Call the Police

Ying Huai stood behind Liang Shining, his peach-blossom eyes narrowing slightly.

He didn't ask where the medicine had come from, just stared at Zhang Xi for a few seconds, then suddenly curved his eyes: 'Is Young Master Zhang threatening me?'

Zhang Xi laughed: 'What else? Do you have any other tricks?'

'None,' Ying Huai said with a smile. 'I'm just remarking that Young Master Zhang really does have extensive connections.'

'But does Young Master Zhang really trust his connections that much?'

Zhang Xi was momentarily stunned.

He inexplicably felt there was something strange about what Ying Huai had said, but quickly caught on: 'Stop playing this game with me, Ying Huai. Trying to stall for time again?'

Zhang Xi sneered: 'I just saw Lu Jing have a fight with you. There's no way he'd come help you again.'

'Or,' he turned to look at Liang Shining standing motionless between them, his tone mocking, 'you're waiting for Teacher Liang to help you?'

Liang Shining didn't speak, but Ying Huai was caught off guard and laughed despite himself.

'Of course not,' Ying Huai coughed a few times and said with a smile. 'Mr. Liang is just passing by. It has nothing to do with him.'

—Although he really wanted to drag Liang Shining down with him like he had with Lu Jing, he genuinely didn't want to experience dying once more.

As Ying Huai spoke, he tried to sidestep away from Liang Shining, but the moment he lifted his foot, the person in front of him also shifted a step, perfectly blocking his path again.

Ying Huai: ???

He raised his head in confusion, but Zhang Xi opposite him could no longer hold back.

'Enough, stop the nonsense, Ying Huai. Do you want your medicine back or not?' Zhang Xi's smug expression could practically soar to the sky. 'If you want this bottle of medicine back, you'll have to let me have some fun.'

'Spend the night with me,' Zhang Xi grinned viciously. 'Once I'm satisfied, I'll give you the medicine back.'

Ying Huai's expression didn't change, but Liang Shining frowned and looked up at Zhang Xi.

Zhang Xi was already drunk on the thrill of revenge. He stepped forward, his voice full of excitement: 'I told you to drink earlier and you wouldn't. Now it's too late. Regretting it, aren't you...'

'Fine.'

Before Zhang Xi could finish speaking, he heard Ying Huai agree directly.

This time it was Zhang Xi's turn to be stunned: 'What did you say?'

'I said fine,' Ying Huai couldn't stand steady anymore. He held the wall beside him and slowly sat down, catching his breath. 'But Young Master Zhang has to give me the medicine first.'

'Like hell you will!' Zhang Xi blurted out.

He sneered, having figured something out: 'You're playing me, aren't you, Ying Huai? I'm telling you, the one with the right to negotiate is me, not you!'

'I'm not negotiating, I'm just stating facts.' Ying Huai pressed his chest and raised his head with a smile.

Because of the pain in his heart, he unconsciously bent slightly at the waist, the faintly protruding bones of his nape showing a delicate outline beneath his skin.

Fragile, yet with an unusually calm gentleness.

'Since Young Master Zhang was able to get my medicine, you must also know how serious my illness is,' Ying Huai said softly. 'It might not be saveable in time, and I could just die.'

Zhang Xi frowned but said nothing. The fingers hanging at Liang Shining's side suddenly clenched tight.

He turned his face and stared intently at the person half-leaning against the wall.

Ying Huai's vision was spinning and he didn't notice Liang Shining's reaction: 'Anyway, I just had an episode and have no strength. Even if I take the medicine, I can't run.'

He coughed a few times, his voice growing weaker: 'Does Young Master Zhang want someone who can't resist accompanying you to bed, or a cold corpse?'

Zhang Xi's expression wavered. He looked at Ying Huai and said through gritted teeth: 'I can't just give you the medicine for nothing... You have to give me something in exchange.'

He shifted his gaze to the wine glass in front of him.

'Drink this glass of wine, and I'll give you a few pills first.'

Ying Huai's peach-blossom eyes flickered. He leaned against the wall without getting up: 'I can barely walk now, and Young Master Zhang still wants me to drink?'

'Stop the bullshit,' Zhang Xi sneered. 'I know your alcohol tolerance is excellent. One glass is no problem at all.'

'But I'll die,' Ying Huai sighed.

