Tidal Heat

'You don't know how much Xiao Liang... likes you.' Mu Heguang said cheerfully.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment. Liang Shining's hand on the table suddenly tightened.

He opened his mouth blankly: 'Shifu, what are you talking about...'

Before he could finish, Liang Shining spoke first: 'I'm Shifu's disciple, of course I... like Shifu the most.'

'Right, right, Xiao Liang likes you the most.'

Mu Heguang was already half-drunk and didn't notice Liang Shining's obvious topic change, instinctively being led along.

'Look at how uncomfortable you were just now, how worried Xiao Liang was... This disciple of yours likes you the most, Xiao Huai...'

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He paused for a few seconds, then silently exhaled.

—So this is what Mu Heguang meant.

Mu Heguang was mid-sentence when he saw his cup was empty and reached drowsily for the bottle beside him.

Liang Shining's fingers remained tightly clenched.

He instinctively glanced at Ying Huai beside him, watched him pause for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed too: 'Of course.'

'Liang Shining is my disciple. If he doesn't like me, who would he like?'

Liang Shining closed his eyes.

His clenched fingers slowly loosened. After a long moment, he silently let out a soft breath.

—Ying Huai probably hadn't noticed anything.

—This way was... fine too.

Mu Heguang was already half-drunk and hadn't heard clearly what Ying Huai said to him.

He began rambling again about some of Ying Huai's past.

'You know, when I first met Xiao Huai back then, his temperament was very different from now.'

'He used to always be smiling, his temperament was wonderful, as if nothing in the world bothered him.'

'Do I always have a stern face now, Shifu?' Ying Huai laughed helplessly, speaking in a joking tone.

Mu Heguang gave Ying Huai a look: 'You tell me—are you happy now?'

Ying Huai was stunned.

Mu Heguang took another swig of wine and continued telling his story.

'That arrangement competition back then—I was a judge. Xiao Huai was the most outstanding contestant, good-tempered, no pretensions at all. Lots of people liked him. You could say he passed through a garden of flowers... no, no, he just lay right down in the middle of it.'

Liang Shining glanced at Ying Huai thoughtfully. Ying Huai's ear-tips reddened as he tried to stop Mu Heguang: 'What are you saying, Shifu, I didn't...'

'Right, right, you really didn't,' Mu Heguang laughed, turning his head. 'You look like an old hand, but who knew you were completely a blank sheet.'

Ying Huai: ?

'Later, someone gradually got improper ideas. One night when Xiao Huai returned to his room, he had just turned on the light and saw someone in heavy makeup sitting inside.'

'And then?' Su Xin beside them couldn't help but ask mockingly. 'Shidi didn't do anything illegal, did he?'

Mu Heguang took a sip of wine, his amusement completely undisguised: "Xiao Huai stared at that person for a few seconds, took a step back, and inexplicably looked at the room number: 'I didn't order takeout.'"

Liang Shining laughed softly. Beside them, Su Xin froze in place, glancing at Ying Huai with a strange look.

'Although he said that, after calling the front desk and having that person sent away, he went straight to the recording studio and stayed there the whole night. He didn't dare go back to his room at all.'

'Later that morning, old me caught him in the studio and finally got the whole story.'

Ying Huai pressed his brow helplessly. Beside him, Liang Shining coughed lightly, struggling to suppress the corners of his mouth that kept curling up.

'How would I know what that person actually did in my room,' Ying Huai said softly, his ear-tips red. 'I was being cautious.'

Mu Heguang was getting into it, looking ready to talk all night.

Ying Huai's ear-tips were red. He tried to change the subject, but unexpectedly Liang Shining spoke up: 'I want to hear it, Shifu.'

Ying Huai was stunned. He turned his head, looking at Liang Shining's slightly lowered eyes: 'I want to know what Shifu was like during all those years I wasn't here.'

Ying Huai paused. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He sighed and half-collapsed back onto the table.

Mu Heguang was also getting into it. His memory was excellent—he could vividly tell every one of Ying Huai's embarrassing stories.

Liang Shining listened quietly the whole time. Even Su Xin, for some reason, didn't make any cutting remarks, but silently drank his wine and listened.

Ying Huai had originally been leaning beside them with a smile, half-propped on his arm, occasionally trying to argue back.

But he was really too tired today, and unconsciously relaxed beside Liang Shining and Mu Heguang.

Ying Huai felt his eyelids growing heavy, his head slowly drooping.

