“Alright,” Yannis replied.


    Zinnia paused at her bedroom door. She turned back to nce at Yannis, worry clear in her eyes as she spoke, “If you can’t sleep, juste to me, okay?”


    Yannis said, “Alright, Zinnia, you should get some rest, too. Good night.” He stood still, watching her quietly. As he met her worried gaze, a faint smile curved his lips, and the usualzy amusement in his eyes softened just a little. <fnf15c> Checktest chapters at fin?novel</fnf15c>


    “Good night,” Zinnia said softly.


    As Zinnia disappeared into her room, the smile slowly faded from Yannis‘ face. He headed straight to <b>his </b>study. Lately, he’d been quite busy, and with Zinnia at home, he’d instructed Toby to deliver all documents to the house.


    Yannis figured that until Zinnia finished her exams, about seventy percent of his work would have to be done this way: He couldn’t bear to leave Zinnia alone. He booted up hisptop and told Toby to set up a meeting,


    As the video conference ended, Yannis said calmly, “Alright, thank you all for working overtime today. You’ll get double pay.”


    The exhausted team instantly perked up at the mention of double overtime pay. They eximed, “Thanks, Mr. Perkins!” Then they gradually logged off the video call one by one.


    Yannis’s expression stayed cool and detached as he checked the time. It was midnight already. Then it struck him: he’d forgotten something important.


    Toby lingered, gazing at Yannis across the screen. The cool white light overhead entuated Yannis’s chiseled features. Toby thought, ‘No wonder he’s the reason all the women in thepany show up to work so motivated.’


    Toby spoke up, “Mr. Perkins, you’ve been going to bed early every daytely. It’s been ages since you stayed up thiste. Is your insomnia acting up again? Should I call a doctor for you? Are you feeling alright?”


    Toby first met Yannis when they were roommates abroad, and they became something like friends. It wasn’t until Yannis recruited Toby to work together back home that Toby realized Yannis came from a truly distinguished family.


    Yannis was a bona fide aristocrat, like someone who had a throne waiting for him at home.


    At the mention of going to bed early, Yannis suddenly remembered what he’d forgotten. He said to Toby, “Logging off now. Triple pay for you.” Then he abruptly stood up and left the room.


    Stepping out of the living room, Yannis caught the faint medicinal aroma lingering in the air. He went to the kitchen anddled out the soup Zinnia had prepared.


    It had been sitting too long and was already cold. Though he didn’t want to drink it, he couldn’t bring himself to waste Zinnia’s thoughtful gesture.


    <b>9:02 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>29 </b>B


    ??


    Se vouchers


    Leaning against the kitchen ind, he was bathed in the cool–toned light of the living room. His head bowed slightly, radiating an indescribable sense of solitude.


    He cradled the base of the bowl, its white rim touching his lips as he sipped the broth in small increments, his Adam’s apple bobbing gently with each swallow.


    The cold soup was nothing like when it was hot. In the past, Yannis would never have touched it. But now, he drained the bowl clean.


    The spacious living room, with its floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking most of the city, was bathed in light, save for one area shrouded in darkness.


    Yannis nced toward Zinnia’s room, where the light was out now. He thought, ‘She must be asleep.


    Yannis couldn’t help but think of how Zinnia earnestly admonished him to finish his medicine. Having lived for so many years, only Zinnia could ever make him do something he didn’t like.


    A faint smile flickered in Yannis’s otherwise calm eyes. Rubbing his stiff neck, he ced the bowl in the dishwasher before finally heading back to his room.


    The light in Yannis’s room was on. Unlike Zinnia’s newly renovated space, his remained unchanged. It was still that simple monochrome palette. Yannis unbuttoned his shirt as he stepped into the bathroom to wash up.


    Fifteen minutester, Yannis emerged from the bathroom infortable loungewear. His damp hair was still tousled, but he didn’t bother to fix it. He flopped straight onto the bed, closed his eyes, but sleep eluded him.


    His mind was wide awake. Even though his nerves were screaming for rest, he didn’t feel the slightest urge to sleep.


    The silence felt strange now. There was no longer Zinnia’s soft, awkward voice always trying to find something to say just to distract him.


    Yannis never minded those sleepless nights before, but after just a few early nights with Zinnia around, he couldn’t seem to adjust to this quiet.


    His body clock, long used tote nights, was now rebelling, and a wave of inexplicable restlessness washed over him. Zinnia’s repeated reminders to go to bed early echoed in his mind.


    He forced his eyes shut, only to snap them open again the very next moment. Waves of crimson flooded his mind. His hand atop the quilt clenched tightly, veins bulging at his temples.


    The ring overhead light made his usually calm eyes flicker, longshes trembling. He reached under his pillow and fished out the herbal pouch.


    It had been a while since hest used the herbal pouch. The scent had faded. With Zinnia keeping an eye on his sleep these days, Yannis hadn’t needed to rely on it to fall asleep.


    The herbal pouch, smaller than his palm, was ced beside his pillow. Its delicate herbal scent, so much like Zinnia’s own fragrance, filled his senses. Breathing it in, it was as if she were right there beside him.


    Yannis shut his eyes again. Pale at first, then gradually deepening into thick, viscous pools of dark scarlet,


    <b>9:02 </b><b>Mon</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>29 </b>B


    waves of crimson flooded his mind once more. His breathing grewbored, and his knuckles whitened from the strain.


    His chest heaved violently as he barely restrained the turbulent emotions raging in his heart, jaw clenched, Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He bolted upright, groping for something on the nightstand,


    The wooden vial felt cool in his palm. He pulled out the stopper, tapped out two brown pills, and quickly tossed them into his mouth.


    A subtle sweetness melted on his tongue as he leaned against the nightstand, trying to ease the tightness and panic in his chest.


    Yannis stared nkly at the wooden vial in his hand, his mind foggy and unfocused. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the bottle. Zinnia’s clear, innocent eyes appeared in his mind. He felt like hearing Zinnia saying, “Don’t think about anything.”


    Instead of chaotic thoughts, Zinnia’s methodical instructions echoed in his mind: “You must get proper sleep. You have to eat well, or your health will deteriorate. I will restore your health.


    “Trust me on this. If you can’t sleep, juste to me. Can you fall asleep?”


    Yannis slowly slid down against the nightstand. He slowly closed his eyes. The lingering sweetness trickled down his throat, bit by bit spreading warmth through his chilled limbs.


    Zinnia’s worried gaze appeared in his mind. The faint herbal scent drifted through his senses, flowing along his meridians and washing away the crimson waves threatening to return.


    *****


    田


    <b>AD </b>


    Comment