Chapter 96: Unconscious

The tips of Ying Huai's ears flushed red in an instant.

He opened his mouth soundlessly.

"I didn't..."

But Liang Shi Ning slowly crouched down in front of Ying Huai and said seriously,

"It's fine, Shifu, I really don't mind."

He paused, his gaze on the black stocking that could only fit over Ying Huai's hand, and dropped his voice another few degrees.

"I can help Shifu... find a more suitable set."

Ying Huai: ...?

He finally couldn't stand it any longer and cut Liang Shi Ning off.

"Find what find — go find one for yourself."

Liang Shi Ning froze for a beat, and the next second, watched Ying Huai let out a cold laugh, suddenly reach out, and scoop up the lazy, ambling Panda Cat beside him.

The silly Panda Cat had no idea what was going on; once Ying Huai picked him up, he let out an excited meow and nuzzled his head into Ying Huai's arms.

Panda Cat was a year younger than Bouquet, and his figure hadn't yet been "poisoned" by the joint efforts of Ying Qi and Liang Shi Ning, so the black stocking slipped on him easily.

"Here, for you — you and Panda Cat can make a matching set."

Ying Huai shoved Panda Cat into Liang Shi Ning's arms and glanced up at him.

Liang Shi Ning instinctively reached out to catch the cat, then belatedly realized something, and his expression gradually stiffened.

Panda Cat, having left Ying Huai's embrace, let out an indignant meow, kicked his legs and jumped out of Liang Shi Ning's arms, trotted back over to Ying Huai, and raised his front paws to scratch at his knee.

Liang Shi Ning couldn't be bothered with any of that.

He stared blankly for a few seconds, a trace of bewilderment crossing his face: "Why did you buy this for Panda Cat..."

"You'll have to ask Xin Wan about that."

Ying Huai took the cat back into his own arms, pulled the black stocking off Panda Cat's legs, and shoved it into Liang Shi Ning's hand.

Panda Cat, not understanding, just thought Ying Huai was playing with him, rolled over to expose his belly, and kicked his legs contentedly.

Ying Huai rubbed his belly with one hand and glanced up at Liang Shi Ning with a half-smile.

"Since you like this sort of thing too, the two of you can go discuss it."

Liang Shi Ning: ...?

He hurried to deny it: "No, Shifu, I..."

Ying Huai didn't wait for him to finish, got up with Panda Cat in his arms, and walked out on his own.

Liang Shi Ning instinctively stood up to chase after him, but the next second, ran head-on into Ying Qi, who had just come through the door.

"...Xiao Ning?"

Ying Qi was startled by Liang Shi Ning's panicked movement. "What's wrong, why are you suddenly in such a rush, are you looking for Xiao Huai? I saw Xiao Huai just walk out..."

Before he could finish, his gaze slowly fell on the black stocking in Liang Shi Ning's hand.

The rest of Ying Qi's words vanished without a sound.

He stared at the thing in Liang Shi Ning's hand with some shock, opened his mouth soundlessly, and his expression gradually took on a hint of bewilderment and reproach.

Liang Shi Ning also quickly caught on.

"No, no, Ying-ge, you've got it wrong, this isn't mine, let me explain..."

He instinctively tucked the thing behind his back, then suddenly realized that this move only made him look more guilty.

Liang Shi Ning was about to lose his mind.

"Ying-ge, listen to me explain, this really isn't mine..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly felt a light pat on his shoulder.

"It's fine, however you and Xiao Huai date, I won't... interfere."

Ying Qi cleared his throat lightly, doing his best to maintain the enlightened image of a good big brother.

He gave Liang Shi Ning a somewhat dazed smile, slowly turned around, then suddenly thought of something, hesitated, and turned back anyway.

"Even though it was Xiao Huai who wanted to do it... still, be careful."

Liang Shi Ning: ...?

He belatedly realized what Ying Qi had misunderstood, opened his mouth soundlessly, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and gave a low "mm."

·

Ying Huai had no idea what absurd misunderstanding his own brother had come to — and had no time to find out.

That afternoon, he had just woken from a nap when he was met with Liang Mu's beaming expression beside him.

Ying Huai was startled.

"Liang Bomo..."

He scrambled to push himself up, wanting to get out of bed quickly, but rose too fast and his body swayed uncontrollably.

"Hey, hey, what's the rush, if you're not feeling well just lean against the headboard, no need to stand on ceremony with me."

Liang Mu, her heart aching, propped him up with one hand and chattered on: "Xiao Ning said you get palpitations when you first wake up, so don't get up so fast. Is your heart uncomfortable now? Where else do you feel unwell..."

