Tony knew that he wouldn't have lost if Happy hadn't fought on his own, which was just to save face, so he asked Ye Li, "What kind of martial arts is this?"
He wanted to learn. Compared to these clever moves, what were the boxing lessons he took before?
"Basic martial arts."
Ye Li replied to Tony, and then asked the girls, "You saw the movements clearly, right?"
"We saw them clearly!"
Skye clapped her little hands, acting like a fan girl. "Li, you're so cool~"
"It certainly looks pretty powerful."
Felicia clenched her slender hands into fists, gaining some understanding of this fighting style.
Perhaps if she mastered this, she wouldn't have to fear those clueless boys at school harassing her because of her looks.
Cindy had anticipated the result long ago, but still offered a sweet compliment, "Awesome~"
Seeing the girls complimenting Ye Li one after another, how could Tony not know that Ye Li had used him as a human punching bag?
Therefore, he wanted to learn it even more, grabbing Ye Li to say, "Teach me this fighting style too. I can pay, name your price."
"Ah—"
Ye Li yawned, looking thoroughly uninterested as he said, "We'll see. I'll teach you when I have time, you know how I am."
Only then did Tony remember how lazy Ye Li was, as even a custom painting of his would drag on for a long time.
"Fine, just find some time to teach me a couple of moves, consider it coming over to hang out anyway."
"Now then, how about I pick out a few paintings to take with me?"
Remembering his original purpose, Tony scanned the studio and picked out his favorite artwork.
"As you like, just pay."
Ye Li was indifferent. "I must remind you, although this gallery is my workspace, there aren't many paintings here. You should go to an exhibition to pick."
Tony was noncommittal. "Just picking casually, I know your real good stuff is all stored in the Northern Building."
"As long as you know, don't go blabbing everywhere and causing me trouble."
Ye Li took a bottle of low-alcohol drink from the fridge. "Want a drink?"
"Of course."
While picking through things, Tony snapped his fingers. "Get me a glass."
Ye Li raised his eyelids and placed the bottle and a cup on the table. "Pour it yourself."
"I'll do it."
Happy stepped up, poured a glass for Tony, and handed it over, taking a glass for himself by the way. "Woah, this is good."
"It really is good."
Tony took the drink, but before drinking, he was referring to a painting Ye Li had hanging on the wall.
It depicted a sexy siren.
"She's been to your place too? Looking at the date on the signature, it's even earlier than mine. You really have a way."
Tony recognized her as a cover model he had once dated, but hadn't slept with because of the Afghanistan incident.
Ye Li sipped his drink. "Don't misunderstand, I'm not like you, it's just a pure portrait."
Tony exposed him. "Come on, that's why we share the same interests."
With that, he put the painting back, knowing Ye Li never sold paintings like this.
"I have three lovely girls behind me."
Ye Li pulled Skye's gently pinching little hand away. "Tony, you shouldn't be blind, you'd better talk less."
"Alright, alright, I apologize."
Tony said, carrying his wine glass and continuing to browse.
He suddenly saw something and grew interested. "Let me see what I've found?"
Tony picked up a small picture frame casually tossed in the corner, which featured a gold-and-red armored figure.
"You like Iron Man?"
Tony dusted off his own portrait. "Leaving it thrown here like this isn't very polite, but it's drawn well."
Ye Li said indifferently, "Just sketched casually, his armor is nice."
This was just something he drew on a whim when the mood struck, not expecting the subject himself to dig it out.
"I'll take this one!"
Tony directly handed the painting to Happy.
Then he pulled up Ye Li's bank account and gave a wave of his hand, wiring him a huge sum of money.
Ye Li didn't even check the transfer notification, waving his hand. "Good riddance."
Tony's parting words choked in his throat...
I haven't said I'm leaving yet.
"It seems you want to chat slowly with your little girlfriend, so I'll be off first."
"Remember what I told you."
"The martial arts."
After Tony left.
Ye Li didn't continue farming intimacy points with Skye and the others like Tony thought he would.
Instead, he instructed them, "You guys practice slowly here, I'm going out for a bit."
Since Tony had time to wander around outside, why wasn't he bringing him his armor?
It seemed necessary to follow him and meet Tony again under another identity.
Back home, Tony wanted to hand the painting over to his assistant Pepper, but was nowhere to see her.
Beep—
His phone rang.
It was Pepper.
Before he even had time to answer, his face suddenly turned pale, and purple veins bulged...
Stark Industries veteran Obadiah Stane walked out from behind Tony, putting away a small gadget in his hand.
"I really wanted to let you see my Iron Man Armor, Tony, but unfortunately you won't have the chance."
He sneered and took the blue Arc Reactor from Tony's chest. "Too bad you dragged Pepper into this too, I actually wanted to let her live."
"Heh, look at what this is."
Before leaving, Obadiah saw the painting Tony had placed on the sofa, picked it up, and mocked, "Iron Man? Such a ridiculous thing, can saving those refugees make money?"
Saying that.
He was about to casually tear the painting apart.
"Though I don't know what kind of nonsense you're talking about, you'd better put that painting down."
A voice came from the shadows.
Dressed as the Knight-Spider, Ye Li walked step by step, leisurely arriving in front of Obadiah.
"Black Spider!?"
Obadiah stiffened all over, remembering the reports from some time ago—
Tony had gotten involved with him?
An unexpected fellow...
No matter what Obadiah was thinking.
Ye Li simply patted his shoulder, then retrieved both the painting and the Arc Reactor from his hands.
Obadiah didn't dare to resist.
He knew this Black Spider was different from other superheroes, never showing mercy when it came to killing.
Even Osborn Corporation's chairman Norman had been casually crushed to death by him.
He swallowed hard. "Black Spider, perhaps we can sit down and talk."
Ye Li ignored him, looking only at Tony.
"Tony Stark."
Before you continue