Chapter 28
Morning
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains into the bedroom.
Helen Cho lazily rolled over. Her fingertips brushed against the firm chest beside her.
She opened her eyes slightly and met Yang Jian's half-smiling, half-teasing gaze.
"Morning." He reached out and gently brushed the strands of hair from her cheek.
Helen Cho's ears turned faintly red, but she deliberately put on a straight face: "Some guy who claims to be Superman was showing off his heat vision quite a bit last night."
Yang Jian chuckled low, his thumb gently stroking the skin at the small of her back: "And didn't a certain top scientist verify it very seriously?"
Helen Cho swatted his hand away, wrapped herself in the bedsheet, and sat up: "I have to get to the lab. The Regeneration Cradle project is testing new parameters today."
She stepped barefoot onto the carpet, bent down to pick up the scattered clothes, and was suddenly embraced from behind.
Yang Jian rested his chin on her shoulder; his breath brushed against the side of her neck: "Want me to fly you there?"
"No thanks, Mr. Superman." Helen Cho turned around and poked his chest.
"Some people flying around are way too flashy." She slipped on her shirt, then suddenly remembered something.
"Right—about the derivation of the cell activity formula…"
"Find me anytime." Yang Jian leaned against the headboard. A coffee cup floated to his hand via bio-field.
Helen Cho paused while buttoning her shirt, then suddenly stepped back quickly, cupped his face, and planted a firm kiss on his lips: "I'm off!"
The moment the door closed, Yang Jian's super hearing caught the sound of her humming as she stepped into the elevator.
He took a sip of coffee. His watch projected Origin's holographic image.
"Sir, incoming call from Natasha."
A faint red glow flashed in Yang Jian's eyes: "Finally."
Yang Jian set down the coffee cup. Origin drew a holographic projection in the air.
Natasha's image appeared; the background was a white corridor in S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Boss, Captain America is awake." Her speech was rapid.
"He knocked out agents and escaped the medical ward, but Clint intercepted him in Corridor B. He's now in the lounge."
"Captain America?"
Natasha continued: "The moment he saw modern equipment, he went into combat mode. Are you coming over?"
"See you in a bit."
The call cut off. Yang Jian's figure vanished from the apartment.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters Lounge Room
Steve Rogers sat on a metal chair, knuckles white as he gripped a faded old photograph. Coulson was patiently explaining:
"Captain Rogers, it is now 2008. You've been asleep for nearly seventy years…"
"A date."
Steve suddenly interrupted, voice hoarse. "I promised her a dance."
The room rippled with distortion.
Natasha had just lowered her communicator when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Whoosh!
Yang Jian appeared without warning half a meter in front of Steve. The air didn't even have time to ripple.
Three weapons cocked simultaneously.
Natasha's Widow's Bite, Hawkeye's folding bow, and Coulson's special handgun instantly aimed at the sudden figure.
"Relax."
Yang Jian raised a hand in a calming gesture, eyes locked on Steve: "It's me."
The three sucked in sharp breaths and quickly lowered their weapons.
Natasha's earpiece crackled with panicked security questions. She replied quickly: "Stand down. Friendly."
Steve shot to his feet. The metal chair scraped loudly across the floor.
His piercing blue eyes fixed warily on Yang Jian: "Another superhuman?"
"Something like that." Yang Jian extended his hand.
"Yang Jian."
Captain America hesitated for a moment, then shook it.
"Your shield is in the lab downstairs. I figured you'd want it." Yang Jian said suddenly.
"Need Coulson to bring it up?"
Steve froze: "How did you know I was thinking about that?"
"Super hearing." Yang Jian tapped his ear.
"Your heartbeat gave you away. Welcome to the 21st century, Captain America."
Coulson excitedly pulled out his treasured Captain America trading card: "See! I told you—the boss's powers are basically god-tier!"
Natasha quickly pressed down on Coulson's arm and explained to Steve: "This is the true controller of S.H.I.E.L.D.—Mr. Yang Jian."
Steve hesitated for a moment, then finally followed.
Though this mysterious man was a stranger, for some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of trust.
