Come in 351
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 351

Yannis gazed at the wound on Zinniaโ€™s palm, his eyes filled with raw concern. He gently applied the Moon Scar Cream to Zinniaโ€™s, then took a fresh roll of gauze and carefully rewrapped it. He couldnโ€™t stop her, nor did he have any right to. Deep down, he actually hoped Nathan got better soon, too. If anything happened to Nathan, Zinnia would never be happy again in her life.

Yannis couldnโ€™t help but gently brush his fingers over her bandaged palm, lowering his gaze to conceal the emotions within. He couldnโ€™t really help her. All he could do was clean up the mess. Yannis looked at her gently and said, โ€œGet some rest now.โ€

โ€œAlright,โ€ Zinnia replied.

Zinnia let another 20 milliliters of blood flow โ€“ just enough to submerge the seed. She leaned back on the daybed, feeling slightly dizzy. Her lips were pale, and the bit of color sheโ€™d regained that afternoon had faded, leaving her face wan once more.

โ€œAt least Nathanโ€™s too weak to leave his bed,โ€ Yannis thought. If Nathan could get out of bed and so much as see Zinniaโ€™s state, thereโ€™s no way they could keep it from him.

Zinnia looked at Yannis and pleaded, โ€œYannis, please donโ€™t tell Jackson and the others about this.โ€

โ€œJackson and Nathan must never find out about this. They would definitely be furious if they found out, and this would never work,โ€ Zinnia thought. Nathan would never allow this. Heโ€™d rather die than let her hurt herself.

โ€œYouโ€™re making me your accomplice in this. When Jackson and Nathan find out later, Iโ€™ll be scolded right alongside you,โ€ Yannis sighed and looked at her.

โ€œA few scoldings wonโ€™t kill you. I know you wonโ€™t mind, Yannis.โ€ Seeing his aggrieved expression, Zinniaโ€™s eyes curved into crescents. She grinned and said, โ€œWell, since you found out, youโ€™re stuck being my partner in crime. If you hadnโ€™t, you wouldnโ€™t be getting scolded.โ€

โ€œOh, you,โ€ Yannis sighed helplessly.

He thought to himself, โ€˜Ever since I got caught up in this girlโ€™s crazy schemes, thereโ€™s never been a way out for me. Trouble just keeps piling up, one thing after another.โ€™ For the first twenty-something years of his life, he lived completely carefree and never had to worry about a thing. Ever since he met Zinnia, there hadnโ€™t been a single day without worries.

โ€œYannis, youโ€™re the best,โ€ Zinnia beamed, her eyes sparkling with affection.

Yannisโ€™ face darkened. โ€œNo playing cute with me. You mustnโ€™t hide anything from me." His only demand was that she never keep anything from him. He could help her keep secrets from others, but she must never hide anything from him.

โ€œOkay,โ€ Zinnia replied softly.

She wasnโ€™t feeling well, so she rested upstairs for a bit while Yannis went downstairs to make dinner.

Yannis opened the door to find Jackson coming up from the second floor. Jackson asked with concern, โ€œIs Zinnia still in the home lab?โ€ His worried gaze drifted toward the home lab.

Yannis nodded. โ€œYeah, let Zinnia stay in the home lab. Sheโ€™ll feel more at ease there.โ€

Jackson asked again, โ€œAny updates from the research center? Have they come up with any solutions yet?โ€

Yannis let out a weary sigh. โ€œStill no breakthroughs for now.โ€

As Yannis and Jackson made their way downstairs to the second floor, they noticed that Nathanโ€™s door was closed. Jackson asked with concern, "How's Nathan doing?โ€

Jackson said, โ€œThis afternoon, Zinnia prepared a herbal bath remedy for him. He soaked in it for half an hour, and heโ€™s now asleep.โ€ Theyโ€™ve split the caretaking duties โ€“ each tending to one.

Jacksonโ€™s eyes clouded with concern as he thought about Zinniaโ€™s condition. โ€œYannis, keep encouraging Zinnia to take it easy. Weโ€™ll definitely find a way.โ€

โ€œOkay,โ€ Yannis murmured.

Once dinner was ready, Zinnia finally made her way downstairs.

โ€œZinnia, you look pale. Are you feeling unwell?โ€ Jackson asked with concern as he noticed her wan complexion.

Zinnia managed a faint smile. โ€œNot really. Probably just tired lately. Itโ€™s nothing.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry too much about Nathan. Weโ€™ll definitely find a way,โ€ Jackson said gently. He understood how much Zinnia worried about Nathan, but all he could offer were these empty reassurances.

