The entire internet knows my relationship with the A-list actor is a disaster. They are eagerly waiting for me to be publicly rejected and humiliated on a celebrity divorce reality show. However, on the very first night, the normally aloof and untouchable superstar had a near-meltdown when he drew the "separate bedrooms" card. During our fireside chat, he pitifully complained to the whole world that I wasn't spending enough of his money. In the heartbeat challenge, my single "Hubby" sent his heart rate soaring past 140. And when the producers handed him a fake divorce agreement, he completely lost his cool, crying his eyes out and threatening to sue the show. Netizens: [Well, I'll be damned. So you're the desperate housewife here, bro?!] [Ahhh, they tricked us! It's a divorce show masquerading as a dating show! Why is this so good?!] [Girl, stop smiling! Turn around, your husband is about to drop dead from a broken heart!] 1 I'm a C-list actress, famous mostly for my scandals and my working-class background. I have the looks, the acting skills, the talent... wait, no, I just have the looks. My family background is average, and my public image is, well, debatable. My popularity always hovered around the lower tiers. That was until the news of my secret marriage to the top-tier superstar, Arthur Vance, broke out, shocking the entire internet. Besides the massive gap in our status and family backgrounds, there was another reason for the shock: everyone in the industry knew Arthur had a subtle hostility towards me. At an awards ceremony, across the crowded room, Arthur (who was standing dead center) and I accidentally locked eyes. Caught off guard, I maintained my bright, sweet, fan-service smile. The man, however, looked extremely uncomfortable. He quickly dropped his smile and, in a moment of panic, actually rolled his eyes. When the video leaked, his massive fanbase was incredibly confused. Arthur was known for being aloof and a man of few words, but he was also famously gentlemanly, polite, and emotionally stable. Yet, he showed such undisguised disgust solely towards me. Later, netizens dug up the few other times Arthur and I were caught in the same frame. No matter how brightly he was smiling a second before, his face would instantly freeze the moment he saw me. Add to that my naturally soft, whiny voice. In the eyes of the internet, I became the desperate wannabe, constantly throwing myself at him while he gave me the cold shoulder. Now that our secret marriage was exposed, these videos went viral again. Netizens relentlessly mocked me, claiming Arthur had a physiological aversion to me and was red in the face from anger. Hordes of haters tagged a divorce reality show on my social media: [Please, just divorce him! Let our Arthur go!] [This girl has some thick skin. How can she still smile when her husband clearly despises her?] [Poor Arthur. A guy who barely shows emotion was forced to roll his eyes. Imagine how miserable his life must be.] ... Under the intense pressure from the internet, the divorce reality show actually sent us an invitation. Arthur and I were forced together by our grandfathers; there was absolutely no love involved. Our daily interactions were no different from strangers living in the same house. I had long had enough of this stagnant, dead-end life. I agreed to the show without hesitation, ready to secure one last massive paycheck before we divorced. Just as I was grinning like an idiot, counting the zeros on my compensation fee, I noticed Arthur staring at the contract with a complex expression, hesitating to sign. "What's wrong?" I asked, a bit confused. "My pen is broken," Arthur muttered, looking down. "There's another one right there." "That one's broken too..." Sensing his reluctance, I assumed he didn't want to waste his precious time on me. I put on my best whining voice to coax him: "It won't take up too much of your schedule. Let's just go, please?" "O-okay then." Arthur stumbled over his words, the tips of his ears turning red as he hastily scribbled his signature. 