Chapter 330: Everyone Drinks But the Kids

Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Everyone Drinks But the Kids

Seeing how much everyone loved hotpot, Cynthia Whittaker set aside a private room on the second floor of her restaurant just for them.

It was for the exclusive use of Lily Hart and her group.

After sending the message, Lily Hart followed them. She was really a little curious.

At the hotpot restaurant’s cashier counter, Cynthia Whittaker was propping her chin on her hand out of boredom, listening to the nearest table of customers shoot the breeze.

Just as she got to the good part, she heard a "KNOCK KNOCK" beside her and looked up.

It was Sue Sutton, knocking on the counter. The smile on Cynthia Whittaker’s face vanished instantly. "You again?" she asked impatiently.

She turned her head and muttered, ’It’s only been three days, and she’s already been here so many times I’ve lost count!’

"I’d like a private room," Sue Sutton said.

"No rooms left. You can take a table in the main hall," Cynthia Whittaker refused, not even bothering to look up.

Sue Sutton’s voice softened, her gaze turning gentle. "Cynthia, it’s been so long. Can you still not forgive me?"

"You! Just... If you’re here to eat, then eat! Don’t bring all that up!" Cynthia Whittaker looked flustered, her face screaming that she wanted no part of this conversation.

Lily Hart popped out from behind them. "Business is that good? No private rooms left?" Her voice was as light and clear as a mountain lark’s song.

Cynthia Whittaker replied instantly, "There is one left. The one I set aside for you."

Sue Sutton’s eyes darkened, and she gave Cynthia Whittaker a wounded look. Cynthia just pursed her lips and pointedly ignored her.

"Base Commander Sutton? Would you like to join us for a meal? I’m leaving tomorrow," Lily Hart invited.

"Of course. After you," Sue Sutton readily agreed. Seeing this, Cynthia Whittaker blurted out, "Then I’m going too!"

She seemed to regret it as soon as she said it, adding in a clumsy attempt to cover her tracks, "It’s dinnertime anyway."

She looked down at her toes, looking a bit sheepish. Lily Hart smiled. "Come on, it’s fine."

Cynthia Whittaker forced a smile and followed the two of them into the private room.

Lily Hart started ordering. She asked the two what they wanted, as she always did, before ordering a huge spread of food.

Seeing the sheer amount of food being ordered, Cynthia Whittaker was shocked. "Lily, it’s just the three of us. Do we really need to order this much? I’m not being cheap, mind you, I just don’t want it to go to waste."

"The three of us?" Lily Hart raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the door. The other two followed her gaze.

A moment later, the door was pushed open, and Frost Shaw and the others filed in, greeting the three familiarly.

Once everyone was seated, Lily Hart suggested, "How about some drinks?"

’After all, drunk words are sober thoughts,’ she thought. ’With how awkward Cynthia Whittaker and Sue Sutton are acting, who knows when they’ll ever sort things out.’

"Great idea! We’re leaving tomorrow anyway!" Roman Rowe got excited at the mere mention of alcohol.

Frost Shaw couldn’t help but recall what Lily Hart was like when she was drunk. ’Hmm... should I really agree to this?’

’Then again, it’s not like my disapproval would do any good.’

Sure enough... beer and hard liquor appeared on the table.

Sue Sutton waved her hand in refusal. "I have matters to attend to tonight, so I won’t be drinking with you all. But I’ll still eat."

Lily Hart waved away her protest. "Nope. Everyone at this table is drinking, unless you’re a child!"

Cynthia Whittaker grimaced. "But I can’t really drink..."

’Perfect! You really can’t drink!’ Lily Hart mentally pumped her fist.

’In just three short days, Sue Sutton had been to the hotpot restaurant at least a dozen times. Did she really love hotpot that much?’

’She didn’t believe it for a second.’

’Besides, every time those two were together, the atmosphere felt off, like there was some long-buried rift between them.’

’She couldn’t just call them out on it directly, but seeing them act so awkwardly was making her feel awkward too.’

’It was so obvious they both cared about each other.’

’And yet, whenever they spoke, their words were always laced with barbs.’

