"Tul, what do you think of Nong Wadi?"
"Beautiful, accomplished, and a refined woman, Khrab."
After returning from Napawadi's mother's birthday party, Rasa turned to ask her stepson with a curious expression. Tul responded with a polite smile and a pleasant tone, but it caused the questioner to frown slightly, appearing dissatisfied with such a neutral response.
"No, no. I don’t want a heroine’s tagline. I really want to know what Tul thinks of Nong."
The lady of the house rephrased her question, appearing particularly interested in this matter. The driver glanced through the rearview mirror, meeting Tul’s eyes briefly before Kon Hin looked away, returning his gaze to the nearly deserted road at this late hour. Even if he didn’t want to hear the answer, he couldn’t avoid being in the narrow cabin.
Tul’s slight smile at the driver was affectionate, but it seemed to make the woman beside him even more curious.
"Well, she’s probably a lovely person, Khrab."
Sometimes Tul wasn’t sure whether he was referring to the other woman or the one solely focused on the road.
"Tul, should I just ask directly—do you like her or not?"
Rasa clicked her tongue in displeasure, causing the listener to raise an eyebrow before slowly shaking his head.
"Oh, you don’t like her?"
“Not at all, Khrab. I just think I don’t have the right to say whether I like her or not. Nong herself probably wouldn’t even look at someone like me,” Tul said, since he had not a single baht of inheritance. However, Rasa confidently countered on his behalf.
“Not look at you? I’d say Wadi likes you, Tul.”
“Khun Mother, please don’t say such things, Khrab. Nong Wadi would be the one to face harm,” the young man politely objected, playing the part of a gentleman who respects women with seamless finesse. That, however, prompted the listener to heave a long sigh, her face instantly turning sullen as she failed to get the answer she desired.
“Alright, I won’t ask anymore. Believe me though, Wadi likes you, Tul, and I want you to like Wadi too. This woman is ‘good enough.’”
Tul nearly sneered but managed to hold back in time because her "good enough" didn’t refer to personality or character but likely to her status and lineage.
The example was crystal clear.
The person beside him was considered “good enough,” while his own biological mother was deemed “not good at all.”
Tul felt like laughing at someone choosing a daughter-in-law in the same way they themselves had been chosen. If Rasa’s family had no prestige, would Khun Yaa have ever picked her to remarry his father? The same situation was unfolding now. Someone obsessed with social appearances was meddling in his choice of a partner to the point that it made him want to vomit.
Even though the young man didn’t say a word, this woman had no right to choose anything for him.
“And as for you, even if Nong Wadi is kind to you, don’t you dare think about it.”
The next person Rasa targeted was Kon Hin.
“I wouldn’t even dare to think of it, Khrab,” Kon Hin reiterated, insisting that he would never think romantically of Khun Napawadi. That made the mixed-heritage young man in the back seat laugh.
“What are you laughing at, Tul? Be careful. Haven’t you ever heard the saying ‘trusted ones turning against you’?” Rasa continued to pick on Kon Hin, feeling irritated that the family had trusted not only Ai Hin’s parents but now their son as well. If he ever decided to betray them, surely he would spread scandalous stories about their household for others to relish.
These servants’ families knew far too much.
Rasa thought irritably, but Tul continued laughing, his gaze meeting the driver’s through the mirror. Even though it wasn’t a direct look, how could he miss the unwaveringly loyal glint in his confidant’s eyes?
“Not at all, Khrab,” Tul replied in a soft voice.
But he wasn’t speaking to his stepmother—he was addressing the driver instead. “Hin is trustworthy, and I trust Hin the most.”
The speaker paid no heed to the huffing and puffing of the woman beside him. He simply stared into the rearview mirror until Kon Hin had to quickly avert his eyes, fixing his gaze on the road as though unwilling to reveal more of his feelings to his Chao-nai. But how could Tul not know?
The unsteady yet joyful expression in the other’s eyes.
