Birthday

Chu Hongsheng chatted a few more pleasantries on the other end, then hung up directly.

The smile at Ying Huai's lips faded slightly, and he gently exhaled.

In his previous life, after Ying Qi's death, he had been in a daze—only managing to identify the most superficial people before an accident occurred.

In this life, he had to figure out exactly what Chu Hongsheng had done and why.

Ying Huai set his phone aside, looked up, and met Liang Shining's gaze beside him.

Ying Huai paused, then suddenly laughed: "Why so serious?"

Liang Shining was quiet for a few seconds, then said softly: "Do you really have to go?"

"Go? Of course I'm going." Ying Huai paused, then said casually, "Someone's throwing me a birthday party—I'd be more than happy..."

The moment he finished speaking, he heard Liang Shining say quietly: "But Shifu doesn't look happy."

Ying Huai's expression froze for a moment.

Liang Shining's gaze slowly drifted down to Ying Huai's hand resting on the table.

During the phone call, Ying Huai's fingers had begun unconsciously tightening. Liang Shining had tried to reach out and stop him, but Ying Huai's grip was terrifyingly strong—where the strength came from, he had no idea.

Even now, the skin beneath his fingertips had gone faintly white from the pressure.

Ying Huai abruptly released his grip.

He listened as Liang Shining spoke urgently: "If Shifu doesn't want to go, then don't go. In a couple of days I'll go find Chu Hongsheng on Shifu's behalf—whatever Shifu wants to look into, I'll help..."

"No!"

Before Liang Shining could finish, Ying Huai cut in sharply.

Ying Huai's face went cold: "You can't go find Chu Hongsheng alone."

Chu Hongsheng was far too dangerous—ruthless, and in both lives had hidden himself extremely deep.

Ying Huai absolutely could not let Liang Shining walk into danger alone.

—Besides, regarding Chu Hongsheng, he still needed to find out what role Ying-fu had played in all of this.

Liang Shining seemed to realize something in a daze, his brow furrowing slowly: "Do you know something about Chu Hongsheng, Shifu?"

He reached out to grab Ying Huai's hand: "What are you going to do, Ying Huai, tell me—"

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard Ying Huai laugh again: "Worried about me, little disciple?"

He stood up from the dining table, stretched, and walked slowly toward the living room: "Then stop asking."

"Just help me," he bent down and picked up the fat Bouquet beside the table, turned his head, and smiled with curved eyes, "I'll protect you, little disciple."

Liang Shining froze.

He opened his mouth to say something more, but Ying Huai had already risen with the fat Bouquet in his arms and was walking unhurriedly toward his room.

Liang Shining could only swallow the words back silently.

He took a deep breath,

·

The news that the Ying Family was throwing Ying Huai a Birthday Banquet spread quickly through the industry.

That same afternoon, Ying Qi called, his worry completely undisguised in his tone.

A month earlier he had asked Ying Huai how he wanted to spend his birthday, but Ying Huai had laughingly deflected him with jokes.

Ying Qi had felt at the time that Ying Huai's reaction was a little off.

For a moment Ying Huai's face had gone terrifyingly pale, but he'd forced himself to keep a smiling expression.

Ying Qi, who doted on his younger brother, hadn't pressed the topic further.

Hearing the news now, Ying Qi's unease reached its peak once more: "Are you really okay, Xiao Huai?"

"Is Chu Hongsheng threatening you with something?"

Rustling sounds came from the other end—Ying Qi seemed to be getting up to go out: "I'll go find him. If he dares threaten you with something, we have things we can threaten him with too..."

For a moment Ying Huai didn't register what Ying Qi was saying.

But hearing the hurried footsteps on the other end, he realized Ying Qi meant it and quickly tried to stop his brother.

"What are you thinking, ge? I'm just having a birthday, not filming a crime drama."

Ying Huai hadn't expected his usually gentle brother to make such a guess.

For a moment he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he tried to soothe his brother's mood first: "It's been so long since I've gone home to celebrate a birthday with ge. Doesn't gege miss having me back?"

A trace of grievance faintly surfaced in Ying Huai's voice.

