Aunt May was momentarily stunned, looking up close at the vigorous life force steaming from every pore of the twenty-year-old man before her. The nascent stubble on his jaw was a faint indigo, and his smile was radiant, like the morning sun.
Remembering she had been widowed for years, and equally empty for just as long, and the fragmented pleasure of the last two hours…
A certain thread in her mind snapped.
The silk shirt slipped from her shoulders like a white flag of surrender.
In the glow of the city lights, her arched foot stiffened and trembled in the air once more…
An hour later.
Aunt May stood in the entryway, adjusting her collar, new marks overlaying old on her neck. She wore a long, navy-blue trench coat over a white blouse, which generously hugged her full bust. The double-breasted belt at the waist accentuated her figure while raising the waistline, highlighting her slender, willow-like waist. Her long pants below had a clean, flowing line that gave her frame a sculpted look, and her full, rounded hips—which were tautly filling out the fabric—had a stunning curve, creating a noticeable visual effect.
"Aunt May, are you really not staying the night?" Hawk pressed against her from behind, his body perfectly matching the S-curve of hers, fitting together like a perfect buckle.
May waved a hand, quickly refusing. She visibly relaxed when Hawk didn't insist. After all, she wasn't a girl in her twenties; she really couldn't handle that kind of vigorous activity. After everything that had happened, she felt that Hawk was simply too strong—strong in every sense of the word! She decided that after going home, she absolutely needed to dedicate time every day to working out and exercising her body, otherwise, next time…
As the thought crossed her mind, May suddenly blushed, silently chastising herself. Why would she be looking forward to a "next time"?
Her phone vibrated just as she entered the elevator. The screen lit up with a text from Peter: [Aunt May! Midtown High just sent the acceptance letter!!! When are you coming home? I made blueberry scones.]
Seeing Parker's confirmed message, she imagined the happy smile on his face behind the screen. May felt a surge of relief mixed with a touch of melancholy. Peter, you better study hard! That acceptance letter was hard-earned!
Then, as if having made a firm decision, she took out her phone, sent a quick text to Hawk, and then deleted his contact information:
"Mr. Lane, thank you for your help. I believe I have repaid you. It's best if we don't contact each other again."
On the other side, after seeing Aunt May off, Hawk walked alone to the glass window. He smiled when he read the text message from May. "Repaid me already? Haha, a General's favor can never be repaid in a lifetime…"
Hawk's twenty-year-old face looked almost too young, his gold-brown hair soft and harmless under the interior light, while his shallow brown eyes reflected the city's brilliance.
Former university physics professor…
This thought was like a stone tossed into a deep pond, sending ripples through his consciousness. The figure who stood on a podium, lecturing hundreds of students and a dozen esteemed physics professors on the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, the figure his students privately teased for being a bit "bookish," was already faded like a nightmare from a past life.
A laboratory accident—or perhaps, a "ticket" triggered by the system—with no warning, threw him from his familiar, stable reality into this bizarre and dangerous Marvel Universe.
Fortunately, he landed with a high-profile identity: the adopted son and undisputed sole heir of John Lane, the patriarch of a vast commercial empire. John Lane, a resolute man with sharp insight, provided him with unimaginable material wealth and protection. More crucially, when Hawk cautiously demonstrated abilities far exceeding those of a "child prodigy," John chose unconditional trust and support.
The foundation for all this confidence came from the "golden finger"—the [Annual Destiny Wheel]—that had crossed over with him into his consciousness.
It was a cold, precise, and emotionless system.
Every year at midnight on his birthday, the Wheel activated on schedule. Twenty slots were all shrouded in mist, revealing their reward only when the pointer stopped. The prizes were all-encompassing, ranging from ordinary items to character summoning cards, permanent knowledge infusions, and even superpowers that granted him extraordinary strength.
Twenty years, twenty spins.
Age 1 Birthday: He drew an unremarkable steel pen.
Age 2 Birthday: He drew a Glock Pistol with infinite ammunition.
Age 3 Birthday: He drew Diamond Brain [Non-Upgradable], a highly practical passive ability. The "Non-Upgradable" part represented its absolute defense capability in the mental and psychic domains.
Age 4 Birthday: He drew Extremis Virus Serum x1, with a 100% guaranteed success rate.
Lucky Age 5 Birthday: He gained his most frequently used ability: Flight Lv1, currently capable of flying at near-supersonic speeds.
Age 6 Birthday: He drew a Skill Card, used for upgrading already-obtained skills.
Age 7 Birthday: He drew a pair of genuine Balenciaga silk stockings. When seven-year-old Hawk gifted the stockings to a female intern who had just joined the company, his father gave him a severe beating.
Age 8 Birthday: He drew a new category: Character Card: Business Elite - Andy. When he saw the card, which closely resembled the actress Liu Tao, his eyebrow twitched—he had watched the hit show Ode to Joy in his past life. The day after he used the Skill Card, his father suddenly informed him that he was sponsoring a Chinese female student named Andy, and she would be living with them as a homestay guest. Thus, eight-year-old Hawk began an intimate life with eighteen-year-old Andy…
Age 9 Birthday: He drew a Skill Card.
Age 10 Birthday: The ability he drew was his current core offensive skill: Heat Ray Lv1.
Age 11 Birthday: A disastrous day. His first "Better Luck Next Time" was printed on his forehead.
Age 12: Calm Mind Lv1, a practical small mental skill that came in handy when Andy was upset by him.
Age 13: Better Luck Next Time…
Age 14: Better Luck Next Time…
A nightmare of two years.
Age 15: Hacking Skills Lv1, an essential protagonist skill, no need for elaboration.