Chapter 99: My Head Feels So Dizzy

Liang Shi Ning's mind was full of what was about to happen, his nerves stretched taut.

For a moment he couldn't make out what was rushing over, and reflexively reached out to block it, but that figure moved with astonishing speed, lunging forward in a flash — and then circled around Ying Huai's legs.

Liang Shi Ning: ?

Ying Huai crouched down, petting the big golden retriever that had come bounding over from who knows where, and glanced at Liang Shi Ning with some surprise.

'What's wrong, why were you so tense just now?'

Liang Shi Ning stared somewhat blankly at the big golden retriever circling around Ying Huai with its tail wagging, and silently opened his mouth.

'I...'

He had no choice but to once again hide the thing in his hand back into his pocket, and said with some fluster: 'I didn't see it just now, I was worried you might be in danger...'

Before he could finish, he saw the person half-crouched on the ground lift his head again, amused.

'I was waving at him this whole time, didn't you see — and he was barking all the way over too.'

Ying Huai reached out and ruffled the dog's fluffy head — calling it Mao Mao, perhaps — and shot Liang Shi Ning a glance with a faint smile that wasn't quite a smile: 'What were you thinking about just now, little disciple?'

The tips of Liang Shi Ning's ears went red, and he silently opened his mouth.

'Nothing, I — I just spaced out just now, I wasn't thinking about anything... No.'

He took a deep breath, looking at the big golden retriever wagging its tail goofily in front of him, and gritted out: 'I was wondering why he'd suddenly come running out from here.'

— He had deliberately picked this park precisely because it had so few people.

Ying Huai lifted his head to glance at him, seeming to realize something as well.

'That's right, were you trying to tell me something just now?'

Liang Shi Ning hesitated a moment, then shook his head slightly: 'It's nothing...'

This golden retriever's coat was glossy and sleek all over, the whole dog brimming with cheer — clearly well looked after by an owner.

Its owner would surely come looking for it again soon, and if he spoke now, he'd just be interrupted again.

Liang Shi Ning took a deep breath, reflexively tucking the thing in his pocket deeper down, and said in a low voice: 'That thing... let's talk about it later.'

Ying Huai stared at him for a few seconds, then gave a soft 'oh.'

He'd been crouching so long that it left him a little breathless, so he simply sat cross-legged right down on the grass, patted his own thigh, and motioned for the golden retriever to lie over.

'Hey, shifu, hold on a second...'

Liang Shi Ning was still smarting inwardly over this golden retriever that had appeared out of nowhere and interrupted him. He frowned and reflexively reached out to stop it.

But the next second, that big golden retriever very obligingly flattened its two front paws down, rolled over on the spot, and — what luck — landed crosswise right between Ying Huai and Liang Shi Ning.

Belly up across Ying Huai's legs, tongue lolling, it gazed cheerfully at Liang Shi Ning whose hand was still raised in midair, and the next second suddenly lifted a paw and gently batted at him.

Liang Shi Ning: ...?

His brow twitched, and he stiffly drew his hand back.

Ying Huai hadn't expected him to be so obedient either; he was stunned for a moment, then his eyes abruptly curved.

'Don't be so tense, Liang Shi Ning — look how much he likes you.'

As he spoke, Ying Huai reached out and squeezed the golden retriever's soft little paw pad, and the dog raised its head with the motion, its damp eyes gazing straight over.

Liang Shi Ning glanced at it, then said in a low voice through gritted teeth.

'He doesn't like me at all.'

He took a deep breath and sat down directly on Ying Huai's other side: '...He's just deliberately playing pitiful to butter you up, shifu.'

The words had barely left his mouth when he felt a weight settle on his knee, and the next instant a warm big head nuzzled its way into his lap.

'I don't think so — look how adorable he is.'

Ying Huai sat cross-legged beside him, half cupping his chin, and said with a beaming smile: 'And don't you think... he's a lot like you?'

Liang Shi Ning: ...???

He blurted out a denial without thinking: 'How is he anything like me, I'm not...'

Before he could finish, he felt a wetness at his wrist — the golden retriever had suddenly turned its head and lightly licked Liang Shi Ning's wrist, then promptly draped a paw over it and looked up at him with a face full of innocence.

The words on the tip of Liang Shi Ning's tongue were instantly swallowed back, a flicker of disbelief crossing his expression.

— He had never seen a... dog so capable of pushing its luck.

