Chapter 73: Episode

Ying Huai's heart panicked for a rare moment.

"What are you doing, Liang Shining, don't..."

Ying Huai instinctively reached out, but the next moment his wrist was seized by Liang Shining.

The temperature of Liang Shining's palm was extremely high, scalding enough that Ying Huai instinctively flinched.

But the person before him showed no intention of letting go.

"Tell me the truth, Shifu."

"That medicine just now—I described it to Song Si Lan earlier, and he told me it might be for treating acute cough and wheeze—essentially a drug similar to those used to control Acute Episodes of asthma."

Liang Shining spoke in a low voice: "You don't have asthma, so why would you need this kind of medicine?"

Ying Huai lowered his eyes and said nothing.

He felt Liang Shining gripping his wrist, his voice pressing down very low: "...Tell me the truth, Ying Huai."

Ying Huai's body trembled slightly.

The smile at the corner of his lips faded bit by bit. After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh.

"My throat... has had some problems recently."

He felt Liang Shining's fingers gripping his wrist tighten for a moment.

Ying Huai paused, his voice gradually softening a bit more: "It's nothing serious... probably because of a Pneumonia Infection some time ago, which caused throat congestion and persistent frequent pain."

Patients with congenital heart disease find every winter extremely difficult to endure—inadequate cardiac blood supply causes reduced ventricular function, blood pooling in the systemic circulation, which in turn leads to edema.

The severity of his throat issues is also related to his heart to some extent.

But Ying Huai did not tell Liang Shining these specific reasons.

He paused, then continued in a low voice: "Sometimes when it hurts too much... I might not be able to catch my breath, or speak."

"It's not that I can't make any sound at all." Ying Huai felt Liang Shining's grip on his hand tighten.

He hurriedly added in a small voice, "It's just that when I sing... it hurts a bit, which is why I haven't been practicing these past few days."

Liang Shining was quiet for a few seconds, then spoke in a low voice: "But Song Si Lan said your lung condition isn't that serious..."

Ying Huai's eyes flickered. He looked at Liang Shining and slowly smiled: "Ah... then there might be some psychological reasons too."

Liang Shining was slightly stunned.

He remembered Yu Wu saying that Ying Huai's PTSD regarding dense crowds had improved a lot recently. Liang Shining instinctively wanted to speak, but the next second, he suddenly realized something.

—The psychological reasons Ying Huai mentioned didn't only refer to PTSD, but more likely to the stages he was forced to give up in his previous life due to throat pain.

In his previous life, he had to forcefully endure the blatant malice from the crowd, endure the severe throat pain, and strive to complete those few stages.

—But the last stage, he still couldn't complete.

So now his throat pain is not only physical, but also... the scars left over from his previous life.

Liang Shining's gaze sharpened slightly.

He didn't say anything more. Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a low voice: "So this medicine... can it temporarily relieve the pain?"

Ying Huai shook his head.

"No, this medicine can only quickly ease throat spasms and restore breathing. It has a mild numbing effect, so it can be considered... a way to relieve the pain."

When Ying Huai said this, his expression shifted slightly with self-deprecation.

"My body can't just take painkillers randomly. If Song Si Lan found out I went to the Hospital and got someone to prescribe painkillers for me casually, next time he prescribes for me, he'll probably make them so bitter they'll kill me."

His intention was to crack a joke to help Liang Shining relax a bit, but Liang Shining, listening to his words, seemed to remember something else.

"So when Shifu went to the Hospital this time, it wasn't just for cough medicine, was it?"

Liang Shining lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the pocket on Ying Huai's left side: "When Song Si Lan asked Shifu for the paperwork, Shifu put the rest of the treatment forms in another pocket."

Ying Huai looked at Liang Shining's slightly heavy expression and let out a small sigh.

He reached out and pulled out several forms from his left pocket.

"Knowing that and still asking," Ying Huai said softly, "can't you leave your Shifu some face?"

Liang Shining spoke in a low voice: "I'm just worried..."

"Alright, stop."

Ying Huai, afraid Liang Shining would launch into that routine again, hurriedly cut him off.

He quickly stuffed the forms in his hand into Liang Shining's hand: "All the tests and treatments I had today are here. That's everything."

Ying Huai covered his lips and coughed twice, then said softly: "Look at them yourself."

Liang Shining didn't rush to look at the forms in his hand, but instead took out a thermos from somewhere, poured a cup of water, and placed it in Ying Huai's hand first.

Ying Huai took the cup.

A strong medicinal smell instantly hit him. He glanced down, and a glint of mischief flashed in his peach blossom eyes: "Goji berries in a thermos? Have I really reached the age where I need to take care of my health like this?"

Liang Shining just looked at him quietly, saying nothing.

Ying Huai knew he was in the wrong.

