Chapter 77: Preparation

Liang Shi Ning froze in place.

He watched Ying Huai walk over, looking curiously at the two people with very different expressions: 'What's wrong? What were you two just doing?'

Liang Shi Ning's mind was in chaos. Before he could say anything, Xin Wan had already pulled Ying Huai over.

'Stay away from him, Little Shidi. I'm telling you, he's plotting something improper against you...'

Ying Huai: ?

He looked up, bewildered: 'What are you talking about, Shixiong?'

Xin Wan stepped half in front of Ying Huai, speaking with the frustration of someone who couldn't get through to him: 'I'm telling you, just now he was watching you two on his phone—'

'I clicked it by accident just now,' Liang Shi Ning cut in before Xin Wan could finish, trying to explain. 'It wasn't on purpose...'

'Yeah, right.'

Xin Wan scoffed: 'I just saw that you'd already dragged the progress bar a third of the way through. How could that possibly be an accident?'

Liang Shi Ning: .......

He couldn't help looking up: 'Teacher Xin was watching pretty closely too.'

Xin Wan froze for a moment, then exploded: 'What do you mean I was watching closely! I just happened to glance over and happened to see it.'

'Don't slander me here. That was an accident...'

'Teacher Xin happened to glance over and happened to see the progress bar and the content. I happened to slip and accidentally tap the progress bar. Also an accident.'

Liang Shi Ning said calmly: 'I'm the same as Teacher Xin—both unintentional. The progress bar doesn't prove I watched everything before it.'

Xin Wan: ???

He was furious: 'You—'

Before he could finish, a lazy voice came from beside them.

'So can someone please explain to me what exactly happened?'

Ying Huai stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, and yawned lazily.

Xin Wan stopped arguing with Liang Shi Ning and turned around at once.

'Little Shidi, just now while you were gone, Liang Shi Ning was secretly watching edited videos of you two!'

Xin Wan, afraid Liang Shi Ning would redirect the conversation again, blurted it all out: 'He definitely has bad intentions toward you, Little Shidi. You have to stay away from him...'

Ying Huai was taken aback.

Xin Wan pulled Ying Huai behind him and was about to say more, but the next second, Ying Huai spoke with great interest: 'Shixiong seems to know quite a lot about our edited videos.'

Xin Wan's words caught in his throat.

Ying Huai looked up at him, smiling: 'Could Shixiong... have also been interested in these?'

Xin Wan hurried to deny it: 'Of course not. I just... before, I looked into it a little online, so when I saw it just now I remembered...'

Ying Huai nodded thoughtfully: 'So Shixiong watched out of curiosity before. Can't my disciple also click on it out of curiosity?'

Xin Wan was stunned, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

Ying Huai wasn't in a hurry. He curved his lips slightly at Xin Wan: 'I know my own disciple. Shixiong doesn't need to worry.'

'Besides, these CP videos are everywhere—nothing strange about it. Didn't someone edit clips of Shixiong and me before?'

He didn't notice Liang Shi Ning beside him suddenly frown, nor Xin Wan suddenly looking up: 'That's not the same—'

—He wasn't actually plotting anything improper against his own Little Shidi.

Xin Wan had always been single-minded, fiercely protective of Ying Huai. Since recovering his memories, he worried every moment that Ying Huai might be bullied.

—One could say he was the very picture of fierce protectiveness.

Xin Wan instinctively didn't want to argue with his own Little Shidi, but he still felt certain Liang Shi Ning harbored ulterior motives toward Ying Huai.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally opened his mouth to say something.

The next second, Liang Mu's bright voice came from behind: 'Xiao Ning, how is it? Have you fixed my phone?'

Xin Wan froze. Ying Huai's gaze also fell on the phone in Liang Shi Ning's hand.

Liang Mu came running over carrying a huge pile of clothes. The moment her eyes landed on Ying Huai, they crinkled with a smile, and she immediately took his arm.

