Dinner Invitation

New York, Sanctum.

Chen Xiao stood before the full-length mirror in his bedroom. He had been standing there for nearly two minutes.

The person in the mirror wore a dark gray single-breasted suit, made from an Italian wool blend. The fabric was fine, carrying a subdued sheen in the afternoon light. His shirt was light blue, its collar crisp, with silver cufflinks engraved with a tiny spell formation. His trousers fit perfectly, their creases running straight from his waist to his shoes. His dark brown Oxford shoes were polished brightly enough to reflect a person.

"Chief." Daniel's voice came from the doorway.

Chen Xiao did not turn around. "Yeah."

"You've been standing there for one hundred and thirty-seven seconds."

"You were counting?"

"I was bored." Daniel leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, giving him a once-over. "Are you dressed like that because you're getting married?"

"Tony invited me to dinner."

Chen Xiao finally turned and looked at Daniel. "What do you think?"

Daniel tilted his head, scrutinized him seriously for several seconds, then came over and pushed Chen Xiao's tie knot upward before adjusting the dimple beneath it.

"If you can't even tie a tie, wearing an expensive suit is pointless."

"I can tie one."

"The knot you tied last time looked like a dead rat."

Chen Xiao looked down at the tie on his chest. A Windsor Knot—full and symmetrical, clearly Daniel's work.

"Damn, a master really is a master."

Daniel looked at him expressionlessly.

Chen Xiao waved a hand and headed for the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator, and cold air rushed over him. He casually grabbed two bottles of Coke.

"Huh? Coke?" Daniel followed behind him.

"It's my first time visiting. I can't show up empty-handed."

"Does Tony Stark lack Coke?"

Chen Xiao ignored him and flicked his right hand. A blue spark burst from his fingertips, rapidly spreading into a circular portal. Arcs of electricity danced around its frame with faint crackling sounds. On the other side was Malibu sunshine, orange-gold light slanting through the portal and casting a warm patch across the Sanctum's wooden floor.

Chen Xiao stepped through the portal, appearing fifty meters outside Tony's front door.

A sea breeze blew in from the west, salty and cool, stirring the hem of his suit jacket. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, painting the sky orange-red, from deep orange to pale gold, then fading into a touch of lavender at the distant edge of the sky. The Pacific shimmered as though covered in scattered gold, its glittering waves dazzling his eyes.

He walked up the driveway to the entrance. The door was made of dark wood, its gold handle polished to a gleam. There was no house number beside it, only an understated "Stark" engraved on a bronze plaque—low-key yet luxurious.

"I'm about to start hating the rich," he muttered.

Before he could ring the bell, the door opened.

"Hey, JARVIS. Good evening."

"Good evening, Mr. Chen. Welcome."

Pepper Potts stood waiting at the door in a simple dark green dress, its hem reaching just to her knees. Her blonde hair rested over her shoulders, the ends lightly curled and glowing softly in the sunset. She held a tablet in her hand, probably having been working just moments ago.

The first thing she did when she saw Chen Xiao was sweep her gaze over him from head to toe—dark gray suit, light blue shirt, dark blue tie, dark brown shoes.

"Dressed this sharp?"

Chen Xiao stood at the door with two bottles of Coke in hand, sunlight shining from behind him and stretching his shadow long across the ground.

"It's my first time visiting. I couldn't be too casual."

"You weren't like this at the office last time."

"That was a business meeting. It's different."

Pepper smiled and stepped aside to let him in.

Chen Xiao stepped through the doorway, the soles of his shoes clicking softly against the dark marble floor. A dark red carpet lay in the foyer, its pattern intricate and its edges slightly worn, though it still looked expensive. To his left stood a dark wooden table with a brass desk lamp on it. Its amber glass shade glowed with dim yellow light.

He looked around the living room. The floor-to-ceiling windows faced the Pacific, and the sunset streamed through the glass, bathing the entire room in warm gold. There was not much furniture—a light gray sofa, a glass coffee table, several strikingly designed chairs—but none of it came cheap. A massive abstract painting hung on the wall, blocks of blue and gold interwoven together. He did not know its name, but it looked like the kind of painting worth an entire house.

"Nice place," Chen Xiao said.

"Thank Tony for it." Pepper led him toward the living room. "He's not very good at expressing gratitude. If he says something unpleasant, don't take it to heart."

"I've seen that already."

Pepper glanced at him and smiled a little awkwardly.

The two sat on the sofa. Pepper set down her tablet and poured him a glass of water. Then she sat across from him, folding her hands over her knees as her expression grew more serious. She drew a breath, as though considering her words.

"Chen Xiao, I've always wanted to thank you in person." Her voice was soft but clear. "You saved Tony. I don't know how I can repay you, but... thank you."

