Inside the biotech laboratory.
Henry and Helen Cho were standing side by side at the control console, fiercely debating something.
At this moment, they looked less like a boss and an employee, and more like two academic rivals who had finally found a worthy opponent.
"No, no, that's wrong! The energy frequency has to be stabilized here! This is the golden ratio—the most perfect frequency in the universe! Only by doing this can we maintain cell activity while maximizing the prevention of gene chain collapse!" Henry pointed at the data on the screen, his tone full of certainty.
"But Mr. Stark, according to our calculations, this frequency's energy output might cause the cell samples to over-proliferate, which could lead to uncontrollable mutations…" Helen Cho frowned as she voiced her concerns.
Though she was impressed by Henry's genius, as a meticulous researcher, she had to take responsibility for every detail.
Fine, she really did admire Henry, but having her conclusions overturned didn't feel great.
Thinking this, she sneaked another glance at Henry.
Damn it, how did this man get a body like that?
So, was Henry not only Superman, but also "super" in his everyday life?
"Trust me, Doctor." Henry turned his head and met her serious gaze with a confident smile.
"Sometimes, what science needs to progress isn't strict calculations—it's a little bit of crazy imagination. Plus, a genius like me who can actually turn that craziness into reality."
Helen Cho: …
She looked at the confident expression on his face and listened to his half-joking, half-serious words.
For some reason, the last bit of doubt in her heart completely vanished.
She realized… she might actually be starting to believe in this man.
Come on, he was Superman!
...
Just then, the lab door was suddenly pushed open.
Tony walked in with his hands in his pockets, wearing the expression of someone who'd come to see what sort of nonsense his brother was up to.
But when he saw Henry and Helen Cho standing close together, passionately discussing research—and clearly enjoying it—he froze.
Damn it, Henry always had some beauty hanging off his arm wherever he went!
Sure, Tony never lacked women himself, but seeing Henry so at ease with it all still made him feel the need to even the score.
"Hey! You two," he called out, his voice dripping with jealousy.
"What's this? Some kind of secret academic rendezvous? Or are you secretly building a bioweapon behind my back? I'll remind you, Stark Industries' mission is to create a better future, not figure out faster ways to end the world."
As always, his voice arrived before he did.
Hearing the familiar sound, Henry and Helen Cho both turned around.
"Oh, look who it is." Henry said with a face full of disdain.
"An iron bucket who just rolled out of bed and whose brain still hasn't booted up. Tony, what are you doing here? Did you come to bring us coffee? I have to say, your timing's perfect—we were just about to need someone to serve drinks."
"Coffee delivery?" Tony chuckled lightly as he strolled over.
His eyes swept across the holographic formulas and models on the screen, instantly processing the information.
As another top genius in bioengineering, he only needed one glance to understand what they were working on.
"This little… hmm, let's call it creative theory of yours?" He stroked his chin, beginning his critique.
"Not bad. Bold. But you seem to have overlooked the most basic problem."
He tapped a finger against the holographic screen, pulling up another data model.
"Doctor, your biotic force field design is clever, but its energy source is too one-dimensional. It relies entirely on external injection. That's like strapping a scooter battery onto a supercar—it's never going to run properly. What you should be considering is how to make the cells themselves act as miniature self-sustaining energy units."
Helen Cho froze.
She stared dumbly at the energy cycle model Tony had pulled up, her brain feeling as though it had just been struck by lightning.
Of course—why hadn't she thought of that?
She had been trapped in traditional biological thinking the whole time, forgetting that the two men standing before her were walking definitions of the unscientific.
They'd already built miniature arc reactors! How had she not thought in that direction?
"Well, Doctor?" Tony said with a relaxed smile, watching her shocked expression.
He turned to Henry and raised an eyebrow, his look saying: See that? This is what real genius looks like.
"My little suggestion—as just a mechanic with a wrench—seems a bit more useful than whatever came out of your muscle-brain, huh?"
"Oh, give me a break."
Henry rolled his eyes. Sure, he had to admit Tony's idea was pretty inspiring, but he wasn't about to admit defeat out loud. He had already thought of it and was about to say it to helen but Tony beat him to it.
"That wasn't a suggestion, that was hindsight. I already thought of it—I was just testing Dr. Helen's independent thinking. Unlike a certain someone, who's always desperate to show off his tiny scraps of wisdom, terrified that people might forget he's supposed to be a genius."
"Hey! I was helping my employee solve a technical problem! That's called teamwork, ever heard of it? You're just an egotistical lone-wolf hero!"
"I call it efficiency! Not like a certain someone who can't start a meeting without wasting half an hour on bad jokes!"
Helen Cho watched the two geniuses bickering, finally snapping out of her shock.
Looking at them, she suddenly laughed.
She realized that although being around these two unreasonable men was mentally exhausting, it was also… honestly kind of fun.
But she didn't hesitate any longer.
She strode quickly back to the console, her hands flying across the holographic keyboard.
She was merging Tony's concept perfectly with Henry's optimized algorithm.
"Mr. Starks," she said, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Maybe you two can pause your squabble and take a look at this."
Both Tony and Henry fell silent, turning their heads toward her at the same time.
On the holographic screen, a cell model brimming with vitality and radiating a soft glow was slowly rotating.
It looked like a miniature universe, full of infinite possibilities.
"I have to say, Doctor," Tony said, genuine admiration in his tone.
"You're a real genius."
"Of course," Henry added with a nod of approval.
"After all, who do you think was smart enough to recruit you in the first place?"
Helen Cho looked at them and smiled.
She thought to herself—maybe joining Stark Industries really was the best decision of her life.
***
New goal for bonus is 69 again. Thank you guys for support
If you're interested and wish to support me, you can read advanced chapters:
p-atreon.com/Redestro666