Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Dr. Connors
[Inside the bustling Daily Bugle office, J. Jonah Jameson scowled at the photos Peter had just submitted. "Peter, you're fired!" he declared, slamming the stack of pictures onto his desk.
"Why?" Peter asked, bewildered.]
["A puppy catching a Frisbee? Pigeons in the park? Two old men playing chess?!" Jameson barked, flipping through the photos with disdain.
"I just wanted to show the warm side of New York City," Peter explained hesitantly.]
[Robbie entered the room, interrupting the exchange. "Deadline's in six minutes, Jonah, and we're still short on front-page material!"
Jameson growled, "I don't pay you to make art, Parker! And I told you to leave me alone!" He turned his frustration on Robbie, who had walked in moments earlier, before snapping back to Peter. "The only reason you're still here is Spider-Man! He only lets you take his pictures, and that's why you're useful!"]
["He doesn't let me take his picture," Peter replied. "You've made him a public enemy!"
"Then I'm proud of it!" Jameson retorted smugly. "And take these pictures away before they make me vomit up my leftover lunch!"
"You won't use even one of them? I really need the money," Peter pleaded.]
[Jameson gave a mocking "Oh" before turning to Robbie. "Bring me some tissues so I can wipe my tears."
Ignoring Peter's desperation, Jameson ordered Robbie to publish a sensationalist headline: Food Poisoning Panic Sweeping the City! But as Peter handed over a photo of Spider-Man, Jameson's expression shifted. He smiled triumphantly, saying, "Now this is real news! The masked menace strikes again!"]
["Spider-Man is not a bad guy!" Robbie protested angrily.
"I've warned you before," Jameson growled. "Okay." Robbie, unable to argue further, stormed out of the office.]
["I'll pay you $150," Jameson offered.
"$300," Peter countered.
"Deal." Jameson tossed the photo to Robbie. "Thank you! Goodbye!"]
[Peter approached Ms. Brant, who greeted him warmly. "Hi, Peter!" she said, scanning the check. But her smile faded as she remarked, "This isn't enough to pay back the salary advance I gave you two weeks ago."]
[Peter sighed, closing his eyes in disappointment.
"Hey! Cheer up, okay?" Ms. Brant encouraged, touching his chin gently before walking away. Peter managed a small smile as he watched her leave.]
"Ah... why am I so stupid? Why does Spider-Man only let Peter take pictures?" Jameson looked at himself in the screen and hated himself for being so stupid!
Tony, sipping a glass of wine, chuckled. "He's a mean boss, but he's not all bad. He even let Peter get a salary advance. That's not completely heartless."
"Ms. Brant, can you help me contact Peter Parker? Just tell him that I'm willing to pay a high price and ask him to provide me with photos!" Jameson thought about it again and again, and after careful consideration, he decided to pay a high price to ask Peter to take photos of Spider-Man.
"Oh, that's not up to me. I can't contact him either. You know, too many people want to contact Spider-Man. If you want to find him, why not put it on the front page?" Miss Brant didn't think she could find Peter Parker. With the help of the police station, reporters no longer dared to be as unscrupulous as before.
And Peter now doesn't live with Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Although someone found the house he and Harry lived in before, Harry soon bought a new house for Peter. Now no one knows where Spider-Man lives.
[On a crowded university campus, Peter Parker ran frantically, accidentally colliding with passersby. His textbooks spilled onto the ground, trampled by rushing students. As Peter crouched to retrieve them, he was repeatedly bumped and even hit on the head by swinging backpacks.]
[Finally managing to gather his books, Peter sprinted forward—only to run straight into a familiar figure. "Dr. Connors! Sorry!" Peter exclaimed, startled.]
[Connors raised an eyebrow. "Peter, where are you going in such a hurry?"
"To your class!" Peter blurted.
"My class is over. Can't you see I'm standing here?" Connors said dryly.
Peter stammered, "I—I tried my best to make it."
"Then be on time!" Connors admonished. "Look at yourself, Peter. Your grades are slipping, you're always late, and you haven't even handed in your nuclear fusion paper yet!"
"I know. I was planning to write about Dr. Otto Octavius," Peter offered hopefully.
"'Planning'? There's no 'planning' in this field!" Connors snapped. He paused, then softened slightly. "Octavius is my friend, Peter. Do your research well, or I'll fail you!" He turned and walked away, leaving Peter flustered and anxious.]
"Well, just as I expected, Peter Parker can't be Spider-Man and Peter Parker at the same time. He has made a mess of his life!" Tony sighed. It is too difficult for Peter to go to school, work, and be a hero!
Aunt May and Uncle Ben also sighed. The path chosen by Peter was destined to be bumpy, but they still supported Peter's decision and helped him to the best of their ability.
Connors knew that he in the screen must admire Peter Parker very much, otherwise he would not have said all this to Peter so earnestly. Now there was still some time before Peter started school, and he was looking forward to getting along with this superhero in the future. He would work hard to educate him!
Although Harry was shocked at first that his father would die under his own glider, it was his own fault. In reality, Norman had been cured by Peter with the syringe the Screen give to Peter as a rewar, and his evil personality had disappeared without a trace. He was currently being held in a mental hospital, reading newspapers every day.
Norman also knew that he had made a big mistake, but because it was caused by an evil personality and Spider-Man's guarantee, he was put in a mental hospital, otherwise he should have gone to prison!
[At night, Peter rode his scooter to Aunt May's house. The moment he walked in and removed his helmet, he was greeted by shouts of "Surprise!" from Mary Jane and Harry.]
[Aunt May beamed with joy. "Peter, say something!" she urged. But Peter, clearly confused, asked, "What's going on?"]
["It's your birthday!" Aunt May exclaimed, planting two kisses on his cheeks. Peter's eyes widened in surprise. He had completely forgotten.]
[Peter hugged Mary Jane and Harry warmly. "Long time no see!" he said. He congratulated Mary Jane on the glowing reviews of her stage play, and Harry praised her for her performance. Blushing, Mary Jane mentioned that Harry had even sent her roses.]
["Why didn't you call me back?" Harry teased, grinning. Peter mumbled an excuse about being busy.
"Busy taking pictures of Spider-Man?" Harry joked. "How's that pest doing lately?"]
[Before the tension could escalate, Aunt May interjected. "Enough talk about that! Let's eat." Her cheerful tone dispelled the awkwardness, and everyone moved to the table, setting aside their differences for the night.]
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