Listen to Her

After a bout of turbulence, the plane landed.

A crowd stood on the tarmac, most of them soldiers from New York Base. The man and woman at the front stood out.

The man was well over six feet tall, with a burly build and short brown hair. Dressed in a black suit and dark sunglasses, he looked as though he were on the set of Men in Black.

The woman beside him had long blonde hair and wore a sharp business outfit. She was tall and slender, with fair skin and well-proportioned features.

As the plane's lift slowly descended, the two hurried forward.

Tony walked down with Rhodey supporting him.

Tony thought Rhodey's support was completely unnecessary. But Rhodey had told the military he was in poor health, which was how he had gotten back to New York so quickly and avoided all those annoying questions. So, awkward as he felt, Tony played along with his friend's act.

His performance was a little too convincing, though. Potts, who had been waiting there for some time, felt her eyes redden at the sight. She had never imagined Tony's injuries were so severe that he needed help walking.

Tony could never bear a woman's tears, especially when she was crying for him. He felt a little lost, but quickly hid it.

Yet Rhodey seemed determined to show just how serious his injuries were and had even arranged for a stretcher to be wheeled over.

"Are you kidding? Tell them to go away," Tony said.

Helpless, Rhodey waved the soldiers pushing the stretcher away. He wasn't annoyed, though. Getting the unruly Tony Stark to play along with him the whole way had already done him proud.

Yinsen held Qiqi's hand and followed behind them, giving Tony time to exchange greetings.

Tony walked up to Potts. His gaze lingered on her reddened eyes, and a trace of tenderness stirred in his heart.

"Your eyes are red. Been crying over your long-lost boss?"

His teasing tone was as familiar as ever, bringing a smile back to Potts's face just as she had been about to cry.

"They're tears of joy. I hate job hunting."

"You're right. Vacation's over." Tony urgently needed to deal with a few things-decisions he had thought over every night. But before that...

He stepped aside, revealing the adult and child behind him, and put an arm around Yinsen as he introduced them to Potts.

"Potts, this is Yinsen, and my girl, Qiqi."

Potts quickly offered her right hand and shook Yinsen's. "Hello, I'm Virginia Potts. You can call me Potts. Thank you for everything you've done for Tony."

Although she didn't know the details of Tony's escape, the few things Colonel Rhodey had said over the phone were enough for her to imagine the hardship and constant danger they had faced. She felt both gratitude and respect for Yinsen.

Yinsen smiled and shook her hand. "You're too kind, Miss Potts. Just call me Yinsen. I only did what I should."

Potts released his hand and turned her attention to Qiqi, the little girl beside him who, from Colonel Rhodey's account, seemed very important to Tony.

Qiqi was beautiful, especially her eyes, which sparkled like gemstones with a lovely, pure light. The sight brought one word to Potts's mind: Angel.

"Hello, Qiqi." Potts crouched and reached out, wanting to touch the girl's cheek. Afraid of frightening her, though, she abandoned the attempt.

Though neither Rhodey nor Tony had told her much more about the girl, Potts had liked the adorable child at first sight.

Qiqi's little face looked rather pale, stirring a fierce protective urge in Potts. Thinking of the child appearing alone in the desert and all the suffering she must have endured with Tony and Yinsen, she desperately wanted to take her into her arms and comfort her.

Qiqi looked at the woman's outstretched hand in confusion. She didn't understand what Potts meant by the gesture. Was she asking Qiqi for a present?

Qiqi's bewildered expression was so adorable that Potts wanted to give her a loving hug. Then, unexpectedly, she felt a weight in her hand as the little girl gently placed a black carton on her palm.

"Oh, wow! Is this for me, sweetheart?"

Potts looked at the carton in surprise.

"This is Coconut Milk. It's cool, and it tastes very good." Qiqi nodded, blinking her big eyes.

Holding the carton, Potts felt her heart melt.

She smiled and praised her. "Sweetheart, thank you for the gift. I love it."

Looking at the adorable little girl, she finally couldn't resist giving Qiqi's cheek a gentle pinch.

It was cool and smooth, lovely to the touch.

She took Qiqi's hand, and the little girl didn't resist.

Potts was delighted. "Come on, let's go home."

She led Qiqi forward by the hand.

Qiqi turned her head and saw Tony and Yinsen following right behind them. Only then did she quietly follow Potts's lead.

Happy, the other man in sunglasses, opened the rear door, allowing Potts to climb in with Qiqi in her arms.

Potts had come prepared. The car was spacious enough that there were still empty seats after Tony and Yinsen got in.

"Sweetheart, would you like some candy? This is all for you."

Potts had prepared all sorts of candy children liked. She selected a strawberry-flavored piece, peeled off its pretty wrapper, and placed it in Qiqi's palm.

Qiqi hadn't expected these little things to be so pretty. She looked at the pink, rabbit-shaped candy in her palm and slowly put it in her mouth.

...Hard.

