Medicinal Effect

The room was silent. Liang Shining sat quietly at the bedside.

He watched Ying Huai, who was half-leaning against the headboard with a hand over his lips, looking back at him with an inexplicably furrowed brow.

Liang Shining's grip on the cup tightened little by little.

His mind had been clouded at first by anger at Ying Huai for hiding his condition, and only now, belatedly, did a flicker of panic set in.

"I'm sorry, Shifu. I didn't mean it just now. I was just too anxious..."

Before he could finish, the person in front of him raised his head and looked at him calmly: "Not angry anymore?"

Liang Shining was stunned. "What?"

Ying Huai didn't look at him at all. He simply lowered his eyes and pulled the blanket over himself: "If you're not angry, I'm going to sleep first."

He turned over, his back to the person in front of him, and pressed off the bedside lamp on his way.

Liang Shining hadn't expected this reaction from Ying Huai.

He sat frozen for a few seconds, listening to the person in the bed begin to cough softly again.

"Shifu..." Liang Shining instinctively reached out to steady the person in front of him.

But the next second, a slightly hoarse voice came from in front of him.

"Liang Shining."

Liang Shining's movement froze instantly.

Ying Huai's voice was calm, but his tone left no room for argument.

Liang Shining stood rigid for a few seconds, then slowly drew his hand back.

"I'm sorry, Shifu."

Liang Shining's hand at his side slowly curled into a fist. He spoke slowly: "I really was just panicking earlier. I didn't mean it. It's easier to struggle for breath lying down like this, Shifu. Let me help you sit up for a bit, then I'll leave, alright..."

But the person in the bed neither spoke nor moved, only trembling, barely suppressing his coughs.

Liang Shining's voice gradually faded.

He said nothing more. He stood quietly in place for a few seconds, then finally stepped out.

A soft click sounded, and the room fell quiet.

The person lying in bed was still for a few seconds, his tense body slowly relaxing.

He released his tightly clenched fingers, braced himself, and slowly sat up, reaching back for the water cup on the nightstand.

But the next second, he froze.

At some point, a chair had appeared beside the bed, with half a cup of warm water placed neatly on it—right where Ying Huai could reach it the moment he turned around.

Ying Huai's outstretched hand trembled.

He lowered his eyes, exhaled silently, and slowly drew his hand back, lying down again.

·

Ying Huai had thought that if he endured this bout of coughing and drifted off in a daze, he'd feel better.

But whether because he'd slept too much during the day or for some other reason, after lying in bed for a long time, not only did he have no trace of sleepiness, but the coughing he'd barely suppressed came surging back.

Ying Huai coughed until he couldn't catch his breath, and had to prop himself up again.

The water on the chair had gone cold. He half-propped himself up, glanced back, clenched his teeth, and in the end turned his head away, continuing to cough muffledly.

But his fragile body seemed to be working against him on purpose. After coughing for so long, not only had he not caught his breath, but his vision was starting to swim.

Ying Huai's breathing grew increasingly rapid.

He reached for the medicine beside him, but a sudden, intense wave of palpitations hit his chest.

Ying Huai had no time to react. His body went limp and he swayed forward.

The next second, someone strode over and steadied him firmly.

Ying Huai's heart pounded like a drum. He instinctively tried to struggle.

The next second, a slightly cold voice came from in front of him: "What are you doing?"

Ying Huai was stunned.

He caught his breath, gasping softly: "...Song Si Lan?"

"What, who did you think it was?"

Song Si Lan said, in no pleasant mood.

He steadied the person, slipped a pill into his mouth, and quickly fitted the nasal oxygen tube.

He frowned, pressing Ying Huai's pulse. Only after confirming his condition had stabilized did he finally grit out: "What were you doing just now? Not drinking water is one thing, but now you're not even taking your medicine? Are you trying to torture yourself? Hm?"

Ying Huai leaned against the headboard, breathing rapidly, and said nothing.

Song Si Lan frowned at his complexion, helped him hook up the cardiac monitor as well, and sat at the bedside with arms folded.

"Why didn't you call someone when you felt unwell?"

Ying Huai pressed a hand to his chest, glanced up at him, and forced a small smile. "I fell asleep. Didn't realize."

"Fell asleep? So asleep you nearly fell out of bed?" Song Si Lan let out a cold laugh, seeing through him without hesitation.

The smile at Ying Huai's lips slowly faded.

He looked at Song Si Lan quietly for a few seconds, then sighed soundlessly. "Liang Shining sent you?"

"Mm." Song Si Lan sat at the bedside, studied him for a few seconds, and asked with evident interest, "Did you two have a fight?"

