Chapter 87: Injured

Ying Huai couldn't see clearly, but hearing the familiar whistle of the Cane through the air and the anger in Ying-fu's voice, he instantly realized what Ying-fu was about to do.

He had no time to think. He directly stepped in front of Liang Shining.

A flash of panic crossed both Ying-fu and Liang Shining's faces at the same time.

Liang Shining reached out and hurriedly pulled the person behind him; Ying-fu swiftly angled the Cane to the side.

But he had held nothing back when he swung down. Although Liang Shining's reaction had been fast, the Cane inevitably grazed Ying Huai's shoulder.

Ying Huai let out a muffled groan, his body trembling for an instant.

Liang Shining's face changed at once: "Ying Huai!"

"......I'm fine."

Ying Huai pressed his shoulder, his voice slightly trembling, but he only shook his head a little: "It just grazed me, I'm fine."

Ying-fu beside them also looked instantly panicked.

"What are you doing, are you crazy, Ying Huai?" Ying-fu's expression was panicked, but he couldn't help a trace of anger in his tone.

"Don't you see where the Cane is? Don't you know to dodge? If I hadn't turned at the last second, it would have hit you right on the head........"

"So Father shouldn't have been hitting people in the first place." Ying Huai took a deep breath and spoke softly.

"If Father hadn't done that, none of this would have happened, would it?"

"You're being unreasonable—"

Ying-fu was both anxious and angry, and his tone cooled despite himself: "Get out of my way, go deal with it first, don't get involved in this........"

"This matter was never something Father should have been handling in the first place."

The numbness in his arm gradually turned into waves of dull pain. Ying Huai swayed, his face paling another shade.

Ying-fu's face also darkened. "What do you mean?"

"I already said before, my affairs don't need Father to manage."

Ying Huai pressed his arm, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "Just because I tacitly allowed Father to come to my home before doesn't mean I agreed to Father interfering in my affairs."

A flash of anger crossed Ying-fu's face: "You're being utterly unreasonable, you—"

Before he could finish, he saw Ying Huai suddenly stumble beneath him.

Ying-fu froze. Only then did he notice that Ying Huai's lips had gone pale at some point, and his forehead was covered in fine, dense cold sweat.

The worry finally replaced the anger in his heart. He instinctively took a step forward: "How is your arm actually?"

Ying Huai paused a moment before slightly turning aside and stepping back.

"I'm fine........"

Ying-fu stared at his slow reaction, stunned, his gaze belatedly falling on Ying Huai's somewhat empty peach-blossom eyes.

He seemed to have realized something and froze on the spot.

The sudden silence before him brought a flicker of uncertainty to Ying Huai's expression.

He instinctively tilted his head slightly, but the movement pulled at his arm injury, and his lips went another shade paler in an instant.

Watching Ying Huai's movement, Ying-fu felt as if struck by lightning.

He suddenly realized why Ying Huai had stumbled directly in front of Liang Shining instead of pulling him aside when he rushed over.

—Because Ying Huai couldn't see his surroundings at all.

Ying-fu recalled what he had just said, and his face went pale bit by bit.

Ying Huai couldn't see the reactions of those around him.

He didn't know what Ying-fu was about to do. Uneasy, he instinctively spoke in a small voice: "Liang Shining..."

A low voice sounded beside him at once, and Ying Huai silently exhaled in relief.

The next second, he suddenly felt his body go weightless.

"Hey, you—"

Liang Shining could hold back no longer. He swept the person up in his arms and quickly walked toward the sofa nearby.

Ying Huai instinctively wrapped his arms around Liang Shining's neck.

Ying-fu beside them still showed no reaction, surprisingly. Though puzzled, Ying Huai relaxed slightly and curled up in Liang Shining's arms.

·

Ying-fu stood stunned in place, his expression anxious and at a loss.

He watched Liang Shining carry the person away and instinctively wanted to step forward, but the moment he took a step, the crisp sound of a Cane striking the ground immediately came from beside him.

His body instantly stiffened. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to take a single step.

When Ying Qi arrived, the first thing he saw was Ying-fu's rigid figure.

"Father!"

Ying Qi walked quickly to Ying-fu: "Father, please calm down first. Xiao Ning definitely wouldn't bully Xiao Huai. Wait for them to explain to you........"

