Love Starts with “Tender Friendship”
Martin, a highly individualistic “gold medal host,” has left his footprints all over CCTV and major satellite TV channels. His hosting of more than ten job-hunting and entrepreneurship programs, such as “Job Offers,” “In-depth Observation,” and “Sunny Avenue,” has been loved by the audience. Known for his acerbic and sharp hosting style, Martin became famous in the industry as the “sharp-tongued” host. At the age of 33, he met Chen Yi, a “fresh-faced beauty” from Sichuan.
To win over this girl 11 years his junior, Martin and Chen Yi transitioned from “girlfriends” to a fake boyfriend, then to a couple; from a “paper marriage” to the birth of their daughter, then to being a stay-at-home dad. Along the way, Martin evolved from a “sharp-tongued host” to a “tender father.”
Entering Your Life as a “Male Confidant”
On January 15, 20xx, Martin, then the chief host and executive producer of Sina.com, was busy drafting the annual meeting outline in his office on the 20th floor of the Beijing Ideal International Building. Suddenly, a timid voice interrupted, “Hello, Mr. Ma. I’m Chen Yi, an intern from the marketing department, assigned to assist you in preparing for the annual meeting.”
Martin looked up to see a girl with a backpack, wearing a mini skirt and snow boots, with an innocent look and slightly trembling hands holding her resume. Seeing her nervousness, Martin smiled and said, “Your skirt looks nice; I hope your work will be as good as your appearance!” Instantly, the girl’s face turned red like an apple. She glanced at him, thinking to herself, “Martin really lives up to his reputation as a ‘sharp tongue.'” That glance made the girl stay in Martin’s heart.
Born in Beijing in 1975, Martin’s father was an engineer, and his mother was a gynecologist. Besides working for Sina, Martin was also a special news commentator for the China National Radio. Martin learned that Chen Yi was born in Yibin, Sichuan in 1986, a student in the model design class at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, with her parents teaching in Yibin.
After several nights of preparation, the annual meeting was held as scheduled. Martin, known for his strictness, couldn’t find fault with the little intern: from making invitations, contacting guests, decorating the venue, to purchasing prizes, she handled everything meticulously. When Martin passed by Chen Yi’s seat, he put down two boxes of fruit juice and casually said, “Good job!” Chen Yi breathed a sigh of relief, “The ‘sharp-tongued’ teacher finally smiled.”
On the day of the annual meeting, Chen Yi, as the “God of Wealth,” successfully obtained a 20,000 yuan red envelope from the “higher-ups” for the organizing team, making Martin look at her with new eyes. At that time, Chen Yi had a boyfriend, which made Martin regretful, but he knew the principle of “expressing feelings without crossing boundaries” and had to keep his affection to himself.
After her internship, Chen Yi entered Sohu, and they occasionally chatted on MSN. Martin’s hosting career flourished, known for his sharp and spicy style. During this time, he declined several romantic advances because he had already found a place in his heart for a long-haired girl.
All encounters are unfinished fates. On the Lantern Festival in 20xx, Martin learned from a Sina colleague that Chen Yi had broken up with her college boyfriend, and the innocent girl walked into his mind again.
After work at 6 pm, Martin drove to Chen Yi’s rented community near the North Fifth Ring. After parking, he realized his abruptness. He took out his phone to text Chen Yi, writing and deleting several times before finally sending: “Little Chen Yi, I was driving by and saw a group of children setting off fireworks, remembered you live here, and wondered if you have time to chat.” Sitting restlessly, Martin decided to buy a bunch of fireworks and started playing with the nearby children.
At 9 pm, with the night sky shrouded in darkness and fireworks blooming like flowers, Chen Yi appeared wrapped in a thick down jacket. After two years, seeing each other again, Martin was so excited he became tongue-tied. Chen Yi broke the silence, “I didn’t expect Mr. Ma to be so childlike, very different from your TV persona.” Seeing she didn’t mention her recent breakup, Martin could only make small talk.
At 10 pm, Chen Yi said she had “friends at home” and went upstairs, leaving Martin smiling foolishly in place. Back in his car, Martin couldn’t calm down, feeling at a loss for the first time.
Sitting in his car, guarding Chen Yi’s lit room, Martin stayed awake all night. He turned on the radio, which was playing “Has anyone ever told you that I love you…” He remembered Chen Yi singing this song at the 20xx annual meeting. Watching the snowflakes falling outside the window, Martin made up his mind: to win this girl over.
However, Chen Yi, a model by training, had many wealthy and handsome suitors around her. In terms of software, Martin’s wealth and career couldn’t compare with the young elites and company CEOs driving BMWs; in terms of hardware, Martin was a few centimeters shorter than Chen Yi, with average looks, and to top it off, he was 11 years older; his only advantage of being articulate turned into a disadvantage of “talking too much” in front of her.
