What Should I Do? I Love You More After the Divorce

■ Showbiz / older top / falling in love while acting / not a typical rekindled romance

■ Sweet romance / same-sex marriage is legal / 12-year age gap

■ Sly fox x little rabbit

[🐰: Impulsive and quick to get swept up, but backs down as soon as she comes to her senses. A coward in love who only wants to do it once they're together.

🦊: The more she likes her, the more she holds back. Cool and chaste in public, secretly passionate in private.]

Meng Zhiqiu had done two crazy things in her life:

First, she joined the entertainment industry to follow her idol.

Second, after marrying and divorcing her idol in a flash, she joined the same variety show as her.

Looking at the composed Shen Jianqing in front of her, Meng Zhiqiu spoke awkwardly but respectfully. "Hello, Ms. Shen."

Shen Jianqing smiled. "Hello."

Polite yet distant, she left Meng Zhiqiu feeling a little uneasy.

As a new-generation actress, Meng Zhiqiu's first lead role was opposite the award-winning actress Shen Jianqing. She was nervous and excited.

Shen Jianqing wasn't as distant as Meng Zhiqiu had imagined. She was kind and gentle, and patiently guided and helped her junior.

So as soon as they left the set, they went and got a marriage certificate. They announced it when the show premiered, then divorced when it ended.

The trending topic about their divorce was still on Weibo, right near the top! Number one!!!

Looking at the calm woman in front of her, Meng Zhiqiu felt even more certain of her guess. There was nothing between them but desire, no spiritual connection.

Shen Jianqing didn't love her at all!

So Meng Zhiqiu pulled herself together and threw herself into work.

She made treating Shen Jianqing like a stranger her guiding principle for this recording.

And she really did manage it: a nod when they met, stepping aside as they passed, politeness that made them seem like parallel lines.

Although she occasionally lost her composure, at least she didn't give the gossip-hungry onlookers an opening.

But on the night before the variety show ended, Shen Jianqing knocked on Meng Zhiqiu's door.

Her eyes were red. She'd been drinking, and a lot.

No longer maintaining her calm, composed image in front of the cameras, Meng Zhiqiu said:

"You flirt with me, then run away. We get divorced, then you delete me..."

"Meng Zhiqiu, I'm not that easy to placate."

Meng Zhiqiu froze.

Something went off in her mind with a bang.

She remembered.

During a game earlier that day, she'd drawn a question: How do you make up with an ex after a fight?

She'd answered offhandedly: She's easy to placate. Usually, all it takes is calling her a couple of sweet names...

That's right.

Shen Jianqing really was easy to placate.

Meng Zhiqiu asked her to marry her, and she agreed.

Meng Zhiqiu asked her for a divorce, and she agreed to that, too.

From beginning to end, she'd only said one word: "Okay."

From beginning to end, she'd been indulging Meng Zhiqiu.

Meng Zhiqiu opened her mouth, but it felt as if something were stuck in her throat.

The woman in front of her had red eyes and reeked of alcohol. She was nothing like the dignified award-winning actress.

Meng Zhiqiu couldn't help feeling guilty. After all, she was her idol, and her ex-wife...

So she asked, "Then... what do you want?"

Shen Jianqing looked up at her. Her gaze passed through the dim hallway light, as if trying to see right through her.

After a long moment, she smiled, her eyes turning even redder.

"I'm here to tell you... I'm not easy to placate."

Theme: Shared ideals