I came to see Stark with no other intention than to bid farewell.
"As you know, my restaurant is all set up, and it's time to start business," Shi Xiaolei said, shrugging his shoulders with open palms. "Besides, playing around all day without doing any serious work makes me feel a bit uneasy."
Someone actually dislikes vacation?
"…" Stark looked at Shi Xiaolei with a strange expression, then chuckled speechlessly. "Buddy, you really surprise me."
"After all, I'm Chinese."
"Are all Chinese people like you, unable to sit still?"
"Over ninety percent, I'd say." Shi Xiaolei smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. "I'll take you to China sometime. Once you see it with your own eyes, you'll know how diligent Chinese people are."
"Haha, it's a deal then. Once I've recovered enough, we'll find a time to go." Perhaps the craving that had just subsided resurfaced, and Stark couldn't help but swallow. "Emmm, I plan to call it 'An Oriental Culinary Journey.' What do you think?"
"That's a great name." Shi Xiaolei gave a thumbs-up. "I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
After chatting for a while, Shi Xiaolei checked the time and, seeing it was getting late, bid farewell to Stark again, leaving him and Pepper some space.
Anyway, they would see each other again soon, and men's friendships don't require constant togetherness. So, Stark didn't show any reluctance about Shi Xiaolei's departure, nor did he try to persuade him to stay a few more days.
The luggage Shi Xiaolei had accumulated by buying things along the way had already been sent back to New York by Stark's people, along with the car.
With only a backpack, Shi Xiaolei traveled light. Plus, Happy had booked him a first-class ticket, so he didn't have to squeeze in line with a crowd of people waiting to board… When he left Stark's house, it was a little after two in the afternoon, and by around five o'clock, Shi Xiaolei had already landed at Newark Airport.
Although most of the passengers entering and exiting this airport are bound for New York, geographically, Newark Airport does not belong to New York City. It is located in the neighboring state of New Jersey, on the border between Newark and Elizabeth.
From the airport to New York, there's still about 26 kilometers to go.
It was a bit far, and he hadn't thought of having 2B drive to pick him up. Considering it was rush hour, the journey into the city would likely be congested, so taking a taxi didn't seem like a good idea either... 'I guess I'll take the subway.' Shi Xiaolei rubbed his nose dejectedly, making a decision he was somewhat reluctant to accept.
People who haven't been to New York don't know that the most criticized aspect of transportation in this city isn't the excessive traffic jams or frequently being cut off when hailing a taxi.
It's the subway, which has immense potential to significantly alleviate traffic pressure but has never truly functioned effectively, that New Yorkers find most intolerable.
The facilities are overly old, drunkards' vomit and street loafers' urine stains are everywhere, and various unsettling and dangerous individuals like pickpockets, drug-addicted homeless people, and oblivious underground musicians frequently appear here... Even municipal management agencies are bothered by the various chaotic situations in the subway stations, not to mention ordinary people who are busy working for a living.
Having been in the US for so long, if Shi Xiaolei had to pick one place he was least willing to go, he would definitely choose the New York subway station.
"Oh?"
"Long time no see."
He hadn't expected to run into the Ancient One on the way to the subway station, and she wasn't wearing her signature sorcerer's robes, but rather a nondescript casual outfit with a baseball cap to cover her bald head.
Looking at the Ancient One three meters away, Shi Xiaolei asked in surprise, "Master Ancient One, what are you doing here…?"
"Just a small matter." The Ancient One smiled and gestured, 'This way,' then walked leisurely ahead. "I'm planning to visit your home. You wouldn't mind, would you?"
"To my home?" Shi Xiaolei was even more puzzled, feeling a mix of surprise and unease. "What is it about?"
"Because of your new companion," the Ancient One replied. "Her appearance has caused some changes."
"Bayonetta?"
"Yes."
Before meeting Bayonetta, the Ancient One didn't immediately give a detailed explanation.
Feeling a bit worried, Shi Xiaolei didn't dare to ask too many questions and could only rack his brains to figure it out himself.
In a flash, the two arrived at a secluded corner. Once certain no one was paying attention, the Ancient One, with a thought, opened an orange-red portal.
On the other side was the small garden on the roof of his own building.
Stepping through the 'ring of light,' Shi Xiaolei found himself back home in the next second.
Saving himself the hassle of the journey, especially not having to suffer in the subway station, he should have been quite happy. But given the current situation, to be honest, Shi Xiaolei really couldn't be happy.
What made him even more speechless and troubled was that, perhaps sensing the fluctuations of magic, Bayonetta, like a ghost, suddenly appeared in front of the Ancient One, and ignoring his presence, immediately launched an attack on the Ancient One.
"Bang bang bang~!"
With several rapid gunshots like popping beans, Bayonetta, like a lithe leopardess, left an incredibly graceful arc-shaped afterimage in the air with her long legs, kicking towards the Ancient One's head.
"Woah~."
Perhaps she had anticipated it, or perhaps her strength was simply too great; facing Bayonetta's attack, the Ancient One maintained her elegant and composed demeanor, handling it with ease.
With a series of crackling sounds, within just a few seconds, the two had already exchanged several rounds.
Bayonetta didn't achieve any results, and conversely, the Ancient One's occasional counterattacks were all dodged by her… "Hey, hey~!"
Ignoring the urge to applaud the brilliant display they were putting on, Shi Xiaolei quickly stepped forward to block between them the moment they momentarily separated, shouting loudly, "~ ! Sister Bay, don't move~!"
Maintaining an incredibly alluring yet explosive stance, ready to attack again at any moment, Bayonetta raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Locke, the aura around her doesn't seem like that of a good person."
"You mean this?" Hearing Bayonetta's words, the Ancient One cooperatively raised her hand, conjuring a small wisp of black mist. Her face also showed fine lines like a black spiderweb, just like Kaecilius and others who were corrupted by Dormammu in "Doctor Strange."
"Indeed." Sister Bay's gaze grew sharper. "Locke, move aside. She's already infected by demonic energy and has become a demon."
"In a sense, what you said is indeed correct." It was unclear if she wanted to test Sister Bay's strength, or if she rarely encountered an opponent and wanted to stretch her limbs. The Ancient One didn't argue at all; instead, she went along with the flow of the conversation and admitted Sister Bay's judgment of her.
"No, Sister Bay, listen to me…"