Peter was so ashamed that he could barely lift his head.
You don't need to feel guilty toward me. This is something between you and Finn; I won't interfere in your romantic lives." But then again, after experiencing a massive mental storm, Harry also felt he had no standing to judge or interfere in the relationship between Peter and Finn. "Besides, if Finn's partner is you, at least I won't have to worry. The overly innocent Finn would otherwise be deceived or hurt in a relationship.
No matter what happened before, Peter had always stood firmly by his side, supporting him.
Harry was at this moment.. although he couldn't say anything supportive of Peter, it was also impossible for him to be mean or make things difficult for him at this moment.
"When did you start liking Finn?" Harry asked again.
His brilliant brain truly couldn't figure out exactly when Peter Parker had started stealing his home.
Peter's heart tightened. He knew he had to answer this question seriously and could not give a vague response.
“At first.. it was mostly curiosity, because Finn is your brother, we met in the Osborn Building.” Peter did not hesitate for long, nor did he evade the question; he looked up to meet Harry's gaze and answered in a light but steady voice, “Later, I ran into some trouble, Finn took the initiative to help me. I got to know him better and found him to be sincere and lovely. It was from that moment on that I realized there was a deep misunderstanding between you and Finn, I started trying to ease the conflict and the relationship between you two.”
Harry also recalled—from that time onward, Peter had repeatedly stood before him, hoping he would get to know the real "Finn Osborn." If Peter hadn't been so persistent, Harry would likely have remained immersed in his own paranoid and arrogant mindset, never truly taking that step to pay attention to the brother he had ignored for far too long.
"Because I wanted to help you two reconcile, I paid extra attention to Finn's movements during that time. You know, because.. because of Finn's condition, he does some very contradictory things. Being by his side always left me feeling on edge, constantly fearing that he would inadvertently cause even more complicated trouble." Peter recalled those days of listening to the judgment of fate, fearing every day that Finn would silently and single-mindedly carry out his Misery Plan.
Harry: "?" So, you did all this for me?
“Finn is full of vibrant passion; he loves painting, dancing, partying, he excels in every field he loves, as if he's shining. He is also very kind, helping and guiding Max and Andrew, as well as the Wilsons, giving them the value of a brand-new life.” Peter continued, a genuine smile on his young face, “I've also participated in many activities with him, all of it has made me very happy.”
The more you get to know Finn, the more deeply you will be attracted to him.
Even at the Osborn Group press conference, Finn stood in the spotlight, confident, calm, dazzling, the center of everyone's attention. I was just one insignificant gaze among countless others, yet I felt truly proud of him and excited for him," Peter said earnestly. "Because I know Finn deserves all of this. I feel that while others only see Finn's brilliance in that single moment, I know that behind it, he must have waited for countless opportunities before finally seizing that moment.
By the time I noticed, I realized.. my gaze had been fixed on him all along.
Just as everyone on the internet could see, his gaze was always firmly locked on Finn Osborn.
Especially the day after Finn's birthday party—
I've only just realized that because I almost lost someone, I've come to know completely that I simply cannot imagine life without him.
Harry fell silent.
He saw it very clearly; Peter's affection for Finn had never been about possessiveness.
Peter was different from him; he was someone who had grown up surrounded by love, passionate, open, sincere.
This made Peter and Finn's temperaments naturally compatible, besides, Peter—
He never cared about personal gain when giving, he never thought about controlling the other person when getting close.
He wouldn't feel resentful just because Finn was kind to others, he certainly wouldn't feel jealous just because others liked Finn;
He generously hoped that the whole world would favor Finn, he also sincerely hoped that Finn could embrace the entire world without any reservations.
Harry knew Finn didn't have a fragile heart, but he had mental illness.
It was exactly this kind of warm, kind, pure Finn who would lose control, become conflicted, doubt himself, make choices that others couldn't understand, endure unknown internal struggles where no one could see. Such a Finn might need someone who, no matter what he becomes, could steadily catch him, embrace him completely, stay by his side through it all.
