But I need to come up with an excuse," Peter said hesitantly. "I can't exactly tell them that the intern training has suddenly been extended, can I?
That's easy, just wait a moment." Finn pulled out his phone; since he now held the identity of Young Master Osborn, he could naturally make good use of it. "You know the Osborn Group is currently constructing a New Energy Base in Pennsylvania, it's still in the closed construction phase. You can say that due to your outstanding performance during the Osborn Group internship, your new energy application proposal was highly regarded by the R&D Department, you were specially invited with the precious opportunity to be among the first to visit this New Energy Base. It's a three-day, two-night closed trip, you'll be following the R&D team for on-site practical learning the whole time.
I'll have Daniel, the manager of the Brand Promotion Department, send over an official electronic invitation stamped with the company seal, along with the confidential visitation guidelines for the New Energy Base. With those documents, your family won't suspect a thing," Finn said, pausing to think for a moment. "Besides, since it's Application Season, this kind of experience will look great on your resume. I'm sure your family will encourage you to go.
Peter looked at Finn with a look of slight surprise.
"Do you think it's unfeasible?" Finn asked inquisitively.
"No, I think it's very feasible." In fact, Peter was even surprised that Finn could come up with such a reasonable solution so quickly.
"Then it's a deal." Having received Peter's approval, Finn said with a delighted smile.
Peter saw that Finn had already called Manager Daniel from the Brand Promotion Department to confirm the details of the New Energy Base invitation for the intern, Peter Parker.
"Thank you." Listening to Finn arrange everything in such an organized manner, Peter hadn't expected it would actually be this much trouble for Finn.
It's fine." Finn waved his hand nonchalantly. "I'm actually quite good at this kind of thing.
"Good at what?" Peter asked.
"Helping others solve their difficulties?" Finn said hesitantly.
[Anyway, isn't that exactly what the System's purpose is?]
But my current Misery Value mission seems to be more inclined toward creating difficulties for others.
Peter looked at Finn a few more times with a complicated gaze.
After receiving the electronic invitation, Peter organized his thoughts and spoke with Aunt May, as expected, she agreed. The proud Aunt May also felt that Peter was very impressive, standing out among so many interns. She just didn't know why Peter was in such a rush that he couldn't come back to pack more clothes before leaving. Fortunately, Peter had lied earlier, saying that when the intern training was happening, Aunt May had packed a suitcase for him to take, which contained all his basic daily necessities.
After having kept it a secret from Aunt May, the heavy weight in Peter's heart finally lifted, time now seemed much more abundant.
"I'll take you back to my place." Finn was also particularly excited; he hadn't expected that he could actually invite Spider-Man to his home as a guest.
Once Peter got into Finn's car, Finn began to curiously ask Peter what it felt like to have a lizard tail. Then, he rambled on to Peter about the interesting things that had happened at the party Peter had missed tonight, including the three magicians who had made a spectacular appearance at the event. Furthermore, regarding the latest progress of *Rat Rise: The Great Human Level-Clearing Battle*, Anthony had already custom-ordered two oversized rat mascot suits..
With Finn, there was never any fear of awkwardness or dead air. Amidst the lively, colorful chatter and the streetlights flashing past the window, an off-white French villa suddenly came into view. The night cast a soft glow over the villa, its sleek spires outlined sharply by the moonlight. The walls were clean, devoid of any superfluous decoration, the neatly trimmed greenery along the terrace railings cast delicate shadows. Even the cold night air seemed to carry an air of understated, luxurious sophistication.
We're at my place," Finn asked excitedly. "Have you eaten tonight? You definitely haven't, have you? What can someone with their tail between their legs possibly eat?
Tail-Tucked Peter: "I really haven't eaten."
The Wilsons, who had been waiting in the foyer, had already learned the situation from Finn's advance communication. Although they could not hide their surprise upon seeing the fine-scaled lizard tail behind Peter with their own eyes, they maintained a proper smile, merely bowing respectfully before turning to busy themselves in the kitchen. Being professional butlers, they would not utter a single word to the master's guests.
"Butler Joseph is a fantastic cook," Finn and Peter introduced proudly.
"Could this gentleman be.. that famous butler from the internet?" Looking at the man in his forties with graying hair, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black suit trousers, Peter suddenly felt he looked very familiar. There was a very famous top-tier butler on the internet who edited videos of himself cooking for his young master every day. Whether it was the cuisine or the plating, everything was extremely exquisite and sophisticated, he used incredibly expensive ingredients. It could be said that every dish was as refined as a luxury item. Netizens constantly commented that they couldn't afford to eat it, were also very curious about this butler's monthly salary, as well as which mysterious young master he actually served.
