L rummaged through the pile of clothes she had brought in with wet hands, muttering under her breath, "How could I forget one?"


    But no matter how much she searched, there wasn''t a towel.


    She froze, trying to figure out how she could grab a towel without embarrassing herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by the outline of a tall figure outside the frosted ss door.


    Kieran knocked lightly. "L, your towel."


    L froze in silence.


    "Just leave it by the door," she said after a pause, pressing her lips together tightly, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "I''ll grab it myself."


    She heard the quiet sound of his chuckle, and her face, which had just begun to cool, instantly heated up again.


    "Alright," Kieran replied.


    After hearing his response and watching his shadow retreat from the door, L cautiously cracked it open just a silver.


    The towel had been neatly ced on the stool outside. In one quick, fluid motion, she reached out, grabbed it, and shut the door again.


    Kieran, catching a fleeting glimpse of her soft, fair hand darting out and vanishing in an instant, found the whole thing both amusing and oddly endearing.


    Inside, L took what felt like an eternity to dry herself off, making sure every detail was in order before finally stepping out.


    Kieran was on the couch, his head slightly lowered as he typed something on his phone.


    Her gaze flickered to his screen.


    She sighed quietly to herself. Being someone in his position wasn''t easy.


    Always working, always busy.


    It seemed exhausting.


    "Uncle Kieran, I''m done. You should go wash up now," she said, breaking the silence.


    Kieran put his phone down, went to wash his hands, and returned to her without dy.


    Before L could react, he took the towel from her hands and began drying her hair. Then, reaching for a bottle of hair oil from the shelf, he carefully worked it into the ends of her hair.


    The scent wafted up-it was quintessentially jasmine.


    So this was why she always carried that faint, fresh fragrance with her.


    Leaning down slightly, Kieran brushed his nose against her shoulder.


    The brief contact sent a small shiver through L, and she turned to him, her expression puzzled.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Kieran chuckled softly. "Just checking if Mrs. Morgan is made of jasmine flowers."


    He grinned as her ears turned red first, the blush quickly spreading down to her neck.


    Why was she so easy to tease?


    "I just like jasmine. That''s why my essential oil, body wash, and


    shampoo all have this scent. Sometimes I even wear jasmine perfume. It''s all the same fragrance," L exined earnestly.


    "If I used the same products, would that mean I''d smell just like Mrs. Morgan?"


    Kieran asked, a softugh escaping his lips.


    In the stillness of the room, hisugh


    carried, clear and resonant, like a church bell echoing through distant mountains-soft, lingering, and impossible to ignore.


    L''s face flushed instantly. "This scent is better suited for girls. Besides, the


    woody fragrance you wear already smells great."


    Kieran had just finished applying the hair oil when he turned to face her. "So, does Mrs. Morgan like it?"


    He must have been referring to his scent, right?


    L nodded, leaning forward slightly as if to confirm.


    The clean, crisp aroma suited him perfectly, an ideal match for hisposed, effortless charm.


    "I like it," she said softly.


    A low, pleasantugh followed. "Do you like me, or do you just like the scent?"


    As he spoke, his fingers reached out, brushing lightly across her cheek. The touch


    was slow and deliberate, infused with a warmth that was uniquely his.


    L shivered, her breath catching slightly at the contact.


    "The scent," she blurted out.


    "Oh? So Mrs. Morgan doesn''t like me?"


    Leaning down, Kieran cupped her face gently, his hand warm as he brought her gaze level with his.


    L''s ability to lie crumbled under the weight of his steady, intent stare.


    She swallowed hard and finally admitted, "I do like you."


    Her voice dropped slightly as if she needed the courage to say the words again. "I


    like you."


    Kieran lowered his head, his


    expression warm and unmistakably joyful. His voice touched with a gentleugh, carrying a meaning that was easy to discern.


    "I like Mrs. Morgan very much, too."


    L hadn''t expected him to say it so inly.


    Still, she wasn''t so naive as to let herselfpletely lose her head over it.


    In her heart, she tried to reason with herself.


    Kieran''s "like" was probably different from hers, likely just the kind of affection an


    elder feels for someone younger.