Jean shook her head sharply. "No... I can't! I don't even know how to read other people's minds."
"Yeah, we really need to do something about that." Peter sighed.
"What? What do you mean?" Mary Jane asked.
"Jean needs to learn to control her powers," Peter explained to them. "Otherwise, she'll get into serious trouble sooner or later. We know almost nothing about her powers. What if they keep getting stronger until even the suppressor I made can't hold them back?"
Jean shuddered, her hand unconsciously reaching for her headband. "Could... could that happen?"
"It's possible." Peter nodded. "You need to learn control. Hmm... grab your things. I know where to go."
The girls exchanged glances. It took Peter a long time to convince Jean to accept training, and she finally agreed reluctantly. Though Liz was afraid, she was too proud to show it; Mary Jane immediately said she wanted to come along. As for Felicia, she simply didn't want Peter alone with three pretty girls.
She really was cute when she was jealous.
The group arrived at an abandoned rail freight yard.
Peter pushed open the rusty iron gate, and the five of them filed inside.
"Ugh, I hate this place. Of all the places I've kissed someone, this was the worst," Liz complained as soon as she entered.
"Agreed." Mary Jane glared darkly at a certain corner. Harry had brought her here once and forced a kiss on her. Peter thought that if he hadn't arrived in time, there was no telling what might have happened.
"All right, let me see." Peter looked around and spotted an empty soda can in a corner. "Perfect."
He picked up the can and placed it in the middle of the yard.
"Jean, stand in front of it. Everyone else, step back."
The girls stepped back as instructed. Jean and Peter stood in front of the can.
"You want me to... move it with my mind?" Jean's voice was a little shaky.
"Yes."
"I... I can't. I don't think I can do it."
"You can." Peter gave her a confident smile. "I know you can."
"But those voices..."
"As long as you ignore them, they can't affect you. Your brain is like a muscle. You should control it, not let it lead you around... probably. It should be fine."
Peter paused, then added, "Also, if you really do read my mind, let me explain before you freak out or anything, okay?"
Jean froze. "What?"
"We all have our secrets, Jean." Peter shrugged.
Jean swallowed and raised her trembling hands, slowly removing her headband.
The voices suddenly flooded in like a tide. She swayed slightly, her face growing a little paler.
Peter couldn't help it. His thoughts instinctively turned to what Jean would become in the future-Phoenix.
Jean looked at him in confusion. "What's that?"
"I... I can explain. What did you hear?"
"I... I couldn't make anything out." She shook her head. "It's too jumbled."
Peter froze, then silently repeated another thought.
Jean, you're beautiful.
Jean immediately blushed. "You... you said I was beautiful."
Peter nodded openly. "Yes."
He narrowed his eyes and tested it again in his mind.
Jean, you'll become Phoenix when you grow up.
"I don't understand that one." Jean blinked. "It felt like... a burst of static."
Peter was inwardly jolted.
Was she unable to read the complete information in his mind concerning established facts and the future?
He immediately continued testing.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is Hydra. Tony and Steve will start a Civil War. I'll probably join the Avengers someday.
"Uh..." Jean frowned, trying hard to make it out. "You said you were going to join the Avengers? I couldn't hear the rest clearly."
Peter more or less understood.
Jean could read his current thoughts and speculations, but she couldn't access the future information he actually possessed. It seemed that whatever being had brought him to this world had placed restrictions on those memories.
"All right, let's put that aside for now, Jean. Focus on controlling your powers."
Jean nodded. "Okay."
Peter focused entirely on what was in front of him and stopped thinking about anything else.
"Focus on my voice, Jean. Push all the other voices down."
Jean furrowed her brow. "I... I can't!"
"You can!" Peter raised his voice. "Listen carefully. Imagine your power as a giant speaker, amplifying every sound and cramming it into your head. Now imagine a huge volume knob on that speaker. Right now, it's turned all the way up."
"Those voices are pouring out as hard as they can. Now, I want you to slowly turn the volume down."
Jean closed her eyes and tried to concentrate.
Peter remembered an American TV series he'd watched called Legion. Charles Xavier's son had also been tormented by countless voices in his head before finally learning control. He hoped Jean could do it too.
She was still struggling, her brow tightly furrowed.
"It's getting quieter," Jean suddenly said.
"Good. Keep going. Slowly turn it down to mute, until you can't hear anything at all."
After another little while, Jean opened her eyes and looked at him.
"They're... gone!"
Peter grinned. "Great job. Remember that image. From now on, whenever they come back, you'll know what to do."
"Holy shit, did you see that?" Mary Jane lowered her voice.
"How did he know what to do?" Liz's voice was full of suspicion.
"I don't know either." Felicia frowned as she watched the two of them in the yard.
"All right, Jean." Peter turned to her. "Now focus on the can in front of you. You think you can't move it, but you can. Your brain is more powerful than you imagine. As long as you're willing to try, you can do it."
Jean looked at him with eyes full of shock and admiration, then nodded firmly. "Okay!"
She turned toward the can and focused all her attention on trying to lift it with her mind.
Peter could smell the intense determination pouring from her-the mint scent was so strong it was almost searing.
The next second, the can wobbled slightly.
"Oh my God! Did you see that?" Jean whipped around, her eyes wide.
"Jean, that was awesome!" Liz was the first to rush over, and the other girls gathered around too. "Do it again!"
Blushing, Jean nodded and made the can wobble again. The girls burst into cheers, and Liz went so far as to urge her to try lifting it into the air.
Jean was eager to try.
Before long, the can actually left the ground and hovered shakily in midair.
While Jean continued practicing, Felicia gently poked Peter.
Peter turned and met her worried gaze. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She wrapped her arms around Peter's waist and held him tightly.
"Xiaomao, if something's making you unhappy, tell me." Peter kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her too.
"It's just... you're so natural around her. You only just met, but you act like you're old friends," Felicia muttered sulkily.
Peter smiled. "You're so cute when you're jealous."
"Hey! I'm not jealous!" Felicia bared her teeth.
"Okay, okay, you're not jealous." Peter smiled as he soothed her. "She just reminds me of when I first got my powers. No one helped me back then, so I wanted to help her. That's about it."
That was the truth.
Of course, there was another reason he hadn't mentioned. If no one helped Jean control her powers now, she might become extremely dangerous in the future, even threatening the entire world.
He had to make sure Jean wasn't consumed by her dark side, and above all, he couldn't let Dark Phoenix awaken.
The two walked back to Jean and the girls. Felicia held Peter's hand tightly, as though staking her claim.
Peter smiled at Jean. "You're doing great, Jean."
"This is incredible, Peter!" Jean stared at the can hovering in midair, her eyes even growing a little red. "Thank you so much!"
"No, you did this yourself." Peter shook his head. "But from now on, you'll need more professional guidance. I happen to know someone who can help."
The girls looked over curiously.
"Who?" Jean asked.
Peter took out his phone, searched for "Charles Xavier," and showed them his encyclopedia page.
"His name is Charles Xavier. He's the world's foremost expert on mutants."
He put away his phone and looked Jean in the eye.
"I think we should give him a call."