And Peter happened to be that kind of person.
He could see all of Finn's brilliant highlights, he also saw clearly the other side of Finn's hidden vulnerability.
Only an unreserved, all-encompassing, inclusive love can protect Finn.
You are also very clear about Finn's condition. The establishment of a new, unprecedented romantic relationship will inevitably change Finn's life; it might have a positive impact on his condition, or it might have a negative impact." After receiving Peter's answer, Harry's chaotic emotions had calmed down significantly, his stiff tone had softened as well. "If you truly like Finn, I hope you continue to like him steadfastly, don't let Finn be hurt by this in any way.
"Of course I will," Peter nodded seriously in promise.
Alright," Harry confirmed again, "Then is there anything else important that you're hiding?
Peter hesitated.
"What is it?" Harry immediately saw through Peter's hesitation.
"We.. signed a contract," Peter finally said candidly.
"What contract?" Harry didn't understand.
A one-month dating contract," Peter explained with a complex expression. "An agreement to break up amicably after one month if the target score isn't met.
Harry: ".."
Harry: "??"
“Who suggested it? Finn?” Harry frowned deeply; he had never heard of needing to sign a contract just to be in a relationship.
—A sugar baby agreement?
——His wealthy brother was so generous as to pay for his best friend's keep?
This kind of melodramatic development was so absurd that it even gave Harry Osborn enough inspiration to come up with several good titles for short dramas for Finn—
The Rich Young Master's Contract Lover
High Price for Love: Accidental Crush on Brother's Best Friend
"Sky-high Contract: Falling in Love with My Brother's Best Friend"..
Harry even wondered if Finn's brain had truly been corrupted by his investments in those CEO-themed short dramas, to the point where he might want to try out contract dating himself.
"I suggested it," Peter said softly and cautiously.
"You're hitting on my brother and then planning to run away?" Harry's expression instantly soured, he could hardly believe his ears.
"No, no, I'm just giving Finn the space to choose. I would definitely give Finn full marks," Peter explained flusteredly.
Harry raised his hand to press his throbbing temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Is this Finn's idea?" Harry still couldn't understand. "He—
In Harry's impression, shouldn't his younger brother Finn be the kind of person who has beautiful, lifelong aspirations for romance—someone pure and passionate, who naively thinks a single relationship can last a lifetime?
Finn has his own concerns," Peter said. "I.. will respect his thoughts one hundred percent.
Concerns? Concerns about what?
At this moment, Harry seemed to realize clearly that Peter understood Finn's thoughts better than he did, also knew how to love Finn better than he did. Just as he had said before, it was that high concentration of love and companionship that he could not provide.
Peter has always been the best practitioner.
Harry would hope that in this relationship, neither of them would be hurt.
Just like I said before, your relationship is between the two of you; I won't interfere." Harry sighed deeply. He wasn't like someone like Noah, who lacked boundaries and felt the need to meddle in everything Finn did. "It's just that if one day you really reach the point of breaking up—I hope you won't hide it from me, that you'll give me a clear result and a reason.
I know." After Peter nodded heavily, he felt he should confess one more thing. "Also.. there's one more thing.
"What?" Harry frowned, feeling that Peter was indeed keeping quite a lot from him.
"I'm actually Spider-Man, I recently joined the Avengers." Peter felt he shouldn't keep hiding things from Harry.
The Uncouth Young Master Osborn: "Peter Parker, you really know how to keep a secret, damn it."
Finn had already come bouncing down from the second floor by this time. Naturally, with Noah's assistance, he had also changed into today's dazzling OOTD, while Noah, following behind the glamorous Finn as he descended the stairs steadily, looked completely helpless.
Just now upstairs, after accompanying the shameless Finn through a long, nonsensical conversation, Noah's gaze toward Peter held a newfound sense of genuine sympathy:
It hasn't been easy for you either.
Peter Parker's challenge to become the winner in the competitive show "Rat Rise" was already enough to prove that his physical quality and stamina far exceeded that of an ordinary person. Yet, given how Finn provocatively teased him to death and he could still be so lively today, it was clear that—
This young man, Peter Parker, has quite a lot of self-control.
