Nina had just wanted to play with her unicorn when she was picked up again.
"You little one, I sold a unicorn for you."
Lorna's lips curled into a doting smile as she spoke, reaching out to gently tickle Nina's sensitive spot.
"Giggle, no way! In my heart, you're the absolute best!"
Nina's eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she giggled, quickly squirming her body to beg for mercy.
"Leader."
Charles bowed slightly.
"Charles, what are you doing here?"
Richard was stunned; he didn't recall this being a family dinner.
"Helping an old friend."
Charles said.
"Here, call me Richard."
Richard nodded understandingly, not asking anything further.
"Everyone, please sit. I'll go cut some fruit first."
Jenna picked up the fruit basket, ready to cut them for everyone to eat together.
Charles glanced at it, his eyelids twitching. If he wasn't mistaken, that was a life fruit. The Leader was truly as generous as ever.
The few of them took their seats, Lorna sitting next to Richard.
"Everyone, please have some pre-dinner fruit. Dinner will be ready soon."
Jenna came out, carrying the cut life fruit.
They picked up their knives and forks and began to taste it.
Charles was not polite. life fruit was available in the shop for 1 million contribution points, and only one was available per year.
This year's had already been bought by Tom.
He hadn't expected to get such a good thing today.
"It's so delicious, Richard. This must be very expensive, right?"
Jenna ate the life fruit.
The abundant juice instantly burst between her teeth. The flesh was firm yet soft and glutinous. Each chew was like embracing a cloud, gentle and dense. The sweet taste, with a faint fruity aroma, lingered on her tongue.
This was the best fruit she had ever eaten.
She didn't notice that her skin became soft and smooth, the shallow crow's feet at the corners of her eyes slowly smoothed out, and her hair, once interspersed with silver strands, was now dark and lustrous, falling smoothly over her shoulders.
Nina saw it and was about to say something, but saw Richard gently raise a finger, cover her mouth, and nod.
Mom turned into an older sister.
"The price is fine. I grew it myself, it's just that the yield is a bit low."
"Oh, in that case, save it for yourself next time. Auntie has had enough."
"It's fine. I'll bring some more over when it bears fruit next time."
Charles didn't speak, he just ate the fruit. This was eating life itself.
"Dinner's ready."
Ten dishes floated around Eric, one by one placed on the table.
"It smells so good! I never knew you had a talent for cooking, Uncle."
Richard praised him with a smile.
Upon hearing that address, Eric's hand trembled fiercely. He truly couldn't bear that title.
"You can still call me Eric, Leader."
"No problem, Eric. Today, you can also call me Richard."
Richard knew he needed to give him time to prepare.
After Eric placed the dishes, he took his seat.
This time, he noticed only a few pieces of fruit left in front of him.
"What kind of fruit is this? I don't remember buying this."
Eric asked, puzzled.
"This was brought by Richard. Eric, try it, it tastes great."
Jenna said, this was what she had specifically saved for Eric.
Eric now noticed that Jenna had regained her youth. Rejuvenation potions existed, but Jenna had said she would use them when she was older.
If it wasn't a rejuvenation potion.
Eric looked at the green skin of the fruit and sensed that the magnetic field around Charles's body was at least twice as strong as before.
His lips twitched, and he stomped hard on Charles's foot.
You old man, you're really thick-skinned.
Charles's face turned green. It's okay, this time he made a huge profit.
He could still tell which was more expensive: a 1 million contribution point life fruit or a 100 contribution point healing potion.
Richard and Lorna were holding back their laughter.
"Darling, why aren't you eating?"
Jenna asked, puzzled.
Eric looked at the young woman in front of him, as if he had returned to the past.
"I'm eating now."
Eric finished the remaining fruit.
The sound of spoons and forks clinking against the plates.
Richard found that although the dishes looked a bit strange, the taste was acceptable, not the very strange kind.
"Lorna, I heard Tony and them say that you've researched a new invention. Have you won the title of Magneto?"
Charles started the topic.
"No, I still need to study for a while longer."
Lorna shook her head.
"Then keep up the good work. When Eric was your age, he was a good-for-nothing, his abilities were even on and off."
Charles exposed his old friend's past.
Eric's lips twitched. Is this how you help me?
"I'm very curious, why do you want to get the title of Magneto so much? And by defeating him?"
Charles feigned curiosity.
"...It's just our similar abilities, and revenge for his past irresponsibility."
Lorna lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of complex emotion.
Eric's expression darkened.
Jenna gently grasped Eric's hand.
"The reason for saying that is because of me."
Richard picked up a napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth.
"Back then, I saved Lorna in an alley... because Lorna was still young then, and I thought her mind wasn't mature yet, so I used that excuse. I just didn't expect her to make it her goal.
I unintentionally brought her unnecessary burdens and pressure. Looking back now, perhaps I should have been more cautious in dealing with that little girl's emotions at the time.
Regarding this, I want to say I'm sorry."
Eric's face darkened; the culprit had been found.
"No, I wanted to do it myself."
Lorna said.
The next second, Eric slammed the table and stood up, glaring at Richard.
"Richard, do you truly like Lorna? I'm not talking about that perfunctory excuse from back then, nor is it out of pity for her!
If your feelings for her are so shallow, then let Lorna go. I, Magneto's daughter, can afford to raise her."
Instantly, the atmosphere on the scene became extremely heavy, a dead silence.
Jenna was a little flustered. How did a perfectly good dinner suddenly turn into this?
Nina shrank her neck. Dad was so fierce.
"Let's go."
Lorna's face was pale. She grabbed Richard's sleeve, ready to leave.
"Lorna, trust me."
Richard gently pressed down on Lorna's shoulder, making her sit back down, and looked into Eric's eyes.
Now, he no longer held the former respect, only indifference, the indifference towards a stranger.
"At first, I really didn't like Lorna, because I was sure her feelings for me were more trust and dependence.
Later, the second time, I learned from Tony that there was a girl who had a crush on me by my side. At that time, I was a little happy. Although I knew it might be fake, I was still very happy."
Lorna slowly calmed down. She had actually been avoiding this answer all along, worried that he didn't like her, but only pitied her.
At this moment, she listened carefully to Richard's words, her eyes flickering with a hint of anticipation, yet also a trace of nervousness, as if awaiting fate's judgment.
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