39. Merlin's preparation(1/2)
Merlin almost came home with a pinch of time, and when he entered the living room, he smelled a scent.
The dining table was filled with food. In addition to the pizza delivered from takeaway, there were some freshly prepared dishes, and there were jingling sounds in the kitchen. Meilin turned around and saw a little fat man busy in the kitchen with an apron.
He was wearing a suit and dressed himself up very energetic. His eyes were always smiling. Lorna stood beside him to help, and it seemed that he was learning to cook.
His name is Fuji, and he lives not far from Josie's Bar in Hell's Kitchen. His family runs the best delis in these blocks, where Merlin and the children often go to buy some meat.
He is also Matt's friend, well, his only friend.
"Xiao Fuji, you finally came to your house as a guest."
Meilin took off his windbreaker, threw it away casually, and accurately hung the clothes on the hanger by the door. He greeted the little fat man, and he said:
"I also have to thank you for helping me take care of my family Matt. You know, his kid doesn't like making friends, which makes me very upset."
"Oh, Mr. Merlin."
The likable young man turned around and said to Merlin while stir-frying the ham in the pan:
"Don't say that, Matt and I always help each other, well, your cats and dogs are so cute, they are the smartest pets I've ever seen."
"Well, of course. They are smart."
Merlin glanced at Frank squatting at Fuji's feet, and the silly dog turned around and showed a flattering smile to Merlin.
Gugu was lying on the sofa and sat with the rocket raccoon and the tree man who had been imposed with magical illusions. The two guys were drinking beer and looked a little unrestrained.
Riven and Laura sat on the other side of the dining table. After the withdrawn little wolf girl arrived at her new home, it seemed that she had made her first friend.
"Where is Matt?"
Merlin reached out and unbuttoned the cuffs, and he said to Riven:
"Why didn't he come down to have a meal? His friend came to his house. Wouldn't he entertain him?"
"Matt is waiting for you in the study."
Raven helped Laura get a napkin, she pushed the round-frame glasses and said to Merlin:
"He told you something, well, he didn't seem to be very happy."
"All right."
Merlin's expression changed slightly, and he turned around and said to Fuji:
"You can have dinner first, Fuji, don't wait for Matt and I. We probably have to chat for a while. Lorna, don't bother Brother Fuji, let him cook well."
"It's okay, it's okay."
Fuji smiled and took the plate handed over by Lorna, and threw a piece of ham to the stupid dog Frank at his feet. He waved the shovel and said to Merlin:
"You go and do it first, Mr. Merlin, I have to cook a few more dishes."
"Um."
Merlin nodded, reached out to pick up the lazy Gugu, and walked up to the second floor while stroking Gugu's fur. He pushed open the door of the study and saw Matt sitting on a chair, leaning on a blind guide stick, with a calm face.
His and Fuji's college admission letters were placed on the table.
Merlin looked at Matt's expression and then reached out and closed the door. He sighed and said:
"You found out?"
"Well. I heard the conversation between the professors and they thought I couldn't hear it."
Ma Te nodded, and he said what he had heard before with a wooden face.
"It's not what I did, it's been helped by some of my friends."
Merlin put Gugu aside, and he reached out to open the wine cabinet, took out a bottle of wine, took out two more cups, then looked at Matt, and put another cup back.
Minors cannot drink alcohol.
"Friends will help each other, and I can't refuse their kindness. I know you will think that I have deceived you, you will think that I don't trust you, you are always so sensitive, very independent, and have your own ideas, and this has been the case since childhood."
Merlin poured himself a glass of wine and he whispered:
"Among all the kids at home, you are the most worry-free thing for me, so I just think that nothing has happened. You and Fuji go to school obediently and then become a good lawyer in the future...how about it?"
“This is wrong.”
