Chapter 93: Sick

Ying Huai paused.

He hadn't expected his own dage to ask him this question—a flash of surprise crossed his face.

Then he heard Ying Qi laugh and say: "Don't be nervous. I was just watching the bullet comments and asked on behalf of your and Xiao Ning's fans."

The bullet comments in the live stream scrolled too fast; Ying Huai couldn't make out most of them.

He didn't notice the barely perceptible tension in Ying Qi's expression. He thought for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.

"What impression could there be."

Ying Huai yawned and tilted his head to glance at the person beside him.

"Cold and aloof, wouldn't talk to anyone—looked like nothing interesting at all."

Ying Qi froze. Liang Shi Ning lowered his eyes slightly but showed no particular reaction.

The next second, as expected, he heard Ying Huai laugh and sigh.

"But what can I do about it....... I just like teasing him."

The people around them froze, their expressions suddenly varied.

Ying Qi burst out laughing. Lu Jing and Su Xin had complicated expressions. Xin Wan looked indignant but ultimately said nothing.

The bullet comments in the live stream also exploded instantly.

[Help, are CP fans eating this well now?]

[Help, CP fans here. Ever since the Concert that day, we've been eating well every day... but right now I still want to say, I'm dying from this ship.]

[I'm dying from this ship.]

[I'm dying from this ship.]

[Swear Brother: You all can die from shipping for all I care (cold expression.jpg)]

[Oh ho, Swear Brother's defenses are broken hahaha, finally admitting his family's cabbage has been uprooted?]

[Swear Brother, as Xiao Huai's teacher solo stan, is only now breaking down?]

[As everyone knows, solo stans only break down for the real sister-in-law, so... (doge)]

[Swear Brother: ! ! ? Nonsense, I haven't broken down!]

Outside the live stream, Ying Qi cleared his throat softly and couldn't help turning to look at Liang Shi Ning: "Then....... does Xiao Ning know about this?"

Liang Shi Ning hesitated without speaking. Hearing this, Ying Huai also turned his head with a smile.

"Right, do you know, little disciple?"

Ying Huai tilted his head up and, whether intentional or not, leaned close to Liang Shi Ning's ear.

"Do you know... I've liked you this much from the very start."

Liang Shi Ning's fingers, which were supporting the person, tightened imperceptibly.

".......I know."

Ying Huai's eyes curved up uncontrollably.

He had just been about to turn his head when he suddenly heard Liang Shi Ning say softly, almost inaudibly.

"So am I."

Ying Huai didn't catch it for a moment.

He froze, then instinctively turned his head: "What?"

But Liang Shi Ning shook his head.

He lowered his eyes, looked at the person in front of him, and said softly: "That's....... the next question, shifu."

Ying Huai froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you, Liang Shi Ning."

He straightened up from Liang Shi Ning's embrace, a hint of interest finally appearing in his expression.

"Quick, dage, once this one's done, hurry to the next."

Ying Huai glanced at Liang Shi Ning with a half-smile: "Now I know what I want to ask."

Ying Qi froze.

He understood something, gave Ying Huai an amused look, and handed the dice over.

"Be careful, Xiao Huai."

Ying Qi glanced at Liang Shi Ning almost imperceptibly, then withdrew his gaze just as subtly: "Don't end up getting yourself caught."

Ying Huai didn't notice his dage's small movements.

"That's impossible, my luck is great."

Ying Huai shook the dice and glanced at Liang Shi Ning.

"The one who should worry is probably Mr. Liang."

Liang Shi Ning raised an eyebrow but didn't argue.

·

Whether or not Ying Qi's words had been prophetic, none of the next several people rolled Liang Shi Ning.

Instead, most of them rolled Ying Huai.

Ying Huai had to answer all sorts of questions, and by the end he finally realized something was off.

"You really didn't tamper with the dice, dage?"

When it was finally his turn, Ying Huai couldn't help laughing as he spoke.

"How can it roll to me every single time."

The moment his words fell, Ying Qi's expression paused suspiciously.

But before Ying Huai could look closely, Ying Qi's expression quickly returned to its usual gentleness.

"How could we."

"If we really had tampered with it, wouldn't you have rolled yourself every time."

