After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 20

“Sweetie, why…?” Jin Youshu glanced at the camera position, then covered the microphone on her collar. “We don’t need to do this.”

Pei Nalian maintained her signature idol’s radiant smile, but her words starkly contradicted her cheerful expression.

“For idols, there’s only one sin: not being dazzling enough.”

She craved all the gazes, all the spotlight, all the conversation topics to be focused solely on her.

This might have been a lingering scar from her brutal climb through the cutthroat Korean idol industry—a symptom of how her environment had warped her.

“First” and “best” were the eternal goals Pei Nalian pursued.

“The production team invited three pairs of guests from different fields. Sweetie, we’re already doing well. There’s no need to resort to such tactics just to grab attention…” Jin Youshu said weakly.

“You’re wrong. You don’t understand. People from wealthy backgrounds like you can’t comprehend the fierce competition in the real world. Once you slip, it’s incredibly hard to climb back up.”

“Sweetie, why are you bringing my family background into this?”

“Do you still love me?”

Jin Youshu nodded. “Of course.”

“If you love me, why are you interrogating me like everyone else? Why are you here to gawk at my misfortune? Are you even on my side?”

“Sweetie, I’m always on your side.”

“Good. Just leave me alone,” Pei Nalian said, glancing toward where Li Tang and Yan Mengyi were standing. “Can’t you see the difference in the way Jiang and Zhou treat Yan Mengyi versus me?”

“What difference?”

“Who exactly are you siding with?!” Pei Nalian snapped, her temper flaring. She stormed off, clutching her basket of clothes, leaving Jin Youshu scrambling after her.

Li Tang had chosen a black-and-white one-piece swimsuit, sleek and minimalist, while Yan Mengyi opted for a white suit with green floral patterns.

Jiang Banxia and her friends crowded around, clicking their tongues and shaking their heads.

“You young ones… why are you wearing such conservative outfits?”

“It’s just clothes. Comfort is all that matters,” Li Tang replied coolly.

When the six contestants, baskets in hand, gathered outside the changing rooms, Mo Zhenyi appeared to add another rule.

“Next, please hand over your chosen outfits to the staff. We’ll randomly distribute them among the changing rooms.”

Li Tang asked, “So, we’ll randomly pick a changing room and only wear the clothes provided inside?”

“Exactly,” Mo Zhenyi confirmed.

With Mo Zhenyi’s confirmation, everyone’s gaze instinctively landed on Pei Nalian’s strikingly skimpy red bikini.

“Who’s going to wear this?” Jiang Banxia glanced down at herself. “I haven’t been losing weight lately.”

“Nalian, I hope this swimsuit somehow ends up back in your hands!”

Pei Nalian smiled. “That’s exactly what I hope too.”

Jin Youshu tilted her head, glancing at her oni—her fiancée. She loved being the center of attention, and she vowed to always protect her and help her achieve her wish.

Ten minutes later, the six of them randomly selected changing rooms and went inside.

“Ah!” Jiang Banxia’s delighted scream echoed through the quiet courtyard.

“What is it?” Zhou Qiutong called out. “Did you get the red swimsuit?”

“No, I got the exact swimsuit I picked earlier!”

******

Meanwhile, Zhou Qiutong had received the black-and-white one-piece Li Tang had chosen.

Next to emerge from the changing room was Jin Youshu, now wearing the bohemian-style outfit Zhou Qiutong had selected earlier.

Then Pei Nalian emerged, looking somewhat dejected, wearing a green one-piece swimsuit with floral patterns.

“So, the swimsuits Nalian and Youshu picked ended up with Xiao Yi and Tangtang?” Jiang Banxia asked, barely suppressing a mischievous grin. “I can’t even imagine Tangtang wearing it.”

Li Tang emerged first, and the crowd’s teasing was subdued.

Jin Youshu’s black halterneck two-piece swimsuit looked surprisingly fitting on Li Tang, giving her an exceptionally cool and fierce aura.

Yan Mengyi lowered her head to look at herself.

She had always been reserved and had never worn such a swimsuit before, making her feel somewhat anxious.

But everyone else had already changed.

She didn’t want the others to think she was boring or disappointing, so she steeled herself, zipped open the portable changing room’s flap, and stepped out.

Surprisingly, Jiang Banxia, usually the loudest, was completely silent.

Li Tang had draped a massive towel over Yan Mengyi’s shoulders.

Even so, it was clear that Yan Mengyi had a slender, well-proportioned figure that wasn’t at all frail.

Pei Nalian couldn’t help but glance at Yan Mengyi, feeling inexplicably irritated for some reason.

“Let’s go!” Jiang Banxia exclaimed, bouncing up and down as she gazed toward the beach.

Just imagining the feeling of soft sand beneath their feet and the warm sea breeze on their skin was enough to get them excited.

“Before we set off, there’s one more little thing we need to do,” Director Mo announced.

Zhou Qiutong couldn’t help but remark, “Director Mo, you sure have a lot of tricks up your sleeve.”

