Became a National Couple with My Ex Chapter 62: The Man Behind the Successful Woman (Ending Part 1)

A month and a half later, on January 12th, the New Year, at the Jinqiao Theater in North City.

At 6:45 p.m., a black Bentley slowly pulled up to Gate 9 through the fine falling snow and came to a stop under the portico.

Two staff members wearing work badges quickly stepped forward and opened both back doors. They bowed respectfully toward the interior of the car and greeted in unison, "Good evening, Mr. Bian."

From the left door, Bian Hongshu stepped out with a cane, eager to head inside right away.

From the right door, Bian Xu stepped out, buttoned up his suit jacket, and walked around to support the elder’s arm. "We’re already here—what’s the rush?"

Bian Hongshu brushed his hand away impatiently. "Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? Of course I’m in a hurry! You get to see her all the time—it’s easy for you to talk."

"Well, not really," Bian Xu sighed and shook his head. "Your granddaughter-in-law is a big star now. I may see her often, but it doesn’t mean I get more of her time than you do."

Ever since a month and a half ago, when Liang Yixuan was confirmed to replace the original National Ballet principal as the lead in《Giselle》, she had been rehearsing day and night without pause. While she threw herself into training, Bian Xu was left to face empty rooms and lonely evenings.

Because of his public status and the worry that his presence might distract her from rehearsals, he couldn’t visit her openly. Most days, he only got to spend a few quiet moments with her late at night.

In mid-December, confident in her progress, he traveled to Amsterdam for two weeks to compose music on an island. Each day, he would video or voice call her just before she went to bed—worried she might suffer the same insomnia from overtraining as before. But more than once, she fell asleep while still on the phone with him.

Later that month, remembering she had once written in her journal that he never remembered holidays, he made a point of returning to Nanhuai on Winter Solstice—the anniversary of their first night together. He picked her up from the dance center, hoping to celebrate the occasion, only to hear her smack her forehead and apologize, saying she’d completely forgotten the date.

Well, tables turn. What could he do?

Obviously, he strategically forgave her… and planned to collect on it properly after tonight’s public performance at North City’s Jinqiao Theater.

The two staff members made a "please this way" gesture, inviting the grandfather and grandson to use the VIP entrance.

Bian Hongshu waved them off. "I come here often. No need for special treatment."

"Well, your grandson’s here today too," Bian Xu said as he helped the old man inside. "Maybe not for you, but I could use the privilege."

A month ago, when the National Ballet officially announced the upcoming performance, word that Liang Yixuan would be dancing the lead in《Giselle》 spread like wildfire online.

That very night, a hashtag titled #BianXuDreamsComeTrue shot to the top of trending searches, pushed up by devoted fans of the couple.

At first, netizens thought the long-silent duo had quietly registered their marriage. But clicking the tag revealed it wasn’t a wedding announcement—it was because Bian Xu’s dream sequence in Rosabella, where he imagined Liang Yixuan dancing《Giselle》, had finally come true.

As soon as ticket sales opened, all available performances sold out instantly.

No one knew how many fans of the couple had snuck into the theater today, but even the number of security personnel had been doubled just in case.

To truly play the role of "the man behind the successful woman"—and to avoid causing a stir that might affect Liang Yixuan’s performance—Bian Xu had no choice but to keep a low profile.

He called her to say he had arrived and told her to focus on the show, then escorted his grandfather into the theater and took their seats in the best viewing section on the first floor.

At exactly 7:00 p.m., the theater lights dimmed on time. The rustling in the audience quickly quieted down.

In the orchestra pit, the musicians in formal wear were already in place. The conductor, baton in hand, was the last to arrive.

The musicians stood to greet him, and the first wave of applause rippled through the audience.

The conductor stepped up to the podium and shook hands with the two principal violinists beside him. The musicians took their seats again, and the applause gradually faded.

With a lift of the baton, the solemn and grand overture began. After several seconds, the music softened, becoming gentler. On the main stage, the deep red curtain slowly parted to reveal a lifelike village cottage set.

The National Ballet’s newly choreographed version of《Giselle》 had officially begun——

The male lead, Count Albrecht, entered the mountain village dressed in riding clothes with a cloak draped over his shoulders. He paced back and forth in front of a small wooden cottage.

His attendant, who had accompanied him on the hunting trip, stepped forward and asked why he was lingering here.

Albrecht said that a beautiful girl named Giselle lived in the cottage, and he had fallen in love with her at first sight. He wanted to see her again.

The attendant tried to talk him out of it, reminding him that he was already engaged to a duke’s daughter.

But Albrecht refused to give up. He planned to disguise himself as a commoner and approach Giselle.

He took off anything that could give away his identity—his cloak, sword, and belt—dismissed his attendant, and knocked on Giselle’s wooden door wearing only plain riding clothes.

After three soft knocks, Albrecht quietly hid by the side of the cottage, waiting for his beloved to appear.

With a soft creak, the wooden door opened. Giselle, wearing a floral crown and a simple cotton dress, peeked outside and stepped out with light, graceful steps—making her official entrance.

