Chapter 49: New Year, Departure for New York
Placing Xiao Huang on the sofa, Xi Nian leaned back against the soft cushions and opened his phone to check the flood of messages he hadn't yet read.
Most of them came from his social media, especially Twitter, though there were some texts as well.
In school, Xi Nian wasn't particularly popular. The only person who would spam him like a virus with endless messages was someone he had grown up with since childhood.
His so-called "brother," his childhood friend Gwen.
Scrolling quickly, Xi Nian saw that Gwen had first sent Christmas greetings, along with family photos and personal holiday snapshots.
He swiped through them idly.
Huh, this pink bunny pajama selfie of Gwen wasn't bad at all—quite pleasing to the eye.
Xi Nian didn't hesitate to hit "save."
Later, noticing his lack of replies, Gwen had grown worried and even tried calling him.
By the third day, Gwen thought he had gone missing. Her father, Officer George, ended up running a check, only to discover that Xi Nian and his family had gone abroad.
No doubt Officer George had him firmly on his watchlist now.
Xi Nian sighed and quickly typed back: "Sorry, Gwen. I made you worry. I went on vacation with my aunt. We left in a hurry, and I forgot to tell you."
Barely half a second after sending, Gwen shot back: "Hmph! If an apology was enough, why would we need police? I expect proper compensation!"
"Alright, you name it. Whatever's reasonable, I'll make it up to you," Xi Nian admitted readily, knowing he was in the wrong.
"That's better. I'll think hard about my conditions, so don't you dare try to dodge them!"
"OK," he replied, before scrolling through the rest of his notifications.
He noticed that Kara Danvers had also sent him a Christmas greeting.
But since then, nothing. Her Twitter hadn't been updated since Christmas night either, as if she hadn't logged in once.
"Don't tell me she's on some overseas trip too…" Xi Nian muttered as he tapped out a reply—an apology, an explanation for his silence, a belated Christmas wish, and finally, a casual inquiry about her health and travel plans.
A senior's concern for his junior.
After sending those three messages, he checked the class group chat. The instructor had posted an update: the planned school trip originally set for mid-January was moved up to January 1st, New Year's Day.
And today was December 30th, the second-to-last day of 2011.
So basically, after one day back at school post-Christmas, they'd immediately head off for a three-day trip to New York?
Xi Nian was speechless. After his recent "travel" experiences, the word gave him a headache.
He could only hope this time it was actual sightseeing, not another round of "save the world" or "intense training." Those had nothing to do with rest and relaxation.
After finishing his replies, Xi Nian lazily browsed the news.
One glance, and his eyes widened in shock. He straightened up instantly, scrolling faster, his expression tense.
During his days away on Themyscira, two massive events had shaken the outside world.
The first concerned Captain America, Steve Rogers.
Following the death of former agent Peggy Carter, Captain America had appeared in public for the first time in decades as one of her pallbearers.
Seventy years had passed since he was lost in the ice. His lover had aged and passed away, while he remained frozen in time—still looking like a man in his early twenties.
No comrades, no peers, no chance to keep that old promise. It was a cruel fate for any hero.
A man out of his era, stepping into the 21st century—what future awaited him now?
The second event was about the god among men in Metropolis—Superman.
Since his battle against the Kryptonian invasion a year and a half ago, Superman had been revered almost like a deity, saving countless lives with his immense power.
But in recent days, public opinion had shifted sharply.
The collateral damage from his battles, the injuries and destruction caused, had turned parts of Metropolis against him. The city's court even announced a public hearing.
The date was set for January 2nd.
Superman himself would be summoned and put on trial.
The possibility existed that Superman could be judged guilty and even imprisoned.
After reading both reports, Xi Nian frowned deeply.
More and more extraordinary beings were surfacing in the world. The only way to fight the extraordinary was with more of the same—but that inevitably led to fear and mistrust from ordinary people.
Internal and external threats pressed down on Earth, like an unstoppable tide of the times.
"Maybe it's time to prepare some backup plans," Xi Nian murmured, glancing at Xiao Huang, who was snoring softly beside him.
An infant Flerken, a dormant Venom symbiote…
Without counting his aunt, it still didn't feel like enough.
No matter what, he had to protect the people around him.
Even if his enemies were Old Gods, aliens, metahumans, or monsters—he would not waver.
Two days later, January 1st, New Year's Day.
The first day of 2012.
The skies were clear, the sun bright.
Normally, January was the coldest month, but this year the climate was strangely warm. The outdoor temperature felt more like autumn, and many students had shed their heavy coats.
By noon, a bright yellow school bus pulled up at the campus gates.
The instructor stood outside with a loudspeaker. "Everyone, hurry up! Grab your luggage, get on the bus, and find your seats."
Students poured out of the building and boarded the bus.
"Xi Nian! What are you still doing? Get on already!" the instructor shouted.
"Coming!" Xi Nian called back, running from the classroom building with his bag slung over his shoulder.
He had just gone to check Kara's classroom, but she hadn't shown up again. Since Christmas night, she hadn't replied to any of his messages, and at school she had been marked absent on sick leave.
It was hard not to worry.
As Xi Nian climbed aboard, he noticed the instructor's thermos cup, which had a sticker plastered on it—of his cross-dressed backside during the fight with Abomination.
His eye twitched. Seriously, who could survive that kind of humiliation?
Sighing, he stepped into the bus and immediately spotted Gwen waving at him from the back rows. The seat beside her—coveted by half the class—was guarded by her small schoolbag.
Xi Nian smiled and waved back, making his way to her.
"Everyone buckle up, we're leaving!"
With that booming announcement from the instructor, Xi Nian's trip to New York began.
TL/N: I have a new fanfic. A mix of DC/Marvel/The Boys and many other shows, anime or movies. It's a unique type of fanfic ngl. [Homelander? Who Cares! I'm Superman's Doomsday!]
[Please give powerstones if you're enjoying the story.
500 stones = 1 extra chapter
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