Chapter 225

The quiet room was soon filled with only Yannis’s deep, magnetic voice. Zinnia muted her video, letting his words fill the silence.

His voice is amazing. If he were a voice actor, fans would go crazy for him, and I’d probably blow all my savings to support him, Zinnia thought. The soothing tone lulled her, and before she knew it, she drifted off.

Yannis heard the guy in his headphones asking what design he wanted for the tracker. Unconsciously, his gaze drifted backward.

It landed on Zinnia, head tilted as she slept on the pillow. The warmth in his eyes softened to tenderness. “A penguin,” he said softly.

“A penguin?” The caller echoed in surprise. They’d expected something conventional, not a cute animal.

“Yeah,” Yannis answered. He looked at Zinnia, his usual aloofness melting into something soft. He remembered their first meeting–she’d been like a shy little penguin, only speaking up when nudged.

“What about the name?” the caller asked, sensing Yannis‘ decision was final.

“Z.”

“Z? Just the letter? What’s the meaning?” The caller was baffled by such a blunt choice.

Yannis smiled faintly, “Take a guess.”

The caller fell silent, feeling quite helpless.

“Talk tomorrow,” Yannis said and hung up curtly after finding it was nearly midnight. He removed the headphones and walked to the bed.

Zinnia lay on her stomach, head turned toward him. Half her face was buried in the blanket, while her warm breath left a rosy flush on her cheeks.

The tablet was half–swallowed by the plush blanket. As Yannis approached, he realized the video had gone silent.

At the sight of Zinnia curling in the blanket, his heart ached with tenderness. He muted the tablet and set it on the nightstand, then gently lifted Zinnia, who’d sprawled across the bed, and repositioned her toward the headboard.

Zinnia cracked her eyes open, saw Yannis holding her, and closed them again. Utterly defenseless, she breathed, “Yannis…”

“I woke you?” Yannis whispered, tucking the blanket around her to keep her warm.

“I’m sleepy,” Zinnia mumbled, nuzzling the pillow.

“Just sleep. I’ll be right here,” Yannis whispered, tucking her hand back under the warmth.

“Don’t worry ‘bout me. You rest too,” Zinnia slurred, words heavy with sleep. It must be late–he needed rest.

“Okay.”

Zinnia fell back asleep.

Yannis sat by the bed, gaze fixed on her face. Tenderness lingered in his eyes as he watched, time forgotten. Gradually, her breathing evened out–deep sleep had claimed her.

He moved quietly, lifting the blanket at the foot of the bed. Her cream–colored nightgown clung softly, its hem so long that only a sliver of her ankle peeked out.

Her feet were delicate, faint blue veins visible beneath the skin. Her ankles were sculpted to perfection, as if chiseled from marble, too flawless to be real.

Her nightgown fell to her ankles, designed to prevent accidental exposure. After the doctor confirmed her hands were temporarily useless, Yannis chose it, even for router carrying.

Yannis carefully lifted the fabric, revealing her knees splotched with dark purple bruises. Even after a day, the swelling hadn't gone down. The concrete kneeling had shredded her delicate skin, and the ointment had to be reapplied every few hours.

He took the tube from the nightstand, twisted off the cap, and squeezed a dollop of milky ointment into his palm. The faint medicinal scent filled the air as he rubbed his hands together—warming the cream was key to its effectiveness.

Only when the ointment heated did he place his palms on her knee, massaging with focused tenderness.

In her dream, Zinnia basked in sunlight as a puppy bounded up, ball in mouth. She tossed the ball, and the puppy fetched it, again and again, until she waved tiredly.

Instantly, the puppy’s face fell and morphed into Yannis’s. His charming eyes pleaded pitifully, “Why stop playing with me?”

Zinnia jolted awake–Yannis would never make that face. As her eyes adjusted, she took in the room flooded with morning light. It was already full daylight outside.

“Zinnia, you’re awake. Are you in pain anywhere?” Sofia’s gentle voice came from beside the bed.

Zinnia turned to see Sofia and Yvette sitting by her bedside. Yvette sprang up, her eyes bright with joy.

“Grandma, Mom,” Zinnia called, smiling softly at them. She tried to sit up, but her arms trembled weakly.

“Be careful.” Sofia hurried to support her, eyes full of tender worry.

Yvette joined in. “Zinnia, why didn’t you tell us you were unwell? I could’ve taken care of you.”

Yannis had assured them Zinnia just needed rest and the weakness in her limbs was temporary. But they hadn’t expected the severe bruises on her knees. The sight made their hearts ache.

Zinnia met their concerned stares with a warm smile. “I’m truly okay. A few days‘ rest will fix me.”

Just then, Jackson and Yannis walked in.

“Zinnia.” Jackson strode to her side, eyes swimming with concern. He had visited yesterday, but she’d been asleep. By the time she finally woke, night had already fallen.

Though Henry was out of danger, he’d been through hell–the back of his neck still bore a nasty wound. Raymond insisted he stay home and rest.

Henry had been fussed over all day, desperate to visit Zinnia. The Flynns explained to him that Zinnia had gone to great lengths to save him, and if he relapsed, all her efforts would be for nothing. That finally convinced Henry to stay put.

“Zinnia, how are you? How’s your hand?” Jackson asked, concern furrowing his brow.

“I feel much better. Don’t worry. I’ll bounce back soon. It’s nothing major,” Zinnia said. She’d regained some strength, but lifting her arms sent sore pains.

She tried to wave reassuringly, but her hand wouldn’t obey.

“Let her eat first.” Yannis approached with a bowl of pumpkin soup.

“Right, breakfast first.” Sofia took the bowl and started feeding Zinnia. “Open up, dear. Let me feed you.”

Yannis could only stand by, watching Sofia spoon–feed Zinnia.

“Isaac and Maisie wanted to skip class,” Yvette said. “We told them to come after school instead.”

Zinnia got two weeks off to recover. Her right hand, the one she used for acupuncture, couldn’t even hold a pen, and the other was injured too. School risked further injury, so home rest was best.

จา Chapter 226