Marvel Salted Fish Kryptonian

It's said that the strongest fortresses always begin to collapse from within. Howard's death was orchestrated by Hydra, hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D.

As for taking the Super Soldier Serum, that was more of a convenience. Whether Howard's restored serum was truly effective is anyone's guess. And judging by subsequent developments in the MCU, it certainly didn't play a significant role.

In a nutshell, if you want to keep Howard Stark alive today, Henry has to provide personal protection 24 hours a day.

Otherwise, even if he managed to stop a Winter Soldier attack disguised as a car accident, there would be a second, third, and even countless times until the assassination was successful.

In this case, unless Howard Stark gives up Stark Industries and takes some retirement shares or pension, he can't expect to live a peaceful life.

But would old Stark agree? It was obvious that it was impossible. Even if there was solid evidence, it wouldn't be enough to convince this scientist and entrepreneur who had experienced World War II. And Henry didn't have any evidence.

So is it really necessary for Henry to save Howard? The truth is that it is neither necessary nor possible.

This is a disaster that Stark Industries will inevitably face, and it is also a hurdle in whether Tony Stark can transform and grow.

Just like the inevitable collapse of the Red Empire, Henry, a Kryptonian, was not even qualified to be a pawn in this situation. Not to mention gaining any benefits from it, at most he could only pick up some insignificant scraps.

After figuring this out, Henry could rest assured and turn his attention back to his employer, no longer focusing on the trendsetters of the era. Audrey Hepburn's affairs were no less than anyone else's.

Chapter 129 Private Dinner

"Beep, beep, beep!" The specially made metal strap of the watch on Audrey Hepburn's left wrist made a prompt sound.

The lady touched it lightly, and the beeping stopped. He then stood up and walked out of the hotel.

At this moment, the page boy who was guarding the gate opened the door and walked in. As soon as he saw Ms. Hepburn, he blocked the glass door and prevented it from closing. At the same time, he said, "Madam, your car is here."

"Thank you." After handing over a tip, Audrey Hepburn came to the car.

Henry was already waiting in front of the back door. He opened it at the right time and put his hand on the upper edge of the door to prevent his head from accidentally hitting it, while helping the lady get in the car.

Driving a rented Volvo, Henry prepared to take Audrey Hepburn to the French restaurant where he had made a reservation a few days ago for dinner.

As for the ladies' watch, the metal strap that makes the sound is the result of Henry's modification. It simply has a function where the other side sends a message and this side makes a sound.

Previous Bluetooth headsets had a limited connection distance and were not very convenient.

And sometimes all you need is a reminder like an alarm clock, not necessarily a conversation. So Henry came up with this new gadget.

The function is simple: when Henry is ready, the watch strap will notify Ms. Hepburn. In the case just now, the car has already driven to the door and the person is notified to come out.

On the other hand, when Henry was not with Ms. Hepburn, the modified watch strap could also be used as a call bell to remind Henry, who was nowhere to be found, that Ms. Hepburn was looking for him.

This thing is just a combination of a transmitter, a receiver, and a buzzer. Anyone with relevant knowledge can assemble it by buying some electronic parts on the street.

After listening to Henry's explanation, Ms. Hepburn didn't think these little things were anything special, as long as they were useful.

But to those who truly understand the industry, it's a different story. At the very least, the device needs to be miniaturized enough to fit inside a metal strap on a woman's watch, but there aren't any electronic components that can be easily assembled into such a small device.

Anyway, Henry's approach is to use the Kryptonian precision processing capabilities to make some convenient props. As long as the concept is not too advanced, these gadgets will not attract much attention from others, unless they are really knowledgeable.

"That's right, Henry."

"Yes, boss."

"After you hand the car over to someone else, come into the restaurant and have dinner with us," said Audrey Hepburn.

"Boss, isn't today your private meeting with a friend?" Henry asked.

Henry knew that the other party was Hubert de Givenchy, a close friend of Ms. Hepburn, who had come to New York from France.

