RSDH CH51

The Korean drama date clip provided by the production crew was an edited montage. From the fifth second, when the male and female leads held hands at the amusement park gates, Duan Xingye’s brows knitted into a subtle frown.

Seeing the sheer distaste written on his face, the audience laughed with immense delight.

“Other guest couples have it so easy, but for Teacher Duan, it looks like it’s taking his very life.”

“Wifey has to take the initiative throughout the date today. President Cheng is in for a treat.”

“I wonder if President Cheng can handle such good fortune, or if he’ll end up wondering what he did wrong again, haha!”

The sappy, affectionate clip lasted less than a minute and wrapped up quickly.

Duan Xingye unlocked the phone issued by the production crew. A list of over a dozen items was already laid out in the memo app, including “holding hands,” “resting head on shoulder,” “hugging waist from behind,” “drinking from the same beverage with two straws while holding eye contact for over eight seconds,” “kissing cheeks during selfies,” “high-altitude kiss,” and more.

All typical things real couples did.

Duan Xingye asked Lao Xu, “What if I can’t do them?”

Lao Xu explained, “This isn’t mandatory, but it determines the transportation each couple receives to the wedding venue this afternoon. The more items you complete, the better your transportation will be. Only guests who begin their wedding before sunset can check into the bridal suite tonight.”

Duan Xingye asked, “What other options are there besides the bridal suite?”

Lao Xu replied, “A tent.”

Duan Xingye pressed his lips together. “And you call this not mandatory?”

Lao Xu smiled genially.

Just as the production crew anticipated, Teacher Duan rarely initiated affectionate gestures with President Cheng. Tasks that came naturally to the other couples felt utterly forced to him, which made for prime entertainment.

On the drive to the airport, Duan Xingye kept his secret mission under wraps, discussing the day’s itinerary with Cheng Duzhou.

Following the clues, they were supposed to visit two designated date locations like an unmarried couple.

Cheng Duzhou also kept the proposal under wraps. Tearing open his envelope, he found details for their first destination after landing.

Curling up in his seat, Duan Xingye remarked, “Then this episode is actually pretty relaxing.”

A purely scenic sightseeing trip. Aside from performing couple gestures with Cheng Duzhou, there were no extra tasks.

Duan Xingye gazed out the window, lost in thought. He had to complete the items on that list without letting Cheng Duzhou notice anything strange. Given their customary, courteous boundaries, sudden hand-holding, hugs, or kisses would definitely make Cheng Duzhou uncomfortable and suspicious.

Right then, Cheng Duzhou pulled a photo from the envelope.

It showed an aerial cable car.

Cheng Duzhou handed the picture to Duan Xingye. “Is this okay?”

Duan Xingye glanced at it, pausing almost imperceptibly.

When he went skiing abroad in the past, he had hesitated before boarding a lift that was only a few stories off the ground. Their destination today was Yongzhou, renowned for mountains and rivers, home to a national 5A-level forest park, and a frequent filming location for movies. The cableways spanned towering peaks, reaching heights of 1,200 meters. Riding it would surely send one’s soul floating out of their body.

Only now did Duan Xingye realize that the adventure-themed date was far less relaxing than expected.

“Can you handle it?” Duan Xingye looked at Cheng Duzhou, turning the question back on him.

Cheng Duzhou mumbled vaguely, “Should be fine.”

Bullet comments:

“I remember Teacher Duan mentioned before that President Cheng is afraid of heights.”

“Why do I feel like Teacher Duan is even more terrified of heights?”

“Seems like neither handles it well. Didn’t they say they stuck together during elementary school amusement park trips?”

“Haha, two people afraid of heights drawing an adventure theme.”

Cheng Duzhou was thinking about something else entirely. The photo provided by the show was the designated proposal location. There would be two more photos later, giving him three chances in total.

Proposing on the cable car would save him from growing more nervous the longer he delayed, and it felt rather romantic.

The only question was whether Duan Xingye would agree without knowing it was part of the show’s setup.

Cheng Duzhou felt he needed to ease the tension with Duan Xingye before reaching the venue, reducing the likelihood of being rejected.

Nerves wound tight, Cheng Duzhou glanced out the window with mild pessimism, wondering how to close the distance between them.

