As a disclaimer, this is all fake, who knows what kind of relationship they have, be it brothers or lovers. I don't know them personally because seriously, I don't live in China, and meeting them is slim unless I somehow manage to come across like fans who manage to catch snaps of Yibo in London. On one mind, I feel like I should be deluded but at the same time, that's not the feeling that I'm not delusional. Is my gut instinct about these two right because my guts say so? Am I speculating, I should only be speculating but this situation feels right for some reason. Ugh, please let it be known this is all speculations because at this point, I just don't know and what to believe anymore when my guts instincts and feelings are firing off like fireworks. I don't know these two guys because seriously, do anybody thinks I would even have a chance to?
Okay, RPF can be in the gray area since y'know you're writing about real people. I don't read RPFs because it's not my thing and you do you if you read or write the stuff. As long as you don't hurt actual people which I doubt why RPF intended to do that, then it's all good. Remember, at the end of the day, it's just pure fun. There's a line between fantasy and reality but as long as it's all in good fun and not meaning harm, it's all good. I won't police anybody on their opinions. Fannish culture as some kind of academic study would be amazing to read, especially reading as a psych essay.
There are loads to coincidences that kept piling up with these two, I just can't. I don't know their relationship status, but I don't know what to think. I rarely ship anything anymore since technically all I read now is something I'm liked like Pokeshipping and Contestshipping.
"Shipping" these two don't seem to be the right word. I don't know what to call it. If it wasn't for their careers, they would have come out. While Chinese society is slowly getting better in accepting the LGBT community, society is still restrictive and homophobic. Who knows maybe when they retired, they will come out and skipped out, leaving chaos in their wake. Who knows what will happen in the future for these two.
On one hand, I don't want (in the way of sheer fantasy) them to be together, but on the other hand, I just cannot deny the reality of these coincidences and certain behaviors.
Again, this is all based on speculations on what these two choose to show their public personas and a tad bit of their private selves. Again, the CPs and solos don't know either of them but apparently, the solos have loads of info they refused to disclose.
The only thing I prayed for right now is for these two to not catch the Coronavirus because they have a future and the last thing this dreadful year of 2020 was to take more lives. Kobe Bryant, Grant Imahara, Naya Rivera, and Chadwick Boseman's deaths were depressing enough this year.
The one thing that really convinces me was the ox necklace. The incident with the solos and cps over the necklace made the necklace's association with BJYX strong. There is one thing I admire about Yibo is his boldness. He has to know the speculation about the necklace and what associates most with it and he doesn't care if it makes it seem like he's gay and in a queer relationship. Recently, he started to wear it out again because as everyone pointed out, he is almost never seen without it.
I just don't know what to believe. I just cannot unsee the ox necklace without Xiao Zhan in the picture somehow. It's just a niggling feeling.
There are three possibilities for the ox necklace's origin: family, bought it himself, or a lover. And lover makes the most sense since Yibo is known to be blunt and why the hell can't he be blunt about this necklace?
Look, if my significant other who I believe to be the love of my life, I will wear it. Especially when they know me. So if they really know me, I know I prefer Buddhist bead bracelets, no metal pieces, everywhere I go (I only take it off when I am near water or dirty places. I’m not religious and superstitious, but they were originally gifts from my family’s religious relatives so I’ve worn them ever since and I stubbornly refused to wear any other bracelet types) and I wear jewelry in important events. I still got Tiffany's heart necklace that my aunts got for every single young girl in the family once they turn sixteen.
And only someone who got a gift for someone that inadvertently hurt the one I love, I will be angry and guilty and demand that someone take it off immediately. Concern and asking to take it off because it hurts you makes sense if you really have no stake in that necklace's origin.
And there's apparently new necklaces of the daisy & star and a possible ring pendant - not a circular shape, a ring-shaped ring - possibly... Someone had pointed out that the brand of the necklace doesn't come from their endorsement brands so it has to be meaningful to even buy out of their own pocket. Now BJYX-ers are now closely watching this.
In the first video of this post, there's the beginning where fateful coincidences kept lining up. Like, there is no way possible that they have these near-misses like a romantic comedy. It's like my headcanon for why Viktor and Yuuri never actually met aside from Yuuri's desire to stand by his side as his equal then he would introduce himself and that fateful encounter in the lobby of the Sochi ice hall before the banquet; they kept on missing each other like leaving early by mere seconds or last-minute cancellations at skaters' get-togethers is why they never met.
