C23 Sunkissed Vintage

Since yesterday, Wu Ge had seen a wide array of expressions on the faces of those who watched him pick up trash. What delighted him most were the old items inside the box.

The elderly gentleman was clearly wealthy or of noble birth, especially given the affluent area he resided in.

Among the refuse sorted out by the butler were the old man's usual indulgences: wine boxes, cigarette cases, and bottles.

Wu Ge even unearthed a large bundle of unused designer clothes, which still appeared wearable.

With a hint of hesitation, Wu Ge glanced at the old man. Initially, the old man was puzzled by Wu Ge's gaze but soon grasped his thoughts and, unconcerned, waved his hand with a smile.

"Since the butler has sorted them out, they're no longer suitable to wear. Feel free to take them, don't worry about it."

Relieved by his words, Wu Ge nodded in gratitude.

He stowed the items into the sack, and the system began its evaluation.

[Ding! Branded wine bottle detected. Reward: 50,000 yuan.]

[Ding! Branded cigarette case detected. Reward: 10,000 yuan.]

These items were evidently more valuable than the bottles he had collected the day before.

Every time he placed an item into the sack, he could hear the sound of substantial earnings, each surpassing 10,000 yuan.

By the time he had finished sorting through the box, his total earnings for the day were well over a million yuan.

Wu Ge felt an immense sense of satisfaction and looked at the old man with even greater warmth.

The old man, in turn, gave Wu Ge a thorough once-over, his gaze lingering on the sack behind him, seemingly puzzled.

Wu Ge, perceiving his thoughts, confidently patted the sack and said with a proud smile, "Impressive, isn't it? I had it specially made. It can hold a great deal, and even with everything you've given me today, it won't bulge."

The old man chuckled at Wu Ge's explanation.

Yet, when his eyes fell on the wine bottle in Wu Ge's hand, he seemed to drift into a silent reverie.

"The bottle you're holding was a gift from an old war buddy of mine," the old man said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"It's delicious – my favorite for decades."

As the old man reminisced about his friend, tears welled up in his eyes. Wu Ge watched him, sensing there was a story behind his emotion, but stood quietly to the side, unsure of what to say.

The old man gestured dismissively, attempting to wipe his eyes, signaling Wu Ge not to worry about him.

"Here I am, rambling on, and I've completely lost track of the time," he chuckled.

Wu Ge could tell from his reaction that his friend was likely in dire straits, especially since the Sun-Kissed Vintage he mentioned was a rare find. Even with money, acquiring a genuine bottle nowadays would be a challenge.

With a heavy heart and a solemn gaze, Wu Ge carefully placed the wine bottle into the sack.

Then, a system notification chimed in.

"Ding ~ A Sun-Kissed Vintage bottle detected. Identified as a valuable item. Reward: one bottle of Sun-Kissed Vintage."

Wu Ge paused, surprised, and pulled the Sun-Kissed Vintage out of the sack for a closer look. It was identical to the one he had just packed away, but this one was full of wine. He sniffed it and was greeted by a delightful aroma.

He almost got lost in the scent before quickly sealing the bottle and glancing over at the old man with a smirk. It was as if the universe had handed him a pillow just as he was about to nod off.

Considering the old man had helped him earn a substantial amount today, Wu Ge decided to offer the wine he held to him.

Oblivious to Wu Ge's movements, the old man was still lost in thoughts of his friend and didn't notice Wu Ge approaching.

Wu Ge tapped him on the shoulder and looked at him intently.

The old man turned, his eyes reddened from tears he had wiped away earlier. He met Wu Ge's gaze, offered a weary smile, and then slowly began to speak.

"What's going on here?"

"Is there a problem? Have you finished sorting out all this trash?"

He peered down at the ground and discovered the box was completely empty. As he stood there, marveling at Wu Ge's speed with a click of his tongue, a wine bottle suddenly appeared before him.

Wu Ge, with his easygoing manner, handed the bottle to the old man. "Old man, since you had me take so much stuff today, consider this bottle of Sun-Kissed Vintage a token of my appreciation. It's the least I can do for you."

He gave the old man a sincere look, then picked up the other boxes and turned to leave, showing no signs of wanting to stay.

The old man hadn't paid much attention before, but Wu Ge's words brought a smile to his face. He thought Wu Ge was a decent young man who understood gratitude.

But when he felt the unexpected weight of the wine bottle, his expression turned to one of surprise.

Wasn't this the wine his friend had given him? There should have been only one bottle left. Why was it now full?

As Wu Ge began to walk away, the old man quickly stepped forward, reaching out to stop him, his expression turning serious.

"Young man, this joke isn't funny."

He did miss his friend, but that didn't mean he would tolerate such behavior from others. That would truly upset him.

With that thought, he looked earnestly at Wu Ge, as if trying to convey his feelings, but Wu Ge simply gestured dismissively, unconcerned.

"Just open it and see for yourself."

With that, Wu Ge shrugged and walked away, evidently not inclined to offer any further explanation.

Holding the Sun-Kissed Vintage, the old man watched Wu Ge's retreating figure with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Finally, with shaky hands, he opened the lid.

As the lid came off, the rich aroma of the wine wafted to his nose, filling his senses.

Standing at the doorway, he felt almost intoxicated by the scent, his eyes lighting up with recognition. This was the aroma he cherished!

The elderly gentleman hastily extended his hand, attempting to halt Wu Ge, but by the time he looked back, Wu Ge had vanished without a trace. With a twinge of regret, he withdrew his arm and resolved in his heart to express his gratitude to Wu Ge the next time they crossed paths. It was no easy feat to locate Wu Ge, who seemed to effortlessly produce a bottle of Sun-Kissed Vintage from his sack.