Su Yi left Hanna sitting under the oak tree, her face a mask of slight confusion and residual blush. He moved with purpose, his focus instantly shifting from the delicate art of seduction to the grim necessity of plot intervention.
Adrian Toomes, the host, stood near the patio door, adjusting his ill-fitting tuxedo, clearly uncomfortable with the influx of teenagers in his house. He was precisely where Su Yi had seen him—at the cusp of an illegal enterprise, driven by financial desperation and deep resentment toward Tony Stark.
"Mr. Toomes?" Su Yi approached, his hand extended, radiating the confidence of an investment banker rather than a high school graduate. "I am Su Yi. Congratulations on Liz's graduation. But I also need to speak with you privately, right now, about a critical business matter. One that can legitimately save your company, your house, and your future."
Toomes, a man perpetually burdened by debt and the need to provide, narrowed his eyes. "Son, I don't know who you are, but I'm the host of a party. And my company," he scoffed, "is none of your business. It's salvage, and it's fine."
"With all due respect, sir, your salvage company, Bestman Salvage, is functionally bankrupt," Su Yi countered, his voice dropping to a low, authoritative whisper. "The massive contracts post-Battle of New York were illegally canceled by Stark Industries. I know you've sunk all your capital, including the mortgage on this beautiful home, into acquiring specialized equipment that is now useless without contracts. You're weeks away from losing everything to the bank."
Toomes froze. His easy-going, host facade cracked, revealing the desperate rage beneath. His eyes, usually warm for his daughter, became cold and calculating. "Who the hell are you?"
"I am an independent venture consultant and an investor," Su Yi stated. "I am not with Stark. I've been tracking undervalued assets, and your specialized equipment—the heavy-duty hauling machinery and the plasma cutters you acquired—is valuable, though useless for debris. However, I have a legitimate, high-capital project—a new research and development facility for advanced materials. It requires exactly the kind of discreet, high-tolerance hauling and machining your crew is already trained for."
Su Yi pulled out a simple, silver business card—no logo, just his name and a secure satellite number. "I'm offering you a long-term, multi-million dollar contract, structured as a high-security consulting partnership, effective immediately. The collateral is enough to pay off your back taxes and save your mortgage, and the work is 100% legal. You get to keep this house and your dignity, Mr. Toomes. All you have to do is drop whatever… alternative revenue streams you may be considering right now."
He met Toomes's gaze, injecting a hint of precognition into his tone. "Choose legitimacy, Mr. Toomes. It's the only way to protect Liz."
Toomes stared at the card in his hand, his mind reeling from the shock of Su Yi's exact financial knowledge. A genuine, massive, legal lifeline. He had been planning a critical run tomorrow. He felt the weight of the Vulture suit lift momentarily from his shoulders.
"Meet me at the Queens dockyard tomorrow morning. Eight o'clock sharp. Come alone. We discuss the terms," Toomes growled, his voice rough with suspicion and sudden, terrifying hope.
"Eight o'clock. I'll be there," Su Yi agreed. "Now, enjoy your daughter's graduation party."
Su Yi gave a curt nod and immediately turned, leaving Toomes standing alone, clutching the silver card like a lottery ticket. The first, critical intervention was complete.
Su Yi returned to the oak tree, the shift in his demeanor seamless, trading the corporate shark for the romantic artist. Hanna was exactly where he had left her, still staring at the night sky.
"Sorry about that, Hanna. Business is sometimes unavoidable, even at a party," he apologized, sitting back down.
"That's fine," Hanna replied, her voice still quiet, though her expression was now one of focused curiosity.
"Now, where were we? You had just asked me a question."
Hanna tilted her head, trying to recall the thread of their game. "No, you had just answered mine about Peter. It was your turn to ask me something."
"Ah, right," Su Yi nodded. "I had to interrupt myself. So, let's resume the flow. Since you asked me such a private question earlier about Mary Jane, I'll also pick a somewhat personal one."
Hanna started to get nervous again, her eyes wide, preparing for something intense.