Tul had seen it countless times before, but this time, it made him smile and put him in a good mood.
Impossible.
The way Kon Hin looked dejected whenever he talked about Wadi was… rather cute.
“I’ll head upstairs now.”
“Khrab, good night.”
Once the car came to a stop at the house entrance, the lady of the house briskly walked upstairs, exhausted, not even waiting to hear her stepson’s response. Meanwhile, the mixed-heritage young man remained standing still, his gaze directed toward the garage. He stood there with arms crossed, waiting, until the driver, who had parked the car, stepped out to return the keys to the main house. Only then did Tul move.
“Do you need something, Khun Tul?” Kon Hin asked curiously, thinking his Chao-nai would have already gone inside.
“I’m waiting.”
“Waiting for me?” The question was asked in puzzlement.
“Who else around here would I be waiting for?” Tul responded with a chuckle, eyeing the man who was trying to avoid his gaze.
“I need to make sure the house is locked properly, Khrab. And I have to let my mother know, or else she’ll come out to check again.”
Kon Hin’s mother, Mae Klin, was the one who held the keys to the main house. Whenever the Chao-nai came home late, she waited-up to lock up the house. In recent times, Kon Hin had taken on the responsibility of securing the house himself as an excuse to separate himself from his Chao-nai. Tonight, he felt he had already seen enough of the differences between himself and Khun Tul.
The lady’s words echoed clearly in his heart:
Don’t aim too high.
The comment had been about Wadi, but to him, it was about the man standing in front of him.
However, as soon as Kon Hin finished speaking, Tul pulled out his phone and quickly dialed someone, leaving his confidant wide-eyed in surprise because...
"Khun Mother Klin, it's me... yes, I’m calling to inform you on Hin's behalf that the house has been secured, and I’ll be borrowing Hin for a while. My report deadline is approaching, and I won’t finish in time otherwise," Tul explained to the head cook smoothly, his raised eyebrows fixed on Kon Hin throughout the conversation. He concluded with a smile when the person on the other end agreed.
"Yes, sweet dreams to you as well, Auntie," Tul replied before slipping his phone back into his pocket, flashing a wide grin.
"That’s all taken care of."
Kon Hin remained silent, fully aware that if Khun Tul wanted something, it would always end up within his grasp effortlessly. With a defeated demeanor, he bowed his head and passed through the partially open front door. He turned back to glance at the dashing man in the elegant suit, his expression one of surrender.
"In that case, Khun Tul, you should head inside. I’ll lock up the house."
Tul smiled contentedly, stepping into the house. He stood still, watching Kon Hin lock the main door, then proceeded to meticulously check the entire lower floor. Eventually, he returned to find Tul waiting by the staircase to the second floor. His sharp eyes scanned Kon Hin's face thoroughly and found something.
Snap.
Tul seized Kon Hin's arm, gazing into his eyes. His smile had vanished, replaced by a deep strong voice.
"Don’t let her words get to you. Listen only to what I say."
What Tul saw in Kon Hin's eyes reminded him of his own gaze as a child—when he looked at his father, his grandmother, and his stepmother. It was the look of someone who felt unworthy. He couldn’t tolerate Kon Hin feeling that way because of a woman he held in contempt. Kon Hin averted his eyes and responded compliantly.
"Understood."
"Promise me, and follow through," Tul commanded firmly, watching as Kon Hin tried to avoid meeting his gaze.
"Ai Hin."
"I'll try my best."
Tul continued to stare at his confidant, his earlier good mood now plummeting further. He was displeased that the woman had caused Kon Hin to feel bad, though he couldn't act on it just yet. Instead, his large hand shifted to wrap tightly around Kon Hin's shoulder, pulling him close. His voice was more earnest and firm than when addressing anyone else.
"I've told you—you are important. Just trust me."
Tul had come to realize he would not allow anyone to harm Kon Hin, whether physically or emotionally. He could not bear to see such a sorrowful expression.
