[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 21 - 25

Chapter 21 Dr. Connors

[Inside the bustling Daily Bugle office, J. Jonah Jameson scowled at the photos Peter had just submitted. "Peter, you're fired!" he declared, slamming the stack of pictures onto his desk.
"Why?" Peter asked, bewildered.]

["A puppy catching a Frisbee? Pigeons in the park? Two old men playing chess?!" Jameson barked, flipping through the photos with disdain.
"I just wanted to show the warm side of New York City," Peter explained hesitantly.]

[Robbie entered the room, interrupting the exchange. "Deadline’s in six minutes, Jonah, and we’re still short on front-page material!"
Jameson growled, "I don’t pay you to make art, Parker! And I told you to leave me alone!" He turned his frustration on Robbie, who had walked in moments earlier, before snapping back to Peter. "The only reason you’re still here is Spider-Man! He only lets you take his pictures, and that’s why you’re useful!"]

["He doesn’t let me take his picture," Peter replied. "You’ve made him a public enemy!"
"Then I’m proud of it!" Jameson retorted smugly. "And take these pictures away before they make me vomit up my leftover lunch!"
"You won’t use even one of them? I really need the money," Peter pleaded.]

[Jameson gave a mocking "Oh" before turning to Robbie. "Bring me some tissues so I can wipe my tears."
Ignoring Peter’s desperation, Jameson ordered Robbie to publish a sensationalist headline: Food Poisoning Panic Sweeping the City! But as Peter handed over a photo of Spider-Man, Jameson’s expression shifted. He smiled triumphantly, saying, "Now this is real news! The masked menace strikes again!"]

[“Spider-Man is not a bad guy!” Robbie protested angrily.
"I’ve warned you before," Jameson growled. "Okay." Robbie, unable to argue further, stormed out of the office.]

["I’ll pay you $150," Jameson offered.
"$300," Peter countered.
"Deal." Jameson tossed the photo to Robbie. "Thank you! Goodbye!"]

[Peter approached Ms. Brant, who greeted him warmly. "Hi, Peter!" she said, scanning the check. But her smile faded as she remarked, "This isn’t enough to pay back the salary advance I gave you two weeks ago."]
[Peter sighed, closing his eyes in disappointment.
"Hey! Cheer up, okay?" Ms. Brant encouraged, touching his chin gently before walking away. Peter managed a small smile as he watched her leave.]

"Ah... why am I so stupid? Why does Spider-Man only let Peter take pictures?" Jameson looked at himself in the screen and hated himself for being so stupid!

Tony, sipping a glass of wine, chuckled. "He’s a mean boss, but he’s not all bad. He even let Peter get a salary advance. That’s not completely heartless."

"Ms. Brant, can you help me contact Peter Parker? Just tell him that I'm willing to pay a high price and ask him to provide me with photos!" Jameson thought about it again and again, and after careful consideration, he decided to pay a high price to ask Peter to take photos of Spider-Man.

"Oh, that's not up to me. I can't contact him either. You know, too many people want to contact Spider-Man. If you want to find him, why not put it on the front page?" Miss Brant didn't think she could find Peter Parker. With the help of the police station, reporters no longer dared to be as unscrupulous as before.

And Peter now doesn't live with Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Although someone found the house he and Harry lived in before, Harry soon bought a new house for Peter. Now no one knows where Spider-Man lives.

[On a crowded university campus, Peter Parker ran frantically, accidentally colliding with passersby. His textbooks spilled onto the ground, trampled by rushing students. As Peter crouched to retrieve them, he was repeatedly bumped and even hit on the head by swinging backpacks.]

[Finally managing to gather his books, Peter sprinted forward—only to run straight into a familiar figure. "Dr. Connors! Sorry!" Peter exclaimed, startled.]

