Unconscious

Ying Huai was nagged back to the hotel by Lu Jing the entire way.

At the time, Xin Wan had startled him, and he stepped back to dodge Liang Shining. Before he could say anything, Lu Jing and Xin Wan had stepped forward one after the other and simply taken him away.

Leaving behind only Liang Shining, who stood with lowered eyes in silence, and Li Xiang, disheveled in the wind.

Ying Huai opened the hotel room door with an expressionless face, realizing for the first time that the usually taciturn Lu Jing could be this chatty.

'What was Liang Shining trying to do just now?' Lu Jing frowned and stepped forward after him. 'Xiao Huai, was he really about to kiss—'

'No.' Ying Huai lazily cut off Lu Jing.

'He bumped my nose just now, I was checking if it was hurt—'

Before Ying Huai could finish, he heard Xin Wan speak in a tearful voice: 'Why did he bump your nose, little shixiong? Was it because he was trying to force a kiss on you and you were resisting?'

Ying Huai: .......

—This drunkard hadn't heard a single word he'd said.

'Sure,' Ying Huai took a deep breath and turned his head with a half-smile, 'go have a fight then.'

Xin Wan let out a wail, instantly stood up and swayed his way toward Liang Shining's room, only to be grabbed and stopped by Lu Jing.

Lu Jing raised his head and called out again to Ying Huai, who was trying to slip through the door amid the chaos: 'Xiao Huai!'

'We really didn't do anything,' he pushed open the door, covered his mouth as he yawned, and said offhandedly, 'Aren't you shixiong tired?'

Lu Jing turned a deaf ear and stepped forward again, staying close behind Ying Huai: 'Did he use something to threaten you?'

Lu Jing gritted his teeth, his voice dark: 'Xiao Huai, tell me the truth. If he dares to—'

'He did.' Before Lu Jing could finish, Ying Huai turned back with a smile.

His tone was teasing: 'He threatened me with a whole bunch of chocolate.'

Lu Jing was stunned.

The next second, a gust of wind suddenly rushed toward him.

Lu Jing instinctively stepped back, and at the same moment, the door slammed shut right in front of him with a 'bang.'

The drunken and groggy Xin Wan beside him was startled awake by the sound. He blinked around in a daze, then let out another wail: 'Little shixiong, my cabbage—is it going to be rooted by a pig—'

Lu Jing's brow twitched.

He covered Xin Wan's mouth, just about to drag him back, when he suddenly heard Xin Wan speak again in a choked voice: 'Little shixiong, I'm sorry to you, I can't let you fall into the tiger's mouth again in this lifetime—'

A flash of disbelief crossed Lu Jing's face.

He suddenly lowered his head and grabbed Xin Wan by the collar: 'What did you say?'

But the person in front of him, after saying that, tilted his head and immediately started snoring.

The vein at Lu Jing's temple pulsed.

For a moment he couldn't tell if Xin Wan was talking nonsense, or if he was also like him and Liang Shining.

Lu Jing took a deep breath.

The only thing he was certain of was that he really wanted to beat this all-talk-no-skill person in front of him to death.

·

Probably because he was truly exhausted from yesterday, Ying Huai tonight, for once, did not dream of Ying Qi from his past life.

But he inexplicably dreamed of Liang Shining.

He dreamed of the time in his past life when he and Liang Shining first appeared on the Cross-Genre Singer Variety Show.

At that time, Liang Shining was young, and although he usually acted like a closed gourd, he still couldn't quite hide his emotions. Ying Huai could always very easily make him bristle.

But later, after Liang Shining discovered that Ying Huai was all talk and no substance—all bravado on his lips but completely empty in practice—the initiative between them gradually began to shift.

—Just like now.

Because of this dream, Ying Huai still slept restlessly that night, and when he woke up, the tips of his ears were still red.

This strange feeling persisted until checkout at noon without fading.

On the other side, after Li Xiang finished checking out, he stood behind Liang Shining. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally couldn't help but speak: 'Liang ge, last night you—'

Liang Shining slightly turned his head.

Li Xiang bit his lip and quietly leaned in: 'If you succeeded last night, please tell me so I can prepare in advance—'

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment and slightly frowned: 'Succeeded at what?'

Li Xiang bit his lip, glanced at Ying Huai not far away, and lowered his voice to a whisper: 'I mean, if you really force-kissed Teacher Ying last night, I need to figure out whether to prepare a lawyer and PR statement for sexual harassment, or prepare an official announcement draft.'

