The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

"Relax, Peter. Think about the expo, think about the exhibits you're most excited about." Peter took deep breaths.

"Are you okay, Peter? Gwen and Mary Jane should be here any minute." Yang Le glanced at the time on his phone, a quirky gadget he'd made himself.

"I'm… I'm okay. By the way, why didn't Gwen come with us?" Peter asked, puzzled.

"It's because of you," Yang Le sighed. "Remember, the setup is that Gwen has a crush on me, and I don't know it."

"And Mary Jane is helping Gwen by distracting you, creating a one-on-one opportunity for Gwen and me. In return, you get one-on-one time with Mary Jane. Got it?"

"I know that," Peter nodded. "But you still haven't said why Gwen didn't come with us."

"Good heavens! Now I'm worried about you being alone with Mary Jane later," Yang Le said, exasperated, holding his forehead. "In Gwen's mind, this is a date, so she wants to dress up nicely. Mary Jane went to help her choose an outfit. So they'll come together. Remember, we came early to buy tickets, got it?"

"Yes, sir!" Peter saluted. It seemed that talking with Yang Le had indeed calmed his nerves.

"Hi, boys!" Mary Jane's voice came from nearby as Yang Le and Peter were joking around.

"Hi, Mary Jane." Hearing Mary Jane's voice, Peter immediately turned towards the sound to greet her.

"Hi," Yang Le also raised his right hand in greeting, a stark contrast to Peter, who looked like he was about to perform an about-face.

"You guys look cool today," Mary Jane said, nodding approvingly at Peter and Yang Le's outfits.

"Glad you like it." Peter seemed very happy. His outfit was chosen by Aunt May: a red plaid shirt and jeans. Simple, but it suited him well.

Yang Le, on the other hand, had simply bought the outfit the mannequin in the clothing store was wearing: a black baseball jacket, white t-shirt, and black pants.

"Y-you look beautiful today, too," Peter said softly, his face flushed.

"Thanks," Mary Jane smiled politely. Since she was playing wingman today, she dressed casually: a green hoodie with a denim mini-skirt and black boots.

"Where's Gwen, by the way?" Yang Le asked, noticing Mary Jane was alone.

"Check behind you," Mary Jane winked playfully.

Yang Le and Peter turned around and saw Gwen standing demurely behind them.

"Hi, guys," Gwen said, looking a little unnatural, raising her hand in greeting.

Mary Jane then leaned in and asked, "So? Doesn't Gwen look different today?"

"She really does," Peter nodded in agreement.

Gwen usually wore clothes pieced together from her father, her deceased mother, and her own collection. Although the clothes were mismatched, Gwen's excellent figure and sense of style surprisingly made it work, but they were always rock-and-roll style.

Today, however, Gwen's style was very different. A white oversized hoodie with a pink melting smiley face, a plaid mini-skirt with black leggings, and pink and blue Converse shoes. It was completely different from her usual style, looking playful and cute.

"Say something?" Gwen, with her hair in a ponytail, tilted her head and asked tentatively, looking at the silent Yang Le.

"It suits you, Gwen."

"Uh, thanks…"

Mary Jane saw the awkward atmosphere between the two and smiled knowingly, clearing her throat to attract everyone's attention.

"Alright, guys! We've been standing at the entrance long enough. The expo will be closing soon."

Reminded by her words, Peter quickly took out the tickets and distributed them to everyone, and they entered in an orderly fashion.

Once inside the venue, Mary Jane dutifully played her wingman role, pretending to be very interested in everything, constantly asking Peter questions.

This was exactly what Peter wanted, and he diligently answered her questions.

Thus, before Yang Le and Gwen could even make a move, Mary Jane used the crowds of people to lead Peter, who was wholeheartedly explaining things to her, away from Yang Le and Gwen.

"I guess we've completed our mission?" Yang Le looked at the dense crowd, unable to find Peter and Mary Jane anywhere.

"I guess so?" Gwen relaxed and exhaled. "I just don't know if Peter can seize the opportunity."

"That depends on Peter's performance," Yang Le took out his phone and checked the time. "Let's go, it's still early. Let's wander around. Is there anything you want to see?"

"Emm," Gwen put her hand on her chin, thinking. "Let's go to the biotechnology exhibition area. We've been thinking about a song recently, and I want to see if those little guys can give me some inspiration."

"As you wish," Yang Le said, extending his right hand.

"?" Gwen looked at Yang Le's outstretched right hand, puzzled.

"There are too many people here," Yang Le shrugged. "And you're relatively, uh… slender? I'm afraid you'll get lost."

"Oh, you're such a gentleman," Gwen said, looking at Yang Le with a sarcastic smile, while also extending her left hand, but instead of holding Yang Le's right hand, she pinched him hard.

"Ow!"

"Be careful, big guy."

Gwen looked at Yang Le, who was clutching his hand, triumphantly, then skipped towards the biotechnology exhibition area with her hands behind her back.

"Wait for me," Yang Le shook his head helplessly and quickly followed.

While chasing Gwen, Yang Le accidentally bumped into a passerby in a coat. Yang Le took a few steps back, but the man in the coat fell on his butt.

"I'm so sorry, sir," Yang Le hurried forward and reached out to help the man in the coat up.

Who knew that the passerby wouldn't even look at Yang Le, struggling to get up on his own, then quickly left, wrapped in his coat.

"What's wrong, Harby?" Gwen, not seeing Yang Le follow, looked back and happened to see the scene of the man in the coat leaving.

"Nothing," Yang Le frowned, watching the direction the man in the coat left in. The man in the coat also accidentally brushed against many passersby when he left, looking very anxious.

'Forget it, I shouldn't look at others with prejudice. Maybe he really has an emergency?' Although the other party seemed to be hiding something, Yang Le couldn't rush up and grab him and force him to explain.

"Let's go, didn't you say you wanted to go to the biotechnology exhibition area?" Yang Le decided not to think about the man in the coat, turned around, grabbed Gwen's hand, and walked towards the biotechnology exhibition area.

Gwen looked at Yang Le holding her hand, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, but quickly returned to normal, letting Yang Le lead her forward.