Superman's New Home

New York streets

A reporter held a microphone, with the giant screens of Times Square behind her, rolling Superman news footage.

"Viewers, global social media exploded over Superman this morning! Last night, this mysterious hero carried out an unprecedented rescue operation across the globe.

"We were fortunate enough to interview several citizens who witnessed Superman firsthand."

The camera switched to a young mother holding her child, her eyes red-rimmed.

Daili's voice trembled. "He saved my daughter... We were trapped on the twenty-third floor during the fire, and smoke had already filled the room.

"Then the glass shattered, and he was standing there like a shadow... He carried us down with one arm. I could even feel the wind brushing against my face, but his arm was as steady as steel."

Reporter: "What kind of person do you think Superman is?"

Without hesitation, Daili said, "A hero. Without him, Sophia and I would already be dead."

The camera cut to the streets of Seoul, where a white-collar worker in a suit gestured excitedly.

Jiang Xiaobai said, "When that truck came charging at me, I thought I was done for! Then, with a boom, that man stopped it like a pillar driven into the ground!

"The driver was so terrified he collapsed in his seat, but Superman just lightly patted the hood, told him to check his brakes next time, and left. God, he spoke Korean!"

At a refugee camp in the Middle East, an elderly man dropped to his knees before the camera, only for the reporter to hurriedly help him up.

"The shells stopped in midair... They stopped! He stood in the air, his black cloak blowing in the wind like an eagle's wings, and all those soldiers' gun barrels twisted into spirals! The children all call him almalak—the angel."

Beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, a backpacker showed the reporter a video on his phone.

He shouted excitedly, "Look! I caught this on camera! He grabbed that backpack so fast even the camera blurred!

"I asked him his name. He turned back, smiled, and told me to call him Superman. This definitely wasn't special effects—my phone is an old Nokia!"

Virginia

Senator Stern's villa

Stern viciously stabbed his silver fork into his fried egg, splattering yolk across the high-definition front-page photograph in the Washington Post.

Xiao Han hovered over a fire scene, rescued civilians gathered behind him.

Stern threw down the newspaper, grabbed the phone on the table, and dialed. "Investigate immediately! Is this Superman the same person as the black armored figure who was with Stark before?"

His assistant's trembling voice came through the line. "Sir, S.H.I.E.L.D. just sealed all the files... But we compared the armor patterns and eyewitness accounts. The match rate is ninety-nine percent.

"Also, Stark Industries' stock has surged two hundred percent because of rumors about cooperation involving alien technology."

Stern's face darkened as he crushed his coffee cup. "Damn superpowered freaks. The hearing is in one day. Contact Hammer immediately. Change the plan—we start putting pressure on Tony Stark now!"

At that moment, Stern's television was airing an interview with Tony Stark.

Tony shrugged at the reporters, his smile dazzling. "Superman? Oh, he's my friend. Nice guy, though he always drinks all the red wine."

"Fuck!" Stern hurled the remote at the television.

S.H.I.E.L.D. secure conference room

Nick Fury's single eye stared at satellite footage of Xiao Han landing in Antarctica while Coulson rapidly delivered his report beside him.

"More than two hundred crises worldwide have been resolved with no casualties, but videos filmed by civilians have already caused panic. The council demands that we take control of the situation immediately."

Fury sneered. "Control? You want a bunch of politicians to control someone who can stop a truck with his bare hands?"

He flung out a stack of documents. "Worry about our own people first. Pierce secretly met with Blue Marvel just now. Hydra is poaching from us!"

Suddenly, alarms blared and the screen flashed red.

An agent reported urgently, "Sir! We've detected abnormal energy fluctuations. Superman is approaching New York at Mach 60."

Fury grabbed his coat and strode toward the door.

"Good. Let the world see what a truly uncontrollable factor looks like."

Top floor of Stark Tower

Xiao Han landed on the terrace, the golden patterns on his suit glimmering faintly beneath the setting sun.

The moment he entered the living room, he saw Tony sitting with one leg crossed over the other, swirling a glass of red wine as global news reports about Superman played across a holographic screen.

"Have fun, Mr. Savior?" Tony raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

"You saved forty-two countries in one night, and even fixed the generator at an Antarctic research station while you were at it. JARVIS says they've put you on the Penguin Protection Association's badge now."

