"Dr. Yinsen, this is Dr. Connors. You may have a lot in common," Schiller introduces Yinsen to Connors.
"Hello," Yinsen shakes hands with Connors, and Schiller continues, "I remember you both have teaching experience at the University of California, right?"
"Oh, yes, that's right," Yinsen says. "I teach physics here for half a year, that was years ago."
"I had a similar experience. I was a visiting professor, so the teaching time is shorter. And you know, biology wasn't given much attention at that time..."
"You remember those little pricks causing a big mess at that graduation party?"
"Oh! You mean the Onion Club? Of course, I remember. Those sheep occupied in the school for three or four days. I hear Professor Frank's ass gets kicked, hahaha..."
The group chats for a while, and Schiller subtly guides the conversation. Soon, Yinsen sighs sentimentally, "That is really a near-death experience, isn't it?"
"...They don't have such advanced means of dealing with corpses. I go into shock. They throw me into a mass grave without check. Fortunately, a kind-hearted corpse collector finds me seemingly still alive and pulls me out. Later, Stark sends people to find my body for burial and discovers that I am alive..."
"It is thanks to him too. That place lacks medical supplies. If Stark doesn't send someone to find me, I probably don't survive for two days."
Dr. Connors shakes his head and says, "Why does a good professor like you go to that place? Afghanistan is totally a graveyard, even the army can't survive there."
Yinsen sighs, "It used to be a secret, but now there is nothing need to hide. It's related to a military plan."
Connors tightens his fingers and glances at Schiller. They exchange a look, and then Schiller coughs and replies, "Coincidentally, we also discover a military plan involving human experiments..."
"That's not important anymore," Yinsen says. "I do everything I can to stop the inhumane things going on there, otherwise I am not left alone in that hellhole."
The group continues to chat, and Schiller gradually learns the whole story of Yinsen surviving from his own mouth.
Yinsen is a physicist. He is supposed to accompany the military for a secret experiment in Afghanistan, but something goes wrong in the experiment. Yinsen seems to do something to sabotage the experiment's success. When the military withdraws, he is abandoned in Afghanistan and then caught by the group that later kidnapped Iron Man.
This group finds out that Yinsen is a PhD in physics and wants him to create weapons for them. It leads to a storyline similar to the Iron Man 1. The difference is that Yinsen doesn't die in the end, but manages to escape.
It clarifies a question in Schiller's mind. According to film, Stark should have a strong desire to shut down the weapon manufacturing department. But the Stark he meets only needs a slight persuasion to change his mind. Schiller knows he is just a psychologist, not God. How can Stark change his mind so easily?
In fact, it is because the key point of Dr. Yinsen's death is missing in the stimulus to Stark. Therefore, although Stark reflects on the fact that his weapons can harm more people, he isn't as paranoid as in the original story. And it leads to Schiller only needing to persuade him a little before he changes his mind. Otherwise, no matter how hard others try to persuade him, Stark won't turn back.
Schiller briefly introduces Yinsen what happened to Stark recently. Yinsen is affected, but he still consoles, "No matter what, his uncle, who grows up with him, doesn't die. He's not alone. He still has family, and it's a good thing. People always need something to care about, so they don't fall into a desperate state from which they can't turn back."
The three of them continue chatting in the clinic. They actually have a lot in common, because their educational backgrounds are similar, and they have many shared experiences.
They even realize they are all alumni. Dr. Connors has three doctoral degrees, while both Yinsen and Schiller have two. They have all taught at various different schools, with some schools overlapping. When they talk about these experiences, there is always plenty to chat.
After a while, the door of the clinic gently opens. Peter enters with his backpack. As soon as he enters, he is overwhelmed by the doctors content in the room. He hesitates and murmurs, "Um, is this not the time for me to come? I should come back later..."
Before he can escape, Dr. Connors stands up and grabs him, pulling him over and praising, "Look, look at our smart boy. Yinsen, this is Peter. He's still in high school. But when he interns in my lab, he performs exceptionally well, even better than some of the graduate students I've mentored."
"Peter, this is Dr. Yinsen..."
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Yinsen."
While Peter is greeting, Steve also walks in with a hotdog in hand. Since he has not met Connors before, Schiller introduces him, "This is Dr. Connors, a doctor of medicine, pharmacology, and biology. Dr. Yinsen, a doctor of mathematics and physics. And as for me, you already know, a doctor of psychology and philosophy."