He guiltily curved his eyes, instinctively lowered his head to take a sip, and his brow immediately furrowed: "What is this..."

"Herbal Tea Blend. Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, clears the throat and lungs, expels phlegm."

Liang Shining looked at the treatment forms in his hand and spoke slowly without raising his head: "Does Shifu think it tastes good?"

Ying Huai didn't feel any 'sweetness' at all, only 'bitterness' that made his whole body shiver.

He shoved the cup back into Liang Shining's hand, speaking gloomily: "Tastes great. Mr. Liang, keep it for yourself. I won't fight you for it."

Liang Shining looked up at him, and finally a faint smile appeared in his eyes.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then suddenly leaned close to Liang Shining's face: "You're not angry anymore?"

Liang Shining paused.

He instantly looked away, but still spoke in a low voice: "...I wasn't angry in the first place."

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then narrowed his eyes: "Then just now—"

—That look just now, was it all an act?

A flicker of unnaturalness crossed Liang Shining's expression.

He cleared his throat lightly and quickly changed the subject: "I took a quick look at Shifu's treatment forms just now. The course of treatment is basically nebulization and medication, done simultaneously."

He raised his head to look at Ying Huai: "But these can only relieve, not cure, right?"

Hearing this, Ying Huai somewhat reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

He sat back in place, his eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly: "Yes."

Liang Shining frowned. "I'll send these to Song Si Lan in a bit and see if there are any other options."

Ying Huai said nothing.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, lowering his eyes to look at the treatment forms in Liang Shining's hand.

The root of his throat problem is still caused by his heart and psychological issues. If these two root causes aren't resolved, all other treatments will only address the symptoms, not the underlying condition.

Ying Huai felt inexplicably irritated.

He took a deep breath and spoke in a self-deprecating low voice: "Of course there are better treatments."

"Give up singing, become a medicine jar who only knows how to take pills and get injections, stay cooped up in my room every day without going out." Ying Huai yawned, a flash of mockery crossing his peach blossom eyes.

"The best treatment, of course, is—"

—Of course, it's to give up this performance and let the throat get proper rest.

He knew Liang Shining was definitely thinking the same thing.

But before Ying Huai could finish speaking, the next second, he suddenly felt his fingertips being squeezed—not too lightly, not too heavily.

Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly, barely pulling himself out of that self-loathing emotion: "Sorry, I was just..."

But the person before him interrupted him.

"I wasn't planning to persuade Shifu to give up."

Ying Huai was slightly stunned.

Liang Shining looked at the dazed expression on the person before him, and his heart softened uncontrollably: "I know how important the stage is to Shifu. I could never do something like that."

It took Ying Huai a long moment to realize what he had said.

He opened his mouth somewhat absently: "So..."

The moment he opened his mouth, he realized his voice was hoarse, and immediately felt Liang Shining squeeze his fingers again, neither too lightly nor too heavily.

"So I will help Shifu complete this stage together."

Liang Shining spoke slowly: "I won't stop Shifu. Don't worry, Shifu."

"But I will supervise what treatments Shifu does afterward, when you practice, and when you rest."

"I can accompany Shifu through all the necessary treatments and attempts, but if there's anywhere Shifu feels unwell, you can't hide anything from me."

Liang Shining raised his head and spoke word by word in a low voice: "I will complete this stage with Shifu—but only on the premise of Shifu's physical health."

"Is that okay, Shifu?"

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He instinctively opened his mouth to say something, but meeting Liang Shining's eyes, dark as obsidian, the words on the tip of his tongue couldn't come out for a moment.

"Shifu?" Liang Shining looked at Ying Huai's somewhat pale expression and seemed to realize something was off.

But the next second, the person before him suddenly laughed.

"Alright."

Ying Huai raised his head, his radiant peach blossom eyes instantly filled with smiles.

"Of course... I agree."

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment, then silently exhaled.

—He didn't notice that Ying Huai, with his hand behind his back, had taken out his phone and quickly sent a message to Song Si Lan.

"Then does Shifu want to continue practicing together now..."

Before Liang Shining could finish speaking, he saw Ying Huai shake his head again.

"Not now, I have something to do right now..."

Seeing Liang Shining's expression instantly turn serious again, he realized something and for a moment felt both amused and helpless.

"No, this time I really don't have anything I'm hiding from you."

Ying Huai looked at Liang Shining's expression, half-laughing and half-crying as he hurriedly spoke: "I need to go find Chu Ming."

Liang Shining's expression froze.

As Ying Huai spoke, he picked up his phone and waved the screen at Liang Shining.

"I've sent messages and called Chu Ming these past two days, but he hasn't replied. I just went and specifically asked the Assistant Director, and he said Chu Ming hadn't taken leave with him these past two days. At first he just said he was going home to pick something up and would be back the same day."

