But she couldn't say it out loud.
Thinking of something that had been bothering her lately, Gwen said, "Jessica, you've seen the reports about the 'Black Spider.' Because of him, my dad isn't too fond of the Ghost Spider either."
"What does that have to do with you?"
Jessica wrapped an arm around Gwen's shoulders, smiling playfully. "Are you a Ghost Spider fan or something?"
"Fan?… Ah, sort of," Gwen replied reluctantly.
Being a fan of herself… It's just too embarrassing.
Gwen's a fan of the Ghost Spider? Jessica had an idea.
She began typing out a message to her big brother on her phone.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan,
In a luxuriously decorated studio, Evan Li was meeting with an unusual visitor.
"Dr. Banner, I don't live close to the studio," Evan said, trying to keep calm as he looked at the man in front of him. "I only come here once or twice a week, so I hope you're serious—do you really want to learn painting from me?"
Sitting across from him was none other than Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk.
Even though Evan was confident he could hold his own against an unenhanced Hulk, he was still wary of the "big green guy" accidentally trashing his studio.
That was why he chose to meet here, at his studio, instead of at home after receiving the news.
Honestly, if it weren't for the system, Evan would have avoided this meeting altogether.
Although the Hulk's abilities were impressive, they didn't exactly fit into his ideal aesthetic.
It wouldn't matter if he couldn't find clothes to fit—but being green all over…
Plus, to establish a connection with Banner, he'd need to be seen as Banner's [Extraordinary Relationship Account] by the system.
Without that "relationship" marker, he wouldn't be able to trigger any missions related to Banner.
"Yes, Mr. Li," Banner replied, looking somewhat downcast. "They say that painting can help people find peace. I wanted to give it a try."
"If you're dealing with emotional instability, you might be better off seeing a therapist," Evan replied, half-jokingly. "Though, painting can have a calming effect sometimes."
"But it can also make you more irritable, you know."
"Like Vincent van Gogh—everyone knows his story."
"Do you need another example, Dr. Banner?"
"I know it might not work," Bruce admitted, "but I've tried many ways to control my emotions, and at this point, I have nothing to lose by trying something new."
You might not have anything to lose, but I sure do.
Just as Evan was about to reply, his phone chimed.
Only messages from Jessica and a few others were set to trigger notifications, so he casually checked it.
It was a message from Jessica:
[Evan, I want to create a Ghost Spider fan club!]
[Since you like Ghost Spider too, can you help me design a poster?]
[I plan to announce it at the party tonight.]
[Oh, and by the way, Gwen is also a fan of Ghost Spider! This'll totally surprise her!]
I bet she will be surprised…
Evan had to admire Jessica's creativity.
Gwen, a fan of Ghost Spider? Heh, this just gets more interesting.
Turning to the computer beside him, he decided a digital poster was the way to go.
"Banner, I agree."
While working on the computer, Evan added, "You can assist me here until you feel it's no longer helpful."
Banner smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Li."
'You're welcome', Evan thought. Free labor is always nice.
.
.
.
Back at Midtown High School,
Gwen and her classmates were already in the middle of a lecture.
The teacher on the podium was a middle-aged man with a missing arm—Dr. Curtis Connors.
As a professor of biology, his insights were unique, and he delivered the material with expertise.
Gwen listened attentively. She'd interned with Dr. Connors at Oscorp over the summer and found his knowledge impressive.
Jessica, on the other hand, was less focused. She continued fiddling with her phone, responding to Evan's latest message.
Evan: [I'm working on the poster now. I'll bring it tonight.]
Jessica: [Wow, you're not being lazy for once, big brother.]
Evan: [I have a great assistant here. He's a genius and learns fast.]
Jessica: [Thank your assistant for me! And thank you too, Evan. I'll save you a spot as the vice president of the club.]
Evan: [Wait a second, aren't you supposed to be in class right now?]
Jessica: [Oh, uh... (ー〃)]
Evan: [Put down the phone, Jessica. Seems like I'll have to remind you about focus later.]
Dang, big brother is too sneaky! Jessica thought.
Reluctantly, she put her phone down, already dreading the scolding she'd get.
Gwen nudged her. "Jessica, it's rare for Dr. Connors to lecture. You should really pay attention."
She pointed her chin toward a boy seated in front of them. "Look at Peter—he's paying close attention."
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Please. That nerd? I've had to save him every time Thompson tries to mess with him."
...
If you find any mistakes in the chapter. Please point it out in the comment section and I will try to correct them as soon as possible.