[Misery Value detected rising, Misery Value rose by 0.09%]
Finn & System PP: [..]
"Can it be done like that?" Finn was shocked. He could actually increase Misery Value by cursing at the System PP?
—What is this! Did it just hit a hidden easter egg!?
"Trash system, trash system, trash system.." Finn hurriedly cursed several more times in his heart.
System PP: [..] Host, you are truly starving!!
System PP felt as if he was truly hurt by Finn this time.
—You just look down on me because I'm a newbie!
—You just look down on me because I don't have any shiny, high-grade plugins!
—With just a tiny 0.09% of Misery Value, is it really worth it for the Host to be so desperate here??
I was wrong." After realizing he couldn't fleece him, Finn knew when to stop, his apology was quick and sincere. "PP, you are my best partner; I don't even know how I'll carry out my mission without you.
System PP didn't even want to speak anymore; the Host's three lines of [Finn Osborn's total defeat] didn't require his involvement at all.
"Quick, send me a meme to prove you're still my best partner," Finn insisted.
What else could the inhumane System PP do? Could it actually break up with its Host?
[System PP high-fived you. gif]
When it was time to enter the Osborn Building, Butler Joseph suddenly called out to Andrew. The man said that since Andrew was going to become Finn's secretary, he, as the butler, certainly had to be more familiar with Young Master Finn's schedule, so he might as well use this time to have a brief handover with Andrew.
Finn didn't think much of it; since Andrew had been to his workstation before, he simply handed his name tag to Andrew and told him to come up and find him in a bit—after all, for his own entry and exit, a facial scan would be enough.
Young Master Osborn and that Mr. Osborn do not have a good relationship.
By the time only he and Andrew were left in the car, Joseph was somewhat at a loss as to where to begin.
I know." Andrew could certainly see it, or rather, anyone could see the terrible relationship between the Osborn brothers. "Mr. Wilson, I think I know what you want to say to me; I've said it to Peter before as well. I know that Finn chose me simply because I look a bit like Harry. I know what I should do—just remain silent like a punching bag—and I'm quite good at that. If being used as a tool can make Young Master Finn happy, I don't see anything wrong with it.
I truly mean it, Young Master Finn has really helped me a lot." Fearing that Joseph might not believe him, Andrew hurriedly added, "Although I have no merits, I do know the most basic principle of being grateful.
Why would you think that way?" After a moment of silence, Joseph spoke slowly, his voice steady as he asked back, "Why not try to look at this matter from a different perspective?
Confusion surfaced in Andrew's eyes, as he had no idea what Joseph meant.
Child, since you are already an adult, I will be more realistic with you. Young Master Finn will provide you with very generous compensation, you certainly need this money," Joseph said thoughtfully. "Since you are willing to treat this as a job, I think you should look at this job from a different perspective. Instead of seeing yourself as a punching bag for venting frustrations on behalf of Harry Osborn, why don't you try to become a.. role of a family member who can take the place of Harry Osborn.
“Me? Replacing Harry Osborn?” Andrew's voice was filled with disbelief, feeling as though Joseph was simply joking with him. "Do you really think Young Master Finn would want someone like me as family?"
Even just being friends, Andrew, who considered himself of low status, didn't dare to dream of such a thing.
Actually, even as of now, I still cannot see through Young Master Finn's true thoughts," Joseph said with a somewhat helpless smile. "What I am talking about is your own attitude. Do you think Young Master Finn needs to vent his resentment and dissatisfaction, that he chose you simply because you bear a resemblance to Mr. Osborn?
But what if Finn truly wants a brother who cares for him?" Joseph continued, his voice carrying a hint of guidance. "A brother who can accompany him in doing the things he loves, rather than one who always maintains a cold demeanor toward him; a brother who can go to parties and play with him, rather than one who is always too busy with business to find the time; a brother who would appear before his eyes the moment anything happens to him, not—
Andrew's thoughts seemed to be instantly pulled back to that silent, late night, he subconsciously picked up the conversation:
It's not just about being in a phone, using a cold voice to make him handle everything himself.
Yes, that's right," Joseph nodded. "I'm not saying that this is necessarily Young Master Finn's true thoughts. But if you look at it from a different perspective, wouldn't it feel a bit easier for you?
