RSDH CH53

In the Lu Ye Shu Huai livestream, an advance-edited video clip was inserted.

The camera trembled slightly. Looking from a distance through the crowd across a corridor draped in ivy, flanked by black camera rigs and white fill-light panels, two strikingly handsome men brushed past each other.

Playful captions flashed: The ultra-sweet couple’s very first scene together~

The director called “Cut!”

Once the actors walked over to his side, the director showered Duan Xingye with unending praise.

The audience knew as well that Li Lin was an internationally renowned director. Earning his approval proved that Duan Xingye had acted this sequence exceptionally well.

“Director, hurry up and shoot, I want to watch!”

“Is Teacher Duan an all-rounder? Excelling in both music and film.”

“President Cheng’s acting is incredible, the look in his eyes when he watches Teacher Duan is unmatched! Just the leaked footage gets your heart fluttering!”

“Someone hand them the Best On-Screen Couple award already.”

Then came the second scene, the widely anticipated kissing scene.

The lens intentionally remained out of focus, hazy and soft. The two leads sitting along the covered walkway were mostly blocked by the light bounce boards. One could only vaguely make out Cheng Duzhou closing his eyes and kissing with deep immersion, yet that fleeting glimpse was more than enough, sending the livestream howling with excitement.

“Married people sharing a scene just hits differently.”

“The couple’s on-screen first kiss!”

“President Cheng guarded his on-screen first kiss for five years since his debut, could he have been saving it specifically for Teacher Duan?”

Before the footage could play much longer, a “shy.jpg” sticker slapped right over both actors’ faces.

Accompanied by floating captions: Everyone, please look forward to the theatrical release~

The scene got everyone’s blood pumping, only to be cut short by the director calling a halt in dissatisfaction.

“Cheng Duzhou, rein it in a little!”

Seeing the couple look thoroughly flustered under the director’s scolding, the bullet comments erupted in laughter.

“President Cheng: Can’t help myself in front of my wife.”

“So he was complaining that it was too lustful!”

“Reasonable suspicion that they’re dating on company funds.”

After the fun behind-the-scenes clips, Duan Xingye appeared in the van drying his hair. Lao Xu’s voice sounded off-camera: “If given another chance to choose, would you still be willing to marry President Cheng?”

Duan Xingye paused briefly, then said, “I would.”

Then the screen transitioned as Lao Xu carried the camera over to find Cheng Duzhou leaning against a bookshelf.

Captions floated up faintly: What about President Cheng?

Cheng Duzhou looked momentarily blank before the camera, as if wondering what kind of question that even was. Shifting his stance, he said, “Of course I would.”

Lao Xu asked, “Which of you would be the one to propose?”

Cheng Duzhou said, “Me.”

Lao Xu said, “When that time comes, what will you say to Teacher Duan?”

Thinking for a moment, Cheng Duzhou looked into the camera, his deep voice saying, “Duan Xingye, let’s get married.”

A circle of glittering silver stardust swirled into the center of the screen, gathering into a heart.

The theme of this episode emerged in the middle: Darling, Let’s Get Married.

Solemn music drifted through the church. Pushing open the heavy doors, the silhouettes of the two grooms stood directly ahead, tall and slender with a slight height difference, framed against warm, radiant colors, quietly listening to the officiant read the vows.

“…Love him, remain faithful to him… until death…”

“Now, please exchange rings.”

Duan Xingye took the ring from the velvet box, reaching for Cheng Duzhou’s left hand.

Yet Cheng Duzhou pulled his hand back, offering his right hand instead.

Only then did Duan Xingye remember that Cheng Duzhou always wore his ring on his right hand. He had once heard him explain that this way, their rings could touch when they held hands.

A bizarre, peculiar obsession.

