Mary Jane sat in the passenger seat of Su Yi's luxurious car, the silence between them a stark contrast to the easy laughter and shared kisses of the night.
Su Yi's confession—that he liked her very much, but was also developing strong feelings for Gwen Stacy and hoped to pursue both—had landed like a fragmentation grenade.
I should have kept my mouth shut, she thought, the joy of the evening completely evaporated. I shouldn't have asked that question. I was so happy, and now...
The simple, unadulterated pleasure she had felt was replaced by a dizzying whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
Su Yi's honesty was admirable; a playboy would have lied. His expressed desire for a life shared with all of them was, in its own bizarre way, a declaration of commitment, not mere flirtation. But the very concept was a challenge to everything she believed a relationship should be.
"Su, thank you for being honest," Mary Jane finally said, her voice flat. "But I... I find that difficult to accept right now. I need time. I want to go home."
Su Yi respected the boundary immediately. "Understood. I will take you home now."
He knew pressing her would ruin any chance of success. He turned the car around, the joyful, rhythmic music he had selected now sounding painfully hollow. Mary Jane remained silent, staring out the window, her mind cycling through impossible choices.
Do I throw away the most exciting, emotionally intense connection I've ever made because he also likes my friend? Should I accept this strange new reality to keep him? Or do I walk away and leave him for Gwen, condemning myself to regret?
The drive was agonizingly short. They pulled up to her house, but Mary Jane remained frozen, lost in thought. Su Yi waited patiently until she finally stirred.
"I'm home," she murmured, giving herself a slight shake. "Thank you, Su. It was... a beautiful night, if not for the last ten minutes."
Mary Jane reached for the door handle, but Su Yi was faster. He was out of the car and waiting for her, holding the door open.
"Mary Jane," he said gently as she stood before him.
She held up a hand. "Please, Su, I'm exhausted. I can't talk about this now."
Su Yi ignored the dismissal. He closed the distance between them, enveloping her in a firm, protective embrace. Mary Jane didn't fight it. She leaned into his warmth, a silent admission of her conflicted heart.
"I know you need time, and I will respect that completely," Su Yi whispered, his voice resonating with sincerity.
"But I need you to know this: I didn't lie because I respect you too much. And every beautiful thing I said tonight—about your future, about your dreams, about you—is the absolute truth. I love you, Mary Jane, and I will always love you."
He sealed the moment with a soft, final kiss on her forehead, a mark of gentle, unyielding claim.
"Good night," he said, stepping back.
"Good night," she replied weakly, then turned and hurried inside.
Mary Jane barely made it into the living room before she ran into Gail, who was perched on the sofa, nursing a glass of wine and wearing a highly amused, expectant expression.
"Oh, Mary Jane! I told Mom you wouldn't be home until breakfast," Gail teased, pointing at her watch. "And here you are! You failed to seize the opportunity!"
Mary Jane couldn't meet her sister's eye. "I just... I think we shouldn't move too fast." She quickly rushed past. "I'm tired, Gail. Good night."
Gail watched her sister flee up the stairs and slam the bedroom door shut. The strange, agitated energy coming off Mary Jane was unmistakable.
They seemed so close at the door. They were definitely making out in that expensive car, Gail thought, frowning. Why the sudden retreat? She began to construct theories, oblivious to the cosmic stakes. Maybe Su is inexperienced? Maybe he was too quick?
Upstairs, Mary Jane lay awake, staring into the dark. Her heart was Su Yi's. Her mind was at war.
Meanwhile, Su Yi returned to his villa, feeling a surprising clarity. The first date was a success. He had avoided the self-destructive lie and now had Mary Jane exactly where he wanted her: confused, hurt, but utterly captivated and unwilling to let go. He took a bath and fell into a deep, satisfied sleep.
The next morning, the real world reasserted itself with a vengeance.
Tony Stark dominated every news cycle, every digital headline, and every cable news ticker.
BREAKING NEWS: After 3 MONTHS in Captivity, Tony Stark is ALIVE! Stark's Plane Arriving Now: The Industrialist's Shocking Return Home!
Su Yi grinned, scrolling through the cascade of information. Tony, you magnificent star. You own the narrative. He knew the explosion that had destroyed the Ten Rings' arms cache was already being spun as a heroic, desperation move by Stark during his escape.
"The next move is critical," Su Yi mused, leaning back. "I need to capitalize on his inevitable ideological pivot. I only have $1.1 million. That won't buy a significant stake in Stark Industries, but it's enough to start trading. The key is to generate massive revenue quickly to buy up shares before the stock stabilizes."
The best path is to earn money from Tony, and then use that money to buy shares in his company. Then, Tony effectively works for me. Genius.
His plan solidified: wait for the inevitable press conference, then use the leverage of his secret knowledge—and his contact information—to extract his second payment from the genius.
Across the country, the reality of Tony Stark's return was playing out. The private jet landed at an airfield near Los Angeles.
Waiting on the tarmac were Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes, looking relieved and anxious, the CEO of Stark Industries, Obadiah Stane, and Stark's long-suffering personal assistant, Pepper Potts.
The ramp lowered, and out stepped Tony, gaunt, bearded, but unmistakably alive. Beside him was Ethan Yinsen, who, thanks to Su Yi's intervention, was still standing.
Pepper, her eyes welling up with tears that she quickly tried to hide, rushed forward. "Oh, Tony! We were all so worried!"
Tony, savoring the moment, gave her a tired, cocky grin. "Aww, did you miss your favorite workaholic, Pepper? Did you think you'd have to find a new job?"
"I just hate having to find new paperwork, Boss," she retorted, swiping at her eyes.
"Welcome back, Tony," Happy Hogan, the driver, said, trying to be professional.
"Happy, my man!" Tony threw an arm over his shoulder. He helped Yinsen into the luxury sedan before climbing in himself.
Pepper immediately jumped into the back seat, already in crisis management mode. "Happy, drive straight to the hospital. I've already arranged for a full comprehensive medical evaluation. You look terrible, Tony, we need to check that wound on your chest—"
"Stop!" Tony commanded, holding up a hand. "No hospitals. I'm fine. A little traumatized, perhaps, but fine."
Pepper began to argue again, listing the risks. "Tony, three months in a cave! You need to be checked out!"
Stark, however, was already focused on his two immediate, non-negotiable needs. "I know I look like a shipwreck, Pepper, but I have two priorities. First, I want a metric ton of American fast food. A cheeseburger, specifically. And second, I am holding an immediate press conference at Stark Tower."
Pepper was exasperated. "The press conference can wait! Your health cannot! We need to confirm you're stable before you face that many lights and microphones!"
"This is not negotiable, Pepper," Stark said, his tone firm, a new steeliness evident in his voice. "I have something I need to say now. It can't wait."
Pepper looked at the determined set of his jaw and relented. She pulled out her phone, already calling Obadiah Stane to inform him of the change in plans.
"Happy," Tony commanded, "Forget the hospital. Take us to Stark Tower. And make a pit stop for the cheeseburgers."
"Yes, Boss."
As the motorcade sped away, the media frenzy in New York was already reaching a fever pitch. Reports of the plane's landing had galvanized hundreds of reporters. They were already forming a massive, chanting throng outside Stark Tower, three deep, desperate for the first word from the man who had cheated death. The world was waiting for Tony Stark to speak.
The romantic tension with Mary Jane is established, and Tony Stark's critical, immediate press conference is set.