By the time Liang Shining noticed, the person beside him had already fallen fast asleep, half-sprawled on the table, head propped on his hand.

'Huh? Xiao Huai's asleep?' Mu Heguang opened his bleary eyes, suddenly realizing. 'Then hurry and take him to the room to sleep. Oh right, let me tell you another secret.'

'Xiao Huai looks casual on the surface, like he doesn't care about anything, but deep down he's actually the most traditional. He cares deeply about many people and many things.'

Mu Heguang's gaze paused briefly, deliberately or not, on Su Xin.

Su Xin froze.

The memory that had surfaced in the recording studio earlier flooded back into his mind. Su Xin instinctively wanted to ask something, but saw that Mu Heguang had already looked away.

Mu Heguang sighed softly: 'If it weren't for what happened with his family before—if he hadn't kept enduring it until he couldn't hold on anymore—it wouldn't have turned out like this...'

Liang Shining frowned.

He kept feeling that Mu Heguang seemed to know something. He was about to speak when he felt the person in his arms tremble slightly.

Liang Shining paused. He bent down and lifted the person up, shaking his head slightly.

'Teacher Mu, I'll take Shifu back first,' Liang Shining said quietly. 'Thank you for tonight.'

Mu Heguang was startled and quickly stood up: 'You're not staying here tonight?'

Liang Shining shook his head: 'Shifu seemed to want to go back just now, so I'll take Shifu...'

Before he could finish, Mu Heguang cut him off directly: 'No, you're sleeping here tonight.'

'Xiao Huai finally fell asleep. You don't want him to feel sick again from the car ride, do you?' Mu Heguang was unusually clear-headed for a moment. He crossed his arms and spoke seriously.

Liang Shining's movements paused.

Seeing hope, Mu Heguang's face instantly crumpled into a smile, wrinkles piling together.

'All right, hurry and carry Xiao Huai inside.'

Mu Heguang stepped forward cheerfully, a hint of mischief in his eyes: 'I'll tell you some good news in a bit.'

Liang Shining looked at Mu Heguang's excited expression and vaguely felt something was off.

·

Liang Shining stood beside the bed, looking at the person sleeping deeply, and asked somewhat stiffly: 'You mean tonight... Shifu and I sleep in the same bed?'

'That's right.' Mu Heguang nodded seriously.

Liang Shining closed his eyes.

He belatedly realized what 'good news' Mu Heguang had meant.

'I only have two guest rooms in total. Xiao Su is staying here tonight too, so this is the only one left.' Mu Heguang said cheerfully.

He looked up at Liang Shining: 'You and Xiao Huai have slept together before anyway, so one bed...'

He stopped mid-sentence, stunned by Liang Shining's expression.

'Wait, hasn't Xiao Huai been living at your place? You two still sleep separately?'

Liang Shining lowered his eyes and nodded silently after a long pause.

Mu Heguang couldn't help pressing further: 'Not even once?'

'Just once... Shifu had a fever and kept saying he was cold, so I...'

A flash of frustrated disappointment crossed Mu Heguang's face.

'Now I know why Xiao Huai is so oblivious,' Mu Heguang gritted his teeth. 'It's all because you've spoiled him.'

...Liang Shining vaguely felt that sounded familiar, but not quite the same.

He took a deep breath and turned to walk out: 'Maybe I'll just sleep on the sofa, Teacher Mu. If you or Shifu need anything tonight, I'll come in...'

Before he could finish, he saw Mu Heguang suddenly turn around, stride to the door, and unhesitatingly lock it from outside.

Liang Shining: ???

'Don't worry, old me doesn't need you to take care of me. Just take good care of Xiao Huai.' Mu Heguang stood outside the door and pulled the key out with a click.

'You two sleep well. I'll make you breakfast tomorrow morning.'

Liang Shining: ...?

—It was the first time he'd felt the urge to pick a lock in the middle of the night.

He took a deep breath and looked around. Just as he was about to find a stool to lean against beside Ying Huai's bed like before, he suddenly heard the person on the bed let out a soft groan.

'Shifu?' Liang Shining quickly stepped forward.

'Is something wrong?'

Ying Huai propped himself up slightly from the bed, looking somewhat dazed.

'...Liang Shining?'

He tended to get oxygen-deprived in his sleep. After being woken up by it, his mind felt foggy for a moment.

'Why aren't you asleep yet?'

