CHAPTER 18

With a snap, Qin Yinong swiftly closed the tablet.

The gust of wind caused Ningning to instinctively shut her eyes. Her evenly cut bangs flew up and then fell, softly resting on her forehead.

Little Ningning: "..."

Qin Yinong brought the tablet behind her with one hand and casually tidied Ningning's disheveled bangs with the other. She cleared her throat and asked seriously, "Did you finish your homework?"

"I'm done." Ningning's eyes curved into two crescent moons as she turned around and handed her exercise book to Qin Yinong for inspection.

Qin Yinong looked it over with a serious expression and praised, "Great job."

She then smiled and kissed Ningning's cheek.

Ningning returned the kiss.

With her excellent memory, she fluttered her eyelashes and asked, "Who is she?"

Qin Yinong was puzzled and said, "Hmm?"

Ningning tilted her head, pointing to the tablet behind Qin Yinong with an innocent expression, "The beautiful sister you were watching just now."

The beautiful sister.

Beautiful.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but raise the corner of her lips, but quickly suppressed it and answered, "She is..." pausing for a moment, a trace of complexity flashed in her eyes as she said, "an actress."

"What is an actress?" Ningning didn't watch much TV, and so far, she had only seen animated movies and hadn't been exposed to live-action dramas. Professional terms were even more difficult for her to understand.

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and said, "You can think of her as Mom's colleague. Mom is also an actress."

"Oh," Ningning said, "then you must really like her, right?"

Qin Yinong: "..." Is this child becoming clever?!

Qin Yinong felt uneasy in her heart but maintained a smile on her face as she asked, "Why do you think so?"

Ningning replied without hesitation, "Because she is beautiful."

Qin Yinong: "..." It made perfect sense, and she couldn't argue against it.

Qin Yinong felt a bit of a headache. How should she explain her relationship with Tang Ruoyao to Ningning? The best approach would be to say that she doesn't like her, but children are naturally curious and would surely follow up with a bunch of questions.

"Why do you keep watching her if you don't like her?" or "Why are you so fascinated by her?"

Ningning didn't give Qin Yinong much time to think. She stretched her little arms and legs, yawned lazily, and held onto Qin Yinong's hand, speaking cutely, "Mom, I want to take a bath."

Children tend to get hot and have high body temperature. Even though Ningning didn't like to move around much, she had been cooped up at home for a while and had worked up a sweat.

It seemed like she had forgotten about Tang Ruoyao?

Qin Yinong squinted her eyes, thinking that Ningning probably wouldn't have a chance to meet Tang Ruoyao anyway. Instead of explaining, she simply smiled and let the matter rest, holding Ningning's little hand and saying, "Let's go, Mom will take you to wash up."

Qin Yinong prepared the water and clothes for Ningning, just like before. She reached out to undress the child, but Ningning blushed and covered her collar, not allowing her to touch it, whispering, "I can take a bath by myself now."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow, wearing a surprised expression, "Really?"

"If you don't believe me. Go ask Grandma." Ningning proudly straightened her back and said, "I can even wash socks."

Qin Yinong beamed with a smile, applauding, "Wow, you're amazing, baby."

Ningning tried to hold back her excitement, attempting to smile modestly, but couldn't help but grin, revealing her recently grown, evenly aligned baby teeth.

"Anyway, you go out first. I'll call you when I'm done." Ningning gently pushed Qin Yinong's arm.

Qin Yinong obediently stepped back outside the door, softly closing it, but she didn't leave. She pressed her ear against the door, listening attentively to the sounds inside.

Not long after, little Ningning finished washing up by herself, changed into a brand-new cartoon pajama, and came out with a small basin, demonstrating how she washed the socks in the bathroom. Qin Yinong stood beside her with a loving expression, waiting for her to finish. She touched the corner of her eye, feeling like she was about to burst into happiness.

"I'm going to play with Taxyue now." Ningning exclaimed after applying baby powder, eagerly running to the adjacent small room.