'Isn't he just like you?' Ying Huai propped up his chin, smiling brightly. 'Hm?'

Liang Shi Ning's ears went a little red, but he remained stubborn: 'He is not...'

As he spoke, he tried to get the golden retriever off his lap, while also not wanting it to go and 'pester' Ying Huai.

That big golden retriever seemed to read his hesitation, and the next second simply lifted its front paws and, without the slightest hesitation, draped them fully over Liang Shi Ning's shoulders, its tail wagging excitedly.

Liang Shi Ning: ???

Ying Huai couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud.

'Get off, I'm not falling for this...'

Liang Shi Ning somewhat stiffly caught the big dog that had thrown itself into his arms, trying hard to keep a straight face, yet his tone couldn't help softening, bit by bit.

Ying Huai watched the man and dog playing beside him, covered his lips and coughed, the smile in his eyes all but spilling over.

Ever since he'd moved out to live on his own, he'd always wanted to keep a big golden retriever.

But for one thing, back then he'd only just brought the plump Bouquet home, and the cat was timid and still in its skittish period.

For another, his health had grown worse and worse afterward, and his daily schedule was too packed — he simply hadn't the energy to keep a large dog as well.

In the end he'd had no choice but to give up the idea.

Later, after he got together with Liang Shi Ning, Liang Shi Ning had actually said they'd bring home a golden retriever puppy once the Panda Cat was past its skittish period.

— He would be in charge of raising it, and Ying Huai just had to sit there with a cat in one arm and a dog in the other.

But unfortunately, ever since the incident, Ying Huai's health had remained poor, and he needed a quiet environment to focus on recovering.

And so this had been put off all the way until now, never coming to pass.

Ying Huai looked at this warm big golden retriever, his eyes full of fondness, and couldn't resist reaching out to take it back over again.

This golden retriever had been raised exceptionally well — it had to weigh at least thirty-some kilograms.

Liang Shi Ning, worried it might knock Ying Huai over, no longer cared about anything else and hurriedly patted Ying Huai's leg, gesturing for the dog to just lay its head over and not pounce.

The golden retriever wagged its tail, rolled over right where it was, and obediently pillowed its chin directly on Ying Huai's leg — not forgetting to keep its hind legs lazily tucked into Liang Shi Ning's lap.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

'So well-behaved — who taught you that?'

This golden retriever clearly had an owner, yet after all this time no one had come looking for it.

Ying Huai bent down and reached out to rub the golden retriever's big head again. 'You didn't sneak out on your own, did you...'

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard an exasperated voice coming from not far off: 'Mimi, where've you run off to making trouble again, come back here right now —'

Ying Huai was startled for a moment and lifted his head in some surprise.

A girl was calling out while looking all around, and the moment her gaze landed on the two of them she came hurrying over.

'Oh, sorry, sorry, Mimi doesn't know any better, he didn't mean to...'

One of the girls' gaze fell on the two men before her, and suddenly froze.

Then she let out a startled cry on the spot: 'You're... Teacher Xiao Huai?!'

'You're my fan — no, I'm your fan, I absolutely adore you —'

Ying Huai braced himself and stood up, his eyes curving in a smile: 'Hello.'

Having sat too long, he was prone to low blood pressure, and his body swayed reflexively, only to be instantly steadied by Liang Shi Ning beside him.

'Are you alright, Teacher Xiao Huai? Please sit, please sit, I'll keep you company — no, no, you sit with Mimi.'

As she spoke, the girl unhesitatingly plopped herself down first.

Ying Huai didn't insist any longer; he drew in a soft breath and, holding onto Liang Shi Ning's arm, sat back down.

'Sorry, I got a little dizzy just then for a moment.'

The girl shook her head at once: 'It's fine, it's fine, why are you apologizing to me, Teacher Xiao Huai? Are you really okay? Should I go buy you a bottle of water...'

Ying Huai had gotten up too abruptly just now, and his heart was still racing a little.

While slowly steadying his breathing, he smiled and shook his head, changing the subject first.

'I'm really fine... By the way, what did you say his name was just now?'

Ying Huai ruffled the golden retriever's head beside him and lifted his face with a faint smile that wasn't quite a smile: 'Mimi, is it?'

The golden retriever lazily sprawled across Ying Huai's legs heard its own name and instantly let out an excited 'awoo,' lifting its head as if in answer.

