The recording for Through Love was scheduled for the afternoon.
After lunch, Kang Duo picked Xu Tang up and drove him to the studio.
Since it was only a talk show, Xu Tang wore very light makeup, emphasizing a natural look.
All of the audience members that day were Xu Tang’s fans. To maintain order, the production team had brought in extra security.
After the opening, Mi Jing greeted the audience as usual before smoothly changing the subject.
“I know you didn’t come here to listen to me ramble. What you really want is to see today’s guest.”
The audience immediately cheered in agreement.
Mi Jing laughed. “Come on, you’re making this awkward for me, you know? If I don’t perform well later and fail to ask the questions you want answered, you’ll roast me online. So, being the genius that I am, I’ve come up with a solution.
“In a moment, one of our staff members will pass around a notebook, starting with the first audience member in the front row on the left. If you have a question you’d like to ask—anything at all—write it down. No need to sign your name. Later, I’ll have our guest randomly pick a page number, and we’ll ask whatever question is written there.
“Of course, it’s all down to luck, so make your questions count. Things like ‘I love you’ are unnecessary. If I read those aloud, a certain Best Actor might come after me.”
The audience burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly came alive.
“All right!” Mi Jing announced. “Let’s welcome today’s guest—our Little King of Pop, Xu Tang!”
Music filled the studio.
The fans erupted into deafening screams, shouting Xu Tang’s name at the top of their lungs.
The wooden doors on one side of the stage slid open, and Xu Tang walked in with a smile. He bowed politely to the audience before greeting Mi Jing with a hug at center stage.
As the music faded, so did the cheers.
“Xu Tang, why don’t you say hello to everyone first?” Mi Jing said.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Xu Tang.”
“Your fans all call you Tang Tang, right?”
“They do.”
“What about Best Actor Zong? Does he call you that too, or does he have some sweeter pet name?”
Mi Jing had steered the conversation toward Zong Xuan almost immediately.
The fans looked like they wanted to kiss her in gratitude.
Especially the CP fans—they felt coming today had absolutely been the right decision.
Mi Jing was amazing.
Xu Tang smiled shyly.
“Nothing special. He just calls me Tang Tang.”
Mi Jing sighed dramatically.
“Best Actor Zong isn’t very romantic, is he? What about you? Do you call him Xuan Xuan?”
Just hearing that nickname made goosebumps rise on Xu Tang’s arms.
“No.” He hurriedly shook his head. “I just call him by his name.”
Mi Jing spread her hands helplessly.
“You’re even less romantic than he is.”
Xu Tang laughed.
“It’s not really about romance. When you’re living together as a family, what’s important is being genuine.”
Mi Jing nodded.
“Do you know why it took me so long to invite you onto the show?”
“I don’t.”
“Do you know how much time my production team spent screening the audience for today’s recording? We even had to borrow staff from other departments. You’re just too popular.”
She spoke with complete sincerity.
“And as you can see, this studio is designed to feel like a home. The interviews are meant to be conversations between family or close friends. Suddenly having a superstar as big as you visit… I was honestly worried my little house wouldn’t be able to fit you.”
Xu Tang laughed.
“I’m not that big. How could I not fit?”
Then he added earnestly,
“But really, I have to thank all my fans for their support, and I also want to thank all the staff for their hard work. You’ve all worked very hard.”
It was the perfect answer—everyone involved appreciated it.
“Come on, let’s sit down and chat.”
“After you, Sister Jing.”
Xu Tang politely waited for Mi Jing to sit first before taking his own seat.
“I actually thought that if you came, Zong Xuan might come with you,” Mi Jing joked. “That way we’d save money by getting two heavyweight guests for the price of one. Looks like I was dreaming.”
“Zong Xuan’s filming out of town,” Xu Tang explained.
“I’m sure the fans who were hoping for that are disappointed too.”
“You can invite him by himself next time.”
“When our production team gets another round of sponsorship. Right now we can’t afford him.”
Xu Tang smiled.
