RSDH CH34

As soon as Jin Zimi broke character, the hundred or so people on set couldn’t hold it back anymore, erupting into wild laughter that resounded through the studio.

Duan Xingye’s face flushed with embarrassment, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into right there. He turned off speaker mode and put the phone to his ear.

Hearing the excessively noisy background sound, Cheng Duzhou guessed the gist of it: “Are there people around you?”

“What do you think? It’s a live connection.” Duan Xingye was so embarrassed he had no strength left, burying his head. “I’ll talk to you when we meet.”

“Okay…”

Cheng Duzhou hung up the phone in a daze.

Cheng Duzhou bit his fist, pacing back and forth under the eaves a few times.

He accidentally let it slip, feeling sorry for Duan Xingye who was at the scene facing hundreds of spectators.

And singing love songs in public himself, wondering if the audience saw through his thoughts, was humiliating enough.

Fortunately, the variety show’s intermission wouldn’t be broadcast live. None of Jiang Li’s group knew he was being foolish outside, at least he wouldn’t be laughed at to his face.

Inside the house.

“Hahahahahaha—”

Jiang Li was rocking back and forth on the sofa.

Wu Enqi laughed no less restrained than her, and was even checking her phone.

Under the real-time square of #ChengDuzhou Connects DuanXingye Singing Love Song#, studio audience members had already uploaded the connection video, and the discussion was quite lively.

Young Master Bai Is Polite Here:

When President Cheng sang, I listened intently. Felt like he was singing about himself, tears unknowingly flowed down. Later heard the cheesy pick-up line and laughed again. Overthought it; Teacher Duan loves him quite a bit too.

Express Feelings:

President Cheng was unhappy seeing Wifey choose a little trainee singing love songs, insisting on outdoing him! Damn this desire to win.

Bitter Tea Seeds:

Not stepping on anyone. The song ‘Xiao Yu’, rapper Xie Hang sang with youthful adoration, knowing not the taste of sorrow, very light. But Cheng Duzhou sang the lonely thoughts of a secret admirer, somewhat heavy. If I didn’t see him being so sweet with Wifey, I would have almost believed his nonsense.

Cheng Duzhou stood in the cold wind outside for a while longer, slid open the glass door, and re-entered the room.

The four people on the sofa were all watching TV, expressions normal.

Seeing Cheng Duzhou return, Jiang Li gestured with her lips at the bowl on the coffee table: “Drink while it’s hot, it’s getting cold.”

Cheng Duzhou sat down, holding the soup bowl, watching TV.

Right at this moment, the commercial break ended, cutting back to the studio.

The camera swept across the audience as usual, but this time, compared to the start of the first half, the audience’s eyes were shining, faces glowing, as if they had been injected with chicken blood during the break.

The lens returned to the mentor seat. Only Duan Xingye had his head down, adjusting his headset, but couldn’t hide his red-through cheeks.

The hot soup burned the skin of his palm through the bowl. Cheng Duzhou opened his mouth, then closed it, as if infected too, a layer of red showing on his thin face skin.

On TV, Jin Zimi seemed to want to break character and laugh but held it back, appearing a bit awkward: “Welcome back to the site of Singer-Songwriter 101. Continuing the audition from the first half, each mentor now has four to five spots left. Subsequent contestants please continue to work hard, relying on singing and talent to get your tickets. Let’s invite the next contestant on stage!”

Jin Zimi laughed at the end of her speech.

“Pfft!” Jiang Li covered her mouth.

Cheng Duzhou’s hand holding the porcelain spoon paused.

Jiang Li hurriedly said to Wu Enqi, “Hey, this little girl speaks quite interestingly.”

Wu Enqi nodded, corners of her mouth twitching, inadvertently meeting Jiang Li’s eyes.

The two were silent for half a second, then simultaneously “Ha!” and burst out laughing.

Jiang Li lay sideways on the back of the sofa, trembling like a flower branch.

Wu Enqi rested on Wu Hao’s lap, emitting goose laughs.

Xiao Jiahui was stuck on the edge of laughing or not laughing, waving his hand at Cheng Duzhou, comforting: “It’s fine, it’s fine, ignore them…”

Cheng Duzhou stirred the sea cucumber soup with the porcelain spoon, dawdling for a good while, then looked up at the TV. Just then, Duan Xingye also looked at the camera.

In a sense, the couple looked at each other with red faces.

The further back it went, the tighter the spots became. The participating young people almost had to use all their skills to fight for the remaining trainee seats.

