Chapter 20: Admit It, Hero, You've Got Lucky.

Chapter 20: Admit It, Hero, You've Got Lucky.

Gwen and Mary Jane were chatting idly when about twenty minutes passed, and then a doorbell interrupted their conversation.

Holding Gwen back who was about to get up, Mary Jane went to the door and peeked through the peephole. She saw Peter and Yang Le standing outside with shopping bags.

"Welcome home, gentlemen," Mary Jane said with a smile as she opened the door. "Peter, did you come with Habib?"

"No, I just happened to see habbywhen I came over, so I helped him bring it."

After experiencing life-threatening crises with Mary Jane, Peter seemed to have undergone some kind of breakthrough, enabling him to talk normally with her. Yang Le nodded approvingly beside them, feeling a sense of his child growing up.

Mary Jane, however, remained calm and composed, seemingly unaware of Peter's change. She turned to Yang Le and asked:

"What kind of sumptuous dinner are our great chef preparing for the princess?"

"Princess?" Yang Le was startled upon hearing this title before realizing what she meant.

"You mean Gwen? Be careful with your teasing; she might cause you trouble."

Mary Jane didn't pay much attention to Yang Le's reminder and stuck out her tongue playfully.

"As long as she doesn't hear it, will you two tattle on me?"

"Unfortunately, I heard it, Mary."

Upon hearing Gwen's voice, Mary Jane stiffened and turned around to find Gwen leaning against the corridor with her arms crossed.

"Oh, I assume everyone is starving. Let's hurry up and start cooking."

Mary Jane clapped her hands and quickly changed the subject, snatching the shopping bag from Peter's hand and rushing toward the kitchen.

However, in her haste, Mary Jane tripped over the doormat. Peter reacted swiftly, grabbing Mary Jane before she fell. But the contents of the bag flew toward Gwen.

Thinking Gwen wouldn't dodge in time, everything slowed down in Gwen's eyes, just like a movie special effect, turning everything into slow motion.

Boxes of hawthorn candies flew out, drinks were about to hit the ground, and chops were spinning toward her.

Gwen took a step forward, catching the box of hawthorns with her left hand and using the box to catch the candies one by one. With her right hand, she caught the spinning chopsticks, and then extended her left foot, where the soda bottle landed neatly on her instep.

All of this happened within just two or three seconds. When Gwen regained her composure, she found Yang Le and the others staring at her in disbelief.

"Wow, Gwen, I had no idea you were this amazing," Mary Jane looked surprised.

"That was so cool, Gwen!" Unlike Mary Jane, Peter looked up to Gwen with admiration. "Just like in a stunt movie."

"Could it be that Gwen got bitten by a spider? Is this the universe of ghost spiders?" Yang Le walked over to Gwen without a sound, taking the ingredients from her and saving her from her precarious position.

"Looks like you're recovering well," Yang Le took the opportunity to look Gwen up and down under the pretense of concern.

"Uh, not bad," Gwen was also confused. She didn't know how she managed it. Could it be that spider?

Gwen couldn't help but let her mind wander, leaving Yang Le standing aside, which suited Yang Le just fine. Standing beside her, he continued searching for bite marks. The two stood there silently in the middle of the corridor.

However, their respective ulterior motives appeared to outsiders as affectionate behavior between a couple. Mary Jane sighed and complained under her breath:

"Alright, you two, if you want to show off your little sweet moments as a couple, please do it when there's no one else around."

"Sorry, I was just worried about Gwen," Yang Le snapped out of his thoughts and followed Mary Jane's lead, pulling the still dazed Gwen along.

"Uh? Yeah, yeah, my stomach is also growling," Gwen didn't hear their previous conversation and had to change the topic.

While playing around, they entered the kitchen. Yang Le laid out the ingredients one by one.

"Habib, what are you going to make?" Gwen moved closer to help.

"I'm making beef stew, and patients should sit aside to rest." Yang Le naturally wouldn't risk making Chinese food for the three native Americans. The dietary differences were too great; they might not enjoy it.

Chinese food that survived in America has been locally modified, mostly high in oil and sugar, with sweetness levels that even caramelized sweet potato would require two slaps.

So Yang Le chose the most versatile option—beef stew. However, hearing Yang Le's choice, Gwen furrowed her brows.

"It will take a long time, beef doesn't soften quickly in a short time."

"Therefore, I bought hawthorn," Yang Le pointed to the hawthorn beside him. "Hawthorn not only removes the muttony taste of beef but also softens the fibers, making the beef softer faster."

"Oh, I didn't realize you were such a great chef," Gwen nudged Yang Le with her elbow like a good buddy.

"After all, living alone, one naturally learns more."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Alright, Gwen, we agreed earlier," Yang Le saw Gwen mistakenly thinking he was an orphan and quickly pinched his thigh to cut off the conversation.

'Fooling people into thinking I'm an orphan, making others feel guilty.'

'Reminding habby of his painful past again.'

'I'm truly despicable!' Yang Le and Gwen thought simultaneously without prior agreement.

Ignoring the two feeling guilty in the kitchen, Mary Jane sitting at the table looked stunned at everything happening in the kitchen.

"Peter, don't you think they really match?"

Peter blushed as Mary Jane leaned close to whisper something. He nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, since meeting Habib, Gwen has become much more cheerful."

"Don't you feel jealous?" Mary Jane looked at Peter with a gossipy expression, but her eyes flashed strangely. "You and Gwen are childhood friends. Haven't you ever thought about pursuing her?"

"Me?" Peter shook his head frantically after hearing Mary Jane's words. "I don't have those kinds of feelings for Gwen. We were more like... soulmates?"

"Yes! Exactly soulmates!" Peter nodded confidently. "My encounter with Gwen was through music, and whenever I face trouble, Gwen would stand up to help me. Perhaps it sounds more like big brother and younger brother."

"In fact, I always feel inferior in front of Gwen," Peter lowered his head shamefully, his hands fidgeting nervously. "Isn't it laughable? A boy always letting a girl protect him. Without Gwen, I wouldn't even dare to leave the classroom at school."

"Oh no, there's no need to belittle yourself like that, Peter," Mary Jane held Peter's hands and spoke softly.

"Your performance today is not something a coward could do. You're the bravest man I've ever met."

"Uh, thank you, Mary Jane. I don't know what happened back then, I couldn't control myself and ran out."

Facing Mary Jane's praise, Peter's face turned red like a monkey's butt, and he seemed on the verge of stuttering again.

"I don't know what happened either," Mary Jane brushed her hair behind her ear, confidently exuding charm. "All I know is, hero, you've got lucky."

"Lucky? What do you mean?" Peter scratched his head, not understanding Mary Jane's meaning.

"Then I'll tell you when you understand," Mary Jane winked, playfully saying.

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(Explanation: This phrase comes from the comic where Peter first meets Mary Jane. Interestingly, before their reunion, Peter always thought Mary Jane was an ugly girl.)

(End of Chapter)