After returning to New York, Ethan quickly immersed himself in work, poring over stacks of documents and materials, preparing all the major and minor details for his hands-off boss to establish a company.
What? Identity issues? Brainstorm and Grey Matter said they didn't know.
The U.S. Police personally delivered it, so I thought it was legal.
However, when he saw that his boss planned to name the company Wayne Group, Ethan took off his glasses, rubbed his aching nose bridge, and approached Gwen with the documents: "Boss, why 'Wayne Group'? This name... feels a bit familiar."
Although his boss was quite extraordinary, he still had to remind her not to read superhero comics anymore.
Our company won't become famous just by being named Wayne Group.
Seeing Ethan's peculiar expression, Gwen's expression also became a bit strange.
She smiled, pointed to herself, and asked, "Ethan, do you remember my full name?"
"Gwendolyn Way... Never mind."
Realizing his mistake, Ethan was about to turn and leave, but Gwen shook her head with a smile.
She couldn't very well tell people that Batman from the comics was her younger sister, could she?
No one would believe her anyway... especially since New 52 didn't even exist yet, so there was no way to explain it.
A moment later, Ethan hurried out, grabbing his jacket as he went.
Gwen looked up and saw him, quickly asking curiously, "In such a rush, where are you going?"
Ethan stopped, a hint of helplessness on his face, and explained, "I've been called to help out Peter Parker."
As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly intended to leave.
Gwen thought for a moment, then still called out to Ethan.
"Ethan, wait a moment."
"What is it, Boss?"
Looking at Ethan's confused expression, Gwen said mysteriously, "When you go to Peter's house, do this..."
...In Peter's living room, Aunt Mei stood with her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed into a knot, her gaze sternly fixed on Peter Parker.
"Internship? A whole week without a word!" Aunt Mei's voice trembled, her eyes slightly red, "Do you know how many calls I made, how many voicemails I left? I... I thought..."
Her voice trembled and then abruptly stopped as she gently wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
Peter rushed forward, grabbing Aunt Mei's hand, his voice full of guilt: "Aunt Mei, I'm really sorry! Mr. Ethan said this project required high confidentiality, so I didn't check my phone..."
Aunt Mei sniffled and gently patted Peter's hand: "I'm not blaming you for being busy, I'm worried about your safety."
"Your Uncle Ben is gone, I'm really worried something might happen to you too."
Peter Parker felt as if his heart was being cut by a dull knife; Aunt Mei's current attitude made him feel even more guilty, wishing she would just scold him.
Just as the atmosphere became suffocating, the doorbell suddenly rang.
"I'll get it!" Peter almost reflexively blurted out, dashing towards the door like a startled rabbit, clearly making a hasty retreat.
Aunt Mei watched his retreating figure, sighed helplessly, and rubbed her tired eyes.
A moment later, Ethan walked in with a gentle smile, impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding an elegant demeanor.
"Mrs. Mei Parker, hello," he greeted politely, his voice warm and steady.
Mrs. Mei Parker quickly rose, her face showing the reserved curiosity of someone meeting Peter's boss for the first time, forcing a smile as she stepped forward to greet him: "Mr. Ethan Hou, please come in. This child, Peter, must have caused you a lot of trouble, hasn't he?"
"Oh, please, it's us who didn't take good care of Peter. The work schedule was too packed, leaving him no time to contact you."
Ethan was naturally a talkative person; back in the cave, he had practically plastered a smile on his face to deal with Tony Stark's bad temper.
After chatting with Aunt Mei for a while, they quickly became familiar.
The two could be said to have hit it off and regretted not meeting sooner.
And as everyone knows, when two parent-like figures get together, they usually only do one thing... "Little Peter is enthusiastic and likes to help others, but sometimes he's too reckless."
"Yes, yes, exactly! He's always so forgetful."
To Peter Parker's embarrassment, the two began to list his other shortcomings.
Initially, they showed some restraint, but later it completely devolved into a critique session for young Peter.
Things like coming home late, being unreachable when something happened, often being forgetful, being impulsive—they basically complained about every possible point.
Peter Parker began to feel a little insecure.
After all, he was being criticized to the point of being completely useless.
Halfway through the conversation, Ethan looked at his watch. He smiled gently and said to Aunt Mei, "It's getting late, I should go."
Aunt Mei quickly stood up and warmly tried to keep him: "Leaving already? Why not stay for dinner?"
"I came in a hurry today, I'm really sorry to disturb you," Ethan waved his hand, his smile humble and polite, "I'll definitely bother you next time." With that, he walked towards the door, turning to call Peter before stepping out, "Peter, come out for a moment, I still have some things to tell you."
Mrs. Mei Parker smiled and nodded to Peter: "Go on, listen to your boss."
Peter secretly glanced at Mrs. Mei Parker's expression, seeing that her eyes were full of smiles and she didn't seem so angry anymore. He then secretly let out a long sigh of relief and trotted after him.
Just at the doorway, Ethan stopped, his expression becoming serious and earnest. He looked at Peter and said sincerely, "Peter, I need to apologize to you. Most of those criticisms earlier were actually what Boss Gwen asked me to say."
Peter was slightly stunned, his eyes full of confusion: "Why?"
Ethan sighed and patiently explained, "Her intention was that by inducing Mrs. Parker to vent her emotions, it could relieve stress. After all, your parents are missing, and Mr. Ben is gone. Mrs. Mei raised you alone, and the pressure involved is unimaginable. And this time you disappeared without a word, Mrs. Mei must have been very worried..."
Ethan understood this mindset well.
After his own family died, he didn't want to live anymore.
But at that time, Stark happened to be captured by Terrorists.
He had already prepared to help Stark escape, then die there himself so as not to burden the other person.
He never expected to be pulled from the train heading to hell.
Peter listened quietly, the image of Aunt Mei's worried and angry face replaying in his mind, and he also sighed.
He understood why Gwen did that.
Gwen wanted to find a suitable outlet for Aunt Mei to express and release all those negative emotions.
Of course, this method had some relation to the books she read after transmigrating, but not much.
Mainly, before her transmigration, during Chinese New Year, when guests came, Gwen would always see her relatives talking about her, and it seemed quite stress-relieving for them.