2 The show invited three couples and opted for a 24/7 live-stream format. Before filming began, the director assigned a rough script and conflict points for each couple. But considering my decade-long lack of acting progress and Arthur's massive status, the director ultimately decided to let Arthur and me freestyle. The moment I dragged my two small suitcases into the camera's view, the viewer count and live comments skyrocketed: [Here they come! The most dramatic couple has finally arrived.] [LMAO, the contrast is brutal. The other couples either held hands or walked side-by-side. Not only is Arthur not walking with Elena, but he's making her carry her own luggage.] [Tsk, so what if she schemed her way into a rich family? She's still just a glorified maid with no dignity. They didn't even have a proper wedding announcement. The Vance family probably doesn't even acknowledge her.] It wasn't just the live chat mocking me. Chloe, the female half of another couple, also noticed my disheveled state and threw a subtle jab: "Elena, a woman's hands are very delicate. Liam never lets me carry heavy things. If people didn't know better, they'd think you were Arthur's hired help." Chloe and I debuted around the same time. She was highly competitive and loved comparing herself to others. When she married the director, Liam Sterling, she posted endless updates showing off her entry into "high society." But the Sterling family was nothing compared to the Vance Group. So when my marriage to Arthur was exposed, it was understandable that she was furious. However, I was here to make money, not to engage in catfights. I couldn't be bothered with her. The commentators in the studio had probably done their homework and accepted my persona as the Vance family's despised punching bag. Seeing my silence, they assumed I was swallowing my pride and looked at me with deep sympathy. Live Chat: [LOL, Chloe and Liam are on a divorce show because he's 'too possessive'? Are they sure they aren't just here to show off? The gold digger must be so jealous seeing our Chloe so happy.] [It's her own fault for shamelessly clinging to an arranged marriage from their grandfathers. If she's miserable now, she only has her own greed to blame.] Just then, the camera panned. Arthur wasn't looking as relaxed and carefree as everyone thought. He was struggling to push five massive, connected suitcases, arriving late to the scene. The other guests, who had been whispering and enjoying the show, froze for a second before rushing over to help, joking: "Arthur, aren't you a minimalist? You've gotten fancy lately! Do you need help throwing this trash bag away?" Arthur coldly dodged their hands, looking displeased. I pushed through the crowd: "Uh, those suitcases are all mine. And that's not a trash bag, that's Arthur's luggage." Live Chat: [I'm dying! Turns out Arthur is the 'maid' here.] [So relatable! When my husband and I travel, all his stuff fits in one plastic bag.] [What's so funny? Arthur looks furious, he clearly didn't want to do it! To make a seasoned actor show his true feelings like that, this girl really is something else.] [Arthur, stop holding back! Explode already! Can't wait to see Elena get rejected daily.] The show started stirring up drama immediately, having us draw straws to decide if we'd sleep in separate rooms. Me: "Can we skip the drawing? Arthur and I will just choose—" Before I could say "separate," the usually silent man cut me off. "I'll draw." Chloe feigned sympathy: "It's okay, Elena. I know you want to use this chance to share a room with Arthur. Maybe you'll get lucky." The live chat found this hilarious: [Judging by how disgusted Arthur usually looks, I bet they've never even shared a bed. That's why Elena is so desperate. What a pathetic rich wife.] [Did anyone else notice? Arthur just secretly glared at Elena like five or six times in the last ten seconds. Those looks were lethal. This is too funny.] 3 Arthur nervously opened the slip of paper. Seeing the word "Separate," both the live chat and I let out a massive sigh of relief: [Thank god they didn't draw 'Together'. That must have terrified Arthur.] [I mean, Elena is genuinely gorgeous, her voice is sweet, and her smile is adorable. If I were Arthur, I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off her.] [Commenter above, are you insane?!] The host asked each of us if we were satisfied with the results. Chloe, who also drew "Separate," looked pitifully at Liam: "I'm not used to sleeping alone. I'm a little worried I'll have insomnia." The host deliberately asked me: "Elena, you must sleep alone quite often, right? Any tips to share?" I replied with maximum snark: "Sorry, I rarely sleep alone." Who would understand? Arthur had the face of an ascetic monk who was utterly bored with the world. But in private, he was more insatiable than anyone. What his fans called "gentlemanly and polite"... Was actually him ravaging me half to death while playing deaf and dumb. Thinking back on it, I almost regretted that day when, driven by