Li Yue's expression instantly became a sight to behold; he was now unsure how to face Starlight.
"Sigh! What's meant to come will come; answer it!"
Li Yue helplessly rubbed his forehead and instructed Little Ai! Then he quietly waited for Starlight's words, whether sad or angry!
However, after answering, there was silence on the other end. Of course, it wasn't that Starlight wasn't by the phone; Li Yue could even hear faint breathing, indicating Starlight had the phone to her ear.
"Starlight, are you okay? Are you alright?"
Li Yue waited for about a minute, seeing that Starlight on the other end still hadn't spoken, maintaining her silence. Li Yue couldn't help but feel a headache. But he still braced himself and broke the silence first, asking in a low voice!
"Li Yue, don't call me Starlight anymore. Call me Annie!"
Starlight on the other end—no, now she should be called Annie—finally broke her silence and responded to Li Yue in an equally soft voice!
Li Yue could hear from her voice that her mood was a mix of confusion, loss, sadness, doubt, and more! It seemed the message he sent had hit her very hard!
Of course, this was understandable. After all, anyone would be shocked to suddenly discover, after more than a decade, that their superpowers, which made them proud to be a superhero, were not innate.
Instead, their parents, when they were young, made the decision for them without their consent, forcibly changing their future lifestyle. This caused them to lose many unknown wonderful experiences in their future, leaving them only one path: becoming a superhero!
Of course, some people might find her overly dramatic. After all, everyone wants superpowers, and if you have superpowers that everyone envies, what's the big deal if it wasn't with your consent!
"Star... Annie, are you alright now? It's all my fault; I forgot to tell you in advance, which caused you such great pain!"
Li Yue wasn't very good at comforting people, especially women. So, Li Yue's words didn't bring Annie much comfort.
"Originally, I still held a glimmer of hope, wishing that you, upon answering the phone, could tell me that it was all false! But now I understand!"
"Li Yue, I don't blame you. On the contrary, I want to thank you for letting me know the truth!"
"It turns out my life has always been filled with lies and deception. Becoming a superhero was just something arranged by my parents. Even saving others as a superhero was like filming a movie, with a pre-set script."
"My life is like a clown. No, I'm not even as good as a clown. At least they know everything they do is for a performance, to bring joy to others, and they also have times when they take off their makeup and become normal people."
"But I can only wear a mask forever, and I don't even realize it myself. My life has always proceeded according to my parents' arrangements!"
Annie on the other end of the phone said a lot, and Li Yue listened quietly the whole time, without interrupting her!
"Annie, let me tell you a story! There was a man named Truman. He had a happy family, a beautiful wife, a good brother, and a job that didn't pay much but was enough for his family's expenses."
"He was also very optimistic. Every morning, he would warmly greet his neighbors! But after living for nearly thirty years, he didn't know that everyone around him was arranged, and he himself was completely unaware of it!"
"Until one day, he discovered his father, who had died many years ago, suddenly appearing before his eyes..."
"Finally, Truman said his iconic greeting to the person who had directed his life for decades, 'In case I don't see you again, good morning, good afternoon, and good night!' Then he walked out of that door to another world with determination and anticipation!"
After Li Yue finished speaking, Annie on the other end fell into a long silence, wondering what she was thinking!
"So, compared to Truman's life, don't you feel your life is infinitely happier than his, and doesn't a sense of superiority instantly well up within you!"
It was Li Yue who broke the silence first.
Pfft... "Haha, Li Yue, are you not very good at comforting people? Who comforts people like that! But I still want to thank you. After hearing your story, I feel much better. Indeed, apart from having fewer friends, there's nothing in my life that I'm dissatisfied with!"
"However, I still want to go ask my mother. I hope she can tell me the truth herself!"
"So, Li Yue, I won't talk to you anymore. Goodbye!"
At this moment, Annie, in a corner of Vought International headquarters, hung up the phone and then walked towards her room. She planned to change out of her conspicuous superhero suit into her casual clothes and go home to find her mother!
However, she didn't know that after she left, a figure in a sky-blue jumpsuit appeared not far away!
"Li Yue? Thunder? I wonder where you're hiding now!"
"Little Ai, find out Huey and Billy's current location."
"Oh, and secretly monitor Annie. If anything unusual happens, notify me!"
After hanging up the phone, Li Yue felt it was time to start his operations. But he didn't forget to remind Little Ai to keep an eye on Annie's situation; she was still at Vought International, and accidents were bound to happen!
It had been over a month since he came to this world, and his strength had increased so much; there was nothing to regret! He was also preparing to finish the last few things and then leave this world to return to the Marvel Universe!
He just didn't know how much time had passed in Marvel. He was still a bit unclear about this time ratio! But as long as it was before Thanos snapped his fingers, it didn't matter!
Li Yue was very confident in his current strength! He even felt that with his current power, returning to the Marvel Universe, he could directly confront Thanos without the Infinity Stones! And defeating him wouldn't be too difficult!
Moreover, Thanos couldn't fly! As long as he held one Infinity Stone, Thanos would never be able to collect all six! And thus, he wouldn't be able to snap his fingers and carry out his great family planning initiative!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Sir, I've found Huey and Billy's location. Would you like me to project it?"
Just as Li Yue was thinking about returning to the Marvel Universe, Little Ai's voice came, interrupting Li Yue's thoughts. It turned out Little Ai had already found the protagonists' location!
"Project it!"
Li Yue said, and then a blue light emanated from the watch on Li Yue's left wrist. A virtual projection appeared before Li Yue's eyes, with various buildings and roads in great detail, like a scaled-down 3D map! And a conspicuous red dot was marked in a certain spot!
And Little Ai thoughtfully marked the route to get there for Li Yue, but they were all winding routes on the ground. However, the current Li Yue didn't need them, because he could fly directly there!
Whoosh!!!
After a loud, audible whoosh of air, Li Yue's figure disappeared from the room. Only the constantly fluttering curtains by the window indicated that Li Yue had just flown out from there!