“You like others! Nice to them! Mean to Little Deer! Liar, liar! Bullying Little Deer!”
“I’m so hungry, teacher…” He sobbed. “Why won’t you feed me full?”
The mechanical arm delivered next: a recorder.
“Law refers to the body of rules enacted by legislative or state organs, backed by state power…”
“Law regulates behavior—what people can do, can’t do, punishments for wrongs, costs incurred, delineating rights and duties…”
Teacher’s voice, soft and gentle.
Little Deer listened, recalling that expression.
Then another unfamiliar voice.
“Law aims to reduce conflict, lower crime rates via fitting punishment. We don’t pre-judge anyone before acts occur…”
“The right to health is citizens’ legal entitlement to bodily well-being free from unlawful harm. China’s Constitution protects natural persons’ physical and mental health; citizens’ lives and health rights are inviolable…”
“…The dignity of law cannot be trampled!”
Little Deer hugged his knees on the cot, growing more agitated.
Not the content—he just hated other voices. Wanted only teacher’s.
The rest seemed that same guy talking.
Little Deer reached for the recorder, aiming to replay.
But a sigh came from it.
“Little Deer, many people toil quietly so you can live openly in this world.”
“You haven’t chosen any of it. Troubles from those special abilities aren’t your fault. We can’t just slap a sentence on a kid willy-nilly—that’s our stance.”
Hours earlier, Director Hao had weighed these words carefully.
Right—they couldn’t curb their urges.
But they could program machines, lock Little Deer away forever in some godforsaken spot. Or harsher: weight him, dump in the sea.
Countless meetings had proposed destruction, reduced to thick stacks of A4 paper that were never implemented—some cited fears of unforeseen consequences, others a respect for life.
“Whether you understand or not, whether you’re playing innocent or not, I want to tell you that we saw you as one of our own. At least, we used to.”
“Your teacher worked hard. He gave us a glimmer of hope.”
“You should listen to this.”
Indulging a petty urge for revenge, Director Hao played Shen Leyuan’s segment last.
That day, the young man’s gentle voice carried a hint of excitement:
“Thanks for the trouble, Director Hao. Let’s go with this one. It’s a bit old, but the two-bedroom, one-hall layout is perfect. If possible, I’d like to apply for Little Deer to stay over for a few days.”
“He’s been good. He deserves a reward. The world out there is so vast—even if there’s no permanent place for him, he should at least get a vacation, right?”
“I want to show him the world outside.”
Little Deer listened in a daze. He opened his mouth, trying to scream his questions like before.
Why didn’t you tell me sooner?
I would’ve been good if you’d said it earlier!
But when true pain hit, the voice failed.
For the first time, his teacher’s voice terrified him. He gripped the recorder stiffly, wanting to smash it to the ground, but his arm froze mid-air. When the voice stopped, he pressed play again.
“The law refers to the general term for behavioral norms enacted by legislative or state organs and enforced by state power…”
…
“He’s been good. He deserves a reward. The world out there is so vast—even if there’s no permanent place for him, he should at least get a vacation, right?”
“I want to show him the world outside.”
“I want to show him the world outside.”
“…I want to show him the world outside.”
“…Show him… the outside…”
Little Deer buried his head deep in his knees. He didn’t cry or scream—just stared with wide eyes, desperately trying to recall where it all went wrong.
How did this happen?
Shen Leyuan, sandwiched between two hospital beds, wondered the same: How did this happen?
After a day of total chaos, Lin Yao had been transferred to the hospital under the Lin Corporation. The bodyguards had the foresight to put him in the boss’s private room, sparing the lady of the house extra trips.
In front of Shen Leyuan was the newly awakened but still groggy Lin Yao; behind him lay the still-comatose Lin Yuan. Exhaustion weighed on him like lead.
Little Deer was locked up now.
I’ll resign in a few days. Quit both sides.
No— just quit Director Hao’s. I already quit on Lin Yuan’s side before. The National Day incident counted as official business, not coming back as a tutor.
“Mama…”
Lin Yao’s voice snapped him out of it. Looking down, the young man pitifully asked, “Can you kiss me?”
Shen Leyuan leaned down helplessly and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Sleep. I’m here.”
Lin Yao wouldn’t sleep. Like a stray dog finally finding its owner, he stared obsessively, as if a single blink might make Shen Leyuan vanish. His eyes were red-rimmed.
“Mama, I waited for you so long.”
Lin Yao choked out, “I thought you didn’t want us anymore…”
The doctor said Lin Yao’s memory was jumbled from blood loss and shock—it’d clear up in a few days. Best to humor him now to avoid agitating the patient.
So Shen Leyuan cooed softly, “I won’t abandon you. Sleep, sleep.”
“Mm.” Lin Yao nuzzled his palm. “I’m good.”
He closed his eyes.
Minutes later, as if from a nightmare, Lin Yao’s eyes flew open in panic. “Mama…”
“Can you kiss me again?”
At the bed outside the door, Huo Tingfeng slammed his fist into the bedframe.