Ying Qi on the other end paused, then hurried to say: "Of course not, Xiao Huai. If you want to celebrate your birthday, ge will definitely celebrate it with you..."

"Alright then." Ying Huai laughed softly.

"Then it's settled—see you on my birthday, gege."

Ying Qi belatedly realized he'd been led in a circle by his younger brother again.

He laughed helplessly, but before he could say anything, Ying Huai on the other end had already changed the subject: "Speaking of which, what was that 'thing to threaten him' gege mentioned just now?"

Ying Qi understood that Ying Huai was determined to go.

He sighed silently, looked down, and sent over a compressed file.

"I just got this today. I looked into it—it's from a fan of yours who emailed me. She said she didn't want to bother you too much, but hoped this would be useful to us."

Ying Huai extracted the file and his expression froze.

Ying Qi said gently: "I'm handing it over to you now, Xiao Huai. You decide what to do with it."

"I support all your decisions, Xiao Huai, as long as you can keep yourself safe."

·

Ying Qi fussed over Ying Huai some more, until he heard Ying Huai quietly yawn, and finally hung up helplessly.

Ying Huai exhaled in relief, then looked up—and saw Liang Shining sitting quietly beside him once more, at some unknown point.

Ying Huai was a little helpless: "Is there anything else you wanted to say, Mr. Liang?"

Liang Shining shook his head: "Nothing."

He stared at Ying Huai for a few seconds, then said quietly: "I just wanted to ask... what flavor cake does Shifu like?"

Ying Huai: ??

·

Lu Jing and Xin Wan sent messages asking about it in the days right after the news of Ying Huai's Birthday Banquet broke.

Ying Huai had expected a few more calls trying to dissuade him, but the remaining days passed peacefully—Lu Jing and Xin Wan had, for some unknown reason, suddenly calmed down.

Ying Huai was happy to have the peace, and began leisurely preparing his own affairs.

The only one particularly excited about this was Chu Ming.

"Huai-ge, what do you want to do on your birthday?"

Chu Ming scooted close to Ying Huai, speaking excitedly: "My father has entrusted this Birthday Party entirely to me. Don't worry, Huai-ge, I'll make sure it's beautiful!"

Ying Huai gave him a lazy look and shifted slightly toward Liang Shining.

Chu Ming was in high spirits and didn't mind at all, scooting forward without hesitation.

"What do you want to do that day, Huai-ge? Karaoke? Games? I'll prepare them in advance. Oh, what gift do you want—"

"No need." Ying Huai yawned lazily.

"Keeping everyone quiet and still would be the greatest gift you could give me."

Chu Ming assumed Ying Huai was joking and laughed: "What are you saying, Huai-ge? A Birthday Party can't be quiet. You can't drink, so how about I take you to do something else exciting—you'd definitely like it..."

Liang Shining lowered his head thoughtfully. Ying Huai, who had never actually done anything of the sort, paused, and a flicker of guilt rose in his heart.

"Don't talk nonsense, Chu Ming." Ying Huai took a breath and quickly cut him off.

He looked up, smiling faintly: "When have I ever done that kind of thing with you, since we were kids?"

Chu Ming choked on his words.

Ying Huai seemed carefree by nature, but in truth, since childhood, he had never done anything out of line.

—Except for suddenly breaking with his family and entering the entertainment industry.

Chu Ming had always assumed it was because of Ying Huai's father, the old-fashioned stickler.

He didn't notice the hidden unease in Ying Huai's expression. After a pause, he suddenly realized: "I get it now, Huai-ge!"

He stood up abruptly, speaking earnestly: "Don't worry, I'll make sure you have the most unforgettable Birthday Party!"

Watching Chu Ming's determined expression, Ying Huai felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

·

The day of the Birthday Party.

Ying Huai's complexion had been off since he woke up that morning.

Countless birthday wishes flooded his phone. Ying Huai glanced at it and simply flipped the phone face-down.

"Is Shifu feeling unwell?" Liang Shining had also noticed something was off with Ying Huai.

He reached out to touch Ying Huai's forehead, but his hand came away cold.

Liang Shining frowned: 'Maybe don't go tonight, Shifu......'

'Go, why not go.' Ying Huai slightly turned his head, subtly avoiding Liang Shining's touch, and curved his eyes into a smile.

