Chapter 63

Song Xingzhou's face was ashen.

He stood stiffly in front of the piano, a flicker of disbelief crossing his expression.

Since Ying Huai could play the entire piece upside down, it meant his mastery and understanding of the piece far surpassed his own.

The truth was no longer just his own one-sided claim.

—From the moment Ying Huai played the first note, he had already lost.

Song Xingzhou's whole body trembled uncontrollably.

He blurted out instinctively: "This isn't allowed, this violates the rules—"

"Violates what rules."

Before Song Xingzhou could finish his sentence, Chu Ming interrupted him impatiently from the side.

He pulled Song Xingzhou away from the piano and snorted softly: "Isn't this a non-repeating piece? Isn't it also a piano performance? If you're bad, practice more, don't resort to underhanded tricks."

Song Xingzhou's face turned deathly pale.

He broke free of Chu Ming's arm, walked to his seat without a word, and sat down.

The others didn't notice this little episode, still listening intently to Ying Huai's playing.

The original piece had a heavy style, conventionally building emotion through ascending scales.

Unexpectedly, after being turned upside down, it transformed into a lively melody.

It was as if long-suppressed longing burst forth through the cheerful tune, until the very end when the tone suddenly shifted, like waking from a deep dream.

When the piece ended, it took everyone a few seconds to come back to themselves.

Xin Wan and Chu Ming were the first to start clapping; the others followed suit. Only Liang Shining sat in place, staring blankly at the person before the piano.

—For a moment, he seemed to see Ying Huai from his past life.

All the regret, unwillingness, and longing converged into a river, drowning him in an instant.

Liang Shining pressed hard on the space between his eyebrows and let out a silent breath.

The live stream's barrage suddenly woke up and began scrolling rapidly.

"Help, the upside-down version is really beautiful, feels like it has more depth than the original."

"So strange, this is clearly a farewell piece, but why does it sound even sadder with a cheerful style?"

"Because the earlier cheerfulness is the dream of recalling the past, right? When the scale shifts at the end, the dream wakes, and you realize everything before was empty........"

"Yes, like you were just one step away from seeing them, but in the end, fate intervened and you missed them forever."

"Oh my god........ this rearrangement seems to make the taste of regret even stronger."

"Teacher Xiao Huai probably intended to play this piece from the start. Compared to Song Xingzhou, his emotional understanding is simply amazing, not even on the same level."

Ying Huai sat quietly before the piano for a long moment before finally pushing himself up from the lid and slowly standing.

Playing music, like acting, requires the performer to fully immerse their own emotions to better express the piece's feeling.

Moreover, this piece was largely improvised on the spot, requiring even more complete emotional engagement.

—This made him inevitably think of things from his past life.

Ying Huai's body trembled a little uncontrollably.

He walked down from the piano bench step by step, eyes lowered, his body swaying unsteadily. The next second, he felt a hand steadying him firmly.

Ying Huai looked dazed for a moment.

He couldn't muster any extra emotion now. Eyes downcast, he wanted to keep walking, but the next second, he suddenly felt warmth envelop him.

Liang Shining reached out and pulled him tightly into his arms.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ying Huai's expression.

Liang Shining was usually quite restrained in front of the camera; unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't show such strong emotion.

Ying Huai struggled lightly, but felt Liang Shining's arms tighten instead, as if wanting to pull him completely into this embrace.

Ying Huai was taken aback.

His struggling hesitated; he instinctively wanted to lower his hands, but the others, who had belatedly reacted, exploded first.

"Hey, what are you doing? Let go of my shidi!"

"Liang Shining, take your hands off! What do you think you're doing to my Huai-ge!"

Xin Wan and Chu Ming spoke in unison, flustered and angry.

Lu Jing, who had been silent beside them, darkened his face and stepped forward. The next second, an arm suddenly blocked their path.

"What are you doing, Su Xin?"

Xin Wan was startled, turned her head and gritted her teeth: "I know you don't like shidi, but can you pick the right time? Is this the moment for a grudge......."