Her tone was sincere, without pleasantries or unnecessary words. Her eyes reddened slightly, though she quickly recovered.

"As long as he's okay," Chen Xiao said. "You don't need to worry about anything else."

Pepper nodded, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

Footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Leather shoes stepped down one stair at a time, unhurried and steady.

Tony Stark came downstairs.

He wore a black short-sleeved T-shirt, the material looking soft and expensive, with dark casual trousers beneath it, their creases straight. His hair was neatly combed, and his beard had been trimmed. He looked far more energetic than when Chen Xiao had last seen him—his face had filled out, and the dark circles beneath his eyes had faded.

He held a tablet in one hand, his right index finger still swiping across the screen. The moment he looked up and saw Chen Xiao's suit, he raised an eyebrow.

"Dressed this sharp?"

Chen Xiao lounged against the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, both arms spread along the backrest.

"What? Jealous?"

Tony's mouth twitched as his gaze moved from the suit to the coffee table. The two Coke bottles stood side by side on the glass surface, beads of condensation still clinging to them and glittering in the sunset.

"You brought Coke to my house?"

"It's rude to visit empty-handed."

"So you brought Coke?"

"Yep."

Tony stared at him for two seconds. His eyes lingered on Chen Xiao's face, dropped to the Coke, then returned to Chen Xiao's face.

"Funny," he said. "I prepared some too."

He tilted his head toward the dining room. Chen Xiao followed his gaze and saw an ice bucket on a small cart beside the dining table. The silver metal bucket held five or six neatly arranged bottles of Coke, their surfaces covered in even thicker condensation than the two he had brought. Beside it sat a small dish of lemon slices, though he had no idea who those were for.

Chen Xiao froze for a moment, then laughed.

"You should've said so. I wouldn't have brought any."

"You didn't ask."

"You didn't say you had some."

The two looked at each other for a second. Tony's lips twitched faintly, while Chen Xiao raised an eyebrow.

Pepper sat nearby, looked from Tony to Chen Xiao, and let out a soft sigh.

"You two," she said, "can you sit down and eat first?"

Tony looked at Pepper, then at Chen Xiao, lifting his chin toward the dining room.

"Let's go."

The three moved to the dining room.

The dining table was long and dark, its polished surface smooth as a mirror and reflecting the crystal chandelier above. Several dishes had been laid out—grilled salmon with crisp skin and beautifully orange-pink flesh; a salad with fresh greens and dressing in a small bowl beside it; pasta sprinkled with chopped parsley and grated cheese; and a plate of dessert, small macarons in pink, green, and yellow, neatly arranged on white porcelain.

It was not extravagant, but it was thoughtful. Pepper had clearly arranged everything in advance.

Tony pulled out a chair and sat down, pointing at the Coke in the ice bucket. "Help yourself."

Chen Xiao picked up a bottle and twisted off the cap. It came loose with a soft pop, a puff of cold air rising out. He took a drink, icy liquid sliding down his throat as bubbles burst across his tongue.

Nice.

He leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

Tony picked up a bottle too—not one from the ice bucket, but one of the two bottles Chen Xiao had brought. He twisted off the cap, took a drink, and set it down on the table.

"You're drinking mine?" Chen Xiao looked at him.

"You brought two, didn't you? One for you, one for the host."

"That's a rule?"

"I just made it."

Chen Xiao shook his head and speared a piece of salmon. The fish was tender and perfectly seasoned, neither too salty nor too bland.

Pepper sat across from them, eating her salad elegantly. Her fork made no sound as it rose and fell. She watched the two men with a faint smile but did not interrupt.

Halfway through the meal, Tony set down his fork. The metal utensil struck the edge of the white porcelain plate with a light ding.

He picked up the tablet beside him, swiped across its screen, and pushed it in front of Chen Xiao.

A surveillance recording played on the screen.

It showed Chen Xiao de-elementalizing.

Chen Xiao looked at the screen without much change in expression.

Tony set down the tablet, leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and looked at Chen Xiao.

"Care to explain?"

The dining room fell silent for two seconds. Pepper put down her fork but said nothing.

Chen Xiao set down his Coke bottle, its bottom landing on the table with a soft, dull thud.

"You investigated me?"

"You saved my life," Tony said evenly. "I had to know who my lifesaver was."

"What did you find?"

"You're anything but ordinary."

"So?"

"So I want to know." Tony leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table, his eyes fixed on Chen Xiao's face. "What are you? A mutant? An alien? Something else?"

Pepper coughed softly.

Tony glanced at her, then turned back to Chen Xiao and softened his tone. "I'm not interrogating you. I'm just curious."

Chen Xiao looked at him in silence for two seconds, then smiled.

"An ordinary person," he said. "I just know a few little tricks."

