Obtuse

Su Xin froze on the spot.

'Sorry.'

Su Xin said quietly: 'Just now I........'

For a moment, he didn't know how to explain his own reaction.

Su Xin bit down, said quietly: 'Just now I was too worried....... I didn't mean to.'

Ying Huai propped his chin on his hand, looking at Su Xin with a half-smile that wasn't quite a smile, his peach blossom eyes showing no particular emotion.

Su Xin knew Ying Huai didn't believe him at all.

A surge of irritation rose in his chest, and he wanted to say something, but the fragments of memory from just now made him forcibly hold back.

Su Xin took a deep breath, turned stiffly, and walked quickly into the distance.

On the other side, the live stream's bullet comments were going crazy.

【Hahahahaha what is Su Xin doing, did he suddenly go crazy?】

【Honestly, I always thought Su Xin was the cold type, didn't expect him to look almost frantic just now.】

【Really, it felt like in that moment Su Xin was really worried about Xiao Huai.】

【But Teacher Liang next to him is about to break hahahaha, the moment Su Xin picked up Xiao Huai, Teacher Liang's face went dark.】

【!! If you hadn't said it I wouldn't have noticed, Teacher Liang seems to have been closely following Teacher Xiao Huai from the start.】

Liang Shining's expression had indeed been tense throughout.

Even after Su Xin apologized, Liang Shining still stayed by Ying Huai's side, and even when Ying Huai stood up later, he instinctively reached out to support him.

Ying Huai, caught between laughter and tears, dodged Liang Shining's support.

'What are you doing, your shifu isn't that fragile yet.'

He said as he walked to his team's waiting area and sat down.

The other fans had all gone to prepare for the next round of hiding, and Ying Huai was happy to sit alone in peace.

But the next second, Liang Shining quickly followed and sat beside him, looking tense.

Ying Huai was startled: 'Aren't you supposed to go on stage together........'

'Mao Mao said she still wants to play, she'll take my place, I'll take care of you.' Liang Shining said quietly.

'Did Su Xin really not do anything to you just now, shifu?'

'No,' Ying Huai laughed helplessly, he turned around, curved his eyes at Liang Shining soothingly, 'He just carried me over, I'm fine........'

Before he could finish, he heard Liang Shining say softly: 'Su Xin got to carry you, why can't I support you, shifu.'

Ying Huai: ???

He couldn't for the moment figure out where this logic came from, stared blankly for a few seconds, then raised his head with a helpless laugh: 'What are you arguing about? Liang Shining?'

Liang Shining didn't speak, just kept looking at him stubbornly, his eyes dark as obsidian seemingly revealing a faint, hard-to-conceal worry.

Ying Huai's heart softened slightly, and he sighed silently.

He leaned to the side, resting slightly against Liang Shining's shoulder, and said lazily: 'Is this okay?'

The next second, he felt his waist lightly encircled.

Ying Huai's center of gravity instantly became unsteady, he softly said 'Ai,' and more than half his body tilted into Liang Shining's arms.

Ying Huai raised his head with a helpless laugh, but seeing Liang Shining's serious expression, he only sighed softly and found a comfortable position to slowly nestle in.

'I don't know what you're being so serious about,' Ying Huai covered his lips and yawned, saying lazily, 'Have you not held me enough times usually?'

Liang Shining paused, then said quietly: 'That's different.'

Ying Huai half-leaned against Liang Shining's shoulder, eyes half-closed, laughed lightly, and didn't argue.

Mao Mao, who had just come back to put something down, paused mid-step, an expression of disbelief flashing across her face.

The next second, she saw Liang Shining turn around as if sensing something, his gaze landing right on her.

Mao Mao instinctively wanted to open her mouth: 'Sorry........'

But the next second, she saw Liang Shining shake his head at her.

Mao Mao was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood.

Ying Huai was already very tired today, and it was rare for him to be able to relax and rest for a moment; Liang Shining didn't want Ying Huai to have any more burden.

Mao Mao silently nodded, tiptoed away, and belatedly realized something.

—Liang Shining was more intimate with Ying Huai in private, and more possessive.

Liang Shining had always been extremely restrained toward Ying Huai in front of the camera.

—There were no obvious big gestures, but one could feel that Liang Shining was unusually intimate with Ying Huai.

Mao Mao had followed every episode of the variety show live stream without missing one, and had only seen Liang Shining step forward to quickly embrace Ying Huai once or twice in emergencies.

