Father Ying

Xin Wan felt an inexplicable sense of unease, but still forced himself to speak: "Bring in a ringer then. This game doesn't really depend on skill anyway........"

Before he could finish, he saw Song Si Lan tap open a chat window labeled [Yu Sheng] and slowly smile.

"Then I'll find you a champion."

Xin Wan: ??

·

Yu Sheng had been the captain of the original three-time championship team of the MOBA mobile game COT Game League, and was now the nominal coach and... mascot of Tp Team.

Easygoing by nature, always smiling, but after years of going back and forth with Song Si Lan, his skill at talking back was also top-tier.

And Song Si Lan, who had originally wanted to escape participating in the game, ultimately failed.

The reason was none other than that when Yu Sheng was called over, Shi Xing, as expected, came along with him.

Song Si Lan sat stiffly in front of the livestream, listening to Xin Wan explain the rules with barely concealed glee.

"COT is similar to Honor of Kings—both MOBA 5v5 mobile games—but today the hero skills don't matter. We're playing the simplest Canyon Hide-and-Seek."

"The map has lots of bushes, rivers, and other places to hide. Each round, one team hides and the other seeks. The hiding team each picks a hero and has a two-minute time limit to hide. After the two minutes are up, the seeking team leaves the fountain and starts looking for people."

"Once a hider is found, they can run and dodge, but can't use attack skills to fight back. The seeker only needs to hit the hider once—no need to kill them—and it counts as a success. The found person needs to return to the fountain and wait. The team that finds everyone in the shortest time wins."

After Xin Wan finished, he excitedly clapped his hands. "Alright, isn't it simple? Let's split into teams first."

Song Si Lan, who knew nothing about games, gritted his teeth and glared at Xin Wan. Ying Huai, equally clueless about games, yawned, but smiled and agreed: "Sure, let's go."

"You understood?" Song Si Lan turned his head in slight surprise.

"Nope," Ying Huai looked up at Song Si Lan, his peach blossom eyes curving, "but aren't you here?"

Ying Huai didn't really care much about who cooked or fed the cat.

But Song Si Lan had just added another week to his confinement yesterday, and Ying Huai only wanted to set Song Si Lan up and expose him.

Song Si Lan: ".......How do you know we won't be on the same team?"

"That's fine, doesn't that just give me a target?" Ying Huai laughed carelessly. "I just need to beat you, right?"

.......Song Si Lan felt a week of confinement was too lenient.

The team assignments were also quite dramatic. Ying Huai, Yu Sheng, Su Xin, and Song Si Lan were on one team; Liang Shi Ning, Shi Xing, Xin Wan, and Lu Jing were on the other.

Xin Wan waved his hand grandly and magnanimously decided to let Ying Huai's team hide first.

It was Ying Huai's first time playing this game. He stared at the hero pool, dazzled, and truly didn't understand what any of these skills did.

He was genuinely clueless about all kinds of games. His previous Variety Show wins had all been through various tricks out of necessity. Now being with Liang Shi Ning and the others, he really didn't want to work that hard again.

Ying Huai sighed silently. His finger had just landed on a hero when he suddenly heard a slightly cold voice from beside him.

"Shidi Ying wouldn't be not knowing how to pick a hero and just choosing one at random, would he?"

Ying Huai choked.

He turned his head and met Su Xin's slightly cold expression.

Su Xin raised his head, looked at Ying Huai, his tone still cold, but his expression oddly carrying a hint of awkwardness: "I know these heroes very well... don't drag us down."

Su Xin's words sounded strange. Ying Huai paused his hand and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Su Xin had a hidden, secret hope in his heart.

He watched Ying Huai, waiting for him to ask which hero he should pick. But the next second, Ying Huai said knowingly: "Don't worry, I'll definitely not stay with shixiong then."

Su Xin: .......?

He opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly heard a smiling voice through his earpiece: "Pick this hero."

Ying Huai froze for a moment. He looked up and saw Yu Sheng on the other side give him a soft 'shh': "This hero's passive skill is invisibility. Just stand against the wall and they definitely won't find you."

On the other side, the ignored Su Xin's face darkened.

Watching Ying Huai look down at his phone again, he couldn't help but speak up once more: "Little shidi better not pick this kind of hero and end up dying first."

Su Xin sneered: "It won't look good then."

The moment his words fell, he saw Ying Huai inexplicably look up: "I can't play anyway, what's embarrassing about dying?"