'What does that have to do with me?' Zhang Xi didn't believe him at all. 'You drink, and I'll give you the medicine. Are you going to drink or not...'

'Give me the wine.'

Before Zhang Xi could finish speaking, he was suddenly interrupted by a calm voice.

Liang Shining stood in front of Ying Huai, quietly looking at Zhang Xi.

Zhang Xi was startled. He said with an accommodating smile: 'Teacher Liang, this isn't good. If you help him now, for your reputation...'

'Give me the wine,' Liang Shining reached out directly, cutting off Zhang Xi. 'I guarantee he'll drink it.'

Zhang Xi's expression froze.

Before he could say anything, a crisp voice suddenly came from beside them: 'Shifu!'

Le Xi ran over to Ying Huai's side with a few reporters.

He looked around, but first excitedly looked at Liang Shining: 'Why is Brother Shining here too? Are you looking for me?'

Liang Shining didn't speak, and Zhang Xi for some reason also avoided Le Xi's gaze.

Behind them, Ying Huai raised his head and glanced at the reporters stirring restlessly behind Le Xi, the corners of his lips curving slightly.

The Live Stream Chat also livened up rapidly as the group came into frame.

[Oh? Liang Shining and Le Xi actually know each other?]

[Of course they do! Our baby Le Xi and Teacher Liang were shixiong for a while (even though their shifu was terrible), but the two of them have a great relationship!]

[emmm they look pretty familiar?]

[Although, what's the situation now? Is Ying Huai taking medicine? Is he sick? What medicine?]

[God knows, probably faking it. Best if he dies of illness.]

[Went and asked friends on site for context, so no one's stopping Zhang Xi? Why not call the police?]

[Call the police for what? Didn't Ying Huai agree? It's consensual, and it doesn't involve personal safety, so how is it illegal?]

[Right, Ying Huai looks willing. He's done this kind of accompanying-to-sleep thing plenty before. Serves him right.]

Outside the live stream, Le Xi had made himself unwelcome, and turned to Ying Huai with a wronged look: 'Shifu, where did you go just now? I looked for you for ages and couldn't find you...'

'If you hadn't been chasing reporters all over the world, you'd have found me long ago,' Ying Huai tilted his head up with a half-smile. 'The medicine?'

Le Xi was momentarily speechless.

He didn't answer directly, but let out a confused 'ah' and looked up at Zhang Xi: 'Isn't Second Brother Zhang here helping Shifu get the medicine?'

He redirected the topic back to Zhang Xi, cleverly avoiding answering: 'Why isn't Shifu taking the medicine yet?'

Le Xi's gaze circled among the people around, then hesitantly turned back to Liang Shining: 'Is it because Brother Shining is going to... feed Shifu wine?'

Zhang Xi beside them finally came to his senses and hurriedly spoke: 'Ah, yes, yes, Teacher Liang and Ying Huai also have some "history," right?'

Rather than making a big fuss, better to take the chance to do Liang Shining a favor. Zhang Xi quickly handed the wine glass to Liang Shining: 'Here, here, Teacher Liang, you feed him. I'll supervise from the side. I don't believe he can take on the two of us alone—Hey!'

Before he could finish speaking, the next second, Liang Shining directly downed the wine in the glass in one gulp.

Zhang Xi: ???

Live Stream Chat: [???]

Ying Huai also looked somewhat surprised.

—He remembered that Liang Shining had never touched a drop of alcohol.

'Teacher Liang, you—'

'Sorry, I was in a rush on the road and got thirsty, couldn't help it,' Liang Shining casually stuffed the wine glass back into Zhang Xi's hand. 'But it works perfectly for trading with Young Master Zhang for the medicine.'

Zhang Xi took the glass in a fluster, unsure whether Liang Shining had done it on purpose: 'What did you say?'

Ying Huai coughed lightly, and a smile unconsciously crept to his lips. The next moment, Liang Shining's gaze suddenly turned this way.

Ying Huai was momentarily startled and quickly looked away.

Liang Shining's eyes inexplicably darkened. He suddenly turned and took the Medicine Bottle directly from Zhang Xi's hand.

'I said "he'll drink it," but I never said who "he" was.'

He handed the Medicine Bottle back to Ying Huai and looked up at Zhang Xi: 'Young Master Zhang doesn't mind, I hope?'

Zhang Xi was completely dumbfounded.

'I don't mind... Like hell I don't!'

