It wasn't because he had done anything wrong.
It was simply because he had a face that bore a resemblance to Harry Osborn.
Chapter 20: Over-the-Limit Misery Value
Is it like some kind of substitute?
A faint, fleeting smile suddenly curled at the corner of Andrew Damon's mouth, carrying a hint of self-mockery and a touch of realization.
Young Master Osborn had merely found a cheap shadow.
It was to vent some kind of emotion by bossing him around and making things difficult for him, or simply to satisfy a momentary sense of novelty.
"Andrew.." Matt looked at him, feeling somewhat worried by his appearance.
It's nothing, I just found it a bit funny." Andrew shook his head, as he thought about it, he suddenly laughed again. "You know, someone like me was never meant to be compared to Harry Osborn.
Andrew's inferiority complex was deeply rooted in his bones.
What he experienced since childhood were the kicks and punches from his father after drinking, the contemptuous looks from others at school, the hardship of having to struggle even for basic food and shelter. Andrew had long been accustomed to being bullied, humiliated, oppressed; that malice was embedded deep within his bones, sharp and piercing, making him feel like a freak who didn't even deserve respect.
In his eyes, all of Finn's actions were nothing more than the childish games of a wealthy young master. The intent was obvious at a glance, even the insults felt superficial and devoid of any real sting. Perhaps due to the elite education he had received since childhood, even the way he made things difficult for others seemed decent and exceptionally "high-class."
Andrew thought that the Osborn brothers probably didn't get along.
Especially regarding the dispute over the wealthy family's inheritance after Norman Osborn's death, even a low-level person like Andrew Damon knew about the conflict between the Osborn brothers.
The young master, ignored or oppressed by his older brother, had likely been harboring a belly full of resentment for a long time. Now that he had come across this similar face, wasn't it like finding a vent for his emotions? He wanted to use money to command him around at will, treating it as mere entertainment.
After all, venting one's emotions on a similar-looking face was much easier than facing that cold brother directly.
That wasn't necessarily wrong.
I am ready. Please provide the text to be translated.
"If it weren't for looking a bit like his brother, I wouldn't have had any chance to get much attention from Finn, nor would I have been able to step into this unreachable circle of the wealthy, let alone receive the kind of preferential treatment in school that I never had before," Andrew Damon said calmly, his tone devoid of resentment, carrying only a sober and realistic realization. Because of that magic show at the party, overnight, everyone at school treated him differently. The usual mockery and contempt had vanished, replaced by people flocking to ask him how they could join Finn's parties; even those classmates who used to look down on him were now deliberately bringing money to get close to him, saying they would pay any amount as long as they could get an electronic invitation.
I am ready. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.
This is simply human nature.
For someone like him, who had been growing up curled up in dark corners, being able to approach a brilliant figure like Finn because of these somewhat similar facial features, earning a salary that did not match his status, having the chance to change his previously unchanging, humble life—it was already a gift from fate.
As for those difficulties, they were merely an insignificant price attached to this gift.
“You'll get more money, you'll be able to improve your lifestyle, you'll be the event planner for Finn Osborn's party.. It doesn't sound like such a bad thing, does it?" Seeing that Andrew wasn't being stubborn about it, Matt couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He quickly agreed and offered some consolation. He paused, as if remembering something, spoke hesitantly, "There's one more thing. Steve Montgomery told me not to tell you, but I think you should know—he mentioned your family situation to Finn before."
Andrew's movements suddenly halted, a flicker of unexpected surprise flashing through his eyes.
His family situation was nothing more than an alcoholic and violent father, a mother bedridden with a serious illness, a family burdened by unbearable poverty.
The young man's fingers unconsciously rubbed the cash in his palm, his heart feeling as though it were being stirred by something.
"So, every time Finn gives me money, it's also because of this?" Andrew Damon's voice was hoarse, his expression grew increasingly complicated.
Every time he saw Finn, that young man covered in stardust would always casually toss him money. Was the reason he let him continue performing magic at parties merely so Finn could pay him legitimately?
Andrew suddenly remembered that even when Finn deliberately put on a mean persona in front of him, it couldn't hide his softer side: that young man would search for stray dogs in the middle of the night because of a single video, he would turn around to comfort him after an accident, he would silently extend a helping hand after learning about his difficulties..
