RSDH CH33

At 3:30 PM, a long queue had already formed outside the Singer-Songwriter recording base.

Nearly a hundred boys, carrying bags or guitars—some laughing, some silent, some craning their necks to look toward the studio—all had faces full of youthful yearning for the future.

The noise outside the lounge clearly increased. Footsteps ran back and forth; staff were coordinating pre-show preparations.

Duan Xingye sat in front of the vanity mirror, makeup artists bustling around him.

He wasn’t wearing makeup, just styling his hair. The makeup artist peeked at Duan Xingye several times while shaking the hairdryer. Seeing his small face, gorgeous features, and skin as good as a newborn’s, she thought he was simply a star born for the camera.

Unaffected, Duan Xingye flipped through the contestant list sent by the producer.

According to the audition rules, each mentor held eight quota spots. During a contestant’s performance, if a mentor wanted to recruit them as a trainee, they could press the light. Contestants who received more than one light would enter the segment of choosing their mentor in return.

At the same time, to save time and trust the mentors’ professionalism, if a contestant performed extremely poorly and was unsuitable for this stage, any mentor could press the “X” button to interrupt the performance. The contestant would automatically enter the pending zone, and future online voting would determine if they could enter the revival round.

On the list, most people’s information only included name, age, hometown, and occupation. However, about twenty people had detailed resumes in the remarks column, starting at a hundred words.

Some were mature internet streamers under MCN agencies; some were undebuted trainees backed by recognizable entertainment companies. The meaning was obvious: the program team cooperated with relevant capital parties. These contestants were recommended internally, commonly known as VIPs. The hope was that the three mentors could keep them as much as possible, or at least not eliminate them during the audition stage.

As long as it’s a talent show, there will be varying degrees of unspoken rules. Duan Xingye came from a music variety show talent competition and encountered severe black-box operations during the competition. Originally, the champion shouldn’t have been him, but he was so strong that capital had to make way for him.

Seeing the program team blatantly provide a VIP list, Duan Xingye just shrugged. In the end, he was someone so talented in music that he lacked empathy.

Duan Xingye accepted this phenomenon without obstacles, but he wouldn’t conform to it. Don’t even think about manipulating him with rules.

Whether it was an internally recommended contestant or not, as long as they met his standards for a singer-songwriter, he would press the light. Otherwise, even if the director begged him, it would be useless.

On the last page, one contestant made Duan Xingye linger for an extra look.

Name: Wang Shixi. From Yu City, 21 years old. In the remarks column, Duan Xingye not only saw his former agency’s name but also a special reminder from the program team: [Please give full three lights]

It seemed this one was the key figure of this season’s talent show, holding the “Purple Star” (chosen one) script.

Duan Xingye glanced at that name twice more, generating something like a sixth sense, fleeting. Then he closed the list and cooperated with the makeup artist for setting spray.

Fifteen minutes to five, the lounge door opened.

Duan Xingye, with a down jacket draped over his shoulders, walked toward the studio accompanied by Xiao Dai and staff.

Passing through the floor lobby, there were still many contestants signing in outside the door.

Someone saw Duan Xingye from afar through the glass wall and shouted immediately: “Teacher Duan!!!”

After that shout, the originally noisy crowd suddenly gathered by the glass, waving enthusiastically, applauding, and calling “Teacher Duan,” trying to attract Duan Xingye’s attention.

Many of those who came to participate in the audition this time came for Duan Xingye. They became fans entirely out of resonance with music and admiration for Duan Xingye’s songwriting ability. Although Duan Xingye was excessively young, they were genuinely willing to call him “Teacher.”

Xiao Dai chuckled secretly: “Will this turn into a large-scale fan meeting later?”

Duan Xingye looked at the group of young people outside the door. Inadvertently glancing, he found a boy jumping up, falling back down, submerged in the crowd, then jumping up again, waving both hands high crosswise, then submerged again. Just like a husky bouncing up and down in tall grass.

Duan Xingye remembered immediately. It was the kid who rapped and was a bit dramatic during the rehearsal last week.

He withdrew his gaze indifferently and entered the studio gate.

