Chapter 168 Goodnight, Sebastian
The three of them left the restaurant.
"Sebastian, you're way too popular. A bunch of old folks surrounded you like fans mobbing a celebrity."
Sebastian chuckled, "It's just because of interests, not like I'm some kind of idol."
Juniper sniffed, "Did you drink? Were you driving?"
"I had a little. No."
"Perfect, get in the car. I'll take you and Camilla home."
Juniper's car stopped at the alley entrance; it couldn't go in.
Camilla and Sebastian got out at the entrance and walked in side by side.
The moon was bright, the stars sparse, and the night breeze gentle.
In the quiet alley, occasional soft cat meows could be heard.
Sebastian stepped on a bag of trash, and combined with the alcohol, he was a bit unsteady.
"Are you okay?"
"Sorry, I had a few too many drinks tonight."
Afraid the smell of alcohol would bother her, Sebastian deliberately kept some distance between them.
That "sorry" from his mouth sounded particularly sincere.
Camilla felt a bit dazed.
Leopold used to drink a lot too, often getting drunk, but he never thought it was something to apologize for.
So, people really were different.
She used to think all men were like Leopold, Oliver, and Simon, working while enjoying life, playing around.
Or like Alistair, slow and steady, living a stable and ordinary life.
Until she met Sebastian.
He was admired by all, seemingly unattainable, yet he was neither arrogant nor impatient, low-key and reserved.
It turned out, excellence and indulgence, success and arrogance weren't necessarily linked.
Sebastian could be wild and unrestrained, yet he was more disciplined and restrained than anyone.
Camilla was puzzled, "Do academics need to socialize too?"
"If you define handling these relationships as 'socializing,' then no industry can escape it, it's just a matter of degree. Look, during holidays, even the smallest children are taken to visit relatives, and relatives come to your house. Isn't that a form of socializing?"
He paused, "But if you define these as interactions, it doesn't necessarily have to involve alcohol. It could be tea, fishing, hiking, camping, etc. Doesn't it feel less like socializing then? But in reality, using the first definition, it's still socializing."
It was the first time Camilla had heard this perspective, and she couldn't help but be curious, "So, does tonight's dinner and drinks count as socializing."
Sebastian smiled, "Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"Among the people I had dinner with tonight were my former teachers, my current friends, and some people I don't know well who wanted favors from me. Having dinner and drinks with teachers and friends doesn't count as socializing for me; but being persuaded to drink by a bunch of people I don't know well, and not being able to refuse, that's socializing."
"So!" He paused, turned to look at her, and smiled faintly, "Fifty-fifty."
Camilla also smiled. "You're pretty good at finding comfort. Fifty-fifty, just balancing out."
"Yeah," Sebastian nodded, "I hope you can too."
Camilla was slightly stunned.
Can what?
She wanted to ask, but they had already reached her doorstep.
They had unknowingly chatted all the way.
"Goodnight, Sebastian."
"See you tomorrow."
That night, as Camilla lay in bed, she couldn't help but think of Sebastian's demeanor when he spoke.
Strong, determined, calm.
She thought, 'Is it only at such status that one can have such a strong heart?'
For the first time, Camilla felt a sense of admiration.
She didn't yet know that this complex emotion was called admiring the strong.
Meanwhile, after dropping them off, Juniper headed to the bar.
The drive was smooth, but as she reached the bar and was about to park.
A Maserati suddenly shot out from the side and hit the back of her car.
Juniper was furious.
She slammed the door and stormed over to the other car, "What the hell is wrong with you? Can't you ease off the gas? Driving so fast in this area, and not even looking? I hadn't even parked half my car, are you blind or what? How could you crash into me?"
The Maserati's driver door opened from the inside, and a man stepped out with a smile, "I wondered who it was. It's no big deal, don't get so worked up."
Simon walked over to Juniper with a cheeky grin.
"So it's you, Simon!" She deliberately elongated her tone, the sarcasm unmistakable.
Simon checked the back of the Ferrari; it was indeed a bit of a mess.
But he still said nonchalantly, "It's no big deal, I was going a bit fast and wasn't paying attention. So we had a little 'close encounter.'"
"Who's having a 'close encounter' with you?" Juniper rolled her eyes, "Speak clearly."
"Our cars had a 'close encounter,' okay?"
Juniper pouted.
"I'll assume it's my full responsibility. I'll have the insurance company come and take your car for repairs."
"What do you mean by 'assume'? It is your full responsibility! Reporting it to insurance is the least you can do! Now I won't have a car for a while."
"You lack cars? Are you kidding?"
Juniper didn't want to argue with him, tossed him the car keys. "I have things to do, you handle it."
She turned to enter the bar.
Just then, a woman suddenly rushed up and slapped Simon across the face.
It was loud!
Juniper was stunned. Did she have to be so fierce?
Simon was also a bit taken aback, but quickly recovered, licking the side of his face that was slapped, and smiled. "You're lucky I never hit women."
"Stop pretending! You're just a scumbag!" After cursing, she couldn't help but cry, throwing herself into Simon's arms, "Do we really have to break up? Can't we stay together? Even if you don't marry me, we can still be together."
The woman was very beautiful, wearing a white business suit, looking both capable and elegant.
But Juniper saw her crying and laughing, speaking softly and harshly, and the way she looked at Simon was a mix of love and hate, it was quite crazy.
The woman cried pitifully, but Simon's face remained expressionless, even as she held him, he showed no emotion.
"Are you unhappy with the breakup fee?"
The woman stiffened, stepped back from his embrace, her eyes filled with shock, which eventually turned to disappointment. "Simon, you don't understand what love is! You only measure everything with money."
She wiped away her tears and stepped back. "But one day, you'll meet a woman you can't buy with money. You'll experience the pain of wanting but not getting, of being restless and anxious, of being worried and uneasy. In the end, you'll be looked down upon, trampled on, and crushed into the dirt just like me!"
She continued, "I wish you a life of unrequited love, of gaining and losing, of regret and pain! People like you don't deserve happiness."
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