Give it a shot

After leaving the police station, he headed straight for the slums without a moment's delay, all but forcibly took Waylon Jones away, then floored the accelerator and sped off.

The Chevrolet G20's seats and suspension weren't much good-at least, this particular van's weren't. Even on the smooth coastal highway, Li Jie still felt as though someone had shoved a rock under his backside.

He glanced at Waylon Jones, who was curled up in the passenger seat like a refugee, and couldn't help finding it a little funny. That moment of distraction sent the wheels over a pothole, and both men felt themselves go airborne.

"Ah!" Whelan's head hit the roof with a thud. Rubbing his head, he couldn't help asking, "Officer, if... if I join the team, will people really stop hating me?"

"How could they? This world has never been fair." Li Jie curled his lip. "People always cut the good-looking ones some slack, while the less appealing ones get treated harshly."

"Then... what's the point of going to Metropolis?" Whelan asked blankly. Leaving familiar surroundings made him uneasy, even if those surroundings had subjected him to endless ridicule.

"To show them your worth, Whelan. A person's worth isn't just in his face." Li Jie smiled. "No face, however breathtaking, is more lovable than Franklin's. If one bill isn't enough, add a few more. If one box isn't enough, add a few more boxes. Wait! Hold on!"

He stomped on the accelerator and overtook a BMW whose driver had been crawling along enjoying the scenery.

"Woo-hoo! This thing can actually overtake someone. What a pleasant surprise." Li Jie grinned from ear to ear. "Where was I? Right, money. Of course some people on the team won't like you, but as long as you create enough value for the coach and the owner, they'll put those assholes in their place without you lifting a finger. And once you're a star with everyone watching you, rolling in money and living it up, countless people will turn around and get on their knees to suck up to you. That's the magic of money."

"Everyone... watching me... a star..."

Whelan silently repeated those words, falling quiet for a while. Only after a long pause did he speak again. "But... even then, they'd be doing it for the money, not for me..."

"So what?" Li Jie scoffed. "You think people become president of the United States because they have a handsome face?"

He turned the wheel, steering the van onto the road to Metropolis. A couple of presses on the accelerator sent it roaring out from beneath the gloom and straight into the brilliant sunlight under a clear sky.

"Ah... look at that lovely sunshine over Metropolis... Whelan, I think your good days are coming."

About half an hour later, the van stopped outside the stadium. The two men climbed out, finding Clark and Lois already waiting there.

"Sorry, are we late?"

"No, it's not time yet. We came a little early." Clark smiled and nodded. "We actually just got here ourselves."

"You two, this is Whelan Jones, the man I told you about. Well? Doesn't he look like Hercules?" Li Jie rubbed his hands together and pulled the timid Whelan out from behind him. "Whelan, this is Clark, and this is Lois. They helped a lot with your situation."

"Thank you. Thank you both." Whelan cautiously offered his hand. Lois took it before Clark could, looking up at Whelan with curiosity.

"Oh, you three make me feel like a little flower surrounded by towering trees. Hee-hee." She pointed behind her and led the three men into the stadium. "This way, please. Mr. Danees, the owner of the Metropolis Suns, is waiting for us."

Clark walked behind them, quietly explaining the team's background and history to the other two-mostly Whelan. Li Jie had heard of the team. They ranked in the upper middle of the major league, but that was about all he knew.

Perhaps because Lois was leading the way, they passed through without any trouble and reached the field. There was no game today, only two teams of players doing their routine training. An elderly man of about sixty, bundled in a blue down jacket, stood up in the front row of the empty stands.

"Hello, Mr. Danees. I've brought them."

"Hello, Miss Lane. I thought I was only coming here today to do you a favor." The old man opened his arms and hugged Lois, then fixed his gaze on Whelan. "But I never expected you might be bringing me such a promising prospect."

He took Whelan's hand of his own accord and patted the back of it firmly. "Hey, kid, you're Whelan? My God, look at that strength, those muscles. I think you have a limitless future."

Whelan seemed unused to such sudden enthusiasm and didn't know what to do with himself. "Thank you, sir. I... I..."

"Don't be so shy. Get out on the field and give it a try. Cole!"

One of the coaches at the sidelines ran over at the call.

"Get him suited up and tell him where to run. This is our boy."

The coach gestured that it was no problem and held out his hand to Whelan. Whelan instinctively turned to look at Li Jie. Only after seeing him nod did he turn and jog toward the field with Cole.

Danees looked away and nodded to Li Jie and Clark. "Please, have a seat, gentlemen. Lois told me the whole story. Officer, thank you for everything you've done for Waylon Jones."