There was a faint, pale ring mark around Cheng Duzhou’s right ring finger. Looking at it, Duan Xingye recalled that rainy night when the man had searched for the ring in the flowerbed downstairs. That silly dog had grumbled that he couldn’t be the only one trying, that he needed to mark him and prove to the world that they were a couple. His fingers, washed by rainwater, had been chilled, pale, damp, and flecked with mud and leaves. Back then, seeing how hard he worked, Duan Xingye had calmly and unhesitatingly slid the ring onto his finger.

Yet standing in this church now, his chest felt faintly warm.

Influenced by the silly dog’s tears, he couldn’t help but immerse himself in this sacred, blessed marriage.

Duan Xingye slid the ring along Cheng Duzhou’s slender ring finger, twisting it slightly to adjust it straight.

Now it was Cheng Duzhou’s turn. Last time, Duan Xingye had slipped his own ring on without another word, which had always left a lingering regret in Cheng Duzhou’s heart.

Taking the ring from the velvet box, Cheng Duzhou cradled Duan Xingye’s hand.

When the ring settled snugly over the knuckle, he stared at it for a moment, his lowered eyelashes blinking, still looking somewhat wet.

The officiant smiled: “Congratulations on becoming husbands.”

The staff members acting as the audience rose to their feet, applauding with passionate warmth, as if genuinely witnessing a newlywed couple’s finished wedding ceremony.

Duan Xingye lifted his eyes. Cheng Duzhou was looking at him too, those deep, dark eyes carrying an uncharacteristic caution.

Perhaps realizing that standing stiffly like wooden stakes was awkward and contrary to ceremonial procedure, Cheng Duzhou stepped forward. Only after confirming that Duan Xingye showed no sign of resistance did he draw close and pull him into an embrace.

“WOOOHHH~”

The crew’s cheers grew louder.

Tens of millions of viewers watching the livestream sent their blessings as well, the comments nearly overloading the server.

Witnessing their favorite ship’s wedding in real time stirred emotions beyond words, moving countless fans to tears behind their screens.

Held tightly in Cheng Duzhou’s arms, Duan Xingye gazed up at the stained glass high above the vaulted ceiling, strangely sensing the overwhelming joy radiating from the man.

…

Hesitating for half a second, Duan Xingye attempted to return the embrace, stroking his back once, then gently stroking it again.

It seemed he had been infected by the other man’s happiness after all.

Once the wedding ceremony wrapped up, the guests could return to the bed-and-breakfast arranged by the production crew, leaving the evening hours relatively free.

Duan Xingye got into the car.

Just then, Cheng Duzhou received a phone call. Glancing at his phone, he closed the car door first and stepped around to the other side to answer it.

Through the open window, Duan Xingye’s gaze drifted toward Cheng Duzhou’s retreating back, whether intentionally or not.

They had changed back into casual clothes. Cheng Duzhou wore a structured yet relaxed hiking jacket. His tall, broad-shouldered silhouette looked as striking as a high-fashion outdoor commercial just standing amidst the dimming twilight of the mountains. He carried the lively vigor typical of their age, yet possessed a level of steady composure far beyond his peers.

Who knew what he was talking about on the phone.

Just as Duan Xingye was wondering, Cheng Duzhou suddenly turned around, their eyes colliding head-on.

“…”

In an instant, Duan Xingye shifted his gaze away awkwardly.

Immediately afterward, he hung his head, brushing the fringe off his forehead in annoyance, his face burning up.

What was there to dodge? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t looked at him before.

Truly bizarre.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Duan Xingye wanted to look back, but with just a moment’s hesitation, his bravado vanished. Curling up near the door on the other side, he pulled out his phone to fiddle with it.

Still standing in place, Cheng Duzhou tilted his head, peering through the car window to check on Duan Xingye, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Just then, something was said on the other end of the line. Snapping back to attention, Cheng Duzhou turned back around: “Nothing, Director Liang, go ahead.”

The production crew had held onto their phones all day. When Duan Xingye unlocked his, he saw numerous text messages. Right away, his eyes landed on a text sent that morning from a teacher he hadn’t spoken with in a long time.