[Connors raised an eyebrow. "Peter, where are you going in such a hurry?"
"To your class!" Peter blurted.
"My class is over. Can’t you see I’m standing here?" Connors said dryly.
Peter stammered, "I—I tried my best to make it."
"Then be on time!" Connors admonished. "Look at yourself, Peter. Your grades are slipping, you’re always late, and you haven’t even handed in your nuclear fusion paper yet!"
"I know. I was planning to write about Dr. Otto Octavius," Peter offered hopefully.
"‘Planning’? There’s no ‘planning’ in this field!" Connors snapped. He paused, then softened slightly. "Octavius is my friend, Peter. Do your research well, or I’ll fail you!" He turned and walked away, leaving Peter flustered and anxious.]

"Well, just as I expected, Peter Parker can't be Spider-Man and Peter Parker at the same time. He has made a mess of his life!" Tony sighed. It is too difficult for Peter to go to school, work, and be a hero!

Aunt May and Uncle Ben also sighed. The path chosen by Peter was destined to be bumpy, but they still supported Peter's decision and helped him to the best of their ability.

Connors knew that he in the screen must admire Peter Parker very much, otherwise he would not have said all this to Peter so earnestly. Now there was still some time before Peter started school, and he was looking forward to getting along with this superhero in the future. He would work hard to educate him!

Although Harry was shocked at first that his father would die under his own glider, it was his own fault. In reality, Norman had been cured by Peter with the syringe the Screen give to Peter as a rewar, and his evil personality had disappeared without a trace. He was currently being held in a mental hospital, reading newspapers every day.

Norman also knew that he had made a big mistake, but because it was caused by an evil personality and Spider-Man's guarantee, he was put in a mental hospital, otherwise he should have gone to prison!

[At night, Peter rode his scooter to Aunt May’s house. The moment he walked in and removed his helmet, he was greeted by shouts of "Surprise!" from Mary Jane and Harry.]

[Aunt May beamed with joy. "Peter, say something!" she urged. But Peter, clearly confused, asked, "What’s going on?"]

["It’s your birthday!" Aunt May exclaimed, planting two kisses on his cheeks. Peter’s eyes widened in surprise. He had completely forgotten.]

[Peter hugged Mary Jane and Harry warmly. "Long time no see!" he said. He congratulated Mary Jane on the glowing reviews of her stage play, and Harry praised her for her performance. Blushing, Mary Jane mentioned that Harry had even sent her roses.]

["Why didn’t you call me back?" Harry teased, grinning. Peter mumbled an excuse about being busy.
"Busy taking pictures of Spider-Man?" Harry joked. "How’s that pest doing lately?"]

[Before the tension could escalate, Aunt May interjected. "Enough talk about that! Let’s eat." Her cheerful tone dispelled the awkwardness, and everyone moved to the table, setting aside their differences for the night.]

Chapter 22 Aunt May’s Cry

[Peter sat across from Harry, casually asking about his work at Oscorp Industries. "How’s everything going there?" Harry leaned back, a proud smile on his face. "I’m now the director of special projects. We’ve made a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion research."]

["You’re so capable, Harry. Your father in heaven must be proud of you!" Aunt May chimed in warmly, stepping into the room. Her genuine praise brought a smile to Harry’s face.]

[After Aunt May left, Harry leaned closer to Peter. "Guess what? I’m funding your idol, Dr. Otto Octavius."
Peter’s eyes lit up. "Really? I’ve been writing a report on his work lately."
Harry grinned. "Want to meet him?"
"Are you serious? You’d take me to see him?" Peter asked eagerly.
"Of course!" Harry replied confidently. "Dr. Otto is going to lead Oscorp Industries to achievements my father couldn’t even dream of."]

[As they talked, Mary Jane stood nearby, quietly observing Peter and Harry. Her gaze lingered on Peter before Aunt May called her away to help in the kitchen. Harry noticed and smirked.
"She’s waiting for you," he teased.
"What do you mean?" Peter asked, feigning ignorance.
"She keeps sneaking glances at you. Can’t you see it?" Harry said.
"I don’t have time to date anyone right now," Peter muttered, looking away.
"Are you a pig-head?" Harry laughed. "Busy with what, taking photos of your friend Spider-Man?"]

