In front of Superman, you have no choice but to give yourself to a little girl.

"My lord, are you tired?"

Viper stood up, grabbed Wayne's hand, and held it close to his chest. "Why don't you go back to your office and rest for a bit? I'll make you another cup of tea?"

"..."

Go back to the office? Go back to the office my ass!

Did you see the gold capital M on his chest? Does this look like something someone who likes to sit in an office would wear?

Wayne pulled his hand back... but it seemed like he bumped into something when he pulled it back.

But you go up and down the Aimu Dam hundreds of times a day, why would you make a fuss over such a small thing?

"No, I have other things to do."

Wayne, who had no intention of managing the company, didn't explain and simply flew out of the building.

Viper watched Wayne's departing figure without saying anything, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.

After all, her real purpose in wanting to report to Wayne wasn't to have Wayne manage the company, and she had already achieved her goal, even if it was just a small step forward. But even the smallest step forward counts as progress.

As long as Wayne gradually gets used to close contact, it will eventually develop into a "pure, negative-distance relationship" over time, Viper is very confident about this.

In a good mood, Viper used the holographic screen to instruct his subordinates to organize a special operations team to conduct data testing.

Unfortunately, he has reformed now, and he can no longer do those experiments that were not suitable for him before. He can only use this slow experimental method to improve compound No. 5 little by little.

But it's okay, even if it's slow, any progress in the research is a bonus.

More importantly, the multiverse is so vast that things that cannot be studied can be found in other universes.

Viper planned to devise a more detailed plan later, doing things that would make Wayne happy and bring them closer, such as... trying to steal Hydra again?

It's decided then. For the sake of her plan, we'll go and rob Hydra again in a while.

……

A few days later—in Greenwich, Manhattan, on the way to visit the state university.

The biting wind, carrying ice pellets, stung people's faces and slapped against the windows of buildings, leaving frost marks.

From the oppressive clouds to the hazy streets, the whole world seemed to be shrouded in a gray haze, with only a few lights providing a faint glow to keep one from losing one's way.

"How strange, why has it suddenly become so cold?"

Gwen, dressed rather warmly, couldn't help but cover her face with her scarf. Her breath, before it could even form a mist, was extinguished by the cold wind. "If I remember correctly, it's still autumn, isn't it?"

"Yes, theoretically there should be at least another month."

Felicia recalled that the state university started in early September, but she delayed her enrollment by a month to catch up with her deadbeat father. Including the Kenosha incident and some other miscellaneous events, it probably took her at most a month to start.

So, there's still a month to go until December. Isn't it getting cold a bit too early?

While the two chatted, they couldn't help but shrink back towards Wayne, who was sandwiched between them.

Wayne, who isn't afraid of the cold, wasn't actually wearing many layers, but being squeezed together like that by the two of them, he still felt a bit hot.

Of course, Wayne isn't afraid of the heat, but while Wayne may not care, it's uncertain whether others will have any thoughts about it.

A dozen or so steps behind Wayne and his two companions, Peter and Harry pointed and whispered about some enviable, damned bastard.

However, when other envious passersby gathered around and joined them in pointing and whispering about Wayne, they would still yell back at them – "My brother, I can yell at him! Who do you think you are?"

Of course, this is only a very rare case. After all, the snow is heavy now, and some people can't see Wayne's appearance clearly. They wouldn't know that the other party is Superman, so they would do such a thing.

……

Back at the state university, I went to the library.

Gwen and Felicia rented temporary lockers at the library to store their bags and other items.

Wayne, of course, doesn't need to rent a locker. First, he doesn't own anything, and second, even if he needs one, he can fly back to get it.

As for the other two, Harry didn't bring much, but Peter carried a bag containing his homemade battle suit.

The library was quite crowded, with most people writing papers and completing course assignments, while a few were engaged in group project discussions, presentation rehearsals, or exam preparation.

After all, state universities are top-tier institutions, and the majority of students there are engaged in serious academic pursuits.

Wayne and his group happened to be the ones who didn't do anything serious.

Wayne goes without saying; his super brain crushes a group of top professors. Peter and Gwen are both academic geniuses, unlike others who are troubled by this knowledge.

Although Harry was a step below Peter, he was still an excellent student.

As for Felicia... you cat sister are just here to experience life.

Felicia has a high IQ, but she uses it all on hacking, combat training, and intelligence processing, so her university grades remain at a decent level.

If Wayne hadn't been still in college, it wouldn't have been impossible for her to drop out and continue chasing after that damned old man.