At the outdoor check-in, one young man didn’t crowd together fanatically like the others. He calmly watched Duan Xingye disappear from view.

Right at this moment, his phone rang. The young man took it out, looked at it, and answered.

“Hello? Uncle Duan… Yes, I’m at the scene…” He listened for a while, smiling and shaking his head. “Not nervous, prepared quite well. Okay, understood, thank you…”

The young man hung up.

The girl at the check-in desk pointed to a row on the form: “Student Wang, write your name here.”

Jiang Li’s home was in a suburban villa area in Xiao City. As a celebrity family, the community’s privacy was very good.

When Cheng Duzhou arrived, Wu Enqi and her husband Wu Hao were already there. They were barbecuing in the yard as pre-dinner snacks.

Knowing Duan Xingye would arrive later, the scheduled dinner time was also late.

Approaching five o’clock, Xiao Jiahui turned on the TV in the living room, tuned to the channel, waiting for Singer-Songwriter 101 to start.

Jiang Li was in the kitchen. Looking toward the living room, she took out a cake box from the cabinet and winked at Wu Enqi: “Save some stomach for dinner.”

Wu Enqi saw the cake style through the plastic shell, applauded silently, and said, “Looks good!”

Jiang Li brought the barbecue platter and washed fruit to the living room, inviting everyone to eat together.

Cheng Duzhou withdrew his gaze from the TV and waved his hand at the barbecue.

Jiang Li didn’t insist, saying to Xiao Jiahui, “Look at how other male stars manage their figures.”

Xiao Jiahui was eating a skewer of sizzling pork belly. Looking at Cheng Duzhou, he shook his head: “Can’t compare, can’t compare. No wonder I can’t be a male star.”

Everyone around laughed.

Cheng Duzhou took a bowl of blueberries and looked up. The program had started.

The studio camera circled the audience. On the screen, everyone raised their hands and waved, smiles on their faces.

Then the lens landed on the high platform in front of the audience, showing a long shot of the three mentors.

Duan Xingye sat on the far left, an off-center position, but his glowing white face became the first to grab the public’s attention.

But before everyone could look closely, the picture pushed to a close-up of Jin Zimi in the middle.

This capable female singer was brimming with a cheerful smile, applauding: “Welcome everyone to the audition site of Singer-Songwriter 101! I am this season’s music master Jin Zimi, Woohoo~! My motto is: Play with music attitude!”

Next.

Tao Ziyi waved with a smile: “Hello everyone, I am Tao Ziyi. My motto is: Display music charm.”

The screen cut again, and Duan Xingye’s face occupied the center.

His skin was snow-clean, lips red and teeth white. His dark pupils looked at the camera clearly without any emotion. His hair seemed casually messy but was actually exquisite, glittering under the lights. The milk-white highlighted tips showed personality. Today he wore a casual dark suit, noble and fashionable.

The cheers on the scene set off a small climax again.

Because it was a live web variety show, digital TV could also synchronize bullet comments from the online platform.

“Ahhhhh my Teacher Duan is killing people with beauty again today!”

“Teacher Duan was a trainee three years ago, and becomes a mentor this year! Too strong!”

“Much more serious than in All the Way With You. As expected of someone sitting in the mentor seat.”

“Tonight watching Teacher Duan in Singer-Songwriter, then watching him and President Cheng distribute sugar in All the Way With You. Happy!”

Wu Enqi was eating grilled chives, looking at the TV: “Teacher Duan’s popularity is so high.”

“Little Duan is too suitable for the screen. Pity he doesn’t act.” Jiang Li tutted twice and said, “President Cheng, consider introducing him to the film industry?”

Cheng Duzhou lowered his eyes, stuffed a blueberry in his mouth, and smiled: “Introducing won’t help; he’s only interested in music.”

On screen, Duan Xingye’s clear voice spoke: “I am Duan Xingye. My motto is: Control music quality.”

From the declarations of the three mentors, one could see their focus on selecting people differed. Among them, Duan Xingye was obviously the strictest. People in his group must have solid creative abilities.

Backstage, several contestants aiming for Duan Xingye paced restlessly.

