Chapter 83: Resuscitation

When Ying Qi arrived at the Hospital, he saw the Resuscitation Room door suddenly close.

Song Si Lan had already followed the emergency doctors into the operating room. Liang Shining leaned against the wall opposite the Resuscitation Room door, his figure slightly bent, head lowered, standing silently in place.

Ying Qi forced himself to calm down.

He took a deep breath and quickly stepped forward to stand opposite Liang Shining: 'Xiao Ning, Xiao Huai he...'

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Liang Shining slowly raise his head.

Ying Qi's gaze fell to his palm, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Liang Shining's palm was covered in dried blood, most of it already clotted, showing a dark red color.

'Ying Huai was bleeding, Ying-ge.'

Liang Shining looked at Ying Qi, his eyes slightly unfocused: 'He was bleeding so much earlier, I couldn't hold onto him...'

When Ying Huai was put on the ambulance, he had already completely lost consciousness.

He had already lost body temperature due to excessive blood loss, and had been doused with cold water by Chu Hongsheng for a long time. On the ambulance, his pulse was at one point so weak they couldn't find a vein.

When Chu Hongsheng intercepted him, it was unclear what Chu Hongsheng had used to strike the back of his head. The wound wasn't large, but it was somewhat deep.

When he was first splashed awake, his body hadn't yet felt any obvious discomfort under the effect of adrenaline.

But as he continued to parry with Chu Hongsheng afterward, the blood flow from the wound increased further.

It was only at the moment he saw Liang Shining and let his body and mind relax that he directly lost consciousness.

'Moderate concussion. We can't rule out the possibility of intracranial hematoma. We'll need to do further examination once we arrive at the Hospital.'

The medical personnel beside him quickly helped stop Ying Huai's bleeding and restore his body temperature, while speaking in a low voice: 'And his heart...'

Liang Shining suddenly raised his head.

—Ying Huai's heart had also developed certain problems.

Once the body loses blood, it inevitably leads to hypoxia. Hypoxia weakens the oxygen metabolism rate of cardiac muscle cells. Combined with the cold, which easily induces heart attacks, and insufficient cardiac pumping function, it very easily causes cardiogenic shock.

When Chu Hongsheng was coercing him into signing, there was a moment when Ying Huai truly couldn't control himself and lost consciousness.

Fortunately, that doctor still knew the urgency of the situation, shoved a few pills into his mouth, and barely managed to bring him back.

But the temporary effect of adrenaline couldn't ultimately withstand the severely damaged body.

Ying Huai had only just been on the ambulance for a short while before he went into shock.

Liang Shining watched helplessly as Ying Huai's lips turned pale, the hand that had been loosely resting at his side slipping weakly downward during the resuscitation, his ice-white wrist suddenly bending and falling off the bed in an instant.

Liang Shining instinctively reached out to catch Ying Huai's fingers, and shivered slightly at the icy temperature of his fingertips.

But before he could warm those fingers, he heard the medical personnel beside him urgently shout: 'Cardiac arrest. Prepare the defibrillator. Everyone stand back—'

Pushed by the medical personnel, Liang Shining released his grip again.

He could only watch that broken wrist bone bounce up with each defibrillator shock and fall back weakly, like a shattered porcelain doll.

The rapid, regular 'beep, beep' of the monitor beside him made Liang Shining's temples throb. His eyes reddened, and his hands resting on his legs slowly tightened.

The resuscitation continued until the ambulance stopped at the Hospital entrance.

The medical personnel pushed the mobile gurney off the vehicle in a rush, and Liang Shining only managed to catch a glimpse of the still-trembling door of the Resuscitation Room.

He stood quietly in place for a long while, then after a moment uncontrollably took a step back, leaning dejectedly against the wall.

·

At this moment, outside the Resuscitation Room, Ying Qi listened to Liang Shining's incoherent words, and his face also uncontrollably turned paler by degrees.

He silently opened his mouth, unsure of what to say for the moment.

Liang Shining lowered his eyes, and after a moment couldn't help but speak in a low voice: 'It's my fault. If I had answered the phone that day and gone to find Ying Huai earlier, if I had realized sooner that Chu Hongsheng was going to strike hard...'

'Xiao Ning...' Ying Qi couldn't help but interrupt him again.

But before he could say anything, he saw the Resuscitation Room door pushed open in a hurry.

A doctor wearing a mask walked briskly out of the Resuscitation Room carrying a stack of documents.

'Which one is Ying Huai's family?'

The moment his words fell, the Resuscitation Room door was pushed open again, and Song Si Lan walked out with a grave expression.

His gaze quickly fell on the two people at the door. He made a gesture to the doctor beside him and walked toward them first.

Ying Qi hurriedly stepped forward: 'Doctor, I am Ying Huai's family.'

'How is Ying Huai's condition? Has he already passed the danger...'

The doctor shook his head and directly cut off Ying Qi: 'No, the patient is still being resuscitated. We'll need you to sign a critical condition notice first.'

Ying Qi's pupils contracted sharply for a moment.

Liang Shining beside him suddenly raised his head: 'What?'

