Peter, I saw a letter left for Felix by a netizen online before." Finn's footsteps paused. "I really liked a passage in it.
He spoke slowly, reciting those deeply memorable words in a low voice:
“You must believe that as long as you keep running forward, you will surely encounter the first light of dawn.”
Don't stop your pace. You must believe that you are only ten years old, your future is still long.
Finn stood on the steps, his head tilted slightly upward as he gazed at the sunlight outside the secret door, softly repeating those words, as if he were also whispering to his eight-year-old self in his arms.
As long as you run fast enough, those dark, painful shadows will never catch up to you.
You will definitely be able to run very fast, because your dear family will become a gust of wind behind you, accompanying you.
Grow up in peace.
Don't stop, look ahead, just run toward the light.
Finn stood just two steps away from the secret door, as if standing at the boundary between light and darkness.
Specks of light fell upon him, half submerged in shadow and half bathed in the shimmer, making those emerald eyes appear even more clear and bright.
Facing the light, Finn turned his head to look tenderly at Peter behind him, a more brilliant smile spreading across his lips.
“So—”
Finn knew that he had to take this step, not just for Felix, but also for Peter behind him, for the System PP that had always been by his side.
"Peter." Finn spoke firmly.
[PP.] At the same time, he was also calling out to his System PP in his heart.
If Felix were to be trapped in this dark cage forever, Peter Parker and System PP would ultimately be unable to take firm steps toward the future.
In Peter's eyes, Finn was like a piece of transparent, crystalline candy wrapper at this moment.
Whichever side was illuminated by the light, it would refract a dizzying, pure, dazzlingly beautiful golden radiance.
Don't stop, look forward.
Just run toward the light.
Finn, clutching the black duffel bag in both hands, stepped forward and walked firmly out of the secret door.
The bright, warm sunlight outside poured in, landing on the young man's long eyelashes and breaking into his clear, gem-like emerald eyes.
The gentle halo also enveloped the cold and gloomy black duffel bag in his arms, like a long-overdue embrace from the world.
Just as the deepest night finally recedes its darkness, welcoming the first light of dawn.
And just at that moment—
A gentle and warm breeze that shouldn't have existed suddenly surged from the cold, dark room behind him, lightly brushing against his back.
It was just like a pair of hands.
The young man's pupils constricted, his body suddenly went rigid.
It was as if.. there was truly an invisible yet gentle force, softly pushing him from behind, encouraging him to leave this cage that had trapped him for so long.
At this moment, something felt as if it had suddenly struck Finn's chest.
Perhaps it was the sentence he had just repeated to himself—[Because your beloved family will become a breeze behind you, accompanying you.]
The young man, who had not shed a single tear until now, suddenly felt his eyes well up with tears, warm droplets slid slowly down his fair cheeks without warning.
Finn couldn't help but want to turn back and take a look.
But just as he instinctively tried to turn his head, a warm palm gently pressed against him, steadily holding the back of his head. The force was gentle yet firm, stopping his movement to turn around. Peter stood quietly behind him, his firm youthful body positioned in a steady, embracing posture, as if wanting to shield him from all the darkness and painful memories behind him.
Finn, don't look back.
Let's walk forward together.
I will stay by your side forever.
Chapter 110: Feverish°Kissing
"The venomous reporter Aiden West thrust the tragedy that occurred on Elwood Avenue two years ago into the public eye, igniting a massive wave of attention." and
The overwhelming false accusations and malicious slander that once surrounded Young Master Osborn, Finn, had long ago plunged Aiden West, the instigator, into a whirlwind of public opinion, leaving him in a state of near-ruin. However, he did not give up on tracking down the whereabouts of Felix. During his previous apology press conference, he had already made a promise to the public that he would find this missing ten-year-old boy at any cost. Regardless of Felix's current situation, he will provide this ten-year-old child with all the support needed to grow into an adult, his entire estate will also be inherited by Felix.
Despite the relentless barrage of criticism directed at Aiden, the public undoubtedly continues to follow every single one of his upcoming video updates.
Aiden was extensively searching for clues, frequently posting videos revealing that he had reliable evidence. Due to the widespread public concern, his investigations into the whereabouts of Felix had become a highly popular series with consistently high engagement, countless people were waiting in Aiden's series for news regarding [The Missing Felix].
Just as everyone was full of anticipation, hoping to find Felix, a sudden official announcement instantly caused a national uproar.
The police have reopened the investigation into the two-year-old cold case on Elwood Avenue. Following a meticulous search and collection of evidence, they have discovered Felix's remains in the basement of the master bedroom where the incident occurred.
There was never a boy who escaped by luck, only.. the boy who died first in that pitch-black dawn.
The news of Felix's death released by the police shattered everyone's expectations across the entire internet and completely crushed the only lead Aiden had for his investigation.
【I'm going to cry.. So, was Felix the first child to die?】
【Why didn't the police find him before? It's been two whole years! That poor child was just hidden all alone in the basement, it's too cruel.】
Who is this Vulture who keeps hyping things up, feeding off the blood and tears of innocent victims? Even though Felix has already been murdered, Aiden actually used the theme of [Finding the Missing Felix] to create a column, he always says he's found crucial evidence! To put it bluntly, it's all just for engagement and to whitewash the situation! So hypocritical and despicable!
