RSDH CH64

Cheng Duzhou’s face was exaggeratedly red, as if his capillaries had burst.

The audience thought he was sick.

At this moment, the camera moved away again, focusing on the front.

Duan Xingye was riding the horse, galloping halfway across the open space, sprinting toward the goal. His posture was light and agile. The white horse leaped powerfully, suspended in the air, landed, and crossed an even higher obstacle, then another, completing a perfect double jump.

It was evident the rider had excellent flexibility, displaying a harmonious unity between man and horse.

The audience felt like they were at the scene of an equestrian show jumping competition, their blood pumping. The livestream was full of gasps of amazement, and the ratings soared.

Song Song, a resident guest, was peeling corn in the backyard. Attracted by the commotion at the horse farm, she ran out to watch and happened to see Duan Xingye’s gallant double jump—elegant yet wild.

She was so excited she raised two corn cobs high, waving them like glow sticks. “Ahhh! Teacher Duan—!”

The noble charm Duan Xingye displayed while riding easily drove young girls crazy.

Duan Xingye hadn’t actually ridden a horse in many years, but once he mounted, he quickly regained the feeling. The fact that he could defeat British contestants from the so-called strongest equestrian nation in his teenage years was not fake.

It was rare for him to exercise his muscles and bones today. Taking the field personally was intentional—to let the audience see what true equestrianism was, and then sit back and wait to see how Wang Shixi would perform after him.

Duan Xingye rode the horse back, passing by Wang Shixi who was still struggling with his horse.

The camera happened to frame the two as they passed each other.

They saw Duan Xingye’s transcendent face, appearing like white snow. His sapphire blue shirt looked expensive, and his bearing and temperament were comparable to nobility—handsome and spirited.

Wang Shixi, on the other hand, had just barely struggled onto the horse, swaying unsteadily, hunched back, looking nervous and disheveled.

Under such a stark contrast, it was hard for netizens not to be sharp-tongued: Young master and his shoe-carrying servant?

Duan Xingye looked at Wang Shixi’s awkward state, a trace of extremely shallow mockery gliding through his eyes.

He became a singer, and Wang Shixi also wanted to be a singer. He debuted as first place in a talent show, so Wang Shixi took the ‘purple star’ (destined star) script on The Singer-Songwriter. Now, mimicking his life trajectory seemed unable to satisfy Wang Shixi; he wanted to claim Duan Xingye’s life as his own.

The reason copycats are annoying lies in their gaze that constantly pries into others’ privacy.

If someone is always peeking from a dark corner, watching your every move, trying to outdo you and preferably replace you, who wouldn’t be annoyed?

Duan Xingye retracted his gaze very lightly and rode past.

Song Song was too enthusiastic, stretching her hand across the fence. “Teacher Duan! Teacher Duan!”

When Duan Xingye followed the voice and saw her, he also saw Cheng Duzhou standing beside her.

The handsome man’s face was abnormally red. Duan Xingye was startled, stopped the horse, and stood in front of the two across the fence.

Song Song was jumping with joy, shouting loudly, “Teacher Duan, I love you!!”

Cheng Duzhou gazed at Duan Xingye, light flickering deep in his pitch-black eyes, seeming to have something to say.

Duan Xingye leaned forward slightly, extending a snow-clean hand to touch Cheng Duzhou’s forehead.

Consequently, Cheng Duzhou’s gaze moved down one by one, seeing more of his fair collarbone exposed, the tucked-in shirt tightening around his waist with his movements, then the perky curve of his buttocks sitting on the saddle, and finally landing once again on the taut folds on the inner side of his black trousers… Duan Xingye was so beautiful.

Duan Xingye felt his forehead was very hot and frowned slightly. “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Duzhou opened his mouth slightly, his face completely flushed. Knowing it wasn’t appropriate for him as a prominent male star, but those swelling emotions were hard to conceal in his heart. Not saying it was too painful, so his Adam’s apple rolled with a gulp, and he squeezed out an unnatural voice: “Duan Xingye, I love you.”

“……”

The livestream room instantly exploded.

Duan Xingye retracted his hand as if electrocuted, his expression changing repeatedly, finally spreading into a patch of red.

What is this bumpkin doing!!!

“Hahahahaha! So the blush was because he watched wifey riding a horse and was totally mesmerized!”

“President Cheng vividly interpreted what it means to be love-struck and blind.”

“Get used to it; he never has any idol baggage in front of wifey.”

“Convinced by some young couples, clingy all day long.”

