This was not the first time Su Zhan had carried Carol Ferris in his arms, but the excitement in her eyes was as bright as ever. The sensation of flying with him was completely different from any airplane ride. As the wind whipped past, Carol looked up, her curiosity shining. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.
"Star City," Su Zhan replied. As he spoke, the energy of his Lantern ring shimmered around them, transforming into a sleek, glowing plane. The two of them sat together, and Carol was stunned by the effortless transformation. She had never imagined something so extraordinary could feel so natural.
"Why Star City?" Carol asked, glancing around at the scenery below.
"I'm here to find someone—a superhero who lives in Star City. It's part of my mission. I'll probably be here for about a week, then I'll have to leave for other things," Su Zhan explained simply.
Carol felt a fleeting sense of disappointment at the mention of his limited time, but her heart warmed again as she realized he had chosen to bring her along. That alone was proof of her place in his heart. Besides, what woman could resist the romance of being with a real-life superhero? Her boyfriend was a hero, and she could not ask for more.
The two of them chatted quietly as they soared through the sky, sharing laughter and stories until they finally descended above Star City. Su Zhan landed them gently in an open, abandoned lot on the city's edge. With a flick of his hand, the energy plane vanished.
"Let's go find a hotel and settle in," Su Zhan suggested, wrapping his arm around Carol.
She nodded, her smile radiant. Together, they checked into one of Star City's most renowned hotels and ordered a suite with a view. Lunch was brought up, and afterward, Su Zhan lounged on the sofa, Carol nestled against his side. Warm sunlight spilled through the windows, and for a while, they simply enjoyed the quiet moment, savoring the rare peace.
After some time, Carol broke the silence, tilting her head up to look at him. "Didn't you say you were here to meet a superhero? When are you going?"
Su Zhan smiled and kissed her gently. "No rush. I'll go tomorrow."
Carol's eyes softened. "Is it because of me? If it is, you don't have to wait. I'm happy just being with you. I miss you, and of course I want to be with you all the time, but… we have a long future ahead of us, right? I'm willing to be the woman behind you."
Her words were gentle and understanding, showing the depth of her affection and her willingness to support him. Su Zhan was genuinely touched. He had planned to spend the day with Carol before seeking out Oliver Queen, knowing that seven days would be more than enough to complete his main and side missions. But with Carol's encouragement, he felt a surge of appreciation for her maturity and thoughtfulness.
He kissed her again and whispered, "Alright, my wonderful woman. I'll go see the superhero first, but I'll come back to you soon."
"Go ahead, dear," Carol replied, her voice full of trust.
Su Zhan got up, left the hotel, and began his search for Oliver Queen.
At that same moment, Oliver Queen had just returned to Star City after five years away. The first thing he did was seek out Laurel Lance, his former girlfriend. Oliver's past as a playboy was well known, and his disappearance at sea with Laurel's sister, Sarah, had left deep scars. The boat had sunk, and both Sarah and Oliver were presumed dead. Now, Oliver had come back to apologize to Laurel, hoping for forgiveness.
Laurel Lance was beautiful, strong, and destined to become the second Black Canary. Her sister, Sarah, would later become the first, though no one knew that yet. But Laurel's feelings were complicated. After Oliver's disappearance, she had grown close to his friend Tommy Merlyn, and even after Oliver's return, her heart was torn between the two men. Su Zhan found her story too tangled for his taste; he preferred simplicity and sincerity.
Standing on a street corner with a cup of coffee, Su Zhan watched as Oliver and Laurel spoke. The conversation was tense, and after a few moments, Laurel turned and walked away toward her law office. As she passed Tommy, she gave him a look of dissatisfaction. Tommy, the quintessential rich second-generation, simply shrugged and made his way toward Oliver.
The two men exchanged a few words before heading into an alley to retrieve Tommy's car. Su Zhan did not follow immediately. Instead, he observed as they entered the alley, only to be ambushed. A van screeched to a halt, and masked gunmen leaped out. There was a sudden gunshot, a scuffle, and then silence. The van sped away.
Su Zhan's eyes narrowed. He waited until the coast was clear, then took to the air, following the van from above. It wound through the city before finally stopping at an abandoned factory on the outskirts. The masked men dragged Oliver and Tommy inside.
Floating silently to a broken window, Su Zhan peered inside. He saw Oliver tied to a chair, Tommy unconscious on the ground beside him.
"Not exactly equal treatment," Su Zhan thought, shaking his head. But Oliver was the protagonist, after all, and this group was after him for a reason. They wanted to know if Oliver's father had survived the shipwreck with him.
Inside, a man in a red skull mask punched Oliver awake, then pressed an electric baton to his chest. "Oliver Queen, did your father survive that accident?" he demanded.
Oliver opened his eyes, scanning the room calmly, counting his captors and their weapons. The red masked man grew impatient. "I'm asking you a question. Answer me, understand?"
He jabbed the baton into Oliver's side, sending a jolt of electricity through him. Oliver screamed in pain.
The red masked man leaned in, voice low and threatening. "Was your father on that island? Did he say anything to you?"
Through gritted teeth, Oliver finally replied, "Yes, he said… he said I should kill you!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Oliver glanced at Tommy to confirm he was still unconscious, then stared defiantly at his captor.
Su Zhan watched with interest from his perch. "So, will you show me what you're made of, Oliver Queen?"
He settled in to watch, curious to see just how the future Green Arrow would handle his first real test.