I Have a Girlfriend in Marvel

"You have no idea what I've been through recently!"

At school, Harry sat beside Su Ye, pouring out his troubles.

Even though high school was about to end, he barely had any time to prepare for his studies and college applications. Instead, he spent most of his days enduring all sorts of brutal training in the trial grounds.

"They're all obsessed with turning me into New York's Iron Man, you know? It's all training and injections every day—I feel like I'm about to become a cyborg!"

Harry didn't hide anything from Su Ye. Keeping secrets bottled up was suffocating.

Su Ye propped his head up, looking exhausted. It was clear he hadn't slept well the night before.

You couldn't really blame him. Su Ye never expected Gwen to have such stamina. If his body hadn't been modified by Spider-Man's genes, he probably wouldn't have kept up with her.

He really got the short end of the stick!

(Why'd they cut out a whole section on me…)

After hearing Harry's complaints, Su Ye rolled his eyes in boredom. "But you're clearly enjoying it. I can tell by your expression."

"Huh? Really? Is it that obvious?" Harry quickly tried to compose himself, aiming for a look of reluctant duty. But within three seconds, he cracked—the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was impossible to hide.

"Alright, you caught me. Yeah, it's cool, isn't it? I'm about to become like Iron Man! And just like Spider-Man, I'll be a hero for this city!"

"Then, I'll be able to team up with Spider-Man to save the city, maybe even the whole world! Too bad they said I'm the only one that can take the serum negative without having a negative reaction to it. Otherwise, you could join me."

"Forget Spider-Man—I'd rather team up with you. We could leave behind a legendary tale of our 'Golden White Duo' in this city! Isn't that cool?"

"Ahem!" Su Ye almost choked on a mouthful of spit.

"Stop! You can't just pick a team name like that. That idea is ridiculously lame, downright awful, even kind of disgusting. Didn't I tell you back when you were learning Chinese in Longguo? That phrase can also mean… uh, excrement?"

"Wait, really?" Harry's face instantly twisted in disgust.

"Chinese is really profound. Alright, lesson learned. I'll think of another name."

Su Ye shook his head. "Forget about me; think of one for you and Spider-Man. Just tell him when you see him someday."

"Right!" Harry's eyes lit up. "First, let's name my team with Spider-Man. His suit is red and black, and mine will be white. How about we call it…"

Harry clapped his hands together. "Red and White Delight! That's auspicious, right?"

Su Ye's face darkened. Take the 'luck' out of 'auspicious,' you dimwit!

Su Ye completely gave up hope on Harry's naming skills.

If Harry ever dared suggest forming a "Red and White Delight" team when Su Ye was in his Spider-Man persona, Su Ye swore he wouldn't just beat him up—he'd knock him out cold.

Your dad might be out of the picture, but I'll show you what tough love from a father figure feels like. If I can't beat the crap out of you, it means you've got nothing left to lose.

"By the way," Harry suddenly changed the subject, looking at Gwen's empty seat.

"What's up with Gwen? She's been absent for two days. Is she sick? Should I ask MJ to check on her?"

Heh, Su Ye sneered internally. You think this Spider-Man title is for show? Quick to strike, quicker to recover—you think you can wear me out? Not a chance!

Outwardly, Su Ye kept a neutral expression. "She's just got a cold. No need to send MJ; it's better she doesn't catch it. I'll visit her after school."

"Aren't you afraid of catching it?" Harry asked, puzzled.

Su Ye looked resolute. "I won't catch anything before our battle is settled!"

"What battle?"

"Not important. Let me nap for a bit—wake me when school's over."

After school, Harry went back for more training, while Su Ye, fully recharged, headed energetically toward Gwen's house.

Mr. Lu once said, "No land is over-plowed…" Ahem, quoting it like that feels a bit disrespectful. The actual line was: "I hold my head high before scornful crowds, bow low like an ox for the young."

In any case, Su Ye's task now was to be that ox—plowing until the earth split and the skies fell.

Just as he left school, he got a call. The caller ID showed it was Mai Shiranui.

Seeing Mai's name, for some reason, a famous painting flashed through Su Ye's mind.

It was of a tree, with two doves perched on its branches. Below the tree lay a sheep—but a dead one...

"Hiss!" Su Ye drew a sharp breath. Is it true that the wise see wisdom, while the lustful see lust? His recent battles with Gwen had filled his mind with unhealthy thoughts. This was not good—not good at all.

"Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, practicing deep Prajna Paramita, perceives the emptiness of all five aggregates, thereby overcoming all suffering. O Sariputra, form is no different from emptiness, emptiness no different from form; form is emptiness, and emptiness is form…"

Reciting the Heart Sutra in his mind to clear his thoughts, Su Ye finally answered the call.

"Hey, Mai. Miss me?"

His voice carried a hint of slyness. Once you get a taste, you always want more. He just couldn't keep calm!

"Su Ye, why does your voice sound a bit off? Are you sick?"

Cough cough. "No, I'm fine," Su Ye adjusted his tone. "What's up?"

"Oh, you're out of school now, right? Can you come to the dojo? Someone's looking for you."

"Someone's looking for me?" Don't tell me it's you… Su Ye once again pictured that painting.

Before long, Su Ye drove to the Shiranui Dojo. His car, nicknamed "The Pad," wasn't expensive—his underground fight earnings easily covered it.

Before he even entered, Su Ye spotted a figure standing inside—a tall, muscular man wearing a red baseball cap and a red vest, with a white star emblem on his back.

Seeing this familiar outfit, Su Ye couldn't help but furrow his brow.

As expected, what had to come has finally come.

Inside the dojo, Joe Higashi stood on the training floor, beckoning to the man with a crooked finger.

"You look like a fighter. Come on, let's spar a bit before Old Su gets here!"

Joe had a bit of a wild streak and hyperactive tendencies. If he didn't stir up trouble daily, he felt restless. Seeing such a formidable opponent, he naturally couldn't resist.

However, no matter how much Joe provoked him, the man remained calm, standing silently, unmoved.

This irritated Joe. He was even tempted to throw in some taunts to get a reaction.