There's a Surprise

Oaks was just talking.

These magical green plants lacked the ability to reproduce on their own; their ultra-high-efficiency photosynthesis merely sustained their normal growth while meeting their high purification demands.

Therefore, every single potted plant was cultivated by Oaks personally using nature magic. If he were to supply the needs of two Stark Industries factories...

Even if it were just for offices, it would be enough to exhaust him.

Besides, industrial demand of that scale was not his current goal—these were just early works, meant to make a name for himself.

Only when he could mass-produce seeds would he truly start making money.

By then... heh heh, could something like Stark Industries even compare to him, a man who grew dollars in the dirt?

Obviously not!

Who the hell said Druids only sold Silver-Scaled Breastplates?

Clutching his beautiful dream, Oaks tossed the newspaper aside and helped Zhang pack up the remaining four potted plants.

"I'll help you move them to the car!"

After the blonde beauty swiped her card with flair, Zhang's movements were noticeably ten percent faster. Oaks nodded in satisfaction; this showed the kid already felt a sense of belonging to the shop.

"Ah, but I came here on a motorcycle."

The blonde beauty blinked, looking a bit troubled:

"Don't you offer delivery?"

"Uh, of course we can. You can head back first; it shouldn't take long... right?"

Zhang coughed twice and turned to Oaks:

"So, boss, we do offer delivery, right?"

"Do you have a driver's license?"

Oaks took out a set of car keys:

"I have a car, but I need to prepare for restocking and don't have time to deliver."

"I do, I've already gotten my New York license."

Zhang patted his chest with full confidence:

"I'm a veteran driver with a year of experience!"

"...You just finished your probationary period! But fine, I'll leave it to you. Here."

"But I haven't seen a car these past few days? Where is your car parked, Mr. Oaks?"

Two minutes later, the three of them stood in front of a small car.

"What kind of car is this?!"

Zhang took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses, and looked completely incredulous:

"I've never seen one before!"

"I actually recognize this one."

The blonde beauty covered her mouth and chuckled:

"A Smart, a new model launched by Mercedes-Benz this January, though it's been sold in Europe for many years. It's a two-seater.

Although it looks like a toy, it really is a car, and it's not cheaper than regular models.

Most importantly..."

She pointed to the parking spot, a square gap wedged between two flower beds. The car was obscured by plants, which was no wonder Zhang hadn't noticed it:

"It's incredibly easy to park."

"Exactly, and this house doesn't have a garage."

Oaks didn't look the least bit embarrassed as he stepped forward to open the trunk:

"Ah... looks like the trunk can only fit two pots; these ones are quite large."

"I'll just take a taxi for the delivery."

Zhang adjusted his glasses, feeling a bit timid after his earlier bravado:

"I think I need some dedicated time to get used to... this little guy."

The smallest car he had ever seen was a 3.5-meter-long Chery QQ, but this little car was only 2.5 meters long!

"Taxi fares aren't reimbursed."

"...To err is human, sir, you are simply being stingy."

"My dear Zhang, shall we discuss the issue of a salary advance?"

"Ha, ha, ha, Mr. Oaks, you're too formal. What's a little taxi fare? I'll deliver the goods immediately, customer satisfaction guaranteed!"

Brooklyn, an old two-story building.

Unlike many of the bustling, trendy neighborhoods, this place was very quiet, likely because most of the residents here were elderly.

The government seemed to pay a little extra attention to this old district; it was evident that the area remained quite clean and tidy, with public sanitation spending likely totaling more than ten other districts combined.

After all, this was home to the largest Captain America memorial in New York.

"Screech--!"

With a sharp sound of braking, a cool Harley-Davidson motorcycle pulled up beside the small building.

The female rider took off her helmet, shook out her beautiful blonde hair, and curled her lip at the latest model Audi R8 convertible parked nearby.

It was precisely because New York's traffic was so abysmal that she rode a motorcycle.

She killed the engine, pulled out her keys, and as she walked to the door, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow—

Before she even opened the door, she heard a chattering voice coming from inside.

"Narcissist."

With a helpless mutter, she opened the door and stepped inside, the voice becoming clearer:

"Aunt Peggy, I've told you before, this old house could use some of the latest tech from our company.

For instance, this holographic projection, or that smart display, an immersive home theater, or even a robotic arm to help you with your medicine bottles—it would certainly be more advanced than Dummy."

"And while our newly developed air purification system is intended for industrial use, the upcoming civilian version is just as efficient.

Even though you don't have much formaldehyde here, you know exactly what the air quality is like in the rest of New York."

"Hehe... Little Tony, thank you for your concern, but I prefer to keep things as they are."

White-haired Peggy Carter leaned back against the sofa, clutching a cane in her hand, smiling as she watched the white man sitting on the sofa opposite her, chattering away.

The guy had curly hair, a flashy mustache, and an expression of supreme arrogance:

"Fine, what a pity. Aunt Peggy, your tastes are the exact opposite of mine; one of my greatest strengths is my love for the new and my dislike for the old."

"Oh? Sharon, you're back?"

Seeing the blonde beauty walk into the room, Peggy Carter quickly changed the subject:

"Little Tony has already helped me get my luggage settled."

"Oh, look who's back, our great beauty."

Tony rubbed his chin, stood up, and tilted his head to look at Sharon Carter, who had just entered:

"In such a rush to go out, any surprises?"

"Of course, quite a big surprise."

Sharon Carter spread her hands:

"But I still have to thank you for helping me look after my aunt for a while... honestly, I find it hard to imagine you personally driving to bring her here from Washington."

"After all, the great Tony Stark is a very busy man, the kind you only ever see on the news."

"I prefer it when you say you only ever see me in the tabloids."

Tony shrugged, putting on a look of overflowing charm, squinting slightly as if a faint crackle of electricity filled the air:

"Can't you tell? I only drove here myself because you're graduating and coming back this year."

"Oh, Little Tony, you're breaking my heart saying things like that."

Peggy Carter chuckled, making Tony jump:

"Howard, at the very least, never dared to flirt with female subordinates in front of me, and Sharon is my niece."

"Ah, I mean, I was just remembering how you used to beat the living daylights out of my jerk of a father, so I came over specifically to chat and reminisce."

Tony straightened his collar with a straight face, sat back down on the sofa, and raised an eyebrow:

"By the way, beautiful, what's the surprise?"

"You'll see in a moment."

Sharon walked over, poured a cup of tea for her aunt Peggy, and ignored Tony:

"Aunt, Mrs. Brown next door was right; the greenery from that shop is truly magical. You're going to love it."

Glancing at the nonchalant Tony, Sharon flashed a provocative smile:

"It's much more reliable than the air purification system developed by our great genius."

Tony: "Huh?"