RSDH CH61

Director Li Lin once said that actors do not possess the skill to control blushing, because blushing is a natural physiological response.

At this moment, the face Cheng Duzhou lifted was congested with blood and flushed red.

Meeting those eyes that were so sincere they practically shone, Duan Xingye could no longer find a reason to doubt Cheng Duzhou’s kindness toward him.

His parents had loved him, then abandoned him, so that love became the past tense.

He had thought Cheng Duzhou had also become the past tense, yet he had been there all along, silently accompanying him in a forbearing way that Duan Xingye had never imagined.

Except for one last point…

Duan Xingye grabbed a handful of Cheng Duzhou’s hair with one hand. “Can anything you say still be trusted?”

Cheng Duzhou was forced to tilt his face upward, his eyelashes fluttering once. “When have I ever lied to you?”

“You can even forget the words you’ve said yourself.” Duan Xingye tugged at him again. His half-lowered dark eyes revealed a hint of petulance, and his clear, pleasant voice sounded deliberately blustering—as if he were the one losing face, not the person who had lied. “You vowed not to leave or something like that. I don’t remember the specifics, but the person who moved away later—wasn’t that you?”

Upon this reminder, Cheng Duzhou immediately recalled the year he sat by the river with Duan Xingye for an entire night.

——”I can stay by your side forever.”

He would not forget the promise he made to Duan Xingye; he remembered many things, even down to the details.

Before Duan Qiwei and Kan Yu divorced, there was a period where they fought fiercely. At two or three in the morning, the sounds of a woman screaming and crying, things being smashed, and doors slamming would drift down from upstairs. The entire small building could hear it.

Kan Dashan had mediated a few times, but later he bluntly told them to move out so they wouldn’t disturb Duan Xingye.

It was another restless night. Cheng Duzhou was woken up by the sounds of shattering objects from the floor above. He turned on his side, took his phone from under his pillow, and wanted to send a message to ask if Duan Xingye was asleep. Like Kan Dashan, whenever Duan Qiwei and Kan Yu quarreled, his first worry was Duan Xingye.

But on second thought, Cheng Duzhou realized Duan Xingye might be sleeping, and sending a message might wake him up, so he turned off his phone.

Just then, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Cheng Duzhou didn’t need to look to know who it was; there was only one person in the entire building who never knocked before entering his room.

Cheng Duzhou propped himself up and looked toward the door. A slender, boyish figure entered as if entering an uninhabited land, threw his own pillow onto the bed, lifted the quilt, and burrowed in. Burrowing in with him was a faint scent of white peach.

Duan Xingye pulled open the drawer of the bedside table, fished out a flashlight, and pressed it; the white light flashed twice. He knew his way around Cheng Duzhou’s room better than his own.

“Give me a book to read.”

Cheng Duzhou wanted to turn on the light.

But Duan Xingye stopped him. “Are you going to sleep or not?”

If the light was too bright, it would chase away the drowsiness.

Cheng Duzhou gave up. Borrowing the light Duan Xingye shone for him, he lingered by the shelf for a moment and pulled out a picture book he had bought in elementary school.

The author was Jimmy Liao, My Wrongdoings Are All the Adults’ Fault.

Duan Xingye took the book with the somewhat heavy green cover and said, “With my level, shouldn’t I at least be reading one of the Four Great Classical Novels?”

Cheng Duzhou got back into bed. “Are you going to sleep or not?”

For Duan Xingye, who loved stories, reading the Four Classics would only make him more excited.

Duan Xingye pursed his lips and reluctantly opened the picture book.

They were used to doing what they did when they were little—pulling the quilt up over their heads to form a closed world containing only the two of them.

Duan Xingye used the flashlight to illuminate the picture book, turning the pages one by one.

Cheng Duzhou had already read this book, so most of the time, his gaze was cast upon Duan Xingye.

Seventeen-year-old Duan Xingye had a face as white as snow, features that were bright and gorgeous, and soft facial tissues that gave him a slightly youthful, boyish quality. Looking at the picture book, his eyes suddenly curved into a smile.

Cheng Duzhou’s heart went into disarray, and he hurriedly retracted his gaze.

“Look at this sentence.” Duan Xingye pointed at the words in the book and read aloud with a smile, “‘When a child is furious, the adult must remain calm. When an adult is furious, the child must run for their life.'” (*)

Listening, Cheng Duzhou unknowingly raised the corners of his lips slightly. He didn’t quite get the point of the sentence because he had grown up quietly; he didn’t get furious, and adults didn’t get furious at him. But seeing Duan Xingye smile made him want to smile from the bottom of his heart.

