Early the next morning, Peter came down from the attic and smelled the aroma of pancakes before he even reached the restaurant.
Old Peter was sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper. Mary Jane was putting pancakes on the plate. The sun shone in through the window and warmed the whole kitchen. Peter couldn't help laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Old Peter looked up from behind the newspaper.
"I never thought that I could see such a perfect family." Peter leaned against the door frame and couldn't hold his mouth shut, "Mom makes breakfast and dad reads the newspaper. It's really standard."
Mary·Jian smiled, "One day, your life will become like this."
"No offense, but it's absolutely impossible." Peter shrank his shoulders, "I will never grow a goatee like that."
"What, you don't like beards?" Old Peter looked surprised.
"I don't like it. Who do you want to imitate? Tony·Stark?" Peter snorted.
Mary·Jian smiled and leaned over to kiss Old Peter on the cheek, "I still like it the way it is now."
Old Peter winked at Peter. Peter raised his hands in surrender. "Whatever. Anyway, this version of life may not happen to me."
"Why do you say that?"
"I have thought about what you said last night for a long time." Peter sat down at the table, "Greater responsibility. If I stop being Spider-Man, I really don't know what I should do."
Old Peter sighed, folded the newspaper and put it aside. "I'll give you some advice, Peter. The future is never fixed, never will be. The world needs people like you. So no matter what you do, remember one sentence - the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility."
"Since when did I become so good at speaking truth?" Peter snorted.
Old Peter held Mary Jane's hand and smiled, "Probably a few weeks after meeting her."
"So what you mean is that he lacks a good woman to take care of him?" Mary·Jian asked with a smile.
"Maybe." Old Peter looked at Peter, "What about you, Peter?"
Peter looked away, and Felicia's face appeared in his mind. "Yes. Felicia·Hardy."
Mary·Jian responded softly, "You have a good relationship?"
Peter shrugged, took out his phone and pulled out the photos taken on the first date. "Very good. She used to be my best friend. We fought crime together and went to class together. I guess that's not the kind of relationship you have in this world?"
Old Peter and Mary·Jian came over to look at the photo. Old Peter shook his head. "No. I met her after I graduated from college and worked as a superhero for a few years. She was trying to rob a jewelry store at that time, and I stopped her."
"Me too." Peter smiled, "The next day Felicia·Hardy walked into the classroom, and I knew she was Black Cat. Then a lot of things happened... What happened to Felicia in this world?"
Old Peter handed the phone back. "She married Flash and gave birth to a child. But she--"
"What is she?!" Peter almost jumped up from the chair, his face full of shock, "She married Flash·Flash Thompson?!"
Mary·Jian blinked. "Yes?"
Peter opened his mouth and was speechless for a long time. "Fuck. How could she marry that idiot? That bastard who only knows how to bully people?!"
Old Peter smiled, "Oh yes, I forgot, he is still bullying you right now."
"He thinks so. Every time I use a few rare words to stun him, he basically avoids me."
"Flash will become a very good friend in the end." Old Peter took a sip of coffee.
"Are you kidding me?"
"No." Mary·Jian smiled and put three plates on the table, "I promise, you Spider-Man have really amazing appetites."
Peter muttered, "Well, this reality is completely messed up. I will grow a goatee, and end up with Mary Jane. Felicia married an idiot, and that guy became good buddies with me."
Old Peter smiled, "Don't worry, you will get used to it."
"Impossible. Flash is a bully. I will never be friends with him in this life."
Mary·Jian smiled and said, "Give him some time, Little Tiger."
At this time, Mei walked downstairs. She saw Peter at the first sight, froze at the entrance of the stairs, and blinked hard. "Oh, yes... I thought yesterday was just a very outrageous dream."
"Sorry, little girl." Old Peter smiled.
Peter smiled and turned to Old Peter and Mary Jane: "Hey, since I'm technically her dad, can I control her?"
"No." Mei said.
"Okay." Mary Jane said with a smile.
"Mom!"
"What's wrong? He is indeed your father." Mary Jane smiled happily.
Everyone laughed, except Mei who rolled her eyes. When breakfast started, Mei turned to Peter: "What are you going to do today?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can't sit here all day, can you?"
Peter thought for a while, "I think... to be honest, I don't know either."
"You should go to school." Old Peter suggested with a smile.
"What?!" Peter and Mei shouted at the same time.
"No matter where you are in the world, it's important that school is good for you."
Peter hummed. "When I talk about my future self, I am the person who works with Baxter Building, Reed·Richards, Susan·Storm, and I have several patents to my name. What can the school teach me that I don't know?"