Suddenly, a cool hand reached over and grasped his.

Cheng Duzhou’s wrist trembled slightly as he turned to look.

Staring straight ahead, Duan Xingye furrowed his brow slightly and said, “I don’t like riding cable cars.”

Cheng Duzhou knew Duan Xingye was already getting nervous; taking his hand was his way of seeking comfort.

Duan Xingye feared heights, but his stubborn pride kept him from admitting it, terrified of being laughed at. During elementary school spring trips to amusement parks, whenever friends around him wanted to ride thrilling high-altitude attractions, Duan Xingye turned his head away, claiming they were “boring” and “unlikable,” refusing to participate.

Cheng Duzhou belonged to a different social circle and did not walk with him, yet he always trailed quietly nearby. Whenever Duan Xingye drifted away from his peers and stood awkwardly alone, he would turn around and spot Cheng Duzhou. For the remainder of the outing, the two would keep each other company.

Calming his racing heart, Cheng Duzhou relaxed his stiff wrist and said, “Don’t look down while we’re on it.”

Duan Xingye slid downward in his seat, resting his head against Cheng Duzhou’s shoulder. “If I get nervous later, you’re not allowed to laugh.”

Cheng Duzhou’s heart leaped, turning his bones to mush.

Whenever Duan Xingye leaned close, the delicate scent of white peach washed over him. His words sounded haughty, but paired with that reliant physical lean, the entire sensation felt completely transformed.

Having not seen Duan Xingye act spoiled outside of bed for so long, Cheng Duzhou cleared his throat with a faint cough and said, “I won’t laugh at you.”

He suddenly felt confident about the proposal again.

Cheng Duzhou was not the only one affected; viewers across the livestream felt their pulses spike.

“Holy crap! Is Teacher Duan being soft and pampered?”

“Must be for the task, right?”

“Teacher Duan taking the initiative is lethal every single time!”

“I love this forced-sweetness secret mission! Wifey is so sweet!”

“President Cheng loves it too, his ears are flushed red with excitement.”

At that moment, Lao Xu turned around from the front passenger seat.

Duan Xingye slipped his other hand from his pocket, covertly flashing two fingers.

Indicating two interactions were complete.

Lao Xu nodded with a knowing smile, verifying the count.

Bullet comments: Hahaha! It really was for the mission!

Leaning against Cheng Duzhou’s shoulder, Duan Xingye turned his face toward the clear sky outside the window.

As long as he did not feel awkward or embarrassed, these tasks were child’s play.

It was practically handing Cheng Duzhou an unearned bargain.

Guests could not broadcast while flying, leaving the livestreams empty on normal occasions. Today, however, the production crew aired footage of each couple’s set visits in their respective channels.

In the Lu Ye Shu Huai stream, the camera aimed at Cheng Duzhou reading his script at a low table beneath the tree.

Lao Xu’s voiceover sounded: “Today we’re visiting President Cheng on the set of The Hunt. It’s currently break time. President Cheng, say hello to the viewers.”

Cheng Duzhou looked into the lens. “Hello to all the viewers of Companionship Along the Way, I’m Cheng Duzhou.”

Bullet comments:

“President Cheng looks so handsome in that Republican suit!”

“The set visit video I’ve waited two days for is finally here!”

“Where’s Teacher Duan? Didn’t they say Teacher Duan visited?”

“He probably hasn’t arrived yet at this point.”

“Kiss scene! Kiss scene! Kiss scene!”

After introducing Director Li Lin, Lao Xu began interviewing Cheng Duzhou, asking why he never accepted intimate scenes.

On camera, Cheng Duzhou expressed his views on romantic scenes, summarizing it in just three words: “There’s no need.” It was clear he had no desire to waste energy refining such sequences.

The viewers caught on immediately.

“He doesn’t know Teacher Duan is coming, does he?”

“He has no idea Teacher Duan is about to share a scene with him.”

“Haha! Waiting for him to eat his words!”

Soon enough, the widely anticipated Duan Xingye stepped into frame, causing comments to surge.

“Ahhhh! Wifey is gorgeous!”

