CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: UNPRECEDENTED GENTLENESS IN HIS VOICE

Renee Winslow felt pressured after playing three rounds and announced she didn’t want to play anymore. Firstly, she was never interested in playing mahjong, and secondly, she could feel that Simon Forrester and the others were deliberately accommodating her, which made her feel even more pressured and less inclined to play.

When they heard her say she didn’t want to play anymore, Simon Forrester and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Considering their level of skill, accompanying Renee Winslow to play this low-level card game was purely out of respect for Jack Yates, like tutoring the Crown Prince.

Frederick Yates quickly knocked over his tiles and agreed, "Let’s stop, let’s eat instead."

Renee Winslow stood up and stepped back two paces, and Jack Yates took the opportunity to put an arm around her waist, softly asking, "What do you want to eat? I’ll have someone make it just for you."

His voice was extremely soft and gentle, tinged with an unprecedented tenderness and a hint of pampering.

Everyone present looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Frederick Yates glanced at Jack Yates sideways and shivered as if struck by electricity when he saw Jack’s unexpectedly gentle demeanor.

Noticing everyone else’s expressions, Renee Winslow felt terribly awkward and quickly replied, "I’m not picky. I’ll eat whatever’s there."

She didn’t specifically ask for her favorite dishes, yet Jack Yates still ordered two spicy dishes she usually loved.

Jack Yates knew Renee Winslow’s taste, knew she loved spicy food and couldn’t enjoy a meal without it.

Whether at Thatcher Manor or outside, he would always cater to her taste. He himself was indifferent, eating whatever she ate.

The meal took place in a room in the western part of the building, in a Chinese-style dining room, with a tranquil and elegant atmosphere, complemented by the playing of the guzheng.

Jack Yates sat at the main seat, with Renee Winslow beside him.

Lily Thatcher glanced at Jack Yates, meeting his sharp gaze, and quickly turned her head.

Simon Forrester jested, "I’ve never seen you this scared of Third Brother Yates before, why are you acting like a mouse seeing a cat today?"

Lily Thatcher pouted, "Third Brother isn’t usually this fierce."

Frederick Yates laughed and said, "Hasn’t he always been like this? It’s not just today that he’s become fierce."

Lily Thatcher didn’t argue further and said to Simon Forrester, "Second Brother, Bianca and Hannah will be here shortly. Let’s wait for them."

Simon Forrester, being the second among his generation in the Forrester Family, was addressed as "Second Brother" by those younger than him.

Although Lily Thatcher was his cousin, she also called him Second Brother. Calling him "cousin" seemed overly formal and awkward, as modern people typically just use "brother" or "sister" for cousins and siblings.

Simon Forrester nodded, "Alright."

Renee Winslow wasn’t into idolizing stars, having no particular liking or dislike for any male or female celebrity. However, she would watch popular dramas that suited her taste.

So, when she saw two girls walk in, she was genuinely stunned because one of them was the famous actress Bianca Blackwood.

Recently, she had been following a fantasy drama starring Bianca Blackwood as the lead, playing a Sunflower Fairy—a charming character who was smart, kind, lively, lovely, gentle, resilient, and occasionally a bit naive, always full of energy. Despite the Sunflower Fairy’s low magical power, the Primordial God still liked her.

This drama’s male and female roles were typically set up as the gentle "little sun" and the cool aloof god.

Influenced by the drama, Renee Winslow had preconceived notions that Bianca Blackwood was bubbly and cute, but the reality was different.

Bianca Blackwood turned out to have a very aloof personality, exuding a cool and composed demeanor with not a trace of a smile on her face.

After dinner, Simon Forrester suggested playing at the bar next door, which was vetoed by Jack Yates.

Renee Winslow didn’t like drinking, and Jack Yates wouldn’t let her drink.

Not going to the bar, they’d surely not just sit around, so Simon Forrester suggested playing snooker.

Jack Yates played a couple of rounds with them, then returned to stay by Renee Winslow’s side, never straying a step from her.

Simon Forrester teased, "Having Third Master Yates here today is completely superfluous; the mind of the third son of the Yates family isn’t here at all but has long flown back to Thatcher Manor."

Renee Winslow felt her face heat up and nudged Jack Yates, "Go play."

Jack Yates held her hand, gave it a squeeze, his pinky lightly tickling her palm in a highly suggestive manner, his voice low and husky as he asked, "Want to keep playing? If not, we can head back."

Understanding the implication in his words, Renee Winslow blushed even more, "Let’s play a bit longer."

