As Natasha headed toward the training room with her coffee, she spotted someone at the end of the corridor who absolutely should not have been there at that hour.
She stopped, rubbed her eyes, looked again, then rubbed them once more.
Lin Xiao stood outside the training room, neatly dressed and full of energy, with a bag of something in his hand. Seeing Natasha, he gave her a smile so perfect it was suspicious. "Good morning, instructor. You look great today. Slept well last night?"
Natasha did not answer. She glanced down at her watch. Seven fifty-three. Work started at nine. This wasn't right! She looked up and studied the man before her again, making sure she wasn't hallucinating. Lin Xiao always showed up a little late. What unprecedented miracle had brought him here so early today? Had he turned over a new leaf?
"You..." A rare hint of hesitation crept into Natasha's voice. "Did you fry your brain? Or couldn't you sleep, so you came early?"
"Neither." Lin Xiao puffed out his chest and patted it. "I love coming to work. I love working. It's Monday, and there's a morning meeting. I had to get here early."
Natasha stared at his face for a long while. It was brimming with sincerity and drive, like some greenhorn three days into his first job who hadn't been beaten down by society yet. But Natasha knew him all too well. The more sincere he looked, the more suspicious he was.
"...What are you up to this time?"
"Nothing." Lin Xiao looked utterly innocent. "I just wanted to get here early and make a good impression on the boss. Didn't you say I had no sense of time? I've changed. From this moment on, I, Lin Xiao, am the most punctual man in S.H.I.E.L.D."
The corner of Natasha's mouth twitched. She said nothing more, simply staring at Lin Xiao for a very, very long time.
The morning meeting began promptly at nine thirty. Nick Fury stood at the head of the conference table with a stern face and delivered several updates in his signature deep bass. First, the illegally transported military supplies from last week had been intercepted at a Chicago freight terminal, and those involved were being interrogated. Second, the West Coast branch needed two agents reassigned there for three weeks of support. Third-
"Tony Stark contacted the agency today and formally requested our cooperation." Fury's lone eye swept over everyone present. "He's currently facing certain security threats and needs protection from S.H.I.E.L.D. He specifically requested one agent." At this, his gaze settled on Lin Xiao.
Everyone in the conference room followed his gaze to Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao lounged against the back of his chair with his legs crossed. Then he yawned, looking thoroughly uninterested.
The corner of Fury's mouth twitched. "Anything you'd like to say?"
"No, no." Lin Xiao waved a hand. "Please continue. So he asked for me. I'm used to it by now. What can I say? I'm popular."
Fury fell silent for a moment and decided not to take that bait. He brought up the next briefing page, his businesslike tone shifting to one of mild encouragement. "There's also something from last night that I need to discuss with everyone. During an operation in Brooklyn, the New York Police Department encountered armed criminals. An agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. assisted the police in rescuing a kidnapped hostage and protected the lives of several officers."
Lin Xiao looked down and picked at his fingernails, utterly unconcerned.
"This sort of conduct deserves encouragement." Fury's gaze settled on Lin Xiao again, lingering longer this time. "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. must have a sense of responsibility. Standing firm in the face of danger and protecting innocent civilians are basic requirements for every agent. As a reward, S.H.I.E.L.D. is providing an internal bonus of fifty thousand dollars. In addition, the New York Police Department has allocated an eighty-thousand-dollar reward for civilian bravery."
Lin Xiao raised his head, his eyes lighting up. At last.
He pulled a handful of White Rabbit milk candies from his trouser pocket and turned to face all his colleagues in the conference room, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. "Everyone, have some candy on me. A specialty from Dragon Country. Very sweet. Help yourselves."
He began handing candy out to everyone. Natasha sat by the window. Seeing Lin Xiao approach, she silently turned away and pretended to study a pigeon flying past outside.
Coulson's expression did not change at all as he accepted the candy. He merely murmured with the air of someone who had been through it before, "You'll get used to it." It wasn't clear whom he was talking to.
Hill sat beside Coulson. This was her first time meeting Lin Xiao.
Everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. knew that Deputy Director Hill was famous for her icy expression. She had handled countless crises and interrogated countless people, and very little could crack her composure. But now, watching a hulking man over two meters tall who made a suit look skintight smile as he handed milk candies to his colleagues one by one, saying, "Eat more, smile more, it's good for your health," she slowly furrowed her brow.
Lin Xiao paused when he reached her.
His gaze lingered on Hill's face for a second, and Doupao's voice rang out in his mind. "Ding-Maria Hill, deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Note: Fury's capable assistant, known for her rigor and efficiency. Not a great temper."
Oh, Lin Xiao thought. Deputy director. Icy face. Serious person. I just-love-teasing-serious-people.
He placed two White Rabbit milk candies on the table before Hill, then leaned down and asked in a tone so sincere it was outrageous, "Hey, beautiful. Are you single?"
