After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 22

Li Tang didn’t press the matter further, simply glancing up at the brightly lit villa in the distance.

“It’s so far. I want to get back quickly.”

Yan Mengyi’s ears flushed red. “There are cameras in the room, right?”

“Then cover them up.”

Yan Mengyi’s face grew even redder, but the night concealed her embarrassment.

It had been ages since she’d felt this kind of flutter in her heart.

In the past, Li Tang’s schedule had been packed. She’d rush back late at night and leave early in the morning. Their intimacy felt like a ritual, hazy like a dream. Every morning, Yan Mengyi would wake up alone, the lingering warmth of their half-awake moments of closeness already faded.

“Xiao Yi! Tangtang, come here for a photo!”

Jin Youshu pulled out a compact camera from somewhere and snapped a few shots on the beach. Finally, she pointed in a certain direction. “This angle is good—the background is beautiful. Everyone, stand here.”

“Is this your camera?”

Zhou Qiutong had been wanting to buy a camera for ages, but she struggled with choice paralysis. The more research she did, the harder it became to make a decision.

“Right, it’s the Fujifilm X100V. It comes with built-in filters, and even though it’s not full-frame, it’s more than enough for most photography needs.”

As Jin Youshu spoke, she showed the screen to Zhou Qiutong.

“The color reproduction is truly far superior to a phone,” Zhou Qiutong marveled repeatedly.

“The only downside is that buying one can be a hassle—many places don’t have stock.”

Jin Youshu had waited in line for hours to get her hands on this camera.

“Everyone, stand still. Let me take a couple of test shots first.”

Yan Mengyi rarely took photos and had no idea how to pose.

Jin Youshu snapped a test shot and showed it to the group.

The camera quickly made its way around the hands of the gathered friends.

“Ah, you’ve really been trained in Korea. It shows!” Jiang Banxia sighed. “You’re seriously amazing!”

During a European trip, the two had randomly asked an Asian passerby to take a group photo for them. The resulting shot was their favorite ever, and they later learned the photographer was Korean.

Ever since then, Jiang Banxia would bring this up every time they took photos.

“I’ll add you on WeChat later,” Zhou Qiutong said to Jin Youshu. “I want to ask you more about photography tips. Otherwise, she’ll keep teasing me about my skills.”

“You have to admit when you’re wrong and stand at attention when you get a beating. Isn’t it true that you snapped me to be only 1.5 meters tall?”

“I’ll reflect on it. It was my fault.” Zhou Qiutong raised her hands in surrender, smiling as she conceded completely.

Jin Youshu exchanged a glance with Zhou Qiutong, both recognizing the practiced ease in each other’s eyes.

“Xiao Yi, why are you standing so stiff?” Jiang Banxia held the camera, gesturing for Yan Mengyi to look at the screen.

“I don’t usually take pictures, so I don’t know how to pose,” Yan Mengyi explained awkwardly.

In the photo, Yan Mengyi stood rigidly, hand-in-hand with Li Tang, most of her body obscured by Pei Nalian standing beside her.

Even so, Yan Mengyi remained the most striking figure, her skin dazzlingly pale and her perfect figure impossible to look away from.

“You’re so beautiful—you definitely need to take more pictures!” Jiang Banxia said.

“There’s no one who doesn’t look good in photos. You just haven’t taken enough yet. Keep practicing, and you’ll get great shots eventually.”

Jin Youshu was an experienced photographer. As Pei Nalian’s personal photographer, her lens always seemed to favor her subject.

“Something’s missing,” Jin Youshu muttered, still unsatisfied as she studied the screen.

Mo Zhenyi thoughtfully asked a staff member to bring over a box of props to see what they needed for their photos.

Jin Youshu finally settled on a few boxes of fairy wands, handing one to each person.

“These will definitely make for great photos. Trust me.”

“Moments like this don’t come every day. We have to capture them.”

After lighting the fairy wands, the tiny yet lightning-bright sparks danced in each person’s eyes.

Yan Mengyi also captured a moment of her radiant smile in the photos.

With her marriage to Li Tang now counting down, she figured it was okay to open her heart and document these final moments.

Yan Mengyi looked up at Li Tang beside her.

The flickering light of the cold fireworks illuminated the sharp contours of Li Tang’s jawline.

I’ll remember the scene of our last seaside outing together, Yan Mengyi thought to herself.