Some didn’t have enough singing, making up for it with martial arts. Some had slick tongues, amusing even someone as calm as Duan Xingye into speechlessness. There were also sensational ones, making the audience wipe their eyes with sleeves.

Overall, the pace of the second half was tighter than the first, and everyone watched intently the whole time.

Towards the end, there were twenty contestants left, and the mentors had only four spots in total, entering a heated stage of snatching seats.

Tao Ziyi picked up the info sheet, glanced at it, and said to the camera: “The next person coming on stage has quite a background.”

“How so?” Jin Zimi looked at him.

Tao Ziyi read from the remarks: “He was the first place in last year’s Shanghai University Top Ten Singers, one of the lyricists for the theme song of the animation Begonia, and created a viral divine song on short video platforms, reaching over 100 million plays.”

Noises rose from the audience, everyone guessing who it was.

For Duan Xingye, those titles were too trivial; never heard of them, arousing no interest at all.

Tao Ziyi said at this time: “Let’s welcome Wang Shixi!”

Applause filled the studio.

Staff quickly ran on stage and set up an electronic keyboard.

The electronic screen behind slowly opened, and a fair-skinned young man walked out.

Bullet comments surged suddenly.

“Wang Shixi! I follow him on Douyin!”

“He never shows his face in videos; turns out he looks so delicate and pretty!”

“Big boss returning to the novice village.”

Duan Xingye lazily lifted his eyelids, but his gaze froze slightly in an instant, fixed.

Cheng Duzhou watched the TV, slowly putting down the bowl he was holding.

The young man walked behind the electronic keyboard, hands folded in front, bowed in three directions with good posture, stood up, and smiled gently: “Hello three mentors, hello audience, my name is Wang Shixi.”

Cheers erupted off-stage.

“Welcome, Wang Shixi.” Jin Zimi said gracefully, “Why did you want to participate in this program? With your excellent resume, you could totally debut directly.”

Wang Shixi smiled slightly and said, “You flatter me. coming here is because Singer-Songwriter has excellent mentors and contestants. It’s a very good platform for exchange and learning. At the same time, I also hope more people can start to know me from here. Of course, I will also work hard to prove my talent and ability.”

As his voice fell, his gaze paused on Duan Xingye for a moment.

“Wow, makes one look forward to it.” Jin Zimi said, “Then please begin your performance.”

Wang Shixi adjusted his standing position, ready. With the rise and fall of his wrist, melodious electronic keyboard sounds rang out.

Duan Xingye withdrew his gaze from the stage, looking at the lyrics book in front of him.

[On the Way Home]

Lyrics/Composition: Wang Shixi

Wang Xi… now called Wang Shixi, must be a stage name.

Duan Xingye looked at the lyrics on the paper, listening to the singing of the person on stage, but his mind was full of the scene of their last meeting.

It was a day eight years ago. His father came back to pick up luggage, and his mother smashed a Jun kiln purple glaze porcelain.

Unable to bear it, Duan Xingye slammed the door and went out, only to see his father’s car parked outside the yard. In the passenger seat sat his first love, who was rumored to be dying of illness but was living well. In the back seat was the son of the first love and her ex-husband, Wang Xi, now Wang Shixi.

Wang Shixi hugged a plush toy in the car, kneading it. Seeing him through the window, he stuffed the toy behind his head as a pillow, looked up, and the gaze looking over became a downward glance from a high place.

There were many other plush toys in the back seat, all placed in Dad’s car by Duan Xingye since childhood.

He saw Wang Shixi’s sweaty hair rubbing against the fluff of the toys.

Since then, all plush toys became very dirty in his eyes.

Wang Shixi pressed a finger under his eyelid, pulling it down, sticking out his tongue.

His mother turned back and lightly hit his arm.

Duan Xingye ran away.

At this moment on stage, the singing reached the chorus part.

The audience swayed left and right, listening entranced.

Bullet comments:

“It’s a new song, sounds so good! Waiting for online release.”

“Wang Shixi’s level is totally enough to be a mentor!”

“Lyrics and music are impeccable; this has to be three lights, right?”

Tao Ziyi was the first to give a light, his eyes visibly full of appreciation.

Jin Zimi followed closely.

Currently, only the light in front of Duan Xingye was dark. He leaned back in his chair, looking at the lyrics book the whole time, seemingly strictly examining every line of lyrics.

In the living room.

Wu Enqi said, “I don’t understand music, but I think it sounds strangely good.”

Jiang Li agreed: “This one has the face of a champion, definitely someone the program team is pushing hard.”

