Watching Peter speak with such effortless confidence, Gwen found an incredibly strange thought creeping into her mind.
'Why does it feel like Peter's acting more like someone with superpowers than I am?'
The thought lasted less than 0.01 seconds before she firmly dismissed it.
Still, once she'd collected herself, she had to admit that the Peter sitting beside her had become considerably more attractive than before.
What Gwen didn't know was that Peter hadn't been exaggerating in the slightest.
Only after acquiring his current genius-level intellect did he truly appreciate the meaning behind the famous scientist Qian Xuesen's remark about how even a fourteen-year-old should be capable of learning calculus.
In his previous life, many of the formulas and theories he'd encountered in university had seemed so incomprehensible that memorizing them by rote was his only option.
Now, those same concepts were things Peter could understand almost immediately, often allowing him to work out entirely new applications from a single example.
Furthermore, the Horse Talisman's healing abilities could ease the physical discomfort associated with prolonged studying, including problems such as eye strain, deteriorating eyesight, and the consequences of sitting for extended periods.
The combination made his learning efficiency seem almost supernatural.
With that kind of advantage, earning doctorates in two different scientific disciplines genuinely seemed as easy as eating or drinking.
Gwen studied Peter's confident profile for a moment before finally nodding.
"All right. I'll take you to meet Dr. Connors after school."
While the two continued chatting pleasantly about the scientist, a tall figure lumbered onto the school bus.
It was none other than Eugene "Flash" Thompson, Midtown High School's resident bully.
As usual, Flash casually scanned the interior, searching for his favorite target.
That pathetic nerd, Peter Parker.
It didn't take long for him to locate the boy.
But before the cruel grin on his face could fully form, it froze.
Because Peter Parker was sitting beside Gwen Stacy!
The two were leaning toward each other, chatting and laughing with a degree of intimacy that made their relationship painfully obvious.
Flash immediately reconsidered his plans.
After all, who was Gwen Stacy?
She was the daughter of the New York police commissioner!
Her father was also his own father's superior!
If Flash caused trouble for Gwen, Commissioner Stacy could easily make things difficult for him through the school board.
With that possibility in mind, Flash immediately abandoned his usual bullying routine and slunk off to find an empty seat.
'Forget it. Today's clearly not a good day to start trouble.'
'I'll just wait until Gwen isn't around before giving Parker a proper greeting.'
He comforted himself with that thought, completely unaware that he'd just missed the only opportunity he'd ever have.
After today, Flash would spend the rest of his life looking up at the very nerd he'd once considered beneath him.
Then again, perhaps that wasn't such a terrible outcome.
At the very least, the school bully had unknowingly managed to preserve his own life.
...
After school, Gwen kept her promise and brought Peter to Oscorp Tower.
Using her intern identification card, she led him through the building without difficulty until they reached the section containing Dr. Connors's laboratory.
However, before they could even approach the laboratory entrance, an angry argument erupted from behind the partially open door.
"Dr. Connors, I need an actual deadline! Not another one of your vague promises!"
A woman's sharp voice reached Peter's ears, carrying all the arrogance of someone delivering a final ultimatum.
"We've already invested an enormous amount of time and money into this project. Mr. Osborn and the board of directors are running out of patience!"
"If you still can't produce tangible results, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to inform you that your funding is being reduced, or that the entire project is being shut down!"
"Just give me a little more time!"
Dr. Connors's voice sounded tired and hoarse, but there was still stubborn determination beneath it.
"We're only one step away! One final formula, and we'll be able to successfully integrate lizard DNA into human subjects!"
"This could be one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in human history! We could cure every disease, regenerate lost limbs, and potentially even defeat cancer!"
"Hah! The same old speech!"
The female assistant gave a dismissive snort.
"The board has been hearing that argument for three years, Doctor. Frankly, they're sick of it!"
"I'm now delivering Mr. Norman Osborn's final ultimatum."
"One month. You have one final month to show meaningful progress. If you fail, you can pack up your things and leave."
Click. Click. Click.
The sharp sound of high heels striking the floor grew steadily louder.
Gwen quickly grabbed Peter and pulled him to the side, making room for the approaching woman.
Only after the arrogant-looking, brown-haired assistant had passed them did Gwen lead Peter into the laboratory.
The spacious room was in a terrible state of disarray.
Dr. Curt Connors sat slumped in a chair, looking utterly defeated.
The empty right sleeve of his white laboratory coat hung loosely at his side, making his appearance seem even more forlorn.
When he noticed Gwen and Peter entering, Connors managed a strained smile that looked more painful than crying.
"Sorry, kids. I'm afraid you've caught me at a rather embarrassing moment."
Gwen opened her mouth, then hesitated.
For a moment, she couldn't think of anything appropriate to say.
Peter, meanwhile, behaved as though he hadn't noticed the uncomfortable atmosphere at all.
Instead, he walked straight toward the laboratory's whiteboard.
Its surface was covered with complex mathematical formulas and lengthy derivations.
A large section near the center had clearly been erased and rewritten countless times, leaving behind a cloudy patch of overlapping marks.
Peter's gaze settled on that precise area.
After examining the earlier calculations, he felt increasingly certain of his conclusion.
The only thing Dr. Connors was missing was the correct formula for the decay-rate algorithm.
And Peter already knew how to solve that problem!
Without thinking twice, he reached for a black marker lying beside the whiteboard.
Then, beneath the section that had been repeatedly erased, he began writing.
The marker squeaked softly against the smooth surface.
One elegant mathematical symbol after another appeared beneath his hand, followed by carefully arranged numbers and equations.
Together, they formed an entirely new path through the calculations.
For a moment, time seemed to slow.
Gwen, who had been trying to think of something comforting to say to Dr. Connors, heard the marker squeaking and turned her head.
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
'Peter... is he actually trying to derive the decay-rate algorithm?!'
Dr. Connors noticed her reaction and followed her gaze.
Then, within the space of barely a dozen seconds, his expression underwent a startling transformation.
First came confusion.
Then surprise.
And finally, absolute shock.
He sprang from his chair, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the newly written formula.
For a moment, he seemed to forget how to breathe.
'Impossible!'
'This is impossible!'
The decay-rate algorithm had tormented him and his entire research team for years.
It was a problem that had defeated some of the world's finest geneticists.
And now...
A high school student had apparently solved it.
Just like that?!
As though it were the easiest thing in the world!