Dizzy

Ying Huai's fingers trembled slightly; he decided to strike first.

"What's Mr. Liang's view on this Adventure Challenge?"

Liang Shining's expression was as calm as ever, and he looked at him seriously: "What's Teacher Ying's view?"

Ying Huai was of course going to refuse.

But looking at Liang Shining's expression, the words that came to his mouth inexplicably took a turn: "My opinion doesn't matter, of course it should be up to Mr. Liang..."

"This is Teacher Ying's Adventure Challenge, so of course we should look at Teacher Ying's opinion," Liang Shining's lips curved slightly. "I respect Teacher Ying's decision."

Ying Huai was already dizzy, and now he was completely thrown off.

He sighed silently, his peach blossom eyes curving: "Mr. Liang is too polite."

The bullet comments beside them were also completely confused by the two's exchange.

[These two are playing tai chi lol, extreme push-and-pull.]

[I can't really follow it anymore. Do Ying Huai and Liang Shining actually want to complete this Adventure Challenge or not? Their attitudes seem different from what I expected.]

[Me too. I originally thought Ying Huai would definitely not care, and Liang Shining would definitely refuse sternly, but now why does it feel reversed?]

[? Can the commenter above stop dragging our Liang-ge into this? How could he possibly agree to do something like that with Ying Huai, I'm speechless.]

[But it's just an Adventure Challenge, Liang Shining is being such a spoilsport, zero Variety Show effect.]

Ying Huai frowned slightly.

—He inexplicably didn't want to see the bullet comments cursing Liang Shining.

This Adventure Challenge had dragged Liang Shining in because of him in the first place. Ying Huai took a deep breath and turned to the Director beside him.

"Director, this Adventure Challenge I don't—"

"I disagree."

Ying Huai hadn't finished speaking when he was suddenly interrupted by Liang Shining in a low voice.

A flash of disappointment passed through Liang Shining's eyes.

But looking at the Director, he spoke again, enunciating each word: "I disagree with this Adventure Challenge."

Ying Huai was stunned. He raised his head, and Liang Shining beside him glanced at him, then silently turned his head away.

Ying Huai's fingers trembled.

—He inexplicably felt that Liang Shining had seemed a little sad just now.

Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly, suppressing his wild thoughts.

He raised his head and heard the Director beside him say discontentedly: "This Adventure Challenge was chosen by our Variety Show audience for you. You can just refuse with one sentence?"

"It's not that Ying Huai is unwilling, it's that I'm unwilling." Liang Shining spoke calmly, correcting the Director's words.

The Director was almost amused into anger: "Is there a difference? Fine. So this is how Teacher Liang treats our Variety Show audience."

The Director laughed coldly: "Complete it, and your Teacher Ying can rest. Don't complete it, and you can just keep wasting time here."

"Director, you've misunderstood. Teacher Liang is just joking with the audience," Ying Huai suddenly laughed. "Isn't this the Variety Show effect you've always wanted, Director?"

The Director was stunned, but Ying Huai no longer looked at him, turning directly to Liang Shining beside him.

He stood up, walked straight to Liang Shining, half-knelt with one leg on the sofa beside Liang Shining's legs, and bent down casually.

The Hongyu Jewel Pendant at the end of his hair tilted forward with his movement, falling to the side of Liang Shining's neck, inexplicably a little ticklish.

Liang Shining's gaze flickered; he could feel Ying Huai's body trembling uncontrollably.

He suddenly reached out to hold Ying Huai's waist, and before Ying Huai could react, exerted force with his hand, directly positioning himself in front of Ying Huai.

Ying Huai was stunned. He heard the Director beside him say discontentedly: "Hey hey, the camera needs to be on both of you, the audience needs to see you actually complete this Adventure Challenge..."

Ying Huai was a little dazed.

The curses from the bullet comments from before suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Ying Huai's fingers trembled slightly. He instinctively shrank back, but heard Liang Shining suddenly say in a low voice: "Look at me."

Ying Huai raised his eyes somewhat blankly.

Liang Shining's expression was as calm as ever, with even a casual smile and reassurance deep in his eyes.

Ying Huai's fingers instinctively gripped Liang Shining's clothes. He heard Liang Shining's slightly deep voice come from beside his ear.

"Don't be afraid."

Lu Jing moved toward the camera imperceptibly, blocking half the lens amid the Director's angry shouts.

The livestream audience only saw Liang Shining bend down and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, lightly peck at the corner of Ying Huai's lips.

