CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: FORCIBLY SUPPRESSING HIS DESIRE FOR HER

Renee Winslow had just finished a phone call and was about to return to the private room when Caleb Yates approached, calling her from a distance.

"Renee."

Renee turned her head, "Sorry, it was my grandma who called. I haven’t seen her for over half a year, and she tends to nag a lot when she calls, so I spoke a bit longer."

Caleb looked at her sun-kissed rosy cheeks, delicate and fair, even softer than the roses in the garden, with a pair of captivating, shimmering eyes that were like peach blossoms.

He felt a sudden twinge in his lower abdomen, an instinctive physical reaction flaring up, and he immediately wanted to take her to the hotel room he had already booked.

But he dared not show it, forcibly suppressing his intense desire for her, fearing he might scare her away.

He raised his hand to stroke the top of her head, his smile carrying a roguish flair, "No need to apologize; don’t be polite with me in the future."

Politeness implied distance, and he didn’t want her to be distant; he wanted her passion.

Renee nodded and said no more.

Caleb naturally took her hand, leading her out of the garden.

From the window on the second floor, a pair of deep, sharp eyes were fixed on their joined hands.

If a gaze could turn into a blade, those tightly clasped hands would have been severed.

Aiden Grant, hands in his pockets, walked up to Jack Yates, looking at the youthful, vibrant couple downstairs, smacking his lips in admiration, "Your Young Master Sanders has got quite the girlfriend. She’s as beautiful as a fairy."

Jack remained silent, his face stern and brooding, his demeanor consistently cold, with no hint of emotion in his eyes.

Aiden glanced at Jack’s eternally icy expression, feeling like he’d punched a pillow, and with piqued frustration, turned back to the card table to continue playing.

After leaving the garden, Renee used sweaty palms as an excuse to pull her hand away, silently pondering her real plan.

She was well aware that she did not like Caleb Yates, and agreeing to date him was just a stalling tactic.

Since she didn’t like him, she had to find a way to rid herself of Caleb Yates; the only way was to make him lose interest in her, or even find her annoying.

She quickly made a decision, and after letting go of Caleb’s hand, she walked briskly, deliberately taking large steps, two stairs at a time, using her hand as a fan to blow at her ear while loudly proclaiming, "Oh, I’m so hungry, let’s go eat now."

Caleb chuckled, and unhurriedly followed her.

While eating, Renee broke from her usual ladylike demeanor, standing with her bowl to grab dishes, dexterously wielding her chopsticks, eating eagerly and rapidly, her cheeks puffed like a pufferfish, reaching for more before she’d even swallowed what was in her mouth, as if competing with someone.

Ivy Jansen, Joyce Pierce: "..."

The two looked on, stunned.

Having known Renee for almost a year, attending classes and sharing a dormitory, they had always seen her as gentle and quiet, with a demure grace. Although she occasionally showed a lively and playful side, she was mostly gentle and composed, whether walking or eating, always slow and deliberate, never like today’s whirlwind eating spree as if she hadn’t eaten for days.

Ivy put down her chopsticks, looking at Renee with concern, "Renee, what’s wrong, did something happen at home?"

Renee raised her head, her cheeks still puffed, stretched her neck, forced herself to swallow the food in her mouth, and replied, "No."

Ivy: "Then why are you suddenly eating so fast, I thought something happened to you."

Renee chuckled, "Actually, I’ve always eaten like this, before I was just pretending to be a lady to catch the senior’s attention. Now that I’m with him, I don’t see the need to..."

Before finishing her sentence, she glanced at Caleb and continued picking at her food.

Ivy: "..."

Everyone present: "..."

The most shocked were Caleb’s friends, who all looked at him, suppressing their laughs, eager to see how he’d react.

Caleb raised an eyebrow, giving Renee an amused look, "You should have said earlier; I like you just the way you are now. Eating well is a blessing, here, have some more."

He placed a large meatball in Renee’s bowl and added two pieces of greasy sweet and sour pork ribs, looking at her eagerly.

Renee nearly choked on her food, coughing and covering her mouth.

Her clever plan backfired, and she forced herself to finish what was in her bowl, feeling stuffed to the point of nausea.

Seeing that Caleb was about to add more food, she quickly covered her bowl with her hand, "That’s enough, I’m already full."

If she ate any more, she would really throw up.

After the meal, Caleb wanted to take Renee to the hotel to rest. Renee dared not agree, knowing it would be like a rabbit entering a wolf’s lair; she hastily claimed she needed to return to the dorm to change for menstruation, fleeing with Ivy and the others in tow.