Liang Shining paused for a few seconds: 'I'll sleep soon, Shifu.'

Ying Huai could tell something was off in Liang Shining's tone.

He frowned, looked around, and belatedly realized something: 'Shifu told us to stay here tonight?'

Liang Shining nodded.

Ying Huai sighed helplessly, rubbed his brow, and suddenly patted the bed beside him: 'Come sleep here.'

Liang Shining was stunned for a few seconds, then shook his head.

'It's fine, Shifu. I'll just lean against the bed in a bit...'

Mu Heguang's guest room bed wasn't small, but for two grown men over 180 cm, physical contact was unavoidable.

Liang Shining knew Ying Huai was a light sleeper. First, he was worried about affecting Ying Huai's rest and causing health problems. Second, he was also worried... that his own body might have a 'problem.'

Ying Huai stared at Liang Shining for a few seconds, his eyes flickering.

He suddenly yawned: 'Fine then, do whatever you want... mm.'

Before he could finish, he suddenly frowned and pressed a hand to his chest, letting out a low groan.

Liang Shining's expression instantly panicked.

He stepped forward quickly, sat on the edge of the bed, and swiftly steadied the suddenly swaying person. 'What's wrong, shifu? Is it palpitations again?'

As he spoke, he reached out to press on Ying Huai's pulse, but felt there didn't seem to be any particularly major abnormality.

Ying Huai subtly withdrew his wrist from Liang Shining's hand.

'It's nothing, just a sudden tightness in my chest.'

Ying Huai said quietly, 'Can you help me lean against the headboard for a while?'

Liang Shining reached out to help Ying Huai sit up halfway, letting him lean against the headboard.

Unexpectedly, Ying Huai seemed unable to sit steady, his body kept sliding down, swaying until he fell directly into his arms.

Liang Shining's expression turned panicked. 'Can't sit up, shifu? Is it dizziness...'

'No,' Ying Huai said softly, 'I just woke up and have no strength, can't sit steady.'

He tilted his head up, looked at Liang Shining, hesitated, then said softly, 'How about you come up and hold me while we sit for a while, okay?'

Liang Shining's mind was entirely on Ying Huai's condition, he suspected nothing, and immediately got on the bed, gently gathering the person into his arms.

Ying Huai indeed didn't lean to the side anymore.

He lazily leaned in Liang Shining's arms, and after a while, slowly yawned.

'I feel a bit sleepy, you lie down a bit, let's sleep.'

Liang Shining shook his head.

'No, shifu, if you have chest tightness you can't lie flat, it's best to stay half-upright.'

He used one hand to rub Ying Huai's chest, moved the other hand down a bit, and said quietly, 'You sleep, shifu, I'll hold you a bit lower, it'll be more comfortable. Once you're asleep, I'll get down.'

Ying Huai, who had only been pretending to trick Liang Shining into bed: ......

His eyes flickered, suddenly raised his head and smiled at Liang Shining. 'My chest isn't that uncomfortable now, but sitting like this my waist isn't comfortable. Lie down with me for a while, and if I'm uncomfortable, help me sit up again, okay?'

Liang Shining was stunned for a moment.

He always felt something was off about Ying Huai today, but feeling his heartbeat, there really didn't seem to be any abnormality.

Liang Shining nodded, held the person back a bit, and gathered Ying Huai as they lay down together.

Ying Huai silently breathed a sigh of relief.

After all that fuss, sleepiness surged up again. He slightly turned to his side with his back to Liang Shining, groggily wanting to close his eyes,

But the next second, Ying Huai felt a warm sensation suddenly transmit from his waist.

Ying Huai's body instantly stiffened.

He instantly opened his eyes. 'What are you doing, Liang Shining?'

'Shifu just said your waist was uncomfortable,' Liang Shining said with lowered eyes, seriously, 'I warmed my hands up, let me rub it for shifu.'

A flash of unnaturalness crossed Ying Huai's expression.

His waist had always been especially sensitive. Before, through clothes, and because he trusted Liang Shining relatively, he could still barely tolerate it.

Now that the small of his back was completely exposed under Liang Shining's palm with no barrier, Ying Huai's body involuntarily trembled.

He wanted to ask Liang Shining to take his hand away, but Liang Shining also felt Ying Huai's abnormality at the same time.

'What's wrong? Where does it hurt, shifu?'

Liang Shining frowned. 'Does it hurt here?'