The cameraman laughed uncontrollably but didn’t forget Wang Shixi on the other side, so he moved the camera over.

Wang Shixi sat firmly and thrust his body forward clumsily, but the horse stopped in place without moving. He frowned anxiously and lifted the reins high, but used too much force. The horse raised its front hooves, and Wang Shixi almost slid off the horse’s back, letting out a strange cry. The horse suddenly jumped back and forth, and Wang Shixi was like a cowboy, gripping the reins tightly, rocking back and forth violently.

Professional keepers on the horse farm rushed forward, trying to stabilize the horse.

The confusion in the livestream room deepened.

“I suspect his claim of winning a gold medal is bragging.”

“Eww, feels a bit turn-off.”

“Why is a noble sport played so indescribably by him? I’d better watch Teacher Duan.”

“In front of Teacher Duan, he’s really unsightly.”

Wang Shixi’s fans were still whitewashing.

“Prohibit stepping on one to praise another.”

“Must be a bad horse.”

“Wang Shixi learned equestrianism in elementary school. It’s normal to be rusty now, right?”

The professionals stabilized the horse. Wang Shixi, pale-faced, was helped to stand on the ground. He glanced at the camera filming on the side, feeling embarrassed and anxious, and said to Jiang Dong, “My leg was injured when I learned equestrianism before. Haven’t ridden a horse for almost ten years.”

As a veteran host, Jiang Dong habitually took care of newcomers and patted his shoulder. “You should have said so earlier; wouldn’t have let you go up.”

Wang Shixi smiled awkwardly.

Duan Xingye dismounted easily. Seeing Wang Shixi walk over, he said, “Heard you also participated in related competitions. What was it called?”

Wang Shixi blurted out, “International Youth Equestrian Show Jumping.”

He was actually looking forward to Duan Xingye questioning him now, so he would have an excuse to show his certificate after the show and salvage some face with the public.

Duan Xingye glanced at him. “Oh.”

Left.

Wang Shixi: “……”

After visiting the horse farm, everyone returned to the courtyard of the wooden house.

Another resident guest was cooking, with Song Song helping.

On the terrace extending from under the eaves, there was a long solid wood low table.

Cheng Duzhou pressed Duan Xingye’s shoulder to make him sit down and said, “You just exercised, rest a bit.”

Then he rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen set up in the courtyard to stir-fry dishes.

The kitchen was built of wood and open on three sides, so Duan Xingye could see the busy person in the kitchen from his position.

Although Jiang Dong emphasized that guests just needed to wait for the meal, on variety shows, if any guest idled about, netizens would definitely point fingers, saying they were lazy, had low EQ, and escalate it to character issues.

Cheng Duzhou directly found a reason for Duan Xingye not to work, reminding the audience that Duan Xingye had just contributed a wonderful equestrian performance and needed rest. Plus, Cheng Duzhou actively helped with cooking, representing the couple, so there was no criticism in the livestream room.

Before long, Cheng Duzhou came out of the kitchen again, poured a cup of clear tea for Duan Xingye, and placed a plate of bright red tangerines in front of him.

Duan Xingye sat cross-legged by the table, looked up at Cheng Duzhou—his dark eyes with upturned tails always seemed to have some looming threads of emotion—then lowered his lashes, picked up a tangerine, and started peeling.

The livestream audience got their sugar fix again.

“Wherever President Cheng goes, he takes care of wifey first.”

“Can tell Teacher Duan is very satisfied with the service.”

“Did these two secretly flirt when they looked at each other?”

“Why does it feel sweeter than on the romance variety show! Too many little details!”

At this time, the sun was slanting west, floating clouds drifted in the distant sky reflecting the colors of the sunset. In the courtyard in front of the wooden house, smoke from stir-frying rose, filled with a warm atmosphere of life.

Duan Xingye sat under the eaves, stuffing tangerines while watching the scenery. As a result, due to his overly bright and beautiful appearance, he became scenery himself.

Also idle was Wang Shixi. He sat at the other end of the same long table as Duan Xingye, far away.

Originally, he was going to feed the horses, but after getting frightened riding, the horse farm matters were handed over to professionals. After returning, he had no intention of helping wash vegetables or cook. Instead, he silently took out a violin, buried his head to pluck the strings, and occasionally played a short tune to tune it. He was going to perform a talent before the meal later.

Wang Shixi’s fans became active again, occupying the livestream room.

“Wow! Wang Shixi isn’t playing a violin, he’s playing six million US dollars!”