'Oh, Xiao Huai's here! How have you been feeling lately? Has Xiao Ning been taking good care of you?'

The moment Liang Mu took his arm, Ying Huai's body stiffened for an instant, but he quickly adjusted.

'I've been doing well recently, thank you, Aunt.'

Thinking about what Liang Mu had just said, his eyes flickered: 'Is this your phone, Aunt?'

Liang Mu nodded: 'Right, your Concert is about to start, isn't it? I kept seeing videos saying I should contribute data for you, so I was just about to go to your Super Topic to learn how and help promote the Concert.'

Liang Mu couldn't help sighing as she spoke: 'I didn't expect Weibo to link me to some other strange Super Topic somehow, and I ended up clicking into it.'

Xin Wan stood frozen beside them. Ying Huai curved his lips and glanced at the silent Liang Shi Ning.

Liang Mu thought of something else and turned curiously: 'But I saw that Super Topic also had photos of you two. Could I post on Weibo there to help promote you too?'

Liang Shi Ning beside her suddenly looked up. A strange expression also flickered across Ying Huai's face.

He cleared his throat lightly, suppressing a smile as he shook his head: 'This... I'm not sure either.'

He glanced at Liang Shi Ning as if casually: 'You should ask Liang Shi Ning in a bit. He'd definitely know.'

Liang Shi Ning: .......

Liang Mu, unaware of the strangeness between them, nodded seriously.

The wind was strong at the door. Ying Huai had only been standing there a short while, but his palms were already ice cold.

Liang Mu took pity and wrapped Ying Huai's hands in her own palms, pulling him straight inside.

'Enough, let's go inside first. Look at your hands, so cold. Xiao Ning's been taking care of you all this time and you still haven't gained any weight...'

She thought of something else mid-sentence, suddenly turned around, and shoved all the clothes in her arms into Liang Shi Ning's hands.

Liang Shi Ning: ?

'You two have a Concert coming up, right? I just happened to buy you a few new outfits.'

Liang Mu said with a smile: 'Pick some matching ones later—you can wear them at the Concert.'

Liang Shi Ning looked down at the 'few' clothes filling his arms.

......He suspected Liang Mu had just been looking for two excuses to continue her game of dressing up Ying Huai.

Ying Huai found it both funny and exasperating. Seeing Liang Shi Ning instantly buried under clothes, he instinctively reached out to take a few, but Liang Mu pressed his hand down.

'It's fine, he can manage. Let Xiao Ning carry the clothes over for you. Xiao Huai, let's go inside first.'

Liang Shi Ning, struggling to walk with the clothes: ........?

Ying Huai laughed helplessly: 'I'll go with him to put them away, Aunt. Our room is far, and he can't see the path like this. It'll be faster if we go together.'

Liang Mu was taken aback.

She opened her mouth to say something, then suddenly thought of something else, and her eyes lit up.

'Alright, alright, you two go ahead. I won't disturb your little... ahem, your time alone together.'

Liang Mu immediately let go of Ying Huai's hand and pushed him toward Liang Shi Ning.

'If Xiao Ning wants to help Xiao Huai try on some clothes, that's fine too. I'm not in a hurry. Take your time.'

Ying Huai, who had only wanted to help out of slight embarrassment: ?

He immediately realized Liang Mu had misunderstood something. He tried to explain, half-laughing and half-crying, but the next second saw Liang Mu had already left with a smile.

Ying Huai sighed silently.

He had just turned to leave when he felt someone tug his sleeve again.

Ying Huai instinctively turned around and came face to face with Xin Wan's aggrieved expression.

He was startled and instinctively stepped back, looking up with a helpless laugh: 'What is it, Shixiong? Why the long face?'

'I'm worried about you, Little Shidi,' Xin Wan said in a mournful tone.

'Don't be fooled by Liang Shi Ning, Little Shidi. You can't keep protecting him like this. Don't end up being sold by him and still counting the money for him...'

Xin Wan looked at Ying Huai with an expression of deep distress.