He had been handling things at the company when he heard from his secretary that Ying-fu had left in a hurry. He immediately sensed something was wrong, made some inquiries, and rushed over.

Before Ying Qi could finish speaking, his gaze turned aside and he finally saw the two people in the next living room.

His face changed instantly. He turned to look at Ying-fu in disbelief.

"Father?"

Ying-fu's fingers gripping the Cane tightened slightly: "I........"

"You knew his health wasn't good. Why did you still........"

A rare trace of anger surfaced in Ying Qi's usually gentle voice.

A muffled groan suddenly came from the living room. Ying Qi could say no more. He sighed heavily and turned to walk over first.

Ying-fu stood dazed in place.

His hand gripping the Cane trembled uncontrollably, bit by bit.

·

When Ying Qi walked over, Liang Shining had just carefully removed the upper half of Ying Huai's clothing.

Liang Shining's brows were tightly furrowed. Ying Huai let out a soft hiss, but then curved his eyes a moment later: "Really, it's fine. I can't feel much now, just a bit of soreness........"

He couldn't see the state of his own arm, but Liang Shining, standing beside him, saw it perfectly clearly.

Ying Huai was naturally fair-skinned. Although the blow had only grazed his shoulder, it had inevitably left a patch of dark purple, faintly swollen.

Since getting together with Liang Shining, Ying Huai generally didn't hide from him when he felt unwell anywhere.

He would even occasionally tell Liang Shining about minor injuries or illnesses on purpose, trying to avoid taking medicine or staying in bed.

But once he was truly uncomfortable, Ying Huai would still choose to downplay it.

Liang Shining knew his temperament well.

Although Ying Huai was still angry with Liang Shining at this moment, he also knew the priorities between Ying-fu's matters and his own, and was even more instinctively unwilling to worry Liang Shining.

Hearing Liang Shining's silence, he felt a little uneasy and couldn't help continuing: "I'm really fine. If you don't believe me, look—my arm moves perfectly fine......"

He spoke while trying to lift his arm, but a sudden wave of dull pain shot through his shoulder blade.

Ying Huai's arm instantly lost strength. He groaned and went limp, falling downward.

The next second, a hand gently caught it.

Ying Huai's face was pale, but he still forced a smile: "I just strained it suddenly, it doesn't hurt, I......"

"Don't move, Xiao Huai."

Ying Qi's voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

His voice carried a rare sternness. Ying Huai froze, and the excuse on the tip of his tongue was instantly swallowed back.

Yu Wu and Song Si Lan had already gone back. Liang Shining's face was dark as water; he raised his hand to call Song Si Lan.

Ying Huai couldn't see what he was doing. Only when he heard Song Si Lan's familiar voice did he realize what Liang Shining was doing.

He turned his head sharply: "Wait, you don't need to contact Doctor Song—"

He instinctively raised his hand toward Liang Shining, but was suddenly pressed down by someone.

"I said, don't move anymore, Xiao Huai."

Ying Qi's voice was as gentle as ever, but Ying Huai's movement instantly stopped.

After a few seconds of silence, he still couldn't help speaking softly: "Gege........"

—He really didn't want to listen to Song Si Lan nagging him for an entire afternoon again.

Ying Qi looked up at him, and finally let out a slight sigh.

He turned to look at Liang Shining beside him: 'It's nothing, I looked and it's really just a scrape. I've handled it before, so no need to trouble Doctor Song to come over.'

Ying Huai silently let out a breath of relief. Liang Shining beside him was quiet for a few seconds, then finally responded softly, 'Okay.'

.

Ying Qi took medicinal wine from the first-aid kit and rubbed it between his palms to warm it, preparing to work the bruise open.

Ying Huai's body trembled from the pain.

Ying Qi looked at Ying Huai's pale face with heartache, but the pressure of his hands couldn't lessen even a fraction.

He had just been about to say something when, the next second, he suddenly heard a slightly deep voice from beside him: '.......Does it hurt a lot?'

Ying-fu had at some unknown point slowly walked over to the sofa.

Ying Huai instinctively sat up straighter, but kept his eyes lowered without speaking.

Ying Qi silently sighed and spoke gently: 'Don't bite your lower lip, Xiao Huai.'

