The familiar scent lingered at the bridge of his nose, but the man had become utterly unfamiliar.
Shen Leyuan zoned out for a moment, as if some dull memory was thudding in his brain, bringing a subtle ache.
Who is he? What’s his name?
Why can he only touch me? Is this another one of his lies?
Since he won’t disappear, where will he show up in the future?
None of it matters anymore.
He forcefully pushed away the man’s hand—that hand that wanted to explain, to type out a confession. Shen Leyuan didn’t say another word to him.
He didn’t want to know, and he didn’t need to know, the man’s identity.
Huo Tingfeng chased after him and grabbed Shen Leyuan’s hand. Surprisingly, it wasn’t shaken off. A flicker of illusory joy and irrepressible anticipation bloomed in his panicked heart.
Has he softened? Is he waiting for my apology?
It must be that. He can forgive Little Deer, forgive Lin Yao. Even after arguing with Lin Yuan, he didn’t cut ties or go cold on him—he just kept things strictly professional. So he won’t be too harsh on me, right?
But before that spark of joy could fully form, he heard the young man’s indifferent voice.
“Do you want passersby to think I’m crazy?”
It was like he’d been scalded. Huo Tingfeng let go and instinctively glanced around.
Fortunately, no one had noticed them yet.
After a sigh of relief came a wave of bitterness. He remembered all those times they’d secretly held hands in crowds. Sometimes he’d deliberately shake it a few times, and the young man would place his other hand on his earpiece, quietly asking, “What was that move just now?”
No meaning.
Just wanted to hold his hand. Wanted his attention.
Now, his beloved no longer paid him any mind.
Huo Tingfeng cried the whole way.
Shen Leyuan didn’t consider whether someone would follow. He quietly boarded the last bus home. The fragments of memory stirred up by the ride made his head throb painfully. With a blank expression, he stared at his reflection in the window.
His face was very pale—probably because he hadn’t eaten dinner.
Oh right, the delivery guy was still en route, and he hadn’t checked out of the hotel room yet.
He stroked Huihui’s soft fur. Stiffly, he picked up his phone and typed, redirecting the meal that hadn’t reached the door to the delivery guy and negotiating the hotel checkout online. By the time he’d finished, the bus had barely covered half the distance.
Should’ve taken a cab. The bus is so uncomfortable. My head’s about to explode.
Weird, I keep forgetting about the students’ injuries. Is this some kind of self-protection from my body?
Did they time travel too? Are they living well in some corner I don’t know about—better than me, their incompetent teacher?
Lost in wild thoughts, his mind a mess, he tried to suppress the surging emotions that way, but it only backfired and made him feel worse. Shen Leyuan closed his eyes, not wanting to see his haggard reflection.
When the bus swayed to a stop, his head gently bumped toward the window, only to be blocked by a cool hand.
No being moved or rage—just weary exhaustion. He sighed softly. “I’m very tired.”
“Don’t make me argue with you, okay?”
The little girl beside him glanced over, puzzled, and picked up her phone to chat with a friend.
Huo Tingfeng suspected she thought Shen Leyuan was mentally unstable. A surge of anger rose, but it quickly turned to deep dejection and sorrow.
This is all my fault, he thought mournfully.
He tentatively gripped Shen Leyuan’s hand again. After we say goodbye, I’ll leave. I won’t bother you anymore.
Give me a chance, okay?
Shen Leyuan hadn’t thought he was that angry.
It was just a big scam, after all. He only had himself to blame for poor judgment. He hadn’t invested much, hadn’t lost much. If anything, the guy had helped him several times.
But being placated like this sent his grievances and anger skyrocketing. He slapped away the gently approaching hand.
“Get lost! Didn’t you hear what I said?!”
All the passengers turned to look, seeing the young man’s reddened eyes.
After this, Huo Tingfeng didn’t dare do anything else.
He wasn’t afraid of embarrassing himself anymore—even wished he could make a huge fool of himself, maybe it’d feel better. But he feared the passengers’ strange stares besieging Shen Leyuan.
He glared fiercely at every passenger before finally thinking of heading back.
Back—to his own body. Then tell Shen Leyuan everything and accept the final judgment.
…But he’s crying.
How can I bear to leave him like this?
A bottle of water suddenly appeared between them. Huo Tingfeng looked up to see the girl beside them timidly and worriedly asking, “Big brother, are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?”
She looked about fourteen or fifteen, with a crossbody bag—like a local student. After handing over the water, she rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small bun, passing it over while telling the driver, “I-I-I, I want to get off!”
Like a little bird, the girl vanished into the crowd.
Shen Leyuan withdrew his gaze. After a moment, he let out a soft laugh.
He pulled out his phone and, like countless times before, typed to someone invisible.
This time, he would be the one to leave first.
【See? I don’t actually need you.】
【Farewell forever.】
Shen Leyuan didn’t know if the person left. It didn’t matter—he’d treat him as dead.
He said he’d disappear, so he should disappear.
No faking his death.
Shen Leyuan didn’t go back to school.
Dragging his heavy steps off the bus, he headed to his rented two-bedroom apartment nearby—an old neighborhood close to campus. The hallway lights were bright, but the streetlamps were broken.
