Chapter 69: Kara's Home
Xi Nian sat at the dining table, eating warm bread and milk. While watching the follow-up news on the "Battle of New York" and "The Death of Superman," he glanced from the corner of his eye at a crimson figure bustling about the living room.
Aunt Diana had already gone to work early, leaving only Xi Nian and the Scarlet Maid, Wanda, at home.
Her waist-length red hair was tied into twin ponytails, and she wore an oversized apron. With a damp cloth in hand, Wanda carefully wiped the furniture. Her movements weren't very practiced, but every stroke was full of effort, going over each corner several times.
Watching Wanda tiptoe repeatedly, stretching her small arms just to reach, Xi Nian suddenly felt guilty, like he was exploiting child labor. He couldn't help but say, "Hey, take a break. The house isn't even that dirty."
"No way," Wanda replied between breaths, still scrubbing. "Tomorrow I'm reporting to my new school here. Miss Diana said it would be best to clean the house thoroughly today, so I can also get used to my future work environment."
Xi Nian asked curiously, "You'll be going to school every day, then before and after class you'll still come here to work. Can you handle that?"
"I'll be fine. I used to do a lot of housework back home too."
Wanda's eyes glimmered with determination, as though encouraging herself.
Then she suddenly paused, tossed the cloth into the bucket, and turned toward Xi Nian, who was sipping milk. With complete seriousness she asked, "Master, how's the temperature of the milk I warmed up for you?"
Xi Nian nearly choked to death right there. He coughed violently, spilling milk all over the back of his hand.
"Master, are you okay?" Wanda rushed over, patting his back with her small hand.
Noticing the milk dripping down his hand, she didn't hesitate. Leaning forward, she slurped it clean in one motion.
"Can't waste food…" Wanda whispered, licking the trace of milk left on her lips.
Xi Nian's soul nearly left his body.
Barely holding on, he muttered, "Wanda, remember this. It's fine if you call me that at home, but never call me that outside."
"Why not?" Wanda tilted her crimson ponytails, asking innocently.
"I'll die if you do," Xi Nian said flatly.
Gwen's dad, Officer George, was already watching him like a hawk. If he found out Xi Nian had a maid living in his house, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Alright then." Wanda's cheeks flushed as she realized her actions were too intimate. "How about this—at home I'll call you Master, but outside I'll call you Young Master Xi Nian?"
"That works." Xi Nian nodded quickly. He didn't say more, just hurriedly finished the rest of his breakfast.
Seeing this, Wanda quietly smiled to herself, happy.
After Wanda collected the dishes and carried them into the kitchen, Xi Nian said, "Wanda, you don't need to prepare my lunch today. Just stay safe at home."
He glanced under the table, where a little orange cat was curled up by his feet, snoring softly. He whispered, "Xiao Huang, protect Wanda while I'm gone."
Without opening her eyes, Xiao Huang's tail flicked once in acknowledgment.
"Master, you're going out?" Wanda peeked from the kitchen, curious.
Xi Nian coughed again, still unaccustomed to that title, and answered, "Yes. I'm going to see a friend."
…
"Be careful on the road. I'll wait at home for you."
Wanda's voice still echoed faintly in his ears. Xi Nian glanced at the back of his right hand. From her small, unconscious gesture earlier, his Master of Affection had been triggered again.
He could clearly feel his physique and strength had grown slightly, though still within human limits.
"As expected, Wanda is just an ordinary girl," Xi Nian murmured. Yet the image of green-haired Polaris appeared in his mind—why did she, as Wanda's sister, possess such overwhelming powers?
And why didn't Lorna recognize Wanda, even leaving her behind during the Battle of New York?
…
After two or three bus transfers across Washington's city and suburban areas, Xi Nian finally rode a dusty long-distance bus to the border region between Washington and New York. There were no tall buildings here—only endless fields stretching beneath a blue sky.
In the middle of the fields, a single straight road stretched endlessly in both directions.
Xi Nian got off at a far-flung stop. Using the address provided by his teacher, he eventually reached a Western-style wooden villa, two stories tall and surrounded by golden wheat fields.
He hadn't expected it to be this remote. Double-checking the address, he confirmed it was correct, then rang the doorbell.
Soon, footsteps sounded inside, and the door opened to reveal an elderly woman in her sixties.
"Hello. Does Kara Danvers live here?" Xi Nian asked politely.
"Yes. And you are?" The woman studied him curiously.
Xi Nian delivered his prepared explanation. "My name is Xi Nian, a student council member from White High in Washington. Kara Danvers has been absent for a while, so I was sent on behalf of our teacher to check in on her."
Before the woman could respond, a raspy old male voice called from within, "Let him in."
Xi Nian looked up to see an older man with white hair at his temples. His face, though aged and weathered, still hinted at the handsome features of his youth.
"I'm Stephen Danvers," the man introduced himself. "Kara's foster father."
…
Inside the first-floor living room, Xi Nian sat stiffly on the sofa under the watchful eyes of the elderly couple.
Scanning the room, he noticed many photos on the wall, most of them of Kara. Among them were also a few pictures of a young female air force officer and modern fighter jets.
"Kara has an older sister?" Xi Nian asked, hoping to break the stiff atmosphere.
Unexpectedly, the old woman's eyes dimmed. She silently rose and walked into the kitchen without a word.
Xi Nian instantly realized he had stepped on something painful.
After all, in the family portraits with Kara, that female officer never appeared—only in old solo photos.
"Don't mind her," Stephen said slowly, gazing at the photos. "Her name was Carol Danvers, my first child. When I was younger, I was very biased toward sons, so we clashed often."
"I'm sorry," Xi Nian quickly apologized.
"It's alright," Stephen waved it off. "It's all in the past."
He sighed, "After she left home, Carol joined the Air Force despite our objections. Not long after, she died in the line of duty. I kept her photos here as a form of repentance, a reminder of the mistakes I made when I was young."
Stephen's eyes fixed firmly on Xi Nian. "That's why we absolutely will not allow anything to harm the only child we have left—Kara."
From his tone, Xi Nian could tell the couple genuinely loved Kara. Which meant her absence from school wasn't because of family issues.
After some thought, Xi Nian asked directly, "Sir, I'd like to know—why hasn't Kara been attending school? Is she sick?"
"She's not ill. It's just…" Stephen paused, then said, "You claim to be her classmate? She's upstairs in her room. You can go ask her yourself."
But before Xi Nian could rise, Stephen added sternly, "Remember this—do not bring up anything about Superman!"
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