This was a typical double room at an American university.
A half-wall had been built in the middle of the room as a partition, with each side equipped with its own large bed, wardrobe, desk, and an essential washroom.
The only thing that set it apart from an ordinary college dorm was that the windows were sealed shut tight—not even a breath of air could get in.
Qi Li took stock of the place where he would be living next.
The left side was already stacked with personal belongings; his as-yet-unmet roommate had arrived first, but the person himself wasn't around at the moment.
Qi Li was about to tidy up the right side.
Suddenly, a voice reached his ear: "Hey, welcome. You're my roommate, right? Though not exactly the model I was hoping for, you'll do."
Qi Li turned in surprise and looked toward the voice, but saw no one.
He was stunned at first, then quickly realized something.
Seeing this, the voice sounded again: "Guessed it? That fast? I was hoping to see more of your bewildered expression."
This time when Qi Li looked, he saw a red hat that had been sitting on the desk rise into the air, hovering steadily, its brim aimed at him, about level with his nose.
"Translucent?" Qi Li said instinctively.
But as soon as he said it, he realized that member of the Super Seven wouldn't be showing up here.
Curious, he asked instead: "How are you related to Translucent?"
A sigh echoed through the dorm: "As expected, everyone who sees me either asks if I'm Translucent, or asks what my relationship is to him. Can't I have nothing to do with him?"
"So you have nothing to do with him?" Qi Li went along.
"Of course... not. Haha! Translucent of the Super Seven isn't my father—am I his father, then?"
So superpowers could be hereditary, too?
That's what Qi Li thought.
The red hat, seemingly floating in midair and looking rather eerie, drifted closer and stopped in front of Qi Li:
"My name is Shejian Maverick. What's yours?"
Qi Li looked at the empty space before him. Even knowing someone stood there, his eyes could make out no outline.
Unless... he splashed something on him that couldn't be easily washed off, preferably a liquid, then he could see his movements.
Thinking this, he replied with a calm expression: "Qi Li."
Maverick studied his soon-to-be roommate: "You look familiar. Let me think... last month's Bronze: Deadly Weapon starred you, didn't it? Qi Li, your nickname is Bronze, right?"
Qi Li hadn't expected Maverick to know him so well.
He asked curiously: "That's right, it's me. How did you know?"
Maverick said confidently: "Please, I know far more than you imagine. Whether men, women, perverts, or people who don't even know what they are themselves—I know them better than they know themselves.
"Do you know Simon, the sophomore whose tongue can stretch over twenty meters? Don't let the girlfriend fool you; he actually prefers to handle things himself;
That new guy next door named Andrew, he's like me, the son of a Two Poles. Know who the Two Poles are? That bastard who starred in Area 51, said the next film would start right away, and then there was no word for ten years;
And then there's Kyle, an enviable bastard—God! He actually has four..."
Maverick went on about other people's private lives, never running out of things to say.
At first, Qi Li listened with growing interest.
But as he listened, he suddenly realized a problem.
Maverick was a freshman like him, yet had gathered so much information so quickly.
Rather than saying he had strong intelligence-gathering skills, it was more like he had a strong voyeuristic streak.
Rumor has it Translucent loved peeping on others above all else.
Judging by now, it was no exaggeration.
Qi Li had originally hoped his roommate wouldn't be someone extraordinary, but now, that first boy who kept to himself and didn't bother others seemed like the perfect model of a good roommate.
Not only that, he suddenly thought of something and hurriedly put some distance between them, asking: "Maverick, you're stark naked right now, aren't you?"
Maverick said matter-of-factly: "Otherwise, how could I be invisible?"
Given that Translucent was always invisible, Qi Li understood this sort of superhuman kink and wouldn't try to talk them into showing themselves.
But there was one thing he had to get straight.
Qi Li asked seriously: "Maverick, are you heterosexual?"
Maverick was quite sincere, the hat atop his head shaking: "I don't seem to have any impulse toward women."
Qi Li's fist tightened at once; he felt an urge to kill.
What a lousy place this is!
He took a deep breath and asked again: "So, you like men?"
Maverick shook his head again: "Sorry, Qi Li. I can't work up any impulse toward men right now, either."
Qi Li: "......Actually, you don't need to apologize to me at all."
"Is that so?"
"Of course!"
"All... right then."
"Maverick, do you want to die?"
"I was wrong."
Qi Li didn't lay a hand on him for the time being.
He continued to press with a few more questions.
And then, from Maverick, he learned of Sloan's special superhuman existence.
Sure enough, in this world there was nothing one couldn't imagine, only nothing one couldn't do.
Other people could marry armed helicopters.
Maverick and Sloan?
God, this was true love!
Although Qi Li felt his overly normal worldview had taken a severe shock, at least he didn't have to worry about his reputation being ruined.
That wasn't enough.
He continued to "suggest": "Maverick, since Sloan is so charming, you should take action right now."
Maverick hesitated: "Now?"
Qi Li nodded vigorously: "Of course! Time waits for no one, and true love doesn't either. The longer you drag it out, the more variables there are. By the way, does Sloan have feelings for you?"
Maverick thought about it: "I think she does."
Qi Li waved his hand: "Then act immediately, while your feelings are running strong. Believe me, I'm very experienced in this."
Maverick's eyes lit up, and he thought Qi Li made perfect sense.
Thinking of the wonderful times he would spend with Sloan from now on, he nodded vigorously:
"I'm going right now!"
Chapter 13