Spider-Man suddenly snapped to his senses, staring at Finn beside him in sheer shock.
—So it was you, Young Master Osborn!
"Oh, right, when Butler Joseph has nothing to do, he does some video editing and uploads a few videos." Finn nodded. He had many things to do every day, the Wilsons didn't need to watch over him constantly; Finn certainly didn't stop them from finding other things to do to pass the time.
Moreover, Finn knew that he would have to leave sooner or later, he also had to find other business opportunities and time for the Wilsons.
Peter stared with wide eyes at Butler Joseph, who was busy in the open kitchen with such orderly and elegant movements, it felt as if a top-tier butler from the internet had stepped into reality.
—He had stumbled into a feast by sheer luck.
"No need for all that trouble, I'll just have something light!" Peter, who had a low sense of worthiness, hurriedly said.
It's no trouble at all." Butler Joseph smiled warmly. "I was actually preparing some late-night snacks for Young Master Finn as well.
Catherine also brought several sets of new clothes for changing, as Finn had requested, even brought a pair of scissors.
Finn took the large scissors and was comparing something.
“What are you doing?” Peter looked at Finn in shock once again.
"To cut a hole for your tail, obviously," Finn said, looking at Peter with a look that said, [it's obvious].
Peter: ".." Thanks, you're really thoughtful.
"Don't cut it, don't cut it!" Peter suddenly realized he had no idea how much those pants he took out of Finn's wardrobe would cost, he said in a sudden panic.
Finn had already made a sharp snip with the scissors.
Peter: ".." I felt as if I could hear the sound of a breaking heart.
I can just wear the pants I'm wearing." Although they were torn, they were still wearable, so Peter said, "Besides, I have another pair of pants in my suitcase.
You should save those pants and put them on when you get home," Finn said nonchalantly. "Why are you being so polite with me? We're good friends; do you really think I'd hold a few pairs of pants against you?
Despite saying that, Finn, having finished his cutting, suddenly hesitated, silently calling out to the system in his mind: [PP, precisely calculate the diameter of the base of Peter's Lizardman tail.]
Upon hearing this, Peter's body stiffened instantly.
Even though there was no actual physical sensation, he always felt as if an invisible X-ray was piercing through his clothes, precisely locking onto the base of his tail; the thought alone made his scalp go numb.
After receiving the precise values from System PP, Finn felt much more confident. What Finn did next left Peter completely stunned—the young man held nothing but a pair of large scissors, without even needing a ruler. With a few quick "snip-snip" motions, he had cut a perfectly circular hole right in the middle of the pants.
It would have been even better if this circle wasn't meant for his tail.
"Go try it on first." Finn suddenly thought of something else—could Peter's Spider-Man suit also be full of holes right now?
Peter walked into a room carrying the pants, indeed, once he put them on, the hole was as if it had been custom-made for his tail, fitting him perfectly.
Spider-Man's mood at this moment was incredibly complicated.
"How is it? It fits, doesn't it?" Finn smiled with a look of smugness.
Finn turned his head and instructed the System in his mind again: [PP, record the entire scene of Spider-Man growing a lizard tail and archive it properly.]
"!?" Peter's tail froze mid-air, even its swaying arc becoming unnatural.
System PP: [Understood, Host. May I ask if the save file has any special use?]
Collecting dirt on Spider-Man," Finn thought righteously in his heart, "isn't this just the job of a life-long nemesis?
Peter stood frozen in place, only seeing Finn give him a gentle, smiling look. ".."
After eating and drinking their fill, Catherine arranged a room on the second floor for Peter and also gave him some instructions.
"Sleepwalking?" Peter asked in surprise.
Yes, Young Master Finn sometimes sleepwalks at night, but he usually just walks in the corridors or sleeps in other rooms," Catherine said gently. "It's no problem, Mr. Parker, just close your bedroom door. If there is any movement walking outside, don't worry, just let Young Master Finn be. Also, Young Master Finn doesn't like dark places, so the rooms and corridors on the second floor will be left with the lights on at night.
Peter nodded, somewhat surprised.