Steve opens his mouth and lightly nudges Peter's arm with his elbow, whispering, "Now there are a total of seven doctors in the room, right?"
"We only have five people in total."
"On average, each of us has more than one." Steve winks at Peter, and Peter smiles too. He whispers, "In the future, I'll also have two. No, maybe three. That way, the five of us will have ten doctors, averaging two per person."
"Then I'll also be a double doctor. Thank you very much."
They laugh together and sit down.
Like most of their conversations, the topics naturally drift towards the youngest person in the room. Yinsen asks Peter, "Have you thought about your future career direction? Which university are you planning to apply to?"
"I haven't really thought about it yet." Peter says shyly, "Although my grades are not bad, I don't have much confidence in applying to those top universities. There are too many high-achieving students..."
"Don't worry, we can give you reference. But of course, you still need to work hard. Otherwise, even if you can get into a good university, graduation won't be easy."
"You underestimate him." Dr. Connors interrupts, "When he interns with me, he shows exceptional talent. I believe he could even go straight to graduate school now, let alone college."
"Oh, don't say that! Doctor, I have a long way to go."
Connors notices Peter's lack of confidence. It isn't modesty, but rather a genuine lack of self-assurance.
He gives Schiller a meaningful look, and they both go to the rooftop to smoke. Schiller says, "Peter had a difficult family background before, and he was also alienated at school. Even though his grades are good, he worries about university tuition every day. His uncle is a good but ordinary person..."
"I see. Always like this. I've seen many students like him, most of them lacking confidence."
"Peter's problem is even more serious. You know, he is Spider-Man. He puts all his expectations of realizing his life values as a superhero. We're trying to correct him and encourage him to embrace his Peter Parker identity more. But you know, suddenly having such strong powers and being able to use them to help others, of course, he would do that."
Schiller continues, "You can't talk too much about big lecture to kids in this age group, or try to make them understand the balance between two identities using professional knowledge. They don't have such strong self-control. They will rely more on the identity that brings them a greater sense of accomplishment."
"That's such a pity. I don't want him to become someone who just fights street thugs. He has great talents, and he's smart. He can achieve more."
While they are talking, Schiller notices a wisp of smoke rising on the horizon. Shortly after, a tall figure appears. Schiller squints his eyes to carefully observe and realizes it seems like a monster.
He extinguishes his cigarette, stomps on it on the ground, and says, "Go back first, something's happening."
As soon as he gets downstairs, Stark's phone rings, "A monster has appeared in the East District. I want you to ask Dr. Connors if he has any clues."
"Dr. Connors? Why ask Dr. Connors?"
"Because this monster looks like a lizard. I think it and lizards should belong to the same family, right?"
At that moment, Dr. Connors also sees the distant sight through his binoculars. The creature leaping around in the city looks like a red-skinned monster. Different from an ordinary lizard, it resembles more of a lizard-like creature with spikes on its arms and head, rough skin, and layers of throat pouches under its neck.
Dr. Connors cursed and puts down his telescope, grabbing his coat as if about to leave. Peter goes up to hold him back and says, "Doctor! Where are you going?"
"To the laboratory in Stark Tower. Oh, yes, Schiller! Make sure he grants me access. This could very well be a product of that military plan. I need to find a way to solve this problem."
"No, it's not possible. From here to Stark Tower, we might pass through the affected area. You're just a mortal. Let me take you there."
"How can you take me there? Let me swing through the air like you? That stupid creature will definitely chase after us and bite."
Connors puts on his coat and briskly walks out of the clinic's doors, Peter following behind. Connors walks to his car and says, "Let's go, get in the car."
Peter immediately sits in the passenger seat.
However, he soon regrets it. He had forgotten Dr. Connors, like Steve, is a veteran.
When the car arrives at the entrance of Stark Tower, Peter crouches down on the ground, holding onto the bumper, almost retching.
The damage caused by the creature not only affects them, but it can't even see their taillights.
Dr. Connors says proudly, "When both of my hands were here, I could drive a car for over ten kilometers even under bombardment from six bombers. He's far from that level."
After he finishes speaking, a thumbs-up slowly extends from the front of the car's engine.