“The sound is so nice; this is the money power of six million.”

“Talented wow, even knows violin.”

“Young master, does your family need a nanny?”

“Need a nanny +1”

Because of a violin, people in the livestream room started groveling.

Wang Shixi played another short segment, closed his eyes, immersed in an artistic world.

Duan Xingye put the tangerine peel on the table, looked at Wang Shixi, and reminded, “E string isn’t tuned right.”

“……”

The E string is the thinnest of the four violin strings, also called the first string. If the open string isn’t tuned right, the notes pressed afterward will all be out of tune.

Bullet screen: Hahahaha! So Wang Shixi was just pretending just now?

Wang Shixi said stubbornly, “I was just playing casually, haven’t started tuning yet.”

After speaking, he twisted the tuning peg, but after trying several times, it got more and more out of tune.

Duan Xingye seemed unable to watch anymore and reached out to him. “Let me.”

Wang Shixi glanced at him. Although guarded in his heart, he couldn’t refuse in front of the camera. Besides, he reckoned Duan Xingye wouldn’t dare tamper with his performance instrument, so he handed the violin over.

Duan Xingye didn’t even use the bow to play it. He just plucked the strings like a ukulele and tuned it.

His slender white fingertips moved nimbly between the four strings, plucking a relaxed and cheerful melody while looking up to ask Wang Shixi, “What brand is your violin?”

Wang Shixi pondered.

His mother was right; why couldn’t he have what Duan Xingye had? Moreover, Duan Xingye didn’t bring a violin today, so he couldn’t confront him on the spot.

“It’s an antique, handmade by an Italian violin-making master.”

In the livestream room, Wang Shixi’s fans mocked: Actually asking what brand? Can general factories produce this sound quality? A bit low.

But they were scolded badly in a blink.

“Not recognizing an antique is low? Some fans are too ridiculous.”

“I play the violin, and I can’t tell it’s an antique, but it doesn’t stop me from playing well.”

“I won’t say who the truly low person is.”

Duan Xingye asked then, “Which master?”

Wang Shixi’s face was indifferent. “Antonio Ravatti.”

He knew Duan Xingye had a violin from this master, but a master couldn’t possibly produce only one violin in a lifetime.

Duan Xingye continued to ask, “How much?”

Wang Shixi raised his chin, arrogance showing on his face. “Six million US dollars.”

Duan Xingye didn’t speak, plucked the strings for a while longer, stopped by patting the soundboard, and returned the violin. “Bought expensive. This one is worth twenty thousand at most.”

Wang Shixi looked dazed, his brain confused.

Duan Xingye added another phrase: “RMB.”

“……”

The livestream room exploded in a second.

“Huh? Huh? Huh? Price instantly shrunk two hundred times?”

“Is there tea (gossip)?”

“Family members, I checked online. Master Antonio Ravatti only has one violin passed down to this day, and the buyer is indeed Chinese.”

“That Chinese person is Wang Shixi, what’s there to say.”

“Duan Xingye is too low, right? Not recognizing a master-level violin is one thing, but opening his mouth to say only twenty thousand, dying of laughter, only makes himself look classless.”

“I think Duan Xingye is just sour. The price of one of Wang Shixi’s violins, he can’t earn in a few years, hmph.”

“Don’t be anxious to speak yet; Teacher Duan won’t speak nonsense.”

Wang Shixi recovered his senses, stabilizing himself without panic.

The number Duan Xingye guessed was exactly right—not more, not less. Twenty thousand was considered top-tier for a violin; it was enough to fool the audience. If he had money, he’d rather buy a car than buy a genuine masterwork to put at home as a decoration.

Wang Shixi hugged the violin, smiling somewhat coldly. “You must have estimated wrong. This violin has internationally certified certificates. If you don’t believe it, I’ll find them when I go back.”

“No need.” Duan Xingye’s dark eyes curved slightly, revealing a rare, pretty, fox-like expression. “I was just afraid you were cheated. If it’s real, of course, that’s best.”

Wang Shixi frowned imperceptibly. Duan Xingye didn’t continue questioning, but he felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

…

When it got dark, the lights under the eaves turned on, and the dishes finally came to the table.

Everyone sat in a circle around the long table on the terrace.

Jiang Dong said, “Little Wang plays the violin quite well. His violin is ridiculously expensive. Let’s all listen together.”

Others applauded.

Wang Shixi revealed a happy look. This was the highlight moment he had been waiting for. He straightened his back, set up the violin, and started playing.

