After Helping the Protagonist Escape From a Madman, I Became His Target [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 18

Shen Luyang froze in his tracks the moment he stepped through the door.

Talk about instant karma.

For some reason, his eyes instinctively darted toward the desk at the far right of the office. Xie Weihan was still absent; Zong Weiqing had mentioned he was swamped with preparations for his open lecture these past few days.

“Teacher Gong,” Shen Luyang said, closing the door behind him. “Where did Teacher Duan’s accident happen?”

“Over by Sanli Bridge. It’s quite a distance from the school,” Gong Wanjun replied, looking ruefully at his phone balance. He and Duan Chen shared a class, so visiting him in the hospital would undoubtedly cost a bit of “get-well” money. “He left school during the fourth period and was driving until past two in the afternoon. I heard he pulled an all-nighter last night. That’s just…”

The last few words were mumbled, but the sentiment was clear to everyone.

That’s just asking for death.

Shen Luyang sat at his desk for a while, listening to the teachers trade various details, some likely true and some clearly exaggerated. He pieced together a summary: Duan Chen had left school in his car after the fourth period, drove while severely sleep-deprived, veered into a green belt, suffered serious fractures in his arms, and his face was badly mangled.

The last two points could eventually be fixed by the powerful regenerative abilities of a top-tier Alpha. However, that healing would take time. Duan Chen would have to return to work for several months with a face that was only slowly putting itself back together.

Leaning back in his chair, Shen Luyang felt a dull ache in his own arms. As he rubbed the sore spots, a powerful premonition hit him.

This car accident was no simple twist of fate.

That feeling was confirmed a moment later when the System’s mechanical voice chimed in.

[Major Event! Mission target ‘Xie Weihan’ has performed an action outside the established plot, severely injuring the protagonist gong, ‘Duan Chen.’ The world-line has begun to experience severe instability…]

[Immediate Consequence: Mission target ‘Shi Fan’ will be forced into a Stockholm Syndrome-esque plot regarding ‘Xie Weihan.’ Specifically: He will begin proactively approaching Xie Weihan, developing ‘romantic’ feelings for him, and attempting to entice him into a relationship.]

[Derived Consequence: The probability of mission target ‘Xie Weihan’ falling for ‘Shi Fan’ has risen to 80%! Once they fall in love, the Host’s mission will be declared an immediate failure! Danger! Danger! Danger!]

[Mission Objective: No specific event currently active. Host, please be prepared to engage at any moment!]

[Mission Suggestion: Initiate the ‘Favor-Seeking’ plan to assist in mission completion.]

[Does the Host wish to initiate the ‘Favor-Seeking’ plan?]

Shen Luyang was dazed by the barrage of emergency notifications. He blinked. Can you explain what the ‘Favor-Seeking’ plan is? It sounds… sketchy.

[The ‘Favor-Seeking’ Plan: The best way to prevent Xie Weihan from falling for Shi Fan is for the Host to seduce Xie Weihan and make him fall in love with you, and—]

Shen Luyang nearly jumped out of his chair in shock. Wait, wait, wait… what? Se-seduce? Holy crap, Tongtong, can you stop being so dead-eyed and blunt!

[Oh, to put it simply: Luyang, you need to ensure Teacher Xie’s eyes only stay on you. His ruts should only be spent with you doing… ‘this and that.’ The most secure way is to make him fall in love with you—but given Xie Weihan’s character attributes, that probability is extremely low, so it isn’t a mandatory requirement. ]

Shen Luyang took a deep breath. So it wasn’t mandatory to make him fall in love, just that they had to keep doing… that… anyway—

Didn’t that mean he had to work hard to maintain an impure relationship with Teacher Xie?

D—n it! How is that okay! I still need to find a wife!

[Further interpretation of the ‘Favor-Seeking’ plan: While seducing Xie Weihan, the Host must do everything possible to prevent Shi Fan from getting close to him. During the period while the protagonist gong, Duan Chen, is absent, work hard to divert Shi Fan’s attention away from Xie Weihan.]

Shen Luyang: So I have two jobs. One: don’t let Shi Fan seduce Teacher Xie. Two: I go and sed… crap, can you use a different word!

[That is the term used in the system settings. Is it not to your liking, Luyang?]

Shen Luyang rubbed his face and exhaled slowly. So… did Teacher Xie really… cause Duan Chen’s accident?

[It isn’t quite accurate to put it that way.]

Shen Luyang pressed his fingers to his temples. Then how should it be put?

[It is a unique ability of S-class Alphas: Mental Suppression. Luyang, you’ve experienced it once. Do you remember?]

Shen Luyang: During our first dinner. Teacher Xie used it to get me to talk. It felt like hypnosis—fuzzy and lightheaded.

[What you experienced then was, at most, a ‘juvenile’ version of Mental Suppression. He just wanted to make you dazed enough to tell the truth; it was practically child’s play.]

[What Duan Chen was hit with was Xie Weihan’s serious, full-scale ‘Mental Suppression.’]

Shen Luyang was silent for a long time. He whispered, Teacher Xie… did he break the law?

[In a sense, no.]

[Teacher Xie used Mental Suppression on Duan Chen that acted like a ‘suggestion.’ For a simple example: if you tell someone sternly ‘don’t look to the left,’ the probability of them looking left actually increases significantly. But fundamentally, you didn’t make them look; they still had the power of choice.]

[Duan Chen chose his own destination. Duan Chen chose to drive the car. The accident was caused by his own fatigue… Therefore, from start to finish, it had ‘nothing to do’ with Xie Weihan.]

