During the meal, Stark talked ceaselessly about his wedding plans, while others threw in their advice from all angles. Shiller burrowed into his food; Hela was right, the restaurant really wasn't that good.
This restaurant mainly featured fusion cuisine with an Eastern flavor, and many of the dishes were integrated with Japanese elements. Simply put, every ingredient embraced a Japanese zest, and in a plate as big as your face, they would only serve a bite-sized portion. Shiller felt that he was burning more calories lifting his arm than he was getting from the food.
"I think you should buy an island," Steve said. "I've seen many wealthy people do that."
"Then once someone's plane crashes on the way to the wedding, it'll become eternal gossip in these circles," Stark rolled his eyes and said, "Besides, it's very cliché."
"I don't think so," Steve remained unperturbed by Stark's sarcastic tone. He said, "The reason classics are classics is because most people think they work well. It's more risky to be unconventional."
"Well, actually, Pepper and I considered it. We looked at a world map for ages and found that many islands weren't satisfactory. Finally, I found one that was perfect in every way, but the name on the map was 'New Zealand'."
Everyone laughed. Wanda covered her mouth with her fork-holding hand and said, "I guess you have the capability to buy it, right?"
"Of course," Stark spread his hands and said, "but it would be tricky to get the United Nations to recognize my right to name it, and what's the point of buying an island if I can't name it?"
"Here we go again," Polaris said with an annoyed expression during a backstage interview. "This is another reason I can't stand Wanda. She just sucks up to that damned egomaniac. I'm so tired of her sycophantic ways."
"Lorna always fails to read the room," Wanda said calmly during the backstage interview. "She doesn't understand who the host is at each party and who deserves the most respect. It shows immaturity, and Erik is always like that too. I've put in a lot of effort not to become like them."
"Having it in New York wouldn't be bad," Jarvis spoke up. "There are many celebrities here, and the reception capability is top-notch. It might be a bit cliché, but it's stable and safe."
Stark gestured again and said, "We've considered that option, of course. Now that the New York aerial transport system is basically mature, it's also possible to let more people come here to see the new sights."
"But New York lacks a bit of romantic ambiance," Stark said with some difficulty. "The pace of life here is too fast, skyscrapers everywhere, and the scenery isn't spectacular enough, so we ultimately ruled out this option."
"Then it seems the destination has to be the West Coast," Shiller thought he had better steer the conversation back on track. He said, "It's sparsely populated here, with a slower pace of life and nice scenery. Have you thought about the specific city where you want to have it?"
"What do you think of Hollywood?"
That remark drew varied reactions from the others.
"Actually, I think that's not bad," Steve said during the backstage interview. "The suburbs of Los Angeles are a good place, with mountains behind and the ocean in front, a temperate climate. It's at least very suitable for a pregnant woman like Pepper to vacation. But I guess that's not what Tony is considering."
"It's undeniable that Tony Stark has a clear narcissistic tendency," Hela assessed during the backstage interview. "I'm not surprised he would choose this place. He just wants everyone's attention on him, just like a major movie star."
"I don't quite agree with this idea," Jarvis said, glancing at Pepper. "It would be okay in Los Angeles; it has convenient transportation, but Hollywood is in the suburbs, where transportation, education, and medical resources are quite average, especially medical."
"Then let's build a private hospital; we have enough time," Stark said without any hesitation. "I'll hire the best doctors, something like the Hand of God, the Elbow of God, and such..."
"I have nothing to say," Dr. Strange said during the backstage interview. "He has no basic reverence for life and medicine. I hope he can attract the people he wants with those titles."
"Tony always likes to use that as an argument," Loki said helplessly. "The title of Iron Man isn't much better than Hand of God. He knows Steven cares about this, but I think he's too excited to care about anything else."
Eddie zoomed in on the three people's subtle expressions.
"It doesn't have to be so exaggerated; maybe just hire a personal doctor who's always on call," Shiller offered his serious suggestion. "I have a few classmates who are quite skilled professionally; perhaps I could introduce them to you."
"Like you, addicted to meds to the point you can't even attend a consultation?" Strange suddenly said that.
"That's such old news," Shiller murmured as he ate, and said, "My license proves I'm fine, and they are too."
"Let's hope so."
After the clash between the two doctors, a somewhat urgent background music started, and Dr. Strange, dressed in surgical attire, pushed open the doors of the operating room, quietly confirming details with an assistant.
The sound of the hospital bed being pushed into the operating room was grating, and as soon as the lights in the operating room lit up, it was as if countless symphonies of joy and sorrow began to play in your ears.
"Good morning, mo-morning... Charles, have you given last night's consultation notes to the head nurse yet? Good, let Davis know I've already sent the suggestions for his report from yesterday to his email..."
"When it comes to my profession, many people are mistaken," Shiller said, sitting by the window. "They think a psychologist should sit in an expensive house, only treating the moans and groans of high society."
"Perhaps many years ago, that was indeed the case, but with the development of psychology and psychiatry, these disciplines have started to diversify. The department where I work can be called the Emergency Psychology Department, mainly dealing with patients who experience sudden psychological issues during emergencies or surgeries..."