Liang Shining frowned, but saw Ying Huai the next second let out a sigh that was half-smile, half-not.

"I bet this kid is just being lazy and oversleeping at home again. Wait for me to go drag him back and see how he tries to talk his way out..."

Ying Huai's tone was light, but his expression still carried an imperceptible tension.

Liang Shining didn't wait for Ying Huai to finish, speaking first: "I'll go with Shifu."

Ying Huai seemed to have long expected him to say that.

—But he didn't want Liang Shining getting dragged into this mess.

His eyes flickered. He stepped back slightly, leaning against the wall, avoiding Liang Shining's arm. "My little disciple is so worried about me, hmm?"

He raised his eyes and curved them at Liang Shining.

"I bet Chu Ming is most likely secretly practicing at home, waiting to surprise all of us. He probably overslept at home these past two days, that's why he didn't come back."

Liang Shining's expression was calm: "It's fine. I need to personally confirm Shifu's... ahem, Chu Ming's situation before I can rest easy."

Ying Huai: ?

He couldn't help but laugh a little, cleared his throat and became serious again.

"Forget it, no need. I'll just go over and drag him back."

Ying Huai straightened up, stretched lazily: "My little disciple shouldn't want to put up with his nonsense the whole way..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt something stuffed into his hand.

Ying Huai's voice paused instinctively. He lowered his head in confusion, hit full in the face by the smell of medicine.

Ying Huai: ?

He immediately turned his head away, covered his lips and coughed a few times, frowning: "Cough cough, what are you doing..."

"Shifu is worried that Chu Ming's disappearance these past two days is related to Chu Hongsheng."

Before Ying Huai finished speaking, he heard Liang Shining speak in a low voice.

Ying Huai's expression paused slightly.

He hesitated, raised his head, and heard Liang Shining speak softly, sounding a little forlorn: "Shifu just told me you wouldn't hide anything from me anymore."

Ying Huai: .......

He couldn't help but sigh again.

"Last time Song Xingzhou and I publicly exposed that matter on the livestream, it was to force Chu Hongsheng into the open, so more people could help us watch what Chu Hongsheng planned to do next."

Ying Huai spoke while bracing himself against the wall beside him, covering his lips and coughing softly: "But since the day Chu Ming went back, Chu Hongsheng's movements suddenly disappeared, as if he's deliberately waiting for something."

"I'm worried Chu Ming... has been coerced by his father."

Ying Huai raised his head, looked at Liang Shining: "So I'm planning to go back first to check, confirm Chu Ming's situation."

Liang Shining didn't say anything more.

He just slowly walked step by step to Ying Huai's front, spoke softly: "Okay."

·

Ying Huai first went with Liang Shining to Chuhongsheng Company and Chu Family Residence, but didn't see anyone at either place.

Ying Huai wasn't in a hurry, didn't seem surprised, went straight to Chu Ming's House.

Then, after knocking with no response, under Liang Shining's incredulous gaze, Ying Huai quickly entered the door code.

"Alright, let's go in and take a look first, in case..."

Ying Huai turned his head, saw Liang Shining's expression, his own expression slightly startled: "...What's wrong?"

"How does Shifu know Chu Ming's house code?"

Liang Shining spoke with a strange expression.

Ying Huai was stunned.

He softly said 'ah', casually replied: "He sent it to me when he moved in."

As he spoke he walked toward the door, hearing Liang Shining's persistent questioning behind him: "Why would he send it to Shifu?"

Ying Huai's footsteps paused.

Liang Shining nervously turned his head, but heard Ying Huai speak somewhat between amusement and exasperation: "He said... a man living alone is too dangerous, he invited me to come over and keep him company occasionally—"

Liang Shining: ???

He suddenly turned his head, instinctively spoke directly: "He's lying to you, Shifu, you can't believe his words..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Ying Huai shrug, casually complete the unfinished sentence: "—I guess he probably wanted, in case something happened to him, for me to come collect his body someday."

Liang Shining: ?

—He instantly swallowed back what he had been about to say.

Ying Huai now realized something, curiously turned his head: "What did you just say to me?"

Liang Shining paused.

"Nothing."

His expression carried some strangeness, as if he was barely holding back laughter.

"Shifu's guess... is very right."

·

Chu Ming's House also seemed to have no one inside.

Liang Shining quickly went around all the rooms, shook his head slightly at Ying Huai.

Ying Huai frowned.

The surroundings were completely silent, at first glance there really seemed to be no one.

Ying Huai looked around, his gaze slowly falling on the kitchen trash can beside him.

His eyes flickered, suddenly spoke softly: "Chu Ming should be right here."

Liang Shining was stunned.

He followed Ying Huai's gaze, and instantly understood.

—How could an empty room have a shopping receipt dated yesterday?

