Chapter 54

Eating Well and Feeling Strong

Having taken possession of Scott as requested and eating that huge meal on his behalf, Juan felt it was time to collect his own reward.

“A plane ticket…is that it?” Hearing this request, Scott, who’d been basking in the sunlight, had his smile gradually freeze. After a moment, he murmured softly, “Well…there’s a bit of a delay with what I said earlier…”

“I am supposed to be very wealthy, yes, because in my previous life, the old man left me everything in his will. I’m pretty sure he’ll do the same this time… I think.” Scott’s voice got smaller as he went on. If he still had a physical form, he’d probably have lowered his head in embarrassment.

“So?” Juan tilted his head slightly.

“So right now, I’m completely broke.” In a barely audible voice, Scott admitted, “Yes, I could ask them to buy me a ticket, but I’ve been so weak physically that they wouldn’t even let me leave the house…”

“So you’re actually pretty poor right now.” Juan summed up his current situation.

“That’s…pretty much it.” Scott weakly agreed. If he’d had hands, he would’ve covered his face in shame.

Before, it hadn’t been an issue, so he hadn’t noticed. But now that he needed money, he realized: he was really poor! Even worse off than last time—

In his past life, at least he had his earnings from part-time jobs, and his dads would give him allowance!

“Part-time jobs?” From the fragments of Scott’s thoughts, Juan caught onto this concept.

“Part-time jobs…just work. My health wasn’t great in my last life, so I couldn’t take most jobs. I found one teaching kids piano. It was tiring, and medical care wasn’t as advanced as it is now, but I was happy every day and even felt a bit healthier than I do now.” Thinking of his past life made Scott smile.

Too bad he hadn’t brought his savings from that life here; even if he had, it probably wouldn’t be enough for half a plane ticket.

Tickets were expensive!

Juan noted this new fact about human society: plane tickets were pricey.

However, one could earn money through part-time jobs.

“Yes, part-time jobs are possible, but my health is too poor. They would never let me out, much less allow me to work.” Scott warned, understanding what Juan might be thinking.

“Then let’s first make them see that your health is better,” Juan replied simply.

That night, Juan spent hours watching TV, catching up on the latest knowledge about human society. The next morning, after staying up all night, he stood up from the TV, fully alert, dressed, and went straight to the dining room.

A regular schedule and a healthy appetite showed a strong body, he reasoned. So, to make others notice his improvement, he decided to start by waking up early and eating a lot.

At 7:30 in the morning, he was the first to sit at the dining table.

When the butler on duty brought him the menu and asked what he’d like to eat, he traced his finger from the top to the bottom of the menu.

“All of it. And double portions.” He handed the menu back to the butler with a calm expression.

By the time others arrived, the table was already covered with food.

“What’s all this? Who ordered this for me? Ha, well, nice try, but they got it wrong. I never drink coffee in the morning… I can’t stand the taste.”

A well-dressed woman approached, placing her hand on a chair and frowning at the coffee before her.

“That’s my aunt, Connie. She’s my grandfather’s younger brother’s eldest son’s wife. She’s sharp-tongued,” Scott whispered in introduction.

“Shall I drink it for you?” said a tall, burly man who followed behind her with a smile.

“That’s her husband, my first cousin once removed. He seems friendly and naive, but he’s actually a sly one,” Scott added.

Next came a young man with a muscular build, close to Scott’s age, with neatly trimmed blonde hair. His regular habits and solid appetite were clear just from his appearance—an assessment Juan made silently.

Sensing Juan’s observation, Scott couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. “That’s my older cousin. Yes, he’s very healthy, but on top of that, he’s smart too. Top of his class every year, quite impressive.”

Juan listened to Scott’s introductions in silence. He simply took the coffee the middle-aged man was reaching for before he could grab it.

“Huh?” The man looked surprised.

“This is mine, not yours,” Juan replied seriously.

The man looked at Juan, finally seeming to notice him. He glanced at the food-laden table with a hint of amusement. “Did you order all this?”

Juan nodded.

