Chapter 71: Humans Are Never Simple

"I don't understand," Christine frowned, looking at the agitated Ryan.

"Some things I advise you not to touch, like what you're holding now," Ryan said, approaching her.

"I'll explain the issue of my unauthorized operation, but for now..." He paused, reaching out to Christine. "Give me what you're holding."

Christine stared at his nervous expression, feeling puzzled.

Why is he so concerned about this thing?!

"Is it important to you?" Christine hesitated, handing over the object to Ryan.

"Of course," Ryan sighed in relief after taking the CT scan.

These files were something he had kept without Peter's consent. If Peter found out, his fate wouldn't be pleasant.

Even though the other party was just an ordinary high school student, he wouldn't be deceived by their appearance.

Ryan even suspected that the Spider-Man appearing in New York was Peter Parker! The spider-shaped anomaly on his chest made it hard not to think so.

"Is this your patient's file?" Christine glanced towards the door, ready to escape if anything went wrong.

"Sorry, I generally keep my patients' information confidential," Ryan shook his head, stepping closer to Christine.

"But this... it's impossible, it presents characteristics contrary to all our scientific knowledge."

Christine took a deep breath, forcing herself to snap out of her shock.

"What is this?"

"Whatever it is, it's none of your concern, Dr. Palmer," Ryan's expression turned impatient.

He gestured towards the door, saying to Christine, "You should leave now."

Christine wanted to say more, but seeing his growing impatience, she ultimately stayed silent.

After Christine left, Ryan closed the office door and walked to his desk.

Opening a drawer, he intended to put the file away but hesitated, walking to the shredder instead.

After turning it on, he fed the CT scan into the machine.

Watching the document shred into pieces, his inner unease gradually disappeared.

As long as he destroyed this thing, even if Christine guessed something, there would be no possibility of the secret leaking.

He also avoided any potential trouble.

"Do you have something on your mind, Christine?"

The next morning.

Strang looked at Christine, who had faint dark circles under her eyes, and said, "You don't seem well."

"I'm okay, just had trouble sleeping last night."

"Trouble sleeping?"

Strang nodded, "Hmm, as a doctor, I could give you some advice, but from a psychological perspective, I think you might find it easier to accept."

"Alright, what advice?" Christine asked.

As Strang changed into his scrubs, he said, "When you can't sleep, it's because you're awake in someone else's dream."

Christine put on a medical mask and gave the other a glare. "You're a doctor, not some dream magician."

Strange disagreed with her. "Psychology has many applications in neurology and is not all nonsense."

"Thanks for the psychological consolation joke, Strange, but it's useless. I have no interest in waking up in someone else's dream."

"Then how about this alternative opinion - 'Perhaps you just need some rest.' This is the most reasonable suggestion after excluding psychology."

After changing into his work clothes, Strange and Christine walked towards the operating room together, he advised his colleague.

"No need."

Christine shook her head and then suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Strange also stopped with her. "What's wrong?"

"I..." She hesitated, then asked Strange, "What do you think of Peter Parker?"

"Why this sudden question?"

"Because you two seem quite familiar."

"You can't assume we're friends just because he slapped me."

Strange took off his mask, taking a breath of fresh air.

"I can sense that there's something hidden inside him, maybe it's just an illusion, but he's definitely different from other teenagers."

Christine nodded.

Could the presence that kept her awake all night be Peter Parker?

Midtown High School.

As Peter stepped onto the campus, he sensed something was off.

"One of the most shocking events of the 21st century was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Peter, do you know what the other one is?"

Before he could figure out what was happening, Gwen interrupted his thoughts.

"I don't know, what is it?"

Gwen held up a newspaper, looking at the text and said to Peter, "The other one is the appearance of two superheroes, Spider-Men, in New York."

After reading the news, Gwen's head emerged from behind the newspaper.

"It seems like everyone is interested in Spider-Man."

Gwen put down the newspaper, feeling cheerful.

"Wait a minute."

Gwen quickly realized that the Daily Bugle seemed to be giving a negative review.

"Both of these events are well-known due to mass media, and almost both reveal a terrifying fact, that some things may seem to have ended, but at the same time, other irreversible things have begun, and the future is uncertain."

Gwen felt the newspaper was being cryptic.

"If there can be a comparison, then the so-called superheroes, the Spider-Men, are playing the role of Lee Harvey Oswald - the trigger of disasters."

Gwen's mood suddenly turned sour.

"Alright, I declare that this newspaper is permanently blacklisted by me."

She decided to permanently blacklist this newspaper.

"Do you really like Spider-Man?"

Peter asked Gwen, who had put down the newspaper.

"Which one? Spider-Man or the new Spider-Man?"

Gwen blinked, not waiting for Peter to speak, and continued, "Well, I like both."

"They're both special, and helping others is a cool thing, isn't it?"

Gwen let out a breath and continued, "Whether it's the things you've encountered before or the bullying I often see, I've always wanted to help. If I had that kind of power, I'd be special too, so I like them."

She praised herself without blushing.

"Uh-huh."

Peter nodded, "But this is the norm, and simply being a so-called superhero rarely changes anything."

"Birds won't rescue one of their lower-ranked peers' self-esteem and self-image from the dust gently; instead, they will immediately ruthlessly drive it away."