At the same moment, Ying Huai's hand, with its prominent knuckles resting on Liang Shining's waist, suddenly clenched tight.

The two of them touched and immediately parted.

"Is that enough?" Liang Shining straightened up, blocking Ying Huai entirely behind him.

The livestream fell silent. The Director opened his mouth soundlessly, hearing Liang Shining say coldly: "Can Ying Huai rest for a while now?"

The Director looked at Liang Shining's slightly cold expression and instinctively nodded.

The next second, Ying Huai suddenly stood up, holding the wall beside him and stumbling toward the restroom.

The livestream's bullet comments had exploded.

[Holy shit holy shit, did anyone capture a screenshot of that kissing frame? Such a beautiful feeling!]

[Didn't catch it *sob*, let's watch the replay later.]

[Help, even though I didn't see clearly, that moment when Ying Huai's hand clenched uncontrollably was really... suggestive!]

[Help... I was originally a Liang-ge solo stan, but I'm actually a little moved.]

[Not just you, I feel like Liang-ge is also moved...]

A few antis occasionally surfaced in the livestream, but were rarely instantly washed away by the fans' comments.

After a few seconds, a fan suddenly spoke.

[Y: A little curious, what's Ying Huai's reaction to Liang Shining?]

[Don't know, but I think I just saw... when Ying Huai turned to go to the restroom, his whole ears were red.]

·

Inside the restroom.

Ying Huai braced himself against the sink and silently exhaled.

He closed his eyes briefly, bent down again to scoop up a handful of water, and splashed it on his face.

The next second, a wail suddenly came from beside him.

Ying Huai was startled.

He whirled around, and the water in his hand instinctively splashed out, directly drenching Xin Wan in front of him.

"Junior shidi—"

Xin Wan let out an "ow" and instantly jumped aside: "Are you trying to murder your own shixiong?"

Ying Huai finally came back to himself.

He let out a breath, stepped back to lean against the sink behind him, and returned to his lazy expression. "Sorry, I thought my Bouquet had its tail stepped on, I got startled."

He asked curiously: "Did shixiong also have his tail stepped on?"

"I didn't—no, where would I have a tail?" Xin Wan hopped around anxiously.

Ying Huai's peach blossom eyes curved: "Then what was shixiong wailing about?"

"Wasn't I worried about you?"

Xin Wan shook the water off himself like a drowned rat, gritting his teeth: "That bastard Liang Shining actually dared to bully you, take advantage of you. Are you okay, junior shidi? I can go beat him up for you!"

Ying Huai paused.

A strange look flashed across his expression. He raised his head to glance at Xin Wan and slowly said: "Liang Shining didn't bully me."

Xin Wan looked at Ying Huai's expression and was heartbroken: "If he didn't bully you, why did you come wash your face? Is it because you find him disgusting?"

Ying Huai's expression grew even stranger.

Xin Wan really couldn't stand it anymore. He turned to rush out directly, but was grabbed and held back by Ying Huai.

"It's not... disgust," Ying Huai said through gritted teeth, "I'm hot."

Xin Wan, his head full of the sorrow that his family's cabbage had been dug up by someone — and that someone wasn't even himself — said in anguish: "Junior shidi, stop defending him. You don't need to do anything, just stay behind and let shixiong handle it—"

Ying Huai really couldn't take it anymore: "I'm really fine."

He took a deep breath and said softly: "Liang Shining didn't actually kiss me just now, it was a camera angle trick."

Xin Wan was stunned.

He said blankly: "What?"

Ying Huai lowered his eyes to watch the water dripping from the ends of his hair and didn't answer.

That moment just now, when Liang Shining bent down, he had suddenly tilted his head slightly, just barely avoiding his lips.

Then Ying Huai felt a warmth at his earlobe.

But just for that instant, Ying Huai felt his whole body tremble uncontrollably, and a faint, elusive sense of loss passed through his heart.

—Liang Shining was indeed an actor.

Ying Huai's thoughts wandered aimlessly, slightly lost in thought.

—That moment just now, he really felt... Liang Shining seemed to like him a little.

He heard Xin Wan beside him seem to think of something and speak again.

"Hm?" Ying Huai hadn't recovered yet. He turned his head absently and saw Xin Wan staring at him blankly.

Ying Huai was startled: "What?"

"I mean—" Xin Wan came back to himself.

