Upon entering the venue, the atmosphere was calmer than the noise outside. The soothing music was enchanting, and under the bright lights, several people gathered, chatting softly. Lan Xingyu enjoyed the gentle music.
Lan Xingyu walked up to the bar, where a waiter approached, looking a bit surprised at the cute child before him but still professionally asking, “What would you like, young man? You can’t order alcohol.”
“A cup of milk tea and some desserts, please,” Lan Xingyu replied, then started looking around. After all, he was here to observe discreetly. Suddenly, remembering something, Lan Xingyu put on the sunglasses he swiped from Tony’s car, perfectly hiding his mischievous gaze.
While he was looking around, someone approached him.
“May I sit here, young man?” Lan Xingyu looked up at the voice and saw a man with a receding hairline standing next to him. Lan Xingyu instantly recognized the man. It was Agent Phil Coulson.
“Aren’t you that agent from before? Sorry, I can’t remember your organization’s name…” Lan Xingyu pretended to say.
“No problem, you can just call us SHIELD. Your suggestion was very helpful. Our higher-ups have approved the name. Thank you, young man; you’ve saved us a lot of trouble,” Coulson said kindly.
“Hehe, it was nothing! Why are you here, Agent? I thought agents rarely come to places like this,” Lan Xingyu said, pretending to be curious while inwardly annoyed. Because of Coulson, his plan to observe subtly had failed.
“Not all agents are like in the movies. I’m mainly a liaison officer. But I’m quite skilled,” Coulson said.
At that moment, the waiter brought Lan Xingyu his milk tea and desserts.
“Let me help you with that,” Coulson said, taking the tray and placing it in front of Lan Xingyu.
“Thank you,” Lan Xingyu said, taking off his sunglasses and starting to enjoy the treats. Since his plan had failed, he might as well not waste the delicious food.
“By the way, my name is Phil Coulson. What’s yours, young man?” Coulson asked.
“My name is Xingyu Lan. Nice to meet you, Agent Coulson,” Lan Xingyu replied.
Just then, Tony walked into the venue and immediately saw Lan Xingyu.
“Hey, you’re quick! Oh, already eating, I see,” Tony said.
“Hi, Tony.”
“Aren’t you that…”
“You can call us SHIELD, thanks to Xingyu’s suggestion! The higher-ups have approved it.”
“Oh, when did this happen, Xingyu? That’s impressive. Did they pay you a naming fee?” Tony joked.
Lan Xingyu gave Tony a look, telling him to figure it out himself.
“I’m going to look around. You guys chat,” Lan Xingyu said, leaving his seat to scout the area. He thought to himself: I remember Tony and Pepper almost kissed on a rooftop. Let’s find that spot.
Lan Xingyu found the rooftop, enjoying the breeze while waiting for the highlight of the evening. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Tony and Pepper came out, although they seemed distracted. They began a conversation.
“It feels too weird.”
“Completely unrelated.”
“No, it definitely is.”
“We just danced. No one noticed.”
“No, all my colleagues. It’s not, you know why?”
……
Suddenly, they both fell silent, moving closer to each other. Lan Xingyu watched intently, forgetting to eat. Indeed, gossip was humanity’s eighth instinct.
But just as they were about to kiss, they stopped.
Lan Xingyu silently cursed, waiting so long only for an anticlimax. No, it seemed he had to step in as Assist Lan.
Lan Xingyu flashed behind Pepper and gave her a gentle push, causing the two to finally kiss as their lips met. Pepper seemed to let go of her earlier worries, wrapping her arms around Tony’s shoulders while Tony held her gently. The two hearts, already close, fully connected.
After a long kiss, they pulled apart, gazing into each other’s eyes without speaking.
“Uh, I hate to interrupt, but I was here first,” a child’s voice broke the silence, startling Pepper, who quickly pushed Tony away and looked toward Lan Xingyu.
“Uh, don’t look at me like that. I told you, I was here first…” Lan Xingyu said with a mischievous smile.
“Oh my god, no, Xingyu, that, no, it’s not what you…” Pepper stammered, her face flushed.
“Pepper, would you like some wine?” Tony asked.
“Yes, any kind, thank you,” Pepper said, trying to calm herself.
Tony left, and Pepper slowly regained her composure.
“Xingyu, did you push me just now?” Pepper asked, realizing the odd push she had felt.
“No, what push? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lan Xingyu, of course, denied it.
Seeing the cute Lan Xingyu with his innocent look, Pepper couldn’t stay angry. She simply pinched his cheeks a bit to vent her frustration.
After playing around for a while, Pepper let Lan Xingyu go, and they enjoyed the breeze on the rooftop.
“Hey, isn’t that Tony and Obadiah? Tony doesn’t look well,” Lan Xingyu pointed in a direction.
Pepper looked and saw Tony and Obadiah. Tony did indeed look upset. He then got into a car and drove off, as if something urgent had come up.
Just then, Pepper’s phone rang. It was Tony.
“Tony, are you okay? You looked upset!”
“I’m fine! Sorry, Pepper, could you take Xingyu home for me?”
“No need. I’m ready to go. There’s nothing interesting here anymore. I’ll just open a portal!” Lan Xingyu, knowing what was happening, insisted on being part of it.
“Alright, see you at home,” Tony said, hanging up.
“Pepper, I’m heading back. Good night.”
“Get some rest! Good night!”
Lan Xingyu found a secluded spot, opened a portal, and returned home.
Soon after, Tony arrived home, his face grim as he headed to the lab.
Lan Xingyu followed and asked, “What happened, Tony?”
“My company has been selling weapons to those terrorists. They just raided Yinsen’s hometown. I need to do something.”
Tony took a sip of a green liquid and continued, “I should have died long ago, but only by living can I atone. I need to do something, Xingyu.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Let’s head out once your armor is ready. This time, we’ll make them pay,” Lan Xingyu said, clapping his hands together in determination.
Shortly after, two streaks of light shot across the sky…
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