Chapter 74

“Zinnia, you seem really happy today. What’s going on?” On Monday, her classmates couldn’t help but notice how cheerful she looked.

“Really?” Zinnia tilted her head, confused. She thought, “Am I really that happy? I don’t think so…”

After receiving a message from her master, it was like a spark had been lit inside her. She seemed so much more energetic, no longer resembling the dejected, listless puppy she had been before.

Just thinking about her master reaching out sent ripples of quiet joy through her heart.

“You totally are! Look at that little smile on your face,” Haisle teased, pointing at the corners of Zinnia’s lips that had curled up without her even realizing it.

When Maisie first met her, Zinnia had been like a gloomy kitten, abandoned and left to sulk.

She was quiet and well-behaved, never showing any obvious signs of unhappiness, but Maisie could just feel that she wasn’t in a good place.

Now, though, it was clear something had shifted. She seemed lighter, like she had something to look forward to.

Zinnia touched the corner of her lips thoughtfully. It did seem like there was a faint smile there.

“Hey Zinnia, did you finish your homework?” Ethan asked, spinning around in his seat.

After parting ways with Maisie, who had repeatedly promised to ace the monthly exams so they could sit together, Zinnia reluctantly shuffled back to her seat.

Unbeknownst to her, Betty’s words caught someone’s attention. As soon as Zinnia sat down, Ethan turned around with a grin.

Zinnia’s smile froze instantly. She thought, ‘Why is it always about homework on the first day of school? Can’t they ask something more interesting for once!’

Before she could respond, Brian leaned over, propping his head on one hand. “Come on, does she look like someone who actually finished her homework?” he teased, his handsome face brimming with amusement.

“I did!” Zinnia shot back, baring her teeth in a defiant grin. “Even if I didn’t finish, I can’t lose face here!” she thought. “Well… most of it, anyway,” she muttered under her breath.

Zinnia wasn’t exactly a fan of homework. She procrastinated whenever possible, and last night had been a frantic rush to get it done.

She managed to finish the humanities assignments, but when it came to the sciences, she spent half the night staring at the pages, unable to write a single word.

“If you haven’t finished, you’d better hurry. William’s class is first, and you know he always checks homework,” Ethan said, his lips twitching as he tried to hold back a laugh. At least he was kind enough to remind her.

Without a word, Zinnia sighed and pulled out her homework, starting to fill it in.

Even the intense study vibes at school couldn’t spark the slightest bit of motivation in her.

Clutching her pen, Zinnia poked at the paper absentmindedly. ‘Senior year. Just endless exercises, day after day. How am I supposed to survive this for a whole year?’ she thought, feeling utterly hopeless.

Science fried her brain, and humanities made her hand cramp. No matter the subject, it was all a struggle.

“I could really use some milk tea right now,” Zinnia grumbled to herself. She felt like a cup of milk tea was exactly what she needed to recharge.

She hadn’t had any milk tea all weekend since she hadn’t gone out.

Now that she was back at school, Zinnia decided she’d grab a cup from the campus milk tea shop after class. Her brain deserved a little reward for all the effort it was putting in.

Ever since leaving the Shaw residence, Zinnia had realized how cheap things were outside–a cup of milk tea was just a few bucks.

With one million in her account, she figured she could drink milk tea every day for the rest of her life. She’d happily cut back on meat if it meant unlimited milk tea.

She also remembered the last time she went out to eat with Maisie and the others. They ordered so much food, but Zinnia thought everything in Jinston was way cheaper than back in her small town.

Thanks to the money she earned from selling ginseng, as long as she avoided buying the extravagant dresses Betty flaunted, she had enough to live comfortably for ages without worrying about food or drink.

“Milk tea is non-negotiable. My brain’s been working overtime—I deserve this!” Zinnia thought, convincing herself as she prepared to stand up.

Just as she was about to move, a warm touch brushed against her arm. She turned her head and met a pair of delicate, serene eyes.

The owner of those eyes wore a simple white cotton T-shirt. Her pale, almost translucent skin revealed faint blue veins, and her slender wrist held a cup.

“Store-bought milk tea isn’t great. Try this instead,” Evelyn said softly, her voice calm yet tinged with a gentle warmth, like a quiet stream flowing along the riverbank.

“Lydia! You made this for me? You’re amazing!” Zinnia exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she quickly took the cup with both hands. She popped in the straw, took a sip, and practically melted. “This is incredible!”

Lydia’s skills were top-notch—the milk tea she made was absolutely delicious.

Hearing Zinnia’s praise, Lydia’s eyes, partially hidden behind her bangs, curved slightly in a subtle smile.

“I’ll teach you,” Lydia said, her voice clear and soft.

Even though teaching Zinnia a single problem often required dozens of explanations—since Zinnia lacked basic knowledge and understanding of many concepts—Lydia never seemed to mind.

“Sure!” With the allure of milk tea, Zinnia found herself less resistant to homework. Although she still struggled to fully grasp Lydia’s explanations, she managed to follow the steps and write out the answers.

Even if she didn’t understand everything afterward, at least she could get through the assignments for now—writing her own answers felt better than copying someone else’s.

After several days of working together, Zinnia had started to absorb a tiny bit of Lydia’s explanations during their study sessions.

Lydia scooted her chair closer to Zinnia’s desk, while Zinnia sipped her milk tea, listening to Lydia’s gentle voice as she read out the problems.

Zinnia couldn’t help but feel grateful—Lydia was more than just a desk mate; she was like a quiet guardian angel. Not only did she share delicious cookies, but she also patiently helped her with her studies.

Lydia’s patience and kindness reminded Zinnia of her master—both had a way of making her feel cared for, like she mattered.

Evelyn made her milk tea.

After a full day at school, Zinnia packed up her bag, ready to head home.

“Zinnia, let’s head home together,” Maisie said as she finished packing her bag, giving her a cheerful invitation.

“Maisie, I’m not going back to the Lynn residence anymore,” Zinnia replied casually.

“You’re not going back to the Lynn residence? What happened? Are you okay? If you don’t have a place, just come to my house!” Betty’s voice was filled with worry.

Maisie thought there was something serious happening to Zinnia.

Hearing the conversation, Lydia, who was still tidying up her books, and the boys in the front row, Ethan and Brian, turned their heads. Their faces showed concern. “Zinnia, is everything alright?”

“I told Jackson I wanted to move out. It’s my senior year, and studying is my top priority. The Lynn residence’s place is a bit far from school, so I decided to live closer. I live in Cloud Harbor now,” Zinnia explained, meeting their worried gazes.

“Cloud Harbor? No way!” Ethan blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief.

“My dad’s been trying to get a place there forever but couldn’t even qualify,” he muttered, still in shock. That neighborhood only had five households so far, and Zinnia was living there too.

Looks like Jackson really spoils Zinnia. Everyone felt relieved—it was clear there hadn’t been any drama like what happened with the Shaw family.