Ying Huai groaned, his breathing instantly quickening.

—Most importantly, he felt himself beginning to react.

He grabbed Liang Shining's arm, said through gritted teeth, 'No, let go of me first........'

But Liang Shining was worried Ying Huai was hiding something from him again.

His expression grew grave. He directly pressed both hands on Ying Huai's waist, and said quietly, 'Don't move, shifu, let me check........'

.......Ying Huai for the first time clearly understood what it meant to lift a rock only to drop it on one's own foot.

He took a deep breath, suddenly flipped over, face to face with Liang Shining.

Liang Shining was startled.

He instinctively shrank back, but saw Ying Huai raise his head and say hoarsely, 'Last time you said you don't like girls, right?'

Liang Shining didn't understand, but still nodded blankly.

Ying Huai squinted. 'Coincidentally, I also like boys.'

Liang Shining's entire body instantly froze.

A flash of disbelief crossed his expression. He silently opened his mouth, felt Ying Huai grab his wrist and slowly take it away from his waist.

'Little disciple, don't cross the line.' Ying Huai turned back over, said hoarsely.

'I don't want to expel you from the sect again.'

Liang Shining's breathing went still for a moment.

Ying Huai took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.

He listened as the breathing of the person behind him grew heavy for a few seconds, then suddenly hesitated and said, 'Shifu, did you just.......?'

Ying Huai: .......

'Shut up.' He said through gritted teeth.

'Sleep.'

Liang Shining instantly fell silent.

·

Meanwhile, Su Xin stood dazed in the guest bedroom, listening to the sounds of washing outside gradually disappear.

He was stunned for a moment, quickly turned and walked out of the room. 'Teacher Mu.'

Mu Heguang, holding a towel, was startled. 'Little Su, you're not asleep yet?'

Su Xin silently nodded.

Mu Heguang didn't mind, waved at Su Xin. 'Then go to sleep early, tomorrow morning try my cooking......'

'Teacher Mu.' Su Xin suddenly said.

'Can I borrow your recording studio?'

Mu Heguang was startled.

He turned his head somewhat puzzled. 'Now?'

Su Xin nodded.

'Mm, just now suddenly.......had a melody inspiration, wanted to refine it a bit more.'

Su Xin said quietly, 'Won't take long, won't use it for long.'

Anyway the recording studio has sound absorption, Mu Heguang didn't care.

He continued turning to walk into the room. 'Fine, use it yourself. You've used my recording studio before anyway, you know how to save files and such.'

Su Xin silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned to look at Ying Huai's room next door which had already gone completely quiet, took a deep breath, and walked in quickly.

·

When Su Xin had previously studied with Mu Heguang, he often used his recording studio to record.

He knew Mu Heguang had a folder specifically for saving inspiration clips.

Su Xin opened the computer, and with practiced ease found that folder.

There were many recordings in the folder. Most were categorized by time; a small portion might have specific meaning, with specific words marked on the folder.

Su Xin vaguely remembered that in that memory, it should have been not long after he had started learning composition with Mu Heguang.

He dragged the folder to that time, and searched through them one by one according to time categories.

But there were really too many recording files from that period. Su Xin searched for over an hour, and couldn't find the audio clip that matched that memory.

Su Xin pressed his brow, silently exhaled.

—Could that memory really be his own hallucination.

The time didn't match, and it wasn't in the folder. Su Xin closed his eyes, and after a while laughed self-deprecatingly.

—How could he really expect to use a non-existent audio clip to prove that it was Ying Huai who recommended him to Mu Heguang.

The computer screen emitted a faint glow. Su Xin sat in the darkness for a long time, finally taking a light breath.

'Ying Huai couldn't have done this.' Su Xin said softly, word by word.

'Since he could abandon all of us to debut on his own at a big company, there's no reason he'd help me with this.'

He sat up straight again, raised his hand and was about to close the computer.

But the next second, his gaze suddenly fell on the very bottom folder marked simply with a star icon.

Su Xin was stunned.

He opened that folder as if possessed, somewhat surprised to see a bunch of audio files instantly displayed inside.

Su Xin instinctively scrolled down a bit.

The times of the audio files in front were basically continuous, some were even saved on the same day.

But later for a period, the intervals between file saves started to get longer, only once every few months.

Su Xin immediately realized, this should have been the period when Ying Huai had just been cyberbullied by the entire internet.

