Gwen returned to New York City yesterday morning.
Helen had prepared a sumptuous dinner and was waiting for them to return home.
But Hawk didn't come back.
So... Gwen told a lie.
"What?"
"I missed my flight because of diarrhea?"
On the way to Stacy Apartment with gifts, Hawk glanced at Gwen, who was sitting in the passenger seat, head bowed, lips pursed, seemingly trying to suppress her laughter: "This is the harmless little lie you mentioned?"
Gwen looked up at Hawk.
"It's better than saying you broke a bone, hey, guess what, you don't need a cast this time."
"I'd rather have a cast."
"I didn't say I'd take care of you this time."
"Then I'd rather you said I fell at the airport and broke a bone."
Hawk shook his head helplessly: "With a cast, I'd at most be inconvenienced, but saying I missed my flight due to diarrhea, that's social death."
Gwen blinked.
"No one will know, Hawk."
"That's still not good."
Hawk shook his head, firmly disagreeing with Gwen's excuse: "When we get home, if they ask, just say it was actually you, but you were too embarrassed."
Sitting in the passenger seat, Gwen glanced at Hawk, whose face was full of resistance to this excuse.
"Not even if I agree to wear that Nurse uniform you bought?"
...Gulp.
Hawk silently swallowed, looking at Gwen, who had a charming smile on her lips.
Gwen winked at Hawk.
"It's a rare opportunity."
"...You're blackmailing me."
"Yes, Mr. Phoenix, I am blackmailing you."
Hiss!
Hawk parked the car, looked at the apartment across the street, then at his smiling fiancée in the passenger seat, closed his eyes, his mind filled with images of Gwen in that pink Nurse uniform, couldn't help but take a deep breath, then opened his eyes and looked at Gwen: "I finally understand why you didn't tell me at home and didn't agree to shower with me this afternoon."
Gwen looked at Hawk with a radiant smile.
Hawk sighed.
"Add one more."
"What?"
"Policewoman."
Hawk stared intently at Gwen: "Add one more Policewoman uniform, and I'll agree to take the blame for this; otherwise, I'll tear up the ticket!"
Once again.
He never had any intention or plan of hiding his identity.
Hawk wanted to play the 'overwhelming power' style, just like in Waterfall Town, directly activating his 'face fruit' to make the Original Vampire Klaus give him face.
But Gwen liked him to play the 'hide one's strength and bide one's time' style.
So... since Gwen wanted him to keep a low profile, she had to show some sincerity.
One uniform and she expected him to bear the reputation of delaying a flight because of diarrhea?
How could that be allowed?
At least two!
Upon hearing this, Gwen's expression was first stunned, then she chuckled and extended her right hand.
"Pleasure working with you."
"Pleasure working with you."
After Hawk and Gwen shook hands, he opened the car door and walked towards the trunk, while looking at Gwen getting out of the passenger seat: "You know, if you had insisted, I would have accepted just one."
Gwen looked at Hawk with a smile: "I know, but actually my bottom line was three, after all, you bought three sets of lingerie, didn't you?"
Hawk, who had just opened the trunk, heard this and looked at Gwen with a slightly stunned expression.
Gwen's smile grew even brighter.
Apartment penthouse!
The door opened.
Helen, opening the door, saw Hawk standing outside with two bags of gifts, her face beaming, and she embraced Hawk with open arms.
"Oh, Hawk, Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas, Helen."
Hawk also said with a smile, then after entering the house, he extended his right hand and shook hands with George, who was already waiting in the living room: "Happy Christmas, George."
George, habitually playing the role of a stern patriarch, hummed without a smile.
"Happy Christmas."
"Dad."
Gwen, with a radiant smile, took over from Hawk and embraced George.
George's stern poker face instantly bloomed like a chrysanthemum.
Hawk watched this scene, walked to the side, and whispered to his future mother-in-law, Helen: "I've always felt that George not pulling out a gun and shooting me after finding out Gwen and I were dating was a great display of restraint."
Helen shook her head, smiling as she looked at Hawk.
"Wrong, that was a miracle."
...I agree.
Hawk thought for a moment, then nodded in solemn agreement with his future mother-in-law's words, then looked at the somewhat empty living room: "Where are Howard and Simon?"
The smile on Helen's face instantly vanished, and she sneered: "In their room, catching up on homework. School starts tomorrow, and they haven't finished their assignments."
Public 'happy education' naturally has no homework, or very little if it does.
But private 'elite education' schools not only have a lot of homework but also make it very competitive.
Hawk was surprised to hear this.
"No way."
"Yes, they're furiously writing in their room. I told them, if they don't give me a miracle tonight, I'll give them one first thing tomorrow morning."
Helen chuckled coldly.