Ying Huai waited for the wave of dizziness before his eyes to pass, curved his lips, and shook his head slightly.

"I'm fine, Bomo, I just got up too fast and felt a little dizzy... it's already passed."

He still refused to talk to Liang Mu from the bed, and once he'd caught his breath, he braced himself and slowly moved to sit on the sofa beside him.

Liang Mu, helpless, could only steady Ying Huai as he sat down, and casually picked up one of Liang Shi Ning's jackets nearby and draped it over his shoulders.

Ying Huai looked up and smiled at her to show he was fine. Liang Mu, somewhat suspiciously eyeing the pale-faced person before her, could only slowly relax her expression after a long moment.

"If you're feeling unwell you must tell me, Xiao Huai. Xiao Ning especially reminded me before he went out to take good care of you, I can't let down Xiao Ning's trust..."

As she spoke, Liang Mu somehow produced a blanket from somewhere and tucked it firmly around Ying Huai's waist, as if wanting to wrap him up entirely.

Ying Huai, caught between laughter and tears, nodded and hurried to change the subject: "Why did you suddenly come over, Bomo? Are you here to see Liang Shi Ning?"

Liang Mu reached out and felt his forehead to confirm he didn't have a fever, and finally turned her attention to the matter at hand.

"Why would I look for him — of course I came to see you." Liang Mu said cheerfully.

As she spoke, she turned around and somehow produced a stack of clothes, setting them down on the table with a smack.

"Look, this one is your favorite moon-white casual suit, the fabric is very comfortable, you can wear it normally or for any... ahem, occasions that call for it."

"And this one is ink blue, with a white gemstone brooch at the collar, you can alternate it with the previous set, also for... occasions that call for it, depending on what you like."

"Oh right, don't worry, for every set here I've also ordered a matching one for Xiao Ning, guaranteeing the two of you will be a perfect pair."

The more excited Liang Mu's tone became, the more confused Ying Huai felt listening.

"Thank you, Bomo."

He looked up, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "But what do you mean by 'when the time comes,' and 'occasions that call for it'?"

Liang Mu held up the sets of clothes one by one, holding them against Ying Huai to compare, clearly imagining something in her head, and the more she looked at Ying Huai, the more satisfied her expression became.

"Oh, don't be impatient, you'll know when the time comes."

Liang Mu put down the clothes, couldn't help reaching out to hold Ying Huai's hand, her eyes curving into slits.

"When the time comes, you won't have to call me Bomo..."

Ying Huai froze.

For a moment he didn't react, and instinctively said: "What did you say?"

The joy and tenderness in Liang Mu's eyes were practically overflowing.

Holding Ying Huai's hand, she couldn't help but speak again: "I can't tell you that, but Xiao Ning said..."

Before she could finish, she suddenly heard a flurry of hurried footsteps at the door.

"Ma, what were you just saying to him?"

Liang Shi Ning, almost in a panic, walked up behind Ying Huai and subtly shook his head at Liang Mu.

"Whatever you were saying, let me hear it too."

Liang Mu finally, reluctantly, dragged her gaze away from Ying Huai.

She looked up and gave her son a somewhat disgruntled glare, replying casually: "What would I say to you — oh, your clothes are in the car, go get them yourself in a bit."

Liang Shi Ning: ...

"Alright, got it, thanks Ma."

Liang Shi Ning took a light breath and said, somewhat helplessly,

"We're going to start filming in a bit, Ma, why don't you go back to your room and get settled first, we'll come keep you company tonight."

Although reluctant, Liang Mu couldn't disturb the two of them at work.

She slowly stood up, couldn't help giving Ying Huai another round of careful instructions, and before leaving, as if finally remembering something, gave her own son a perfunctory wave before reluctantly heading out the door.

Liang Shi Ning exhaled silently, and Ying Huai was, for a moment, caught between laughter and tears.

He took a deep breath, and finally looked up at Liang Shi Ning first: "Why did your mother suddenly come over? Is everything alright?"

Liang Shi Ning shook his head.

He squeezed Ying Huai's shoulder, indicating for him to lean on him, and said quietly: "Nothing's wrong, this just happens to be a lifestyle slow Variety Show, and she and my dad happened to have time to come see us."

He paused, then said softly: "Your father has come to see you too, Shifu."

Ying Huai's body instantly stiffened.

But immediately after, he quickly relaxed and casually said "oh."

Liang Shi Ning hesitated, lowering his head, "Do you want to go see him first, Shifu..."

