Chapter 420 - 416: A Wicked Taste

Ethan Sterling just smiled at her words and didn’t say much more.

They could worry about the future later. Today was about eating their fill and having a good time.

"I’m going to the restroom," Renee Reid said, standing up.

Ethan Sterling looked around. "I think it’s over there."

"I’ll find it myself. You guys keep eating."

With that, Renee headed toward the elevators.

After Renee left, Jameson Stone turned to Ethan. "Ethan, my mom keeps nagging me to bring you over for dinner."

Ethan’s help had been indispensable in his final three-month push to get into Lorcain U, and Jameson’s parents were insistent on thanking Ethan properly in person.

"You don’t have to go to all that trouble. I helped you because you’re my friend."

"Even friends should thank each other for help! Besides, this wasn’t some small favor. You helped me get into Lorcain U—you changed my life! It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call you my godfather!"

"Whoa, whoa, don’t say that! You’ll jinx me!" Ethan laughed and waved his hands dismissively, then nodded. "Of course, I’d love to come over for dinner. But tell your mom not to make it too formal. Just treat it like I’m coming over to hang out, otherwise I’ll feel pressured."

Hearing Ethan agree, Jameson broke into a wide grin. "Great! As long as you come. My mom’s a pretty good cook, too."

"Did you ask Renee?"

"Of course! I told her a long time ago. She’s close with my parents."

After using the restroom and washing her hands, Renee came out just as her phone buzzed with a message. She started walking back, her head down as she read it.

A young man about her age approached from the opposite direction, holding a bottle of expensive red wine. His eyes landed on Renee, and he reflexively sized her up.

Cheap clothes, a girl-next-door vibe. With a single glance, he had her pegged.

’She clearly doesn’t belong here.’

As they were about to pass, Renee, though looking at her phone, was still paying attention to her surroundings. Sensing someone coming toward her, she instinctively stepped to the side to make way.

But unexpectedly, a malicious impulse struck the young man. He suddenly jerked the hand holding the wine bottle to the side, bumping it lightly against Renee.

There was a loud CRASH as the bottle slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor.

The red liquid splashed everywhere, instantly staining the legs of her faded jeans and her white canvas shoes a deep crimson.

"Ah—"

Renee cried out, her body instinctively recoiling two quick steps. A rich, mellow fragrance, laced with the intoxicating scent of alcohol, filled the air as the bottle broke.

It was the aroma of a truly fine wine.

The young man merely glanced at the mess on the floor and raised an eyebrow, as if the waste of a good bottle of wine was nothing to him.

Snapping out of her shock, Renee looked at him, bewildered. ’What just happened?’ she wondered.

But he spoke first, seizing the offensive. "Hey, beautiful, you should watch where you’re going!"

Renee’s expression froze. She wanted to argue, but she lacked the confidence.

’I... I did move out of the way, didn’t I?’

’I saw him coming, so I stepped aside. How did we still bump into each other?’

Despite her confusion, the fact was that the wine had fallen and shattered. Renee apologized first. "I’m sorry. I did try to move, but I guess I didn’t get completely out of the way."

Just then, restaurant staff, hearing the noise, hurried over.

Seeing the red wine and shattered glass on the floor, the staff immediately began cleaning up to prevent anyone from stepping on the glass or slipping on the liquid.

The restaurant manager stepped forward to inquire about the situation. "Is everything alright here, you two?"

The young man shrugged. "We bumped into each other by accident while walking. The wine broke."

Renee grew nervous. The wine here had to be expensive. She was willing to pay for it, but she wasn’t sure she could afford to.

"This bottle... how much is it?"

Renee mustered her courage and asked. It wasn’t in her nature to be a deadbeat.

The young man pursed his lips and looked at the manager. "How much for a ’Moravec, Italy ’06’?"

The manager answered without hesitation, "One hundred and twenty thousand."

Renee’s eyes went wide with shock.

"One... one hundred and twenty thousand?"

’A hundred and twenty thousand for a single bottle of wine?’

Seeing her reaction, the young man’s malicious amusement grew.

’I was obviously right,’ he thought. ’This girl doesn’t belong in a place like this. The price tag alone is enough to scare her silly.’

"Wait, excuse me..." Renee looked at him, trying her best to remain calm. "I shouldn’t be the only one responsible for this, right? The bottle was in your hand, and I made a point to move aside, but it still broke. You should bear some of the responsibility, too."

To her surprise, the young man didn’t argue at all. He just nodded lightly. "Sure. I’ll take half the blame. You pay me sixty thousand. How about it?"

Renee: "..."

’I can’t afford sixty thousand.’

She had worked part-time for months just to save up ten thousand—money she had earned for her university living expenses to ease the burden on her family.

Her hand clutching her phone tightened. After a long, agonizing moment, she stammered, "I... I don’t have that much money. Can I pay you ten thousand first, and I’ll give you the rest once I’ve saved up enough?"

The young man laughed at her words. "Are you kidding me? You come to Aetherium for a meal, but you can’t even afford sixty bucks?"

"I..."

"Renee!"

Just then, Ethan and Jameson came looking for her.

"Sirs, please watch your step!" a staff member quickly warned.

The two of them carefully walked closer. Seeing Renee’s helpless expression, they both frowned.

Jameson asked in a hostile tone, "What’s wrong?"

Ethan, however, looked at the young man opposite them, whose gaze was also fixed on him.

Their eyes met. Ethan clearly paused for a moment, while the other man grinned. "Hey, it’s you!"

Ethan’s expression tensed. He recognized the guy—it was the same one from the car dealership who had been bugging his dad for a car.

Back then, because he didn’t have his driver’s license yet, he had voluntarily given up his right to buy the car they had in stock to him.

"You know him?" Jameson asked, looking at Ethan.

Ethan shook his head.

’Not really.’

"Is this pretty lady your friend?" the guy asked Ethan with a smirk.

Ethan nodded, speaking warily. "If there’s a problem, you can talk to me."

"Hah, it’s no big deal. We just bumped into each other, and my wine got smashed. We’re splitting the blame, fifty-fifty. She said she’ll pay me sixty thousand!"

"How much?" Jameson blurted out in shock. "Why don’t you just rob someone instead?"

The guy didn’t get angry. He just spread his hands. "Hey now, this wine is from Aetherium. It has a clear price tag. I’m not making things up."

Ethan knew the guy came from money; he probably wouldn’t lie about the price of a bottle of wine.

He turned to Renee for confirmation. "Renee, is that what happened?"

Renee bit her lip. She wanted to nod, but something about the whole situation felt off.

"Oh? What’s this, beautiful? Your backup’s here, so now you don’t want to admit it?"