[Peter fell silent, the weight of Norman’s death clouding his thoughts. How could he tell Harry the truth? His best friend’s hatred for Spider-Man was a rift Peter didn’t know how to bridge.]

"Could it be possible that they will fight each other in the future? And Spider-Man will kill his best friend? This is consistent with what the screen said at the beginning that the first generation's spiderman biggest regret was watching his best friend die in front of him."

Tony looked at Harry's hatred for Spider-Man, and although he could clearly see that Norman had killed himself, Harry obviously didn't know about it.

If this misunderstanding cannot be resolved, then once Harry learns of Peter's identity, there will definitely be a quarrel between the best friend. Spider-Man, as a superhero and the protagonist of the screen, will definitely not die, so the only one who will die is Harry.

[“I hope we can always trust each other, Harry," Peter said cautiously.
"Then tell me the truth," Harry pressed. "If you know who he is, just tell me."
Peter remained silent, his expression conflicted.
Harry sighed deeply, standing up in disappointment. Without another word, he walked away, leaving Peter to wrestle with his guilt.]

[Later, Peter noticed Aunt May slumped over the table, clearly drunk. As he approached, he spotted a mortgage notice tucked beneath her arm. Gently taking her hand, he woke her up.]

[“What’s the matter, Ben?” Aunt May mumbled groggily, her mind briefly transporting her back to when Uncle Ben was alive. The realization hit her, and she looked to the heavens, calling out to God for strength.]

[Aunt May shared with Peter a dream she’d had about the past, asking if Harry and the others had enjoyed themselves earlier. Peter reassured her with a soft, "Of course."]

[“You don’t need to worry about me, Peter," Aunt May said, her voice firm. "Go home now, okay? And be careful on that scooter—I don’t like it; it’s dangerous."]

["I’m worried about you, Aunt May. You’re all alone," Peter confessed, hesitating before adding, "And I saw the letter from the bank."]

["Oh, you saw it? So what? It’s just a small difficulty. Everyone faces them," Aunt May replied, brushing it off. But her bravado wavered as she hurriedly pressed $20 into Peter’s hand. "Here, take this—it’s your birthday present. You need it more than I do."]

["No, I can’t take it," Peter protested.
"You can!" Aunt May snapped, her voice breaking. "For God’s sake, even though it’s not much, please take it!" Her hands trembled as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I’m sorry! I just miss your Uncle Ben so much. I can’t believe it’s been nearly two years. Sometimes, when I think about facing everything alone in the future... I just don’t know what to do."]

[Aunt May kissed Peter on the cheek, gently wrapping up a slice of leftover cake for him to take home. Her sorrow cut deep into Peter’s heart, reigniting the guilt he felt for not stopping the robber that fateful day.]

Seeing Aunt May crying, Flint Marko felt very sad, but he had no choice. Fortunately, The Screen changed everything. Ben did not die, but he had no accomplices and didn't know how to get the money for her daughter. He didn't dare to face Spider-Man. If it wasn't The Screen, then the two of them would be the murderers of Uncle Ben.

"A penny can make a hero fall, let alone you. May, thank you for your hard work. I will always be by your side." Uncle Ben hugged Aunt May, who was sitting next to him and shed tears for her future lonely and helpless self.

[That night, Peter took out the garbage, the familiar routine pulling him from his thoughts. Mary Jane stepped out from next door, greeting him with a smile.
"I saw your poster," Peter said.
"Isn’t it a little silly? I was so embarrassed," Mary Jane admitted shyly.]

["No, it’s beautiful. This way, I get to see you every day," Peter replied, his sincerity catching her off guard. Their eyes met, lingering in an unspoken moment.]

[“Want to tell me something?” Mary Jane asked softly.
Peter hesitated, fumbling for words. "I... I wanted to know if you’re still living in the same place."
Mary Jane sighed, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. "You’re so unpredictable." Reaching out, she touched his cheek gently. "Peter..."
"What?"
"Happy birthday." Mary Jane’s voice was tender as she turned to leave. Halfway down the path, she glanced back. "By the way, I’m seeing someone."]

