MTLNOVEL Chapter 105 - Love, All the Same
The crowd erupted in cheers and playful jeers.
Tang Yuan saw through her little scheme at a glance. She took the tissue from her hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze along the way before standing up and walking toward the sofa below the stage.
Jiang Zi watched her descend, then calmly sat back in her chair. Her gaze lifted to the empty space beside her—Shu DongYi, the stand-in prop—and she offered a friendly smile, signaling that the performance could begin.
Shu DongYi: …
The reason her dance required a stand-in was because the routine was set to a sweet, romantic song. While the stand-in didn’t need to do much, there were a few moments where her movements would involve subtle eye contact or light physical interaction.
If Tang Yuan had been the stand-in, with her warm personality and affection for fans, she might have indulged in a few playful interactions, creating that spark of chemistry.
But Jiang Zi…
As expected, Jiang Zi’s performance did not disappoint.
She was almost too competent—sitting still like a mountain, unwavering. Even when Shu DongYi approached, she didn’t spare her a single glance, her eyes fixed solely on Tang Yuan below the stage.
One particular move required Shu DongYi to circle behind the chair and wrap her arms around Jiang Zi from behind. But just as her arms extended, Jiang Zi leaned forward, leaving Shu DongYi grasping awkwardly at her arms—a pose that looked downright comical.
What was supposed to be a sweet, romantic dance ended up resembling an unrequited love story—falling petals met with indifferent streams.
Who said the stand-in wasn’t important? This was a pivotal role!
In the past, there were jesters who disrupted performances. Now, there was a dancing clown.
By the end of the routine, Shu DongYi had practically grown a red nose.
“Thank you, Teacher Jiang, for your cooperation in completing this performance. Thank you, everyone!”
Thunderous applause filled the room.
【Hahahaha, sorry, Shu DongYi—I was just born with a love for laughter.】
【Sister Jiang didn’t even sabotage anything, but the whole thing still ended up hilarious.】
【Noted: Shu DongYi said before the performance that the prop wouldn’t need to interact.】
【I didn’t even notice at first—until Sister Jiang leaned forward to dodge the hug, and Shu DongYi had to awkwardly pull back. That killed me, hahaha!】
【Why did Sister Jiang replace Tang Yuan as the stand-in? Because she’s kind.】
After the performance, Tang Yuan returned to the stage. Instead of going back to the judges’ seat, Jiang Zi stood beside her.
“Now that both the contestant and the challenger have completed their performances, the 300 audience members will vote on their satisfaction with Shu DongYi’s stage. A score of over 200 means the challenge is successful. Successful challengers get to draw a reward card from the Magic Box.”
“The results are in—it’s time for the reveal!”
“Shu DongYi, 251 votes! Wow, what an incredible result! It seems everyone really enjoyed your performance.”
Tang Yuan clapped along, smiling brightly. “Watching Xiao Yi’s dance—it was really impressive. Keep it up!”
Hearing this, Jiang Zi tensed slightly, feeling a flicker of unease. Would Tang Yuan think she was petty for not cooperating? If she had played along a little more, the performance might have turned out better.
[Petty sister is too adorable, hehe. But fans’ lives matter too, I should comfort her]
[No wonder sister no longer takes acting jobs—her virtue score is off the charts!]
A staff member brought out the Magic Box, letting Shu DongYi draw a card.
She pulled out a small slip of paper.
“You may make one reasonable wish to the person you challenged. The magic will help fulfill your wish.”
The entire crowd gasped.
“Whoa!!”
The host quickly followed up, “This is the most valuable magic card in the whole box! There’s only one in the entire set—a one percent chance! Shu DongYi, your luck is incredible!”
Shu DongYi flipped the card back and forth in her hands, showing little surprise.
The host prompted, “It’s a rare wish—take your time and think carefully.”
“I’ve thought it through.” Shu DongYi clutched the card tightly, turning to Tang Yuan with eyes shining like stars. Her voice was sincere and full of warmth.
“I wish for Tang Yuan to always be happy, free from worries, and live a long life. I hope Tang Yuan and sister Jiang will always get along, and that you’ll always love each other. I don’t want Tang Yuan to suffer from love—so please, stay happy together.”
Tang Yuan blinked in surprise.
“Eh?”
Even Jiang Zi’s slight resistance toward her faded, replaced by a hint of awkwardness.
“I started following Tang Yuan when she first debuted—I’m probably an old fan by now. Back then, she only played flower vase roles and rarely joined events, but she was just so beautiful. I followed her on Weibo, where she always shared little bits of her daily life.
“Every time she noticed my comments, I’d be over the moon. From the first time she noticed me two years ago, I haven’t changed my username since—just hoping she’d recognize me one day. I’m ‘Dumb Tom.’
“Whenever I feel down, seeing her posts instantly lifts my spirits. I don’t need any wishes for myself—I just want Tang Yuan to be happy every day.”
Jiang Zi watched Shu DongYi thoughtfully. Until now, she had never truly understood why fans poured so much devotion into their idols without expecting anything in return.
It turned out the spiritual support an idol provides was something far more precious than material rewards.
Love—just not the kind of love between lovers.
A complex, profound kind of affection.
“I remember ‘Dumb Tom’! So it was you!” Tang Yuan’s eyes lit up with surprise. Uncertain how to handle such pure devotion, she pulled out her phone. “Thank you so much! Can we take a photo together?”
The crowd burst into laughter—what a funny way to respond to such a heartfelt moment!
Tang Yuan took several pictures with Shu DongYi, then pulled Jiang Zi into a few group shots.
The rest of the contestants performed one after another, recording from the afternoon until the early hours of the morning.
By the time they returned to the hotel, both Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi were utterly exhausted—not even in the mood for a midnight snack. Thankfully, the next recording session would have fewer participants, so it wouldn’t run as long.
The next day was a rest day.
After waking up, Tang Yuan printed out the photos from the night before, signing each one with heartfelt messages.
She handed one to Jiang Zi. “Sister, write a little blessing for Xiao Yi?”
Jiang Zi stared at the photo momentarily, then reluctantly took it. “She’s not my fan.”
“She loves who you love—come on write something!” Tang Yuan fanned out several other photos. “Look, I wrote mine.”
She even asked the assistant to buy a camera, planning to send everything to Shu DongYi—a little surprise to make up for wasting her precious wish.
Jiang Zi wrote a message but didn’t sign her name. When she handed it back, her voice carried a faint sourness.
“You’re really putting in effort.”
Tang Yuan cupped her face and planted a loud kiss on her cheek, grinning mischievously. “Jealous?”
Jiang Zi averted her gaze. “Not at all.”
Tang Yuan stood up, pinning Jiang Zi against the sofa. One leg bent between her knees, one hand covering her eyes.
“Close your eyes.”
Jiang Zi obediently shut her eyes.
A moment later, something cold slipped onto her middle finger—a smooth band encircling her finger.
Tang Yuan pulled her hand away, feigning exasperation. “I thought of so many ways—hiding it in a cake, slipping it into flowers, or letting you draw it from my sleeve…”
“But…”
But before she could finish, Jiang Zi’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close and silencing her rambling with a kiss.