King of Hollywood
Chapter 479 - 200 Quite Coincidental

Chapter 479: Chapter 200 Quite Coincidental

"If you think the building blocks toys aren’t suitable, I can recommend this latest Winnie Bear, which is quite adorable and also the perfect size for a 2-year-old child," said the attractive saleswoman amicably.

"Then I’ll take this one," Adrian decided after looking around, eventually settling on the Winnie Bear toy. Indeed, there was nothing more suitable than this, although his little girl had outgrown the age of gnawing on toys. However, she clearly had an excess of energy, running around the villa the moment she left his or Kate’s embrace. She would grab toys and throw them around, then burst out giggling—a pattern that had already ruined two sets of Lego toys, so a soft, indestructible stuffed toy seemed the best choice for her.

These few days had him swamped with a plethora of tasks and juggling a few women, so the trip to the amusement park he had previously promised his daughter was postponed. The little one was quite upset about it and insinuated with a milk-voice over the phone. If daddy broke his promise, she would not like him anymore! Well, that was indeed a formidable threat, prompting him to stop by a nearby superstore on a whim to pick out a present to appease his daughter.

"Then... let’s not get that one," a woman’s voice lacking strength, concealed timidity barely discernible, came from up front as he moved toward the exit to pay.

Involuntarily, Adrian looked up. Standing beside the cashier was a woman in her late twenties, with a light brown to blondish beautiful hair and a pretty face. Although she appeared a bit emaciated, she was still an attractive woman. She was awkwardly removing bread from her basket—it wasn’t much to begin with, and taking out the bread left even less, standing there looking quite uneasy.

The cashier glanced at her, showing some impatience though not openly displayed, tapped a few keys on the computer, and announced, "That will be 37 US dollars and 25 cents."

Hearing this amount caused the woman to look hesitant. She seemed to want to grab more items from outside but eventually bit her lip and, with trembling hands, pulled out some cash and coins from her wallet to pay and quickly left.

One could guess the likely scenario, but Adrian, witnessing it all, felt a stir of curiosity about this woman. He seemed to have seen her somewhere before. He wasn’t sure if this familiarity was from a past life or this one, but he was certain he had glanced through her details at some point.

After paying for the Winnie Bear and exiting the superstore, Adrian saw the woman again. She was briskly walking toward the parking lot, her head bowed as she fished for a tissue from her pocket, her somewhat shaky silhouette greatly amplifying a sense of desolation. As she retrieved a tissue, an item fell from her pocket unnoticed as she continued forward. Glancing around—as the light dimmed further and there were few people around—Adrian shrugged and walked over.

Picking it up, he realized it was the woman’s wallet. A gentle squeeze told him it was nearly empty. Recalling the familiar feeling from earlier, he rummaged through it, then his eyes lit up.

"So it’s her..." he murmured, reading the name on the driving license, his eyebrows raising as information about her flooded his mind. Although the vast memories were chaotic without a search engine, with enough clues, he could extract what he needed.

It indeed fit the timeline and confirmed it was her. Chasing after the woman, Adrian contemplated various immature thoughts and plans.

"Hey, miss, you dropped something," he called out to the woman as she was about to get into her car—a Ford whose resale history was uncertain. Although its exterior was reasonably neat and not blotched with rust as some old cars, one could never tell when it might just break down.

"Something?" the woman, placing her bags in the car, turned back, her expression confused. But noticing the wallet in his hand, she instantly panicked and frantically began patting her pockets before grabbing it.

"Oh God, I was so careless. If I had lost this, I would’ve been ruined," she hurriedly checked her wallet, sighing in relief when she saw everything was intact.

Then she realized the man who had returned her wallet was still in front of her and stammered an apology, "Sorry, sir... I... I got a bit too agitated... I..."

"No worries, I understand. Is everything there?" Adrian smiled and nodded. "If everything’s alright, then I’ll be on my way."

"Yes, everything’s here, thank you so much, sir," she thanked him repeatedly. Adrian waved his hand, turned, and walked toward his own car, parked just three spots away across from hers.

After getting in the car, he didn’t rush to start it and leave; instead, he kept an eye on the woman’s old Ford, a faint smile emerging on the corners of his lips.

——————————————————————————

On the seventh attempt to start the engine, the car vibrated and made a whining sound, but ultimately failed to start. She couldn’t help but smack the steering wheel forcefully, creating a loud snap, yet her whole body followed by slumping over it, feeling extraordinarily weak.

