Chapter 72: Throat

Ying Huai's expression stiffened for a moment.

The next second, he quickly composed himself, and curved his eyes at Song Si Lan.

"It's been a long time, Doctor Song."

He tucked the hand holding the medical record sheet behind his back, raised his head with feigned innocence: "I remember Doctor Song was supposed to be at work today, how do you still have time... to inspect the Hospital next door?"

Song Si Lan didn't buy any of it.

He stood with arms crossed, answering a question with one: "Oh? Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Ying, I'd almost forgotten I was on shift today."

He gave a cold laugh: "Teacher Ying keeps very close tabs on my whereabouts."

Ying Huai faltered, guiltily shifting his gaze, and gave Song Si Lan a placating smile.

"It's only right, after all Doctor Song takes such good care of me on a regular basis."

Song Si Lan had no intention of playing these verbal games with him.

He got straight to the point: "Tell me. What did you come here for?"

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, his expression calm: "Nothing in particular. I just saw Doctor Song was at work today, didn't want to disturb you, so I came to the Hospital for a routine check-up on my own."

Song Si Lan didn't believe a single word of Ying Huai's rambling.

"Stop talking nonsense here. I've already told Liang Shining about the routine checks you need, and had him bring the basic equipment over. There's no reason for you to come to the Hospital yourself."

He scanned the calmly composed person in front of him from head to toe, narrowed his eyes, and his gaze slowly settled on Ying Huai's throat.

He narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked: "Does Teacher Ying feel cold today?"

Ying Huai's mind was entirely on the medical record sheet in his hand, and he answered offhandedly: "Not really, the weather's been much warmer these past couple of days..."

Before he finished speaking, he immediately realized something was off.

The next second, sure enough, he heard Song Si Lan laugh teasingly: "If it's so warm, why is Teacher Ying wrapped up so tightly today?"

Ying Huai was wearing a turtleneck sweater today, with a dark grey wool coat over it, and a scarf wrapped around his neck.

At first glance, there was nothing wrong with the outfit.

But it was already early spring, the weather was fairly warm, and someone as robust as Yu Wu had even shown up in short sleeves when he came by yesterday.

Even if Ying Huai was more sensitive to the cold, being wrapped up this tightly... wasn't quite normal.

—Not to mention Song Si Lan had heard from Liang Shining that Ying Huai normally didn't like having things around his neck, it made him feel like he couldn't breathe.

Ying Huai's expression paused slightly.

He looked up at Song Si Lan for a few seconds, and let out a soft sigh with a half-smile: "Doctor Song, have you noticed that you and Doctor Yu are becoming more and more alike in certain ways?"

It was meant as a tease, but Song Si Lan's expression suddenly stiffened.

Ying Huai was also taken aback, his eyes immediately glinting with interest: "Doctor Song and Doctor Yu haven't... had something happen recently, have they?"

"No, don't try to change the subject on me."

Song Si Lan gritted his teeth and forcibly steered the conversation back.

He asked directly: "Is your throat bothering you?"

By now Ying Huai had already prepared his excuse.

"No, just a bit of a cough, nothing serious."

He stuffed the medical record sheet into his left pocket, sidestepped past Song Si Lan, and walked forward: "I've been practicing songs lately preparing for the Concert, so it's normal for my throat to feel a bit off, right?"

"That's why I dressed a bit warmer today."

Song Si Lan stood in place, stared at him for a few seconds, and asked with a frown: "If it's just a sore throat, why didn't you come to me?"

"It's just that I haven't seen Doctor Song in so long, and I've been busy recording a Variety Show recently, so I didn't have time..."

Ying Huai's expression remained composed as he continued walking briskly toward the elevator: "I still have to get back to rehearsal in a bit, my disciple must be getting anxious waiting for me. I'll head off first, Doctor Song should get back to work too..."

Before he finished speaking, the next second, he suddenly saw a figure emerge from around the corner.

Ying Huai couldn't stop in time and crashed straight into the person.

Eager to leave, he didn't look up to see who it was, just hurriedly said: "Sorry, I was walking too fast, I didn't mean to..."

"Shifu."

Ying Huai's voice cut off abruptly.

He looked up and saw Liang Shining standing in front of him, dark eyes fixed unwaveringly on him.

