Chapter 82: Fresh Blood

When Ying Huai followed Yu Wu out, Ying Qi, who had been waiting outside the whole time, silently let out a breath of relief.

But even after sitting down to eat, he couldn't manage much.

After Ying Huai put down his chopsticks for the third time and sat there, Yu Wu finally couldn't help sighing too.

"Teacher Xiao Huai, can't you eat a little more?"

Ying Huai paused for a few seconds, then slowly looked up at him: "Aren't you worried I'll throw up on you in a bit?"

Yu Wu smiled and rubbed his chin: "Don't worry, Si Lan already told me about Teacher Xiao Huai's recent physical condition. Even if you feel unwell, he's still here."

—He knew Ying Huai was just making excuses to get back to the treatment sooner.

Ying Huai simply couldn't be bothered talking to him and picked up his chopsticks again.

But Ying Huai's appetite wasn't great to begin with. Although he had ultimately relented because of Yu Wu's words, he only managed a few bites before he couldn't eat anymore.

Yu Wu knew this time it wasn't deliberate, and didn't beat around the bush to persuade him any further, but he also didn't take him upstairs directly.

"Bouquet hasn't been fed today, has he? Why doesn't Teacher Xiao Huai come with me to feed him first?"

Yu Wu held up a cat treat and grinningly reached out to block Ying Huai's way.

Ying Huai glanced up at him: "He's on a diet lately, feeding him tonight will be fine too."

The moment his words fell, an indignant "meow" came from the living room not far away.

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

Yu Wu suddenly laughed: "Looks like Teacher Xiao Huai didn't give Bouquet advance notice of that decision."

Without asking, he hooked Ying Huai's arm. Ying Huai's body stiffened for a moment, and he instinctively tried to pull his hand free.

But the next second, Yu Wu unceremoniously pulled him straight into the living room, pushed him down onto the sofa, and then promptly placed Bouquet into his arms.

Bouquet paid no attention to anything around him, his back legs on Ying Huai's lap and front paws on Yu Wu's arm, and began happily devouring the cat treat.

Afraid of dropping Bouquet, Ying Huai didn't dare keep struggling. He could only grit his teeth and look up: "Can you let go of me?"

"It's not that I don't want to let go. If I do, won't Bouquet just fall?"

Yu Wu, knowing full well that the moment he let go Ying Huai would vanish with cat and all, feigned innocence.

He sat down on his own at the low table across from the sofa, and made a 'shh' gesture at Ying Huai: "Don't worry, I won't tell Liang... ahem, won't tell Si Lan."

Yu Wu coughed lightly to cover it up, then smiled mysteriously again: "How about we keep this as a secret between me and Teacher Xiao Huai?"

.......Ying Huai looked up expressionlessly: "How about I let Bouquet bite you right here, and we keep that as a secret between you and Bouquet."

Yu Wu immediately shrank back, grinning as he made a surrender gesture at Ying Huai, but still didn't let go of Ying Huai's hand.

Ying Huai, who rarely had the energy to bicker with him, sighed and resignedly sat back into the sofa holding Bouquet.

·

Yu Wu dragged him around the house all afternoon, and at the end, to stop him from going upstairs, even suggested that Ying Huai come with him to give Bouquet a bath.

........Ying Huai nearly actually threw Bouquet in his arms at him.

He didn't know what Yu Wu was really up to, but by the end he truly didn't have a shred of energy left.

His last conscious moment was curled up in the sofa, watching Yu Wu persistently trying to teach Bouquet to bow, and he drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Yu Wu heard a soft sound from beside him.

He stopped teasing the cat and instinctively looked up, just in time to see Ying Huai's hand sliding weakly down from his stomach.

Yu Wu grabbed Bouquet's paw to catch it, barely preventing Ying Huai's hand from dropping straight off the sofa.

Bouquet, being manhandled in his arms, let out an indignant purr. Yu Wu casually stroked him once and finally magnanimously let go of the chew toy in his hand.

Bouquet immediately kicked off and leapt out of his arms. Yu Wu didn't mind, stretched lazily, and slowly stood up.

Ying Qi, who had been in another room, had at some point also slowly walked into the living room.

"Xiao Huai fell asleep?" Ying Qi sat down beside Ying Huai and gently brushed aside the stray hairs on his forehead.

Ying Huai appeared to be sleeping deeply, his breathing shallow—he really must have been exhausted.

Yu Wu nodded.

He crouched in front of Ying Huai, pressed his fingers to Ying Huai's wrist, and after a few seconds, let out a small breath.

"Mm, just fell asleep from exhaustion, no problems." Yu Wu said quietly.

"Could Brother Ying carry Teacher Xiao Huai upstairs? We can begin the treatment soon."

Ying Qi's expression showed no surprise at all. He nodded gently.

He bent down and, as if handling a precious piece of porcelain, carefully gathered his younger brother into his arms.

Ying Huai's body stirred instinctively. Ying Qi whispered something in his ear, and within seconds Ying Huai's head slowly tilted to one side and he fell back into a deep sleep.

Yu Wu beside him crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, sighing with feigned helplessness: "Teacher Xiao Huai really does trust Brother Ying. If it were me, he'd have woken up long ago."