Hepburn asked back, "Didn't I ask you to reserve three seats?"

"Yes. Isn't the third one a guest brought by Mr. Givenchy?"

Audrey Hepburn said: "No, the third guest is you. There is no other restaurant nearby, and you are a glutton. The chef of that restaurant impressed me with his oxtail soup when he was in France.

"I think even you would be amazed. Just think of it as me wanting to show off in front of you. Don't worry, I'll cover the cost of the dinner and won't deduct any from your salary."

"Thanks, boss." Henry didn't delay any further.

As for the salary deductions, that was just Ms. Hepburn's sense of humor. He never skimped on the cost of food and lodging; on the contrary, he was quite generous. Unless there were other organizers' restrictions, Henry's food and lodging were the same as his.

It had just rained in New York today, so the ground was still a little wet. Some people on the street carried umbrellas, while others did not. They were all walking hurriedly in this busy city, stepping on the puddles on the ground.

Audrey Hepburn looked at this fast-paced city and couldn't really like it from the bottom of her heart.

But this did not affect his good mood of meeting a close friend.

Givenchy, who originally ran his own luxury brand, joined the LVMH Group in recent years and became its creative director.

Today, Mr. Givenchy took time out of his busy schedule to fly to New York to visit his close friend who had just survived a hunt by local warlords in Africa and an emergency plane landing.

They soon arrived at the restaurant. Henry opened the car door and led the lady out. After handing the rental car to the parking attendant at the door, he followed the lady into this high-end French restaurant that cannot be eaten without a reservation.

"Bangjiu, ma'am. Mr. Givenchy is already waiting at the table you reserved. Please allow me to show you to your seat." The restaurant manager personally greeted the big star at the door.

Henry had already mentioned the guest's identity when making the reservation, so the restaurant manager was naturally very cautious.

However, the information about the guests was not shared with the entire restaurant in advance. It was generally known only to the manager who took the reservation. This was to prevent employees from leaking it to paparazzi and causing trouble for the restaurant's patrons.

A high-end restaurant like theirs, besides basic issues like cooking and hygiene, also does a very good job of protecting the privacy of their guests. At least the staff have been trained to the point where they can remain calm no matter who they see.

If a star or famous person comes to visit, the employees will clamor and scramble for autographs and photos. Probably, people who have been there before won't want to come a second time.

Of course, there are restaurants that use this kind of intimate style to get along, but most celebrities go to high-end restaurants just to avoid being treated like gorillas in a zoo.

We have been acting like monkeys enough on a normal day, and when we want to take a break, no one is willing to put on a business smile, and we have to show a very friendly attitude to everyone we meet.

The atmosphere in the restaurant is very relaxed. It's not the kind of strict atmosphere where the chef and the restaurant manager are so sick that customers are only allowed to eat the food and are not allowed to do anything else, including talking.

The interior layout and lighting are also bright enough for people to have a normal dinner. Instead of using special lighting to color the food, the whole restaurant has a very ambiguous dim atmosphere.

Led by the restaurant manager, Ms. Hepburn entered the restaurant. An elegant old gentleman saw her and happily stood up to greet her.

“Givenchy.”

"Audrey."

The two of them kissed each other enthusiastically on the cheek.

For Givenchy, who founded his own luxury brand, this surname represents him and he is proud of it. So no matter how close they are, everyone calls him "Givenchy" instead of his name or nickname.

"Who is this young man?" Givenchy looked at Henry and asked kindly.

"Oh, this is my new assistant, Henry Brown. He's a very interesting kid, and I was thinking of introducing you two to each other someday." Ms. Hepburn said with a playful smile.

Hearing this, Henry had a bad feeling. However, he still extended his hand and introduced himself to the fashion tycoon, "Henri Brown. Mr. Givenchy, it's a great honor to meet you today."

Chapter 130 Givenchy

Givenchy personally pulled out a chair for Audrey Hepburn to sit in. Judging from the way they talked, they didn't look like an old married couple who knew everything about each other, but rather like someone who was still in love, with even their eyes meeting.