~~~
"I need to stop by and talk to the professor. You head to the cafeteria first."
After the morning class ended, the loyal Kon Hin went straight to the cafeteria to secure a seat for his Chao-nai, who had gone to discuss the remaining activities for the term with a professor.
Now, Pathapee sat sipping a soda while skimming through the activity schedule, even though he had already memorized everything.
Once this term was over, the responsibilities would be passed on to the juniors.
So little time remained before graduation.
Kon Hin's hand froze on the page he was turning. He still had no idea what he would do after graduation—not because he lacked the will to work, but because he was ready to begin his career to repay his debt of gratitude to Khun Trai. However, Khun Tul had yet to say what his own plans were. If he guessed correctly, his Chao-nai likely wouldn’t pursue a master’s degree.
Most people tended to send their children abroad for further studies, but he was certain that even if...
Khun Tul would likely not go because he does not want to take his eyes off his goal. A period of just one or two years for studying might seem too long for his liking.
Kon Hin thought that Khun Tul would probably start working immediately and might pursue a master’s degree here concurrently.
As for him, his duty was to follow to the end.
"P'Hin."
"Yes?"
Kon Hin quickly took his eyes off the page and looked up at the caller, his sharp eyes reflecting surprise when he saw that the worried person standing there was a junior he had only met a few times... Nong Rose.
The beautiful and bold young woman scanned his face before stopping her gaze at his brow.
"Hello. How are you, P'Hin?"
When he met her eyes, Rose phanom wai-ed and quickly added,
"I just saw P'Rob and only just found out that you had a head injury. How are you?"
The young woman sat across from him, asking with such concern that he could not help but feel slightly uncomfortable, especially when he heard with his own ears that this junior before him was interested in him. Still, Kon Hin brushed off that feeling because the reality was that he was just the servant's son.
The other person likely only had goodwill for him, not romantic feelings.
Nong Rose must see him the same way Khun Wadi did.
"It's nothing now. The wound has completely dried."
The speaker brushed back his long bangs to reveal the scar for her to see.
"Thank you for your concern."
"I'm sorry."
Rose, taking the liberty, reached out to touch his brow, narrowing her eyes and staring intently, making Kon Hin quite uncomfortable. Only after she seemed satisfied did the beautiful young woman return to her seat with a more cheerful expression, her confident smile reappearing.
"That's better. Rose doesn’t even know whether it's good or bad that I’m only finding out about this now. If I’d known back then, I’d have had the chance to score some points, but finding out now at least lets me be relieved that P'Hin is alright."
The listener froze, merely blinking at the straightforward young woman. Meanwhile, the speaker smiled broadly.
"See? P'Hin hasn’t forgotten what I told you before, right?"
"No, I haven’t. I just... didn’t think Nong Rose was serious."
"Does Rose seem like she’s joking about anything?" The junior rolled her eyes in a wide arc and pouted in a mock sulk, causing Kon Hin to shift slightly in his seat. She truly did not seem to be joking at all—her gaze was serious, and her smile was sincere. Yet, the young man quickly spoke up.
"If Nong Rose likes Khun Tul, I think—"
"What does that have to do with P'Tul?" The listener interrupted, eyes wide, waving her hands dismissively before exclaiming as if realizing something.
"Oh! P'Rob mentioned before that there are often women who approach P'Hin to get to P'Tul, right? Not me, though. P'Tul isn’t my type at all—he’s too capable, too perfect. Rose doesn’t like men like that. The word ‘perfect’ is too intimidating. Someone like P'Hin is much cuter."
Her blunt honesty left Kon Hin stunned and unsettled because it was so direct it was almost alarming.
There is no such thing as perfection. Every human being has their weaknesses; it is merely a matter of where they lie.
Even his Chao-nai was no exception. The word “perfect” itself was what was truly intimidating.