'Chu Hongsheng has prepared so carefully, how can I see this good show if I don't go.'

.

In the evening, Ying Huai stood expressionlessly at the door, watching Chu Ming excitedly standing in the center of the hall, directing a group of people to distribute colorful cone hats or animal headbands to each arriving guest.

——He had anticipated every situation, but had never expected this fool Chu Ming to do something like this.

Ying Huai's first reaction was to turn around and walk out.

But the next second, Ying Qi behind him grabbed him and stopped him.

'What's wrong, Xiao Huai? Is something uncomfortable somewhere?' Ying Qi spoke worriedly, 'Or is there a problem with the venue, I'll go find someone......'

'It's nothing.' Ying Huai shook his head and took a deep breath.

'The front door right now........has all kinds of messy things, I'll sit in the car for a while and go over after they leave.'

Ying Qi was stunned for a moment.

He looked up at Chu Ming in the center of the hall, instantly understood something, and laughed helplessly.

'Does Xiao Huai not like those cone hats and headbands?'

Ying Qi laughed lightly: 'I think they're quite fun actually.'

Ying Huai frowned, somewhat awkwardly turned his head away, and said quietly: 'Too childish.'

'How old are you, just over twenty, and you're already saying childish.'

Ying Qi reached out and gently pushed Ying Huai's back.

'Go in, Xiao Ming specifically prepared a surprise for you.'

Ying Huai wasn't prepared for his own brother's 'sudden attack.'

He stumbled a step inside the door, somewhat flustered wanting to go out, when sharp-eyed Chu Ming caught sight of him at a glance.

'Huai-ge!'

Chu Ming walked up to Ying Huai in one step.

'Huai-ge, you're finally here! Look at what I prepared for you, do you like it?'

Ying Huai's ear tips reddened, trying to dodge through the crowd: 'Don't call me that........'

'I specifically asked Qi-dage, he said that for a few birthdays when you were little, you especially wanted to have this kind of birthday party, but........'

Ying Huai's steps paused slightly.

When he was little, he did have a period where he really wanted a birthday party like this.

At that time, this kind of Western-style birthday party was very popular in the class, everyone would wear colorful outfits, gather around the cake playing and making wishes—Ying Huai had always longed for a scene like this.

Rather than every birthday being pulled by his father to sit beside a pile of unfamiliar elders, listening to them use this occasion for various business dealings.

When he was young, Ying Huai had mentioned it a few times to Ying-father, but each time was ruthlessly rejected by Ying-father.

After a long time, Ying Huai gave up on this idea, and even forgot about it as time passed.

No one truly cared what he actually wanted for his birthday, and because of the Ying Family's 'strict' family education, no eye-catching birthday decorations were allowed at home.

Only Ying Qi would, on every birthday evening, personally make a small cake for his younger brother, light candles in the room, and softly sing the birthday song to his younger brother.

Ying Huai stood somewhat stunned in place, turned his head, and looked at Ying Qi behind him who was smiling at him.

'That day when Xiao Ming came to ask me, I suddenly remembered this.' Ying Qi said warmly.

'Back then, gege didn't have the ability to help you achieve it, but now I can.'

Ying Qi stepped forward, patted the top of Ying Huai's head: 'Happy birthday, Xiao Huai, I hope it's not too late.'

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He didn't reply immediately, took a deep breath, and the smile at the corner of his lips slowly curved up: 'Of course not, thank you ge and Chu Ming for the trouble.'

Anxious Chu Ming behind him instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

He immediately hugged a pile of headbands and stepped forward: 'Huai-ge, look which one you like, I saved one of each for you, take your pick........'

Ying Huai's ear tips were still a bit hot.

His gaze fell on a fluffy white cat ear, he hesitated, but in the end reached for a more conventional headband beside it.

'This one then......'

Before he finished speaking, the next second, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out from behind, directly picked up that white cat ear headband, and put it on Ying Huai's head.

'Shifu should wear this one.'

Liang Shining said quietly: 'This one suits Shifu very well.'

This time, Ying Huai's entire face flushed hot.

Chu Ming, whose attention on Ying Huai had been snatched by Liang Shining again, raised his head in dissatisfaction and was about to retort directly, but the next second, his words paused.