Watching the two of them from the side, Henry couldn't help but think of a word that had not yet been used in this era - 'male best friend'.

It's true that this word has been accorded a lot of negative connotations since its appearance, but when used to address a female friend of the opposite sex, where the relationship is more than just friendship, there's no better word than this.

No wonder both of Audrey Hepburn's husbands were dissatisfied with the fashion tycoon. Anyone who saw his wife looking at another man with such loving eyes would be unbearable.

But the sense of distance between the two is not that of a man and a woman crossing the last line, but that they express their feelings unscrupulously before that line.

As the first person to witness the incident up close, Henry couldn't help but wonder: Which is more serious, emotional or physical infidelity? And what are the boundaries between men and women?

The three of them sat down and a waiter came over to pour water and bring the menu. However, the two old friends didn't even look at it. Audrey Hepburn said to the waiter, "Give us a little surprise."

No-menu cuisine is not popular in this era. However, in bars or some Western restaurants, when customers don't have any particular food or drink cravings, they may leave the choice to the chef.

However, Henry still left the table temporarily, explained the physical conditions of the two men to the waiter, and asked the chef to avoid some flavors.

For example, Audrey Hepburn's thinness wasn't the result of dieting or training. It was the result of her childhood experience of starvation during the war, which damaged her body. Furthermore, she's been traveling extensively in recent years, leaving her with a weak stomach.

Mr. Givenchy was in very good health, but considering that he had taken the trouble to fly here from France and perhaps went directly from the airport to the restaurant, he was somewhat tired.

Looking at the German nutritionist's certificate and the chef's license hanging on the wall of the restaurant, Henry believed that the situation he had just described was enough for the chef to make a judgment.

By the time Henry returned to his seat, the two friends were already chatting.

Givenchy said distressedly: "Didn't that just happen to you? Why are you going to Africa again?"

"Because there are people who need help. What other reason could there be?" Audrey Hepburn said as a matter of course.

"So you're leaving tomorrow? You don't even need a few days' rest? I thought I was busy enough as a designer and the group's creative director. I didn't expect you, now retired from acting, to have an even crazier schedule. It's been so long since you've been home to Switzerland to rest properly."

"Life never ends, and struggle never ceases. I have less and less time, but there are still so many things I need to do. I will eventually have the time to rest, but before that, I hope to do more for the world and leave more good in my legacy."

"Oh, Audrey. You've achieved so much more than I have. Even so, you're so greedy that you think it's not enough."

Two people of a certain age, long past the stage of wanting to create something, were now contemplating what they could leave behind. But the mention of that taboo word inevitably made the atmosphere grow subdued.

Audrey Hepburn's personality was much more positive. He quickly jumped out of the topic that was about to slide into the abyss, patted Henry's shoulder as he returned to his seat, and said, "Do you know how I met this kid?"

If Henry were facing someone else, he would have retorted to such a teasing remark. But Givenchy shook his head and said, "I don't know. Was it an interesting experience?"

"He was introduced to me by Katherine," Hepburn said maliciously.

"Catherine!" Givenchy said, referring to another mutual friend: "Is he okay now?"

"Don't worry. Catherine is much stronger than me. What's interesting is that Catherine told me that when the child saw him for the first time, he said, 'Oh, it's Ms. Hepburn.'" Audrey Hepburn made a disappointed expression, which was very lifelike.

As expected, when this matter was brought up again, Henry covered his face and smiled bitterly.

The big boss of Givenchy had a look of both laughter and tears on his face, because he was also the protagonist who said such words.

After holding it in for a while, he looked at Henry and asked unhappily, "Really?"

Henry put down his hand covering his face and replied helplessly, "Yes, sir. I know a friend in Los Angeles who I don't know well. I don't know where he heard that I admire Ms. Hepburn very much.

"So he lured me in with an invitation to a private dinner with Ms. Hepburn. I was so excited that I forgot there were actually two Ms. Hepburns in Hollywood.

