CHAPTER 6

The sound of footsteps near her ears pulled Tang Ruoyao away from her memories.

She lifted her eyelids, and Qin Yinong emerged in a snowy white bathrobe. The belt around her waist was loosely tied, and the skin visible outside the robe had a faint blush, saturated with moisture. Water droplets that hadn't been wiped away trickled down her neck, slowly sliding to disappear at the opening of the robe.

She looked beautiful, with a slender and graceful figure. Without any makeup, she exuded a hint of purity after her bath, making her even more enchanting.

Tang Ruoyao met her gaze head-on, neither avoiding nor evading it, as she watched Qin Yinong approach.

Qin Yinong circled to the other side, lifted the covers onto the bed. As the sheets fell, a cool breeze swept through, returning everything to tranquility. The air was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing. Qin Yinong lazily half-leaning against the headboard, lowered her gaze at Tang Ruoyao and said softly, "Go to sleep."

She didn't mind Tang Ruoyao discovering the fact that they didn't share the same bed overnight.

Tang Ruoyao propped herself up on the pillows, raising her body slightly and leaning against Qin Yinong's side. She shook her head gently and whispered, "I'm not sleepy yet."

"So what?" Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow, observing the redness in Tang Ruoyao's eyes, but she didn't expose her.

Perhaps it was the night that had stripped away Qin Yinong's intense protective wall, or perhaps the intimacy they had just shared had temporarily lowered her guard against Tang Ruoyao. She looked pale, her gaze distant, and deeper within was a heavy weariness.

Like a traveler running in eternal darkness, losing their way, feeling exhausted yet unable to stop.

"How about I help you trim your nails?" Tang Ruoyao inexplicably felt a tinge of sadness for her, intentionally adding a hint of playfulness to her tone.

Qin Yinong was successfully amused by her words, and her lips formed a gentle, shallow smile. She replied softly, "Next time, alright?"

Tang Ruoyao didn't insist and said, "Okay."

Qin Yinong never indulged in desire freely; she would only take her once each night, but every time, it would leave Tang Ruoyao thoroughly satisfied. It was Tang Ruoyao herself who, on a few occasions, despite enduring great discomfort, dared to touch her. However, Qin Yinong firmly held back and pushed away as they both gasped for breath.

Tang Ruoyao didn't know why, but did she feel unworthy of touching her? Or was there another reason? Or perhaps the reason she didn't want to consider— the possibility that Qin Yinong had other lovers, and it wasn't her place to fulfill her needs.

Tang Ruoyao's bright eyes dimmed, unable to muster the enthusiasm to play along.

Qin Yinong added at the right moment, "Go to sleep."

Her expression was lackluster.

Tang Ruoyao lay down, her eyes still open. "Sister." she called out.

Qin Yinong's hand, which was tucking the blanket around her, paused, and her gaze fell on Tang Ruoyao's face. "What is it?"

"You..." Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth and voiced the doubts in her heart, "Do you have other lovers besides me?"

Qin Yinong's eyebrows raised slightly, and she casually countered, "What do you think?"

Tang Ruoyao had anticipated that she might respond this way and spoke frankly, "I don't think so."

She had known Qin Yinong for so long, and while she wouldn't claim to fully understand her, she knew Qin Yinong was her mentor in a way, and she was well aware of her professional life and achievements.

Qin Yinong's dedication had reached a terrifying extent. Apart from necessary film promotions, she refused interviews and declined appearances on any programs. She barely posted on Weibo, with less than a handful of updates in a year. She immersed herself solely in acting, moving from one film set to another. Every year, she released two or more movies, known for their high productivity and quality. If she was nominated for any domestic awards, she would undoubtedly sweep the Best Actress category, leaving no room for other actresses to win. Anyone who managed to surpass her and win an award would be accused of being involved in a conspiracy. Reputation aside, her acting skills spoke for themselves, and the audience was not blind.

This phenomenon was not limited to the entertainment industry. What was truly terrifying was not just talent but the fact that someone more talented that you could  also work harder.

There was another theory circulating that claimed Qin Yinong's frequent film projects were for her "stamp collection," using s*xual encounters with celebrities as a hobby, treating them as collectible items. Collectors of such stamps, both men and women, were not uncommon in the mixed and complex entertainment industry. However, the rumors surrounding Qin Yinong were particularly exaggerated, saying she had no preference for gender and had no restrictions on her choices. This theory was baseless, lacking evidence, but due to Qin Yinong's numerous scandals from her early years, which were well-documented, it became a popular topic of discussion. The more it spread, the more it became the mainstream topic online.

Qin Yinong's lack of response only fueled the excitement among netizens. They eagerly discussed her "new lovers" during their leisure time, while the media sensationalized the situation even further, using attention-grabbing headlines to create a certain image of her.

Qin Yinong was a low-key person who rarely appeared in public except for her works. The airport photos that Tang Ruoyao received today were taken by fans who knew she was returning from abroad and had been waiting for her for several days.

However, her name frequently appeared on the hot search rankings. One reason was her stunning beauty. Even occasional candid photos, paparazzi shots, or screenshots and edits from her previous TV dramas and films could instantly garner a wave of fans praising her appearance. It would go viral across the internet. Qin Yinong had a significant number of fans who were obsessed with her looks alone. Regardless of her reputation, as long as they saw her face, they would continue to support her, especially considering her overwhelming talent. The concept of preserving chastity is long gone, so what's the point of pretending to be virtuous?