——Liang Shining wasn't wrong.

Ying Huai was wearing a white suit today, the fitted suit outlining his slender waist.

He had switched to a pair of silver thin-framed glasses today, with stray hair covering his temples, adding a touch of gentleness to his originally playful and languid features.

Paired with the fluffy cat ears on his head, he gave off an inexplicably soft feeling overall.

Chu Ming's face inexplicably reddened.

He coughed lightly, somewhat unnaturally shifted his gaze, and said quietly: 'Indeed........suits Huai-ge very well.'

Ying Huai felt like he was about to be steamed through.

He reached out to take the headband off, but the next second, felt his wrist being gently held.

'What are you doing, Liang Shining, if you want to wear it, wear it yourself—' Ying Huai said through gritted teeth.

The next second, Liang Shining's slightly lowered voice rose from beside him: 'But I want to see Shifu wearing this.'

Ying Huai's movement suddenly paused.

His entire earlobes were red through, but he still slowly lowered his hand.

Ying Qi beside him coughed lightly, Ying Huai took a deep breath, picked one out from the headbands beside him, and quickly put it on Liang Shining's head.

'This one suits your disciple too.' Ying Huai curved his eyes and smiled, speaking with a half-smile: 'Let's wear them together.'

Liang Shining raised his hand to take off the headband, somewhat unexpectedly raising his eyebrows.

——Ying Huai had picked out a light golden dog ear headband for him.

Ying Huai folded his arms, waiting with great interest for Liang Shining to blush and refuse, but unexpectedly, Liang Shining only reacted for a second before putting the dog ear headband back on.

'Thank you, Shifu,' Liang Shining said seriously, 'It matches Shifu's very well—I like it very much.'

Ying Huai: ??

——His face instead reddened again.

A sudden burst of noise came from the door, Ying Huai subconsciously looked that way.

Two familiar figures walked into the hall one after the other, Ying Huai's body trembled, and he subconsciously turned around wanting to walk toward the back.

Chu Ming beside him suddenly leaned over, speaking with an expectant face: 'Wait before you leave, Huai-ge, I want one too, help me pick one too!'

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

He looked back at the two people surrounded by a pile of reporters in the center, took two out from the pile of headbands, handed them to Chu Ming, and secretly pulled out another one to hide behind his back.

'If you get the two people who just came in at the door to wear these headbands, I'll give you the one I picked.' Ying Huai said with a smile.

Chu Ming's expression instantly became excited.

'No problem, leave it to me.'

He took those two headbands, quickly turned around and rushed toward the door.

'Hello, according to the requirements of this birthday party, guests need to wear the corresponding headbands—'

Chu Ming squeezed past the reporters in front, didn't even see clearly who those two people in the middle were, and directly stuffed one into each of their hands.

'Quick quick, wear them to enter, I still need to hurry back to find Huai-ge........'

Before he finished speaking, the next second, he saw a familiar pair of leather shoes reflected in Chu Ming's eyes.

Chu Ming was stunned, he had an ominous premonition in his heart, blankly raised his head, and met the tightly furrowed brows of Ying-father and his own father.

Chu Ming: ???

'Dad, how come you and Ying-bofu.......came together.' Chu Ming said quietly.

Ying-father's face was as gloomy as ever, Chu Hongsheng's expression for some reason carried a bit of unwillingness and embarrassment.

But he took a deep breath, and quickly returned to his usual gentle and refined expression.

'Just happened to go to the company to discuss some matters with Ying-xiong, so came together along the way.' Chu Hongsheng said warmly.

He looked down at the headband in his hand: 'Young people nowadays all like to play with this kind of thing.'

Chu Ming laughed somewhat awkwardly.

He unhurriedly raised his hand and waved the headband in his hand, looking at Ying-father beside him: 'So this is equivalent to the entrance ticket for the banquet, do we have to wear it?'

Chu Ming silently opened his mouth.

He hadn't had time to speak when, the next second, he heard Ying-father snort coldly: "What kind of messy nonsense is this, an outrage to public decency."

