-
In the dark corners of the BBC television station, a plan was quietly being set in motion.
"She actually gave up someone as charming as you for that little intern?" Flora scoffed, her voice oozing mockery as she massaged John's feet without the slightest sign of disgust. "I honestly don't know what she's thinking."
John leaned back in his leather chair, a smug grin creeping across his face. He enjoyed this—being praised, worshiped, adored, even if only for show.
Flora's tactics were simple but effective. Cozy up to those in power, feed their egos, and they'd toss her the scraps she needed to rise. Without them, she'd never have landed a spot at BBC, let alone held it.
"Well, you're not wrong," John murmured in satisfaction, raising an eyebrow at her.
She met his gaze without blinking. He understood that look. She wasn't doing this for nothing.
Fine. He could play his part.
"I'll speak with the higher-ups," John said coolly. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be in charge of covering Superman stories. Susan's out."
Flora's eyes lit up with triumph, but she said nothing, just smiled.
"Now, help me take my mind off things," John said, his voice low and expectant.
A flash of revulsion crossed Flora's eyes—but only for a second. Then she lowered her gaze and did what she always did best.
And so, the quiet conspiracy against Susan began to unfold behind closed doors, concealed beneath ambition, lust, and the toxic scent of power.
---
Meanwhile, across the city—
Lin Feng, after several days of peace and quiet, was once again drawn into the chaos of the Marvel world.
He was lounging on his apartment couch when the television lit up with the live broadcast of a Senate hearing. On the screen stood none other than Tony Stark, confidently deflecting demands that he surrender his Iron Man technology to the U.S. government.
The headline running across the bottom of the screen made Lin Feng sit up straight.
"Stark Called to Testify Over Iron Man Suit. Government Demands Accountability."
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes.
So it's finally here. Iron Man 2.
Which meant one thing—Tony Stark was already suffering from palladium poisoning, a deadly side-effect of the very arc reactor that kept him alive.
In the original timeline, Tony had been gradually deteriorating, and now—with his increased suit usage and public appearances—the toxins in his bloodstream were likely worse than before. The symptoms would already be taking their toll: fatigue, emotional volatility, physical weakness.
Tony's pride wouldn't let him admit it, especially now that someone else—Superman—was sharing the spotlight. The pressure to keep up appearances must be unbearable.
Lin Feng stood up.
He didn't need the system to tell him what to do. Tony Stark had helped him once. Now, it was his turn.
He grabbed his keys.
It's broad daylight. Flying there would cause too much of a stir, Lin thought. Better to drive.
He set off toward Tony's oceanfront mansion in Malibu.
When he arrived at the familiar glass-and-steel villa, he was greeted not by Tony, but by Pepper Potts—looking utterly furious.
"Hey! Pepper," Lin Feng called out, climbing the stone steps toward her. "Is Tony home?"
Pepper whipped around. Her usual calm, poised expression was gone. Her face was stormy, her posture stiff.
"Mr. Lin Feng?" she blinked, surprised. "Oh… sorry, I didn't see you."
"What's wrong?" Lin asked, sensing the tension immediately. "Did Tony do something again?"
Pepper's eyes narrowed, and she didn't hold back.
"You won't believe what that man did! He donated our entire collection of modern art. Everything!"
Lin Feng blinked. "Wait, he what?"
"Didn't even consult me! Ten years I spent curating that collection—ten years! And he gives it all away to the Boy Scouts of America or some nonsense like that!"
She looked like she might explode.
Lin Feng scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Wow… yeah, that's… that's a move."
"I'm going in there," Pepper growled. "He needs to explain himself. Right. Now."
She turned to march into the villa, heels clacking furiously—but Lin Feng stepped in front of her, holding up a hand.
"Wait, Pepper. There's something you need to know," he said gently.
She stopped short. "What now?"
"Tony's… not himself lately," Lin Feng said carefully. "He's sick."
"Sick?" Pepper's brows rose. "What, he caught something on the magazine cover he was dating?"
"No, seriously." Lin Feng pointed to his own chest, drawing a circle with his finger. "It's the arc reactor."
Pepper frowned, her expression softening slightly. "The arc reactor? But that's what's keeping him alive."