Taxyue was a two-month-old American Shorthair mixed with a white fur. It had a pure white fur collar, a round face, pink nose, and pink paws. It got its name, Taxyue, because it walked with high steps, resembling someone walking on snow. Taxyue was brought by Guan Han as she believed that raising pets can cultivate a child's love and patience, so she sent it over to be raised. Taxyue was still very small, and they were afraid it would run and hide in some obscure corner, so it stayed in the small room all the time.

Qin Yinong watched Ningning play with the cat in the small room for a while before turning her sore neck and heading to take a shower. She conveniently took the tablet with her.

Her bedroom was upstairs.

As she came downstairs after showering, Ji Shulan was in the living room wearing reading glasses and reading a book. Ji Shulan, who had once been a wealthy young lady, had been tormented by life for so many years. In her old age, Qin Yinong encouraged her to pick up some of her old hobbies, such as reading and taking care of plants.

Qin Yinong sat down next to her and casually picked up a book from the side to read. Ji Shulan lifted her gaze and glanced at her, her eyes unusually gentle. Qin Yinong smiled back at her.

Ningning came out of the small room, holding Taxyue in her arms, gently stroking the cat's soft fur. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Qin Yinong, her face filled with anticipation and excitement. She asked, "Mom, can I sleep with Taxyue tonight?"

Qin Yinong firmly refused, "No, you can't."

Ningning pouted in disappointment.

Ji Shulan explained softly, "It's still too small. If you accidentally press on it while sleeping, it could get hurt."

Ningning nodded in understanding, then looked at Qin Yinong again and asked, "Can I sleep with Mom tonight then?"

Qin Yinong's eyes flickered with a dilemma, but before she could answer, Ji Shulan quickly intervened, wiping her eyes and pretending to be sad. She said, "Whenever your Mom comes back, you don't want Grandma anymore."

Ningning quickly ran over and snuggled up on her grandmother's lap, sweetly coaxing her. Ji Shulan took the opportunity to convince her to sleep with her at night.

Ji Shulan gave Qin Yinong a reassuring look, putting her at ease.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Yinong said, "It's alright, Mom, let her sleep with me."

Ji Shulan replied, "But..."

Qin Yinong gently interrupted her, saying, "It's just for one night, it's fine." She looked at Ji Shulan, "You can also sleep with us in your room."

Ji Shulan's lips twitched, but Qin Yinong used her eyes to stop her from saying anything unnecessary.

The three generations sat side by side on the bed, with Ningning in the middle. Her hands were placed on top of the blanket, perhaps due to her excitement, her little mouth kept chattering, and she waved her hands and danced, vividly recounting what happened at kindergarten.

The two elders listened attentively, patiently and wholeheartedly. They occasionally interjected a few words, creating a joyful atmosphere within the family.

When Ningning said she was tired, her eyelids were fighting to stay open. Qin Yinong fed her a few sips of water, and she half-closed her eyes, drowsily saying, "Goodnight Mom, goodnight Grandma." before drifting off to sleep with her head tilted to the side.

Qin Yinong tucked Ningning in, her gaze filled with infinite tenderness. She picked up the nearby phone and took a few pictures of Ningning, saving them carefully. She looked at them for a while, gently touching the child's rosy face as she slept, then quietly got out of bed.

"I'll come over tomorrow morning. If she wakes up at night, just tell her I went to the bathroom." Qin Yinong whispered to Ji Shulan as she stood by the edge of the bed.

Ji Shulan nodded, watching her figure with a hesitant expression.

"Sleep well." Qin Yinong walked to the door, grasping the doorknob with one hand, and mouthed a silent goodbye before turning off the bedroom light.

Qin Yinong returned upstairs, took a glass and a bottle of Scotch whisky from the liquor cabinet, and poured herself half a glass with some ice cubes. She stood quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her eyelids slightly lifted, silently gazing into the dense darkness outside.

The room remained dark, with no lights turned on. It was completely pitch black, as if she had merged into the endless darkness.

.....

