Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

These are questions... I only started to consider them after Liao Tingyuan and An Tang raised them.

“I think…” Liao Tingyuan hesitated to speak, but he took a deep breath: “Even if it means you’re troubled later, I don’t want you to worry about me. Like… if you still don’t know I was affected by the energy radiation, would you feel safer when we re-enter the space… feel…”

Do you think I'm more reliable?

Lu Liruan read the words he hadn't finished saying, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

How could Liao Tingyuan think of himself like that?

At the very beginning, Lu Liruan remembered that she did say that she thought Liao Tingyuan was very reliable and that she felt very safe as long as he was around.

Something like that...

But my intention was definitely not to demand that he be reliable at all times, or even to hide my condition just so that I wouldn't be afraid.

There's clearly no need for me to do this just because of what I said.

Moreover, why would he feel that he needed him to go to such lengths?

Did Liao Tingyuan think that if he became unreliable, or if he showed some vulnerability, she would stop liking him? Would she stop relying on him...?

Lu Liruan always felt that she was living under the influence of life. The things that had happened in the past had left indelible marks on her body and mind, like stress. But Lu Liruan did not suffer or be tormented by them. Instead, she learned to slowly reconcile with her past and her present self.

Liao Tingyuan was someone who was by his side, accompanying him and guiding him.

But now Lu Liruan feels that... Liao Tingyuan's problem is more serious than her own, but Lu Liruan doesn't know what caused him to think this way.

So what if we show our vulnerable side?

So what if he sees it himself, and knows that he also has things he can't do, or that he's not imposing or confident?

Lu Liruan felt that Liao Tingyuan was not only trying to hide things from her, but also... he didn't trust her.

What makes him think he deserves to see his amazing side, and that we can only rely on him at that time?

Instead of being someone he could rely on and trust, why shouldn't he appear by his side? Isn't he just assuming that he's a certain way without ever communicating with him?

And... it's still like this?

Lu Liruan looked at Liao Tingyuan's face. His eyes were slightly lowered, and Lu Liruan could not see his expression. She only felt that there was a faint sense of loneliness emanating from him.

Why do you think of me like that?

Lu Liruan reached out, palm up, and placed it under Liao Tingyuan's chin. With a little force, she lifted his face. Liao Tingyuan was caught off guard. He didn't expect Lu Liruan to touch him before he could even speak. His astonished expression fell into Lu Liruan's eyes.

"Teacher Liao, why don't you look at me when you talk to me?" Lu Liruan asked seriously. Usually when the two of them talked, Liao Tingyuan would look at her very gently.

"I……"

"Is it because you feel guilty? Do you feel that what you did was wrong?" Lu Liruan spoke frankly, without beating around the bush, and expressed her thoughts directly.

"what?"

Liao Tingyuan clearly hadn't expected to hear such a question, his light-colored pupils revealing confusion and bewilderment.

“I shouldn’t have kept it from you…” He was only halfway through his sentence when Lu Liruan pouted and said, “You’re not being sincere at all. It feels like you’re only saying this because you know I’m angry.”

"No..." Liao Tingyuan was not a person who was not good at speaking. He was usually quiet and did not like to communicate with people. But he was not silent when he was with Lu Liruan. So Lu Liruan could clearly feel that he was not only a very good talker, but also that his words were reasonable and did not cross the line. He could even express the emotions he wanted the other person to feel.

For example, Lu Liruan had no doubt that Liao Tingyuan was capable enough to gain the trust of those who listened to him and communicated with him; it just depended on whether he wanted to do so...

Take myself for example!

The guest, who was on his way home from work by taxi, had already begun to think: was his trust and... affection for Liao Tingyuan because Liao genuinely wanted to treat him this way, out of his true heart and intentions?

Or is it that he just treats himself like this casually?

Lu Liruan was a little confused.

As Liao Tingyuan once said, he doesn't particularly like children.

But if you ask him to take care of children, he can take very good care of them.

