Enviable Love

After sitting alone for a while longer, Chen Changsheng got up and left the company, planning to visit his own school. After all, studying was still the most important task at his age. If he did not think about school from time to time, Chen Changsheng felt he would soon forget that he was still a student.

The university campus was as full of youthful energy as ever. With nowhere to vent their boundless energy, the college students only made the campus seem even more vibrant.

As he entered the campus, the first person Chen Changsheng recognized was, surprisingly, Peter again. Chen Changsheng felt as if he had not seen Peter in ages. Wasn't Spider-Man so addicted to helping people that he could not stop? How did he still have the energy to wander aimlessly around campus?

Still, meeting was fate. From a distance, he called out to Peter, "Hey, Peter, where are you off to?"

Peter, who was hurrying along, looked toward the voice and saw his classmate, whom he had not seen in a long time. Peter happily said, "Hey, Jack. Long time no see. I'm going to attend Dr. Otto's lecture. What are you doing here?"

"Dr. Otto?" Chen Changsheng thought of that refined, scholarly, slightly overweight middle-aged scientist who devoted himself to the pursuit of knowledge. He then said, "I have nothing else to do either. I don't need to worry about credits, so I'll attend the lecture with you."

"I'm so envious of you. You already found a way to get enough credits right after the semester started, while I have to accumulate them bit by bit," Peter said enviously.

In fact, Peter was earning credits at a very fast pace. However, as Spider-Man, he had to spend most of his time helping people in need, which was why he envied Chen Changsheng's easygoing freedom so much.

While the two chatted, they arrived at Dr. Otto's classroom. Dr. Otto had already arrived. The room was packed with people, both old and young, and there were no shortage of doctors and scholars among them. After all, Dr. Otto was at the top of his field.

There were very few young people like Chen Changsheng and Peter. Peter had come because he was interested in the subject.

Chen Changsheng, on the other hand, was simply concerned about the progress of the experiment. He also intended to drop by Dr. Otto's home for a meal, because Chen Changsheng always found conversations with Otto interesting and felt that they elevated his mind.

Compared to Otto, Chen Changsheng felt that he was far too vulgar and still had a great deal of room for improvement.

Dr. Otto's lecture was rather profound. Apart from those who specialized in such research, everyone else was nodding off. Aside from Chen Changsheng and Peter, the young people present had practically all been defeated. Such advanced knowledge demanded too much talent and accumulated knowledge.

Chen Changsheng himself relied on the memories of all the scientists he had absorbed in the past. Otherwise, he would probably have been listening as if he were hearing a heavenly scripture.

When Dr. Otto finished his lecture, he stood at the podium and asked the students below, "Does anyone have any questions? We can discuss them together."

As soon as he said this, the room became lively. Everyone eagerly began asking all kinds of questions.

"Dr. Otto, how do you plan to design the nuclear fusion reactor?"

"Dr. Otto, how will you solve the temperature problem?"

"Dr. Otto, how do you think nuclear fusion can be converted into energy more efficiently, with less waste?"

Amid the series of technical questions, one person suddenly shouted, "Dr. Otto, when do you think your nuclear fusion project will be completed?"

Chen Changsheng looked toward the person who had asked the question and saw a familiar face: Eddie. He was also a student at this school and was currently working part-time at the Daily Bugle alongside Peter.

That guy had spent the entire lecture sleeping.

The question he asked was truly idiotic. Humanity had been researching nuclear fusion for decades. Every year, there were reports claiming that nuclear fusion would be achieved in another fifty years. The key point was that every year, they said it would be achieved in another fifty years...

Looking at Eddie's malicious expression, Chen Changsheng felt that the man was about to create a big story. Beside him, Peter somehow pulled out a camera and looked equally eager, preparing to take pictures. His recent part-time work had not been in vain; Peter's sensitivity to news had improved considerably.

Dr. Otto had not expected such a question amid all the technical ones, but he still answered patiently, "Based on the current progress of my experiments, achieving nuclear fusion is not far off. The only thing missing now is one experiment."

Dr. Otto's words immediately caused an uproar. Eddie, however, selectively accepted only part of the information before asking, "You've already achieved it?"

"..." Dr. Otto was utterly speechless. Do you not understand human speech? Is that what I said? Why are you still asking?

"I'll be conducting the experiment soon. I believe it will definitely succeed!" Although Dr. Otto was somewhat helpless in the face of Eddie's question, he still announced his plans.

The entire room erupted even more loudly. Dr. Otto, however, stopped speaking and slipped out of the crowd amid the chaos. The only ones left behind were a group of spectators shouting excitedly, making a tremendous commotion.

Chen Changsheng pulled Peter out of the classroom as well and chased after Dr. Otto. His purpose in coming this time had been to find Dr. Otto, so how could he let him leave so easily?

Given the stamina and explosive speed of Chen Changsheng and Peter, there was naturally no need to say more. Even though Dr. Otto had gotten a head start, Chen Changsheng and Peter still caught up with him in just a few strides.

