With the help of a highly professional team, Stark spent two days adjusting his physical condition.
When everything was ready, on Sunday, Stark finally changed into the patient gown he had complained about as tasteless more than once, and lay obediently on the hospital bed.
"Pepper, don't be like that." Raising an eyebrow, Stark smiled and patted Pepper's hand: "Look, I haven't even written a will, which means I'm not worried at all."
She turned her hand over, gripping Tony Stark's palm. Although she nodded lightly and forced a smile, it was clear that Pepper's mood hadn't been eased by Stark's joke; she was still full of trepidation and unease.
"How about, while there are still a few minutes, you quickly write one?" Wanting to help ease the atmosphere, lighten Pepper's mood, and help Stark let go of his worries, Rhode deliberately made a joke.
"I think that's a good idea." Receiving Rhode's eye signal, Shi Xiaolei also chimed in: "Tony, do you need me to call your lawyer?"
"Go away, go away."
He protested with his mouth, but his eyes held a hint of gratitude. As if bickering as usual, Stark laughed and cursed: "Rhode, don't be so arrogant, just wait until I recover..."
"You think you can hit me?" Rhode rolled his eyes dismissively and wagged his finger: "Even if the big hole in your chest is filled, you still won't be my match. If we really got into the ring, I could let you have one hand."
"Don't look at me." Seeing Stark's gaze turn to him, Shi Xiaolei timely interjected: "First deal with him, then come find me. In the game, I'm a Boss-level opponent. You want to challenge me without leveling up? Trust me, you'll die a very ugly death."
"Who wants to fight you, you savage." Stark pursed his lips in exasperation.
"Then why are you looking at me?"
"Help me make two hamburgers, with double cheese." Stark replied a little awkwardly: "You know, these past two days, to recuperate, they've only given me vegetables. I want to eat meat, I want to eat cheese... Ugh, don't even talk about it, my mouth is watering. Buddy, since you're good at cooking, do me a favor."
"I thought... Alright, I'll prepare it for you." Shi Xiaolei smiled: "Besides the double-cheese burgers, do you want anything else?"
"You decide. Emmm, what I mean is, the greasier the better. Butter, gravy, mayonnaise, all of it." He paused, then Stark emphasized: "And, no pure vegetables, absolutely don't let me see any! Especially those salads I've been eating these past two days."
"Alright, alright." Shi Xiaolei shrugged and gave Pepper a helpless look: "You see, it was our baby Tony who asked for it, I didn't instigate it."
Compared to the surgery, the topic of food was much more relaxed.
Temporarily distracted, Pepper's expression gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere in the room was no longer as oppressive as before.
Just then, it was almost time.
With the arrival of Palmer and Wu Jiaqi, the pre-operative visit concluded. After a few final words, the three remained in the room, watching as Stark was wheeled away by the nurses brought by Palmer and Wu Jiaqi, and taken into the operating room he had personally built.
"Rhode, are you staying here to watch the monitor with Pepper, or..." Rather than idly speculating, it was better to find something to do to keep his mind occupied. Looking around, Shi Xiaolei came up to Rhode and gently nudged him with his elbow: "I'm going to prepare food, what do you say?"
The moment Tony was wheeled into the operating room, a large screen was already lowered from the ceiling on one side of the room, and then, under Jarvis's control, a projector cast an image onto this screen.
Staying in this room,
one could observe the entire process of the doctors operating on Stark, just like watching a live broadcast.
Speaking of which, this setup was also something Stark had created. The purpose, first, was to reassure Pepper, and second, he also wanted to add a sense of being 'accompanied'.
After the projector started working, the light in the room had already dimmed.
Perhaps feeling the light was too dim and a bit uncomfortable, or perhaps not wanting to disturb Pepper's mood and wanting to leave her space to be 'alone' with Stark, Rhode hesitated slightly before making his choice: "I'll help you. There's a lot of food to prepare, you can't manage it alone, can you?"
Alone?
That's right, Kanna, 2B, and Bayonetta had already set off yesterday afternoon, flying back to New York ahead of schedule. Among the family, only Shi Xiaolei himself remained in Los Angeles.
There was nothing for it; he had only taken so many days off, and when the time came, Kanna had to go back to school.
Although it wasn't impossible to call the school and ask for a few more days, considering the need to set a good example in a child's education, Shi Xiaolei decided to send the little girl back first so she could continue her studies, in order not to leave her with a precedent of 'going back on one's word'.
Since Kanna had to go back first, it was only natural that 2B had to leave with her.
As for why Bayonetta also had to leave... one reason was that the other two female family members had left, and she didn't want to stay alone. The other reason was that the items she had previously bought with such extravagance were almost arriving in New York.
The small items in the van were fine; at worst, he could ask the bank for help, whether it was renting a warehouse or asking the delivery person to wait a few more days... it was just a matter of spending a little more money, nothing major.
The key was the two sports cars she had ordered. They might not be much more expensive than all the items in the van combined, but they were still large items, and according to procedure, Bayonetta had to personally be present to complete the signing process.
Coupled with her boldness — it didn't matter if the surgery failed, at worst she'd take a trip to hell, retrieve Tony Stark's soul, and give him a 'reincarnation' package — Bayonetta was completely unconcerned about 'Tony's surgery' and left with decisive swiftness.
Finally, about Shi Xiaolei.
The restaurant's renovation wasn't finished, so going back would mean staying at home; he was good friends with Stark, unlike the three women in his family who had a more distant relationship, so it was only right and proper to stay a few more days; the medicine he provided would be used during the surgery, and as one of the responsible parties, he had to be on-site... Combining these reasons, Shi Xiaolei did not leave with his family, but stayed behind alone, planning to stay for a few more days.
"It depends on Stark's situation. If he recovers well and his condition is stable, I might leave tomorrow or the day after." While peeling potatoes, Shi Xiaolei retorted to Rhode: "What about you, when are you planning to leave? Speaking of which, doesn't your unit rush you? Are the rules in the military that lax?"