Chapter 35

Liang Shining quickly laid Ying Huai on the floor, positioning his upper body half-leaning against himself, maintaining a semi-sitting posture.

'Ying Huai?' Liang Shining placed a pill under Ying Huai's tongue, his voice trembling as he spoke, 'Ying Huai? Wake up...'

The person in his arms was unresponsive to calling, his breathing almost inaudible, and his face was gradually turning ashen.

Liang Shining's mind went blank, his arms trembling uncontrollably.

'Teacher Liang?'

A timid voice came from the doorway.

Su Yun stood at the doorway holding a form, staring blankly, his expression unable to conceal his panic: 'Teacher Ying... what's wrong?'

Liang Shining suddenly snapped back to his senses.

Holding Ying Huai, he spoke hoarsely: 'Get Song Si Lan.'

Su Yun felt he had never reacted so quickly in his life.

He abruptly turned and sprinted outside.

·

The day Ying Huai's stomach illness flared up, Song Si Lan had also followed into the Production Team.

By the time Su Yun ran up to him, he was panting so hard he could barely speak. Before Song Si Lan could figure out what this kid in front of him wanted to say, he was directly dragged into a sprint.

By the time Su Yun was pulling him close to their destination, Song Si Lan had finally pieced together the whole story.

He rushed to Ying Huai's side, and his face instantly changed.

'I already gave him medicine, but his heart rate is still abnormal.'

Liang Shining held the person in front of him tightly, speaking rapidly in a low voice: 'I don't know what happened, I couldn't wake him up, he just suddenly went completely limp...'

Song Si Lan glanced at the reading on the simple pulse oximeter clip, his expression grim.

'Let go, Liang Shining,' Song Si Lan said quietly. 'Hand him over to me.'

Liang Shining was stunned. He loosened his grip slightly, feeling the emptiness in his arms. His fingers instinctively reached out, but grasped only air for a moment.

Song Si Lan supported Ying Huai's neck, lifting him up a bit.

He held Ying Huai's body steady with one hand, quickly pressed the other to his chest, applying slight pressure, massaging clockwise while urgently calling Ying Huai's name.

After what felt like an eternity, Liang Shining finally saw the person in front of him let out a faint groan, his chest heaving violently once, finally catching his breath.

Liang Shining shuddered all over, letting out a silent sigh.

Song Si Lan's expression also relaxed slightly. He pinched Ying Huai's lower lip and slipped another pill inside.

'Alright, getting that breath out is much better.'

He took out a penlight and shone it into Ying Huai's eyes, speaking softly: 'How do you feel? Anywhere uncomfortable? Chest tight? Feel like vomiting?'

Ying Huai's consciousness didn't seem fully clear yet. He seemed confused by Song Si Lan's barrage of questions, slowly blinking before speaking in a low voice: 'How did I...'

Only upon speaking did he realize his voice had somehow become terribly hoarse.

Ying Huai felt his head was heavy.

His mind was a muddled haze. He felt Song Si Lan shift aside, and then he fell into a warm embrace.

Liang Shining reached out, letting him lean fully against his chest, slowly massaging Ying Huai's heart area without speaking.

Ying Huai also realized something must have gone wrong with his body just now.

He lifted his head with effort, looking at Liang Shining's slightly cold expression, feeling a rare pang of guilt.

'I'm fine now, aren't I?' Ying Huai curled his lips, forcing a smile. 'Don't look so grim, Mr. Liang...'

'You almost had a serious incident just now.' Liang Shining abruptly cut him off.

Ying Huai was taken aback, stopped speaking, and guiltily curved his eyes at Liang Shining.

'You suddenly fainted just now, an unconscious, abrupt onset.' Song Si Lan plopped down on the floor beside them, frowning as he spoke. 'Do you remember anything?'

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

His awareness was still stuck at the moment before he lost consciousness earlier. He only remembered feeling exhausted all over, his chest unbearably tight and stifled.

He had intended to close his eyes and rest for a bit, but the moment he closed them, he instantly lost consciousness.

Song Si Lan's expression grew more serious. He sat up straight again and checked Ying Huai's pulse.

'What were you doing just now?' Song Si Lan suddenly asked.

Ying Huai's physical condition had been adjusted fairly well recently; there shouldn't have been such a sudden acute episode.

His state seemed more like he had been stimulated by something, leading to a momentary heart palpitation and breath-holding.

