Falling Into Water

"Are you......aware of something?" Ying Huai ultimately changed the question.

Memories from his previous life overlapped with the daze of this one. Ying Huai's face gradually went pale.

He couldn't tell reality from illusion. Looking at Liang Shining, he said quietly, "Help me, Liang Shining, it hurts so much......"

Su Yun beside them looked bewildered, but Liang Shining's expression changed in an instant.

—He knew what Ying Huai was asking about.

Liang Shining's hand supporting Ying Huai slowly tightened. He suddenly said, "I've heard that demo."

Ying Huai didn't react for a moment. He was dazed for a beat: "What?"

Liang Shining didn't answer immediately. He lifted the person in his arms a little higher.

Even after taking the medicine, Ying Huai's body was still trembling uncontrollably, his pupils completely unfocused—his consciousness clearly not very lucid.

Liang Shining adjusted his posture so Ying Huai could lean fully against his shoulder, and suddenly began humming a song in a low voice.

Ying Huai lay against Liang Shining's shoulder, his expression slack.

—It was clearly a demo that hadn't taken shape yet, only a few short sections of melody without lyrics, but at the very end there was one line—

"I, too, was once wrapped in endless darkness."

Liang Shining's voice was low, as if carrying endless comfort, letting Ying Huai relax a little without meaning to.

He listened drowsily as Liang Shining said quietly, "Before, during the Cross-Genre Singer Program, there was one recording session where I happened to hear shifu play this Charity Song demo."

"Because of that last line of lyrics, I guessed that shifu must have......experienced it himself."

Ying Huai's mind was a mess.

The memories of participating in the Cross-Genre Singer Program in his previous life were too distant. Ying Huai really couldn't remember whether he had ever let Liang Shining hear this song.

Those desperate memories from his previous life began appearing again and again. A wave of nausea surged up. Ying Huai groaned softly and suddenly covered his mouth, turning his head away.

But Liang Shining didn't move. He half-held Ying Huai, patting his back again and again.

"Shh, shh, it's okay. If you feel sick, just let it out."

Liang Shining soothed the tense person in his arms in a low voice: "It's okay."

But Ying Huai hadn't eaten much today. After dry-heaving for a long time, he only managed to bring up a little bitter water.

He lay weakly against Liang Shining's shoulder, waiting out that wave of nausea, and tried to slowly sit up.

But a breath seemed stuck in his chest, making Ying Huai unable to catch his air, his breathing uncontrollably quickening.

Liang Shining supported him and adjusted his posture, letting him half-sit on his lap.

He continued humming that melody in a low voice, his palm skillfully and slowly pressing and kneading Ying Huai's chest.

After a while, Liang Shining heard the person before him cough weakly a few times, his whole body going limp in an instant.

Liang Shining caught him steadily. His own tense body finally relaxed.

—He knew the breath that had been stuck in Ying Huai's chest had finally eased.

Liang Shining tried to help Ying Huai lie back down, but the person in his arms suddenly began to struggle.

"No, I can't sleep......"

Su Yun beside them tensed up again, but Liang Shining seemed to immediately understand.

"It's okay, I'm here." Liang Shining propped the pillow higher and helped him recline, saying skillfully in a low voice, "I'll watch you. If it happens again, I'll definitely know."

In the last stretch of Ying Huai's previous life, his heart was already overwhelmed. Almost every episode was followed by a long period of chest tightness.

He would often be woken from his faint by the tightness again. Even in sleep, a persistent sense of suffocation clung to him, as if tangled in water weeds beneath the surface, unable to rest.

Over time, Ying Huai grew used to forcing himself to stay awake after an episode, sitting quietly until the sky brightened at dawn.

"Sleep a little longer," Liang Shining said quietly. "I'll watch over you. Don't be afraid."

The person half-leaning against the pillow kept his head lowered in silence, unclear whether he was unconscious or awake.

The fingers at his side curled weakly. After a long moment, they trembled slightly.

"Who gave you these Hongyu Earrings?" Ying Huai suddenly asked softly.

Liang Shining was silent for a moment.

The dull ache in his heart continued. Ying Huai felt his consciousness being pulled little by little into a stupor.

His eyes unfocused, he gazed at Liang Shining and murmured drowsily, "It looks like the one I broke in my previous life......"

"Why didn't you come save me sooner in my previous life, Liang Shining."

Liang Shining's fingers suddenly clenched.

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he saw the person before him take two shallow breaths, his head slowly and weakly tilting to one side.

—Ying Huai finally fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

Liang Shining's tightly clenched fingers slowly loosened.

He reached out and slowly brushed the stray hairs from Ying Huai's forehead. After a long moment, he said quietly, "You gave them to me."

·

The room fell silent again. Liang Shining sat quietly by the bed for a few seconds, then turned to look at Su Yun beside him.

The rest of the staff were waiting outside the door. Only Su Yun, for some reason, still stood tensely at the foot of the bed.

"Teacher Ying, is Teacher Ying okay now?" Su Yun asked carefully.

Liang Shining shook his head slightly: "For now."

The heart that had been hanging in Su Yun's chest finally eased a little.