"Do you find me attractive?" Su Yi asked simply, his gaze steady.
Hanna visibly relaxed a bit, the question surprisingly mild compared to her expectation. She dropped her gaze to her hands folded in her lap.
"Mm!" she affirmed with a small, shy nod.
Su Yi was incredibly satisfied. This was the final emotional prerequisite. "Thank you for your truthfulness, Hanna. Now it's your turn, but this round is a Dare."
Hanna began to hesitate, considering the risks of daring a boy who had just confessed to liking her. "You defeated Flash and said you've studied martial arts. So, can you do one-handed push-ups?"
Hanna's dare was still safely simple and physical.
Su Yi smiled broadly, standing up in a fluid motion. "Is that all? I can even do one-handed push-ups with you on my back. Don't think you can just get away with that. I want a proper challenge."
"Alright," Hanna conceded, rising from her chair. "Then I'll start the demonstration."
Su Yi immediately dropped, bracing himself on his left hand. For Su Yi, one-handed push-ups were trivial—he could easily perform them with his unenhanced strength, let alone with the added muscle and coordination from his Dark Knight template.
He performed a dozen repetitions with effortless grace. Hanna was incredibly surprised; Su Yi could perform so many one-handed push-ups so easily, a demonstration of raw power that contradicted his calm, academic appearance.
"That was impressive, Su," Hanna breathed, slightly awestruck.
"Now it's my turn," Su Yi said, turning to her with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I said I could do it even if you sat on me. Do you want to try?"
Hanna hesitated, biting her lip. "If that's your dare, I choose to accept."
She positioned herself carefully, sitting down lightly on Su Yi's broad back. Su Yi didn't feel any pressure. His strength was vast, and Hanna was naturally petite, just over 160cm tall, whereas Gwen and Mary Jane were closer to 170cm.
"I'm holding on tight!" Hanna warned, gripping his shoulders.
Su Yi performed two push-ups easily, but then, executing his plan, he deliberately pretended to lose his balance on the third repetition. His body shifted, making Hanna unstable and causing them both to tumble softly onto the cool grass.
Su Yi landed first, cushioning Hanna entirely. She was flustered, finding herself leaning against his chest, their bodies pressed together in an unexpectedly intimate tangle.
"Sorry, I made you lose my balance," Su Yi apologized sincerely, though the move was calculated.
Hanna recovered, adjusting her glasses with trembling fingers. "I didn't sit steadily," she murmured, feeling the rapid thump of his heart against her ear.
The two returned to their seats, the shared moment of physical contact having fundamentally changed the atmosphere.
"Hanna, it's your turn for a Truth now," Su Yi prompted, his voice gentle.
Hanna, still recovering from the tumble, returned to the topic that most perplexed her. "Gwen and the others, did you deceive them?"
Su Yi shook his head and said sincerely, his eyes completely earnest, the confidence of his character lending weight to his words. "No, Hanna. They all know. I didn't hide anything from them, nor did I deceive them. I am honest with all of them; I truly like them and want to spend the rest of my life with them. They hesitated, of course, but in the end, they chose to accept the situation and be with me."
Hanna found it incredibly unbelievable, but the opportunity to ask questions was now over.
Su Yi knew his chance had come. He leaned forward, closing the space between them once more.
"Now, my turn. I choose a Truth. This is the most important question of the night, Hanna." He paused, letting the silence hang heavy. "If I didn't have Hong Yan like Gwen and the others, and instead pursued only you, would you accept me?"
"Ah?" Hanna was stunned, completely unprepared for such a direct, hypothetical confession.
Su Yi continued, his voice soft, almost a plea. "Hanna, do you know? You are also incredibly beautiful. Although not in a fiery way, both your looks and your figure have a great sense of 'U.S.'" (a term he used often, meaning Unique Style). "I don't want to lie; actually, I also like you a little. Your quiet intellect, your dedication to art, your reserved nature—it's captivating."
Hanna was flustered and incredibly nervous, instinctively wanting to dodge the intensity of his gaze. She was stopped by Su Yi's hand gently touching her arm.