hormones, I burst into his bedroom wearing a bathrobe, sat on his lap, and said: "Even if it's a contract marriage, we need to fulfill our marital duties." One of the main reasons I was in such a rush to divorce him now was that my fragile body simply couldn't handle that level of frequency. When it was Arthur's turn, his thick, long eyelashes fluttered, and his voice was low and cold: "If I'm not satisfied, can I change it?" Not getting the expected answer, the host was a bit confused: "According to the rules, you can't change it." Arthur took a deep breath: "Can I draw again?" The host shook his head helplessly: "No." A trace of hostility flashed across the man's already deep, brooding features. I gently tugged at his sleeve: "Follow the rules." Arthur nodded and walked away, his arms and legs moving stiffly in tandem. Live Chat: [Wait, does our Arthur actually want to share a room with Elena?] [How is that possible? He's probably just saving her some face in front of the audience.] [Oh no, I actually think they're kind of cute together. Elena said one soft word and Arthur instantly obeyed.] [Is that obedience, or is he just so annoyed he's speechless? He was so mad he forgot how to walk normally!] Without Arthur working me over, I had a dreamless, refreshing night's sleep. The next day, I woke up early. Chloe was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Liam. They were playfully arguing over whether to have boiled or fried eggs. Arguing and arguing, they inexplicably ended up hugging each other. Chloe even shot a provocative look at me, looking unkempt and fresh out of bed. It was as if she was saying: "So what if you married Arthur? My husband loves me, yours doesn't." The camera suddenly pointed at me: "Today is the Couples' Telepathy Challenge. Random question: What does Arthur like to drink for breakfast?" "Iced Americano?" I guessed randomly. After getting married, Arthur started taking over his family's business and was semi-retired from the entertainment industry. He woke up before dawn to go to the office. How would I know what he liked? Soon, the host caught Arthur, who had just returned from a morning run: "Arthur, what do you like to drink for breakfast?" "Hot latte." The host chuckled: "Then what does Elena like to drink most for breakfast?" "Iced Americano," Arthur replied without hesitation. "But I worry that drinking cold things all the time is bad for her health, so I often switch it out for a hot one." I looked shocked: "Arthur, why didn't you tell me?! I always thought the housekeeper bought the wrong thing. Hot Americanos are for dog—" Halfway through, I realized the risk of offending people and quickly swallowed the rest of the sentence. The host was even more surprised than I was: "Arthur, do you usually cook for Elena?" Arthur nodded slightly, a hint of pride in his demeanor: "She's so tired every night; she needs more rest in the morning." Chloe's smug expression drastically changed, and she dropped her spatula. The commentators in the studio were grinning from ear to ear. 4 Failing to get the desired dramatic effect, the host stubbornly fired off several more compatibility questions. The final result: Arthur guessed every single one of my preferences correctly. And I barely managed to guess one question right about him. Even when the evening "Fireside Chat" began, I still hadn't fully recovered my senses. Although we lived under the same roof and had "deep, negative-distance" contact every day, Arthur and I actually communicated very little. For one, we both had our own careers to hustle for. For another, Arthur was the textbook definition of an Earth sign. Repressed, man of few words, and completely stoic. I had wanted to ask him multiple times about those viral videos where he supposedly glared at me—did he really hate me that much? But he always anticipated my questions and dodged them. Yet now, he was acting like he knew me inside and out. Live Chat: [This is scary. Even the "wife-guy" Liam got a question wrong about Chloe, but Arthur got a perfect score! Is this really not scripted? It's weirdly sweet.] [Just look at Elena's shocked face, you know it has to be real. Her acting isn't that natural.] Me: Thanks a lot, truly a backhanded compliment. [I'm dying of curiosity! If Arthur really despises Elena like the internet says, why would he cook for her?! But if you say he likes her, they act like they barely know each other...] [Agreed! This couple is so interesting! Everyone else gives off old married couple vibes, but these two have this bizarre, ambiguous