“Good, good. I heard yesterday that you’d regained your appetite. Looks like it’s true. Eat up,” he said, even pushing a few more plates toward Juan. Then, after ordering a few items from the menu himself, he turned to ask Juan how he was feeling, ignoring his wife and son.

Scott’s father and that fake young master arrived at that moment.

“They’re here!” Scott seemed very tense about them, giving Juan a heads-up the moment they appeared under the archway.

Looking up, Juan saw a father and son duo walking one behind the other.

The father was strong and well-built, with a serious expression, talking on the phone as he walked, seemingly giving work instructions. The son was a tall, handsome young man with a lean build—not particularly muscular but with just the right amount of definition and a refined demeanor. He looked like a typical, well-educated elite, similar in style to Scott’s older cousin, whom Scott had introduced, though with a slightly different vibe. They both had that top-student, elite aura that was plain to see.

The two looked nothing alike.

“…They don’t look alike at all. How could they have gotten the wrong child? If I hadn’t sought them out myself, he probably still wouldn’t know he had the wrong son!” Scott said sourly in Juan’s mind. “But even after learning the truth, he still treats that guy better than he treats me. From this, I’ve realized that being raised by someone really does make a difference compared to just being related by blood. The bond he has with the child he raised is much stronger. These two act more like real father and son than he does with me. People outside even say they might really be related…”

Juan then spoke up in Scott’s mind, “They are real father and son—they both have the same foul smell.”

Watching the two open their chairs in identical ways, Juan continued his commentary in Scott’s mind.

“What? Aaaah!” Scott was practically exploding with shock in Juan’s mind.

Fortunately, Juan had a strong spirit, so despite Scott’s outburst, he didn’t show a hint of reaction. He calmly picked up the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.

Then, once the father and son’s food arrived, he began eating right away.

“Scott, why are you here? Your health is too poor; you should be in the nutrient pod receiving supplements. These foods aren’t nearly as beneficial for you as the nutrient fluids are.” Seeing Juan eating, the older man frowned and scolded him.

“I’m fine now,” Juan replied and, as if to prove his point, stuffed more food into his mouth.

“How can you be fine? The doctor said you only had—” The man started to say more, but the young man next to him stopped him.

“Father, it’s a good thing that my little brother wants to eat. Since he only has… I mean, I’ve always thought that natural food is better than nutrient fluids. This is how food is meant to be enjoyed. If he can eat more meals, maybe his health will improve a bit?” The polite, handsome young man smiled as he spoke to Juan, even pouring him another cup of coffee.

“You’re right. Natural food is healthier.” Juan acknowledged the point and drank the coffee the young man handed him. Then he reached for the plate in front of him with his fork.

Right in front of everyone, Juan began to eat with great gusto.

While each dish on the table had only a small portion, thanks to the elegant presentation, the sheer quantity Juan ordered meant there was plenty of food. Not only was he eating a lot, but he was eating quickly, too. Soon, a stack of empty plates was building up on his left.

Seeing his voracious appetite, everyone else at the table stopped what they were doing, staring as he ate more and more. Their eyes grew wider and wider…

Could this really be Scott, the same Scott who, according to the doctor, wasn’t expected to live past the month and was only surviving on nutrient fluids? What on earth was going on? How was he eating so much?!

Scott’s father, Brownie, stared, speechless. He’d thought about criticizing his son for eating so fast, but despite Juan’s speed, his movements were neither hasty nor crude. Instead, Juan ate with composure, using the right utensils for each dish, maintaining an elegant posture. Watching him eat was even somewhat enjoyable. Any thought of criticism died on Brownie’s lips, and he finally just took a bite of bread.

Thanks to Juan’s influence, the entire Bricha family ended up eating 1.5 times their usual amount that morning, with Juan consuming even more.

After finishing his meal, Juan politely said goodbye to everyone and went outside to exercise for a bit. At lunch and dinner, his hearty appetite continued. Like the butler, Brownie was initially worried Juan might harm himself by eating so much. But after dragging him to the doctor for a thorough checkup, which confirmed that eating hadn’t worsened his condition, the Bricha family realized one thing:

The Bricha family’s grandson, who was once destined for death, was now in great health!