A second wave of applause rose from the audience.

Bian Xu didn’t blink as he stared at Liang Yixuan on stage.

The 120-minute ballet was full of drama and emotion.

From Albrecht charming and winning over Giselle’s heart, and falling in love with her...

To the village huntsman, who also loved Giselle, revealing Albrecht’s true identity and his engagement to another woman—sending Giselle into a spiral of heartbreak and madness, leading to her death from a heart condition...

To Albrecht returning, full of regret, to her grave at night, where he encountered Giselle’s spirit, the Queen of the Wilis (ghostly maidens), and a host of other spirits...

And finally, when the spirit queen tried to punish Albrecht for his betrayal, Giselle, still in love with him, did everything she could to save him.

At the very last moment, the bell rang to signal dawn. The spirit queen failed to destroy Albrecht before sunrise and had no choice but to retreat with her ghostly maidens.

Giselle saved the man she loved, but as a spirit, she could not remain in the light of day. She had to say goodbye.

On stage, Giselle—dressed in a white gauzy dress that fell below the knee—opened her arms and embraced Albrecht one last time. Then, on the tips of her toes, she took tiny, fluttering steps and slowly faded into the darkness, disappearing from the world of the living.

The curtain slowly closed from both sides of the stage. In the audience, many people reached up to wipe their tears but remembered there was something more important to do—so they clapped, awkwardly yet passionately.

A wave of applause surged through the theater and lasted nearly thirty seconds. The curtain reopened, and Liang Yixuan stepped onto center stage hand in hand with the male lead, smiling as they bowed to the crowd.

The audience, who had held back cheers for the past two hours out of theater etiquette, finally let loose and applauded with thunderous enthusiasm.

In that roaring applause, the curtain closed one final time—the performance had come to a perfect end.

Bian Hongshu exhaled deeply, pulling himself out of the emotional plot. He turned to Bian Xu and said, "I’ve seen this ballet at least twenty times, but she still managed to move me. You lucky boy—you really found a treasure."

Bian Xu smiled faintly. "It wasn’t luck. I searched for her with ten lanterns in hand."

Backstage, Liang Yixuan walked off drenched in sweat, listening as Deacon and the troupe’s instructors congratulated her on a successful performance. The weight in her heart finally lifted.

After greeting the other cast members one by one, she returned to her private dressing room.

The quiet around her helped pull her out of the character’s world and reminded her of the second important thing tonight.

This was her first time performing a lead role in her career. She had already told her mother over the phone in advance, and since her mom worked in North City, there was no way she wouldn’t come to see the show.

Even though Bian Xu hadn’t said much—likely worried about distracting her—she guessed he probably brought his grandfather to see her performance too.

Sitting in front of the makeup mirror, Liang Yixuan held her phone and struggled over whom she should call first. What if both families ran into each other outside—would something awkward or unpleasant happen?

Just as she hesitated, there was a knock at the door.

Liang Yixuan quickly looked up and called out, "Come in." A second later, she saw her mother, Liang Qin, walk in through the mirror’s reflection.

She slowly stood up from her seat and turned around. "Mom."

Liang Qin looked at her daughter’s slightly tense expression, lowered her eyes, and let out a soft sigh with a smile. "I saw your performance tonight."

"Mm…"

Liang Qin kept her usual graceful smile. "Aren’t you going to ask what I thought of it?"

Liang Yixuan looked down. Her fingers twisted together nervously, and she opened her mouth to ask—but the words caught in her throat.

Suddenly, Liang Qin recalled something Bian Xu had said on a cold winter night: She didn’t tell her grandmother because she didn’t want her to worry. But she didn’t tell you because she was afraid of disappointing you. Do you understand the difference?

The smile faded from Liang Qin’s face. She let out a weary breath and nodded to herself. "I’ve failed as a mother—if I’ve made it so hard for my daughter to ask me a simple question like that."

Liang Yixuan’s breath hitched. She looked up. "Mom, I’m not trying to go against you…"

"I know," Liang Qin pulled herself together and smiled again. "Xuan, your performance tonight was outstanding—far better than your mother back in the day."

Liang Yixuan’s eyes flickered slightly.

"You probably don’t know this," Liang Qin continued. "But the bottleneck you hit in the last two years—I went through the same thing back then. Unfortunately, I couldn’t break through it. I had to retire because of injuries. Tonight, I have to admit—you’re better than me. And more…" She remembered Bian Xu’s word choice. "More fortunate."

Liang Yixuan quietly looked at her mother and saw tears slowly welling in her eyes. Her own nose tingled with emotion.

"Xuan, thank you for spending fifteen years fulfilling your mother’s dream," Liang Qin said, slightly tilting her head back to hold back the tears, then smiled again. "I’ve been selfish for fifteen years. I won’t let that continue. From now on, your life is yours to live. I wish you a bright future and true happiness."

Liang Yixuan’s eyelashes trembled, and large, hot tears began to stream down her cheeks.