The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Tony left, but Steve stayed behind.

"Do you have any other plans tonight? I'm not really comfortable with the atmosphere here. How about we go somewhere else for a few drinks?"

"Sorry, Captain, but I have an interview on The Tonight Show tonight," Wu Yanzu replied.

"A talk show?" Steve frowned. "That kind of... entertainment program? Are you sure? They'll ask some... very strange questions."

"I know." Wu Yanzu smiled. "But people have the right to know their heroes, don't they? Steve, we can't hide behind masks forever."

Steve nodded thoughtfully.

"...Maybe you're right."

"Ding! Gained Special Popularity Points +2000!"

Wu Yanzu thought, Getting approval from that old popsicle was pretty easy.

After the charity gala, where he generously donated one hundred million dollars and gained a huge wave of popularity, he immediately took to the night sky and rushed off to the next show.

He understood the importance of an "image" all too well.

"Fuck..." Tony watched his departing figure, then took another swig of champagne. "I hate that guy. I swear, sooner or later I'll build an Anti-Homelander suit and grind that damn smiling face of his into the floor."

"I'm afraid you'll have to get in line, Mr. Stark." A cold female voice sounded behind him.

Natasha Romanoff approached with a martini in hand, her gaze fixed on Wu Yanzu's retreating back as well.

"Oh, look who's here, my dear Natashasha." Tony raised an eyebrow. "What, you want to 'grind' him into the floor too?"

Natasha ignored his crude joke and simply said, "Fury's assessment report is out. He... is dangerous. More dangerous than Loki and Hulk combined."

"Dangerous? No, no, no. He's just an attention-seeking narcissist." Tony was dismissive.

"Tony, he's too perfect. And in this world... nothing is 'perfect.'"

"Unless," Natasha took a sip of her drink, leaving a red mark on the rim of the glass, "he's pretending."

"...Welcome back! Tonight's guest! Honestly, I never thought I'd get to invite him... ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for—Homelander!!"

The studio of The Tonight Show nearly had its roof blown off by applause and screams.

To the sound of heavy metal music and thunderous cheers, Wu Yanzu stepped onto the stage of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, wearing his ever-pristine uniform and a perfect smile.

"Wow! Wow! Have a seat, have a seat!" Host Jimmy fanned himself dramatically. "Oh my god, Homelander! In my studio! This is insane!"

"Thank you, Jimmy. It's a pleasure to be here." Wu Yanzu sat down elegantly.

"No, no, no, I should be thanking you!" Jimmy patted his chest dramatically. "Seriously, man, this outfit... do you usually dress like this?"

"Uh, you could say that." Wu Yanzu gave a shy, boy-next-door smile. "It's... comfortable. And, you know, I'm always ready to 'go to work.'"

The audience burst into warm laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! Go to work! I love that!" Jimmy laughed. "Your job is catching robbers, mine is catching guests... so, I want to ask a question everyone's curious about."

Jimmy leaned closer, pretending to be mysterious.

"You... can really fly? Or are you like Stark, using thrusters?"

"Well..." Wu Yanzu glanced at the ceiling, then... right in front of the entire audience, he slowly... rose from the couch.

His feet hovered half a meter above the ground as he floated in midair.

"!!!!!!"

The studio instantly exploded!

"Oh my god!! He really can fly!!"

"That's so cool!!"

"Ding! Gained Popularity Points +541!"

"Ding! Gained Popularity Points +632!"

"..."

Wu Yanzu slowly descended and shrugged. "Sometimes, it's a pretty handy trick for avoiding New York traffic."

The entire audience erupted in laughter again.

"Wow." Jimmy dramatically wiped away sweat. "Homelander. Seriously, you're the first guest I've ever had make an entrance by flying. That's so cool."

"We all know you're Anthony Starr. You... you survived that terrible shipwreck, then disappeared for a year. Now, you've returned as a hero... can you tell us what happened to you during that year?"

This was the "script" Vought's PR team had prepared long ago.

The right amount of "confusion" and "resolve" appeared on Wu Yanzu's face.

"Jimmy... honestly, there are a lot of things... I can't remember clearly."

"I only remember the freezing seawater. I thought I was going to die. But... I survived, and I received this 'gift,' or perhaps... this curse."

He began his usual "vague narration."

"It took me a long time to learn how to control it. I didn't dare come back. I was afraid... afraid that I was a monster."

"..."

The studio fell silent as the camera gave him a close-up.

"Until the Battle of New York." His voice was low and powerful. "I saw the hole in the sky. I saw people crying. In that moment, I understood."

"The reason I came back was to protect them."

"Wow..." Jimmy was deeply moved by his words.

"You're not a monster, Homelander." Jimmy spoke emotionally. "You... you're an angel. You're our guardian angel."

"Ding! Gained Popularity Points +1245!"

"Ding! Gained Popularity Points +1058!"

"Ding! Gained Popularity Points +1178!"

"..."

At just the right moment, a "moved" smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Jimmy."

The talk show was a tremendous success.

Overnight, Homelander's image as an approachable, witty, justice-driven hero swept across America.

While the iron was hot, Vought immediately arranged his next reality show appearance—visiting children who had lost loved ones in the Battle of New York.

Afterward, he arrived at the focal point of this "performance"—St. Agnes Children's Hospital.

It housed children injured during the Battle of New York.

The director eagerly came forward to greet him. "Oh, Mr. Homelander! Your visit is... truly, truly a gift from god!"

"It's what I should do, ma'am." Wu Yanzu's voice was rich and magnetic.

He entered the activity room, where the children all watched him quietly.

There was admiration, awe, and a little fear of a stranger.

Wu Yanzu's gaze swept across the room.

Suddenly, he locked onto a little girl in the corner.

She was frail and thin, wrapped in a blanket. Though several months had passed since the incident, she seemed unable to escape its shadow, tightly clutching a brand-new Homelander action figure.

Wu Yanzu's acting radar instantly activated.

That's her.

He knew what he needed to do now.

Slowly, step by step, he walked over to the little girl.

He said nothing. He merely crouched down.

His massive body was now crouched at the same height as her.

"What's your name, sweetheart?" His voice was gentle enough to melt ice and snow.