Silence came in many forms, like the peaceful quiet that brought relaxation, the awkward silence that made you want to escape the situation as quickly as possible, or the kind of silence that left you feeling shy and flustered, just like what was happening in the car at that very moment.

 

The luxury car owner glanced at the person sitting in the passenger seat beside him. Wan's usually lively, round eyes were shut tight. His head leaned against the car window, motionless. The sight made the driver, who was pressing the gas pedal to head back into the city, smile slightly with amusement.

 

No one who's actually asleep has ears that red. Seems like Wan's pretending to sleep to hide his embarrassment. Thinking back to the electrifying moment that had just occurred, 

 

Third couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret that it'd been interrupted by the sound of a text message. At this hour, were Wan's friends still awake? And why did they have to send a message right then? Couldn't they have waited five more minutes so he could fully savour the softness of those lips? But in truth, the kiss had only been a byproduct of the atmosphere. 

 

Third hadn't taken Wan out for a drive with the intention of doing something like that. He simply noticed that Wan seemed stressed and wanted to help him relax. Lately, his emotions had been tied to Wan's reactions. If Wan was smiling and happy, Third felt happy, too. But on days like today, when Wan seemed troubled, Third felt restless, wanting to do something-anything-to make the person he liked feel better.

 

Yes, he liked Wan. Third had thought about that many times, and he concluded that his feelings weren't fleeting or superficial. Their beginning might not have been smooth, but eventually, they came to understand each other and grew closer. 

 

At first, Third had simply thought that being around Wan was comfortable. He didn't have to be on guard and could be himself completely. But he wasn't sure when that comfort had gradually deepened into something more profound. Maybe it was because they got to know each other better through conversations. Maybe it was when he saw Wan diligently memorising his lines, which he admired because he liked people who put in effort. Maybe it was when he saw Wan smiling and laughing as he chatted with fellow actors, crew members, or fans. Or perhaps it was during their trip to Ayutthaya...

 

Third realised his feelings when he found himself scanning the set for Wan's familiar figure every time he arrived. Even when he wasn't paying attention, his eyes always drifted toward Wan. He felt joy in teasing the quick-witted man and seeing his pouty reactions. And hearing Wan's soft voice bantering back every night before bed made Third sleep soundly and contentedly.

 

He'd dated before in high school, so he recognised this feeling. And he also knew that Wan had no one, which gave him a good opportunity. Once he realised his feelings, Third began to pursue Wan in a subtle way. He called him almost every day after work and dropped playful hints to gauge his reactions, and luckily, Wan wasn't hard to read.

 

Third could tell that Wan would get flustered and seemed shy whenever he teased him. The incident earlier was proof. If Wan didn't feel anything or was repulsed, he'd have pushed Third away or even punched him when he leaned in close. Instead, after that moment, Wan had been glued to his phone, his ears and face flushed red, pretending to sleep. It was a clear attempt to hide his embarrassment.

 

Look at him-his eyes are closed, but his brows are furrowed. What kind of actor can't even fake sleep? Third chuckled to himself, turning his gaze back to the road and letting Wan (pretend to) sleep. After all, it was already past two in the morning, and Wan had been working all day. He might actually be tired. 

 

When Third glanced over again, he noticed that Wan's brows had relaxed. He'd truly fallen asleep this time. Third liked silence. And when it was the kind of peaceful silence with someone he liked by his side, he didn't want the moment to end… But all good things must come to an end. When he turned the car into the driveway of Wan's condo building, he reluctantly leaned over to wake him up with a whisper.

 

"Wan."

 

"Wan, we're at your condo now."

 

"..Huh?"

 

"Not waking up? If you don't wake up, I'll take you back to my condo instead."

 

"Huh... Hey!" The groggy man jolted awake, his wide eyes filled with confusion as he looked at Third. Then his face turned pink.

 

"Uh... Thanks for... today," Wan stammered. He probably just remembered what had happened earlier. His endearing reaction made the corners of Third's lips curl into a grin as he stared at Wan's face with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Wan, I-"

 

"And thanks for the ride. See you later! Bye!" But Wan didn't give him a chance to finish. He hurriedly said goodbye, opened the car door, and dashed into the building, leaving Third stunned for about three seconds before he let out a soft laugh.

 

Oh well. The day after tomorrow...no, tomorrow we'll see each other on set again anyway. I still have plenty of time to get closer to you and to use the duration of this series' filming to get to know each other better. After all, I'm pretty sure I have a good chance. Judging by the flushed face, red ears, and frequent attempts to avoid eye contact, Wan probably liked me too.