Behind them, Su Xin—who had come looking for them because Xin Wan and Ying Huai hadn't returned—paused in his tracks.

—He had the inexplicable feeling that Xin Wan was the one who would be sold by Ying Huai and still help count the money.

'Really, Little Shidi, don't not believe me, he definitely has ulterior motives toward you... mmph! Su Xin, what are you pulling me for, let go—'

Su Xin covered Xin Wan's mouth with one hand and pulled him away with the other. He cast a complicated look at the two of them, said nothing, and quickly led Xin Wan off.

Ying Huai sighed helplessly.

He turned to help Liang Shi Ning with some of the clothes, but saw Liang Shi Ning had already turned and was walking quickly toward the room.

'Hey, let me take one. Otherwise, why did I come with you...'

Liang Shi Ning said quietly: 'It's fine, I can carry them myself.'

Ying Huai was taken aback.

He paused in his steps and suddenly spoke: 'You didn't get angry at what Xin Wan said just now, did you?'

Liang Shi Ning's steps paused for a moment.

Ying Huai thought he'd guessed right and sighed silently: "Fans often make those CP-oriented videos. Shixiong can be sensitive about this. What's the big deal? You don't need to mind it yourself..."

Before he could finish, he saw Liang Shi Ning's face darken even further.

"...It's not because of that." He suddenly cut in, interrupting Ying Huai.

"What if I really do have... ulterior motives toward Shifu?"

Ying Huai was startled.

After a pause of several seconds, he raised his head somewhat oddly: "Are you really... planning to sell me out?"

Liang Shi Ning: ?

For a moment, he couldn't figure out what was going on in Ying Huai's head. He gritted his teeth and said: "Of course not. I would never treat Shifu that way..."

"Then it's settled."

Ying Huai shrugged, covered his mouth and yawned: "You wouldn't bully me anyway. Ulterior motives or not, who cares."

He curved his eyes at Liang Shi Ning, his expression sly like a lazy cat: "As long as I know you're good to me, isn't that enough?"

Liang Shi Ning's heart skipped a beat. The inexplicable jealousy and panic from moments ago vanished without a trace.

He watched Ying Huai stroll forward a couple of steps, then turn back to look at him: "Aren't you coming?"

Liang Shi Ning paused, then quickly caught up.

"Shifu."

"Mm?" Ying Huai, walking behind him, responded lazily.

The next second, he heard Liang Shi Ning say quietly: "Shifu, are you really sure you don't want to try on the clothes later?"

Ying Huai: ?

He turned his head in disbelief, watching Liang Shi Ning say calmly: "I can help Shifu."

Ying Huai: ???

The tips of his ears instantly burned. He gritted his teeth and said quietly: "No need—get lost."

Rarely one to tease, he looked at the flush on Ying Huai's ear tips, and a smile crept further onto his lips.

.

Despite saying he wouldn't try them on, Ying Huai ended up changing into two outfits in the end.

The reason was simple—when Liang Shi Ning finally gathered all the clothes in his arms and brought them back, he discovered as expected... that only two of the garments were for him.

And they were the kind where buying one meant you could only buy one set.

—The rest of the clothes had all been carefully selected by Liang Mu for Ying Huai.

To soothe Liang Shi Ning's "hurt" feelings, Ying Huai tried on the two matching outfits, caught between laughter and tears.

—Though he still firmly refused Liang Shi Ning's offer to help.

Liang Shi Ning watched Ying Huai walk into the fitting room with the clothes, took a deep breath, and the resentful expression on his face instantly faded a little.

Liang Shi Ning took out his phone.

After a few seconds of silence, he quietly opened the "Shihuai" supertopic and followed it with the "Y" account.

Then he hesitated again, and reluctantly typed "Xin Wan x Ying Huai" into the search box.

He looked at the old videos from years ago that came up in the search, gritted his teeth, and with an expressionless face clicked "Not Interested" with his alt account.

"What are you looking at now?"

Liang Shi Ning had just put his phone away when Ying Huai's lazy voice suddenly came.

