After Helping the Protagonist Escape From a Madman, I Became His Target [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 28

Shi Fan froze for a few seconds, and once he regained his composure, he immediately looked at Fang Yi with a grave expression. “Doctor Fang, please keep this a secret.”

Fang Yi, finally recovering from his state of shock, nodded. “I won’t say a word. I have an obligation to protect patient privacy.”

Talk about a masterpiece, Fang Yi thought as he walked out. He wondered exactly how many more surprises Shen Luyang was hiding.

Shi Fan waited for Fang Yi to leave before turning back to Shen Luyang, his eyes full of helpless concern. “Don’t just say things like that at school. You and… Teacher Xie are both Alphas. If you come out, do you still want to have a career?”

Shen Luyang finally realized that Alpha-Alpha relationships weren’t widely accepted in this world, especially in a place like a school. He looked at Shi Fan, rubbed his hair, and said sheepishly, “I forgot.”

Shi Fan, appearing much more mature than Shen Luyang, offered a resigned smile. “You’ve misunderstood. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for Teacher Xie. It’s just…” He frowned. “I don’t know why, but my health has been poor lately. After contacting Teacher Xie, I’ve had several sudden ruts.”

Shen Luyang breathed a sigh of relief. At least Shi Fan was still lucid when away from Xie Weihan; the influence hadn’t gone too deep yet.

“Maybe it’s because Teacher Xie’s rank is too high,” he suggested, offering a convenient excuse.

Shi Fan nodded, a strong sense of fragility in his pale smile. “Perhaps. I wish you and Teacher Xie happiness.”

“No, no, no!” Shen Luyang’s expression turned serious, and he quickly denied it. “It’s… it’s one-sided! Right, Teacher Xie isn’t… uh, he treats me like a normal colleague! I haven’t even prepared to tell him yet.”

While hastily clearing Xie Weihan’s name, Shen Luyang bestowed upon himself the title of “tragic unrequited lover.” This effectively cut off any possibility of Shi Fan mentioning it to Xie Weihan.

You never know your limits until your brain starts smoking from over-calculating.

Shi Fan was enlightened. He looked at him and gave a clear, encouraging smile. “Good luck.”

******

Shen Luyang chatted with Shi Fan for a while longer until Fang Yi mentioned that Xie Weihan was awake. He immediately hurried over to see him.

Xie Weihan was leaning against the bed, his face pale. His fingers were unconsciously tapping the surface—tap, tap, tap. Fang Yi was saying something but shut his mouth the moment he saw Shen Luyang. He glanced between the two of them before decisively heading for the door. As he passed Shen Luyang, he whispered coolly, “I won’t disturb you two.”

Hearing the movement, Xie Weihan looked up. When his eyes met Shen Luyang’s, a gentle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. Shen Luyang followed suit with a silly grin, walked over, and sat down. Once he saw Fang Yi had completely left, he pulled a red apple out of his pocket.

“Doctor Fang is surprisingly generous,” he remarked. “I asked for an orange and he insisted on giving me an apple too. Wait a second, Teacher Xie, I’ll peel it for you.”

Xie Weihan lowered his gaze to Shen Luyang’s face as he focused intently on the apple. As if afraid to disturb the peace, he asked softly, “Is Teacher Shi awake?”

“Yeah, he’s up.” Shen Luyang’s heart hammered as he recalled his bold declaration. It seemed Fang Yi hadn’t told Xie Weihan, or else the man wouldn’t be this calm.

It’s my first time pretending to be gay. This is actually quite thrilling.

Shen Luyang’s fingers weren’t as nimble as Xie Weihan’s, and the peeled apple looked like a lumpy mess. Still, he handed it over with confidence. “I’m pretty great at this.”

Xie Weihan let out a low chuckle and took the apple.

Looking at Xie Weihan’s sharp profile and exquisite features, Shen Luyang rubbed his fingertips together, plotting his next move. His carelessness earlier had nearly caused the world to collapse. He couldn’t be passive anymore, just waiting for the system to assign tasks.

It’s time to take the initiative, Comrade Shen Luyang!

While Shi Fan wouldn’t proactively approach Xie Weihan now, what if Teacher Xie approached him again for some reason? He needed a foolproof plan, but it was hidden behind a thin fog in his mind.

“Teacher Xie,” Shen Luyang leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands on the edge of the bed. He decided to push himself. “I have something to say to you.”

