American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 201 A Louise jumped out from the crowd.

I fled in panic from Lux's lunch interlude, which was a mix of mysterious meaty aromas and bizarre lame jokes.

Clark, holding Shen Du, restarted the slightly dilapidated motorcycle and sped off until they finally arrived at their pre-arranged accommodation in the Metropolis.

Hyatt Hotels.

Although some speculation.

But when the truly majestic building came into full view, Clark couldn't help but open his mouth slightly and let out a silent gasp of amazement.

"Wow……"

The towering glass curtain wall gleams luxuriously in the sunlight, its lines sleek and futuristic, its height far exceeding anything seen before, like a crystal spire piercing the clouds.

The entrance is a magnificent revolving door, flanked by doormen in crisp uniforms with solemn expressions.

Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see the magnificent hall with its dazzling crystal chandeliers, and the busy figures reflected in the smooth marble floor.

The air was filled with the faint sounds of soothing piano music and a delicate fragrance.

The overwhelming luxury and grandeur gave Clark, who had grown up rolling in the mud on a Kent farm and was used to barns and the roar of tractors, a strong sense of unreality.

He looked down at his simple, unadorned clothes, then looked up at the building that only existed in financial magazines, his voice tinged with a hint of amazement:
"The capital city, is this really a place we can live in?!"

He thought Uncle Locke had ordered it for them.
It's probably one of those clean and tidy chain hotels near the train station!
But just looking at the grandeur of this place, the cost of a single night's stay would probably be enough to buy several tons of their farm's golden corn!
He was momentarily drawn to the hotel's size and modernity, but Shen Du quickly regained his composure and indifference.

He even subtly took two small steps back, trying to distance himself both physically and mentally from his overreacting older brother.

"Calm down, you foolish brother."

Shen Du's voice remained flat, but a closer listen revealed a hint of speechlessness. "Since Father arranged this place, he must have his reasons."

“That makes sense,” Clark said, rubbing his chin. “I think so.”

"Clark! Over here!"

A familiar and efficient female voice timely interrupted his still-organized words.

A woman dressed in a light gray business suit, exuding elegance, strode out of the hotel entrance and waved vigorously in their direction.

Her appearance finally gave Clark a sense of anchor in the unfamiliar luxurious environment, and he quickly led Shen Du over.

"Aunt Grey!"

Clark's face lit up with a bright smile as he greeted him loudly.

"Clark..."

Grey's impeccable professional elegance vanished instantly. Her beautiful brows furrowed slightly, a hint of helplessness in her voice, as she gently corrected him, "Please call me Sister Grey, or, to be more formal, Ms. Grey."

Although she is indeed more than a decade older than Clark, Grey is clearly very concerned about this title that relates to her feminine charm.

“Okay, no problem…” Clark readily complied and immediately changed his address, his tone respectful: “Ms. Grey.”

Grey nodded slightly in satisfaction, her gaze passing over Clark and landing on the little boy standing quietly behind him, who was surveying the hotel environment with overly calm eyes.

A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly masked by a professional smile.

"This must be Shen Du, right?"

Grey gracefully bent down, bringing her gaze level with God's, and softened her tone, making it gentler and more friendly, "You look just like your brother Salafir, especially your eyebrows and features, they're practically identical, both so beautiful."

When faced with Grey's kind gaze and questions, God did not show the slightest evasion or haste to respond like an ordinary child.

He simply looked back at her calmly, nodded slightly, acknowledging his identity, and made no further explanation.

After all, he certainly knew this woman.

Sometimes he posts pictures of himself getting drunk and causing trouble at his own farm's Christmas party; the last time I saw him like that was two years ago.

She's said to have gone six years without a promotion and has now been relegated to this corner. Based on what she said to Salafir last time, she should be in charge of the group's public relations.

"Well then, welcome to the Hyatt Hotel, Mr. Shen Du."

Unaware of Shen Du's inner thoughts, Grey straightened up, her smile impeccable. "The rooms have been prepared for you. They are top-floor suites with excellent views, specially requested by Mr. Locke. You can directly overlook the main venue of tomorrow's expo."

With that, Grey gracefully turned around and led the two brothers toward the elevator that led to the guest room area.

