Breaking the Deadlock of Identity

Inside the restaurant, warm yellow light flowed like honey over the vintage red brick walls. Crystal chandeliers scattered flecks of light that danced across the wooden floor. Soothing jazz drifted through the air, weaving together with the clinking of cutlery into a unique melody. Li Stark sat at the head of the table, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the tabletop as he watched Claire and the others warmly, knowing it was their first time experiencing such a lively gathering.

When the waiter set a steaming pizza on the table, its cheese still bubbling, Claire's eyes instantly lit up like two sparkling stars. She rubbed her hands together and eagerly grabbed a slice, the cheese stretching into long silvery strands and tracing a graceful arc through the air.

"This tastes absolutely incredible!" She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, leaning back in her chair as she savored the deliciousness on her tongue. She looked as though she were the happiest person in the world. "If Raccoon City had food this good, everyone could have enjoyed this kind of happiness after those hard battles." She murmured to herself, a trace of nostalgia for the past flashing through her eyes.

Li Stark smiled and picked up the thread. "You'll have plenty of happiness like this from now on." As he spoke, he pushed the salad bowl toward Ashley. "Try this. The lettuce was cultivated in a modern agricultural lab and has low sugar content. Maybe it'll give your analyzer some new data." Ashley looked up, her previously focused expression now touched with curiosity. She put on the miniature goggles Li Stark had given her, and blue light flickered from the analyzer in her hand. Sometimes she frowned at the data on the screen; sometimes she swiftly adjusted the instrument's angle, quietly muttering technical terms as if she were conducting some great scientific research.

At that moment, a middle-aged man at the next table wearing a baseball cap and casual jacket suddenly burst into hearty laughter. His booming laugh drew the attention of quite a few people in the restaurant. "Say, are you guys making a movie?" He pointed at Claire, his eyes full of admiration. "Especially this young lady with the shotgun. She's cooler than those Hollywood action stars! That gear, that presence—just standing there, she's got the aura of a female lead!"

Claire burst into a bold laugh at his words. She slung the shotgun over her shoulder in an incredibly stylish pose. "Sir, this isn't a prop. It's the real deal! It was incredibly useful where we came from. At critical moments, it could save your life!" As she spoke, memories of fighting zombies in Raccoon City surfaced in her mind, and her gaze became firm and sharp. The surrounding diners gathered around, all talking at once as they asked about where they came from and what they had experienced.

Li Stark keenly sensed that Claire's words might arouse suspicion. He immediately stood up, resting one hand on Claire's shoulder as he explained to everyone with a smile, "This lady is a professional security consultant. The gun is for special assignments. We're preparing a documentary about future warriors, so everyone's outfits may look a little unusual." The excuse he made up in an instant, combined with his confident smile, successfully dispelled some of their doubts.

Jill stood nearby with a gentle smile, patiently answering everyone's questions. "We came from a place filled with war, but we all held on." Her voice was steady and powerful, giving people a sense of reassurance. Ada Wong elegantly lifted her wineglass and took a light sip of red wine. Her qipao gleamed softly beneath the lights, its delicate frog buttons and embroidery displaying a distinctive charm. She set down her glass, a faint smile at her lips, and began telling everyone about the history and culture of the qipao. Her voice was soft and pleasant, and every word seemed to carry magic as she made the story of traditional clothing utterly captivating.

Seeing this, Tony also joined the crowd. He deliberately adopted an exaggerated gentlemanly pose and loudly pointed at Ada Wong's qipao. "Everyone, this lady has impeccable taste! If you ever want to hold a fashion show, Stark will absolutely sponsor it! When that day comes, New York's entire fashion world will be shaken!"

His words set off another wave of laughter. The atmosphere grew even livelier, and people became increasingly interested in these "special guests." Meanwhile, Li Stark quietly contacted the restaurant manager through his watch from the edge of the crowd. He arranged the bill in advance and reminded the manager to prepare several signature desserts to go "for the girls to eat on the road."

After the meal, the restaurant owner approached with a broad smile, holding a marker in his hand. "Guests, Stark and all of you have truly honored my little establishment today! If you don't mind, could you leave your signatures in the 'Special Guests' section on the wall? Let the other customers see them too!"

Claire immediately became interested. She took the marker and signed her name with sweeping strokes, then drew a tiny shotgun beside it. As she drew, she said, "Boss, if anyone asks about it later, tell them this was left behind by a warrior from afar!" Her eyes were filled with pride, as if she were declaring her existence to this world.

Ashley seemed a little reserved. She neatly wrote down her name in graceful, tidy handwriting. Afterward, she looked nervously at the owner, only relaxing after she saw his satisfied smile. When it was Tony's turn, he boldly wrote, "Tony Stark was here," then drew a lifelike miniature Iron Man beside it. He proudly examined his "masterpiece" and told the owner, "Boss, you'd better protect this wall well. It might become New York's next landmark someday! This is an exclusive check-in spot for superheroes and mysterious visitors!" His antics made everyone around him laugh so hard they doubled over, while the owner laughed until he could barely close his mouth and repeatedly thanked them.

Li Stark was the last to add his mark. Instead of signing his name, he drew a simple circuit diagram and wrote beside it, "Technology connects the future." "I hope both this world and yours keep getting better." He spoke softly, and only Jill beside him heard his sincere wish.

