"Do you remember HYDRA?" To Steve, the question might have carried the same weight as asking, "Do you remember Xia Yuhe by Daming Lake?" In other words, the memory was vivid and immediate. "Of course I remember!" Steve answered without hesitation, though his brow furrowed. "What are you getting at? Are you saying…?"
Hong Fei smiled faintly. "Actually, many people in this world believe HYDRA has vanished. Whether it's Peggy Carter or the current director of S.H.I.E.L.D., ever since you boarded that plane to stop Red Skull Schmidt and disappeared in the crash, everyone seems to have accepted that HYDRA was destroyed."
Steve's eyes widened as the implication sank in. "So, you're saying…"
Hong Fei gave a slight nod.
Steve leaned back, his expression a mix of disbelief and tactical caution. He didn't doubt Hong Fei—the man had no reason to deceive him about HYDRA. The organization's existence wasn't a secret. In Steve's personal museum, the details of his battle against Red Skull were laid bare for the public. Anyone who knew Captain America's story would have heard of HYDRA; it was, after all, his greatest triumph in his short but legendary career. But that was decades ago.
People knew that once, there had been an evil organization called HYDRA that sought to overthrow the world order, and Captain America had stopped them. What they didn't know was that after HYDRA's apparent downfall at the end of World War II, its scientists were quietly recruited under a program called "Operation Paperclip." They didn't know that these scientists had gone on to rebuild HYDRA, planting its seeds right under the noses of their former enemies, thriving in the shadows ever since.
Hong Fei remained silent, giving Steve time to process the revelation. It was a lot to take in—even Nick Fury, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., had only recently uncovered the truth. True guidance wasn't about dumping information or relentlessly persuading someone. That approach was like forcing thoughts into another person's mind, and with someone as steady and principled as Steve, it would only meet resistance.
Instead, Hong Fei had planted a seed, posed a question, and let Steve's own mind do the work. By finding common ground and subtly steering the conversation, he'd guided Steve toward the truth without forcing it. It was a delicate balance—seeking common ground while reserving differences, a process as flexible as Hong Fei's own moral boundaries.
Steve was still grappling with the implications when the doorbell rang, jolting him from his thoughts. He rose to answer it, opening the door to find a man standing outside. Steve frowned. "Who are you?"
Coulson's excitement was palpable, though years of training as an agent allowed him to rein it in better than most. "Mr. Rogers, I'm Phil Coulson, from S.H.I.E.L.D. You may not have heard of us, but our predecessor was actually…"
Steve cut Coulson off mid-explanation, his eyes flicking to Hong Fei before returning to the agent. "I know S.H.I.E.L.D. What do you want?" Coulson blinked, momentarily thrown, then quickly smoothed his expression. "I'm here on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D. We'd like to have a detailed conversation with you."
After a brief pause, Steve stepped aside. "Come in." Coulson dipped his head in thanks and entered the living room with careful steps. The moment he spotted Hong Fei, his body locked up tight. The practiced smile on his face faltered. Steve gestured politely. "Mr. Coulson, please have a seat." From the kitchen, Ms. Carter's voice floated out with a question.
Steve offered an apologetic glance to both men before heading inside. Coulson sat as far from Hong Fei as possible, his back ramrod straight, hands planted firmly on his knees. Hong Fei didn't bother turning his head, his attention fixed on the TV. "Agent Coulson of the FBI. Long time no see." Coulson's smile turned strained. "Yes, Mr. Hong. It has been a while."
It had been nearly half a year since their last encounter at the Rand Building. If counting from their public identities, even longer. Coulson's eyes were on the TV screen showing Joker vs. Batman, but his focus was entirely on Hong Fei.
He wanted to ask questions but didn't know where to start. Revealing his identity to probe directly was out of the question, leaving him thoroughly conflicted. Thankfully, Steve returned quickly. He sat down and got straight to the point. "Mr. Coulson, what did you want to discuss?" Coulson hesitated, his gaze darting toward Hong Fei.
Steve caught the look and immediately asked, "Do you know him?" "Yes, I've met Mr. Hong before." Hong Fei smiled faintly but said nothing. Steve sensed there was more to the story, but his mind was occupied with HYDRA. He had no interest in playing games with Coulson. "Hong is my friend. A trustworthy one. Whatever you have to say, say it."