"Teacher Liang, you really understand Teacher Ying well." Su Yun couldn't help saying.

Liang Shining's hand supporting Ying Huai trembled.

"Not enough," he said with some difficulty. "......Still, too late."

—All of his understanding of Ying Huai had been wrung from the doctors at the Sanatorium after Ying Huai's death.

Su Yun was a little confused. He thought Liang Shining was talking about now: "Not late, not late. As soon as Teacher Ying felt unwell, I called you over."

Su Yun let out a breath and dropped into the chair beside him: "Teacher Ying looked so scary just now, I was really worried to death. Good thing you came in time, Teacher Liang."

Liang Shining suddenly looked up at him: "Why did you call me over?"

Su Yun was taken aback.

"Because when Teacher Ying was unconscious just now, he called your name." Su Yun said quietly.

Liang Shining was stunned.

He listened as Su Yun hesitantly continued: "Teacher Ying seemed to say something like 'why......didn't you save' you, but I didn't really hear it clearly......"

The color drained from Liang Shining's face in an instant.

As Su Yun spoke, he finally realized something and abruptly stood up.

"So did you bully Teacher Ying before, Teacher Liang?" Su Yun stammered. "Then, then just now—"

For a moment he didn't know what to say. He bit his lip, stepped forward, and planted himself directly between Liang Shining and Ying Huai.

Liang Shining: ?

"Teacher Liang, Teacher Ying is really a good person. Those scandals must all be slander. If you don't believe it, if you don't believe it......"

Su Yun squeezed his eyes shut and said through gritted teeth: "Even if you don't believe it, wait until Teacher Ying's better before you bully him. Otherwise, otherwise you'll have to get through me first—"

Liang Shining was silent for two seconds: "Did you see me bully Ying Huai just now?"

Su Yun was taken aback. He blankly opened his eyes: "No......"

Liang Shining silently watched Su Yun before him. After hesitating for two seconds, Su Yun said quietly, "But I'm afraid you were just putting on an act for the cameras just now......"

As he spoke, Su Yun glanced up at the ceiling, only to find that the cameras in the room had all been turned off at some point.

"Ying Huai doesn't want anyone else to know about his condition," Liang Shining said quietly. "I turned them all off when I came in."

Su Yun was stunned for a moment.

"So Teacher Ying is really sick?" Su Yun asked softly. "Why doesn't he want anyone to know? If other people knew he was sick, maybe they wouldn't bully him so much......"

Liang Shining didn't answer immediately. He gently stroked Ying Huai's slightly cool fingertips and said quietly, "Maybe he doesn't want to worry others."

The room fell quiet for a moment. Liang Shining reached out to confirm Ying Huai didn't have a fever, when he suddenly heard Su Yun speak again.

"I won't tell anyone else either," Su Yun said slowly. "I'll help Teacher Ying keep the secret."

A flicker of surprise crossed Liang Shining's expression.

Su Yun didn't press for details about Ying Huai's condition as he'd expected, nor did he, like others might, take the opportunity to hold something over Ying Huai.

Liang Shining recalled how Su Yun had dared to step in front of him even knowing the cameras were on, and thoughtfully raised his head.

"You treat Ying Huai very well."

Su Yun was startled: "Ah, of course."

"Teacher Ying is so good to me. I really like Teacher Ying."

Liang Shining narrowed his eyes.

Su Yun didn't notice the sudden hint of jealousy in Liang Shining.

He clenched his fists and said earnestly, "I'll pay more attention to Teacher Ying's condition from now on. If he feels unwell, I'll definitely tell you, Teacher Liang."

"Teacher Liang, please stay here and keep Teacher Ying company tonight. I'll go tell the Production Team......"

As Su Yun spoke and stood up, Liang Shining suddenly interrupted: "No need. You keep resting."

"His condition tonight should be stable now. Nothing else will happen."

Liang Shining slowly stood. "When he wakes up, he probably won't remember what happened tonight. You don't need to tell him I came."

Liang Shining turned to glance at the Medicine Bottle on Ying Huai's table and frowned slightly.

He had a feeling something was off about Ying Huai's condition, different from his usual episodes: "I'll go find the Production Team's medical staff."

Su Yun stood frozen, unable to react for a moment.

Watching Liang Shining walk straight toward the door, he blurted out, "Teacher Liang, are you really sure you don't want to stay?"

Liang Shining's steps paused.

After a few seconds, he shook his head slightly.

"No need."

"Ying Huai probably......doesn't want to see me."

·

The Director had given them half a day off after yesterday's livestream ended, but despite Liang Shining's earnest explanations, the Production Team refused for some reason to let Ying Huai go to the Hospital for another checkup.

Fortunately, Liang Shining's intervention last night had been timely. When Ying Huai woke this morning, aside from some lingering tightness in his chest, he didn't feel too unwell.

His memories of last night were vague. Ying Huai only remembered that at first he seemed to be pressed down hard under water, unable to catch a breath.

Later, someone lifted him out of the water, humming a familiar melody in a low voice, letting him slowly calm down.