By the time everyone stepped out of the restaurant, night had fallen. Neon lights flickered along the streets, and traffic flowed endlessly. In the display window of a video store not far away, a large screen was playing an energetic music video, its powerful rhythm catching Claire's attention. Her body began moving unconsciously with the music, her eyes full of excitement and vitality. "It's been so long since I've danced this freely!" she shouted, a brilliant smile spreading across her face. Jill watched her, shook her head with a helpless smile, and eventually joined in. Their dancing was full of strength and passion, as if they had poured all the fiery spirit from their battles in Raccoon City into it. They moved in perfect sync, spinning and jumping, every movement infectious.

Tony naturally would not miss a chance to steal the spotlight. He whistled, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. He quickly activated his armor, and cool special-effect lights instantly lit up across its surface. Multicolored beams shone brilliantly in the night. He improvised a robotic dance to the music, his movements smooth and precise, and with the armor's lighting effects, he looked like a dancer from the future. His exaggerated expressions and stylish moves instantly attracted a large crowd of onlookers. People pulled out their phones to take pictures and videos, and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Exclamations and cheers rose from the crowd from time to time. "Wow, it's Iron Man!" "That's so cool!" "What kind of godlike move was that?" Praise rang out without end.

However, the lively atmosphere was suddenly broken by a sharp cry. "Thief! My bag!" A woman in business attire shouted anxiously, her face filled with panic and her eyes full of helplessness. A man in a black hoodie was desperately weaving through the crowd, tightly clutching a woman's handbag. The bag's golden chain glinted beneath the lights.

Li Stark immediately took a coin-sized tracker from his pocket and flicked it toward the thief amid the chaos. The tracker accurately attached itself to the sole of the man's shoe. "I've marked his position. Claire, Jill, you intercept him. Tony, use your scanners to lock down his route." He gave orders calmly while quickly operating his watch to access nearby surveillance footage. "There's a blind spot in the cameras at the west alley. He may run that way."

Claire's gaze instantly sharpened, and she sprinted after the thief without hesitation. "Don't even think about running!" she shouted as she ran, her voice echoing down the street. She was incredibly fast, darting nimbly through the crowd like an agile cheetah. Jill flanked him from another direction. She calmly analyzed the thief's escape route, using her combat experience to skillfully avoid obstacles and rapidly close the distance.

Tony was not slow to react either. He immediately activated the armor's scanning function. Blue light flashed through his eyes as he quickly locked onto the thief's escape route. "Hey, kid, committing crimes right under my nose? You've got some nerve!" he called into the communicator on his wrist. "F.R.I.D.A.Y., plot the optimal pursuit route. Let's teach this cocky punk a lesson!" At the same time, he turned toward Claire and Jill, a provocative smile curling across his lips. "You two heroines want to have a race and see who catches the thief first? The loser has to buy everyone Stark Industries' special drinks!"

At the entrance to a narrow alley, the thief tried to turn and escape, only to find that Claire had already predicted his route. With a swift sweeping kick, she struck precisely at his ankle. Caught off guard, the thief fell to the ground with a thud, and the bag flew from his hand. Jill arrived just in time, swiftly subduing him and pinning him to the ground with clean, efficient movements.

"Nicely done!" Tony flew over and applauded for them in midair. After landing, he struck a stylish pose. "I may have arrived late, but my cool factor is definitely off the charts!" he said with a grin. "Looks like the two heroines won this one. A bet's a bet—I'll cover the drinks!"

The woman who had lost the bag ran over, panting heavily. When she saw that her bag had been recovered, tears of gratitude filled her eyes. "Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I don't know what I would have done!" She grasped Claire and Jill's hands and thanked them over and over. The surrounding pedestrians applauded and praised them as well. "That was amazing! You're just like superheroes!" A child squeezed to the very front, looking at Claire and Jill with eyes full of admiration. "Big sisters, how did you do that? I want to be that amazing someday too!"

Claire crouched down, gently patted the child's head, and said with a smile, "When you run into bad people, the first thing you need to do is protect yourself. Then remember to ask the police for help! As long as you have courage and justice, anyone can become a superhero!" Her eyes were full of encouragement, hoping to plant a seed of courage in the child's heart. Tony crouched down too and playfully pinched the child's cheek. "If you want to be a superhero someday, remember to come find me at Stark Industries! I'll teach you how to build the coolest armor!" His words made the child jump excitedly, dreams shining in his eyes.

Ashley watched the heartwarming scene from the side, a smile appearing on her face. She silently thought that perhaps she could also contribute to this world in her own way, just like everyone else. Li Stark walked over and handed her a cup of hot cocoa. "Don't rush. Your talent in technology will make everyone see you in a new light."

As the crowd gradually dispersed, the lingering light of the setting sun stretched everyone's shadows long behind them. Along the way, they received countless rounds of applause and smiles. That goodwill was like warm sunlight, melting away the distance between them and this world. Tony walked at the front, occasionally turning back to joke with everyone. "If anything fun comes up in the future, remember to invite me. After all, being with you all doubles the fun!" His words warmed everyone's hearts. They exchanged smiles and continued walking forward.