CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: SOMEONE HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN MY HEART

When Renee Winslow was talking to Zachary Lynch, she was facing away from the entrance, so she didn’t see Jack Yates standing at the back door of the auditorium.

Although Zachary Lynch was facing the entrance, his attention was entirely on Renee Winslow, and he didn’t notice Jack Yates standing at the back door.

A few people noticed Jack Yates, attracted by his handsome appearance and cool, powerful aura, unable to resist looking while also afraid to look too much because of his intimidating presence.

Jack Yates didn’t let his gaze linger on anyone else; he merely glanced briefly at Renee Winslow, without looking further.

He was about to enter the auditorium when his phone rang, so he paused, turned around, and stepped out to answer the call.

Meanwhile, Renee Winslow received a call from Jordan Gable, the president of the club.

She responded with a few "hmm"s on the phone. After hanging up, she frowned slightly.

Zachary Lynch asked urgently, "What did the president say?"

Renee Winslow replied, "The president said the school leadership will come to watch the program, and we need to rearrange the auditorium to set aside seats for the leaders."

Zachary Lynch raised his eyebrows in surprise, "The school leadership is coming? Is it the department head, or who?"

Renee Winslow said, "The principal, the secretary, and leaders from various departments."

Zachary Lynch was even more surprised, "Both the principal and the secretary are coming?"

Renee Winslow nodded, "Yes."

She knew very well that the school leadership coming to watch their program must be related to Jack Yates.

Zachary Lynch scratched his head, "It’s a bit strange, isn’t it? In previous years, school leaders never watched any club programs. Even for the school’s New Year’s party, only leaders from each faculty and department would watch it. Big leaders like the principal and secretary hardly ever attend. And we’re just a small theater club, how could it attract so many big leaders?"

Renee Winslow averted her eyes, coughing in guilt: "Who knows? Since the leaders are coming, let’s just be ready to welcome them and not think too much about it."

Zachary Lynch really didn’t think too much about it, mainly because he couldn’t think that deeply.

Both were club officials, and they led the club members to rearrange the auditorium.

Renee Winslow seized a moment to send Jack Yates a message.

Durian Ice Cream Flavor: [Are you here?]

After sending the message and just as she was about to put away her phone, she received a reply from Jack Yates.

YE: [Yes, I’m here.]

Durian Ice Cream Flavor: [Where are you? I don’t see you.]

Durian Ice Cream Flavor: [Have you entered the auditorium?]

YE: [Not yet.]

Durian Ice Cream Flavor: [We’re still setting up the auditorium. Wait a while before coming in; it’s chaotic inside right now, and there’s no place to sit even if you come.]

Her true thought was that if Jack Yates, with his appearance and aura, entered the auditorium now, it would surely cause a sensation and make many people feel nervous.

More importantly, if Jack Yates kept staring at her, their relationship would easily be discovered.

Renee Winslow absolutely didn’t want anyone at school to know about her relationship with Jack Yates. After all, Caleb Yates used to be a prominent figure at their school, making it easy for people to dig up the uncle-nephew relationship between Caleb Yates and Jack Yates.

If their relationship were exposed, she couldn’t continue studying at the school.

Preoccupied with her thoughts, Renee Winslow seemed somewhat distracted; she nearly tripped while walking down the steps from the stage, but fortunately, Zachary Lynch was there to catch her.

Renee Winslow smiled and said thank you, and when she looked up, she saw Jack Yates standing at the entrance of the auditorium, flanked by Secretary Tierney and Principal Langdon.

Zachary Lynch was still holding Renee Winslow’s arm, and she quickly reacted by withdrawing her arm.

Zachary Lynch didn’t think much of it, assuming Renee Winslow didn’t want the school leadership to see them.

Renee Winslow hurriedly withdrew her gaze, not daring to look at Jack Yates.

Jack Yates didn’t look much at Renee Winslow either, his gaze lingering for just a moment before shifting away.

He knew Renee Winslow didn’t want people to know about their relationship, especially not people at the school.

While it made him uncomfortable, he still respected her wishes.

If not for considering Renee Winslow’s feelings, he wouldn’t have notified Secretary Tierney.

He could come more freely on his own, but visiting the school alone to watch the club’s program would easily cause misunderstandings; only accompanying the school leadership would people not overthink.

When Secretary Tierney received a call from Jack Yates’s secretary, he was stunned for a long time, nearly mistaking it for a scam call. It wasn’t until he confirmed it was indeed Jack Yates’s secretary that he accepted the invitation, feeling honored.