Zhang Xi finally reacted.

He reached out to snatch the Medicine Bottle from Ying Huai's hand: 'You're cheating! That doesn't count. Give me the medicine back!'

'Young Master Zhang is right. A person should keep their word, otherwise nothing counts,' Ying Huai suddenly spoke.

He leaned against the wall, raised the Medicine Bottle in his hand and shook it: 'Then why is the medicine Young Master Zhang gave me fake?'

'Impossible!' A flash of disbelief crossed Zhang Xi's face.

'Don't try to trick me, damn you. Give me the medicine back—'

'This is my original medicine,' Ying Huai turned his hand, pulled out his phone and opened an image: 'Does Young Master Zhang see if this matches what's in your hand now?'

The Live Stream Chat also started scrolling rapidly.

[Looking at it this way, although the two bottles look the same, the pills seem to be slightly different in color.]

[So Zhang Xi really swapped Ying Huai's medicine?]

Someone in the live stream finally realized something was off.

[And looking at the pill shape... it looks like an aphrodisiac.]

[If it's an aphrodisiac, this can't be considered consensual no matter how you look at it. If it's classified as drug-facilitated assault or illegal drugging, the nature is completely different...]

Zhang Xi had played with these kinds of drugs with those rich kids often enough in private that he obviously recognized it quickly.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He suddenly spoke: 'Impossible, this bottle of medicine must be real!'

Zhang Xi stared fixedly at Ying Huai: 'It must be you! You must have secretly swapped it when you took it just now. You're deliberately trying to frame me—'

As he spoke, he reached for Ying Huai's pocket. Ying Huai tried to dodge, but a piercing pain suddenly shot through his chest.

He was already at his limit. The pain now made his vision go black, and he barely held on without passing out on the spot, but he couldn't exert even half a bit of strength.

The figure in front of him suddenly enveloped him. Ying Huai gave a bitter smile and tried to turn aside. The next second, he heard Zhang Xi cry out in pain.

Liang Shining stood in front of Ying Huai and slowly released the hand that had grabbed Zhang Xi: 'Young Master Zhang should mind his manners.'

Zhang Xi suddenly turned his head: 'Mind what? Do you have evidence? Ying Huai is already mired in scandals. Why couldn't it be him drugging himself deliberately to cling to the powerful—'

Before Zhang Xi could finish, Liang Shining said with certainty: 'He wouldn't.'

'Besides, the one who needs to prove their innocence is you, not Ying Huai.'

The next moment, the hall door was suddenly pushed open, and several police officers rushed in, looked around, and headed straight for Zhang Xi.

'You dare call the police, you bastard?' Zhang Xi's eyes went bloodshot. He gritted his teeth and looked at Ying Huai.

Ying Huai caught his breath. His eyes flickered slightly, he turned to look at Liang Shining, and said nothing.

Zhang Xi seemed to have gone mad, his expression contorted: "You think the police can do anything to me? Let me tell you, as long as my dad lifts a finger, they won't find any evidence, and they can still sue you for setting me up with that drug——"

"The evidence Mr. Zhang is talking about is the hall's surveillance cameras, right?" Ying Huai suddenly spoke softly.

—He knew better than anyone what had happened in his past life.

"Good that you know!" Zhang Xi sneered. "Ying Huai, I'll give you a chance. If you apologize to me now, maybe I can put in a good word for you with the police, tell them it was consensual, that we were just using this drug for fun..."

"No surveillance cameras, but there's still the live stream, isn't there?" Ying Huai cut him off.

Zhang Xi's movements suddenly froze.

Ying Huai spoke softly: "Mr. Zhang can hack all the surveillance cameras, but can you also erase the memories of everyone watching the live stream?"

"Everyone in the Live Stream Chat just saw it was Mr. Zhang who gave me this Medicine Bottle."

Ying Huai's gaze turned smilingly toward Le Xi beside him.

Le Xi's expression stiffened. He met Ying Huai's gaze, quickly reacted, and forced out: "Exactly——good thing I brought reporters! Ironclad evidence!"

The smile in Ying Huai's peach-blossom eyes deepened.

—He remembered that in his past life, he hadn't entered the inner hall, but Le Xi had specifically invited reporters to show everyone his wretched state.

Now, these reporters had become the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Zhang Xi's expression stiffened. Ying Huai watched him with interest for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke: "Did I just warn Mr. Zhang?"

