RSDH CH12

Duan Xingye felt prickles down his back, his whole body stiffening.

Fortunately, his phone rang, breaking the deadlock.

Duan Xingye slid the underwear off his ankles, fished his phone out of his pajama pocket, and answered with remarkable calmness: “Hello?”

Sister Yu gasped for air several times before managing to steady her voice: “Babe, my bad. I got distracted during a call this afternoon and forgot to remind you there’s a camera set up in the bedroom.”

Duan Xingye: “Oh.”

It was too late to say anything now.

He asked, “Only one?”

Sister Yu: “Yes.”

Duan Xingye talked on the phone while walking casually towards the walk-in closet as if nothing had happened.

Behind him, the livestream chat had already laughed itself into paralysis.

“His back looks so stubbornly strong it hurts.”

“Not turning back is Teacher Duan’s only remaining dignity.”

“Hahahahahaha the awkwardness is overflowing from the screen, yet he’s still seriously pretending nothing happened. What kind of breed of big cutie is this!”

…

The walk-in closet was clean and tidy, and the packed clothes provided excellent sound absorption. As soon as Duan Xingye entered, his ears were suddenly peaceful.

He closed the door and casually locked it. Walking to the wardrobe, he slid open the door, leaned half his body inside, and buried his face in the pile of clothes.

His chest heaved violently as he held his breath.

Two seconds later.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—!!!” (Muted Version)

Despite going crazy, Duan Xingye still pushed a suitcase out fifteen minutes later.

After that, Cheng Duzhou took over packing for him.

The two had zero communication throughout the process, not even making eye contact.

After completing the task, Duan Xingye avoided looking at the camera in the corner. He climbed onto the bed, fished a pair of black-framed glasses out of the nightstand, and perched them on his nose.

He had mild astigmatism and only wore glasses when reading or writing lyrics and music. But today was different; today was purely to cover his face. Covering a little was better than nothing.

…He wished he could burrow his whole head under the quilt so no one could see him.

The audience’s attention shifted briefly, howling that Teacher Duan looked too easy on the eyes in black-framed glasses.

Duan Xingye didn’t look at the livestream chat, so he didn’t know this.

He sat cross-legged as naturally as possible, keeping his head down and fiddling with his phone as if nothing had happened just now. But when he scrolled to the Weibo trending search, he choked up and almost broke down.

The top three topics were #ChengDuzhou Donkey, #DuanXingye Famous Scenes Collection, and #LüYeShuHuai Is Too Addictive.

Duan Xingye knew exactly what “Donkey” was about and clicked on it.

Niche Ship Scientist:

Tonight’s livestream of this couple is packed with laughs and constant plot twists. I won’t allow anyone to miss this!

Below was the screen recording of Duan Xingye in the bedroom.

The comments section was exceptionally joyful.

“Laughing makes you ten years younger; Duan Xingye sent me straight back to the womb.”

“Hahahaha Teacher Duan’s unknown confusing behavior. In the end, he even wanted to try wearing the underwear over his pajama pants. If President Cheng hadn’t appeared in time to interrupt, Teacher Duan’s famous scenes collection would have had another colorful stroke added to it.”

“Do all men like to compare sizes? Even the cold-and-aloof-on-earth Duan Xingye is not immune.”

“Duan Xingye is a bit naughty. I won’t be deceived by his aloof appearance anymore.”

“I was wondering how President Cheng got related to a donkey. Understood it after coming in Orz.”

“Pass it on: President Cheng is huge, officially certified by his partner.”

“…”

Duan Xingye felt the familiar scalp-numbing sensation again. This time, not only did he suffer social death, but he dragged Cheng Duzhou down with him.

No wonder Cheng Duzhou’s face wasn’t exactly pleasant just now. This was probably the most severe damage to his reputation since his debut.

The livestream bullet comments were still scrolling enthusiastically:

“Teacher Duan’s expression… he’s definitely reading the trending search.”

“Wonder how he’ll face President Cheng later.”

“Pay attention to us, Teacher Duan!”

A message notification appeared at the top of Duan Xingye’s phone.

Follow Director: [Teacher Duan, you can chat casually with the audience now. Everyone wants to interact with you.]

Duan Xingye typed.

Seen: [I don’t want to.]

Follow Director: […]

Another ten minutes or so passed.

Cheng Duzhou finished packing Duan Xingye’s suitcase, brought it to the entryway, and opened the door for the staff.