“Youshu, come join the photo too! Let the Director take the camera,” Jiang Banxia called out to Jin Youshu.

“Right!” As if reminded by Jiang Banxia, Pei Nalian snapped out of her daze and beckoned Jin Youshu over. “Come, let’s take a group photo.”

Hearing this, Mo Zhenyi also stepped forward to help.

But Pei Nalian’s smile remained somewhat stiff.

Jin Youshu stubbornly refused to give up her camera. “It’s fine. I enjoy taking pictures for everyone.”

Hearing this, the others relented and stopped pressing her.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work today. Please get some rest and meet in the main hall at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.”

“Director, I have a question,” Jiang Banxia raised her hand. “If we’re meeting at 9 a.m., when should we eat breakfast?”

“The production team doesn’t provide breakfast.”

Jiang Banxia nearly fainted at the news. Pretending to be angry, she made a dramatic exit gesture. “Forget this! We’re going back to Beijing!”

“Artist Jiang, Artist Jiang, please wait!” Mo Zhenyi rushed to stop her.

“I told you I’m on a diet, but you can’t really starve us! Skipping breakfast can lead to kidney stones! You wouldn’t want to set a bad example for our viewers, would you?”

“Ladies, here’s the situation,” Mo Zhenyi explained. “The production team doesn’t provide breakfast, but they did leave some ingredients in the fridge. You’re welcome to use them and cook yourselves if you want.”

“Then who’s going to cook?”

“That’s something you’ll have to decide among yourselves.”

Mo Zhenyi waved goodbye to the guests, signaling that they would see each other tomorrow.

The group walked toward the villa, their feet sinking into the soft sand, discussing breakfast plans.

“I’m starting to understand why the pay for Pillowside Lovers isn’t easy to earn. They’re not going to let us just relax and eat our fill to finish the shoot. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day, so we definitely need a good breakfast.”

“Let’s see what we have back at the villa.”

When they returned, they opened the fridge and found whole-grain bread, eggs, lettuce, and tomatoes.

“We can make sandwiches.”

“Who knows how to make them?”

“Let’s each make our own.”

“I can’t get up.”

“Me neither.”

“Fine, we’ll figure it out tomorrow. It’s not like we’ll starve.”

Yan Mengyi listened to the chatter and quietly raised her hand. “I’ll make breakfast.”

Having been on the show for a day, Yan Mengyi had felt the kindness of the group, but she also felt disappointed in herself.

Everyone else could chat naturally in front of the camera and contribute to the team, but she hadn’t done anything yet.

Making breakfast for everyone was the only thing Yan Mengyi could think of to contribute.

“How could I possibly ask you to trouble yourself?” Jiang Banxia protested, hesitant to let Li Tang’s wife cook for her. “I’ll get up early tomorrow and help. Even though I’m not much of a cook, I can at least wash the vegetables and slice the bread.”

Clearly, Jiang Banxia assumed Yan Mengyi was an accomplished cook.

Yan Mengyi didn’t correct her. After all, making sandwiches wouldn’t require any special skills. With a few online tutorials, she’d definitely be fine.

Seeing Jiang Banxia’s offer, Pei Nalian and Jin Youshu also agreed to rise early.

“Let’s go back and shower first,” Jiang Banxia said, eager to retreat to her room. “After a day like that, I feel like I’m sweating through my clothes.”

Each of the three bedrooms had its own bathroom, complete with decent toiletries.

Li Tang opened her suitcase, retrieved her coffee-making supplies, and carried them downstairs to the kitchen counter.

By then, Jiang Banxia had also come down and grabbed two cans of cold cola from the fridge.

Seeing they were alone, Jiang Banxia teased Li Tang, “I know you love your sleep, but you can’t snooze until nine tomorrow.”

“I won’t.”

Worried that Li Tang might not take it seriously, Jiang Banxia added, “Tame your morning grumpiness. There are cameras everywhere, recording everything.”

Having witnessed Li Tang’s morning demeanor before due to work, Jiang Banxia knew how terrible her complexion looked and how she radiated an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

“If she’s here, I won’t.”

“You better not.” Unconvinced, Jiang Banxia picked up her ice-cold cola and headed to her room. “Xiao Yi doesn’t seem to be adjusting well to being under the cameras. She’s a bit uncomfortable. Make sure you spend some time with her later and talk to her.”

Jiang Banxia had only meant to offer some casual advice, but she unwittingly touched on Li Tang’s sore spot.