She walked with a calm and unhurried pace in her high heels.

However, he couldn't help but steal glances at the two children following behind him out of the corner of his eye.

time flies
In the blink of an eye, Clark, who was chasing chickens on the farm and covered in grass clippings when we first met, has grown into such a tall and upright young man.

And whether it's just my imagination or not, the child's features are starting to resemble Mr. Locke's in a strange way, especially his naturally curly, thick black hair that always carries a hint of unruliness.

Compared to the composed Mr. Locke, Clark in front of him was more full of the vitality that belonged to his age, and he also had a little bit of awkwardness and innocence that he couldn't hide when facing unfamiliar environments.

Um.
He's only sixteen after all.
As she pondered, Grey's observant gaze subtly drifted toward the unusually quiet little boy.

He walked with short legs befitting his height, yet his steps were unusually steady, without the slightest childlike jumping or hesitation. On his delicate little face, there was only a calm detachment.

This kid...

That's quite unique.

Grey silently evaluated the situation in her mind.

This coldness and aloofness, so incongruous with her age, subconsciously reminded her of Dior when she was a child.

But almost immediately, she shook her head to herself, dismissing the initial association.

No, it can't be said to resemble Dior.

Dior's indifference was sharpened with a carefully honed edge; it was a weapon used to intimidate and threaten.

Like an elegant yet dangerous young lion, it constantly measures everything around it with its cold gaze, calculates gains and losses, and controls the situation.

When he first arrived, he acted as if he were surveying a territory he was about to conquer.

Every glance, every seemingly casual word, carries a clear purpose and a potential for aggression.

And this divine capital before us...

Grey frowned slightly, trying to find a more accurate description.

His indifference was more like...pure 'isolation'?
It's as if you're observing the world from behind an invisible pane of glass.

To him, the joys and sorrows, the conflicts of interest in all things in the world were like bacterial activity under a microscope—worth recording and analyzing, but difficult to evoke any emotional resonance.

His eyes lacked Dior's burning ambition and judgment; they held only an absolute rationality stripped of emotion.

It doesn't resemble a lion cub; it's more like a young god who has mistakenly entered the mortal realm.

Grey was amused by her own sudden analogy, but also found it strangely apt.

In short, none of the Kent children were simple.

"Ding--"

A crisp, pleasant beep signaled that the high-speed elevator had smoothly arrived at the top floor.

It also aptly interrupted Grey's rambling thoughts.

She quickly composed herself, put on a smile again, and turned to the side, making an inviting gesture:

"Mr. Kent, we've arrived."

"This way, please. Your suite is at the very end of the corridor, and it has the most open view."

As she led them into the quiet corridor adorned with abstract art paintings, she added in a melodious voice, "This is the top floor of the hotel, which was recently fully upgraded and renovated. I hope you like it."

"boom--!"

The door was opened with the access card.

Outside the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, the metropolitan skyline is dazzling.

Clark's somewhat stunned figure was clearly reflected on the smooth, blank glass.

His eyes were filled with shock and amazement.

"This is mainly the living room area..."

With an understanding yet slightly proud smile, Grey began to introduce the place to them, her voice exceptionally clear in the spacious room, "The usable area is approximately 120 square meters. Over there is a separate dining area and a minibar equipped with professional equipment, drinks..."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

She glanced at Clark and Shen Du's appearances and quickly changed her tune, "Drinks and snacks are provided free of charge. These are two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms; the master bedroom has a jacuzzi. And this is the study, equipped with the latest holographic projection office system..."

Each time she introduced a place, Clark let out a soft gasp.

Only after the event was mostly over did she walk up to Clark, take a simply designed business card from her suit pocket, and hand it to him:
"Alright, I won't disturb your rest and fun any longer. This is my personal contact information. You can call me anytime, 24 hours a day, if you need anything."

"And... Mr. Locke should have given you that 'card' by now, right?"

She blinked and added meaningfully.

“That card is in the Metropolitan, you can do so many things with it.” Her voice was lowered, with a hint of encouragement and urging, “Make good use of it, don’t waste it.”

Clark took the business card, and upon hearing Grey's words, paused for a moment before nodding.
"Yes! We understand, thank you, Ms. Grey!"