Ying Qi carried him steadily up the stairs, and upon hearing that, glanced back at Yu Wu with some amusement.

"Doctor Yu is joking. Xiao Huai just doesn't care for people with unsettled temperaments."

He set Ying Huai down gently on the bed and said casually: "If Doctor Yu were more straightforward next time, Xiao Huai might not be so guarded around you."

Yu Wu choked. It took him a while to realize Ying Qi was joking.

For a moment he was surprised that someone of Ying Qi's temperament could even joke.

Then he immediately realized Ying Qi was displeased that he had asked him to keep things from Ying Huai.

Yu Wu held a strange mix of awe and wariness toward people like Ying Qi who were mild on the surface.

He sighed and finally reined in the smile at the corner of his mouth: "Don't worry, Brother Ying. I won't do anything to Teacher Xiao Huai."

Ying Qi sat beside Ying Huai, his expression returning to its usual gentleness.

"I know, of course. Don't take it to heart, Doctor Yu. I was just speaking offhand."

Ying Qi steadied Ying Huai against the headboard, glanced at Song Si Lan who had been waiting in the room for some time, then turned his gaze back to Yu Wu: "So how exactly does Doctor Yu plan to do the treatment?"

Yu Wu's expression finally grew serious.

"Previously I've been using Clear Hypnosis on Ying Huai. I can say that after these sessions, the exploration of his subconscious has gone quite deep, but every time we touch on the part forgotten from the Hypnosis, we're still forced to stop."

Yu Wu took a deep breath.

"So this time I want to try Trance Hypnosis."

Ying Qi frowned as he watched Song Si Lan step forward and slowly inject a vial of medicine into Ying Huai.

"A mild sedative. I've calculated the dosage—it won't affect Ying Huai's body, just make it easier for him to relax."

Song Si Lan explained first, as if he knew of Ying Qi's concern.

He watched the monitor beside him and continued quietly: "That way when we wake him later, it'll be easier on Ying Huai."

Ying Qi furrowed his brow. Yu Wu sighed and gave a brief explanation.

"Actually, Trance Hypnosis isn't what most people think of as 'entering hypnosis while completely asleep.'"

Both Clear Hypnosis and Trance Hypnosis are performed while the subject is awake; the difference lies only in the degree of consciousness retained.[1]

The former uses the subject's normal physical state and thought patterns to induce hypnosis, with most of the consciousness remaining awake.

The latter, while maintaining only the most basic level of consciousness in the subject, shifts them from wakefulness into a hazy, relaxed state in order to ask about things they truly want to express or care about deep inside.

But Trance Hypnosis requires medication. Ying Huai's body is too weak—many sedatives can't be used on him for long—and on top of that he was initially very guarded, so Yu Wu had always used Clear Hypnosis.

"But with Si Lan monitoring beside him, Brother Ying, you can rest assured—there won't be any problems."

Ying Qi's tense body gradually relaxed a little, but his tightly furrowed brow didn't ease.

Song Si Lan, watching Ying Huai's breathing and heart rate gradually slow on the monitor, turned and gave Yu Wu a slight nod.

Yu Wu took a deep breath.

He reached out and patted Ying Huai's shoulder with light pressure.

"Teacher Xiao Huai?"

·

Ying Huai opened his eyes in a daze.

The first thing he saw was not the grey-white walls of the 'Sanatorium' he had expected, but bright sunlight.

Ying Huai was briefly stunned.

In a haze, he could tell he seemed to have been hypnotized, but he didn't remember how or when.

The sunlight around him was pleasant, and where it fell on his body there was even a faint, warm feeling.

Ying Huai instinctively raised his hand to touch his arm, and his fingertips genuinely felt the warmth of the sunlight.

Ying Huai froze for a moment.

Footsteps came from behind. Ying Huai instantly became alert.

He turned sharply, but his expression froze again.

Liang Shining stood silently behind him.

Ying Huai silently parted his lips.

He instinctively wanted to ask why Liang Shining was here, but the next second, he heard his own voice—tinged with a smile—speak.

[Mr. Liang, you haven't left yet?]

Ying Huai paused, then belatedly realized this was something he had once said in his memory.

—But Ying Huai had almost no impression of this memory at all.

The Liang Shining before him didn't have the silent, gentle look he had now—his expression was slightly cold, standing there with indifference.

Ying Huai realized this point in time must have been before one of his trips to the 'Sanatorium' in his previous life.

—At that time, Liang Shining still held considerable prejudice against him.

Ying Huai vaguely realized something.

He stood there in a daze, like a bystander, watching blankly as the scene before him flashed past like a revolving lantern.

·

Liang Shining stood frowning in place, looking at the person before him with a smile full of warmth.

Ying Huai waited patiently for a few seconds, and when he saw Liang Shining didn't speak, couldn't help letting out a soft sigh.

【Mr. Liang, is there anything else? If not, I'll go first...】

【Why didn't you go to the last awards ceremony?】

Liang Shining cut him off directly in a low voice.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment.

He belatedly remembered why Liang Shining had come here, and also recalled the awards ceremony Liang Shining had mentioned.