At the very least, Andrew had indeed used the money he received from Finn to buy a brand-new ventilator for his mother.
If it weren't for Finn, he wouldn't have had such the means, nor would he have dared to dream of it.
Andrew suddenly felt conflicted.
He began to loathe his own face; it was because of the slight resemblance to Finn's brother that Finn would feel annoyed and uncomfortable when facing him. But then again, if not for this resemblance, how could someone like Finn, who lived in the spotlight, ever notice an ordinary and gloomy existence like him, cowering in a dark corner?
Not until he arrived at the Osborn Building, holding Finn's ID badge, did Andrew realize that perhaps only he alone could enter the Osborn Building. Matt told Andrew to go and get the things Finn needed by himself, as he happened to be in the parking lot making a phone call to Steve Montgomery regarding the Halloween event.
This was the first time Andrew had set foot in a top-tier New York office building, everything around him made him feel out of place.
Even though he presented Finn's ID badge, security still verified it repeatedly before letting him through. That brief confrontation was enough to make his heart race with tension and unease.
The lobby of the Osborn Building was as grand as a museum of future technology, with the cool light of metal and glass intertwining to create sharp, innovative lines. In the orderly office setting, top elites gathered, all dressed in crisp, well-tailored suits, exuding a sense of cutting-edge sophistication that perfectly matched the building.
Andrew felt like an obsolete secondhand film camera that had abruptly intruded into a showroom filled with brand-new, expensive digital equipment with gleaming nameplates. Even though no one specifically stared at him, the immense sense of inferiority that only he knew about still made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.
After arriving on the floor, Andrew found Finn's desk to look for the documents he needed from Finn.
Immediately after, the sound of a meeting adjourning could be heard, followed by the footsteps of department personnel entering this silent area.
Andrew took a deep breath, fearing that someone might question his identity in the next second, once again nervously prepared Finn's employee badge.
“Who are you?”
A cold voice exploded above, carrying the unique sense of oppression of a superior.
Andrew suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking instantly as his entire body froze in place, his first reaction being—
It was Harry Osborn.
Andrew didn't even realize it; he had actually run into them by such a coincidence.
Finn said he was somewhat like his older brother, but was he really?
At this moment, facing each other at close range, that slight "resemblance" instead seemed absurd.
The young man was dressed in a perfectly tailored black haute couture suit, one of a price that Andrew Damon could not have even imagined. The sharp shoulder lines held the full, commanding aura of the Osborn CEO, the cold, white light of the office fell upon his sharp-featured face, making his expression appear even more arrogant. Between his youthful, cold eyes lay a sharpness that suggested he could command everything with ease, as if he were born to stand at the very top of the pyramid.
Just standing before such a person, Andrew felt his spine stiffen, instinctively wanting to lower his head to avoid that sharp gaze.
Two people from entirely different worlds like them should never have been compared to one another in the first place.
Harry's gaze swept over his white-knuckled fingers and landed on that name tag, his brow furrowing slightly as his tone remained cold and hard: "Where is Finn?"
At the mention of Finn's name, Andrew's chaotic thoughts suddenly refocused. Late that night during the car accident, he had heard Finn's call to Harry amidst the silent night, the voice on the other end was just as cold and devoid of warmth as the one he heard now.
You are an adult; I won't be like Father, blindly indulging you and cleaning up the messes you make by accident.
You can handle this little matter yourself, right?
Then, the call from Finn was hung up so coldly. Yet, even as Finn's friend, one would have rushed over immediately to offer care and comfort, even seen him home, rather than using that kind of cold, reproachful, business-like attitude. Moreover, on that night, Finn was even suffering from a fever.
Andrew Damon stared at Harry Osborn, a sudden, bitter feeling welling up in his heart.
He thought of his own family—his bedridden mother, his father, who had always subjected him to endless belittlement and violence.
These wealthy people do not know the taste of poverty.
They also seemed to have no idea how much of a blessing and a luxury it was to have a normal, healthy family that could face everything with optimism.
A sudden, inexplicable stubbornness suddenly gripped him.