As he spoke, he reached out and took the dice from Lu Jing's hand, handing it to Ying Huai.

Ying Huai froze, feeling something was off: "Wasn't the dice just with Su Xin......."

Before he could finish, Ying Qi laughed and cut him off first.

"The Director prepared more than one dice....... Hurry and roll, see if we really tampered with it."

Ying Huai was fobbed off and didn't press further.

He gave it a casual shake—and really didn't roll himself.

Instead, he rolled Song Si Lan.

Song Si Lan raised an eyebrow and slowly straightened up.

"Ask away, can't keep picking on just one person."

Song Si Lan said unhurriedly.

"After all, we didn't tamper with it."

Ying Huai's eyes curved slightly.

"Don't provoke me, Dr. Song."

"I've already thought of what to ask."

Ying Huai straightened up slightly.

"I want to know....... why Dr. Song is so angry with Dr. Yu?"

Song Si Lan's expression froze, and Yu Wu also paused.

He looked at Song Si Lan, seeming to want to say something but hesitating. The next second, he saw Song Si Lan speak first.

"Because he betrayed me."

Song Si Lan raised his head calmly: "I don't forgive people who betray me."

Yu Wu's expression grew paler by degrees.

Ying Huai gave Yu Wu a thoughtful glance but said nothing more.

The room fell silent for a moment. The next second, Song Si Lan was the first to break the silence.

"Alright, once the question's done aren't we supposed to continue?"

Song Si Lan raised his head with his usual expression and handed the dice back to Xin Wan.

"Keep going."

Xin Wan froze, instinctively took the dice and rolled it.

By the time he realized, he let out an 'ah.'

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

Ying Huai looked up at the sound. Xin Wan suddenly realized something and stiffly corrected himself.

"No no, I mean, I'm not ready yet....... Right right, I haven't prayed yet, what if it rolled to me......."

He glanced at the dice while speaking, then exaggeratedly exhaled in relief.

"Good, good, it didn't land on me. It landed on......."

Xin Wan's gaze fell on the final number, and his expression instantly stiffened again.

——It had landed exactly on....... Liang Shi Ning.

A flash of distaste crossed Xin Wan's face.

He clenched his teeth and spoke at once.

"Fine, I'll ask Liang Shi Ning."

"What does Liang Shi Ning like about Junior Brother? Why does he like him? When did he start liking him?"

Xin Wan fired off a barrage of questions. Lu Jing beside him frowned, just about to speak, but Xin Wan got there first.

"I know I can only ask one question—but mine is a series of questions, they echo each other, so it counts as one."

Xin Wan still couldn't accept that Liang Shi Ning had whisked his Junior Brother away. Having finally caught an opening, he immediately launched into a string of 'interrogations.'

Xin Wan raised his head with righteous conviction, looking challengingly at Liang Shi Ning: "Teacher Liang better explain clearly, or Junior Brother and....... the bullet-comment fans won't accept it."

The livestream chat instantly filled with agreement.

[Cough cough........ I know Xin Wan is exploiting a loophole in the rules, but I really do want to know!]

[+1+1, Teacher Liang, answer properly. Now that I think about it, he so easily whisked our Teacher Xiao Huai away—that really won't do! He must explain!]

[Right right, better explain everything from start to finish—like whether they're together or not, when they got together, how long they've been together, when they made it official, how many times a night in bed (jk)........]

[The sister upstairs is sneaking in her own agenda—I can practically hear the abacus clattering in my face.]

[Honestly speaking, doesn't this count as Xin Wan indirectly announcing it for them?]

[! I feel like it does! But I still want to see my cp announce it themselves waaah!]

[+1+1, Teacher Liang, hurry up and answer.]

Ying Huai raised an eyebrow, and for once didn't refute Xin Wan. He turned to look at Liang Shi Ning.

"Speaking of which........ I do want to hear it too."

Ying Huai lifted his eyes with a half-smile: "When did you start liking me, little disciple?"

The moment his words fell, he heard Liang Shi Ning speak softly: "The first time."

Ying Huai froze. He instinctively said: "What?"

Liang Shi Ning didn't answer immediately this time.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze—dark as obsidian—fixed earnestly on Ying Huai.

