Tony put on the miniature microphone so his voice could be heard throughout the entire banquet.
“To make a long story short, first, I’d like to thank everyone for attending the banquet I’ve organized.”
“I believe many of you are wondering why I’m suddenly hosting a banquet here.”
“Actually, it’s quite simple. I need everyone to be a witness, to witness this evening, to witness history, to witness the present!”
“Let us cheer for the first name! Ethan, Ethan, Ethan!”
Tony didn't say what they were witnessing, but instead called out Ethan's name in the venue.
As Tony spoke, although most people didn’t know who Ethan was, the guests at the banquet spontaneously called out Dr. Ethan’s name.
“Ethan! Ethan! Ethan! Ethan!”
Chen Yu saw Dr. Ethan rush out from a dark corner in a panic, quickly putting on his jacket and vigorously rubbing off the red from his cheeks, pushing through the crowd towards Tony.
Seeing Dr. Ethan’s flustered appearance, this act must have been Tony’s improvisation, as he hadn’t informed Ethan beforehand.
Chen Yu rested his chin on his hand, watching with interest as Ethan stumbled through the crowd.
Once Ethan finally squeezed his way to Tony, Tony grabbed Ethan’s wrist and lifted him up.
“Perhaps you don’t know who he is, perhaps you haven’t heard his name.”
“But I want to formally introduce to you Dr. Ethan, he is my friend, Tony Stark, Tony Stark’s savior, Stark Industries’ chief designer, and—”
Tony’s voice paused, seemingly waiting for the atmosphere to reach its climax.
“And—the new director of Stark Industries!”
“Now! I, Tony Stark,” Tony continued loudly, “will gift five percent of my shares in Stark Industries to my friend, Dr. Ethan, and invite everyone present to be a witness tonight!”
Like a bowl of water poured into a sizzling oil pan, the already boisterous banquet instantly erupted.
Countless applause echoed throughout the banquet, people discussed animatedly, and reporters continuously took photos.
Dr. Ethan, held high by Tony’s arm, looked as if he hadn’t fully woken up, in a state of utter bewilderment.
He seemed to be dazed by the sudden news and blinded by the continuous flashes of light from all around.
He signed the documents handed to him by Pepper in a dazed state.
Chen Yu also started clapping.
Although he envied Dr. Ethan’s sudden rise to wealth and financial freedom, he didn’t feel much emotional impact deep down.
After all, money was no longer a necessity for him now.
The mysteries of magic, powerful strength, eternal life, and endless lifespan—these were his current pursuits.
But Peter Parker next to him was incredibly envious, his eyes full of longing, as if fantasizing how wonderful it would be if he were Dr. Ethan.
Well, not just Peter Parker, Chen Yu noticed many adults in suits around them were staring at Dr. Ethan with jealousy, wishing they could take his place.
The ladies in evening gowns also stared at Dr. Ethan, some even involuntarily rubbing their legs, seemingly fantasizing about an indescribable encounter.
Chen Yu had to pat Peter’s shoulder to bring him back to reality.
“Snap out of it, Peter. Some things you can’t envy. Instead of envying, you might as well eat more lobster.”
Peter scratched his head when he heard Chen Yu’s words and asked, confused, “Don’t you envy him? Getting shares in Stark Industries like Dr. Ethan is something many people dream of.”
Clearly, Peter Parker, who had been poor since childhood, had some understanding of the value of five percent of a behemoth like Stark Industries.
Chen Yu looked at the envious Peter Parker.
He remembered that in a certain comic, Peter had rejected Tony’s offer to give him shares in Stark Industries.
If you don’t get it, you envy it greatly; if you get it, you reject it. What kind of new-age Ye Gong Hao Long behavior is this?
“It’s alright. What’s meant to be will be, and what’s not meant to be, don’t force it. Meeting is fate, so this is for you.”
Chen Yu shrugged, indicating he didn't care, then took out a Senzu Bean from his system backpack and handed it to Peter.