Ying Huai looked around, his gaze falling on the only locked room door at the deepest end.

He quickly walked to the room door, extended his hand, knocked three times on the door with moderate force.

There was no response from inside, Ying Huai wasn't in a hurry, waited a moment, then bent his fingers and knocked three times again on the door.

After a few seconds, a gritted-teeth voice finally came from inside the room: "Get lost!"

Ying Huai slightly exhaled in relief.

·

Inside the room, after Chu Ming shouted that, he irritably pulled the blanket back over his head.

He closed his eyes preparing to continue sleeping, but unexpectedly found that the rustling sounds at the door hadn't stopped.

Chu Ming waited a few seconds, couldn't stand it anymore, sat up again.

"Can't you understand human words? I said get lost, I won't eat, unless you let me out—"

Before he finished speaking, the next second, he heard a lazy voice come from outside the door: "If you say it like that—then I'll leave?"

Chu Ming was stunned.

He instantly bounced up from the bed, pounced to the room door.

"Don't, don't, don't leave, Huai-ge! Huai-ge I was wrong, I thought it was those idiots bringing me food——"

Chu Ming hadn't talked to anyone for too long, before waiting for Ying Huai outside the door to reply, he continued a string of questions.

"Huai-ge how did you get here? Are you here to find me, Huai-ge? How did you find me? Wuuu Huai-ge I'm so moved, you really do have me in your heart..."

Ying Huai at the door seemed to lightly laugh, then a slightly deep voice came: "Who locked you in here?"

Chu Ming was stunned, the excitement in his voice instantly disappeared.

"Why are you here too?!"

Chu Ming gritted his teeth, "I'm talking to my Huai-ge, I'm not talking to you—"

"Oh, then I'm leaving." Liang Shining's voice was as calm as ever.

"But your Huai-ge can't drive, so you come out yourself, I'll take your Huai-ge and leave."

Chu Ming: ??

"How dare you! Hey, wait a moment—"

The footsteps outside stopped, then Ying Huai's helpless laughter came again.

"Didn't leave, Liang Shining was lying to you—alright, can you two go out before arguing."

Liang Shining and Chu Ming are like two firecrackers, every time they don't talk more than two sentences they start clashing.

Chu Ming has a terrible temper, every time he catches someone he just rattles off a stream of output.

Liang Shining is quiet and speaks little, most of the time can't keep up with Chu Ming's speed, but every time he opens his mouth, basically one sentence can directly shut Chu Ming up.

Ying Huai sighed inwardly at the childishness, reached out and knocked on Chu Ming's door again.

"First answer me, who locked you in? How do we get you out?"

Chu Ming's voice inside the room became much more honest: "Who else could it be... my old man."

Chu Ming silently sighed: "That day I came back to get something, he told me a bunch of inexplicable things, asked me to help him with something, I rebutted a few sentences, and he just locked me in directly."

Chu Ming said gloomily: "And confiscated all my electronic devices, do you know how I've been surviving these past few days, Huai-ge!"

Ying Huai studied the door lock in front of him, casually replied: "I am indeed curious how you've been surviving—your dad sends people to deliver food?"

Chu Ming instinctively nodded, then realized Ying Huai and the others couldn't see, hurriedly said: "Right, he sends people to deliver food every day, said wait until he finishes something then he'll let me out."

"The person who delivered dinner today has already been chased away by me, I thought he came back again just now, that's why I said that."

Chu Ming thought of something when he said this, hurriedly said: "Until tomorrow morning there probably won't be anyone coming over, Huai-ge, you can take your time figuring out how to rescue me, but you can also be a little faster, I haven't eaten all day and I'm a bit hungry..."

"No need to figure it out."

Ying Huai spoke with a half-smile, interrupting him.

"The way your dad locked you is unusually simple—"

Chu Ming was stunned.

Then he heard a slightly deep muffled thud from the door.

"He installed a big lock on your door."

Ying Huai braced his knees and stood up.

Liang Shining beside him began to make a phone call to contact someone to pick the lock, Ying Huai thoughtfully stared at the lock in front of him for a few seconds, suddenly spoke: "Do you have a hammer or big pliers at home?"

Chu Ming: ?

The next second, he heard Ying Huai unhurriedly speak: "Picking the lock is really too troublesome—can I just smash the lock open for you?"

Chu Ming: ??

Liang Shining: ........

·

"You're joking, right, Huai-ge."

Chu Ming said this, paused, then quietly said: "There might be a hammer in the storage room behind the kitchen, I didn't have time to put it away when I moved in..."

Ying Huai raised an eyebrow.

He was free anyway, so he turned and was just about to head toward the kitchen.

But the next second, he suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind.

Immediately after, Liang Shining's urgent voice came from behind: "Ying Huai, careful—"

A figure suddenly swung something unknown at Ying Huai.

