"Hmm."

Gwen made a small noise of satisfaction as she stretched her neck and swallowed the bread.

"For someone who loves food, it's hard to resist such delicious toast."

Peter narrowed his eyes. "Well, I suppose it depends on the time. This isn't exactly dinner time, Gwen."

"You can't blame me. This café doesn't care about the time. If it's on the menu, you can order it."

Peter looked thoughtful. "But how are you not gaining any weight, Gwen?"

Gwen smiled proudly, reaching out to grab Peter's hand. "Do you want to know my secret for staying in shape?"

Before Peter could answer, Gwen explained, "I have a really fast metabolism—just like a rabbit!"

She continued, "It might sound unbelievable, but I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want, and my body just burns off the extra calories."

Peter listened to her and fell deep into thought. Gwen was the complete opposite of him. He couldn't afford to eat too much now—if the alien parasite got into Gwen's stomach, given her eating habits, it would probably be inside her by morning and burst out by dinnertime.

"Yeah, Gwen, some women would love to be like you."

"Well, that's because they're a little misguided. Why chase something like that?"

Peter smiled and said, "Okay, fair enough."

Gwen resumed eating in silence, savoring the moment. She felt content, wrapped in a peacefulness she rarely experienced. Though she always felt relaxed around her friends, she was usually playful and joked around. But with Peter, there was no need for that. He didn't argue; he just smiled or stayed quiet. Even when she felt like getting upset or a little aggressive, Peter would always find a way to defuse the situation.

Maybe Peter was hiding something from her, but so what? Everyone has their secrets. Why should it matter to her?

Gwen stifled a small hiccup and pushed her plate aside, looking at Peter's unfinished food. "You're not eating that, Peter?"

"I don't have much of an appetite."

Gwen blinked. "Strange. I'm the one with a big appetite, and you're the one eating like a slender girl who gets full after a few bites."

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"Exactly!"

Suddenly, Gwen seemed to remember something. "Oh, by the way, there's a radioactive bioscience exhibition this weekend at the Natural History Museum. Do you want to go?"

"Radioactive science exhibition?" Peter was taken aback by her words.

"Yeah! Weren't you always interested in things like that? They'll have all kinds of radioactive experimental insects on display. You even mentioned it before. Don't tell me you forgot?"

Peter nodded, putting down his coffee cup. This sounded like the event that would lead to Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man.

"Of course, I haven't forgotten."

Peter was just about to accept Gwen's invitation when suddenly, a sense of danger hit him like a lightning bolt.

As if by instinct, Peter reacted instantly to the threat. Without thinking, he grabbed Gwen and rushed to the side, moving with blinding speed.

The coffee table was knocked over with a loud crash. Plates and coffee cups shattered, sending a cascade of warm liquid onto the carpet.

"Whoa!"

A deafening sound followed as the glass wall beside them shattered, shards flying everywhere. The source of the destruction was a black Lexus, out of control and barreling straight through the café like a rampaging bull.

The car's roaring engine echoed through the room as it narrowly missed Gwen and Peter, who were now lying on the ground.

Gwen, ears still ringing from the shock, was left in a daze. Peter's body shielded her, and everything around her seemed to move in slow motion: the broken glass, the spilled coffee, and even the terrified face of the driver.

"Boom!"

The Lexus crashed into the far wall with a thunderous noise, sending cracks through the structure. Dust fell from the ceiling, and the tables and chairs in its path were reduced to splinters. The impact sent debris flying everywhere.

Luckily, there weren't many people in the café at the time.

"Ahhh!"

Still, the few customers present screamed in terror, and the café descended into chaos.

Peter quickly helped a bewildered Gwen to her feet, brushing the glass shards off her clothes.

"Are you okay, Gwen?"

Gwen nodded mechanically, as if just waking from a dream. "I'm fine, but... what just happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Peter replied, glancing at the wrecked car. "But from what we can see, that out-of-control car crashed straight into us."

Peter looked at the driver. The man lay slumped over the steering wheel, his face bloodied and unconscious.

Realization finally hit Gwen, and she squeezed Peter's hand tightly. If Peter hadn't pulled her out of the way, she would have been seriously hurt, or worse. Knowing that Peter had saved her once again, she gripped his hand even tighter.

Peter, oblivious to Gwen's gesture, focused his attention outside the café. On the road, a young man lay motionless in a pool of blood. He appeared to be another victim of the crash.

Peter pushed open the café door and stepped outside, Gwen following quickly behind. Upon seeing the man lying on the ground, Gwen immediately dialed for help while bending down to check on him.

She had some knowledge of first aid and hoped she could help.

"It's no use, Gwen," Peter said flatly. "He's gone."

Gwen shook her head, refusing to believe it. "No, his breathing is weak, but he might make it until the ambulance arrives. The hospital is just next door!"

Before Gwen could finish, a voice interrupted her.

"Victor!"

Peter looked up and recognized a familiar face on the other side of the road.

It was Doctor Strange—or rather, Stephen Strange before he became the Sorcerer Supreme.

Strange stood frozen, staring at the body near Peter's feet in disbelief.