"I heard you want to complete the Regeneration Cradle project? I read your report—it's quite imaginative."
In the face of Helen Cho's admiration, Aaron showed little sign of emotion and spoke kindly.
As soon as her own project came up, Helen Cho became animated. "Mr. Aaron, please—support me in my Regeneration Cradle project. Once it succeeds, maybe we can create robots that look and act like humans to work for us in the future."
"Not only that—we could use it for healing severe injuries, cultivating tissues and organs, rebuilding the human body…technology you usually only see in sci-fi."
"This project combines cutting-edge nanotech, genetics, AI, and so on. Right now, only your Oscorp—and maybe Stark Industries—could provide the advanced equipment and manpower I need. Trust me. Give me time and I won't let you down!"
Helen Cho was clearly confident in her achievements. Although still theoretical, she believed she had a seventy percent chance of success. The remaining thirty percent would require extra funding, equipment, and technical support. She didn't want to abandon this chance to prove herself. She was fed up with the poor research environment back home.
Aaron nodded. "I agree."
Helen Cho was still describing the bright future of her project: "Please just give me some more time, I…I—wait, you agree?!"
She stared blankly. She hadn't expected him to just say yes so casually. She'd prepared for Aaron to reject her outright, even planning on "persuading" him if necessary, but…he'd said yes immediately.
"Your project will be very tough to put into practice, but I quite admire you," Aaron said openly, letting his gaze linger. Embarrassed, Helen Cho lowered her head, hands fiddling on the table.
"Maybe after this we could catch a movie, have dinner, and then find someplace comfortable to talk. Sound good?"
No need to cultivate feelings or beat around the bush—he liked to be direct. They were both adults; no point wasting time with detours.
Helen Cho's face flushed red. She hesitated, then slowly nodded.
Just then, the sound of a helicopter's rotors caused a stir outside the café. Curious onlookers watched as a transport helicopter slowly set down in an open area. Norman got off the chopper.
Helen Cho, preoccupied, didn't notice. Aaron glimpsed Norman outside, looking through several obstacles with his enhanced vision.
"Looks like our afternoon movie will have to wait," he said. Helen Cho seemed confused—and a bit disappointed?
"But would you like to come with me to see some big toys?"
"Huh?"
"Fighter jets."
…
Meanwhile, over at Stark Tower…
Tony Stark had just escaped the arms of two lovely ladies to get some work done at the company. But upon seeing the torrent of headlines about Aaron, he ripped off his sunglasses and drew closer to read, then turned to Happy.
"Is it April Fools' Day?"
Happy checked his phone: May 21, 2010. "Sir, April Fools' was over a month ago."
"I know that!" Tony grumbled. "Maybe the bored media decided to have their own personal 'April Fools' Day' today while I wasn't looking!"
Pointing at the giant headlines, he said, "Look at this—saying my father Howard is outshined by Aaron is one thing, but now they say I can't compare to him? Ridiculous!"
"Damn it, mark down which outlet said that—The Daily Bugle? Fine, next time we hold a press conference or product launch, they're not invited!"
Happy pondered, "I don't think we've ever invited them before?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "We didn't in the past, we won't now, we never will."
"Got it!" Happy dutifully jotted a note. Tony could only shake his head.
Just then, Pepper came in with a file, followed by a redheaded woman. Tony's attention locked onto her instantly.
"Looks like a new employee I haven't met. I don't even know her name."
"She's Natalie Rushman, from Legal, and she also represents a potentially very expensive sexual-harassment lawsuit," Pepper said pointedly, knowing Tony's attitude all too well. "If you give her any more of those looks, we'll be seeing each other in court, and I won't be hiring a lawyer for you."
"I think I need a new assistant anyway. Happy, what do you think?" Tony ignored Pepper's warning.
Happy glanced between Tony and Pepper, silently touching the wedding ring he'd bought back in '08 and kept in his pocket. He just turned away: I'm not getting involved…
Tony was about to say more when Pepper brandished a document. "Norman at Oscorp had them send a formal invitation for an upcoming expo about human health and biomedicine."
"Tell him I'm busy!" Tony refused without hesitation. His mood, lifted by the earlier female company, was ruined by the mention of "Oscorp."
"They've got nothing of value. Their products couldn't even carry my inventions' shoes!" Tony proclaimed smugly. "When are they holding it? It might be time for Stark Industries to host another expo."
Happy couldn't help noting, "But we just ended our last expo at the start of this month."
"So it's been a month? That's ages! Don't you see, with one month of my inventions, we can set Aaron back by a decade!" Tony hated anyone stealing his limelight—especially those who said Aaron's brains might rival or surpass his.
Ever since Tony declared "I am Iron Man" at that press conference late last year, Stark Industries skyrocketed, leaving other companies far behind. From that day, there were only two types of geniuses in the world: Tony Stark, and everyone else. With one man's effort, he'd revolutionized energy tech for humanity.
Aaron? Some random nobody who acquired a failing Oscorp, then climbed up Tony Stark's shoulders to fame? Ha! Maybe go run for president instead, buddy!
Natalie (secretly Natasha) half-agreed with Tony's rant. Tony Stark might be insufferable, but in her mind, Aaron was worse, so if forced, she'd side with Tony.
"Hey, the company still has some clever folks!" Tony said happily, warming up to her. Pepper just rolled her eyes and held out another file. "I think we'd better look at it."
Tony skimmed the document, then looked again, then again. His face darkened with seriousness.
"All right, I'll admit he's got some skills. But only a tiny bit!" He pinched his fingers close together.
"So are we going?" Pepper asked.
"Of course we're going! And I'll be wearing my newest invention." Tony's tone reeked of pride. "If he wants to catch up with me, he'll have to wait 'til his next life!"
~~~
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