Lin Yao was wheeled into the operating room.
Shen Leyuan sat dazed on the long bench outside, his mind flashing between Lin Yao smiling as he said he’d fatten up the teacher a bit, and Lin Yao lunging at him to block the kidnapper’s dagger aimed his way.
Gunshots seemed to echo in his ears, buzzing near and far, syncing with the pounding of his heartbeat until he could barely breathe.
A tall figure approached quietly, hesitating before stopping beside him and offering a cup of hot water and a piece of bread.
“Eat something first?”
The tone was exceedingly cautious, as if afraid of rejection.
Shen Leyuan snapped out of his trance, rubbing his chilled hands over his face before rasping, “No need. I have no appetite right now.”
Huo Tingfeng: “But…”
“Mr. Huo,” Shen Leyuan said without looking at him, his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion, “thank you for your kindness, but can I have a moment alone to calm down?”
Huo Tingfeng froze.
He called me Mr. Huo, in such a distant tone.
He doesn’t recognize me.
Not daring to say more, Huo Tingfeng set the bread and water beside Shen Leyuan and retreated heavily into the shadows, sending over one of his more reliable bros to keep the man he liked company.
The good bro grinned toothily: “Young Master Lin is one tough bastard. That gunman had shit aim—one bullet to the leg, one grazing shot. The worst injury’s actually the stab wound to the gut.”
What the hell kind of nonsense is this?
Huo Tingfeng was frantic, shooting dagger glares one after another.
Shen Leyuan turned to the Huo Family guy and asked tensely, “How serious is the knife wound? Will there be complications?”
“If he hadn’t made it to the hospital, it’d be bad—lost a fair bit of blood. But now it’s just a matter of a few bags of transfusion. Not even as rough as my second bro’s wound on his waist…”
Cough!
Huo Tingfeng shot him a nasty glare.
Shen Leyuan lowered his gaze, and after a long pause, murmured, “Tell him to go lie down in a patient room.”
“He’s talking about…” The Huo Family kid asked deliberately.
He could tell the vibe between these two was off—one-sided crush from second bro. Everyone was dying to know how the affair started. Did second bro regain consciousness during his coma and fall for him?
Before the drawn-out second half of the sentence could finish, Huo Tingfeng stormed over with a dark face and kicked him away.
Shen Leyuan paid no mind to the people coming and going around him, his eyes fixed on the operating room door. After what felt like forever, it finally swung open. He shot to his feet on instinct, only for his numb legs to nearly buckle him over.
A new Huo Family kid nearby steadied him quickly, reassuring, “Young Master Lin’s out of danger. Just needs proper rest now.”
The unconscious young man was transferred to a ward. Shen Leyuan sat by his bed to keep watch, while a massive Huo Tingfeng squatted outside the door, peeking through the small glass window like a thief.
Already skinny, and even thinner after these two days.
How can he not eat?
His good bro squatted beside him, persuading, “Your wife told you to go lie down in a patient room. You ignoring that?”
“Not my wife.” Huo Tingfeng frowned in rebuttal.
The good bro thought, Hey now: I guessed wrong? No way, it’s so obvious.
Huo Tingfeng stared at his “ex-boyfriend” in the room, forcing a bitter smile: “Not anymore. Who knows if there’ll ever be a chance in the future…”
He only had him for a single day, briefly.
Good bro: ???
Minus the bedside vigils during the coma, you two have known each other for like two days tops—under 24 hours if you count straight. Why the hell does it feel like old flames?
He itched to pry, but second bro’s bitter look hit him with bro-code, stifling the urge.
Patting Huo Tingfeng’s shoulder, he said earnestly, “Slim chance, I’d say. That Shen guy’s protective of his student like it’s his eyeball. You pulled a one-legged crane stance on the kid and nearly dragged him to bed—good luck raising favorability. Might take your next life…”
Huo Tingfeng shot him a cold side-eye, grinding his teeth: “Don’t make me slap you!”
Then, seriously, he ordered, “Don’t mention the Little Lunatic to him.”
Can’t let him know the Little Lunatic almost killed someone. He’d be heartbroken.
But Shen Leyuan already knew.
The message from Director Hao had “Little Deer escaped” glaring like neon.
Can’t let Little Deer roam free—too many eyes on the road, accidents waiting to happen. Director Hao had consulted upstairs, worried other team members might tip off the snake, and asked if Shen Leyuan had time for the pickup.
While Shen Leyuan mulled it over, Director Hao brought up another matter.
The kidnapping was orchestrated by families of those rich kids who’d gone to prison—bad apples from rotten trees. Nursing grudges, they’d hired hitmen to torture-kill Shen Leyuan, but the hit got subcontracted to a decades-old fugitive.
Director Hao apologized: 【Our fault this time. Protection wasn’t tight enough.】
Shen Leyuan stared at that line, belatedly recalling the plainclothes tailing him earlier that’d vanished mysteriously—though the Lin Family bodyguards had stuck around.