"I like P'Hin more. When P'Hin works, you’re so cool, so determined. I once saw P'Hin running around the university, drenched in sweat, because the juniors couldn’t find the equipment. At that moment, I thought, 'This senior is really dedicated, and couldn’t help but keep looking.'" The beautiful young woman spoke with a laugh before resting her chin on her hand.
"I know P'Hin isn’t interested in me, but could you give this little lady a chance?"
Her tone was half-serious, half-playful, causing the listener to shift slightly in his seat. Kon Hin knew he should firmly reject her, but Rose’s bright eyes, which seemed to illuminate the atmosphere around them—even his own shadowed world—left him speechless, as if everything had caught in his throat.
This child was as radiant as Wadi, making him unable to bear hurting her feelings.
"Oh, don’t make that face! Rose isn’t being so pushy that it’s creepy or anything." Rose wrinkled her nose at him before changing the subject on her own.
"Before long, P'Hin and the others will finish their time as committee members, right? Rose barely got a chance to help before everyone’s leaving."
When Rose finally stepped back, Kon Hin found room to breathe and smiled as he joined the conversation.
"Nong Rose plans to join the committee?"
"I’m thinking about it. Rose has been helping here and there for a while now and thinks it’d probably be a good experience." She laughed, then sighed as if regretting something.
"If I’d liked P'Hin earlier, I’d have joined long ago. Such a shame, huh?"
The speaker wrinkled her nose adorably, making the listener smile. Perhaps it was because Rose didn’t make him feel uneasy?
"And what about P'Tul?"
Kon Hin’s smile slowly faded, prompting the speaker to lean closer, shielding her mouth as if whispering.
"Rose doesn’t want to see P'Tul, but P'Rob said if P'Tul shows up, I should leave immediately. Otherwise, I’ll get my liver eaten... Word is, he’s very possessive of P'Hin."
Bloody damn cur, Rob!
Kon Hin’s jaw dropped before quickly clamping shut, wanting nothing more than to rush over and scold Rob for speaking so carelessly again. While the junior didn’t seem to think much of it, if someone were to take it seriously, his Chao-nai would surely be slandered.
Click.
"What are you all up to?"
Eek!
Speak of the devil, and the devil appears. Tul showed up, placing two plates of food on the table. The two immediately looked up almost in unison, especially Kon Hin, who flinched under his Chao-nai’s chillingly composed gaze. The seemingly kind smile didn’t reach his eyes, particularly when his gaze shifted to the beautiful young woman.
"Nong Rose, right?"
"Hello, P'Tul."
The one who defused the tense atmosphere was Rose, smiling broadly as she raised her hands in a phanom wai and spoke cheerfully.
"P'Tul, you came at just the right time! I was just asking about you. I heard you got an A in Professor Danai’s class, so I wanted to ask for some tips." She spoke smoothly, recalling the words of the senior she was close to—Nakrob.
"That bloody Tul is overly possessive of his subordinates, and bloody Hin is too deferential to his Chao-nai. So, if he shows up, don’t try to flirt with bloody Hin. Step back immediately, or you’ll get tripped and fall flat on your face, I’m telling you."
Thus, Rose had prepared a backup story for emergencies, delivering it smoothly. Her words transformed the cold gaze into one of warmth and gentleness, reaffirming her disinterest in the impossibly perfect and handsome senior. At the very least, she much preferred P'Hin’s gaze over P'Tul’s.
Why does everyone like P'Tul anyway? He’s terrifying.
The person responded with the smile of a kind senior.
"The professor isn’t strict. You just need to stay focused in class. If there’s something you don’t understand, you need to take the initiative and ask."
"If it’s that simple, that’d be great. I heard you’re the only one in the section who got an A. P'Rob said he nearly worshipped the professor just for getting a B-plus."
"But bloody Hin also got a B-plus."
Rose wanted to brighten her eyes in admiration for the senior she fancied but kept her reaction in check. Instead, she continued chatting with P'Tul for several more sentences before standing up.
"I have class now. Thank you for the advice. Goodbye, P'Tul. Bye, P'Hin."
