Howard squinted, feeling that he might have been too abrupt in visiting without warning, and besides, he hadn't figured out how to face his future wife.
So he decided to climb over the wall.
Just sneak in quietly, take a look at what the person looks like, and if there's a chance, eavesdrop a bit to figure out what kind of person they are, then he could slip away.
Both picking up girls and being a special agent require gathering intelligence, after all.
When you know what someone likes, dislikes, what they think, and can respond appropriately, it's hard not to succeed in getting close to them.
Howard was the type to act on his impulses.
He lifted his foot, pressed a few buttons on the sole, and the super suction shoes he invented popped out from under him, glowing with a bluish light as they started to operate.
Then he adjusted his tie, nonchalantly walking up the outer wall, with an expression of pride and elegance.
Su Ming just stood with his arms crossed at the gate, showing no intention to follow. After all, his current identity was that of an ordinary businessman, Slade, and this was the United States, where breaking into others' homes could easily get you shot.
If Howard got shot, someone would have to take him to the hospital, wouldn't they?
Howard, oblivious to Su Ming's thoughts, walked devilishly up the wall, step by step, smirking once he got to the top. He winked at Su Ming before preparing to jump down.
But at that moment, he suddenly saw a young girl inside the yard, staring at him in surprise.
She was wearing a small brown coat, a pink knit hat and gloves, with golden hair playfully peeking out from under the hat's brim. Next to her was a half-built snowman, surrounded by some small plastic tools.
The girl looked about eleven or twelve, seemingly playing in a corner of the garden.
"Uh... hi!"
Howard looked a bit embarrassed. Had he been spotted just after getting on the wall? Luckily, it was just a little girl, maybe he could bluff his way through. So he greeted her kindly, squatting on the wall to appear non-threatening.
But the girl only glanced at his glowing shoes and quickly recovered from her surprise: "Why are you trying to sneak into our house, mister? From your attire, you don't look like someone who's struggling to make ends meet."
"I... I'm looking for someone." Howard pondered, could he be mistaken for a thief? He awkwardly wiped his brow.
Howard Stark could be seen as a genius, a madman, a weirdo, and he could accept all those labels.
But he'd refuse to be seen as a beggar or a thief!
However, looking at the wealth of the household, even the garden benches were gilded, maybe to the little girl, he did look like a beggar.
"The front door is over there, why don't you use it..." The girl pointed to the gate, puffing up her little chest: "You know, with just one scream from me, hundreds of bodyguards would come out and shoot you, right? So, who are you looking for?"
"I'm not a bad guy, I'm Howard Stark, quite famous. You must have seen me on TV." Howard pointed to his face, trying hard to show his signature smile, like the one on the cover photo of Time magazine.
The girl stepped back several times, looking at Howard as if he were a freak: "You're the legendary Howard Stark who loves to wander around town without clothes?"
Howard glared fiercely over the wall at Su Ming, blaming him! Last time he went to the public phone booth without clothes, it got blown up by the Horn Daily, and now even little girls knew his infamy!
Su Ming turned his head to gaze at the distant sea, exhaling a puff of smoke and flicking the cigarette ash away.
"Uh! If I said that was an accident, would you believe me?" Howard, having no choice with Su Ming, just smiled again trying to explain to the little girl, little knowing that his squatting on the wall didn't lend him any credibility.
The girl's gaze sharpened, as if seeing through everything: "I believe, I believe you're a weirdo! You should leave, or I'll call for help."
"No, I'm really here for someone, Maria Collins Capone, she lives here, right? I'm here to see her." Howard waved his hands frantically, he's not a weirdo!
"Oh? Do you know her?" The girl calmly picked up the pink shovel from the ground, holding it across her chest as if it were a defensive weapon.
Howard couldn't discuss magic with outsiders, so he was evasive: "I haven't met her, but I'm an admirer. Sneaking in like this is just to catch a glimpse of her, you know, like the storybooks where the Prince secretly climbs up the rose vine to the Princess's balcony at night, isn't that romantic?"
"Shameless! Disgraceful!"
The girl didn't fancy it at all, instead, she frowned with her little nose in disdain, taking a few more steps back.
Howard felt a bit awkward, was the girl too mature for her age? Ordinary kids should think the Prince sneaking into the Princess's room at night is just to chat, right?
"It's not what you're thinking it is! Anyway, help keep it a secret, let me sneak in quietly for a peek, and I'll buy you something your family doesn't allow you to have."
Howard diverted the topic to bribery, since a wealthy family with high educational standards also tends to have strict rules, there must be something fun that kids aren't allowed to play with.
The little girl lowered her head, seemingly tempted, the pink-gloved hand holding her chin for a moment, then she lifted her head: "I want a tiger, but my family doesn't allow pets, can you buy me one?"