Chapter Summaries

Li Chen learned that Mystique was helping Erik replace the president, warned her the plan would likely get her killed, and convinced her to follow his lead. The chapter ended with him asking her to transform into the White Queen.

• Li Chen told Mystique he would visit her regularly and asked what Erik was planning.
• Mystique revealed that Erik wanted her to impersonate the newly inaugurated president, using a congresswoman to get close to him.
• Li Chen warned Mystique that impersonating the president was dangerous and that Erik would abandon her if the plan failed.
• Mystique accepted Li Chen's advice, and he said they had to sabotage Erik's operation.
• Li Chen asked Mystique to transform into the White Queen.

Li Chen managed Raven and continued to attract S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention through his ties to the Hellfire Club. At a company meeting, he directed the marketing campaign for Transformers, which had already stirred excitement with its Super Bowl trailer.

• Li Chen woke beside Raven, reminded her to recruit people, and left for work.
• Natasha stayed at Li Chen’s company after S.H.I.E.L.D. reassigned another agent from a mission, and she agreed to have lunch with him.
• Li Chen attended a meeting where the team discussed the completed postproduction and successful Super Bowl trailer for Transformers.
• Li Chen ordered the marketing team to keep promoting Transformers, especially online.
• Li Chen told Paul to build the campaign around the idea that cars were partners and family.

Li Chen pitched Natasha a starring role in a film called Lucy, whose plot involved a drug that unlocked the brain’s potential, while secretly hoping to cast her in the movie. Natasha suspected the drug was real, and Maria Hill ordered her to accept the role so S.H.I.E.L.D. could secure it, leaving Natasha facing a long-term undercover assignment as a movie star.

• Li Chen invited Natasha to lunch and suggested she become a movie star.
• Li Chen described Lucy, a film about a woman who gains extraordinary powers after absorbing the brain-enhancing drug CPH4.
• Natasha told Li Chen she would think about starring, and the two grew closer over lunch.
• Natasha reported her suspicions to Maria Hill, who told her to accept the role and keep the drug in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands.
• Natasha agreed but warned that filming would keep her on the assignment for a long time; S.H.I.E.L.D. had also been warned against installing surveillance in Li Chen's home because a certain 'baldy' lived there.

Li Chen launched Lucy with Harry Sloan while Natasha remained anxious about the price of her help. At a Hollywood party, Sony executive Yoshida Kenichiro offered to resolve the conflict with Li Chen, who answered with a cryptic threat.

• Li Chen ordered Harry Sloan to develop Lucy, and Harry agreed despite doubting a female-led film would succeed.
• Natasha realized Li Chen had not addressed her situation and believed she would have to pay a price to become the film’s lead.
• Harry invited Li Chen to a Hollywood party, where Natasha introduced him to the industry guests as his assistant.
• Yoshida Kenichiro bowed to Li Chen and offered to make amends for the conflict between Li Chen and his subordinates.
• Li Chen asked Yoshida whether he knew he was going to die.

Li Chen rejected Yoshida Kenichiro’s insincere apology and taunted him for not disemboweling himself, forcing the Sony representative to leave. He then teased Natasha about joining him, while Scarlett Johansson and Li Qianhuan’s jealousy added to the tension as he left the banquet with Natasha.

• Li Chen saw through Yoshida Kenichiro’s attempt to use a public apology to ease tensions and demanded a more sincere apology.
• Li Chen told Yoshida Kenichiro to disembowel himself in atonement; Yoshida denied the practice still existed, so Li Chen ordered him to leave and return when he had thought things through.
• Natasha asked how the Hand and Sony had offended Li Chen, and he invited her to become one of his people; Natasha grew more curious about him.
• Li Chen introduced Natasha to Scarlett Johansson, who asked to see him later, but he said he was busy.
• Li Chen left the banquet with Natasha, while Li Qianhuan mouthed an insult at her and Natasha kissed Li Chen’s cheek in response.

