RSDH CH48

The fans standing at the entrance were screaming themselves hoarse.

He was clearly a household-name superstar, yet instead of calling himself Cheng Duzhou, he insisted on declaring he was Duan Xingye’s husband. Who could resist a man so loyally mindful of his identity!

Right at that moment, Duan Xingye, who was originally about to enter the studio, suddenly spun on his heel and walked back toward the doors.

The beauty who had been aloof as snow moments ago now carried a suppressed sullenness in his dark eyes, yet a faint blush dusted his cheeks.

Seeing Teacher Duan look so vividly alive at close range made the fans even more thrilled. They screamed at the top of their lungs, their cries tinged with eager anticipation. All they wanted was to watch the couple interact; shipping a CP in person was simply exhilarating!

The security guard hesitated slightly. No one had notified him that a guest’s family member would be arriving, and he had no idea how to handle the situation.

Just as he reached for his walkie-talkie to contact his supervisor, Duan Xingye stepped up and said coolly, “Let him in. Leave him to me.”

The guard breathed a sigh of relief. As long as someone was there to take charge, things were easy. He pulled open the cordon, not daring to create too wide of an opening for fear that overexcited fans might rush inside.

Seizing the final moments, numerous fans held up their phones to record, crowding around Cheng Duzhou and asking: “President Cheng, why are you here?!”

Cheng Duzhou turned around as carefully as possible to avoid bumping into anyone, replying, “Teacher Duan has a solo stage today, and I wanted to hear it live.”

The fans jumped and cheered in wild excitement.

Turns out President Cheng had rushed all the way from a film set hundreds of kilometers away just so he wouldn’t miss Teacher Duan’s performance. He was so proactive in cheering on his wifey! Seeing how they kept each other in their thoughts was pure bliss to ship!

Seeing that Cheng Duzhou not only felt no shame but was actually chatting with the fans, Duan Xingye lost what little patience he had left.

Just as Cheng Duzhou turned back to say something to the crowd, a slender, pale hand grabbed his collar and yanked him straight across the cordon.

“Ahhhhh!!!”

The fans screamed until their voices cracked.

President Cheng, towering at over 190 centimeters, looked like an overgrown dog being dragged away by his irritable, pampered wifey.

It was fatally sweet!

Without looking back, Duan Xingye dragged Cheng Duzhou toward the studio.

Stumbling for a step, Cheng Duzhou matched Duan Xingye’s pace, not forgetting to turn his head and thank the security guard.

Once inside the studio, where the side of the stage remained unlit, Duan Xingye let go of Cheng Duzhou and poked a finger hard into his chest: “What do you mean, ‘that person’s husband’? Do you not have a name of your own?”

Standing firmly, Cheng Duzhou finally caught his breath. With one hand on his hip and the other scratching the back of his head, he explained, “No, see, I didn’t have an invitation. Claiming to be your relative works much better.”

“…”

Who’s your relative?

That wasn’t what you said just now.

Duan Xingye couldn’t be bothered to argue. He raised his delicate chin toward the audience seats nearby: “Find yourself a seat in the front row. I don’t have time to look after you.”

Cheng Duzhou glanced at him and asked, “I’m not late, am I?”

“Did I ever make a deal with you?” Duan Xingye’s voice was frosty. “Nobody was hoping you’d come anyway.”

Cheng Duzhou couldn’t tell if he felt relieved or not. He had been stuck in traffic on the way here and hadn’t texted Duan Xingye to explain he’d be late, mainly because yesterday, when he mentioned coming, Duan Xingye hadn’t responded and seemed indifferent. He hadn’t wanted to disturb him, planning to quietly sneak into the venue and wait to head home together after the show wrapped up.

He just hadn’t expected to be stopped at the entrance.

Cheng Duzhou said, “If there’s a next time, I’ll budget my time earlier.”

“No need.” Duan Xingye looked straight ahead without sparing him a glance, though the blush on his face was hidden in the dim lighting.

“Then I’ll go find a seat first,” Cheng Duzhou said, looking at him. “Do your best in a bit.”

Duan Xingye let out a lazy hum.

Not far away, a staff member was distributing a case of bottled water.

