Chapter 112: Drunk (3)

The person in front of him stared at him oddly for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke in a ghostly voice.

'Bright pink?'

He raised his head, looking at Liang Shining with a half-smile: 'Why don't you go with a flashy pink? It'd suit your... temperament better.'

The moment Ying Huai finished speaking, the next second he watched the person in front actually think about it for a few seconds, then raise his head hesitantly: 'If you like it, that's fine too, but what's the difference between these two colors...?'

Ying Huai: ...?

His brow twitched, and he really couldn't help raising his hand again.

Liang Shining hadn't yet realized what he'd said when the next second he heard a crisp 'smack.'

Liang Shining's wrist stung, and he instinctively withdrew the hand supporting Ying Huai's arm.

'What are you doing...?'

'Did you sleep your brain stupid, Liang Shining?'

Ying Huai pulled his hand back, raising his head with a half-smile.

'Why are you asking me about buying a car?'

Liang Shining was stunned.

He belatedly realized what he'd said in his momentary lapse of reason.

He sat expressionlessly in place, and after a few seconds, the tips of his ears flushed red bit by bit, beyond his control.

It had been a long time since Ying Huai had seen that expression on Liang Shining.

He stared at Liang Shining in some surprise for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke thoughtfully: 'You wouldn't have... been startled by something last night, would you?'

The moment his words fell, he watched Liang Shining's expression suddenly stiffen.

Liang Shining's series of actions just now had an inexplicable sense of a peacock that had been startled and was urgently trying to display itself to those around.

But Ying Huai didn't know who had startled Liang Shining, or what had startled him, nor did he understand why he was showing off to him.

He thought for a few seconds, and could only attribute it to the previous incident—Liang Shining didn't like him and was deliberately saying this to show off his own ability.

Liang Shining hadn't had time to say anything when the next second he watched the person in front raise his head and speak seriously.

'Fine, I admit you really do have ability. I'm not as good as you in this aspect, alright?'

Liang Shining: ?

He frowned in incomprehension, but Ying Huai only took it as him being unsatisfied with this answer, and sighed slightly.

'I'm serious, but I'm just not interested in cars. Next time you're stimulated you can find someone else to compete with—telling me is useless.'

Speaking of which, he thought of something else, and earnestly patted Liang Shining's shoulder: 'Be more mature next time, don't be so childish. If you're going to show off next time, find a cleverer way—that's what girls like.'

Liang Shining: ......

He couldn't bear it any longer, and slapped Ying Huai's hand away: 'I didn't.'

Ying Huai didn't understand what he was angry about.

He was stunned for a moment, slowly withdrew his hand, and shrugged: 'If you didn't, you didn't. I'm just, ahem, as someone with experience, giving you a piece of advice. Consider it repayment for your help last night.'

The moment his words fell, he watched Liang Shining's face inexplicably darken further.

'I said... I didn't.' Liang Shining gritted his teeth.

Ying Huai raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, signaling he wouldn't say more.

He stretched, just about to throw off the covers and get out of bed, when the next second he watched Liang Shining suddenly raise his hand and block him.

Ying Huai was stunned.

'What else do you want?'

Ying Huai turned his head somewhat helplessly.

'I was wrong, I won't say more. Buy whatever car you want, I won't care even if you buy bright green...'

'I'm not... going to say that.'

Liang Shining took a deep breath and gritted out: 'Come downstairs with me to eat breakfast.'

Ying Huai frowned and instinctively began to refuse: 'I don't need to eat...'

'No.'

Liang Shining raised his head to look at him, his expression returning to its usual indifference.

'I'm not just asking you to eat—I'm asking you to keep me company while I eat.'

Ying Huai: ?

He couldn't help but speak: 'How old are you, Liang Shining, needing someone to keep you company for a meal...'

'I took care of Teacher Ying all night last night, body and mind exhausted—I have no strength at all right now.'

Liang Shining raised his head to look at him, his voice low as he interrupted: 'Now I'm asking Teacher Ying to keep me company for a meal, such a small thing—Teacher Ying isn't willing?'

Ying Huai: ???

He vaguely felt something was off, and was just about to speak when the next second he heard Liang Shining's voice drop even lower.

'Teacher Ying just said... you'd repay me for last night.'

Ying Huai: ........

He hadn't expected Liang Shining to use his own words against him, and for a moment was so angry he laughed.

'Fine, fine, alright, I'll keep you company, satisfied?'

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and stood up, his body swaying slightly.

The next second, he was caught by Liang Shining.

The familiar dizziness before his eyes, Ying Huai tilted his head to look at the person beside him: 'Body and mind exhausted?'