Chu Hongsheng's expression gained a few more smiles. He obediently followed Ying-father's words and casually tossed the headband aside, but suddenly heard his own son's anxious voice ring out.

"Hey, hey, Dad, if you don't want this headband, give it to me." Chu Ming anxiously picked up the headband from the ground and carefully patted it.

"This was specially picked out for you by Huai-ge. If you don't want it, I do. If Huai-ge doesn't pick one for me, I'll just choose from these."

As he spoke, he reached out to take the headband from Ying-father's hand, but saw Ying-father's hand-raising motion pause slightly.

"Ying Huai picked this?"

Chu Ming, not understanding, nodded somewhat blankly: "Yes, these two were specially picked out by Huai-ge just now. Ying-bófu, if you don't want to wear it, I'll help you take it away..."

Before he finished speaking, the next second, he saw Ying-father take a deep breath and directly put the headband on his head.

Chu Ming's eyes suddenly widened. Not far away, Ying Qi, who had been keeping an eye on this, also paused slightly.

Ying-father looked at Chu Ming expressionlessly, snorted coldly, and strode inside leaning on his Cane.

Chu Ming silently opened his mouth and turned his gaze to his own father.

"Dad, then will you... still wear it?"

A hint of awkwardness also appeared on Chu Hongsheng's expression.

He had just calculated that Ying-father wouldn't wear this thing, and was prepared to take the opportunity to throw this thing away too.

He hadn't expected that Ying-father—who knows which wire in his brain was crossed today—actually put this thing on his head.

——It directly left Chu Hongsheng stuck in an awkward position, neither up nor down.

Chu Hongsheng took a deep breath and laughed gently: "Xiao Huai is the birthday star today. His requests, we elders must certainly satisfy..."

As he spoke, he lowered his head, but his expression paused again.

The headband in Ying-father's hand just now was two copper coins with springs, which was still fairly conventional.

But the one in Chu Hongsheng's hand was two bouncing little turtles with springs——that is, turtles.

Chu Hongsheng's brow twitched.

——He suspected for a moment that Ying Huai must have done it on purpose.

Chu Hongsheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "Are there any other headbands?"

"No more, they've all been distributed." Chu Ming shook his head, opening his mouth somewhat curiously: "And even if there were, switching to another one wouldn't be the one Huai-ge picked."

Chu Hongsheng looked at his foolish son with a forced smile, gritted his teeth, and ultimately put those two turtles on his head.

"Good, good, Xiao Ming, you're right."

Chu Hongsheng took a deep breath and forced a gentle tone: "Where is Xiao Huai? I want to see him in person..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard a crisp "click" sound in front of him, and then Chu Ming grabbed his phone and dashed out.

"Dad, let me take a photo of you to prove I really got you to wear it——once I find Huai-ge, I'll come find you!"

Chu Ming's voice instantly resounded throughout the entire banquet hall.

Everyone's gaze instantly turned over curiously, and Chu Hongsheng's temple veins twitched.

"Little turtle bastard."

·

On the other side, Ying Huai had just sat down on the sofa when he saw Chu Ming rushing over, panting.

"Huai-ge, I've completed my mission!"

Chu Ming shoved his phone in front of Ying Huai: "Look, my dad put it on."

Ying Huai raised an eyebrow and looked at Chu Ming somewhat surprised.

"How about that, I'm amazing, right, Huai-ge?" Chu Ming straightened up, grinning and extending his hand: "Now you can give me my headband, right?"

The moment his words fell, the next second, he felt something long being stuffed into his hand.

Chu Ming's expression brightened.

He couldn't wait to take the headband in his hand, but after seeing clearly what it was, his face immediately fell.

"Why do I have rabbit ears?" Chu Ming said discontentedly.

"Why does Liang Shining get a puppy? Where do I look like a rabbit? Can I switch——"

"No." Ying Huai leaned back on the sofa, smiling and raising his eyes, "If you don't want to wear it, give it back to me."

Chu Ming immediately turned around protectively, hugging it to his chest like a treasure: "No way, once it's given to me, it's mine."

Afraid Ying Huai would really take the headband back, he quickly put it on his head: "Fine, rabbit ears are rabbit ears, rabbits can also be tall and mighty..."