Ying Huai sat on the bed, staring somewhat dazedly at the tightly tucked corners of the blanket, and for some reason felt the technique was familiar.

"Teacher Ying, you're finally awake!" A delighted voice suddenly came from beside him.

Ying Huai turned his head and watched Su Yun scramble off the bed beside him, running over with quick thump-thump-thump footsteps.

Before Ying Huai could react, he watched Su Yun reach over and feel his forehead with practiced ease, then visibly relax. 'Good, good, no fever.'

Ying Huai: ?

The next second, a cup of warm water was suddenly pressed into his hand.

Ying Huai: ??

—This habit of slipping warm water or a hot water bottle into his hands at any given moment felt even more familiar.

"Did I have an episode last night?" Ying Huai set the water aside and spoke slowly.

Only when he spoke did he realize how hoarse his voice was. Ying Huai turned his head and coughed, hesitated a moment, and in the end still didn't drink the warm water Su Yun had handed him.

—After what happened in his last life, he really couldn't bring himself to casually trust someone he'd only met a day ago.

Su Yun nodded. "You couldn't catch your breath all night, like your chest was really uncomfortable the whole time."

He glanced at the warm water beside him, hesitated, then said quietly: "Teacher Ying, have some water to soothe your throat. This water, I... no, someone, left it out for a long time, specially prepared for you."

Ying Huai gave him a thoughtful look.

Su Yun swallowed. Watching Ying Huai slowly pick up the cup of warm water, he suddenly spoke: "Was it you taking care of me last night?"

Su Yun froze.

Even without cameras, he still didn't want to claim credit for Liang Shining's work.

Unfortunately Su Yun's mind worked slowly, and he couldn't come up with a lie on the spot. After hesitating a while, he spoke blankly again: "Y-you, have a sip of warm water."

Ying Huai couldn't help laughing. "Are you pressuring me to drink? You absolutely insist I take a sip."

Su Yun opened his mouth soundlessly, only to see Ying Huai brace himself against the bed, stand up slowly, and walk out.

"W-where are you going?" Su Yun hurried to follow.

"Going to the kitchen to find some real alcohol," Ying Huai said casually, holding the cup. "Want to come?"

Su Yun choked.

"Y-you can't drink right now, your body—" Su Yun hurried to stop him, "and the kitchen, the kitchen—"

The house the production team had arranged for them was inside the Villa, and the kitchen was very close by.

He followed Ying Huai around a corner, and before he could finish speaking, heard Ying Huai say teasingly: "Good morning, Mr. Liang."

In the kitchen, Liang Shining, wearing an apron, froze mid-motion. Su Yun closed his eyes in despair.

Ying Huai slowly took a sip of warm water, his eyes curving with an unreadable expression.

·

"Mr. Liang is in quite the mood, coming to the kitchen so early in the morning."

Ying Huai leaned half against the counter, looking at the aproned man before him, and spoke at a leisurely pace.

In his memory, Liang Shining normally either wore a stiff, proper suit or an all-black casual outfit.

—Nicely put, an ascetic type; less nicely, cold and austere.

Now Ying Huai looked at the man who, for once, had been dragged into a relationship with a yellow duck and a pink frilly apron, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Liang Shining was stunned for a few seconds.

He opened his mouth soundlessly, then the next moment saw Ying Huai step forward and extend his hand directly toward him.

Liang Shining blinked. "What?"

"The spatula," Ying Huai said unhurriedly. "I'm making breakfast."

Liang Shining was stunned for a few seconds, then said quietly: "You just had an episode last night, go lie down again..."

Before he could finish, he saw Ying Huai suddenly look up with a half-smile: "How does Mr. Liang know I had an episode last night?"

Liang Shining's words came to an abrupt halt.

He was silent for a few seconds, then said slowly: "I guessed. Let me make breakfast, you're not feeling well—"

"I'm not used to Teacher Liang's cooking." Ying Huai spoke lazily.

Liang Shining's mind went slightly frantic. He stared at Ying Huai and said instinctively: "You won't blow up the kitchen, will you?"

Ying Huai: .......

Ying Huai took a deep breath, then suddenly stepped forward and reached out to wrap his arms directly around Liang Shining's waist.

Liang Shining's entire body instantly went rigid.

He was about to say something when a voice carrying a hint of anger came from not far away: "What are you doing?"

Lu Jing strode up to Ying Huai and Liang Shining, phone clutched in his hand.

Ying Huai lifted his eyelids and gave Lu Jing a lazy glance. He waited for Lu Jing to scold him for being shameless as usual, but the next second heard Lu Jing force down his anger and speak.

"What did you do to Xiao Huai, Liang Shining?"

Ying Huai's expression went blank for a moment.

Seeing Liang Shining not answer, Lu Jing had already imagined a hundred scenarios of Ying Huai being unwell and Liang Shining taking advantage of the situation.

He reached out to pull the two apart, but the next second saw Ying Huai straighten up unhurriedly and tie the apron from Liang Shining's waist around his own.

"Has shixiong forgotten? Mr. Liang hates me just as much as shixiong does."

Ying Huai glanced at Lu Jing and curved his lips. "Is shixiong worried about this because he hasn't woken up yet this morning?"