He glanced at Lin Yao on the bed, his expression growing graver.
Something’s off…
The big boss didn’t yank Little Deer back right away, hasn’t checked on Lin Yao’s injury. No bodyguards here to pick him up, no friends spilling on Little Deer.
Straight to the point, he asked: 【What’s up with Lin Yuan?】
The other side showed “typing…” for ages, then stopped. Shen Leyuan suspected a report upstairs, his unease deepening.
Soon, Director Hao sent a new message.
The content stunned Shen Leyuan: 【Little Deer somehow got a gun. Old Lin just came out of emergency surgery—still out.】
Contrary to everyone’s moods, Little Deer strolled the streets humming tunes.
Cute and delicately pretty, even with his clothes and hair a mess, passersby couldn’t help staring. Some even bought him fruit and milk tea.
He basked in the attention, quickly getting used to the freebies while handing some out in turn. Teachers never mentioned how fun this is?
These people are so nice~
A Si was mean, trying to drag him back. Good thing he’d left one bullet in the gun.
Mmm, this pear’s so sweet. Save some for teacher.
By the time he reached the complex outside where teacher lived, night had fallen. Little Deer hugged his bulging backpack, tilting his head in confusion as he scanned around.
Navigation dropped him here. Which way now?
Some off-work salaryman couldn’t resist helping, asking gently where he was going, who he was looking for.
Little Deer chirped back, “I’m here for teacher! Going to teacher’s house.”
“Your teacher’s…”
“Shen Leyuan!” Little Deer gestured. “This tall, super pale, pretty eyes, super gentle. So nice to Little Deer, tastes sweet!”
The salaryman chuckled helplessly. “I mean the exact address.”
“Dunno…”
“Call your teacher and ask?”
“No way!” Little Deer puffed his cheeks, serious. “Gotta surprise teacher! Telling ahead ruins it~”
Seeing the salaryman couldn’t help, Little Deer waved goodbye. The guy watched his back a bit, then jolted: “Shit, I’m late for my date!”
Inside the complex, Little Deer counted houses.
Too many…
But no biggie. Teacher was here somewhere. Knock door to door, bound to find him~
Cameras tracked him slowly, from night into morning.
As the sun rose, Little Deer—worn out but thrilled—raised a hand to knock on who-knows-which door. A flower vendor bro just said Shen-teacher lived here!
Teacher’ll be so happy to see me, right?
The door opened.
With teacher’s icy stare, Little Deer’s smile froze. He backed up half a step uneasily. “T-Teacher…”
Shen Leyuan said flatly, “Come in.”
A massive wave of terror surged in Little Deer. Suddenly don’t wanna go in. But “obey” was habit now. He stepped stiffly inside.
“Teacher…” Little Deer offered his backpack stuffed with fruit, snacks, and candies like tribute, obediently. “Try these, teacher. Super sweet.”
Then he patted his belly, eyes pleading. “Little Deer’s starving, teacher~”
Shen Leyuan’s tone turned odd. “Teacher’ll make you a little cake.”
Little Deer’s eyes lit up. “Yay!”
Shen Leyuan brewed him some sugar water first. “Drink something sweet. Sit and wait here.”
Little Deer shrank back, peeking timidly.
Every time teacher gets mad, little monster senses it right away. Claws in, total good boy.
Same today.
He whined pitifully a few times, but teacher’s gaze chilled further. Little Deer reluctantly took the sugar water, sipping daintily.
“Teacher, not sweet…”
“Add sugar yourself.”
“Teacher, Little Deer hurt daddy. You gonna punish Little Deer?”
“No interest.”
“Teacher, is that room for Little Deer? Can I peek?”
“No. Off-limits.”
“…”
Little Deer wilted, draining the sugar water. His gaze lingered on teacher’s busy back, then shifted to a certain door. Liar. It’s totally for Little Deer!
Last video call, that room was empty.
Now stuffed with plushies—Little Deer’s faves. Bro moved in first but thought them childish… Anyway, that’s mine!
He wobbled to his feet, staggering toward it.
That room… smells like teacher’s love…
Thud!
Little Deer collapsed powerless, vision blackening. Mouth opened, no words. Instinct drove him crawling to the door until consciousness faded.
Fingertips brushed the doorframe, tear streaks on his face.
So close.
Just a little more…
Shen Leyuan watched expressionless as he struggled, until he went fully limp.
A day later, the boy woke.
A sturdy bracelet clamped his wrist, a black collar around his neck marked for shocks. No cellmates. The empty, frigid prison held just him.
Little Deer was used to cages—no fear, just confusion.
Where’s teacher?
Promised little cake, hasn’t delivered…
As if sensing his thoughts, a mechanical arm extended, placing a small cake before him.
Little Deer snatched it joyfully, devouring.
But…
Not sweet.
Tears plopped down. He hurled the cake, screeching, “Teacher lied! You don’t keep promises! You don’t like me anymore!”
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