"Now Teacher Ying doesn't need to rush, your disciple has come to keep you company."

Song Si Lan narrowed his eyes and slowly walked up to Ying Huai.

"Teacher Ying was right earlier, it really has been a while. If you have some minor discomfort and don't tell me, that's understandable."

"But Teacher Liang, you must see Teacher Ying every day, don't you?"

Ying Huai's eyes flickered. He subtly shifted half an inch to the side, but the next second, Song Si Lan stepped forward and blocked his retreat on the other side as well.

"Teacher Ying sees Teacher Liang every day, so if you're feeling unwell, why didn't you tell him either?"

Song Si Lan lowered his eyes and scoffed: "What, you don't even have time to talk to him?"

A flash of awkwardness crossed Ying Huai's face. He realized something, and after a long moment, let out a helpless sigh.

"You're following me, little disciple."

There was no anger in his tone, but Liang Shining lowered his eyes and without hesitation quietly said: "I was wrong, Shifu, please don't be angry."

"I was just worried about Shifu, whatever punishment Shifu wants..."

Ying Huai faltered. For a moment, he seemed to see a big golden retriever with drooping ears lying in front of him, looking up at him with a pitiful, wronged gaze.

He was the one being followed, yet a strange sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

—Ying Huai had never imagined that Liang Shining, the taciturn type who couldn't be coaxed into saying ten sentences, could one day make him feel this way.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Could you not..."

He stumbled, suddenly unable to find the words to describe the feeling.

"Enough. I was the one who had him follow you. I knew you'd be hiding things from us again."

Song Si Lan spoke coldly from the side: "Tell me. What's really wrong with your throat?"

Ying Huai's legs were getting tired from standing.

He crossed his arms and leaned half against the wall beside him, looking at the two people flanking him, and raised his eyes with a half-smile: "What, you're going to interrogate me?"

Liang Shining immediately shook his head, but Song Si Lan beside him gave a cold laugh and openly admitted: "Exactly. For a repeat offender like you, interrogation is exactly what's needed."

Ying Huai: ...?

He stepped forward as he spoke, reaching out his hand toward Ying Huai: "Enough, stop making excuses, Teacher Ying. Hand over the medical record sheet first."

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He looked up at Song Si Lan, didn't directly refuse, but slowly said: "Doctor Song wants to see my medical record sheet, right?"

"Once you've seen it, you'll let me go, won't you?"

Liang Shining frowned, and Song Si Lan also sensed something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what.

Song Si Lan gritted his teeth and finally said: "Fine, give me the sheet, I'll look at it."

—Anyway, once he had the sheet, he could tell Ying Huai's condition at a glance.

"If there's nothing wrong, Teacher Ying can go back."

Ying Huai said nothing.

His gaze swept over the two people in front of him, and he suddenly smiled: "Alright."

The next second, he pulled the medical record sheet from his right pocket and unhesitatingly stuffed it into Song Si Lan's hand.

"Take a look, Doctor Song. There's nothing wrong."

Song Si Lan lowered his eyes, quickly scanned it, and his brow gradually furrowed.

The sheet in his hand was indeed about Ying Huai's throat, but what it recorded was only ordinary chronic pharyngitis—basically an occupational hazard for singers.

Song Si Lan stared at the sheet for a few seconds, then said again: "The prescription record, let me see that too."

Ying Huai unhurriedly pulled another slip from his right pocket and smilingly stuffed it into Song Si Lan's hand as well.

The slip only listed some routine anti-inflammatory and throat-soothing medications, indeed... nothing abnormal.

"Do you believe me now, Doctor Song?"

Ying Huai took the slips back from Song Si Lan and unhurriedly tucked them back into his left pocket.

"It's really just routine pharyngitis. I used to get it often in the sensitive early-spring season, so I already know what medicine to get."

Ying Huai straightened up and stretched: "So Doctor Song... don't worry."

Song Si Lan stood in place without speaking, while Liang Shining beside him fixed his gaze on Ying Huai's left pocket.

He frowned, opened his mouth as if about to say something, but the next second, Ying Huai casually dropped his hand to block his line of sight and walked ahead of him outward.

"I really have to go back. Teacher Mu is coming to watch our rehearsal today, I really can't be late."

Ying Huai let out a half-smiling sigh.

