#29: Duet of Love Songs

On the way to the restaurant, the brothers naturally paired off.

Qin Yuan draped his arm over Chu Yao’s shoulder as they walked ahead, seemingly deep in conversation. Meanwhile, the eldest brother supported Second Brother Tang Xizhou, ambling slowly in the middle.

Jiang BeiBei exclaimed, “Ah! You’re all walking in pairs!”

Song Lang, holding his dog and smiling, said, “That’s right—full of passion. Look at me; I’m with BeiBei… in a group.”

Jiang BeiBei retorted, “Fourth Brother, what are you daydreaming about? You’re with Da Miao.”

Upon hearing her voice, Chu Yao paused and extended his hand. Jiang BeiBei hopped over to him, saying lightly, “Oh dear, it feels a bit awkward holding your hand in front of my brothers.”

Tang Xizhou chimed in, “Big Brother, give her a push. Be bold when you should be bold—why so reserved?”

Qin Yuan suggested, “BeiBei, come to the middle—one on each side.”

He let go of Chu Yao, making space for her in the center.

Without hesitation, Jiang BeiBei turned around and grabbed Song Da Miao instead.

Chu Yao’s gaze faltered. He turned to Qin Yuan and said, “Are you sick? Stop struggling—it’s over.”

Qin Yuan chuckled dryly. “There’s still hope for revival.”

They resumed their earlier stance, arms slung over each other’s shoulders as they walked ahead. Lowering his voice, Qin Yuan said, “How different can we really be?”

“Very different,” Chu Yao replied. “We’re nothing alike.”

“How so? At most, our ways of expressing feelings differ.”

“You don’t even bother to understand her thoughts—how can you compare yourself to me?”

“So you’re the weird one, and I’m the normal one,” Qin Yuan said. “Even her menstrual cycle… you think about that kind of stuff?”

Chu Yao grimaced. “I’m done talking to you—you just don’t get it. You’re not even in the same league emotionally. In your eyes, she’s just like any of your exes—one of many, replaceable. So stop struggling—I sincerely advise you to give up.”

“How could she be the same as them?” Qin Yuan’s expression grew serious. “Those relationships weren’t real romances—they were just casual flings. When feelings developed, we started dating; when things didn’t work out, we broke up. But BeiBei is different. I’ve mentally separated her from them. If I were with BeiBei, there’d be no trial period—we could head straight toward marriage because we already have an emotional foundation.”

“You’re delusional,” Chu Yao said. Even he wouldn’t dare claim he had an emotional foundation with Jiang BeiBei. Moreover, BeiBei was someone who lacked a sense of security. Rushing into love too quickly would only backfire. He’d been carefully nurturing their connection, trying to guide her onto the path of romance. Yet here was Qin Yuan shamelessly declaring, “I have an emotional foundation with her.”

Chu Yao took a deep breath and looked at Qin Yuan coldly.

“Tsk, I’m being serious here. Why are you acting like this?”

“There’s nothing to discuss with you—you don’t realize where you stand emotionally,” Chu Yao said. “You’ve dated plenty, but you’ve never reflected on it.”

“No need to reflect on emotions,” Qin Yuan scoffed. “Just focus on living together. Besides, with BeiBei, it’s not like there’s no emotion. After marriage, everything becomes routine. Over the years, I’ve already figured out what I can and can’t accept about her. Once married, our relationship will stabilize. It’s not like those fleeting romances outside.”

“Then you’re nothing like me,” Chu Yao smiled faintly. “I want love, and so does she. The sibling bond from before doesn’t count. You can’t confuse the two and still expect her to accept you. So, Qin Yuan, you don’t understand me, and you definitely don’t understand her.”

“Sometimes it’s you who doesn’t understand,” Qin Yuan countered. “You and BeiBei both chase after this vague idea of love—it’s too abstract, completely unrealistic. Have you ever experienced real-world relationships? It’s about finding compatibility. As for BeiBei, she’s still young and naïve, far less mature than her peers. Right now, she’s dreaming of some ethereal romance, sweet and whimsical—it’s understandable given her age. But if you indulge her in this fantasy, it’s unforgivable.”

Chu Yao shook his head and muttered under his breath, “She’s far more mature than you…”

Qin Yuan continued, “At our age, love isn’t something you need to overthink. Relationships grow through shared life experiences. As long as there’s a basic foundation, affection develops naturally over time. Love isn’t a necessity. And if you pursue love obsessively, once it fades, the relationship falls apart. Look at the older generation—how many married purely for love? Most people got married when the time came, found someone suitable, and built their lives together afterward. That’s how lasting relationships are formed, and they often turn out well.”

“My parents,” Chu Yao smiled. “Sorry, but it’s you who doesn’t understand.”

Qin Yuan stumbled, recalling that Chu Yao’s parents had indeed remained romantically devoted throughout their lives. Unable to argue further, he rubbed his face and sighed, “Forget it… we’ve gone off-topic anyway.”