The capitalist's tone, as if Whelan already belonged to him, rubbed Li Jie the wrong way. Still, that wasn't what he was here for, and he didn't particularly care. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Danees, he tucked himself off to one side and made himself inconspicuous.

Clark Kent received much the same treatment. Danees merely greeted him before turning to chat with Lois about international affairs, economic development, government policy, and other topics that left Clark feeling rather inadequate. Bored out of his mind, the big man edged closer to Li Jie and asked quietly, "Jay, I have a question. Why didn't you recommend Whelan to a team in Gotham? As far as I know, the Gotham Crocodiles are pretty strong too. They're just a little inconsistent."

Why? Why do you think?

I'm afraid he'll kill every last one of them someday.

Li Jie grumbled inwardly, glanced at Danees, then leaned toward Clark's ear and whispered, "The Gotham team's results don't depend on their ability. They depend on the bookies and the betting lines."

Seeing Clark's shocked expression gave Li Jie a little satisfaction. Then a burst of cheering suddenly came from the field.

"Touchdown!"

The people in the stands turned toward the sound. Several defenders scattered like reeds swept up by a gale as Whelan charged into the opposing team's end zone, as unstoppable as a tank.

"Beautiful!"

Danees's eyes instantly lit up. He jumped down from the stands and ran toward the field. Lois and Clark applauded as well. Li Jie watched for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What does touchdown mean?"

"A touchdown is when a player..." Clark instinctively began explaining, then suddenly realized something. Sounding a little hurt, he said, "Uh, Jay, be honest. Have you really read any of my articles?"

"Huh? Ha! Well... maybe." Li Jie awkwardly rubbed his face. "But your kindness is real. It's thanks to you that we managed to resolve this, isn't it?"

Once the flattery started, Clark promptly forgot about his fake fan, and color returned to his face. "No, I didn't do anything. It was all thanks to Lois's help...!"

"No, Clark, your own efforts were essential." Lois took two steps forward and stood beside him. "Officer, though, you really shouldn't make jokes like that again. Losing a fan would be far too heartbreaking for Mr. Kent. He was genuinely happy about it for ages."

"Oh, it's all right. I... ow!"

Lois bent her right leg sideways behind her and discreetly kicked Clark. Watching the two of them shower him with their lovey-dovey antics, Li Jie felt the air fill with the sickly sweetness of romance.

Pah, pah, pah. Who needs that?

"Since everything's settled, I should head back." Li Jie had no desire to watch this god among men demonstrate his complete lack of romantic awareness, so he promptly decided to leave. "One more thing. Sorry for the trouble, but could you two look over Whelan's contract? Make sure there aren't any traps in the fine print."

"No problem." Clark stepped forward first to declare his support, completely oblivious to Lois rolling her eyes behind him. "Jay, are you leaving now? I'll go get Whelan."

"No, there's no need." Li Jie shook his head, watching Whelan run across the field. "Wow, this is the first time I've seen him smile. Only... tsk, tsk. Doesn't smiling actually make him uglier?"

"Jay, you shouldn't judge people by their looks."

"Right, right, absolutely right. Thank you, Dad. You've saved my fallen soul. Well then, goodbye, Clark. Goodbye, Lois." Li Jie shook hands with both of them, then turned and left the stadium alone.

"That's finally a weight off my shoulders." He smiled and walked toward his van. Suddenly, the ground behind him began to shake, and a booming voice called out to him.

"Offi... Jay!"

He whipped around, and a mountain came barreling straight at him. Before he could react, he was swept into a hug.

"Jay, thank you."

He felt warm liquid soak into his back, accompanied by choked sobs and a strong smell of sweat.

"Hey, don't get all bashful on me. You're going to be a big star."

Whelan released him and wiped the tears from his face. "Officer... Jay, thank you. If it weren't for you..." He clasped Li Jie's hand between his thick palms and said through his sobs, "I swear, someday... someday I'll... I'll repay you."

Li Jie took out a handkerchief, wiped the streaks of tears and dirt from Whelan's face, then tucked it into his palm and gently patted his hand.

"No, Whelan. Remember what I'm telling you. If you ever become successful and famous, with the whole world watching you, you must forget me, forget Gotham, and forget everything about your past. Enjoy your life, and never come back."

When the Chevrolet turned onto the main road, Whelan's colossal silhouette was still standing motionless beneath the trees, draped in twilight as he watched him from afar. Li Jie took a deep breath, looked at the gradually darkening sky ahead, and pressed hard on the accelerator.

Gotham, I'm back!