He played a pop song, easy to understand without a threshold. Fans praised it desperately.

But most viewers reacted plainly, feeling the piece was neither meritorious nor faulty.

“Playing pop music doesn’t require skill; amateur level ten can play like this too. A bit of a waste of this good violin.”

“The violin sound seems really better than ordinary violins, but can’t say exactly where it’s good.”

“So Duan Xingye estimated the value wrong before, right?”

Wang Shixi finished one piece.

Jiang Dong looked at Duan Xingye. “Since the atmosphere is here, Little Duan, give us an impromptu performance too.”

Duan Xingye didn’t decline and gestured to the staff on the other side.

Everyone was curious about what he wanted when a staff member came up holding a black violin case.

Song Song applauded. “Woo~ Violin!”

Wang Shixi’s face stiffened.

He hadn’t expected Duan Xingye to bring his own violin.

Could it be that one?

Duan Xingye took the violin out of the box. The light above brushed over the dark lacquered surface, and light flowed down along the smooth surface.

Bullet screen:

“First time seeing a gem-like texture on a violin!”

“Maybe I don’t understand, but it looks prettier than Wang Shixi’s.”

“Maybe I don’t understand, but it looks more expensive than Wang Shixi’s.”

Duan Xingye held the neck of the violin and looked at Cheng Duzhou seemingly inadvertently. “What do you want to hear?”

Cheng Duzhou was waiting for Duan Xingye’s performance. Hearing this, he blinked, feeling flattered in his heart. He thought for a moment and said, “Anything is fine.”

He loved to listen to everything.

Duan Xingye felt bored, however, and was a bit unhappy to pay attention to Cheng Duzhou.

Afraid of restricting his performance, he stood up, placed the violin on his shoulder, tilted his head to rest on the chin rest, bent his other arm in the air, and placed the long bow on the fine strings.

Duan Xingye paused for a second, then moved. The bow sliced across the strings like a sharp sword, emitting a sharp high note, yet not piercing to the ear. Instead, it suppressed a mellow brightness, the resonance deep and powerful.

Instantly, the livestream room was released from the plain atmosphere just now.

“Holy crap! This violin sound! What top-level enjoyment is this!”

“Feels like a symphony orchestra is playing in unison!”

“Don’t know without comparison, but with comparison, I believe it. Wang Shixi’s violin indeed seems like twenty thousand RMB.”

“Seems like the first time hearing Teacher Duan play violin. I’m crying; it sounds too good.”

Duan Xingye played the opening theme of A Certain Scientific Railgun. The first note was an explosive opening. His fingers switched quickly between strings, the arm holding the bow waved neatly with degrees of tension and relaxation, his body swaying restrainedly with the passionate music.

“Headphone users exploded!”

“How can he be so handsome! Like a male god in anime, breaking the dimension wall.”

“Isn’t this the piece Teacher Duan played at the school anniversary when he was sixteen?”

“This must be a performance prepared for President Cheng!”

“Heart beating straight; experienced President Cheng’s feelings at sixteen. Wifey is too charming.”

Hearing the familiar melody, Cheng Duzhou curled his hands resting on the table, then tucked them uncomfortably between his crossed legs. Amidst the gently blowing evening breeze, he squinted slightly, looking at Duan Xingye almost mesmerized.

Duan Xingye tilted his head slightly, stretching his elegant long neck. His expression was composed, long lashes like raven feathers drooping, casting dense shadows on his snow-white lower eyelids. Strands of hair highlighted in milky white moved lightly in the wind.

Even though Duan Xingye had never said he liked him, Cheng Duzhou felt it—Duan Xingye also kept him in his heart.

Compared to when he was sixteen, what remained unchanged was his heart rate, but what changed was his mood. No longer panic-stricken and green, no longer smelling of slightly bitter coffee, but filled with happiness and sweetness that couldn’t be vented.

The director monitored data backstage throughout. Seeing the continuously climbing viewer count on the screen, he tutted twice. “The peak ratings are all contributed by Teacher Duan.”

Duan Xingye finished playing a super-burning piece meant to show off skills. Applause thundered at the scene; not only guests but even staff were applauding. The livestream room was flooded with various emojis like “[666]”, “[Clap]”, “[Confetti]”.

Song Song was straightforward and full of wonder: “Teacher Duan, how much is this violin of yours? Must be six hundred million, right?”