"Hanna, you forgot. Truth or Dare isn't over yet. I just asked the question; you have to answer this one."
Hanna forced herself to calm down, her mind battling her heart. She looked into Su Yi's eyes, seeing a sincere affection that was hard to deny. Finally, following her heart, she gave a one-word answer.
"Perhaps."
Just as Hanna gave her answer, Su Yi moved, his action swift and decisive. He gently lifted Hanna's chin, and their eyes met. Hanna saw a depth of feeling and determination in his gaze, and Su Yi noticed the mixture of deep nervousness and quiet anticipation in hers.
Su Yi knew he couldn't wait. Facing such a reserved girl, he had to take the initiative. He closed the gap, gently capturing her lips.
Hanna was unfamiliar and stiff at first, but under Su Yi's patient guidance, she slowly relaxed, beginning to experience the dizzying wonder of the moment.
While Su Yi was busy securing his fourth Hong Yan in the seclusion of the backyard, Peter Parker was doing his best to follow his mentor's advice inside. He stood awkwardly by the snack table, watching Liz.
Sincerity and Presence. Be bold. Ask her to dance, Peter repeated to himself, summoning all his Spider-Man courage.
He finally strode across the living room, ignoring the jock, Flash Thompson, who tried to trip him, and reached Liz.
"Liz," Peter said, his voice a little too loud but steady. "I know this is a big night. And I... I really like this song. Would you... would you dance with me?"
Liz, surprised by his sudden confidence, smiled warmly. "Peter? Of course! I'd love to dance."
Peter, energized by his small, legitimate triumph, led Liz onto the floor, momentarily forgetting his nervousness as the music swelled. He had been bold. He had asked. And he had won. It was a victory, simple and genuine, and Su Yi's advice had worked perfectly.
Back under the tree, the long kiss ended, leaving Hanna breathless. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm, and she couldn't calm down for a long time. She adjusted her glasses, looking at Su Yi close in front of her.
"Su, you, you can't do this," she whispered, her voice husky. "There's still a party inside; we'll be discovered. And Gwen and the others are here too."
Su Yi, however, smiled mischievously. "So, if these people weren't here, would it be okay?"
Hanna then realized that Su Yi had found a loophole in her words. "I, I didn't mean that..."
Su Yi pressed further, his gaze unwavering. "Hanna, be my girlfriend. Don't worry, Gwen and the others won't mind. I'll treat you the same way I treat Gwen."
Hanna watched Su Yi get closer and closer, her heart incredibly complex. She wanted him to stop, but also desperately wanted him to continue. She didn't give an answer.
Su Yi decided to be a bit more domineering, adopting the final strategy for shy, reserved women. "Hanna, if you don't refuse, then I'll take it as you agreeing."
Hanna was caught between shyness and desire and still didn't give an answer, the refusal lodged firmly in her throat.
Su Yi didn't give her a chance to refuse, blocking any movement and leaning in again.
"Hanna," he murmured against her ear. "You didn't refuse."
Hanna recovered a bit. "You didn't give me a chance to refuse," she countered weakly.
"Then would you refuse?"
Looking at Su Yi, who was approaching again, Hanna finally compromised, surrendering to the inevitable pull.
"We can't be here," she managed to say.
"It's okay, we won't be discovered," Su Yi assured her, his enhanced hearing a silent guardian. "My hearing is very good; if anyone comes, I'll hear them. Besides, we can find a more secluded corner."
When Hanna heard this, her cheeks, which had just barely recovered, turned even redder, this time not from the alcohol, but from pure, unadulterated shyness.
Su Yi led Hanna deeper into the secluded, dark corner of the garden, a small, hidden gazebo draped in climbing ivy.
It was a beautiful night, and everyone found their own kind of fun. The party inside was lively, and outside, away from the prying eyes, it was anything but peaceful.
The Toomes family future is now altered, Peter is dancing with Liz, and Hanna has accepted her fate. What happens when the party ends and Su Yi has to juggle his four Hong Yan now that Hanna is in the fold?