...No taste.

Qiqi sucked on the candy. To her, it was no different from putting a stone in her mouth, but when she saw Potts's expectant gaze, she thought for a moment and said earnestly:

"Thank you. Qiqi... likes it very much..."

Potts beamed at those words.

"Then have some more."

Potts pulled out the little table inside the car and poured all the candy onto it, piling handful after handful in front of Qiqi.

Watching the girl curiously pick animal-shaped pieces out of the mountain of candy to play with, her little face so serious, Potts overflowed with maternal affection. Warmth and happiness filled her heart.

Tony watched their affectionate interaction and felt a strange little flutter inside.

"Where to, sir?"

Happy, serving as their driver, settled into the front seat. Looking at the heartwarming scene in the rearview mirror, he felt a little awkward interrupting to ask.

"The hospital," Potts and Yinsen said together.

Yinsen had never stopped worrying about the fragments of shrapnel in Tony's chest, which could kill him at any moment. Potts, meanwhile, wanted Tony to have a thorough medical examination.

"No."

Tony didn't want to waste time at the hospital. There was something he wanted to do.

"What do you mean, no?" "You need to have the shrapnel removed."

Once again, Potts and Yinsen spoke at the same time.

"Wait, what shrapnel? Where?"

Potts asked, looking utterly confused. Apparently, she knew nothing about the shrapnel.

"Well..." Yinsen tried to explain, only to be interrupted.

"There's shrapnel in my body."

Tony said it casually.

"What? No, no, you have to go to the hospital right now."

Potts grew agitated.

"I said I'm not going, and I'm not going."

"You need a doctor to look at you."

"I don't have to do anything."

As their voices grew louder, Yinsen could no longer stand by and watch.

"Hey, don't argue in front of the child."

Both of them jolted out of their argument. Only then did they notice that Qiqi had stopped playing and was watching them with wide eyes.

"Okay." Tony came up with an idea. "Why don't we let Qiqi decide?"

Kids are afraid of hospitals and doctors. Qiqi's been with me all this time, and she only met Potts a few minutes ago. I'm sure to win, Tony thought.

"Perfect. Let Qiqi choose. If she chooses the hospital, you'll behave yourself and get examined." Potts had no objection. She trusted Qiqi, after all. Qiqi was a clever child and would surely make the right choice.

"Qiqi, do you want to go to the hospital?"

The little girl looked hesitant. She didn't understand what this hospital they were talking about was. Was it the name of a place?

"Hospital? What... is a hospital?"

Tony watched Qiqi expectantly. To keep her from choosing the hospital, he began playing up its horrors.

"It's a very dangerous place. The grown-ups there stick needles in children's bottoms and make them take bitter medicine."

"Tony!"

Unhappy with his attempt to deceive a child, Potts explained to Qiqi:

"Don't listen to Tony's nonsense, Qiqi. A hospital is a place where they treat illnesses and save people. There are lots of doctors there, and they're good people. They give injections and medicine to help sick people get better sooner. Mr. Tony is sick, and he needs those doctors to treat him."

"Oh." Qiqi nodded, only partly understanding. "A hospital treats illnesses. Is the hospital the Bubu Pharmacy here?"

"What? Bubu what?"

None of them understood what Qiqi meant.

Qiqi looked at them, determination appearing on her little face.

"When you're sick... you have to go to Bubu Pharmacy for treatment. Bubu Pharmacy is a hospital..."

"Mr. Tony is sick... he has to go to the hospital."

"Mm."

"Qiqi... has decided... to go... to the hospital."

Potts paused, then smiled and stroked Qiqi's cheek. "Good girl. Qiqi is such a good child."

Tony hadn't expected to fall into his own trap, and now he regretted it a little.

Seeing that Tony's expression was off, Qiqi thought he really must be seriously ill.

"Mr. Tony, don't be sad. Qiqi... can gather herbs."

"Qiqi... will gather herbs in the mountains, to... treat Mr. Tony... Mr. Tony... will get better."

The child's innocent words revealed her deep concern for Tony.

Goodness, where had this little angel come from?

To cure Tony, her little mind had even come up with gathering herbs in the mountains, such a primitive and arduous method.

Potts pressed a hand to her chest.

Even Yinsen's eyes grew damp.

Happy, in the front seat, was moved by Qiqi's innocent words too. The look he cast at his boss and friend was now full of reproach.

All three looked at Tony, their gazes conveying a single thought:

Stark, you really are a sinner.

Tony: ...

Tony looked at Qiqi's little face. Her expression was solemn, her big, dewy eyes fixed earnestly on him.

There were no lies in a child's world. Remembering how Qiqi had fought venomous snakes in the desert to treat him and Yinsen, Tony felt warmth surge through his heart. He didn't know how to express what he felt, so he simply reached out and ruffled Qiqi's hair.

"Happy."

"Yes, sir."

"To the hospital."

"Of course."

The car started and disappeared in a flash.