His heartbeat involuntarily accelerated. He quickly scrolled down, and found the last audio file, as expected the time stopped a few years ago.

—It was exactly around the time in his memory.

Su Xin's hand holding the mouse trembled involuntarily.

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and slowly clicked open that audio file.

A familiar melody instantly rang in Su Xin's ears.

Su Xin's body trembled, his hand holding the mouse suddenly clenched tight.

He sat in a patch of darkness, listening to this melody that completely overlapped with his memory, his mind went blank.

Su Xin could now confirm, that memory was not his hallucination.

—Then his guess could basically be confirmed too.

But Su Xin also clearly knew, he had not actually experienced those things in his memory.

He couldn't help reaching out, and listened to every audio clip in this folder one by one.

Each audio clip wasn't long, just a brief recording of inspiration, but in almost every one Su Xin could hear the boundless space for expansion behind it.

—And it was also very clearly audible that this was Ying Huai's distinctive composing style.

It was the first time Su Xin had so clearly realized the gap between himself and Ying Huai.

He sat dazed in the darkness, his mind a chaos.

·

The next morning, everyone wore different expressions.

Liang Shining looked at Ying Huai, wanting to speak but hesitating. Ying Huai lazily propped his chin and looked around. Su Xin sat dazed at the table, lost in thought.

Only Mu Heguang still wore his usual cheerful look.

'What's wrong? Didn't sleep well last night?'

Mu Heguang set breakfast on the table, looking at the few people before him with a meaningful gaze: 'Young people still need to exercise more restraint.'

Ying Huai yawned and shot a vicious glare at Liang Shining beside him.

Liang Shining lowered his eyes, sitting in perfect stillness, saying nothing.

Ying Huai let out a silent sigh.

After Liang Shining's commotion last night, he hadn't managed to fall back asleep until the middle of the night.

He kept dreaming all night,

And when he woke up the next morning, he discovered, by some unlucky coincidence, that he was once again lying in Liang Shining's arms.

He raised his head in a daze, meeting Liang Shining's expression of wanting to speak but hesitating.

'Last night, Shifu........'

Liang Shining always felt Ying Huai's reaction yesterday was a bit strange.

He opened his mouth to confirm, but heard Ying Huai speak first.

'Last night was an accident.' Ying Huai listened to Liang Shining bringing up last night again, and was simply furious.

He took a deep breath, pushed Liang Shining away, and slowly sat up straight, bracing himself against the bedside table.

Liang Shining was startled.

'It's just like a normal morning phenomenon, something I can't control.' Ying Huai closed his eyes, riding out the wave of dizziness before him.

He was so sleepy he was dizzy, and didn't want to discuss this with Liang Shining anymore. He let out a soft sigh: 'Last night was my fault—even though you caused it—so let's both not bring it up again, alright?'

Liang Shining hadn't meant this at all.

Seeing Ying Huai get up to leave, he instinctively reached out and held him back: 'Wait, Shifu—'

But Ying Huai was already drowsy and muddled.

He lost his footing for a moment, let out a soft 'ai,' and his center of gravity instantly became unsteady, falling straight backward.

Liang Shining instinctively rose to catch him, not noticing when the blanket on the bed had fallen to the floor.

His foot caught on something, and the hand that had been supporting Ying Huai instinctively pulled back.

He ended up holding Ying Huai, and they both fell back onto the bed together.

Liang Shining let out a muffled groan, and the tips of Ying Huai's ears instantly flushed red.

At the same moment, a soft 'click' came from the door.

'Xiao Huai, are you and Xiao Liang up? I thought I heard a sound just now........'

Mu Heguang's voice cut off instantly at the sight before him.

He silently opened his mouth, then quickly retreated: 'Xiao Huai, you two go ahead, breakfast will still be a while......'

'Wait, Shifu—'

Ying Huai instinctively tried to push himself up, but his arm was still being held by Liang Shining. The moment he exerted force, he fell back again.

'Liang Shining!'

Ying Huai lowered his eyes and said through gritted teeth: 'Do you really want to bully your shifu and destroy your ancestors?'

Liang Shining was at a loss, unable to laugh or cry.

·

Thanks to Liang Shining, Ying Huai actually found this breakfast unusually free of any strange taste.

It wasn't until they were on the way back to the hotel that Ying Huai belatedly felt his stomach begin to churn.

He endured it all the way to the hotel, and only the moment Liang Shining parked did he suddenly rush out.