"Yeah," Lin said grimly. "And it's killing him at the same time."
He explained how the reactor's palladium core was slowly poisoning Tony's blood. Without a new element to replace it, Tony's body was steadily deteriorating.
Pepper paled. "Oh my god… why didn't he say anything?"
"Because he's Tony Stark," Lin said quietly. "He thinks he can fix everything on his own."
"I have to see him," she said, turning back toward the door.
Lin Feng stepped in again. "Wait, let me go first. I have something that might help."
"You… have a cure?"
"Sort of. I'll need your help, though. Can you bring me a pot of hot water and two cups?"
Pepper blinked. "That's it?"
Lin smiled. "Trust me."
---
Inside the villa's underground workshop, Tony Stark sat slouched in a chair, a glass of green liquid in hand. He stared at it with disdain.
"Ugh. How much of this sludge do I have to drink?"
He tipped the chlorophyll juice down his throat, wincing. His hands trembled slightly as he grabbed a small sensor and pressed it to his skin.
"Blood toxin level: 43%," said JARVIS in a calm British tone.
"Fantastic," Tony muttered.
"The continued use of your suit is accelerating the spread of toxins, sir."
"I'm aware, JARVIS."
Tony sighed, popping open his arc reactor casing and replacing the core with a fresh one. He stared at the black spider-vein pattern on his chest and felt a moment of helplessness. For a man who could build flying weapons out of spare parts, this—this—was something he couldn't solve.
"Sir," JARVIS chimed in again. "Mr. Lin Feng has arrived."
Tony blinked. "Lin? What's he doing here?"
Before he could ask further, Lin Feng strode through the door.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Chlorophyll," Lin said with a grin.
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You want a sip, Superman?"
"I'll pass. I prefer tea."
"Tea?" Tony scoffed. "I'm dying here and you brought tea?"
"Not just any tea," Lin Feng said, already pulling him up by the arm. "This one's got some real kick."
Tony gave in, letting Lin drag him upstairs. "I swear, if you make me drink something bitter—"
"It's better than bitter green juice, trust me."
---
In the living room, Pepper returned with a tray and set down the steaming kettle and two cups.
"Oh," Tony blinked. "You're here too?"
Pepper crossed her arms.
Tony looked to Lin Feng for backup.
"Uh… did you… tell her?" Tony asked awkwardly.
"She figured it out," Lin replied.
Tony turned back to Pepper. "Okay. Yeah. I've been a little… off lately."
"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, eyes wet with unshed tears.
"Because it's not your burden," Tony said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't want to worry you."
"You think that's your call?" Pepper snapped.
Tony winced. "Look, I'm trying to fix it—"
"You also donated my art collection!"
Tony held up his hands. "That was for a tax break—okay no, it was a mistake. I admit it."
"Unbelievable," Pepper muttered.
Tony sighed, suddenly exhausted. "Look, Pepper… I want to make it up to you. Starting now."
She gave him a skeptical look.
"I want you to be the CEO of Stark Industries."
There was a beat of stunned silence.
"Wait. What?" Pepper blinked.
"I'm serious. Effective immediately. You're in charge now."
---
Chapter 23 — "Little Pepper's Anger, The Truth Comes Out"
Pepper stared at Tony like he had just grown a second arc reactor.
"Are you… drunk?"
Tony lifted his chlorophyll juice. "Only on green sludge."
Pepper blinked again. "You're really serious?"
Tony nodded. "Look, if anything happens to me—and I'm not saying it will—but if it does… Stark Industries needs someone with vision, with heart, with intelligence. That's you."
Lin Feng stepped aside, letting the moment unfold between them.
Pepper's lower lip trembled. "Why now?"
"Because I trust you," Tony said simply. "And because you deserve it."
She sat down slowly, the weight of the moment hitting her all at once.
Lin Feng poured two cups of tea. "To new beginnings," he said.
Pepper nodded faintly, lifting her cup. "To truth."
And for the first time in a long while, despite the toxins in his blood and the fear gnawing at his mind, Tony Stark smiled.
He wasn't alone.
And maybe, just maybe… he didn't have to face death on his own terms.