Come in 221
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 221

Vannis listened as Zinnia listed all her discomforts, then tapped her forehead helplessly. โ€œNow you realize youโ€™re unwell?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re still hilting me,โ€ Zinnia murmured weakly, barely able to do more than roll her eyes at him.

What a meanie, Zinnia thought. โ€˜Iโ€™m already feeling so awful, and he still taps me on the head. When he was sick before, I had taken such good care of him.โ€™

She shot Yannis a look, but it was utterly harmless, more like a petulant pout than any real threat. After so long without speaking, her voice came out soft and whispery, making Yannisโ€™ heart melt with tenderness.

โ€œDrink the soup first. Then Iโ€™ll get the doc to check on you,โ€ Yannis said, eyeing Zinniaโ€™s pout. He grabbed the bowl of onion soup from the nightstand, stirred it to cool, then held a spoonful to her lips.

Zinniaโ€™s lips just brushed the spoon as she mumbled, โ€œSo hot.โ€

Yannis lowered his head and blew on it again until it cooled. Finally, Zinnia took a sip.

Zinnia always turned lazy when she was sick, acting all delicate and pampered. Leaning against Yannis, she peered into the bowl in his hands and pouted, โ€œNo meat?โ€

Yannis scooped another spoonful and fed her. โ€œAfter treating your body so carelessly, you still have the nerve to ask for meat?โ€

Heโ€™d spent nearly two months carefully nursing her, finally getting some meat on her bones. But this ordeal had really taken a heavy tollโ€“her cheeks were still paper-white, no hint of color in sight.

โ€œMy body desperately needs meat right now,โ€ Zinnia said with exaggerated seriousness. โ€œI need to eat more to replenish all the energy Iโ€™ve lost.โ€

โ€œNot getting any,โ€ Yannis teased nonchalantly.

โ€œThen Iโ€™m calling Sofia. Iโ€™m going home to convalesce with Henry,โ€ Zinnia exclaimed in disbelief, never expecting he could be so heartless when she was in this state. Even though she was weak, she still struggled to sit up and reach for her phone.

โ€˜Henry has suffered terribly too,โ€™ Zinnia thought. โ€˜Sofia is surely preparing all kinds of nourishing meals for him. If I go back, I can join in the feast.โ€™

โ€œDrink your soup first. Iโ€™ll give you the meat later,โ€ Yannis said, holding Zinnia close and feeding her another spoonful.

โ€˜Most people lose their appetite when theyโ€™re sick, but she woke up asking for meat,โ€™ he thought, feeling both exasperated and amused.

โ€œAlright then,โ€ Zinnia conceded. Relieved by the promise of meat, she settled down and obediently finished her soup.

In fact, she had been starving since last night. Only after finishing that bowl of soup did the gnawing hunger in her stomach finally ease upโ€”just a little.

Zinnia had no idea what time it was. She was so hungry she thought she might die. Watching Yannis get up to fetch some food, she asked, โ€œWhat time is it? Shouldnโ€™t I be going to school now?โ€

Yannis glanced at the time and replied, โ€œItโ€™s already evening.โ€

โ€œEvening?โ€ Zinnia gasped in disbelief. She had thought it was still morning. All she remembered was sinking into a deep, heavy sleep, and now her whole body ached terribly. She never expected that it would already be nighttime.

This was the first time Zinnia had used the Flowing Technique. She had only learned it from Nathan and practiced on medical mannequins, but had never actually tried it on a real person.

Nathan had drilled it into herโ€”never use the Flowing Technique unless it was a last resort. It would wipe her out and leave her weak and suffering for a long time.

Vitality was everything. Once it was tapped, one would get weak and sicklyโ€“just like Zinnia now, every part of her bony...

โ€œDonโ€™t worry, Iโ€™ve already called the school for you,โ€ Yannis said as he carried the bowl out.

After drinking some soup, Zinnia regained a bit of strength. She propped herself up and reached out for her phone, worried about how Henry was doing.

The second Zinnia unlocked her phone with Face ID, the screen lit up with a flood of missed calls and messages. There were notifications from Maisie, group chats, Jackson, and the others, while the ones from Lydia really stood out.

Zinnia tapped the screen slowlyโ€“each movement seeming to drain the last of her strength. At last, she found Jacksonโ€™s number and dialed.

With each passing second with the call trying to connect, her heart racedโ€“what if Jackson and the others blamed her?

Jackson picked up instantly, as if heโ€™d been waiting by the phone. โ€œZinnia, youโ€™re awake? Are you still uncomfortable anywhere? Iโ€™m coming over rightโ€”"

As Jacksonโ€™s worried words poured through the speaker, Zinniaโ€™s heart gave a sudden acheโ€“Jackson didnโ€™t blame her.

โ€œIโ€™m good. No need to come. Howโ€™s Henry doing?โ€ Zinnia asked, her eyes falling to the phone on the nightstand. She didnโ€™t have the energy to even pick it up.

Just then, Sofiaโ€™s voice crackled with worry. โ€œIs that Zinnia on the line? Howโ€™s she doing? Is she awake? Does she still feel sick anywhere? Benedict, get the car ready now!"

Right after, Sofiaโ€™s voice came through the phone, urgent and fraught. โ€œZinnia, are you still feeling unwell anywhere? Iโ€™m coming to see you right away. Just wait for me.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s getting late. No need to come over. I promise, Iโ€™m doing just fine,โ€ Zinnia said, forcing herself to sound cheerful despite her weakness.

It was already nine in the evening, and Zinnia couldnโ€™t believe sheโ€™d slept for so longโ€“sheโ€™d practically slept through the whole day.

โ€œThen Iโ€™ll swing by tomorrow morning, sweetheart,โ€ said Sofia lovingly.

โ€œOkay,โ€ Zinnia whispered, a tiny smile tugging at her lips.

Clutching the phone, Sofia hurried into Henryโ€™s room and gently shook himโ€“whoโ€™d just fallen asleepโ€“awake. โ€œHenry, wake up. Zinniaโ€™s on the phone!โ€

Henry paused. โ€œZinnia?โ€

He had woken up earlier that day. Raymond told the Lynn family the incident turned out to be a blessing in disguiseโ€“Henryโ€™s chronic headaches were completely gone.

The Lynns had been eager to visit Zinnia, but Yannis said she was still asleep and needed rest. So, despite their worry, they managed to wait at home.

Hearing Henryโ€™s voice, Zinnia asked softly, โ€œHenry, do you feel better now? Anywhere still hurting?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m good. Youโ€™re like a miracle worker. Seriously, you totally saved me. Thanks, sweetheart,โ€ Henry said, his voice a bit raspy. Despite everything heโ€™d been through, there wasnโ€™t a hint of angerโ€“just warmth and gratitude in his tone.

โ€œIโ€™m sorry, Henry,โ€ Zinnia said, tears welling up in his gentle tone. โ€œIf it werenโ€™t for me, you wouldnโ€™t have gotten caught up in all these troubles.โ€

She had worried the Lynn family might blame her. After all, even her so-called mother hated her that much. If the Lynns hadnโ€™t stepped up to protect her, they never wouldโ€™ve gotten dragged into this mess.

Henry was already so oldโ€“if something had happened to him, sheโ€™d be stuck with that guilt forever.

โ€œZinnia, donโ€™t beat yourself up. None of this is on you. Youโ€™re incredibleโ€“because of you, Iโ€™m safe and sound. Youโ€™re our good luck charm. Once youโ€™re better, come home and weโ€™ll have a family dinner together, alright?โ€ Henry offered, his voice warm and gentle.

โ€œOkay.โ€ Zinnia whispered.


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