"I've tried on the clothes too, we can go down now, right?"

Liang Shi Ning instinctively looked up.

A flash of surprise instantly crossed his expression.

Liang Mu herself had studied art and painting, and her control of color was bold and uniquely distinctive.

Ying Huai normally wore mostly light, muted colors—mostly black, white, and gray—and even the furnishings at home followed the same pattern.

Low-key and reserved, as if the complete opposite of his actual personality.

But today Liang Mu had chosen for him a ginger-yellow trench coat, paired with a warm brown knit sweater inside and white jeans on the bottom.

Bright and comfortable, like a cat lazily stretching after an autumn afternoon nap.

Ying Huai was naturally suited to these soft, warm colors.

That was Liang Shi Ning's first reaction in that instant.

—He was just a little too thin. The slender waist beneath the trench coat swayed slightly with his movements, his frame holding up the clothes like a beautiful, empty hanger.

Liang Shi Ning gazed at the slender figure before him, his eyes flickering, momentarily lost in thought.

Ying Huai stood at the door with arms crossed, leaning at an angle.

There was a hint of helplessness on his face. Seeing that Liang Shi Ning hadn't spoken for several seconds, a rare touch of awkwardness appeared in his expression.

"What? Is it weird?"

Ying Huai coughed lightly and turned to go back: "Then I'll change back, wait for me a moment..."

The moment he turned, his wrist was suddenly caught by someone.

"No."

Liang Shi Ning paused, then said quietly: "It looks great. No need to change."

Ying Huai was taken aback.

His eyes curved uncontrollably, and he immediately turned back: "Really?"

"Mm."

Liang Shi Ning resisted the urge to place his hand on Ying Huai's waist, and said quietly: "Really... it looks great."

Ying Huai's eyes curved into a smile instantly.

.

The moment the two walked into the rest room, Liang Mu's eyes lit up.

"So pretty. As expected of the person... clothes my son picked."

Liang Mu met Ying Huai's gaze, coughed lightly, and added with a smile: "Xiao Ning and I picked them together, together."

"You should wear more of these brighter colors, Xiao Huai. They suit you so well."

Ying Huai was caught between laughter and tears.

"Thank you, Aunt. I'll try."

Liang Mu shook her head disapprovingly: "What do you mean 'try'? How old are you, Xiao Huai? Don't always stick to black, white, and gray. It's too dull."

"I heard from Xiao Ning that you usually like to buy warm-colored clothes for Fat Bouquet, so why do you dress yourself in a completely different style?"

Ying Huai smiled with curved eyes and said nothing.

Fortunately, Liang Mu was just making a casual remark, and cheerfully changed the subject herself.

"Just now I heard from your shixiong and the others about your rehearsal situation. They said you've been practicing well lately and are fully prepared."

Liang Mu patted Ying Huai's hand with a smile: "Xiao Ning's father and I are just waiting to watch your performance."

Ying Huai smiled and responded.

Speaking of which, Liang Mu suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Ying Huai: "Oh right, Xiao Huai, has your father and your brother come too? Have they arrived yet?"

Since the last time she "argued" with Ying Father, she hadn't seen him again.

Although Liang Mu disapproved of Ying Father's behavior, barring any accidents, he would be her future in-law.

Liang Mu simply adored Ying Huai so much that she could only prepare to find another opportunity to have a proper chat with Ying Father.

She hadn't expected that the moment her words fell, the smile at Ying Huai's lips would immediately fade a little.

The last time he had given that ticket to Ying Qi, he hadn't asked Ying Qi whether Ying Father would actually come.

Although Ying Qi repeatedly assured him every time they chatted that Ying Father would definitely make time to come, Ying Huai deliberately didn't take it to heart.

As if, as long as he didn't think about it, he wouldn't be disappointed again.

—After all, he had had too many such experiences before.

Liang Mu beside him, seeing that Ying Huai wasn't speaking, immediately realized something.

