"Hello, my name is Lin Yu," Lin Yu said with a warm smile. He felt a little nervous but tried to seem friendly.
"I'm Happy, Tony's bodyguard and driver," Happy said from the driver's seat. He glanced back with a kind look.
"Hello, my name is Pepper Potts," Pepper replied. She turned her head to look at Tony and asked, "Who is this gentleman?"
"A friend of mine," Tony replied in a vague way. He did not look at Pepper when he said this.
"Friend?" Little Pepper felt unsure. She tried to remember but could not recall Tony having such a friend. She felt confused.
"I know you in the desert," Tony said. When he spoke, he still glanced at Lin Yu with a look of fear. He remembered the scary desert and how Lin Yu had appeared from nowhere.
Feeling Tony's eyes, Lin Yu scratched his head in embarrassment. He did not know what to say. The car felt small and quiet for a moment.
"Where are you going, sir?" Happy asked. He wanted to break the quiet in the car.
"Take us to the hospital," Pepper said with worry in her voice. She looked at Tony's tired face.
"Do not go," Tony said firmly.
"No? Tony, you have to go to the hospital," Pepper insisted. Her voice was full of care.
"I said no," Tony's voice was strong.
"To check your body," Pepper tried again.
"Do not force me to go to the hospital," Tony's words were final.
Before Tony could speak more, Little Pepper spoke first, but Tony rejected her idea again. The two started arguing. The air in the car felt tense.
"I was locked up for three months," Tony looked at Pepper with serious eyes. "I want to do two things right now, eat a cheeseburger and the other thing."
"You are so lecherous," Pepper seemed to have misunderstood his words. She turned her head away, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Not that, I am going to hold a press conference," Tony explained.
"A press conference?" Pepper asked, feeling surprised.
"Yes," Tony nodded.
"What exactly do you want to announce?" Pepper was still confused.
"Drive, go eat first," Tony told Happy.
"Cheeseburger, I want one too," Lin Yu spoke up suddenly. He hoped to lighten the mood. Tony gave a small smile and nodded.
In front of the press conference place, a group of people were already waiting there. They all clapped when they saw the Rolls Royce carrying Tony stop. The sun was bright and the city sounds were loud.
Lin Yu, Tony, and the others got out of the car. Obadiah Stane was the first to come forward to greet them.
"Look who is here!" Obadiah hugged Tony who had just stepped out of the car. His face showed fake joy.
"I was going to see you at the hospital," Obadiah said as he patted Tony on the shoulder. His touch was heavy.
"I am fine," Tony also patted him on the shoulder. Tony, who did not know about Obadiah's bad plans, was happy to see the man who had helped raise him.
"Look at you, Tony," Obadiah still had a smile on his face. "I also have a hamburger, I need to eat some."
"Follow me," Tony said, and walked into the press conference room. His steps were sure and strong.
Pepper also got out of the car. She looked at the two men talking and laughing and followed them inside with a small smile on her face.
Lin Yu on the side also took a hamburger. He got out of the car while eating. He looked at Obadiah who was chatting with Tony. If Lin Yu did not know the real story, he would think Obadiah was a kind and loving uncle. Lin Yu shook his head, finished his hamburger, and followed the others inside.
After walking into the press conference, Tony and Obadiah went up to the speaking platform while talking to the reporters.
The reporters all wanted to get close, like flies gathering under the podium, while Lin Yu stood to the side with Pepper.
"Huh," Little Pepper let out a long breath. She looked at Tony who was alive and full of energy. She felt both helpless and relieved. Although she did not know what Tony wanted to do, it seemed he was not seriously hurt, so she felt better.
"Miss Potts?"
"Yes?"
"Can I speak to you?"
At that moment, a man in a neat suit came over. He looked very kind, but his hairline was a little high. Lin Yu knew at once this was Agent Coulson, a good man from his memories. He immediately became interested.
"I do not need to give a statement, but it will start soon, and I want to see it," Pepper said politely. She thought Coulson was a reporter.
"I am not a reporter," Coulson saw her mistake and explained. "I am Agent Phil Coulson. I represent the Homeland Strategic Intervention and Logistics Support Agency." He took out his ID and handed it to Pepper.