Su Xin looked at the people before him with a dark expression. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately fell silent.

In that brief pause, Liang Shining seemed to finally come to his senses. He took a step back and slowly loosened his grip.

"What's wrong?" Ying Huai stood still, looking up and speaking softly.

Liang Shining shook his head: "Nothing."

Only then did Ying Huai notice Liang Shining's voice had gone hoarse at some point.

His eyes flickered; he opened his mouth to ask something else, but Xin Wan and Chu Ming had already rushed over.

"Huai-ge, are you okay? Did Liang Shining do anything inappropriate to you just now?"

Chu Ming wished he could examine Ying Huai on the spot.

Ying Huai came back to himself.

He subtly sidestepped Chu Ming's movement, looked up, and curved his eyes.

"I'm fine."

"I just felt a bit weak when I stood up, lost my balance. Mr. Liang helped steady me."

Chu Ming was stunned.

He instinctively wanted to argue, but Ying Huai had already stepped forward to his seat and sat down unhurriedly.

Liang Shining also lowered his eyes and silently sat in the seat next to Ying Huai.

Chu Ming was thoroughly confused.

Su Xin silently lowered his arm beside them. Thinking of what he had heard from Mu Heguang earlier, his eyes darkened.

He said nothing, turned, and slowly walked back as well.

The surroundings fell into an eerie quiet, with only Song Xingzhou sitting in the back row, his face ashen.

He had prepared himself for Ying Huai to confront him after coming down.

He had his excuses ready, waiting for Ying Huai to make a move so he could immediately start crying and playing the victim, saying he had accidentally mistaken the score, pushing Ying Huai into the position of someone who wouldn't let things go.

—Unexpectedly, Ying Huai seemed to have completely forgotten the matter, sitting calmly without the slightest reaction.

This made Song Xingzhou's forcibly calmed emotions panic once more.

—Don't panic.

Song Xingzhou dug his nails into his palm, taking a deep breath.

—Maybe Ying Huai was deliberately trying to scare him, to make him lose control and expose himself.

Song Xingzhou gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the impulse to rush up to Ying Huai, and sat in place drenched in cold sweat.

But even after everyone had finished performing, Ying Huai still hadn't made any move.

He sat there with a normal expression, clapping earnestly for each person going on and off stage, his demeanor focused and gentle.

Song Xingzhou's heart grew increasingly panicked.

Unable to suppress his fear any longer, he abruptly stood up and walked step by step toward Ying Huai.

The next second, the Assistant Director's voice rang out.

"Alright, congratulations everyone on successfully completing your performances. You may now proceed to the dining room to enjoy the meal."

Song Xingzhou snapped back to reality.

He staggered back a step, panting as he looked at Ying Huai before him.

Ying Huai seemed completely unaware of his abnormality.

He walked beside Liang Shining, listening with lowered eyes to Chu Ming chattering in his ear, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Song Xingzhou's face was ugly.

He quickened his pace forward. As he passed Ying Huai, inner fear and unease made him subconsciously tilt his shoulder, wanting to bump into Ying Huai.

But the next moment, Ying Huai seemed to sense something and subtly shifted his body half an inch to the side.

Song Xingzhou couldn't pull back his momentum in time; he stumbled and nearly fell right in front of Ying Huai.

Chu Ming, who didn't understand what was happening, was startled first.

"What are you doing? Trying to bump into Huai-ge on purpose?"

Chu Ming instantly reacted, blocking in front of Ying Huai.

"Do you have any conscience? Huai-ge didn't even hold what you did earlier against you, and you come over yourself trying to harm someone......."

"Then why isn't he saying anything?" Song Xingzhou could no longer hold back, snarling out.

Chu Ming was slightly taken aback: "What did you say?"

Song Xingzhou took a deep breath.

He quickly steadied himself, turned around, and glared at Ying Huai through gritted teeth.

Ying Huai remained perfectly calm, half his body shielded behind Liang Shining, looking down with a careless gaze at the person before him.

Song Xingzhou forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart: ".......Nothing."

