However, people you dislike will always be disliked, no matter when. Jessica Brooks shrieked, “I don’t believe it! Besides, this is our own country—whatever we do should have our own style, shouldn’t it…”

“Shut up!” Robert Miller snapped coldly. When he was learning this from the bartender, he had only paid attention to the technique, skimming over the details. Now, after hearing David Clark’s explanation, it actually seemed to make sense, and he felt quite annoyed. Yet Jessica Brooks still didn’t know when to stop—he really wondered why he had chosen her for this in the first place.

Jessica Brooks’s face turned even uglier than pig liver. She hadn’t expected Robert Miller to yell at her at this moment. She wanted to retort, but thinking of Robert Miller’s promise, she could only swallow her anger and shrink to the back of the crowd.

What also annoyed Robert Miller was Yvonne Foster. It seemed she wasn’t really on his side either; otherwise, she wouldn’t be praising David Clark like this. She stepped forward and said, “Well said. These are indeed the prerequisites for opening the wine, but since we’re all classmates here, as long as everyone’s happy, there’s no need to make things so complicated. David Clark, please open the wine.”

David Clark leaned back, resuming his lazy demeanor, and said, “I won’t do something so wasteful. Whoever wants to do it can go ahead.” Then he ignored everyone and continued munching on crab.

Everyone looked at each other in dismay. There was so much fuss about opening the wine, and who knew if there would be even more after it was opened? Whoever volunteered would just be asking for trouble, so all eyes turned to Robert Miller.

“Ha… well said! That’s exactly how I feel. Even if we’d rather not drink, we can’t waste such a good thing. Waiter, please set things up according to this gentleman’s instructions.” Robert Miller called out loudly. At this point, instead of going against David Clark, it was better to go along with him—it at least showed his own poise and insight.

Chapter 16: Holding One’s Head High

Soft lighting, soothing music—the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became elegant and solemn. Although everyone was gathered together, no one spoke; all eyes were fixed on David Clark in the center.

Emily Cooper felt quite proud at this moment. David Clark was in the spotlight, and so was she by association. With a faint smile at the corner of her lips, she found Robert Miller not so annoying anymore. Sometimes, the good needs the bad to set it off. If it weren’t for Jessica Brooks and Robert Miller belittling David Clark, he wouldn’t have won her such face.

In David Clark’s eyes, there was only the bottle of wine in front of him. One hand gently held the bottle, while the other took up the delicate little knife, slowly and precisely removing the excess from the top. His expression and movements were like those of a master sculptor carefully crafting a work of art.

Putting down the knife, David Clark picked up the corkscrew and wiped it carefully for a while before aligning it with the center of the cork and twisting it in. He turned it slowly, bit by bit, making everyone’s hearts seem to move with his hands—even their breathing matched the rhythm of David Clark’s movements.

At this moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on David Clark’s hands—broad but not rough, with long, slender fingers. Under the soft light, as his hands moved, they exuded an extraordinary sense of harmony and beauty. Perhaps after today, they might not remember David Clark himself, but they would never forget his hands.

Suddenly, David Clark’s hands paused, and everyone held their breath. No one thought he was clumsy; they all knew the wine was about to be opened.

With a soft pop, David Clark pulled out the cork, and a faint fruity aroma wafted from the mouth of the bottle.

David Clark handed the cork to Robert Miller, a faint smile on his lips.

“Why are you giving the cork to Robert Miller? Are you treating Robert Miller like a waiter? That’s just ridiculous!” Jessica Brooks hadn’t had a chance to speak for a while, and now she finally found an opportunity to mock David Clark, not about to let it slip by.

Yvonne Foster frowned impatiently and said, “Honestly, Jessica Brooks, it’s fine if you don’t understand, but why do you have to speak nonsense at a time like this? I really don’t know how you’ve managed to get worse as you’ve grown.”

Jessica Brooks’s expression changed, but she stubbornly retorted, “Who gives the cork to someone else? Isn’t that just an insult?”

Yvonne Foster shook her head again and said, “It’s a wine-opening etiquette—to let the most honored guest smell the wine and check if it’s fresh or spoiled. If you’re an expert, you can even tell the vintage from the aroma when the bottle is opened. David Clark, am I right?” As she spoke to David Clark, her face was already full of smiles.

David Clark smiled and nodded at Yvonne Foster, while Jessica Brooks’s face alternated between red and white. Robert Miller was also reaching the end of his patience. Jessica Brooks was being completely counterproductive here—every time she spoke, she only highlighted her ignorance and set off David Clark’s refinement. He immediately said coldly, “Be quiet.”

Jessica Brooks didn’t dare say another word, though she still couldn’t understand why a man as uncouth as David Clark could have such knowledge.

David Clark picked up the wine bottle, gave Emily Cooper a slight smile, and said, “Fangrui, today I’m just offering flowers borrowed from Buddha—let me pour you the first glass.”