Ying Huai abruptly stepped back, then felt his waist tighten.

The moment the thing above his head came down, Liang Shining reached out and wrapped his arm around Ying Huai's waist, barely pulling him out of the way.

A cane hit the door with a bang, and the sudden muffled sound made Ying Huai's chest tighten. He bent slightly, clutching his chest and gasping softly.

Chu Ming inside the door was startled too.

He instantly pressed himself to the door: "Huai-ge, what happened? Are you okay—"

Ying Huai caught his breath.

He lowered his hand from his chest and curved his lips slightly: "I'm fine."

"It's just your dad—came to see you."

Chu Hongsheng before them withdrew his cane, looking at the two of them with an unreadable expression.

·

The corridor fell silent for a moment. Ying Huai's chest was still a little tight.

Liang Shining slipped a pill under his tongue, then reached out and skillfully rubbed slow circles over his chest.

Ying Huai's body was weak, so he simply continued leaning against Liang Shining without moving.

He raised his head and smiled at Chu Hongsheng: "Long time no see, Uncle Chu. Your temper's a bit fierce today."

He spoke with implication: "Anger harms the body. Uncle Chu should still take more care to rest."

Chu Hongsheng's face seemed to twist for a moment.

The last incident had caused Chushi Corporation's stock to plummet. Though Chu Hongsheng appeared calm on the surface, it was hard to say how many nights he had spent restless.

He took a deep breath, quickly steadied himself, and his expression became—as always—refined and gentle.

"Xiao Huai, you've misunderstood. I just now thought you were burglars who'd broken into my son's house illegally."

Chu Ming inside the room was anxiously defending himself, but Chu Hongsheng paid him no attention at all.

He looked at Ying Huai, his voice even carrying some concern: "It was dark, I was in a hurry and didn't see clearly. Xiao Huai, you weren't hurt just now, were you?"

The lie was delivered with particular magnanimity, and Ying Huai couldn't be bothered to expose him.

He turned to glance at Chu Ming behind him, his eyes curving: "So why isn't Uncle Chu resting at home, and suddenly came over?"

Chu Hongsheng laughed: "Didn't I hear my son wasn't eating dinner? Worry made me come check on him."

"Speaking of which, I should be asking Xiao Huai—why did you suddenly come to my son's house?"

Ying Huai's expression remained smiling: "Coincidentally, I'm here for the same reason."

Chu Hongsheng's expression froze.

"Chu Ming was hungry, so I took him out to eat."

Ying Huai crossed his arms and spoke unhurriedly: "After eating I still need to take him back to record the Variety Show. Even if the Assistant Director has the best temper, by then he'll be getting anxious."

Chu Hongsheng's face darkened.

He spoke warmly and directly: "Chu Ming can't go to the Variety Show recording."

Ying Huai's expression didn't change, as if he'd expected him to say that.

He slightly raised his eyelids and spoke with a half-smile: "May I ask why, Uncle Chu?"

Chu Hongsheng seemed to sigh helplessly: "Because Chu Ming has done something wrong. I'm making him reflect on it."

Chu Ming, who had been pressing his ear to the door inside the room, said loudly in disbelief: "Dad, what are you saying, what did I do wrong—"

Before he finished speaking, the next second he saw Chu Hongsheng raise his hand without hesitation and smash it against the door again with a clang.

Chu Ming behind the door was startled and fell on his bottom with a thud.

Ying Huai frowned, forcibly suppressing the urge to press his hand to his chest, and covered his lips to cough lightly twice.

"Apologies, my son is unruly and has embarrassed you."

Chu Hongsheng unhurriedly withdrew his cane and spoke warmly with some apology: "I forgot about your health condition. I didn't mean to, Xiao Huai."

Ying Huai perfunctorily curved his eyes at him.

"Uncle Chu is getting on in years, it's understandable that his memory isn't great."

Ying Huai spoke with a smile: "But I'm also curious—what did Chu Ming do wrong to make Uncle Chu this angry?"

A strange smile appeared at the corner of Chu Hongsheng's lips.

He stared at the two before him and spoke softly: "Don't you know, Xiao Huai?"

"His mistake is mixing with you two."

Ying Huai was slightly taken aback.

"Your relationship with Liang Shining... has disgraced the Ying Family and Liang Family's long-standing reputations."

Before Ying Huai could say anything, Liang Shining beside him darkened first: "Shut up."

Chu Hongsheng curved his lips silently.

His gaze lingered on the two of them for a few seconds, and undisguised disgust appeared on his face.

But immediately after, he quickly composed himself and spoke warmly: "For the sake of the Chu Family, I can only keep my son away from you."

The corridor was silent. Chu Hongsheng waited in good spirits for Ying Huai's reaction.

