Books.
Different types of books: large, thick volumes, space-consuming picture books, and small, portable pocket books—his backpack was packed full.
Ansen was like a magician, continuously pulling items out of his backpack. The difference was that while a magician might pull out doves, rabbits, or even a person, Ansen's bag contents were much more modest.
"…Are they all books?"
Ian asked with curiosity as he watched Ansen pull out various types of books from his bag. He couldn't help but inquire.
But just as the words left his mouth, he caught sight of someone getting up from their seat, walking around the table, and heading directly towards Ansen.
Ian chuckled a bit helplessly.
"Sam?"
Sam ignored Ian and went straight to Ansen's bag, driven by both curiosity and suspicion.
If all of this was just a facade carefully crafted by Ansen, how deep had he gone with it? To what extent was this act taken?
Or was it all just for show?
Behind the curiosity, there was a hint of mischief.
Arriving at Ansen's side, Sam opened the backpack and peeked inside, preparing to rummage through it.
The slightly chubby woman seemed to have a headache and shook her head gently. "Sam, this isn't the NYPD…" She trailed off, sighing with a helpless smile. "If you're that curious, why not let this young man show us instead? Um… Ansen?"
The chubby woman glanced down at the résumé to confirm his name.
Ansen smiled and said, "Of course, I don't mind."
He gestured to Sam with a welcoming motion, then picked up the bag and placed it on the long table, carefully pulling out the contents one by one.
It was like Doraemon's magical pocket.
Thick volumes, all professional books, covering a wide range of subjects including biology, chemistry, and astronomy, with varying levels of complexity.
Ian was confused, amused, and surprised. His eyes reflected his curiosity as he glanced at Ansen. "These books… are you planning to read them all yourself?"
Ansen nodded. "Although I haven't read the original comic, personally, I've always had a question. Many people seem to have an inherent aversion, or even fear, of spiders. So, if you were bitten by a spider and gained some of its abilities, would your first reaction be happiness?"
Ian: …
Instinctively, Ian opened his mouth to argue, but as the words reached his lips, he paused to think seriously. He then turned to look at the others. "Would you be happy?"
The chubby woman raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. "Don't look at me. I wouldn't be happy at all. But what do I know? I'm just a woman. Superheroes are a man's thing, right? Maybe you guys, after realizing you had superpowers, would forget where those powers came from—even if it's a bit disgusting."
Ansen looked at her and said, "That's certainly one possibility. But I think there might be a deeper reason. Maybe Peter Parker always liked animals—not just the cats and dogs we're familiar with, but all of nature, including spiders and other overlooked insects."
"Perhaps, more than the skyscrapers of New York, he appreciated the small natural ecosystems that survive within the city. To the average person, these insects are pests, but Peter saw how they maintain the ecological balance. These seemingly insignificant creatures play an important role in nature."
"So, when Peter discovered he had spider abilities, first, he was excited—like any high school student suddenly realizing they had become incredibly powerful. And second, he didn't reject it, because he never saw spiders as strange creatures in the first place. He just accepted it."
Ansen's explanation flowed effortlessly.
Ian was momentarily stunned, a flash of inspiration crossing his mind—
Peter Parker, as a superhero, was fundamentally different. Even when fighting crime, he didn't tackle organized crime like Gotham's Batman; instead, his battles focused on crimes happening within everyday life. He was always a down-to-earth hero.
Could Ansen's recent explanation naturally blend into the character, establishing a superhero image from the core?
Ian's thoughts were incomplete, still forming, when Sam, who had been silent for a while, suddenly cut in.
"You said you've never read the original comic?"
Sam caught onto the key point right away, and everyone else shifted their gaze toward Ansen.
Ansen didn't seem flustered. "That's right, I haven't. My childhood was more about drawing, guitar, and skateboarding…"
Ian chuckled, "All the things that attract girls."
Ansen returned the smile. "I never thought I needed those things to attract girls' attention."
Calm, confident, but with a hint of playful teasing.
Everyone looked at Ansen, immediately drawn to his bright, charming smile, and they all shared a knowing grin as the atmosphere lightened.
Even Sam smiled. "So, you haven't seen any of my films either?"
"'The Evil Dead,' the first and second ones. Personally, I prefer the first one. Though it's rough around the edges, the dark humor has more bite." Ansen didn't bother with flattery, speaking his mind directly.
Compared to polite and empty praise, Ansen's concise yet meaningful remarks felt more genuine and connected with Sam.
Sam didn't respond directly but instead changed the subject, "So, did you pack your backpack with all of this for the same reason?"
His question jumped topics, leaving everyone unsure if Sam was satisfied with Ansen's earlier response. Moreover, his new question was confusingly vague.
Still, Ansen kept up with the flow. "Yes, for the same reason."
"I think someone who loves nature would occasionally go out to explore it. Of course, in New York, it's not that easy, but going to New Jersey now and then shouldn't be a problem."
And what else was in the backpack?
A waterproof jacket. A flashlight. A Swiss Army knife. Emergency rations.
Not much, but also not incomplete. It was clear—these were all camping supplies.
Twenty years later, camping would become a global trend, with more and more people joining in. The deeper reason behind this trend was urbanization. People in cities were becoming busier and more stressed, desperately seeking to escape the urban environment and find peace in nature.
Even now, while camping or hiking was enjoyed by some, it remained a niche activity. Many city parents sent their children to summer camps to escape the city, but like the Boy Scouts, these activities were still considered niche and often seen as something for "weirdos."
Peter Parker was just an ordinary high schooler, perhaps even an outcast, because of his unique love for nature and animals.
To others, he was the "weird kid who liked animals" or the "nature freak"—the target of everyone's jokes. Paired with his thick-framed glasses for his poor eyesight, he was no different from Mia and Michael in *The Princess Diaries*, another high school misfit.
And just like that, a well-rounded, three-dimensional character began to take shape.
Chapter Two.