She was a bit puzzled; Gwen was also her daughter, but Gwen never caused her any worry from childhood, earning scholarships every year.
But when it came to Gwen's two younger brothers, Howard and Simon...
Good heavens.
Helen felt like she was going crazy.
"Hawk."
"Hmm."
"If you and Gwen have children in the future, have daughters."
"No."
Hawk shook his head, looked at Helen, and said with a smile: "We want them all, three pairs. Gwen said she'd leave them all to you, and she'd pay, since you have experience."
Helen raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so, Gwen said that?"
"Yes, I promise, Mrs. Stacy."
"Very good."
Helen took a deep breath, then looked at her dear daughter, who was sharing beautiful photos of Waterfall Town with George on the sofa, a radiant smile on her face: "Gwen."
Gwen turned to look.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"Come to my room, I need to talk to you."
Helen smiled, then walked to the sofa, took Gwen's somewhat bewildered right hand, and then walked upstairs.
Gwen, holding her mother's hand, turned to look at Hawk.
Hawk gave Gwen a 'fend for yourself' look.
Who told you to cut down on my uniform count?
I can't deal with you, but someone else can.
Hawk thought with a smile.
Then... he realized something: Gwen and Helen, the 'lubricants' of the family, had gone to their room, and Howard and Simon, the 'atmosphere creators,' were also in their room attempting a miracle. Only he and George were left in the living room.
It seemed, as if, the atmosphere in the living room had suddenly turned cold.
Hawk looked at George sitting on the sofa.
George, exuding the dignity of a patriarch and future father-in-law, was also looking at Hawk.
Their eyes met.
Hawk was the first to look away, sitting on a nearby sofa, then coughed and chose to speak.
"Gwen said you were also busy with a case on Christmas Day. The case should be over now, right?"
"Not yet."
George was sparing with his words.
"Oh."
Hawk's expression was enlightened, and then he didn't know what to say.
After all, his time alone with George was extremely rare; most, no, ninety-nine point nine percent of the time, Gwen was present.
The reason it wasn't one hundred percent was because Gwen wasn't there now.
Just then.
Cough!
George, sitting on the sofa, also coughed and looked at Hawk: "Gwen said you missed your flight at the airport yesterday because of diarrhea. Are you feeling unwell? Have you seen a Doctor?"
Hawk's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
"I just ate something bad; I'm fine now."
"You should go to the Hospital for a check-up."
"Ah."
George looked at Hawk seriously: "Did you have your physical examination today?"
Hawk instinctively shook his head. Are you kidding? With his physical fitness, he still needed a physical examination?
As long as Earth didn't explode, he wouldn't die.
No!
Even if Earth exploded, he would still live perfectly fine.
"No."
"You should get one."
George said, and as if he had prepared for it, he took out a list and handed it to Hawk: "Doctor Mary at New Amsterdam Hospital is a friend of mine. Go get a check-up when you have time."
Hawk took the business card George handed him, then met George's serious gaze, and subconsciously nodded.
He looked at the business card in his hand, then at George, who, after saying that, had refocused his attention on the TV program in front of him. For some reason, he suddenly felt that George's look at him just now was like someone who didn't want his daughter to become a widow at a young age.
Hiss!
It's over.
George wouldn't really think he was the kind of man who looked strong but was actually weak, afraid that he couldn't give his daughter happiness, and that's why he asked him to go to his good friend for a physical examination, intending to have his friend help verify it?
Hawk's thoughts raced, and the corners of his mouth twitched again uncontrollably.
After dinner, on the way back to Palm Street.
The air was quiet.
Gwen sat in the passenger seat, expressionless, arms crossed.
Hawk, driving, glanced at her.
"Tonight, I want the Policewoman set."
...
Gwen, sitting in the passenger seat, instantly broke character, laughing in exasperation as she looked at Hawk: "I'm angry, Hawk. Mom lectured me. When did I ever say I wanted three boys and three girls and then have Mom help raise them?"
Hawk looked at Gwen with a calm expression, then handed her the business card for Doctor Mary from his pocket.
"This is Doctor Mary's business card."
Gwen took it, glanced at the card, and was a little curious: "Why are you giving me this card?"
Hawk's tone was calm.
"George gave it to me."
"Dad? Why did he give you Doctor Mary's business card?"
"George wants me to go see Doctor Mary for a physical."
"For no reason, why..."
Gwen frowned instinctively as she spoke, then halfway through her sentence, she seemed to realize something, and instantly pursed her lips, looking at Hawk with a strange expression.
Hawk and Gwen exchanged glances.
"So... Officer Stacy, is it okay?"
"Okay..."
Gwen pursed her lips and nodded.
Then... Gwen looked at Hawk.
"So, when are you going for the physical?"
"Shut up!"
...
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