"Dr. Otto, I have another question. Please enlighten me!" Chen Changsheng called out when he was still some distance away.

Hearing the familiar voice, Dr. Otto turned around and saw Chen Changsheng. He had a deep impression of Chen Changsheng. After all, there were not many people he could regard as kindred spirits at their first meeting. The last time Otto had enjoyed such a pleasant conversation with a stranger had been when he first met his wife. Moreover, Chen Changsheng was now his employer.

"Hello, Jack. What brings you to school? I heard the principal say that you never come here," Dr. Otto teased. Seeing Peter beside Chen Changsheng, he also asked, "And who is this?"

"Dr. Otto, I'm still a student. Coming to school to study is perfectly normal. This is my classmate, Peter Parker. He's also an intern reporter now, and I'm sure he'd be delighted to interview you." As he spoke, Chen Changsheng patted Peter on the shoulder, signaling him to greet Dr. Otto.

Peter had not expected Chen Changsheng to know someone of this stature. He immediately introduced himself somewhat awkwardly. "Hello, Dr. Otto. I'm Peter Parker. I greatly admire your knowledge and hope I can interview you for a feature."

Although Peter was a little shy, he seized the opportunity and prepared to conduct an exclusive interview with Dr. Otto, earning a little extra money.

Hearing the name Peter Parker, Otto seemed to recall something. He looked at Peter seriously and said, "Peter, I know you. You're one of Connors's students. He said you were a genius, but that you couldn't focus on doing one thing. Your genius is your greatest asset, but you still need to work twice as hard. Otherwise, you'll be letting your talent down."

Dr. Otto's tone was rather stern, giving him the air of a strict teacher. Peter also felt that he had indeed wasted too much time and let his talent down. But helping others did not count as wasting time!

Peter felt that Dr. Otto had already rejected his interview request, and his spirits sank. Just as Peter was feeling upset, he heard Dr. Otto continue.

"Everyone has their own path to walk. I was merely giving you some advice. By the way, where are you planning to conduct the interview? Surely not here?"

Dr. Otto did not want to discourage Peter too much. After all, he knew that the young genius had just left Connors's research group and might need comfort more than anything else at that moment.

Dr. Otto's words brought a smile back to Peter's face, but Peter could not think of a suitable place for the interview for the moment.

Seeing Peter's awkwardness, Dr. Otto said, "My class is over for today. Why don't you come to my house for some afternoon tea?"

"Sure. It would be an honor to visit you, Dr. Otto." Peter immediately agreed, while Chen Changsheng exchanged a glance with Otto and shared a silent smile.

Dr. Otto's home was a two-story villa. Both the yard and the rooms were kept perfectly neat and orderly. When Chen Changsheng and the others arrived, Otto's wife was tending to the flowers. Seeing that her husband had brought two young people home, she assumed they were his students and immediately welcomed them warmly.

Every time Dr. Otto and his wife looked at each other, their eyes were filled with affection. Peter could not help but feel envious. If only Mary Jane and I could be like Dr. Otto and his wife someday.

Dr. Otto gave Peter his interview, while Chen Changsheng had time to chat with Otto's wife.

Dr. Otto's wife was named Rosalie Octavius. She held a doctorate in literature, and her greatest hobbies were reading poetry and tending to flowers.

Rosalie told Chen Changsheng how she and Otto had met. He had been a bespectacled bookworm reciting Shakespeare's poetry in front of a beautiful woman, and the scene had amused Rosalie at the time. Rosalie's smile had melted the bookish Otto, and from then on, the two had regarded each other as the indispensable loves of their lives.

As Rosalie spoke, her gaze never left Otto. That gentle look reminded Chen Changsheng of Gwen. Sometimes, when the two of them looked at each other, Gwen had the exact same expression.

Back then, Chen Changsheng had thought it was simply the tenderness of a couple in love. Now, however, he understood that this might be the legendary feeling called love.

Love... Chen Changsheng had never imagined that one day he would suddenly start thinking about it, especially with a woman from either a virtual world or another universe.

Chen Changsheng felt that he should bring Gwen over so that she could see the enviable love between immortals and divine beings. Perhaps their own love was something others would envy as well.

Chen Changsheng pulled his thoughts, which had flown into the heavens, back to reality. His gaze settled on Peter. His classmate Peter Parker seemed to be hopelessly immersed in a love triangle.

Peter's interview with Otto ended as the sun set. From Rosalie, the female literary scholar, Chen Changsheng had also learned many romantic lines, which he planned to recite to Gwen when he had the time.

The Octavius couple saw Peter off, but Chen Changsheng stayed behind. Dr. Otto planned to invite Chen Changsheng to a family dinner to thank him for funding his experiments.

By then, Gwen had also finished work at Stark Industries. Chen Changsheng immediately sent someone to bring Gwen to him.

He planned for the two young lovers to learn from this affectionate couple what love truly meant.