You have to admit the start of their relationship starts out with serendipitous occurrences regardless. There has to be no way they have no idea what kind of impact they will have on each other. I'm on the camp that Yibo had something at first sight but he identified it as love after a while.
They're not each other's first loves since both have past relationships that had been hinted at in Yibo's case who mentioned a six-month relationship that did not last obviously. But from Xiao Zhan's "become my extraordinary self" and mentioning somebody confessed to him confirmed in some way that this is the love of their lives. Even Wang Yibo's TTXS/DDU bros know something since they saved him from saying too much or divert attention.
Seriously, China is huge despite serious issues with the one-child law which they didn't think things through enough and they met in twists of fate. And the universe seemed to have lent a hand in their continual interaction. As if they were meant to be as anything they decide to be. Seriously, how can I not think this because, without Wangxian and MDZS, I doubt these two would have thought what to do with their careers. And if their paths were really crossed when MDZS was first published, then it has to be fate.
I wonder how MXTX gape in the future that her story was the catalyst for two people who played the main couple to get together and have been together for five or so years by the time they eloped or have a destination wedding probably in Italy. I would be surprised too if my story who also played the main couple has the romance on the set situation and stayed together and planning to stay together till the end of their days. If they did elope, then that's the more hilarious considering Wangxian in the novel did just that. It's heartwarming but again, their roles together that shot them into the public's eye were Wangxian, and people in China know it's based on a BL novel. People would find it funny that the CQL Wangxian in IRL did elope after all. I don't think the voice actors who played WWX and LWJ, while do have chemistry, are together in that way the same way their CQL actors are. Because Wangxian is the catalyst for them to take that step to finally dating while I doubt those voice actors don't, even when having to voice over the sex scenes. Seriously, I would hear rumors of other Wangxian counterparts from the audio drama and donghua would get together IRL in the same way BJYX has so many supporters. The CQL cast and crew may have some idea or even know the truth, seeing as they bore witness to the budding love. Yes, I find it funny that out of all the iterations of Wangxian that either voiced or acted them, it's the live-action ones that turned out to be the real couple out of all. And it's the adaptation most MDZS fans disliked so they gotta be shocked that yeah, CQL, MDZS, and Wangxian are the catalyst for the couple who found the love of their lives in each other. That the actors who played Wangxian, their ship, actually found real love during the course of the filming. And probably found humor they too eloped and just as shameless about their love when they came out. I can actually see Wang Yibo bragging about or mentioning his husband ala Ned Fulmer every chance he gets now that he's out, proud, and married to the love of his life. Because the candies that either party gave us is of their own volition when they didn't have to, like keep the SO on the down-low. Chen from Exo released the information because he's so happy to find the love of his life and wants the share the happiness he has with his fans like he did with his family and friends.
Seriously, while there are differences between these two couples, you cannot deny there are coincidences. Yibo even blushed by the ears like Lan Wangji and has a strong belief in love at first sight that is a thing in the novel and implicitly CQL. And CQL is the perfect definition of a good love at first sight story if you know who you are, what kind of partner you want, and sheer connection. And this is displayed wonderfully in CQL Wangxian and YiZhan. Yibo is devoted, loyal, and surprisingly romantic; he's a sexual guy too. Before Xiao Zhan even met Yibo, he had casually flirted with a cameraman. Their behaviors following CQL wrapping are suspicious because no m/m relationship that has not been played for fanservice or just plain bros was ever this way; it's just so damn suspicious that their fandoms including the adjacent CP fandom has their suspicions and have wars with each other over it.
Then there are the jealousy moments. I personally don't like jealousy, even though I know people can't control irrational jealousy. The fact they both got jealous over people who expressed no interest in their love interest is astonishing. However from what I saw from them, it's easily resolved and they easily moved on and completely understanding, giving me hope of the future of this relationship.
Then there are the lyric changes to their songs and fave songs. Yibo gave Xiao Zhan Nan Hai without any question and the fact that he sang it at Produce 101 just after he was confirmed to play LWJ but before he actually got to know Xiao Zhan personally. Even to this day, his fans are mixed about this since they know just how much Yibo loves this song and to give it to Xiao Zhan has to be shocking. Kepler, a song from one of Xiao Zhan's fave artists, has been changed and he's a pro singer who would know his fave singer's songs. I mean if I was a pro singer, I would know my fave singer's lyrics and songs entirely. Yibo's big smile doesn't really help...
I just don't know.