Peter, who was engrossed in gnawing on a lobster, looked up, thinking Chen Yu was right. He saw a green, fava bean-sized seed that Chen Yu handed him, and a confused expression appeared on his face, not understanding why Chen Yu was giving him this.
Looking at the confused Peter, Chen Yu explained, “This is a Senzu Bean, a bean planted by a certain Eastern Korin. Eating it can heal any external injury, but it cannot cure illnesses.”
“A bean planted by Korin? And it can heal any external injury?” Peter looked disbelieving.
Although Peter was poor, he was also a good student, a top scholar, and didn’t believe Chen Yu’s wild claims.
He thought Chen Yu was bored and suddenly wanted to play make-believe. Given that Chen Yu had treated him to so much seafood, playing along wouldn’t be so bad.
After all, children are at an age where they like to fantasize, so having such thoughts was normal.
To cooperate with Chen Yu, he carefully wrapped the Senzu Bean in a napkin and put it into his pocket, though he didn’t take it seriously in his heart.
It was just an unknown bean, and it didn’t look like a valuable item.
Then Tony started calling his name.
Although the people around didn’t know who Chen Yu was, having Dr. Ethan as a precedent, they cheered even more enthusiastically.
Ethan was the grand finale, and he was the closing act, right?
Looking at the dense crowd from where he stood to the center of the banquet, Chen Yu didn’t want to squeeze through like Ethan.
With his current height, if someone in the chaotic crowd had an upset stomach today, wouldn’t he have to endure the smell of farts all the way?
He pulled out his wand and subtly used a Confundo on the crowd in front of him.
The crowd in front subconsciously moved back to both sides, creating a direct passage for Chen Yu to the center, completely unnoticed.
Peter saw Chen Yu suddenly conjure an exquisite wooden stick from his hand, wave it lightly, and the people around him cleared a path as if rehearsed.
Chen Yu didn't make any other feints with his hand, and the wand instantly disappeared from his grasp.
“Alright, I should go over now.”
After bidding farewell to the surprised Peter, Chen Yu walked over to Tony’s side.
“Amazing little friend Chen Yu, you don’t seem nervous.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? You’re not going to give me shares in Stark Industries, are you?”
Chen Yu still had a clear understanding of himself.
The reason Tony gave Dr. Ethan shares in Stark Industries was because during the months he was kidnapped, Ethan used a car electromagnet to extract the shrapnel from Tony’s body, saving Tony’s life; it was Ethan who guided Tony when he was lost, giving him the courage to live; and it was Ethan who assisted Tony in developing the initial Iron Suit, and even risked his life to buy Tony time to put on the suit.
In Tony’s eyes, Ethan was not just a friend but also a life mentor who guided him to a new beginning.
For such actions, receiving five percent of Stark Industries’ shares, Chen Yu felt it was well-deserved by Ethan.
As for himself, he had only saved Ethan’s life.
Compared to Ethan’s actions, his contribution was merely icing on the cake.
Icing on the cake is good, but providing help in times of need is even more precious.
Seeing that Chen Yu was still in the mood to joke, Tony patted Chen Yu’s shoulder and said to Dr. Ethan, “Ethan, look at Chen Yu. Your mental fortitude isn’t as strong as his.”
Then, putting his arm around Chen Yu’s shoulder, he announced to everyone, “I have another thing to tell everyone. Chen Yu, yes, this amazing Eastern boy, he is about to become the youngest billionaire in history!”
“Because, I have decided to give little friend Chen Yu one billion dollars as a thank you, for everything he has done!”
The entire venue erupted once again.
The reporters were ecstatic, frantically taking photos. They had already planned tomorrow’s front-page headlines.
Chen Yu instantly felt intense gazes fixed on him, as if they wanted to devour him whole.
Chen Yu thought that was the end, but then Tony clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back to him, as if he had more to say.