Su Xin was taken aback.

He watched Ying Huai stare at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smile again: "But shixiong, if someone so skilled accidentally dies first—"

"That would be interesting."

Su Xin: ......

Ying Huai didn't care about Su Xin's thoughts.

He stared thoughtfully at that hero for a few seconds, then suddenly looked up at Yu Sheng: "If it can turn invisible... can it also ambush from behind?"

Yu Sheng immediately understood what Ying Huai meant and laughed knowingly: "Of course."

"Can't use attack skills to fight back, but it never said you can't use attack skills to interfere." Yu Sheng said with a smile.

"Teacher Xiao Huai, follow me in a bit. We'll go straight for Teacher Liang and Shi Xing."

·

The moment Liang Shi Ning left the fountain, he sensed something was off.

Clearly they were the seeking team, but there seemed to be a tail following behind him, popping out every now and then to 'harass' him.

—Not killing him, just occasionally tossing out a skill to chip away at his health.

Liang Shi Ning's eyes flickered.

When the bushes behind him moved again, he suddenly flashed forward. Ying Huai's skill missed instantly, hitting the ground.

Ying Huai froze for a moment.

He wasn't very familiar with this game. Watching Liang Shi Ning slowly turn his view, his heart panicked for a moment. Remembering what Yu Sheng had just said, he instinctively crouched down on the ground.

Liang Shi Ning's hand, which had been holding down the skill button, paused.

Ying Huai's hero character had a fluffy big tail. Liang Shi Ning watched as the person in front of him controlled the hero, crouching and inching into the bushes.

A strange expression couldn't help but surface on Liang Shi Ning's face.

—It was Ying Huai's first time playing this game. He must not have figured out this hero's passive skill.

He probably thought he could turn invisible just by not pressing any skills. Liang Shi Ning watched Ying Huai inch his hero sideways, even passing by his feet, taking care to turn the camera to check if he could be spotted.

On screen, Ying Huai's character's big tail lightly swept past his character's feet. Liang Shi Ning couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

Ying Huai, sitting not far away, turned his head curiously. After meeting Liang Shi Ning's gaze, he quickly looked away in a transparent attempt to cover his tracks.

Liang Shi Ning gave a soft cough, controlled his hero to spin in place, slightly adjusted the angle, and cooperatively tossed a skill into the bushes on the other side.

The next second, the hit sound effect rang out, and Su Xin's hero, hidden in the bushes, was instantly revealed.

Outside the livestream, Su Xin, his face darkening, glanced at the two people across from him and slowly steered his hero back to the fountain.

Liang Shi Ning froze, Ying Huai was dumbfounded, and the Live Stream Chat, having witnessed everything, went wild with laughter.

[Su Xin really is the first one eliminated, hahahaha, did Ying Huai's mouth just curse him?]

[Hahahahahaha I'm dying, what kind of luck is this for Xiao Huai.]

[Although I can tell Teacher Liang was deliberately going easy, Su Xin's luck is just too bad hahahahaha.]

[Su Xin: great great great, am I also part of your little couple's play?]

[Little couple hahahaha, the commenter above is right.]

[What little couple, it's pure master-disciple affection (doge)]

For a moment, Ying Huai didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

But he didn't forget to quickly steer his hero into the bushes. By the time Liang Shi Ning came back to his senses and tried to find him, Ying Huai had truly 'vanished.'

After that, Song Si Lan was the second to be eliminated.

He truly couldn't figure out this game. The more he played, the more frustrated he got, and he walked back to the fountain with a dark face.

Ying Huai was also quickly tracked down by Xin Wan.

But with Yu Sheng calmly directing from beside him, and having pinned down Shi Xing, the main force, Ying Huai's play became increasingly smooth. Xin Wan actually couldn't catch up for a while.

"Lu Jing, Liang Shi Ning, come help!" Xin Wan shouted. "Quick, I'm about to catch up to little shidi—"

Liang Shi Ning, who had rushed over on hearing the shout, happened to come around from the other side and ran right into Ying Huai, who was sprinting forward.

At the same moment, Xin Wan's skill came flying over. Ying Huai had no time to dodge and, while being hit, charged straight at Liang Shi Ning.

Liang Shi Ning instinctively released the skill button, but the next second, he watched his hero on screen, whose passive had been triggered, raise its hand and unhesitatingly deliver a finishing blow.

Liang Shi Ning instantly realized something was wrong.

