Chapter 7

At eight o'clock in the morning, in a private villa on Long Island, New York.

The urgent phone ringing came from the living room. The man lying in bed was woken up by the noise, and he glanced at the bright sunlight outside the window. He rubbed his messy hair, got up from the bed, and stood up.

A few minutes later, the man, half-naked, turned on the voice messages in the living room.

"Dear, it's me, Mom. I heard you've already returned from China, and I hope you had a good time there. I have some work-related matters recently, and I'm already on the plane to France. I estimate it will take about four months to come back. The teacher from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters called me, saying your sister has some issues that need your attention. So, after you rest, it would be best to go to Staten Island. Also, if there are any problems, contact me immediately. I don't want Charis to become a street punk."

"Yi, it's me. Ororo. I know you've returned. First, thank you for the gift you sent from China; it's very beautiful, and I like it a lot. Also, your sister has seriously violated school rules. She used her abilities to sneak out at night with a few troublemakers, and we are very worried that they might go to places they shouldn't. So, I think it would be best if you talk to Charis when you have time. Well, contact me when you have a chance!"

"Hey, dear Yi. I heard you've returned from China. I hope those cute Chinese girls aren't too sad. Although I don't want to disturb your vacation, since you often take breaks, it doesn't matter. Now, I need your help with something. Obadiah wants to sell our company's Jericho missiles to extremist groups in the Middle East. Who knows what he's thinking. I want to persuade him, but this time he seems very determined, even planning to hold a board meeting to decide on this proposal, and he seems to have convinced many people. You know I need help to stop him, so as a friend, I don't think you will refuse me. I'm waiting for your reply. As soon as possible!"

After listening to the messages, Zhou Yi, now an adult, rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and decided it was best to return the important calls first. So, he took out his phone and dialed a number. The phone rang twice, and the other end was answered.

"Hey, Yi. Calling so early, that's not like you. I doubt you're calling just to think of me."

The other end of the phone came a pleasant female voice.

"Ororo, saying that would really hurt me. You know, I've been thinking of you while in China, so as soon as I got back, I wanted to call you and hear your voice."

The other end of the phone came a light laugh, and then Zhou Yi heard Ororo say, "That's a nice talk, but I bet you didn't fool many innocent girls in China. Tell me, what do you need?"

"Hey, Ororo, I've never deceived anyone, and you know I've always cared about you."

"Of course, of course. But it's not just about me. Well, I have to go to class. If you need anything, come to the school after class in the afternoon." Ororo hung up the phone, and Zhou Yi could only awkwardly scratch his face and dial another number.

"Hello, this is the Stark family, I'm Jarvis. Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Zhou Yi?"

"Jarvis, is Tony there? If he is, please transfer me to him."

"No problem, please wait, Mr. Zhou Yi!"

After a few seconds, a light-hearted voice came from the phone.

"I thought you were going to disappear again, Yi!"

"If it wasn't for your call, I really planned to disappear for a while. I just contacted a martial arts coach."

"Alright, alright, Master of Martial Arts. Let's get to the point. What do you think about Obadiah's matter?"

"Regarding this matter, you decide. Don't worry, I will support you." Zhou Yi used his telekinetic power to hold the phone in the air while putting on his suit.

"I'm relieved. With your 6% share, this matter is settled. Consider it a favor I owe you." The sigh of the man named Tony made Zhou Yi chuckle.

"I don't understand, Tony. If you don't agree, why not just refuse him? This is your invention. According to the agreement, as long as you strongly disagree, even the shareholders' meeting can't do anything, after all, the patent is in your hands."

"Hey! You know, Obadiah is a friend of my father, and the position of Stark Industries is inseparable from his decades of effort. Out of respect, I have to give him some face. So, what you said can only be the last resort."

Zhou Yi nodded at this and changed the topic.

"What time does the meeting start? You know, if I'm late, it will be up to you."

"Even if I drag you, I'll drag you here. The meeting starts at ten o'clock. I believe with your driving skills, you can make it to Stark Tower by ten."

"Oh, our playboy actually praises someone's driving skills, that's a first." Zhou Yi laughed, put on his coat, and walked out of the villa's door.

