Concealment

Liang Shining's body suddenly stiffened.

He instinctively straightened up, wanting to release Ying Huai's hand, but the moment he pulled free, the person on the bed shifted uneasily, grabbed back, and seized his wrist again.

Ying Qi, who had hurried over, happened to see this scene.

Liang Shining: ........

He looked at Ying Qi, hesitated for a moment, and finally said quietly, 'I wasn't trying to do anything just now, Ying dage.'

Ying Qi frowned.

Ying Huai was still asleep. Ying Qi took a deep breath and ultimately didn't say anything directly. Instead, he stepped forward and reached to take Ying Huai from Liang Shining's arms: 'You've worked hard, Xiao Ning. Let me take care of Xiao Huai........'

Before he could finish, he saw Liang Shining tentatively pull his hand back slightly.

The next moment, his younger brother groped back, hooked Liang Shining's fingertips directly, tucked his whole hand into Liang Shining's palm, shifted his body slightly so half of it pressed against Liang Shining's side, curled up, and didn't move.

Ying Qi: ???

He looked up in disbelief, watching Liang Shining gently pat Ying Huai's back, and said quietly, 'I'm not tired, Ying dage.'

'Shifu finally fell asleep—could I........take care of him a little longer?'

Ying Qi felt his heart crack in half.

·

When Ying Huai groggily woke again, what he saw before him was a strange scene.

Liang Shining sat at the head of the bed, slowly patting his back.

Ying Qi stood at the other side of the bed. Seeing Ying Huai wake, a flash of joy crossed his expression. He wanted to step forward, but thought of something and hesitated, stopping in his tracks.

'Cough, cough, cough......ge?' Ying Huai braced himself up against Liang Shining's arm, frowning as he pressed his brow.

'Why are you here?'

'Doctor Song said you had a fever again last night,' Ying Qi finally couldn't help stepping forward, tenderly brushing aside the damp strands stuck to Ying Huai's forehead from cold sweat. 'Are you still feeling unwell?'

Ying Huai paused, then shook his head.

Last night's memories were mostly hazy. Ying Huai only remembered that someone seemed to have been soothing him through the second half of the night. Though his body was still weak when he woke, he didn't have that same dull, heavy feeling he usually had with a fever.

Hearing his brother's words now, he belatedly realized he had actually had a fever.

Ying Huai looked up and smiled at Ying Qi: 'I'm fine. This body of mine is always getting sick, ge. You don't need to come all the way next time—Liang Shining is here.......'

'No!' Before he could finish, Ying Qi cut in urgently.

Ying Huai blinked. Ying Qi also belatedly realized he had been too agitated just now.

He took a breath and smiled gently: 'You're my younger brother. You had a fever—of course I'd come see you.'

Ying Qi reached out to feel his forehead and said softly, 'Shall we go downstairs and eat first?'

Ying Huai had been feverish all night and had no appetite, but seeing the poorly concealed worry in Ying Qi's expression, he nodded in the end.

He turned over to get out of bed and instinctively braced against Liang Shining's hand, wanting him to lift him up.

Ying Qi, who normally wouldn't have thought anything of it, recalled what he had seen last night. His brow twitched, and he couldn't help stepping forward to say gently, 'Let me carry you down, Xiao Huai.'

Ying Huai had just recovered from a bout of dizziness upon waking and didn't notice anything unusual about Ying Qi's expression.

Hearing Ying Qi's words, he opened his mouth to agree, then suddenly thought of something and forcibly changed course: 'It's fine. Liang Shining's used to carrying me. Go down first, ge. Teacher Liang and I will come down in a bit.......'

Ying Huai's last sentence was vague, but it inexplicably reminded Ying Qi of what he had seen last night.

Ying Qi's expression turned strange. His voice trembled: 'Is there......something between you two?'

A flash of guilt crossed Ying Huai's expression. 'Nothing. Just something in the morning I need Teacher Liang's help with.'

On the surface, the words didn't sound problematic, but in Ying Qi's ears, they seemed to confirm everything he had imagined last night.

Ying Qi stumbled back a step and blurted out, 'No.'

Ying Huai blinked, looking up in some confusion as his older brother stepped forward urgently: 'Xiao Huai, you're not well. In the morning, you don't have to.......'

'Shifu has to take a lot of medicine in the morning. It might take some time, so I was hoping Ying dage could go down first.'

