Chapter 133: What Are You Two, Siamese Aliens?
Susan and the other three didn't have the slightest guard against Xi Nian and Lorna, the so-called "siblings."
First, because the two were far too young—put together, they weren't even thirty. It was hard to imagine them being part of any conspiracy.
Second, the current situation was also seen as Susan's powers losing control, dragging the boy into it.
With Reed's genius intellect, he might have sensed something unusual about Xi Nian. But after all the upheavals he had experienced in just one day, his mind was completely occupied with the changes in his own body. Add to that the anxiety of his close friend, Ben, which was rubbing off on him—so he ended up regarding Xi Nian and Lorna as nothing more than ordinary kids.
Blending in, Xi Nian quickly pieced things together with help from Jarro feeding him intel via mental link.
One week earlier—
Reed's research had shown that exposure to the cosmic storm created by solar winds might trigger the evolutionary process of early planetary life. Studying it could potentially advance humanity's understanding of genes at the fundamental level and even lead to cures for countless human diseases.
So—
Reed brought his friend Ben to secure funding from the company led by CEO Victor. There, they teamed up with Susan, who was the company's genetics director, and her younger brother Johnny. Together, the five boarded the company's private shuttle into space.
Out there, they were accidentally caught in the cosmic storm.
When they returned yesterday, their bodies began undergoing changes—
Ben's body turned to stone, granting him the power to lift cars weighing several tons with ease.
Reed's body became elastic, able to stretch and retract at will.
Johnny gained mastery over fire, cloaking himself in flames and even reaching temperatures rivaling a supernova.
As for Susan—her abilities were the most complex: invisibility, energy shields, and a strange force-field effect…
True to his genius, Reed couldn't immediately build a machine to counter the cosmic storm, but he still managed to design specialized suits for the four of them. Fireproof, invisible, stretchable, and durable—the Fantastic suits.
Xi Nian thought: Hulk's stretchy purple pants probably came from the same principle.
Reed and Johnny quickly changed into their suits. Susan couldn't, since her body was still linked with Xi Nian's left hand.
By the time they checked their condition and developed the suits, night had already fallen outside the office windows.
"Right, I need to check on Victor!" Reed suddenly remembered something, looked out at the glowing city, and hurriedly left.
Finally figured it out, huh.
Xi Nian mused. Since these four had already gained superpowers, Victor, who went into space with them, must have been affected as well.
At this moment—
Holding her own Fantastic suit in one hand, Susan smiled at Xi Nian.
"Max, how about… you come home with me tonight?"
"Sure," Xi Nian nodded with a smile.
"Kid, watch yourself. Don't get any ideas about my sister tonight," Johnny warned coolly.
"Johnny! What are you saying?!" Susan finally snapped. "He's still a student, years younger than me! And Polaris will be there too!"
"Who knows," Johnny shrugged.
Truth be told, he wouldn't have minded if Reed became his brother-in-law. That was far better than the arrogant, unpleasant Victor.
But as a seasoned player who'd dated over ten girlfriends, Johnny couldn't shake an ominous premonition ever since meeting Xi Nian.
Watching his sister leave with Xi Nian and Lorna, Johnny shook his head, dismissing his own ridiculous thought.
No way. No way his brother-in-law would end up being a kid even younger than him…
…
Susan's apartment was also in downtown Los Angeles, not far from the company.
It was a compact unit, less than fifty square meters. Perfect for one person, but once Xi Nian and Lorna entered, the space immediately felt cramped.
The warm light clicked on.
Susan tied up her loose golden hair, looking both professional and refined. As the hostess, she quickly tidied the clothes and books scattered across the sofa, with Xi Nian moving in sync thanks to their linked bodies.
Hours of being joined together had given them a certain rhythm—when one lifted a foot, the other followed without thought.
But—
It still looked like Xi Nian was holding her waist the whole time. The pairing of a youthful boy with a mature woman had even made the cab driver earlier give them odd looks.
Fortunately, after today's outdoor ordeal, Susan had already developed a thicker skin.
Since dining out wasn't convenient, she picked up a McDonald's family meal on the way. She set it on the small dining table and turned to the obedient girl trailing them.
"Polaris, is a burger okay for dinner?"
"Yes, sister," Lorna replied softly, her voice gentle and sweet.
Xi Nian's gaze drifted to her hair.
Dark green, not crimson.
For a moment earlier, he had almost mistaken her for Wanda.
"So cute."
Seeing Lorna sit down so well-behaved, Susan's heart softened. She reached out, wanting to pat the girl's head.
"Don't!"
Xi Nian instantly stopped her when he caught a flash of coldness in Lorna's eyes. He lightly knocked Susan's hand away with his right hand.
But the moment his palm touched Susan's hand—
He regretted it.
A static spark tingled at the contact point, triggering another pull of the force field. His right hand stuck fast to the back of Susan's left hand!
Susan: "…"
Xi Nian: "…"
Lorna blinked, her lips curling like a mischievous imp watching a show.
Looking at their second connection point, Xi Nian let out the words he hadn't finished earlier:
"My sister… doesn't like people touching her head."
…
A scene destined for silent tears.
His left hand was fused to Susan's waist. His right hand was fused to her hand. The two stood locked together like a ballroom couple, frozen in the spotlight in a too-intimate pose.
Xi Nian sighed at the burgers on the table as his stomach growled softly. Both of his hands were completely useless now.
"I'll take off your mask and feed you," Susan inhaled deeply, deciding she should shoulder the responsibility as the only adult here.
No matter the situation, don't panic!
"No, let Polaris do it!" Xi Nian yelped quickly.
He was truly scared.
If Susan's remaining free hand ended up stuck to his face… they really would become some kind of Siamese alien!
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