He took a deep breath and turned directly away: "I just slipped and lost my balance. Don't make false accusations."

Chu Ming watched, baffled, as the person hurried away.

"Who believes that? That was clearly intentional just now."

Chu Ming turned to Ying Huai: "Huai-ge, why didn't you confront him publicly just now?"

Ying Huai peeked out slightly from behind Liang Shining.

He covered his mouth with a yawn and mumbled an "Hm?"

Chu Ming was indignant: "How old is he, and he already knows how to frame people? Huai-ge, you should have held court right then and there—"

"But I'm lazy."

Before Chu Ming could finish, he heard Ying Huai speak lazily.

Chu Ming was stunned.

He looked up somewhat blankly, only to see Ying Huai curl his lips in a half-smile and walk forward unhurriedly.

Chu Ming didn't understand.

He watched as Liang Shining silently moved to follow, and couldn't help reaching out to stop him.

"Hey, aren't you going to do anything either?" Chu Ming said angrily. "Come with me to get an explanation from Song Xingzhou."

"When you first saw Song Xingzhou, your face looked so awful you practically wanted to charge at him. I don't believe you're not angry......."

Liang Shining paused.

He turned to Chu Ming and spoke calmly: "I am angry."

"But whatever shifu wants to do, I'll do."

Chu Ming was taken aback.

He watched Liang Shining walk straight ahead, opened his mouth to say something else, but then heard Liang Shining's slightly lowered voice.

"This is the second time. If there's a third........"

He didn't finish, but Chu Ming instantly understood his meaning.

·

Lunch was sumptuous; the Production Team had kept their promise for once.

But Ying Huai had no appetite.

The sudden emotional exertion earlier had left him feeling weak. His head was a bit dizzy; after forcing down a few bites, he felt waves of nausea in his stomach.

He glanced at Liang Shining beside him, sighed imperceptibly, quietly put down his chopsticks, and pretended nothing was wrong as he walked toward the door.

But he hadn't taken more than two steps when he suddenly heard Su Yun's worried voice from behind: "Are you feeling very unwell, Teacher Ying?"

Ying Huai was startled.

He instinctively put on a smile to deny it: "No, I......."

But before he could finish, the next second, he felt a slight weight settle on his shoulders.

Su Yun spoke seriously: "Please wear my jacket for a while, Teacher Ying. Maybe feeling warmer will make you more comfortable."

Ying Huai was taken aback.

He curved his lips into a smile and reached to take off the jacket: "I'm fine, I'm just a bit tired from earlier. Don't worry."

The next second, Su Yun directly reached out and stopped his movement.

"Your body is shaking, Teacher Ying," Su Yun looked up and said with a frown.

His expression was serious, but with his face scrunched up like a steamed bun, it looked anything but threatening.

Ying Huai laughed; he couldn't resist teasing him: "Or else what?"

The next second, he heard Su Yun say seriously: "Or else I'll tell Teacher Liang, tell him you're so unwell you can't eat."

Ying Huai was startled.

For a moment he was amused, completely not expecting the kid who used to hardly dare speak in front of him now daring to "threaten" him.

"Fine," Ying Huai lowered his hand and looked up with a smile. "The capybara has grown up."

"That's right," Su Yun nodded, speaking a bit proudly. "Brother Chu taught me. He said when Teacher Ying is unwell, bringing up Teacher Liang always works—Ow!"

Before he could finish, he felt a light tap on his forehead.

"Learning the bad stuff, not the good."

Ying Huai withdrew his hand unhurriedly. "Hurry back, learn less from Chu Ming."

Su Yun covered his forehead, turned around somewhat dazedly, but still muttered softly: "It's not bad."

Ying Huai chuckled.

He pressed against his aching stomach, glanced toward the door, and sure enough saw Liang Shining's seat was empty.

He sighed, his eyes shifting, then suddenly walked straight toward the side corridor.

·

Liang Shining walked quickly out of the room.

He instinctively looked up to find Ying Huai, but the next second, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed his tie.

Liang Shining stumbled, a familiar scent washing over him.

