The Missing Star

Saturday, work hours.

Feeling the pressure, Li Si used the company computer to rush his work, forgetting to eat or sleep as he coded the control program for the Transformer.

He only relaxed slightly when lunchtime arrived, granting himself a one-hour break.

In the company cafeteria, he sat opposite Gwen as usual.

After several weeks of getting to know each other, having lunch together at the company had become their routine; no invitation was needed, as they had developed an unspoken understanding to meet at the same time.

"You look exhausted!"

Gwen placed a newspaper on the table, glancing at its contents while she ate, chatting casually with Li Si.

Li Si gave her a speechless roll of his eyes.

Well, obviously, he thought. You try pulling an all-nighter coding and see if you don't look even worse than me.

Of course, he didn't say that out loud, choosing instead to change the subject by leaning in toward the newspaper: "What are you reading so intently? I never imagined you had the habit of reading the paper."

"Are you implying I'm old, like a grandmother?"

Gwen looked up with a sharp expression.

"..."

Fine, women were all the same; they were particularly sensitive when it came to age and beauty.

Li Si decisively shook his head in denial, his head wagging like a rattle-drum.

"Pfft..."

Seeing Li Si's reaction, Gwen burst into a giggle, then quickly covered her mouth, holding back her laughter for a long time before saying with a smile, "Alright, I won't tease you. I'm actually reading news about Stark Industries."

As she spoke, she pushed the newspaper in front of Li Si.

He didn't even need to search; his eyes landed immediately on the bold headline on the front page.

<Stark Industries Chairman and genius scientist Tony Stark missing; search yields no results after two weeks, presumed dead; company stock plummets 15%>

"Why are you concerned about that playboy?"

Li Si felt a bit indifferent; he had already seen this news. Besides, Tony Stark had to suffer in Afghanistan for at least a month or two, so the Iron Man plot was still a long way off.

"I'm just hesitating on whether I should take the opportunity to buy Stark Industries stock. If Tony Stark manages to come back safely, I'd make a fortune."

Gwen said with a conflicted look on her face.

"You should definitely buy, but not right now."

Li Si gave her a strange look before speaking.

Gwen was stunned: "Not now? Then when should I buy?"

"When he comes back."

Li Si offered a mysterious smile.

"Come back? By the time he comes back, Stark Industries' stock will likely skyrocket instead of dropping, triggering a buying frenzy. What profit would there be in that?"

Gwen helplessly tapped her temple and said, "Li, perhaps you should brush up on your economics!"

"No, my economics are just fine..."

Li Si started to argue, but seeing Gwen's skeptical gaze, he could only sigh and say, "Fine, if you want to make a small profit, go ahead and buy it!"

"Aren't you going to buy any?"

Gwen took a light sip of her drink and asked.

"I have plans to, but I'm not very skilled in this area. Perhaps I'll need to ask for your help."

Li Si smiled.

The Iron Man plot was a great opportunity to get rich, and he did have intentions in that direction, but he really didn't have any spare cash on hand right now. Everything depended on how much he could earn tomorrow.

Tomorrow was Sunday, just in time to conduct one more trade with players before the Spider-Man plot began. If he had any money left over after paying the final installment for the Transformer parts, he wouldn't mind making a quick profit beforehand.

"Of course, no problem—as long as you aren't worried about me running off with your money!"

Gwen agreed with a giggle.

Afterward, the two chatted about some office gossip. Suddenly remembering something, Gwen stared at Li Si and said:

"By the way, what about that robot toy you're designing? You promised to show it to me once it was finished. You didn't forget, did you?"

"Of course not."

Li Si pointed to his dark circles: "I've been pulling all-nighters to finish it these past few days. If nothing goes wrong, you might be able to see it in a few days."

"Hahaha, Li, I just realized, your face really looks like a giant panda from China!"

Gwen looked at his heavy dark circles and eye bags, clutching her stomach and laughing without any regard for her image.

"..."

"Laugh all you want. I just hope you can still laugh when you actually see it."

Li Si glared at Gwen in frustration, his teeth itching with annoyance yet finding himself completely helpless.

Gwen, however, seemed to have been struck by a fit of uncontrollable laughter, giggling incessantly until Li Si's expression grew darker and darker, eventually settling into a mask of utter indifference.

After a minute, he expressionlessly raised his hand to check his watch and said, "Gwen, if I recall correctly, you have a group of interns to host at the Cross-Species Genetics Laboratory this afternoon... and you are already thirty seconds late!"

"Haha... ha... uh..."

Gwen's smile froze.

She scrambled to her feet and dashed toward the exit, calling out in a flustered, indignant tone as she ran, "Li, you promised to remind me! You're being so petty."

"I already did."

Li Si shrugged, wiped his mouth, and rose slowly before following after her.

Today was the day the little Spider-Man would visit Oscorp and undergo his transformation; he certainly wouldn't miss such a classic moment.

Besides, Gwen was the original heroine of the Spider-Man story, so he naturally had to keep a close eye on things. It wouldn't do to have the meat already on his plate snatched away by someone else.

If they hadn't had any connection, it would be one thing, but things were progressing quite well between him and Gwen. To ensure he didn't end up wearing a green hat, it was better to let the little spider go find his old girlfriend, Mary Jane.

Perhaps I could recommend Mary Jane to the little spider once he's finished his transformation and his ego starts to inflate? It's such a pity for childhood sweethearts not to be together. Ah, I really am so magnanimous, actually capable of doing something like handing over a girl.

Li Si thought with a sense of compassionate pity, becoming increasingly impressed with himself.

Walking leisurely to the third floor, he found that Gwen, having arrived ahead of him, had already begun introducing herself to a dozen or so interns.

"Welcome to Oscorp. My name is Gwen Stacy, a senior at Midtown School of Science and Technology, and the lead intern for Dr. Connors..."

Gwen introduced herself with poise, while Li Si, standing to the side and paying close attention, easily spotted Peter Parker sneaking into the back of the intern crowd, looking guilty as he covered his face with one hand.