Cheng Duzhou didn’t say a word, didn’t even look at the TV again. He held his phone typing, deleting and editing, pausing for a long time, then deleting, then typing, finally sending a message to Duan Xingye.

Cheng Duzhou: [I’ll pick you up later.]

Backstage of the studio.

A boy held his head pacing back and forth, dejected: “Teacher Duan definitely has to press the light for this one. Professional contestants give us a way to live, please don’t choose Teacher Duan in return.”

In the studio, the song was nearing the end.

But Duan Xingye remained unmoved.

The producer was anxious, urging in the headset: “Teacher Duan, press the light! You can press the light now!”

This contestant had a script, needing three lights to cooperate in creating a genius trainee persona, also increasing the program’s watchability.

But the producer urged several times like this, Duan Xingye still didn’t react. Even Tao Ziyi and Jin Zimi cast doubtful glances.

Finally, Wang Shixi sang the last line affectionately: “Long road of expectation, lights of ten thousand homes reunited—”

The corner of Duan Xingye’s lips raised an inconspicuous smile.

The son of a mistress could write lyrics hoping for the reunion of ten thousand homes.

Without looking up, he reached out and slapped the light.

A dull special effect sound of Boom! resounded through the studio.

Wang Shixi hadn’t pressed the last note yet, stopping.

The audience burst into gasps, causing a commotion on the scene.

On the display screen in front of Duan Xingye’s position, there was a big red cross.

The producer was stunned.

Amidst the helplessness of the whole venue, Tao Ziyi leaned over to look at Duan Xingye, laughing awkwardly twice: “Did you press wrong?”

Surrounding audience echoed: “Must have pressed wrong—”

Duan Xingye looked up, finally facing Wang Shixi on stage again, and said lightly, “Sorry, I can’t give you a pass here.”

Gasps rose again on the scene. Looking left and right, everyone was confused.

Bullet comments couldn’t sit still anymore.

“If not giving a pass, he could just not press the light. Wang Shixi could still choose from other mentors. Giving a red light means he can only enter pending status.”

“What is Duan Xingye doing? Wang Shixi’s performance was the ceiling of the entire audition, right? Not pressing the light is one thing, but vetoing him directly with one vote?”

“So confusing. Can we be fair and just? If Wang Shixi can’t enter the audition, this program definitely has shady curtains!”

“Duan Xingye targeting newcomers.”

“What’s the noise about? Bullet comments are per capita experts. Teacher Duan sitting there isn’t a mascot; he definitely has his own judgment.”

“Fans stop whitewashing. Duan Xingye definitely has selfish motives. Who doesn’t say Wang Shixi’s song sounds good? The audience has judgment too!”

Currently, most people on the internet stood with Wang Shixi, indignant, calling for Duan Xingye to give an explanation.

Jiang Li frowned, feeling worried: “Why did Teacher Duan press the red light at the end? This attracts too much hate.”

On stage.

Wang Shixi took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, showing a suppressed disappointment on his face. He said to Duan Xingye neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Can I know the reason? Mainly because I have great expectations for this song, and it also embodies my deepest feelings. I don’t think today’s performance was worse than any previous contestant, and I certainly didn’t expect to be the only one in the whole venue to get a red light from you.”

Moved by this rhetoric, the bullet comments immediately substituted into Wang Shixi’s position. Thus, the voices boycotting Duan Xingye became more turbulent, grouping up to spam the screen telling him to get out of the program!

At this time, Cheng Duzhou grabbed his jacket and stood up, saying to the people present: “I’m going to pick him up now. You guys eat first later, no need to wait for us.”

“You go ahead,” Jiang Li said. “I’ll contact you by phone later.”

Cheng Duzhou walked toward the door.

In the studio where a broadcast accident was almost happening.

The director and producer took turns getting on the line with walkie-talkies.

Finding it noisy, Duan Xingye took off the headset directly.

He tore off the lyrics page separately, holding it in his hand to look at, tasting unhurriedly: “Wang Shixi… rare in the world, very good name.”

The scene gradually quieted down, listening to Duan Xingye speak.

“Thank you.” Wang Shixi spoke into the microphone. “Will a good name affect my passing?”

There was obvious unconvinced mockery in that tone, but no one would blame his rudeness at this moment.

“No.” Duan Xingye didn’t even look up, saying lightly, “Let me state the reason why you can’t pass.”

“First, the arrangement and lyrics of this song of yours don’t match.”

Not matching meant uncoordinated. The arrangement was one style, the lyrics another. This was a common problem for novice creators.