Liang Shining paused, allowing Ying Huai to pull him into a corner of the side corridor.

The corridor was somewhat dim, the lights positioned farther away.

Worried Ying Huai was uncomfortable, Liang Shining instinctively reached out to hold the waist of the person before him. The next second, he heard Ying Huai give a soft laugh.

"Were you looking for me just now, Mr. Liang?"

Liang Shining paused, then gave a low "Hm."

"Shifu just now—"

He opened his mouth to ask something, but Ying Huai interrupted him first: "Why did you suddenly hug me when I came off stage just now?"

Liang Shining was taken aback.

He instinctively said: "It was nothing......."

Before he could finish, he heard Ying Huai give a soft "Ai."

"Mr. Liang has learned to hide things from me now?"

Ying Huai tugged slightly harder on his tie. Liang Shining, caught off guard, lost his balance and leaned forward, somewhat awkwardly bracing his hand against the wall behind Ying Huai.

"Shifu......." His voice was unsteady.

Ying Huai tapped his fingers against the tie, smiling as he curved his eyes: "Who taught you that, hm?"

Liang Shining took a deep breath.

He closed his eyes, and after a few seconds finally spoke in a low voice: "You."

Ying Huai was startled.

He hadn't expected everyone today to talk like this; for a moment he was almost amused to anger.

The next second, he heard Liang Shining speak again: ".......Because I was worried."

The topic shift was too abrupt; Ying Huai didn't react immediately.

"What?"

The dim, yellowish light fell faintly on Ying Huai's face, even the fine down on his cheeks clearly visible.

Liang Shining stared at the person before him for a few seconds before finally speaking softly again: "That was a farewell piece. When shifu played it, you poured in a lot of....... emotion."

—This made him think uncontrollably of things from his past life....... and what Yu Wu had said.

Liang Shining paused, but when he spoke again, he couldn't suppress the tremor in his voice: "I was worried about shifu........"

—Worried that one day Ying Huai would, like in his past life, suddenly leave without a word.

—Worried that he couldn't save him again.

Ying Huai was taken aback.

He had originally just wanted to find an excuse to divert Liang Shining's attention from his stomach pain; he hadn't expected Liang Shining to say these things.

His eyelashes trembled, and his expression quickly fell silent.

"You........"

He opened his mouth to comfort him, but only got one word out before abruptly falling silent again.

The light overhead swayed gently; a beam fell straight into Liang Shining's eyes, clearly illuminating the bloodshot veins within.

—It was unmistakably the expression of someone terrified.

Ying Huai felt a bit dazed.

He couldn't hold back after all, suddenly speaking: "I won't."

Liang Shining was also taken aback.

He seemed not to have expected Ying Huai to say this: "What did shifu say?"

Ying Huai closed his eyes, the hand pressing against his stomach gradually tightening.

When Liang Shining first brought up these things, his first instinct was to change the subject directly.

But when he saw the barely concealed sorrow in Liang Shining's eyes, the words he had swallowed came out unconsciously.

Now realizing what he had said, he turned his eyes away somewhat flustered, clumsily covering up with a joking tone.

"Nothing, I just saw you seemed really upset, wanted to comfort you—I won't suddenly leave."

Ying Huai looked up and smiled.

His heart was flustered, trying his best to cover up what he had just blurted out.

"Don't overthink things. I'm fine now, aren't I? But with this body of mine, if I suddenly have an attack someday, it's not something I can control........"

"Don't say that, shifu," Liang Shining said in a low voice.

Ying Huai didn't notice the oddness in Liang Shining's tone.

His fingers clutching Liang Shining's tie tightened bit by bit, not noticing Liang Shining was slowly moving closer to him.

"I'm just saying hypothetically, hypothetically, if someday I suddenly have an attack and don't make it....... cough, you shouldn't be too upset, I can't guarantee that either........"

Before he could finish, he suddenly felt the back of his neck being firmly grasped.

Ying Huai instinctively raised his head, and the next moment he felt a slight pain between his lips and teeth.

