At lunchtime, the cafeteria was as noisy as ever. Lin Hai and Peter had just found seats when Mary Jane walked over carrying her tray.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked with a smile, her red hair gleaming like flames in the sunlight.
Peter nearly choked on his sandwich and hurriedly shook his head.
After sitting down, Mary Jane mysteriously lowered her voice. "Hey, did you know the school is holding an International Culture Week? Every class needs to send a representative to showcase a different country's culture."
"There aren't many international students at Midtown High School," Peter said, pushing up his glasses. "Lin is probably the only one in our class who qualifies."
"Exactly!" Mary Jane clapped excitedly. "Lin, would you be willing to represent Huaxia culture? I'm on the event committee, and I've been worried about finding the right person!"
Lin Hai hesitated. Putting himself on display meant more attention. He did not want to be too high-profile at school, but he also wanted to fit into campus life. Refusing Mary Jane might make him seem unfriendly.
So Lin Hai decided to ask for the details first. "What would I need to do?"
"Anything that can show off the characteristics of your country! Calligraphy, music, clothing, and so on." Mary Jane's eyes sparkled. "I can help you prepare! I'm fascinated by Eastern art too."
Just as Lin Hai was about to answer, a voice cut in. "Mary Jane, Ms. Clemente is looking for you to go over the lab report."
Harry Osborn had appeared beside their table at some point.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Mary Jane jumped to her feet. "Lin, think about my proposal! Peter, help me convince him!" With that, she gathered her things and hurried away.
Harry did not follow her right away. Instead, he looked at Lin Hai and Peter. "Are you friends with Mary Jane?"
"Neighbors," Peter explained. "We grew up together."
Harry nodded. "I just transferred here, so I don't really understand the... social rules around here."
After hesitating, he said, "Are you free this afternoon? My father sent over some new scientific journals. They're about genetic engineering."
Peter's eyes immediately lit up. "Osborn Enterprises' genetic research is world-leading!"
Harry gave a sincere smile—perhaps his first since transferring schools. "Then shall we meet in the library after school?"
His gaze swept over Lin Hai as he added, "If you're both interested."
Lin Hai nodded in agreement. After Harry left, Peter excitedly grabbed his arm. "Did you hear that? Internal research materials from Osborn Enterprises! This is the kind of thing ordinary scientists might never get to see in their entire lives!"
Lin Hai smiled at Peter's childlike excitement while also thinking about Harry Osborn.
The current Harry was only a lonely rich kid longing for genuine friendship, nowhere near the Green Goblin II who would be driven mad by his family's curse.
When afternoon classes ended, the three met in the library as arranged. Harry had brought several beautifully bound journals bearing the words "Osborn Enterprises Confidential Research."
"My father doesn't know I took these," Harry said quietly, rebellion glinting in his eyes. "He thinks high school students can't understand them."
Peter eagerly flipped through the journals, exclaiming in amazement from time to time. Lin Hai, meanwhile, became interested in an article about plant genetic modification—Osborn Enterprises was researching how to extract substances from special plants that could enhance human abilities.
"This line of research..." Lin Hai pointed to a passage. "It resembles certain ancient legends from Huaxia."
Harry leaned closer. "Really? My father always says Eastern medicine contains wisdom that modern science has yet to understand."
The three discussed the topic passionately until the librarian reminded them that it was closing time.
As they parted, Harry said somewhat hesitantly, "I'm having a small gathering at my house this weekend. I was wondering if you'd be interested?"
Peter did not answer. He was a little stunned; he had never expected to be invited to a gathering of this sort.
Lin Hai answered for him. "We'd be honored."
On the way home, Peter was unusually excited. "Harry Osborn invited us to his house! Do you know Osborn Tower? New York's most advanced private laboratories are there!"
Lin Hai listened to Peter chatter on while thinking about the plant experiments mentioned in the journals. Perhaps Osborn Enterprises' research could help him further improve his abilities.
Friday's science seminar was far more formal than Lin Hai had expected. Midtown High School's academic elite had gathered together, while Gwen stood at the podium as host and confidently introduced the topic: "Scientific Methodology from a Cross-Cultural Perspective."
When Lin Hai and Peter entered the meeting room, Gwen's eyes visibly brightened. She quickly wrapped up the ongoing discussion and announced, "Our next speaker is Lin Hai, a new student from Huaxia. He will share the intersection of Eastern natural philosophy and modern science."
Lin Hai had not prepared a speech at all, but the knowledge he had accumulated in his previous life and the enhanced memory he had gained after crossing over allowed him to remain composed. He stepped onto the stage and spoke from the plant classifications in the Compendium of Materia Medica to the relationship between yin-yang and the five elements and the fundamental states of matter, finally mentioning ancient Huaxia scholars' early understanding of photosynthesis.
"So, while Western science was still using phlogiston theory to explain plant growth, Huaxia scholars had already proposed a concept of energy flow akin to 'the qi of heaven and earth nourishes all things,'" Lin Hai concluded.
Warm applause erupted in the meeting room. Gwen was the first to ask a question. "Do you think these ancient theories still have value in modern science? Or have they been replaced by more precise theories?"