Liang Shining frowned slightly. Lu Jing's mind went blank.

He looked at the apron now tied around Ying Huai's waist, was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly said: "Xiao Huai, do you want to blow up the kitchen?"

Ying Huai: ......?

—He really wanted to know where all these rumors had come from.

"Mr. Liang and shixiong better stay away from me," Ying Huai said through a tight smile. "So I don't blow up the kitchen and hurt the innocent."

Lu Jing opened his mouth soundlessly.

Liang Shining said nothing more, silently stepping back, and looked at Su Yun beside him who was also retreating in big strides.

Having failed to stop him, Su Yun was on the verge of tears. After holding it in for a long time, inspiration suddenly struck and he spoke again: "Teacher Ying drank some water just now!"

Liang Shining: "......oh."

Ying Huai narrowed his eyes slightly.

·

Neither Liang Shining nor Lu Jing said anything more, but both silently waited nearby, ready at any moment to put out a fire if Ying Huai blew up the kitchen.

But they hadn't expected Ying Huai actually knew how to cook.

—And quite well, at that.

Freshly ground soy milk paired with steaming-hot shaomai instantly stirred up an appetite.

"Teacher Ying, let me cut some fruit for you." Having failed to keep anything from Ying Huai, Su Yun had been feeling guilty for a long time, and had finally found a chance to be of some help.

Liang Shining, seeing this, also wanted to step forward, but the next second had a plate shoved directly into his hands.

Liang Shining's movements paused.

He lowered his head and stared blankly at the steaming shaomai in his hands.

"Thanks to Mr. Liang for the hot water you prepared for me this morning," Ying Huai said, handing over the soy milk as he spoke, then looked up with a half-smile. "And last night—when I had the episode, you took care of me."

Liang Shining's expression stiffened for a moment.

He instinctively tried to deny it: "I didn't..."

Ying Huai looked up, somewhat baffled, stared at Liang Shining for a few seconds, then said with sudden realization: "Ah, I get it now."

"This breakfast really can't fully repay what I owe Mr. Liang, so I can grant Mr. Liang one request."

Ying Huai tapped a finger against the glass cup and said softly: "As long as it doesn't cross my personal principles, I'll agree to anything."

Ying Huai didn't know exactly what Liang Shining wanted, but after what happened in his last life, he really shouldn't be entangled with Liang Shining in any way.

—Let alone owe Liang Shining a favor in front of the cameras.

Liang Shining came back to himself and finally realized Ying Huai had misunderstood.

His expression darkened. "What are you saying, Ying Huai, I'm not..."

"Still not enough?" Ying Huai blinked, confused, and looked up.

Liang Shining took a deep breath.

He wanted to say more to Ying Huai, but looking at Ying Huai's still-pale face, he ultimately fell silent.

Liang Shining lowered his head and took a frustrated bite of the shaomai on his plate.

Ying Huai: ?

He began trying to recall whether there was something key from last night he hadn't remembered.

Last night's memories were a confused mess. Ying Huai could only vaguely recall the parts where Liang Shining had mentioned a "demo."

He knew Liang Shining wasn't reborn, and didn't know whether the feeling was more disappointment or more relief.

Ying Huai had had little appetite to begin with that morning because of his heart, and now he couldn't eat anything at all.

He sighed soundlessly, stood up from the dining table, and walked back to the kitchen.

"You go eat, I'll clean up." Ying Huai took the plate from Su Yun's hands and spoke quietly.

Su Yun instinctively wanted to refuse, but looking at Ying Huai's expression, he didn't dare say it out loud for the moment.

He blankly said "oh," turned to walk outside, then suddenly turned back: "Should I bring Teacher Lu his breakfast too..."

"He doesn't get any," Ying Huai turned on the faucet and said without looking up. "Only people who work get to eat."

Lu Jing: ?

He instinctively wanted to say something, but the next second, Lu Father's phone call came through again.

Lu Jing closed his eyes, turned, and walked out of the kitchen, reaching for the call.

'Lu Jing, do you still want the position of heir or not?' Lu's father's gloomy voice suddenly came through the phone.

Lu Jing was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said: "Was yesterday's artificial blood plasma father's doing?"

Lu Jing hadn't thought much of that "accident" when he'd seen it yesterday.

It wasn't until Ying Huai suddenly had an episode that night, and he recalled Ying Huai's strange expression at the time, that Lu Jing finally realized belatedly that something was off.

Lu Father paused. "What?"

Lu Father's reaction clearly showed he didn't know. Lu Jing fell silent and said nothing more.

But Lu Father grew angry again: "Don't try to change the subject on me, Lu Jing. Look at how you've botched everything I told you to do."

Since the failed negotiation in Ying Huai's office last time, Lu Father had been looking for a chance to retaliate.

But Lu Jing, who had always been obedient to him, had for some reason been repeatedly defying his orders lately, and the previous attempt to expose Ying Huai's dirt had been turned against him.

Lu Father chalked all of this up to Ying Huai. Having had his face slapped by Ying Huai again and again, the resentment in his heart had reached its peak.