“Well, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Mi Jing raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not right. You’re supposed to say, ‘Really? Then I’ll ask Zong Xuan to give you a discount.'”
Looking completely innocent, Xu Tang replied,
“That won’t work. We’re a serious married couple trying to make an honest living. We need to earn money.”
His utterly sincere expression sent the audience into another round of laughter.
“Fine, fine.”
Mi Jing threw up her hands dramatically.
She’d originally invited Xu Tang simply because his popularity would boost the show’s ratings.
But now it almost felt as though the show existed only to support him.
He handled every moment perfectly.
They moved on to discussing Xu Tang’s work schedule and his injured hand.
Once those respectable topics were finished, Mi Jing immediately veered onto far less respectable territory.
“As your older sister, I think it’s my duty to check on you.” She leaned forward expectantly.
“How’s your married sex life with Zong Xuan? Is everything harmonious?”
She finally asked the question she’d clearly been dying to ask.
Xu Tang hadn’t expected the conversation to change gears so suddenly.
One second they were discussing work.
The next, they were flooring the accelerator.
“…Mm…”
Whenever he didn’t know how to answer something, Xu Tang’s strategy was to answer with a single syllable.
“How harmonious?” Mi Jing grinned.
“Tell us about it.”
“…About the same as everyone else’s.”
Mi Jing laughed.
“Do you even know what everyone else’s is like? Tell me first, and I’ll judge whether it’s really the same.”
The audience loved questions like this.
Who didn’t enjoy a little gossip?
Everyone cheered, urging Xu Tang to answer.
He genuinely had no idea what to say.
After all…
He and Zong Xuan merely shared a bed under the same blanket and chatted.
Nothing more.
“So then, Sister,” Xu Tang said hopefully, “why don’t you tell us first? I’ll decide whether it’s the same as everyone else’s. You’re the host—you’d definitely explain it more thoroughly than I could.”
He was trying to redirect the topic toward Mi Jing.
Surely she’d be too embarrassed to answer, and the question would disappear.
Unfortunately…
Xu Tang underestimated exactly who Mi Jing was.
She was someone who could discuss bedroom techniques without batting an eye and crack dirty jokes anywhere on earth.
“Sure,” she said cheerfully, taking a sip of water.
“I’ll go first.”
“My married life is definitely harmonious. Otherwise where do you think my child came from?”
The audience laughed.
“But I’ve noticed something. I’m only speaking for myself—I don’t know about anyone else.
“My tastes have become heavier and heavier over the years. Obviously nothing dangerous, of course. I just mean the range of things I’m willing to accept has gotten much broader. I think a lot of people are probably the same, they’re just too reserved to admit it.”
She looked at him expectantly.
“So… are you like that too?”
Xu Tang suddenly realized he’d dug his own grave.
“Our… marriage hasn’t been that long…”
It was as close to a denial as he could manage.
“That does matter to some extent,” Mi Jing nodded, “but these things develop gradually.”
Xu Tang rubbed his nose awkwardly.
“No…”
“Then what’s it like?”
She blinked innocently.
Xu Tang scratched his hair and pressed his palms together in mock pleading.
“Sister… please let me off the hook.”
The audience exploded into squeals.
He was simply too adorable.
“If you won’t answer,” Mi Jing declared, lifting her chin proudly, “I’ll ask Zong Xuan next time.”
Xu Tang immediately brightened.
Zong Xuan would definitely know how to handle these questions much better than he could.
“Okay. Go ask him.”
Mi Jing finally let him off.
Seeing how genuinely embarrassed he was, she moved on to the audience question segment instead, explaining the rules.
“All right. Xu Tang, pick a page number. We have… one hundred and ten pages.”
Compared to Mi Jing’s questions, this seemed infinitely easier.
“I’ll choose page one hundred.”
Mi Jing flipped to page one hundred.
The moment she read it, her eyes lit up.
She grinned.
“The question is…
‘What’s your favorite position with Zong Xuan?'”
Xu Tang froze.
