Following Lin Feng's step into the portal, Pietro's surroundings shifted, and he found himself in a villa.
He spotted Wanda immediately, sitting on the sofa.
"Pietro!!"
Wanda also saw Pietro and rushed forward, giving him a comforting embrace.
"Thank you..."
This was directed at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng nodded. "Tell Pietro about the current situation. I'll go see how dinner is coming along!"
He didn't want to repeat things, believing communication between Wanda and Pietro would be more effective.
Wanda nodded obediently, pulling the full-of-questions Pietro to sit on the sofa, and slowly began to narrate.
Leaving the space to the siblings, Lin Feng walked directly towards the kitchen.
Susan was preparing the meal, her back to him.
"Wow..." Lin Feng glanced at the dinner and his eyes lit up.
Roast meat, salad, seafood, and also Lin Feng's favorite hometown dishes.
"So lavish..."
Susan didn't turn around, continuing to prepare the ingredients. "Of course it's lavish. It's to celebrate you taking in two new recruits."
Lin Feng chuckled, scratching his head, and quietly watched Susan cook.
The clinking of utensils continued, and Susan fell silent.
Outside the kitchen, the two siblings were conversing in low voices.
Inside the kitchen, the two, who usually had endless topics to discuss, were unusually quiet.
The atmosphere, for some reason, had become somewhat strange.
Seeing the vegetables being cut unevenly by Susan's knife, Lin Feng sensed that Susan seemed preoccupied.
"Oh right, I have to go to space in a couple of days. This trip might take two to three months..."
Lin Feng spoke up first, casually mentioning his travel plans.
The knife froze mid-air. Susan's shoulders trembled, and she didn't respond to Lin Feng's words.
After two seconds of silence, even a man as dense as Lin Feng could tell that Susan wasn't feeling right.
He took two steps forward, gently embraced her from behind, and said softly, "What's wrong, Susan..."
Susan, held by him, trembled again, then sighed softly.
She turned around, burying her head in Lin Feng's chest, not letting him see her expression.
"I'm a little worried about you, Lin..."
After Lin Feng left, she couldn't help but ask Wanda what she had seen that had frightened her so much.
Wanda didn't overthink it and told her directly.
A massive spaceship, a war filled with smoke and tears, and hordes of alien invaders like a tidal wave.
Wanda described the scene vividly, and Susan felt as if she had seen the colossal spaceship crash down before her, her heart pounding.
She remembered Lin Feng's two previous departures and knew clearly that these experiences had occurred during those times.
She thought the Chitauri invasion was the most brutal scene she could imagine, yet in Lin Feng's experiences, the Chitauri were merely appetizers, just the beginning.
Sensing Susan's worry, Lin Feng's smile held a hint of relief. His girlfriend was concerned about him.
He gently patted Susan's back to comfort her. "There are too many threats in the universe, and our defenses are exceptionally weak."
"Some things just need to be done, Susan."
Susan remained nestled in his arms, her voice muffled. "Then why does it have to be you? Can't others do it..."
Lin Feng smiled and uttered a line familiar to countless Marvel fans: "With great power comes great responsibility."
"We need to gather all the energy we can to face potential dangers..."
"Trust me, Susan, I can handle all of this!"
Susan nodded in silence, her arms around Lin Feng's waist tightening.
Lin Feng felt a mix of amusement and helplessness, but this feeling of being cared for made him very happy.
He continued to pat Susan's back gently. "Alright, alright. This trip to space won't involve fighting any aliens. I'm going to find something!"
"Don't worry, there's no danger this time!"
"You promise?" Susan asked in a muffled voice.
Lin Feng chuckled. "Of course, I can promise!"
Having received Lin Feng's assurance, Susan finally lifted her head. Lin Feng saw her eyes were a little red.
He squeezed Susan's cheek and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'm Superman. What I'm looking for this time will make me even stronger!"
"Oh, and there's one more thing I wanted to discuss with you."
Lin Feng seized the moment, quickly shifting the somewhat heavy topic.
"I want Wanda to live with us."
"Hm?" Susan's worry vanished instantly, her eyes turning dangerous.
"Wanda lives here?"
"Did you take a liking to her?!!"
Lin Feng leaned back and playfully pinched Susan's cheek.
"What are you thinking! Of course not."
"Wanda's abilities are exceptionally outstanding. With my help, she will become incredibly powerful."
"Her living here is primarily to protect you!"
"As for her brother Pietro, I have other arrangements for him!"
Lin Feng had already planned for Pietro: after enhancement, he would be sent directly to S.H.I.E.L.D., handed over to that dark-skinned egghead Nick Fury.
Just like Tony, his villa could only accommodate one man.
Hearing this, Susan shook her head and held up the matching Superman bracers.
"Don't I have these!"
Lin Feng smiled. "It's not just for that reason. Wanda is inherently kind, but she lacks a lot of life and social experience."
"Simply put, she's easily deceived."
"I want you to guide her, to prevent her from going astray, my little reporter!"
Lin Feng's words were not wrong; Wanda did look very gullible.
In the movies, she was deceived by Hydra and then by Ultron. Her idiotic brother wasn't much better.
Pietro could be handed over to S.H.I.E.L.D., but Wanda absolutely couldn't. She had to be on his side.
And as long as Wanda was with him, regardless of what S.H.I.E.L.D. did, Pietro's sense of belonging would remain with him.
Susan feigned disappointment. "You really do have a crush on her!"
Lin Feng's face contorted instantly.
Seeing Lin Feng's incredibly expressive face, Susan couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. I agree to let Wanda live here!"
She could fully accept Wanda living here.
Firstly, Wanda was a woman, and from their conversation, it was clear she had a good heart.
Secondly, Lin Feng would be away for months at a time, and it would be lonely to guard such a large villa alone.
Her close friend was always busy, and she could barely contact her once a week.
Having someone to live with would make the spacious villa feel less desolate.