Grey nodded gracefully, took one last look at the capital city that had walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and was quietly overlooking the city, and at Clark who was still excitedly exploring the various smart devices in the room, smiled and left the suite, gently closing the door behind her.

As soon as the door closed, Clark breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh my god, this sofa is so soft!"

He slumped back into the soft sofa and exclaimed, "Shen Du, this place is amazing!"

"And look! This remote can control all the lights and curtains in the room!"

He picked up a simple touchpad, his fingers slid awkwardly across it, watching the lights change and the curtains open and close automatically, his excitement barely concealed.

Even when he saw the smart shower system in the bathroom with dozens of showerheads emitting a soft blue light, he couldn't help but go over and examine it:
"How do you use this? It looks amazing!"

"."

Shen Du had his back to him, gazing at the endless stream of cars outside the window. His small figure appeared somewhat lonely and unusually calm in front of the huge glass window.

He didn't respond to Clark's感慨 (sentiments/reflections), but simply said, "Don't get too excited, you big oaf. Behind every moment of enjoyment lies a hidden cost."

"Shen Du, do you want a sundae? They offer free ordering here," Clark exclaimed, interrupting Shen Du. "They even have afternoon tea!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Du sighed helplessly and finally turned away.

"I want three sundaes: one strawberry, one blueberry, and one cantaloupe."

As for the cost?

What price?
He is the supreme god of the capital; why should he consider such a price?
As the morning light faded, it was already the second day of the expo's opening.

The blazing sunlight poured down without any obstruction, illuminating the entrance plaza of the Tomorrow Expo in a bright white light.

The area in front of the exhibition hall was already packed with people, the noise and the chill of winter rising and fermenting in the air.

Clark, with his dark hair gleaming slightly in the sunlight, looked energetic and beaming with an expectant smile, pulling Shen Du along...

I joined the end of the long, winding queue at the regular ticket gate.

Looking at the dense crowd of people in front of him, and feeling the surrounding noise and mixed smells, Shen Du immediately frowned, his face filled with undisguised disgust.

He tugged at Clark's sleeve, lowered his voice, and his tone was accusatory:

"We clearly have VIP tickets and can go straight in through the special lane. Do you really want to waste your time queuing here?"

In his view, giving up privileges and choosing to endure inconvenience is itself a foolish act.

"Queuing is part of the experience, isn't it, in the capital city?"

Clark explained, “My uncle texted me last night and said, ‘Sometimes, the scenery and the journey are more interesting than the final destination!’”

"Let's enjoy the trip to the fullest."

Upon hearing this, Shendu looked around.
Anxious crowds, crying children, shouts from staff trying to maintain order, and the air thick with the smells of sunscreen and sweat...

He simply couldn't glean any 'interesting' scenery from this chaos.
hateful
Yesterday afternoon, he was also fooled by Clark's words and went to queue up at various places.

They queued for a full 45 minutes outside a dessert shop that was supposedly incredibly delicious, just to buy a rainbow swirl ice cream. Passersby described it as "so delicious it would make you fly."

The results of it?
After taking the first bite, he immediately wanted to make the group of actors outside, who looked like they were being towed, fly.

That thing is sickeningly sweet, has an exaggerated design, and is completely pointless except for taking pictures.

then
Clark even dragged him to join a street performer's group, where the performer just tossed a few colorful balls around clumsily, with no skill involved, while the surrounding crowd cheered foolishly.

He endured it for five minutes before finally forcing Clark to sheepishly pull him away with his icy gaze.

"."

At this moment, Shen Du, who was standing obediently in line beside him despite looking impatient as if "the whole world owes me money," was watching him.

Clark, on the contrary, felt a sense of understanding.

The experience he gained from getting along with this new younger brother is being validated little by little.

The capital city truly resembles a flame encased in solid ice.

His appearance is one of biting coldness and an innate aloofness; his words are sharp and merciless analysis and biting mockery, as if he applies the highest critical standards to everything in the world.

But Clark was still able to keenly perceive that beneath the seemingly unbreakable ice layer, there was actually a completely different core.

This kid always says things like "I don't like it," "stupid," and "a waste of time."

But in practice, he would obediently accompany his "foolish older brother" as he described him, strolling together through the bustling streets of an unfamiliar city.

