"My boyfriend is truly amazing," Finn thought silently once again.
In the video, Noah only slowly calmed down under Peter's persistence and persuasion, appearing even more sorrowful, before tearing open the most painful scar in his heart before the crowd. He pulled up the news reports of his brother's death on his phone and handed them to Harry, his voice filled with exhaustion as he laid bare his years of guilt and pain before everyone without reservation.
Seeing Noah in such a vulnerable and helpless state, Finn's tears welled up silently and rolled down his cheeks.
Finally, Harry seemed unable to bear the weight of it all any longer and fled into the restroom. When he emerged again, the agony on his face had been forcibly suppressed, replaced by a calm that was almost numb. He stated firmly that he would bequeath half of his shares in the Osborn Group to Noah, even calling for a lawyer on the spot. Yet, no one expected Lawyer Cross to reveal the truth about the will, as well as the secret about Finn that no one had known.
At that moment, everyone fell into a deathly silence.
No one spoke in the ward; only the sound of heavy breathing echoed through the room.
Finn saw Harry, who was always self-restrained, proud, never easily showed weakness, completely drop all his pretenses, revealing an extremely disheveled expression, with the pain in his eyes almost overflowing, Noah also lowered his head, weeping silently, appearing incredibly powerless and exhausted.
At that time, Finn was unconscious and had never heard Noah's low murmurs, but now, through the video, they reached his ears clearly. Every word struck his heart heavily, leaving his entire body numb and making even his breathing feel heavy—
[Little liar.]
[He really deceives everyone.]
Finn's body was also trembling uncontrollably.
This was a scene he had never seen before, a scene from an unknown past.
But now, it was being presented before his eyes in the form of a video, without reservation, every single detail as clear as if it were happening right in front of him.
It was only at this moment that Finn finally understood where that sudden surge of 31% Misery Value, which he had never investigated during that period, had actually come from. It was the guilt of Harry, the pain of Noah, the sadness hidden in everyone's hearts, piled up bit by bit into a weight.
—It was also.. simply too heavy.
Finn recalled his conversation with Harry Osborn after he woke up, only realizing belatedly that he had seamlessly transitioned from one to the other, dealing a series of consecutive blows to his own brother.
He even suddenly understood Peter's previous evaluation of him—[he never suffers from internal conflict; he is used to exhausting everyone else to death].
He seemed.. truly too heartless.
"I asked you what happened after I lost consciousness, didn't you say you had a glitch and hadn't saved the progress?" Finn's voice was filled with hesitation and confusion, but at the same time, the self-doubt in the depths of his heart began to loosen significantly because of this video.
System PP: [PP saved it.]
"Then why didn't you show it to me back then?" Finn found it even harder to understand.
".. System PP was afraid you would be sad." System PP's electronic voice sounded very soft.
System PP also didn't know how to explain it, but sometimes he hoped his Host could have a bit more humanity, realize that the people around him truly cared for him, loved him, valued him.
But at the same time, he didn't want Finn.. to understand this sorrowful mood and have to endure such heavy pain.
It's like you are carefully protecting a kitten with innocent eyes, unwilling to let it know—
In this world, there are many dangerous and sorrowful things, many unspeakable pains and regrets.
I only want it to remain simple and pure forever, living in a world without shadows, never having to understand that heart-wrenching pain.
All of this is true." System PP's tone was incredibly firm. "PP has been recording everything around the Host. Everything about Finn Osborn is real, PP is real, the mission is real.
System PP even released a carefully edited, romanticized video of 【Pinfinity】 at this very moment.
"What is this?" Finn found it even harder to understand.
"When System PP gets censored, just edit some videos to pass the time." Although System PP felt a bit embarrassed, he released the information anyway to make Finn believe him even more. Before, when he was being censored night after night, System PP had found some things to do to pass the time.
Finn found it hilarious: 【Why are you acting like a CP fan too?】
System PP felt somewhat helpless: [PP doesn't have anything else to do, either.]
Finn also began to take an interest in watching the videos edited by System PP, his expression softening considerably, the corners of his mouth even curling into a slight smile.
Host, all of this is true." Seeing that Finn already believed its words, System PP continued to repeat firmly, "There was just some unpredictable issue with the mission, but it was absolutely not the Host's fault.
If you still have doubts about this, Host, you can confirm with PP repeatedly.
"I understand." Finn finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, feeling his heart, which had been trembling from anxiety, finally steady.
It was only then that he realized, with a sense of delayed realization, that he was in a warm and powerful embrace; it was Peter who had been holding him from behind all along. As his consciousness slowly returned to his body, Finn felt his slightly cool body being enveloped by a warm temperature, that familiar sense of security, which seemed capable of dispelling the confusion in his heart, spread through his entire body bit by bit.
“Peter..” Finn turned his head slightly, only to realize that at some point, Peter was the only one left in the room, holding him from behind.
I'm here." Peter nodded, reaching out to wipe the remaining tears from Finn's face, "I'll always be here.
Finn realized that he was already in tears, but he didn't know how to explain it.
Do you want to sleep? I'll stay with you." Peter didn't need Finn to explain; he simply kissed his hair lightly. "We can talk if you want, too.
Finn opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words reached his lips only to leave him unsure of how to speak. He simply leaned back into Peter's embrace, his eyes slightly vacant, staring blankly at the ceiling, while the faint, clean scent of Peter lingered around his nose.
Aren't you afraid?" Finn asked. He also knew how terrifying the scene of him confronting System PP on the bed just now must have looked to an outsider, how inexplicably he had burst into tears like this. In fact, when he was lost in his own thoughts, he wouldn't pay any attention to anything in the outside world at all. "I'm so seriously ill.
Even Finn himself felt that, in the eyes of others, he was practically insane.