Before the doctor could say anything, Song Si Lan beside him spoke first in a deep voice.

'The shock from earlier has been brought under control, but his blood pressure and oxygen levels won't come up. There should be some problem with his cardiac blood supply. He just had another cardiac arrest.'

Ying Qi's fingers at his side suddenly clenched.

He instinctively spoke urgently: 'What's wrong with Xiao Huai's heart...'

Song Si Lan looked up at him, his voice still carrying a strange calm: 'We don't know for certain yet. We currently suspect it's an ischemic myocardial infarction caused by the trauma.'

Ying Qi stood frozen in place, silently opening his mouth.

Song Si Lan took a deep breath and picked up the critical condition notice from beside him.

'But we are still doing everything we can to save him, so we need your cooperation.'

Ying Qi lowered his eyes somewhat blankly.

The words Song Si Lan had just spoken seemed to only land at his ears, without truly sinking in.

Watching Song Si Lan's movements, Ying Qi instinctively reached out to take the pen he was handing over, but his vision was a blur, and he couldn't even make out the words on the critical condition notice.

'What did you just say, Doctor Song, I...'

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

The coldness on his wrist made Ying Qi's body tremble uncontrollably, giving him a momentary illusion that Ying Huai had come back.

He raised his head in some panic, only to meet Liang Shining's calm expression.

Liang Shining said nothing, only stared at his Glasses, gripping his wrist and gradually pressing down the trembling of his arm.

Ying Qi's expression froze for a moment.

The cold touch carried a faint, barely-there scent of blood from his wrist, and the panic in Ying Qi's expression gradually faded.

He took a deep breath and quickly signed his name at the bottom of the critical condition notice.

'Please, Doctor Song.'

Ying Qi handed the document over and spoke in a low voice: 'Please save Ying Huai.'

Song Si Lan said nothing more, only gave a slight nod, took the stack, and hurried back inside without looking back.

Outside the Resuscitation Room, silence returned once more.

Ying Qi let out a long breath, his body swaying uncontrollably for a moment.

Immediately after, he was steadily steadied by Liang Shining.

'I'm fine, Xiao Ning.'

Ying Qi pressed his brow, raised his head, and barely curved his lips at Liang Shining.

'Sorry about earlier, thank you so much.'

'I panicked for a moment...'

Liang Shining shook his head slightly: 'Ying-ge doesn't need to apologize. This kind of reaction... is normal.'

Ying Qi was stunned for a moment.

Although Liang Shining's face was unusually pale, his voice was too calm, so calm as if... he had experienced it before.

Ying Qi was inexplicably reminded of the 'dream' Liang Shining had told him about last time.

Ying Qi hesitated for a moment, and ultimately swallowed back the question that had risen to his lips.

·

Ying Huai was completely unaware of everything around him.

He only felt an unusual exhaustion throughout his body, making him want to fall into endless unconscious sleep.

But it was too cold around him, so cold that he had to gather his consciousness once more, struggling to wake himself from the chaos.

Ying Huai didn't know where he was now. The dull pain in his heart hadn't stopped for a moment, as if a large stone were pressing on his chest, so heavy he couldn't breathe at all.

His body struggled, trying to take a few deep breaths, but the moment he moved, a piercing coldness instantly spread from all around him.

That chill seemed to seep out from the cracks of his bones. Ying Huai tried hard to escape it, but felt himself being wrapped tighter and tighter, even being carried downward in a faint descent.

After struggling for a while, Ying Huai felt the consciousness he had barely gathered beginning to scatter again.

—Never mind.

Ying Huai thought drowsily in a haze.

—So tired. Maybe I should just fall asleep like this.

His eyelids trembled, closing bit by bit in utter exhaustion.

The next second, a beam of light suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Ying Huai couldn't help but frown.

He didn't want to pay attention to that bothersome halo of light, and turned his head trying to avoid it, but that light only grew brighter, impossible to ignore no matter what.

Ying Huai was forced to crack his eyelids open once more.

But the moment he opened his eyes, the white light before him vanished.

Before Ying Huai could close his eyes again, he felt a strangely familiar warmth envelop him entirely.

—As if every time... being held in Liang Shining's arms.

His exhausted consciousness was gradually roused a little, and Ying Huai stared blankly, unable to come back to himself.

He felt the warmth around him gathering, then gently landing on his lips.

At the same moment, Ying Huai vaguely heard Liang Shining's slightly low voice ring in his ear.

'I found you, Ying Huai.'

Ying Huai's whole body suddenly trembled.

'Quick, quick, heartbeat's back!'

'Watch the blood oxygen and blood pressure, control the oxygen flow, IV push—'

Ying Huai vaguely heard a stream of anxious voices coming from beside his ear.

He instinctively tried to lift his hand, but was suddenly hit by another wave of crushing pain in his chest.

Ying Huai's breathing instantly quickened again.

The surrounding sounds blurred again. He didn't know how long passed before his ears finally regained a bit of clear sound.

Someone seemed to walk quickly toward him, bending down almost urgently.

'Don't sleep, Ying Huai.'

