Chapter 69

As soon as Jackson came back, he heard Zinnia’s words.

“Zinnia, are you unhappy living here?” Jackson asked, putting down his coat and looking at her as she walked out of the kitchen with a tray of cookies.

“No, Jackson,” Zinnia replied honestly.

She was very happy living with the Lynn family, but the Shaw family frequently visited, often disturbing Sofia and Henry. Zinnia didn’t want Sofia to have any conflicts with the Shaw family because of her.

“Then why do you want to move out? Did something happen?” Jackson asked, his voice gentle as he tried to understand her immediately.

“Jackson, I said from the start that I’d only be staying a few days,” Zinnia responded, looking him in the eyes.

She had never intended to stay with the Lynn family permanently. If Jackson hadn’t used Sofia to persuade her, she wouldn’t have come in the first place. Although she had grown fond of them, Zinnia still felt it was impolite to impose on others for too long. She had saved some money and could rent a small place. If necessary, she could sell some herbal medicine or ask Chandler to send some ginseng. She wouldn’t starve. There was a little restaurant nearby with delicious food that Zinnia liked.

She thought, “Mister has left me, but I will live well. When he returns, I will proudly tell him that I can live just fine without…”

Jackson glanced over at Benedict, who was standing in the living room, and seemed to understand the situation with the Shaw family. His expression turned contemplative.

“Then let me help you find a place, okay? I would worry if you moved out on your own. Let me ensure your safety,” he said gently, looking down at her with concern.

Zinnia thought for a moment and then nodded. “Okay, but make sure it’s affordable. I can’t pay high rent.”

During this time, Jackson had been very kind to her. Zinnia didn’t want him to worry about her on top of his busy work schedule.

She thought, “It’s better if he helps find a place. I’m not familiar with Jinston, so it saves me the trouble!"

“Okay, the place will be one of our own properties, so you won’t have to pay rent,” Jackson said gently, then reached out to pat her head.

“But Jackson, I want to pay you rent,” Zinnia said, looking up at him with her beautiful, glistening eyes. "Even if it was a property, I don't want to take advantage."

“Are you trying to distance yourself from me, Zinnia?” Jackson’s deep eyes showed a hint of sadness.

Zinnia shook her head. “No, Jackson, it’s just that people always say, ‘Clear accounts make good friends.’ Even between family members, it’s better to keep things clear."

She couldn’t understand why paying rent meant distancing herself. To her, they were two separate matters. In Zinnia’s mind, no one helps another unconditionally. Every person’s goodwill is finite and can be exhausted. Zinnia didn’t want her relationship with Jackson to end up strained. She liked him very much; he was good to her.

Jackson chuckled softly, “You said it yourself, we’re siblings. Between siblings, there’s no need for such formalities. I will always be your support."

“Really!” Zinnia found something odd about Jackson’s serious tone.

But Jackson was someone she trusted deeply. Whatever Jackson said, Zinnia always believed it. Back at the Shaw family, her three brothers rarely spoke to her or taught her anything. But Jackson was a helpful guide with infinite patience. He taught her about everything and explained the ways of the world. Zinnia wasn’t particularly smart, but she knew who treated her well and who didn’t. Although she still felt that some things didn’t quite make sense, she was already thinking of other ways to repay the rent.

She felt uneasy about not giving Jackson something in return. She didn’t like receiving things without earning them.

Seeing her dilemma, Jackson said, “If it makes you feel better, you can give me another little medicine pouch. I can keep one at home and one in the..."

Jackson felt a bit guilty for making Zinnia feel this way, so he didn’t dwell on the topic. He just ruffled her hair affectionately.

“Okay,” Zinnia agreed readily.

She thought about making a couple more pouches once she went upstairs, because over time the scent would fade and they’d become less effective. Using herbal pouches was better for treating insomnia than taking medicine–medicine always has some side effects.

Sofia and Henry came back home. While they were at the dinner table, they heard Zinnia wanted to leave.

“Zinnia, are you not comfortable living here? Or is it the food? Tell Benedict, we can fix it. Why do you want to move out!” Sofia’s concerned eyes were fixed on Zinnia.

“No, Grandma, I’m very happy here. It’s just that I’m in my last year of high school, and studying is really busy. I don’t want to disturb you,” Zinnia said, using a mix of what she had found online and her own thoughts.

“Disturb us? Having you with us brings us joy! Since you’ve been here, your brothers visit more often,” Sofia said, still trying to persuade her while glancing over at Jackson and his brothers.

Before Zinnia came to live with the Lynn family, Jackson and his brothers rarely visited home. But with Zinnia here, they worried about her and started coming back every day.

“Grandma, Zinnia’s right. She’s a senior now, and this is a super important time for her. She needs to rest and be happy."

“Her teacher said we gotta be extra nice to seniors, or they’ll get stressed out,” Jackson said, giving Zinnia a reassuring smile and backing her up.

“Yeah, Grandma, you’re always nagging. It’s gonna drive Zinnia crazy. She should totally move out. I’ve got an apartment near the school. It’s way more convenient,” Isaac chimed in. He loved his freedom and thought Zinnia needed some space too.

Sofia glared at Isaac. “You little rascal! I’m not even talking to you. I don’t care about you as much as I do about Zinnia."

“Grandma, Zinnia’s studies are the priority right now. We gotta support whatever she decides," Charlie added, trying to smooth things over.

Zinnia smiled at him, her eyes brightening a bit.

“Yeah, and you can still come back and visit whenever you want, Zinnia, right?” Isaac said, his face softening into a gentle smile.

Zinnia nodded. “Yeah, Grandma, I’ll come back to see you every break.”

After hearing everyone out, Sofia finally relented, “Alright, Zinnia. Just promise me you’ll come back often. This place will always be your home, you're always welcome here.”