In-Laws

The venue was noisy, and no one noticed anything unusual in the room Le Xi had just entered.

Only Lu Jing hesitated a few seconds, then walked over after all.

Liang Father stared at the two of them, his expression slightly dark.

The Liang Family had many subsidiaries under its name, including the Lu Family and Zhang Family, and Liang Father had single-handedly built the entire Liang Family business empire.

Liang Mu came from a family of calligraphy and painting, and Liang Shining had been immersed in it from childhood, with extremely high attainments in calligraphy, painting, and art.

Both of them had expected Liang Shining to either inherit his mother's mantle or take over his father's company, but unexpectedly, Liang Shining had entered the entertainment industry for the first time ever.

Although Liang Father was very dissatisfied with this, under Liang Mu's "persuasion," he ultimately respected his son's decision.

And Liang Shining had indeed carved out his own world.

Liang Father spoke dismissively, but during holidays he would subtly brag about his son to others.

Outwardly disdainful, secretly he watched every episode of Liang Shining's dramas, paying close attention.

This was also why when Li Xiang returned to the company last time to mobilize the legal team Liang Shining had personally cultivated, Liang Father immediately learned of it.

Li Xiang knew of Liang Shining's unique protective instinct toward Ying Huai, and tried to stammer his way through, but he hadn't expected that Liang Father, who had watched many idol dramas, would piece together an entire drama from Li Xiang's ambiguous half-words.

"So this is why you didn't dare bring him home?" Liang Father sneered. "Casually keeping a boyfriend in the entertainment industry?"

It was the first time Ying Huai had heard anyone say such a thing about him, and his first reaction was not even anger, but laughter.

"Uncle, you really are flattering me." Ying Huai said with a half-smile.

Liang Father snorted: "Of course I'm flattering you—"

"You've misunderstood," Ying Huai turned his head, a flash of amusement in his peach blossom eyes, "I mean—flattering your son."

Liang Father froze for a moment, his eyebrows instantly bristling with anger: "You—"

Ying Huai was worried about Ying Qi in his heart and had no mind to argue with anyone.

He broke free from Liang Shining, wanting to walk back toward the sofa, but the next second felt his arm being supported again.

Liang Shining had once again taken his place beside him.

Ying Huai froze for a moment, frowning: "Let go, Liang Shining—"

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard Liang Shining say softly: "I'm sorry."

Ying Huai was startled.

Liang Shining's expression was slightly dark, but when he looked at him and spoke, his voice was as calm as ever, even carrying a hint of soothing: "Don't get angry, your heart can't take it."

Ying Huai was feverish and dizzy, and his struggling movements involuntarily weakened.

Liang Shining helped Ying Huai slowly sit down on the sofa behind him, handed him a cup of warm water, and only then turned back to face Liang Father.

"Look at what you're doing?" Liang Father watched Liang Shining's series of actions, nearly fuming himself into a stupor.

"In public, with no sense of propriety—is this how we raised you—"

"You said that if I entered the entertainment industry, you wouldn't manage me in the slightest," Liang Shining said calmly, "so this is how I've raised myself."

Liang Father was so angry he nearly collapsed.

He opened his mouth to say something, but heard Liang Shining speak again in a low voice: "Ying Huai is my shifu."

Liang Father's expression froze.

The next second, he exploded in fury: "So you keeping a boyfriend wasn't enough, and now you're playing some role-playing game with me here?"

Liang Shining: ......

Li Xiang, who had rushed over upon hearing the news: ???

—He knew he shouldn't have let Liang Father watch so many entertainment industry dramas.

"Teacher Ying, your brother is fine, he's backstage preparing to go on." Li Xiang said quickly to Ying Huai, then braced himself and turned to Liang Father.

"President Liang, you've misunderstood," Li Xiang said in a trembling voice, "Teacher Ying really is Liang ge's shifu."

Liang Father didn't believe it at all: "Someone like him, with even half the look of a teacher?"

"Frail as a reed, looking sickly, and his appearance—"

Liang Father had originally wanted to say "looking like those seductive creatures," but looking at Ying Huai's appearance, the words on the tip of his tongue couldn't come out for the moment.

Ying Huai had rushed out today and hadn't had time to put on makeup, his complexion carrying a sickly pallor.

