Zina had just taken a bite of the spicy lamb skewer. The owner had added plenty of chili, making it quite hot. She quickly grabbed her orange juice to
cool down.
As she took a sip and looked up, she was startled to find herself surrounded by a crowd.
“She is looking at me. Over here. Hey, gorgeous, look this way.”
“No way. She’s totally looking at me. Oh my god, this cutie is just way too gorgeous.”
“Enough arguing, everyone. She is clearly looking at me.”
Wherever Zina’s gaze passed, the girls in that direction lit up with excitement. Zina blinked and wondered, ‘Are they talking about me?”
Zina noticed their adoring stares. ‘Wait? Are they all looking at me?‘ she wondered.
Zina was the only one sitting, with no one else anywhere near her. Even those who came close kept at least three feet away.
Everyone else stood packed shoulder to shoulder, their eyes burning with eager anticipation.
For some reason, Zina’s hand froze around her orange juice. She just couldn’t bring herself to take another sip.
‘Why are they all crowding around me?‘ Zina wondered, feeling a bit uneasy. ‘What’s so interesting about me eating? Am I eating too much? But these are just too delicious. I really can’t help myself!
Zina clutched the oversized orange juice container, bigger than her face, half–hiding her face behind it. Hesitantly, she asked, “Um, is there something you need?”
She was speaking to the girl closest to her, who was holding onto the doorknob.
“Nothing, it’s just that you’re so gorgeous, cutie,” the girl said.
Zina was breathtakingly beautiful, with large, sparkling eyes tinged with blue.
The beret made her delicate face look even prettier and more refined, while her soft, fluffy braid rested on her shoulder, highlighting her strikingly beautiful features. Her outfit was exquisite, and her skin was very smooth.
With her sexy waist and long legs, she just sat there, nonchalantly eating. She was absolutely adorable.
Zina was alone, buying a mountain of snacks, and with her stunning looks, she turned every head in the night market.
Word spread like wildfire as people noticed her, and more and more onlookers gathered. Soon, the surrounding seats were pac curious crowds. Everyone loved beauty, after all.
Zina fell silent for two seconds, then said quietly, “Thanks.”
‘Are people at home always this direct?‘ Zina wondered, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Just as her words faded, her phone rang in her bag. She pulled it out. It was Adrian.
to the brim with
Zina’s eyes showed a hint of guilt as the noisy crowd buzzed around her. She stood up, grabbing her bag. “Excuse me, could you please make way? I have something I need to take care of.“,
“Sure.” At her words, the crowd quickly parted to let her through.
Zina pulled out her mask and put it on as she hurried out. Her phone kept ringing nonstop, her heart pounding.
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Chapter 373
‘If Adrian ever found out I was eating these, he’d probably drop everything and fly back just to lecture me, Zina thought.
As Zina’s figure gradually disappeared into the distance, the crowd suddenly came to their senses.
“Oh shit. We forgot to take pictures.”
“Damn it. How could we forget to snap photos?”
Someone in the crowd cried out. The onlookers looked as if they’d been struck by lightning. They’d been so absorbed in watching Zina that capturing the moment had completely slipped their minds.
Now, as they watched Zina walk away, they frantically pulled out their phones, but it was already too late. All they could photograph was her retreating back.
The crowd collectively groaned in frustration, kicking themselves for missing such a golden opportunity.
By the time Yannis and Toby arrived, the crowd had already dispersed.
Earlier, the place had been so packed that it would have been no easy feat for the two of them to squeeze through.
“Damn it. We didn’t even get any photos.”
“She’s so gorgeous. No, how could we forget to take pictures?”
“But even her retreating figure was stunning, total goddess vibes. I could stare at her forever.”
Yannis and Toby caught the disappointed murmurs from the surrounding crowd. Both of them frowned as the crowd gradually dispersed. Their gaze fell upon the now–empty spot ahead. She was already gone.
“Looks like she’s already gone, Mr. Perkins,” Toby said.
From what the people nearby were saying, it seemed she had left just before Yannis and Toby arrived.
Yannis frowned. “Go ask someone what she looked like.” They were just a moment too late.
Toby was about to approach the owner of the seafood stew restaurant when Yannis‘ phone suddenly rang.
Upon seeing the caller ID, the stern lines on his forehead softened instantly.
“Yannis, when are you coming back? I’m sick and miss you so much,” came a cute voice, sounding a little frail.
Upon hearing Mike say he was sick, Yannis‘ brows furrowed slightly as he called out to Toby. “Stop the search. Let’s go to the hospital first,” he ordered.
“Really?” Toby asked, puzzled.
“Mike is sick.” Yannis‘ face clouded with worry. “Have someone double–check this place tomorrow. I need to go see Mike now.”
Mike, the three–year–old son of Devin and Millicent, was a sickly child, just like his mother, who had always been in poor health.
Strangely enough, Mike barely paid any attention to his father, Devin, and instead clung exclusively to his third uncle, Yannis.
As soon as Toby heard it involved Mike, he immediately understood the gravity of the situation.
Whether or not the lookalike was actually Zinnia didn’t matter, right now. After all, one thing was certain. Mike had been faithfully by Yannis‘ side these past three years.
It was only because of Mike that Yannis‘ icy demeanor would occasionally thaw. Perhaps it was fate that they arrived just too late to meet her.
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Toby decided to have someone make inquiries again tomorrow.
Yannis gazed at the now–empty seat. The girl was already gone. ‘Too late after all, he thought.
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Meanwhile, Zina slipped away to a quiet corner before finally answering her phone. It had already rung twice.
“Hello, Adrian?” Zina answered the call hesitantly, her voice tinged with guilt.
With concern, Adrian asked, “Zina, why did it take you so long to answer the phone? Did something happen?”
Zina hastily made up an excuse. “No, Adrian. I was just playing a video game, right at a critical moment.”
“It’s getting late, Zina. Remember to go to bed early tonight, okay? You can’t handle staying up too late,” Adrian gently reminded her, his voice full of
concern.
It was already past 10 PM back home. Zina shouldn’t stay up too late. Her body couldn’t handle it.
Zina had only woken up three years ago. Although she’d had heart surgery, she still needed to be careful; her health had been severely weakened before.
The Evans family had spent all these years carefully nursing her back to health.
“Okay, Adrian. When are you coming back?” asked Zina. Upon hearing that Adrian wasn’t suspicious, Zina breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’ll probably be another month before I can come back, Zina. I still have a project to finish here. Once it’s done, I’ll come back to spend time with you,” Adrian said, his low, rich voice full of affection.
“Adrian, just focus on your work. No need to rush back. Edward is here with me in Laystoland anyway,” said Zina.
“Be careful while you’re in Laystoland, alright? If anyone gives you trouble, don’t hesitate to stand your ground. And remember, Edward is always there if you need anything,” Adrian reminded her gently.
Zina’s eyes curved into crescents as she grinned, “Got it, Adrian. Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone walk all over me.”
“Then get some rest early, Zina,” Adrian said gently. “I still have a meeting here. Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do,” Zina replied. After finally handling Adrian, Zina leaned back in her seat, removed her mask, and lowered her head to sip her orange juice.
Meanwhile, Yannis‘ car slowly drove past the road just outside where Zina was. It was so close, yet they missed