“Finished your philosophical debate?” Tang Xizhou, who had been eavesdropping, cleared his throat. “How dull. I thought two grown men would talk about something risqué, but instead, you ended up discussing love—so cheesy it makes my teeth ache.”

“Why are you eavesdropping?”

“It’s not like we were told not to listen,” Tang Xizhou said cryptically. “Qin Yuan, you need someone wise to enlighten you. Don’t let Yao Er mislead you.”

“Xiao Yao doesn’t seem to consider Third Brother much of a rival,” Yan Qingming gently fanned the flames.

Chu Yao said, “In matters of the heart, focus on your own goals. The choice lies with her, not him. Competing with him is pointless.”

Qin Yuan paused, feeling a flicker of clarity.

Huang Yuanbao waited for them at the restaurant entrance. Seeing the procession of Jiang BeiBei’s brothers approaching, a colleague from the production team sighed enviously, “Jealous…”

“They cover every type,” Huang Yuanbao remarked. “And they’re all so good to her. People like us can only sigh in envy. Let me give you a heads-up—the guy from the funeral home is now her boyfriend.”

“…” The colleague, who had participated in filming at the funeral home, recognized Chu Yao. Hearing this news, they didn’t know where to begin their lamentations. “So Reporter Jiang likes the ascetic type, huh?”

“The ascetic type is notoriously hard to conquer…” Huang Yuanbao added, glancing at Jiang BeiBei’s brothers. “But speaking of difficulty levels, let’s play a game. Among the people walking toward us, who do you think is the easiest to win over?”

“…The one in the middle?” The colleague immediately pointed to Yan Qingming.

“Fool, it’s the dog,” Huang Yuanbao rolled her eyes. “You actually analyzed this seriously? Hahaha!”

At the restaurant entrance, the waiter stopped Song Lang. “Sorry, pets aren’t allowed inside.”

“He’s not a pet,” Song Lang joked. “He’s a rascal—a crafty little dog.”

Seeing him joke with a straight face, Huang Yuanbao burst into laughter. After some discussion, Song Lang reluctantly called his parents to take Song Da Miao away.

“I wanted to freeload some food…” Song Lang lamented.

“I told you not to bring the dog,” Jiang BeiBei said, puzzled.

He knew the restaurant didn’t allow dogs, but this time, Song Lang insisted on bringing Song Da Miao along for a walk—who knew why.

They quickly finalized the filming arrangements at the dinner table. Since no alcohol was involved, the meal ended swiftly. After the colleagues left, Huang Yuanbao wasn’t satisfied yet. Leveraging her close relationship with BeiBei, she suggested going to a karaoke bar. Surprisingly, all of BeiBei’s brothers unanimously agreed without objection.

Tang Xizhou said, “It’s been a while since I last heard the girl sing.”

Yan Qingming added, “Though it feels disloyal to Chu Yao, I must say, I want to hear BeiBei and Qin Yuan sing Wordless Ending and Love Song of Hiroshima . Ah, such beautiful songs…”

Yan Qingming’s face softened with nostalgia.

Chu Yao nodded. “No objections. I’d like to hear them too.”

“Then let’s sing!” Mentioning singing made Jiang BeiBei delighted.

Having studied singing specifically, Jiang BeiBei sang like a siren from myth, her voice enchantingly sweet and melodious.

As for Qin Yuan, perhaps it was natural talent—once he picked up the microphone, he transformed into a prince of ballads, singing with tender emotion and heartfelt passion.

Whenever they went out singing in the past, if these two were present, the brothers always chose love duets, leaving the stage entirely to them.

Though a twinge of jealousy lingered, Chu Yao conceded, acknowledging that their harmonies were undeniably beautiful.

Their reaction left Huang Yuanbao thoroughly astonished. Only Song Lang remembered to explain, turning to Yuanbao and saying, “Singing is BeiBei’s forte. Her duets with Third Brother are simply unmatched… I’ve never heard anyone sing better than the two of them since I was a child.”

Huang Yuanbao beamed with excitement. “Wow! Then I’m in for a treat today—I’ve never heard BeiBei sing before!”

Qin Yuan smiled. “Finally, something that suits my taste today.”

Once they arrived at the karaoke bar, Song Lang immediately opened the duet love song playlist and started selecting songs one by one.

“Let’s start with Love Song of Hiroshima !” Yan Qingming couldn’t get enough of this cursed ballad about fleeting romance. “It’s been a year since we last heard you two sing it!”

“I want to request one too!” Tang Xizhou raised his hand. “Fourth Brother, put on Foolish Love !”

“What about Yao Er?” Song Lang asked. “Come on, what do you want to hear them sing?”

“Wordless Ending is quite nice,” Chu Yao said with a faint smile as he selected the song.

Song Lang coughed lightly and turned to Huang Yuanbao. “What about you, Chief Editor Huang? Do you have any requests? Let’s let them finish their set first, then it’ll be our turn.”

