As more classmates trickled into the restaurant, the atmosphere grew livelier. Despite Ged hosting the reunion specifically to impress Lynn, he had spared no expense, booking the most luxurious banquet hall at the Cloud Summit Hotel.
The place was opulent, complete with a lavish spread of gourmet delicacies—Arctic shrimp, emperor crab, and more rare seafood lined the tables.
"Whoa! Look at all this food!"
"Ged, you're amazing! Thanks for the treat!"
"Man, being in the same class as Ged really pays off. I've never been to a place this fancy before."
"Is that a lobster? That thing's huge! I've never even seen one this big, let alone tasted it."
The classmates eagerly helped themselves, showering Ged with praise. But it was clear from his expression that he wasn't enjoying the compliments. His attention was elsewhere—on Ethan and Lynn, who were seated by the window, talking quietly.
"Lynn, sit here. I'll grab some food for us," Ethan said with a smile, motioning for her to take a seat.
Lynn nodded slightly and sat down gracefully. "Whatever you want. I'm not picky."
Ethan chuckled. "Right, I forgot you're probably sick of this stuff. To you, it's just everyday food."
"I don't eat much," Lynn said, her tone indifferent. "I'm not that interested in food."
"Oh, I get it," Ethan teased. "You're telling me you're low-maintenance, huh? Like, 'Don't worry, Ethan, I'm easy to take care of.'"
Lynn rolled her eyes. "Your shamelessness knows no bounds."
"Thanks for the compliment!" Ethan grinned as he headed toward the seafood section.
For the others watching, this scene was pure disbelief. Lynn, the unattainable ice queen, was smiling—actually smiling—and having a casual conversation with Ethan. To them, this was practically a miracle.
But for Ged, the sight was a nightmare.
His eyes burned with jealousy as he clenched his fists. He couldn't wrap his head around it. Lynn, who had never even spared him a second glance despite years of effort, was acting comfortable and relaxed around Ethan—a guy with no wealth, no prestige. It was maddening.
"How the hell is he doing this?" Ged thought bitterly. "I've bent over backward trying to win her over, and he's just… what, joking around with her like they're old friends?"
When Ethan wandered off toward the fresh seafood section, Ged saw his opportunity. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and marched after him.
Ethan, meanwhile, had reached the seafood counter and was talking to a middle-aged server.
"Do you have any live seafood? I'm in the mood for something really fresh," Ethan asked, glancing at the display.
"Certainly," the server replied. "These shrimp are still alive."
"Great. I'll take a whole bowl of them. Keep them alive," Ethan said with a grin.
The server quickly prepared the order, and Ethan stood there, feeling pretty good about his choices. However, just as he was about to leave with the shrimp, a familiar voice called out.
"Ethan."
Turning around, Ethan saw Ged approaching, his face dark with tension.
"Ged, what's up?" Ethan asked, keeping his tone light. He noticed how stiff Ged looked and guessed where this was going.
"What's your relationship with Lynn?" Ged demanded, his voice low and cold.
"Oh, so that's what this is about," Ethan thought, understanding immediately. He knew Ged had been obsessed with Lynn for years, but apparently, seeing them together had pushed him over the edge.
"We don't really have a relationship," Ethan answered casually. "We're just… friends, I guess."
"Then stay away from her," Ged snapped, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Ethan sighed. "Ged, you're way too invested in this. You're acting like you own her or something."
Ged's glare intensified. His pride was clearly taking a massive hit. He had always been the richest, most influential guy in their circle, but right now, Ethan wasn't backing down.
Ethan, however, wasn't intimidated. He had faced far worse than Ged. With a calm expression, he locked eyes with him and spoke evenly. "You've got no right to tell me what to do. Stay out of it."
Without another word, Ethan brushed past him, carrying the bowl of shrimp back to the table. Ged, left standing there, trembled with rage, his mind boiling with frustration.
"This isn't over," he muttered under his breath.
Back at the table, Lynn noticed the exchange between Ethan and Ged. When Ethan sat down, she leaned in slightly and asked, "What did Ged say to you?"
"Take a guess," Ethan replied with a chuckle.
"Let me know if he causes any trouble," Lynn said seriously. "His family has influence. It's best to be cautious."
Ethan waved off her concern. "Relax. He didn't do anything. He just doesn't approve of us hanging out together. I might've thrown in a few words to mess with him—like telling him we're meant to be together or something."
Lynn raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Her silence spoke volumes, though. For someone as guarded as her, letting Ethan this close was rare.
Ethan took a moment to enjoy the triumph, then turned his attention to the boiling pot in front of them. He dumped the live shrimp in, watching as they turned bright red in the heat. At that moment, a series of notifications echoed in his mind.
"Killed shrimp. Reward: Luxury item."
"Killed shrimp. Reward: $2."
"Killed shrimp. Reward: Special agility-enhancing shoes."
"Killed shrimp. Reward: Airborne movement technique."
Ethan froze, his eyes widening at the last notification.
"Airborne movement? Are you kidding me?" he thought, feeling a surge of excitement. This was big—really big.
For now, though, he kept his composure, hiding his grin as he glanced back at Lynn. Tonight was turning out better than he had expected.