Arrived 216
Kevin found himself embarrassed and cash-strapped after his phone was smashed by a company boss, leaving him unable to pay for meals as he had run out of cash. He explained to Estella that he had cut up all his credit and debit cards to prove his ability to earn a million in a month, but his attempts to secure loans and investments for his project had been rejected. Despite his MBA, no one took his ideas seriously without the backing of his family name, which left him frustrated and angry.
Estella was surprised by Kevin’s situation and skeptical at first, but she eventually gave him twenty dollars to buy lunch. Kevin, accustomed to extravagant meals costing thousands, was shocked by the modest amount and the idea of eating in a cheap fast-food place. Estella pushed him to eat there, mocking his reluctance and noble attitude. Kevin reluctantly complied and was surprised by the value and simplicity of the meal, even drinking water from a dispenser instead of the bottled water he preferred.
As Kevin ate, he struggled with the low-class environment and service, but hunger won out. After finishing the meal, he awkwardly promised to treat Estella next time, but she dismissed the idea, recalling his previous disrespectful behavior towards her. Kevin admitted he wanted to pursue her seriously, but he was unsure how to win her over, having never pursued a woman genuinely before.
Estella confronted Kevin about his intentions, accusing him of only wanting to sleep with her. Kevin admitted this truthfully, and Estella challenged him, saying that if that was all he wanted, many other women would suffice. She explained her high standards for a partner and told Kevin he didn’t meet any of them. Kevin bristled at the rejection, insisting he could make a woman happy, but the tension between them remained unresolved.
Kevin found himself embarrassed and cash-strapped after his phone was smashed by a company boss, leaving him unable to pay for meals as he had run out of cash. He explained to Estella that he had cut up all his credit and debit cards to prove his ability to earn a million in a month, but his attempts to secure loans and investments for his project had been rejected. Despite his MBA, no one took his ideas seriously without the backing of his family name, which left him frustrated and angry.
Estella was surprised by Kevin’s situation and skeptical at first, but she eventually gave him twenty dollars to buy lunch. Kevin, accustomed to extravagant meals costing thousands, was shocked by the modest amount and the idea of eating in a cheap fast-food place. Estella pushed him to eat there, mocking his reluctance and noble attitude. Kevin reluctantly complied and was surprised by the value and simplicity of the meal, even drinking water from a dispenser instead of the bottled water he preferred.
As Kevin ate, he struggled with the low-class environment and service, but hunger won out. After finishing the meal, he awkwardly promised to treat Estella next time, but she dismissed the idea, recalling his previous disrespectful behavior towards her. Kevin admitted he wanted to pursue her seriously, but he was unsure how to win her over, having never pursued a woman genuinely before.
Estella confronted Kevin about his intentions, accusing him of only wanting to sleep with her. Kevin admitted this truthfully, and Estella challenged him, saying that if that was all he wanted, many other women would suffice. She explained her high standards for a partner and told Kevin he didn’t meet any of them. Kevin bristled at the rejection, insisting he could make a woman happy, but the tension between them remained unresolved.
Chapter 216 A Cheap Meal
Kevin scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “My phone got smashed yesterday by some company boss. These past two days I’ve been paying in cash, but I ran out. Buy me a meal, will you?”
Estella was surprised. This rich second–generation had no money?
“You’re lying, right? You don’t have a debit card or a credit card?”
Kevin sighed. “To prove to you I can earn a million in a month, I cut up all my cards. I only kept a hundred thousand in cash for daily expenses. I started a project to make money, tried to get a bank loan, but they threw me out. I went to several investment firms in Javerton too, but none of them would even look at me. They all said my project was trash. Ridiculous! I have an MBA. How could my project be trash? It’s their lack of vision!”
He had thought making money would be easy. But without his family name as a halo, nobody took him seriously.
He was furious.
Did his ideas really have no commercial value?
Estella found him hateful, but at least he was finally trying to do something on his own.
She didn’t show him any kindness, just pulled about twenty bucks from her bag and handed it to him.
“Here. Go buy yourself lunch.”
Kevin was stunned.
“Twenty? What can I eat with that?”
He was used to spending at least ten thousand on a meal.
Estella’s mouth twisted. “Twenty’s enough for a bowl of noodles, or a plate of pork rice. Do you want it or not?”
“Where do you even eat that?” Kevin had never set foot in a cheap joint.
Estella nearly rolled her eyes. In the end, she still brought him to a fast–food shop.
Kevin looked around with open disdain.
This place was clearly low–class, tacky.
When he hesitated to sit, Estella sneered. “What, does this place not match your noble identity? If you won’t eat, leave.”
Kevin had no choice but to sit down.
Estella ordered him a set meal.
“Twenty bucks gets you plenty. Eat up, and you can even get refills.”
Kevin blinked. “Rice refills? How do they not lose money?”
Estella couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Then Kevin asked, “Can you get me a bottle of water too?”
Estella walked over to the dispenser and filled him a paper cup.
Kevin hesitated. “No bottled water? I want Yiquan.”
