By the time Su Ming returned home, it was already past four in the morning.
The moment he entered the living room, he heard wild, roaring snores coming from the couch.
Following the sound, he saw the chubby Ned sprawled across the sofa in an utterly dramatic pose.
Su Ming smiled and shook his head, setting the gift box in his hand beside him.
This was already the second time Ned had helped him. Both sentiment and reason called for a gift.
As a token of gratitude.
It was a globally limited-edition mechanical keyboard. The price was beside the point; as a tech nerd, Ned would surely like it.
After bidding Captain America and Black Widow farewell, Su Ming had not returned directly to the base.
Instead, he had gone for a stroll through New York's busiest shopping district.
Even in the early hours of the morning, it was still bustling. It truly deserved its reputation as the city that never slept.
Buying something for Alisha was routine.
Besides that, Su Ming had prepared gifts not only for Ned, but for Little Spider as well.
A NASA co-branded, space-grade camera—also a limited edition.
Only after preparing all that did Su Ming return to the base.
After a quick wash-up, he took the time to repair and bring the more than twenty Mark Armors under control in the warehouse.
Only then did he return to his long-missed bed.
Thinking back on everything that had happened lately, he gradually fell asleep...
The next day.
"Aah!!! My God! Aah!!!"
At around seven or eight in the morning, a pig-slaughtering howl shattered the base's usual silence.
Ned, who had fallen asleep directly on the couch, rolled over and crashed facedown onto the floor.
The pain jolted him awake. He wriggled around on the floor