The next day, with no classes, Shen Leyuan headed to the pet shop.
A while back, Little Dog had fallen ill, and he’d been too busy putting on that mutual act with Di Junya to care for the little guy properly. So, he’d simply sent it to the clinic from before.
Little Dog hadn’t forgotten its owner. The moment it saw him, it excitedly spun in circles.
The doctor showed him the X-ray taken that day and pointed to a spot on Little Dog’s head. “See, the injury on its skull has completely healed.”
Shen Leyuan hugged the little guy and rubbed it gently. “Mm,” he responded softly.
The doctor asked, “So, are you leaving it here for a few more days of observation, or taking it back to school? Can you bring dogs to class?”
No.
Or rather, he used to be able to.
Huihui had been quiet enough—just cover the plastic window on the carrier, and no one would notice. But now Little Dog occasionally whined or barked, which would disturb others.
Shen Leyuan rubbed Little Dog’s caramel-colored fur. “Do dogs have a rebellious phase too?”
“They do,” the doctor chuckled. “A dog’s personality changes somewhat after maturity—they get more lively as they grow. Yours can be neutered soon. Want to book a neuter package?”
Huo Tingfeng, sitting on a bench nearby, shot the doctor a gloomy glance.
The doctor: ?
Did I say something wrong?
A month ago, a rich kid had bought a dog body double. The doctor had gleefully spectated the drama back then, but soon bodyguards showed up throwing money around to seal his lips. They said an important guest would visit that afternoon and he absolutely couldn’t mention the dog swap.
Not only keep it secret, but also help fool the guest—say Little Dog had just changed personality.
The next day, another moneybags appeared—this burly guy right here—with an even more serious attitude than the bodyguards. He begged the doctor to handle it carefully, no matter what, don’t let it slip.
The guy had looked so pitiful back then, less like he’d lost a dog and more like he’d lost a person.
With a sigh and a shake of his head, the doctor decided to help the burly guy out once more, for the money’s sake.
Unaware of the doctor’s thoughts, Huo Tingfeng finished glaring and sank into self-pity. If only I’d spoken up sooner, if only I wasn’t so prideful, if only I’d been honest…
He and Shen Leyuan never would have ended up like this.
It hurt.
He ached.
But not for himself—for fear that Shen Leyuan would ache and resent him upon learning Huihui had died.
The door chime rang. Huo Tingfeng looked up with the sound and caught sight of Shen Leyuan’s indifferent back. He hurried after him.
Taking three steps at a time to catch up, he didn’t dare ask why Shen Leyuan had left without calling him, but he couldn’t hold back: “Why didn’t you bring Huihui?”
Shen Leyuan said flatly, “The doctor says it’s weak and needs to stay for observation.”
Huo Tingfeng let out a breath of relief and immediately transferred money to the doctor.
Back at the neighborhood entrance, Lin Yao spotted them from afar and bounded over like an eager puppy, circling his teacher. “Teacher, teacher! How could you go out without calling me? It’s so lonely without company!”
Huo Tingfeng sneered. “Class over already? Squatting here like that?”
Lin Yao: “No class today.”
Huo Tingfeng was prepared. “Oh? Maybe I got it wrong. Wasn’t that substitute teacher the professor dragged out helping you fake attendance? Though the professor did say: ‘Don’t think I don’t follow the news. The Lin Family young master doesn’t look like you.'”
He crossed his arms, eyeing Lin Yao up and down. “What, does the Lin Family have another young master?”
Lin Yao stubbornly shot back, “Of course! There’s Little Deer!”
Shen Leyuan blanked for a moment.
If everything had gone normally, whether Little Deer turned out great as a revered scientist or rotten in prison, Shen Leyuan would’ve occasionally thought of him: A student I taught.
But Little Deer was different.
Little Deer wasn’t a fleeting passerby in his life but an inseparable burden on his shoulders. From the moment he’d arrived in this world, he and Little Deer had been inextricably linked.
He couldn’t be a teacher anymore.
He could only be Little Deer’s overseer—or, by extension, everyone else’s.
So up to now, in chats with Director Hao about work, Lin Yuan and Lin Yao, Di Junya, even Huo Tingfeng-related matters, he’d never once mentioned Little Deer.
After all, there’d be plenty of time for that later.
For now, let him evade a little, savor these last peaceful days.
Shen Leyuan let out a soft breath and ruffled Lin Yao’s hair, melancholic. “Study hard. You won’t get this time back.”
Lin Yao couldn’t care less about college life.
But his teacher liked good grades, serious students. He’d play the part, even if he had to fake it.
He hesitated, glancing at Huo Tingfeng, then gritted his teeth. That old guy said Huo Tingfeng’s got high combat skills. If anything happens, he can protect Teacher. Fine, let him stick around a bit longer.
Meekly, he said, “Then I’ll go to class…”
Shen Leyuan shooed him. “Go on.”
Lin Yao looked at him pitifully. “But I really have no class today.”
Huo Tingfeng pulled up Lin Yao’s schedule on his phone and pointed to PE. “Isn’t this one?”
Lin Yao smugly replied, “I signed up for basketball. I play better than the teacher—he said if I don’t wanna go, just fake a sick note.”