The second reason was to ride on her popularity. Qin Yinong was a true top-tier influencer. Countless news articles and topics were tied to her name for the sake of publicity. The "seductive" angle was the most popular. Even though female celebrities who dared to release seductive photos were mercilessly mocked by sharp-eyed bystanders, their objective had already been achieved. Today, the online world was filled with news articles comparing Tang Ruoyao to the "little Qin Yinong," which belonged to the second form of publicity stunt. As for who was behind the manipulation, it was unclear, but it certainly wasn't Tang Ruoyao's team.

Qin Yinong was extremely busy, to the point where she had no time to spare. Tang Ruoyao didn't have access to her schedule, but she could roughly speculate. Given Qin Yinong's workload, she probably didn't have the time or energy to maintain a second lover.

Tang Ruoyao pondered for a moment. Even if Qin Yinong didn't love herself, she cared about herself. Qin Yinong believed that an actor's cultural level was crucial, and their knowledge and experiences directly influenced their deep understanding of characters. So she would assign acting tasks specifically for her, let her visit various exhibitions to broaden her horizons, write notes on books she read, and sometimes personally review them.

Could she do the same for a second person? Even if she had 48 hours in a day, it wouldn't be enough.

Tang Ruoyao locked eyes with Qin Yinong, refusing to look away.

Once certain hidden desires were watered, they would raise their heads from dormancy like greedy beasts, with emerald eyes gleaming in the darkness.

If she truly had no one else, would she still have a chance to pursue her?

Qin Yinong's gaze remained calm, without a hint of disturbance. Her lips closed, and she coldly uttered a single word, "Yes." As if afraid that Tang Ruoyao wouldn't understand, she clearly told her, "You're not the only one."

Tang Ruoyao's face instantly turned pale, struggling to force out a smile that looked even worse than crying.

After a long silence, Tang Ruoyao lowered her gaze and gradually regained control over her emotional outburst. She softly said, "I understand, sister."

Don't indulge in wishful thinking anymore.

The thoughts of a young girl are shallow, despite her efforts to suppress them, the subtle traces of a sob could still be heard.

Qin Yinong clenched her hand tightly behind her back, her voice devoid of emotion as she urged her for the third time, "Go to sleep."

"Goodnight." Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes with a heavy heart.

"Goodnight."

Qin Yinong turned off the bedside lamp on her side and quietly leaned against the headboard. Her eyelids drooped, as if lost in thought yet also appearing empty. The person beside her breathed heavily. Qin Yinong glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. An hour had passed, but Tang Ruoyao still couldn't fall asleep.

Sitting there motionless, Qin Yinong instinctively felt anxious. Her mind was restless, her throat dry. She couldn't help but get up and go to the study to fetch a book. The books here were arranged by Tang Ruoyao. She was an organized and tidy person. The book she held in her hand, "Brave New World" had a clean cover, as if it were a new book. However, inside, there were several handwritten notes, accompanied by dates, from two months ago.

At that time, she was filming in France. Whether she said she was free or busy, she wasn't particularly occupied. She had returned to her home country twice to visit her family, but she didn't come to see her. They only had one year left together, and Qin Yinong deliberately distanced herself from her.

Qin Yinong gently flipped through the pages of the book, not really paying much attention to the neat printed font. However, every lively and expressive note caught her eye. Though the person seemed proper and well-behaved, their words were sharp and revealing.

Qin Yinong's eyes softened, and her lips unconsciously curled upwards.

Turning to the last page, there were no notes, but two words and a symbol were added in the blank space.

Qin & Tang.

Each stroke was filled with solemnity.

Qin Yinong's eyelashes trembled as she glanced sideways at the person beside her, her expression slightly complex.

Tang Ruoyao was fast asleep, breathing evenly and calmly. Her red lips naturally slightly parted, revealing a rosy and glossy tip of her tongue with each breath. Perhaps she had a dream, as she licked her lips and let out a soft whimper, causing her previously perfectly shaded lips to glisten with a touch of moisture, making them particularly enticing and alluring.

Qin Yinong's heart pounded heavily, her throat rolled downward, and she couldn't help but slowly lean forward.

They were about to touch, and Qin Yinong could almost feel the warmth of her lips, the softness and wetness of her tongue. Just the thought of it sent her spiraling into intoxication. A battle raged within her heart, her expression darkened, her breath grew heavy, and her nose brushed against the sleeping Tang Ruoyao's face, eliciting an uncomfortable murmur from her.

Qin Yinong immediately bit her lower lip, forcing herself to pull away. She shook her heavy head, lifted the covers off the bed, and went to the living room to make a phone call.

She took out the bottle of red wine that Tang Ruoyao had brought earlier, sat on the sofa, and poured herself a drink. She continued to drink, pouring it herself, until the phone on the coffee table lit up. Qin Yinong set down her glass, got up, and opened the door.

Standing at the door was a sharp and capable woman, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with shoulder-length hair and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Despite it being late at night, her attire and makeup were impeccable.

Guan Han—Qin Yinong's personal assistant—was about to speak, but Qin Yinong raised a finger to her lips, gesturing for her to be silent with a "shh" gesture.

Guan Han understood and quickly tidied up the coffee table, then opened the door again.

The two of them walked out together, with Guan Han taking the lead and reaching out to press the elevator button.

Inside the elevator, the atmosphere was eerily quiet in the late night, and neither of them spoke, resembling fleeting ghosts.

Qin Yinong watched the descending numbers on the elevator, her gaze flickering. After a moment, she spoke in a soft voice, "Tomorrow morning at six o'clock, send a message to Yaoyao and tell her that I had to leave due to some urgent matters. If she asks about it, just say it's not convenient to tell her."

Guan Han lowered her eyes and replied in a indifferent tone, "Okay."

After a pause, her voice sounded flat and emotionless, like a mechanical tone. "She probably won't ask."

Qin Yinong sighed, "...That would be best."

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