After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 30

That person was always lurking like a shadow.

Back then, Li Tang and Yan Mengyi had been left behind by their teacher to do detention for causing trouble.

Li Tang stroked the skin beneath Yan Mengyi’s eyes, then hid her frameless glasses.

Yan Mengyi mumbled a plea for Li Tang to return her glasses. It was just like that moment when the sunlight flooded the room, and Yu Zhen walked in from the light, her figure gradually becoming clear.

“What have you done, Li Tang?” Yu Zhen asked, her tone displeased as she strode in.

“Nothing, just joking with Xiao Yi,” Li Tang replied, her hand resting on Yan Mengyi’s shoulder. We’re roommates and classmates—what’s wrong with that?

“I gave her those glasses. Why did you take them?” Yu Zhen’s anger intensified.

“You don’t understand her. Giving her such ugly glasses? I won’t allow it.”

“Xiao Yi likes them herself. Who asked for your opinion? I don’t need your permission to give her gifts!”

“I won’t allow it.” The girl shoved her hands into her pockets. A gust of wind swept through the classroom, billowing the curtains and whipping her white blouse into a frenzy.

Li Tang would never forget Yu Zhen’s guarded posture and piercing gaze.

Now, she saw Yu Zhen’s shadow in the doctor before her, and she instinctively felt a jolt of alarm.

Why would the lingering shadow of her troubled marriage with Yan Mengyi suddenly resurface?

Li Tang swayed slightly but quickly regained her composure.

However, Jiang Banxia noticed her slight waver. Out of primal fear, Jiang Banxia began to struggle.

The moment the timer called out “one,” the six-person human knot collapsed to the ground.

The team members landed safely on the soft mats, uninjured. Zhou Qiutong instinctively shielded Jiang Banxia’s head with her arms.

Li Tang held Yan Mengyi tightly in her embrace, keeping her completely unharmed.

Only the two IGP members were left twisted and tangled in contorted positions.

Staff rushed forward to check on them, but the team waved them off, signaling they were unharmed.

“What a pity! We were just one second away!” Pei Nalian, ignoring her sore hand from the fall, expressed her disappointment as soon as she climbed to her feet.

Jin Youshu moved to help her up, but Pei Nalian, still angry, shook off her hand and stood on her own.

She was strict with herself and others, unable to bear the thought of failing at the last moment.

“It’s my fault,” Jiang Banxia stepped forward and apologized. “I kept feeling like Tangtang was about to fall, so I startled myself. Ah… it’s all my fault…”

Li Tang sat up, first checking to make sure Yan Mengyi hadn’t been hurt, then turning to look in the doctor’s direction.

The doctor had already taken half a step forward, striding purposefully toward them with hands already outstretched, the concern on their face clear even through the mask.

Li Tang quickly pulled Yan Mengyi to her feet, using her own body to block the doctor’s gaze.

No woman could tolerate someone else coveting her wife.

“You weren’t imagining it,” Li Tang said, clapping her hands to draw everyone’s attention. “I did feel a sudden dizziness. Let’s try again.”

“Okay, one more time,” Pei Nalian responded quickly.

Zhou Qiutong glanced down at the sole of Li Tang’s shoe. Though only lightly dusted, the sight still made her worry.

“Maybe we should give up,” Zhou Qiutong said to Mo Zhenyi. “Let’s skip Challenge 2. It looks like it would really hurt.”

“Then I’ll stand up here, and you can step on me,” Pei Nalian suggested.

“Let me do it instead,” Jin Youshu said.

“Enough with the challenges,” Jiang Banxia declared, taking charge and speaking to Mo Zhenyi. “This is too dangerous. We’re not going to do it. Life isn’t about winning every battle. Just give us the worst die and take us to the next challenge.”

Jiang Banxia and Zhou Qiutong shared the same resolve.

Mo Zhenyi agreed to their request, directing them to move to the next challenge in the courtyard.

Pei Nalian, however, was seething. Her voice had been drowned out by the group.

She glanced back at the newspaper on the ground, her gaze lingering on the “doctor” standing nearby.

The man exuded a second-generation air of carefree elegance, every gesture carrying an air of nobility. His indifferent gaze swept across the scene with a hint of disdain. Standing tall like a sturdy bamboo stalk, the wind rustled through his slender, high-collared jacket as it swept past.

Pei Nalian had seen many people, and her instincts were sharp.

Before she could look again, Jin Youshu came over and tugged at her, forcing her to look away.

“Are you okay, sweetie?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Pei Nalian scoffed. Though she knew she had to put on a show for the cameras, even masks can’t be worn 24/7. “Artists Jiang and Zhou both said they’re done playing, so of course we’ll listen to them.”

Mo Zhenyi led the group into the courtyard. Before them stood a rectangular structure made of small cubic boxes, arranged in a 3×10 grid.