Before Ying Qi could finish, he suddenly heard Liang Shining speak quietly from the side.

Ying Qi froze. He processed for two seconds, then abruptly turned to his younger brother: 'Xiao Huai, what you just said was......taking medicine?'

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, but he still nodded.

He finally felt something was off about the atmosphere between his brother and Liang Shining: 'Ge, what were you just.......thinking?'

Ying Qi exhaled silently.

'It's nothing. I just had a bit of a misunderstanding,' Ying Qi stepped back and smiled gently at Ying Huai. 'I'll go down and wait for you, Xiao Huai. Don't rush.'

Ying Qi's figure quickly disappeared past the door. Ying Huai was still for a moment, then finally took off his Glasses and pressed hard at his brow.

He did indeed need to take medicine, but one of them was something Ying Qi hadn't seen before—it was for treating his eyesight.

Probably because the coldest stretch of winter was approaching, Ying Huai's heart had been unsteady lately, and occasionally his vision would blur in waves.

'Is your eye acting up again?'

Liang Shining took the Glasses from Ying Huai's hand and helped him slowly massage his temples.

Ying Huai shook his head slightly: 'No, just a bit dizzy.'

Liang Shining looked at Ying Huai's somewhat pale face and said nothing. He took a syringe from the side and injected it into the IV line.

The cold liquid pushed through the tube into his vein. Ying Huai shivered lightly, leaned against Liang Shining's shoulder for a few seconds, then suddenly said quietly, 'Don't tell my ge.'

'Mm.' Liang Shining responded softly.

He lifted Ying Huai securely again and suddenly asked quietly, 'Then why is Shifu willing to let me know?'

Ying Huai took a few seconds to respond, then said a little sulkily, 'It's only because you noticed it yourself.'

Ying Huai had experienced this in his previous life. He had originally thought it wasn't a big deal and planned to hide it from Liang Shining and tough it out, but on the very first night his vision became a problem, Liang Shining had noticed something was off right away.

Liang Shining didn't seem to show great alarm at his declining vision, but instead very skillfully—

Liang Shining's arms around the person paused.

His hand, which had been helping put the Glasses back on Ying Huai, paused. His fingers rested lightly against the bridge of Ying Huai's nose as he looked down at the person before him: 'Just like this.......'

Before he could finish, he watched the person in front of him straighten up slightly and stretch lazily: 'But if I wanted to hide it, I definitely could have gotten past you. Still, I thought about it—you're my disciple.......never mind.'

Liang Shining's fingers holding the Glasses loosened suddenly.

He couldn't help the corner of his mouth curving up. The next second, he heard Ying Huai ask, a little puzzled: 'Is there something wrong with the Glasses?'

'Hm?' Liang Shining hadn't caught on and answered instinctively.

'How long does Mr. Liang plan to hold my Glasses for me?' Ying Huai tilted his head up slightly, smiling without quite smiling.

Liang Shining pulled his hand back abruptly.

He coughed softly, quickly lifted the person, and headed for the door.

Ying Huai looked at him, somewhat suspicious. 'What are you smiling at?'

'Nothing,' Liang Shining said quietly, the smile at the corner of his lips finally slipping out a little. 'Shifu just said I'm your disciple.'

Ying Huai: ??

He was baffled: 'Is this something worth being happy about for so long?'

·

During breakfast, Ying Qi watched Ying Huai the whole time, his expression caught between wanting to speak and holding back.

Ying Huai seemed to be thinking about something too, sitting slightly hunched at the table, not noticing his brother's odd behavior.

Finally, after his younger brother tried for the third time to drown the wontons in the soup with his spoon, Ying Qi couldn't help saying gently, 'Xiao Huai.......'

The next moment, Ying Huai, who had looked up at the same time, also suddenly spoke: 'Ge, I.......'

Both froze. Ying Huai recovered first and curved his eyes at Ying Qi: 'You go first, ge.'

'I warmed some milk for you in the kitchen, Xiao Huai.' Ying Qi paused, then said softly.

'But I'm not sure about your current dietary restrictions. Could Xiao Ning come with me to the kitchen and help me check?'

Ying Huai said nothing. He put down his spoon and watched the two of them rise in unspoken understanding and head for the kitchen, then suddenly asked softly, 'Is gege hiding something from me?'

Ying Qi, who was usually completely open with his younger brother, instinctively paused.

He turned back with a slightly guilty smile: 'What are you talking about, Xiao Huai.......'

