Tony Stark's 'Terrible' Prank

The elevator doors slowly opened on the third basement level. Chen Tian stepped out, whistling, only to freeze the moment he saw the garage.

"Th-this... Tony, you bastard!" He sucked in a sharp breath.

That limited-edition Bugatti Veyron was indeed parked there, but its once understated, luxurious matte-black paint job was now covered in outrageous fluorescent graffiti—on the hood was Tony's signature narcissistic pose: a chibi version of him with his arms spread wide, accompanied by a speech bubble reading "Genius at Work"; the sides were sprayed in bright pink with "I ❤ Tony Stark," while the other side bore huge artistic lettering that said "World's Smartest Genius."

"Mr. Chen," JARVIS's electronic voice sounded at just the right moment, "Sir specifically asked me to remind you that the vehicle's paint uses a special reflective material. It will emit rainbow-colored fluorescence at night."

"That narcissist..." Chen Tian gritted his teeth as he pulled out his phone and dialed Tony's number with trembling fingers.

"Well?" Tony's voice came through the phone, clearly holding back laughter. "Isn't the paint job personally designed by the great Tony cool enough? It'll definitely make you the center of attention at the banquet—"

"You call this a paint job?!" Chen Tian kicked the tire. "This is a moving monument to humiliation!"

Tony's laughter echoed through the garage. "Don't be so conservative. Oh, and the keys are inside the left front wheel hub. Remember to drive slowly, because..." His voice suddenly dropped. "There's also a cartoon on the rear of Pepper chasing you down and beating you up."

"What?!" Chen Tian lunged toward the rear of the car and indeed found an exaggerated cartoon: Pepper was chasing him with a coffee machine in hand, with the words "Stark Industries Morning Routine" written beside it.

The veins on his forehead bulged. "Tony Stark!"

"Too late~" Tony dragged out the words in a smug tone. "I've already activated the garage's riot-control protocol. Oh, and Pepper messaged five minutes ago asking why you still haven't arrived." He suddenly switched to an announcer's voice. "Now ride my beloved rainbow chariot to your appointment!"

The call abruptly ended. Chen Tian looked despairingly at the garage doors as they slowly rose. He trembled as he took out the car keys, only to find a miniature Tony bobblehead dangling from the keychain.

"I should never have believed Tony wouldn't mess with me! What a shitty life!..." Chen Tian took a deep breath and sat in the driver's seat. The seat immediately began playing a recording of Tony's voice: "Friendly reminder: this car is equipped with an AI voice system that automatically recites my award acceptance speech once every hour. Now get going, my dear stand-in!"

With the roar of the engine, the Bugatti shot out of the garage. At that very moment, a flag bearing Tony's winking face sprang open from the roof. In the rearview mirror, Chen Tian saw Tony raising a champagne glass to him from the laboratory window, while 2B stood beside him with a faint smile on the lower half of her exposed face.

Tony watched the Bugatti's taillights vanish from sight as it sped out of the garage, then finally burst into earth-shaking laughter. He slapped the bulletproof glass window and laughed so hard he could barely stand straight.

"JARVIS!" Tony wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. "Did you record it? That expression Chen Tian made when he saw the paint job?"

"Of course, Sir," JARVIS replied calmly. "I have archived the footage in your 'Chinese Boy's Embarrassing History Collection' and automatically generated a nine-panel meme set."

"Nicely done!" Tony snapped his fingers. "Send it to my phone immediately. I'm setting it as Chen Tian's caller photo!" He turned and leaned against the window, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "Wait, didn't that idiot see the other cars in the garage?"

"According to surveillance footage," JARVIS replied, "Mr. Chen's gaze remained fixed on that Bugatti the entire time. He completely failed to notice the three Lamborghinis and five Ferraris parked beside it."

Tony dramatically clutched his chest. "My god, that idiot gave up even his dignity just to drive that Veyron!" He turned toward the window. "2B, don't you think so? Isn't your Master an idiot—"

His words abruptly stopped. Tony blinked. The area by the window was empty. 2B was nowhere to be seen.

"Uh... JARVIS?" Tony looked around. "Where did that big maid girl go?"

