Chapter Five: Starting the Job!

After leaving those words, Angel let Haoyun return to his own room. Lying on the bed, Haoyun kept replaying what his mother had said. Indeed, it was time for him to make a choice. Should he become a hero, a villain, or perhaps, like Spider-Man, live as an ordinary person who occasionally saves the world?

Turning heroism into a profession, saving the world openly like Tony Stark or Captain America? That was out of the question—Thor, with all the might of Asgard behind him, almost perished to a nuclear missile. Was he really going to take on the world? He certainly didn’t have that kind of power!

A villain... With Angel’s kindness, he’d be spanked for sure!

An ordinary person? Even Spider-Man couldn’t keep his identity secret; how long could he manage to hide?

All night, Haoyun tossed and turned, unable to decide what kind of person he truly wanted to be.

The next morning, he appeared before Angel at breakfast with two massive dark circles under his eyes.

“Have you figured it out?” Angel asked, handing him a glass of milk and a sandwich.

“No,” Haoyun shook his head, eating in silence. How could he have decided so quickly? He’d spent the whole night in turmoil, unable to sleep!

“Then go see for yourself. You said Tony would one day save the world, and being captured by terrorists is the turning point for his transformation. I think you should go and witness it. Maybe, then, you’ll find your own answer.”

Haoyun’s mouth fell open, so much so that he didn’t even notice the sandwich dropping from his lips. Mom, you really are my mother—sending me to protect Tony Stark?

He knew full well Tony was kidnapped in the Middle East—by terrorists wielding Stark Industries weapons!

“Mom, are you serious?” Haoyun asked in disbelief. Aren’t you worried I might get killed if I’m not careful? Or are you planning to adopt a daughter next?

Seeing the accusation in his eyes, Angel gave him a playful smack on the back of the head.

“What are you thinking? With your abilities, ordinary terrorists shouldn’t be able to touch you. Besides, according to your prophecy, Tony is crucial for the future. You wouldn’t want him to die halfway, would you?”

“Uh…” Haoyun had nothing to say. Given his performance at home these days, never mind terrorists—even a moderately armed army would be no match for him.

The layers of iron sand, the power of the railgun—his mother had witnessed them more than once. As a lawyer, she knew exactly what such abilities could accomplish.

“But what if I save Tony and he just goes back to being a playboy?”

“Are you an idiot? Can’t you wait until he’s built Mark I before helping him? Hmph, last time I sued Stark Industries for selling weapons to terrorists, Pepper didn’t believe me. If he doesn’t suffer a little, how will he know how precious Pepper truly is? And you—think carefully about what you want for your future.”

Haoyun’s mouth twitched… Dear mother, why do I feel you’re just getting back at him for losing that lawsuit? After all, the man will be a future superhero—holding a grudge against someone who will risk his life to save the world doesn’t seem right, does it?

“All right, since you’ve said so much, I agree.” In the end, Haoyun gave in. Of course, it had nothing to do with the rewards he might claim in the cave, nor the sign-in bonuses at Stark Tower. Absolutely nothing at all!

……

That very afternoon, Angel delivered Haoyun to the CEO’s office at Stark Industries—the legendary office of Tony Stark himself.

But this first encounter was not quite as friendly as Haoyun had imagined.

“Sis, didn’t you once say you’d never set foot in Stark Industries again?”

No sooner had Haoyun entered the office than Pepper Potts greeted them, a gentle smile on her lips but a mocking tone in her words.

“Oh, did I? Or maybe you should think about how long it’s been since you last called me.”

Haoyun glanced at Angel, then at Pepper, and quietly settled onto the sofa beside them. Opposite him, Tony Stark mirrored his movements, clearly just as uncomfortable with family drama.

Or rather, he had no intention of getting involved in a battle between women.

“I thought I’d been disowned…”

“Don’t forget, your last name is Potts. You’re my sister!”

In the center of the office, Pepper Potts and Angel faced off, while Haoyun took the time to examine his surroundings. He was searching for the famous scenes of Stark Tower.

He was also looking for the place where he might trigger his check-in system.

But since entering Stark Tower hadn’t activated anything, Haoyun was nearly certain that, until the CEO’s office renovation in 2012, this room wouldn’t work for check-ins.

“Care for a drink?”

While the two women argued, Stark, bored, turned to Haoyun, handing him a glass of liquor with ill-concealed mischief.

But before Haoyun could answer, Angel and Pepper shouted in unison at Stark,

“Don’t corrupt the child!”

“OK, OK!”

Stark quickly raised his hands in surrender, indicating he’d pour no more drinks for Haoyun. The two women resumed their quarrel, vying for dominance in the Potts family.

Haoyun shot Tony a contemptuous look. Not even officially together and already this obedient… No wonder you’re so henpecked after marriage.

Anyone who’s seen Iron Man 3 would surely agree with me on this point.

Rejected, Tony could only slouch lazily on the sofa, searching for a new topic. “So, you’re Pepper’s nephew? By seniority, you ought to call me uncle.”

“Oh? Are you sure it’s uncle, and not… uncle-in-law?”

Haoyun hinted, and, for once, a rare flush appeared on Tony Stark’s face. For all his sharp tongue, he didn’t retort.

Well, considering what happened to Spider-Man… Being Tony’s junior certainly had its perks. At least, you wouldn’t be on the receiving end of his barbs.

Before Tony could express any familial generosity—like tossing him a casual hundred million—the two women, apparently exhausted by their argument, called a truce and sat down, Angel beside Haoyun, Pepper beside Tony.

“Sis, what exactly did you come here for today?”

“Didn’t I say? Haoyun Potts got into Harvard. I’d like him to learn a few things from Tony.”

Angel shot Tony a meaningful look—a look much like a father’s when meeting his daughter’s friend for the first time.

Tony unconsciously straightened up, placing his hands on his knees, suddenly resembling a soldier at attention.

Pepper, oblivious to Tony’s discomfort, seemed entirely unconcerned about her own position, responding with clear frustration, “Sis, I’m just a secretary, not the head of HR. I don’t have the authority to bring someone into Stark Industries.”

“Oh, really?” Angel’s tone sharpened, her gaze shifting slightly.

This time, before Pepper could reply, Tony interjected, “Pepper, I think I could use a male assistant, to handle matters you’re not suited for.”

“But… isn’t Happy always with you—”

“No, Happy is just the driver!” Tony interrupted, emphasizing, “I need a young, energetic assistant. Your nephew is perfect—he got into the same university as me, he’s excellent, and well suited for this job!”

Haoyun quietly touched his nose—well, his mother really was a lawyer. The plan to sign in at that cave in the Middle East was as good as set!