Chapter 53: Unexpected Guest! Who Goes There!
Even though Ian was indeed quite melancholic.
True feelings, sincere intentions.
But Lois still didn’t quite believe what he said. Not only that, Lois felt Clark shouldn’t believe it either; Superman’s physical quality and resistance to poison should definitely be higher than hers as a normal person.
What about his brain?
“You just believe him like that?” Lois looked at Clark, who was lowering his head to eat, not wanting to get involved. Clark quickly put down his spoon and wiped his mouth with a tissue, then interjected.
“There are always many things in this world that we can’t explain… Our family itself is quite unscientific, so it’s not impossible for Ian to have met a goddess only he can see.” Clark didn’t answer directly but used a more tactful approach—he truly believed there must be some truth in what Ian said.
“Of course, I don’t doubt how magical this world can be… Being with you, I’ve seen a lot, but even so, what Ian said is still too bizarre.”
Lois sighed heavily.
“It’s a bit embellished, not much—you know, Mom, I’m a writer, I can’t control myself.” Ian blinked and quickly tried to cover it up.
He had originally planned to bury his head in his food.
But he thought about how he now had two big shots he needed to appease.
So.
“Praise Miss Death, thank you for bestowing this dinner upon me… and thank you to my godfather.” Ian had never been a subordinate, so he simply copied the customs of Christians.
To each according to his needs.
No one was treated unfairly.
The Death Knight remained aloof with no response, possibly unable to respond. However, through prayer, Miss Death, who had reconnected in the unseen realm, was different.
“Shut up!”
She even directly responded to Ian with a curse. See, feelings are developed through interaction; not only did the information return instantly, but it was also in voice form. Ian’s head was buzzing.
However, even so.
He still had something to say.
“Oh, no, Mom, there’s no embellishment at all now, it’s just pure unrequited love.” Ian’s tone was decisive, leaving Clark and Lois utterly bewildered.
The couple had no idea what had happened.
“Even if what you’re saying is true.”
Lois rolled her eyes and decided not to dwell on the topic any further. She picked up her spoon, scooped a large spoonful of boiled green vegetables, and dumped it heavily into Ian’s bowl.
“But even you, who is obsessively admired by a super goddess, have to eat all these green vegetables tonight.” It must be said, a mother’s love is silent but hard to swallow.
Listening to his mother’s words.
Ian looked at the extra green vegetables in his bowl with a face like a bitter melon.
Broccoli.
It might be one of the symbolic foods of elite families.
However, it was also definitely the lifelong enemy of a meat lover like him.
“Crunch~”
As soon as Ian took a bite.
The next moment.
He saw his quiet father stand up in considerable annoyance.
“Ding dong~”
From the direction of the main door.
The doorbell rang immediately.
“Oh no, I’m going.”
Ian quickly spat out the broccoli in his mouth and rushed towards the main door. However, someone was faster than him. Ian only felt a blur before his eyes as Clark blocked his path.
“I’ll get it.”
Clark pushed Ian behind him.
Then.
Gritting his teeth, he opened the main door.
“Bruce, we had an agreement, you can’t come and disturb my normal life.” He clearly knew who was arriving and spoke to the person outside the door with great dissatisfaction.
The name made Ian’s heart skip a beat. He quickly turned his head and looked past Clark’s broad arms towards the outside. He saw a middle-aged man in a bespoke suit with an extraordinary presence standing outside the door.
His build was exceptionally imposing.
But it didn’t appear exaggerated.
He exuded the aura unique to old money families. It was Bruce Wayne, the master of Gotham, the fake skin used by the Dark Knight in the night to conceal his identity!
“I’m not here for you, Clark.” Bruce interrupted calmly, his gaze passing over Superman’s broad shoulders and landing on Ian, who was peeking from behind.
“I’m here for the author of a manuscript received by a publishing house under Wayne Enterprises today.” He nodded slightly at Ian, “I presume you are Mr. Ian Kent?”
The Batman, pretending to be a decent human being, spoke in a gentle tone, appearing extremely polite.
“You actually submitted your novel?!” Clark was clearly taken aback that Ian had genuinely considered publishing his work. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately turned to look at his youngest son.
His gaze was filled with surprise and oddity.
“I have to let the world appreciate my astonishing talent.” Ian nodded matter-of-factly. He seemed to be considering the world, acting with the righteousness of enlightening the common beings of America.
