Chapter 34: The Flirty Instructor

Lin Jianxi had barely stepped away from the group when he bumped right into Shen Yuxiu.

“Boss?” Lin Jianxi said.

“Stand behind me,” Shen Yuxiu replied.

Lin Jianxi moved behind him to escape the sun, and Shen Yuxiu added, “I’ll talk to Xu Song’an. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Lin Jianxi patted Shen Yuxiu’s back. Once the man turned around, he said, “If you don’t normally interact with this little brother of yours, then it’s best not to start now.”

A flicker of confusion passed through Shen Yuxiu’s eyes.

Lin Jianxi met his gaze. “Don’t ask me why. Just chalk it up to me being capricious.”

“…”

Shen Yuxiu’s mood seemed to sour again.

Lin Jianxi tried talking to him, but the man didn’t even offer him a scrap of expression. Feeling utterly bored, Lin Jianxi turned his attention to observing Xu Song’an instead.

It was Xu Song’an’s first day. He’d come to Lin Jianxi that morning asking for a break, but in the afternoon, it was like he’d been swapped out for someone else—training relentlessly with the group without a single pause. Lin Jianxi was worried he might push himself too far.

Xu Song’an was training with intense focus, chatting and laughing with the other trainees during breaks. But that hat of his never came off.

“Are his eyes that bad?” Lin Jianxi asked.

“…”

No one answered. Lin Jianxi glanced at Shen Yuxiu.

The man’s eyes held a hint of pitifulness. “Can you stop bringing him up all the time?”

“…”

Lin Jianxi couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine, I won’t mention him anymore.”

~~~

While Lin Jianxi was off changing his inhibitor patch, Shen Yuxiu still called Xu Song’an over.

Before Shen Yuxiu could say a word, Xu Song’an bent down to tie his shoelace. “What’s this? Can’t stand it after just one day? Wanna take me out?”

Shen Yuxiu didn’t respond.

Xu Song’an looked up. “I know it wasn’t easy for you to get where you are. And I don’t want your spot—”

“…”

Shen Yuxiu flipped open his cigarette case with one hand. “I didn’t call you here to talk about that.”

Xu Song’an straightened up. “Oh? Then what is it?”

“I’m here to tell you: next time you talk to him, don’t stand so close. The face you’ve got? He’s already mentioned it three or four times today. You won’t have it much longer.”

“…”

Xu Song’an froze. “…”

Ever adaptable, Xu Song’an flashed a beaming smile. “Bro, spill the details. How exactly did he praise me?”

Shen Yuxiu stared at him coldly.

Xu Song’an didn’t care what might happen to him later. His mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of that gorgeous instructor calling him good-looking…

Good-looking? What kind of face did he make when he said it?

He’d even called him a little dog today, and hadn’t gotten mad no matter how much he provoked him…

Xu Song’an pressed, “Bro? What did he say about me? Does he hate me?”

“What are you two talking about?”

The voice drifted over, accompanied by that distinctive pheromone scent. Suddenly, a pale, slender hand appeared in their line of sight, plucking a cigarette from Shen Yuxiu’s case and tapping the filter.

Lin Jianxi glanced at Shen Yuxiu. “Still smoking the kind with burst beads, Boss?”

His tone was light and airy, but Lin Jianxi knew Shen Yuxiu would catch the undercurrent.

He’d told him not to talk privately.

And yet, not even five minutes after he’d left, here they were chatting.

Lin Jianxi thought the punishment cane shouldn’t just be for trainees. His husband needed a little lesson too.

But Xu Song’an’s coquettish tone didn’t sound like there was any real beef between them.

Looks like he wasn’t the protagonist after all.

Lin Jianxi turned to Xu Song’an, intending to send him back to the group. But when their eyes met, Xu Song’an’s cheeks slowly flushed red.

“…?”

Xu Song’an’s expression was incredibly awkward.

“Haven’t gotten your fill yet?” Lin Jianxi asked.

Xu Song’an nodded, then quickly shook his head.

Lin Jianxi wanted to laugh. “Then go ahead and keep staring.”

Xu Song’an really did gaze at him for a while longer before heading back to training.

The sun dipped below the horizon. Lin Jianxi tilted his head and coughed. Shen Yuxiu immediately reached to pat his back, but Lin Jianxi dodged.

Shen Yuxiu sneakily hooked his pinky finger around Lin Jianxi’s hand. Lin Jianxi turned and walked off, kicking awake a trainee in the back who’d dozed off mid-pushup.

Lin Jianxi crouched down, looking into the trainee’s half-dazed, pre-panic eyes. With a soft smile, he said, “Practical training’s in a week. You dare slack off here? Gonna slack at work too? No problem—I’ll fan you while you sleep.”

The trainee, thrown by the gentle tone, murmured, “Am I dreaming again?”

In the eerie silence, Lin Jianxi undid the top two buttons of his white shirt. “Oh? Am I the protagonist this time too?”

The trainee: “…” Holy shit, unbuttoning means he’s about to get beaten—not a dream, fuck fuck fuck!!

The trainee shot to his feet and scrambled three meters away. Lin Jianxi remained crouched, watching as the trainee frantically did pushups from afar. Only then did he slowly shift his gaze to Xu Song’an, who’d frozen mid-pushup beside him, staring blankly with who-knows-what shock.

Lin Jianxi ignored it and stood to head out. Suddenly, Xu Song’an called after him. “Instructor, can you take me to the infirmary?”

Lin Jianxi didn’t look back. “Follow me.”