The next second, the words 'First Blood' appeared directly on the screen.

The Live Stream Chat instantly went wild with laughter.

[Hahaha I'm dying, finishing blow, Teacher Liang, brilliant.]

[Oh no, Teacher Liang, how dare you!]

[On the kill panel, Xin Wan did most of the damage, but Liang's final hit was the straw that broke the camel's back, hahahaha amazing.]

[Even though I'm Teacher Liang's fan... Teacher Liang, I can't save you either. Go appease your shifu quickly.]

The chat comment had just finished scrolling when Liang Shining was seen stunned for a few seconds. He suddenly turned around, ignoring the excited words flooding the live stream chat, and walked straight into the turret. The turret damage quickly sent him back to base as well.

The live stream chat once again flooded with [hahahaha].

[Ying Huai: Your shifu retracted a washboard and put on a keyboard set instead.]

[I'm dying, Teacher Liang really reacts fast—almost destined for the washboard.]

Ying Huai was also somewhat caught between tears and laughter.

'What is Teacher Liang doing?' He turned his head, looking at Liang Shining with a half-smile.

He couldn't resist starting to tease again: 'There's still one more person after, is Teacher Liang so eager to go back with me?'

Liang Shining's expression was a little strange. He stared at Ying Huai, then suddenly said quietly: 'Mm.'

Ying Huai, who had only been joking, was startled.

He heard Liang Shining say quietly: 'Afraid shifu will be angry.'

Then, the live stream chat saw the person who always talked big—the tips of his ears instantly flushed red.

Yu Sheng was ultimately eliminated by Shi Xing.

Shi Xing was simply too familiar with Yu Sheng's tricks.

He found the person sneaking along behind him in no time, swept a skill over. Yu Sheng simply didn't bother dodging, directly maneuvering his hero to charge. One skill directly stunned the unprepared Shi Xing, and a full combo sent him back to base first.

Then he leisurely walked under the tower and, following the rules, went back as well.

'That's not a foul,' Yu Sheng glanced at Shi Xing beside him, whose face was full of helplessness, and laughed, imitating Liang Shining's words from earlier: 'That's called letting your Captain Shi 'actively' come back to keep me company.'

The live stream chat laughed along.

[Active hahaha, both couples are active!]

[Speaking of which, now that Xiao Sheng put it that way, I'm actually starting to ship Xiao Huai and Teacher Liang.]

[Really, there's that feeling of one couple instantly spotting another couple in a crowd.]

Second round—it was Liang Shining's team's turn.

They learned from the previous team's experience, and their time was just barely a few seconds shorter than Ying Huai's team.

Xin Wan instantly cheered, but Ying Huai didn't care.

He was in a good mood today, but his fragile body really couldn't sustain this kind of high-intensity activity.

Ying Huai leaned against Liang Shining's shoulder, feeling drowsy, and listened as the excited voice said: 'It's settled—the winning team cooks, the losing team reveals secrets.'

'Everyone has to reveal. You can randomly reveal one yourself, or one person from our team can ask one.'

'Let's start with Dr. Song.'

Song Si Lan was focused on typing, waved his hand dismissively: 'Go ahead and ask, I don't have anything I can't say...'

Before he finished speaking, he heard Shi Xing across from him say quietly: 'Is Dr. Song dating the person he's chatting with on his phone?'

Song Si Lan's voice cut off abruptly.

He instantly realized something, raised his head and squinted toward Yu Sheng on the other side of the camera: 'You told Shi Xing to ask that?'

Yu Sheng neither confirmed nor denied: 'Dr. Song, answer the question. Didn't you just say there's nothing you can't say?'

Ying Huai, who had been drowsy, curiously lifted his eyelids. Song Si Lan gritted his teeth, his face visibly flushing for a moment.

'No,' Song Si Lan took a deep breath and laughed coldly. 'Dating him, I'd rather die.'

'Dr. Song shouldn't set flags like that,' Ying Huai, who had caught the chance, raised his eyes and said with a smile: 'Flags like that usually come back to bite you.'

Song Si Lan turned his head expressionlessly: 'Last night's medicine for Teacher Ying—I prescribed too little, didn't I?'

Ying Huai guiltily ducked behind Liang Shining. Yu Sheng on the camera side seemed about to say something, but Song Si Lan, as if he had anticipated it, suddenly raised his eyes.

'What do you want to ask?' Song Si Lan laughed coldly. 'God E doesn't think that just because I'm not at the club lately, I can't manage you anymore, does he?'