Duan Xingye turned to another page but stared at it for a long time.

Cheng Duzhou followed his gaze. On that page was just a short sentence.

[Dear Mom and Dad, I don’t know why, but I really want to go home right now.]

Upstairs, there was another dull thud of a heavy object hitting the floor.

Duan Xingye turned the page and continued reading.

Using the motion of reading together, Cheng Duzhou gently bumped his head against Duan Xingye’s head.

He hoped Duan Xingye wouldn’t be sad. Even if the sky turned upside down upstairs and everyone scattered, he was still by his side.

But the Cheng Duzhou of that time was ashamed to say the words out loud, because he was afraid Duan Xingye wouldn’t want him.

By the morning by the river, having sat with him all night, Cheng Duzhou felt a deep sense of powerlessness. Duan Xingye was unhappy because of his parents, and Cheng Duzhou couldn’t change the emotional shifts between adults. Even so, he strongly wished to do something for Duan Xingye, to do whatever he could. So, he finally mustered the courage to say those words.

——”I can stay by your side forever.”

His heart beat very fast, his body was hot, and as he sat on the bank, he buried his face between his knees.

——”If you need me… so in the end, you won’t be the only one left.”

…

…

Cheng Duzhou paused his recollections and faced Duan Xingye. “You didn’t ask me to stay, and you didn’t need me, so I left.”

Duan Xingye’s dark eyes were bright, and a layer of red showed through his thin skin. It was obvious he was a bit emotional as he applied force with his hand. “You needed me to ask you to stay? How big is your face? Hmm? You just had to hear me say I need you before you’d stay, right?”

Cheng Duzhou’s scalp hurt a little from the pulling, and he squinted one eye. “Otherwise?”

Duan Xingye got angry all over again and let go. “Who do you think you are, the Savior?”

“That’s not what I mean…” Cheng Duzhou scratched the back of his head, lowering his eyelashes. “I was an outsider after all. Living in your house all the time, people would say I was a sidekick, a toy boy you were raising. You were the only reason I stayed there, but if you didn’t need me, I would feel superfluous. Later, I looked at your Friend Circle (social media), and you were playing quite happily with them. It felt like… indeed, having me or not having me made no difference…”

“……”

Only now did Duan Xingye understand how sensitive Cheng Duzhou—who could remember a bowl of fried rice cakes for seven or eight years—was to outside criticism. He couldn’t remember clearly what he had said back then, only that they argued until they broke off their friendship. So, in the heat of the moment, he probably said some nasty things, but…

Duan Xingye’s breathing became rapid. He bit the corner of his lip in conflict and said, “I indeed didn’t say it, but you didn’t look…”

His breath suddenly hitched, and he didn’t continue.

Cheng Duzhou waited. “Look at what?”

Duan Xingye’s face was covered in a flush; it was impossible to tell if it was from urgency or agitation. Finally, he turned around, grabbed the clothes on the bed, and walked away. “I’m going to shower.”

“…” Cheng Duzhou was stunned for a moment, left hanging in mid-air. He got up and followed. “What did you want to say?”

Duan Xingye coldly threw back two words: “Nothing.”

If Duan Xingye didn’t want to answer, no one could pry his mouth open.

Cheng Duzhou hurriedly switched to an imminent question. “But about the divorce…”

“Cheng Duzhou!” Duan Xingye whipped around, bringing with him a breeze scented with white peach. His dark eyes warned heavily, “If you dare mention divorce one more time, I’ll see you in court.”

“……”

Cheng Duzhou shut up as expected.

Duan Xingye entered the bathroom and closed the door.

Cheng Duzhou leaned against the door outside, savoring the moment carefully.

Does that mean if I never mention it, we never have to go to court?

He lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips pulling into a slight smile.

He felt like he had become smarter.

…

Inside the bathroom, Duan Xingye had just adjusted the water temperature in the shower cubicle when Cheng Duzhou pushed the door open and entered.

Cheng Duzhou saw him, and his eyes dodged away slightly.

“……”

truly audacious; didn’t even ask for permission before coming in.

However, they had wasted a lot of time arguing outside just now. Washing together would be more efficient, so they wouldn’t keep the team waiting in the end. So Duan Xingye just gave Cheng Duzhou a look and ignored him.

Cheng Duzhou stood behind Duan Xingye, lathering him up with plenty of foam. Amidst the sound of the shower water, he said thoughtfully, “Duan Xingye, did you actually want me to stay back then?”

“No.” Duan Xingye’s expression was indifferent. “Wash yourself.”

Cheng Duzhou craned his neck to look at his profile. “If you didn’t, then why do you feel I lied to you? Huh?”