Liang Shining supported him expressionlessly as they walked out: 'I was a bit tired just now, but I've recovered a little now.'

Ying Huai glanced at him with a half-smile, didn't expose him, and followed him slowly outside.

·

Ying Huai had originally planned to sit beside the dining table and be a qualified wooden stake, truly 'keeping company' while he ate.

But if he didn't pick up his chopsticks, Liang Shining would also just stare at him motionless.

Ying Huai was made uncomfortable all over by his gaze, and finally couldn't withstand it, forced to pick up his chopsticks and eat first.

But he hadn't eaten long before he put down his chopsticks, refusing to eat any more no matter what.

Liang Shining frowned at the breakfast in front of him, more than half still remaining, opened his mouth just about to say something when he watched the person in front already brace himself against the table and stand up first, toss off 'I'm going to take a shower,' and leave hurriedly without looking back.

Liang Shining felt a vague sense of unease in his heart, but before he could say anything, Ying Huai's figure had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.

·

The moment Ying Huai entered the bathroom, he directly locked the door from inside, then threw himself at the sink and wretched up everything he'd just eaten.

The stimulation from the vomit made him choke and cough uncontrollably, Ying Huai's fingers tightened bit by bit, and it took a long while before he caught his breath.

He closed his eyes, pressed hard against his brow, and curved his lips in a somewhat bitter smile.

These past few years he'd been working non-stop, and had gradually developed a stomach ailment—almost every time he drank, his stomach would be uncomfortable the next day.

That's why he hadn't wanted to go eat with Liang Shining just now, afraid this would be discovered.

Ying Huai bent over halfway, pressing hard against his abdomen, and after a long while, let out a heavy breath.

·

Outside the door, Liang Shining stood hesitantly.

Ying Huai's complexion just now had seemed off, and Liang Shining was worried something had happened to him. He hesitated, wanting to knock, but was mindful of something.

—What if he was just overthinking...

Liang Shining stood stiffly outside the door, closed his eyes, curved his lips in some self-mockery, and slowly turned around.

—He and Ying Huai were at most familiar strangers right now. Taking care of each other when sick was one thing, but standing guard outside the door while someone showered was something else entirely.

The next second, a muffled 'bang' came from the bathroom, and Liang Shining's expression instantly changed.

He could no longer be bothered with anything else, suddenly turned around, and rushed straight into the bathroom.

'Ying Huai, you—'

He pushed the door open, but his expression suddenly stiffened.

The person in front, clothes half-removed, raised his head in disbelief, and after a few seconds suddenly realized something, quickly gathered the half-open collar of his shirt closed.

'What are you doing?' Ying Huai gritted out.

He turned to look at the bathroom door: 'What's wrong with this door? I clearly locked it just now...'

'This door has a safety lock—you need to lock it twice...' Liang Shining instinctively spoke in a low voice, the rest of his words gradually dissipating into the steam.

He stared at the person in front, silently opened his mouth, and for a moment couldn't say a single word.

Ying Huai's pants had already been pulled down to his ankles, his slender ankles half-hidden in the silk pajama pants, as if afraid of the cold, his toes slightly curled and overlapping, faintly trembling.

Liang Shining's fingertips at his sides trembled slightly.

He didn't dare look again, but for a moment didn't know where to let his gaze fall. It wavered a few times before he could only shift upward in some panic.

His face instantly grew hotter.

The shirt Ying Huai was wearing was a bit too big—it was his shirt.

Last night Ying Huai had been feeling unwell, sweating from his illness, and Liang Shining, afraid he'd catch cold, had casually found one of his own shirts and roughly changed him into it.

Now the hem of his shirt fell ambiguously to the top of his thighs, and because of his raised-hand movement it had shifted up a bit, seeming to conceal something, yet seeming... to conceal nothing at all.

Liang Shining's Adam's apple uncontrollably bobbed slightly, and the next second he heard Ying Huai's exasperated voice: 'Seen enough?'

'...What?'

Liang Shining hadn't reacted for a moment, and raised his head hesitantly.

The next second he met Ying Huai's somewhat gritted-teeth expression.

'If you've seen enough, get out.'

Ying Huai gritted out a cold laugh.

Liang Shining suddenly came back to himself.

He instinctively turned his back, took two steps back, and only then finally remembered the matter at hand.

'Were you okay just now... Ying Huai?'

He hesitated, wanting to turn back again: 'I thought I heard some kind of sound just now...'

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard that muffled 'bang' from before come again.

Liang Shining reflexively turned around again, instinctively stepped forward, and directly pulled the person in front into his arms.