Small gestures like the waist-embrace just now only happened when the camera wasn't sweeping over here.

Mao Mao took a deep breath, and belatedly thought of Liang Shining's last words again.

What Liang Shining had just said, 'That's different,' clearly implied—

—How could someone beat me to it when I haven't even openly and brazenly held you in public yet.

'Sister Mao Mao, why is your face so red?' A fan, seeing Mao Mao walking back with a strange flush on her face, curiously approached.

'Do you have a fever? Why do I feel like smoke is coming off your head?'

Mao Mao covered her cheeks with her hand and shook her head slightly.

'No, I'm fine.'

'I'm just—my CPU is a bit overloaded from shipping.'

·

In the second round of the deciding match, Su Xin was clearly distracted and didn't catch a single person.

Lu Jing only barely caught one person.

Ying Huai and Liang Shining's team won without surprise.

On the other side, Song Fengyi and Chu Ming, who already didn't get along, almost started fighting each other on the field; Xin Wan and Su Yun also won without surprise.

First, second, and third places were finally determined.

Ying Huai sat up straight from beside Liang Shining, stretched, suddenly thought of something, and turned his head with a smile: 'Speaking of which, in the last round, didn't I win our bet?'

Although this game wasn't difficult, the time limit was too short, and basically each round's per-person catch limit was two.

Ying Huai's tone carried a hint of smugness: 'I caught two people, more than Lu Jing and Su Xin caught together in a round, little disciple, a bet's a bet, what I promised you before is wiped out.........'

Before he could finish, he heard Liang Shining say calmly: 'I won, shifu.'

Ying Huai was stunned.

He heard Liang Shining say quietly: 'I just caught—three people.'

Ying Huai: ???

He said in disbelief: 'You caught everyone else?'

Liang Shining nodded, and Ying Huai's expression instantly fell.

A smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of Liang Shining's lips; he watched Ying Huai stare at him 'resentfully' for a few seconds, then finally said in a peculiar tone: 'Do you have to try this hard, little disciple.'

Liang Shining didn't answer, just stared at Ying Huai and said slowly: 'Anyway—shifu now owes me two things.'

Ying Huai was almost amused into anger by Liang Shining's leisurely, self-satisfied tone.

He was about to give up and say: 'Fine, say it now, I'll do it for you right now.'

Unexpectedly, Liang Shining shook his head: 'I want to save them up.'

Ying Huai was stunned, then this time really laughed.

'Fine, save them up then,' Ying Huai stood up, curved his eyes at Liang Shining, 'When you've saved up seven, I'll help you summon the dragon.'

He said as he walked forward, not noticing that behind him, Liang Shining's expression paused, and the smile at his lips slowly disappeared.

·

'Alright, our first, second, third, and fourth places have all been decided.' The Assistant Director, holding the script, led the applause, 'Congratulations to the three winning teams: Teacher Ying, Teacher Su, and Teacher Xin.'

'According to the rules, the top four teams can receive a corresponding number of concert invitation tickets based on their ranking; meanwhile, the top three teams can receive an extra day of mentor support the day before the concert.'

The tickets in Ying Huai and Liang Shining's hands were snatched up on the spot; Song Fengyi didn't have many tickets in hand, but since no one asked for them, in the end he seemed to be the person who got the most tickets.

'So we don't have to compete anymore for this episode, right, Director?' Xin Wan, who had finally finished distributing the tickets, breathed a sigh of relief. 'The mentors should correspond to the three teams separately, right? We don't have to compete anymore?'

The Assistant Director nodded: 'Don't worry, everyone, we have three mentor candidate slots, and each team will definitely be assigned a mentor for guidance, so don't be nervous.'

The three teams in front visibly relaxed, and Xin Wan also instantly lightened up: 'Great, once we choose our mentors we can just get off work........'

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard the Assistant Director say cheerfully: 'But not competing—is impossible.'

Xin Wan: ???

'The mentor assignment isn't by random draw, but requires each team member to choose on their own.' The Assistant Director said seriously.

'Everyone can discuss among yourselves, each team choosing a different mentor, no fighting. But if two teams choose the same mentor, both team members need to go to the mentor at the same time and compete for the mentor's favor to determine the final mentor assignment,' the Assistant Director said excitedly, 'The challenges will be decided by each mentor themselves.'

'Once all mentors are chosen, everyone can really get off work! Isn't that exciting!'

