The elevator doors slowly opened on the third basement level, and Chen Tian stepped out, whistling, but froze the moment he saw the garage.
"This… Tony, you bastard!" He gasped.
The limited-edition Bugatti Veyron was indeed parked there, but its original understated matte black paint was now covered in exaggerated fluorescent graffiti—the hood featured Tony's signature narcissistic pose: a Q-version image with arms spread, a speech bubble next to it saying "Genius at Work"; the sides of the car were spray-painted in bright pink with the slogan "I ♦ Tony Stark," and the other side had giant artistic lettering that read "World's Smartest Genius."
"Mr. Chen," Jarvis's electronic voice chimed in at the right moment, "Sir specifically instructed me to remind you that this car's paintwork uses a special reflective material that glows in rainbow colors at night."
"That narcissist…" Chen Tian gnashed his teeth, pulled out his phone, and trembling, dialed Tony's number.
"How is it?" Tony's stifled laughter came from the other end of the line, "The great Tony's personally designed paint job is cool enough, right? Guaranteed to make you the center of attention at the dinner party—"
"You call this a paint job?!" Chen Tian kicked the tire, "This is a mobile shame-play!"
Tony's laughter echoed in the garage: "Don't be so conservative. Oh, by the way, the car keys are in the left front wheel hub. Remember to drive slowly, after all…" He suddenly lowered his voice, "The rear of the car also has a comic scene of you being chased and beaten by Pepper."
"What?!" Chen Tian lunged at the rear of the car and indeed saw an exaggerated cartoon: Pepper chasing him with a coffee machine, with the words "Stark Industries Morning Routine" written next to it.
A vein throbbed on his forehead: "Tony Stark!"
"Too late~" Tony dragged out his words mischievously, "I've already activated the garage riot protocol. By the way, Pepper messaged five minutes ago asking why you haven't arrived yet." He suddenly switched to an announcer's voice, "Go to your appointment in my beloved rainbow chariot!"
The communication abruptly cut off, and Chen Tian watched in despair as the garage door slowly rose. He tremblingly pulled out the car key, finding a mini Tony bobblehead hanging from the keychain.
"You can't trust Tony not to mess with people! What a shitty life!..." Chen Tian took a deep breath and sat in the driver's seat, only for the seat to suddenly play Tony's recording: "Friendly reminder: This car is equipped with an AI voice system that will automatically recite my acceptance speech once an hour. Now, let's go, my dear substitute Mr.!"
With the roar of the engine, as the Bugatti shot out of the garage, a flag with Tony's winking expression popped open on the roof. In the rearview mirror, Chen Tian saw Tony in the laboratory window raising a champagne glass to him, while Miss 2B stood beside him, a faint smile on her exposed lower face.
Tony watched the Bugatti's taillights disappear from sight as it sped out of the garage, finally unable to hold back a thunderous burst of laughter. He slapped the bulletproof glass window, laughing until he couldn't stand straight.
"Jarvis!" Tony wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, "Did you record it? Chen Tian's expression when he saw the paint job?"
"Of course, Sir." Jarvis replied calmly, "I have already archived the video in your 'Chinese Boy's Dark History Collection' and automatically generated a nine-panel emoji pack."
"Well done!" Tony snapped his fingers, "Send it to my phone immediately, I want to set it as Chen Tian's caller ID photo!" He turned and leaned against the window, suddenly remembering something and asked, "Wait, did that idiot not see the other cars in the garage?"
"According to surveillance," Jarvis replied, "Mr. Chen Tian's gaze was entirely focused on the Bugatti throughout, completely oblivious to the three Lamborghinis and five Ferraris parked next to it."
Tony dramatically clutched his chest: "Oh my God, that idiot actually gave up his dignity just to drive that Veyron!" He turned to the window, "Miss 2B, don't you agree? Isn't your Master an idiot—"
His words cut off abruptly. Tony blinked, the window was empty, Miss 2B was nowhere in sight.
"Uh… Jarvis?" Tony looked around, "Where did the big Miss Maid go?"
"According to the last record," Jarvis's voice carried a rare hint of hesitation, "Miss 2B activated optical camouflage when you laughed, and then left through the garage side door at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour."
