The Game of Contrasts

"When a top-tier star who cries at the drop of a hat meets a smiling, scheming newcomer, who's really seducing whom on this dating show?"

Cheng Yanqiu is one of the entertainment industry's top idol singers and dancers. Onstage, he's a bewitching king and a born performer. Offstage, he cries at the slightest provocation.

Accused of lip-syncing by haters? He livestreams himself singing live for three hours that very night, then cracks up when his voice breaks.

Photographed with red eyes? He stubbornly says, "My contact lens shifted," then ducks backstage and frantically reaches for the tissues.

Lu Zhao is a newly famous actor, renowned for his "textbook-perfect smile." In reality, he's a drama queen who uses his smile to hide his social anxiety.

A senior actor gives him a hard time? He nods with a smile. "You're right." Then he writes the man into the villain role of his next script.

He catches Cheng Yanqiu hiding away to cry? He hands him a tissue. "It's really windy." But in his heart, he memorizes the shape of every tear.

A livestreamed dating show brings these two actors together, and they begin competing to out-act each other

Cheng Yanqiu assumes Lu Zhao is just trying to ride his coattails. Then Lu Zhao uses a drone to capture an ugly photo of him sobbing. "Mr. Cheng, you're much more expressive on camera like this."

Lu Zhao thinks Cheng Yanqiu is an untouchable beauty, only to discover that in private, he cries while cursing at the hate comments: "That bastard Lu Zhao!"

When the show producers make them draw portraits of each other, Cheng Yanqiu adds devil horns to Lu Zhao, while Lu Zhao draws him as a teary-eyed cat. The comments explode: #AreTheyDating##ThisDoesn'tLookActed#

While the whole internet is shipping them like crazy, only they know

Cheng Yanqiu's secret account has quietly liked every clip of the two of them.

Lu Zhao has an encrypted folder in his photo album titled: "One Hundred Ways to Comfort a Crybaby."

"You play the perfect idol, and I'll pretend to be the sunny newcomer. Let's see who gives in first in this game of contrasts."

[Reader's guide]

Two top-tier players playing cat and mouse: They seem to be at odds, but they're both trying to win each other over.

Extreme contrast: A domineering heartthrob in public and a crybaby in private, the bottom × a fake ray of sunshine and a genuinely scheming top.

A dating-show battlefield: Livestream comments and a full dose of variety-show antics, with every side couple a comedy act.

Super-sweet romance: From "What an annoying guy" to "Why is he so cute?" The irresistible law of falling for someone.

"Cheng Yanqiu, the way you cry makes my heart race more than any of your performances."

"Lu Zhao, smile one more time and I'll kiss those dimples right off your face."

(Content warning: The bottom really does cry uncontrollably, but he's still stubborn and sharp-tongued. The top is fake-gentle and genuinely unhinged. The romance is a mix of sweet and sour, with no angst and a happy ending.)

Theme: "In a world of fame and fortune woven from cameras and lies, only genuine feelings cannot be faked."