In the living room outside the screen, when everyone focused on the TV again, Cheng Duzhou looked up at Duan Xingye in the picture, seeing the bullet comments full of praise. A broken blueberry leaked sweet juice.

After Jin Zimi introduced the audition rules, contestants came on stage one by one.

Before each performance, there were tens of seconds of contestant self-introduction and interaction. Duan Xingye participated relatively little.

When contestants officially sang, the camera would show the reactions of the three on the mentor seat. Duan Xingye was always the calmest one, as if none could move him.

The first few were indeed unsatisfactory, becoming cannon fodder.

Starting from the seventh, there was a bit of professional semblance.

Running up, he grabbed the microphone, out of breath: “Teacher Duan, I like you especially. I can sing all your songs. Signing up for this competition was also to meet you. I was so excited I didn’t sleep well last night.”

His shy fanboy appearance made the audience roar with laughter.

Camera on Duan Xingye.

“Okay.” Duan Xingye merely raised his eyes and said, “Please begin your performance.”

The contestant scratched the back of his head, even more embarrassed.

Bullet comments:

“Hahaha the most ruthless mentor in the venue.”

“Duan Xingye’s cat ear image is still hovering in my mind. The contrast between the romance variety and music variety is too big!”

“Sigh, not strange. Only President Cheng in the whole world can make Teacher Duan show a gentle and cute side.”

Jiang Li joked, “President Cheng, seeing others confess to your husband, how do you feel? Jealous?”

“No.” Cheng Duzhou shook his head. “Shows he’s popular. Happy for him.”

Sincere.

“Oh my, look at that perspective.” Jiang Li slapped Xiao Jiahui, complaining, “I take a photo with a male fan at the airport, and you nag me for half a day.”

“Yes yes yes, I should learn.” Xiao Jiahui hurriedly fed her a bite of fish tofu.

Wu Enqi laughed: “That’s Old Xiao being nervous about you.”

On TV, that contestant finished singing. Compared to the previous ones, it was refreshing, earning warm applause from the audience and harvesting two lights simultaneously.

He had passed, but couldn’t hide his disappointment.

Because Duan Xingye wasn’t among those two lights.

The picture went to Duan Xingye again. The director reminded him in the earpiece to comment first.

Duan Xingye said bluntly: “Your voice characteristics are good, but there’s a problem with your vocalization method. Over time, it will definitely damage your throat. If you want to walk this path for a long time, you must change it later. I didn’t press the light because your lyrics are too empty and currently don’t meet my approval standards. My quota is limited; I want to see the contestants behind more.”

Although Duan Xingye’s words were cold, everyone could hear they were sincere and honest enough, triggering applause from the audience.

The contestant on stage bowed repeatedly: “Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, Teacher.”

Backstage, however, wails were everywhere.

“So scary! I thought this bro was already very strong. Still can’t get Teacher Duan’s approval?”

“He insists on creative singers.”

“Doomed, doomed. Even fans can’t make Teacher Duan soft-hearted!”

In the corner, an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy did push-ups single-mindedly.

Someone beside him said, “Save your strength for the stage later. Teacher Duan’s requirements are too high; hard to pass.”

The boy looked up at the TV screen, panting: “It’s fine… among the eight seats, there must be one for me.”

That person curled his lip, unsure if believing or not, just giving him a thumbs up.

In the first half of the audition, Jin Zimi and Tao Ziyi harvested four trainees each, while Duan Xingye only harvested two.

According to time, the first half was about to end, with one last contestant remaining.

During the interval waiting for the contestant, Tao Ziyi said, “I felt quotas were running out, but Teacher Duan only gave out two. Really enviable. But isn’t Teacher Duan a bit too strict? Some contestants have good vocal conditions and steady stage presence, good seedlings. Being rigid on lyrics and music might bury a lot of talent.”

In the music variety show, Tao Ziyi didn’t dare call Duan Xingye “Junior Brother,” afraid of being mocked online for not being qualified. However, the knife hidden in his words was sharp enough, implying Duan Xingye was too nitpicky and didn’t give newcomers a chance.