Old Peter raised his eyebrows. "You work at Baxter Building?"
"Yes! I have several patents to my name!"
"Oh... do you have a degree?"
Peter was stunned. "No..."
"Then you have to go to school."
"Dad, are you crazy?! Can you imagine a sixteen-year-old dad showing up at school, how can I live a social life?!" Mei held her head, "My life is in chaos."
Old Peter smiled, "Sorry, Mei, but you'll get used to it. Now-" he turned to Peter, "You have to find something to do. I won't approve of you sitting here and being lazy all day long."
"Then why don't I follow you everywhere? We are in the same line of work. Wouldn't it be better for me to learn from you?"
Old Peter sighed, "Yes, but you need to receive education, Peter, don't try to fool yourself."
Peter muttered, "You talk exactly like Richard."
Old Peter raised his eyebrows. "Really? He seems to be a smart man. Well, give me a few days and I will make arrangements. It won't be too much trouble."
"Don't... please! Anything but going to school will do! Brother, be cool!"
Old Peter blinked. "Sorry, Peter. You know what we say - the greater the ability -"
"--The greater the responsibility." Mary·Jian, Mei and Peter answered in unison.
"That's right. So, do you have any other names? Besides Peter·Parker."
Peter sighed, "There is...Bruce, Bruce·Wayne."
"Very good. It can be done in a few days."
Mei banged her head on the table. "This is simply a living nightmare."
Peter also did the same thing. "I hope my time runs out and I don't have to face this nightmare again."
Two days later, the new identity was obtained.
Peter has to admit that Old Peter is very efficient. There are definitely benefits to working for the police. Coupled with his genius brain, it is easy to forge an identity.
"I hate this," Mei muttered.
Peter sighed, "I don't like it either. I fucking hate high school!"
Mei's eyes widened. "Hey! Watch your words! I am your daughter!"
"Shut up." Peter rolled his eyes, "Besides, I'm the only one who has the right to complain!"
"Why? Just because I have to go to school with my dad?" The two of them walked to the school gate, Mei lowered her voice, "Listen, don't... don't cause trouble, okay? Please, keep a low profile."
Peter smiled evilly, "I originally planned to mock you in front of your friends, but forget it, I promise to be honest."
Mei breathed a sigh of relief, "Thanks...Bruce."
Peter smiled. Yes, he liked this title very much.
"Mei! Over here!" A girl with short hair and dark skin stood at the school gate waving and running over with a smile on her face, "You came a little late today? I was looking for you everywhere! What's going on?"
"Hey, Dani." Mei smiled, "I took my cousin around." She pointed at Peter, "This is Bruce Wayne, my uncle's son."
"I didn't know you had cousins!" Dani stretched out his hand towards Peter with a cheerful smile, "I am Dani Da Kirby, but everyone calls me Dani!"
Peter held her hand and smiled evilly, "Bruce Wayne. So, can you tell me what dark history my dear cousin has?"
"Bruce! You promised me!" Mei gritted her teeth.
Peter was stunned. "Oh yes, I almost forgot. Sorry, pretend I didn't say it."
Dani smiled, "Interesting. Bruce, how long will you stay here?"
"I'm... not sure." Peter sighed, "Life is a mess, I'm just here waiting for everything to be sorted out."
Dani nodded. "I understand. So what is your first class?"
"AP Chemistry."
"I'll take you there! My classroom is just a few rooms over." Dani smiled and held his arm. Mei suddenly pulled her aside and whispered in her ear.
"Your classroom is in another building!" Mei's voice was very soft, but Peter's super hearing could hear her clearly.
"I know." Dani winked at Mei, then grabbed Peter, "Come on Bruce, tell me about Mei's childhood."
Peter smiled, "Actually, there is nothing to say..."
Throughout the whole day, Peter has been trying to avoid the crowd. He won't stay here for long, so these people are just a walking background for him.
At lunch, he met more of Mei's friends.
The two blond boys who have a crush on Mei are obviously hostile. There is also a nerd, a stupid guy, a girl who looks very nervous, as well as Dani and a beauty named Nancy. However, as soon as Nancy saw him, he showed an expression of displeasure with him.
"So you are the famous Bruce Wayne." Nancy looked at him with squinted eyes.
Peter was stunned. "A famous person? How could it be? I just came today!"
"Because Mei is very famous in this school." Dani blinked, "She is the star of the basketball team, and... very beautiful."
"That's right." Brad agreed with a smile.
