Chapter 78

Wasis let out a shallow breath, but it did little to ease the tension in his chest. His pupils dilated and contracted, emotions surging as a soft touch landed on the top of his head. His body instinctively tightened, his hands at his sides slowly curling into fists, and his breathing grew heavier, uneven and strained. His lips pressed into a firm line as he fought the urge to flip over and push her away. His eyes darkened, the resistance growing with every passing moment.

“Why don’t you try closing your eyes?” Zinnia’s soft, steady voice drifted into his ears, accompanied by the gentle pressure of her hand on his head.

The sharp edge of his resistance dulled slightly, the storm within him easing as his pupils gradually lightened in color.

Yannis’s gaze shifted slightly. Beside him, Zinnia extended her pale arm, her slender fingers threading through his soft black hair. Her eyes, clear and bright like polished glass, were filled with earnestness. They were nothing like the bloodthirsty gazes of those people—and utterly untainted. It was the kind of purity that made one want to shield it from the world.

His thoughts swirled in chaos—flashes of these bloodthirsty eyes, then hers, so overly pure it was almost unreal. And amid it all, her voice, soft and sweet, lingered in his mind. Yannis shut his eyes, his fists clenching tightly as if trying to hold himself together.

“Are you close with my brother?” Zinnia asked.

“Yeah, we’ve known each other for years,” Yannis replied. “Our families have been connected for a long time, so we all grew up knowing each other. But I skipped a grade and ended up in his high school class. Later, we both majored in finance in college, and our friendship deepened.”

“You’re really good at cooking. Your future wife’s going to be lucky,” Zinnia remarked with a grin.

Yannis chuckled softly. "I'm in no rush to get married. But if you like my cooking, I don’t mind making it for you again next time.” The quiet atmosphere was starting to feel stifling, and talking seemed to ease the tension.

Her soft voice drifted into his ears, like a gentle breeze soothing the tension he hadn’t even realized he was holding. The stress from days of sleeplessness gradually melted away.

“Okay,” Zinnia responded gently, noticing his gradual relaxation.

“Come up if you need anything. Tomorrow, I’ll add your fingerprint to the lock so you can… Zinnia, you live right downstairs. My door code is BG13—come in anytime,” Yannis said. He realized he was talking more than usual—a change he hadn’t even noticed.

Yannis was the type who rarely initiated conversations. He’d only respond if something caught his interest, and if he was in a bad mood, he wouldn’t bother hiding it—he’d ignore everyone without caring about their feelings.

But Zinnia was even quieter than him. If he didn’t talk to her, she wouldn’t talk to him either. It wasn’t that she was being aloof; she simply didn’t know…

“No need…” Zinnia said softly, her tone calm and detached.

This encounter was purely by chance. Yannis was always busy, and according to Jackson, he often worked late and even stayed the night at the office. This time, they just happened to cross paths when he came home.

“Let’s add your fingerprint. That way, I won’t have to worry. If something happens and I’m not home, or I don’t hear the doorbell, you won’t be locked out,” Yannis explained. Zinnia stayed silent, not responding.

“When’s your birthday, Zinnia?” Yannis asked, noticing she’d gone quiet again, like a shy little quail.

“July 28th,” Zinnia answered plainly.

July 28th. It had already passed. Yannis lowered his gaze, falling silent for a moment.

The living room grew quiet. Zinnia glanced at him, her gaze lingering. Up close, he was so stunning it felt unreal. His skin was like jade, and his features were so perfect it was as if they’d been sculpted by a master artist—flawless and balanced in every detail. His eyebrows were perfectly shaped, his lashes long and dark, and his nose was high and straight, accented by a tiny mole that added a touch of charm. Even his lips were naturally rosy, like he didn’t need any help to look this good. His entire face was flawless, a masterpiece of bone structure.

Zinnia thought he was the second person she’d seen who was so breathtakingly beautiful, both in appearance and bone structure. The first was her master, who was also stunning.

Looking at Yannis up close filled Zinnia with satisfaction. ‘Massaging him and getting to admire this view? Not bad at all,’ she thought.

“Do you think I’m good-looking?” Yannis asked, his gaze lifting to meet hers.

“You’re gorgeous,” Zinnia replied earnestly, showing no sign of embarrassment for being caught staring.

“Men aren’t described as gorgeous. That’s not a word people use for guys," he said with a helpless smile, looking at her serious little face.

Only Zinnia would dare to stare at him like that and seriously call him “gorgeous.”

“But you are! You’re even more gorgeous than most girls,” Zinnia insisted, genuinely confused as to why the word couldn’t apply to him. To her, he was undeniably gorgeous.

She’d seen plenty of attractive people. Her classmates were all good looking, and many like Yannis and the Lynn family were handsome too.

She used to say her master was gorgeous. At first, he tried to stop her from saying it, but eventually, he gave up correcting her.

Master thought helplessly, ‘That’s because I couldn’t get her to stop no matter how hard I tried.’

Yannis sighed, half amused, half resigned. “Alright, but just so you know, men aren’t usually called gorgeous. If you insist, though, you can say it—but only to me. If you call someone else that, they might not take it well.”

Seeing the unwavering seriousness in her eyes, Yannis sighed again and relented. Forget it—there was no changing her mind.

“Okay,” Zinnia agreed obediently. Besides, she wouldn’t say such things to people she wasn’t close to anyway.

“Good girl, Zinnia,” Yannis said with a soft laugh, his already strikingly handsome face lighting up even more.

Zinnia watched him quietly, her thoughts wandering. His smile is really something else!

The room fell silent once more. Yannis said nothing, simply letting the gentle motions on his head continue. Whether it was truly effective or not, his mind felt clearer, the heaviness lifted a little.

“You don’t sleep well, do you? Next time, I’ll make you some calming tea. It helps when you’re feeling unsettled. I made a couple of herbal sachets for you,” Zinnia said, her tone calm and steady as her hands moved with practiced ease.

At some point, Yannis’s clenched hand relaxed, now resting loosely at his side.

“Alright,” he murmured softly. When Zinnia glanced down, she realized his eyes were already closed.

Chapter 79