Chapter 1131: Strange

Earth, New York, Queens, the neighborhood where Lin Rui lives.

As Lin Hai carried out the last dish from the kitchen and made his way towards the staircase, he paused by the stairs and looked up towards the second floor. He called out, “Jackson, Tom, come down for dinner.!”

“Sure thing, Uncle Lin! We’ll be right down!” Tom’s response echoed down from the second floor after Lin Hai’s call.

Hearing their replies, Lin Hai continued carrying the food toward the living room. Unbeknownst to him, Tom, who had just answered him, was standing outside Lin Rui’s room, looking perplexed and unsure about what to do.

“Mr. Stark, when will Lin Rui wake up? Uncle Lin has prepared the meal, and if we don’t head down soon, he might start yelling for us.” Holding his phone, Tom lowered his voice and asked Tony across from him.

“It should… be very soon.” Tony wasn’t entirely sure about the energy fluctuations detected by J.A.R.V.I.S. within Lin Rui’s room, but it should resolve soon.

Hu!

Thud!

Just as Tony finished speaking through the phone, a gust of wind suddenly rushed through the room behind Tom. Subsequently, the partially closed door was forcefully slammed shut. Startled by the commotion from behind, Tom jumped but managed to stay put by the door.

“The high-energy reaction in the room has dissipated. You can go in now.” While Tom cautiously sensed the situation inside the room, a reminder from Tony came through his phone.

“Okay, I’m going in.” Upon hearing Tony’s words, Tom didn’t hesitate. He answered in affirmation and then placed his hand on the doorknob, twisting it open the next moment.

This time, a more experienced Tom tensed his entire body, fearing another potential collision. However, once he saw that the door was open enough for him to enter, he noticed that there was no movement inside. With a sense of relief, Tom stepped inside.

Two minutes later, Tom and Lin Rui descended the stairs together. Lin Rui appeared slightly different from before, it was as if there had been a subtle transformation in his inner self. Tom, on the other hand, tried to appear as normal as possible, though his chest still throbbed with a faint ache.

“Jackson, can you stay at home for a few days this time? You didn’t make it clear when you came back this morning. Did you finish your work at Stark Industry?” At the dining table, Lin Hai looked at his son and asked with concern.

With such an exceptional son, Lin Hai had gained respect in the neighborhood. He was hoping to spend some time out with his son during these few days he was home, which was already a rare occurrence.

“Uh~ I am not sure. The workload isn’t as heavy as before, but if Mr. Stark needs me, I’ll have to return anytime.” With his mouth full of food prepared by his father, Lin Rui casually replied.

Having decided to leave behind the matters between Sorcerers and Dormammu, Lin Rui had also been granted some time off by Tony. He did have some free time now. If there weren’t any other urgent tasks, Lin Rui planned to take a few days of rest.

“Well, that’s good. Although you’re young and energetic, you shouldn’t be working all day long. Balance work and rest to maintain high efficiency.”

“Got it, Dad. Mr. Stark won’t treat me that way.”

“Heh heh, I’m just making sure you don’t neglect yourself.”

“Understood! I’ll take care of myself!”

…

After dinner, Jackson and Tom were promptly ushered out by Lin Hai, who suggested they take a stroll around the neighborhood. His reasoning was that it wasn’t healthy to spend all day cooped up in their rooms playing games; getting some fresh air would help aid digestion.

Whether Lin Hai had any intention of showcasing his son to the neighbors wasn’t clear.

As Tom and Lin Rui casually wandered the neighborhood, Lin Rui found himself involuntarily greeting the enthusiastic uncles and aunts. Even though he didn’t recognize some of the neighbors, they acted as if they were familiar with Lin Rui.

It must be said that Tony Stark’s reputation carried significant weight, and Lin Rui was certainly benefiting from that association.

“Jackson, you’re practically a local celebrity in several neighborhoods now. Even Oliver from the Norman house at the end of the street, who’s now at MIT, can’t match your fame.” Tom couldn’t help but comment, watching as Lin Rui greeted the neighbors along the way.

Getting into MIT was already an impressive feat, and before Lin Rui entered high school, Oliver, the son of the Norman family, had been relatively well-known among the youngsters in the neighborhood. However, things changed after Lin Rui entered high school half a year ago.

Originally, Lin Rui’s academic achievements weren’t particularly notable, but his friendship with Harry, the son of Oscorp’s head, set him apart. Tony Stark’s appreciation for Lin Rui, along with his offer to work at Stark Industries, further elevated Lin Rui’s fame. He had become the most well-regarded youngster in the nearby neighborhoods.

“What’s good about being famous? Look at all the trouble it brings… Hey! Uncle Mack, yeah! I just got home. I’ll be here for a couple of days!” Hearing Tom’s words, Lin Rui responded somewhat resignedly, and halfway through, he flashed a smile and greeted the nearby Uncle Mack.

“Heh heh, true. But you’re often not at home, so these troubles won’t bother you much.” Seeing Lin Rui put away his smile as he continued walking, Tom chuckled.

“That’s true. By the way, Tom, how have you been lately? I heard the newly-formed anti-crime team in New York is doing well.” Changing the subject, Lin Rui looked at Tom, who seemed to have recovered from their last extraordinary experience.

“It’s been alright. I’ve met some like-minded people, and I’m enjoying my time with them.” Tom responded honestly without hiding anything.

“That’s good to hear. If you have any problems, you can always talk to me. I should be able to help.”

“Thanks, I know. Compared to what you guys have been through, what we do is quite insignificant. Have you encountered any trouble again lately? Even though you said you’re back to rest, I can sense that something’s on your mind.” After answering, Tom looked at his friend who seemed completely different from before, and inquired.

“There are indeed some things, but they’re beyond my current capabilities to solve. So, I’m taking a break and pretending not to see them for now.” In response to Tom’s question, Lin Rui gave a simple answer.

“You can’t handle them even with your current abilities? It sounds like quite a significant event.”

“Yes, this significant event is likely to happen in the next couple of days. However, regular people probably won’t notice anything. ” Nodding, Lin Rui confirmed Tom’s speculation.

“Since you’re powerless in this situation, just let it be. If you’ve decided to take a break, it means others are there to deal with it.”

“True, but I wonder what the final outcome will be.”

…

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