Ying Huai's eyes suddenly widened.

Liang Shining leaned down, with a gentle yet fierce determination, and sealed off all his remaining words.

Unlike the previous two kisses that had excuses, this time, Liang Shining was sober, kissing him earnestly on the lips.

Ying Huai's vision swam with dizziness.

He felt he couldn't catch his breath and instinctively tried to push the person in front of him, but the next second, he felt Liang Shining straighten up first.

Ying Huai gasped rapidly.

The corners of his eyes were red, his whole body weak, and it took him a long moment to find his voice: "........What are you doing?!"

"Shifu bit me last time, I'm just returning the favor," Liang Shining's voice was calm, not at all breathless like Ying Huai, as if he had prepared the excuse long ago, "Now we're even."

Ying Huai: ???

"That's not the same, I didn't bite your mouth—"

"Does Shifu want to bite me back?" Liang Shining lowered his eyes and asked seriously.

Ying Huai choked.

—For the first time, he realized Liang Shining could be so shameless when acting unreasonable.

Liang Shining didn't speak, staring at the person in front of him.

He harbored a faint, secret hope that Ying Huai would question him closely about his actions just now.

But the person in front of him just rubbed his forehead and sighed silently: "Were you angry just now?"

Liang Shining's eyes flickered; he stared at Ying Huai without speaking.

Ying Huai sighed again.

He deliberately ignored the flutter in his heart, and after forcing himself to calm down, he also realized there was something wrong with what he had said earlier.

He closed his eyes and finally spoke softly: "I won't....... suddenly leave."

He paused, thought of something else, and gave a helpless smile: "Even if I were to leave........ I'd tell you in advance, alright?"

Liang Shining's eyes flickered, and after a long moment, he finally nodded slightly.

Ying Huai breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Liang Shining support him as if to walk out, he couldn't bear it any longer and pulled him back to the wall: "Wait, we can't go out yet."

He wiped his still somewhat feverish lips and spoke indignantly: "Are you a dog, just charging in like that, not holding back at all......."

Before he could finish, the next second, he heard a soft sound from around the corner.

Liang Shining's expression instantly turned cold.

He quickly shielded Ying Huai behind him and turned around, speaking coldly: "Who's there?"

No one spoke from the corridor corner.

Liang Shining frowned. He deliberately made his footsteps heavier, shifting in place, and the next second, saw a figure abruptly appear before him.

Liang Shining frowned: "Song Xingzhou?"

Song Xingzhou was panting lightly, his expression dark and inscrutable.

He looked up at the two people in front of him and suddenly spoke: "Why?"

Liang Shining sensed something was off with his state.

He ignored him, trying to shield Ying Huai and leave, but the next second, saw Song Xingzhou directly reach out and block their path.

"Don't go!" Song Xingzhou gritted his teeth. "You're not allowed to leave, Ying Huai!"

Liang Shining's expression also darkened.

He directly reached out to grab Song Xingzhou's arm, but the next second, heard Ying Huai's calm voice come from behind him.

"Is there something you need?"

Ying Huai shielded Liang Shining behind him.

His face was somewhat pale; he lowered his eyes and looked quietly at the person in front of him.

Song Xingzhou instinctively flinched.

Immediately after, he suddenly raised his head and spoke through gritted teeth: "Why didn't you expose me just now?"

Song Xingzhou panted as he spoke: "Why didn't you mention it at all? Why did you just gloss over it as if nothing happened......."

Before he could finish, he heard Ying Huai softly interrupt him.

"Why should I mention it?"

Ying Huai lowered his eyes, his voice seeming to carry a touch of nonchalance again: "It's not like I did anything wrong."

"I didn't either—" Song Xingzhou suddenly looked up.

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard Ying Huai speak softly: "Really?"

Song Xingzhou's voice cut off abruptly.

He watched as Ying Huai raised his head, a faint smile on his lips, and spoke slowly, word by word: "If you think you didn't do anything wrong—"

"—then why are you chasing after me now?"

Song Xingzhou's face paled for a moment.

