Gwen spoke softly.
"No, I won't let him arrest you."
Hearing this, Peter took a deep breath. Whenever he faced Gwen, emotions surged within him, almost impossible to contain. He wanted to lay everything bare before this kind and understanding girl. This secret had been locked in his heart for so long that if he kept it bottled up any longer, he felt he might go mad.
Peter turned, his expression serious. Gwen shifted slightly, and when she saw the gravity on his face, she couldn't help but smile faintly.
When he caught sight of Gwen's warm smile, Peter felt his heart melt. To him, this delicate, graceful girl was someone he could never tire of looking at. At that very moment, under the vast expanse of the night sky, she was the only one in his world.
"Alright."
Gwen's gentle gaze fell upon him. From the very first day of university, when this clumsy boy had accidentally spilled a bottle of water on her, she could still remember how awkward and embarrassed he had looked. Even now, recalling it made the corners of her lips lift slightly. Thinking of all the time she had spent with Peter, every little moment, every detail, and the mysterious aura about him that always drew her in, Gwen couldn't help but feel anticipation when she heard he had something to say.
From the day they met on the bus when he had stepped in to chase away that disgusting old man, she had noticed him. And as a girl, she was far more sensitive to emotions than boys were. During lectures, when the teacher was speaking at the front, she could always sense a burning gaze fixed on her back. Every time she turned her head, she would catch him hurriedly shifting his eyes away, flustered and uneasy.
As their interactions deepened, Gwen found herself more and more drawn to this mysterious boy's knowledge, kindness, and innocence. Especially today, when he had suddenly appeared on her balcony like a hero descending from the heavens, and even sat at her dining table debating with her father. To her surprise, she realized she was siding with Peter. That moment made her clearly aware that this unkempt, easygoing boy had already carved out a special place in her heart.
Gwen realized she was, more or less, about eighty percent sure she liked this slow but earnest boy.
Growing up, Gwen had always been cherished by her parents. Both physically and mentally, she was already mature. The worldview, values, and outlook on love her parents had instilled in her made her someone who dared to love and hate, someone who could face her own heart with courage. Since she liked him, she would pursue it boldly.
Otherwise, she would never have invited him over for dinner. The process might not have been pleasant, but the result wasn't too bad. At least Peter had dared to stand firm, refusing to waver simply because of her father's opinion. Wasn't that exactly what she liked about him?
The most important trait in a man was to have his own mind, his own judgment. That was what made a man truly attractive. As for those spineless boys who just followed the crowd, what woman would ever like them?
Even with a handsome face, they would still be nothing more than pretty but useless decorations.
When Gwen saw the fire in Peter's eyes, her heart trembled. She asked softly,"What exactly do you want to say?"
Facing the girl he liked, about to speak words that might bind their fates together, even someone as strong as Peter couldn't stop his heart from racing. His cheeks flushed. He felt both eager and nervous.
Looking at the shy beauty before him, Peter felt his own heart stir. He said,"I was bitten once."
Gwen, hearing this, chuckled inwardly. Was he really choosing now of all times to talk about kissing? In America, wasn't kissing as normal as eating or drinking?
Whose youth hadn't known moments of impulse?Whose dreams hadn't carried a touch of innocence?
Gwen replied,"I was bitten too."
Peter froze. You were bitten too?Then it dawned on him. She meant being bitten by someone.
Staring at her soft, tempting lips so close to his own, Peter felt as though he were about to lose control. If those lips touched his, he was certain he'd be overwhelmed.
Forcing down the lava in his chest, he steadied his voice and said,"Alright, alright. There's something I need to tell you. It's about the vigilante and the car thief."
Hearing this, Gwen immediately felt disappointed. She had thought he was about to confess, but instead, he was being utterly tone-deaf. She glanced down awkwardly at her boots, took a step back, and her expression dimmed.
Peter sensed he had just ruined something important. Why doesn't she want to hear about Spider-Man?
He slapped his forehead, cursing himself for being such a clueless idiot. On a dark night, under the quiet sky, just the two of them alone, and he was rambling about some masked mystery man. Desperate to salvage the moment, he said,
"No, no, no. Forget that. I want to talk about myself."
Amused by his flustered manner, Gwen laughed lightly and said,"Alright then. What is it?"
"This is really important. I hope I can" The words were on the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn't bring himself to say them. It was like someone constipated, sitting in the bathroom, with everything already at the exit but still unable to push it out, face turning red from the effort.
"No, I can't. This is too hard to say."
"Go on," Gwen urged him gently.
"Uh…"
Once again, Peter clammed up, stuck in that painful in-between.
Seeing his hesitation and struggle, Gwen began to realize this wasn't as simple as she had imagined. Could it be that this mysterious boy truly carried a secret he couldn't share?
Was he the heir of some wealthy family?A billionaire?Michael Jackson's illegitimate son?
But no, none of that fit. Could he be a wanted criminal? A fugitive?
Growing concerned, Gwen asked,"What is it, really?"
Peter turned to her. He had decided. He would confess everything to this girl.
But Gwen, her patience finally worn thin, turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Out of instinct, Peter shot a web from his wrist, which stuck to Gwen's back. From her perspective, she only felt a sudden chill, then an irresistible pull. In the next instant, she spun like a top and was yanked straight into the arms of a warm, strong man.
"Ah!"
Gwen's vision blurred, and when it cleared, Peter's handsome face was right before her eyes. Their noses touched, their breaths mingled, his hot breath brushing across her skin. Gwen's heart skipped wildly, and tension flooded through her.
(End of Chapter)
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