Duan Xingye moved his chair forward, looking at the lyrics collection in front of him, responding lightly: “Good vocal conditions can go to The Voice. Here we are Singer-Songwriter. Consideration of lyrics and music ranks first. There are plenty of places for talent to shine, provided they choose the right place. Currently, the contestants on stage have positioned themselves clearly. On the contrary, Mr. Tao seems to have forgotten the original intention amidst a crowd of good voices. If the stance isn’t corrected, future trainees might doubt the mentor’s judging standards.”

Applause erupted immediately off-stage.

Backstage trainees whistled one after another, expressing agreement.

Just now there was a contestant whose voice cracked while singing, just had a good face. But Tao Ziyi praised him as charming and took him. The standard was a mystery. But insiders knew clearly that there was a big company behind that contestant.

Tao Ziyi forced a smile and hurriedly said, “Then let the next one come on quickly.”

Duan Xingye retorted with logic and evidence, causing Tao Ziyi to lose favorability. Bullet comments were discussing it.

“Tao Ziyi reeks of ‘old sister-in-law’ vibe. Not snatching trainees from you, managing too much.”

“Annoying to see this kind of ‘Saint Mother’ mentor, trying to morally kidnap.”

“Mentors like Teacher Duan are reassuring. Screening with a professional attitude is responsible to contestants and the audience.”

Right at this moment, a teenager walked out from behind the opened large screen, wind at his feet, dressed in super cool hip-hop attire.

Duan Xingye saw the name on his jacket at his waist.

Xie Hang.

He walked to the front of the stage. Without waiting for mentors to ask, he spoke with a rhythmic voice: “Hello everyone, I am Xie Hang, from Hangzhou. Today I bring a rap.”

Amidst audience applause, Tao Ziyi was about to ask some personal questions to interact.

Xie Hang turned his back, raising his hand: “DJ, drop the beat!”

Mentors: “…………”

This was the first contestant to cue the process himself on stage; too autonomous.

Xie Hang opened with a string of rapid English, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

Jin Zimi got excited immediately, clapping along with the rhythm. Not long after, she was the first to press the light.

She liked this teenager’s free and unrestrained musical attitude.

Tao Ziyi’s English was a bit poor and couldn’t keep up, but after seeing his Chinese lyrics later, he nodded and also pressed the light.

This teenager had a good image, the cool-guy-puppy type young girls liked nowadays. His stage performance was very infectious. One could tell the rap was professional, and the songwriting ability was there. striving for him would gain a capable general for his team.

Duan Xingye kept looking at the lyrics board. Even as the atmosphere heated up, he didn’t look up.

Finally, Xie Hang performed a self-choreographed hip-hop dance, ending the performance amidst girls’ screams off-stage.

Sweating profusely, he stood back in the center of the stage. The whole venue could hear his panting like an ox through the microphone.

Xie Hang looked in Duan Xingye’s direction. Seeing no light, he merely pursed his lips, expression unchanged.

Jin Zimi was too excited and issued the first invitation: “I like your music very much. The flow has its own style. I know many rap teachers and can introduce you, as long as you are willing to come to me.”

Xie Hang immediately said, “Thank you, Teacher Jin, but I came for Teacher Duan Xingye today. If Teacher Duan doesn’t choose me, I am willing to enter the pending zone.”

The scene was in an uproar.

Duan Xingye looked up, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Outside the TV, Jiang Li clapped her hands: “This is a loyal die-hard fan!”

Cheng Duzhou stared at the screen, emotion indistinguishable in his eyes.

At this time, Duan Xingye adjusted the microphone on the table and said, “Your rap has power and also possesses lyrical ability…”

The audience off-stage immediately booed, shouting: “Press the light! Press the light! Press the light!…”

Duan Xingye ignored them and continued, “But I sing pop music; I can’t guide you. Moreover, you rapped from beginning to end, showing no vocal skills. I don’t accept trainees having only rap as a performance form in subsequent performances. Also…” He glanced at the lyrics board. “Your English is obviously better than your Chinese, not only in usage but also in pronunciation.”

The audience went silent.

Xie Hang, who looked fearless just now, showed a trace of guilt on his face.

