Chapter 1

    Phasin took on the task of driving his younger brother to the airport early in the morning. Ramin was always like this—once he decided to do something, he did it immediately, just as impulsive as their father.

    "If you need anything, call me."

    "I know, brother. I'm off now."

    "Come here for a hug first."

    Phasin pulled his younger brother into a tight embrace, filled with love. This was the first time Ramin was going on a trip far from home by himself. Even though Ramin was capable and could take care of himself, as the older brother who had raised him, Phasin could not help but worry.

    No matter how many days, months, or years passed, Ramin would always be the little boy in the eyes of the family, never changing. Phasin kept checking the medications in his brother's bag one last time until Ramin almost missed his flight before Phasin finally let him go.

    "I'll call you when I get to Chiang Mai."

    Ramin waved goodbye to his brother energetically. He never felt annoyed by his family's attentiveness because he knew everything they did came from love and concern.

    The flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai did not take very long. Ramin decided to rest on the plane since he had no plans whatsoever for his trip. He needed to save his energy for whatever adventures awaited him.

    The flight to Chiang Mai took only two hours, and finally, he was there. Part of the reason he chose to come here was his fascination with the natural beauty of the high mountains. He felt that it offered a wide, expansive view, unlike the narrowness of human hearts...

    Since getting off the plane, he had received several curious glances, but Ramin did not care. At least among those who stared, there were many who did not pay him any attention. Being somewhat well-known, he knew he would have to face this kind of thing eventually; it was unavoidable.

    "My legs are aching."

    After walking until he was tired, Ramin decided to sit and rest, as he had not yet figured out where to go or call for a ride. He sent a message to his brother, letting him know he had arrived in Chiang Mai, and did not forget to send a message to his parents to keep them from feeling left out.

    Initially, he planned to continue traveling by van, getting off wherever there were many tourists. However, as he was getting rid of the trash, his eyes caught sight of a piece of paper. It had a picture in the middle and some sparse text. He did not know what compelled him to pick it up, but before he realized it, he was holding it as he returned to his seat.

    "Who designed this graphic?"

    He dared say, this was the worst travel brochure he had ever seen. It was not even a brochure; it was just a photo of the entrance slapped in the middle. At the top, there was a message saying, Ratchawakitsakul Tea Farm, Come Visit. He raised a slender hand to massage his temple slightly.

    As someone who loved making travel videos and editing them himself, he could not help but feel annoyed. Who would be interested in visiting with a brochure like this? It was no wonder it ended up tossed in the trash. Whoever received it probably just took it and threw it away. But on the other hand, he felt sorry for the owner of the farm.

    Ramin felt it was crazy enough when he picked this paper out of the trash without caring about the looks he got. He went even crazier when he decided to call a car to take him to that Ratchawakitsakul Farm.

    Could it be that this odd brochure was a strategy to pique people's interest...

    "Go ahead and sit down; I'll take care of it."

    Ramin did not refuse the driver's kindness. When the driver saw that his legs were not in great shape, he quickly came down to help with genuine kindness. Ramin could have managed on his own, but when someone offered sincere help, it was best not to refuse too much.

    "Are you related to someone at the farm?"

    The driver noticed Ramin carrying a large bag and assumed he was going to work at the Ratchawakitsakul Farm. In the past, the farm had been very prosperous, and everyone in the province knew of it. However, late last year, after the owner's only son got married, a major problem arose.

    Outsiders were not privy to the details, but there were rumors that Phayu's father had been associating with major drug dealers, leading to a boycott by small tea shops. As a result, tourists began to disappear, and the business started to decline. Despite Phayu, the son, taking over and trying to resolve the issues, he could not compete with rivals who seized the golden opportunity to market aggressively during that time.

    Especially towards the end of this year, the driver had not taken any tourists there at all. He feared that by the end of the year, the farm might have to close permanently.

    "I'm just visiting."

    "Visiting? Why not go to another farm? There's one that opened two years ago and it's very popular with tourists."

    Seeing the driver enthusiastically giving the advice, Ramin became curious—not about visiting, but about why the Ratchawakitsakul Farm was not popular. It should be a natural tourist attraction. It could not just be poor marketing by the farm, could it?