"You're not ordinary. Ordinary people don't turn into lightning."

"Then what do you think I am?"

Tony thought about it. His eyes lingered on Chen Xiao's face, then shifted toward the ocean beyond the window before returning.

"I don't know," Tony said. "But you're not a bad guy."

Chen Xiao did not respond.

"If you don't want to say, I won't force you." Tony leaned back again, recrossing his arms. "But you have to admit that you can fly."

"I can fly."

"And open portals."

"I can."

Tony stared at him for two seconds, then smiled in acceptance.

The mood relaxed. Pepper picked up her fork again, and Chen Xiao took another sip of Coke.

After a while, Tony spoke again.

"You saw my Mark One in the desert, right?"

Chen Xiao nodded. "I saw it."

"What did you think?"

Chen Xiao considered it, speared a piece of salmon, chewed and swallowed it, then said sincerely, "Ugly."

Tony's hand paused. His fork hung in midair with a small piece of salmon on it.

"...What did you say?"

"Ugly," Chen Xiao said. "Like a flying tin can, but it got you out of there. Pretty damn impressive."

Tony took a deep breath. He set down his fork, leaned back, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I built that out of missile parts in a cave! It was impressive enough that it could fly!"

"So I didn't say it wasn't impressive. I only said it was ugly."

Tony stared at him for two seconds. Chen Xiao's expression remained calm, with even a trace of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

Tony suddenly stood up.

"Then next, you're going to see the greatest work of art of the twenty-first century."

As he said it, his chin lifted slightly, and his lips carried the smug look of someone who had been dying to show it off. Then he turned and headed downstairs, moving quickly as his leather shoes clicked sharply against the floor.

Chen Xiao went down the stairs and saw the armor at first glance.

Mark Two.

It hung from a metal stand beside the workbench, its silver-white shell gleaming coldly beneath the lights. Its lines were smooth, every curve from its shoulders to its waist to its legs perfectly balanced. Its joints were precise, every segment of every finger able to move independently. The circular recess in its chest was empty—the Arc Reactor had not yet been installed, but the space had already been reserved.

It did not look like a weapon.

It looked like a work of art.

Tony stood beside it with his arms crossed and chin slightly raised, looking as smug as a painter who had just completed a masterpiece.

"Take a good look. This is a real suit of armor. Mark Two."

Chen Xiao walked over. No man could resist an Iron Man suit. He excitedly approached it, circling around the armor and unable to resist reaching out to touch it.

"Damn, it's cool," he said with genuine admiration. "Way better than that tin can."

Tony's lips curled upward slightly.

Chen Xiao moved around to the side, touched the metal plating around the arm joints, then crouched to inspect the hydraulic mechanisms in the calves. Every component fit together seamlessly, every joint cleanly finished.

"The craftsmanship is meticulous." Chen Xiao stood up. "Did you polish these joints by hand?"

"Most of them." Tony sounded casual, but the gleam in his eyes gave him away. "There are places machines can't handle. I had to do them myself."

Chen Xiao took a step back and examined the armor again from head to toe.

"Can it fly?"

"Of course it can fly." Tony's tone carried a hint of disdain, as though the question insulted him. "It flies faster than your lightning."

"Heh." Chen Xiao laughed. "We can race sometime."

Tony raised an eyebrow, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from curling upward.

"You sure?"

"Are you sure?"

The two looked at each other for a second, then laughed at the same time.

"By the way, didn't you not want anyone else to know? Pepper told me you and Obadiah Stane had a falling-out."

Tony paused. His gaze moved from the armor to Chen Xiao's face and lingered for a second.

"So you already know," he said. "Besides... you've seen the ugliest one. I have to show you what a real masterpiece looks like."

He paused, then added,

"You're flying with me."

"Flying together?"

"Yeah. You can fly, can't you? Follow me. I want you to see it with your own eyes."

Chen Xiao blanked for a moment, trying to recall the movie. It seemed like the first flight hadn't been with Mark Two.

He looked at Tony and fell silent for a moment.

"Are you sure? It hasn't even had a test flight yet, has it?"

"That's why I'm bringing you along." Tony smiled faintly. "In case something goes wrong, catch me."

"...You invited me to dinner just for this?"

"Mostly to thank you. And to have you as insurance while I'm at it."

Chen Xiao shook his head.

"Fine."

Tony's lips curled upward despite himself. He turned and walked over to the armor, reaching out to pat the chestplate. The metal gave a dull echo.

"Wait here," he said, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. "I'll show you what real flying is."

Chen Xiao leaned against the wall with his arms folded, watching Tony eagerly put on the armor. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly without him noticing.

If he remembered correctly, this would be Tony's first—and only—time feeling pure joy at conquering the sky.