Be a patient and good teacher that children like, parents are satisfied with, and even others think that you really like children.

So... am I one of those children?

He never harbored any ill will towards those children. In fact, he did his best to take care of them.

Therefore, there was no deception or anything bad mixed in...

But Lu Liruan felt that if she were like those children, she would still feel disappointed.

As for where the disappointment came from, Lu Liruan herself couldn't explain it.

Perhaps... she never received Liao Tingyuan's true feelings for her?

No, of course he was sincere, but his sincerity was different from what I thought.

Lu Liruan almost got herself into a mess.

He can treat himself this way, and he can treat others the same way.

The way he treated me, the feelings I wanted to reciprocate, and the feelings he gave me were not the same, creating a discrepancy.

Lu Liruan felt that she had misplaced her trust...

Although Liao Tingyuan didn't do anything wrong, he probably took himself too seriously and had too high expectations.

Liao Tingyuan looked at Lu Liruan's face, and as always, he seemed to be able to completely understand Lu Liruan's emotions.

But now, he doesn't understand the reason why...

Because a faint look of disappointment appeared on Lu Liruan's face.

This emotion pierced Liao Tingyuan's heart like a sharp dagger.

This is probably... the last thing he wanted to see from Lu Liruan.

But at first, he didn't expect that, after all the twists and turns, he would still see Lu Liruan looking at him with disappointment.

Don't……

He wanted to say that to Lu Liruan, but the words got stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter a sound. He could only let Lu Liruan look him up and down.

Once people get caught up in their own thoughts, they tend to assume they understand the other person.

At this moment, Liao Tingyuan felt that Lu Liruan's gaze towards him carried distrust and suspicion, even a hint of unfamiliarity...

He had never seen Lu Liruan look at him so unfamiliarly before. Even at the very beginning, when they first met, the little girl was shrouded in fear, like a frightened little animal hiding beside him.

As if grasping at a lifeline, she clutched at her sleeve. Liao Tingyuan hadn't been this close to anyone in a long time.

Few people even come within three steps of him, let alone suddenly get close...

But in the humid and sweltering summer, the little girl seemed to carry a hint of lemon scent, or like a watermelon chilled in the refrigerator... In short, she was not unpleasant to smell.

Even when Liao Tingyuan leaned closer, he felt a fresh and lively atmosphere that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Liao Tingyuan still remembers that Lu Liruan's eyes were wet at the time, and she stared at him intently in the darkness, as if she was afraid that he would abandon her.

It seems that from that time on, Liao Tingyuan inexplicably developed a sense of responsibility towards her...

Like a parent, like a friend, like...

Liao Tingyuan himself found it strange that he cared so much about the little girl.

But his actions were no longer under his control.

An Tang reminded him several times, intentionally or unintentionally, but he wasn't unaware of her meaning; he simply ignored her subconsciously.

He liked and wanted to take care of Lu Liruan. He even had to admit that in the process of caring for Lu Liruan, he felt a sense of accomplishment and an indescribable, inexplicable joy.

But the boundaries and limits of this care seem to have blurred without us even realizing it…

Now, things have come to the point where they've turned around and angered Lu Liruan.

It backfired...

A trace of sadness surfaced in Liao Tingyuan's light-colored eyes. It was as if the things he wanted to do were simply unattainable, beyond his ability, or perhaps he simply lacked the capacity to do them.

Suddenly, I felt a different kind of powerlessness, not physical powerlessness.

Liao Tingyuan could endure the physical weakness. He had always been good at it…

It seems to be a kind of spiritual powerlessness, unable to grasp, unable to possess, unable to pursue.

Not just once, but probably many times in the past.

Liao Tingyuan couldn't remember clearly anymore, probably because too many things had happened.

Liao Tingyuan couldn't recall whether, at that time, or in all of his past, he had ever felt such an urgent desire to make amends.

Now he wanted to pour everything out, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions that he himself couldn't even distinguish, wanting to impulsively do or say something. But in the end, he just silently stared at Lu Liruan.

