After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 49

[Stop pretending. You don’t love her.]

Yu Zhen, who had always presented herself as a cool, elite figure, suddenly posted this blunt and angry message on her blog.

The message was short and cryptic, but it brimmed with fury and sarcasm.

Internet users, who love nothing more than a good scandal, rushed over.

[First comment!]

[Reserved front-row seat.]

[Sister, what’s going on? Who pissed you off?]

[Sister, spill! I’ve already got my popcorn ready.]

As a member of the wealthy Yu family, Yu Zhen’s every move always drew public attention. For a high-profile business leader to suddenly post such a melodramatic, love-stricken message was sure to pique everyone’s curiosity.

After much analysis, people concluded that Yu Zhen seemed to be caught in a love triangle.

*****

[Wow, how can someone who’s been through so many romantic entanglements still act so lovesick?]

[I’m dying to know what kind of woman can completely wrap this tycoon around her little finger.]

[Sister, you’re so beautiful, talented, and rich. I can’t imagine anyone choosing anyone else over you.]

[If I were the female lead in this story, I’d definitely choose Sister Yu!]

Yu Zhen didn’t respond, but the real protagonist soon came forward to claim her role.

[You knew again?] Li Tang fired off a Weibo post, tagging Yu Zhen by name.

[@Yu Zhen]

Naturally, both posts quickly vanished.

After all, as public figures with a certain level of fame, they needed to set a good example for society’s moral standards.

This back-and-forth between the two completely blew up the stagnant Weibo scene.

*****

[Oh my god, what’s going on here?]

[I was quick—I screenshotted it! Check my profile.]

[Heavens, they’re really going at it themselves!]

[If I didn’t see their verified statuses, I’d think this was a squabble between elementary school kids.]

[No matter how famous you are, who can escape matters of the heart?]

[One’s the future heir to a trillion-yuan empire, the other a globally renowned genius superstar. Even a trashy CEO novel wouldn’t dare write this.]

[If I were the female lead, I wouldn’t know who to choose.]

[Personally, I’d definitely pick Goddess Tang! Who could resist her charm?]

[It has to be Yu Zhen! She’s one of the rare elites among second-generation scions. Her parents are open-minded, and she’s the undisputed ruler at home. Marrying her means you wouldn’t have to live like a subservient heiress-in-law, constantly watching others’ faces. I like Goddess Tang too, but her family situation is too complicated. With such domineering parents-in-law, just thinking about it makes me suffocate.]

[So Yu Zhen is calling Goddess Tang a fraud? Is she sticking up for Goddess Tang’s wife?]

[This plotline is getting a bit melodramatic!]

[When they say “her,” do they mean Hua Jingyan?]

[I doubt it. I’ve never heard of Miss Fu and Hua Jingyan crossing paths.]

[Could it possibly be Goddess Tang’s wife?]

[Why not?]

[But isn’t Goddess Tang’s wife just a full-time homemaker? How would Miss Fu even know her?]

[For two powerhouses like them to clash over a full-time homemaker seems unreasonable. It would make more sense if they were feuding over Hua Jingyan.]

[Here’s proof! Back in high school, Miss Yan was very close to Miss Fu. After Miss Yan’s family troubles, she even moved in with Miss Fu. Their classmates always assumed they’d end up together. Who knew Miss Yan would rush into marriage with Goddess Tang right after graduation?]

[Now I’m suddenly sensing that the plot is taking an unexpected turn.]

[Exactly! Two big shots feuding like this, on the verge of coming to ]blows, while Miss Yan is mysteriously absent, hiding in the shadows.

[She seems to have deeper schemes at play.]

[“My friend lives at Dongzhou Junting, and she said Goddess Tang and her wife seem to be having marital problems. I rarely see them out together, so I bet they’re getting divorced. Miss Yan must be panicking and trying to use Goddess Tang’s fame to stir up publicity.”]

[“Exactly! It’s ridiculous. Just hearing her name makes me mad. She’s trending all day, even more famous than scientists, and she hasn’t achieved anything substantial. But she’s great at using these scandalous rumors to boost her own image!”]

*****

“What nonsense. Take it down,” Li Tang said, frowning at the extreme comments online. She asked Wan Cuirong for help.

“She’s about to get divorced anyway. This is all her mess now, not yours. You’re still so concerned about her,” Wan Cuirong teased. “You need to steady yourself too. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you arguing with Yu Zhen online.”

Li Tang rubbed her temples. “Even if she’s getting divorced, her problems are still my problems. Besides, she never would have been dragged into this mess if it weren’t for my status causing her trouble.”

“I can help you handle this, but…” Wan Cuirong patted Li Tang’s shoulder. “I think she’ll bounce back quickly. You shouldn’t stay stuck in the past either.”

******

That evening, the show’s staff sent Yan Mengyi a message to confirm her itinerary for the next day.

They had already booked her flight to Changsha, and the show would send her a text with further instructions after she landed.

Yan Mengyi confirmed the flight details and set her alarm.

The thought of being on the same plane as Li Tang still made her nervous.

She couldn’t help but want to text Li Tang, wanting to share every big tree or white cloud she saw with her.

But she also told herself it was time to move on.

So, she took the initiative and sent Li Tang a message:

[Tomorrow I’m taking the subway to the airport.]

On Li Tang’s end, the “typing…” indicator kept showing, but in the end, no message came through.

Yan Mengyi felt a dull ache in her heart.

Acen knocked on the door.

Yan Mengyi glanced at herself in the mirror—good, her eyes weren’t red and went to open the door.

“Hey, you look like you’re about to cry,” Acen said, easily piercing Yan Mengyi’s defenses.

“Ah, no, I’m fine.”

“Being alone with your thoughts is so boring. Come on, let’s go to where I work and have some fun. I guarantee you’ll forget all your troubles.”

