Chapter 13: I Also Have a Friend Named Harry?
After a night as a hero, Su Ye went to school the next day full of energy, as if nothing had happened.
Indeed, that's how it was. A night of preventing nearly ten security incidents in bustling New York hardly made a ripple.
Most of the women rescued didn't report the incidents, and the spider webs used in these cases dissolved on their own within hours, making it impossible for the police to use them as evidence.
In the end, the incident didn't reach S.H.I.E.L.D., as they were preoccupied with the Green Goblin situation and had no time for minor security issues.
Aside from a few police officers, the entire city had no idea what had happened that night.
At Midtown High, Su Ye got off the school bus with his backpack and had barely walked into the campus when a voice called out from behind.
"Hey! Xiao Ye! Su Ye!"
Though the name was called a bit awkwardly, it was clear that he was calling Su Ye's Chinese name, not the English "Yeah" or "Yeah-Su."
Su Ye turned and saw a handsome foreign guy running towards him.
"Xiao Ye, it's really you. I almost didn't recognize you."
Seeing this handsome guy, Su Ye was a bit confused. "You're…Harry?"
This appearance—wasn't it like Harry from the original Spider-Man movies? But why did he suddenly appear, acting like they were old friends?
"Yes, I'm Harry. It's been years! I didn't expect you'd still recognize me."
Harry came over and gave Su Ye a hug, then turned to introduce him to the middle-aged man behind him.
"Dad, look, this is Xiao Ye—Su Ye, the friend I met at the English Corner in Dragon City during the ninth-grade summer. We haven't seen each other in three years, and he hasn't changed a bit."
"Uh…hello, sir."
Su Ye put on a "yes, that's right" expression, but in his heart, he was recalling his early years. It did seem he'd once spent time at the English Corner in Dragon City, but he didn't quite remember meeting a little foreign kid like Harry.
Still, the system had given Harry this identity, which was understandable; it felt more reasonable than the two of them growing up together or something.
"So, you're the friend! Harry told me he made a friend in Dragon Country, but I didn't believe it. With his personality, it's hard to imagine him making friends."
The middle-aged man speaking was Norman Osborn, Harry's father, the main antagonist Green Goblin from the original Spider-Man movie, and the reason Aunt May died in MCU's Spider-Man 3 due to his split personality.
Give Aunt May back to us, you vile old bastard!
Also, in one version of the comics, this guy was even the father of Gwen's two children. The writers didn't state it outright but implied Gwen was forced.
Thinking of this, Su Ye almost wanted to strangle Norman Osborn on the spot. If he could break the fourth wall, he'd also want to strangle the brain-dead writer who wrote the forced Gwen storyline.
But on the surface, he could only smile and laugh along with Norman Osborn.
"Harry has a good personality. We got along well back then; it's just that communication became difficult after he left Dragon Country."
Harry quickly straightened up. "See? I have friends, unlike what you think! Now hurry up and go back; I need to get to class, and Xiao Ye will show me to the classroom."
Harry had been at Midtown High for several days, though something had kept him from coming to school until now.
After saying goodbye to Norman Osborn, Su Ye and Harry walked to the classroom together.
Harry chatted with Su Ye as they walked, looking not at all awkward for two people who hadn't met in a long time—more like close old friends.
"Xiao Ye, how long have you been in the U.S.?"
Knowing that "Ye" could sound like "grandpa" in Chinese, Harry never called him Ye or Yeah; he either used his full name or called him Xiao Ye.
"Almost three years," Su Ye replied. His predecessor came to the U.S. for high school from 10th grade, and alone, too. His parents from this world sure had big hearts.
"Three years, huh? Have you found a girlfriend yet? Need me to introduce you to one?" Harry laughed.
Unlike the more rebellious Harry in The Amazing Spider-Man, the original Harry was gentle despite being a rich second-generation kid. He didn't go clubbing or mess around, and the only rebellious thing he did was date the girl Peter liked—but only after Peter, as the ultimate nice guy, passed on the chance and encouraged Harry to make a move.
Before he knew Peter was Spider-Man, Harry was always a refined gentleman, the kind that even made you feel bad for him when MJ flirted with Peter behind his back.
To Su Ye, Harry was a friend worth having.
Regardless of how attractive his "sister-in-law" might be.
"Ha-ha, a girlfriend? That would only slow down my punches!"
Su Ye joked, then pointed to the classroom ahead. "Once you're in class, you'll see—the hottest girl there is my girlfriend."
"Really? I look forward to it, then!"
Harry eagerly followed Su Ye into the classroom, where most of the students had already arrived.
Harry looked around, then patted Su Ye on the arm, laughing, "I got it. She's definitely spicy!"
With that, he walked over to a window seat, where Mary Jane, with her signature red hair and low-cut top, was staring pensively out the window.
Harry politely introduced himself, looking Mary Jane in the eyes.
"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Harry Osborn, Ye Su's friend."
"Nice to meet you!"
Mary Jane wasn't sure why Su Ye's friend was so friendly with her, but he was a good-looking guy, dressed well, and seemed rich, so it didn't hurt to know him. Maybe he could become another fish in her pond.
After greeting Mary Jane, Harry turned back to Su Ye with a smug look, only to see him sitting with a blonde girl, both chatting away like no one else was around.
"Uh…"
Harry was dumbfounded. Was that girl spicier than this one?
No chest, no cleavage—besides big eyes, what else did she have? He couldn't understand the Dragon Country people's taste. This Mary Jane, with her obvious fiery appeal, was what true spice was about!