Come in 279
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 279

The airport hall bustled with people, yet the VIP passage remained eerily quiet, except for two striking figures standing in silence.

Zinniaโ€™s gaze locked onto the man aheadโ€”the one on the right, dressed in a black coat, who was rolling his suitcase with one hand. A white mask covered most of his face, leaving only a pair of clear eyes visible.

The long black coat framed his tall figure perfectly. Under the lights, his silhouette was elegant and poised, radiating quiet confidence. It was as if the noise around him didnโ€™t exist.

Zinnia thought, โ€˜Well, some people just steal the spotlight no matter where they go.โ€™

Their eyes met, and the cold, distant look in his gaze softened. A gentle warmth was quietly blooming there.

Zinnia froze in her tracks. She tightened her grip on the bouquets in her arms, almost without realizing it.

Zinnia stood frozen as Nathan, from a distance, walked toward her slowly. Suddenly, her eyes stung with unshed tears, and she pressed her lips tightly together, fighting back the overwhelming excitement in her chest.

He stopped in front of her, the familiar scent of tangerine enveloping her, and then she was pulled into a warm embrace. โ€œZinnia,โ€ Nathan murmured, sighing softly.

Zinnia didnโ€™t say a word. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she buried her face in Nathanโ€™s embrace.

Her muffled sobs sent a sharp pain through the hearts of the three men. Yannisโ€™s fingers twitched slightly. He wanted to comfort Zinnia, but he knew right now she needed Nathan more than anyone else.

Nathan gently stroked Zinniaโ€™s back without a word, offering her silent comfort.

After crying for a few minutes, Zinnia sniffled and pulled away from Nathanโ€™s embrace. Carefully retrieving the bouquet she had been shielding in her arms, she held it out to him. โ€œItโ€™s for you.โ€

Nathan looked down at the little girl holding a bouquet, her eyes full of hope. There was still a trace of tears in her eyes.

Zinnia wore a white puffer jacket over a pink sweater and a plaid skirt. Tears still stained her bright face, making her look heartbreakingly vulnerable.

Nathan smiled as he gazed at the flowers. He gently rubbed Zinniaโ€™s hair and said, โ€œThank you, Zinnia. Youโ€™ve grown up a lot.โ€ He noticed the flowers she gave him were rosesโ€“his favorite.

Zinnia pouted and said, โ€œWell, you missed out on a lot of fun stuff while I was growing up.โ€

Zinnia sniffled and rubbed her teary eyes. Then she took another bouquet from Yannis and handed it to Jackson. โ€œThis is for you, Jackson.โ€

โ€œThank you, Zinnia,โ€ Jackson said, accepting the bouquet with both hands, his handsome face lit up with a warm smile.

Jackson turned to Nathan and introduced the man who had been silent all this time. โ€œNathan, this is Yannis.โ€

โ€œGlad to meet you, Yannis. Iโ€™m Nathan. Thank you for looking after Zinnia all this time.โ€ Nathan turned his gaze to Yannis and offered his hand, smiling.

Nathan knew Yannis, but Yannis probably didnโ€™t know him very well. Nathan had gone abroad at seven years old when Yannis was barely three.

Yannis had often heard his family talk about Nathan, but this was the first time he actually met him.

They were about the same height, equally good-looking. Their gazes collided like unseen forces, each measuring the other without a word.

The next second, Yannis broke the silence. โ€œIโ€™m Yannis. Glad to see you, Nathan, and welcome back.โ€ He shook hands with Nathan, smiling.

With just a simple greeting, Nathan and Yannis instantly knew that they were on the same wavelength.

Nathan was the second oldest among the four of them. He looked at Yannis, who had stood by Zinnia all along.

Jackson said, โ€œAlright, letโ€™s go home. We can catch up later. Nathan isnโ€™t feeling well and needs a proper rest.โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s wrong? Are you okay?โ€ Zinnia grew anxious and quickly grabbed Nathanโ€™s wrist, eager to feel his pulse.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry, Zinnia. Iโ€™m fine. Letโ€™s go home.โ€ Nathan took Zinniaโ€™s hand as he led her toward the airport exit.

They got into Yannisโ€™s car. Nathan and Zinnia settled into the back seat together.

โ€œHave you guys had lunch yet?โ€ Yannis asked, checking the backseat through the rearview mirror as he drove.

Jackson was on his phone, dealing with work. He said with his head down, โ€œNo, we were in a rush coming back. The plane food was terrible, and Nathan refused to eat any of it.โ€

After spending a month abroad, Jackson returned to find a mountain of work waiting for him at his company back home.

Nathan was picky about food and wouldnโ€™t touch the in-flight meal. Jackson skipped it too.

โ€œWe havenโ€™t had it either. How about we go to Meteor Restaurant?โ€ Yannis suggested while driving. The food there was great, and he thought they would like it.

โ€œSounds good. Letโ€™s go there then,โ€ Nathan said, gently holding back Zinniaโ€™s restless hand as she tried to check his pulse. โ€œNo tricks, Zinnia,โ€ Nathan murmured, gently patting her hand in warning.

Zinnia frowned, her voice tinged with concern. โ€œWhatโ€™s wrong? Why wonโ€™t you let me touch your hand? And why are you still wearing that mask?โ€

Nathan still hadnโ€™t taken off his mask, not even once since they had met.

Feeling uncomfortable about what she said, Yannis coughed, interrupting the conversation.

โ€œWhatโ€™s wrong? Did you catch a cold from not dressing warm enough last night?โ€ Zinnia asked with concern.

Instantly, both Nathan and Jackson turned to look at Yannis.

โ€œNo, I just choked on something,โ€ Yannis said.

โ€œWait, what happened last night?โ€ Jackson asked, glancing over.

Nathan squinted, looking curious.

Yannis offered a brief explanation, and only then did Nathan and Jackson finally relax.

Jackson glanced at Yannis with a smirk and joked, โ€œCareful, Zinnia. One careless word from you and someone might end up heartbroken.โ€

Nathan paused briefly at Zinniaโ€™s words and tapped her forehead with a hint of amusement. He knew Yannis felt uneasy about how close they were. โ€œIโ€™m fine. Come on, donโ€™t you believe me?โ€ Nathan said gently, subtly shifting away to put a little distance between them. He lowered his sleeve, hiding his wrist.

โ€œThen why wonโ€™t you let me check your pulse?โ€ Zinnia pressed further. She thought, โ€˜He wonโ€™t be so nervous if heโ€™s really fine.โ€™

Jackson and Yannis listened quietly in the front seats to their conversation. Even after months apart, nothing had diminished their bond.

Jackson said, โ€œZinnia, give Nathan a proper examination. He mentioned it was an old illness. See whatโ€™s going on with him.โ€

Noticing Zinnia reaching for Nathanโ€™s wrist to check his pulse, Jackson shifted slightly in his seat, turning to get a better look, only to meet Nathanโ€™s warning gaze.

โ€œLet me have a look,โ€ Zinnia said, growing even more insistent.

โ€œWill you stop fussing if I let you check?โ€ Nathan asked.

โ€œMaybe,โ€ Zinnia insisted, reaching out her hand toward Nathan.

Nathan offered his wrist to Zinnia with a gentle sigh. Jackson and Yannis quietly listened to see what was going on.

After a while, Zinnia asked, โ€œDo you cough frequently?โ€


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