’No, no way. This was how people missed their chance with each other. She wouldn’t allow it.’

With that, Lily Hart stood up, poured Sue Sutton a full glass, and then poured an equally full glass for Cynthia Whittaker.

The two were sitting next to each other. Sue Sutton leaned over and whispered, "Are you going to be okay? If not, you don’t have to—"

"Who says I can’t handle it? I’ll drink it right now and show you!" Cynthia Whittaker was not pleased.

She immediately snatched up the glass, and with a frown and a grimace, downed it in one go.

After finishing, she grumbled, "So bitter... this stuff is awful. Who even likes drinking this?!"

She had moved so fast that Sue Sutton didn’t have time to stop her. With a silent sigh, Sue also drained her glass.

While the two were talking, the hotpot had started to boil, and someone began adding food to the broth.

Someone else went to the condiment station, brought back a few plates of fruit, and scattered them around the table so everyone could reach.

Lily Hart, for her part, mixed herself a dipping sauce, all the while discreetly keeping an eye on the two women next to her.

"Come on, drink up!" Lily Hart called, raising her glass to clink it against Cynthia Whittaker’s.

Cynthia didn’t want to refuse, so she wrinkled her nose and drank it all. Sue Sutton frowned at Lily Hart.

’What’s gotten into Boss Hart?’ she wondered. ’She’s usually so tactful...’

Frost Shaw was also watching Lily Hart. He shifted his gaze to the two women to her right. ’Was this dinner party for them?’

He couldn’t figure out what Lily Hart was up to, so he just ate and drank in silence.

The next time he looked up, several empty bottles had already accumulated next to Lily Hart.

He glanced at Lily Hart, Cynthia Whittaker, and Sue Sutton’s glasses—they were full again.

’None of my business,’ Frost Shaw thought, lowering his head and continuing to eat, listening to Lily Hart’s periodic shouts of encouragement.

Owen Warren, Leo Colby, and Roman Rowe all loved to drink, so the three of them were going at it with gusto.

Seth and Stan Sterling weren’t big drinkers and were much quieter. They would murmur a few words to each other now and then, but mostly they just fished food from the pot, ate, and took an occasional sip of their drinks.

The way Lily Hart seemed determined to get herself, Cynthia Whittaker, and Sue Sutton completely drunk was starting to scare Frost Shaw. He knew he had to stay sober.

After several rounds of drinks and one refill of the hotpot broth, Cynthia Whittaker was successfully drunk, her cheeks flushed bright red.

She mumbled, "Lily, why are there four hotpots? That’s not right, is it?"

She stood up and tried to grab at one of the pots swimming in her vision, but her hand just swiped through empty air.

"Huh? Where’d the pot go?" she said, then leaned over the table and reached for the real one.

The broth was scalding hot. Terrified, Sue Sutton immediately wrapped an arm around Cynthia’s waist and pulled her back.

Cynthia Whittaker kept struggling to get forward, while Sue Sutton kept pulling her back.

Sue was surprisingly strong. Even with Cynthia flailing her arms and legs, trying to lunge forward, Sue didn’t budge an inch.

"My pot! My pot! Don’t go away!" Cynthia Whittaker wailed.

Sue Sutton set her on her feet, but Cynthia couldn’t even stand straight and immediately started to crumple.

Sue caught her, pulling her into an embrace and holding her steady. The difference in their physiques was suddenly striking.

"Cynthia?" Sue Sutton murmured. "Wake up. How about I take you home?"

’This girl’s tolerance is still as abysmal as ever,’ Sue thought. ’I remember when she’d get knocked out by a single glass. When she started acting up, I couldn’t handle her at all.’

Cynthia Whittaker shoved her away. "Who are you? I’m not going home with you! I have to go find Sue Sutton..."

Her voice grew quieter and trailed off at the end.

Sue Sutton froze, wondering if she’d heard correctly. ’What did she just say?’

’She was looking for... me?’

Seeing Cynthia lose her balance and about to fall, Sue Sutton reacted instantly, grabbing her by the wrist.

She gently pulled Cynthia toward her, steadying her. "What did you just say?"