RSDH CH56

Since this episode revolved around romantic dates and weddings, the production team booked the most luxurious local homestay for the guests to extend the sweet atmosphere.

From afar in the dark night, architectural clusters mimicking Tujia stilt houses were dotted with warm yellow lights, nestling against green fields, surrounded by blue bricks and bamboo railings, like a paradise away from the world.

The guests all lived in the same building. Because Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye returned late from dinner, they didn’t meet the others.

Before leaving, Old Xu specifically reminded the two to rest well tonight, as there would be physical work tomorrow.

Duan Xingye experienced high-altitude projects today and was in a state of high mental tension for half a day. After washing up, he collapsed onto the bed, sinking bottomlessly into the mattress.

When Cheng Duzhou came out of the bathroom, he saw Duan Xingye hadn’t even turned off the light. Half of his snow-white face was buried in the fluffy quilt, asleep.

Cheng Duzhou walked over lightly, turning off the light on Duan Xingye’s side. The light became ambiguous and blurred, covering the contours of Duan Xingye’s face like soft white gauze.

Cheng Duzhou just took a glance, triggering greed, forgetting to look away, slowly squatting by the bed.

The next second.

Duan Xingye opened his dark eyes.

“…”

Cheng Duzhou almost sat on the floor, stabilizing himself with good balance.

“Not asleep?”

“How can I sleep with you walking back and forth?” Duan Xingye pulled the quilt closer, eyes revealing a trace of impatience. “What are you looking at? Sleeping or not?”

Although the environment was good, it was still outside. Duan Xingye always slept lightly when away from home.

Cheng Duzhou said “Oh,” didn’t take the long way, simply climbing onto the bed from Duan Xingye’s side, preparing to cross over him.

Duan Xingye watched Cheng Duzhou supporting himself above him while passing, the handsome face close at hand. His clear eyes moved slightly under the light. Pulling the quilt high to cover half his face, his breathing unconsciously slowed down, using such a small trick to suppress his heartbeat.

Right at this moment.

Ding—

After a crisp sound.

The phones on both bedside tables moved again.

Duan Xingye thought it was a notification from the program team. Glancing at the phone a bit far away: “Get it.”

Cheng Duzhou picked up the phone. Just glancing at it, he saw the message on the screen and paused slightly.

“What?” Duan Xingye grabbed his wrist and pulled down, bringing the phone to his eyes. After seeing clearly, instant silence.

Dahua Lawyer Zhao: [Mr. Duan, sorry to disturb. Wondering if you received the previous text message? Arranging divorce procedures for you here.]

It was 9 PM. Lawyer Zhao was very dedicated, mainly daring not neglect divorce cases of top stars. In the entrustment agreement signed with the couple two years ago, it was listed that he had the obligation to inform the clients one month in advance. So he stuck exactly to today, one month before the divorce, ensuring the clients knew relevant matters.

“…”

“…”

Duan Xingye’s fingers tightened around Cheng Duzhou’s wrist. Cheng Duzhou stopped in an awkward position. The contract couple looked at each other. Knowing both sides saw it, they couldn’t pretend anymore.

This was the first time since marriage they faced the matter of divorce directly.

Duan Xingye previously thought both sides knew well, so never mentioned it. Divorce on time, no complications. Even the divorce fuss after the annual meeting was to threaten Cheng Duzhou, not serious; he still wanted to drag Cheng Duzhou onto the variety show together.

Maybe there was another accidental slip of the tongue, on the plane back last week. Duan Xingye mentioned if Cheng Duzhou wanted to leave, he had to take the cat with him. For this, Cheng Duzhou even threw a small tantrum with him.

In the past, Duan Xingye could remind Cheng Duzhou without blinking to find time to see the lawyer with him. However, when the straight-laced lawyer pierced that layer of paper, Duan Xingye felt a trace of complicated emotion.

“Talk?” He spoke first.

“Okay.”

Cheng Duzhou responded calmly, just hesitating slightly whether to go left or right, finally retreating back, resuming squatting by the bed like just now.

“…”

The more Duan Xingye looked at Cheng Duzhou, the more he looked like a dog.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at Duan Xingye’s phone, tilting his head to scratch his hair, asking carefully: “10086?”

Duan Xingye’s face heated up, really wanting to kick him, mouth tough: “It was 10086 before. I didn’t see the message from the lawyer.” Saying this, unlocking the phone screen, “I’ll look now…”

After quickly scanning the message in the chat box with the lawyer, Duan Xingye looked down condescendingly: “Oh, just this matter. Knew it long ago.”

Cheng Duzhou’s heart turned cold, pretending nothing was wrong on his face: “What do you think?”

Duan Xingye sat up, crossed his legs, cleared his throat: “The next month is the closing period of All the Way With You. Can’t unbind immediately after ending; there are various promotional activities to attend together later. Anyway, can’t divorce as agreed in the contract.”

A cluster of light ignited deep in Cheng Duzhou’s dark eyes: “Okay, I think so too.”

Duan Xingye propped his cheek thinking, saying, “Then extend for three months.”

“…” Cheng Duzhou’s voice lowered, body squatting there curling up a bit. “Why three months.”

Duan Xingye: “After three months, our heat should drop.”

Before going on the romance variety show, Duan Xingye thought behaving normally with Cheng Duzhou was enough, just letting others see they were a couple. Unexpectedly, current netizens ate up their type. The CP Super Topic dominated the list for weeks, intensifying. By the time this variety show ended, it might be even more exaggerated than now. Exposing divorce in such a situation would be tantamount to causing trouble.

