After Helping the Protagonist Escape From a Madman, I Became His Target [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 17

By the time he returned to the office, the third period had already started. Shen Luyang’s appearance, cradling a battered arm with a bruised and purple mouth, instantly drew a wave of stares the moment he stepped through the door.

Zong Weiqing was out teaching, and Shi Fan was absent as well. Only Jiang Nuanyu and two other subject teachers from neighboring classes were there.

Jiang Nuanyu scanned him from head to toe immediately, then shot a suspicious glance at Xie Weihan behind him. “Did you two get into a fight?” she asked, her tone neither hot nor cold.

“Spot on,” Shen Luyang nodded solemnly. “I said I wanted to feel the gap in combat power, and Teacher Xie graciously granted my impudent request.”

Jiang Nuanyu narrowed her eyes, her expression clearly reading, “Who are you trying to kid?”

Indeed, given Shen Luyang’s physical stats as an ordinary Alpha, if Xie Weihan actually wanted to lay a hand on him, he wouldn’t even need to get close. He would have eight hundred ways to make him kick the bucket instantly.

Shen Luyang pulled out that pathetic excuse that no one believed, using it for the thousandth time without getting tired of it: “I accidentally tripped on the stairs. It hurts so much.”

Jiang Nuanyu scoffed and lowered her head to continue grading papers. She clearly didn’t buy it.

Shen Luyang didn’t mind her expression. Brazenly banking on the “snack-exchange friendship” he shared with her, he followed his two lies by asking her for two band-aids. Jiang Nuanyu watched as this big dork took the band-aids and immediately scurried over to share them with Xie Weihan.

He was like a brainless Husky rubbing up against a lead wolf. Completely oblivious to the danger beside him, he likely thought the man was just a much handsomer fellow Siberian Husky.

Sunny, silly, and slow—he was the perfect personification of the law that “fools have good fortune.”

The usually predatory and detached lead wolf had, quite uncharacteristically, allowed this dog to stay. No one knew why. It certainly didn’t seem like it would lead to anything good.

“You gave me two band-aids last time, and I noticed your box was empty,” Shen Luyang placed the band-aids on Xie Weihan’s desk. “Teacher Jiang gave me these. Wow… the pattern is a bit of a burden for me to wear. I mean, it’s not that I’m not handsome, but isn’t this a bit too cute?”

Xie Weihan glanced up slightly at Jiang Nuanyu, who was staring their way. The moment she met his gaze, she warily looked away. That was the authentic reaction of an Alpha encountering him—the basic instinct to avoid risk.

He looked back up, his lips curving slightly. He gazed warmly at the man leaning his arm on the desk, who was defenselessly fiddling with the two cartoon band-aids with a look of serious conflict.

This man was special—unique, so far.

“This one suits you better,” Xie Weihan pointed to the band-aid with a little sun pattern, which featured a bright smiley face.

Shen Luyang picked that one up and made an easy decision: “Then this one is for you.”

He left a red band-aid on the desk, printed with a cartoon poison symbol. It was actually quite cute.

******

Shi Fan didn’t return to the office until noon.

Shen Luyang was currently struggling to choose between “Stir-fried River Noodles” and “Steamed Dumplings” on his delivery app when a tall, thin shadow suddenly stood before him. Before he could look up, a familiar, clear voice spoke.

“Teacher Shen, do you have a moment?”

Shen Luyang put his phone down and looked into Shi Fan’s weary eyes. He chuckled. “Sure. What’s up, Teacher Shi?”

It seemed that even though the protagonist couple had broken up, their bond was still deep. Shi Fan’s complexion looked terrible. This was a mess Shen Luyang really couldn’t meddle in.

Shi Fan glanced around. “Can we… go out and talk?”

Shen Luyang stood up. “Sure.”

This was his first time on the school building’s rooftop. Shen Luyang looked around with curiosity; it seemed someone cleaned it regularly, as the floor was spotless and there were no student confessions scrawled on the walls. The view was amazing, making him feel like the king of the world, but the wind was biting and a bit cold.

Shen Luyang pulled his sleeves tight, desperately wanting to tuck his hands away and huddle in a corner for warmth. Considering Shi Fan’s solemn expression, he abandoned the impractical thought, rubbed his arms, and asked, “Teacher Shi, there shouldn’t be anyone else here. What did you want to say?”

Shi Fan lowered his head. After a long moment, he took a deep breath, as if making a final decision, and looked at him. “Teacher Shen, I have to apologize to you for today’s incident.”

“No need, no need, Teacher Shi,” Shen Luyang waved him off. “I did it of my own free will. Don’t feel burdened; a little scratch like this is nothing to me.”

Shi Fan frowned with guilt, his eyes filled with worry. “Teacher Shen, I want to warn you… Duan Chen’s family is very influential. His placement in this school was arranged. Even the Principal can’t restrain him. I… I’m worried he might do something to you because of me. You must be careful.”

Shen Luyang recalled what the system had told him. Duan Chen was indeed “packaged” and sent to the school by his family for “reform.” His background was powerhouse-level, likely the kind of power that could effortlessly demand the Principal fire a teacher.

Seeing Shi Fan looking as if he were about to go negotiate with the “scumbag” on his behalf, Shen Luyang suddenly thought of his mother visiting yesterday. Recalling her care and protection, a flash of warmth crossed his eyes, and a grin spread across his face.

“You don’t need to worry about any of that, Teacher Shi.”

Shi Fan looked at him, puzzled.

Shen Luyang crossed his arms, putting on a look of deep mystery. Mimicking the “rich second generation” types he’d seen on TV, he leaned casually against the wall and let out a “tsk.”

