Chapter 4: Unwelcome Intrusion
The studio was alive with energy. Cameras rolled, crew members shouted instructions, and assistants rushed past carrying scripts and props. Lin Yue adjusted his earpiece, trying to focus on the rehearsal, but a prickling sense of unease ran down his spine. Something in the air felt off, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
From the corner of the room, his gaze caught a tall figure leaning casually near the edge of the set. Sharp features, a confident stance, and eyes that seemed to size him up immediately. Lin Yue froze, realizing who it was: a rising star from a rival agency, someone who had always found subtle ways to undermine him in the media and on stage.
"Looks like we're sharing the spotlight again," the man said loudly, smirking as he glanced in Lin Yue's direction. His tone carried just enough edge to sting, though it was coated with casual arrogance.
Lin Yue forced a polite smile, keeping his voice steady. "Good to see you."
Inside, his stomach twisted. Professional. Stay professional. But it was hard to ignore the flare of irritation mixed with nerves. He had always prided himself on composure, yet this man had a way of getting under his skin.
Krit, ever silent and precise, had noticed the interaction immediately. Without interrupting the rehearsal, he shifted slightly closer, his presence almost imperceptible to others, but unmistakable to Lin Yue. The protective tension radiating from him was subtle yet undeniable , a silent warning, a shield in human form.
Lin Yue's chest tightened. That tiny spark , the one he had barely noticed before , stirred again. A flicker of curiosity, awareness, something unnameable, as he watched Krit. The man's controlled movements, calm but ready for anything, drew his attention in a way he didn't understand and certainly couldn't admit.
The rival leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough for Lin Yue to catch it. "You're going to need more than charm and voice to keep up," he said with a sly grin. "Can't be all smiles and songs, can it?"
Lin Yue opened his mouth to respond, but Krit's subtle shift closer made him pause. The man's golden eyes flicked over the rival with precision, and just the slight adjustment in proximity sent a ripple of warmth through Lin Yue's chest. It was confusing , why did he notice the way Krit moved like that, the way he seemed completely in control of the room and of him?
Minutes dragged, each moment filled with the quiet tension of unspoken warnings and rehearsed motions. Lin Yue tried to focus on the choreography, but every glance at Krit reminded him of the man's calm strength, the effortless authority he carried. That flutter, that tiny spark, persisted, teasing him quietly.
The rival finally gave a sharp, lingering look before walking away, leaving a faint trace of challenge in the air. Lin Yue exhaled, relief mingling with an inexplicable warmth. Krit's eyes followed the rival until he left, then returned to Lin Yue, sharp and calm as ever.
"Stay alert," Krit murmured, his voice low but firm. "Situations like this can escalate quickly."
Lin Yue nodded, unsure if it was gratitude or something more that made his chest tighten. He glanced at Krit, noting the man's composed posture, the controlled strength in every movement. There was a spark there again, small and fleeting, but undeniable — a flutter that made him acutely aware of Krit in a way he had not been before.
The rest of the rehearsal passed with careful precision. Lin Yue kept glancing at Krit, who remained calm and collected, occasionally making small adjustments to ensure nothing threatened him. Even in the chaos of the studio, Krit's presence anchored him, gave him a strange sense of safety — and yet, also made him aware of something he hadn't allowed himself to notice fully until now.
By the time the crew began packing up, Lin Yue felt a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation he didn't understand. He walked past Krit, careful not to seem flustered, but internally, he was acutely aware of the man's presence, the subtle tension in the air, the quiet spark that refused to fade.
For the first time since Krit had arrived, Lin Yue realized just how much the man had become a part of his daily life, in ways both tangible and intangible. And though he couldn't name it yet, that quiet, watchful presence was already shifting the rhythm of his life , the way he breathed, the way he noticed, and the way he felt small flutters of something he hadn't yet dared to acknowledge.