Chapter 75

Zinnia waved goodbye to them, her small backpack slung over her shoulder as she made her way to Cloud Harbor.

“Zinnia.” A smooth, refined voice called out from behind just as she entered the residential complex, stepped into the lobby, and pressed the elevator button.

Zinnia turned her head to see a tall, elegant figure.

The man was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist. The cuffs of his shirt were rolled up, and he carried a pink gift bag in one hand.

A faint smile curved his lips, and his features were strikingly handsome. His double eyelids were subtle, and his long, dark lashes were distinctly defined.

The gorgeous charmer is back, Zinnia thought to herself.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already,” Yannis teased as he walked up to her, breaking the silence.

“Yannis,” Zinnia murmured softly, quickly averting her gaze.

“Just got out of school?” Yannis’s lazy smile deepened as his eyes curved slightly.

“Yeah,” Zinnia confirmed.

“So cold, Zinnia! You only said two words, and one of them was my name. Does that even count as a conversation?” Yannis sighed dramatically, feigning grievance.

Listening to his slightly aggrieved tone, Zinnia frowned. Is the gorgeous charmer sulking now! she wondered.

Feeling a tug on her shoulder, she turned her head, her puzzled gaze landing on Yannis, who was reaching for her backpack.

“Let me carry it for you. We can’t have our little Zinnia squished under weight, right? Jackson told me to look after you, and if you shrink even a bit, he’ll definitely give me an earful,” Yannis said.

Zinnia couldn’t help but want to tell him: she’d already stopped growing. There was no way she’d get shorter.

Before she could say anything, Yannis’s next move silenced her. He held out a pink gift bag in front of her.

“What?” Zinnia blinked, her confusion evident.

“A little gift for you, Zinnia. To celebrate us becoming neighbors. Take care of me from now on, okay?” Yannis said with a serious expression that didn’t quite match the playful glint in his eyes.

Zinnia glanced down and saw a beautifully crafted pudding.

A three-layer milk pudding topped with fresh strawberries and accompanied by a skewer of rice balls—it looked mouthwatering.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her lips curving slightly. If it had been anything else, she might have refused, but this was pudding—sweet, tempting and impossible to resist.

Yannis noticed the delight in her eyes and smirked at himself. It seemed his unreliable cousin had finally done something right once.

The elevator doors slid open, and the two stepped inside as it began its steady ascent.

“Zinnia, have you eaten yet?” Yannis asked, glancing at the petite girl beside him. She was dressed in a pale yellow, waist-cinched dress with a bow tied neatly at the back. Her slender figure looked so delicate. She looked even thinner than when they first met. The Lynn family hadn’t taken proper care of her, and the Shaw family hadn’t done much better. Honestly, it was infuriating.

“No, not yet,” Zinnia replied, shaking her head. She hadn’t decided what to eat. Jackson had originally planned to send someone to take care of her, but Zinnia had declined.

He had already gone to great lengths to find her a place to stay and arrange everything for her. She didn’t want to trouble them further. Eating something simple on her own was fine.

“Why don’t you come over for dinner! I haven’t eaten yet either,” Yannis said with a smile, nodding as if reading her mind.

“That’s not necessary. I don’t want to trouble you,” Zinnia said, politely declining.

She could just snack on something at home. Jackson had stocked up on plenty of treats for her, and she could make do until tomorrow when she planned to grab lunch at a small diner.

Cooking wasn’t her forte anyway; her meals had always been prepared by her master.

“If your brother finds out you skipped dinner and I didn’t take care of you, I’d never hear the end of it! Come on, Zinnia. Just keep me company, okay?” Yannis said, pressing the button for his floor as the elevator continued its upward journey.

He’s really laying it on thick–acting all pitiful and lonely. Didn’t he manage just fine before I came along? Zinnia thought, her lips twitching slightly.

Zinnia’s backpack, full of homework, was still in his hand–she couldn’t just leave it. Besides, he had mentioned her brother, and she didn’t want Jackson to worry about her.

“Alright, I’ll join you,” she finally relented, glancing at his sharp profile. The light from above cast soft shadows on his face, making him look even more striking.

Though the “poor lonely man” act was likely exaggerated, Zinnia couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Eating alone was, after all, a little sad.

Zinnia often found herself alone at the Shaw residence. Betty would frequently drag Maclis out for shopping trips, and the Shaw brothers rarely came back. Most of the time, she was left in an unfamiliar house.

She followed Yannis to the 19th floor. The hallway’s design mirrored that of the 18th floor.

Yannis unlocked the door with a fingerprint scan, and the door clicked open. He stepped aside, gesturing for Zinnia to enter first.

Zinnia stepped inside but stayed near the entrance, her posture hesitant. “Zinnia, I don’t have slippers in your size right now. Just wear mine for now—they’re brand new, I promise! Next time, I’ll have a pair just for you,” Yannis said with a teasing smile.

Closing the door behind them, Yannis bent down to retrieve two pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet. He unwrapped the new pair and placed them gently by Zinnia’s feet before slipping on his own.

Zinnia slid her feet into the new slippers, but her toes barely reached the front. Her slender feet seemed to swim in them. She wiggled her toes awkwardly, trying to adjust.

“Zinnia, your feet are so tiny! How do you even walk in these?” Yannis said, laughing. Her feet were so small, it looked like she’d need to step on him just to make the slippers fit properly.

Zinnia glanced up at him, her clear eyes meeting his. “It’s obviously because your feet are too big,” she retorted, her tone carrying a hint of indignation.

“You’re right. My feet are too big. My bad. Next time, I’ll make sure to get slippers that fit you perfectly,” Yannis replied without hesitation, his tone light and playful as he took full responsibility.

Yannis met her bright, unguarded gaze and chuckled softly. Next time, he thought, I'll make sure everything’s ready for her. He was already mentally listing the things he needed to prepare.

Earlier that afternoon, he had returned from a neighboring city. On the way back, he passed by a dessert shop. Though he hadn’t had time to prepare essentials, he figured it was better to have them ready than to leave her without.

“Come on, let’s head inside. Relax, Zinnia. Treat this place like it’s yours,” Yannis said as he led her into the living room, placing her backpack on the sofa.

“Take a seat, Zinnia,” he added, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over the sofa before heading to the kitchen.

Zinnia sat down quietly, her gaze drifting around the room. The bright, minimalist decor felt oddly calming, a stark contrast to the carefully curated warmth of her own space downstairs.

The apartment had a sleek, minimalist design, with crisp white walls and furniture accented by bold black details. The soft glow of the lights made the space feel open and inviting, almost like stepping into a serene gallery.

Soon, the sound of running water came from the kitchen. After a moment, it stopped, and Zinnia froze, her gaze momentarily blank.