Actor in Hollywood

###

Mary Jane felt a bit confused.

She couldn't precisely identify her emotions—irritation, anxiety, joy, apprehension, happiness, curiosity—all tangled together in a chaotic mix.

She tried to explain the complex situation but didn't know where to start; her mind was overwhelmed with countless thoughts, almost to the point of bursting.

Instinctively, she needed to confide, to be honest.

Even though Mary Jane didn't know why, standing in front of Peter, she just wanted to share even the most trivial details of her daily life.

Maybe Peter was the only one willing to listen to her?

Her mind was brimming with thoughts, organizing, disorganizing, reorganizing, reordering, but in the struggle, they all fell apart at the moment she blurted them out, as if stomping the accelerator to the floor.

"Actually, I've fallen in love with someone else."

In a moment of impulse, the words slipped out.

The key point is, she had no intention of sharing this, at least not in this way, and she herself hadn't even sorted it out.

She felt a bit annoyed, a bit depressed, a bit regretful, a bit irritated.

But still, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift slightly, a tug of sweetness, joy, and excitement pulling at her lips, because this was the first time she had shared this news, the first time she had admitted it out loud, and as soon as she said it, it was as if a fairytale had turned into reality.

A mix of emotions swept over her, catching her off guard.

After a brief pause, Mary Jane threw out this bombshell without any warning, even surprising herself, leaving her confused:

Did she really like that person? Was it true?

Mary Jane was uncertain, so how could Peter possibly be?

Peter froze, his voice sounding as if it came from another world, "Really?"

Peter tried hard to force a smile—

At least he thought he was doing that.

However, his expression barely changed, and there was an undeniable panic in his eyes, hitting him right in the heart without any warning.

So, had he missed his chance again? Or maybe, had there never been a chance between him and Mary Jane?

Mary Jane, lost in her own thoughts, didn't notice Peter's reaction. "At least I think I do."

After saying this, Mary Jane felt defeated by herself. She didn't know what she was thinking or what she should be thinking; her mind was a complete mess.

Mary Jane lowered her head, gently shook it, and took a deep breath. "Now isn't the best time to discuss this, sorry."

Lifting her head, Mary Jane looked at Peter, forcing an apologetic smile.

Buzzing.

Peter's ears were ringing, his expression and body movements becoming slightly stiff, like a rusty robot, with each joint creaking audibly as he mechanically delivered the standard friend's line.

"No, no, no, you go on."

His mouth was lifting, but his heart was sinking—

Act normal, act normal! Hadn't he always perfected the act?

Back when he found out Harry and Mary Jane had started dating, he quickly regained his composure and displayed wit and humor. Today should be no different.

He, Peter Parker, was Mary Jane's friend, always had been, and always would be. He genuinely wanted to be happy for Mary Jane's happiness.

Because Mary Jane deserved it.

And so.

His actions became smoother, a perfect smile appearing as he continued to play the role of the friend.

"Do I know his name, this person?"

Speaking as he moved closer to Mary Jane, Peter tried to share in her joy, only to accidentally bump his ankle against the leg of a chair.

Was that an accident, or wasn't it?

Actually, Anson knew exactly where the chair was. Before filming began, he had rehearsed the route several times, coordinating with the camera positions to finalize where he and Kristen would stand opposite each other, just like models walking down a runway. The route and stopping points were all pre-arranged.

So far, everything had gone smoothly.

However, the unexpected still happened.

Anson had fully immersed himself in the role of Peter Parker.

For Anson, he knew that the person Mary Jane claimed to love was Spider-Man; but for Peter, he didn't know that.

At that moment, Anson truly entered Peter's world—his ears ringing, every sound echoing like in a valley. He was aware of his expression, his movements, his words, but it felt as though his soul had momentarily shifted, distractedly watching Mary Jane, studying her closely.

That smile, that look in her eyes—they were all real. It was clear that Mary Jane was genuinely happy.

This realization helped Peter regain some composure, his soul aligning once more. He smiled, swallowing the bitterness that had faintly spread on his tongue.

Everything was so natural, so perfect.

Absentmindedly, Peter's steps deviated slightly. He could feel his ankle bump into something, but he paid it no mind and continued forward, smoothly arriving in front of Mary Jane.

"O."

Seeing this, Jack's mouth formed a perfect "O" shape.

He knew that when the protruding bones of the ankle or toes hit something hard, even with just a little force, the pain could be intense, like a wave crashing over you.

But Anson didn't even flinch.

Not only did he show no sign of pain, but a faint smile had already appeared on his face as he looked at Mary Jane with clear, bright eyes.

Kristen didn't notice this little mishap.

Kristen was fully immersed in Mary Jane's emotions. She knew she needed to show a shy but barely contained joy—

Like a young girl experiencing her first crush.

But as she gazed into those deep, mesmerizing blue eyes, so strikingly blue that it took her breath away, she could sense the subtle undercurrent of emotion beneath the calm surface.

Unconsciously, Kristen's own tangled thoughts began to slowly settle.

Indeed, Mary Jane was currently lost in the romantic haze of hormones, unable to extricate herself, but she wasn't someone who would let love cloud her judgment. She couldn't help but question herself:

Did she like Spider-Man because he had repeatedly saved her, as if he were a superhero born just for her? Or did she genuinely like him?

Heh.

Kristen pulled the corners of her mouth into a self-mocking smile.

Genuine feelings?

Obviously, that was just a self-deceptive excuse. She had only met Spider-Man twice, and from start to finish, that guy hadn't even taken off his mask.

So, there was no need to painstakingly make excuses for herself. Her attraction was purely because the superhero she had been desperately waiting for had finally appeared to save her.

It was all that simple.

As these thoughts swirled, the slight lift in the corners of her mouth softened, becoming less pronounced—neither boastful nor exaggerated—just a hint of shyness, mixed with a bit of restraint and unease. Perhaps realizing her own childishness, when she lifted her eyes again to meet that stunning blue, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"You must think I'm just a girl with a crush."

Peter didn't avoid her gaze and maintained his smile. "Trust me."

In that moment, with just a glance, a smile, and a simple phrase, Kristen noticed those eyes—fully focused on her, with her reflection in his pupils. She could even see the curve of her own smile in them. Without any extra movements, her heart skipped a beat.

He was listening.