“……”
Clark’s expression was extremely colorful.
Compared to his speechlessness.
Bruce, on the other hand, affirmed Ian’s confidence.
“It is indeed a very talented work.”
He commented with a straight face.
This made Clark feel that Bruce had ulterior motives.
“Are you serious?”
Clark frowned, his eyes, which held a palpable pressure, fixed very seriously on Bruce outside the door. Bruce remained unmoved, meeting Clark’s gaze with composure.
“Please don’t doubt my eye as an investor.” Bruce’s voice was steady, as if stating an ordinary fact. “I’m just doing what a businessman should do.”
“Mr. Little Kent’s book will definitely make me a fortune in a specific market.” His tone was extremely confident, leaving Clark utterly stunned.
He truly didn’t know whether to continue doubting Bruce’s ill intentions or to doubt the current mental state of people. The throbbing in his temples was a Kryptonian high blood pressure that Clark hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Congratulations, Clark, you’re about to have a millionaire son.” Bruce’s smile grew more pronounced. At least his tone sounded like a genuine blessing.
Hearing this.
Clark remained silent.
Ian’s eyes, however, had already lit up.
“Really? Mr. Wayne, who is often on TV and never goes back on his word!” Ian’s head emerged from under Clark’s arm. He never skimped on flattery towards others.
“I assure you.”
Bruce nodded with a smile.
“What a neglectful old father… Please come in! Please come in!” Ian instantly transformed into the most enthusiastic host, pushing aside Clark, who was still in a state of speechlessness and conflict, and welcoming Bruce into the house.
How to say it.
Since the other party had come to the door.
There was bound to be a reason.
No matter how resistant he acted, it would be useless.
Besides, Ian didn’t want to be on bad terms with Franklin.
“Would you like to try the broccoli my mom made? It’s exceptionally healthy White People Food!” Ian led Bruce to the dining room and willingly offered his plate of broccoli to the Batman, who was disguised as a human.
“No, thank you.” Bruce glanced at the wilted green plant on the plate, and the suspicious paste on it, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
His intuition told him.
Eating this might lead to a severe illness.
“Who’s here? Hmm?”
Lois emerged from the kitchen and saw Bruce seated. Her expression changed slightly, but she didn’t say anything, only looking up at Clark, who followed closely behind.
Clark gave his wife a subtle shake of his head.
“My son might possess a talent that I can’t appreciate, but I don’t think the publication of just one book is worth a busy person like you coming all this way in person.”
Clark sat opposite Bruce.
“You are correct.”
Bruce unhurriedly took out an exquisite device from his windbreaker pocket.
“However, if you add this… do I not have the right to investigate?” He pressed a button on the living room television, and the automatically lit screen was playing the evening news of the day.
“Eyewitnesses captured this thrilling scene with their mobile phones,” the news anchor’s voice came from the speaker. “Superwoman once again timely rescued a Boeing passenger jet that was about to crash.”
“This is the three hundred and sixty-fourth plane crash this year, and the three hundred and sixtieth Boeing incident. As citizens, I can’t help but ask, what about the remaining four plane crashes?”
This question.
Was quite reasonable.
However.
Immediately after.
The camera shifted to a blurry phone video. Kara stood heroically in front of the plane, giving an interview, while behind her, a figure with a stocking over their head was charging survivors for photos.
“According to very reliable information, a new superhero has appeared. He and Superwoman were also seen at the scene of another incident shortly after the plane event.”
“We can reasonably infer that this man is a novice hero, learning from Superwoman—enthusiastic netizens have given him a very vivid nickname.”
The host was earnestly delivering the news report.
However.
Outside the television.
Hearing the world’s appellation for him.
Ian’s expression went blank.
“What the heck!? Stocking Man?”
Facing what was likely the origin story of his independent NPC.
He truly saw red.
At this moment, Ian felt like making the whole world feel pain, but then he thought if he did that, his nickname might change from Stocking Man to Stocking Monster or Stocking Doctor.
He calmed down again.
“Actually, I’m wearing nylon stockings, so I should be called Nylon Stocking Man, but Nylon Stocking Superman also sounds good, loyal and upright.” Ian suddenly corrected the host’s statement in a calm tone.
“????”
The Batman rarely lost his composure.
Unless he truly couldn’t help it.