Lab 3
The vibranium shield gleamed under the lights. Steve's fingers traced the familiar star-spangled pattern; his knuckles tightened unconsciously.
"Thank you." He said quietly, but his gaze remained fixed on Yang Jian.
"So what is S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"The successor to the Strategic Scientific Reserve." Natasha answered timely.
"Founded with the help of Agent Peggy Carter."
At the mention of that name, Steve's pupils contracted slightly.
He silently rubbed the leather strap on the edge of the shield, as if touching a distant promise.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore." He suddenly spoke.
"This world is too strange."
Yang Jian leaned against the lab bench: "Work with them."
He pointed at Natasha and the others. "Join S.H.I.E.L.D. You'll get unexpected benefits."
Steve sharply noticed Yang Jian's wording: "Them? You're not part of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"I'm just an ordinary person. But they follow my orders."
Yang Jian looked at him: "But if you join, there's one condition."
"You only answer to me?" Steve interrupted, brows furrowed.
"That doesn't sound like a legitimate organization."
The lab air suddenly froze.
Hawkeye's fingers unconsciously moved toward his quiver; Natasha's breathing paused slightly.
Yang Jian, however, laughed: "Would Hydra make you sign an employment contract?"
He straightened up: "The choice is yours, Captain. Stay and follow my orders, or walk out that door right now. We won't stop you."
With that, he turned and left. Natasha and the others exchanged glances and quickly followed.
The heavy blast door slowly closed in front of Steve, leaving him alone amid the wall of surveillance screens.
A 1940s radio broadcast played silently on one screen. In the black-and-white footage, Peggy Carter was reading the Strategic Scientific Reserve's declaration.
His fingers dug deeply into the leather strap on the shield's edge.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters Director's Office
Yang Jian sat in the black leather chair that once belonged to Nick Fury, fingertips lightly tapping the desk.
Outside the window, New York's morning light poured in.
Natasha, Coulson, and Hawkeye stood in front of the desk, expressions varied.
Coulson's gaze kept drifting to the now-empty spot on the wall where Fury's eyepatch portrait used to hang—only a single lonely nail remained.
"How's the Hydra cleanup going?" Yang Jian asked directly.
Coulson immediately pulled up the holographic projection. Dense red dots were extinguishing across the world map at visible speed: "Globally, 87% of bases have been cleared. Remaining cells are being hunted down." He adjusted his glasses. "But the Skrull problem is more complicated."
The projection switched. Hundreds of green dots spread like a virus across government institutions in various countries.
"Latest shared intel from the alliance," Natasha said, arms crossed and leaning against the desk edge.
"1,000 near the British House of Commons, 100 confirmed in the Pentagon—even the White House chef."
She continued the report.
"Good news is S.H.I.E.L.D. internal purge is complete—thanks to your detectors, boss."
Hawkeye suddenly snorted: "If Fury knew his S.H.I.E.L.D. had become a Skrull nest, that black face of his would probably turn white from anger."
Yang Jian's gaze swept over the three: "Origin has taken over the global surveillance system. It will lock onto every infiltrator."
He tapped lightly with a finger; the office's bulletproof glass suddenly fogged over. "As for you three…"
The three unconsciously straightened their backs.
"Natasha takes over field operations. Clint handles agent training." Yang Jian's gaze finally landed on Coulson.
"And you—wait a minute. Our Captain has arrived."
The office door was suddenly pushed open.
Captain America stood in the doorway, shield strapped to his back.
His gaze swept over Yang Jian sitting in the director's chair; complex emotions surged in his blue eyes.
"I'm in." Steve said firmly.
"But on one condition."
Yang Jian leaned slightly back; the chair creaked faintly.
"Let's hear it."
"When your orders go against my principles," Steve said word by word.
"I reserve the right to refuse."
"What are your principles?" Yang Jian asked.
Steve looked straight at Yang Jian: "I will not raise a hand against innocent civilians."
The office fell so silent a pin could be heard dropping.
Yang Jian suddenly laughed.
"Deal. Your enemies will exceed anything you can imagine."
He stood up. "Perfect timing—I have a welcome gift for you."
"Director Coulson." Yang Jian tossed over a serum vial.
"Prepare to welcome our new ally."
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