In the quiet, affluent suburban evening, Su Yi arrived at Liz Toomes's address. The house was not just large; it was sprawling, built in a modern style with manicured lawns and subtle, high-end landscaping. Even before entering the gate, Su Yi felt a distinct anomaly in the atmosphere.
He slowed his pace, taking in the structure. It was the kind of home that spoke of C-suite executive wealth or old money, far exceeding the typical income of a public high school principal or even a mid-level corporate drone.
Adrian Toomes, the Vulture. His salvage company, damaged by Tony's cleanup initiative, was merely a front for acquiring and reverse-engineering Chitauri and Sokovian tech, Su Yi mused, his gaze drifting over the imported stone façade. This house—this extravagance—is the price of that illegal operation. It screams of untraceable, black-market profits. Liz is completely oblivious; this is the life bought by alien scraps.
"Hey, Su, what are you looking at?"
Su Yi turned his head, his thoughts instantly snapping back to the present. Standing a few feet away, hesitant but waiting, was Hanna. The petite, dark-haired beauty from his class, usually quiet and nearly invisible beneath the cloak of shyness, was transformed.
Hanna was renowned for her academic rigor and her dedication to art, but rarely for her appearance. Her clothes were generally conservative, often favoring practical layers over fashionable cuts. Tonight, however, she had made a definite effort.
She wore a soft, cornflower-blue summer dress that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair, revealing a hint of the slender grace Su Yi had only previously inferred. She was still wearing her delicate wire-rimmed glasses, which framed her stunning, almost painterly face, giving her a look that was both intellectual and slightly dazed by the bright lights of the party.
Hiss. I actually underestimated her a bit, Su Yi thought, a small, genuine smile forming on his lips. She's the type of beauty that blooms only when you slow down enough to appreciate the details.
Hanna noticed the intensity of his gaze and immediately became flustered, crossing her arms instinctively.
"Su, you're being very ungentlemanly," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant party music.
Su Yi wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. He moved closer, keeping his voice low and warm. "It's not my fault, Hanna. You must not have noticed how breathtakingly beautiful you are tonight. That dress, the lighting... it's a perfect composition."
Hanna's immediate flush of anger vanished, replaced by a deep blush and a fragile expression of joy and anticipation that softened her features. The shyness was still there, but it was battling a nascent confidence.
"Really?" she asked, adjusting her glasses with a nervous finger.
"Of course," Su Yi affirmed. "I have no reason to lie to you. I told you a long time ago that if you dressed up seriously, you would definitely be no worse than Gwen and the others. You have a delicate, subtle beauty that far surpasses the usual 'hot girl' standard."
Hanna then tried to playfully challenge him, her shyness still palpable. "Really? Aren't you afraid Gwen will hear you say that?"
"No," Su Yi replied easily, his enhanced hearing confirming the nearest partygoers were far too immersed in the noise to notice their conversation. He spoke the bold words confidently, completely unafraid of being caught.
He extended his arm, inviting her. "Come on. Let's go in. This night is too beautiful to spend outside alone."
Hanna hesitated for a brief, critical moment, then, with a shy but decisive nod, she actually took Su Yi's arm, accepting his protection and his compliment, and walked with him toward the bustling entrance.
The gate to the yard was open, and Liz stood near the door, greeting classmates. When she saw Su Yi and Hanna appear together, she did a double-take.
"Su! And Hanna? I didn't know you two were coming together."
"We just met at the door," Su Yi explained smoothly.
Liz's focus shifted to Hanna, genuinely impressed. "Hanna, you look so beautiful today. I love that color on you."
Hanna, still nestled close to Su Yi, smiled shyly. "Thank you, Liz, you're also very beautiful."
Liz, as the captain of the cheerleading squad and the host, was the epitome of the classic 'hot girl'—outgoing, radiant, and effortlessly popular. Hanna was the quiet foil. Su Yi, however, saw the potential in both. He found himself contemplating the possibility of 'taking down' the petite beauty, Hanna. A white dress, or a cute, oversized sweater... the visual would be arresting.
Su Yi took the opportunity to spread the praise evenly, ensuring everyone felt appreciated. "You are all very beautiful. If I were to keep praising you at the door, I could praise you for half an hour. But I have a promise to keep."
Liz laughed, slightly disbelieving but flattered. "Really? Gwen is already inside, waiting."
"If Gwen were here, I would say the same thing. This is the absolute truth," Su Yi insisted. He added, joking, "I have to go in now. I'm going to praise Gwen immediately, just to prove I'm serious about my compliments."