He instinctively wanted to open his mouth to refute: "Because I......."

"If you truly believed you did nothing wrong, you wouldn't have come looking for me." Ying Huai gently interrupted him.

He spoke slowly, with a half-smile: "You wouldn't feel fear, unease, compelled to come here and demand an answer from me. Instead, you'd quietly let the matter pass with a clear conscience."

Song Xingzhou stood frozen in place.

He opened his mouth soundlessly, finally squeezing out only a few words: "What do you mean......."

"I won't pursue this matter any further, Song Xingzhou." Ying Huai said calmly.

"You don't need to come find me again."

Song Xingzhou was stunned.

Watching Liang Shining support Ying Huai as they slowly walked away, he couldn't help but suddenly turn his head: "Why?"

Ying Huai paused in his steps.

"You've just started university; you can still feel fear. That's a good thing."

Ying Huai turned his head slightly, his voice extremely soft.

"Chu Hongsheng isn't as kind-hearted as he appears. Don't do something you'll regret."

Song Xingzhou stood frozen in place.

Ying Huai didn't say anything more. He turned back and, together with Liang Shining, slowly disappeared down the corridor.

·

Liang Shining supported the person as they slowly turned the corner.

The next second, he felt Ying Huai gently slip his hand free.

"Go back and eat something more, little disciple. I'm going back to my room to get something."

Perhaps because of the emotional turmoil earlier, the pain in Ying Huai's stomach, which had finally quieted down a bit, began to ache faintly again.

Ying Huai took a step back, leaned against the wall, looked up with a smile: "If recording starts later, please call me, I'll come down immediately."

Liang Shining didn't speak.

Ying Huai didn't mind either, smiled with curved eyes, took a deep breath, pressed his stomach, tried to straighten up, and turned to walk back as if nothing was wrong.

The next second, he heard Liang Shining suddenly speak: "Shifu's stomach hurts, doesn't it?"

Ying Huai's footsteps halted.

He hadn't expected Liang Shining to still remember this; feeling a bit guilty, he quickened his pace, but the next second, felt an arm sweep horizontally behind his knees.

Liang Shining picked Ying Huai up without another word.

Ying Huai was startled.

He instinctively said: "You—"

But before he could finish, the next second, an angry voice came from behind him first.

"What are you doing?"

Su Xin hurried over quickly from the end of the corridor.

Ying Huai's entire face suddenly flushed red.

He instantly thought of the kiss Liang Shining had just given him.

Ying Huai inexplicably felt like he'd been caught in the act.

He stopped struggling and quickly buried his face in Liang Shining's neck, gritting his teeth: "Hurry, go."

·

After Song Xingzhou returned earlier looking utterly defeated, Su Xin had been frequently glancing towards the door, wanting to see when Ying Huai would come back.

But even after everyone had gradually left the dining room, Ying Huai still hadn't returned.

Su Xin knew Liang Shining was probably with Ying Huai, but the inexplicable fragments of memory swirling in his mind made his unease gradually expand to its peak.

He couldn't resist and finally rushed out the door, never expecting to see such a scene as soon as he arrived.

—Liang Shining was carrying a person wearing an unfamiliar jacket horizontally in his arms, walking naturally towards the rooms.

Su Xin didn't know Su Yun had given his own jacket to Ying Huai; he exploded instantly.

He could no longer pretend, directly strode forward and shouted: "Liang Shining, what are you doing? Who are you holding?"

Su Xin directly pressed a hand on Liang Shining's shoulder.

Seeing the person in Liang Shining's arms deliberately not showing their face, he couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"How dare you protect him, Liang Shining. How can you face Ying Huai like this? Teacher Mu trusted you so much for nothing........"

He directly reached out to grab the person in his arms.

At the same moment, he heard a familiar voice come from in front of him.

"That was an accident just now, shixiong, listen to me explain........"

Su Xin's movement halted.

The next second, he saw the person in Liang Shining's arms also pause, then slowly turn their head.

Su Xin's expression instantly froze.

He opened his mouth soundlessly: "Shidi, you......."

