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*****
During lunch, Gwen looked at Mary Jane, who was sitting with them but kept a distance and remained silent, her eyes filled with confusion.
What was going on?
Why did Mary Jane seem a bit strange toward her today, almost as if she were avoiding her?
Puzzled, Gwen carried her lunch and walked toward Mary Jane with a smile.
To her surprise, upon seeing Gwen approaching, Mary Jane turned around and walked straight away.
Gwen froze for a moment, quickly packed her lunch box, and chased after her.
Hearing the commotion behind her, Mary Jane quickened her pace.
One chasing and the other running, the two of them soon disappeared from the cafeteria.
Watching them, Peter and the other two were stunned.
"Uh, what's up with them?" Harry asked in confusion.
Luke was also at a complete loss, while Peter had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Mary! Mary!"
Gwen called out in a low voice, closely following her friend. "What's wrong? Did I do something wrong? Or are you in some kind of trouble?"
Mary Jane didn't answer; she just kept her head down and walked forward.
Gwen followed Mary Jane worriedly.
Finally, Mary Jane came to a halt and said to Gwen, "Gwen, let's just act like we never knew each other."
"?"
Gwen's head was full of question marks. She couldn't help but ask, "What is wrong with you? Did you run into some trouble?"
"No, I just overestimated myself. I'm just too narrow-minded."
Where was this coming from?
Gwen remained in a state of utter bewilderment.
Mary Jane felt a sense of unwilling resignation, but she still offered Gwen a blessing from her heart, saying, "I thought I could endure seeing you and Harry being intimate and still maintain our old relationship, but... sorry, Gwen, I really can't take it. I wish you both the best!"
Mary Jane spoke with a look of agony.
Gwen: "?"
What on earth was she talking about!
She pressed a hand to her aching forehead, gestured toward Mary Jane, and said, "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"Are you still going to keep it from me now?"
Mary Jane smiled bitterly. "I saw everything last night."
Last night?
It clicked for Gwen: "You mean Harry inviting me to dinner?"
"Yes!" Mary Jane felt as if she were tearing open her own wound. She took a sharp breath and said sadly, "You and Harry went on a date, Harry gave you a beautiful necklace, and you even met his father. You've already made your relationship official."
Official?
Gwen froze for a moment, and then...
"Hahahaha!"
She burst into laughter.
Go ahead, laugh. Mock me all you want.
I'm so stupid. I knew Harry had feelings for you, but I still held onto a glimmer of hope.
Mary Jane looked like she was about to cry.
Seeing this, Gwen's laughter stopped, though her shoulders continued to shake. "How come I didn't know I made anything 'official' with him?"
"You don't have to lie to me anymore."
"Pfft!"
Gwen laughed as she walked toward Mary Jane. When Mary Jane tried to dodge, Gwen suddenly grabbed her hand, sighed helplessly, and wiped the tears from Mary Jane's face. "I really don't have that kind of relationship with him."
"How is that possible! He... his father... you guys..."
Mary Jane was so agitated she was becoming incoherent.
"Come with me, I'll tell you."
Gwen took Mary Jane's hand and pulled her toward the playground. "The thing is, it went like this."
With that, Gwen explained everything to Mary Jane—from the fire at the Osborn building and Norman Osborn's serious injury to the events of the previous night.
Mary Jane's face turned beet red.
So that's how it was?
Seeing Gwen looking at her teasingly, she said in shy indignation, "Don't look at me like that!"
"Fine, fine!"
Gwen chuckled, then suddenly said, "Don't you like Peter?"
"Peter?"
Mary Jane said in confusion, "No, I only have eyes for Harry."
Since she had already been seen through by Gwen, she chose to frankly admit her feelings for Harry, and her speech became bolder.
Gwen said strangely, "Last time Luke and I saw you and Peter looking at each other affectionately, both of your faces were full of bashfulness. What was that about?"
"What bashfulness! You're the one who's bashful!"
Mary Jane pushed Gwen with an exasperated look, then asked, "When?"
"Last time we went to Harry's house."
At Harry's house?
Mary Jane paused, then realized what she meant.
Was she referring to when she and Peter had figured out each other's thoughts and both felt awkward?