Xin Wan raised his head expressionlessly: 'No.'

'I just feel that, Director, you're starting to gradually become evil.'

The Assistant Director accepted this compliment with a smile, and quickly announced the three candidate mentors.

Ying Huai raised his head and glanced over, once again somewhat surprised to see Mu Heguang's figure.

Su Xin beside him also frowned.

'Alright, let's start choosing now, the team with the highest score chooses first.' The Assistant Director said seriously.

'Because they're first place, they don't have to do a challenge; if they lose a challenge against another team later, they'll also receive additional ticket compensation from the Production Team.'

'Note, the two members can choose separately, but each team can only choose one mentor to challenge. If the challenge fails, they directly lose their choice and can only be automatically grouped with the mentor left over at the end; we hope each guest will consider carefully.'

After the Assistant Director finished speaking, he gestured for Ying Huai and Liang Shining to come on stage: 'Alright, now it depends on each team's own choice.'

Liang Shining never had any objections to this kind of choice; he turned and looked directly at Ying Huai. Ying Huai's eyes flickered, and he stepped forward one pace at a time, standing next to Mu Heguang's name card.

'Alright, next please Lu Jing and Su Xin make your choices.' The Assistant Director clapped his hands.

Lu Jing had no intention of competing with Ying Huai at all, and directly chose the mentor on the left.

Xin Wan behind him breathed a sigh of relief, and cheerfully walked directly to the right: 'Right, let's all be peaceful, Xiao Huai, whichever you want to choose, we absolutely won't fight you for it—'

Before he could finish, the next second, he saw Su Xin walk straight forward and also stand next to Mu Heguang's name card.

Xin Wan: ???

'I also want to choose Teacher Mu Heguang.' Su Xin said calmly.

'I want to challenge Ying Huai's team.'

Su Xin couldn't let go of this opportunity to collaborate with Mu Heguang.

Mu Heguang had been retired for many years; in recent years, let alone appearing on variety shows, he had basically politely declined even invitations to music galas as a judge.

Su Xin couldn't figure out for the moment what had made Mu Heguang willing to come out of retirement again and again.

But one, he didn't want to let go of this opportunity; two, he inexplicably wanted to compete with Ying Huai again.

The emotional fluctuation from that inexplicable memory just now gradually faded, and Su Xin belatedly began to feel irritated at his own actions from earlier.

—Especially thinking of Ying Huai's reaction just now.

This made him urgently want Ying Huai to also be unable to come down from the stage in front of him.

Lu Jing beside him frowned, and Xin Wan hurriedly said: 'Director, is this allowed too? The two of them are on the same team but chose two mentors—'

The Assistant Director was also stunned for a few seconds, then after a while, said thoughtfully: 'Theoretically, this is allowed.'

'Because the mentor Teacher Lu chose wasn't selected by any other team, their team actually only chose one challenge. This conforms to the rules.'

The Assistant Director flipped through the script and said seriously: 'If the challenge fails, Teacher Su automatically returns to the mentor Teacher Lu chose; if the challenge succeeds, Teacher Lu and Teacher Su can choose between the two mentors.'

'Alright, now please each team go to the mentor you've chosen and get acquainted with them first.'

The Assistant Director said cheerfully: 'Teacher Lu can wait here for Teacher Su's challenge result, then choose which mentor to go to.'

'No need,' Lu Jing shook his head and walked straight out, 'Su Xin won't win.'

The Assistant Director was stunned, and Su Xin beside him turned ashen-faced, glancing at Ying Huai beside him.

Unlike Su Xin's tension, Ying Huai's expression remained casual.

He stood up lazily and sauntered toward the door.

Chu Ming beside him poked his head out: 'So for us with no mentor to choose, can we get off work, Director?'

'Then can I go follow Brother Huai........'

Before he could finish, he saw the Assistant Director shake his head seriously.

'Of course not,' the Assistant Director shook his head, then suddenly stuffed each of them an audit pass, 'Because you don't have dedicated mentor guidance, you need to make up for this gap through your own efforts.'

'The two of you need to audit a basic music department lecture this afternoon, and complete the in-class assignment.'

Chu Ming: ???

He couldn't help but say: 'Wait, Director, can we........'

The Assistant Director said seriously: 'Note, this class requires clocking in, and you're about to be late.'

'If you're late it won't count, you'll need to make it up tomorrow.'

Chu Ming choked.