Matt reached out and took off his sunglasses, his unscrupulous eyes turned to Merlin, and he said stubbornly:
"We don't need extra help, Merlin, I'm grateful for your attention to my studies and my life, but I don't like this way of intervening... It makes me feel that these are not what I deserve. I plan to give up early admission with Fuji and then go to the exam."
"If I want to be a lawyer, if I want to use the power of the law to help others, I have to obey it first."
Matt pointed to the admission letter on the table and said:
“Instead of through my guardian’s connections and power…what is this different from those criminals who steal?”
“The difference is…”
Merlin took a sip of wine, and he walked to Matt, reached out to pat the two admission letters, and he answered seriously:
"You guys have the ability to get it, and I just made sure that the process is not disturbed by other forces. Matt, not everyone has the same idea as you, and not everyone will follow the rules as you."
Merlin explained:
"If my friends don't interfere, you and Fuji, two poor boys from Hell's Kitchen, who have no background, will be defeated by the rich kids who donated money to the school. If you need it, I can even show you the evidence. The parents of those two ignorant guys donated a lot of money..."
"Listen, Matt, my friend just makes sure the process is a little more 'fair' for both of you."
He put the wine glass on the table and he pushed two notices before Matt, saying:
"You have taken the exam and your grades are excellent, so that's what you deserve."
"I am a public official. I am responsible for maintaining social order, protecting innocent people from being hurt, protecting rules will not be challenged, I protect the lives of others, and I also protect you from being treated differently. This is not illegal in theory, so don't have any psychological pressure."
Merlin said to Matt:
"After a while, I will go to school honestly, and like Eric after graduation, I will find a decent job, and find a good woman like Charlie to get married and have children. This will make me feel relieved and Jack feel relieved. After I spent so much time explaining it to you, what else do you have?"
"And, Matt, is my impression of you so bad?"
Merlin took a sip of wine and said in a pretended sad way:
"I'm really sad from the distrust of my children."
"I just want to figure it out, Merlin, I don't distrust you."
Matt reached out his hand and touched the notice, and he said:
"I thought you used your relationship to make sure we were accepted, I..."
"Okay, no need to explain, I have some confidence in myself. My child, your grades are all very real, you can check it out."
Merlin patted Matt on the shoulder and said:
"Go down to have a meal, Fuji and the others are waiting for you, I will go down soon."
Matt didn't say anything else. He left the study with a blind guide stick. After watching Matt leave, Icarus's voice sounded in Merlin's ears, she said:
"I won't say that Matt is a few tens of his grades above the admission line, but Fuji...he just crossed the admission line, right?"
"But Fuji is also eligible for admission, Icarus."
Merlin looked at the admission letter at hand and said:
"Although the chance of losing the election is quite high, it seems that the little fat man is lucky. Matt and his good friend can go to school together again. Having someone to take care of him for me will always make me feel more at ease."
"You are really good to them."
Icarus said, Merlin shrugged, and he finished the last bit of wine, he said:
"Isn't this what the guardian should do? Jack's last wish is to hope that Matt will become a decent person and not have to struggle for a lifetime in the quagmire of Hell's Kitchen. Matt did a good job and Jack will definitely be satisfied."
"Okay, it's time for us to go down and have dinner... Where is Logan?"
Merlin asked again:
"Can he arrive tonight? If it's too late, let yourself sleep outside for a night and come back tomorrow morning."
"Logan's plane landed 5 minutes ago."
Icarus projected a schedule before Merlin and marked the coordinates that Logan moved in New York City, she said:
"He should be here in 30 minutes, and you can get Laura ready in advance."
“Nothing to prepare.”
Merlin said:
"It's just a meeting. I won't let Logan take her away. That guy's life is a mess. I don't believe he can take good care of a little girl with communication barriers."
"Then why do you want to create trouble?"
Icarus asked in confusion:
"Does Logan know that Laura's existence will not have any impact on his or Laura's life."
“I just prepared in advance.”
Merlin placed the wine glass on the table and he whispered:
To be continued...