Liang Shining also came back to himself. He turned his head, just about to say something, when he saw the person halfway ahead suddenly remember something and turn back with curved eyes.

"Right, since Mr. Liang has already followed me all the way here, why not give me a ride back?"

Ying Huai lowered his eyes, his gaze carrying a hint of teasing: "If you're going to keep following me anyway, this saves you the trouble of sneaking around."

Liang Shining: ...

—He quickly realized that Ying Huai was still angry at him.

·

All along the way, Liang Shining tried to make conversation with Ying Huai.

But the person beside him had buckled his seatbelt and closed his eyes to rest the moment he got in the car. Liang Shining looked at the faint dark circles under Ying Huai's eyes, opened his mouth, but swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

But Ying Huai didn't sleep peacefully either. It happened to be the midday rush hour, and Liang Shining's car kept stopping and starting. Ying Huai, sitting in the passenger seat, was woken up several times by the piercing honking of cars ahead.

Halfway through the drive, Liang Shining finally couldn't stand it any longer. He turned on his hazard lights and slowly pulled over to the side of the road.

"Shifu, why don't you go lie down in the back and sleep for a while?" Liang Shining said softly, looking at the person curled up in the passenger seat, frowning in his sleep. "It would be more comfortable that way."

Ying Huai frowned slightly and shrank down a little, replying casually: "That won't do."

He lifted his eyelids slightly, glanced at Liang Shining, and said with a half-smile: "How would I dare treat Mr. Liang as my driver?"

Liang Shining: ...

He paused, lowered his eyes, and suddenly said softly: "Is shifu still angry at me?"

Ying Huai frowned and opened his eyes. He had just opened his mouth to say something when he saw Liang Shining speak first in a low voice: "I was wrong earlier, shifu. Please don't be angry, don't bear it alone."

Ying Huai was no longer as shocked as he had been when he first saw Liang Shining like this at the Hospital.

A trace of novelty even flickered through his mind. He sat with arms crossed, wanting to see how else Liang Shining could 'perform.'

After sitting like this for a while, his neck began to feel uncomfortable. He shifted his body unconsciously, and saw Liang Shining instinctively reach out to steady him—but his fingers trembled and he suddenly pulled them back.

"Please don't be angry, shifu."

Liang Shining lowered his eyes and said softly: "If you're really angry, then scold me. Please don't hurt your own body."

Ying Huai: ...

The person before him gazed at him quietly, lashes lowered, looking sad and pitiful, aggrieved as if it were real.

—If Ying Huai hadn't remembered that Liang Shining had once swept him up in front of everyone, he would certainly have believed it.

But even knowing it was fake did no good.

If Chu Ming were here to see Liang Shining like this, he would surely shout 'call the police.' Unfortunately, Ying Huai... Ying Huai had always been the type who yielded to softness but not to force.

"...What do you want." Ying Huai took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth.

"Shifu, go lie down in the back and sleep for a while. I'll wake you when we arrive."

Liang Shining said hurriedly.

Ying Huai glanced at him, and ultimately opened the car door and moved to the back seat.

The back seat was indeed much more spacious and better soundproofed than the front, but Ying Huai didn't have the habit of lying down to sleep in a car.

He only relaxed his body slightly, rested his head sideways on the headrest beside him, and closed his eyes.

In his half-awake state, he felt Liang Shining start the car again, driving steadily forward.

Ying Huai's consciousness gradually blurred, but at the moment he was about to fall asleep, a familiar stinging and itching sensation came from his throat again.

Ying Huai frowned slightly.

He instinctively pressed his fingertips, trying to suppress the urge to cough, but the harder he tried to hold it back, the stronger the discomfort in his throat became.

Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Ying Huai's forehead. He couldn't help reaching out to slowly grip the front of his clothes, wanting to muffle a cough, but the next second, he suddenly felt something light settle on him.

Ying Huai was startled.

He couldn't hold it in for a moment and suddenly coughed until the world spun.

Liang Shining was also startled.

He only saw the person who had been sleeping soundly suddenly curl up entirely, pressing hard against his chest, his bony fingers straining so hard that veins stood out one by one, his complexion gradually shifting from a faint flush to an oxygen-deprived pallor.

"Shifu—"

Liang Shining unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to go to the back seat.