Ying Huai's eyes flickered. He shook his head. "No."

"Then when I came just now, Liang Shining was standing guard outside your room the whole time, just not going in."

Song Si Lan spoke unhurriedly: "If you two didn't fight... then you're the one avoiding him."

Ying Huai's body stiffened for a moment.

—He realized at once that Song Si Lan must know everything.

"Do you know why Liang Shining was so angry just now?" Song Si Lan suddenly shifted to another topic with obvious interest.

Ying Huai glanced up at him and was about to say something when Song Si Lan cut in first: "Not just because you hid your condition—though that part makes me angry too."

Ying Huai was startled.

He watched Song Si Lan study him for a few seconds, a flicker of surprise crossing his expression.

"You really don't know."

He pulled out his phone, opened that post on the school forum—[Doesn't anyone think the TA senior x judge junior from the Singer Competition training is kind of shippable?]—and handed it to Ying Huai.

Ying Huai took the phone instinctively.

His pupils contracted slightly as he skimmed through the post quickly.

Song Si Lan sat at the bedside with arms folded.

He watched the person in front of him silently scroll through the entire post, layer by layer, then sit dazed without speaking.

Song Si Lan curved his lips. "Now you know..."

Before he could finish, the person in front of him silently handed the phone back and propped himself up as if to lie down again.

This time it was Song Si Lan's turn to be stunned.

He hadn't expected this reaction from Ying Huai.

Song Si Lan frowned, belatedly realizing something.

He looked at the person lying down in front of him and suddenly said, out of nowhere: "You're not actually angry, are you?"

Ying Huai's movement paused.

"Your reaction doesn't seem like anger," Song Si Lan said thoughtfully. "If you were really angry, you wouldn't be like this."

Ying Huai opened his mouth soundlessly.

The room was silent. After a few seconds, Ying Huai's slightly hoarse voice rose in the darkness: "No."

"I'm not angry," Ying Huai said softly.

"That's what... makes me the most angry."

—He didn't understand why he wasn't angry.

The moment Liang Shining had kissed him just now, Ying Huai had expected he would push him away directly.

But in reality, the instant that bit of warmth on his lips disappeared, Ying Huai's first reaction was panic.

Song Si Lan raised an eyebrow.

The thought in his mind gradually solidified. He stared at Ying Huai for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "That's not hard to figure out."

He spoke unhurriedly: "Anger means dislike. Avoidance, on the other hand, most likely means..."

Song Si Lan hadn't finished when, the next second, he suddenly heard Ying Huai speak hurriedly: "No!"

Song Si Lan was startled.

He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Ying Huai. He frowned and quickly stood up: "Ying Huai, wait a moment..."

But Ying Huai, as if he hadn't heard, spoke rapidly: "I can't, I can't be like that..."

"I can't not be angry, I can't like... cough cough cough."

Before Ying Huai could finish, his fingers once again clutched tightly at the clothes over his chest.

The nightmare from his past life struck again. Ying Huai felt a wave of palpitations in his chest.

He didn't realize he was starting to gasp rapidly for air, but the cardiac monitor beside him began to alarm at the same moment.

Song Si Lan frowned, quickly realizing something was wrong.

He strode to Ying Huai's side and quickly steadied him.

"Calm down, Ying Huai."

Song Si Lan pressed his pulse and said urgently: "Deep breaths. Don't get worked up. Relax..."

But the person in front of him looked pained, and an ominous bluish-purple was gradually appearing on his lips.

Song Si Lan clenched his teeth.

He quickly took a syringe from the emergency kit nearby, held Ying Huai's wrist down, and pushed it in without hesitation.

After a few seconds, Ying Huai's pupils suddenly dilated for a moment.

"You..."

He seemed to be trying hard to gather his consciousness, but the drug's effect made his whole body uncontrollably slump downward.

"Just a little sedative. Otherwise your heart wouldn't be able to take it," Song Si Lan said, frowning.

Ying Huai's lips moved soundlessly a few times. He let out a few low, gasping breaths, his body slowly sinking down, and his eyelids finally, wearily, closed.

Song Si Lan watched the cardiac monitor, pressed Ying Huai's pulse for a few seconds, and finally exhaled in relief.

A soft sound came from the doorway. Song Si Lan adjusted the head of the bed slightly higher and said without looking up: "Come in."

Liang Shining appeared in the doorway instantly.

Without a word, he strode to the bed, and his expression changed the moment he saw the person lying there.

"He's fine. He got a bit too worked up just now, so I gave him a sedative shot."

Song Si Lan turned up the oxygen flow slightly and said quietly.

