In front of Luke, Emily always felt like her intelligence was running on low battery.
This wasn't just a one-off feeling; it had happened so many times it was practically instinctive.
"Alright, stop overthinking. Time to eat."
With Luke, the group totaled eight people: four men and four women. The men ate Brazilian barbecue, and the women ate French cuisine. The atmosphere was quite harmonious, provided you ignored Borei and Bob.
The two of them ate like hungry ghosts.
The three barbecue chefs worked non-stop, sweating profusely, but couldn't keep up with their eating speed.
Borei, in particular, emptied a large platter of beef in the blink of an eye and went through two cases of beer without his stomach showing any change.
Luke stared in fascination. He truly has the demeanor of a beast metahuman. That appetite is peerless.
The way the two ate made the women in the room quite uncomfortable. Mila kicked Borei, telling him to mind his manners, but he acted as if he didn't feel it and kept his head down, stuffing his face.
Too much grease was dripping down his face, so he casually grabbed the tablecloth to wipe it off and continued eating.
Josie and Mila's faces turned black as the bottom of a pot, and Emily was utterly embarrassed.
This is mortifying. I shouldn't have brought Borei.
Luke waved his hand dismissively and said sincerely,
"Borei has such a fantastic appetite. It's enviable."
Mila pursed her lips. "What's there to envy? All he does is eat."
Luke disagreed and spoke seriously,
"In life, eating and drinking are fundamental. My grandfather always told me that a good appetite is a blessing, and the bigger the appetite, the greater the fortune. Someone like Borei, who eats so much but doesn't gain weight, is even more incredible. Who else in the world can do that?"
"What's more strange is his physical condition. After eating so much, his stomach shows no change, meaning his digestion and absorption are far superior to the average person. Digestion and absorption relate to metabolism. Generally, a faster metabolism means a shorter lifespan, but Borei is different. Look at his skin."
Everyone curiously turned their heads and stared at Borei.
"The surface of his skin has a restrained red glow. It's less oily and more moist, possessing a vibrant vitality, like a newborn baby. It's incredible."
Angus curiously pressed Borei's biceps.
"You're right! It really does feel like baby skin."
Mila didn't believe it and pinched Borei's skin. There was no greasy feeling, only a faint moisture.
Allie sat in front of Borei, hugging her coconut, and examined him closely. She exclaimed,
"It's true! His skin is even smoother than mine! Why is that?"
"That's a question for an expert to explain, but if I'm not mistaken, his lifespan is very long. As long as he has enough food, he'll still be in his prime when our hair turns gray."
Luke sighed. "Who wouldn't envy that talent?"
Luke's speech not only dispelled the awkward atmosphere but also drew everyone's attention to Borei. Unfortunately, the feral man, raised in the mountains, only cared about eating meat and was oblivious to the women's intense gazes.
Emily shot Luke a grateful look. Luke calmly waved it off, acting as if his observations were entirely unrelated to him. His confident and composed demeanor greatly enhanced the group's goodwill toward him.
This young man is too outstanding.
He's good-looking, rich, tasteful, and easygoing, completely lacking the arrogance of a typical wealthy heir. On top of having high emotional intelligence, his actual intelligence is top-tier.
Where did Emmy find such a perfect boyfriend?
"I'm getting jealous myself," Mila thought secretly, giving Borei a hard pinch. Borei remained unconcerned, continuing to gorge himself.
The hour-long dinner quickly passed. After exchanging phone numbers, the group dispersed.
A Four-Hour Wait
After cautioning Emily to be careful in everything, Luke returned to the restaurant where Charlie was waiting.
"Boss, I've managed to purchase the ocean-view villa you wanted. It covers 500 acres, including a portion of the beach and open land. The construction team will begin expansion work tomorrow morning and is estimated to be completed by the end of September."
Luke nodded. "How much did it cost?"
"Adding the two million for the restaurants you acquired, it totaled $49.8 million," Charlie sighed, a look of helplessness on his face. "I transferred fifty million into the card just the day before yesterday, and it's already spent."
"The speed at which you spend money will never catch up to the speed at which you earn it."
As he said this, Charlie was filled with emotion. He had grown up with Luke and knew him well, yet he still couldn't grasp his young master's financial philosophy.
His young master was a genius, often using unbelievable methods to earn more money in a short time than an ordinary person could earn in a lifetime, only to then spend it all using even more unbelievable methods.
Having witnessed too many such incidents, Charlie was almost numb to it.
"Money is meant to be spent," Luke took off his casual shirt and put on a business suit. "What's the difference between unspent money and waste paper?"
"Right, what is Robert doing?"
"He's been in the office, hoping to meet with you."
"How long has he been waiting?"
"Nearly four hours. He hasn't even eaten lunch."
Luke smiled and asked, "Charlie, do you think I should see him?"
Charlie thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"There's no need. Alexander Rhodes and the Central Bank employees who threatened us have provided detailed statements of the incident. With ample human testimony, physical evidence, and the on-site video footage, the contract being voided is a certainty. We don't need Robert to be an informant."
Luke smiled faintly. "Sometimes, not being needed is the scariest thing."
The Downfall of Robert Downs
Four o'clock in the afternoon, Sea Prosperity Tower.
Luke, dressed in a business suit, sat in a swivel chair, quietly looking at the unshaven Robert Downs.
After a long pause, he spoke. "The way you look now reminds me of when we first met."
"Back then, ShowMe had fewer than five million users, hadn't weathered many storms, and was just a sapling. And you? You lived in a damp room, barely scraping by."
"The first time we talked, you impressed me with your extraordinary financial talent. I was very happy then, thinking I had found someone I could rely on as a helper. Who would have thought that less than half a month later, things would turn out like this."
Robert opened his mouth, then looked down in dejection.
Luke crossed his legs and said coolly,
"Go on. What do you want?"
"I... I..."
Robert's face was filled with misery. With a thud, he fell directly to his knees.
"Boss, please, save my life."
Luke was indifferent. "Don't be ridiculous. The police already know you colluded with Sidney. They have witnesses and evidence. How can I save you, and why should I save you?"
"Don't forget, you betrayed me. I didn't abandon you."
"You must have a way. I know you do. If you'll just save me, I'll do anything. Please, Luke. I can't go to jail. They'll beat me to death in there."
"I beg you, save my life."
Robert was covered in snot and tears, huddled miserably on the floor, utterly defeated.
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