As it turned out, there was another way to interpret the matter.
After listening to Joseph, Andrew felt as if a completely different way of thinking had been opened up to him—
It was precisely because Harry Osborn could not do these things that Finn could hire him.. to play such a role.
“You're only eighteen, so making you the [older brother] of a young master who is about to turn twenty is indeed a bit strange.” Joseph thought about it and felt it was inappropriate, but in reality, Young Master Finn paid so much. Joseph couldn't bring himself to say it plainly, so naturally, he still hoped that young Andrew could work it out himself.
No.. it's fine," Andrew said hurriedly. "I just.. I just feel I don't have the sense of worthiness.
"Do you think I would be a worse butler for Young Master Finn than the butler for Mr. Harry Osborn?" Joseph did not follow his lead, but instead asked a strange, smiling counter-question.
"Of course not." Andrew blurted out without a second thought. He hadn't actually seen Joseph many times, but he already felt from the bottom of his heart that no one could be more competent or reliable as a butler than the Wilsons.
"Then why do you think you are unworthy?" Joseph asked with a smile.
"I have never done anything well." Andrew frowned deeply, that familiar sense of inferiority surged up in his heart once more, like a heavy stone, making it difficult for him even to lift his head to meet Joseph's gaze.
My wife and I have never been butlers before. This is the first time in our lives we have served as butlers; it was Young Master Finn who gave us the chance to try," Joseph said, having seen through his embarrassment, his voice softening as he continued, "Actually, Young Master Finn also truly needs a secretary. You will find out later; Young Master Finn is always busy with so many things; he is someone who is never idle.
".. I'll mess it up," Andrew Damon said in a low voice. The more important a matter was, the more he would avoid it. Just as he would subconsciously throw everything onto Steve Montgomery and Matt, feeling that they were more capable and better able to meet the expectations of others.
"If you don't try, how will you know that you can't do it?" Joseph's voice was steady, carrying a sense of reassuring strength.
Andrew raised his head, meeting Joseph's gentle gaze. There was no condescension in that look, only patient expectation.
At the same time, he thought of his father, who was always disparaging and suppressing him.
Young Master Osborn is very trusting of others; he will easily give people a lot of money. But in reality, it isn't actually that much for him. Finn has always had a very clear budget in his mind; he simply enjoys spending money to buy happiness." Joseph spoke again, his tone remaining calm. "Young Master Osborn is friendly to everyone, but in truth, he has a very clear sense of measurement in his heart. The people who truly surround Young Master Osborn are all equally sincere people, they are also the people he likes.
You might not understand this now, but you will later," Joseph said with a smile, looking at Andrew's bewildered eyes. "Just start with the simplest things, take it one step at a time; you are only eighteen.
“Child, it's only just the beginning.”
“Everything has to start from the first step.”
Andrew looked at the trust in Joseph's eyes, the wall built by his inferiority complex in his heart seemed to have quietly cracked. He even found himself unconsciously believing that he could do this well.
He took a deep breath, as if having made a firm decision, nodded slowly, "Okay."
Joseph mentioned Finn's schedule, some of which was fixed: for example, time for dance lessons, time for piano lessons, working hours, time for painting, time for fixed parties.. Finn followed them with almost disciplined self-control.
In addition, Finn has many friends who often ask him to do all sorts of things, Finn always participates actively. It should be said that, fortunately, Finn is currently tied down by a position at the Osborn Group and the "Rat Rise: Human Level-Clearing Battle" project; otherwise, even Joseph, as the butler, would probably have trouble catching Finn.
And, it's Finn's psychiatrist appointment schedule," Joseph said. "Once a week.
Psychiatrist?" Andrew asked, his voice filled with shock, "Are you saying Finn needs to see a psychiatrist?
"Yes." Joseph nodded.
"Why?" Andrew almost immediately jumped up from the back seat, grabbing the front seat and asking urgently.
I am not sure about the condition, I shouldn't say too much." Joseph shook his head. "Young Master Noah would know more.
Andrew suddenly recalled the night of the unexpected car accident; thinking back on it now, Noah's tense expression when he arrived and the way he repeatedly checked on Finn's condition seemed to have a different explanation.
"Then.. does Harry Osborn know about this?" Andrew asked in a dry voice.
"I think he probably doesn't know," Joseph said.
