Even though Ian was genuinely distressed.
And seemed sincere.
Lois still didn't quite believe him. Not only that, Lois felt Clark shouldn't believe him either, Superman's physical constitution and resistance to toxins should be higher than hers, a mere ordinary person.
Where was his common sense?
"You just believe him like that?" Lois looked at Clark, who was quietly eating, trying to avoid getting involved. Clark quickly put down his spoon and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"There are always many things in this world that we can't explain... Our family itself is quite unscientific, so it's not impossible for Ian to have befriended a goddess only he can see." Clark didn't answer directly, choosing a more subtle approach—he truly believed that at least part of what Ian said was the truth.
"I certainly don't doubt how surreal this world is... Being with you has exposed me to a lot, but even so, Ian's story is still too outlandish."
Lois let out a heavy sigh.
"There's a little artistic embellishment, not much—you know, Mom, I'm a writer. I can't help myself." Ian quickly tried to salvage the situation, batting his eyes.
He originally intended to bury his head in his food.
But then he remembered he now had two big shots he needed to appease.
So.
"Praise Miss Death, thank you for granting me dinner... and thank you to my godfather." Ian had never been a henchman, so he simply copied the customs of Christians.
He spread the love evenly.
Neglecting no one.
The Death Knight remained aloof, giving no response, perhaps being unable to respond. However, Miss Death, who was mysteriously connected again through prayer, was different.
"Shut up!"
She even directly sent Ian a raging curse. Well, feelings develop through interaction. Not only did she reply instantly, but it was also a voice message. Ian felt his head buzz.
Nevertheless.
He still had something to say.
"Oh, wait, Mom, now there's no artistic embellishment either, it's total secret love." Ian's tone was decisive, leaving both Clark and Lois completely confused.
The couple had no idea what had happened.
"Even if what you said is true."
Lois rolled her eyes, deciding not to dwell on the topic. She picked up her spoon, scooped a large amount of boiled green vegetables, and heavily placed them in Ian's bowl.
"But even you, who is madly adored by a Super-Goddess, still have to eat all these green vegetables tonight." It must be said that motherly love is silent, yet hard to swallow.
Hearing his mother's words.
Ian's face turned bitter at the sight of the extra green vegetables in his bowl.
Broccoli.
It might be one of the symbolic foods of elite families.
But it was also definitely the lifelong enemy of a meat-lover like him.
*Crunch*
Ian had just taken a bite.
The next moment.
He saw his silent father stand up, visibly annoyed.
"Ding-dong~"
The direction of the front door.
The doorbell immediately rang.
"I'll get it, I'll get it."
Ian quickly spit out the broccoli, rushing toward the door. However, someone moved faster than him. Ian only saw a blur before Clark was standing in front of him.
"I'll take care of it."
Clark pushed Ian behind him.
Then.
He gritted his teeth and opened the door.
"Bruce, we agreed you wouldn't interrupt my normal life." He clearly already knew who the visitor was, and his tone was full of displeasure toward the person outside the door.
This name immediately alarmed Ian. He quickly tilted his head, looking past Clark's broad arm toward the door. Standing outside was a middle-aged man in a custom suit with an extraordinary demeanor.
His physique was remarkably well-built.
But it wasn't overly exaggerated.
He carried the unique aura of an old money family. It was Bruce Wayne, the owner of Gotham, the fake persona the Dark Knight used to conceal his identity in the dead of night!
"I'm not here for you, Clark." Bruce calmly interrupted, his gaze sweeping over Superman's wide shoulders and landing on Ian, who was peeking out from behind.
"I'm here for the author of a manuscript that Wayne Enterprises Publishing received today." He slightly nodded toward Ian. "Presumably, you are Mr. Ian Kent?"
The Batman, who was pretending to be a decent human being, spoke in a gentle and extremely polite tone.
"You actually submitted your novel?!" Clark clearly hadn't expected Ian to actually plan on publishing his work. He was first stunned, then immediately turned to look at his young son.
His eyes were full of surprise and strangeness.
"The world needs to appreciate my astonishing talent, after all." Ian nodded as a matter of course. He looked as if he was thinking for the world, displaying a righteous indignation about enlightening the masses.