This was the first time he had stayed in such a grand villa, yet he felt no sleepiness at all. His body was exhausted from a day of rushing around, but his mind was exceptionally hyperactive. Dr. Connors' figure constantly swirled in his mind; why would a man who once shone so brightly in the academic field choose to walk such a path of self-destruction?
He had staked his life's work and reputation, only to end up with such a conclusion.
The more Peter thought about the frustration in his heart, the more he found himself unable to sleep, until he finally heard the sound of footsteps in the corridor.
Two o'clock..
Was Finn sleepwalking?
Peter quietly opened the door and indeed saw Finn walking in the corridor in white pajamas.
In such a sleepwalking state, Peter did not hear Finn's inner thoughts.
Then, as if following some instinct, Finn walked toward his own room. Before Peter could react, the youth had already walked straight through the door, skillfully lying down on the half of the bed he had slept on before, his breathing became even in an instant.
Peter stood there, momentarily speechless.
He just went to sleep like that?
Peter originally wanted to carry him back to the master bedroom, but then he felt that since Finn was already in a comfortable position and sleeping soundly, there was no need to keep tossing and turning him. Besides, on second thought, perhaps Finn would walk back on his own later in the night.
After hesitating for a moment, Peter gave up on the idea and reached out to tuck the blanket around Finn. Then, he lay down on the other side of the bed; after all, Catherine had specially prepared a two-meter-wide bed for him.
Peter was about a meter away from Finn, who was sleeping on the other side. Remembering Catherine's words that Finn was afraid of the dark, Peter specifically turned on a dim, warm lamp.
Under the light, Peter stared fixedly at the sleeping Finn, this youth who was shrouded in mystery from head to toe—he could hear his inner thoughts, could glimpse a past that must have been filled with extraordinary adventures, knew that he also had a mission that he was compelled to complete.
Thinking about everything that had happened between him and Finn since they met.
Thinking back to the moment he stood in the shadows of his doorstep today, tail between his legs and caught in a state of constant hesitation, Finn, bathed in brilliant light, rushed toward him without warning.
Peter laughed suddenly for some reason, thinking to himself—
Goodnight, Life-long Nemesis.
Peter also fell into a deep sleep, when he woke up again, he saw a handsome and elegant young man's face magnified before his eyes.
Fair, translucent skin, completely without a single blemish. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, landing on long, slender eyelashes and coating them in a layer of fine, golden light.
She was truly beautiful.
Peter was just about to quietly stand up when his body suddenly froze.
An ominous premonition surged in his heart. Spider-Man looked down and instantly gasped in horror.
Help..
His thick lizard tail had somehow wrapped around Finn's waist!
Finn was wearing a loose, soft, pure white pullover pajama set, while he was fast asleep, his tail had somehow unconsciously slipped inside, wrapping tightly around the young man's warm waist and abdomen. From Peter's perspective, looking down, he could see a small section of pale, tender skin on the waist and abdomen peeking out from the gap of the thick, scale-covered tail where the hem of the pajamas had slid down.
Peter's ears turned bright red with a sudden flush, a warmth spread even to his neck.
He held his breath and tried to loosen his tail with extreme care, his movements incredibly light, for fear of waking the young man.
After finally loosening his tail a little, Peter hurriedly reached out and gently supported Finn's waist, wanting to slowly lay him back down on the bed.
Finn's long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, carrying the languor of someone who had just escaped from a dream.
Peter didn't dare move at all, his mind racing frantically as he thought about how to explain the current situation.
The next second, Finn's eyes slowly opened.
Peter's breath hitched.
He had known long ago that Finn's eyes were stunningly beautiful—
It was a jade green moistened by the morning mist, like the surface of a lake thawing in early spring, shimmering with fragmented light and rippling with waves that stirred the heart.
But at this moment, the young man was clearly not fully awake; his pupils were dilated and unfocused, merely blinking unconsciously, his long eyelashes sweeping across his eyelids with a sense of naive vulnerability. Usually, Finn was as energetic as popping candy, with a bright and dazzling smile, but his face at this moment was incredibly quiet.
Then, the young man closed his eyes again, as if he still hadn't fully woken up.
Before Peter could think, as if driven by some instinct, Finn reached out his arms and hugged his waist.
Peter's right hand was still resting stiffly against Finn's waist, the moment that warm sensation arrived, his body seemed to possess a consciousness of its own, his palm subconsciously embracing Finn's back. The sensation was incredibly soft, as if he had embraced a fluffy cloud.