But Ying Huai pressed down on his arm. He shook his head, slightly turned his body, took something out of his left pocket and held it to his lips, and the coughing gradually subsided.

Liang Shining's expression was uncertain: "What is that?"

"Nothing, just some cough and throat lozenges I got earlier." Ying Huai answered in a hoarse voice.

—But Liang Shining had clearly seen that blister pack in Ying Huai's other pocket.

Seeing that Liang Shining was about to ask more, he cut him off directly: "I'm fine, I just got startled earlier—why did you stop?"

Liang Shining paused, and ultimately didn't press further.

He said softly: "The road ahead is completely jammed. The navigation says there seems to be an accident—it's going to be backed up for half an hour. I was worried shifu would be uncomfortable, so I pulled over first."

"I saw shifu's body seemed to be shaking just now, so I wanted to get a jacket to put over you."

Ying Huai frowned, glanced at him, then closed his eyes again: "I'm not cold, no need for a jacket. Just focus on driving."

Liang Shining was quiet for a few seconds, and when he spoke again, his voice seemed to carry a hint of disappointment.

"But shifu was coughing just now."

"If shifu doesn't want to wear my jacket, I have a new one in the back that hasn't been worn. I can go get it for shifu..."

Ying Huai: ...

—He knew it. He shouldn't have let Liang Shining notice anything before bed last night.

He opened his eyes, unable to bear it any longer: "Can you not be so..."

But before he could finish, meeting Liang Shining's somewhat dim expression, the words on his lips couldn't come out at all.

Ying Huai felt frustrated for a few seconds, then reached out and snatched the jacket Liang Shining had handed him, turned his face away, and closed his eyes.

Liang Shining's lips curved slightly.

·

Whether it was because he really felt warmer, or because of the familiar scent on Liang Shining's jacket, Ying Huai slept deeply for the rest of the journey.

Even after they returned to the Variety Show recording location, Ying Huai was still deep in sleep.

In his drowsy haze, Ying Huai faintly felt someone pick him up.

This time, Liang Shining didn't seem to have any intention of asking his opinion. He held him securely and rose, unhurriedly walking inside.

—But Ying Huai, in his half-awake state, didn't realize this.

Afraid Liang Shining would say something to him again, his fingers moved slightly, hooking onto Liang Shining's sleeve cuff, and he said in a warning tone: "...Don't talk, let me sleep a little longer."

The person holding him paused for a moment, said nothing, and only let out a low laugh.

"Okay."

A familiar presence gradually washed over him. The fingers hooked onto Liang Shining's sleeve loosened slightly, and the consciousness he had barely gathered instantly scattered again.

When Su Xin turned the corner, this was the scene he ran into.

He paused, a trace of complexity flickering across his expression, but ultimately said nothing. He only lowered his eyes and slightly turned aside, pretending nothing was happening.

But the next second, Xin Wan happened to walk over from the opposite direction.

"Oh, Teacher Liang, you're finally back. Have you seen little shidi..."

Before he could finish, his gaze fell on Liang Shining's arms, and his eyes instantly widened.

Xin Wan instantly bristled: "Liang Shining, what are you doing? Put little shidi down, mm—"

Before Xin Wan could finish, Su Xin, reacting, stepped forward and covered his mouth.

"Shut up."

Xin Wan widened his eyes in disbelief: "Mm-xiong, what are you mm-ing, didn't you mm-see Liang Shining bullying little shidi..."

"Didn't you see Ying Huai is asleep?"

Su Xin didn't know how to explain to Xin Wan, so he could only change the subject first: "Keep your voice down."

Xin Wan froze for a moment, and instantly fell silent.

Seeing him quiet down, Su Xin silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He slowly released his hand, but the next second, Xin Wan broke down again: "But shixiong, how can you just watch Liang Shining bully little shidi like this..."

A passing staff member nearby turned curiously at the sound, and Su Xin, unable to bear it any longer, tried to cover his mouth again.

He couldn't help but say directly: "It's not bullying, can you stop talking nonsense? Shidi himself isn't resisting..."

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized something was wrong. Xin Wan suddenly raised his head, about to say something, but the next second, a slightly sleepy voice came from not far away.

"...Can you shut up, Chu Ming."

Xin Wan: ???

His heart shattered piece by piece.

"What did you just say, little shidi?"

