Chapter 57

Maisie and Chattle used to get along well. As they grew older, Charlie went off to college and later got busy with lab work under his professor. His visits home became rare, and his contact with Maisie gradually dwindled.

Maisie said, “Charlie, your return is the best gift I could ask for. It’s been so long since I last saw you. How long are you staying this time? You’re not leaving again soon, are you?”

Because of his lab work, Charlie was rarely home. The last time Maisie saw him was at Raymond’s birthday party, which was over six months ago.

Looking at Charlie’s refined and handsome face, Maisie thought he had become even more attractive over the past six months. His skin and clean-cut features gave him an air of quiet elegance.

“I won’t be leaving anytime soon. I’ve taken a position at Eastern General Hospital,” Charlie said with a gentle smile, his expression calm and relaxed.

Charlie glanced at Zinnia and added, “Maisie, Zinnia’s in your class, right? Could you help look out for her?”

“Don’t worry, Charlie! As long as I’m around, I promise no one will bully Zinnia,” Maisie said earnestly.

The school grounds were filling up with students, and as class time approached, Zinnia and Maisie prepared to leave. Zinnia turned to Yannis and said earnestly, “If you’re not feeling well, make sure to let me know, okay?”

She didn’t want anything to happen to Yannis. Jackson would be heartbroken, and she’d feel bad too. Besides, she liked having Yannis around. Just catching a glimpse of him when she was bored could instantly brighten her mood.

Maelis’s call the previous night left Zinnia feeling a bit down. But seeing the stunning Yannis had completely swept away her gloom.

Yannis had been dealing with chronic sleep deprivation, which had taken a toll on his body. His organs were overworked, and if he ever fell ill, recovery wouldn’t come easily.

Zinnia had planned to make some herbal pills for him, but Howard interrupted her, and she never got around to it.

“Alright, I’ll remember your advice,” Yannis said with a warm smile. Then he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a white box, handing it to Zinnia.

Zinnia blinked, puzzled.

Yannis said sincerely, “This is a little gift for you, Zinnia. I didn’t have time to prepare anything properly when we first met.”

Zinnia blinked in surprise. She’d been receiving so many gifts lately.

Yannis took her hand and placed the box in her palm. He said, “Don’t mind the small gift, Zinnia.”

Yannis’s hand was cool and smooth, like holding a piece of fine jade. It left Zinnia momentarily dazed. Before she could react, Yannis had already let go, his eyes curving with a quiet smile.

“Thank you, Yannis,” Zinnia said.

The box in her hand had a faint minty scent, cool and fresh, just like Yannis. It must’ve picked up his fragrance from being tucked in his jacket.

Jackson had mentioned that Yannis was someone Zinnia could count on if she ever needed help, and that she didn’t need to stand on ceremony with him.

“You’re welcome,” Yannis replied with a soft chuckle.

Zinnia and Maisie walked into the school together.

Chapter 57

Maisie had just seen Yannis smiling at Zinnia brightly, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She thought, is he the same Yannis?

“Yannis always seems approachable, with that easy smile that makes one feel like he is right there with you. But the moment one tries to get closer, they will hit an icy wall that keeps one firmly at arm’s length.

Look at his gentle smile toward Zinnia just now. I wonder if he was possessed or something? Even his father had probably never seen Yannis act this nicely. If he did, he’d probably throw a party to celebrate!

“Zinnia, do you know Yannis?” Maisie asked curiously.

“I met him before with Jackson,” Zinnia replied casually, not bothering to hide anything.

“No wonder he called me the other day, asking me to keep an eye on you in class,” Maisie said.

Maisie had been baffled when Yannis randomly called her a few days ago, asking her to look out for a new classmate. At the time, she hadn’t even known who Zinnia was, yet she’d already been handed the mission.

“He asked you to take care of me?” Zinnia asked, surprised. She glanced at the box in her hands, stunned. She thought, ‘So that was why Maisie was so attentive to me yesterday. It turns out Yannis has been pulling the strings.’

Thinking of Yannis’s stunningly beautiful face, Zinnia nodded to herself. She thought, ‘Beautiful people do have kind hearts. Master, the Lynn brothers, and Yannis. They’re all such good people.‘

If Maisie knew what Zinnia was thinking, she might feel like laughing out loud. She would probably wonder what Yannis’s expression would be if he knew that he was considered a good person in Zinnia’s heart.

Everyone knew Yannis was good-looking, but his sharp tongue was infamous. He’d made countless girls cry with his biting words. Zinnia’s impression of Yannis as a good person would make both Maisie and Yannis wake up laughing in their dreams.

Of course, Maisie had no idea what was going through Zinnia’s mind. At that moment, she thought, ‘It seems Yannis does have a shred of humanity after all.

‘At least he didn’t show his true colors in front of Zinnia and was putting on a decent act of being a normal, kind person.‘

Maisie said, “Zinnia, hurry up! Let’s see what Yannis gave you.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement, fixated on the box in Zinnia’s hands.

“I have no idea,” Zinnia said with a shrug. She opened the box to take a look.

Inside was a stunning pink gemstone.

“Wait, is this the Ocean Heart?” Maisie exclaimed. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the dazzling gem.

Ocean Heart had once sold for 200 million dollars at an auction. Known as the “Heart of a Lover,” it symbolized eternal love and was highly sought after by wealthy buyers. The starting bid alone was 26 million dollars.

Maisie had begged her dad to buy it for her, but the price skyrocketed, and her dad refused, saying it was too expensive. She later heard that a mysterious buyer had won the bid.

She didn’t expect that the buyer would be Yannis, and Yannis even gave the gem to Zinnia.

The gem was beautiful, but Zinnia wasn’t particularly attached to it. She handed the box to Maisie and said, “If you like it, you can have it.”

“No! Zinnia, this is your gift. It’s not mine to take,” Maisie said, waving her hand. She was shocked by how easily Zinnia was willing to give it away.

As much as she loved the gem, Maisie wouldn’t dare take it. It was a gift from Yannis to Zinnia. Maisie didn’t want to risk Yannis’s icy glare if he found out. Maisie thought, ‘Could it be that Yannis offered to send me to school early just...’