Ying Huai was startled for a moment, the pressure on his lips loosened somewhat, but after a few seconds, he unconsciously started pressing again.

Ying Qi, helpless, freed one hand and gently pressed down his lower lip.

'Be good, stop biting.'

Ying Qi paused, then smiled and spoke again: 'If it's too uncomfortable, how about talking with us?'

As he spoke, Ying Qi glanced up at Ying-fu.

Ying-fu was stunned for a moment, then awkwardly hurried to speak: 'Right....... diverting your attention would be better if you're uncomfortable.'

Ying Huai kept his eyes lowered without saying anything, but he didn't refute Ying-fu's words either.

Ying-fu let out a slight breath of relief, racked his brain, and finally stiffly made a joke: 'Of course, don't... pinch your own thigh to distract yourself, haha.'

Ying Huai: .......

He finally raised his head somewhat helplessly: 'What exactly does Father want to say?'

Ying-fu silently opened his mouth.

His mind was a bit chaotic, his gaze circled around before finally landing on Ying Huai's eyes.

Ying-fu had just been about to speak when he saw Ying Qi raise his head and shake his head almost imperceptibly at him.

Ying-fu's words instantly stopped.

He hesitated, then awkwardly switched to a different question: 'What did you eat....... for lunch, Ying Huai?'

A flash of surprise also crossed Ying Huai's expression.

He seemed not to have expected Ying-fu to ask this, hesitated, and slightly shook his head: 'I didn't eat anything for lunch.'

The moment his words fell, he felt the pressure on his arm instantly increase.

Ying-fu beside him also immediately furrowed his brow.

A trace of displeasure appeared on his face, and he instinctively was about to speak, but the next second, he saw Ying Qi calmly raise his head and glance at him.

Ying-fu instantly realized something, paused, and in the end still didn't speak.

Ying Huai was a bit uneasy. He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but was held in place by Ying Qi with neither too light nor too heavy a grip.

'Why didn't you eat anything at noon?' Ying Qi asked gently.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered: 'At noon....... I overslept, so I didn't eat.'

The moment his words fell, he felt Ying Qi's palm press and knead in another circle.

Ying Huai couldn't help but hiss, and hurriedly corrected himself: 'My stomach was a bit uncomfortable at noon, so I didn't get up....... but Song Si Lan also knows.'

He had been drowsy at noon, so Song Si Lan simply didn't let Liang Shining wake him, gave him an IV drip of glucose and nutrients, and let him continue sleeping.

Ying Qi looked up at him without speaking. After a few seconds of silence, Ying Huai spoke softly: 'It hurts a little....... gege.'

'If it doesn't hurt, the bruise won't open up.'

Though Ying Qi said this, the pressure of his hands still lightened somewhat.

Ying Huai silently let out a breath of relief, but heard a stiff voice from beside him again.

'Then what do you want to eat tonight....... Xiao Huai?'

Ying-fu paused, then continued: 'Tonight....... I'll cook.'

Ying Huai's first reaction was bewilderment.

He hesitantly raised his head: 'Aren't you leaving in a bit, Father?'

'I remember there are always a lot of things at the company in the evening.'

Ying-fu's expression froze.

As a child, Ying Huai had always hoped Ying-fu could be home to have meals with him.

But Ying-fu spent most of his day at the company. Once, when he finally managed to come home in the evening, he happened to run into Ying Huai eating.

Ying Huai had excitedly just stood up at the dining table, but the next second received a scolding from Ying-fu.

[Don't talk while eating, don't speak while lying down. Where are the manners I taught you before? What kind of behavior is this, being so impatient?]

The stunned expression on Ying Huai's face back then suddenly appeared before his eyes. Ying-fu silently opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

Ying Huai seemed to have misunderstood something, and let out a slight sigh.

'Liang Shining really didn't do anything to me. My being sick this time is just an....... accident.' Ying Huai spoke slowly.

'If Father only wanted to know this, now you already do.'

'I know....... I overreacted just now.' Ying-fu spoke in a low voice.

Just now, when he watched Liang Shining anxiously carry Ying Huai into the living room, and saw Ying Huai's instinctive reaction, he realized he had been too impulsive.

Ying Huai was startled for a moment.

Ying-fu took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice: 'I just want to....... want to cook a meal for you. What do you want to eat, Xiao Huai?'