As soon as she returned to the dormitory, she flopped onto the bed, sprawling out her limbs, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Ivy stood by her bed, patting her leg, "Renee, do you not like Caleb Yates?"

Renee answered listlessly, "I never did like him."

Guys like the roguishly handsome campus prince Caleb were indeed popular with girls at school, but everyone has their preferences, and Renee didn’t like his type because she knew such boys are often fickle, possibly dating someone else while pursuing her. There’s also a more critical reason: Caleb’s family was too influential for her to get involved with.

Ivy asked, "You don’t like him, so why did you agree to be with him?"

Renee sighed helplessly, "I didn’t want to, but if I didn’t agree, my days would just get worse."

Joyce curiously asked, "Caleb Yates is handsome and wealthy; aren’t you even a little tempted by the money?"

Renee sat up, "If I said I wasn’t interested in money, that would be too fake. I’m not a haughty fairy untouched by worldly means; I’m just an ordinary person who loves money. But I’m clear that getting involved with someone like Caleb Yates would bring a lot of trouble. It’s not only jealousy from others to worry about, but with a family like his, it’s uncertain whether he already has a fiancée."

Heirs from ordinary wealthy families often have arranged marriages, let alone a high-status member of The Capital Circle like Caleb Yates.

If he has a prominent match or a fiancée chosen by his parents, falling for Caleb would be like digging her own grave.

Ivy: "But you’re with him now; you can’t break up immediately, right?"

Renee said, "Breaking up is definite, but not right away. I’ll think of a way to make Caleb himself want to end it."

Ivy curiously asked, "What way?"

Renee gave a sly smile, "It’s a secret, won’t tell you yet. Once my plan succeeds, I’ll share the results with you."

Her plan was to agree for now, to keep Caleb Yates appeased, and then find a way to make him lose interest in her.

Only when Caleb Yates lost interest in her could she get rid of him.

Ivy Jansen, considering her lunchtime situation, immediately understood her intention. She slapped Renee’s leg heavily and sighed, "Seems like being pretty isn’t always a good thing."

Renee Winslow self-mockingly tugged at the corners of her lips. Playing the beauty card alone was a losing game.

Unfortunately, it was the only card she had. Lacking family background, connections, or any significant intelligence, she didn’t even have the ambition to strive forward, content with her current situation.

Over the next half month, because of upcoming exams, Renee Winslow didn’t even take on any part-time work, spending her days in the library reading and solving problems.

Caleb Yates asked her out several times, but she declined each time, using studying as an excuse.

On Friday, Caleb Yates called her again. Without waiting for her to speak, he said in an unhappy tone, "Renee Winslow, are you playing me?"

Listening to the repeated clicks of a lighter on the phone, Renee Winslow didn’t need to see to know that Caleb Yates was definitely furious.

Not daring to confront him directly, she softened her voice to explain, "How would I dare? I really have to study. Final exams are coming up. In the Chinese department, there’s a lot to memorize. My memory isn’t good, and I’m not smart enough; I have to repeatedly recite to understand."

Caleb Yates replied, "Fine, after exams, I’ll first take you on a trip, and then you’ll stay at my place for two months."

Renee Winslow was shocked, "Stay... at your place? Isn’t that inappropriate?"

Has he gone mad? He actually plans to take her home?

Caleb Yates lied, "My parents are working out of town. I live alone, no one manages me."

In fact, he wasn’t living with his parents at all. After age fifteen, he moved out of The Yates Family’s old mansion to live independently, having his own separate apartment.

As for his parents, they never married. He was non-marital.

But these were things he couldn’t tell Renee Winslow for now. He planned to share his family situation once they were truly together. Telling her now would only make her more resistant to him.

Hearing that Caleb Yates planned to take her home, Renee Winslow’s mind was buzzing, utterly annoyed.

She replied with a hint of impatience, "Let’s talk about it after the exams."

Caleb Yates’s deep laugh carried a hint of coldness, "Renee Winslow, my patience is limited. If you don’t want to become a target of resentment, you’d better not refuse."

Renee Winslow gritted her teeth in anger, "Fine! I agree! But Caleb Yates, don’t regret it! I’m telling you, I have plenty of bad habits. I’m not at all what you see. That’s all an act! The real me is lazy and greedy, messy, snores, and grinds my teeth while sleeping. As long as you can tolerate it, I’d be happy to stay at your place. Anyway, I have nowhere to go during summer vacation. You’d better not kick me out, otherwise I’ll make a scene at your doorstep, cursing you as a heartless scoundrel! Making you infamous!"