"That's right," Ying Huai looked at Chu Ming thoughtfully, "rabbits can bite when they're desperate."

Chu Ming blinked uncomprehendingly.

Chu Ming ran back to take charge wearing his flopping rabbit ears. Ying Huai sat on the sofa, bored, accepting the endless stream of birthday blessings from the surrounding people like a well-behaved robot.

The crowd finally dispersed again. Ying Huai silently exhaled, but suddenly felt his fingers being gently squeezed.

"Are you okay?"

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, then turned his head with a smile: "I'm fine."

Liang Shining subtly supported his waist with his hand and slowly massaged it.

Ying Huai softly hissed, but his expression relaxed for a moment. He simply stopped forcing himself and leaned directly into Liang Shining's arms.

"Don't tire yourself out, Shifu." Liang Shining looked at the undisguisable fatigue in the person in his arms and spoke softly.

"What can I do? I've hidden in such a corner, and they still found me."

As he spoke, Ying Huai subtly glanced at Lu Jing, Xin Wan, and others not far away.

Lu Jing and the others had been following him at a not-too-close, not-too-far distance nearby since entering the banquet hall, but every time Ying Huai looked over, Lu Jing and the others would turn around abruptly as if electrocuted.

The force on his waist suddenly increased. Ying Huai hummed softly and finally withdrew his gaze.

"What are you doing?"

Liang Shining unhurriedly massaged Ying Huai's waist and spoke softly: "Shifu's attention is wandering. I'm afraid I'll hurt Shifu."

Ying Huai looked at Liang Shining somewhat amusedly.

He suddenly propped himself up slightly and leaned close to Liang Shining for a moment.

The cat ears on his head happened to brush against Liang Shining's chin as he turned, and the fuzzy touch made Liang Shining's heart skip involuntarily.

He resisted the urge to straighten the cat ears and listened to Ying Huai speak softly: "My little disciple's possessiveness is so strong. You don't want me looking at others."

He was in a bad mood today, and only felt a bit more comfortable when he was alone with Liang Shining.

Looking at Liang Shining's expression at this moment, he inexplicably felt the urge to tease again.

"But there are so many people here, what should we do?" Ying Huai said casually.

"How about Mr. Liang... elope with me."

The moment his words fell, he saw Liang Shining's face turn red instantly, as expected.

Ying Huai couldn't help but chuckle softly, but the next second, he heard a refined and gentle voice from behind.

"How come this birthday star Xiao Huai is hiding here?"

Ying Huai's expression paused slightly.

He abruptly sat up straight from Liang Shining's arms, subtly shielding him behind his back, and curved his lips at Chu Hongsheng: "Hello, Chu-shu."

"Xiao Huai, you don't need to be so nervous," Chu Hongsheng said gently, "I just came to wish you a happy birthday."

As he spoke, he raised his wine glass and said gently: "Another year older, you're an adult now. In the future, you should share more of the burden for the Ying Family, for your father and brother..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard a noisy voice from beside him.

"Dad, what are you doing? Huai-ge is in poor health and can't drink. Don't mess around!"

Chu Ming ran over with his rabbit ears flopping.

He held two glasses of orange juice in his hand, handed one to Ying Huai, and without hesitation directly swapped the other with the wine glass in Chu Hongsheng's hand.

Chu Hongsheng looked at his unpromising son, his brow twitching.

Chu Ming was completely oblivious: "Come, let's substitute tea for wine... no no, substitute orange juice for wine. Happy birthday, Huai-ge."

Ying Huai raised his head with a half-smile, and Chu Hongsheng also took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I was careless just now."

"Today is Xiao Huai's birthday. Don't let this little episode spoil the mood." Chu Hongsheng said gently.

"I heard Chu Ming prepared a lot of surprises for you," Chu Hongsheng turned his head and said with a seemingly casual smile, "I even accidentally stumbled upon one of them that day."

"Right, right, Huai-ge, wait for me!" Chu Ming suddenly remembered something.

As he spoke, he turned and ran back, "I'm going to play a video, you'll definitely like it, I'll be right back..."

"Wait."

Ying Huai suddenly spoke up and called him back.

He took out a USB Drive from his pocket and handed it to Chu Ming: "If you're going to the central control desk, help me play this audio too."

