Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Small Talk
——Can Ashley fool me?
Upon hearing this, Warren Prescott’s eyebrow shot up immediately.
His guess was right, it really was the case.
So, when she said she was treating, was it still with the Prescott Family’s money?
Obviously, she didn’t have enough money to pay the bill, he had given her a way out, but she’d rather borrow money from Grandpa Prescott to foot this bill.
Trying to draw a line?
Can she really draw one?
In the end, isn’t Grandpa’s money still Warren’s money?
Warren’s expression turned dark and unclear, and his face showed displeasure.
After Elder Prescott blurted out "Can Ashley fool me?", there was a sudden hush for at least three seconds.
Finally, he mumbled, "Young lad... are you trying to trick me?"
Warren held his phone, slightly smiling yet not, and said, "How could I? I just worry about you getting scammed by telecom frauds. If news got out that the former chairman of the Prescott Group was scammed, it might tarnish your reputation."
"What tarnished reputation! If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak. No one’s silencing you as if you’re mute!"
On the other end, Elder Prescott shot back, agitated.
Warren quickly lowered his stance, smoothing things over.
"Didn’t I only finish high school? With such a low education, it’s hard for me to use idioms properly, right?"
"Just know you’re the least educated in our family! Now hurry and teach me how to transfer money using the phone."
When Elder Prescott stepped down, he was still using an old-timey cellphone. After retiring, he became obsessed with playing chess and raising dogs and birds. It was only this year that he switched his flip phone to a smartphone.
Currently, the hottest fruit phone on the market was already in its fifth generation. Even though he was retired, since the Prescott Group was preparing to enter the smartphone industry, he didn’t want to be clueless, so he quickly started catching up on phone knowledge.
So far, he’s only figured out the messaging feature and still doesn’t know how to use mobile banking for transfers.
Warren asked, "How much do you want to transfer?"
"Let’s start with ten million!"
Ashley asked him for two million, but he thought a larger sum would be good to have on hand, so he directly said ten million.
Plus, transferring more money could also help Ashley when she goes to Aethelgard for university.
That’s how Elder Prescott was thinking, and he urged, "Quickly teach me how to do the transfer."
Warren’s lips curved slightly, and he said, "Grandpa, the online banking limit for your card isn’t high enough for ten million, at most a million."
"A million? That’s not enough, Ashley said at least two million."
Having already slipped his tongue, he decided not to hold back.
"Alright then." Warren said, "My online banking can transfer ten million, let me handle this for now, you don’t need to bother."
"But Ashley said she wanted me to transfer it."
"Does it make a difference if you or I transfer it? Isn’t the ten million still under the Prescott name?"
"No, I suppose not..."
"Moreover, it being this late at night, even if you have the money, you can’t ask the bank to increase your online banking limit, right?"
"Alright, alright, I got it. Then I’ll let her know."
Warren paused before saying, "There’s no need to tell her. She might not accept my money. I’ll just transfer it directly to her."
"Well, that’s still your fault for bullying her in the past!"
"So, is that okay? Just don’t tell her?"
"Got it! Tomorrow, you take me to the bank to raise whatever limit, then teach me how to transfer money."
"Okay."
Warren agreed readily, and Elder Prescott didn’t say anything further, hanging up directly.
Warren, being careful, called the household staff to urge Elder Prescott to rest early.
Preferably taking his phone to prevent him from playing games before bed and impacting sleep quality.
The staff on the line obliged accordingly.
Just as Warren finished his call, he saw Ashley Shaw’s figure appear at the staircase.
She had two dice cups in her hand. At the sight of Warren, a flicker of guilt flashed in her eyes.
But she quickly calmed down, holding the dice cups as she approached.
With a hint of hope, she asked, "Why are you out? Are we wrapping up early?"
Warren responded tepidly, "What? Do you wish we’d wrapped up early?"
"No..." Ashley shook her head quickly. "I was just casually asking."
"Oh."
Warren gave her a once-over, his gaze landing on the dice cups in her hand.
"Taking so long to fetch the dice? What were you up to? You didn’t happen to run off to borrow money, did you?"
Ashley almost blurted out "How did you know," but managed to hold back, giving a dry laugh and shaking her head, "No, how could that be? I just stopped by the washroom on the way."
Warren’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"If you’re short on money, just say so. This dinner wasn’t something you had to treat us with, no need to pretend to be something you’re not."
"It’s enough, and since we agreed I’d treat, how could I let you pay? This dinner is to express my thanks from before and apologize for today."
The smile on Warren’s lips slowly faded.
"Since you put it that way, let everyone drink to their heart’s content."
"Of course, drink away."
Ashley said, feigning ease, though she began to worry if Warren’s suggestion to "drink freely" might mean the two million transfer from Grandpa wouldn’t cover the expense.
However, she maintained her smile.
"Alright, you said it."
"Let’s get back in." Ashley smiled, reaching to open the suite’s door for Warren.
Had there been a mirror, she surely would have seen how forced her smile looked.
Warren didn’t say anything, brushing past her shoulder as he entered.
Ashley caught a whiff of his light tobacco scent mixed with the fragrance of his usual high-end body wash.
It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was unsettling.
To her, it was truly unsettling.
Two million, how long would it take her to repay that debt to Grandpa?
She realized she’d have to think of other ways to earn money.
Working a job would never suffice; even ten lifetimes couldn’t repay that sum.
But maybe, she could capitalize on her advantage of being reincarnated to make some investments.
For now, the priority was to keep Warren in high spirits.
Walking in right behind Warren, she saw half of the people inside wailing while singing karaoke, the other half playing dice on the long leather sofa.
Seeing the two enter, everyone greeted them warmly.
"Come on, Warren, Ashley. We opened with seven sixes, do you want to bet?"
Not understanding any of it, Ashley waved them off, saying she wasn’t playing.
"Then come sing!" someone at the jukebox called to her.
The smile on Ashley’s face grew even more strained.
Singing? She’d rather die!
The scene of being forced to sing on stage by Ms. Xavier and the others was still fresh in her mind.
"If you’re not singing, then come play." Warren said, occupying an empty seat in a tone that brooked no argument.
Wasn’t he the one who said they could drink freely?
The quickest way to drink in a KTV is by playing dice.
Ashley, knowing her poor drinking capacity, understood that refusing might displease Warren, but she forced herself to wave it off.
"I’ll pass, I really can’t..."