It hadn't even been ten minutes since Lin Feng's spectacular cosmic duel, but Tony Stark already knew everything.
Of course he did.
Lin Feng stood by the glass windows of his villa, peering into the night sky. A strange thought occurred to him—was Tony secretly monitoring him? The timing was too perfect.
Just then, his phone buzzed again. This time it wasn't a message—it was a direct call. The familiar, cocky voice on the other end didn't even bother with greetings.
"Lin, did you seriously take your girlfriend on a date in outer space?" Tony Stark's voice dripped with amusement, the background hum of the Iron Man workshop humming faintly behind him.
God only knew what Tony's face looked like when Jarvis showed him the satellite images.
"Was this your idea of a romantic getaway? Superman Cosmic Wars?" Tony continued, his voice a blend of admiration and exasperation. "I've gotta say, Lin, you're starting to make me believe you are a monster."
Lin Feng chuckled. "You saw that?"
"No way I could miss it," Tony snorted. "Just so happens Stark Industries has a satellite in the neighborhood. Right place, right time."
"Then I should thank you for not having that satellite accidentally smashed," Lin Feng replied with a grin.
"You're lucky it didn't get obliterated by your light show," Tony replied. "That satellite cost a fortune."
Lin Feng smirked. "Hey, I have excellent aim. Besides, Stark Industries owns some of my shares now. Why would I damage my own satellite?"
Tony huffed. "You got me there."
"But you're right about one thing," Lin Feng added, glancing at the horizon with a peculiar look. "Tonight really was unforgettable. For a moment, I thought that cosmic beast was something you cooked up as a surprise."
On the other end, Tony rolled his eyes. "Come on, man, don't insult my taste. If I wanted to surprise you, it wouldn't be with a glowing space monster. You know I go for style."
"I remember what I told you," Tony added, shifting tones. "The real surprise I prepared is waiting for you at your villa."
Lin Feng raised a brow. "For real?"
"Yep. Let's just say your girlfriend's going to love it. You'll thank me later."
Lin Feng was intrigued. What exactly had Mr. Stark cooked up this time?
But then Tony's voice turned serious, his tone dropping to something far more grounded.
"By the way, Lin… listen carefully."
The change caught Lin Feng's attention.
"I called to give you a heads-up," Tony said. "Be cautious of the guys from the J-side."
"You mean—?"
"Yeah," Tony confirmed. "That satellite image wasn't just captured by Stark Industries. Others saw it too. And those guys aren't the type to leave anomalies alone."
Tony paused briefly. "You've got powers that defy everything they understand. And you're not on a leash. That makes them nervous. Very nervous."
Lin Feng frowned, the amusement in his eyes fading.
Tony wasn't just talking as a friend—he was warning him as someone who had seen the darker gears of the global machine turning behind closed doors.
"I get it," Lin Feng said quietly. "Thanks, Tony. I'll be careful."
"As long as you're aware," Tony replied. "If anything happens, call me. Immediately."
The line went dead.
Lin Feng stood still for a long moment, the shadows of doubt creeping across his expression.
Was the U.S. government really already watching him?
He narrowed his eyes. Whatever they were planning, if they thought conventional weapons could take him down, they were sorely mistaken. Only high-yield weapons might pose even a minor threat.
Still… it didn't hurt to be sure.
"Hey, dog system! Get your lazy digital tail out here!" Lin Feng called out into the air.
A groggy, slightly annoyed voice echoed in his mind. "Ugh, what is it? Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"You're a system. You don't sleep," Lin Feng retorted.
"Well maybe I evolved, ever think of that?" the system snapped back.
Lin Feng ignored the sass. "I have a question. Can I survive a nuclear bomb now?"
Silence.
Then the system's voice jumped to a more excited register. "Oho? Now that's interesting. You're asking the right questions tonight!"
"You've got a Superman physique, remember?" the system said smugly. "You're not just tough—you're practically indestructible. But if you want to take it up a notch…"
"Don't sell me insurance," Lin Feng warned.
"Too late!" the system declared. "Upgrade to Silver Superman and you'll laugh in the face of a nuclear blast! You'll feel like you're taking a stroll through a summer breeze."
"Silver Superman, huh…" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.
Now that was tempting.
