Although losing track of Jennifer was deeply frustrating for Bruce Banner, Betty's calming presence helped him regain control of his emotions.
As Betty pointed out, getting angry now would be useless. Instead of throwing a tantrum and potentially causing unforeseen consequences, it would be better to directly seek out Mr. Blue and find a solution from him. Once they had a solution, there would be plenty of opportunities to treat Jennifer in the future.
This seemed like a practical plan, so after careful consideration, Bruce decided to follow Betty's advice. They drove off in an old, hand-me-down pickup truck, swaying and rattling down the road toward New York.
Unbeknownst to them, someone was following at a distance behind.
It was Jennifer Susan Walters, Bruce Banner's cousin. She hadn't truly fled, but had merely slipped out of Bruce's sight. After Bruce and the others left, she secretly began tailing them. She did this because she had her own concerns.
Bruce had described the Hulk's condition in such dire terms that she worried she might end up the same way. Though she seemed normal after her transformation for now, no one could predict what the future held. She wanted to be fully prepared.
If the situation wasn't severe, she hoped to keep this power. But if Bruce was right, she'd have to come forward and join him in seeking treatment. The key was control. Whatever happened, she wanted to maintain control herself, not let Bruce dictate her fate.
Thus, the Hulk trio split into two groups, with one group blissfully unaware as they headed toward New York.
Meanwhile, in the heart of New York City, a young man was frantically busy.
Peter Parker had already donned his iconic red and blue web-patterned suit, shedding his identity as an ordinary high school student or a lucky young reporter. He was now a member of the superhero community, a good friend to the people of New York—Spider-Man.
Swinging between skyscrapers, helping people solve their problems, and taking down criminals was Spider-Man's daily routine. Generally, he lived a fulfilling life, so fulfilling it bordered on being constantly busy.
However, as a civilian-based superhero, unlike Tony Stark or Zhou Yi, who could lounge around whenever they pleased, he had a serious problem to balance: reconciling his superhero identity with his real-life persona.
On this front, the hero nicknamed "Little Spider" had only half-solved the issue. He excelled as Spider-Man, whether helping ordinary citizens or chasing down the criminals who plagued New York City. He did everything a superhero could do, as his online support ratings clearly showed.
As Peter Parker, he was, to put it mildly, a failure. He was often late for work, dozed off at his desk, and frequently disappeared without a trace, only to return late at night, as if he'd been out gallivanting. His boss, his beloved aunt and uncle, and everyone else had their issues with him. But the person who affected Peter the most wasn't any of them—it was his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy.
He'd already neglected her several times because of his superhero duties. Clearly, Gwen had reached the limit of her tolerance. Few women could endure such neglect from their boyfriends, especially when the reasons were so mysterious. If it hadn't been their first love, Gwen would have kicked Peter out long ago. Even so, she'd given him an ultimatum.
"Peter, where are you?" The phone rang. Spider-Man, Peter, after swinging through a wide arc, fumbled for his phone and answered it. Of course, he didn't forget to keep up with his target—a burly man who had just robbed another man and made some inappropriate demands. The man was now speeding away on a motorcycle.
"Gwen, I'm still on my way. Oh my god, the traffic is a nightmare. I just don't understand how New York's traffic can be this bad."
Peter muttered his most common excuse under his breath as he shot a web from his wrist device toward the opposite building. Using this gadget, he easily changed his swinging direction, closing the distance between himself and the criminal he was tailing.
"You used that same excuse an hour ago, Peter. Listen, I'm giving you one more hour. If you're not here by then, I think we're done."
Standing at the entrance of the Broadway Theater, Gwen issued her ultimatum to Peter once more. This was supposed to be a perfect day: shopping with her boyfriend, catching an opera, and having a nice dinner. If the mood struck, she wouldn't have minded a bit of intimacy.
But now, because of Peter's unreliability and irresponsibility, this perfect day had turned into a disaster. The first half of their plans had already gone completely down the drain. If the second half followed suit, she'd have to reconsider what she was willing to tolerate—like, for instance, finding a new boyfriend.
