Chapter 271 Gabriel Glanced at the Table
He never expected the first snow in Xyleria to come so suddenly.
Jessica stared in disbelief at the snow outside the window for a long time before abruptly turning her gaze to Gabriel.
Gabriel glanced at the untouched plate of pasta on the table and nonchalantly adjusted Jessica's hat. "Haven't eaten dinner yet?"
Jessica looked at him, then at the plate of pasta behind her, and turned back. "I was going to have steak at home, but I didn't get to enjoy it. I rushed out but still haven't eaten."
Gabriel, like taking care of a child who couldn't manage on their own, buttoned up her coat collar and said softly, "I was in a rush too and haven't eaten. What do you want to eat? Let's eat together."
Jessica quickly glanced out the window. "Mexican food goes best with snowy weather. Let's have Mexican food?"
"Alright." Gabriel made sure her hat and clothes were snug, his presence cool yet reassuring. He took her by the wrist and led her away.
Keegan sat in place, staring at their backs for a long time until they disappeared at the door.
His gaze turned indifferent, gradually becoming expressionless.
He picked up a fork, took a piece of the chocolate cake Jessica hadn't touched, and put it in his mouth.
"Keegan, next time, don't buy me such an expensive cake."
"Tomato beef soup is just tomato beef soup. Why does it become borscht in a Western restaurant? The taste isn't that different! Is it expensive because the name is shorter?"
"Keegan, even though Grain doesn't have a sea, we can hang a painting of the sea inside. That way, it feels like we have one."
Five years ago, her soft and charming voice seemed to echo in his ears.
Jessica never got to see the painting of the sea; she ended up in a small inn consumed by fire.
The fire burned all night.
That day, when he rushed to the inn that had been destroyed by fire, he saw the flames still burning and the charred mess everywhere. He desperately tried to dig through the debris with his hands, unable to tell which was a bed or a cabinet. Everyone tried to stop him, but he kept searching, never finding Jessica.
He searched for a day and a night, kneeling for a day and a night until people sent by the Chloe family forcibly took him away.
He was too late; he couldn't save her.
For five endless years, his nightmares were filled with Jessica helplessly calling for help in the fire, but he could never reach her. It was as if they were in two separate worlds, unable to come together. He couldn't reach her, couldn't find her.
Just like now.
Jessica was in front of him again, within reach.
Like a dream of the past five years.
She was within reach, yet a world away.
Saying they would have Mexican food, they went to a famous old restaurant in Xyleria, Starlight Diner. The place was old-fashioned, crowded, noisy, but full of life.
Regardless of whether Gabriel usually went to such places, Jessica chose Starlight Diner.
Probably because of the snow, the place was packed, but luckily, there was a small private room available.
After entering the room, Jessica took off her hat and called the waiter to order. She ordered some of her favorite dishes and then pushed the menu to Gabriel with a bold gesture.
"Go ahead, order whatever you want. It's on me today!"
Gabriel saw her in a good mood, completely unlike someone who had been cyberbullied all day.
"I'm fine with anything. You order, it's all up to you." Gabriel's handsome face showed a gentle smile.
The waiter brought in old-fashioned plates, opening the door to the private room. Outside, the noise continued—drinking, talking, laughing, children crying, all sorts of sounds.
With steam rising from the dishes, Jessica turned her head and looked at the man across the table through the steam.
Even in such a noisy and down-to-earth place, he didn't put on any airs or show any disdain. Clearly, he had just rushed back from the capital, yet he hid his weariness well. He simply sat in the small private room she had chosen. Outside, the snow was falling heavily, and the weather was particularly cold. His eyes were gentle and clear, knowing she had been wronged but giving her enough security by letting her handle it herself. He didn't say anything flirtatious, but just by looking at her calmly, he was already captivating.
The waiter, for some reason, came back to ask what drinks they wanted, trying to sell them expensive wine, even though they had already ordered two bottles of mineral water.
Jessica, just having taken off her coat and sat down, looked up at the young waiter and suddenly asked with a smile, "Do you have Lafite wine?"
The waiter's professional smile twitched slightly as he looked at the masked lady in the private room and decisively answered, "No."
He also glanced at the man sitting across the table. Despite his low profile, the man's attire and demeanor suggested he was someone important. So, the waiter coughed and said, "If you really need it, there's a winery nearby. We can send someone to buy it."
"Sure." Jessica, resting her chin on one hand, felt that the waiter must have recognized her as a celebrity because of the mask. She raised her eyebrows with a sense of authority. "Then get me a bottle of '82."
The waiter, thinking he was clever, said, "The nearby winery is one of the largest in Xyleria, but I don't think they have '82 Lafite."
He couldn't help but mutter, "There aren't that many '82 Lafites. Even if there were, they'd be collected by the wealthy. So, celebrities also like those over-the-top romance stories. This wine is precious; it's not everywhere."
Jessica heard the muttering and gave the waiter a sidelong glance: "Oh, then what year do they have?"
"The best they have is '95." The waiter quickly corrected his expression.
"Okay, '95 then."
Before she finished speaking, the waiter wrote down the order and said, "I should mention, our store charges a service fee for running errands, which is one percent of the purchase price."
Jessica, still resting her chin on her hand, looked like she was willing to continue showing off. "That's fine, not too expensive. How much is it?"
"For '95, the current market price is about $11,000 per bottle."
Jessica raised an eyebrow and suddenly put down her hand. "So, the service fee alone is $110? How far is the winery from here? $110? Do you have golden legs?"
The waiter smiled. "One percent is a normal rate."
Jessica pretended to be unhappy. "The service fee is too expensive. Forget it, just bring me two bottles of $3 mineral water."
The waiter, who thought he was going to make a fortune tonight, was stunned.