"I said, I've liked you since the first time, Shifu."

He said softly: "It was love at first sight for me, Ying Huai."

Ying Huai froze.

Xin Wan beside him sucked in a sharp breath and suddenly stood up: "You—what—"

Before he could finish, the Director's exclamation came from beside them.

"Oh!"

The people around turned back. The Director looked up, caught between laughter and tears.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. Just now the livestream had too many viewers....... and accidentally crashed offline."

·

The game was forced to pause. Xin Wan glared indignantly at the two people across from him.

If Lu Jing hadn't been holding him back, he would have charged straight over.

But neither Ying Huai nor Liang Shi Ning noticed his reaction.

Ying Huai nestled in Liang Shi Ning's arms, his expression thoughtful.

He hadn't spoken since Liang Shi Ning finished that sentence. Liang Shi Ning waited a few seconds, then finally couldn't help leaning down to press a kiss to the corner of Ying Huai's lips.

"What are you thinking, Shifu?"

Ying Huai didn't dodge.

He raised his head and glanced at Liang Shi Ning: "I'm wondering—were you lying to me just now, little disciple?"

Liang Shi Ning froze.

Ying Huai, resting his head on Liang Shi Ning's shoulder, spoke unhurriedly: "I didn't tell the full truth about my real first impression of you just now."

A flash of tension and awkwardness crossed Liang Shi Ning's face.

·

Actually, Ying Huai's first impression of Liang Shi Ning back then was—

——This person must really dislike me.

This came as somewhat of a surprise to Ying Huai.

His personality had always been the cheerful, smiling type. He couldn't say everyone had liked him since childhood, but at least no one had ever so clearly....... disliked him right from the start.

But Ying Huai didn't pay much attention to it at first.

Dislike is dislike—he was only here as a mentor anyway.

He hadn't been in good health that period—he'd just been hospitalized before filming started—and really didn't have the energy to deal with extra matters.

These trainees were all emerging stars from other fields, without major achievements yet, but every one of them acted as if they were the bee's knees.

After all, on his very first day, he had personally watched a trainee who'd originally been hostile to him instantly change his tune once he learned Ying Huai was the show's mentor.

——Smiling and respectful on the surface, who knew what they were doing behind his back.

Ying Huai understood most people's nature well enough, so he usually just cheerfully bantered with them without getting close.

In the past, he might have taken the talent-spotting approach, putting in effort to mentor newcomers.

But this time he really didn't have that energy. He just wanted to finish the job, collect his appearance fee, and leave.

Ying Huai leaned against the doorway, watching the excited, chattering group in front of him, and slowly yawned.

——Since he'd decided not to get involved, he might as well go back and get some more sleep.

The other mentors hadn't arrived yet anyway, so staying here now wouldn't earn him any overtime pay.

With that thought, Ying Huai quickly turned around.

He didn't notice that the instant he turned, Liang Shi Ning—who had been avoiding his gaze—suddenly looked up, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor before quietly looking away.

"Huh? Teacher Liang, what are you looking at? Looking at Mentor Ying?"

A trainee beside him suddenly sidled up.

Liang Shi Ning had just been nominated for a fairly prestigious film festival newcomer award around that time, so he already had some degree of fame.

Compared to these unknown nobodies, he was in an entirely different league.

That trainee knew that once the show officially aired, Liang Shi Ning would definitely get more screen time.

His eyes darted around, and he said ingratiatingly: "Teacher Liang, are you thinking of getting close to the mentor early for some private coaching?"

Liang Shi Ning came back to himself.

He turned his head and frowned: "Private coaching about what?"

The trainee carefully looked around, then leaned in mysteriously.

"You know, that kind of private coaching—"

The trainee lowered his voice even more: "—slip the mentor some money, get a good score and front-row placement for the initial stage, that way you get more screen time and exposure........."

He spoke excitedly, not noticing that Liang Shi Ning's expression had already grown cold.

"I'm telling you this because I think you're a decent person, Teacher Liang, worth getting along with. You already have some fame, and with this show adding another wave of exposure........"

The trainee stopped at the right moment.

Seeing Liang Shi Ning silent, he assumed he was tempted and continued to push: "Teacher Liang, if you agree I'll tell you the method. When you blow up later, don't forget your old friends......"

