Come in 255
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 255

Watching the classmates all vie for her drawings, Zinnia readily agreed.

Ethanโ€™s eyes lit up with anticipation as he glanced at the half-finished sketch in Zinniaโ€™s hands, already featuring about half their classmates. โ€œSo, who gets the one with all of us in it?โ€ he asked.

โ€œHmmโ€ฆโ€ Zinnia paused, unsure who to give it to.

โ€œHow about we hang it in the classroom? Zinnia drew all of usโ€“itโ€™s perfect there,โ€ someone in the crowd suggested.

After a momentโ€™s thought, everyone nodded in agreement. Hanging it in the classroom was perfectโ€“everyone could see it, and no one would feel left out over who got to keep it.

โ€œZinnia, what do you think?โ€ Lydia asked, ignoring the others. It was Zinniaโ€™s drawing, so the decision should be hers.

Her classmates chimed in, โ€œYeah, Zinnia, what do you think? If you donโ€™t want to hang it, we wonโ€™t. Itโ€™s totally your call.โ€

โ€œOf course I agree,โ€ Zinnia replied, her fair and delicate face lighting up with a beaming smile.

The whole class burst into good-natured laughter.

After settling on where to hang the artwork, everyone scattered to their own business. Still, before leaving, each classmate reminded Zinnia, โ€œDonโ€™t forget our drawings!โ€ Zinnia responded to each with a warm smile and assured them she wouldnโ€™t forget.

Zinnia lowered her head and resumed working on the drawing. Now that it was going to be hung in the classroom, she took extra care with the details.

As Zinnia finished the drawing, a figure approached and cast a shadow over her work. Looking up, she saw it was Maisie. โ€œMaisie?โ€ she said.

Maisie looked at her hesitantly, words caught in her throat. โ€œZinniaโ€ฆโ€

Noticing her hesitation, Zinnia asked gently, โ€œMm? Is there something I can help with?โ€

Glancing past Maisie, Zinnia couldnโ€™t help but notice their classmates trying to act casual while eagerly watching their interactionโ€“clearly, they all had something to ask of her.

โ€œZinnia!โ€ Maisie blurted out, unable to contain herself. โ€œWilliamโ€™s organizing a performance this afternoonโ€“weโ€™re all dying to hear you play the zither.โ€

Everyone in the class had seen the video of Zinnia playing the zither and was itching to see and hear her perform in person.

Seizing the chance of the Christmas performance, everyone pushed Maisie to ask if Zinnia would agree. After all, Ethan and a few others whoโ€™d seen her perform last time had made the rest of the class green with envy.

โ€œBut we donโ€™t have a zither here,โ€ Zinnia said, not refusing the request. It wasnโ€™t a big deal to her.

Hearing this, the classmates' eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity. Rosalindโ€™s own eyes sparkled as she squeezed through the crowd and dashed over to Zinnia. โ€œIโ€™ve got it,โ€ Rosalind exclaimed excitedly. โ€œI had my butler secretly bring over my momโ€™s treasured zither just for today.โ€

โ€œZinnia, what do you think of this zither?โ€ Rosalind asked eagerly, beckoning to the people just outside the door.

At the signal, the boys waiting outside entered, carefully carrying a zither in its protective case. They set it down in the cleared space.

Zinnia couldnโ€™t help but laugh at their anticsโ€“everything was already set up, just waiting for her nod. โ€œSo you guys planned this all along, huh?โ€

Rosalind chuckled sweetly and linked arms with Zinnia, โ€œCome on, we all want to hear you play the zither for us in personโ€“otherwise, Ethan will never stop bragging about being the only one whoโ€™s heard you perform. So, itโ€™s settled, okay?โ€

Zinnia couldnโ€™t help but chuckle, โ€œLike I even have a choice now?โ€

โ€œPlease, Zinnia, honey,โ€ Rosalind whined, nuzzling against Zinniaโ€™s neck. โ€œSay yes, please. We all want to hear you.โ€ With her shoulder-length curly hair topped with a cute clip and her sugary voice, she looked every bit the adorable sweetheart.