He expected Ying Huai to be especially angry—lucky if it triggered an Acute Episode on the spot.

He didn't expect the person before him to stare at him for a few seconds, then slowly speak with a strange expression: "Has Uncle Chu... gone senile?"

Chu Hongsheng: ??

His expression twisted uncontrollably for a moment.

Chu Hongsheng took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

He spoke with concern: "It's alright, Xiao Huai. I know your situation with Xiao Liang is just an illness—go to the Hospital for treatment and you'll be fine."

He stepped forward and spoke in a low voice: "As long as you disappear from my sight, I won't make things hard for you, Xiao Huai..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard Ying Huai lazily yawn.

"Thanks for your concern, Uncle Chu," Ying Huai raised his eyes, his peach blossom eyes perfectly calm, "but I think Uncle Chu is the sicker one."

He raised his head and laughed softly: "How about I send Uncle Chu to the Hospital first."

Chu Hongsheng's face suddenly darkened uncontrollably.

He stared at Ying Huai with a shadowed face and suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"Why must you keep obstructing me, Ying Huai?"

Ying Huai shifted into a more comfortable position in Liang Shining's arms and spoke absently: "That's what I've been wanting to ask too."

Chu Hongsheng seemed to sigh softly.

"I don't want to kill you, Xiao Huai. I just want to take back what's mine, so you'd better not get in my way."

Chu Hongsheng raised his head and spoke word by word.

"The equity in your hands—Ying Corporation was always supposed to be mine."

Ying Huai raised an eyebrow, suddenly hearing Chu Hongsheng laugh softly.

"You probably don't know, but the share transfer in that will has a time limit. As long as you don't return to Ying Corporation within that period, in a few more years the equity your mother left will be auctioned off."

Chu Hongsheng sighed softly: "Your mother must have been worried your father would forcibly keep you in Ying Corporation, so she set this time limit."

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment.

Seeing his expression, Chu Hongsheng immediately knew he was completely unaware of this.

"Brother Ying really kept it from you too well—didn't want you wading into Ying Corporation's muddy waters."

Chu Hongsheng's voice was full of lament: "Unfortunately, he's too rigid, too inflexible—and that gave me my opening."

Ying Huai's eyes flickered. He looked at Chu Hongsheng without speaking.

Chu Hongsheng wasn't in a hurry either, and continued in a warm voice: "So you have two choices now, Xiao Huai. Either you disappear for me these few years, or you transfer the equity in your hands to me right now."

Ying Huai stared quietly at Chu Hongsheng for a few seconds.

After a long moment, he spoke softly: "What if I choose neither?"

A trace of regret flashed across Chu Hongsheng's expression.

"Then I can only choose for you."

He took out his phone and shook it slightly.

"I installed surveillance in this house."

His gaze fell on the two before him. Ying Huai was still half-leaning against Liang Shining, who half-held the person in front of him, his expression guarded and silent.

Chu Hongsheng laughed unhurriedly.

"The moment Xiao Liang pulled you into his arms just now—and some scenes before and after—have been recorded by me in full."

"I'll send this clip separately to Brother Ying and Liangshi Group."

Chu Hongsheng's gaze fell on the two of them, the arc of his lips slowly widening: "And I'll make this video—public."

"The two largest corporations, Ying Corporation and Liangshi Group—and their sons are caught in this kind of scandal. What do you think the media will say..."

Ying Huai's body trembled slightly.

He wasn't worried about himself—given his current state, one more scandal wouldn't matter—but he couldn't let Liang Shining be dragged down with him.

Cold sweat unconsciously broke out on Ying Huai's palms.

He took a deep breath, about to say something, when the next second he felt his hand being gently held by Liang Shining.

His cold fingertips were instantly wrapped in warmth. Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then saw Liang Shining give him an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

Chu Hongsheng opposite clearly didn't notice this.

"So, shall I give you a few more minutes to reconsider, Xiao Huai?"

Chu Hongsheng spoke hypocritically: "After all, I did watch you grow up. Doing this pains my heart too."

Feeling victory was in his grasp, he lifted the Cane in his hand and bounced it slightly, continuing to speak to himself.

"This Cane was left at my house by Brother Ying before. Today, as soon as I saw the surveillance, I brought it right over."

Chu Hongsheng turned to glance at Ying Huai: "I heard Brother Ying used to use this Cane to discipline you and your brother. I wanted to try it too, but it seems there's no chance..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind.

Chu Hongsheng instinctively turned around. Before he could react to what was happening, he then felt a sharp pain in his knee.

The next second, a Cane struck heavily at the back of Chu Hongsheng's knee from behind. Chu Hongsheng groaned, his legs instantly lost strength, and he fell to his knees without warning.

