After Helping the Protagonist Escape From a Madman, I Became His Target [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 24

Shen Luyang nodded, his expression radiating confidence. “Yeah, I’ve pretty much adjusted now.”

Xie Weihan arched an eyebrow, then remarked calmly, “It seems I was overthinking things.”

Shen Luyang leaned in to sniff the air again. “Are your pheromones really under control? The medicinal scent is still so strong.”

A faint, almost imperceptible curve touched the corners of Xie Weihan’s eyes, and his voice held a trace of amusement as he whispered, “No.”

“Then aren’t you likely to enter a rut at any moment?” Shen Luyang grew anxious. “Let’s go. I’ll help you take care of it.” With that, he stood up and gestured for Xie Weihan to follow him out.

Xie Weihan rose composedly, his gaze sweeping over the thin jacket Shen Luyang was wearing. “Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m fine,” Shen Luyang said. Seeing that there wasn’t much work left on the man’s desk, he decisively pulled him toward the exit. “Teacher Xie, you need to learn how to take care of yourself. Be a little kinder to yourself.”

“Do I not take good enough care of myself?”

“You can’t even predict your own frequent ruts correctly. Your good bro is standing right in front of you, and you don’t even know how to ask for help.”

Hearing this, Xie Weihan let out a silent laugh. “Then I really am… not very good at looking after myself.”

“It’s okay,” Shen Luyang said, breaking into a bright grin. “I love looking after people. If anything happens in the future, just tell me. I’ll help you figure it out.”

Xie Weihan nodded and gave a soft reply. “Alright.”

******

Once outside the teaching building, Shen Luyang felt a wave of confusion. Where should they go? Should they find another empty office like last time? Or should he just… book a room?

Sensing his hesitation, Xie Weihan offered a considerate suggestion: “My car? Do you mind?”

Shen Luyang breathed a sigh of relief. “Not at all. Let’s go.” If Teacher Xie had waited a second longer, the words “book a room” would have slipped out.

The two of them sat in the back seat. Shen Luyang suggested “holding hands” again to let their pheromones merge. Xie Weihan raised no objections, following his lead entirely.

Shen Luyang looked at the hand resting against the black cushion—the joints were well-defined, and the wrist bone was sharp. An untimely memory of the last hand-holding session, which had spiraled out of control, flashed through his mind. He closed his eyes and then opened them again, strengthening his resolve.

I must hold back this time. I must.

He took the initiative to grasp Xie Weihan’s hand, not interlocking their fingers, but simply gripping four of the man’s fingers like a formal handshake.

Invoking pheromones was an Alpha’s instinct. While Shen Luyang was still unskilled at using them to suppress others, releasing them was manageable. Soon, the cramped space inside the car was occupied by the scent of hot cocoa; sweet but not cloying, with a warm, delicious aroma. It felt like a cup of milk tea in a snowy winter field, warming the ice-cold palm of his hand.

Xie Weihan’s fingertips twitched slightly. Then, the scent of red wine diffused with restraint, maintaining a similar concentration to the hot cocoa as they slowly melded together.

Shen Luyang instinctively turned his head to look at him. The interior lights were off. It was past 6:00 PM, and the sky was pitch black. Only the moon emitted a faint, clear light through the car window, falling upon the man’s deep, handsome features. He was leaning back comfortably; the line from his jaw to his Adam’s apple and down to his collarbone formed a curve that invited one to sin.

The dim light allowed ambiguity to grow, like sugar dropped into coffee—as it melted, it released bursts of enticing sweetness.

Without realizing it, Shen Luyang traced a finger over the back of Xie Weihan’s hand. He felt as if a kitten were scratching at his heart; it was an itchy, restless feeling. He told himself not to overthink it. Teacher Xie trusted him so much, yet here he was, thinking about…

The pheromones in the air were starkly different, yet they gradually merged like a newborn stream in a mountain valley, surrounding the sea with a “newborn calves fear no tigers” attitude, attempting to dilute the salt. It was a drop in the bucket.

Xie Weihan’s brow furrowed slightly. His breathing grew labored as he tilted his head back, his vulnerable Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. He looked like an ocean forced to dry itself up; weakly and silently enduring a piercing pain.

Shen Luyang noticed the abnormality. Xie Weihan’s pale skin seemed stained with a layer of frost; sitting close, Shen Luyang could feel a chill emanating from him. It wasn’t a normal body temperature.

“Teacher Xie?” he called out.

Xie Weihan opened his eyes. The depths of his ink-dark pupils were calm. His voice was raspy but gentle, and his thin lips curled into a pale smile. “What is it?”

Shen Luyang tightened his grip, feeling his own hand growing cold. He asked with a frown, “Is it not working? Are you cold?”

“No.” Xie Weihan licked his dry lips. A mist seemed to cover his eyes, a blurred sense of vulnerability that existed harmoniously yet dangerously on this powerful Alpha. He looked like a devil who had cut himself to lure prey with the scent of blood.

The fingers that had been tightly restrained broke free and took the initiative to hold Shen Luyang’s hand, pressing against his palm. His voice was light and warm. “But you are very warm.”

Shen Luyang’s heart trembled. His natural protective instinct exploded in his chest, spreading like a bittersweet ache. Their eyes met. He was dazed, like a fallen leaf drifting unconsciously into the other’s restrained, gentle dreamscape.