The short walk from indoors to outdoors was fraught with tension. Li Tang kept her hand tightly clasped around Yan Mengyi’s, gripping so hard it began to hurt. But Yan Mengyi didn’t protest. If Li Tang’s touch could leave a permanent mark on her, this moment’s pain would be nothing. She would willingly bear Li Tang’s imprint ten thousand times, relishing this seven-year marriage that had finally come to an end, over and over again, for the rest of her life.

“Nalian and Youshu! Hurry up!” Jiang Banxia turned back, waving at Pei Nalian and Jin Youshu, urging them to catch up.

“Coming!” Pei Nalian smiled, her lips curving into a perfect arc, as if the earlier emotional turmoil had never occurred.

Jin Youshu watched Pei Nalian, her eyes brimming with tenderness. Nalian had always been like this, suppressing her true emotions to keep everyone happy, while neglecting her own feelings.

Thinking this, Jin Youshu clenched her fist, silently vowing to create music even greater than Li Tang’s. She would make sure Pei Nalian never had to live her life so cautiously and pleasingly again.

“Now that everyone’s here, let me explain the game rules,” Mo Zhenyi said. “As you can see, we have three rows of ten chests in front of us. The tools we need for the next task are at the finish line. Your goal is to reach the finish line and retrieve them as quickly as possible.”

“Do we just roll the dice and move forward the number of spaces shown?” someone asked.

“Correct. But be careful—some of the chests are traps, not solid.”

“What happens if we fall into a trap?” Li Tang asked. “Do we have to start all over again?”

“No. The next person takes over from where you fell. You just have to get back up where you fell.”

Li Tang wasn’t really into games, but as soon as she stepped out of the indoor space, she felt the scorching heat. Today’s temperature was even higher than yesterday’s.

Although the production team had thoughtfully set up the venue under the shade of trees and given them all sun hats, these measures couldn’t solve the real problem.

Seeming to read Li Tang’s concern, Yan Mengyi smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I think I’m starting to get used to the heat.”

Jiang Banxia volunteered first. She tossed the die, and everyone held their breath.

The number “3” glared up at them—the highest possible roll!

“Sis’s just that awesome!” Jiang Banxia cheered, leaping toward the chest to her left.

But the smile froze on her face as she landed. She’d triggered a trap.

Even with a roll of three, her turn had to end there.

Jiang Banxia emerged, stunned, and turned to Mo Zhenyi with an earnest expression. “Director Mo, are you really out to get me? I finally got a lucky break, and you know the left side is my lucky direction!”

“Our traps are randomized. We had no idea who would go first when we set them up.”

Zhou Qiutong took the die. “Honey, watch this. I’ll get you a few extra steps.”

“Go, Artist Zhou!” Jin Youshu couldn’t help but pump her fists in support.

Yan Mengyi, caught up in the excitement, also cheered Zhou Qiutong on.

Without much thought, Zhou Qiutong casually tossed the die. The number “2” came up.

Zhou Qiutong took a step forward from where Jiang Banxia had fallen and landed steadily on the box. She then leaped diagonally forward and right, landing just as steadily.

Proud as a ballet dancer, Zhou Qiutong spread her arms wide, bowed to the audience, and strode confidently toward Jiang Banxia.

“I told you I wouldn’t disappoint.”

“My wife is amazing!”

Jin Youshu and Pei Nalian exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with eagerness.

“I’ll go first,” Jin Youshu volunteered. She picked up the dice, tossed them in her palm, and asked, “Can I do a test roll?”

“Sure.”

Jin Youshu rolled a “-3,” causing everyone to gasp. But when they remembered the number wouldn’t count, they calmed down.

“Got it,” Jin Youshu said, tossing the dice into the air with confidence.

“Let’s begin.”

Jin Youshu looked nervous, unlike the two seniors before her. She leaned forward, staring at the dice in her hand as if they were a bomb. She prepared for thirty seconds, almost driving everyone impatient, before finally rolling the dice.

The dice tumbled across the floor, wavering between the numbers 2 and 3. But when they finally settled, the number 2 was on top.

It was a bit unfortunate, but still a good result.

Jin Youshu jumped straight forward, landing steadily after clearing two boxes. She repeated the maneuver, landing just as steadily.

The next person only needed to advance one space to reach the finish line and claim the tool needed for the next stage.

“Teacher Jin!” Mo Zhenyi exclaimed in surprise. “How can you do this?”

After a moment of stunned silence, the group realized: “Wait, this might be allowed. Your rules never said that ‘advancing one space’ meant ‘one physical space.’ She has long legs—covering three spaces in one step is perfectly fine, right?”

Mo Zhenyi hesitated, then gritted her teeth. “Fine.”

Stepping down from the platform, Jin Youshu pushed the dice toward Pei Nalian. “Sweetie, this dice is unbalanced. Give it a try—you can easily roll a two.”

Jin Youshu wasn’t one to seek the spotlight, but for her lover, she would go to any lengths to let her win.

“You know what?” Jiang Banxia whispered excitedly. “Little Jin might seem quiet, but she’s really thoughtful. Can you feel what I’m feeling? She’s like a protagonist from a school romance novel—clumsy, but overflowing with genuine affection.”

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