Try out those novel facilities that he finds meaningless, and taste those foods that he despises as worthless.

Just like that flashy but impractical rainbow swirl ice cream from yesterday.

Shen Du initially showed strong resistance, thinking it was just a clumsy combination of coloring and saccharin.

But at his insistence, he reluctantly accepted it.

The results of it?
The little guy frowned and muttered a complaint that it was "too sweet," but he couldn't help but lick it little by little. His focused expression was just like that of a small animal exploring something new.

He didn't even notice the melting ice cream dripping down the cone, making his fingers sticky. Clark had to suppress a laugh and take out a tissue to wipe them clean for him.

This somewhat disheveled reality, a stark contrast to the usually calm and almost indifferent God, made Clark feel...

It's true.

He is gradually discovering another side of the capital city that is unknown to most people.

This feeling is somewhat similar to that of facing Dior when I was a child, yet completely different.

Dio's arrogance stemmed from his deep-seated indifference, while Dio's sharp tongue and aloofness...

It's just an outward coldness.

Clark watched as Shen Du, though looking displeased, unconsciously followed the occasional formation of drones flying overhead, his pupils reflecting the light and shadow of their nimble shifting formations.

In essence, Shendu is actually a very innocent and naive child.

She is even more innocent than the sometimes cunning Salafir.

He was like a dry sponge, seemingly indifferent to the moisture around him, but unconsciously absorbing every detail about this 'ordinary' world.

He's just not good at, or rather, unwilling to, express this curiosity and acceptance in the way that ordinary children do.

Clark's smile deepened. He didn't expose Shen Du's subtle observation, but simply reached out and naturally helped Shen Du tidy up his hair, which was sticking up a bit in the wind.

"Almost there, almost there, it'll be our turn soon."

He said gently, his voice soothing, "Once we're inside, let's go to the 'holographic technology' exhibition hall that you've been eyeing first, okay?"

"Hey!" God was taken aback by his sudden attack, quickly slapped his hand away, and said irritably, "If you keep this up, I'll set your butt on fire!"

Clark almost burst out laughing at his bluffing.

My uncle said that the scenery along the journey should be appreciated, and now it seems that it refers not only to the external world, but also to my awkward younger brother beside me.

Um.
Unfortunately
The efficiency of ticket checking at the expo was surprisingly high.

The line moved forward at a good pace, and before long, the two brothers were close to the ticket gate, where they could clearly see the staff scanning their tickets.

But just as Clark pulled that precious gold ticket out of his pocket, a small commotion and complaints arose in the line behind him.

"What's going on? How many people have gotten gold tickets today?"

"Exactly! If you're going to counterfeit something, at least make it look decent. You can't just copy this thing like that. It has the Luther Group's unique laser anti-counterfeiting code on it..."

"Sigh, young people these days, they really are obsessed with saving face..."

The murmurs weren't loud, but they were clearly heard by another group not far away.

This was heard by a young girl who was anxiously looking around and checking her watch every now and then.

She had short, neat, dark brown hair, with a few strands clinging to her smooth forehead due to sweat. She wore a simple, crisp light blue shirt and slim-fit jeans, and a conspicuous name tag around her neck.
—Louise Lane, freshman, School of Journalism, Metropolitan University.

"Golden ticket?"

Louise keenly grasped this keyword, and a thought struck her.

As a reporter covering the technology sector, she was well aware of the rarity of these special tickets. They were purely commemorative items, usually given as gifts by the Luther Group to dignitaries and powerful figures.

How could this possibly happen here?

She instinctively turned her curious gaze toward the source of the sound, eventually fixing it on the tall, black-haired young man who was pulling a gold bill from his pocket.

The paper, shimmering with a unique, soft golden light in the sunlight, and the striking hot stamping on it, instantly attracted the attention of many people around.

"It really is a gold ticket..."

Louise murmured to herself, her journalistic instincts prompting her to carefully observe the boy holding the ticket.

Black curly hair...blue eyes...

His face always looks very gentle, even a little kind...

and many more!

That face...

Why does it look so familiar?
"Ding--"

A crisp, pleasant electronic notification sound cut through the air.

"Verification successful, distinguished guest!"