“What is it?” Xie Weihan looked at his solemn face and laughed. “Why so serious?”

A hurricane was raging in Shen Luyang’s mind. Under what circumstances would Xie Weihan choose not to kill Shi Fan? When there was a connection—something that made him untouchable.

If Shi Fan and Xie Weihan developed a relationship that wasn’t romantic…

A lightbulb went off in Shen Luyang’s head! He grabbed Xie Weihan’s hand and looked at him with utmost seriousness. “Teacher Xie, answer me one question. You have to tell the truth.”

Xie Weihan raised an eyebrow. “Alright.”

Shen Luyang took a deep breath, his eyes determined. “Do you like Teacher Shi Fan?”

A glint flashed in Xie Weihan’s eyes. He leaned back and watched him with interest. “Why do you ask?”

The lies that flowed so smoothly in front of Shi Fan suddenly lacked conviction before Xie Weihan. Shen Luyang’s eyes darted around as he stammered, “Because… because I like Teacher Shi… can you not compete with me for him?”

Fang Yi, who had just entered to find his missing apple: “WHAT THE F—K?!”

Teacher Shen, you play way too wild!

Shen Luyang jumped at Fang Yi’s shout, nearly falling off his chair. Xie Weihan gripped his hand a bit tighter, soothingly squeezing his wrist, then shot Fang Yi an unreadable look.

Shen Luyang felt he lacked the talent to be a “player.” At best, he was a fishing net—everything just leaked through. He turned and blinked frantically at Fang Yi, hinting for him not to blow his cover until his eyes nearly cramped.

Fang Yi, receiving both stares: “…”

Did I owe you two in a past life?

He turned around and left in a huff, pretending he hadn’t seen the apple in Xie Weihan’s hand. I’m blind, thank you.

Shen Luyang finally sighed in relief. He’d let out so many sighs today he was worried he might actually run out of breath.

“Luyang.”

Shen Luyang turned back, looking at Xie Weihan tentatively. He tried his best to sound convincing. “Teacher Xie, I really, really like Teacher Shi.”

So please, for my sake, give Teacher Shi a chance to live.

Xie Weihan let out a laugh of genuine interest. “And if I like him too, what will you do?”

For a second, Shen Luyang looked like the sky had fallen. But he quickly realized the premise was false and denied it. “You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“You… don’t like his type.”

Now Xie Weihan was even more intrigued. His eyes were full of mirth. “But Luyang, didn’t you say you didn’t like his type either?”

“I lik—” Shen Luyang froze mid-sentence.

D—n it. He had previously mentioned he liked big-breasted older women in high heels. He still did! Mature women were great! What would make a straight man give up beautiful women and turn himself into a pretzel?

Saving the world!

Shen Luyang adjusted his expression awkwardly. “I just… I didn’t know before. This type, like Teacher Shi, is actually quite good…”

“Is that so?” Xie Weihan appeared thoughtful. “What’s so good about him?”

Shen Luyang: “…”

How should I know! I barely know the guy! If he had to list the virtues of a man, the only ones he could think of belonged to Teacher Xie. He could talk about those for an hour without repeating himself.

The hand being held by Xie Weihan twitched. He remembered a quote he’d seen a long time ago. He straightened his face, imagined a happy domestic future, and put on a look of bliss. “Love has no reason. I don’t know what’s so good about him; I just know that because I like him, he is the best. He’ll always be the best.”

A dark shadow flashed through Xie Weihan’s eyes. After a moment, he smiled and comforted him, “Don’t worry. I don’t like Teacher Shi.”

Shen Luyang looked up in surprise.

Xie Weihan acted somewhat surprised himself. “I thought you only liked female Omegas.”

Shen Luyang wanted to say Betas were fine too, as long as they were beautiful women, he was game.

Xie Weihan’s tone held a hint of teasing. “Do you know how to pursue an Alpha?”

Shen Luyang froze. He just wanted to separate them; he hadn’t planned this far. But he couldn’t back down now. He shook his head honestly. “I don’t.” He hadn’t even pursued a girl before.

“Then how do you plan to win Teacher Shi over?”

“…I don’t know.”

Xie Weihan looked at him gently, calmly pointing out his flaw. “Luyang, you don’t like him that much.”

Terrified that the man would go back to Shi Fan because of this, Shen Luyang blurted out, “I do! I just… I don’t know how.”