Suddenly receiving understanding from Noah, Peter actually felt a bit unworthy of it. After all, even though he had only tasted half a jar of candy, he had still eaten it with great enthusiasm.
“Harry, why are you out of the hospital? Haven't you been cured yet? Did you escape?" Finn looked at Harry in the living room in surprise. "Speaking of which, that 'Escape from the Mental Hospital' game released by my friend has been a massive hit since it went online."
You haven't had much to keep you busy lately, so maybe you'd actually find it quite enjoyable; it's very immersive.
Harry: ".." Listen to that. Does that sound like something a [caring younger brother] should say to his brother after seeing him get discharged from the hospital?
Right now it's a single-player game, Blake's studio is also preparing to release a multiplayer game while the hype is still hot, called 'Mental Illness Family'," Finn continued, his voice filled with anticipation. "I thought it was very interesting, so I reinvested all the money I earned into it.
—Mental Illness Family..
Peter looked up cautiously at Finn and his two brothers, Harry and Noah, before him.
If you play together, won't it be more immersive?
—This family, curing all your illnesses, is more important than anything else.
Chapter 75: Secret Rendezvous ° Withdrawal
Harry has been running away on his own—no, after he left the mental hospital, Finn hasn't been able to send his brother back.
Dr. Bruce Banner told Finn that Harry's treatment had been very stable, as long as he continued to cooperate with the treatment, there wouldn't be any major problems. Dean Seville of Eden Mental Hospital also said that Harry's mental state had shown significant improvement.
But clearly, Harry had recently been subjected to "some kind of stimulus" that amplified his anxiety regarding things being out of his control. It was only in a familiar environment where he could maintain firm control that his sense of insecurity would subside, allowing his emotions to be more ideally regulated.
Are you afraid that if you let your guard down for even a moment, I'll drive the Group into bankruptcy?" Finn simply assumed his brother was feeling uneasy in the mental hospital, fearing that he might accidentally ruin the Osborn legacy, which was why he had rushed to be discharged as soon as his condition improved. "Do you really have so little faith in my abilities? I think I'm doing quite well.
Thinking about what Dean Seville had said, Finn didn't understand why Harry was so anxious.
Speechless Harry: ".." Seriously, I only let my guard down for a second, you were already fished away by a strand of spider silk.
Finn just assumed that Harry was too devoted to his work, his career, the Osborn Group. Since Harry was preparing for his formal return, Finn decided to divide up the current business sectors of the Osborn Group. Actually, this worked out well; Finn could also free up more time to cooperate with the subsequent filming of Rat Rise. The viewership for the first two themed competitions had skyrocketed, so Anthony and the production team decided to strike while the iron was hot, planning a special derivative variety show that invited the most popular contestants from the program to team up in pairs for fun competitions.
—As expected.
—Peter and Finn naturally received invitations without any doubt.
"You two are planning to team up for the show?" Harry was stunned.
What is this, showing off their affection in public?
That's right, after all, we are the official hamsters." Finn said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "The two of us will definitely be participating.
As long as it was something Finn wanted to do, Peter always cooperated unconditionally.
After the teaser for the duo team competition was released, netizens exploded once again.
The masses were full of emotion: The production team of "Rat Rise" truly dares to listen, dares to act, dares to satisfy.
They really live up to their promise to grant every request. It's great, I absolutely love it.
—The audience wants to give the contestants they like a chance at resurrection, the production team actually created a Resurrection List.
—The audience wanted to see more interaction between Young Master Finn and Peter, who has an open crush on the young master, so a duo competition was introduced.
—Even the audience hoped that Andrew, who was previously an unselected hamster in the Iron Triangle, could rejoin to form the [Hamster Iron Triangle] and take the stage to dance with Peter and Finn, who were playing [Peanut & Pippin]. Consequently, the production team also launched a new hamster mascot. In Anthony's hamster channel, there was another popular little mouse named "Star."