“I will practice hard.” He raised the microphone. “If my performance didn’t move you today, then please give me a ‘no pass’ light. I will come again next time.”

Girls off-stage whimpered, shouting “Don’t! Don’t!”.

Cheng Duzhou watched, biting a blueberry between his teeth.

Duan Xingye didn’t hesitate at all, reaching toward the “X” button, with a posture of letting him have what he asked for.

“Wait!” Xie Hang suddenly stopped him verbally.

Duan Xingye stopped and looked at him.

Xie Hang scratched his head in anxiety; evidently, the previous calmness was faked. He looked left and right, suddenly jumped off the stage, snatched a guitar from other contestants who had already performed, and climbed back onto the stage.

He placed the microphone on the stand, slung the guitar on his body, and said, “Please give me a little more time to listen to me sing pop music. Although it’s not original, if the vocal skills don’t pass, you can eliminate me.”

Cheng Duzhou threw the blueberry into the bowl and said lightly:

“Is this allowed?”

“Do the rules permit this?”

“Everyone only has one chance, right?”

Jiang Li raised her hand to signal him to calm down. “This kid is quite interesting and sincere. Let’s see if he can move Teacher Duan.”

“…”

Cheng Duzhou pursed his lips, jawline tightening.

On the program set, Duan Xingye didn’t stop him, but the director urged in the earpiece: “Cutting to commercial soon, can only give him thirty seconds maximum.”

Xie Hang strummed the first guitar string, cleared his throat, and began singing affectionately: “There are always some surprising encounters, for example when I met you—”

It was Zhang Zhenyue’s Xiao Yu.

A gasp of “Woh~” came from off-stage.

Wu Enqi said, “Aiyou, not bad.”

Jiang Li asked, “Do you think he can get a light?”

Wu Hao nodded: “I think so.”

Cheng Duzhou said, “Still no. Said it’s Singer-Songwriter; what counts singing someone else’s song?”

Others looked at him in unison.

Inexplicably felt Cheng Duzhou was a bit contrarian today.

Cheng Duzhou lowered his head, stuffing blueberries into his mouth. “I’m stating facts.”

On screen, Duan Xingye leaned forward, hands folded on the table.

Actually, the rap lyrics already met the standard. He was only focusing on listening to the vocal skills now.

Tempo okay.

Singing style lyrical.

Pitch OK.

Chinese articulation really sucked.

Duan Xingye reached out and pressed the light.

Xie Hang was stunned.

The whole venue cheered.

The final shot went to Xie Hang’s blossoming smiling face, then cut to commercial in a second.

In the living room, Wu Enqi and Wu Hao high-fived.

Jiang Li clapped her hands smilingly and stood up. “The soup should be ready. I’ll serve you a bowl to warm your stomachs first.”

While Cheng Duzhou hung his head.

The blueberry in his mouth was so sour it was hard to swallow.

The commercial break was a full fifteen minutes, which was also rest time for mentors and audience.

The studio feed wouldn’t be broadcast, but the on-site atmosphere still needed to be maintained.

The director asked everyone what entertainment activities they wanted.

Everyone wanted the mentors to sing; they would be happy even with sitting acapella.

Jin Zimi smiled and waved her hand, indicating she wouldn’t spoil fans today.

Mainly because the audition was too tiring; emotions weren’t there, didn’t want to sing.

The director cued Duan Xingye: “Then Teacher Duan?”

Duan Xingye spoke into the microphone: “Teacher Duan only wants to rest now.”

Laughter erupted off-stage.

The director added: “Then how about letting Teacher Duan call President Cheng on the spot?”

Duan Xingye’s face turned cold.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh—!!!” The entire studio exploded instantly, screams almost lifting the roof.

“Call! Call! Call!” Then everyone joined forces to boo.

With the atmosphere like this, if Duan Xingye didn’t take the offer, he would definitely be the biggest wet blanket tonight.

His fingertips tapped lightly on the phone screen on the table.

At the beginning of the marriage, when he was on a variety show on Fruit TV, he was asked to connect with Cheng Duzhou once. That time he was hung up on.