That was one of the few events they would both attend after Ying Huai and Liang Shining's falling out. Ying Huai had initially agreed to attend after learning Liang Shining would also be there, but ultimately couldn't make it due to treatment.

Ying Huai hadn't expected Liang Shining to actually come find him over this matter.

He tried to come up with some excuse to brush it off, but the next second, he heard Liang Shining speak first and cut him off.

【You disappear for weeks at a time, and you missed several events before. What exactly are you doing, Ying Huai?】

Ying Huai was startled.

He looked up with a strange expression: "Why is Mr. Liang so... clear on my schedule."

—He remembered Liang Shining hadn't attended any of those events.

A barely perceptible trace of unnaturalness flashed across Liang Shining's expression, then quickly vanished.

He said in a low voice: 【Answer my question, Ying Huai.】

Ying Huai let out a silent sigh.

He didn't want to tell Liang Shining that he was undergoing psychological treatment, but couldn't think of an excuse on the spot.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, and his tone suddenly became lost: 【Because I'm sick.】

Liang Shining was stunned, watching Ying Huai's mood suddenly drop.

【My health isn't good, I have to be hospitalized for treatment every so often. I didn't deliberately miss the last ceremony.】

Ying Huai spoke half-truthfully, watching Liang Shining's expression subtly stiffen.

【You...】

Ying Huai didn't say anything more.

He took a step back and said softly: 【Next time there's an event Mr. Liang is at, I'll definitely try to attend. It's almost time for evening rounds, I need to get back to my room.】

He spoke while turning around, hearing Liang Shining suddenly speak behind him: 【Ying Huai—】

Ying Huai turned his head at the sound.

Before Liang Shining could speak again, he curved his eyes in a joking manner first: 【If Mr. Liang is so worried about me, why not come visit when you have time.】

Liang Shining's figure stiffened as expected.

Ying Huai let out a silent sigh and quickly disappeared at the end of the hospital corridor.

·

But things didn't go as hoped. At the next event, Liang Shining waited from beginning to end, but still couldn't see Ying Huai.

A few months later, Ying Huai once again unexpectedly saw Liang Shining at his hospital room door.

This time Ying Huai was genuinely a little surprised.

Liang Shining's expression was slightly heavy, silently standing at the door looking at him.

Ying Huai didn't notice the abnormality in Liang Shining's expression.

He got up from the bed, wanting to lead him outside: 【Why are you here again? I already told you, I'm just in poor health and need to be hospitalized for a while to recover. If Mr. Liang doesn't believe me, you can check...】

【Your name isn't in the inpatient department.】 Liang Shining cut him off directly.

Ying Huai's words came to a halt.

He looked up in some surprise, meeting Liang Shining's reddened eyes.

【I checked. You're not hospitalized here at all.】

Liang Shining gritted his teeth: 【...Why did you lie to me again, Ying Huai.】

Liang Shining's voice was angry, but Ying Huai somehow heard a trace of undetectable loss within it.

He heard Liang Shining say softly: 【Last time you said you'd attend that event... was also a lie.】

Ying Huai silently opened his mouth: 【No, I...】

He instinctively wanted to explain, but the next second thought of something and stopped himself.

After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and calmed down again.

【Mr. Liang is overthinking it. I'm just transferring hospitals today, so that's why there's no information about me in the inpatient department...】

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard footsteps at the door.

Then several 'medical staff' in white coats filed in through the door, subtly surrounding Ying Huai.

【It's time to go, Teacher Ying.】

Liang Shining was directly blocked outside by these people.

He frowned: 【Where are you going? Who are they, Ying Huai?】

A flash of panic crossed Ying Huai's expression, then he quickly steadied himself.

【Nothing. Like I just told you, I'm transferring hospitals. You should go first, Liang Shining, don't follow me...】

But Liang Shining vaguely sensed something was wrong.

Ying Huai's face was pale. According to what he said, he should have been hospitalized and treated several times already, but his condition didn't seem to be improving—instead he was visibly haggard.

He stepped forward trying to stop these people: 【No, you're lying to me again, Ying Huai. What's wrong with you? Where are you going?】

The surrounding people also stopped. One of them glanced at Liang Shining, then turned to look warily at Ying Huai.

【Is he going with you, Teacher Ying?】

Ying Huai shook his head almost frantically.

He quickly got out of bed, stumbled, and hurried toward the hospital room door.

【No need—you should go, Liang Shining.】

Ying Huai looked up, a hint of pleading in his tone: 【Please.】

Liang Shining's footsteps suddenly stopped.

He opened his mouth wanting to say more, but Ying Huai had already hurried out with that group.

At the end of the memory, Ying Huai looked back and saw Liang Shining following out of the hospital room door.

Ying Huai tried to see Liang Shining's expression clearly, but the scene before him twisted again.

Then, finally, the familiar dim walls of the 'Sanatorium'.

Still the memory fragments from the last treatment, except this time the figure whose face couldn't be seen was finally clear.

Ying Huai watched Liang Shining pull him away from the doctors, holding him as they hid in the stairwell.

And finally, pressing the Hongyu Jewel Pendant, cool to the touch, into his hand.

·

In the room, Ying Huai suddenly opened his eyes, breathing rapidly.

