Helen Zhao was prepared for Aaron's refusal and was wondering how to persuade him, but... he agreed!
"It's very difficult to experiment with your technology, but I appreciate you as a person."
Aaron's gaze was undisguised, and Helen Zhao immediately lowered her head, her hands on the table continuously fidgeting.
"Perhaps we can go see a movie later, have dinner, and then find a place to have a good chat, what do you say?"
Cultivating feelings? Not a chance.
He preferred to be direct.
They were all adults; beating around the bush was a waste of time.
Helen Zhao's face grew redder and redder. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
Just then, the noisy whirring of helicopter blades came from outside the cafe.
Many people looked out curiously, only to see a transport helicopter slowly landing in an open space.
Norman walked down from the helicopter.
Helen Zhao didn't notice the situation outside; she was also very curious.
Aaron glanced over, piercing through layers of obstacles, and saw Norman's figure.
"It seems today's afternoon movie will have to be another day."
Helen Zhao was puzzled, and also a little... disappointed?
"But would you like to come with me to see some big toys?"
"Hmm?"
"Fighter jets!"
...Meanwhile, at Stark Tower.
Tony Stark finally managed to escape from the arms of two beauties and arrived at the company.
When he saw the overwhelming news about Aaron, Tony ripped off his sunglasses and leaned in to look again and again.
Then he looked at Happy.
"Is today April Fool's Day?"
Happy actually checked his phone: May 21, 2010. "Sir, April Fool's Day was over a month ago."
"I know!"
"Maybe, without my knowing, those boring media outlets got self-indulgent and created a new April Fool's Day, and it's today!"
Tony pointed at the big words in the media, "Look at this! Saying Howard is not as good as Aaron is one thing, but he even said I can't compare to Aaron! That's simply preposterous!"
"Damn it, write down this media outlet for me. The Daily Bugle? Very good. Next time, for our press conferences and product launches, the Daily Bugle will not be among our invited guests!"
Happy thought for a moment, "It seems we've never invited them?"
Tony rolled his eyes, "Not in the past, not now, and not in the future either!"
"Okay, I understand!" Happy took out a pen and paper and solemnly wrote it down.
Tony watched, shaking his head speechlessly.
Just then, Pepper walked in with a document, followed by a redhead.
Tony Stark's gaze was instantly drawn to her.
"It seems my company has a new employee, and I don't even know her name."
"She's Natalie Rushman, from the legal department, and also an expensive potential sexual harassment lawsuit."
Pepper, knowing his crude personality, directly cut off his thoughts, "If you flirt with her again, then we'll have to see each other in court, and I won't hire a lawyer for you."
"I think I need a new assistant, Happy, what do you think?"
Tony ignored Pepper's warning.
Happy looked at Tony, then at Pepper, and, touching the wedding ring he had bought in '08 and carried with him in his pocket, decisively turned his head away: I'm an idiot... Tony still wanted to say something.
Pepper picked up a document.
"Mr. Norman of Oscorp Industries sent a formal invitation. They are holding an exhibition on human health and biomedical aspects."
"Tell him I'm busy!"
Tony refused without hesitation.
His good mood, initially sparked by seeing the beautiful woman, was instantly ruined by the name Oscorp.
"Oscorp Industries won't have any good products. Their stuff isn't even fit to carry my inventions' shoes!"
Tony was very confident and instructed, "When are they having it? I think it's time for Stark Industries to hold a new exhibition too."
Happy couldn't help but say, "But we just finished our last exhibition at the beginning of the month."
Tony smugly said, "A month? Has it been that long? Don't you think our inventions in one month can make Aaron catch up by ten years!"
He hated it when someone overshadowed him, but he hated it even more when so many people commented that Aaron's intelligence was comparable to, or even surpassed, his own!
Ever since he shouted, "I am Iron Man!" at the press conference late last year, Stark Industries had soared, leaving other companies far behind!
From then on, there were only two types of geniuses in the world.
One was him, Tony Stark, and the other was everyone else!
Because he, alone, completed the energy technology revolution of human civilization!
And Aaron?
Someone who appeared out of nowhere, merely picking up the scraps of a failed Oscorp Industries, and wanted to step on Tony Stark to rise to power?
Dream on! Why don't you run for President of the United States!