โ€œI know, Jackson,โ€ Zinnia replied softly.

โ€œHere, have some soup,โ€ Yannis said, ladling out a bowl of chicken soup for her.

Zinnia took the bowl and obediently took a couple of sips. โ€œOkay.โ€

After finishing her soup, Zinnia helped herself to some meat.

Jacksonโ€™s eyes lit up with joy as he noticed Zinniaโ€™s improved appetite. โ€œZinnia, youโ€™re eating much better now.โ€

Lately, Zinnia had lost her usual enthusiasm for food, no longer picking her favorite dishes with delight. Instead, sheโ€™d just nibble enough to stave off hunger, which worried Yannis and Jackson terribly. But with her worries unresolved, Zinnia remained heavy-hearted and couldnโ€™t eat properly. Today, she ate heartily, as if her usual appetite had finally returned.

โ€œGuess Iโ€™m a little hungry,โ€ Zinnia said, popping a shrimp into her mouth with a grin.

Yannis lowered his gaze and gently placed more food into her bowl. Zinnia had to make herself eat properly now, whether she wanted to or not. Otherwise, her body wouldnโ€™t be able to take the abuse.

Jacksonโ€™s gaze once again fell on the bandage covering Zinniaโ€™s hand. โ€œZinnia, how serious is your injury? If itโ€™s bad, we should get a physician to look at it right away.โ€ This afternoon, when Zinnia went to check on Nathan in his room, Yannis and Nathan just assumed sheโ€™d gotten a small cut while tidying up. They werenโ€™t sure how serious it really was, but when Yannis said it was just a minor injury that had already been treated, they felt relieved. Jacksonโ€™s concern grew as he noticed Zinniaโ€™s hand was still bandaged after a full day. โ€˜That wound must be more serious than sheโ€™s letting on,โ€™ he thought.

Zinnia glanced at the wound on her palm, her voice calm. โ€œItโ€™s not that serious. I just couldnโ€™t help picking at it. Itโ€™ll heal in a few days.โ€

Yannis chimed in, โ€œItโ€™s nothing serious. She just tends to accidentally bump or knock it without noticing, so I wrapped it up with some gauze for protection.โ€

Their perfectly coordinated act finally made Jackson drop the subject. Jackson reminded them, โ€œMake sure you change the dressing on time and be careful not to bump or hurt it again. Yannis, keep a closer eye on Zinnia for me, alright?โ€

Zinnia rolled her eyes and said with a helpless smile, โ€œJackson, Iโ€™m not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself, you know.โ€

Yannis replied, โ€œAlright.โ€

โ€œAlright, you two take your time. Iโ€™m going to bring Nathan his dinner,โ€ said Jackson.

Remembering that Nathan upstairs hadnโ€™t eaten yet, Jackson quickly finished his own meal, then picked up the tray prepared especially for Nathan and headed upstairs. Nathan was currently too weak to even get out of bed, let alone join them for dinner. They always brought his meals up to Nathanโ€™s room.

Once Jackson left, Zinnia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zinnia thought to herself, โ€œI rarely lie, to begin with. Especially now that Iโ€™m hiding something this huge โ€“ I donโ€™t even dare imagine how furious Jackson and Nathan would be if they ever found out.โ€

Zinnia picked up her chicken soup and took another sip to steady herself. โ€œPhewโ€ฆ Jacksonโ€™s questioning really puts me on edge,โ€ she muttered.

Yannis shot her a sideways glance. โ€œSo youโ€™re nervous about Jackson grilling you, but youโ€™re not the least bit afraid of me?โ€

โ€œI canโ€™t help but feel that Zinnia isnโ€™t even a little afraid of making me angry,โ€ Yannis thought.

โ€œOf course, Iโ€™m not afraid. I know youโ€™d never get mad at me. You always take my side,โ€ Zinnia said with a playful grin, her brows arching. She wasnโ€™t scared; she knew Yannis would never be angry with her. Even if he did get mad, heโ€™d just end up cheering himself up anyway.

Yannis asked, โ€œArenโ€™t you afraid Iโ€™ll get mad at you?โ€ He thought to himself, a bit surprised, โ€œSo she actually trusts me?โ€

Zinnia looked at Yannis, her eyes dancing with mirth. โ€œI just knew you wouldnโ€™t have the heart to be angry with me.โ€

Ever since she met Yannis, heโ€™d always had a soft spot for her.


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