He suddenly turned around and rushed toward the door.

Song Fengyi beside him had an ashen face, but in the end also took the audit pass and walked out gloomily.

·

Although Mu Heguang had been retired for a long time, he still occasionally came to the school to give lectures, so he also had his own house near the school.

The Production Team deliberately didn't tell them the specific location of the mentor they chose, only giving each team a GoPro to find their own way, prettily calling it 'the road to learning is long and fraught with obstacles.'

But Ying Huai knew Mu Heguang's several residences like the back of his hand; he stood by the road, boredly waiting for Liang Shining to drive over.

But the next second, he suddenly heard a slightly cold voice from behind.

'Ying Huai.'

Ying Huai turned his head curiously, meeting Su Xin's slightly cold gaze.

Su Xin gritted his teeth: 'You—'

Before he could finish, the sound of a car suddenly came from behind.

Su Xin instinctively turned around and saw a car driving straight toward him without flashing or swerving.

Su Xin retreated a step in a panic, gritting his teeth: 'What are you doing—'

Before he could finish, the next second, he saw Liang Shining walk out from the driver's seat, glanced at Su Xin, and reached out to open the passenger door for Ying Huai: 'Shifu.'

Ying Huai was also somewhat caught between laughter and tears, but he coughed lightly and in the end bent down and got into the car.

'What did shixiong just say, I didn't hear clearly.' Ying Huai raised his head with a smile, 'Could shixiong say it again?'

Su Xin's face was ashen, he gave a cold laugh: 'Is shidi really so confident that Teacher Mu will definitely choose you?'

Ying Huai neither confirmed nor denied; Su Xin then said word by word: 'I advise shidi to stop dreaming; whatever the challenge is later, I will definitely win........'

'Oh.' Ying Huai sat in the passenger seat and responded lazily.

'So does shixiong need us to give you a ride over?'

Su Xin was stunned, his face instantly changed: 'What do you mean?'

'Nothing, I'm just curious about one thing,' Ying Huai smiled and curved his eyes, 'Shixiong has been standing at the door for so long without leaving, were you specifically waiting for me to come over, or do you not know where to find Professor Mu?'

Su Xin's hand at his side instantly clenched.

'You—'

He took a deep breath, forcibly calming down: 'What gives you the right to say that?'

'If shixiong wanted to say those words to me, you would have said them long ago, no need to wait until just now.'

Ying Huai leaned against the car door, a bit more smile appearing between his brows: 'Shixiong couldn't have been looking for the way here too long—getting embarrassed into anger, could you?'

Su Xin's face changed slightly.

Mu Heguang really hadn't told him the address near the school, and Su Xin had already asked students around; Mu Heguang had no lecture on campus today.

Previously, Su Xin had either been in the school classroom or in Mu Heguang's office discussing things with him, but later Mu Heguang got older and didn't come to school much, so he returned the office to the school.

Su Xin's face alternated between green and white; he was just about to say something when he heard Ying Huai say an enlightened 'Oh'.

'It seems shixiong just simply doesn't like the sight of me,' Ying Huai curved his eyes, 'Then we'll see each other at Professor Mu's house later.'

Just as his words fell, before he could turn around, he saw the window in front of him quickly close, and then Liang Shining floored the accelerator, steadily carrying Ying Huai and leaving Su Xin behind.

Su Xin: .......

Ying Huai: ?

He really couldn't hold back anymore, turned his head somewhat amusedly: 'Is Mr. Liang still angry at shixiong?'

Liang Shining looked ahead and said calmly: 'No.'

Ying Huai laughed helplessly, slowly turned his head, but heard Liang Shining speak again.

'I just simply don't like the sight of him.'

Ying Huai: ??

·

Mu Heguang's residence wasn't far from here, and Liang Shining had already tried to drive as steadily as possible.

But even so, Ying Huai still couldn't help starting to get carsick on the way.

A bad heart can lead to cardiac insufficiency, which greatly affects blood supply to the brain.

Even though Ying Huai tried hard to endure it, once he got out of the car he still couldn't help but dry heave directly.

He had already been physically and mentally exhausted today; he had originally wanted to just sleep in the car, but his body was exhausted to the extreme while his consciousness was unusually clear.

The more he wanted to sleep, the more he couldn't, and instead made himself increasingly dizzy.

Liang Shining hurriedly held him up: 'Where does it hurt, shifu? Dizzy? Does your stomach hurt?'