A drop of sweat fell from his temple, trailing down his jawline and leaving a damp, itchy sensation. The moonlight must be magical; otherwise, why did he feel that the current Xie Weihan was so fragile, so seductive… The dazed intoxication in Shen Luyang’s eyes grew denser. He interlocked his fingers with Xie Weihan’s cool hand, his thumb unconsciously rubbing against the other’s fingertips. Under Xie Weihan’s gentle, indulgent gaze, he leaned in slowly until he could clearly feel the man’s breath.

He stopped just short of contact.

Shen Luyang’s breathing quickened. He spoke as if making an excuse, or perhaps explaining his actions to himself: “Holding hands… isn’t enough.”

The young Alpha didn’t yet realize what he was facing. In the presence of a power far exceeding his own, he leaped confidently and recklessly into the deep sea. His usually sunny, innocent face was stained with desire. Oblivious to the devil’s lure, he followed his impulses blindly.

Xie Weihan’s gaze flickered to the hand being held. His crimson lips curved into a drunken arc. He lightly brushed his nose against Shen Luyang’s, his voice deep and mellow, like a strange rhythm that plucked at his most sensitive nerves. With his eyes downcast, a clear smile appeared as he asked with interest, “Then what should we do?”

Shen Luyang’s mouth parted slightly, his brow furrowed in confusion. Shedding his easygoing exterior, he revealed the arrogant, wild soul beneath. He searched desperately for a sign of “permission” on Xie Weihan’s person. But the man simply watched him with a relaxed air, waiting for him to provide the “standard answer.”

The scent of hot cocoa grew more intense as his body temperature rose, signaling a blatant craving. Shen Luyang’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. His other hand pressed haphazardly against Xie Weihan’s waist. His clear voice was now raspy with desire, his patience worn thin by the provocation.

He spoke the answer plainly: “At least… give me a kiss.”

The curve of Xie Weihan’s lips widened, yet he still made no move. His lashes half-veiled his eyes as he asked cryptically, “Is that all?”

Shen Luyang’s breath hitched. His reason drifted within the merged pheromones like a vessel on a sea of wine; before he could even speak, he was too intoxicated to find his way. He lowered his eyes, staring at the thin lips just inches away. He swallowed hard and, unable to resist the temptation, leaned in.

He carefully took one of the man’s lips into his mouth and gave it a light nip. Then, he pulled back a short distance and went still, tentatively observing Xie Weihan’s expression. The man’s ambiguous features were increasingly blurred in the moonlight, as if viewed through frosted glass; without getting exceptionally close, it was impossible to discern the deep-seated emotions within.

Pandora’s Box—the owner had personally placed it in front of Shen Luyang.

“Teacher Xie…” He leaned in again, clumsily pressing his lips against the crimson mouth. Then, recalling how Xie Weihan had done it during their previous kisses, he tentatively extended his tongue.

Xie Weihan’s eyes darkened. The scent of red wine in the air steamed up without notice, condensing into invisible red threads that secretly coiled around Shen Luyang’s bare ankles.

The cool, pale, slender hand easily broke free from its seemingly firm restraint to entwine with the clumsy fingers. He seemed somewhat helpless in the face of the other’s performance, yet held no blame; the sense of tenderness was like red wine flowing softly over the tongue.

Shen Luyang looked up, crashing into a pair of dark, intoxicating eyes. Xie Weihan’s other hand pressed against the back of his head, taking the initiative to guide him. The cool lips gradually grew warm.

Shen Luyang was fixated on seeing his expression. The man had his eyes closed, feeling the authentic touch with a sense of reverent devotion. The hand at the back of his head moved to his ear, kneading it gently before traveling down his cheek to his neck, touching and teasing him with precision. Shen Luyang’s shoulders rose and fell uncontrollably.

Finally, the scorching boozy chocolate in the air melted away, the intense aroma of wine blending with the bittersweetness of chocolate. The crimson lips grew redder, while the pale lips became flushed and damp. When they parted, the heat of their breath hit the skin—scorching away the last shred of clarity.

Xie Weihan did not use his advantage to make further aggressive moves; he simply accepted everything as an equal. Shen Luyang was intoxicated by the pleasure of “controlling” the other man. Like a big dog that had tasted something sweet, he nuzzled closer without a hint of defense. Then, he was caught by the back of his neck and pulled into a gentle vortex.

He realized for the first time that a kiss could be such a complex and enjoyable experience.

******

The restless air grew still, and the chaotic breathing was hidden within the moonlight. Shen Luyang lay there in a daze, instinctively nuzzling against the person beside him. A restrained chuckle sounded above him, followed by a gentle ruffling of his hair.

“Are you awake?”

Shen Luyang froze. Opening his eyes, he finally realized where he was. He had been nuzzling against Xie Weihan’s leg! A 1.82-meter-tall man had been curled up in the back seat with his head resting on Xie Weihan’s lap!

He instinctively tried to sit up but was halfway through the motion when a sharp wave of lightheadedness pushed him back. Xie Weihan caught him in time, his fingertips applying steady pressure as he massaged Shen Luyang’s temples. His voice was apologetic. “I’m sorry. I lost control just now. You were exposed to too much S-class Alpha pheromone at once, so you’ll feel unwell for a bit.”

Shen Luyang blinked; his vision was indeed a bit blurry. “It’s okay. My head is just a little dizzy.” He resigned himself to lying there, turning his face to hide his belated embarrassment as he changed the subject: “I wonder if Doctor Fang is in. Those two bottles of medicine from last time were really effective.”

“He is,” Xie Weihan said, considerately massaging his temples. Seeing through his thoughts, he took the initiative to add in a warm voice, “I’ll go with you.”

Support