Yu Sheng quickly swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue.

Su Xin's question was rather ordinary—just picked one from the chat asking when his next song would be released.

Yu Sheng's question everyone unanimously decided to leave for Shi Xing. Ying Huai yawned, lazily leaning against Liang Shining's shoulder, waiting for others to ask him questions.

Perhaps because the buzz had risen, trolls began gradually flooding the chat, asking all sorts of nonsensical questions.

Ying Huai had prepared himself to be harassed, but didn't expect Xin Wan to squint and directly start arguing with the trolls.

[Ying Huai really suppressing people confirmed—playing a game and still suppressing Liang Shining.]

'Please, it's Liang Shining's team that won, okay? Is our effort really so unrecognized?' Xin Wan said indignantly.

'If you don't need your eyes, donate them to someone who does. Don't watch the stream and talk nonsense.'

[Ying Huai had bad relationships with teammates at the company before, forcing teammates to give up debuting. I remember teammates used to hate him. Now what's with the forced brotherly affection act here?]

'Both Xin Wan and I giving up debuting were our own choices,' Lu Jing looked at the screen and said in a low voice. 'Xiao Huai helped us a lot. He didn't do anything wrong.'

Ying Huai raised his head somewhat surprised. Su Xin beside him had his expression change, his face slightly darkening.

[Can you stop the forced whitewashing here? Does no one care about Ying Huai's scandals anymore? Why did he suddenly withdraw from the show before? Why did he suddenly jump company before debut? Can you all stop being brainwashed?]

'You're the one who's brainwashed,' Xin Wan really couldn't hold back anymore, gritting his teeth: 'Jumping company was because—'

'Shixiong.'

Before Xin Wan finished, he was suddenly interrupted by Ying Huai in a low voice.

Ying Huai glanced at the screen, slightly curving his eyes: 'Answering what questions should be my random pick, right?'

Xin Wan was stunned. He didn't understand why Ying Huai wanted to stop him.

He opened his mouth, anxious to say something, but saw Ying Huai slightly sit up straight and reach out directly to him: 'Shixiong, please give me your phone.'

Ying Huai's expression was unmistakably tired, and his raised hand was trembling slightly.

Xin Wan hesitated, but ultimately handed the phone over.

The chat scrolled rapidly. Ying Huai didn't care, casually took a screenshot, and looked down at the first question on the screen.

He had just lowered his eyes when his expression suddenly became strange.

[Y: Does Teacher Ying have someone he likes?]

He looked at this question, and actually hesitated for once.

Ying Huai squinted.

He didn't rush to answer, but first looked at this ID.

He inexplicably felt this ID was very familiar.

Ying Huai swiped the screenshot aside, scrolled up through the chat, and unsurprisingly saw several familiar names.

[Swear Brother: What does Little Junior Brother want to eat tonight?]

[Echo: Does Teacher Xiao Huai still play games after?]

[Time: Same as above.]

[LuJ.: Xiao Huai... can I borrow the fat Bouquet to raise for two days?]

These repeated comments scrolled back and forth many times, scattering the trolls' words to pieces.

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

He carefully looked at these IDs—basically most could match people—only that 'Y'.

Ying Huai's gaze circled the people in front of him, his eyes flickered slightly.

Xin Wan beside him, seeing Ying Huai not answering, worriedly leaned over, his face instantly changing: 'What kind of nonsensical question is this?'

Xin Wan was furious, inexplicably feeling like the cabbage he'd raised for a long time was suddenly being nibbled on by someone: 'Little shidi, answer the one below—that question is normal. What do you want to eat tonight...'

'No.' Ying Huai suddenly interrupted Xin Wan.

He raised his head and suddenly laughed.

'I don't have someone I like.'

Xin Wan was stunned, then instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

No one noticed Liang Shining's hand, hanging at his side, slowly clenching.

'Then what does Shidi Ying like?' Su Xin beside him suddenly spoke.

'Does Shidi Ying like singing? Then why didn't he sing on the show before?' Su Xin turned to look at Ying Huai.

'Shidi Ying avoids talking about so many things—why exactly...'

Ying Huai squinted. He was so tired he couldn't even lift a finger. He yawned and was about to casually brush it off, but felt his arm being gently pressed by someone.

'That's the next question.' Before Su Xin finished, Liang Shining suddenly said quietly.

Ying Huai was stunned.