The girl slapped the excited dog's head back down, rubbed her nose, and gave a slightly embarrassed laugh.

'Yes.'

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing too.

— It suddenly struck him that naming his own plump cat 'Bouquet' was perfectly reasonable after all.

·

'It's because his temperament is so gentle, and he's always acting cute and clingy with me, so I gave him this... cute little name.'

The girl half-crouched beside Ying Huai, casually patting the golden retriever's head.

Thinking back on the whole series of moves and reactions 'Mimi' had just pulled, Ying Huai couldn't help giving a soft laugh.

The girl seemed to think of something and lifted her head with some concern.

'He usually loves to make a ruckus — he didn't give you any trouble just now, did he, Teacher Xiao Huai?'

Ying Huai cleared his throat softly and composed himself, shaking his head slightly.

'No, he was very well-behaved the whole time just now.'

Beside him, Liang Shi Ning couldn't help lifting his head to glance at Ying Huai. Ying Huai shot him a look, reached out to take Liang Shi Ning's hand, and gave it a squeeze, neither light nor hard, his tone unable to keep from carrying a trace of amusement.

'Mm... and quite endearing too.'

The girl instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

'That's good. He usually gets a bit wild around people, I was worried he'd be too rowdy and make you uncomfortable.'

The girl casually rubbed the golden retriever's chin and lifted her head with a smile: 'This park's pretty out of the way, there's always hardly anyone, so I let him off the leash here on the grass.'

'He usually just circles around me, but today, who knows what he saw — he just bolted right off. I chased after him forever before I caught up.'

As she spoke, the girl patted the golden retriever's head as if rewarding it.

'I suppose he knew I love you, Teacher Xiao Huai, so he deliberately led me here to make my dream come true.'

Ying Huai couldn't help laughing again.

The girl looked nearly delirious with joy. With one hand she kneaded the big golden retriever's ears one stroke after another, seemingly offhand, but her gaze kept flicking over toward the two of them.

The big golden retriever, ticklish from the rubbing, couldn't help shaking its head, lifting it in some bewilderment and letting out a few barks.

The girl came to her senses and gave a little 'ah.' Ying Huai smiled and reached out to pat the golden retriever's head, then turned gently toward her: 'Is there something you wanted to ask us?'

The girl instantly dropped all pretense and nodded eagerly: 'How come you two are here as well, Teacher Xiao Huai?'

She looked around: 'Is there a program being filmed? But I don't think I saw the Director's team or anyone else just now...'

Ying Huai shook his head.

'No, we just...'

At this point he suddenly thought of something, and turned his head toward Liang Shi Ning with some curiosity.

'By the way, what did you bring me here for?'

Liang Shi Ning's expression stiffened for an instant.

He was quiet for a few seconds, then said with some hesitation: 'Nothing... I just came here to relax a bit.'

As if afraid the two before him wouldn't believe it, he paused, then added: 'Besides, I heard the scenery here is good for filming, so I came to scout the location while I was at it — next time I can suggest the Director's team bring everyone over together.'

The girl was stunned for a moment as she listened to Liang Shi Ning, then said with some puzzlement: 'But when I came over just now... I only saw someone taking wedding photos here?'

Liang Shi Ning: ???

The girl realized something, and instantly lifted her head in excitement: 'Teacher Liang has already gotten together with Teacher Ying—'

'No!'

Liang Shi Ning flatly denied it in an instant.

Ying Huai, who had his head down absorbed in petting the dog, didn't catch what the two of them were saying for a moment, and lifted his head somewhat blankly: 'What?'

'Nothing.'

Liang Shi Ning shook his head and hurriedly turned to look at Ying Huai.

He was just about to say something when, looking at Ying Huai's complexion, he suddenly frowned.

'Are you feeling unwell anywhere right now, shifu?'

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment.

He shook his head reflexively. A gust of breeze blew over, and his body shrank back uncontrollably as he turned his head and coughed a few muffled coughs.

The next second, a warm hand suddenly pressed lightly against his forehead.

'You have a slight fever, Ying Huai.'

Liang Shi Ning said softly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible vexation: 'The wind picked up just now and the temperature dropped a bit. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention...'

Ying Huai only felt a faint ache in his temple, and his vision was slightly dizzy.

He gave his head a slight shake, wanting to say he was fine, but the next second he felt a tickle in his throat and couldn't help turning his head to cough.

