Footage of Yu Hewei lifting his third Magnolia Award trophy quickly went viral across the internet. Having built a steady career over the past thirty years, he has now won his third Best Actor award, with his wife Song Linjing—who has stood by his side for half his life—always by his side.

At 18, she divided her paycheck into three parts

At the age of 18, Song Linjing defied her family’s objections and insisted on staying by Yu Hewei’s side—who was struggling financially at the time—to help him prepare for his exams.

During the time Yu Hewei was preparing for the entrance exam at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Song Linjing divided her meager salary into three parts: one to cover Yu Hewei’s daily living expenses, one to send money back to his family in his hometown, and the remainder was so small that she had to think long and hard even before buying a single new piece of clothing.

Later, when Yu Hewei was just starting out as an extra, he lived in a basement that was drafty in the winter and stiflingly hot in the summer. Song Linjing would take a two-hour bus ride every day to bring him a hot, freshly cooked meal, and she never once mentioned breaking up.

After getting married, she quit her job.

After getting married, Song Linjing quit her job and took on all the household chores—from cooking and cleaning to taking care of the elderly and relatives—on her own.

Even when Yu Hewei wanted to help out his brothers and sisters back home, she never uttered a single word of complaint.

During those years, while Yu Hewei ate boxed meals on set, she lived frugally at home, making every penny go as far as possible. When people asked her if she felt wronged, she would simply say, “It’s even harder for him out there on set.”

In over thirty years, we’ve never had a single argument.

The two have been together for more than thirty years, and there have never been any rumors of an affair between them, nor have they ever had a serious argument.

From their humble beginnings, when they had nothing, to the point where Yu Hewei became a highly acclaimed and talented TV actor recognized throughout the industry, the two have always supported each other and have never let go of each other’s hands.

Someone asked Yu Hewei how he had gotten through the toughest times over the years. He didn’t mention his own perseverance; he simply said, “She hasn’t left, so why should I give up?”

A good marriage doesn’t have to be dramatic.

People are always talking about what a good marriage should look like, but I’ve always felt that the way these two get along is the most genuine:

It’s not that one person runs ahead with all their might while the other struggles to keep up behind—rather, when you know the direction you want to go, I’ll quietly smooth out the path beneath your feet.

While Yu Hewei was on stage accepting his award, Song Linjing was probably at home sorting through his seasonal wardrobe.

To have built such a grounded and stable life together, one can only imagine that over the years, the two of them have accumulated countless small, heartwarming moments that others have never seen.

The most precious thing in this world is never the applause that comes when you’re already successful, but rather, when you’re in need, having someone willing to wait with you for spring to arrive.