Chapter 1607: Fireside Chat (Part 2)_2

"What's with the ring?"

"It's a masterpiece by my symbiont."

In an instant, the others raised their hands, making an expression which said 'you must be kidding me'. Stark said, somewhat resigned: "Can't you come up with a more common reason? Or is it that all the symbiont hosts in the world use this as an excuse?"

Shiller slightly frowned and said, "Apart from me, who else?"

"During his documentary filming breaks, Eddie Brock has firmly expressed to us that the heaps of sweets and glittering jewellery he buys every day, his visits to the cinema to watch the latest films, rejecting the same-aged women introduced by the shop-keeper downstairs, even walking the neighbour's dog, are all for his symbiont."

"Yet, his symbiont hasn't even given him a ring to wear on his fingers." Steve looked at Schiller's fingers as he added on.

"Nick should have your profile, right?" Loki, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes, offered a new thought to the other two.

"If you still want to stay here, you shouldn't showcase your intelligence so hastily, Mr. Loki." Shiller turned his head to look at Loki and said.

"Stephen Strange should also know part of it." Loki tilted his head slightly and continued, "He used to work with you in the same hospital; it was him who first suggested that you might have a wife."

"Ridiculous." Shiller shook his head. He glanced over the three and said, "Don't pretend that you haven't noticed what makes me different. Hasn't Professor X explained this to you yet?"

What Shiller wanted to say was about him crossing over to this place. The others didn't show any surprise upon hearing it; it was clear they had already suspected it. Yet, whenever Shiller highlighted their vacancies, this time they finally catch a flaw that they could attribute to Shiller and why would they let it go so easily?

"Alright then, in that case, we have to discuss this." Stark, not wanting to concede, continued, "You surely didn't come here when you were underage, right? Thus there are no ethical issues in discussing your possible history. Moreover, it's logically grounded."

"No matter where you are, the choice to start a family exists. Whether you say yes or no, you should be able to explain it, right?" Steve looked at Shiller sincerely and said, "We are waiting for your advice, Doctor, just like before."

"My suggestion is, if you guys really have nothing else to do, go read some novels. The love stories in there should satisfy your needs. As for me, marriage consulting is not within my professional scope."

The three looked at each other. Loki was the first to speak: "So, you can't stop us from being curious and exploring this, can you, Doctor?"

Shiller, helpless, stood up from his chair. He sighed and said, "As you wish. I really don't know why people can't accept the simplest truth but blame someone without a story for not being honest with them."

"Because you, too, were not honest." Stark pointed out frankly, "You always dissect us, but for yourself, you build a thick wall around your heart and refuse to disclose anything."

"That's because you guys are not professional enough." Shiller went back to the kitchen to wash the coffee pot and said, "Knowing too much about my past might add to your psychological pressure. This isn't a necessary process in psychotherapy and I'm not obligated to tell you."

"Either too close or too far," Steve commented. "Can't we maintain a suitable distance, not from a doctor-patient or family perspective, but merely from a friend's standpoint, where we wish to understand you more?"

"Then you can take the risk," Shiller said while disguising his voice with the sound of rushing water. "See if you can weave some more absurd stories and place them upon my head, adding to my legend and boosting the sales of your future memoir."

Steve started to laugh quietly. He got up from the couch and said, "So it seems the task has fallen to me. I'm going to find Nick now to check out his new fishing rod."

Stark stayed seated, hesitant. It seems he didn't know if this sort of investigation would offend Shiller. He tends to be too cautious in such matters. However, Loki had already proceeded to the second floor, grabbing the handrail and saying,

"Doctor, surely you wouldn't mind me visiting the room next to my borrowed quarters. Perhaps by observing how you've arranged your bedroom, I could find some commonalities in our artistic taste?"

Stark was shocked by Loki's bravery. But what shocked him more was that Shiller seemed to not mind. While washing the coffee pot, he said, "I'm certain you won't find any commonalities since I don't hold much interest in art. But if you spoil any of my belongings, I'll have Thor confiscate your entire salary."

"Then what about me? What should I do?" Stark said, half-mockingly and half-seriously, "Like I'm the most polite here. It's beyond me to imagine how bad has humanity become when a Stark is the most polite in a team."

Shiller, drying his hands with a towel, walked out of the room, tossed the towel aside on the chair and said, "I bet you are thinking of going to Stephen in a while to ask if he has found anything."

Stark stayed seated, rubbing his nose. His plan had been found out. Yet he still stubbornly stood up and said, "I'm just interested in how Shiller has existed in this world. Everyone has a past, right?"

"Are you referring to him back then, or me now?"

"Both, but I am more curious about his." Stark turned around and looked at Shiller before leaving the house. He then said, "A psychologist who can work for the Elder Council Hospital surely isn't a nobody. Who knows? He might genuinely have a legendary story to add to the memoir."

Shiller sighed lightly. It was as if he had anticipated something and shook his head. He watched Stark open the door and disappear at the end of the street. He then said to the grey mist in his heart.

"Look at the mess you've made. Now they won't rest until they fabricate a bizarre romance history for me."

"So why don't you start a relationship?"

"That's something you should ask Morbid." Shiller walked back into the house, added wood into the fireplace and focused on the burning flames as he said,

"Many times, the primal desires of instinct have commonalities. But when it's too mutual, it becomes a nuisance."