Chapter 24

Watching Rodi start to recklessly chase after girls, playing and fooling around with those cute bikini-clad women, it seemed he was trying to prove that he wasn't gay. Zhou Yi could only shake his head helplessly. As a seasoned veteran in the playboy industry, Zhou Yi could only say that Rodi's thinking was still too simplistic.

This wasn't the carefree student era where muscles alone could attract girls. All the girls here were practical materialists, mostly focused on trying to squeeze into the huge Hollywood fame and fortune scene. To them, a mere U.S. Army colonel was far less attractive than Tony and Zhou Yi, who were genuine billionaires.

Moreover, just in terms of male charm, a guy as dark as carbon didn't have much of an advantage. Not to mention, in terms of looks, there were people from Europe, Asia, and Africa, and it was uncertain which one would be more to the girls' liking. In terms of demeanor, Rodi was a seasoned military man, and at a young age, he had already reached the rank of colonel. His demeanor was naturally present, and that stern and disciplined air could sometimes be quite attractive to young girls. But Tony and Zhou Yi weren't lacking in this area either.

Both were carefree playboys. Tony was humorous and witty, with a deep and inventive mind and a naturally quirky personality. Zhou Yi was sunny and free-spirited, with a worldly and unrestrained demeanor. In this aspect, the three were about the same.

As for physique, Tony, who liked to stay in the lab, was a bit weak. Although he practiced boxing with Hogan and had some muscles, they were nothing compared to Zhou Yi and Rodi. Rodi was a standard American soldier, with a muscular build almost a necessity. Zhou Yi's natural physique was nearly perfect among humans, especially his 193 cm height, which surpassed Rodi and even crushed Tony. These three aspects seemed to be evenly matched, but there was one crucial point.

Look at the wallet! With such a large yacht here, any male charm would be overshadowed by the massive tonnage. Tony Stark was a cunning guy; he wouldn't bet on something he couldn't win. Watching Rodi put on a show, he probably understood the girls' minds, just giving himself some entertainment.

So, Zhou Yi and Tony let him have his fun, lying on the deck chairs and continuing their morning conversation.

"Go on, let me see your trump card. I don't believe you can come up with anything good."

Tony Stark's arrogance was well-known. In the field of scientific research, he indeed had the right to be arrogant. Tony Stark, one of the world's most outstanding inventors, no one would deny that. He alone could match several top research institutions.

Used to his arrogance in this area, Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow and threw a device that looked like an electronic watch. Tony held it, playing with it in the sunlight for a while.

"Hey, buddy, your taste is good. I like this style of watch. But are you planning to enter the luxury industry? I suggest you give one to everyone you know, especially those influential people, like me."

This was typical Tony style, making people want to punch him. Zhou Yi endured the urge, rolling his eyes and asking.

"Can't you keep your mouth shut for a moment? I'm worried your midlife crisis will come early."

"You're thinking too much!"

Zhou Yi's teasing wasn't easy to take, and Tony stopped his rant, skillfully fastening the watch to his wrist and activating the built-in mechanism. Without any explanation, he could quickly understand the use and basic structure of a tech product, which was the mark of a great inventor like Tony Stark.

As he activated the watch, a layer of fine and thin nanometal suddenly spread out, flowing like mercury over his entire body, tightly wrapping him from the head down. This metal, like cling film, gradually disappeared in color, making it almost invisible even at close range.

"Active nanometal, you've already developed it?" Tony said in surprise. He was somewhat familiar with the research projects of Zhou Yi's scientific institution, but he didn't expect Zhou Yi to have a finished product.

"Holographic morphing nanometal, capable of withstanding the direct fire of a large-caliber sniper rifle. It's less than a thousandth of a millimeter thick, doesn't affect normal skin heat dissipation and sweating, and can regulate your body temperature and manage your health. In critical moments, it can also perform holographic morphing. I've only set the basic on/off switch; the more detailed operating system is left for you to set up."

Knowing Tony's quirks, Zhou Yi naturally wouldn't do the thankless job of setting up the system, just giving him a demo. As for after-sales and warranty, he didn't care at all. The guy could upgrade it himself, so why bother.

