CHAPTER 13

The car parked at the entrance of the residential area, and Qin Yinong got out of the back seat, with Guan Han following behind, pulling her luggage.

The two of them walked towards the interior of the compound.

The residential area was beautifully landscaped, with clean roads, lush trees, and a refreshing breeze. Although it was hot outside, once they entered the compound, they wouldn't feel the heat anymore. This area was a famous luxury villa district in City B, where either high-ranking officials or superstars like Qin Yinong lived. The security conditions were impeccable.

Guan Han looked up, and the sky seen from here was particularly azure.

Qin Yinong was still wearing a striking red dress, but she had changed into a pair of casual sneakers, abandoning her high heels. She didn't have her usual carefree smile on her face, but from the relaxed expression in her eyes and eyebrows, it was evident that she was in a pleasant mood.

After turning a few corners, Guan Han narrowed her eyes and caught sight of a standalone villa not far from their line of sight. Through the gaps in the ornate iron gate, she could see a vibrant flower bed on the left and a fenced vegetable garden on the right, filled with lush green vegetables.

The iron gate was opened from the outside, and the woman watering the flowers in the flower bed cautiously looked up. When she recognized the visitor, she put down her watering can with delight and exclaimed, "Miss!"

Qin Yinong initially furrowed her brows almost imperceptibly, but then she smiled at her and said, "Aunt Fang."

Aunt Fang nervously rubbed her hands on her apron, unsure of where to put them. After a moment of daze, she snapped back to reality and hurriedly said, "I-I'll go tell Madam that you're back!"

Qin Yinong raised her voice to stop her. "I can go in by myself. It's just a few steps away. You don't need to go through the trouble."

Aunt Fang halted her steps, feeling awkward.

Qin Yinong considerately suggested in a gentle tone, "How about you go pick some fresh vegetables? We can stir-fry a few dishes for lunch. You can't get homegrown vegetables outside."

Aunt Fang let out a heavy sigh and chuckled before heading off.

Guan Han placed the luggage in the living room and took the initiative to offer help. "I'll lend a hand."

Qin Yinong replied warmly, "Won't you come in for a drink of water?"

It was as if she was treating her as a guest.

Qin Yinong was a completely different person at home than she was outside. Guan Han struggled to switch between the two identities, hesitating for a moment. By the time she made up her mind, Qin Yinong had already changed her shoes, prepared slippers for her, and gone to pour water into a disposable paper cup.

Guan Han was momentarily stunned and had no choice but to follow her inside.

Qin Yinong placed the water on the coffee table in front of Guan Han and said, "I'll go talk to my mom for a bit and come back later. You can relax for now."

Guan Han caught sight of a figure on the balcony, with their back turned to her and a hunched posture. She glanced at it briefly before averting her gaze, feeling uneasy. She stood up and said, "I'll go help Aunt Fang instead."

After spending a long time with Qin Yinong, Guan Han had become accustomed to the emotionless demeanor of the famous star. However, she found it difficult to adapt to the ordinary role she played in this regular family.

Qin Yinong was taken aback and said, "Alright."

Guan Han hurriedly left.

Qin Yinong smiled to herself for a moment as she watched Guan Han's retreating figure, then turned and walked towards the balcony.

Both doors of the balcony were closed, muffling the sounds from the living room. A gentle stream of water flowed from the faucet, and a pile of clothes soaked in laundry detergent formed a small mountain in a basin. Qin Yinong's mother picked up a milky white apron from the pile and attentively scrubbed it.

Suddenly, a shadow fell on her head. Before she could react, her hands were empty, and her frail shoulders were enveloped by two arms.

Qin Yinong sighed helplessly. "Mom, didn't I tell you to use the washing machine? If that's not enough, we also have a hired housekeeper. Why do you always insist on doing it yourself?"

Qin's mother, Ji Shulan, first lifted herself up in surprise and then slumped down again.

