CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: DON’T SMILE AT OTHER MEN

On Christmas Eve, Jack Yates took Renee Winslow to a Japanese restaurant, not in a skyscraper on a bustling commercial street, but in a courtyard with white walls and black tiles, tranquil amidst the hustle, with an elegant environment.

Renee Winslow followed behind Jack Yates, walked into the courtyard landscaped with dry gardens, stepping on a winding path paved with white sandstones, listening to the rustling wind blowing through bamboo leaves and the melodious sound of a guqin, until they reached a house. Lifting the bamboo curtain, they entered the restaurant’s main hall.

At the entrance, a man dressed in a black hemp robe, sleeves rolled to his elbows, with a tall and thin figure stood behind the counter.

Seeing Jack Yates, the man in the black robe simply said blandly: "You’re here."

Jack Yates replied nonchalantly: "Yeah."

The man glanced at Renee Winslow who was standing beside Jack Yates, lowered his head and continued tidying the counter: "Have a seat."

Jack Yates led Renee Winslow to a seat near the window, picked up the menu, and handed it to her.

Renee Winslow looked at his sharply defined face, and asked softly: "Why did you think of coming here to eat Japanese food?"

Although she likes Japanese food, she’s not very fond of it. She just finds it novel and wants to try it out, but she’s never told Jack Yates that she wants to eat Japanese food, nor has she expressed such a thought in front of him.

Logically speaking, Jack Yates couldn’t possibly know what she thinks, unless he likes Japanese food himself.

Jack Yates naturally realized that Renee Winslow liked it; once when they passed a Japanese restaurant, Renee Winslow turned her head and looked at it for several seconds. That night he wanted to take her there, but something came up, and it got pushed until today.

However, he didn’t say anything; he alone knowing these things was enough. Saying it would only make Renee Winslow uncomfortable, and he didn’t want her to feel awkward and embarrassed in front of him.

Jack Yates leaned forward, closer to her, lowered his voice and replied: "Even though it’s a Japanese restaurant, it’s established in Cathan; it brings tax revenue to the country and also boosts GDP."

Renee Winslow looked at his serious demeanor and chuckled lightly: "That’s not what I meant. I know you are a retired soldier, with a loyal heart towards the sun."

Jack Yates raised his eyebrow: "Then what do you mean?"

Renee Winslow knew Jack Yates was teasing her, so she teased back: "I thought you’d take me to eat fried noodles and roast duck."

Jack Yates curled his lips, reached out to pinch her cheeks still with baby fat: "Eating those at night easily makes you gain weight, sweetheart, you need to control yourself; if you eat more, you’ll become a chubby girl."

Renee Winslow slapped his hand away, glared at him angrily: "You’re the one who’s fat!"

Jack Yates picked up the tea cup and took a sip, smiling at her with amusement in his eyes.

Renee Winslow, with her face flushed like sunset from his blazing gaze, glared at him, feeling both shy and annoyed.

She crossed her arms over her chest, spoke defiantly: "I’m not eating dinner today!"

Jack Yates grabbed her forearm, pinched the soft flesh on her arm, smiling with raised brows: "Really not eating?"

Renee Winslow: "Not eating!"

Jack Yates stood up: "Then let’s go back."

Renee Winslow quickly clung to his arm: "Oh, we’re already here, let’s eat something." Then added hurriedly, "I’m not eating, but you can eat."

Jack Yates shook his head gently with a tender, doting smile: "I’m not eating, I don’t like Japanese food."

While speaking, he kept looking at Renee Winslow, at her puffed-up face with a charming demeanor, then chuckled and added: "I like eating fried noodles and roast duck."

Renee Winslow retorted: "You’ll eventually eat yourself into becoming a big fatty!"

In fact, she liked roast duck too; she just didn’t dare eat it at night fearing she’d gain weight since she has been putting on weight recently.

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly started gaining weight this semester.

Seeing someone coming in, Jack Yates stopped teasing her, patting her hand: "Let go."

Renee Winslow let go, giving him a glare: "Fake seriousness."

Jack Yates chuckled, no longer bickering with her.

After finishing dinner, Renee Winslow hooked her arm around Jack Yates’ arm as they walked out, passing by the counter, she smiled at the owner.

She smiled at the owner purely because he was Jack Yates’ friend, only then showing a friendly face.

Just as she walked out of the Japanese restaurant, she was suddenly lifted in Jack Yates’ single arm embrace.

"Ah!" Her body suddenly lost weight, Renee Winslow screamed, panickedly clinging to Jack Yates’ neck, hitting his shoulder, "What are you doing?"

Jack Yates, with a stern face, carried her to behind the bamboo grove, pressed against the pavilion’s post, his knee pushing between her legs, asked sharply: "Why were you smiling just now?"

Renee Winslow looked puzzled: "Smiling about what?"

Jack Yates pinched her face: "Why smile at other men?"

Renee Winslow: "..."

Are you crazy?

Renee Winslow felt baffled: "Isn’t he your friend? That’s why I..."

Jack Yates released his grip on her face, his thumb firmly rubbed against her lips: "Renee, why do you always forget what I’ve said? I told you not to show that kind of smile to other men; why can’t you remember it, huh?"