Chapter 2

The early morning sun cast a ray of light into the slums.

Chu Mo's eyes were red; he hadn't slept all night.

Today was the day of his interview for a reporter's position at the Daily Planet, and also the day he was supposed to get even with the Mafia.

He had been up all night thinking.

He'd come up with several plans, but none of them were foolproof.

"What if Superman goes off to save the world? What will I do?"

Worse, in two days he would be time travelling to the Marvel Universe.

"If all else fails, I'll just wait by the door until he shows up," Chu Mo decided with a sigh. "One step at a time..."

He finally made up his mind.

"Time to go. Target: Superman!"

The Daily Planet was in the commercial centre of Metropolis City, a long way from the slums. It would take at least four hours on foot, and a taxi would cost five dollars. But even that wasn't enough for a starting fare!

"Damn, sometimes you have to face death head-on to survive," Chu Mo muttered.

He grabbed the most valuable item in his house - a kitchen knife. Wrapping it in newspaper, he went out the door and grabbed a pair of stockings his neighbour had left out to dry. He put the stockings in his pocket and stood by the side of the road.

A taxi drove up to him. Chu Mo got in.

"Planet Building, please," he said.

"Okay!" The taxi driver was delighted. A trip to the Planet Building would bring him at least fifty dollars.

"I'm going to see a strip show tonight!" the driver thought happily.

Twenty minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of the Planet Building. Men and women in business suits stood at the entrance, sipping coffee and talking on their phones.

"That'll be fifty-five dollars," the driver said after checking the meter.

"Hold on a second," Chu Mo replied, pulling the stockings out of his pocket and pulling them over his head.

The driver stared, confused.

"What the hell is this? Some kind of pervert?"

Chu Mo then unwrapped the newspaper, revealing the rusty kitchen knife.

The driver's face immediately turned pale.

"Is... is this a robbery?"

"Brother, please don't kill me! I don't have any money!"

The driver's nerves were shot.

"I thought I had a good fare, but instead I'm being robbed!"

Taxi robberies were common in Gotham, but this was the first time the driver had seen a man trying to rob someone with a rusty kitchen knife.

"Sure, it might not kill me, but tetanus shots are expensive!"

Chu Mo rolled his eyes at the frightened driver.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you," Chu Mo assured him.

The driver exhaled, somewhat relieved.

"I'm going to kill someone. Wait here for five minutes. I'll be right back."

Chu Mo's expression was dead.

"What? Kill someone and then come back? And he wants me to wait?"

The driver was confused. But he quickly realised that it was best to appease this madman.

"OK, brother. Don't worry, I'll be here when you get back!"

The driver forced a smile.

"Thank you," Chu Mo replied and got out of the car.

As soon as Chu Mo closed the door, the driver slammed it down, wishing he could merge with the car's engine. He disappeared down the road in an instant.

"Damn, whatever happened to trust?" Chu Mo muttered, pulling the stockings off his head and tossing the kitchen knife into a nearby dustbin.

He straightened his clothes, pulled out his resume and walked calmly towards the Planet Building. He had no other choice. Weak and broken, if he'd tried to walk he'd probably have collapsed halfway.

"Excuse me, sir, may I see your ID?" a security guard asked, stepping in front of Chu Mo.

"I'm here for a job interview," Chu Mo said, handing over his CV.

The guard looked at it briefly, then nodded and let him pass.

Chu Mo stepped into the lift, his nerves beginning to fray.

The interview was the least of his worries; his real target was Superman.

"How am I going to find him?" he wondered, his heart pounding.

On the eighth floor was the Daily Planet's reporters' room.

Knock, knock.

"Hello, I'm here for the reporter's interview," Chu Mo said, smiling politely at the people inside.

"Did you bring your resume?" a black woman asked as she came over.

"I did," Chu Mo replied and handed it to her.

"Come with me," she said, leading him into a small room. He sat there alone for a few minutes until a blonde woman came in.

"Lois? Superman's girlfriend?" Chu Mo thought as he recognised her face. She looked just like in the films.

"After reviewing your information, we've decided that you're not suitable for the position of reporter," Lois said with a polite smile.

Chu Mo was not discouraged; he had expected this outcome.

"Is the security guard position open?" Chu Mo asked hopefully.

Lois blinked in surprise.

"I beg your pardon?"

Chu Mo grinned and tried again.

"If not security, how about a job as a Watchman?"

Lois looked at him, completely taken aback. She had interviewed many candidates, but none as strange as Chu Mo. She looked at his skinny frame, clearly too weak for security work.

Chu Mo noticed her hesitation and continued. His real goal was to meet Superman, but his stomach was already rumbling with hunger.

"Well, I actually have some exclusive news," Chu Mo said mysteriously.

"Exclusive news?" Lois raised an eyebrow.

"Do you know Superman? I have an exclusive interview with him, but I'll need a job first if you want it."

Lois studied him sceptically. She'd wanted to interview Superman for years, but had never had the chance. Could this man really have an in?

"If you really get the interview, you can join the Daily Planet," Lois said after a moment.

"All right! But I didn't bring it with me today. I'll have to go home and get it," Chu Mo said, smiling broadly.

Lois frowned. His story was getting more suspicious by the minute.

"My home is far away, and I was in a hurry this morning, so I forgot to bring any money," Chu Mo added.

Lois was now completely confused.

"Is this guy a fraud?" she wondered.

But just in case there was a shred of truth to his claim, she reached into her purse and pulled out two hundred dollar bills, handing them over.

"I really shouldn't..." Chu Mo said, but he snatched the money so quickly that Lois blinked in shock.

"I think I just got scammed..."

Chu Mo hurried out of the office with his newfound fortune.

Just as he stepped into the hallway, a man with black-rimmed glasses knocked on the door.

"Hi, I'm Clark Kent, here for the reporter's interview," Clark said in a soft voice.

Chu Mo stopped in his tracks.

"Damn it! I came too early!"