For 30+ Advance/Early chapters :p
atreon.com/ScoldeyJod
Leo sat at the dining table, drinking warm milk and eating bread. He was watching the follow-up news about the "Battle of New York" and the "Death of Superman," while also watching a small crimson figure bustling about the living room.
His aunt had gone to work early, leaving only him and the scarlet maid, Wanda, at home. The red-haired girl had her long hair tied in a double ponytail and was wearing a slightly-too-large apron, wiping down the furniture with a damp cloth. Although her movements were a little unskilled, she was exceptionally meticulous and serious, cleaning every corner several times.
Seeing her standing on her tiptoes, her little hand reaching up to wipe with all her might, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt, as if he were employing a child laborer. "Wanda," he said, "you should take a break. The house isn't that dirty."
"I can't," she said, panting slightly. "I'm starting school here tomorrow. Miss Diana said it would be best to clean the house thoroughly today, so I can get to know my future work environment."
"Can you handle it?" he asked. "Going to school every day, and then coming here to work before and after?"
"I'm fine. I often did housework at home," she said, her eyes firm, as if she were cheering herself on.
At that moment, she seemed to think of something. She put the rag in the bucket, turned to him, and asked, with a serious expression, "Master, is the temperature of the milk to your liking?"
He, who had just taken a sip of warm milk, almost choked. He coughed violently, spilling milk on the back of his hand.
"Master, are you okay?" she said, and hurried forward, patting his back with her little hand. She saw the milk on the back of his hand, and without a moment's hesitation, she leaned forward and licked it clean.
"Don't waste it," she murmured, licking the milk from the corners of her lips.
He said weakly, "Wanda, remember. It's fine to call me that at home, but don't call me that outside."
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head innocently.
"Because I don't want to be arrested by the police," he said. Especially Captain Morgan, who was already watching him like a hawk. If he found out that he had a maid, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Okay," she said, seeming to understand. She blushed and said, "Then, I'll call you Master at home, and Young Master outside?"
"No problem," he nodded, and quickly finished his breakfast.
She observed this secretly, a happy smile on her face. As she was clearing the table, he said, "Wanda, you don't need to make me lunch. And… be safe at home."
He glanced under the dining table, at the little orange cat sleeping at his feet, and whispered, "Ginger, protect Wanda at home."
She didn't open her eyes, but her tail twitched abruptly.
"Master, are you going out?" Wanda asked, poking her head out of the kitchen.
He was choked again by the name, still not quite used to it. "Yes, I'm going to see a friend."
"Be safe. I'll wait for you at home," her voice faintly remained in his ears. He glanced at the back of his right hand. Her inadvertent move just now had obviously triggered his "Parasite" ability. He could clearly feel that his physique and strength had increased a bit, but he was still in the category of human beings.
So, Wanda is just an ordinary girl, he thought, and an image of a dark green-haired girl emerged in his mind. He wondered why that "Polaris boss" had such a powerful and peculiar ability. And why hadn't she taken Wanda with her on the day of the battle in New York?
After two or three bus transfers, he finally arrived at the border area between the two cities. There were no tall buildings here, just endless fields and a single, straight road extending to the blue sky on both sides.
He got off at a remote station and, following the address information provided by the school, he finally came to a wooden house in the style of a Western villa, surrounded by a field of wheat.
He rang the doorbell.
An old woman in her sixties opened the door.
"Hello. Excuse me, does Kayla Danvers live here?" he asked.
"Yes, who are you?" she asked, looking at him suspiciously.
"My name is Leo Prince. I'm a member of the Student Council. Since Kayla Danvers has been taking leave of absence, I came to find out about the situation on behalf of the school," he said, using his well-prepared excuse.
Before the old woman could speak, an old male voice with a smoky voice came from inside the room. "Let him come in."
He looked up and saw a man with white hair at his temples. From the man's old and determined face, he could vaguely see that he had been quite handsome when he was young.
"My name is Jeremiah Danvers," the man introduced himself. "I am Kayla's adoptive father."
In the living room, under the gaze and scrutiny of the old couple, he sat stiffly on the sofa. He glanced subconsciously at the group photos on the wall, among which Kayla had the most. There were also one or two photos of a young female air force and a modern fighter jet.
"Kayla, do you have a sister?" he asked, trying to break the stiff atmosphere.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this question, the old woman's eyes dimmed, and she got up and went into the kitchen. He realized that he had said something wrong.
"Don't mind her," Jeremiah said, his muddy eyes looking at the pictures on the wall. "That's Carol Danvers, my first child. When I was young, I was very patriarchal, and we had a falling out."
"Sorry," he quickly apologized.
"It's okay," he waved his hand. "It's all over."
He recalled, "After running away from home, she joined the Air Force against our wishes. Not long after, she died during a mission. I keep her picture on the wall as a kind of repentance, to remind myself of the mistakes I made when I was young."
He stared at Leo and said in a deep voice, "So, we will never allow our last child, Kayla, to be harmed in any way."
This attitude showed that her adoptive parents loved her very much. So, she wasn't going to school because of her family?
"Sir," he asked bluntly, "I want to know why Kayla isn't coming to school. Is she sick?"
"She's okay," he paused, and said, "You're her classmate, right? She's in her room upstairs. You can ask her in person now."
He warned, "However, you have to remember, don't mention anything about Superman."