Duan Xingye: “Your words contradicted your actions, and people aren’t allowed to point it out?”

“No, don’t blur the focus…”

“How am I blurring the focus?”

“Let me finish…”

“Hey! Cheng Duzhou! Are you washing or not? If not, get out.”

“……”

Cheng Duzhou went quiet.

It seemed that Duan Xingye bringing up old matters wasn’t because he cared, but because he wanted to prove that Cheng Duzhou’s words weren’t credible.

“Duan Xingye.”

“……”

“Duan Xingye.”

“……”

Duan Xingye was silent for a moment before letting out a reluctant, lazy mn.

Cheng Duzhou rushed to say, “I’ll just say one sentence, don’t interrupt.”

“…” Duan Xingye endured it. “Speak.”

“I didn’t lie to you. Wanting to stay by your side, liking you—it’s all true. Please don’t doubt me in the future.” Cheng Duzhou said, “You didn’t say whether you wanted me or not just now. Since you didn’t say no, I’ll assume you want me.”

Duan Xingye: “I…”

Cheng Duzhou reached out and covered Duan Xingye’s mouth. “Alright, no more talking. Shower.”

Duan Xingye: “……”

When the shirt covering the room camera was taken down again, the husbands were already neatly dressed. They didn’t have time to style their hair, so their bangs were scattered casually, making them look several years younger than usual on camera. Added to their lighter demeanor, they looked like two teenagers.

Livestream viewers:

“Finally, seeing the light of day again.”

“Did they make up?”

“What happened just now?”

The audience would never know that just moments ago, the couple’s marriage had nearly reached its end.

Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye arrived outside the homestay. The special car for the guests was already waiting there.

Villagers stood all around, giving them an enthusiastic send-off.

In the noisy crowd, a dark, reddish face was looking around somewhat anxiously.

Duan Xingye was about to get in the car when he glimpsed him. He stopped and beckoned to that person.

Basha looked shocked and pointed at himself.

Duan Xingye nodded.

Basha hurriedly squeezed through the crowd and arrived at the car. Standing in front of Duan Xingye, he scratched the back of his head nervously, unable to squeeze out a single word.

Duan Xingye asked the staff for paper and a pen and signed his name.

Basha’s hands shook as he took the autograph, stammering, “Xi, Xi—Xie (Thank you/Surname Xie)…”

Duan Xingye capped the pen and corrected, “My surname is Duan.”

“……”

Bullet screen: Hahahaha, Teacher Duan spoils his fans so much~

Basha reacted, smiling to reveal eight white teeth. His mind relaxed, and his words flowed smoothly. “Thank you, Teacher Duan! I really like you! I listened to your songs when you first debuted. I had just dropped out of school and gone home then, feeling very lost. Your songs gave me a lot of motivation. To sing your songs, I learned Mandarin properly. I can sing every single one of your songs after that…”

Once the barrier was broken, Basha couldn’t stop talking.

“…” Duan Xingye suddenly understood why Cheng Duzhou had complained about him being noisy.

Just then, Cheng Duzhou, inside the car, leaned over and looked out through the open door, reminding indifferently, “We have to go.”

Basha then stopped his rambling with embarrassment and said goodbye to both husbands.

Only after Duan Xingye got into the car did he realize that not only was Old Xu not there, but even the driver hadn’t arrived.

It didn’t look like they were leaving at all.

He glanced coolly at the person beside him.

Cheng Duzhou propped his chin on one hand, gazing ahead. Putting on a pretense of being a decent human being.

Cheng Duzhou suddenly said, “Still angry?”

Duan Xingye was cold. “Angry about what?”

Cheng Duzhou turned his head to look at him and said, “That I didn’t cast my gaze on you the very first moment.”

“……”

It was as if a door had been knocked open in Duan Xingye’s heart. His thick, long eyelashes trembled slightly, and his delicate white chin raised a fraction. He remained silent like that for a while, then suddenly turned his head to look out the window.

He stopped pretending.

He just wasn’t happy.

Cheng Duzhou held back a smile, extended his long arm, and pulled Duan Xingye over.

He only realized it when Duan Xingye got angry at him just now.

The first time was when he was chatting with others; Duan Xingye saw him, but he didn’t see Duan Xingye.

The second time was when there was only one bath towel; he thought he had arranged things properly but forgot to ask for Duan Xingye’s feelings first.

Both times, Duan Xingye felt ignored, felt that he wasn’t being kept in Cheng Duzhou’s heart. Then, disregarding the facts, he fantasized the conclusion that Cheng Duzhou would treat any marriage partner well, getting angry until he was frustrated and wanted a divorce.

