To Su Yi, this Monday was scheduled to be another day of relationship consolidation.
"Pepper went on her business trip and should be back today. I need to go find her and finalize that connection," he thought.
He teleported to Pepper Potts's apartment, intending to surprise her, but after ringing the bell and using his Enhanced Hearing, he detected no one inside.
"She must still be at work. At Tony's place," he correctly guessed.
Su Yi teleported again, appearing outside Tony Stark's lavish Malibu villa. He didn't bypass security this time, instead communicating through the gate. "Hey, Tony, I'm here. Let me in."
Tony's voice, full of amused annoyance, crackled over the intercom. "Oh, Su, long time no see. You know the drill, just come in yourself."
Su Yi, using a quick Teleportation, appeared in the living room and then walked down to the subterranean lab. "It's so much trouble with your security."
Tony grinned, "I'm glad you finally learned to notify the Master of the Villa."
"Stop talking nonsense, I'm not here for you."
Pepper looked up from the holographic display, a stressed expression on her face. "Su, you've come at a very bad time. I'm reporting the quarter's work to him. Your appearance will delay things by at least ten minutes."
Su Yi felt a pang of sympathy. He walked straight to Pepper and wrapped her in a gentle hug. "I just missed you a little."
"Me too," Pepper sighed, leaning into him briefly. "But I still have work. I'll be quick."
"I'll wait."
Pepper resumed her report. It was clear Stark Industries was still struggling despite their shift to energy. Nuclear fusion was progressing, but not enough to restore the company's glory.
"Currently, Stark Industries' business is completely skewed towards energy," Pepper summarized, looking exhausted. "But it's still not enough to return to its former glory."
Tony was working furiously on a design. "I'm already researching a new type of drone platform. They can be mass-produced very soon."
Su Yi knew the disastrous path these drones would eventually take, falling into the hands of villains or government agencies.
"Su, what do you think of the drone idea?" Tony asked.
"I can only say it's a good idea," Su Yi replied neutrally. Tony's intentions were noble, but the finished product's purpose was rarely up to him.
"Pepper, the work report is finished. What's next for you?" Su Yi asked, noting her haggard appearance.
"A few more things," she said, rubbing her temples.
"You're the CEO! Shouldn't you hire an assistant?" Su Yi teased.
Tony immediately defended himself. "Hey, that's not my fault! I hired one for her!"
Pepper explained, "The company's situation is still bad. I'm busy. I just need to go home and review some more documents."
"I'll drive you home," Su Yi offered.
Pepper's mood lifted slightly. "Thank you, Su."
After a quick farewell, Su Yi drove Pepper toward her apartment. Observing her fatigue and listlessness, he felt his plan was perfectly timed.
"Fortunately, I have the Water of Life," he thought.
When they arrived at her apartment, Pepper had nearly fallen asleep. Su Yi was about to carry her inside when she woke up.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I must have dozed off."
"It's okay. We're home."
Inside, Pepper immediately started organizing papers. "Thank you for the ride, Su, but I really have too much work."
"It's alright. I just need five minutes."
Pepper sighed, relenting. "Okay, what is it?"
Su Yi walked up, enveloping her in a warm hug. "I don't want to say anything. I just want to give you a shoulder to relax on."
"Thank you, Su."
After a brief, comforting moment, Pepper pulled away. "I have to work."
"Wait, I still have a gift for you."
Though happy, Pepper's physical exhaustion prevented her from showing much enthusiasm. "Thank you, Su."
Su Yi presented the vial. "This is Water of Life. It can prolong life, delay aging, make you younger, and, most importantly right now, relieve your crushing fatigue."
Pepper was skeptical. "Are you sure this is a good thing, and not some kind of designer drug?"
"This is something I got from other Universes. It's pure. It won't cause hallucinations—just health."
At Su Yi's insistence, Pepper took a single drop. The effect was instantaneous and profound. All the tension, the years of sleepless nights, and the bone-deep weariness vanished. She felt a surge of energy and an incredible, comfortable feeling of well-being.
"Su, this feeling is amazing!"
"Later, you'll experience even more comfortable feelings," Su Yi promised, closing the final gap between them.
While Su Yi was consolidating his relationship with Pepper, across the city, Gwen Stacy was at home.
Her father, Captain George Stacy, was also home, enjoying a rare night off, when the phone rang.
"What? A tall green monster, like a Lizardman, appeared on the bridge?" George's voice boomed, instantly snapping to professional attention. The bridge was close to their home. "I have to go!"
"Helen, I have to go out."
"Be careful, dear," his wife pleaded.
Gwen, hearing the description, felt a rush of adrenaline. The Super-Villains are here! My chance has come!
"Mom, I'm going back to my room," Gwen called out quickly. "I might turn in early."
Gwen rushed to her room and locked the door. She immediately called Su Yi. "Su, a Lizardman monster has been discovered on the bridge! My father is already on his way, and I'm going to act now!"
After hanging up, the Symbiote Suit instantly covered her in the white and pink armor of the Ghost-Spider. She climbed out the window and, with newfound grace and incredible speed, began traversing the city's skyscrapers, easily keeping pace with her father's speeding police cruiser.
Su Yi, at Pepper's apartment, felt a chill. The Lizard had appeared, earlier than anticipated. Peter is likely still in his bedroom, working on his prototype suit!
"Forget it," Su Yi decided. I'll go take a look first. If possible, I'll let Gwen handle it—it will be great practice.
"Pepper, I have to leave immediately. Something big is happening."
Pepper, now energized and clear-headed, didn't argue. She saw the seriousness in his eyes. "Be careful," she whispered, giving him a quick kiss.
"I'll be back tonight."
Before the last word left her mouth, Su Yi had vanished. He teleported directly onto the bridge, cloaked by his Symbiote suit, just as the chaos was peaking.
Professor Lizard, fully transformed into a massive, rage-driven reptilian creature, was wantonly destroying the infrastructure in a crazed hunt for Nels and the remaining gene serum.
"Professor Lizard," Su Yi muttered, observing the destruction. "Perfect. This is exactly what Gwen needs for her debut."
The Lizard is rampaging, and the Ghost-Spider is on her way to intervene.