17
The filming of the latest movie, in which Toop Pasutha starred as the lead actor, came to a sudden halt.
He had left home that morning in his usual good spirits, but by the time he arrived on set, his mood had swung wildly to irritation—enough to unnerve even the director.
During a break, when the crew offered snacks to the famous leading man, he seemed nauseous, leaving many puzzled.
The situation escalated during the next scene when his tall, slender frame swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing, forcing the production team to call an abrupt break.
This was the story relayed by his manager during a phone call while he drove the ailing actor home.
Since Toop had forgotten to bring his usual remote to the house gate, the manager had to call to ensure I was home to let them in—a task I had just completed when my phone rang again.
“How is he?” I asked the impeccably dressed manager, who was a few years older than Toop.
I walked out of the house with Thian, we were both pale, not knowing the situation.
At that moment, I felt a sharp pain and tightness in my chest, anxiety making my hands tremble uncontrollably.
Even after learning what happened to Toop, my concern did not lessen in the slightest.
“He’s in the car.
Sorry for alarming you and Miss Thian earlier.”
“My heart practically dropped to the ground, manager.
And Anshan looked pale as a sheet.”
The manager offered a sheepish smile and bowed slightly, prompting me to shake my head.
“It’s all right.
I understand you must’ve been just as startled and worried about him.”
“To be honest, I was shocked before I even had time to worry.
I hadn’t seen Toop in a few days, and at first, he seemed cheerful enough.
But soon, his expression turned tense, then sullen.
It went on and on until he nearly fainted.
That’s when I knew he couldn’t keep going.
I offered to take him to the hospital, but he refused.”
“I’ll talk to him.
Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“Can he walk, though?
The car’s been parked for a while, but he hasn’t come out yet.”
“He’s probably still dizzy, Miss Thian.
I’ll bring him.”
“It’s okay, manager.”
I said, glancing toward the vehicle, though the tinted windows obscured any view inside.
“I’ll bring him myself.”
“An”
“It’s fine, P’Thian”
Thian sighed before nodding, while the manager—unaware of my pregnancy—hesitated slightly.
I merely offered him a smile and walked over to open the door of his car.
As Toop’s another car, I guessed it was likely left at the filming location or parked elsewhere.
“Mr. Toop,” I called, peering at him lying back on the seat with his eyes closed and touching his shoulder.
“You’re home now.”
“Anshan,”
he murmured, his voice fainted as he opened his eyes and looked at me, appearing slightly disoriented.
I smiled at him.
“Yes, it’s me. Are you okay? Do you think you can walk into the house?”
For a moment, his expression seemed to brighten as he looked at me, but his answer soon dispelled my optimism.
“I- don’t think I can.”
“Then I’ll—”
call the manager to help support you.
However, before I could finish, Toop extended his arm toward me instead.
“Help me.”
“Sorry?”
He narrowed his eyes at me.
“Your husband can’t walk, Anshan, but I don’t want anyone else to help me but you.”
“Okay, okay.”
I resigned to his insistence.
Though he was taller, it was not a problem for me to just help him walk.
“If you feel dizzy, let me know immediately.”
“Mm.”
He answered while draping an arm over my shoulder, leaning his face against the side of my neck as I helped him out of the car.
“I’ll help too, Mr. An.”
“And me.”
“Neither of you need to.”
The ones left awkward were not him, despite his sharp glare at the manager and Thian, who wanted to assist.
It was me, with an uneasy smile, because not only did Toop shoot daggers with his eyes, but his tone also startled the manager and had Thian almost ready to reprimand him.
However, seeing how unwell he was, they relented, allowing me to help Toop inside, even if it was a bit clumsy.
“Has Thian and the manager left?”
The voice came from the figure lying on the bed, a cool towel draped over his face.
He seemed to know I had returned after stepping out to speak with them for a few minutes before they both left, telling that if he did not improve, I could call for assistance. Read the latest chapters at novelping . com.
“Yes.”
He acknowledged with a faint hum, though I could not see his expression beneath the towel.
“Have you eaten yet? Should I head downstairs to cook something for you?”
I wanted him to go to the hospital to get checked, but on the way upstairs, he had refused anything and everything, shaking his head.
“That’d be good.”
“Alright.”
“But come closer first. I’ll tell you what I feel like eating.”
No matter how concerned I was for him, his demanding tone left me sighing quietly as I moved closer to his bedside, his face covered.
“What would you like to eat?”
At that moment, he pulled off the cold towel, revealing his face just as our eyes met.
I could not look away, standing there waiting for his answer.
“You.”
“Pardon? Hey, Mr. Toop!”
I yelped when he grabbed my wrist and tugged me down onto the bed.
I wanted to yell at him for acting so rashly—thankfully, it had not hurt my stomach but had certainly startled my heart as I thought something was wrong for him to abruptly get up.
Before I could voice my protest, he shifted to hug me from behind.
“Mr. Toop!”
“Mm, this really is better.”
“What’s wrong with you?
Stop—why are you nuzzling me?
It tickles!”
My neck felt both warm and tingly from his breath, and yet I could not understand why he was doing this.
Why was he nuzzling my neck while holding me tightly?
“Mr. Toop!”
I wanted to shout louder, but the words faltered in my throat.
Swallowing hard, I tried to turn to face him.
But the movement brought our faces too close
—close enough that I could feel his breath, his face seemed fine.
My heart fluttered wildly, leaving me at a loss, only able to bite my lip and meet his gaze.
“Just give me a moment, Anshan.”
“Mr. Toop.”
“Does it tickle?”
he asked, his muffled voice brushing against my shoulder.
“It—it just feels strange, doesn’t it?”
