After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 3

The housekeeper knew Li Tang well. The woman seemed indifferent to everything, scanning the room with a gaze that treated everyone like mere trash.

Li Yi, on the other hand, wasn’t crying. He simply tossed the remote control in his hand.

“I have plenty of toy cars, but you’re really being rude! I’m going to tell Daddy to kick you out!”

With that, Li Yi ran toward the study.

The housekeeper couldn’t stop him in time, watching the chubby Li Yi waddle toward the study with surprising speed.

Li Tang remained composed, with arms crossed as she stared coldly at the heavy door.

As a child, every time she disturbed the “monster” behind that door, she would receive a harsh scolding.

Li Yi pushed open the study door.

“Tangtang’s back! It’s all my fault for being so busy. I even mentioned to Old Li that we should pick you up from the airport the other day, but I got distracted and forgot.”

Qin Biham, now dressed in a classic Chanel-style suit, looked plump and prosperous. The vivid emerald green jade necklace around her neck was particularly eye-catching.

“Aunt Qin has been very kind,” Li Tang said absently, picking up a vase nearby and examining it carefully to avoid looking at the seemingly harmonious family of three.

“You rarely visit. I’ve asked Old Li to cook some of your favorite dishes. Don’t be so formal.”

“I’m just a guest and shouldn’t impose,” Li Tang replied. “I should be going. My wife is waiting for me at home.”

******

After Li Tang left, Yan Mengyi couldn’t fall back asleep.

She got up and retrieved their marriage certificate from the safe.

In the photo, their faces still held a trace of youthfulness but their smiles were somewhat stiff.

She couldn’t forget the day they received the certificate, when the photographer kept urging them, “Closer, just a little closer.”

Neither of them had fully adjusted to their new status as a married couple. They leaned in closer, and closer still, until Li Tang finally wrapped her arm around Yan Mengyi.

The photo captured Yan Mengyi’s surprise and bashfulness at that moment.

Seven years had passed, and Yan Mengyi had long grown accustomed to life with Li Tang.

Even though work and studies kept them apart more often than not, the name “Li Tang” remained a guiding beacon in her heart.

Whenever she felt lost or confused, gazing at that unextinguished lighthouse through the raging storms brought her a measure of peace.

Li Tang had pulled her out of the abyss during her darkest times.

Yan Mengyi refused to become Li Tang’s abyss. If Li Tang’s feelings changed, she would willingly step back.

Senior Sister approached Yan Mengyi again.

Little Yi, it’s been seven years. Your graduation project is still on display, garnering rave reviews. Have you really not considered returning to work?

A director from a satellite TV station wants to hire you as a costume and styling consultant for their show. She’s an alumna and has been asking me to put you in touch with her for a while now. What do you think?

[I suppose I could. When can we meet to discuss it?]

[Little Yi! You finally see the light! Wait here—I’ll ask her to schedule a time.]

The prospect of dealing with unfamiliar people still made Yan Mengyi feel uneasy. Yet, she was relieved to confirm that she still had the ability to work and earn a living.

Li Tang had always been straightforward about finances. Every year, she consistently transferred a portion of her copyright royalties and investment returns to a joint account with Yan Mengyi. The amounts were substantial, and after Yan Mengyi repeatedly refused the transfers, Li Tang stopped insisting.

Instead, Li Tang established a trust fund, using her copyrights as trust assets and naming Yan Mengyi as the sole beneficiary.

During their seven years together, Yan Mengyi had never truly grasped the concept of money; it was merely a number on a balance sheet.

Now that she wanted a divorced, she would have to earn her own living.

Before Li Tang could return home, Yan Mengyi received a call from someone she hadn’t expected: Yu Zhen, her former classmate and middle school class president.

Seeing Yu Zhen’s name, Yan Mengyi paled. She tried hanging up several times, but Yu Zhen kept calling back. With no other choice, Yan Mengyi steeled herself and answered the call.

“Yan Mengyi, you’re finally willing to listen to me.”

“What do you want?” Yan Mengyi asked stiffly.

“Let’s meet. It’s better to talk about these things face-to-face,” Yu Zhen said, her words tumbling over each other in her agitation.

“It’s not convenient.”

“I don’t want you to remain in the dark any longer. Li Tang isn’t what she seems. She used despicable methods to steal you away from me. The one who should have been by your side all along… should have been me…”

“Oh.”

Yu Zhen desperately wanted to meet, afraid that her words sounded too outrageous to be believed. But Yan Mengyi’s resolute attitude made Yu Zhen waver, and she decided to reveal those buried secrets over the phone.

What Yu Zhen didn’t know was that Yan Mengyi had already tossed her phone aside.

The pain from the past still lingered, making it impossible for her to hear this person’s voice.

Li Tang returned home before noon. She pushed open the bedroom door, but Yan Mengyi was nowhere to be seen.

Sunlight streamed across the pale green satin bedsheet, casting a serene glow over the room.

Yan Mengyi’s phone lay face-down on the bedsheet, its presence glaring.

Li Tang walked over and picked up the phone.

A recently ended call caught her eye, the smile on her lips freezing.

******

The study door swung open.

Yan Mengyi, sitting on the bay window with a whale-shaped pillow, looked up at Li Tang.

The lovers who had been inseparable just last night were now divided by the sunlight streaming into the room.