"You scared me!" Ji Shulan, who was short in stature, emerged from under Qin Yinong's arm. She patted her chest, still recovering from the shock, and looked up and down Qin Yinong's arm, saying with concern, "Why have you lost weight again?"

"..." Qin Yinong replied, "I've gained weight, really. If you don't believe me, take a look."

She turned around in front of Ji Shulan.

Ji Shulan made up her mind to nourish her daughter properly and asked eagerly, "What do you want for lunch?"

Qin Yinong pondered for a moment, a hint of relaxed smile appearing on her face. She even made a swallowing motion and said, "Smashed cucumber."

Ji Shulan asked, "...Anything else?"

Qin Yinong shrugged and said, "Whatever you make, I'm not picky."

Ji Shulan suddenly slapped her thigh and said, "I still have black chicken soup stewing in the kitchen!" Without waiting for Qin Yinong to respond, Ji Shulan hobbled off to the kitchen in a hurry.

"I'll go taste if it's well-seasoned or not." her voice trailed off behind her.

Her short stature wasn't evident when she was standing, but when she walked, it became apparent that one of her legs was shorter, causing her to limp. Ji Shulan was not yet in her sixties, but her hair had turned completely white. Her back was hunched, resembling a weathered bow that had endured the wind and frost.

Ji Shulan was the epitome of someone who squandered a winning hand. She was originally the privileged daughter of a wealthy family, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. However, she fell in love with a penniless man and was willing to give up everything for love. The Ji family had strict traditions, and in a fit of anger, Ji Shulan's father expelled her from the family. Ji Shulan and the destitute man, who happened to be Qin Yinong's father, settled in the south. With the money she brought from her family, they started a small company and enjoyed a period of harmony. But their good fortune didn't last long. Qin Yinong's father mismanaged the business, and the company went bankrupt. He changed as a person, became fond of drinking, and couldn't tolerate the frustrations of the workplace. He suppressed his anger outside but vented it on his family at home, often erupting in fits of rage. Eventually, he stopped working altogether, and the whole family relied on Ji Shulan's meager income to get by.

Ji Shulan had made a poor choice in her partner, wasting her youth and energy for a scoundrel. Not only did it ruin her own life, but it also affected her daughter. If it weren't for a few years ago when Qin Yinong caught her father cheating and rushed to take Ji Shulan away, arranging a swift divorce with the help of lawyers, she might still be stuck in that situation, refusing to see the truth.

As for the Ji family, Ji Shulan's father had already passed away, and her brother now held the power. Ji Shulan knelt down and apologized when she returned to the Ji family, and her brother accepted her back into the family, including Qin Yinong as their blood relative. However, Ji Shulan felt ashamed to face the Ji family and rarely attended their family gatherings, especially considering her disability. Qin Yinong occasionally attended, and she got along well with the members of the Ji family of her generation, able to engage in conversations at their gatherings.

It wasn't that Qin Yinong had any emotional attachment to the branch of her maternal family that she hadn't met for over twenty years. Rather, being part of the circle, she wouldn't miss any opportunity to establish a firmer position for herself.

Qin Yinong's gaze darkened as she took off the diamond-studded watch from her wrist and placed it on a higher shelf. Out of habit, she rolled up her sleeve, preparing to do the laundry, but then she realized she was wearing a long dress with no sleeves. This place was far from the cramped and low brick house she was used to.

She drifted off for a moment, her gaze slowly turning towards the lush tall trees outside the balcony. Sunlight streamed through the branches, creating beams of light on the high walls covered with green ivy. In the corner, roses bloomed perfectly.

Looking up, the sky was vast and far away.

Everything was getting better and better.

Qin Yinong lowered her head, blinked away the glistening in the corners of her eyes, and smiled with relaxation.

When Guan Han entered the room with her phone, Qin Yinong had already finished washing the clothes and was rinsing them with clean water for the second time. Seeing Qin Yinong skillfully wring the clothes dry, flatten them, and hang them on the clothesline, Guan Han involuntarily froze for a moment.