~~~

Sunset.

Xu Song’an walked beside him for a long, long time before hesitantly speaking up. “Instructor, I provoked you so much today. Are you mad?”

“Mm,” Lin Jianxi replied.

“Ah…” Xu Song’an apologized sincerely. “I’m sorry, Instructor. I… I was just pissed off back then…”

“Normal,” Lin Jianxi said, lighting a cigarette he’d taken from Shen Yuxiu. “First day here, lots of people feel shitty.”

“This place…” Lin Jianxi gazed out at the trainees sweating it out on the training field. “Some come for the romance, that sense of mystery. But most of your classmates? They’re desperate—bad family situations, tricked out of their last penny, coming here to gamble it all on one shot. Plenty break down on day one, so no need to apologize to me. You’re already doing great.”

“…”

Xu Song’an said, “Instructor, do you really understand every one of us like that?”

Lin Jianxi laughed. “What else? You think I train you like dogs just for kicks?”

“…” Xu Song’an bowed his head.

Lin Jianxi held out his palm toward Xu Song’an. “Like this. Reach out your hand.”

Xu Song’an mimicked his movements.

Lin Jianxi took a pen and wrote a string of numbers on the other’s palm. “I don’t know why you came here, but since you’re here, I have to take responsibility for you. This is my number—contact me anytime if your eyes feel uncomfortable.”

The nib glided across his palm, tickling at his heart.

“…” Xu Song’an was stunned for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile. “Instructor, you’re really great.”

After finishing the last stroke, Lin Jianxi asked Xu Song’an, “Be honest with me—nothing happened between you and the boss, right?”

“…Nothing,” Xu Song’an replied. “Between him and me, it’s just the most ordinary cousin relationship. I might’ve been a bit rebellious and pissed him off before. Our relationship has always been like that—tit for tat, you know how brothers are. It can’t be like with girls, but Instructor, rest assured, I harbor no ill will toward him. And you… you shouldn’t overthink it either. Don’t bother me. What I did today…”

“I’m sorry.”

“…What?”

Lin Jianxi said earnestly, “Xu Song’an, I misjudged you and held a bias against you today. I don’t blame you for what you did—I’m the one who lit the fuse.”

Xu Song’an’s expression grew awkward again. “It’s fine… No, Instructor, you didn’t do anything wrong. I really disrespected you today…”

“Enough,” Lin Jianxi said, patting the other’s still-outstretched hand. “What’s done is done. Now let’s go check on your eyes.”

~~~

From the doctor, Lin Jianxi learned that Xu Song’an was blind in one eye, and the other wasn’t healthy either. His vision was still okay, but there were many complications, so he couldn’t be exposed to harsh sunlight.

Lin Jianxi felt like he was dreaming.

On the way out of the infirmary, medicine bag in hand and walking alongside Xu Song’an, Lin Jianxi was still a bit dazed. “You’re training here in this condition?”

Xu Song’an kept his head down, stepping on fallen leaves as he lied without batting an eye. “I wanted to see what kind of company my brother put so much effort into building.”

“…”

Xu Song’an looked at him. “Instructor, could I treat you to dinner tonight? You can ask me anything you want.”

Lin Jianxi replied, “I eat at the cafeteria.”

Xu Song’an: “Ah, he’s so rich, and he makes you eat cafeteria food every day?”

Lin Jianxi: “It’s convenient. I’m not picky about food.”

Xu Song’an looked all aggrieved.

Lin Jianxi: “…”

Lin Jianxi: “I’m not eating dinner tonight.”

Xu Song’an looked even more aggrieved, and that pitiful state lasted all the way until evening training ended.

Lin Jianxi really couldn’t eat that night, but afraid of low blood sugar, he obeyed his husband’s orders and nibbled on an apple nearby. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of a scent.

He touched the inhibitor patch on his neck—it was already damp.

“…”

Lin Jianxi looked up and noticed the trainees seemed to have picked up on something, their gazes flicking his way. He bit into the apple and immediately messaged Shen Yuxiu.

His hands were shaking a little.

“Is that Instructor Lin?” A tall Alpha stepped up beside him. “The boss isn’t here right now. I can help you.”

“…”

Before Lin Jianxi could respond, a jacket was draped over his head.

“…?”

Lin Jianxi was still biting the apple, dazed for a second.

Then he was swept into someone’s arms and carried away.

He was pulled into a restroom stall.

The man lifted his clothes—

Lin Jianxi saw Xu Song’an’s face.

Lin Jianxi stared blankly, his usually stern eyes now so clear and vulnerable that they stirred pity rather than fear.

Xu Song’an froze too. After a long moment, he blurted out on impulse, “Instructor, doesn’t this feel like I’m lifting your bridal veil?”

At those words, Lin Jianxi—who had been about to say thanks—hurled the clothes right back at Xu Song’an’s face.

“Get out and run ten laps around the track.”

