Kent Farm.
"Five Scarecrows, two buckets of milk, fifteen baby bottles—Clark has initially mastered his Heat Vision," Eric said to his parents, taking a sip of juice.
"Although a bit clumsy, he's not beyond saving."
"You've brilliantly fulfilled a teacher's duty, Eric," Jonathan said, patting Eric's shoulder in praise.
Clark, standing nearby, felt a touch of jealousy.
With such rapid mastery, shouldn't he be the one most deserving of praise?
Clark quickly composed himself and demonstrated his control to his parents.
A row of candles was placed on the round table.
He took a deep breath, focused intently, and looked at the candles.
Poof!
The flame of the first candle lit up.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Then, the flames of the second, third, and fourth candles flickered to life.
Clark easily used his Heat Vision to light the row of candles on the round table.
"Once I know how to generate heat, I can control it at will without having to think about it—
"Sex!"
Clark's proud words were cut short.
As he used his Heat Vision to light the last candle wick, he misjudged the force, and the flame shot upwards with a whoosh!
Jonathan and Martha were startled.
"Uh…"
Clark, feeling a bit awkward from being proven wrong, glanced at Eric, then guiltily explained to his parents, "Occasionally, there are small accidents."
Jonathan and Martha exchanged glances, their doubts about Clark's ability to control his powers growing significantly.
It seemed Eric's guidance for Clark still had a long way to go.
The next day.
Eric received a phone call at home.
After a few words with the caller, he hung up.
"What I dread most is seeing black smoke coming from the tractor's exhaust pipe," Jonathan said, walking in from outside with oily hands, complaining to Eric and Martha.
"That means the tractor's engine has a significant problem, and our current budget doesn't support replacing an engine."
"Or it could be a displaced oil cylinder plunger adjustment rod joint and oil pump rod, or a quality issue with the nozzle atomization," Eric said casually to his father after hanging up the phone.
"Mmm-hmm," Jonathan and Martha exchanged glances, smiling.
"I suspect our son could easily pass the mechanical engineering exam now."
"I don't think Eric would become a tractor mechanic," Martha said, stirring the fruit salad, asking her husband, "Is Clark still practicing in the backyard?"
"Yes, he seems to be getting the hang of it more and more."
Jonathan washed the grease off his hands with soap.
"Eric's warm milk practice method is good; it kills two birds with one stone.
It lets Clark practice controlling his powers and acts as a free heater."
Martha, however, thought it was a terrible idea.
"That will waste a lot of milk."
"It seems so," Jonathan nodded.
"Clark thinks so too, which is why he has to carefully control the heat from his eyes to avoid wasting milk by damaging the container."
After explaining to his wife and wiping his hands with a towel, Jonathan asked Eric, "Whose call was that, Eric?"
"Metropolis University Press.
They told me the first edition hardcover has started selling, and the royalties, first reprint rights, and book club rights—those royalty shares should come down soon," Eric explained to his parents.
"That fast?" Jonathan was surprised.
"And they told me Lex Luthor helped out a bit."
"Lex?"
Upon hearing the name "Lex Luthor," Jonathan's brow furrowed.
He wanted to say something, but seeing his wife's warning glance, he ultimately refrained from saying anything discouraging.
He walked over and patted Eric's shoulder.
"No matter what, your mother and I are proud of you, Eric."
"Thank you," Eric said, thanking his parents before adding, "One more thing: the people from the publishing house wanted to hold a book signing at the school, but I refused."
"You don't like it?" Martha asked her younger son, putting down the fruit salad in her hand.
"I don't like being in the spotlight like that," Eric said, casually placing the newspaper he had finished reading into the storage cabinet.
"My interest in becoming a writer is about the same as my interest in becoming a tractor mechanic."
Jonathan expressed understanding.
"Works should be close to readers, but writers should be distant from readers.
Sometimes, maintaining distance from readers is a good thing."
Although Eric didn't hold a book signing at Smallville High School, the always gossipy high school students quickly learned about it.
On campus, Chloe curiously asked Clark, "Do you know why Eric refused the book signing, Clark?"
"I don't know.
Maybe he doesn't like signing autographs," Clark said, rubbing his eyes, looking a bit tired.
He had been practicing how to control the heat from his eyes recently and had little interest in anything else.
"He doesn't seem like the type to seek attention," Chloe nodded.
"I've read what he wrote.
I don't think an ordinary person could manage that kind of imagination.
The style is very much like non-fiction reportage, with the protagonist being a journalist who investigates terrifying presences in the darkness, giving a sense of being right there!"
Seeing Chloe grow more excited with each word, Clark and Pete exchanged glances, showing helpless expressions.
Chloe was still gushing about her admiration for Eric's work when her gaze suddenly caught Eric entering Ms. Aikins's office.
"Oh, our Ms. Aikins seems to have taken an interest in Eric too," Chloe said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Inside the biology office, where only two people were present, Eric frowned, looking at Ms. Aikins standing before him.
"I don't think a simple grade report is reason enough for you to call me here, Ms. Aikins."
Ms. Aikins, in a fiery dress, did not answer.
She walked to the biology office door and gently locked it.
Walking with a seductive stride to stand in front of Eric, she said, "In public, you can call me Ms. Aikins.
Other times, I prefer you call me Desiree."
She reached out and tousled her voluminous long hair, then took a step closer to Eric and licked her lips.
"I've read your book, Eric.
It's imaginative science fiction.
No one can match your talent in that area.
Lex also speaks highly of you."
"You know Lex Luthor?"
"Of course, but what we're discussing today has nothing to do with Lex, it's about you.
I like mysterious young men like you, dark and profound, like your book, waiting for me to explore.
Although sometimes lacking experience, you make up for it with passion."
Ms. Aikins reached out and slowly wrapped her arms around Eric's neck, leaning in with her red lips.
"I hope we can strengthen our teacher-student relationship."
--------------------------
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