โ€œAlright, alright, I give in.โ€ Zinnia surrendered helplessly. She was completely defenseless against someone acting so sweet and cute with herโ€“especially an adorable, well-behaved girl like Rosalind. Usually the one being pampered, now faced with those pleading puppy-dog eyes, Zinnia just couldnโ€™t resist.

โ€œYouโ€™re the best,โ€ Rosalind beamed happily.

Lydia stood to the side, watching as Zinnia and Rosalind playfully teased each other. With a gentle voice, Lydia said, โ€œZinnia, you havenโ€™t played this zither beforeโ€“would you like to give it a try?โ€

โ€œSure,โ€ Zinnia agreed with a smile.

Seeing that Zinnia was occupied, Rosalind stopped pestering her. Still, she couldnโ€™t shake the feeling of a chill creeping up her back. โ€˜Is the classroom AC set too low?โ€˜ she wondered.

Turning to Joseph, the handsome, aloof boy beside her, Rosalind complained, โ€œJoseph, can you turn up the heat? Why is it so chilly in here?โ€

โ€œTold you to wear more this morning, didnโ€™t I? Now you know what cold feels like,โ€ Joseph said, shooting Rosalind a cool stare as she rubbed her arms.

He peeled off his black-and-white baseball jacket and tossed it to her, then strode over to the thermostat and turned up the heat a few degrees.

โ€œNo, I just wonโ€™t. Serves you right,โ€ Rosalind huffed, but her hands still obediently tugged Josephโ€™s jacket tighter around herself. Though the classroom heating was on full blast, she couldnโ€™t figure out why sheโ€™d suddenly felt a chillโ€“though now, it seemed to have vanished strangely.

โ€œButton up,โ€ Joseph said as he turned up the heat. He gently took Rosalindโ€™s hand and led her away from the doorway, deeper into the classroom. His fingers moved with quiet care as he fastened each button of her jacket, one by one.

โ€œUgh, your clothes are so uglyโ€“always black or white. Canโ€™t you buy something brighter? I like red, light blue, pinkโ€“anything but this dull stuff,โ€ Rosalind complained, wrinkling her nose disdainfully at the black-and-white baseball jacket she was wearing.

โ€œI only buy this kind. Donโ€™t like it? Then you pick for me,โ€ Joseph said impassively, methodically buttoning her jacket.

โ€œHumph! Fine, Iโ€™ll buy them myself! My picks will definitely look better than yours. After school, weโ€™re going shoppingโ€“no arguments. Your taste is just awful.โ€

โ€œThat whole family treated you horribly, yet you still went back with them. You had it good with usโ€“what got into you to agree to go? And look at these tacky clothes youโ€™ve been wearing since,โ€ Rosalind huffed.

Joseph listened quietly as Rosalind murmured her complaints, his gaze lingering on her lips as she rambled on. An unconscious smile played at the corners of his mouth. โ€˜She looks so adorable when she poutsโ€ฆ I almost want to kiss her.โ€˜

Only after she finished did he rein in his emotions, his voice gentle as he said, โ€œSo, Iโ€™ll be waiting for you to pick out some nice clothes for me.โ€

โ€œOf course you need me to buy you nice clothes, huh? Thatโ€™s been my job since we were little. The moment I stop, you just end up wearing hideous things. Just look at how youโ€™ve been dressing since you left,โ€ Rosalind said.

She was coaxed into a good mood, letting out a haughty little hmph as she lifted her delicate chin, though the smile at the corners of her eyes was impossible to hide.

โ€˜See? I knew I mattered,โ€˜ she thought smugly. โ€˜Without me, poor Joseph is a mess. Only I can turn that grumpy little puppy into someone sweet.โ€˜

Chapter 256


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