Chapter 81: Bite Marks

Shen Leyuan initially jumped in fright.

But once he made out what the other was crying out, his expression twisted into a bizarre mix of surprise, conflict, and embarrassment. He pulled one hand free from the young man’s embrace and fished out his phone to ask Mr. Lin about his past-life form of address.

Lin Yuan listened to the sobs on the other end of the line, able to picture their exact position.

He didn’t let his jealousy show. Whatever his lover asked, he answered—some answers were guesses, others fragmented dreams that pieced together into a story from their past life.

Lin Yao was still dazed, lost in the illusory dream as he recalled his previous life.

Back then, he hadn’t been the silly, sweet, and innocent type like in this life. He’d proactively gone abroad to build his own power base, only to be lured back home by a single invitation. From there, he’d clashed with his cheap little stepmother in endless schemes and counter-schemes.

He’d truly hired killers once, intent on putting an end to him.

But one day, he suddenly realized what “little mom” truly meant.

He was the discipline when he misbehaved, the comfort when he was sick, the furrowed brows or curved smiling eyes, the hand stretched out when he fell… and also the gasps and moans from his father’s bed.

The person who always acted like an elder in front of him could melt into a puddle of water—his skin slick and wet to the touch, his breaths laced with sweetness.

In a man’s arms, he was so obedient. His mouth didn’t just lecture or discipline him; it also whined and coquettishly begged. His pale arms could go soft, wrapping around another’s neck.

His skin was smooth and white, glowing softly. His legs could coil around another’s waist, so proactive and accommodating. When he leaned in close to whisper in a man’s ear, his eyes sparkled with a mischievous smile.

From then on, Lin Yao couldn’t meet his little mom’s smiling eyes directly.

He still wanted to “deal with” him, but “deal with” took on other meanings in his dreams, over and over.

Later, he’d climbed into his bed—and hadn’t been kicked off.

Even later, he discovered he wasn’t the only one sneaking into his bed; the others hadn’t been kicked off either.

Much later still, he’d cast them all aside.

Lin Yao felt heartbroken, full of regret. He always thought it was his fault.

If I’d just been a good boy, would Mommy not have left?

Right now, he was muddled and confused, not knowing what to say. He simply clung to “Mommy” even tighter, like a starving little beast clutching its food, warding off any intruders.

The voice from the phone counted as an intruder, of course.

But he’d been trained all too well—he didn’t throw a tantrum. He only gazed at Shen Leyuan with teary, hazy, frightened eyes. “Don’t want him… Mommy, let me do it, okay?”

Shen Leyuan was in the middle of discussing what to do with the big shot and hadn’t quite caught that.

“Hm?”

Lin Yao took it as agreement, though, and his hand began fumbling downward.

Shen Leyuan didn’t notice anything amiss at first. The hand sliding from his waist and abdomen tickled slightly, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Hey, don’t…”

Lin Yuan suddenly said, “Order him.”

Shen Leyuan still hadn’t caught it clearly. “What?”

Lin Yuan: “Say ‘stop it,’ nice and loud. Make your tone fierce.”

The effect was immediate—Lin Yao froze.

Following Lin Yuan’s instructions, Shen Leyuan pointed to the edge of the bed and said sternly, “Get down!”

Lin Yao stared at him in disbelief.

Shen Leyuan’s clothes were soaked from the crying and even torn in places. Wanting to change before comforting the kid further, he schooled his face into sternness and repeated, “Get down!”

The young man stared at him intently, eyes bloodshot, panting heavily like he was about to lash out violently. But incredibly, he slowly, reluctantly climbed off, slunk to the bedside, and stood facing the wall in reflection.

It was obvious he’d been trained before—obedient as a little child.

Inappropriately, Shen Leyuan thought of Little Deer. That kid was impossibly well-behaved too, obedient to an eerie degree.

He wanted to ask the big shot about it, but now wasn’t the time.

After changing out of his soaked, bitten clothes, Shen Leyuan approached the young man facing the wall. “Lin Yao?”

The young man stiffened, then abruptly dropped his arms.

