[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-idle-tycoon-system":3,"chapter-idle-tycoon-system-idle-tycoon-system-chapter-24":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Idle Tycoon System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1828020,2431,"Chapter 24: Life is getting better","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Noah wandered through the park, savouring his ice cream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of children played tag near the fountain, their shrieks filling the park.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old couple sat on a bench feeding pigeons, their hands intertwined together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normal life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing without him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ring-Ring\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hospital?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello?\" His heart skipped its customary beat of anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Carter? This is Dr. Ramirez. I've been reviewing your father's case.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah tensed. \"Has something changed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His last blood work showed marked improvement. The infection markers we've been monitoring have decreased significantly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's... good, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's unexpected. The treatment hasn't changed, but his body seems to be responding more effectively.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor paused before asking again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has he been taking any supplements we're unaware of?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah's ice cream was forgotten, dripping down his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. Nothing new.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor nodded on the other side of the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, whatever it is, we're optimistic. His condition has stabilised enough that we're considering moving him to a standard room. Perhaps even discussing discharge options in the coming weeks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah found the nearest bench and took a seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Doctor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ended the call, staring at the melting cone in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice cream had surrendered to the heat, white droplets of its territory on the pavement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah barely noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father's health was improving after months of steady decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was such a sudden turnaround.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty minutes later, he slid into a cab, a bag of premium fruit resting on his lap. Mangoes, strawberries, green grapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cab pulled away from the curb. Noah watched the city blur past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same bills that had crushed him for months now seemed like mere inconveniences. Merely some temporary obstacles on a path suddenly brightened with possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan Carter looked up from his crossword puzzle as Noah entered. His face, though still thin, had more colour than yesterday. His eyes brighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've got that look,\" his father said by way of greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like when you were ten and tried to convince me you hadn't eaten all the cookies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah laughed, setting down the fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan eyed the bag. \"More fruit? You're going to turn me into a macaw.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Doctor's orders. Vitamins all of the healthy things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of doctors, mine was in earlier. Said my numbers are improving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah pulled a chair closer. \"That's what they told me. Any idea why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clean living and your excellent parenting.\" Alan bit into the strawberry. \"Or maybe I'm just too stubborn to die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry.\" He waved the half-eaten strawberry apologetically. \"Old man's humour.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah unpacked the rest of the fruit, arranging it on the bedside tray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So,\" Alan said, accepting a mango slice. \"Your mysterious new business venture. Still not sharing details?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's complicated.\" Noah selected a grape. \"But it's working.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Must be.\" His father gestured at the fruit spread. \"You haven't splurged like this since your college graduation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Things change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They do.\" Alan's voice softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached for Noah's hand. \"Thank you, son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah squeezed back, feeling the fragility of his dad's hands that were once strong enough to carry him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They talked for an hour, mostly about everything except Noah's sudden financial turnaround. Some mysteries, it seemed, were better left unexplored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When visiting hours ended, Noah stood to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah bent down for a quick, awkward hug. \"Take care, Dad. I will see you soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dad nodded with a smile on his old face. \"You too, son. See you soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey home passed in contemplative silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon enough, his apartment welcomed him with its embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah kicked off his shoes and headed to the kitchen to make some food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let's see if yesterday's lesson stuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was his name again? Right, it was Chef Marcus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fired up the burner, the orange flame dancing beneath the pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chicken hit the hot surface with a satisfying sizzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, Noah did not panic this time, nor frantically check the instructions either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it's the Intelligence boost from the tea? Or just confidence from actually succeeding yesterday?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garlic went in at exactly the right moment—not too early to burn, not too late to miss flavor infusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahh, smells delicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah let out a soft moan, smelling the food he was cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Chef Marcus would be proud.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vegetables followed, vibrant bell peppers, sliced mushrooms wilting perfectly into the sauce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each addition felt like a spell being cast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he plated the finished dish, Noah stepped back, genuinely stunned by what he'd created. The chicken rested on a bed of vegetables, the sauce gleaming with richness that even restaurant meals sometimes lacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I actually made this. Without watching a video tutorial at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had watched the video beforehand. But not whilst cooking it, which made him feel proud of himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have learned the new skill: Cooking Lvl.1]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The notification appeared in his vision, confirmation that something fundamental had changed. Just like swordsmanship, cooking had become a quantifiable ability, a skill that could grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah laughed, alone in his kitchen with his perfect meal and new skill notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hopefully it tastes good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah brought the spoon to his mouth and took a cautious bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flavours exploded across his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meal was savoury, slightly tangy with depths he hadn't expected. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just edible. It's actually good!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second bite was even better than the first.\u003C\u002Fp>",903,"2026-06-09T06:05:14.055Z",1,"novelbin.me","a41282d25ced284400d85d395b9d720ea84003807c9045dcfdfd70ba54beb3a2","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-25","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-23",438,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fidle-tycoon-system-cover.jpg"]