RSDH CH5

The silence in the hallway made Duan Xingye’s scalp feel tight.

Yet his face, flushed with red, looked tempting enough to pinch.

Cheng Duzhou’s fingers curled slightly, and he took a step closer.

Duan Xingye, however, turned and walked away. “Go to your meeting. Don’t walk me out.”

Cheng Duzhou stood still for a moment, then followed, insisting on escorting Duan Xingye to the elevator.

Behind them, the livestream chat had already exploded.

…

Duan Xingye took the elevator alone down to the basement level and got into the car.

Xiao Dai turned around, about to greet him.

Then he saw Duan Xingye’s completely flushed cheeks exposed under the dim light of the parking lot.

Xiao Dai’s heart skipped a beat.

Duan Xingye’s expensive-looking face rarely showed any expression other than arrogance. He didn’t need to guess to know that the script discussion had fallen apart; otherwise, he wouldn’t be this angry.

He had expected this. Both of them were arrogant by nature; usually, just glancing at each other one extra time felt like losing. How could President Cheng accept a persona where he was madly in love with Teacher Duan?

The car started smoothly.

Duan Xingye was oblivious to the strange looks from others. Staring out the window at the passing scenery, he unconsciously touched his lips one moment, then lowered his eyes to look at his fingernails the next. His elegant brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked a bit troubled.

Finally, he clicked his tongue, decided not to think about anything, tucked his hands in, and went to sleep.

Xiao Dai tactfully kept quiet, shrinking into the passenger seat to scroll through Weibo.

The official announcement of All the Way With You had made the trending search. In the comments section, it took five minutes of scrolling to find a single supportive comment. Most people were skeptical about the casting. It could be called the most tragic official announcement in the history of romance variety shows.

Actually, when Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye first got married, they attracted a large number of CP fans, purely for their looks.

When the two stood together, even their height difference was full of sexual tension.

However, after getting the certificate, they had zero interaction. On the rare occasions they were in the same frame, the atmosphere was weird. Their “plastic” nature was quickly exposed, and now there were fewer than 50,000 active fans left in their Super Topic.

Xiao Dai had managed to persist as a Level 18 hardcore fan because he knew Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye had grown up together. So, he mentally filled in a grand drama of childhood sweethearts and a broken mirror reuniting, falling deep into the ship.

Originally, hearing that Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye were going to do business together gave Xiao Dai the joy of seeing the sun through the clouds. But before filming even started, the netizens were disapproving. Crucially, the main couple hadn’t even agreed on a script. The trailer coming out in a few days would probably be unwatchable.

Just as Xiao Dai was wallowing in gloom, a real-time Weibo post jumped onto the feed.

#UnexpectedlyShippable #AllTheWayWithYou [Drool] [Video Link]

Xiao Dai was confused, thinking it was some spam advertisement violating the rules. Then he recognized the person in the video thumbnail was Duan Xingye, so he clicked play.

Wearing Bluetooth earphones, he stared at the screen. Soon, his eyes lit up.

Suddenly, he squealed like a chicken.

The driver was startled and quickly glanced sideways.

He saw Xiao Dai covering his mouth with one hand, lifting his legs, and squirming left and right in his seat like a maggot. Happy and excited.

“…”

Xiao Dai turned his head. “Teacher Duan…”

But Duan Xingye had already tilted his head and fallen asleep.

Looking at the lingering flush on that beautiful face again, Xiao Dai’s mentality completely changed.

How was that anger?

That was clearly the flush of spring passion!

Xiao Dai looked back at his phone, watching the related topic climb the trending search, covering his mouth and letting out a weird “Gie~ gie~ gie~” giggle.

The cold CP is finally open for business!!!

Duan Xingye accidentally slept deeply. When he woke up, his eyes were still sore, and there was a red mark on his forehead.

He raised his hand to brush his black hair over the mark. He hadn’t been this tired in a long time.

Damn Cheng Duzhou. That stallion waist. Tossed me around all night like he didn’t care about his life.

Before they parted, Xiao Dai leaned on the car window, his eyes flashing with a mysterious, excited light. “Teacher Duan, remember to check the trending search!”

Duan Xingye didn’t take it to heart. It wasn’t until he entered the elevator, leaned his lower back against the handrail, and completely relaxed his body that he idly played with his phone.

He knew the romance variety show announcement was tonight. Before opening Weibo, he had already guessed that netizens wouldn’t buy it.

But as soon as the app popped open, a hot recommendation was delivered right in front of his eyes.

Entertainment Auntie:

Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye seem at odds on the surface, but in private, a single look can set pants on fire. All the Way With You, you really did it! I’m totally looking forward to this! #UnexpectedlyShippable [Video Link]

The video played automatically. It showed Duan Xingye pulling Cheng Duzhou into the frame, then pulling down Cheng Duzhou’s collar to question him about the wounds on his back.

