ADTCP Ch69

They dawdled for quite a while in the parking lot. By the time the two of them came back to their senses, there were already two missed calls on their phones. Knowing that their reputations wouldn’t survive if this went on, they stopped lingering, sent a couple of replies, started the car right away, and headed for the reserved restaurant.
On the road, the heat in their cheeks and bodies from kissing gradually subsided, but that near-fervent joy in their hearts did not fade.

At a red light, Zhu Wensheng couldn’t help lifting the hand he’d placed on the steering wheel. He lovingly touched the collar at his clavicle, then carefully studied the ring on his ring finger that shimmered with a faint, scattered glow, his gaze intent.

From the collar size to the ring band, every inch fit perfectly, custom-made for him by Tao Zhen. The instant that thought rose in his mind, he felt as if he’d been soaked in a vat of honey, a hard-to-describe satisfaction welling up inside.

But very soon he realized a blind spot and looked at Tao Zhen beside him: “So, that day you asked Zhao Zhao to take me to that studio?”

Tao Zhen didn’t hide it any longer: “Yes.”

“I could measure your finger sizes at night, but I had no idea where to start with your neck size, and… sneaking a string around your neck in the middle of the night to measure it felt like I was about to murder you.”
Now that he had the items in hand, Tao Zhen simply spelled out his whole thought process. “So I had no other choice. I remembered I’d added Zhao Zhao’s contact online before, so I asked him. He’s really nice, he agreed right away after I explained! But…”

At this point, Tao Zhen scratched his cheek a little hesitantly, a hint of uncertainty in his tone: “I don’t know why. I only wanted him to take you to get measured, but it felt like he somehow lost his dignity.”

“Oh right,” Tao Zhen straightened up. “You said the other day he might’ve gone crazy with gains and losses… what happened to him??”

Zhu Wensheng paused slightly and immediately thought of that night: the straight-laced Zhao Zhao, snuggled up with the coquettish Little Zero, gazing at him with deep affection.

The light turned green. He gripped the wheel again, took a deep breath, and still couldn’t hold back a laugh. Under Tao Zhen’s puzzled gaze, he gave a quick explanation and commented:

“Mm, he really did sacrifice himself for us.”

“……”

“Achoo!”

Elsewhere, Zhao Zhao, who had just arrived at the restaurant, suddenly sneezed.
He instinctively scanned the surroundings and, seeing no one suspicious, withdrew his gaze half-believingly.

Tong Xia and Gu Xingzhou had just picked up Li Min and were waiting at the door. Although the few of them had never met offline, they had all heard each other’s names online. The moment they saw one another, they recognized each other. After a few words, they quickly warmed up and went into a private room together.

Distracted by the group, Zhao Zhao almost forgot that ominous premonition from moments earlier, but as soon as he sat down, he sneezed several more times in a row. He kept feeling as if someone had stripped him naked and thrown him into the street, and he was rather uneasy.

Noticing his nervousness, Tong Xia considerately handed him a tissue. “What’s wrong? You okay?”

The girl wore a long dress, fresh and ethereal.

In an instant, the shadow left in Zhao Zhao’s heart by the designer of these past days vanished completely. Smiling, he took the tissue. “It’s nothing.”

Why did it feel like someone was talking about him behind his back? Must be his imagination.

***
Tao Zhen and Zhu Wensheng showed up late. As punishment for being late, everyone surrounded them and made them down a round of drinks.

One round wasn’t enough; when their rings were spotted, the gossipy crowd had them toast everyone from beginning to end.

The room buzzed with cheers and shrieks. For some reason, Tao Dajun felt like he was marrying off a son, excited and a little heartsore. He sighed and had the waiter bring out erguotou to go cup-for-cup with Tao Zhen.
It was Lin Manyao at the side who couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She snatched the glass from him, clinked lightly with Tao Zhen, and smiled as she motioned him to return to Zhu Wensheng’s side.

Tao Zhen smiled with crescent eyes.
He had drunk too much after all, his snow-white face tinged with pink, his dark apricot eyes dewy. He stumbled back a step, but Zhu Wensheng was holding his hand.

The two leaned against each other and steadied themselves, palms burning hot, sharing heartbeat and body heat. They looked at each other and smiled, and before family and friends, drank cross-linked wine.

***
The entire South City entered the period of the most blazing sun and hottest weather of the year.

The results of the fan giveaway benefits that Tao Zhen prepared for his birthday had also come out. When the list and gifts were announced, the entire topic exploded. Many people spam-refreshed, the topic’s heat skyrocketed, and it even shot straight onto the trending search.