"What happened to him just now? Why did he suddenly get worked up?" Liang Shining keenly caught the key point.

His voice instantly went hoarse: "Is it because of me..."

Song Si Lan shook his head.

"No, it has nothing to do with you."

He stared at the person on the bed, his expression unusually grave.

"I just asked him some questions about you, but I found... he's putting too much psychological pressure on himself."

Liang Shining was stunned for a few seconds.

He watched Song Si Lan take out his phone and send a few messages with his head lowered.

"I told Yu Wu, and asked him to take a closer look during the next session."

Song Si Lan took a deep breath and glanced at Liang Shining.

Liang Shining came back to himself.

His fingers at his side trembled, and he finally said quietly: "So what exactly did Doctor Song say to Ying Huai just now?"

Song Si Lan glanced at him.

"I told him, 'anger is dislike, avoidance is the beginning of being moved.'"

Liang Shining froze.

He instantly understood something, and his face gradually went pale.

"I'm not sure if Ying Huai knows whether he actually likes you or not, but he definitely knows you're different toward him."

Song Si Lan took a deep breath: "That put a lot of pressure on him."

"Don't agitate him for the next few days. Try to soothe him and see if he can adjust on his own," Song Si Lan said quietly.

"If not, I'll have Yu Wu think of something."

Song Si Lan frowned, rubbing his brow with a slight headache.

After finally thinking he'd treated someone who wasn't so obtuse, he hadn't expected to run into someone who put shackles on himself.

Liang Shining said nothing more, slowly nodding.

Song Si Lan watched Liang Shining's lost reaction and felt his headache worsen.

He took a deep breath, frowned slightly, and suddenly said: "Do you remember the desensitization therapy I mentioned to you before?"

Liang Shining stared at the person on the bed with lowered eyes, only silently nodding.

"We can do the same thing now," Song Si Lan said quietly.

Liang Shining's eyes moved slightly.

He suddenly raised his head, voice hoarse: "...What do you mean?"

"Yu Wu hasn't told me Ying Huai's specific psychological condition—after all, that falls under patient privacy."

"But I suspect his current psychological pressure comes partly from his own physical condition, and partly from what he's been hiding," Song Si Lan said calmly.

"In other words, his unease comes from his uncertainty."

"—But you can confirm it to him again and again."

Liang Shining's expression gradually calmed.

"Don't let Ying Huai rush to confirm his own feelings," Song Si Lan said quietly. "Let him depend on you first, let him feel safe by your side."

"Just like desensitization therapy, let him slowly accept it on his own."

Song Si Lan unconsciously made an analogy like Yu Wu's: "Like a cliff face about to collapse—if you slowly move aside the loose rocks on top, letting it merge with the more stable rock beside it, even if it eventually crumbles, it can adjust quickly."

"The rest, we'll discuss during Yu Wu's next session."

Liang Shining didn't respond.

The room was silent, the heart monitor emitting a regular beep, beep. After a long while, Liang Shining nodded lightly.

"Okay."

·

The next day when Ying Huai woke, aside from a slightly pale face, his body didn't seem to have any major issues.

Even his mental state seemed to have returned to normal.

He smiled and listened to Song Si Lan fussily checking him over from head to toe again, stretched, gave the fat Bouquet his usual rub, and prepared to head out for class.

—But Liang Shining could keenly sense that Ying Huai was deliberately avoiding contact with him.

"I'll go with you."

The moment Ying Huai turned, Liang Shining calmly stood up.

Ying Huai's eyes flickered.

The next second, he smiled: "No need, I'll drive over myself..."

"You can drive?"

Before Ying Huai could finish, Song Si Lan looked up with some surprise: "Unheard of—I don't think I've ever seen you drive. You're not a road menace, are you?"

Ying Huai's brow twitched, and Liang Shining beside him seemed to suddenly think of something, his expression stiffening for a moment.

He opened his mouth to stop him, but the next second heard Ying Huai suddenly laugh: "Of course not, my driving is excellent. Would Doctor Song like to experience it?"

Song Si Lan raised an eyebrow.

He glanced at Liang Shining's expression beside him, instinctively sensing something fishy.

"Forget it, I still need to get back to the Hospital today. Maybe next time..."

Before he could finish, the next second he saw Ying Huai half-leaning on the desk, leaning forward slightly, and speaking with a half-smile: "Doctor Song wouldn't be scared, would he?"

Liang Shining beside him closed his eyes in despair, and Song Si Lan's brow twitched.

—It was the first time he'd seen Ying Huai so amusing.

The next second, Song Si Lan also laughed: "What would I be scared of?"