Ying Huai heard Song Si Lan's rarely anxious voice reach his ears.

'It'll be fine soon.'

Ying Huai had almost never seen Song Si Lan this anxious.

Curiosity stirred in his heart, and he couldn't help wanting to open his eyes to look.

But after just this moment, his consciousness blurred again.

He felt he was probably convulsing. A heavy darkness descended again, and his consciousness uncontrollably slipped bit by bit into the abyss.

At the last moment, he heard Song Si Lan speak almost urgently.

'Liang Shining and the others are still waiting for you outside. Hold on a little longer, Ying Huai.'

Ying Huai's eyelids trembled slightly.

He tried to curve his lips, but the next second, his heart thumped violently, and Ying Huai's breath hitched.

In an instant, he uncontrollably lost consciousness.

·

He didn't know how long he drifted in and out. By the time Ying Huai regained his senses again, the surroundings had finally quieted down.

In his ears were the familiar, regular 'beep, beep' of the monitor, and the faint airflow of the oxygen mask.

Ying Huai's eyes trembled, and he forced himself to open them.

Everything around him was a blur of light. Before Ying Huai could make anything out, the next second, he heard a familiar, tense voice come from beside him.

'You're awake, Ying Huai...'

Ying Huai slowly blinked.

A straw was gently pressed to his lips. Ying Huai moved, turning his head with some effort.

A wave of dizziness struck instantly with his movement, and Ying Huai instinctively furrowed his brow.

Liang Shining seemed to realize something. He withdrew his hand from the call button and reached over to press and rub at Ying Huai's temple, neither too lightly nor too heavily.

'It's okay, you have a mild concussion. The doctor said you'd feel a bit dizzy when you wake up, so I didn't help you sit up just now.'

Liang Shining watched Ying Huai's expression and said quietly, 'Does it feel very uncomfortable?'

Ying Huai's expression was somewhat dazed.

His temples throbbed as if about to burst, and a dull pain deep in his head came in waves with each pulse of his blood vessels.

Several seconds passed, and Ying Huai still hadn't quite heard what Liang Shining was saying.

He didn't dare keep thinking either, and slowly, on his own, murmured, '...I was so cold just now.'

Liang Shining froze for a moment, his tone instantly turning anxious, 'Are you cold now, Shifu? Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable...'

But Ying Huai seemed not to have heard him speak, and continued murmuring unconsciously.

'I can't move. Someone's holding me and won't let me sleep. I can't get away. It feels so bad...'

Liang Shining's fingers pressing at his temple paused.

He instantly realized Ying Huai was describing what he'd felt while unconscious.

He was quiet for a moment, then said softly, 'It's over now, Shifu. It's okay now. Don't be afraid...'

Before he could finish, Ying Huai's soft voice interrupted him again.

'But you came to find me later.'

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment.

He instinctively lowered his head, looking at the person before him.

Ying Huai's face was pale, his pupils still somewhat unfocused, his eyelids half-lowered, fixed on some unknown point in the void.

But he stubbornly continued, 'You came to find me, Liang Shining. You brought me out...'

Liang Shining silently opened his mouth.

Before he could say anything, Ying Huai's voice grew weaker and weaker.

Then Liang Shining felt his palm suddenly grow heavy.

—Ying Huai had suddenly lost consciousness again.

Liang Shining's face went white instantly. He stood up abruptly, 'Doctor—'

Before he could finish, he saw Song Si Lan walking quickly over with a dark expression, followed by Yu Wu, who looked bleary-eyed.

Song Si Lan took out a penlight and checked the pupillary reflex, then glanced at the monitor beside him. A strange expression crossed his face.

Liang Shining spoke quickly, 'He was awake for a bit just now. His spirit didn't seem great, but he kept talking to me. Then after a few minutes he suddenly passed out without warning. Is it some kind of concussion aftereffect...'

'No,' Song Si Lan said quietly. 'Ying Huai is fine...'

Liang Shining's expression was still anxious, 'But why did he suddenly lose consciousness...'

'Because he fell asleep.' Song Si Lan gritted his teeth, cutting him off.

Liang Shining's expression went blank for a moment.

He silently opened his mouth, 'Just... fell asleep?'

Song Si Lan glared at him irritably, 'His mind and body are both too weak right now. He can't sustain being awake for long. His body can't hold on, so it forces him into a deep sleep to protect itself.'

But being able to wake up for a bit is a good sign — it means Ying Huai's body is gradually recovering.

Song Si Lan breathed a sigh of relief, and a bit of his usual sharp tongue returned.

'Next time you call for someone, don't do it like you're summoning a soul. If that shout of yours had sent me over too, you'd just have to wait for Yu Wu to come save you.'

Beside him, Yu Wu, who was drowsy and half-awake but couldn't bear to let Song Si Lan come alone, blankly raised his head, 'Huh?'

Song Si Lan glanced at him and unceremoniously pushed away the hand that had stealthily settled on his waist.

Liang Shining was silent for a few seconds, then said quietly, 'Thank you.'