"I know, you still want the heir position, don't you." Lu Father laughed coldly.

Lu Jing was silent and didn't answer. Lu Father took it as acquiescence.

He said unhurriedly: "I'll give you one more week. After one week, I'll announce the final result for the Lu Family Heir Announcement."

"During this week, you'd better do as I say."

·

On the other side, Ying Huai had just picked up the fruit knife when a hand suddenly reached out from beside him and took everything from his hand.

"Go eat breakfast." Liang Shining stood in front of the sink and said in a muffled voice.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then looked up with a mix of amusement and helplessness: "What exactly are you doing, Liang Shining?"

"You said it yourself just now—people who don't work don't get to eat." Liang Shining said calmly.

"I'll do the work."

Ying Huai was at a loss for words.

—He hadn't expected that the taciturn person who used to be unable to squeeze out a single word from ten sentences could now use his own words to argue back.

Ying Huai was almost exasperated into laughter. His peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned directly against the counter.

"I'm not hungry. I don't want to eat."

Liang Shining had long since become adept at handling Ying Huai, this "difficult eater."

Without looking up, he said: "I brought Mint Chocolate over."

Ying Huai's eyes lit up.

He listened as Liang Shining slowly said: "Finish your breakfast, and I'll give you some."

Ying Huai's eyes darted around.

He tried to bargain: "Give me one piece first, and I'll go eat."

Liang Shining laughed in spite of himself and looked up.

The person beside him had sparkling peach blossom eyes, like a cat that had pounced on a little fish, wagging its tail and refusing to let go.

Liang Shining couldn't help the smile deepening in his eyes: "But I can't remember where the chocolate is right now."

He said unhurriedly: "Only after you finish eating might I remember."

The moment Liang Shining finished speaking, he watched the wagging cat tail instantly droop down.

Ying Huai gritted his teeth and finally turned back to the table, not noticing the smile deepening at Liang Shining's lips.

·

The variety show's first breakfast ended amid the belated wailing of Xin Wan.

The Director, having tasted the sweetness of live streaming on the first day, cheerfully gathered everyone who had "eaten and drunk their fill" and turned on the stream again.

"Although we're a lifestyle group variety show, each day will have a small task theme, and the entire first season has one big theme."

The Director tapped his script: "Because each of you has some singing talent to a greater or lesser degree, and the last day of the show happens to be New Year's, the theme for the whole season is 'Welcoming the New Year with Song and Dance.'"

"We need everyone to jointly complete a small-scale Concert on the final episode."

The others had no particular reaction, but Liang Shining noticed that when the Director mentioned "Concert," Ying Huai's body trembled uncontrollably.

"What's wrong?" Liang Shining turned his head quickly.

Ying Huai shook his head, his face still somewhat pale, but said nothing.

The live stream's bullet comments immediately began discussing.

[Wow, a Concert! I've never heard Lu Jing and Xin Wan sing, only seen a few clips from their pre-debut streams!]

[Feels like Ying Huai hasn't had a singing stage in a long time either. Although there's a lot of scandal, he really sings well www]

[And doesn't this make up for the regret that Ying Huai and the others didn't debut as a group? (holding pot lid)]

[? Lu Jing doesn't want to be teammates with Ying Huai, don't talk nonsense.]

[Don't drag our Xin ge into this, not happening.]

[Swear Brother: Yes, why not! Why won't you let Xin Wan play!]

[Yo, Swear Brother is back? What have you been busy with these days?]

[Swear Brother: Busy chasing my shidi...... ahem, what I've been busy with isn't important. The important thing is that Xin Wan must be in the collaboration stage with Ying Huai!]

[Quietly, can I dream of a collaboration stage between Liang-laoshi and Ying Huai? The Cross-Genre Singer Program originally had one for the finals, but Le Xi ruined it sob.]

[Speaking of which, how can Le Xi still appear on variety shows?]

[Connections, I heard he's backed by Lu Father. See who dares touch him.]

The Director beside them continued cheerfully: "And today's theme is 'Treasure Hunt.'"

"Six people divided into three teams, each team will have a treasure map. Follow the map's route to check in at each point in order, similar to orienteering. The team that returns to check in at the finish line with me first wins."

Le Xi asked curiously: "Are there any benefits for winning?"

The Director smiled meaningfully: "Many benefits."

"Each episode's theme task is tied to the final Concert. Winners can gain advantages in the Concert, such as priority in choosing the recording studio, partners, etc."

"And—" The Director looked around and suddenly smiled, "I imagine everyone had a good breakfast this morning, right?"

"The first team back gets priority in choosing dinner ingredients. The last team back—gets no ingredients."

Lu Jing, Xin Wan, and Le Xi, who hadn't eaten their fill: ???

The Director looked at the expressions of the people before him and laughed gleefully: "So if you don't want to go to bed hungry, you'd better try harder."

Today there was only half a day of recording time, so the Director decided to use a lottery to determine the groups.

The final lottery result was: Lu Jing and Su Yun, Liang Shining and Le Xi, Ying Huai and Xin Wan.