Faintly, before he even got close, he saw flickering firelight.
Someone was smoking downstairs.
He frowned slightly and tried to hurry past silently. After a few steps, something felt off. He backtracked and locked eyes with the flustered young man who had hastily stamped out his cigarette.
He narrowed his eyes.
In that moment, all the major and minor heartaches flew from his mind, leaving only a teacher’s instinct. With an unfriendly expression, he asked gravely, “You’re smoking?”
It was a statement, but perhaps due to his bad mood, it came out harsh.
Lin Yao was flattered and surprised. “You gonna stop me?”
Oh right—this kid was nineteen already, and not his student. No business meddling.
Shen Leyuan stepped forward. “Not my business. Smoke if you want.”
“No, that’s not what I meant—I’m not snapping at you.” Lin Yao hurried to explain. “I mean, you can mind me. Go ahead—I like it when you do!”
Normally, Shen Leyuan might’ve coaxed him a bit and let it go. Not today.
His face turned cold as he glanced at Lin Yao. “You want me to mind you? I told you not to follow me—have you ever listened?”
Lin Yao mumbled, “I was afraid someone would bully you.”
Who could bully me?
The ones who bully me hardest are you three father-and-sons… and… tch, forget that one.
Shen Leyuan told himself to calm down, not take it out on others.
Lin Yao followed closely at his heels, his voice growing quieter. “This time it’s not stalking. I came to deliver Huihui’s dog tag.”
He’d already stopped at the door but didn’t dare ask to come in. Timidly, he offered the tag to the teacher.
Embarrassment, hope, anxiety—all swirled on the young man’s face. Shen Leyuan could hardly connect him to that initial arrogant kid.
Zoning out briefly, Shen Leyuan recalled the girl on the bus who’d given him water.
Fine. “Come in.”
Lin Yao froze, then lit up with surprise, even ecstasy. He rubbed his hands, a bit shy. “Can I? Really, teacher?”
In that moment, his eyes were so innocently pure—like Little Deer.
Shen Leyuan’s first smile of the night broke through, exasperated. “Have I ever lied to you? Coming over late at night to deliver something—you knew I’d go soft!”
Lin Yao touched his nose, grinning sheepishly.
But as Shen Leyuan turned his back to enter, Lin Yao’s expression grew solemn.
He hadn’t come on his own.
The old man had suddenly dug up the fact he’d hidden Huihui’s dog tag and forced him to return it.
The teacher seemed unhappy today.
Lin Yao didn’t dare ask what happened. He just tried hard to cheer him up, sharing childhood embarrassments.
Like when he thought everyone liked kids in skirts and cut curtains to drape over himself; or when he went out with Little Deer and got forgotten outside, nearly calling a beggar “godfather”; or shivering at night thinking there was a ghost outside, only to wake and find it was the torn curtains.
But he was probably too dumb— no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make the teacher laugh.
Not only no laugh—the teacher’s gaze grew deeper, darker, like he was angry.
It was late. Maybe I shouldn’t disturb his rest.
Lin Yao reflected, suspecting his chatter was troubling the considerate, gentle Teacher Shen. He decided to end it himself.
Reluctantly, he started, “I…”
A hand suddenly ruffled his hair. Shen Leyuan said softly, “It’s okay to cry when you’re sad. I won’t laugh.”
His mouth opened, words forgotten. Lin Yao turned away. “Who’s sad? I’m almost twenty—why cry over kid stuff?”
Then he turned back, serious. “I’m really not sad. Just a few years ago when I was dumb, I got the short end. Once I got older, I messed with the old man every day—his company’s partnerships all fell through because of me…”
What the hell am I saying?
Lin Yao coughed lightly. “That’s all in the past. I don’t stoop to his level now.”
Shen Leyuan ruffled his hair again. “Mm, good.”
He added, “Next time you’re sad, come chat with me. We don’t have to be teacher and student—we can be friends.”
Lin Yao unconsciously leaned closer, then forced himself to stop. “Okay, next time. It’s late—I won’t bother you. Rest well, good night!”
He pushed the door open and left, only to poke his head back seconds later. “If you’re sad, teacher, you can chat with me too.”
He looked at Shen Leyuan eagerly.
Shen Leyuan couldn’t help chuckling. “Okay, next time I’m sad, I’ll find you.”
So this time, you’ll handle it yourself?
Lin Yao went next door sulkily but realized the teacher didn’t seem that sad anymore. He perked up, pacing the room taking photos—even snapping the new slippers the teacher gave him to send to the group.
Orphan: 【Teacher’s guest room—claiming it first! ~】
Deer: 【？？？？】
Deer: 【Why can you go?! Why?!】
Deer: 【This isn’t fair!!!】
Noticing a certain word, Lin Yao sneered coldly.
Orphan: 【Fair? You wanna talk fair with me?】
Orphan: 【When has anything to do with you ever been fair?】
Orphan: 【Now you want fair? Hilarious.】
Deer: 【If Dad hadn’t stopped me, it’d be me living there now! Definitely me!】
Deer: 【Teacher’s slippers are cat paws—that’s Little Deer’s favorite shape. Big brother steals Little Deer’s stuff. Big brother sucks! Big brother bad!】
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