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Lina gave Toph a thumbs up.
Zuko smiled and spoke. “This man was prepping in the kitchen the whole day yesterday. He marinated for three to
four hours alone, scaring our chefs!”
“Why?” Lina asked.
“They thought the Hamertons no longer needed chefs, that we were firing them,” Zuko replied.
Lina laughed out loud.
Renee played the role of the waiter, serving drinks and condiments to everyone. She was happy to keep busy.
“Cuz, this is Toph’s secret recipe! We must try it!” Renee exclaimed.
“Yes, you must!” Zuko said. “This dude stayed in the kitchen yesterday, forbidding me from looking!”
“Why would I let you steal it?” Toph, wearing a loose T-shirt, said while fanning himself. “I came up with this secret
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtrecipe after many rounds of tests and trials. You’d need to pay to learn!”
Zuko raised his eyebrows. “How much?”
Toph showed seven fingers. “Since we’re brothers, I’ll charge you 70 dollars!”
“Isn’t that dad’s allowance?”
“Hahaha!”
“You’re lucky that dad isn’t here! Otherwise, he’d remove his 400-dollar antique belt to whip you!” Zuko joked.
Toph almost fell from laughing.
Jacob went to hold him and took over the skewers he was holding. “Okay, okay. Take a break. I’ll do it!”
The happy peals of laughter continued under the sun. Even the birds watched them from the branches in envy.
Suddenly, Jacob realized that everyone seemed to have forgotten about the two most important people sitting
aside, being remarkably quiet. Both were dressed in black with black baseball caps on their heads. Their calm
expressions looked the same, and their eyes seemed to see through everything in the world.
Jacob was stunned, and he cleared his throat. “Um… Don’t you guys think you forgot something important?” he
asked.
Toph, the sunshine boy, laughed happily.
The rest followed Jacob’s gaze and only then remembered that today was a thank-you gathering and a welcome-
home party for Chris!
Toph slapped his head, stood up, and rushed over to pull Chris up. He tried to grab Lena, but she deftly dodged.
Toph smiled awkwardly, and Lena went over to pat her on the shoulder, helping her and Chris blend in with the rest.
Reluctantly, Lena went with Lina in the end.
“Ahem, let me give you all a grand introduction to this heroic, handsome, ripped special forces soldier with eight-
packs beneath his neck—Mr. Chris Hamerton!” Toph announced, applauding.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmChris laughed at Toph’s words, displaying his perfect teeth.
“It’s been so long, Toph, and you’re still the sunshine boy?” Zuko remarked.
“He’s always been like that. He’ll never change,” Chris replied, taking a step forward as a gentleman. “Let me
introduce myself. I’m considered these brothers’ cousin. My father is Marco, and he’s been living abroad. So, I
haven’t been in Centrolis much since I was young, but… Our relationship is tougher than gold! Haha!”
As Chris spoke, he playfully punched Zuko and Toph.
“Also, Toph made a mistake. I’m not in the special forces. I’m retired. Even though I’m no longer with my unit, I
must show up whenever the country needs me!”
Surprisingly, there was no applause this time. All the men present were covering their ladies’ star-crossed eyes.
Zuko acted as if nothing happened, but he held Lina’s hand secretly and gave her an alluring smile.
Curious, Lina asked, “I thought all the kids in your family have heroic names? Why is Mr. Special Force named
‘Chris’?”
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