Ying Huai's eyes curved.

He slowly straightened up, glanced down at Liang Shining beside him: "So Mr. Liang... still coming along?"

Liang Shining glanced at him.

He reached out to pat the fat Bouquet rubbing against his feet, took a deep breath, and walked out with resolute determination.

—Ying Huai inexplicably got the illusion of a hero cutting off his own arm from Liang Shining.

He raised an eyebrow, a smile unconsciously appearing at his lips, but then thought of something and silently sighed.

·

Drivers generally don't get carsick, but it's rare for all passengers to get carsick.

Ying Huai's driving wasn't bad—in fact, his skills were quite mature.

—But a little too practiced.

Song Si Lan got out of the car with a livid face, and Liang Shining took a deep breath and slowly got out as well.

"Has he driven race cars before?" Song Si Lan gritted his teeth, suppressing the churning in his stomach. "How did he even get a driver's license?"

Ying Huai didn't drive fast, but his driving was exceptionally... flamboyant. At every intersection Song Si Lan feared he'd hit the curb.

Song Si Lan nearly threw up in the car the whole way.

Liang Shining's face wasn't much better.

He held the car door, took a deep breath, and said quietly: "He never learned formally, but Ying Qi said that when his health was better as a child, he wanted to try."

Song Si Lan looked up at Liang Shining in horror.

Liang Shining said quietly: "But later, because of his health and how dangerous it was, Ying Qi forcibly stopped him."

Song Si Lan said expressionlessly: "Ying Huai should kowtow to his big brother."

He had barely finished speaking when an excited voice came from behind.

"Doctor Song, what do you think of my driving?"

Ying Huai was completely oblivious to the strange expressions on the two men before him.

He half-leaned against the car door, smiling: "Pretty good, right—I didn't hit a single red light the whole way."

Song Si Lan slowly straightened up, his smile not reaching his eyes: "Teacher Ying's driving is excellent."

"So good it makes me wonder—you're doing this on purpose to get back at me."

Ying Huai: ?

Liang Shining beside him silently opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to say anything complimentary against his conscience.

·

When Ying Huai entered the classroom, the students inside had been waiting eagerly for a long time.

The moment he walked in, he immediately heard excited cheers and applause.

Ying Huai was stunned for a moment, his hand at his side trembling slightly.

But the next second, he smiled and quickly walked up to the podium: "What are you doing? Acting like you haven't seen me in ages."

"A day apart feels like three autumns, Teacher Ying," a boy in the front row said with a smile. "We didn't see you all yesterday afternoon—it's been ages."

Ying Huai glanced at them with a half-smile: "Really? You miss me that much?"

The students below nodded hurriedly.

The next second, Ying Huai spoke unhurriedly: "Alright then—what were the three inspiration exercises I talked about yesterday?"

The students below froze, some instinctively starting to flip through their notebooks, but Ying Huai said unhurriedly: "No flipping through notes. You have three seconds to answer. Three, two, one..."

Song Si Lan, who had sat in the back row with Liang Shining, watched the classroom atmosphere instantly liven up and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Ying Huai's teaching skills are impressive. I thought I'd see a row of sleepy people at an 8 AM class," Song Si Lan said quietly.

Liang Shining stared unblinkingly at the person leaning lazily against the podium, his tone unconsciously gaining a hint of a smile: "My Shifu has always been amazing."

Song Si Lan glanced at the person beside him with some disdain, lightly clicking his tongue.

"Alright, stop showing off, as if you're afraid people don't know Ying Huai is your Shifu."

He had barely finished speaking when a student in the row in front turned back somewhat displeased, looking at the two of them and saying quietly: "Can you keep it down? Even if you don't want to listen to Teacher Ying, I do."

Song Si Lan froze for a moment. Liang Shining quickly reacted and said quietly: "Sorry."

The student, hearing Liang Shining's voice, paused, inexplicably feeling that the person in the black mask before him looked somewhat familiar.

But eager to listen to Ying Huai's class, he just nodded haphazardly and muttered as he turned back: "Wrapped up so tightly, and 'my Shifu'—anyone would think you're Liang Shining."

Liang Shining froze for a moment, and Song Si Lan beside him couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Cough cough, it's nothing, I'm just naturally fond of laughing." Song Si Lan coughed behind his hand, barely composing himself.

He checked his watch, slowly stood up, and gestured to Liang Shining: "Alright, I'm heading back to the Hospital. Keep an eye on Ying Huai's condition, don't let him get too tired."

Liang Shining nodded.

Song Si Lan glanced at the person on the podium again, bent down and quickly turned around.

