Keaton said, "Life needs its little rituals, Winona!"
"...Putting fifteen dors'' worth of mini-sliders on tes that probably cost five hundred dors each. Yeah, that''s some ceremony."
As a celebrity, Winona was no stranger to luxury brands. The set of tes in Keaton''s home was from an Italian artisan workshop, where a single side te cost well into the hundreds. It was niche, understated luxury, popr among young people with good taste.
Keaton arranged the mini-sliders neatly. "If you like something, fifteen-dor sliders can go on five-hundred-dor tes, or even better ones. After all, what you like is priceless. The things we love are the most valuable."
Winona didn''t respond. That philosophy certainly matched his criteria for dating.
He never cared about a girlfriend''s worth, only that she was clean, healthy, and that he liked her. He''d date a princess or a Cindere. In his eyes, a princess and Cindere were the same; no matter their background, if he liked them, they were good enough.
Keaton was an expert at reading women. Noticing she had seemed down ever since she arrived, he added, "This ce has magic. It can heal the heart. If you''re ever in a bad mood,e stay the night. I guarantee you''ll feel better the next day."
It was nonsense, but for some reason, Winona believed him.
"Is it because of the lighthouse?"
"Yeah. It''s very healing."
With a silent understanding, they both turned to look at the lighthouse.
A single point of light on the dark surface of the sea was like a sudden glimpse of hope in a desperate situation. It truly was healing.
But as Winona looked, she felt an inexplicable sadness.
From the moment she had stepped into this house, memories of her time with Zane started shing through her mind.
When she had wanted to buy this house, they were still deeply in love. Or more urately, she was deeply in love with him, and he was putting on a very convincing act.
How should she put it? Zane was a true scumbag, but back then, she had truly loved him.
She could say they were even, that it was all over, but when she inadvertently recalled the past she stil felt a pang of sadness. Not because she still loved him, but out of pity for her past self.
Zane was her first love. He had taken up the best years of her life! After investing so
much emotion and so much time, he wasn''t easy to forget.
"What do you want to drink?" Keaton''s voice broke her train of thought.
Winona collected herself and asked, "What do you have?"
Keaton replied, "Wine, beer, or the hard stuff... it''s all in the cab behind the bar. Go pick something."
Winona nodded and went to choose the drinks.
Keaton carried the ted takeout to the low coffee table in front of the window.
Winona returned with a few bottles of hard liquor—not the top-shelf stuff, but definitely high-proof.
Keaton''s eyes narrowed slightly. "With your tolerance, one bottle of this and you''ll definitely be drunk!"
"You said we wouldn''t go home until we were drunk! And besides, I''m safe here with you."
Keaton could tell her thoughts were miles away, but he chose not to
shatter her silence just yet. "You''rez definitely safe here. I''ll risk my life for my venerated ancestor and get drunk with you! But street food goes with beer, so let''s start with a few of those."
Keaton turned to get some beer.
The original n was for her to keep himpany while he drank, but now it felt
like he was the one keeping herpany.
Winona didn''t correct him. She sat quietly by the window, gazing at the distant lighthouse. She ha adet even started drinking, but her eyes were already getting hazy.
For some reason, at that moment, the sorrow she kept buried deep in her heart, the pain she normally refused to touch, suddenly broke free and rushed to the surface.
She felt a heavy sense of oppression and her spirits sank. She was sad, and she felt like crying.
Keaton came back with the beer and saw her state. His eyes narrowed...