Chapter 39: Instructor’s Little Dog

Lin Jianxi froze immediately.

Xu Song’an said, “I’ll take you back. Let everyone practice on their own for now.”

Lin Jianxi nodded.

Halfway there, Xu Song’an suddenly chuckled. “Instructor, you trust me that much?”

Lin Jianxi replied, “I trust Shen Yuxiu. You’re his little brother, so of course I trust you.”

“…” Xu Song’an tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Your relationship is really touching.”

“It’s not exactly touching,” Lin Jianxi said. He shifted closer into Xu Song’an’s arms, afraid his scent would leak out—it was no different from streaking naked. “Marriage can’t be described by mere feelings in the end. It’s the longest companionship and responsibility.”

“Would you be heartbroken if you left him?” Xu Song’an looked at him.

“It depends. I wouldn’t leave him on my own unless he didn’t want me anymore. But if some external force hurt him and forced him to leave me, then yeah, I’d be heartbroken.”

“You like him that much,” Xu Song’an said casually, as if it were no big deal. “It’s enviable. So, Instructor, what do you like about my brother?”

“He’s like a robot.” Lin Jianxi laughed for a moment. “Haven’t you noticed? Your brother talks in such a robotic way—it’s hilarious. Spending every day together, I can poke fun at him when I’m bored.”

Xu Song’an let out an incredulous laugh. “That’s how he is in your eyes?”

Lin Jianxi asked, “What is he like in yours?”

“…” Xu Song’an gazed into the eyes peeking from under Lin Jianxi’s cap, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Pretty much.”

“In your eyes, he’s probably pretty cold, right?”

“…”

They finally reached the temporary lounge on the office floor. Lin Jianxi punched in the code and walked inside, not hiding the numbers from Xu Song’an at all.

He rummaged through the cabinet for a fresh inhibitor patch and glanced at Xu Song’an outside. “Why don’t you come in?”

Xu Song’an hesitated before stepping inside.

Lin Jianxi pulled out a patch and slowly unwrapped it.

“He doesn’t know how to love,” Lin Jianxi said. “At least, he didn’t before. His world was just work and himself. But now he’s good to me. I don’t care if it’s an act or whatever—life’s too short. Enjoy it while you can. Plenty of people aren’t what they seem. No need to dig into what’s hidden underneath every single one.”

“…”

Lin Jianxi peeled off the old inhibitor patch and looked at Xu Song’an. “Can you be sure you’re completely genuine yourself?”

Xu Song’an’s hand at his side trembled slightly.

“No one can be one hundred percent consistent inside and out. Everyone has their dark side, their secrets—it’s not some luxury. Just accept the side they show you.” Lin Jianxi smiled faintly, stepped in front of Xu Song’an, and handed him the new patch. “Help me put it on. I always mess up the alignment.”

Lin Jianxi turned his back.

Xu Song’an stared at his pale neck, his fingertip gently brushing aside the strands of hair.

“Instructor, do you know what my dark side is?”

Lin Jianxi didn’t know.

He knew some of Xu Song’an’s past and could tell the guy was insecure deep down. To cover it up, he overcompensated with exaggerated confidence around certain people.

Like how he’d deliberately gotten close at first, provoked him on purpose. But after getting the cap, he hadn’t dared to do anything blatant anymore. Because he’d tasted warmth, he was afraid his unlikable self would ruin it if he pushed too far.

“I only care about the side you show me.” Lin Jianxi felt a press at the back of his neck and turned around. “If you tell me, I’d listen.”

“…” Liar.

Lin Jianxi had no interest in prying into others’ privacy. If Xu Song’an didn’t say anything, he wouldn’t ask. He sat on the small bed in the lounge, turned on the AC with a wave of his hand, and patted the spot beside him. “Come sit for a bit.”

“…I’ll head back to training.”

“Wait a sec. I called someone to bring you a fresh set of clothes. Yours reeks of my scent right now.”

Lin Jianxi grabbed an apple from the small table nearby. He wasn’t great with knives, so he skipped peeling it, just wiped it with a napkin and took a bite. Looking up, he saw Xu Song’an standing there lost in thought. With the System chanting “gently, gently, gently” in his mind, he carefully sliced off a small piece.

Lin Jianxi was quite pleased.

Being weak during heat period had its perks.

Lin Jianxi said, “Come here.”

Xu Song’an walked over to his side.

Lin Jianxi was about to tuck the apple piece into his palm when Xu Song’an suddenly leaned down and bit it straight from the knife.

His soft, warm lips brushed ever so lightly against Lin Jianxi’s fingertip.

Xu Song’an lowered his eyes, snatching the piece away and popping it into his mouth.

“…Are you a little dog or something?”