But for listeners, few cared if lyrics and music matched, only if the melody sounded good or the lyrics were moving.

Bullet comments erupted in dissatisfaction again, thinking Duan Xingye was nitpicking.

Wang Shixi seized the opportunity: “I admit I lack experience in creation, that’s why I came here to learn. But if just because of this…”

Duan Xingye ignored him completely, continuing on his own: “Let’s talk about the music first. Very obvious Japanese-Korean style. The prelude clashes with the song Glory that dominated the charts two years ago, sharing four looped syllables. The subsequent chord progression and melodic rhythm also show fragmentary similarities.”

Wang Shixi broke out in cold sweat instantly.

The bullet comments also changed direction in an instant. The voices attacking Duan Xingye decreased sharply, almost covered up.

“I was just saying the prelude was so smooth, seemed to have heard it somewhere.”

“So bold, copying from lyrics to music.”

“Where are the people who cursed indiscriminately before? Don’t play dead, apologize!”

“You can always trust Teacher Duan’s musical literacy!”

“If not for Duan Xingye, he really would have muddled through!”

“Just saying similar, no evidence. Can Duan Xingye produce an audio track comparison on the spot?”

Jin Zimi covered her mouth with both hands, looking at Duan Xingye, then at Wang Shixi on stage.

After Duan Xingye mentioned it, she realized it really was so. Before coming, she never thought a contestant would plagiarize, and plagiarize so blatantly. Crucially, Duan Xingye heard it all; too strong.

On stage, Wang Shixi’s breath was obviously unstable for a moment, amplified by the microphone. “Clashing syllables might be a coincidence. I didn’t listen to that song again during creation.”

“It’s okay, you can reserve your opinion. Just finished talking about music, next let’s talk about lyrics.”

Duan Xingye put that page back on the table, leaning forward.

“Although the lyrics have ancient rhyme, after dismantling, one can still see the American country music style. There is a small section in the chorus here that writes: Stars illuminate the road ahead, looking up at a solitary moon. Coincidentally reminds me of an English lyric: I followed the guiding star, the solitary bright is high in the sky…”

Before his voice fell, a vigorous voice came from the first row of the audience. Without a microphone, it still spread through the studio: “The Kids band’s country folk! In the Country Road!”

Duan Xingye lifted his eyelids, looking toward the sound.

Xie Hang was excitedly clenching his fist. Glanced at by Duan Xingye, he immediately sat up straight.

The contestant beside him whispered, “What? Why haven’t I heard of it?”

Xie Hang replied, lowering his voice as much as possible: “Those who grew up in the US might know. It’s a small band from California. Their songs are very niche, only having some circulation in the folk circle, hasn’t spread to our country yet.”

Wang Shixi rushed to say, “I need to explain here. I don’t know the English lyrics you mentioned. There are only so many images related to hometown; using stars and moon is just a coincidence. I was influenced by our traditional Chinese culture, unrelated to foreign country music.”

“Not just this sentence; relevant corresponding lyrics can be found in the following eight measures.” Duan Xingye said, “Saying it’s English translated to Chinese doesn’t wrong you.”

Wang Shixi’s face turned pale.

The audience was in an uproar.

In front of the TV, Jiang Li clapped her hands, understanding: “Translating foreign lyrics into Chinese, and even styling it as ancient style lyrics, thinking this could escape Teacher Duan’s fiery eyes?”

Wu Enqi sighed: “Teacher Duan is godlike. Can react to this on the spot. I haven’t even heard the original song; who would have thought?”

Wang Shixi’s hand holding the microphone was trembling. “I know whatever I say now seems pale, but I wrote the lyrics and music myself. I didn’t copy any song.”

“No one said you copied. I just stated the phenomena I saw. Since there are doubts now, then hand the right of judgment to the netizens.” Duan Xingye looked up, his gaze cold and clear. “Not giving you a pass today is out of rigor. You can try hard to prove your talent and ability to netizens. Any other questions?”

Wang Shixi wanted to say something to the microphone but couldn’t say it in the end. Letting out two heavy and weak gasps, he walked directly off the stage.

The audience booed. Only after Wang Shixi left the studio dejectedly did they enthusiastically applaud Duan Xingye again.

Bullet comments were sprinkled with flowers. At this moment, however shocked the mood, it could only converge into one sentence: Teacher Duan is awesome!!!

Duan Xingye put the headset back on. This time, the noisy voice of the producer didn’t come again.

