Party Preparations Underway

The banquet hall on the top floor of Stark Tower resembled a boiling furnace. Equipment and materials lay scattered everywhere, while nanoparticles darted and intertwined through the air with a soft hum, as though performing a futuristic symphony.

Tony Stark wore specially designed holographic glasses, data streams constantly flashing and shifting across the lenses. Standing tall in the middle of the venue like a general commanding an army, he issued orders loudly. "Add a quantum coating to the tower so it shows a dynamic gradient under the lights! Use miniature projectors for the dragon's eyes, so its gaze follows the guests as they move! And give the dragon wings anti-gravity devices—I want them to look like they could take off at any moment!"

At the rhythm of his commands, the nanoparticles swiftly formed the outlines of a castle and dragon in midair. Amid the interweaving light and shadow, a fantastical technological world slowly took shape.

Nearby, Happy clutched an armful of ribbons, his stomach rising and falling with his labored breathing. Sweat covered his face, but he still found the energy to complain. "Tony, this party setup is more complicated than a S.H.I.E.L.D. secret base! I've made three trips to the warehouse already. My arms are about to fall off, and my legs don't even feel like mine anymore." As he spoke, he casually tossed the ribbons onto the floor. The colorful streamers spread out like a waterfall, carpeting the ground in a brilliant sea of color.

"Less talking, Happy!" Tony said without turning around, his tone decisive and beyond argument. "Go get the quantum string lights—the version with particle effects! If you hold things up, you'll dress up as a dragon and greet guests at the door. And you'll keep smiling until the party ends!" Happy rolled his eyes, scratched his head with a thick palm, and slowly headed toward the warehouse, muttering under his breath, "All you do is boss me around. Once this party is over, I'm sleeping for three days and three nights."

Pepper stood before the workbench with her brows furrowed, her gaze focused and serious. She wore a perfectly tailored business suit, and her elegant pearl earrings swayed gently with her movements, adding to her intellectual charm. "Tony, are you sure you want to install automatic food-delivery tracks on the dining tables?" She looked up, concern in her eyes. "During the last test, a hamburger flew straight into Happy's face and dyed his beard ketchup red. It was a complete disaster."

"That was just a minor mistake, a tiny technical calibration issue!" Tony snapped his fingers confidently, his signature smile curling across his lips. "This time, it'll be foolproof. Besides, don't you think it'd be cool if steaks could 'walk' onto the plates like magic? The guests will be amazed. This is the unique highlight of a Stark party!" As he spoke, he traced the route of the tracks in the air with his hand. The nanoparticles immediately understood, simulating a glowing path that shimmered beautifully in the air.

Just then, Helen Cho hurried over carrying a stack of circuit boards. The hem of her lab coat fluttered with her brisk steps, and half of several strange mechanical parts protruded from her pockets, as though revealing the pace of her busy work. "The intelligent decoration modules have all been calibrated to the highest safety standards." She handed the circuit boards to Tony, pushed up her glasses, and looked at him with meticulous seriousness. "But don't modify the program on your own again. Last time, the holographic projection went out of control and turned the entire hall into a tropical rainforest. There were spraying plants and virtual animals running everywhere. The cleaning crew spent two full days dealing with it and complained nonstop."

"Don't worry, dear Dr. Helen!" Tony took the circuit boards and even threw her a look, confidence shining across his face. "I've optimized the core algorithm. This time, the holographic projections won't just simulate scenes—they'll interact with the guests. Imagine it: guests walk in and feel as if they've entered a magical world, where they can talk and play with virtual characters. That's a truly immersive party experience!" He quickly connected the boards to the system, his fingertips flying over the virtual screen. In an instant, a vast starry sky appeared across the banquet hall walls. Brilliant stars twinkled, while meteors streaked past with long tails, seemingly close enough to touch, making everyone want to reach out and seize that fleeting beauty.

Li emerged from the laboratory carrying a bundle of balloons printed with the Stark Industries logo. Looking at the busy yet somewhat chaotic scene, Li shook their head helplessly with a wry smile. "Uncle Tony, are these balloons really supposed to be filled with anti-gravity gas?" Li held up a balloon, concern in their eyes. "Last time, the wrong gas was used, and the balloons pulled down the chandelier from the ceiling. Luckily, nobody got hit, or it could have been dangerous."

"That was an accident, purely an accident!" Tony said without looking up, completely focused on the castle model being constructed. "This anti-gravity gas has been improved and now includes an intelligent control system. It'll automatically shut down the moment it detects anything abnormal. Imagine it: the ladies walk in, and the balloons automatically form welcome messages, even changing shape to the beat of the music. How impressive is that? This is the kind of grandeur a Stark family party should have!"

Happy finally returned with the quantum string lights, panting heavily. Beads of sweat the size of peas rolled down his forehead, and his uniform was soaked through. "Finally got them. I feel like I could enter the New York Marathon right now—might even place." He set the lights down on the floor, but accidentally knocked over the balloons Li was holding. In an instant, the balloons filled with anti-gravity gas shot toward the ceiling. They chased one another through the air, while several got caught on the chandelier and swayed back and forth as if playfully swinging.

"Happy!" Li and Tony shouted in unison, their voices full of anxiety and helplessness. Happy scratched his head awkwardly and gave an apologetic smile. "I'll get a ladder right now. I'll have them down in no time—I promise I won't hold anything up!"

Pepper looked at the chaotic scene, took a deep breath, and tried to keep herself calm before raising her voice. "Enough fooling around! There are only 6 hours left before the party starts. Everyone, do your jobs and make sure everything is finished on time! Tony, check the holographic projections and the castle model; Helen Cho, confirm the intelligent decoration modules one more time; Happy, organize the balloons and get the string lights installed as soon as possible; Li, go see how the automatic food-delivery tracks are coming along." Her voice carried unquestionable authority. Everyone immediately fell silent and threw themselves back into the tense preparations.

As the seconds ticked by, the banquet hall gradually took on a different kind of splendor. The dancing tables were undergoing their final adjustments. When the music started, they swayed in perfect unison like a group of elegant dancers, while dinner plates glided steadily across their surfaces like props in the dancers' hands. Glowing vines grew along the stair railings, complementing the sound-activated light strips Gwen had designed earlier. Whenever someone climbed the stairs, the strips changed color with the sound of their footsteps, while the vines shimmered with a gentle glow, as though welcoming every arriving guest. And Tony's carefully designed holographic castle, illuminated by the quantum string lights, looked like a real fantasy kingdom. Its gates slowly opened, as if inviting guests into that mysterious and captivating world, quietly awaiting the grand beginning of the party.