Shen Leyuan thought for a moment and smiled. “Not going home today. I’ll watch you play basketball.”
Lin Yao’s eyes lit up. “For real?”
Shen Leyuan: “For real.”
With Di Junya at home being an eyesore, better to head back to school and enjoy the vibrant young students.
Huo Tingfeng, thoroughly ignored, said gloomily, “I play basketball well too.”
Before Lin Yao could retort, Shen Leyuan frowned. “He’s how old, you’re how old? What, you planning to bully a kid?”
Huo Tingfeng felt sour. I barely said anything, and he’s already defending Lin Yao!
Lin Yao was more direct. “I’m not a kid!”
Huo Tingfeng: “Nineteen. Immature.”
Lin Yao: “Teacher’s only twenty. You’re old, got a generation gap with us… Right, you’re twenty-eight? Three generations a gap—you’re almost three. Can you not butt into young people’s talk?”
Huo Tingfeng: “I’ve got a career. You?”
“You mean the illegal kind? Nah, don’t have that. Teacher wants me to be a good kid… Teacher?!”
They looked—Teacher had already hopped into a taxi.
Huo Tingfeng: …
Lin Yao: …
What’s the point of bickering without Teacher?
Dejected, each called a cab to follow. Lin Yao checked his phone and saw Teacher had messaged two minutes ago: Caught a cab first. You two chat slowly. He perked up. Teacher’s not mad, good.
Later, he’d be good—no fighting, no bothering Teacher.
Huo Tingfeng got nothing, wished he could poison his own voice. He’d swear to stay silent later, be a quiet mute.
The weather had cooled lately, and the school field buzzed with energy.
The moment Shen Leyuan appeared at the court, eyes turned his way. Soon, a forum post popped up.
[Alert—Qin U Campus Incubus sighted at the court! Dive in!]
Top post:
[So who’s he here for?
1. No. 12 crybaby player
2. Lin Family young master rushing from the gate
3. New target]
Comments below overwhelmingly picked 2. No other reason than…
[Floor 23: He gave way too much]
[24: +1]
[25: +2]
[26: +3]
…
Floor-spammers piled on for a dozen floors. OP updated: [Alert—No. 12 went to chat up the incubus! Can he succeed?!]
Less than half a minute later, OP coldly posted: [Nah, he can’t. He’s wiping tears now. Loser!]
Floor-spammers chorused neatly below: [Loser!]
OP continued: [Oh oh oh, Lin young master arrived! He’s heading to the incubus, he spoke, he’s blushing!]
OP: [He’s actually blushing! So cute!]
[Floor 155: OP, you seeing things? Him blush?]
OP: [Real blush]
OP: [I’m shocked too. Didn’t expect Lin young master to be the pure type. Lemme snap a pic for y’all!]
After that, OP vanished.
Because Lin Yao, face dark, snatched his phone. “Snapping what?”
OP was bold online but meek IRL, shrinking into the crowd. “N-nothing…”
Shen Leyuan walked over. “What’s up?”
Lin Yao fumed. “Teacher, he’s sneak-picturing you!”
OP: ???
OP: “I didn’t!”
Lin Yao sneered. “You left the flash on, idiot.”
OP felt wronged and guilty, didn’t dare argue, shrank back two steps, staring at his phone in silence.
Shen Leyuan asked gently, “Can you tell me what you were snapping?”
Noticing how scared he was of Lin Yao, Shen Leyuan took the phone from Lin Yao’s hand and waved it. “If it’s me, I don’t mind. But next time, ask first, okay?”
OP nodded hesitantly.
Lin Yao scowled unhappily. “Teacher, don’t be too nice to creeps like him. Who knows what he’ll do with your pics?”
In the crowd, Huo Tingfeng nodded darkly in agreement.
Like Lin Yao, he was hyper-vigilant about anything Shen Leyuan-related now, terrified of another kidnapping.
But Shen Leyuan saw the OP as just a shy, introverted kid. He coaxed gently, got him to delete the photo, then dragged Lin Yao away. “You playing basketball or not?”
OP stared after them, eyes still rimmed red.
After a while, he listlessly opened the forum, deleted his 100k-word “Lin Young Master x Campus Incubus” smut fic, axed the post, and declared: Sealing my heart, no more shipping.
Soon, another post: [Anyone notice? There’s always a big-chested hunk near the incubus.]
Top post:
[Shared a few classes with incubus. Every time, a big-chested hunk lurks in the corner outside. Masked, but looks older, not from our school. Paid extra attention this time—hunk’s eyes glued to incubus.]
Comments analyzed: [Bodyguard? Wasn’t it dug up before? Incubus always has a few. Check around—others should be nearby.]
OP: [That post was mine too, thx.]
OP: [Bodyguards rotate. This one doesn’t. And incubus barely talks to him.]
OP: [What does that mean? Y’all know?]
Someone chimed seamlessly: [Avoiding suspicion! They’re totally hooking up!]
Then: [Thx thx, inspired]
OP: [?]
OP: [Didn’t you seal your heart?]
No reply. Soon, a new fic emerged on the forum—What to Do When You’re Pregnant with Your Bodyguard’s Kid