'You don't need to thank me. You should thank Ying Huai himself. If he hadn't held on on his own, no one could have saved him.'

Song Si Lan pressed his brow, forcing himself to wake up a bit more.

He'd been working non-stop for several days. If Yu Wu hadn't woken him just now, his exhausted body probably couldn't have gotten up at all.

Song Si Lan was so sleepy he didn't notice Yu Wu's hand silently settling on his waist again.

He checked Ying Huai's condition once more, then turned to Liang Shining, 'Was there anything abnormal about his body when he woke up just now? Did he say anywhere felt uncomfortable?'

Liang Shining shook his head, 'No. He just said he felt very cold and tired before, and before he could say anything else, he fell asleep.'

Song Si Lan was silent for a moment, 'During the resuscitation earlier, he went into shock several times. Some decline in bodily function is normal.'

He put down what he was holding and covered his mouth to yawn, 'Since he didn't say anything, just let him keep sleeping. This time he'll probably have to wait until the next morning before there's any chance of waking up. We'll do a thorough check after he wakes up.'

Liang Shining nodded and thanked him again. Song Si Lan casually waved his hand, turned, and had just walked out the door, planning to lie down in the doctor's office for a bit, when suddenly his waist tightened.

Song Si Lan reacted slowly and had to take a step back before he could barely steady himself.

Only then did he notice Yu Wu's arm around his waist, 'What are you doing, Yu Wu? Let go of me.'

Song Si Lan frowned.

Yu Wu looked innocent, 'What are you doing? Why are you going to the office?'

'Sleep.'

Song Si Lan said impatiently, 'If you're not sleeping, go play by yourself. Don't come bother me.'

He spoke while batting away Yu Wu's hand, trying to walk toward the office, but the next second was suddenly pulled back.

'If you're sleeping, why don't you go lie down on the bed in the rest room? Why the office?' Yu Wu asked with a serious expression.

Song Si Lan frowned.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Yu Wu seemed to know what he was going to say and spoke first with a grin.

'Don't worry, I'll watch over Teacher Xiao Huai for you. Rest easy.'

Song Si Lan's words caught in his throat.

He didn't speak, and looked up somewhat suspiciously, only to see Yu Wu instantly put on a wronged expression.

'Come on, we were classmates back then. Even though we ended up choosing different specialties in the end, my basic level is still there, okay? It should be on par with yours.'

Song Si Lan looked at him expressionlessly: 'On par? I remember I was first place every time back in school.'

Yu Wu choked on his words.

He said quietly: 'Give or take... can't you just trust me a little, Si Lan?'

The moment his words fell, he instantly knew he'd said the wrong thing.

Sure enough, Song Si Lan's expression instantly cooled.

Yu Wu's eyes flickered.

Before Song Si Lan could speak, he softened his tone first: 'I was wrong, I shouldn't have said that just now. Go get some rest, Si Lan. If anything happens I'll definitely call you, okay?'

Yu Wu said quietly: 'You still trust my professional ethics, right?'

Song Si Lan was silent for a few seconds.

He said nothing, dropped a line of 'Call me the first moment anything happens,' turned and quickly walked into the rest room.

Yu Wu silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He glanced at the hospital room door beside him, thoughtfully stroking his chin.

'How exactly does Teacher Liang coax people along?'

Yu Wu muttered quietly to himself: 'I have to ask him about it someday.'

·

Liang Shining wasn't entirely clear on this matter either.

But at this moment, he didn't care about it.

Ying Huai's body was still too weak after all. It wasn't until the next afternoon that he finally fully woke up.

Song Si Lan came over and carefully examined him once, then asked about some of Ying Huai's feelings. His taut expression finally relaxed a bit.

'That's enough, it's good that you're awake. Take it slow to recover from now on.'

Song Si Lan breathed a sigh of relief and said quietly: 'I was worried at first that the blow to the back of your head might cause some after-effects, but from what I can see now, aside from the dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea from the concussion, everything else is okay.'

The moment his words fell, he saw a flash of hesitation cross the face of the person in front of him.

Song Si Lan instantly caught that trace of something off.

'What's wrong, Ying Huai?'

Song Si Lan instantly stepped forward: 'Where do you feel uncomfortable?'

Ying Huai's eyes flickered. After a long moment, the corners of his mouth curved slightly: 'It's nothing, probably just from the concussion. I'll rest more these few days...'

'Tell me the truth, Ying Huai.'

Song Si Lan said in a low voice, directly cutting him off: 'Do you have any idea how dangerous this time was for you?'

The moderate concussion caused intracranial blood pooling, which in turn led to subcutaneous hematoma. The excessive blood loss simultaneously caused the body to become hypoxic and led to ischemic myocardial infarction.

Over a dozen doctors held a joint consultation for emergency treatment, even performing a minor heart surgery, before finally stabilizing his condition.

Ying Huai was well aware of all this in his heart.

After a long moment, he finally let out a soft sigh.

'It's nothing much either.'

Ying Huai raised his head, somewhat hesitantly turning his gaze toward Song Si Lan's direction.

'My eyes... I can't really see clearly.'

