"Ye, do you live in America?"
"Manhattan, New York."
"Are you close with Stark?"
"Ahem... not really."
Ye Li lied through his teeth, calmly throwing his "dear friend" under the bus. "If you want to beat him up, I won't stop you...."
"Are you really a ma…"
Wanda, like a curious child, kept asking Ye Li about the outside world.
Bang!—!
Suddenly, the door was thrown open and slammed into the wall.
Pietro rushed in, not even looking at the room before shouting— "Wanda, you can't just have kids recklessly!"
Wanda: ??
"Ah! Sis—ow ow ow ow!!"
The white-haired punk cried out as Wanda twisted his ear and forced him into a chair...
Pietro rubbed his reddened ear and glanced over at Ye Li, wanting to say something threatening...
But under his sister's oppressive glare...
He didn't dare...
"Wanda, what are you bringing this guy home for?"
Pietro picked up the half-finished soda can, took a sip, and cautiously asked his sister, "Could it be… you want a boyfriend…?"
Wanda was fiddling with the ruby bracelet, and when she heard that, a faint blush rose on her face.....
She tilted her head, not answering the question—just giving her brother a sidelong glance.....
"Forget I asked."
Pietro zipped his lips and made a zipping motion, not daring to say another word.
Ye Li watched Wanda with amusement: 'This sibling relationship... feels different from what I remember...'
Wanda, flustered by Ye Li's gaze, couldn't meet his eyes. She tucked her hair behind her ear and softly explained, "You... you don't listen to Pietro's nonsense. I brought you back... just because I didn't want an innocent person to get hurt. No other reason..."
'Then why didn't you save Stephen...'
Ye Li held back a chuckle. The thoughts of a shy young girl were easy to read...
"Actually, Wanda—"
Ye Li never hesitated when it came to flirting.
Ye Li seized the opportunity and went on the offensive.
"I'd really like for you to have 'other' reasons~ After all, the person involved is such a beautiful girl."
"Huh…?"
"Eh...?"
The black-haired girl's face turned bright red in an instant. She looked up with wide, dazed eyes, staring straight at Ye Li.....
"You, you..."
That was way too direct…
It was as if white steam was rising from Wanda's head, and she was utterly unable to control her shyness…
"You you you YOU!!"
Pietro was just as stunned as his sister, pointing at Ye Li, unable to get a word out———
This was outrageous!
In my house!
Right in front of me!
Flirting with my sister!
"Heh~ You two are really something."
Ye Li stood up with a playful smile. "Alright, time for me to go. A few rats are sniffing around."
"Rats?"
Wanda was momentarily stunned, unable to understand his meaning.
But—
She heard the first part clearly: 'He's leaving.....'
Suddenly, a swirl of hard-to-name emotions surged in the girl's heart— 'So it was all a joke after all.....'
Sadness, disappointment, anger...
So many feelings tangled inside her...
A girl just discovering love had never felt this before.....
Tears began to well in her eyes, sparkling and trembling... with a faint red hue emerging within...
Bang!—!!
Pietro slammed the table and stood up in fury, pointing at Ye Li and cursing:
"What's your deal?! Are you playing us?! You think we're beneath you?!"
Bzzz—!
Just then, the phone rang.
Ye Li picked up and put it to his ear: [Hello, Tony, did you get away?]
Stark: [Li, we were attacked by a special forces unit! I suspect they're from Hydra! You need to be careful too—they definitely won't overlook someone like you, the real power behind Ghost Spider Club!]
[Oh.]
Ye Li: [I think they're already here.]
Stark: [What?! Hang in there! We're heading your way now!]
Bang bang bang bang bang—!
A storm of metal bullets tore through the air, instantly blasting apart the front door!
Bang!—Clang!
One stray bullet shot straight toward Wanda—!
The girl's pupils reflected the approaching bullet:
'Am I going to die...?'
Her short life flashed through her mind.....
'Dad... Mom... I'm coming to be with you... too bad I can't look after Pietro anymore...'
The red color in her eyes grew deeper and deeper...
'Now's my chance!'
Ye Li leaped forward, lunging toward Wanda——!
He pulled her into his arms and raised his wrist, blocking the bullet with the black bracelet———
Ding～
The sound was much softer than a that of a normal impact…
Ye Li hadn't even used any supernatural abilities.
Because wrapped around the bullet—was a faint, glowing red energy...