He stared at Ying Huai's still-red ear tips, seemed to realize something, and said blankly: "Then since he didn't actually kiss you, junior shidi... why are you blushing?"

Ying Huai suddenly came back to himself.

Then Xin Wan watched as his usually lazy junior shidi's face turned red directly.

"I was just nervous—" Ying Huai gritted his teeth.

Ying Huai didn't dare admit that he had developed some strange feeling because of Liang Shining's "acting."

He said instinctively: "What if Liang Shining's kissing skills are terrible..."

He hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly heard a door opening behind him, followed by footsteps that suddenly paused.

Ying Huai's voice cut off abruptly.

Ying Huai slowly turned his head, met the calm-faced Liang Shining at the door, and silently opened his mouth.

He said in a small voice with some hope: "Teacher Liang probably didn't hear what I just said..."

"No," Liang Shining looked up at Ying Huai, his voice slightly low.

Ying Huai silently breathed a sigh of relief. The next second, he heard Liang Shining slowly speak.

"I only heard Teacher Ying question my kissing skills."

Ying Huai: ......

He scrambled to explain: "No, I....."

"The new guest is here," Liang Shining said quietly, cutting him off.

He looked at Ying Huai's pale face, hesitated, then reached out to steady him anyway: "Let's go back first."

·

Even after returning to the living room, Ying Huai's expression remained somewhat dazed.

But Liang Shining's expression was as calm as ever.

He pressed the long-cooled warm water into Ying Huai's hand, reached out to feel his forehead—there was nothing different from usual.

Ying Huai took the warm water, his heart unusually uneasy: "Liang Shining, you....."

"You have a slight fever. Later, when Song Si Lan arrives, let him check you carefully." Liang Shining cut off Ying Huai.

He watched Ying Huai's expression: "Still dizzy?"

Ying Huai's vision had been swimming since earlier, and now the fever was giving him a headache as well.

But he still shook his head instinctively: "Not dizzy."

The moment his words fell, he saw a flash of disappointment pass through Liang Shining's eyes again.

For that instant, Ying Huai felt for the first time an impulse to take it back.

But memories from his past life instantly surfaced in his mind, making the words that had almost reached his lips impossible to say no matter what.

The next second, a voice that was mild in tone yet carried a hint of gritted-teeth anger came from the side.

"Is no one going to welcome the new friend?"

Ying Huai turned his head blankly.

A young man in a full suit, sitting upright across from Ying Huai, nodded slightly at the group: "Hello everyone, my name is Song Fengyi."

Song Fengyi's gaze swept over the people across from him, and he smiled warmly at Ying Huai: "Long time no see, Huaihuai."

The bullet comments instantly livened up.

[Wow wow wow, Song Fengyi! I love his songs!]

[Wuwuwu his lyrical songs are really well-written, the last Concert made me cry.]

[Goodness, Song Fengyi has come to Ying Huai's show again?]

[Please elaborate, I'm curious—was Song Fengyi also Ying Huai's senior shixiong?]

[No no, Song Fengyi and Ying Huai's relationship is quite complicated—should I say, Song Fengyi hates Ying Huai to the bone?]

[Ah?]

[Song Fengyi has deep backing, his skills aren't great, but back then he was a mentor on that crossover singer show alongside Ying Huai.]

[Even though Song Fengyi is a few years older than Ying Huai, he was completely overshadowed throughout that show, which made him always have it in for Ying Huai.]

[Even after the show ended, Song Fengyi kept showing up on shows Ying Huai participated in, sparing no effort to cause trouble for him. It was only after Ying Huai was blacklisted by the entire internet that Song Fengyi quieted down a bit.]

[Can the person above stop being disgusting? Can Ying Huai even be mentioned in the same breath as our Brother Yi?]

[Indeed he can't—I can see Ying Huai doesn't really want to engage with Song Fengyi.]

Unlike Song Fengyi's enthusiasm, Ying Huai squinted for a long while before showing a suddenly-realizing expression.

Song Fengyi's expression stiffened slightly.

"Huaihuai seeing me isn't as warm as before," Song Fengyi said slowly, looking at Ying Huai, "have we grown distant?"

—This sounded like a joke, but in fact it subtly blamed Ying Huai for his poor attitude just now.

Song Fengyi's fans were already chiming in on the bullet comments, but Ying Huai smiled again.

"When was I ever close with Teacher Song?"

Song Fengyi's expression froze.

