From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

The sun rose as usual.

Peter woke up, but the world seemed subtly different—

He could catch many trivial noises, his eyesight had returned to normal, and even his gaunt, thin body had become well-proportioned and sturdy.

While Peter looked at the streamlined muscle lines in the mirror, gaining confidence, Gloria drooled over Anson's muscles on the big screen.

Gloria: I can!

Peter turned around and saw Mary Jane in the room across the alley from his neighbor's apartment; their lives were just separated by a small alley.

This budding confidence made Peter hesitate whether to go forward and introduce himself as he watched Mary Jane head to the school bus stop.

However, he still couldn't muster the courage, watching Mary Jane get into a friend's convertible, and he chased after the school bus again.

This time, without Mary Jane's help, the school bus sped away, scattering the ridicule, curses, and laughter of other students in the carriage.

Originally, Peter had caught up with the bus, but he didn't expect that when he patted the carriage, he accidentally tore off the promotional banner for the homecoming dance outside the bus. This startled Peter, and he looked at his palm in confusion, missing the bus completely in his daze.

Moreover, this was just the beginning of a series of strange events—

At lunchtime in the school cafeteria, he noticed Mary Jane slipping on orange juice on the floor, not only reacting quickly to support Mary Jane but also catching all the flying food with the tray, at an incredible speed.

After seeing Mary Jane off, the fork inexplicably stuck to his palm. When he tried to remove the fork, he found that his palm secreted a strange mucus. With a little force, a string of spider silk flew out from his wrist, locking onto a plate on the opposite table, which scared him.

He tried to pull the spider silk away, but unexpectedly, the plate also came back with it. Instinctively dodging, the plate and food smashed onto the burly man behind him:

Flash, Mary Jane's date, the big guy on the football team.

He just wanted to leave quickly, calm down, and sort out his thoughts.

But obviously, Flash was unwilling, assuming a boxing stance and rushing up.

Only at this time did Peter reveal the youthfulness and recklessness of a middle school student, immersed in the joy of testing his superpowers, completely forgetting the time.

Peter completely forgot about the agreement with Uncle Ben to paint the kitchen together. When he returned home, his uncle and aunt were already resting, and only the sound of arguing from Mary Jane's house next door surged in the night.

Perhaps, the only thing Peter could do was at least tidy up the garbage and throw it away, but he unexpectedly encountered Mary Jane, who stormed out of the house. Their eyes met, but the argument in the house behind her made Mary Jane a little embarrassed, exposing her ugliest and most embarrassing side.

However, Peter didn't laugh, didn't despise, and didn't pay too much attention, just facing everything gently and calmly, which made Mary Jane feel safe.

So, they chatted.

They talked about family and dreams.

They both yearned to leave here and go to Manhattan. Peter hoped to become a photojournalist, and Mary Jane hoped to become an actress.

Mary Jane thought Peter would laugh at her; she had never told anyone about her daydreams, but Peter gave her the warmest support.

Involuntarily, Mary Jane was slightly stunned, tilting her head to carefully look at Peter, "You are taller than you look."

Because he possesses a tall soul.

Unexpectedly, Peter smiled and said seriously, "I'm hunchbacked."

The corners of Mary Jane's mouth twitched slightly, and her eyes were red. Although there was no smile, one could see the starlight reflected in those eyes, stirring with brilliance, "Don't be hunchbacked anymore."

Oh.

The girls throughout the screening room emitted soft sighs, like melting cotton candy. Who could have imagined that such a conversation could be so romantic?

Unfortunately, the warm atmosphere couldn't continue—

Flash appeared, driving a luxury convertible, yelling that it was his birthday gift.

Peter watched Mary Jane leave, and after returning to his room, he couldn't help but start browsing the used car ads in the newspaper. The cheapest one was nearly three thousand dollars.

To be exact, 2,598.

Right below the used car ads was an advertisement recruiting wrestlers; as long as you could last three minutes, you could earn three thousand dollars.

Never would he have thought that the first thing Peter tried to fully utilize his superpowers for was actually just to buy a convertible for three thousand dollars?

Like all legendary superheroes, Peter designed a red spider-suit and mask for himself and locked himself in his room every day to practice his skills, secluding himself for training.

It wasn't until Peter was sure he was ready that he used the excuse of going to the library to prepare to participate in the competition, but Peter didn't realize that his abnormality had already fallen into the eyes of his uncle and aunt.

Uncle Ben used the excuse of escorting Peter to the library, but in reality, he was looking for an opportunity, a space, to talk to Peter; Peter's mind had already flown to the wrestling arena, completely unable to restrain himself. It was precisely this performance that made Uncle Ben realize that Peter was going through puberty.

Uncle Ben himself had also experienced those turbulent years, and he was worried that Peter might go astray; the school fighting incident was a warning bell.

"That person who fought with you, Flash Thompson, maybe he deserved it. But just because you can beat him doesn't mean you have the right to hit him."

However, Peter stubbornly shifted his gaze.

Children in puberty are always like this: stubborn, obstinate, rebellious.

Uncle Ben sighed softly, "Peter, remember, with great power comes great responsibility."

This sentence, however, stimulated Peter, fearing that his wrestling plans would be exposed, he immediately became impatient, and anger occupied his brain.

"Things are different now. I'll take care of it myself. Don't lecture me. Please!"

"I didn't mean to lecture you; I know I'm not your father."

"Then stop pretending you are."

Back and forth, an impulse, the words just blurted out.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Peter realized he had said the wrong thing, but it was already irreversible.

Uncle Ben withdrew his gaze, "Okay," he said, ending the conversation.

Peter tried to explain, tried to salvage the situation, but Uncle Ben was no longer prepared to continue talking, "I'll pick you up at ten o'clock tonight."

Peter couldn't believe it, both angry and annoyed, more at himself than at Uncle Ben, so he defiantly opened the car door. He deliberately waited for a moment, but unexpectedly, Uncle Ben had already driven away. Peter didn't stay any longer, quickly leaving. The two parted unhappily.

Before him, there was something more important—

Three thousand dollars.