Finn's sudden outburst of sincerity left everyone present stunned in an instant.
Don't make me cry!" Anthony's eyes welled up, he almost burst into tears. "Finn, I can mobilize all my hamsters to post videos to back you up. I can post fifty different ones a day! We are still going to build a Hamster Kingdom together.
Andrew also nodded vigorously with red eyes, ".." I can snipe five hundred, five thousand people a day.
Noah gazed at Finn, his lips curling into an involuntary smile; he really wasn't wrong before—a hollow little sun.
He seemed to be enthusiastic toward everyone and everything, as if he could cater to everyone.
But in reality, the sun has its own orbit; it will not deviate from its course because of the obstacles or malice of others.
—No, it's not truly hollow.
It might be that Finn's heart is very small, but the light he releases is warm and bright enough for everyone to see.
The moment the moral radiance surrounding Finn Osborn shone brightly across the entire internet, another name was also trending continuously on the hot search—
【Felix】.
The eight-year-old boy who went missing two years ago.
He was also the only survivor who had narrowly escaped from the family where the tragedy occurred.
An unreleased surveillance video quietly spread across the entire internet:
It was at two in the morning, the small silhouette of that boy in a cap, leaving home without looking back and rushing into the darkness of the late night.
That scene seemed to pierce the softest part of countless people's hearts.
[You thought he was rushing toward the darkness, but in reality, he was desperately trying to escape hell.]
If Felix knew that after he escaped, all his family members died tragically at the hands of his biological father, would he live in guilt for the rest of his life, feeling that he had abandoned them?
He must be ten years old by now.. I wonder how he is living these days.
[I really want to cry. Just thinking about that eight-year-old child, disappearing all alone in the middle of the night, makes my heart ache. But if Felix hadn't run, he would have certainly died; yet by running, he had to face fear and despair all by himself. How is he supposed to survive after that..]
The discussion surrounding Felix has been growing increasingly intense, with everyone questioning the progress of the case and hoping the police can find the missing child. However, two years have passed, there is still no sign of him. No one would blame an eight-year-old boy for running away; everyone's only wish is that the sole survivor of this tragedy can have an ordinary and happy life.
To be honest, I actually don't want Felix's information to be made public once he is found. This boy has suffered enough; he shouldn't have the world repeatedly reminding him of the pain he carries, nor should he be forced to live under the glare of cameras and pity.
Yes, I also hope Felix can be adopted by a family that truly loves him, so he can completely let go of his painful past.
Felix, when you grow up! You must come to Summer Neverland!
Felix, if you can see this, you must believe that your family.. your real family, all hope that you can live a life that is truly your own. They will be blessing you on Dream Island, blessing you so that you can have a life that never knows darkness.
I still hope that Felix can be found; Young Master Finn would certainly be willing to fund Felix's future.
Everyone can see Young Master Finn's kindness, but that doesn't mean the public can take his goodwill for granted and hold him hostage. He has already given so much for those lost children, for charity, for Summer Neverland; no one has the right to demand that he do anything more. Please remember, what Young Master Finn wants to protect are the dreams of all children, not the obligation of a single individual!
The online debate continued unabated, but all the netizens simultaneously hoped that this poor little boy could cast aside the past behind it, or even that a special new entry would appear online called—
#Run! Felix! Don't stop moving forward#
Because of this, a certain passage has been forwarded countless times—
[To Felix, who is in some unknown corner of the world:
Dear child,
I am sorry that we met you in such a heavy way.
I hope you never have to feel guilty for your own courage.
In a hell like that, to find the courage to escape,
The most amazing thing you, at eight years old, could have done.
Most of the misfortunes in this world stem from the sins of adults.
This sin should not be yours to bear, certainly not something you should carry for the rest of your life.
You must believe,
As long as you keep running forward, you will surely encounter the first light of dawn.
Don't stop your steps,
You must believe that you are only ten years old, your future is still long.
As long as you run fast enough,
Those dark, painful shadows will never catch up to you.
You will definitely be able to run very fast,
Because your dear family will be a breeze behind you, accompanying you.
Grow up in peace.
Don't stop, look forward, just run toward the light.
Sitting in the office, Finn quietly finished reading these words.
His fingertips gently brushed against Felix's name on the screen, then he silently put the phone down.
The young man slightly raised his eyes, his emerald-clear, inorganic gaze looking calmly out the window of the Osborn Building, as if looking toward an even more distant place.
It was still a long way from the scorching summer.
The winter snow of New York was silently covering every edge of the city, as if it also intended to bury all the deep-seated pasts.
After a long time, the corners of Finn's mouth curled up slightly as he murmured to himself—
It's okay, I can fly.
Chapter 97: Artistic Impact
When Peter arrived at Finn's home in high spirits, he immediately saw Noah and Elias in the living room.
For the launch of the [Summerverse] designer toy brand, Finn once again sought out his best brother-in-law, Elias, hoping to ask him to compose a theme song. Finn had already thought of a name for the theme song: "Wonder in Summerverse."
You've come at just the right time!" Finn said excitedly upon seeing Peter arrive. "I just scrolled onto a video that I want to show you.
Peter thought it might be some interesting video or perhaps a preview for new trendy toys, so he leaned in with great anticipation, only to find a news report playing on the phone screen. It reported that a professional wingsuit enthusiast had accidentally collided with a rock face during a flight and met with a tragic end.
"You really have to be careful." Finn looked at Peter with a serious expression.
