Borrowing the kitchen from a nearby shop, Shen Leyuan stewed a pot of blood-replenishing medicinal porridge.
He’d only left with the thermos for two minutes when the big dog of a man pathetically lifted the pot lid in search of food, thinking that if the pot hadn’t been scrubbed, he might scrape off some scorched rice. Instead, what met his eyes was a bowl of porridge—and a small note dampened by steam.
—Take good care of your injury.
He was as thrilled to see the porridge as he was heartbroken to see the note.
Those simple four words severed their connection, telling him the meal was left only because his wound hadn’t healed yet, leaving no room for delusions.
If I hadn’t snuck in to peek… who would have drunk this bowl of porridge?
Huo Tingfeng brooded darkly.
But then he thought again: He left me porridge and a note. He knew I’d come. He understands me!
So he popped another candy into his mouth.
At that moment, Shen Leyuan had only just left a short while ago.
Though it was “boss’s sick-person meal,” Lin Yao was also laid up in a hospital bed, so he’d made extra.
One of the bodyguards more familiar with him hesitated, then couldn’t hold back a reminder: “This isn’t great, is it?”
Shen Leyuan: ?
Bodyguard: “One thermos, two rooms—which room do you hit first? Who gets served first?”
Shen Leyuan: “The rooms are close.”
If anything, they were right next door. While he chatted with Lin Yuan, Lin Yao had brazenly eavesdropped, face pressed to the little window, staring at him eagerly.
Seeing the missus hadn’t caught on, the bodyguard gave an example: “Like when I buy candied hawthorns for my kids. I think one each is fair, but they fight over the one with more sugar.”
Shen Leyuan frowned: “They’re adults. They shouldn’t…”
The bodyguard said gravely: “Adults get jealous in far scarier ways.”
The words “get jealous” struck Shen Leyuan’s sensitive nerves. He wasn’t entirely sure about the depth or sincerity of the father and son’s feelings for him, but the boss had fixated on that sick-person meal for so long—he probably wasn’t as calm and composed as he seemed.
So he took a detour to buy some meal containers, planning to portion out the food at the hospital before delivering it. He even prepared after-meal fruit for each— their respective favorites.
Halfway down the hospital corridor, an acquaintance emerged from another room. Spotting the missus passing by, he jolted, shuddered, and spun to bolt back inside.
Shen Leyuan, who’d meant to greet him, frowned and hurried over to knock.
The bodyguard cracked the door just enough for one eye, peering out obsequiously: “Hello, Teacher Shen. Hard work as always. The boss is waiting for you—I won’t hold you up.”
Shen Leyuan didn’t try to peek inside. “Does the boss know?”
Bodyguard: “He knows, he knows.”
Shen Leyuan didn’t press further, growing increasingly puzzled.
Who the hell is in there?
The little interlude quickly reached Lin Yuan’s ears. He glanced up at Shen Leyuan, who smiled without showing his confusion, and felt a pang of discomfort.
Things are different now. Our relationship has grown distant.
With a soft sigh, he took the initiative to explain: “It’s Shisi.”
“Ah?”
“That’s Sheng Shisi in there,” Lin Yuan said. “He’s racked with guilt. He doesn’t dare let you know.”
Shen Leyuan paused, feeling a sense of inevitability.
Back on a certain day when Huo Tingfeng was still bedridden, Sheng Shisi hadn’t gone to the hospital with Little Deer—instead, extra bodyguards had shadowed Little Deer. Shen Leyuan had suspected something then.
This time, Little Deer’s escape attempt clearly involved A Si’s handiwork. That was no surprise.
What caught him off guard was the boss’s candor.
The boss said: “Little Deer sweet-talked Shisi into helping him escape. On the road, Shisi learned I was injured and tried to bring Little Deer back. Little Deer refused. In the scuffle, he shot and wounded him.”
He nudged the still-unopened meal box: “Go see him?”
Shen Leyuan hesitated.
The boss’s brows curved slightly, revealing a suave amiability he’d never shown before: “I’m not some kid like Lin Yao. Shisi needs you more right now. Go on—don’t worry about me.”
He smiled: “Just come back.”
The boss like this was great, but Shen Leyuan felt a stranger’s unease.
He pulled out the after-meal fruit he’d specially bought for the boss and probed with a smile: “If you’d been this gentle from the start… I was so embarrassed back when we first met. Someone saw right through to my bright red underwear.”
“Pink,” Lin Yuan recalled, explaining: “Didn’t see everything. They wore sunglasses—couldn’t make it out.”
He’s liked me, cared about me, since that early on?
The weird feeling in Shen Leyuan’s heart intensified. He chalked up all these unnatural changes to his growing influence on the boss, enough to alter the man’s personality.
Feels like… the boss is peacocking.
He glanced at the boss again, gaze landing on the man’s slightly upturned lips. Shen Leyuan reached out a finger and mimed dragging it downward from afar: “If you don’t like smiling, don’t force it. Looks weird. And tiring, right?”
Perhaps he’d hit the nail on the head—the man’s lips instantly flattened.