A lot had happened to me these past few days. Each day had been filled with countless stories and emotions, leaving me barely able to keep up. First, there was Nine. After he'd made his hostility clear that day, I learned to accept it gradually. I tried to avoid him and only spoke to him when necessary. As someone who used to be his fan, I still feel hurt. It'd probably take some time for the pain to fade.

 

As for Third, I talked to him as usual. Off-camera, it was personal business. But when it came to taking photos or posting Instagram stories, I avoided including him to keep Nine from getting upset. Honestly, I thought it was a bit silly, but I didn't want to cause problems with a coworker. Besides, the lead actors were Third and Nine. For marketing purposes, it wouldn't be good for the Third-Wan pairing to overshadow them. I didn't tell anyone about Nine talking to me, not Third, not P'Cher. I intended to handle it quietly, but some people didn't seem to cooperate.

 

"Wan."

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Look at the camera for a second."

 

"Are you posting a story? No way." I shook my head firmly, my heart pounding as I felt the sharp gaze of the tall man sitting with me during the break. "Go take pictures of someone else."

 

"But I want to take a picture of you," he shot back. Even though I couldn't see his face, I could sense the smile in his deep voice, making me both flustered and uneasy.

 

"I won't post it. I just want to keep it for myself." Third coaxed, trying to get me to look at the camera. When I finally gave in and turned to face him, my face burned as I saw his handsome face sporting a playful grin.

 

"Alright, enough! No pictures!" I raised my hand to block the camera, overwhelmed with embarrassment. If anyone else saw us, they'd probably be confused about how the two people who used to bicker before the cameras started rolling were now sitting and joking around like close friends-a complete 180-degree change. It was all Third's fault. Ever since that drive, he'd been relentless. My heart couldn't take it anymore!

 

"It's just that we won't see each other for a few days, so I wanted your pictures to look at," Third said softly. I couldn't help but wonder whether he was the clingy type in a relationship. What he was doing with me now was pretty close.

 

Thinking about it made my heart race even faster. Neither of us had said the word yet, but it felt like we both already knew.

 

"You talk like we don't have phones," I said.

 

"It's not the same as seeing you in person," Third sighed. Gone was the cold stare he used to give me. Now, the handsome leading man looked at me with puppy-dog eyes.

 

"Wan."

 

"What?"

 

"Let's go on another trip sometime. I want to go somewhere with you."

 

".." 

Wow. At this point, just say you already like me. I'm waiting, you know. I want him to say it first. I don't want to lose face.

 

"Let me check my schedule first. My work calendar is packed, you know," I replied with a cheeky grin, earning a laugh from him.

 

In reality, Third's schedule was packed to the brim, leaving him barely any time to rest. Even though I wanted to go on a trip with him, if he had free time, I'd rather he use it to rest.

 

"Alright, everyone, get ready! We're about to start filming. Third, Nine, come to the set!"

P'Jen, the assistant director, called out through a megaphone, her voice echoing across the pool. Third stood up with a long sigh while I gave him a thumbs-up for encouragement; my eyes followed his tall figure as he walked to the set, and my heart swelled. Being with someone you like really is pure happiness.

 

"Wan."

 

While I was watching Third prepare for his scene, P'Cher's calm voice sounded above me. She handed me my second cup of coffee for the day before sitting down beside me. I took the coffee and sipped it, my eyes still on Third. But after a while, I felt a strange chill down my spine.

 

When I turned to look, I found P'Cher staring at me with an unreadable expression. In the end, though, she didn't say anything and just pulled out her phone to play with instead. It seemed like nothing, but a tiny part of me felt uneasy. However, when it was my turn to shoot my scene, I forgot all about it and focused on work until the shoot ended at 10 PM.

 

"I'm heading out," I whispered to Third as I waved goodbye to the crew nearby. I flinched when Third grabbed my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear.

 

"I'll call you tonight."

 

"...Okay," I nodded quickly and hurried back to P'Cher, trying my best to keep my face from breaking into an overly cheerful smile.

 

"Get in the car already," P'Cher urged me, her tone more serious than usual. Once we were in the car with just me, P'Cher, and the driver, she looked directly at me.

 

"Wan, this might be personal, but can you answer me honestly?" I froze, my hand halfway to picking up my phone, a bad feeling creeping in. "What is it?"

 

"Are you and Third dating?"

 

The directness of the question made me jump. I knew people had probably noticed how close we'd become lately, but it could still be seen as just friendship. I didn't think P'Cher would see through it so clearly.

 

“No, we're just friends."

 

I wasn't lying. Our current status was more like we were getting to know each other romantically, but no one had brought it up yet. So, we were still just friends.

