Chapter 5776

Jacob, despite his downtrodden state, was fortunate to have Elaine, the Sea Anchoring Needle, by his side. Elaine had the uncanny ability to ground Jacob when he became too arrogant, bringing him back to reality. And now, when Jacob found himself feeling low, she compelled him to put on a smile and soldier on. Elaine's intentions were clear this time. Even if Jacob lost his job or became a vegetable, he would still have to accompany her on shopping sprees through Dubai's bustling centers. Even in death, his ashes would be confined to a box, forever bound to her side. Under Elaine's influence, Jacob spent his days accompanying her as she strolled, shopped, and took photos. Slowly but surely, his mood and mental state improved. In Aurous Hill, as the wedding day of Mr. Riley and Matilda drew near, Charlie busied himself with preparations for the joyous occasion. Mr. Riley was a former classmate of Charlie's late mother, and he had become like an elder to Charlie. And Matilda, though their acquaintance was brief, proved to be a poised and knowledgeable individual. Their son, Paul, held Charlie in high regard and respected his advice. Thus, Charlie hoped to fulfill their expectations by officiating their wedding. In addition to serving as the officiant, Charlie also wanted to present the couple with meaningful gifts as a sign of his respect. After careful consideration, he settled on gifting them each an enhanced version of the Life Saving Pill. Given their age, this pill would surely hold great significance for them. With the wedding a mere two days away, Charlie's grandfather, uncles, and Jack concluded their investment trip to Eastcliff and returned to Aurous Hill aboard the Evans Family's private jet. Before boarding the plane, Charlie's grandfather called him and invited him to a dinner at their home to discuss recent investment prospects. Charlie agreed and intended to inform his wife, Claire, about the dinner plans. However, realizing that Elaine and Jacob were not at home, he hesitated to leave his wife alone. So, he reached out to Doris Young from Emgrand Group, someone who had been instrumental in Claire's business success, and asked her to invite his wife to join her for dinner. Claire held Doris Young in high regard, considering her a benefactor who had guided her during the early stages of her business. Therefore, when Doris Young extended the invitation, Claire readily accepted. She apologized to Charlie for leaving him to handle dinner alone. Charlie graciously agreed, urging Claire to catch up with Doris Young and enjoy their time together. It was a perfect solution. As the time for their departure to the Elys-Champ Hot Springs Villa drew near, Mr. Riley called Charlie and said, "Charlie, Matilda and I have reserved a private room at Shangri-La. We'd like to invite you to join us tomorrow night. Matilda has already informed you, right?" "Yes, she mentioned it to me," Charlie replied with a smile. "What time tomorrow? I'll be there promptly." "Is 7 o'clock alright?" Mr. Riley inquired. "No problem," Charlie assured him. "I'll be there at 7 o'clock sharp." After hanging up, Charlie pondered over his earlier conversation with Mr. Riley. He had mentioned his recognition of the future prospects of the new energy industry. Curiosity piqued, Charlie asked him, "Mr. Riley, do you have any plans for tonight?" "I don't believe I have any special arrangements," Mr. Riley responded. "In that case," Charlie suggested, "now that my grandfather and uncles have returned to Aurous Hill after signing numerous investment contracts and selecting investment targets, I would like to invite you to my grandfather's house for dinner tonight. They have made some significant investments, and I'd like you to analyze and discuss them." Mr. Riley hesitated for a moment before replying, "I am merely a professor teaching at a university. Your grandfather and uncles oversee a trillion-dollar conglomerate. I am akin to a mere theorist. I dare not presume to possess any expertise in their presence..." Charlie smiled and reassured him, "Do not underestimate yourself, Mr. Riley. Many successful businessmen, after achieving success in their respective fields, often fall into the delusion that they can conquer anything. Driven by this mindset, they venture into new businesses and territories, only to end up without much to show for it. Real estate companies delving into mineral water, video websites producing cars, e-commerce platforms dabbling in social media, and social media platforms trying their hand at e-commerce—all these endeavors were backed by billion or even trillion-dollar companies. Yet, the final outcomes were far from impressive." Charlie continued, "During our previous conversation about new energy and overtaking on a bend, you truly impressed me. I believe you can provide them with a deeper understanding of strategy and underlying logic." Feeling flattered, Mr. Riley pondered for a moment before responding, "Very well, I shall strive to be astute and helpful. If I can be of assistance, that would be wonderful. If not, at the very least, I'll serve as a negative example." Charlie chuckled and said, "Give me the location, and I'll pick you up." "I am at the university. Let me know when you're close, and I'll meet you at the entrance," Mr. Riley replied. ... When it came to Mr. Riley, Charlie always had ulterior motives. Initially, he had sought to recruit Mr. Riley as the head of operations for BAIT Shipping, but Mr. Riley declined and instead introduced his daughter to him.

