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*****
A steaming hot pot and a boisterous family gathering—there was nothing in the world more joyful than this.
Except, perhaps, if...
Charles glanced at little Rum. Seeing the little guy eating happily, a smile spread across his face as he decided to share the news with everyone.
"Um..." Charles gave a low chuckle. "Dad, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Speak up," Mike said, laughing cheerfully.
"I had a school conduct a survey."
A survey? Rum's ears perked up, a sense of alarm rising in his heart.
"What kind of survey?" Mike set down his chopsticks for a moment, listening intently.
"It was a survey asking the children to draw the person they most wanted to meet."
"Ah!" Rum let out a startled cry. The delicious meat in his mouth suddenly lost its flavor.
"What's wrong?" Raven looked at Rum and smiled gently. "Did you burn your tongue?"
"No—I mean, yes! Yes, I burned it." Rum was flustered. Then, he saw Charles wink at him.
In that instant, any lingering hope he had vanished. His heart sank.
"And then?" Mike prompted.
Charles looked at Mike with a mix of envy and mock jealousy. "As it turns out, they all drew you."
"Is that so? Hahaha!" Mike's brows arched in surprise, and he let out a delighted laugh.
"Of course they did," Eric said flatly. "You didn't actually think they'd draw you, did you?"
Charles's mouth twitched. "But logically speaking, shouldn't it have been me?"
Clark chimed in with a retort, "What kind of 'logic' are you using, exactly?"
Charles looked utterly aggrieved. These two were ganging up on him again. Seeing Charles like this, Jean couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. The Professor at home was a completely different person from the Professor at school.
Raven looked at the shifty-eyed Rum, then at Charles's mischievous gaze. She mused, "Wait, don't tell me... was that school Rum's school?"
"Exactly!" Charles lightly slapped the table and laughed. "Talk about a coincidence, right? I told them to pick a place at random, and somehow they ended up at Rum's school!"
Rum's lip trembled. "Maybe... maybe they have a death wish?"
"What are you talking about?" Raven said, giving Rum a playful swat on the back of his head.
Rum lowered his head, huffing as he snatched another piece of meat. He glared at Charles, chewing ferociously with a bared-teeth expression. Charles simply made a funny face back at him.
Seeing this, Eric rolled his eyes and muttered, "Childish."
"Rum's school?" Mike's eyes lit up. "So, what did Rum draw?"
Charles laughed internally. He had been waiting for that exact question.
Rum quickly shouted, "I drew Dad, of course!"
"Me?" Mike looked at Rum skeptically. "You see me every day, and you still want to see me? How uninspired!"
Rum: ( Д )ノ
Wait, this isn't how it was supposed to go. Did his dad get the wrong script?
"Hahaha!" Charles paused for a second, but after seeing Mike's expression, he gave his father a mental thumbs-up and burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?" Mike asked.
"Right, totally right!" Charles nodded repeatedly.
Mike looked at Rum, shook his head, and sighed. "Sigh, uninspired."
Rum: (〝▼皿▼)
"I am not uninspired!" Rum yelled. "Fine! I didn't draw Dad! I drew Meow-Ear!"
The room went silent. Then, looking at the proud little Rum, everyone exploded into laughter.
Clark sighed and couldn't help but comment, "What a silly kid." He had just confessed on his own...
Seeing everyone's reactions, Rum's face went pale. He had walked right into a trap! He turned his head stiffly toward Mike. Seeing Mike staring back at him coldly, he wailed, "Dad, that's so mean! You're bullying a child!"
Mike snorted. "Hmph! If I didn't use a little trickery, how would I have known that in your heart, I can't even compete with some 'Meow-Ear'?" Toward the end, Mike gave a mock sigh of disappointment.
"No!" Rum said anxiously. "In my heart, Dad is one of the most important people! Family is what matters most to me! Believe me!"
"Silly boy," Gwen sighed, feeling helpless. "Dad is just teasing you. Can't you tell?"
"Really?" Rum asked, his eyes shimmering with tears.
Seeing this, Raven glared at Mike. "Why are you teasing him?"
Mike cleared his throat and patted Rum's head. "Alright, alright. Dad isn't actually mad at you."