Ying Huai's expression didn't change, but Xin Wan's face was full of undisguised excitement.

"Don't worry, little shidi, shixiong will definitely not let you go hungry!"

Xin Wan said proudly: "Shixiong promises to bring you the best food and drink."

Ying Huai said expressionlessly: "Does shixiong know how to read a map?"

Xin Wan was stunned: "What map?"

—He hadn't been listening to the Director's specific game rules at all just now, only being excited about being grouped with Ying Huai.

Ying Huai was silent for two seconds, then slowly said: "After all these years, shixiong wouldn't still be directionally challenged, would you?"

Xin Wan nodded somewhat blankly.

Ying Huai took a deep breath.

"It's fine, I'll read the map and find the way, you handle the running and checking in." Ying Huai took the map and pressed lightly on his chest.

He had just had an episode last night, and his heart was still somewhat uncomfortable. Walking around normally was fine, but today's speed-based game, he really couldn't handle it well.

—Good thing he had Xin Wan, this big dummy, to run for him.

Xin Wan's expression became excited again.

Ying Huai lowered his head and seriously studied the map, not noticing Le Xi beside them glancing their way for a long time, then suddenly turning to look at the Director.

"Director, is the route different for each map?"

"Of course, to prevent the three teams from discussing with each other." The Director said smugly.

"Then are the total locations still the same? Just the order changed?" Le Xi asked casually, pretending nothing was amiss.

The Director found it somewhat strange but still nodded: "Pretty much—alright, stop asking. If you're young, you have to stay awake and work hard, no shortcuts!"

Le Xi obediently nodded, his gaze turning toward Ying Huai, a hint of viciousness appearing in his expression.

·

The routes for the three groups were all different. The Director gave each group a GoPro (action camera), distributed identical team uniforms, and watched as the three groups dispersed in different directions.

Xin Wan's athletic ability was indeed strong. Ying Huai leisurely studied the next checkpoint in the back, while Xin Wan, carrying the check-in booklet, had already huffing and puffing run back from the previous one.

In less than two hours, they had already completed half the route.

"The next checkpoint is by the lake," Ying Huai breathed into his hands and coughed softly a few times. "It should be not far ahead."

Xin Wan grabbed the GoPro and ran forward without a word.

But before he had run two steps, he suddenly heard Ying Huai speak again from behind: "Wait!"

Xin Wan turned around, watching Ying Huai frown as he looked at the lakeside, and slowly said: "The checkpoint should be somewhere not far from the lake. Be careful, don't fall in."

It had just entered winter, and the ice on the lake hadn't fully frozen. Ying Huai had a bad feeling looking at the lakeside and couldn't help but speak up to warn him.

He had said it casually, but hadn't expected Xin Wan to be stunned for a few seconds, his expression suddenly becoming excited: "Is little shidi worried about me?"

Ying Huai: "......No."

Xin Wan completely didn't care what Ying Huai was saying. His whole person suddenly filled with overflowing energy: "So little shidi actually cares about me this much. Don't worry, shixiong definitely won't fall in, won't let little shidi worry."

Ying Huai was already starting to regret that reminder: "Even if you fell in, I wouldn't save you."

Xin Wan said with a grin: "Saying one thing and meaning another. Little shidi swims so well, you'd definitely come save me."

He suddenly stepped forward, took off Ying Huai's hat, and swapped it with his own.

Xin Wan's hat was a size bigger than Ying Huai's, completely covering Ying Huai's eyes.

Xin Wan watched the person before him, like a kitten pawing at something, struggling to expose his eyes, and asked inexplicably: "What are you doing?"

"My hat is warmer," Xin Wan said unhurriedly. "To prevent you from freezing later, I'll reluctantly give you my hat."

Ying Huai couldn't stand it anymore: "If you don't go check in, I'll go."

Xin Wan quickly turned and ran back.

But after running a few steps, he suddenly thought of something, turned back to look at Ying Huai and said teasingly: "Since little shidi is so worried about me, why did you abandon us back then and jump to Liangshi Group?"

Ying Huai was stunned.

The next second, he directly raised his foot and walked forward: "No need to trouble shixiong. I'll go check in, shixiong can study the map yourself."

"I was joking," Xin Wan suddenly laughed. He held up the GoPro and waved it at Ying Huai, saying unhurriedly: "But little shidi—"

"I will definitely keep clinging to you until you tell me why you betrayed us back then."

·

On the other side, Le Xi, who had just finished checking in at the lakeside, heard a familiar voice on the way back and suddenly turned to look at Liang Shining.

"Shining-ge, I think I dropped my pen at the checkpoint by the lake."

Liang Shining turned around without a word, but Le Xi suddenly stopped him.

"I'll go back and find the pen myself. Shining-ge doesn't need to run back and forth with me."

Le Xi said while stuffing the GoPro into Liang Shining's hands, then quickly turned and ran back: "Shining-ge help me hold my things, I'll be right back."

·

Xin Wan had already run out of sight. Ying Huai studied the map while slowly walking toward the checkpoint.

The next checkpoint was basically on the other side of the lake. Ying Huai wanted to call out to Xin Wan to hurry up, but when he looked up, he suddenly froze.