Qin Yinong shook open a T-shirt in her hands, adjusted it with a clothes hanger, and swiftly hung it up. She reached for another piece of clothing and noticed that Guan Han remained silent. Her gaze glanced over Guan Han's face, and she asked, "What's wrong?"

Based on her basic professional demeanor as an assistant, Guan Han quickly composed herself and took a step forward. "Something happened with Miss Yao."

Her calm expression indicated that while it was a matter of concern, she didn't believe it was an urgent situation.

Qin Yinong felt slightly relieved and pointed her chin at the pile of clothes. "Will they dry properly?"

Guan Han hesitated for a moment and replied, "Yes, they will."

Qin Yinong asked, "Can you help me?"

Guan Han nodded, and the two of them efficiently finished hanging the clothes. Qin Yinong wiped her hands and sat down on the sofa in the living room. "What's the matter?"

Guan Han handed her the phone to look at.

Tang Ruoyao's WeChat post featured a prominent handprint.

Qin Yinong's brows furrowed, her face instantly turning pale. The veins on her neck twitched slightly as she resisted the urge to smash the phone on the ground. She spoke in a low voice, "Who did this?"

Guan Han calmly pushed up her glasses on the bridge of her nose and said, "She should have gone to the company today."

"Ruan Qin?"

Guan Han nodded, "Most likely."

Qin Yinong almost laughed out of frustration. She rubbed the edge of her phone frame with her thumb, her knuckles turning white from exertion. She stared into Guan Han's eyes and spoke in a chilling tone, "Do you think she's had enough of living?"

Guan Han shivered, "I'll call Ruan Qin right now."

Qin Yinong's face grew ominously dark.

Guan Han didn't waste a second and immediately dialed Ruan Qin's number. At first, Ruan Qin denied everything, but after a few stern words from Guan Han, she confessed tearfully. Guan Han was about to ask Qin Yinong how she wanted to handle the situation when she looked up and saw Qin Yinong sitting there expressionless, devoid of anger.

Guan Han keenly sensed that she should halt the conversation.

Qin Yinong glanced at Guan Han, tapping her index finger slowly on her knee. She pondered for a moment and said, "Ask her for the specific details of what happened. As long as she honestly confesses, I won't blame her. Also, tell her not to let Tang Ruoyao know that I'm aware of this."

Guan Han didn't understand but followed Qin Yinong's instructions nonetheless.

After the call ended, Guan Han recounted the details of what Ruan Qin had said.

Qin Yinong sat in a daze for a while, then rubbed her brow with fatigue, her voice filled with unprecedented confusion. "Did I make a mistake?"

She had left Ruan Qin by Tang Ruoyao's side, fully aware of Ruan Qin's impure intentions. However, Ruan Qin was mediocre in ability and easily intimidated. Her cunning was written all over her face, making her the easiest type of person to manipulate in the entertainment industry. With her protection, Tang Ruoyao had still allowed herself to be bullied by someone like Ruan Qin. What would happen if they were to part ways in the future? How could she trust Tang Ruoyao to survive alone in the industry? Would she be able to make it on her own?

If she hadn't interfered from the beginning...

Guan Han had never seen her wear such an expression before; it inexplicably made her feel a pang of heartache. She moved closer, gently placing her hand on Qin Yinong's shoulder, and softly comforted her, "Miss Yao is still young. She needs some time to grow."

Qin Yinong suddenly looked up.

"Young? She's already 22 years old! When I was 22..." Qin Yinong's eyes welled up with tears. She opened her mouth but ended up speaking hoarsely, "Forget it, let's not talk about that."

Guan Han remained silent.

Qin Yinong calmed herself, wiped her face, and said coldly, "Send her a message."

Author's Note:

There will be a twist, but it will be in a different way.

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