~~~

Dormitory.

【P】: How’d it go? Figured out how to get back at Shen Yuxiu yet?

【Xu Song’an】: His wife said I was good-looking.

【P】: …

【P】: ?

【Xu Song’an】: Ah, what’re you going silent for? Didn’t I tell you two months ago that I thought his wife was super charming? Met him today, and not only is he charming—his scent is amazing too.

【Xu Song’an】: All Shen’s fault. Now I wanna use his wife to get back at him. Did a bunch of stupid shit today.

【Xu Song’an】: …He won’t hate me, will he?

【Xu Song’an】: Do you think he’ll hate me? Is it too late to apologize tomorrow?

【P】: ……………… Do whatever you want.

【P】: Kinda curious—what does he smell like?

【Xu Song’an】: You don’t get to know.

【P】: …

【P】: You really like him, huh.

【Xu Song’an】: Think what you want. Shen Yuxiu’s done rotten things his whole life, but who knew karma would be this sweet? A beauty throwing himself into marriage with him. I thought it was punishment at first—turns out it’s a reward.

【P】: So Shen Yuxiu’s fallen for that guy?

【Xu Song’an】: Heh, head over heels.

【P】: What the hell is he, anyway? Why do you all like him????

【P】: Were you all scammed by a pyramid scheme or something?

【P】: Holy shit, his pheromones aren’t opium, are they!!

Xu Song’an didn’t reply.

He lay on his dorm bed, staring at the number written on his palm.

He could still feel the touch of Lin Jianxi’s handwriting there.

Before sleep, Xu Song’an hid the clothes that carried Lin Jianxi’s scent under his blanket. Then he slowly placed his palm over his chest, closed his eyes, and in that hazy drift toward sleep, he seemed to hear someone say—

“Holy crap, breaking news! The boss and the instructor got into a fight!”

Xu Song’an snapped awake.

He sat up. “Where?” He had to go fan the flames.