The young woman gave a wide smile to P'Kon Hin once more, but her naturally cheerful demeanor made it go unnoticed by Tul. Meanwhile, Kon Hin tried to smile back, watching the beautiful junior stride off confidently. He then turned to meet his Chao-nai’s narrowing gaze.
"Is there something going on?"
"No, Nong Rose was just waiting to speak with Khun Tul."
Kon Hin did not know why he lied. It was not because he fancied that junior, but rather because her smile and cheerful presence made him feel at ease, so much so that he did not want to ruin it. Hence, he chose not to reveal the truth to the person before him.
Tul stared at him for a moment before nodding and pushing the plate of food toward Kon Hin.
"Good then. Eat quickly. After this, we’ll prepare the slides."
"Yes."
Kon Hin focused on eating his meal, feeling relieved, without noticing that Tul glanced in the direction the junior had walked. For a brief moment, his golden-brown eyes gleamed before returning to their usual calmness.
After dinner, Kon Hin planned to rest in his own room, but his Chao-nai sent a short message on LINE instructing him to come to his room instead. So, he turned back toward the main house, idly thinking that ever since he got his head injury, he had spent more nights in his Chao-nai’s room than his own—on the bed, not the floor. Before his thoughts could wander further, his close friend called, and he had no hesitation in growling under his breath.
"What did you say to Nong Rose?"
The person on the other end burst into laughter, teasing with a sly tone.
"Nong Rose is cute, isn’t she? Don’t you think?"
"Ai Rob, I don’t like you playing around like this."
"I didn’t force her or threaten her to like you. She likes you of her own accord. She sees for herself how cool and handsome P'Hin is. She even squealed about you to me—it’s hilarious, really."
Kon Hin let out a deep sigh as he stopped in front of the bedroom door. However, after knocking and hearing no response, he used the spare key to unlock it. Glancing toward the brightly lit bathroom, he assumed his Chao-nai was showering. The tall man moved to sit on the windowsill, enduring his friend’s mocking voice in the meantime.
"And what about the story you made up, telling Nong that Khun Tul is possessive of me?"
He did not want strange rumors spreading about him and his Chao-nai being involved in some kind of relationship. Even if it was true, it would not be good if the news got out. This earned a mocking tone from the other end of the line.
"What did I make up? What else would you call the way Ai Tul keeps pushing me away from you? Hah! Khun-chai Tul Metthanun, the perfect one—he’s just a bloody damn possessive dog, that’s all."
"Ai Rob!"
"Relax. I’m not going to spill your bedroom secrets. It’s not Tul I’m worried about; I’m worried about you."
When his friend spoke with genuine concern, the anger cooled a bit, but Kon Hin still reiterated his plea.
"I’m asking you, seriously."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I only told Rose that you and Ai Tul are close, that Ai Tul is possessive of his subordinates, and that you’re considerate of your Chao-nai. If there’s nothing going on, why are you so agitated? It’s harmless."
Kon Hin wanted to argue that he wasn’t agitated, but he was, so he remained silent, listening as his friend continued.
"Fine, I won’t bring up your wretched Chao-nai anymore. Let’s talk about Nong Rose instead. What did you say to her? When she was heading home, I saw her. She was beaming, running over to thank me profusely."
The listener furrowed his brows and shook his head. He did not believe he had done anything to make Nong Rose so happy. She was probably just delighted about something else.
Kon Hin refused to flatter himself. He shifted the conversation from the junior to their studies, then from their studies to how Ai Puupi was doing. Rob, seemingly satisfied with his fun, relented and easily switched topics.
"Ai Puup is looking handsome now. I’ll send you a picture. Want to come see him?"
"Maybe next week when I’m free."
Kon Hin had memorized his Chao-nai's schedule by heart, knowing that next week Tul would need to visit the company. This meant he would have a bit of free time after school. A quick visit to a friend’s house shouldn’t be an issue. However, Kon Hin was perhaps too absorbed in his conversation with his close friend to notice that the person who should have been in the bathroom had been standing for some time, arms crossed, towel-drying his hair. The moment he heard that sentence...