Ying Qi, leaning on a Cane with a dark expression, walked out from behind Chu Hongsheng.

"Didn't you want this chance to experience it?"

Ying Huai's father gritted his teeth and spoke coldly: "I'll give it to you."

Ying Huai raised his head in some surprise.

He watched Ying Qi hurry over from not far away. When Ying Qi's gaze fell on him, he immediately gave him a reassuring smile.

Ying Huai instantly realized something, and turned his head toward Liang Shining: "You..."

Liang Shining lowered his eyes.

"I had Ying-ge come over to call your father here."

A complex expression flashed across Ying Huai's face, but Liang Shining gave his fingertips a light squeeze.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine."

·

On the other side, Chu Hongsheng had finally recovered somewhat from a bout of severe pain.

He still had some wariness toward Ying Huai's father. Ignoring his disheveled state, he hurried to speak first: "Don't be angry, Ying-xiong. I was only joking earlier."

He raised his head and forced a smile: "Something happened earlier. I thought it might not be good for the Ying Family, so I was discussing with Xiao Huai how to handle it."

As he spoke, he hurriedly opened his phone and held the surveillance footage in front of Ying Huai's father's eyes.

"Take a look, Ying-xiong. One look and you'll know I wasn't lying to you..."

Chu Hongsheng was certain that Ying Huai's father would fly into a rage upon seeing the footage.

He raised his head full of hope, only to see that Ying Huai's father hadn't looked at his phone at all, but had suddenly raised his Cane again.

"Nonsense!"

Ying Huai's father gritted his teeth: "Who gave you permission to bully my son—"

Chu Hongsheng had no choice. He hurriedly pulled back his phone and dodged Ying Huai's father's Cane in a sorry state.

"I didn't bully Xiao Huai, Ying-xiong!"

Chu Hongsheng gritted his teeth: "Look for yourself what Xiao Huai just did. Isn't this exactly the kind of scandalous, immoral behavior you always talked about?"

Ying Huai's father's Cane struck the ground heavily with a bang.

He spoke coldly: "What did he do?"

"Whatever he did, he's still my son!"

Ying Huai's father's face flushed red. He gritted his teeth: "He's my son. What gives you the right to humiliate him at will."

Chu Hongsheng's eyes reddened with anger too.

He raised his head and laughed coldly: "Humiliate him?"

"Ying-xiong, do you need me to remind you what you've done in the past?"

"How strict were you with your son? Sick and not allowed to take leave, feeling unwell but still had to attend the company annual meeting with you."

Ying Huai's face went pale bit by bit.

Ying Qi beside him looked over with concern and opened his mouth to say something, but Ying Huai just kept his eyes lowered, his expression calm and somewhat dazed.

—As if long accustomed to all this.

On the other side, Chu Hongsheng seemed to have gone mad, recklessly continuing to speak.

Chu Hongsheng's voice was shrill: "Once in winter, Ying Huai had a high fever that wouldn't break. He passed out at school and was brought home by Chu Ming. The first thing he did upon waking was to hurry and prepare for the company business meeting you wanted him to sit in on tomorrow."

"And after his debut... so many incidents of bullying him, you didn't care about any of them."

Chu Hongsheng braced himself against the wall and barely stood up, laughing coldly: "What right do you have to protect him now?"

"Then it was my mistake."

The moment Chu Hongsheng finished speaking, Ying Huai's father's low voice suddenly came through.

Chu Hongsheng froze, and Ying Huai beside him raised his head in disbelief.

—This was the first time, and the only time, Ying Huai's father had apologized to him.

The anger in Ying Huai's father's expression had faded at some unknown point. He seemed to glance up at Ying Huai, but quickly turned his head away.

"Before, I was wrong. Absurdly wrong. So from now on... it won't happen again."

Ying Huai's father took a deep breath, seeming to age many years in an instant.

He suddenly turned to look at Ying Huai: "Did you do anything you feel guilty about, Ying Huai?"

Ying Huai's expression was still somewhat blank.

He silently opened his mouth, but coughed first. After a long moment, he slowly shook his head.

Ying Huai's father closed his eyes briefly, seeming to age many years in that moment.

He didn't say anything more. He turned his head again to look at Chu Hongsheng: "The video in your hand. Give it to me."

"I don't care what Ying Huai did. He says he didn't, and I believe him."

"Hand over the video in your hand, and delete it immediately."

Ying Huai's father spoke in a deep voice: "Don't make me say it twice."

Chu Hongsheng finally came to his senses at this point.

His expression twisted, and he suddenly raised his head: "On what grounds? Impossible!"

He laughed coldly: "Now you're the one with leverage in my hands, Ying-xiong. It should be you begging me, not making such unreasonable threats..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard Ying Huai's father's deep voice: "Don't you know yourself why you were first stripped of your power in Ying Corporation?"