"Really?"
"Of course!" Mike smiled and placed a piece of mutton in Rum's bowl. "Being able to make your own choice without being influenced by others, and having the courage to speak it out—that's a great thing."
Rum looked at Mike in surprise and nodded vigorously.
Mike then turned to the smiling Charles, his brow furrowing in faux anger. "And you—why did you have to make him cry?"
"?" Charles looked at Mike, dumbfounded.
"Pfft!" Clark and the others burst out laughing. It had been a long time since they'd seen Charles so speechless.
Charles shook his head helplessly. He pulled Rum's drawing from his inner pocket and showed it to everyone, praising, "It really is a very good drawing."
The others nodded in agreement, while Raven narrowed her eyes as she took the drawing. She decided she would need to ask Rum later tonight exactly where he had seen this character.
After a pause, Charles looked at Mike. "Dad, the reason I brought this up is because I want you to fulfill those children's wishes. Go to that kindergarten and be a teacher for a day. They truly admire you."
"Be a teacher for a day?" Mike was stunned. He couldn't help but ask, "Do I look like teacher material to you?" He didn't want to go and lead the youth astray.
"Logan does it."
"Then there's no problem!" Instantly, Mike's confidence surged.
"Then it's settled. You can go tomorrow morning," Charles said immediately.
"But what am I supposed to teach them?" Mike frowned. He mentally ran through the things he knew and realized none of them were suitable for children.
"You don't need to teach anything. Just you standing there will make those kids happy enough," Charles said with a smile.
Mike was still hesitating when Eric spoke up. "Charles is right."
As the words fell, everyone looked at Mike and nodded in affirmation. Mike's prestige on Planet Kent was unparalleled; he was the most respected figure among all mutants.
"Alright, then." Mike shrugged and agreed.
With the serious business concluded, the atmosphere turned lively again. Half an hour later, everyone was full and satisfied. After chatting for a while longer, they all headed home.
The house suddenly felt quiet. After seeing the children off, Mike stood at the doorway and murmured with a hint of melancholy, "The house feels like it has too few rooms now. It can't even hold everyone anymore."
"The children have grown up; they have their own lives now." Raven smiled and tucked her arm into Mike's.
"At least I still have you."
"I will always be with you."
Simple words, yet dripping with deep emotion. Gwen and Rum, who had peeked out to see what was happening only to be hit with a face-full of "lovey-dovey" energy, retreated back into the house with grumpy expressions.
The next morning.
Mike changed into a suit. As he walked, he muttered the things he planned to say to the children. Under Raven's amused gaze, he opened a portal to Planet Kent.
"I'm off," Mike said with a solemn expression.
Even when fighting Apocalypse, Mike hadn't looked this serious.
"Relax, don't be nervous," Raven, an experienced teacher herself, advised as she straightened Mike's collar.
Mike nodded. "I know." It wasn't that he didn't know how to interact with kids—he was a father of five, after all. He was just afraid of leaving a bad impression on them.
"Good luck, dear." Raven gave Mike a gentle kiss.
Mike stepped through the portal and disappeared from Raven's sight, reappearing in Charles's office on Planet Kent.
"Dad," Charles greeted him. Looking at Mike in his suit, he immediately offered a compliment. "Still as handsome as ever!"
Mike arched an eyebrow. "Lead the way!"
"Yes, sir!" Charles gave a playful salute and led Mike out of the school.
Along the way, everyone who recognized Mike greeted him. Even the teachers and students who didn't know him personally looked at him with surprise, their eyes filled with clear respect and excitement. Mike's expression remained calm; he was used to such looks by now.
"So, Dad, what do you think?"
"Of the school?"
"Hmm?"
"It's very good." Mike nodded. "What I see on their faces is pride, confidence, and vitality. With people like them, the future of mutants will only get better."
"No," Charles shook his head and smiled. "Planet Kent will only get better."
Mike paused for a moment, then nodded. There wasn't much of a difference.
"Is this your car?" Mike asked, his face full of surprise when they reached the parking lot and he saw Charles's vehicle.