'Ying Huai!'

The next second, before he could say anything, he was drenched head-on by hot water from above.

At the same moment, Ying Huai's gritted-teeth voice rang in his ear: 'Liang! Shi! Ning!'

Liang Shining stood under the shower with a bewildered expression, incoherently turning his head trying to explain: 'I really didn't mean to do anything, I heard that sound just now, I thought something happened to you...'

'That's the sound of the water heater switch.' Ying Huai gritted his teeth looking at the person in front, his already flushed cheeks now even redder.

'Did you do it on purpose, Liang Shining?'

Liang Shining was stunned.

Last night his entire attention had been on Ying Huai, he'd hurriedly taken a cold shower and come out, and hadn't noticed at all that the water heater in this room was like this.

He instinctively opened his mouth to argue, but felt the person in his arms suddenly move.

Liang Shining didn't have time to react, his hands reflexively tightened instantly, and the next second heard the person in his arms let out a muffled groan.

'Liang Shining, get out!'

Liang Shining instinctively lowered his head, and his expression instantly stiffened.

His movements just now had pulled open the already not-fully-closed collar by more than half, his palm gripping the already-soaked fabric, pinning the slender waist of the person in front.

Liang Shining didn't need to turn his head to meet Ying Huai's—

'Get out. I don't want to say it a third time.'

Ying Huai's somewhat unsteady voice from anger came from beside his ear.

Liang Shining instinctively wanted to let go: 'Sorry, I didn't mean to, I was just worried...'

'I don't need it.'

Ying Huai's waist was especially sensitive. He now felt the temperature of Liang Shining's palm transmitting through his skin inch by inch, and could barely control the trembling all over his body.

This physical reaction made Ying Huai somewhat embarrassed and angry.

He endured for a moment, and finally couldn't help gritting out: 'Doesn't Mr. Liang think this kind of concern is overstepping for a stranger?'

The rest of Liang Shining's words instantly stuck in his throat.

An inexplicable irritation rose in his heart. He frowned, and suddenly spoke: 'Why does Teacher Ying mind so much?'

He turned his head, brow slightly raised: 'Does Teacher Ying think your clothes last night... just changed themselves on?'

Theoretically speaking, Liang Shining hadn't actually... seen anything last night.

Ying Huai's expression suddenly stiffened.

When he had helped Ying Huai change, he had been almost more nervous than the person in front of him now. He had wrapped Ying Huai tightly under the blanket, turned his head away with a guilty conscience, and haphazardly changed his clothes with his eyes shut.

But now, looking at the deeply flushed face of the person in front of him, he couldn't help blurting it out directly.

He watched with satisfaction as Ying Huai suddenly raised his head. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and he finally unhurriedly released the hand that had been supporting Ying Huai.

"Teacher Ying, take your time washing. If you need anything... call me anytime."

The answer he received was a "Get lost" from Ying Huai through gritted teeth.

·

This time Ying Huai remembered to lock the door twice.

He carefully checked twice to confirm there was no problem, then finally walked back into the bathroom with relief.

He had reeked of alcohol last night. If his body hadn't really been too uncomfortable to get up, he would have struggled to at least rinse off before getting into bed no matter what.

He didn't know if it was because his earlier words had become a self-fulfilling prophecy, or because his body was simply too weak, but after showering, Ying Huai really did feel a bit dizzy.

He wasn't too panicked. He fished out a tablet for palpitations from his pocket and placed it under his tongue. After a moment's hesitation, he unlocked the bathroom door.

But by the time he had gotten dressed and was ready to go out, the dizziness hadn't eased—if anything, the palpitations and shortness of breath had grown worse.

Ying Huai stood in place, half-leaning on the sink, one hand pressed to his chest, unconsciously taking small, gasping breaths.

The lingering steam in the air made the oxygen feel thinner. Ying Huai's breathing gradually quickened, yet he still felt increasingly unable to catch his breath.

Though he was in a warm bathroom, Ying Huai felt cold all over, breaking out in layer after layer of cold sweat.

He vaguely realized this wasn't a sign of an episode. He tried to support himself against the wall and walk out, but had only taken two steps before he had to stop again.

——He was too dizzy.

His vision spun as if he were inside one of those high-speed spinning teacups, and waves of nausea kept surging up.

Ying Huai couldn't help covering his mouth and dry-heaving twice, his body slowly bending over uncontrollably.

He staggered along the wall to the door, then could no longer hold on. His body slid softly down the wall.

He reached for the door handle with trembling hands, not noticing that his fingers were spasming violently.

