Morning sunlight streamed through the glass curtain walls of Stark Industries' New York branch, casting huge patches of light across the mirror-smooth floor. Dust motes drifted through the beams like tamed golden particles. Lin Mo stood beside the revolving doors, looking up at the glowing "STARK" sign atop the building. The metal letters gleamed with a cold sheen in the sunlight, ten times more impressive than they had looked on television.
"What are you staring at? Let's go." Carlos patted him on the back. The old man had deliberately worn a neatly pressed shirt today, with an utterly mismatched red tie around his collar. "Don't embarrass me. This is Stark Industries. Break one screw, and it'll cost you half a year's salary."
Lin Mo hurriedly looked away and picked up the canvas tool bag—the same one he had taken to New Mexico last time. Its faded fabric still had a little desert sand stuck to it. His heart beat a little faster, and his palms were faintly sweaty—not from nerves, but excitement. This was Tony Stark's company, home of the superhero who flew through the sky in a metal suit and the genius who changed the world with technology.
Once inside the lobby, Lin Mo could barely take everything in. A massive display looped footage of Iron Man armor tests. The Mark VII's thrusters blasted blue-white flames as it traced graceful arcs across the desert sky. The receptionist wore a sharp business suit, her smile as standard as if it had been programmed. When she saw the work order Carlos handed over, surprise flashed in her eyes. "I didn't expect Mr. Stark to still keep those antiques."
"Antiques are exactly why old hands like us are needed." Carlos snorted, clearly displeased by the word "antiques." He had worked in repairs for nearly thirty years, handling everything from old typewriters to modern servers, yet he had never seen the inside of Stark Industries. Rumor had it that even the coffee machines here were controlled by artificial intelligence.
The elevator rose smoothly. Lin Mo watched the numbers climb on the display: floor 38. Physical Enhancement had sharpened his senses enough for him to hear the faint friction of the elevator cables and even distinguish subtle vibrations coming from different floors. "We're here." Carlos gave him a push as the elevator doors slid open without a sound.
The sight before him made Lin Mo hold his breath. The spacious maintenance area resembled a huge laboratory. Rows of white workbenches held instruments he could not even name. Several engineers in white coats were gathered around a half-open robot, discussing something as its metal arms moved nimbly through the air, crackling with electricity.
"Carlos?" A middle-aged man in gold-rimmed glasses approached and shook Carlos's hand. His badge read, "Hogan Hadley, Senior Equipment Maintenance Supervisor." His hair was combed impeccably, and an expensive watch peeked from beneath his shirt cuff. "Sorry to keep you waiting. The old computers are over there, numbered A301 through A350. They're all ten-year-old models. Mr. Stark suddenly said he wanted them restored and archived. Otherwise, we wouldn't bother with this."
"Ten years old?" Carlos raised a brow. "Stark Industries still keeps stuff this ancient?"
"Who knows what the boss is thinking." Hogan shrugged and led them deeper into the maintenance area. "He says he's putting together some kind of 'History of Technological Evolution' exhibit. He even dug out mechanical arms he made back in college." He pointed at a pile of equipment covered in dust cloths in the corner. "There they are. I'll leave them to you."
Lin Mo's gaze settled on the equipment. Beneath the dust covers, familiar outlines were faintly visible. One of the machines looked much like a retired S.H.I.E.L.D. server he had repaired at the shop, only more refined, with a tiny "STARK" logo engraved along its edges. He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and pulled out his tools. "When do we start?"
"Whenever you're ready." Hogan handed them two temporary access badges. "Lunch is in the employee cafeteria. Just give them my name. Oh, and don't wander around. Some areas have restricted access." He glanced at Lin Mo and added with a smile, "Especially don't try getting near the labs. F.R.I.D.A.Y. will mistake you for an intruder and zap you unconscious."
"F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" Lin Mo froze for a moment.
"Our AI butler." Hogan tilted his chin toward the ceiling. "She's everywhere."
Carlos patted Lin Mo on the shoulder. "You hear that? Don't cause trouble."
Lin Mo nodded, though his eyes still drifted over the busy engineers. Their fingers flew across virtual keyboards. The air carried a mixture of coffee and ozone, while complex data streams scrolled across wall displays, occasionally flashing Iron Man armor blueprints. Everything here was utterly different from the repair shop in Queens. It was filled with a sense of the future, yet felt real enough to touch.
Once work began, Lin Mo realized just how extraordinary these "old computers" were. Their cases were made from lightweight alloy, half the weight of devices of comparable size. Once opened, their internal circuitry was arranged like artwork. Every wire had a unique color code, and even the cooling fan blades had been designed to reduce noise. "These aren't computers. They're precision instruments," Carlos could not help saying, barely daring to apply pressure with his screwdriver.
