Gradually, he felt his legs start moving quickly on their own, his heart filled with that shadow, his mind completely occupied with thoughts of what he should say to her.
Weaving through one classmate after another, his steps didn't falter, he rushed out of the school gates and saw her figure in cute pink clothes.
He ran after her.
"Huff...huff..." His heart was beating unusually fast, and after swallowing several gulps of air, he crazily adjusted his smile before gently tapping her shoulder.
The girl turned her head, and upon seeing it was him, she too revealed a smile.
"Hi, what's up, Leo?"
"Well... I thought about it, and why don't we... how about we have lunch together and then go straight to the supermarket?" Leo scratched his face with a finger, almost too shy to look at her cute face, focusing his gaze instead on the little bird perched atop the utility pole.
Lily shyly glanced around; no familiar faces heard this invitation, nor did anyone tease them.
She relaxed a lot, lightly biting her lip, "Of course, that would be best."
"Then... what do you like to eat?" Seeing her agree, Leo cautiously walked to her side, the two of them walking shoulder to shoulder amidst the crowd, and the atmosphere suddenly became sweet, even their feet no longer felt cold.
"Do you want to eat spaghetti? It's not far from here, I know a place with pretty good taste." The girl pointed her finger at her chin.
"Sure, I love spaghetti, haha..." Leo nodded eagerly.
"Hehe, then let's go." Lily jumped like a little rabbit, appearing very happy, her golden hair fluttering in the wind.
Just as the two young people were chatting and laughing, ready to have lunch, a black luxury car drove up beside them.
To be precise, it drifted directly at the crossroad, blocking the path of the two.
'Ka ka' sounded twice from the car doors, followed by 'bang bang' as they slammed shut, exuding a stylish air.
Two men got out of the car, both dressed in expensive black suits, appearing very sharp and distinguished middle-aged uncles, both sporting beards.
"Leonid Tesla?"
The man getting out from the driver's seat straightened his clothing and flamboyantly touched his hair, which was slicked back with hair gel to hold its style, smiling broadly and loudly inquiring.
Amid the noisy car horns, Leonid had no idea what was happening, Lily beside him was somewhat frightened and took a step back, hiding behind him.
Leo didn't know these two people, but he recognized the car, a luxury automobile produced by Wilson Enterprises, with each vehicle valued at over one hundred thousand US Dollars, enough to construct a building.
Moreover, the suits, watches, shoes of these two, all looked expensive, he couldn't fathom how such wealthy people could be connected to someone like him, an orphan.
"That's me, but..."
"Hey, that's good enough." The driving man very familiarly walked over, casually put an arm around Leo's neck, dragging him towards the car, "And this lovely lady, I'm afraid we'll need to borrow your boyfriend for a bit."
"No, let go of him, or I'll call the police!"
Lily grabbed Leo's arm, playing tug-of-war with the bearded man.
Meanwhile, the other person who had gotten out of the passenger seat leaned against the car's hood, looking up at the sky, whistling as though the matter had nothing to do with him.
"Don't be so tense, I'm not a bad guy." The black-haired bearded man released his hold, standing in front of the two, arms spread to showcase his outfit and appearance, "Look at me, don't I seem familiar?"
"Um..." Leonid shielded Lily behind him, looking at the smiling bearded man in front, not seeming familiar at all.
"Ah, let me give you some hints." Beard puffed out his breath with an arrogant smile, chin high, "I'm New York's most famous millionaire, appeared on the cover of Time magazine, you should've seen me on TV, and you surely have products from my company at home."
While speaking, he even turned sideways, striking a pose that mimicked the one from his magazine cover shoot. The car horns at the intersection were louder, numerous blocked drivers leaned out to shout complaints.
Crazy, right?! Blocking the road, and striking a sidelong pose with two kids, are you hoping to get slapped?!
Seeing it's not a kidnapping, Lily's courage grew a bit bolder, she carefully examined Beard's appearance, attempting a question.
"Mr. Wilson?"
Beard's smile faded slowly, his shoulders drooped, he turned around irritably, "When I pose sideway during photo shoots, it doesn't mean I only have one eye, and Slade's beard isn't even as good-looking as mine, why would you think I'm him?"
Lily shrank back, trembling with fear, "We all have Wilson Enterprises' products at home."
"Don't you use Stark Industries' products? As Americans, don't you have guns at home?" Beard tilted his head helplessly, feeling he was defeated.
Leo and Lily exchanged a glance, both shook their heads, innocent-faced, they were just minors.
Beard sighed towards the heavens, feeling today's wind so cold, his heart freezing over, but with stubborn willpower, he tugged a smile onto his face.
"I'm Howard Stark, the most outstanding genius of the century, owner of Stark Industries. The person beside the car is Dr. Nathaniel Richards, a genius slightly less than me, but he's a penniless guy, his clothes are bought by me. We're specifically here to find you, mind if I call you little Leo?"
Upon hearing Howard mention his name, Leonid indeed remembered him; he had seen this person before. But it was on a Captain America poster, this bearded man in the least noticeable corner behind the Invasion Team.
"Sir, although nice to meet you, I've never seen you before, and my classmate and I were just about to eat and we wish you a pleasant meal."
Leonid dryly chuckled, pulled Lily along to bypass Howard, quickly leaving.
He's heard of Howard's street rumors, this multimillionaire is a lustful ghost, from the dishwashers in slums to Broadway's top performers, he doesn't discriminate against age or color, as long as they're beauties, he desires them all.
Not only does he hunt broadly, his techniques for pursuing women are very skillful, throwing money and spewing all sorts of sweet talk.
Things like professing love in newspapers with poetry, covering Times Square with roses, creating a Statue of Liberty-sized ice sculpture for a beauty in midsummer....
All sorts of methods Howard has employed, no woman can resist his tactics, some women are particularly obsessed with him, more so than Hollywood stars.
Leo had already imagined the whole scenario, surely it was these two playboys out hunting for beauties, driving around the streets when they suddenly fancied Lily's beauty and planned to make a move!
Saying they're specifically here to find him, what could he possibly hold of value for them? It obviously seemed like a scam, wanting to use money to make him leave Lily, not a chance!
He, Leo, holds Captain America as his idol, a tough guy! Even without a shield, he'd protect Lily with a trashcan lid if he must!