Chapter 22: Oh Brother, You've Got Palladium Poisoning

As Lin Feng watched the news on TV about the Stark Industries hearing regarding the surrender of the Iron Man suit, he understood what was going on. This was part of Iron Man's storyline, meaning Tony Stark was already suffering from palladium poisoning. It might be even worse than what had been depicted in the original story, considering how frequently Tony had been using the suit in public. His pride and unwillingness to let Lin Feng stand as the center of attention only made his condition worse. The frequent use of the suit was deepening his palladium poisoning.

Lin Feng was on his way to Tony's mansion. Flying was too conspicuous during the day, so he had opted to drive. 

As he neared Tony's mansion, he ran into Pepper Potts. 

"Hey, Pepper, is Tony home?" Lin Feng asked as he approached the mansion.

"What's going on? Did Tony upset you?" Pepper said with a frosty expression. Lin Feng could immediately tell she was angry.

"Oh! Mr. Lin Feng?" Pepper looked surprised, then heard Lin Feng's question. "That's right! You wouldn't believe what that bastard did!" It seemed she had found someone to vent her frustrations, and she quickly spilled everything out like a flood. "He donated all of our modern art collection!" 

"He didn't even discuss it with me! Not a single piece, everything gone!" 

"Donated to the Boy Scouts of America!" Pepper exclaimed angrily. "Do you know, Lin Feng, it took me ten years to organize all those pieces!" 

"And he didn't even tell me, just donated everything!" Pepper was fuming and stamping her foot in frustration.

Lin Feng awkwardly scratched his nose, unsure how to respond. "I won't get into it right now, Pepper. But I'm going to talk to him. I need to clear this up with him." 

Without waiting for a reply, Pepper turned toward the mansion, but Lin Feng quickly stepped forward to stop her.

"Hey, Pepper!" 

"Tony... well, how do I say this... Tony's been going through some stuff," Lin Feng hesitated about whether to tell her about Tony's palladium poisoning. 

"What's going on with him? Is he after another magazine cover girl?" Pepper asked, her anger flaring again at the thought. 

"Well, yeah," Lin Feng said helplessly, "You know, Tony's been relying on that life-supporting thing..." He gestured to his chest, signaling the arc reactor. 

"Yeah, that...?" Pepper said. 

"That thing saved him, but it's also killing him," Lin Feng explained. "The core of the reactor is made of palladium, and Tony's suffering from palladium poisoning now. I think he still hasn't figured out a solution." 

"So, he's probably... not in the best of moods mentally and emotionally," Lin Feng concluded.

"Oh my God!" Pepper's face showed a mix of shock and concern. "He never told me about it!" Pepper's previous anger seemed to evaporate, replaced by a sense of urgency. "I need to see him right now!"

"Hey! Wait, Pepper!" Lin Feng stopped her. "I'm here to deal with Tony's palladium poisoning." 

"Are you going to fix him?" Pepper asked, her eyes full of hope and expectation. "Yes, Ms. Potts, but I'll need a little help from you," Lin Feng smiled. "Can you get me a pot of hot water and two cups?"

"That's it?" 

"Yep, just help me with that. I'll go talk to Tony first." 

"Okay, fine. I'll get it ready. Please take care of him, Mr. Lin Feng," Pepper said, half believing and half doubting.

As she went upstairs to prepare the hot water, Lin Feng headed in the direction of the underground lab. As he walked, he activated his super hearing.

"How much of this stuff do I have to drink every day?" Tony Stark grimaced as he picked up a glass of chlorophyll juice. 

"Testing palladium levels..." Tony placed his finger on the sensor. "Blood toxin level: 43%, Sir." 

Just as Lin Feng had predicted, Tony's blood toxin level was nearly half higher than what it was supposed to be in the original story. The frequent use of the suit had aggravated the palladium poisoning.

"Using the suit so often has worsened your condition, Sir," Jarvis added.

Tony Stark tapped the desk in frustration, only to be informed by Jarvis that the energy in his arc reactor was depleted. He had to replace the reactor core again. Tony glanced at the black spider-like pattern on his chest, feeling more helpless than ever.

"Sir!" Jarvis suddenly called out. "Mr. Lin Feng has arrived!"

"Lin? What's he doing here?" Tony hastily set down his T-shirt, grabbed the glass of chlorophyll juice, and took a sip. By the time he did, Lin Feng had already walked in.

"Hey, Tony, how's the juice? Is it good?" Lin Feng couldn't resist teasing him. The taste of chlorophyll juice wasn't exactly awful, but it wasn't something anyone would crave either.

"What's this? Your new recipe drink?" Lin Feng asked.

"Yeah, green, healthy, I recommend you try a glass, buddy!" Tony shot back.

"No, no, Tony, I'm here to drink tea with you." Lin Feng waved his hand, feeling like he couldn't win against Tony's quick wit.

"Tea? I don't have time for tea," Tony shook his head. He hated bitter tastes, just like how he despised the chlorophyll juice, but he drank it to relieve the palladium poisoning.

"Don't say that, my friend! Trust me, my tea is something not everyone can taste." Lin Feng moved in, casually wrapping his arm around Tony's shoulders and pulling him upstairs. "It's way more effective than chlorophyll. You'll like it."

"You know?" Tony looked at Lin Feng skeptically, pointing to the arc reactor on his chest. "Are you sure?" 

"Of course I know, Tony. This is something I can figure out." Lin Feng sighed. "Palladium poisoning? I know about it, Tony."

Tony fell silent, unsure of what to say. He simply let Lin Feng drag him to the couch in the living room.

"Here's the hot water you asked for, Lin Feng!" Pepper said as she walked in with a tray, placing the water and cups on the table.

"Oh? Pepper, you're here too?" Tony raised an eyebrow. He noticed that Pepper's expression didn't look quite right today. Tony looked at Lin Feng, realizing something.

"Bro… she doesn't know, does she?"

"Yes, I figured it out, Tony!" Pepper sat down on the couch as well. "Oh, my God!" Tony slapped himself in the face. "Buddy, are you trying to make the whole world know I'm living off chlorophyll juice?"

"You can't blame Lin Feng for this, Tony!" Pepper stared at Tony, her eyes filled with anger, frustration, and most of all, concern.

"Uh... Pepper, it's not that I didn't tell you..." Tony stammered. "I've been looking for a solution, believe me." 

"And even if I had told you, it wouldn't have helped!" Tony's words made Pepper's face fall, her eyes welling up with tears. 

"Dammit!" Tony cursed himself under his breath, realizing he had messed up. "I didn't mean it like that, Pepper, I just...!"

"You think I'm useless, don't you, Tony!" Pepper cried, her voice trembling. "I quit, I'm quitting!"

"Tony! You never care about how others feel! I've had enough!"

"No, no, no," Tony panicked. "I didn't mean that! I didn't mean it, Pepper, listen to me!"

"Then what do you mean? You didn't even tell me you have palladium poisoning!" Pepper's tears fell freely now, and Tony couldn't stop her. 

"I mean!" Tony took a deep breath. "I want you to be the Executive CEO..."