Friend

It seems this is what they call "tsundere."

Pepper and Lorna expressed that they truly didn't understand the friendship between men.

Before leaving, Tony looked at Zane's departing figure and shouted, "If you need anything, remember to tell me!"

However, Zane just waved and didn't say anything, directly teleporting back home with Lorna.

After they left, Tony and Pepper hugged each other again, standing amidst the ruins, feeling each other's warmth.

"Tony, how did I come back to life? I vividly remember that I was dead."

But Tony didn't say anything, just hugged Pepper tighter.

Tony was smart enough to know that Zane's resurrection ability was a double-edged sword. Even though Zane didn't say anything about keeping it secret, Tony decided to bury this matter deep in his heart and never speak of it.

Even though Zane doesn't care now, as his friend, Tony felt obligated to let this secret vanish completely.

"It's good to have you back."

Pepper understood Tony's meaning and didn't press further.

"By the way, what's the deal with you and Zane? Why do you two always end up fighting every time you meet?" Pepper asked curiously.

"Oh, him? He's my benefactor, and he's a friend for life, the kind you'd lay down your life for!" Tony said with a smile at the corner of his mouth, but his tone was unusually serious.

Pepper nodded in curiosity and continued to embrace Tony. Ten minutes later...

"Um, Tony, don't you think it's a bit cold here?" Pepper shivered.

Indeed, Tony's house had turned into one of those well-ventilated ones, and like Zane's villa, it was also built by the seaside. When the sea breeze blew, the damp and cold chill seemed to penetrate into one's bones.

Previously, Tony hadn't noticed due to fluctuating moods, but now, prompted by Pepper, he couldn't help but sneeze.

"Let's go, let's crash at Zane's place for the night," Tony said with a mischievous grin.

"Isn't it a bit rude? It's already 8 PM, disturbing Zane and Lorna might not be polite," Pepper's implication couldn't be clearer. Zane and Lorna were still young; they must have their own nightlife.

"What's rude about it? That guy Zane, he took 32% of our company's shares without even telling me!" Tony said feigning indignation, but he couldn't hide the mischievous smile. Obviously, he understood Pepper's implication, intending to go and cause trouble for Zane.

Finally, Pepper couldn't resist Tony's insistence. The two of them drove out from the relatively intact underground garage in a Ferrari, heading straight to Zane's place. On the way, Pepper made a big shopping spree at the mall, buying mostly clothes and jewelry for Lorna.

On one hand, it was out of guilt for disturbing Zane and Lorna's nightlife, and on the other hand, it was a way to thank Zane. Although she didn't know how she came back to life, it was certain that it had something to do with Zane.

Although Pepper knew these gestures were insignificant, they could at least express her gratitude.

When the doorbell rang, Zane opened the door with a black line on his face.

Seeing Tony's smug face and Pepper's apologetic expression, Zane knew that Lorna's seduction in uniform had bid farewell to him tonight.

Later, amidst Lorna's excitement, the two women went upstairs with bags of clothes and accessories, discussing their intimate topics.

Meanwhile, Zane stared angrily at Tony, who was shamelessly sitting on the sofa, munching on an apple.

"Tony Stark, you...!"

"Hehe..."

Zane sighed, lit a cigarette, and casually handed one to Tony.

So the two men started puffing smoke in the living room late at night.

"Tony, what are your plans?" Zane asked casually.

"What else can I do? Build another villa. I must build one bigger and better than yours!" Tony said, envy and jealousy flashing in his eyes as he scanned Zane's house.

Zane looked at him disdainfully.

"Don't pretend. What's the real reason for coming to my house tonight? I don't believe you, the playboy who usually looks down on everyone, would lower your pride to mooch off me."

After hearing Zane's words, Tony's expression stiffened, and the relaxed expression on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a bitter smile and a hint of killing intent.

"As expected, you found out."

"Of course, are you taking me for a fool or Pepper for a fool? How could that stinking fish Stane possibly have developed the Iron Man suit on his own? If he could, you'd have been dead and gone long ago." Zane calmly took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling smoke that filled the living room, obscuring Tony's glimmering eyes.

"Speak up, what's the matter in the end!"

Tony, feeling exposed by Zane, sighed heavily, taking a deep drag of his cigarette, letting the nicotine swirl in his lungs, giving a boost to his exhausted nerves.

"I want Pepper to stay with you for a while. At this point, I don't know who else I can trust besides you. The mastermind behind everything hasn't been found, and I'm worried."

"Okay."

"Thanks."

"Do you need my help?" Zane casually asked. With the Skynet monitoring the global network and satellites, finding the mastermind Tony was worried about was as easy as pie, unless their communication methods were still stuck in ancient times.

"No, I'd rather take care of revenge myself."

Previously hesitant to speak up, but now that Zane had taken the initiative to uncover his thoughts, Tony relaxed, slumping on the sofa, puffing on his cigarette while staring at the ceiling. In a corner where Zane couldn't see, Tony's eyes sparkled with intense anger and resentment.

Just moments ago, Pepper had died before his eyes. That feeling of powerlessness and heart-wrenching pain was something Tony never wanted to experience again in his life. So regardless of the attitude of the mastermind behind Stan, Tony was determined to uproot them and eliminate all threats at their source.

Moreover, Stane's death alone wasn't enough to quench the raging fire in Tony's heart. He wanted everyone involved in this incident to pay for Stane's death.

Whoever it was, they were as good as dead. Not even God could save them. That's what Tony Stark said!

"Understood. With Pepper at my place, even if both God and Satan descend, I guarantee they won't take her away. Plus, this period coincides with Lorna having some free time, so she can keep her company." Zane readily agreed to Tony's request.

"I won't say much in thanks. I've accepted this favor," Tony said earnestly.

"Oh, spare me your thanks. What does it have to do with me if you're grateful or not? Speaking of which, how did a great woman like Pepper fall for you?" Zane said with utter disdain.

"Yeah, she's a perfect woman. I'm not worthy of her." Though it should have been a self-deprecating remark, Tony said it with a hint of pride. And that smirk on his face, it just begged to be wiped off.

Zane suppressed the urge to grind Tony's smug face into the ground, extinguished the burnt-out cigarette in the ashtray, and pointed to the miniature arc reactor on Tony's chest.

*************************************

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