Thinking of Peter's situation, Mary Jane gave Gwen an ambiguous smile and said, "No, we were talking about something else."
"Is that so?"
Gwen murmured. She took out her lunch box and said, "I didn't get to finish because I was chasing you."
"Uh, I'm not full either."
Mary Jane said sheepishly, taking out her own lunch box as well.
Ever since her mother got divorced and found a job, their living conditions had improved significantly, and she frequently brought lunch to school now.
While it wasn't as delicious as Gwen's, most of the time, she made it herself.
"Want a taste? It's something new I learned."
Mary Jane placed her lunch box between them.
Gwen took a bite and praised, "Not bad! Try this!"
She pushed her own container over.
As the two ate the delicious food, the previous unpleasantness and gloom slowly vanished.
After they finished eating, Mary Jane couldn't help but sigh.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Mary Jane propped up her chin. Seeing Gwen looking at her curiously, she couldn't help but ask, "Do you think Harry and I have a chance? He's so perfect—rich, handsome, smart, humorous..."
Gwen rolled her eyes and said speechlessly, "How come I never noticed he was that great?"
"Then in your eyes, who is that great?"
"My dad?"
"..."
Mary Jane choked for a second, then gently poked Gwen's forehead and giggled. "Besides Mr. Kent, if you ever find someone who is perfect in your eyes, it means you've fallen for him."
Gwen thought for a moment and shook her head with certainty. "There is definitely no man in this world better than my dad."
"Then the second best."
"I..."
"If there's still no one, then just stay single for the rest of your life!"
"That sounds fine too!"
Gwen giggled.
Mary Jane looked at Gwen with envy.
Gwen suddenly said, "Don't worry, you and Harry will definitely have a chance. I'll find a time in the next couple of days to make things clear to him."
Mary Jane said gratefully, "Thank you."
"What's there to thank? I wasn't interested in him anyway."
With that, Gwen stood up and said, "Let's go, back to the classroom."
"Mm!"
Mary Jane responded, and the two walked back toward the classroom together.
Attilan, Royal House.
"Black Bolt's reputation in the human world is constantly rising. Although it can't be compared to Iron Man or Captain America yet, given enough time, it's not impossible to reach their level of prestige."
Maximus listened to Queen Medusa's report, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Black Bolt's reputation...
This was clearly his achievement!
If it weren't for him, the Inhumans in the human world would still be displaced, like a swarm of aimless flies.
If it weren't for him, the human world would still be struggling with the headache of constantly appearing Inhumans!
If it weren't for him, the human nations wouldn't have united and wouldn't be about to announce the newly born "Superhero Registration Act"!
If...
He had done so much?
And yet Black Bolt was taking all the credit?
Maximus took a deep breath and flashed a cold smile.
Humans were indeed a bunch of inferior creatures!
However, right now Black Bolt was merely his subordinate.
Looking at Black Bolt, who stood silently to the side with an expressionless face, Maximus snorted softly and said, "Slap yourself twice!"
Black Bolt's brow furrowed, while Medusa looked at Maximus in rage: "What did you say?"
"I just don't like the look of him!" Maximus smiled coldly. "This is an order! Don't forget, Hive told you to listen to me! Or do you want to disobey Hive's orders!"
"You..."
Slap! Slap!
Two crisp sounds rang out; Black Bolt slapped himself twice.
Seeing this, a flash of satisfaction crossed Maximus's heart, followed by intense anger and fear.
Hive...
Even Black Bolt couldn't resist?
Once this matter was over, he had to find a chance to get rid of Hive; otherwise, he might also become a toy in the other's hands.
With a thought flashing through his mind, he glanced at Medusa, snorted softly, and said, "Prepare for the matter regarding the Superhero Registration Act!"
On the day the act is announced, superheroes will be summoned for a signing ceremony. If the superheroes do not agree, they will take necessary measures.
After speaking, Maximus turned and left the meeting hall, leaving several members of the Royal House in silence.
Knock, knock, knock!
Early in the morning, someone pounded on Mike's door.
"Who is it?"
Mike swallowed the food in his mouth. Just as he stood up to open the door, Little Lamb gave his legs a gentle sway, jumped off his chair, appeared at the door in the next second, and opened it with a smile.