["Really?" Peter asked, his voice quieter.
Mary Jane nodded, admitting with a shy smile, "I like him."]

[Peter forced a smile. "That’s good. You deserve someone to make you happy."
"Maybe we’ll go further," she said thoughtfully.
"Further?" Peter asked, his heart sinking.
"I don’t know," she murmured.]

["I’ll come to see your performance tomorrow night," Peter promised.
Mary Jane’s eyes lit up. "Will you really come?"
Peter nodded firmly. "I will."]

[“Don’t let me down,” she said with a hopeful smile.
“I won’t,” Peter assured her.]

"I'm guessing that Peter won't be able to go. There will definitely be a lot of troubles waiting for him, which will prevent him from arriving on time, or even make him arrive after the play is over." Tony made a prediction about Peter's promise based on his premonition.

Uncle Ben sighed as he observed. "Peter, don’t make promises you can’t keep, son."

[Peter returned to his rental apartment. Just as he was about to enter, the door opposite opened and a voice came from inside: "Rent!"]

[Peter turned, spotting his landlord engrossed in a card game. Without even looking up, the landlord added, "Don’t think I didn’t hear you coming back, Parker."]

Chapter 23 Dr. Otto

[Peter greeted the landlord with a polite, "Hi!"
The landlord, Mr. Dykovich, scoffed. "Hi? What do you mean by hi? Can 'hi' pay the rent?" He crossed his arms, glaring at Peter.]

[Peter approached him, trying to explain. "I’ll have my salary this week."
"You’re late again, just like last month!" Dykovich snapped.]

[“I promise I’ll pay as soon as possible,” Peter assured him.
"If promises were meals, my daughter would be fat!" Dykovich laughed at his own joke.]

[Peter sighed and reluctantly pulled out the $20 Aunt May had just given him. "I’m really sorry, Mr. Dykovich. This is all I have for this week."
Dykovich snatched the bill from Peter’s hand with a smirk. "Sorry, kid, this doesn’t count as rent! And don’t think you can sneak out—I’ve got sharp ears and eyes!"]

[Despite the harsh words, Peter felt a twinge of gratitude. He knew Dykovich was letting him stay despite the overdue rent, ensuring he wouldn’t be left without a roof over his head.]

[As Peter turned to go, Dykovich’s daughter, Ursula, appeared. "Hi, Peter," she greeted him shyly. But as she spoke, she accidentally touched a hot spoon and dropped it, causing a pot to catch fire.]

[Dykovich, clearly embarrassed by his daughter’s clumsiness, quickly stood up and closed the door to spare her further humiliation in front of Peter.]

"She has a crush on you. Do you like her, Peter?" Uncle Ben approached Peter and asked quietly in his ear. Peter lowered his head, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Although her father seems to be difficult to get along with, he tolerates the fact that you owe him rent and hints that you should not move out. He must be a man with a cold face but a warm heart." Uncle Ben is experienced after all, and it is easy for him to see that Dykovich only says harsh words and is actually quite nice to Peter.

"Ah, there's light in that girl's eyes when she looks at Peter. Young love always makes people intoxicated." Tony raised his glass and smiled gently. He could tell the meaning of a woman's eyes when she looked at a man. The women in the past just wanted to get benefits from him, but only Pepper looked at him differently from others.

[Peter returned to his room, placing his belongings on the bed. He sat down, lost in thought.]

[The morning light filtered in as Peter, holding his toiletries, knocked on the bathroom door. "Is anyone in there?" he called out.
The door opened, and Mr. Dykovich shuffled out groggily. He pushed past Peter, only to pause, turn back, and grumble, "Rent?" before closing the door behind him.]

[The scene shifted to a man in a red sweater working at a desk. An assistant entered, followed by Harry and Peter.]

["Doctor, Mr. Osborn is here," the assistant announced.]

["Nobel Prize, Otto! Nobel Prize—we’ll all be rich!" Harry said enthusiastically, wearing his signature sunglasses as he approached Dr. Otto Octavius.]