Either, this couple is either an open secret to those people who ask in the C-entertainment business but because they aren't out, they haven't lost any job opportunities in said industry or people have a general suspicion. Because these guys are bold as fuck while still being subtle enough to make people question. They haven't dissuaded BJYX at all, even now. I wonder just how daring they are going to get.
There is a difference between trolling and dissuasion. There's one thing to not minding RPF written about you since once you get famous enough, it will happen and you can't stop it from happening. Making sure that you will never get together to your fans while it won't completely stop them from writing RPF about you, making that said ship name into your friend portmanteau or stating outright you will never ever get together. I have seen western actors did this such as the Marvel teams. Trolling can be said fanservice like shooting a commercial with a clear indication from both are only doing this because it's just pretending.
Yet neither of them doesn't do fanservice publically. And they had all the opportunities to provide fanservice when CQL was released and exploded in popularity. Hell, they have the opportunities to troll by making fan manips of their own for example. Instead, all we get are strange coincidences and suspicious behavior, not even a fanservice commercial.
They just won't stop what they are doing. That is the major claim as to why I just can't stop believing something is between them. Unless they stop, only then I can take a breather because when it comes to them and their continuous brazen coincidences kept lining up, my feelings warred with each other about this couple that I just can't help stop looking at their actions. Seriously, if they were Taiwanese for instance, and had come out as a couple and individually, I'm pretty sure I would be fine. I mean it would be plausible deniability and open secret kind of thing but at least for a while.
It will be a long time before they can work together again in a new project, their fandoms (solos and CPs) hate each other, their solos hate them even being friends (probably even they cannot unsee things since ever since I out of curiosity checked out BJYX and now cannot unsee things that made me questioning), the BJYX should be pointless overall and required no need for these guys' popularity. Hell, both of them can come right out and state they only see others as friends or bros. These guys individually are immensely popular and don't need a CP fandom, not when Xiao Zhan shut down a CP between him and Jiang Cheng's actor. They could have easily shut down the BJYX when they clearly didn't need such a nuisance.
Instead, they encouraged the BJYX and kept being bold about There Is Might Be Something Real Between Them. This got their solo fans' panties in a twist because even they dug up evidence and cannot unsee it, with their renewed war with the other was to out-gay the other, saying that the other idol is more gayer for their idol, while completely ignoring the other side. Even the CPs never saw the evidence the solos dug up and are the only ones winning really. When the first controversy come up about the ox necklace, Yibo hid the necklace instead of taking it off completely and never wearing again except on special occasions; he even wore it to a beach show where no one with jewelry would want to wear lest the jewels are washed away by the waves. That made me speechless because to keep someone that gave you that necklace close even in dangerous situations might get lose that necklace shows his devotion.
The sneakers/ice cream video from Yibo was evident to this just as the ideal painting. Yibo started to wear the ox necklace openly again after the controversy finally died down and Xiao Zhan's comeback. And apparently, there's a new necklace...
Look, I never read Benedict Cumberbatch x Martin Freeman RPF because outside of their chemistry, I never once thought they have the potential of something more. It's just a feeling that I doubt they will be a real couple in real life and I was right. That is not to say they can't play queer characters because straight actors alongside queer actors can play those roles equally. That is the point that LGBT actors wanted the same opportunities, therefore equality.
I watched BJYX out of curiosity after seeing CQL BTS. I don't know my feeling at all. I felt initially neutral and don't care what kind of relationship they have. Then my niggling feeling just spiked and I don't know what to feel about that feeling.
I'm bisexual and my gaydar had never been tested before in real life with real people. The only queer people I hang out with would be the type that I know they are, just not one questioning that I know of. My gaydar is blaring for these guys or something since I can't get rid of the feeling. It's loud and I can't get rid of it. My gaydar is telling me Yibo is gay and Xiao Zhan is bi; though I think I can recognize Yibo's vibes though since he gives off the air he's fine with his sexuality, felt no need to air it out yet made no effort to hide it. It's like me when I was discovering my bisexuality; I felt attracted to my female friends and do comment on female and male beauty and sexual appeal. While I haven't come out to my family, some do have their suspicions since I do stare a lot at both women and men. I don't care about their sexual orientations since they can be whatever they want to be for all I care; I won't dictate their own sexuality when it's not my choice, it's theirs. Also, the whole straight until proven otherwise is homophobic and people should stop that. What I do care is for them to just have that healthy relationship as longlasting love, friend or not. Again, this is all feelings and don't take this as gospel either.