Song Si Lan beside him quickly stepped forward, frowned as he glanced at the monitor nearby, and put the nasal oxygen tube back on.

"Are you dizzy? Do you feel palpitations or chest tightness?" Song Si Lan pressed his pulse and asked quietly.

Ying Huai sat dazed against the headboard, not speaking.

After a while, he turned his head and looked at Yu Wu standing by the bed not far away.

"Those things before weren't hallucinations..."

Yu Wu stepped forward.

Half his body fell into darkness, his face wearing an uncommonly calm expression.

He looked at the pale-faced person before him and nodded slightly.

"Yes, they weren't hallucinations."

Yu Wu said quietly: "I've never created any suggestive illusions for you during Hypnosis. Everything you saw was your own memory."

"Even if you yourself at the time... didn't realize it."

Ying Huai's face went a few shades paler.

Song Si Lan beside him frowned more and more deeply, but Ying Huai seemed not to notice and continued: "Then why didn't you tell me last time?"

He slightly propped himself up, and the monitor emitted a series of urgent 'beep, beep' sounds.

"Why didn't you tell me... during the last treatment."

Yu Wu was silent for a few seconds.

"Because your mental state was too poor last time."

Yu Wu said softly: "I didn't dare bring it up rashly and stimulate you again. The human brain can be said to be the most complex structure in the world, and there's no absolute conclusion on how memories are stored in it. Forcefully awakening your forgotten memories would bring unknown consequences."

Ying Huai frowned, his expression still slightly cold: "Then why this time..."

Yu Wu looked up: "Because this time I know roughly what memories you've forgotten."

He drew a line in the air with his hand: "Not forcefully awakening, but through subconscious guidance to achieve the effect of awakening."

There is some risk, but because I know roughly how the memories developed, it's still within my control.

Ying Huai was startled for a moment.

He looked up and instinctively opened his mouth: "How do you know about the memories I forgot......"

"Liang Shining told me."

Yu Wu softly cut him off.

He looked at Ying Huai's expression and silently sighed.

"So have you remembered everything, Teacher Ying?"

Ying Huai sat dazed against the headboard, saying nothing.

After a few seconds, he suddenly stood up without a word and stumbled toward the door.

Yu Wu was startled. Song Si Lan beside him frowned and stepped forward to grab his arm.

"Where are you going, Ying Huai?"

"I need to go out for a bit."

Ying Huai braced himself against the wall and exhaled.

He pulled off all the wires and nasal cannula connected to his body, pressed a hand to his chest and panted a few times, then continued walking forward.

The monitor immediately let out a sharp alarm. Song Si Lan's expression cooled, and he stepped forward to grab him again.

"Are you crazy? Where are you going?"

Song Si Lan said through gritted teeth: "The sedative hasn't worn off yet. Going out in your current state—do you want to die?"

Ying Huai's eyes were unfocused, as if he hadn't heard what he was saying.

The side effects of the sedative were now subtly manifesting. Ying Huai was weak all over, and waves of nausea made him feel like he was about to vomit.

But he still stubbornly walked outward, bracing against the wall.

".......Move."

Song Si Lan could stand it no longer and directly blocked his path: "What exactly are you trying to do, Ying Huai? Don't force my hand—"

Before he could finish, he heard Ying Huai say hoarsely: ".......I need to find him."

Song Si Lan was startled.

He hadn't had time to say anything before he saw the person in front of him sway again.

Song Si Lan instinctively reached out to steady Ying Huai's arm.

Yu Wu set the syringe aside and helped Song Si Lan steady him.

The sting in his arm gradually turned into a cool sensation. Ying Huai somewhat dazedly raised his head.

Yu Wu shrugged: "Si Lan just warned you. If you won't behave, I'll just let you sleep a little longer."

Song Si Lan frowned and said through gritted teeth: "You......."

"Don't worry, what I injected was just a sleeping agent, not the sedative from before." Yu Wu said quietly.

But clearly this drug's effect was enough for Ying Huai.

His eyes, which had finally managed to focus, went unfocused again. His body swayed, and he uncontrollably slid down along the wall.

Ying Qi, who had hurried over at the sound, instinctively reached out and caught him.

"Xiao Huai!"

Ying Huai was in a dazed stupor. Hearing Ying Qi's voice, his head seemed to move slightly, but then under the drug's effect, it slowly drooped down again.

A cool sensation came from his wrist. Ying Qi dazedly lowered his head.

He watched Ying Huai's fingers rest weakly on his wrist and heard him murmur drowsily.

"I need to find someone, ge......."

"I need to find......."

Ying Qi lowered his head, somewhat puzzled.

But Ying Huai's fingers trembled slightly, then softly slipped from his wrist.

He fell back into unconsciousness.

Yu Wu beside him looked up, puzzled: "What did he just say? Who is he looking for?"

Ying Qi's expression was hesitant. After a long moment, he shook his head.

Song Si Lan frowned and glared at him, said nothing, and followed Ying Qi back to the bed, putting the oxygen mask back on Ying Huai's face.

·

Probably because he had things on his mind yesterday, Ying Huai woke up very early the next day.

He was still in poor spirits, his expression weary, but he was still stubbornly determined to go out.