How was this even more explosive than Mi Jing’s own questions?
“Sister…”
He stared at her.
“Are you sure this is a legitimate talk show? Are you sure the platform won’t take it down?”
Mi Jing laughed along with the audience.
“Don’t worry about that. Live in the moment. As long as we can still air it, we’ll ask.”
“…”
Xu Tang honestly had no idea how to answer.
But he’d already begged once.
Dodging another question would hurt both the show’s pacing and the audience’s impression.
After thinking for a while, he finally replied,
“Just… the normal kind.”
“Because you’re facing each other, so it feels more intimate?” Mi Jing teased.
“…Mm…”
As someone with absolutely zero experience, Xu Tang was in an impossible position.
If he embellished too much, it would sound fake.
He didn’t want to invent an entire married life just for the audience.
Lies always came apart eventually.
“All right,” Mi Jing laughed. “I’ll let you pass.”
“Choose another one.”
Xu Tang had to answer three audience questions.
He let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Page sixty.”
Mi Jing read aloud.
“‘Could you call Zong Xuan right now?'”
Compared to the earlier questions…
This was so easy.
Xu Tang accepted the phone Kang Duo handed him and dialed.
“We’re about to interview Best Actor Zong!” Mi Jing clasped her hands to her cheeks. “I’m suddenly so excited.”
Then the automated voice came through.
“The number you have dialed is currently powered off. Please try again later…”
Mi Jing’s smile froze.
“What is this?!”
“Why is his phone off?!”
“I finally had a chance to interview Best Actor Zong!”
Xu Tang couldn’t help laughing.
“There’s nothing we can do.”
He didn’t know why Zong Xuan’s phone was off either.
A trace of worry crept into his heart.
Still, he’d have to wait until after the recording to contact him.
“Fine.”
Mi Jing smoothly moved on.
“Last question.”
Xu Tang picked another page.
She read,
“When do you think Zong Xuan is at his sexiest?”
Xu Tang thought about it.
“Probably… right after he wakes up.”
“Why?”
“He has this sleepy, lazy look. His voice is a little hoarse… but somehow it sounds even nicer than usual.”
And then he’d pull me into his arms possessively while we woke up together.
Mi Jing sighed dramatically.
“That answer just gave everyone plenty to imagine.”
The rest of the interview stayed within reasonable limits.
The program ended with Xu Tang performing a song, wrapping up the recording beautifully.
After leaving the studio, Xu Tang rested in the dressing room while waiting for the fans to leave before heading out.
Mi Jing came in to chat privately and apologized in case any of the questions had made him uncomfortable.
Xu Tang sincerely assured her that nothing had gone too far and told her not to worry.
Kang Duo stepped outside to answer a phone call.
When she returned, she looked as though she was trying very hard not to smile.
Since Mi Jing was still there, Xu Tang didn’t ask about it.
About twenty minutes later, a staff member informed Xu Tang that it was safe to leave.
After saying goodbye to Mi Jing, he followed Kang Duo to the underground parking garage.
Just as they were about to reach Kang Duo’s car, she suddenly grabbed his arm and led him toward a sleek sports car instead.
Xu Tang froze.
Isn’t that Zong Xuan’s car?
Why is it here?
At that moment, the driver’s side door lifted open automatically.
Zong Xuan sat inside behind the wheel, smiling at the stunned Xu Tang.
“Get in.”
Only then did Xu Tang recover from the shock.
He climbed into the passenger seat.
He’d had absolutely no idea Zong Xuan was coming back today.
His sudden appearance was both a shock and a wonderful surprise.
After rolling down the window to say goodbye to Kang Duo, Zong Xuan started the car and drove out of the parking garage.
“…When did you get back?”
Only after they’d driven nearly half a kilometer did Xu Tang fully recover his senses.
“I got home about half an hour ago,” Zong Xuan said with a smile.
“I called Kang Duo. She gave me the address, so I came straight here.”
Xu Tang did the math.
When he’d called earlier, Zong Xuan had probably still been on the plane, just about to land.