Since it was a screen recording of a livestream, the scrolling bullet comments were visible.

“What’s the situation? Live couple quarrel?”

“Seems like Duan Xingye is mad unilaterally?”

“He’s mad because he’s distressed, right? Looking at him, he cares a lot about Cheng Duzhou getting hurt.”

Duan Xingye stared at the screen, suddenly stood up straight, gripped the phone with both hands, his breathing becoming short and ragged.

He knew exactly what was going to happen next, and finally understood why Xiao Dai had reminded him to check the trending search…

The dialogue came from the video.

— “I’m asking where these injuries came from? Speak.”

— “…”

— “Don’t you think it’s time you cut your fingernails?”

Boom.

A crimson tide exploded across Duan Xingye’s face.

The bullet comments exploded along with it.

“This isn’t the car to kindergarten!!!”

“How intense was it to scratch his back into a net?”

“Duan Xingye is pure and ascetic in public, but a scratching wild cat in private? Holy shit! So hot!”

“Cough cough, proves President Cheng is indeed a fierce Top, otherwise Teacher Duan couldn’t have been so ruthless.”

“Hiss… Duan Xingye is so tempting when he blushes.”

“Thought they were a contract couple, but their private interactions are quite sweet.”

“Just said this afternoon I’d drop All the Way With You, now I can’t wait for it to air. Damn it.”

The elevator reached his floor, and the doors opened, but it was a long time before Duan Xingye walked out.

He reached his door and entered the numbers on the keypad lock, taking a deep breath as if he lacked oxygen.

Calm down. Calm down.

Elegant. Don’t panic…

— “Password incorrect.”

The mechanical female voice broke the air.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Duan Xingye stomped his foot and squatted down.

How was I supposed to know there was a camera!

It was already super awkward in front of Cheng Duzhou at the time, and now it was dragged out for a public execution in front of the whole internet! Too much!

Now the cold CP had finally broken out of its circle, but in a way that made the person involved want to frantically report it.

Humiliating! Shameless!

Duan Xingye crossed his arms and buried his face in his fluffy, soft down jacket, rolling around for a long time, unable to cool down.

…No. I can’t be the only one embarrassed.

Duan Xingye looked up, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and shared the link for the #UnexpectedlyShippable trending topic with Cheng Duzhou.

This was all Cheng Duzhou’s fault for talking nonsense in public.

Go reflect on yourself properly!

Teacher Duan, feeling shy, annoyed, and frantic, stood up aggressively to go home.

Just as he skillfully pressed the electronic lock again, his phone vibrated.

Duan Xingye checked.

Cheng Duzhou: [What. Can’t ship yourself so you have to drag me to ship it with you?]

Cheng Duzhou: [Is shipping your own CP fun, Teacher Duan?]

“…”

— “Password incorrect.”

Dog man.

Ship your ass.

Overnight, the Lü Ye Shu Huai Super Topic, which seemed isolated by the internet, gained 500,000 followers.

After netizens tasted a hint of sugar, their perception of the rumored “plastic husbands” changed.

Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye were probably just low-key and valued privacy after marriage, which was why they rarely did business together.

Both were big shots in their respective fields. Their character and works were there for all to see; they wouldn’t stoop to eating “rotten money” (selling out).

At the same time, everyone regained confidence in the new season of All the Way With You, counting down the days for the trailer under the official blog posts.

All the Way With You was originally going to send a team to the Shengxing Building for the interview, but plans changed. Instead, they invited Cheng and Duan to the studio at the production base, which would provide better recording results.

On the day the couple set off, Sister Yu and Xiao Dai went along. The group took Cheng Duzhou’s customized Mercedes nanny van.

The interior was spacious and fully equipped; it was where Cheng Duzhou rested while filming on location.

Duan Xingye got in first and sat directly in the exclusive seat belonging to Cheng Duzhou further inside. He found no charger connected to the car socket, so he knocked open the hidden compartment by the door to check.

Inside was only a face-down photo frame.

Just as Duan Xingye was about to pick it up, snap—a large hand slammed the compartment door shut.

Duan Xingye withdrew his hand in fright and looked at Cheng Duzhou, who had just got in.

The man leaned forward, his arm bracing against the door, blocking him.

“Sick?” Duan Xingye’s brows were tinged with anger. “Trying to pinch my hand off?”

…When alone with Cheng Duzhou, Duan Xingye would occasionally use reduplicated words. It wasn’t to act like a child or act cute, but purely influenced by dialect habits. Like panpan (plate). Wanwan (bowl). Xianren banban (ancestors).

