Returning to Tony Stark and Yinsen's perspective, they had just heard an explosion. The next second, the door of their chamber twisted into a tangled mess. Not far from them, an Asian man wearing goggles and a black trench coat appeared, smiling.
"Hello, Tony Stark, how about becoming my son?" Chen Ye flashed a friendly grin.
Seeing Tony and Yinsen's dumbfounded expressions, Chen Ye realized the awkwardness of the moment. He quickly corrected himself, "Sorry, wrong script. Just kidding. Hello, my name is Chen Ye. I was commissioned by Ms. Pepper Potts to rescue you."
Tony casually pointed at Chen Ye and then outside, asking, "Was that magic just now? Or what? How did you suddenly appear in front of me?"
"Just a little superpower, nothing worth mentioning," Chen Ye replied, instinctively reaching out for a handshake before remembering Tony Stark wasn't fond of them.
"So, are we saved now? Is it really okay to ignore what's outside?" Yinsen, who had been overlooked, finally spoke up.
"Don't worry, my partner will handle it," Chen Ye said dismissively.
Suddenly, a figure sped toward Tony—Pietro. Seeing him, Pietro thought of his foster parents and was about to throw a punch.
With a "whoosh," Chen Ye appeared in front of Tony, blocking Quicksilver's fist with his right hand.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you trying to do?" Tony scoffed. "Chen, who is this white-haired guy who looks like he escaped from a brain-dead patient ward? And hitting people? I'm docking your pay."
"Tony Stark, you damned arms dealer! Murderer! We shouldn't have saved you!" Pietro shouted, struggling under Chen Ye's restraint.
"Pietro's foster parents in Sokovia were killed by missiles your company manufactured, Tony. In that disaster, you destroyed his home," Chen Ye explained.
Tony's expression darkened. "I'm sorry, truly sorry. I never knew my weapons were being used like that. I thought they were for protection."
He sighed, lowering his head. "Not long ago, I saw a young man die under a weapon I thought would protect people. I realized I was wrong. I came into this world to contribute, not just to build things that explode. I understand my mistake now. When I return, I'll give you an explanation, a promise, Mr. White Hair."
Hearing this, Pietro's anger simmered down. After all, Tony was still their protection target.
"Alright, alright, Mr. Stark, are you hungry? Want something to eat? Just wait while my friend wraps things up," Chen Ye said.
Tony and Yinsen were handed food. "Wow, a cheeseburger! How did you know I love these?" Tony exclaimed. "Heaven knows how I've been surviving this past month. Just for this burger, I'm making you my friend."
Chen Ye was overjoyed when he suddenly heard a voice in his head:
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully adding Tony Stark as a friend. Congratulations on acquiring the attribute: Cursed by Knowledge. Do you want to merge immediately?"
"No," Chen Ye replied. Now wasn't the time.
"System, scan Tony Stark for me."
"Ding! Basic Information: [Tony Stark] [Title: Iron Man] [Race: Human] [Favorability: One Star] [Skills: Chemistry lv7, Physics lv10, Flirting lv5, Truth (non-upgradable), Research Ability lv7, Cursed by Knowledge, Intelligence lv9, Stamina lv1, Creativity lv8, Manufacturing Mastery lv10, Science lv10, Resilience lv7, Protagonist's Luck…]
After seeing Tony's attributes, Chen Ye couldn't help but feel envious. No wonder he's the protagonist.
Watching Tony and Yinsen devour their food while Deadpool continued handling the battlefield, Chen Ye silently thought: "System, merge for me."
In an instant, a beam of light surged through his mind. Everything became clearer, as if a door had opened. Ideas flowed like a spring. Chen Ye had never been dull, but now, with Tony's attributes, he was one of the smartest people in the world.
"System, open my panel."
[Name: Chen Ye (Alvin Chen)] [Race: Human] [Skills: Combat Techniques lv10, Cursed by Knowledge (non-upgradable), Healing Factor, Strength lv10, Fast Movement lv2, Chaos Magic lv1, Driving Mastery lv6, Reflexes lv7, Swordsmanship lv5, Marksmanship lv3, Beast Language lv4, Cooking lv5, Lockpicking lv3, Robbery lv2, Zero-Cost Purchase lv3…]
"System, what's with this non-upgradable thing?" Chen Ye asked.
"Host, some people are born favored by the heavens. Progress isn't always achieved through hard work. Some abilities can only be upgraded through certain events or friendship levels."
Chen Ye scoffed, "So, success is 99% talent and 1% effort? The idea that hard work always guarantees success is mostly a lie."
"What, you say I'm a genius? Thank you. I've always been one." Tony smirked, wiping his mouth with his elbow.
Chen Ye rolled his eyes but didn't dislike Tony's arrogance. It was genuine, unpretentious. With his upbringing and status, he had no need to please anyone. It had shaped his sharp tongue and soft heart.
In his past life, Chen Ye had seen Tony prepare to sacrifice himself, leaving behind everything the others needed. System or no system, he actually wanted to be Tony's friend.
After all, who would refuse to befriend a generous billionaire?
The noise outside gradually faded, leaving only the sound of approaching footsteps—tap, tap, tap.
"It should be over. My partner should have cleaned up, Mr. Stark," Chen Ye said.
"You'll soon be able to see your family again," Tony said to Yinsen.
Yinsen responded with a bitter smile, his eyes distant.
"The scum outside has been taken care of by the great Deadpool!" Deadpool swaggered in, dual swords in hand, while Dogpool held guns in both paws, looking like they just needed cigars to complete the look.
"Chen, your partner is quite… special," Yinsen remarked, sizing them up.
"Hey, Chen, your friend's taste in black spandex is really bad," Tony commented, pointing at Deadpool.
"This must be the adorable sugar daddy, Tony Stark! With that glowing chest like a robot, right? Nice to meet you! Call me Deadpool—or darling, if you prefer. As long as the money's right, I can do anything," Deadpool grinned.
Quicksilver, standing nearby, covered his forehead in embarrassment.
"Alright, enough chatter. We should retreat now. Mr. Stark, Mr. Yinsen, congratulations on your freedom. I'll contact Happy to pick us up," Chen Ye said, leading the way out.
Picking up a satellite phone, he dialed a number. "Ms. Pepper Potts, we've successfully rescued Tony Stark. Please send someone to the rendezvous point. What? You want Tony to take the call?"
Chen Ye handed the phone to Tony, who hesitated before taking it. After finishing the conversation, Tony put down the phone and slowly said, "Thank you."
Then he turned, gathered the blueprints, and walked out.