As the green light above the turnstile steadily lit up, a sudden, deathly silence descended upon the surrounding crowd, filled with astonishment.

A name and image suddenly became clear to Louise!

this is not……

Clark Kent from Smallville?!

My sister Chloe's best friend and sweetheart?

Yes, that's the face!

A few days ago, I even posted a group photo of us in the snow to myself.

Black curly hair, blue eyes, and always with a gentle, even slightly silly, smile!

Why is he here?

And he's even carrying an extremely rare gold ticket?!

As she watched Clark about to enter the expo, Louise glanced down at her watch again.

The promised companions were still nowhere to be seen, and the line ahead remained as long as a dragon.

Time was ticking away, second by second.

One of the exhibition halls won't wait for anyone.
With a determined effort, she disregarded all queuing etiquette and, relying on her agility and impulsiveness, skillfully squeezed through the crowd, shouting loudly towards Clark, who was about to enter the exposition hall:
"Clark! Wait!"

"...?"

How come someone here knows me?

Clark, who had already stepped halfway into the venue and was bowing his head to say something to God, stopped abruptly upon hearing the sound and turned around in utter astonishment.

When he saw the short-haired girl, slightly out of breath, pushing through the crowd, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

Surprisingly, a familiar face popped out from the crowd in the city.

"Louise? What's this?"

Clark tentatively opened his mouth.

Louise Lane.

He remembered that this was Chloe's older sister. They had played together when they were young and met a few more times afterward. In his memory, she was a very smart and opinionated girl, and it seemed that she was now studying journalism at Metropolitan University.

"gentlemen?"

Seeing this, the ticket inspector cautiously approached, his gaze shifting between Clark and Louise, and respectfully inquired, "This lady... is she with you? May I ask who she is...?"

Louise reacted quickly, interrupting almost the instant the ticket inspector finished speaking, her tone perfectly familiar: "Friend! We're old friends!"

However, when he looked at Clark, there was still a hint of barely perceptible anxiety in his bright eyes.

Although he didn't quite understand what had happened, Clark nodded and explained to the ticket inspector, following Louise's words:

"Yes, she's my friend. It seems... something's happened, maybe she'll need a ticket? Can I bring her in with me?"

"Of course! Absolutely no problem, sir!" The ticket inspector's face immediately lit up with an undisguised understanding and almost obsequious smile, nodding repeatedly. "After all, given the privileges represented by this ticket you hold..."

He pointed exaggeratedly to the dense crowd of people watching from afar outside the ticket gate, and joked:
“You can even bring in that huge crowd outside, you know, that 'mountain of people', no problem!”

Feeling a little embarrassed by the overly enthusiastic and exaggerated response, Clark smiled shyly and didn't continue the conversation.

He gently gestured for Louise to follow him.

He then led the two through the futuristic gates of the Tomorrow Expo.

Meanwhile, Shen Du, who had silently witnessed the entire minor commotion, kept his overly calm golden eyes scanning the scene without making a sound.

He glanced at the undisguised shock, envy, and even a hint of jealousy on the faces of those queuing around him, and at the change in attitude of the ticket inspectors, from arrogance to obsequiousness.

He then turned his head to look at his older brother beside him, who still had an innocent look on his face, seemingly completely unaware of the privilege he had just casually used...

The little guy blinked his overly calm eyes thoughtfully.

Could it be that……

I've never really understood Clark?

Was his silly, queuing-like behavior just now intentional?
This pattern of behavior—deliberately concealing one's true identity and privileges, blending into the ordinary, and then casually revealing them at crucial moments, thereby eliciting amazement and envy from those around them—

It seems to be called...

Play pig eat tiger?

Shen Du's little brain worked at lightning speed, and he came to a conclusion that surprised even himself.

He glanced furtively at Clark, who was oblivious to the situation and exchanging pleasantries with Louise, with a look that was both scrutinizing and strangely admiring.

Shen Du nodded.

The case is solved...

So that's the real reason he wouldn't use the VIP lane and insisted on making me queue up...

It was all to set the stage for this moment of showing off and getting slapped in the face.

Who would have thought, Clark...

You have such a big, handsome face, yet you have so many thoughts in your mind.

I must say, she has quite good taste.

(End of this chapter)