For some unknown reason, Andrew Damon forced himself to lift his head and answer—
Young Master Finn's foot is injured.
"What happened?" Harry Osborn's brow furrowed slightly; he hadn't expected Finn Osborn to injure his own foot.
I heard he fell from upstairs, but I don't think Mr. Osborn would care." As these sarcastic words were spoken, Andrew found that he felt as if he had broken through some sort of barrier, he didn't feel the massive psychological pressure he had imagined. "After all, Young Master Finn is an adult now; he should be able to handle his own affairs.
Harry was stunned; that tone.. it seemed to make him recall something.
The young man's sharp gaze swept across Andrew's tense profile, naturally capturing the confrontation in his tone at the first instance.
“Who are you?” Harry's tone finally took on a hint of scrutiny.
I am Young Master Finn's lackey." Andrew deliberately emphasized the status of "lackey." "He instructed me to come to the Osborn Group to help him fetch some important documents.
"Young Master Finn said that Harry Osborn and I look a bit alike. What do you think?" Andrew didn't know if Harry Osborn could realize the similarities between them that were obvious enough for Finn to notice, so he pointed it out himself, his tone laced with a faint, subtle provocation.
Andrew realized that, having nothing, he had always loathed these high-and-mighty people, saying such things actually gave him a sense of despicable excitement.
Harry Osborn's gaze darkened.
Almost instantly, he realized that Finn had likely found someone among those sycophants eager to curry favor with him who bore a slight resemblance to himself, using the man to vent his inner dissatisfaction. The young man before him appeared to be a student, wearing cheap clothing with frayed cuffs, yet he still dared to provoke him with such a tone; he was clearly quite proud of being able to attach himself to Finn, even if it meant being ordered around or serving as a mere "punching bag" substitute.
A surge of anger rose in his heart; naturally, he could not stand Finn's reckless behavior.
Harry took the documents Andrew had found directly; they had nothing to do with the Osborn Group, but were all proposals and character drafts for "Rat Rise: The Human Challenge Plan."
"Heh." Harry couldn't help but let out a cold sneer.
He was extremely attentive to the hamsters, even going so far as to specifically order someone to make a trip to fetch these things.
Harry didn't want to pay it any mind either. Just as he turned to leave the Brand Promotion Department, Peter's words suddenly echoed in his mind:
I know you are a very smart person, Harry.
I just think you could try to learn a bit more about Finn.
At this thought, Harry paused his steps and then looked toward Andrew, saying to him indifferently, "Come to my office."
Andrew was stunned for a moment, but he followed Harry's footsteps anyway.
The opulence of the office far exceeded Andrew Damon's imagination; the space was so vast it was even more spacious than the home he shared with his family of three. The leather sofas and desks in the room gleamed with a soft, high-end luster, every detail exuding a luxury that felt completely out of place for him. Even the New York skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows seemed like a view he had no right to behold.
Andrew did his best to stand there looking calm, while Harry sat in the CEO's chair, sizing him up.
How do you know Finn?
Andrew fell silent for a moment, then, as if thinking of something, he took his camera out of his faded backpack—
“Do you want to see it?”
Watching it directly is much more intuitive than a description.
Harry never expected that Andrew would actually carry a camera with him, from his tone, it seemed he had even recorded his first meeting with Finn.
Andrew had no desire to explain anything to Harry Osborn; he pressed a few buttons on the scratched camera body, after playing a video clip, he placed the device flat in the center of the desk.
Harry frowned, reaching out to take the camera and examining it; it seemed he hadn't expected that anyone would still be using such an outdated model that should have been phased out by the era long ago.
Sorry, I'm poor," Andrew could obviously tell, "but it doesn't affect the filming, it's just that the resolution is a bit low.
Harry said no more. It was not difficult to judge from the video footage and audio that on that night, Andrew and two other youths were exploring the wilderness. The beams of the flashlights swayed, casting fragmented spots of light in the dark night, before suddenly freezing on the bushes ahead—where a person lay faintly.
They thought it was a corpse and screamed in terror.
[Is there someone lying here?]
[It couldn't be a dead person, could it?]
[A murder? A body dumped in the wild? Don't scare me!]