Liang Shining reached out and unobtrusively shielded the person back into his arms, his expression calm: 'Next time Teacher Su isn't the first to be eliminated, maybe there's a chance to ask.'

Su Xin's face instantly darkened. The live stream chat went silent for a second, then instantly went frenzied.

[Hahaha, Teacher Liang said this so seriously—I can't tell if he's clapping back or just normally answering.]

[Doesn't anyone think his calm tone is even more mocking?]

[I'm dying, Su Xin's face went green, he wants to clap back but doesn't know what to say hahahaha.]

On the other side of the camera, Yu Sheng looked at the screen and belatedly realized what Song Si Lan had actually called him over here to do today.

"Teacher Xiao Huai, add me on WeChat." Yu Sheng spoke up suddenly.

"Next time I get the chance, I won't teach you how to play games," Yu Sheng said in a teasing tone, "I'll teach you how to deal with haters."

·

The livestream finally ended with Su Xin's face as dark as it could possibly get.

Xin Wan went off to cook in high spirits. Lu Jing tried to stop the fat Bouquet from following her into the kitchen.

Liang Shining didn't trust Xin Wan's cooking and tried to follow, but the moment he stood up, he heard the person beside him let out a low groan.

"What's wrong?"

Liang Shining turned around instantly.

Ying Huai was curled up on the sofa. He pressed a hand to his brow and shook his head slightly.

"It's nothing. Maybe I'm just a bit tired. A little dizzy."

Ying Huai drew in a light breath.

He braced himself to sit up, but the next second Liang Shining pushed him back down without hesitation.

"Don't move," Liang Shining said quietly. "I'll carry you upstairs to sleep."

He leaned down as he spoke. Ying Huai was startled and grabbed Liang Shining's hand.

"Are you crazy? There are so many people here," Ying Huai gritted out. "I can walk on my own."

He braced himself upright as he spoke, but the dizziness surged back with the change in position. Ying Huai groaned, his body going limp and slumping downward beyond his control.

By the time he came back to himself, Liang Shining was already carrying him up the stairs.

Ying Huai was exhausted all over. After a few useless attempts to struggle, he simply gave up.

"Teacher Liang isn't actually nagging me to eat today." Ying Huai tilted his head back and curved his lips. "Rare sight."

"Shifu's stomach can't handle Xin Wan's cooking." Liang Shining said calmly. "Once shifu is asleep, I'll go down and make a separate portion, then wake shifu up."

Ying Huai paused, baffled: "How do you know I can't eat Xin Wan's cooking?"

"I saw it." Liang Shining answered in a natural tone.

Ying Huai narrowed his eyes.

—He remembered Liang Shining hadn't set foot in the kitchen at all just now.

Ying Huai opened his mouth to say more, but Liang Shining had already laid him on the bed and was slipping medicine into his mouth with practiced ease.

The medicine gradually took effect. Ying Huai's eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

He felt his consciousness sinking. In the haze, he heard a low voice murmur: "Does shifu really... not have anyone he likes right now?"

Ying Huai's thoughts were a muddle.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the next second he plunged swiftly into a deep, sweet sleep.

Liang Shining, crouching by the bed, closed his eyes.

Song Si Lan, who had followed them up, quickly stepped forward, did a brief check on Ying Huai's condition, and silently exhaled.

"There's still some stress response, but it's much better than during the variety show."

Song Si Lan said quietly: "Take it slow. It'll get better."

Liang Shining gently tucked Ying Huai's limp hand back under the blanket.

He said softly: "That Psychologist..."

A flicker of something awkward crossed Song Si Lan's expression.

"I talked to him. He agreed."

Liang Shining closed his eyes, then looked up and said earnestly: "Thank you."

Song Si Lan waved a hand: "I only did what I should. The guy might be pretty unlikeable, but his medical skills... are genuinely decent."

Song Si Lan took a deep breath, his tone growing heavy again: "And as for exactly when to go... it still depends on Ying Huai's condition."

"Right now... he definitely won't agree to let us take him to see a Psychologist."

·

The next variety show hadn't set a filming date yet. After finally 'chasing' Lu Jing, Xin Wan, and the others away, Ying Huai spent two comfortable days lounging at Liang Shining's house.

Liang Shining had always taken to caring for Ying Huai with ease, and had gradually come to know his master's temperament and preferences inside out.

