And Toby would always guard the joyful atmosphere of this small home.
On the third floor, in the Game Room specially decorated by Toby, Toby was chatting while playing games with Peter.
In front of the parents, Ben and Mei, Peter was still a bit reserved.
But in front of Toby, his Cousin who wasn't a biological brother but was better than one, Peter immediately opened up his floodgates and started chattering incessantly.
He already possessed the talkative attribute of Spider-Man.
However, Peter did most of the talking, and Toby only interjected occasionally.
Peter talked about how he had taught himself photography, used the Allowance Toby gave him to buy a new camera he liked, and planned to start doing some part-time photography work.
He talked about how he fell for Mary Jane, and the stunning impression her Red Hair made on him during their first encounter!
Toby listened quietly to the pure affection budding in this youthful boy for Mary Jane, but his own heart remained unmoved.
Frankly, Toby wasn't very interested in Mary Jane; he even held some aversion to the character Mary Jane due to stereotypes.
Because in most Marvel film, television, and animation works, the character setting for Mary Jane isn't very likable.
Most of the time, she just plays the role of a burdensome Vase Character next to Spider-Man.
And she's a Vase Character who is extremely prone to changing her mind and easily putting a Green Crown on Spider-Man.
It's only in the games and comics that her Character Design is a bit better.
Seeing that Toby was clearly uninterested in the topic of Mary Jane, Peter wisely dropped the subject and moved on to another topic:
"Oh right, Toby, Gwen asked me yesterday after school to ask you if you're free tomorrow, the weekend?"
"You know, Gwen is interning at Osborn Enterprises now. She said Dr. Connors is holding an intern Q&A session tomorrow, and as Dr. Connors' assistant, Gwen has two guest observer spots. She wants to invite us to attend."
"Actually, I know she just wants to invite you, and I'm just tagging along, but I really want to hear Dr. Connors' close-up Q&A, so will you come with me?"
Seeing Peter's expectant eyes, Toby naturally didn't refuse and agreed.
This made Peter so happy he almost jumped up.
As for how Toby, who skipped grades and finished his academic graduation two years early, got to know Gwen, who is two years younger than him, that's a long story.
Firstly, Toby and Gwen's acquaintance had nothing to do with Peter and Gwen being classmates.
Instead, it was related to his other identity, the Assassin 'Venom' from Hells Kitchen.
That was two years ago.
He was entrusted by Kingpin to eliminate an enemy Gang Leader who had just been released from prison.
Coincidentally, the Gang Leader just released from prison was the one Chief George Stacy, Gwen's father, had arrested and put away originally.
And even more coincidentally, the night Toby went to eliminate him was exactly the night that Gang Leader planned to take Revenge on Chief Stacy.
And that leader couldn't possibly go directly to the Police Station to retaliate against the New York Police Department's chief; he didn't have the guts to be that arrogant.
So naturally, he set his sights on Chief Stacy's daughter, Gwen, and kidnapped her on her way home from school.
And it's fine if you kidnap her, and it's fine if you just kill her for Revenge.
But this idiot didn't, he wanted Chief Stacy to feel extreme pain, planning to do something to his daughter Gwen first, and then send a recording to Chief Stacy.
And Villains like this often die because they fuss over trivialities.
While this idiot was setting up the scene and positioning the Video Camera, Gwen managed to hold out until Toby arrived, and nothing had happened to her yet!
To be honest, Toby wasn't planning on saving anyone that day. He didn't even expect to encounter such a situation, and he left after slowly finishing dinner at home.
Yet, even with Toby dawdling, he still managed to catch up to him.
When he arrived, that idiot was still fiddling with his Video Camera.
It can only be said that Gwen truly is one of Marvel's Chosen Daughters; even this was possible.
Since he was already there, although Toby didn't plan to be a good person in this life and intended to be a Villain focused on money,
he wasn't the type to just stand by and watch a girl be Humiliated in front of him.
After all, wouldn't that be wasting his time?
Even if that idiot only had a few minutes, it was still a waste of his precious time!
So, before the idiot even realized someone was behind him, and in Gwen's wide-open blue eyes, Toby slapped down from top to bottom, driving the idiot's head into his Chest Cavity.
Afterward, Toby, having completed his mission, untied the ropes on Gwen before leaving.
And it was precisely when he bent down to untie her that things went wrong.
Toby still doesn't understand why Gwen, a girl who hadn't mutated any superpowers and had just narrowly escaped being violated, wouldn't be relieved about saving her life and her Purity in that moment of Surviving a Disaster.
Instead, she was meticulously observing the features of her Savior and memorizing the unique Woody Incense Scent clinging to him.
Therefore, upon smelling the same Woody Incense Scent on her classmate Peter, but finding their Body Shapes didn't match, Gwen inquired about Toby through Peter and followed Peter to his home for confirmation.
As soon as they met, Gwen started gesturing to measure his Body Shape, using her palm to block the view of his head, nodding repeatedly.
Then, upon getting closer, Gwen became even bolder, leaning in to sniff him, with an expression that clearly said, 'It really is you.'
After this, Gwen, having figured out Toby's identity, frequently visited under the pretext of being Peter's classmate and friend.
At first, Ben and Mei thought Gwen was Peter's girlfriend from school.
But later they realized that this girl wasn't coming to see their nephew, but their son!
And since the Elderly Couple had their son late in life, they naturally grew very fond of Gwen, who actively sought them out, and would Secretly create opportunities for the two of them to be alone every time.
However, regarding Gwen's blatant expression of affection towards him, Toby never responded, remaining as unmovable as an emotionally stunted piece of wood.
But this wasn't because Toby wasn't interested in Gwen, nor because he truly hadn't noticed Gwen's feelings for him.
It was because the current Web Novel Environment didn't allow for it!
Who would dare touch a 16-year-old girl!
Therefore, even after two years until now, Toby and Gwen maintained a relationship that was more than friendship but less than love.
However, Gwen is the same age as Peter. Peter is already 18 now, so Gwen should be an adult too... Thinking of this, Toby shook his head and decided to let fate decide everything.
If Gwen still had special feelings for him now, he would accept; if not, that was fine too.
He wasn't some Thirsty Loser who had to fawn over Gwen and various other female characters the moment he arrived in Marvel.
In this life, he absolutely did not lack women.
Just from working for Kingpin, Kingpin was always very considerate, never withholding money, possessions, or women.