Xin Wan no longer cared about Su Xin, and instantly ran to Ying Huai, speaking in disbelief.

"Can't you tell my voice apart?"

Ying Huai, who had belatedly come to his senses: ...

—He had assumed, subconsciously, that only Chu Ming would do something this loud and flustered.

Ying Huai pressed his brow and silently sighed.

After this commotion, his sleepiness had long since vanished without a trace.

He patted Liang Shining's arm to signal him to put him down, and said seriously: "Sorry, shixiong, I wasn't fully awake just now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Xin Wan stagger backward, looking as if he were about to shatter entirely.

"It's over, my little shidi dislikes me, he doesn't even remember my voice, I'm going to be abandoned by my little shidi........"

Ying Huai: .........

—He couldn't understand why everyone around him today had become like this.

Su Xin beside him couldn't stand it any longer and directly dragged the ghost-like Xin Wan away.

Ying Huai stared at his retreating back for a few seconds, then belatedly remembered something: "Speaking of which, where's Chu Ming?"

"He said he was going home to get something, but it's already the second day today, why hasn't he come back yet?"

Liang Shining frowned and shook his head.

"Not sure, but this morning during the big class the vocal teacher said he had originally signed up for today's class."

Ying Huai frowned.

Liang Shining's phone alarm suddenly went off. Liang Shining glanced down and said quietly: "Time to go to the practice room, shifu."

Ying Huai came back to himself.

He instinctively tried to put it off: "You go first, I have some things to take care of, I'll head over later......."

Seeing Liang Shining open his mouth to say something more, he couldn't help but make a hushing gesture.

"Fine, you win, I'm not angry anymore, stop talking like that, let me have a moment of quiet."

Liang Shining was momentarily stunned, and a faint smile gradually surfaced in his eyes.

"I wasn't going to say anything, shifu."

"I just wanted to remind shifu, today's class is Teacher Mu's."

Ying Huai's steps faltered slightly.

Mu Heguang had specifically rushed over today and had specially requested that both of them come together so he could carefully work through the details of their duet.

Ying Huai unconsciously slipped his left hand into his pocket, paused for a few seconds, and finally took a soft breath.

".......Then let's go."

·

Mu Heguang came right up and directly embraced Ying Huai.

"Congratulations, little Huai, the Pre-release Track 'Return' performed wonderfully, a beautiful turnaround."

Ying Huai was hugged by Mu Heguang so tightly he almost couldn't catch his breath.

"It's because of your excellent teaching, teacher....... Could you let go of me first, teacher?"

He tried to struggle free from Mu Heguang's embrace with a mix of amusement and helplessness, but Mu Heguang was nearly twice his size.

Ying Huai struggled once but couldn't break free, and instead the excited Mu Heguang patted him on the back.

"Why let go, don't try to pin the credit on me, how long has this old man been retired, this time it's purely riding on your coattails."

Mu Heguang thought of something else as he spoke, and let out a snort of laughter.

"I saw the news too, that Chu whatever tried to slander you with plagiarism, this old man directly listed out the melodic progressions of both songs and sent it to their company email, he still hasn't replied, I bet he can't even understand it."

"Next time something like this happens, little Huai, don't get angry with him, just tell me directly, this teacher will help you deal with these scoundrels—"

He spoke cheerfully while looking at Ying Huai, but the next second, he saw a flash of pain cross Ying Huai's brow.

"Please let go of me for a moment, teacher, I can't quite catch my brea— cough......."

Before Ying Huai could finish, he was suddenly cut off by a fit of violent coughing.

Mu Heguang's expression instantly panicked.

He hurriedly released the person in front of him, flustered as he tried to help Ying Huai sit down nearby.

But the moment he let go, he saw Ying Huai's entire body uncontrollably slump downward.

Mu Heguang was momentarily at a loss, but the next second, he saw Liang Shining skillfully catch the person with one hand, letting Ying Huai rest on his shoulder, while his other hand quickly patted his back to ease his breathing.

After quite a while, Ying Huai's breathing finally gradually steadied.

Liang Shining silently exhaled. He reached into Ying Huai's pocket for the cough suppressant tablets prescribed by the Hospital earlier, but the moment his hand went in, he touched something that felt like a spray.

Liang Shining's movements paused slightly.