Andrew opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he felt something stuck firmly in his throat, choking him.
"My wife and I became Young Master Finn's butlers, we arrived only half a month after Mr. Norman passed away. At that time, Young Master Finn's health was even worse; besides having severe stomach issues, he also suffered from anemia and low blood sugar." Therefore, Joseph put a great deal of thought into what he ate every day.
"Why?" Andrew's pupils trembled slightly, unable to comprehend it at all. He simply could not connect the Finn in his memories—full of vitality, as if he had endless energy—with heavy terms like anemia and psychologists.
"Young Master Osborn has always stayed by the side of the ailing Mr. Norman." Joseph simply explained.
It was just a single sentence, yet it seemed to explain so much.
Andrew thought of his mother, who had been bedridden and relying on a ventilator to stay alive, a sudden wave of bitter resonance welled up in his heart. How could he not understand? He understood all too well the feeling of helplessness and the mental and physical exhaustion of those who stayed by the bedside; it was just that his mother was at least still alive.
Finn's father had already passed away.
And—he gave almost all of the inheritance to Finn's brother.
Andrew Damon boarded the elevator in the Osborn Building with a heavy heart.
Harry Osborn's office was on the 105th floor, above the clouds.
And the floor where Finn Osborn's department was located was on the 35th floor.
Andrew leaned against the cold elevator wall, wondering what Finn Osborn thought about every time he walked into the elevator.
He suddenly remembered the scene from the last time he visited Peter's house; Finn finally realized that the stray puppy he had been looking for had been picked up by Peter and brought home, it had even been given a name. At that time, Finn laughed, his green eyes filled with a glow of joy, his voice was full of excitement: "That's great! I was afraid he would never find his way home."
—What is more pathetic than a puppy that cannot find its home?
—Is it being shut out even after you've clearly found your home?
When Andrew arrived at the Brand Promotion Department, Finn was drawing.
Manager Daniel saw that Finn liked to chat with Peter in the lounge every time, so he simply partitioned off the lounge with the best lighting and reserved it as a private office for Finn.
The warm sunlight poured through the glass window, gently enveloping the young man, his entire body radiated a warmth that made one feel cozy.
"Are you drawing hamsters?" Andrew asked softly; he only knew that Finn had been drawing hamsters all this time.
"No, I'm drawing new emojis." Finn said without even looking up. Drawing hamsters all day had given him a headache, so he wanted to draw something else to balance it out.
Andrew glanced at the canvas on the tablet; it was a chibi-style image of a character wearing a sharp suit and a tiny crown atop his head, the expression looked incredibly familiar. His heart stirred slightly, a wave of indescribable complexity washing over him. "That look.. it looks a lot like Harry Osborn."
Exactly, I'm using his image to make money on the sly." Finn nodded proudly. He even wanted to invest in Blake's studio later to specifically develop a small game, using Mr. Suit's image as the protagonist, with the game titled "If You're a CEO, You Must Fight to the 105th Floor: Return to the Throne.
He thought his character could also be placed in there as a boss that had to be defeated.
Thinking of this, Finn found it hilarious again.
Andrew stared fixedly at Finn; the young man seemed to be happy all the time.
He was so happy that you couldn't see even a shadow of gloom in his life.
"By the way, this is your ID badge." Finn even took the time to hand-draw a secretary badge for Andrew, which looked somewhat half-baked. Finn was being intentional, of course; in a place where so many elites gathered, such a crude and eccentric badge seemed somewhat absurd.
The position was [Finn's Secretary], the name was even called [Clumsy Magician].
Andrew took the name tag in a daze.
On the name tag.. Finn had even specially drawn a portrait of him.
It was his first appearance in a party magic show, a chibi-style image of a magician wearing a top hat and a royal blue tie.
Andrew Damon's heart skipped a beat.
Even today, he would still feel that the stage at that moment was his most brilliant moment.
He originally thought that Finn did not care about his performance.
But in fact, he remembered it very clearly.
Other magicians pull pigeons or little white rabbits out of top hats, but in the hand-drawn image on the ID badge, he pulled a round, chubby dialogue box out of a hat.
—Inside the dialogue box was an "OK."
A clumsy magician? That was quite clumsy.
—After all, he wasn't good at magic to begin with.