American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 17 Jonathan: I bought insurance! Locke! (Please continue reading)
"Stone fragments injured the clavicle. Maybe"

Locke repeated the doctor's words, but his eyes were not even focused and he was obviously still in a daze.

"Hey! Look at me!"

Jonathan shook his shoulder forcefully, "Dio needs you to stay awake now!"

This sentence was like a bucket of cold water that woke Locke up.

He took a deep breath and was about to speak when the door of the operating room suddenly opened. A doctor wearing a mask walked out, his rubber gloves stained with blood. "Who is Mr. Kent?"

"I am!" they said in unison.

Finally, Locke rushed forward, his heart pounding wildly in his chest: "How is the child?"

"Relax, Mr. Kent."

"The child is very lucky and smart, after all, it's so close."

"Maybe it's because he was hiding behind a big rock, so there aren't any signs of the shock wave on his body. Plus, the fragments only scratched his collarbone. Otherwise, if it had gone a little higher and injured the carotid artery, it would have been dangerous."

"Oh, one more thing." The doctor hesitated for a moment, took off his mask, and couldn't help but add, "The meteorite fragments seem to contain some kind of radioactive substance? Although the dose is small, the child has an abnormal reaction. His white blood cell count increased significantly after the operation. This may be a bit dangerous. I suggest you take him for a physical examination every year."

"Sorry, sorry, I was rambling."

Looking at the silent Locke, the doctor thought he was putting pressure on him.

After all, if something like this happens to a child, no family member will worry about it.

"Can we see him?" Jonathan asked on behalf of the dazed Locke.

"Not yet." The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead. "You need to be observed in a sterile ward for 24 hours."

Locke slumped down on the cold plastic chair in the hospital, his hands unconsciously clenching and unclenching.

Radioactive material.
Kryptonite
These words kept circling in his mind.

"How could it be Kryptonite?"

He muttered to himself, "Clark has been here for eight years, and the Kryptonian spacecraft also crashed at that time."

unless
Not the kryptonite from Clark's ship, but another one?
"Locke."

Jonathan's voice brought him back to reality. The usually optimistic farmer now looked guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't keep an eye on Dio. If I had noticed him sneaking up on you..."

Locke smiled bitterly, shook his head, and patted his old brother on the shoulder:

"Jonathan, it's not your fault. After all, I was the one who brought the kids to town."

"How could there be a meteorite? And there's no warning at all, just like before."

Jonathan sighed and sat down next to Locke. "It's really too dangerous. I heard that two or three meteorites hit the center of town during the recent meteor shower. There was even a couple who were hit by a meteorite and left behind a daughter. It was so pitiful."

Locke nodded mechanically, but his thoughts were still on Kryptonite.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something important and rubbed his temples in frustration:
"Oh, Jonathan, I forgot to tell you—it was our cornfield that was hit."

"The new one we bought?"

Jonathan's eyes widened. That was the new land they had just reclaimed together!
"Yes." Locke nodded heavily. "I will compensate you for your losses."

"Ahem. Locke."

A familiar smile reappeared on Jonathan's face, "Have you forgotten?"

"We've bought commercial insurance! Meteorites and other 'falling objects' like airplanes are clearly covered by compensation!"

Locke was stunned for two seconds, then burst into laughter.

Seeing Locke smile, Jonathan nodded with satisfaction.

"I'm going to see Martha."

He stood up and turned to walk towards the garden. "Rest well for a while. I'll bring you something later."

Nodding, Locke sat alone on the bench with a melancholy look on his face.

He looked out the window at the sky—

The area had returned to its tranquil blue, as if the disaster of a few hours earlier had never happened. But his gaze seemed to pierce through the clouds, seeing even further into the distance.

If this is indeed kryptonite, what does its appearance mean? Is it an accident, or a signal?

"Da da da"

Footsteps were heard in the corridor again, this time it was the crisp sound of leather shoes hitting the floor.

Locke looked up and saw Lionel coming with a pale-faced Lex.

And what is shocking is that.
Little Luther's sparse hair had completely disappeared, leaving only his bald scalp, which looked unnaturally pale under the light.

"Mr. Kent."

Lionel stepped forward and shook Locke's hand solemnly, "I heard everything. Dio is a hero."

"If possible, I don't want him to be the hero." Locke smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He regretted it.

He regretted guiding Dio's so-called courage so early.

Nodding in agreement, Lionel turned his gaze from behind his gold-rimmed glasses towards the operating room.

"Dio's medical expenses will be covered by the Luther Group. Also, I'll cover the losses on your farm." He paused, revealing a rare genuine smile. "After all, my child got to be a hero this time, didn't he?"

The entrepreneur turned around and touched Lex's smooth head, his tone filled with rare tenderness:
"Lex, Father has a new respect for you. It's great that you have the courage to follow Dio. But..."

His voice lowered. "Just like Mr. Locke, Dad doesn't want you to grow up this way if possible."

Little Luther nodded silently, but his eyes were always fixed on the door of the operating room.

Reaching out and gently touching Lex's bald head, Locke looked at Lionel.

"The impact of radioactive substances." Lionel sighed. "Preliminary examinations show that the radiation from the meteorite shock wave may have altered some of Lex's DNA information. Hair loss may be lifelong."

"Okay, I won't say much. You may need to calm down."

Lionel adjusted the collar of his suit, took out a gold-stamped business card from his inside pocket and handed it to Locke.

The business card shone with a low-key luxurious luster under the corridor light, and the edge was inlaid with the iconic pattern of Luther Group.

"Plus, my company still has a lot of things to deal with." His voice regained the calmness that only business elites possess. "Honestly, Mr. Locke, I sincerely admire you. You didn't hesitate to rush into the wheat field and face the meteorite in a critical moment..."

"This kind of courage is really rare in today's society."

Accompanied by a faint scent of cedar, Locke took the business card and stroked the raised gold-plated font with his fingertips.

He flipped it twice casually.

There is a personal number written on the back of the business card.

"My previous invitation is valid at any time." Lionel nodded slightly. "The door of Luther Group is always open to you."

After saying that, he didn't stay long and prepared to leave taking Lex's hand.

Lex, who was being held by his father, kept looking back towards the operating room.

Those eyes were filled with complicated emotions at this moment——

Worry, reluctance, and a hint of new stubbornness.

"Let's go, Lex," Lionel urged softly, "Let Dio rest."

The boy's bald head stood out in the hallway light.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately just bowed to Locke, "Please give Dio my thanks."

Looking at the father and son walking away.

Locke smiled helplessly.

thank?

I should be the one thanking you on Dio's behalf, Lex Luthor.

The doctor said it very clearly, without Lex's save, the meteorite would have most likely hit Dio's neck or head!
(End of this chapter)