Night fell.
As the lights of Los Angeles, the city that never sleeps, began to shimmer, a luxurious yacht—resembling a floating palace—lay anchored along the coastline.
Bright lights illuminated the vessel, while searchlights cast a brilliant sheen over the surrounding ocean.
Deafening, heavy bass music echoed through the sea breeze.
This was the yacht Happy had chartered with maximum efficiency, following Luca’s exact instructions.
Right now, the yacht’s deck was a paradise for men.
Dozens of models, flown in on short notice from a Victoria’s Secret branch, were already on scene.
In bikinis, they mingled and crossed back and forth across the spacious deck.
Champagne foam flew through the air as hormones surged.
Luca wore a tropical beach shirt, lounging comfortably on a round sofa.
To his left, a tall, six-foot model gently peeled a purple grape and fed it into his mouth.
To his right, a smoking-hot Latina beauty held a glass of champagne, smiling as she helped him drink.
Luca chewed the grape with absolute bliss, his eyes scanning the endless legs on display.
After suffering for two months in that desert, he was going to reclaim what he was owed with interest.
Just as Luca’s hands began to wander, his phone suddenly vibrated at an inconvenient moment.
Luca frowned.
He picked up the phone and saw the name Potts on the screen.
Smacking his lips, he hit answer and casually turned on the speakerphone.
“Hey, Pepper.
What’s up?
Miss me this late at night?” Luca’s tone was lazy, laced with drunkenness and playful banter.
From the other end, Pepper’s near-frenzied scream immediately blasted through the speaker.
“Luca!
Where on earth are you two?!
Why isn’t Tony picking up his phone?!” Pepper’s voice rang out clearly despite the loud music around him, making it obvious just how furious she was at that moment.
“I just went to Malibu to look for you, and no one was there!” “Do you have any idea how much of a storm this afternoon’s press conference caused?
The company stock is on a roller coaster right now!
The entire board of directors is demanding an explanation, and you two just pull a disappearing act?!” Hearing Pepper’s barrage of demands, Luca moved the phone slightly further from his ear.
He took the opportunity to squeeze the Latina beauty’s thigh.
The model instantly cooperated with a sweet, coy giggle.
“Oh~ Master Luca, you’re so naughty~” The line went quiet for a full second before Pepper’s voice hit a new octave.
“Luca Stark!
What is that noise?!
What are you two doing?!” Luca rolled his eyes, taking it all in stride.
“What else?
We’re throwing a wild party, obviously.” “Potts, my dear sister.
Tony and I just escaped from a desert cave.
We’re physically and mentally traumatized.
We need alcohol and beautiful women to soothe our souls.” “Tony isn’t picking up because he’s currently busy explaining his scientific principles to a few models.
If you don’t believe me, I can bring the phone over so he can say a few words, though I’d hate to ruin his mood.” “Are you insane?!” Pepper roared through the receiver.
“Obadiah is frantically contacting the shareholders right now!
You two need to come back immediately and handle this mess!” “Mess?” Luca scoffed.
“Just a bunch of old men.
Let them throw whatever fit they want.” “Even if the sky falls, nothing is stopping me from enjoying my life tonight.
Tell Obadiah that if he has a problem with it, he can come find me off the LA coast and I’ll buy him a drink.
That’s all.
Bye.” “Wait!
Luca, you can’t—” *Beep!* Luca hung up without a second thought, set the phone to silent, and tossed it straight into a nearby ice bucket.
“Alright, sweethearts, where were we?” Luca turned back, a smile returning to his face.
He pulled both beauties into his chest, making them burst into breathless, playful giggles.
Just then, a man holding a glass walked over with an unsteady posture.
It was Tony Stark.
Tony held a glass of whiskey, a voluptuous model clinging to each of his arms.
He walked over to Luca’s sofa, slumped into a seat, and stared at Luca’s floral shirt with utter disgust.
“Luca, I have to say, your taste in shirts makes you look like an old guy selling coconuts on a public beach.
You’re bringing shame to the Stark family.” Luca refused to back down, immediately firing back.
“Tony, you have the nerve to judge me?
Look at yourself.
You’re as skinny as a bamboo pole, and your face is paler than paper.” “Are you sure that body of yours can handle two stunning beauties right now?” Luca gave Tony an up-and-down glance, clicking his tongue.
“I suggest you pace yourself.
Don’t forget you’ve got a car battery shoved in your chest.
Don’t short-circuit in bed from overexcitement—tomorrow’s headlines would be way too embarrassing.” “‘Genius Inventor Tony Stark Dies in Tragic Bedside Electrical Leak.'” Hearing Luca’s teasing, the two models beside Tony couldn’t help covering their mouths to giggle.
Feeling his pride wounded, Tony widened his eyes and argued back loudly.
“Damn it!
That’s the rugged charm of a mature man!
What do you know?
Besides, this is the latest generation Arc Reactor—it’s way more reliable than some muscle-brained idiot.
Even if I starved for two months, my charm is still number one worldwide!” As Tony spoke, he puffed out his chest, deliberately showing off the glowing ring.
“Give it a rest.
Don’t push yourself.” Luca picked up a bottle of vodka and took a deep swig straight from it, his face unflushing.
“Pepper called just now.
I handled her for you.
You really ought to thank me.” “Good job.” Hearing Pepper’s name, Tony instinctively shrank his neck a bit.
Despite his tough talk, he hated nothing more than being nagged.
“No one is making me work tonight.
I’m taking back every bit of joy I missed over the past two months.” The two brothers sat on the sofa, trading jabs back and forth.
Though neither gave the other any quarter, both knew the truth in their hearts.
This was their way of releasing stress…
or rather, their best way of proving they were still alive.
As long as they could sit together and roast each other, it meant they had truly left that godforsaken cave behind.
After drinking for a while, Luca’s gaze suddenly scanned across the yacht’s deck.
“Wait.” Luca put down his glass, his brow furrowing.
“What is it?
Find a girl who isn’t to your taste?” Tony followed Luca’s gaze.
“No.” Luca pointed toward a dim, isolated corner at the far edge of the yacht.
There sat a lone round table.
Ho Yinsen sat huddled in a chair behind it, wearing a suit that looked slightly too tight for him.
And in his hand was a glass of orange juice!
In the middle of a party overflowing with bikini-clad models, Ho Yinsen sat staring straight ahead, looking more out of place than an alien.
Several leggy models passing by had tried to talk to him, only to be scared off by his beet-red face and stammering responses.
Seeing this, Luca and Tony exchanged a look.
Disappointment flashed simultaneously in both of their eyes.
“Damn it,” Tony gritted his teeth.
“This is an insult to a Stark party.
Someone is actually drinking orange juice on my yacht?” “Even worse, he actually told a model who hit on him, ‘Sorry, I’m allergic to alcohol?!'” Luca facepalmed dramatically.
“That’s a crime!
We have to go correct this poor man’s twisted values.”