Lin Yao perked up upon learning that his teacher planned to reject Di Junya in a pretty intense way.
Tell him to take a good look at himself in the mirror, he said succinctly.
Just that one line made Shen Leyuan realize that consulting Lin Yao might not have been the best idea.
He politely declined: Never mind, I’ll think of something else.
Lin Yao: ????
Lin Yao: I can roast him super harshly!
Lin Yao: Without swearing.
Lin Yao: Teacher, trust me, I can do it!!!
Shen Leyuan had seen Lin Yao in full roasting expert mode and knew he was trying to reform, so he sent over a “pat pat” emoji: Not swearing is great [thumbs up][thumbs up][thumbs up]
Lin Yao replied with a goofy grin emoji.
But after mulling it over, Shen Leyuan still wasn’t at ease. He got someone to cover for him signing in, skipped class, and stood guard at the entrance to his teacher’s neighborhood, strictly forbidding that Di-surnamed psychologist from entering.
At that moment, the Di-surnamed psychologist wasn’t in the neighborhood.
Neither was Shen Leyuan.
In the coffee shop, the two sat facing each other, with Huo Tingfeng guarding his beloved from the table directly behind, obediently not turning around but perking up his ears.
Most people noticed him first—tall, great build, wearing a slightly tight T-shirt that made his chest look impressively full and eye-catching. No matter the gender, eyes couldn’t help drifting there.
He looks so touchable.
Huo Tingfeng hadn’t been this flashy before; he’d recently learned to strut like a peacock.
Lin Yuan’s suggestion had been solid—playing mute was better than yapping and pissing off his beloved—but the downside was that he became invisible.
Not the old kind of invisible, but the kind where Shen Leyuan wouldn’t even glance his way or talk to him, as if he didn’t exist at all.
That wouldn’t do.
Before coming, he’d pulled his more worldly brothers into a private group chat and swallowed his pride: How do I get the person I like to notice me?
One brother cracked a dirty joke: Drop your pants—who wouldn’t eye your cock?
Huo Tingfeng immediately dragged that brother out for a sparring session, snapped a photo of him lying on the ground like a dead dog, and sent it to the group: Organize your words properly, you lot.
Then he dropped the earth-shattering bombshell: He’s a top.
Dead silence in the group. It took ages before anyone spoke up.
Finally, a younger brother ventured cautiously: Bear bottoms have a market, bro—don’t feel bad about yourself.
Huo Tingfeng: ?
Huo Tingfeng: Who gives a shit about the market? I’m asking how to make your sister-in-law fall for me!
Younger brother: But bro, aren’t you gonna bottom for love?
Huo Tingfeng: Not at that stage yet.
The younger brother breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, My bro’s definitely planning to fuck first and sort the rest later—who bends over depends on who’s stronger, right?
So he offered advice freely: Based on how my wife seduced me, just stick your ass out more and flash your chest.
Truth be told, Huo Tingfeng had been pretty bitter when he sent that message.
His relationship with Shen Leyuan was light-years away from any top/bottom talk. If it were Journey to the West, they weren’t even at the foot of Five Finger Mountain yet—they’d be before Tang Sanzang’s dad even met his mom!
So this time, even though he was mute, he was a flashy, eye-catching mute.
Passersby snuck glances at him, then naturally drifted their eyes to Di Junya at the table behind.
Di Junya was stunningly handsome, refined and exquisite, and his all-nighter had given him a pitiful, delicate air. With his face pale right now, he looked even more heartbreaking.
Pedestrians walked a few steps, then sneaked a glance back at the guy across from him—a handsome dude too.
But this handsome dude had furrowed brows and a bit of a fierce look.
Shen Leyuan’s fierceness started out fake, but it turned real because Di Junya just wouldn’t get through to him. When he asked to withdraw the request to continue observation, Di Junya lowered his eyes and played dumb, whining resentfully, “You like Mr. Huo like that, don’t you?”
Later, Di Junya got even more outrageous: “He doesn’t respect you or understand you.”
“You know he likes you, but you’re willing to accept him and not me. Teacher Shen, that’s not fair.”
Huo Tingfeng didn’t catch the green tea vibes in that; he just grinned like an idiot.
Yeah, he’s willing to accept me!
Shen Leyuan pinched the bridge of his nose: “I’m only keeping him because Director Hao assigned him to protect me. Once it’s fully confirmed in a bit, I’ll apply to have him transferred away.”
Huo Tingfeng stopped grinning.
Di Junya’s lips curved up just a touch: “I haven’t been transferred away either.”
Shen Leyuan sidestepped his logic trap, saying coldly, “That’s why I’m advising you to withdraw your application now.”
Di Junya looked up at him, eyes rimmed red: “We’re both assigned here. He stays and I have to go? He can live with you but I can’t—is that it?”
“You won’t say it out loud, but deep down you like him, right?”
Shen Leyuan: ……
To be honest, compared to Di Junya, he did like Huo Tingfeng more. Though he hadn’t seen anything truly bad about Di Junya yet, facing this guy always gave him a sinking, marsh-like discomfort.
Di Junya always had some twisted logic that left Shen Leyuan helpless, like getting tangled in a spiderweb—the more he struggled, the stickier it got.
Ignoring the question, Shen Leyuan took a deep breath, gripping his coffee cup a little harder. He felt like he needed to drop a real bombshell, something no normal person could stomach.
What should I say? What should I do?