The staff took both suitcases away, keeping their heads low the whole time, their voices slightly suppressed: “Teacher Cheng, tomorrow you only need to bring your phones and ID cards. The luggage will be checked by the program team. Tonight’s livestream… cough… just needs the vow segment and then it can end.”

Cheng Duzhou guessed they must have been laughing loudly just now. He looked slightly weary: “Understood. You guys get off work early.”

Duan Xingye was still waiting in the room. Cheng Duzhou came in and closed the door.

Their eyes met, and the surrounding air solidified.

Cheng Duzhou’s eyes were pitch black. When he stared at someone, the oppressive feeling was immense.

Duan Xingye sat there. After a moment of stalemate, he blinked and looked down first.

It was his loose lips that caused Cheng Duzhou to explode onto an awkward trending search.

If Cheng Duzhou blamed him, he had nothing to argue.

At this moment, Duan Xingye hung his head, rarely lacking his usual arrogant air. Even those milky-white highlighted strands of hair drooped listlessly, like a defeated rooster.

Cheng Duzhou’s gaze unconsciously fell on his slender, fair neck. His originally sharp gaze softened, adding a few degrees of helplessness.

He wasn’t trying to hold anyone accountable. It was just that this matter… no one could give him an explanation.

Watching this scene, the audience felt silence spoke louder than words.

“Ahhh Teacher Duan is wronged, and President Cheng can’t bear to scold him.”

“You can tell President Cheng has a bit of a temper too.”

“You can’t really blame anyone. If anything, blame the production team for not making the camera positions clear.”

“Maybe President Cheng just wants Teacher Duan to coax him?”

Cheng Duzhou sat on the edge of the bed and moved the stand holding the livestream phone in front of them. He asked Duan Xingye calmly, “Is the vow card there?”

“Yes.”

Duan Xingye pulled a new envelope out of his pajama pocket.

Once the vow segment was over, this torturous livestream would end.

The phone was placed in front of them.

Duan Xingye had to bite the bullet and look at it.

However, the audience clearly didn’t find it torturous; they were still wanting more.

“Don’t! Don’t do the vows so soon! Haven’t seen enough yet!”

“These two are so cute together. I hate that I didn’t stan them sooner! Is it too late to catch up now?”

“To the person above, joining now is totally fine. No need to catch up on the past; there’s no material to find anyway.”

Seeing that no one was dwelling on the underwear incident, Duan Xingye breathed a sigh of relief. But soon, a few comments with a different tone floated by.

“Speechless. Don’t understand what’s so shippable. Can’t use a script, so rely on edging behavior to grab traffic? Anyway, the program team is propping them up.”

“Leaving, leaving. Among the couples, the ‘Yellow Peach’ CP is more natural. This pair looks fake at a glance; even when sitting, they are so far apart.”

Duan Xingye’s anger flared up instantly. Along with the previously suppressed emotions he couldn’t release, he found an outlet.

Are they done yet? He and Cheng Duzhou sacrificed so much, yet they were questioned about being propped up by the program team. Their traffic was earned penny by penny with their faces!

Did they think he couldn’t tell what these people were?

So what if it was edging today!

“Sitting far apart is a problem too?” Duan Xingye’s brow twitched slightly, his dark pupils turning cold. “Then how about I sit on Cheng Duzhou’s lap? Or maybe a negative eighteen centimeters distance… Mmph…”

Cheng Duzhou raised his hand to clamp over Duan Xingye’s mouth. Duan Xingye almost fell backward.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Good lord, reported the size directly.”

“Stop showing off, stop showing off!”

“The world where President Cheng gets hurt x2”

Cheng Duzhou was mentally exhausted. “Super admin, come back. I’ll manually ban this for you.”

Duan Xingye, whose mouth was covered: “…”

Bullet comments: Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha…

Dawdling, Duan Xingye unfolded the vow card under Cheng Duzhou’s signaled gaze.

He went first.

Then Cheng Duzhou would repeat the process.

“Tonight, as we are about to embark on our journey, I am grateful for your companionship. No matter what happens on the road ahead, I will firmly hold your hand, sharing happiness, joy, and emotion with you, and soothing broken, sad moods together. Please believe I can do it, because…”

When Duan Xingye read calmly from the card, his voice was clear and melodious, making the audience involuntarily immersed. But suddenly, it seemed like something stuck in his throat, and the words following wouldn’t come out.