Ying Huai's expression was bewildered yet calm.

He seemed to be thinking about Ying-fu's intention in doing this. After a while, he spoke in a low voice: 'I wasn't angry just now, Father.'

'If you're worried about this.......'

'No.' Ying-fu interrupted him in a hoarse voice.

'I just want to.......'

Ying-fu seemed to want to say more, but seeing how Ying Huai was clearly tired yet forcing himself to stay alert and talk to him, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

'Rest first, Xiao Huai. About what happened just now....... I'm sorry.'

Ying-fu took a deep breath and slowly turned around, leaning on his Cane.

.

The living room fell quiet for a moment. Ying Qi had basically worked the bruise open and was now using his palm to slowly spread the medicine.

He looked up at Ying Huai and let out a soft sigh.

'Do you need to talk to me about it, Xiao Huai?'

'Hmm?'

Whether because he was tired or something else, Ying Huai only raised his head blankly after a few seconds.

Ying Qi, somewhat amused, reached out and touched his hair: 'The matter between you and Xiao Ning, do you need my help?'

Ying Qi glanced at Liang Shining and spoke jokingly: 'You don't need me to take Xiao Ning out for you again, do you?'

The tips of Ying Huai's ears reddened, and he let out a humored laugh: 'Yes please, gege, hurry up and take him away for me.......'

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly heard Liang Shining blurt out from beside him: 'It was my fault.'

Ying Qi was startled for a moment, and Ying Huai also turned his head somewhat surprised.

He narrowed his eyes and turned his head with a half-smile: 'Didn't Mr. Liang insist on his own ideas before? Why now....... suddenly change his tune?'

Liang Shining's expression showed some panic, and he silently opened his mouth.

Ying Huai couldn't see the nervousness in Liang Shining's expression, but Ying Qi saw it clearly.

He let out a slight sigh and suddenly spoke: 'Xiao Ning, this area on Xiao Huai still needs a warm compress with the palm. Come help me.'

Liang Shining was stunned. Ying Huai turned his head in disbelief, just about to say something when he heard Liang Shining quickly respond: 'Okay.'

Ying Huai: ?

The next second, a warm hand carefully came up to support him.

Ying Qi let out a breath of relief and quickly stood up.

"I'll go find some anti-inflammatory medicine. Sorry to trouble you with looking after Xiao Huai for now."

"Dage—"

Ying Huai started to speak anxiously, but Ying Qi only patted his head with a hand covered in medicinal oil and quickly walked away.

Ying Qi had just walked out of the living room when he collided head-on with a figure at the door.

Ying Qi was startled: "Father?"

Ying-fu silently raised his head.

Ying Qi understood something and spoke first in a gentle voice: "Xiao Huai's hand is already fine. He might have some trouble moving it this week, but the swelling should go away soon. Don't worry, Father."

Ying-fu was silent for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod.

"Ying Huai's eyes are because of what Chu Hongsheng did before........"

Ying Qi nodded silently.

Ying-fu took a deep breath and gritted his teeth: ".......Why didn't you tell me?"

Ying Qi hesitated and didn't speak. Ying-fu instantly realized something.

—Because Ying Huai didn't want to.......or felt there was no need to tell him.

Ying Qi looked at Ying-fu's somewhat panicked expression and sighed silently.

"Father just now, probably just wanted to spend more time with Xiao Huai."

Ying-fu's hand gripping the Cane tightened little by little.

After a long moment, he said in a low voice: "If Xiao Huai doesn't want to.......then forget it."

A flash of complexity crossed Ying Qi's expression. He didn't answer immediately.

"I know Father is worried about Xiao Huai. Xiao Huai definitely knows too. He just.......still needs time to get used to it."

Ying Qi paused, then said softly: "I know you also want to make up for.......the things in the past, but you can't be so anxious and tense about everything."

"Father should understand the principle of too much is as bad as too little."

Ying-fu closed his eyes briefly, nodded, and was just about to turn around when he suddenly heard Ying Qi speak gently.

"Xiao Huai likes sweet things, but try to keep his food on the lighter side."

Ying-fu turned his head sharply, only to see Ying Qi calmly turn around.

"I'll go get medicine for Xiao Huai first, then come to the kitchen...to find Father."

