Kate

New York, Godkin University. It was back-to-school season again, and the formerly quiet campus quickly grew lively. The new school year address from the president of Godkin University was playing on loop over the campus broadcast: "I am President Indira Shetty, welcome to Godkin University. Since 1965, we've been dedicated to cultivating the best and brightest young superheroes. Here you can join the College of Performing Arts and become a household-name star, or choose the College of Crime Fighting and become a protector of cities across America." "Whether you want to walk the treacherous streets or the red carpet, Godkin University can help you thrive—" The broadcast cut out suddenly, replaced by harsh static. Freshman Andre looked at his right hand, then up at the metal loudspeaker suddenly dented above his head, and he was a little stunned, muttering: "Oh my god! I swear, I just wanted to turn the volume down." "Nice work." Luke, looking sunny and handsome as he walked by, gave him a thumbs-up. Andre was startled and hurriedly denied: "No, no, no, no, that wasn't me." Luke laughed: "Don't worry, nobody saw it except me. I have to admit, you did a great thing. It was really too loud." "Really?" "Of course!" Andre's mood instantly lightened. Looking at the white young man before him, he reached out: "Andre Anderson." "Luke Revoldan." Luke took Andre's hand and pulled him into an enthusiastic hug. After letting go, Andre asked: "So, Luke, you're also a freshman this year?" Luke nodded: "Just like you, Andre." "College of Crime Fighting?" "Of course, it's been my dream since I was little." Andre raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with teasing: "Saving the world?" Luke scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed: "If I say yes, you won't laugh at me, will you?" "Of course I will!" Andre laughed heartily, then slapped Luke's shoulder hard: "Because that's my dream too!" Andre and Luke walked side by side down the corridor lined with bronze statues of many superheroes, talking and quickly becoming close. A few minutes later, when Andre saw the statue of Two-Pole Man standing off to the side, gleaming in the sunlight, he was slightly stunned. When he came back to himself and looked at Luke, he found Luke was also staring blankly. He followed Luke's gaze, immediately understood, and gently poked Luke with his elbow: "She's very pretty, isn't she?" "Uh... yes, she really is." Luke tore his gaze away from the girl not far off—the one with long straight blonde hair, wearing gloves, looking quite exquisite—and answered Andre, then couldn't help but look again. Andre saw all of this, whistled, and said with a smile: "She's a real dangerous beauty. From the look of her, she should also be a freshman. Luke, if I were you, I'd make a move right now." Luke looked back: "Right now?" Andre spread his hands: "Based on my past experience... of course!" "OK!" Luke was still a man of action. He was about to step forward. Suddenly! Boom— A thunderous boom suddenly came from the sky. Luke, Andre, and the surrounding superhuman students all instinctively looked up. Soon, under the dazzling sunlight, a black shadow was flying toward them at extreme speed from the horizon. With a whoosh, before anyone's gaze could follow, the black shadow descended from the sky in an instant, landing steadily on the lawn of Godkin University, kicking up a cloud of dust. "Right on schedule." Qi Li slowly stood up, looked left and right—yes, it was Godkin University. He took out his phone, checked the time: flying from the West Coast to the East Coast had taken about four hours. That speed was a bit faster than a commercial airliner, and saved a plane ticket besides. Perfect. By then, the people around were gradually looking away. Godkin University had the most superhumans. Although most superhumans couldn't fly, there were always a few on campus, and it was nothing unusual. Luke and Andre didn't look away, because they saw the newcomer walking toward the girl wearing gloves. It was Qi Li's first time here, and he didn't know the way, so he casually asked the nearest person: "Excuse me, student, how do I get to the president's office?" Kate was holding a stack of textbooks. Hearing this, she turned her head, looked at this person who had fallen from the sky several times, her eyes full of surprise, but she answered naturally: "You've asked the wrong person." Qi Li immediately understood: "Freshman?" Kate looked at her own clothes and appearance: "Don't I look like one?" Qi Li gave a thumbs-up: "Indeed, you look much younger. You feel more like a high schooler... no, a middle schooler!" When Kate heard Qi Li say she was a high schooler, her eyebrows and eyes had already curved. When Qi Li went on to say she was fourteen or fifteen, she could no longer hold back, and smiled brightly: "Has anyone told you, you're very charming with girls?" Qi Li touched his chin, puzzled: "Really? I only just discovered I have such a superpower." No choice—he had always preferred to be passive. "So your superpower is that. I'd better stay away from you." Kate took a few steps back in a "wary" manner. Of course, if you ignored the amusement all over her eyebrows and eyes. Qi Li went "heh": "You've already been charmed; backing away now is too late." Kate went "oh, I see": "No wonder I said so much just now." The conversation ended. The two looked at each other and exchanged a pleased smile. Qi Li extended his hand first: "Qi Li." Seeing this, Kate instinctively first glanced at her right hand, which was covered up tightly, then relaxed, and said with a smile playing at her lips: "Kate Dunlap." One big, one small, two hands clasped together. And they didn't let go right away. Qi Li held Kate's small hand and asked with confusion: "So you don't recognize me?" "You are..." Kate pressed her lips together, looking at Qi Li with innocent incomprehension. Qi Li: "..." He wasn't wearing his signature battle suit today, just normal casual clothes. But that face of his had at least made headlines in major media and been on the cover of People magazine, right? And yet Kate had absolutely no idea who he was. Was there really a law that superheroes, once out of uniform and wearing glasses, were unrecognizable? Or was he just not well known here on the East Coast? Looks like he still had work to do. Ring ring ring! The phone rang. Monica on the other end quickly asked: "Qi Li, are you there? President Shetty and Professor Brink, who trained students like Queen Maeve and A-Train in the past, are waiting for you in the president's office." Qi Li couldn't exactly say he was having a great time chatting with a beauty. "I'll be right there." While answering, he made a gesture to Kate about keeping in touch. Kate simply handed over her phone, giving Qi Li a "you know what I mean" look. Qi Li silently entered his phone number, then turned and left. Kate put away her phone, her gaze following Qi Li's back for a while, in a very good mood.