Chapter 1 Yes, it is exactly what you think
“You said you seem to have seen me somewhere before and think I’m special?”
Hiltina swirled the wine in her glass, the liquid creating ripples against the walls of the cup.
She raised her glass and looked ahead: “Let me think… next would be ‘you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,’ ‘there are stars hidden in your eyes,’ and ‘this child is a gift I left for you,’ right?”
Across the table, the boy’s profile was shrouded in soft candlelight, with distinct and deep features.
Even under the most critical scrutiny, his appearance could only be described as stunning.
But perhaps because of this handsome face, the boy’s flirting skills were disastrous; he seemed to be just another pretty face wandering around, showing off his looks.
Just as Hiltina labeled him a j*rk in her mind, she saw the boy, claiming to be Rast, raise his chin and examine her with a scrutinizing gaze.
“Deep Blue Harbor has about 110,000 residents, and among them, there are a few I can give an eight out of ten based on looks.”
“Whether it’s the lead dancer of the ballet troupe in the opera house or a female council member, I’ve encountered them up close… They each have their own charm, but I can only say it’s close between them.”
“So, I can’t currently give you the comment of ‘the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.’”
His honest gaze and words left Hiltina momentarily speechless.
She opened her lips, wanting to wrap up this unexpected pickup line, but Rast’s next sentence made her pause slightly.
“However, compared to them, you are indeed special.”
Rast smiled.
“For example, if you’re willing to reveal your true self, I might just award you an 8.5—the first one in Deep Blue Harbor.”
“Hmm?”
Hiltina responded indifferently, but the laziness in her eyes diminished slightly: “Makeup is also part of a woman’s appearance.”
“Of course, but most women dress up to enhance their charm, whereas you do the complete opposite.”
“This seems to be a relatively clever disguise technique. It doesn’t significantly alter the details of one’s features, yet it can completely change a person’s aura and initial impression, making it impossible for an outsider to associate it with their original appearance.”
Rast spoke calmly.
“Additionally—”
Rast reached out and pointed to the pendant on Hiltina’s chest.
It was a diamond-shaped pendant, with a vivid depiction of a laurel branch engraved on a ruby.
“As far as I know, no jewelry store in Deep Blue Harbor possesses such micro-sculpting craftsmanship.”
Hiltina took a sip of her wine, narrowing her eyes: “Are you a sculptor?”
“I dabbled in it for a time out of interest, but lost interest once I realized there were no sculptors in Deep Blue Harbor better than me.”
“You also understand disguises and camouflage?”
“I was the head stylist at the Deep Blue Harbor opera house, also out of interest… the disguise technique you use is quite clever, but obviously you’re not a professional actress. The camouflage has many subtle unnatural aspects that are not difficult for me to see through.”
“By the way, I also know that lead dancer who scores an eight, dances beautifully, and loves to wear black stockings.”
No one asked you that…
Hiltina rubbed her forehead, looking at Rast’s calm expression.
“So you’re trying to tell me that at your barely twenty years of age, you have already simultaneously become Deep Blue Harbor’s best sculptor, head stylist of the opera house, and are familiar with some of the most charming members of the opposite s*x?”
“Do I look that easy to fool?”
Given his looks, the last statement might, perhaps, have some slight possibility.
But adding in the earlier statements, the only explanation was that he was just spouting nonsensical lies.
“Normal people indeed can’t achieve these things, but I’m different.”
Rast’s tone remained calm.
“My fate has hopelessly stopped on this day; once dusk arrives, everything will start anew.”
“I am a castaway exiled by time; tomorrow will never come for me… Of course, conversely, for the other residents of Deep Blue Harbor at this moment, I have infinite opportunities to start over.”
“Whether it’s becoming a sculptor or head stylist, or getting to know high-ranking women in a short period, these are all things that can succeed as long as one accumulates enough experience and has sufficient trial-and-error chances.”
“And for someone like me, who has infinite time, as long as I want to do it, I can definitely achieve it.”
Rast lifted the wine bottle on the table and poured the last bit of liquid into Hiltina’s empty glass.
“That’s why I say you are the special one.”
“The doubts I mentioned earlier are really insignificant… special disguise skills, or perhaps you brought in more sophisticated sculpted accessories from outside Deep Blue Harbor, none of these are a big deal—”
“Every one of the 110,000 residents in Deep Blue Harbor has their own secret; even with all the time in the world, I have no interest in probing into everyone’s privacy.”
“But you are different.”
Rast looked into Hiltina’s eyes, speaking each word deliberately.
“I am quite certain.”
“In the thousands of times I’ve lived through this very day, you have never appeared in Deep Blue Harbor.”
“Not once.”
……
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
The room was quiet, leaving only the sound of the second hand ticking away.
Listening to Rast’s unhurried words, Hiltina narrowed her eyes subconsciously and moved her hand to her waist.
The next moment.
Ding——
A clear bell suddenly rang in the room.
Hiltina looked up towards the source of the sound, and the clock’s hands clearly indicated that the current time was—
Midnight, exactly twelve o’clock.
“Oh, is it time?”
“Just as we finished our drinks.”
Rast shook the exquisite empty wine bottle in his hand, looking at Hiltina in front of him.
“So, beautiful lady, may I have the honor of sharing another drink with you?”
The serious expression that had originally been on his face vanished, replaced by a smile that made one feel like basking in spring sunshine.
The boy’s smile was soft, like clear water, yet reflected countless colors in the dim moonlight. Even with Hiltina’s discerning eye, she could not deny his beauty; an ordinary woman could not refuse his invitation.
“With your status, I think ‘Flaming Sands’ and ‘Amber Love’ would suit your temperament the best.”
Hiltina fell silent.
She had seen the drink menu; Flaming Sands and Amber Love were the most expensive drinks in this bar.
Of course, they also cost the most.
It was only now that Hiltina remembered that Rast had so naturally sat down opposite her earlier and had even taken the initiative to pour her the red wine she casually ordered when she walked in.
A certain association arose in her mind: “You can’t possibly be…”
“From Flaming Sands and Amber Love, I can get the highest commission.”
Rast smiled.
“So yes, it is exactly what you think.”
(End of this chapter)
