Gwen's Family Gathering

Mary Jane's birthday party was attended by everyone on time.

The only person who failed to show up was Peter, but aside from Chen Changsheng and Harry, no one else noticed.

Harry was concerned for his friend, while Chen Changsheng was simply interested. The morning news had made it clear: a thug had robbed someone the previous night and accidentally shot an innocent passerby to death. As it happened, that innocent passerby was Peter's beloved Uncle Ben.

When tragedy befell someone else, it inspired deep sympathy. But when it happened to oneself, that was a true tragedy.

When Peter's uncle was shot in the stomach by the robber yesterday, there had actually been a chance to save him. However, considering that the exorbitant medical expenses would make their already impoverished family even worse off, he left Peter with the words, "With great power comes great responsibility," and then passed away.

Peter Parker, eager to avenge Uncle Ben, was so overwhelmed by rage that he accidentally knocked the suspected criminal off a building, leaving his fate unknown. Peter was now tormented inside. He was grieving the death of his family member, yet also furious at the malice of the world.

With the death of Ben Parker, the pillar of the family, Peter Parker's home life gradually became strained. Aunt May even had to mortgage her house because of their debts. Ordinary people's lives were always so painfully complicated.

Ben Parker and May Parker both loved their nephew dearly. Having no children of their own, they treated Peter like their biological son.

Even while working two jobs, Aunt May still insisted that her nephew attend school properly and not worry about the trivial burdens of life.

It all came down to one sentence: I hope you will make something of yourself.

After Mary Jane's birthday party, Peter's figure, camera slung over his back as he wandered around campus, disappeared. Meanwhile, a superhero began appearing on the streets of New York—a hero wearing a red-and-blue uniform decorated with spider patterns, swinging and racing through the city.

People affectionately called him Spider-Man.

Another street hero had little impact on Chen Changsheng. After all, as a law-abiding citizen, he had never worried about unfair things happening to him.

Spider-Man fought for justice on the streets of New York and saved many ordinary people, but he also disrupted the city's normal order.

He took a great deal of work away from the NYPD, making the police look like complete buffoons... As a result, the officers had plenty of complaints about the superhero Spider-Man. Some even regarded him as a criminal—a dangerous fugitive who hid his face. In that regard, they were completely aligned with the Daily Bugle.

The citizens, however, were delighted. Compared with the NYPD, which was always late to arrive, Spider-Man swinging through the air was much more reliable.

Amid these ordinary yet magical days, Chen Changsheng and his classmates were about to complete high school and begin preparing for university life.

Unlike his uneventful daily life, Chen Changsheng's Umbrella Corporation was also growing rapidly before everyone's eyes.

After signing a major contract with the military, Chen Changsheng had sufficient capital. He then bought a house of his own near New York University and formally began preparing for university life.

With the holidays arriving, Helen Zhao had returned to her homeland to live with her family.

Chen Changsheng, alone in the world, remained in New York. From time to time, he went into New York City to manage his company, or went to the orchard outside the city to take care of Willow Tree. Spending stretches of time living in the orchard made his life fairly comfortable.

One day, while absorbing Willow Tree's Life Essence in the orchard, Chen Changsheng received a message from Gwen. She was inviting him to her home for a private family dinner.

Chen Changsheng was delighted. Although he did not know why Gwen had invited him, he still made preparations early and arrived on time downstairs from Gwen's home.

Carrying an extravagant fruit basket, Chen Changsheng met Gwen Stacy, who was dressed in casual home clothes.

Gwen's golden ponytail was tied neatly, and she was even wearing a light layer of makeup on her delicate face. Clearly, Gwen also took today's family dinner very seriously. Chen Changsheng understood the importance of the occasion, too. Although he was wearing his eternally unchanged black hoodie, his entire person radiated an unusual charm.

Looking at Gwen's pretty face, Chen Changsheng felt that she looked even more beautiful and captivating today. Compared with the top student and goddess of their school, today's Gwen possessed even more of the playful cuteness of youth.

"Gwen, honestly, I didn't expect to meet your parents so soon. I wasn't prepared at all. My heart's still pounding." Chen Changsheng exaggeratedly covered his chest and described his nervous feelings to Gwen.

Gwen clearly did not fall for it. After rolling her eyes at Chen Changsheng, she said, "If you hadn't gone on vacation and ended up homeless, I wouldn't have invited you to my house!"

"Is that so? Then I'm terribly hurt. I thought our relationship was about to take another step forward." Chen Changsheng's tone sounded rather regretful.

"Mm-hmm~" Gwen's brows beneath her straight bangs lifted cheerfully, revealing her delight. Clearly, she had enjoyed those words.

Gwen turned and walked toward her home, even beginning to bounce along. She was happy, too, and was about to lose the ladylike composure she usually maintained.

Gwen's mother, Helen, seemed to have wanted to meet the new friend her daughter had invited for quite some time. When she heard cheerful footsteps in the hallway, she went to the door and opened it for them.

Seeing a middle-aged woman walk out after the door opened, Chen Changsheng knew who she was without having to think.

He hurriedly stepped forward and said to Gwen's mother, "Hello. I'm Gwen's friend, Jack Chen, from Huaguo. You're even younger and more beautiful than I imagined."