When Liang Shining hurried to Ying Huai's room, he found, as expected, that Ying Huai had already locked himself in the bathroom.

'Shifu?'

From the bathroom came the usual sound of running water. After a few seconds, a hoarse 'I'm fine' came from behind the door.

Liang Shining frowned.

He turned to go downstairs and get a key from the front desk, but the next second, he heard a voice from beside him.

'Is Ying Huai's body usually........like this?'

Liang Shining turned around, meeting Su Xin's somewhat bewildered gaze.

Liang Shining frowned.

He said nothing, lowered his head to send Li Xiang a message, then turned and continued walking out.

But the next second, Su Xin suddenly stepped directly in front of him: 'When did you and Ying Huai become this close?'

'What exactly is Ying Huai hiding from me? Why did he suddenly leave the company back then........'

'Didn't Lu Jing tell you? That wasn't his fault.' Liang Shining directly cut off Su Xin's words.

'Ying Huai never betrayed any of you.'

'Then tell me why.' Su Xin gritted his teeth.

Liang Shining frowned.

He also didn't know the exact reason.

After Ying Huai died in his previous life, the entire Ying Corporation underwent a major internal reshuffle, and all related leads were buried even deeper. Liang Shining had no way to investigate further.

Su Xin looked at Liang Shining's expression and let out a cold laugh: 'See, you can't even give a reason, you're just lying to me........'

Liang Shining's expression gradually cooled.

He opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly heard a 'click' of a lock opening behind him.

Liang Shining turned around sharply.

Ying Huai was half-leaning against the bathroom doorframe.

'Shixiong was looking for me?' Ying Huai raised his head and smiled slightly.

'I seemed to hear a bit just now. Shixiong was asking me about the truth of what happened back then.'

'Even if I told you, would Shixiong believe it?'

Su Xin's expression froze.

He wanted to nod, but when he opened his mouth, he instinctively didn't want to admit it: 'Something with no proof, why should I believe it........'

The moment the words left Su Xin's mouth, he instantly regretted them.

But before he could finish, he heard Ying Huai laugh softly: 'See, even if I told you, Shixiong, you wouldn't believe it.'

'Shixiong doesn't believe me, and won't believe anything I say. This is a dead loop from the start.'

Su Xin's expression froze.

Ying Huai's face showed a sickly ice-white pallor. Droplets of water slid down his hair at his temples, and he looked utterly miserable.

But his tone remained casual and offhand: 'So why would I bother wasting words with Shixiong?'

Su Xin opened his mouth to say more, but the next second, he saw Ying Huai turn around and walk into the room without looking back.

Su Xin instinctively stepped forward, but Liang Shining stepped directly in front of him.

The next second, a breathless voice came from the other end of the corridor.

'Liang-ge, you just said you wanted the key to Teacher Ying's bathroom........' Li Xiang appeared at the door with the key.

Ying Huai casually replied: 'No need, your Liang-ge has already broken the bathroom door open.'

Li Xiang: ?

He thought of something as he said this, and slightly tilted his head: 'But still, thank you, Teacher Y.'

Li Xiang: ??

Liang Shining's footsteps stopped abruptly.

The next second, the three people before them watched helplessly as the door closed in front of them.

'What's Teacher Y, Liang-ge?' Li Xiang looked up, completely confused. 'Is it some alt account you need me to look up?'

Liang Shining's brow twitched.

He was about to say something when Ying Huai's lazy voice came from the room: 'That's your alt account, Teacher Li.'

'But I don't mind if you look yourself up.'

Li Xiang: ???

·

This hotel was originally where Liang Shining had planned for Ying Huai to rest for two days before going home after the Variety Show recording ended.

He hadn't expected that by a twist of fate, he would nearly lose his own shifu during the 'rest.'

Liang Shining didn't dare delay, and prepared to quickly handle the checkout today and take him home.

But when he helped Ying Huai carry his bag out the door, he unexpectedly ran into the girl wearing the cat hair clip, Mao Mao.

'Teacher Xiao Huai! Teacher Liang!' Mao Mao recognized Ying Huai and the others at a glance, and immediately rushed over to them.

'Teacher Xiao Huai and Teacher Liang haven't gone home yet?'

'Mm, going home right away.' Ying Huai was briefly startled, then said with a smile, 'You haven't gone back either?'

'My friends and I rarely get to come out of town, so we're staying here to play for a couple more days.'