But the next second, he collided full-on with someone behind him.

Song Si Lan stumbled, grabbing the desk beside him to barely steady himself.

He frowned and looked up, but the student before him spoke first with an apologetic face: "Sorry, sorry, I didn't see you just now, really sorry."

Song Si Lan said nothing, shook his head, and quickly walked outside.

But just as he reached the door, his steps suddenly paused.

They were in the center of the back row, so logically even if someone was late to class, they wouldn't brazenly walk to the center.

——Song Si Lan had an inexplicable feeling that the student before him had just been deliberately eavesdropping on their conversation.

Song Si Lan frowned, glanced at the person who had for some reason sat back down in the last row, lowered his head, and sent a message to Liang Shining's phone.

·

Song Xingzhou slowly sat back in the last row, his expression dark.

He looked at the person on the podium, and the words the middle-aged man had said in the corridor yesterday surfaced in his mind.

The refined middle-aged man had seen through his identity with a single sentence, and Song Xingzhou's expression instantly turned wary.

"What are you? How do you know Song Fengyi is my brother?"

Song Xingzhou stepped back, gritting his teeth: "Was it you who got my brother sent to prison? Don't think I won't call the police..."

"No, I want to help your brother," the refined man before him said calmly.

"Don't you know who got your brother sent to prison?" the man said unhurriedly. "It was Ying Huai."

Song Xingzhou's fingers suddenly clenched.

"You—"

"You want to get back at Ying Huai, don't you?" the man's voice was unhurried. "I can help you."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Song Xingzhou's face.

"Why should I trust you?"

Song Xingzhou gave a cold laugh: "Ying Huai is a judge in this Singer Competition, and I'm a contestant. What good would it do me to offend him..."

The man glanced toward the classroom door, his gaze landing on the electronic screen above the blackboard.

"You want to do well in this Singer Competition, don't you?"

The man turned his head with a slight smile: "You've already offended Ying Huai. Are you still counting on getting a good ranking on your own?"

Song Xingzhou's face suddenly darkened.

"What nonsense are you talking..."

"I can guarantee you a good ranking in this Singer Competition." The man cut him off directly.

"And as I just said, you can also get back at Ying Huai—you've wanted to do that for a long time, haven't you?"

Song Xingzhou's hand at his side suddenly clenched.

The man's tone was clearly meant to sound like a suggestion, but his voice carried an unmistakable certainty that brooked no refusal.

Song Xingzhou fell silent.

The man seemed to know what Song Xingzhou was thinking. He gave a low laugh and unhurriedly played his final card.

"And most importantly... I can bring your brother back." The man's voice was unhurried, low. "Do as I say, and I can help you."

Song Xingzhou suddenly raised his head.

"Three birds with one stone—I don't see why you'd refuse."

Song Xingzhou's whole body was trembling uncontrollably.

"Who exactly are you?"

The man laughed, but a note of warning crept into his tone: "You don't need to know."

Song Xingzhou froze.

He closed his eyes, finally took a deep breath: "What do you need... me to do?"

The man laughed.

"Very simple."

He gave a slight nod to the person beside him. Someone in an assistant's role stepped forward and handed Song Xingzhou a medical file.

Song Xingzhou saw that the medical file prominently bore the name 'Ying Huai.'

·

"Alright, I've covered most of my part."

Ying Huai's lazy voice came again from the podium, and Song Xingzhou suddenly snapped back to himself.

He straightened slightly, watching Ying Huai half-leaning against the back of the podium, speaking unhurriedly: "To avoid yesterday's situation where questions ran out of time, the rest is Q&A—students with nothing to ask can self-study, and those with questions can come up to the podium and ask me directly."

The moment Ying Huai finished speaking, students immediately gathered around in small groups.

Song Xingzhou took a deep breath, glanced at the person on the podium, then suddenly stood up and quickly walked toward the back door.

·

The students still surrounded Ying Huai at the podium, but whether intentionally or not, they deliberately kept a bit of distance, not completely enclosing him.

"Teacher Ying, I recorded a demo yesterday like you said. If this chord is varied like this afterward..."

"Teacher Ying, I recorded a vocal practice clip yesterday. Could you check if my vocal production is correct?"

Everyone was chattering away with questions, but for some reason the topics gradually shifted to Ying Huai himself.

"Teacher Xiao Huai, do you still have any invitation tickets for that Variety Show Concert? I want to go too."

"Teacher Ying, after that Variety Show, will you take on any new ones?"

"Teacher Xiao Huai, could you hold more Concerts in the future? I really want to see you on stage."