Ying Huai had originally planned to use his position as shifu to get the upper hand on Liang Shining, but every time the slightest hint of hurt surfaced on Liang Shining's face, he couldn't help but soften.

—After the Nth time Liang Shining watched him drink down a big bowl of bitter medicine, Ying Huai became thoroughly convinced that Liang Shining had figured out he could be moved by gentleness but not by force.

These days gave him a dazed sense of having returned to the time when he used to appear on shows.

Until one morning, when Ying Huai woke up and suddenly heard a flurry of urgent knocking from downstairs.

Ying Huai jolted awake in bed, pressing a hand to his chest as he drew in a few shallow breaths.

The housekeeper and Liang Shining both knew his heart was weak, that he couldn't handle being startled in the morning. Neither of them would knock that hard.

Ying Huai closed his eyes, waiting out the palpitations, then braced himself against the headboard and struggled to his feet. Suddenly, that heavy, urgent knocking rang out again.

Ying Huai's breath caught, and he broke into a muffled cough.

The bedroom door was shoved open. Liang Shining rushed in, quickly slipped a few pills under his tongue, gathered him into his arms, and began slowly rubbing his chest in clockwise circles.

"Sorry, I was in the kitchen just now and didn't hear it." Liang Shining watched the color return to Ying Huai's face a little before finally speaking quietly.

"The housekeeper has already gone down to see who it is. If you're feeling unwell, sleep a little longer. You don't need to go down."

Song Si Lan had gone out today and wasn't home. Liang Shining watched Ying Huai's expression, wondering whether to call him back early.

But Ying Huai shook his head.

"I'm fine. I'll go down with you." He turned his head and coughed, then said hoarsely.

The knocking sounded vaguely familiar, stirring up some unwelcome memories for no clear reason.

Liang Shining frowned.

But in the end he said nothing. He reached out to carry him downstairs as usual, only to see Ying Huai angle his body slightly and slip out of his supporting hold.

"I'm fine."

Ying Huai turned his head and smiled faintly: "It happens that I'm a bit hungry today. Mr. Liang, could you go check on dinner in the kitchen in a bit? I'll head over on my own."

Liang Shining's movement stalled.

Over the past few days, Ying Huai had gradually gotten used to being carried up and down the stairs by him. Sometimes he'd be picked up in a daze and only come to blearily at the dining table.

A bad premonition stirred in Liang Shining's chest.

He watched Ying Huai slowly make his way down step by step, then stepped forward and took hold of Ying Huai's arm.

"The kitchen's already done. We can eat as soon as we're down." Liang Shining said calmly.

"I'll go down with shifu. After we see the guest, we'll head to the kitchen together."

Liang Shining felt the resistance in Ying Huai's arm pause, then slowly let go.

·

Before Ying Huai reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard an aged voice, edged with anger, drift over.

"Ying Huai?"

Ying Huai's heart sank, little by little.

He stood on the stairs, listening to the housekeeper's anxious attempts to block the way, accompanied by the 'thud, thud' of a cane, coming from the door.

Right after, a gaunt middle-aged man leaning on a cane appeared in the living room.

"Aren't you coming down yet? Ying Huai." The gaunt middle-aged man said in a heavy voice.

Ying Huai stood on the stairs without moving.

He lowered his gaze and looked quietly at the man before him.

Sure enough, Ying Huai's response instantly enraged the gaunt middle-aged man.

"Do you have any idea what manners are, Ying Huai? I sent your brother to find you and bring you back, but you wouldn't come. Now I've come in person, and you still treat me with such disrespect?" The gaunt middle-aged man's face was full of fury.

Liang Shining, who had been about to step forward, paused.

He realized something in an instant. His pupils contracted.

The next second, he heard the man spit out without restraint: "No manners, no upbringing—how did I ever raise—"

A flash of anger crossed Liang Shining's expression.

He had just opened his mouth to speak when he felt his hand being gently held.

The next second, he heard Ying Huai let out a soft laugh.

"You've already said that when you threw me out of the house," Ying Huai lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips curving slightly. "Long time no see, Father."

·

Ying Father let out a cold snort.

"You still know? After all these years you still refuse to repent. I—"

Liang Shi Ning could feel Ying Huai's hand trembling uncontrollably.

But his voice remained calm as he spoke: "Father knows I won't repent, so why did you come looking for me to go back?"

Ying Father was stunned. Ying Huai curved his eyes: "Looking for me to come back so you can find someone to be angry at?"

