Shen Leyuan was fired up by Little Deer’s change.
Even the protagonist bottom from the Flower Market setting, who came with built-in seductive charm, had made remarkable progress. What was there to fear about an ordinary rebellious teen from a single-parent family like Lin Yao?
Don’t rush, don’t get impatient, Shen Leyuan advised himself. Take it slow.
That night, he slept very soundly.
But the father and two sons upstairs and downstairs all suffered insomnia—one hugging his quilt and giggling foolishly, one frowning in a daze, and the other glaring at the annotations under the apology letter, raging impotently through half the night: Isn’t he fucking sick?!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Lin Yao pulled out a pen and drafted a new version packed with even filthier language, looking up words in the dictionary as he wrote, determined to make sure that moron tutor couldn’t nitpick a single misspelling.
At five-thirty in the morning, the orioles outside began their noisy disturbance.
The pen tip paused as he copied the “apology letter” for the third time. Staring at the flawless, neat, and aesthetically pleasing version, he froze as if struck by a meteor, a deep wave of shame and self-loathing surging through him.
“Fuck!”
Lin Yao crumpled the paper and hurled the pen away, cursing under his breath: “Am I the fucking idiot?”
To stay up all night rewriting an apology just because of a few annotations, even proactively avoiding misspellings—no elementary school kid throwing a tantrum would be this childish. How had he…
The Fox Spirit is toxic!
When he saw Little Deer at breakfast, there wasn’t a trace of “hubby” left in Lin Yao’s mind—it was stuffed full of Fox Spirit. His first question was even: “Do you know that fucking… know that guy?”
Little Deer ignored him, asking softly: “Brother, can you skip class today?”
What did that mean?
Lin Yao’s brows furrowed fiercely. Incredulous, he said: “You think I’m in the way of you and the moron fucking like rabbits?”
Little Deer refuted aggrievedly: “No!”
Lin Yao sneered: “If you don’t hate it, why are you chasing me away?”
Little Deer: “There’s no fucking like rabbits.”
Lin Yao: …
Calm down. It’s not Little Deer’s fault—it’s all the Fox Spirit’s fault!
As if oblivious to how ugly his brother’s expression had turned, Little Deer continued: “Brother, don’t go to class. You don’t like the teacher, and the teacher doesn’t like you. You’ll end up fighting.”
Lin Yao gritted his teeth: “Do I need him to like me?”
Little Deer fretted: “But if you go to class, the teacher might start liking you. He’s such a fool—he thinks everyone’s great…”
He glanced obliquely at Lin Yao, who brooded darkly: Especially toward students.
“Please~,” he grasped Lin Yao’s hand and looked up with a fawning smile: “Brother, skip class. Go outside and buy cake for Little Deer, okay? Little Deer wants cake you made yourself—really wants it!”
This was switching from coaxing to deception after failing to wheedle, and Lin Yao knew it full well.
But lately, he’d been pissing Little Deer off constantly. It was rare for the boy to make such a simple request, even coquettishly cajoling him… Fine, so his hat would be a little greener. It wasn’t the first time anyway.
As he mulled it over, hurried footsteps approached.
“Sorry, sorry,” Shen Leyuan pulled out a chair and sat, awkwardly explaining: “I overslept.”
No sooner had he spoken than three unmistakable gazes shot toward him.
He understood Little Deer’s delight and Lin Yao’s glare of fury, but why did the big boss seem a bit… resentful?
Shivering violently, Shen Leyuan chalked it up to an illusion.
With wife-stealing grudge and apology-forcing hatred, Lin Yao’s little notebook was filled with “Fox Spirit,” so of course he wouldn’t miss the chance to mock: “Overslept, huh? Stayed up all night cyber-flirting?”
A sharp clink rang from the knife and fork hitting the plate at the head of the table. Lin Yuan said coolly: “No talking while eating, no talking while sleeping.”
“So what,” Lin Yao pressed on: “Heartbroken for your little lover?”
Shen Leyuan and Little Deer both lost their smiles instantly. Lin Yuan remained unmoved, not even lifting an eyelid: “Out.”
Lin Yao slammed down his chopsticks and stormed off with a cold face.
Shen Leyuan watched his aggressive retreating back and shook his head with a smile.
Still just a kid.
He didn’t notice that Lin Yuan and Little Deer’s gazes lingered on him—identical shades of pitch-black depth, harboring unclear emotions, with faint traces of resentment and grievance.
The meal passed in heavy silence.
After breakfast came the first class since his recovery. Shen Leyuan had prepared thoroughly.
But Lin Yao didn’t show.
Little Deer sat at a desk about two meters from the teacher, fidgeting like he had thorns under his butt, constantly inching toward the podium. When stopped, he wailed aggrievedly: “It’s all brother’s fault!”
If brother hadn’t come back, he wouldn’t have to switch classrooms.
Without switching, he could sit with the teacher.
Sure, studying in the teacher’s or Little Deer’s room had no kisses or cuddles, but he could sneak peeks and snaps. Now, even a moment’s distraction got noticed, and his phone was confiscated!
After asking Little Deer’s permission, Shen Leyuan unlocked his phone and checked WeChat.
Lin Yao’s avatar wasn’t what he’d imagined—surprisingly, it was a plump poached egg pierced by a fork, yolk spilling out in irregular patterns, radiating cozy domestic vibes.
He noted down the number but didn’t add him yet.
Unsure if the teacher would check the photo album, Little Deer nervously leaned over for a peek, his perpetually upturned cat lips pressing into a straight line.
The teacher is caring about brother again!
Little Deer is right here, so no need to care anymore, huh?