But paired with a sky-blue new Chinese-style suit, his features had unexpectedly softened, and combined with the Hongyu Jewel at the ends of his hair, he had unexpectedly gained a touch of elegance and warmth.

—It made Liang Father inexplicably think of the jade-colored Ru Porcelain tea set Liang Mu liked most in her daily life.

Liang Father was momentarily at a loss, looking at the curious gazes of those around him, growing more anxious in his heart, and for some reason blurted out: "—Like jade-colored Ru Porcelain."

Liang Shining: ?

Li Xiang was now only despairingly wondering if he would be jointly assassinated by Liang Shining and Liang Father when he got back.

Hearing Liang Father's words, Ying Huai inexplicably had the feeling of an old stubborn elder at home trying to keep up with the young people's trends.

He couldn't help laughing: "Thank you for the compliment."

Liang Father's face turned red with anger.

He was just about to say something when he suddenly heard Ying Huai say with a light laugh: "You like Ru Porcelain?"

Liang Father's eyes lit up.

Liang Mu usually liked to study these traditional things, and although Liang Father was originally a rough and burly man, under Liang Mu's influence he had gradually begun to study these things as well, and once he started, he couldn't stop.

"What does a young whippersnapper like you know about Ru Porcelain, don't show off in front of me." Liang Father only assumed Ying Huai was trying to get close to him.

He coughed, his face darkening again: "I was only complimenting the color of your suit—"

"The color of the sky after rain breaks through the clouds, such a hue for the future," Ying Huai didn't mind, speaking leisurely, "this outfit was indeed custom-made according to the elements of Ru Porcelain—blue as the sky, cicada-wing patterns, and sparse morning stars. I like it very much too."

—This was the description Emperor Huizong of Song had given of the color of Ru Porcelain when he had asked the potters to create the sky-blue color from his dream of heavy rain.

Liang Father was startled, somewhat surprised: "You know about Ruyao Kiln?"

The Ying Family was a scholarly household, and Ying Father's lifelong conservatism was also because of this.

Ying Huai had grown up in such an environment and had some understanding of these things, more or less.

But he shook his head, "I only know a little. When I went to Henan Province before, I was fortunate enough to hear the sound of Ruyao Kiln crackling, like the chime of stones, like flowing water. It was very pleasant."

Liang Father's expression instantly became excited: "Yes, yes, that sound is like wind chimes, pleasant and moving. Some porcelain crackles for decades, it's truly exceptional."

The younger generation at home wasn't interested in these things, and Liang Mu was always busy traveling to various places.

Liang Father was so tempted by what Ying Huai said that he wished he could pull him aside to continue chatting.

But when his gaze turned to Liang Shining beside him, his expression instantly fell again.

—Such a good-looking child, yet he had strayed onto this wrong path.

Liang Father gave Liang Shining a look of frustrated disappointment.

He gritted his teeth, suddenly speaking earnestly: "It would be so good for you young people to learn about tradition in your daily lives, don't always do those messy things. If nothing else, do some charity work—"

"You're right," Ying Huai said unhurriedly with a smile, "when I went to Henan Province, besides doing charity work, I also took the opportunity to learn about tradition and find inspiration for my next song."

Liang Father froze for a moment.

As if he had thought of something, he suddenly asked: "What charity work did you do in Henan Province?"

Ying Huai froze for a moment, then slowly said: "A charity project for the visually impaired."

The moment his words fell, he saw Liang Father's expression subtly change.

"This charity project—was it your responsibility? Were you there at the time?"

Ying Huai was somewhat bewildered. He glanced at Liang Shining beside him, and Liang Shining, as if also realizing something, instantly relaxed his body and gave Ying Huai a slight nod.

Ying Huai said softly: "I went. This project was personally organized and overseen by me throughout."

The moment he finished speaking, he saw Liang Father suddenly heave a sigh of relief and bow slightly toward Ying Huai: "Thank you."

Ying Huai was startled.

He instinctively wanted to stand up, but Liang Shining suddenly placed his hand on his shoulder and gave Ying Huai a slight shake of his head.

"It's alright." Liang Shining said softly.

He turned and walked to Liang Father's side, also slowly bowing toward Ying Huai.

"Thank you for saving my mother."

Ying Huai's expression froze slightly.

Liang Mu mainly studied calligraphy and painting, and due to work reasons needed to travel frequently.