 

"Do you feel anything more than friendship for Third?" P'Cher pressed on. She must have had plenty of experience managing artists, so no matter how much I tried to dodge, it wouldn't work.

 

"Well... yeah... I like him," I admitted. But as soon as I confessed, her expression grew even more serious, and I couldn't understand why. While I was still confused, P'Cher said something that left me stunned. "Wan, to be honest, I don't agree with you two liking each other."

 

“Why?" My heart sank. "Didn't you say it's okay to have a relationship as long as we inform the agency and be careful?"

 

"That's true, but it also depends on who it is," P'Cher sighed before explaining her reasoning, which left me speechless.

 

"This is Third we're talking about. The fans are already shipping him with Nine, and you're both starring in the same series. ThirdNine is really popular right now, and the series is about to air soon. It'll be a huge deal if anyone finds out about you and Third."

 

"Wan, if you were dating someone outside the industry or another person in the industry, I wouldn't interfere. I'd support you and help you. But if it's Third, I don't think it's a good idea. There are too many risks. If people find out, Third will lose his ship fanbase, and you'll be in an even worse position. A new actor doesn't have enough fans to protect them. You'd get attacked by both Third's and Nine's fans."

 

"I know I can't stop you, but as your AR, I have to warn you. Think carefully about what you're doing," P'Cher said, gently squeezing my shoulder.

 

Amid the tension, her eyes behind her glasses were filled with sympathy. I knew she was just doing her job, so I murmured softly, "Okay..."

 

We didn't say anything else until we got back to my condo. P'Cher told me to get plenty of rest, but at this point, there was no way I could fall asleep.

 

"P'Wan, how was it? Tired? How was the shoot today?" As soon as I opened the door to my room, View peeked in to greet me.

 

"It was fine," I replied dully, dragging myself into my bedroom like a lifeless body.

I collapsed onto my bed, staring blankly as I replayed P'Cher's words in my head. Even though fans these days were better at separating an artist's work from their personal life, I knew from being part of a fanbase before that many fans couldn't accept it if their favourite ship wasn't real. No matter how clearly Third set boundaries with Nine, some fans still believed there was a chance for them to develop a relationship because Nine often hinted at it.

 

All types of fans were important because they were the foundation that supported the artist. Even though Third was gaining popularity, he wasn't yet in a stable position. His fanbase was crucial for his dream of growing as an actor.

 

The actors and crew put a lot of effort into this series. It was my agency's hope to make a mark in the industry. Many new actors were waiting to be noticed through this project. It wouldn't be good if there was any news that affected the series. Opportunities in life might come multiple times, but for some, they only come once. Every opportunity would be important. I knew how much Third had invested in this series. It was a significant step in his career, and nothing should get in the way.

And that includes me.

 

Buzz…

The phone in my hand vibrated, signalling an incoming LINE call. Calls from Third used to fill my heart with warmth and happiness every night before bed. Now, they only made my chest feel heavy and confused.

 

The ringtone kept playing. In the end, I muted it and closed my eyes, letting the call go unanswered. Something was clearly off on set today, enough to irritate the rising star actor.

 

"Third, come shoot a promo clip with Nine."

"Third, record a story. The fans are waiting."

"Third, come talk to me about tomorrow's photoshoot."

 

And countless other requests from P'Sunny, his AR. Today, she seemed unusually clingy, interrupting every time he tried to approach Wan, who was sitting with the other actors.

 

"Cut!"

 

"Wan," Third called out to the smaller guy, who was focused on the monitor after the last scene before the lunch break. "I wanted to-"

"Third, where are you going? Come here, let's take a picture with the food truck your fans sent here," P'Sunny swooped in, grabbing his arm and pulling him away immediately. He missed his chance to talk to Wan, who gave him a small wave and smile, though his eyes looked lifeless compared to usual.

 

He exhaled heavily, wanting to shake off P'Sunny's hand, but that would've been rude. So, he complied, cursing internally. Aside from the briefing before the shoot, he hadn't had a chance to talk to Wan all day, and Wan seemed unusually quiet, too.

 

"Porch, have you seen Wan?" Third asked after finishing his tasks and rushing back to the area where the crew was eating, only to find no sign of Wan.

 

"He already left. P'Wan only had scenes to shoot in the morning," the junior replied. Third clenched his jaw, his thick brows furrowing as he sensed something was definitely wrong. It all felt off from P'Sunny's attempts to keep him away from Wan to Wan's strange behaviour. Wan's replies to his messages were short, and he didn't answer his calls at night, saying he was busy with schoolwork and research. While it was a reasonable excuse, Third's instincts told him there was more to it.

