A black, viscous liquid slowly seeped out from the Krypton spaceship, forming a human figure.
The viscous, constantly wriggling figure's ethereal body surface gradually solidified, eventually transforming into a normal Caucasian male.
Extending his hand and gently exhaling, the man formed from black viscous liquid turned around to look at the spaceship.
After a moment, he shifted his gaze from the spaceship and turned to walk out of the laboratory.
The laboratory's metal door was tightly shut, and the man aimed his right hand at it.
His right hand transformed into a sharp, black, tentacle-like substance, which made contact with the laboratory's password security lock, and after a series of operations, the metal door opened.
The man exited the laboratory and quickly disappeared into the deep, dark underground corridor.
Kent Farm.
Clark had made his decision regarding his university choice.
"Kansas Central University, I can get a full scholarship, so that's my choice."
Clark said to Jonathan and Martha while sitting at the dining table, eating a pancake.
"Are you sure, Clark?"
Martha, holding Rachel, frowned beside him, "You could have better options if you weren't limited to Kansas."
Jonathan, sitting nearby, agreed with his wife, "If proximity to home is an important criterion for your choice, then Clark, you should know that's not fair to you."
"Of course not. Lawrence is very close to here and is now one of the most famous public research universities in the United States. It also offers suitable stipends for graduate students. In terms of distance, Lawrence is very close to Metropolis, practically a satellite city of Metropolis. I think this should be the most suitable university for me."
Clark smiled at his mother, explaining that this was a decision he had made after careful consideration, not a spur-of-the-moment impulse.
"Is that so?"
Jonathan nodded, not objecting to Clark's idea, "If you've made your decision, your mother and I will support you, Clark."
After saying a few words to Clark, Jonathan turned his gaze to Eric.
"What about you, Eric?"
"Me?"
Eric, who had been focused on his mashed potatoes and beef, looked up, glanced at Clark, and said indifferently, "Metropolis University."
Jonathan was surprised to hear that Eric had been admitted to Metropolis University.
He had thought that with Eric's grades and evaluations, he wouldn't meet the admission requirements for Metropolis University.
After all, Metropolis is one of the largest, wealthiest, and most important cities in the United States, and Metropolis University, as the most prominent university in the university town, ranks among the top three universities nationwide and is affiliated with the top research institutions in the United States.
"Did they agree to admit you, Eric?"
Martha, holding Rachel, asked with an excited expression.
For her younger son to be admitted to Metropolis University, her heart was filled with not only surprise but also uncontrollable excitement.
"Yes. Although it's a well-ranked university, it's not one with strict standards."
Eric didn't have any particular intention for applying to Metropolis University; his only purpose was that it was relatively close to home and, compared to other inferior universities, it was more satisfactory to him.
"Lex graduated from Metropolis University," Clark said, a little enviously.
"No, he didn't," Eric denied Clark's statement, "Lex Luthor was expelled from Metropolis University."
"Expelled?"
Clark nodded, "I've never heard him mention that."
"He wouldn't tell you about his inglorious history."
Eric put down his knife and fork and said, "However, applying to Metropolis University has one advantage: you can buy tickets to the Schuster Stadium at a very favorable price. Clark, your favorite baseball team—the Metropolis Monarchs, Dad, your favorite Metropolis Sharks, and the basketball team—the Metropolis Generals, all students can buy tickets at the lowest discounted price."
"Hmm, I'm really looking forward to your complimentary tickets."
Jonathan smiled and patted Eric's shoulder.
Jonathan's heart was filled with undisguised pride and joy that his son had been admitted to Metropolis University.
"Maybe," he said, walking towards the kitchen and taking out a bottle of red wine, "Maybe we should celebrate Eric being admitted to Metropolis University."
"And Clark being admitted to Kansas Central University."
"Jonathan."
Martha frowned at her husband.
"Eric and Clark cannot drink alcohol now."
"That was before," Jonathan said to his wife with a smile, "Now Eric and Clark are adults. This should be considered our first family dinner with alcohol."
Hearing her husband say that their two sons were adults, Martha was momentarily dazed.
"Yes, Eric and Clark are adults now. Time really flies."
Martha, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes, smiled after glancing at her husband and sons.
"Since it's the first time, don't get drunk, Jonathan. I know you can't hold your liquor. Last time, didn't you start talking nonsense after just one glass of whiskey? I don't believe you'll maintain your good image in front of our sons after drinking."
