Chapter 596 Zachary, What's Wrong
Winona placed her hand on his chest. "We need to talk."
Zachary's breathing was fast and uneven, his eyes a bit red. The rush of hormones and a certain impulse made his veins throb, like sparks colliding inside him.
Winona's hand pressed against him firmly, but if Zachary really wanted to move forward, her strength wouldn't be enough to stop him. Yet, he didn't.
In a husky voice, he asked, "You sure you wanna do this now?"
Zachary grabbed Winona's hand and moved it lower, below his abdomen. "The contestants are picked, and I'm one of them."
"Is there any way you can not go?" Zachary knew it was impossible, and he couldn't stand the thought of Winona giving up her dreams for him. He'd never clip her wings just to keep her close, turning her into a caged bird. So, he asked casually.
Winona hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."
This answer completely surprised Zachary. He could sense that Winona wanted to go. "Why?"
Could it be because she couldn't bear to leave him?
Just the thought of this possibility made Zachary's lips curl into a smile he couldn't suppress. Even if it was just a one percent chance, he was thrilled.
Winona wrapped her arms around his waist, her face pressed against his chest, listening to his slightly fast heartbeat. "Maybe it's because of you."
Ever since she learned about the competition, she had wanted to participate. But for some reason, when Caleb asked her, she hesitated.
At that moment, she didn't know what she was hesitating about. It was just a woman's intuition.
"Really?" Zachary's heart warmed at her words. In that instant, all his reluctance and grievances melted away. A tingling sensation shot from his feet to his head, exploding into countless fireworks of joy in his mind, making him feel indescribably comfortable.
Just for that sentence, he felt that even if Winona had to stay abroad for a month or two, he could endure it.
Zachary pulled her into his arms. His physical reaction was still evident, even painfully so, but at that moment, he had no such thoughts. He just wanted to hold her.
Just holding her was enough, doing nothing else.
The living room was silent, the two of them embracing each other peacefully. The warm light softened Zachary's usually sharp features.
In this atmosphere, Winona's vision blurred, her mind foggy. She closed her eyes, feeling so sleepy.
But staying in this position for too long would be uncomfortable. So, before she completely relaxed, she poked Zachary's stomach with her finger. "Put the bowl in the kitchen. I'm sleepy."
Zachary was still immersed in the overwhelming emotions. Winona's poke brought back the suppressed physical urge, and he let out a muffled groan, almost climaxing on the spot.
But it was just an impulse, and he didn't act on it. Otherwise, the label of 'weak sexual function' would stick with him in Winona's eyes.
Zachary took the bowl to the kitchen. Winona lay on the couch waiting for him, but soon she couldn't resist the heavy sleepiness and closed her eyes.
Winona was startled awake by a sound, sitting up abruptly on the couch, her eyes still a bit dazed. She immediately looked towards the kitchen.
The sound came from the kitchen, a clear noise of a bowl breaking.
She couldn't remember if she had closed the kitchen door earlier, but now it was shut, and she didn't see Zachary.
"Zachary?" she called out lazily, leaning against the back of the couch, her chin resting on it, staring towards the kitchen.
At first, Winona didn't think much of the broken bowl, but after waiting for a while without hearing Zachary's response, she started to panic.
Frowning, she got up from the couch, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and ran to the kitchen. "Zachary, are you okay?"
The kitchen was dark.
Just as Winona was about to push the door open, she heard the sound of the bowl breaking again. The glass on the door reflected a hand—Zachary's hand.
He was holding the door. "I'm fine. I accidentally broke the bowl. Don't come in, or you might step on the shards. I'll clean it up first."
His voice was unusually hoarse, with a hint of breathlessness. Winona wasn't sure if she heard it right, but she felt that something was definitely off, not as casual as Zachary made it sound.
If he was just worried about her stepping on broken glass, wouldn't it be the same if she stayed at the door without going in? Why close the door?
They stood on either side of the door, neither moving.
Winona's hand was still on the door. She spoke softly, "Why don't you turn on the light?"
"I thought it would just take a second to put the bowl away, so I didn't turn it on. But I didn't see clearly and dropped it."
The next second, the kitchen light came on. Zachary's hand was still on the door, but she could only see that hand, the rest of him hidden by the wall.
"Zachary, are you feeling unwell?" Winona asked.
"No, you said you were sleepy earlier. Go upstairs and wash up. I'll come up after I clean the floor."
Winona didn't believe him. He kept talking about cleaning the floor but hadn't actually started. His hand was still holding the door.
She coldly tried to pull the door open. Zachary, sensing her determination, sighed. "Winona, please."
"Whoever proposed has to listen. Zachary, open the door, or I'll resort to violence."
There was no response from inside. Winona couldn't push the door open. Anxiety, anger, fear, and frustration mixed together, making her heart race, and she almost cried.
She said urgently, "You've hidden things from me many times. If you lie to me again, I'll never forgive you. I'll marry someone else."
Zachary sighed, withdrew his hand, and opened the door a crack, looking a bit dejected. "Don't come in, and don't laugh."
Winona frowned, staring at him. Zachary's face was pale, with a hint of sweat on his forehead.
"Okay, I won't laugh," she said.
Hearing her assurance, Zachary fully opened the door, exposing his disheveled state.
His chest was soaked, the dark shirt clinging to his body, covered in noodle bits and dried scallions. His expression was one of grievance, perfectly embodying the image of a beautiful, tragic hero. "I accidentally spilled it on myself. I didn't want you to see, so I held the door. I didn't expect you to get so emotional, even talking about marrying someone else."
Winona's eyes flickered, still staring at him. "Then why do you look so pale?"
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