No wonder his phone had been off.
“Want to eat out before we go home?” Zong Xuan asked.
He’d only wanted to see Xu Tang as soon as possible.
Now that he had, he was happy to do anything.
“I’m okay with anything.”
“Let’s eat at home,” Xu Tang replied.
“Auntie’s already made dinner.”
Mostly…
Because that sports car was far too conspicuous.
If Zong Xuan’s fans spotted it, there’d be no way they wouldn’t recognize it.
The two of them would probably end up trapped inside the car by a crowd.
“Sounds good.”
Zong Xuan accelerated.
As soon as they arrived home, Zong Xuan swept Xu Tang into his arms and pinned him gently onto the sofa.
Xu Tang looked up at him, his face gradually turning red.
Supporting Xu Tang’s waist with one arm, Zong Xuan brushed the hair from his forehead with the other.
“Do you remember what I told you before I left?”
Of course Xu Tang remembered.
But admitting it out loud felt unbearably embarrassing.
The corners of Zong Xuan’s lips curved upward.
“Then… I’m going to kiss you.”
Xu Tang said nothing.
His left hand simply rested on Zong Xuan’s arm.
He made no attempt to push him away.
Zong Xuan lowered his head and captured his lips.
Unlike the light pecks they’d shared before, this kiss was deep and lingering.
Xu Tang soon found it difficult to breathe.
His thoughts slowly blurred, and warmth spread through his body.
Sensing his struggle for air, Zong Xuan released him after a while.
Once Xu Tang had caught his breath, he leaned down and kissed him again.
Even more tenderly than before.
Before long, Xu Tang felt completely dazed.
His grip on Zong Xuan’s arm loosened.
He simply let himself be held.
For the first time, Zong Xuan understood what it meant to miss someone even while they were right in front of you.
No matter how close they became…
It never seemed enough.
He always wanted just a little more.
Feeling that both of them were becoming increasingly affected, Zong Xuan reluctantly ended the kiss.
He lingered only long enough to place a few gentle kisses on Xu Tang’s cheek and the tip of his nose.
Xu Tang still hadn’t fully recovered.
He unconsciously licked his warm lips.
The tiny movement tempted Zong Xuan into stealing one more quick kiss before finally taking a good look at him.
Good.
He hadn’t lost weight.
He looked healthy and energetic.
Giving Xu Tang time to recover, Zong Xuan asked softly,
“You actually went on Mi Jing’s show. She didn’t make things difficult for you?”
Xu Tang first shook his head.
Then, after thinking about it, nodded instead.
“What did she ask? Did she come up with any weird segments?”
Still mentally foggy and too flustered to filter himself, Xu Tang honestly recounted all the questions he’d found difficult.
Zong Xuan burst into laughter.
“We’ll only know the answers to those after we try them ourselves.”
Xu Tang immediately turned his head away, refusing to look at him.
Now that his mind was clearing, his flushed ears and lingering embarrassment became painfully obvious.
Unable to resist, Zong Xuan leaned down and kissed the graceful curve of his neck.
Xu Tang shivered at the ticklish sensation.
His body instinctively curled slightly.
That single movement brought unmistakable awareness of how affected they both already were.
Xu Tang’s neck turned completely red.
Chuckling, Zong Xuan gently pinched his ear before sitting up like a perfect gentleman, choosing not to tease him any further.
Xu Tang secretly sighed in relief, remaining sprawled on the sofa while waiting for the heat to subside.
Holding his hand, Zong Xuan teased,
“Need a hand?”
“I’m pretty skilled with these hands.”
“I’ve never offered my services to anyone else.”
The warmth that had only just begun fading rushed right back.
Xu Tang immediately sprang off the sofa and fled upstairs.
Watching him retreat, Zong Xuan laughed heartily and called after him,
“If you need help, come to my room.”
“Don’t be shy with your husband.”
Xu Tang’s slightly hoarse voice floated down from upstairs.
“I don’t need it!”
“You can take care of yourself!”