Male Sing and His Pet Owner: Chapter 108

#Sword Tang Wen risks life to save comrade in arms
#Sharp Sword Third Company commander sacrifices
#Sharp Sword update
……

Zhao Kaile spent several consecutive days holding his phone observing the trending searches, occasionally switching to various major platforms. He discovered that indeed many bloggers had begun making film explanations and related commentary about “Sharp Sword.” There was more praise than criticism. Apart from affirmation for the director and screenwriter, the rest was various audience reviews of the actors’ performances.

Among the main cast, the one who received the most scolding was Song Yiming. He was the youngest among them, and also the one with the most immature acting skills. It wasn’t particularly surprising that he became the main target of attack. Recently, Zhao Kaile often saw him posting some melancholic late-night text on his Moments, posting then deleting, deleting then posting, in any case they would all be gone by the next morning. Yu Wenrong, as a film emperor and the top billing in the drama, setting aside his character as a person, his acting skills were indeed universally acclaimed. His eye acting was especially outstanding. There were basically no antis in the comments using his acting as an issue. Additionally, his team, seeing the drama beginning to become a major hit, immediately changed their previous cold attitude and very cooperatively began promoting for him on the production team’s Weibo. Countless water armies entered the fray, and his exclusive trending searches also gradually began climbing into the top five.

But what surprised Zhao Kaile the most was that in just a few days, Zhan Hang’s Weibo follower count had net increased by over a million. Besides the above issues, the most asked question in the comments was “who plays Tang Wen,” and the search keywords sharply rising in various major search engines were also “Tang Wen actor.”

Hang-ge seemed to have really become popular…….

Moments, Little Blue Book, PP Space, almost every app he used could show related information. Among relatives and friends, there were also many people chasing the drama. Zhan Hang’s stills and close-up short videos were flying everywhere.

Zhao Kaile’s heart beat wildly. Almost every time he saw a comment asking, he would rush to introduce them with uncontrollable eagerness, shouting that the actor playing Tang Wen is called Zhan Hang! He has real strength, you all come follow him quickly! His other dramas are also super good looking, everyone go watch quickly! You won’t regret buying in!!

He even slipped in private goods in his own novel’s author notes, saying he was recently chasing a new quality military drama called “Sharp Sword,” suitable for all ages, with vegetable leaf ratings opening at above 8.0.

To judge whether a drama is popular or not is actually quite simple. As long as when walking around the streets you can hear or see related information, or one swipe of Moments or major platforms can show related memes, it proves this drama has truly exploded.

On the way back to the hotel after finishing night scenes, Zhao Kaile was driving when he heard a shop on the street playing “Sharp Sword’s” theme song. He only felt like he was dreaming, thinking to himself is this all real?? Has “Sharp Sword” become this popular?? Or is it just too much of a coincidence, this shop’s owner just likes listening to this kind of song, and I happened to drive here when he was playing it……

The phone rang. It was Zhao Kaile’s.

Zhan Hang in the back row, resting with eyes closed, frowned impatiently, opened the speaker for him, and lazily made a hello sound.

“Zhan Hang, next week have Kaile arrange a time for you, come out and have a meal with Director Ren.” The moment Bai Li heard his voice, she knew Zhao Kaile was probably driving and it wasn’t convenient to answer the phone. She directly began communicating with Zhan Hang, her tone sounding quite pleased: “Thank him for recognizing your talent.”

Hearing this, Zhan Hang couldn’t help but hum with a laugh: “Sis, how come you also can’t hold yourself back. There’s still more than half left unbroadcast, it’s just gotten started.”

Bai Li said helplessly: “Zhan Hang, you really don’t care about your currently broadcasting drama. ‘Sharp Sword’s’ data is better than all the dramas you’ve previously participated in. Do you know what being number one in ratings on red satellite TV means?”

Actually, these past few days he had also been somewhat unsettled by Zhao Kaile’s excited appearance, but he didn’t dare place too much hope. He could only force himself to try not to pay too much attention to the heat after the drama broadcast, trying to maintain an ordinary heart. So he was only seriously studying his current script, and hadn’t even gone on Weibo much, fully handing it over to Zhao Kaile to manage. Hearing this, Zhan Hang was somewhat shaken: “What are you trying to say…….”

“You’re popular.” Bai Li said like coaxing a child: “Your billing is going to double. Haven’t you been on Weibo these past few days? The comments under the drama are all asking who plays Tang Wen, the person who plays Tang Wen looks so familiar, didn’t he play so-and-so in some other drama……. Director Wu and Director Lin have been sending me messages these past few days, asking if you have interest in acting in the dramas they’re planning. These are all small matters……..”

However, Zhan Hang only heard the first three words and could no longer maintain his composure. He only forced himself to sit still, patiently listening to the series of instructions Bai Li gave afterward, but his thoughts had already flown ten thousand eight thousand li away. He only wanted to find a quiet place to stay, properly sort out his emotions, lest he do something strange.

Back at the hotel, Zhan Hang didn’t even take off his jacket before sitting on the bed and beginning deep breathing.

Zhao Kaile stood carefully beside him, alertly pricking up his ears, lest Zhan Hang open his mouth to instruct him while spacing out again.

Zhan Hang sat for half a day, finally opened his mouth, and asked with a blank expression: “What did Bai Li say on the phone just now?”

Zhao Kaile cautiously said: “She, she told me to help you arrange a time to treat Director Ren to a meal.”

