Famous Work! Follower!

"Skye, your program is finished loading," he said, nodding at Skye's laptop on the table. He now had some pretty high-level hacking skills himself, and even a quick glance at Skye's laptop setup revealed a very sophisticated configuration.

"It's done!" Skye's eyes sparkled as she saw the progress bar complete. She glanced around, quickly closed her laptop, and tucked it away.

Sneaky, aren't we? Evan thought with a slight smirk. Although he'd only caught a glimpse of the screen, his system-boosted skills told him she was up to something major, maybe even hacking into a highly classified database.

As he finished scattering breadcrumbs to the swans nearby, Evan clapped his hands and said, "Let's head out. The wind's telling me this spot isn't safe anymore."

"Wind?" Skye tilted her head, giving him a curious smile. "Do all artists talk like that?"

"You'd be surprised." Evan glanced around casually. "But yes, let's go somewhere less obvious."

Skye shrugged, adjusting the computer bag on her shoulder. "All right, mysterious artist, lead the way. So, where to next? You promised to take me to see your art exhibition."

"There's a better place than that," Evan replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. "This one has my best work."

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They arrived at Central Park in Manhattan, not far from the Stark Tower. Evan led her into a sleek building on the northern side of the park.

As they entered, a security officer greeted him with a polite nod and handed him a tablet. "Mr. Li, we just need your confirmation to unlock the private gallery."

Taking the tablet, Evan entered the required code, accessing a floor that was usually off-limits to visitors. He led Skye to the private elevator, and they rode up in silence, Skye's curiosity evident in her glances.

When the doors opened, Skye's eyes widened. "Oh my God, Evan! Are all these… your works?"

The floor was filled with an impressive collection of paintings, all displayed in secure glass cases. The artworks ranged from traditional oil paintings to delicate oriental ink pieces. Even an art novice like Skye could tell these pieces were masterpieces, much higher in value than what would be found in an ordinary gallery.

"Some of these are mine, yes. But others are from artists I admire," Evan replied, guiding her towards a metal wall at the back. With a slight press of his hand, the wall slid open, revealing a large, detailed portrait behind it.

The painting depicted a goddess with a fierce yet graceful expression, exuding strength and beauty. She seemed almost alive, like a figure out of ancient legend.

Skye walked closer, her hand reaching out to touch the glass. "She's stunning… What's her name?"

"Athena," Evan answered, a hint of pride in his voice. "One of my famous works."

"Athena…" Skye mused, her fascination evident. "Do you think gods—like the ones in Greek and Norse mythology—could actually exist?"

Evan smiled thoughtfully. "Maybe. But I think 'gods' are just beings from other worlds, perhaps aliens with powers that seem god-like."

Unknown to Skye, Evan was already calculating. With Thor's Mjolnir likely arriving soon, it wouldn't be long before gods weren't just myth.

"That's a very rational answer. You're not like most artists," she teased, nudging him. "Artists are supposed to be romantics, not materialists."

"Who says materialists can't be romantic?" Evan countered with a playful smile. He then gestured to Athena. "By the way, if you're looking for a quiet spot to work on that program of yours, this place is perfect."

Behind the painting was a secret room. As he pushed the portrait aside, it opened up to a cozy, open-concept studio filled with natural light and a view of New York through one-way French windows. Inside, there were art supplies scattered in one corner, and the furniture was made of beautifully polished wood, lending a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Skye looked around, clearly impressed. "Wow, you hid an entire room behind Athena?"

Evan shrugged. "Only a few people know about this place. You're the third person I've shown it to—besides Gwen and Jessica."

Smiling, he motioned for her to step in. "Come on, little assistant. Make yourself comfortable."

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Under the building.

A long-haired figure followed.

Barbara checked the whereabouts monitoring of Evan and Skye along the way but found no useful information. "Maybe I shouldn't follow them but go directly to investigate the Ghost Spider Club."

She felt that if she followed these two people, she could only eat some dog food.

Also, how unexpectedly strong is the wind today?

Before taking action, she clearly glanced at the weather data.

"Got you."

Evan, who had closed his eyes to feel the surroundings, opened them with a smile on his lips.

He had already locked onto the person who was following him through airflow sensing.

Looks like she needed to be taught a lesson.

...

If you find any mistakes in the chapter. Please point it out in the comment section and I will try to correct them as soon as possible.

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