He stared intently at the person before him: 'Were you stimulated by something or took some medicine...'

Ying Huai hesitated, about to shake his head, when he heard Liang Shining speak softly from behind him: 'His complexion has been poor ever since he finished singing. He passed out once in between, and then just now he suddenly had the attack.'

Song Si Lan's brow furrowed tighter bit by bit.

He looked like he wanted to ask more, but seeing Ying Huai's expression unable to hide his exhaustion, he finally just let out a heavy sigh.

'Alright, take him back to his room first.'

Song Si Lan patted his pants, looked at Ying Huai's hesitant expression, and sneered: 'Congratulations. You've gifted yourself another bedridden care package.'

Ying Huai: ...

·

After this episode, Ying Huai developed a high fever that very night.

He was completely delirious from the fever, sinking into the blankets in a daze, struggling to breathe.

It wasn't until Song Si Lan put him on oxygen that he settled down somewhat.

Ying Huai remained ill for two days.

Fortunately, the Director had given them five days to prepare for the program. By the afternoon of the second day of lying in bed, Ying Huai couldn't take it anymore. Seizing the chance while Liang Shining was out rehearsing, he begged Su Yun to help him out of bed.

'Is this really okay, Teacher Ying?' Su Yun asked worriedly.

'I remember Doctor Song said you need to stay in bed for a week...'

'Song Si Lan's words are always exaggerated,' Ying Huai said with a smile, his expression unchanged and his heart unperturbed. 'Just take half of what he says seriously—same goes for Liang Shining's words.'

'So that's why you drink half the medicine and pour out the other half?' Su Yun asked blankly.

In the room, Song Si Lan inexplicably sneezed twice in a row.

Ying Huai choked.

He abruptly turned his head and quickly made a shushing gesture at Su Yun: 'You absolutely cannot tell Liang Shining and Song Si Lan that.'

He lowered his eyes slightly, a flicker of mischievous amusement in his gaze: 'This is our secret, okay?'

Su Yun's mind worked slowly; he didn't immediately understand why this couldn't be known by Liang Shining and Song Si Lan.

But hearing Ying Huai's second sentence, his eyes brightened, and he nodded seriously.

Ying Huai let out a soft sigh of relief.

'So are you going straight to find Teacher Liang now?' Su Yun asked in a small voice as he helped Ying Huai walk slowly forward. 'I think Teacher Liang will be angry if he sees you got out of bed on your own.'

...Though he didn't want to admit it, Ying Huai thought so too.

His eyes flickered, and he suddenly smiled: 'Of course not.'

As he spoke, he turned his gaze towards the kitchen next to them: 'We certainly can't go... empty-handed.'

·

In the practice room.

The door was suddenly knocked on gently. Liang Shining looked up, and his expression instantly darkened.

'What are you doing here?'

He quickly stood up to go help Ying Huai.

But the next second, the person smilingly peeking in from the doorway waved a hand and, leaning on Su Yun's arm, ambled leisurely into the room.

'I'm just here to check on my teammate,' Ying Huai said with a smile. 'And to deliver some sustenance.'

As he spoke, he tried to take something out of a bag, but saw Liang Shining's gaze fall on Su Yun, and his expression instantly darkened further.

Ying Huai was puzzled, not understanding.

Liang Shining's gaze shifted to the side.

Su Yun was holding a dark brown pastry, eating it intently. It was clearly the 'sustenance' Ying Huai had mentioned.

'No need.' Liang Shining took a deep breath, speaking coldly. 'Go back and rest properly. I don't want to eat...'

Before he could finish, the next second, he felt something slightly sweet being stuffed into his mouth.

Liang Shining was stunned. Before he could say anything, he saw Ying Huai lean forward, holding up a cookie and bringing it close again.

Liang Shining instinctively grabbed Ying Huai's wrist: 'Ying Huai!'

'What's wrong?' Ying Huai looked up with a smile. 'Not tasty?'

Liang Shining took a deep breath: 'No, but you...'

Before he could finish, his gaze fell on the cookie in Ying Huai's hand, and his expression froze slightly.

That cookie wasn't the black one Su Yun had been holding earlier. It was a golden little dog, its face stern and slightly cold, but its big tail behind it was held high.

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment, blurting out: 'Why isn't it black?'

