Chapter 203
As dusk fell, Zinnia didn't linger. Lydia walked her downstairs.
โLydia, you donโt need to walk me out. Bonnie needs you. Yannis is coming to pick me up,โ Zinnia said, walking ahead, stepping into the shadows with a sunflower in her hand. Lydia followed closely.
โLet me walk you to the gate,โ Lydia insisted, remaining close by her side.
Zinnia didn't refuse, and the two walked out of the apartment complex to find Yannis already waiting. He had inquired about her whereabouts and had come to pick her up on his way back. His eye-catching Koenigsegg One:1 was parked at the curb. His slender hand rested on the window frame, wrist exposed, a faint crimson ember glowing from his cigarette. The half-lowered car window revealed a breathtakingly handsome face, features carved with cool indifference.
Sensing her arrival, Yannis tilted his head slightly. Their eyes met across the distanceโZinnia holding his gazeโas he lowered the window. The cold expression faded from his face, his eyes softening with a gentle warmth, like snow thawing in spring. In that moment, Zinnia felt a strange flutter in her chestโlike a tiny ant tap-dancing across her heart.
Sheโd never seen Yannis like this before. He was always gentle and mild-mannered around her, his eyes often smiling. But she saw an inexplicable air of wild, untamed allure about him before their eyes met.
โYannis,โ Zinnia said, approaching and catching a faint whiff of cigarette smoke. She subtly frowned. Yannisโs expression softened upon seeing her.
โHi, Mr. Perkins,โ Lydia greeted politely.
โHello, thank you for taking care of Zinnia at school,โ Yannis replied politely, nodding at Lydia. His gaze lingered on her face, especially her eyes, for a few extra seconds. He thought to himself, โWhy do I think I have seen her before?โ
โNo, itโs Zinnia whoโs helped me more,โ Lydia replied with quiet dignity, showing no trace of inferiority. A gentle warmth welled up in her eyes as she mentioned Zinnia.
After exchanging a few words, Zinnia slid into the car. Noticing Zinnia furrowing her brows from time to time, Yannis asked gently, โWhatโs wrong? Are you upset?โ
โItโs nothing,โ Zinnia said, shaking her head.
โZinnia, tell me whatโs wrongโare you feeling unwell?โ Yannis pressed gently, unconvinced by her evasion.
โYannis, Iโve never known that you smoke.โ Zinnia turned to look at him. After living together for so long, she was only just discovering this.
โZinnia,โ Yannis said seriously, โSmoking is a bad habit. Donโt pick it up fromโฆโ
Zinnia looked at him with concern. โHow many have you smoked?โ
โJust a couple of cigarettesโIโm not a heavy smoker,โ Yannis replied casually. โI only light up when Iโm feeling down.โ
โYou should smoke and drink less for your health,โ Zinnia reminded him gently. She knew that in his circle, social pressure pushed him to quit entirely. After all, everyone needs a way to ventโsome people do it with a drink or a cigarette. She rarely smelled alcohol on him, and if she hadnโt seen him smoking today, she wouldnโt have known he did.
Chapter 203
โAlright, I promise,โ Yannis said, his worried gaze fixed on her. โBut I have a feeling itโs not really my smoking thatโs bothering you, lelkiโฆโ
Zinnia kept covering her nose with her sleeve, trying to block out the lingering smell of smoke. Zinnia averted her eyes, not daring to meet his gazeโshe knew heโd probably get mad. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly around the sunflower as she mumbled, โWell, itโs justโฆ Iโm not really used to the smell of smoke. Too much of it irritates my nose.โ
โHow bad is it?โ Yannisโs instincts told him it wasnโt just a little discomfort. As he spoke, he was adjusting the ventilation system.
The cigarette heโd smoked was mild, and the expensive perfume in the car should have masked the smell, yet she still kept wrinkling her nose.
โWell, if I smell too much smoke, it irritates my airways and I might feel lightheaded,โ Zinnia murmured nervously, pressing her lips together. Just then, the car jerked to a harsh stop.
โYannis, maybe you should brush up on your driving skills,โ Zinnia teased as she jolted forward, only to be yanked back by the seatbelt.
โZinnia, how could you not tell me something this serious?โ Yannis glared at her through gritted teeth. She was just brushing it off. He thought, โif she couldnโt even stand the smell of smoke, why didnโt she say anything?โ
Without hesitation, Yannis pulled over, parked the car, and guided Zinnia out. He immediately called Toby and said, โSend over a smoke-free car right away.โ He thought, โEven if Zinnia is just a little uncomfortable, there is no way I let her stay in that car. If she feels uncomfortable because of the smoke, Iโll never forgive myself.โ
โCanโt stand the smell of smoke? Why didnโt you say something before getting in the car?โ
Yannis looked down at Zinnia, immediately pulling the cigarettes from his pocket and tossing them into the trash. Without hesitation, he even threw away his jacket, which still reeked of smoke.
Zinnia wasnโt too bothered, since he hadnโt smoked much. โYou didnโt smoke muchโitโs bearable. Iโm not really uncomfortable, just not used to the smell,โ she said.
โZinnia, you have to tell me if you feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable, okay? Your health comes first. From now on, letโs avoid anywhere people are smoking,โ Yannis said, his tone full of concern.
He was relieved heโd never smoked in front of herโif she got sick because of that, heโd regret it. She got dizzy just from the smell of smoke. He thought, โthankfully, it isnโt too serious yet.โ
Zinnia nodded obediently. โOkay.โ
โDid you buy this flower?โ Yannis asked, noticing the slightly wilted flower in her arms.
Zinnia hugged the sunflower closer and smiled. โLydia gave it to me,โ she said.
โThat deskmate of yoursโthe girl who sent you out, right?โ Yannis mused, recalling the quiet, reserved girl heโd just seen. Her whole presence radiated calm gentleness, and her eyes were as tranquil as still water.
Zinnia nodded eagerly. โYeah, thatโs herโthe super smart one I told you about.โ
โWhatโs her last name?โ Yannis wondered, unable to immediately place where heโd seen those eyes. Few people ever made enough of an impression on him, and he was certain heโd never met that girl, yet those eyes stirred an odd sense of familiarity.
โHollis,โ Zinnia answered. Yannis silently mouthed the surname to himself, trying to place where heโd heard it before. But before he could make sense of it, Toby pulled up in a luxury car, a Bugatti La Voiture Noire.
โYannis, your cars are seriously awesome!โ Zinniaโs eyes sparkled as she gazed at the car, its dark metallic finish shimmering like starlight. โThis is so cool!โ
Chapter 203
She remembered when she lived in the small town, she had seen a beautiful car just like this in a friend's phone. Sheโd run home to show Master, saying, โOne day, when I make it big, Iโm going to buy a car like this.โ Master just chuckled and said heโd get her one when she grew up.
She thought Master was totally bluffing. Her friend told her that cars like this were insanely expensiveโso expensive that even if she sold herself, she still couldnโt afford one.
โDo you like it?โ Yannis asked, his eyes gleaming as he heard her praise.
โItโs gorgeous,โ Zinnia nodded, her eyes shining. She thought the car was truly stunningโjust the kind that only a real handsome man like Yannis could pull off.
Yannis smiled and said softly, โIโll get you one when you turn eighteen.โ