Ying Huai was half-amused, half-exasperated: "What? Does no one have any professional questions anymore?"

Even as he said this, he still leaned half against the podium, smiling with lowered eyes, chatting with them off and on.

Liang Shining stood not far away, watching the person on the podium, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

He didn't notice that in the first row, a girl's eyes were excitedly darting between Liang Shining and Ying Huai as she quietly raised her phone.

·

Too many people had gathered at the podium. Worried Ying Huai might feel unwell again, Liang Shining lifted his foot, preparing to go over.

The next second, a slightly awkward voice came from beside him: "How was his condition yesterday?"

Liang Shining turned his head and saw Su Xin quickly look away.

Liang Shining frowned but still said softly: "He was alright."

Su Xin silently exhaled in relief.

"That's good."

The image of Ying Huai teetering on the verge of collapse yesterday still haunted Su Xin. After a pause of several seconds, he couldn't help but ask softly: "How is his condition now, exactly?"

Liang Shining turned to look at him, a warning glinting in his eyes.

"That doesn't seem to concern Teacher Su, does it?"

Su Xin frowned, his tone turning unfriendly: "Why wouldn't it concern me? Don't think you're the only one who can take care of Ying Huai..."

Liang Shining's face darkened as well.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the next second, his vision suddenly went black.

Su Xin froze for a moment, then the next second, the surrounding students' cries of alarm suddenly rang out.

Su Xin was stunned: "Power outage?"

But Liang Shining's expression instantly darkened: "No."

In the instant the lights went out, he had clearly heard a crisp 'click.'

Liang Shining turned on his phone flashlight and quickly walked toward the podium: "Someone pulled the circuit breaker."

Su Xin froze.

He also quickly realized something. His face changed, and he started to follow toward the podium.

But the next second, Liang Shining grabbed him and stopped him.

"You go outside, toward the circuit breaker." Liang Shining spoke rapidly.

Su Xin frowned: "Why should I listen to you..."

"Because I know Ying Huai's condition best," Liang Shining said rapidly without turning back. "Do you want to see him go through what happened yesterday again?"

Su Xin froze.

He gritted his teeth, and finally turned and quickly walked outside.

He had only walked a few steps when he suddenly heard Liang Shining speak again: "Also, contact Professor Mu and ask him to come over."

Su Xin was somewhat puzzled.

But thinking about Liang Shining's words, he still hastily responded.

·

At the podium, Ying Huai frowned slightly.

In the instant his vision went dark, his body had trembled uncontrollably, but the surrounding students' alarmed cries forced him to steady himself.

"It's fine, probably just a tripped breaker. Everyone turn on your flashlights, stay where you are, I'll go check..."

He spoke as he reached for his phone, but the next second, he suddenly felt a strong force from in front of him.

Ying Huai lost his balance instantly, stepped back, and crashed heavily into the chalk tray behind him.

A sharp pain shot through his waist, and Ying Huai's vision went black with pain.

Most people hadn't yet managed to turn on their flashlights. In the darkness, everyone panicked.

"Hey, who pushed me?"

"Stop pushing, there's no room up front!"

Countless panicked, noisy voices came from the darkness around him. Ying Huai's breathing grew rapid.

His phone had been knocked to the ground by the shove. Ying Huai didn't dare crouch to pick it up, and could only watch the flickering fragments of flashlight beams before him.

Darkness breeds panic, and panic breeds chaos.

And chaos... brings disaster.

Ying Huai stood stunned in place, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He instinctively wanted to call out to Liang Shining, but the moment his lips slightly parted, he quickly swallowed the words back.

—No, he couldn't keep doing this.

Ying Huai's fingernails dug hard into his palms.

—He couldn't keep giving Liang Shining unnecessary hope.

His breathing was rapid. He braced against the blackboard, trying to shift to the side, but the next second, a sharp pain shot through his waist.

Ying Huai's face went instantly pale.

His waist gave out, his body uncontrollably tilting to the side, but the next second, someone caught him instantly.

At the same moment, a steady voice suddenly rang out from in front of him: "Everyone stay where you are, don't panic. Use your flashlights to check if any students nearby are hurt."

Liang Shining pulled Ying Huai directly in front of him, using his own body and the blackboard behind to create a small space for Ying Huai.

A familiar scent enveloped Ying Huai completely. He instinctively grabbed Liang Shining's sleeve tightly.

The next moment, he suddenly realized something, and his grip instantly reversed into a push.

But Liang Shining, without a word of explanation, directly pulled him into his arms.

"It's okay, I'm here, Shifu." Liang Shining's hand moved expertly along Ying Huai's back as he spoke softly.