Li Chen tried to break down Natasha’s emotional defenses while she continued her mission, and he learned that the Red Room had made her infertile. By May, Li Chen had also arranged for Natasha to see what he wanted her to report, while preparing for the premiere of “Transformers” and the filming of “Lucy.”

• Li Chen and Natasha spent time together in a hotel suite, and Natasha unexpectedly took the lead during their encounter.
• Li Chen asked Natasha whether she might become pregnant, and she told him it could not happen; he learned that the Red Room had removed the Black Widows’ reproductive organs.
• Over the following month, Li Chen tried to win Natasha over and deliberately let her see Saitama at his manor so she would report information to Maria Hill.
• Harry Sloan told Li Chen that The Asylum had released a similarly titled film, “Transmorphers,” and Li Chen ordered publicity warning audiences not to confuse it with “Transformers.”
• Li Chen told Natasha that preparations for “Lucy” were nearly complete and that Ridley Scott would direct it.

Starlight Pictures premiered Transformers, drawing a crowd eager to see the Autobots and the film’s special effects. Maria Hill, who had been following Li Chen’s career, went to a midnight showing and became absorbed in the movie.

• Li Chen scheduled Transformers for the end of May to avoid competing with other major releases and to draw a lottery sooner.
• Stars and fans gathered at the Chinese Theatre premiere, where the Transformers’ appearances excited the crowd.
• Maria Hill finished work early, saw a Transformers poster, and decided to attend a midnight screening.
• Maria Hill joined the packed theater as fans discussed their excitement for Optimus Prime and Megatron.
• Maria Hill watched Transformers and was impressed by its action and transformation effects.

Peter Parker and May watched Transformers, while the movie’s midnight screenings brought Li Chen more than nine million dollars and a surge of reputation points. Li Chen spent his points on twenty ten-pulls, gaining summonable Nami, Bumblebee, and Arcee, along with Wheelie.

• Peter Parker persuaded May to watch Transformers, then asked her to buy him an Optimus Prime toy after the movie.
• May bought Peter a fifty-dollar toy, and Peter watched a wealthy child buy the two-meter display Optimus Prime for fifty thousand dollars.
• Li Chen learned that Transformers had earned over nine million dollars from midnight screenings.
• Li Chen received 250,388 reputation points and used them on twenty ten-pulls.
• Li Chen obtained enough fragments to summon Nami, Bumblebee, and Arcee, and drew Wheelie directly.

After spending the night with Scarlett, Li Chen returned to his manor and summoned Bumblebee, Arcee, and Nami. He left the Autobots ready to serve as vehicles and was caught off guard when Nami appeared in a swimsuit.

• Li Chen left Scarlett resting and flew back to his manor, where Ram and Rem greeted him and went to make breakfast.
• Li Chen summoned Bumblebee, who appeared as a yellow Camaro and transformed into an Autobot.
• Li Chen summoned Arcee, who transformed from a pink motorcycle and introduced herself as a female Autobot.
• Li Chen instructed Bumblebee and Arcee to give the household rides and to avoid being seen in robot form unless danger arose.
• Li Chen summoned Nami, who appeared in a swimsuit, screamed when she noticed him staring, and covered herself.

Li Chen welcomed Nami to his world, where she chose to leave her dangerous pirate life behind and settle in. He introduced her to Ram and Rem, then took the three women shopping on Rodeo Drive, where Nami repeatedly distracted him.

• Nami asked Li Chen about her dream of mapping the world and the fate of the Straw Hat Pirates, then decided life in his world was safer.
• Li Chen introduced Nami to Ram and Rem, and Nami praised Rem's cooking over breakfast.
• Li Chen took Nami, Ram, and Rem shopping for clothes, and they rode in Bumblebee while hearing Dazzler's song on the radio.
• The group shopped on Rodeo Drive, where Nami and the sisters tried on outfits and bought dresses and handbags.
• Li Chen struggled to keep his eyes off Nami as she showed off her new clothes, while Nami secretly seemed amused.

