Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Return of Tony Stark

The roar of the engine gradually faded, and the morning breeze that had accompanied it grew ever softer. Soon, a massive gray-green military transport plane came to a steady halt on the runway, turned around, and positioned its yellow tail ramp directly toward Pepper Potts and her companions.

At that moment, Pepper stared fixedly at the yellow ramp, as if she could see straight through it to the long-missed Tony on the other side.

Happy had put his sunglasses back on, gone was the chatter of his earlier recounting of Zhong Shenxiu’s exploits; his lips were now pressed together, and his round face wore a look of sternness—he was every inch the consummate elite bodyguard.

Coulson stood with his hands behind his back, the smile on his face perfectly measured, the curve at his lips a textbook 16.666 degrees.

Zhong Shenxiu stood behind Coulson, and the scene before him suddenly reminded him of his first days in prison, when he had just seen on television that Tony Stark, the infamous playboy, had disappeared. It was then he first realized he had arrived in the world of Marvel.

Time truly flies, he thought; in just three months, he had gone from a death row inmate to being known as the “Miracle Doctor of New York.” All his plans were progressing steadily. Now, with the main plot of the Marvel world about to truly begin, he wondered just how much of a storm his fluttering butterfly wings might stir...

A sudden hiss—the sound of hydraulic rods releasing air—broke the silence as the yellow ramp slowly lowered, forming a sloping path. Two figures gradually appeared in the yawning space of the cargo hold, revealed from the top down.

On the left stood Colonel Rhodes, clad in camouflage fatigues. He was not the Rhodes from Iron Man 1, but rather the leaner, sharper figure more familiar to later moviegoers, his eyes bright and keen.

On the right stood the globally renowned billionaire, playboy, and genius inventor: Tony Stark.

Tony still looked young then, with few lines on his face. His signature goatee was neatly trimmed—clearly, even in a military transport, he had found a barber. His wavy hair was slicked back into an imperfect side part, and he wore a suit whose fabric shouted luxury. His right arm was in a deep blue sling, hanging from his neck.

He walked with a slight unsteadiness, supported by Colonel Rhodes, and slowly made his way down the now-sloped yellow ramp. Tony’s complexion was pale, and faint, healing scars could still be seen on his face.

Yet even now, he was as flamboyant and witty as ever. When he saw the stretcher being wheeled over by the soldiers, he waved it away, joking, “Come on, what’s that for? Get it out of here!”

Then he straightened up, squared his shoulders, and, facing Pepper, he lifted the corners of his mouth and puckered his lips in his trademark confident smile. “Red eyes? Feeling sorry for your missing boss?”

“I’m happy, actually. Means I don’t have to look for a new job,” Pepper replied with a sniff and a smile.

“Right, time to get to work—” Tony had barely started speaking when Coulson, ever the professional, interrupted their reunion. He addressed Tony Stark, “Mr. Stark, we’re from S.H.I.E.L.D. We’re here to offer you medical treatment.”

“Treatment? I don’t need treatment!” Tony immediately dropped his good-natured banter with Pepper and retorted to Coulson, heading toward the Rolls Royce beside Happy.

Before Coulson could move, Pepper reached out to block Tony’s path. “Tony, you have to accept treatment. I heard your condition is very...”

Tony stopped, cutting her off. “There’s nothing I have to do. Heard from them? I know my own body better than anyone. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’ve been locked up for three months and I want to do two things.”

“One, eat a cheeseburger. And two—”

“Hold a press conference?” A sudden voice cut in, drawing both Tony’s and Pepper’s attention to the figure standing behind Coulson.

It was Zhong Shenxiu, who had until now remained silent. Tony regarded this exceedingly young, almost excessively handsome man with surprise. Though taken aback by his words, Tony’s expression didn’t falter; he quipped to Coulson, “Does your S.H.I.E.L.D. hire child labor now?”

Child labor... Even Zhong Shenxiu couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the jab. Indeed, at this stage, Tony was still far from the hero who would one day sacrifice himself for the world; he was more the arrogant, reckless, sharp-tongued playboy.

Zhong Shenxiu took a steadying breath, restraining the impulse to retort, and continued, “Hold a press conference to announce the closure of Stark Industries’ weapons development and sales division. Am I right, Tony Stark?”

This statement caused a commotion among those present. Pepper stared at Tony in disbelief, looking from him to Zhong Shenxiu repeatedly. Tony’s confident smile finally faltered. His expression darkened as he asked, “How did you know?”

“A guess,” Zhong Shenxiu replied casually.

Then he continued, “And that’s not all. I know more, Tony Stark—you’re dying.”

Pepper could no longer contain herself. “What!”

“Doctor Zhong, you have to save him,” she pleaded.

Tony, for his part, said nothing. The arrogance on his face was gone, replaced by a shifting, uncertain look.

Coulson, seeing how Zhong Shenxiu had seized control of the situation he himself had been powerless to manage, was only too happy to step back, giving the stage to Zhong Shenxiu.

Go on, show us your skills.

“Of course. That’s exactly why I’m here—to save Mr. Stark,” Zhong Shenxiu replied to Pepper with a polite smile.

With that promise, Pepper let out a great sigh of relief. Tony, watching all this, looked puzzled. He couldn’t understand why Pepper would put such faith in this young man.

“Who is he?” Tony asked Pepper.

“His name is Zhong Shenxiu—he’s become a famous miracle doctor in New York recently. They say he can cure illnesses even Strange couldn’t,” Pepper explained.

Tony certainly knew Strange—the world-famous neurosurgeon.

But... he suddenly felt at a loss to make sense of the world. He’d only been gone three months, and now everything seemed upside down. This young man, who looked barely out of college, was being called a miracle doctor?

Tony simply couldn’t make sense of it.