Su Yi lay beside Betty Brant, his new girlfriend, the System notifications glowing softly in his mind. He resisted the urge to physically celebrate, remaining still so as not to wake her.
His Destiny Point gain was massive, affirming his strategy:
[Total Fate Points Gained from securing new relationships]:
Betty Brant: 10,000 FP
Gwen Stacy: 10,000 FP
Mary Jane Watson: 300,000 FP
[Additional Reward]: 1 Ordinary Lottery Chance!
Mary Jane's value is truly significant, Su Yi thought. Her role as Peter Parker's ultimate moral and emotional center is clearly deemed the most crucial relationship to disrupt.
"Lottery!" he commanded mentally.
[Ding! You have received a special item: Mission Card!]
[Mission Card]: After use, a new mission is triggered. Completing the mission grants additional rewards.
A Mission Card is interesting, but ill-timed. Su Yi decided to wait for a more suitable, less busy day.
He then allocated his remaining Destiny Points to finalize his base attributes. "System, increase Energy to Lv6."
[Evolution Successful! All five-dimensional attributes have reached Lv6.]
[Host Status Update]:
Intelligence: Lv5
Strength: Lv6 (10,000 tons)
Speed: Lv6 (Mach 10)
Stamina: Lv6
Spirit: Lv6
Energy: Lv6
Combat Skills: Lv4
Combat Skills is the only outlier, Su Yi mused. But with this level of overwhelming power and speed, classical martial arts are becoming redundant. Why punch when I can teleport and unleash a Mach 10 blow? This is more than sufficient.
Su Yi finally allowed himself to drift into a satisfied sleep.
The new day brought immediate tasks. Early in the morning, Su Yi and Betty went to the hospital. Su Yi waited while Betty managed the discharge paperwork for her mother, Bella Brant.
Once Bella was home, frail and confused but safely in her own bed, Su Yi prepared the treatment.
"Betty, could you leave us for a moment? This Eastern medicine requires absolute quiet."
Betty, trusting him completely, left the room. Su Yi gently placed a drop of the Water of Life on Bella's lips. The result was instantaneous and profound.
The life force rushed through Bella's weakened body, forcing regeneration. Her gaunt, pale face regained a healthy color, her breathing deepened, and the debilitating weakness that had plagued her vanished. She slowly, miraculously, opened her eyes.
In just over thirty minutes, the transformation was complete. Bella, previously near death, now looked like a healthy woman who had simply recovered from a severe cold.
Betty rushed back into the room, tears streaming down her face at the sight of her mother sitting up, smiling weakly. "Mom! You're awake! You look... you look amazing!"
"I feel much better, dear," Bella replied, her voice strong enough to talk. "I'm actually just a little hungry."
"I'll go prepare some food right now!" Betty exclaimed, rushing to the kitchen, joy radiating off her.
Su Yi took the opportunity to speak with the recovering Bella. "I am Su Yi, Bella. Betty's boyfriend. You can call me Su."
"You... you cured me?" Bella asked, disbelief mingled with profound gratitude in her voice.
"I used a magical Eastern medicine," Su Yi confirmed simply.
Bella, who had been resigned to leaving her daughter alone, now saw hope. "Thank you. You saved my life and gave Betty her happiness back."
"You're welcome. My only wish is for Betty to be happy and joyful every single day."
Su Yi found Betty in the kitchen, carefully preparing soup. He embraced her from behind, pulling out a thick envelope of cash.
"Here's $100,000 in cash, Betty. Take it for now."
Betty tensed. "Su, I can't accept this. I like you for you, not for your money."
"I know," Su Yi soothed. "Think of it as a gift. A welcome home present for your mother, and to ensure you can focus on her recovery without worrying about work or bills."
"A gift?"
"Yes. And I want a gift too," he murmured, his gaze warm.
Betty's cheeks flushed. "I... I need to finish preparing the food first."
"It's alright, I can wait for you," Su Yi assured her.
With Bella rapidly recovering, Betty was relieved of her immediate duties. Su Yi departed, but not before receiving his earned gift—a deep confirmation of Betty's gratitude and loyalty.
Later that afternoon, Su Yi drove to Gwen Stacy's house for the pre-arranged dinner—the official "meet the parents" event. He arrived punctually, finding Captain George Stacy waiting at the door. George was an imposing man, his serious expression tempered by a father's protective scrutiny.
"Hello, I am Su Yi, Gwen's boyfriend," Su Yi said, extending his hand.
George shook it firmly. He was clearly sizing up the young man who had successfully 'stolen' his daughter's heart. "You're a bit early. Come in. I'm George, and Gwen's mother is Helen."
Su Yi greeted them both. Before George could begin his pre-planned interrogation, Gwen hurried down the stairs, sparkling with excitement.
"Daddy, I'm just taking Su to see my room for a minute. We'll be right down!" she announced, grabbing Su Yi's hand and pulling him upstairs before George could object.
In her room, which was impeccably tidy, Gwen closed the door and turned, beaming. "I have to show you something I drew."
She showed him the framed sketch she'd done—a dynamic drawing of the Spider-Bully with Su Yi's unmasked face.
"You painted this the night I saved you?" Su Yi asked, genuinely impressed by her artistic talent.
"Yes. What do you think?"
"I think you painted it wonderfully. It perfectly captured my handsomeness and the... dynamic nature of the suit."
"I also think you're very handsome," Gwen confessed, moving closer.
They chatted idly, the intimacy of the moment reinforcing their bond, until George's voice boomed up the stairs: "Gwen! Dinner is ready!"
The two descended, and George relaxed slightly, seeing that nothing overtly 'excessive' had occurred in his daughter's room.
Dinner began, and Su Yi faced the dual interrogation.
"I hear you're from the East," George began, his tone sharp, professional. "A mysterious, ancient land. Why did you come here? Exchange students usually wait until college."
Su Yi met his gaze calmly, opting for frank honesty. "My parents died in an accident, Captain. I came here to live with my grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away from illness not long after I arrived."
Helen Stacy, Gwen's mother, immediately intervened, her tone soft and empathetic. "Oh, that is terrible, Su. George, please, don't interrogate our guest like a criminal."
"It's alright, Helen," Su Yi reassured her. "I appreciate the honest approach."
Helen then asked the gentler question. "Su, how did you and Gwen fall in love?"
Su Yi knew the perfect story. "It was Flash Thompson. He cornered me, thinking I was weak and easy to bully. Gwen, a girl, stood up to him—a strong, aggressive boy. Her kindness and fierce righteousness were deeply attractive. I was captivated by her courage in that moment."
Helen smiled warmly at her daughter and Su Yi. "That's a good beginning. Sounds a lot like how George and I started."
The atmosphere warmed considerably. Su Yi knew the official, formal interrogation was now over.
Su Yi has successfully secured Betty's loyalty by curing her mother and has made a positive impression on Gwen's mother. However, Captain Stacy remains skeptical and protective.