Cheng Duzhou had rushed over in such a hurry that he only now realized how thirsty he was. Walking over, he bent down slightly and asked, “Hello, may I take a bottle?”

The staff member looked up, instantly stunned by the impact of seeing a superstar in person, mumbling blankly, “You are…”

Cheng Duzhou pointed back over his shoulder: “I’m his husband.”

“…………”

The staff member glanced at Duan Xingye standing in the shadows.

Duan Xingye felt prickles across his back. Gritting his teeth, he barely held back his temper.

Dorky dog!

Claiming relation just to ask for a bottle of water!

Before the show started, Jin Zimi and Tao Ziyi were sitting at the mentor table playing on their phones.

Hearing deafening screams from outside, both were somewhat surprised.

Tao Ziyi: “Who is that?”

Jin Zimi shrugged: “Can only be Teacher Duan, right?”

Tao Ziyi lost interest immediately, going back to scrolling Weibo.

Ever since joining the romance show, in less than two months, Duan Xingye’s buzz had eclipsed even top-tier superstars, landing on the trending searches with Cheng Duzhou every few days. Previously, Tao Ziyi and Duan Xingye had comparable popularity, but now Duan Xingye had left him several tiers behind. Causing such wild screaming outside was only natural.

No matter how bitter Tao Ziyi felt, there was nothing he could do; fans simply ate up Duan Xingye’s unique gap moe.

Taking advantage of the free time, Tao Ziyi picked up the thermos on the table, held it by his cheek for a blissfully smiling selfie, then dropped his smile and composed a Weibo post.

Tao Ziyi V:

Thank you to Student Huang for thoughtfully preparing this olive throat-soothing tea for me.

Having felt my other half’s support and love, I’m not nervous to go on stage anymore. See you in a bit~ @ArtistHuangLiang

[Image]

After posting, Tao Ziyi skillfully switched to his burner account to inspect the comments.

Huang Liang replied almost instantaneously, taking the top comment spot.

[Artist Huang Liang]: Looking forward to Ziyi’s performance. Waiting for you at home!

The front rows were immediately claimed by fans.

“Wow, long-distance PDA! Huang-Tao is super sweet!”

“Huang Liang practically lives in Ziyi’s comments section haha!”

“So thoughtful, even brewing tea specially. With his lover’s support, his solo stage in a bit is guaranteed first place!”

“A certain CP’s fans should take notes. Which celebrity isn’t busy with work? But are they really too busy to even contact each other? Can’t even be bothered to post a supportive Weibo, yet have the nerve to claim they’re a real couple.”

Tao Ziyi liked the comment from his alt and expanded the nested replies, finding that a flame war had already broken out.

“How do you expect that couple to learn? I bet Cheng Duzhou doesn’t even know Duan Xingye has a solo stage today.”

“Compared to Huang-Tao, Lu Ye Shu Huai is pure plastic.”

“Can you people not ship your couple without dragging others down?”

“Lu Ye Shu Huai is all about keeping a low profile and living their lives, unlike certain people who want the whole world to know every time they drink tea.”

“Teacher Duan literally visited President Cheng on set yesterday, why aren’t you mentioning that?”

Tao Ziyi held down that comment and typed a reply: Honey, visiting the set was a requirement from Companionship Along the Way. They had to go whether they wanted to or not. Unless Duan Xingye visits on his own initiative or Cheng Duzhou shows up at the Singer-Songwriter venue, keep quiet about set visits~

The Lu Ye Shu Huai CP fans were vast in number and refused to let anyone slander their ship, but the Huang-Tao fans were notoriously brash. Since their own idols actively fed them crumbs while Lu Ye Shu Huai had zero activity outside the show, they felt fully justified in fighting back. Before long, this shade-throwing reply eclipsed Huang Liang’s comment, seizing the top spot in the section.

Tao Ziyi was thrilled to see this; the fiercer the fight, the better. While his and Huang Liang’s performance on the variety show fell short of Duan Xingye and Cheng Duzhou, when it came to external public engagement, they completely crushed that couple.

Duan Xingye hadn’t come to the mentor table yet because he was opening the show.

On the hour, the studio lights dimmed. The noisy chatter in the audience subsided as everyone waited quietly in the dark.

Suddenly, two massive LED screens behind the stage lit up, showing Zheng Qiuhua in a prerecorded video.