Natasha watched Li Chen with Nami, Ram, and Rem but kept her suspicions from S.H.I.E.L.D. Nami grew closer to Li Chen as she confronted the meaning of her scar, while Transformers’ opening-weekend success sparked a rush to adapt more intellectual property.

• Natasha recognized Ram, Rem, and Nami, suspected Li Chen had created comics for them, and chose not to report her suspicions to S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Nami enjoyed shopping and swimming at Li Chen’s estate, where Li Chen kissed the scar left by her attempt to remove the Arlong Pirates’ tattoo and reassured her that it was beautiful.
• After Rem interrupted Li Chen and Nami, Ram became unusually forward with Li Chen and agreed to speak with Rem about joining them.
• Transformers earned $105 million in its opening weekend, prompting Hasbro to push Paramount to accelerate G.I. Joe and other studios to consider adapting existing IPs.

Li Chen decided to expand Starlight Pictures into animation, starting with Pirate King and a new sci-fi comedy about Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith. He introduced the team to the concept and character designs, leaving the animation department ready to begin development.

• Li Qianhuan drove Li Chen to Starlight Pictures in his Chevrolet Camaro, which subtly corrected her driving.
• Li Chen praised the animation department’s recent work and announced that everyone would receive a raise.
• Li Chen told the department heads that Starlight Pictures would enter animation, and he chose Pirate King as its first project.
• Li Chen revealed his idea for an episodic sci-fi comedy about a genius grandfather and his dimwitted grandson.
• Li Chen showed the animators designs for Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith and explained the show’s adult-oriented, imaginative style.

Li Chen’s animation team competed to make Rick and Morty, then Ridley Scott challenged his choice of Natasha for the lead in Lucy. Natasha’s audition impressed Ridley, who reluctantly accepted her for the role.

• Li Chen presented the Rick and Morty proposal, and the animation staff argued over which department should make it.
• Li Chen left Katherine to settle the competition and returned to his office with Natasha.
• Harry Sloan told Li Chen that Ridley Scott wanted to meet the leading actress for Lucy.
• Ridley questioned Natasha’s casting, so Li Chen proposed an audition on the spot.
• Natasha performed a scene as the transformed Lucy, impressing Ridley enough for him to accept her casting.

Li Chen comforted Natasha about her infertility and promised to find a way to repair her body, deepening their bond. Mystique then revealed Magneto Erik’s plan to strike during the Five Hooligans summit, and Li Chen prepared to disrupt it while pursuing power in the Hellfire Club and among mutants.

• Li Chen asked Natasha to have a child with him, and she told him the Red Room had forced her to undergo surgery that left her unable to bear children.
• Li Chen comforted Natasha and promised to protect her, then asked whether she would accept a way to repair her body; Natasha eagerly agreed.
• Mystique told Li Chen that Magneto Erik and his allies planned to act at the Five Hooligans summit in half a month, where world leaders would gather.
• Li Chen told Mystique to follow Magneto’s plan for now and obey his orders when the time came.
• Li Chen planned to disrupt Magneto’s scheme, damage his reputation, and use the crisis to become the Hellfire Club’s White King and win support for a mutant kingdom.

Li Chen visited the Hellfire Club and persuaded Selene and Emma Frost to oppose Magneto’s plans before proposing that Emma invest in one of his films. The queens agreed to contact the X-Men, while Emma offered money rather than starring in the movie.

• Li Chen arrived at the Hellfire Club and sat between Selene and Emma Frost, teasing them as he discussed Magneto.
• Li Chen warned Selene and Emma that Magneto’s actions would make mutants enemies of the whole world, and both queens agreed that they should stop him.
• Li Chen proposed uniting allies, and Emma offered to notify the X-Men on the Hellfire Club’s behalf.
• Li Chen invited Emma to star in a movie, but she declined and offered to invest instead.
• Selene showed no interest in acting, and Li Chen accepted Emma’s investment offer.

Professor X sent Jean Grey to Los Angeles to discuss an alliance with the Hellfire Club, where Li Chen welcomed her and took her to lunch. The chapter left them alone together as Li Chen tried to learn more about her.

