Serena''s nose was buried against Hugh''s chest. It had a scent of the cold night air.


    But his warmth seeped through.


    It had been a long time since she had thrown herself into someone''s embrace. For a moment, she was dazed-until the arm around her waist tightened slightly.


    "What''s wrong?"


    The concern in his voice pulled her back to reality. Serena snapped out her reverie-finding the cat was more important!


    She had forgotten to close the door earlier, and the little cat wasn''t on the rooftop. That meant it must have slipped into the elevator and gone downstairs.


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, she quickly stepped back from his embrace and reached out to press the button for the first floor.


    "I went down to take out the trash earlier and forgot to close the door. The cat might have run off."


    "What does it look like?" Hugh asked.


    "A little calico. Its right ear is all warm orange, about this big." Serena stretched out her arm, her fair wrist exposed, gesturing a rough size.


    Hugh nced at what she was wearing. It was cold at night. And she hadn''t even thought to put on a coat.


    As soon as the elevator doors opened on the first floor, before Serena could step out, Hugh had already propped his suitcase against the side and draped his jacket over her shoulders.


    Serena frowned when she saw that he was only wearing a thin silk shirt underneath.


    "It''s freezing at night, you-"


    "I just got back. I''m still warm."


    Hugh had already rolled up his sleeves, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings as he started searching around the nearby bushes.


    Since she couldn''t refuse, she might as well ept it.


    Wrapped in his oversized jacket, Serena bent down and started looking as well.


    They searched around the flower beds, circling back and forth. Just as Serena was considering whether to ask the building management to check the surveince footage, a soft meowing sound came from nearby.


    She turned toward the sound.


    Hugh was emerging from the depths of the flower beds, brushing aside some branches in his way. In his hand, he held a squirming little calico cat.


    Its tiny nose was speckled with bits of grass, its eyes teary and watery, its limbs iling anxiously-probably frightened by the elevator and automatic doors.


    "This one?"


    Hugh stepped out of the flower bed with his long strides. His silk shirt was a mess, snagged and torn beyond repair. Thin red scratches marked his forearms where the branches had grazed him.


    Serena stood frozen in ce.


    Hugh ced the kitten gently in her arms before silently brushing the leaves from his hair.


    The esteemed Mr. Larson looked unusually disheveled today—because of her.


    Even Zach had never done this.


    Back in college, there had been a stray cat near the dormitory that she had fed for several days. She had even prepared to get it neutered and dewormed, ready to send it to the person who wanted to adopt the cat.


    But then, the cat suddenly disappeared for days. She had asked Zach to help look for it, only to receive a casual reply, his voice barely focused, mixed with the background noise of his video game.


    "A stray that''s been living outside for so long? It''ll be fine. Just don''t catch a cold wandering around at night. I''ll go with you tomorrow morning."


    But, on the next day, she saw it on the side of the road. Its body mangled, blood staining the pavement.


    Zach had held her frozen, trembling form, gentlyforting her.


    Back then, she had thought it was just fate. But now, she looked up at Hugh in silence.


    Hugh finally spoke after a while. "It''s not the right one?"


    At that moment, Serena realized-it wasn''t fate. Zach had simply chosen to give


    up.


    Hugh, on the other hand, had chosen to help-without a single word.


    If only...


    If only she had met Hugh first, instead of Zach. But that thought passed in an instant.


    Regret was meaningless.


    Hugh furrowed his brow, mistaking her silence for distress.


    But Serena quickly collected herself, stepping forward. Then, rising onto her


    tiptoes, she reached up and plucked a stray leaf from his hair.


    "This is the one. Thank you."


    The cold wind brushed against Hugh''s face-yet for some reason, it felt warm. He said nothing, simply lowering his head slightly, letting her help him.


    Serena didn''t think much of it and quickly straightened out his appearance before they headed back upstairs together.