The arm Liang Shining had around him instantly trembled, and Song Si Lan's brow immediately furrowed.

·

'It's not that I can't see at all. It's a bit like severe myopia. The surroundings aren't that dark—it's clusters of white halos. I can sense blurry light sources, but I can't see them clearly.'

Ying Huai, held by Liang Shining against the headboard, quietly 'confessed.'

'At first I thought it was from the dizziness, so I didn't pay much attention, but later... I still can't see clearly.'

Song Si Lan put down the penlight, his brow still tightly furrowed: 'Light sensitivity is still okay.'

'It's probably that the intracranial blood pooling hasn't been fully absorbed yet, and the subcutaneous hematoma is pressing on the optic nerve.'

Song Si Lan said as he hurried outside: 'I'll arrange a few more examinations for you. I'll come find you in a bit...'

The room fell quiet for a moment. Yu Wu, standing at the door, raised an eyebrow, hesitated, and ultimately followed out first.

Ying Huai still sat in Liang Shining's arms, his fingers unconsciously tugging at Liang Shining's sleeve.

After waking up, he seemed especially dependent on Liang Shining. Liang Shining had originally thought Ying Huai just had no strength from having just woken, but now thinking about it... it was probably because he felt no sense of security after not being able to see clearly.

Liang Shining couldn't help reaching out to gently pinch Ying Huai's fingertips. Watching the person in his arms unconsciously turn his head to the side, he said quietly: 'Want to sleep a bit more, shifu?'

Ying Huai instinctively wanted to shake his head, but the moment he moved, a wave of dizziness hit.

He drew in a light breath and was forced to stop moving.

'No need, I've slept so long already. I'm not sleepy now.'

He leaned closer into Liang Shining's arms, fumbling to hook his hand.

The familiar warmth around him enveloped him, and Ying Huai let out a silent breath.

His body finally relaxed a bit, and after a long moment he spoke lazily.

'Don't you have anything you want to say to me, Liang Shining?'

Like a conditioned reflex, Liang Shining immediately said: 'I was wrong, shifu.'

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, and for an instant felt like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

'I didn't ask you to apologize.'

Liang Shining hesitated, then said quietly: 'What does shifu want to ask?'

Ying Huai was quiet for a few seconds, then said softly: 'About you coming to find me at the Sanatorium in the past life—why didn't you tell me before?'

The moment his words fell, he felt Liang Shining's body stiffen for an instant.

Immediately after, Liang Shining said with some realization: 'You've remembered everything...'

Ying Huai softly hummed 'mm.'

Liang Shining hesitated: 'When I first reborn, I didn't know shifu didn't remember those things.'

'Later I realized and wanted to tell shifu, but I didn't know how to bring it up. Then later when shifu found out about the rebirth... saying it again would seem a bit like deliberately using it to win forgiveness.'

Liang Shining said quietly.

Ying Huai lifted his eyelids to glance at him: 'What about an explanation? Online or in person, it seems you've never come to me to explain either.'

—Just kept apologizing nonstop.

Liang Shining said quietly: 'Explaining online felt a bit like avoidance. And when I saw shifu in person... I didn't know what to say.'

He paused, his voice growing smaller: 'And at that time, I hadn't caught Chu Hongsheng yet.'

Ying Huai lifted his head somewhat puzzled, listening as Liang Shining continued.

'Those few days I was constantly in contact with Ying Qi's side, gathering all kinds of criminal evidence on Chu Hongsheng.'

'Shifu being a bit farther from me was actually safer.'

Ying Huai furrowed his brow.

He realized something and murmured: 'So at the beginning when I reborn, your attitude toward me was so strange...'

Liang Shining nodded.

Liang Shining's voice was a bit hoarse: 'Yes, my being cold toward shifu at first was also for this reason.'

'I needed to investigate the truth of what happened to shifu in the past life. If shifu was too close to me, you might be implicated by me.'

He had originally only wanted to protect Ying Huai in secret, but first, he couldn't control his worry for Ying Huai, and second... he gradually realized Ying Huai was also investigating this matter himself.

—So later he simply stopped pretending.

Liang Shining took a deep breath.

'Later when shifu found out about the rebirth, I thought I'd just wait until everything was over before going to find shifu, but I was also afraid shifu would really... never speak to me again.'

—That was why he couldn't help but keep appearing around Ying Huai, afraid Ying Huai would really not want him anymore.

Liang Shining's voice began to tremble unconsciously.

'Once Chu Hongsheng is caught, you'll be completely safe then, Ying Huai.'

'I'll tell you everything I want to say then. Even if you don't want me, even if I'm not by your side, it's okay...'

—Only neither of them had expected that Chu Hongsheng would, regardless of everything, directly make a move against Ying Huai.

Before Liang Shining finished speaking, the next second, he felt a hand suddenly touch his cheek.

Liang Shining hesitantly lowered his head, and immediately heard Ying Huai say lazily: 'Don't move.'

Liang Shining instantly froze in place.

He said hesitantly: 'What are you doing, shifu...'