Roommate: “You scared me! Right downstairs.”

~~~

“You’re not listening to me at all.”

After being “tailed” by Shen Yuxiu all evening, Lin Jianxi finally lost his patience. He turned, hooked his arms around Shen Yuxiu’s neck, and gave the other’s face a light smack with his left hand.

“I told you not to come find me, and you came anyway.”

Lin Jianxi smacked him again. “Hm? I said no talking to Xu Song’an, and you still talked to him.”

Shen Yuxiu let him hit. “I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

Lin Jianxi laughed. “Ah, you’re right—you didn’t. Your decisions were even correct. But is that what I’m mad about, Shen Yuxiu?”

“…I was wrong.”

“Where did you go wrong?”

“…Made you angry.”

Lin Jianxi: “…”

Lin Jianxi had been an instructor for so long that certain habits had ingrained themselves in his behavior—for instance, whenever he needed to assert his authority, he would unbutton the front of his shirt.

All the trainees knew that meant someone was about to get caned.

When Shen Yuxiu saw him undoing the buttons, his expression shifted. He brushed Lin Jianxi’s hand aside and fastened them back up.

Lin Jianxi said coolly, “What are you doing?”

Shen Yuxiu replied, “We’re outside. That sort of thing… is better suited for the bed.”

Lin Jianxi: “…………”

Lin Jianxi was genuinely amused. He reached out, pressed Shen Yuxiu’s head down, and nipped at his lip. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he murmured, “Husband, what I meant was for you to obey me.”

Shen Yuxiu understood. After a moment of mental preparation, he lowered his head and kissed him passionately.

Lin Jianxi: “…?”

The kiss left Lin Jianxi dazed and foggy-headed. When he came back to himself, his eyes were misty and faintly red. He blinked slowly, easing back a few centimeters from Shen Yuxiu.

Both of them were breathing raggedly.

A moment later, Lin Jianxi pieced it together. With a gritted-teeth chuckle, he leaned in close and said, “What kind of thought process is that…? Looks like I really do need to teach you a lesson, hmm? What do you say, Husband? Agree?”

“Agree.”

“Agree to what?”

“You teach me.”

“Teach what?”

“…Thought process.”

“…………”

He was a little annoyed at first, but on second thought, it was actually pretty amusing.

As Lin Jianxi made his bed checks, he couldn’t suppress a chuckle—but at the same time, a thread of doubt nagged at him.

A husband like this—who could possibly hold a grudge against him?

Why hadn’t the protagonist shown up yet? Would he have to wait two or three years like in the First World? Or could that battered kid he’d seen that morning actually be the protagonist…

Lin Jianxi finished inspecting the first floor and started up the stairs to the second.

Suddenly, the scent of cigarette smoke wafted toward him.

He looked up and spotted Xu Song’an crouched in the corner of the stairwell, puffing away.

Xu Song’an couldn’t fathom his rotten luck. He’d stepped out full of excitement, only to stumble right into Lin Jianxi locked in a steamy French kiss with that man.

Lin Jianxi asked, “What are you doing?”

Xu Song’an startled and snuffed out the cigarette at once. “I… cigarette craving.”

“Oh.” Lin Jianxi casually tossed the pack to a trainee passing by. “I took yours this morning. No smoking during training hours—do as you like at night.”

The trainee stood frozen in place, clutching the cigarettes.

Lin Jianxi’s white shirt was still a bit rumpled. The sight soured Xu Song’an’s mood; it felt like someone else had dirtied it up. So irritating. Couldn’t they just get a divorce?

If not a divorce, then at least stop being so touchy-feely. Shen Yuxiu might as well vanish.

…But if Shen Yuxiu did disappear, Lin Jianxi’s line of work was bound to rack up plenty of enemies. Desperate and cornered, wouldn’t he come running to Xu Song’an for help?

Xu Song’an narrowed his eyes.

Noticing this, Lin Jianxi asked, “Eyes bothering you?”

Xu Song’an dropped his gaze to mask the emotion flickering there. “Yeah.”

Lin Jianxi said, “Which room are you in?”

Xu Song’an looked up with a smile. “Room 205, Instructor.”

“I’ll walk you back.”

“Instructor, you gonna give me some eye drops?” Xu Song’an trailed after him.

“What are you imagining?” Lin Jianxi handed over the medicine bag. “The meds for training are different from your usual ones. I’ve written out the schedule for you.”

“…Oh.” Xu Song’an stood and added, “Thanks, Instructor. Your shirt’s a mess—let me straighten it for you.”

“No need.”

Lin Jianxi pushed open the door to Room 205. Inside, a cluster of trainees was huddled secretively around a table, deep in discussion. Hearing the door, they passed a photo backward without turning around. “Quick, quick—new arrival! Fresh-off-the-press Instructor pic. Super intense vibe. Here’s one for you.”

“…”

Xu Song’an’s brows furrowed faintly.

Lin Jianxi stepped forward and plucked up the photo.

There he was, for once not in a suit but in one of his husband’s old shirts and a pair of shorts from god-knows-where.

He was perched on Shen Yuxiu’s office desk, one foot planted three inches below Shen Yuxiu’s navel, his other hand wielding the Punishment Cane to shove against the man’s chest and hold him at bay.

“…”

Who the hell had snuck this shot?

On closer reflection, it was downright creepy. That day in the office…

How had anyone gotten this angle?

Trainee: “Why so quiet? Not feeling the heat? It’s so wild—holy shit!!”

The words had barely left his mouth when everyone whipped around in unison. Eyes bulging, they scrambled backward in a panic until the ones at the rear were shoved right onto the balcony.

Lin Jianxi let out a chuckle and shifted his gaze from the photo to the group.

He pinched the photo between two fingers and said with mock regret, “This isn’t hot enough? I’ve got even hotter ones. You want them?”

“…Yeah… ha.” An elbow jabbed him, and he backpedaled at once. “No!”

Lin Jianxi pressed, “Hm? Do you want them, or not?”

“…”

“…”

We’re screwed.