Lu Liruan blinked.

She was simply asking Liao Tingyuan what she wanted to know. She wanted to know what Liao Tingyuan was really thinking.

Looking into those beautiful light gray eyes, Lu Liruan felt a pang of fear, wondering why Liao Tingyuan would suddenly reveal such a gloomy and desperate emotion.

Lu Liruan had never seen him like this before...

I've never even seen him show such intense emotions before.

I...I don't think I said anything, right?

Not a single harsh word was spoken.

Lu Liruan felt inexplicably guilty, as if she had done something to upset the other person? What was going on? How did things turn out the other way around?

Liao Tingyuan revealed a kind of pain and sorrow that he seemed unable to digest, and could only let it overflow. After looking at Lu Liruan for a few seconds, he used some force to grasp Lu Liruan's wrist with the hand that was still at a normal body temperature, and moved her hand away. He leaned back slightly, as if he subconsciously wanted to get away from Lu Liruan.

Lu Liruan felt both bewildered and somewhat depressed:

What's going on?

It seems like this conversation hasn't even started yet...

Is the other party already setting a trap for me?

Lu Liruan couldn't understand this feeling, so she could only use this word as a temporary substitute.

But Liao Tingyuan doesn't seem like the type to portray me...

At the same time, another idea popped into Lu Liruan's mind, and the two ideas intertwined and battled each other.

Then, Lu Liruan cautiously uttered a slightly forceful sentence: "Speak your mind, let's not play games between us!"

Liao Tingyuan's thoughts were interrupted by Lu Liruan's inexplicable and untimely words.

Realizing he was caught up in past emotions, Liao Tingyuan blinked and slowly exhaled.

“Ruan Ruan, how about we talk about it tomorrow? I was…” He was honest: “I was indeed affected by energy radiation, and my mind is a bit muddled right now.”

Lu Liruan raised an eyebrow. Just now you insisted on explaining to me, saying something like... you really want me to hear what you have to say today, looking all pitiful, like you'd die at my door if I didn't agree, stubbornly refusing to leave.

What's going on now? Why are you kicking me out again?

Why do you go back on your word so many times a day?

Liao Tingyuan knew he was in the wrong and was about to say something more when Lu Liruan raised her hand to stop him from speaking.

"No way!" Lu Liruan refused decisively, giving Liao Tingyuan no room for negotiation.

Liao Tingyuan blinked, his light gray eyes revealing confusion and bewilderment.

Lu Liruan felt that things had come to this point with Liao Tingyuan, at least that's how she felt, and the two of them needed to have a frank and open discussion.

Now that things are going in circles, with you hiding things from me and me keeping quiet, and you not speaking properly, I'm just guessing. After that, those two really shouldn't be able to get along anymore.

Lu Liruan didn't want this to happen.

So she said, "If you can't figure things out, then just say so. That's fine, since you don't have many tricks up your sleeve right now, it'll be easier for me to deal with you!"

Hearing Lu Liruan's blunt words, Liao Tingyuan was stunned for a few seconds: What does this mean?

"I didn't..." Liao Tingyuan wanted to say that he had never played any tricks on Lu Liruan.

But Lu Liruan had already placed her finger in front of him, waved it, and a slight, ambiguous smile appeared on her lips.

"Don't think that just because you're older or have more experience than me, you can always treat me like a child. Liao Tingyuan, I jokingly said that you take care of me like my mother, but that's not true. I don't really want you to be my mother."

Lu Liruan herself felt a little like laughing after saying that.

Liao Tingyuan was speechless. He really had never intended to be Lu Liruan's "mother." It was something the little girl had been jokingly forcing upon him.

But saying it now feels absurd yet quite reasonable.

Because of Lu Liruan's next sentence, she said, "When I was little, my mother always told me that she wasn't sick, that she was getting better soon, and that I didn't need to worry about her or take care of her. But what happened later? Could this really be kept secret?"