Before he could finish, he felt Ying Huai's finger pause between his brows for an instant, and immediately after, a dull pain came.

Liang Shining let out a low 'hmph.' Ying Huai withdrew his hand and said unhurriedly: 'Nothing. Just giving you a flick on the forehead to clear your head a bit.'

'Don't just say whatever comes to mind.'

Liang Shining sat there in a daze. Ying Huai sighed and once again fumbled to grasp Liang Shining's hand.

'Before Chu Hongsheng caught me, I went to find Liang Mu.'

Ying Huai raised his head: 'I asked her... about that Hongyu Jewel Pendant.'

Liang Shining lowered his head with some surprise.

Ying Huai seemed to sense his gaze, the corners of his mouth curving slightly: 'Liang Mu told me that this Hongyu Jewel Pendant is one you went to the temple to pray for.'

It must have been something from long ago—before his rebirth point—so Liang Mu in this life also knew about it.

Ying Huai raised his head at the thought: "When was it?"

Liang Shining hesitated.

"During the Crossover Singer program."

He said quietly; "Before the finals... I think."

A flash of surprise crossed Ying Huai's expression.

—He'd expected it to be early, but hadn't expected it to be that early.

He listened as Liang Shining continued in a low voice: "I originally wanted to wait until after the finals to give it to Shifu, but then later..."

—Later, there was never another chance.

Ying Huai paused.

Then he laughed softly: "It's fine. Didn't it still get given away in the end? It even saved my life."

He lifted his eyes; because he could not see clearly, they lost their focus, and instead took on a touch more tenderness.

He reached out again and touched Liang Shining's cheek. Liang Shining instinctively closed his eyes, but felt Ying Huai stroke for a moment, his fingers gently coming to rest on his earlobe.

He heard Ying Huai speak softly: "This earring of yours—it's the Hongyu Jewel Pendant that broke in my past life, isn't it?"

Liang Shining nodded hesitantly.

"I'm not sure either, but it should be. After Shifu in my past life... *cough*... I put away that broken Hongyu Jewel Pendant."

"By the time I was reborn, that broken Hongyu Jewel Pendant was already on me."

—The same as when Ying Huai was reborn.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

Without saying anything, he suddenly gripped Liang Shining's shoulder and propped himself up slightly.

He was still a bit weak; he only managed to wobble upright, sitting face to face in front of Liang Shining, before he couldn't help but start panting.

Liang Shining hurriedly held his waist, speaking with some nervousness: "What are you doing, Shifu..."

His voice suddenly cut off.

Ying Huai knelt before him, lowered his head, and gently pressed a kiss to his earlobe.

The cool, gentle touch instantly spread through his whole body, and Liang Shining's arm around Ying Huai's waist tightened abruptly.

His voice immediately went hoarse: "Ying Huai—"

Ying Huai straightened up, breathing slightly uneven, and gave a casual "mm."

"Nothing. Just thanking you."

"Maybe... without your Hongyu Jewel Pendant, I might not have had the chance to start over."

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment.

He raised his head in some surprise.

Ying Huai looked down at him quietly.

His hair had grown a bit long, and the red bead at the ends of his hair fell just between them, glowing with a warm, gentle light.

"Liang Mu said you went to the temple to pray for this Hongyu Jewel Pendant for me, wanting me to live a long life."

Ying Huai couldn't hold on any longer; he bent down slightly, pressing his forehead against Liang Shining's.

Liang Mu's words from that day surfaced in his ears again.

[Xiao Ning never believed in ghosts or gods, but this Hongyu Jewel Pendant was one he specifically ran a long way to a temple to pray for, one day.]

[Xiao Huai, I don't know what happened between you and Xiao Ning, but Auntie is asking you—could you have a proper talk with Xiao Ning?]

[Xiao Ning—he really likes you, and treasures you very much.]

He'd figured it out back then.

Liang Shining had hidden things from him for two reasons: one was fear that Ying Huai wouldn't want him, and the other was concern for Ying Huai's safety.

Every single thing was worry for him, with not a shred of the deception he'd assumed.

—He had trapped himself.

Ying Huai sighed softly and said quietly: "So you see, I really... got to live again."

He wasn't sure what the reason was that he and Liang Shining could both be reborn.

But these two Hongyu Jewel Pendants seemed like a bridge from beyond, reconnecting Liang Shining's obsession with Ying Huai's unwillingness to let go.

Liang Shining still seemed hesitant, but Ying Huai was already getting tired.

He yawned, fumbled to turn around, and nestled back into Liang Shining's arms.

"Alright, I was just saying it casually. Don't go overthinking it..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly heard Liang Shining say quietly: "That's not what I'm thinking about, Shifu."

"Mm?"

Ying Huai forced his eyes open: "Then what do you want to say..."

The next second, his entire body instantly froze.

He heard Liang Shining speak softly: "Earlier, at the stairway—why did you suddenly kiss me, Shifu?"

Ying Huai's entire body went rigid.

He opened his mouth soundlessly, then heard Liang Shining continue hesitantly: "And just now, kissing my earlobe..."

"Stop talking!"

