Chapter 14: Guardians and Mischief
The studio was unusually busy that morning, cameras rolling and staff bustling with last-minute preparations. Lin Yue tried to focus on his lines, but he couldn't shake the nervous tension in the air.
From across the room, the rival appeared, slipping in quietly with a smug expression. His eyes darted toward Lin Yue, as if plotting the perfect way to cause disruption.
"Not today," Lin Yue muttered under his breath, sensing trouble before it even began.
At that moment, Wei Jun, Lin Yue's junior manager and confidant, stepped beside him. With a sly grin, he whispered, "Relax. I've got your back. Just… watch the show."
Lin Yue glanced at him, grateful for the presence. Wei Jun had a way of noticing subtle movements and hidden intentions, and he trusted him to handle small crises without drawing attention.
Sure enough, the rival attempted to distract the crew, subtly misplacing props and redirecting assistants to cause delays. Lin Yue's focus wavered slightly, but Wei Jun immediately intervened — guiding the staff back into place, whispering instructions, and keeping the chaos under control.
From the side, Krit observed everything, tablet in hand, golden eyes alert. He moved slightly closer to Lin Yue, not in a showy way, but in a subtle, protective stance that made Lin Yue's chest tighten. That restrained spark — unspoken, emotional — flickered stronger than before.
Mei Lin, ever the lively one, skipped toward Lin Yue mid-chaos, waving her phone. "Fans are freaking out over the livestream! They're shipping you with Krit like crazy! #KritYueShip"
Lin Yue groaned. "M-Mei Lin… please, not all at once."
She laughed, teasing. "Too late! You're adorable when flustered."
Krit's gaze flicked toward her, a slight narrowing of his golden eyes, assessing her energy and proximity. Then his attention returned to Lin Yue, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his mouth — private, quiet, only for him.
After the minor chaos settled, Lin Yue found himself alone with Krit in a quiet corner. The studio noise faded, leaving just the two of them.
"You handled that well," Krit said quietly, voice low but firm.
Lin Yue's cheeks warmed. "I… had help."
Krit's gaze softened slightly. "Still… you remained composed."
The words, calm and steady, carried a weight Lin Yue couldn't ignore. That spark — subtle, personal, restrained — flared quietly in his chest. He realized, more than ever, that Krit's presence wasn't just professional. It mattered. A lot.
Wei Jun peeked from around the corner, noticing the quiet moment. He smirked to himself, making mental notes for future teasing. Mei Lin's laughter echoed faintly from the other side of the studio, oblivious to the intimate tension building quietly in the corner.
By the end of the day, the rival had retreated, thwarted by Wei Jun's quick thinking and Krit's vigilant presence. Fans continued to buzz online, shipping Lin Yue × Krit relentlessly, while the quiet, restrained spark between them continued to grow — threaded through glances, gestures, and the invisible tether of unspoken feelings.