Duan Xingye tried multiple times, his face turning red from holding it in. Finally, he articulated stiffly: “Because Cheng Duzhou, I… I love you.”

Done!

Duan Xingye let out a sharp breath, extended his hand, and passed the card to Cheng Duzhou.

Cheng Duzhou didn’t take it immediately. He just looked at him, his deep black eyes making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Duan Xingye suspected Cheng Duzhou was building up emotion.

Acting opposite this man was simply terrifying. When Cheng Duzhou said “I love you,” he was naturally calm yet exuded an unwavering firmness, delivering a deep affection that struck straight to the heart.

Duan Xingye was glad he had experienced it in the kitchen that afternoon and was mentally prepared.

That way, when he heard those three words again, he wouldn’t lose his composure in front of the audience.

Right at this moment.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at the card in Duan Xingye’s hand, raised his eyes, and said, “I love you more.”

“…”

The pump in Duan Xingye’s body boosted pressure again. Blood rushed up, and heat covered his face.

Still lost composure.

Cheng Duzhou leaned in closer, bracing one hand on the bed. With the other hand, he pinched Duan Xingye’s black-framed glasses and took them off. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against the small mole on the side of his nose.

Duan Xingye had to close his eyes and purse his lips. His fine white chin, showing a hint of pink, trembled unsteadily.

It felt like rolling on a grassy slope full of wind in summer, rolling all the way onto the clouds.

Messy beyond belief…

Bullet comments:

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Who dares say Lü Ye Shu Huai isn’t real!!!”

…

Outside the house.

The follow director looked at the monitor, sighed with satisfaction, and leaned back to stretch. “That’ll do. Number one in ratings.”

The surrounding staff began packing up equipment, getting off work peacefully. Only one technician remained to wrap up, waiting to remotely close the livestream room.

The technician glanced at the guests who didn’t seem ready to finish yet and helped move the luggage downstairs first.

Inside the room.

Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye turned off the livestreaming phone, casually tidied the bed, turned off the lights, and lay down.

Neither fell asleep immediately, each thinking their own thoughts.

After a while.

Cheng Duzhou seemed very bothered and asked in a low voice, “Why did you wear my underwear?”

Duan Xingye was still thinking about the vows. Hearing this, he snapped back to reality, blinked twice in the dark, and couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore. He said grumpily, “Just because.”

Competitiveness and self-esteem were at work.

Cheng Duzhou was puzzled. “How can you use it so happily on one hand, yet be unconvinced on the other?”

Duan Xingye’s face burned with a boom. “Shut up! Aren’t you dirty?”

Cheng Duzhou said, “Want to compare right now…”

— “Um… Teachers, wait a moment.”

Cheng Duzhou’s breath stopped.

The technician’s voice came through the camera on the cabinet again, sounding extremely embarrassed. “I’m closing the livestream room.”

With a very subtle click, the room returned to silence.

Will there be another trending search waiting for them tomorrow morning…

Duan Xingye had lost the courage to imagine.

Snap.

Cheng Duzhou slapped the light on, got out of bed, grabbed the camera from the decorative cabinet, opened the bedroom door, threw it directly out, and closed the door again.

When Cheng Duzhou came back, Duan Xingye saw the muscles on his face were tense, and even his neck was red.

Cheng Duzhou rarely got irritable.

Lights off.

This time, no one spoke again.

Duan Xingye was worried and turned his head to look. In the dim light, he saw Cheng Duzhou with an arm pressed over his eyes, the rise and fall of his breathing very obvious.

Fans should know by now that their President Cheng wasn’t some cold, ascetic type; in private, he could say all kinds of dirty things.

Cheng Duzhou felt humiliated by this. Duan Xingye understood better than anyone.

However, when your best friend is in a tough spot, you can make yourself sound even more miserable.

That’s how normal people comfort others.

Duan Xingye looked back at the ceiling in the dark, cleared his throat, and said, “They even made a famous scenes collection for me. Regarding social death… I might be getting used to it.”

He wondered if Cheng Duzhou would feel a bit better.

However, there was no movement from the side for a long time.

When Duan Xingye turned his head to look again.

Cheng Duzhou rolled over, burrowed his face into his shoulder, and sounded a bit tearful: “Let’s quit the show.”

…

Author’s Note:

President Cheng: Can’t afford to lose this face.