Liang Shining's expression shifted slightly, and he glanced at Ying Huai.

Chu Ming took the USB Drive and asked somewhat curiously: "What is this, Huai-ge?"

"It's just some words I want to say at the Birthday Party."

Ying Huai cast a subtle glance at Chu Hongsheng and curved his lips slightly: "It's nothing. Just wait until your video is done playing, then play mine."

He spoke as if offhandedly: "Or when you don't know what to play, you can play this one of mine too."

Chu Ming's curiosity was instantly piqued.

"Okay, I'll go right now!"

Chu Hongsheng beside him glanced at Ying Huai and said with a smile: "Xiao Huai really takes this Birthday Party seriously, even recording the audio in advance."

"Did you have fun today?"

The hall's lights dimmed in an instant, and Liang Shining simultaneously reached out, drawing him back into his embrace.

Ying Huai didn't struggle either. He leaned lazily against Liang Shining's shoulder and replied casually: "Mm, pretty good."

"But we'll have to wait for the good show to come out before we know the final outcome."

Chu Hongsheng was startled.

He had a gut feeling something was off, but the next second, the video screen had already lit up.

It was a compilation of birthday greeting videos, pieced together one by one from various fans that Chu Ming had somehow collected, forming this video.

[Teacher Xiao Huai, happy birthday.]

[Teacher Xiao Huai, the time I met you was neither early nor late, just right, enough to like you. Happy birthday, Teacher Xiao Huai, peace and joy.]

Ying Huai leaned half against Liang Shining's shoulder, his neck tilted slightly upward, quietly staring at the screen.

Memories from his previous life inevitably surfaced in his mind once again.

Ying Huai remembered that day was also a company-arranged Birthday Banquet, but in the end it inexplicably turned into a press conference.

Countless reporters shoved microphones in front of his face, asking him one sharp question after another.

Ying Huai's hand hanging at his side slowly clenched, but the next second, he felt a warmth in his palm.

His expression froze, and he instinctively turned his head.

In the interplay of light and shadow, Liang Shining had at some point turned his head and was quietly staring at him.

Ying Huai's body trembled slightly.

He suddenly came back to himself, closed his eyes briefly, and laughed softly: "Mr. Liang's attention isn't very focused either."

"Not looking at the big screen, why are you looking at me?"

Liang Shining's lips moved slightly.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the next second, a piercing buzzing sound came from the speakers.

Ying Huai frowned, and Liang Shining quickly reached out to cover Ying Huai's ears, then looked up at the big screen.

The fans' greeting video was forcibly interrupted, and a news segment suddenly cut in.

[Recently, well-known singer Song Fengyi was arrested on suspicion of multiple illegal acts including □□ and attempted rape, but informed sources say there are other suspicious points, and it appears he was framed by another singer, Ying Huai, who has long been mired in scandal. It is reported that Song Fengyi is an artist under Ying Corporation Management Company—]

The screen then briefly showed Ying Huai's figure flashing past the entrance when Song Fengyi was arrested at the hotel that day.

The people in the banquet hall instantly began whispering among themselves.

"Ying Huai was also there when Song Fengyi was arrested that day? This is... Ying Huai deliberately framed him?"

"Song Fengyi is under Ying Corporation? I remember Ying Huai has always had conflicts with his family, so he deliberately framed his own company's artist to rebel against his father......"

Chu Ming, who had originally been running toward Ying Huai, paused mid-step and turned his head in disbelief.

He instantly rushed back to the central control desk and said through gritted teeth: "What nonsense is this playing? Cut this video off right now!"

The staff at the central control desk also panicked: "We didn't play this. This video seems to have a virus, we can't pause it right now......"

Chu Ming clenched his teeth.

He looked around and suddenly saw the USB Drive Ying Huai had given him earlier.

Chu Ming took a deep breath, picked up the USB Drive, and rushed to the power cable.

·

On the other side, a perfectly measured look of anger appeared on Chu Hongsheng's face: "What is Xiao Ming doing? This is simply absurd."

As he spoke, he lowered his head with concern: "Xiao Huai, don't believe these rumors. These are all baseless things. The truth will come to light in the end......"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly frowned.

