The First Date After Returning to Earth

The Bifrost descended on Earth once more, landing in an uninhabited stretch of the Himalayas. It was not to make it easier for Xiang Qian to return to Kamar-Taj, but simply to avoid drawing attention.

Neither Odin nor Xiang Qian wanted anyone paying attention to the chaos in Asgard too soon.

The widespread anomaly off the Norwegian coast, along with the Bifrost's several dense successive descents, could not be concealed. Who knew how many people were now watching and listening closely for every scrap of news from Asgard? Xiang Qian had no desire to be bombarded with calls.

What Xiang Qian had not expected was that the first message he received after landing was not an inquiry about Asgard, but an invitation to go pick up girls.

Tony had sent him a message. Relying on their past "one-night connection," along with his relentless efforts over the past few days, he had successfully arranged a meeting with Hope van Dyne—Dr. Pym's daughter.

Xiang Qian eagerly called him back, only to have reality dump a bucket of cold water over him.

"So, not only have you failed to get any definite information about Dr. Pym, you've only managed to arrange a meeting time with Ms. Hope?" Xiang Qian could not help mocking him. "Don't tell me you've forgotten our real objective and only want to rekindle things with that 'Hope' lady?"

"How could that be?" Tony shouted. His deliberately aggrieved tone made his insincerity painfully obvious. "It's strategy, understand? Her relationship with her father is terrible. If I revealed our true purpose from the start, she wouldn't have agreed to see us at all."

"So you can guarantee that you aren't harboring any special 'hopes' toward Ms. Hope?"

"Of course! This is all for you, my friend," Tony declared with conviction over