Later, Jack Yates, Simon Forrester, and Frederick Yates sat in the tea room playing cards.

Renee Winslow sat by Jack Yates’ side, lying on his lap watching him play. After watching for a while, she grew bored and went for a walk in the garden.

Walking through the secluded winding paths of the garden, she delighted in the elegant scenery of the estate. As she reached a corner, she suddenly heard Lily Thatcher’s voice: "Did you all see that girl at the dinner table?"

Hannah Pierce responded, "Yes, she’s pretty plain-looking."

Lily Thatcher said, "Don’t underestimate her just because she looks petite and fragile; she’s really scheming. I heard from Second Brother that she initially was Caleb Yates’ girlfriend, followed him to The Yates Family, and upon seeing Third Brother Yates’ wealth, power, youth, and good looks, deliberately seduced him and sneaked behind Caleb to climb into Third Brother Yates’ bed."

Hannah Pierce exclaimed, "But someone like Third Brother Yates wouldn’t possibly fancy a scheming girl like her, right?"

Lily Thatcher snorted, "That’s where you don’t understand men; the tougher the man, the more they like women who look pure and weak like her, the ’green tea bitches’ who stir up their protective instincts."

Hannah Pierce argued, "Isn’t Bianca fragile? Bianca is countless times prettier than that girl; she doesn’t even compare when Bianca’s around."

Lily Thatcher said, "Bianca is too proud, and she’s career-driven. Not only Third Brother Yates but even Second Brother wouldn’t be interested. They, uh, prefer women like Renee Winslow, who are dainty, submissive, and cling to men—a typical tender wife type."

Hannah Pierce was dismissive, "She’s just a plaything, after all. In a family like The Yates Family, it’s impossible for Third Brother Yates to marry her, right? She’s still young, merely a student of eighteen or nineteen. Third Brother Yates is just lusting after her youth and freshness. Once he’s played enough, he’ll surely kick her away."

Renee Winslow had always known that these people were polite to her on the surface but thought poorly of her behind her back; she just didn’t realize it was so degrading, thinking so badly of her.

While playing cards, Lily Thatcher had been very nice to her, always talking to her with a smile. When Jack Yates went out to make a call, she dealt with it alone, playing cards slowly, and at that time, Lily Thatcher even comforted her, telling her not to rush and to take her time.

Turns out, in private, they didn’t respect her at all, even looking down on her with disdain and contempt.

In that moment, Renee Winslow thoroughly understood the concept of social class.

Previously, she didn’t agree with the idea of "class," as her education taught her that everyone is equal, without distinction of superiority or inferiority.

But now it seemed that equality was merely a joke.

The world had long been divided into classes.

Renee Winslow didn’t feel overly angry, but rather more sober, more clearly aware of her situation.

She didn’t rush out to explain herself; it wasn’t necessary and would only make her look like a clown.

As long as they didn’t challenge her directly, didn’t say things in her face, whatever they said behind her back didn’t matter; she’d pretend she didn’t know.

She quietly returned to the front yard, walked along the corridor, and entered a room filled with books.

Standing in front of a bookshelf was one of the group, Elijah Bell, a man who spoke little, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding an intellectual and refined appearance.

Renee Winslow quickly apologized, "Sorry, I entered the wrong room."

Elijah Bell turned his head and, smiling, said, "It’s fine, this is a reading room, not a restricted area. You can come in to read if you like."

Renee Winslow walked inside, standing beside the bookshelf, casually flipping through books.

Elijah Bell held an open book, his eyes on the pages, his voice smooth and gentle as he asked, "Have you read ’A Letter from an Unknown Woman’?"

Renee Winslow tilted her head to look at him, "Yes, I have."

Elijah Bell closed the book in his hands, the title clearly displayed on the cover.

He smiled, saying, "It’s often said to be Zweig’s fantasy, but I think it’s actually Zweig’s inner longing."

Renee Winslow replied with a smile, "Is that your own insight?"

Elijah Bell raised an eyebrow, "Honestly, I envy Mr. R in the book."

Renee Winslow remarked, "But don’t you find it frightening? Having someone under the guise of love, yet obsessively and crazily spying on you, coveting you?"

Elijah Bell said, "That’s why there’s a saying, ’One man’s poison is another man’s honey.’"

Renee Winslow’s smile blossomed, full of softness and allure.

Suddenly, Elijah Bell called out, "Third Brother."

Renee Winslow turned around to see Jack Yates’ face, dark and severe.