Before he could finish, he suddenly saw Liang Shi Ning turn sharply: "Get lost."

The trainee froze, only then noticing the undisguised anger on Liang Shi Ning's face.

"If you want to find someone, go find Ying Huai yourself," Liang Shi Ning said through gritted teeth. "I will absolutely never go to him."

He turned sharply and walked out, not noticing the bewildered expression on the trainee's face behind him.

"I didn't....... say I was going to find Ying Huai?"

The trainee muttered: "Ying Huai is impossible to deal with, soft or hard, a smiling tiger through and through. Who'd go to him."

·

The second time Ying Huai noticed Liang Shi Ning was on the eve of the initial stage assessment.

Dozens of trainees' initial stage recordings were submitted together. Originally, Ying Huai and another mentor were supposed to review them together.

But the preliminary review was at most show highlights—a few reaction shots at best—and wouldn't generate any buzz or exposure.

That mentor, seeing Ying Huai was the youngest, pulled rank and dumped the entire thankless preliminary review job on Ying Huai.

Ying Huai couldn't be bothered to argue with them. He sat alone, slowly working through it until deep into the night, and finished watching everyone's videos.

The contestants' levels varied wildly; most were just riding the show for exposure, not properly prepared at all.

Watching the videos—performances that were practically stage accidents—Ying Huai felt like he was on a roller coaster, his head spinning the whole time.

Eventually he grabbed a cup to pillow under his head, half-reclining in the practice room, eyes closed, listening only to the audio—no need to look at those wretched visuals.

It was then that he heard Liang Shi Ning's recorded voice.

For his first stage, Liang Shi Ning had chosen a lyrical song. His technical skill wasn't particularly outstanding, but the result was unexpectedly...not bad.

Ying Huai opened his eyes slightly, half-pushing himself up from the practice room floor.

He dragged the progress bar back and watched Liang Shi Ning's first stage carefully.

It was clear Liang Shi Ning had put thought into his first stage design.

He understood his own vocal timbre's greatest strength; by breaking down the song's emotional arc and pairing his natural tone with subtle technical shifts, he'd maximized his strengths.

—His stage experience and some of the transitions were still a bit raw; otherwise he could have done even better.

Ying Huai tilted his head, thinking for a few seconds, before finally retrieving from memory the person with that indifferent expression.

He raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.

—He looked like the cold, dismissive type, but unexpectedly, when he sang a lyrical song...it suited him surprisingly well.

And he was, for once, genuinely serious about it.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, and a faint smile slowly appeared at the corners of his lips.

—This Liang Shi Ning is rather interesting.

Since he was willing to put in the effort, Ying Huai was happy to lend a hand.

·

The next morning, Ying Huai went straight to find Liang Shi Ning.

Liang Shi Ning still wore that cold expression—if anything, he seemed even more averse to Ying Huai than last time.

Ying Huai only managed to stop him by stepping directly into his path; Liang Shi Ning had no choice but to halt.

“What gives? You don't like me that much, Mr. Liang?”

Having hurried over, Ying Huai worried Liang Shi Ning might notice something off. He pressed a hand to his chest, quietly catching his breath, then looked up with a smile.

But Liang Shi Ning had no intention of playing along with the joke. He simply stood there in silence, eyes lowered.

Ying Huai blinked, then realized something and said, half-laughing, half-helpless: “Wait—Mr. Liang, do you really dislike me that much?”

After a few seconds of silence, Liang Shi Ning said quietly: “Is there something you need, Teacher Ying?”

Ying Huai had hit a soft rebuff; he sighed lightly, a touch helpless.

—If he hadn't watched Liang Shi Ning's submission yesterday and felt how seriously he took this stage, Ying Huai would have kept a hundred thousand miles away from this iceberg face.

“Nothing much. Yesterday I was reviewing the first-stage performances, and I thought yours showed real care.”

Ying Huai looked up with a smile: “The first public performance is coming up soon, and there are a few things I think could be tweaked a bit. Do you have time tonight......”

Before he could finish, he saw Liang Shi Ning's expression change abruptly.

“No.”

Ying Huai froze.

Before he could say anything, Liang Shi Ning had already turned and was striding quickly away.

