[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-kryptonian-slacker-in-marvel":3,"chapter-the-kryptonian-slacker-in-marvel-the-kryptonian-slacker-in-marvel-chapter-34":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Marvel's Salted Fish Kryptonian",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2231228,4185,"Chapter 34: Attending the Banquet","the-kryptonian-slacker-in-marvel-chapter-34",34,"\u003Cp>Following behind Tony Stark, who was wearing a custom-made suit but no tie or bowtie, with the top button left undone, Henry was glad he had given up on the suit he’d bought after it had been soaked in water, and had rented another one instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although with his current sense of fashion, he couldn't tell the difference between a custom-made suit and a cheap one, he could at least manage to keep himself from being discourteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held a bouquet of yellow roses mixed with lilies in his hands. This was the etiquette for a first visit in the United States; one could also bring a small gift or a bottle of wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the other party's net worth, he figured he couldn't afford a gift or wine that would catch their eye, so Henry just brought flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, from the moment Henry appeared with a bouquet, Tony Stark had been grinning the whole way, a smile so lewd it made the Kryptonian’s fists itch, wanting to give the future Iron Man a hard punch to the cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry used great willpower to suppress his impulse, then used 120% of his Oscar-level acting ability to control his facial muscles, putting on a kind and cordial smile. It was a smile that sent chills down Mr. Stark’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The location for the family banquet was a villa owned by the Stark family in Beverly Hills. However, Tony didn't live there, so they had come together from elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, Henry asked nervously, \"Why is Ms. Hepburn staying at your villa?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't I tell you? She lives in Connecticut now that she's retired from acting, and when she comes to Los Angeles, she mostly stays in hotels. But old friends always need a venue for gatherings, so she borrows my family's villa. Sometimes she stays there directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, your family has a very good relationship with Ms. Hepburn?\" Henry had a thoughtful expression, followed by a sudden realization. \"Oh, wait—don't tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up. I think you're thinking of something very rude. If you want to say something you shouldn't, then get out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony Stark had no desire to discuss the romantic affairs of the older generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Henry, he was wondering: did Howard Stark live such a wild life in this world? Was there any girl from the Golden Age he hadn't managed to woo?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Stark villa in Beverly Hills was in no way inferior to the place Henry had seen earlier, the one rented by the banquet company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that the style of the house was more old-fashioned, like an estate left over from the last century. He really didn't know whose personality this tacky style belonged to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When passing through the iron gate, Tony Stark rolled down the car window and said only one thing to the intercom: \"It's me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This let Henry witness what it meant to \"get by on one's face\"—the large iron gate in front of the courtyard opened directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That flashy red Ferrari was then roared into the courtyard with a heavy foot on the gas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, Henry seriously felt that so-called sports cars were things that didn't consider comfort at all. Sitting in this damn thing, our great Kryptonian would rather sit in that second-hand antique Cadillac he bought in Alasijiazhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, Henry had no time to think about whether his butt was sore or not. His mind was completely filled with the nervousness of meeting his idol; he couldn't think about anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after getting out of the car, Henry’s first instinct was to use his free hand—the one not holding the bouquet—to smooth out the wrinkles in his cheap suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A distinct female voice came from behind the villa's main entrance, which made Henry’s heart jump into his throat, his heartbeat pounding at who knows how many times its normal speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the door opened, Henry immediately lowered his head and presented the bouquet. At the same time, he said, \"Hello, Ms. Hepburn, I am a huge fan of yours!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female voice sounded different from what he had imagined; it was sharper and more crisp, somewhat different from the slightly deep, gentle voice he had pictured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the big star in front of him took the flowers did Henry look up. Unexpectedly, what came into view was the face of a beauty in her twilight years, with deep contours and a sharp gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, so it's *this* Ms. Hepburn...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disappointment in his voice could not have been more obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Katharine Hepburn immediately shot him a glare and said in a serious tone, \"You can make your disappointed expression even more exaggerated, and I guarantee I won't break your nose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry, realizing his mistake, hurriedly tried to remedy it: \"Oh, Ms. Hepburn, please forgive my rudeness. It is true that I am a fan of yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether it's *Morning Glory*, for which you won the Oscar for Best Actress, or the two masterpieces *Bringing Up Baby* and *Holiday*, they are all my favorites.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even your later works like *The African Queen*, *Suddenly, Last Summer*, and *Guess Who's Coming to Dinner* are all impressive and endlessly memorable. Your performance in the films proves that you are not just beautiful, but an excellent actress with superb acting skills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Katharine peeked from behind the bouquet at the son of an acquaintance standing behind Henry and said, \"Little Tony, tell me, what's the deal with this friend of yours who talks so fast?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Katharine, this guy is just a small-time actor in Hollywood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\" The sound clearly indicated she didn't believe it was just that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's got some cleverness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm!\" The sound rose slightly. If a man of the Stark family could praise someone as having \"some cleverness,\" then that person was not just ordinarily smart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you remember the shooting incident that caused quite a stir a while ago? The person who helped me repel those killers was him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm!\" Katharine raised an eyebrow and looked at the strange young man again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry touched his chest and nodded, saying, \"Henry Brown, it's an honor to meet you, Ms. Hepburn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Call me Katharine, kid. Otherwise, it's easy to make you think of the *other* Ms. Hepburn,\" the aging big star teased. She added, \"Come in. Little Tony, this is your house.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Tony Stark said. \"This is the house the old man bought; it has nothing to do with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, Stark men.\" Katharine stepped aside from the doorway and mocked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry wasn't that pretentious; he entered the house and blocked the door, which was about to close automatically, for Katharine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aging star stepped aside from the door and said, \"If Little Tony doesn't want to come in, let him stand outside and be punished. Kid, come with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Coming.\" Henry followed eagerly, leaving the arrogant young master behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, Katharine, I'm the one who's actually your friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you ever seen a friend whose duties include babysitting?\" Katharine Hepburn delivered a merciless finishing blow, treating the young master of the Stark family like a grandson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony pulled open the half-closed door himself, entered, and continued, \"The cook for today was also someone I called.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You could have called them back; that way I could have shown off my own skills,\" Katharine said, not coddling the child and continuing to poke at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry chimed in from the side, \"I have some experience in the kitchen, too. I can help out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that's wonderful. It seems it's already quite clear who the most useless person among us is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-06-18T01:36:48.144Z","2026-06-18T03:18:02.290Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","737b30dace24170c9fd42afd5acef8f3795b6f99af3bf8cf39752a75df686b0b","the-kryptonian-slacker-in-marvel-chapter-35","the-kryptonian-slacker-in-marvel-chapter-33",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-s-salted-fish-kryptonian-cover.jpg"]