"Although Teacher Song and I haven't seen each other for several years, and you didn't attend any of the earlier recordings either," Ying Huai said casually, "I'm still very grateful that Teacher Song took time out of his busy schedule to join the show."

Song Fengyi's face stiffened.

Although he had always wanted to compete with Ying Huai, in reality he had never won any awards—not even close to Liang Shining, let alone Ying Huai.

But Liang Shining and Ying Huai had both not missed the first week's recording, so him standing out like this somehow made it seem like he was throwing his weight around.

Song Fengyi didn't dare say that the reason he hadn't come before was because he hadn't thought much of the show's popularity.

He clenched his teeth, his face still warm: "I really did have things to do before, Huaihuai, it's only right for you to blame me."

"Alright, let's welcome Song Fengyi." The Director merrily smoothed things over.

"Teacher Song's schedule happened to be near Teacher Liang's home, so he rushed straight over after finishing."

"Teacher Song should have watched our livestream on the way here, so I don't need to go over the game rules in detail, right?" The Director said with a smile.

"Why not let Teacher Song go first....."

Before the Director could finish, Song Fengyi suddenly interrupted: "I see everyone's been livestreaming all morning and must be tired. Since we have a new guest, why don't we switch to a more relaxing game, Director?"

Song Fengyi said warmly: "I didn't attend the earlier recordings, so as an apology, I thought of a new game on the way here, one that happens to suit all of us."

As he spoke, Song Fengyi turned to the camera and asked again: "Director, what do you think, is it okay?"

The audience in the livestream was gradually decreasing, and the Director did indeed want to change the game.

But he hadn't expected today's livestream to have such great popularity. At first he'd only prepared one game—identifying pictures—so he was happy someone was willing to take over.

"Of course, then I'll be the referee. Teacher Song, please explain the rules of the game."

Song Fengyi glanced at Ying Huai and smiled, nodding.

"This game is very simple—it's a card-flipping matching game."

As he spoke, Song Fengyi took out four decks of Playing Cards.

"Two people per group. Two decks of Playing Cards minus the jokers make 104 cards in total. Before each round, I'll shuffle the cards and lay them all face-down on the table."

Song Fengyi glanced at Ying Huai, his smile deepening slightly: "Then the timer starts. Each person needs to place all matching pairs of cards together within the time limit. Whoever finishes first wins."

Ying Huai frowned. Xin Wan was stunned for a moment, somewhat confused: "That's it?"

Song Fengyi nodded: "Yes."

"I watched the livestream earlier. Everyone must be tired from testing their eyesight—wouldn't it be nice to have something relaxing that doesn't require much thinking?"

Xin Wan was persuaded for the moment. Ying Huai looked up at Song Fengyi, his brow slightly raised.

In his past life, Song Fengyi had always followed behind him, sparing no effort in every way to try to surpass him.

He must have watched the livestream just now and noticed he wasn't feeling well, which was why he'd proposed this game.

"Come on, I can't beat you at eyesight, but can I not beat you at hand speed?" Xin Wan rolled up his sleeves directly.

"Right, this game really doesn't require much skill," Song Fengyi said with a smile, "if he loses too badly, I'll have to suspect him.......either there's something wrong with his brain, or he's deliberately slacking."

Ying Huai looked up.

He stared at Song Fengyi for a few seconds, then slowly smiled: "Teacher Song is right."

The game was two people per group, and the punishment was still Truth or Dare.

And as luck would have it, Ying Huai was paired with Song Fengyi.

"Since I proposed it, let Huaihuai and me go first," Song Fengyi said with a smile, "Huaihuai has no objections, right?"

Ying Huai yawned, steadied himself against the sofa beside him, and slowly walked to the table.

"No problem."

Xin Wan finished shuffling and laying out the cards. At the Director's command beside him, the two simultaneously turned around and began searching for matching cards.

Song Fengyi was extremely fast, but Ying Huai's side remained motionless.

"Junior shidi, what are you doing? Get started!" Xin Wan beside him was frantic.

Ying Huai braced himself against the table, his head slightly lowered, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He was so dizzy he couldn't stand steady, his vision a blur. Let alone seeing the cards, even letting go of the table to stand upright was difficult.

Ying Huai dug his fingers into his palm, took a deep breath, and barely raised his head to look at the Playing Cards in front of him. Slowly, he lifted his hand and stacked two identical cards together.

But the next moment, a gentle voice came from across: "I'm done."

