When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0324

Paul, Miranda, and Winter stepped out of the restaurant.

“Paul, you’re so popular. You were surrounded by a bunch of seniors, just like fans do around their favorite idol,” Winter remarked.

“Idol?”

“Oh, it means celebrity,” she replied.

Paul chuckled. “It’s just for practical reasons. I’m not a celebrity, so linking me to them doesn’t make sense.”

Winter wrinkled her nose. “Have you been drinking? Did you drive here?”

“Just a little. I didn’t drive.”

She said, “Great. Let’s get in the car. I’ll send you and Mimi home.”

Winter drove her car to the alley entrance but couldn’t go any further. So, Miranda and Paul exited the vehicle and walked in together.

The moon was bright, and a gentle breeze brushed through the night. In the quiet alley, the soft meow of a cat occasionally broke the silence.

Paul stepped on a bag of trash and swayed slightly from the effect of the alcohol he had earlier.

okay?” Miranda

had a few too many tonight.” Since Paul was worried that the smell of alcohol on

across as particularly genuine. It made her pause

and got home drunk. But he never seemed to think he

it. This made her realize how

were like Hansel, Calvin, and Zach. They lived lives of debauchery and

like Lionel, a reliable and

was. Despite being the center of attention and seemingly unreachable, he was humble, patient, and

that belief. He had every reason to be carefree and reckless, yet he was the most disciplined

“Do researchers also need to

live in a society that values relationships and mutual exchanges,” Paul said. “But how do we engage? Alcohol often serves as a social icebreaker, though coffee, books, art, and poetry

+25 BONUS

Chapter 0324

how much they engage

about the holidays. Parents take their kids to visit relatives,

spending time together, they don’t have to revolve around alcohol. Instead, activities

way, these gatherings feel less socializing, right? If you stick

she couldn’t resist asking, “So,

a way, yes