The next second, Ying Huai realized something, and quickly pulled Liang Shining's hand out of his pocket, taking out a strip of throat lozenges from the other side.

"It's in this pocket." Ying Huai said quietly.

Liang Shining paused, saying nothing.

The bewildered Mu Heguang anxiously asked: "What's wrong, little Huai? Are you okay?"

Ying Huai shook his head slightly: "It's nothing, it's just that with spring arriving there's a lot of catkins flying around lately, I have some allergic reaction, my throat's a bit uncomfortable."

He looked up and smiled at Mu Heguang: "Let me rest for a bit, Teacher Mu, please take Liang Shining to practice for a while first?"

—Ying Huai had once again deliberately avoided practicing in front of him.

Liang Shining's eyes flickered.

He glanced at Ying Huai, who calmly turned his head away, his expression showing nothing unusual.

Mu Heguang, unaware of Ying Huai's inner thoughts, nodded hurriedly.

"Good, good, I'll take little Liang through it first, little Huai you rest well on the side, let me know when you're better."

·

The song Ying Huai had chosen to duet with Liang Shining was this Pre-release Track, "Return."

When recording the demo and pre-recorded version, he hadn't called Liang Shining. Liang Shining had originally thought Ying Huai would choose another song for the duet, but hadn't expected Ying Huai to choose "Return" without hesitation.

Even while Mu Heguang was still thinking about the section distribution, he directly produced a score with the parts already divided.

Mu Heguang quickly scanned it and was instantly interested.

"Not bad, the parts you gave little Liang all suit his vocal range—ah, you even made another version in the middle, having your own copyright really is nice."

Mu Heguang nodded repeatedly as he read, unable to resist looking at Ying Huai: "You were prepared for this long ago, weren't you, little Huai? You decided to duet with little Liang early on?"

Ying Huai sat to the side holding a cup of hot water, neither affirming nor denying.

The rising steam obscured half his face, leaving only a pair of slightly curved peach blossom eyes visible.

"Teacher, hurry and start practicing with Liang Shining, I can still change anything that doesn't work."

Ying Huai said with a smile: "I'm really looking forward to hearing Mr. Liang's voice paired with this song."

Ying Huai's words seemed to carry some hidden meaning.

Liang Shining was somewhat puzzled, but Mu Heguang remained cheerfully excited.

"Good, good, hearing you say that makes me look forward to it too."

Mu Heguang placed the score on the piano and turned to Liang Shining: "Little Liang, come, let's run through it once first. You've heard this song many times, so I won't give you time to familiarize yourself with the score........."

Ying Huai leaned back slightly and silently exhaled.

With his eyes slightly closed, he listened to Liang Shining's voice, and a smile unconsciously crept into his expression.

The parts he'd assigned to Liang Shining were mainly concentrated at the beginning and middle—the section with the most upbeat melody, also the part fans jokingly called 'entering the dream.'

Liang Shining's pitch was low, but paired with the song's melody it somehow blended perfectly. Ying Huai listened with closed eyes, but the smile at his lips gradually faded.

His hand gripping the spray in his pocket tightened little by little. After a while, he slightly turned his head, and while the two weren't paying attention, quickly took it out and brought it to his lips.

Liang Shining by the piano instinctively turned his head, but saw Ying Huai still sitting calmly where he was, and upon meeting his gaze, even smiled and curved his eyes at him.

"What is it? Is there a part that needs changing?"

Liang Shining quickly turned his head back.

He shook his head slightly and said quietly: "No, shifu wrote it very well."

He paused, then added: "Very...... immersive."

Ying Huai was momentarily stunned, his heartbeat unconsciously skipping a beat.

For a moment he thought Liang Shining had realized something, and looked up in some panic. The next second, he heard Mu Heguang cheerfully say: "Alright, little Liang's part is about done. How's your rest, little Huai? Want to come over and warm up your voice?"

Ying Huai didn't react for a moment, only instinctively turning his head back.

He met Mu Heguang's smiling expression, paused, then suddenly came back to himself.

"Sure, teacher."

He obediently walked forward, paused, and said with a seemingly casual air: "If Mr. Liang is done practicing, maybe go next door to reinforce it first, wait until I'm done practicing and then we can run through it together......."

Before he could finish, he heard Liang Shining calmly say: "I'm still not quite sure about some of the emotional shifts in my parts, I need to listen to shifu practice again to learn."

