Dr. Stephen Strange, despite the devastating confirmation of Su Yi's status—a personal friend and business partner of Tony Stark—could not, and would not, simply retreat. His ego was too vast, too deeply rooted in his identity as the ultimate authority.
Strange stayed, an immovable, self-righteous gargoyle at the corner of their prime table, determined to find a flaw in Su Yi that money could not buy.
Since Tony Stark wouldn't be arriving for at least another hour, the three settled into a bizarre, forced meal. The exquisite food from the Madison Restaurant's kitchen—a delicate pan-seared Chilean sea bass for Christine, a medium-rare Wagyu filet for Strange, and a simple, perfectly crafted pasta for Su Yi—was consumed against a backdrop of increasing hostility.
Strange, unable to attack Su Yi's financials, shifted his assault to character and intellectual pursuit.
"So, you study Computer Engineering merely as a hobby," Strange stated, swirling his expensive vintage wine, treating the profession like a child's pastime.
"A curious choice for someone with seemingly unlimited resources. Most people of your standing pursue philanthropic ventures or perhaps theoretical physics. Is the challenge of 'coding' truly sufficient to hold your interest, Mr. Su?"
"The challenge is not in the code itself, Doctor," Su Yi replied easily, cutting his pasta with the side of his fork.
"The challenge is in what one can build with it. Engineering, be it computer or structural, is the application of physics and mathematics to change the world in a tangible way. It's about building the future, not just writing papers about it. Besides,"
Su Yi leaned back slightly, offering a subtle, knowing look, "I find that Biology, Physics, and Advanced Mathematics are better studied privately. They require a certain focused integration of concepts that isn't always available in a public university setting."
This implied that Su Yi possessed a level of genius that superseded academia, a realm Strange considered his personal throne. Strange bristled, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"Self-study often lacks the peer review necessary for true intellectual rigor," Strange scoffed.
Christine, who had been quietly observing the duel, finally stepped in, her voice low but firm. "Stephen, you're missing the point. You're assessing a partner as if he were a candidate for a surgical residency. You're only looking at ability and achievement."
She turned to Su Yi, her expression softening into genuine affection. "Su is gentle, considerate, and sincere. He doesn't make himself the center of attention; he pays attention to the people around him. When I'm with him, I feel relaxed and at ease. I really like this feeling, Stephen."
Christine's words were the final, devastating blow. She had articulated the deep, subconscious reason why their relationship was doomed: Strange's self-centeredness.
The moment he saw Su Yi, Strange's first reaction was to belittle him and control Christine, demonstrating the very flaw that had always kept them apart. Su Yi, by contrast, had waited patiently for three hours, validated her career, and listened respectfully.
Strange felt a profound ache in his chest—a combination of loss, jealousy, and the bitter recognition of his own failure.
This was his first true defeat in life, and it wasn't a loss to Su Yi's bank account or his intellect; it was a loss to emotion. He understood immediately that Christine's meaning was crystal clear: You are the center of your universe, and I need a partner who sees me at the center of mine.
With no other choice, and his pride finally subdued by genuine heartbreak, Strange could only bury his feelings. He took a heavy breath. "I… I support your decision, Christine. If he makes you happy, that's all that matters."
"Thank you, Stephen," Christine said, looking genuinely relieved.
Su Yi, who had been listening to the conversation with his enhanced hearing, smiled inwardly. Mission accomplished.
Just as the difficult conversation reached its forced conclusion, the restaurant's glass doors swished open, and a ripple of recognition ran through the dining area.
Tony Stark strode in, dressed in a custom, shimmering black suit, utterly oblivious to the commotion he caused. He was flanked by a personal security detail that melted seamlessly into the background.
Tony spotted the table instantly. He clapped Su Yi on the back, ignoring Strange entirely until the very last moment.
"Su, I rushed here specifically to cook for you myself," Tony joked, his voice full of theatrical melodrama. "How is it? Are you moved by this profound display of friendship?"
Su Yi maintained his calm demeanor. "No, Tony. I told you, I'm not easily moved."
Tony laughed, finally turning his attention to Christine. "Dr. Palmer, a true pleasure. I can certainly see why this delinquent would drag me across town. You are stunning." He glanced at Strange, offering a casual nod. "Dr. Strange. Glad to see you're getting some nutrition."
Tony then lowered his voice conspiratorially to Su Yi. "Excuse us, Su and I have some private matters to discuss that involve several hundred million dollars and possibly a new element. We require a moment."