“I don’t need you to remind me. My marriage is fine.”

“I said communication is an issue, not your marriage.”

Realizing her overreaction, Li Tang ended the conversation. She was aware that any comment now would make her assume it held a hidden meaning.

Perhaps it was because the villa was by the sea.

The air was damp and stifling, making it hard for Li Tang to breathe. A faint black mist seemed to seep from the corners of her heart, obscuring her good mood. A sense of unease was closing in.

Returning to the room, Li Tang saw Yan Mengyi with her head down, typing a message.

“Who’s the message for?” Li Tang asked.

“My Senior Sister. You know.”

Li Tang placed her toiletries within reach and stepped out of the bathroom, noticing a note on the door: “Hot water available 9:00-10:00 PM.”

She picked up the phone resting upside down on the bedside table and checked the time.

It was already 9:17 PM.

As she glanced at the time, Li Tang noticed a message notification.

Yan Mengyi looked up and said, “Your phone kept ringing while you were downstairs. Someone probably left a voice message.”

“You could have answered it for me.”

Yan Mengyi bit her lip. “Really?”

“I told you, you can.”

Li Tang’s emotions stirred. She had repeatedly emphasized this to Yan Mengyi, but Yan Mengyi always insisted on maintaining a strict boundary between “I” and “you.”

Unlocking the screen, Li Tang saw the missed call was from Hua Jingyan.

Perhaps Yan Mengyi had initially intended to answer the call. Otherwise, how would she have known it was a voice call and not a video call?

Hua Jingyan was merely a junior in the music world, yet Li Tang had inexplicably become a thorn between her and Yan Mengyi.

Li Tang turned and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her. The sound of running water soon filled the air.

Yan Mengyi lowered her head, a dull ache spreading through her chest. Her vision blurred, but she forced herself to focus on the screen.

[Song Yujin sent an emoji: crying]

[Senior Sister, what’s wrong?]

[I feel like I’ll never find a partner. Forget marriage, I doubt I’ll even find someone to date. Back in school, our parents and teachers strictly forbade romance, making it seem like something just out of reach. But I never imagined that after starting work, even meeting a decent person would feel like such a luxury.]

In academic matters, Song Yujin had always been confident and capable.

But when it came to personal relationships, she felt like a high school student.

A profound pain enveloped her, as if she was forever unable to form close connections. Living alone wasn’t a problem, but occasionally, a secret anguish would wash over her.

What about Ms. Huawei and Officer Sister you met before? Weren’t they decent enough?

Both of them had poor memories, so they referred to their blind date prospects by their professions.

Ms. Huawei, as her name suggests, worked for Huawei. Her education, looks, and character were all decent, but she had two major drawbacks: her job was too demanding, and she didn’t work in Beijing.

Her… our communication suddenly dropped off… After all, we both have established careers. We can’t possibly quit our jobs and move to a new city just for an uncertain romance.

Song Yujin accepted this rationally, but emotionally, she was still struggling painfully.

The day before our communication dropped off, she still said goodnight to me… Would you say goodnight to a stranger? When she said goodnight to me, at least for that moment, I was an important person in her life, right…

What about Officer Sister? I remember she really liked you, pursued you relentlessly, and even had abs—the body type you like.

I originally thought that if two people are willing to be together, they can overcome any difficulties. But later, I realized it wasn’t possible. She enlisted right after high school, and her upbringing and values were completely different from mine.

Yan Mengyi replied: “If you tell her, she’ll definitely try her best to change for you.”

“Xiao Yi, you don’t understand,” Song Yujin said. “What I’ve done, she can’t comprehend at all. She really likes me and has always wanted to change for me. Her workplace has strict restrictions on phone use, but whenever she gets her phone, she frantically sends me messages. But do you understand that desperate, forced feeling of having nothing to say? All I have to do is nod, and we could get married right away. But I know I don’t like her, and I don’t care about her. To marry her like this would be cruel.”

“Senior Sister, you’re so outstanding. You’ll definitely find someone meant for you. Just wait a little longer.”

“Xiao Yi, I’m a little tired. Sometimes, I envy you.”

“Envy me?”

“To have a youthful romance and then marry. Even if we liked different things and cared about different things, as long as we had that youthful affection, even if our paths diverged, we wouldn’t drift apart.”

“Senior Sister…” Yan Mengyi struggled to type the next line. “Things might not be like that.”

Support After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn’t Want a Divorce