Song Si Lan had no choice. After checking his body once more and confirming nothing serious was wrong, he finally agreed.

Ying Huai immediately hurried outside.

Ying Qi beside him couldn't help but stand up as well: "Let me come with you, Xiao Huai."

Ying Huai shook his head: "No need, ge. I'm fine, I'll go by myself."

"Who exactly are you going to find, Xiao Huai?"

Ying Qi couldn't help but ask.

Ying Huai's footsteps paused for a moment.

Then he continued walking forward and said softly without looking back: "......Liang Shining."

Ying Qi's words caught in his throat.

A flash of surprise crossed his expression, but a smile quickly appeared.

"Alright, then gege will wait for you at home."

Ying Qi paused, then couldn't help but gently remind him in detail: "If you feel unwell or uncomfortable, call gege. Gege will come get you right away......."

Ying Huai said nothing more, just turned his head and gave Ying Qi a slight curve of his lips.

Ying Qi silently breathed a sigh of relief, not noticing that the moment Ying Huai turned his head, his expression suddenly sank.

·

Ying Huai didn't go find Liang Shining first, but went to the Liang Family first.

—He needed to confirm some things first.

Liang Mu pulled him into the room with a heartbroken expression, and he wasn't let out until noon.

Ying Huai stood at the Liang Family's door, his body swaying slightly.

He silently exhaled and lowered his eyes to look at his phone.

His fingers hovered over the words 'Liang Shining' on the screen for a few seconds, hesitated for a few seconds, and ultimately couldn't press down.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suddenly heard a sharp sound cutting through the air in front of him.

Ying Huai instinctively raised his head.

But before he could see what was in front of him, he felt a sudden sharp pain at the back of his head.

A strong wave of dizziness came along with the sharp pain.

Ying Huai didn't even have time to grunt before his vision went black almost instantly.

When he regained a little consciousness, he felt his entire body curled up on the ground.

The sharp pain at the back of his head made it almost impossible for Ying Huai to concentrate.

He tried to push himself up, but waves of dizziness in his head made him almost want to just fall asleep.

He heard a flurry of panicked footsteps around him, then felt himself being grabbed and lifted up.

His last gaze fell on the phone that had dropped beside him. At some unknown point, it had dialed Liang Shining's number.

In his daze, he seemed to hear Liang Shining's surprised and panicked voice coming from the phone: "Shifu........."

Ying Huai realized something and curved his lips somewhat helplessly.

"Speed Dial, really........"

The next second, he uncontrollably lost consciousness.

·

"Cough cough cough—"

When Ying Huai woke up again, it was from being splashed with cold water.

The sudden cold made his whole body tremble, and his heartbeat uncontrollably quickened.

He accidentally choked on some water and turned his head, coughing violently.

Someone in front of him clicked their tongue in disgust, then Chu Hongsheng's gentle voice came: "Be careful, his body is fragile. What if you accidentally kill him?"

Unhurried footsteps walked up to him and stopped. Then Ying Huai felt a slight pain on his chin.

Chu Hongsheng pinched his chin and forced him to raise his head.

"Sorry, Xiao Huai, I only asked them to bring you to see me, but the weather's been hot and everyone's a bit on edge. They couldn't help being a little rough."

Ying Huai's eyes couldn't focus. He panted and said nothing.

Chu Hongsheng frowned, the fingers pinching his chin pressing slightly harder.

"Xiao Huai looks like........he doesn't want to see me at all."

Before he could finish, he felt the person in front of him spasm, suddenly turn his head, and cough up a mouthful of blood.

The warm blood fell on Chu Hongsheng's hand, and he immediately frowned.

He suddenly flung Ying Huai away, his face rapidly darkening.

"You—"

"Sorry, I overused my voice at the Concert before, and recently caught a cold and coughed too much........my throat is a bit congested." Ying Huai curved his lips.

He finally caught his breath, looked up at Chu Hongsheng, and spoke while panting.

"It's not that I don't want to see Uncle Chu, but that Uncle Chu invited me here.......the timing really isn't right."

Chu Hongsheng's expression darkened.

He looked as if he still wanted to step forward and grab the person, but what Ying Huai had just said gave him pause—he didn't dare to simply kill him outright—so in the end he could only grit his teeth and stay where he was.

Ying Huai didn't mind.

He looked around the surroundings, his eyes flickered, then quickly shifted his gaze back to Chu Hongsheng.

"So what exactly does Uncle Chu want by inviting me here?"

Chu Hongsheng stared at him for a few seconds, his expression returning to its usual gentleness.

"It's nothing much. Xiao Huai said it yourself earlier—your body is so weak, you should rest and recuperate properly."

Chu Hongsheng spoke unhurriedly.

"So I've specially brought you to see—the 'Sanatorium' I've prepared for you."

He waited to see a flash of helplessness and panic cross Ying Huai's expression, but Ying Huai only cooperatively looked around, raised an eyebrow, and his expression seemed unchanged.

Chu Hongsheng couldn't help frowning.

He felt inexplicably dissatisfied, opened his mouth to say something more, but the next second heard Ying Huai let out a soft sigh.

"So what does Uncle Chu want?"

