Free Web NovelChapter 779: Chapter 737: The Journey
The night wind was slightly cool, and after a few awkward conversations, even someone as nice as Clark didn’t know how to restart the topic.
The dashboard emitted a faint glow, and the three of them were submerged in darkness. Only the streetlights occasionally spilled into the car, briefly highlighting their faces.
Su Ming’s old car was being towed, occasionally making sounds of parts falling apart. He rolled down the passenger window, planning to switch the air a bit; today was indeed unlucky.
The Daily Planet is located in the New Terri District in the center of Metropolis, a large delta at the river mouth, where skyscrapers are densely packed—a region most concentrated with wealthy people.
And someone like Su Ming, a poor wretch, can only live in the South Bank across the river, in Queen’s Park District. Although the name sounds nice, it’s actually a chaotic area filled with migrant workers, illegal immigrants, and various gangs.
He knew that successful reporters like Clark and Louise, even if they couldn’t afford property in New Terri, could easily rent an apartment in the city center. They were specifically sending him home because the direction was definitely opposite.
Watching the rushing river beneath the bridge like a black silk ribbon, the round moon cast a very vague shadow on it. For some reason, Su Ming always felt that there was a bat shape on the moon; very strange.
Nature’s handiwork is truly astounding.
"Are you and Louise dating?"
Su Ming shifted the topic away from himself, taking an interest in the two’s matters.
Clark rubbed his palms and scratched his black short hair: "No...not yet, um..."
"No, we’re not dating." frёewebηovel.cѳm
Louise spoke very directly, her attention focused on the road ahead. Her driving skills weren’t great, always worried about hitting something while driving at night, especially on days like today with the moon’s foggy light.
Metropolis is a coastal city, often foggy at night.
Clark stiffened a bit, letting out an almost inaudible sigh. They were partners, always mingling together, but he had a little thought about wanting to take their relationship further.
However, either due to a lack of opportunity or some other reason, the carefree Louise was completely oblivious to this.
To her, Clark might just be a colleague, friend, younger brother, and partner, but nothing more.
Clark felt he was already showing obvious signs, even many colleagues had noticed, yet Louise always responded with statements like this...
"He’s my best friend."
Louise stated the standard answer as usual while turning on the blinker and exiting the bridge. Clark discreetly covered the area around his heart.
Stabbed to the heart.
Clark really liked her, going along with whatever she did, but that turned into showcasing no masculinity, and being seen as a gay friend by Louise.
He wished he had superpowers, like superheroes in comics, able to perform hero-saving actions—for sure Louise would be touched.
But that’s just fantasy; they are all just ordinary people. Yesterday, Clark cut his finger while chopping vegetables, and it bled profusely, almost uncontrollable.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, with muscles all over, yet this robust man had a very embarrassing secret.
That is, he not only had anemia but also had a severe blood phobia. The small wound on his hand made him look pale and dizzy all day yesterday.
Su Ming sympathetically glanced at Clark; happy lives are all similar, but each unhappy person has their own misfortune.
He realized his own advantage over Clark. Although he was dirt poor, had pyrophobia, and generally average luck...
But he had a girlfriend.
Thinking of that delicate girl resembling a narcissus, Su Ming couldn’t help but smile.
Clark instantly understood why Slade first looked at him sympathetically, then showed a wry smile, surely recalling his girlfriend.
Slade was famous in the editorial department for being a show-off; he always kept his photo with his girlfriend close by, showing them to newcomers.
Even though his girlfriend was beautiful, with an elegant demeanor, delicate and charming, it’s not like you show it to everyone, right? Clark kept his hand on his chest, his face twitching a bit, forcing a smile.
"Good luck."
Su Ming mouthed the words slowly to Clark, with the streetlight illuminating his face.
Clark took a glance at Louise driving and nodded firmly at Su Ming; he wouldn’t give up. free𝑤ebnovel.com
So the topic between the two shifted to television shows, both interested in the recent wilderness reality show.
Penguin TV Station aired a new reality show, sending a dozen contestants to different deserted islands, live streaming their survival process, with elimination if fainted from hunger.
On the deserted island, you have to rely on yourself for food, clothing, and shelter, and in the end, only one winner will be left, who will receive a reward of millions of US Dollars provided by the Iceberg Corporation.
Su Ming quite fancies those millions of US Dollars but unfortunately, he even has trouble starting a fire. Even if he doesn’t know much about survival, he knows that you can’t survive in the wild without fire. Clark, on the other hand, with his physique, should be a strong contender for the championship.
However, Clark knows his own limitations. The survival location of the show is either a rainforest or a swamp. If he gets scratched by a branch or hits a mosquito, he’d faint at the sight of blood — isn’t that embarrassing across the entire United States?
Thus, their topic gradually shifted from persuading each other to participate in the next season to discussing the current contestants.
"I think that bald guy with a beard, covered in tattoos like a member of the Harley gang, what’s his name again?"