Liang Shining: ........

He abruptly spoke, directly cutting off Li Xiang: 'No.'

Li Xiang was stunned: 'What?'

Liang Shining took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth: 'I didn't... force-kiss Ying Huai.'

Li Xiang's expression was dubious.

When he had followed Liang Shining back last night, his heart had gone cold.

He had spent the entire previous night running through his head how to explain to Liang's father and Liang Mu, where to be buried after being fired, and even—if he was secretly killed by Ying Huai or Lu Jing or Su Yun and his body dumped in the wilderness—who to ask to collect his corpse.

But the next morning, Liang Shining told him nothing had happened between them.

Li Xiang bit his lip and spoke again: 'Then why was Xin Wan wailing so tragically last night—'

Liang Shining was silent for two seconds: 'I don't know.'

He had actually been a little drunk last night.

Although not to the point of losing consciousness, his mind had been working very slowly. It was only when he woke up the next morning that he gradually recalled what he had done.

Liang Shining took a deep breath and felt his face inexplicably grow hot.

He raised his head and, by coincidence, met Ying Huai's gaze.

Both of them paused at the same time, and the next second, both abruptly turned their heads away.

Li Xiang, who had witnessed everything from the side, finally gave up all hope.

'You—you couldn't possibly have nothing happen—'

Li Xiang spoke in a trembling voice.

Liang Shining's brow twitched.

He turned his head and watched Li Xiang turn around shakily, then suddenly run out.

Liang Shining: .......

·

The Director's team had posted an apology statement on Weibo overnight, claiming it was an accidental incident caused by one staff member's mishandling.

The Production Team immediately fired that staff member and arranged a professional medical team to examine the relevant artists.

Fans of various camps on Weibo were in an uproar, but Ying Huai was not particularly surprised by this outcome.

The Director had done it so discreetly precisely so that once it was discovered, they could promptly pass the buck.

Ying Huai yawned and lazily leaned against the table.

—But if it can keep the Director's team in line for a few days, that's enough.

The Director had been worn down the entire previous night, and now his whole face was dark.

But for the moment he didn't dare to provoke Ying Huai again. He took a deep breath and barely managed a smile: 'Good morning, everyone. I trust you all slept well last night.'

The people in front of him each had their own thoughts, only Song Fengyi, as always, spoke in a gentle voice: 'Slept very well, thank you, Director.'

The Director glanced at Ying Huai, nodded absently, and quickly began running through the agenda: 'Alright, yesterday we determined the rankings through games. Congratulations to Teacher Ying and Teacher Liang for getting first place—you may now choose first what talent you'd like to showcase this episode.'

Ying Huai raised his head.

The Production Team had given three options in total: singing, dancing, and instrumental performance. They would be selected in order based on yesterday's game rankings.

For the top two groups, each person could choose one option, which could be repeated. The two could perform solo or together.

The last-place group could only choose one option and could only perform solo; the final performer would be decided by negotiation between the two group members.

At the same time, each option could be selected at most twice.

'Right, to give the last-place group a chance, we also have a challenge mechanism.' The Director suddenly spoke up.

'Guests in the last-place group who didn't get to choose a talent can challenge any guest from the first two groups.'

'If the challenge succeeds, they can obtain the losing guest's talent, and the losing guest must reselect.' The Director's gaze swept across the people around him.

Song Fengyi glanced at Ying Huai, his expression thoughtful.

Ying Huai, on the other hand, had no particular reaction.

He narrowed his eyes, glanced at Liang Shining beside him, and said with a smile: 'Teacher Liang, you choose first. I'll work around you.'

Liang Shining glanced at Ying Huai, just about to say something, when he suddenly heard Song Fengyi speak first from the side: 'Wait a moment.'

Song Fengyi stepped forward and, looking at the Director, said in a gentle voice: 'I'd like to challenge Teacher Ying.'

Ying Huai raised an eyebrow, and the Director beside him was also stunned: 'But the first group hasn't started choosing yet, and your group hasn't decided who performs. A challenge now—'

This loophole was exactly what Song Fengyi was trying to exploit.

'But Director, you didn't say that wasn't allowed just now,' Song Fengyi said gently, 'did you?'

The Director was momentarily speechless.