Ying Huai frowned, his voice carrying an obvious tremor: "Is Uncle Chu planning to keep me locked up in this 'Sanatorium' forever?"

Chu Hongsheng was stunned for a moment.

He felt inexplicably that something was off, but only assumed Ying Huai's earlier reaction was him forcibly hiding his panic.

He was pleased by Ying Huai's pale face and unhidden trembling, and laughed again.

"That depends—on whether Xiao Huai cooperates."

Ying Huai frowned: "Cooperate with what?"

Chu Hongsheng suddenly laughed: "Don't play dumb, Xiao Huai—of course, it's the equity in your hands."

He stepped forward, bent down, and lightly patted Ying Huai's cheek.

Ying Huai immediately turned his head away in disgust, but Chu Hongsheng didn't mind, and laughed even more happily.

"I said, sooner or later I'll make you beg me, Ying Huai."

"I'll give you two choices: either you obediently sign the voluntary equity transfer agreement and confidentiality agreement, and I'll send you out immediately."

"Of course, if you want to think about it, that's fine too—I'll keep you here recuperating until you come around."

Chu Hongsheng glanced at his pale face, and magnanimously continued: "I'll also have my accompanying doctor treat you—your complexion really is too poor, Xiao Huai."

Ying Huai said nothing.

He was bound backward to a chair, his whole body drenched, yet his face was inexplicably flushed—sure enough, he had likely developed a high fever.

Sure enough, the next second, Ying Huai suddenly started coughing again.

"What makes Uncle Chu think........I'll choose?"

Chu Hongsheng looked at him with pity: "I already told you, Xiao Huai, you're too tired right now—you need to rest."

Ying Huai raised his head as if wanting to say more.

Chu Hongsheng, as if knowing what he was thinking, unhurriedly continued: "You're not thinking someone will come rescue you, are you, Xiao Huai?"

"Don't worry, no one will come for a while."

Chu Hongsheng spoke leisurely: "I've already handled the surveillance footage at the intersection. I used your phone to send messages to Ying Qi and Liang Shining—I told Ying Qi you wanted to be alone for a while, and told Liang Shining.......you never want to see him again for the rest of your life."

Ying Huai's face went a few shades paler.

"I heard you and Liang Shining had a fight recently? But why did you go to the Liang Family again today?"

"Hesitation brings disaster, Xiao Huai."

Chu Hongsheng said softly: "As it happens, I've made the decision for you."

Ying Huai gritted his teeth and raised his head.

Chu Hongsheng looked at Ying Huai's expression with satisfaction, then thought of something and softly said 'ah.'

"Right, if you insist on recuperating in this 'Sanatorium,' I can't guarantee your body.......won't develop any... conditions."

Chu Hongsheng said with some regret: "If you unfortunately have some accident, Ying Qi and Liang Shining will eventually receive a 'suicide note' you left behind, saying you couldn't bear the pain from too much stimulation."

"When the time comes, perhaps Ying Qi and Liang Shining will both blame each other for driving you to death."

Chu Hongsheng said unhurriedly: "After all, every day you stay here, I'll use your phone to keep sending them messages about the pain you felt from the other person."

"How dare you—cough cough cough........"

Ying Huai's breath caught, and he suddenly started coughing again.

Chu Hongsheng walked up behind him and kindly reached out to pat his back.

"So, Xiao Huai, don't be ungrateful. Listen to Uncle Chu, take this chance to rest properly........"

Before he could finish, he heard Ying Huai interrupt in a hoarse voice: "If I sign, you'll let my brother go, and.......Liang Shining, right?"

Chu Hongsheng was satisfied to hear a hint of wavering from Ying Huai.

"Of course."

Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly.

After a few seconds, he said quietly: "........Fine."

Chu Hongsheng immediately laughed.

He snapped his fingers lightly, and someone beside him immediately stepped forward holding an equity transfer agreement, but the next second, Ying Huai spoke again.

"But I have one condition."

Chu Hongsheng's brow furrowed again.

He laughed coldly: "Don't push your luck, Xiao Huai—the initiative is in my hands now........"

"Haven't you heard the saying, Uncle Chu, 'even in death, one deserves to understand why'?"

Ying Huai raised his head, his eyes flickering: "I want to know—what has Uncle Chu been doing to me all along?"

"Le Xi, Song Fengyi, and my sudden being blackened online before—was all that Uncle Chu's doing?"

Chu Hongsheng was stunned for a moment.

He looked at the person before him with slight wariness.

Ying Huai's face was ashen—the strange flush from the fever had completely disappeared, replaced by an unsettling grey pallor.

His whole body was bound to the chair, yet he looked as if he might collapse at any moment.

Chu Hongsheng suspected that without the ropes on the chair back to support him, Ying Huai would have fallen over completely.

Ying Huai, as if guessing what Chu Hongsheng was thinking, curved his lips mockingly: "What, Uncle Chu dared to do it before, but doesn't dare to talk about it now?"

Ying Huai raised his head, his tone mocking: "I thought if Uncle Chu dared to have me tied up and brought here.......he must have quite the nerve."

Chu Hongsheng frowned.

Then he suddenly laughed: "You don't need to provoke me, Xiao Huai—what wouldn't I dare to say?"

