Chapter 351
Yannis gazed at the wound on Zinniaโs palm, his eyes filled with raw concern. He gently applied the Moon Scar Cream to Zinniaโs, then took a fresh roll of gauze and carefully rewrapped it. He couldnโt 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 couldnโt help but gently brush his fingers over her bandaged palm, lowering his gaze to conceal the emotions within. He couldnโt really help her. All he could do was clean up the mess. Yannis looked at her gently and said, โGet some rest now.โ
โAlright,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 sheโd regained that afternoon had faded, leaving her face wan once more.
โAt least Nathanโs too weak to leave his bed,โ Yannis thought. If Nathan could get out of bed and so much as see Zinniaโs state, thereโs no way they could keep it from him.
Zinnia looked at Yannis and pleaded, โYannis, please donโt tell Jackson and the others about this.โ
โJackson 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. Heโd rather die than let her hurt herself.
โYouโre making me your accomplice in this. When Jackson and Nathan find out later, Iโll be scolded right alongside you,โ Yannis sighed and looked at her.
โA few scoldings wonโt kill you. I know you wonโt mind, Yannis.โ Seeing his aggrieved expression, Zinniaโs eyes curved into crescents. She grinned and said, โWell, since you found out, youโre stuck being my partner in crime. If you hadnโt, you wouldnโt be getting scolded.โ
โOh, you,โ Yannis sighed helplessly.
He thought to himself, โEver since I got caught up in this girlโs crazy schemes, thereโs 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 hadnโt been a single day without worries.
โYannis, youโre the best,โ Zinnia beamed, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Yannisโ face darkened. โNo playing cute with me. You mustnโt 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.
โOkay,โ Zinnia replied softly.
She wasnโt 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, โIs Zinnia still in the home lab?โ His worried gaze drifted toward the home lab.
Yannis nodded. โYeah, let Zinnia stay in the home lab. Sheโll feel more at ease there.โ
Jackson asked again, โAny updates from the research center? Have they come up with any solutions yet?โ
Yannis let out a weary sigh. โStill no breakthroughs for now.โ
As Yannis and Jackson made their way downstairs to the second floor, they noticed that Nathanโs door was closed. Jackson asked with concern, "How's Nathan doing?โ
Jackson said, โThis afternoon, Zinnia prepared a herbal bath remedy for him. He soaked in it for half an hour, and heโs now asleep.โ Theyโve split the caretaking duties โ each tending to one.
Jacksonโs eyes clouded with concern as he thought about Zinniaโs condition. โYannis, keep encouraging Zinnia to take it easy. Weโll definitely find a way.โ
โOkay,โ Yannis murmured.
Once dinner was ready, Zinnia finally made her way downstairs.
โZinnia, you look pale. Are you feeling unwell?โ Jackson asked with concern as he noticed her wan complexion.
Zinnia managed a faint smile. โNot really. Probably just tired lately. Itโs nothing.โ
โDonโt worry too much about Nathan. Weโll 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.
โI know, Jackson,โ Zinnia replied softly.
โHere, 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. โOkay.โ
After finishing her soup, Zinnia helped herself to some meat.
Jacksonโs eyes lit up with joy as he noticed Zinniaโs improved appetite. โZinnia, youโre eating much better now.โ
Lately, Zinnia had lost her usual enthusiasm for food, no longer picking her favorite dishes with delight. Instead, sheโd just nibble enough to stave off hunger, which worried Yannis and Jackson terribly. But with her worries unresolved, Zinnia remained heavy-hearted and couldnโt eat properly. Today, she ate heartily, as if her usual appetite had finally returned.
โGuess Iโm 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 wouldnโt be able to take the abuse.
Jacksonโs gaze once again fell on the bandage covering Zinniaโs hand. โZinnia, how serious is your injury? If itโs 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 sheโd gotten a small cut while tidying up. They werenโt sure how serious it really was, but when Yannis said it was just a minor injury that had already been treated, they felt relieved. Jacksonโs concern grew as he noticed Zinniaโs hand was still bandaged after a full day. โThat wound must be more serious than sheโs letting on,โ he thought.
Zinnia glanced at the wound on her palm, her voice calm. โItโs not that serious. I just couldnโt help picking at it. Itโll heal in a few days.โ
Yannis chimed in, โItโs 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, โMake 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, โJackson, Iโm not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself, you know.โ
Yannis replied, โAlright.โ
โAlright, you two take your time. Iโm going to bring Nathan his dinner,โ said Jackson.
Remembering that Nathan upstairs hadnโt 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 Nathanโs room.
Once Jackson left, Zinnia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Zinnia thought to herself, โI rarely lie, to begin with. Especially now that Iโm hiding something this huge โ I donโt 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. โPhewโฆ Jacksonโs questioning really puts me on edge,โ she muttered.
Yannis shot her a sideways glance. โSo youโre nervous about Jackson grilling you, but youโre not the least bit afraid of me?โ
โI canโt help but feel that Zinnia isnโt even a little afraid of making me angry,โ Yannis thought.
โOf course, Iโm not afraid. I know youโd never get mad at me. You always take my side,โ Zinnia said with a playful grin, her brows arching. She wasnโt scared; she knew Yannis would never be angry with her. Even if he did get mad, heโd just end up cheering himself up anyway.
Yannis asked, โArenโt you afraid Iโll get mad at you?โ He thought to himself, a bit surprised, โSo she actually trusts me?โ
Zinnia looked at Yannis, her eyes dancing with mirth. โI just knew you wouldnโt have the heart to be angry with me.โ
Ever since she met Yannis, heโd always had a soft spot for her.