A plot from some idol drama popped into his head unbidden. Shen Leyuan suddenly put on a mask and turned to hand one to Huo Tingfeng.
Huo Tingfeng had been straining his ears for the answer when this thing came his way, leaving him a bit flustered.
Shen Leyuan: “Put it on.”
One command from him, one obedient action from the good dog.
Di Junya watched in confusion, a bad feeling brewing.
He’d learned his lesson and thought he should wear a mask too, but he was so used to relying on that handsome face that he hadn’t formed the habit. He could only stiffen as Shen Leyuan turned back and asked, “You absolutely have to move back in, no matter the cost, right?”
Di Junya’s heart skipped. He wanted to say no.
But this was the first time Shen Leyuan had spoken to him in such a gentle tone, eyes full of nothing but him. Di Junya’s heart fluttered harder, some strange, indescribable feeling surging up.
“Mm…” he answered cautiously.
He had a hunch that if he backed off now, the higher-ups might transfer him away from Shen Leyuan for good, no second chances.
Shen Leyuan looked troubled and asked again: “You might suffer, feel awful, face tons of humiliation—even then, you still want to move back in?”
Di Junya’s heart skipped again. Thinking he was calm, he nodded: “Mm.”
Shen Leyuan: “Alright, got it.”
Di Junya snapped out of his daze to see Shen Leyuan’s face shift rapidly from gentle to grave, then to vicious. He stood, raised his hand, and dumped a full cup of coffee right over him.
Has the bad-tempered personality come out again? Di Junya thought in horror.
The first-floor walls were glass; plenty of people inside and out turned to stare.
Under everyone’s gaze, Di Junya’s handsome face went deathly pale as he watched Shen Leyuan pull Huo Tingfeng to his side and declare from on high: “Fine, since you’re so desperate to move into my place, you’ll be the male maid for my household—serve both of us!”
The drama line was “servant,” but that was too cringy for Shen Leyuan to say.
No one could swallow an insult like that, right?
Di Junya was pretty proud; he even picked perfumes carefully just to take out the trash.
Whispers rose around them; he caught the disdain in their eyes.
He, who loved being the center of attention, shrank back for the first time, no longer viewing Shen Leyuan as some lab rat to observe—but resenting him, hating him!
Shen Leyuan never treated anyone else like this.
Shen Leyuan was only harsh and vicious to him.
Why?
His body trembled faintly, but Di Junya lifted his face and smiled at Shen Leyuan, like offering himself up as sacrifice.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll serve you both.”
Shen Leyuan shivered, a chill crawling up his spine for no reason.
Huo Tingfeng snapped out of the thrill of being lumped into “us” with his beloved, furrowed his brows fiercely, and snarled: “Have you no shame?”
At this point, Di Junya really didn’t.
He shed his former elegance, molding himself into a pitiful little white flower, choking out: “As long as you’re willing to accept me, to change how you see me, I’ll do anything.”
Shen Leyuan paused, then said sincerely: “Physicians don’t heal themselves—why not get yourself checked at a top-tier psych ward?”
Di Junya refused.
Di Junya had latched onto him completely.
Shen Leyuan knew this couldn’t go on, but his application to his superior vanished into the void. Days later, he got a reply: the boss admitted his initial judgment was off—Di Junya had been too fixated on Little Deer, too deeply affected.
The superior said: Given the current situation, everyone around you will gradually shake off Little Deer’s influence. Even if the bodyguards are reassigned away from you, their resistance to Little Deer will skyrocket.
Better they like you than like Little Deer.
Shen Leyuan seized the chance to propose ending the “play the villain” experiment, but his superior went radio silent again—probably in a meeting.
He chatted with Director Hao about it, who couldn’t help griping.
Meetings every damn day, all about Di Junya. Should transfer him out by rights, but he’s been dutiful all these years. Higher-ups say good people are scarce, and since he hasn’t fixated on Little Deer lately, might as well fight fire with fire and keep him in position.
My old boss disagrees, but one vote against doesn’t do much. Hang tight—he’s in a tough spot too.
Shen Leyuan had no choice but to shelve it, thinking, Ten days left—tough it out.
Di Junya now slept in the living room.
He curled up on the sofa, long limbs tucked in pitifully, dark shadows under his eyes, thin blanket fallen to the floor.
It had rained yesterday; the weather was a bit chilly.
Shen Leyuan couldn’t help covering him with the blanket, then turned to see Huo Tingfeng.
Huo Tingfeng was jealous but stayed quiet, pointing to the kitchen: Hungry? Want me to make you something?
They’d said Di Junya would serve them, but really he just ran errands and cleaned. With Huo Tingfeng around, cooking was never his job.
Shen Leyuan gradually caught on, recalling the kitchen fire incident.
If Huo Tingfeng couldn’t cook, splashing water in panic made sense—but this guy was a kitchen regular. That “pot on fire” probably wasn’t just oil catching.
But he wasn’t about to dig deeper.
He barely talked to Huo Tingfeng now, afraid extra words would give him an opening.
Once Di Junya’s gone, I’ll get rid of Huo Tingfeng too.
Shen Leyuan thought.
He didn’t know how ambiguous this silent, wordless rapport looked to others.
Di Junya had seen them in the kitchen, dividing tasks seamlessly—sometimes without a word, just a look and they’d pass what the other needed.
And he was the superfluous one in this home.
What method could make Shen Leyuan truly despise Huo Tingfeng?
Di Junya drifted off while pondering.
