After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 15

“I used to know a friend who claimed she was allergic to sunlight,” Pei Nalian said, crossing her long legs. Even sitting on the sofa, her posture remained ramrod straight, maintaining the perfect idol’s poise. “It was the first time I’d ever met someone with that kind of allergy in real life.”

“It’s certainly quite rare,” Zhou Qiutong said, her brow furrowing in sympathy. “It must have a big impact on your life.” She loved going on beach vacations and was always posting photos of herself and Jiang Banxia surfing.

For her, there was nothing quite like feeling the sun on her skin as the waves crashed around her. Without the freedom to chase the sun, life would be far less enjoyable.

“Later, after I got to know her better, I realized it wasn’t true at all,” Pei Nalian said. “She just got a fake allergy certificate to avoid military training. Of course, after that, we weren’t really friends anymore.”

“I do think military training is pointless,” Zhou Qiutong said. “But going to such lengths to avoid it? That’s a bit much.”

“Exactly. I hate dishonest people and would never be friends with someone like that,” Pei Nalian said.

The others nodded in agreement.

“I do have one pretty unique thing about me,” Pei Nalian said. “I only need three hours of sleep a day to feel completely rested. Yesterday, Youshu and I took a red-eye flight back…”

Jiang Banxia wasn’t particularly interested in Pei Nalian’s topic, her gaze drifting around the room. She noticed Li Tang and Yan Mengyi emerging from the restroom, glanced at her watch, and gave a meaningful smile in the direction of the camera.

“What are you doing?” Zhou Qiutong turned and saw the mischievous grin on Jiang Banxia’s face. She playfully swatted her shoulder. “Don’t give such a lecherous smile—you’ll scare the juniors! With all these cameras watching, shouldn’t we have some artistic decorum and professional integrity?”

“They’re just a married couple being affectionate. Can’t I be a little jealous? Stop prying into young people’s affairs,” Jiang Banxia rolled her eyes. “After working with you for over a decade, I’ve completely lost the spark we once shared.”

“Fine, fine, fine! You win!” Zhou Qiutong raised her hands in surrender.

Jin Youshu leaned against Pei Nalian, her gaze drifting toward Jiang Zhou. She secretly tightened her grip on Pei Nalian’s hand, secretly wishing for a future like theirs.

“My apologies,” Yan Mengyi said, bowing repeatedly. “I broke out in a rash all over and it was terribly itchy. Applying the ointment took some time.”

“This was really tough. The director should reflect on this!”

Mo Zhenyi hadn’t realized Yan Mengyi couldn’t handle the heat and kept apologizing.

Although Li Tang never openly discussed her feelings for Yan Mengyi, making it seem like their relationship was distant, Mo Zhenyi, with her experience reading people, could clearly sense the volcanic emotions suppressed beneath Li Tang’s icy facade.

Mo Zhenyi could tell how much Li Tang cared about Yan Mengyi.

If anything really happened to Yan Mengyi, Mo Zhenyi would never find work in this industry—no, in the entire entertainment and media industry.

“It’s alright, it was my fault,” Yan Mengyi said, dismissing Mo Zhenyi’s concerns. “By the way, while I was applying the ointment in the bathroom just now, I suddenly felt like I was back in middle school.”

If Mo Zhenyi hadn’t planned this show, and if she hadn’t gotten an allergic reaction, she wouldn’t have had this kind of time with Li Tang.

“Really?” Jiang Banxia perked up, her gossip’s ears twitching.

Yan Mengyi nodded. “Back then, I was boarding at school. My roommate had just moved out, and she transferred to our school and moved into the dorm, becoming my new roommate.”

“So she had a crush on you that early?”

Yan Mengyi blushed and glanced at Li Tang. “I don’t think so. She was so aloof back then, I didn’t even dare to talk to her.”

“Then how did you get to know each other?”

“One time, she noticed I’d been in the bathroom for an unusually long time and knocked, asking if I was having trouble.”

Li Tang added, “I saw how thin she was and worried she might be hypoglycemic and faint in the bathroom, so that’s why I asked.”

Yan Mengyi looked up at Li Tang, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Li Tang cleared her throat, her gaze shifting away.

She couldn’t tell anyone that her gaze after knocking wasn’t entirely innocent.

The bathroom light wasn’t on; all the light came from Li Tang opening the door, illuminating Yan Mengyi’s slender, smooth back.

Her school uniform was discarded to the side, leaving her upper body clad only in a pure white bra with thin straps and delicate back bands. The clasp was undone, and the garment hung loosely.

The straps cast slender shadows across Yan Mengyi’s smooth back, accentuating her porcelain-like bones.

Sorry, I’m applying ointment. Do you need to use the bathroom?

I should have said so earlier. Let me help you.

With this single step inside, Li Tang heard the lock click. Her once wild and free spirit, unbound like the wind, willingly drew a circle around itself, becoming a prisoner.

Unable to meet Yan Mengyi’s clear gaze, Li Tang feared those bright eyes might reflect the desire burning within her.

“So, you got together just because she was applying ointment?” Jiang Banxia asked, blinking innocently.

Pei Nalian hadn’t finished speaking when she noticed everyone’s attention had shifted to Yan Mengyi. Sitting upright, she smiled and, mimicking the others, looked curiously at Yan Mengyi.