The air in the conference room froze for a fraction of a second.
Hill's brow tightened further. She looked down at the two candies, then back up at the brilliantly smiling face before her. Her lips moved, as though she were using every ounce of professionalism to stop herself from saying something inappropriate.
Nick Fury closed his lone eye for an instant. His face was darker than usual, but he said nothing. He merely regarded Lin Xiao with an exceedingly complicated look before turning back to the briefing.
At two that afternoon, Lin Xiao stood outside the gates of Tony Stark's oceanfront villa, amused by the spectacle before him.
Bodyguards in suits and sunglasses stood in rank upon rank, earpieces hooked over their ears, their necks thicker than thighs. Two black armored cars were parked at the entrance. Cameras swiveled back and forth along the perimeter wall. Two large dogs of some unknown breed crouched in the garden. They barked a few times at the sight of Lin Xiao, then ran off with their tails between their legs.
Lin Xiao thought the money was a complete waste. Not one of them could fight. Hiring all these people was worse than just hiring him. As he reached the entrance, the door opened automatically. JARVIS's voice came from a speaker overhead. "Welcome, Mr. Lin. Mr. Stark is waiting for you."
The living room was the same as ever, large enough to park a plane in, with an unbeatable ocean view beyond its floor-to-ceiling windows. Half-finished whiskey and a jumble of drawings covered the coffee table. Tony Stark stood in the middle of the room, the blue glow of the reactor in his chest shining faintly through his clothes. He looked exhausted-his eyes were a little more sunken than at their last meeting, and dark stubble had sprouted along his chin-but he still had some energy.
The moment he saw Lin Xiao enter, he spread his arms, an exaggerated smile of reunion lighting up his face.
"My hero! Finally-"
Lin Xiao walked straight past him.
No hug. No high five. Not even eye contact. He swept past Tony's outstretched arms and headed straight for the enormous double-door refrigerator in the corner of the living room, moving so quickly and decisively that even Tony was stunned.
Tony's arms remained frozen in midair, his smile completely stiff.
The refrigerator door swung open. Cool white light spilled out, illuminating Lin Xiao's face as it instantly turned reverent. His gaze swept over the contents: imported cheese, an entire row of glass jars filled with sauces whose names he didn't know, and a whole shelf packed with fruit and desserts. On the top shelf lay a vacuum-sealed ham with Spanish printed on its label. Its size, color, and marbling all called silently to Lin Xiao.
"Is this Iberian ham?" Lin Xiao's voice held an almost trembling reverence.
"That's mine." Tony lowered his arms. "I paid two thousand dollars to have it flown in from Spain-"
Lin Xiao had already taken out the ham.
He tore open the vacuum packaging with practiced ease, as though he were in his own home. Then he pinched up a slice, put it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. He closed his eyes and fell silent for a second.
"Not bad. A little salty, though."
Then he walked over to the wine cabinet. His gaze passed over rows of expensive red wines before settling on a bottle of champagne displayed alone on a glass shelf in the corner. It had no label, only a hand-carved shield design, and the sealing wax over its cork was gold.
Tony's expression changed. He knew that bottle's origins all too well. He had bought it at auction for five million. It was one of a kind.
"Wait-"
Lin Xiao pulled out the cork. The gold sealing wax fell to the floor, and the cork bounced off the ceiling before dropping and rolling under the sofa.
Tony stood there watching his long-cherished champagne being gulped down in Lin Xiao's hands like a discounted bottle of supermarket cola. His lips moved, but no words came out. Lin Xiao drank quickly, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, then lowered the bottle and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Not bad for rinsing your mouth. Plenty of bubbles."
Then he picked up Tony's prized cigar box, opened it, and took out the two thickest cigars. He put one in his mouth and lit the other with a lighter, turning it back and forth in his hand as he watched the path of the falling ash.
Tony finally couldn't take it anymore. He forced the words through clenched teeth. "Could you at least-pretend you're here to protect me?"
"Protect you?" Lin Xiao took the cigar from his mouth and blew out a puff of smoke. "That line of guys outside is enough to protect you. Honestly, did you hire those bodyguards by the pound? Their necks are thicker than my legs. Could they even run if a fight broke out?" He looked down at the cigar in his hand again. "This is pretty good. What brand? Get me a box later."
Tony was silent for a moment, then covered his face with one hand. He took three deep breaths. When he lowered his hand, that familiar Stark expression had returned, tired but reasonably composed. "Take whatever you want, then get over here. I have something serious to discuss."
Five minutes later, the two sat on the living room sofa. Lin Xiao still had the unfinished cigar in his mouth and held a freshly poured glass of whiskey from a newly opened bottle.
Tony wasn't in the mood to argue over any of that. He leaned against the sofa, his hands folded over his abdomen, and his expression darkened.