Once the room door clicked shut, Lin Yuan hunched his back in distress, big palm covering his face as he murmured: “It’s not that I don’t like it…”
I like smiling, honey.
You said my smile is handsome. You love it.
In the other room, Sheng Shisi’s eyes were shadowed with deep fatigue. Since the boss took that bullet, he hadn’t slept a wink.
His forehead burned hot, a dull ache throbbing amid the haze, his mind sluggish—yet he vividly remembered every detail of that day, the blood spreading across the boss’s clothes in the video.
He regretted it. And he panicked.
He regretted his unforgivable mistake. He feared he’d make it again.
Little Deer, Little Deer…
The name still stirred hot passion in him, but it brought sharp pain and terror in its wake. He began to dread seeing that figure, dread that involuntary pull on his heart.
He squeezed his eyes shut, tears dampening his temples.
Shen Leyuan didn’t disturb him. He sat quietly by the bed, opened the meal box, and let the aroma of food waft through the air.
Sheng Shisi opened his eyes to see him, his already pallid face turning ashen.
“Eat something before you sleep,” Shen Leyuan said.
Sheng Shisi frantically wiped away tears, mouth opening but no sound emerging. Fresh tears soaked his freshly dried cheeks.
The young man didn’t open his mouth, but Shen Leyuan held the spoon steady, voice grave: “Redemption starts with staying alive. Avoidance solves nothing.”
Sheng Shisi rarely saw the teacher so stern; his heart ached deeper.
I betrayed their trust, he thought.
The persuasion worked. The young man’s lips parted slightly. After swallowing one mouthful, he rasped that he could feed himself, then gulped down the porridge like he was swallowing knives—probably without tasting it.
Shen Leyuan cleared the bowl and spoon for the bodyguard to take away, then peeled an apple for him, saying your boss is fine now, don’t blame yourself too much.
A Si stayed silent.
Red peel spiraled down, exposing white flesh. Shen Leyuan said softly: “I’m not here to coax you. You know you were wrong, and yeah, you really screwed up this time.”
“Some say the weapon isn’t at fault, just the hand that wields it. I disagree. A kitchen knife cuts vegetables—until a killer uses it on someone, turning it into a murder weapon. No one can change that.”
Sheng Shisi listened through choked sobs.
Then Shen Leyuan continued: “But you’re not a kitchen knife, not something to seal in an evidence bag. You didn’t mess up bad enough for prison, or beyond forgiveness. You still have a chance to make amends.”
“Of all the bodyguards, you have the strongest self-control. Mr. Lin trusts you most.” He handed over the peeled apple: “Get better soon. He needs people by his side.”
As Shen Leyuan stepped out of the room, he heard stifled sobs from behind.
Poor kid.
His mood heavier, he headed back to Lin Yuan’s room.
Passing Lin Yao’s on the way, he spotted the young man crouched inside, face glued to the glass window, watching helplessly as the teacher walked right by.
He’s going to that old guy’s place again. Not fair!
Lin Yao hesitated on whether to sneak next door when the teacher backtracked a few steps. His eyes lit up; he yanked open the door.
Shen Leyuan didn’t enter, asking mildly: “Not resting properly?”
Lin Yao tried to bluff: “I…”
Shen Leyuan: “No after-meal fruit for you tomorrow.”
Lin Yao panicked and chased after him to explain, but before his foot crossed the third step, the teacher called back without turning: “Act up again, and it’s extra punishment time.”
Lin Yuan set down the mouse and glanced at the person closing the door.
“What extra punishment?”
Shen Leyuan replied offhand: “Lin Yao. He’s so starved for love, always craving attention.”
Lin Yuan sighed: “I haven’t taken good care of him.”
Shen Leyuan frowned, finally unable to hold back: “Mr. Lin, what’s with you today?”
Lin Yuan: “Today, I want to pursue you.”
Shen Leyuan: !!!
His pupils dilated in shock. Boss, you’re freaking me out like this!
Seeing the utter disbelief on his face—like he might bolt—Lin Yuan smiled faintly: “Isn’t being honest good? We’ve missed so much time already. I don’t want to miss more.”
“But…”
“No buts,” Lin Yuan laid his heart bare. “Pursuing someone means putting in the effort. I wronged you before—now I’m fixing it. Simple as that.”
The discomfort in Shen Leyuan swelled.
Has Little Deer faced this his whole life? This inexplicable, intense love?
A chill ran down his spine; he shot to his feet.
“You’re not right!” He declared categorically: “You’d better report to your superiors for isolation right now. We need space until you calm down—then we talk business!”
He spun and bolted for the door.
Lin Yuan stared in stunned disbelief.
He never imagined the honesty that warmed their bond in his past life would now make his love bolt in terror.
Where did I go wrong?
No time to overthink. He barked to halt the youth’s steps, then softened his tone: “If there’s a misunderstanding, give me a chance to explain.”
Shen Leyuan felt even worse. He turned back but stayed by the door, replying from there.
“Think back carefully—what were your first thoughts when we met?”
Lin Yuan: “I liked you. Wanted to keep you.”
Shen Leyuan: “See? That’s what’s off, boss! Do you really think you’re the type for love at first sight, bending rules for me over and over?”
