America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

Li Qun watched Tony Stark's smartphone launch event on TV. He could completely understand everything Tony Stark said and could fully imagine the future development of mobile phones. He was from that future.

Tony Stark reached into his pocket and pulled out his "new invention," a smartphone.

"It's the size of a hand, has only side buttons, and a camera on the back that can take photos and videos."

Tony Stark began demonstrating how to use his smartphone, drawing applause and screams from the audience. Everyone was captivated by Tony's new phone.

Li Qun's phone vibrated, and he answered the call.

"Gwen, are you watching Tony Stark's press conference?" Li Qun asked with a smile.

"It's not the controlled nuclear fusion technology you guessed. I'm so disappointed," Gwen said on the phone.

“Do you want to change your phone? My computer is a Stark suite; Tony Stark said he can connect the phone and computer into one device, and he even demonstrated it,” Li Qun said.

“The price, he hasn’t said the price yet,” Gwen shouted.

"hold on……"

“If the price is right, I’ll request a replacement phone,” Li Qun told Gwen.

At the 45th minute of the product launch, Tony Stark announced the phone's price: $499 for the standard version and $599 for the higher-end version.

"How can it be so cheap?" Gwen exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, it seems Tony Stark wants to wipe out all the outdated feature phones and non-smartphones," Li Qun joked.

“Liqun, hurry up and go to Stark Industries’ website and pre-order three phones,” Gwen said.

"Ok."

"The webpage is frozen."

"wait for me."

“Gwen, I’ll hang up now and let Peter know,” Li Qun said.

“…Peter, this is Li Qun.”

“Liqun, are you watching Tony Stark’s press conference?” Peter asked.

“I’m watching, and Gwen is watching too. Gwen just said she’s going to give us Stark’s new phone, and I’m ordering it on the official website.”

“I’m really looking forward to the controlled nuclear fusion technology you mentioned, Liqun. That way, Aunt May won’t complain about the high electricity bills in the winter,” Peter said on the phone.

“Peter, have you ever thought that we could develop mobile games now?”

"Tony Stark's phone is the perfect platform for gaming, have you noticed?"

"My God, Li Qun, you already thought of this?" Peter exclaimed in surprise.

"Tony Stark's new invention, the smartphone, is a new field, and many new industries will be born from mobile phones."

Li Qun chatted enthusiastically with Peter, and within ten minutes of their conversation, they had completed the pre-order of the Stark smartphone.

There were no purchase restrictions on the official website. After Li Qun placed his order, he received a confirmation email in his inbox. He was able to pick up the three phones he ordered at the Stark store in New York five days later.

Tony Stark's product launch lasted only an hour, but that hour felt like a nuclear bomb had been dropped on the world, and it seemed that the whole world felt the shockwaves of the explosion.

……

……

On September 5th, Midtown High School started the new semester.

Li Qun, Peter, and Gwen crowded in front of the bulletin board in the corridor, looking for their names on the class assignment list.

At the start of this semester, they moved up to 11th grade, with new teachers, new classes, and new classmates.

“Peter, we’re still in the same class,” Li Qun said.

“Didn’t you two see my name? The three of us are in the same class,” Gwen said.

“I saw it,” Peter said.

The three of them were assigned to Class A in the 11th grade. Class A was a group of more than twenty students with the best grades in the entire grade. In other words, it was the elite class of Midtown High School, and all the teachers were the best.

"Let's go."

There are no classes on the first day of school, but you need to get to know your new classmates and teachers, and pick up your new textbooks.

"Peter, Peter!!"

Peter stopped and looked in the direction of the sound. His long-lost friend raised his hand and rushed towards him, hugging Peter tightly.

Gwen and Li Qun both stepped back, making room for the two in the school building corridor.

"Harry?"

"I missed you so much, bro," Harry said with a grin.

"Didn't you go to a private school in New Jersey?" Peter asked, bewildered.

“Guess what? I got kicked out,” Harry Osborne replied with a laugh.

"Persuade them to quit?"

"Yes."

“My dad doesn’t know that my previous good grades were all thanks to your tutoring. After I transferred schools, my true colors were revealed. My grades last semester were terrible. The school principal met with my dad and told him that I was no longer suitable to stay at that school.”

"How have you been while I was gone? Have you been bullied?" Harry asked, putting his arm around Peter's shoulder.

