Tony Stark and I share the same stench, apes pitying apes

Richard sat heavily on the sofa, crossing his arms and watching Tony.

Let's see what kind of nonsense this kid can spit out in a moment.

Tony Stark tapped his earpiece, and Jarvis began playing the collected information on Richard.

"Richard, 22 years old, Ph.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons..."

"Whoa, you're even more of a genius than that Dr. Strange who just left."

Richard shrugged. "I've always thought so..."

Tony Stark: ???

Hey, this kid is quite to my liking...

"Ahem~" With a dry cough, Tony snapped back to his senses.

"Arrogant kid, let me take a look at your background..."

"Admitted to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at 16, graduated with a Ph.D. at 20..."

Tony thought to himself:

Not bad! Although a bit behind me, you still count as a genius size-wise!

Tony raised an eyebrow.

"Good job, kid!"

"That same year, you joined Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital."

"You rapidly became a top-tier new-generation surgical expert famous across all of America, hailed as a surgical all-rounder..."

"Whoa, I'm not listening to a fiction story, am I?"

"Are you the male lead in some novel, kid?!"

Richard spread his hands, putting on a punchable expression of What can I do? I don't want to either.

Tony rolled his eyes and continued.

"Sticking to the front lines of the most grueling emergency department, single-handedly turning Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital into a metropolis in the mouths of New York citizens..."

"Jarvis, this kid's data was processed by you!"

"Okay, I'll forgive you first, admit it, buddy."

"Sorry, sir, I have never processed Mr. Richard's online data." Jarvis's electronic voice sounded somewhat aggrieved.

"You're serious?"

"Yes, sir."

"All right, I apologize, Jarvis."

"Never mind, sir."

Tony put down his crossed legs, stood up, and walked over to stand in front of Richard.

"Let's get acquainted properly, I'm Tony Stark, a scientist."

Richard was slightly stunned. What is this guy Tony up to? Having a fit?

Immediately, he reacted.

Although Tony was proud and arrogant, he still had considerable respect for true geniuses.

Much like Dr. Banner in his green shorts.

Richard stood up. "I'm Richard, a doctor."

After the introductions, Tony instantly reverted to his ruffian appearance. "Sit down quickly, kid Richard."

Pushing Richard back down onto the sofa, Tony sat next to him with a buddy-buddy air. "If the doctor is you, kid Richard, I agree to this medical checkup."

"Are you serious, Tony?!"

From the doorway came Pepper's surprised cry.

She hurried over to Tony, covering her mouth in excitement, her eyes quickly growing moist.

"Hey, Pepper, don't make that face." Tony moved his inexplicably tightening body with some discomfort. "I've never been averse to having a doctor check my body."

"I just hate those guys who would cut out the cecum and mistake it for the appendix..."

"Kid Richard here is pretty good, I like him."

Without a second word, Pepper bowed deeply to Richard. "Dr. Richard, I'll leave Tony in your hands!"

Richard scratched his head, suddenly feeling a crushing pressure—what was that about?

"Uh, I'll do my best!"

Tony stood up with a swish, one hand in his pocket and the other waving.

"Let's go, to the medical room."

He stood up, took two quick steps, and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

"Whoa, you actually have a separate medical room in this luxurious mansion?!"

"Aha? Kid Richard, the life of a rich man is beyond your imagination~ You've got plenty to learn in the future~"

"Then I won't learn from you, I'm afraid of being corrupted~"

"Ha?! Buddy, I didn't quite catch that just now, say it again, come on~"

"Huh? What did I just say~"

The two of them walked out of the reception room, bickering all the way.

Only then did Pepper wipe the corners of her eyes and hurry after them.

Inside the medical room, Tony hopped off the bed, and Pepper immediately handed him his clothes.

He took them and casually slipped them on.

"Kid Richard, how's my physical condition? Isn't it great~"

Richard looked at the printed body data, his brows tightly locked.

Seeing his expression, Pepper asked anxiously, "Dr. Richard, is there something wrong?"

Richard came back to his senses and shook his head. "Ah, nothing major."

Tony breathed a silent sigh of relief and put on a cocky expression.

"Pepper, I told you my body is very healthy, no need for any medical checkups."

Richard looked at him, the expression on his face half-smile.

"Although there are no major problems, there are still some minor ones."

Pepper immediately grew nervous.

"What minor problems? What needs to be done? Injections and pills, or surgery?"

Hearing this, Tony couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

"Whoa, Pepper, you're scaring me a bit."

Seeing this, and not daring to keep joking, Richard quickly spoke up.

"Surgery isn't necessary, Ms. Potts. Tony just has a bit of kidney deficiency; just make him exercise some moderation recently."

Pepper let out a sigh of relief, then finally smiled. "All right, Dr. Richard, I'll remind him to be careful."

"Besides, you can call me Pepper, or..."

Hearing this, Tony instantly grew jealous. "Hey-hey, the nickname Pepper is only for me to call you!"

"Well~" Richard raised an eyebrow at Pepper. "Someone seems to be jealous~"

Pepper's face flushed.

With a dark face, Tony blocked her in front of him. "Kid Richard, please remember, you are my doctor!"

"Besides, I do not have a kidney deficiency, my body is great! The The New York Times reporter from last night can vouch for it!"

Richard shrugged. "All right, Mr. Tony Stark's body is great, he can go seven times a night~"

The two men suddenly started chatting about dirty jokes.

Listening from the side, Pepper's face grew redder and redder.

Finally unable to stand it any longer, she fled on the pretext of arranging the return flight for Richard.

As soon as Pepper left, the bantering expressions on the two men vanished instantly.

"Kid Richard, can you say it now?"

"Tony, your trouble is not small."

Richard placed the medical report on the bed and pointed at several sets of data.

"Your liver, spleen, and kidneys all have problems."

"But none of those matter much to me. The main problem is right here..."

He pointed at the miniature reactor on Tony Stark's chest.

"Palladium is beginning to invade your body, Tony~"

"The current symptoms aren't obvious yet—just minor ones like loss of appetite, lethargy, dizziness, and fatigue."

"But in a few more months, these symptoms will gradually worsen."

"If it can't be improved, it will endanger your life."

Tony covered the miniature reactor on his chest, his expression turning extremely ugly.

"How can it be treated?"

"Right, I asked a foolish question."

"The problem is, if I take this thing out, I'll be dead in a few hours~"

Richard cupped his chin, considered it seriously, and said,

"I have an 80 percent certainty of clearing out the shrapnel fragments lodged in your body."

For a moment, Tony fell silent...