A Mother's Intuition
As Jim Gordon's former assistant, Sarah Gordon was an extremely sharp police officer. A quick scan of the living room was enough for her to assess the relationship between the two simply by observing Barbara's outfit and change in expression.
A girl in love, seeing the person she liked, would naturally want to dress up and present her most beautiful side. She herself had been no different once. However...
Her gaze shifted to Luke. As she observed him, she mentally assessed him: Looks 9/10, Temperament 9/10, Attire 9/10. A fine young man. No wonder Barbara was interested. She just wondered what his personality was like.
Luke proactively stepped forward.
"Hello, Mrs. Gordon. I'm Barbara's friend, Luke Shaw. Just call me Luke."
Sarah smiled. "It's rare for Barbara to bring a friend home. Are you two from the same school?"
"No, we met online."
"ShowMe?"
"Yes."
Sarah understood, then chuckled. "Well, I'll let you talk. I won't interrupt. Barbara, remember what your father said."
The girl waved her hand impatiently.
"I know, I won't stay out overnight. Please go upstairs, or he'll start crying again."
Mentioning her son immediately made Sarah anxious. As a new mother, she had little recourse against her son's crying.
The sound of footsteps faded upstairs. Barbara's energy also vanished. She slumped lazily onto the sofa, looking listless, much like a lazy girl from a sitcom.
Luke's mouth twitched. He made a strong suggestion.
"I really think you should hire a nanny."
"Dad won't agree. What can I do?" With that, she went to her room and returned with two black hard drives. "The data is in here. I've tested it; there are absolutely no problems. But I have to ask you something: did you really design those data frameworks?"
Luke shrugged. "Who else but me?"
Barbara examined Luke from head to toe with a look of awe, shaking her head as she did so.
"Sometimes, I genuinely wonder if you traveled back from the future. I've thoroughly studied those data frameworks. They're at least twenty years ahead of current technology. The fact that you're using technology from decades in the future now is incredible. You're practically not human."
Luke checked the data discs. After confirming they were the ones he had left, he casually asked,
"If not human, what am I?"
"A devil. A very frightening devil."
Luke curled his lips, looking at her playfully. "Do you want me to do something only a devil would do?"
Barbara puffed out her chest, contemptuously. "This is the Gotham Police Commissioner's home. You dare to bully his daughter in his own house!"
"Should I take that as an invitation?"
"So what if it is? Do you dare?"
Of course, Luke dared. How could he not? The problem was that her stepmother was right upstairs with a newborn. If he caused a commotion here, the next day, an enraged Commissioner Gordon would undoubtedly lead his men to the front door of ShowMe.
That was a scene Luke wanted to avoid. So, after considering all factors, he decided to employ a tactical retreat.
"Want to go out for a drive?"
Barbara's eyes lit up. Since her little brother was born, she felt like a servant in an old estate, exhausted every day and barely having time to breathe.
"Wait for me."
The girl hurried upstairs and returned a moment later, saying excitedly,
"Sarah told me to tell you that you must bring me back before dinner, and you're not allowed to make any untoward moves. Otherwise, she'll tell my father."
"Don't worry, I only have normal thoughts about you!"
The girl looked puzzled. "What exactly are normal thoughts?"
Luke smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out when we get there."
The Devil's Ring
Two hours later, in a luxurious suite at a Gotham City hotel, an exhausted Barbara covered her naked body with a sheet. At this moment, she finally understood what "normal thoughts" meant.
"If my father finds out you did this to me, he'll kill you."
"Relax. Commissioner Gordon won't find out."
Luke took a sip of red wine, leaning comfortably against the headboard.
Humans are emotional creatures; you can't always bottle things up. Over time, it leads to problems. Just like now, after a passionate session, Luke felt reborn. All sorts of creative ideas were gushing out like spring water at the foot of Mount Fuji; there was no stopping them.
Barbara glared at him angrily. Recalling all the scenes from earlier, her cheeks flushed, and her body felt hot, making her even more mortified.
"Luke Shaw, you are nothing but a creature ruled by your lower body. I'm never going out for a drive with you again."
Luke took a beautifully decorated crystal box from his pants pocket.
"This is for you."
"What is it?"
"Open it and you'll see."
Barbara wrapped the sheet tightly around her chest, sat cross-legged, and opened the crystal box. Inside lay an antique-looking gray ring, engraved with flame patterns both inside and out, as if it had been tempered by time itself.
She covered her mouth dramatically, her eyes filled with surprise, delight, and unconcealed excitement.
"Are—are you proposing to me? I—I—I'm not ready yet."
"No... we can't get married!"
Luke covered his forehead, completely defeated. A ring and she jumps straight to marriage. How exactly does her brain work?
Barbara reluctantly put the ring back in the box and said apologetically,
"I don't want to get married yet. It's too soon." She paused, then added, "At least not until I graduate from college."
Luke sighed helplessly.
"Don't misunderstand. The ring isn't for a proposal; it's for self-defense."
"Self-defense?"
Luke didn't explain. He put the ring on his finger, raised his hand to aim at the wall, and rubbed his thumb on the ring, twisting it 90 degrees clockwise. The ring began to glow. A tiny energy beam shot out from the ring.
BANG!
A fist-sized circular hole appeared in the concrete wall. Its power was stronger than a handgun bullet.
Luke took off the ring and tossed it to her.
"See? For self-defense."
Barbara's eyes widened. She was completely astonished. She carefully picked up the ring, examining it in her hand.
"Is this the legendary magical equipment?"
"It's not magic; it's technology. I just made it look antique to make it pretty."
Barbara was even more amazed. "You made this?"
"Who else but me?"
"You... you are incredible."
Barbara ignored the view of her cleavage exposed by the sheet. She slipped the ring onto her middle finger. Then, mimicking Luke, she rubbed the ring with her thumb. When she hit a certain angle, the ring suddenly shook, as if something was about to shoot out.
She pressed it hard.
BANG!
A barely perceptible energy beam flew out, shattered the glass, and disappeared.
"Amazing! That is so powerful!"
The girl laughed excitedly. "How did you do that?"
Luke looked down, staring intently at the white, developing mounds of her chest. As a rush of heat surged through him, he felt the urgent need to "recharge" himself once more.
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