He could feel the person in his arms trembling constantly. Worried, Liang Shining still kept his voice very gentle: "It's okay, the power will come back any moment. Don't be afraid."

The surrounding noise was gradually fading. The person in his arms was still breathing rapidly, but the trembling was slowly subsiding.

Liang Shining silently exhaled in relief.

Meanwhile, at the classroom door.

Song Xingzhou slowly backed out of the crowd, looked at the people clustered on the podium, and silently curved his lips.

He thought about what the gentle, refined man had told him earlier.

[Ying Huai has PTSD.]

[Do as I say. Make Ying Huai have an episode in front of everyone.]

[Film it and send it to me. I'll make him disappear forever.]

Song Xingzhou unhurriedly pulled out his phone, but the next second, a sudden brightness flashed before his eyes.

Then, he felt a tight grip on his wrist.

"What are you recording?" Su Xin had walked in from the door at some unknown point.

He took Song Xingzhou's phone without hesitation and spoke coldly.

Song Xingzhou's expression panicked for a moment: "Nothing, I was just afraid there might be an accident earlier, so I recorded a bit..."

"Recording evidence for yourself in case of an accident?" Su Xin scoffed coldly.

Song Xingzhou's face shifted: "Teacher Su, what do you mean..."

Su Xin didn't speak. He glanced at the podium, where Liang Shining had lifted Ying Huai into his arms and gave him a slight nod.

Su Xin turned back, grabbed the person directly, and walked outside: "Shut up. Come with me to the break room."

·

The surrounding students gradually calmed down. Some belatedly realized what had just happened.

"Holy shit, was that really Liang Shining just now?"

"It must be, right? That voice was definitely his—I was freaking out. If he hadn't called out like that just now, I would've lost it."

"Why is Liang Shining at school too? Did he come to give a lecture too?"

"No way... I feel like—he just came specifically to accompany Teacher Ying."

"Right, Teacher Liang seemed really worried about Teacher Ying just now. Teacher Ying should be okay, right?"

"I don't know, who pushed me just now, seriously? It's just a power outage, what's there to panic about."

"Right, who pushed anyway? Could it have been on purpose? Can we check the surveillance?" The girl in the first row who had been recording spoke, still shaken.

"It was so dark, can the surveillance even capture anything?"

That girl shook her head: "I don't know, but the video on my phone looks pretty clear..."

She didn't notice that Liang Shining, who had already carried the person to the door, paused in his steps and slightly turned his head to glance at her.

·

Inside the office.

"What do you mean the surveillance is broken?" Su Xin held his phone and said through gritted teeth.

"Why is it that only the surveillance in our classroom is broken?"

The person from the surveillance room on the other end spoke helplessly: "I don't know either, Teacher Su. Last night, the surveillance in your classroom and the corridor outside inexplicably malfunctioned. We've been trying to fix it all day..."

Liang Shining, who was supporting the person onto the sofa, had a flicker in his eyes.

He suddenly sat up slightly straighter and whispered something in Ying Huai's ear.

Ying Huai's expression was still somewhat dazed.

He was quiet for a few seconds, then silently nodded.

On the other side, Su Xin took a deep breath. He hung up the phone and looked at Song Xingzhou, who had visibly relaxed.

"Can I leave now, Teacher Su?" Song Xingzhou said leisurely.

"No." Su Xin said coldly. "The surveillance is broken, but someone saw you loitering by the circuit breaker. Why did you turn off the power?"

Song Xingzhou shrugged: "I accidentally bumped that circuit breaker, it wasn't on purpose—I'll write a self-criticism report, okay?"

"No," Su Xin said coldly. "This counts as intentional behavior. I can directly revoke your competition eligibility."

"On what grounds!" Song Xingzhou suddenly stood up.

"There's no proof I did it! Did anyone film it? Without evidence, on what grounds..."

The next second, a light cough came from beside him: "No evidence, is that right?"

Song Xingzhou frowned.

He turned around and saw that the person who had been half-leaning in Liang Shining's arms had at some point sat up from the sofa.

His expression was still somewhat weak. Holding a cup of hot water, he looked at him with a half-smile: "In the classroom just now, wasn't it you who pushed people?"

Song Xingzhou's face shifted, but then he scoffed coldly: "What is Teacher Ying talking about?"

"Does Teacher Ying have evidence?"

"Without evidence, you can't prove what I did. I didn't do anything..."

"So as long as there's evidence, that's fine, right?" Ying Huai lowered his head and took a sip of water, his body uncontrollably swaying for a moment.

