The afternoon sun at 3 PM cast a lazy golden glow through the wide glass windows of the "Morning Light Cafe."
The air was filled with the aroma of deeply roasted coffee beans.
Mixed with the sweet richness of butter and cinnamon.
William chose a corner by the window, quietly observing his surroundings.
Soft jazz music flowed like a stream.
People conversed in low voices.
Forks and knives clinked against ceramic plates, creating crisp echoes.
Everything here exuded a sense of comfortable living.
The wind chimes on the door jingled softly.
A teenager poked his head in, looking around.
It was Peter.
Behind him was a lady.
She wore a fitted beige knit top, and time had not eroded her elegance; instead, it had refined her into a warm and gentle presence.
Her gaze was bright and discerning, as if evaluating every detail in the space.
That was May Parker.
William stood up, a gentle yet professional smile on his face.
"Mrs. Parker, Peter. Over here."
Mei's gaze immediately locked onto him.
It was a scrutiny mixed with curiosity, politeness, and wariness.
She led Peter closer, an unconscious protective stance in her movements.
"Mr. Rodriguez, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Her voice, like her demeanor, was warm yet maintained a certain distance.
"Please, have a seat. The apple pie here is famous, I guess Peter will like it."
William pulled out chairs for them, his movements natural and fluid.
Peter's cheeks flushed slightly, a little embarrassed.
"Thank you, Mr. William. Aunt May, I told you about him."
After Mei sat down, she didn't look at the menu. Instead, she placed her handbag on her lap, her hands clasped.
A posture ready to get down to business.
"Mr. Rodriguez, let's be direct."
Her speaking pace was not fast, each word clear and forceful.
"Peter told me about that new insurance, an… insurance for laboratory visits?"
William nodded, taking out a beautifully crafted brochure from his briefcase and pushing it to the center of the table.
"'Scientific Exploration Safety Guarantee Insurance'.
This is a pilot project our company launched for young technology enthusiasts."
Mei's fingertips tapped lightly on the table.
"A $130 claim, just for a sprained wrist and a damaged textbook. With all due respect, this is beyond my comprehension."
"The note for that money was 'Community Care Fund', Mrs. Parker."
William's gaze was sincere.
"It's not just compensation; it's an encouragement. We believe that a young man willing to stand up for his classmates—his character itself is worth investing in."
These words caused a subtle shift in Mei's expression.
What she cared about most was always Peter's character.
Peter quietly added from the side: "Aunt May, Mr. William said the meaning of insurance is to provide comfort."
Mei glanced at Peter, her eyes softening, but then quickly returned to being cautious.
She picked up the brochure and read it word for word.
"Chemical reagent exposure protection? Experimental equipment malfunction collateral damage?"
She read aloud, her brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
"Mr. Rodriguez. Are you implying that Peter might encounter life-threatening danger visiting those places?"
"I am merely stating objectively existing, albeit extremely low probability, risks."
William's tone was calm.
"Just like we always look at traffic lights when crossing the road, not because we'll be hit by a car every time, but to avoid that one-in-ten-thousand possibility."
He paused, his gaze turning to the eager-faced Peter.
"For a child like Peter, who is full of passion for science, his future holds infinite possibilities.
We cannot clip his wings of exploring the World due to a little potential risk."
"This guarantee, rather than being prepared for Peter, is prepared for you, madam.
It can give you peace of mind while Peter pursues his dreams."
This sentence precisely hit the softest spot in Mei's heart.
Behind the cafe bar.
The espresso machine let out a sharp hiss.
William's gaze inadvertently swept over, and Mechanical Induction silently activated.
A diagram of the machine's internal structure flashed through his mind.
"It sounds like the pressure relief valve of that coffee machine seems to be aging a bit."
He muttered softly, as if to himself.
Mei and Peter both froze for a moment, following his gaze. Sure enough, the barista was frantically patting the side of the machine.
A hint of surprise flashed in Mei's eyes.
This insurance salesman seemed to know a bit too much.
"Oscorp!"
Peter suddenly spoke excitedly, breaking the brief silence.
"That's where I want to go most! Their bio-genetics lab is the best in the World!"
William's heart pounded fiercely.
But his face remained impassive.
"Oscorp is indeed a leader in the industry."
His voice was steady.
"But the more cutting-edge the technology, the higher the associated unknown risks."
"For example, some genetically edited biological samples; no one can guarantee 100% that they are absolutely safe."
His description made Mei's expression turn serious.
William flipped the brochure to the last page, where the price column was circled.
"Monthly payment of $50. This is an introductory price, and also our support for future scientists."
"Fifty dollars?"
Mei's voice was filled with disbelief.
This price was almost absurdly low, which made her even more wary.
This did not conform to any business logic.
"Why?"
She looked directly into William's eyes, trying to find traces of deception.
William met her gaze calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Because I believe in Peter.
I believe that children like him are the future of this city. Investing in the future never loses money.
This is my philosophy, and also our company's philosophy."
The air seemed to solidify.
Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a bright halo on William's profile.
This made him appear impeccably sincere.
Peter's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Mei fell silent.
She looked at the man in front of her, then at her eager nephew beside her.
Her heart was engaged in a fierce battle.
Reason told her there must be something fishy.
But emotionally.
She was deeply moved by the blueprint he depicted and that "goodwill."
After a long while, she let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
"Alright, Mr. Rodriguez."
Her gaze was still sharp, but the hostility had dissipated.
"We'll sign. But, if there are any problems with this insurance…"
"You can contact me anytime."
William smiled, taking out a tablet from his briefcase.
"The contract is electronic, with clear terms; you can read it carefully."
He handed over the tablet.
Mei examined it word by word, confirming there were no hidden traps.
Finally, she had Peter write his name, "Peter Parker," in the signature field.
Each stroke was deliberate and serious.
In William's heart, a huge weight finally fell.
He successfully laid the most crucial safety net for that Spider-Man.