And once when she went to Henan Province to appraise a newly unearthed artifact, she happened to encounter a local mudslide.

The signal was directly cut off at the time, and Liang Father couldn't reach Liang Mu until evening.

Liang Mu said that if a charity organization hadn't happened to be there to rescue them, they would have had to spend the night in the wilderness.

After Liang Mu returned, she had also looked for the person in charge of that charity project, wanting to personally express her thanks and help them raise funds.

But that person in charge seemed unwilling to show himself; he politely declined Liang Mu's kindness and didn't accept any of her gifts.

Liang Father and Liang Mu assumed he didn't want to be disturbed, so they didn't press further, and thus missed the previous charity-related trending topic about Ying Huai.

Hearing Liang Shining's words, Ying Huai had a vague impression of it as well.

He heard Liang Father say in a deep voice: "I'm very sorry for the misunderstanding and slander toward you just now. I didn't understand the full picture."

Ying Huai reached out to help Liang Father up, but his foot stumbled, and instead he was firmly supported by Liang Father.

"That boy Liang Shining having you as his shifu is his good fortune." Liang Father took a deep breath and said earnestly.

He opened his mouth to continue speaking, but saw the young man in front of him react for a few seconds, then slowly say: "Actually, I'm not his shifu."

Liang Father was stunned.

Ying Huai lowered his head to recover from a wave of dizziness, and said softly: "Your son is very good, it's I who am unworthy of being his shifu......."

Before he could finish, the next second, he heard Liang Father roar: "Liang Shining—"

"Such a good shifu and you don't want him?" Liang Father, thinking of the harsh words he had just said to Ying Huai, instantly felt rage rising from his gut.

"I think you're the one who wants to be kept but nobody wants you???"

Ying Huai, who didn't mean it that way: ???

Liang Shining: ......

Ying Huai was for a moment caught between laughter and tears.

He opened his mouth to explain something, but saw Liang Shining pause for two seconds, then suddenly hum softly in agreement.

Ying Huai: ?

·

Liang Father changed from his earlier furious appearance, cheerfully pulling Ying Huai, wanting to take him aside to chat.

Ying Huai had never experienced this kind of overwhelming "fatherly love," and for a moment was at a loss, casting a rare pleading look toward Liang Shining.

Liang Shining looked at the two before him, unable to suppress a few hints of amusement in his expression.

Only when he saw Ying Huai's threatening gaze did he finally cough lightly and begin to rescue the situation: "Father, Ying Huai still has things to do later, so he won't go over for now—"

Liang Father was unusually easy to talk to at this moment: "It's fine, I'll first tell you which seat I'm at, and when you're done I'll just wait here for you."

Liang Shining helplessly spoke again: "Ying Huai is sick, and once he's done he'll just go straight back to rest."

Liang Father directly waved his hand grandly: "It's fine, our family has a dedicated medical team, just come home with me tonight, I'll specifically find a doctor to help you—"

"I've already contacted Song Si Lan," Liang Shining quietly interrupted Liang Father, "Father, you don't need to trouble yourself—"

Before he finished speaking, he saw Liang Father glare directly at him, his gaze seeming to blame Liang Shining for being unreasonable.

Ying Huai was both helpless and amused.

He covered his lips and coughed a few times, just about to speak, when he suddenly heard a terrified voice not far away: "No, don't, don't come over here, Ying Huai, you framed me on purpose—"

—That was Le Xi's voice.

Liang Father turned his head curiously, Ying Huai frowned, raised his head, and just saw Lu Jing rushing into the room not far away.

Ying Huai realized something, whispered "excuse me" to Liang Father, and walked over.

Liang Shining also prepared to follow, but was suddenly grabbed by Liang Father.

"Who's that over there? What happened?" Liang Father frowned.

Liang Father didn't understand the open and hidden struggles of the entertainment industry, and Liang Shining didn't know how to explain for a moment.

He paused for two seconds, then slowly began: "Earlier Uncle Lu was originally going to call Ying Huai over, but by a twist of fate another person insisted on going in first..."

Liang Shining's words were cut off by Liang Father's frown: "So that old undying Lu family one was bullying Xiao Huai?"

Liang Shining hadn't expected Liang Father to describe it so accurately, a strange expression crossed his face, he coughed lightly and nodded slightly.

