Chapter 64: Pepper Red Appears
Just as Lan Xingyu finished speaking, his eyes were covered by Pepper Potts with a piece of cloth from who-knows-where.
"Look at you, you must have corrupted my Xingyu." Pepper Potts looked at Tony with a serious face. Tony looked back, completely bewildered.
But you couldn't blame Pepper Potts; after all, Icarus's current clothes were too inappropriate for minors. Because Icarus's current outfit was something Lan Xingyu had created based on the original work—a set of armor-like pieces that only covered the vital areas. Add to that Icarus's rule-breaking figure.
Pepper Potts's first reaction was that Tony had corrupted her precious Lan Xingyu.
Tony only now reacted. He had been so immersed in the depression of being crushed by Lan Xingyu's Prodigy-level talent that he hadn't paid much attention. Now, looking at Icarus, Tony was dazed.
"Go to hell!" Seeing Tony's expression, how could Pepper Potts not know what he was thinking? She casually pulled something out of the Spatial Ring Lan Xingyu had given her last month and slammed it onto Tony's face.
Tony was knocked straight to the ground. Pepper Potts looked curiously at the object in her hand. What was this? It felt so satisfying to hit someone with it.
She saw a handle connected to an iron disc. That's right, it was a frying pan!
At this moment, Pepper Potts seemed to have unlocked a new use for the frying pan. She gripped it and gave it a few swings, mimicking a baseball batting motion. It was surprisingly handy!
Hearing the sound of Tony being hit, Lan Xingyu pulled down the cloth Pepper Potts had placed over his face, only to see her swinging the frying pan like a baseball bat. Lan Xingyu was stunned.
Has Pepper Potts changed classes? Or did she take Hongtailang as her master? Will she use 'Unlimited Pan Works' in the future? The thought was terrifying. Lan Xingyu silently put the cloth back on. While mourning for Tony in his heart, he thought: Tony, better you than me. This scapegoat pan has already hit your face, so just take it for me.
If you die, I'll burn paper for you. May there be no frying pans in heaven.
However, Pepper Potts wasn't an unreasonable woman. The reason she didn't care if she had injured Tony was because Lan Xingyu was there. He couldn't be killed anyway!
"Xingyu, come here. Help Tony heal!" Pepper Potts said to Lan Xingyu crossly. Did you think I didn't see you take that cloth off just now?
"Okay! Sister Potts!" At this moment, Lan Xingyu was exceptionally obedient, and he even turned his passive charm to the maximum. He was afraid of becoming collateral damage.
After Lan Xingyu cast two healing spells, Tony got up. His injuries were gone. Pepper Potts asked, "Do you know what you did wrong?"
"Huh? What?" Tony was still a bit dazed. He had only vaguely seen a black object flying toward his face. He passed out before he could see it clearly. Hmm, that's right, just like the black object flying toward him now. Wait, just like the black...
Before Tony could finish his thought, he was knocked unconscious again by Pepper Potts with the pan. This time, without waiting for Pepper Potts to speak, Lan Xingyu raised his hand and cast the healing combo.
Pepper Potts gave him a look that said 'at least you're sensible,' then rewardingly patted Lan Xingyu's head before looking back at Tony.
This time Tony learned his lesson. As soon as he got up, he said, "My fault, my fault."
From this, the status of the household members was clear:
Top of the food chain: Pepper Potts
Middle of the food chain: Lan Xingyu
Bottom of the food chain: Tony
If Tony weren't unable to run, he might have already cried himself unconscious in the bathroom. After all, he was truly wronged this time.
Seeing Tony admit his mistake, Pepper Potts didn't pursue it further and took Icarus to change her clothes. Lan Xingyu originally wanted to say that Icarus could change her own outfit, but he swallowed his words.
It was better not to provoke Pepper Potts right now; besides, she would probably find out on her own.
Pepper Potts took Icarus to the room to change her clothes, but as soon as they started, she felt... Pepper had always been the 'elegant' type of beauty. What does 'elegant' mean? It's what you call ladies who don't have those great figures.
But Icarus was different; she was created by Lan Xingyu according to the original proportions. As the clothes were being changed, Pepper Potts began to feel self-conscious...
There was no helping it; some things... were truly beyond what she could possess. After all, Icarus's measurements were 88/57/85, enough to make any woman envious.
"Is Ms. Potts going to change my clothes?" Icarus asked innocently. This cute, dazed expression made Pepper Potts's original anger vanish instantly.
"Yes, but I don't seem to have any clothes that fit you here," Pepper Potts said, patting Icarus's head.
"It's okay, I have a re-equipping function." Icarus seemed to really like Pepper Potts patting her head, speaking slowly.
"Oh, you have that function too? Show me," Pepper Potts said with a face full of curiosity.
A white light emitted from Icarus's body (referencing the Fairy Queen's re-equipping), and Icarus was now in a set of normal casual clothes.
A blue hoodie completely covered her perfect body, paired with jeans on her lower half. She looked like a cute girl-next-door.
Seeing this, Pepper Potts felt a bit more relieved. It seemed her precious boy hadn't been too influenced by that guy Tony. See, these clothes are quite conservative.
