Spider-Man will work hard to pull even a derailed train back onto its tracks.
After hearing Finn's inner voice of absolute trust in him, Peter finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
“I already have the best Young Master Osborn, how could I possibly like anyone else?” Peter sighed softly, his tone exceptionally sincere. Since he had already gone public with his open crush and made a public confession, confessing in public once more seemed to carry almost no psychological pressure for Spider-Man.
I can't tell?" Montgomery stared at Peter as if he had discovered a new continent. "Is this how you tricked Young Master Finn into dating you in private as well?
Peter: "??" How can you call that deception?
Alright, alright, stop scattering hamster food, I don't really want to hear it," Anthony curled his lips, sternly stopping Peter and Finn's public display of affection. "Anyway, consider our Christmas plans settled; we'll practice them properly later.
After the recording was completely finished, Finn practiced the dance with Peter and Andrew at home for a while longer.
After finishing the dance practice, a full day of physical activity finally left Finn exhausted and without much energy.
"I'll just say a few words to Finn and then leave." As soon as Peter walked to the bedroom door with Finn, he felt a chill down his spine and turned to meet Harry's heavy gaze.
But in his heart, Spider-Man was complaining about Harry: "Staring at the door every day won't help, you know? I can climb through the window!"
Peter even felt like a criminal pretending to be well-behaved.
Every day, he was both cowardly and reckless, repeatedly dancing on the edge of disaster.
"Let Finn get to sleep early." Harry nodded, using a glance to signal Peter to pay attention to the time.
After returning to the room, Finn lazily flopped face-down on the bed, his entire body seemingly sinking into the soft mattress.
The young man lay on his side with his face buried in the pillow, a few strands of hair clinging to his temple, exuding a sense of exhaustion from low battery. Those beautiful green eyes were half-lidded, the corners drooping slightly, just like a sleepy kitten; the daytime passion and vitality were gone, leaving only a soft limpness that wanted nothing more than to lie there and do nothing.
Peter couldn't help but laugh as he sat on the edge of the bed beside Finn. He had always known his boyfriend was full of energy, his 100% battery life lasted much longer than anyone else's. It was only recently, however, that he discovered that Finn's incredibly long battery life relied on that 95% capacity; the final 5% was purely fake, looking like it still had power when it would actually die at any moment.
“Take a shower first?” Peter smiled, reaching out to tidy the messy strands of hair on Finn's face. "Sleep after the shower."
"Are we showering together?" Finn suddenly perked up again, lifting his head to ask.
"No." Looking at Finn, who was slumped on the bed and didn't want to move, Spider-Man could only sigh in his heart once again that his little boyfriend was truly both inexperienced and fond of playing.
After having tasted the forbidden fruit for the first time, Peter inevitably became addicted to, craved, physical intimacy with Finn.
But even if it was just staying quietly in a room with Finn like this, he loved it.
Finn lay on Peter's lap as he sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a bit disappointed again, he still felt too lazy to move. "I'll go wash up in a bit."
"The woman Claudy mentioned, who was blocking me at the school gate, her name is Sheila." Peter really did want to explain that matter to Finn.
You even know her name?" Finn stared at Peter in surprise. "You didn't exchange contact information, did you?
I kept it, but it definitely wasn't because I wanted to stay in touch with her; I haven't chatted with her about anything." Peter had actually kept Sheila Kovach's contact information, he was truly afraid Finn would misunderstand, so he even took out his phone and handed it to Finn to show him, explaining flusteredly, "I kept her contact information because I felt something was off—I triggered my Spider-Sense around Miss Sheila Kovach, I feel like.. she might be able to sense me too.
So.. you two are a match made in heaven?" Finn didn't take Peter's phone either, merely trying to understand. "Or the kind that can sense each other, with a soul connection?
Of course not!" Peter immediately rushed to refute, "I'm just saying that Miss Sheila is very likely a mutant, just like me.
If you really want to talk about being on the same wavelength..
Peter lowered his head, quietly watching Finn, who was resting his head on his lap.
—In this world, the only person who has ever been able to let me hear their inner thoughts and truly connect with my heart is you.
"What is her full name?" Finn asked.
"Sheila Kovach." Peter also suddenly thought of it; it seemed like Finn could have his System PP investigate the person's identity information.
Finn did indeed have System PP retrieve the profile for Sheila Kovach, but no one could be matched to it.
"It should be a fake name," Finn thought to himself.
So, Sheila likes you and wants to become a Spider-couple with you?
This was quite a surprise; even Finn didn't know that there were female Spider-Men in this world, his curiosity was piqued.
I don't know, maybe she might just be testing my identity." Peter shook his head; he didn't have much contact with Sheila, nor was he sure of Sheila's true thoughts. "Perhaps I'll find some time to have a chat with Miss Sheila later, just to talk about the mutation, of course.
At this point, Peter leaned forward slightly, his gaze falling seriously into Finn's eyes.
Spider-Man's eyes, which were always bright and gentle, were exceptionally focused at this moment, with not a single hint of evasion in his pupils.