“I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning, so thanks, but no thanks.”

“It’s no big deal. Just drink non-alcoholic drinks. It won’t affect your plans tomorrow. I’m a bartender there, so I can treat you to a few free drinks.”

Seeing Yan Mengyi’s hesitation, Acen scoffed.

“I get it. You graduated from an elite school and live a sheltered life. You probably think bars are places for riffraff.” Acen said. “Then don’t go. You’re right. Those places are crawling with germs. You’ll get pregnant just by touching the door handle.”

Seeing Acen’s anger, Yan Mengyi reluctantly agreed to go with her.

“That’s more like it. Meet me in the courtyard in five minutes. I’ll take you on my electric scooter.”

******

They were halfway to the bar on the electric scooter when the rain suddenly started pouring down.

The deluge came without warning, pattering loudly on their heads.

Acen pulled the scooter over to the curb, frantically directing Yan Mengyi to retrieve the rain hood.

It was a single-person hood, so Yan Mengyi hunched over and squished under it.

Through the layer of the hood, the rhythmic pitter-patter of raindrops reached Yan Mengyi’s ears.

When they burst into the bar, it was just past eight o’clock.

Acen grabbed a few paper towels for Yan Mengyi to dry off.

The Boss glanced at the pitch-black night and the torrential downpour, then sighed, “Looks like we won’t have any business tonight.”

He then teased Acen, “Brought a new girl? You sure switch them out quickly. This one’s different though—she’s the sweet, innocent type, huh?”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Acen said, patting the Boss on the shoulder. It was clear they bickered like this regularly. “She’s a proper girl.”

“Right, and you’re going to sweet-talk her into giving you a tip again?”

“Nonsense! She’s nothing like us.”

“Really? She looks like a real treasure.” The Boss blew a smoke ring, then turned to look at Yan Mengyi’s face and froze.

Seizing the opportunity, Acen stubbed out the Boss’s cigarette and tossed the butt away. “She probably can’t stand the smell of smoke.”

“Have a seat. I’ll go change into my work clothes,” Acen said, gesturing for Yan Mengyi to sit at the bar while she went into the staff lounge.

Yan Mengyi settled into a stool. The dim lighting and flowing symphony music created a relaxed atmosphere.

The Boss lit another cigarette, sat down, and blew a smoke ring.

Through the swirling haze, Yan Mengyi could see the Boss’s face. She was no longer young, with faint lines at the corners of her eyes. Her light makeup was neither exaggerated nor overly glamorous.

“I’ve seen your face before.”

“Maybe you’re famous now.”

“Don’t talk nonsense with her. She’s not like us,” Acen said, setting down two non-alcoholic cocktails before hurrying back to work.

Though no other customers had arrived yet, Acen meticulously tended to her duties, wiping and cleaning her cocktail glasses.

“Your wife left you?”

“It’s not like that. We’re just trying to find a better way to be together.”

The Boss sized up Yan Mengyi. “Tsk tsk tsk, poor thing. Where did you live back then? Where do you live now? When you were with her, she was nobody. Now that she’s rich and powerful, she’s off with that Korean guy.”

Yan Mengyi felt awkward. The boss had seen so many rumors online that she didn’t even know where to start explaining.

“Never mind,” the boss continued, “don’t you have a lover?”

This sudden remark startled Yan Mengyi, causing her to choke on her drink.

Acen patted her back for a while until Yan Mengyi’s breathing steadied.

“It’s my fault,” the boss said, pointing at Acen. “I’ll buy you a drink from our signature menu on her tab!”

Acen pushed the cocktail toward Yan Mengyi and warned, “This one has alcohol. Just take a small sip.”

Yan Mengyi thanked Acen for her kindness, but the boss blew a smoke ring in displeasure. When Acen turned away, the boss leaned in to Yan Mengyi.

“Don’t let her sweet talk fool you. Acen’s not as innocent as she seems.”

Feeling embarrassed and overwhelmed by the complex social dynamics, Yan Mengyi wanted to escape. But the torrential rain outside left her no refuge. She buried herself in her drink, trying to avoid letting the conversation circle back to her.

Only a few scattered customers came in that night, leaving the bar desolate.

Since Acen wasn’t busy, the boss told her to close up early and go home.

“Miss Yan, why don’t you take a photo with us? You’ll get free drinks for life at our bar if you come back.”

Acen helped Yan Mengyi up; she was already quite drunk.

Acen spoke for her: “I think we’ll pass. She doesn’t really fit with our place. Don’t bother.”

The boss, failing to get a photo, refused to give up and pressed Yan Mengyi about Yu Zhen.

“Miss Yu isn’t your lover, is she?”

“Absolutely not.”

“But she could be!” The boss spoke earnestly, as if offering advice. “You’re used to a life of luxury. Could you handle starting over with a salary of just a few thousand? You should dump that singer and hook up with the rich girl right away.”

“Ugh, stop talking.”

Acen hailed a taxi and settled Yan Mengyi in the back seat. Just as she turned to leave, the boss leaned against the bar doorframe, calling her name and gesturing for her to come back.

“What?” The rain made it hard for Acen to see, and she was shivering from the cold.

“Come here.”

With no choice, Acen told Yan Mengyi: “Sister, wait here a minute.”

She closed the car door and ran back into the rain.

The Boss hooked the strap of Yan Mengyi’s bag with his finger and handed it to Acen.

“Thanks,” Acen said, taking the bag. She lifted the hem of her loose T-shirt and tucked the bag inside.

Just in case it starts raining later.

“Hey.”

The Boss called out to Acen.

Through the swirling mist, Acen saw the Boss’s lips part slightly as he murmured:

“She’s not one of us. Stop staring at her.”

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