"The company has split into two camps. Pepper Potts is holding things steady on my side, and a few board members are still behind me. But Obadiah has the longtime defense-industry clients, the supply chain, and half the R&D team. He says I've gone crazy, that shutting down the weapons division is destroying my father's legacy." Tony gave a cold laugh. "My father's legacy. He certainly knows how to choose his words."
Lin Xiao held the cigar between his teeth and listened without speaking.
"We had a shareholders' meeting today. Obadiah didn't come in person. He joined by video. I said I wouldn't change the decision I made two days ago-shut down the weapons division and transition to clean energy. He said I was letting my emotions run things, that I was playing games with our employees' livelihoods. We argued for twenty minutes in front of a dozen or so shareholders. Then I asked him-" Tony took a deep breath. "I asked him, Obadiah, did you steal the Mark I?"
The living room went quiet for a moment.
"He shut off the video. Didn't say a word. Just shut it off. Lin Xiao, I've known this man for over thirty years. He was my dad's best friend. He watched me grow up. At the press conference that day, he told everyone I was his boy, that he prayed every day for me to come home safe." Tony's voice squeezed through his teeth. "Then he hung up."
Lin Xiao was silent for a long while. He took the cigar from his mouth and stubbed it out in the ashtray.
"I need you." Tony didn't look at Lin Xiao as he said it, but down at his own hands. "Pepper is doing everything she can to stabilize the company. The stock has already been plunging. It dropped this morning, then recovered a little because Pepper issued a statement saying closing the weapons division wouldn't affect the company's long-term profit outlook. But she can't hold things together much longer. Obadiah could make his move at any time. I don't know what he'll do. A board vote, a media smear campaign, or just send a team to kidnap me and lock me in another cave. I'm not afraid of him coming after me. I'm afraid he'll go after Pepper."
Lin Xiao nodded, his expression serious, and motioned for Tony to continue.
"So I have to finish the Mark II as soon as possible. JARVIS has already done one round of optimization on the designs. We can test the thrusters tomorrow. If everything goes well, we can complete the first flight test within three days. But for those three days, I need someone guarding this building, my lab, and me." He finally raised his head and looked at Lin Xiao. "I know you have your own work at S.H.I.E.L.D., but..."
"Cut the crap. I can stay," Lin Xiao said.
Tony froze for a moment. "You're not going to bargain? Not going to ask me for money? What was it you said last time-an appearance fee per minute-"
"We can talk money later." Lin Xiao set down his whiskey glass, his earlier flippancy slowly fading. He leaned against the sofa and looked at Tony, something rarely seen before in his eyes. "Tony, do you remember the day you were pulled out of that cave?"
"I remember."
"You were thin as a stick, with a hole in your chest and bloodshot eyes. Do you remember what you said in the Humvee?"
Tony's Adam's apple bobbed. "What did I say?"
"You said, I'm never making anything that kills people again."
The living room stayed silent for a long time.
"You're not building the Mark II to kill people. You're building it to protect the people you should protect, and your ideals." Lin Xiao leaned forward a little and looked Tony in the eye, wearing an expression more serious than he had shown on very few occasions in his life. "My dear boy finally grew up."
Tony's eyes reddened for an instant. He quickly covered it with two coughs. "...Could you stop calling me that?"
"No."
"I'm much older than you, and you're calling me your dear boy?"
"Age doesn't matter. What matters is mindset." Lin Xiao patted his chest. "I've got more than enough to be your elder."
Tony rolled his eyes, but a trace of a smile finally appeared at the corners of his mouth. It was faint and fleeting, but it was there.
"What are you thinking for the Mark II's weapons systems?" Lin Xiao asked suddenly. "Have you installed air-to-air missiles? What about laser-guided bombs? And those miniature rockets that can turn corners-"
"I'm designing exoskeletal armor, not a mobile arsenal." Tony frowned. "What goes on in that head of yours?"
"Insufficient firepower phobia," Lin Xiao said with a perfectly straight face. "Everyone from Dragon Country has it. Let me tell you, there's a bomb called Little Boy. Ever heard of it?"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Are you giving me a history lesson?"
"Not history. A way of thinking." Lin Xiao held up one finger. "Since your Mark II is an upgrade of the first-generation model, it shouldn't just fly, run, and stop bullets. The missiles need to keep up, too. And if you're installing a missile anyway, why not a big one? What do you think of something like Little Boy?"
Tony's expression froze.
"Set the target to Japan," Lin Xiao said as though it were only natural. "Then if you really can't beat that iron turtle, fly over to Japan and launch the missile. Blow up imperialism's home turf while you're at it. Even if you lose, you won't come away empty-handed. Two birds with one stone, and your name goes down in history."
Tony took a deep breath and stared at Lin Xiao, the corner of his mouth twitching wildly, before finally forcing out two words. "Get lost..."