Chapter 3: The Stark Affair
The next morning, Peter, who was sitting in the classroom, rubbed his eyes and tried not to fall asleep. It's morning shift, and if I doze off during the class teacher's speech, I'm afraid I won't be doing well for the next few months.
"Everyone, it's less than half a year before you graduate from high school." The head teacher spoke loudly from the podium, his hands clumsily trying to manipulate the slides on the screen. "It's time for you to start thinking about your future."
"A lot of people will just think about starting work. I respect your choice, it is a respectable thing to start financially independent early, and even start supporting the financial burden for the family. But as a teacher, I still hope that you will not give up on learning and education completely. β
"You know, there's no end to learning. You can still start working, continue to attend evening classes, and technical schools are also a good choice. Electricians, plumbers, these people with skills are in great need of society now. β
"And quite a few people will further develop their knowledge and attend university. Here, I'm going to show a video with very important information, I hope you can watch it. β
After pressing the play button, the head teacher sat down in his chair and gave a halchee. And looking at the old video that has been out for at least ten years, Peter can't help but fall into deep thought.
University...
"Harry, which university are you going to?"
As soon as the bell rang for the end of class, Peter leaned over to Harry's desk and asked his own question to see what his friend was going to answer.
"Me?" Harry looked a little absent-minded, and casually stuffed the notebook and textbook on the table into his bag. He slung the bag over his right shoulder, stretched and walked out of the classroom. "Well, I wanted to ask you that question. What are your plans? β
"Uh... It's really hard to say. Peter packed his things as well, avoiding a few of his classmates who had just run out of the next classroom, and quickly followed Harry. It depends. You also know how high the tuition fees are now, and I don't want Uncle Ben and Aunt May to empty their bank accounts because of me. β
Hearing this, Harry glanced at Peter strangely and pursed his mouth, "Could it be that you are still going to work directly?" Don't kid me, big genius, you're murdering your talent like this. Your science grades will always be at the top of your grade, and as long as you can improve your English scores a little, there is no university in the country that you can't get into. β
"Which... Where!? Are you a top student? Peter blushed and waved his hand to deny all this. I'm too biased..."
"In the eyes of partial subjects, he has always maintained the top three in his grade." Harry said he was a little speechless. "Choose an academy that suits you with expertise and allows you to give full play to your abilities."
"This... It's hard to say. Peter rubbed his temples. It would be nice to be able to go to the same university as Gwen. Anyway, don't change the subject, I'll ask you the question first. β
Harry fell silent for a moment, and only spoke again after a while, "I might... I don't go to college anymore. β
"Huh?" Peter turned to look at his friend in surprise. "Not going?"
"Probably so." Harry's tone was rather helpless. "My father wanted me to start some of the company's business earlier. You know his situation... I don't know how much time I have left. β
Peter immediately regretted that he had brought up the subject. However, Harry quickly recovered his emotions and casually greeted the two girls who were walking towards him. Peter had to squeeze past the two nymphomaniac girls who were standing there and trotted a few steps to catch up with Harry.
"Oh, you're like thatβ" Peter looked back at the two girls who were still waving at Harry, feeling a little uneasy. Aren't you only interested in Angelica in Class 3 right now? It's not good that you're giving others fake hopes like this, right? β
"Eh, I didn't expect our infatuation seed, Mr. Parker, to pity the other girls." Harry gave Peter a blank look, opened his cupboard, and tossed his bag inside. "How? Do you want their phone numbers? I look like I have it in my phone. β
"If Gwen hears you, you're in big trouble." Peter replied reluctantly, and began to organize the books in his bag. "Of course, I'm in more trouble."