His fingertips managed to grip the handle, but he was completely drained of strength. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't open the door, and the dizziness and nausea only grew worse.

It took Ying Huai a few seconds to realize he had just lost consciousness for a moment.

His arm, having lost its support, had fallen limply again. His fingertips, curled at his side, were still faintly flushed from the shower, while his soft, heavy waist pressed against the wall, sliding down inch by inch.

Ying Huai stared blankly down at himself. After a long moment, his body trembling, he drew in a sharp breath of cold air, and his muddled consciousness cleared a fraction.

He gathered the last shred of strength, struggled to push himself up, and gasping, dragged himself toward the door. But halfway there, he lost consciousness again, his body falling heavily forward.

His soft body collided with a muffled thud. Ying Huai let out a low groan. His scattered consciousness didn't return with the pain; instead, it grew blurrier.

The person outside the door seemed to have heard something off in the bathroom and called out to him warily, but Ying Huai was cold all over and didn't even have the strength to open his mouth.

His last conscious moment was the sound of panicked footsteps, and someone suddenly pushing the door open.

Cool air rushed in. Ying Huai let out a low hum, and the next second, his vision went black.

He lost consciousness completely.

·

Fortunately, Ying Huai wasn't out for long.

When he regained a bit of awareness, he first felt a sharp pain at his philtrum, followed by an inexplicable sweetness in his mouth.

As his body's sensations gradually returned, Ying Huai let out a low hum and realized he was still on the ground, though his upper body seemed to be steadily supported by someone.

Ying Huai felt a flutter of panic in his chest. His body shifted restlessly, and the next second he heard the person above him let out a heavy breath.

"You're awake."

Hearing Liang Shining's familiar voice, Ying Huai's tense nerves unconsciously relaxed a fraction.

He opened his eyes groggily and met Liang Shining's gaze, which couldn't quite hide his panic.

Ying Huai's eyes were still unfocused.

He frowned and squinted, instinctively opening his mouth to say something, but choked first, turning his head to cough weakly.

He had no strength in his body. His chest rose and fell weakly with each coughing gasp, struggling to draw in oxygen.

Liang Shining, somewhat panicked, half-lifted him into his arms and clumsily patted his back again and again.

After a long while, Ying Huai finally managed to stop coughing, his face pale.

He felt Liang Shining put something sweet in his mouth again. Ying Huai turned his head away somewhat unwillingly and mumbled, "What's this..."

"Candy. Keep it in your mouth." Liang Shining said quietly.

Ying Huai frowned, belatedly remembering something: "What happened to me just now..."

"You had hypoglycemia."

Liang Shining gritted his teeth, his voice unconsciously carrying a hint of anger: "You're really something, Ying Huai."

Ying Huai's mind was still foggy. He raised his head in some confusion and saw Liang Shining speak through gritted teeth.

"How did you manage this? You clearly just had breakfast—why would you still get hypoglycemia? Bad enough to pass out..."

He watched Ying Huai turn his eyes away with a hint of guilt, and suddenly realized something. His brow furrowed again.

"Did your stomach act up again just now?"

Ying Huai's eyes flickered. He simply closed his eyes and pretended to feel unwell again.

Liang Shining was so annoyed by his reaction that he laughed despite himself.

——It was the first time he'd seen someone throw up until they got hypoglycemia and then have the nerve to casually go on and shower.

·

That morning, after Liang Shining watched him take his medicine again, Ying Huai was, as expected, pushed back into bed.

He tried to protest, but Liang Shining's expression was unspeakably dark. Without a word of discussion, he turned off the lights, sat down right by the bed, and lowered his eyes, ignoring him.

Ying Huai kept up his one-sided protest for a while. As the medicine gradually took effect, his awareness finally began to grow drowsy.

Liang Shining listened as the voice of the person in front of him gradually faded. When he looked up again, he could only see Ying Huai's eyelids slowly, uncontrollably drooping.

He seemed to not want to fall asleep. His lashes kept trembling, and his breathing carried a faint undercurrent of unease.

Liang Shining watched for a few seconds, then finally couldn't help reaching out and gently covering Ying Huai's eyes.

——He knew he shouldn't be doing this.

But he just... couldn't help it.

Liang Shining had meant it as an instinctive gesture, but the moment his palm settled over Ying Huai's eyes, he could visibly see the unease in Ying Huai's expression lessen.

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment. He watched as the person in front of him let out a faint breath, his head slowly tilting in his direction.

Ying Huai finally fell asleep.

Liang Shining held that position motionless for a long time.