Liang Father didn't understand the twists and turns of the entertainment industry, but he understood Lu Father's character.

He directly grabbed Liang Shining's arm and walked toward that room, speaking with the frustration of someone whose child can't meet expectations: "Then why aren't you hurrying over there, don't let Xiao Huai be bullied by someone."

Liang Shining paused for two seconds: "If you hadn't grabbed me just now, I would have already gone over."

Liang Father was entirely self-assured: "That's because you didn't bring me along."

He paused, then suddenly spoke quietly: "So Ying Huai really isn't your boyfriend?"

—Influenced by Liang Mu, Liang Father's acceptance of same-sex marriage was extraordinarily high.

Liang Shining: .......

He took a deep breath: "No."

Liang Father "hmphed," a hint of disdain flashing across his expression: "Useless."

Liang Shining: ......?

·

By the time Ying Huai arrived, the door had already been opened.

Ying Huai pressed his brow.

His high fever had not broken, the drowsiness growing heavier, making him want nothing more than to end all of this quickly.

"Did shixiong go in?" Ying Huai glanced at the half-open door, speaking quietly, "What happened?"

Lu Jing nodded, his expression silent and stiff.

He shielded Ying Huai behind him, took a deep breath, and slowly reached toward the door, only to hear another scream from Le Xi inside the room.

The door was pushed open with a "bang," and a figure stumbled out.

Ying Huai raised his head, a hint of surprise crossing his expression.

Lu Father curled up on the floor clutching his lower body, blood all around him, Le Xi crouched in a corner gripping scissors, his body trembling like sifting chaff.

"I'm not, I didn't, he threw himself at me, I was only acting in self-defense, I was only acting in self-defense..." Le Xi muttered.

"Lu Jing, Lu Jing save me—" Lu Father screamed from the ground.

"Quickly call an ambulance for me, I'm going to tear that little beast to pieces!"

Lu Father didn't feel he had done anything wrong at all, his face still full of venom, "Lu Jing, do as I say now, and the position of Lu Family Heir Announcement will be yours—"

Some staff who had come upon hearing the commotion screamed forward, Lu Jing looked down at Lu Father, then suddenly spoke: "I've already called the police."

A flash of disbelief crossed Lu Father's expression: "What did you say?"

"Lu Jing, you're f***ing doing this on purpose aren't you, I'm the one who brought you back to the Lu Family with my own hands, and you dare betray me,"

"Your mother gave birth to you the same way back then, did you know that?" Lu Father suddenly burst into wild laughter.

Lu Jing's expression instantly froze.

"You're a bastard, you don't deserve the Lu Family at all, I was really blind back then to agree to let you come back..."

"I'm withdrawing." Lu Jing suddenly cut off Lu Father's words.

"From now on I am leaving the Lu Family Group, no longer the eldest son of the Lu family." Lu Jing said indifferently, "Everything about the Lu family has nothing more to do with me."

He slowly stepped back under Lu Father's disbelieving gaze: "You are no longer my father either."

Lu Father's forehead veins bulged, whether from pain or anger was unclear.

He opened his mouth just about to speak, when he suddenly heard an unhappy voice from behind: "Old Lu, what are you doing here?"

Liang Father stood at the door, looking down at the fallen Lu Father: "You're old enough, Old Lu, don't be so shameless."

Liang Father was after all a level above him, Lu Father instinctively didn't dare act up.

Some staff rushed over to help him stop the bleeding, Lu Father's gaze swept around the people before him, he gritted his teeth: "It's nothing, Mr. Liang... just Ying Huai and my son colluding to frame me, you've seen something laughable, once I have time in a while I'll deal with it right away..."

Lu Father knew Liang Shining and Ying Huai were "mortal enemies," his gaze fell viciously on Ying Huai, trying to curry favor with Liang Father by stepping on Ying Huai.

But no sooner had Lu Father finished speaking than Liang Father burst into laughter: "Cut it out, Old Lu, I may not know what happened, but don't I know you well enough?"

"You always think someone's framing you, that's persecution delusion." Liang Father said slowly, "Managing a company like this won't do."

"Once your injuries are healed, I'll have the board find you a sinecure."

Lu Father was completely stunned: "You, what did you say?"

He finally panicked at this point: "No, no, I didn't, please believe me, it's really Ying Huai and Lu Jing with this little beast..."