Ying Huai blurted out, cutting him off.

He felt his entire face burning up, and in his panic tried to cover Liang Shining's lips, but his wrist was suddenly seized.

"Shifu couldn't possibly... like me, right?"

Ying Huai: ...??

His entire face instantly flushed crimson.

"What did you say, I didn't—mm!"

Before he could finish speaking, he felt his lips gently covered.

The warm touch instantly reached his lips, and Ying Huai's eyes widened slightly.

He instinctively tried to push Liang Shining away, but the person who had just been acting pitiful somehow found the strength, and without asking held him firmly in his arms.

Ying Huai struggled a few times, but his body uncontrollably went soft.

He didn't know how long passed before he finally felt the person in front of him slowly raise his head.

Ying Huai caught his breath, and instantly bit out: "Liang Shining, mm—"

Before he could finish speaking, his lips were sealed again.

"You—mm!"

"You—damn it—don't—!"

The last time, Liang Shining even began to push his luck.

Until Ying Huai's body uncontrollably slid down bit by bit, Liang Shining finally let him go, contentedly holding him in his arms again.

Ying Huai's whole body was burning hot, and a rare flush of color appeared on his pale face.

He leaned against Liang Shining's shoulder, breathing rapidly, opened his mouth to say something, but his mind was so muddled he couldn't get a single word out for a long time.

Liang Shining leisurely helped smooth his chest, and after a while laughed softly: "Does Shifu still want to say something this time?"

Ying Huai glared at him resentfully and turned his head slightly away.

Liang Shining didn't mind, gently wiping the silver thread from the corner of Ying Huai's lips, and said softly: "If you're not speaking, I'll take it as Shifu's tacit agreement."

He was quiet for a few seconds, then leaned down and kissed the corner of Ying Huai's lips again.

"Coincidentally, I also like Shifu."

Yu Wu, who had just been about to enter at the hospital room door, paused mid-step.

He looked at the scene in the room, and a look of sudden understanding appeared on his face.

·

Because of Ying Huai's eyes, Song Si Lan checked him over again from top to bottom.

The final conclusion was that the blood clot in his brain hadn't been absorbed yet; with medication and rest for a period, it should be fine.

Liang Shining's expression was somewhat solemn, but Ying Huai didn't seem to mind as much.

He still ate and slept as usual, but everyone realized his dependence on Liang Shining was noticeably greater than before.

Lu Jing and the others had taken turns visiting Ying Huai several times, but Ying Huai had straightforwardly chosen to avoid seeing them.

His ability to understand everything about Liang Shining didn't mean he could similarly forgive Lu Jing and the others.

There was only one Liang Shining in this world who was his exception.

·

On the day he was about to be discharged, Liang Shining pushed Ying Huai to see Chu Hongsheng.

Chu Hongsheng had accidentally hit his head when he fell down the stairs.

He was already old, and even though treatment had been timely, it was to no avail.

"Song Si Lan said he'd probably have to stay in bed for the rest of his life."

Liang Shining pushed Ying Huai to stand at the ICU door, and said quietly: "It's hard to wake up from a vegetative state."

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He said softly: "Is he unable to wake up... or unwilling to wake up?"

In the past few days, the Chushi Crime Syndicate had undergone earth-shattering changes.

Ying Qi was furious upon learning of Ying Huai's incident. He arranged for people to compile overnight all the evidence of Chu Hongsheng's embezzlement and bribery while at Ying Corporation, and released it all online.

The entire internet was shocked, and the Chushi Crime Syndicate was directly shut down that same day.

Liang Shining and Song Xingzhou convinced Song Fengyi to testify, and combined with the cross-over singer's matters, they pinned Chu Hongsheng down completely.

If he woke up now, what awaited him was legal punishment. Lying here oblivious was, in a way, escaping a disaster.

Liang Shining said nothing, reaching out to gently stroke Ying Huai's hair.

"It's all over."

Ying Huai was quiet for a few seconds, then softly hummed "mm."

"It's all over. Let's go."

He gestured for Liang Shining to push him back, but turned his head and came face to face with Chu Ming.

Liang Shining's steps paused slightly, and Chu Ming also visibly startled.

Ying Huai couldn't see clearly what had happened, but based on Liang Shining's reaction, he quickly guessed what was going on.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He raised his head and sighed softly: "Chu Ming, is it?"

After a few seconds, Chu Ming let out a low "mm."

Ying Huai covered his lips and coughed lightly, then said softly: "About your father's matter..."

"Huai-ge, I don't blame you. It's father... his own problem." Chu Ming cut him off first.

Ying Huai was startled.

Chu Ming seemed to have grown up a lot overnight.

His formerly boisterous demeanor had quieted considerably, and the whole person rarely revealed a sense of steadiness.

He paused, then said quietly: "Can we never go back to how things were, Huai-ge?"

Ying Huai was quiet for a moment, saying nothing.

Chu Ming didn't press for answers like he used to.

He stood with his head lowered in front of Ying Huai. Ying Huai couldn't help but sigh, and after a long moment, only said quietly: "Come find me if you need anything. I've always thought of you as my little brother, Chu Ming."

