Chapter 239
โItโs crowded out here. Donโt get separated,โ Yannis said, still holding Zinniaโs hand with a faint smile as he gestured at the bustling crowd. โCome on, letโs get some roasted sweet potatoes.โ
With the monthly holiday landing on a weekend, the shopping district was jam-packed. People were jostling against each other, and itโd be easy to get lost.
Zinnia glanced at the sea of people around them and nodded, letting Yannis lead her toward the sweet potato stand ahead.
The roasted sweet potato stand was packed, with the queue snaking out the door. Not in any hurry and not wanting to wander around, Zinnia and Yannis simply joined the end of the line.
For Yannis, whoโd always had everything delivered to him since childhood, waiting in line like this was practically unheard of.
As their turn approached, Zinnia turned to Yannis. โWhat flavor do you want?โ
Yannis glanced at the overwhelming menu, and then looked down at her. โWhat are you getting, Zinnia?โ
โOreo,โ Zinnia replied honestly.
โAlright, letโs get that.โ Yannis nodded.
โWait, you want the same as me?โ Zinnia asked, a bit puzzled.
Yannis shook his head. โLetโs just share one.โ
Zinnia ordered one, and then, thinking of Emily and Stephen waiting in the car, picked two more popular flavors to go. She was about to pay, but Yannis had paid the bill in cash.
โWhy are you looking at me like that?โ Yannis asked, holding two bags of sweet potatoes. Zinnia, with her own portion in hand, stared at him with a curious look.
โI just didnโt expect you to actually pay in cash,โ Zinnia said, confirming his suspicion without hesitation.
โWhy do you think that?โ Yannis asked, a bit speechless.
Zinnia scooped up some sweet potato before explaining. โItโs just, someone like youโwhatever you want, people probably just hand it to you. Stuff like small transactions like that, I figured theyโre not even in your world.โ
Zinnia had always imagined that Yannis got everything delivered to him with just a look or a word. He grew up in pure luxury. Everything he used was top-tier. Even a random bottle of water at his house probably cost a fortune.
Sheโd always assumed he never used cash, especially not for small amounts. After all, he was a real tycoon with a โblack card.โ
She thought heโd always just say, โPut it on my card,โ never actually using cash himself. So, seeing him pay in cash genuinely surprised her.
โIโm just from a rich family, not an idiot. I know basic life skills,โ Yannis replied in a serious tone, falling silent for a moment. He wondered, โShould I complain to those web novel platforms for writing such ridiculous stuff? Theyโre going to rot peopleโs brains.โ
โI always thought youโd just say, โPut it on my card, pack it up, deliver it to my house. I want this, and nobody else better touch it,โ Zinnia said, making air quotes and nodding as if she finally understood.
She was just a small-town girl whoโd never met a real tycoon before. She honestly thought a tycoonโs life was just like in romantic novels.
โZinnia, maybe you should cut back on those web novels. Donโt let them rot your brain,โ Yannis sighed, ruffling her hair affectionately. โYouโre smart. Donโt waste it on those over-the-top CEO stories.โ
โI havenโt read that manyโฆ just a few,โ Zinnia mumbled.
They headed to their next stopโthe candied apples stand right next door and joined yet another queue.
โIs it good?โ Yannis asked from behind, watching as Zinnia spooned sweet potato into her mouth, one bite after another.
โDelicious!โ Zinnia nodded vigorously. โNo wonder thereโs such a long line. These are firewood-roasted, not oven-baked. That smoky aroma makes all the difference. Seriously, so good.โ
โWant a taste?โ Zinnia asked, already scooping another bite of sweet potato into her own mouth.
โSure,โ Yannis answered instantly, almost as if heโd been waiting for her to ask.
His quick reply made Zinnia smile, so she lifted a golden spoonful toward him. The rich, caramelized aroma of the roasted sweet potato lingered between them as Yannis glanced at the offered spoon, and then leaned in and took the bite without a word.
Zinnia watched him. His head slightly lowered as his hair fell across her forehead, accentuating his sharp brow bone and high, straight nose. Her gaze lingered on his lipsโrosy, perfectly shapedโas he took a bite of the golden sweet potato. She swallowed hard.
โWhy do his lips look even more tempting than the sweet potato?โ she wondered.
Seeing the two, the onlookers started to discuss. โOMG, heโs so hot. Theyโre both such a sight for sore eyes. Total eye candy! And theyโre even feeding each other roasted sweet potatoes? The chemistry is off the charts.โ
โThat petite girl holding up a spoon, and that gorgeous guy lowering his head for her. Heโs got that powerful, dominant vibe but heโs being so gentle. Itโs just perfect.โ
โSeriously, I feel the same way. They look just like the main characters from a novel. The orange-yellow light wraps around them like a halo, and even in the middle of a bustling crowd, they stand out on a whole different level.
โHeโs so dashing, and sheโs absolutely stunning. Every little move between them is just so romantic. Iโm obsessed with that whole โpowerful guy lowering his headโ trope.โ
A few girls walked past and, upon noticing them, could barely contain their excitement.
With her baby fat gone, Zinniaโs facial contours had become more defined and delicate. Her eyes radiated a quiet confidence, making her seem as if sheโd grown up overnight.
Yannis wasnโt that old to begin with. Without his suit jacket, dressed simply in a khaki button-down and slacks, he looked just like a college student.
With looks as striking as theirs, it was no wonder they turned heads wherever they went.
Amid the bustling crowd, Zinnia tugged playfully at Yannisโ hand, dragging him from store to store as he obediently followed. Yannis, a tall, long-legged young man, was so easily led by Zinnia, a girl who barely reached his chest. It was definitely a head-turning sight.
To make things even more striking, both were stunning in their own way. Anyone standing nearby who overheard their playful banter couldnโt help but smile.