Taking a deep breath, Andrew: ".." My life was forced into this mess only because I encountered you and Finn.
"So Finn also knows you are Spider-Man?" Andrew composed himself, then remembered the key issue and asked in confusion.
Only then did Andrew realize that the actions of Spider-Man he had seen at yesterday's business banquet.. why they felt so familiar. Connecting that to what Noah had said earlier—that on the night of the birthday party, Spider-Man, in his capacity as a hero, had actually gone out of his way to take Finn to an abandoned building to set up a camping-style mini-theater just to accompany the Young Master in watching Korean Dramas—
So it was you all along, you brat!!
Finn knows," Peter nodded, "but he's pretending not to know.
"Why?" Andrew asked, looking completely bewildered.
"Because I didn't reveal my identity to him, but he realized it himself; he just hasn't said anything," Peter explained. In truth, he hadn't hidden it from the very beginning.
Andrew froze for a moment, then asked again, "Then why don't you just be direct with Young Master Finn?"
It's a bit complicated." Peter also had a complicated psychological journey. "It's just that Finn knows I am Spider-Man, but he intentionally doesn't say it. He thinks I don't know that he knows I am Spider-Man. But I actually do know, yet he won't say anything and even intentionally distinguishes between me and Spider-Man. So, I felt that since he wasn't going to bring it up himself, there was no need for me to make a point of saying it either.
Andrew, full of question marks: "Do you know what you're saying right now?"
Andrew had always felt that both Finn and Peter were straightforward and blunt.
Only his gloomy head was filled with twists and turns.
But now, he was completely bewildered by the twists and turns of these two people, feeling as if he were caught in a tangled mess.
"Anyway, it's just.. for now, we'll keep this kind of relationship." Spider-Man couldn't really explain the details either, so he could only summarize it simply.
You guys are still here?
Suddenly, Finn's voice came from behind him.
Peter's body stiffened suddenly, he frantically pulled the Spider-Man mask back over his face.
Andrew: ".." Is that really necessary? Doesn't everyone already know?
"Finn, where are you going?" Spider-Man turned and asked immediately with concern.
I'm planning to go to Harry's office and take a look," Finn explained. "It was fine before because Max stepped up, the damage to the Osborn Building itself isn't very serious, but the main issue is that Floor 105 has been hit hard. Isn't it a total mess now? I'm thinking of just renovating the entire floor. I plan to go have a look and get the renovation crew in as soon as possible.
Okay," Spider-Man nodded quickly; he also knew that Max was currently with Thor. "I'll go with you.
The windows on Floor 105 were all shattered; Peter wouldn't dream of letting Finn, who had a history of jumping from buildings, go there by himself.
"Okay, um—" Finn directly handed his phone to Andrew.
"What's wrong?" Andrew asked, taking the phone with a look of confusion.
So many people are looking for me, I don't want to take calls or reply to messages anymore." Finn assigned Andrew the tasks of a secretary. "Help me handle this while you're here. Don't worry, I've already taken the call from Noah, so he shouldn't be bombarding me with calls again for a while.
".. Alright." Andrew thought that since he was already here, he might as well do the work of a secretary.
Oh, right, one more thing." Finn suddenly stopped in his tracks, his tone becoming solemn, "Harry's condition is currently severe, he is unable to handle the Group's affairs. From today onwards, I will temporarily serve as the Acting CEO of the Osborn Group and take over all responsibilities.
Andrew's hand holding his phone froze, his mind went blank for a moment: ".."
So, you really are the secretary for the Osborn Group CEO now!" Seeing Andrew's stunned expression, Finn blinked and teased with a smirk, "Do you feel like you're quite something?
Andrew: ".." Did you see me smiling?
He thought back to the words Finn had said when he had first pulled him in to be his secretary—
Listen to me carefully, there is nothing about me that is inferior to Harry Osborn, naturally, there is nothing about you that is inferior to Harry's secretary.
At that time, he didn't take those words to heart at all.
As a result—
The "weight" of this sentence was actually continuing to rise steadily.