Ying Huai swayed, his legs suddenly giving way.

In a haze, Ying Huai heard Song Fengyi step in front of him and ask with concern: "Is Huaihuai sick?"

"I watched the livestream earlier and felt Huaihuai was really good at games—why is he struggling with something this simple now?" Song Fengyi said thoughtfully.

"Huaihuai wouldn't be pretending to be sick because he lost face at not being able to beat me even at such a simple game, would he?"

Song Fengyi looked at the person swaying before him and "kindly" reached out to steady Ying Huai, but the next second, his hand suddenly met empty air.

Liang Shining stepped directly in front of Song Fengyi and caught the person in one swift motion.

"You have a fever, Ying Huai," Liang Shining said quietly, "let me take you back to rest....."

".....I'm fine." Ying Huai shook his head.

He braced himself against Liang Shining to stand slightly straighter, looked up at him, and suddenly smiled: "Mr. Liang isn't angry with me anymore?"

Liang Shining's expression stiffened for a moment. He gritted his teeth: "Ying Huai!"

Ying Huai curved his eyes soothingly.

The smugness on Song Fengyi's face beside them was almost impossible to contain.

He continued with concern: "Let's not count the punishment for this round. If Huaihuai feels unwell, go back and rest. If you keep losing at such a simple game, the audience will think you're deliberately slacking....."

"What's there to be happy about winning such a simple slacking-off game?" Xin Wan beside him couldn't help but say, "You didn't propose this on purpose because you saw junior shidi wasn't feeling well, did you?"

Song Fengyi's expression froze for a moment.

He of course knew this game was too simple, but for so many years, on virtually every show, he had almost never beaten Ying Huai.

Watching this person seemingly able to turn things around even after being blacklisted by the entire internet, Song Fengyi's jealousy could no longer be restrained.

"Even if it's simple, I still won," Song Fengyi gritted his teeth and said warmly, "before Teacher Xin questions me, perhaps question the loser first....."

"Then why doesn't Teacher Song have another match with me?" Ying Huai suddenly raised his head.

Song Fengyi was stunned for a moment, then smiled warmly: "Of course, but Huaihuai, you being like this now makes it seem like I'm bullying you....."

"Then let's change the way we play," Ying Huai curved his eyes, "let me bully Teacher Song a little."

Song Fengyi had an ominous premonition in his heart.

But looking at Ying Huai's swaying form, he ultimately pressed down his concerns: "Alright, Huaihuai, you decide the game."

Ying Huai smiled: "Very simple, still a card-flipping game, but upgraded a bit."

"After shuffling at the start, flip all the cards face-up and lay them flat on the table. Then each person gets five minutes to memorize. When the time is up, flip all the cards back over, and begin flipping pairs in turn."

"Each turn you can only flip two cards. If you flip the wrong pair, put both cards back face-down. If you flip a matching pair, leave them where they are."

Ying Huai spoke unhurriedly, "Whoever matches all their pairs first wins."

Song Fengyi's expression went rigid.

This was countless times harder than the previous card-flipping game—a pure test of instantaneous memory.

He forced a smile: "Huaihuai, are you sure you want to play something this hard? You look terrible already—can you really hold on......"

"Teacher Song only won against me with a simple game just now—you can't be satisfied with that, can you?" Ying Huai laughed lightly, cutting him off.

"If you win the hard game too—Teacher Song must want to experience the joy of a real victory, right?"

Ying Huai lifted his head, his peach-blossom eyes glinting slightly: "Or is it—Teacher Song doesn't dare play this game with me?"

The person in front of him was speaking as if even his voice had no strength left. Song Fengyi clenched his teeth: "Fine."

He looked at Ying Huai's casual expression and felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

"But this time the penalty can't be waived," Song Fengyi thought about how to make Ying Huai embarrass himself, and said gently, "let's just double the penalty too—the loser grants the winner one request."

Ying Huai nodded with a beaming smile.

Liang Shining beside them frowned deeply. He had just opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly saw Ying Huai look up: "In a moment I'll have to trouble Teacher Liang—help me with something."

"I promise, after this one round I'll go back and rest."

·

Once again, Xin Wan was in charge of shuffling for both sides.

Song Fengyi's expression was taut, while Ying Huai remained as casual as ever, even turning around to sit back on the sofa while Xin Wan laid out the cards.

"Huaihuai really is relaxed," Song Fengyi, sweating all over from nerves, glanced up at Ying Huai and gave a gentle smile, "have you decided you've already lost and given up?"