"Beyond those, let me tell you a few more things—the crossover singer incident was also my doing."

Ying Huai suddenly raised his head.

"I originally only wanted to take you down, but I didn't expect Liang Shining to actually step up and take it on with the Production Team."

Chu Hongsheng said with some regret: "He even severed his master-disciple relationship with you, so as not to implicate you."

"Speaking of which, you withdrew from the competition voluntarily to protect him, didn't you? After all, back then public opinion all pointed to Liang Shining drugging Le Xi. You wanted to use your withdrawal to shift public attention away from Liang Shining, draw the scrutiny onto yourself, so you could keep investigating the truth."

Chu Hongsheng glanced at him: "Unfortunately, that fool Liang Shining seems to have misunderstood you—thought your withdrawal meant you really believed he'd drugged Le Xi, and wanted to abandon him."

Ying Huai's eyes reddened, his breathing growing subtly rapid.

"But he's probably already given up on you. Your brother looked like he was going crazy when he received that message, and Liang Shining never replied to the one I sent him, so it's no big deal."

Chu Hongsheng shrugged.

"Enough, now that everything's been said, you can sign, right?"

He gestured for someone beside him to step forward and untie one of Ying Huai's hands, but Ying Huai's hand kept trembling and he couldn't hold the pen steadily at all.

".......Your rope is tied too tight—just loosening it a little, I can't lift my hand."

Ying Huai spoke hoarsely.

"Untie me completely."

Chu Hongsheng frowned, and laughed coldly: "Don't dream. You think I don't know your plan—wanting to use this chance to fight back."

He gave a look, and the person beside him stepped forward, forcibly gripping Ying Huai's hand.

"If you can't lift it, I'll lift it for you—just sign like this."

Ying Huai frowned.

The ropes on his back were tied extremely tight, and the person beside him gripped his wrist with unusual force.

This made Ying Huai very uncomfortable.

He instinctively tried to struggle, but after a few seconds, suddenly let out a muffled groan.

"Wait a moment........"

Ying Huai instinctively reached for his chest, but the person beside him still gripped his wrist desperately.

Ying Huai had no choice but to force himself to speak: "My heart feels a bit uncomfortable, let go of me first......"

The person beside him remained unmoved.

Until he felt Ying Huai's breathing grow more and more rapid, his lips taking on a faint bluish tinge, and after a few seconds, his body even began to twitch in mild spasms.

The person beside him hesitated, looked up at Chu Hongsheng, but before he could say anything, he felt Ying Huai's body shudder violently, and then his whole body went limp.

The pen in his hand dropped to the ground with a clatter, and Chu Hongsheng, standing nearby, turned his head at the sound, frowning.

"What's wrong with him?"

"President Chu, he seemed to say his heart was uncomfortable just now, and now it seems....... he's lost consciousness."

The person beside him hesitated: "Should we have the doctor come take a look?"

Chu Hongsheng snorted coldly: "What's there to fear? He's definitely faking it."

He waved his hand: "Douse him awake."

The person beside him had no choice but to comply, but after several buckets of water were poured over him, Ying Huai still showed no sign of coming to, and his lips instead grew increasingly cyanotic.

Chu Hongsheng finally realized something was wrong at this point.

He frowned and called the doctor over. The moment the doctor saw Ying Huai's condition, his face immediately changed.

"Quick, quick, loosen him, help him sit down on the ground—"

The person beside him, also afraid that someone might actually die, hurriedly complied.

The ropes loosened circle by circle from Ying Huai's body, revealing pale wrist bones that were swollen and reddened from being rubbed raw.

Chu Hongsheng instinctively stepped forward.

The doctor hurriedly fed a pill into Ying Huai's mouth, took a syringe from the medical kit beside him, and was just about to inject it when, the next second, something unexpected happened.

The person who had been unconscious suddenly opened his eyes, snatched the syringe from the doctor's hand, rolled to his feet, and in an instant lunged behind Chu Hongsheng, pressing the needle against his neck.

Chu Hongsheng's face changed instantly.

"You bastard—"

He was just about to struggle when he felt a sharp sting at his neck: "Uncle Chu, you'd better not move."

Ying Huai said slowly.

"After all, I don't know what's loaded in here either? But emergency medication, if injected into a normal person, would probably cause problems too."

As he spoke, he glanced at the doctor beside him: "Sorry to trouble you, give me another large-bore needle."

The doctor didn't dare resist, took a thick needle and handed it over with trembling hands.

Ying Huai casually thanked him, then looked again at the syringe in his hand: "What medicine is in here?"

"To slow, to slow the heart rate," the doctor said quietly, "you were in tachycardia just now........"

Ying Huai gave a casual 'oh' and offhandedly drove the needle into Chu Hongsheng's vein.

Chu Hongsheng let out a muffled groan, instantly furious: "What are you doing—"

"Don't worry, prolonged illness makes a doctor of one. I didn't inject all of it, just a little won't have too strong an effect, at most it'll just leave you without strength." Ying Huai said softly.

"To stop your body from shaking later and my hand slipping and hurting you."

His voice was hoarse, his breathing still somewhat rapid, but he looked nothing like the completely powerless state from moments ago.