"The name is quite a mouthful," Pepper complained.
"We are also solving this small problem," Coulson said, sounding a little embarrassed. He had heard this complaint many times before.
"Then why do not you just change the name to S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Lin Yu, who was watching the two talk, suggested. Like others from his world, he thought this was a good idea.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? That is a very good suggestion," Coulson finally noticed Lin Yu. He was a little surprised by the man who seemed to appear from nowhere.
"Right, it just so happens that the short form of your Homeland Strategic Intervention and Logistics Support Bureau is simple and clear," Lin Yu said with a smile.
"Yes, it is indeed a very suitable name," Coulson looked at Lin Yu with curiosity. From his information, Tony did not seem to know this Asian man. It was very strange that he came back from Afghanistan with Tony.
"Who are you?" Coulson looked at Lin Yu and asked in a calm voice. Inside, he wanted to report to Director Nick Fury about this person who appeared from nowhere.
"This is my boss's guest," Pepper said.
"My name is Lin Yu. I am a Chinese. You do not have to worry about me," Lin Yu said in a mysterious way.
"You know, the Ministry of Defense, the CIA, and the FBI have all looked for us," Pepper looked at Coulson and continued.
"We are an independent department with more specific functions," Coulson said. "We want to hear the details of Mr. Stark's escape."
"I will arrange it, okay?" Pepper said, trying to end the talk.
"Thank you," Coulson nodded and walked away.
"Goodbye, Agent Coulson," Lin Yu said in a friendly tone.
"Goodbye," Coulson gave Lin Yu a strange look, and then left.
"Would you please sit down and talk?"
Over there, the press conference had officially started. Tony sat in a casual way under the podium. He took out a hamburger and talked while eating.
"What does he mean by this party?" On the side, Colonel Rhodes, who arrived later, came over. He squatted down and asked Pepper, who was sitting on the ground with a strange look on her face.
"I do not know what is going on. I do not know what he is going to do," Pepper looked at Tony who was speaking. Her face showed she did not understand.
"Colonel Rhodes, you are here," Lin Yu also squatted down at this time. He saw Colonel Rhodes and greeted him. Then he turned to look at Tony who was speaking on the stage.
"Hello, Mr. Lin Yu," Rhodes responded. He had many questions to ask Lin Yu, the so-called man from another world, but now was not the time. He also looked at Tony on the stage.
"Nice to see you," Tony looked at Obadiah and spoke with feeling.
"Me too," Obadiah still had a fake and kind smile on his face. He reached out to pat Tony on the shoulder.
"I did not make it in time to see my father for the last time," Tony finished the hamburger in his hand and wiped his mouth. He turned to face the reporters and went on, "I did not make it in time to see him for the last time. I want to ask him, to see how he felt about making weapons. Was it hard for him, did he have doubts. Or was it just like the news said, he was a tough man all the way."
Listening to Tony's speech, Obadiah at the side seemed to feel something was wrong. He looked at Tony suddenly.
"I saw young soldiers get killed. They died by the weapons I made to protect them," Tony seemed to be remembering something. His eyes looked deep and sad. "I also found that I was becoming a part of this world that does not take responsibility."
"Mr. Stark!"
"Please speak."
"What happened over there?"
The reporters below seemed to know there would be big news today. They all became very excited.
"I am awake now. I see that I can do more for the world than just make weapons," Tony stood up from the ground. He walked to the podium and faced all the reporters. His eyes were firm. "So, I have decided to close the weapons part of Stark Industries. It starts now. It will stay closed until I find a new goal for the company."
"Okay, everyone has news now."
The reporters down there were in an uproar. Obadiah called to the host and motioned for Tony to stop. But Tony kept speaking in a calm voice. "It is the right path. It is what is best for this country."
After speaking, Tony walked off the podium without another word. He left Obadiah to deal with the upset reporters. Obadiah's face was wet with cold sweat.
Behind the crowd, Pepper looked on in disbelief as Tony walked off the stage. Colonel Rhodes had no expression on his face. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Lin Yu simply smiled. He looked as if he had known this would happen all along.