I shouldn't have something like that happen to me.." Peter couldn't have imagined that after seeing such news, Finn would associate it with him, that his boyfriend was starting to worry whether his high-altitude work might be life-threatening. "I am Spider-Man, after all. I'm best at this.
When Spider-Man spoke of his own abilities, his tone carried a hint of natural confidence.
"But those who can't use a wingsuit definitely won't die there," Finn said, looking at Peter with sincerity.
Suddenly Choked·Peter: ".. I know, I'll be careful."
"Spider-Man, you've been feeling quite busy lately too, haven't you?" Noah asked Peter with a smile.
"That's right, I'm investigating Felix's case." At this point, Peter also wanted to share his own story.
Felix?" Elias was a bit surprised. "You mean that missing boy?
“True, I understand what people online are saying—that he should have his own life now, away from the public eye, so he doesn't have to keep facing those looks of pity and struggle to move past that trauma,” Peter nodded, his expression complicated and his voice growing heavy. “But he’s only ten years old, isn't he?”
He ran away when he was only eight; I can hardly imagine how an eight-year-old boy managed to survive on his own after that. I want to believe, of course, that a kind family adopted him, but what if they didn't?" Peter couldn't help but wonder if that ten-year-old boy was still struggling today. "I've also asked S. H. I. E. L. D. to investigate Felix's disappearance. Of course, this isn't to bring Felix into the public eye; I just hope to ensure that his life is good now, I also hope to provide whatever little help I can to that ten-year-old child.
"“That’s a good thing,” Noah agreed with a nod. “So, has there been any progress from S. H. I. E. L. D.?”" and
Not yet," Peter shook his head with a hint of regret. "But I believe in S. H. I. E. L. D.'s capabilities.
And, it wasn't until I saw Felix's photo online and that surveillance footage from the early morning that I realized something," Peter sighed deeply, his voice becoming even heavier at this moment, "I met that child two years ago.
After he said this, Noah and Elias both showed expressions of shock at the same time.
Only Finn continued to gaze at Peter calmly.
But deep in Finn's mind, System PP had completely crashed—
System PP: 【!!】
No words could describe the shock and tremor System PP felt at this moment.
System PP had never imagined that this world's Peter Parker would actually have an intersection with Felix two years ago.
Are there more unknown secrets, things even System PP is unaware of.. at this moment, a crack is finally being pried open.
You've seen him?" Noah asked in shock, "How could you have seen Felix?
System PP's electronic voice trembled as if distorted at this moment, confirming: 【.. Host, have you ever met Spider-Man before?】
But, contrary to his usual self—
Finn did not answer System PP at this moment.
He just watched Peter quietly and intently.
I remember it was by the roadside," Peter explained as he recalled, "At that time, Spider-Man had just gained a little bit of fame, I had my own fans too. Back then, on the route I had to take to school, I saw a boy holding a sign saying he was a Spider-Man fan, he was looking at me with eyes shining, so I swung down on a web.
“Was that Felix?” Noah asked in surprise.
Yes, he said he admires Spider-Man and is a fan of mine," Peter nodded. "Felix also heard from others that standing here made it more likely to run into Spider-Man. Then he just crouched there waiting for me, all just to specially give me a colorful painting.
The more System PP listened, the more shocked he became, but with every word, he felt a growing sense of chilling dread.
It was so cold that even the System, which didn't need to breathe and had no body temperature, experienced an illusion of suffocating stagnation.
We even chatted back then." Peter continued telling this story from two years ago. "Felix asked me.. if his family did something very wrong, what should he do?
I was in a rush to get to school at the time, so I didn't really think deeply about the question." Peter lowered his head slightly, his voice tinged with heavy guilt. "I just told him that even if family members do wrong, their mistakes must be corrected.
This memory took place two years ago. Had this incident not been unearthed by the public once again, Peter would probably have always considered it nothing more than an insignificant little episode on his way to school. Peter also never imagined that the boy who once gave him drawings and looked at him with eyes full of anticipation was actually Felix, the one currently being discussed all over the internet and whose whereabouts are unknown.
"He asked me later if his family was good to him, if he would be abandoned by the people who loved him if he corrected this mistake." Peter only realized now that the eight-year-old boy had been carrying the greatest secret in his heart. At that time, Felix might only have known that Lillian, whom he viewed as a sister, had been impregnated by her own father; he didn't know more than that, but he knew it was wrong. He wanted to do the right thing, but he was an adopted child, he was so afraid of being abandoned by his family.
I really thought at the time.. that the child was just having a disagreement with his family," Peter said, his voice dry. "I told him that family members who truly love you will never abandon you just because you point out a mistake; it is precisely because they are family that you must be honest, you must stand up and point out a mistake when they make one.
If only at that moment, I hadn't been in such a rush and could have asked a few more questions to find out what exactly was causing Felix so much pain.
If only I could have been more attentive—
The more Peter spoke, the more frustrated he became, his chest feeling as if it were being choked. Only now did he realize, with a sense of belated realization, that he had once been so close to the truth of that tragedy from two years ago. If only he had asked a few more questions, if only he had paid more attention to Felix, perhaps everything would have been different.
“Peter, this is not your fault.” Elias spoke up in time, interrupting his self-reproach with a steady and gentle tone, “You are a hero, but you are not a prophet. You had no way of predicting that such things would happen, nor should you have to bear the burden of someone else's life dilemmas just because you happened to pass by them. At that time, you already gave that boy the right answer; that doesn't mean you need to carry the guilt for everything that happened afterward.”