"Uncle Steve!"
Little Lamb gave a smiling greeting.
As Steve walked in, he asked, "Where's your dad?"
"Eating breakfast."
Little Lamb said, leading Steve to the dining room.
"What's up?"
Noticing the irrepressible joy on Steve's face, Mike raised an eyebrow and said, "Did something good happen?"
Steve walked to the dining table, casually picked up a piece of youtiao (fried dough stick), and said excitedly, "Carter is pregnant!"
If she's pregnant, she's pregnant, why are you taking our youtiao?
Mike grumbled inwardly, but a smile broke out on his face.
"Congratulations. You've broken that rumor."
The rumor...
That you're firing blanks...
Steve's face darkened slightly. He took a vicious bite of the youtiao and said, "Don't bring that up. Every time someone mentions it, I get an earful of fire!"
"Giggle!"
Raven burst out laughing, while Gwen, standing nearby, stuck her tongue out guiltily. After finishing her soy milk in one gulp, she ran outside.
"I'm going to school!"
"Be careful on the road!"
Raven called out an instruction, then said to Steve, "In the early stages of pregnancy, make sure Carter gets plenty of rest."
She paused, then reminded him, "And don't let her play cards lately."
"Got it!"
Steve replied, finished the youtiao in his hand, and instinctively reached for the plate again, grabbing another one.
"Did you come here to tell us the good news, or to freeload a breakfast?"
Mike asked a soul-searching question.
Steve cleared his throat and said, "I came to inform you that we're going to celebrate tonight."
"Celebrate?"
Mike looked at Steve warily.
Steve laughed. "Don't worry, you don't have to cook this time. We're going to Avengers Tower."
"Being so generous this time?"
Mike became even more suspicious.
Steve smiled and said, "Tony said he has something to announce."
"So that's how it is..."
Mike felt relieved.
"See you tonight then!"
As Steve spoke, his hand reached toward the plate of youtiao again.
Mike's eyes widened.
Holy cow!
When did he finish the one in his hand?
Steve quickly grabbed two more and headed for the door, smiling at Mike. "Thanks for the breakfast!"
Mike: "!"
These bastards were getting thicker and thicker skinned.
"Wooo..."
Little Lamb had a mournful look, biting his chopsticks as he looked at Mike piteously.
"Dad, it's all gone. I'm not full yet."
"This is called..."
"Inviting the wolf into the house!" Little Lamb chimed in.
"Pfft!"
Raven laughed, rubbed Little Lamb's head, and said, "We'll just eat it all back tonight."
"Mm-hmm!"
Little Lamb nodded and pumped his fist with determination.
Night fell as expected.
The Mike family of four drove to the Avengers Tower. After being led inside by Natasha, the group arrived at the recreation room on the top floor.
The Avengers Tower was fully equipped; it could satisfy every need for work, entertainment, scientific research, and living.
Tonight, rather than a celebration, it was more like an Avengers gathering party, only with the addition of Mike's family.
Everything at the party was provided by Tony.
After Steve announced the news of Peggy Carter's pregnancy to everyone, the looks the crowd gave Steve were filled with a sense of profound relief.
Steve looked at the Avengers indignantly, rolling up his sleeves and shouting at them, "What's with those looks? Are you guys looking for a fight?"
The crowd chuckled and looked away. Natasha, being very sharp, raised her glass and said loudly, "To Carter!"
Everyone raised their glasses. Just as Peggy Carter excitedly raised hers to clink with the rest, Steve snatched it away, drained the alcohol inside, handed her a glass of milk, and said with a smile, "You drink this!"
Peggy Carter: "..."
"Haha!"
The crowd roared with laughter, but Peggy Carter happily patted her stomach and said to them, "You pack of single dogs, you don't understand this kind of happiness!"
"Whoa! That's going too far!"
"Exactly! I'm going to find a girlfriend too!"
"Who's a single dog? I already have kids!"
"We're in a relationship too!"
Peggy Carter's teasing drew complaints from everyone.
Just then, Tony smiled and took Pepper Potts's hand. The two looked at each other and smiled before announcing loudly: "We're getting married!"
(End of Chapter)