Ying Huai gave Liang Shining a bewildered look: 'Why would a golden retriever be made black?'

Liang Shining's words spilled out directly: 'Then why is Su Yun's...'

Ying Huai paused, his expression turning slightly awkward: 'Su Yun's isn't a golden retriever, it's... a capybara.'

Liang Shining paused. He turned his head, looked at the vaguely shaped lump in Su Yun's hand, and spoke with a strange expression: 'A capybara?'

'That one was a test batch. I made a couple before making yours, the shape wasn't great. Su Yun kept pestering me for a capybara, so I added some cocoa powder and modified it for him.' Ying Huai spoke, half-amused, half-exasperated.

He looked thoughtfully at Liang Shining's gradually softening expression, belatedly realizing something.

He couldn't help laughing as he spoke: 'What's the matter? How old are you, Mr. Liang, trying to steal a kid's cookie?'

Liang Shining didn't speak. He stared at the golden retriever cookie in his hand, asking softly: 'You made this specially for me?'

'What else?' Ying Huai shoved the bag into Liang Shining's hand, lazily propping himself up on the floor in a cross-legged sit. 'Don't you think this golden retriever looks a lot like you, Mr. Liang?'

Liang Shining: ...

'Where?'

He lowered his head, looking at the golden retriever in his hand with its brows distinctly downturned, and subconsciously frowned: 'I'm not angry that often.'

'You're not angry, you're happy.' Ying Huai raised his hand, pointing with a smile at the big, wagging tail sticking up behind it. 'It's just not obvious on the surface.'

Liang Shining was silent for two seconds.

He opened his mouth, about to say something, when he heard Ying Huai speak with a half-smile: 'Just like right now.'

Liang Shining: ...

He lowered his eyes, watching Ying Huai tilt his head up with curved eyes: 'Now Mr. Liang should agree to let me rehearse together, right?'

Liang Shining was silent for two seconds: '...No.'

Ying Huai, who had been utterly confident: ?

·

In the end, the matter concluded with Liang Shining trading one golden retriever with Su Yun for the remaining capybara.

Ying Huai looked at the person before him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, sighing helplessly: 'Satisfied now? Can I not go back?'

Liang Shining took the bag of cookies, placed it carefully to the side, and said calmly: 'Report any physical discomfort immediately. Rehearse for one hour, then rest. Whether to continue afterwards will depend on your condition.'

Ying Huai agreed with a smile and a full mouth, and made a 'shh' gesture to Su Yun beside him, who looked like he wanted to say something.

'Alright then, let's get started quickly.'

Ying Huai sat cross-legged in the practice room, looking up with a smile: 'I went to see Xin Wan and Lu Jing's performance earlier, they're preparing really well. If Mr. Liang doesn't want to be outdone by them, we need to practice more.'

Liang Shining lifted his head expressionlessly: 'Xin Wan was still threatening to smash Lu Jing's guitar yesterday. The day before, after rehearsal, Lu Jing came out with a gloomy face, clutching Xin Wan's microphone, and walked straight towards the trash can.'

Ying Huai was stunned, a strange look flashing across his expression.

He had only meant to bluff Liang Shining a bit, never expecting to be exposed so absurdly.

He watched as Liang Shining turned his head and spoke calmly: 'If shifu doesn't want a similar situation to occur, it's best not to hide your physical condition.'

Ying Huai and Liang Shining stared at each other silently for a few seconds. Ying Huai forcefully held back a laugh and nodded seriously.

·

But the rehearsal progress was indeed much slower than either of them had anticipated.

—The main reason was the collaboration song the Production Team had arranged for them.

The Production Team didn't let them choose their own song. On the first day when collecting forms, they mentioned they would arrange the most suitable song based on the specific circumstances submitted by each group.

The song style Liang Shining selected was modern lyrical, and the instrument Ying Huai reported was piano.

Unexpectedly, the few reference song styles the Production Team ultimately provided were all in a traditional Chinese style, and the suggested accompanying instrument was... a bamboo flute.

Ying Huai looked at the several songs provided, all with rather complex techniques and melodies, and for a moment felt both amused and exasperated.

'The Production Team said it's to unify the performance style of all groups, which is why they changed Teacher Ying and Teacher Liang's song,' Su Yun spoke softly beside them, unusually indignant.

'But Teacher Xin's group's modern song wasn't changed. Mine is traditional style, but it's just a solo dance, it doesn't affect the overall picture.'

