American Comics: Something's Wrong with This Superhero World

Chapter 27 The Adult World is This Cruel

Having confirmed that he couldn't go to work for the time being, and that C-level superheroes had to undergo standardized training before they could debut, Xiao Xian had no choice but to leave. Jack, who had received the money, insisted on seeing Xiao Xian off, but Xiao Xian refused repeatedly before finally giving up.

In the parking lot, Xiao Xian also encountered Xingguang, who was surrounded by a group of people and had been handed over by the interviewer, Ike.

"Hi~" Xiao Xian greeted Xingguang warmly as soon as he saw her, wanting to get acquainted first and see how things went. He figured maybe a mission would come his way someday. "Congratulations on getting an A-level contract! We're colleagues now. Want to grab a bite to eat together?"

"Hello~" Xingguang greeted him in return. Hearing Xiao Xian's words, she was about to agree when Ike gently touched her arm. Remembering Ike's advice earlier, Xingguang was silent for a moment before refusing, "Never mind, maybe next time."

"Alright then, we'll talk about it another time." Xiao Xian waved his hand, not insisting, and let it go since he had already refused.

Watching Xiao Xian's departing figure, Ike whispered...

"Miss Starlight, your decision is wise. Although you two came in together, you are an A-class superhero. Once you debut, you can achieve a leap in social class, drive luxury cars, live in mansions, and enjoy a life of being the center of attention."

"Xiao Xian is just a C-level superhero, and he's disliked by his boss. He might even have difficulty making his debut in the future and could only earn a fixed salary as a wage earner. Your future status and position are worlds apart, so it's best to avoid contact with him as much as possible. It wouldn't be good if he dragged you down and caused your boss to dislike you too."

"But I feel this is not good," Starlight said, pursing her lips. She felt as if she had become the kind of opportunistic person she used to hate the most.

"That's what growing up is like. The adult world is just that cruel, Miss Starlight," Ike comforted her.

"I understand. I will keep my distance from Xiao Xian. You can drop me off here. Go back now. I'll drive back by myself." With a wave of her hand, Xingguang told everyone to go back. Watching their departing figures, Xingguang hesitated for a moment before chasing after Xiao Xian in the direction he had left.

"Xiao Xian." Xingguang called out immediately upon seeing Xiao Xian's back.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xian asked, looking at Xingguang running over alone.

"You didn't sign a C-level contract, did you?" Starlight bit her lip, but still decided to say, "The interviewer, Ike, told me that the boss of Osborn doesn't like you. The C-level contract they gave you has a lot of pitfalls. Once you sign it, you'll either have to pay a huge penalty for breach of contract, or you'll be blacklisted by them."

"I've already signed it."

Xiao Xian now understood why Jack wouldn't let him go to work and why even the training was so drawn out. It turned out that he never intended for him to debut in the first place. No wonder it was called a rip-off C3 contract. Xiao Xian had looked at it for a long time but couldn't see any problems except for the slightly high penalty for breach of contract. Now it seemed that he was not familiar with their various tricks to rip people off.

However, it's not a big problem. It's fine if they don't let him debut but let him train. As long as he can stay at Osborn, it's fine if Xiao Xian pays to work for him.

As for subsequent contract adjustments, such as appointing him as the president of the Osborne Group, there will naturally be ways to achieve that once the company becomes stronger. If all else fails, Xiao Xian will simply let the Osborne family leave in an orderly fashion, at which point the hostile boss will naturally disappear.

"What? You've already signed it?" Starlight asked anxiously upon hearing this.

"Then you're in trouble. Did you sign a long-term or short-term contract? According to the regulations, if this is your first time signing a brokerage contract, you can only sign for a maximum of one year."

"I signed a one-year contract," Xiao Xian shrugged.

"That's good. Just remember this year. They'll definitely use all sorts of excuses, like insufficient training or preparation, to keep you from debuting for the time being. They'll keep dragging it out until it's time to renew your contract. Then they'll act like they're about to let you debut again. Make sure you don't renew your contract then, or you'll be stuck with a long-term contract and being shelved."

Xingguang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but did not forget to give Xiao Xian a word of advice.

"Thanks, you're a really nice guy. But it's nothing, the penalty for breach of contract is only one million dollars. I'll just stay here and work for a while, as long as I can learn something."

Xiao Xian thanked him upon hearing this. Regardless of his own intentions, at least Starlight was doing this for his own good. This is what a superhero should be like. Having been here for so long, Xiao Xian never expected to see what a superhero should be like in the role of the Boys.

"Only one million dollars?" Starlight was stunned. This was more than her entire family's income for ten years.

Finding the car, Xiao Xian pulled out the Porsche keys, opened the door, and looked at the bewildered Xingguang, saying, "Yeah, at worst we'll just have to pay the penalty for breach of contract, it's no big deal. By the way, do you want me to give you a ride?"

"No, I drove here. The Passat next to you is it."

Watching Xiao Xian skillfully start the Porsche, Xingguang suddenly realized that she had been worrying for nothing. She had originally thought that everyone was a working person who came to the Osborn Group for an interview. She was worried that Xiao Xian would be exploited by Osborn and would have to borrow money everywhere to pay the penalty for breach of contract in order to avoid wasting his life. It turned out that Xiao Xian was a rich second-generation who came to experience life.

Driving a Porsche to an interview, what a ridiculous idea! When Xingguang parked it, she thought it was some company director's car, but it turned out to be Xiao Xian's. So, if he can't be a superhero, he can only go home and inherit the family fortune, huh?

"Goodbye then, let's have dinner together sometime~" Xiao Xian waved goodbye to Xingguang, who was still standing there in a daze.

"Goodbye." Watching Xiao Xian leave, Xingguang silently took out her Passat car keys.

Meanwhile, when Xiao Xian left his home, Peter, who had been secretly observing the situation through the hallway camera, immediately left the hotel.

Peter glanced at his own door, not daring to face Aunt Mei's anger, and knocked on Xiao Xian's door with trepidation and anticipation. After waiting for a long time, Tomie did not come to open the door. Peter realized that Tomie was avoiding him, and his resentment towards Xiao Xian deepened.

It's all Xiao Xian's fault for telling Tomie to stay away from him. Peter knocked on the door again, but Tomie still didn't open it for him.

"Damn it." Peter cursed Xiao Xian and glanced at the tightly closed door. Although he knew how to pick locks, he knew that if he used the key to pick the lock, not to mention whether it would lower his rating in Tomie's eyes, just the fact that Tomie would call the police would put Peter in a very passive position.

Fortunately, Peter had a backup plan. However, after glancing at his own closed bedroom door, he realized that the Spider-Man suit was still hidden in the ceiling of Peter's bedroom. Going in to retrieve it would definitely get him a scolding from Aunt May, and possibly even a beating.

Peter has the ability to climb walls and use webs, so going in through the window isn't out of the question, but it's broad daylight now, and he's not even wearing his suit. Going in like that would be a bit risky and he'd be easily spotted, especially considering Spider-Man is currently facing several charges of theft and assault.

(End of this chapter)