After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 19

Wu Shiwen called Wan Cuirong.

Even though they had just seen each other, receiving a call from Wu Shiwen put Wan Cuirong in a good mood.

[“Senior Sister, you’re calling me so soon after we parted?”]

[“I just saw Zhenzhen.”]

[“How is she?”]

Wu Shiwen sighed. “Not good at all. She packed her bags and went to Sanya. The plane must be landing by now.”

“Sanya? Why would she go there? Is she trying to get away from everything alone?”

“I doubt it,” Wu Shiwen said. “Her room was covered in Pillowside Lovers posters. I suspect the person she wants to see is on that show. Do you think… could Zhenzhen have a crush on Li Tang?”

Wan Cuirong: ???

“Senior Sister, your imagination is too wild,” Wan Cuirong said. “How could those two possibly be a match?”

“Why not?”

“They are classmates, but Yu Zhen has always treated Li Tang with disdain. She even bans Li Tang’s posters within five kilometers of her hotels, refuses to stock any products Li Tang endorses, and won’t even allow Li Tang’s music to be played. You told me all this yourself. No matter how you look at it, they seem more like enemies than anything else…” As Wan Cuirong spoke, her voice trailed off.

In this world, there’s no such thing as unfounded hatred.

Endless hatred is a branch of love that has reached its limit.

Oh no, could there really be a past between these two?

Yu Zhen has been bitter about this for years. If she succeeds this time… what will happen to Yan Mengyi?

Wan Cuirong hadn’t interacted with Yan Mengyi much, but she genuinely cared for and protected this pure-hearted girl. She couldn’t imagine the heartbreak and helplessness Yan Mengyi would feel if she were left behind.

Nothing will happen, right? Or should I just abandon all my work and fly over to keep an eye on her? Zhenzhen and Li Tang are both strong-willed. What if…

“Don’t worry,” Wan Cuirong said. “Li Tang is still married, and I know how much she values marriage and family. Besides, with so many people on the show, Zhenzhen might have her eye on some executive or director instead. There’s no real evidence she’s interested in Li Tang.”

“Alright, I guess that’s the only way to look at it.”

Wu Shiwen, being a career-driven woman, found it difficult to simply abandon her work.

“Then I’ll send a message to a young friend of mine and ask her to keep an eye out.”

With that, Wu Shiwen sent a message to Mo Zhenyi.

In that moment, Wan Cuirong thought of Mo Zhenyi.

“What are you thinking about?”

Wan Cuirong snapped out of her thoughts. “I was wondering when you’d introduce me to this pure-hearted young friend of yours.”

*****

Jiang Banxia and Zhou Qiutong were playfully bickering by the sink when they suddenly felt someone’s gaze on them.

They looked up to see Jin Youshu descending the stairs from the second floor.

Jiang Banxia nudged Zhou Qiutong’s arm, which was looped around her waist, signaling her to behave.

“You finished tidying your room so quickly?”

“Not yet,” Jin Youshu replied. “I just came down to grab something to eat.”

“For the cat?” Zhou Qiutong asked, removing her rubber gloves and pulling open the fridge. “I saved some leftovers earlier. Take whatever you want.”

“Thanks.” Jin Youshu heated some chicken and grabbed a pair of chopsticks.

Seeing her chopsticks, Jiang Banxia was puzzled. “Why use chopsticks to feed the cat?”

“It’s for a little gluttonous cat.”

Jin Youshu smiled, and the other two immediately understood.

*****

Yan Mengyi lit a stick of incense in the corner of the room, the familiar scent soothing her nerves.

The production team had prepared disinfected sheets and pillowcases, neatly folded on the bed.

Li Tang and Yan Mengyi unfolded the sheets, trying to make the bed.

As they shook out the sheets, a speck of dust flew into Yan Mengyi’s eye.

Yan Mengyi covered her eye. Li Tang put down what she was holding and came over to check. She gently moved Yan Mengyi’s hand aside and blew at the dust in her eye.

“Better now?”

Yan Mengyi blinked. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Their eyes met. Suddenly, Li Tang couldn’t resist reaching out and touching the skin beneath Yan Mengyi’s eye.

Her fingers were ice-cold, sending a shiver through Yan Mengyi.

Yan Mengyi closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them again, looking flustered, and lowered her head, smiling bashfully.

“I thought you were going to kiss me just now.”

“Just now, I was thinking about something from the past. When we first met, you always wore those black round glasses. I thought you had really bad nearsightedness.”

Until one day, after causing trouble, our homeroom teacher made us stay after school to clean the classroom.

The afternoon sunlight streamed in, passing through the frames of your glasses, but leaving no trace of its reflection on your face.

Is your nearsightedness really that bad? Li Tang asked, reaching out to touch the nonexistent lenses.

Her fingers passed through the empty frames and landed on the skin beneath Yan Mengyi’s eye, cold and smooth.

“I’m not nearsighted.” Yan Mengyi smiled, removing her glasses and handing them to Li Tang.

As Li Tang took the frames, the tip of her pinky finger brushed against Yan Mengyi’s hand.

“Wow, so these are just for decoration?” Li Tang raised the glasses to the sunlight, examining them.

“Alright, give them back now.” Yan Mengyi stood on tiptoe, reaching for the glasses.

Li Tang raised her arm higher, holding the glasses out of reach.

“Come on, give them back!” Yan Mengyi laughed, jumping up to grab them.

Yan Mengyi lost her balance, and Li Tang reached around to steady her waist.