·

On the other side, Ying Huai had been trying to break free from Liang Shining's 'restraint.'

Liang Shining had no choice but to carry him directly up to the bedroom.

"What are you doing, Liang Shining?"

Ying Huai propped himself up on the bed, speaking with a half-smile: "If you don't think you did anything wrong, you don't have to pretend in front of my brother........"

"I'm not pretending." Liang Shining interrupted him in a low voice.

"It was my fault. I'm sorry, Shifu."

"I also know that Shifu.......has long been aware of my feelings."

Ying Huai was startled.

He frowned slightly: "What?"

"Shifu has long been aware of how strangely nervous I am around Shifu." Liang Shining said in a low voice.

"But Shifu never exposed me, and even tried to soothe me little by little."

Liang Shining raised his head to look at Ying Huai, his eyes carrying undisguised sadness: "I'm sorry, Shifu."

Ying Huai fell silent at once.

Before, at the Hospital, Ying Huai had noticed the unease in Liang Shining's emotions.

He could feel that this incident had truly frightened Liang Shining.

Liang Shining stayed by his side almost every moment. Even when he went to the nurse's station to get a report, within seconds, Liang Shining would definitely appear in front of him.

Only after seeing him safe and sound would he let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

Ying Huai noticed Liang Shining's panic but didn't know what to do.

He could only stay by Liang Shining's side as much as possible, letting Liang Shining see him at all times.

So even though he felt uncomfortable about Liang Shining wanting him to stay home all the time, he never said anything.

Ying Huai now turned his head slightly, trying to argue: "I didn't. You're overthinking it. I just simply didn't want to stay at home........"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a great force, and then he was pulled tightly into Liang Shining's arms.

"Then why were you so angry that day."

—Because there was not only anger at having his movements restricted, but also the.......hurt of being misunderstood.

Liang Shining said in a trembling voice: "I was too presumptuous. I'm sorry, Ying Huai."

"I won't do this again."

Ying Huai's body trembled slightly.

After a few seconds, he suddenly let out a soft sigh.

"Is just apologizing useful?"

Liang Shining tilted his head somewhat dazedly.

The next second, he suddenly felt a light kiss land on his lips.

"There should be some real action, little disciple."

Liang Shining hesitated for a moment.

He gently pressed Ying Huai's neck, leaned down, and kissed Ying Huai's lips little by little.

Only when he felt Ying Huai's breathing become noticeably rapid did Liang Shining slowly straighten up, holding the limp person steadily in his arms.

"I'm sorry, Shifu."

Ying Huai's entire face turned red.

"Alright, don't be so heavy about it. You're making me almost moved by myself."

He leaned in Liang Shining's arms, mouth slightly open, trying to steady his breathing, and raised his head with a half-smile: "But Mr. Liang wouldn't think.......that apologizing like this is enough, would he?"

Liang Shining was startled.

The next second, he felt Ying Huai's fingers slide casually down his collar.

Liang Shining instantly realized something. His expression changed, and he grabbed Ying Huai's wrist: "No, Shifu."

"What's wrong with it? Don't you want to?"

Ying Huai raised his head with a smile, groped his way to his ear, and gently took his earlobe between his lips: "Or is it that you can't, Liang Shining?"

Liang Shining's whole body suddenly jolted.

He gritted his teeth, suddenly reached out, pushed the person down onto the bed, and braced his arms on either side of his neck.

Ying Huai was startled.

He instinctively wrapped his arms around Liang Shining's neck, then belatedly realized something, and curled his lips somewhat smugly.

The next second, he suddenly felt something heavy and tight on his body.

Ying Huai quickly realized something was wrong: "Liang Shining—"

Liang Shining directly wrapped him in the blanket, lay down beside him on his side, and carefully held him in his arms.

"Your body hasn't recovered yet, Shifu."

Liang Shining said in a muffled voice: "Once you've recovered, I'll definitely apologize properly."

He paused, then added: "Let you sit on top."

Ying Huai: ???

At the same moment, Song Si Lan and Yu Wu, who had just rushed over, heard Ying Huai's gritted-teeth voice.

"You just can't do it, Liang Shining!"

Song Si Lan: ?

Yu Wu beside him raised an eyebrow and kindly raised his hand to knock on the door.