Reflecting on today’s audition, a strong sense of humiliation instantly surged in her heart again. Holding a script that was nothing more than a pile of trivial paperwork, making trips to the company every other day, yet even such a minor role slipped through her fingers. It would have been fine if she hadn’t gotten the part, but what did that damned person in charge say? "You haven’t auditioned yet? Oh, no need, we’ve already found someone suitable," it felt like she was stripped of her clothes and left to be mocked in the streets.

Yet, even so, she had to continue striving. Thinking about her thin wallet, thinking about the times she paid the bills... She gave a bitter smile as she looked at the bag on the passenger seat. This should keep her going for a while longer, right? If it wasn’t for that kind-hearted person returning her lost wallet just now, she truly wouldn’t have known what to do next, unless...

Her smile grew even more bitter. Even if she wanted to, opportunities were necessary, weren’t they? With a fierce slap on the steering wheel, she cradled her face, constantly rubbing it. Things will get better, they must get better, they must!

Attempting to start the engine again, this time the old car finally didn’t stall and roared to life after a few rumbles. She breathed a sigh of relief, her mood somewhat improved, a rare smile appearing on her face as she drove onto the street. Perhaps her bad luck was in the past, for the old car drove smoothly without any issues, lifting her spirits once more.

However, this good mood didn’t last long. As the apartment appeared wobbly in sight, her eyes suddenly widened and she stepped on the accelerator, speeding past before parking the car and hastily rushing towards the entrance of the apartment.

"No! Mrs. Lawrence, please don’t do this! I beg you, please don’t do this!" She grabbed onto an arm of a middle-aged woman who was dragging a suitcase outside and pleaded.

"Get lost." The middle-aged woman, clearly of Mexican descent, said impatiently, shaking off her hand and leaving the suitcase in a pile of stuff already at the doorstep.

"Hear me out, Mrs. Lawrence, I’ve already... I’ve secured a role, I’ll have money very soon, please don’t do this, just give me two more days, I beg you." She pleaded again, grabbing the woman’s arm once more.

"You’ve already owed me several months of rent, bitch! Do you think this is a charity?" the middle-aged woman yelled viciously, shaking off her grip and walking back inside.

She didn’t know whether to follow or not; desperation almost drove her to tears. In the end, she could do nothing but pick up her belongings that had been carelessly thrown onto the street. Seeing a broken little statue only intensified her sorrow. Had it not been on the street, she might have already burst into tears.

"There, your stuff is all here. Take it and get away from me! I don’t want to see you again!" The middle-aged woman shouted as she threw another bag out, which clattered upon hitting the ground, "And of course, if you keep delaying, I guarantee you’ll receive a court summons!"

"I understand, Mrs. Lawrence, but please don’t kick me out like this. I know you’re a good person, just two more days, I only need two more days." She sniffed, once again grabbing the woman’s arm, speaking with a pleading tone. Despite harboring immense sorrow inside, she had to suppress it and continue with kind words. If she were to be driven out now, she truly didn’t know what she would do.

"I’ve heard enough!" The middle-aged woman ranted, spitting as she spoke venomously, "You always say just two more days, but after extending for months, not a single penny has been paid! Honestly, I’ve seen enough women like you who think this place is paved with gold, dreaming of becoming famous just by showing up. But in the end, they can’t even pay their rent and most end up as streetwalkers. Look at you, you’re not much different. Maybe stand on the street for a few months, earn back the rent you owe!" If I weren’t a good person, I would have thrown these things out by now, wouldn’t have even bothered packing them up!"

She stared blankly at the middle-aged woman, her lips trembling slightly, her face growing paler, enveloped by an unprecedented humiliation that seemed to have drifted her soul far away, until a voice sounded by her ear: "What happened, Naomi?"

With a start, she was suddenly snapped out of that unbearable feeling, turning her head to see the man who had returned her wallet in the parking lot earlier. He stood there with a puzzled expression, looking at the scattered belongings and then at her and the now silent middle-aged woman.

"What’s going on, Naomi?" He asked again, and she just stared at him, momentarily forgetting how to respond.

"Who are you?" the middle-aged woman asked first.

"I’m Naomi’s boyfriend. May I ask what happened here?" the man asked, raising his eyebrows, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

"Ha, you’re Naomi’s boyfriend, perfect. I’m your girlfriend’s landlord. Your girlfriend has owed me several months of rent!" the middle-aged woman declared imperiously.

However, the man didn’t respond to her, but instead grasped Naomi’s shoulders, his expression both angry and pained: "Is this what’s been troubling you? Oh, you silly girl, why didn’t you tell me?"

"I... I..." Naomi finally recovered, but didn’t know what to say when faced with his sincere expression.