"Yes!" Charles introduced it. "This is the first hover-car model released by Future Tech. It's not officially on the market yet, but I asked Eric to get me one." Charles winked at Mike and smiled. "After all, I am Eric's brother. There are some perks."
"How come I didn't know about this? I'm his father!" Mike felt a bit disgruntled.
Charles opened the car door and said to Mike, "You've stayed on Earth for so long that you haven't been paying much attention to Planet Kent. Want to give it a try?"
"I'll try it!" Mike sat in the driver's seat. "With you guys here, why wouldn't I be at ease?"
"Being at ease doesn't mean you shouldn't care." Charles looked at Mike helplessly as he started the car and explained the controls. "I've already entered the address. Just follow the route."
"Got it."
Mike gripped the steering wheel with a hint of excitement. After a quick scan of the holographic map, he stepped on the accelerator and sped off. This was his first time driving a hover-car.
Along the way, Mike noticed the changes on Planet Kent. Although it hadn't been long since his last visit, the development of the planet had progressed significantly. At this rate, within a few years, Planet Kent's technology would surpass Earth's.
Soon, Mike and Charles arrived near Rum's school. Speaking of which, this was Mike's first time visiting Rum's current school.
Getting out of the car, Mike tossed the keys to Charles with a bored expression. "Driving this thing is no fun at all." Without the roar of an engine, the drive was practically soulless.
Charles replied helplessly, "But it's safe and environmentally friendly." Planet Kent placed a high priority on environmental protection; after all, Earth's deteriorating environment served as a stark warning.
"I'll take you to see the principal. We need to coordinate a few things, and then he'll handle your schedule." Charles had notified the principal in advance, but he still needed to introduce Mike formally.
"Mm-hmm." Mike nodded, then lowered his voice. "Should I hide? Give the kids a surprise?"
"Of course!" Charles agreed.
In the next instant, a card appeared at Mike's fingertips. As the card dissipated, Mike's figure vanished into thin air.
"Let's go!" Mike's voice rang out, and Charles began walking into the school.
When they met the principal—who was a mutant—he tried his best to remain composed, but his eyes kept drifting toward Mike's location. Eventually, he couldn't help himself and asked for a photo and an autograph, looking as happy as a fifty-year-old child.
After carefully tucking away the signature, the principal said to Mike, "Let us go, Mr. Kent. When those children see you, they will go wild!"
Mike nodded. Charles took a sip of his coffee and waved at Mike with a smile. "Dad, I'll leave it to you."
Mike smiled back and followed the principal. Interestingly, the first classroom the principal led Mike to was Rum's class.
The principal signaled for Mike to wait for a moment before stepping inside to say a few words to the children. Then, under the excited and glowing gazes of the students, Mike walked in.
Immediately, a chorus of gasps erupted. Spontaneous applause broke out. Mike looked into row after row of bright eyes filled with admiration and respect. Seeing the smiles on those innocent little faces, Mike felt for the first time that bringing them to Planet Kent had been an absolutely correct decision.
But...
Mike's brow twitched. He noticed one particular gaze that remained entirely unmoved and looked over. It was Rum.
Noticing Mike's eyes on him, Rum gave a start and quickly flashed a brilliant smile.
Seeing this, the principal hurriedly said, "His name is Rum Kent. He is an outstanding student here." After a pause, the principal smiled and added, "Coincidentally, he shares the same last name as you, Mr. Kent."
Mike nodded and said to Rum, "Not bad!"
Rum's face turned bright red. What the—?! Why is Dad praising me in front of so many people? It's embarrassing!
Rum tilted his chin up, a radiant smile blooming on his face. He looked exactly like a proud little peacock.
Mike chuckled inwardly and addressed the children. "Today, I will be filling in for your teacher. You all..."
Before he could finish, a roar of cheers filled the room. Mike smiled, finally understanding why Charles and Eric had been so confident in him. Because in the eyes of these children—and indeed, in the eyes of all mutants—he was the "God" who protected them.
For the first time, Mike realized the weight of that responsibility. After a moment of thought, Mike officially began his duties as a teacher for a day.
And the subject of this lesson was: Pride and Humility.
(End of Chapter)