Since he was facing away, Shen Leyuan couldn’t see what he was doing. Suspicious, he asked, “Why won’t you turn around?”

Lin Yao obediently turned, hands clasped behind his back, head bowed like a child.

“I shouldn’t have climbed into bed. I shouldn’t have hugged Teacher without permission. I shouldn’t have been disobedient. I shouldn’t have been so jealous. I shouldn’t have…”

A string of apologies spilled out, as if this routine had played out a thousand times, or as if these words had been buried in Lin Yao’s heart for years, etched into his very bones.

But he still looked dazed, probably not even aware of what he was saying.

Shen Leyuan softened his voice. “Why are you apologizing?”

Lin Yao wasn’t sure if he understood the question. He just looked at him and sobbed, “Mommy, don’t abandon me… I admit my wrongs… Punish me however you want… Even if you won’t let me into bed…”

From the phone, Lin Yuan cut in: “Order him to rest.”

The big shot was clearly more experienced with this. Shen Leyuan followed his lead and commanded Lin Yao to return to his own room and rest.

Lin Yao’s eyes reddened further, his chest heaving, teeth gritted tight.

After a long moment, he slowly turned.

Be obedient.

He thought, It’s because I’m not obedient that Mommy gets tired, that he leaves us.

Even as breathing grew agonizing, Lin Yao shuffled step by step toward the door. But the instant his fingers brushed the doorknob, he could no longer hold on—his vision went black.

“Lin Yao!!!”

In that final moment before blacking out, he heard Mommy’s panicked voice.

Worth dying for.

Shen Leyuan flipped Lin Yao over. The young man’s face was deathly pale, a faint trace of blood at his lips. He wiped it away, but there was no wound in his mouth. He’d assumed the kid bit his tongue.

He pried open the teeth with his fingers to check inside—no wound there either.

Where…?

Before calling for an ambulance, he suddenly recalled how Lin Yao had hidden his arms. He glanced there.

A fresh, pitiful bite mark, still oozing.

His hand trembled as he touched it. Lin Yao abruptly tightened his arms around Shen Leyuan’s waist, burying his face in his chest again. No longer pale and terrified, his brows were still furrowed, but a faint smile curved his lips.

“Mommy…” Lin Yao murmured in his sleep.

Shen Leyuan shelved the ambulance idea and said to the big shot, “Forget it. I’ll stay with him tonight.”

Because of that one sentence, Lin Yuan didn’t sleep a wink all night.

The next day, Lin Yao woke in Shen Leyuan’s arms.

Teacher’s clothes were a mess, his face etched with exhaustion. His own arm was locked around Teacher’s waist, face buried in his chest, drool dampening that patch of skin.

No way… Yesterday… Did I…

His face drained of color. He instinctively tried to push away, but halted mid-motion and flushed red, pressing closer instead.

He heard a familiar yet strange “thump-thump”—not sure if it was his own heart or Teacher’s. A wave of reassurance drowned him, his nose tingling.

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and thought in bewilderment, What’s going on?

Feeling the head on his chest stir, Shen Leyuan immediately soothed him. His hand patted the young man’s back gently. “Good boy, don’t be scared. Mommy’s here. I won’t abandon you…”

His voice trailed off as he drifted back to sleep.

Lin Yao’s already flushed face burned hot enough to fry an egg. Did I sleepwalk and expose some kink?

How much did I expose? Did I do anything I shouldn’t have?

Panicking, Lin Yao’s arm brushed Teacher’s warm skin. He couldn’t bear to shift even an inch. His gaze stuck to Teacher’s face, pierced by the exhaustion there. Joy slowly soured into heartache.

Teacher seems so tired all the time.

I don’t want Teacher to be tired…

With great difficulty, he climbed out of bed, tidied the messy sheets, lingered at the bedside for a moment, then tiptoed out to prepare breakfast for Teacher.

While washing up, the bite mark on his arm caught his eye.

Lin Yao’s cheeks flushed first. Did Teacher bite me?

He immediately dismissed it, frowning slightly. He tested the angle with his own mouth, and his expression soured.

I bit myself? Am I insane?