Mao Mao said cheerfully: 'But they're all going back today, so I'm leaving tomorrow too.'

'Speaking of which, this hotel really has a lot of celebrities staying here. I even ran into Song Fengyi a couple of days ago.'

'Song Fengyi is staying here too?' Ying Huai was somewhat surprised.

Mao Mao nodded: 'Yeah, he should be staying here too. I saw him take the elevator upstairs, and when he saw me, his face was still overcast, his gaze terrifyingly cold.'

Ying Huai frowned.

He remembered that Song Fengyi's home wasn't far from here—there was no reason to linger at the hotel for so many days.

Mao Mao didn't notice anything off about Ying Huai.

She suddenly thought of something else and glanced at Liang Shining with a grin. 'Of course, it's a different kind of cold from Teacher Liang's. Teacher Liang is an unreachable flower.'

Liang Shining: ........?

Ying Huai turned back and couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

—It was the first time he'd heard 'ice-block face' described in such an elevated way.

He gave Liang Shining a half-smiling glance and temporarily set aside his earlier doubts.

Mao Mao didn't want to disturb them too much either.

'Then I'll head back, Teacher Ying. Safe travels—'

As she spoke she walked to her own room door, then suddenly switched to a disgusted tone: 'What the heck, why am I getting this kind of spam ad again.'

Ying Huai instinctively turned his head.

He watched Mao Mao crouch down and pick up a gaudily colored card, crumpling it into a ball in disgust: 'Once yesterday, once today—isn't this a five-star hotel? How can there still be this kind of thing......'

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly saw a hand with distinct knuckles reach out in front of her: 'Can I take a look?'

Mao Mao was startled.

She looked up and saw Ying Huai, who had somehow walked back to her side, gently pull the crumpled card from her hand.

Mao Mao instinctively tried to take the card back: 'It's nothing, just that kind of yellow spam. I'll go talk to the front desk in a bit......'

Deep down she didn't want Ying Huai to see this kind of messy stuff.

But before she finished speaking, she saw Ying Huai suddenly look up: 'You're saying you've been seeing this card since yesterday?'

Mao Mao nodded.

Ying Huai thought for a few seconds, then said softly: 'Was it after you saw Song Fengyi?'

Mao Mao was startled.

She hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded again.

'Is something wrong? Teacher Xiao Huai?'

Ying Huai didn't speak.

He looked up at Liang Shining beside him, and sure enough saw that Liang Shining's gaze had also darkened.

Ying Huai took a soft breath.

He looked up at Mao Mao, suddenly smiling and curving his eyes: 'Nothing's wrong.'

'I just don't know if you'd be willing tonight—to switch to a better hotel?'

Mao Mao's expression froze.

·

That night, inside the hotel.

At the end of the corridor, a dark figure hid around the corner, watching a girl's silhouette stand at the door. After a while, she swiped a room card and opened the door.

[Song-ge, that woman went in.] The dark figure quickly typed a line on their phone.

[You can go.]

Not long after, a figure walked over from the end of the corridor.

He easily swiped a room card to open the door, unhurriedly walking inside.

The next second, the room lights suddenly flicked on.

Song Fengyi's expression froze.

He instinctively turned to leave, but the next moment heard Ying Huai's smiling voice from behind: 'Long time no see, Teacher Song.'

Song Fengyi's expression suddenly stiffened.

He turned back in disbelief: 'How are you here?'

Ying Huai sat on the edge of the bed, smiling and curving his eyes at him.

·

A few hours earlier.

'A five-star hotel wouldn't have this kind of card, and I had the front desk pull the surveillance. That person only left the card at Mao Mao's room—none of the other rooms had any.'

Li Xiang said indignantly: 'You can't see that person's face clearly, but it must be someone from Song Fengyi's team.'

'This card should be his way of leaving a mark—definitely left from some □□.' Li Xiang gritted his teeth. 'Last time he said he'd get back at Mao Mao I didn't take it seriously. I didn't expect him to be this vicious.'

—Even in the matter of leaving a mark, he arrogantly and disgustingly chose the most vulgar method.

Ying Huai leaned against the headboard, eyes lowered as he toyed with his phone, and after a while said softly: 'Did you call the police?'

'Already called. Tonight a female officer will disguise as Mao Mao and enter the room, waiting for Song Fengyi to fall into the trap.'