“Getting there.” Xu Song’an smiled. “More like one of those dogs that’s been abused but still wags its tail for its owner.”

~~~

Lin Jianxi racked his brain but couldn’t recall ever hitting Xu Song’an.

He beat up too many people in a day…

His thoughts were a mess.

Someone delivered clothes for them. While Xu Song’an changed, Lin Jianxi gazed out the window. “What’s the kid who came with you like? Shen Yuxiu said he’s really timid.”

“He’s not wrong. But like you said earlier, Instructor, everyone’s two-faced.”

Lin Jianxi perked up with interest. “So you know what he’s really like?”

“Nah, just speculating. In my eyes, he’s timid and quiet, which is why his dad forced him here.” Xu Song’an finished changing quickly and crouched beside him. “Super timid—like, drop a grain of rice on the table while eating, and he’d shake like a sieve. That’s why I don’t interact with him much. He barely talks.”

“I see…”

Lin Jianxi felt a pang of sympathy.

A kid like that clearly had a rough background.

Lin Jianxi stood up and casually plopped the new cap on Xu Song’an’s head. “You joining practical training tomorrow?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Xu Song’an tilted his neck slightly.

“Because you’re a newbie, little classmate Xu,” Lin Jianxi said with a grin. “This isn’t a game. If you get hurt for real, no one’s coming to save you.”

“Will you be watching, Instructor?”

“I’ll be monitoring the feeds.”

“Then watch and see if I get hurt.” Xu Song’an straightened his cap brim and declared righteously, “I’ll make it back alive. I’ve still got to pick up Little Cat and take him home.”

Lin Jianxi laughed. “Where’d you pick up that line?”

“A little dog should be a bit childish, right?”

“That’s true…”

~~~

Lin Jianxi’s desk was no longer just for him alone. It was packed full, with extra chairs squeezed in.

It only cleared out when Shen Yuxiu came to keep him company at meals.

But Shen Yuxiu hadn’t shown up lately.

The more Lin Jianxi thought about it, the more off it felt. He chewed his vegetables slowly, wondering if he should reach out to the protagonist. Something had definitely gone down between those two behind his back.

Shen Yuxiu always blamed it on his foster father, though.

Uh.

No way the protagonist in this world was Shen Yuxiu’s foster father…

The ages didn’t line up.

Wait, ages…

“Instructor, has the boss been fighting with his dad lately?” one of the trainees said hesitantly. “The other day, I snuck out of the training camp for a stroll and saw him get slapped by some old guy.”

Xu Song’an’s hand froze on his chopsticks.

Lin Jianxi lost his appetite, worry flooding him. “When was this?”

“Two days ago, I think.”

Lin Jianxi set down his chopsticks. “You guys keep eating. I’ll go check on him.”

Once Lin Jianxi was gone, the trainees burst into chatter.

“True love right there. I’m so jealous.”

“That’s why I don’t get all the rumors outside saying the instructor’s the one chasing the boss. A guy like that—if he came after me, I’d marry him on the spot.”

“Get outta here. What are you dreaming about?”

“But seriously, you haven’t heard about that famous scene?”

Xu Song’an pushed his plate away too. “What famous scene?”

The trainee leaned in. “About four months back, the instructor went to a banquet as the boss’s secretary. Someone splashed wine at the boss, and the instructor took the hit for him. Boss kept a poker face the whole time. Instructor even asked if he was scared, if he was okay. Boss was bone-dry but didn’t spare him a glance of concern. Didn’t even reply—just walked off to chat with someone else.”

“No way… that’s messed up.”

“I’m mad now.”

Trainee: “Hold up—it’s famous for a reason. There’s a twist.”

“What twist?”

“Boss had the guy assassinated?”

The trainee grinned mysteriously. “Two months ago, someone else splashed wine. This time, the boss blocked it for the instructor.”

“…”

“…”

?

“That’s their idea of a twist?”

Trainee: “Exactly why people say the instructor’s the clingy one. Boss must’ve been won over after that. They’re all lovey-dovey now. Few nights ago, I saw them both crouched in the bushes chasing cats after a rain. Faces full of mud—hilarious. Haha—” He slammed his chopsticks down. “Ugh, hate it. I wanna be squatting there with the instructor, having him wipe mud off my face too.”