“Who doesn’t have a father?”

Wasn’t it just a contest of who had the better dad? He was also a rich second generation whose father paid for his placement, he could make the Principal back down too, and he drove a 911 to work every day. In summary: He, Shen Luyang, was also a high-and-mighty rich kid!

Shi Fan was dazed by his sheer confidence. It took a while before he gave a bewildered, “…Oh. But Teacher Shen, you still need to stay safe. I’m afraid he might—”

Shen Luyang got a bit more serious, narrowing his eyes at Shi Fan. “Try to ambush me?”

Shi Fan didn’t answer directly. “He is a top-tier Alpha, and we are just ordinary Alphas. If he wants to hurt you without leaving evidence… there are probably many ways.”

Shen Luyang had been seriously considering how to avoid getting “bagged” by Duan Chen, but then Shi Fan brought up the much more straightforward “pheromone suppression.”

Now, Shen Luyang’s heart was completely at ease. With Teacher Xie as his protective charm, he didn’t need to worry about that at all.

*******

After soothing Shi Fan’s emotions, Shen Luyang happily ordered the steamed dumplings. When the delivery arrived, he had intended to share the results of his “food hunt” with Xie Weihan, but Xie Weihan had been out of the office since the fourth period. Zong Weiqing mentioned that the school leadership had something for him.

Shen Luyang didn’t think much of it. Teacher Xie was an outstanding educator, many levels above a temporary worker like himself. Being busy was normal.

The third period after lunch was Shen Luyang’s physics class. After eating his fill and playing thirty minutes of badminton with Jiang Nuanyu, he headed to class with his books, full of energy. Since he was new, the school only had him teaching Class 21, so his schedule was relatively light. Someone like Xie Weihan usually taught two classes—Class 21 and the elite Class 1. But for some reason, he chose to stay in the Class 21 science department office.

Passing through several noisy classes that hadn’t settled down yet, he reached Class 21. The volume inside was noticeably lower. Shen Luyang chuckled; it seemed Peng Jun’s group was truly loyal. Out of gratitude for their “savior,” they had decided to actually manage the classroom discipline.

He stepped onto the podium.

Peng Jun and the others had been suspended, and before they even got home, their phones had exploded with messages. Most were asking, “What did that Shen guy do?” Though they’d clashed with him before, the four were surprisingly honest. They didn’t downplay it at all, describing Shen Luyang as a “six-sided powerhouse” who could tank, hit, and dodge. Overnight, “the Shen guy” had transformed into “Boss Shen,” “The Man of Mystery,” and “That Man” in the hearts of Class 21.

Seeing the injuries on his face, Zhan Jingmiao in the first row cried out, “Teacher! You’re hurt!”

This shout broke the sound barrier, and the hushed room immediately buzzed back to life as if they were witnessing a miracle. Shen Luyang waited twenty seconds before holding up a hand to quiet them. He used his lame excuse again, brushing his hand against his lip: “Tripped on the stairs; it hurts like hell. No more talking; let’s start the lecture.”

They were clearly still kids; they thought that because he covered the cuts with band-aids, they couldn’t tell he’d been in a fight. Shen Luyang smirked, very satisfied with the discipline in the back row.

While explaining a concept, he picked up a piece of chalk to write a letter, and a jolt of pain shot through his arm. Wincing slightly, he powered through the “community service” aftereffects and kept writing. His natural expression was so good that not a single student noticed anything was wrong.

“The National Day long holiday is coming up in two days, so the homework might be a bit more than last week,” Shen Luyang leaned against the podium, reasoning with his students. “It’s a holiday, after all—time for fun. You don’t want to come home after a day of partying only to have to analyze physics problems, right?”

A chorus of agreement followed. Then someone pushed their luck: “Teacher, can we skip the homework for today and tomorrow too?”

Shen Luyang looked at the fourth row by the door in shock. “Student, I never even made such an unreasonable request when I was in school.”

The student laughed with him. “Teacher, were you a good student?”

Shen Luyang’s brow quirked as he said with flying confidence, “Of course. If you go to my alma mater now and ask around, who doesn’t know ‘Triple-A Student’ Shen Luyang?”

******

After class, Shen Luyang had just reached the door of the next class when he was blocked by Peng Jun and his group.

“What’s this?” Shen Luyang slung an arm around Peng Jun’s shoulder. “Blocking a classroom door… looking for a fight?”

Peng Jun: “…”

Why are you so familiar with the protocol for starting a brawl?!

Li Shenyu frowned at the small section of his arm visible, which was covered in bruises. “Did Tu Bohao’s accomplices do that?”

Shen Luyang looked at him. “As if. Unless—”

Li Shenyu’s expression tightened.

Shen Luyang: “His accomplices are the school’s stairs.”

Li Shenyu: “…”

Shen Luyang proceeded to analyze the possibilities with a straight face, telling them, “If that’s the case, he probably has a mental issue or a cognitive disorder…”

“Stop,” Li Shenyu took a deep breath, losing his composure for once. “I don’t like a single word coming out of your mouth.”

Shen Luyang stifled a laugh. “Alright, then.”

They were a bunch of rebellious but kind-hearted brats. He gave each of them a piece of candy as consolation—throwing them down whether they wanted them or not—and headed back to the office.

As soon as he pushed open the office door, he heard the hushed voice of the next-door chemistry teacher, Gong Wanjun.

“I just came back from the Principal’s office. I heard Teacher Duan Chen was in a car accident!”

“My God! Is he okay?”

“I only heard a little bit. Apparently, he was driving while fatigued. Both arms are broken, his face was slashed by glass… his jaw and mouth were covered in blood…”

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