Here's the translated passage, with each line separated by an empty line:
Clark never found that familiar figure—Kara, who had disappeared earlier.
Dejected, he returned to the farm, only to find that Lana had already left.
Tyson was not in the stable, so it seemed Lana had taken Tyson back herself.
Knowing that he had messed up, Clark angrily pounded the fence next to the stable.
Lana must have seen him leave suddenly, waited for a while, and left disappointed when he didn't return.
Once again, he had messed everything up!
Luthor Mansion.
Dr. Helen angrily threw a newspaper in front of Lex.
"What's the meaning of this? Are you trying to tell the whole world?"
Lex, who was playing pool, glanced at the newspaper in front of him.
The headline read, "Gold-digging Doctor Clings to Billionaire Bald Tycoon."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought I bought out every paper in town."
Lex shrugged and set down the pool cue in his hand.
"Helen, I like you, and I want to protect you!"
"I'm not the only one you like, am I?"
Helen retorted.
"I've explained to you before, Victoria and I are only doing business together."
"Uh-huh."
Helen nodded, "But I also heard that Sir Harry was almost bankrupted by LuthorCorp. If it weren't for that accident a few months ago—when many famous tycoons went missing in Metropolis, leaving fewer wolves to tear him apart—Sir Harry would've been bankrupt by now. You and your father don't seem as estranged as you appear."
"Speaking of the newspaper, I've sacrificed a lot to achieve what I have today, Lex, and I value it immensely!"
"So now your reputation is being destroyed by rumors? Or is this why you won't move into the mansion?"
Lex asked, bringing up the issue he cared about the most.
"My lease hasn't expired yet."
"I'll take care of your unexpired lease. The movers I've hired will be at your place in an hour. What are you still hesitating about?"
Facing Lex's pressing question, Helen was silent for a moment, "I have my own plans!"
"I want you to know, Helen, I'm confident in our relationship. But if you want to back out, I'll understand."
With that, he handed her a key, "This master key can open any room in this mansion. I trust you completely. I hope you'll think about it carefully."
After handing her the key, Lex turned and left the room.
Standing in place with the key in her hand, Helen's lips curled into a slight smile.
After leaving the mansion, Lex drove toward Kent Farm.
"Hey, Clark, I need your help with something."
Lex said directly as he opened the door.
"Clark's not here. If you want his help, you'd better make an appointment in advance."
Eric was sitting on the couch in the living room, flipping through the latest newspaper from Gotham.
The headline prominently featured Playboy Bruce Wayne being attacked and now lying in the hospital for treatment.
He was a little puzzled that Catwoman hadn't reported anything to him about Bruce Wayne.
When Lex came in, he immediately set aside the matter of Catwoman and Bruce.
"I had an appointment with Clark for this time. Maybe something's delayed him?"
Lex cast a questioning glance at Eric.
"The only thing that can delay him is Lana."
Eric set down the newspaper and said to Lex, "You're in luck today. My parents aren't home."
"I wouldn't call that luck, although I tend to have good luck."
Lex sat down on the couch across from Eric.
He had a different feeling toward Eric than he did toward Clark.
He considered Clark a friend, although he privately investigated and doubted him, he didn't want to ruin their friendship.
Clark was kind and sincere, but Eric was cold and unapproachable.
He could manage his relationship with Clark, but he wasn't sure how to deal with Eric. That's why he didn't interact with Eric much.
"I heard there was a car accident near the farm yesterday."
Lex said directly to Eric, "If anything on the farm was damaged, you can apply for the Smallville agricultural disaster relief fund. I can help. You know, state officials have always been like sloths—too lazy to eat, too lazy to move—unless you apply some pressure yourself."
Lex offered to help the farm apply for relief funds.
Of course, Eric knew Lex wasn't being kind for no reason. He must have noticed the signs of a fight near the farm and suspected it was related to him and Clark, continuing his doubts about their identities.
"No, I don't think it's necessary. Have you forgotten that the last time you personally invited my parents to your castle under the guise of agricultural subsidies and offered to help, they flatly refused?"
Eric immediately turned down Lex's offer.
