A Play Within a Play: The Top-Tier Star Will Marry No One but Me

[He is a rising pillar of Cantonese opera, dazzling onstage but taciturn offstage.

He is a hugely popular young star, appearing refined and aloof but truly single-minded and possessive.

During a collaboration three years ago, Fu Jingshen fell in love with Shen Yanzhou at first sight,

then disappeared for three whole years after telling him, “You look so special when you sing opera.”

Three years later, they reunited on a dating reality show, where Fu Jingshen said in front of the entire nation:

“I like him. I have, ever since three years ago.”

His manager was furious, his fans were in an uproar, and his haters were ecstatic.

But what really broke Shen Yanzhou’s composure

was the night Fu Jingshen flew to the city where he was performing,

then fell asleep waiting backstage, still clutching two tickets to The Peony Pavilion.

“Why are you here?”

“You’re performing. How could I not be?”

Later, someone asked Fu Jingshen, “Was it worth giving up so many opportunities for him?”

Fu Jingshen smiled. “Have you seen the way he looks at me when he sings The Peony Pavilion?”

“It was worth it.”

The author’s new book, A Play Within a Play, follows a pop star as he pursues a cool, celebrated opera performer.

Onstage and off, it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s an act.

But when someone is willing to step out of the role for you, that’s true love.]