Chapter Eight: Peter Pretending and Peter Embarrassed

As the time approached, Gwen pulled herself together.

"Welcome to Osborn Corporation."

"My name is Gwen Stacy. I'm a senior at Midtown Science High School and the chief intern for Dr. Connors."

"Wherever I go, you go. That's the rule. Remember it. If you forget—"

A scream from below interrupted Gwen's speech.

"Tell them Rodrigo Guevara is here. Rodrigo is here. I am Rodrigo..."

Watching him being dragged away by security, Gwen shrugged. "I suppose I don't need to explain the consequences of forgetting that rule. Now, follow me."

Peter felt a pang of guilt watching Rodrigo being hauled off, but hurried to catch up with the group.

"This way."

Following Gwen, they quickly arrived at Dr. Connors's laboratory.

"Good afternoon, Gwen."

Dr. Connors, with only one arm, stepped out to greet them.

"Dr. Connors," Gwen replied.

Dr. Connors addressed everyone, "Welcome, I'm Dr. Kurt Connors. If you're wondering, yes, I'm left-handed."

He feigned indifference, even making jokes about it, but in truth, Connors was deeply self-conscious about his physical disability. He preferred to be upfront with newcomers.

"I'm not disabled. I'm a scientist. I study reptiles—herpetology, for those unfamiliar with the term."

"Like Parkinson's patients, who watch in horror as their bodies slowly betray them, I too yearn to cure myself, to create a world without flaws."

"Do you know how to achieve that? Tell me."

A student raised a hand. "Stem cells?"

Dr. Connors didn’t immediately affirm the answer; it wasn’t what he was looking for.

"That holds promise, but my approach is more radical. Does anyone know?"

As he was about to lose hope, a voice from the back answered.

"Cross-species genetic transplantation."

At that moment, Peter Parker felt like the protagonist from a hero's tale; Connors's question seemed tailor-made for him, and only he knew the answer. It was his time to shine.

Everyone saw the shock in Dr. Connors’s eyes. They realized this answer struck right at the heart of his research. The crowd parted, looking back to see who had spoken.

Peter was given a clear path, and he and Dr. Connors locked eyes, gazing at each other with intensity.

Time itself seemed to freeze.

Only Gwen remained clear-headed. At the sight of Peter, she quickly checked her roster again, confirming that Peter's name was nowhere to be found.

Peter was her classmate—not even a college student. Without a recommendation, there was no way he could qualify as a candidate.

Thinking of the boy who’d been dragged away, Gwen instantly understood what had happened.

He’d taken someone else’s place.

But he was a decent guy, and her classmate. Gwen wasn’t sure what to do.

At that moment, Peter knew it was time to perform.

If he couldn't capture Dr. Connors’s attention, he’d never uncover the truth about his father.

"The cause of Parkinson’s syndrome is the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, but zebrafish can regenerate cells. If you could grant that ability to a person, they would be cured."

"Exactly—you’d just need to give them gills."

Peter Parker’s words made the other students laugh.

The idea was not merely bold—it bordered on the fantastical.

But Dr. Connors listened intently; this was precisely his field of research.

"Who are you?"

Just as Peter hesitated to answer, Gwen stepped in.

"He’s one of the brightest students at Midtown Science."

"Really?"

"Yes, he’s ranked second."

"Wow, are you sure?"

Peter retorted.

He believed no one could outshine him; Midtown didn’t publish the actual rankings, but Gwen, being a top student, cared deeply.

"Absolutely sure," she replied.

Because I’m first, Gwen added silently to herself.

Dr. Connors glanced at Gwen. He knew she was the top student, her extraordinary knowledge and intellect setting her apart and earning her the chief intern position.

A phone rang. Dr. Connors checked it and said, "I have something to deal with. You’ll be in Miss Gwen’s capable hands."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you all."

As he left, he gave Peter a special look.

Clearly, his assessment of the candidates was over, and only one had truly caught his attention.

If not for the urgent matter, Connors would surely have questioned Peter Parker further.

"You may gather around."

Gwen activated a holographic projection, letting the device assist her in introducing Osborn Corporation to the students.

Peter knew Gwen had seen through his deception and planned to slip away, but she caught him in the act.

"What are you doing, Rodrigo?"

Peter turned, looking at Gwen and then at his name tag.

"Oh, right."

It dawned on him he was posing as Rodrigo, and Gwen was clearly teasing him.

"What are you doing?" Gwen asked again.

"I work here—not... I was about to say I work here, but you work here, so you know I don’t work here."

With the goddess before him, Peter’s nerves were trembling.

Two academic prodigies, one first, one second, yet they hardly ever spoke outside of class.

But they were aware of each other; Peter watched Gwen’s silhouette every day, and Gwen sometimes noticed his gaze.

Her affection for the boy was unspoken; she simply observed quietly.

After all, confessions aren’t usually a girl’s job.

"Are you stalking me?" Gwen said deliberately.

Peter, in his anxious confusion, didn’t realize, and replied nervously, "No, I didn’t know you worked here."

"Then how did you get in?"

Peter didn’t want to reveal the truth; his parents’ situation had always made him self-conscious.

"I sneaked in because... I love science."

"You love science?"

Clearly, Gwen didn’t accept that excuse. Peter’s wandering gaze and uneasy demeanor betrayed a lie.

"I’m passionate about it," Peter said awkwardly.

"So you sneaked in?"

Gwen pressed.

But there was no time to worry about Peter now, and she’d already attributed his knowledge of Dr. Connors’s project to her own influence—otherwise, how would he know so much?

"I have to lead this tour."

"I know, I know."

"I’ll ask you later. Don’t cause trouble."

Peter quickly promised, "I won’t cause trouble."

"Stay with the group."