Her brow furrowed at once: "They wouldn't not come, would they?"

Ying Huai quickly came back to himself.

The blankness in his eyes appeared only for a moment before being quickly concealed.

He raised his head and smiled at Liang Mu: "No, my brother should arrive tomorrow. My father's been busy lately, so he might not be able to come..."

Before he could finish speaking, a muffled cough suddenly came from the door.

Ying Huai was startled. He instinctively looked up.

Ying Father walked in with a dark expression, leaning on his Cane, with a smiling Ying Qi following behind.

Ying Qi gave Liang Mu a slight nod.

Liang Mu was startled. A flash of gratification crossed her expression, and she knowingly pulled Liang Shi Ning to quickly stand up.

"Xiao Huai, you all chat first. I'll have Xiao Ning take me out for a walk."

She had walked halfway when she suddenly thought of something and quickly turned back to Ying Huai's side.

"If anyone bullies you, just have Xiao Ning send me a message. Aunt will come back and back you up."

Ying Huai's expression still seemed somewhat dazed.

Listening to Liang Mu's words, he barely pulled himself together and smiled at her: "I'm fine, don't worry, Aunt."

The room's door was quietly closed. Ying Qi walked over to Ying Huai's side and spoke gently.

"It's been a long time, Xiao Huai."

"So long without seeing each other. Did you miss your big brother?"

Ying Huai stared blankly at Ying Qi, momentarily unable to respond.

Ying Qi glanced at Ying Father, who stood silently beside him, and sighed soundlessly.

The next second, he bent down and pinched Ying Huai's cheek: "Looks like you didn't."

A dull ache came from his face, and Ying Huai suddenly snapped back to himself.

He hurriedly turned his face away and said softly: "Ge..."

Seeing Ying Huai finally speak, Ying Qi silently breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mm, big brother is here."

He looked Ying Huai up and down, a hint of approval in his eyes: "The clothes look very nice."

But Ying Huai didn't instantly light up like he had a moment ago.

He hesitated, then glanced up at Ying Father beside him.

Ying Qi frowned slightly.

He stepped forward, subtly positioning himself between Ying Huai and Ying Father.

"These clothes look very nice, Xiao Huai. They suit you."

Ying Qi reached out and stroked Ying Huai's hair, his gentle voice carrying a hint of a smile: "If you like this style of clothing, big brother can make you a few more sets later..."

Before he could finish, he saw Ying Huai shake his head and lift his head with a half-smile: "Never mind, ge, no need."

Ying Huai turned to look at Ying Father and sighed soundlessly: "I don't really..."

Ying Qi's words faltered.

A flicker of disapproval crossed his expression, but before he could say anything, a slightly low voice from behind spoke first: "You like this kind of clothing?"

Ying Father walked step by step to Ying Huai, leaning on his Cane.

Ying Huai's voice paused.

He said nothing and looked up at Ying Father.

Ying Huai's private dislike of wearing warm-colored clothes was largely because of Ying Father.

Ying Father had been strict with him from childhood, demanding he be modest and self-possessed, demanding he not be showy or unrestrained.

Ying Qi himself had a mild temperament and didn't care much about these things, but Ying Huai's childhood nature had always been unrestrained and lively.

Although he could properly complete every task Ying Father assigned, he would occasionally still show some childish whims.

So Ying Father resolved to correct this aspect of Ying Huai.

So he "suppressed" Ying Huai from every angle—demanding proper conduct, forbidding bright colors, demanding that his lively nature be... ground away bit by bit.

At first, Ying Huai would try to resist, but after being severely reprimanded by Ying Father several times, he began to wonder if he had truly been wrong.

Even when Ying Qi later noticed something was wrong and shielded Ying Huai a few times, Ying Huai still changed these habits bit by bit.

—This was also why Liang Shi Ning sometimes felt Ying Huai was unusually quiet in private.

Even after leaving the Ying Family, he rarely took the initiative to buy warm-toned clothes.