He turned to look at Ying Huai beside him, who was lowering his eyes in silence, and whispered: 'Or change it to piano accompaniment?'

Ying Huai propped his chin on one hand, his expression thoughtful: 'Piano accompaniment is definitely possible, but...'

—If it were just background accompaniment, this performance would be completely different from the effect he originally envisioned.

And also—

Ying Huai glanced at the silent Liang Shining beside him and sighed soundlessly.

—He could sense that Liang Shining seemed unexpectedly serious about this collaboration stage.

Though Ying Huai didn't quite understand why, he inexplicably didn't want to let Liang Shining down.

Ying Huai had also considered simply performing with the bamboo flute.

But although he had touched on the bamboo flute a little as a child, he wasn't skilled at it. A forced cooperation definitely wouldn't achieve the intended effect.

Moreover, Liang Shining's vocal range was relatively low, and the pitch of these songs was relatively high. There was no way to harmonize them.

Ying Huai's thoughts raced. He narrowed his eyes, a vague idea forming in his mind.

But before he could think it through carefully, he suddenly saw Su Yun beside him abruptly stand up and head straight for the door.

Ying Huai, quick-eyed and swift-handed, grabbed him: 'Where are you going?'

'I'm going to talk to the Director group, see if they can change Teacher Ying and Teacher Liang's song back,' Su Yun said in a muffled voice. 'I...'

'It's not your problem,' Liang Shining beside him suddenly interrupted in a low voice.

Su Yun was stunned.

Ying Huai stared at Su Yun's slightly reddened eyes and belatedly understood something.

His heart softened, and he couldn't help but reach out and ruffle Su Yun's hair again.

'Our song being changed—'

Ying Huai stopped halfway, then thought of something else. Without turning his head, he groped behind him and patted Liang Shining, continuing: 'Our song being changed isn't because of your traditional-style dance.'

Liang Shining, who had been inexplicably patted in the face: ...?

Su Yun stood dazedly in place. After a long moment, he still stubbornly whispered: 'I should still go and try. If it's because of me, I can change my performance...'

'Every Variety Show has various backup plans,' Ying Huai said softly. 'There are backup traditional-style songs, and there are backup modern songs. That the Director's team could produce this set of songs means they had it planned out long ago. It has nothing to do with you.'

Ying Huai leaned against the wall behind him, his neck tilted back slightly, looking at the person before him with a lazy smile: 'It's fine. Since the Director group dares to change it like this, then we dare to perform it like this.'

He touched the Hongyu Jewel Pendant at the end of his hair, speaking nonchalantly: 'I'm here.'

Su Yun was stunned for a moment, his emotions finally slowly calming down.

Ying Huai stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke with interest: 'Not bad, little capybara. Your reactions are much faster than before, even thinking for me now.'

Su Yun was taken aback, a rare trace of embarrassment appearing on his face: 'I just...'

'Alright, go practice your dance now,' Ying Huai lowered his head again.

He smoothed out the several scores the Director group had given him one by one on the floor. After looking down at them for a few seconds, he picked up one score, took a pen, and started modifying something on it, speaking casually.

'I'll come check on you later. By then, your progress better not be slower than ours.'

Su Yun hadn't seen the Cross-Genre Singer Program where Ying Huai served as a mentor.

But hearing Ying Huai's nonchalant voice now, he inexplicably felt a pressure rising within him.

He instantly turned around, ran a couple of steps, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned back and spoke hesitantly: 'I know a little about the bamboo flute, Teacher Ying.'

Su Yun whispered, 'If you need anything from me, just find me anytime.'

Ying Huai's eyes curved bit by bit: 'Alright, then when I come over later, I'll just have to ask Teacher Su Yun for guidance.'

As soon as he finished speaking, he watched the person before him blush 'suddenly'.

'I, I, I, no...'

Ying Huai couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Su Yun seemed about to be cooked through. He quickly turned around and ran back, remembering to grab the golden retriever cookies from earlier, then dashed out at a trot.

·

By the time Ying Huai finished modifying the score, rubbing his sore neck and looking up, he belatedly realized the sky outside had completely darkened at some point.

Liang Shining, who had been practicing singing beside him, looked up the moment Ying Huai did.

He handed over a cup of warm water, asking softly: 'Finished modifying?'