Helen was momentarily stunned upon seeing that the person accompanying Gwen upstairs was Asian. But she was soon infected by Chen Changsheng's enthusiasm and smiled. "Gwen told me that a new celebrity had arrived at her school. I didn't expect you to be as handsome as she said."

After saying that, Helen cast a meaningful glance at Gwen. Gwen's face instantly reddened when she heard her mother's exchange with Chen Changsheng. She had not expected her mother to reveal their private whispers in front of him.

Chen Changsheng also turned to look at Gwen when he heard Helen's words, wanting to see her expression.

Gwen reacted quickly. She ran over to her mother and called out as she went, "When did I ever say that, Mom?"

As she spoke, she handed the fruit basket Chen Changsheng had brought to Helen, then darted inside.

After receiving the fruit basket, Helen glanced at the gift in her hands. Her eyes immediately became fixed on it.

As a homemaker, Helen often read luxury-goods magazines at home when she had nothing else to do. Over the past year, a fruit company had suddenly become popular among the wealthy.

The fruit sold by that company was frighteningly expensive, and magazines endlessly praised its rare and exotic varieties. "Delicious flavor" and "Sweet, rich taste" were merely ordinary descriptions. They even exaggeratedly claimed that the fruit could slow aging and improve one's skin.

The advertisements made the fruit sound practically divine, so Helen had always wanted to know what it tasted like. But only Gwen's father, George Stacy, had a job in Gwen's family, although the income of an American police officer was not low.

Unfortunately, the family had three children, and every one of them was a ready-made money pit. So although Helen had been tempted by the magazines' descriptions, she had never had the opportunity to buy some and try it.

The main issue was actually access. Willow Tree's orchard produced limited quantities and gave priority to wealthy customers. As for ordinary Americans, Chen Changsheng was truly too embarrassed to cheat them out of their money.

"Oh my goodness, Jack! Where did you buy this Magic Forest fruit basket? I've looked everywhere and couldn't find one." Helen spoke dramatically as she opened the fruit basket. The surprise had come so unexpectedly that she could no longer hide her delight.

"Do you like it? If you do, I'll send you a fruit basket every day. Helen, these are some rare fruits from the East. I've opened an orchard in the outskirts of New York City, and I'm working to let more people taste these mysterious fruits from the East." Chen Changsheng casually proclaimed his grand ambition to Helen.

Chen Changsheng's words clearly pleased Helen. Looking at her happiness, Chen Changsheng proudly glanced at Gwen, as if saying, Hurry up and praise me.

Gwen watched Chen Changsheng chatting happily with her mother, her face full of smiles. Clearly, she was very satisfied with his performance that day.

"The price of your fruit baskets isn't something everyone can afford. I heard that some of the fruit can slow aging. Is that true?" Helen shook her head and asked with a smile.

"It's only just getting started. We have to expand the scale before we can lower the price. The fruit really is good for the skin. Helen, you should eat more of it. That way, you'll become even more beautiful." Chen Changsheng flattered her, though he did not agree in his heart. After all, cheating poor people out of their money was nowhere near as satisfying as fleecing the wealthy. As for letting everyone eat Willow Tree's fruit, he would pass. Accumulating Life Essence was more important.

The fruit Chen Changsheng had brought was delicious and quickly won over Gwen's family. Even Gwen's two younger brothers clung to Chen Changsheng, asking whether he had any more delicious fruit.

Chen Changsheng did not hide anything. He directly promised the two children that he would bring them more fruit they had never seen before the next day, making them even happier. On the spot, they declared, "You're my real brother-in-law from now on!"

While Chen Changsheng was enjoying a pleasant conversation with Gwen's family, Gwen's elderly father, George Stacy, captain of the NYPD, finished a day's work and returned home.

Seeing the young man sitting on the sofa and chatting intimately with his daughter, Captain George froze.

Was this really his home? Why was a stranger chatting and laughing with his daughter? Had someone stolen his home?

In an instant, George felt all the fatigue of the day vanish. Fury surged within him at the thought that some wild boar had dug up his precious little cabbage. Captain George nearly drew his service weapon. But unwilling to lose his composure in front of his family, George coughed heavily from the doorway, drawing everyone's attention, and asked Gwen, "Gwen, who is this young man?"

Seeing that her father had returned, Gwen, who had been inching closer and closer to Chen Changsheng, panicked slightly. Before she could speak, her two younger brothers happily called out to Captain George:

"Dad, this is Jack! He says his family has lots of fruit trees and more fruit than we could ever eat. He also said that if we call him brother-in-law, he'll bring us more delicious fruit tomorrow."

What was wrong with these two sons of his? Never mind that some wild boar was about to dig up their sister's cabbage—how had the two boys been bought off with a little fruit?

Captain George looked heavily at his two sons, feeling that they still needed discipline. After planning out their future education in his mind, George walked straight over and sat between Chen Changsheng and Gwen.

George was ready to properly size up this wild boar who dared to dig up his family's cabbage. A young Oriental punk like you wants to play the toad lusting after the swan's flesh?

Gwen and her two younger brothers seemed to sense that the atmosphere had become somewhat subtle. Without realizing it, they lowered their voices as they continued talking.

The family fell into an eerie silence, as if it were the calm before the storm...