Su Xin frowned and stepped forward to steady him. He looked around the room and was surprised to find that Liang Shining had gone out at some unknown point.

Song Xingzhou had a hunch that something was off about Ying Huai's words.

But Ying Huai was lowering his head, intently drinking water. His smiling peach blossom eyes were hidden behind a haze of steam, unreadable.

Song Xingzhou gritted his teeth: "Right, if you have the ability, bring out the evidence..."

Before he could finish, he heard a soft sound from the door.

Then, Liang Shining walked in with a girl.

A glint of amusement appeared in Ying Huai's eyes.

Song Xingzhou realized something and suddenly stepped forward: "Wait—"

Before he could finish, the girl in front of him spoke softly: "In the classroom just now, I recorded a video."

"It just happened to capture Song Xingzhou deliberately pushing the student in front, attempting to create chaos."

Su Xin was stunned. Song Xingzhou's face instantly went white.

He instinctively lunged at the girl: "I didn't! What nonsense are you talking about..."

But the next second, a cup of water was suddenly splashed directly in front of him, forming a horizontal line.

Song Xingzhou abruptly stopped in his tracks.

He gritted his teeth and turned his head, seeing Ying Huai withdraw his hand, covering his lips with an innocent cough: "Sorry, my body's not feeling well. I lost strength in my hand."

He raised his head and curved his eyes at Song Xingzhou: "But look, the evidence is here now."

Song Xingzhou's expression finally panicked.

He watched Su Xin open the withdrawal-related file on the computer and couldn't help himself, suddenly lunging forward.

"No, you can't do this! I was specially recommended by the professor. You don't have the right..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard a displeased voice from behind him.

"They don't have the right, but I do, don't I?"

Mu Heguang had walked in from the door at some unknown point.

He frowned at Song Xingzhou and spoke in an unfriendly tone: "I'm withdrawing my recommendation for you right now."

Ying Huai curved his eyes.

He sat up slightly straighter and said softly: "Now, why don't you tell us why you did this?"

·

Song Xingzhou's face was pale, but he insisted that he had just been too scared and panicked.

Su Xin had no choice but to go with Mu Heguang to contact Song Xingzhou's counselor first.

The break room was left with only the two of them for the moment.

Ying Huai sat with his eyes lowered. He didn't speak, but Liang Shining could feel his face turning paler bit by bit.

"Where does it hurt, Shifu?" Liang Shining said softly. "Is your waist still sore?"

He reached out to check Ying Huai's waist, but the next second, he saw Ying Huai slightly turn aside, subtly avoiding his touch.

"I'm fine."

Liang Shining's expression dimmed for a moment.

He slowly withdrew his hand and couldn't help but say softly: "Is Shifu still angry with me?"

Ying Huai was startled. He shook his head and instinctively said: "No."

"Yesterday... I wasn't angry with you."

Liang Shining was stunned.

He suddenly raised his head: "Then Shifu..."

"I don't know." Ying Huai said softly.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm... not angry."

He seemed to think of something again, and his breathing quickened once more.

Liang Shining immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly grasped the person's hand in front of him.

"It's okay. If you don't know, then don't think about it for now."

Liang Shining gently squeezed Ying Huai's fingertips and said softly: "Let's just leave it like this for now, okay? If Shifu isn't angry, then don't think about it. Shifu shouldn't avoid me either. I won't do those things again."

Ying Huai's mind was a mess, but listening to Liang Shining's voice, he instinctively nodded.

Liang Shining gently exhaled in relief.

He helped the person sit back a bit, but the next second, he saw Ying Huai's body tremble again, a flash of pain crossing his expression.

Liang Shining frowned.

"Let me check Shifu's waist first, okay?" he said softly. "Just a check, I won't do anything."

Seeing that Ying Huai didn't speak, he slowly reached out and lifted the clothing at Ying Huai's waist a little.

The next second, a slightly cold voice came from the door.

"What are you doing?" Su Xin stood at the door, his face dark with anger.

Ying Huai's injury was at his waist. Without Liang Shining's support, he couldn't sit steady on his own.

He could only half-lie across Liang Shining's lap. Hearing Su Xin's voice, he blankly raised his head.

The next second, Liang Shining directly draped his jacket over Ying Huai's waist and raised his head warily.

Su Xin's face changed instantly.

Mu Heguang, who had followed behind, looked at the scene before him and his eyes suddenly widened.

The next second, he directly pulled Su Xin out the door and slammed it shut with a bang.

"It's nothing, Xiao Su. You didn't see anything."

Ying Huai: ???

His expression went blank for a moment.

—He had a vague feeling that something was about to become impossible to explain.