Ying Huai's face was a picture of bewilderment.

·

Liang Shi Ning's reaction happened to stir up Ying Huai's contrarian streak.

Over the next few days, he sought Liang Shi Ning out a few more times, but Liang Shi Ning either avoided him or, at the sight of him, would turn cold-faced and leave directly.

It wasn't until three days later that Ying Huai finally caught his chance, cornering him in the practice room.

“Can you at least let me finish what I'm saying, Liang Shi Ning.”

Ying Huai stretched an arm across the doorway, sighed, and looked up with a smile.

“Did you misunderstand something?”

After finishing the first-stage videos a couple of days ago, he had also sought out a few other trainees and offered some suggestions.

Almost everyone—at least on the surface—took it seriously.

—Only Liang Shi Ning's reaction was oddly strange.

Ying Huai thought it over for a long time, until he connected it with Liang Shi Ning's rigid personality, and suddenly understood.

Ying Huai looked at the person before him with a bright smile, speaking first before Liang Shi Ning could open his mouth.

“Don't worry—before the first stage, mentors are allowed to give guidance. You see, other mentors are guiding trainees too......”

Before he could finish, Liang Shi Ning suddenly cut in coldly: “So you're just like them, is that it?”

Ying Huai froze.

He frowned: “What did you say?”

For some reason, Liang Shi Ning seemed to have suddenly grown angry; his tone went completely cold.

“I didn't misunderstand. You betray your own conscience for a little benefit........I used to think you were different.”

After being inexplicably snapped at by Liang Shi Ning so many times, Ying Huai was finally getting a little angry too.

He frowned: “What nonsense are you spouting? How is wanting to help you betraying my conscience?”

Ying Huai crossed his arms and let out a cold laugh: “Or are you actually some kind of heinous criminal, in which case helping you really would be betraying my conscience.”

Liang Shi Ning's expression cooled slightly.

He seemed about to say something more, but Ying Huai—for the first time—turned first and strode away.

·

After calming down that day, Liang Shi Ning felt he had been too harsh with his words.

He hesitated, wanting to find Ying Huai and apologize, but over the next few days, Ying Huai never sought him out again.

Even after two days of course training, Ying Huai hadn't come to class.

Liang Shi Ning's original anger gradually gave way to an uncontrollable worry.

He began glancing toward the door repeatedly; every time he heard it open, he would instinctively hope to see that smiling figure.

“What are you looking at, Liang-ge?”

A trainee beside him couldn't help leaning over curiously: “I've seen you look at the door several times now—are you waiting for......”

Liang Shi Ning snapped back to himself.

“No.”

He quickly turned his head, instinctively cutting the other off.

“I'm not waiting for Ying Huai.”

The trainee froze, momentarily baffled.

He opened his mouth soundlessly.

“I—I was actually going to ask—are you waiting for someone else to come back so you can go to the classroom together?”

Liang Shi Ning's expression stalled.

The trainee said quietly: “The group chat just said the vocal class location changed. Someone asked if we wanted to go together—what did you just say about Teacher Ying?”

Liang Shi Ning, who had protested too much: .......

He took a deep breath, turned around expressionlessly. “Nothing...I misspoke.”

The trainee froze for a moment, then hurried after him.

“Liang-ge, if you're waiting for Teacher Ying—you probably won't see him.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he saw Liang Shi Ning's steps halt abruptly.

“What did you say?”

He turned around, not noticing the urgency creeping into his own voice.

“Why? What do you mean? What happened?”

The trainee was completely thrown off by Liang Shi Ning's barrage of questions.

“D-don't worry, Liang-ge, it's nothing serious.”

The trainee couldn't understand how someone who had seemed so indifferent toward Ying Huai moments ago was suddenly so anxious.

He panicked too, blurting out in a rush: “It's just...I heard Teacher Ying called in sick, and he seems pretty.....”

Before he could finish, Liang Shi Ning had already turned without hesitation and was running back.

“Hey, where are you going? Class is about to start—”

“Cover for me.”

Liang Shi Ning called back without looking: “I'm not feeling well—going to the medical office.”

The trainee stared at Liang Shi Ning, who had vanished in an instant: ??