Chapter Sixty-Seven: Do Not Be Afraid

After seeing the staff nod, Tang Zhichu pushed open the car door and stepped out.

Ascending the stone steps, Tang Zhichu went over the past half month of interactions in his mind. The setup for the final shoot was truly frustrating—it carried a strong implication: either end up together, or never speak to each other again.

Tang Zhichu had no idea how Li Hongzhou had communicated with those people, but clearly it hadn't been effective, leading to this situation.

Just as Tang Zhichu reached the overpass, he spotted Chen Siyang.

Chen Siyang had returned to her original attire—dressed in black, especially with that fisherman’s hat, she looked not just beautiful and cool, but also quite formidable.

Tang Zhichu shrugged; it was obvious, her attitude was resolute, as if she was daring anyone to speak to her.

They stood facing each other on the overpass, barely two or three meters apart.

After just a little over a day without seeing each other, both felt as if everything had changed.

Tang Zhichu didn’t speak first, leaving the initiative to Chen Siyang—he needed to show at least that much courtesy.

Chen Siyang’s expression was complex; she sighed softly, then said, “I remember asking you if you minded a long-distance relationship. You didn’t answer me.”

When climbing the stone steps, Chen Siyang had been thinking about what she wanted to say. For the past two days, she’d been calling Liu Yu every day, and learned a secret: Tang Zhichu was someone from DY.

Liu Yu told her not to feel pressured—the purpose for his participation in the dating show was much the same as hers.

Neither had a clear advantage.

Perhaps there had been genuine feelings, but now the show was ending, it was time to cool down, to think about closure.

To be blunt, if one was absolutely rational, then this so-called confession was really just a way to shift blame.

Her company had accepted her choices and begun planning her next steps. All the accusations online about Tianhe Entertainment holding her back were actually orchestrated by the company itself, designed to increase her popularity and win public sympathy.

Companies suppressing their artists—how typical.

So even if she still liked him, there was no going back.

In Chen Siyang’s view, neither could simply be themselves; they were each on a different train, heading in different directions.

If you get on my train, you have to change your direction; if I get on yours, I have to change mine.

Tang Zhichu pointed to the railing beside them, then walked over and rested his arm on it.

Given the circumstances, he decided it was better to talk.

Chen Siyang walked over, leaning slightly as if against the railing.

Tang Zhichu said, “If I answer you now, do you still want to hear it?”

Chen Siyang looked at him. “If you say it, I do want to hear.”

Tang Zhichu gazed at the rushing traffic below, then cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouted, “I’ll take care of you!”

Chen Siyang froze; her defenses crumbled in an instant. Her cool demeanor vanished, and her face flushed crimson out of embarrassment and anger.

“What are you doing!”

Tang Zhichu turned back to her with a smile. “Is it enough to shout?”

It was as if he were saying: you asked if I minded long-distance; well, if I take care of you, there’s no distance at all!

Suddenly, Chen Siyang’s eyes brimmed with tears. He seemed to possess a kind of magic—she’d come expecting confrontation, but couldn’t hold back.

Calm all day offstage, only to be overwhelmed for three minutes onstage.

“So you see, what good does answering do?” he said.

Chen Siyang shook her head—no, it mattered, it mattered a lot. How could it not?

But the answer wouldn’t come.

The trains heading in different directions had already started moving; she couldn’t afford to be reckless.

She reminded herself to stay strong, not to be swayed by his sweet words!

While Chen Siyang was shaking her head and giving herself a pep talk, a pair of warm hands reached out and gently embraced her.

She stiffened—the warmth of the hug was so real.

Reason told her to push him away, but her body lacked the strength to do so.

“Sister Yu, it’s not that I’m weak—it’s just… this feeling is so overwhelming!”

She simply closed her eyes, and as she did, the tears she’d been holding back rolled down.

Tang Zhichu, a bit greedy, took a deep breath. She smelled wonderful—not heavy, soft to hold.

“Ajielu… Ajielu… Ajielu Ajiye… Ajielu o…”

Chen Siyang suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked up at Tang Zhichu in disbelief. She couldn’t believe he was singing.

Because this was the language of the Yi people, a minority from Qionghai City in Shudu Province, her hometown. Her grandmother was Yi.

Complicated Yi phrases might have been hard for Chen Siyang to understand, but these simple words she recognized immediately.

The wind rises and the rain falls
Buckwheat leaves drop, tree leaves turn yellow
Spring passes, autumn arrives
The heart stirs
Time flows
Years wear on
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
No matter the pain or hardship
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid

Don’t be afraid
No matter the cold or heat
Don’t be afraid
...

Tang Zhichu’s voice wasn’t steady, nor did he try to embellish it, but it moved people nonetheless. Chen Siyang buried her head in his chest; she made no sound, but soon his shirt was soaked.

Tang Zhichu sighed—silly girl, still planning to confront me.

If we really did, wouldn’t the audience curse us when the show aired?

What’s there to fear? The show’s hardcore fans are all couple shippers; they’re dying to prove we’re fake and haven’t held hands.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, stride forward, our days are long, we’ll meet again,” Tang Zhichu whispered.

Chen Siyang rubbed her nose against his chest—seemed she was sniffling. She whimpered, “We’ll meet again.”

Below the overpass, at some point, all the staff had gathered, standing at both ends of the walkway.

Several cameramen grinned foolishly at their lenses.

Yang Jiaxing looked complicated; he glanced at Huang Zejun beside him and sighed, “Being on a dating show with this guy is truly despair-inducing!”

Huang Zejun scratched his head, a bit puzzled, then quietly asked Yang Jiaxing, “So, are they together or not?”

Yang Jiaxing’s expression was full of disdain—thank goodness there’s at least one fool, or else it’d be too hopeless.

Before Yang Jiaxing could answer, Tang Zhichu released Chen Siyang; she turned, heading in the direction she’d come onto the overpass.

Chen Siyang descended without hesitation, but Tang Zhichu stayed still.

Across the street, Jiang Lan heard many sighs from the staff.

Were they regretful?

Jiang Lan looked up at Tang Zhichu; she didn’t feel sentimental at all. Instead, she cursed inwardly—this guy has so many tricks, Yangyang is no match for him!

Beside her, Zhou Yun gazed elsewhere, lost in thought.

On the overpass, Tang Zhichu reached into his pocket, searching for a cigarette to light, dazed for a moment.

He shook his head—he’d never had the habit, might as well quit for good.

Deep inside, he felt a sense of release, mixed with reflection. The dating show was over.

Below, the street was still bustling, the lamps casting a pale yellow glow on the road.

Tang Zhichu glanced at the staff below, then turned and walked off the overpass.