The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

“Are you nervous?”

Unnoticed, a cup of hot water had appeared in front of him.

He Dongchen looked up and saw the girl he had bumped into in the elevator earlier, now slightly bending forward with a smile, her eyes glinting with compassion and a hint of guilt.

He Dongchen was puzzled. Why would someone I just met show such an expression? Compassion he could understand, but where did the guilt come from?

“Thank you.” He Dongchen took the hot water, sipped it lightly, and placed the cup on a small table beside him.

Zheng Dongdong looked around and whispered, “Actually, this show has a script. Most of the guests are actors. Are you really going to go up?”

He Dongchen smiled and said the classic line, “Since I’m here, I might as well go.”

Zheng Dongdong wanted to say more, but the prelude began, and a staff member came over to urge He Dongchen to get ready to go on stage.

“Dongdong, why are you here playing around?” The staff member had a good attitude toward Zheng Dongdong, almost hinting at flattery.

On the other side, He Sijia, newly dressed, had already taken the stage to play the piano. The stage lights dimmed, leaving only a soft, white light on her. In a white dress, He Sijia sat gracefully at the piano, her delicate fingers moving fluidly, creating a melodious and enchanting piece. The whole scene was elegant, with her demeanor like that of a princess.

The initially bored audience settled down and immersed themselves in the performance.

He Dongchen tugged at the corner of his mouth and asked Zheng Dongdong, who hadn’t left yet, “A dispute resolution show still needs a talent performance?”

Zheng Dongdong awkwardly said, “It was added at the last minute.”

“Why didn’t you ask me about any talents I might have?” He Dongchen leaned against the doorframe and, after a moment, suddenly realized, “Oh right, I’m just a poor, unlucky guy. What talent could I possibly have? Should I go up and perform solving problems?”

Zheng Dongdong listened to his sarcastic tone, unsure how to respond.

First impressions were crucial. He Sijia’s current image; gentle, beautiful, and talented, made her appear as the most noticeable goddess in the vast campus, the figure everyone yearned for.

As for He Dongchen, if he went on stage without a smile, the audience’s first reaction would be that he was unpleasant.

As the performance ended, the applause was thunderous. He Sijia bowed in thanks, her gentle voice amplified through the microphone, filling the air.

***

[Damn! How scheming!] The system suddenly exclaimed, [The show team adjusted He Sijia’s microphone to the best setting and made yours sound harsh! Damn it.]

Hearing this, He Dongchen couldn’t help but laugh. They really went to great lengths.

[Don’t worry, boss! I’ve already adjusted it back!]

“Well done.” He Dongchen nodded, taking the microphone handed to him by the staff. With Zheng Dongdong’s worried gaze on him, he walked slowly onto the stage.

Others had already taken the stage. He Dongchen was the last one, dressed simply in a white shirt that made him look clean and neat.

The audience already knew the theme of the event; the fallen real prince and the lucky fake princess. They had expected to see a cynical youth, but in reality, the person was clean and handsome, with no trace of resentment.

For a moment, everyone looked at each other, feeling a bit of sympathy.

A flower blooming in the mud always garners more appreciation.

The host, controlling the scene, broke the atmosphere with a warm smile, “It seems today’s protagonist is a young handsome guy. Let’s have him greet everyone.”

He Dongchen raised the microphone to his face and showed a bright, clean smile, “Hello everyone, I’m He Dongchen.”

The audience applauded enthusiastically! So handsome, with such a charming smile and pleasant voice!

In the backstage area, the director frowned slightly upon hearing the now non-jarring sound, “Who adjusted the microphone?”

The staff exchanged glances, hesitant to speak. Many were reluctant; the real prince had suffered enough, and to tamper with the microphone as well was too underhanded.

On stage, after He Dongchen’s brief self-introduction, he and He Sijia stood on a small platform specially set up, each on one side. He Zhenglan and Lin Xiumei sat on He Sijia’s side, dressed in expensive, appropriate clothes, poised and graceful.

He Juan hunched her shoulders, sitting next to He Dongchen, visibly uneasy and frowning, clearly very nervous.

The four mediators sat in the seats directly in front, their backs to the audience, each maintaining an air of superiority, waiting to give their judgments.

The host briefly introduced the case of the swapped identities and threw the first question to He Dongchen, “Do you hold any resentment?”