Although Cheng Duzhou explained afterward that he was filming and the assistant hung up fearing signal interference with set equipment, Duan Xingye never called him actively again after that.

Not disturbing each other in private was agreed upon. Calling him now without reason, would Cheng Duzhou find it annoying?

If he knew Cheng Duzhou called him for recording a show to make fun of him, he would definitely curse Cheng Duzhou bloody.

Tao Ziyi applauded with the audience, a look of watching a good show on his face.

Without knowing there were so many spectators, Cheng Duzhou wouldn’t put on a show. Treating Duan Xingye with his usual attitude would definitely reveal the indifference between a contract couple.

Duan Xingye curled his fingers and pressed the call button.

Couldn’t say whether he hoped this call would connect or just be hung up.

The dialing sound came from the surrounding speakers.

The director made a gesture, and all the audience quieted down tacitly. Silence reigned.

The phone rang twice, connected.

“Hello?” Cheng Duzhou’s unique magnetic voice sounded somewhat confusedly on the scene.

The girls in the front row were so excited their eyes shone.

Duan Xingye’s expression softened slightly, but he felt inexplicably anxious inside. Maybe because he hadn’t actively called Cheng Duzhou, didn’t know what to chat about, and was chatting in front of so many people.

“Mn, it’s me.”

Cheng Duzhou asked, “Aren’t you recording the show?”

Duan Xingye scratched the tabletop with a fingernail. “Intermission.”

“Oh,” Cheng Duzhou said. “Commercial break.”

Duan Xingye paused and asked, “Are you watching too?”

Cheng Duzhou said, “Yes. Watching with everyone.”

Duan Xingye knew “everyone” meant Jiang Li and the others. He followed up: “How’s the show?”

“Pretty good.”

“…”

Cheng Duzhou seemed to only have these words.

Then, Cheng Duzhou added, “It’s just…”

He seemed to stop talking, silence.

Duan Xingye lifted his eyelashes: “Hmm?”

In the living room, Cheng Duzhou rubbed his pants with his palm, glanced at the people beside him playing on their phones, stood up trying not to attract attention, and walked to the glass sliding door.

Duan Xingye heard the faint sound of sliding doors from the phone, and a slight wind sound added to the ambient noise.

Cheng Duzhou leaned against the outer wall and said, “Don’t you not know how to rap?”

“Don’t know how,” Duan Xingye asked. “So?”

Cheng Duzhou lowered his head, kicking the steps under his feet, voice lowered: “Then why did you want a rapper?”

Duan Xingye: “?”

Questioning his standard for choosing people.

Some audience members on site wanted to laugh but covered their mouths quickly.

Duan Xingye propped his forehead with one hand. Because people were around, he patiently explained to Cheng Duzhou: “Did you hear the song he sang later? Wasn’t it quite good?”

“What are you saying?” Cheng Duzhou looked up, his voice suddenly rising. “Sang worse than me.”

Duan Xingye: “…………”

Here to crash the scene?

Jin Zimi desperately held back laughter, but her shoulders were already shaking.

Duan Xingye didn’t know why Cheng Duzhou suddenly picked a fight with him, but with so many spectators, his face as a mentor couldn’t be slapped. Also afraid Cheng Duzhou would say something attacking the contestant, he said, “Enough, Cheng Duzhou. I know the people I chose myself.”

Cheng Duzhou frowned slightly, continuing to kick the steps with his head down.

Duan Xingye seemed to be saying he was making trouble out of nothing.

Thinking of some brat from nowhere daring to run on stage holding a guitar to sing love songs to Duan Xingye, while he held back three simple words for nine years unable to say them… He envied others’ frankness and bravery but couldn’t do it, so he could only make trouble out of nothing.

Cheng Duzhou’s Adam’s apple moved with difficulty. He said, “I’ll sing for you.”

Duan Xingye was stunned. “What?”

Under the eaves, Cheng Duzhou squatted down, biting the bullet: “Just that song just now. I sing better than him.”

Although no one spoke on site, the atmosphere became restless. Everyone’s face was written with anticipation.