Lin Mo said nothing. He simply activated his Phasing Ability and lightly ran his fingertips across the motherboard. He could "see" the layout of the circuits inside and even sense the paths of flowing current. Physical Enhancement made his movements both fast and steady. When he loosened screws, he applied exactly the right amount of force—enough to remove them quickly without stripping the threads. In less than half an hour, he had dismantled three machines, twice Carlos's speed.
"What did you eat today, kid?" Carlos shot him a look, though there was pride in his tone. "You're working like a machine."
"Maybe the environment here is good." Lin Mo smiled, his gaze landing on a tiny chip on the motherboard. The words "Mark I" were engraved on it. Was this really a chip from the same series as Tony Stark's first armor?
An engineer nearby noticed his speed and leaned over curiously. "Hey, that's some professional technique. Have you repaired Stark equipment before?"
"No. I just practice a lot normally." Lin Mo quickly lowered his head and pretended to focus on cleaning away dust. He could feel the other man watching his hands. The engineer's badge read "Dave," and his fingers were stained with solder, so he was probably responsible for circuit welding.
"These antiques aren't easy to handle." Dave squatted down and pointed to an interface on the motherboard. "The pins here are especially fragile. An intern snapped one by accident last time and nearly got scolded to tears by Hogan."
Lin Mo nodded and used a specially made soft-bristled brush to gently clean the dust from the interface. His movements were as delicate as if he were touching butterfly wings. Dynamic Vision let him clearly see the position of every pin, allowing him to avoid the sections that had already oxidized.
At noon, Lin Mo had his eyes opened again when they went to the employee cafeteria. It was buffet-style, with so many kinds of food that it was dazzling. There was even a dedicated "Iron Man-themed station." The burgers were shaped like armor, and Tony Stark's signature was printed on the cola cups. Carlos carried an enormous tray and piled food onto it like a starving wolf, muttering, "We're not paying for it ourselves. No point in holding back."
Lin Mo carried his tray to a window seat, where he could see outside the building. A small helicopter hovered above the rooftop, its cabin door open, with bodyguards in black suits faintly visible inside. "That's Mr. Stark's private helipad." A voice spoke beside him. It was Hogan, holding a cup of coffee. "He comes to the New York branch occasionally, but it looks like he's in Los Angeles for a press event today."
"Is he really like the news says? Can he stay in the armor all day?" Lin Mo could not help asking. He had been holding that question in for a long time.
Hogan smiled. "More than a day. Once, he stayed over the Pacific Ocean for three days just to test a new suit's endurance. By the time he got back, he'd grown a beard and nearly drove Miss Pepper Potts crazy." He took a sip of coffee, admiration in his eyes. "But honestly, no one can match his passion for technology."
Lin Mo nodded, recalling Tony Stark at press conferences. Beneath his casual, flippant tone lay unquestionable confidence. Suddenly, Lin Mo felt that his little talent for repairing computers was hardly worth mentioning before a true genius.
That afternoon, Lin Mo ran into a problem during the repairs. When computer A347 booted up, its screen flickered. Checking with his Phasing Ability, he discovered that the graphics card was loose, but the latch on its slot was badly rusted and required a deft touch to open. Holding his breath, he placed his fingers on the latch and controlled his strength with precision. Physical Enhancement let him concentrate his power down to his fingertips, like using tweezers to pick up an ant.
With a click, the latch opened. Lin Mo was just about to remove the graphics card when Dave suddenly shouted, "Look out!" His screwdriver had accidentally struck a metal part at the edge of the table. The part sprang up like a bullet and flew toward a precision instrument on the floor—a sensor that was currently being tested, worth a hundred thousand dollars, as Hogan had specifically warned them that morning.
Lin Mo reacted faster than he could think. The instant the part left the table, his body moved. His right hand shot out like lightning and caught the part firmly in midair, its icy surface pressing against his palm. The entire process took less than a second, so fast it seemed unreal.
Dave's face went pale with fright, and his screwdriver clattered to the floor. "My God... your reflexes are insane!"
Lin Mo set the part back on the table, his heart still pounding. He had acted entirely on instinct. The reaction speed from his Physical Enhancement had activated in an instant, before he even had time to use Dynamic Vision. "Lucky," he said calmly, picking up the graphics card and pretending to resume the repairs.
Hogan heard the commotion and came over. Seeing the part on the table and Dave's pale face, he frowned. "What happened?"
"It's nothing, Hogan," Dave hurriedly explained. "I accidentally knocked the part loose just now. Thanks to this..." He looked at Lin Mo, clearly not knowing his name.
"Lin Mo," Lin Mo said, looking up.