“It’s alright, no one’s bullying me,” Peter said.

"Really?" Harry Osborne was somewhat skeptical.

"Let me introduce you, Harry. These are my new friends since you transferred schools: Leon and Gwen."

“Liqun, Gwen, this is Harry, my former best friend,” Peter said.

"Oh, hi, hello!" Harry greeted the two in a friendly manner.

“Leon? Or Li Qing? Why does Peter call you by two names?” Harry asked Li Qing.

“Lyon is my English name, and Liqun is my real name. I’ve given up on having people call me by my real name; very few people can pronounce it correctly,” Liqun explained.

Harry Osborn sized up Li Qun and Gwen, while Li Qun and Gwen were also sizing up Harry.

It's that familiar face again.

Harry Osborne's facial features are very much like "Pava," as long as he styles his hair in a white, slicked-back style and sits on a plastic chair from a street food stall.

“You all look so smart, just like Peter.”

"Is this a compliment?" Gwen asked, adjusting her round-framed glasses.

“Of course it’s a compliment. Peter is a top-tier genius in my eyes, at least within the school,” Harry said.

"I'll show you something good."

Harry kept smiling, reached into his pocket, and pulled out Stark's smartphone. The back of the phone had an "o" logo, which briefly made Li Qun mistake it for an Apple logo.

"We have that too."

Gwen unzipped her bag and took out a Stark phone. Li Qun and Peter also took out their phones and waved them in front of Harry.

Harry Osborn blinked, puzzled.

How come everyone at school has Tony Stark's "reinvented" smartphone?

"Quickly put your phone away, or the teacher will find it," Li Qun reminded him.

The four of them quickly put their phones away, glanced around to see if any teacher had noticed their little antics.

“…Peter, you’ve changed,” Harry Osborn said.

What has changed?

“I’ve become rich,” Harry laughed.

Chapter 20 Dr. Otto

Holding an opening assembly in the school gymnasium on the first day of school is one of the traditional events. With all the teachers and students present, singing the national anthem together, and listening to the principal's speech, Li Qun felt as if she had come home.

"In the new school year, every student should set new goals..."

Li Qun, Gwen, Peter, and Harry sat in a row at the back of the gymnasium. Harry Osborn was playing on his phone with his head down, while Peter nervously kept watch for him. Teachers were patrolling around.

"Now, let's welcome our new teacher, Dr. Otto Octavius! Welcome to Midtown High School!!"

Harry hurriedly shoved his phone under his thigh and raised his hand to clap.

Li Qun stared wide-eyed in shock as Dr. Otto walked up to the principal. Peter also gaped, his face filled with the same shock.

"Dr. Otto Octavius ​​will be the science teacher for 11th grade. You are very lucky to be Dr. Otto's students..."

Dr. Otto stood smiling on the podium, wearing a black turtleneck sweater, nodding occasionally in response to the principal's words.

"...Now, let Dr. Otto say a few words."

The principal handed the microphone to Dr. Otto Octavius, and the formulaic smile gradually faded from Dr. Otto's face.

"Cough cough..."

"Hello, students, I am Otto Octavius, one of the world's most outstanding nuclear physicists. Some of you may know me."

"You might be wondering why I chose to teach at Midtown High School instead of going to a university, to teach at one of the world's top ten universities, to teach graduate and doctoral students..."

"Because you are simple-minded and ask simple questions, I can easily deal with them, so I don't have to waste too much energy on you."

"Also, because my wife, your 12th-grade English teacher, Rosie, suggested that I come and connect with you vibrant young people to help you get over the setback of your failed research project."

"You can't imagine what it feels like to climb Mount Everest and then fall into the Mariana Trench the very next day!!"

Dr. Otto grew increasingly gloomy as he spoke, radiating an aura of frustration and unfulfilled ambition.

The students whispered among themselves, and the topic of conversation naturally shifted to the new science teacher who seemed to have a particularly important background.

Everyone was curious about what had happened to the new teacher, Dr. Otto.

Li Qun probably guessed why Dr. Otto came to teach: someone smarter had discovered a major problem with his research on controlled nuclear fusion, causing Dr. Otto to lose face in the physics community.

Dr. Otto was hit on the head by a crumpled piece of paper thrown from the side. He looked over and saw that it was his wife, Rosie, who had thrown it.

Dr. Otto's resentment vanished instantly.