“Not yet,” Yan Mengyi shook her head. “Not long after that, for some reason, she stopped living on campus and moved out.”

“Can I hear the whole story in one go?” Jiang Banxia’s impatience was genuine. “Even the most dramatic daytime soap opera doesn’t have twists as wild as yours!”

“There’s nothing special,” Li Tang replied coolly.

Whenever their conversation touched on her romance and marriage, Li Tang seemed to be deliberately avoiding something, as if there were topics she couldn’t touch.

“I’d love to hear it too, but…” Jin Youshu raised her hand to draw everyone’s attention. “It’s so hot. Shouldn’t we finish the task first, turn on the AC, and then listen to the story?”

The group agreed. They stopped pestering Li Tang about her love story with Yan Mengyi and obediently sat before the Director, waiting for her to assign tasks.

The Director had the Props Team bring out a heavy chest, its lid secured by six large locks.

“Is the remote control inside?” Jiang Banxia asked Mo Zhenyi.

“Yes. Each person must complete their task to get a key. We need all six keys to open the chest.”

“You’re really something, locking up a remote control with six big locks. If only they’d had you as a strategist when the dragon stole the princess.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Teacher.”

“Can’t we just smash the locks open?” Li Tang glanced at the locks, which looked big but were probably just for show.

“I’m afraid not,” Mo Zhenyi said firmly. “We have to follow the game’s process.”

The group took mission cards from Mo Zhenyi, each with a different route. This meant the three pairs of wives would have to split up.

Pei Nalian and Jin Youshu held hands, encouraging each other.

Jiang Banxia and Zhou Qiutong compared their route maps and realized they were heading in opposite directions. After exchanging fierce vows to be the first to complete their missions, they immediately parted ways.

“Can you find your way?” Li Tang looked at Yan Mengyi’s mission card. The route wasn’t complicated, but since Yan Mengyi had always been terrible with directions, Li Tang couldn’t help but ask a few extra questions out of concern.

“I’ll be fine! Don’t worry!”

The two went their separate ways.

Li Tang stood rooted to the spot for a long time, showing no urgency to complete her mission. She watched Yan Mengyi walk away with determined steps until her figure had completely vanished from sight. Only then did she begin her own task.

Following the instructions on her mission card, Yan Mengyi found the hidden chamber concealed in the villa’s garden. As she stepped inside, screens lit up on the walls. One displayed a ten-minute countdown, while the other showed a live feed of Li Tang, who had also reached her designated area as instructed.

Before Yan Mengyi could examine the screens closely, a cold, robotic voice echoed through the room:

“Countdown initiated. Please answer five questions within the allotted time. Failure to complete the task within the time limit will result in mission failure!”

Yan Mengyi nodded, indicating her understanding. The test could begin.

“Question one: Describe yourself in three ways.”

Yan Mengyi pondered for half a minute, resting her hands on her knees, her fingers interlaced.

“Socially anxious, not particularly interesting, and enjoys crafting.”

“Question two: What is your favorite animal, and why?”

This question required no deep thought. Yan Mengyi answered immediately: “Whales.”

“Please explain your choice.”

“Whale calls are used to communicate with their companions and share their location. Scientists played recorded whale calls underwater 36 times, and a whale responded 36 times. It’s like someone repeatedly saying ‘hello’ and getting a response every time. Always enthusiastic, always responsive, never leaving. I think that’s why I’m fascinated by whales.”

“Third question: What kind of person do you think Li Tang is? What qualities about her do you find captivating?”

“She’s a musical prodigy. She’s always been unwavering in her conviction, knowing exactly the path she wants to follow. That’s the quality I admire most in her.”

The questions had been relatively easy, and Yan Mengyi let out a soft sigh of relief.

Despite her social anxiety, she’d performed admirably today.

Before arriving, Yan Mengyi had been consumed by worries about not fitting in on the show, fearing she’d feel awkward in front of the cameras.

But reality proved her fears unfounded. The other guests were all so friendly, making her feel at ease. Gradually, her fear of the cameras faded.

“Fourth question: List three things you have in common with your partner.”

Yan Mengyi froze, her gaze fixed on the countdown timer on the screen.

Time ticked by, second by second.

She wanted to race against the clock, but all her thoughts only wasted time.

Commonalities?

She couldn’t seem to think of any.

“I’m sorry, I can’t answer,” Yan Mengyi said with difficulty. “We seem to be completely different.”

“Incorrect answer. Please provide a valid response.”

“We…”

Yan Mengyi pondered. She liked staying home, but Li Tang had a whole social circle. She enjoyed handmade jewelry, while Li Tang was only interested in music. She loved trying new snacks, but Li Tang’s sole passion was coffee.

Did they have anything in common?

Yan Mengyi remembered the looming thirty-day countdown.

Even if she stripped away her carefully maintained facade, she couldn’t escape facing this problem.

Her marriage was on the rocks, and the responsive whale she’d daydreamed about seemed to have quietly slipped away.

“One minute remaining!”

A shrill countdown blared through the room, each ticking number accompanied by flashing red lights.

“Thirty seconds remaining! Mission failure imminent! Please answer carefully!”

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