On Sunday evening, Basil entered the private room at the club they had agreed upon, and Lettie had already arrived.
She had liked wearing white clothing since high school. Like now, she wore a flowing white chiffon dress, cinched at the waist with a golden knot belt, and on her feet, sandals with matching twisted straps. Her ten slender toes were adorned with beautiful nail art, giving her an ethereal yet graceful presence, without losing the air of a goddess.
"Basil"
As soon as Basil stepped into the private room, Lettie came up to him. She disregarded the boundaries between men and women and intimately grabbed Basil's hand, pulling him inside. "Why didn't you contact me after I graduated?"
Lettie blinked her expressive, theatrical eyes and said pitifully.
One had to admit that Lettie had beautiful eyes. The corners of her eyes slightly lifted, resembling blooming peach blossoms, evoking an indescribable elegance.
Perhaps it was these tearful eyes that established her fame in the entertainment industry, proving that despite the emergence of new beauties, she could still stand invincible, looking down on everyone.
"Maybe I was busy preparing for university exams at the time." Basil chose a seat neither too close nor too far from Lettie, maintaining a polite distance.
Noticing Basil's indifference, Lettie's eyes quickly reddened.
"Basil, are you blaming me?"
Basil shook his head.
Blame her for what? He had never questioned anything Lettie had done for him. Simply put, he had already mythologized her in his heart.
"No, you are blaming me. That's why you didn't contact me. Do you know that after I went to university, I was always waiting for you?"
Lettie looked tearful and pitiful, reaching out her cool palm to cover the back of his hand.
The scene Basil never dreamed of was now playing out in reality. He thought he would be emotionally entangled and captivated, yet none of that happened. He politely and discreetly withdrew his hand and took a sip from the glass on the table.
Is it true that what you can't have is the best?
He suddenly felt that his high school self was innocent and naive, foolishly holding his heart out to her, not realizing that things too easily obtained seem cheap. This had always been a universal truth, just one he had forgotten in his love-struck state.
"Maybe we just missed each other by chance." Basil's tone carried a hint of coldness.
In fact, during his senior year of high school, he had once ridden his bike to her university and waited in the cold for three hours, only to see her come out arm in arm with a tall, fashionable man. They got into an imported sports car and drove off.
The bright, bold smile on her face was something he had never received, no matter how many assignments he helped her with, how many gifts he bought, or how many late-night snacks he brought her.
"Really? So you really did try to contact me?" Lettie's previously dull eyes suddenly lit up with Basil's words, vivid light dancing in her pupils.
Basil lowered his eyes slightly and responded, not intending to lie to her but also not wanting to explain further.
"Why didn't you tell me? When was it? How did I not notice?" Lettie happily moved her chair closer to him, almost touching his shoulder.
Compared to her voice full of joy, Basil, sitting in the corner of the private room, had his brows and eyes imprinted with slight shadows from the dim light.
He didn't know what was wrong with him. He was only a pinky finger's distance away from the person of his dreams, yet he couldn't seem to muster any enthusiasm. He could only pick some irrelevant topics to talk about.
"How have you been lately?"
"Good. I have another script in hand and an album about to be released. Let's order some food; I'm hungry."
Lettie pressed a button to summon the waiting attendant outside. This top club was highly regarded by celebrities for maintaining privacy while being promptly responsive.
Basil could see a hint of nervousness in her expression, but she quickly hid it. He didn't intend to expose her; he knew her acting career had been struggling lately.
Not long ago, paparazzi reported her entering a well-known cosmetic clinic, suspected of having some work done. She was also photographed closely interacting with a heavyweight in the entertainment industry, who was already married.
These negative news didn't completely ruin her career but did cause real damage. At least two endorsements he knew of were canceled. That's why, after hearing Cierra's suggestion, he considered producing a film with Lettie as the lead. However, everything was still in the planning stage, and he didn't intend to let her know so soon.
However, he was surprised that he could remain so calm in front of his dream lover. Could it really be that proximity breeds indifference? In the end, he could only explain it as not being unconcerned, but this time, he didn't want to be that cheap, disposable thing anymore. Thinking of those unpleasant memories, his gaze darkened.
The ensuing dinner was undoubtedly pleasant for Lettie. During the meal, she frequently brought up their shared high school memories, talking about club presentations, school fairs, and graduation ceremonies.
"I still remember when I was about to graduate, you gave me a scarf of B brand. Every winter when I wear it, I always think of you."
The smile on Lettie's face fragmented in the shifting light, making it hard to see her expression clearly. However, Basil understood. He had once seen her in the freezing cold outside the school gate, looking at another man with the same adoring eyes she had now.
Lettie gently pulled his large hand and shook it coquettishly, "Basil, can we go back to how we were before?"
The woman pouted her red lips, charming and alluring, but he felt as if an image overlapped with her. Unfortunately, he had drunk a little wine at dinner, and his thoughts were not as clear as when he first arrived.
What was that image that flashed through his mind in that moment but he couldn't catch? It felt like something had inadvertently deviated from his usual path!
"It's about time. I've had some wine tonight and can't drive you home. Can you go back on your own?"
He glanced at her indifferently, but this time he didn't hastily withdraw his hand. He had been eager to grasp that last lingering image and didn't notice her face turning slightly pale.
"Okay, I'll ask the restaurant to get you a designated driver." Lettie, after all, had been in the entertainment industry for a while. She quickly smiled charmingly again.
He looked at her. Clearly, the goddess before him was as perfect as in high school, yet he only felt increasing irritation. He nodded and was about to get up, his attitude consistently cool.
When it came time to pay the bill, Lettie maturely and politely let him pay. She smiled and thanked him, "Thank you for your treat. Next time, let me treat you, okay?"
Without showing any emotion, she set up their next meeting. Basil felt a bitter smile in his heart. This was a treatment he had sought but never obtained before, now being offered directly to him.
Lettie reluctantly walked toward the waiting private nanny car. Her step suddenly twisted, and she almost tripped over her own feet. Fortunately, Basil, quick-eyed and quick-handed, caught her in time.
She, still shaken, leaned against his chest, breathing softly. Her fragrant, soft body pressed against him, her slender fingers digging into his chest, her inky black hair cascading over him, creating an ambiguous curve between them.
"Luckily, you were here, Basil—"
