Chapter 31 The Mystery of the Substitute: Chai Yundu, Let's Break Up

The 28-day recording of the "Passing on Skills Across the Country" program has finally come to an end. The guests, with a wealth of gains and mixed feelings, embarked on their flight home from Munich.

Unlike when they came alone, Zhu Qingting and Chai Yundu traveled together, this time on the return trip, Chen Yifei was with them.

Because two top male idols landed at the airport at the same time, the arrival hall was packed with people, and the fans were so excited that their cheers almost lifted the roof off.

Even with bodyguards and airport security personnel working hard to clear a narrow passage on both sides, the three still struggled to move forward.

Amidst the surging crowd, Chai Yundu instinctively shielded Zhu Qingting to his side, his arm naturally around her shoulder in a protective gesture, fearing she might be pushed or bumped by the frenzied crowd.

The footage recorded in Germany hasn't aired yet, and all the sweet moments viewers had previously enjoyed relied on subtle interactions analyzed frame by frame by netizens. Now, witnessing the main characters' undisguised and almost instinctive defense of each other, the "Du Qing Si" CP fans and neutral fans mixed in with the crowd erupted in deafening screams.

What drove fans even crazier was that they saw Zhu Qingting eventually get into Chai Yundu's black van and leave together.

Videos and photos from the airport were quickly posted online. Hashtags such as #ChaiYunduZhuQingtingAirport# and #DuQingsiIsReal# quickly became trending topics.

The die-hard fans were greatly disappointed, and their private groups were filled with a sense of dejection and confusion.

At this moment, a veteran fan suddenly raised a sharp idea: "Sisters, since we can't dig up any dirt on Zhu Qingting to make my brother dislike her, is there any way to make her give up on my brother on her own?"

This statement sparked a flurry of discussion within the group.

"My brother is so outstanding, how could anyone give him up willingly? Only an idiot would do that!"

"Exactly! If I could be with my brother, I would never let go, even if it meant death!"

"That idea is too naive..."

That being said, this seemingly far-fetched idea, like a seed, quietly took root in the hearts of some of the fans. They began to frantically search for any clues that might drive a wedge between the two, like detectives.

Chai Yundu can only stay in Shanghai for five more days before he needs to rush to Hengdian to join a film crew for which he signed a contract before the Lunar New Year. This is a work arrangement that cannot be changed.

Zhu Qingting also needs to return to work at the Haicheng Song and Dance Troupe. As a dancer within the system, her work is not as free as that of a star or independent dancer, with strict attendance, fixed work and rest schedules, and limited annual leave.

During this brief time together, Chai Yundu proposed an arrangement: for the next five days, Zhu Qingting would go to work as usual, while he would become a stay-at-home husband, taking care of her three meals a day. In the evenings, he would stay over, watch some of his old TV dramas or movies together on the living room sofa, chat, and then go home to sleep.

Four days passed quietly in this peaceful and happy rhythm. Saturday night was the day the German leg of "Passing on the Arts" would air. Chai Yundu prepared a sumptuous meal, waiting for Zhu Qingting to return so they could eat and watch the variety show together. Then, he planned to officially announce their relationship on Weibo after the show aired.

After a day of rehearsals, Zhu Qingting went to the dressing room to change and prepare to leave work. As usual, she picked up her phone to check for new messages. The related entries about Chai Yundu that were pushed to the top of the screen caught her attention.

#The "White Moonlight Substitute" Literature Becomes Reality#

#Chai Yundu Zhu Qingting's stunt double#

She frowned, but her fingertip involuntarily touched it.

The topic originated from a well-edited and narrated video of more than five minutes posted by a well-known "bone fan" with tens of thousands of followers.

The video asserts with certainty that Chai Yundu's special attention to Zhu Qingting is because she closely resembles the unrequited love he cherishes.

The "white moonlight" refers to He Tiantian, the actress who played a significant romantic character in "Ding Feng Bo," the first TV series he starred in after becoming famous. Due to netizens' complaints, the plot was changed, and she was killed off early in the series.

The video included a dance clip from the opera "Ding Feng Bo," specifically the scene where the young general Chai Yundu falls in love at first sight. She wore a red and yellow dance costume and danced gracefully on the stage.

Then the show switched to Zhu Qingting's performance of "The Vermilion Bird Breaks at Dawn" on the Spring Festival Gala stage, where she also wore a red and yellow dress, creating a striking visual similarity.

The edited video further amplifies this similarity, with the two dancers' dances flashing and overlapping alternately.

Then this fan also attached behind-the-scenes footage from the filming. These clips, which they used to find offensive and ignore, have now become irrefutable evidence against Zhu Qingting, accusing her of using a body double.

There are photos of them standing very close together on set, unavoidable physical contact during rehearsals, and even footage of them eating together after work. Although many people were present at the time, the footage was edited to only show the two of them, creating an ambiguous atmosphere of a close relationship. There were even subsequent promotional materials in which Chai Yundu defended He Tiantian out of guilt for his fans criticizing her.

The video also offered a far-fetched explanation for the similarity between the two names: "Did you all notice? He Tiantian's name comes from the ancient poem 'Lotus leaves are so lush and green.' Zhu Qingting's name evokes the image of 'A small lotus bud just shows its pointed tip, and a dragonfly (Qingting) has already landed on it.' Both of their names are related to lotus flowers and leaves!"