“Even though I saw the styling in the leaked photos, seeing it in motion is still breathtaking. It’s a tragedy that Duan Xingye doesn’t act; the audience is missing out.”

“LMAO, why didn’t this dummy President Cheng notice his wife arrived? Still flipping through the script, can a script look better than your wife?”

Moments later, Duan Xingye’s expression shifted slightly, reaching his limit as he reached out and twisted Cheng Duzhou’s ear.

The comments erupted in laughter.

President Cheng was giving off total henpecked-husband energy.

Immediately after, everyone was touched by the genuine joy shining in his eyes as he looked up at Duan Xingye.

Even through the screen, one could tell how intensely President Cheng had missed Teacher Duan.

Next, viewers were delighted to see Li Lin invite Duan Xingye for a cameo. Just as expected, Cheng Duzhou ate his words, actively requesting to shoot the kiss scene.

Just as the stream screamed in anticipation of the kiss scene, the video looped back to the beginning, refusing to air the entire visit at once.

The comments scratched at their screens, cursing the production crew for being so cunning.

The first half of the visit looped continuously until the live feed finally returned, showing Duan Xingye and Cheng Duzhou standing on the boarding platform for the cable car.

Standing in line, Duan Xingye watched the cable cars ascending along the cables. Due to high-altitude winds, several cars swayed slightly. For an instant, he felt an illusion of lost balance, as though even the solid iron platform beneath his feet had grown unstable.

When their turn arrived, Duan Xingye stepped aside, letting the camera crew board ahead of them.

Noticing his reluctance, Cheng Duzhou extended a hand. “Hold my hand. As long as I’m here, you won’t fall.”

Hearing the word “fall,” a brief shiver ran down Duan Xingye’s spine. Keeping his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, his dark eyes stared stubbornly at Cheng Duzhou. “What if you fall too?”

Cheng Duzhou pulled his hand back.

To avoid delaying the filming schedule, Duan Xingye had to board whether he wanted to or not. Holding onto the handrail, he sat down with extreme caution, a faint flush dusting his snow-white cheeks.

The comments set their teasing aside.

“His face is red from pure nerves.”

“Hang in there, Teacher Duan, it’s very safe.”

“This segment is brutal for people afraid of heights.”

Cheng Duzhou stepped in behind him, causing the car to sway slightly.

Gripping the handrail tightly, Duan Xingye’s voice raised in pitch: “Go slow!”

Cheng Duzhou waited for the car to steady before taking the seat opposite him.

Duan Xingye gestured to him. “Come sit next to me.”

Cheng Duzhou hesitated. Sitting face to face was meant to facilitate dropping to one knee to propose later, but seeing how terrified Duan Xingye looked, executing that plan seemed out of the question.

Cheng Duzhou shifted over. Letting go of the cold handrail, Duan Xingye moved in close on his own accord, hugging his arm and burying his face firmly into his shoulder.

Cheng Duzhou’s heart melted completely.

Only the two of them sat in the cable car, with an action camera mounted in front. Duan Xingye usually appeared cool and aloof on camera, so seeing him look this gentle and vulnerable made viewers both sympathetic and ecstatic.

“Wifey, I will protect you!”

“I’m done for, as a straight guy my heart just fluttered.”

“President Cheng, pull him into your arms and dote on him already!”

Looking down at Duan Xingye, Cheng Duzhou asked softly, “Are you alright?”

Duan Xingye lifted his head, his dark eyes glistening and his face flushed, not out of shyness, but from a pounding heart and rushing adrenaline. He clearly looked unwell.

Patting his head with gentle concern, Cheng Duzhou said, “Just lean on me.”

The cable car was only just starting out, nowhere near its highest point yet. In this state, Duan Xingye had no chance of admiring the vast mountain scenery, but not looking at his surroundings would ease his symptoms.

Duan Xingye knew they had barely begun. Remembering the Korean drama where the leads kissed at the highest point of the Ferris wheel, he took advantage of still having the strength to move, leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss against Cheng Duzhou’s lips.

Cheng Duzhou’s mind went completely blank.

The comments burst into laughter: Scared out of his mind and still remembers to do his mission, truly a career fanatic!

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Author’s Note:

Teacher Duan: Seriously working on my career.

President Cheng: Falling madly in love.