Some passersby who didn’t know much about Tao Zhen clicked in full of confusion. After looking around, they were left stunned and converted into fans.

No wonder. They had never seen a music blogger go this far for fans; even the top celebrities who market themselves as “spoiling fans” couldn’t compare, booking the largest theater in South City, buying the rights to a musical, inviting the “In the World” troupe that’s usually on overseas tour to perform together; inviting thousands of fans to watch for free, not only reimbursing travel expenses but also preparing souvenir gift packs. “Rich” wasn’t enough to describe it, this was extravagance beyond human limits!

Even the earliest fans who had liked Tao Zhen from the start and already knew his family was wealthy never imagined he’d go this far. They flooded the topic and the giveaway’s official account with comments, worrying whether he could really afford such a massive cost. But before Tao Zhen could reply, an insider working at Z Era, a blogger named “Annoying Colleague in Heaven,” came out to reassure them: 【Everyone relax, it’s absolutely affordable, because this was arranged by my Boss… can’t share specifics, but trust me, even if the sky falls, he won’t.……】

Although “Annoying Colleague in Heaven” had never revealed any private information about her Boss, netizens swarmed her homepage. Some sharp-eyed folks found clues from her likes: she turned out to be a CP fan of the Crown Prince and ZhenZhibang, “TooZhenToBeTrue” In that case, it was beyond doubt that the Boss she spoke of was the Crown Prince. But could the Crown Prince shoulder all this for ZhenZhibang, an ordinary collaborator? Except for the CP fans, passersby and Tao Zhen’s other fans didn’t buy it.

The fiercest resistance came from the “True-Photog-Love” fans. They sneered, each more cutting than the last:

【Sis, fool others if you want, but don’t fool yourself. Recognize Zhen Zhibang’s one and only official pairing photographer, okay? Need me to repost those gorgeous trending-topic GIFs for a refresher?】

【666 not even pretending anymore, some people will eat anything for CP fuel and aren’t afraid of getting poisoned by fake sugar. The Crown Prince has zero relation to our Zhen Zhibang. Stop clout-chasing, okay??】【..】

The “TooZhenToBeTrue” CP fans were not to be outdone:

【I thought something huge happened, turns out our “TooZhenToBeTrue” just hits too well. If you don’t like it, don’t look, why so obsessed? Did we hit a nerve?】

【That photographer of yours cooks noodles, scrapes 3,000 yuan offline off Xiao Zhen, what charisma is that? The Crown Prince is always Xiao Zhen’s No. 1 supporter; he’s probably spent more than your “brand-name boyfriend.” Why can’t we ship them?!】

Before, the two sides might have just thrown shade at each other in private. But with the topic so hot, once they started arguing, the conflict got dragged into the open.

So, when Tao Zhen and Zhu Wensheng finally finished dealing with the giveaway details and happily went online, what they saw was a battlefield where both sides’ fans were going at it tooth and nail, corpses strewn all over, and Zhu Wensheng had become an innocent casualty between the two camps.

Tao Zhen couldn’t help freezing on the spot. Not quite willing to accept it, he backed out to refresh and opened it again, still the same. He had no choice but to face reality.

How could they be fighting this badly?
You’re all shipping the same CP, can’t you just… not fight?

He wanted to make a statement with his main account, but while drafting it he remembered what Xiao Yu had said before, people have a rebellious streak. The more forceful he was, the more likely it would backfire. After thinking it over, he switched to a small alt account and, in a fan’s tone, posted a paragraph that he felt was flawless and enough to steer the mood.

Knowing the alt might not have much reach, he even paid 250 yuan to boost it into the topic’s hot section. Holding his breath, he waited a moment, figuring the situation had completely reversed by now, and then confidently logged back in.

【Did Zhen She today do love yet: Heh heh heh, I suggest you go to the hospital to get your brain checked. “Actually the Crown Prince and the Photographer are the same person”…… You can even say that?? In order to gild your CP, you’re resorting to any tactic to latch onto the official pairing, huh??】

【Tai Zhen Le Leopard Cat I Was Born: My god, don’t lump the Crown Prince who spends money for his wife together with a stingy guy, okay? Who wants to be linked with that “official pairing” anyway, they’re not married. Who Xiao Zhen ends up with isn’t set yet!!】

【One Bite Eats Up Zhen Zhibang: For the love of, can you stop mentioning those two in Xiao Zhen’s personal tag?? Let Xiao Zhen shine alone, okay?! I hate OP’s so-called “righteous yet actually chaotic-evil neutral stance,” scram!!!】

“……”

Tao Zhen stared blankly. His phone slipped from his hand and thumped onto the bed. He gazed ahead in a daze, looking every bit like someone whom life had just smacked into submission.

