Chapter 105
Los Angeles, 8:50 PM.
Countless cameras recorded this moment, broadcasting it faithfully to every corner of the world.
From lively, chaotic little bars in Southeast Asia, to the hurried crowds of Silicon Valley, to tranquil hot spring inns in Hokkaido—thousands of television screens echoed with the same words.
“This is truly unexpected, but also well-deserved. Let’s congratulate this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Actor, a first-time nominee and now a winner—”
“‘The Nameless Melody,’ Fang Huai!”
Five seconds of absolute silence.
Then, an explosion of cheers and applause—so thunderous it felt like the Dolby Theatre’s roof might come off.
At this moment, nothing else mattered.
Joanne was the first to throw her arms around him. Even the usually composed Xu Tuanyuan couldn’t hold back and joined the crew in embracing Fang Huai. Then came the other nominees.
Morrick approached him on his own, hugging him first. The other three followed. They all felt a sense of loss, but they were truly happy for him.
Except for Johnny, the lead actor of Sky Mirror, who sat with his head down, scowling at his phone—finally realizing what kind of trouble he had landed himself in.
Fang Huai, still dizzy from the lack of oxygen, stumbled his way to the stage and took the microphone.
Ye Yuyuan had only spoken one sentence, but Fang Huai knew he was listening. He could hear his steady breathing through the earpiece.
So this is what it feels like to love someone so much that you are utterly helpless.
Fang Huai thought—even the sound of his breathing was something he loved.
It felt as if Ye Yuyuan’s breath and the rise and fall of his chest were somehow connected to his own heartbeat. Like they were bringing him back to life—leading him, step by step, into a vast and dazzling galaxy.
Tonight, the stars over Los Angeles were breathtaking.
Fang Huai looked at the grand Dolby Theatre.
He took a deep breath and finally spoke:
“Hello, everyone… I mean—hi.”
[This is the biggest upset of the year, my god.]
[Not really? About 80% of Director Xu’s actors end up winning Oscars. Are you guys really that surprised?]
[Still a 19-year-old boy at heart. So nervous—so cute.]
The audience let out a warm burst of laughter.
“Don’t be nervous,” Ye Yuyuan’s quiet chuckle came through the earpiece.
“Don’t be nervous, okay.”
Fang Huai repeated to himself in a panic. He felt like he was about to overheat.
Ye Yuyuan didn’t know what he was about to do. Of course, Ye Yuyuan wasn’t nervous.
“The story of The Nameless Melody…”
Fang Huai gradually calmed down. He smiled and began speaking about his journey—thanking the Academy, the director, and everyone who had guided him along the way.
He didn’t ramble.
And everyone listened. Very carefully.
*
Nan City, Downtown Apartment.
Two floating screens hovered in the air—one streaming the Oscars live, the other open to the Amazon shopping page.
“Search for newlywed gifts,” Feng Lang instructed his AI assistant. But after seeing an overwhelming display of gold necklaces and rings, he finally gave up.
“Forget it. I’ll do it myself.”
*
Somewhere in the same city, inside a trendy restaurant.
As soon as the Best Actor winner was announced, Lin Huan and Yin Wanyue threw their arms around each other in excitement.
“Our boy is amazing!!”
But then, as if remembering something, they quickly calmed their breathing and refocused on the screen with nervous anticipation.
*
Los Angeles, a quiet corner of the Dolby Theatre.
Duan Yang, hands in his pockets, slipped out of the venue and sent a message to Ye Yuyuan.
“He might want to see you right away.”
After some hesitation, Duan Yang ran a hand through his hair in frustration, clicking his tongue before typing again:
“Does he know about… you, about us?”
*
On stage, Fang Huai faced the sea of people before him. The cameras captured his every expression, his every word.
“Country A has fully legalized same-sex marriage. But in many places, many minorities still suffer discrimination and persecution…”
He paused.
Some people knew that China’s marriage equality law had gone through almost all its review stages—and that today was the final ruling.
But Fang Huai didn’t mention it directly.
The golden glow of stage lights flickered on his deep blue suit. His sapphire cufflinks gleamed under the spotlight.
The young man closed his eyes—lashes long and delicate like butterfly wings—his chest rising and falling slightly.
Dust particles drifted in the air, catching the light, forming ethereal beams that stretched upward—toward the boundless river of stars beyond the night sky.
Time seemed to slow in this strange, magnetic moment. A romantic Irish ballad played softly in the distance, flowing through this impossibly surreal night.
And through his earpiece, Fang Huai could hear Ye Yuyuan’s steady breathing.
His pulse quickened.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
“‘I am gay. I am not guilty.’”
He stared straight into the camera, his pale-colored irises shimmering in the light.
“Love is our innate instinct. Love is the gift the world has given us.”
Across the globe, hundreds of millions of people listened.
Like water just about to boil, the atmosphere began to bubble with realization.
Someone, somewhere, pieced it together—
“Standing here today, I must thank The Nameless Melody team, thank Director Xu, thank the Academy.”
Fang Huai’s voice was steady as he spoke.
“And lastly, I want to thank…”
He let out a soft breath—
Then closed his eyes.
“My Love, Ye Yuyuan.”
Electric currents and data carried these words to every corner of the world.
From a small bar in Southeast Asia to the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland, from the afternoon sunlight in Hokkaido to the brilliant canopy of stars above, from the boundless lands and rivers stretching far and wide.
The stars burned hot, and the wind never ceased.
The entire venue fell silent.
For a second, the air seemed to tighten and freeze. The reporters in the audience widened their eyes in shock, grabbing their cameras—yet none had time to press the shutter.
Before anyone could react, Fang Huai, ears slightly flushed, earnestly added, “Ye Yuyuan… If you don’t mind, would you marry me?”
Through his earpiece, Fang Huai heard Ye Yuyuan’s breath—warm like a flowing galaxy brushing against the tip of his heart. A single blink felt like lifetimes passing by.
And in that very second—
Weibo refreshed. Without any prior arrangement, two posts were scheduled to go live at the exact same moment.
“Fang Huai V: I love you. Ye Yuyuan V.”
“Ye Yuyuan V: I love you. Fang Huai V.”
Just before Weibo crashed under the overwhelming traffic, another official announcement was released. It joined the previous two posts in trending at the very top.
The late summer breeze lifted rainbow flags high. In schools, offices, and at the crowded subway entrances, countless people stopped in their tracks. Beneath the endless blue sky, white doves soared far into the distance.
The public notice was simple—
“The review process for the same-sex marriage bill has concluded. Result: Approved.”
This was a moment destined to be remembered in history.
Though only a dozen seconds had passed, it felt as though an entire century had gone by.
Amidst the overwhelming cheers, whistles, and applause, Fang Huai could finally distinguish the rhythm of his own heartbeat and breath—alongside Ye Yuyuan’s.
Not everyone was as composed as they seemed.
The highly sensitive Bluetooth earpiece picked up every tiny detail. Ye Yuyuan’s breathing was trembling, each breath carrying embers that landed on Fang Huai’s heart, setting his entire being aflame with the same shivering anticipation.
In the September night of Los Angeles, the starlit sky was impossibly gentle.
Across boundless galaxies and towering mountains, fireworks seemed to ignite once more, blazing rain returning to the world. And finally, through the static of emotion, Fang Huai heard Ye Yuyuan’s hoarse voice say—
“…Yes.”
[The End]
What a monumental moment, I wanna scream!! The timing, with the legalization and all is so heartwarming ?? thanks for sharing this story with us!!