Resentment built in his eyes, but unlike before, it didn’t erupt. He’d learned to think, to endure, showing only his most innocent and sensible side to the teacher while dumping the heavy gloom on others.
That night, Lin Yao returned under the stars and moon.
The fairly cute cream cake dangled from his hand, its sweet aroma nearly pickling him through, but thinking it was for his brother made it feel neither bitter nor tiring.
Could that moron Fox Spirit spend a whole day at a cake shop, botching a dozen batter batches just to make Little Deer smile?
He couldn’t.
I can.
The Fox Spirit is nowhere near as good as me.
Perhaps it was the telepathy of lovesick hearts—Little Deer wasn’t asleep yet.
Lin Yao’s eyes lit up. He hurried over with the cake: “You knew I made…”
“Brother,” Little Deer looked up at him earnestly: “Can you go back to how it was before and stay abroad?”
Fuck.
Heartache surged. Lin Yao expressionlessly unpacked the cake and smashed it into Little Deer’s face.
“Get lost!!!”
…
Lin Yao skipped class for three straight days.
The first day, he figured the Fox Spirit would hypocritically come persuade him. The second and third, it turned into a silent contest—he refused to lose face by going to class first.
On the fourth morning at breakfast, Lin Yao unusually didn’t storm out midway.
Once he’d finished eating, Shen Leyuan set down his bowl and chased after him. Little Deer stared at his departing figure, turning aggrieved eyes to Lin Yuan: “Daddy, why aren’t you managing brother anymore?”
Send him back abroad, quick quick!
Lin Yuan didn’t answer, instinctively wanting to switch his earpiece to Shen Leyuan’s side. He raised his hand but dropped it.
Paying too much attention to that person lately wasn’t a good sign.
“Daddy!” Seeing him zone out, Little Deer dashed over, hugging his arm and coquettishly pleading: “Brother bullied me yesterday. Send him back abroad, okay?”
A subtle fragrance enveloped him. Lin Yuan gripped his wrist, nearly hallucinating their skin melding and fusing.
Little Deer held immense allure for him.
Yet he lowered his eyes and pushed away the body emanating sweet scent.
In a daze, it felt like skin being peeled off, flesh carved away, tendons snapped—nerves screaming pain and craving. Insufferable desire spread to every corner of his body, antidote so close.
“Daddy, are you listening?” With no response, Little Deer switched tactics: “Brother says you’re old and disabled, impotent, in menopause—not fit to be a husband. He calls you a pervert, says no one would like you. See how mean he is? Kick him out!”
Lin Yuan’s brows furrowed, certain words echoing subtly.
“Pervert!”
“No one would like you…”
Noisy. Grating.
Lin Yuan’s eyes snapped open, subtle fury burning in his pupils, reflecting Little Deer’s pale, fragile neck. As if tempted, he gloomily reached out.
…”Mr. Lin is a man worthy of respect.”
Keywords transmitted the distant voice. The young man seemed puzzled: “You keep attacking him as ‘old’ and ‘disabled’ because aside from your young, healthy body, you have nothing else?”
“What the fuck did you say?!” Lin Yao roared.
“I said, you can’t compare to Mr. Lin.” The young man’s voice was sincere and solemn: “He’s mature, handsome, responsible, and erudite. Being disabled doesn’t diminish his charm—age is even a plus. Not everyone likes immature little brats.”
“You’re like a yapping cub lion, only able to howl before the lion king because you’re still young. Zero competitiveness.”
“But you seem proud of it.”
Silence from the other end, only urgent panting, then the youth’s eager concern—intentional or not: “Are you crying?”
“Really crying?”
“Your dad has never cried from my teasing.”
“Daddy, why are you smiling?” Little Deer suspiciously reached for Lin Yuan’s earpiece: “What are you listening to?”
Lin Yuan seized his wrist and pushed it back.
“Class is about to start,” he reminded coolly: “Don’t let your teacher be late.”
Little Deer was instantly diverted, chasing after his beloved teacher.
At that moment, Lin Yao was retorting that he wasn’t crying.
Ridiculous.
How could he cry?
He was just furious, barely restraining the urge to swing—afraid he’d kill the moron tutor without holding back.
Wait, why restrain?
Worst case, the old man punishes him harshly!
The look in his eyes grew more terrifying, fist clenched tight. Shen Leyuan caught it from the corner of his eye and silently stepped back half a pace, wrapping up his long-plotted reverse psychology: “I get that you’re young and scared of the teacher. If you really don’t dare come to class, we can chat online.”
Lin Yao was so pissed he laughed: “Me? Scared of you?”
Shen Leyuan gave him an out: “It’s normal for students to fear teachers.”
Lin Yao’s gaze turned even more ferocious. He suddenly stepped forward half a pace, his tall frame nearly enveloping Shen Leyuan entirely, shadow alone imposing.
Can’t dodge—dodging means the reverse psychology fails…
Shen Leyuan soothed himself while standing stock-still, calmly meeting Lin Yao’s eyes, betting this tsundere kid wasn’t rotten enough to actually hit him.
He saved me. He’s a good kid worth my patient guidance.
I trust him, and my judgment.
Unclear if he saw through Shen Leyuan’s stern facade hiding inner weakness or was testing on purpose, Lin Yao closed in until a leg hook could topple him, eyes scanning as if deciding where to strike.
Both their heartbeats subtly quickened.
In the midst of the standoff, urgent footsteps suddenly sounded behind.
“Brother—”
Little Deer stared in disbelief, shrieking his objection: “Don’t you dare kiss the teacher!!!”
