The final school bell was a welcome release, its shrill cry signaling the successful completion of Su Yi's power debut. Leaving his light backpack behind—a symbolic gesture of how easy academic life now felt with a Level 4 Intelligence—he strode toward the main gates. The day's events had left a palpable buzz: Su Yi was now a phenomenon, not just a new student.
Gwen and Betty met him at the gates, the crowd parting subtly for the new trio. Their conversation was light, a pleasant soundtrack to their walk across the college green.
"I have to say, Su," Gwen remarked, her tone thoughtful, "the academic load here is pretty light compared to what I hear about the East. It must be a massive adjustment."
Su Yi smiled, effortlessly keeping pace with their chatter. "The workload is manageable now, I admit. But back home? It's a different world. It leaves little room for anything else."
They settled into a bustling, stylish local coffee shop. The aroma of freshly ground beans filled the air, a familiar scent of American leisure. Su Yi, still not a coffee enthusiast, ordered a sparkling citrus drink—a small cultural rebellion.
"So, spill it, Su," Betty leaned forward, her eyes wide with journalistic curiosity. "With your looks and that incredible fighting style, you must have had girls fighting over you back in the East. Were you a superstar?"
Su Yi took a deliberate sip of his cold drink, allowing the question to hang for dramatic effect. "Well, I certainly had many friends. But as for being a 'superstar' with the opposite sex? I'm afraid my dating life was tragically boring. No secret admirers, no dramatic confessions, and certainly no girlfriends."
Betty gasped, completely unconvinced. "I don't buy it! Someone as unique and capable as you? Gwen, you're the rational one, do you believe him?"
Gwen considered him thoughtfully. "I believe Su. I've read enough about cultural norms. Plus, my sources say that parents in East Asia are notoriously strict about dating during high school and university. It's an intense academic focus."
"Gwen is entirely right about the focus," Su Yi agreed, pleased by her astute observation. "But there's a deeper reason too. We have a saying: the one who chases is usually the boy. I simply wasn't interested in chasing anyone when my future was so uncertain. Now, however, the uncertainty is… manageable. And the desire to pursue a certain goddess is quite strong."
Gwen's cheeks tinted a soft pink, though she quickly recovered her composure. Betty, however, was already taking mental notes, fascinated by the cultural dynamics and the obvious, though subtle, flirtation.
The conversation was easy, navigating differences in customs and priorities, establishing a comfortable rapport—a key step in destabilizing the original timeline.
The bell over the coffee shop door chimed, and every head in the café turned. Mary Jane Watson strode in, a living flash of crimson. Her beauty was magnetic, a perfect blend of confidence and vibrant allure that made her instantly stand out. She spotted their table and zeroed in.
"Betty, Gwen! And our local celebrity, Su! Do you mind if I join this very attractive gathering?" Mary Jane asked, her voice rich and theatrical.
"Of course not, MJ, pull up a chair!" Betty chirped excitedly.
Mary Jane settled into the empty seat right next to Su Yi, deliberately leveraging the proximity. Her energy was immediately challenging and sensual, filling the space. Su Yi felt the System subtly alert him: Pivotal Character in Proximity.
"The only problem with this arrangement," Su Yi said, sweeping a gaze over the three women, his tone light and flattering, "is that my poor eyes have become entirely too busy. I'm surrounded by too much beauty."
Mary Jane chuckled, clearly enjoying the immediate compliment. She wasted no time on small talk, getting straight to a critical topic.
"Okay, Su, I have to ask the dangerous question: We've been arguing. Who is the prettiest? Us or me?"
Su Yi paused, internally running the calculation: Direct answer risks alienating two-thirds of my mission targets. Tactical flattery is required.
"That question is wonderfully pointless, Mary Jane," Su Yi declared, leaning back slightly. "Beauty is not a measurable science; it's a subjective experience. It can't be compared like two apples."
He then delivered the perfectly calibrated, sincere flattery. "You, Mary Jane, you shine like a movie star—you have that incredible, passionate energy. Betty is sweet, lovable, and genuinely captivating. And Gwen," he locked eyes with her, his voice softening with genuine admiration, "you are like a goddess: poised, elegant, and effortlessly perfect. All of you are unique, and all of you are stunning."
The answer was a resounding success. All three women preened slightly, accepting the individualized compliments as entirely satisfactory.
The atmosphere established, Mary Jane finally got to the point of her ambush.
"Actually, Su, I came here specifically for you. I need a favor—a very big favor."
Su Yi raised an eyebrow. "If it's within my power to assist a beautiful lady, consider it done."
Mary Jane's request was direct: "It's about Flash Thompson. He's relentless. He keeps harassing me, telling people I'm his, and he won't take no for an answer. But now that you've utterly humiliated him… if you pretend to be my boyfriend, he'll definitely back off."
