After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 52

Jin Youshu gently but resolutely pulled her sleeve from Pei Nalian’s tight grip.

Her gaze remained fixed on the floor, her hands braced against the back of the sofa. Without sparing Pei Nalian a single glance, she spoke calmly and indifferently, “I’m a bit tired. There’s nothing to say.”

Pei Nalian, oblivious to Jin Youshu’s mood, continued her relentless chatter, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“Isn’t it sweltering today?” she exclaimed dramatically, rushing over to stand in front of the air conditioner.

While it was indeed hot outside, the indoor temperature was a comfortable 20 degrees Celsius. Standing in front of the air conditioner seemed rather exaggerated.

“Director!” Pei Nalian turned to the camera. “Could we shoot the next episode in Shanghai or Seoul? I can’t stand this place anymore—it’s scorching! And did you notice how people here talk? They shout and sound so aggressive, like they’re always arguing! It’s terrifying!”

Jiang Banxia, puzzled, asked, “But don’t you like it here? This is your hometown.”

Zhou Qiutong said, “I feel like the production team specifically chose this place. I bet they’ll ask you to be our tour guide and show us around.”

Pei Nalian evaded the question, her words clearly avoiding the core issue.

“I left home so long ago that I don’t have many memories of this place, and I don’t know what’s fun here. If you asked me about Seoul, Shanghai, or Beijing, though, I could tell you.”

For some reason, Pei Nalian seemed desperate to distance herself from the land that nurtured her, preferring to label herself with the aura of international metropolises.

“Weren’t you only twelve when you left?” Jin Youshu’s voice turned icy. “That’s not too young to remember.”

Clever minds like Li Tang and Zhou Qiutong immediately sensed the tension in Jin Youshu’s words and tactfully remained silent.

But Jiang Banxia, oblivious to Jin Youshu’s displeasure, eagerly chimed in, “That’s right! I don’t want to go to crowded tourist spots either. I’d love to see some old buildings around here and maybe meet your parents, relatives, and friends while we’re at it.”

Pei Nalian looked a little awkward. “They’re all so busy. We won’t have time to meet them this time. Maybe next time, when we have a chance.”

“Changsha isn’t that big, and it’s Saturday today. Surely you don’t have to work, right? Even if you do, you should still have time for a meal after work.”

Jiang Banxia was born into an ordinary family, but her parents were loving and supportive. Whenever she returned home to film, no matter how busy or tired they were, they would always take time off to make banners and visit the set, genuinely proud of her.

Assuming Pei Nalian’s family was the same, Jiang Banxia didn’t notice how rarely Pei Nalian used the word “family” or mentioned her life before coming to Korea.

Zhou Qiutong felt a chill creep up her spine. She pressed her hand against Jiang Banxia’s. “It’s alright. There’ll be other chances.”

“Right,” Pei Nalian agreed, skillfully changing the subject. “Senior, where’s your hometown? If you have time, take us around sometime.”

Jiang Banxia eagerly agreed. She was enjoying the conversation, completely oblivious to the undercurrent swirling between the jagged rocks beneath the surface.

“By the way, Youshu and I brought gifts for everyone. I hope you like them.”

Pei Nalian took out several bottles of perfume from her backpack and handed them to Li Tang and Jiang Banxia, smiling as she explained that she and Jin Youshu had picked them out together.

“Wow, thank you!” Jiang Banxia said happily, though she seemed puzzled. “But Little Jin already gave us gifts earlier.”

Pei Nalian’s smile stiffened slightly.

Zhou Qiutong recalled yesterday’s trending topic. It seemed the two IGP members hadn’t been together the previous day, making the rumors on the trending topic much more likely to be true.

Sensing the awkwardness in the air, Pei Nalian maintained a calm expression, insisting that the gifts were double portions prepared for everyone.

Jin Youshu sighed softly, as if a flood of unspoken words were trapped in her heart. In the end, she chose silence.

Pei Nalian glanced around the room before changing the subject to Li Tang. “Are we still waiting for someone? Goddess Tang, why didn’t you come with your wife? Did you two have a fight?”

Her tone was casual, as if she were just chatting, but the question was so personal it was hard to avoid.

Li Tang didn’t pick up the conversation like Jiang Banxia would have. She just asked bluntly, “I saw you two trending yesterday. What they said wasn’t true, was it? You didn’t argue, did you?”

“Of course not,” Pei Nalian replied, her tone light and her expression cheerful, playing the role of a satisfied couple. She knew she was lying, and she knew more than half the people in the room knew she was lying, but that didn’t matter.

Everyone here was a decent person.

Jin Youshu’s expression darkened. She wasn’t the type of smooth, worldly person who could do something hypocritical or say something insincere. Watching her lover’s clumsy act, she felt nothing but endless embarrassment.

