SUP Chapter 27: Ian, Miracle Boy?

Tessa took in all of Ian’s reactions.

“This is fate, unstoppable.” Her voice was like a verdict, carrying an unshakable solemnity as her fingers tapped rhythmically on the windowsill.

A steady “tap tap” sound.

Ian’s pupils flickered slightly.

“There’s always a way.” He suddenly calmed, staring into Tessa’s eyes as she turned, the dizzying depth intensifying.

“So-called fate is an invincible outcome. Your resistance is just your prejudice against death.” Tessa’s tapping paused, a stark silence filling the frozen house.

Ian’s expression, rare and serious, held firm. “Maybe death isn’t scary, but ignoring life, doing nothing while accepting a family member’s passing, that’s truly terrifying.”

His response made Tessa’s eyes narrow slightly. The pale woman patted her chest, a curious smile spreading across her face.

“You’ve hit right at my heart.”

She winked at Ian, but his expression didn’t budge.

“You’re telling me all this for a reason.” Ian had a sliver of genuine intelligence, just rarely used on normal days.

Tessa’s smile deepened at his words.

“Maybe I just want you to learn to accept reality.” Her tone remained soft, like comforting a child in need of pity.

“Your family is special, so things are a bit different…” Her reasoning had some logic, but Ian found it hardly convincing.

“Perhaps?”

Ian turned noncommittally to the black-and-white hallway, where bedroom doors stood tightly shut. “But I bet you haven’t gone to comfort my brothers yet.”

His words carried intent.

“What does that matter?” Tessa tilted her head, still smiling brightly. “You’re the youngest, so it’s only right I tend to your emotions more.”

Fairly reasonable.

“I don’t know reapers, but to me, they shouldn’t have such emotions… so you chatting with me here definitely has a purpose.”

Ian’s brain was working fast, piecing together the oddities. Tessa merely chuckled, glancing down at the cold street below.

“I’m just passing the time. Living too long gets exhausting.” The female reaper’s voice held a sigh, tinged with faint melancholy.

Ian stayed silent.

Just watching her, his sapphire eyes shone strikingly in the faded world.

A moment later.

“Alright, clever little guy.” Tessa’s voice broke the quiet, her lips pursing as she raised her hands in an exaggerated surrender.

“I’ll be honest, compared to your father… I’m more interested in you. Until just now, I didn’t even realize someone as special as you existed.”

“This is a first in my dull career—so, I’ve decided to give you a chance, far more generous than what our reaper boss would offer.”

She glanced at Ian’s hand again, pausing before continuing, “I’ll give you seven days to find out why your father must die.”

Her suddenly cold tone left Ian momentarily stunned.

“You’re sending me back in time?”

Ian frowned, touching the brand on his hand. Her words gave him a critical piece of information.

His pupils trembled again.

“No, no, I don’t admire you that much.” Tessa laughed suddenly. “Your father’s death will be delayed, and these seven days are his… and this city’s last chance. Don’t expect help from your father; he doesn’t even know what’s happened to him.”

“Little guy, you’re on your own… show me if you can birth a miracle.” Tessa’s voice carried a faint trace of anticipation.

With that, she gave Ian no chance to ask more, her body tilting forward, plummeting toward the street below, as if melting into the black-and-white night.

“Is this tied to Metropolis’s safety? Find the cause, and Dad won’t have to die?” Ian rushed to the window, but no trace of anyone remained.

Not just Tessa, who’d fallen to the street, but all the countless black-clad figures were gone, as if they’d never been there.

“Ian!”

“Ian!!”

“What’s wrong?”

…

Amid his uncertainty.

The world suddenly flooded with sound and color. Everything seemed to twist, blending into a blurry mess.

“Hm?”

Ian rubbed his eyes.

Opening them again.

He saw Clark’s hand on his shoulder, the other waving before his face, his father’s expression full of worry.

“Why’d you suddenly zone out?”

Clark was clearly concerned Ian’s condition was worsening. Though he knew some things about Ian, he still thought the psychiatrist’s diagnosis might hold.

That was a nationally renowned psychiatrist, often aiding police cases, which is how they’d crossed paths.

“That woman…” Ian looked behind Clark, his voice cutting off. Nothing was there. He whipped his head toward the window.

The window seemed never to have been opened.

“What just happened?”

Ian couldn’t help but ask.

Clark frowned, studying his youngest son, his worry deepening. “I came out of the bathroom and saw you standing there, eyes glazed over.”

No wonder his father was concerned; Ian’s behavior matched textbook schizophrenia symptoms from his speed-read knowledge.

“So, you don’t even remember me accusing you of cheating… or maybe it never happened in reality?” Ian suddenly felt like he was turning into Li Huowang.

“Dad, today during the day… did anything strange happen?” Unable to distinguish, Ian focused on the reaper’s mention of Superman’s cause of death.

He felt it must tie to something that happened today.

“You know, just some boring news gathering… pretty dull.” Clark adjusted his glasses, clearly not wanting to tell the truth.

“…”

Ian stared at his father for a long time.

“Go to bed. About that robber you ran into, don’t worry more, I’ll handle it.” Clark didn’t notice Ian’s odd expression.

He patted Ian’s shoulder, making a promise.

“…”

Ian, who’d wanted to lay his cards on the table, kept recalling the reaper’s stern warning that he could only rely on himself, which must have a reason.

Would involving Superman make things worse? Lost in thought, his sixth sense buzzing, Ian was led step-by-step by Clark to his room.

“See you tomorrow, Dad.”

Ian spoke softly. His pupils reflected a woman sitting on the chimney of the house across, shushing him, a sight only he could see.

Clark, meanwhile, froze briefly, sensing something odd.

“See you tomorrow.”

He smiled, closing Ian’s door. Alone in the hallway, Clark’s smile faded, replaced by thoughtful confusion.

“Something happened…”

Superman glanced toward the bathroom, then at the empty night outside the window, not even a bird in sight.

His eyes flickered.

He lifted his sleeve-covered arm, the ghastly wound still glowing green. But the growing weakness seemed to have suddenly stalled, feeling distinctly unusual.

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