Chapter 105 The War Approaches
On the rooftop, a black-haired boy and a green-haired girl leaned against the railing together. The neon lights of the city and the cool night breeze brushed over them.
"I want to thank you." Polaris, Lorna, pushed herself up by the railing so she was level with Xi Nian's height. Staring into the distance of the city, she suddenly spoke awkwardly.
"Thank me? For what?" Xi Nian looked at her delicate pale profile curiously.
"Thank you for looking after Wanda. For giving her a new home, for not leaving her alone in New York…" Lorna muttered, and then, as if she couldn't hold it back, she snapped with frustration, "Ugh, saying thank you feels so embarrassing! Forget it, I'll repay you directly. What do you want? Or who do you want me to beat up for you?"
Xi Nian couldn't help laughing.
"What are you laughing at!" Lorna shot him a glare, feeling like his laugh made her look… foolish.
"When it comes to Wanda, you don't need to thank me. Honestly, it's more like she takes care of me than the other way around." Xi Nian shrugged, then asked curiously, "That time, why didn't you just take Wanda with you?"
Lorna fell silent for a while before answering, "My place… it's not right for her."
"And it's right for you? At your age, you should be—"
Before he could finish, Lorna cut him off coldly. "Even my own parents didn't care about me. You definitely don't get to."
Xi Nian fell silent. He had already guessed parts of her past, and that only deepened his sympathy for this girl who might even be younger than Wanda.
"I…" Xi Nian opened his mouth, then said firmly, "What if I take care of you instead?"
The small green-haired girl trembled slightly, then quickly regained her composure. She gave him a sideways look filled with disdain. "You? Forget it. Me keeping you is more realistic."
Xi Nian felt crushed by the remark.
"Remember, I'm your boss. That will never change, for life!"
Lorna suddenly pushed off the railing with her hands, her body rising lightly into the air. The night wind swept across the rooftop, tearing the white cap from her head and sending strands of green hair streaming wildly into the sky.
Xi Nian's eyes widened in awe.
In the cold, silver moonlight, Lorna's bright green hair danced like a comet streaking across the heavens, burning brilliant for just that instant.
"Little brother." Lorna narrowed her emerald eyes, walked proudly toward him with her hands behind her back, chest pushed forward, chin tilted high in defiance. Sticking out her pink tongue playfully, she smiled and teased, "Are you sure you don't want… a reward?"
Xi Nian's back was pressed against the railing. He had nowhere to retreat.
"Hmph, fine. If you don't want it—" Lorna pouted.
Before she could finish, Xi Nian cupped her face in both hands, bent down, and pressed his lips against the softness before him.
"Mmph!"
The once-arrogant Lorna's eyes flew wide, and her body melted instantly like ice cream under the sun.
Xi Nian felt like he was tasting a filled candy—sweet and soft, though with a faint trace of smoke clinging to it.
At the same time, through the contact, something flowed between them.
Xi Nian's hair shifted into a deep green, and like opposite poles of a magnet, the two clung tightly together. A halo of emerald energy flared around them, encircling them like the glowing bands of twin stars.
After a long moment, Lorna pulled back, wiping the corner of her lips and gasping for breath. "I almost suffocated!"
Xi Nian froze. Only now did he realize—she had been holding her breath the whole time.
"Little brother, I'm leaving. Oh, and I'm still looking into that matter with Pietro." Lorna waved casually and turned to leave without waiting for his reply.
"Boss Polaris, take care of yourself. And… stop smoking, alright?" Xi Nian called after her.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" Lorna spun and glared furiously at him before stomping away down the stairs, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
…
Xi Nian slipped quietly back home, only to nearly jump out of his skin when he saw Wanda, the scarlet maid, standing in front of him.
"Master, dinner is ready. Huh? What's with your hair again?" Wanda tilted her head curiously. She was already used to her Master's hair changing colors.
But usually, it turned silver. Why was it dark green this time?
"Let's just eat dinner. Don't mind the details." Xi Nian forced a calm tone.
Wanda nodded without pressing further. She placed his slippers on the carpet before returning to the living room.
Watching her crimson figure retreat, Xi Nian secretly let out a breath of relief.
Why did it suddenly feel like he had just been caught cheating? By his wife's sister, no less?
Damn… this was too thrilling. His heart couldn't take it!
…
A week passed.
During that week, Xi Nian finally felt like he had returned to an ordinary daily life.
But he knew it couldn't last.
Television and newspapers were already reporting mysterious disappearances.
The missing were from all walks of life—teachers, shop clerks, professors, even janitors. They vanished in different places: at home, on the way back, even inside laboratories.
Everywhere it happened, security cameras had been destroyed, leaving behind damage no human could have caused.
And most of these disappearances were in Metropolis—the city once safest under Superman's protection, untouched by crime or disaster.
Xi Nian knew. This was the work of Apokolips' dark forces lurking on Earth.
Which was why Aunt Diana had grown busier than ever. She even took Jarro, who usually just basked in the sun at home, hoping to use its powers to help track Apokolips' agents.
Though the open war hadn't begun yet, Xi Nian could feel the storm brewing. The Justice League and Apokolips were already clashing in the shadows.
The League's goal was simple—protect the remaining Mother Boxes, and wipe out the hidden Parademons.
The enemy's goal was also clear—unite the three Mother Boxes as one.
Once the war broke out openly, it would be the final battle, with every card on the table.
And Xi Nian was ready—ready to be Diana's ultimate hidden trump card.
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