"The Elders Council Hospital boasts the most developed and comprehensive psychology and psychiatry outpatient classifications on the East Coast. It is an honor for me to work here, and I believe that with the development of medicine, such detailed categorization will become commonplace in all hospitals..."
Dr. Strange was ceaselessly busy in the operating room. The clock outside the theatre moved from 8 a.m. to noon, and the surgery was not only unfinished but another surgeon had taken over his shift to continue the same operation, so that he could go out for lunch.
"People always ask me if medical dramas are real," Dr. Strange said in his office, "especially those about neurosurgery. Do you think I would deny it? No, I wouldn't."
"In the hospital, the images of doctors, patients, and nurses are all in a hurried rush, while the corridors of the wards stage comedies and tragedies of life and death." Dr. Strange's tone, slightly indifferent, seemed particularly rational at that moment.
"Neurosurgery, as many people imagine, is indeed the pinnacle of the medical field's pyramid, the best proof that humans can change fate with their hands."
"Is it God who granted all this to people?" Shiller, leading a group of students to the ward where an emergency had occurred, spoke with a gentle strength, "No, I don't think so. The existence of doctors is precisely to prove that the human race survives not by the grace of God."
"I don't rely on prayer to exchange for protection. There are many people in this world with dexterous hands, but only I have reached the position I am in today, which should bring me enough respect." Dr. Strange stated, "Rather than the Hand of God, I would prefer for them to call me Dr. Strange."
"Dr. Rodriguez, I want to know why you're late to the consultation again." Dr. Strange's cool tone rang out in the conference room. Shiller, with blood still on the corner of his white coat, came in wiping his hands with a towel and said, "I just encountered a somewhat tricky patient, but it's all settled now."
"The patient is alright now?"
"The patient died."
"Oh, Tony, are you okay?" Pepper was wiping the wine off Stark's sleeve cuff with a napkin, saying, "You really shouldn't drink so much."
Stark shook his head and said, "I'm fine, I'm going to change my clothes, you guys carry on."
Steve showed a smile, and Carter looked at him curiously, to which Steve shook his head with a smile.
The others didn't catch the silent riddle he was playing, but only Shiller looked in the direction where Stark had disappeared. That wasn't the way to the dressing room. If Stark really wanted to change his clothes, why would he head towards the kitchen of the dining room?
The lights suddenly dimmed but did not go out completely, startling everyone at the table, but seeing the very composed waiter standing there made them all halt their reactions.
"I knew then something was about to happen!" Wanda excitedly brushed back her hair during a backstage interview, admitting, "I have to say it's a bit cliché, but Steve is right. Classics are classics because they are loved by the majority. If Tony came up with too startling a surprise from the heavens, Pepper might not handle it as well as Carter."
What was unexpected though, was that the object being pushed up wasn't a cake, but a massive display case almost hitting the ceiling. In the front of the display was a three-tiered cake, while the behind it, the entire transparent glass showcase contained a full set of jewelry.
This was a set of silvery-grey jewelry, gleaming with dazzling luster under the dim lighting, with irregular streamlined wave patterns as its basic elements. Due to their repetitive and dense arrangement, they resembled a river of mercury flowing through the air.
The manager, wearing white gloves, introduced, "This is Van Cleef & Arpels' collectible jewelry set 'Sound and Shadow' launched this year, utilizing the most classic invisible setting technique, totaling 36,332 grey diamonds with no visible claws or settings, making the diamonds seem like formless sounds, groundless shadows, like ghosts sunken at the bottom of the river of time..."
Upon the jewelry's appearance, Pepper stood up, and her gaze never left the set, her eyes clearly showing that she was completely captivated.
Stark gave Steve a proud eyebrow raise while Steve turned his head to look at Carter, who, although also admiring the jewelry, clearly did not like it as much as Pepper.
"You don't like this?" Steve whispered.
"I'm not very fond of black, white, and grey," Carter whispered back, "otherwise, I wouldn't mostly wear and accessorize with colors. But it looks like Pepper really likes it."
"I seem to remember she doesn't like bright colors much, but most jewelry is usually vibrant and sparkling, so it's not easy to find a set like this."
Hela spoke in a low voice to Loki, "I recall Van Cleef & Arpels always releases brightly colored, animal-shaped jewelry; I didn't expect them to have this trick up their sleeve."
"Not as nice as mine," Loki said in the lowest voice, adding, "Do you remember the Eclipse gemstone set from Frigga's collection? That truly deserved to be called the ghost of the river of time..."
"Although sometimes I quite like that the gemstones on Earth don't glow, indeed, that set is a bit nicer," Hela commented.
"Perhaps I could wait until after Pepper gives birth to send it to her. I always thought humans are phototactic, and most indeed are fond of our luminous gemstones. This dim set is unimpressive—I didn't expect Pepper to like it."
"I heard you gave Wanda's child a Blink Crystal Diamond; the Crystal Diamond Mine is closed now, right?"
"Of course, Crystal Diamonds in the Shi'ar Empire have already been speculated to over sixty thousand Star Coins per carat, but I managed to obtain one from another Loki..."