["It’s not about the Nobel Prize, Harry," Otto replied with a smile, shaking Harry’s hand.]

["You need funding, and you need Oscorp Industries," Harry reminded him, motioning toward Peter. "This is my good friend, Peter Parker. He helped me with natural science back in high school."]

[Otto turned to Peter. "Peter Parker," he said, extending a hand. "Hello."
Peter shook his hand. "I’m writing a paper about you."]

["I know why you’re here, but I don’t have time to chat with students right now," Otto said bluntly. Harry cleared his throat, prompting Otto to soften his tone. "However, since you’re Osborn’s friend…"]

[Harry glanced at his watch. "I’ve got a board meeting to attend. My mission here is complete—good luck tomorrow, Otto! See you in Sweden!" he said with a wave, departing with a grin.]

[Otto chuckled, watching him go. "Your friend is quite the character," he said to Peter.]

[“I won’t take up too much of your time,” Peter assured him.]

["I remember you," Otto said, his expression serious. "You’re Connors’ student. He told me you’re smart... but also lazy."
Peter winced but responded earnestly, "I’ll try to do better."]

["It’s not enough to be smart, young man," Otto replied. "You also need diligence. Your wisdom isn’t a privilege; it’s a gift. You should use it to benefit mankind."]

[Peter was thoughtful. Looking at Otto's serious eyes, he could only change the subject and asked, looking at the machine beside him: "Is this what you designed?"]

[“Yes, this is the inexhaustible energy system I designed!” Peter approached. “Isn’t this using harmonic atomic energy frequency?”]

[“harmonic atomic energy frequency?” Otto looked at Peter in surprise, “Go on.”]

["It’s designed to produce exponentially growing energy output," Peter explained.
Otto nodded in approval. "Exactly. It’s like the sun—a source of renewable energy for the planet!"]

"That sounds familiar, Jarvis, could he be talking about my ark reactor?" Tony listened to Otto's description and felt that it was very similar to the giant Ark reactor he had at Stark Industries.

"Yes sir, according to the description, even if it is not, it is similar to the Ark Reactor." Jarvis confirmed Tony's statement.

At the same time, Nick Fury also thought of the reactor that Howard was developing. Later, after this reactor was shrunk by Tony, it became the driving force for him to survive, but it almost killed him. Fortunately, Tony finally found the new element on Howard's blueprint.

Tony just attended the hearing. He watched the video of the meeting. Tony threw all those people's faces to the ground and stomped on them, especially Justin Hammer!

[Because of Peter's unexpected performance, Otto invited him to his home for dinner, during which Peter asked: "Are you sure you can ensure the stability of fusion?"]

[Otto’s expression darkened slightly. "Peter, we’ve been discussing this for over an hour. I’ve dedicated my life to this research. Of course, I understand the consequences of even a small miscalculation."]

["I’m sorry," Peter apologized. "I didn’t mean to question your work."]

[Otto jokingly said to his wife Rose: "Rose, our friends thought we were going to blow up the whole city!"]

[Rose also comforted Peter and told him not to worry. "Otto done his homework. You’ll see for yourself at the presentation tomorrow." She turned to Otto. "Now, make sure you get a good night’s sleep."]

["Did Edison sleep before inventing the light bulb?" Otto asked with mock indignation. "Did Marconi rest before creating the telegraph? Did Beethoven sleep while composing the Fifth Symphony?"]

[Peter grinned and added, "Did Bernoulli get a good night’s rest before discovering the minimum deceleration curve?"]

[Otto laughed heartily, turning to Rose. "I like this kid!"]

Chapter 24: Social Death of the Landlord

[Rose set down her coffee cup and asked Peter with a curious smile, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
Peter hesitated, fidgeting slightly. "I... don’t know," he muttered.]

["If you don’t know, who will?" Otto interjected, frowning as he studied Peter.]

[Rose came to Peter's rescue. "It’s fine if he doesn’t want to talk about it. Maybe it’s a secret love?" she suggested with a knowing smile.]

