Chapter 67
The next day, Zinnia and the others were driven to school by Jackson. Basc walked her to her class first before heading off himself. As Zinnia entered the classroom, her classmates greeted her warmly.
โZinnia, good morning.โ
โGood morning,โ she replied. After a night, Zinnia had managed to adjust her mood and sat down.
โZinnia, did you not sleep well last night? Your dark circles are really bad,โ Ethan noticed as soon as she sat. Zinniaโs pale skin made any tiny blemish stand out starkly. His comment drew the attention of Brian and Lydia as well.
โWent to bed late,โ Zinnia explained.
After chatting with Jackson the previous night, Zinnia had started to feel better. Sheโd known how Maelis and the others felt about her for a while, but actually facing the reality of being abandoned made it tough emotionally. After Jackson left, Zinnia had a rare bout of insomnia. She thought about many things, not knowing when she finally fell asleep. But by then, she had only thought, โAllies with the Shaw family are severed. From now on, I wonโt let the Shaw familyโs affairs bother me. They wonโt matter to me anymore.โ
Early that morning, Zinnia noticed her dark circles and ended up worrying Sofia and the others for quite a while. These days, young people staying up late is common, so no one probed further. Ethan continued the conversation with another topic. โZinnia, did you finish the homework?โ
At the mention of homework, Zinniaโs expression froze with worry. โNo.โ She pulled out her workbook from her bag and barely any questions were answered. Sheโd finished her language arts assignments, but hadnโt even touched the math or physics questionsโthey were totally beyond her.
โDo I really have to do this homework?โ Zinnia asked, her face full of frustration as she stared at the blank workbook, her hand supporting her chin. She was puzzled, thinking, โWhy can others figure it out but I canโt? My brain feels empty.โ
โYou want to copy mine, Zinnia?โ Ethan handed his workbook to her. โMineโs alright but probably not as accurate as Lydiaโs. If you have questions, ask Lydia, but her grades are insanely good. You'll definitely get caught copying by the teacher,โ Ethan continued.
โReally? The teacher wonโt be angry and scold me, right?โ Zinnia looked at the offered workbook like it was a lifeline and quickly took it.
Ethan thought for a moment before answering carefully, โYou canโt copy the math because William will take you to the office. But for other subjects, if you have no time, itโs okay to copy a bit. Our teachers are nice and donโt scold.โ
Their class wasnโt strictly monitored, especially since they were in their final year. It was mostly about self-discipline. It was common for many girls to struggle with science subjects. Their teachers were understanding and more focused on attitudes toward learning rather than whether students copied or not. The teachers at Evershine High were highly selected, among the best with top-notch teaching abilities. Ethan couldnโt bear seeing Zinniaโs troubled face.
โGot it.โ Zinnia sighed, hearing sheโd still have to do some of it herself. She wondered, โWhy do we have homework anyway?โ
โMaybe I shouldnโt copy then.โ She nodded, thinking Ethan said the teachers wouldnโt scold. Sheโd written what she could. The rest was beyond her grasp; even if she forced herself, she wouldnโt learn it today or next time.
Besides, Zinnia had another plan in mind. She thought, โIf I show them Iโm not smart from the start, the teachers wonโt expect much from me in the future. Then I can be comfortably clueless. Iโm so clever; I gave them a heads-upโIโm super dumb.โ
โZinnia, if you have trouble with anything, you should ask Lydia. Sheโs great at all subjects, and if she explains it, youโll definitely understand,โ Ethan said, pointing to Lydia who was quiet and reserved.
Zinnia turned to look at Lydia, surprised to realize her deskmate was so modest. She thought, โBeing good at all subjectsโhow smart can someone be? What an amazing brain.โ
Feeling Zinniaโs gaze, Lydia glanced at her briefly and then pressed her lips together. โIf thereโs something you donโt understand, I can teach you,โ Lydia said softly.
โOkay.โ Zinnia nodded and turned back to struggle with her homework again. She figured she should try a bit herself before relying on others. But her ambitious spirit crumbled at the sight of the first math question. She wondered, โWhat is a complex number? Why am I trying to do this alone when I have someone smart right next to me?โ
Feeling clueless, Zinnia turned and lightly poked Lydiaโs arm with her finger. โLydia, whatโs a complex number?โ
Lydia remained silent for a moment.
Zinnia whined as she learned, โThis is so tiring, can I just not study?โ
After Lydia explained patiently for a while and walked her through the problem, Zinnia eventually understood. Then again, she had only solved one problem but it felt like she had exhausted all her energy.
Holding a pink strawberry pen, Zinnia slumped over her desk, tapping it absentmindedly.
โHere,โ Lydia said, noticing Zinniaโs gloominess. She pulled out a foil-wrapped container from her drawer and handed it to her.
As soon as she opened the container, a tempting milky aroma filled the air.
โEgg tarts,โ Lydia said, revealing the golden, enticing pastries.
โFor me?โ Zinnia perked up slightly, her dull eyes lighting up at the sight of the delicious-smelling egg tarts. Since leaving the Shaw family, Zinnia realized there was so much tasty food out there, not just the grass from the Shawsโ garden.
Lydia nodded. โYes. I hope you like it.โ
Zinniaโs voice was sweet with gratitude. โThank you, Lydia.โ
Knowing it was for her, Zinniaโs eyes sparkled with joy as she eagerly took one. She picked the taro flavor, layered with flaky crusts, looking incredibly tempting.
โLydia, did you make something yummy again?โ Ethan and others in the front row turned around, smelling the sweet aroma. They saw Zinnia eating happily.
They looked at the remaining egg tarts in the foil containerโsome had strawberries, kiwi, matcha, Oreo, and soy milk. There were six in total, each looking beautifully crafted.
Lydia was not only excellent academically but also amazing at making treatsโalmost at a professional pastry chef level. Everyone in class remembered the delicious snacks she had made before.
Lydia nodded lightly: โNext time Iโll make some for you too.โ
After a day of classes, Zinnia felt dazed. Fortunately, the school had plenty of delicious food, and Lydia gave her some snacks. The teachers were kind and didnโt scold her even if she didnโt finish her homework.
Back home after classes, Zinnia encountered another Shaw brotherโthis time it was Howard.
Howard spoke up. โZinnia,โ