“You guys sure pick old-school songs. For love duets…” Huang Yuanbao thought for a moment. “How about Coral Sea ? I’m curious—can you two really sing any love song?”

“No song we can’t handle!” Jiang BeiBei declared confidently. “Go ahead and request whatever you like!”

“Aren’t you going to sing a duet with your official boyfriend?” Huang Yuanbao teased.

Only Tang Xizhou dared to respond to that. “The official boyfriend can’t sing as well as the fake one… But today, we can indulge Chief Editor Huang. BeiBei, why don’t you and Yao Er start with one, then move on to singing with Third Brother later? Let Chief Editor Huang compare.”

Jiang BeiBei sighed helplessly. “Second Brother, you’re so thoughtful…”

She knew letting Chu Yao go first would make the comparison less brutal.

“If Yao Er’s singing, we can’t start with Love Song of Hiroshima ,” Song Lang said. “I’ve heard that couples who sing that song usually break up afterward.”

“Don’t worry—even if I wanted to sing it, I wouldn’t be able to pull it off.” Chu Yao knew his limits. Though he didn’t sing off-key, that was about it. A song like Love Song of Hiroshima was beyond him.

He calmly took the microphone and said, “Let’s pick something simpler.”

“I’ll choose Intimate Lover for you,” Song Lang said with a wink. “See how nice I am? No backup options for you.”

Jiang BeiBei’s hand holding the microphone began to tremble—she was both shy and nervous.

She had never sung a duet with Chu Yao before, let alone such a deeply emotional love song meant for married couples.

By the time they finished, her voice was still shaking. Huang Yuanbao applauded. “That wasn’t bad at all!”

Qin Yuan, sitting next to her, confidently remarked, “That’s because I haven’t sung yet.”

“How about we hold a love song duet competition?” Jiang BeiBei glanced mischievously at Song Lang and Huang Yuanbao, hatching a plan. “Teams of two!”

Song Lang instinctively looked for the dog, but realizing the dog wasn’t there, he hesitated for a moment before quickly declaring, “Then I’ll pair up with Chief Editor Huang!”

Tang Xizhou seemed to catch on to something and chuckled softly. “Look at you, scared stiff. This is exactly what you wanted.”

“Alright then, everyone sings love songs! Big Brother and Second Brother as a team!” Jiang BeiBei announced. “Friendly competition—our bond comes first, results second. Participation is key!”

Song Lang queued up Love Song of Hiroshima . “Now, please welcome the champion duo to demonstrate.”

As the intro of Love Song of Hiroshima began, Qin Yuan immediately got into character, taking the microphone. The first note sent shivers down Huang Yuanbao’s spine.

“Good grief!” she exclaimed. “Forget competing—we might as well quit now.”

When Qin Yuan and Jiang BeiBei harmonized on the line “Loving you,” Huang Yuanbao glanced over at Chu Yao.

Chu Yao tilted his head, listening with a smile in his eyes.

“So harmonious…” Huang Yuanbao silently admired.

Song Lang pulled Huang Yuanbao aside and asked, “Chief Editor Huang, what should we sing?”

“How good are Big Brother and Second Brother?”

“We’ve got an advantage—we’ve got a female voice, and they don’t!” Song Lang said confidently. “As long as you don’t sing off-key, I’ll carry us to second place!”

“Then let’s do Wheat Fields Swaying in the Wind !” Huang Yuanbao picked a fresh, light-hearted tune.

But Song Lang was still inexperienced. Reality soon taught him the meaning of “Old ginger is always spicier.” Yan Qingming and Tang Xizhou delivered a flawless male-male duet of A Thousand Miles Away , perfectly synchronized and utterly crushing their opponents.

Chu Yao remarked, “If I were to judge fairly… it’s clearly Big Brother and Second Brother who win.”

Huang Yuanbao laughed. “Singing with you guys is so much fun!”

“Then let’s stay all night!” Song Lang suddenly perked up. “All-nighter!”

“Huh?”

“If you don’t have anything else to do…” Jiang BeiBei said. “We usually sing all night anyway.”

“…I truly admire you siblings.” Huang Yuanbao paused, then broke into a grin. “Sure! I’ll join your madness tonight!”

And so, they stayed until morning.

Everyone except Tang Xizhou drank some alcohol. Huang Yuanbao noticed that while they called it a group singing session, Chu Yao mostly sat to the side, smiling as he watched Jiang BeiBei sing or helping her select songs and pouring hot water for her throat.

“How wonderful…” Huang Yuanbao envied them immensely.

There was a kind of man whose tenderness was reserved only for the woman he had chosen.

Suddenly, a line Huang Yuanbao had read somewhere came to mind.

“I wish to be her companion, to stay by her side for life—as a father, as a brother, as a lover, and as a friend. With resilience and courage, I will support her home and leave all my lifelong tenderness for her alone.”

Huang Yuanbao covered her face. “Damn, I’ve suddenly fallen for sibling dynamics… I’m guilty.”