Kent Farm.
The atmosphere at dinner tonight was a bit heavy.
"Miss Dejardin called. No students were seriously harmed, but a few choked on water while unconscious and need to stay in the hospital for observation," Jonathan said, stirring his mashed potatoes.
As he spoke, his gaze subtly shifted towards Eric and Clark.
"This must be a blessing in disguise," Martha said, affectionately pouring Clark a glass of milk and patting his hand on the table. "They shouldn't blame themselves for this."
Jonathan's serious gaze remained fixed on both of them.
"Clark, did you pull the school bus out of the river?"
"Yes, I wanted to, but I didn't succeed," Clarkanswered truthfully. "So I asked Eric to help me."
"Eric?" Jonathan shifted his gaze to Eric, who had been silently savoring his beef stew with potatoes.
Compared to hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and pizza, he preferred this beef stew with potatoes, which was closer to Celestial Empire cuisine.
It suited his eating habits better.
"Sorry, Dad, I didn't want to get involved, but Clarkconvinced me in his own way," Eric replied calmly, putting down his knife and fork.
Yes, he initially had no intention of helping.
After all, he hadn't aspired to be a superhero, so what did other people's lives or deaths have to do with him?
Since his template was "Homelander," it meant the system also considered him a complete scoundrel.
Wasn't it normal for a "villain" to stand by and do nothing?
If those high school students who insulted Jonathanand Martha hadn't been hospitalized, he would have found another opportunity to deal with them.
However, because he was an orphan in his previous life, he felt a long-lost family affection in this home, which made him develop feelings for Jonathan and Martha.
Otherwise, no matter what method Clark used, he wouldn't be able to threaten him.
"Sigh!" Hearing Eric's reply, Jonathan let out a heavy sigh, clasping his hands together and supporting his throbbing forehead.
He didn't know what to say.
His two sons before him had extremely contrasting personalities.
Clark was simple, kind, and helpful, eager to use his strength, believing it could both help others and fulfill his own value.
He knew Clark didn't fit in at school and had less presence than his younger brother at home, so he yearned for others' recognition and longed to freely display his extraordinary powers without restraint.
Eric, on the other hand, was the opposite of Clark.
He was calm, intelligent, low-key, restrained, and had a clear understanding of how society operated, but he lacked sympathy and empathy for others and never displayed his power in front of outsiders.
Sometimes, he even reached a point of indifference, even abandoning those in need.
Just like this school bus incident.
He disapproved of Clark exposing himself to save people because he wanted both his sons to be ordinary people.
But he also disapproved of Eric's bystander behavior because he didn't want his son to become someone without sympathy and empathy.
So now, he was filled with internal conflict.
If the personalities of the two could just balance each other out, that would be great.
At this moment, as a father, Jonathan suddenly had such a thought flash through his mind.
He looked up, shaking the absurd thought from his head.
He felt that Eric would understand his intentions, so he didn't plan to explain anything to Eric.
He turned directly to Clark and said, "Accidents always happen in life, and we can't stop them. But Clark, sometimes, you have to know how to hide yourself."
Clark, who had been silent, felt a surge of rebelliousness and retorted to his father, "Like Eric, being indifferent? Dad, I was saving people!"
He hadn't revealed that Eric was the culprit behind the school bus losing control, so Jonathan didn't know Eric was the instigator of everything.
"Of course, Clark, we know you were saving people, but just like we agreed, you have to keep your secret hidden," Jonathan tried to make his words sound as non-aggressive as possible.
"Then what do you want me to do? Watch them drown?" Clark's tone gradually grew heavier.
He didn't understand why his father was gradually becoming like Eric.
"Clark, there are things in this world more important than your own life, more important than your family and friends," Jonathan's voice was heavy. "If people discover your and Eric's superpowers, then this world will be turned upside down. Our beliefs, our..."
Jonathan paused for a moment and said, "People's perceptions, everything will be overturned."
He looked at his wife, smiled, and patted Martha's hand to indicate he was fine, then asked Clark, "Clark, do you remember the first time Eric showed his abilities? The Fordhams were terrified! People aren't ready to welcome someone who will change the world."
"So, God made Eric and me like this?" Clark didn't understand his father's words, pressing his lips together and looking at his father stubbornly.
Then he glanced at Eric, who was sitting silently to the side, and stood up in disappointment.
"I'm tired of what you're saying, not to act rashly, to hide my abilities..." Clark's voice grew a few shades heavier.
Although not hysterical, this suppressed disappointment represented his extreme anger.
"I just hope not to be a 'Luthor' at school, not to be looked down upon! And you keep telling me every day to be normal, just like this..."
He angrily picked up his knife and fork, and with just a little force, the fork snapped into two pieces.
"Is this normal?" He slammed the fork onto the table and turned to walk away.
"I'd do anything to be normal, but I'm not normal!"
"Clark!" Seeing her son walk away, Martha wanted to go after him but was stopped by Jonathan.
"Martha, since he wants to be alone, don't follow him."
Martha watched Clark rush out the door, then looked at her husband's crestfallen face, and finally sighed and sat back down.
"Don't worry, Dad, Clark will understand your intentions someday," Eric said, finally finishing his beef and mashed potatoes, comforting his father.
"Then what about you, Eric? You possess even greater power than Clark. Are you willing to be an ordinary person?" Jonathan suddenly asked Eric directly.
Compared to his suddenly rebellious eldest son, he was more worried about his younger son before him.
Because as a father, he had never truly understood him.
"I..." Eric's lips curved into a slight smile. He held his mother's slightly cool hand beside him. "I'm not willing to be an ordinary person, but Father, Mother, I've always considered myself a Smallville native from Kansas, your son. I've never been confused about my identity."
Jonathan was silent for a moment, then looked up and sighed, "This day will come eventually. Perhaps it's time to tell you, Eric."