Duan Xingye was just this kind of high-maintenance drama queen; he wanted the attention of the people around him to be hung entirely on him. Once dissatisfied, he would torment people.

But on the other hand, it also revealed that Duan Xingye lacked security to the extreme, thinking he could be easily replaced.

Cheng Duzhou understood that this was related to Duan Xingye’s family history.

Duan Qiwei cheated with his first love and raised the first love’s son. Kan Yu married far away abroad and soon gave birth to a mixed-race child.

Duan Xingye’s position had been completely replaced.

Cheng Duzhou found it funny, infuriating, and heartbreaking. He pressed Duan Xingye onto his lap and took a bite of his soft white ear. “If I knew you didn’t despise me, I would have confessed sooner.”

Heat rushed up Duan Xingye’s face. His heart felt swollen with some emotion, but his face showed disgust to the death as he shoved Cheng Duzhou. “Let go!”

Just then, the driver’s door opened, and the driver got in.

Cheng Duzhou had to let go. Duan Xingye also sat up straight immediately, face flushed red as he straightened his clothes, kicking Cheng Duzhou several times under the seat.

The car finally started, leaving the filming location of the fourth episode.

Duan Xingye deliberately fiddled with his phone, pretending to be busy and ignoring Cheng Duzhou.

He did check a congratulatory message from Sister Yu.

Sister Yu: [Congratulations Teacher Duan, your new work has been nominated for the All-China Music Awards. [Confetti]]

The All-China Music Awards was the highest-level award in the Chinese music scene. Back then, Tao Ziyi had relied on this one award to establish his status in the music industry from an unknown third-rate singer, showing the weight of this award.

Duan Xingye’s work in the first year was plagiarized, causing him to miss this award. Then he won it in the second year.

This was the third year. The work was nominated, but the result was uncertain.

Duan Xingye hoped the final winner would be him.

He opened the nomination list sent by Sister Yu and found Tao Ziyi’s name under the same category as him.

A trace of mockery appeared in his eyes.

Tao Ziyi standing shoulder to shoulder with him was entirely thanks to the lyricist team the company had equipped him with.

This year’s music gala invited Duan Xingye as the opening guest performer. He replied to Sister Yu to discuss the song choice.

At this moment, Old Xu turned back to remind them, “Teachers, the official blog posted photos of your wedding scene from yesterday.”

Cheng Duzhou took out his phone to check.

The official blog posted four posts in total, one for each group of guests. Travel at Night, Write Feelings (the show’s name/cp implication) had high popularity; in just ten minutes, the likes had exceeded ten thousand.

There were two photos in total.

One was a view of their backs standing side by side.

One was of them facing each other, Cheng Duzhou putting the ring on Duan Xingye.

Set against the high-ceilinged church and the warm sunset, the tone of the photos was rich and solemn.

Cheng Duzhou saved both photos.

He hadn’t taken wedding photos with Duan Xingye.

Cheng Duzhou specifically checked the other guests and found that everyone had claimed and reposted their respective photos.

Jiang Li V:

It’s official~

Wu Enqi V:

Official [Heart]

Cheng Duzhou looked at Duan Xingye. “Should we make it official too?”

The livestream was still on—it wouldn’t close until they reached the airport—and the bullet screen rolled enthusiastically in support.

“Yes! Repost quickly! Do your business!”

Duan Xingye was busy replying to Sister Yu’s message and gave an indifferent word: “Whatever.”

Cheng Duzhou thought for a moment and asked, “Will you repost?”

Duan Xingye: “I won’t repost.”

The audience wasn’t surprised; Duan Xingye had said during a previous livestream that Weibo wasn’t for showing off relationships.

Cheng Duzhou then held Duan Xingye’s left hand, interlocking their fingers.

Duan Xingye couldn’t type anymore. “What are you doing?”

Cheng Duzhou aimed his phone at their interlocked hands wearing rings, took a photo, and said, “Posting to Weibo.”

Duan Xingye: “……”

He felt the caption would be very corny.

Cheng Duzhou operated his phone for a while, then put it down.

The audience had obviously seen the new update, as the bullet comments exploded.

Duan Xingye finished replying to Sister Yu, opened Weibo, and refreshed, but didn’t find Cheng Duzhou’s post.

He thought Cheng Duzhou hadn’t posted it, but then saw someone @ him under a post. He clicked to view.

Night Crossing Star River (Ye Du Xing He):

Happy newlyweds~

[Image]

“……”

Decided to activate this account, huh?

__

Author’s Note:

(Excerpt from Baidu Baike)

Night Crossing Star River: Travel at Night, Write Feelings (Lü Ye Shu Huai) PDA bot.