"According to the latest record," JARVIS said, with a rare trace of hesitation in his voice, "Miss 2B activated optical camouflage while you were laughing, then left through the garage side entrance at eighty kilometers per hour."

Tony's expression instantly froze. He strode to the surveillance screen and pulled up the live street feed. The Bugatti was speeding along the highway, while a silver-haired figure leaped from rooftop to rooftop at astonishing speed, always maintaining a safe distance from the sports car.

"Ha!" Tony slapped his thigh. "That girl is doing parkour!" He stroked his chin and suddenly laughed even harder. "Interesting... very interesting!"

Tony turned toward the center of the laboratory. Looking at the empty workbench, he suddenly felt that something was missing. "Damn it, I wanted to research the new quantum processor with 2B..." He irritably scratched his hair. "JARVIS, put me through to Happy!"

"Connecting... Mr. Happy has answered."

Happy's breathless voice came through the call. "Boss, what is it this time? I'm at the gym—"

"Happy, bring three cheeseburgers to the lab immediately," Tony said in a tone that brooked no argument. "The kind with double cheese."

"Now?" Happy wailed. "I haven't finished today's workout plan..."

"Right now!" Tony glanced at the silver-haired figure nimbly weaving through traffic on the surveillance screen. "Oh, and while you're at it, look up the world record for parkour."

After ending the call, Tony looked around the empty laboratory and sighed. "Fine, looks like I'll have to research the quantum processor by myself tonight..." He walked toward the workbench, then suddenly stopped. "Wait, JARVIS, did 2B say when she'd be back?"

"Miss 2B did not provide a specific return time, Sir. However, based on an analysis of her movement trajectory, she appears to intend to escort Mr. Chen all the way to his destination."

Tony curled his lip. "Fine... Chen Tian is 2B's Master, after all. Remind Happy that I want pickles on my burgers."

Chen Tian gripped the steering wheel tightly, his expression dark enough to drip water. "Damn Tony... When I get back, I'm definitely painting his Mark-2 armor Hello Kitty..." he muttered through gritted teeth, his fingers constantly tapping the steering wheel.

Suddenly, he sensed that something was wrong. A silver-white figure seemed to flash past in the rearview mirror.

"What the hell..." Chen Tian rubbed his eyes, thinking it was an illusion. But when he looked into the mirror again, he nearly lost his soul—2B's delicate face was following directly behind the car at an eerily synchronized speed.

"Holy shit!" Chen Tian slammed on the brakes, and the Bugatti carved a long skid mark across the highway.

He jumped out of the car in a fury and roared at 2B, who had abruptly stopped before him. "Are you insane?! Do you know how dangerous that is?! What, do you think you're some Japanese urban legend highway granny?"

2B stood straight, her silver-white short hair fluttering gently in the wind. "Master, I only wanted to stay by your side."

"You..." Chen Tian's words caught in his throat. He noticed a rare emotional fluctuation in 2B's mechanical eyes, a determination that bordered on obsession.

Chen Tian let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples. "Forget it... If you want to follow me that badly, then you drive." He took out the keys and tossed them to 2B. "This wreck is Tony's masterpiece anyway. It might be safer if you're the one driving."

2B caught the keys, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "As you command, Master."

When they got back into the car, Chen Tian discovered that the passenger seat had somehow already been adjusted to the most comfortable angle, with a cushion thoughtfully placed there as well.

"You really are..." Chen Tian shook his head and fastened his seatbelt. "Let's go. Pepper is still waiting for us."

2B started the engine with practiced ease, and the Bugatti smoothly pulled into the lane. Completely unlike Chen Tian's wild driving style from earlier, 2B's driving was flawless. Every turn was as precise as if it had been calculated by a computer.

"Seriously," Chen Tian said as he leaned back in his seat and watched the scenery fly past outside, "how many tricks did that bastard Tony put into this car?"

2B stared straight at the road ahead. "Mr. Stark installed thirty-six Easter egg programs in the vehicle system, including but not limited to..."

"Stop!" Chen Tian hurriedly raised a hand to cut her off. "I don't want to know. With you here, at least I don't have to worry that these pranks will get me killed."