Ying Father hadn't expected Ying Huai to talk back to him so directly. For a moment he was stunned with rage.

Ying Huai didn't care. He lightly hooked Liang Shi Ning's finger.

Only then did Liang Shi Ning realize that at some point, half of Ying Huai's weight had been leaning against him.

Liang Shi Ning frowned and reached out to support Ying Huai's waist, but Ying Huai gave him a slight shake of his head, only signaling him to help him over.

Liang Shi Ning closed his eyes briefly.

He reached out to steady Ying Huai's arm and slowly helped him to the dining table to sit down.

"I'm hungry, Liang Shi Ning," Ying Huai let out a low breath and smiled at Liang Shi Ning beside him. "Could you help me bring breakfast over from the kitchen?"

Liang Shi Ning didn't move.

He looked at Ying Huai for a few seconds. Ying Huai's expression was at ease, his peach blossom eyes still full of smiles.

"Okay." Liang Shi Ning said quietly.

Ying Huai let out a silent breath of relief. The next second, he saw Liang Shi Ning turn his head and speak softly to the auntie beside him: "Excuse me, there's porridge and red bean buns warming in the pot over there. Could you bring them over?"

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment. Ying Father walked over to the table and couldn't help snorting coldly again: "How old are you, still needing others to fuss over your meals? I told you to be self-reliant from a young age, but your brother wouldn't listen. At home your brother waited on you, and out here someone can still wait on you like this..."

Before Ying Father could finish speaking, he saw Liang Shi Ning naturally take the bowl and chopsticks from the auntie's hands, skillfully test the temperature of the porridge, and carefully place it in front of Ying Huai.

"There's a bit too much porridge. The auntie doesn't know your physical condition," Liang Shi Ning said quietly. "If it's too uncomfortable, don't eat it. I won't force you."

Liang Shi Ning's actions and tone were both too natural. Ying Father's expression stiffened.

Ying Huai curved his eyes at Liang Shi Ning. He didn't pay attention to Ying Father across from him either, and lowered his head on his own, starting to sip the porridge in small mouthfuls.

Ying Father felt uncomfortable watching Ying Huai eat like this.

"How did I teach you before? Is this how you eat? Like those pampered young masters, how long are you going to take..."

He was extremely strict with his sons, requiring every word and action to conform to standards, demanding his sons be self-reliant from a young age, and had always considered Ying Huai's health issues to be just "minor ailments" caused by spoiling.

Before Ying Father could finish speaking, a bowl of plain porridge was suddenly placed in front of him, followed by Liang Shi Ning's calm voice: "Shifu has a weak stomach. Our eating pace here has always been set by him."

Ying Father frowned.

"Uncle Ying, with your broad knowledge and strong memory, surely you understand what 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do' means," Liang Shi Ning looked up at Ying Father quietly and bowed slightly. "I won't need to explain further."

Liang Shi Ning's words made sense. Ying Father was choked by Liang Shi Ning and couldn't vent his anger for the moment.

He let out a heavy 'hmph,' glanced disdainfully at the bland plain porridge in front of him, but ultimately picked up the spoon and took a sip.

The next second, his brow furrowed again: "What is this? Is this even edible?"

This porridge was even blander than ordinary plain porridge, and very thin.

Discontent gradually appeared on Ying Father's face, but before he could speak, he heard Liang Shi Ning speak again: "Shifu has a weak heart and can't eat anything too flavorful. Too much food increases the digestive burden on the stomach, which also adds strain to the heart."

"Uncle Ying just said Shifu should be self-reliant. This is what Shifu taught me to make. If Uncle Ying wants something else, please help yourself."

Liang Shi Ning's voice was neither servile nor overbearing, yet everything he said was reasonable.

Ying Father was nearly driven mad with anger by Liang Shi Ning.

"Who are you? What right do you have to speak to me like this—"

"I am Ying Huai's disciple. My name is Liang Shi Ning." Liang Shi Ning stood up from the dining table and bowed slightly to Ying Father.

"I don't mean any disrespect to you, but Ying Huai is my shifu. Of course I have to protect my shifu first."

Liang Shi Ning raised his head and looked at Ying Father: "This also aligns with Uncle Ying's principle of honoring teachers and valuing the Way, doesn't it?"

Ying Father frowned.

He stared at Liang Shi Ning for a few seconds, then suddenly said: "You're that boy from Liangshi Group?"

Liang Shi Ning nodded slightly.