"I'm resting up because I'm certain I'll win." Ying Huai yawned lazily.

He glanced up at Song Fengyi: "Teacher Song might as well come over and rest too. Standing there waiting won't let you see the cards any sooner—the more nervous you are, the less you'll remember."

Song Fengyi's head was full of nothing but how to memorize the cards and couldn't be bothered to respond.

"Alright, I'm done laying them out. Junior shidi, hurry over." Xin Wan urged.

"I'll count down three, two, one, and you two turn around at the same time and start memorizing......"

"Wait a moment." Before Xin Wan could finish, Song Fengyi suddenly interrupted.

He frowned at Liang Shining standing beside Ying Huai: "Why has Teacher Liang come over too?"

"I'm lazy and don't want to look. I asked Mr. Liang to read the cards out for me," Ying Huai yawned lazily. "If Teacher Song is willing, I can also ask shixiong to read the cards for you."

Song Fengyi frowned, but having someone else read the cards versus memorizing them yourself was essentially no different—in fact, someone else reading might even be a little slower.

"No need, I'll memorize them myself." Song Fengyi smiled gently.

Ying Huai didn't mind either and gave Xin Wan a slight nod.

"Alright, three, two, one, begin!"

Ying Huai, Liang Shining, and Song Fengyi all turned around at the same time.

Song Fengyi's brows were tightly furrowed, but Ying Huai still leaned lazily against the table, his eyes half-closed, quietly listening to Liang Shining's voice.

Liang Shining's voice was low but clear. Each time he read out a card's position, his fingers would tap lightly on it as well.

When the time was up, Xin Wan flipped all the cards back over in order.

Song Fengyi, muttering to himself, turned around with sweat pouring down his face.

Liang Shining turned and walked back to the sofa. Ying Huai yawned, leaning half against the table, then suddenly turned his head: "Can shixiong Lu come over and help me too?"

Lu Jing, bewildered, still slowly walked over to Ying Huai.

"I can't walk. When I call out which two cards later, could shixiong trouble yourself to flip them over for me?" Ying Huai smiled and tilted his head up.

"Ying Huai, what exactly are you doing?" Song Fengyi across from him spoke up in displeasure again. "If you don't want to compete, just say so—"

"Shixiong is the only one here who hasn't seen my cards, so there's no possibility of cheating. Shixiong doesn't even need to speak—just flip the cards for me."

Ying Huai lifted his head lazily and glanced at Song Fengyi. "If Teacher Song wants someone to help flip cards, why not ask Mr. Liang if he's willing?"

In just that short while, Song Fengyi had forgotten the positions of several more pairs. His brow twitched: "No need, let's just start."

Ying Huai's eyes curved.

He turned to look at Lu Jing and said quietly: "When we start, shixiong, please tap each card twice first."

Lu Jing didn't understand but still nodded.

He stared at Ying Huai and suddenly spoke: "Why can't you walk, Xiao Huai?"

Ying Huai was briefly stunned, then suddenly laughed: "Does shixiong really have to ask that right now?"

Ying Huai stared at the table, his peach-blossom eyes strangely unfocused, but he still spoke casually: "If shixiong keeps asking, I'll forget everything in a moment."

Lu Jing frowned but ultimately said nothing more.

At Xin Wan's command, Song Fengyi on the other side immediately began rapidly flipping through the cards.

But Ying Huai still leaned half against the table, his eyes half-closed, listening to Lu Jing tap each card in turn.

Xin Wan beside them was frantic: "Junior shidi, what are you doing? Hurry up and flip the cards—Song Fengyi's already matched two pairs over there—"

"Third in the first row and fifth in the third row."

Before Xin Wan could finish, Ying Huai suddenly spoke softly.

Xin Wan was stunned.

Lu Jing at the table flipped them over as instructed, revealing an identical pair on top.

"Fifth in the first row and first in the fifth row, seventh in the first row and third in the fourth row......" Ying Huai continued unhurriedly, his eyes lowered.

His voice was not fast; he spoke slowly in time with Lu Jing's tapping, but nearly every pair he called out was correct.

Before long, the number of pairs Ying Huai had flipped quickly surpassed Song Fengyi's.

In contrast, Song Fengyi, after the initial burst of instantaneous memory, had completely lost his rhythm, fumbling through the Playing Cards in a panicked mess that only grew more chaotic the more he flipped.