Xie Weihan pondered this for a moment. Then, in a warm voice, he said, “I can teach you.”

Shen Luyang: “…Huh?”

*****

Back in the office, Shen Luyang was still dazed. He rubbed his hair, feeling like something was wrong, yet everything seemed right. He had made both Shi Fan and Xie Weihan feel like they shouldn’t get close to each other. Mission accomplished.

But he had somehow agreed to let Teacher Xie teach him how to woo an Alpha, and they’d even made plans to discuss it over dinner at Xie’s place after the exams…

He face-planted onto his desk in self-reflection. How did I agree to that! I’m a straight man learning to chase an Alpha—it’s going to be so easy to slip up!

But Teacher Xie’s cooking is really good… He consoled himself. At least there would be a good meal. As for his orientation, he’d just have to rely on his acting skills.

In the infirmary, after everyone had left, Fang Yi locked the door and hung the “Closed” sign. He turned around and marched into the ward, murder in his eyes. Xie Weihan was already out of bed, standing by the window teasing the cockatiel.

Fang Yi crossed his arms. “Can you explain what the hell happened with Teacher Shi?”

Xie Weihan spared him a brief glance. His pale hand rested on the golden cage, and the bird nudged him affectionately. He flicked it away.

Fang Yi’s eyes nearly bulged out. “Behave yourself! Don’t hurt my bird!”

Xie Weihan didn’t move his hand. He peered through a gap in the curtains, his eyes tracking a falling leaf outside. “I’ve discovered something interesting.”

Fang Yi stopped a few feet away, his brow furrowed. “What?” Whatever an antisocial personality found “interesting” was usually “terrifying” to a normal person.

“Some things have changed,” Xie Weihan whispered, looking into the bird’s bright eyes. Even after being flicked, it mindlessly nudged his palm again. He chuckled, his pale skin appearing almost translucent. “But it’s pleasant. I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”

A cold sweat broke out on Fang Yi’s brow. “Did you… kill someone?”

He had been Xie Weihan’s observer since he was ten. All his colleagues envied him for being the observer of an S-class Alpha. But only he knew he was a failure; he had never successfully read this man’s emotions or mental shifts, let alone provided any warnings.

Xie Weihan didn’t answer. “Fang Yi, the world as you imagine it… is wrong.”

Fang Yi felt a chill down his spine. He swallowed and, as usual, pretended he hadn’t heard the cryptic remark. “Why did you trigger Shi Fan’s rut?”

For any other patient, the question would be odd. They don’t need a reason to hurt people. But Xie Weihan was different. His unnatural self-control led him to create a set of rules independent of the law; he only acted within those rules. It was his source of security and maintained his peace.

Xie Weihan smiled meaningfully. “I didn’t ‘trigger’ it. I just… got a little closer.”

Fang Yi was going crazy. For years the man wouldn’t speak, and now that he was finally talking, he was unintelligible. He rubbed his temples. “What about Shen Luyang? How do you see him? That kid is always smiling; he’s not a bad person. I won’t let you hurt him.”

Xie Weihan suddenly stuck his finger into the cage. The bird immediately pecked at it with its sharp beak. His fingertip was pierced, and bright red blood flowed. His calm, controlled eyes solidified and then dilated—a flash of madness that vanished as quickly as a breeze, replaced by his usual peaceful mask.

“He is special,” he whispered, like a lover’s murmur. “He belongs to me.”

He wouldn’t mind if it led to bloody consequences.

Fang Yi looked at the blood on his finger. This, he understood. “He has a stubborn, silly streak when it comes to you. He really is special.”

Xie Weihan rubbed his finger, smearing the blood. “Emotion only exists where there is desire.”

“True. So what is his desire in approaching you?”

Xie Weihan laughed, a look of unsuppressed delight in his eyes. “To protect me.”

Fang Yi was stunned. What kind of ‘Living Bodhisattva’ is this?

The light hit one side of Xie Weihan’s face, leaving the other in shadow. “I don’t mind satisfying his little wish. In return… I’ll only take a little bit of payment.”

The forces behind the scenes had tried to link him with Shi Fan, but Shen Luyang was playing the role of the divider. Failing to separate them resulted in ruts; succeeding resulted in… this.

His “angel” was most alluring when he was shining his light for others. He wouldn’t cage that light. He would make the other stay of his own accord, to watch over a patient who would never be cured.

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