What did he have to win her over? Despite feeling he had no chance, Martin couldn’t let go of Chen Yi. Even just meeting and chatting with her made him happy. He decided to enter Chen Yi’s life as a “male confidant.” Every evening, he would send her a polite text, and on weekends, he would inform her of the latest literary gatherings, music festivals, hiking trips, and then “coincidentally” appear by her side.
Upgrading to “Temporary Boyfriend” to Capture Love
Half a month later, one evening, Martin sent Chen Yi his usual text: “Little Chen Yi, what did you eat tonight?” Chen Yi replied: “Starving.” It turned out Chen Yi had just finished a company cocktail party and hadn’t had time to eat because she was entertaining the leaders. Learning this, Martin immediately drove to intercept Chen Yi on her way home: “Let’s go, I’ll take you to eat something delicious.” But it was already past midnight, and most restaurants were closed.
Martin drove her around several streets before finding a small wonton stall in an alley. Chen Yi, while eating, said, “I wasn’t happy at the party just now, but this is really good!” Martin smiled and said, “Food, like feelings, is best when simple and pure. Do your job well, use your smile to change the world, don’t let the world change your smile.” Under the stars, Chen Yi developed a fondness for the considerate Martin.
After this, Martin frequently invited Chen Yi to movies, dinners, and shopping. To “accommodate” Chen Yi, a post-85 generation, Martin kept up with trends on Weibo and discussed their respective friends of the opposite sex, gradually becoming close friends.
One night while shopping at Xidan, Martin couldn’t help but glance at a beautiful girl by the roadside. Chen Yi, feeling slightly jealous, teased him: “Mr. Ma, are you that desperate?” Martin retorted sharply: “The beauty is also looking at me, it’s called mutual appreciation!” They bet on their “back view charm” index.
To Martin’s frustration, the long-haired Chen Yi stood in the middle of the road, and within a minute, nearly 20 men turned back to look at her, while Martin, standing in the middle, was shunned as “blocking the way.” Despite feeling indignant, Martin secretly rejoiced: his taste was not bad.
In April 20xx, Chen Yi’s mother, Zhou Yilan, and aunt came from Sichuan to visit her, urging her to marry. On Martin’s suggestion, Chen Yi placed photos of several male friends in front of her elders, who both picked Martin at a glance. Chen Yi, pleased, casually said, “Okay, as you wish, it’s him!” The next day, she called Martin, explaining the situation and asking him to be her temporary boyfriend for half a month.
Martin was overjoyed and took half a month off from work to fully play the boyfriend role, driving Chen Yi’s mother around Beijing. While visiting the Forbidden City, Chen Yi secretly reminded Martin: “Mr. Ma, don’t overdo it, you are just a temporary boyfriend!” Martin confidently replied: “I have my limits!” The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall, and Fragrant Hills were filled with sweet photos of the mother and daughter. Martin’s humorous and witty talk often made everyone laugh and won the elder’s favor. Before returning to Sichuan, they held Martin’s hand, saying, “Yi’er is too headstrong, you must be patient with her!” Martin nodded repeatedly.
Though a temporary boyfriend, Martin’s tender nature gradually touched Chen Yi as he shed his sharp professional persona and showed warmth in real life. His subtle and caring ways slowly took root in Chen Yi’s heart.
On May 12, the Wenchuan earthquake struck. Martin was extremely busy, hosting a talk show on Beijing TV showcasing the earthquake’s aftermath, including a mother who sacrificed everything to save her daughter.
Hosting such a program for the first time, he was worried about doing well but delivered an emotional and impactful performance. That night, Chen Yi said, “I’ll treat you to dinner because your show deeply moved me.”
Later, Martin hosted “Movie Storm” on Hunan TV and CCTV’s World Cup special program
“Super Fans,” gaining widespread acclaim, and Chen Yi grew increasingly dependent on her “male confidant” who was also a mentor and friend.
In September 20xx, Martin hosted an international hiking competition around Lake Namtso, coinciding with Chen Yi’s planned trip to Tibet. They agreed to travel together.
After hosting the event at Potala Palace, they set off to explore local attractions. However, on the way to the famous Mani Stone Pile, Martin suffered severe altitude sickness, developing a fever, continuous coughing, and falling into a coma. With the remote location and only the driver and them in the car, Chen Yi, anxious and in tears, said, “How can you be so weak for such a grown man?”
Seeing Martin in pain, she dried her tears, quickly administered medicine, and, with the driver’s help, timely rescued and transported him to the hospital, leading to Martin’s recovery. At that moment, Chen Yi realized she deeply cared for this “sharp-tongued” uncle.
A week after returning to Lhasa, Chen Yi compiled a collection of their moments from acquaintance to familiarity, naming it “Birdsong and Fragrance.” On Martin’s birthday, she invited him to her place, handed him the collection, and said with a smile, “Hey buddy, today is your birthday. I’m glad to know you, and thank you for your thoughtful companionship this past year!”
Seeing the beautifully packaged album, Martin’s eyes instantly moistened. Seizing the moment, he confessed his feelings, and Chen Yi, smiling, set the condition: “As long as you promise never to bully me again.” Thus, they sweetly fell in love.