[Otto shook his head in disagreement. "Love should never be a secret," he said firmly, turning his serious gaze back to Peter. "Keeping complicated feelings bottled up will only make you sick!"]

["I’m lucky," Otto continued, his tone softening as he looked at Rose affectionately. "I found true love, and we built it together. Love is never perfect; it requires effort, patience, and care."]

[Rose blushed as she chimed in, "I met Otto in college. Falling in love with someone isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Otto studied science, and I studied English literature."
Otto chuckled as he recalled those days. "I tried explaining the theory of relativity to her, and she tried to teach me Eliot’s poetry," he said with a grin.
Rose laughed, shaking her head. "And you still don’t understand Eliot!"
"Of course not," Otto replied helplessly. "Eliot’s poetry is more complex than any advanced technology I’ve worked on!"]

[Otto turned to Peter with a mischievous glint in his eye. "If you want a girl to fall in love with you, recite poetry to her."
"Recite poetry?" Peter echoed, confused.
Otto nodded confidently. "It works every time!"]

"I don't agree. Why should I recite poetry? I don't need to recite, and women will still fall in love with me." Tony was the first one to disagree. He didn't understand what was so good about reading those poets' poems. Fortunately, Pepper didn't care too much about this, otherwise his head would have hurt to death.

But he felt that Otto's words made some sense, and not reciting poetry didn't mean he couldn't take Pepper out for a great time. Then he thought of the Monaco race.

"Jarvis, when does the Monaco race start? I'm going to take Pepper with me to watch it and relax."

[In the laundromat, Peter sat with a book in hand, reciting poetry aloud. Beside him were three or four more books, each marked with sticky notes.]
[As the washing machine buzzed, Peter walked over to collect his clothes, only to find someone else already at the machine. The person had their back to him. Peter hurriedly stuffed his Spider suit into his bag, but he noticed his pants and socks were stained with red dye.]

"Peter, looks like I have to find you some better materials for making your suit. Spider-Man can’t be slinging around with a discolored costume. Hahahaha." Harry couldn't stop laughing as he looked at the discolored Spider-Man suit.

"Shut up," Peter muttered irritably, grabbing Harry and covering his mouth.
"Mmff!" Harry tried to protest, but Peter’s grip was too strong.

[Back at the rental apartment, Peter removed his shirt, revealing lean, well-defined muscles. Though not bulky, his physique was powerful and precise.]

[Peter stood in front of his closet, debating between his Spider suit and the suit he’d prepared for Mary Jane’s performance. He chose the latter, carefully tying his tie.
He glanced at himself in the mirror and smiled. Beside the mirror were a few photos of Mary Jane, and stuck to its edge was the ticket to her show. Peter gently removed the ticket and placed it in his pocket.]

[As Peter stepped out of his apartment, he froze at the sound of a familiar voice. "Rent!"
Terrified, Peter bolted down the stairs, clutching his belongings.
Behind him, the bathroom door swung open, and Dykovich stumbled out in his shorts, yelling, "Where’s my money?" His loud complaints echoed through the hallway.]

[The shouting also attracted the attention of his daughter next door. She came out and saw that her father's trousers were not zipped up. She lowered her head in embarrassment. Following her line of sight, Dykovich also noticed it and quickly put on his pants and went back into the bathroom.]

"Ah... I'm too embarrassed to see anyone! Dad!" Ursula covered her face. Her father was so embarrassing. How could she face anyone in the future? This was so embarrassing.

"Uh... Sorry." Dykovich never expected that he would appear on the screen in such a socially embarrassing scene. Now he became famous.

[That evening, the area around the musical theater buzzed with activity. In the dressing room, Mary Jane paced nervously, fiddling with her costume. Her friend noticed and teased her, "You’re nervous because Peter is coming, aren’t you?"

Mary Jane didn’t reply but blushed, her jitters giving her away.]