Ying Huai, half leaning against Liang Shining's shoulder, did not look as panicked and helpless as he had imagined.

He quietly watched the big screen, then after a while turned his eyes and curved them meaningfully toward Chu Hongsheng.

He slightly parted his lips, but the next second, an authoritative voice rang out in the darkness first: "Turn off the video."

Ying Huai was startled.

He raised his head in some surprise, looking at his father who had stood up among the crowd.

At the same moment, the video on the big screen suddenly went black, and then a dark, frantic voice rang through the hall.

[Fine, Ying Huai, you insist on protecting your little fan, do you?]

[Then just wait to be disgraced along with her.]

[She's just a civilian, I can still take her down. You wait, Ying Huai. Once I'm done with her, you're next—]

[Teacher Ying must not be unfamiliar with the first nationwide cyberbullying, are you?]

Someone in the hall quickly recognized that it was Song Fengyi's voice.

"Oh my god, is Song Fengyi threatening people?"

"I think I heard that Song Fengyi was arrested this time because he tried to do something to this girl, but was seen through and she called the police."

Someone gradually realized something: "Listening to the background audio, this seems to be from when they were recording a show. Was Song Fengyi already planning this back then?"

"What kind of framing is this? This is clearly something he planned himself, and then he turned it around to blame Ying Huai."

After that audio finished playing, it was followed by a noisy sound, accompanied by police sirens.

[Ying Huai, let me tell you, it's useless even if you called the police! Someone will save me! Just wait—]

[Go to hell! Ying Huai!]

Finally, a female voice from the news broadcast came through: [It is reported that Song Fengyi is an artist under a well-known management company, which split off from Ying Corporation many years ago and now belongs to Chu Hongsheng personally.]

Chu Hongsheng beside him had an ashen face.

He suddenly stood up and stared at Ying Huai through gritted teeth: "This audio was something Xiao Huai specially prepared?"

When Chu Hongsheng had proposed to help him hold the Birthday Party, Ying Huai immediately realized that Chu Hongsheng wanted to use his hand to whitewash Song Fengyi.

After he got that recording from Ying Qi, Liang Shining edited and spliced the recording, keeping only the most provocative parts.

It corresponded point by point with the video Chu Hongsheng had used to frame him.

But at this moment, Ying Huai couldn't be bothered with Chu Hongsheng.

From earlier, he had been staring at his father in the center of the hall.

He watched his father frown and look around, then his gaze fell on him, and he immediately strode toward him.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered, and he instantly understood.

——Father must think he's disgraced the Ying Family again.

Ying Huai lowered his eyes and laughed self-deprecatingly.

He took a deep breath, looked up at Chu Hongsheng: "Does Chu-shu like this big gift?"

He listened to the sound of his father walking with his Cane slowly approaching him, his expression unchanged, but the hand hanging at his side unconsciously tightened.

Chu Hongsheng also noticed Ying Huai's father walking toward them.

His thoughts turned rapidly, and he smiled gently: "Xiao Huai shouldn't be like this."

"It was clearly just a joke Xiao Ming was playing with you, why take it so seriously?" Chu Hongsheng shook his head with some helplessness.

"Have you considered the Ying Family?"

Chu Hongsheng deliberately glanced toward Ying Huai's father: "But you're not my child. Let Ying-xiong decide what to do."

As he spoke, he took a step back, and the next second, Ying Huai's father's cold voice predictably rang out from behind.

"Ying Huai, come here."

Ying Huai closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath and raised his head, but the next second, he saw his father raise the Cane in his hand high.

Memories from his previous life suddenly surfaced, and Ying Huai's mind went blank. His body instantly tensed.

A muffled "bang" sounded, but the familiar pain did not come.

"Refusing to repent."

Ying Huai's expression froze.

His father raised the Cane and struck Chu Hongsheng heavily with it. He stood in front of Ying Huai and said through gritted teeth: "I warned you, stay away from Ying Huai."

Ying Huai's expression suddenly froze.

He raised his head in disbelief, his eyes gaining a few traces of bewilderment.

In the dimness, he watched his father turn around and say somewhat stiffly: "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Stand behind me, Ying Huai."