Harry locked his cupboard and turned to look at Peter with serious eyes. Shouldn't you be a little stronger? Let me tell you, based on my years of experience, you will definitely not be able to go on like this. β
"What's not going to work...?" Peter, who had not yet finished his work, looked up in confusion. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Your attitude, attitude!" Harry cupped his forehead. "You stupid, anyone with a discerning eye can see that you like her more than she likes you. You will do whatever she says, and if you continue like this, you will not be able to retain any dignity in front of her. β
"Please, dignity is such a thing, I didn't have much bad from the beginning." Peter shrugged his shoulders and laughed at himself nonchalantly. "Besides, Gwen is just shy and embarrassed to show it."
"Oh, stupid man in love." Harry whistled and made a 'I'm sorry' gesture. "Sooner or later, you'll regret not listening to the wise Harry. Osborne's Advice. β
"Yes, yes, honorable Lord Osborne." Peter locked his cupboard and pulled out a small plastic lunch box from his bag, which contained a few delicate-looking snacks. "So, Lord Osborne, would you like to try these chocolate puffs that Aunt May has carefully crafted?"
Seeing what Peter was holding in his hand, Harry, who was still pretending to be high, suddenly rushed over and grabbed Peter, with a pitiful look in his eyes like an abandoned puppy. Harry's image of a handsome man was destroyed in an instant.
"Please!"
Looking at Harry's hard pretence, Peter suddenly felt a sense of shame...
"Take it yourself, up to three!" He casually tossed the box to his best friend. Harry easily caught it and carefully lifted the lid.
"Three is enough, wahahaha!" Ignoring the school rule that no food was allowed in the school hallway, Harry threw a puff into his mouth. In the next second, his eyes narrowed in happiness, and he focused all his attention on the delicious food that exploded in his mouth.
"Alright, okay, back to the topic, you guy always gets off topic..."Peter took back his lunch box and put it back in his bag. So how do you rate the Red Knight's actions? After all..."
"Eh, you're such a disappointment." Harry said lazily, the second puff in his hand ready to be thrown into his mouth. "We don't talk about beautiful women and gossip, you have to talk about a man. Peter, you're not going to be a, are you? β
Peter didn't bother to reply to Harry's ramblings, just stared at him. When Harry saw Peter like this, he could only raise his hands in frustration.
"Okay, okay, I know you've always loved the superheroes in the comics, but you don't have to be crazy about it. Anywayβ" Harry cleared his throat and prepared to begin his tirade. "Anyway, red-faced... Knight, whatever you want to call him anyway, his behavior..."
Before Harry's speech had even begun, he stopped and looked behind Peter in a daze.
Seeing him like this, Peter turned around in confusion and fixed his eyes on the TV screen hanging on the wall.
For the most part, the TV was just about school events, and now it's moved to the news station. There can only be one reason for this to happen: something big enough to affect the whole country.
"At 10:40 a.m. US time last night, a national army stationed in Afghanistan was hit in the deadliest terrorist attack in history. Sixteen soldiers died honorably in the line of duty, while the whereabouts of more than twenty soldiers are still unknown. So far, no group has been held responsible for the attack..."
"Tony, an arms giant. Stark was also unaccounted for in this attack. According to reliable sources, the reason for Mr. Stark's personal trip to Afghanistan this time was to demonstrate to the US military a fundamentally new weapons technology. Experts are concerned about the possibility of this technology falling into the hands of terrorists. β
"Mr. President has made a declaration at the White House. Next, let's listen to his speech. β
The TV scene had cut to the president, who was speaking indignantly in front of the White House, and Harry had no mind to continue watching. As one of Stark Industries' biggest competitors and the sole heir to the Osborne Group, he naturally understood what it all meant.
Tony. Stark, a talent so dazzling that almost everyone wondered if he was an alien genius, was the strongest pillar of Stark Industries. More than half of the patented technology currently under Stark Industries' control was developed by this seemingly cynical playboy alone. In this instant, Stark Industries lost both its heart and its brain.
"Hello? Feed? You okay? β
A hand shook in front of Harry's eyes a few times before he came back to his senses. He looked up, and Peter was looking at him worriedly.
"Well, it's fine." He grudgingly squeezed out a smile and walked in the direction of the cafeteria again.