Song Fengyi looked toward Ying Huai and continued in his mild tone: 'We both know Teacher Ying will choose singing, and I happen to want to choose that too. So I'm challenging Teacher Ying now—if I win, I can swap, can't I?'

Song Fengyi and Su Yun were in last place. Although he was sure Su Yun wouldn't dare fight him for that slot, when it was their turn to choose, the remaining options would most likely be either dancing or instrumental performance.

Song Fengyi didn't want either.

The Director beside him seemed to understand Song Fengyi's plan and remained silent.

Ying Huai didn't respond immediately either.

He lightly tapped Glasses, stared at Song Fengyi for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed softly: 'Alright.'

He turned to look at the Director: 'What are we competing on?'

The Director silently breathed a sigh of relief and quickly spoke: 'Whatever the challenge is about, that's what we'll compete on. Since both of you want to choose singing, the competition will also be singing.'

'In a moment, we'll play a song segment in reverse, then provide the lyrics. Whoever can first sing it back completely a cappella with the correct pitch and melody of the original song wins.'

'The Director's team has designed a specialized singing-recognition software. After both of you finish singing, the software's results will be announced, and the winner will be determined by score.'

Ying Huai's expression didn't change, but Song Fengyi couldn't help but laugh outright.

'Isn't this just school music theory in disguise?' Song Fengyi said with a smile, glancing at the Director's team, his tone teasing. 'Director's team, are you letting us off easy?'

Song Fengyi was a professionally trained vocalist and had always been a top student in his field.

He had always been arrogant because of this, looking down on those singers who had 'entered the profession halfway.'

Song Fengyi turned to look at Ying Huai, his tone worried: 'Teacher Ying must have systematically studied music theory before debuting, right? After being a singer for so many years, you should have your own grasp of pitch and melody, right?'

Ying Huai turned to glance at Song Fengyi, smiled, and said nothing.

'Alright, let's begin.' The Director didn't dare to provoke Ying Huai right now.

Afraid that Ying Huai would catch him on something again, he hurriedly changed the subject: 'You can listen five times in total. Now playing the first time.'

Song Fengyi turned his head, and when he heard the first line, his expression shifted slightly.

The Director's team really hadn't gone easy—the song wasn't one everyone knew, and it contained many techniques. Even if one could guess the title, it was hard to fully reconstruct it.

Ying Huai beside him had no particular reaction, just kept his eyes lowered and listened quietly, occasionally jotting something down on paper.

After the first play, Song Fengyi had barely managed to pick out the melody and nothing else.

He felt a bit panicked inside. Glancing to the side, he saw that Ying Huai was also just sitting at the table with lowered eyes, quiet, with no reaction.

Song Fengyi's heart steadied slightly.

He gritted his teeth and tried to listen through the second play, but still gained nothing.

Fortunately, Ying Huai beside him didn't seem to be making progress either, still no movement.

Song Fengyi quickly jotted down the few segments he'd barely made out on paper, his heart settling a bit.

—It's fine, at least he's ahead of Ying Huai now.

Thinking this, Song Fengyi's expression calmed again.

—As long as he can do better than Ying Huai, that's enough.

The corner of Song Fengyi's mouth curved up slightly, but when the third play began, the smile on his lips suddenly froze.

From the moment the song began playing, Ying Huai suddenly picked up his pen, drew a staff on the paper, and began rapidly noting down the pitches and melodies before and after.

Song Fengyi's heart instantly panicked.

This panic caused him to barely hear anything during the third play, only haphazardly picking out fragmented pitches and tones.

When the play ended, Ying Huai put down his pen and slowly stretched, and Song Fengyi was on the verge of collapse.

When the fourth play began, he couldn't help looking up at Ying Huai again.

Ying Huai seemed to have already basically analyzed the entire song segment. He was now listening with his eyes slightly closed, confirming the rhythm and intervals.

After confirming with this play, Ying Huai let out a small yawn, then, under Song Fengyi's incredulous gaze, closed his eyes and half-collapsed onto the table.

Song Fengyi suddenly stood up: 'You—'

The person sprawled on the table stirred slightly, lifting his eyes in confusion: 'Ah? What's wrong?'

Ying Huai's expression was genuinely too innocent. Song Fengyi choked, unable to say anything he'd been about to.

The Live Stream Chat was watching with great interest.