—Those habits forced to change bit by bit since childhood seemed to have seeped into his bones, difficult to undo.

Only occasionally—for instance, when buying accessories for his cats, or on things others gave him—would Ying Huai carefully reveal a little of his original preferences.

At this moment, hearing Ying Father's words, Ying Huai's eyes trembled slightly.

He looked up at Ying Father. Ying Father gazed back at him in silence, his brow slightly furrowed—a clear sign of displeasure.

Ying Huai found it somewhat amusing in his heart.

He knew a person's nature couldn't be changed. Even if one occasionally realized one was wrong, when faced with something, one still acted according to one's ingrained way of thinking.

A rebellious feeling rose in him for no reason. After a pause of a few seconds, he curved his lips slightly: "I do like it."

A flash of surprise crossed Ying Father's expression.

He instinctively began: "But didn't you always..."

Ying Huai's fingers at his side slowly clenched, but he continued with a smile: "I've liked warm-colored clothes since I was little. Has Father forgotten?"

Ying Father's hand on his Cane suddenly tightened.

Ying Huai didn't notice this.

He lowered his eyes, casually waiting for Ying Father to ruthlessly rebuke his choice as in the past, but after a few seconds, no sound came.

Ying Huai instinctively looked up.

Ying Father stared at him somewhat blankly, his lips moving, but ultimately said nothing.

A wave of weariness suddenly swept over Ying Huai.

He pressed his brow and sighed softly.

"Did Father come to watch my Concert?"

Ying Huai said softly: "I still have rehearsal in a bit. Let big brother take Father to your room first..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard Ying Father abruptly cut him off.

"No."

Ying Huai was startled.

His face instantly went pale, but before he could say anything, he heard Ying Father speak again, somewhat urgently: "No, I mean... not just to watch your Concert."

He hesitated, then slowly walked forward and opened his phone's photo album.

Ying Huai was taken aback.

He instinctively looked down, and his expression suddenly froze.

—On the phone were his family's two charmingly silly fat cats.

He looked up somewhat dazedly, meeting Ying Father's somewhat nervous expression.

"I came to... show you your two cats."

"Before, I had Xiao Qi send you pictures of the cats. Xiao Qi said you didn't reply much, so before leaving I specifically recorded a few videos to show you."

Ying Father said quietly.

Seeing Ying Huai lower his eyes without reacting, he hesitated and swiped to the next video.

"They've been well-behaved these past few days, but they still seem a little afraid of me, not very close to me. Maybe they're waiting... for you to come home."

Watching Ying Huai's eyes flicker, Ying Father couldn't help but continue: "Bouquet is more lively, but usually just sits quietly by herself. Very much like... you as a child."

"No, you weren't quiet as a child." Ying Father suddenly murmured.

"But I wanted you to be quieter, and later you really did... become obedient."

—So Ying Huai hadn't liked those dull-colored clothes from the start either; he had been forced to change his habits.

It was he himself who had gradually beautified those memories, presumptuously revising them into the shape he imagined.

Ying Huai still kept his eyes lowered without speaking. Ying Father put away his phone somewhat dejectedly.

"You... you go rehearse first, Xiao Huai. The two cats are being looked after at home, don't worry."

"I'll have Xiao Qi... send you the photos tomorrow."

Ying Huai raised his head, and after a long pause, softly replied "Okay."

Ying Qi beside him sighed soundlessly. He reached out and stroked Ying Huai's hair, silently mouthing "sorry," and followed Ying Father out.

Ying Huai swayed slightly and exhaled soundlessly.

He couldn't help lowering his head and lightly coughing into his hand. The next second, he heard a nervous voice from in front of him.

"The clothes look good."

Ying Huai was startled.

He looked up somewhat incredulously, and saw Ying Father at the door, leaning on his Cane with a tense expression.

He looked at Ying Huai and said softly: "You suit... this warm color."

He had always thought this color didn't suit Ying Huai, that it would make his nature even more unrestrained. Now he realized how terribly wrong he had been.