Su Ming gestured at his mouth with his finger but couldn’t recall the name.
"Arthur Curry, do you think he can win the championship?" Clark provided the name, clearly more familiar with the show than Su Ming, and then showed a disapproving expression: "He’s physically strong and has decent survival skills, but unfortunately, he’s a landlubber who can’t swim at all. This season is an island competition, so his food sources would be much less than others."
Su Ming scratched his head and placed the camera beside him: "Then who do you think will win?"
"Malcolm Merlyn," Clark said with great confidence. "Even though he’s a bit older, he managed to shoot a bird for dinner on the first day using a homemade bow and arrow. His hunting skills are impressive."
Su Ming shook his head, clearly not agreeing with this view: "But he lost his glasses this week. Now he can’t even see his own fingers when he stretches out his arm. Even though he found a banana tree, without any meat, he definitely won’t last long."
Clark scratched his head too. Slade did have a point: "True, but this makes the eventual winner too hard to predict."
Louise, who was driving, raised an eyebrow and glanced at the two: "Why are you guessing about this?"
"Oh? Don’t you know? Iceberg Corporation has an activity where you can place bets on contestants using real name information, and if you guess correctly before The Day After Tomorrow, you can win a free candlelit dinner at the Iceberg Restaurant in Gotham City for two."
Su Ming explained and even took out his phone to show her the betting interface.
Clark also planned to try his luck. If he won, he would take Louise, since dinner at that restaurant is outrageously expensive and far beyond what a reporter could afford.
But as Slade said, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and they are all pretty obvious. He didn’t know who to bet on and was still undecided until today.
Louise seemed to understand a bit. She craned her neck to watch the road ahead while the headlights only illuminated a small area.
"I’ve seen that show online. Why don’t you bet on Jaina Hudson?" Louise raised a hand and waved it twice to emphasize her point: "Besides her looks, she has no obvious strengths. She’s frail, has no survival experience, and she’s a bit quirky, but I think she might win."
"Ah, that’s impossible." Su Ming waved dismissively, showing a skeptical expression: "She looks like a supermodel and only eats a bit of wild grass daily; how can she compete with the others?"
"That’s not wild grass, it’s wild vegetables." Clark corrected some mistakes first and then turned to look at Louise: "But honestly, she sometimes talks to herself, and that mental state obviously can’t last long."
"Hmph! A girl on a deserted island can’t talk to herself to relieve loneliness?" Louise glared at Clark.
"Well...but she talks too much. From the moment she opens her eyes, she talks to herself until lying down at night to say goodnight to the air next to her. Don’t you find that creepy?"
Clark found it amusing yet awkward. Of course, he would pay attention to the female contestants on the show.
After all, compared to the other muscle-bound men, Miss Hudson in her white bikini was more visually appealing. But appreciating looks is one thing — when it comes to betting on a free dinner, you have to choose someone strong.
Louise sighed, looking sympathetically at the two men.
"You guys should know that this show is a reality TV, and the key aspect is ’show.’ The Iceberg Restaurant isn’t that big, with just under 500 tables. If too many people win the online voting, how would they manage? Even if they could spread the winners over 365 days a year, what about the costs?"
Su Ming rubbed his chin, finding it a bit odd without any stubble to stroke: "You mean..."
Louise nodded and shared her guess:
"I just glanced at your phone, and so far, the burly guys have at least tens of thousands of people betting on them, while Jaina only has dozens of votes. Clearly, no one believes in her... So I suspect the Iceberg Corporation may manipulate the results in the latter half of the show."
"Huh? How would they manipulate it?"
Clark frowned, instinctively disliking underhanded tactics. Su Ming, on the other hand, understood, knowing that the boss of the Iceberg Group is notorious for being greedy.
"For instance, they could secretly drop some crippled chickens on the island and claim she caught them, or maybe bury a crate of vintage colas under the sand for her to ’stumble upon.’ With sources of food and water, she could survive there until the end of the world."
Louise smiled and nodded, her proud look saying it all: "Exactly, the less favored someone is to win, the more the Iceberg Corporation stands to gain. Not only would they only need to prepare thirty to forty tables of dinner, but the controversy from the result would also create powerful advertisement effects."
Clark shook his head, his bold features filled with helplessness: "Although I don’t like to think the worst of people, you do have a point."
"I’ve already voted — for Jaina. It seems she’s more like an actress," Su Ming said, shaking his phone. He agreed with Louise’s logic, knowing the Iceberg Corporation’s lack of scruples: "Even if it’s a conspiracy, it doesn’t concern me as long as I get that luxury dinner!"
Clark also pulled out his phone to log into his account and cast his vote, but he still looked dejectedly at Louise: "Darkness, your mind is too dark."
Louise stopped the car irritably and told him: "We’re here. Go help Slade unhitch the trailer, or you’ll see an even darker side of me."
Clark pushed open the car door and rushed out.
