The recent uber-tender display of affection and 16-year friendship between Zhao Wei–Huang Xiaoming is still the talk of the town in C-entertainment. I’m sure women everywhere that heard this story, be it a mega movie star down to an old grandma somewhere, wishes we had a BFF like the way Huang Xiaoming adores and worships Zhao Wei. The man rushes to her talk show taping on four hours of sleep for the past two days, sporting crutches for a bone fracture, all to surprise her and wish her a happy birthday and support her first directorial effort? Da hell are men like this hiding, because I refuse to believe Huang Xiaoming is the elusive unicorn and either doesn’t exist or Zhao Wei magically got herself the only one in existence. Of course this doesn’t even tap into her other BFF friendship with Chen Kun, who was actually the first person to publicly wish her happy birthday this year when at exactly midnight he posted a wish on her Weibo. Ha, now I’m totally imagining the two of them jostling for her affection back in college and one-upping each other. The talk show hasn’t aired yet but the audience who attended the taping have provided the details that I’ve now translated below. It’s some super heady stuff, so be preparing to alternate between seething jealousy and awe-struck mooning. Angelababy was out promoting a jewelry line with Godfrey Gao this week and was asked about her boyfriend’s very public love for Zhao Wei. She smiled and said it was very special to have such a long standing friendship between them and there was nothing for her to be jealous about. That was a nice diplomatic answer, LOL. It was either that or “get your hands off my man!”.

Zhao Wei was taping a talk show to promote her new movie that she directed. When the host announced a very special surprise guest, Zhao Wei saw Huang Xiaoming before the audience did and she yelped out loud and leapt out of her seat. She rushed forward and into Huang Xiaoming’s arms, both her feet actually flying off the ground.

They sat down to chat and the host wanted to talk about the so-called Northern Theater Three Musketeers – college best friends Zhao Wei, Chen Kun, and Huang Xiaoming. When asked about their first meeting, Huang Xiaoming revealed that Zhao Wei was the first girl he saw when he walked into class that first day. She was wearing a simple all-black outfit and her long hair was down her back. When she turned around, she was as beautiful as he imagined she would be. He actually confessed that he liked her but she turned him down flat because he was a total country bumpkin back then.

Huang Xiaoming said “Even though she rejected me, but I was still willing to take notes for her and accompany her to the bathroom.” Just like that, sixteen years passed and they never became lovers, only staying best friends. She got married and had a baby, but he still treats her like the most important person to him. When he arrived at this talk show, he was coming from two straight filming days on the set where he slept all of four hours. All to see her and support her first directorial effort.

During the taping, Zhao Wei revealed that when she’s happy, she has a habit of clapping Huang Xiaoming’s thigh. Sitting next to her, his injured leg was next to her and Zhao Wei kept clapping on it. The host finally couldn’t take it anymore and chided her “Can you clap more gently, he’s injured!” At that moment Huang Xiaoming smiled and said “I’m used to it.” To which Zhao Wei replied “Ai ya! Whoever becomes your wife will be so happy. Now I’m dying with regret!” I’m sure that made him really happy to hear, even jokingly.

Zhao Wei took a sip of water as they talked and Huang Xiaoming casually took it from her and drank from it without hesitation. Zhao Wei reached for the bottle and for the cap, but she was in the middle of speaking, so Huang Xiaoming capped it before handing it back to her. In these tiny gestures, its clear how considerate he is towards her.

Knowing it was her birthday, Huang Xiaoming prepared a cake for her. On top was five little figurines, the biggest was Zhao Wei with her impossibly large eyes. She initially thought it was from fans, but her eyes teared up when she realized it was prepared by him. Huang Xiaoming laughed and said “But I’m also your fan, too!” During the cake move the figurines were jostled and all but the Zhao Wei and Huang Xiaoming ones toppled over.

When the taping was over and they stood up, the audience hollered for them to embrace again. Huang Xiaoming tossed his crutches aside and picked Zhao Wei up in a princess carry. The audience went wild. Huang Xiaoming put her down and teased “This proves that she’s still very skinny”, to which Zhao Wei sassed back “This proves that you’re a fake cripple.”

After the taping the two of them took the Weibo with repeated direct messages. Zhao Wei wrote “Once again I’m so deeply moved, sleep deprived and exhausted Huang Xiaoming rushed from filming to the taping. Your charisma like the days of our youth, nothing can block your brightness.” Huang Xiaoming wrote back “When you need me, I will be here.” To which Zhao Wei sighed “Xiaoming is so wonderful, inside and out, I’m filled with such regret.”

Huang Xiaoming once described his friendship with Zhao Wei as a fourth type of love – everyone needs a soul mate and he’s so lucky to have met his in Zhao Wei. She is also lucky to have two devoted guy friends in Huang Xiaoming and Chen Kun who adore her and take care of her. And we’re all just blessed to read about a story in the entertainment world that isn’t manufactured bullshit, a scandal stemming from stupid behavior, or a fleeting sweetness that we know won’t last. This really is one of the warm and fuzziest stories I’ve covered in a long long time.