Ying Huai rubbed the space between his brows, answering nonchalantly with an 'Mm'.

Only now did he feel exceptionally tired all over. He leaned lazily against the wall, not wanting to move a single finger.

Ying Huai took off his Glasses and placed them to the side, rubbed his temples, and suddenly let out a soft laugh: 'How come Teacher Liang is letting me off today?'

Liang Shining turned his head: 'What?'

'The time.'

Ying Huai looked up at the clock overhead, which showed nearly four hours had passed since he arrived.

Liang Shining didn't answer immediately.

He stared quietly at Ying Huai for a few seconds before slowly turning his head back: 'I was distracted, forgot for a moment.'

Liang Shining's nature was terrifyingly meticulous; he never forgot things. Clearly, this couldn't be the reason.

Ying Huai didn't press further, only curved his eyes noncommittally.

He lowered his head, preparing to go through the modified score once more, when he suddenly heard Liang Shining abruptly speak again: 'Shifu was like this before too.'

Ying Huai's movements paused slightly.

He understood instantly.

—Liang Shining was talking about the time during the Cross-Genre Singer Program.

Ying Huai would often spend whole days holed up in the recording studio or practice room. Liang Shining would sometimes forcibly pull him out to rest, but more often than not, he would just quietly stay by Ying Huai's side. When Ying Huai got tired and fell asleep, he would silently carry him back.

—Unfortunately, later on, Liang Shining inexplicably broke with him. Every time Ying Huai woke up in the recording studio afterwards, all he saw were messy music scores.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He was quiet for a few seconds. Instead of answering Liang Shining's statement, he smiled nonchalantly: 'Really? Such a small thing... Mr. Liang can even remember that.'

Liang Shining's expression darkened for an instant.

He watched as Ying Huai quietly ran through the score once, finally letting out a silent sigh of relief.

'The melody changes for the singing part aren't many. Familiarize yourself with them first. I'll use the piano to run through the whole piece for you...'

Ying Huai spoke while supporting himself against the wall to stand up.

But before he finished speaking, he suddenly let out a soft 'hiss', lowered his head to press his temples, and swayed.

'I'll run through it for you in a bit, let me catch my breath first...'

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt his hand go empty.

Immediately after, Ying Huai felt himself being picked up directly.

The black fog in his vision hadn't dissipated yet; for a moment, he didn't even process what was happening.

When the dizziness finally subsided, Ying Huai was horrified to find Liang Shining had already carried him almost out of the practice room.

Ying Huai immediately tried to struggle free from Liang Shining's arms.

'Have you gone mad, Liang Shining...'

“I'll go back and practice the score myself later,” Liang Shining tightened his hold, continuing to walk steadily forward with the person in his arms. “You go back and rest today.”

“Then put me down, I can walk myself...” Ying Huai gritted his teeth.

Before he could finish, he saw Liang Shining glance down at him. “Can you walk by yourself right now?”

Ying Huai, whose vision was still swimming with dizziness: “......”

He choked for a moment, gritted his teeth, and forced himself to speak. “Why couldn't I?”

Liang Shining didn't believe a word he said and kept walking forward.

Ying Huai simply stopped talking, directly bracing against the nearby wall to try and leverage himself down.

But he had just pushed himself up when he suddenly heard a somewhat odd voice from beside him. “What are you two doing?”

Song Si Lan stood at the practice room door, looking at the two people before him with a strange expression... their posture was odd.

Liang Shining's footsteps halted. Seizing the chance, Ying Huai braced against the wall, quickly struggled free, and took a half-step back to lean against the wall.

“Nothing, just rehearsing some... stage effects.”

Ying Huai took a deep breath and spoke with a smiling face.

“What brings you here, Doctor Song?”

Song Si Lan stared at them thoughtfully for a few seconds before speaking slowly. “Nothing... I originally came to see if you'd taken your medicine today, but found your room empty.”

Ying Huai's expression stiffened for an instant.

Song Si Lan stared at the person before him, unhurriedly curling his lips. “So shouldn't Teacher Ying be in his room right now?”

Ying Huai opened his mouth, his eyes curving in a placating manner. “I wasn't feeling that bad today, so...”

“So you were just dizzy enough for Teacher Liang to carry you back.” Song Si Lan snorted coldly.

Ying Huai: “......”