'I was just joking,' Ying Qi hadn't finished before he saw Ying Huai suddenly laugh. 'Go on, gege.'

Ying Qi looked at Ying Huai's expression and felt something was off somewhere.

He belatedly remembered the words Ying Huai had been about to say before he interrupted.

'What were you going to say to me just now, Xiao Huai?'

'Nothing.' Ying Huai propped his chin on his hand and curved his eyes at them with a smile.

'I just wanted to say—I quite like drinking milk.'

Ying Qi looked somewhat puzzled.

But Ying Huai had already lowered his head again, continuing his battle with the wontons in the bowl.

Ying Qi could only slowly turn around.

He hadn't noticed that, once the two of them had stepped through the kitchen door, the faint color in Ying Huai's face had drained away at once.

He closed his eyes and drew a quiet breath, then took a Medicine Bottle from his pocket, tipped out a few tablets, and put them in his mouth.

The warped sense of his surroundings and the panic he couldn't keep at bay gradually subsided. Ying Huai drew a low breath and pressed down on his faintly trembling hand.

He lowered his gaze, idly turning the Medicine Bottle over in his hand.

—Almost finished.

Ying Huai shook the Medicine Bottle in his hand, his thoughts drifting without anchor.

—But it should still hold out a while longer.

He lowered his eyes, tucked the medicine back into his pocket, and curved his lips slightly.

—Then I'll wait until I can't hold out anymore... and think about it then.

·

Elsewhere, inside the kitchen.

Liang Shining had just closed the door when he heard Ying Qi behind him, without preamble, say: "Xiao Ning, do you... like Xiao Huai?"

Liang Shining's motion of turning around stalled.

He was still for a few seconds, then gave a small nod. "Yes."

He heard Ying Qi behind him draw a quiet, sharp breath.

"Does Xiao Huai know about this?"

Liang Shining shook his head slightly.

"Nothing really happened between us, Ying Da Ge."

"Last night I didn't mean to do anything either... it's just that when shifu has a fever he always slips into nightmares, and being closer to me keeps him warm and a little more comfortable."

Ying Qi turned his head.

He heard Liang Shining say quietly: "My liking my shifu is my own business. He doesn't know, and he doesn't need to."

Ying Qi's expression eased a little. He couldn't help asking softly: "Why?"

Liang Shining shook his head. "There's no why. Being able to stay by shifu's side is enough."

A flicker of something complicated crossed Ying Qi's face. He suddenly asked: "Then do you think Xiao Huai likes you?"

Liang Shining was briefly stunned. He lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Over these past few months, Ying Qi had come to think of Liang Shining as a brother of his own.

Having just sorted through what had happened last night, and recalling Liang Shining's past with Ying Huai, his heart gradually loosened a little.

Looking at Liang Shining now, he couldn't help saying: "If you really like Xiao Huai, I can help you. You don't need to worry about my father either. I feel that Xiao Huai, toward you..."

"Shifu won't like me."

Ying Qi was startled.

He'd expected Liang Shining to hesitate, or to say he didn't know—he hadn't at all expected such certainty.

He couldn't help asking again: "Why?"

This time Liang Shining was silent for a long while.

Ying Qi didn't press him, just stood quietly to one side, and heard Liang Shining's voice, slightly hoarse, say softly: "I've been keeping something from shifu. I don't dare tell him, but I also don't know... what to do."

Ying Qi was stunned for a few seconds, then asked softly: "Is it something important?"

Liang Shining nodded in silence.

"Why don't you dare tell Xiao Huai?"

After a long pause, Liang Shining said quietly: "Because I'm afraid shifu... won't want me anymore."

Ying Qi felt that, given how much Ying Huai now depended on Liang Shining, there was no way he would ever not want him.

But in matters like these, the one involved is always the last to see clearly. Ying Qi gave a silent sigh.

He thought for a few seconds, then finally said slowly: "I don't know what's happened between you, but Xiao Huai, toward you... is really special. You may not realize it yet."

"You could find a chance and have a proper talk with Xiao Huai."

"Keeping it hidden will only let misunderstandings pile up."

Liang Shining kept his eyes lowered and said nothing. Ying Qi said nothing more either, just gave a soft sigh, and finally said quietly: "Look at Xiao Huai—didn't he become your shifu again in the end?"

·

On the Variety Show side, because of the last incident with Song Fengyi, netizens had—rarely—reacted strongly.

