Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Is That the Warren Prescott She Knows?
Not only was Ashley Shaw surprised, but the astonishment in Xavier Quincy’s eyes almost overflowed.
Is this still the Warren Prescott he knows?
"Ahem!"
After this interruption, Ariana Grant was too embarrassed to continue eating, so she cleared her throat and set down her chopsticks.
"Alright, I won’t eat anymore. Ashley, don’t be mad."
Ashley Shaw shook her head gently, "I’m not mad, I’m just concerned about your health."
"Yeah, yeah, I know! I’ll try to restrain myself from now on!"
"I was wrong too. It’s indeed rare to dine here. If you want to eat, go ahead. But after today, you’ll need to stick to a light diet for a few days."
This time, Ariana Grant shook her head with resolve, "I won’t eat any more. I said I wouldn’t, and I mean it. It’s my body, and I need to take care of it."
Ashley Shaw curled her lips, then noticed that everyone at the table was watching them.
She explained that Ariana Grant had some stomach issues, which is why she advised her to eat less, and then she proactively broke the awkward atmosphere by standing up with a cup of drink in her hand.
"Attorney Coleman, the main reason for today’s meal is to thank you for all the help you’ve given us recently. Thank you."
"And Uncle Owen, it’s a pleasure to meet you."
"I toast with drinks instead of wine, please don’t mind."
Shane Coleman and Owen Sinclair, hearing this, also raised their glasses.
"Among friends, there’s no need for such formality. Besides, we’re not drinking wine either, so don’t feel embarrassed."
After saying that, he tipped back his head and finished his drink in one go.
Owen Sinclair was the driver, so he couldn’t drink alcohol either, and he drank his orange juice instead.
Ashley Shaw then raised her glass to Xavier Quincy, thanking him for arranging such an interesting place for dinner.
Xavier Quincy was drinking tea. He took a light sip and said somewhat meaningfully, "Ashley has grown up, and she even knows how to toast now. When did you learn? You look pretty convincing."
Ashley Shaw was momentarily choked up. It seemed that with her age and status, she shouldn’t be so skillful at "toasting."
But she quickly came up with an excuse: "Hehe, I just crammed last minute, learned it from watching TV series."
This topic should have been left at that, but unexpectedly, Xavier Quincy pursued it further: "Oh? Which TV series actually teaches this?"
Ashley Shaw’s mind panicked for a moment, but just then, Warren Prescott spoke up: "Not learning the good, but picking up the bad. Stay away from these greasy things in the future."
For the first time, Ashley Shaw found Warren Prescott’s words so pleasant, accidentally saving her from an urgent situation.
She took the opportunity to retort to Warren Prescott: "I was just being polite. What’s greasy about it? Attorney Coleman, Uncle Owen, do you also find it greasy?"
Shane Coleman shrugged: "I think it’s fine."
Owen Sinclair, as expected, found everything to his liking.
"I think it’s just right."
Ashley Shaw gave Warren Prescott a look as if to say, "See, only you think it’s greasy."
Warren Prescott didn’t understand what she was proud of, scoffed lightly, and reached up to press the intercom.
The manager quickly came in.
"Open a tea room, I’m getting sick of the grease, and it’s just right to cleanse it away."
"Yes."
The manager responded and was about to leave when Shane Coleman said, "Young Master Prescott, since you guys are going for tea, it’s getting late. I’ll head back first. I need to prepare for Ariana’s case tomorrow."
Ashley Shaw chimed in, "Then we’ll also get ready to leave."
Warren Prescott looked at them.
"You’re all leaving?"
Xavier Quincy nodded, and Ariana Grant followed suit.
Warren Prescott said expressionlessly, "Then there’s no need to open the tea room. Let’s all go."
Ariana Grant, for some reason, thought of a public service advertisement.
An old lady lovingly prepared a table full of dishes, only for her children and grandchildren not to return, finally sighing alone, "Busy, everyone’s busy, being busy is good."
In the end, it was a lonely silhouette of an old lady watching TV and falling asleep on the sofa.
She looked at Warren Prescott and couldn’t help but feel he resembled that old lady.
As they walked past Warren Prescott, she couldn’t suppress a slight smile on her lips.
The group made their way downstairs, and the Imperial Hall, previously full from the performance, was now empty, with only a group of staff cleaning up.
The manager caught up.
"Please wait!"
Ashley Shaw stopped and turned around, seeing the manager take out a stack of cards.
"These are from our boss; if you ever want to come back, you’re welcome anytime. The private rooms on the second floor are always available for you."
With that, he distributed the black cards to each of them.
Ashley Shaw took a card and glanced at it, seeing embossed gold letters reading SVIP, The Nocturne Exclusive, among other words.
Still trying to figure out what it was, Shane Coleman exclaimed in surprise, "Is this your lifetime membership card?"
The manager smiled and said, "It’s a tier above the lifetime membership card, our highest-level card here."
Joking aside, even those asked to vacate the private rooms were given lifetime membership cards, so these people must get something better, right?
Moreover, it was a request personally made by Warren Prescott, so of course, the highest-level card it had to be.
Shane Coleman instinctively said, "Uh... such a valuable card, I can’t accept it, better to return it..."
Xavier Quincy added, "Warren never takes back what he gives out. If you try to return it, this card will end up in the trash bin later."
Upon hearing this, Shane Coleman stopped insisting and slipped the card into his pocket.
The others, seeing this, also promptly accepted their cards.
Shane Coleman said, "Thank Young Master Prescott for me... By the way, where is he?"
"Something came up, the boss went to take care of it."
Xavier Quincy asked, "What’s the matter? Is it serious?"
The manager’s smile remained: "It’s nothing major, no need to worry. Let me escort you all out, please."
The manager led them to the Nocturne’s dedicated shuttle.
The night breeze caressed their faces, a very comfortable feeling, but Ashley Shaw couldn’t help but wonder what happened at The Nocturne that required Warren Prescott’s personal attention.
Still, the fact that Warren Prescott was actually the owner of The Nocturne truly surprised her.
She had no idea where he found so much time, managing both The Nocturne and Spectator Live, and still having the leisure to dine with them.
Oh no, correction, dine with Zoe Hayes and the others.
Thinking of Zoe Hayes, Ashley Shaw’s mood soured.
They say good deeds bring blessings, and bad deeds reap retribution, but she couldn’t see where the retribution was.
Zoe Hayes came over from Riverton, clearly because her father got a promotion.
The so-called retribution was nothing more than a joke.
The shuttle quickly reached The Nocturne’s entrance.
There were quite a few people gathered there, packed tightly, and everyone came by car, with no taxis in sight.
However, there were many designated drivers waiting there.
So when Owen Sinclair offered to drive them back, Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant instinctively nodded.
Xavier Quincy felt a bit regretful.
If he had known, he wouldn’t have drunk alcohol either.
Fortunately, just then, Assistant Lowell appeared before them.
"Miss Shaw, Miss Grant, are you heading back?"
They both nodded.
Assistant Lowell smiled, "Perfect timing, I’m heading to Spectator too, so I’ll give you a ride."