A roar of applause swept across the entire hall.

Zheng Qiuhua was hailed as a national-level music icon. Almost everyone in this generation knew him, not to mention their parents. His standing in the music industry was immense, commanding deep respect from even top superstars.

In the Singer-Songwriter live broadcast channel, viewership spiked significantly thanks to this video.

Zheng Qiuhua smiled warmly at the camera: “Hello, viewers, I am Zheng Qiuhua. It is an honor to meet everyone on Singer-Songwriter. First, I would like to thank the netizens for loving and recommending my song, giving it another chance to be performed. I especially want to thank Xingxing for putting his heart into rearranging the song, giving it new life. I hope Xingxing enjoys the stage today, and I wish this show can reignite everyone’s passion for music and originality. I wish Singer-Songwriter tremendous success.”

The audience cheered.

The online bullet comments rolled vigorously.

“When I was little, TV was filled with Zheng Qiuhua’s songs. My mom is a diehard fan to this day.”

“Seeing Zheng Qiuhua reminds me of Kan Dashan. One wrote scripts while the other scored music; they were famous best friends across Asia.”

“Xingxing~”

“Teacher Duan has so much prestige!”

“Longtime fans are in tears. Duan Xingye faced industry blacklists right after debut and never relied on corporate backing. Every inch of his current status was earned step by step. He truly deserves this recognition from a music legend.”

As the video ended, the venue darkened once more.

With a booming sound effect, a spotlight beamed down onto the center of the stage.

Duan Xingye stood beneath the illumination, head tilted slightly downward, long eyelashes resting quietly. Slender and poised, his fair skin radiated a soft, ethereal glow under the stage lights.

Gasping in awe, the audience broke into thunderous applause.

The comments exploded with even more fervor as fans flooded the screen.

The music began with the familiar, melodious prelude of “Dawn,” instantly reminding everyone of the classic television drama about an extended family in the 1980s, filled with warmth yet burdened by the weight of the era. The emotional atmosphere settled in, and the audience hushed.

Suddenly, a lively saxophone riff cut through the air. A light swung toward the side of the stage, highlighting a musician swaying with his instrument.

Next came the drums, guitar, bass, and keyboard, illuminating one after another. The stage lights twisted together before scattering into colorful, sweeping beams, plunging the backdrop into a rich, deep blue.

Duan Xingye stepped smoothly to the jazz rhythm. Timing the beat perfectly, he raised the microphone and sang the first line. His explosive vocal power instantly ignited a surge of excitement, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The original version of “Dawn” was a slow-tempo ballad that required quiet contemplation, but Duan Xingye’s arrangement captured the audience within five seconds. Boldly weaving pop elements into the vintage classic, he tailored it to modern tastes, as evidenced by the roaring response.

Yet catering to a younger crowd did not make the performance frivolous. The chorus served as the emotional peak; the tempo slowed down gradually as Duan Xingye pushed into powerful high notes with pristine technique. Layer upon layer of emotion unfolded, giving viewers goosebumps whether they were in the arena or watching through a screen.

“Oh my god, so smooth!”

“The explosion of sound was completely effortless!”

“The vocal penetration is unreal. He was born to be a singer.”

Not only was his singing breathtaking, but his presence on stage made it impossible for anyone to look away.

His stunning face and slender silhouette seemed secondary compared to his sheer musicality. Every movement following the tempo was natural and unconstrained, combining with his resonant vocals to deliver a magnificent, grand stage.

The comments were as electric as a live concert.

“Incredible stability!”

“Duan Xingye’s live vocals are god-tier.”

“Wifey is way too alluring when he sings!”

“Someone kill me to celebrate Teacher Duan’s stage!”

Cheng Duzhou sat in the corner of the front row. Under the dim lighting, his gaze remained fixed on Duan Xingye, his chest thumping so hard his heart felt ready to burst.

Compared to the sixteen-year-old boy who had played violin solos with arrogant flair, the Duan Xingye before him had grown into a seasoned artist. On a grander stage, the light radiating from him burned brighter and fiercer. The unspoken magnetism he commanded while singing could captivate anyone effortlessly.

Mid-song, Duan Xingye lowered his mic while the band played with renewed energy. He had inserted an instrumental bridge into the middle of the song, showcasing his arranging prowess.