    Most tea farms that served as tourist attractions were family-owned businesses passed down through generations. No matter how bad things got, the inheritors would never abandon such a lucrative venture. The locals would definitely know about it, and it was impossible that no tourists would stumble upon it. Just look at him.

    However, after hearing the driver's explanation about the rumors, Ramin began to understand something. But he was not the type to judge others based solely on hearsay. By the time a story had been passed through a thousand mouths, it had been embellished a thousand times. How reliable could it be?

    "Take me to the place. I prefer peace and quiet."

    With the passenger's firm decision, there was nothing more to be done. Silence enveloped the car, so Ramin took out his phone to look up information about the place he was heading to.

    Unfortunately, the information had not been updated for years, yet the old photos of the farm's atmosphere were still captivating. He was starting to feel eager to get there quickly. He was curious to see just how beautiful the real thing would be.

    Upon arriving at the entrance of the farm, the first thing Ramin noticed was the tranquility. This was a clear sign that the place had not welcomed tourists for quite some time. He got out of the car and took his bag from the driver, opting to carry it himself. The road was not in bad condition, so his rolling suitcase posed no issue.

    He walked inside unhurriedly, his eyes scanning for someone to ask about accommodations. But despite his efforts, he found no one. He could swear this was supposed to be a tourist spot, not an abandoned area...

    "Ah, ah."

    The sound of a baby crying caught his attention, carried by the wind. His slender legs moved toward the source of the sound, leading him to a small pavilion likely made of fine teak wood, just big enough to offer shelter from the sun and rain.

    His almond-shaped eyes peered inside, spotting a tall figure playfully interacting with a baby in a cradle. Ramin approached, hoping to ask for directions while taking in his surroundings. Contrary to his expectations, the farm was not as rundown as he had imagined. It seemed well-maintained, indicating how much the owner cherished it.

    Ramin's slender legs stepped quietly into the pavilion, mindful not to disturb the other person who was feeding the baby. As he looked at the fair-skinned infant in the man's arms, he could not help but smile unconsciously. Children were his weakness; Ramin loved them dearly. Just watching made him itch to poke the chubby cheeks playfully.

    After waiting for a while, the little one spat out the pacifier, signaling that he was full. Ramin's eyes widened when he saw the man preparing to lay the baby back in the cradle without burping him first.

    "Uh... aren't you going to let him burp first?"

    ‘Phayu’ looked up at the newcomer, his sharp eyebrows raising slightly in curiosity. He had noticed the other man since he entered but had not said anything, assuming he was a lost tourist who would soon leave.

    "What do you mean?"

    The deep voice, slightly raspy, asked flatly, his face showing no emotion. Yet, this did not intimidate Ramin in the slightest, as his gaze was entirely drawn to the fair-skinned baby in the cradle.

    "Infants like this have underdeveloped digestive systems. After feeding, it's best to let them burp first."

    Phayu furrowed his brows. He had been so consumed with work that he rarely had time to care for his child himself. Today, the housekeeper had a doctor’s appointment in the city, so he had to bring the little one to work. As for burping, that was out of the question. He even needed the housekeeper to write down the steps for making the formula.

    "In that case, may I?"

    Seeing the other man's clueless hesitance, Ramin offered to help. He had often helped his relatives care for their children, so he knew a bit about looking after babies. Ramin gently lifted the baby from the cradle, and Phayu, observing from the side, noticed something unusual about the way he walked.

    When he looked down, he understood immediately. The young man was wearing a prosthetic leg. Despite being so young and having a less-than-perfect body, how could he still have such a bright smile?

    Phayu watched him for a while, listening to the young man's advice on caring for the baby. Everything came to a halt, however, when the young man said something that nearly made Phayu choke on his own saliva.

    "Do you work here, uncle?"

    Phayu's sharp eyebrows furrowed so tightly they almost tied themselves into a knot. Sure, he worked outdoors under the sun and wind, which had darkened his skin, and he sported a bit of a beard because he was too lazy to shave. But at least he kept himself fit and took good care of his body.

    Uncle, my foot!