An impassable galaxy seemed to stretch between them.

“Tangtang,” Yan Mengyi began haltingly, “let’s talk.”

Li Tang sat in a chair, her hair half-tied in a wolf tail. Her pale eyes and slightly furrowed brow radiated an aura of untouchable distance. The black choker around her neck added a hint of forbidden allure.

Her hand accidentally brushed the keyboard and waking the computer. The browser screen that popped up displayed a page about divorce.

“I want…”

“I agree,” Li Tang said.

After what Yu Zhen had revealed, Li Tang hadn’t dared hope for Yan Mengyi’s forgiveness.

Yan Mengyi hadn’t expected such a blunt agreement and froze, stunned.

“If I can’t be the person who makes you happy, at least I won’t be the person you despise.”

Li Tang lazily rose to her feet. “Let’s do it today.”

“Do what today?”

“Go get the divorce papers.”

“Today?” It was so sudden.

Even though she had mentally prepared for this, the moment it became reality felt strangely foreign, catching her off guard.

“I know you can’t forgive me.”

Li Tang seemed remarkably calm as she picked up Yan Mengyi’s bag, stuffing it with their IDs and marriage certificate.

Before leaving, Yan Mengyi sat on the shoe bench. Before she could bend down to put on her shoes, Li Tang gripped her ankles.

“Your back isn’t good. Let me help.”

She slipped Yan Mengyi into the laced leather shoes.

The delicate pearl necklace seemed to lose its luster against Yan Mengyi’s pale skin.

“Let’s go.”

Yan Mengyi stood up, afraid to turn around, afraid Li Tang would see the tears welling in her eyes.

She didn’t know that the woman behind her, the one carrying her bag, kept looking up at the ceiling.

******

When they got out of the car, Li Tang supported Yan Mengyi, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and gently massaging her arm.

*****

The divorce wasn’t finalized.

Now there’s a thirty-day cooling-off period.

Come back after thirty days.

This was the last thing Yan Mengyi had expected. She stared at the photo clutched in her hand, feeling helpless.

She had heard that divorce requires turning in the marriage certificate. She had secretly torn out the photo from their marriage certificate, wanting to keep it as a memento.

But she’d torn it out too early.

The car was suffocatingly silent.

The driver asked, “Boss, where to?”

“Nowhere.”

The driver tactfully got out of the car.

“I still want to know,” Li Tang said, crossing her long legs and resting her hands on them. “What did Yu Zhen say to you?”

“She said she wanted to expose your true nature and wanted meet with me.”

Li Tang tilted her head back, her fingers were hooking the choker around her neck. She felt a sudden tightness in her chest.

“How did she plan to expose me?”

“I didn’t listen.” Yan Mengyi lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the glowing dashboard. “You know how I feel. I don’t want to hear her voice, see her face, or listen to her slander you.”

“Didn’t you hear what she said?” Li Tang asked, surprised.

Yan Mengyi silently recalled the time she had agreed to meet with her Senior Sister, preparing to leave for the appointment.

Seeing her move to leave, Li Tang grabbed her wrist. “You didn’t hear what she said, so why are you asking for a divorce?”

“Didn’t you… with Hua Jingyan… you two…” Yan Mengyi struggled to speak. “I don’t understand music, but I know you only appreciate talent. I wish you happiness…”

With those words, Yan Mengyi fled, leaving her bag behind in the car.

Li Tang was still reeling from the absurdity of the day’s events.

“She didn’t hear any of that. Is there any hope for our marriage?”

Li Tang picked up Yan Mengyi’s bag and placed the two marriage certificates together.

Opening Yan Mengyi’s copy, she found the space for the photograph empty.

******

The manager came to visit Li Tang.

Li Tang lounged lazily on the sofa, her collar was slightly unbuttoned, exuding a weary air of hangover, though she hadn’t actually been drinking.

She simply tossed an orange into the air and caught it repeatedly, remaining silent.

“Did you have a rough time over there?” the manager asked.

“They’re hardly worthy of affecting my mood.”

“I agree,” the manager said. “You even got to see your wife this time. Why are you still so unhappy?”

Li Tang ignored him.

“Look, I know you’re amazing—capable of hitting E6. But you insisted on singing that song that day, making it seem like we’re deliberately antagonizing IGP. You know they’re backed by Rongqing Capital. Pissing off IGP is one thing, but offending Rongqing herself is dangerous. Even you, Goddess Tang, should think twice before doing something like that,” the manager pleaded earnestly.

“So what if we offend them?”

Goddess Tang cared nothing for anyone’s opinions.

“But they’re always scheming behind your back, which isn’t good for your reputation,” her manager said. “For now, let’s lie low. Besides, there’s been an issue with the sponsor of the singing show we were supposed to be on, so we’ll drop out. In the meantime, let’s take on a few relaxed lifestyle shows to unwind.”

“Not interested.”

“Just hear me out. You might change your mind. There are two shows I think would suit you well. One is the dating show We Got Married, the first wife-focused marriage observation program in the country. I know you’ve been married to your wife for seven years, and your relationship is so strong. If you were to join this show, it would definitely…”

“Let’s go with the other one.”

“Why?” the manager asked.

“I…” Li Tang’s gaze unfocused. “We’re getting divorced.”

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