Ying Father gave Ying Huai a stiff smile and slowly turned around, but heard Ying Huai suddenly speak softly.

"After feeding them, close the bedroom door."

Ying Father was startled.

He turned back instantly: "What?"

Ying Huai raised his eyes.

He looked at Ying Father and said softly: 'Bouquet likes to sleep somewhere warm after eating. The bedrooms at home all face the sun and are soft—if you don't close the door, he can sleep in there all day.'

He took a soft breath: 'If Father doesn't want to lie in a bed of cat hair when sleeping at night, it's best to... close the door.'

Ying Father stood rooted to the spot, stunned. After a moment, an unmistakable joy flickered across his face, and he nodded quickly.

Ying Huai let out a silent sigh.

His throat was a little itchy. He covered his mouth and coughed lightly, then, just as Ying Father was about to turn around, spoke up one last time in a soft voice.

'Photos of the two cats... Father can just send them to me directly next time.'

Under Ying Father's incredulous gaze, he turned his eyes away, a little awkwardly.

'It's not like Father doesn't... have my contact information.'

·

When Liang Shi Ning brought Liang Mu back, only Ying Huai was left in the lounge.

He was curled up on the sofa with his eyes half-closed, seemingly already asleep.

Liang Mu instinctively softened her steps, but the next second, she saw Ying Huai's body twitch and his eyes snap open.

'Oh, did I wake you, Xiao Huai?'

Liang Mu spoke with a touch of apology: 'Sorry, sorry. Xiao Ning said he wanted to come back and find you, and I was worried about you so I came along.....'

Liang Shi Ning stepped forward and helped him sit up. Ying Huai gathered himself and smiled at Liang Mu: 'No, I was just resting with my eyes closed for a bit. I wasn't asleep.'

Liang Shi Ning turned to look at Ying Huai. Ying Huai met his gaze with a smile and squeezed his palm unobtrusively.

Liang Shi Ning could only lower his eyes.

Liang Mu let out a breath of relief.

'That's good, I was worried I'd disturbed your sleep, Xiao Huai.'

As she said this, she thought of something else and stepped forward worriedly: 'Nothing happened just now, did it, Xiao Huai? I heard from Xiao Ning that your father left very early. You two didn't argue......'

Ying Huai was startled for a moment.

He shook his head: 'No, Auntie, don't worry.'

His eyes flickered, and the corner of his mouth seemed to lift almost imperceptibly: 'Father said... I look very nice in this outfit.'

·

That evening, the Production Team took them through one final rehearsal, which dragged on until the early hours of the morning.

As expected, Ying Huai's throat started hurting again.

But he didn't go find Song Si Lan. Instead, he took the medicine Song Si Lan had given him last time, swallowed it haphazardly, and went straight to sleep.

He hadn't expected that the moment he woke up the next day, he'd come face to face with Song Si Lan right beside him.

'You're awake?'

Song Si Lan connected the monitor to him and gave a cold snort: 'Done hiding from me?'

Ying Huai propped himself up, a little dazed.

He glanced at Liang Shi Ning standing not far away. Liang Shi Ning paused, then subtly turned his gaze aside.

Ying Huai understood instantly.

He clenched his teeth inwardly, then turned to Song Si Lan with a placating smile: 'What is Doctor Song saying? When have I ever been hiding from Doctor Song?'

Before he could finish, he felt a sharp pain at his fingertip. Ying Huai let out a soft 'hiss' and watched Song Si Lan unhurriedly bring over the glucose meter and casually press a cotton swab into his hand.

'Liang Shi Ning said you've been coughing in your sleep these past few days, and even with the nasal cannula on, you were mumbling about chest tightness. Liang Shi Ning wanted to call me over, but you kept saying you were tired and to wait until daytime.'

Song Si Lan said unhurriedly: 'So now it's daytime. I'm here.'

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, and in the end he could only manage a placating smile.

Song Si Lan watched Ying Huai's expression, seemed to realize something, and frowned.