Lu Jing had seized the opportunity to begin a shake-up of the Lu Family corporate group, and the Variety Show hadn't dared resume recording.

Ying Huai was happy enough with the quiet. These past two days he had basically finished recording the demo of that Charity Song, but he wasn't in any rush to continue.

Su Xin had come looking for him repeatedly over the past two days—either to ask about what had happened back then, or to ask about the Charity Song recording.

Ying Huai couldn't be bothered with him. He only replied that he planned to find someone to help him look it over in a while before continuing the recording.

Su Xin had tried to press him on who, but Ying Huai had never replied to his messages again.

It was now mid-December, and every company had begun preparing for year-end galas and annual summaries.

After Ying Huai's last blowup with his father, his father hadn't contacted him again for quite a long time.

Ying Huai had originally thought he could use this to dodge the year-end gala, but two days later, to his surprise, his father called.

"You and your brother will attend the Ying Corporation year-end gala together." His father's voice on the phone was, as always, cold and hard.

Ying Huai, curled up on the sofa, was lazily teasing the fat Bouquet. He answered without much interest: "Not going."

"You must go!" His father's voice dropped at once.

"As a son of the Ying Family, not attending the Ying Corporation's own year-end gala—what kind of sense does that make? Are you trying to make the Ying Family—"

"Didn't father already disown me from the Ying Family?" Ying Huai yawned and said lazily. "Wouldn't it be a little strange for me to show up at the Ying Corporation gala?"

His father was left speechless for a beat.

Ying Huai's peach-blossom eyes flickered. He gently tugged at Bouquet's ear.

Since his father had declared the Ying Family was cutting ties with him, Ying Huai hadn't gone to the Ying Corporation gala in the past several years, and his father had never sought him out.

This year, his father—who knew what had gotten into him—was insisting he attend.

He heard his father take a deep breath on the other end of the line, then finally speak again: "This year the gala will have many family members and the senior artists I've invited. You're my son—what would it look like if you weren't there?"

Ying Huai sat up slightly, understanding perfectly.

His father had always been proud, demanding the best in everything, allowing no one to find fault.

Ying Huai hadn't appeared publicly at the Ying Corporation in a long time. His father must have heard idle talk from others, which was why he was so insistent on having Ying Huai return to dispel the rumors.

Ying Huai touched the Hongyu Jewel Pendant at the end of his hair and suddenly laughed. "So father wants me to come back and help you lie?"

His father choked for a moment, a hint of anger entering his voice: "What do you mean, help me lie? I'm your father. I raised you from childhood. Shouldn't you—"

His father's voice had risen, and the noise made Ying Huai's chest feel a little tight.

He yawned, just about to move the phone away from his ear, when in the next instant he felt his hand go empty.

"Father, what is it?" Ying Qi took the phone from Ying Huai's hand and asked in a gentle voice.

Ying Huai was briefly stunned; his father on the other end clearly hadn't reacted either.

"Ying Qi?" His father frowned, dissatisfied. "Put Ying Huai back on the phone..."

"Xiao Huai is a little tired today and needs to go back to his room to sleep. Father, just tell me whatever it is."

Ying Huai, Bouquet in his arms and looking perfectly clear-eyed, glanced up at his older brother and couldn't help curving his eyes into a smile.

Ying Qi gently made a "shh" gesture toward Ying Huai and continued: "Xiao Huai's heart can't take noise. If father has nothing else, I'll hang up first..."

"Wait!"

His father hadn't expected that neither of his sons would give him any face.

He clenched his teeth and said angrily: "Tell Ying Huai he must come to the year-end gala—"

Before he could finish, there was a soft click—Ying Qi had already hung up.

"What's so funny?" Ying Qi set down the phone, looked at his younger brother who had been watching him with a smile, and couldn't help laughing too.

"This is the first time I've known gege could lie too." Ying Huai smiled, his eyes curving.

Ying Qi, who had now lied to Ying Huai twice, guiltily turned his eyes away. "Why wouldn't I be able to?"

"In my memory, gege was always the most well-behaved one in the family." Ying Huai said with a smile. "When I was little, I even worried gege would get bullied when he went into the company."

Ying Qi laughed helplessly and turned his head. "Xiao Huai worried about that? What's there to worry about?"

Ying Huai smiled and nodded.

