Reborn Rich: Prices Dropped, My Savings Didn't

Conrad and Mrs. Goodman knew what was on their daughter’s mind. Fearing things would get too awkward, Mrs. Goodman took the opportunity to hurry the girls along. "Weren’t you all going to Cecilia’s for a sleepover? It’s getting late, you should head over. You have to get up early for school tomorrow."

Seeing her chance, Cecilia also stood up. "Alright, let’s head out. Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Goodman."

Blair didn’t know what was happening, but she nodded along.

Before Estelle left, Mrs. Goodman helped her into another jacket. Seeing the redness at the corners of her eyes, she knew her daughter was hurting. She gently stroked her face. "Wear an extra layer. The weather is getting colder, so make sure to stay warm."

Estelle Goodman didn’t cry. All the tears she had were shed on that rooftop that night. ’I won’t shed another tear for Kael.’

Inside, Conrad Goodman invited Kael Jennings to the sofa for tea and conversation. The topic inevitably drifted to Randall Jennings.

"He went to Frostfall?"

"Yes. The Frostfall government has a natural gas project they want to partner with the Jennings Group on. My uncle has always taken official projects very seriously, so he went in person. He’s been gone for a week, and who knows when he’ll be back."

Conrad Goodman nodded in understanding. The Jennings Group was a massive and diversified corporation. Its growth had reached new heights, especially after Randall Jennings took over. Now, even government projects from other provinces were actively seeking them out for partnerships.

"How has your father’s health been lately?" Conrad Goodman changed the subject, asking about Kael Jennings’s father.

Kael Jennings replied with a smile, "He’s been doing quite well lately. Maybe he’s happy about my engagement. His condition is much better than before."

Kael Jennings’s father was the eldest son of the Jennings family. Unfortunately, his consistently poor health prevented him from getting involved in the group’s affairs. Thus, the position of chairman was passed, uncontested, to the second son, Randall Jennings.

And Randall Jennings, now almost forty, was still unmarried and childless. His mind was entirely focused on the group and business, leaving him no time or desire to consider such things.

He did, however, treat Kael Jennings as his own son. The villa in Hearthstone Villas, for instance, was Randall Jennings’s engagement gift to Kael.

In Conrad Goodman’s eyes, the next head of the Jennings Group would, in all likelihood, be Kael Jennings.

"With his health improving, a weight must be off your shoulders. You’re still young, and you should focus your energy on the group. Learn everything you can from your uncle. I remember when he was your age, he was already leading teams to expand the business. Your uncle is grooming you to be his successor; that’s clear to all of us," Conrad Goodman said earnestly.

But while Conrad Goodman could say such a thing, Kael Jennings didn’t dare to agree.

He smiled and said, "My uncle is still young. I haven’t thought about taking over from him. I’m content just to learn as much as I can under him."

"Oh, right. My grandfather has been busy playing matchmaker for my uncle lately. He says he’s found a few suitable candidates and is just waiting for my uncle to get back to meet them."

That made Conrad Goodman laugh. But then again, knowing Chairman Jennings’s temper, he figured the old patriarch had probably run out of options.

"Your uncle is past the age for whirlwind romances. Blind dates might not be a bad idea; something could actually come of it. He should get a move on. It’s not too late to have kids before he hits forty."

"My grandfather thinks so too," Kael Jennings said with a nod.

Meanwhile, back at the villa, Estelle was already showing no signs of being upset.

But Cecilia was still a little worried, though she didn’t want to be the one to bring it up again.

But then Estelle brought it up herself. "Ugh, seeing him still hurt, but the cold wind on the way here snapped me out of it."

She looked at Cecilia and gave a helpless smile. "He’s engaged. What’s the point of me getting all worked up over it?"

Cecilia patted her shoulder. "I’m glad you’re able to think of it that way."

It finally clicked for Blair. ’No wonder the atmosphere was so weird. So Estelle and that guy have a history.’

"There are plenty of other fish in the sea, right?" Blair chimed in.

But coming from her, the words felt a little out of place.

After a moment of surprise, Estelle snapped out of it and laughed. "Alright, Blair! You’re a player deep down, aren’t you? But you’re right. I’ll catch the fish, you build the pond, and we’ll be queens of the sea! There are plenty of men out there!"

She didn’t forget to add, turning to Cecilia, "Babe, that Saul Thorne of yours is about to expire. It’s been over a month, hasn’t it? Time for an upgrade!"

Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Weren’t you just cursing out your cousin?"

"How is that the same thing?" Estelle declared righteously. "When a man’s a player, he’s scum. When a woman’s a player... well, that’s obviously the man’s fault."

Cecilia smiled without a word and turned to go upstairs, but Estelle grabbed her.

"What?" Cecilia glanced at her, confused. "It’s ten o’clock. Time to wash up and go to bed."

Estelle gave her a scrutinizing look. "You’ve been so busy lately, we haven’t had a good chat in ages. So let me ask you... have you and Saul Thorne gotten it on yet?"

Blair shot Estelle a pained look. "Could you pick a different phrase? That sounds so gross!"

It made her subconsciously picture Cecilia in that situation.

"’Applauding for love’! Is ’applauding for love’ better?!" Estelle immediately corrected herself.

Cecilia gave her a baffled look. "You’ve got quite the vocabulary for this stuff, just rolling them out one after another. And here I thought you were a sweet, innocent little flower!"

"Don’t change the subject." Estelle pulled Cecilia over to the sofa and forced her to sit. "Spill it. You’re the only one of us in a relationship. You have to give us the details."

Blair silently sat down nearby, also looking at Cecilia with an eager "Well? Tell us," expression.

Cecilia was speechless.

But a strange joy welled up inside her. She had dreamed countless times of having a friendship like this, one where they could talk about anything, and at this moment, it felt completely real.

That was something she never had in her previous life.

"We haven’t," Cecilia said in a low voice.

"What?" Estelle shrieked. "No way, dude! Is he broken or something? How could he possibly hold back with a girlfriend as gorgeous as you?"

Meanwhile, Blair slowly raised her hand and said flatly, "I win!"

Estelle was at a loss for words. She looked at Cecilia, her face a mask of disappointment, and sighed. "You’re useless, too!"

Cecilia was stunned. She shot to her feet. "You can’t be serious. You two made a bet on this?"

Estelle pulled out her phone and transferred twenty cents to Blair before looking back at Cecilia with a shrug. "Hey, you’re never in the dorm these days. We got bored and made a little bet for fun."

Blair accepted the transfer and calmly said, "I was purely in it for the money."

Cecilia: ...

’Such great best friends,’ she thought.

"But seriously, what’s the deal with you two? It’s been over a month, has he not brought it up? Didn’t you say you were totally thirsting for his body?" Estelle pressed, sidling up to her again.

Cecilia: ...