Cheng Duzhou had controlled his strength just now; he wouldn’t actually pinch him.

“Hand’s so itchy. Going through people’s stuff at the drop of a hat.”

He knew he was referring to the rabbit decoration on the office desk.

It was meant for display, and you won’t even let people touch it?

Duan Xingye leaned heavily back into the seat, ignoring him, playing on his phone with a gloomy face.

He and Cheng Duzhou never had boundaries. From kindergarten to high school, twelve years together, they entered and exited each other’s rooms freely. They didn’t need permission to find things, let alone after getting married and living together. They never practiced social etiquette.

Starting to draw a line now—was it because the divorce was in three months, so he was gradually creating distance?

Duan Xingye let out a very soft scoff.

True enough. After divorcing Cheng Duzhou, they wouldn’t even be friends. Better get used to it early.

At this moment, Cheng Duzhou dug out a charger from somewhere else and handed it to the person beside him.

—Teacher Duan lacked a sense of security regarding battery life and always looked for charging devices upon entering a vehicle.

Duan Xingye didn’t look, didn’t move. He didn’t want his stuff.

Cheng Duzhou bent down, plugged the charger in, and left it there, ignoring him.

Sister Yu and Xiao Dai got on later and didn’t notice the strange atmosphere between the two in the back seat.

Halfway there, Sister Yu said, “You two need to watch your emotions during the interview. Don’t just recite the script. Should we rehearse it now?”

“No need.” “No need.”

Duan Xingye looked at his phone, Cheng Duzhou flipped through a magazine. They spoke in unison.

Sister Yu pursed her lips and shrugged.

The car remained silent the whole way.

As they neared the destination, Xiao Dai suddenly slapped his forehead. “Should President Cheng and Teacher Duan pay attention to how they address each other?”

Xiao Dai understood CP shipping and instantly grasped the details.

“For example, inadvertently calling each other by nicknames. The sweetness level goes up instantly. The audience eats that up.”

“Sure,” Sister Yu said. “Like Zhouzhou, Xiao Ye.”

Xiao Dai got excited. “And Baby, Honey!”

Duan Xingye put down his phone, yawning while mocking, “Not afraid of being cringe? Just call him Husband then.”

Duan Xingye yawned elegantly, mouth opening slightly, hand covering it.

After he spoke, the front seat went silent.

Beside him, there was a short sound of paper tearing.

Duan Xingye’s peripheral vision shifted. He glanced to the side. The corner of the page Cheng Duzhou was holding was crinkled.

Reaction to those two words?

Interesting.

Duan Xingye raised the corner of his eye to size up Cheng Duzhou, looking a bit mischievous. “Husband? Is that right?”

Cheng Duzhou had the face of a domineering CEO—ascetic and refined, yet his sharp brows couldn’t hide his aggressiveness. He could make a fortune just by relying on his face in romantic art films. His expressionless look right now was quite intimidating.

An average person wouldn’t dare to act rashly, but Duan Xingye wasn’t average. He was the Ancestor.

Besides, he noticed Cheng Duzhou’s ears were red, thin and congested with blood under the sunlight.

Duan Xingye was in a great mood, as if he had chiseled through a few bricks at the base of the city wall Cheng Duzhou defended so strictly, gaining a glimpse of his weakness.

Likes hearing people call him Husband.

What a straight-man cancer fetish.

“Husband, I’m talking to you.”

Duan Xingye crossed his legs and pointed his toe to tap Cheng Duzhou’s trouser leg.

Sister Yu and Xiao Dai didn’t turn around, but they could hear it.

Duan Xingye’s first “Husband” was a probe. This one was clearly teasing.

It bordered on provocation.

Cheng Duzhou’s gaze fell on the foot Duan Xingye was using to touch him.

Today Duan Xingye wore a pair of white leather shoes with straps, spotless.

Yet through the shoe, he recalled the snow-clean arch of the foot underneath. When tensed, the curve was soft.

Cheng Duzhou’s eyes were indifferent. He closed the magazine and ignored Duan Xingye completely.

Right at this moment.

The car arrived at the destination and stopped by the street. Speeding electric scooters whizzed by.

Cheng Duzhou opened the car door.

Duan Xingye’s eyes curved slightly. Holding back a stomach full of bad intentions, he deliberately reminded in a milky voice, “Husband, watch out for cars behind you~”

“Sigh.” This time, Cheng Duzhou actually responded. He stepped out of the car, turned his head to look at Duan Xingye, and said, “Wifey’s mouth is so sweet.”

Duan Xingye’s face fell instantly: “…”

Don’t make me vomit up my New Year’s Eve dinner.

_

Author’s Note:

President Cheng: Wifey, don’t make a scene.