Ying Huai narrowed his eyes.

—Not caught in the act, but catching the wrong person.

His entire face was still faintly feverish, but he straightened up slightly and smiled at Su Xin.

"I never knew before that shixiong cared about me so much?"

"What was shixiong saying just now, about Teacher Mu trusting Liang Shining—trusting him with what?"

Su Xin's expression stiffened; he opened his mouth soundlessly.

He suddenly thought of something and instantly blurted out: "Why doesn't shidi answer me, what was that 'accident' you mentioned just now—what was it?"

Ying Huai's expression also instantly froze.

·

In the end, Ying Huai still couldn't get anything out of Su Xin.

First, both of them harbored unspeakable thoughts; second, Ying Huai's complexion was simply too poor.

Even Su Xin could tell Ying Huai was forcing himself to hold on.

The two of them exchanged a few mismatched sentences and quickly parted in awkwardness.

Ying Huai breathed a silent sigh of relief, feeling his stomach ache even more.

Fortunately, after all that commotion, he no longer had the energy to think about what had just happened with Liang Shining. Once he lay down on the bed, he quickly fell asleep.

When he woke up, he found Liang Shining packing his luggage.

"What's wrong?" Ying Huai sat up from the bed, somewhat dazed.

His mind was still echoing the scene of Su Xin 'catching them in the act,' and he instinctively blurted out: "Who are you eloping with?"

Liang Shining: .......

A trace of helplessness flashed across his expression as he turned sideways to reveal the suitcase behind him: "Can I take Shifu along to elope?"

Ying Huai narrowed his eyes.

Knowing Liang Shining wasn't leaving, he instantly relaxed, yawned, and wanted to lie back down: "Fine, whatever, just tell me when you've set the time, I'll leave a note for Bouquet, tell him where I hid all the cans......."

But before he could lie down, the next second, Liang Shining supported his waist and instantly sat him back up.

Ying Huai: ?

"Can't sleep anymore, Shifu, we really have to leave soon." Liang Shining looked at the dissatisfied person in front of him and spoke somewhat amusedly.

"The Assistant Director said we need to change to another accommodation."

Ying Huai's expression froze.

·

In the hall, the Assistant Director looked at the gradually assembled people and spoke with a smile: "The music lover was very satisfied with the orchestra performance before the meal."

"But regarding the incident during the piano performance just now—"

Song Xingzhou, who had been standing in the corner, froze, his heart tightening again.

The next second, he saw the Assistant Director turn to Ying Huai. "That music lover thought Teacher Ying's adaptation of the piece was excellent and specially invites everyone to rest at the Villa he sponsors this afternoon."

The Assistant Director spoke with a smile, leading the applause: "Thank you, Teacher Ying."

The others around instantly cheered. Song Xingzhou was stunned for a moment, his hand hanging at his side gradually clenching.

His expression not only didn't relax, but grew even uglier.

—Why.

Song Xingzhou gritted his teeth.

—Why does Ying Huai always get the best.

What Ying Huai had said to him earlier had shaken him for a moment, but hearing the Assistant Director's words now, his heart suddenly turned cold.

—Ying Huai just wants to show off using him, and he was foolish enough to wonder if he'd really done something wrong.

Ying Huai's expression was also somewhat surprised.

Each Variety Show of this kind usually establishes a scripted backstory before filming begins. Ying Huai had initially assumed this 'music lover' was just another plot background the Assistant Director had set up, but now it seemed there really was such a person.

When they arrived at the Villa, the Assistant Director surprisingly didn't have them play games to decide rooms, but directly arranged their accommodations.

Ying Huai looked at the familiar furnishings in his room—and the plump calico cat in the corner—and felt a growing sense of déjà vu.

He instinctively glanced at the Assistant Director, only to find the Assistant Director seemed to have anticipated something, also smiling at him, giving him a subtle wink.

Ying Huai: ?

He grew even more curious this time.

·

"There are no other activities this afternoon, everyone rest well. All the entertainment facilities in the Villa are available for free use." The Assistant Director spoke with a smile after everyone had settled in.