"Speaking of which, I've never seen gege at the company," Ying Huai said with a smile. "Is it very different from usual?"

Ying Qi said nothing, just smiled and shook his head.

But Ying Huai's curiosity was piqued.

He moved the fat Bouquet aside; not having been petted enough, Bouquet meowed in dissatisfaction and darted into Liang Shining's arms.

"Can I go to the company some day to see gege?" Ying Huai asked with a smile.

"No." The moment Ying Huai finished speaking, Ying Qi answered sharply.

Ying Huai was startled for a moment.

He had only been joking; he hadn't expected Ying Qi to react so strongly.

Ying Huai suddenly thought of that day when Ying's father came home and said Ying Qi was "looking into things" at the company.

His eyes flickered, and he suddenly said: "Did gege really... hide something from me?"

Ying Qi also quickly realized his reaction was off.

"Of course not," Ying Qi said half-jokingly, "the Lu Corporation side has been chaotic lately, the company isn't safe. Wait a while and of course you can."

Ying Huai's peach blossom eyes flickered slightly, unclear whether he actually believed it or not.

But after a moment, he still smiled and agreed "okay."

Ying Qi silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He lowered his eyes to look at the person in front of him.

Now that winter had fully set in, Ying Huai's heart had poor blood supply, and even though Liang Shining's home had the heating turned up high, his hands and feet were still cold, and he wore sweaters all day.

Today he wore an apricot-colored turtleneck sweater, and because he'd lost quite a bit of weight recently, it was somewhat loose on him.

Ying Huai seemed entirely wrapped in the sweater, looking unusually gentle and well-behaved.

Ying Qi couldn't help but soften.

He couldn't resist reaching out to pat Ying Huai's head, and said earnestly: "Xiao Huai is the most well-behaved one in this family."

Ying Huai was startled, then couldn't help but laugh, "Would the most well-behaved one never go to the family's annual meeting?"

"Of course," Ying Qi laughed, "what's the big deal."

"Only the most well-behaved one has the right to be willful with me."

Ying Qi said warmly, "If Xiao Huai doesn't want to go, then you don't have to go."

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment.

Ying Qi said nothing, just gently brushed his fingertip across Ying Huai's always somewhat pale cheek: "I'm here, it's fine."

·

With Ying Qi saying this, Ying Huai was happy to slack off. On the day of the Ying Corporation annual meeting, after carefully reminding Ying Qi to stay safe, he slept at home until the afternoon.

After reporting his safety to Liang Shining on WeChat, Ying Huai simply tidied up and went straight out.

He'd finished recording the demo for the Charity Song a long time ago; if he delayed any longer he'd really lose his courage.

He gave the family's driver a location, and after arriving, looked at the familiar door but didn't get out of the car for a long time.

"Mr. Ying, is the address wrong?" The driver, seeing no movement in the back seat, couldn't help turning around, "Should I get out and help you find it..."

"No." Ying Huai shook his head slightly.

He closed his eyes briefly, curved his lips: "It's not wrong, I... I'll go out in a moment."

The driver didn't say anything more, turned back around, and Ying Huai took a soft breath.

He stared at the familiar small building for a long time, hesitating whether to wait another five minutes before going down, but the next second, he saw the building's door swing open, and an old man with his hands behind his back stroll out.

Ying Huai's body trembled.

He couldn't care about anything else, and directly pushed the door open and got out of the car.

"Teacher!"

The old man in front of him seemed not to hear, still walking slowly forward, humming some unknown tune in his mouth.

Ying Huai's eyes grew hot, he took a deep breath and slightly raised his voice.

"Teacher."

The old man's footsteps paused.

He turned his head with some confusion: "Young man, you've called the wrong person. I only have one disciple—"

Before he finished speaking, when he saw the person in front of him clearly, his voice stopped abruptly.

Ying Huai gently exhaled.

He bowed slightly to the old man whose expression was stunned, and said softly: "Long time no see, Teacher."

The driver in the car, who had been ordered by Liang Shining repeatedly to ensure Ying Huai's safety, also breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

He was just about to turn the car around to find a parking spot, but the next second, he saw the kind-faced old man step forward and slap Ying Huai directly on the back: "You still know to call me Teacher?"

"Back then, who was it that deleted me without hesitation, said they didn't want to drag me down, said they didn't want to tarnish my reputation because of themselves? Hmm?" the old man said through gritted teeth.

"And you still know to come back?"