"Just as Newtonian mechanics was supplemented rather than negated by relativity," Lin Hai replied, "ancient wisdom offers a different perspective, not outdated knowledge."
After the seminar, Gwen stopped Lin Hai as he was preparing to leave. "Your perspective was very thought-provoking. I hope we can discuss these issues together sometime?"
Peter's eyes widened beside him. "We'd be honored." Lin Hai once again used that fitting reply.
Only a handful of people attended the weekend gathering at the Osborn residence. Harry clearly did not have many friends. Mary Jane had also been invited as an art student, and she was enthusiastically admiring the Osborn family's collection of modern art.
"My father isn't home," Harry said with an air of relief. "You can look around as much as you like."
Like a child in a candy store, Peter marveled at the equipment in the Osborn family's private laboratory. Lin Hai, however, was drawn to several rare plants in the greenhouse—some of them gave off strange energy fluctuations that subtly resonated with the power inside him.
"These are medicinal plants Osborn Enterprises collected from around the world," Harry explained. "My father believes they contain special compounds capable of changing the human body."
Lin Hai gently touched the leaf of a red flower and felt a stream of energy flow into his body through his arm. His ability seemed especially "hungry" for this plant.
"Careful," Harry warned. "That Red Moon plant is highly poisonous!"
Lin Hai withdrew his hand in surprise, but that energy had already remained within him and merged with the energy in his dantian. He felt as though he had been subtly strengthened.
"Lin knows a lot about plants," Peter explained helpfully. "He tends a medicinal herb shop."
Harry raised an interested brow. "Really? Maybe you can help us analyze the medicinal value of these plants. My father spent a fortune bringing them back from tropical rainforests, but our scientists have never been able to fully decipher their composition."
Lin Hai nodded in agreement, but his heart was not calm. That Red Moon plant looked somewhat like the Blood Orchid—the red flower from Anaconda that could extend life and preserve youth.
But what puzzled Lin Hai was this: if that was the case, then unless Osborn Group's research team was completely incompetent, why had they not discovered anything about this Red Moon plant that resembled the Blood Orchid?
Still, there was no need to overthink it yet. Once he agreed to Harry's request, he would have plenty of opportunities to study these plants.
Halfway through the gathering, Mary Jane suggested they play Truth or Dare. After a few rounds, the mood became much more relaxed. When the bottle pointed at Peter, Mary Jane blinked at him and asked, "Peter Parker, is there someone you like?"
Peter's face instantly turned bright red, and his eyes darted about in panic behind his glasses. "Huh? I... um..."
Harry suddenly cut in. "We all know Peter has a crush on you, Mary Jane."
The air instantly froze. Mary Jane's mouth fell open in surprise, while Peter stood frozen as if struck by lightning.
Lin Hai saw a complicated emotion flash through Harry's eyes. Harry cared about Mary Jane too; who would not like a lively, adorable teenage girl?
"I... I'm going to get drinks." Peter finally fled in embarrassment. Mary Jane hesitated for a moment before following him.
Lin Hai noticed the expression on Harry's face as he watched their retreating backs. For the first time, the rich young master's mask had completely fallen away, revealing the lonely boy underneath.
"You shouldn't have done that," Lin Hai said softly.
Harry gave a bitter smile. "I know. But there are things you know you shouldn't do, yet you still can't control yourself." He turned to Lin Hai. "Have you ever felt that way? Like there's something inside you forcing you to do stupid things?"
Lin Hai became thoughtful. Harry's words reminded him of the Osborn family's curse—the madness lurking in their blood. Perhaps Harry had already begun to sense its presence.
"Everyone has inner demons," Lin Hai finally said. "But what matters is choosing how to coexist with them."
Harry looked at him in surprise. "You don't sound much like a high school student."
"That's ancient Eastern wisdom. Besides, I really am two years older than all of you." Lin Hai winked and said it half-jokingly.
On the way back, Peter was rather quiet. Lin Hai did not disturb his thoughts, merely letting a small plant in his backpack quietly bloom a comforting flower.
"She just sees me as a good friend from next door," Peter finally broke the silence.
Lin Hai handed him the little flower. "Feelings are a bit like flowers, Peter. Some grow quickly, while others need years before they bloom. What matters is giving them the right soil and sunlight."
Peter accepted the flower. "This is?"
"A special variety that can sense emotions," Lin Hai told a well-intentioned lie. "When your mood improves, it will bloom more brightly."
"I think it's because it all came so suddenly," Lin Hai continued.
"You never showed that you liked her before, Peter. You can't expect a girl you haven't spent much close time with to accept everything the moment she learns you like her. Maybe you can start by being good friends and good neighbors. Once you understand each other better, you can decide what to do next."
"She doesn't dislike you, does she? I think that might be a good start."
Peter carefully held the flower, and hope rekindled in his eyes. "Thank you, Lin."
Lin Hai smiled. He knew that in the near future, Peter would face challenges far harsher than adolescent troubles. And as his friend, he would do his best to help this future hero overcome every difficulty.
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