“Why aren’t Xiao Yi and Hua Jingyan here yet?” Jiang Banxia asked. “Xiao Yi has always been punctual.”

“Hua Jingyan is supposed to be punctual too. She has a good reputation in the industry.”

“Oh no, I hope nothing happened to them.”

“No, it’s broad daylight, and the production team is here. Xiao Yi might have gotten lost, and Hua Jingyan, being a foreigner unfamiliar with the area, could easily have taken a wrong turn.”

“Couldn’t they have met at the entrance instead?” Jiang Banxia asked casually, her worry growing as she considered the implications.

“What’s there to worry about?” Pei Nalian asked.

All eyes turned to Li Tang.

Clearly, everyone felt that Li Tang and Hua Jingyan’s interactions had crossed a line. Even if Madam Yan Mengyi, the rightful wife, had the best temper, she would inevitably be upset to see her rival.

Pei Nalian had been talking nonstop since earlier, ensuring the camera kept filming her. However, if Yan Mengyi and Hua Jingyan got into a heated argument later, she’d happily cede the spotlight.

Another ten minutes passed.

They heard movement in the corridor again.

Pei Nalian was first tempted to stand up and peek, but she held back, afraid of drawing attention. Instead, she waited until the figures walked in before turning to look.

It was indeed Yan Mengyi and Hua Jingyan.

Yan Mengyi carried a tote bag, while Hua Jingyan dragged a small suitcase.

The two walked in, chatting and laughing.

Li Tang stood up.

Zhou Qiutong teased her, “Are you that excited?”

“Not at all,” Li Tang insisted.

But her actions betrayed her.

The imagined confrontation never materialized.

Hua Jingyan had arrived arm-in-arm with Yan Mengyi.

She shared her experience of hailing a taxi at the airport and sincerely expressed her fondness for Yan Mengyi.

“Sister Xiao Yi appeared like a hero and saved me,” Hua Jingyan said. “If I’d really been tricked into paying a huge taxi fare, my tears would have flowed like pulled noodles!”

Jiang Banxia nearly died laughing at that ridiculous comparison.

As the group grew familiar with each other, Director Mo Zhenyi made her grand entrance.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the filming of Pillowside Lovers! We’re thrilled to have Teacher Hua Jingyan joining us!”

“Director, just tell us—what’s the plan for the next two days?”

“Today, your task is to find accommodations and explore the city on your own. As for tomorrow’s arrangements,” Mo Zhenyi said, “I’ll reveal them at 9 PM tonight.”

“Is that all?” Jiang Banxia asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

“That’s all,” Mo Zhenyi replied, blinking innocently.

“I don’t believe you,” Jiang Banxia said. “There’s no hotel in this area that costs less than a thousand, right? And you expect us to busk on the streets to earn enough for a hotel room?”

“That’s not exactly what I meant,” Zhou Qiutong interjected, already downloading a niche review app and comparing hotel rates.

“The hotel we’re staying in now has rooms for just nine hundred.”

“Let’s just stay here,” Jiang Banxia said. “It’s too hot outside, and I’m too lazy to move. When I was younger, I used to travel with Zhou and stay in hostels that cost a few dozen yuan a night. But I’m getting old. I can’t handle the noise or those cheap, uncomfortable mattresses that leave my back aching all night.”

“Your backache is from the mattress?” Zhou Qiutong couldn’t resist chiming in.

Jiang Banxia flushed, raising a fist as if to teach Zhou Qiutong a lesson.

Yan Mengyi watched their bickering with a flicker of envy in her eyes. Her gaze accidentally met Li Tang’s, then quickly averted.

They were about to divorce, which meant not only a complete severing of assets and legal ties, but also the end of those intimate pleasures of the lips and body.

“Everyone starts with five hundred yuan. We spent thirty on the taxi, so each family unit has nine hundred and seventy yuan—enough for a night’s stay,” Zhou Qiutong said.

“Should we look at other hotels? If we only have seventy yuan left for tomorrow, I feel like we’ll be in a tough spot,” Pei Nalian timidly suggested.

“As long as we have our faces, we have our kingdom,” Jiang Banxia said. “If we really need money tomorrow, you girls can just stand on the street and take photos with people for twenty yuan a pop. We’ll make it work. I can’t handle even a little hardship, so Zhou and I will stay here.”

“Cross that bridge when we come to it,” Yan Mengyi said. “Sometimes, you don’t need a plan. Putting yourself in an out-of-control situation can bring new opportunities and challenges.”

“You two really have a carefree attitude,” Jiang Banxia said.

“I agree with Senior’s plan,” Pei Nalian said.

“But there’s still one problem,” Yan Mengyi said. “Where will Jingyan stay?”

“I don’t care about the hotel environment,” Hua Jingyan said, “but I’m afraid of the dark and can’t sleep alone.”

Support