And here, what gets me in this BJYX situation, if these people are just friends and even said so to the CPs from both them and the companies they worked for, they could have just stated it outright. Instead, y'know, leaving people questioning if they are in a relationship or not because the clues or candies in the case of BJYX-ers kept piling up. Chinese companies for idols have done this before like in the case with Xiao Zhan and Jiang Cheng's actor.
Instead, Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan happily stroked the fire.
I don't know what to think. I just don't. They just kept on doing this.
Personally, professionally and publically they need space apart. Until they gain more power as celebs and come back in a new project, then they can work together stronger than ever. Working together right now even in a variety show wouldn't work well for them. Hyper scrutiny is onto them from fans and haters alike. What I can see them do was be more brazen about their shared lives like how Yibo hinted at he still meets up with Xiao Zhan for hotpot because the hotpot theory got confirmed after all. They just can't work as colleagues publically for a few years at least and I'm sure while they do want to work together, they can wait a few years. If an elopement plan is planned in the near future, then they can wait.
If you wish to check out BJYX stuff, I would recommend Tumblr for thoughtful analyses; here are some of the big names there more; there are those who simply compiled photographic stuff for BJYX like interactions, double standards, etc. Twitter is only best for translation of Weibo posts and kadians with the pics of sightings, not the best place for critical thinking. I wouldn't recommend Youtube stuff of BJYX either except for the occasional videos which might open the minds a little but not quite close to the people who will think critically; unfortunately, there's lots of clickbait so it will be hard to find which are the best vids. The best sources would be the Chinese fans of solos and CPs alike, but since it's easy for misinterpretation and misinformation, we have to be careful about critical thinking. And CPs would be surprised to see solos often have info that even they never saw before so yeah; see, banning the word hotpot in their convos make it clear they know something CPs don't. Like I said before, solos had dug up things CPs never saw before and fighting it out against another fandom's solos, saying that the other was 'queerbaiting' the other, while completely ignoring the other while CPs watched from the sidelines as happily collecting the said new info into their archives and even they don't know everything since apparently, the solos have the info they don't. Seriously, even antis won't deny Yibo's double standards and that he treats Xiao Zhan differently.
First and foremost, if you truly believe in them and their relationship and firmly believe they are in a romance, please be sure you have to know they are queer. Without that, they won't be in a genuine queer relationship.
It's all in good fun shipping characters and all but for real people, if you genuinely believe to be in a real relationship, be aware of their sexual orientation. Because knowing their requisite is one of the things to make a compatible couple. If there is one thing Glee got right, you must have a compatible orientation to even get together.
The world has enough homophobia like tea steeped in boiled water. It's slowly getting better and I won't expect it to happen immediately. Around the world, there are LGBT communities and celebs, out or not. If Asia's most handsome Man - no seriously, probably because of his smile because everyone pointed out he has an incredible smile that even the CQL producer that was a large factor in her decision - is bi, good for him. If one of the most sought-after dancers is gay, good for him. To say they don't exist is horrible, especially when they exist in all walks of life.
I mean apparently, it's easier to ship someone with a married woman in China. It's one thing it's all in good fun but it's another knowing that the solos are willing to see that - not quite encourage it but they certainly didn't blow a fuse like they did with BJYX - but not a genuine relationship between two men. That's homophobia right there. Possibly because it might even ruin their own fantasies too...
People can deny a romantic relationship, but they cannot deny how strong their friendship. You really cannot deny their relationship is serendipitous.
If we wish to see what happens for these two in the future, we have to wait and see until 2026 and beyond. Who knows they might elope the year and a couple days or weeks after Xiao Zhan turned 35.
Recently, the news of Xiao Zhan's comeback after the months-long shitstorm has all the BJYX over it. The ice cream incident had so many people over in Weibo screaming, both anti-BJYX and BJYX-ers alike, even calling it a 'coming out'. On an aside note, I don't think anybody can say Wang Yibo is single right now since even his fans don't think so; he gave a lot of hints he has a SO although his fans don't want it to be Xiao Zhan.
Again, Wang Yibo is bold and if he could do anything to help Xiao Zhan, he will do it. I have to point out that Xiao Zhan will never want his friends and loved ones to get in the crossfire when it's clear he's the scapegoat already so Wang Yibo has to find ways to vocally support him and cause some kind of trending topic in the process. I am glad he supported Xiao Zhan in the long months of horror. When most celebs won't even dare want to be mentioned in the same sentence as Xiao Zhan, I'm glad he has someone to support him.
If they are a thing, then I wish them all the congrats. If they are not a thing, then I wish their friendship last forever.