"You know, Spider-Man always rises to the challenge." Peter said in a joking tone.
Finn was actually amused.
"I have many secrets," Finn said softly, his voice light, carrying both exhaustion and trepidation.
"Do you want to talk about it now?" Peter asked, his voice gentle and patient.
Finn shook his head.
"Then there's nothing more to say." Peter simply tightened his embrace, holding him a little tighter.
I initially took you for my life-long nemesis," Finn said again, "and I still hide many wicked thoughts within me.
Bad Intentions · System PP: 【..】Is he talking about me?
Life-long Nemeses are meant to be entangled together for a lifetime," Peter said with a smile. "It is my honor.
After another moment of silence, Finn turned his head and looked at Peter earnestly, asking—
If I weren't Finn Osborn, would you still like me?
I would." Peter said without the slightest hesitation, his voice direct and firm, "As long as it is you.
Even if you changed your identity, your appearance, or your voice.." Peter said solemnly, the young man's face clearly reflected in his clean eyes, "As long as you appear before me, I will still be able to recognize you.
"I don't believe you." Finn looked at him, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward. The confusion in his eyes gradually faded, his smile became more sincere. He truly loved seeing the way Peter gave him an honest response every single time, a response filled with unwavering determination that required no thought at all.
Seeing the smile Finn showed him, Peter finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Finn, I love you, only you.
Peter leaned in and gave Finn a soft kiss on the lips, meeting those green eyes at an incredibly close distance as he said earnestly—
It's okay if you have doubts; you can confirm it with me as many times as you want.
Hearing this, Finn blinked without saying a word, simply leaning back into Peter's embrace and closing his eyes.
The young man was somewhat exhausted, his entire being radiating an indescribable sense of drowsiness and fatigue, but in this moment, the profound anxiety he had felt for some time seemed to have been smoothed away. Even the pain of self-doubt and the confusion of being rejected by the world dissipated bit by bit within Peter's warm embrace.
It was as if time itself had stood still at this very moment.
"PP, do you know?" Finn closed his eyes and spoke softly to System PP in his mind.
System PP: [Know what?]
Scenes began to flash through Finn's mind, one after another—
The words were remarkably similar to those spoken by Peter and System PP, who had always stayed by his side.
Sometimes, I feel like the way you make me feel..
[He really is just like Peter.]
Chapter 90: Demanding a Hug
Peter insisted on keeping Finn at home. Although everyone eventually agreed, everyone's heart hung high in suspense all through the night, Peter Parker himself was certainly included. Noah, Elias, Andrew also did not go home; they all stayed over. Harry even invited Dr. Thomas over, hiring him with a high salary to work from home, even though this "home" was the "patient's home."
By the next morning, to everyone's surprise, Finn's previously concerning mental state actually looked a lot better.
The emptiness in his eyes had faded slightly, he was no longer as taciturn as before, engaging in quite a bit of pleasant conversation with them.
"Young Master Finn, what's wrong?" Andrew noticed that Finn was staring at him more than usual.
"I think you're quite sick yourself." Finn remembered the video System PP had shown him yesterday, where Andrew was banging his head against the wall. The bruise on his head had taken a long time to fade; at the very least, Finn certainly wouldn't do something that would damage his own looks.
Facing Finn's serious expression, Andrew felt completely bewildered.
Andrew: "?? Young Master Finn, please just focus on managing your own illnesses."
"How about we all go stay at Eden Mental Hospital for a while?" After receiving the dual enlightenment from System PP and Peter Parker, Finn's mind had opened up significantly, his mindset seemed to have reached a new level of sublimation.
Finn thought about that video, where Dr. Thomas looked completely helpless, cornered between him, Harry, Noah, Andrew, with no way to defend himself; he had been completely set up by capital.
Noah and Harry exchanged a glance—
They saw both relief and helplessness in each other's eyes.
Anyway, the fact that he could proactively suggest going to the mental hospital hand-in-hand really showed that Finn's mental state had indeed improved.
At this moment, Blake actually rushed out an emergency co-op beta version of "Mental Illness Family" specifically for Finn to test.
Elias: ".." Isn't this just perfect for the occasion?
Even Thor, upon learning about Finn's condition, came to visit Finn along with Dr. Bruce Banner.
"What is making you unhappy? Did your brother bully you?" Thor didn't understand those technical terms regarding medical conditions used in Midgard; he only knew that Finn, who always seemed so happy, didn't seem quite as joyful now. Based on Thor's past experiences, if a younger brother began to have an episode, the cause would inevitably be that he, as an older brother, or their father had upset the petty Loki.
Since Finn no longer has a father, it could only be Harry Osborn's fault.
"Harry, you already have such a wonderful younger brother; you should feel content." Before Finn could speak, Thor had already turned to look at Harry, gazing at him with an attitude that said, [I'm here to back up your brother].
Harry: ".." Do I even need to tell you??
"As an older brother, I have quite a bit of experience." Thor even wanted to share his fifteen hundred years of experience being an older brother with Harry.
"Experience in sending your brother to prison?" Harry said coldly, his words striking a nerve with Thor.
Spider-Man: ".." What do you mean, "killing the conversation with a single sentence"?
It's because of this kind of temper that you put so much pressure on your brother." Thor wasn't angry; after thinking for a moment, the man sighed with earnest emotion, "Your brother certainly wouldn't want to share his troubles with you, because you are always so cold and unapproachable. Even if Finn has grievances, he wouldn't dare tell you, over time, it's caused him to develop these issues.
Dr. Bruce Banner: ".." So when it comes to other people's siblings, you suddenly become a bit smarter?
As soon as Thor said this, Harry's expression darkened even further, yet he seemed to have no ground to refute it.