"It's fine," Christine assured him, waving them off. Su Yi gave Christine a slight, apologetic bow and followed Tony.
Tony led him to a discreet, empty lounge area. The moment they were alone, his playboy facade vanished, replaced by the intensity of a concerned friend.
"Su, cut the nonsense," Tony demanded, his arms crossed. "I remember you and Pepper were dating. What the hell is this? You're out on a date with a beautiful doctor while I'm trying to figure out how to transition my company into a non-lethal, environmentally conscious entity, and she's running the whole show. You should be devoted."
Su Yi put his arm over Tony's shoulder, a gesture that only a select few were permitted. "Tony, you, a man who once had a waiting list for his waiting list, are giving me a lecture on devotion?"
"This isn't about me!" Tony insisted, pushing him back. "This is about Pepper. She's my secretary, my CEO, my best friend. She takes care of me like an older sister, and I won't just stand by if you hurt her. She deserves better than one of your casual flings."
"I understand where you're coming from, Brother," Su Yi said, his voice dropping to a level of seriousness that Tony rarely heard. "Don't worry. I have no intention of letting Pepper down. You assume my intentions are fleeting, like yours used to be. You're wrong."
Tony looked confused. "What do you mean by that, Su? Don't be cryptic."
Su Yi met his gaze, his eyes reflecting a profound, almost terrifying clarity. "You explore the origin of life with fleeting interests; you've never thought about a committed future. I'm different. I like them—Pepper, Vanessa, Christine, and others—and I intend to spend the rest of my life with them. All of them. My goal isn't a string of affairs; it's a shared future."
Tony was completely stumped. He opened his mouth, closed it, and finally sputtered, "Does... Does Pepper know this highly unconventional plan?"
"Not yet," Su Yi admitted. "You know how busy she's been lately with the company transition. I need to find the right time to be honest with her when she can fully process it."
"You'd better not hurt her, Su," Tony warned, his voice softening with genuine fear for Pepper. "She's one of the few truly close people I have in this chaotic world."
"She is also my lover. I will move heaven and earth to ensure she is happy, respected, and not hurt," Su Yi promised. "I need to ensure the foundation is secure with all parties before I unveil the entire structure."
Tony was a man who challenged conventions and solved impossible problems, but this was a personal equation even he couldn't compute. "Well, you certainly don't do anything by halves. Just... be careful. Very careful."
Su Yi grinned, hooking his arm back around Tony. "Pepper was right, Tony Stark has a warm heart!"
Tony shrugged off the teasing, visibly embarrassed. "Whatever. Now that your bizarre love life is straightened out, I came here with another reason. Pepper is taking a short, one-day break for a little task—a rally race in Monaco. I'm going to watch, just for the change of scenery. I thought you two might need a relaxing vacation together. You can completely pretend I don't exist; I'm just planning to experience the racing atmosphere."
In the movie timeline, Tony was self-destructing due to palladium poisoning and a mid-life crisis. Now, having already synthesized the new element, his motivation was genuinely exploratory.
"Racing?" Su Yi pondered. "You still like that?"
"It's about experiencing new things without the armor," Tony explained. "If I raced against them in my suit, I'd definitely be faster. It wouldn't be fair. This is just for fun. Besides, it's a perfect opportunity for you and Pepper to relax."
"When?"
"In about half a month," Tony confirmed.
A half-month holiday would align perfectly with a planned break in Su Yi's self-study schedule. It was an excellent opportunity to dedicate uninterrupted, quality time to Pepper.
"No problem," Su Yi agreed. "I'll make arrangements in advance and give Pepper a surprise then. Now, I need to finish up, and you owe me a genuine Chinese meal, remember? The complicated kind."
"I'll prepare it well," Tony grumbled playfully, "I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Only then did Tony finally find a seat, summon a waiter, and proceed to turn the quiet lounge into his own private spectacle.
Su Yi returned to the table, his demeanor entirely unchanged.
"Tony and I are done talking," he announced cheerfully. "What about you two?"
Strange was still sitting, but his arrogance had been replaced by a quiet, brooding intensity. He was no longer the peacock; he was the defeated champion.
"We've pretty much finished talking too," Christine confirmed, gathering her small purse. She looked genuinely happy and relieved. The strategic date had been a resounding success.
"Are you going back now? I can give you a ride," Su Yi offered.
"Thank you, Su," Christine accepted.
Before they left, Christine paused, looking straight at Strange. "Stephen, I meant what I said. I truly value you as a friend and a colleague. Please understand that I need someone who allows me to simply be, and right now, that's not you. But I will always admire your talent."
