I was still smiling.
Completely unaware that Kình Uyên's gaze had changed.
The atmosphere around us suddenly became strangely quiet.
The arm wrapped around my waist tightened ever so slightly.
It didn't hurt.
But it was enough to make me instinctively look up at him.
"Kình Uyên?"
He lowered his eyes.
His long lashes concealed almost all the emotions hidden within them.
After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice.
"...Young Master, don't trust people so easily."
I frowned at once.
"But you're not just anyone."
Kình Uyên froze.
The coldness in his eyes wavered for the briefest moment.
Oblivious to it, I continued in a small voice,
"Besides... you've always treated me so well. How could you ever deceive me?"
The moment I finished speaking, I suddenly felt embarrassed and lowered my head to avoid his gaze.
But Kình Uyên didn't reply.
Confused, I looked up again.
The instant I did, he covered my eyes with his hand.
Startled, I asked,
"What are you doing?"
His voice was unusually low.
"...Don't look at me like that."
"Huh?"
Before I could understand what he meant, he had already withdrawn his hand.
His face returned to its usual calm expression.
As though everything that had just happened had only been my imagination.
"It's late," he said softly.
"You should get some rest, Young Master."
With that, he turned to step away.
But this time, I instinctively reached out and grabbed his sleeve again.
"...Where are you going?"
Kình Uyên lowered his gaze to the hand clutching his sleeve.
His eyes were so deep that I couldn't read them at all.
"I still have something to do."
"What could possibly be so important at this hour?"
I asked without thinking.
For some reason...
I didn't want him to leave.
At least not right now.
Kình Uyên remained silent for a few seconds before suddenly leaning down until his lips were close to my ear.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"If I stay..."
"...Will Young Master really be able to fall asleep?"
My ears instantly turned bright red.
I let go of him almost on reflex.
"W-Who said I was trying to keep you here?!"
Watching my flustered reaction, the corners of Kình Uyên's lips finally curved upward ever so slightly.
This time...
He was genuinely smiling.
Not the polite or fake smile he usually wore.
But a faint emotion that was almost impossible to notice.
Yet it was enough to soften his usually cold features.
He reached out and gently patted my head.
The gesture came naturally.
"Young Master has been very well-behaved tonight."
Hearing that only made me blush even harder.
I immediately slapped his hand away.
"Are you treating me like a child?!"
"I wouldn't dare."
His words said one thing, but his tone carried not a shred of sincerity.
I was so annoyed that I wanted to kick him out of the room.
But before I could do anything, Kình Uyên had already withdrawn his hand.
His gaze lingered on me for a few seconds.
Then he let out a quiet sigh.
"Go to sleep."
His voice dropped even lower.
"...Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll change my mind."
"Huh?"
I stared at him blankly, completely confused.
But Kình Uyên had already turned around and left.
The bedroom door closed behind him.
I sat on the bed for several seconds before finally coming back to my senses.
Then my face gradually grew hotter and hotter.
"...Change your mind about what?"
Clutching my pillow, I rolled onto my side as my heart pounded wildly.
Completely unaware that...
Outside the door,
Kình Uyên hadn't left yet.
He stood with his back against the wall, his eyes half-closed.
The hand that had just touched my hair slowly clenched into a fist.
His mind replayed the words his Young Master had spoken only moments ago.
"I trust you."
A quiet laugh escaped Kình Uyên's lips.
So soft that it almost disappeared into the darkness.
Yet there wasn't the slightest trace of amusement in his eyes.
"...You trust me?"
Someone like him...
Couldn't even trust himself.
And yet...
His Young Master dared to place such unwavering trust in him.
How foolish.
...And yet, it also made him unable to let go.