Chu Ming's body seemed to tremble slightly. After a while, he responded with a low sound.

Ying Huai was already low on energy. Even sitting in the wheelchair, forcing himself to talk for so long had already exhausted him considerably.

He couldn't help turning his head and coughing again. Liang Shining immediately took out a thin blanket and draped it over him, pushing him back.

Ying Huai forced down his urge to cough and barely spoke again: "I'm leaving first, Chu Ming. You must contact me if anything comes up..."

"Huai-ge, you won't even look at me now?"

Chu Ming suddenly cut him off in a trembling voice.

Ying Huai was startled.

Since his eyes couldn't see clearly, he often had trouble locating others. Sometimes when he was too tired, he'd simply keep his eyes lowered and just tilt his head in that direction.

Ying Huai hadn't told Chu Ming about his eyes. He hesitated, but ultimately said nothing about it: "No, don't overthink it, Chu Ming."

But Chu Ming rarely showed a few traces of his former stubbornness.

"It's not me overthinking. I just want an answer, Huai-ge."

"If it weren't for my father's matters... would you have liked me?" He couldn't help asking quietly.

Ying Huai's hand on the armrest slowly tightened.

After a few seconds, he said quietly: "I'm sorry."

"I can't... pretend none of this ever happened."

Chu Hongsheng had killed his brother in a past life.

For him, there could never be... a version without these things.

Chu Ming was startled.

He stood frozen in place, watching Liang Shining push Ying Huai slowly disappear at the end of the corridor.

·

One month later.

Liang Shining pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in.

His steps were somewhat urgent, but after rounding a corner, they immediately slowed.

A person was lying on a recliner in the middle of the courtyard.

Gentle sunlight fell on the sleeping person's eyelashes. Ying Huai hugged the fat Bouquet, his head slightly tilted, sleeping soundly.

A smile unconsciously appeared on Liang Shining's expression.

He stood still for a moment. After a few seconds, a lazy voice came from not far away: "How long are you planning to stand there, little disciple?"

Liang Shining immediately came back to himself.

He walked quickly to Ying Huai, watching as the person in front of him opened his eyes and looked at him with a smile.

His eyes were still somewhat unfocused, his gaze without a focal point, but he precisely located Liang Shining's position and opened his arms toward him with curved eyes.

The fat Bouquet, woken up, let out a 'meow' and tactfully jumped down from Ying Huai's arms. Liang Shining obediently crouched down and picked him up.

"You watched me for so long, I could barely keep up the pretense of sleeping."

Ying Huai found a comfortable position in his arms, wrapped his arms around his neck, and lazily yawned.

"Am I that good-looking?"

"Mm, good-looking." Liang Shining nodded seriously.

Ying Huai was startled, then suddenly laughed.

"Good-looking, and you look every day without getting tired of it?"

He reached out and stroked Liang Shining's cheek, his fingertip pausing briefly at the corner of his eye.

Liang Shining realized something.

He lowered his head, about to speak, but the next second, the person in his arms spoke first with a smile: "Unlike me—even though I can't see clearly, I can feel it. So in my eyes, I'll never get tired of looking at you."

Liang Shining couldn't help letting out a low laugh.

Looking at the lazy person in his arms, he suddenly leaned down and gently placed a kiss on his brow.

"Mm, as long as Shifu doesn't tire of me, I can stay with Shifu forever."

Ying Huai was startled.

The tips of his ears reddened slightly, and he suddenly withdrew his hand: "What are you doing?"

"In broad daylight, under the open sky—is Mr. Liang about to commit some impropriety—"

"Mm, is that not allowed?"

Liang Shining didn't argue, instead going along with his words unhurriedly.

Ying Huai was momentarily speechless.

His eyes flickered, and he turned his head away somewhat unnaturally.

"It's... not that it's not allowed."

His eyes darted, then he suddenly raised his head cunningly: "As long as you let me be on top once."

Liang Shining was startled.

Then, he suddenly burst out laughing.

A low laugh immediately came from above Ying Huai's head, sending tremors through his chest.

Ying Huai leaned against Liang Shining's chest, his expression momentarily dazed.

"Why are you laughing at me—"

Ying Huai gritted his teeth: "I'm serious..."

After a few seconds, Liang Shining finally gradually stopped laughing.

He carried Ying Huai into the room and gently set him down on the sofa.

"Mm, I know Shifu is serious."

"I wasn't laughing at Shifu. I was just feeling grateful." Liang Shining said softly.

Still carrying warmth that hadn't yet faded, he slowly crouched down and placed a gentle kiss at the corner of Ying Huai's lips.

"To be able to have this chance again with Shifu."

He passed through the spring-filled garden, waded through the courtyard full of sunlight, and gently embraced the person before him with endless warmth.

Ying Huai was stunned.

He leaned in Liang Shining's arms, and after a long moment, slowly raised his hand.

"Me too."

Liang Shining had never dared to hope for a next life.

But because of Ying Huai, he was willing to pray for it countless times.

-End of main story-