Obviously, she compared Duan Xingye’s violin with Wang Shixi’s and felt Duan Xingye’s sounded more than a hundred times better.

Duan Xingye sat down, put the violin back in the box, closed it, and avoided the heavy to dwell on the light: “Not that expensive.”

Wang Shixi rubbed his stiff face, his eyes avoiding Duan Xingye.

He wasn’t afraid. If netizens really discovered Duan Xingye’s violin was made by the master, he could say his violin was another one made by the master.

In the densely packed livestream room, a thin comment slid past mixed in the colorful bullet screen.

“Looked at photos online; seems like Teacher Duan’s violin is the one made by Antonio Ravatti, the only one of its kind in the world.”

“What’s going on? Is Wang Shixi’s really a knockoff?”

However, without strong evidence, and with most viewers still immersed in Duan Xingye’s explosive performance, no controversy was triggered for the time being.

After the talent show, the table started eating.

White mist rose from the casserole in the middle, drifting toward the incandescent bulb above.

Cheng Duzhou stir-fried a dish of celery and beef and served some to Duan Xingye.

While eating, Jiang Dong didn’t forget to throw out topics for everyone to pick up.

He chatted about the two guests’ recent works, then out of his own curiosity, asked Duan Xingye, “Little Duan, how did you manage to be multi-talented and proficient in everything?”

The bullet screen echoed, equally curious.

Someone summarized incisively: “Singing, became the leader of the new generation; stir-frying hot pot base, made the livestream room cry with craving; singing Peking Opera, made Director Liang feel ashamed and change the cast directly; equestrianism, easily achieved double jumps; violin, hall-level performance standard.”

“Took a lot of interest classes when young.” Duan Xingye pressed the grease on his lips, unconcerned. “Whatever I’m interested in, I’ll do my best.”

Jiang Dong nodded appreciatively. “Your mentality is very correct, but it definitely isn’t entirely interest; it can’t be separated from your diligent study and hard practice.”

Duan Xingye lowered his head to eat.

He really didn’t practice much. Singing was like eating and drinking water; equestrianism was just for fun; violin was just an instrument—mastering one means mastering a hundred. His childhood wasn’t all spent in interest classes; he spent more time playing wildly.

Song Song suddenly said, “Eh? Speaking of which, Little Wang, the things you know overlap quite a bit with Teacher Duan. Singing, equestrianism, violin—these really aren’t hobbies ordinary people would crash into.”

A mocking smile rose on the corner of Duan Xingye’s lips, and he didn’t respond.

“Coincidence, probably,” Wang Shixi hurriedly explained. “I was mainly influenced by the circle I contacted since childhood. My group of friends, instruments, golf, equestrianism—basically everyone knows one or two.”

Song Song said, “Right, right, right. I remember you’re from an international bilingual school. Speaking of which, what’s the experience of studying in that kind of school?”

“Nothing much.” Wang Shixi’s tone floated a bit. “The biggest feeling is openness and inclusiveness, allowing comprehensive self-development.”

Many people in the livestream room voiced envy for the rich second generation.

Duan Xingye suddenly said, “What school?”

“……” Now every time Duan Xingye made a sound, Wang Shixi’s heart would lift, always feeling the other party was holding back something bad. So his tone gradually became unkind. “Huist Bilingual School.”

Cheng Duzhou paused slightly, not looking at Wang Shixi but turning his head to look at Duan Xingye.

He didn’t watch the trailer before coming and didn’t know the persona Wang Shixi set for himself, so he sought verification for what Wang Shixi said.

At least before he transferred, Wang Shixi wasn’t their schoolmate.

Duan Xingye ignored Cheng Duzhou’s gaze and put a piece of meat in his bowl, meaning eat your food, mind less.

He asked, “You really are a student of Huist?”

Wang Shixi’s tone rose: “Of course.”

Duan Xingye said, “Heard admission is very difficult.”

Wang Shixi thought about highlighting his rich second-generation persona all the time and thought himself humorous as he said, “Nothing difficult, having money is enough.”

Duan Xingye smirked and stopped talking.

But Wang Shixi’s fans felt Duan Xingye was questioning their brother and were unhappy. Some fans couldn’t stand it and ran to tag the official Weibo of Huist Bilingual School, asking the school to clarify.

Five minutes later, Huist’s official blog indeed updated a status.

[Wang Shixi is not a student of our school. Our school has always adhered to the philosophy of elite cultivation. There is a strict system for selecting students, not looking towards “money.” Outsiders please do not spread rumors.]