He slowly repeated what he'd said earlier: "Does Mr. Zhang really trust his own connections that much?"

Zhang Xi suddenly raised his head: "What do you mean?"

Ying Huai's lips were slightly purple. He gasped a few times and spoke softly: "Mr. Zhang might want to think about how this Medicine Bottle got here?"

"The person who gave you the drug—did they really want you to deal with me, or did they set a trap waiting for you to jump into?"

The police had already reached Zhang Xi. Ying Huai leaned forward, the red jade bead at the end of his hair swinging down: "Does Mr. Zhang want to give himself a chance?"

Zhang Xi stared blankly for a few seconds, then suddenly shouted: "Le Xi told me to take the drug!"

"He wanted to use the drug to harm you," Zhang Xi said, now willing to do anything to save himself, "If he couldn't harm you, he'd throw the dirty water on me!"

"Zhang er-ge, what are you saying?" The moment Zhang Xi finished speaking, Le Xi said in a panic.

Ying Huai raised his head, looked at Le Xi's expression, and frowned slightly.

—Le Xi looked panicked, but didn't seem afraid.

The next second, Le Xi pulled a bottle of medicine from his pocket: "I found shifu's medicine long ago, I just thought Zhang er-ge had one too, so I never gave it to shifu."

Before he could finish, Liang Shining took the medicine, confirmed it, and quickly fed it to Ying Huai.

Ying Huai's consciousness was already a bit unclear. He frowned and instinctively turned his head away, but heard a slightly cold voice come urgently from beside his ear: "It's real."

"I won't hurt you, Ying Huai."

Ying Huai was slightly stunned. He instinctively opened his mouth and swallowed the medicine.

Zhang Xi beside them stared at Le Xi, his expression full of disbelief: "What are you talking about? You deliberately framed me——"

"I never spoke with Zhang er-ge, and I never told him to steal the Medicine Bottle," Le Xi turned to look at Zhang Xi and said quietly, "If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance."

Zhang Xi's voice cut off abruptly.

Le Xi really hadn't had any direct contact with him in the banquet hall today.

Even when he went to steal the medicine from Ying Huai's coat, he'd done it from a distance, following Le Xi's signals.

"You bastard, you did this on purpose——" Zhang Xi suddenly raised his head.

A few days ago, Le Xi had proactively contacted him offline, saying he could help him destroy Ying Huai. He'd thought at the time there'd be no evidence and it was foolproof, but in the end it had only harmed himself.

"Oh right, the fingerprints on that fake medicine bottle can also be checked," Le Xi looked at the police and said seriously, "There definitely won't be... mine on it."

·

The police briefly took statements from them and quickly led Zhang Xi out of the banquet hall.

"Shifu, Zhang er-ge is really too wicked. Shifu must be careful next time and not let him bully you again."

Le Xi crouched beside Ying Huai, but his gaze kept drifting toward Liang Shining.

Seeing Liang Shining lower his head at the sound, he immediately said indignantly: "I'll protect shifu too!"

Ying Huai said nothing. He casually toyed with the Medicine Bottle in his hand, then suddenly looked up at Le Xi with a smile: "This time you're not tricking me with fake medicine?"

Le Xi was stunned: "I didn't trick shifu."

His voice instantly turned aggrieved: "Does shifu not believe me either?"

"I didn't say that." Ying Huai's peach-blossom eyes flickered as he smiled.

—Although he hadn't originally planned to drag Le Xi out directly this time either

A smile appeared on Le Xi's face, but the next second, he heard Ying Huai say slowly: "But I also didn't say I believe you."

—But scaring him a little was always good.

Le Xi was stunned.

"How come I didn't know you and Zhang Xi knew each other before?" Ying Huai raised his head.

"I don't know him," Le Xi instinctively denied, "I only just heard shifu call him 'Mr. Zhang' and learned who he was..."

"I only called him 'Mr. Zhang,' not 'Zhang er-ge,'" Ying Huai raised his head with a half-smile, "Looks like you're more familiar with Zhang Xi than I am."

Le Xi was at a loss for words.

He opened his mouth, then suddenly turned to Liang Shining beside him: "Shining gege, I really didn't help Zhang er-ge... no, Zhang Xi, to harm shifu."

"Shining gege, you must believe me, right?"