This world has really gone wrong. Telling the truth and not being believed is one thing, but there are only two CPs in total, and somehow three different groups are cursing him!

What’s more, they’re all his fans. He couldn’t very well argue with them, so he could only swallow the frustration and patiently explain why he’d said what he did. Unfortunately, the harder he tried, the worse it got; by the time Zhu Wensheng came back, he was already numb from being flamed.

The boy who was usually cheerful and lively like a chattering little sparrow wasn’t smiling anymore. He sat on the bed, blankly hugging his phone, looking like someone who’d taken a heavy blow and been bullied.

Zhu Wensheng strode forward. “What’s wrong?”

Tao Zhen couldn’t help it, he opened his arms to Zhu Wensheng, burrowed into the young man’s embrace, and recounted everything that had just happened, his tone full of grievance.
But when he finished, he felt a bit melodramatic and hurried to add, embarrassed, “Of course I’m not mad, just a little anxious, why won’t they believe what I said? Why do they think you’re two different people…”

So it was this…

Zhu Wensheng’s lips curved slightly, but he didn’t respond at once.

Noticing his expression, Tao Zhen sensed something was off. He wriggled out of Zhu Wensheng’s arms, looked down at him from above, and asked, a little suspicious:
“Why do you look like that? Wait… did you already know?!”

Zhu Wensheng said nothing, but the thought in Tao Zhen’s mind only grew clearer. He even couldn’t help pinching Zhu Wensheng’s cheeks and giving them a tug.

Come to think of it, otherwise why would Zhu Wensheng have inexplicably asked that night whether he liked the Crown Prince more or the poor kid?

Tao Zhen accused him: “You knew and didn’t tell me. Ah-Sheng, you’re terrible!”

At most, the feeling on his face was like being batted by a kitten’s paw pads. Zhu Wensheng couldn’t help laughing, covered the back of Tao Zhen’s hand and kissed it. While Tao Zhen was stunned, he flipped them over and pinned him on the sofa.

The room was dim, the air conditioner hummed, and the two pressed together; soon their bodies rubbed hot, a slight damp sweat rising. Zhu Wensheng slid his fingertips into Tao Zhen’s fluffy golden hair and stroked gently for a while; with his other hand he held Tao Zhen’s chin, forcing him to open his mouth and respond.

Only after that lingering, sultry kiss did the young man straighten up. A halo of desire flickered in his deep black eyes, and his voice was low and hoarse, like a little hook teasing at one’s heart: “Is that already ‘bad’?”

“There’s worse.”

Tao Zhen froze, and before he could ask what “worse” meant, he found out soon enough.

Even with the air conditioning on, the temperature around them wouldn’t drop. They’d been busy and hadn’t been intimate for two or three weeks; once again, Tao Zhen had trouble adjusting to Zhu Wensheng. Held in his arms, tears spilled uncontrollably and were gently kissed away.

The space on the sofa was cramped, and it was where they usually ate and chatted. Tao Zhen didn’t like it there, but no matter how he coaxed and pleaded this time, Zhu Wensheng wouldn’t agree to go back to the bedroom; instead he pressed him into the soft leather of the sofa. After all, the boy’s pale skin contrasted sharply with the deep-brown leather, provoking a rather wicked possessiveness.

“Ah-Sheng…”

By the end, there were kiss marks over Tao Zhen’s shoulder blades and collarbones; he’d even been turned over. He touched his slightly rounded belly, choking up as he cried hard, “I’m going to break…”

Zhu Wensheng only kissed his lips and soothed him softly: “Be good, baby, you won’t.”

***

The next day, when Tao Zhen got up, he made brown sugar eggs as usual.

He really was a bit mad this time, so he only gave Zhu Wensheng brown sugar water, no eggs. He ate all the eggs in the pot himself in one go, then huffed off to the theater.

Zhu Wensheng stared for a while at the bowl of brown sugar water with floating egg flowers and couldn’t help laughing.

He knew he’d gone too far, so at noon he brought homemade dishes and support meals for the whole troupe to the theater.

He had indeed been a bit rough last night; Tao Zhen’s voice was almost hoarse in the morning and only just recovered. His body ached everywhere, and after a whole morning of rehearsal he nearly blacked out.
But in the end, he was soft-hearted. Seeing Zhu Wensheng come over meekly to deliver lunch, he couldn’t stay angry. He took the lunch and ate happily.