No face, no shame, she threw caution to the wind!

She wanted to see if Caleb Yates, this noble young master, could withstand the bad habits she described.

Caleb Yates, however, laughed heartily, "Renee Winslow, I find you more intriguing."

Renee Winslow: "..."

Damn you! Nothing sticks to this bastard.

Three days later, exams ended.

Caleb Yates parked an incredibly cool orange sports car outside the school gate, leaning with one hand in his pocket against the car, a cigarette between his fingers, with smoke lazily rising.

Renee Winslow, carrying a backpack and pulling a suitcase, walked up to him and roughly shoved the suitcase at him.

Caleb Yates patted her head, secured her suitcase, opened the passenger door for her, and then bent down to buckle her seatbelt. Taking her by surprise, he quickly kissed her cheek.

Renee Winslow couldn’t dodge quickly enough, falling into his plan, glaring at him angrily, and rubbed her face with the back of her hand.

Caleb Yates settled into the car, licking his lips with a roguish air, and said with a smile, "Today, I’ll first take you to my family’s old mansion. Tomorrow, we’ll head back to my place."

Renee Winslow furrowed her brows, "What? To your family’s old mansion?"

Caleb Yates calmly explained, "The old mansion is where our whole family gathers. Most of the time, it’s where my grandparents and great-grandfather live. But last month, my grandpa was sent on a local inspection. My grandma and grandaunt went with my great-grandpa to Aria City to escape the summer heat. My uncles and aunt don’t usually go back; during holidays, the old mansion is empty. My cousin and a family friend are home from vacation and invited me over. The mansion is large, with three independent buildings. We can stay in one without being disturbed."

Renee Winslow was so angry she wanted to jump out of the car, but ultimately held back, mainly because she was too scared to jump, prioritizing safety.

After a moment of silence, she asked, "What if your uncles come back?"

Caleb Yates waved it off, "Not likely. My second uncle is a director, currently filming at Azure Coast Studios. He won’t be back anytime soon. Only my third uncle is in Northcity, but he rarely returns to the old mansion. Plus, he broke his leg half a month ago, so he’s recuperating at Mount Jeval Dawson Estate, and it’s unlikely he’ll return."

Renee Winslow said no more. Having already gotten into Caleb Yates’s car, there was no turning back; she could only hope nothing would happen at his house.

-

An hour later, the orange sports car reached the imposing iron gate of the garden, with security personnel armed with batons standing on either side. As the gate opened, the window slid halfway down. The security personnel greeted respectfully, and Caleb Yates raised a hand in response, whistling casually as he drove into the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, there was an asphalt path specifically for vehicles, lined with ginkgo trees. At the height of summer, the lush green ginkgo leaves blocked out the sun, casting shade over the path. As the summer evening breeze blew, the fan-like ginkgo leaves danced in the air like a group of little green sprites, naturally picturesque.

Renee Winslow turned her head to look out the window, silently observing the elegant courtyard enclosed by gray tiles and white walls. Suddenly, four words came to mind—deep courtyard estate.

The courtyard not only had a path for vehicles but also a rubber track for running. Along the track, ornamental bamboo was planted, and in the evening breeze, the bamboo leaves swayed, creating a pleasant rustling sound.

The car moved out of the ginkgo-lined road and turned onto another path, where a Scholar Tree stood. The tree trunk was sturdy, with abundant branches and leaves, appearing quite aged, estimated to be at least a century old.

Behind the Scholar Tree, a two-story building in traditional Chinese style could be faintly seen.

Caleb Yates slowed the car and pointed to the building behind the Scholar Tree, saying to Renee Winslow, "See that building to the west? Behind the century-old Scholar Tree? That’s where my third uncle lives."

Renee Winslow replied, "Oh."

Caleb Yates continued, "My third uncle has a particularly cold and ruthless personality, even I’m afraid of him. Since he recently broke his leg, his temper has become even worse. Avoid the building where he stays. If he comes back and you accidentally offend him, both of us are done for."

Renee Winslow nodded repeatedly, taking it to heart.

After the car moved past the Scholar Tree, Renee Winslow quietly suggested, "How about you just take me back to school?"

Caleb Yates reassured her, "It’s vacation time; you don’t have a place to stay if you return to school. No worries; it’s highly unlikely my third uncle will come back. Besides, we’re only staying one night. Even if he returns, he won’t bother us as long as we don’t go near him."

Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang. He answered it with a casual, "Stop rushing; I’m already home."

The guy on the other end of the line suppressed his voice, "I was about to remind you, third uncle just came back, just now."