Tony's expression instantly froze. He quickly walked to the surveillance screen and pulled up the real-time street view. He saw the Bugatti speeding on the highway, and a silver-haired figure was leaping and weaving between car roofs at an astonishing speed, always maintaining a safe distance from the sports car.
"Ha!" Tony slapped his thigh, "That girl is playing parkour!" He stroked his chin, then suddenly laughed even harder, "Interesting… So interesting!"
Tony turned and walked to the center of the laboratory, looking at the empty workbench, suddenly feeling that something was missing. "Damn it, I still wanted to research a new quantum processor with Miss 2B…" He irritably ran a hand through his hair, "Jarvis, connect me to Happy's phone!"
"Connecting… Mr. Happy has connected."
Happy's breathless voice came from the other end of the line: "Boss, what now? I'm at the gym—"
"Happy, bring me three cheeseburgers to the lab immediately." Tony said unequivocally, "The kind with double cheese."
"Now?" Happy wailed, "My gym plan for today isn't finished yet…"
"Immediately, right now!" Tony glanced at the silver-haired figure deftly weaving through traffic on the surveillance screen, "Oh, and while you're at it, help me find out what the World record for parkour is."
After hanging up the phone, Tony looked around the empty laboratory and sighed: "Alright, it seems I'll have to research the quantum processor myself tonight…" He walked towards the workbench, then suddenly stopped, "Wait, Jarvis, did Miss 2B say when she'd be back?"
"Miss 2B did not give a specific return time, Sir. However, based on the analysis of her movement trajectory, she seems to intend to escort Mr. Chen Tian all the way to his destination."
Tony pouted: "Alright… After all, Chen Tian is Miss 2B's Master, remember to remind Happy to add pickles to my burger."
— — — —
Chen Tian gripped the steering wheel, his expression so dark it could drip Water. "Damn Tony… When I get back, I'm definitely painting his Mark-2 armor Hello Kitty…" He muttered through gritted teeth, his fingers incessantly tapping the steering wheel.
Suddenly, he felt something was wrong. A silver-White figure seemed to flash in the rearview mirror.
"What the hell…" Chen Tian rubbed his eyes, thinking it was his imagination. But when he looked in the rearview mirror again, he nearly jumped out of his skin—Miss 2B's delicate face was following closely behind the car at an eerily synchronized speed.
"Holy crap!" Chen Tian slammed on the brakes, and the Bugatti left a long skid mark on the road.
He angrily jumped out of the car and roared at Miss 2B, who had suddenly stopped in front of him: "Are you crazy?! Do you know how dangerous this is?! Do you think you're the High-Speed Granny from Japanese urban legends?!"
Miss 2B stood ramrod straight, her silver-White short hair gently fluttering in the wind: "Master, I just want to be by your side."
"You…" Chen Tian's words suddenly caught in his throat. He noticed a rare emotional fluctuation in Miss 2B's mechanical eyes, a kind of almost obsessive determination.
Chen Tian sighed deeply and rubbed his temples: "Forget it… If you want to follow so much, then you drive." He pulled out the car keys and tossed them to Miss 2B, "Anyway, this broken car is Tony's masterpiece, it might be safer with you driving."
Miss 2B took the keys, a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth: "As you wish, Master."
When the two got back into the car, Chen Tian found that the passenger seat had been adjusted to the most comfortable angle at some point, and even a pillow had been thoughtfully placed.
"You really are…" Chen Tian shook his head, fastened his seatbelt, "Let's go, Pepper is still waiting for us."
Miss 2B skillfully started the engine, and the Bugatti smoothly entered the lane. In Stark contrast to Chen Tian's wild driving style just now, Miss 2B's driving skills were perfect, every turn as precise as if calculated by a computer.
"Seriously," Chen Tian leaned back in his seat, watching the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, "How much did that bastard Tony mess with this car?"
Miss 2B stared straight ahead at the road: "Mr. Stark installed 36 Easter egg programs in the car's system, including but not limited to…"
"Stop!" Chen Tian quickly raised a hand to stop her, "I don't want to know anymore. Anyway, with you here, at least I don't have to worry about these pranks killing me."
