It was hard to say whether it was influenced by Jack or just the natural course of events, but the personal lives of the old LAPD buddies were now calm and stable. John and Callis had a very peaceful married life, and Tim and Lucy were in the midst of preparing for their wedding.
On the BAU side, Hotchner's wife, Haley, had long since recovered from postpartum depression. After all, their son was now old enough to speak, and was currently happily chasing after his father with his little legs, calling after him.
Reid and the young star Layla Yachi were a couple Jack had never thought would last. After all, their worlds were so far apart. At first, Jack's intention in bringing them together was simply to help a certain young man mature in the realm of relationships.
However, it seemed things had turned out differently. Both of them were busy people, but perhaps distance made their hearts grow fonder, and when they were able to meet, they were inseparable, with an almost obliviousness to the world around them. The overly sweet aura of their love made Emily, who was nearby, often furrow her brows.
Jack himself had also become something of a boss to Layla, as the shooting of the cheesy short drama was gradually progressing. The female lead, of course, was given to her.
Perhaps even Layla didn't realize how much her role, originally just a favor for a friend, had turned into something much bigger. Now, it was giving her a shot at fame, and her earnings, based on profit-sharing, were steadily climbing. She was no longer the same girl who once had to rent a place just to maintain her celebrity image.
The old Hunter couple, who had met Jack, suddenly found their previously quiet retirement life becoming a lot more lively. The retired CIA agent, Joe Mason, had now taken up residence in their home and refused to leave. Soon, they were joined by a little girl, Isabel. The quirky little family of four was living a very happy life.
Moreover, Jack had confirmed that Layla's bodyguard, Brian Mills, who looked remarkably like Liam Neeson, was indeed a retired CIA agent. Just by observing how the two interacted, it was clear that they were likely old acquaintances.
Although Jack had learned that the bodyguard's name was Brian Mills, he couldn't remember which movie he was associated with, but it didn't matter. Under Jack's guidance, Chris's production company was now covering the costs for Layla's personal security.
In a sense, Jack had also become a half-boss to Brian Mills (Liam Neeson), which gave him a strange sense of accomplishment, almost like collecting character cards.
The lively day finally ended, and it was now past midnight. Jack, who had had a bit too much to drink, let Jiejie drive, while he sat in the passenger seat. In the backseat were Reid and Layla, both of them enjoying the ride.
Layla's bodyguard, Brian Mills, had finished his shift and was already home, so there was no need for him to join them.
As they drove down the highway, Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as they neared North Hollywood. The familiar streets made him feel as though his days patrolling the streets of LA in a police car were just yesterday.
When they passed a convenience store on the side of the road, Jack instinctively tapped Jiejie's arm to signal her to pull over. "Your fridge is running low on beer, and we might as well grab some snacks too."
Jiejie blushed, knowing exactly what he meant. Last night, the two of them had nearly finished an entire box of little umbrellas, and if they didn't replenish their stock soon, they'd have to make do with plastic wrap from the kitchen.
"Let's all go together. It's been a while since I've seen Reid. Since we're all off tonight, we're planning to stay up late watching some tapes. We need snacks too," Layla said, her face slightly flushed as she seemed to recall something. Reid, somewhat clueless, also got out of the car. "I'll help carry the things."
Jack sighed lightly, realizing that Layla had successfully brought out a side of Reid that he had not seen before. But that wasn't a bad thing. Sometimes, opposites attract in relationships, and this kind of complementing personality worked well.
In Los Angeles, most convenience stores were owned by Asians or Latinos. The former group was mostly made up of Koreans and Chinese, while the latter group was predominantly Mexican, with some coming from smaller South American countries like Nicaragua.
The convenience store they stopped at was run by an elderly Latino couple, which reminded Jack of the old couple who had run the grocery store he had taken over. This was why he instinctively had Jiejie park there.
The four of them got out of the car and walked into the store. There weren't many customers, just a couple about their age who were chatting softly in the snack aisle.
"Hi!" The girl in the couple greeted them as they entered.
Jack was slightly surprised. He recognized the girl, but more notably, her boyfriend, who was a little shorter than her and had a baby-faced look.
Frankie Muniz was a famous child star in Jack's previous life. "Growing Pains" was widely known in China, but the show he starred in, "Malcolm in the Middle," although it came later, had a bigger following in the United States.
Jack wasn't particularly interested in family sitcoms, but he had seen a few episodes of "Malcolm in the Middle" during his free time. He knew Frankie Muniz for his roles in a couple of comedy-action movies, "Agent Cody Banks" and its sequel.
In Jack's memory, after Frankie grew up, he went on to become a producer, only occasionally appearing in TV shows, as his height was a disadvantage in roles opposite leading actresses.
But to Jack's surprise, not only did he recognize Frankie, but Reid also called out his name. "Are you Johnny McHale?"
"Uh…" Frankie, the short, baby-faced guy, was surprised that someone recognized him. "I've really become that famous?"
"I really liked your comic series 'Blue.' I even took time off work to attend your signing event," Reid said.
This comment made the others smile knowingly. Well, this was just Reid's style.
Then Jack was also recognized. Writers, whether novelists or comic creators, were often referred to simply as "writers." Though the two fields were distinct, they often drew inspiration from each other and collaborated.
Clearly, Johnny McHale, the comic writer, had also followed the bestseller lists. After the introductions, he quickly realized who Jack was, and began to enthusiastically praise Jack's debut work.
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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