"Mr. and Mrs. Kent probably have some prejudice against me. 'Bad bamboo can't produce good shoots,' maybe that's what they think."
Lex leaned forward slightly and smiled at Eric, seemingly unfazed by Eric's slightly offensive remark.
"When I was in elementary and middle school, I often faced prejudice. Whether in words or actions, I could feel it. But if you care too much about what others think, you'll find it hard to move forward. If you try to have a little trust in others, it's like a chess piece being moved. It might get taken, but it could also be the start of a winning strategy."
Lex shared his perspective with Eric.
"Hmm."
Eric nodded.
Although he didn't think much of Lex, he had to admit the guy could be quite persuasive at times.
"But sometimes, without the help of prejudice and habits, you might not even make it across the room."
After playing this little game of words with Lex, Eric said, "About my book's publication last time, I know you helped a lot. Even though my opinion of you is pretty much the same as my father's, we do share certain views on some matters."
"You don't need to thank me. I just helped a little."
Lex clasped his fingers together. "I believe you could've handled it without my help, right?"
He acknowledged what Eric said about them sharing similarities in some respects.
This was something he had realized from the first time he saw Eric's paintings and was drawn into a terrifying and shocking vision.
"It seems it's getting late. Clark's probably so smitten with Lana that he's lost track of time."
With that, Lex stood up, ready to leave.
But just as he was about to walk out, he hesitated for a moment and said to Eric:
"I ran into Dr. Hamilton today. Although I'm an outsider in the world of science, I know how much science is transforming our world. I'm often surrounded by zealotry and grand claims, and the most effective weapon against them is science. I know people in top-tier biochemical research institutions. If you're interested, I can offer you some help."
Though Lex was a bit of a scoundrel, at this point, he hadn't become the full-blown, unflinching villain he would later be.
He genuinely wanted to help Eric.
While probing for information on Eric, he was also trying to quickly build a closer relationship with him.
Whether it was Eric or Clark, Lex was desperate to uncover their secrets.
The closer he got, the more clearly he could see their hidden truths.
"I'll think about it."
Eric nodded and responded coolly.
"OK, one more thing."
Lex, in a rare display of slight unease, added, "I'm a fan of your work."
Eric: "..."
After Lex left, Eric fell into deep thought.
It seemed this guy had his eyes on both Clark and himself.
Though he wanted to get rid of Lex immediately, the trouble it would cause afterward made his head ache.
At Smallville High School, in the school paper's editing room.
Jonathan was talking with Chloe.
Despite everything, it was unlikely for the two of them to have any reason to cross paths here.
"Mr. Kent, the fingerprint on the teacup you asked me to check has come back."
Chloe handed a file to Jonathan. "I found the person, but even as the head of the Wall of Weird, I find this pretty strange."
"Linda Harrison? A woman who disappeared seventeen years ago?"
Jonathan was stunned as he looked at the report.
"Yes, she disappeared seventeen years ago after being convicted of theft. On the day of the incident, she passed through Smallville. The police never found her body, so she was declared missing."
Chloe handed him a newspaper. "It has her picture, but strangely, she doesn't match your description. The fingerprints are the same, but her appearance is different, and she hasn't aged in the last seventeen years. I don't know why that is."
After contemplating the newspaper for a moment, Jonathan thanked Chloe.
After leaving the school paper's office, his expression turned serious.
Although there were still many unanswered questions, one thing was certain: the woman calling herself Kara was not Kara, nor was she an alien from "Krypton."
She was, without a doubt, human!
After Jonathan confirmed that Kara was a human, over at the Talon Club, Clark ran into some trouble.
"Hey! Stop! Let go of her!"
Clark shouted at the group of people holding Lana.
One of the thugs, dressed in a sleazy outfit, was gripping Lana's arm, trying to stop her from leaving.
Of course, Clark wouldn't allow this to happen in front of him.
"You want to stick your nose in? Or are you confident in your own abilities, kid?"
The leader, a burly man, stepped forward, threatening Clark in an unfriendly tone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
10 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/ReadingOasis
Make Sure to give a Review!
Collections please!
Send Power Stones!
-----------------------------------------------------------------