He opened his mouth soundlessly, then suddenly heard a panicked cry of pain from the adjacent practice room.

Ying Huai's brow instantly furrowed.

Song Si Lan also frowned. He exchanged a glance with Ying Huai and quickly headed over.

·

When Ying Huai walked in, he was somewhat surprised to find Song Fengyi also inside the practice room.

Ying Huai frowned. He didn't say anything immediately, but stepped forward and crouched before Su Yun, who was curled on the floor clutching his foot, speaking softly. “What happened?”

Su Yun's face was pale with pain. He shook his head and spoke in a low voice. “I'm fine, Teacher Ying. I just slipped and fell a moment ago.”

As he spoke, he leaned on Ying Huai to stand up, trying to walk to the side. The next second, Song Si Lan pressed him firmly back down.

“Don't move. You've sprained your ankle.”

Song Si Lan bent down for a quick check, then frowned and said, “It's already a bit swollen. Don't put weight on this foot. I'll get you some ice to reduce the swelling.”

Su Yun was stunned for a moment, seemingly not processing it right away, and still spoke blankly. “I'm fine. I'll recover in a bit. It won't affect my dancing...”

“Do you not want this foot anymore?” Song Si Lan snorted coldly. “If you don't, then keep dancing.”

Su Yun's movements halted.

“How did you sprain your ankle in the practice room?” Song Si Lan frowned, looking around.

Su Yun had been a professional dancer before debut. The dance the Production Team provided wasn't very difficult either. Logically, this shouldn't have happened.

Su Yun stood frozen for a long moment before slowly speaking. “Just now, Teacher Song came over...”

Before Su Yun could finish, Song Fengyi stepped forward first from the side, speaking with concern. “It's my fault.”

“I originally came in to see how Su Yun's practice was going. Even though I don't have a performance slot, we are teammates in the same group after all, and I still wanted to help.”

Song Fengyi spoke worriedly. “I brought water for Su Yun, but I didn't hold it steady and accidentally spilled a little on the floor. Su Yun didn't see it clearly while dancing just now and accidentally twisted his ankle.”

Liang Shining frowned. Ying Huai looked up at Song Fengyi, then suddenly curled his lips. “Teacher Song has never come before today. What suddenly put you in the mood to come?”

Ever since Song Fengyi was confirmed to have no performance slot last time, he hadn't come to the practice room even once.

The Director had also hinted to Song Fengyi several times, openly and covertly, thinking that if they could film some shots of Song Fengyi practicing together in the practice room, they could guide public opinion and find a way to add him to the stage.

But Song Fengyi completely ignored it. Moreover, he posted on Weibo, implicitly criticizing Su Yun, subtly suggesting that Su Yun and Ying Huai had joined forces to steal his performance spot.

A flicker of apology passed over Song Fengyi's expression.

“It was my fault before. I didn't adjust my mindset properly. This performance result is related to the final Concert stage, and Su Yun is, after all, putting in effort for our team.”

Song Fengyi's voice was sorrowful, but his words were flawless. “So I thought, if there's anything I can help with, I should help.”

As soon as his words fell, Song Si Lan beside him snorted coldly and spoke impatiently. “Yeah, you really are openly being a hypocrite.”

Song Fengyi's face instantly turned ugly.

Ying Huai couldn't help but chuckle softly. He looked up and spoke unhurriedly. “Can't say that either. Teacher Song's way of 'helping'—is truly excellent.”

A flicker of resentment flashed in Song Fengyi's eyes.

But he quickly adjusted his expression, lowered his eyes, and spoke softly. “I know all of this is my responsibility. I really didn't do it on purpose. Su Yun and I are in the same group. If Su Yun can't perform, it's a loss for both of us... but I'll find a way to make up for it.”

Song Fengyi raised his head. “I've already asked the Director's team. They've agreed to let me replace Su Yun and complete our group's performance.”

Su Yun's face instantly changed. Ying Huai raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding the reason behind everything Song Fengyi had done.

Ying Huai had also worried before that Song Fengyi might use underhanded means to snatch this spot from Su Yun again.

But Song Fengyi was basically clueless about dancing, so Ying Huai gradually set his mind at ease.

—But he hadn't expected that Song Fengyi, in order to grab screen time, would completely disregard everything.

