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.
โWhy donโt you try closing your eyes?โ Zinniaโs 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.
Yannisโs 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 peopleโand utterly untainted. It was the kind of purity that made one want to shield it from the world.
His thoughts swirled in chaosโflashes 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.
โAre you close with my brother?โ Zinnia asked.
โYeah, weโve known each other for years,โ Yannis replied. โOur 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.โ
โYouโre really good at cooking. Your future wifeโs going to be lucky,โ Zinnia remarked with a grin.
Yannis chuckled softly. "I'm in no rush to get married. But if you like my cooking, I donโt mind making it for you again next time.โ 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 hadnโt even realized he was holding. The stress from days of sleeplessness gradually melted away.
โOkay,โ Zinnia responded gently, noticing his gradual relaxation.
โCome up if you need anything. Tomorrow, Iโll add your fingerprint to the lock so you canโฆ Zinnia, you live right downstairs. My door code is BG13โcome in anytime,โ Yannis said. He realized he was talking more than usualโa change he hadnโt even noticed.
Yannis was the type who rarely initiated conversations. Heโd only respond if something caught his interest, and if he was in a bad mood, he wouldnโt bother hiding itโheโd ignore everyone without caring about their feelings.
But Zinnia was even quieter than him. If he didnโt talk to her, she wouldnโt talk to him either. It wasnโt that she was being aloof; she simply didnโt knowโฆ
โNo needโฆโ 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.
โLetโs add your fingerprint. That way, I wonโt have to worry. If something happens and Iโm not home, or I donโt hear the doorbell, you wonโt be locked out,โ Yannis explained. Zinnia stayed silent, not responding.
โWhenโs your birthday, Zinnia?โ Yannis asked, noticing sheโd gone quiet again, like a shy little quail.
โJuly 28th,โ 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 theyโd been sculpted by a master artistโflawless 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 didnโt need any help to look this good. His entire face was flawless, a masterpiece of bone structure.
Zinnia thought he was the second person sheโd 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. โMassaging him and getting to admire this view? Not bad at all,โ she thought.
โDo you think Iโm good-looking?โ Yannis asked, his gaze lifting to meet hers.
โYouโre gorgeous,โ Zinnia replied earnestly, showing no sign of embarrassment for being caught staring.
โMen arenโt described as gorgeous. Thatโs 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 โgorgeous.โ
โBut you are! Youโre even more gorgeous than most girls,โ Zinnia insisted, genuinely confused as to why the word couldnโt apply to him. To her, he was undeniably gorgeous.
Sheโd 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, โThatโs because I couldnโt get her to stop no matter how hard I tried.โ
Yannis sighed, half amused, half resigned. โAlright, but just so you know, men arenโt usually called gorgeous. If you insist, though, you can say itโbut only to me. If you call someone else that, they might not take it well.โ
Seeing the unwavering seriousness in her eyes, Yannis sighed again and relented. Forget itโthere was no changing her mind.
โOkay,โ Zinnia agreed obediently. Besides, she wouldnโt say such things to people she wasnโt close to anyway.
โGood girl, Zinnia,โ 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.
โYou donโt sleep well, do you? Next time, Iโll make you some calming tea. It helps when youโre feeling unsettled. I made a couple of herbal sachets for you,โ Zinnia said, her tone calm and steady as her hands moved with practiced ease.
At some point, Yannisโs clenched hand relaxed, now resting loosely at his side.
โAlright,โ he murmured softly. When Zinnia glanced down, she realized his eyes were already closed.
Chapter 79