Chapter 492 - 488: Savage Words

On the other end of the call, Ethan Sterling couldn’t help but purse his lips helplessly as he read the message.

Seraphina’s insistence on going Dutch made him feel like there was still an invisible wall between them. It seemed their relationship would need more time to get closer.

"What’s wrong?" Rabbit, noticing Ethan’s expression from the side, instinctively leaned over. "You seemed pretty happy when you got back. Didn’t you say you had a great time today?"

Ethan handed his phone to Rabbit. "Seraphina wants to split the bill."

"Go Dutch?" Rabbit asked, surprised, before breaking into a smile. "That’s pretty interesting. A girl who offers to split the bill is very level-headed. After all, your relationship is in a bit of an awkward stage. If you start getting entangled financially, it throws off the balance."

Surprised by Rabbit’s words, Ethan turned to look at him. "That’s almost word-for-word what she said. Damn, Rabbit, you really get women, huh?"

"Ah, my face is my downfall. If I were more handsome, I would’ve been dating long ago," Rabbit said self-deprecatingly, picking up a mirror from the table. He looked into it, then shook his head in disappointment. "TSK TSK TSK, I can’t even stand to look at myself. Why couldn’t I keep my hands to myself during puberty? I just had to pick at my pimples. See? It’s all acne scars."

"So, should I split it with her or not?" Ethan asked, changing the subject and completely ignoring Rabbit’s lament.

Rabbit put down the mirror and frowned. "She’s the one who brought it up, so just agree. What? Are you afraid she’s just testing you?"

"I doubt it. Seraphina isn’t the type to play petty games. I think she genuinely wants to split it."

"Well, there you go. Just respect her wishes."

Taking Rabbit’s advice, Ethan nodded in understanding, then pulled out his phone to calculate the day’s expenses.

Rabbit picked up the mirror again, his mood souring the longer he looked, especially with the smooth-skinned Ethan right next to him. "I should’ve gone to a university in the south. The climate there really agrees with people. Look how fair and smooth it’s made your skin."

Ethan finally looked up at him. "You should stop looking. For those acne scars, you’d need a cosmetic procedure. They use special instruments to fix and improve your skin."

"Isn’t that for girls? I heard it’s super expensive."

"Guys can do it, too."

"You’ve done it?" Rabbit turned his head, a mix of confusion and shock on his face. "Don’t tell me your skin is this good because you’re secretly getting cosmetic procedures."

"I haven’t. I’m still young, my face is full of collagen, and I don’t have any skin problems, so I don’t need to. I’m just saying that if you want to improve your skin’s condition, you could try seeing a professional at a dermatology clinic."

"Forget it." Rabbit sighed and shook his head. "If I had that kind of spare cash, I’d rather spend it on a few more in-game skins. As for romance, I can just rely on my gaming skills and try my luck with an online relationship. Attract someone with my inner beauty."

Ethan chuckled and shook his head. "Your logic is... unique. But now that I think about it, I guess it’s one way to go."

’After all, even if Rabbit’s looks were average, his humorous personality was bound to appeal to someone.’

Just then, the dorm room door opened, and Victor Tucker walked in. Seeing Ethan was there, he said, "Ethan, there’s an upperclassman downstairs looking for you."

"An upperclassman?"

Victor Tucker nodded. Ethan quickly stood up. The first person who came to mind was Wyatt Sherman—he was the only upperclassman Ethan knew.

But when he got downstairs, he saw a tall, slender guy with tan skin.

Ethan was still looking around for any sign of Wyatt Sherman, but Reggie Hale recognized him at a glance as the guy from the photograph.

"Ethan Sterling?" Reggie Hale called out directly.

Only then did Ethan turn his attention back to Reggie Hale, his expression unreadable. "You’re the one looking for me?"

Reggie Hale walked up to Ethan. Although he already suspected the answer, he still had to ask, "Do you know Cecilia Sterling?"

"Huh?" Ethan froze for a second before blurting out, "She’s my sister."

That one sentence obliterated Reggie Hale’s last sliver of hope.

’He really had done something foolish.’ And just like that, his image of Cindy Underwood shattered.

"Is something wrong?" Ethan asked instinctively. "Did my sister ask you to find me?"

Reggie Hale snapped back to reality and shook his head. "It’s nothing. Sorry to have bothered you."

With that, Reggie Hale turned and walked away, paying Ethan no further mind.

Ethan found the whole exchange baffling but sent his sister a message right away.

Meanwhile, the camping trip was not yet over. After hiking up the mountain in the afternoon, the group had come down and looped around to the back of Mount Lyra, where Cecilia Sterling was delighted to discover the river Master Ingram had told them about.

Having sweated all day, the guys were ecstatic at the sight of the river. One by one, they stripped off their shirts and shorts and jumped in like a line of penguins diving into the sea.

As this tantalizing, vibrant scene unfolded right before them, Jane Sterling’s eyes glazed over in a fixed stare.

"Cecilia! Cecilia! Can I really watch this for free?"

Seeing her friend’s thirsty expression, Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh. "You grew up abroad. Isn’t this what you see at the beach all the time?"

"I’m not interested in white guys. I’m all about our younger men from Cathay. Ooh, ooh, ooh, look at that perky butt! His briefs can barely contain it."

"He has a girlfriend!"

"I know, I’m not laying a hand on him. It just rudely forced its way into my line of sight. So impolite—it didn’t even ask for my consent." Jane Sterling stared unblinkingly at the handsome guys in the water, but her hand reached over to grip Cecilia’s. "Next time there’s an event like this," she whispered, "you have to remember to bring me along."

Her entire field of vision was filled with chocolate-bar abs, full pecs, and perky butts.

Thalassa Bowman suddenly came over and sat down beside Cecilia. Her gaze also fell unabashedly on the guys splashing around in the water below. "The guys on our school team are in pretty good shape, huh?" she said.

Jane Sterling shook her head with a sigh. "After today, the men my grandpa sets me up with are going to seem even more pathetic."

Cecilia let out a soft laugh, just as Thalassa seemed to realize something and looked around. "Hey? Where’s Wyatt Sherman?"

The water was a sea of tanned skin, but Wyatt Sherman, with his uniquely fair complexion, was conspicuously absent.

Jane Sterling teased, "Don’t tell me he’s too embarrassed to take his clothes off because Cecilia’s here?"

Cecilia shot her a glare, but ’she knew Wyatt Sherman wasn’t the shy type. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so forward about approaching her and adding her on WhatsApp. Plus, he was usually the one to initiate their conversations.’

But Jane leaned in close and whispered, "Maybe his ’package’ up front is too small."

"Good lord, the things you say!" Cecilia exclaimed, scandalized. "Watch it, or I’ll push you in there!"

Jane, however, replied with deadpan sincerity, "You really think you’re going to pull a rare find like Saul Thorne every time?"

"Ugh, whatever. Anyway, I’m not the one who’ll be getting ’acupuncture’ all night."