Peter heard the gravity in Gwen's voice and realized that today was different. If things went wrong again, he might really have to say goodbye to his first love.
To win over this first love, Little Spider had gone to extraordinary lengths. He'd showcased his scientific and technological talents, becoming the talk of the high school. He'd even saved up all his earnings from his job to buy a Harley, just to show off. Yet even with all that, he'd only officially become Gwen's boyfriend on the day he officially became a reporter. The entire process had been a grueling struggle, more than twice as difficult as pursuing any other girl in school.
Given all this, if Gwen really ended things with him, Little Spider would probably feel like smashing his head against a wall. So he immediately agreed.
"Half an hour, Gwen. Give me half an hour, and I promise I'll be there."
"You said it. See you in half an hour then." Hearing this promise, Gwen hung up the phone, satisfied. Peter, on the other hand, immediately went into a panic.
This was the most important first love for a young man, and it couldn't be snuffed out by some perverted, straight man. Filled with righteous indignation, Spider-Man instantly accelerated his movements. His webs shot out faster than usual, and he swung with greater force. The red-and-blue figure blurred into an almost ethereal streak between the skyscrapers.
This terrifying spectacle sent the fleeing gay man into a panic. He slammed on the accelerator, abandoning all concern for his safety, desperate to escape Spider-Man's pursuit. But at this critical moment, his efforts were utterly in vain. For the sake of love, Spider-Man had unleashed two hundred percent of his strength.
The red-and-blue blur whipped past him. The gay man on the motorcycle suddenly felt the handlebars slip from his control. His intuition was correct; the vehicle had already lifted off the ground, spiraling into a mid-air somersault before plummeting earthward.
In the instant the motorcycle passed, Spider-Man grabbed its handlebars and lifted it into the air. As a superhero with powers derived from mutated spider DNA, a mere motorcycle felt no heavier in his hands than a baseball bat. With a single heave, he sent the entire vehicle flying.
Of course, the gay man went flying with it. At that height, landing on the ground would have shattered countless bones. And if he'd been unlucky enough to be crushed by the motorcycle, he might as well have been confessing his sins to the Grim Reaper.
But Little Spider was still a soft-hearted kid. Even though this guy had nearly destroyed his first love, he couldn't bring himself to leave him to die. With a swift swing, Peter caught the burly man before he hit the ground. Naturally, he followed up with a punch that knocked the man into temporary unconsciousness.
Only then did the motorcycle crash to the ground. Peter looked at the guy in his hands and faced a difficult dilemma.
In the past, he would have meticulously dressed the guy in his finest spider silk, presenting him as a gift at the entrance of some police station. But now, he had no time for such antics. After all, Gwen had set a final deadline, and compared to his first love, this petty, morbid sense of humor held no value.
Peter's quick mind soon devised a plan, which he immediately put into action.
Within minutes, Spider-Man's figure reappeared in the city sky, drifting toward Times Square. Where he had just taken down the criminal, a burly man now hung upside down from a lamppost at the alley's edge, stripped naked. A large sign dangled from his body, obscuring his private parts. The sign read:
"Warning: This is a pervert who likes to grope men. If you see him, please call the police."
Signed: The City's Vigilant Vanguard, Friend of the People—Spider-Man.
This was a tragic story for the gay man involved, but for Peter Parker, who was desperately trying to catch the last train to love, it was a truly fortunate one.
Because he finally arrived before the deadline to see his girlfriend.
"Peter! What on earth happened to you?" Gwen Stacy asked, astonished to see her boyfriend appear before her, drenched in sweat.
"I promised I'd be there in half an hour!" Peter gasped, catching his breath. "I ran the rest of the way."
"Alright, you're off the hook!" A smile spread across Gwen's face. She felt Peter's sincerity and that was exactly what she wanted.
Peter let out a long sigh of relief. He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Gwen's waist, and asked,
"So, Miss Beautiful Gwen, what are your plans for tonight?"
"That depends on how well you've been," Gwen replied with a light laugh, dodging his playful grasp. The young couple began chasing each other through Times Square, just like any other couple in love.
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