Riding the rhythm, Duan Xingye paced from one side of the stage to the other as fans screamed at the top of their lungs.

Right at that moment,

the broadcast camera suddenly switched, and the giant LED screen behind the stage displayed the exact same feed.

A tall, handsome man appeared on screen against a backdrop of waving light sticks. Despite the dim lighting, his striking features were unmistakable.

The audience responded with ear-splitting screams rising in waves.

The comments flooded the broadcast in an instant.

“Ahhhhh! Cheng Duzhou!!!”

Sitting at the mentor desk, Tao Ziyi stared with wide eyes, as if seeing a ghost.

Then he remembered the post he had just made showing off his tea. His face flushed bright crimson, realizing he had slapped his own face once again.

The comments rolled past in dense clusters.

“Holy shit! President Cheng actually came to visit the set of Singer-Songwriter!”

“What an incredible surprise! My hands are shaking from excitement!”

“Certain fans better open their eyes and look. Who said Lu Ye Shu Huai doesn’t give fanservice outside the romance show? They just shoved the dog food right into your mouths!”

“President Cheng has always been a man of action. What does posting on Weibo count for? Even with a packed filming schedule, he still came in person to support his wife. How many people could actually pull that off?!”

“Full marks for this couple’s interaction. Did not see this coming at all.”

Following the crowd’s shouting, Duan Xingye shifted his gaze toward the side of the audience and spotted Cheng Duzhou immediately.

After Cheng Duzhou arrived, Duan Xingye hadn’t paid him any attention, and he never let himself get distracted while singing. Had the production crew not deliberately switched the camera, he wouldn’t have known Cheng Duzhou was sitting so close to the stage.

Seeing Cheng Duzhou watching him without blinking, Duan Xingye’s mind wandered for a split second. Back in school during stage performances, he had habitually searched for Cheng Duzhou in the crowd. Sometimes when their eyes met, Cheng Duzhou would casually look away, but most of the time, the guy hadn’t watched him perform at all.

This was perhaps the first time where he stood on stage while Cheng Duzhou sat below, holding his gaze without dodging, looking as though his entire world was filled with him alone.

Duan Xingye knew he was a natural center of attention. When he sang, focused gazes from the crowd were only expected, never stirring a ripple in his heart. Yet this was the first time someone’s gaze brought him genuine delight, as if only this person’s appreciation could truly please him.

Perhaps it was because in the entire arena, only Cheng Duzhou was tied to him as his family.

The music continued to soar amidst tidal waves of cheers.

Their eyes locked. Cheng Duzhou pressed his lips together lightly, raising a hand to give Duan Xingye a casual wave.

That’s it?!

Even the surrounding audience couldn’t bear to watch. A quick-witted fan behind him shoved an LED support board straight into Cheng Duzhou’s hands.

Without checking what was on it, Cheng Duzhou held it up toward Duan Xingye.

Instantly, the arena erupted into wild laughter.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at the giant LED screen, only to see himself holding a flashing board that read:

[Wifey, I love you!]

“…”

“…”

Duan Xingye had no idea what to say.

Realizing he was being teased by the crowd, Cheng Duzhou felt awkward putting the board down. A blush crept across his face, so he simply held the sign higher, shielding the lower half of his features.

Yet those dark eyes gazing at Duan Xingye glistened softly under the dim lights. After a brief pause, he seemed to inhale deeply, giving the board a small, rhythmic sway.

Consequently, the words [Wifey, I love you!] swayed along with it.

Everyone could tell he was broadcasting a direct message to Duan Xingye.

“Ahhhhhh!”

The screams in the arena were deafening.

Who is your wifey?

Maintaining a deadpan expression, Duan Xingye turned and walked toward center stage.

He was a professional and couldn’t let a silly dog throw him off.

With a short stretch left of the instrumental solo, the camera followed Duan Xingye’s movement.

As he walked back, the hand holding the microphone lightly tapped the corner of his mouth. Two seconds later, he bit his lower lip, completely unable to hold back a radiant smile.

The comments collapsed into chaos:

“That smile just ended me.”

__

Author’s Note:

Light Board: If you two don’t end up getting divorced, half the credit belongs to me.