Miss 2B's lips curved into a nearly imperceptible arc: "Master can rest assured, I will safely deliver you to your destination."
Chen Tian closed his eyes, suddenly feeling that letting Miss 2B drive might be a wise decision. At least, he no longer had to worry about Tony's damn Easter eggs—at least not now.
Meanwhile, Miss 2B drove with focus, the lights of the road ahead reflected in her mechanical eyes, a faint smile always lingering on her lips.
— — — —
The evening banquet in Manhattan, New York, was brilliantly lit, and champagne towers sparkled with golden light under the dazzling crystal chandeliers. The red carpet was lined with reporters holding long and short lenses, and camera flashes lit up one after another, illuminating the entire venue entrance as if it were daytime.
Pepper Potts stood on the steps of the Hampton Hotel, her deep blue mermaid gown outlining elegant curves. She occasionally lowered her head to check her wristwatch, her platinum bracelet reflecting a cold light under the illumination.
"Miss Potts," Obadiah approached Pepper, his shiny bald head reflecting the glow of the chandelier, "Tony hasn't appeared in public for three months, and the board is very worried."
Pepper maintained a perfect smile: "Mr. Stane, you know Tony has always been a maverick."
"A maverick?" Obadiah narrowed his eyes, his suit vest straining against his bloated waist, "The Tony Stark who wants to be on the front page every day?" He lowered his voice, "Since I took over as CEO, he hasn't even made a single protest call. This is too abnormal, but you know, I didn't want to be this CEO; it was all the board's decision."
Pepper's fingertips tapped lightly on her champagne glass: "Perhaps he has finally learned to respect the board's decisions."
Just then, a commotion erupted in the distance. The media area at the end of the red carpet suddenly exploded, and the flash frequency abruptly accelerated.
Pepper turned to look and almost dropped her champagne glass—a Bugatti Veyron glowing with fluorescent pink light was slowly approaching, and on the flag fluttering on its roof, Tony's wink expression shimmered under the spotlights.
"Oh my God..." Pepper held her forehead. She finally understood why Chen Tian had messaged earlier saying to "be mentally prepared."
Obadiah's chubby face instantly turned red: "Is that Tony's sports car?! Has Tony finally decided to show up?"
The Bugatti Veyron stopped precisely at the start of the red carpet, and its doors slowly rose. All the reporters held their breath, their lenses aimed at the door, anticipating Tony Stark's iconic entrance.
However, stumbling out of the passenger door was an unfamiliar Asian youth. The scene immediately erupted in an uproar.
"Who is this?"
"Where is Tony Stark?"
"That's right, this car's license plate is Tony Stark's!"
Chen Tian stood under the flashing lights, feeling countless cameras focusing on him like searchlights. His custom suit contrasted sharply with the fluorescent-painted sports car, and his tie hung crookedly around his neck, looking out of place.
"Sir! Sir!" The Vanity Fair reporter was the first to rush over, "May I ask what your relationship is with Mr. Stark? Why are you driving this car?"
"Uh... I am..." Chen Tian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his throat tight.
The Wall Street Journal reporter squeezed to the front: "Does this mean there will be major personnel changes at Stark Industries? Are you Mr. Stark's spokesperson?"
"No, it's not like that..." Chen Tian swallowed hard, feeling his back already soaked with sweat.
The senior reporter from Time Magazine directly interrupted him: "Can you explain the graffiti on the car? Does the graffiti represent your admiration for Mr. Stark?"
Chen Tian opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. He had long anticipated facing such a scene, but when he was actually confronted by dozens of microphones and stared at by hundreds of scrutinizing eyes, the oppressive feeling still made it difficult for him to breathe.
Just then, Pepper quickly walked down the steps, her high heels tapping out a rapid rhythm on the ground.
With a perfect public relations smile on her face, she squeezed through the crowd and quietly asked Chen Tian, "What are you two doing?"
"That bastard played a trick on me..." Chen Tian turned to Pepper as if granted a great pardon, giving a dry laugh, "The paint job on the back of the car has nothing to do with me; Tony did it himself."