Ying Huai stumbled, and the driver in the car almost stomped on the gas.

He scrambled to open the car door and get out, but the next second, he saw the old man take a deep breath and pull Ying Huai into his arms.

"You still know to come back, knowing to come back... that's good."

The driver stumbled, nearly throwing himself out.

·

Mu Heguang's embrace was very tight, holding Ying Huai so tightly he could barely breathe.

But he still didn't move, just slowly raised his hand to embrace Mu Heguang: "I'm sorry, Teacher."

Mu Heguang took a deep breath, slowly loosened his hold, and Ying Huai stepped back slightly, covering his mouth to cough.

"Well, you actually still remember this old man."

Mu Heguang looked at Ying Huai, both heartache and anger in his eyes, and couldn't help but snort coldly: "How can you bear to come back?"

Ying Huai barely suppressed his cough, smiled and curved his eyes: "I missed Teacher, so I came back."

Mu Heguang laughed coldly: "Don't give me that, isn't it just because you think things have gotten better lately, that you won't drag me down, that you can deign to see me?"

Ying Huai curved his eyes in a smile, didn't speak.

Mu Heguang was his teacher from his past life; the two had become acquainted through a fight during a composition competition.

Mu Heguang hadn't initially treated Ying Huai as his disciple. He appreciated Ying Huai's talent and only regarded him as a friend across generations, but Ying Huai had always treated him as his teacher, showing him great respect.

Over time, Mu Heguang also came to truly treat Ying Huai as his own disciple to cherish.

—He hadn't expected this usually "well-behaved" disciple to pull such a big one on him.

Mu Heguang got angry just thinking about what Ying Huai had done back then: "Look at you, all these years you never contacted me, what's good about bearing it alone, huh? You've made yourself look so bad, have you been sick again lately..."

Ying Huai just followed behind Mu Heguang, supporting the chattering person with a smile: "No, it's just been cold lately, caught a bit of a cold."

When he experienced being blackened by the entire internet in his past life, Mu Heguang, who had long been in seclusion, was furious and immediately wanted to publicly speak up for him.

But at that time Ying Huai had just experienced Ying Qi's accident, and didn't dare take any more risks at all.

In this life things were gradually developing in a better direction, and Ying Huai was afraid the old man was truly angry with him, so after hesitating for several weeks, he finally came over.

Mu Heguang was frustrated at his inability to improve the situation: "Look, this is the result of you pushing me away! You can't even take care of your own body, yet you want to bear so much alone..."

As he spoke, he couldn't resist reaching out to check on Ying Huai's condition, which startled Ying Huai, his breath catching, and he suddenly covered his mouth and choked on a cough.

Mu Heguang was also startled, his expression instantly panicked: "What's wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable..."

Ying Huai covered his mouth, waved his hand slightly: "I'm fine, Teacher... cough, just choked, I'll be fine in a moment."

But he had originally been barely suppressing his urge to cough, and now having choked on a breath of cold air, the bit of warmth in his body was instantly gone. He coughed for a long time without catching his breath, and his breathing grew increasingly rapid.

Mu Heguang finally realized something was wrong.

He hurriedly supported Ying Huai's body, helping him sit in his own car.

He poured a cup of warm water from a thermos and handed it to Ying Huai, and after watching him take medicine, the coughing finally gradually subsided.

"What have you been doing these years? How did you let your body get like this?" Mu Heguang frowned.

He knew Ying Huai had been physically weak before, but not to the point where a breath of cold air would make him cough until he couldn't breathe.

Mu Heguang raised his hand to call the driver to take him to the Hospital, but was stopped by Ying Huai.

"I'm fine, Teacher." Ying Huai raised his head and smiled at Mu Heguang.

"Just caught a cold lately, my throat's not feeling great, old problem, I'm taking medicine myself."

Mu Heguang lowered his hand skeptically: "Really?"

Ying Huai nodded without changing his expression.

Seeing Mu Heguang still looking suspicious, he quickly spoke to change the subject: "Teacher, I recently wrote a new song."

Mu Heguang's expression paused, his eyes quickly brightening.

Ying Huai hadn't released any new music since being blackened by the entire internet, and Mu Heguang had been going crazy with longing in his heart.

He anxiously reached out his hand: "Let me see—"

Ying Huai didn't hurry, "Take me home, Teacher, and I'll give it to you."

Mu Heguang turned his head to tell the driver to make a U-turn.