[What is Song Fengyi doing? Does he think Ying Huai is mocking him? Hahahahaha.]

[Don't tell me he couldn't figure it out and is just giving up. Speechless.]

[Didn't you see Ying Huai's paper is already full of notes? Isn't Song Fengyi the one who couldn't hear anything?]

[Huai Huai just looks really sleepy. His health isn't great to begin with, so what's wrong with napping when tired? Don't project your own darkness onto everyone.]

Ying Huai was genuinely sleepy.

He'd tossed and turned restlessly in the latter half of last night, and now after listening to one song four times back-to-back, he was completely drowsy.

Startled by Song Fengyi, his head was spinning and he couldn't quite process what had just happened.

He rubbed his brow, lifted his eyelids to glance at Song Fengyi: 'What's wrong? Teacher Song, have you finished listening?'

Song Fengyi's expression stalled.

He watched Ying Huai prop his forehead with one hand, yawn lightly, and speak softly: 'Teacher Song, do you want to skip the last play and start the comparison directly?'

......Song Fengyi felt even more that Ying Huai was mocking him.

He stared at Ying Huai with a dark expression, then suddenly thought of something, his eyes shifting slightly.

'Nothing,' Song Fengyi took a deep breath, casually placing his hand on the paper beneath Ying Huai, 'I just wanted to ask, is Teacher Ying sleepy?'

Ying Huai rubbed his brow and softly hummed 'mm.'

Song Fengyi subtly slid the paper a bit toward himself, speaking gently: 'Then Teacher Ying, hang in there a bit longer, the last play will be over soon.'

Ying Huai looked up at Song Fengyi, his eyes narrowing slightly, then suddenly pushed the paper aside.

Song Fengyi was startled.

He instinctively yanked his hand back, but heard the person in front of him speak lazily: 'Good thing Teacher Song woke me just now, otherwise if I'd slept on it, the writing would have smudged.'

As he spoke, he lifted his head and curved his eyes slightly at Song Fengyi: 'Thanks, Teacher Song.'

Song Fengyi's heart raced. Looking at Ying Huai, he forced a smile: 'You're welcome.'

Ying Huai lay back down, and Song Fengyi, looking at the mostly-exposed sheet music beside him, slowly exhaled in relief.

The fifth play began.

Song Fengyi pretended to have a sudden realization, writing earnestly on his paper, but his gaze kept secretly flicking toward Ying Huai's.

When the fifth play ended, Song Fengyi silently exhaled, his expression gradually returning to its usual gentleness.

'Alright, five plays done. I'm sure you both feel confident now.' The Director said cheerfully.

His gaze circled between the two: 'Who goes first?'

Ying Huai slowly sat up. Song Fengyi gripped the paper in his hand, took a deep breath, and spoke first: 'I'll go first, Director.'

He lowered his eyes and, following the sheet music he'd just copied from Ying Huai, began to sing a cappella.

The melody and pitch he sang were both somewhat strange, but seemed to resemble the song from earlier.

He didn't notice that the Director's expression, staring at the detection software screen, had subtly changed.

When the song ended, before Ying Huai could say anything, Xin Wan—who had been watching the duel from the side—instantly grew anxious: 'Isn't this the score Junior Brother just wrote on his paper?'

Xin Wan stepped forward, speaking through gritted teeth: 'Have you no shame, Song Fengyi? You couldn't figure it out yourself so you copied Junior Brother's?'

Song Fengyi's expression didn't change: 'Teacher Xin, please present evidence when you speak. I wrote this myself based on the melody I heard. How could it be copying Teacher Ying's?'

'Besides, if we're both correct, the melodies we heard should indeed be largely similar. I sang before Teacher Ying—shouldn't Teacher Xin be saying that Teacher Ying copied mine?'

'You—' Xin Wan was left speechless with anger.

He instantly understood why Song Fengyi had been so eager to go first.

He opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly heard Ying Huai beside him laugh: 'Teacher Song is right, the correct answers should indeed be largely similar.'

He half-propped his chin, leaning crookedly against the table, glanced at Song Fengyi's paper with a half-smile, and raised an eyebrow slightly: 'Teacher Song's score and mine really are remarkably similar.'

Song Fengyi spoke gently: 'Teacher Ying wouldn't also want to say I copied yours, would you?'

He was sure he had the upper hand—no matter what Ying Huai said, he could maintain the advantage.