As if afraid Ying Huai would disagree, he turned to Mu Heguang: "Besides, some of the parts shifu practices are also harmony parts. Teacher Mu said earlier that I could quietly harmonize along myself."

Mu Heguang, as expected, nodded.

"That's right too, when it comes to singing, listening to the original is still best. Little Liang, just listen along on the side."

Liang Shining responded softly.

He turned to look at Ying Huai. Ying Huai narrowed his eyes, but said nothing more, just slowly walking forward step by step.

"Then let's begin, teacher."

Meanwhile, Liang Shining's hand at his side slowly tightened.

·

Liang Shining had originally prepared for every possible contingency.

But contrary to his expectations, Ying Huai's practice had no problems.

His voice was as clear and gentle as ever, his emotion and pitch held with extreme steadiness. Once Mu Heguang pointed out a few subtle points, Ying Huai could correct them immediately in a single pass, his control over every detail exceptionally precise.

—But Liang Shining inexplicably felt that Ying Huai's complexion had gone a little pale.

After running through it a few times, Mu Heguang's expression grew increasingly satisfied.

"There are no more problems. As expected, you have the most accurate grasp of your own songs."

Mu Heguang said cheerfully.

Ying Huai leaned back against the wall, tilted his head up, and silently curved his eyes into a smile.

"Alright, Xiao Liang, come on over. The two of you can run through it together a few times."

Mu Heguang turned his head and beckoned to Liang Shining: "I'll listen in for you both, see if there's anything that needs adjusting."

Liang Shining instinctively glanced up at Ying Huai. Ying Huai's expression was composed, and he smiled back at him as well: "What is it, little disciple?"

Liang Shining stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly turned to look at Mu Heguang: "How about we practice again tomorrow, Teacher Mu?"

Mu Heguang was stunned for a moment, and Ying Huai's expression also paused slightly.

"What is it? Is there some problem, Xiao Liang?"

Mu Heguang asked in confusion, unusually somewhat disapproving: "Practicing songs requires striking while the iron is hot. If we capture this feeling today, the next session can be twice as effective with half the effort..."

Liang Shining hesitated. He opened his mouth to say something, but the next second, Ying Huai cut him off first.

"It's nothing. Mr. Liang might be worried that I should take my medicine soon."

Mu Heguang was stunned for a moment. He was about to change his words, but heard Ying Huai pick up the sheet music again on his own.

"Let's run through it once first, Teacher. This little while won't matter."

Mu Heguang paused. He said nothing more, and slowly turned to sit down at the piano.

The duet that began went smoothly.

The two voices fit together unexpectedly well. Liang Shining's voice was several notes lower than Ying Huai's, perfectly cradling Ying Huai's voice and adding a layer of depth to its original clarity.

But Mu Heguang's expression gradually grew solemn.

He kept glancing at Ying Huai, opening his mouth to say something, but Ying Huai deliberately kept his eyes lowered, avoiding Mu Heguang's gaze.

As the song moved into its last short section, the accompaniment suddenly cut off.

Liang Shining instinctively raised his head and saw Mu Heguang suddenly stand up, looking anxiously at Ying Huai.

"Xiao Huai, your body..."

Before Mu Heguang finished speaking, the next second, Ying Huai suddenly covered his mouth and began coughing uncontrollably.

He coughed so hard he couldn't straighten his back. The air he breathed in seemed to carry some strange irritation, sending his throat into spasms and making even his lungs ache faintly.

Ying Huai drifted in and out of consciousness, unsure how long had passed, until the medicine at his lips was carefully taken away, and he finally felt the tightness in his lungs ease slightly.

His vision had gone dark from coughing, but he instinctively said: "I'm fine, I just choked a moment ago, it's nothing..."

He didn't notice that he was currently kneeling on the ground, half his body leaning against Liang Shining, nor that his body was trembling uncontrollably.

Ying Huai was anxious to soothe the two people's emotions, but the next second, he heard Mu Heguang say in a low voice: "Step outside first, Xiao Liang."

"I have something to discuss with Xiao Huai."

The hand Ying Huai was bracing against the floor trembled slightly.

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment.

He raised his head hesitantly, but saw Mu Heguang silently shake his head at him.