Fuck!
Lin Yuan was a young widower—no mom for that little brat. “Thinking Mama wasn’t coming back”? Pure amnesia act.
Pulling the little stepmom act? Gotta actually be the little stepmom first.
A bodyguard wheeled in a meal cart, deliberately rolling right over Huo Tingfeng’s feet instead of the wide-open path.
Boss got hurt? Blame the Huo Family mutts—seventy percent their fault!
Lusting after our young master before, now eyeing our lady? Still bold enough to snag a bed out here? Shameless!
Huo Tingfeng snatched the cart. “I’ll deliver it.”
The bodyguard shot him a flat look and yelled, “Teacher Shen!”
Huo Tingfeng released it fast, sulking as the bodyguard delivered the meal. He watched the little brat get pampered with male-mama feeding service.
He prodded his throbbing wound, pressing harder.
Hurts.
But it eased the ache in his chest a bit.
The bodyguard glanced at him on the way out, mockery on the tip of his tongue—but seeing the ashen face and pale lips, he swallowed it.
Fine. He saved the lady.
Lin Yao had no clue about the peeping outside and wouldn’t have cared.
His soft gaze fixed on Shen Leyuan, filled with one word looping in his mind and heart: Mama… Mama… Mama!
You didn’t lie. You really came back.
He couldn’t remember much now—not even why this lost-and-found joy overwhelmed him. He just knew he had to keep Mama in sight, not let him out of view for a second.
So tired, hurts so much, exhausted.
But Mama’s with me…
A smile tugged Lin Yao’s lips. He called out lovingly, “Mama.”
Shen Leyuan answered helplessly.
His bargain son was hurt bad but refused sleep. This wouldn’t do.
He buzzed the doctor for advice, had a bodyguard fetch loose, soft clothes, then coaxed Lin Yao to let go temporarily and changed in the bathroom.
He’d just pulled on his shirt when a thud echoed from outside.
Shen Leyuan rushed out—just as Huo Tingfeng pushed in, beating him to steady the struggling, collapsing Lin Yao.
“Mama!” Lin Yao ignored his bleeding leg wound, sobbing and reaching for Shen Leyuan. Trembling, he begged, “Don’t go… I’m good, I’ll be good, Mama don’t go!”
Shen Leyuan hurried over to support him as the doctor rebandaged the wound.
“There, there, it’s fine. Mama just went to the bathroom—see, I’m back?” He adapted quickly to the title, his face glowing with maternal warmth. “Don’t be scared. Mama will hold you while you sleep, okay?”
Lin Yao cried out, “Yeah!”
Huo Tingfeng watched jealously, itching to expose Lin Yao—but he knew Shen Leyuan disliked him. Anything he said now would just annoy him more.
Still, he’d finally gotten inside. No way he’d leave.
Up close, his one-day lover looked even more heartbreaking. Huo Tingfeng murmured, “You should eat something too. That porridge wasn’t enough.”
Shen Leyuan acted like he hadn’t heard.
Huo Tingfeng gave a bitter smile and slipped out.
Shouldn’t have come in to be an eyesore…
Moments later, the doctor emerged and set the med kit by Huo Tingfeng. “Your wound split too. Let me rebandage it?”
“No need,” Huo Tingfeng said coldly.
A little pain’s good. Shen Leyuan won’t give me sweets? Fine, I’ll make my own bitter.
The uncooperative patient made the doctor sigh and frown.
Minutes later, he returned, whispering, “Actually, the guy inside told me to do it. He said not to tell you he asked—and don’t let him know I spilled!”
Huo Tingfeng stammered, “He… you mean him…”
“Shh—” The doctor pulled out tools, advising like a veteran, “Body’s your capital for the revolution. Whatever you’re planning, heal up first.”
“He really said it?”
“I can’t stand you types, wrecking your bodies daily. Once you’re in deficit, good luck patching it!”
“He sent you ’cause he noticed me just now…”
“Can you hear me?”
Huo Tingfeng beamed sweetly. “He still has me in his heart…”
Yup, the doctor thought blankly. Another terminal love-brain case. Hopeless!
In the room, Shen Leyuan—planning to soothe his bargain son—crashed onto the bed the moment he lay down. Dark circles shadowed his eyes; even in dreams, his brows stayed furrowed.
Lin Yao clutched him tight, mouthing Mama silently over and over.
Mama… I won’t disturb you…
Mama, sorry. I don’t want you tired…
Mama, I’ve been good. No bad deeds, no trying to off Dad.
I waited for you to come back…
In reclaimed joy, drowsiness finally claimed him. Smiling, he sank into sweet slumber.
On the other bed, Lin Yuan’s lashes fluttered.
Before his eyes opened, sour emotions slammed his heart, tears surging from his chest.
You’re back.
Wife.
![Reborn as a Ragdoll Cat [Interstellar]](https://i2.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/f.jpg?resize=151,215 "Reborn as a Ragdoll Cat [Interstellar]")
