Nina had just wanted to play happily with her unicorn when she was scooped up once again.
"You little rascal, I sold that unicorn of yours," Lorna teased, the corners of her mouth curled into a doting smile as she reached out and tickled Nina's soft spots.
"Hehehe, no, you didn't! To me, you're the best of the best!" Nina laughed so hard her eyes squinted into crescent moons as she wriggled around trying to escape.
"Leader."
Charles gave a slight bow.
"Charles? What are you doing here?" Chino was surprised. If he remembered correctly, this was supposed to be a family dinner.
"Helping an old friend," Charles replied.
"Here, just call me Chino."
Chino gave an understanding nod and didn't ask further.
"Everyone take a seat, I'll go cut up some fruit."
Jenna carried a fruit basket, intending to slice it for everyone.
Charles glanced at the basket and felt his eyelids twitch. If he wasn't mistaken, those were Fruits of Life. The leader truly was as generous as always.
Everyone sat down, with Lorna sitting next to Chino.
"Please enjoy some fruit before dinner. It will be ready shortly," Jenna said, carrying out the neatly sliced Fruits of Life.
Everyone picked up a fork and began tasting.
Charles didn't hold back either. Fruits of Life were available in the contribution store—priced at a million contribution points and limited to one per year.
This year's one had already been purchased by Tom.
He hadn't expected to get lucky enough to taste one today.
"This is delicious, Chino. These must be really expensive," Jenna said while eating a piece of fruit.
The rich juice exploded across her taste buds, the flesh firm yet tender—each bite like embracing a cloud, soft and delicate, with a sweet flavor laced with a faint fruit fragrance that lingered on the tongue.
It was the best fruit she'd ever tasted.
Unbeknownst to her, her skin became soft and supple, the faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes slowly smoothed out, and the strands of gray in her hair faded, turning into a glossy black that fell gently over her shoulders.
Nina was about to say something when she saw Chino raise his finger to his lips and gently nod.
Mom turned into a big sister.
"They're not that pricey. I grow them myself, just with a low yield."
"I see. Then next time, keep them for yourself. Just a taste is enough for Auntie."
"It's fine. I'll bring more next time they ripen."
Charles remained silent, quietly eating the fruit—this stuff was literally life itself.
"Dinner's ready."
Ten dishes floated around Eric and were placed carefully on the table.
"Smells amazing. I didn't know you had chef skills too, Uncle," Chino joked.
Eric's hand trembled at the title. He couldn't afford that.
"Just call me Eric, Leader."
"No problem, Eric. And today, call me Chino."
Chino knew Eric needed time to get used to it.
Eric sat down, noticing only a few pieces of fruit left in front of him.
"What kind of fruit is this? I don't remember buying it."
Eric asked, puzzled.
"Chino brought it. Try it, Eric—it's delicious," Jenna answered, having saved a portion just for him.
Eric also noticed Jenna had visibly become younger. She had refused to use anti-aging potions, saying she'd wait until she was older.
If it wasn't that...
Eric looked at the fruit's green skin, then sensed the magnetic field around Charles—at least twice as strong as before.
His mouth twitched, and he stomped hard on Charles's foot.
You thick-skinned old man.
Charles's face turned green. Whatever. This time, it was totally worth it.
A fruit worth a million points compared to a hundred-point healing potion? No contest.
Chino and Lorna tried hard not to laugh.
"Darling, why aren't you eating?" Jenna asked in confusion.
Eric looked at the girl in front of him. It felt like going back in time.
"I'm eating now," he said, finishing the last of the fruit.
The clinking of spoons and forks against plates filled the room.
Chino noticed that while the dishes looked odd, the flavors were surprisingly decent.
"Lorna, I heard from Tony you've been working on a new invention. Did it win you the Magneto title?" Charles asked, starting a new conversation.
"No, not yet. I still need more time to study," Lorna shook her head.
"Keep going then. When Eric was your age, he was a total failure. His powers didn't even work half the time," Charles said, openly exposing his old friend's embarrassing past.
Eric's mouth twitched. This is how you help me?
"I'm curious—why do you want the Magneto title so badly? Especially by defeating him?" Charles asked, feigning curiosity.
"…Because we share the same abilities. And partly… it's revenge for his past neglect," Lorna said, lowering her head slightly. Her voice carried a trace of complex emotion.
Eric's expression darkened.
Jenna gently held Eric's hand.
"It's my fault she feels this way," Chino said, dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
"I once saved Lorna in an alleyway... She was just a child then, and I thought her heart wasn't ready for deep emotions. I used that as an excuse, not realizing she took it as her life's goal.
I unintentionally placed a burden on her, a pressure she didn't need. Looking back, I should have treated that little girl's feelings with more care.
For that, I'm sorry."
Eric's face darkened even more. So you're the culprit!
"No… I wanted to do it too," Lorna added quietly.
In the next moment, Eric slammed his hand on the table and stood up, locking eyes with Chino.
"Chino, do you truly have feelings for Lorna? I don't mean that excuse from before, or some pity for her situation.
If your love is only that shallow, let her go. I, Magneto's daughter—I can raise her just fine myself."
In an instant, the atmosphere turned ice cold. The room fell into a tense silence.
Jenna became flustered. How did a peaceful dinner turn into this?
Nina shrank back. Daddy is scary.
"We're leaving," Lorna said, face pale as she grabbed Chino's sleeve.
"Lorna, trust me," Chino said, gently pressing her shoulder and guiding her back into her seat. He stared at Eric.
This time, there was no respect in his eyes—only indifference. The kind one shows a stranger.
"At first, it's true—I didn't like Lorna romantically. I believed her feelings for me were more about trust and dependence.
But the second time… I heard from Tony that there was a girl secretly in love with me. I was happy—even if it might have been fake, I was still happy."
Lorna slowly regained her composure. Deep down, she had been running from this answer, afraid he only pitied her.
Now, she listened intently to Chino's words, eyes filled with both hope and nervousness—as if waiting for fate to render its final verdict.
Quote of the Chapter:"Love, when born of trust and resilience, stands firm even against the storm of doubt."
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