Not long after getting off the bus, Shen Leyuan came to in a daze.
His head throbbed fiercely, the world spun around him, and nausea roiled in his gut.
He struggled down from the good samaritan’s arms and clutched a tree, vomiting miserably. Nothing came up but bitter bile—he suddenly remembered he hadn’t eaten anything all day.
The good samaritan handed him a bottle of water, voice pinched in a falsetto: “Do you need me to call an ambulance?”
“Thanks, but no need.”
Shen Leyuan slumped pale-faced beside a flower bed, not daring to look up.
The good samaritan’s footsteps faded, only to return soon after, popping open an umbrella over his head: “How about we find somewhere else to rest? It’s too hot here.”
“No need…” Shen Leyuan didn’t change his position, hands braced on his knees, back bowed like an arch. He murmured, “Let me be quiet… I just want to be alone…”
“But—”
“Lin Yao,” Shen Leyuan said without lifting his head, gaze unfocused on the ground, voice hoarse: “I can’t face any of my students right now. Just let me be alone for a bit, okay?”
Lin Yao fell instantly silent, standing there at a loss.
Shen Leyuan said wearily, “You’re over six feet tall—women’s clothes make you even more conspicuous than men’s.”
Then why… Lin Yao’s face flushed with shame.
Guessing his thoughts, Shen Leyuan replied softly, “I’ve advised you against it so many times, but it didn’t work. It was exhausting, so I stopped trying. I’m sorry, I really don’t have the energy right now. Just let me be quiet… let me rest…”
Mr. Ghost’s familiar embrace suddenly enveloped him. Shen Leyuan shuddered all over.
I want to cry so bad—I’m about to lose it…
His tone turned almost pleading: “Don’t bother me, okay?”
Lin Yao’s shadow vanished.
Almost immediately, Shen Leyuan clutched Mr. Ghost’s waist like a drowning man, face buried in the man’s chest. Tears streamed down his pale cheeks in a summer deluge of howling wind and pounding rain.
He sobbed his heart out.
How did this happen…? Weren’t they supposed to be fine?
Nine kids—some from his own class, others entrusted by teachers from different classes—all just high school freshmen. Such good, smart children with bright futures ahead.
Right before leaving school, colleagues had joked with him not to poach all the good “cabbages” into his class, to bring back as many as he took out.
He hadn’t managed it.
He’d lost his students.
Huo Tingfeng looked down at him, coaxing and soothing nonstop. Only after a long while did he remember his voice couldn’t carry through. He choked up suddenly.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
I’m right here with you, but I can’t even comfort you.
For the first time, he regretted his secrecy with unprecedented intensity. After this, I’ll come clean. Even if Shen Leyuan hits me, curses me, blames me, or never wants to see me again—I’ll reclaim my body.
He never wanted to feel this powerless a second time.
But…
Huo Tingfeng’s voice cut off. He scanned their surroundings in horror, remembering something crucial: he’d followed Shen Leyuan off the bus, but the dog carrier—and the dog—were still on it!
No, I have to go back. The little dog absolutely cannot die right now.
But the young man’s sobs filled his ears. Looking down, he saw trembling strands of hair and sharp shoulder blades. Huo Tingfeng could only hug him tighter, heart pounding faster in his anxiety, nearly suffocating him.
His phone rang abruptly.
Whoever it is, as long as it distracts Shen Leyuan. Huo Tingfeng glanced at the screen and showed a “we’re saved” expression.
It was the Little Lunatic—the one Shen Leyuan really liked.
Little Deer hummed a tune as he video-called his teacher, thinking: Big bro said teacher is crying—Little Deer should cheer him up.
So happy! Another excuse to chat with teacher.
And… crying?
Little Deer knew what crying looked like from the mirror, but he’d never seen teacher cry. Wonder what teacher looks like crying. So exciting!
The video rang a few times before connecting.
Teacher looked up in bewilderment, snow-pale face framed by red-rimmed eyes. Tears soaked his features, hair plastered wetly to his cheeks—utterly disheveled and heartbreakingly pitiful.
The subtle smile on Little Deer’s lips froze. He clutched his chest instinctively.
It hurts so much…
Teacher crying hurts so bad.
His own eyes reddened fast. He burst out wailing: “Teacher, what’s wrong? Don’t scare Little Deer—Little Deer feels awful. Teacher, please don’t cry, okay?”
Fuck, you idiot!
Huo Tingfeng swiftly hung up the video.
Little Deer called back right away. Shen Leyuan tried to compose himself, but the tears multiplied, impossible to wipe away.
Huo Tingfeng knew he wasn’t ready and quietly hung up again and again. Suddenly, a different avatar popped up. In his hesitation, Shen Leyuan answered it himself.
He thought it was his bodyguard friend—maybe he could help soothe Little Deer.
But the screen showed another face.
Lin Yuan said, “Where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
Shen Leyuan tried to hold it in—he didn’t want to look so pathetic. But like a child comforted by a parent, his mouth quivered, and he cried even louder.
“You… before, you said… I have an unusual sense of responsibility toward them…”
“You were right…”
He sobbed raggedly, tears blurring his vision, blind to the heartache on Lin Yuan’s face.
Lin Yuan wasn’t even sure what expression he wore himself.
He’d thought he was calm.