Song Fengyi took a deep breath and turned to look at Su Yun. “I know I'm far from as good at dancing as Teacher Su Yun, but I'll work hard. I'll try my best to learn this dance under Teacher Su Yun's guidance these next two days...”

As soon as Song Fengyi finished speaking, Ying Huai instantly laughed. “Teacher Song's calculations are truly excellent.”

“Snatch someone's stage, and then want them to make the wedding dress for you.”

Song Fengyi frowned but still spoke gently. “That's not what I meant, Teacher Ying. I was just thinking that Su Yun and I are, after all, in the same group. Now that he can't go on stage and has no screen time, if he guides me, then when we take the curtain call on performance day, I can bring him up with me...”

Before he could finish, Ying Huai suddenly laughed.

“Why wouldn't Su Yun have screen time?”

“Our group can actually add one more person.”

Ying Huai looked up and spoke to Song Fengyi carelessly. “Su Yun will perform with us.”

“No need for Teacher Song to trouble himself.”

·

Silence fell in the practice room. Su Yun looked up blankly. A flicker of disbelief suddenly crossed Song Fengyi's expression.

“No.” The word escaped his lips directly.

“That's breaking the rules. Clearly, the last group can only have one person performing...”

“Does Teacher Song really want to discuss with me what breaking the rules is?” Ying Huai unhurriedly interrupted Song Fengyi.

He looked up, smiled at Song Fengyi, and said, “The spot belongs to Su Yun. Even if he can't perform, it should be his choice whether to forfeit directly or handle it another way—that's the rule.”

Song Fengyi's expression stiffened.

He gritted his teeth and spoke gently. “But the Director's team has already agreed...”

He knew that considering his and Su Yun's popularity, the Director's team would definitely choose him to complete this stage.

Unexpectedly, the next second, Ying Huai spoke carelessly. “So I'm not stopping you, Teacher Song.”

Ying Huai glanced at him and said leisurely, “I'm not stopping you from secretly tattling to the 'teacher'.”

Song Fengyi's face turned pale and then flushed.

Song Si Lan beside him instantly understood something and let out a derisive snort without restraint.

Su Yun processed it for a few seconds, then couldn't help but curl his lips slightly as well.

“Aren't you even going to ask Teacher Liang's opinion?” Song Fengyi gritted his teeth, suddenly glancing at Liang Shining. “Deciding to add someone just like that, really...”

Before he could finish, Liang Shining spoke calmly. “Ying Huai bought the adaptation rights for this song. The entire song was rearranged by Ying Huai. Without him, I'd have a hard time singing this song well.”

“Ying Huai's opinion is my opinion.”

Song Fengyi's face instantly turned even uglier.

Ying Huai yawned and waved a hand at Song Fengyi. “There are still three days. Teacher Song, practice slowly. We're heading back first.”

Song Fengyi stood frozen in place.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but Ying Huai had already turned, supporting Su Yun as he walked out without looking back.

·

“Teacher Ying, thank you.”

Su Yun had just passed the practice room corner when he suddenly spoke softly.

“But I don't necessarily have to be on stage. You don't have to do this for me...”

Before he could finish, he suddenly felt the person supporting him beside him sway, bracing against the nearby wall to steady himself.

Su Yun was taken aback. “Teacher Ying?”

Ying Huai lowered his eyes, his expression unclear, and only spoke softly. “Let Song Si Lan... support you for a moment first.”

Su Yun was stunned for a moment.

He was somewhat confused, but obediently let go of Ying Huai's hand and spoke again. “Teacher Ying, what's wrong...”

Before he could finish, the next second, he saw the person beside him tilt weakly, leaning against the wall as he slowly slumped down.

Su Yun was startled.

“Teacher Ying!”

He instinctively tried to break free from Song Si Lan's arm to go support him, but the next second, he saw Liang Shining stride forward from behind and quickly catch the person in his arms.

“It's nothing,” Ying Huai leaned on Liang Shining's arm, breathing heavily for a few moments. “Just stood for too long... feeling a bit dizzy.”

Su Yun stared blankly.

Song Si Lan beside him reached out to press Ying Huai's pulse. His expression darkened, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

After the wave of dizziness passed, Ying Huai straightened up again and spoke carelessly. “I didn't quite catch what you said just now. Let's just pretend I didn't hear it.”

He looked up at Su Yun, his peach blossom eyes curving slightly. “Looking forward to our three-person stage collaboration with Teacher Su Yun.”