Nancy immediately glared at him. As soon as Brad made eye contact with her, he quickly lowered his head and did not dare to say anything. Nancy turned to Peter again. "She never mentioned you."
Peter shrugged. "She didn't mention you either."
Nancy gritted his teeth. "What do you mean?"
"That's the literal meaning. We don't communicate often." Peter smiled openly, "Her dad and my dad... don't have a good relationship. It can even be said that they are from different worlds." Mei rolled her eyes fiercely at the side. "So we haven't talked much."
"So Bruce, are you interested in sports?" Brad asked.
Peter shook his head. "No, sports are too boring. I am a science fan."
"So you are a nerd." The nerd named Armand interjected with a sneer.
Peter nodded. "Yes, I am a super nerd. Do you have any opinions?"
"No." Armand quickly shut up.
Peter smiled, "Very good. Then would you like to introduce yourselves?"
The conversation that followed was boring, full of typical high school student gossip. Mei was very involved in the conversation, and Peter was surprised that she hadn't passed this stage yet. But on second thought, she was not his biological child, and she probably followed Mary Jane.
When school was over, Peter wished that time would go faster.
Mei and her friends invited him to play together after school. Since there was nothing else to do, he agreed.
A few hours later, Peter already began to regret it.
"Why should I agree to this?" he murmured.
"Shut up, Bruce." Mei smiled and threw a jacket into his arms. It was the top piece of clothing that had piled up on his arm. "You should be happy to go shopping with three beauties!"
Nancy rolled his eyes and walked away, Dani winked at him. Peter smiled at Dani, "Okay, maybe you are right... but do you have to buy so much?!"
"Yes, we are girls." Nancy snorted and threw another shirt on his head, "We wear more than just jeans and a cheap retro hero T-shirt."
Peter stared at her. "Hey! Spider-Man's T-shirts are sold out!"
"Oh, are you a fan of Spider-Man?" Dani asked.
Peter smiled, "I am... I mean, I used to be." He shrugged, "But now I think he was exaggerated."
"That's right! Because now there is Spider-Girl!" Dani cheered. Mei didn't say anything, but she was obviously very happy.
The shopping took almost an hour. By the time they walked out of the mall, it was almost nine o'clock in the evening. As the only male in the team, Peter naturally shouldered the heavy responsibility of carrying the bags.
"Why don't we take a taxi?" Peter complained as we walked along the street to the station.
"I live in Bronx." Dani shrugged, "It's safer to take the subway."
"Wait a minute, you live in Bronx, why do you come to Queens to go to school?"
Dani smiled, "Midtown High School has the best basketball team and the best science department in the city. The fifteen-minute commute is completely worth it."
"Yes." Nancy interface, "I live in the north of Queens. Pembroke is actually more convenient, but the basketball team in Midtown is the best, so I came too."
Peter: "I didn't know Midtown High School's sports teams were so good."
"It's just great." Dani nodded, "Actually, we have to thank coach Flash. He led everyone to the finals in the first year! He has been very good since then."
Peter muttered, "Flash, that's great."
"Do you have any objections to coach Flash?" Nancy raised his eyebrows.
"No... it's just that this matter is a bit complicated. I--"
"Stop." A cold voice suddenly sounded.
A white man in a black hood walked out of the shadows of the alley, holding a knife in his hand. "Hand over all the cash, and you won't get hurt."
"Yeah!" Nancy screamed in fright and backed away. Peter immediately dropped the bag in his hand and stepped forward. Mei pulled the two friends behind her and blocked them with her body.
"Hey, you're not stupid enough to commit robbery, are you?" Peter slowly raised his hands and spoke calmly.
"Hand over your wallet!" the man yelled.
"Okay, okay." Peter said, "I just put my hand into my pants pocket and took out my wallet, okay?" The man looked very nervous, his hands were shaking, and his eyes were wandering. It was the first time he did such a thing. Peter thought to himself.
He glanced back. "Mei, protect them." Mei nodded.
Peter slowly put his hand into his pocket, took out his wallet and showed it to the other party. "Look, wallet. Just take it and that's it. We don't want to cause trouble."
The man stared at the wallet and reached for it.
Peter threw the wallet to the side, and when the man rushed to catch it, he was about to fly up and kick the opponent's chin to pieces--
"What a beautiful thought!"
Everyone looked up and saw a red and blue figure swinging down from the air, kicking the gangster in the stomach with both feet, kicking him away and hitting the wall before he passed out.
"Yeah! Scarlet Spider takes it!"
The figure landed in front of everyone and did a little dance with his hands on his hips.
"You see, this is the result of messing with Spider-Man!"