A nearly imperceptible curve appeared on 2B's lips. "Master may rest assured. I will safely deliver you to your destination."

Chen Tian closed his eyes, suddenly feeling that letting 2B drive might have been a wise choice. At least he no longer had to worry about Tony's damned Easter eggs—at least not for now.

Meanwhile, 2B remained focused on driving. The road lights reflected in her mechanical eyes, and that faint, almost invisible smile never left her lips.

The Manhattan banquet venue in New York blazed with light. Champagne towers shimmered with golden radiance beneath dazzling crystal chandeliers. Reporters clutching cameras packed both sides of the red carpet, and flashes went off one after another, illuminating the entire entrance as brightly as day.

Pepper Potts stood on the steps of the Hampton Hotel, her elegant figure outlined by a deep-blue mermaid gown. She occasionally lowered her head to check her wristwatch, the platinum bracelet reflecting a cold gleam beneath the lights.

"Miss Potts," Obadiah approached Pepper, his gleaming bald head reflecting the chandelier's halo, "Tony hasn't appeared in public for three months. The board is very concerned."

Pepper maintained a perfect smile. "Mr. Stane, you know Tony has always been unconventional."

"Unconventional?" Obadiah narrowed his eyes, his suit vest stretched tight across his bloated waist. "Tony Stark, the man who used to want to make headlines every single day?" He lowered his voice. "Ever since I took over as CEO, he hasn't even made one protest call. That's far too unusual. But you know, I never wanted to be CEO. It was the board's decision."

Pepper lightly tapped her champagne glass with her fingertips. "Perhaps he has finally learned to respect the board's decisions."

Just then, a commotion rose in the distance. The media area at the end of the red carpet suddenly erupted, and the flashes began firing at a furious pace.

Pepper turned to look and nearly dropped her champagne glass—a Bugatti Veyron glowing with fluorescent pink light was slowly approaching, while a flag bearing Tony's winking face fluttered brightly beneath the spotlights.

"Oh god..." Pepper pressed a hand to her forehead. She finally understood why Chen Tian had messaged earlier telling her to "prepare herself mentally."

Obadiah's fat face instantly reddened. "That's Tony's sports car?! Tony is finally willing to show himself?"

The Bugatti Veyron stopped precisely at the start of the red carpet, and its doors slowly lifted. Every reporter held their breath, cameras aimed at the doors as they awaited Tony Stark's signature entrance.

However, the one who staggered out from the passenger-side door was an unfamiliar young Asian man. The scene instantly broke into an uproar.

"Who is that?"

"Where is Tony Stark?"

"That's right, the license plate belongs to Tony Stark's car!"

Standing beneath the camera flashes, Chen Tian felt countless lenses focus on him like searchlights. His custom-made suit formed a sharp contrast with the fluorescent sports car, while his tie hung crookedly around his neck, making him look utterly out of place.

"Sir! Sir!" A Vanity Fair reporter was the first to rush forward. "May I ask what your relationship is with Mr. Stark? Why are you driving this car?"

"Uh... I'm..." Chen Tian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his throat tightening.

A reporter from The Wall Street Journal shoved to the front. "Does this mean Stark Industries is facing major personnel changes? Are you Mr. Stark's representative?"

"No, it isn't like that..." Chen Tian swallowed with difficulty, feeling sweat soak through his back.

A veteran reporter from Time Magazine directly interrupted him. "Can you explain the graffiti on the car? Does it represent your admiration for Mr. Stark?"

Chen Tian opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He had expected to face something like this, but when dozens of microphones were shoved in his face and hundreds of scrutinizing eyes stared at him, the pressure still made it difficult for him to breathe.

At that moment, Pepper hurried down the steps, her high heels striking the ground in a rapid rhythm.

She wore a perfect public-relations smile. After squeezing through the crowd, she lowered her voice and asked Chen Tian, "What are you doing?"

"That bastard pranked me..." Chen Tian turned toward Pepper as if granted a reprieve and gave a dry laugh. "The paint job on the rear has nothing to do with me. Tony did all of it himself."