The barrage comments in the livestream were also somewhat surprised.

[Ying Huai's memory really is impressive. This round completely crushes Song Fengyi.]

[Speaking of which, Song Fengyi's first game was so laughably simple—how did he even come up with it? And the Director actually approved it.]

[The Director and Song Fengyi are birds of a feather, otherwise how could Song Fengyi have joined the Variety Show halfway? Before this, aside from Ying Huai's other shixiong who hadn't come yet, there was no one else on the list.]

[So Ying Huai really didn't win that earlier game because he was feeling unwell? Song Fengyi is disgusting—picking on someone who's sick.]

[How did Ying Huai memorize them? Does it have something to do with Lu Jing tapping the cards?]

Song Fengyi's palms were sweating. Watching Ying Huai's side flip more and more, he couldn't help but shout: "Impossible—how can you remember that many—"

As he spoke, he strode toward Ying Huai, reaching directly to disrupt the table: "You must have cheated—there's definitely something wrong with your cards......"

But before he could get close, a sudden sharp pain struck his shoulder.

"The match isn't over yet. Please don't interfere with the competition, Teacher Song." Xin Wan exerted force and twisted him bodily in another direction, speaking with a cold smile.

"Memorizing cards is indeed hard," Ying Huai heard the commotion, looked up at Song Fengyi, and said with a smile, "but I'm matching pitches."

Song Fengyi was stunned.

Ying Huai curved his lips.

During the days in his past life when he had lost his sight, whether his eyes were open or closed, everything was darkness.

Afraid he would gradually be swallowed by that darkness, in his fear he began tapping the few things in his room with his fingers, trying to memorize the sounds different objects made.

Ying Huai had perfect pitch—he could hear the tones in the sounds of tapping various objects and assign each one a pitch.

He used these notes to compose melodies, and gradually memorized the sounds different things made.

—Memory became a relatively simple matter.

The sound of each position being tapped and Liang Shining's voice reading the cards locked together in his mind, one by one.

Just as in his past life, Ying Huai casually wove Liang Shining's voice into a melody.

"No, that's impossible." Song Fengyi gritted his teeth.

"Then why couldn't you win that fool's game just now? Were you deliberately making me lose face......"

"Does Teacher Song want to know the reason?" Ying Huai lifted his head and curved his lips slightly.

"My head was so dizzy I couldn't see clearly."

Lu Jing beside him suddenly looked up; Liang Shining's hand at his side suddenly clenched tight.

Ying Huai's body slowly leaned forward, pressing down on the last card: "Fortunately, my ears still work."

The stray hairs on his forehead were soaked with cold sweat, his whole body swaying as if about to collapse, but his fingers turned lightly and slowly flipped over the last card.

"And that's enough—to beat Teacher Song."

·

Song Fengyi stood dejectedly at the table. Ying Huai covered his mouth and coughed, then stumbled back a step.

As expected, he fell into a warm embrace.

"Ying Huai?"

In his feverish haze, Ying Huai heard Liang Shining's anxious voice: "Wake up, Ying Huai."

Ying Huai's fever was making everything spin before his eyes.

In his muddled state, seeing the person in front of him, he suddenly rose on his toes and leaned close to Liang Shining's ear.

"Earlier......I didn't mean to say it like that."

Liang Shining was briefly stunned, then belatedly realized Ying Huai was referring to the bathroom.

Ying Huai's scalding breath sprayed against Liang Shining's ear, and Liang Shining's fingers suddenly clenched tight.

He heard the person in his arms continue murmuring: "I was just......too scared."

Liang Shining reached out and wrapped an arm around the waist of the person before him.

He wanted to ask what Ying Huai was afraid of, but before he could speak, he suddenly felt a warmth against his earlobe.

—Ying Huai, trembling all over, gently took the Hongyu Jewel Pendant, full of cracks, on Liang Shining's earlobe into his mouth.

Liang Shining's arm involuntarily tightened suddenly.

He heard the person before him let out a muffled groan, then belatedly loosened his grip, but the person in his arms had already broken free from his arm and was standing in front of him.

"I don't owe you, so I won't let my thoughts run wild." Ying Huai gave a low laugh.

He stepped back slightly, his peach-blossom eyes unfocused: "So now......I'm giving it back to you."

Liang Shining sensed that something was not right with Ying Huai's state.

He reached out abruptly, and the next second, watched the person before him close his eyes without warning and collapse straight down.