"..."
Clark's expression was priceless.
In contrast to his speechlessness.
Bruce actually gave Ian's confidence his approval.
"It is indeed a very talented piece of work."
He commented without changing his expression.
This only made Clark feel that Bruce had ill intentions.
"Are you serious?"
Clark frowned, his eyes, full of pressure, stared seriously at Bruce outside the door. Bruce remained unmoved, meeting Clark's gaze openly.
"Please don't doubt my judgment as an investor." Bruce's voice was steady, as if stating a simple fact. "I am simply doing what a businessman should do."
"Mr. Kent's book will certainly make me a fortune in the specific market." His tone was very certain, leaving Clark dumbfounded.
He truly didn't know whether to continue suspecting Bruce of having ulterior motives or to question the mental state of people today. The throbbing in his temple was Kryptonian high blood pressure that Clark hadn't felt in a long time.
"Congratulations, Clark. You are about to have a millionaire son." Bruce's smile became more apparent. At least his tone sounded genuinely congratulatory.
Hearing this.
Clark remained silent.
But Ian's eyes were already lit up.
"Really? Mr. Wayne, who is often on TV and keeps his word!" Ian's head popped out from under Clark's armpit. He was never stingy with flattery.
"I guarantee it."
Bruce smiled and nodded.
"What an impolite father... Please, come in! Come in!" Ian instantly transformed into the most enthusiastic host, pushing aside Clark, who was in a state of compounded speechlessness and internal struggle, and welcomed Bruce into the house.
Well.
Since the person came knocking.
There must be a reason.
Being resistant wouldn't help.
Besides, Ian wasn't willing to be difficult with Franklin.
"Would you like to try some of my mother's broccoli? It's especially healthy white person's dinner!" Ian led Bruce into the dining room, proactively offering his own plate of broccoli to the human-disguised Batman.
"No, thank you." Bruce glanced at the wilted green vegetable on the plate and the suspicious-looking paste on it, his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.
His intuition told him.
Eating this might give him a severe illness.
"Who is it? Hmm?"
Lois came out of the kitchen, saw Bruce sitting down, and her expression changed slightly, but she didn't say anything, only looking up at Clark who followed closely behind.
Clark subtly shook his head at his wife.
"My son might indeed have a talent I can't appreciate, but I don't believe the mere publication of a book warrants a personal visit from a busy man like you."
Clark sat down across from Bruce.
"You are right."
Bruce calmly pulled out an exquisite device from the inside pocket of his trench coat.
"However, what if I add this to the equation... Don't I have the right to investigate?" He pressed a button toward the living room TV. The screen automatically lit up, playing tonight's evening news.
"Eyewitnesses filmed this thrilling scene with their phones," the news anchor's voice came through the speaker. "Supergirl once again rescued a Boeing airliner just before it was about to crash."
"This is the 364th plane incident this year, and the 360th Boeing incident. As a member of the public, I have to ask, what about the other four plane incidents?"
This questioning.
Was entirely reasonable.
However.
Immediately after.
The camera switched to a blurry phone video. Kara was accepting an interview, looking heroic and cool, and behind her, a figure wearing a stocking over his head was charging fees and taking photos with the survivors.
"According to very reliable information, a new superhero has emerged. Shortly after the plane incident, he appeared at the scene of another accident with Supergirl."
"We can reasonably deduce that this man is a novice hero, learning from Supergirl—The enthusiastic netizens have given him a very fitting nickname."
The host was broadcasting the news very seriously.
However.
Outside the TV screen.
Hearing the public's name for him.
Ian's expression instantly froze.
"What the heck!? Stocking-Mask?"
Facing what was likely the origin story of his life as an Independent NPC.
He was truly seeing red.
At this moment, Ian felt like making the whole world feel pain, but then he realized that doing so might change his name from Stocking-Mask to Stocking-Freak or Stocking-Doctor.
He calmed down again.
"I was actually wearing sheer tights, so they should call me Sheer-Tights Man, but Sheer-Tights Superman sounds good too, completely legitimate." Ian suddenly corrected the host on the television with a peaceful tone.
"????"
Batman rarely loses his composure.
Unless he truly cannot hold it in.
***
Read 20 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666