Appearing on a Marriage Show Before Getting Divorced - Chapter 11

“—I swear on this lamp, I am not lying to you.”

With a loud snap, every light in the building went out.

…………………………

Film Queen Chu rarely made oaths, but when she did, the results were truly shocking. In the darkness, the air was thick with endless awkwardness.

While Chu Nian and Ruan Youran were still dazed, the “beep-beep-beep” of prompt tones sounded—cameras in every room were activated simultaneously.

Director Niu’s excited, booming laughter crackled through the speakers: “Ga-ga-ga! Is everyone excited? This is a special ‘Ten Minutes of Darkness’ segment I prepared just for you. Surprise! Feel free to do whatever you want to do!!!”

Everyone: “…………”

What the hell is going on?!

Unlike the oath-taking over on Chu Nian’s side, Song Ci was in the middle of practicing her dance. She was covered in a light sweat and hadn’t had a chance to shower when Lin Yiyi shrieked and slammed into her arms. The momentum was so great that Song Ci stumbled back several steps before stabilizing.

Song Ci: “???”

Yiyi’s voice was trembling with genuine fear. “I… I’m afraid of the dark.” This wasn’t an act; it was a lingering shadow from her childhood home life.

Song Ci: “…………”

Who would have thought the fearless “Sect Leader Lin” was afraid of the dark?

Director Niu hadn’t pulled any punches; she had cut the power completely to keep the experience authentic. After the last test screening, she’d learned that even the most blatant scenes weren’t as enticing as leaving things to the imagination. The guests were still a bit stiff with each other, so she decided to manufacture some “opportunities.”

Song Ci patted Yiyi’s shoulder. The older girl was truly terrified, her body shaking. Song Ci whispered comfortingly, “Don’t be scared, it’s okay. It’s just a power outage.”

“What power outage? That wicked director must have pulled the breaker,” Yiyi grumbled, her grip on Song Ci tightening. “Did I hit you too hard just now?”

Song Ci: “…………”

Hit too hard? Was this sister jumping straight into character even while scared?

Lin Yiyi was indeed a professional. She knew that the best performance was a mix of truth and fiction. Her fear was real, but she had already adjusted her mindset.

Song Ci, however, was not as composed. Her heart was racing. She had never been held so tightly by anyone before. Yiyi was pressed so close that Song Ci could feel every curve of her figure.

As if reading her mind, Yiyi gave a wicked grin in the dark. “How is it, kid? Is your sister’s figure pretty good?”

Song Ci: “…”

“Let’s go, let’s go. No use just being scared. In such a ‘romantic’ setting, let’s go chat on the bed.” Yiyi was typically flighty, leaving Song Ci in a state of embarrassment.

“You’re holding me so tight…” Song Ci muttered, looking down.

“I have to hold you tight. Don’t you like it?” Yiyi murmured. There was a reason her momentum in the industry was so strong.

Song Ci: “…”

Director Niu whispered to her assistant: “Remember to put a ’18+ Restricted’ label on this part of the screen.”

Over in the “Sunset Glow” room, the camera captured total darkness. It looked like the feed had frozen.

“Hello? Hello?” Director Niu checked the comms. “Did the line drop?”

“No,” President Qin’s cold voice drifted over.

Immediately after, Lan Ke’s voice followed: “Right, Xiao Qin, just like that. Exhale. Relax. Deep breaths. Imagine we are walking along the beach with the vast starry sky above us. Come on, let’s meditate together. Let’s live healthily until we’re a hundred years old.”

Qin Yanlan let out a long, slow exhale.

Lan Ke: “Yes, exactly like that. Keep moving forward. Why did you stop? Did you step on something? Let me guess… a starfish?”

Qin Yanlan (flatly): “Trash.”

Lan Ke: “…”

Everyone: “…”

The “Sunset Glow” couple had such dry, deadpan humor that the director decided to switch feeds.

The camera cut to the “Goddess and the Rabbit” pair. As it switched over, Youran’s hollow voice echoed: “Chu Nian, you should probably stop making oaths so casually in the future.”

Chu Nian was speechless as well. How could she have known Director Niu would pull a stunt exactly at that moment? Being a Film Queen, she had seen it all. She raised an eyebrow. “You promised.”

Youran nodded. “I did.”

