Deep into the night, Shen Leyuan slept soundly.
The door opened gently, and the faint sound of wheelchair wheels rolling didn’t disturb him. Nor did the little dog’s incessant barking of curses.
Lin Yuan stared silently at the face bathed in moonlight.
It wasn’t exquisitely handsome—only softly refined and clear-featured. Lin Yuan couldn’t recall his first impression, only remembered that day when the young man opened the door, his clear eyes looking toward him, bright and gentle.
So I should keep him, he thought.
It was the wrong choice.
As they spent more time together, his fondness for the young man grew day by day. He constantly reflected on himself over trivial accusations, plunging into deep self-doubt, yearning for the young man’s forgiveness.
Did I do wrong…?
He murmured lowly, “Lin Yao didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But his existence is the mistake.”
“If not for the strict discipline over these years, they wouldn’t have turned out like this… wouldn’t have become…”
Wouldn’t have become the type you like.
Under the moonlight, a pale hand rested on the edge of the blanket, arm and half of a beautiful back exposed, both gleaming like jade.
Lin Yuan instinctively adjusted the young man into a flat-lying position, tucking the blanket tightly around him. When he came back to himself, his hand was already smoothing the young man’s furrowed brows.
He froze, pulling back as if scalded.
What’s wrong with me?
The young man frowned and rolled over, nuzzling against his face.
“Mm…”
He seemed to mumble something, indistinct.
Lin Yuan leaned closer to hear clearly, but the little dog in the cage at the wall’s corner barked wildly behind him, cutting off abruptly now and then, only to scramble up and resume minutes later.
Ignoring the noise, Lin Yuan murmured dazedly, “How can you like them? You should like…”
Smack!
The little dog slammed into the cage in a massive flop, jolting its soul right out of its body.
Lin Yuan shot it a cold glance. “Do you want to wake him?”
Bitch, flipping the script on me!
Huo Tingfeng seethed, itching to bite Lin Yuan dead, but he had to hold back—afraid his tender little body would croak.
Maybe from “dying” too long before, this dog body now keeled over at the drop of a hat. Once he’d fretted over soul-out-of-body issues; now it was cramming the soul back in.
That clogged sensation worsened by the day. Substitute-body prep was urgent.
“Woof! Woof woof woof woof! Woof woof!”
Huo Tingfeng wriggled desperately back into the ill-fitting fur, then unleashed a barrage of corgi-style curses.
What the hell are those filthy paws doing? Is he your wife or something?
Get out and handle business already!
The fleeting thought from earlier had vanished without a trace—probably important, but gone.
Lin Yuan cast a deep look at the sleeping young man, then turned, opened the cage, grabbed the flailing short-legged pup by the scruff, and wheeled out. He set it before a custom keyboard.
Coldly, he said, “Speak. What kind of dog are you?”
To know its habits, and cultivate a proper substitute.
Oh ho, it can type?
Huo Tingfeng excitedly slapped his paws down, pecking clumsily: 【Bitch!!!】
Lin Yuan’s face stayed blank. “Business.”
Huo Tingfeng: 【Green tea bitch!!!】
Lin Yuan: “No time for nonsense.”
Huo Tingfeng: 【Cripple! Gimp! Voyeur!】
Lin Yuan stared darkly. “Don’t try provoking me. I won’t get mad over trifles.”
Huo Tingfeng paused, tilted his head up at Lin Yuan, flashed a wickedly human smirk, then typed slowly: 【Know why he nuzzled your hand just now?】
【Because he thought it was me.】
【When I was his dog, I slept in his arms every night. He kissed me often; I could lick anywhere on him, and he’d never get mad—because he likes me. Only me.】
【Since you’ve got all that surveillance, you must know he sometimes talks or smiles at thin air, right?】
【That was me too.】
Lin Yuan’s expression turned terrifying.
After a long moment, he regained composure and asked gravely, “What the hell are you?”
“He doesn’t know you. You’re nothing.”
Shen Leyuan slept well.
But for some reason, the little dog seemed listless today.
Yawning behind his hand, he said, “Mr. Ghost, what’s wrong with Huihui?”
His voice was soft, almost a breath no one could hear—but if Mr. Ghost were there, he’d notice and reply at once.
Shen Leyuan waited ages, but no hand grasped his.
Is Mr. Ghost about to leave?
Anxiety flickered across his face; he picked at breakfast absentmindedly.
Little Deer had learned his lesson and stayed away when Shen Leyuan seemed down, not pestering like usual. Lin Yao was chicken-quiet, merely flicking urgent glances at Lin Yuan now and then.
Why’s the dog still here? Can you old fart handle it or not?
Following his gaze to the dog, Lin Yuan suddenly said, “Three months old—time for neutering.”
The dozy little dog yelped and bolted up, skull smacking the cage top hard—splat, flattening like caramelized cheesecake.
Shen Leyuan had just finished eating; he scooped the little dog out, cradling and rubbing its head. “Thanks for the concern, Mr. Lin, but neutering at this age is too early—not suitable.”
