After Appearing On A Marriage Reality Show, The Top Star Cried and Says She Doesn't Want a Divorce - Chapter 9

[The two IGP members just got engaged. They’re so sweet and loving. It can’t be them, right?]

[Artist Jiang and Artist Zhou have been together for twelve years, with a brief breakup in between. They finally confirmed their feelings and are now living a peaceful, happy life. It probably isn’t them either.]

[The more I think about it, the more I suspect it’s Goddess Tang’s couple.]

[That makes sense. Their pair doesn’t seem to interact much at all.]

[If their relationship is in trouble, it explains why her wife is wearing a mask. When facing someone you dislike, you wouldn’t want to give them any expression.]

[But they’re sleeping with their faces pressed together. Would you do that with someone you dislike?]

[Clearly, they’re preparing to cash in on the divorce publicity and establish their image. Next step: becoming internet celebrities.]

[Li Tang actually married a woman like this?]

Online opinion has already overwhelmingly swung in one direction.

******

Song Yujing taught her public course, “Technology and Archaeology,” at the college that afternoon.

The course content was light and engaging, which was why so many students had signed up.

But today, Song Yujing noticed a lack of participation. Most students were whispering to each other or scrolling on their phones.

She was a little annoyed, but considering the upcoming holiday, she figured the students had probably already packed their bags and were just waiting to rush to the airport after class. She didn’t hold it against them.

During the break, Song Yujing unscrewed her thermos and leaned against the front row of seats, chatting with the students.

“Student Chen, as my class representative, you’re up for some criticism today, ha ha.”

Despite being a professor, Song Yujing was young and approachable, speaking to the students with a smile.

“For a whole hour, not a single question was answered. I can let the others slide, but you should at least give your teacher some support!”

The class representative looked a little embarrassed but then showed Song Yujing his phone screen.

“Professor, you haven’t heard yet? Li Tang got married today! Everyone’s talking about it. Your class is great, but celebrity gossip is just more tempting.”

“Is it really that big of a deal?” Song Yujing glanced at the screen, pretending to be calm.

“It’s not surprising for a top celebrity to get married, but who she married is really intriguing,” the class representative said. “Have you seen the video? Her wife seems completely unworthy of her. I bet this couple will be the first to divorce out of the three celebrity marriages.”

“You think so too?” Hearing the class representative’s opinion, several students who had been dozing off in the back row perked up, propping their elbows on their desks and leaning forward.

“In the video, she doesn’t talk much, so it’s hard to see what Li Tang sees in her. How could Li Tang marry such an ordinary person? I always thought she deserved someone like Hua Jingyan.”

“These two have been together for seven years, from dating to marriage. There must be a reason for that. Besides, Li Tang probably doesn’t even go home more than a few times a year. Who can call that a good wife?” Song Yujing hadn’t expected such one-sided opinions and couldn’t help but defend Yan Mengyi.

After class, most students lay their heads on their desks to catch up on sleep, while a few went to get water or use the restroom.

In the hallway, students hurried past, too busy to notice Professor Song holding her phone, sending a voice message to someone.

[Xiao Yi, Song Yujing asked, have you seen the trailer for Pillowside Lovers yet?]

[Not yet.]

[Stop reading those comments online—they’re infuriating! People become so venomous once they’re behind a screen, forgetting they’re dealing with real, three-dimensional people.]

[Thank you, Senior Sister.]

******

Yan Mengyi knew her senior sister had class today, but the fact that she took time during a break to specifically message her about this showed how deeply upset she was.

However, having already decided to step into the spotlight, Yan Mengyi had mentally prepared for negative comments.

Due to the mask controversy, Wan Cuirong had rushed over to speak with Li Tang.

In the study, Yan Mengyi could hear her own heartbeat and the click of the mouse.

The voting results from the official [Pillowside Lovers] account were completely unexpected.

Vote for the divorced wife:

47% of netizens voted for IGP.

45% of netizens voted for Jiang Zhou.

Only 8% of netizens believed Li Tang and her wife would separate.

The results contradicted public opinion, leading many to suspect the production team had manipulated the data.

However, many netizens later came forward to clarify their votes:

[I just think Li Tang’s performance was terrible. Maybe it was intentional.]

[After watching again, it feels like the editing is to blame. They deliberately cut it to stir up controversy.]

Yan Mengyi closed the webpage, got up to light some incense, and looked out the window to calm her nerves before picking up her phone.

The Handicraft Group chat had been buzzing nonstop since noon.

[Who did you vote for?]

[I voted for IGP.]

[I voted for Jiang Zhou.]

[Hahaha, why are you all such hypocrites? You all said you didn’t like Li Tang’s team, but none of you actually voted for her.]

[‘m sure the production team is messing with us on purpose. They edited it to look like this.]

[According to reality show logic, the first choice is usually wrong.]

[Looking at the layout of their study, I bet her wife is also a hairpin maker.]

[Aaaaah! Did you notice that too? That modified UV light—perfect for making heat-shrink hairpins! I saw it right away!]

[I think Xiao Yi also has that equipment, @Yan Mengyi.]

Caught off guard by the mention, Yan Mengyi’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know how to explain herself to the group.

Fortunately, Little Hairpin Maker, who had always admired her, stepped in to smooth things over.

[Xiao Yi shared the DIY tutorial for that equipment on social media. Everyone in the community should know about it.]

Yan Mengyi breathed a sigh of relief.

But then Little Hairpin Maker suddenly sent her a private message.

[Master Xiao Yi, are you free tonight? I have a question I would like to ask you about something. Would you be able to meet up and talk? I know this new restaurant that serves really authentic Yunnan cuisine.]