"Thanks to Lin Mo's quick reflexes, he caught it. Otherwise, that sensor would've been done for." Dave patted his chest, his voice full of lingering fear.
Hogan's gaze fell on Lin Mo, surprise flickering in his eyes. "You're quick, kid. You'd make a fine shortstop if you played baseball." He picked up the part. It was an unremarkable metal spacer. "It may look small, but it could've left a dent in that sensor."
"I played a few times in the neighborhood." Lin Mo smiled. The excuse was perfect. There were community baseball games in Queens every year, and he had even helped Ted retrieve balls last year.
Hogan smiled and did not press further. Turning to Dave, he said, "Be careful. If you damage any equipment, forget about getting a bonus this month." Then he gave Lin Mo another look, his eyes carrying a little more appreciation.
The repairs continued, but Lin Mo could feel several engineers glancing at him from time to time, probably stunned by that display of "quick reflexes." Dave even leaned closer and asked curiously, "You really never had professional training? I couldn't even see what you did just now."
"I really didn't," Lin Mo said helplessly. "Maybe repairing computers trained me. I often have to catch parts that fall."
The explanation sounded reasonable enough. Dave nodded and did not suspect anything further, though he still muttered, "That's unbelievable. You're faster than the robotic arms in our lab."
By evening, all the computers had been repaired. Carlos's hands trembled as he signed the work order. The pay from this job was enough to cover half a year's rent for the repair shop. Hogan walked them to the elevator and handed Lin Mo a business card. "Would you be interested in working at Stark Industries someday? Our equipment maintenance department happens to be short-staffed."
Lin Mo froze for a moment and accepted the card. Hogan's name and phone number were printed on it. "I... I'll think about it." He was at a loss. He had never imagined that he might be able to work at Stark Industries.
"Contact me anytime." Hogan patted him on the shoulder. "You're promising. Don't waste your talent."
When they walked out of the Stark Industries building, the sun had already begun to set. The "STARK" sign lit up, especially eye-catching in the dusk. Carlos excitedly counted the advance-payment check, humming an off-key tune. "Dinner's on me tonight! We're going to that most expensive steakhouse!"
Lin Mo said nothing. He just gripped the business card tightly, his sweaty palm dampening the paper. He looked back at the massive building, its glass walls reflecting the colors of the sunset like a flowing painting. While repairing one of the old computers, he had discovered a hidden folder on its hard drive. Inside were design sketches from Tony Stark's youth. One depicted a spider-shaped robot, with the words "Biomechanical Symbiote Concept" written beside it.
He suddenly thought of Peter's Mechanical Spider and the light gleaming in the boy's eyes. Maybe technology and dreams of becoming heroes had never been out of reach. They were hidden in the circuits of these old computers, in some teenager's sketchbook, and in every ordinary person's curiosity.
"What are you staring at? Come on!" Carlos shouted from ahead.
Lin Mo hurried after him, his steps as light as if he were walking on air. He put Hogan's business card into his wallet beside the spider drawing Peter had made. Maybe he would not work at Stark Industries. Maybe he would always be just a computer repairman. But at that moment, he felt that he had formed some strange connection with the superhero in Iron Man armor and the boy who loved studying spiders.
As he passed the community park, Lin Mo saw Peter and Ted flying a kite. This time, it was shaped like Iron Man, soaring so high it nearly touched the lights of the Stark Industries building. Peter spotted him and waved excitedly. "Brother Lin Mo! Look at our new kite!"
"Really cool." Lin Mo smiled, suddenly struck by an idea. The next time he tutored Peter in math, he could teach him some of Stark Industries' mechanical principles. Maybe it would help him improve that Mechanical Spider.
The night deepened, and the lights in the repair shop came on. Lin Mo sat before the workbench, holding a discarded part he had brought back from Stark Industries. Hogan had said it was useless and told him to take it if he wanted. It was a piece of lightweight alloy with the "STARK" logo engraved on it. He gently sanded it, considering what to turn it into. Maybe a spider-shaped bookmark for Peter.
Moonlight fell through the window onto the part, giving it a soft glow. Lin Mo knew that today's experience had only been a small incident, but it was like a stone tossed into a lake, sending ripples through his heart. Maybe ordinary life and the world of superheroes had never truly been separate. Like computer hardware and software, they depended on each other and together formed this dangerous yet fascinating world.
He picked up a screwdriver and began repairing the radio he had not finished during the day. The sound of metal striking metal rang especially clearly through the quiet shop. Tomorrow, he still had to tutor Peter in math, help Ted improve his magic props, and continue serving as the neighborhood's "volunteer deliveryman." But at that moment, holding that Stark Industries part, Lin Mo felt that his ordinary life had gained a touch of something extraordinary.
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