Grab!
“Next week, Ai Hin isn’t free. That’s enough. We’re going to sleep now.”
"Hey! Ai Tul! Bloody fucking shit-lizard Tul! I’m not—"
Tul ended the call, tossing the phone onto the bed while its owner sat agape, staring at his Chao-nai in shock.
I’m in trouble.
Those piercing cold eyes were enough to make his hair stand on end.
“Next week, where are you planning to go?”
Kon Hin answered cautiously, “To see Rob’s dog, sir.”
“Did you ask me first?” Tul’s icy voice inquired as he stepped closer.
“I’m sorry, sir. I was about to ask,” Kon Hin replied, swallowing nervously.
Hin was well aware of the consequences of angering his Chao-nai. He should have asked before agreeing, and it was clear Tul had overheard every word of his conversation.
Tul folded his arms, his imposing stance pressing Kon Hin further into submission, making him feel even smaller.
“Heh, you look like you know I’m going to punish you.”
Kon Hin thought he did. He closed his eyes briefly to compose himself, then reopened them, still meeting the gaze of his Chao-nai, whose eyes carried a shared understanding. Rising to his feet, Kon Hin walked to the bed, turned around to face the room’s owner, and asked in a calm voice, like someone who had experienced this countless times before,
“Khun Tul, would you like me to remove my clothes now, sir?”
Their punishments often concluded on the bed, leaving bruises on his body.
Tul raised an eyebrow, stepping closer at an unhurried pace, extending a hand. This made Kon Hin tense up.
Though he was used to being struck, it didn’t mean he had grown numb to the pain. But instead...
Grab.
“The wound has healed now.” The hand that should have landed a blow instead swept Kon Hin’s hair back, exposing the stitched scar, which had dried perfectly. Tul’s fingertips lightly touched his brow, surprising the one anticipating pain. Kon Hin’s astonished expression drew a burst of laughter from his Chao-nai.
“You look like you’re disappointed.”
“N-not at all, sir,” Kon Hin stammered, his cheeks flushing deeply. He had thought... Well, he had thought of sex.
“Of course you are. Right now, you look disappointed that I didn’t do what you were expecting.” Tul moved his hand from the scar to Kon Hin’s cheek, tapping it teasingly with his fingers.
Kon Hin froze, his body tensing even more when the gentle hand pushed him to sit down on the bed.
“Do you know something?”
Kon Hin shook his head slowly, which brought a smile to Tul’s perfectly shaped lips.
“Ai Rob could never satisfy you the way I can.”
“I don’t have anything going on with Ai Rob, sir!”
At that moment, Kon Hin protested in shock. However, he was too slow to react before Tul pushed him down flat onto the large bed. The mixed-heritage man followed swiftly, pinning him down. Those gleaming golden-brown eyes appeared terrifying. Tul leaned in, whispering near his ear,
“I’m in a good mood today. Why don’t we try something different?” Tul trailed his lips along Kon Hin’s cheek to his ear, prompting him to instinctively turn his neck away. Tul pressed a firm kiss behind his ear.
“Khun Tul, Ai Rob and I are really just friends!” Kon Hin insisted on his innocence, only to flinch as a hot tongue licked behind his ear. Tul’s lips nipped his earlobe, sending a shiver through him. His hands rested on Tul’s broad chest, and his pleading eyes begged for belief.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it’s true, sir!”
“Fine, I’ll believe you.”
Kon Hin almost sighed in relief but froze when those sharp eyes locked with his again, now exuding malice. Tul’s lips curved into a wicked smile.
Tul moved a finger to gently trace Kon Hin’s lips, a stark contrast to the shocking question that followed.
“Why don’t we try what you think Ai Rob would do to you today?”
At that moment, Kon Hin felt a chilling fear for the smile on the face of the man before him.
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