Contacting Jessica

Shen Fei watched Jessica sway toward her detective agency from across the street.

He needed to find a suitable opportunity to establish contact with her. Forcing it wouldn't work.

He might not even be able to beat Jessica right now. Shen Fei sat in the café watching the detective agency across the street, thought for a while, then got up and headed over.

Then it occurred to him: since Jessica was a detective, wouldn't hiring her be the simplest way to get close to her?

He had just crossed the street when he saw Jessica emerge from the detective agency and pull the door shut. She seemed to have just woken up and was getting ready to close for the day.

That was way too fast. Did this woman seriously never run out of money?

Shen Fei quickened his pace. Just as he entered the street and was about to approach Jessica, a tremendous blast rang out in the distance.

Towering flames erupted far away.

"Hahahaha, Spider-Man! You'll never catch me!"

An evil laugh echoed through the sky. A goblin-like figure standing on a flying glider cackled madly.

"Green Goblin! Stop right there!"

A scarlet figure leaped continuously between the buildings, trying to catch up to Green Goblin.

"Spider-Man..."

Shen Fei hadn't expected to run into these two just by crossing the street.

Spider-Man was known as a model citizen, so there was no need to guess who had started this—Green Goblin. Shen Fei took out his phone and texted Klaw. Hopefully Green Goblin hadn't gone after him.

"Still chasing me? Go save people first! Hahahaha!"

All of a sudden, pumpkin-shaped bombs flew from Green Goblin's hands. One enormous explosion after another rang out as fragments of buildings scattered everywhere and screams rose without end.

Behind his mask, Peter's face was full of worry. Webs shot continuously from his hands, sweeping away the falling rubble and carrying off everyone about to be struck by it.

"Green Goblin, stop!"

Green Goblin looked back. The distance he had just opened up had already been closed again. Several more Pumpkin Bombs appeared in his hand, which he hurled wildly in every direction.

Shen Fei watched the red and green figures fly over his head. Sure enough, red and green had always been a terrible combination. A lot of Spider-Man's enemies had green-themed looks.

Soon, he saw a Pumpkin Bomb flying toward the still-dazed Jessica. Shen Fei's mind raced. He leaped forward and shouted, "Watch out!"

Jessica had only just sobered up, and her head was still spinning. She had heard the distant explosions and had just raised her head to see what was happening when she heard a man shout for her to watch out.

When she turned, she saw a figure lunging toward her. Instinctively, she threw a punch, striking Shen Fei squarely.

Then a violent roar exploded beside her ear.

Her detective agency had been blown up!

Rubble shot in all directions and slammed toward her, but she smashed it apart with a single punch.

Shen Fei, who had just been sent flying, felt the tremendous force in his abdomen knock up the coffee he had just drunk. Yet inwardly, he was excited. This is the power I want!

Then he hit the ground like a tumbling gourd and rolled several times.

"Oh no!"

A trace of anxiety appeared on Jessica's pretty face. She realized Shen Fei had lunged at her to save her. He had been trying to protect her!

Yet she had punched the person who wanted to save her!

God damn it!

After what Purple Man had done to her, Jessica had become deeply distrustful of people, especially men.

But she had never expected someone to save her.

"Are you okay?"

Peter came to Jessica's side. He sensed the strength in her body and recognized her familiar face, but he didn't reveal who he was. He merely asked, "Can you help me save people?"

"Wait!"

Jessica shook her head and hurried over to Shen Fei, whom she had sent flying with a punch. She knew exactly how terrifying her own strength was.

But when she saw Shen Fei climbing to his feet with a pained expression, clutching his stomach, she asked in shock, "You're okay?"

"You're really strong."

Shen Fei was naturally fine. Even the pain had already faded, but he still wore a tortured expression as he said, "My stomach kind of hurts..."

Peter hadn't seen what had happened, so he hurriedly said, "If you're fine, I'm leaving!"

With only the word "leaving" left behind, webs burst from his wrists as he swung off after Green Goblin.

"I came looking for you, Jessica. I heard you're an excellent detective..."

Shen Fei said, rubbing his stomach.

"You know me?"

Jessica sat somewhat awkwardly in a café. She did not have very pleasant memories of places like this.

They always made her remember the unbearable things she had gone through.

But because of what Shen Fei had done earlier, she felt that he was a good person, so she could only suppress her impatience and remain seated.

"Of course. Why else would I be looking for you? But I didn't expect a detective like you to have such incredible strength. Are you a superhuman?" Shen Fei asked.

"You know about superhumans?"

"I'm one too..." Shen Fei said quietly. "Otherwise, I would've been beaten to death by your punch. I thought you were just an ordinary detective, but it turns out you're a superhuman too!"

"Are you a Mutant?"

"I'm not a Mutant."

Hearing Shen Fei say she had nearly killed him with one punch, Jessica drew a deep breath and explained, "My strength came from an accident."

"Me too! After I was burned in a fire as a child, I discovered that I could heal. That's why I call myself Phoenix. Don't superhumans all have their own names? What do they call you?"

"Just call me Jessica." Jessica shook her head and did not mention having any codename.

It seemed Shen Fei had asked too many questions. Jessica quickly said, "What did you need from me? What do you need investigated?"

"Almost forgot. I need you to investigate someone for me." Shen Fei handed Jessica a file.

Jessica took the file. Written on it was: "Ulysses Klaw!"

"Who is he?"

Shen Fei's voice turned cold. "A trafficker! He once kidnapped my older brother! I've been searching for him ever since!"

"Recently, I heard he came to New York!"

"But I don't know anyone here, so I wanted to hire you for help!"

"Your brother? I'll take the job!"

Jessica glanced over the information and nodded. "For the courage you showed earlier, you don't need to pay a retainer. I'll contact you if I find anything!"

She picked up the file and prepared to leave the café that made her so uncomfortable. She could no longer endure it.

"How about giving me a number? Then I can let you know if I find any information too!"

Shen Fei hurriedly said.

"This is the number! Don't call in the middle of the night, and if I don't answer, I might be asleep!"

Jessica was already extremely impatient, but because it was Shen Fei, she restrained her anger. She placed a card on the table and hurried away.