The first episode of Singer-Songwriter 101 ended successfully, leaving a deep impression on the audience. The most explosive highlight was undoubtedly Duan Xingye slapping the internet celebrity in the face on the spot, suspecting his originality. Unsurprisingly, it made the trending search.

In the comments section, some questioned Duan Xingye saying plagiarism without in-depth comparison investigation was too arbitrary.

But most were voices of support.

“One or two similarities are fine, but clashing so much, does a certain Wang not have a guilty conscience?”

“Support original spirit! Support Duan Xingye!”

“Hearing the prelude similar to Glory on the spot isn’t something ordinary people can do. Duan Xingye could even blurt out the lyrics of that niche country music. I kneel to the boss.”

Walking out of the studio, Duan Xingye saw Cheng Duzhou’s message saying he was coming to pick him up.

He typed a reply with one hand.

Seen: [No need, I’ll go myself.]

No reply came from that side.

Just as Duan Xingye was about to reach the lounge, a call came in.

Thinking it was Cheng Duzhou, he picked it up to look. It was a string of numbers, location from Yu City.

Duan Xingye gradually stopped walking. Even without a caller ID, this string of numbers was still familiar by heart.

Xiao Dai wondered: “Teacher Duan?”

Duan Xingye blinked: “You guys go in first.”

Xiao Dai understood immediately, saying to the makeup artist beside him, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

The whole corridor became empty. Only a few fluorescent lights were on above, somewhat dim.

Duan Xingye’s long eyelashes trembled, casting shaking shadows on his snow-white lower eyelids.

He answered the phone, his voice a few degrees lower: “Hello?”

“Xingxing.”

A gentle and cultivated man’s voice came from the other end.

It was Duan Qiwei.

Duan Xingye lowered his eyes and gave a mn.

“Long time no see.” Duan Qiwei smiled. “Did you receive the postcards I sent every year?”

Duan Xingye was silent for a moment.

He didn’t know about postcards.

Thinking about it, Grandpa must have withheld them and never told him.

“Received,” Duan Xingye said. “Is there something?”

“Xingxing…”

Sensing the alienation in Duan Xingye’s tone that shouldn’t exist between father and son by blood, Duan Qiwei hesitated to speak. Understanding that saying more was useless, he had to cut to the chase.

“You remember Shixi, right?”

Duan Xingye’s gaze paused, lifting his eyes. The only trace of warm memory remaining in his dark pupils faded, covered bit by bit by firmer frost.

Duan Qiwei said, “I saw the news online, very surprised. That child has always worked hard on music, participating in the competition with great determination. But now being pointed out for plagiarism to his face is a huge blow to him. I think the standard for plagiarism isn’t that strict; it’s understandable for him to be influenced by other songs. As a senior, you can surely understand. So when he returns to the program next time, can you… not target him?”

Duan Xingye said calmly, “You made this call for him.”

Duan Qiwei was silent for a moment and said, “Xingxing, I know you always have a grudge in your heart, but don’t drag matters between adults onto Shixi. I’ve always wanted to find a chance for you and Shixi to know each other. You both like music; you can definitely become friends. You can also treat him as a younger brother; he is still young…”

Duan Xingye raised his face. A low breath of helplessness and uncontrollable annoyance escaped his throat. raising a hand to cover and rub his somewhat tired eyelids back and forth, he interrupted: “The year I participated in the talent show, I was also twenty-one.”

Duan Qiwei’s breath vanished.

When Duan Xingye participated in the talent show, he didn’t accept any help from home, nor did anyone arrange everything for him in advance. Even when he was nearly forced to withdraw by black-box operations, he was alone. And at that time, Duan Qiwei was invisible.

But now Wang Shixi already held a script, and Duan Qiwei still pleaded for him.

Duan Qiwei was absent not only from Duan Xingye’s twenty-one-year-old talent show. Starting from when Duan Xingye was seventeen, the proof of his existence was only the postcards sent home every year.

Duan Qiwei’s voice lowered: “Sorry, Xingxing, I…”

“Shh.” Duan Xingye put a finger to his lips, making several sounds in succession. “Shh… shh, shh.”

The light above him was dim. His face was backlit, eyes hidden in darkness.

“Say one more word, and I’ll make him ruined tonight.”

Duan Qiwei made no sound.

Two seconds later.

Duan Xingye hung up the phone.

Returning to the lounge, Duan Xingye went into the changing cubicle to change clothes.

In the narrow space, with his back to the door, he took off the black shirt. Under the light, the creamy skin of his shoulders and back was exposed inch by inch. Because his head was lowered, the skin at the back of his neck stretched over distinct bone shapes.