[Peter stopped by a flower shop and picked up a bouquet. As he handed over the money, the florist gave him a single flower, explaining the high price. Peter stared at the lone flower, sighed, and smiled ruefully before leaving.]

[The musical was set to begin in five minutes. Peter, riding his scooter, sped through the city streets. Suddenly, a car filled with gangsters rammed into him from behind. Reacting instantly, Peter leapt from the bike, performing a perfect backflip to avoid injury.

His scooter, however, wasn’t so lucky—it crashed into the pavement, shattering into pieces.]

[Nearby, two children gawked at Peter’s acrobatics. "Whoa! How’d you do that?"

Peter shrugged. "Exercise, rest, and eat your vegetables," he said, managing to fool the kids before rushing off.]

"Oh, I knew it. The unlucky Peter Parker will definitely miss the play. Now how can he win the heart of the beauty?" Otto looked at the screen and sighed. He now has a good impression of Peter.

"He makes sacrifices for the greater good," Rose said, setting down a plate of food in front of Otto.

[The police pursued the gangsters in a high-speed chase. One gangster steadied his shotgun, aiming at the pursuing car. The blast shattered the headlights, causing the police car to swerve uncontrollably.
The out-of-control vehicle collided with another, sending one flying into the air. It spun wildly, hurtling toward a panicked crowd. People screamed, ducking for cover.]

[Fortunately, Peter arrived in time at the critical moment and used spider web to hold the police car, otherwise these people would have been killed or injured.]

[A woman recognized that it was Spider-Man's spider web, and then Peter swung over their heads. She excitedly shouted: " Spider-Man! Go, Spider-Man!"]

[Peter swung on the spider web and moved towards the gangster at a very fast speed. The gangster also noticed Spider-Man's arriv

[Peter moved swiftly toward the gangsters’ car. They spotted him and fired their shotgun, but he dodged effortlessly. Two quick webs later, their guns were stuck to a streetlamp, leaving the gangsters defenseless.
Peter webbed up their car doors and delivered the criminals to the police. Without pausing, he commandeered the gangsters’ car, speeding toward the theater as the clock ticked down.]

Chapter 25 The First Fall

[Inside the theater, Mary Jane performed on stage, but her gaze kept wandering to the empty seat Peter was supposed to occupy. Distracted, she fumbled one of her lines, but quickly recovered, masking her mistake with a graceful save.]

[Outside, Peter finally arrived, parking the stolen gangster car directly at the theater entrance. A security guard nearby shouted at him, "Hey, man! If you park here, I’ll have it towed!"
Peter stepped out of the car, adjusting his suit as he walked. Without stopping, he replied casually, "Do whatever you want." The guard stared at him, dumbfounded.]

[As Peter entered the theater, a staff member stopped him. "Sir, your shoelaces are untied."
Peter bent down to fix them, smiling sheepishly.
"And your tie," the staffer added, pointing to the crooked knot. Peter quickly adjusted it.]

[“Need any more help?” the staffer asked.
"I’m here to see the show," Peter said, pulling the ticket from his pocket.
The staffer frowned. "I’m sorry, sir. Latecomers aren’t allowed inside once the show starts." He gestured toward a notice on the wall.
"In order not to disrupt the performance," the staffer explained.
"Miss Watson is my friend. She invited me personally," Peter tried to reason.
"She didn’t invite you to be late," the staffer shot back, silencing Peter with a pointed look.]

"This kind of thing is so easy to solve. Just give him some money. Unfortunately, Peter doesn't understand and has no money." Tony shook his wine glass and lay on the recliner as usual, changing to a comfortable position to look at the screen.

Uncle Ben also told Peter that this kind of thing can be solved with money, and you can get leniency as long as you give a little tip.

[Defeated, Peter sat on a bench outside, waiting for the show to end. A woman nearby began playing the violin and singing a song praising Spider-Man. Listening to her, Peter felt a bittersweet sense of purpose. Despite everything he’d sacrificed, moments like this reminded him that his work mattered.]

