Chapter 60: Go to Stark Industries

The three of them remembered something important only after stepping out of the abandoned nuclear power plant: Happy never arrived with the car.

"Is he always this slow?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at Lorna as he asked.

From the moment they split up with Happy to the time they saved Anna, it hadn't been long. Yet, considering the distance, even if Happy had walked, he should have reached them by now.

Lorna Dan shrugged casually. "I don't know, maybe he got lost or is just taking his time."

Even though Stark Industries wasn't too far, walking there would take quite a while.

"I could fly us there," Lorna offered proudly. "But you'll have to agree to one thing first."

Jiang Chen glanced at her, amused by her smugness. "I get airsick," he teased, enjoying her annoyed reaction.

Lorna's expression soured. "Airsick again? You can't still be stuck on that!"

She folded her arms and sighed in frustration. "There's no car around here, so if you want to get to Stark Industries fast, you'll have to let me fly you."

Jiang Chen shook his head, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Who said there's no car?"

Lorna blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Without answering, Jiang Chen started walking back toward the nuclear power plant. Lorna hurried after him, still perplexed. "Happy said he left a tracker on the cars during the chase. So, there should be a car nearby."

It didn't take long before Jiang Chen spotted a black off-road vehicle hidden in plain sight.

Lorna's jaw dropped. "Wait... you found a car?"

Jiang Chen didn't reply immediately. He reached the vehicle and, sure enough, saw the key still in the ignition. He opened the door with a quick motion.

Lorna, now completely thrown off, stared at the key in disbelief. "You're the luckiest guy I've ever met!" she said, shaking her head.

With a slight grin, Jiang Chen opened the back door, motioning for Anna to climb in. After she was settled, he got into the driver's seat and looked over at Lorna. "Well? Get in."

Lorna huffed in frustration but climbed into the passenger seat. She had been hoping that Jiang Chen might actually need her help for once. Instead, it seemed his luck had outpaced her again.

As they drove off, Anna sat silently in the backseat, her small frame hunched over as she hugged herself. She wasn't the lively child Jiang Chen had first met; the weight of the recent tragedy had dimmed her spirit.

It was hard to blame her. After everything she had endured, it was only natural for her to feel this way. She was still just a child.

But what bothered Jiang Chen the most was why the Mandarin had targeted her in the first place.

Lorna, glancing back at Anna, looked like she wanted to say something comforting, but the words wouldn't come. She shifted her attention back to Jiang Chen, who was focused on the road, though it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

Just then, Jiang Chen spotted a familiar figure up ahead—Happy, running down the side of the road, drenched in sweat.

Jiang Chen honked the horn and rolled down the window. "Hey!"

Happy turned around, surprised to see Jiang Chen in a car. He slowed down, catching his breath as he approached the vehicle.

"You... what are you doing here?" Happy panted, his voice breathless. "And where's Anna? How did you get this car?"

Jiang Chen chuckled as he stepped out of the car and helped Anna down. "Happy, you're a bit late."

Happy immediately crouched down in front of Anna, checking her over anxiously. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

Anna, still quiet, shook her head but didn't say a word. Happy exhaled in relief, standing up to face Jiang Chen. "I got lost," he explained sheepishly. "Plus, you took my phone, so I couldn't find my way back."

Jiang Chen raised a hand in apology. "Sorry about that. But you know how it is—couldn't wait around when someone needed saving."

Happy gave a tired nod and flashed an "OK" gesture. "Yeah, I get it."

Jiang Chen patted Anna on the head gently. "I've got somewhere I need to be. Take Anna with you. Go anywhere safe for now, but don't return to New York City just yet."

Happy frowned. "Why can't we go back to the city? What's going on?"

Before Jiang Chen could answer, Anna, who had been silent until now, looked up at him with determination in her eyes. "Big brother, go. Defeat the bad guys!"

Jiang Chen smiled at her resolve, nodded, and then stepped back into the car, revving the engine.

As they sped off toward Stark Industries, Happy stood by the roadside, utterly confused. He glanced down at Anna, his brow furrowed. "Bad guys? What bad guys? Was it the kidnappers?"

Anna didn't respond, only staring after Jiang Chen's disappearing car.