As clear as a mirror framed by a ring of lights, perfectly and completely—
It only reflected the shimmering Finn.
“Finn, you don't have to worry about me having feelings for any other woman or man; it's absolutely impossible for me to like anyone else.” Peter's tone was firm. Although he didn't know if Finn, who clearly had something on his mind, was actually worried, he still instinctively and earnestly expressed his loyalty to him.
Finn blinked, staring fixedly at him, a faint shimmer dancing in his green eyes, asked softly, following up:
“And.. what about later?”
Peter was stunned.. After? After, how long from now did that mean?
But, we are in a contract relationship.
If we break up peacefully, will you still meet someone you love?
Will you be able to love someone else as much as you loved me?
Finn did not ask these inner thoughts aloud.
But those fragmented, seemingly uneasy inner thoughts crashed clearly into Peter's ears.
—No.
Peter also gave this firm answer in his heart immediately.
"Peter, you know summer is short." Peter didn't answer, but Finn felt as if he had already seen his answer in Peter's eyes. Finn really loved the feeling of being chosen so firmly by Peter, yet he also felt a contradictory hope that Peter wouldn't choose him so unconditionally and decisively.
But, after this summer, there will be another summer.
Finn said softly, his voice carrying a sense of bewilderment that even he himself hadn't noticed:
I like you, but—
My feelings for you have never been as steadfast as they are now.
I'm wondering if this means.. I like you, but I don't love you that much.
Finn was truly analyzing himself seriously.
Logically speaking, the sentence "I don't love you that much" should have been the sharpest and most cruel sentence in a passionate relationship.
Especially after they had shared all their intimacy and trust not long ago, hearing these words should have been incredibly painful and hurtful.
Finn, however, had no such self-awareness.
And at this moment, Peter did not feel hurt either.
Peter even smiled as he gently stroked Finn's cheek with his finger.
He only knew that Finn had finally begun to contemplate a subject for him—a topic that, as a 【System】, he would never touch and could never understand.
—The theme of [Liking] and [Love].
The room was so quiet that they could only hear each other's breathing.
It was a wonderful feeling, because Finn was still resting his head on his lap, looking up at him.
The young man was like a lazy, pedigree cat, letting him pet every single paw with complete trust, exposing his softest belly for him to stroke without any guard up, curling up by his side with his tail twitching in total reliance, even pressing his full, soft weight against him every single time.
Even though this kitten seemed to have given all its love, it was now staring with beautiful eyes in confusion—
After all, what is love?
"Can you tell the difference? What exactly is a crush, what is love?" Finn looked at Peter with a look of confusion.
I can tell them apart.
Peter curled his lips into a soft yet confident smile, his five fingers gently tightening around Finn's hand, his voice tender and certain.
“Liking you means I want to watch those heartbreaking Korean Dramas that you love with you. But loving you means I don't want to see you sad because of those ridiculous plots; I'd much rather watch comedies that make you laugh and feel happy together.”
To like someone means I feel incredibly lucky that your identity as Spider-Man makes you feel like I am someone special. But to love someone means I hope that even if I am just Peter Parker, I can still be the most special person to you.
Finn's green eyes blinked as he gazed at Peter, his gaze even carrying a hint of admiration.
[Peter knows so much.]
Is he truly a human who has been to school?
"Host, it's just that some humans are born with high emotional intelligence," System PP couldn't help but say, thinking that human schools don't teach that either.
Hearing Finn's inner monologue, Peter only felt that the part of Finn belonging to the System was both innocent and adorable.
Liking you means.. I really want to tell you that I like you, that I want to be in a relationship with you.
Peter took Finn's hand, brought it to his lips, gently kissed the young man's long, fair knuckles before continuing.
Love is—
Finn, if you have a better choice, it's okay if we aren't together.
Peter's firm, inclusive, calm gaze met Finn's suddenly trembling pupils.
Spider-Man certainly knew that summer was brief, a single month was even briefer; no one knew what the future held.
Yes, summer will pass, there will be another summer.
But, I will always remember—
You are my every eternal, ever-bright summer.
Finn froze.
He slowly straightened up from Peter's lap, turned his head, stared unblinkingly at the person in front of him.
The heart in his chest was thumping against his ribs, clear and powerful, beat after beat.
"Montgomery was right, you really did trick me in private with those words." Finn felt that ever since their feelings had been made clear, Peter had suddenly become very silver-tongued.
Finn even suddenly remembered that a sweet Host had once advised him to always be a carefree little smart aleck and never learn what "love" was.
The words of his 20th gentle host immediately surfaced in his mind—
Love is a double-edged sword.
It makes you strong and makes you weak, makes you rational and makes you lose your mind, makes you joyful and makes you suffer, makes you warm and makes you lonely..
Don't you understand? You little dummy, you'll understand later. Actually, it's best if you just stay a carefree little dummy forever—oh, I mean, a clever little brat.
I'm not calling you stupid, you just haven't grown up yet.