Watching the cowardly America, Ryan shook his head with a chuckle.
Then, together with America, he stepped through the blue light portal and arrived at the other side of it.
And the other side was precisely the alleyway near the school gate where Ryan frequently transformed into Spider-Man.
This place had almost become Ryan's exclusive transformation site.
"Yo, Professor Parker, you actually came so early today? Didn't cut it close to work time?"
As the two just walked out of the alley, a familiar, lively yet aged voice came over.
It was none other than the old man selling hot dogs.
"Ahem, Old Ha, look at what you're saying. Am I usually that lazy?"
"Yes!"
Hearing this, Ryan helplessly pointed at America beside him and said, "Well, actually it's because today I had a 'little alarm clock' wake me up, which is why I got up so early..."
"Hi, Old Man!" America also smiled and waved at the old man.
After learning yesterday that the old man was also a mage and not an ordinary person, she had developed a sense of closeness toward him.
"Eh? You little rascal learned magic?" The old man pushed the small glasses on the bridge of his nose and looked at America in surprise.
Hearing this, America didn't deny it either, but instead said sheepishly, "That's right, yesterday Ryan 'lent' me a few Space Magic books to study, but Ryan said my talent isn't very good, so after practicing for a whole night, I haven't even learned the basics of that most fundamental Space Magic book yet..."
Hearing this, the old man glared fiercely at Ryan. "Haiya, young lady, don't listen to this brat Ryan talking nonsense! magic is not that easy!"
"Especially Space Magic, which belongs to the more difficult advanced magic to master among all magic. It requires diligent practice to truly grasp!"
"And observing the magical aura on your body, the magic you are studying is from the Kamar-Taj lineage, right? I know the introductory Space Magic of Kamar-Taj. Ordinary people need to rely on magical artifacts to cast it."
"Without relying on artifacts, you sensed the threshold of this magic by yourself in one night. Your talent is already quite good!"
Hearing the old man's comfort, America, whose mood had been battered by Ryan earlier in the morning, brightened up again.
America sighed, "If only I had a patient teacher like the old man, I'm sure I would be much more motivated, unlike certain people who only know how to stress me out..."
Speaking to the end, America gave Ryan a resentful look, making it self-evident who she was talking about...
The old man shook his head. "That's a pity. What I study is Chi magic, and I don't have much knowledge related to space. Kamar-Taj is much more professional in Space Magic, so I cannot teach you."
"Alright, stop chatting. If you guys keep talking, I'll be late again~"
Ryan interrupted their conversation.
"Haiya, there's one more thing, don't forget your hot dogs!"
After taking the two hot dogs made by the old man, Ryan and America left.
And right after they left, another figure walked past the old man's stall.
"Eh? Classmate Gwen, why are you arriving so late today? Would you like a hot dog for breakfast?"
The old man glanced over, recognized the passerby, and immediately called out to her.
Gwen looked back at the old man and said indifferently, "No need."
Finished speaking, she directly turned around and left.
This made the old man feel very strange.
Because usually Gwen was a very polite child, and just like Ryan, she loved eating the hot dogs he made the most!
But today, not only was her attitude toward him cold, but she even refused to eat her favorite hot dogs!
It was as if... she had become a completely different person!
The old man couldn't help pinching his fingers again and began to calculate.
The more he calculated, the more solemn the old man's expression became, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead. "Haiya, how could it be a great disaster? And both inside and outside are ominous!"
"She herself is a great disaster, and she is also about to encounter a great disaster. This situation is unheard of!"
"Old Man can't see clearly, can't see clearly!"
The old man grabbed his own hair, stamping his feet in anxiety.
...
"Classmate Gwen, you are late."
In Ryan's class, watching Gwen push open the door and enter only after class time had arrived, he felt somewhat strange.
Because previously, Gwen was always among the group of good students who arrived first.
This was the first time he had seen Gwen late.
Gwen gave Ryan an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Professor Parker, my father got a promotion last night, so we celebrated rather late, and I woke up a bit late today."
Hearing this, Ryan nodded in realization. "So that's how it is. Then please help me congratulate Captain Stacy on his promotion. Go back to your seat."
"Okay, Professor!"
Gwen walked over and sat down next to America, who was dozing off on the desk.
Amidst extreme drowsiness and fuzziness, America inexplicably shuddered for no apparent reason!
Turning her head to look, she discovered it was Gwen sitting beside her, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
It had given her a huge scare. Just moments ago, in her groggy state, she had trance-like felt the terrifying sensation of being chased by those dark creatures before!
She had thought those dark creatures were chasing after her again!
Having relaxed, America smiled and said to Gwen, "Gwen, you're here. What do you want to eat for lunch? My treat!"
She hadn't forgotten what she said yesterday about treating Gwen to a meal today.
Hearing this, a faint light flashed in Gwen's green eyes, and the corners of her mouth raised into an arc. "Sure, you decide, anything is fine with me. But I want to talk to you alone, just the two of us, without Professor Parker. Is that okay?"
Hearing this, America hesitated for a moment, and then immediately understood Gwen's intention.
Yesterday she could already tell that Gwen definitely liked Ryan, she just hadn't expressed her feelings yet.
And with herself suddenly appearing by Ryan's side, and Ryan even making up a full-of-flaws cousin identity for her, Gwen must be jealous and suspicious.
Although she liked Ryan very much, what Ryan brought her was more of a brotherly sense of security rather than romantic love.
Furthermore, America could also tell that Ryan really had no romantic interest in her, treating her like one of the guys!
Therefore, she had originally planned to find some time to properly explain things to Gwen, so as not to delay this talented and beautiful 'match made in heaven' between them!
Hence, America finally nodded. "Alright, then let's pack our lunch at noon and go eat on the rooftop?"
"Okay!" Seeing America agree, the arc of Gwen's mouth deepened as she stared fixedly at America, just like a fierce beast staring at its prey!
But what Gwen didn't notice was that Ryan on the podium was also staring at her right now, with a faint, elusive arc at the corner of his mouth, like a crafty and experienced hunter!
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, and the hunter quietly watched all of this, ready to cast the net and catch everything at any moment!
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