Before he could finish, he saw Ying Huai throw off the blanket and stand up first.

"Let's head down quickly, aren't we about to start filming? Once tonight's over... I'll go see Father with my brother."

Liang Shi Ning watched Ying Huai's expression instantly dim, and said nothing, only silently squeezing his hand.

·

Perhaps because of what Liang Shi Ning had just told him about Ying-father's arrival, Ying Huai was somewhat distracted throughout the afternoon's filming.

The weather was nice today, and the Production Team had, for once, taken them out of the Villa to a nearby leisure resort.

The Director's team gave each of them a stack of activity vouchers, letting them film freely and choose their own activities.

The activities here were all on the leisure and entertainment side, nothing too intense, and most of them were within what Ying Huai's body could handle.

But for some reason, Ying Huai couldn't work up any enthusiasm today.

He had originally just wanted to sit on the side and wait for them, but Xin Wan was far too enthusiastic, Yu Wu beside him kept subtly egging him on, and even Liang Shi Ning and Ying Qi silently stood aside, tacitly approving of their actions.

"This village has a stream that flows all the way from the mountains, and it passes through a stretch of water forest." Xin Wan said enthusiastically to Ying Huai.

"It really has amazing atmosphere!"

"Little shidi, you absolutely have to go, if you don't you'll really... regret it."

Xin Wan beside him wore an expression of inexplicable anxiety and excitement, and Liang Shi Ning's face also carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Ying Huai thought it was a bit strange, but seeing Liang Shi Ning's reaction, he didn't refuse further, and like a duck being shoved to the water's edge, was firmly settled into the drifting boat by the others.

But ten minutes later, he regretted his momentary softness.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, little shidi, it's all my fault." Xin Wan said anxiously, looking at the person before him.

"I remember you didn't get seasick before, little shidi?"

Xin Wan stood beside him, somewhat flustered, stroking Ying Huai's back: "Why is it so bad today..."

Ying Huai half-leaned against the sink before him, his body trembling faintly, his face unusually pale.

"I wasn't seasick before... ugh—"

Before he could finish, another wave of nausea surged up. Ying Huai's hand gripping the sink suddenly clenched tight, and he bent over uncontrollably.

Xin Wan, seeing him looking like he was about to collapse, hurriedly helped support his arm and patted his back without pause.

Ying Huai had already thrown up everything he'd managed to eat that morning.

Though his stomach was still rolling with waves of nausea, he could only dry-heave now — there was nothing left to bring up.

Ying Huai's vision was still swimming, his feet swaying weakly beneath him, as if he were still on that drifting boat from before.

He stumbled a step before he could stop himself, and the next second, his body was held steady.

"Shifu."

Liang Shi Ning, who had gone to the car to get clothes and medicine, had returned at some point unnoticed.

He was slightly out of breath from running, but he still held the person before him steady, quickly wrapping him in his jacket.

He still carried the heat from his sprint, and that burning warmth quickly enveloped Ying Huai.

Ying Huai instinctively pressed his cold, numb body closer to the warmth beside him, letting out a low muffled groan, his whole frame unconsciously relaxing a fraction.

Liang Shi Ning slipped a pill to prevent heart palpitations into his mouth, then crouched down, intending to lift him into his arms.

But the moment he moved, he saw Ying Huai's brow furrow sharply, his head suddenly turn aside, and a muffled dry-heave behind his hand.

"Don't move yet... I'm still a little dizzy."

Liang Shi Ning quickly stopped.

Not daring to move carelessly again, he could only support Ying Huai as they stepped back a few paces, and sat him down on a nearby chair first.

"Where does it still hurt, Shifu? Besides the dizziness, how do your chest and stomach feel?"

Ying Huai felt as if he were sitting inside a teacup spinning at high speed, his whole body aching with a dull, tingling numbness.

But he caught his breath, only smiling lightly and curving his lips: "I'm fine, just seasick, give me a moment..."

"Enough, if you're feeling sick then stop talking, or you'll end up throwing up bile in a minute."

Song Si Lan, who had hurried over with the first-aid kit, cut him off irritably.

He half-knelt before Ying Huai, first pressing his fingers to his pulse, then reaching up to pull at his eyelid, his brow creasing slightly.

"How is he now? Why is little shidi suddenly feeling so terrible today?"

Xin Wan beside them was impatient; seeing Song Si Lan say nothing, he couldn't help but speak first: "I remember little shidi barely ever got seasick before..."

"What are you yelling for, the more you fuss the worse he feels."