"See you all at dinner."

As soon as he finished speaking, the few people in front of him instantly started discussing.

Ying Huai sat on the sofa, stroking the calico cat absentmindedly, listening half-heartedly to their discussion.

He'd never played with any 'entertainment facilities' since childhood, and now, finally relaxed, he actually couldn't think of anything he wanted to do.

He yawned, picked up the cat, and wanted to return to his room, but the next second, his arm was grabbed by Xin Wan.

"Where are you going, little shidi?" Xin Wan said with a grin. "Come play with us."

Ying Huai pulled his hand back and said directly: "I'm not going, I don't know how—"

"I haven't even said what we're playing yet."

Xin Wan directly took his hand: "Don't worry, I know you don't know. You can just sit comfortably in the sun."

Ying Huai: ?

For a moment he was both amused and exasperated, instinctively looking towards Liang Shining beside him for help. Liang Shining paused, then directly averted his gaze.

Ying Huai: ???

By the time Ying Huai reacted, he was already sitting on the lawn outside the Villa, holding the calico cat.

The weather was warm where they'd come, and today was unusually sunny. Ying Huai took a deep breath, feeling his muddled brain finally clear up a bit.

"Is Shifu really not cold?" Liang Shining looked at Ying Huai's pale face and asked uneasily.

When they came out, Ying Huai had found the jacket inconvenient for holding the cat and had taken it off inside. Liang Shining had tried to dissuade him to no avail and had been asking ever since.

"I'm really not cold. If I get cold, I can hug Panda Cat for warmth." Ying Huai turned his head somewhat helplessly. "How many times have you asked......."

Before he could finish, he saw Liang Shining suddenly stand up: "Shifu's hands are cold. I'll go get Shifu's jacket."

Ying Huai: .......

He sighed, an image of 'your mother thinks you're cold' inexplicably surfacing in his mind.

The Panda Cat in his arms seemed never to have been carried outside before; it curiously craned its neck, meowed, and directly broke free from Ying Huai's embrace, running forward.

"Hey—"

Ying Huai hurriedly pushed himself up and caught Panda Cat just before the silly creature charged into the swimming pool.

"What are you doing,"

Ying Huai crouched by the poolside, amusedly ruffling Panda Cat's fur: "My Bouquet is terrified of water, why are you charging towards it on your own?"

He didn't notice a hand silently reaching out behind him.

·

On the other side, Su Xin stared at Ying Huai not far away with a complicated expression, lips pressed tightly together.

The more he thought about what had happened in the corridor earlier, the more wrong it felt. Ying Huai had looked flustered then, his lips also unusually swollen.

He took a deep breath, lifted his foot wanting to go ask again, but the next second, saw a person directly block his path.

"Where are you going?" Xin Wan asked suspiciously.

Su Xin instinctively glanced at Ying Huai and didn't speak.

"Are you going to find little shidi? What happened between you and little shidi?" Xin Wan seemed to realize something. He stepped forward and spoke bluntly.

The mental preparation Su Xin had painstakingly built vanished without a trace. He turned his head and directly tried to leave.

The next second, Xin Wan directly reached out and blocked his path: "Say something, why do you keep staring at little shidi?"

He spoke warily: "You're not planning to do something to little shidi again, are you?"

Su Xin looked at the few people surrounding him—Lu Jing and the others—gritted his teeth, and finally spoke softly.

"Liang Shining likes Shidi Ying."

Xin Wan scoffed: "Who doesn't know that, anyone can see it......"

Before he could finish, he heard Su Xin continue in a low voice: "He also seems to have....... done something to Shidi Ying."

Xin Wan: ???

He suddenly looked up, but the next second, heard a sharp cat cry from behind.

Immediately followed by a loud splash of water. Xin Wan suddenly turned his head: "Little shidi—"

Before he could finish, he saw Ying Huai standing by the poolside holding the cat, his expression complicated.

Xin Wan was stunned.

His gaze shifted to the side, meeting Song Xingzhou in the water.