As Li Jie's Cherokee climbed the winding driveway to Wayne Manor, fat raindrops began pounding the windshield. His high beams cut through the rain, illuminating the stately manor ahead, and the wrought-iron gates slid open automatically.
Clearly, someone knew he had arrived.
Alfred stood at the main entrance beneath an enormous black umbrella. Rain streamed from its ribs in curtains.
"Good evening, Sheriff."
The butler sounded as composed as ever. Li Jie got out and accepted another umbrella. "Good evening, Alfred. Is young Master Bruce waiting for me?"
"In the study. He said you might come." Alfred stepped aside, then led the way. "You really should call him Master Bruce, without the 'young.' After all, he already has an adopted son, young Master Richard."
"He's his adopted son, not mine." Li Jie raised his umbrella and hurried a couple of steps to walk beside the butler. "You know, Bruce can't keep going on like this. Why don't you arrange a few more blind dates for him?"
"..."
The butler led on without a word, though his expression suggested he was rather tempted. They crossed the grand entrance hall, and Li Jie noticed an empty spot on a side table that usually displayed several Eastern antiques. A Ming Dynasty Blue-and-White Porcelain Vase had once stood there.
"A little while ago," Alfred said softly, as though reading his mind, "a Mr. Bane crashed into it and broke it. It has been difficult to restore all the fragments."
"Ah..."
Li Jie nodded. So Bane had come to give Batman the backbreaking treatment after all. "And how did it turn out? How's young Master Bruce?"
"He's quite all right. Only minor injuries." Alfred turned toward Li Jie. "We have your suggestion to upgrade the Nanny Robot to thank for that."
"Worked well?"
"It did