A Little Sugar, A Little Love

In the bedroom, Isra lay on the bed, looking exhausted. Her breathing was steady, but her face was pale from the fever. Chirawan stepped in, holding a cup of warm milk in her hand.

She didn't wake Isra immediately but instead sat quietly on the edge of the bed, leaning in slightly to feel the girl's breath. Her hand gently touched Isra's forehead, sensing that her temperature had dropped a little.

Isra was sensitive to touch, and the warmth against her skin made her stir slightly. Her eyes slowly opened, and the first thing she saw was Chirawan's face, so close to hers. Their eyes met unexpectedly.

-"You're awake? Your fever has gone down a bit." Chirawan withdrew her hand, her voice as calm as always.

-"Thank you, sis," Isra murmured, her voice hoarse from the fever.

-"Sit up and drink some milk, then get some more rest." Chirawan glanced at the cup of milk on the bedside table, her tone leaving no room for refusal.

Isra gave a small nod and tried to sit up, but the fever had left her weak, making her movements sluggish. Seeing this, Chirawan said nothing and simply reached out to help her up, adjusting the pillows so Isra could lean against them.

-"Thank you, but I can take care of myself. You should get some rest, too," Isra said apologetically, feeling like she had troubled Chirawan too much.

-"Good," Chirawan replied shortly, as if she had no intention of staying any longer. She turned and took a few steps toward the door but then suddenly paused and glanced back at Isra.

-"Oh… You don't have to go to work tomorrow. I'm giving you the day off, so rest well and come back when you're better. Okay?"

-"…Alright," Isra was a little taken aback but could only nod obediently.

-"I'm leaving now."

The door closed gently, leaving the room in silence. Isra remained in place, her eyes unconsciously lingering on the door where the woman had just disappeared.

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As dawn broke, the quiet of Ying's bedroom was interrupted by the soft vibration of his phone, signaling a few new messages. Still buried under the covers, his eyes remained shut, but his hand instinctively groped around for the device.

The screen displayed a new message from Jay—just a simple sentence:

-"I've arrived, Ying."

Yet, that one short sentence was enough to make Ying's drowsiness vanish instantly. The corner of his lips curved up slightly before he quickly typed a reply:

-"Alright. Get some rest, or you'll be exhausted."

On the other side, Jay was sitting in a car on the way home. Ryan had been the one to pick him up from the airport and was now the one driving him back. While Ryan focused on the road, Jay was engrossed in his phone.

Seeing Ying's reply, an unconscious smile flickered across his lips—so fleeting yet sharp enough to catch Ryan's observant eyes.

-"Away from home for just a month, and you've already got someone new? What's with that bright little face of yours?" Ryan teased immediately.

-"Ohh… Don't overthink it! I was just letting everyone know I arrived safely." Jay pouted, feigning innocence.

-"And who exactly is 'everyone'?" Ryan raised an eyebrow, suspicion clear on his face.

-"Well… Dad, Chirawan… and Ying."

-"Hmm…" Ryan drawled, side-eyeing him with a probing look. "And whose message made you smile like that?"

Jay froze for a split second but quickly blinked, pretending to be distracted.

-"Ayy… Don't be so paranoid. Jay doesn't have a lover yet." He forced a smile, deliberately dodging the topic.

-"Then hurry up and find one!" Ryan chuckled, his teasing tone unwavering.

Jay pressed his lips together, then, as if speaking to himself, he mumbled softly:

-"There is… someone I like… just not sure how they feel."

There was a subtle hint in his words, but Ryan didn't catch on immediately. Instead, he turned to him with interest.

-"Oh? Who is it?"

Jay unconsciously tightened his grip on his phone, his heartbeat quickening slightly. He didn't dare meet Ryan's gaze, his eyes fixed on the screen, though his mind had long drifted elsewhere.

-"Well…" Jay licked his lips before flashing a mischievous smile. "Not telling."

-"Oh, come on. We're close, and you still won't spill?" Ryan feigned a hurt expression, his tone dragging out in mock complaint.

Jay shook his head firmly, his voice decisive.

-"Nope."

Ryan observed Jay's slightly flustered expression through the rearview mirror, sensing something suspicious but choosing not to expose it. He simply shrugged and spoke with an air of confidence:

-"Fine. I'll find out sooner or later."

Jay bit his lip, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes. He didn't want Ryan to know—at least, not yet.

-"Just focus on driving and get me home fast. I'm tired and want to sleep." Jay deliberately changed the subject, his tone carrying the air of a young master giving orders.

Ryan chuckled and nodded.

-"Yes, sir, Young Master Felix."

The car hummed along the road, but within Jay, a quiet storm brewed—one even he wasn't sure how to face.

—————————————————

The quiet afternoon in a small pastry shop was filled with the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the glass windows, reflecting off neatly arranged cakes in the display case. The warm aroma of vanilla and butter lingered in the air, creating a soothing atmosphere.

Faisal and Yod sat across from each other, discussing work as they enjoyed their pastries. Faisal, as always, was gentle yet serious, making the person sitting with him feel at ease but never too relaxed in the face of his sharp perceptiveness.