Duan Xingye mentioned twenty-one on the phone not to make Duan Qiwei feel guilty. Parents’ guilt would only make him feel hypocritical and disgusted from the bottom of his heart. He simply wanted to mock. Mock Wang Shixi as a loser, going on a show with plagiarized lyrics and music, trying to act cool but getting slapped in the face instead. Just such a stepson treated as a rare treasure by Duan Qiwei was mud compared to clouds next to him.

Saying he targeted Wang Shixi was giving him face. He wasn’t jealous, nor did he envy anyone. He could stand in his current position without anyone’s help, and could grow up well without bullshit fatherly or motherly love.

Duan Xingye considered himself living very well now because his security came from full battery, trophies filling seven layers of a cabinet, talent and inspiration that would never betray him—not illusory family affection, or sugar-coated business love. Those people destined to leave—his father, mother, Cheng Duzhou… he didn’t want any of them. He didn’t rely on anyone.

Duan Xingye lowered his head, covering his face with the taken-off shirt.

In his memory, at seventeen, after leaving home, he sat by the river the whole time. Cheng Duzhou found him and accompanied him silently by his side all night.

— “I can always be by your side.”

At dawn, Cheng Duzhou suddenly spoke. Having not spoken for a long time, the boy’s voice was hoarse.

His black hair was stained with the cold mist of the mountain city, somewhat damp. He had given his school uniform jacket to him, leaving only a white short-sleeved shirt with slightly dirty edges on his body.

Cheng Duzhou rested his arms on his separated knees, head buried low. The red sunrise light only shone on his ears and neck. “If you need me… so in the end, you won’t be left alone.”

In the changing cubicle, Duan Xingye looked up, revealing a pair of dark eyes from between the black shirt. The rims of his eyes were red, corners wet.

Right at this moment.

Phone vibrated.

Duan Xingye picked it up to check.

Cheng Duzhou: [Arrived.]

Cheng Duzhou: [[Location Address]]

Duan Xingye left through the back door passage, walked to the parking lot, and saw Cheng Duzhou’s DBX with double flashers blinking.

He got into the car, rummaging through the storage compartment first thing.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at him and threw a charging cable over.

Duan Xingye plugged in his phone, buckled his seatbelt, and said, “I’ve said before, there is no need for you to pick me up.”

Cheng Duzhou started the vehicle, saying lightly, “I was being polite, no need to thank.”

Duan Xingye scoffed lightly to show disdain, nestling into a comfortable position on the seat back.

Cheng Duzhou suddenly said, “How was it?”

“What?” Duan Xingye said lazily. “The program went smoothly. By the way, the phone call during the break was arranged by the director. I couldn’t be a wet blanket, had to call you. Since you exposed my info, we are even.”

“I didn’t ask about these.” Cheng Duzhou licked the corner of his lips and said, “I asked how you are.”

Only then did Duan Xingye understand; he saw Wang Shixi.

Duan Xingye tilted his head, turning his face toward the car window: “How can I be?”

“You gave that person a red light, no pass.”

After that, Cheng Duzhou didn’t watch anymore, coming out to pick up Duan Xingye.

Hearing this, Duan Xingye’s dark pupils sank, voice turning cold: “Do you also think I targeted him?”

Is it that as long as he acts unkindly, everyone thinks he is taking anger out on Wang Shixi because of the past?

Insisting he greet him with a smile to represent his judgment is without personal feelings?

In Cheng Duzhou’s impression, his mind is just that narrow.

Duan Xingye pressed the seatbelt buckle, face cold: “Stop the car.”

The dangerous warning sound of unbuckled seatbelt while driving rang inside the car.

“Where are your thoughts going again?” Cheng Duzhou frowned slightly. “Whether you target him or not is none of my business. I just wanted to know if your mood would be affected after seeing him. Is it wrong to care about you? Does it violate the agreement? Put the seatbelt on!”

Duan Xingye paused slightly. Through the reflection in the window glass, he saw Cheng Duzhou’s slightly annoyed profile.

After a long while.

With a click, the safety buckle closed again.

Duan Xingye looked at the streetscape moving backward constantly, voice full of disdain: “Do I look like someone whose mood would be affected by him? Not before, and certainly not now.”

Cheng Duzhou suddenly wanted to sigh.

When seeing Wang Shixi come on stage, his eyes clearly changed.