Chu Hongsheng gritted his teeth: "Were you faking it just now?"

"Not exactly, my heart really was uncomfortable, just not that serious."

Ying Huai coughed a few times, and said offhandedly: "Theoretically speaking, my heart has never felt comfortable—so Uncle Chu and this doctor were both successfully fooled by me."

—If Song Si Lan were here, he'd probably just anxiously curse me out, he definitely wouldn't be this panicked.

Ying Huai curved his lips in a rather good mood.

"Uncle Chu's idea was good, using the problems between me and Liang Shining to shift the blame."

"It's just a pity Uncle Chu overlooked one thing."

Ying Huai leaned close to Chu Hongsheng's ear and laughed softly.

"I remember everything."

Chu Hongsheng's brows drew tight together, confused: "What?"

But Ying Huai had no intention of explaining.

He closed his eyes briefly, and repeated softly: "I remember everything....... now."

—Those forgotten memories, about the "Sanatorium," and about Liang Shining.

When he was first admitted, his brother had just died, Liang Shining had abandoned him, and Xin Wan, Su Xin, and Lu Jing were all full of suspicion toward him.

In his utter despair, he really felt like his mind was on the verge of collapse.

So when the Psychologist first proposed inpatient treatment, Ying Huai didn't object.

Even in the first few sessions, he genuinely hoped the Psychologist could improve his condition.

Until that one time when he'd agreed to attend a Liang Shining business event, he'd calculated the timing perfectly to go, but was unexpectedly stopped by the "medical staff" at the "Sanatorium."

It was from then on that Ying Huai realized this "Sanatorium," though called "treatment," was actually restricting his personal freedom.

He tried to escape, but unexpectedly discovered that the person behind this seemed to have some inexplicable connection to his brother's car accident back then.

Ying Huai of the previous life ultimately gave up on the idea of escaping, and instead tried to investigate in secret.

Unfortunately, his body was just too weak.

Fortunately, the Lu family still needed him to make money, so Chu Hongsheng couldn't keep him locked in the Sanatorium forever. Instead, every so often, after the doctors had roughly nursed his body back, he'd have him discharged.

He had always thought no one had come looking for him at the Sanatorium, but it turned out that wasn't true.

It turned out that from very early on, Liang Shining had been trying to find him.

And at the very end, had almost rescued him.

Although he ultimately didn't succeed, he had given him that Hongyu Jewel Pendant.

"Inside this Hongyu Jewel Pendant, there's a positioning chip. Liang Shining put it there—he wanted to find me in my previous life."

—Unfortunately, he lost his memories in the previous life and kept forgetting about this.

Just now, when Chu Hongsheng ambushed him, in the last moment before he lost consciousness, he had turned on this positioning switch.

Liang Shining should understand what had happened.

Ying Huai said softly: "Liang Shining never abandoned me. He will always....... come find me."

A burst of noise came faintly from downstairs, as if someone had rushed in.

Ying Huai, holding Chu Hongsheng, retreated step by step to the stairwell nearby, and laughed softly.

"Speed Dial really is useful, Uncle Chu."

Ying Huai leaned his back against the wall beside the stairs, panting: "It saved me....... more than once."

His vision was somewhat blurred, and he quietly waited for the person downstairs to come find him.

The next second, he suddenly felt a great force coming at him from the front.

Ying Huai instinctively jabbed the needle in his hand into Chu Hongsheng's neck, blood instantly spreading, but Chu Hongsheng, as if he felt nothing, dragged him down toward the stairs.

"Die, Ying Huai, die for me—"

Ying Huai frowned.

He instantly released the syringe and reached for the handrail beside him, but the next second, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed at his heart.

Ying Huai's vision went black from the pain, and he instantly lost his strength.

The sensation of falling, accompanied by Chu Hongsheng's wild laughter, came at him simultaneously. Ying Huai's heart panicked for a moment, but the next second, he felt a hand grab him from behind.

Chu Hongsheng's laughter instantly turned into a desperate howl, and the force in front of Ying Huai instantly loosened.

A violent crashing sound came, followed by a final heavy thud, and then silence.

Before Ying Huai could react, he then fell into a warm embrace.

Liang Shining's voice, tinged with nervousness, sounded in his ear: "Ying Huai—"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt the person in his arms directly reach up and wrap around his neck, and then slightly cool lips pressed against him almost urgently.

Liang Shining's eyes suddenly widened.

He instinctively tilted his head back, but felt the person in front of him let out a dissatisfied low hum and lean forward a few more inches.

Liang Shining had no choice but to freeze in place.

After a few seconds, he felt the person in his arms gradually relax, his head drooping slightly to rest on his shoulder.

Liang Shining instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ying Huai, you......."

Before he could finish speaking, he felt something was wrong.

Ying Huai's entire body was slowly going limp, sinking down.

Liang Shining instinctively reached out to support the person in front of him, but instantly felt something sticky.

He raised his trembling hand, and a patch of blinding bright red met his eyes directly.

"Ying Huai—"

And the person in his arms had ashen lips, already unconscious.

Liang Shining reached out in panic, and felt a hand full of fresh blood at the back of Ying Huai's head.