Before Yan Mengyi could even say “Thanks,” soft, cool lips brushed against her cheek.

Yan Mengyi froze, dazed. She felt a fleeting weight on her cheek, but it was so fleeting she wasn’t sure.

Jingyi Foreign Language School was an all-girls school.

Pranks between girls weren’t uncommon.

But Li Tang didn’t seem like the type to pull a prank like this.

Yan Mengyi’s heart raced, her hands trembling.

“Why would you wear decorative glasses?” Li Tang leaned against the window, seemingly casual as she asked. The wind lifted the classroom curtains, stirring strands of hair by her temple and fluttering her empty school uniform.

“The class president gave them to me, saying they suited me.”

“They’re ugly. I’ll keep them for you.”

Recalling the past and returning to the present, Yan Mengyi asked, “Where did you hide my glasses? You never returned them, even until graduation. They were a… a gift from someone else.”

“I lost them ages ago. It’s been so long, how could I remember?”

******

It was almost seven o’clock.

After Mo Zhenyi and the staff had triple-checked the props needed for the next segment, confirming everything was in order, she finally had time to sit down.

Leaning back on the sofa, Mo Zhenyi drifted off to sleep surprisingly quickly, only to be woken by the vibration of her phone in her lap.

A director had to be able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime.

“Is it time already?” Mo Zhenyi groaned awake.

“Director Mo, it’s not time yet.”

Before picking up her phone, Mo Zhenyi was still half-asleep, wondering if Wan Cuirong had sent her a message.

When she checked, it was Wu Shiwen.

Wu Shiwen had sent her a contact, saying it was her niece and asking her to look after her.

Mo Zhenyi assumed it was some teenage rich kid wanting to get into the industry, but when she opened the profile, she instantly sobered up.

Yu Zhen might not be a tycoon, but she was well-known in the Beijing Circle.

Moreover, Yu Zhen was a formidable club-hopper. Mo Zhenyi had seen her from afar once, dancing in a neon-lit club, but they’d never spoken.

She never expected someone like Yu Zhen to be Wu Shiwen’s niece.

Mo Zhenyi added her on WeChat, and they exchanged brief greetings.

Yu Zhen got straight to the point: “I heard Pillowside Lovers is a little short on funds.”

“I didn’t expect you to know about our show, CEO Yu. We’re truly honored.”

Seeing Mo Zhenyi didn’t respond, Yu Zhen took the initiative: “I can provide a sponsorship for the show.”

“CEO Yu, you have so much faith in our show?”

“Not at all,” Yu Zhen said. “That’s why I wanted to come see your production team before making a decision.”

“CEO Yu, I’m afraid that’s not possible. The show hasn’t been publicly broadcast yet, and regulations prohibit you from entering the filming site,” Mo Zhenyi said. “However, since you’re Producer Wu’s niece, I trust you completely. You can certainly come to our production team. My assistant will contact you shortly.”

After sending the message, Mo Zhenyi tossed her phone aside and didn’t look at it again.

Yu Zhen’s attitude was insincere. It was obvious she didn’t genuinely want to support the show.

Mo Zhenyi only refrained from outright rejecting Yu Zhen because of Wu Shiwen.

An assistant hurried over to ask Mo Zhenyi how to handle the matter.

Mo Zhenyi straightened her “Director” badge around her neck. “We’ll arrange for her to come when we’re sending off the guests after filming the first episode. She thinks she can micromanage my show? Not a chance!”

*****

It was seven o’clock, and the three groups of guests were punctually waiting in the hall.

Mo Zhenyi led the three women out, heading toward the beach.

The sky was completely dark, and the moon, like a shattered silver coin, gathered and dispersed among the waves.

The wind blew in their faces, cool and refreshing, without the daytime heat.

Several rows of clothes racks had appeared in the courtyard, along with six portable changing rooms.

“Thank you all for participating in our show! Sanya’s nights are serene and peaceful, and walking hand in hand on the soft sand is a life experience you must have. Now, please choose your beach-appropriate outfits within 10 minutes!”

After Mo Zhenyi’s announcement, Jiang Banxia couldn’t help but turn to Zhou Qiutong and exclaim.

“We’re finally on your show! Now we can actually enjoy ourselves. This fee sure wasn’t easy to earn.”

Mo Zhenyi just smiled, saying nothing.

The production team had prepared a wide variety of clothes, but Jiang Banxia and Zhou Qiutong were instantly drawn to the bohemian styles and quickly settled on their outfits.

“Did you two decide so quickly?” Mo Zhenyi signaled for the camera to follow.

Jiang Banxia turned to the camera and began showing off their haul.

“This is a little tank top, paired with a lace-up blouse and a patchwork skirt. Wow, it’s the perfect beach vacation look!”

Meanwhile, Jin Youshu and Pei Nalian had wandered over to the two-piece swimsuit section.

Pei Nalian casually picked up a barely-there swimsuit and held it up to herself.

Jin Youshu had always spoiled and indulged her, and their style had always been known for its boldness and daring.

But even Jin Youshu couldn’t help but frown at Pei Nalian’s choice, playfully insisting she put it down.

Pei Nalian refused, wrapping her arms around Jin Youshu’s neck and whispering in her ear, “The Director is hiding the rules.”

“What do you mean?”

“She told us to choose beach-appropriate clothing, but she never said we had to choose for ourselves.” Pei Nalian’s face held a mischievous grin. “No matter who ends up wearing this, I can’t wait to see what happens.”

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