Chapter 26: Bringing Food
After a satisfying dinner, Leo, ever the responsible one, personally drove Jack back home. On the way, Leo couldn't resist teasing him. "Jack, you've got a sharp eye. Spotting an antique vase like that, turning it into treasure—enough for a car without spending a dime."
Jack chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
Speaking of cars, maybe it was time to give it some serious thought.
"You seem pretty young," Leo remarked, his tone casual as he drove. "Do you even have a driver's license?"
Jack offered a sheepish smile. "Not yet, but I can drive. Back in my hometown, I used to borrow my cousin's car all the time. But since moving to the city—well, there are more rules here, and my cousin's family moved away, so I haven't had much chance."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "So why didn't you get your license when you learned to drive?"
"At first, I wasn't old enough. Then, school kept me busy, and let's face it, those exams cost money. I never thought I'd be buying a car anytime soon, so I didn't want to waste the cash on a license."
Jack scratched his head, suddenly aware of how different things were now that he had the Celestial Eyes—and more money than he'd ever expected.
Leo gave a nod of understanding. "You should plan ahead. Getting your license isn't a one-day thing, and if you don't have it when you need it, it'll be a real hassle."
"Uncle Leo, you're absolutely right. I should've handled this earlier," Jack said, making a mental note of it.
They continued to chat casually, the conversation light as Leo drove through the streets. Before long, they arrived at Jack's apartment building. Jack stepped out, but just as he was about to close the door, something came to mind.
"By the way, Uncle Leo, do you know any places around here where they do stone gambling?"
With the Celestial Eyes, Jack figured stone gambling could be another great opportunity to make money.
Leo looked at him in surprise, then chuckled. "You're interested in stone gambling, too?"
"Just a passing interest."
Leo laughed heartily. "There are plenty of places around here for that. In fact, Noble Collection has some partnerships. If you're interested, I can take you one day."
Jack's eyes lit up. "That would be amazing! Thank you, Uncle Leo."
After chatting a bit more, Jack said his goodbyes and headed inside. Leo watched him disappear into the building, deep in thought. After a moment, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hey, Jemmy. How's business at your driving school these days?" Leo asked casually.
"Not bad, Boss Leo. What's up?" The man on the other end sounded slightly tipsy, his voice slurred from what was likely a night of drinking. The sound of clinking glasses and laughter echoed faintly in the background.
Leo smiled. "I've got a young guy here. He can drive, but hasn't taken the test yet…"
The driving school principal understood immediately. "Ah, that's easy! Send me his details, and I'll have someone handle it. He'll have his license by tomorrow."
Leo paused, shaking his head. "No, don't do that. Let him take the test properly. Just make sure he passes the third stage—it's for his own safety. After that, help him get the certificate on the same day."
"Consider it done, Boss Leo," the principal replied, his tone firm with assurance.
Hanging up the phone, Leo smiled to himself, humming a tune as he started the car and drove away into the night.
---
Jack walked into the apartment, carefully balancing the bags of food from National Rest in his hands. The enticing aroma quickly filled the small living room, drawing Lena's attention first. She looked up from her spot on the couch, her face lighting up with delight when she saw what Jack had brought.
"Yay... food!" Lena exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. She jumped up eagerly, practically bouncing over to the kitchen table where Jack was setting everything down. "Thank you so much, Jack!"
Jack smiled, watching as Lena immediately dove into the food, "You're welcome."
Lena didn't even bother responding, too busy savoring the first bite. "This is amazing," she mumbled between mouthfuls. "So good. I've been dreaming of this forever!"
While Lena enjoyed her meal with pure enthusiasm, Jack's gaze shifted to Samantha, who had been watching quietly from the kitchen doorway. She smiled at him warmly, though there was a question in her eyes.
"Jack," Samantha said softly, "did you buy all this with your own money?"
Jack shake his head. "No, I was going to, but my boss wouldn't let me. He insisted on paying for it."
Samantha's expression relaxed, and she sighed softly in relief. "That's good," she said, nodding thoughtfully. "You should enjoy the benefits your boss gives you and not turn them down. It's a good thing you didn't spend your own money on this."
Samantha knew how expensive National Rest was—far too pricey for Jack to be splurging on for their meals, especially when he was still a student. She didn't want him to spend his money just to treat them to a fancy dinner.
Jack watched as Samantha quietly sat down at the table. She began unwrapping her meal, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as the delicious smell wafted up.
As the three of them dug into their meals, the atmosphere in the apartment grew lighter and more relaxed. The rich flavors of the food filled the air, and soon, any lingering tension melted away.
"This really is incredible," Samantha said after a few bites, her tone warm and content. "I can see why people rave about National Rest."
Lena, who had already made it halfway through her dish, nodded vigorously. She heard National Rest is one of the best resturant, but doesn't know the prices.
They continued eating, their conversation flowing easily. They laughed over small jokes, shared stories from their day, and simply enjoyed each other's company.
When they had finally finished eating, the plates were wiped clean, and Lena leaned back in her chair, sighing with satisfaction. "I'm stuffed. That was amazing."
Samantha smiled softly, glancing over at Jack. "Thank you again, Jack," she said, her voice sincere.
Jack waved it off with a modest grin. "It's no big deal. I'm just glad you both enjoyed it."
Lena stretched lazily, looking pleased. "Enjoyed it? That's an understatement. We should do this more often!"
Jack chuckled, but he knew Samantha would make sure they didn't make it a habit.