Obadiah squeezed into the crowd, oil glistening on his shiny forehead: "Miss Potts, this is...?"
Pepper elegantly turned to face the media: "This Mr. Chen is a special consultant for Stark Industries' new energy project." She subtly pinched Chen Tian's arm, "Now, please enjoy tonight's charity banquet."
Under the flashing lights, Pepper's smile was impeccable, but Chen Tian could feel the tension in her arm muscles. When they finally entered the banquet hall, Pepper gritted her teeth and asked, "What exactly is going on with that car?"
Chen Tian's eyes darted: "Tony said... it's for your birthday."
Pepper's pupils widened slightly: "My birthday has passed," she said, pointing to her evening gown, "This is the birthday gift Tony told me to buy myself."
"He said... it would be ungentlemanly to make you prepare your own gift. So that car is what he prepared for you," Chen Tian pulled out a Bluetooth speaker that was still playing Tony's laughter, "This is also part of the gift."
Outside the banquet hall, reporters were still buzzing with discussion.
On the roof of the Bugatti outside the hotel, Tony's wink flag gently swayed in the night breeze, as if mocking something.
In the Malibu Villa, Tony watched Chen Tian's embarrassed expression on the surveillance screen and stuffed a large bite of cheeseburger into his mouth: "Jarvis, turn the footage of Chen Tian being surrounded by reporters into a GIF. I want to set it as the projection for his room alarm."
Pepper elegantly linked arms with Chen Tian, walking through the bustling banquet hall. She could feel countless curious gazes following them like spotlights—to be precise, following the young man beside her, dressed in a haute couture suit with a crooked tie.
"Don't be nervous," Pepper whispered, maintaining a perfect smile on her face, "Just pretend they're walking champagne towers."
Chen Tian gave a dry laugh: "I'd rather they were silent champagne towers."
Pepper gently squeezed his arm and led him to the bar: "Wait here; I'll deal with those vultures." She winked at the bartender, "Give this gentleman a... whiskey?"
Chen Tian shrugged, not objecting to Pepper ordering him a whiskey. After she ordered his drink, Pepper turned and elegantly departed.
"Just wait here," Pepper turned back to instruct him before leaving, her red lips curving into a reassuring smile, "I'll help you deal with those annoying flies. Enjoy yourself; Tony said he hopes you relax here."
Chen Tian took the specially mixed drink from the bartender—Tony's specific instruction was 'a surprise for the Chinese boy.' A small paper umbrella was even stuck on the rim of the glass, with Tony's mischievous wink expression printed on its surface. He stared at the small umbrella, his mouth twitching.
"Tony Stark..." Chen Tian cursed under his breath, gritting his teeth. Just as he was about to turn away from the bar, he suddenly bumped into a soft body.
"Oh!" A delicate cry rang out.
Chen Tian felt a gust of fragrant air, and a flash of wine-red hair passed before his eyes. He instinctively stepped back half a pace, only to see a glass of red wine tilting down towards his suit—
In a flash of lightning, a hand wearing a black and white lace glove steadily held the teetering wine glass.
The red wine swayed dangerously in the glass, but not a single drop spilled.
"Master, please be careful." Miss 2B had appeared at Chen Tian's side at some point. She held the lady's wine glass with one hand and subtly shielded Chen Tian's chest with the other, preventing a second collision.
The woman with short wine-red hair widened her eyes in surprise. They were translucent green eyes, like jade.
She wore a sharply cut deep V-neck gown, revealing exquisite collarbone lines, and exuded a dangerous yet captivating aura.
The woman slightly widened her jade-like eyes, and her red lips parted: "I'm truly sorry, I was so clumsy."
She elegantly took the wine glass from Miss 2B's hand, her fingertips subtly brushing against the android's glove, "This lady's skill is truly impressive."
Chen Tian looked at the beautiful woman with clumsy acting in front of him and gave a polite smile: "It's okay, just an accident."
The woman's gaze fell on Chen Tian. She smiled charmingly and extended her delicate hand: "I'm Natasha Romanoff, the new legal counsel for Stark Industries."