Estella cut him off. “Drink it or don’t.”
Kevin was so thirsty he finally grabbed the cup and drained it.
Estella smirked. “Well? Tastes any different from the expensive kind?”
Kevin had nothing to say.
After a while, hunger gnawed at him again. He asked, “What’s with the lousy service? Why hasn’t brought my food?”
Estella pointed toward the pickup counter. “Over there. Your food’s ready. Go get it yourself.”
Kevin grumbled but stood up and fetched the tray.
He picked at it, making a face, but in the end hunger won out. He finished the whole set meal.
Seeing he was done, Estella was about to leave.
Kevin awkwardly said, “You treated me this time. Next time, I’ll treat you.”
Estella snorted. “Where could you take me? Another dump like last time?”
anyone
Kevin knew he’d gone too far before. He had treated her like just another of the women he’d played with, never respecting her.
Now that he realized Estella was impossible to bend, he was left at a loss.
He had never pursued a woman seriously and had no idea how to win her over.
He asked in all seriousness, “I really do want to pursue you. Can’t you give me a chance?”
Estella studied him. “Why are you chasing me? What do you even want?”
Kevin froze.
He didn’t know how to answer that. Why did men chase women, if not for that?
With Estella’s background, marriage was out of the question.
Two people together, enjoying themselves physically and emotionally–that was enough, wasn’t it?
Estella smiled coldly. “I know exactly what you’re thinking. You just want to sleep with me, right?”
Kevin nodded.
“That’s right.”
It was the truth. No reason to deny it.
Estella said, “If all you want is a pretty woman in your bed, you don’t need me. Plenty of women would line up for that.”
Kevin frowned.
“But I’m interested in you right now.”
What he meant to say was that he was picky, even when it came to bed partners.
Estella continued, “I have very high standards for a partner. And you don’t meet any of them.”
That made Kevin bristle. “What’s wrong with me? I can make a woman happy.”
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This chapter delicately explores the vulnerability beneath Kevin’s pride and Estella’s guarded demeanor, revealing their complex emotional landscapes. Kevin’s fall from privilege and his earnest, if clumsy, attempts to win Estella’s favor show a man struggling to redefine himself beyond wealth and status. Meanwhile, Estella’s sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude mask a deeper skepticism born from past experiences, making her both a challenge and a mirror for Kevin’s growth.
Their interaction over a simple, humble meal becomes a poignant symbol of their contrasting worlds and desires. Despite the tension and unspoken truths, there is an undercurrent of honesty and a tentative bridge forming between them. This chapter closes on a note of raw, unvarnished emotion, leaving their relationship poised between confrontation and connection, with both characters confronting their own expectations and vulnerabilities.
Next chapter promises a deeper dive into the uneasy dynamic between Kevin and Estella, as the facade of casual banter gives way to more vulnerable and revealing moments. Kevin’s admission of his true intentions and Estella’s sharp retorts set the stage for a confrontation that could either break down walls or build new ones between them. There’s a palpable tension as Kevin tries to navigate unfamiliar emotional territory, while Estella remains guarded and skeptical, hinting at unresolved issues beneath her tough exterior.
As the story unfolds, expect to see more of Kevin’s struggle with his own identity and ambitions clashing against the realities he faces without the backing of his family name. Meanwhile, Estella’s complex feelings toward Kevin—ranging from disdain to reluctant curiosity—will likely surface in unexpected ways. The next chapter may challenge both characters to confront their assumptions about each other and themselves, leaving readers eager to discover whether their relationship will evolve or unravel further.
This chapter poignantly captures the collision of Kevin’s pride and Estella’s skepticism, revealing their vulnerabilities in a raw and unfiltered way. Kevin’s struggle to prove himself without the safety net of his family name exposes his frustration and determination, while Estella’s sharp, no-nonsense demeanor highlights her guarded nature and high standards. Their encounter over a modest meal strips away pretenses, forcing both to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other.
Despite the tension and candid admissions, there is a fragile honesty that threads through their interaction, hinting at the possibility of growth and understanding. The chapter closes on a note of emotional complexity, with Kevin and Estella standing at a crossroads—each wrestling with their own insecurities and desires, yet drawn together by an unspoken need for connection that neither fully comprehends.
The next chapter will delve deeper into the fragile and complicated relationship between Kevin and Estella, exploring the emotional walls they both have built around themselves. As Kevin grapples with his bruised pride and uncertain future, his genuine desire to connect with Estella will be put to the test against her sharp skepticism and high standards. The tension between them is far from resolved, and their interactions promise to reveal more about their vulnerabilities and hidden motivations.
At the same time, Kevin’s struggle to redefine his identity without the support of his family name will continue to unfold, highlighting the harsh realities of his new life. Estella’s reactions to Kevin’s persistence may reveal unexpected layers of her character, hinting at a reluctant curiosity beneath her tough exterior. Readers can anticipate a chapter filled with emotional complexity and subtle shifts in their dynamic, leaving them eager to see whether these two will find common ground or drift further apart.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.