Tony nodded slightly, clearly interested in this device, which was at least half a century ahead of its time. However, his stubborn personality wouldn't let him admit it verbally.

"That's all. If I had it, I could increase the defense index by at least 40%, and add some more useful features. But it's passable, I can accept it as a trade-in for a decoration."

This tone made Zhou Yi grind his teeth. Handing this thing to Tony wasn't just for a piece of Adamantium but to save his life. The birth of Iron Man was fraught with risks, and with this device, there would be no unexpected accidents. So, for Tony's lack of foresight, Zhou Yi just extended his fist in front of him, the fingers cracking, and said with a smile.

"Old buddy, can I give you a good punch?" Tony immediately shrank back but wouldn't admit defeat.

"Old buddy, can I let Hogan take the punch for me?"

The answer was obviously no, so the topic was dropped. Tony then contacted Hogan, asking him to bring the prepared Adamantium. Clearly, he was prepared to give it to Zhou Yi no matter what, but he was pleasantly surprised to get something good from Zhou Yi. The two chatted about the company's situation while watching the bikini-clad women play, feeling quite at ease. Until Rodi dropped a deep water bomb in front of them, splashing Tony thoroughly.

"Hey, guys, we're not here for a meeting, we're here to have fun. Don't keep the girls waiting too long." With that, the guy dove into the pool and resurfaced among a group of girls. Zhou Yi, seeing Tony's clothes and hair wet but his body dry, wisely moved to the side.

And Tony didn't disappoint. He took off his shirt, wearing only swimming trunks, and jumped into the pool, shouting to a group of girls. "Hey, girls, who can help me hold down that guy? I'll give her a piece of jewelry, and everyone who participates gets something."

Under the assault of the rich man's money, Rodi's fate was particularly miserable. A group of girls firmly held the muscular guy, making him experience both pleasure and the feeling of drowning. The sensation of being dragged down by a group of voluptuous, sexy bikini-clad women must have been a very unforgettable experience.

Not wanting to join this clearly one-against-many battle, Zhou Yi went straight to the cabin. Having been there more than once, he found a fishing rod and tackle from the storage area and sat on the deck, clearly planning to pass the time this way and show Rodi that as a friend, he could only do so much.

Setting the bait and arranging the rod, Zhou Yi lay back in a comfortable position on the beach chair. The day was still long, and there was no need to waste energy. The real fun would be in the evening. Thinking this, basking in the sunlight, Zhou Yi drifted into a half-sleep.

On the other side, something else was happening.

In an abandoned subway tunnel, a group of homeless people wandered aimlessly. This was a common sight in New York, a city that was both glamorous and decayed. Here, there were billionaires like Zhou Yi and Tony who treated money like waste paper, and homeless people who wandered for miles to find a piece of bread or a full meal in garbage bins. These homeless people would beg or search for discarded items.

But when they needed rest, they would gather in parks or abandoned subway tunnels. New York's subway system was very old, so there were many abandoned and sealed tunnels, which became natural shelters for the homeless, though not all were shelters.

The current abandoned subway tunnel was such a place, with a dozen homeless people wandering. More accurately, they were loosely lined up. In front of them, a few neatly dressed men were examining some people and pushing them deeper into the tunnel. However, the homeless people who occasionally came out of the room proved that they weren't deadly, especially when these pale-faced men held wads of cash and grinned with their sparse, rotten teeth.

"Brother, looks like it's your first time selling blood." Perhaps out of impatience, a small, thin homeless man patted the shoulder of the tall man in front of him, starting a conversation.

In front of him was a tall man in a tattered coat with a hood. The man slowly turned his head, revealing a face that was different from the norm. His skin was very pale, as if he had never seen the sun. His face had no hair at all, not even hair, beard, or eyebrows. His eyes, in the dim light, were hard to see clearly, but they might be gray-blue. The strangest thing was the clear scar on his chin, as if he had had surgery.

This unusual appearance didn't surprise the homeless man; his group wasn't short of such people, mostly those with serious illnesses. So, he felt some sympathy for the man, at least compared to himself, he was healthier.

Seeing the kind look in the homeless man's eyes, the tall man's eyes flickered, then he smiled, coughed, and spoke with a dry, hoarse voice.

"Yes, it's my first time here."