[When the play ended, the audience spilled out of the theater. Mary Jane emerged from a side door, her expression weary. Peter watched her from across the street, a small smile forming as he noticed her rejecting a friend’s invitation to celebrate.]

[Peter hoped this meant they could talk, but his smile faded as Mary Jane turned and embraced her boyfriend. She kissed him, her happiness clear, while Peter stood frozen in place. His eyes reddened as he fought back tears. Moments later, flashing police lights zipped by, pulling him from his thoughts. Peter turned silently and followed them.]

[Mary Jane’s boyfriend asked if she was hungry. Smiling, she replied, "I’m starving." As they walked away, Mary Jane suddenly paused and glanced back to where Peter had been standing. He was gone.]

"Peter..." Mary Jane couldn't help but wipe away her tears, feeling sad about her complicated situation with Peter. Peter became Spider-Man and gave up being with her.

She knew that Peter must have her in his heart, and she also had a place for Peter in her heart, but she was defeated by reality. Now that Peter has become the household name Spider-Man, it is even more impossible for her to be with him.

The two of them drift further and further apart, and Ben is not optimistic about the relationship between Peter and Mary Jane. He knows very well what Mary Jane wants, and Peter can't give it to her.

[Peter ran to a dark corner and started running wildly. He took off his suit, revealing the Spider suit inside, put on the mask, jumped suddenly, shot out spider web, and sling away.]

[Following the sound of police sirens, Peter swung through the city on his web. High above the streets, he aimed to fire another web—but nothing happened. Panicked, Peter fell, slamming into an exhaust pipe on a rooftop with a sickening thud.]

There was a cry of surprise from the crowd. Everyone was frightened by the sudden fall of Peter from a high altitude.

"Oh my god! How could he fall?" a lady said in horror.

"Is his life in danger?" someone asked worriedly.

"I hope he's okay, this is horrible!" said an old man trembling.

"What's going on? Jarvis, help me analyze why Peter Parker suddenly couldn't shoot his spider web?" Tony also became nervous. He put down his wine glass and looked at Peter who fell on the exhaust pipe with a serious expression.

"Sir, after physical and psychological analysis, there is nothing wrong with Peter Parker's body. It is inferred that there have been psychological changes that have caused his abilities to become ineffective." Jarvis quickly analyzed the approximate possibilities.

Tony sighed. "This is why he to stop bottling up his feelings for Mary Jane. A hero can’t afford distractions like this." He shook his head, muttering, "Confess your feelings or move on. This indecision is a problem."

[Peter groaned, clutching his ribs as he stood up. "What happened?" he muttered, staring at his wrist. Testing his abilities, he leapt to another rooftop. Looking down at the cars below, he attempted to fire his web again, but nothing happened. A strange fear of heights gripped him for the first time in his life.]

[Inside the building, a man and his dog waited for an elevator. When the doors opened, they were surprised to find Spider-Man standing awkwardly inside.
The man entered, suppressing a grin as he asked, "You doing okay?"
"Good," Peter replied tersely.
The silence grew awkward. The man suddenly blurted, "Your suit looks cool!"
"Thanks," Peter muttered.
"Where’d you get it?" the man asked.
"I made it myself," Peter replied.]

["Huh. Doesn’t look very comfortable."
"It’s not," Peter admitted. "It’s itchy, and the crotch is tight."
The man chuckled nervously, stealing a glance at Peter’s suit.]

"Fortunately he is okay. I was worried to death when he fell." A lady breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Peter was not injured at all.

"Me too, I thought he was going to fall to his death. Luckily he is fine, God bless him." Another man standing nearby also said with relief.

After saying that, the two looked at each other, both happy that Peter was okay.

"Peter, are you sure you're okay? Why did you fall down suddenly?" Aunt May held Peter's hand and spoke worriedly.

But Peter felt that his body was in very good condition and there was nothing wrong with him. He thought that he might be under too much pressure and might need to rest.

"Peter, if you feel unwell, you must tell us, okay? Don't let Aunt May worry about you." Uncle Ben also told Peter to pay attention to his health, otherwise they would be worried.