"I don't." Liang Shining said calmly.

Le Xi: ??

His eyes instantly reddened. He raised his head aggrieved, but saw that Liang Shining hadn't looked at him at all, and had been staring in Ying Huai's direction the whole time.

Le Xi: ......

Le Xi bit his teeth. He suddenly moved close to Ying Huai, raised his head to block Liang Shining's gaze: "Shining gege, why would you say that——"

"Your shifu is right here," Liang Shining turned his eyes away, his voice indifferent, "Why are you asking me?"

Le Xi's face instantly darkened.

For this banquet, he'd long heard Liang Shining was coming. He'd originally contacted Zhang Xi to make Ying Huai look bad and curry favor with Liang Shining, but unexpectedly kept running into walls everywhere.

"I, I'll go give another statement to the police," Le Xi's expression was about to collapse, he suddenly stood up, "Maybe I can think of some more details that could help shifu."

·

The surroundings finally quieted down. Ying Huai pressed his brow and reached for the water cup beside him.

"You knew the medicine was fake long ago?" Liang Shining's voice suddenly came from in front of him.

Ying Huai was startled, the water cup in his hand instantly tilted.

The next second, Liang Shining reached out to steady his wrist, steadily bringing the water to his lips.

"How could I possibly know?" Ying Huai's peach-blossom eyes flickered.

"Speaking of which, I was in a daze from my episode just now—Mr. Liang was the one who called the police for me, right?" Ying Huai quickly took the water cup and looked up with a smile, "I should thank Mr. Liang. If Mr. Liang has things to do, please go ahead."

He tried to change the subject, but Liang Shining paid no attention. Instead, he stared at Ying Huai's slightly trembling hand for a few seconds, then slowly said with certainty: "You knew."

Ying Huai: ......

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and repeated: "Doesn't Mr. Liang really have anything else to do later?"

"So you deliberately took this risk," Liang Shining actually looked angry, "You gave away the real medicine just to lure Le Xi out?"

Ying Huai raised his head in some surprise.

Although he'd just bluffed Le Xi a little, most people would only identify the obvious culprit Zhang Xi.

But Liang Shining seemed certain that Le Xi was the mastermind behind it.

But the next second, this bit of doubt was quickly replaced by anger.

He heard Liang Shining grit his teeth and say: "You bet your own life? Are you crazy?"

Ying Huai was so angry he laughed: "What does my life have to do with Mr. Liang?"

He was angry too.

He'd originally been holding out and refusing to take the medicine, wanting to drag it out until he had a full episode—illegal drugging plus intentional harm would force the police to investigate this thoroughly.

But Liang Shining had inexplicably fed him the medicine just now, forcing his plan to terminate directly.

Old and new grievances combined made Ying Huai want to get away from this person as quickly as possible. He braced himself against the wall and slowly stood up, walking straight past Liang Shining.

The next second, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

"Ying Huai, can't you just——"

Liang Shining hadn't finished speaking when he saw Ying Huai frown at him for a few seconds, then suddenly say: "Are you drunk?"

Liang Shining: ?

He frowned and wanted to deny it, but the next second thought of something and suddenly changed his words: "No... mm."

Hearing Liang Shining's rare stammer, Ying Huai became even more certain: "You're drunk."

—Those inexplicable actions from earlier now had an explanation too.

"You get drunk from one cup and still try to take drinks for someone? Liang Shining." Ying Huai sighed and muttered, "I really should record this and let your fans see your acting now. You're supposed to be Best Actor, but you were seen right through at a glance."

Liang Shining: ......

Ying Huai really wanted to take this chance to slip away, but he didn't feel right leaving a drunk alone here.

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed again, "Fine, I'll take you to find your manager."

He turned and held Liang Shining's arm. Just as he took a step forward supporting him, his heart suddenly clenched.

—The episode had been drawn out too long after all. Even with the medicine, his fragile heart was starting to rebel belatedly.

It's over.

In the last second before losing consciousness, Ying Huai thought in despair.

—Having an episode right into the hands of his sworn enemy, what a wonderful rebirth opening.

He didn't see that the next second, Liang Shining in front of him, holding him steady, had his ear tips turn completely red.

At the same moment, a voice with barely suppressed fury came from the door.

"What are you doing?"

Lu Jing strode up to Liang Shining and said through gritted teeth: "What did you do to him?"