【Look on the bright side.. If Aiden West hadn't exposed this matter, the police wouldn't have reopened the investigation, Felix wouldn't have been found. At least now, Felix can finally emerge from the cage that held him, he can be with his family again.】
[May the souls of these innocent children live forever in the [Summer Neverland] that Young Master Finn built for them.]
..
As the outside world once again fell into a tsunami of heated discussion, Finn Osborn suddenly fell ill.
It was viral influenza. Finn had met many people during work previously, so it was unclear when he had been infected.
The young man's high fever wouldn't subside, but fortunately, his mental state seemed quite good.
Peter's eyes were red, he sat carefully on the bed, gently wrapping his arms around Finn from behind, who was burning up and limp.
The young man leaned dizzily in his arms, falling into a light sleep.
Although they had personally pushed open the door that imprisoned Felix, Peter was still very afraid that Finn would recall those nightmare-like memories again in his dreams. Peter even felt that Finn's current high fever was as if those past sad, painful, cold shadows were still chasing him, making it impossible for him to escape.
Of course, Peter knew just how strong his lover was.
He would once again feel—
Finn's current situation was like a rebirth for a person; it would inevitably involve the agony and pain of having his body destroyed and reshaped once again.
Noah frowned as he looked at Peter and Finn.
I don't know how the two most energetic optimists in this world are now like two little bitter gourds huddling together for warmth.
Don't worry, it's just the flu, he'll be fine after a while." Noah didn't think much of it and simply said, "Finn is always like this; once he starts working, he grinds himself down like a machine, working non-stop. No matter how brilliant his mind is, his physical endurance has its limits. He can't keep exhausting himself like this in the future.
Moreover, Noah thought that Finn's schizophrenia had been acting up intermittently during this time, which would inevitably have an impact on his body. After all, Harry Osborn had been sent to Eden Mental Hospital by Finn at the time to recuperate for a while before returning to work, yet Finn had been constantly making a ruckus.
Peter nodded, his cheeks carefully resting against Finn's burning forehead, his eyes filled with heartache and worry.
By the time Finn woke up again, he had no idea what time it was.
The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, leaving only the lamp he usually kept on while sleeping, as if someone intended to let him sleep through everything.
He was still being held steadily from behind.
The warm embrace was steady and familiar, the scent of Peter Parker, which made him feel completely at ease.
"PP?" Finn called out tentatively in his mind.
System PP responded immediately: 【I am here.】
".. Why are you still here?" Finn was somewhat puzzled. In his estimation, he had already sacrificed himself, so the mission was bound to be completed.
System PP doesn't know either." System PP truly didn't know; after all, it was its first time performing a System task, it hadn't triggered any of the task completion milestones that Finn had mentioned to it. Furthermore, System PP didn't think it should pull away while its Host was in his weakest state. "System PP can stay with the Host the whole time.
No." Finn said decisively, "I'm telling you, a System like you with no ambition is going to lose points.
System PP: [..] Fine, then deduct the points.
Don't be so dismissive! You have no idea how many good things are in the System Mall." Although Finn couldn't hear System PP's inner thoughts, he could still guess its attitude of giving up, "As a System, you should act like one. You can't just get stuck in this novice stage for eternity, can you?
System PP: 【..】With so many good things available, you ended up only exchanging for a [Birdman], didn't you? I just don't want wings.
"You really are—" Finn couldn't hear System PP responding to him, so he just assumed System PP was using silence to brush him off.
Young Master Finn.." Peter Parker spoke up at the right moment, feeling relieved that Finn's inner thoughts were still so energetic, "Are you feeling any better?
"I'm feeling better. The last cold wasn't this serious, though." Finn nodded, his green eyes shrouded in a hazy mist of tears.
"Last time you just had a chill, but this time it's a viral cold, it's different," Peter replied, gently supporting Finn as he gave him some water.
"What about Joseph and Catherine?" Finn blinked, still looking a bit dazed.
"The Wilsons went together to arrange the funeral for Felix." Mentioning this, Peter replied with a trembling voice.
Finn stared ahead in silence, his eyes vacant; he knew, of course, that this must have been a heavy blow for Catherine and Joseph as well. For the past two years, the Wilsons had been searching for Felix's whereabouts, neither of them had expected that the child was actually right where they.. closest.
They had gone in and out of that house countless times for the renovation.
He had poured his heart into creating exclusive dream rooms for every child who had passed away, infusing them with all his tenderness and kindness.
But they never thought—
It turned out they were standing right on top of the corpse of the Missing Felix they had been searching for all along.
This must be a kind of belated agony.
Peter's thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to that enclosed basement—the dried, blackened bloodstains, the rough, cracked cabinet doors, the bone-chilling freezer..
Thinking of an innocent child suffering through torment before death, Peter's tears once again escaped his eyes uncontrollably.
“Why are you crying again?”
Finn reached out with both hands, his warm palms gently cupping Peter's cheeks, his fingertips lightly wiping the tears from the young man's face.
"Why does my little Spider-Man keep shedding little pearls?" Finn asked with a soft, helpless laugh in his voice.
Peter felt that he was simply not mature enough, not strong enough, not resilient enough to calmly and composedly accept all the suffering he had endured because of Finn. On the contrary, Finn seemed able to embrace everything without limit, reconciling with his own past and with this world with complete composure.
Don't cry, okay?" Finn leaned in to kiss the tears off Peter's cheek. "A CEO wouldn't let his beloved shed tears.