Then Skye sent another message: I covered for you and told Gwen and the others you were out having fun. Remember to reward me~
"I was thinking..." Cindy guessed something when she saw him checking his messages. "You have to leave, don't you?"
"If you want me to stay the night, I wouldn't object."
After teasing her, Ye Li added, "Oh, right. You were a little impulsive today, so you'll probably have to skip school. But I know some people at the school, so you don't need to worry about losing credits."
"Mm... remember to miss me." Cindy did not care about school; she only thought about Ye Li.
"I will, my dear Cindy~"
Ye Li said goodbye to Cindy. "Whenever you want to join the Ghost-Spider Club, you can contact me. I'll be going now."
"I'll think about it."
Cindy poked her head out from behind the door.
"You have to remember everything I told you. Watch out for Morlun and The Inheritors!"
"Got it~"
The next day.
Ghost-Spider Club.
"Wow, big brother, you had so much fun yesterday! You suddenly ran off to play and disappeared for most of the day."
Jessica eyed Ye Li suspiciously. "I heard someone at school say three girls were chasing you?"
Gwen winked at Ye Li from the side and added with a smile, "Some people said it was thirty girls~"
Gwen really was the best~
How could Ye Li not know she was deliberately saying that to help him out? "See, Jessica? The rumors get more ridiculous the further they spread. You can't trust them."
"I don't care what you do."
Seeing Gwen being so hopeless, Jessica dropped the matter and said instead, "Li, you said the welcome gift for Ghost-Spider was ready. Can we contact Ghost-Spider now?"
Ye Li held back a laugh and stopped himself from instinctively looking at Gwen. "Of course. You can notify her. I'll wait here."
Ye Li had already collected the series of improved Silk launchers Tony had made.
He could finally meet Gwen... no, Ghost-Spider.
Fight the Landlord! Total Domination! Super Spider-Sense!
Agent Morse, after investigating for so long, these are the only obvious conclusions you have? I doubt your competence. Hill, don't use that tone with me! Barbara snapped into the communicator. God! Do you know what it feels like to be chased around and struck by lightning like it's gone mad? No! You don't! I think I'm about to die of anger! Hill: So according to you, Skye has awakened powers and can control lightning? Barbara: Very likely! Then set this matter aside for now. Lizard Man has appeared again, at Midtown High. You are one of the closest agents. If it is convenient, go investigate and gather some information. Barbara: It isn't convenient! I'm already disguised and standing at the club entrance! Then I wish you a successful investigation.
Hill on the other end did not press the matter and ended the call.
S.H.I.E.L.D. would not devote too much effort to a minor incident like Lizard Man within New York City.
"Fine. This time, once I infiltrate the club, I'll definitely uncover something."
Barbara took out a small sliding mirror and checked her appearance.
After confirming that she looked like a student, she encouraged herself. "Come on, Barbara!"
"Hello~ Is anyone there?"
A gentle female voice came from outside the club.
Ned's eyes lit up. He hurried to the door, opened it, and poked his round head outside to look.
A young woman stood there, smiling at him.
She wore trendy athletic clothes, her long golden hair tied into twin ponytails behind her head. A white baseball cap sat at an angle on her head, making her look youthful and pretty.
"Oh~ Hello, beautiful lady!"
Ned quickly opened the door all the way and asked eagerly, "Of course someone's here. Is there something you need? Are you here to join the club?"
Barbara was in no hurry to reveal her purpose and asked first, "Is Jessica Ye at the club?"
"You're a Knightress fan?"
Ned scratched his cheek and said awkwardly, "That's unfortunate... she and Gwen just left the club before you arrived."
"Is that so..."
Barbara thought for a moment, then asked, "Then are Mr. Ye Li and Ms. Corey Sutter Skye at the club?"
"Them? They're here."
Ned quickly pointed inside, afraid that the beautiful newcomer might leave. "Look, right over there!"
Barbara followed his gesture and looked inside—
Ye Li slapped down two cards on the table. "Pair of twos!"
Skye looked at the excellent hand in her own hand, her pretty brows furrowing. "Can't beat that..."
That should not have been possible. With her hacker-level processing power, how had she failed to win a single game against Li so far?
Ye Li, on the other hand, was grinning happily.
Super Spider-Sense really came in handy. He could win every game of cards. When he had time, he should go fleece some casino city like Las Vegas.
"Plane!"
"Straight!"
"Double jokers!"
Under Ye Li's relentless attacks, the poor "farmers," Skye and Mary Jane, were soon utterly crushed by the evil "landlord" and lost another round.
"Damn it!"
Skye looked at the cards she had barely managed to play and felt that her pride had taken a blow...
She discussed it with Mary Jane. "Jane, we can't let Li become the landlord next round! Otherwise, we'll both lose!"
Mm... if they could not beat him, they would join him. If she partnered with Ye Li, at least she could comfortably coast through a round.
As Ye Li rapidly sorted the cards, he pointed at his cheek. "Come on. A bet is a bet."
Mary Jane smiled.
She leaned over and lightly kissed Ye Li on the cheek.
There was no romantic relationship between her and Ye Li.
But in America, that could also be a polite gesture. It did not mean anything.
It only added a little fun to the game, and neither of them minded.
But when it was Skye's turn to kiss his other cheek, Ye Li pointed at his lips instead. "Kiss here, Skye~"
"Huh? Why?" Skye paused.
Ye Li blinked. "Because you're special."
"Heh, Gwen and Jessica just left, and you already dare to be this brazen~"
Though Skye said that, she was still very happy. She leaned closer and lightly kissed Ye Li on the lips~
Ned, standing nearby, was so jealous he could practically taste lemons...
He wanted to play a game like this too.
Unfortunately, no one was willing to play with him.⑧
Peter?⑨
Oh, he did not dare imagine that scene...③
...Come to think of it, where had Peter gone? He had disappeared like Harry.⑨
According to the messages, Lizard Man had appeared at school. Hopefully Peter was not there.⑥
Before you continue