Unexpectedly, Ying Huai curved his eyes and shook his head with a smile: 'Not quite that.'

As he spoke, he sat up, picked up his pen, and revised a few spots on his paper.

Song Fengyi's expression shifted.

But he kept reassuring himself.

—It's fine, just a few notes and pitches. If the main melody is right, the machine's detection won't necessarily determine a winner.

But the moment Ying Huai opened his mouth to sing, Song Fengyi's expression suddenly froze.

The song Ying Huai sang a cappella was completely different from his.

'This is impossible—'

Song Fengyi suddenly stood up, eager to speak, but was pushed back down by Xin Wan beside him.

'Shut up and listen properly.' Xin Wan said impatiently, 'If you don't know how, then learn.'

Ying Huai's a cappella version was indeed much more pleasant to listen to than Song Fengyi's.

Song Fengyi's voice had seemed weak earlier, perhaps because he wasn't sure of himself, sounding somewhat halting.

Ying Huai's voice was clear and cool. Perhaps because it was his first time hearing the song, though he sang relatively slowly, the notes flowed continuously, giving it a lazy quality instead.

The Live Stream Chat began to discuss.

[Ying Huai's version is clearly much more normal than Song Fengyi's.]

[Just because one sounds more normal doesn't mean it's right. Maybe the song's style is just weird, Song-ge is right, and Ying Huai just couldn't figure it out and threw together something random.]

[Stop whitewashing upstairs. Ying Huai's singing technique is really high. I've heard the original of this song. Ying Huai must be hearing it for the first time, so he added a lot of his own interpretation to connect and blend it. It really sounds good.]

[......Really, I may be stupid but I'm not deaf. I can't transcribe the original, but can I not tell which one sounds like a normal song?]

When the a cappella ended, Song Fengyi's face went pale, his expression full of disbelief: 'This is impossible, what you clearly wrote wasn't even....'

'When a song is played in reverse, the order of the phonemes all changes,' Ying Huai covered his lips and coughed lightly, speaking casually, 'For example, a word that should be read as "ban" becomes "nab" when reversed.'

After singing, his face inexplicably went a few shades paler, his body swayed slightly, and he had to grip the table to barely stay upright.

Liang Shining beside him stepped forward with a frown. Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly before continuing to speak softly.

'The score I wrote was just analyzed from the reversed audio I heard. When actually performing, you need to account for how the loudness, pitch, and frequency distribution of each instrument changes over time when reversed, and adjust accordingly.'

Song Fengyi's face changed bit by bit.

He listened as Ying Huai spoke slowly: 'That process was too tiring. I was lazy and didn't write it all down on paper.'

Ying Huai raised his head, looking at Song Fengyi with slight surprise: 'Teacher Song wouldn't have forgotten this when transcribing the score, would you?'

Song Fengyi's hand at his side slowly clenched.

When he was copying, he'd vaguely sensed something was off, but since he couldn't figure it out himself, he simply let it go.

Song Fengyi still tried to struggle: 'No, no, impossible, I clearly heard it that way just now, I must be right........'

But the next second, all his words suddenly cut off.

The Director turned the score screen toward them.

His score was a stark ten points.

Song Fengyi's face instantly went deathly pale.

'Then unfortunately, Teacher Song's challenge has failed. According to the rules, Teacher Song cannot perform his talent this episode........'

'No, no, wait!'

Song Fengyi suddenly raised his head: 'Ying Huai's group hasn't started choosing yet. Strictly speaking, this selection process hasn't begun.'

This was the loophole Song Fengyi had been trying to exploit.

None of the groups had begun their selections yet, meaning nothing had entered the process. His challenge now couldn't count as voluntarily choosing to give up the performance.

If he wins, he can take Ying Huai's singing slot; if he loses, he can fall back and take Su Yun's spot.

Song Fengyi spoke urgently: 'So what I'm competing with Ying Huai for should be priority selection rights, not talent selection rights...'

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard Ying Huai say lazily: 'Teacher Song has the wrong person.'

Song Fengyi was stunned. Ying Huai half-leaned on the table, raised his head, and looked at Song Fengyi with a half-smile: 'I just said, let Mr. Liang choose first.'

'If Teacher Song wants priority selection rights, you should be competing with Mr. Liang.'

Song Fengyi's face instantly turned ugly.