But the next second, he thought of something and slapped his hand in frustration: "No, I promised to attend a gala today, I can't go back yet."

Mu Heguang was eager to hear Ying Huai's new song. Looking at Ying Huai, he suddenly thought of something and his expression instantly brightened: "Perfect, come with me to the gala, and play me your new song on the way."

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, an inexplicable sense of foreboding rising in his chest: "What gala........"

"Yours, the Ying Corporation's annual gala," Mu Heguang said cheerfully. "You need to go anyway, right? I'll drive you over together......."

Ying Huai instinctively wanted to refuse.

But seeing Mu Heguang's excited expression, he paused, and the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

——Never mind.

Ying Huai covered his lips and coughed a few times, then looked up and smiled at Mu Heguang.

——No need to dampen Teacher's spirits because of himself.

The driver who had been following Ying Huai trembled as he put down the phone he'd been trying to use to contact Ying Huai, and dialed another number.

"Brother Liang, it looks like Teacher Ying is going to the Ying Corporation's annual gala."

The driver said in a trembling voice: "With a........mercurial old man."

Liang Shining: ?

·

Ying Huai hadn't planned to come to this gala at all, and hadn't brought formal wear—just a light brown sweater and a pair of jeans.

Among the sea of suits and leather shoes, he looked conspicuously out of place.

Mu Heguang brought Ying Huai to a sofa in the corner, then hurried off to make a quick round before leaving.

Ying Huai curled up on the sofa holding a glass of juice, ready to close his eyes and nap for a bit, but the next second, a cold laugh rang out.

"Didn't you say you weren't coming?" Ying's father stood before the sofa, looking down at the person in front of him.

"You said it so resolutely before, yet here you are rushing over anyway. Ying Huai, you........"

Ying Huai opened his eyes and let out a silent sigh.

He sincerely cut off his father's long tirade: "I really didn't want to come."

Ying's father was momentarily choked. He clenched his teeth.

"If you're coming, then behave yourself. Show your face in front of the others for a bit, then leave. Don't say anything stupid, don't disgrace the Ying Family."

Ying Huai couldn't wait to be further from his father.

He closed his eyes again, listening as the footsteps in front of him gradually receded—then suddenly turned back.

"Go change into something formal right now. Showing up dressed like this, people will think the Ying Family treats you terribly."

Ying Huai opened his eyes slightly, glanced down at his perfectly normal outfit, and sighed inwardly that this attire was indeed too conspicuous for his father.

He decisively closed his eyes again. Ying's father clenched his teeth, opened his mouth to continue, but suddenly heard a voice from not far away.

Ying's father turned his head, his expression instantly tense.

He couldn't be bothered with Ying Huai anymore. Lifting his wine glass, he took a deep breath and hurried over.

·

After toasting a round of drinks, Ying's father was slightly tipsy. He wanted to see whether Ying Huai had changed his clothes, and staggered to his feet to head that way, when he suddenly heard another voice behind him.

"President Ying."

Ying's father turned around, a flash of pleasant surprise crossing his face: "Teacher Mu."

Mu Heguang stood with his hands behind his back, watching cheerfully as Ying's father hurried over.

"President Ying, thank you for inviting me to this annual gala." Mu Heguang said with a smile.

"Not at all, not at all. It's my honor that you could grace us with your presence." Ying's father hastened to say.

He was genuinely delighted.

Although Mu Heguang had been retired for many years, he was still very well-known in the industry.

Most importantly, he had long served as the honorary professor of the Classical Music Department at P University, and his voice carried enormous weight. Ying's father had long wanted to cultivate a relationship with Mu Heguang—first, to solidify the family's reputation as a scholarly household, and second, to truly break into the education market.

But Mu Heguang had shown no interest in anything since his retirement, and it had taken Ying's father many years of invitations to finally get him to come this once.

Ying's father had originally worried Mu Heguang might change his mind at the last minute. Now that he finally saw him in person, he hurried to make conversation.

"I do have something to attend to today, so I wanted to let President Ying know—thank you for the invitation, I'll be leaving shortly." Mu Heguang said cheerfully.

Ying's father was taken aback.

He hadn't expected Mu Heguang to open with a farewell, and quickly said: "Don't rush off, Teacher Mu, the gala has only just started—"

Mu Heguang waved his hand: "Ah, something urgent came up with my student, can't be helped."

