Chapter 286
โZinnia, dinnerโs ready.โ Nathan and Quincey spent nearly two hours in the kitchen before finally getting dinner ready.
Zinnia walked over, but instead of looking at the food, her searching gaze remained fixed on Nathan. Concerned, Zinnia asked, โNathan, are you hurt?โ
This made Nathan and Quincey, who had just come out with the dishes, look tense. โHmm?โ Nathan feigned ignorance.
โThereโs a spot of blood here,โ Zinnia said, reaching out and touching just below Nathanโs collarbone. There was just a tiny spot of blood there.
The spot was barely noticeable, especially against Nathanโs black shirt, so neither he nor Quincey had spotted it. It likely came from when Nathan coughed up blood. Both of them quickly turned to look where she was pointing.
Quincey reassured her, โDonโt worry, Nathan isnโt hurt. I just accidentally cut my hand with a knife in the kitchen. The woundโs still fresh right here.โ He hurried over and showed Zinnia the fresh cut.
Zinnia examined the wound in his hand. It was so fresh that beads of blood were still welling up.
Zinnia fell silent, then asked suspiciously, โQuincey, how could the blood from your hand drip to that spot?โ
Quincey hurriedly explained, โI just cut my hand and instinctively flicked the blood off. Nathan was right next to me, carrying dishes. I might have splashed some on him. Zinnia, quick, get the first-aid kit and bandage me up.โ
Zinnia looked at Nathan, whose expression was gentle. She nodded softly and replied, โOkay.โ She then turned to fetch the first-aid kit.
Quincey let out a quiet sigh of relief and remarked, โZinniaโs becoming more observant, isnโt she?โ
Nathan placed the dishes on the table, then quietly grabbed a tissue and wiped away the bloodstain beneath his collarbone. He thought, โIโll need to be more discreet next time.โ
Nathanโs skin was deathly pale, a stark white that contrasted chillingly with his pitch-black shirt. A single smear of crimson blood caught between them was strikingly noticeable.
Quincey said, โNathan, I canโt help all the time. Zinniaโs already onto us.โ He glanced at the fresh cut, then casually tore off a piece of tissue and wiped it clean. Heโd made the wound by scraping his finger against the bowlโs edge.
โQuincey,โ Zinnia called, her voice gentle.
Quincey walked to the sofa and sat down. Zinnia dressed his wound.
The three of them sat down to eat at the dining table. Nathan had prepared a lot of dishes, with more than ten on the table.
Nathan said, โHere you go, the vegetable soup you prefer.โ He gently served Zinnia a portion.
โThank you, Iโll help myself,โ Zinnia said quietly. She seemed quieter than usual.
Quincey and Nathan exchanged a glance, helplessness in their eyes.
Zinnia tended to go quiet when she was unhappy. She sensed something was off. But she knew that if Nathan and Quincey were determined to keep something from her, sheโd never find out, no matter what she tried.
โQuincey, are you still leaving?โ Zinnia turned to look at Quincey.
โYeah, Iโll stay and have a meal with you. My flightโs this afternoon,โ Quincey replied.
Nathanโs medicine still hadnโt been found. Quincey was determined to search for it, no matter what it took. Time was running out for them.
Nathan thought he might have about half a year left, but his condition was already critical. The medication he was taking to control his symptoms would only continue to weaken him. No one knew how much longer Nathan could hold on.
โWhy are you in such a hurry? I was hoping to show you around Jinston when Iโm off work,โ Zinnia said, a little disappointed. She frowned and thought, โAll this way just for one meal?โ
Quincey smiled, โNext time, once Iโve sorted things out, Iโll come and play with you.โ
โHelp yourself. Nothing out there tastes as good as home cooking,โ Zinnia said warmly, serving him more food.
โOf course. Who knows when Iโll get another chance to enjoy a meal like this?โ Quincey happily ate everything Zinnia served him.
Zinnia frowned and thought, โWhat does Quincey mean?โ
โWhat I meant was, this trip might keep me away for quite a while.โ Feeling Zinniaโs piercing gaze, Quincey realized something was off and cleared his throat.
โIโve got some fried food for you. Iโll vacuum-seal it for you to take along,โ Zinnia said casually, as if she suspected nothing.
โThank you,โ Quincey smiled.
After lunch that afternoon, Quincey left.
โWhatโs up? Stuck on something? Let me take a look.โ Nathan settled beside Zinnia as she worked on her homework.
Zinnia sat in the study, working on her homework. A test paper was spread out on the table, but she barely answered a question.
โYes,โ Zinnia responded absently. Feeling Nathan settled beside her, Zinnia pushed the test paper toward him.
โFor this part, you can try using this method,โ Nathan suggested. Lowering his gaze, he carefully studied her test paper and then explained the simplest method for solving the problems.
Zinnia was too distracted to focus, her gaze drifting to Nathanโs hand as he held the test paper. She pressed her lips together, then swiftly and precisely checked his pulse.
Nathan stopped speaking and lowered his gaze to look at her. โAfraid Iโm lying to you?โ Nathan asked gently, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
โNothing,โ Zinnia said. Finding nothing unusual, she let out a sigh of relief.
โItโs just a simple cough, thatโs all. Nothing to worry about. Donโt you trust my medical skills?โ Nathan said nothing more.
Zinnia said softly, โI feel like you and Quincey are hiding something from me.โ She let go of his hand. Honestly, Zinnia still felt uneasy.
โWhen you talk, it sounds like youโre arranging something. It makes me feel uneasy,โ Zinnia muttered. Sometimes, when Nathan spoke, she felt a twinge of panic.
โNow that youโre grown up, I want you to understand these things. If Iโm not around someday, youโll know what to do.โ Nathanโs eyes softened as he lowered his gaze.
โWhy would you be gone? You swore youโd never leave me again. Are you planning to leave me behind once more? If you dare disappear without a word again, Iโll never forgive you,โ Zinnia said, her voice trembling with anger.
Nathan smiled and said, โI was just kidding.โ
Zinnia shook her head. โI hate that kind of talk. You promised me. You canโt go back on your word.โ She couldnโt stand it when Nathan made those jokes.
โAlright, I promise I wonโt say that again,โ Nathan agreed, finally giving in.
โThatโs more like it,โ Zinnia said.
Nathan asked, โZinnia, what if Iโm keeping something from you? Would you be mad?โ
Nathan gazed at Zinniaโs sulking face and gently pinched her cheek. Sheโd just heard something that upset her, her cheeks puffed out in a cute little pout. Nathan had raised Zinnia himself. His gaze softened with tenderness.
โYes,โ Zinnia replied.