He felt the Glasses on the bridge of his nose being gently removed by someone, and immediately after, a slight weight settled on his shoulders.

Liang Shi Ning took off his coat and wrapped the whole of him in it, then helped him up and slowly stood, holding him.

'You can't stay outside any longer, shifu.'

Liang Shi Ning said softly: 'I'll take you back first...'

The instant Ying Huai stood up, he felt the world spin around him.

He stumbled a step at once. Hearing the girl beside him gasp involuntarily, he tried to steady himself, but his feet felt as if they were treading on cotton, going weak in waves.

By the time Ying Huai came back to himself, he felt he had already been steadily lifted up in Liang Shi Ning's arms.

Ying Huai struggled reflexively: 'Put me down, there are still people—'

The girl beside them instantly realized something and beat him to speaking.

'It's fine, it's fine, Teacher Xiao Huai, you two... ahem, you two don't need to mind me, no need at all, I'm very happy to... no, no, I didn't see anything.'

The big golden retriever beside them, none the wiser, still stood there wagging its tail, thinking Ying Huai was still playing with it, and 'woofed' twice before scampering over again.

The girl lunged over and dragged her foolishly delighted big golden retriever back a forced step.

'You don't need to mind me, don't mind me... heh heh heh, cough cough cough.'

Half her body was sprawled over the golden retriever, one hand pressing down for dear life on the excited dog that wanted to keep coming closer, while she covered one eye with the other hand and peeked out through the gaps in her fingers.

She tried hard to press down the corners of her mouth, but they curved up again before long.

'Ah... I may have seen a little bit too, but it's okay, just ignore me.'

Ying Huai barely got past a wave of dizziness and glanced at her, caught between tears and laughter.

He did want to get down and walk himself, but that fluttering palpitation from before hadn't passed yet, and Ying Huai was afraid that the moment he got down, he'd faint right there in front of the two of them.

He held out for a while, then in the end let his body go soft and half-leaned against Liang Shi Ning's shoulder, saying hoarsely: 'All right... then we'll go now. Be safe heading back.'

The girl nodded eagerly, and while Liang Shi Ning held him and turned around, she instantly let go of the hand covering her eyes and straightened up in excitement.

The big golden retriever beside her, watching its owner's movements, couldn't help barking a few times too.

'What do you know — I wasn't peeking on the sly, this was peeking right out in the open... fair and square, all right.'

The girl gave the golden retriever's head a perfunctory pat, pulled out her phone, and quickly opened the fan forum.

[OP: Who gets it, fam! I came out to walk my dog and actually ran into Teacher Xiao Huai and Teacher Liang — out on a date!]

[!!? Really, really? Where, where?]

[Ahhh what kind of divine luck is this, sob sob sob where, I want to go look too!]

['Mimi my good big son' shared a location], but they've already gone back, so coming over now you won't see them, heh heh.]

[Ah, if I remember right, isn't this place a... proposal holy land?]

[!! So did OP see anything?! Are Teacher Xiao Huai and Teacher Liang about to—]

[OP: Ahem, that can't be said, can't be said, but all I can say is... it's probably soon, heh heh.]

·

Ying Huai and Liang Shi Ning had no idea what had happened online.

The fever patches in the car were used up, so Liang Shi Ning stopped at a pharmacy along the way and bought some standard medicine while he was at it, getting Ying Huai to take it first.

Having been fed the medicine by Liang Shi Ning, Ying Huai drifted off into a hazy sleep the moment he got in the car.

His constitution was weak, and catching a chill easily gave him a headache and fever, but generally this kind of low fever came fast and went fast too.

By the time they got back to the Production Team's Villa, Ying Huai had broken out in a sweat all over, and finally no longer had that obvious light-headed, heavy-footed feeling.

Once the wound healed he forgot the pain — he wanted to walk in by himself, but Liang Shi Ning was worried he'd catch a chill again, and despite all his coaxing still carried him in quickly.

'I already told you I'm not that fragile, you don't need to be this nervous.'

Ying Huai had his arms around his neck all the way to the door, then finally couldn't help wanting to struggle down again.

'All right, you can put me down now, right...'

Liang Shi Ning touched his forehead, confirmed the heat had basically gone down, and finally bent down, carefully helping him stand steady.

Ying Huai let out a silent breath.

He let go of Liang Shi Ning's hand and was just about to turn and walk inside when, the next second, he suddenly felt his wrist grabbed again by someone.