Everyone: “…”

~~~

Shen Yuxiu saw him shove open the office door and instinctively started to rise in greeting. Lin Jianxi’s voice cut cold: “Sit.”

Shen Yuxiu stayed put.

Lin Jianxi hopped onto Shen Yuxiu’s desk, pinching his chin from above and tilting his head side to side. Sure enough, a faint red mark lingered on his face.

“You wouldn’t even talk to me before—not even your name. Now you’re backsliding? Shen Yuxiu, level with me: is your foster father out to get you, or is someone poisoning him against you?”

“No,” Shen Yuxiu said meekly, letting him maneuver his face. “Just the foster father.”

“…”

Lin Jianxi exhaled.

Their first meeting, Shen Yuxiu wouldn’t say a word, impatience etched on his face. Out of options, Lin Jianxi had fished out his ID and spelled it out right in front of him, one character at a time: “Shen—Yuxiu.”

Then added, “Huh, kinda different from the other name on our marriage certificate.”

Only then did he mutter two words: “Same thing.”

~~~

Did he really need hard proof before Shen Yuxiu would come clean?

If some random old coot could push his husband around, how was that husband supposed to be a tycoon rivaling nations? It broke the core setup. Only the protagonist could hurt him like that.

Lin Jianxi’s head throbbed.

His eyes drifted to the bookshelf nearby. Time to have a chat with the protagonist.

His phone buzzed.

Lin Jianxi glanced at the screen impassively.

【X】: If I hurt him, would you go all out for revenge?

【X】: I hate him to death. Without him, I wouldn’t be this half-human, half-ghost freak.

Lin Jianxi noticed Shen Yuxiu slipping off his shoes.

Lin Jianxi: “What’re you doing?”

Shen Yuxiu: “Foot massage.”

Lin Jianxi ignored him and typed back.

【。】: Don’t say that about yourself. You’re just struggling to handle your emotions right now.

【。】: Wanna tell me what went down between you two?

【X】: We got kidnapped together once. Before that, no matter how cold he acted, I’d trail after him. But him? Kidnappers wanted me but couldn’t tell us apart. He straight-up told them I was their guy.

【X】: He ended up getting tea with the kidnappers. I got tortured ten days and nights in that hell. Not one ‘sorry’ from him to this day.

【X】: Shouldn’t I hate him? Get revenge? Doesn’t he deserve it? Why like a guy like that—just ’cause he play-acts? I act better. Why not me? Or you think his pitiful act tugs heartstrings?

【X】: You marrying him broke someone—left me disabled for life. Ain’t I pitiful?

【X】: Lin Jianxi, you’re just a sheltered flower who falls for fake vulnerability.

“…”

Truth laid bare, Lin Jianxi felt no great stir.

A soothing ache spread from his feet. Heat period made his body prone to swelling; Shen Yuxiu massaged him daily.

Lin Jianxi eased his eyes shut, listening to the little cat’s faint scratches on the sofa…

This was Shen Yuxiu through and through. No surprise.

From the moment he’d entered this world, the man ran like a machine—nothing beyond vital functions and work. Even late-night tidying? Lin Jianxi had taught him every step.

By now, Shen Yuxiu had changed a great deal.

In the past, no one had simply been willing to teach him—that much was true—but it was undeniable that his mistakes were hard to forgive.

Lin Jianxi watched as the other man earnestly massaged his feet, a faint bitterness rising in his heart.

From the day they had married until now, he had never met any of Shen Yuxiu’s family. The only one he ever heard about from his mouth was that troublesome foster father.

What a pitiful soul. Someone who had never experienced love—how could he possibly love anyone else?

The consequences of their parents’ mistakes always fell on the children to bear. Thinking back on all their trainees, every one who came here to suffer and toil was, at their core, paying off their parents’ debts.

“…”

Lin Jianxi tossed his phone aside and pulled Shen Yuxiu’s head into his arms, squeezing his eyes shut tight.

~~~

Hah, scared enough already to seek comfort? Can’t bear to let go just like that?

Xu Song’an, seeing the scene on his screen, smashed his hat onto the ground. The glaring sunlight stabbed into his eyes like knives, but he made no move to shield himself.

The more it hurt, the clearer his mind became.

Xu Song’an gripped his phone in the palm of his hand, his fingers slowly tightening.

It wasn’t about liking the pitiful at all. It was about liking those who knew how to play pitiful. Someone like him—a crazy, crippled, sickly mess—once his true nature was exposed, everyone’s looks of disgust would come smashing down like rotten eggs. Including Lin Jianxi’s—

Xu Song’an’s fingers stilled as he stared blankly at the four messages on his phone.

The twisted emotions in his eyes hadn’t yet faded, but the hatred and pent-up frustration in his heart vanished in an instant, wiped clean.

He could almost see Lin Jianxi standing right in front of him, smiling gently as he spoke.

【。】: I haven’t even met you. How could I like you?

【。】: You haven’t said a single word to me in person. How do you know I wouldn’t feel sad for you?

【。】: Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow, and don’t try to guess what anyone else is thinking, little friend. Someone actually cares about you.

【。】: I’m older, and yeah, I’ve made mistakes before. But in your eyes, at least I’m still a person, right…?

“…”

~~~