Jack Yates’s secretary, Secretary Lowell, kindly instructed, "Mr. Yates specifically emphasized not to trouble the students. Secretary Tierney, please don’t have them prepare any additional programs, and there’s no need for any special arrangements for the party. Everything should remain as it is today."

Secretary Tierney repeatedly assured, "Yes, yes, Secretary Lowell, rest assured, we will follow Mr. Yates’s instructions."

Coming back to reality, Secretary Tierney respectfully smiled and said, "Mr. Yates, please come in."

Principal Langdon echoed, "Mr. Yates, please."

Jack Yates acknowledged calmly, then walked into the large auditorium.

On the leader’s desk beneath the podium, there were nameplates for all the leaders, but the most central desk was empty, with nothing placed there. This was something Jordan Gable specifically instructed Renee Winslow over the phone.

Jordan Gable didn’t explain the reason, and Renee Winslow didn’t ask, but she knew the reason, though even knowing, she could only pretend not to.

Secretary Tierney extended a polite gesture, "Mr. Yates, please."

Jack Yates didn’t stand on ceremony, nodded slightly, and sat down.

Secretary Tierney smiled and said to Renee Winslow, "Don’t be nervous, just act naturally."

Principal Langdon added with a smile, "Students, enjoy yourselves, don’t hold back just because we’re here."

Renee Winslow smiled in response, "Thank you for your support, we will certainly perform well."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jack Yates looked at Renee Winslow, watching her captivating and lively smile, feeling a tickle in his throat, his Adam’s apple involuntarily rolling.

Renee Winslow met his gaze for a moment, feeling a sudden panic, she quickly averted her eyes.

After that, leaders from various departments gradually arrived, filling the entire first row.

Other club officials invited by Renee Winslow could only sit in the second and third rows.

As the vice president of the club, Renee Winslow was not only responsible for planning the entire event but also acted as the program host alongside her partner, Zachary Lynch.

They both stepped onto the stage together, standing side by side, smiling at the audience below.

Renee Winslow started the opening with a smile.

As she spoke, Zachary Lynch turned his head to look at her, smiling with gentle warmth.

Renee Winslow glanced at Jack Yates under the podium, and seeing his cold, serious face caused her hand holding the microphone to tremble slightly.

Zachary Lynch thought she was nervous because of the crowd, lifted his hand to gently pat the back of her hand, and joked humorously, "Hold the microphone steady, the leaders are watching."

The crowd below laughed heartily.

Secretary Tierney and other school leaders also laughed.

Only Jack Yates didn’t laugh, still maintaining a cold expression, his eyes seemingly filled with a fierce snowstorm.

Renee Winslow forced a smile and said, "Now, let’s invite our first performer of the evening..."

Turning to leave the stage, her legs were trembling.

As they watched Renee Winslow and Zachary Lynch leave side by side, people began to discuss.

"Renee Winslow and Zachary Lynch complement each other well."

"I feel like Zachary Lynch likes Renee Winslow, the way he looked at her with that longing gaze."

Though the leaders came to watch the performance, since it was a New Year’s party, not a serious meeting, everyone was relaxed.

Then someone said, "That’s because you don’t know about her and Caleb Yates."

"You mean our former campus heartthrob?"

Sitting next to Jack Yates, Secretary Tierney knew Caleb Yates was Jack Yates’s nephew, quickly turned to a nearby male student, "Tell everyone to focus on the performance."

The student, the vice president of the Astronomy Club, immediately stood up and said loudly, "Students, focus on the performance, stop talking."

Secretary Tierney smiled and told Jack Yates, "Kids talk nonsense, Mr. Yates, don’t take it to heart."

Jack Yates curled his lips in an inexplicable smile, "Young people should be lively."

As he spoke, he unscrewed the cap of a water bottle and tilted his head back to take a sip, revealing the sensual movement of his Adam’s apple.

After a few rounds of performances, when it was Renee Winslow’s turn to go on stage to sing, her emotions had calmed down.

The lights dimmed, and a soothing melody began to play.

Renee Winslow had changed her outfit, wearing an artistic white dress with a light yellow knit sweater over it.

Under the spotlight, she appeared warm and gentle like the winter sun.

Holding the microphone, she looked down slightly and began to sing.

You molded a city with mud

Promised to marry me

After many rotations

And passing through several doors

...

Since then, my heart’s home has had one resident

While singing, Renee Winslow kept her eyes elsewhere, not daring to look in Jack Yates’s direction.

Jack Yates had one hand resting on his knee, the other on the red velvet-draped table, his slender fingers tapping the surface, his deep and dark eyes focused on her.