Ying Huai had a splitting headache, his temples seeming to throb with each pulse of his blood vessels.

He was in so much pain he couldn't speak, just waved his hand, and after a long while exhaled: '.......I'm fine, I just need a moment.'

Liang Shining didn't speak, frowning as he tried to help him inside, but felt Ying Huai grab his arm.

"Don't go in yet, let me.......take a moment." Ying Huai covered his lips and spoke in a hoarse voice.

Liang Shining's movement paused, his expression instantly darkening: "Why not go in? It's so cold outside, you'll catch a cold in a moment—"

"Shh—"

Before Liang Shining could finish speaking, he saw the person in front of him, who was so unwell he could barely stand, turn his head and weakly curve his eyes at him.

"Why so loud, you'll wake shifu in a bit, cough cough......."

Ying Huai caught his breath, closed his eyes briefly, and spoke softly: "Don't let shifu know......."

Before he could finish, he heard a cold snort from behind him.

"What now, what are you trying to hide from this old man again?"

Mu Heguang walked out quickly with a dark expression.

Without waiting for Ying Huai to speak, he directly took Ying Huai's arm from the other side and forcibly helped him inside.

Ying Huai was dizzy and unwell, stumbling a few steps before he realized what was happening.

He instinctively tried to break free from Mu Heguang's grip: "I'm fine, shifu, I can walk myself......."

"Try letting go and see what happens." Mu Heguang let out a cold laugh, his tone unfriendly.

"If you dare let go, this old man will move into your house tomorrow."

Ying Huai's struggling instantly froze.

—He suddenly remembered a time when he had a high fever and Mu Heguang had him stay at his house for a whole week.

Liang Shining beside him glanced at the unusually obedient Ying Huai with some surprise, and without further ado, together they quickly helped him inside.

After entering the house, Ying Huai continued to cough and wheeze, his body sinking straight down.

Mu Heguang frowned and spoke directly: "Carry him into the guest bedroom, I'll go boil some water."

Liang Shining's movement paused.

Before he could say anything, he heard Mu Heguang speak impatiently: "Fine, Xiao Huai is dizzy right now and doesn't have the strength to resist you."

He said as he walked toward the kitchen: "I really don't know what you're trying to hide in front of me, you should have just carried him inside earlier."

A strange expression flashed across Liang Shining's face.

He took a deep breath, no longer caring about anything, and instantly swept Ying Huai up into his arms, quickly walking to the bed and setting him down steadily.

Ying Huai pressed a hand to his chest, his head slightly lowered as he coughed muffledly.

He half-leaned against the headboard, finally enduring this bout of nausea, and raised his head with a choking cough: "Where's shifu......."

"Boiling water for you."

Mu Heguang walked in with a cold expression and handed the hot water to Liang Shining.

Liang Shining tested the water temperature with his fingers, fed the medicine into Ying Huai's mouth, and upon seeing his complexion finally ease a little, silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Ying Huai pressed his brow, raised his head and curved his eyes at Mu Heguang: "I'm fine now, shifu, please go out first, I'll come sit with you on the sofa in a bit......"

"Save it." Mu Heguang directly cut off Ying Huai's words with a bad mood.

He couldn't help but speak: "Fine, keep hiding things from me. If you have the ability, keep hiding it until this old man is about to die before telling me."

The moment his words fell, he saw Ying Huai's expression instantly change, opening his mouth to say something, but suddenly coughing again.

Mu Heguang froze, his expression instantly panicked: "Ah, ah, shifu was wrong, shifu was just joking......."

Ying Huai raised his head, forced a smile and shook his head: "Don't make jokes like that.......shifu."

Mu Heguang sat down beside him in a fluster, helping his little disciple smooth his back, and sighed helplessly: "Then can you stop worrying this old man?"

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, but he didn't speak.

Mu Heguang knew Ying Huai's temperament well, but looking at the pale, unwell face in front of him, he couldn't bring himself to say anything more.

"Fine, sleep here for a while." Mu Heguang sighed.

"You came because of the mentor the Production Team arranged, right? I see the Production Team didn't give me much of a task today, just getting to know the mentor. Aren't we familiar enough already? Sleep in peace......."

But Ying Huai smiled and shook his head.

"There's another person coming in a bit to challenge us," Liang Shining spoke quietly from the side, "you decide the challenge method, the winner can choose you as their mentor."

Mu Heguang froze, his expression instantly turning strange: "That person? Have me choose between you and him?"