The sixteen or seventeen-year-old Duan Xingye made the biggest fuss when the cracks first appeared between his parents, unwilling for them to separate. Later, he seemed to gradually accept the fact of their incompatibility. The last time his father came back to get luggage, Duan Xingye ran to the river and sat all night. A very cold night, but he was unwilling to go home.

Since childhood, Duan Xingye grew up loved by his family. His parents poured all their love on him. But suddenly, the family broke up, and Duan Xingye became the proof of two adults loathing each other.

Those ignored appeals, unnoticed emotions, wouldn’t be smoothed over by the hand of time during growth. They would only appear in uglier ways, eventually torturing oneself.

What Cheng Duzhou saw in Duan Xingye was such a feeling.

So he really wanted to come see him, really wanted to ask, Are you okay?

Duan Xingye said at this time, “Did you come because you were worried about me?”

Cheng Duzhou gave a vague mn.

Light enough to make one suspect if he was embarrassed to admit it.

Duan Xingye lowered his lashes, masking a fluctuation in his eyes, half-mocking and half-joking: “Someone who didn’t contact after leaving is now starting to worry.”

Cheng Duzhou’s gaze stagnated, distracted to glance at Duan Xingye. Flipping the right turn signal, the car slowly slid to the roadside.

The street was empty at this time, with no other vehicles on the road.

Duan Xingye turned his face to look at him, raising an eyebrow: “What? Making me get off?”

After Duan Qiming left, Cheng Xian no longer needed to be his driver. Not long after, he resigned from the job at the Kan family and took Cheng Duzhou back to Shanghai.

Cheng Duzhou’s hand gripping the steering wheel tightened, seemingly suppressing something. After a moment, he looked back at him: “You didn’t contact me either.”

Duan Xingye’s heartbeat missed half a beat. A trace of guilt flashed across his face at an uncatchable speed. Sitting up, he said, “Cheng Duzhou, you want to argue about this with me now? Why should I contact you? If you had something, couldn’t you actively find me?”

“I looked for you.”

“…”

Duan Xingye shut his mouth abruptly, eyelashes blinking rapidly.

Cheng Duzhou withdrew his gaze, looking at the steering wheel. Half his face was hidden in shadow, his clear jawline moving slightly. “You changed your phone number, changed WeChat too. I found your friend’s contact info, saw group photos of you guys in moments, found you…” He paused, voice slightly deep. “You lived quite well.”

Duan Xingye heard a bit of disappointment in his tone, almost choking: “My living well offended you? Living well means you don’t contact anymore?”

Cheng Duzhou’s Adam’s apple moved.

Duan Xingye lived very well, skateboarding, partying, yachting with those rich second-generation friends of his. Smiling very happily in every photo, too carefree.

So good that him disturbing again seemed superfluous. Moreover, Duan Xingye never needed him.

“Anyway, my number, WeChat, Renren Network were all there.” Cheng Duzhou said, “What about you? Changed everything, told me nothing. Did you want me to find you?”

“…” Duan Xingye leaned back against the seat, lips pursed, chest heaving somewhat obviously. After a long while, he twisted his face outward. “Didn’t you manage to find me? You didn’t ask yourself, blaming me? If I didn’t want you to find me, you wouldn’t find me?”

“Then did you want to?”

“Want my ass!”

Cheng Duzhou stopped talking.

After a long while.

The car moved forward again, driving onto the main road.

There was silence inside the car.

But once some emotions were uncovered, they couldn’t be closed, still surging in the dark.

Cheng Duzhou suddenly “tsk”-ed.

“Get off, Duan Xingye. I get annoyed seeing you.”

“Did I make you look! Stop the car.”

“Get off.”

“Then stop!”

The two arrived at the place, got out of the car, and were still arguing while climbing the stone stairs.

Nothing more than the bamboo horse feelings of more than ten years were all plastic; said cut contact and cut contact; who stopped contacting first?

Then pointing fingers at each other.

Only when the villa’s nanny appeared ahead did the couple shut up simultaneously with tacit understanding.

The nanny led them to the inner room and left quietly.

In the dining room, the table was already full of dishes, still steaming as if just served.

But the others were gone; the room was empty.

Cheng Duzhou walked to the table and saw the note left by Jiang Li.

[The production team of All the Way With You arrived. We went to the intersection to pick them up. You guys eat first.]

Today was Friday. There was a live broadcast of All the Way With You at 9 PM. Because all three families were filming at Jiang Li’s place, many staff members were coming later.

