Chapter 6 Drawing Closer
Taking Peter to a nearby Eyeglasses Store to get a pair of Glasses, while waiting for the Glasses to be ready, Yang Le took Peter and Gwen to a Fast Food Restaurant not far from the Eyeglasses Store.
Without a second thought, Yang Le ordered three sets of signature Hamburger Meal Set, giving Peter and Gwen no chance to refuse.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Yang Le," Peter thanked Yang Le reservedly, while Gwen just coolly said thank you.
"Peter, I just said, we are Friends. In China, it's normal for Friends to treat each other to meals. Your serious demeanor makes me feel like you don't consider me a Friend at all."
Yang Le looked at Peter helplessly, and Gwen beside him was also speechless.
"I didn't mean that, it's just, I feel like all of this is happening too fast, I haven't adapted yet..." Peter hurriedly explained, speaking so fast that he swallowed some words. If it weren't for Omnitrix's Translation Function to fill in the gaps, he might not have even understood what Peter was saying. Oh, no, without translation, he wouldn't have understood anyway.
"Oh, Peter, what are you talking about?" Yang Le understanding doesn't mean others can understand. Gwen looked at Peter speechlessly.
Hearing Gwen's complaint, Peter blushed. In fact, he really wanted to make Friends with Yang Le. After all, Yang Le saved him and Gwen, and also paid for his Glasses.
However, Yang Le helping him too much actually increased his psychological burden. He felt that Yang Le was his Benefactor, which led him to unconsciously use honorifics. He was afraid that his rashness would make him lose this hard-won Friend, Yang Le.
"Yang Le, it's okay for me to call you that, right?" Seeing his withdrawn Friend, Gwen quickly changed the subject. The awkwardness in the air was almost palpable to the next table.
"Yes, that's right. Yang is the Surname, and Le is the Name. China pronunciation is indeed a bit difficult for foreigners who are new to it. You can just call me Yang directly." Actually, Gwen's pronunciation was still a bit strange, but Yang Le didn't mind. It's okay to be casual among Friends, as long as it's not too outrageous, and he knows they are calling him.
"Yang? Yang?" Gwen murmured a few times, scratching her hair. "It still feels quite different from what you said. By the way, does your Name have any meaning?"
Meaning? This question stunned Yang Le. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever asked him about the meaning of his Name. The meaning of this Name is obvious to everyone in China.
"Uh, the character 'Le' in Chinese language means 'happy'. I guess my parents wanted me to be happy?" Yang Le was also a little unsure, after all, he had never asked.
"Happy, then I'll call you Habby from now on." After listening to Yang Le's explanation, Gwen immediately decided on Yang Le's Nickname.
'Wouldn't that make me a 'Hapi' (which sounds like a curse word in Chinese)?' Yang Le was speechless when he heard this Nickname, but looking at Gwen's big, watery eyes fluttering, his heart softened. Thinking that no one in America would understand anyway, he nodded in agreement.
"OK, I think this Nickname can also make someone who is tongue-tied feel more comfortable." Gwen's words were meaningful, but everyone present knew that 'someone' was Peter.
"I, I think our Meal Set should be ready. I'll go get it." Peter felt that he should calm down and proactively offered to leave for a moment to get the food.
"Peter might not be able to carry the three Meal Set by himself. I'll go help him. Habby, you can just wait here." After saying that, Gwen followed Peter who was leaving, not giving Yang Le a chance to refuse at all.
Gwen watched Peter queuing to pick up the food, walked over and patted him on the shoulder. Peter's body stiffened when he was patted, and then relaxed after realizing it was Gwen.
"Please, don't scare me, Gwen," Peter complained softly.
"Peter, you are too reserved. You're making Habby very awkward like this." Gwen looked at Peter with disappointment.
"I know, but I just don't know how to start. You have to help me, Gwen," Peter pleaded for help.
"It's not that complicated. Habby isn't the kind of person who nitpicks. You just need to be more casual, bring out your usual level, Reserved Gentleman."
Receiving Gwen's guidance, Peter calmed down and returned to his seat with Gwen, carrying the Serving Tray.
"Sorry, Habby, Peter and I didn't know what Drink you like to drink, so we chose Cola for you," Gwen explained apologetically, and then handed Yang Le his Meal Set.
"It's okay, Cola is my favorite. Cola is one of the greatest inventions," Yang Le raised his hands and made a 'Banzai' gesture, before taking the Meal Set.
"The premise is that the Cola has to be iced," Peter said softly from the side.
"Yes, yes, yes, Cola that isn't iced can only be considered Captain America without his Shield, its strength greatly reduced," Yang Le agreed.
"Oh, Habby, if you had said that sentence decades ago, you might have gotten beaten up." Peter reminded him after hearing Yang Le's analogy. After all, Captain America was the idol of many people, but too much time has passed, and most young people now are not very enthusiastic about him.
After hearing Peter's words, Yang Le just laughed and then took a sip of Cola, not caring at all.
Suddenly, Yang Le seemed to notice something, put down his Cola and looked at Peter.
"What did you just call me?" Yang Le said seriously, looking at Peter.
"Uh, Habby..." Peter was startled by Yang Le's sudden seriousness. "Of course, if you don't want me to call you that..."
"That's right!" Before Peter could finish speaking, Yang Le interrupted him, and at the same time stood up and reached out to pat Peter on the shoulder. "Friends should be more casual, it was so awkward just now, brother."
Gwen looked at Peter with relief, feeling like she was watching a child grow up.
Encouraged, Peter gradually let go of his worries and started chatting with Yang Le. Gwen also chimed in with a few words from time to time, and the atmosphere among the three became better and better.
Soon the three of them finished their Fast Food Restaurant meal. They checked the time and guessed that the Glasses should be ready, so they set off and arrived at the Eyeglasses Store.
Sure enough, as soon as they arrived at the store, the shop assistant took Peter to adjust the Glasses that had already been prepared. After confirming there were no problems, the three of them left the Eyeglasses Store.
"It's getting late, let me take you home," Yang Le suggested, glancing at the time.
"Are you okay? Habby, won't you get scolded for going home too late?" Gwen asked worriedly.
"Yeah, it's not far from Gwen's and my home here. We can go back by ourselves," Peter also felt that they shouldn't trouble Yang Le anymore.
"It's okay, I'm older than you guys, it's only right for me to take you home," Yang Le waved his hand dismissively. "Besides, it's okay for me to go back late, anyway, I don't have any Family in this World."
Hearing Yang Le's words, Peter and Gwen were both stunned, and for a moment they didn't know how to respond.
"I'm so sorry, Habby," Gwen said, her voice trembling slightly, her watery eyes looking at Yang Le with apology.
(End of Chapter)