Walking out of the building that would soon be Marvel Comics, Xu Mo looked up at the blazing sun and declared with great pride:
"The future will belong to Marvel."
Well, it was a bit grandiose.
Hiss! The sunlight was so intense it was blinding.
Xu Mo quickly lowered his head and rubbed his eyes, pretending the dazzling light had simply overwhelmed him.
As noon approached, the street traffic grew more congested. Xu Mo headed towards a nearby restaurant. The summer heat made everyone sweat, and the sidewalks were crowded with pedestrians.
"Welcome!"
The waiter at the entrance of the restaurant bent slightly and greeted with a polite smile.
Xu Mo chose a table near the glass wall, where he could observe the bustling street outside. There were elderly people, young adults, and children all in a hurry. He wondered what the future would hold for this place, whether it would be joyful or sorrowful.
"Sir, here's the menu."
The waitress in a cheongsam handed over the menu with a smile.
Xu Mo glanced over the options and ordered a few dishes casually. The restaurant specialized in Chinese cuisine, which reminded him of home and suited his tastes perfectly.
As he enjoyed his meal, a sound caught his attention. A young girl in a purple dress stood outside the glass wall, her big eyes fixed on the food on his table. Her stomach growled loudly, and she licked her pink tongue outside, clearly hungry.
"Cuckoo."
Another rumble from her belly followed. Xu Mo was taken aback by how a mere child could be so hungry that it was almost audible through the glass.
Without breaking eye contact, the girl gazed longingly at the food.
"Come in."
Xu Mo waved her over with a friendly smile.
Perhaps due to her intense hunger, the little girl didn't hesitate to enter. She approached the table timidly.
"Eat up."
"The waiter will bring another serving."
Xu Mo noted that the girl had the demeanor of a young lady, though she seemed a bit timid. Her face was clean, and he wondered who she might be and why she was alone.
"Cuckoo."
The girl immediately began eating voraciously. It was clear she had been starving for a while. Xu Mo observed her and said kindly:
"What's your name? Where do you live? Make sure to go home after eating."
"Jia Li."
The girl's name was Jia Li. Her focus was entirely on the food, savoring every bite. She had never tasted anything so delicious, though she seemed indifferent to how nutritious it might be.
It wasn't long before Xu Mo, having finished three dishes, saw them all disappear into Jia Li's bottomless pit of a stomach. Yet she still seemed hungry. These dishes had been mostly meat, a testament to her seemingly insatiable appetite.
Noticing Jia Li's discomfort, Xu Mo asked, "Are you full?"
Jia Li looked up, her eyes still sparkling with hunger. "I'm full."
"Let's finish up."
Jia Li's face brightened at the words, and she gazed at Xu Mo with wide eyes, leaving him at a loss for words. He wasn't running a charity; he couldn't invite people to eat for free forever.
"Alright, it's time to head back now."
Xu Mo patted Jia Li's head gently as he stood up and prepared to leave.
Jia Li followed him slowly, her eyes flickering as she trailed behind him.
As Xu Mo walked down the street, heading back to his residence to finish the first season of One Punch Man, he felt Jia Li following closely behind.
With no other option, Xu Mo turned around and bent down slightly, asking helplessly, "Jia Li, where are your parents?"
Jia Li looked a bit embarrassed and explained, "I don't have a mother. I only have a father, but he's not here."
Xu Mo was struck by the realization that Jia Li's mother had passed away and guessed that she might be separated from her father.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, Xu Mo considered the possibility that her father might have left behind some inheritance. Jia Li's attachment was evident.
Suddenly, Jia Li looked at Xu Mo with determination. "I have no family left on Earth. Can I follow you?"
The scene fell into an uncomfortable silence. The bustling street seemed distant as the two stood in their own world.
No family left on Earth? Was she saying her family had all died?
Xu Mo's expression shifted from sympathy to concern. He looked at Jia Li with pity, understanding why she might be so hungry. It seemed her situation was dire.
At that moment, Jia Li's eyes widened, and Xu Mo turned to see her observing his back closely.
"Hey—!"
A heavy truck barreled out from a crossroad, its rear end swinging violently and skidding against another vehicle. Sparks flew, and pedestrians screamed and scattered in panic.
The truck continued its reckless course, heading straight towards Xu Mo.
"Damn it."
Xu Mo cursed under his breath, realizing that his first day at Marvel was proving to be as chaotic as expected. Without hesitation, he grabbed Jia Li's small hand and sprinted away.
As soon as Xu Mo yanked Jia Li up, an unnoticeable wave of energy emanated from her, causing the world around them to shift into black and white.
Everything lost its color, everything came to a halt—including Xu Mo. The only one who could still move was little Jia Li.
A purple light flashed in her eyes.
Time resumed with a jarring jolt, and the truck, which had been speeding uncontrollably, now spun in place, performing a full 360-degree rotation. The scene defied all logic.
Was the driver somehow controlling it?
Pedestrians continued to flee, not wanting to risk their lives. Xu Mo took Jia Li and quickly moved in the opposite direction, soon hailing a taxi that whisked them away to his residence.
During the ride, Xu Mo was both shocked and horrified. It was his first encounter with such a terrifying situation. In his previous life, he had been an ordinary citizen.
Being nearly hit by a drifting truck had been a terrifying experience, only heightened by the knowledge that villains in the Marvel Universe could strike at any moment. It was a sobering realization.
He couldn't help but smile wryly, knowing he was still holding Jia Li's little hand and letting go.
"What now?" Jia Li tugged at his sleeve, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
"Uh, alright."
In his dazed state, Xu Mo agreed, unsure of what he had just consented to.
Perhaps having a companion in the aftermath of a crisis was better than facing it alone.