Despite an 11-year age gap, their views on love were remarkably consistent: simple love and intense emotions. Martin, maturing late, had a straightforward and transparent approach to love, believing in marrying the right person. At 24, Chen Yi, though mature early, still had plenty of youthful time, and marriage seemed too soon.
However, Martin couldn’t wait; he was already 32. He flew alone to Yibin to propose to Chen Yi’s parents. After a drink, he emotionally told Chen Yi’s father, “Chen Yi has been struggling in Beijing for years. With me taking care of her, please rest assured.
More importantly, I sincerely love her.” Seeing Martin’s sincerity, Chen Yi’s parents fully agreed to the marriage. Though feeling it was a bit sudden, Chen Yi, truly loving Martin, no longer saw the timing of marriage as an issue.
From “Sharp-tongued Host” to “Tender Dad”
Subsequently, they traveled to Southeast Asia. On Emperor Island in Thailand, under the blue sky and white clouds by the sea, Martin formally proposed to Chen Yi. Upon returning to Beijing from Thailand, they quickly obtained their marriage certificate. Everyone was puzzled by their “flash marriage,” to which Martin sweetly responded, “I dated her as a male confidant for a year before this.” Only then did Chen Yi realize Martin’s thoughtful intentions.
During their first year of marriage, like all young couples, they had their ups and downs. Martin worked hard, often staying up late. One December day, he came home at 9 pm, receiving a scheduled interview call.
Without time for dinner, he sat in his study for the phone interview until midnight. When he finished, the food was cold, and Chen Yi had fallen asleep at the table. Finding her with tears in her eyes, a strong sense of guilt overwhelmed Martin: his young wife, wholeheartedly caring for him, while he brought work home, was truly unfair.
One time, they quarreled over a trivial matter, with Martin adamantly not backing down. Chen Yi finally shouted, “Enough, enough, we can’t live like this!” and stormed out with the car keys.
Angry, Martin ignored it until 10 pm, growing worried when she hadn’t returned. Her phone was off, and texts went unanswered. Even QQ and Weibo messages received no reply. Martin panicked, calling Chen Yi’s friends to learn that since marrying, she had focused solely on family and lost contact with them.
A girl from the post-85 generation making such sacrifices, while her peers wore designer clothes and performed on top fashion stages, deeply moved Martin, who stayed awake all night.
After reconciling, Martin and Chen Yi had a heartfelt talk: “I was wrong to bring work home without considering your feelings.” Chen Yi held his hand, saying, “I’m not against your work. It’s meaningful, helping many students and young professionals. But your body belongs to work and this family…”
Since then, Martin began to pay attention to such details, changing his “sharp tongue” to “gentle words” and occasionally cooking for Chen Yi. In January 20xx, Martin took Chen Yi on a trip to celebrate the New Year. Sitting on a colorful cruise, watching the rolling sea, Martin lovingly hugged Chen Yi, saying, “I’ve always been fast-paced, but this slow life is truly wonderful!”
However, the night they returned to Beijing, Chen Yi began vomiting severely. Martin, anxious and at a loss, immediately called his mother, an obstetrician. Upon learning of his wife’s pregnancy, he joyfully jumped and took her to resign from work, ensuring she could rest at home.
During Chen Yi’s pregnancy, Martin’s work-driven heart underwent a miraculous change. He returned home promptly after work, avoiding work talk. Additionally, he regularly attended prenatal classes and learned newborn care. At night, he would lie on Chen Yi’s belly, chatting with the baby. Seeing her husband’s transformation, Chen Yi was pleasantly surprised: finally, someone could subdue him.
Chen Yi’s due date was in late October, and Martin had already arranged his annual leave to focus on welcoming their baby. On October 18, while filming out of town, Martin received a call from his mother: “The baby came early, it’s a little princess!”
On the 19th, Martin rushed back to Beijing. He quietly approached his wife and softly asked, “Where’s the baby?” She pointed to the crib by her feet. Martin gazed lovingly at the tiny pink angel until their eyes met, and he tearfully smiled. In that moment, he was completely melted…
That day, Martin wrote on Weibo: “On October 18, my daughter came into the world. Her name is ‘Martin,’ and the first moment our eyes met…” Afterward, Martin documented his daughter’s growth on Weibo, writing the “Martin Parenting Diary” daily.
In January 20xx, Martin began hosting an emotional program “Defend Love” on Tianjin TV, empathetically solving emotional issues for young couples at a crossroads. Facing the expansion of his fan base from professionals and students to housewives and newlyweds, netizens marveled. Martin replied, “Both sharpness and tenderness are human nature.
You can’t say that critics are bad people; otherwise, there wouldn’t be the saying ‘good medicine tastes bitter.’ On ‘Job Offers,’ I’ll still be sharp when needed, which is the greatest responsibility to the contestants.” Meanwhile, Chen Yi became a full-time housewife, planning a children’s clothing brand. Supporting each other, the couple’s family and careers entered a new phase.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