Lin Yuan pressed his lips, eyes downcast in silence.
Bribes don’t work.
Honesty and surveillance access failed too.
Afraid coaxing would only rile him more, he dared not speak.
Lin Yao keenly sensed the shift, arching a brow with malicious glee.
Oh ho, someone pissed off Teacher?
Pleasure flashed, then soured fast as he scowled and shoveled food silently. What’s so funny? Teacher’s the same with you.
Oblivious to the undercurrents, Little Deer fixated on the little dog, eyes turning green with envy.
I wanna be Teacher’s little dog—really wanna!
Barely suppressing jealousy, he sidled up with fake concern. “What’s neutering, Teacher?”
Teacher, don’t just look at the dog—look at me!
Don’t just pet the dog—pet me!
Shen Leyuan hesitated.
But it was a prime chance to educate Little Deer—too good to miss. In a factual tone, he explained, “Animals get irritable and aggressive in heat. To control breeding and prevent fights, owners might take them to the vet to remove reproductive organs.”
Re… productive organs?
Little Deer dazedly glanced down, wincing.
The little dog seemed to shiver.
Shen Leyuan knew Huihui probably didn’t get it, but he cooed anyway, “Usually, if the pup shows no strong heat signs—well-behaved, no biting—neutering isn’t needed.”
Lin Yuan shot Little Deer a lingering glance.
Never considered it before—those who’d tried eloping with Little Deer showed clear aggression; neutering wouldn’t fix that garden.
But now… maybe a neuter special for Little Deer?
Somewhere twinged coldly. The deer who’d once bitten Teacher shivered, slinking back to his seat, heavy-hearted.
Choking up, he said, “I-I won’t bite anymore…”
Shen Leyuan: ?
Stunned, then realizing, he laughed helplessly. “Humans can’t be neutered… cough, no, not like that anyway.”
Little Deer blinked up with dewy, clueless eyes.
Shen Leyuan could never resist that eager curiosity. Vaguely, he clarified, “For men, it’s vasectomy—no organ removal.”
“Oh~” Little Deer sighed in relief. “Then Little Deer wants to be neutered!”
Lin Yao rolled his eyes, at his limit. “Whether you get neutered or not—what’s that got to do with Teacher?”
Little Deer ignored him, scooting back to Teacher, stroking the faint white scar on Teacher’s hand with heartache and self-reproach. “Neutered, I won’t bite randomly—won’t bite Teacher anymore.”
If only I’d known back then…
Lin Yao latched onto the key phrase, voice spiking. “Lin Shilu, what do you mean? You bit Teacher?!”
“Why yell?” Little Deer hid behind Teacher, jabbing at Lin Yao. “Look at you—irritable, aggressive, always wanting to fight me. You clearly need neutering!”
“You!”
Lin Yao’s face darkened murderously.
“Pfft—”
Shen Leyuan failed to hold back a laugh, blooming into a brilliant smile.
It stunned everyone present.
And the dog.
After that, breakfast passed peacefully.
Morning class loomed. Shen Leyuan had planned street smarts and social basics, but the breakfast mishap inspired a physiology lesson instead.
Differences between sexes, organ functions, changes at various ages.
Shen Leyuan lectured in detail, pure popular science.
But Little Deer excelled at fantasizing—wherever Shen Leyuan pointed, Little Deer’s eyes followed, imagining Teacher’s skin under clothes, a womb swelling round with child.
“Males lack pregnancy and birthing functions. Reproductive system divides into internal and external genitals: testes, sperm ducts, accessory glands…”
Shen Leyuan rapped the blackboard, frowning. “Little Deer, why are you grinning again?”
Lin Yao said coldly, “I told you, no need to teach him this. He knows more than you—right now, he’s starring you in some brain-porn flick.”
Shen Leyuan schooled his face. “Don’t interfere with my teaching.”
I didn’t misspeak— that’s exactly what Little Deer’s thinking!
In the past, Lin Yao would’ve stormed off or snarked passive-aggressively. But now? He could only gripe aggrievedly, “Little Deer’s not as pure as you think…”
Teacher’s too naive—easy prey for white-lotus types like Little Deer.
Shen Leyuan thought: Little Deer’s the retarded flower-market bottom type. Even after a hundred gay flicks, he’d think they’re normal action movies and reenact them.
Gently, he asked Little Deer, “Tell Teacher what you’re thinking.”
Little Deer faced a real conundrum.
Racking his brain for lesson bits, he asked hesitantly, “Men have no pregnancy function?”
Shen Leyuan eyed Lin Yao: This the “knows a lot” you mentioned?
Lin Yao sneered. “He’s playing innocent!”
With all those gay flicks and smut books—he can’t be clueless.
But Little Deer was clueless about this, repeating in earth-shattering tones, “Men really can’t get pregnant?”
Shen Leyuan patted the little fool tenderly. “Right, they can’t.”
Lin Yao’s smile chilled further.
Little Deer nearly wailed, “But in the videos Brother got me…”
