After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 35

The Village Chief had been hosting the meal, sharing the history of the Resort and Entertainment Village with the guests.

Not long after the dishes were served, a woman who looked like a department manager rushed in, her face etched with urgency. She signaled to the Village Chief that she needed his attention.

The Village Chief leaned forward. “My apologies, I must attend to some urgent matters. Please excuse me for a moment.”

“No problem, we understand.”

After the Village Chief left, Jiang Banxia glanced at her phone to check the time. “It’s only 1:30. I have a bad feeling about this. Don’t tell me Director Mo has more tasks for us later?”

“I’m sure she does,” Zhou Qiutong said. “From the moment she asked us to deliver coconuts to the Entertainment Village, I knew things wouldn’t be simple.”

“If it’s about performing, I’d be more than willing,” Pei Nalian said. “When you’re doing what you love, you never get tired, no matter how much you do. Back when I was a trainee, I’d secretly practice in the dance studio until midnight after a full day of training.”

“You guys are amazing,” Yan Mengyi said, a hint of envy in her voice. “I always feel like I don’t have enough energy. Even ten minutes of conversation with someone exhausts me completely.”

“I can practice from dawn till dusk too,” Li Tang suddenly interjected, her usually reserved demeanor breaking.

It seemed she was displeased that her wife’s admiration was being directed elsewhere.

This cold and distant superstar, like a wolf king, maintained a calm facade as she strode gracefully toward Yan Mengyi for a hug. Yet beneath the surface, her heart was pounding with excitement, her metaphorical tail wagging like a helicopter blade.

“If you’re exhausted after just ten minutes of conversation each day,” Li Tang leaned instinctively toward Yan Mengyi, “then when I’m on a business trip, could you call me for just ten minutes when you wake up?”

Jiang Banxia clicked her tongue. “You’re so grumpy and stubborn. When you’re away, Xiao Yi will be dancing in joy. Who wants to cuddle with a cold-faced weirdo all day?”

Despite Jiang Banxia’s teasing, Li Tang’s expression remained unchanged. She simply pressed her lips together, watching Yan Mengyi, eager to hear her response.

“Talking with you never tires me out,” Yan Mengyi murmured.

Not only that, but talking with you actually recharges me.

“Then why have you never called me first before?” Li Tang asked.

Actually, when they first got married, they used to chat frequently and warmly. But because of the time difference, by the time one of them saw the other’s message, the other’s excitement had already cooled, making it hard to stay connected.

Yan Mengyi had tried calling her once, but Li Tang answered with a hushed voice: “I’m busy. I’ll call you back when I’m done.”

Feeling like she was getting in the way, Yan Mengyi never called again.

“I was afraid you were busy,” Yan Mengyi said, her voice suddenly catching in her throat. Afraid she might start crying, she quickly picked up her coconut to drink. She lowered her head, keeping her eyes downcast so no one would see her moment of vulnerability.

“I really wish Entertainment Village only needed two actors,” Jiang Banxia said. “Then everyone could do what they love.”

“Exactly! Nalian and Youshu are the backbone of our show,” Zhou Qiutong said. “If you two took their places, the four of us could sit in the audience. Just like how every flower needs green leaves, and every beauty needs fans cheering them on from the sidelines—we’d just be playing those roles.”

Zhou Qiutong’s words were tactful.

But Jiang Banxia wasn’t thinking about that. She was too busy shoveling rice, stirring in all the sauce from her dishes.

“If I were the Village Chief of the Entertainment Village, I’d cancel all the scheduled performances right away. With Tangtang here, who would want to see anything else?”

Jiang Banxia’s words left Pei Nalian’s face ashen. If it were a malicious taunt, Pei Nalian might have dismissed it. But Jiang Banxia spoke with genuine sincerity, stating bluntly that no one’s performance compared to Li Tang’s. It was a harsh slap in the face.

“Nonsense,” Yan Mengyi interjected, trying to ease the tension. “Audiences come to the Resort and Entertainment Village specifically to experience local culture.”

As they spoke, the Village Chief entered, looking troubled.

“I didn’t want to disturb you, but we’re facing some issues. Several of our performers have fallen ill at the last minute…”

“We’re willing to help,” Jiang Banxia cut in.

“Just tell us which roles need filling,” Zhou Qiutong added.

Jiang Banxia grumbled, “I knew it! How could Xiao Mo be so generous, treating us to such a lavish meal? I should have known this was coming. But rest assured, Village Chief. Since you’ve hosted us so well, we’ll definitely contribute to your performances.”

“We have six actors sick today, so all of you will have to perform,” the Village Chief said. “Each actor is involved in multiple acts.”

“What time does the official performance start?” Jiang Banxia asked.

“Two o’clock.”

“Two o’clock?” Zhou Qiutong exclaimed, glancing at her watch to confirm the time. “That’s only fifteen minutes from now!”