Li Xiang paused here, hesitantly looking up: 'Teacher Ying, maybe you and Teacher Liang should go home first. I'll stay here and wait for the result........'

Ying Huai shook his head.

'Song Fengyi dares to be this brazen—he might just lash out and smash everything,' Li Xiang said urgently. 'What if.......'

'Song Fengyi knows some things, related to me.' Ying Huai suddenly said softly.

'Only if I ask him personally will he possibly talk.'

·

Song Fengyi's expression twisted.

'.......You set me up on purpose?' He gritted his teeth.

Ying Huai looked up at him with some surprise: 'How could it be on purpose? Isn't this Teacher Song's own setup?'

Song Fengyi's face turned ashen.

'Last time, the incident where Teacher Song's team staff □□—it was actually Teacher Song himself, wasn't it.' Ying Huai said softly.

'Teacher Song really is the type—to achieve his goal, he doesn't hesitate to get personally involved.'

Song Fengyi's expression twisted.

He turned and was about to walk out the door, but the next moment heard Ying Huai say softly: 'Who told you to do this?'

Song Fengyi was startled: 'What?'

'Who told you to go on this Variety Show? Who told you to do all of this?' Ying Huai said, word by word.

'Who told you to cooperate with Le Xi from the start, spreading rumors of my internet-wide blackening?'

Ying Huai was clear that Song Fengyi had always been a profit-driven sort.

No matter how bold he was, he wouldn't dare to do such outrageous things so frequently.

—There must be someone directing or backing him from behind.

A flash of panic crossed Song Fengyi's expression.

'What nonsense are you spouting? There's no one behind it.' Song Fengyi gritted his teeth.

He reached out to pull the door, but heard Ying Huai speak again from behind.

'Is it Ying Qi's uncle?'

Song Fengyi's movement paused.

'This is your last chance, Song Fengyi,' Ying Huai said softly. 'Tell me, if you want.......'

But the next second, Song Fengyi vaguely heard hurried footsteps from outside the door.

He flew into a rage.

'You called the police?'

Ying Huai frowned—he hadn't expected Song Fengyi to be this alert.

Song Fengyi's expression twisted.

Knowing he was at his wit's end, he suddenly turned around and lunged straight at Ying Huai: 'Go die, Ying Huai—go die for me—'

Ying Huai sat quietly on the bed.

He watched Song Fengyi charge at him, and the next second, the female officer hidden in the closet rushed out, pressing Song Fengyi directly to the ground.

Song Fengyi kept struggling, growling lowly like a cornered beast.

Amid the chaos, he heard Ying Huai speak softly.

'What a pity.'

'I was going to let you redeem yourself with meritorious service, Song Fengyi.'

·

The police quickly took Song Fengyi away, and Li Xiang sent the incident straight to the trending searches that night.

Liang Shining stood at the door, watching Ying Huai walk out of the room safe and sound, and quickly stepped forward.

'Are you okay, Shifu? Song Fengyi didn't do anything to you, did he?'

Ying Huai shook his head, wearily rubbing his brow: 'No, he didn't even touch me.'

He felt his vision going dark—just wanting to go back and sleep properly.

But after just a few steps, his feet suddenly went weak.

Liang Shining quickly reached out to support him. 'Shifu?'

'I'm fine—probably stood up too fast just now, a bit of low blood pressure.' Ying Huai pressed hard on his brow, speaking with a slight breathlessness.

He stumbled, reaching out to grab the wall beside him, but his feet went weak again.

'I'm so hot, Liang Shining.' Ying Huai lifted his head drowsily.

He felt his vision was doubled, his heartbeat accelerating—but it wasn't the uncomfortable feeling of an episode.

Liang Shining watched the person in front of him whose cheeks were gradually reddening, realizing Ying Huai's condition wasn't quite right.

'Where do you feel unwell, Ying Huai?'

The moment his words fell, he saw the person in front of him suddenly raise a hand, drowsily climbing up to grip his neck: 'Hold me for a moment, Liang Shining—I'm so hot.'

'Liang-ge, the police station just said Song Fengyi seemed to have sprayed some kind of aphrodisiac perfume on himself, but the effect shouldn't be big. Still, let Teacher Ying get checked out later.......'

Li Xiang's panicked voice cut off abruptly upon seeing the scene before him.

Amid the chaos, Ying Huai leaned drowsily in Liang Shining's arms, looking up somewhat blankly, his voice hoarse: 'Why won't you hold me, Liang Shining?'