Chu Hongsheng froze.

He suddenly thought of something and gritted his teeth: "Wasn't it because you were rigid and stuck in your ways, and we had different philosophies..."

"That was just the story for outsiders."

Ying Huai's father snorted coldly: "You know perfectly well what filthy things you did abusing your power over those years. My not saying anything doesn't mean I don't know."

Chu Hongsheng's face went instantly pale.

"Those official excuses might fool others, but how did you end up fooling yourself?"

Ying Huai's father lowered his eyes, looking at the person before him: "Recently things at Ying Corporation have been complicated. I don't have time to deal with your old affairs."

"But I've left you the last shred of dignity. Don't be ungrateful."

Chu Hongsheng's eye sockets were red.

He was silent for a few seconds, took a deep breath, suddenly raised his hand, and hurled his phone hard against the nearby wall.

"I was wrong. I'll send the surveillance access to Ying-xiong when I get back."

Chu Hongsheng hung his head and spoke quietly: "Thank you for your... magnanimity, Ying-xiong."

Ying Huai's father was silent and didn't speak. Chu Hongsheng gritted his teeth and slowly turned toward Ying Huai.

"I was wrong earlier, Xiao Huai." Chu Hongsheng bent over slowly, his voice stiff. "I was confused for a moment. I hope you can... forgive me."

Ying Huai stood in place, supported by Liang Shining.

There was still no color in his face. He stared at Chu Hongsheng for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke softly.

"Let Chu Ming out first, Uncle Chu."

Ying Huai raised his hand and coughed twice into it: "He hasn't eaten yet."

Chu Hongsheng's hand at his side suddenly clenched. He responded in a low voice and turned to walk out.

Ying Huai's father beside him turned his head at the sound, frowning: "Chu Ming is here too?"

Ying Huai's expression was somehow dazed. He stared blankly for a few seconds before answering absently: "Mm. Uncle Chu had him locked up here earlier."

Ying Huai's father seemed to want to say more, but Ying Huai kept his eyes lowered, lost in thought, seemingly with no intention of engaging with him.

His hand gripping the Cane tightened bit by bit. He opened his mouth, but saw Ying Qi beside him shake his head silently at him.

A flash of dejection crossed Ying Huai's father's expression.

But for once, he didn't say anything more. He just turned around and slowly walked out, leaning on his Cane.

The moment Ying Huai's father's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, the tension in Ying Huai's heart suddenly loosened for a moment.

Liang Shining beside him only felt Ying Huai take a low breath, and the next second, his body went limp without warning.

Liang Shining's whole body tensed instantly: "Ying Huai!"

Fortunately, Ying Huai had only blacked out for a moment and quickly regained consciousness.

"...I'm fine."

Ying Huai leaned on Liang Shining's arm, pressing a hand to his chest and shaking his head slightly.

"I just suddenly felt a bit of palpitations and weakness... It'll pass after a moment."

Liang Shining didn't speak.

He carried him to the nearby sofa, pressed his pulse, and with a dark expression, put a few pills into his mouth.

Ying Qi beside him slowly crouched down in front of Ying Huai.

"Are you... still feeling sad, Xiao Huai?"

Ying Huai took a few seconds to react, then slowly shook his head.

He wasn't actually sad, nor was he angry.

From the moment Chu Hongsheng and Ying Huai's father began their confrontation, his chest had been aching with a dull, heavy pain.

The pain made his ears ring, and his vision seemed to be covered in a hazy fog, making it impossible to concentrate.

Ying Qi could also see that Ying Huai wasn't doing well. He didn't say anything more, gently rubbed Ying Huai's hair, and prepared to settle Ying Huai's father outside first.

Ying Huai sat for a while, feeling as though he had slowly caught his breath.

"I'm fine now. Let's go out first."

Liang Shining beside him looked at Ying Huai's colorless face, hesitated to speak, but heard Ying Huai speak first in a soft voice: "I don't want to... stay here anymore."

Liang Shining was quiet for a moment.

He didn't say anything, and helped Ying Huai slowly to his feet.

·

Ying Huai still had no strength in his body, walking slowly step by step.

But Ying Huai's father and Chu Hongsheng were still nearby, so he firmly refused to let Liang Shining carry him.

When he reached the door, he happened to hear Ying Huai's father's somewhat awkward voice.

"That concert of Ying Huai's... do you have any extra tickets?"

Ying Qi seemed to laugh and say something, and immediately after, Ying Huai felt a gaze fall on him.

Ying Huai froze.

He instinctively raised his head, and the next second, felt a flash of white light before his eyes.

A sharp pain struck his heart again, and Ying Huai uncontrollably bent over.

An endless wave of dizziness swept over him in an instant. Ying Huai didn't even have time to say a word before he lost consciousness.