“……..” Zhan Hang asked: “After that?”

Zhao Kaile said: “You don’t care about your currently broadcasting drama…….”

Zhan Hang: “After that.”

Zhao Kaile stared at him with big eyes, then hesitantly said: “You’re popular.”

Zhan Hang said: “Say it again.”

Zhao Kaile suddenly understood: “You’re popular!”

Zhan Hang only felt extremely comfortable in his heart, as if all his meridians had been unblocked. He couldn’t help repeating: “Say it again!”

Zhao Kaile excitedly shouted loudly: “You’re popular! Hang-ge! You’re popular!”

Zhan Hang covered his eyes with one hand, laughing lowly: “Damn it…….”

He seemed to have spent much effort digesting this enormous surprise. With a relaxed posture, he hung his head, hooked the corner of his mouth, and slowly breathed in. The hair he had cut for “Sharp Sword” hadn’t fully grown back yet. The bangs were neither long nor short, resting on his forehead, slightly scholarly, reducing all of his sharpness and making him appear much gentler.

Zhao Kaile slightly lowered his head to look at him. His heart was joyful yet incomparably sour, only feeling that Zhan Hang had finally endured through, finally endured to this step.

Many fragmented images flashed through his mind, all about Zhan Hang.

Streetlights at dawn, brightly lit rehearsal halls late at night, eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, countless times hanging from wires and descending from high altitude, his whole body covered in cold sweat, his hands, feet, back, and waist all bearing strap marks.

He had blown so much wind, shed so much sweat, been rained on so much, and endured so much anger, finally having his wish fulfilled.

“That’s wonderful.” Zhao Kaile was practically so happy he was about to cry, murmuring from his mouth: “That’s wonderful.”

Zhan Hang withdrew his hand, raised his head to look at him. His expression froze for a moment, then somewhat astonished asked: “Why are you crying?”

Zhao Kaile forcefully sniffed his nose, whimpering: “I, I’m too happy…….”

“Happy and crying?” Zhan Hang laughed and cried at the same time, reaching out to wipe his tears for him: “What kind of problem is this.”

Zhao Kaile looked at him smiling, and couldn’t help but also want to follow smiling. He could only laugh while wiping his eyes: “I also can’t control myself……. I’m too happy, you’re popular! They’re all going to die of anger!”

Zhan Hang asked amusedly: “Who’s going to die of anger?”

Zhao Kaile: “Everyone! Everyone who looked down on you is going to die of anger! All your rivals are going to die of anger!”

“Still early.” Zhan Hang said jokingly: “Wait until your Hang-ge wins an award before making them angry, it’s not too late.”

Zhao Kaile hiccupped a few times, raised his head and cried loudly: “Why did they make you wait so long!! How can these rotten people all become popular!! Zhao Jingran this kind of vase can dominate the trending searches! Sun Yimin this kind of singing and dancing both terrible can become popular out of the circle! How is that fair!!”

Zhan Hang was caught off guard by his crying, flustered as he went to get tissues, both worried and finding it funny, continuously wiping his tears for him, making a shh sound, saying from his mouth: “Lower your voice, how did you get those tears?”

Zhao Kaile pouted his mouth trying hard to lower his volume, thinking to himself isn’t it because I like you too much!

Zhan Hang naturally also could feel it. He had always been very clear about distinguishing good and evil intentions from people around him. He had walked alone on this road for too long. Now having a Zhao Kaile by his side who was genuinely happy for him, he felt especially fortunate.

He carefully wiped Zhao Kaile’s tears clean for him, and said warningly: “No more howling.”

Zhao Kaile made an oh sound, his eyes still somewhat moist.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The two were extremely close together.

Zhan Hang gazed into his eyes, his heart suddenly growing slightly warm. He discovered Zhao Kaile’s ear tips were red.

In an instant, a strange thought flashed through his mind, and in this moment he caught it precisely.

“You…?” Zhan Hang’s brow twitched slightly, and he asked him almost unconsciously.

“Do you like me?”

Zhao Kaile’s entire person froze in place upon hearing this, his eyes slightly widening, thinking to himself it’s over.

Completely over……..

Hang-ge discovered it? How did he discover it??

His heart suddenly beat wildly, and reflexively he defended: “I’m your fan, I of course like……”

“Not that kind of like.” Zhan Hang said in a low voice: “The kind that wants to kiss.”

Zhao Kaile hurriedly said: “No no no no.”

Zhan Hang moved his brows, and pulled him a bit closer toward himself, examining him: “Really don’t want to?”

The moment he became serious, his gaze completely changed. It was no longer the usual indifferent attitude of nothing concerning him, but a kind of anticipation and deep affection that was about to overflow from the bottom of his eyes.

For a moment, Zhao Kaile only felt his feet were about to go soft. His surroundings were all his scent. His heart rate sharply climbed, his head spun, he could hardly breathe.

“I…I…” Zhao Kaile reached out and placed his hand against Zhan Hang’s chest, as if to refuse.

Zhan Hang seemed angered by his action, cupping the back of his head with one hand and saying impatiently, “I want to.”

Zhao Kaile was suddenly pulled into Zhan Hang’s arms, his chin forcibly lifted, and his lips suddenly felt warm—Zhan Hang’s lips.

When writing, his thoughts often flowed like a spring, and descriptions of love affairs came easily to him.

However, when it came to himself, his mind was a complete blank.

Author’s note:
Forced Confession