Song Si Lan shot him a look and said sharply: "He didn't get seasick before, but can his current condition even be compared to before?"

Xin Wan immediately covered his mouth, but still watched Song Si Lan with eager, pleading eyes.

Song Si Lan ignored him.

He quickly pulled a bottle of medicine from the first-aid kit and tucked a few pills into Ying Huai's mouth.

"Keep them in your mouth, they're a little bitter, but don't swallow — they'll ease the dizziness and nausea."

Ying Huai couldn't speak, instinctively opening his mouth to take the pills Song Si Lan offered, breathing weakly in shallow gasps.

Song Si Lan said nothing more, only staying half-kneeling beside him, carefully monitoring his pulse, until he felt the heartbeat gradually stabilize, and only then did his expression ease slightly.

"The hematoma in his brain hasn't fully resolved yet. The pressure from it reduces blood flow to the brain, which makes dizziness much more likely."

Song Si Lan glanced at Xin Wan, who dared not say another word, only nodding rapidly.

After scolding the person beside him, Song Si Lan turned back to look at his patient.

"What have you been overthinking lately? Your body was already in poor shape, and you keep worrying about everything — can't you just relax a little?"

Ying Huai, leaning in Liang Shi Ning's arms, weakly raised his head and smiled at Song Si Lan: "I was wrong... Doctor Song."

Song Si Lan was left completely deflated by that one line.

Ying Huai lay weakly in Liang Shi Ning's arms, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

The stray hairs on his forehead were soaked with cold sweat; even in such hot weather, there was not a trace of color on his face, even faintly tinged with a bluish-white pallor.

Even so, feeling Song Si Lan's gaze, he still forced himself to lift his head, his eyes a little unfocused as they looked over, and curved his lips at him.

Song Si Lan frowned at him for a few seconds, but couldn't help looking away in the end.

"Fine, I won't ask anymore. If you're feeling sick, stop forcing yourself and get some rest."

Song Si Lan took a deep breath, his voice gradually softening: "The car will take a while to get here. Sit here for a bit first — there's shade here anyway. Once the dizziness passes, the car should be about here, and we'll take you back to rest properly."

Ying Huai, eyes half-closed, slowly nodded.

Xin Wan beside them looked like he wanted to keep standing guard, but Song Si Lan grabbed him without the slightest hesitation.

"What good are you doing standing there? You're just blocking the airflow."

"But..."

Xin Wan anxiously tried to turn his head, but Song Si Lan firmly turned him back around.

"Haven't you noticed Ying Huai has been much softer toward you lately?"

Xin Wan's steps suddenly halted.

He turned back quickly: "What did you say?"

Song Si Lan pushed him to the side as they walked, saying in a low, irritated voice: "Don't you want Ying Huai to forgive you? He's been much softer toward you lately — you really want to hover in front of him right now and ruin all that progress?"

Xin Wan frantically shook his head and quickly walked away.

Song Si Lan let out a silent breath of relief.

He had just turned to leave when, the next second, a rush of hurried footsteps came, and another person immediately crowded in beside him.

"Doctor Song, what you just said about little shidi being softer toward me... could you go into more detail?"

Xin Wan sidled up beside Song Si Lan and said quietly: "I do have a bit of a feeling... but I'm still not entirely sure. Could you... give me some detailed evidence?"

Song Si Lan: ...?

— He belatedly realized that the big trouble he'd helped Ying Huai get rid of had now latched onto him.

·

Meanwhile, Ying Huai curled up in Liang Shi Ning's arms, muffling a few quiet coughs behind his hand.

Liang Shi Ning's arm around him tightened slightly.

This was one of the stops along the rafting route; there were no buildings around, only this row of small pavilions.

Worried that just sitting there would make the person in his arms feel worse, Liang Shi Ning took out the livestream phone the Director had given them earlier, letting Ying Huai chat with the bullet comments to take his mind off things.

Ying Huai's Glasses had been "confiscated" by Song Si Lan earlier.

Every part of his body was uncomfortable right now, but knowing Liang Shi Ning's intention, he forced himself to stay alert, listening as Liang Shi Ning read out the bullet comments, chatting with the fans in a half-hearted back-and-forth.

【!! Teacher Xiao Huai and Teacher Liang are finally back! Why did the stream suddenly cut off just now, sob sob, who's going to make up for the five minutes, thirty-four seconds, and zero-point-six millimeters of sadness I just felt?】

【What happened just now? I noticed Teacher Liang seemed really looking forward to it before getting on the boat — did something happen that we don't know about?】

【!! It can't be!】

Ying Huai didn't understand what the half-finished comment meant, but he did remember Liang Shi Ning's reaction earlier.