"After seeing you race, I decided to stay away from you, at least when you're behind the wheel. Well, I won't talk much, Obadiah is already here. You better hurry, I don't want to be lectured by the old man for too long."

"Don't worry, I'll be there soon!" Zhou Yi hung up the phone, sat in the driver's seat, and with a low roar of the engine, sped towards Manhattan.

On the other side, at the Stark headquarters in Manhattan, a man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a tall middle-aged man embraced each other, laughing and joking as they headed towards the top-floor meeting room of Stark Tower.

The employees on the side quietly watched these two big shots until they disappeared from their sight. Of course, it would be better if there were fewer female employees with burning gazes.

"Tony, this time you've really hurt me. You know, everything I do is for the good of Stark Industries, why can't you understand me?" The middle-aged man looked at Tony Stark with a pained expression, as if looking at a wasteful and ungrateful son.

And for such a question, Tony Stark could only puff out his cheeks and mutter, "Here we go again," while casually explaining to the middle-aged man Obadiah, "Dear Uncle Obadiah, I know this deal will bring great economic benefits to our company, but you have to understand, we are an arms company, but that doesn't mean we support war, especially those wars with strange slogans. At least the people in the White House won't agree with us."

"The idiots in the White House can be silenced with money, so don't use that as an excuse. Tony, no one goes against their own interests. War is not our fault; we just provide the weapons, not lead the wars. What happens there has nothing to do with us." Obadiah first sneered at the corruption in the White House, then spoke earnestly.

That look of disappointment almost made the famous playboy Tony Stark genuinely repent for his past misdeeds. But, it was just a little bit short.

And that little bit was probably beyond human reach.

Tony Stark and Obadiah thus engaged in a verbal sparring match as they walked into the meeting room.

In the meeting room, many of the company's shareholders and decision-makers were already seated. They stood up as Obadiah and Tony entered, for these people, the two men in front of them were boss-level figures, and they were just the employees under these bosses.

Seeing the meeting about to start, Obadiah patted Tony's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Tony, this time you'd better not act on a whim. Believe that our choice is the best for Stark Industries."

"Of course, of course." Tony Stark blinked, his neatly combed mustache twitching happily. "I always make the right decisions."

Driving the V-Rex, a beast-like sports car, Zhou Yi drove into the underground parking lot of the Stark headquarters in Manhattan, attracting the attention of the security guards and the secretary waiting there with its roaring engine.

"Good morning, Pepper! I didn't expect Tony to have you wait for me here. I thought he would keep us apart like in a prison?"

The beautiful and capable blonde smiled playfully. "I believe the long-term prisoner, Mr. Zhou Yi, has been approved by the warden for a short visit."

"Alright, alright. You always side with Tony. Fortunately, the smart Mr. Zhou Yi has already anticipated this situation. The bribe you gave me has been passed to the warden. I'm sure your respected warden will pass it to you immediately." Zhou Yi and Pepper laughed and walked into the elevator heading to the meeting room.

"Yi, you know. Tony won't easily pass on what others give me." Pepper looked at Zhou Yi with a troubled expression, clearly finding it difficult to deal with these two prank-loving bosses.

"That's a problem for the intelligent and beautiful Miss Potts." Zhou Yi pushed open the meeting room door and loudly said to the suddenly quiet room, "Good morning, everyone. No matter what you say, include me. As the third-largest shareholder of Stark Industries, I still have a say."

Obadiah, who was proudly leaning over the table, looking down at Tony, saw Zhou Yi suddenly burst in and opened his mouth in disbelief. Then he suddenly whispered to Tony, "You called this guy back."

"I swear it's not me!" Tony solemnly raised his finger.

Hearing this, most of the people present rolled their eyes. Tony Stark, known throughout the United States, had many titles: scientist, philanthropist, entrepreneur. But the most famous was the playboy, and this title indicated the value of his promises.

"Yi Zhou, this is a shareholders' meeting of Stark Industries. You are forty minutes late. As the convener, I don't think you have the right to speak now." Obadiah said through gritted teeth. Having one difficult Tony Stark was bad enough; adding another equally difficult Zhou Yi made him almost 80% sure the meeting would fail today. But as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he wouldn't give up. So, he most wanted to kick this intruder out of the meeting.

Page AD starts

Page AD ends