He, an ordinary high school student, was directly "promoted" to the position of Secretary to the Osborn Group CEO.
He hadn't even finished his introductory course for secretaries, yet he had already taken on the position of Chief Secretary.
This is too ridiculous.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself; just do what you're good at." Finn saw Andrew's tension and comforted him softly, "Miss Felicia will also assist me at the same time.
Andrew: ".." Thank you, but what I'm best at is depression, complaining, slacking off.
Finn and Spider-Man went to Floor 105, leaving Andrew in the laboratory, worrying over the dense messages on Finn's phone screen. He truly realized the breadth of Finn's social circle; messages popped up one after another, making it impossible to reply to them all.
Andrew really couldn't understand how Finn could stay in touch with so many people when he was so busy every day.
No wonder he designed so many emojis; when he's too lazy to type, he can just use emojis to get by.
While dealing with a headache from the screen, his own phone began to vibrate frantically.
The "Father" flashing on the screen made Andrew frown, but he still answered the call.
A barrage of angry curses immediately came from the other end of the line, the voice frantic: [Damn it! Where the hell are you? Why aren't you answering the phone! Are you injured? Where are you now? Where is your mother? I told you before not to take her to the hospital, but you wouldn't listen!]
If she's not getting treated at the hospital, is she just waiting to die at home?" Andrew suppressed the irritation in his heart, his tone impatient. "Mother is fine; she isn't injured.
"Get back here right now! Don't you know how dangerous it is outside? New York is in such chaos, are you just waiting to be snatched away by Aliens?" The man's voice was filled with anxiety, tinged with a hint of hysteria.
I'm not coming back! Do you even know about Osborn Group? I'm going to be the secretary to the Osborn CEO from now on!" Andrew was already feeling extremely frustrated; his relationship with his father had always been poor, at this moment, he could no longer suppress the irritation in his heart as he roared into the phone, "I have a ton of things to do! Do you think I'm like you, wasting my life just sitting at home drinking all day?
There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line. A few seconds later, the man's voice came through, filled with disbelief and shock, even carrying a hint of bewilderment:
.. Have you lost your mind?
Why don't you just go become Iron Man's secretary instead?
There was no habitual mockery or disdain in the man's voice; instead, there was genuine worry. Damon knew his son was timid, cowardly, had a gloomy temperament. With New York suddenly under attack by aliens, he assumed his son was simply terrified, which was why he was speaking such nonsensical words.
That wealthy young master who treated me like a dog—he is already the CEO of the Osborn Group.
Andrew felt like a mushroom driven mad by external stimuli, releasing spores in a frantic, random attack.
I am his secretary, do you understand? Yes, yes, yes, even though I might be a useless waste in your eyes, right now I am the CEO's secretary." Andrew felt that his current mental state was simply insane; he didn't care whether his father believed him or not, as he was already stressed to the point of madness. "Iron Man? Iron Man is here too, so is Spider-Man. Do you want to have a phone call with them? Oh, right, Spider-Man is also my good friend—if you must know, I just found out.
While Andrew was secretly losing his mind, Finn and Peter had already taken the elevator to Floor 105.
The chaos that had just occurred here still left Spider-Man's scalp tingling with lingering fear.
"By the way, I heard from Dr. Bruce Banner that.. you guys are going to form a superhero team called the Avengers. That is so cool!" Young Master Finn suddenly said excitedly.
"I.. I haven't decided yet," Peter said hesitantly.
Why?" Finn asked in surprise, "Are they workplace bullying you? Bullying you because you're junior?
No." Spider-Man hurriedly waved his hands, pursed his lips, voiced the concerns in his heart. "I've just been a community hero in New York until now. Even if I've had some minor achievements, they don't really count for anything. But they are different. Iron Man and Captain America are legendary heroes; they are my idols. Black Widow and Hawkeye are veteran elite agents. Dr. Bruce Banner has seven degrees, you already know his combat power and that of Thor from Asgard—they are inhumanly strong.
In such a comparison, eighteen-year-old Peter Parker also feared that he might lower the standard of the Avengers.