Coulson's thoughts raced. Captain America friends with a— He cut himself off as Hong Fei stood abruptly. "You two talk. I just finished eating—think I'll take a walk." He strode out without a backward glance, but not before flashing Coulson a smile so warm it felt like standing under the midday sun.
Watching Hong Fei leave, Steve felt a swell of gratitude. What a thoughtful friend. Not only had he pulled Steve from the ice, but he'd shown him the world, reunited him with Peggy, and now gave him space for a private conversation. His eyes shifted back to Coulson. The man's smile seemed pleasant enough, but there was something off about it—like he was trying too hard. Combined with Hong Fei's earlier comment, Steve suspected S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't entirely aboveboard.
First impressions were hard to shake.
Outside the villa, Hong Fei's psychic energy extended in a wide radius, scanning the surroundings. Several kilometers stretched within his reach, but the only signs of life belonged to the three inside the villa. Curiosity piqued, he stepped to the kitchen window where Ms. Carter was tidying up.
Hong Fei stood at the window, instantly blocking most of the sunlight. His shadow enveloped Carter completely. More than sixty years had passed since their last meeting. The vibrant, beautiful agent had aged into her eighties. Though her movements were steady, each one carried the weight of time. She was old. Ms. Carter...
Carter turned, a rag in her hands, her wrinkled face breaking into a smile. "Hong, you're no ordinary person."
Hong Fei nodded. "I've heard of your name."
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Though I've retired and can't intervene in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s affairs directly, I still keep tabs. I've been following their moves."
Hong Fei gave a slight nod. It made sense. Some people only grew sharper with age. A lifetime as an agent had honed her instincts far beyond the reach of most. Even if Fury didn't feed her intel directly, she'd piece things together on her own.
Carter wiped the kitchen counter, her smile lingering. "I don't know why you're looking for Steve, but I hope you don't mean him harm."
Hong Fei didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Where is Steve?"
Carter paused, turning to face him. "Isn't he in the living room?"
Hong Fei met her gaze squarely. "Steve Rogers. Where is he?"
"I don't understand what you mean." Her expression gave nothing away. She seemed genuinely puzzled by his question.
They stood in silence for a moment before Hong Fei suddenly smiled. "Ms. Carter, I heard you got married."
"That's right," she replied, her smile unwavering. "I never thought I'd see Steve again in this lifetime. I had to move on, start a family. But I still want to thank you. It was you who brought him back to me."
"You're welcome," Hong Fei said. "Even without me, you'd have seen him again."
Carter kept wiping the kitchen utensils, her smile intact. She didn't press further, nor did she offer more. After a moment, Hong Fei turned and left. The answer still wasn't clear enough.
His mind churned with possibilities. Was it because he'd guessed correctly, or was there something else at play? If it wasn't Steve, why couldn't he find any information about her husband? In the movies, it was glossed over, but Hong Fei was in this universe now. Surely, he should be able to dig something up with active effort.
If it was just an ordinary person, why the secrecy? Assuming Steve was the conclusion for now, the old Steve might have grown cunning over the years. He wasn't hiding under Carter's villa after all. The man had patience. Yet, their children and descendants didn't live here. Could Steve have been taken away by his descendants?
Hong Fei didn't care about timelines or paradoxes. He just wanted a definitive answer, a clear result. Yes or no—that's all it boiled down to. Pure curiosity.
Not long after, Steve and Coulson emerged from the villa together. Coulson looked unenthused, as if he hadn't achieved his goal. He nodded to Hong Fei from a distance before climbing into his car and driving off.
Steve, on the other hand, kept glancing back at the villa every few steps. Though his eyes were filled with reluctance, he walked resolutely toward Hong Fei. "Let's go. We need to talk about HYDRA."
"You could've stayed," Hong Fei said.
Steve shook his head. "She might need some time alone more than anything."
He also knew that Carter had been married, but there was no loneliness or sadness in his eyes, only regret and reluctance. Hong Fei, however, had little patience for this coy behavior. "She only has five years left."
"What?" Steve frowned.
Hong Fei spoke gravely. "She has five years of life left."
"How do you know?" Steve's frown deepened.
Hong Fei pointed to his own eyes. "I can see it."