He looked at Ying Huai somewhat baffled: "Disciple, is it that you don't have confidence in yourself, or you don't have confidence in your shifu?"

Ying Huai: ?

He couldn't help but laugh for a moment, but before he could say anything, he saw Mu Heguang ruthlessly take out a blanket and wrap him up in it.

"Rest well for a while, when that person arrives I'll talk to him."

Mu Heguang looked at the bundled-up person on the bed with satisfaction and clapped his hands: "Shifu will make you something delicious."

Ying Huai's expression instantly turned strange.

·

Su Xin finally arrived at Mu Heguang's door half an hour later.

He knocked at the door for a long time before finally hearing Mu Heguang's voice from far behind the door.

"Coming, coming, wait a moment—"

Mu Heguang quickly pulled open the door as he spoke: "You're finally here—"

Before he could finish speaking, he froze upon seeing Su Xin in front of him: "It's you?"

Su Xin's expression also froze: "Teacher Mu, did you know I was coming?"

Mu Heguang withdrew his gaze and hurried inside: "I didn't know, change your shoes yourself, I have soup simmering in the kitchen, I need to go check on it first—"

Su Xin, who had never known Mu Heguang could cook, froze again.

He changed his shoes and walked inside, only belatedly noticing the flashy apron Mu Heguang was wearing.

Su Xin felt his perception of reality crumbling.

He silently opened his mouth: "Teacher Mu, why are you.......cooking yourself today?"

"My disciple is back, I have to make him something delicious." Mu Heguang said cheerfully, "My disciple always used to complain about my cooking, so I have to take this chance to prove myself."

Su Xin's hand at his side suddenly clenched.

His expression instantly turned ugly.

Su Xin had brought up the matter of his disciple with Mu Heguang a few years ago.

—Actually, what Su Xin had proposed a few years ago was wanting to formally become Mu Heguang's disciple.

In those years, Su Xin had just debuted not long ago, was young and brash, and became even more confident after his explosive popularity.

He had always regarded Mu Heguang as his teacher, and after finishing a recording session one time, finally mustered the courage to formally propose becoming Mu Heguang's disciple.

But to his surprise, Mu Heguang directly refused him.

Su Xin always remembered how Mu Heguang had refused him.

"That won't do, Xiao Su, I already have a bargain disciple."

A flash of surprise crossed Mu Heguang's expression, as if he hadn't expected Su Xin to say this at all.

—This gave Su Xin an inexplicable sense of humiliation, as if he had been compared and found wanting.

"Although his lively personality makes it hard for this old man to keep up, he's still my only disciple." Mu Heguang thought of something and said cheerfully.

"You're very good, Xiao Su, but this old man is already old, having that one disciple is enough." Mu Heguang said slowly.

"May I ask, Teacher Mu, who is your disciple?" Su Xin couldn't help but ask curiously.

Mu Heguang shook his head and said playfully: "A nobody, not worth mentioning."

Su Xin froze.

Mu Heguang's fame was known worldwide, the person he took as a disciple couldn't possibly be ordinary.

He simply didn't believe what Mu Heguang said.

He watched Mu Heguang slowly walk back into the recording studio, and couldn't help but speak again: "I don't think I've ever seen Teacher Mu's disciple."

An inexplicable jealousy drove Su Xin to speak again: "Why does Teacher Mu's disciple.......never come to see you?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he immediately regretted it.

The next second, he saw Mu Heguang's footsteps pause, as expected.

Then Mu Heguang's slow voice came: "Xiao Su, I remember you usually don't like to talk, you just like to keep your head down and work."

"That's a good thing. Things you shouldn't ask about, it's best not to ask."

Mu Heguang turned his head, and Su Xin had never seen the usually cheerful Mu Heguang look so cold.

"This old man's good temper doesn't mean I don't get angry."

"I was wrong, Teacher Mu." A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Su Xin's forehead.

He immediately half-bowed and spoke sincerely: "My words were inappropriate just now, please forgive me."

He felt Mu Heguang stare at him for a long time, before finally slowly turning around.

"Forget it, you were recommended by someone else, this old man won't hold it against you."

Su Xin froze.

He hesitated and raised his head, but saw Mu Heguang staring at the recording studio, as if remembering something, his words carrying a touch of nostalgia: "But if there's a chance later, you and I......will both get to see him."

·

A loud crash came from the kitchen in front of him, and Su Xin suddenly came back to his senses.