"Alright, I know. You’re strong-willed, you want to make it on your own, you don’t want me to interfere too much. But you have to consider yourself, right?! If I hadn’t come today, how long were you planning to keep this from me? If I hadn’t come today, were you planning to spend the night in a nearby park? Damn it, do you still consider me your boyfriend?" the man said, frustrated yet helpless.

Then he turned his head and asked in a cold voice, "How much does she owe you?"

Naomi was startled, then realized something and grabbed him. But before she could speak, he turned around, grabbed her hand, and said in an uncompromising tone, "Okay, leave everything to me, don’t speak."

With an almost imperceptible wink, Naomi was momentarily stunned, then seemed to understand something. A strange feeling spread in her heart, swallowing the refusal she had been about to voice.

"Speak, how much?" the man asked the middle-aged woman again, his tone cold once more.

"Uh... 2000 US Dollars," under his intimidating gaze, the previously arrogant landlady seemed cowed and spit out a number after swallowing her saliva.

"No, it’s only..." Naomi involuntarily cried out, but before she could finish, the landlady started to complain, "Don’t forget, Naomi, I’ve paid for all the other expenses these past few months, don’t those..."

"Enough!" the man’s voice erupted, not loudly, but his stern tone made the two women cease their possible quarrel.

"2000 US Dollars, right?" he confirmed, then pulled out a checkbook from his chest, quickly wrote a few lines in the dim light, and tore it out and handed it to the landlady.

"Yes, yes, thank you." the other party quickly glanced at the check and said happily, "Then I won’t bother you any longer..."

"Wait!" before she could leave, the man called her back, wrote a few more lines in the checkbook, tore another check, and handed it over.

"What is this?" the landlady asked, puzzled, taking it into her hands. Upon seeing the figure, she took a sharp breath and looked at him incredulously.

"I’m going out with Naomi now, and when I return," he pointed to the large pile of belongings on the floor with a condescending tone, "everything must be neatly placed back where it was, understood?"

He emphasized, "It should look exactly as it was before being thrown out!"

"But..." the landlady hesitated, looking at some items on the floor that were clearly broken. His implications were clear: if you do it, you get the money; if not, then it’s too bad.

"Figure it out yourself," the man said unceremoniously, "as long as Naomi finds it acceptable, then it’s acceptable."

Looking at the belongings on the floor, then at the check in her hands, the Mexican middle-aged woman showed an eager expression and immediately agreed, "No problem, no problem. I will make sure Miss Naomi is satisfied."

In just a few minutes, the way she addressed her changed from "bitch" to "miss", even her smile carried a bit of flattery. This showed how powerful money could be.

"Come on, Naomi, let’s go." the man then put his arm around Naomi’s shoulder.

"Go? Where are we going?" Naomi asked dreamily, bewildered by everything.

"Have you forgotten?" he laughed, "We’re going to Jack’s party, hurry up, or that kid will start nagging again."

Then he showed a look of realization, "Oh, I forgot, you’re probably not in the mood for a party right now. Let’s find a place to have dinner instead and maybe stroll around. I’ll stay with you all evening."

Saying this, he led her to his car. Naomi walked like a puppet being pulled along, and only when she sat in the car did she start to regain some clarity. As the car started, she looked back to see the landlady outside the apartment organizing people to move the belongings inside, handling everything carefully, which was a stark contrast to her earlier roughness.

Turning back to look at the man driving, who was focusing on the road, his features sharply defined as if sculpted with great effort, his eyes darker than most, like the deep waters of a lake. He might not be the handsomest, but there was an attractive quality to him that conveyed a sense of reliability.

Reflecting on his protective demeanor, gentle words, and the lengths he went to preserve her dignity, that overwhelming sensation filled her chest with various emotions. One thing she didn’t know though: the figure on the second check to the landlady was definitely not small.

"I... I will pay you back," Naomi finally spoke after a long silence, immediately wanting to slap herself for saying that. Why would she say that?!

Even so, she struggled to control her emotions and continued, "Even though I don’t know why you’re helping me, please give me your business card. This money... consider it a loan... I definitely... will pay it back..."

After swallowing, she continued, "Please... let me get out ahead, I will... stay outside for a few hours and then go back, this way..."

But getting no reply for a long time, Naomi finally shut her mouth. A few minutes later, the man’s voice came, "How about we find a place to eat dinner first?"

"No need..." Naomi began to refuse, but just then her stomach growled, embarrassed by the timing.

The man smiled silently, still gentle, "Your stomach is protesting, Naomi, don’t wait for mine to protest too."

With that said, she could hardly refuse any longer. Fortunately, the man didn’t take her to any fancy restaurant but chose a mid-range eatery on Flonzer Street, which relieved Naomi, though she didn’t know why she had brought it up. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote and send monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)