He shifted his eyes to meet mine, nodding in agreement.
“It is strange. Ever since I entered this industry, I’ve never felt like this on set. But as soon as I knew I was heading home, everything started to feel better. And when I saw your face.”
I furrowed my brow, waiting for him to explain.
What happened when Toop saw my face?
“It’s strange.”
“Ah, you—”
He hugged me tighter, pressing his face against my shoulder again, leaving me baffled.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, but let me stay like this for a bit.”
“If you need to rest, lie down by yourself quietly. Why do you need to hug me and make me lie down with you?”
I was not uncomfortable physically, but emotionally, it was not great for my heart.
The way he looked at me—it felt almost pleading.
“Mr. Toop.”
“You smell nice, Anshan.”
His voice was soft and calm, his sharp eyes losing their usual edge.
Tightening his arms around me, he leaned in closer, his words muffled against my skin as I frowned.
“You… smell really good…”
“Y-you.”
I was startled, unsure how to respond.
Did I hear him wrong?
Or was there something wrong with his sense of smell?
I, smelled nice?
“Take a nap with our little one.
We can figure out dinner later.”
“But that’s—”
“Or do you want me to do more than just hug you?”
I quickly shook my head when he looked at me with a stern gaze.
“That means you agree.”
“But I don’t want to sit in a place with just air-conditioning!”
I muttered, lowering my gaze.
He did not reply, only holding me tighter and closing his eyes.
Sneaking a glance at his face, my husband’s—Toop’s—behavior was so peculiar that my heart felt like it was working overtime, the same way it had earlier when I had dared to let myself hope.
I knew deep down that such hopes would end in pain.
But moments like these—fleeting happiness mixed with confusion.
Going out for a meal with him might be a good idea.
Maybe, it would be better than usual, I told myself that.
I wanted to change the atmosphere, to sit somewhere open to the natural breeze rather than the private air-conditioned spaces that suited him better, it would not be such a good idea though.
I could keep it to myself, it was fine.
“Mr. Toop.”
I called his name as he sat across from me.
The waitstaff had just taken our orders, leaving only the two of us in this breezy riverside restaurant illuminated by twinkling lights.
Yes, this was a well-known riverside restaurant.
After agreeing to see the doctor earlier, I thought he might take me back to the same restaurant as before.
But instead, the car stopped here, and it was just us.
By us, I meant myself and him—Toop Pasutha, the famous actor.
“Are you hungry?”
I quickly shook my head.
“Then why are you making that face?”
“Because you… rented out the whole restaurant.”
“Yeah, so?”
He shrugged as if it were nothing, but it was not the answer I was looking for.
“Why did you do that?”
The phone he had been using to take photos was set down on the table.
He turned his attention to me.
“If I didn’t book the whole place, there’d be too many people.
And when there are too many people, how do you react?
What do you say?”
“I would just-”
Probably ask to go somewhere else to make sure he gets the privacy he needs.
It would not be a problem for me to be with him, but typically, apart from sharing a bed to affirm our marital status, we did not do much else that couples usually do.
“Suit yourself.”
Realizing that there was no point in arguing, since he had already reserved the entire restaurant, and no one else would show up to disrupt his privacy, I decided to end the discussion.
“You always do whatever you want anyway.”
“What was that?”
“I said I’m hungry.
When will our food get here?”
“But just now, I’m sure you didn’t say anything that long.”
He looked at me suspiciously, his expression suddenly stern.
“You don’t have to ask me about everything.
Just relax and eat plenty.”
“Do you think I’m a pig or something?”
He shrugged, saying nothing, leaving me to sulk and sip my water.
“So, what did the doctor say?”
“Oh- nothing much.”
I nodded, acknowledging his answer.
I wanted to press for more details, but after he woke up from his nap and finished showering, he seemed fine.
“And how was your day at home?”
“It was good. P’Thian dropped by for a chat, which was fun—until the manager called about you.”
My cheerful demeanor faded as I recalled that moment.
I had been truly frightened…
Yes, deep down, there had been a fear that something serious might have happened to him.
“Take care, okay?”
“Of course. I’ll take good care of the baby.”
I smiled at him while placing a hand on my stomach.
“I didn’t mean just the baby. I meant you too.”
Did he even realize what his words do to me?
I could not tell if he said it because it was his duty as a husband and father or if it slipped out unintentionally.
But it made me happy—just a small joy, yet warm enough to make me smile even brighter.
“Thank you.”
He looked at me without responding, as the faint music playing from the restaurant.
Soon, dinner arrived, a variety of dishes, most of which were what I had been craving.
As we ate in silence for a while, he suddenly spoke up.
“This dish is pretty good,”
he said, placing some of it onto my plate.
“…Thank you.”
“When your husband does something for you, why do you have to say thank you every time?”
“Well- I feel grateful for what you do for me.”
“But I don’t want your thanks.”
Toop said this with a straight face, making my heart waver slightly, almost as if was upset.
However—
“I serve you, and you serve me. That way, you won’t have to thank me every time.”
This man—.
From nearly sinking into gloom overthinking his words, I quickly nodded and scooped some food I found delicious onto his plate.
“Is this dish good?”
“Yes, it’s really good. Try it.”
Toop nodded after tasting it, silently agreeing with my recommendation.
“By the way.”
I watched as he seemed to recall something suddenly.
“Did Thian bring you what I ordered?”
“Yes, but she also got some cold-pressed coconut oil.”
“That’s good. We can apply it tonight.”
Toop said this casually, while I—mid-bite—could only nod in acknowledgment.
Personally, it felt like a hassle, but applying it… well, I could manage that.