When they went out, Pepper Potts was about to go make lunch when Lan Xingyu stopped her.
"Let Icarus do it! I maxed out her cooking talent points," Lan Xingyu said proudly.
While Icarus was cooking, Lan Xingyu also introduced Icarus's current state to Tony and Pepper Potts, telling them that Icarus was now equivalent to a living being with her own emotions; though they were weak, she was learning.
So he hoped Tony and Pepper Potts wouldn't treat Icarus as a robot, but rather as a member of the family.
This was naturally not a problem for Tony and Pepper Potts. After all, Icarus's level of personification was too high. Even now, they didn't feel like she was a robot.
After a day, Icarus had perfectly integrated into the household life. Now there was no need to hire cleaners or anything; Icarus handled all chores in an orderly fashion and would even brew coffee for Pepper Potts while she worked at night.
In her spare time, Icarus would sit on the floor, hugging the watermelon-like ball Lan Xingyu gave her. She seemed to be constantly contemplating something.
In just one short day, she won over Pepper Potts. The next day, Pepper Potts decided to take Icarus as her foster daughter and part-time secretary, as well as a bodyguard. Well, Amber was displaced by Icarus.
Now Amber's task was to watch the house and walk the Husky.
As for why this happened, it was because yesterday, after Pepper Potts finished the coffee Icarus brewed for her and finished her day's work, she was about to go to bed when she saw Icarus writing something on a piece of paper on the living room coffee table.
Pepper Potts went up curiously to look and found that Icarus had written the words 'Family' many times on the paper. Icarus wrote very slowly, seemingly thinking while she wrote. (Don't ask me why it's in Chinese; all Marvel stories on Qidian have Chinese, is there a problem?)
Pepper Potts asked Icarus why she was writing this. Icarus said, "I don't know. Master said I am his family, and he is mine. But I... don't know what family actually feels like..."
Seeing Icarus like this, Pepper Potts couldn't help but feel pity, just like when she first met Lan Xingyu.
She couldn't help but hug Icarus and say, "It's okay, we are all your family. I believe you will understand the meaning and feeling of family." At this moment, Pepper Potts truly understood what Lan Xingyu meant by treating Icarus as a real human being.
Icarus tilted her head and lay in Pepper Potts's arms, closing her eyes and saying enjoyably, "So warm! Is this family?"
At this moment, Icarus's face was very peaceful, like a child who had finally found her mother, lying in her mother's embrace.
This triggered Pepper Potts's maternal instinct, so she decided to take Icarus as her foster daughter, aged 18. From now on, she would be her daughter and personal secretary.
Lan Xingyu had no objection. Anyway, with two high-combat powers, one protecting Pepper Potts and one protecting Tony was fine. As for who protected whom, Lan Xingyu felt it didn't matter.
After eating, Lan Xingyu said goodbye to Pepper Potts and Tony. After two months, Lan Xingyu finally came out of seclusion.
And today was the day of the Captain and the others' first assessment.
As the saying goes, exams are the teacher's Magic Treasure, and grades are the student's lifeblood. Lan Xingyu wanted Captain America and the others to experience the fear of being dominated by exams once again.
Lan Xingyu's exam for them was divided into two parts. One was a one-on-one exam in the morning; the loser treats everyone to lunch. After a nap in the afternoon, the team battle would begin. It would still be Lan Xingyu ganging up on the four of them alone. Yes, I didn't use the wrong word, I didn't use the wrong word, I didn't use the wrong word. Important things must be said three times.
Lan Xingyu arrived at the training base. Captain America and the others were already there, warming up with Old Man Rayleigh, who was his Clone.
"Hi! Everyone, come on, everyone's spirits are high today!" Lan Xingyu greeted Captain America and the others.
"Hi! Original body, you're here. Here are the documents of them making fools of themselves; I've already completed the mission," Xingyu Grills said, walking up to Lan Xingyu.
Then, seeing him seemingly thinking of something fun, he added, "Original body, see for yourself! Glory to Mankind." After saying that, he killed himself off.
Lan Xingyu was a bit confused at first. What's the situation? Who are you cosplaying this time? Why can't even my original body's brain follow your logic?
After the Clone's memories flowed back, Lan Xingyu finally knew. Damn it! It's one thing to copy my Miss 2B's catchphrase, but next time you're going to transform into her? I don't remember having a cross-dressing personality!
However, after contacting this Clone, Lan Xingyu also knew their training status during this period.
"Hi! Xingyu, out of seclusion!" At this time, Captain America and the others also came up to Lan Xingyu and greeted him.
"Yeah, you guys are doing well. Except for Coulson who just touched the threshold, the others can use it proficiently now. Although the intensity isn't great, it's not bad." That's right, after two months of training, they could already use Haki. It's just that the Haki's intensity was very low, but Lan Xingyu didn't expect them to be as strong as Luffy after two years; after all, two years and two months can't be compared. It's already good that they can use it now.
"Come on, adjust your state, we're going to start the exam. Get your money ready!" Lan Xingyu gave a sinister smile. What's more joyful than fleecing others for a big meal?