Teacher Cao: [Xingxing, I heard from your grandfather that you arrived in Yongzhou today. I’m currently working as a drama consultant for a film crew, but I’ve already booked my return trip for this afternoon. I checked, and my current location is less than half an hour’s drive from where you’re filming. It’s been a long time since we met, do you want to catch up?]

An hour later:

Teacher Cao: [Looks like you’re busy too, so we probably won’t be able to meet today. Seeing you and Duzhou doing so well makes me happy, that’s what matters. [Laughing out loud]]

Duan Xingye replied immediately, explaining the situation from today.

Cao Junbo was a contemporary Peking Opera master specializing in male Dan roles, and had been close friends with Duan Xingye’s grandfather for over twenty years.

Kan Dashan was a famous playwright. In his youth, he had befriended numerous singers and traditional opera masters. The people in his circle were all top luminaries in their respective fields, and small gatherings of friends were common in that little mansion in Yu City.

Thus, when Duan Xingye lay on the floor of his grandfather’s study playing with Legos as a child, the people seated around him were titans like Zheng Qiuhua and Cao Junbo. Instead of following Kan Dashan’s footsteps to become a writer, Duan Xingye had developed a profound interest in vocal arts instead.

Kan Dashan would occasionally grumble in mild jealousy: “If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have let them visit the house. Xingxing got completely led astray by them.”

When Duan Xingye put down his phone, Cheng Duzhou happened to get into the car.

Duan Xingye looked out the window, the cool night breeze from the suburban hills brushing through his hair.

Cheng Duzhou suddenly spoke up: “I just took a call. Director Liang’s crew is filming here in Yongzhou, and he wants to treat me to dinner tonight… Do you want to come?”

Having said that, he tilted his head toward Duan Xingye.

Duan Xingye knitted his brows slightly. Hearing Cheng Duzhou speak so hesitantly implied he had other plans for the evening.

Did that mean he intended to leave him to finish recording the show alone?

They had literally just held a wedding ceremony…

Duan Xingye cut his train of thought short, his pursed lips tightening as he shot Cheng Duzhou an arrogant glance, arching a brow: “And what if I don’t go?”

“Oh,” Cheng Duzhou said, looking down at his phone. “Then I’ll tell Director Liang that we have plans.”

“…”

Duan Xingye’s sharp edge evaporated instantly. Glancing out the window, he licked his lips: “Forget it. Come to think of it, I don’t know what to eat tonight anyway. Having someone treat us works out fine.”

Cheng Duzhou looked at him blankly.

Duan Xingye glared back: “What?”

Shaking his head, Cheng Duzhou sat up straight to text: “I’ll reply to him.”

He had worried that bringing Duan Xingye to his personal dinner would overstep boundaries again.

The comments picked up on it immediately: Haha, President Cheng is visibly delighted.

The car pulled up before a serene, quiet private club. Since this was still within the filming window for Companionship Along the Way, Lao Xu continued shooting. Director Liang was aware of this and didn’t mind in the slightest, welcoming the chance to promote his upcoming film through the dinner gathering.

Duan Xingye climbed the steps leading up to the club’s entrance.

Cheng Duzhou deliberately wanted to wait for him, looking back several times, yet Duan Xingye seemed intent on trailing behind him.

Glancing back once more, Cheng Duzhou noticed the shoelace on one of Duan Xingye’s sneakers had come undone. Turning around, he called out, “Wait a second.”

Duan Xingye paused.

Just as Cheng Duzhou was about to crouch down, Duan Xingye realized he intended to tie his shoelace for him. He took a hasty step back, forgetting there was a flight of stairs directly behind him.

Quick on his feet, Cheng Duzhou caught him in time.

Though Duan Xingye regained his balance, his brow furrowed with a sharp hiss of pain: he had sprained his ankle.