He already knew the legend. Silver Age Superman had powers that defied logic—moving planets, reversing time, even sneezing suns out of orbit. If he reached that level, not even the Pentagon would dare touch him.
"How much reputation do I need?" he asked.
"One hundred million prestige points for the base upgrade."
Lin Feng's jaw dropped. "Are you running a black-market pawn shop?"
The system sniffed. "Not at all. Each power costs 10 million prestige individually—and those don't even grow. Silver Superman gives you growth. Value for your investment, host!"
"Still sounds like a scam."
"Abilities aren't expensive. You're just poor. Dog host."
Lin Feng rolled his eyes. He took a deep breath. Arguing with the system was like punching fog—it only got more smug the more frustrated he got.
"How many points do I have now?"
"8.7 million," the system reported. "Mainly from public rescues and fan following. Your online presence is booming. Keep it up and you'll hit 100 million in no time—maybe by the time Avengers 2 rolls around."
Lin Feng scanned the numbers. Something was missing.
"Wait, what about the reputation from tonight's battle? Shouldn't that count?"
"You just finished fighting, genius," the system said. "Give the media time to catch up. You think CNN uploads live space battles instantly?"
Lin Feng sighed. "Fine…"
---
Later that night, back on Earth, the city skyline glimmered like jewels scattered across black velvet. Susan had already returned with him to the villa after a long day.
But as they approached the front gate, Susan gasped.
The entire front lawn was transformed into a sea of color.
Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of fresh red roses blanketed the estate, blooming under delicate multicolored lights that danced across petals like stars.
"Lin…" Susan whispered, stunned. "What is this?"
Lin Feng stared for a moment, genuinely surprised.
That was the surprise Tony had mentioned.
As always, Iron Man never did anything small.
"This guy…" Lin Feng muttered, a little overwhelmed himself. "Does he own a flower farm?"
Susan didn't answer. She was already running barefoot into the soft sea of roses, laughing like a child. Her joy lit up the night more brightly than the lights overhead.
Watching her twirl, her hair catching the light and her eyes shining, Lin Feng silently thanked Tony Stark.
Best wingman on Earth.
"Hey, Susan!" he called out, grinning.
She came skipping back toward him, cheeks flushed and breathless. "Yes?"
"You like it?"
"I love it!" she beamed. "Thank your friend for me—what did you call him again? Gou Dahu?"
Lin Feng laughed. "Close enough."
"Come on!" she tugged him toward a circular rose wreath near the entrance. "Let's take a picture together!"
She held out her phone and flipped the front camera, only to frown.
"Lin! You're too tall. I can only get half your face!"
Chuckling, Lin Feng bent down and gently took the phone from her hands. "Here, let me."
He wrapped one arm around her waist as they leaned in close, capturing a moment that was part cosmic fairy tale, part flower-drenched dream.
Susan's face was glowing in the image, her joy as radiant as the lights around them.
After the photo, Lin Feng didn't move away.
"Susan," he said softly. "I have a gift for you."
With a magician's flair, he flipped his hand—and in a flash of silver light, revealed an exquisite necklace.
The chain shimmered like starlight, and hanging from it was a rare translucent gem that glowed with a faint grass-green halo, as if it held the essence of dawn within.
Susan's eyes widened.
"Lin… It's beautiful…" she whispered, almost afraid to touch it.
"It's for you," he said, voice low but sincere. "Because in my eyes, nothing is more precious than you."
Her breath caught.
She turned away, bashful. "Wouldn't this be… too expensive?"
Lin Feng shook his head with a smile. "It's priceless. And it belongs with you."
Susan slowly lifted her hair, revealing her graceful neck.
Lin Feng stepped forward and clasped the necklace around her, his fingers brushing gently across her skin.
The gem shimmered faintly against her collarbone, like it was responding to her presence.
Unbeknownst to her, it was no ordinary necklace. Crafted in the mystical forests of Elfheim, the gem had formed over a century from the essence of the Tree of Life. It would quietly enhance her health, sharpen her senses, and calm her spirit.
But Lin Feng said none of that.
He simply looked at her, as the moonlight wrapped around them both.
Another night in New York. Another unsettled heart.
And for the first time in a long time, Lin Feng didn't feel like he was alone in the world.
---