The afterglow of the setting sun danced across Amber's shoulders through the window. Li Fu's fingers were still gently pressing against his shoulder and neck; he could feel the tense muscles beneath his hands slowly relaxing.
The timing was about right.
He slowed his movements slightly, lowering his voice even further. With a touch of well-timed hesitation and unease, he spoke cautiously, using his still-unpracticed vocabulary.
"Amber... strong." He first repeated his previous praise, setting the tone.
"Protect... me."
"I..." He paused as if struggling to find the right words, his fingertips unconsciously pressing lightly against the other's shoulder and neck.
"...I, too. Want... help."
Amber's originally closed eyes opened slightly, and he turned his head, wanting to see the boy's expression clearly. From this angle, he could only see Li Fu's downcast eyelashes and a small portion of his fair, apprehensive profile.
Sensing his gaze, Li Fu seemed either encouraged or perhaps even more nervous. His speaking speed increased slightly, though his speech remained broken.
"Not... only take."
"Want... give."
"Work... I, can?"
That last question, with its slightly rising intonation, was filled with uncertainty and hope.
Amber turned around completely.
He looked at the youth standing before him, who had to look up slightly to meet his eyes as he sat. The boy's clear eyes were filled with sincere longing.
However, hearing the word "work" and thinking of him leaving this room to step out under the potentially prying eyes of others, a subtle displeasure quietly seized Amber. His brow furrowed imperceptibly, and he reached out to grasp the wrist resting on his shoulder. His palm was warm, firmly encircling the slender wrist bone.
"No." His refusal was more direct than before.
"It's not safe out there."
"There are... too many eyes." His gaze locked onto him.
"I don't like it when others look at you."
Li Fu was stunned.
He clearly felt the restraint on his wrist, which was tighter than usual, as well as the obvious displeasure in the words that went beyond normal concern. This was a subtle deviation from the bright and cheerful image of Amber in his mind. For a moment, he was at a loss; in those large eyes that were always full of dependence and admiration, a flash of confusion and slight alarm appeared for the first time. Why was he so angry? Was it just out of concern for his safety?
Amber seemed to realize his tone was a bit too intense and softened it slightly, but the grip on the wrist did not loosen.
"Your place is here. With me."
"Let me take care of you. Let me take care of everything." His voice dropped, carrying an unquestionable tenderness.
Li Fu looked at the complex mix of tenderness and dominance in his eyes, and a strange, tightening sensation rose in his heart. Instinctively, he felt it was best not to argue right now.
He lowered his eyelids, avoiding that overly focused gaze, his long lashes trembling uneasily. The warmth and pressure on his wrist made it impossible to ignore this unusual persistence. He nodded gently, his voice much smaller than before, carrying a hint of startled submissiveness and an imperceptible trace of hesitation.
"Okay... Amber."
"I... stay."
"I... be good."
He didn't say "Only for Amber" as he had before, because this sudden, possessive dominance had mixed a real, unresolved daze into his simple act of dependence.
This reaction, tinged with withdrawal and obedience, instead made Amber feel that the boy had been frightened by his sternness.
The bit of displeasure in his heart was quickly replaced by affection. He finally released the wrist and instead gently patted the boy's cheek.
"Good boy."
Li Fu lowered his head and silently continued the massage, but his mind had drifted far away. Amber's reaction just now was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up real ripples beneath his carefully maintained performance. He needed to re-evaluate what Amber's "kindness" actually entailed. This protection seemed to come with warm shackles he hadn't anticipated.
Things seemed to be... slightly beyond expectations...