To rescue his daughter from Syria, Charlie risked his life by infiltrating Hamid's base. Fortunately, Zoey's remarkable abilities, coupled with the joint efforts of her and Zara Banks, propelled BAIT Shipping to rapid growth. Yet, Charlie couldn't help but feel that someone as talented as Mr. Riley was too valuable to be confined to teaching at a university. Teaching and educating students was undoubtedly a noble occupation, but teaching basic economics at a university hardly required the expertise of a highly qualified professor. If he could recruit Mr. Riley and have him oversee the Evans Family's domestic business, it would be a rare opportunity for both the Evans Family and Mr. Riley. Some leaders had limited capabilities and couldn't reach a higher level. However, if they had a talented and capable general under their command, they might find themselves compromising and not truly demonstrating their abilities. Mr. Riley undoubtedly harbored his own ambitions, but those ambitions might be too grand for him to find a suitable stage and opportunity. The Evans Family, on the other hand, was different. Their financial power ranked among the top in the world. Moreover, Charlie himself had amassed billions of dollars in wealth, and with the Evans Family's industries, they were soon poised to rival even the most formidable conglomerates. If the two sides joined forces, they would be capable of undertaking even larger projects. For Mr. Riley, this could be a new chance. Charlie called his uncle to let him know he would be bringing a guest home for dinner that evening. Afterward, he drove to the University of Finance and Economics to pick up Mr. Riley, who was about to get married. As they met, Charlie voiced his curiosity, "Uncle Riley, you’re getting married soon. Why are you still working? Haven’t you taken wedding leave?" Mr. Riley responded, "The teaching workload is heavy, and it's hard to take a long leave. Besides, I need to go on a honeymoon after the wedding. If something happens at the school during that time, I won't be able to come back. So, I'm trying to handle all my work before I leave." Charlie nodded and asked, "The wedding is the day after tomorrow. Are you and Matilda ready?" "It's almost done," Mr. Riley replied. "We decided to keep everything simple. There won't be a wedding reception. We'll hold the ceremony directly at Shangri-La." Then, Mr. Riley added, "By the way, Charlie, there's something I want your opinion on." "Please, go ahead, Uncle Riley," Charlie replied politely. Mr. Riley explained, "Zoey and I know your true identity, but your Matilda and her son Paul don't. Paul is sharp. Although he can't guess your exact background, he regards you as a person of great wisdom and extraordinary ability. He respects and admires you a lot. Every time he mentions you, it's with great admiration." Pausing briefly, Mr. Riley continued, "Now, as Matilda and I are starting a new family, I hope to be honest with her in every aspect. But regarding your identity, I need your approval. If you think it's okay for me to explain your identity to Matilda and Paul, I will find the right opportunity to do so. If you think it's inappropriate, Zoey and I will respect your wishes and keep your identity a secret." Charlie hadn't expected this to be the issue Mr. Riley wanted to discuss. Hearing this made him appreciate Mr. Riley's integrity even more. Many people have secrets they hide, even from those closest to them. It was clear that Mr. Riley did not want to deceive Matilda and had absolute respect for her. His willingness to consult Charlie and use his opinion as a guide was also a sign of respect. Although Charlie's identity was sensitive, many people already knew it, and those who did were reliable and trustworthy. He had come to trust Matilda and Paul through their interactions. Initially, he felt there was no need to reveal his true identity to them, but now he believed there was no reason to hide it. So, he said openly, "Matilda and Paul are trustworthy. How about you find a chance to tell them when we have dinner tomorrow night?" Mr. Riley was delighted yet cautious, asking Charlie, "Should you reconsider? Is it necessary?" Charlie waved away his concerns and replied, "There is no need. Many people in Aurous Hill are already aware of my true identity. Even someone like Don Albert knows who I truly am. It's not a big secret for Matilda and Paul to know." In truth, Charlie had his own plan. In the future, if he wanted to recruit Mr. Riley to collaborate with the Evans Family, he couldn't keep his wife in the dark about his true identity. Otherwise, he would constantly find himself switching between two identities, much like he had done before. From personal experience, Charlie knew that this constant duality was far from ideal. Furthermore, Charlie wasn't just planning for Mr. Riley alone; he was also considering this future family of four. He hoped to bring Matilda and Paul into his and the Evans Family's fold. After all, Matilda herself was an entrepreneur who, alongside her late husband, had built a legal empire. She possessed exceptional abilities in both the legal profession and in entrepreneurship and management. Paul, at such a young age, had inherited the family business and successfully managed the law firm. Their talents would be invaluable to the Evans Family. Since he intended to be honest about his identity, this family of four could work together without any gaps or secrecy in the future.