Ying Father suddenly thought of something, and a flash of disdain crossed his face: "I heard that boy from the Liang Family also went into the arts. How truly—"

"I'm full."

Before Ying Father could finish, he suddenly saw Ying Huai turn to look at Liang Shi Ning and interrupt him with a smile.

He had only eaten a little over half, and barely touched the bottom of the red bean bun.

Ying Father's brow furrowed again, but he saw Liang Shi Ning naturally take Ying Huai's porridge bowl and lower his head to start eating.

Ying Father's brow twitched again.

"Father, if you want to criticize, criticize me. Don't drag my disciple into it." Ying Huai turned his head and curved his eyes at Ying Father.

His tone was leisurely, but the look in his eyes was unusually serious: "You're my father. I'll endure your teaching, but you have no grounds to lecture my disciple."

Ying Father's hand gripping his cane tightened little by little.

He knew Ying Huai had a good nature and a soft temper, so he was stricter with him than with others.

In the past, when he scolded Ying Huai, Ying Huai would mostly listen in silence, at most locking himself in his room afterward.

It was rare for Ying Father to see Ying Huai talk back to him so directly.

Ying Father felt he had lost face in front of his juniors and let out a cold laugh: "Fine, then I'll educate you."

"You've had enough fun out there, haven't you? Hurry home with me..."

"I'm not going back." Ying Huai let out a soft laugh.

"The company has you and brother. I'm useless, unfit for great things, unworthy of refinement. I won't go back to be an eyesore."

Ying Father's face changed subtly.

—These were the words Ying Father had cursed at Ying Huai when he announced he was giving up business for the arts.

Ying Father's cane struck the ground heavily. He didn't notice that Ying Huai's face had gone a few shades paler again.

"Impudent! How dare you speak to me like that?" Ying Father gritted his teeth.

"Don't think Ying Qi can keep protecting you! He's been at the company these past few days looking into this and that. Don't think I don't know it's to cover for you. How laughable. Finding you is still easy as pie for me."

Ying Huai's expression changed. He hadn't known about this: "What is brother looking into?"

Ying Father only thought Ying Huai was changing the subject and struck his cane heavily again.

"Don't try to fool me here with your antics. Ying Huai, look at yourself these years—accomplishing nothing, despised by everyone—and you still won't come home..."

Ying Huai's face went pale. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, his breathing growing rapid.

His vision gradually darkened. The rapid beating of his heart made his eardrums feel muffled.

Ying Huai opened his mouth to say something, but the next second, an angry female voice suddenly came from the doorway.

"Who despises Xiao Huai?"

Liang Mu walked in with her high heels clicking, and immediately shielded Ying Huai behind her.

"Can you stop talking nonsense here? Do you know what Xiao Huai has accomplished all these years? And you say he's done nothing." Liang Mu let out a cold laugh.

She had originally heard that Ying Huai and Liang Shi Ning had returned and had come over joyfully to continue her dress-up game. She hadn't expected to overhear such an infuriating conversation at the door.

"He's the youngest show mentor in history, a Grand Slam winner in song categories, organizes charity projects, and composes and arranges his own music."

Liang Mu's voice grew increasingly proud: "And—he's also my son's shifu."

Ying Huai, head lowered and trying to steady his breathing, vaguely heard this part. He was stunned for a moment, and an unconscious smile crept onto his lips.

It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to Ying Father so bluntly. His expression stiffened: "These are all trivial, low-brow things. And who are you? I'm educating my son. What right do you have—"

Liang Mu glared at him: "Low-brow? I think it's you, you old fogey, who's low-brow."

"Art appeals to both refined and popular tastes, blending old and new—it's all heritage. Besides, have you actually listened carefully to the songs Ying Huai has composed?"

Ying Father was nearly stunned with rage.

He couldn't stand it anymore. He suddenly stood up and said through gritted teeth: "Who exactly are you? What right do you have to say that? I'm talking to my son. Please leave..."

"Who am I?"

Liang Mu looked at Ying Father, unable to contain her rising anger.

Liang Shi Ning, sensing something was off, tried to speak up to stop her, but was a step too late.

Liang Mu grabbed Ying Huai's arm, tilted her chin up proudly, and declared: "I am Xiao Huai's—future mother-in-law."

Ying Huai, who had just caught his breath: ??

Liang Shi Ning paused, then closed his eyes in despair.

He listened as Liang Mu continued: "This is my son's home. Please leave."