'The Director said only those without talent selections can issue challenges. The reverse is also true,' Ying Huai said slowly.

'Teacher Song can't recognize songs played backwards, but doesn't understand reverse logic either?'

The Live Stream Chat instantly burst into laughter too.

[So Song Fengyi not only didn't get any benefit, he handed his talent showcase directly to someone else hahahahaha.]

[Not just that, according to his own statement, he also exposed his insufficient music theory knowledge, perfectly illustrating 'losing on both fronts'.]

[Wow wow wow, I was originally worried he'd snatch Su Yun's cute talent showcase. Our capybara personality definitely couldn't compete with him. Wuwuwu thank you Teacher Ying!]

'Alright, since the challenge is over, let's continue with the talent selection.'

The Director wiped his sweat and turned to Liang Shining on his own initiative.

The attention of those around finally shifted away. Ying Huai silently exhaled and slowly sat down, leaning on the table.

His vision was spinning in waves, his heart was beating rapidly, and even his breathing was somewhat urgent.

Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly and gave a helpless little smile.

—Only he himself knew how much effort it had taken just now to barely hide the trembling in his voice while singing in front of everyone.

That clip was only a dozen seconds and already like this. If he really performed on stage...

Ying Huai covered his lips and coughed a few times, silently sighing.

Ying Huai took out a pill and held it under his tongue, pressed his chest, but felt no relief at all from the palpitations.

He vaguely realized something, gave a bitter smile, and looked up ahead.

Ying Huai's vision was a bit blurry. He heard Liang Shining unsurprisingly choose singing, and his peach blossom eyes curved slightly.

He watched the Director turn to himself, his expression momentarily dazed.

And the Live Stream Chat was already excitedly commenting.

[!! I bet Brother Liang and Teacher Ying will both choose singing!]

[Ahhhh I'm so looking forward to a duet stage, please please please, I've always wanted to hear one from the Cross-Genre Singer Program, make up for my regret wuwu.]

[I saw before that a blogger AI-synthesized a duet between them, a lyrical song. Brother Liang's vocal range is low, and it matches perfectly with Teacher Ying's voice. That duet was absolutely amazing.]

But the next second, they heard Ying Huai say softly: 'I choose instrumental performance.'

Live Stream Chat: [????]

The others around were instantly stunned too.

Liang Shining frowned, and Song Fengyi beside him was nearly fuming with rage.

'What did you say?' Song Fengyi gritted his teeth, 'Why, why won't you choose...'

'I never intended to choose singing in the first place.'

Ying Huai leaned back in his chair, raised his head with a half-smile: 'So I said, Teacher Song from the very beginning... picked the wrong person.'

·

In the end, Xin Wan chose singing, and Lu Jing chose instrumental performance.

Su Yun was left with only dance.

He didn't really mind. He was just a newcomer anyway, and as long as he got some exposure and didn't get scolded by his manager, he was happy with anything.

Which meant that except for Song Fengyi, everyone else was basically satisfied with their choices.

The Director gave each group an afternoon to prepare. By evening, each group needed to submit the finalized details of their performances.

'Ying Huai?'

Ying Huai hummed softly, drowsy and dazed, raised his head: 'What is it?'

Liang Shining sat beside him, his expression carrying unconcealable worry: 'You just fell asleep.'

Liang Shining reached out and touched his forehead, speaking softly: 'Is something wrong?'

Ying Huai avoided Liang Shining's touch, leaned on the table for a moment, and shook his head slightly.

He had just gone back to his room to take medicine. Now the side effects were probably kicking in. Ying Huai felt everything around him was hazy, his eyelids so heavy he could barely keep them open.

He closed his eyes for two seconds, then said softly: 'I'm fine.'

Liang Shining frowned.

He had noticed Ying Huai's condition wasn't right earlier.

Liang Shining felt a vague unease in his heart:

'Why don't you go rest for a while,' Liang Shining said softly, 'you look like... very tired.'

Ying Huai took a few seconds to react, glanced at Liang Shining with some surprise.

Liang Shining always did things strictly by the rules, so seriously that Ying Huai had nothing but complaints.

Back during the Cross-Genre Singer Program, Liang Shining had initially disliked his casual attitude and... flirtatious ways, which was why he kept avoiding him.

Even after Liang Shining realized his perception was somewhat biased, he still frowned frequently whenever he saw Ying Huai's lazy demeanor.

