The week of the competition arrived faster than anyone expected. The school buzzed with excitement, but in Aria's class, calmness surrounded one particular girl who sat quietly by the window, flipping through a thick medical book.
"Aria, are you ready for the competition?" Sophia asked, sitting down beside her with a curious look.
"Yes," Aria replied simply, her soft voice almost drowned by the chatter in the room.
Sophia leaned forward, frowning in disbelief. "You're so calm! I've never even seen you reading the competition materials. You're always buried in medical books."
Aria chuckled lightly, closing the book in her hand. "What can I study again? I've finished everything for this year's syllabus already."
Sophia's mouth dropped open. "You've what?! You're unbelievable, Aria!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with admiration and disbelief.
Mercy, who sat nearby, leaned closer with sparkling eyes. "That's why you always seem relaxed. No wonder you never panic before exams."
The three girls laughed softly together, their voices filled with warmth. Aria's gaze shifted to Mercy, who now looked much better than before. Her scars had faded, her skin glowing under the soft sunlight streaming through the classroom windows.
"Your scars are almost gone," Aria said gently, a small smile forming on her lips.
Mercy's hand unconsciously went to her cheek. She was still wearing her oversized glasses, but even so, her face looked delicate and bright. "Really?" she asked shyly.
Sophia grinned. "Then why don't you take off those glasses already? You look so pretty now!"
Mercy instantly shook her head, her expression nervous. "No, no. I don't want to."
"Are you still afraid of Ava?" Aria asked, her tone calm but knowing.
Mercy lowered her eyes. "No… not really. I just don't want trouble."
"Even if you don't want trouble," Aria said, her voice quiet but firm, "trouble will still come looking for you. You can't hide forever."
Mercy was silent for a moment before nodding softly. "Then I'll take them off during the competition."
"That's the spirit!" Sophia said, clapping her hands happily.
The three of them burst into laughter again.
---
In a dimly lit office, Eric stood nervously near the door, glancing at his boss who sat behind the desk. Adrian's face was pale, his expression tight, his entire body trembling from an icy cold that no heater could drive away.
"Boss," Eric said hesitantly, "should I call Miss Aria?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "No."
His voice was cold and controlled, but his hands betrayed him—they were shaking slightly. The side effects of the poison were worsening, spreading faster than expected. His body felt like ice, yet the burning sensation beneath his skin was unbearable.
Eric wanted to argue, but he knew how stubborn his boss was. If he called Miss Aria without permission, Adrian might truly fire him—or worse. Still, as the minutes passed, Eric's worry grew. The man who was feared by all now looked painfully fragile.
Unable to stand it any longer, Adrian stood and walked toward the private lounge connected to his office. He filled the bathtub with steaming hot water and stepped inside. The heat scorched his skin, turning it red, but the coldness within him refused to fade. He clenched his teeth, veins visible on his temples, forcing himself to endure.
Outside, Eric paced back and forth before pulling out his phone. His conscience won. He typed a message quickly and sent it.
.....
When school ended that afternoon, Aria saw the familiar black car waiting at the gate. She greeted Driver Li politely before settling into the back seat. The car glided smoothly through the busy streets of the city.
She stared out the window quietly. People rushed by—some smiling, some talking, some lost in their own thoughts. Her gaze caught on a little girl holding a small white puppy. The sight made her lips curve softly… until she felt something warm fall onto her hand.
A single tear.
Aria blinked and laughed at herself bitterly. "After so many years, I still can't forget…" she whispered under her breath.
She wiped the tear away just as her phone buzzed. It was a message from Eric.
> Eric: Miss Aria, the Boss is not feeling well. Please come to the office if you can.
Aria's eyes darkened. "Driver Li, please take me to the company."
"Yes, Miss," he replied without hesitation.
When she arrived, the entire office was unusually quiet. The secretaries at the front desk didn't stop her; they simply nodded respectfully as she stepped into the elevator. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, echoing in the silence.
As the elevator doors opened, Eric was already waiting, looking visibly anxious.
"Where is he?" Aria asked immediately.
"He's inside," Eric said quickly, relief flooding his face. "He's… feeling cold. I don't know what to do. Please, Miss Aria, go to him. He won't stop you."
Aria nodded and walked past him. Eric watched her go, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite his worry. If anyone can reach the Boss… it's her.
...
The moment Aria entered the room, the intense heat nearly took her breath away. The air was thick, suffocating. Beads of sweat formed instantly on her forehead.
Her eyes scanned the room—empty. Then she heard the faint sound of water running. She turned toward the open bathroom door and froze.
Adrian was sitting in the bathtub, his body submerged in steaming water. His skin was red from the heat, yet he remained motionless, his face calm but pained. His eyes were closed, his brows furrowed as if trapped in a nightmare.
Aria's heart clenched.
She hurried forward, kneeling beside the tub. The water was boiling hot—so hot that when she touched it, her hand turned red instantly. "This is too hot," she whispered.
She reached out and touched his forehead. His skin was icy cold despite the heat around him. Her brows furrowed deeply. "Uncle, can you come out of the water?" she asked softly.
For a moment, there was no response.
Then his eyes fluttered open.
When Adrian saw her face, something inside him eased. The tension in his body loosened, and for the first time in hours, he felt warmth—not from the water, but from her presence.
Without a word, he nodded and stood up. Aria helped him out carefully, wrapping a towel around him. His tall frame leaned slightly toward her, his breath shallow.
She guided him out, helping him into the bedroom. "Sit down," she said gently.
But instead of sitting, Adrian suddenly pulled her into his arms. His body trembled against hers. He was cold—terribly cold—but as his arms wrapped around her, the warmth between them slowly began to spread.
"Uncle…" Aria's voice softened. "You're freezing."
Adrian didn't respond. His chin rested on her shoulder, and his voice came out low and rough. "You make it stop."
Aria froze. Her heart skipped a beat. "Make what stop?"
"The cold."
Her chest tightened at the pain in his tone. She slowly placed her hands around his back, hugging him in return. "Then let me stay. You won't feel cold anymore."
After a long while, Adrian finally loosened his grip, afraid she might suffocate. Aria looked up at him, her eyes soft. "Uncle, I don't mind you hugging me," she said with a small smile.
A faint chuckle escaped his lips—rare and beautiful. He brushed her cheek gently and said, "Then don't regret it."
"Lay down," she whispered, pushing him slightly toward the bed. "Let me check your pulse. I'm good at medicine."
He obeyed quietly, lying back but refusing to let go of her hand. The warmth of her skin grounded him. As she felt his pulse, her brows knitted tightly.
The poison has spread faster than expected… she thought grimly.
Adrian watched her face, noticing the way her expression tensed. Without thinking, he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to it, his kiss soft but cold. Aria blinked, surprised, then smiled faintly, her heart fluttering at the unexpected tenderness.
Just as she was about to speak, something clicked in her mind. A realization. A spark of hope.
Her eyes lit up. "I know how to slow it down," she whispered to herself.
Adrian's tired eyes met hers. "You always find a way, don't you?" he murmured.
Aria smiled softly, brushing his damp hair from his forehead. "Because I can't let you freeze, Uncle."