Liang Shining closed his eyes briefly.

He ultimately said nothing more, helped Ying Huai sit properly in a nearby chair, and walked out step by step.

The practice room door was gently closed, sealing off the sounds inside along with it.

Liang Shining stood at the door and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

He took out his phone, opened Song Si Lan's chat window, and sent over a few messages.

·

Not long after, the practice room door was reopened.

Liang Shining instantly stood up, watching Mu Heguang walk out with a complicated expression.

"He's fallen asleep on the sofa. Wait a while and then carry him back, Xiao Liang."

Mu Heguang let out a soft sigh.

Liang Shining nodded, speaking first: "What exactly is wrong with Shifu's body?"

Mu Heguang hesitated, then shook his head slightly: "I can't tell you."

Liang Shining's brow instantly furrowed.

"He snuck off to the Hospital on his own today, Teacher Mu." Liang Shining suddenly said in a low voice.

"I don't need to concern myself with anything else. Whatever Ying Huai wants to do, I can support it."

"But if it involves Ying Huai's physical condition, please, you must tell me. Alright?"

A trace of hesitation flashed across Mu Heguang's expression, but in the end he only spoke in a low voice.

"This is his own choice. I don't... entirely agree with it either, but he told me the whole story, and I can only respect his decision."

But even as he said this, he looked at Liang Shining and silently gestured to him: "I can't tell you, but if you discover something on your own... that's a different situation."

·

When Liang Shining walked back into the practice room, Ying Huai was still sleeping soundly on the sofa.

He was still covered with the jacket Liang Shining had given him in the car earlier, one hand unconsciously gripping it tightly, as if it gave him some inexplicable sense of security.

The slight heaviness in Liang Shining's expression gradually softened.

He slowly bent down, one arm around his back, the other supporting the bend of his knee, and held him securely in his arms.

The utterly exhausted person only let out a soft hum, seeming to mumble something indistinct, showing no sign of waking.

Liang Shining assumed it was just an unconscious sound from Ying Huai. He said nothing, simply holding the person and walking quickly outside.

But after a while, he felt the person curled in his arms move again, saying something softly.

This time, Liang Shining seemed to vaguely catch a few words.

"What did Shifu say?"

Ying Huai's face turned slightly to the side. His eyelashes trembled, and he unconsciously repeated it once more.

"Don't worry."

Ying Huai reached out and gripped Liang Shining's sleeve, his fingertips gently rubbing back and forth, as if unconsciously offering comfort.

"I will definitely stand on stage with you."

·

When Ying Huai woke up in bed the next morning, it took him a moment to recall what had happened the day before.

He waited anxiously for Liang Shining to come and question him, but saw that Liang Shining's expression was unusually calm. Even when he suggested Liang Shining go practice first, Liang Shining agreed directly.

Ying Huai was somewhat puzzled, but quietly felt a slight sense of relief.

After Liang Shining left, he quickly came out of the room and went to the practice room in the furthest corner that Mu Heguang had arranged for him the day before.

His throat couldn't sustain such high-intensity practice right now. After practicing for a while, Ying Huai felt his throat aching faintly.

He let out a silent sigh, pulled the spray bottle from his pocket, and slowly brought it to his lips.

The next second, a hand suddenly gripped his wrist tightly.

Ying Huai's expression froze.

Liang Shining was standing in front of him—he didn't know when.

"You..." Ying Huai's expression panicked for a moment. He opened his mouth.

"Is this what Shifu meant... by standing on stage with me?"

Liang Shining cut him off directly, his voice trembling.

"Pushing through by relying on medicine?"

Ying Huai's hand trembled uncontrollably.

He listened as Liang Shining spoke word by word in a hoarse voice: "What exactly is wrong with your throat, Ying Huai?"

Seeing Ying Huai about to speak, he spoke first again, his voice urgent: "Tell me the truth."

Ying Huai's expression slowly calmed down as well.

He closed his eyes briefly and exhaled somewhat helplessly.

"Don't rush. It's not as serious as you think."

Ying Huai raised a smile at the corner of his lips, speaking with forced ease: "Calm down first, it's really nothing. Listen to me..."

As he spoke, he raised his eyes, and the next second, he saw that Liang Shining's eye sockets had reddened slightly.

Ying Huai: ???

—He instantly realized something was wrong.