—There was no sign of Xin Wan ahead.

Ying Huai frowned.

Xin Wan's speed was always very fast. Usually, before Ying Huai had walked a third of the way to the checkpoint, Xin Wan would have already run back.

—But at this point, Ying Huai had already leisurely walked most of the way, and Xin Wan still hadn't appeared.

Ying Huai had a vague premonition of something bad.

He put away the map and walked forward quickly, when suddenly he heard a voice from beside him.

'Ying Huai?'

Ying Huai was startled. He turned his head and saw Liang Shining not far away.

'Why are you here alone?' Ying Huai's premonition of something bad grew stronger. 'Where's Le Xi?'

'Le Xi went back to look for something.' Liang Shining looked at Ying Huai's slightly pale face and frowned. 'Where do you feel unwell? Where did Xin Wan go......'

Before he finished speaking, he saw Ying Huai's expression shift, and Ying Huai quickly ran toward the lake.

Liang Shining was confused. He instinctively took a few steps to follow, but Le Xi's voice suddenly came from nearby.

'Shining gege, where are you going?'

Le Xi somehow ran out from the nearby woods, pulling Liang Shining in the opposite direction.

'I already found the pen, Shining gege, let's hurry to the next spot.'

Le Xi was panting all over, his expression especially tense, as if he had been running at full speed.

He seemed afraid Liang Shining would look back, pulling him forward quickly.

'That was Uncle Xin just now, right? They don't even know which check-in point this is. We need to hurry!'

'That was Ying Huai just now.' Liang Shining glanced back, but Ying Huai's figure had already disappeared.

He turned his head, only to find Le Xi's expression had stiffened for some reason.

'That was...... Teacher Ying just now?' Le Xi said in disbelief. 'But wasn't he wearing Xin Wan's hat......'

Liang Shining hadn't paid any attention to what hat Xin Wan was wearing. He frowned: 'How do you know that was Xin Wan's?'

Le Xi's expression stiffened for a moment.

He laughed nervously, pulling Liang Shining forward even faster: 'I just noticed at the beginning. Maybe he and Teacher Ying swapped hats.'

'It's fine, Shining gege, let's hurry to the next spot......'

Before Le Xi finished speaking, the next second, he suddenly felt Liang Shining's footsteps stop abruptly.

Le Xi raised his head in some panic, meeting Liang Shining's slightly dark expression: 'What did you just do, Le Xi.'

A flash of inexplicable panic crossed Le Xi's expression, but he still pretended to look nonchalant: 'I didn't do anything, Shining gege, what are you talking about......'

Before he finished speaking, he watched Liang Shining shake off his hand and quickly stride toward the lake.

A trace of resentment uncontrollably flickered across Le Xi's expression. He gritted his teeth, but in the end still turned and followed.

·

Lakeside.

The check-in spot was set on a wooden bridge over the lake, suspended above the water, but at this moment there was no one there.

Ying Huai quickly circled the area, but couldn't find any sign of Xin Wan.

—Only found a GoPro smashed by a rock.

Ying Huai half-bent over, pressing his chest as he gasped for breath, and looked up at the trees.

Sure enough, the cameras in view had all been smashed by rocks, clearly unusable.

Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly, crouched down, and carefully wrapped the GoPro in his hat,

When Liang Shining had said Le Xi had returned to the lake alone, he had realized something was wrong.

In this life, because of Liang Shining, Le Xi, and Su Yun's joining, and because he had kicked Le Xi out early, the variety show's trajectory was different from the previous life.

Ying Huai hadn't expected Le Xi to be so desperate as to dare to make a move against him so openly on the variety show.

He and Xin Wan were both wearing team uniforms of the same color today. Xin Wan was a bit taller than him, but they had similar builds, and Xin Wan was wearing his hat.....

The water surface beside him suddenly made a soft splash, a small ripple appearing, then gradually spreading into waves.

Ying Huai quickly caught that faint sound.

He quickly walked to the wooden bridge, stared at the spreading ripples for a few seconds, and sighed helplessly: 'I told you, if you fall in the water I absolutely won't save you.'

As he spoke, he took off his padded jacket and hat, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Ying Huai stood outside the wooden bridge railing, glancing back one last time at the small woods by the lake.

—Not a single figure in the woods, and the ripples on the lake surface were gradually settling.

Ying Huai took a deep breath and casually curved his lips.

'I told you, I don't want to save you at all.'

The next second, he jumped without hesitation.

·

The early winter water was bone-chillingly cold. The moment he entered the lake, Ying Huai immediately felt his fragile heart tighten.

He frowned.

He was actually a decent swimmer. In his previous life, when his heart problems weren't so severe yet, Ying Huai had liked to go swimming alone.

But later his heart couldn't support any more exercise, and swimming was shelved.

Ying Huai wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on. He took a deep breath and quickly dove down.

Xin Wan was slowly sinking toward the bottom.

He wasn't a very good swimmer. He must have struggled for a long time, but the lake water was simply too cold. In the end he exhausted all his strength and still couldn't make it to shore.

Ying Huai felt his heart beating faster and faster.