It wasn't until an unbearable ache crept into his arm that Liang Shining seemed to finally come back to himself, and stiffly drew his hand back.

The person in front of him frowned slightly, his body shifting restlessly for a moment, then quickly settling again.

But Liang Shining caught it almost immediately.

He stared at the sleeping person's calm expression. After a long moment, he slowly bent down and pressed his forehead against the edge of the bed.

"Ying Huai."

Liang Shining spoke, almost inaudibly: "How can you always be like this..."

·

Ying Huai slept straight through until nearly noon.

Worried that Ying Huai would get hypoglycemia again if he didn't eat, Liang Shining went downstairs to the restaurant and bought some things Ying Huai liked that were also easy to digest, intending to bring them up.

But in just that short while, by the time Liang Shining returned to the room, the person inside had already disappeared.

Liang Shining looked at the empty room, his grip on the bag slowly tightening.

He lowered his eyes to look at the bag full of Ying Huai's favorite foods, and for a moment felt that everything he had just done was utterly laughable.

——He deserved it.

——He shouldn't have bothered with Ying Huai in the first place.

Liang Shining curled his lip in self-mockery, irritably tossed the things in his hand onto the table, and took a couple of steps into the room.

The next second, his steps suddenly paused again.

All those things Song Si Lan had told him last night uncontrollably surfaced in his mind again.

Liang Shining clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and in the end turned around.

He walked two steps out, hesitated, then suddenly turned back and took a few small bread rolls from the lunch bag before hurrying out.

"He should just starve."

Liang Shining carefully tucked the bread rolls into his pocket, gritting his teeth as he spoke: "If he passes out from hypoglycemia one more time, I absolutely won't bother with him."

·

But Liang Shining searched the auction exhibition area for a full circle without finding any sign of Ying Huai.

Liang Shining's original resentment was gradually overtaken by panic.

He took a deep breath, thinking that if Ying Huai had already gone back to the room, he'd check there first.

"Did someone just drown over by the pool?"

Liang Shining heard two servers hurrying past him.

Liang Shining hadn't paid it any mind, but the next second he heard one of the servers urgently add: "Seems like his heart suddenly gave out and he collapsed, fell right off the edge into the pool..."

Before the server could finish, Liang Shining suddenly felt a grip on his arm.

Immediately after, a nearly panicked voice came.

"What did you say?"

Liang Shining grabbed the server's arm, gritting his teeth: "Who did you say drowned? What did he look like? How old..."

The server was startled.

He instinctively pulled his arm free: "I don't know, I only heard people talking. Seems like a man, pretty tall and thin, didn't look too healthy..."

For a moment, Liang Shining felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Every sound around him seemed to blur at once. Liang Shining couldn't hear anything clearly.

Before the server could finish speaking, he saw the man in front of him sway violently, his face going white in an instant.

The server was a little frightened. He called out to him a few times but got no response.

His companion beside him also seemed panicked, hastily pushed him and gestured for him to stop meddling and hurry away.

The surroundings fell quiet for a moment, but Liang Shining was completely unaware, standing stiffly in place.

After a few seconds, he suddenly came to himself, sharply drew in a breath, and staggering, turned around, trying to head toward the pool.

The next second, he heard a familiar voice from behind: "Liang Shining?"

Liang Shining's body went rigid.

He turned around in disbelief and met Ying Huai's somewhat curious gaze.

In that instant, Liang Shining felt, perhaps for the first time, what it truly meant for his heart to thud back into his chest.

Ying Huai was startled by his ghastly expression: "What's wrong with you? Why are you here, what happened..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly saw Liang Shining step forward and grab his arm.

The grip was very tight. Ying Huai frowned with some discomfort, but said nothing and didn't struggle, simply letting Liang Shining hold him.

"Where did you go?"

Liang Shining gritted his teeth, his voice still trembling uncontrollably: "Why did you leave without saying anything? Do you know what shape your body is in? Do you know what I just thought..."

"I went to buy you lunch."

Before Liang Shining could finish, he heard Ying Huai softly cut him off.

Liang Shining's expression flickered in surprise.

Only then did he notice what Ying Huai was holding in his hand.

He opened his mouth soundlessly, and before he could say anything, felt a sudden coolness against his palm the next second.

Ying Huai hesitated, then raised his head and gently took his hand, squeezing it lightly but firmly.

"Don't worry. I'm right here."

He listened as Ying Huai, with a hint of helpless amusement, softly mouthed a 'shh' at him.

"Don't panic. I've always... been right here."

Liang Shining stood rooted to the spot, his expression momentarily dazed.

He opened his mouth soundlessly.