane should be here soon." Yang Le checked the time on his mobile phone, which was made using Grey Matter.
"Okay... okay, by the way, why didn't Gwen come with us?" Peter asked, puzzled.
"It's all because of you." Yang Le sighed. "You need to remember, Peter, the current setup is that Gwen has a crush on me, and I'm oblivious."
"Then Mary Jane is helping Gwen. She's responsible for distracting you to create Private Time for Gwen and me. And in turn, your Private Time with Mary Jane will be completed, understand?"
"I know that." Peter nodded. "But you still haven't said why Gwen didn't come with us!"
"Oh my god! I'm starting to worry about you being alone with Mary Jane later." Yang Le sighed, facepalming. "In other words, from Gwen's perspective, this is a Date, so she wants to dress up nicely. And Mary Jane is helping her choose outfits, so they'll come together. Remember, the reason we came early is to buy Tickets, understand?"
"Yes, sir!" Peter gave a military salute. It seemed that after talking with Yang Le, he was indeed less nervous.
"Hi, boys!" Just as Yang Le and Peter were joking around, Mary Jane's voice came from nearby.
"Hello, Mary Jane." Hearing Mary Jane's voice, Peter immediately turned towards the sound to greet her.
"Hi." Yang Le also raised his right hand to greet them, in stark contrast to Peter, who was as stiff as a soldier at attention.
"You guys are dressed really cool today." Mary Jane looked at Peter and Yang Le's outfits and nodded in satisfaction.
"Glad you like it." Peter looked very happy. Aunt May had helped him choose his outfit: a red Plaid Shirt and Jeans. Although simple, it suited Peter perfectly.
Yang Le, on the other hand, had simply bought a Mannequin Outfit from the Clothing Store: a Black Baseball Jacket, White T-shirt, and Black Pants.
"Y-you look really beautiful today too." Peter said softly, his face flushed.
"Thank you." Mary Jane smiled politely. Since she was playing wingman today, she dressed casually: a green Hoodie with a Denim Skirt and Black Boots.
"By the way, where's Gwen?" Yang Le asked, noticing that Mary Jane was alone.
"Take a look behind you." Mary Jane winked, saying playfully.
Yang Le and Peter turned around at her words and found Gwen standing prettily behind them.
"Hi, guys." Gwen looked a little awkward, raising her hand to greet them.
Mary Jane then leaned closer to them and asked, "Well? Isn't Gwen looking very different today?"
"Definitely very different." Peter nodded in agreement.
Gwen's usual clothes were mostly pieced together from her father's, her late mother's, and her own. Although the clothes were a mixed bag, Gwen, with her natural good looks and sense of fashion, could pull off surprisingly good looks, but they were invariably rock style.
However, Gwen's style today was very different from usual. She wore a white oversized Hoodie with a pink melting smiley face design, a Plaid Skirt with Black Leggings, and pink and blue Converse Shoes. It was completely different from her usual style, making her look playful and cute.
"Say something?" Gwen, with her Ponytail, looked at the silent Yang Le, tilted her head, and asked tentatively.
"It really suits you, Gwen."
"Uh, thanks..."
Mary Jane watched the awkward atmosphere between the two and smiled knowingly, clearing her throat to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, guys! We've been standing at the Doorway long enough. The Expo will be closing soon."
Reminded by her, Peter quickly took out the Tickets and distributed them to everyone. Only then did they enter the Venue in an orderly fashion.
As soon as they entered the Venue, Mary Jane dutifully played her wingman role, pretending to be very interested in everything and constantly asking Peter questions.
This was exactly what Peter wanted, and he diligently answered her questions.
And just like that, before Yang Le and Gwen could even make a move, Mary Jane used the crowds of people coming and going to lead Peter, who was wholeheartedly explaining things to her, away from Yang Le and Gwen.
"I guess we've completed our mission this way, right?" Yang Le looked at the dense crowd and scanned around, but couldn't find where Peter and Mary Jane had gone.
"I guess so?" Gwen relaxed and let out a breath. "I just don't know if Peter will seize the opportunity."
"Then it's up to Peter's performance." Yang Le took out his Mobile phone and checked the time. "Let's go, it's still early, let's wander around too. Is there anywhere you'd like to visit?"
"Emm." Gwen put her hand on her chin, as if thinking. "Let's go to the Biotechnology Exhibition Area. We've been working on a Tune recently, and I want to see if those Little Guys can give me some inspiration."
"Yes, ma'am." Yang Le said, extending his right hand.
"?" Gwen looked at Yang Le's outstretched hand, puzzled.
"It's too crowded here." Yang Le shrugged. "And you're rather, uh... petite? I'm afraid you'll get lost."
"Oh, you're such a gentleman." Gwen looked at Yang Le with a forced smile, and extended her left hand as well, but instead of taking Yang Le's right hand, she pinched him hard.
"Ow!"
"Watch it, big guy."
Gwen looked triumphantly at Yang Le, who was clutching his hand, and then skipped towards the Biotechnology Exhibition Area, hands behind her back.
"Wait for me!" Yang Le shook his head helplessly and quickly followed.
Yang Le, chasing after Gwen, accidentally bumped into a passerby in an Overcoat. Yang Le stumbled back a few steps, while the man in the Overcoat fell on his backside.
"I'm really sorry, sir." Yang Le quickly went over and reached out to help the man in the Overcoat up.
But to his surprise, the passerby didn't even look at Yang Le. He struggled to his feet, wrapped his Overcoat tighter around himself, and quickly left.
"What's wrong, Habby?" Gwen, who hadn't seen Yang Le following, turned back to look for him and just caught sight of the man in the Overcoat leaving.
"Nothing." Yang Le frowned, watching the direction the man in the Overcoat had gone. The man had bumped into several other people as he left, looking very anxious.
'Forget it, I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe he really has an emergency?' Although the man acted suspiciously, Yang Le couldn't just rush up and grab him to interrogate him.
"Let's go. Didn't you say you wanted to go to the Biotechnology Exhibition Area?" Yang Le decided to stop thinking about the man in the Overcoat, turned around, took Gwen's hand, and headed towards the Biotechnology Exhibition Area.
Gwen looked at Yang Le holding her hand, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly, but she quickly returned to her usual expression, letting Yang Le lead her forward.
(End of Chapter)