As he said this, he suddenly remembered something and looked up with a smile: "Oh right, speaking of which, my student is your son......."

Before he could finish, Ying's father interjected eagerly: "Your student must be excellent too. Could you introduce him to me?"

Mu Heguang was taken aback.

He had originally intended to praise Ying Huai, but hearing Ying's father's words, he was momentarily at a loss.

"Why would President Ying need me to introduce him?"

Ying's father didn't notice anything amiss: "I've always wanted to meet more outstanding young talents like that, to set an example for my younger son."

Mu Heguang narrowed his eyes.

Listening to Ying's father's words, and recalling the Ying Family's complete silence throughout the entire period of online backlash, along with Ying Huai's subtly strange expression in the car earlier, he instantly understood.

Mu Heguang let out a cold laugh and suddenly said: "Speaking of which, where is President Ying's younger son?"

Ying's father's expression stiffened for a moment.

He snorted coldly: "My younger son is too useless, not worth mentioning. Teacher Mu, how old is your student this year? Are they looking for work?"

Mu Heguang clenched his teeth and said nothing.

He had always felt that Ying Huai rarely mentioned his family, and had assumed Ying Huai had simply had some falling out with them. He hadn't expected that, as it turned out, Ying's father was essentially indifferent to his own son.

Ying's father grew anxious. Looking at Mu Heguang, he finally couldn't resist bringing up the real purpose of the evening: "I've always been interested in classical music myself, but my skills are lacking. If your student needs anything, perhaps the two sides could collaborate........"

"My student is in his twenties, very outstanding, no need to trouble President Ying." Mu Heguang said with a cold laugh.

He said slowly: "If President Ying has that kind of ability, you'd be better off saving it for your own son."

Ying's father realized this was a veiled rejection.

He clenched his teeth, still unwilling to give up: "Teacher Mu, I truly want to collaborate with you. As you know, our family has always been a scholarly household........"

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard Mu Heguang say with a smile: "A scholarly family might just be an empty name. When it comes to real talent, President Ying might not even compare to my student."

Ying's father was taken aback.

His expression twisted for a moment, somewhat bewildered, but for the sake of "collaboration" he endured it: "Yes, yes, Teacher Mu is right. I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as you and your student in these areas, which is why I want to collaborate with you and learn more."

The moment his words fell, he saw Mu Heguang's expression turn strange, as if barely holding back laughter.

Ying's father was somewhat puzzled: "Is something wrong, Teacher Mu?"

Mu Heguang shook his head, cleared his throat lightly, and composed himself: "Nothing, I just agree with President Ying's assessment."

"I heard your younger son is also in music?" Mu Heguang's tone was unhurried. "Could you introduce your younger son to me?"

Ying's father was taken aback.

His gaze quickly swept over Ying Huai, still in casual clothes on the sofa, then he clenched his teeth and turned back somewhat unnaturally.

"My younger son is unruly, I don't know where he's run off to now."

Ying's father took a deep breath, planning to take Ying Huai to quickly change clothes and bring him to meet Mu Heguang: "Teacher Mu, could you wait a moment while I go find my son........"

Before he could finish, he saw the old man in front of him suddenly lean forward, his gaze landing directly on Ying Huai at the sofa.

"That should be your son, then."

Mu Heguang smiled and beckoned to the person on the sofa, teasing: "President Ying's eyesight isn't as good as this old man's."

Ying Huai was somewhat bewildered, but seeing his teacher's gesture, he slowly rose and walked over.

Ying's father clenched his teeth and forced a smile at Mu Heguang.

He quickly turned around, stepping ahead to stand in front of Ying Huai, and said in a low voice: "This is a professor from P University's Classical Music Department. Speak properly when you talk to him later, don't mention any of your messy affairs, say a few words and leave quickly......."

Before he could finish, he watched Ying Huai glance at him in bewilderment, step past him, and bow slightly to Mu Heguang: "Teacher, you wanted to see me?"

Mu Heguang responded with a beaming smile. An expression of disbelief crept across Ying's father's face.

"President Ying, I forgot to introduce—my student, Ying Huai."

Mu Heguang held back his laughter and said earnestly: "Oh right, also—your son."

Ying's father's expression froze little by little.

He listened as Mu Heguang said unhurriedly: "I feel I have quite a connection with your son—that is, my student."

Mu Heguang said with a beaming smile: "I'm willing to collaborate with your son."