"So I acted rudely in front of the other person. My nose bridge almost needed to be fixed in the hospital. It was the kind of thing where you get hit and it's crooked, but you're too embarrassed to sue."

Knowing the whole story, Givenchy chuckled and said, "Oh, so I'm quite lucky. At least the person I made the mistake with won't fix my bones."

Katharine Hepburn's punch to the back of Howard Stark's nose is a Hollywood legend that will last forever. What the Allied soldiers failed to do in World War II, the girls of Hollywood did.

Everyone knows this incident is true, but there are no photos left; no one except the parties involved knows the details of the incident. So even today, when reporters meet either of them, they still like to ask this question.

Anyway, the two equally ugly male protagonists gave me an inexplicable feeling of empathy, as if they were comrades who had been in the same trench.

Givenchy also understood why Audrey Hepburn had introduced this young assistant to him. It turned out to be another joke about the misunderstanding that had occurred during their initial meeting.

The two Hepburns' bad tastes were always highly consistent at some point, which made these grown men unable to get angry at all.

It was much easier for men to get to know each other than for women. With the same common ground as a bond, Givenchy also became slightly interested in Hepburn's assistant.

He looked at the young man in a cheap suit—in the eyes of this fashion tycoon, any suit that wasn't custom-made was cheap. Even though the Armani suit he was wearing was an unexpected expense for Henry, he asked curiously:

"I know that many people have unrealistic fantasies about celebrities and stars who they don't normally meet and only know about through various newspapers and media. It's as if these people are all perfect.

"Once they get to know us in person, most people will be disappointed, or even angry that we're different from what they imagined. What about you, kid? What do you think of becoming Audrey Hepburn's assistant?"

This question was very tricky. Henry didn't know whether this fashion tycoon wanted to exclude the men around his woman, so he posed this difficult question.

But Ms. Hepburn was equally interested in the question, and she looked at Henry with wide eyes that seemed ready to turn into a death stare at any moment.

Chapter 131 On Acting

Not intending to dodge the question, Henry said seriously: “First, let me know, sir, I worked as an actor in Hollywood for a few months before becoming the boss’s assistant.

"I played the role of a background board in a movie, just walking around, with no lines and no scenes. But this didn't stop me from observing those famous actors and pondering their so-called 'acting skills'.

“Some people are so-called method filmmakers, some are experiential filmmakers. Some people even talk about expressionism, but in reality, the director is in charge of the approach of this school and has little to do with the actors.

“No matter what method an actor uses to hone his acting skills, some succeed, some fail, and some are judged for acting as if they are themselves, no matter what they play.

“In fact, all acting techniques emphasize one thing, which is to allow the actor to integrate into the role and become the character, rather than simply playing the role.

"But why do some people succeed while others don't? I think those who succeed have the qualities that are needed for the role, so the director refines them.

"Because the entire atmosphere of the play is in service of this character, the two complement each other. This is actually the ideal presentation of expressionism.

"If the director's skills aren't good enough, it's easy for the actors to just act out their own reviews. In fact, in my opinion, everyone is just acting out their own reviews.

"It's just a part of me, not the whole me. The reason, of course, is that this movie, this scene, this shot requires this part of me, not the other parts.

"Of course, I'm not saying that those successful actors who play murderers or criminals to perfection are actually murderers or criminals. Rather, they magnify a part of their own personality and cooperate with the director to create the character in the eyes of the audience.

“It is undeniable that these people must have such violent personalities to be able to perform such performances on the big screen. But as Freud emphasized, people are multifaceted, not single.

"Furthermore, the legal and moral frameworks of modern society restrict people's behavior. For example, we all know that if you casually beat someone up, you will be held legally responsible and have to pay compensation.

"But movies don't need to worry about these things. It's a fictional world, and what's needed is conflict. Conflict of humanity, clash of fists. Even those seemingly ordinary movies have conflicts of ideas.