"Right, what were you trying to do on the boat just now, little tudì?" Ying Huai tilted his head up.

Liang Shi Ning's eyes flickered slightly, and he gave a small shake of his head: "Nothing."

Ying Huai felt something was off, but he really didn't have the energy to press further.

He yawned and continued curling up in Liang Shi Ning's arms, listening as he read out the bullet comments.

【Teacher Xiao Huai doesn't look well — he seems kind of listless and out of it. Is he feeling unwell?】

"No, my body's perfectly fine, what makes you think I'm unwell?"

Ying Huai sat up slightly, a teasing curve to his lips: "Familiar or not, I'll still sue you for defamation."

A wave of 【hahahahaha】 instantly scrolled past, but some fans were still worried about Ying Huai's condition.

【If Teacher Xiao Huai isn't feeling unwell, why did he suddenly get off the rafting boat just now?】

【Right right, if you're feeling sick don't force yourself, go rest quickly.】

Ying Huai was dizzy whether his eyes were open or closed — there was no way he could actually rest.

He turned his head aside, muffling a small cough behind his hand, still smiling brightly as he spoke: "I told you I'm fine. I didn't keep rafting because there wasn't enough time — I still need to hurry back and try the other activities."

He lowered his hand and curved his eyes at the bullet comments: "Ever heard of special-forces travel?"

A wave of dismissive reactions instantly scrolled past, but the atmosphere in the stream was noticeably less heavy than before.

Ying Huai chatted with the bullet comments off and on for quite a while, and felt the dizziness in his head finally ease somewhat, but the exhaustion and discomfort throughout his body uncontrollably began to well up.

When Ying Huai buried his face in Liang Shi Ning's neck for the third time, struggling to suppress the urge to cough, Liang Shi Ning's expression finally betrayed a hint of worry he couldn't hold back.

But Song Si Lan had come over earlier and there was nothing more to be done — only medicine to ease things slightly.

"I'm fine, I just threw up too hard earlier, my throat's a bit uncomfortable."

Ying Huai, arms around Liang Shi Ning's neck, raised his head and smiled at him.

He had just been about to say something more when another wave of coughing urge welled up.

Ying Huai's interlaced fingers slowly tightened. He took a deep breath and suddenly said: "Could you go buy me a bottle of water from over there, Liang Shi Ning? I'm a bit thirsty."

The bottle of warm water Liang Shi Ning had brought earlier was already finished, and the water here was a bit cool. Liang Shi Ning hesitated, but in the end nodded.

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go ask the shopkeeper if they have any hot water to mix in."

He had originally wanted to carry Ying Huai over with him, but worried it would make his dizziness worse.

Ying Huai also didn't want him to call Song Si Lan or Xin Wan over.

Seeing the small shop wasn't far, and thinking he could go quickly and come back, Liang Shi Ning didn't say anything more.

Ying Huai let out a silent breath.

Watching Liang Shi Ning's figure turn the corner, he finally couldn't hold back any longer, suddenly turning his head aside and breaking into violent, smothered coughing.

Only when a faint, coppery sweetness rose in his throat did Ying Huai barely manage to suppress the coughing.

The coughing had left him drained; before his eyes floated a scatter of black, starry specks.

He took a deep breath, and with effort suddenly raised his hand, making a "shh" gesture at the bullet comments.

"Be good, don't go tattling to Liang Shi Ning in a bit."

Ying Huai curved his eyes and said in a hoarse voice: "Or else I'll... get angry."

The bullet comments were scrolling wildly again, but Ying Huai could no longer make them out.

All the strength in his body seemed to have been completely scattered by that violent coughing fit. Ying Huai pressed his brow, and finally couldn't help resting his arm beneath his head, leaning back against the seat behind him and gently closing his eyes.

The bullet comments in the livestream clearly noticed that something was off with Ying Huai.

【Hey hey, don't sleep, Teacher Xiao Huai! It's so hot here, if you fall asleep you'll easily catch cold or get heatstroke!】

【Don't sleep! Keep chatting with us, Teacher Liang will be back in a bit — if you sleep we'll tell on you!】

But Ying Huai could no longer see what the bullet comments were saying.

"I'll sleep for a bit... it's fine, just resting a moment."

His voice was very soft, barely more than a breath.

"We agreed, don't tell Liang Shi Ning later... mm..."

Ying Huai's lips trembled slightly; before he could finish his last sentence, he lost consciousness in an instant.