Chapter 16

“Zinnia, you’re back. Come inside for lunch.” Jackson appeared as soon as the car stopped.

Zinnia replied with a simple nod and stepped out. The princess-themed room from last night had melted some of her usual frostiness.

“Zinnia, is this medicine? Are you feeling unwell?” Jackson took the bag from the driver and caught the distinct medicinal scent. His forehead creased with worry.

“No. I just bought it for fun,” Zinnia replied, eyeing the large medicine bag without expression.

Most girls her age would be shopping for handbags or saving up for concert tickets. But Zinnia was different. She treated bulk medicine like some kind of bizarre hobby. Jackson could only stare in bewilderment.

“Just… be careful with it,” he said softly. “Don’t accidentally ingest any. If you do feel unwell, we’ll need to see a doctor immediately.” He decided to humor her peculiar interest, however baffling.

“Alright.” She gave a curt nod.

“Zinnia, you’re back,” Sofia called out when she spotted her granddaughter. “Henry, dinner’s ready!”

Henry glanced up from his book, glasses perched on his nose. “Oh, back just in time,” he said, rubbing his temples before setting the glasses aside. “Let’s eat.” He pushed himself up and headed for the dining room.

Zinnia followed, then froze mid-step when she saw the dining table. Every inch was covered with meat dishes, each one perfectly tailored to her tastes.

“Come on, Zinnia, let’s eat. I wasn’t sure what you liked, but since you’re feeling better, I had the chef make something appetizing,” Jackson said, watching her closely.

When he saw the smile on her face as she looked at the food, he felt a little more confident about that mysterious email he’d gotten earlier.

That morning, Jackson had been finishing up at the office when he got an anonymous email with a file attached. It listed Zinnia’s habits and favorite foods in crazy detail.

The specificity unnerved him, so he had his assistant check out the sender. But they hit a dead end–the email had been sent from a hidden IP address.

When he got home, he decided to trust the email and asked the chef to make a meal based on it.

Zinnia hadn’t eaten much last night, so Jackson figured he might as well trust the email. Besides, the details were way too specific to be from someone who didn’t care.

Whether it was sent with good intentions or not didn’t really matter. Right now, it felt like a lifeline. “Zinnia, take a seat here,” he said again, giving her a gentle nudge.

Zinnia settled into her chair with Jackson at her side.

Charlie had been summoned back to the institute this morning for some urgent work and wouldn’t be back until evening.

She reached for the ribs with her fork, their glossy glaze catching the light.

The first bite hit her with a rush of flavor so familiar that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. It wasn’t exactly her master’s recipe, but after weeks of bland meals, the bold tang of the sauce felt like a homecoming.

At the Shaw residence, everyone preferred simple, mild meals, and Zinnia had gotten used to it. But deep down, she loved bold flavors–nothing could beat the sweetness or the heat of a spicy dish.

When she first arrived at the Lynn residence yesterday, she thought she’d have to endure more of that bland food. But after tasting their flavorful cooking, she realized that sticking around a little longer might not be so bad.

“Zinnia, have another piece,” Sofia said cheerfully, smiling as she noticed Zinnia helping herself to seconds. “You need to gain some weight. You’re way too thin.”

“Of course, Grandma,” Zinnia answered, her voice quiet and respectful.

Jackson didn’t hesitate. He dropped a neatly peeled shrimp onto her plate, flashing her a grin when she met his eyes.

Flustered, she looked away and picked at the shrimp with her fork. The first bite was perfect–tender, sweet, just how she liked it.

Now fully committed, Jackson dove into the task, peeling shrimp with focus. Before long, he’d stacked a small mountain on her plate. He knew from the email that she loved shrimp but hated peeling them.

“I’m good—that’s enough for me,” Zinnia said as she pushed her half-finished shrimp away, stopping Jackson from peeling more. She loved shrimp, but she didn’t have a big appetite and couldn’t eat any more.

Jackson glanced at her for a second, then nodded, seeing she really meant it. He wiped his hands on a napkin and turned to his own meal.

Henry and Sofia exchanged a glance, their hearts swelling with affection. They couldn’t help thinking what a dear Zinnia was. Even their usually distant eldest grandson was happily peeling shrimp for her of his own accord.

After dinner, though the evening was still young, the elderly couple felt their energy waning. They lingered downstairs chatting with Zinnia for a while before retiring upstairs for their afternoon rest.

Jackson walked beside Zinnia up the stairs, balancing her stack of medicine packets. “I’ll be in the study if you need me,” he said.

“Okay.” She nodded.

Noticing her gaze fixed on the packets, he added, “If you want to tinker with those medicines, I can set up a proper workspace for you. Just tell me what supplies you need.”

They encouraged Zinnia to chase whatever brought her joy. Moreover, the email demonstrated her solid knowledge of medicine, easing their concerns. It also acted as a subtle reminder that her work was not to be interrupted.

Jackson had to admit the information in that file was right—especially after seeing how heartily Zinnia ate at lunch.

He’d heard her hometown was overflowing with medicinal herbs, where even children grew up knowing their uses. It made him think that Zinnia had probably picked up a few remedies herself.

“No need,” Zinnia said with a shake of her head. She was only staying at the Lynn residence temporarily; a dedicated room seemed excessive.

Jackson let out a soft sigh at her distant rejection. The wall still stood between them–she wasn’t ready to trust them completely.

Soon, they reached the third floor. Realizing that Jackson was off to his study while she was headed back to her room, she reached for the bundle of herbs. “Hand it to me.”

“Let me take that to your room,” Jackson insisted. “It’s heavier than it looks.” The pile of herbs was no joke–it was a lot to handle.

The medicinal herbs were tightly wrapped in paper parcels and securely sealed. Jackson hadn’t the faintest idea what they contained.

“Thanks,” Zinnia murmured, too polite to refuse. They reached her room just steps away, and Jackson handed her the bundle.

“Do you like the room?” Jackson asked, seizing the chance to connect with her. “We can change anything you’d like.”

“It’s perfect,” Zinnia said. At the mention of the princess-themed decor, her typically composed expression softened. Her voice grew warmer, and when she looked at Jackson now, there was no trace of the wariness she’d first shown.

Jackson felt something in his chest loosen at her response. “Your happiness is all that matters,” he said quietly.

She’s so adorable. How the hell did the Shaws miss that? But then again, their loss is my gain, he thought.