"Enough, quickly send Mr. Lu to the hospital, it's not a good look standing around here." Liang Father couldn't be bothered to listen to what Lu Father was saying.

The staff quickly carried Lu Father away, the nearby Le Xi seemed to finally come to his senses, throwing himself toward Ying Huai.

"Shifu, no, Teacher Ying, please save me, he threw himself at me, I didn't mean to hurt him, I didn't—"

Ying Huai's vision was spinning in waves before him, he turned sideways trying to avoid Le Xi, but his body was weak, and he swayed once before falling to the side.

Liang Shining quickly stepped forward, blocking in front of Ying Huai, reaching out to steady him.

"Get lost." Liang Shining's expression went cold, staring at Le Xi.

Le Xi's expression stiffened, he looked around, his gaze falling on Liang Father at the very back.

"Uncle Liang, you're Shining-gege's father, right?" Le Xi crawled a few steps, throwing himself at Liang Father's feet, "I used to be in the same school as Shining-gege, Shining-gege and I have a very good relationship."

Liang Father lowered his eyes, looking at Le Xi with an unreadable expression.

Le Xi had never expected things to turn out like this.

Lu Father was not the helper he had thought, after Le Xi explained his purpose, Lu Father directly lecherously tried to grope him.

Le Xi had never suffered such grievance, his resistance failed and he tried to escape, but the door had already been locked by Lu Father.

In desperation, Le Xi fished a pair of scissors from a drawer and stabbed down directly.

Le Xi looked at Liang Father now as if grasping a life-saving straw: "Please save me, this time Ying Huai framed me, he also used to suppress Shining-gege..."

Before Le Xi could finish speaking, Liang Father spoke in bafflement: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Le Xi's mind only remembered the grudge between Liang Shining and Ying Huai, he hadn't noticed Liang Father's displeasure at all.

"Uncle, you usually watch entertainment industry news, you don't know how bad Ying Huai's character is, do you?"

Le Xi threw all caution to the wind, speaking recklessly: "He bullied Liang Shining, and also engaged in various sexual exploitation and suppression of others."

Before Le Xi could finish speaking, Liang Father spoke with displeasure: "Who says I don't understand the entertainment industry."

For Liang Shining's sake, Liang Father had been working hard to keep up with trends these past few years, and hated most when people said he didn't understand entertainment industry matters.

He squinted at Le Xi for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke: "You're the one from the trending topic before, who staged that whole thing on the show and drugged someone, right?"

Le Xi's face went instantly ashen, he heard Liang Father laugh coldly: "I trust Xiao Huai's character, but yours, I'm not so sure about."

Some staff forcibly took away the still-screaming Le Xi, Ying Huai half-leaned against the wall, eyes lowered in thought.

Looking at Le Xi's situation, Lu Father was not the mastermind he had thought, Ying Huai rubbed his brow and gently sighed.

The nearby Liang Father suddenly spoke cheerfully: "Alright, everything's been resolved."

Liang Father turned to look at Ying Huai, his smile causing wrinkles to pile up all over his face: "Would Xiao Huai like to come home with us tonight?"

Ying Huai shook his head slightly, caught between laughter and tears.

He was just about to say something, when he suddenly heard a surprised voice from ahead: "Xiao Huai?"

The Lu Family Heir Announcement ceremony was forced to be cancelled, and Ying Qi quickly came out from backstage.

He first warmly called out "Uncle Liang," and smiled: "Uncle Liang, you know Xiao Huai?"

Liang Father was now warm toward anyone related to Ying Huai.

"Yes, yes, you're Xiao Huai's older brother, right?" Liang Father said cheerfully.

His mind was full of thoughts of bringing Ying Huai back to their home, he tightly gripped Ying Qi's hand, suddenly speaking with excitement: "Good, good, perhaps in the future, we'll be in-laws."

Ying Qi: ??

Ying Huai was caught between laughter and tears.

He opened his mouth wanting to explain, but the next second, his vision suddenly went black.

In a daze, he heard Liang Shining's panicked voice, and at the same time, felt himself falling into a warm embrace.

Then, Liang Father's panicked but still orderly voice came: "Quick, quick, back to my house, I have doctors there!"

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

—It's over, he really can't explain this to his older brother now.