The Top-Tier Star Couple Is a Little Sweet

A hot topic on a certain Q&A site: "Why do Wen Li and Song Yan have so many ship fans?"

The original poster added: They've been married for two years, but haven't worked together on a film or TV show, appeared on a variety show together, or even interacted much on social media. They're the entertainment industry's famously contractual couple, the sort who can't even be bothered to pretend to be in love. I'm baffled that they have so many ship fans. I swear I'm not hating on them.

Top answer: "A ship fan reporting in. Let me spell it out for you: They really don't interact much. We have to squint through a microscope to dig up every bit of sweetness. But...

1. Looks-wise, they're both god-tier beauties. Back when my San Li was still a rookie, people were already imagining what they'd look like together. Then that once-in-a-century photo of them together went viral, and a flood of entertainment-industry romance stories with similar character setups sprang up: Black Swan x White Moonlight.

2. Status-wise, they're both top-tier stars. You could call them a power couple in every sense, right?

3. There are so many talented creators in the fandom. Fanfiction, fan art, fan edits: there's enough to gorge yourself on, and you can't bear to leave the fandom even if you want to.

So, no matter how often outsiders say their relationship is fake, as long as they don't announce a divorce, we'll keep shipping them!"

-

One day, Wen Li was invited to record an idol variety show, where she performed an adorable, energetic girl-group dance in front of the cameras.

As it happened, Song Yan was sent over by the production team of the couple's variety show, which they were contractually committed to, to visit her on set. The two locked eyes across the stage.

"..."

After filming the idol show, Wen Li explained with a look of utter despair, "I wasn't trying to act young. They forced me to dance."

Song Yan replied unhurriedly, "So you can dance after all. Back then, you wouldn't do what I asked, even if it meant dying."

Wen Li's eyes suddenly widened. "But what you asked me to do back then was a strip, "

To pass the review, the show cut off the skit there and ruthlessly muted Wen Li.

#Huh, why did my mind go straight to the gutter##Is it the kind of strip dance I'm thinking of##Go on, then, don't mute her##The production team has no heart##Say more, us single people love hearing this#

The original poster added to their question on the Q&A site: "Thanks, everyone. No need to answer anymore. I've fallen into the pit, and I love it."

[Special thanks: reader Heng Ke for the cute chibi drawing of Yan Li.]

[Important: There are no real-life inspirations, not a single one. The male lead is a top-tier actor, a three-time Golden Award winner, formally trained and a film actor by background. He sings off-key and dances like he's doing group exercise in the park. Anyone who's read this whole story won't say they know who the characters are based on. I'm not a fan of anyone. I've clarified this several times. Anyway, thanks to the longtime readers who've helped set the record straight. Love you all!]

[Content warning: Lots of fan-circle comments and fan bullet comments. Enter with caution if you don't like that.]

1. Tsundere, sharp-tongued Black Swan x scheming, devoted White Moonlight

2. Mary Sue/Joe Sue/fandom daily life/contract marriage/old character archetypes and cliches, nothing new/all characters are entirely fictional wish fulfillment

3. Shipping real-life couples carries a risk of a bad ending, so make your own fan content and ship them yourself!

A literary synopsis:

- I was once spotless, but later became covered in mud, while you remained radiant and elegant, impossible to forget.

- You were simply too dazzling, disturbing my peaceful sleep. So I decided to claw my way out of the mud, then pluck you down.

Theme: Build happy families and safeguard lasting social stability.