Marvel: Copying Abilities

After snapping back at Wang Ye, Agent Carter said nothing more and focused on driving or rather, racing.

Along the way, she sped wildly, often drifting through corners with 180-degree turns.

Wang Ye, seated in the passenger seat, was thoroughly shaken and "suffering bitterly" from the ride.

Seeing his miserable state, Agent Carter finally felt a bit better and eased off the gas.

She was a strong-willed person, an elite agent who didn't go easy on "playboys" like Wang Ye.

With a pale face, Wang Ye gripped the seatbelt tightly. For the first time, he truly and vividly experienced what it meant to face the speed and fury of a female driver!

After the brief thrill ride, the car came to a halt in front of a place called Brooklyn Antique Shop.

Huh, another fellow antique dealer?

Agent Carter was the first to get out. Seeing Wang Ye step out unsteadily, clearly still recovering from the trauma, a smug smile appeared on her face.

Inside was a classic intelligence hand-off scene.

An elderly woman with white hair emerged from the back room. Upon seeing Agent Carter, she smiled and said, "Lovely weather today, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I always carry an umbrella."

Passphrase: confirmed.

The old woman walked behind the register and pressed a secret switch underneath.

Agent Carter nodded at her and led Wang Ye confidently into the back storage room, stopping in front of a bookshelf.

After a moment, the bookshelf on the wall swung open like a hidden door, revealing a passageway leading to the secret laboratory.

Inside the corridor, people were hurrying back and forth.

Guards stationed there saluted Agent Carter and stepped aside as she passed.

Soon, the two reached the end of the passage and opened another door 

The space suddenly opened up before them.

A large, expansive laboratory appeared.

Among the busy researchers was Dr. Erskine himself.

Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw Wang Ye nodding at him in greeting. Delighted, he set down his work and came over excitedly.

"Thank you so much, Agent Carter!"

Dr. Erskine looked at Carter with gratitude.

"It's all for the organization. But I'm curious what's so special about this guy that you'd vouch for him like this?"

Agent Carter had been fixated on that question. Coupled with how poorly Wang Ye handled the car ride earlier, she began suspecting that maybe her trusted doctor had been hoodwinked.

"Mr. Ye is incredibly gifted in scientific research. He shouldn't be hidden away in an antique shop.

Besides, you've seen his file, haven't you?"

Dr. Erskine knew Carter was just overly cautious and Wang Ye did look young. But the doctor was well aware of Wang Ye's abilities and intended to train him as his successor.

"Ahem. I'm still here, you know!

Talking openly about investigating me like this isn't that a bit much?" Wang Ye gave an awkward smile, glancing between the two.

Can't you people at least be subtle about it?

Inside the Laboratory

Wang Ye changed into a lab coat and stood beside Dr. Erskine, notebook in hand, as the doctor explained the lab procedures and key precautions.

Agent Carter stood above in the observation area, monitoring Wang Ye's every move. Something about him felt off to her, but she had no proof.

After a while, someone whispered something in her ear, and she hurriedly left.

Turns out, she'd been so focused on watching Wang Ye that she'd forgotten she was supposed to be leading recruit training today!

Wang Ye glanced at her departing figure, a faint, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips then he went back to what he was doing.

From there, Wang Ye and Dr. Erskine worked closely, discussing various research challenges.

Some difficult, obscure problems Wang Ye understood instantly.

As their collaboration deepened, even Dr. Erskine began to feel like his own decades of experience had been for nothing!

Later that night

The flamboyant playboy Howard Stark arrived, personally delivering some crucial equipment needed for the experiment.

Dr. Erskine paused his work to introduce Wang Ye to him.

When introducing Wang Ye, he spared no praise calling him a rare talent, a real treasure.

The speaker meant it; the listener took note.

Howard's brows immediately furrowed. He sized Wang Ye up with scrutiny.

As the saying goes, between geniuses, you're either friends or rivals

(I'm saying that!!!)

For someone to earn such praise from the doctor, the famously brilliant Howard Stark naturally felt competitive.

They immediately launched into an academic discussion.

And through that discussion, Howard finally realized that the doctor hadn't been exaggerating out of fondness 

He had been downplaying Wang Ye's brilliance out of concern that it would make others feel inferior!

The two hit it off instantly, like long-lost brothers. If circumstances allowed, they'd probably be swearing oaths of brotherhood over incense and yellow paper right then and there!

With Wang Ye and Howard's help, the experiment progressed very smoothly.

After a few calm days passed...

Following strict selection and Dr. Erskine's firm insistence, Steve was officially chosen as the first human test subject.

That evening, Dr. Erskine brought a bottle of wine to Steve's dorm.

"May I come in?"

He knocked on the door and poked his head in.

"Of course!"

Steve looked up, recognized the doctor, and closed the book he was reading.

"Can't sleep?"

"Yeah... I guess I'm just nervous about tomorrow."

Steve rubbed his hands together, clearly uneasy.

"Me too."

Dr. Erskine placed the wine glasses on the table and sat across from him.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Steve hesitated, then finally voiced the doubt in his heart.

"Of course," Erskine said with a warm smile.

"Why did you choose me back then?

And even now there are better candidate's why me?"

Steve had always felt there had to be a reason he didn't know.

"That's two questions though, I suppose they count as one.

I chose you because the super serum isn't perfect.

While it enhances all aspects of the user, it also amplifies what's already inside—good becomes better, bad becomes worse.

That's why I chose you-because you are kind, compassionate, and empathetic. You have a moral compass, and more importantly, you stick to it."

Dr. Erskine explained the serum's pros and cons, answering the question that had long troubled Steve.

"Thank you… for telling me."

Steve smiled, though he didn't fully understand it all.

Dr. Erskine uncorked the wine bottle and poured two glasses.

"This wine is from my hometown-my last bottle.

Come, have a drink with me."

Steve nodded and reached out to take the glass-but the doctor pulled it back.

"Oh! I almost forgot you've got your procedure tomorrow. No alcohol!"

"Then let's drink together after the experiment."

"No, no. You can't drink-but I don't have to do any experiments, so I can drink now!"

Dr. Erskine laughed happily, like a mischievous old rascal.

Steve blinked, then chuckled too.