You can't even sing, and you call yourself one of us?

In the bookstore's break area, Hong Fei leaned back in his chair with his legs crossed, staring at the person before him with a scrutinizing gaze.

Sitting across from him was a very attractive girl with wheat-colored skin and distinctly mixed-race features. Under Hong Fei's gaze, she didn't flinch but instead put on a bright, confident smile.

Hong Fei: "Skye, you said you just graduated?"

"Yes, sir."

Hong Fei nodded. "What was your major in college?"

"Computer science."

"That's strange. A computer science graduate, why apply to be a bookstore clerk, and at my little shop at that?"

Skye remained unfazed, still smiling as she said, "Sir, I don't like computers. I prefer physical books. I really enjoy the feeling of holding a book and reading, so since I was a child, my dream has been to open my own bookstore."

Hong Fei shook his head, noncommittal.

He had recognized this girl from the start, and she hadn't even bothered to hide the name "Skye."

A young, pretty woman, a highly skilled hacker, a promising potential agent, an unawakened superhuman.

All things considered, Skye had many talents, and she was still young, with plenty of room for her abilities to grow in the future.

But the problem was, she also came with a lot of baggage.

Her personality, her temper, her way of doing things, and the complicated background of her parents all spelled one thing: trouble.

After a moment of thought, Hong Fei shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't think this job is right for you."

Skye was taken aback and quickly asked, "Sir, can I ask why?"

"Simple. This is a small bookstore. What I want is someone with a family, a middle-aged person who can settle down and focus. You're too young, your mind changes easily, and you're bold in trying new things and breaking boundaries. That's a good thing for you, but in a clerk's position, it lacks the stability I need most."

Skye blinked and then said, "Sir, I promise I can be stable too. I won't leave easily..."

Hong Fei waved his hand. "We're not that far apart in age. I probably understand what you're thinking, but on this matter, I should have more say than you. You won't be able to stand spending every day in a bookstore waiting for customers. Neither could I."

Skye pursed her lips, looking very unwilling.

The reality was that Skye really did need a job right now, and she desperately wanted a place to settle down, even if it was just an unremarkable little bookstore. As long as it paid wages, she could stick with it for now, because she had just used her hacking skills to break into some major organizations and was currently being hunted.

What he said was also true—she wouldn't stay here forever, since she still had many goals to accomplish.

The reason she came to interview with Hong Fei was, first, that a shop like this wouldn't thoroughly check her background, and second...

Skye put her smile back on, as if the rejection had never happened. She fluttered her beautiful eyes and said, "Sir, may I ask you something presumptuous? Are you Chinese?"

She spoke Chinese without a doubt, and her pronunciation was quite accurate.

"That's right. And you?" Hong Fei asked, feigning surprise.

Skye's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I grew up in China. I only came here for college. Actually, I'm mixed-race, as you probably noticed."

Hong Fei looked enlightened. "So that's how it is. What a coincidence!"

"Yes, in a foreign land, we're practically family!" Skye said sweetly.

But then, Hong Fei's smile suddenly vanished. He picked up his phone and played some music. Half a minute later, he asked, "Can you sing it?"

Skye was stunned.

"Uh... what did you say?"

"I asked if you can sing it. Even just one line? Or tell me the song title?"

Skye frowned, completely confused. "Sorry, I don't think I've heard it before..."

"Hah!"

Hong Fei sneered as he turned off the music. "You don't even know this song, and you still dare to call yourself family?"

Skye was utterly bewildered, at a loss.

This was also the main reason Hong Fei didn't want to hire Skye—she lied too easily.

Whether to people who were good to her or bad to her, she could casually spin lies, and when caught, she always found excuses to deflect blame.

It was as if every lie from her mouth was well-intentioned, and everyone she deceived had to forgive her, or else they were petty and narrow-minded.

Just like now, she lied about growing up in China and even used the "family" card, clearly trying to make Hong Fei reconsider hiring her.

Wasn't that emotional blackmail?

Hong Fei bent down, scribbled a string of numbers on a card, slid it over to Skye, and said, "Since you do seem to have some Chinese blood, when you think you've kicked the habit of lying, call me. I can offer you another job."

Skye took the card instinctively, but her expression grew darker.

As she looked up to say something, Hong Fei cut her off. "I don't owe you anything. Whatever your troubles are, they're your own business. I could help you, but I have no obligation to. Don't speak in joy, don't speak in anger. Whatever state you're in right now, it's best you keep your mouth shut."

Hong Fei turned and walked away. Skye sat there, biting her lip, and only after a long moment did she leave, head down, eyes full of resentment.

Shaking his head, Hong Fei hummed a tune as he started browsing the news.

"Crossing high mountains, crossing plains, crossing the surging..."

Soon, he spotted a freshly updated story: the great philanthropist and spice merchant Wilson Fisk had returned with a massive overseas order.

S.H.I.E.L.D. New York Branch.

Coulson sat in the office alongside Maria Hill, who was in charge of the New York Branch, facing the camera. On the screen, a dark face flickered.

Fury's single eye gleamed sharply. Without hesitation, he said, "Coulson, the place where Tony was kidnapped has been scoured almost bare, but neither the military nor we have found any space matching the basement they described. What's your take?"

Coulson had his answer ready and replied, "Director, although the location where we found Tony was indeed a militant stronghold, that place had already been swept by the military after Tony disappeared and before he was found. The military didn't encounter strong resistance at the time, so I believe that wasn't where Tony was held. They deliberately chose that spot to mislead us, while also hiding their real base."

"And what about Obadiah Stane?"

"He's the COO of Stark Industries and was once Tony's closest uncle. But from my conversations with Tony, he clearly doesn't feel any grief over it. Although the public story is that Obadiah was brutally killed by militants while trying to save Tony, I think there's more to it."

Fury remained impassive: "Tell me your theory."

"I believe Obadiah was very likely entangled with the militants who kidnapped Tony. Stark Industries' weapons aren't exactly rampant in the Middle East, but most weapons the military has, the militants also have. My guess is that Obadiah was the one selling them weapons, and I suspect Tony's kidnapping was carried out on his orders."