CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4: WANTING TO KISS HER, HOLD HER

"Oh my, you can’t call me ’Meatball,’ it’s awful." The girl, held in the man’s arms, wriggled in protest.

The man’s muscular arms tightened around her waist as he nudged her neck with his chin, "Meatball sounds nice, I like it."

The deep, husky voice penetrated her ear, with warm breath spilling onto her neck, making her shiver.

The man’s large hand kneaded the soft flesh on her waist until she turned into a puddle, her body soft as she nestled in the crook of his arm, panting lightly, allowing him to squeeze and mold her until even he couldn’t take it anymore before he finally stopped.

Held and kneaded by the man like this, Renee had just celebrated her nineteenth birthday, teetering on the edge of adolescence, her development at its peak. Due to her growth, she had gained quite a bit of weight this year, her body was soft and fleshy everywhere.

Renee often felt troubled by this, but Jack Yates loved it, he adored her soft body, so much so that Renee always thought Jack Yates liked chubby girls.

But actually, that was not the case. When Jack Yates liked her, she was still very slim, without all the extra flesh. His affection had nothing to do with her weight, it was a strong physiological attraction that made him want her from the first glance he laid on her, wanting to keep her by his side, possess her.

Later, he indeed acted on this, using forceful means to snatch her away from the other men and into his embrace.

.

Renee regretted it more than once, wishing she hadn’t agreed to Caleb at the beginning.

If she hadn’t agreed to date Caleb, she wouldn’t have met Jack Yates, wouldn’t have been with Jack Yates.

Unfortunately, there are no ifs...

Eighteen-year-old Renee never imagined she would become involved with Jack Yates.

At that time, she was still a naive student living in an ivory tower, full of hope for the future. If she had worries, the biggest was probably about what to do after graduation.

"Ah, I wonder how many of us will stay in Northcity after graduation," her roommate Joyce Pierce sighed as she looked at the azure sky.

Another roommate, Ivy Jansen, said, "It’s still early, we’re only in our first year, three years away from graduation, why worry so much?"

Joyce Pierce said, "It’s not early, freshman year is almost over, during senior year we have to go out for internships, our real time at school is just two years, cherish it while you can."

Renee happily said, "Then let’s seize the moment before graduation, visit every alley in The Quadrangle, and try all the famous foods of Northcity!"

Joyce Pierce poked her forehead with a finger, "All you think about is eating; careful not to become a big fatty."

Renee shrugged indifferently, "If I get fat, so be it. I’ll be happy if my mouth and stomach are satisfied."

Ivy Jansen teased with a laugh, "Renee’s so pretty, even if she gets fat, Heartthrob Yates would still like her."

Renee, looking at the old alleys beside her, said assuredly, "I don’t care if he likes it or not."

Joyce Pierce seized the chance to persuade her, "Renee, being a drifter in Northcity is tough. We can’t change it, but you can, you’re so pretty, you have every opportunity to escape this hardship."

Renee asked, "How can I escape?"

Joyce Pierce smiled at her tantalizingly, "You tell me how to escape."

Renee said, "I don’t know."

Joyce Pierce scoffed, "Caleb Yates started pursuing you less than a month after school began, and he has continued until now; freshman year’s almost over, you still don’t get it?"

Of course, Renee understood, precisely because she understood so well, she hadn’t agreed to Caleb Yates.

Caleb Yates’s identity was known by many in the school: first grandson of The Yates Family, third generation of the founding fathers, a proper noble son of The Capital Circle.

Besides his distinguished family background, Caleb Yates himself was outstanding; inside and outside of school, the girls chasing him could line up from The Great Rampart to The Imperial Palace.

And as for her, what was her identity? A rural girl who tested into Aethelburg from The Southwest small town, her looks could only be considered delicate and cute. She might be called a "beauty" in their school, but at places like The Film Academy or The Dance Academy, where beautiful women gather, her face would fall short, only suitable for playing a maid in acting.

This was Renee’s own view of herself, but actually not how others saw her.

To others, she had the classic first love face, the kind with a few charms amidst innocence, giving off a pure yet alluring impression that ensnares at first sight.

After wandering around the alleys, the three took a bus back to school, getting off and slowly walking back to the dorm.

June weather was already hot, going out wasn’t easy, and back in the dorm, Renee didn’t want to do anything but lay down and rest.

She sat on her bed, ready to lie down when a girl suddenly appeared at their dorm entrance, peering around and asked, "Who’s Renee Winslow?"

Renee had no choice but to stand up, "What’s the matter?"

The girl said, "Someone outside is looking for you."

Renee asked, "Who?"

The girl replied curtly, "Head outside and you’ll see!"

After saying that, the girl rolled her eyes and turned her head away, walking off.

Renee had a vague guess, and stepping out of the dorm, she wasn’t surprised to see Caleb Yates.

Looking at Caleb Yates’s playful, roguish face, Renee felt like turning back to the dorm, but ultimately refrained, forcing a stiff smile, "What do you need, senior?"

Caleb Yates was tall, a towering 1.88 meters, his features refined and bright, strikingly handsome with an aggressive edge; his cold demeanor was only offset by a playful, devil-may-care smile, a typical bad-boy heartthrob.

Such boys become campus celebrities at every school, whether high school or college, even without wealth or background, his looks would draw countless admirers.

Renee had never liked being in the spotlight; she didn’t enjoy raising her hand to answer in class or mingling in crowded places outside of class, nor did she like competing with others for things; if over three people set their sights on something, she would always back down.