Natasha, standing nearby, half-agreed with Tony Stark's words.
Tony Stark was bad, but Aaron was worse! Choosing the lesser of two evils, she was willing to support Tony.
"It seems there are still smart people in the company!"
Tony was very satisfied, and the more he looked, the more pleasing she became.
Pepper shook her head speechlessly, taking out a document, "I think we need to go see it!"
Tony lowered his head, casually glanced at it, then glanced again.
Finally, he couldn't help but glance a few more times.
His expression became serious.
"Alright, I admit he has some ability, but only a little bit!"
Tony kept gesturing with his thumb and forefinger.
"So, are we going?"
"Of course! I'm going to wear my new invention!"
"He wants to catch up to me? He'll have to wait for his next life!"
PS: New book uploaded, please give flowers, monthly passes, evaluation tickets, and all kinds of support!!!!
Chapter 42: The desert is so vast, it's normal to have some fighter jets there!
New York Air Force Military Base.
The helicopter took Aaron and Helen Zhao directly to this heavily guarded place.
In the past,
This place would never have welcomed East Asians like Aaron or Helen Zhao.
But today,
Helen Zhao understood why they were overly enthusiastic.
The secretary eagerly walked up, gripped Aaron's right hand with both hands, and shook it vigorously.
"Mr. Aaron, it's a pleasure to meet you. Our general really liked your Christmas gift and said this year will be the best Christmas he's ever had!"
"I apologize, our general is currently unavailable to receive you due to some personal health issues, but next time, the general will personally invite you to a private gathering at Oscorp Industries to thank you individually!"
The secretary was afraid Aaron would feel slighted, and his demeanor was so humble it was almost obsequious.
Aaron nodded in understanding, "I can fully understand General Ronald's eagerness. If it were me, I would definitely be eager to open this gift. No one can refuse it, just as no normal man can refuse a beautiful woman."
Helen Zhao's face flushed slightly, but she still tried her best to puff out her chest, stand tall, and smile.
Making herself at least look like she fit the role of Aaron's companion.
Although she felt very strange about the Christmas gift internally.
It was only May; Christmas was still half a year away. Was this a local custom?
And in her memory, weren't US military bases very strict?
Why, from getting on the helicopter to arriving at the military base, did no one ask about her identity?
Was it all because of Aaron?
The secretary noticed Helen Zhao's movements, and his smile grew even more enthusiastic, "This must be Mr. Aaron's girlfriend, right? Even more beautiful than Hollywood superstar Scarlett."
Helen Zhao returned a gentle smile. She was still a little nervous, not even knowing what to say.
She subconsciously glanced at Aaron, then quickly lowered her head, neither denying nor refusing.
A girlfriend for a day is still a girlfriend!
Noticing Helen Zhao's nervousness, the secretary wisely did not continue to ask questions.
Fearing that Aaron would be displeased,
He led the way, guiding them to a spacious airfield.
Along the way, military officers constantly cast respectful glances at them.
Although she knew these officers were revering Aaron, Helen Zhao still felt honored.
As a person from H-Country, it was her first time feeling so proud.
"Mr. Aaron, these are all gifts from the general..."
The secretary looked at Helen Zhao next to Aaron and quickly corrected himself, "...equipment delivered to you."
"Ahem, the general hopes your company can further improve these items."
"Given that these are all obsolete goods, and Mr. Aaron, your work is busy, it's fine even if you don't have time to improve them. Oscorp Industries will always be our Air Force's best partner!"
This speech was entirely made up by the secretary on the spot.
After all, these things were all equipment gifted to Aaron personally.
Improve them? They could totally find Hammer Industries.
Oscorp Industries actually didn't have much involvement in military manufacturing.
And Aaron would never work for the US military.
Improvements were impossible, never in a lifetime!
Helen Zhao didn't catch the implied meaning at all.
She was still a bit dazed.
This was her first time at a US military base, yet these military personnel, who were so arrogant in front of H-Country, were so humble in front of Aaron, like the respect a subordinate shows to a superior, or a junior to an elder, back in her own country.
Oh my goodness, it's incredible!
As for these planes...
Helen Zhao found them somewhat familiar, but the temporarily modified and dyed fuselage coating made her unsure.