At a military airbase, Tony's secretary and personal assistant, Pepper Potts, was waiting.
She had received news that the military had found Tony Stark and would be arriving soon.
Behind her was Tony's bodyguard and driver, Happy, and nearby, several medical personnel pushed stretchers, ready to treat any patient.
The rear cargo door of a plane opened, and Rhodey slowly helped Tony down, with Yinsen following closely behind.
Seeing Tony return safely, a smile finally appeared on Pepper's lips.
"What, crying for your boss?" Tony asked, looking at Pepper's reddened eyes.
During his captivity, Tony realized he had feelings for Pepper; she was the person he thought about most during those three months, his personal assistant.
"I'm just glad I don't have to change jobs," Pepper replied defensively.
She still didn't dare express her true feelings for Tony.
Afterward, Tony introduced Pepper and Yinsen to each other, arranged for Yinsen to be taken to his villa, and then refused Pepper's suggestion to go to the hospital for a check-up.
He instructed Pepper to notify the media and prepare for a press conference.
At this time, various forces received news of Tony Stark's return, and that he would hold a press conference immediately.
All media reporters rushed to the conference venue, fearing they would miss major news if they arrived late.
Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. also received the news immediately and dispatched Agent Coulson, who had just returned from Afghanistan, to investigate the details of Tony Stark's escape.
The unfortunate Coulson had just returned from Afghanistan, where he had been searching for Tony Stark, hoping to rescue him from the terrorists.
Who would have thought that Tony would escape on his own?
Coulson had thought his mission was over and he could rest for a couple of days, but as soon as he returned to the United States, he received orders from the director.
Although he was frustrated, he had no choice but to go to the press conference, hoping to find an opportunity to learn the full story of Tony Stark's escape.
The most frustrated person at this moment was undoubtedly Tony's uncle, Obadiah Stane.
Obadiah Stane, one of the veterans of Stark Industries, had long intended to replace Tony.
He had contacted terrorists, hoping to use Tony's trip to Afghanistan as an opportunity to eliminate him.
However, he couldn't reach an agreement with the terrorists—or rather, the Ten Rings.
Upon discovering that the person they were supposed to kill was the famous arms dealer Tony Stark, they did not kill Tony but instead made him build missiles, which disrupted Obadiah Stane's plan.
Initially, it would have been fine if Tony had simply disappeared, but he never expected those idiots to be so useless, allowing Tony Stark to escape.
What surprised him even more was that Tony, after escaping, immediately called a press conference, giving him no time to prepare.
He had a premonition that Tony would make a shocking announcement at this press conference, but he couldn't stop it.
He could only rush to the press conference venue, awaiting Tony's arrival.
Tony arrived at the press conference venue by car, accompanied by Pepper.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Obadiah Stane, who came to greet him, he prepared to go on stage to speak.
Meanwhile, at Uncle John's house, Uncle John noticed that Li Yue was somewhat different from usual.
Previously, he always went out early or stayed in his room all day doing who knows what.
This time, he neither went out nor holed up in his room; instead, he sat with Uncle John on the sofa, watching TV, which surprised him a little.
"Li Yue, how do you have time to watch TV with me today? This isn't like you," Uncle John asked Li Yue curiously.
"Oh, that," Li Yue replied, feigning indifference, "I heard Tony Stark is back from Afghanistan, and he's holding a press conference as soon as he returns.
I just want to see what he's going to say."
Of course, he knew what Tony would say at the press conference; he just didn't want to miss this life-changing decision for Tony.
"I see, but I don't think there's anything to make a fuss about.
He disappeared in Afghanistan for three months, and Stark Industries' stock plummeted.
Perhaps he's just holding a press conference to announce his return, to salvage Stark Industries' stock market value.
And maybe complain to the media, talk about how much he suffered out there, just to gain sympathy."
Uncle John had never had a good impression of Tony.
"No matter what he went through, it can't change his arrogant nature as a playboy," Uncle John added, feeling it wasn't enough.
"I think everyone changes, including Tony Stark!" Li Yue thought to himself after hearing Uncle John's words, "What a huge prejudice you have against the old Tony Stark."
"I have a feeling that he's going to announce a major decision at this press conference, a decision that will not only change himself and Stark Industries but potentially the world."
Li Yue was confident that Uncle John would also be stunned by Tony's decision later.
"Well, let's wait and see," Uncle John said noncommittally.
He didn't believe that Tony, a playboy, could make any astonishing decision.
"I didn't even get to see my father for the last time.
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my father.
I wanted to ask him what he thought about this company, whether he ever felt conflicted, or doubted.
Maybe he wasn't who I used to see in the news.
I personally witnessed young soldiers being killed, dying by the very weapons I invented, which were originally meant to protect them."
Tony leaned informally against the press conference podium, pouring out his heart.
"See? I told you, he's holding a press conference just to gain people's sympathy," Uncle John turned to Li Yue, who was staring at the screen, and said.
At this moment, Tony on TV suddenly stood up, walked behind the podium, and announced: "I've completely woken up, realizing that I need to contribute more to this world, not just build weapons that explode.
So, I've decided to shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division, effective immediately.
I will find a direction that I believe is appropriate and aligns with the nation's best interests."
Everyone present was utterly stunned by Tony's words, staring at him on stage in disbelief.
Earlier, Coulson was asking Pepper about Tony and was also shocked by this news, preparing to report the situation to Nick Fury.
Uncle John turned his head, somewhat incredulous, and saw the frenzied reporters on the TV.
He still doubted if he had heard correctly.
An arms company, how could it profit without making weapons?
Had Tony Stark's brain been fried, or had he gone mad?
This was not just Uncle John's thought; almost everyone who heard this news was in disbelief.
Who would have thought that Tony Stark would announce such a major decision immediately upon his return, leaving people dazed?
When Li Yue saw that Tony had made the same decision as in the movie, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had genuinely feared that his own appearance might cause things to take a turn for the worse, but fortunately, nothing had changed.
"Everyone changes, including Tony Stark," Li Yue said softly, looking at Uncle John, who was still wide-mouthed, eyes fixed on the TV, his face full of disbelief, before getting up and returning to his room.
Uncle John looked at the handsome, mustachioed man on TV, finding it hard to believe that those words had come from his mouth.
He couldn't imagine what he must have gone through to have changed so dramatically.