The two girls were highly amused by Su Yi's theatrical exit. "You go ahead, Su," Liz said, shaking her head.
Su Yi entered the opulent house. The kitchen, living room, and dining room were filled with classmates chatting, dancing, and celebrating their graduation.
Gwen had already heard his voice and came proactively to meet him. Tonight, she was dressed to the nines, a figure-hugging dress revealing her shoulders and accentuating her long, model-like legs.
"Gwen, you look absolutely stunning tonight. A force of nature," Su Yi murmured, taking her hand.
Gwen leaned closer, her expression playful. "I heard everything you said about Hanna and Liz at the door just now, you sly devil."
Su Yi pulled her close, dismissing the playful accusation with a perfect blend of truth and hyperbole. "You know, my love, I can praise you every day until the end of my life, and never run out of unique words for your beauty."
Gwen rewarded his bold flattery with a laugh. "That's more like it."
The two kissed passionately, completely ignoring the surrounding crowd. Most of their classmates had become accustomed to the couple's intense affection, while a small group began to cheer loudly.
"Oh, Su, Gwen! You can't do that!"
"Damn it, Su actually got Gwen! Su must drink a few more tonight!"
Su Yi readily agreed, his smile wide. "No problem at all!"
Su Yi accepted the impromptu challenge. His recently strengthened physique—a benefit of the cumulative level-ups across his six-dimensional attributes, inherited from the Dark Knight combat template—had subtly fortified his internal organs and metabolic processes.
To him, alcohol was little more than a mild electrolyte solution. He could easily hold his breath for half an hour; consuming mass quantities of liquor was laughably easy.
Once all attributes reach Lv10, the endurance and physical resilience will be unmatched, Su Yi noted internally. Fighting for three days straight, or surviving a chemical attack, will be normal. Alcohol tolerance is a mere side effect.
He quickly dispatched the challenge, downing several shots with no visible effect, earning whistles and impressed shouts from the crowd before graciously bowing out of the drinking contest.
Gwen, still worried, scolded him softly. "Su, you can't drink like that! You'll ruin your night."
Su Yi whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her neck. "It's fine, my darling. I drink like I drink water. Trust me."
As the evening progressed, classmates continued to arrive. Mary Jane, now a fledgling musical actress, arrived with Betty, who was looking professional and poised. Mary Jane's outfit was simple but elevated, allowing her star-like presence to shine naturally.
Then came Peter. Dressed in his slightly ill-fitting but sincere suit, he entered the room, looking like a nervous, aristocratic footman—a stark contrast to the casual confidence of his peers. He was a bundle of raw, unspent energy, utterly overwhelmed by the glamour and the presence of Liz.
Su Yi looked at Peter and shook his head secretly. Alas, the kid still isn't bold enough. He can stop a bus with his bare hands, but he can't walk across a room to talk to a girl.
He decided to step back, letting Peter navigate his own fate, while he focused on his multi-pronged objectives: keeping his girls happy and securing the new target, Hanna.
He had noticed Hanna retreating from the noise. She wasn't used to the party atmosphere, and the low-alcohol punch had already flushed her cheeks crimson, leaving her eyes with that slightly dazed, vulnerable look.
After excusing himself from Gwen, Su Yi slipped out into the cooler, quiet backyard.
In the yard, beneath a massive oak tree, Hanna was sitting on a decorative stone chair, staring up at the night sky, completely lost in contemplation. The silence here was a balm compared to the cacophony inside.
Su Yi quietly sat down beside her, matching her mood. "What are you looking at, Hanna?"
Hanna started, turning quickly. "Su! Why did you come out here?"
"I noticed you seemed a bit overwhelmed," Su Yi said sincerely. "You looked like you needed a quiet moment, and I was a little worried. I just came out to check on you."
"I'm not good at drinking, but I'm not drunk," Hanna clarified, a slight pout on her lips.
"No, I know," Su Yi agreed softly. "You're just a bit unaccustomed to the lively environment, aren't you? You prefer the calm."
"Mmm," she hummed, accepting his observation. She seemed to genuinely enjoy his quiet presence.
Su Yi seized the opening, injecting a playful element into the calm. "I suddenly had an idea. Since it's just the two of us, and we are clearly not party people," he gestured to the house, "let's play a game. Truth or Dare, just the two of us. We can use the stillness of the night as our judge."
Hanna hesitated, the idea both scandalous and exciting. She looked at Su Yi, who was perfectly composed, illuminated by the distant porch light. Finally, the curiosity won.
"Okay," she whispered, a daring note in her voice. "But... only simple truths."
"Deal," Su Yi confirmed. "You go first."