While Peter Parker was still basking in happiness…
Crack…
The door opened, and the laughter in the living room abruptly stopped.
George Stacy's tall figure appeared in the entryway.
He wore a crisp black shirt, his police badge gleaming faintly under the light. Though his smile was kind, his sharp eyes made everyone in the room subconsciously hold their breath.
Behind him, Damian peeked out with a furtive expression—like a collaborator who'd led invaders into the village, only to get slapped in the face by the very people he'd betrayed.
At the sight of them, Gwen Stacy's face lit up with surprise. She quickly stepped forward.
"Z! Dad! How did you two end up together?"
George Stacy gently stroked his daughter's hair, his expression warm.
"We ran into each other on the way. I heard he was coming to your birthday party, so we came together."
Noticing the tense silence among the young guests, George smiled reassuringly and gestured.
"Don't be nervous, kids. I'm just back to pick something up—I'll be leaving soon."
His gaze swept the room, lingering for a moment on the small, glowing lamp plant on the windowsill. He nodded.
"This artificial flower is nice."
Then, his eyes moved past Gwen to the rest of the group.
"I heard there's a boy named Peter here," he said warmly. "Would you mind stepping forward so I can get to know you?"
Though his tone was gentle, the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
No one spoke. Every head turned in the same direction.
Hiding in the corner, Peter Parker felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He stiffly raised his hand.
"Yes… it's me, Mr. Stacy."
George's gaze swept over Peter from head to toe—like an X-ray.
He placed one hand on Peter's shoulder and the other near the holster at his waist, then smiled.
"Come on. Let's step outside and chat—with your uncle."
Peter shot a desperate look toward the scoundrel in the far corner.
But Damian didn't notice—or pretended not to. Instead, he stared intently at the pear in his hand.
"Hey~ This pear is actually made of pear flesh! It's sweet… and it even tastes like pear!"
That bastard definitely did that on purpose!
Peter thought bitterly.
Gwen moved to help him, but Damian and Harry Osborn gently held her back.
"Let's see what gift Z brought!" Harry said brightly.
"Look what I got for you!" Damian announced, holding up a black box.
…
In the end, Peter Parker went outside with George Stacy.
Watching Peter disappear through the doorway, Harry turned to Damian with a hint of pity.
"Z… is what we're doing a bit inappropriate?"
At that, Damian's lips twitched. He gave Harry a deadpan look.
"If you're so capable, then say that without laughing!"
"Hehehe…" ×2
Gwen watched the two of them grinning like foxes and felt a pang of sympathy for Peter.
After a few more chuckles, Damian retrieved the black box from the corner and placed it on the coffee table. He turned to Gwen with a smile.
"Shall we open it and take a look?"
All eyes locked onto the box.
Gwen hesitated, glanced once more toward the door, then lifted the lid—
"Wow!"
Nestled on velvet cushions inside lay a set of shimmering jewelry:
feather-shaped hairpins, petal-shaped earrings, and vine-entwined bracelets—each inlaid with exotic gemstones that shifted color in the light.
Gwen Stacy carefully picked up the exquisite hair accessory and exclaimed in amazement:
"So beautiful! So exquisite!"
Seeing the jewelry, the girls at the party immediately began discussing it with eager excitement.
Jennifer looked at Damian with shining eyes, her tone pleading:
"Z, where did you buy this? Can you give me the address or website? I want one too! It's absolutely gorgeous!"
Damian shook his head.
"This set is called 'Light of Dew in the Sea of Flowers.' It was co-designed with a friend of mine—surname Mi—and handcrafted by a master artisan in China."
He paused, then added with a sigh,
"But just a few days ago, I heard the old master traveled to Japan. When he returned to China, he was diagnosed with severe kidney deficiency and can no longer perform the physically demanding work required for his craft. So… he's retired. This is the only set of its kind in the world."
The group fell silent—then erupted in even greater astonishment. The girls sighed with bittersweet regret, while the boys turned to Damian with burning determination.
"Quick! Tell us where that place is!" one begged.
"We've got to go pay our respects!" another added earnestly.
They meant no harm—they just wanted to walk the same path, to honor the master's legacy… and maybe uncover what kind of place could leave even a seasoned craftsman so thoroughly worn down.
"If a trip to Japan can knock out a master artisan like that," someone muttered, eyes gleaming, "it must be… incredibly powerful. Or incredibly sinful."
"I have to go broaden my horizons!"
Time flew by, and soon it was midnight. The party wound down, and parents began arriving to pick up their children—everyone except one famous Marvel background performer and a Chinese exchange student.
On the quiet road home, Damian was sprinting, shouting over his shoulder:
"Peter, give up! There's no future for us. Let's just… let each other go!"
Behind him stood Peter Parker, resentment heavier than a vengeful ghost, looking as if he were about to chop that bastard in front of him into mincemeat.
"Shut up!" Peter growled. "I don't care about right or wrong anymore! Today, I end you, you scourge!!"
"Wait! Violence won't solve anything! Why not try winning me over with love and justice instead?!"
"But violence will solve your problem!!"
Just as their argument reached its peak, a golden figure flashed across the intersection ahead like lightning. His speed was staggering—each stride covered several meters in an instant.
"What… what was that?" Peter Parker stopped dead, eyes wide.
Behind the figure, a dozen black cars roared out of the intersection like wild beasts. Through the windows, shadowy figures gripped rifles. Above, two helicopters hovered low, their blinding searchlights locked onto the fleeing man.
"Get out of the way!"
The blond stranger suddenly spun mid-stride and charged straight toward Damian and Peter—so close they could feel the wind rush past.
Bang!
In a split second, he vaulted onto the roof of a parked truck, used it as a springboard, and launched himself into the air—landing cleanly on the fire escape of the building opposite. From there, he leaped from the five-meter-high staircase straight onto the rooftop, vanishing into the forest of buildings with just a few powerful bounds.
The convoy screeched to a halt at the intersection, tires smoking against the asphalt.
Men in black suits poured out, shouting furiously into their radios. The helicopters circled once more, then turned and flew off into the night.
Silence returned to the street. Only Damian and Peter Parker remained, staring at each other in stunned confusion.
Peter scratched his head. "What… just happened? That blond guy looks kinda familiar."
He turned to Damian. "Z, do you have any idea who that was?"
D
amian didn't answer right away. He stood still, gaze fixed on the rooftop where the golden figure had disappeared—his expression thoughtful, almost wary.
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