After snapping back at Wang Ye, Agent Carter stopped talking and focused entirely on driving—though "racing" might have been the more accurate term.
She drove at breakneck speed, occasionally pulling off dramatic 180-degree drifts around tight corners.
This left Wang Ye, sitting in the passenger seat, utterly shaken. He would later describe the ride as "pure misery."
Noticing Wang Ye's "suffering," Agent Carter felt a wave of satisfaction and finally eased up on the accelerator.
As a proud and capable individual—and an exceptional agent—Carter wasn't inclined to go easy on someone like Wang Ye, whom she had dismissed as a "playboy."
Clinging tightly to his seatbelt with a pale face, Wang Ye finally understood the meaning of "the speed and passion of a female driver."
After this little episode, the car screeched to a halt in front of a shop called Brooklyn Antiques.
"Well, what do you know—fellow competitors!" Wang Ye remarked dryly.
Agent Carter stepped out first. Seeing Wang Ye stumble out with a shaken expression, she smirked, visibly satisfied.
Inside the Store
They entered what seemed like a classic spy rendezvous scene.
An elderly woman with silver hair emerged from the backroom. Upon seeing Carter, she greeted her with a smile.
"The weather is lovely today, isn't it?"
"Indeed, but I always carry an umbrella," Carter replied.
The code was correct.
The elderly woman reached under the counter and pressed a hidden switch, revealing a concealed door.
With a nod, Carter led Wang Ye into the backroom, stopping in front of a bookshelf in the storage area. Moments later, the bookshelf swung open like a door, unveiling a passage that led to a secret laboratory.
Inside the corridor, people bustled about, immersed in their tasks. Soldiers stationed there saluted Carter and stepped aside to let her pass.
Eventually, the pair reached the end of the hallway and opened another door, revealing a massive, high-tech laboratory.
Among the busy researchers stood Dr. Erskine.
Hearing their arrival, he looked up and saw Wang Ye, nodding in greeting. Setting aside his work, the doctor approached them with delight.
"Thank you so much, Agent Carter!" Dr. Erskine said gratefully.
"All for the organization," Carter replied, though her curiosity was evident. "But I must ask—what's so special about this man that you're willing to vouch for him?"
Carter had been pondering this question. Wang Ye's lackluster behavior in the car only deepened her suspicions that the doctor might have been charmed or deceived.
"Mr. Ye has exceptional talent in scientific research. Someone like him shouldn't be stuck running an antique shop. Besides, didn't you already investigate his background?" Dr. Erskine retorted, aware of Carter's overly cautious nature.
Wang Ye's youthful appearance only added to her skepticism, but Dr. Erskine knew his abilities well. He hadn't brought Wang Ye here just as an assistant; he hoped to groom him as his successor.
"Uh, I'm still here, you know! Talking about investigating me so openly—is that really appropriate?" Wang Ye interjected with a wry chuckle.
Couldn't they be a bit more discreet?
In the Laboratory
Dressed in a white lab coat, Wang Ye stood beside Dr. Erskine, notebook in hand, attentively listening as the doctor explained the experiment's protocols and precautions.
From a viewing platform, Agent Carter observed Wang Ye's every move, convinced there was something off about him, though she lacked concrete proof.
After some time, a message reached her, and she left in a hurry, realizing she had forgotten her duty to train new recruits that day.
Wang Ye glanced at Carter's departing figure, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, before returning to his work.
From then on, Wang Ye and Dr. Erskine delved deeply into their research, discussing and resolving challenges.
Wang Ye quickly grasped even the most complex concepts, leaving Dr. Erskine marveling at his brilliance. Spending more time together, the doctor began to feel like his decades of experience paled in comparison to Wang Ye's raw talent.
That Night
Playboy Howard Stark arrived with the equipment needed for the experiments.
Dr. Erskine paused his work to introduce Wang Ye to Stark, praising Wang Ye's extraordinary talent and calling him a once-in-a-lifetime find.
Howard Stark, however, was skeptical. As a self-proclaimed genius, he scrutinized Wang Ye, feeling both curiosity and competitiveness.
Geniuses, after all, are either friends or rivals.
In an academic discussion that followed, Howard quickly realized Dr. Erskine hadn't been exaggerating. If anything, he had understated Wang Ye's brilliance to avoid bruising anyone's ego.
By the end of their exchange, Howard and Wang Ye were chatting like old friends, lamenting that they hadn't met sooner. Under different circumstances, they might have even sworn brotherhood on the spot.
The Experiment
With Wang Ye and Howard's assistance, the experiment progressed smoothly over the next few days.
After rigorous selection and Dr. Erskine's firm insistence Steve Rogers was chosen as the first test subject.
That Evening
Dr. Erskine brought a bottle of wine to Steve's quarters.
"May I come in?" the doctor asked, knocking on the door.
"Of course!" Steve said, setting aside the book he had been reading.
"Can't sleep?"
"A little nervous about tomorrow," Steve admitted, rubbing his hands nervously.
"Me too," Dr. Erskine replied with a smile, placing the wine bottle on the table as he sat across from Steve.
"Can I ask you something?" Steve hesitated briefly before voicing his doubts.
"Of course."
"Why did you choose me back then? Even now, there are candidates better than me—why stick with me?"
Steve felt there must be something he didn't know.
"That's technically two questions," Dr. Erskine chuckled. "But I'll answer anyway.
The super serum isn't perfect. While it enhances all aspects of the user, it also amplifies their core nature—the good becomes better, and the bad becomes worse.
That's why I chose you, Steve. You're kind, compassionate, and steadfast in your values. You have a sense of justice and empathy, qualities that make you uniquely suited for this."
Steve listened intently, though he didn't fully grasp everything.
Dr. Erskine uncorked the wine and poured two glasses.
"This is the last bottle of wine from my homeland.
Come, have a drink with me!"
Steve reached out to take the glass, but Dr. Erskine pulled it back.
"Oh, I almost forgot—you can't drink. You've got the experiment tomorrow!"
"Then let's drink together after it's over!"
"No, no, no—you can't drink. But I'm not the one being experimented on, so I can drink now!"
Dr. Erskine burst into laughter, his demeanor resembling that of a mischievous old man.
Steve blinked, then laughed along.
(End of Chapter)
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