tension.] The theme for the Fireside Chat was "Money." Just looking at the topic, I knew this segment was mostly aimed at me. The host pointed the spearhead at Liam and Chloe first: "When filling out the questionnaire, both of you mentioned having some conflicts regarding family finances." Chloe huffed: "Yeah, there's a popular saying online: 'Where the money is, the love is.' But Liam still hasn't handed over his bank cards to me." The female half of the rapper couple joked: "But at least Director Sterling is really willing to spend money on you, Chloe. I always see you posting bags and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands on Instagram. Unlike my guy here, who won't even set up a shared account for me." Chloe looked down shyly: "It's okay, really. Compared to material things, I value emotional connection more. But Elena is the one who truly went from rags to riches through marriage. She should have more to say about this than me." I heard the hidden barb in her words and gave a sweet smile: "Marrying rich is indeed awesome. Once Liam reaches Arthur's status, you'll understand." Chloe's smile stiffened. See? If I give a real answer, she gets upset. Live Chat: [LMAO, the gold digger doesn't have a single decent piece of jewelry on her body and she's still talking tough. Truly, the more you lack something, the more you emphasize it.] [Exactly. To those crazy people shipping them earlier, please have some taste.] Host: "Arthur, have you and Elena had any conflicts regarding family finances?" At that moment, Arthur, who had been secretly watching me, complained pitifully: "I wish she would spend more of my money." The live chat exploded: [Wait, I recognize every word Arthur just said, but put together, I don't understand them at all.] [I've already screenshotted this and sent it to my boyfriend. We need more 'conflicts' like this, please!] [What is going on? The desperate housewife the show promoted turned out to be YOU, Arthur?!] [Is it possible Arthur feels Elena's poverty is an embarrassment to the Vance family?] Arthur rarely spoke so many words in one breath: "You never even opened the jade, the pearl necklaces, the clothes, or the bags I bought." I looked completely bewildered: "You bring things home and never say a word. How was I supposed to know they were for me?" Arthur's eyes flickered, and the atmosphere became temporarily awkward. The studio commentators couldn't help but laugh out loud, offering a sharp critique: "The most urgent thing for these two is to add each other on WeChat." I pointed to the perfume sitting by the door being used as bug repellent, trying to salvage the situation: "It's not like I haven't used any of the things you bought..." The female rapper suddenly dropped her jaw and stood up excitedly: "That bottle of perfume could buy a courtyard house in Beijing! Elena, you're actually using it as a room deodorizer?! That's insane! God, what would it cost you to make me rich too?!" Hearing this, the other guests also gathered around, wanting to inspect it. That perfume didn't even smell good. I only liked how the bottle looked and casually praised it. I thought it was just a cheap trinket... In an unnoticed corner, Chloe dug her nails into her palms, looking at Liam and muttering: "Didn't you say no one would spend astronomical amounts on something so flashy and useless?" Liam shrugged casually: "Yeah, normal people wouldn't. After all, not everyone can be Arthur Vance." Chloe bit her lip, glaring resentfully at the perfume bottle. I wanted to take advantage of the chaos to talk to Arthur. But the man anticipated my move again. The moment my butt left the seat. Arthur immediately got up and went to the restroom. Leaving me standing alone in the wind. The live chat was also in a frenzy: [Stop, just stop. To those who said Elena was a punching bag living in living hell, can I please go suffer like that for a few days?] [Ahhh, is it possible Arthur likes Elena but is afraid of rejection, so he doesn't dare let her catch him looking at her?] [Bro, being married for a year and still acting like a secret crush? Is this human behavior?] [But look at Chloe and Liam, they even feed each other. Even the rapper couple who fight every day occasionally hug and touch faces. Arthur and Elena don't look loving at all.] [If he's an Earth sign, it actually makes sense. Back when I had a crush, the person didn't even know I existed.] [Whatever, this top-tier ambiguous tension is divine. I'm shipping it.]
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