Duan Xingye had never heard Cheng Duzhou sing since childhood. No solo opportunities; in chorus, Cheng Duzhou’s voice always blended into the collective.

Definitely sang badly, fishing in troubled waters in the team.

But now Cheng Duzhou didn’t know there were hundreds of spectators. Afraid he would lose face, Duan Xingye hurriedly stopped him: “You…”

Cheng Duzhou had already cleared his throat. With a voice smaller than usual speaking volume, he began to sing acapella:

“My love is like a boat

Nowhere to stop in the lake of your heart

Searching for a beautiful harbor

Hoping to drift no more…”

Duan Xingye looked at the call interface, his expression gradually calming down.

Cheng Duzhou didn’t sing the beginning part of Xiao Yu, but the part Xie Hang didn’t sing just now.

His voice was originally thick and deep, impeccable. Accompanied by the lyrical tune, clearly so quiet, yet like gurgling slowly flowing magma, flooding into Duan Xingye’s heart.

Jin Zimi widened her eyes and nodded to Tao Ziyi, meaning Cheng Duzhou sings unexpectedly well!

Tao Ziyi couldn’t smile. The imagined scene of the couple exchanging cold words didn’t appear; instead, they sang love songs in front of the audience.

A mouthful of dog food.

Jiang Li entered the living room carrying a tray, looked left and right, and asked, “Where’s President Cheng?”

Xiao Jiahui said, “Seems to be on the phone, went out, at the door.”

Jiang Li was about to walk out. “This soup needs to be drunk hot; I’ll remind him.”

“Don’t.” Wu Enqi covered her mouth snickering at this time, turning her phone around. “Don’t disturb the young couple.”

Others leaned in to look and saw a Weibo post just published by a netizen.

Stars Lighting Lamps:

At Singer-Songwriter scene, person has fainted from sweetness, really want to scream ahhh! #ChengDuzhou Connects DuanXingye Singing Love Song#

“…………”

“…If you still can’t believe

Really doesn’t matter

I will leave quietly”

Cheng Duzhou finished singing, covered his face with one hand, voice a bit hoarse: “How was it?”

Listening with Duan Xingye’s picky ears, there were quite a few pitch issues, but the voice was nice, passable for fooling the public.

But this was his first time hearing Cheng Duzhou sing, and it had to be a love song, specifically sung to him. His face became a bit hot. “Not that great.”

Cheng Duzhou scoffed lightly. “Impossible.”

Listening to the young couple bicker, the audience on site was almost twisting into maggots, yet didn’t leak a single sound, terrified Cheng Duzhou would discover the truth and hang up.

Perhaps sensing the slightly restless atmosphere around him, Duan Xingye’s face grew hotter, somewhat uncomfortable. “Hang up.”

Cheng Duzhou knew he had to record the show later, so he didn’t disturb further. “Okay… by the way, you haven’t said what you called for?”

“…” Duan Xingye also just remembered this. Finding no reason, he said toughly, “Can’t I call you for nothing?”

Cheng Duzhou heard that hint of tsundere flavor.

Was Duan Xingye still feeling apologetic about last night? Afraid meeting later would be awkward, so he specially called to test his attitude but was embarrassed to admit it.

Cheng Duzhou said, “I don’t blame you.”

Duan Xingye: “?”

Cheng Duzhou’s voice dropped two degrees: “I will never blame you.”

Duan Xingye didn’t know what he did wrong: “???”

Cheng Duzhou took a deep breath, sorted his emotions, stood up and said, “I’ll send you the location later.”

It was Jiang Li’s home location. Duan Xingye could come over after recording.

Duan Xingye didn’t connect the thoughts: “What for?”

Cheng Duzhou teased, “Didn’t you want to see where your heart landed?”

Duan Xingye blushed. With so many people listening, of course he wouldn’t admit it: “Who said that? I didn’t. Not talking anymore, hanging up!”

Cheng Duzhou pursed his lips holding back a smile. “What are you shy about? I won’t tell anyone.”

“Pfft—!”

Another female voice came from the receiver. Cheng Duzhou moved the phone away a bit, looking at it baffled.

_

Author’s Note:

Couple: Died today from talking too much.