The others in the troupe benefited too. Lunch was private dishes from a famous nearby Chinese restaurant; the desserts were a palace-style afternoon tea in keeping with the musical’s era… The spread was a bit grand, and some fans caught wind of it, inevitably spreading it online.

This time it was the #TooZhenToBeTrue# fans’ turn to hold their heads high. They fought with the #TruePhotographLove# fans again and slapped down evidence in the other camp’s face that Zhu Wensheng is a UFC fighter.

Which is better, a fighter or the Crown Prince? The two sides couldn’t settle it and only quarreled more fiercely.
A small number of people timidly asked, “Can’t we have both?” but they were quickly squashed in the topic, just like Tao Zhen’s alt account.

And so they kept up a rhythm of a minor quarrel every three days and a major one every five, until finally, the day of Tao Zhen’s official performance arrived.

No matter how vicious the online fights had been, escalating to threats of “soloing offline”, on the day they truly met in person, everyone tacitly chose a truce. Regardless of which CP the person beside them shipped, they greeted each other cheerfully.

Outside the theater there was a sea of people, thousands lining up to enter. Many held support banners, posters, and other merch, sharing tidbits with fellow fans while waiting. Once inside, the hall was very quiet and orderly.

After all, this was a benefit Tao Zhen had poured time, money, and effort into preparing for all fans; they didn’t want to waste his sincerity.

Soon, the official performance began.

The gilded theater dimmed. Thousands of strangers from all across the land had gathered here for the same person. They held their breath, gazes fixed on the stage.

From the thrill and excitement of Tao Zhen’s entrance, to the laughter and warmth of making friends, to the sorrow and anger of being constrained by his mother… Suddenly, whether they understood musicals or not didn’t matter. In the boy’s clear, bright singing, everyone couldn’t help but immerse themselves.

Tao Zhen sang better than they’d imagined, better than anyone had imagined.

As the show reached its climax, everyone’s breathing was caught by his every move, eyes widened involuntarily.

When the scene came where Lain realized his mother had taken his place at the gallows and he broke down on stage to sing a duet with her, the audience was moved to tears, faces wet all around.

When the performance ended, all the actors came forward to take their bows.
The applause thundered on and on; waves of cheers and screams rose and fell.

Tao Zhen bowed deeply to everyone.
Only after the other troupe members had exited did he slowly straighten and look out at the audience.

He didn’t make any rousing speech; he simply said, earnestly, “Thank you all very much.”

Thank you for coming here. Thank you for your continued support and care. Thank you for your love.

Love is a wondrous thing; the bond between people may begin with nothing more than a chance glance on the internet.
But not every bond can cross thousands of miles to arrive before you.

Tao Zhen then sang a few more highly requested numbers and interacted with the audience for a long while. Yet, no matter how reluctant, the night had to end.
Just before the final curtain, he thanked all the audience present and every actor of the “In the World” troupe once more. Then he bent down and reached a hand toward the stalls: “I would like to extend a special invitation to my lover, Zhu Wensheng.”

An uproar swept the audience as everyone turned to look.
Zhu Wensheng paused, then smiled, took Tao Zhen’s hand, and went up on stage with him.

Bathed in the follow spot, the golden-haired boy shone dazzlingly, warm as at their first meeting, but this time, there was someone at his side, walking in step.

“He was the one who helped me organize all of this; he was the one who helped me realize my dream…”
At this point, Tao Zhen turned to look at Zhu Wensheng, eyes curved in a smile. “And he’s always been by my side.”

In the golden hall, the world was silent.

Zhu Wensheng lowered his eyes, his expression gentle. “From now on, I will always be by your side.”

Because, you are my dream.

***

After the musical ended, Tao Zhen’s personal topic once again shot onto the trending list, while the two tags #TooZhenToBeTrue# and#TruePhotographLove# fell into a strange dead silence and an indescribable awkwardness.

Both camps felt terribly stifled. The battlefield of World War Three still vivid in memory, now no one could get a word out. Everyone trembled, feeling their cheeks burn.

They wanted to laugh and cry at the same time and didn’t know how to begin. After a long while, someone dug up that blog post everyone had once scoffed at. At last they found a breakthrough; with tears in their eyes, they pushed it back up into the topic’s hot section, all copying the same comment:

【I believe it now, turns out the Crown Prince and the poor student really can be the same person.】

The End