He quickly grabbed Xin Wan's hand and struggled to swim upward.

The next second, a blurry figure suddenly appeared before him, urgently reaching out a hand toward him, signaling for Ying Huai to hand Xin Wan over.

Ying Huai was dazed for a moment, then belatedly recognized that the person was Le Xi.

He didn't know why Le Xi had appeared here again, but he was nearly exhausted. If he kept dragging Xin Wan, neither of them might make it up.

Ying Huai gritted his teeth, dove down a bit to support Xin Wan's waist, and tried to push him upward.

He saw Le Xi grab Xin Wan and swim steadily upward, and silently breathed a sigh of relief. With his last breath, he quickly floated toward the surface.

But the next second, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his waist.

Ying Huai was instantly in pain, uncontrollably choking on a mouthful of water.

He raised his eyes and watched Le Xi, using the force of kicking him, swim rapidly upward without looking back.

·

'Shining gege, I found Uncle Xin!' Le Xi surfaced from the lake supporting Xin Wan, shouting toward Liang Shining in the water on the other side.

When he had followed Liang Shining to the lake earlier, Liang Shining had seen Ying Huai's discarded clothes and jumped in without a word.

Le Xi stamped his foot helplessly and could only follow.

He and Liang Shining had split up to search, and unexpectedly good luck had finally favored him, letting him find Ying Huai and Xin Wan first.

Le Xi glanced subtly at the dim water surface and spoke to Liang Shining again: 'Shining gege, hurry to shore, the water is too cold......'

Before Le Xi finished speaking, Liang Shining coldly interrupted: 'Where's Ying Huai?'

Le Xi pretended to shake his head in panic: 'I didn't find him either. Shining gege, you take Uncle Xin to shore first and find the Production Team for rescue. I'll keep looking......'

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly saw Liang Shining swim up beside him, take a deep breath, and dive straight down.

·

Ying Huai's consciousness was muddled.

His survival instinct told his subconscious to keep swimming up, but his body, at the brink of its limits, was telling him it was impossible to make it up.

Ying Huai was gradually unable to catch his breath. The breath he'd held earlier was nearly spent, and there was even a pressure stuck in his chest, making it feel heavy and uncomfortable.

He inexplicably felt it was a bit laughable.

—The few months he'd picked up for free in this life, in the end still had to be given back.

Ying Huai's hands struggled to paddle a few times in the icy water.

But his hands and feet had gone numb from the cold, his vision gradually blurred, his whole body twitched once, the last spark of light in his peach-blossom eyes faded, and he slowly closed his eyes.

—He really shouldn't have saved Xin Wan.

At the very last moment of consciousness, Ying Huai helplessly curved his lips.

He didn't see that the next second, a hand suddenly reached over, quickly wrapped around his waist, and carried him rapidly upward.

·

That night, Ying Huai and Xin Wan were sent straight to the ICU by ambulance.

Xin Wan's constitution was ultimately better; he had only suffered some drowning and frostbite, and was soon out of danger.

But Ying Huai's situation was much more dangerous.

He had just had a heart attack last night, and the cold stimulation this time had caused his heart condition to flare up again directly. On the way to the Hospital, he had even experienced a cardiac arrest.

Liang Shining sat in the ambulance wrapped in a blanket, watching the person on the stretcher jerk upward for an instant with the defibrillator, then fall back weakly.

—Like an abandoned rag doll.

He lowered his eyes, watching Ying Huai's fingers hang limply from the stretcher, the tips blue-white from cold, curling slightly without sensation.

Liang Shining's body began trembling uncontrollably.

He wanted to warm Ying Huai's fingertips, but worried about delaying his emergency treatment.

The next second, Liang Shining heard the medical personnel beside him speak rapidly.

'Good, good, there's a heartbeat!'

'Quick, quick, check the blood pressure, push the adrenaline—'

Liang Shining silently exhaled, only then feeling the dizziness from oxygen deprivation caused by his unconsciously held breath.

He slowly reached out and hooked Ying Huai's fingertip, gently shook it, as if making a decision.

The medical personnel rushed the person out the moment the ambulance doors opened. Liang Shining slowly stepped down, looking toward his manager Li Xiang who had hurried over.

'Liang ge, are you okay?'

Li Xiang had been nearly frantic when he received the news and rushed over. He pushed Liang Shining toward the inside of the Hospital.

'How could this happen? How did Ying Huai and Xin Wan suddenly fall in the water? Didn't the Production Team take safety measures—'

'It wasn't the Production Team,' Liang Shining said calmly. 'Someone deliberately pushed them into the water.'

Li Xiang was startled.

He couldn't help cursing directly: 'What, who the hell—'

But the next second, Liang Shining's words made him swallow that curse back in fright.

'Help me contact the Liangshi Group legal team.'

Li Xiang's words stuck in his throat.

He couldn't help saying: 'But this has nothing to do with you......'

'But it has to do with Ying Huai.' Liang Shining said quietly.

Li Xiang was momentarily stunned.

He hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly said: 'Liang ge, you couldn't possibly... like Teacher Ying, could you?'