Hence, faced with Caleb Yates’s pursuits, she only wanted to keep her distance, not wanting any trouble.

Caleb Yates tilted his mouth, flashing a devilish smile, "Can you finally give me a reply today?"

Renee unsurely asked, "What reply?"

Caleb Yates walked up to her, leaning down with a wicked grin, "I want you to be my girlfriend. You said you weren’t yet eighteen, and I thought, fair enough, we shouldn’t break the law, but you’re turning eighteen in three days. Can you give me a reply today?"

Renee glanced at the people coming and going outside the girls’ dormitory and stepped forward to grab his sleeve: "Let’s talk at the back."

Caleb shoved one hand in his pocket, lazily following behind her.

Under the sycamore tree behind the girls’ dormitory, where there were fewer people, Renee stopped.

She turned around to look at Caleb. Because of their height difference, she had to tilt her head up to see him.

Caleb considerately lowered his head: "Renee, I genuinely want to date you."

Renee frowned slightly: "But I..."

Caleb interrupted her: "I know you don’t like me, but you don’t like any other guy either, do you?"

Renee remained silent. She couldn’t lie and say she had someone she liked. Lying was useless in front of Caleb. Not only did she truly not have anyone she liked, but even if she did, if she dared to say it, Caleb would surely investigate and use some strong method to force that person to leave her.

Caleb touched her head: "You can agree for now. I promise I won’t touch you until you like me."

Renee lowered her eyes: "Can I refuse?"

Caleb curved his lips into a roguish smile: "No."

Renee: "If I insist on refusing, will there be any consequences?"

Caleb raised an eyebrow: "No consequences, it’s a law-governed society, what could I possibly do to you?"

Renee sighed in relief. No consequences—that’s good.

However, before she could exhale completely, Caleb said again: "But I can’t guarantee that you’ll have peace of mind to study for the next year."

Renee: "..."

It seemed that she really had no choice but to agree today.

"Alright," she agreed helplessly, "but I have a condition."

Caleb restrained the urge to hug her: "Go ahead."

Before making her request, Renee took two steps back, ready to run off at any moment.

She raised one slender, fair finger: "One month. After one month, if you haven’t made me like you, we break up, and from then on, you can’t bother me again."

Caleb let out a snort of laughter: "Are you playing me?"

Renee deliberately provoked him: "Is senior not confident in himself?"

Caleb saw through her thoughts but still smiled and agreed: "Okay."

Three days later, June 19 according to the solar calendar was Renee’s eighteenth birthday.

Disregarding Renee’s objections, Caleb forcibly booked a luxurious suite with an outdoor garden at Kyoro Hotel to celebrate her birthday. Besides inviting her three dorm mates, he also invited a bunch of his good buddies.

Bang—

A confetti cannon sprayed colorful paper strips, filling the garden with cascading confetti, as if someone were hosting a wedding.

"Happy Birthday."

"Happy Birthday, Renee."

Renee, wearing a birthday crown, stood amidst a pile of confetti, forcing a smile as she accepted everyone’s wishes.

After the congratulations, a guy with a silver earring suddenly laughed and said: "Congratulations to Caleb, finally got the sister-in-law."

As he spoke, the guy elbowed Caleb.

Caleb, following the force, stumbled and fell against Renee.

Renee frowned and pushed Caleb slightly. Just as she was about to head out, her phone rang, displaying a call from her grandma.

She picked up her phone and said to Caleb: "I’m going downstairs to take a call." Afraid Caleb might follow her, she quickly added, "You don’t have to follow me."

Walking out of the private room with her phone, Renee exhaled. She really didn’t like this kind of occasion and just hoped the month would pass smoothly.

The phone stopped ringing, but she didn’t return to the private room immediately. Instead, she took her phone and went down to the garden behind the hotel’s first floor.

In early summer, the roses in the garden were in full bloom.

Standing under the roses, Renee returned the call to her grandma. As soon as the call connected, she started smiling. Beneath the vibrant roses, her white, tender, sweet face appeared like a lotus freshly emerged from the water, outshining the vivid roses with its refreshingly elegant beauty.

On the second floor of the luxury hall, a group of privileged young men sat inside, chatting and laughing.

By the south window, a man was hidden in half shadow, his sharply defined face accentuated by the light and dark edges.

The man had a cigarette in his thin lips, his long fingers resting on the window sill, his eyes deep like a dark pool.

"What’s Boss Yates doing sitting so far away?" Aiden Grant laughed invitingly, "Since you’re here, come join us for a couple of games."

Jack Yates didn’t reply, indifferently turning his head, just in time to see a young girl standing under the roses outside the window. Her small, pure, tender face was even more delicate than the wall full of pink flowers. The girl held a phone in one hand and lightly touched a pink flower atop her head with the other. Suddenly, she bit her lip and smiled.

Jack Yates’ heart skipped a beat, as if something had tickled him, making him feel a tingling itch.

He squinted, took a heavy drag from his cigarette, and suppressed the itch in his heart.

Simon Forrester came into the room and glanced at Jack Yates by the window, joking: "Your nephew Caleb is next door celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday. It’s quite lively. Aren’t you going to join them?"

Jack Yates still didn’t speak, his thin lips slightly parted as he exhaled a half ring of smoke toward the window. Through the smoke, his gaze was as predatory as a beast’s as he looked at the tender, delicate girl outside.