Chapter 3: Close Calls
Lin Yue was exhausted but restless. Another day of rehearsals and fan meetings had left him drained, yet he couldn't fully relax. Every small sound in his apartment — a creak, the hum of the air conditioner, the faint street noise — pulled his attention, as if expecting something to happen.
Krit sat silently in the living room, reviewing schedules on his tablet. He didn't glance up when Lin Yue entered, but his sharp eyes noted every movement in the room, every detail Lin Yue would never have noticed.
"Any updates from the agency?" Lin Yue asked, trying to sound casual.
Krit looked up, calm and composed. "Nothing unusual. Security is standard tonight. You are safe."
Lin Yue nodded, but his chest tightened. Safe. That word had a hollow ring after the incident two nights ago. He still felt the tiny spark of unease mixed with… something else when he looked at Krit. Just a flicker of curiosity, a flutter he didn't understand, but it lingered.
A soft buzz from Lin Yue's phone interrupted the quiet. A fan club notification popped up: an invitation to a live-stream event, but one of the messages was oddly personal.
"We'll be watching you tonight. Don't slip up."
Lin Yue froze, heart thumping. His fingers hovered over the phone, unsure if it was a prank or something more serious.
Before he could react, Krit stood. His movement was smooth, almost effortless. "Do not leave the apartment. I'll handle it."
Lin Yue's eyes widened. There it was again — the quiet authority, the control Krit exuded without raising his voice. He didn't even feel threatened; instead, a small flutter stirred inside him. The spark. Small, fleeting, but undeniable.
Krit moved to the balcony, checking the perimeter. Lin Yue's gaze followed him instinctively. He noticed the strength in Krit's stance, the way his muscles tensed and relaxed with precision. Something about him made Lin Yue's pulse quicken — just a little, just enough to be aware of it.
Minutes later, Krit returned, expression unchanged. "False alarm. Someone was likely near the building. No threat. All secure."
Lin Yue exhaled, trying to calm his racing heart. "Thank… thank you."
Krit nodded. "If anything happens, I will protect you. That is my responsibility."
Lin Yue swallowed, a mix of relief and… something else rising in him. That spark of curiosity, of subtle admiration, refused to fade. He didn't understand it yet — he didn't need to — but it was there, undeniable and quietly persistent.
Dinner passed quietly. Lin Yue barely touched the food, still distracted. Every so often, his eyes drifted toward Krit, who had returned to his tablet, calm and composed, exuding competence and control. The tiny spark between them persisted, teasing, unacknowledged but undeniable.
Later, Lin Yue stood by the window, gazing down at the city. Neon lights flickered across the streets, reflecting off glass buildings and casting patterns across the room. The night was alive with movement, but inside, Lin Yue felt an unusual awareness of the man in the guest room.
Krit was still at the tablet, calm, precise, in control of the apartment and, somehow, of Lin Yue's attention. He moved with effortless authority, every motion deliberate, every gesture measured. Lin Yue's chest tightened slightly , a small, fleeting flutter he didn't understand.
He shook his head, pretending to focus on the city below, but his eyes kept drifting back. Krit's presence was impossible to ignore, commanding yet silent, protective yet strangely… compelling.
For a moment, Lin Yue simply watched, trying not to think too much. That tiny spark , curiosity, fascination, or something else ,lingered quietly, teasing him.
And though he didn't realize it yet, the rhythm of his life had already begun to change, guided by the calm, watchful presence of the man who never left his side.