Obadiah squeezed into the crowd, oil sweat beading on his shiny forehead. "Miss Potts, this is...?"

Pepper elegantly turned toward the media. "Mr. Chen is a special consultant for Stark Industries' new energy project." She discreetly pinched Chen Tian's arm. "Now, please enjoy tonight's charity banquet."

Under the flashes, Pepper's smile was flawless, but Chen Tian could feel the tension in her arm muscles. When they finally entered the banquet hall, Pepper asked through gritted teeth, "What exactly is going on with that car?"

Chen Tian's eyes shifted. "Tony said... it was a birthday gift for you."

Pepper's pupils widened slightly. "My birthday has already passed." As she spoke, she pointed to her evening gown. "This is the birthday present Tony told me to buy for myself."

"He said... asking you to prepare your own gift was a little ungentlemanly. So that car is what he prepared for you." Chen Tian took out a Bluetooth speaker that was still playing Tony's laughter. "This is part of the gift too."

Outside the banquet hall, the reporters were still chattering endlessly.

On the roof of the Bugatti outside the hotel, Tony's winking flag swayed gently in the night breeze, as though it were mocking something.

At the Malibu Villa, Tony watched Chen Tian's embarrassed expression on the surveillance feed and stuffed a huge bite of cheeseburger into his mouth. "JARVIS, turn the footage of Chen Tian getting surrounded by reporters into a GIF. I want to set it as the alarm projection in his room."

Pepper elegantly linked her arm through Chen Tian's as they passed through the lively banquet hall. She could feel countless curious gazes following them like spotlights—or, more precisely, following the young man beside her in designer formalwear with a crooked tie.

"Don't be nervous," Pepper murmured, maintaining her perfect smile. "Just think of them as walking champagne towers."

Chen Tian gave a dry laugh. "I'd rather they were champagne towers that couldn't talk."

Pepper gently pinched his arm and led him to the bar. "Wait here. I'll deal with those vultures." She gave the bartender a look. "Get this gentleman a... whiskey?"

Chen Tian shrugged and did not object to Pepper ordering him a whiskey. After ordering his drink, Pepper turned and left gracefully.

"Just wait here," Pepper reminded him again before leaving. Her red lips curved into a reassuring smile. "I'll handle those annoying flies for you. Enjoy yourself. Tony asked me to make sure you relaxed here."

Chen Tian accepted the specially mixed drink from the bartender—Tony had specifically called it a "surprise for the Chinese boy." A little paper umbrella was stuck into the rim, and Tony's smug winking face was printed on it. Chen Tian stared at the tiny umbrella, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Tony Stark..." Chen Tian cursed under his breath through gritted teeth. Just as he turned to leave the bar, he suddenly bumped into a soft body.

"Ah!" A delicate cry rang out.

A fragrant breeze washed over Chen Tian, and a lock of wine-red hair flashed before his eyes. He instinctively stepped back half a pace, only to see a glass of red wine tipping toward his suit—

In that split second, a hand wearing a black-and-white lace glove steadily caught the wineglass before it could spill.

The red wine swayed dangerously inside the glass, but in the end, not a single drop spilled.

"Master, please be careful." 2B had somehow appeared at Chen Tian's side. She held the woman's wineglass with one hand while her other hand discreetly blocked Chen Tian's chest, preventing a second collision.

The woman with wine-red short hair widened her eyes in surprise. They were clear green eyes, as translucent as emeralds.

She wore a sharply tailored deep V-neck gown that exposed the elegant lines of her collarbones, and her entire presence radiated a dangerous yet captivating charm.

The woman widened those emerald-like eyes slightly and parted her red lips. "I'm terribly sorry. I was too careless."

She gracefully took the wineglass from 2B's hand, her fingertips brushing the android's glove as if by accident. "This young lady's skills are truly impressive."

Chen Tian looked at the beautiful woman's clumsy act and gave her a polite smile. "It's fine. It was just an accident."

The woman's gaze fell on Chen Tian. Smiling sweetly, she extended her fair hand. "I'm Natasha Romanoff, Stark Industries' new legal counsel."