We're Very Professional; We Usually Don't Laugh

Only after confirming that Tony Stark's life was gradually returning to normal did Chen Changsheng turn around and look toward the crowd approaching in the distance.

Iron Man with the Arc Reactor in his chest was the Iron Man from Chen Changsheng's memories. That shrapnel still needed to remain in Tony Stark's heart for another year or two.

Chen Changsheng stood where he was, with Tony Stark lying motionless at his feet.

To Chen Changsheng's surprise, the first to arrive were not the NYPD, but a group of black-clad men in suits. They were well-equipped and agile, weaving through the ruins at a rapid pace.

When they were twenty meters from Chen Changsheng, they stopped one after another, raised their guns, clicked off the safeties, and warily watched Chen Changsheng.

It was obvious from the scene that they would immediately open fire to eliminate the danger if Chen Changsheng made any suspicious move. Chen Changsheng had nothing to fear, either. Who could these little handguns possibly scare?

"Get down and put your hands on your head immediately. Don't put up any pointless resistance." The men in black shouted loudly, attempting to persuade Chen Changsheng to surrender. In their eyes, Chen Changsheng seemed to be a terrorist who had taken Tony Stark hostage and was attempting to carry out a terrorist attack.

Just as Chen Changsheng was considering how to respond to the men in black, a shrill cry rang out in the distance. "Tony!"

Chen Changsheng looked over and saw Pepper. Happy was panting heavily behind her, though Pepper had left him far behind.

Pepper shouted as she rushed over. Even those professional men in black had no time to stop her.

While the men in black looked at one another, Pepper had already run past Chen Changsheng, shouting. She was so worried about Tony's condition that she failed to notice Chen Changsheng standing beside her.

When she reached Tony's side and saw him lying motionless on the ground, Pepper was at a loss. Fearfully, she slowly extended her still-trembling hand toward Tony's nose.

Chen Changsheng finally spoke from beside her. "He's still alive."

Hearing that, Pepper immediately withdrew her hand. At the same time, she looked behind her and saw Chen Changsheng standing quietly there. As if she had found an outlet for her emotions, Pepper frantically questioned Chen Changsheng about Tony's current condition.

Pepper's incessant questions gave Chen Changsheng a headache. He walked over to Tony and lightly slapped him twice across the face.

The men in black raised their guns again at this movement, clearly remaining extremely vigilant.

Fortunately, Tony felt some pain from Chen Changsheng's two slaps. He stirred groggily, as if he had just woken up.

However, lying in a field of ruins, wearing damaged armor and covered in blood, Tony really did look a bit like a homeless man from America.

While Chen Changsheng was racking his brains over how to deal with the men in black, a capable-looking, slightly balding middle-aged man walked out. His suit was perfectly neat.

In front of everyone, he questioned Chen Changsheng. "Mr. Jack, you have the right to remain silent, but everything you say may be used as evidence in court. Please truthfully tell us what happened here."

"..." Chen Changsheng fell silent the instant he recognized the man who had stepped forward. Wasn't this Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D.? It wasn't even daylight yet, so couldn't he take off those oversized sunglasses first?

Right, S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't called S.H.I.E.L.D. yet. It was called something like the Homeland... whatever. Forget it. He would just call it S.H.I.E.L.D. The tongue-twisting name was not worth remembering.

After saying his catchphrase, Coulson waited to see Chen Changsheng's reaction. But Chen Changsheng simply stood there without saying a word, quietly watching Coulson.

In the silence, a trace of awkwardness emerged. Even someone as professional as Coulson felt the corner of his eye twitch beneath his sunglasses.

Just as Coulson was considering whether he should repeat his catchphrase, Happy finally arrived at the scene.

Happy clearly failed to notice the awkward atmosphere as he approached. He was naturally friendly, and since he already knew Coulson, he walked up to him without hesitation.

Seeing that both sides were people he knew, Happy put an arm around the shoulder of the rigidly upright Coulson and, still panting, asked Chen Changsheng, "Jack, what are you doing here?"

Because of Happy's action, the corner of Coulson's eye twitched even more violently. Even his large sunglasses could barely conceal the twitching of his brows.

"Before my lawyer arrives, I won't say a word. Whatever it is, wait until my lawyer gets here." Chen Changsheng truly had no idea how to respond to Coulson, so he delivered a classic monologue straight out of a Hong Kong movie.

The moment he said this, Happy was left completely bewildered, while Coulson nearly lost his balance. The men in black, who had been standing on serious alert, also twitched at the shoulders, clearly doing their utmost to hold something back.

"What are you talking about? Jack, I'm asking how Tony is." Happy had no idea what Chen Changsheng meant and continued asking about the matter he cared about most.

Chen Changsheng gave a soft "Oh," as if he had only just realized it, then said to Happy, "Tony's fine. He just passed out. I'm only wondering, can your friend really see where he's going while wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night?" As he spoke, Chen Changsheng pointed at Coulson.

Coulson, who was wearing sunglasses, shouted inwardly, I knew he was talking about me! I may not be able to see the road ahead clearly, but I can see my surroundings out of the corner of my eye!

As if he knew what Coulson was thinking, Chen Changsheng added, "If you can see, then why aren't you facing me directly? Or you could just take off your sunglasses."

"..." Coulson was genuinely embarrassed this time. It turned out that ever since he arrived, he had kept his sunglasses on because they made him look professional. But the night was simply too dark, and there was no light source around. Coulson could not see Chen Changsheng clearly from a short distance away, so he had kept his body turned sideways and used his peripheral vision to observe Chen Changsheng's movements and expressions.

Those little movements had been pointed out by Chen Changsheng without the slightest mercy, which was truly awkward.

However, as an elite agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson naturally possessed exceptional mental fortitude. Without changing expression, he took off his sunglasses and placed them in his jacket pocket. Then, when he looked at Chen Changsheng and was about to say something, an incongruous chuckle came from behind him.

One of the men in black Coulson had brought could not hold back and let out a quiet laugh. The others, who had already been struggling to endure it, also softly laughed together.

It truly proved the saying: We're very professional. We usually don't laugh—unless we can't hold it in.

Coulson swept his subordinates with what he considered an extremely stern gaze. Once everyone had put on serious expressions, he questioned Chen Changsheng again.

"Mr. Jack, we need to know exactly what happened here. Please cooperate with our work."