Yan Mengyi had a fairly good impression of this younger sister, even though they’d never met in person. The girl often shared her handmade crafts in the group chat, and she was always humble and polite.

But her social anxiety made her very hesitant.

Fortunately, a staff member she had worked with before sent her a message, rescuing her from her indecision.

[Sorry, I have to take care of something last minute. I won’t be able to meet up tonight. Maybe next time.]

After replying to Little Hairpin Maker, Yan Mengyi opened the message from the staff member.

[Teacher Yan, thanks so much for your help! Our short drama just hit 100 million views on the video platform!]

The short drama was called Homecoming. It told the story of artifacts stranded overseas, personified and escaping overnight from museums around the world, joyfully returning to their homeland.

It was a wild idea, but the story was solidly crafted, especially the designs for the personified artifacts, which had clearly received a lot of attention.

When the production team released behind-the-scenes footage during filming, Yan Mengyi happened to see it and commented, offering suggestions on color and pattern details. The staff immediately noticed her input.

Later, when the production team learned of Yan Mengyi’s professional background, they were greatly surprised. They promptly offered her a contract, accommodating her social anxiety by arranging for her to provide remote guidance.

Initially, the crew had planned to credit Yan Mengyi in the end credits as a special thank you. However, Yan Mengyi vehemently refused their kind gesture and insisted they not publicize the name of her handmade shop.

In the end, the short drama’s end credits were changed to simply “Xiao Yi.”

“No need to thank me,” Yan Mengyi said. “The main credit goes to your team for the excellent concept of the short drama. My costume and styling suggestions were just the cherry on top.”

“Teacher Yan, here’s the thing,” a crew member explained. “A well-known producer saw our short drama and is very interested in you. She has a project with a tight deadline and wants to collaborate with you. If you’re okay with it, I can give her your contact information.”

“My schedule is quite full for the next month,” Yan Mengyi replied. “If the project is urgent, I’m afraid I won’t be able to participate. My apologies.”

Though disappointed, the crew member dutifully relayed Yan Mengyi’s exact words to the legendary producer.

After being rejected, the producer became even more intrigued by Yan Mengyi.

“Just give me her contact information,” she insisted. “I’ll contact her personally.”

******

Yan Mengyi sat at the desk, lost in thought, when Li Tang pushed the door open and walked in.

Li Tang stood behind the chair, looking relaxed and a little bored. She’d just seen off Wan Cuirong, whose rambling had worn her patience thin.

Yan Mengyi reached out and took hold of Li Tang’s fingertips.

Before she could say anything, Li Tang’s phone rang.

She ignored it at first, but the persistent caller refused to give up.

Li Tang answered with her free hand, lazily saying, “Hello?”

“It’s me.” A stern male voice came through the receiver.

It was most likely her father.

“What do you want?”

“Your aunt mentioned she wanted to talk to you about something a few days ago.”

Li Tang replied coolly, “That’s right.”

People always fidget with something absentmindedly when they’re on the phone.

Yan Mengyi leaned back against Li Tang, inadvertently pressing her soft, jade-like cheek against her.

Li Tang’s slender fingers gently stroked her cheek, as if caressing a guitar.

The strings trembled faintly, but the guitarist remained oblivious.

“When you came home that day, your aunt has been in a foul mood ever since,” President Li said sharply from the other end.

“Is that so? How wonderful,” Li Tang replied.

“Listen to yourself! Do you sound even remotely filial?”

Li Tang chuckled softly. “Of course I’m speaking human words. If you can’t understand them, that’s not my problem.”

President Li gasped, visibly angered by his defiant daughter’s insolence made his blood boiling.

“I don’t care about anything else you do,” he snapped, “but there’s one thing I won’t tolerate: don’t bring that… that woman onto any marriage reality show. Aunt Qin’s program delayed its filming specifically to have you on—”

Li Tang’s grip tightened, her hand sliding from Yan Mengyi’s cheek to her shoulder, massaging it with practiced tenderness.

Though her fingers didn’t touch Yan Mengyi’s ears, the tips flushed crimson, as if blood might seep through the skin.

“I will go on the show with her! You can’t stop me!”

With that, Li Tang tossed her phone onto the table and stormed off.

“What did Sister Rong say to you earlier?” Yan Mengyi asked cautiously. “Never mind, it’s late, and we have a flight tomorrow. I’ll go take a shower.”

“Sister Rong gave me a severe dressing-down,” Li Tang replied. “She said I acted like a tyrannical dictator, forcing you to wear a mask.”

At Li Tang’s insistence, the production team withheld Yan Mengyi’s name, referring to her only as “Li Tang’s wife.”

This decision provoked Sister Rong’s furious rebuke.

Li Tang finally relented.

However, there was one question Sister Rong had asked that Li Tang never shared with Yan Mengyi:

“Why are you afraid to let the public know your wife’s name? What are you afraid of?”

Yan Mengyi assumed Li Tang didn’t want to discuss such matters. She stood up to take a shower, giving Li Tang space to calm down.

But as she turned away, Li Tang noticed Yan Mengyi’s flushed ears. She quickly grabbed her arm.

Yan Mengyi had already been distracted by Li Tang’s earlier touch. Now, feeling her icy fingertips brush against her forearm, she dared not meet Li Tang’s eyes.

“Just now, I ignored your feelings,” Li Tang murmured in her ear.

The warm breath against the fine hairs on Yan Mengyi’s face sent her heart racing.

“Even though we’re in a cooling-off period, I’d feel terrible if I neglected my wife’s needs.”

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