Martha then teased her husband again about their wedding anniversary, when they went to the bar in Metropolis where they had their first date, and Jonathan, after one drink, pulled her hand and started playing a "confession" game in the bar.
Seeing his wife bring up his embarrassing story, Jonathan cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"That was just courage spurred by alcohol, not nonsense, and not really drunk."
Clark and Eric, standing nearby, listened to Jonathan's embarrassing story with somewhat strange expressions.
They continued to play the role of spectators for this scene that often played out in their family.
University orientation day.
Eric and Clark went to their respective schools.
As Eric used his super speed to move near the Metropolis University campus, he received a call from Lana.
"Eric, I have good news for you! I was admitted to Metropolis University!"
Lana's slightly excited voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Metropolis University?"
Eric was slightly surprised to hear the name, "I remember Chloe's university is that one."
"Yes, to be honest, I didn't expect to be admitted, especially since I applied after the deadline. I thought I wouldn't have a chance to be admitted. I'm a little excited now, besides being able to be schoolmates with Chloe, our schools—mine, Clark's, and yours—aren't far apart. Maybe we'll be like high school again."
"Perhaps," Eric shook his head, "For me, the school's distance is very close, but for you, it's not close."
Looking up at the bustling crowd at the campus entrance, Eric said to Lana on the other end of the phone, "Sorry, I have something else to do."
After hanging up the phone, he walked into the campus.
Since today was the first day of the new semester's orientation, many students were gathered both inside and outside the school gate.
In addition to curious and excited freshmen, many media reporters surrounded the students and parents, looking for and capturing news material.
Eric glanced at the crowd before walking inside.
Unlike universities in China, American students entering university generally don't know which major or department they want to pursue; they usually enroll first and then decide their major direction in their second or third year.
Students who enter university in the same year constitute a "class," similar to the meaning of a grade in Chinese.
Therefore, when it comes to classes, American university students only have the concept of "Class of [Year]" (equivalent to a graduating class), such as the Yale University Class of 2010, the University of Maryland Class of 2012, etc.
Additionally, in teaching, there are teaching classes; for example, students taking the same course form a class. A student needs to take different courses, so they will be in different "classes."
However, such classes are very loosely structured; people are together during class, but go their separate ways afterward.
There is no close contact among classmates, no class monitors or student representatives, and no teacher-advisors with significant authority over students.
Many times, after a semester, it is common for classmates to know each other by sight but not by name.
American university students learn and grow in such a loose and free environment.
Eric did not plan to live on campus and had no interest in making friends.
What he considered university life was just a more relaxed version of high school.
As he possessed the skill of super speed for travel, he didn't carry any luggage, simply wearing a baseball cap as he entered the campus.
After walking a few steps along the road, he was stopped by several girls.
The attractive female university students giggled as they blocked Eric's path.
"Hey, handsome, you're a freshman, right?" the blonde girl with a voluptuous chest, who was leading the group, asked Eric with a smile.
"What?" Eric frowned.
"I said you must be a freshman. Although you don't have any luggage, you look very unfamiliar with the school, so I guess you're a freshman or just visiting."
The blonde girl smiled and leaned in, pointing to the cap Eric was wearing, "But the cap on your head is a Meteorites baseball commemorative cap, isn't it? Metropolis University has a very close relationship with the Meteorites. Only students from this school could possibly get that style of baseball cap."
"Are you interested in attending our costume party tomorrow night? It's specially held to welcome freshmen, a gathering place for handsome guys and beautiful girls. If you come in person, you might even find a girlfriend you're very satisfied with, and even if you don't find a suitable girlfriend, we can still have a good time with you at the party."
The blonde girl handed Eric an invitation, chuckled softly, and said, "Also, we're from the sorority dorm. If you're interested, see you tomorrow!"
Seeing that Eric didn't respond, the woman didn't get angry. She simply placed the invitation on the stone bench in front of Eric and turned to leave.
After they left, Eric stared at the invitation in front of him, lost in thought.
He could clearly sense the strangeness of the women in front of him.
They emitted a non-human biological aura, and their entire bodies exuded an unsettling black odor.
His eyes, using their X-ray vision, looked at the women's bodies.
He found that their bodies also revealed strangeness; the composition of their blood was clearly very different from that of humans, and their heartbeats completely exceeded the upper limit of a normal person's heart rate.
"Are they not human?"
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