CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: WANT TO TRY THE NEW BATHTUB?

Renee Winslow didn’t answer Jack Yates’s question. She didn’t say a word and just hung up the phone.

This was her first time coldly hanging up on Jack Yates. Previously, after every call with him, she would tenderly say goodbye, ensuring Jack had nothing more to say before hanging up.

On the other side, Jack Yates was left hanging after Renee Winslow heartlessly cut the call. He didn’t try calling her back.

He knew there was no point in calling again since Renee wouldn’t pick up. Instead of wasting time on such meaningless actions, it was better to finish work early and go pick her up from school.

Renee Winslow looked at her phone and let out a long sigh. She suddenly felt extremely fatigued, truly exhausted, emotionally drained. Being with Jack Yates, she had to be particularly cautious, always overthinking every word she said, fearing she’d say something wrong and anger him.

The main problem was, she was already trying her best to accommodate him, yet still managed to anger him. No matter what they talked about, he always managed to bring Caleb Yates into the conversation.

She really wanted to confront him directly: "From the beginning, you knew I was Caleb Yates’s girlfriend, so why insist on being with me? And once together, why keep harping on about it? If you can’t handle it, then don’t play this game!"

But in the end, she dared not say such words. As Jack Yates pointed out, she couldn’t bear his wrath.

When Jack Yates got angry, he wouldn’t yell or hit; he only needed to be harsh in that matter to torment her to death.

When he was happy, that issue was pleasurable for her; when unhappy, it was torture.

Renee Winslow didn’t want to suffer, so ultimately, she endured and didn’t say those words.

After hanging up on Jack Yates, she sent him a message: [I’m going shopping with my roommate in a bit, don’t have the driver come over.]

In fact, she wasn’t going shopping with her roommate. After sending the message, she went to a cat café bookstore outside school, ordered a cup of coffee, and sat inside petting cats while reading.

She sat there until nearly eleven o’clock and was about to leave when her phone rang. Seeing the screen, it was Jack Yates calling.

This time, she didn’t dare hang up again and answered.

"Hello," she intentionally said with a pouty voice, "what is it?"

Jack Yates asked, "Where are you?"

Her tone was indifferent: "Outside."

Jack Yates: "Send me your location."

Resigned, she compromised: "I’ll come find you instead."

Jack Yates’s tone was filled with the authority of a superior, allowing no argument: "I’ll come find you."

Renee Winslow had already walked out of the cat café bookstore, but she turned back, sat in her original seat, and casually petted the ragdoll cat next to her.

"I’m at the cat café bookstore outside school," she said, mentioning the surrounding shop names.

It wasn’t long before Jack Yates arrived. As he pushed the door open, everyone in the store turned to look at him, with some even letting out small exclamations.

Renee Winslow, however, didn’t move. She glanced at him and then withdrew her gaze, continuing to pet the cats.

Jack Yates walked to her side, sat down next to her, and reached out to gently stroke her head.

Renee Winslow sniffed softly and turned her head away, avoiding him.

Jack Yates pulled her into his arms, leaned close to her ear, and asked, "Are you angry?"

She replied sulkily, "No, I wouldn’t dare."

Jack Yates glanced at the ragdoll cat on her lap, his large hand resting on the soft furry back, and said in a low voice, "Shall I get you one like this?"

Only then did Renee Winslow lift her head to look at him, her lips pressing together repeatedly, but ultimately she couldn’t hold it in. She slowly smiled, looking both adorable and sweet.

"Really?" she asked with a smile.

Jack Yates suppressed the itch in his throat, took her hand, and said, "Let’s go."

Hand in hand, they walked out of the cat café bookstore, with everyone’s eyes following them far into the distance.

As Renee Winslow walked through the crowded street outside school, her heart inexplicably sped up with a sense of blossoming shyness, like they were newly in love.

Jack Yates looked at her tender, rosy face, his throat feeling suddenly dry and tight. His Adam’s apple rolled urgently as he swallowed and gently kneaded her soft and slender hand.

Renee Winslow raised her head to look at him, only to meet his abyss-like dark eyes. Her heart tightened sharply, beating faster, and even her breathing quickened.

Jack Yates clearly sensed her change, his gaze becoming darker and more profound.

Frightened, Renee Winslow quickly flung his hand away and hurried forward.

Jack Yates caught up with her, held her hand again, and led her to where the car was parked. He opened the car door and nudged her inside, then pressed himself in, leaning down to kiss her.

Immediately, Renee Winslow felt the air in the car become thin. She pressed her hands against Jack Yates’s shoulders, trying her best to push him away.

Jack Yates pulled back, placing a light peck on her lips, his voice low and hoarse: "Don’t hang up on me again."

Renee Winslow looked at him reproachfully: "Unless you stop going crazy."

Jack Yates leaned his forehead against hers and took a breath: "You’ve become quite bold now."

Renee Winslow knew when to stop. Seeing Jack Yates in a good mood, she stopped quarreling, raising her hand to his neck, nuzzling his face like a spoiled child: "It’s because of you, spoiling me."

Jack Yates laughed softly, buried his head in her neck, and lightly bit down on her within the curve of her neck.

Renee Winslow pushed him: "Let’s go have lunch. I’m starving."

Jack Yates raised his head, his gaze deep as he looked at her: "I’m hungry too."

Renee Winslow understood his look, knowing his "hunger" wasn’t just a feeling from his stomach – there were other desires as well.

Her face flushed, she pushed him away: "We have to eat first before anything else..."

Jack Yates got out of the passenger side and helped her with the seatbelt.

Jack Yates chose the place to eat, while Renee Winslow made the reservation. He provided three options, and she selected a Cantonese restaurant with a good reputation.

After lunch, Jack Yates took Renee Winslow to a newly purchased apartment, a spacious unit with an open-air garden. It’s just 1.3 kilometers from her school, making commuting very convenient.

Renee Winslow knew this place well, the famous Cloudstream Lake development known for its high-end apartments.

Before, when working part-time on weekends, she had handed out flyers for Cloudstream Lake, earning eighty bucks a day.

Back then, she would look up from outside, never imagining one day she would live inside.

Walking into the house, gazing at the exquisite and elegant room, Renee Winslow asked, "Did you decorate it yourself, or was it bought as is?"

Knowing Jack Yates’s personality, she thought he wouldn’t use someone else’s designs and probably redecorated himself. But given the short amount of time, that’s why she asked.

Jack Yates replied, "This apartment was originally a furnished property, I just made some modifications."

Renee Winslow explored the bedrooms and found there were three in total, though only one was usable. The other two had been converted, one into a gym and the other into a study.

The study could be considered modified for her, but the gym was clearly for Jack Yates himself. She didn’t work out; only he consistently maintained his fitness routine.

She leaned out from the doorframe and asked, "Will you often stay here in the future?"

Jack Yates walked up behind her, pressing her against the door, his large hand gripping her smooth shoulder, lips brushing her ear, his breath heavy: "Where do you want me to stay, hmm?"

The sensation tickled her ear, causing her to shrink away: "I just thought it’s far from your company. If you stay here every day, it’ll be inconvenient for work."

Jack Yates nibbled her earlobe, not answering her question but whispering hoarsely in a breathy voice, "The new bathtub here has a massage function. Want to try it out?"