Chapter 162: Be My Girlfriend!
"Teacher, please hear me out!"
"Xi Nian, you've already explained yourself very clearly."
"Huh? But I didn't… I haven't said anything yet! Teacher!"
After Xi Nian chased after Felicia out of the fitting room area, both doors suddenly opened at the same time. Gwen, her face completely red, covered herself in embarrassment, while Kara came out trying hard not to laugh.
"Kara, wasn't that prank a bit too much?" Gwen asked nervously.
"I believe Senior Xi Nian can handle it." Kara said mysteriously. "If he can't deal with even this, then he'll be in for real trouble in the future."
"What do you mean?" Gwen shot her a curious glance.
"Nothing." Kara shook her head, then as if suddenly remembering something: "Oh right, thank you."
She handed Gwen a shopping bag filled with neatly folded clothes. "Here, a gift for you. Consider it my thanks."
"Wait! Thank me for what?" Gwen looked down at the so-called gift in confusion.
Kara replied, "For letting me have Saturday with him."
"That's not true, if anything I should be apologizing." Gwen quickly waved her hands. "Originally, I didn't realize Sunday was my birthday, so I scheduled with Xi Nian for Saturday. Then I had to move into the time you had already arranged."
"But you could have easily taken both days of his weekend for yourself." Kara smiled lightly and motioned at the bag. "So take this as an early birthday present from me. Go on, accept it."
"…Fine then." Gwen hesitated a moment before accepting the bag, speaking sincerely. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. But don't hold back because of this—we're still rivals." Kara's eyes shone with confidence and fighting spirit.
"Of course. I might compromise on other things, but not on this one."
Gwen's answer was firm.
…
On the way home.
Xi Nian walked with his head down, dragging his feet, while Gwen and Kara followed along carrying their new clothes.
"Xi Nian, you explained things clearly, didn't you?" Gwen asked softly. Remembering what happened earlier, her cheeks still felt warm.
"More or less… barely." Xi Nian could only answer like that.
"Don't worry. Teacher Felicia is an adult, she'll understand." Kara said with absolute confidence.
"Understand what? It was your fault in the first place…"
Xi Nian scowled and tapped Kara's smooth forehead with his finger.
"Ow, Senior, you're bullying me." Kara rubbed her forehead and pretended to pout.
Xi Nian just smirked. As if he'd believe that—Kryptonians were supposed to have bodies harder than steel.
No… harder than the toughest metal on Earth.
…
"Let's split up here."
The three arrived at a crossroad. Xi Nian headed straight toward his apartment complex, Gwen walked off toward her neighborhood next door, and Kara slipped into a deserted alley.
Moments later—
From above the city came the sonic boom of something breaking the sound barrier. A tiny silhouette, fast as a jet, small as a bullet, shot off into the distance.
Xi Nian looked up at the clouds torn open by her flight, and suddenly recalled what had happened two days earlier.
When he and Mera's darkened symbiote form arrived at Fisherman Country riding the massive Karathen, the Atlantean nobles had been shouting about calling upon a "divine envoy" to oppose them.
And then—
Out walked a girl in her familiar Supergirl battle outfit with the red cape fluttering behind her… and beside her, a shark with arms and legs.
Yes.
That day, Supergirl Kara and King Shark Nanaue had accidentally stumbled into the Atlantean city. Because Kara had punched open a trench in the deep sea and Nanaue looked like some bizarre beast from legend, the Atlanteans mistook them for divine messengers.
In the end, it was only thanks to Dark Mera and Kara putting on an act together that they managed to trick the nobles.
And it was then… that Kara insisted on giving him a "body examination" with her X-ray vision.
…
"I'm home!"
Xi Nian pushed open the door, calling out by habit.
To his surprise, a soft and gentle voice answered from inside: "Welcome back."
Xi Nian froze at the doorway.
Following his gaze—
A tall, stunning woman approached gracefully. The black-haired beauty casually fetched slippers from the shoe cabinet, bending down just enough to show off her mature figure. From the curve of her neck to the arch of her hips, she traced a perfect line. Even the simple act of setting slippers down was done with elegance and poise.
Just like before.
Nothing unusual.
But what struck Xi Nian most was how rare this sight had become. Ever since his aunt joined the Justice League, she had been busy from morning until night. Scenes like this hadn't happened in a long while.
"You always treat me like a kid." Xi Nian muttered vaguely, handing his schoolbag to his aunt and switching shoes.
"Didn't you say it yourself?" Diana blinked, her lips curling into a smile. "For you, a thousand times over."
Looking at her, Xi Nian's heart skipped a beat. Who wouldn't?
Diana gazed softly at him. "You've been doing very well lately. With school, with extraordinary events—you've handled everything perfectly. Unlike me, too busy with Justice League matters to take care of you."
"The more you say, the more I feel like a child."
Xi Nian chuckled, then suddenly had an idea. "Then do I get a reward? Or maybe compensation. Even kids deserve candy, right?"
"Of course."
Her lips parted slightly. "Whatever you want, I'll reward you."
"Anything at all…?" Xi Nian's eyes flicked toward her luminous lips.
Diana turned and walked into the living room, back facing him. "As long as it's not… too much."
"Then…"
Clenching his fists, Xi Nian stared at her back. He felt as though bound by the Lasso of Truth, unable to lie to his own heart. The words burst out:
"Be my girlfriend!"
"…."
Diana froze completely, like a divine statue rooted to the living room floor, not turning around.
Too reckless. I knew it…
Xi Nian sighed inwardly, quickly adding: "Just one day… no, half a day!"
Still facing away, Diana asked softly, "Why do you want this?"
"I've never dated before," Xi Nian admitted after a pause. "But lately I want to understand it better. Think of it as practice… practice for love."
"I see. If it's just practice, then I suppose I can't refuse." Diana seemed to convince herself. She brushed back a few damp strands of hair clinging to her face, still not turning back. "Only half a day. The time is—"
"Tomorrow, after school Friday!" Xi Nian jumped in quickly, afraid she might change her mind.
"…Alright."
Diana nodded calmly. But before she could take a step, Xi Nian piped up again: "Auntie, can I get some allowance in advance? Five hundred should be enough."
"What for?" Diana asked out of curiosity.
"For dinner tomorrow night. It's a date—obviously I can't let my girlfriend pay."
Xi Nian grinned as he walked past her. "Honestly, I'm kind of nervous. This will be the first time I've ever invited a girl on a date. Auntie, do you have any advice?"
"No."
Her lips curled ever so slightly, but she kept her face stern. "But five hundred isn't enough. I'll give you ten thousand."
She paused, then added, "Tomorrow night, do your best."
[Please give powerstones if you're enjoying the story.
500 stones = 1 extra chapter
patreon.com/GuessMyName33 10$ for 80 chapters ahead]