'How'd it go, how'd it go, little shidi? Did it work this time?'

Liang Shi Ning beside him sensed something was off and reflexively wanted to stop it, but Xin Wan had already come rushing out the door in a frenzy.

He grabbed Ying Huai's hand and, peering at it carefully, hurriedly said: 'Quick, let me see. I knew you'd definitely agree, but if he dares to bully you, you have to tell me...'

Before he could finish, he saw Ying Huai withdraw his hand, somewhat baffled.

'What are you doing? Shixiong, what do you want to look at?'

Xin Wan was stunned for a moment.

He 'oh-ed' in sudden realization and reached for Ying Huai's other hand: 'Right, right — men left, women right, my mistake, my mistake, it's this hand...'

Before he could finish, the next second, he suddenly saw a hand thrust in from the side, pulling Ying Huai straight behind it.

The next second, a shopping bag was shoved right into Xin Wan's hands.

Xin Wan reflexively reached out to catch it, dazed for a moment: 'What is... this?'

'Fever patches, and a few boxes of motion sickness pills.'

Liang Shi Ning blocked Ying Huai behind him and said in a low, somewhat tense voice.

Xin Wan lifted his head, somewhat baffled: 'What are you giving me this for? I wanted to look at...'

'Isn't this what Teacher Xin was just looking for? Ying Huai just had a slight fever on the way back, nothing else is wrong.'

Liang Shi Ning gritted his teeth and cut him off in a low voice.

He looked at Xin Wan and said, enunciating word by word: 'The other thing... hasn't happened yet.'

Xin Wan went blank for a moment.

He abruptly realized something, and a trace of disbelief flashed across his expression in an instant: 'Hold on, you still haven't...'

Liang Shi Ning shook his head almost imperceptibly.

A trace of disdain surfaced in Xin Wan's expression.

Ying Huai lifted his head somewhat uncomprehendingly, but Liang Shi Ning had already hurriedly turned around, pushing him toward the room ahead of the rest.

·

Fortunately, the two of them hadn't run into anyone the whole way back.

The instant Liang Shi Ning brought him into the room, he finally let out a silent breath of relief — but the next second, he heard the door behind them being shoved open by someone.

'Hey, you're back, beauty — how'd it go today, has Teacher Liang already prop... mmph!'

Before he could finish, the next second, he suddenly felt his mouth clamped shut by someone.

Song Si Lan, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, covered Yu Wu's mouth and gave Ying Huai a somewhat nervous smile.

'Proposed what?' Ying Huai didn't catch it clearly for a moment, and lifted his head, somewhat puzzled. 'What's the matter with you two?'

'Nothing... begging for medicine. He came to beg me for medicine.'

Song Si Lan's mind whirred at top speed, and he gritted his teeth and spoke up quickly.

'Right, he hasn't taken his medicine today, I shouldn't have let him out.'

Ying Huai narrowed his eyes.

However slow-witted he was, by now he too had sensed something was off.

'You two really don't have anything you're hiding from me, do you, Doctor Song?'

Song Si Lan shook his head quickly: 'Nothing, don't overthink it, it really is just Yu Wu... he's gone off the rails again today.'

Song Si Lan kept Yu Wu's mouth firmly covered and gave a teeth-gritted smile: 'I'll lock him... back up right away.'

The moment the words left his mouth, he saw Yu Wu, who had been 'mmph-mmph-ing,' instantly go still, then turn his head in excitement.

Song Si Lan: ...?

Ying Huai: ?

He was stunned for a moment, then said with some hesitation: 'Sorry, I didn't know you two had already progressed to... this point.'

Song Si Lan: ???

He instantly wanted to let go: 'No, we haven't...'

But the next second, his arm was grabbed in turn by Yu Wu, who even rubbed it with a touch neither light nor heavy.

—In that instant Song Si Lan flat-out wanted to call the police.

Ying Huai covered his lips with a muffled cough, forcibly pressing down the corners of his mouth that wanted to curl up.

He looked at the two entangled before him, gave a light cough, and once more put on a serious face, saying softly: 'I know you're under a lot of pressure, Doctor Song, and this is also a way of... relieving it. It's fine, I understand.'

He slowly stood up, forcing back his amusement as he walked over bit by bit, patted Song Si Lan on the shoulder, and said in a low voice: 'Just... be safe.'

Song Si Lan: ...???