Zhu Qingting watched the five-minute video, filled with manipulation and speculation, with great care. Her feelings were... complex and hard to describe.

substitute?

Rationally, she felt this was absurd, a forced interpretation by fans. But she couldn't help but reflect on the origins of their relationship.

Yes, how inexplicable. Just because we added each other on WeChat after the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal, he went to look through my Moments and remembered what I looked like? He offered to help me in the parking lot? And afterwards, he gradually grew closer and became extremely protective of me…

Why would someone as popular and accustomed to seeing stunning beauties as a top star choose to show favor to her?

Zhu Qingting shook her head, trying to dispel these unpleasant thoughts. "Don't overthink it," she told herself. "Chai Yundu is at home, cooking and waiting for me. I can just go back and ask him directly." She tried to maintain her composure, packed her things, and left the dance troupe.

Entering the password and pushing open the door, the warm aroma of food wafted out. Chai Yundu was still busy in the kitchen, the sweet and sour pork ribs simmering in the pot.

"Baby, you're back? Hurry up and change your clothes, I'll be done in a couple of minutes!" he called out without turning his head, his voice filled with the joy of busyness.

However, when he served the last dish of delicious sweet and sour pork ribs and took off his apron, he found that Zhu Qingting had not changed into her home clothes. She was just sitting quietly at the table, staring blankly at the dishes, as if she had something on her mind.

"What's wrong, Bao?" Chai Yundu noticed her unusual behavior, walked to her side, bent down, cupped her cheeks, and gently kissed her forehead, asking with concern, "Was rehearsal too tiring?"

Zhu Qingting raised her eyes, her gaze a complex mix of emotions—struggle, a desire for confirmation, and fear. She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, her voice hoarse with nervousness.

"Why? Tell me the truth, Chai Yundu. Why did you show kindness to me, who was practically a stranger, in the theater parking lot? Why did you approach me again and again afterward?"

Chai Yundu was stunned. He hadn't expected that Zhu Qingting's worries were related to him. "What's wrong, Bao? Why did you suddenly want to ask this?"

Zhu Qingting didn't answer. Instead, she took out the video posted by the fan and handed it to Chai Yundu. Chai Yundu glanced at the title and was a little confused. It wasn't until he fast-forwarded through the video and watched the fan's far-fetched attempt to connect him with He Tiantian that he understood why Zhu Qingting had suddenly asked him. He was also thinking about how to answer Zhu Qingting's question.

Seeing that he had finished watching the video but hadn't said anything, Zhu Qingting took a deep breath, and couldn't help but believe the netizens' analysis. "Is it really like what's said online... because I look like her? Because... I'm a stand-in?"

As she asked that question, her fingertips dug deeply into her palms.

Chai Yundu was stunned. He looked at the girl's pale face and red eyes. Those eyes, which were always full of smiles, were now filled with broken sadness and stubborn desire for confirmation.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say "no," but found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Although the answer had absolutely nothing to do with the online speculation about He Tiantian, he had to admit that he was drawn to Zhu Qingting because her dancing on the Spring Festival Gala, at a certain moment, did indeed awaken memories of the girl he had worked with when he was fourteen. That girl also named Tingting, that same color dress, that equally vibrant dance.

Was it this overlap that made him glance at her in the crowd? He couldn't completely deny it.

His initial intention may not have been to find a substitute, but at that moment, did the sense of familiarity and shock from those distant memories unconsciously propel him closer? He himself couldn't tell.

The hesitation and entanglement in Chai Yundu's eyes were, in Zhu Qingting's eyes, no less than the cruelest answer.

Her heart sank rapidly, until it reached freezing point.

So it was true...

She could choose not to believe the online hype, which was half true and half false, but she couldn't ignore his hesitation.

“You don’t need to say anything.” She abruptly interrupted his attempt to explain, her voice trembling, carrying a kind of deathly calm, the last glimmer of light in her eyes extinguished, “Your hesitation has already told me the answer.”

She stood up abruptly, her movement so fast she almost knocked over the chair. She pulled up Chai Yundu, who hadn't yet reacted, and forcefully led him to the door.

“Chai Yundu,” she opened the door and pushed him out, her voice cold and resolute, “Let’s break up.”

Leaning against the cold door, Zhu Qingting slowly slid down to the floor. Her gaze fell on the carefully prepared meal on the dining table, and tears finally welled up uncontrollably and streamed down her face.

So this is what heartbreak feels like.

It felt like someone was squeezing my heart; every breath was accompanied by a tearing pain.

Those moments that once brought her secret joy have now become ironic evidence, proving that her unrequited love and sincere feelings were perhaps just a projection of another person's true self.

She thought she had finally been brave, and things were getting better, but little did she know that the story wasn't written for her from the very beginning.

Outside the door, Chai Yundu was stunned by this sudden turn of events. He stared at the tightly closed door and listened to the faint, suppressed sobs coming from inside. It felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out, and the pain made him bend over.

He knew that trying to open the door with the password again would only provoke her and make the situation worse. He could only stumble down the twelve flights of stairs and return to his car in a daze.

In the silent car, he recalled his damned hesitation, the light in her eyes extinguished, and boundless regret and anger overwhelmed him. He slammed his fist on the steering wheel!