He suddenly turned to Liang Shi Ning: 'There's honey water in the kitchen. Teacher Liang, could you help me make a cup? He's a bit hypoglycemic.'

Ying Huai was startled.

He watched Liang Shi Ning turn and close the door, then looked up somewhat blankly: 'But I don't feel dizzy or have palpitations.....'

'I know. The glucose meter doesn't show any problem either.'

Song Si Lan said, a touch irritably.

He lowered his eyes, looked at the person in front of him, and said through gritted teeth: 'You still haven't told Liang Shi Ning?'

Ying Huai's expression froze for a moment.

—He immediately realized Song Si Lan was talking about the pain-blocking injection.

Song Si Lan's tone cooled slightly: 'So that's why you've been avoiding me lately? Dragging it out on both sides, waiting until the last moment to hide it from both, and just coming to me for medicine directly.'

Song Si Lan crossed his arms and laughed coldly: 'Teacher Ying, you calculate quite well.'

The smile at Ying Huai's lips faded a little.

He was quiet for a few seconds, then let out a soft sigh: 'I didn't.'

Song Si Lan frowned.

Ying Huai leaned against the headboard. Watching the rare flash of anger in Song Si Lan's expression, a trace of helplessness crossed his eyes. 'I just... don't know how to tell him.'

—What if Liang Shi Ning doesn't agree to the pain-blocking injection? What if he really can't sing.....

Song Si Lan's expression slowly darkened as well.

He seemed to let out a low sigh as well: 'You can just say it directly, Ying Huai.'

'You don't need to worry this much.'

Steady footsteps came from the doorway. Ying Huai came back to himself.

He closed his eyes briefly, and a second before the door was pushed open, said softly: 'I know.'

'I will... tell him.'

·

There was one day left before the Concert.

That evening, fans attending the Concert had arrived at nearby hotels one after another, and quite a few had come to the venue early to set up support displays.

On his way back from the venue, Ying Huai walked the whole way greeting fans.

He smiled and listened to the chatter of the fans around him, but when he looked up, he caught a familiar figure hurrying past not far away, walking quickly toward where they were staying.

—It seemed to be... Chu Hongsheng.

Ying Huai's expression sharpened.

'Sorry, something came up. I need to head back first.'

He gave the surrounding fans an apologetic smile and glanced at Liang Shi Ning beside him.

Liang Shi Ning understood instantly and gave a small nod.

The two of them hurried into the Villa arranged by the Production Team.

But inside, everyone was busy with preparations for tomorrow. The two of them did a quick search but couldn't find anyone.

Ying Huai pressed his brow and said quietly: 'Let's search a bit more. If that doesn't work, we'll pull the surveillance footage...'

Before he could finish, a teasing voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

'Long time no see, Teacher Xiao Huai.'

'I heard from Si Lan that you've been hiding from me lately?'

Ying Huai's steps halted.

He glanced at Liang Shi Ning. Liang Shi Ning nodded and hurried off to continue searching.

Ying Huai took a deep breath.

He turned around and met Yu Wu's grinning gaze head-on.

Yu Wu walked forward unhurriedly, his eyes glinting slightly: 'You shouldn't hide from the doctor, Teacher Xiao Huai.'

'Teacher Xiao Huai shouldn't... be hiding anything from me, right?'

A flash of guilt crossed Ying Huai's eyes.

He smiled with curved eyes: 'I haven't, Doctor Yu. It's just that I've been so busy lately and haven't had the time.....'

He quickly rattled off a pile of high-sounding excuses. Yu Wu listened carefully and gave a small nod.

'That sounds reasonable.'

Ying Huai hadn't even had time to breathe a sigh of relief when, the next second, he heard Yu Wu laugh.

'Teacher Xiao Huai's ability to make excuses has improved quite a bit.'

Ying Huai: ....?

Before he could say anything more, a crisp snap of fingers reached his ears.

A sense of foreboding instantly rose in Ying Huai's heart.