His voice stayed steady, urging the young man not to overthink: “I was wrong. You’re just that dedicated to your job—it’d be the same with any students. Don’t doubt yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“So, stop crying.”
“It’s not the job!” Little Deer retorted anxiously. “Teacher likes Little Deer the most, the most… Mmph!”
At Lin Yuan’s raised hand signal, Little Deer’s mouth was covered.
But soon, the bodyguard released him with a flicker of subtle pity, watching in bewilderment as Little Deer lunged at Mr. Lin, screeching and snatching for the phone: “Teacher likes me! I should comfort teacher—give me the phone! Give it!!!”
Lin Yuan irritably turned the phone away, dodging.
“Little Deer?” Shen Leyuan rasped a warning: “You can’t just grab Daddy’s things like that. That’s wrong.”
Little Deer, eyes blazing red with frenzy, stopped obediently in an instant.
“Got it, teacher,” he asked uneasily in a small voice: “Will teacher come tomorrow? The package just arrived…”
Teacher said he’d open it with Little Deer.
The student’s obedience and progress brought Shen Leyuan a sliver of comfort. He wiped his tears and said warmly, “Yes, Little Deer. Go study, okay?”
Little Deer agreed joyfully: “Mm!”
Lin Yuan watched it all coldly, then turned the screen back to himself.
The wrinkles on his clothes were smoothed out—no trace of earlier chaos. His voice was as steady as ever, reassuring.
“The car’s five minutes out. I’ll watch Little Deer in the meantime.”
“Mm…” Shen Leyuan mumbled, only then feeling embarrassed: “Then I’ll stop chatting—gonna wash my face.”
The figure vanished from view. Lin Yuan stared blankly for a long time.
Did I really mess up?
He didn’t know.
At least, I shouldn’t have said those words back then…
Little Deer scribbled notes, mumbling: “Teacher’s coming home today. Later, I’ll get someone to fetch the package.”
Lin Yuan’s eyes snapped to Little Deer.
The boy smiled, lost in sweet dreams.
“Actually, Little Deer could pick it up himself. Little Deer saw the courier spot on the map, learned how to collect packages—Little Deer can do it great, so great teacher will praise Little Deer as a normal good kid!”
Teacher will praise me. Teacher likes Little Deer—likes him the most~
“No, you can’t go out again.”
Lin Yuan said ruthlessly: “I won’t give you another chance like that.”
Scrrch—
The pen tip gouged a long black streak across the paper, tail end curling up sharp and vicious—like Little Deer’s mood now.
He turned slowly, staring straight at Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan met his gaze coldly, face impassive, heart seething with irrepressible killing intent.
This thing shouldn’t exist in the world.
The world’s distortions were worsening, and Shen Leyuan’s power brought clarity. If this continued, Little Deer would eventually harm Shen Leyuan.
Under that killing intent, Little Deer felt no surprise—only a surge of the same impulse.
Kill him! KILL HIM!!!
When Daddy stopped him from lunging at teacher, when Daddy confiscated his hoarded clothes, when Daddy rejected his school application, in midnight dreams of teacher…
Every time, every day—he wished Daddy dead.
But—
Father and son both glanced at the bodyguard, then looked away in shared disappointment: No, these guys can’t do it.
Without a word, they fell silent.
Five minutes later, Shen Leyuan boarded the car. Ten minutes after, he jolted upright from his funk: “Where’s my dog?!”
Huo Tingfeng shivered.
He typed stiffly: 【Don’t worry, I’ll go find it】
Releasing his hold on Shen Leyuan, the man bolted from the car—but soon halted in confusion: Which bus route and number was it again?
He wanted to ask Shen Leyuan, but twisting back, the car was long gone.
Amid the bustling crowds and traffic, Huo Tingfeng stood stock-still, chilled to the bone with a sense of abandonment by the world.
Meanwhile, Lin Yao walked along, sniffling.
Dog carrier in one hand, he wiped tears with the other, thinking: What do I do? I hugged teacher without bringing the dog. The dog’s dead…
If teacher finds out, he’ll be heartbroken—never forgive me.
Passing a pet shop, he backtracked a few steps and slowly turned. His eyes met a perky-eared Corgi gazing at him eagerly through the glass.
“Woof!” The little dog barked happily.
Lin Yao eyed the lively pup bouncing behind the glass, then the limp one in the carrier. A bold idea sparked: Corgi switcheroo viable?
He boldly plunked the dog corpse on the counter and slapped down his bank card: “Gimme a Corgi—just like this one!”
“Uh…” The owner hesitated: “We don’t take cards here.”
Crestfallen, Lin Yao pulled out his phone, aiming at the QR code.
Before he could pay, the owner covered it, speaking with the fond pity reserved for fools: “No rush. Check the dog first, haggle price, then pay.”
“By the way, did your family leave a number for you?”
Lin Yao: …
An hour later.
Huo Tingfeng slumped exhausted by the roadside, torn between hospital and Lin Family Villa. Before deciding, he overheard: “Sis, hurry and send that Corgi over—some dumbass rich kid’s picking a body double for his dog!”
At “dumbass rich kid,” a figure flashed in his mind—You, huh, Lin Yao!
Wait.
Corgi? Short legs, big butt, heart-shaped butt patch?
Impossible. Mine has a tail!
