CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: WHO’S BETTER LOOKING—HIM OR ME?

Vintara is not a big city and lacks famous landmarks recognized in the country. It’s undeveloped in terms of tourism, mining, and industry sectors. Before the major development in the west, Vintara’s annual GDP consistently ranked in the bottom ten nationwide, and it didn’t even have a regular university, only a specialized teacher’s college.

After the major development in the west, due to Vintara’s strategic position at the junction of The Three Southwestern Provinces, it was developed into a transportation hub linking the three provinces, with the construction of train stations, high-speed rail, an airport, and other major transportation routes.

Especially after the high-speed rail station was built eight years ago, Vintara experienced rapid development. Business investors who were previously reluctant to invest in Vintara began to show interest.

As a result, many big business owners came to Vintara to bid on investments, purchase land for factory construction, and vigorously develop real estate, which quickly boosted Vintara’s GDP.

Three years ago, when the high-speed rail opened, the volume of people increased dramatically, leading to a qualitative leap in the economy.

The richest man in Vintara, Matthew Shaw, is a real estate mogul who came to Vintara ten years ago to develop real estate. During these ten years, he almost monopolized the real estate industry in The Three Southwestern Provinces.

Matthew Shaw came to Vintara just two years ago and acquired large parcels of prime land at prices far below market value. He even built an oversized Jiangnan-style garden villa on Mount Verdian.

After acquiring the best and most valuable lands in Vintara, the high-speed rail project was finally confirmed, and the construction start date was set. The construction of the high-speed rail was also contracted to him.

When others came to Vintara, they could only obtain land from Matthew Shaw at high prices, or bid on leftover scraps from the government.

Renee Winslow heard of Matthew Shaw when she was in high school, shortly after she started her freshman year. She knew about him because a boy named Harold Leonard, a year senior to her, was pursuing her, but she didn’t agree.

Someone in the know kindly warned her to be careful, saying that Harold Leonard’s uncle was the big boss of the underworld in Vintara, untouchable by anyone, because Harold Leonard’s uncle was working for Matthew Shaw, managing projects in Vintara for him. With Matthew Shaw’s backing, no one dared offend Harold Leonard’s uncle, not even the Leonard Family.

The kind person added that Matthew Shaw was a noble son of high-ranking officials from Northcity, with an extremely strong backing, both politically and socially.

Harold Leonard’s father, due to his brother’s connection, was able to secure contracts under Matthew Shaw, and even though it was as the lowest-tier contractor, they earned fortunes.

The Leonard Family owned four or five houses in Vintara, seven or eight in Serenity County, and on the ancestral homestead in their hometown, they built an especially large and luxurious two-story Western-style house with a garden.

At the time, Renee Winslow had just started high school at the age of fourteen. She started elementary school early because the kindergarten she was attending, the only one in her village, shut down just when she was about to enter the senior class.

If she wanted to continue in the senior class, she had to go to the town’s kindergarten, but the town was far from her home.

Her grandmother thought the kindergarten in town was too far and was unwilling to take her there, so she just sent her to the village elementary school, where the rules were lax, so she could start first grade at five, six, or seven years old.

This made her the youngest student in her class, and she only turned seventeen after taking her college entrance exams.

During her three years in high school, she was completely underage, and not only did she have no intention of early romance, even if she had, she couldn’t have agreed to Harold Leonard.

If she agreed, how could she protect herself? Harold Leonard would certainly find ways to have a relationship with her.

Therefore, she never agreed, and Harold Leonard, who was relatively upright, didn’t use force or coercion. Despite being called a school bully, he didn’t do anything outrageously bad.

She didn’t agree, and Harold Leonard didn’t insist. After pursuing her for a while, he gave up and ended up dating a girl from the neighboring class. That girl was willing.

Of course, maybe it was because she was too young at the time, with no development, like a little sprout, so perhaps Harold Leonard wasn’t interested.

In contrast, the girl from the neighboring class was well-developed, with a full figure at just fifteen years old. Plus, she was very beautiful, attracting many suitors, including Harold Leonard.

When Renee Winslow was in her senior year, Harold Leonard had already graduated and was attending a university in Southedge.

Later, when Renee Winslow came to Northcity for university, she never saw Harold Leonard again, although occasionally she would hear some news about him in the high school group.

She heard that he dated many girlfriends in college, each with fair skin, beauty, and long legs, with the longest relationship lasting no more than three months, the shortest just a few days.

She also heard that he opened a bar in Serenity County and every time he returned, he would gather his high school buddies for drinks, offering a 30% discount to anyone who attended Serenity High School.

Furthermore, it was rumored that last year he got into a fight and was detained. His uncle went directly to the police station to bail him out.

More rumors surfaced that he began working under Matthew Shaw with his uncle, showing signs of taking over his uncle’s role.

All these stories about him were just what Renee Winslow read in text form in her high school group, and she had no idea about the actual truth nor did she ever try to find out.

Renee Winslow never imagined she would encounter Harold Leonard in such a situation.

Outside the terminal of Vintara Airport, a long black limo with a double R emblem was parked, and Harold Leonard was standing respectfully in front of the car.

The instant their eyes met, both saw the shock in each other’s eyes.

Renee Winslow was shocked that the rumors turned out to be true!

Harold Leonard was shocked to see Renee Winslow by Jack Yates’ side. This was Jack Yates—the top young master among Northcity’s elite, known as The Third Young Master Yates, and even Matthew Shaw had to respectfully call him "Third Brother," despite Matthew Shaw being two years older than Jack Yates.

In their circle, "Brother" was no longer about age but about status in the community.

After a moment of astonishment, Harold Leonard quickly came to his senses, bowed, and smiled while approaching, "Hello, Mr. Yates, Mr. Shaw is rushing back from Southedge and asked me to pick you up and take you to the hotel first."

Jack Yates replied indifferently, "Mm."

Harold Leonard hurriedly went to open the backseat door, bending over while reaching his right hand to shield the car roof, smiling as he said, "Please, Mr. Yates."

Jack Yates glanced at him coldly, "Remove your hand."

Harold Leonard looked as if he’d been electrocuted and immediately withdrew his hand.

Jack Yates used his left hand to shield the car roof and pulled Renee Winslow over with his right hand, his voice becoming gentle, "Take it slow, baby."

Renee Winslow: "..."

Renee Winslow lowered her head, pressed her lips together, and bent down to get into the car.

Once she was seated, Jack Yates closed the door and went around to the other side to sit in the back seat.

Jack Yates had already conducted a background check on Renee Winslow before they got together. He knew all about her, including Harold Leonard pursuing her during her high school years, which did not escape his attention.

Harold Leonard, wearing white gloves, drove cautiously, his back straight, holding the steering wheel tightly out of nervousness, driving extremely slowly.

Jack Yates didn’t say a word to him and didn’t spare him a glance.

Renee Winslow took a few more looks at Harold Leonard, given their high school alumni connection, it would be odd not to look at all.

When she looked over for the third time, Jack Yates put his arm around her shoulder, pressing her onto his thigh, and said in a flat tone, "Weren’t you still sleepy? Keep sleeping."

Renee Winslow: "..."

She sighed internally, thinking how this possessive man’s obsession was acting up again.

Soon enough, once they reached the hotel and entered their suite, Jack Yates pushed her against the door, kissing her deeply, his large hands gripping her waist firmly. With fierce eyes, he pressed her and asked in a low voice, "Is he more handsome or am I?"