He watched Mu Heguang bustling about in the kitchen, forced himself to calm down, and turned the topic to business: "Then congratulations to Teacher Mu on finally reuniting with your disciple—but what I'm here for today is to ask you to be the mentor for our group......."

Before he could finish, he heard Mu Heguang cheerfully interrupt him.

"I know, your Variety Show requires choosing a mentor, but I'm sorry, Xiao Su, I can't be anyone's mentor except my disciple's."

Su Xin's hand at his side suddenly tightened.

Ying Huai had not appeared from earlier until now, and Su Xin didn't connect the disciple Mu Heguang mentioned with Ying Huai for the moment.

His first reaction was that Mu Heguang had refused both him and Ying Huai.

"But the Production Team needs you to choose between our two groups......."

Before he could finish, he heard Mu Heguang hurriedly speak: "Hey hey, Xiao Su, help me watch the fire, I just remembered I forgot to put in a spice, I'll go to the storage room to get it, help me watch the soup so it doesn't boil dry......."

Su Xin opened his mouth to say more, but the next second, saw Mu Heguang rush out of the kitchen in a hurry.

Su Xin: .......

He took a deep breath, stared coldly at the flickering flames in front of him, and suddenly heard a soft sound of a door opening behind him.

Su Xin suddenly turned his head: "Teacher Mu—"

Before he could finish, his brow suddenly furrowed: "Why are you here?"

Ying Huai opened the door, poked his head out somewhat blankly, and seeing Su Xin also froze slightly: "You finally arrived?"

He had slept for a while and was in much better shape, yawned, and hesitated as he looked toward the kitchen: "I heard a huge crash just now, came out to see if shifu had blown up the kitchen......."

Su Xin's mind was now full of Mu Heguang's refusal just now, and he didn't notice at all that Ying Huai's address for Mu Heguang had changed to "shifu."

"Teacher Mu went to the storage room to get spices." Su Xin said in a low voice.

A strange expression flashed across Ying Huai's face.

Su Xin didn't pay attention, he stared at Ying Huai's somewhat sleepy expression and frowned as he spoke: "Why did you come out of Teacher Mu's guest bedroom?"

Ying Huai stepped forward two paces, opened the pot lid with a complicated expression to look at Mu Heguang's soup, and casually replied: "You were too slow coming, I was sleepy, so I took a nap first."

Su Xin: .......??

He watched Ying Huai walking around the kitchen naturally, thought of Mu Heguang's refusal just now, and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Do you know Teacher Mu has a disciple?" Su Xin suddenly spoke.

Ying Huai was studying what this black paste was, and for a moment didn't understand why Su Xin was bringing this up.

He turned his head somewhat baffled: "What?"

"Teacher Mu has a particularly treasured disciple, Teacher Mu especially protects him." Su Xin spoke word by word.

A strange expression appeared on Ying Huai's face.

—Of course he knew Mu Heguang had a disciple.

But answering "I know" would be like admitting he was the most "treasured" one of Mu Heguang's, which made Ying Huai inexplicably unable to bring himself to say it.

Ying Huai was silent for a few seconds, before finally speaking: "Not really.......know."

A look of smugness appeared on Su Xin's face.

"Teacher Mu just refused to be the mentor for both our groups because his treasured disciple is back." Su Xin crossed his arms and spoke slowly.

"He's only willing to be his disciple's mentor, so both our groups have been refused."

Ying Huai froze for a moment.

Su Xin raised his head, secretly hoping to see on Ying Huai's face the shocked and lost expression he had just had, but saw Ying Huai freeze for a few seconds before suddenly showing an expression he couldn't help but laugh at.

Su Xin frowned.

—He had always been unable to stand Ying Huai's casual expression even when falling into the abyss.

"What are you laughing at, do you still think you can win?"

Su Xin stared at Ying Huai and let out a cold laugh: "Neither of us won, but at least I have the mentor from Lu Jing's side as a fallback. Shidi, you got first place, but ended up directly losing the qualification for mentor guidance."

"Yes, yes, shixiong is right." Ying Huai couldn't help but curve his lips, then quickly covered it up with a light cough.

"But has shixiong realized something........"

"What thing, are you thinking of competing with Teacher Mu's disciple?"

Su Xin said indifferently: "Shidi, don't blame me for not warning you, Teacher Mu's disciple is a major figure in the industry, extremely outstanding, thousands of times better than you—"

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him.

