Chapter 26
Stark Industries Headquarters Top Floor Office
Tony Stark raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Yang Jian's.
"Alright, time to honor the promise." Tony set the glass down and stood up.
"Come with me."
Yang Jian gave a slight smile and followed him out of the office.
Outside, employees cast curious glances one after another.
A stranger had suddenly emerged from Tony's private office—and he clearly wasn't ordinary.
"Tony?" Pepper Potts was in the middle of receiving a report from a subordinate. Seeing this scene, she immediately hurried over.
"Who is this?"
Before she could finish asking, Tony clapped his hands sharply, drawing the attention of the entire floor.
"Everyone!" He gestured toward Yang Jian.
"Starting today, this is Mr. Yang Jian—he will be the second-largest shareholder of Stark Industries."
The entire floor fell instantly silent.
Yang Jian smiled politely and nodded to the crowd: "Pleased to join Stark Industries."
Pepper's eyes widened in shock. She quickly walked to Tony's side, first extending her hand politely to Yang Jian: "Mr. Yang, welcome."
Then she lowered her voice and hissed through gritted teeth at Tony: "Tony, what is this? When was this decided? Why didn't you inform me about something this big?"
Tony shrugged: "I'm the majority shareholder. I call the shots."
He patted Pepper on the shoulder. "I'll explain later. Right now, business."
With that, he led Yang Jian toward the lab area, leaving behind a bewildered Pepper and whispering employees.
Biotech Laboratory
In the spacious lab, various precision instruments glowed softly.
An Asian female researcher was focused on holographic projection data. Her black hair fell loosely; her profile looked especially refined under the blue light.
"Dr. Cho." Tony knocked on the doorframe.
Helen Cho looked up. Seeing Tony and Yang Jian, she gave a small smile: "Mr. Stark."
"Let me introduce." Tony pointed at Yang Jian.
"This is Yang Jian, Stark Industries' new second-largest shareholder."
A trace of surprise flashed in Helen Cho's eyes. Her gaze lingered on Yang Jian for a few seconds.
"Mr. Yang." She extended her hand.
Yang Jian shook it: "Dr. Cho, I've heard great things about the Regeneration Cradle."
"You're familiar with biotechnology too?" Helen Cho asked curiously.
"A little."
Yang Jian's gaze swept over the experimental report in her hand. In almost an instant, his super brain had parsed every piece of data.
He pointed at a parameter on the holographic projection: "The cell regeneration rate here can be improved by another 37%. If you adjust the molecular structure like this…"
His fingers traced several trajectories on the AI projection. A brand-new molecular model formed instantly.
Helen Cho and Tony both froze.
"This!"
Helen Cho stared at the model; her eyes gradually lit up. "This really solves our current biggest bottleneck!"
Tony looked at Yang Jian with an odd expression: "Yang, when did you learn biotechnology?"
"Just now." Yang Jian replied calmly.
Tony rolled his eyes: "Ha, hilarious."
Helen Cho, however, laughed. Her gaze toward Yang Jian gained a few extra sparks of interest: "Mr. Yang, you really do have sharp insights."
"You two chat first." Tony checked his watch.
"I still have a reactor to calibrate."
He shot Yang Jian a knowing look—you know the drill—and turned to leave the lab.
Over the next few hours, Yang Jian and Helen Cho dove deeply into improving the Regeneration Cradle technology.
Every suggestion he made struck directly at core problems, even optimizing the entire system's energy utilization rate.
"This algorithm!"
Helen Cho stared at the jumping data on the holographic screen, exclaiming: "It's simply perfect!"
She turned to Yang Jian, eyes sparkling with excitement: "Mr. Yang, are you really just 'a little' familiar?"
Yang Jian smiled: "Maybe a little more than a little."
Helen Cho laughed softly. She tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear: "I wonder if you'd be interested in…"
Just then, the lab door suddenly opened. Tony poked his head in: "Sorry to interrupt. Shareholder meeting in five minutes."
He glanced at the subtle atmosphere between them and raised an eyebrow: "Am I interrupting?"
Helen Cho composed herself and gave a light cough: "We were just discussing technical improvements."
"Of course, of course." Tony smirked at Yang Jian.
"But a shareholder meeting can't be late—especially for the new shareholder."
Yang Jian nodded and said to Helen Cho: "I'll treat you to dinner later."
"Sounds good." Helen Cho smiled.
Tony watched the way they looked at each other and couldn't help shaking his head: "I knew this would happen."
Corridor
Tony walked while elbowing Yang Jian lightly, lowering his voice and winking: "So? Dr. Cho never goes out to eat with anyone. Looks like you two are moving fast?"
Yang Jian gave him a faint glance: "Just okay."
Tony immediately showed a grin that all men understand and patted his shoulder: "See? Efficiency on point."
The two soon reached the conference room door. Tony pushed it open. Inside, Stark Industries shareholders and executives were already seated.
All eyes turned toward them instantly—especially narrowing when they saw the unfamiliar Yang Jian.
"Everyone."
Tony placed both hands on the conference table, tone relaxed: "Let me introduce—this is Mr. Yang Jian. Starting today, he will be the second-largest shareholder of Stark Industries."
The room instantly buzzed with low murmurs.
A middle-aged shareholder with gold-rimmed glasses couldn't hold back: "Mr. Stark, this Mr. Yang…"
Tony waved his hand directly: "I'm the majority shareholder. If I say he's qualified, he's qualified."
Yang Jian scanned the room calmly and spoke: "Everyone, I have no interest in day-to-day management. Shares are just shares." He paused. "Continue working as you always have."
The conference room fell dead silent.
Yang Jian's gaze swept across every face, then he said lightly: "Then it's decided."
No one spoke.
Tony shrugged and turned to leave: "Meeting adjourned!"
Yang Jian followed him out. Behind them came the suppressed murmurs of shareholders, but no one dared stand up to object.
Corridor
Tony gave an approving look: "Honestly, your presence is even more domineering than mine was ten years ago."
Yang Jian shrugged: "Just like that."
Tony laughed loudly and slung an arm around his shoulders: "Come on, let me buy you a drink to celebrate the new shareholder!"
"Drinking's fine, but I've got some things to handle." Yang Jian checked his watch.
Tony gave a mischievous eyebrow raise: "Got it. Scientific exchange is more important."
He deliberately emphasized the word "exchange."
Yang Jian ignored his teasing and turned toward the biotech lab.
Through the glass wall, he could see Helen Cho explaining the Regeneration Cradle molecular model to her team. Under her white coat, a glimpse of navy skirt hem showed.
She looked up just in time to see Yang Jian outside the door. Her explanation speed subtly increased without missing a beat.
Five Minutes Later
The rest of the lab team tactfully left with their data pads.
"I thought the shareholder meeting would take much longer." Helen Cho removed her safety goggles.
"Michelin three-star, top-floor view." He took her discarded lab coat and hung it up.
"The chef specially prepared a gourmet version of Korean bibimbap."
Helen Cho burst out laughing. She took perfume from her bag and lightly sprayed her wrist: "Looks like a certain genius shareholder even researched my papers?"
A faint magnolia scent drifted from her. Yang Jian reached out and pressed the elevator button: "A little."
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