The sudden shout was like a thunderclap in Seraphina's ears, startling her so much that she lost her grip and footing, causing her to lose balance instantly.
Seraphina struggled to grab onto something, but ultimately, she fell from the two-meter-high hill.
As she hit the ground, a sharp pain shot through her left foot, making her cry out in agony.
Zachary saw what happened. He had only meant to warn Seraphina to be careful, but it had led to this unfortunate accident.
He quickly knelt down, gently checking Seraphina's ankle, his voice filled with reproach. "Why are you so careless? Why were you running around? You should have stayed in your room!"
Tears streamed down Seraphina's face from the pain, but hearing Zachary's scolding, a wave of defiance rose within her.
She believed she could have climbed up if Zachary hadn't startled her.
Struggling to sit up, she glared at Zachary and retorted, "Who are you to tell me what to do? I can climb if I want to. It's none of your business!"
Zachary was both amused and exasperated by Seraphina's stubbornness.
He shook his head and sighed helplessly. "Alright, alright, I won't interfere. But now that you're hurt, at least let me help you."
As he spoke, he reached out to remove the bits of grass from her hair and clothes.
Seraphina initially flinched away, but then realized she was overreacting and blushed.
She lowered her head and mumbled softly, "Thank you."
Seeing Seraphina's shy demeanor, Zachary felt a strange emotion stir within him.
He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can you walk? Do you need me to help you or carry you back?"
Seraphina tried to move her foot, but the pain was so intense that she gasped.
She shook her head reluctantly. "I don't think I can. You'll have to carry me."
Hearing this, Zachary bent down and gently lifted Seraphina onto his back.
Seraphina clung to Zachary's back, feeling the strength and solidity of his frame.
She had never been this close to a man before, and a mix of emotions swirled within her.
"Why did you come looking for me?" Seraphina couldn't help but ask.
"I needed to ask you something," Zachary replied simply, without elaborating.
He carried Seraphina with steady steps through the dense forest.
Though it was his first time carrying a girl, he was struck by how light and soft Seraphina felt.
Along the way, Seraphina spotted some ripe fruit on a wild tree and asked Zachary to pick some, mentioning that Knox hadn't picked enough. Zachary obliged, setting her down to gather the fruit.
Seraphina's face lit up with a sweet smile.
Zachary, who was usually seen as stern and unapproachable, was now carrying her steadily through the forest. His steps were firm and strong, and Seraphina, lying on his back, felt the warmth and solidity of his body.
She ate the fruit while enjoying the scenery, feeling a strange sense of romance.
She popped a wild fruit into Zachary's mouth, and when he ate it without hesitation, she couldn't help but think about teasing him in the future.
When they reached the camp entrance, everyone's eyes were on them.
Seraphina felt a bit embarrassed, but Zachary carried her straight into the infirmary.
The doctor examined Seraphina's ankle carefully and diagnosed it as a sprain, requiring rest and care.
Seraphina didn't want to use a wheelchair, so she looked at Zachary for help.
Without any sign of annoyance, he gently picked her up. Seraphina wrapped her arms around Zachary's neck, feeling the strength emanating from him.
His jawline was sharp and strong, giving Seraphina an inexplicable sense of security.
Being held by him felt so good, Seraphina thought to herself.
Bored from bed rest, Seraphina borrowed Zachary's couch to read.
She complained about her small, stuffy room, while Zachary's was spacious and bright.
Zachary hesitated at first but agreed after Seraphina promised to be careful.
Lying on the couch, flipping through the pages of a book, Seraphina felt a secret joy. She realized that although Zachary appeared cold, he was actually very kind-hearted.
Before long, Knox and Ezra came to check on her.
"Hey, how are you holding up?" Knox asked, his voice full of concern.
"I'm okay, just a bit bored," Seraphina replied with a smile.
Knox offered to escort Seraphina on outings, while Ezra suggested recording a video for social media to avoid danger and buy time to find a lipstick.
"That sounds like a good idea," Seraphina said, her eyes lighting up. "Thanks, guys."
She wanted to put on makeup, but Knox and Ezra both complimented her natural beauty.
"You don't need it," Knox said, grinning. "You look great just the way you are."
Blushing, Seraphina took a few photos as they suggested. During the shoot, she noticed Zachary's gaze fixed on her, making her blush even more.
After the photos, Knox whispered to Seraphina that if she needed any special medicine from the infirmary, they could help.
"Special medicine?" Seraphina asked, puzzled.
Knox, blushing, told her they had discovered that Nico had a serious STD.
Seraphina instantly understood their implication, her face turning red. She finally realized why Nico had always rejected her advances; he had been pretending to be innocent. A wave of disgust for Nico washed over her, and she radiated disdain.
Meanwhile, Zachary stood quietly nearby, his gaze deep and complex. Watching Seraphina's reaction, he knew she had let go of her feelings for Nico, while a new emotion quietly grew within him.
Zachary's eyes fell on Seraphina, and when she noticed, he quickly looked away, calmly sipping his tea.
Seraphina took a deep breath, looking at Knox and Ezra with clear determination. "Nico and I were never what you thought. So, I don't need those medicines, but thank you for your concern."
Knox and Ezra, embarrassed by her straightforwardness, blushed and avoided her gaze. Realizing their earlier words might have been offensive, they quickly made some polite remarks and left the room.
The room fell into a quiet, awkward silence. Seraphina sat on the couch, feeling a bit lost. She instinctively looked at Zachary, who was calmly sipping his tea, his face expressionless.
"Do you... believe me?" Seraphina asked impulsively.
Zachary looked up, his gaze deep and penetrating. After a moment, he smiled slightly, his voice low and magnetic. "It's none of my business."
Seraphina's heart tightened, and she hurried to explain. "I... didn't mean it that way. I just... wanted to prove I'm healthy, no diseases. You know, I was just worried about using the bathroom..."
"You should make that vow to your future partner," Zachary interrupted, glancing at his watch. He stood up and said, "I have things to take care of. Stay here and don't wander off."
With that, he turned and left the room. Seraphina watched his figure disappear through the door, feeling a strange sense of loss. She smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking she might have been overthinking things.
That evening, Ezra thoughtfully brought a sumptuous dinner. Looking at the table full of delicious food, Seraphina felt a warm current in her heart. She found the people here to be simple and sincere, without much conflict or scheming. This atmosphere made her feel comfortable and relaxed.
After dinner, Seraphina picked up a book and sat on the couch to read. Before long, she felt sleepy. Yawning, she gently placed the book over her face and drifted off to sleep.
At nine-thirty, Zachary returned to the room. He opened the door and was surprised to find Seraphina still asleep on the couch. Under the light, her sleeping face was peaceful and beautiful, like a painting.
He stood there, gazing at her delicate features: her smooth forehead, the messy hair at the back of her head, the faint blush on her cheeks, her long, curled eyelashes gently fluttering in the light, the inviting glow on the tip of her nose, and her slightly parted lips that seemed to beckon for a kiss...