Xiao Han dismissed his armor, casually picked up a glass of water from the coffee table, and drained it. "Penguins?"

He snorted. "Why not send Senator Stern a box? He could use something cute to lower his blood pressure."

Tony burst out laughing and tossed him a key. "I bought you a villa on Long Island's north shore. Three stories, private beach, and the basement has lead shielding installed as you requested. Though I don't understand why you insist on blocking X-rays."

He winked. "Don't tell me you're hiding Kryptonite?"

"I'm guarding against certain one-eyed men who like to peek." Xiao Han took the key, his fingertips brushing the letter S engraved on the keychain.

"But... thanks."

Tony swirled his wine, suddenly turning serious. "Stern contacted Hammer Industries today. They're preparing to make their move."

He scoffed. "What the hell are those people thinking? Do they actually want to regulate Superman?"

A glint of golden light flashed through Xiao Han's eyes. "Let him try."

He walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, New York's lights flowing beneath his feet. "Tomorrow, I'll be there on time. I'll dress formally."

Tony raised his glass. "Want me to prepare some special effects? Like you descending from the sky and smashing through the hearing room's roof?"

"No need." Xiao Han turned back, a dangerous curve forming on his lips.

"They'll understand soon enough..." He pushed open the glass door, and the night wind lifted the hem of his clothes.

"...that so-called regulation is merely humanity's wishful thinking against gods."

Before the words had even faded, he transformed into a black meteor and streaked into the night sky.

Villa on Long Island's north shore

Waves gently lapped against the private pier as moonlight spilled over the pure white modern building, outlining its clean lines.

Xiao Han landed in the center of the courtyard. His black battle suit rippled faintly in the night breeze, while the motion-sensor light strips beneath his feet illuminated one by one with his steps, tracing a path toward the villa.

When he pushed open the heavy walnut door, the smart-home system silently activated. Soft light flowed from concealed fixtures, illuminating the six-meter-high living room.

Beyond an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows lay an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean at night, its waves breaking into silver flecks beneath the moonlight.

"Welcome home, sir." The AI butler's voice sounded warm as the temperature automatically adjusted to a comfortable twenty-two degrees, electronic flames in the fireplace flickering orange-red.

Xiao Han pressed the S on his chest. His armor automatically retracted, forming a multifunction watch around his left wrist.

It revealed the black tactical uniform beneath, his boots stepping onto gray-veined marble flooring.

A bottle of freshly decanted red wine sat on the island counter in the open kitchen, with a note Tony had left beside it.

[1982 Lafite. Better suited to a night view than your Freeze Breath. —TS]

He chuckled and picked up a wineglass, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The villa had a minimalist design, with black, white, and gray tones accented by dark-gold metal trim—understated yet luxurious.

A floating staircase on one side of the living room led to the second floor, its glass railing making the space feel even more open.

The master bedroom upstairs continued the same style. A king-size bed faced the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the electric curtains slowly drew open to reveal the endless ocean view.

The walk-in closet held custom suits prepared by Tony, every one of them pressed without a single wrinkle.

Basement

The elevator doors slid open soundlessly, revealing a private training ground comparable to a Stark Industries laboratory.

An alloy shooting range, a simulated gravity chamber, and a holographic combat system were all present. There was even an array of miniature sun lamps in the corner, clearly designed by Tony specifically around his energy needs.

Xiao Han walked to the glass curtain wall at the edge of the training ground and pressed a concealed button.

The wall slowly descended, revealing an infinity pool stretching out into the sea. The bottom was lined with a special material that changed color with body temperature, giving off a faint deep-blue glow under the moonlight.

He removed his shirt and leaped into the water, the currents sliding over his sharply defined body.

When he turned at the end of the pool, the villa's smart lighting happened to switch to starry-night mode. The ceiling projected a lifelike Milky Way, blending with the real sea, sky, and stars in the distance.

"Not bad."

Xiao Han leaned against the pool's edge, lightly tapping the rim of his glass with his fingertips.

The rich fragrance of red wine mingled with the sea breeze as the smart system began playing a low, mellow piano piece.

At that moment, as Superman, he finally had a home worthy of him.