Actually, this was fine. After ten years of love that started so romantically, they deserved a happy ending, didn’t they? Why couldn’t she let go? She was a great young woman; she’d find someone better once she left Chu Nian.

Watching their nonsensical dialogue, the assistant asked the director: “What did she promise?”

Director Niu thought seriously for a long time. “To get in bed?”

Ruan Youran: “…”

Chu Nian: “…”

Director Niu had forgotten to turn off the microphone. Her comment immediately sent the temperature in the room up by ten degrees.

“Come here, Bunny,” Chu Nian said, quickly entering the “married” state. She waved Youran over, though she couldn’t be seen in the dark. “Don’t be afraid.”

In the past, if the power went out at home, Youran would be the loudest of all. She’d shriek and jump into Chu Nian’s arms, shouting about being scared while her hands wandered all over Chu Nian’s body. Then she’d nuzzle her neck like a baby before “playing with fire” until they ended up in bed.

Chu Nian had always considered herself a person of integrity. She was immune to the charms of her many suitors, but Ruan Youran was the one feather on her heart that always hit the mark.

Youran’s nose felt sour. The past was gone. She walked slowly to Chu Nian and rested her forehead against the other woman’s neck.

Familiar fragrance. Familiar warmth.

God knew how much she had missed this embrace. Chu Nian felt like she was on the verge of tears.

Youran leaned against her quietly, her long hair draped beautifully over Chu Nian’s collarbone. She whispered, “I never told you, but I’m actually terrified of the dark. But because of you, I always looked forward to the power suddenly going out at home.”

Chu Nian’s barely controlled emotions surged again. She knew Youran was speaking from the heart, not acting. These were words Youran had never said before.

“I love this darkness,” Youran said, looking up at Chu Nian, trying to keep her voice steady.

Darkness was good. She could vent her feelings without restraint. She could cry openly. She could look at Chu Nian with a gaze full of love, ignoring the hate and her own pride.

The entire directing crew was ecstatic. Director Niu leaned back in her chair, laughing wildly. “Don’t call them the Goddess and Rabbit team. Call them the ‘Schizophrenic Team.’ They were like ice this morning!”

Assistant: “How do we edit this? The emotional swings are too big.”

Director Niu: “That’s what post-production is for. It’s a great hook! Oh, didn’t Jianjian just say she ‘loves the darkness’? Quick, turn the lights back on! I want them to see each other’s embarrassed faces.”

Snap! The lights flared back on. All three couples were nearly blinded.

Lin Yiyi, who was still huddled in Song Ci’s arms pretending to be weak, actually showed some conscience. She immediately pulled away, reaching up to pat Song Ci’s hair affectionately. “Thanks for the hard work.”

Song Ci looked at her, a seductive light in her eyes. She had ethnic minority heritage, giving her deep, defined features. Combined with years of dance training, she had an elegant, womanly charm despite her youth. Yiyi tilted her head, thinking: This little girl is something else. Her acting isn’t half bad—not as stiff as before.

Over in the Sunset Glow room, Lan Ke was still flat on the bed, her arms and legs moving in a swimming motion. “Quick, Xiao Qin! Keep going! It’s dawn, we’re almost at the shore of victory!”

Qin Yanlan was lying on the other side of the bed, her face a mask of seriousness. Her long limbs were moving through the air with professional precision, her head even tucked against her arm like a cold-faced Olympic swimmer.

Director Niu took a sip of Red Bull and whispered: “Make sure no one from President Qin’s company sees this footage. It’s… not dignified.”

Finally, the camera returned to Chu Nian and Ruan Youran.

Youran was crying silently. When the lights hit, she instinctively shielded her eyes. Reacting instantly, she dove under the covers, wrapping herself into a cocoon.

It was a brilliant move. It blocked the lens while filling the room with a sense of “wow” atmosphere.

Chu Nian looked down at the lump under the covers, her heart aching for the woman inside.

Director Niu commented, “Is she shy? She must be shy. Oh, Jianjian is so youthful.”

Assistant: “What will Film Queen Chu do to comfort her? Will she hug her?”

Hugging would be the standard choice. But Film Queen Chu never followed the beaten path.

Chu Nian reached out and grabbed a corner of the quilt. Amidst Youran’s startled cry, Chu Nian rolled herself right into the cocoon.

One blanket, two people.

On the other side of the monitor, Director Niu’s eyes lit up. She threw her hands in the air: “AAAAAHHHHH!!!!”