“Yes, so there’s no time for training. Once you’re dressed, we’ll need you on stage right away,” the Village Chief said. “Just follow the rhythm of those around you, feel free to improvise, but make sure you blend in. We can’t let the audience notice anything unusual about our performance.”

Hearing that they would be performing in someone else’s act, and that they couldn’t just do whatever they wanted, the smile on Pei Nalian’s face faded. This wasn’t what she’d imagined. If she couldn’t sing her own songs, she’d rather not have this opportunity at all.

Unfortunately, she’d already boasted about it earlier. Now it was too late to back out.

“My wife isn’t good at singing and dancing,” Li Tang said, raising his hand. “Is there a role with less stage time? I want to stay by her side. She can’t be alone.”

The Village Chief and Manager reviewed the program schedule one last time before presenting Li Tang with a solution.

“We have two actors who can fill other roles. Your wife could play the princess on the flying carpet, and you could be the divine messenger beside her. However, both characters will wear veils to cover their faces, and their stage time is very limited. What do you think of this arrangement?”

“Of course.”

******

The manager hurried the four of them backstage for an emergency costume change and a five-minute rush makeup.

Still disoriented and unsure of their surroundings, they were pushed onto the stage by actors behind them.

Jiang Banxia wasn’t particularly skilled at dancing, but fortunately, she was positioned in a dimly lit corner of the stage.

Zhou Qiutong had intended to stay by Jiang Banxia’s side, but the dancers jostled her into the center of the stage.

Fortunately, her extensive theater training and excellent improvisational skills came in handy.

For Jin Youshu and Pei Nalian, replicating the dance moves exactly wasn’t difficult. They initially followed the crowd onto the stage and stood at the back, but as the formations shifted, they found themselves in the middle.

Judging by the angles of the phones raised by the audience to take photos, Pei Nalian and Jin Youshu’s dancing clearly received enthusiastic approval.

After the performance ended, the four returned backstage with the crowd. Before they could catch their breath, they were handed new costumes.

The backstage atmosphere was tense, enveloping the group.

The dressing room was cramped, so they quickly changed into their next performance outfits. As soon as they stepped out, makeup artists immediately pressed them into chairs and began applying thick layers of stage makeup.

After several rounds of this, Jiang Banxia had collapsed onto the backstage floor. No matter how Zhou Qiutong tried to pull her up, she refused to budge.

She stood in stark contrast to the radiant Pei Nalian and Jin Youshu.

“I asked, and we have one last performance. Just hang in there a little longer,” Zhou Qiutong said.

Jiang Banxia sat on the ground, sulking for a moment before finally dusting herself off and standing up.

“Fine. I remember I ate their food at lunch today, so I owe them this performance,” Jiang Banxia said through gritted teeth. “Next time, I’ll only eat grass. I’ll lose weight until I’m as skinny as lightning. I’ll only eat a fistful of rice per meal. I’ll never owe anyone anything again.”

“Good! That’s the spirit!” Zhou Qiutong gave Jiang Banxia a thumbs-up, then called over the filming camera. “The whole nation just heard that. Next time you’re about to wolf down food, have some self-awareness.”

Just before going on stage, Jiang Banxia, still seething, asked curiously, “Where are Tangtang and Xiao Yi? Where did they go?”

The makeup artist pointed to a separate dressing room nearby.

“Even though their characters don’t need to show their faces, the cameras will zoom in for close-ups during the performance. Their hairstyles need to be extra precise.”

“Hurry, we’re about to go on,” Zhou Qiutong said, seeing the actors ahead of her start moving. She immediately followed suit, peeking through the curtain to watch the stage while gesturing behind her for her wife to keep up.

Jiang Banxia was still curious about what Li Tang and the others were doing, so as she hurried past, she peeked into the private dressing room.

Yan Mengyi was dressed in an orange sari-style costume, adorned with sparkling accessories on her head and neck. Her originally fresh and dewy complexion, with lively eyes, now resembled a freshly peeled orange, its vibrant hue and fragrance seemingly palpable from a distance.

Li Tang wore modest divine messenger attire, but her tall stature and exceptional presence shone through even the coarse fabric.

Yan Mengyi held a damaged crown, looking somewhat regretful.

The props master standing nearby also seemed pained. The crown had been purchased at a high price long ago, but after it broke, the skilled craftsmen who could repair it had all passed away, leaving it to gather dust until now.

Yan Mengyi said something to Li Tang.

Li Tang rummaged through a toolbox and handed her some tools.

Yan Mengyi began fiddling with the delicate pieces. The props master and Li Tang held their breath, afraid to disturb her.

Yan Mengyi’s long lashes cast elongated shadows across her face, rising and falling with each breath. In that moment, those shifting shadows seemed the only signs of life.

Li Tang watched Yan Mengyi intently.

Jiang Banxia had never seen Li Tang so captivated before.

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