Compared to them, I am far too inferior; I always feel like I don't deserve the identity of an Avenger.
Spider-Man's voice grew a little softer, carrying a hint of the self-doubt unique to young people.
Just as Peter thought Finn would say something to encourage him, Finn suddenly spoke up seriously—
Do you want to have a chat with Dr. Thomas?
Spider-Man was momentarily speechless: ".. In my situation, it shouldn't really be considered a mental illness, right?"
I'm afraid you'll be scared half to death by me today," Finn said with another laugh, "You've lost all your confidence.
.. As long as you know." Peter recalled that sensation of his heart stopping once again, his voice tinged with lingering fear, "Don't ever do something like that again.
Speaking of which—
"You actually injected yourself!" Spider-Man couldn't help but start reviewing the situation.
"How did you know that Harry and I were in danger?" Finn quickly interrupted, changing the subject.
"I.. I don't know either, it's just that a voice suddenly appeared in my head." Even Peter Parker found it quite astonishing.
It seemed that, for the first time, besides Finn's inner thoughts, he had heard the voice of System PP.
Finn also froze for a moment, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. But on second thought, considering that even something as absurd as aliens invading Earth had happened, it was actually quite reasonable that his System PP could unexpectedly connect with Spider-Man.
Join us, join us!" Finn bumped into Peter again with a smile, his green eyes sparkling with genuine expectation and full of excitement. "I'm so happy for you! Joining the Avengers is seriously cool!
Spider-Man certainly knew how cool it was, how much he envied it.
But.. he also knew that this was by no means a simple matter.
It was precisely because the title of "Avenger" was so heavy that he was even more worried about his inability to shoulder such a massive responsibility.
Being a hero has never been an easy task. I know this responsibility is immense for you, but isn't this exactly what you were determined to do? Since you have no intention of backing down, why hesitate at this moment?" Finn watched Peter and continued with a light laugh, "On the contrary, I am glad to see that you don't have to carry this weight alone. You are an alliance; you can fight side by side when danger strikes. You won't find yourself isolated and helpless just because you are a hero.
Peter looked at Finn, who had spoken those words to him, with a hint of surprise.
And at this moment, the young man's gaze looked calmly toward the New York City streets, which were in a total mess because of this disaster.
Looking at New York as it is now, you might feel like you haven't done enough, or that your power isn't great enough." Finn's voice was gentle, like a passing breeze brushing against Peter's ears. "But what you must realize is that without heroes like you stepping forward, this place would have become a wasteland of utter despair. Similarly, you might feel that you haven't done anything extraordinary before, but to those you have saved.. it was undoubtedly an act sufficient to change their fates.
But, I hope you know—" Finn withdrew his gaze, his clear green eyes calmly watching Peter, "even for a hero, it is impossible to save everyone.
If one day in the future, you encounter..
Even if it is a regret that you cannot undo, even as Spider-Man, I hope you do not blame yourself for it, even less, do not be sad.
Spider-Man was stunned.
He didn't know why Finn was suddenly saying these things, but he could feel that the young man was speaking to him very seriously.
"Do you still remember what you said to me on my birthday?" Finn suddenly asked again, his eyes curving into crescents.
Peter couldn't quite remember; it wasn't that his memory was bad, but he seemed to have said a lot of things on Finn's birthday.
No, it wasn't you who said it." Finn looked at his stunned expression and couldn't help but laugh, a gentle smile rippling in his eyes. "It was your friend Peter Parker who said it. Since you definitely don't know, I'll tell you.
Peter's Adam's apple bobbed as he replied softly, ".. Okay."
You did an amazing job today.
Finn stared fixedly at Spider-Man, his voice softening with a hint of a smile—
I know you didn't prepare for all this, but you've been ready for a long time, haven't you?
Like this kind of opportunity.. you have already waited for it a hundred times.
These words were once spoken by him to Finn, while he was standing before Finn as Peter Parker.
At this moment, as the words were uttered once more from the young man's lips, the warm syllables lightly struck Peter's eardrums.
Yet it was enough to make Spider-Man's heart tremble.