Tenant's Secret Love

Chapter 194: We're in love

After visiting Smile's grandfather at noon, Renee and I had a free afternoon, which I treasured because once we got past the New Year holiday, Renee and I would be caught up in our respective busy schedules. For Renee in particular, this year would be a major turning point, and I was sure she would come up with a countermeasure against Darren.

Time quickly passed into the evening, and Renee and I got ready for our date. We were in the bathroom, facing the same mirror, getting ourselves ready.

"Lucas, pass me the towel."

I handed Renee the towel and said to her, "Get the hair dryer from the drawer for me."

Renee also took out the hair dryer from the drawer on her side. When I took it, the two of us couldn't help but laugh. In the past, we would never have had the opportunity to ask each other for help like this, but this represents the trivial details of real life.

After drying my own hair, I helped Renee dry her wet hair, and then we looked at each other in the mirror.

I reminded Renee, "You should wear more clothes, it'll be cold at night, and I suspect that the place Harlan found tonight probably doesn't even have air conditioning."

"That's unlikely, isn't it?"

I nodded again to make sure, "It's very likely. Today we're going for the feeling of eating barbecue at the university. Speaking of barbecues, what I remember most is those small vendors setting up temporary food stalls outdoors with tents. Then a group of us crowded inside drinking beer and eating barbecue... By the way, have you ever eaten in a place like that?"

Renee shook her head and said, "No, but I've seen it."

"The atmosphere is what you eat in a place like that, talking nonsense about everything under the sun, but you probably wouldn't like it too much," I said, subconsciously thinking that Renee's cultural education and social class would make her less receptive to this kind of folk culture.

"I haven't tried it yet, so how do you know I won't like it?"

I smiled at Renee, but I understood that she was just going along with me. It was easy to understand. If she was interested, why had she never tried it before? I also understood that there were still too many differences in our habits to get along.

Of course, we did have some things in common. For example, neither of us liked to carry a lot of money in our wallets. Since I didn't have any money, Renee liked to use her credit card.

...

At 7pm, Renee and I arrived at the agreed barbecue restaurant on time, or rather barbecue stall. Robert and Harlan also arrived by car at almost the same time. The group of us parked the car on the road opposite the barbecue stall, but it attracted the attention of all the diners. They were a little confused as to why a group of people people who can afford Q7s, Land Rovers, and A4s would be hanging out at a barbecue stand. But we understood tacitly: this was Harlan using nostalgia from his college days to bridge the gap between Robert and me. After all, we had been close for four years.

When we got out of the car, Harlan was still holding Natalie very intimately, but Robert and Brittany weren't holding hands like they had on previous occasions. Renee and I also kept a little distance, but it wasn't intentional, because Renee didn't seem to be ready in front of them to accept that she had become my girlfriend, and of course neither was I.

After gathering together, everyone said "Happy New Year" to each other and each took out their own cigarettes to give to the others. It was a rare moment of tacit understanding, because at this time we were all smoking Zhongnanhai 8.

After exchanging cigarettes and lighting them, Harlan patted Robert on the shoulder and asked, "How was your time abroad?"

"It was okay... By the way, I brought you something from abroad."

Robert said, then went back to his car, took a bag out of it, and returned to us. He took out a box from the bag and handed it to Natalie and Harlan, saying, "This couple watch is for you."

Natalie immediately opened the packaging on the gift box and exclaimed, "A Cartier couple's watch, Robert, you really went all out!"

Robert smiled and said, 'You are my brother and sister-in-law, so it would hurt our feelings to talk about going all out."

Natalie put her arm around Robert's shoulder and said with joy, 'You have a good sense of awareness, and it was not in vain that I doted on you in college!"

"That's right. I still feel warm inside when I think of how you used to wash the jackets and deliver meals for a bunch of lazybones like us!"

Natalie pretended to be a parent, speaking with a tone of gratification, "It makes me feel warm inside to see that you've all become successful now. All these years have not been in vain!"

Everyone laughed together. Robert then took out a gift box from his bag and handed it to me, saying, "Lucas, you're single, so I only bought you a men's watch."

I looked at Renee next to me, didn't take the watch from Robert's hand, smiled, and said, "You're too kind, but I don't like wearing watches, you keep it, or give it to someone else in need."

The atmosphere became awkward because of my refusal, but from my point of view, I could not possibly accept Robert's watch worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Harlan quickly came out to smooth things over, "Lucas, just accept your brother's little token of appreciation, and if you really don't like wearing it, just consider it a collection of handicrafts!"

Just as I was about to find another excuse to refuse, Renee suddenly took my hand, and this action was seen clearly by everyone present, so that they all showed expressions of surprise at the same time.

Feeling the warmth from Renee's palm, my heart first skipped a beat, then suddenly calmed down. I raised my hand, which was joined with Renee's, and smiled at everyone, saying, "I'd like to take this opportunity to formally tell you all some good news... We're in love, this time for real!"

Everyone looked at me first, and finally their gaze rested on Renee. Renee smiled in response, took my hand even tighter, and said, "Lucas and I are in love. You are his best friends, and I hope you will give us your blessings!"

Harlan was the first to applaud and congratulate us, saying, "Congratulations, Renee. You and Lucas are together, and we will definitely give you our blessings from the bottom of our hearts!"

Natalie also gave her blessing. When it was Robert's turn, he handed the watch he had planned to give me to Brittany and apologized to Renee and me, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you had already confirmed your relationship. This gift I prepared for Lucas is a bit abrupt. I'll get you a matching couple's watch in a few days... I wish you happiness!"

I patted Robert on the shoulder and said, "You really don't have to spend any money. Your blessings are the best gift for us!"

Robert smiled and didn't say anything else. The only person at the scene who didn't send us blessings was Brittany. She appeared in the corner of my vision, but what she represented was the desolation of things being different from what they were. Because the calligraphy that wrote about the past had been eroded by the passage of time and turned into a blank space, a blank space so desolate!

Brittany's watery eyes with a smile said to Renee and me, "Congratulations, I hope your love will last forever!"

Facing Brittany's blessings in peace, Renee and I naturally accepted, and then thanked her, of course also expressing our blessings to her and Robert, and then everything returned to peace.

Harlan put one hand on my shoulder and the other on Robert's shoulder, and said in an excited tone, "Today is a great day for us, so the three of us must drink to our hearts' content, okay?"

Robert and I nodded, while Natalie took Brittany and Renee's hands respectively and walked with us towards the barbecue stalls.