• Professor X decided to oppose Erik's plans and sent Jean Grey to Los Angeles to discuss details with the Hellfire Club.
• Li Chen prepared for the film Lucy, while Natasha enrolled in an acting class.
• Li Chen received word that Jean was coming and drove to the airport with Li Qianhuan to meet her.
• Jean arrived, greeted Li Qianhuan, and accepted Li Chen's warm welcome.
• Li Chen took Jean to an upscale restaurant for lunch and sent Li Qianhuan away.
• Li Chen noticed Jean was quiet and tried to get her to open up.

Li Chen drew Jean Grey into a conversation about mutant independence, then used their dinner and a movie outing to explore her interests and suggest she pursue modeling or acting. They went to see Transformers, where Li Chen considered Jean’s suitability for a movie role.

• Li Chen asked Jean Grey about Magneto, and she explained that Erik’s hatred came from his daughter’s persecution and that Professor X wanted to stop his scheme without harming him.
• Li Chen argued that mutants might be safer establishing a hidden country of their own, and Jean Grey considered the idea feasible if humans could not find them.
• Li Chen learned that Jean liked fashion modeling and flying, and he praised her appearance while discussing Victoria’s Secret modeling.
• A paparazzo photographed Li Chen and Jean Grey as they left the restaurant, and Li Chen hurried her into his car.
• Jean Grey asked about Li Chen’s film company, so he drove her to Emperor Cinema, bought tickets for Transformers, and suggested she try acting.

Jean Grey turned down Li Chen's proposal but spent an intimate evening with him, which led to an affair. Cyclops saw a news photo of them together and called Jean, who dismissed his suspicions while Li Chen continued their encounter.

• Jean Grey declined Li Chen's proposal, saying she preferred being a teacher.
• Li Chen and Jean watched Transformers, went shopping and had dinner together, then danced and kissed at a hotel bar.
• Li Chen led Jean to a hotel room, and she went with him without refusing.
• Cyclops saw a news alert showing Jean with Li Chen and called her to demand an explanation.
• Jean told Cyclops she was running after eating too much and ended the call, while Li Chen joked that Cyclops had not figured out what was happening.

Jean Grey questioned whether to end her relationship with Cyclops, but Li Chen encouraged her to keep their arrangement while they discussed stopping Magneto's plan. Three days later, they arrived at Charles Manor, where Rogue flirted with Li Chen and Jean reacted jealously.

• Cyclops took comfort in believing Jean would return, while Jean asked Li Chen whether she should end things with him.
• Li Chen persuaded Jean to maintain her identity and keep their relationship secret, then discussed Mystique and protecting the president with her.
• Three days later, Li Chen and Jean traveled to New York with his group, and Li Chen and Jean went on to Charles Manor together.
• Rogue introduced herself to Li Chen and asked whether she could pursue stardom with him after graduating.
• Jean told Rogue to go to class, and Rogue sensed that Jean seemed jealous.

Li Chen returned to the X-Mansion with Jean Grey, where Professor X briefed the X-Men on Magneto’s arrival in New York and their plan to protect the president. Cyclops grew increasingly jealous of Li Chen, who left for Empire State University while Jean concealed how their relationship had changed.

• Jean Grey and Li Chen returned to the mansion, where Professor X and the X-Men welcomed them and Cyclops watched Jean closely.
• Professor X confirmed that Erik’s people had reached New York but said he could not locate Magneto because of his adamantium helmet.
• Li Chen teased Jean and Cyclops during the briefing, and Cyclops volunteered to show Li Chen the way when he left for the bathroom.
• Cyclops told Li Chen about Jean’s frightening childhood nightmares, and Li Chen provoked him with suggestive remarks about Jean.
• Jean used telepathy to ask Li Chen what he had said to Cyclops, while Cyclops watched their exchange and lost his composure.
• Li Chen left for Empire State University, and Jean denied that he had done anything to her when Cyclops asked.