[He simply… said a few words.]

Shen Luyang fell into a deep silence.

[Luyang, don’t take this responsibility onto yourself. This is the background setting of this book’s world, where heaven-defying beings like S-class Alphas are allowed to exist. There is nothing to restrain them. Xie Weihan has his own set of principles; he won’t let things spiral ‘out of control.’]

Shen Luyang rested his head in his hands, staring at the desk. Teacher Xie… he really is dangerous.

[Sigh, I’m glad you finally have a sense of crisis. I’ve explained all of Xie Weihan’s traits to you. He cannot comprehend most of the rules and orders of human society, nor does he possess the ’emotions’ you value… but Luyang, don’t be afraid. As long as you follow the prompts and finish the missions, you still have a high chance of survival!]

Shen Luyang: No.

[?]

Shen Luyang clenched his fists and took a resolute breath. Teacher Xie’s mindset is genuinely dangerous! I have to watch him every second, or who knows when he’ll cause a massive disaster!

[…]

[Luyang, there are certain qualities in you that I find quite likeable. I truly hope you can successfully gain your new life.]

Shen Luyang touched the bruise on his face and hissed. This still involves me. When I stepped in earlier, I should have avoided Teacher Xie. We’re on such good terms now; it’s only normal he’d be angry seeing his good bro get hurt.

Shen Luyang: It’s on me. I knew Teacher Xie’s logic was different from mine, yet I didn’t keep a close enough eye on him.

[…]

So everything I just said was for nothing? Silly, silly Luyang.

Unaware of the System’s internal monologue, Shen Luyang made a silent decision. Then he asked: Tongtong, why didn’t you say anything while I was fighting Duan Chen?

[Once you have more or less adapted to the book’s environment, my autonomous appearances are restricted. Because you have become ‘independent,’ my initial guidance phase is over. Unless there is a mission, a major crisis, or you proactively call for me, I no longer have the clearance to appear on my own.]

Shen Luyang: I see.

******

Flashback: Fourth Period, The Stairs of the Arts Building:

Duan Chen gripped his phone tightly. The call tone rang for nearly a minute, but ultimately, it went unanswered. He touched the scrapes on his knuckles, a look of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

Shen Luyang, was it?

Anyone who got close to Shi Fan, he would deal with them one by one. This guy had just been lucky today to have someone interrupt…

He clicked off his phone and started up the stairs.

Outside the window, deep shadows of trees cast flickering, layered patterns through the dusty panes of the stairwell. He could hear the rustling of leaves. As he stepped into the shadows, Duan Chen’s foot faltered. Subconscious instinct made him pull back, and he looked up cautiously.

A man was walking down from the second floor. He wore a crisp, black patterned suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He was nonchalantly adjusting his cuff, his lazy gaze landing on Duan Chen’s face. His thin lips were curled into a cold, detached arc. He looked like a gentleman who had just finished a business meeting.

As if he had finally noticed Duan Chen, he spoke. His voice was deep and mellow, like a rich, gentle cello. “Teacher Duan.”

The sound was captivating, but to Duan Chen’s ears, it felt like a dagger being driven into his chest. His pupils shrank as he gripped the handrail so hard the veins on the back of his hand bulged. The pounding of his heart raced up his spine and into his brain, feeling like a needle being driven into his temple.

He grit his teeth and glared at the perpetrator, his voice forced into a low hiss. “Xie Weihan! What the f—k are you trying to do?!”

Xie Weihan unhurriedly continued down the stairs. While Duan Chen felt as if he were in agonizing torment, in reality, only a single second had passed.

Upon hearing the question, Xie Weihan tilted his head slightly, a polite smile appearing on his face as if he were genuinely concerned. “Teacher Duan, are you feeling unwell?”

The sensation of pain vanished as quickly as it had come, but it left a seed of terror planted firmly in Duan Chen’s mind. He lurched back a step, watching the man with a mix of fury and alarm. The man was just standing there casually, yet it was enough to make Duan Chen’s legs shake with fear. “How did I offend you?! Have you gone f—king insane from your pheromones?!”

Xie Weihan’s footsteps didn’t stop. As they brushed past each other, he raised a hand to check his watch, as if he were in a hurry. He murmured almost to himself, though the low voice carried a layer of profound warning: “Don’t drive while fatigued, Duan Chen.”

Duan Chen understood instantly what he was doing.

Mental Suppression!

He hadn’t slept all night and had just argued with Shi Fan. If he drove… Did Xie Weihan want him dead?! Just because he’d had a scuffle with Shen Luyang?

He wanted to turn around and demand an explanation, but Xie Weihan had already walked far away, his pace as composed as if nothing had happened—as if he were just a passerby.

Duan Chen pinched his hand hard, trying to stay clear-headed, but his body turned toward the stairs and headed down uncontrollably. Memory was like water slipping through his fingers, impossible to hold…

Xie Weihan hypnotized him into driving while tired! He’s going to kill Xie Weihan! He can’t drive!

Hypnosis… don’t drive while tired… Xie… car…

Driving while tired… someone…?

Driving…

Gotta go drive… right now.

****

“Teacher Duan, where are you going in such a rush?”

Duan Chen’s vision stuttered, the haze clearing into sharp focus. He frowned and gave a perfunctory reply: “Leaving school for a bit.”

Had he forgotten something?

Whatever. He still needed to pick something up from Sanli Bridge. It was urgent.

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