Gwen and Betty immediately supported their friend. "It's genius, MJ!" Betty exclaimed. "Flash would never mess with Su after what happened today!"
"It's a great idea, Mary Jane," Gwen concurred, looking to Su Yi. "But it's up to Su. We can't force him."
Su Yi felt the satisfying thrum of the System: High-Value Destiny Intervention Opportunity. This was the perfect setup. Intercepting Mary Jane would yield high Fate Points, but he had to secure the primary target first.
"Mary Jane, I'm confident I could make any woman fall for me," Su Yi began, his voice dropping slightly.
"But I must be honest. The person I genuinely like, the one I am actively planning to pursue, is Gwen. If I agree to be your pretend boyfriend, I am concerned that Gwen will misunderstand my intentions."
The declaration landed like a sudden thunderclap. Betty and Mary Jane gasped and turned to Gwen, who was caught completely off guard, her composure momentarily shattered.
"Um, I… I don't think I'd misunderstand," Gwen stammered, recovering quickly, though her cheeks were flushed. Her rational mind was already processing the information. "Mary Jane is my friend, and if this helps her, I support it. It doesn't change anything between us."
Su Yi allowed a relieved smile to spread across his face. "Then I have no objection! As long as my pursuit of Gwen remains entirely unaffected, I would be happy to be your temporary bodyguard and pseudo-boyfriend, Mary Jane."
Mary Jane, though clearly slightly jealous of Su Yi's public declaration for Gwen, quickly suppressed it. The priority was safety and freedom from Flash.
"Thank you, Su! You're a lifesaver," Mary Jane said. "And don't worry, it won't be long—just until graduation. After that, Flash will be gone. And if you're serious about Gwen, I promise to give you excellent advice on how to win her over."
"Mary Jane, you're trying to sell him my future secrets!" Gwen exclaimed, playfully pretending to be offended.
"Su is excellent, Gwen! If you don't snap him up, someone else will!" Mary Jane countered with a wink, fully accepting her new, temporary role.
The agreement settled, the four chatted easily for a few more minutes. Mary Jane eventually excused herself, heading toward the restroom, a high-heeled flash of red fading into the back of the café.
A moment later, as she emerged, tragedy nearly struck. Mary Jane, perhaps distracted or simply clumsy, suddenly caught her heel on the carpet seam. Her arms flailed uselessly, and she pitched backward, her trajectory aimed directly at the sharp, unforgiving corner of a heavy wooden table.
Gwen and Betty shouted, their hands flying up in futile gestures—the human reaction time was simply too slow.
But Su Yi wasn't human anymore.
The instant the fall began, his Level 4 Speed and Level 4 Intelligence took over. The world slowed to a crawl. He saw the angle of the fall, the position of the table, and the look of terror on Mary Jane's face.
In a blur that was imperceptible to the onlookers, Su Yi shot from his seat. He took a single, powerful step, covered the distance, and reached behind Mary Jane. His arms wrapped around her waist and back, pulling her instantly against his chest.
The entire event lasted less than half a second. To Gwen and Betty, Su Yi simply vanished and reappeared, holding Mary Jane safe and sound.
Mary Jane was breathless, her heart hammering against Su Yi's chest. "I… I didn't fall? Su! You saved me!"
"You didn't even wobble, Mary Jane," Su Yi said, gently steadying her. He held her just a moment longer, allowing the thrill of adrenaline and the intimacy of the rescue to linger.
"That was the most exciting thing that has happened to me all year!" Mary Jane laughed, her fear giving way to gratitude and a powerful rush of attraction. "Thank you, my boyfriend. I think that definitely deserves a reward!"
Without warning, Mary Jane grabbed Su Yi's face and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. It was a dramatic, full-contact expression of gratitude and excitement.
Su Yi, utterly surprised, felt the shock of the physical contact. Well, that certainly simplifies the interception process.
When Mary Jane finally pulled back, her eyes were shining. Su Yi was left slightly breathless, his mind processing the unexpected reward.
He turned toward the café door, intending to make a witty comment to Gwen, but the words caught in his throat.
Standing just inside the entrance, clutching a small box containing a slice of cake—likely a nervous offering—was Peter Parker.
The little spider, his face pale and slack with devastating realization, had clearly seen the entire, intimate, passionate exchange between the two.
The final, crushing detail: the piece of cake fell silently from Peter's numb fingers, splashing frosting onto the polished floor.
A perfect dramatic scene, Su Yi thought, a flicker of genuine regret for the poor kid mixed with the thrill of victory. He couldn't help but h
The cold north wind howls, carrying the snowflakes of a shattered heart...