Ideally, the fewer people paying attention to divorce, the better, so had to wait a bit longer.

Cheng Duzhou understood the logic, head drooping, fingers pressing on the slippers.

Since Duan Xingye said it so clearly, he shouldn’t stick shamelessly; quite annoying.

…No, how could he live without Duan Xingye.

Cheng Duzhou looked up and said, “How about renewing for another year.”

Duan Xingye paused, turning his gaze to look at him.

Cheng Duzhou held up a finger. His pitch-black eyes appeared unusually sincere because of floating light: “Renew for another year.”

Duan Xingye’s heart tip trembled slightly. Thinking Cheng Duzhou made this request to spend more time with him, wondering if he was reluctant to divorce, thoughts stirred up like gossamer wind, scattered.

Not used to this atmosphere, always wanting to break it.

Duan Xingye grabbed a pillow from the side and slapped Cheng Duzhou’s head, saying viciously: “Do you think this is broadband renewal?”

Cheng Duzhou ignored his slightly messy hair from being hit, grabbing Duan Xingye’s hand: “Think about it, the heat can’t drop in three months. Later when the new drama is released, won’t the CP we acted be pulled out for discussion again?”

Duan Xingye calmed down, looking at Cheng Duzhou.

But a few months wasn’t the point at all. Perhaps he didn’t care about extending for a few months.

He withdrew his hand from Cheng Duzhou, face slightly cold: “Talk later.”

Cheng Duzhou glanced at the phone, always thinking of driving away the plague-god-like lawyer, with a hint of urging: “Then reply to the message.”

Avoiding sending messages over and over again to remind Duan Xingye of the divorce.

Duan Xingye picked up the phone, typed two words, deleted again, seemingly undecided on the reply.

Cheng Duzhou extended his hand: “Let me.”

Duan Xingye glanced at him, handing the phone over.

Cheng Duzhou typed while saying: “I’ll just say not divorcing now, okay?”

Duan Xingye gave a faint mn, letting him be.

After sending the message, Cheng Duzhou felt settled in his heart, yet not completely settled. Once the matter of divorce was put on the table, a Sword of Damocles hung overhead.

Duan Xingye put away the phone and lay down: “Sleep quickly.”

Cheng Duzhou squatted there without moving. He was anxious, increasingly anxious the more he thought, the source of anxiety actually being fear.

After a long while, unable to hold back, he said, “This is unfair to me… I didn’t look carefully when signing the agreement.”

“Didn’t look carefully at what?” Duan Xingye raised an eyebrow lightly, saying lazily, “Didn’t look carefully at not raising cats?”

“No.” Cheng Duzhou’s ears turned red. Pursing his lips, pursing again, whispering, “I signed, but didn’t know the marriage term was two years…”

Duan Xingye was stunned, brain suspended, blurting out: “Knowing it, you wouldn’t have signed?”

This time it was Cheng Duzhou’s turn to be stunned. But he only paused for half a second, hesitating not at all: “Sign.”

“…”

Then what bullshit are you talking about!

Duan Xingye grabbed Cheng Duzhou’s pillow beside him and threw it fiercely at him.

Due to Duan Xingye’s full force, a few tiny goose feathers floated out of the pillow. Cheng Duzhou was almost knocked over squatting there, hugging the pillow. Then came the blanket.

Duan Xingye turned over coldly, back to him, voice frozen: “Don’t disturb my rest, go sleep on the sofa.”

Cheng Duzhou opened his mouth but dared not argue, not knowing what Duan Xingye was angry about. Moreover, his mind was chaotic now. Watching Duan Xingye’s back for a while, he hugged the pillow and blanket without a word, walking to the sofa by the window.

Midway he turned off the master light switch; the room plunged into dimness.

In the dark, Cheng Duzhou got on the sofa, spreading the blanket. He was tall. Although the sofa in the homestay was wide, it couldn’t compare to home, so he lay down slightly curled up.

After lying down, he watched Duan Xingye’s figure on the bed not far away.

The silhouette outlined by the night remained motionless, persistently silent.

Cheng Duzhou thought about Duan Xingye’s question just now: If he knew the marriage term was two years, would he still sign?

Of course he would sign.

In front of Duan Xingye, what negotiating power did he have? Whatever request Duan Xingye made, he would agree.

Cheng Duzhou thought about expressing his feelings regardless of everything. He had too many chances to speak, but he didn’t know if he could bear the consequences. If Duan Xingye mocked with a sentence like you are worthy of liking me?, he would explode on the spot.

But just waiting for the marriage term to arrive, he would worry about gain and loss all day long, tortured to death.

Cheng Duzhou turned over slowly, still unable to avoid making noise on the sofa.

He buried his face in the crack of the sofa back. A big man over 1.9 meters seemed to want to hide himself completely inside.

In the darkness, time stretched silently.

Unknown how long passed.

Cheng Duzhou slowly turned back, looking toward the bed: “Duan Xingye.”

“…”

“Duan Xingye.”

“…”

“…Pay attention to me.”

Duan Xingye threw back a sentence grumpily: “Can’t you speak directly if you have something to say?”

Annoying to death.

Cheng Duzhou hugged the pillow, quiet for a long time, whispering: “Let’s not divorce.”

“…”