-"Here… This is the venue where I want to hold the upcoming event." Faisal slid his iPad toward Yod. "With this kind of scenery, how do you think we should set up the decorations? What flowers would be best?"

Displayed on the screen was a long stretch of beach, crystal-clear blue waters, and palm trees swaying under the golden sunlight.

Yod tilted his head slightly, studying the images closely. His fingers unconsciously swiped through the pictures, as if visualizing the entire scene in his mind.

-"Let me see…" He furrowed his brows slightly, eyes gleaming with ideas. "Hmm… For a beach event like this, I think we should go with flowers in soft, elegant colors that blend well with the natural surroundings. Peruvian lilies, for instance, or blue-hued flowers like forget-me-nots to create a sense of harmony."

Faisal listened intently, the corner of his lips curling into a small, approving smile.

-"Alright, I'll trust your judgment on this." He nodded.

Yod returned a faint smile but kept his eyes on the screen, still deep in thought.

-"Let me think about it some more when I get home. If I come up with any new ideas, I'll call you. Is that okay?" His voice remained serious, his gaze focused, as if determined to craft the perfect vision in his mind. When it came to his work, everything had to be meticulous and flawless—especially when it was a request from Faisal. He could never take it lightly.

Faisal rested his chin on his hand, fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table. His warm gaze lingered on Yod's face.

-"Mmm. That's fine." He tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a subtle smile. "You can call me anytime… If it's you, I'll always answer."

Yod froze for a split second, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. That… sounded less like a casual response and more like subtle flirting. But Faisal looked perfectly composed, as if it was nothing more than an offhand remark.

Blinking a few times, Yod found himself at a loss for words. He could only smile faintly, pretending not to catch the underlying meaning.

Faisal, noticing his reaction, let his smile deepen just a little.

-"Here, eat your cake." He gently pushed the plate toward Yod. "This is my favorite pastry shop. Try it and tell me what you think."

Yod nodded quickly, lowering his gaze as he took a small bite—perhaps in an attempt to hide his sudden flustered state.

-"Mmm… It's really good." He smiled, the delicate sweetness melting on his tongue. Yet, somehow… there was something even sweeter lingering in his heart—something that had nothing to do with the cake.

Faisal leaned back in his chair, silently watching Yod for a moment before taking a slow sip of his coffee.

A quiet lunch, yet somehow… it didn't feel so ordinary.

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The office was silent, carrying an air of solemnity.

A warm yellow light cast a glow over the large wooden desk, where neatly stacked documents sat in order. Mr. Sakda sat in his chair, pressing his fingers lightly against his temple as if deep in thought. After a moment, he slowly stood up, intending to retrieve a file from the bookshelf.

But just as he lifted himself from the chair, a sudden wave of dizziness struck. His vision darkened for a brief moment, and he instinctively reached out to grip the edge of the table to steady himself.

At that very moment, the door swung open.

-"Mr. Sakda!"

His secretary's face turned pale at the sight before her. She rushed forward to support him.

-"Are you alright? Is it the dizziness again?" Her voice carried clear alarm.

Mr. Sakda closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After a moment, he spoke softly:

-"The medicine… on the desk, please get it for me."

-"Yes!"

The secretary quickly grabbed the medicine, poured a glass of water, and handed it to him.

He took the pills and leaned back into his chair for a while. After a few minutes, his breathing steadied, and some color returned to his face.

-"Do you feel any better?" She asked worriedly.

-"Mmm… much better now." He rubbed his temples and gave a faint, tired smile. "I'm getting old. My health isn't what it used to be. Getting sick all the time now…"

Although his tone was lighthearted, that weary smile made it impossible to feel at ease.

The secretary fell silent for a moment before seriously suggesting:

-"I think you should set work aside for a while and focus on resting."

-"That won't be necessary." Mr. Sakda chuckled softly, his voice calm. "I'm retiring soon anyway. Might as well finish what I can while I still have the time."

She frowned but held back from arguing immediately. After a brief hesitation, she spoke:

-"You should tell Young Master Jay about your health."

The hand holding his glass of water paused for a split second.

Something unreadable flickered in his eyes, but it soon softened—like that of a father always watching over his child.

-"He has his own career to focus on." His voice lowered, slow yet resolute. "He may look mature, but his heart is still that of a child—easily shaken, easily hurt. I don't want him to worry about me."

The secretary bit her lip.

Mr. Sakda's love for Jay had always been like this—not loud, not showy, but so deep that even a single sentence could convey it.

-"But…" She wanted to argue, but the words wouldn't come.

-"Please don't tell him." Mr. Sakda looked at her, his gaze filled with both pleading and determination. "Promise me."

She froze. Under that gaze, she knew there was no room for refusal.

In the end, she could only sigh softly.

-"I… understand."

This promise, she knew, would weigh heavily on her heart. But if this was what Mr. Sakda wished for, she could not go against it.

Outside the window, the golden hues of the setting sun cast long shadows across the desk, reflecting the figure of a man who had carried far too many burdens for far too many years.

End of Chapter 20