Strange knew he couldn't argue. He knew that the moment he stopped talking about himself, he ceased to be interesting. "I... I understand, Christine. Good night."
With a final, courteous farewell to Tony, Su Yi and Christine left.
The drive was relaxed and comfortable. Su Yi consciously avoided the heavy intensity of their earlier conversations, talking instead about light subjects—a challenging surgical case Christine had managed, and a theoretical problem Su Yi was solving in advanced robotics.
He personally escorted Christine back to her apartment building. Christine was still relatively reserved, not the type to initiate a sudden, passionate farewell. She offered him a warm hug and lingered for a moment.
"Thank you, Su," she murmured into his shoulder. "That was the most honest, and least stressful, first date I've ever had."
"The pleasure was all mine, Dr. Palmer," Su Yi replied, maintaining a gentle, respectful distance. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"I hope so," she said, giving him a genuine, appreciative smile before heading inside.
Su Yi returned to his luxury car, pulling away from Christine's block. His mind immediately switched from the casual flirtation of a date to the strategic planning of his personal life.
The question of the hour was: Whose window should he climb tonight?
Christine was secured for now; her affections were shifting, and she had been successfully 'rescued' from Strange. Pepper was committed, with a surprise trip planned in two weeks. His other relationships (like Natasha) were long-term, established, and understood.
But there was Vanessa.
Vanessa was perhaps the most emotionally vulnerable and the most isolated. Unlike Pepper (who had Tony and the company) or Christine (who had the hospital and Strange), Vanessa existed largely in her own world, focused on her art and her fledgling romantic bond with Su Yi.
If he began spending too much time with others without first completely conquering Vanessa, securing both her physical and mental commitment, she was the most likely candidate to feel neglected or betrayed, especially given the future revelations that were inevitable.
"The greatest power demands the greatest efficiency," Su Yi mused, a cold, analytical gleam entering his eyes. "I need to prioritize the most sensitive connections first."
He made a firm decision. He would go to Vanessa's apartment. He needed to ensure her devotion was unshakeable and that she fully understood the depth of his feelings for her before expanding the time commitment to Christine. He needed to seize the next few days to fully integrate into her life.
"It seems I'll have to specifically study the subject of time management in the future," Su Yi thought, accelerating onto the highway. "With my LV7 Intelligence, I can definitely do better than any conventional advice. I need to devise a logistical algorithm for optimal multi-partner allocation, maximizing quality time while minimizing travel and scheduling friction."
His personal life was no longer merely spontaneous; it was becoming a logistical challenge worthy of his heightened intellect.
Su Yi arrived outside Vanessa's apartment building. He bypassed the front entrance, using his enhanced physical attributes and minor gravity manipulation to effortlessly scale the fire escape, a personalized tradition they had established.
He tapped gently on her window.
Vanessa, who had been painting late into the night, looked up and saw his familiar, handsome face illuminated by the city lights. A genuine, radiant smile lit up her features. She unlocked the window, tossing the paintbrush aside.
"I didn't think you'd come tonight," she whispered, her voice filled with relief and longing.
The moment the window slid open, Vanessa rushed into his arms, wrapping herself around him with fierce, uncomplicated affection. She was always the one who greeted him with the most immediate, unrestrained physical embrace.
"I told you I'd come whenever I could," Su Yi replied, holding her tightly. He stepped into the studio, inhaling the familiar scent of turpentine and oil paint. "I needed to see you. I've missed you."
She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, her own eyes bright with an artist's intensity. "You were gone for the whole day, and I got nothing done. The world feels muted when you're not in it."
"I was dealing with a great injustice today," Su Yi said, allowing his voice to convey the truth without revealing the details of the sparring or the date. "A man who valued his own pride more than the feelings of the person he supposedly loved. I had to intervene."
"You are always fixing things, aren't you?" Vanessa smiled, placing her hands on his chest. "Let me fix you now. Forget the injustices of the day. The only thing that matters is that you're here, completely here, with me."
In her simple request, Su Yi found the pure, total commitment he had strategized for. He lowered his head and kissed her, a promise that for the rest of the night, his focus—his LV7 intellect, his powerful body, and his determined heart—belonged entirely to her. The world of Sorcerer Supremes, jealous surgeons, and billionaire playboys could wait. Tonight was for the artist.
The next few weeks will be dedicated to Su Yi implementing his time management strategy, balancing his self-study, training, and multiple relationships, culminating in the Monaco Grand Prix trip with Pepper.