Originally a well-off young master, he had accidentally fallen into a poor family and had to endure years of domestic abuse. If this had been his fate, he would have accepted it. But this was supposed to be someone else’s life.

Under everyone’s gaze and He Sijia’s guilty eyes, He Dongchen slowly said, “I don’t resent it.”

Everyone was surprised. How could he not resent it? Wasn’t he supposed to be hysterical and complain about the unfairness of fate?

Everyone waited for him to continue, and then…

The entire hall fell silent.

Was that it?

Seeing this, the host quickly stepped in and asked the second question, “Since you don’t resent it, why come on this show? What are you hoping to gain from it?”

He Dongchen continued to maintain the silence, “I didn’t come to the show voluntarily. I find it quite cozy living with the other family now; there’s no need for mediation.”

The entire room erupted in whispers and murmurs. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

The host almost lost his composure, realizing that He Dongchen was a difficult guest. He swiftly changed the topic and directed the question to He Sijia.

“He Sijia, do you feel guilty for occupying a life that was meant for He Dongchen?”

He Sijia immediately responded, “Yes, I feel guilty. Since learning the truth, I haven’t had a peaceful night’s sleep. I’m willing to do everything I can to make it up to He Dongchen.”

With that, the host sighed in relief. At last, there was a normal response.

He Sijia’s sincere apology and her gentle, harmless demeanor softened the crowd’s hearts.

Yes, it wasn’t intentional.

One of the usually sharp-tongued mediators, Guan Xianshi, even spoke up, “I don’t think He Sijia needs to feel guilty at all! It was just a mistake, and it’s also a form of fate. Fate brought her to the He family.”

He Dongchen glanced at him, noting his thin lips and sunken eyes.

Gradually, other mediators expressed their opinions, all with a similar core message; It was a misunderstanding. The young woman’s apology was sincere, and she was eager to make amends. The young man should let go of his resentment and try to forgive.

Guan Xianshi pointed his pen at He Dongchen and said, “I’ll give you some advice; Dwelling on past hatred only causes you to lose more. I’ve seen many people like that. I hope you’re not the next one.”

Guan Xianshi spoke sharply, or rather, harshly, and yet he was self-righteous, carrying an air of superiority. After his remarks, even Lin Xiumei, sitting on stage, couldn’t help but frown slightly, feeling dissatisfied and blaming her husband for insisting on this terrible show, allowing their son to be criticized in front of so many people.

He Zhenglan’s expression was flawless, but his hands, resting on his lap, clenched slightly.

Guan Xianshi finished speaking, feeling quite pleased with himself.

The host, seizing the opportunity, directed the topic to He Dongchen, “Do you agree with Mr. Guan’s comments?”

He Dongchen’s clean, handsome face showed a look of surprise, “Is he talking to me?”

Everyone was taken aback. Wasn’t it obvious?

He Dongchen continued with an innocent expression and a naive tone, “It must not have been meant for me. I said from the beginning that I don’t resent it and am quite satisfied with my current life. Mr. Guan Xianshi should be more professional when recording the show; mixing up lines isn’t good.”

The room fell silent for a moment, then someone laughed, followed by a wave of laughter spreading throughout the room.

The show wasn’t very popular, and the guests were all ordinary people. Most of the audience consisted of relatives and friends brought in by the staff, or media students recruited from nearby universities.

The five hundred audience members present were students from a neighboring university, known for their lively and casual personalities. They were initially bored with the recording of such trivial content but now showed some interest.

The situation got out of control, and the director backstage darkened his expression. He instructed the staff to go remind them.

After a while, the audience settled down.

***

Guan Xianshi, feeling offended and unwilling to back down, waved his pen, “Young man, stop being insincere. I’m talking about you.”

He Dongchen raised an eyebrow, “Mr. Guan Xianshi’s ability to misinterpret is astonishing. I said I don’t resent it, yet you insist on labeling me as resentful. Since that’s the case, I’ll say you’re bald. Are you really bald?”

“Nonsense!” Guan Xianshi shouted angrily, instinctively touching his hair.

He Dongchen smiled, “See, you also know what nonsense means.”

With those words, the laughter erupted again.

At some point, the system appeared above Guan Xianshi’s head, kicked him, and his wig flew off.

The already raucous laughter intensified.

Oh dear, what kind of dispute resolution show is this? It’s clearly a comedy scene.

Hilarious!