However, in the kitchen connected to the dining room, the lights weren’t on, but four pairs of eyes were shining brightly inside. If one could adapt to the darkness, one could see a person holding a creamy white cake.

Duan Xingye leaned against the kitchen door frame, looking at Cheng Duzhou’s back.

When Cheng Duzhou left before moving at seventeen, the two had a fight. Never been so serious since childhood. Although neither said it out loud, they thought of cutting ties in their hearts, so much so that on the day Cheng Duzhou left, Duan Xingye didn’t go to see him off.

So he thought Cheng Duzhou wouldn’t contact him again.

Today he learned Cheng Duzhou tried to find him, went through others when he couldn’t, and even stalked his photos. Later probably felt he lived too well and had new friends, so left it at that.

Reserved (Mensao).

Duan Xingye suppressed a curve at the corner of his mouth, looking a bit like a pout, so it was hard to say if it was disdain or pride.

Cheng Duzhou turned around and said, “They went to pick people up; let’s wait a bit.”

Duan Xingye gave a mn, rested his head on the door frame beside him, and hooked a finger at Cheng Duzhou: “You come here.”

Cheng Duzhou was confused: “What?”

While saying it, he already walked over.

Duan Xingye used that finger to probe into Cheng Duzhou’s shirt collar, hooked it, and dragged him toward himself.

Cheng Duzhou moved another half step closer. His sharp Adam’s apple slid, rubbing warmly and hard against Duan Xingye’s index finger knuckle.

“What?” He asked again. This time, his voice was noticeably softer.

Duan Xingye’s fox-like upturned eyes lowered, unknown where he was looking at Cheng Duzhou, and said, “Why did you look for me back then?”

Cheng Duzhou felt that kind of look had hooks, making his heart a bit itchy. Slowly lowering his head close to that snow-white face, he said, “Can’t I look for you if there’s nothing? I knew you since five; there is no such thing as cutting contact upon leaving.”

“Isn’t that just like you?” Duan Xingye looked up, meeting Cheng Duzhou’s gaze.

Cheng Duzhou pursed his lips: “I didn’t.”

Duan Xingye moved his face up a bit: “You did.”

Cheng Duzhou held his full lower lip in his mouth.

The two kissed at the kitchen door, but rationality remained. Knowing this was someone else’s home and others might be back soon, they separated after a light taste.

Cheng Duzhou calmed his messy breath and whispered, “Let’s not stay here tonight and find a place outside ourselves.”

Jiang Li prepared a room for them in the villa. Staying here and leaving with everyone tomorrow would only be more convenient.

Duan Xingye said, “What are you tossing about blindly for?”

Cheng Duzhou rested his head on his shoulder: “Can we please.”

Only then did Duan Xingye understand something. Patting Cheng Duzhou’s face, he found it a bit funny: “Quite polite, aren’t you.”

— “You are the most beautiful cloud in my sky~”

The Phoenix Legend ringtone exploding in the kitchen startled the two at the door.

Looking into the dark kitchen, they saw a weak light flash and disappear; the sound also died.

Cheng Duzhou reached out and felt the switch on the wall.

The moment the lights turned bright, four stiff-postured people stood in the center.

“…………”

“…………”

Jiang Li held a cake with “Wishing Teacher Duan’s variety show a lucky start!” written on it.

Clustered beside her were Wu Enqi, Wu Hao, and Xiao Jiahui.

The smiles on the four faces were equally stiff. Coming face to face with the couple at the door, only their eyeballs could move in their entire bodies.

Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye seemed not to know what to do next for a moment.

The atmosphere gradually scorched.

Until with a Bang!.

Xiao Jiahui accidentally pulled the lead of the party popper, bursting out a small patch of ribbons.

He trembled in fright himself first, but still stubbornly said: “Sur… Surprise!”

Duan Xingye’s eye twitched.

Cheng Duzhou reacted first, squeezing Duan Xingye’s hand comfortingly and taking two steps back.

Because he had already been laughed at by the four people in front of him earlier, he was unexpectedly calm at this moment, saying as if nothing happened: “So everyone is here. Let’s eat.”

— “You are the most beautiful cloud in my sky~”

Behind the counter standing in the center of the kitchen, the noisy ringtone rang again.

“Ah, damn it!”

A person wearing All the Way With You work uniform stood up, frantically pressing his phone trying to hang up.

Then, a dozen colleagues stood up one after another around him.

The kitchen, not big to begin with, was suddenly stuffed with people.

Amidst the bustle, there was a suffocating silence.

“…………”

_

Author’s Note:

All staff: Sur… Surprise!