Jiang Banxia, already worn out, muttered weakly, “I’d love to see what she’s cooked up this time.”

The production team asked Li Tang, Zhou Qiutong, and Jin Youshu to sit and wait, blindfolding them.

“What is the production team up to?” Jin Youshu asked nervously, releasing her lover’s hand.

“No idea,” Zhou Qiutong replied. “On other shows, we just ate and drank, and that was it. Director Mo’s show is like three shows rolled into one.”

The three women sat in darkness, listening to the staff bustling around on the beach.

After a while, they were finally allowed to remove their blindfolds.

A white cloth had been stretched out before them. Lights shining from behind the cloth cast their shadows onto the white surface.

“Oh, this is it! I know!” Jin Youshu reacted quickly. “We have to look at the shadows and pick out our lover without a mistake.”

“Right,” Mo Zhenyi nodded. “Please go ahead, Artist Zhou.”

Zhou Qiutong stood up, looking a little nervous. “You’re putting me on the spot here. If I choose wrong, it won’t just be about whether we can finish the show. It’ll be about whether I can keep my life!”

“Believe in yourself, Artist Zhou,” Li Tang teased.

Zhou Qiutong stood before the white cloth. In less than a second, she casually pointed at the middle shadow.

“This one, Artist Jiang.”

“So confident? Why not think about it a little more?” Mo Zhenyi asked with a smile.

“No need to think. Even if she turned to ashes, I’d still recognize her.”

Before Zhou Qiutong could finish speaking, the middle shadow ripped off the white cloth and crawled out from the gap below, giving her a big hug.

Even Jiang Banxia seemed surprised. “I was worried what would happen if you chose wrong.”

“It’s been twelve years. What exactly are you doubting?”

The Jiang-Zhou pair chattered away, inseparable.

Jin Youshu and Li Tang exchanged glances, each seeing a flicker of doubt in the other’s eyes.

They had no doubt about their partners’ love, but the production team had set up so many obstacles. What if someone really chose wrong? The little game wouldn’t be a game anymore.

The lights dimmed and then brightened again, revealing the elegant silhouettes of three women on the white cloth.

Jin Youshu stood up.

Behind the white cloth, the three women were of equal height, similar in build, dressed identically, and posed in the same manner.

“She’s Nalian,” Jin Youshu said, pointing to the shadow on the left.

“Are you sure?” Mo Zhenyi pretended to peer behind the cloth, her brow furrowing slightly. “Want to change your choice?”

Mo Zhenyi’s voice was incredibly persuasive, leaving people uncertain.

Jin Youshu glanced at the three silhouettes again and affirmed confidently, “My choice remains the same.”

“Alright then.” A hint of regret flickered across Mo Zhenyi’s face as she signaled the woman Jin Youshu had chosen to step forward.

First, a strand of pink curls peeked out. Then Pei Nalian rushed forward eagerly, throwing herself into Jin Youshu’s arms.

“Congratulations to the first two couples for successfully recognizing their partners. Now, it’s your turn, Artist Li.”

The lights went out and came back on.

Three figures appeared behind the white cloth. They were of equal height, identical in build, had the same hairstyle, and were all waving their hands in greeting, urging Li Tang to choose one of them.

“This is really tough,” Jiang Banxia said, leaning in to take a closer look.

“Every one of them looks just like Xiao Yi.”

“The director team must have really gone all out. How did they find such convincing stand-ins in such a short time?”

“Just because we can’t tell them apart doesn’t mean Tangtang can’t. She’d definitely recognize her right away, wouldn’t she, Tangtang?”

But when Pei Nalian turned to glance at Li Tang, she saw the artist’s face was pale.

“People who truly love each other would never mistake their partner, even if it’s just a shadow, right, Artist Li?” Pei Nalian asked sweetly, smiling innocently.

“Please make your choice within a minute, Artist Li!” Mo Zhenyi reminded her, starting the countdown.

The others made their own guesses, but their opinions barely overlapped.

Time ticked by.

The waves crashed against the shore, washing over Li Tang’s nerves.

“Tangtang, you need to choose,” Jiang Banxia nudged Li Tang.

But Zhou Qiutong quickly pulled Jiang Banxia back, shooting her a warning look to stay silent.

“Artist Li, the one on the right looks like your Xiao Yi. What do you think?” Pei Nalian walked over, her smile as harmless as a lamb.

Li Tang remained silent.

“Artist Li, the countdown is over,” Mo Zhenyi reminded her. “Your final choice is…”

Li Tang raised her hand, attempting to guess the answer at the last moment, but ultimately lowered it.

“I can’t choose.”

Surprisingly, Mo Zhenyi clapped. “Congratulations! You’re correct!”

Everyone was utterly confused.

“Xiao Yi isn’t behind the white cloth,” Mo Zhenyi said, gesturing for someone to come forward.

The staff member in the costume, who had been holding the white cloth, lowered it and removed the mask.

“I’m here.”

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