Chapter 65
At that moment, a trembling hand rose shakily from behind the sofa. Deadpool crawled up like a zombie coming back to life.
"Um… can I apply to be team leader? After all, I'm the hottest…"
Red light flashed in Yang Jian's eyes.
"Wait!"
Deadpool suddenly turned serious. "I just thought of an awesome team name!"
He struck a dramatic epic-trailer pose.
"Guardians League, Multiverse Special Operations Unit! Abbreviated D.E.A.T.H. (Deathly Epic Awesome Team Heroes)!"
The room fell silent.
Gwen facepalmed: "How about Midnight Sons instead?"
"Too old-school!"
Deadpool protested. "What about X-Force? Oh wait—copyright issues."
Wanda's eyes suddenly brightened: "What about New Dawn? It symbolizes a fresh start."
"That's nice." Coulson nodded.
Melinda smiled: "Simple and direct. I like it."
Yang Jian looked at Gwen. She smiled and nodded: "New Dawn it is."
"Hey hey hey!" Deadpool jumped onto the coffee table.
"I haven't agreed yet! At least put some Deadpool element in it! Like Deadpool and His Handsome Guys & Beautiful Girls Squad."
Shoo!
This time Gwen's webbing stuck him to the ceiling.
Yang Jian stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
The setting sun bathed New York in gold: "New Dawn is officially established today."
He turned to the group: "Coulson coordinates, May handles training, Wanda, Echo, and Gwen are the main force."
"What about me?" Deadpool wriggled on the ceiling.
"Mascot." Everyone said in unison.
Deadpool thought for two seconds: "That position actually suits me surprisingly well!"
"No—he's just a comic relief guy. He'll leave with me. He's a multiverse wanderer."
Yang Jian explained with a smile.
Coulson straightened his back and nodded solemnly: "We'll take care of everything."
Melinda May also became serious: "It'll go smoothly."
Wanda looked out at the sunset and said softly: "I hope this universe never experiences those nightmares."
Echo smiled and nudged Wanda's shoulder.
"I hope the villains here are a bit tougher—don't get one-shot by Scarlet Witch's magic."
Everyone laughed at that, even the usually stern Melinda cracking a small smile.
Yang Jian stood up and took Gwen's hand: "Your rooms are next door—one per person or share as you like."
Gwen winked playfully: "If you need the landlord to help assign rooms, just call me anytime."
Deadpool finally freed himself from the ceiling, webbing still stuck to his suit.
"Wait! You're leaving already? No team-building? Like barbecue? Or…"
Yang Jian ignored him completely and pulled Gwen toward the door: "I'm heading out first. Settle in properly."
He glanced back at Deadpool: "I'll come find you after I finish my business."
Deadpool immediately clutched his chest and staggered back two steps dramatically.
"My God! Superman is asking me out alone! Has he finally been conquered by my charm?"
Yang Jian turned back. Red light flared in his eyes.
Shoo!
A precise heat vision beam grazed Deadpool's head, burning a hole in the mask he had just taken off.
"My limited-edition mask!"
Deadpool wailed. "This is the Deadpool 3 collab edition!"
Gwen couldn't hold back her laughter and linked arms with Yang Jian as they walked out.
Before the door closed, Yang Jian waved back at the group: "Contact us anytime if anything comes up. There's food in the fridge. WiFi password is on the router."
The door shut. The apartment fell quiet for a moment.
Coulson let out a breath and looked around: "So… should we pick rooms now?"
Wanda and Echo exchanged a glance and pointed at the same one in unison: "We're taking this one."
Melinda raised an eyebrow: "Then I'll take a single room."
Deadpool immediately bounced up: "I want the biggest one! Wait…"
He suddenly sidled up to Coulson sneakily.
"Hey buddy, how about we share? I can tell you thrilling zombie-universe stories at night."
Coulson smiled and raised the smart tablet Yang Jian had left: "Sorry, the system says your room is the storage closet."
"What?!"
Deadpool snatched the tablet: "Deadpool Exclusive: Basement Storage Room with Rat Entertainment Facilities? This is abuse! I'm filing a complaint!"
Melinda passed by calmly: "The landlord said if you're dissatisfied, you can sleep on the street."
Deadpool: "..."
Meanwhile – Downstairs at the Apartment Building
Gwen held Yang Jian's hand and asked curiously: "Where are we going now?"
A hint of a smile flashed in Yang Jian's eyes: "To do what we're supposed to do."
He wrapped an arm around Gwen's waist. The two shot straight into the sky, disappearing into New York's night.
...
Inside Gwen's Apartment
Warm yellow light bathed every corner of the living room.
Yang Jian sat on the soft sofa, listening to the light clatter of pots and pans and Gwen humming in the kitchen.
"So," Gwen poked her head out, still holding a ladle.
"Is Coulson and the others' universe really beyond saving?"
Yang Jian leaned back on the sofa, looking at her gently.
"One infected superhero started a chain reaction. The Avengers went to stop it, but one by one they turned into zombies."
He shook his head: "The virus formed a dead loop between two universes. It can never be completely eradicated."
Gwen's expression dimmed for a moment, but she quickly rallied.
"At least we saved a few of them."
She turned back to the stove: "This universe will never turn into that."
The sizzle of steak and its aroma drifted over.
Yang Jian stood and walked to the kitchen doorway, leaning against the frame to watch Gwen cook.
She wore a simple home T-shirt and shorts, her blonde hair tied in a casual ponytail, glowing warmly under the light.
"You sure you don't want help?"
"No, I said I'm cooking today."
Gwen shook the spatula without turning: "You set the table. Wine's in the cabinet."
Yang Jian smiled and went to get the utensils, then suddenly paused.
"Wait—when did you learn to cook?"
Gwen proudly lifted her chin.
"From my mom. She said to win a man's heart, first win his stomach… though I think webbing him works faster."
The two shared a smile.
On the dining table, candlelight flickered. Gwen's steak turned out surprisingly delicious, sides perfectly plated.
"So," Gwen took a sip of red wine.
"That Watcher you mentioned earlier—really watching every universe?"
Yang Jian cut his steak: "Like watching reality TV."
"Then right now…"
Gwen suddenly blushed a little: "…is he watching us?"
A sly glint flashed in Yang Jian's eyes. He snapped his fingers. Golden energy ripples spread around the room.
"Mirror Dimension."
He smiled and took Gwen's hand: "Now it's just the two of us."
Gwen's eyes lit up.
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