This kind of impact was quiet, as if the moment you saw that beautiful face, your heart inexplicably froze, and everything around you seemed to lose its color all at once, leaving only that exquisitely stunning visage in your eyes.

While Brian Carter was in a daze, a trace of surprise also flashed in Grace's beautiful eyes. It seemed she wasn't just a little surprised to see Brian Carter; when her gaze swept over Brian Carter's table and saw the nearly empty bottle of Erguotou, along with the cigarette burning more than halfway between Brian Carter's fingers, the surprise in those pure eyes grew even stronger.

After the surprise, Grace quickly regained her composure, nodded gently at Brian Carter, and then looked away.

Brian Carter also withdrew his gaze, shook his head with a wry smile, grabbed the Erguotou, and started drinking again.

Although it was a bit of a coincidence to run into her here, he didn't think much of it. After all, this was just Grace, who had haunted his dreams for countless days and nights in his previous life. Fifty years had passed, and the impulses and beauty of the past had long since faded away. Besides, this was just a street outside No. 1 High School; students going out from campus would naturally wander around this area.

He quietly drank and smoked.

A rare, leisurely and pleasant afternoon alone was already an enjoyment for him, and he didn't want to be easily disturbed by the outside world.

"Boss, another bottle."

The spicy hotpot next door hadn't arrived yet, but Brian Carter had already finished his Erguotou. He quickly called out to the inside, and as soon as he did, Brian Carter clearly felt Grace next door suddenly look over. In fact, not just her—even the restaurant owner, who was busy inside, froze for a moment. Although he quickly grabbed another bottle of Erguotou and brought it over, when he got closer, the boss smiled and said, "Young man, you can really hold your liquor! You can drink two jin by yourself? This is Erguotou, you know. Are you heartbroken or something? Even if you can drink a lot, you should take it easy, young man."

When he put down the bottle, the boss looked at Brian Carter with a beaming smile, his words a bit odd.

Brian Carter was speechless, nodded at the boss without replying, and just twisted open the cap to continue drinking.

He had ordered two or three small dishes, but by now he had barely touched them. He was just drinking and smoking. Not only was one bottle empty, but the ashtray on the table was almost full of cigarette butts.

He continued to quietly enjoy himself alone, taking a swig from the bottle, then a drag from his cigarette. Amidst the swirling smoke, about ten minutes later, Brian Carter was full of drink and smoke, stood up, and said, "Check, please."

"Wow, you really can drink! Two jin down and you're still standing so steady? Impressive!" The boss quickly came out, but instead of immediately giving the bill, he first gave Brian Carter a thumbs up. When Brian Carter smiled and reached for his pocket, the boss finally said with a smile, "Altogether it's fifty-two yuan, but I'll round it down for you—just fifty."

The two bottles of liquor weren't expensive, since it was just Erguotou, but the dishes Brian Carter ordered included a plate of cold beef and another of cold pig's ear—both meat dishes.

As soon as he heard this, Brian Carter, who was reaching into his pocket, froze, staring blankly at the boss, his expression turning a bit strange.

"What's wrong?" The boss was also taken aback, looking at him suspiciously.

"Ahem, I forgot my wallet." Even with decades of composure, Brian Carter blushed a little at this moment. Damn, he forgot to bring money. He always carried his wallet, but today was the weekend, and with the weather warming up, he had changed from his down jacket to a casual suit at noon, and even switched his jeans.

This outfit was indeed stylish and handsome—he'd definitely turn heads walking down the street. But after he spoke, the restaurant owner stared at him speechless, eyes wide.

"Pfft~"

As the boss stared, a soft, sweet laugh suddenly sounded beside them. The laughter was delicate and sweet. When Brian Carter turned his head, he saw his former goddess covering her cherry lips, stifling a laugh.

"How about this, I'll leave my phone here as collateral and come back to pay after I get the money." Shaking his head helplessly, Brian Carter took out his phone from his pocket and spoke with a wry smile. Luckily, he had brought his phone. When he was changing clothes, his mother had called to ask if he was coming home for the weekend, so he had left campus while answering the call after changing.

Otherwise, he might have left his phone at school too.

"Huh? Your phone... Well, this is..." The boss finally looked over as he spoke, and was startled at a glance. This phone was indeed the most popular smartphone in the country right now, costing four or five thousand yuan each. "That's not good. If something happens to such an expensive phone, I can't afford to pay for it. Since you have your phone, why not call a friend to bring you the money?"

After being startled, the boss quickly waved his hand.

Brian Carter's outfit was stylish and well-fitted, his clothes trendy and cool, and his phone so expensive—he really didn't look like someone trying to skip out on the bill. But the boss really didn't feel comfortable taking such an expensive phone.

"Then I'll make a call and see." Brian Carter nodded helplessly, then dialed Eric Sullivan right in front of the boss. Since his rebirth, he had been indifferent to the outside world, and in the whole big campus, Eric Sullivan was his only friend.

But the call went unanswered for a long time.

After Brian Carter hung up with a bitter smile and the boss stared at him, a sweet, gentle laugh suddenly sounded beside them. "Boss, I'll pay for him."