 

Just a few days ago, everything seemed to be going well between us. What happened? Third suppressed his curiosity, waiting for the shoot to end. His last scene wrapped up at 6:30 PM, but he had to meet a client to discuss a brand ambassador contract. P'Sunny stayed behind to oversee Nine's remaining scenes, so P'Pitch, his personal manager and agency owner, drove him to the restaurant for the meeting.

 

"The client really likes ThirdNine. If they bring it up, just play along with it a bit. They might decide to hire both of you," P'Pitch casually mentioned on the way.

 

Of course, Third had no intention of doing that. He didn't want to lie to anyone. That task fell to P'Pitch, who rambled on, hinting that sometimes, their actors really dated each other but kept it private. Third endured the conversation, waiting for time to pass, questioning what he was even doing. Is it because acting alone isn't enough to survive in this cutthroat industry? Is that why I feel so trapped?

 

Nearly two hours later, after the client left, the private dining room was empty except for him and the agency owner, who was leisurely sipping a cocktail.

 

"Hey, Third, are you seeing anyone these days?"

 

The abrupt question made Third narrow his eyes.

 

"Yes."

 

"Who?" The other party asked casually as if discussing the weather, but Third had been in the industry long enough to understand the underlying implications. Beneath the seemingly normal question, there was something unusual.

 

"If you're asking like this, I think you already know."

 

"Sunny mentioned something, but she wasn't sure. So, I'm asking you directly," the agency owner said, setting the glass down and locking eyes with him, demanding an answer.

 

"Well, it's true what P'Sunny said. I like Wan," Third admitted without hesitation. His agreement with the agency allowed him to have a relationship as long as he informed them. In some cases, it might need to be kept a secret for business reasons. So, whoever he dated, the agency had no right to interfere.

 

"Really? I don't think this is a good match." That comment crossed the line a bit. The young actor's sharp eyes immediately flashed with clear displeasure.

 

"What's not suitable about it?"

 

"The timing, that's what," P'Pitch shot back. He knew this kid was stubborn. Even if Sunny talked to him, it wouldn't work, so he had to step in himself.

 

"You're on the rise, Third. Right now, ThirdNine is trending hard. Everyone's waiting to see your series, rooting for you two to be together. With this kind of hype, if it comes out that you're dating someone else, and it's another actor from the same series who's not Nine, your career could crash overnight."

 

"I've been clear from the start that I sell my talent, not fake chemistry or my soul," Third replied in a low, controlled voice, suppressing his anger that was boiling inside. Stopping me from dating Wan for a reason like this? That's just ridiculous.

 

"Whenever I give interviews, I always say that work is work. Are you underestimating the audience's judgment too much?"

 

"But the audience that draws the crowd is your shipping fanbase, right? You're acting in a BL series, Third. These things can't be separated. Plenty of people get overly invested, and those overly invested people are your fans. Just the ThirdWan tag alone has some of your fans grumbling every day. Have you checked? If they stop supporting you, you're done, kid. After all the effort you've put in, do you really want to crash? A series that could be a hit would flop, and then everything would fall apart!"

 

The atmosphere in the dining room grew tense. Third clenched his jaw tightly to stop himself from cursing, while the agency owner clicked his tongue in frustration.

 

"Honestly, the timing just isn't right. Keep your distance for now. Wait until the series airs, and everything wraps up; then, we can talk about it again, okay?"

 

"You may be my manager, but you have no right to interfere in my personal life," Third cut him off, grabbed his bag and phone from the table, and stood up abruptly.

 

"I'm leaving now."

 

The tall figure stormed out, leaving only the agency owner behind, muttering curses under his breath. He'd already anticipated the outcome of today's conversation, but he still hoped that Third, having worked in the industry for a while, would understand its nature by now.

 

He admired Third's determination and his nearly all-around talent, especially his acting skills. Third was the agency's star product, a key figure they could easily build upon for future success. But his biggest flaw was his overly blunt personality. Third had made it clear that he only wanted to be an actor who sold his talent. But that wasn’t ideal. In the real world, talent alone couldn't sustain fame and success.

 

Being straightforward and the entertainment industry were like parallel lines-they would never meet. And he’d invested a lot in Third. If the actor couldn't handle it, the manager's and the agency's job was to take care of it, removing any obstacles that might block the path to profit.

 

"I really don't want to do this, Third, but I have no choice," he muttered, exhaling sharply as he grabbed his phone and opened LINE to contact his connections. After today, that kid might hate me, but so what? He's still bound by contract for several more years.

 

Pitch was confident that in a year or two, Third would understand and appreciate what he'd done for him.