Over time, Ying Huai would instinctively avoid Liang Shining whenever he tried to slack off.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, his eyes suddenly curving: 'What's gotten into Mr. Liang today? Actually starting to encourage me to slack off?'

He leaned forward slightly, getting close to Liang Shining's face, 'After all these years, Mr. Liang has finally started to feel sorry for me?'

The person in front of him had slightly bright eyes, carrying the mist of just waking.

Liang Shining's heart skipped lightly, and he suddenly looked away.

'Speak properly, don't get so close.' Liang Shining took a deep breath and said softly.

'Anyway, there's still plenty of time... sharpening the axe won't delay the chopping.'

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, leaning back into his chair with some regret.

'I thought Mr. Liang had finally come around.' He sighed with a half-smile.

'Resting for a bit won't help anyway, no need.'

Liang Shining frowned, looking up in confusion.

Ying Huai looked at him calmly.

This kind of side effect from his medication couldn't be avoided. Either he pushed through it, or he passed out. But given his physical condition, he basically wouldn't wake up until tomorrow morning.

Ying Huai's fingers under the table slowly tightened, but his tone didn't show any abnormality: 'Alright, Teacher Liang doesn't want to waste time either.'

Liang Shining could only withdraw his gaze and say nothing more.

·

Once they actually started discussing, Ying Huai unexpectedly found that things were progressing much faster than he had anticipated.

He and Liang Shining were unexpectedly in sync on many things. Ying Huai had thought that after all these years, Liang Shining must hate him to the bone and would want to erase that experience on the show from his memory.

But now, in this daze, Ying Huai unexpectedly felt like he was back in the past.

Ying Huai was somewhat surprised, but Liang Shining looked composed.

'Does Teacher Liang want a solo performance, or a collaborative one?' Ying Huai didn't wait for Liang Shining's answer, smiling and speaking on his own.

'I know Teacher Liang definitely doesn't want to perform with me, so I'll choose solo first...'

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard the person beside him say softly: 'Collaborative.'

Ying Huai was stunned. Before he could react, the form in his hand was snatched away the next second.

Ying Huai blankly lowered his eyes, watching Liang Shining unhesitatingly check 'collaborative stage.'

Ying Huai was stunned, staring at that form, his eyes flickering slightly.

The general direction and stage style were basically finalized. The remaining details could be handled later.

Ying Huai breathed a sigh of relief, only then realizing that at some point his vision had been spinning and his chest felt stuffy.

He really couldn't hold on any longer, half-collapsed back down, slightly turning his head to look at Liang Shining beside him, who was finalizing the form.

'Why do you want to collaborate with me, Liang Shining?' Ying Huai suddenly said softly.

Liang Shining lowered his head without speaking, just softly 'Mm?'

Ying Huai felt his vision going dark. With his eyes slightly closed, he continued slowly: 'Didn't you back then rather give up the championship than complete the final performance with me? Why have you suddenly changed your mind now?'

Liang Shining's fingers trembled slightly.

He said softly: 'You're tired, Shifu. Let me help you back to rest, okay?'

Ying Huai was having trouble breathing, his drowsy mind barely registering what he was saying.

'I'm not your Shifu.'

He only followed the subconscious thought in his mind, speaking softly: 'Didn't you hate me the most, Liang Shining? You never even called me Shifu in front of people, like you couldn't wait to cut all ties with me...'

Liang Shining's outstretched hand paused slightly. He silently opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found the person beside him's voice gradually fading.

'I'm so sleepy, Liang Shining.'

'Let me sleep for a bit, you wake me up later...'

Before Ying Huai finished speaking, his voice suddenly cut off.

Liang Shining raised his head, watching the arm of the person beside him resting on the table slowly slide down, falling limply.

Liang Shining closed his eyes.

He set the form aside, squatted down, reached through Ying Huai's knees, intending to carry him back to the room first.

But just as he helped the person up, his brow suddenly furrowed.

Something wasn't right with Ying Huai's condition.

The person in his arms was terribly limp, as if constantly sliding down. His head tilted back in the crook of his arm, his neck hanging weakly, showing a fragile, easily-broken quality.

'Ying Huai?'

Liang Shining quickly squatted down.

He looked up at Ying Huai's face, and in one glance, his expression rapidly changed.

Ying Huai's face was ashen, but his lips had somehow turned a terrifying purple.