Then Mu Heguang's voice came from behind them: "That spice was out, I switched to one I dried myself, Xiao Su, you think it should work, right?"

Mu Heguang raised his head as he spoke, and upon seeing Ying Huai half-leaning against the kitchen doorframe, a flash of delight instantly crossed his expression.

"Oh, you're awake? Still feeling unwell?"

Ying Huai glanced at Su Xin and nodded slightly at Mu Heguang: "I'm fine now, shifu."

Su Xin secretly laughed that Ying Huai's current attempts at pleasing were all useless.

He stepped forward to take the spice from Mu Heguang's hand: "Teacher Mu, let me help you cook......."

"No need, no need, I'll do it myself," Mu Heguang hurriedly snatched the spice back from Su Xin's hand, "Xiao Huai always says my cooking tastes strange, this old man has been practicing hard for so many years, I must show off today."

Su Xin froze.

He belatedly realized something was wrong, and the next second, saw Mu Heguang look proudly at Ying Huai: "Then you'll know, in cooking, I'm also shifu."

Su Xin's expression instantly froze.

He raised his head in disbelief, watching Ying Huai give him a half-smiling glance before turning back to Mu Heguang.

"Fine—but let's agree first, if shifu blows up the kitchen again, I'll cook in a bit."

Mu Heguang unconvincedly waved his hand to shoo him out of the kitchen, Ying Huai obediently walked two steps, suddenly thought of something, and turned to look at Su Xin beside him.

"Right, thanks for the compliment just now, shixiong." Ying Huai curved his eyes.

Su Xin's face went pale.

Mu Heguang curiously raised his head: "What did he compliment you on?"

"Nothing," Ying Huai said slowly, "He complimented me as your—most treasured disciple."

·

In the end, that meal ended with Mu Heguang blowing up the kitchen, as expected.

But because of Su Xin's words, Mu Heguang was cheerful all evening, even when ruthlessly kicked out of the kitchen by Ying Huai, he didn't have a single complaint.

Liang Shining followed into the kitchen, silently trailing behind Ying Huai as his assistant.

Ying Huai's health was poor, standing too long made it hard to breathe and his heart couldn't take it.

Liang Shining later simply carried him to the sink, let Ying Huai lean and sit beside it, and directed him in cooking.

"Xiao Su, come taste this quickly, my disciple's cooking is amazing." Mu Heguang said cheerfully.

He was especially excited today, directly took out a bottle of wine, didn't urge the others, and drank by himself.

Su Xin's expression was somewhat stiff.

He couldn't hold back any longer, suddenly stood up directly: "No, Teacher Mu, I still have some things to do, I'll leave first......."

Before he could finish, he saw Liang Shining reach out directly, about to take back his bowls and chopsticks.

Su Xin: ........

Ying Huai unhurriedly reached out and gently pressed Liang Shining's wrist.

"It's already so late, what's the rush, shixiong? Why not finish eating and go back to the hotel with us."

Ying Huai rarely saw his own shifu so happy, and didn't want it to end unhappily because of Su Xin.

He raised his head with a half-smile: "Hasn't shixiong always wanted to collaborate on another song with Teacher Mu?"

Su Xin's face was ashen, but he eventually sat back down.

Mu Heguang beside him spoke cheerfully first: "What hotel, tonight you all stay here at this old man's place!"

"In a couple of days when you're free, I'll make you delicious food every day!"

Ying Huai was silent for a moment.

He wasn't afraid of Mu Heguang cooking for them every day.

—What he feared was, if the kitchen didn't blow up one time, Mu Heguang would actually serve them a plate of dark cuisine.

He smiled at Mu Heguang: "No thanks, shifu, Liang Shining and I will still go back."

"Don't go," Mu Heguang, who had drunk a bit too much, suddenly spoke, "you stay here tonight, this old man will officiate your wedding later!"

Liang Shining's hand trembled, and Ying Huai raised his head somewhat helplessly.

"Who am I marrying, shifu, you're drunk......."

"I'm not drunk!" Mu Heguang said cheerfully.

He looked at Ying Huai's expression, and for a moment felt somewhat frustrated: "How can you be so slow, disciple."

Ying Huai, inexplicably scolded: ??

Before he could say anything, he heard Mu Heguang speak slowly: "Do you know how much Xiao Liang likes you?"

Ying Huai's expression froze, and Liang Shining suddenly raised his head.