Tang Ruoyao quickly packed a few changes of clothes and returned to her alma mater, the Beijing Drama Academy. With her graduation defense approaching, she had finished shooting for magazine covers, and other commitments were either postponed or canceled. Everything was focused on the defense, which determined the culmination of her four years of study.

Tang Ruoyao walked through the campus in a simple outfit of a T-shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, with a black baseball cap on her head. It was a very ordinary outfit style for a college girl, but her long legs, slim waist, and fair complexion made her exude an extraordinary temperament. She had a refined and elegant aura that attracted many glances. As mentioned before, not all graduates from professional performing arts schools could smoothly enter the entertainment industry, and even fewer could make a name for themselves during their studies.

"Hello?" Soon, a girl approached nervously, peeking her head out and greeting Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao lifted the brim of her cap slightly, calmly looking at the girl with her amber eyes, and nodded slightly. Her voice was cool yet gentle as she said, "Hello."

"Can, can, can I ask for your autograph, Senior? I'm your fan." the girl quickly took out paper and a pen from her backpack, her eyes shining with admiration as she looked at Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao took them, lowered her head, and asked, "What's your name?" Signing a blank piece of paper could be risky for a celebrity.

The girl told her name.

Tang Ruoyao inquired about the specific characters and wrote "to XX" before adding her own artistic signature below. She then handed it back to the girl.

"Thank you!" The girl hugged her notebook excitedly and gave Tang Ruoyao a quick glance before biting her lip and asking, "Senior, can I give you a hug?"

Tang Ruoyao looked at her with a cold expression, remaining silent.

Despite the scorching summer heat, the temperature around the girl suddenly dropped a few degrees. She touched her neck, feeling the coolness, and took two steps back,  cautiously saying in a soft voice, "Goodbye, Senior."

Tang Ruoyao still showed no emotion. "Hmm, goodbye."

The girl retreated quite far before mustering the courage to shout, "Senior, do your best!"

Tang Ruoyao continued walking without stopping or looking back.

It was widely rumored that Tang Ruoyao was aloof and disliked being approached. The girl pursed her lips but didn't take it to heart. She was ecstatic about the autograph and excitedly shared the news in her WeChat group, bragging to her roommates that she had obtained Tang Ruoyao's signature!

Tang Ruoyao was stopped several times on the way but eventually made it back to her dormitory.

As the defense was approaching, most students had returned to the school, regardless of whether they were engaged in filming or other activities outside. When Tang Ruoyao entered the dormitory, her three roommates were already there. They exchanged simple greetings, and Tang Ruoyao placed her bag on the chair before climbing the stairs to tidy up her bed. This time, she would be staying here for a while.

Tang Ruoyao froze upon hearing the name, "Qin Yinong."

She paused in her actions.

"Xiao Wen." Tang Ruoyao leaned out from the upper bunk, interrupting her roommates' lively conversation.

Her roommate Xiao Wen raised her head. "What's wrong?"

"Did you just mention..." Tang Ruoyao paused, took a gentle breath, and finally spoke that name, "Qin Yinong?"

"Wow, don't you know yet? It's all over the group chat." Xiao Wen leaned her palm on the table, her face filled with anticipation as she said, "I heard that for our graduation ceremony this year, the principal specially invited Qin Yinong to give a speech, and she will personally present the degree certificates to the outstanding graduates of this year."

If everything went as expected, Tang Ruoyao would be the representative of the outstanding graduates this year.

Tang Ruoyao didn't hear what else her roommate said. Her mind went blank as her heart suddenly tightened, beating heavily. Waves of impact rendered her mind increasingly empty.

Is she going to be on the same stage as Qin Yinong?

Author's Note:

Mini Theater:

President of the Beijing Drama Academy: Why didn't you come when I invited you before?

Qin Yinong: Did my wife have a graduation ceremony before? ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌

President: If you have the guts, say that in front of Tang Ruoyao!

Qin Yinong: I don't have the guts. [Humble.jpg]

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