CHAPTER 39

"39 degrees Celsius." Tang Ruoyao disregarded Qin Yinong's reluctant posture and used a forehead thermometer to measure her temperature, looking at the reading displayed on it.

Thankful for the wonders of technology, if they were using the old glass mercury thermometer she had as a child, she would probably have to force Qin Yinong to have her temperature taken by pressing it against her armpit. She didn't know why, but even as an adult, whenever she fell ill, Qin Yinong became resistant to everything, throwing tantrums like a child.

It's strangely adorable.

Tang Ruoyao concealed her amusement deep within her heart.

"I told you it's nothing." Well, now that her temperature is out, but she's still insisted on denying it.

Tang Ruoyao didn't listen to her protests or engage in pointless banter. She observed Qin Yinong's pale lips and her heavy eyelids that seemed to be in a battle, and she dutifully went to the kitchen to boil some water.

Qin Yinong's head was heavily clouded. As soon as Tang Ruoyao left, she naturally closed her heavy eyelids, leaving only the faint sounds around her ears and the gradually increasing sound of water boiling in the kitchen.

Her consciousness drifted far away for a moment, and at other times it felt as if it was right in front of her. Dark, dim, heavy, irresistible, gradually engulfing her.

Tang Ruoyao placed her hand by her side, and her breathing became steady.

Tang Ruoyao poured a glass of warm water and deliberately placed it down with a soft sound. She extended her hand towards the back of Qin Yinong's neck, intending to help her up. Before her fingertips could touch the skin on the side of her neck, Qin Yinong sensed something and lowered her head, meeting a pair of open ink-black eyes, clear and alert.

"You couldn't sleep?" Tang Ruoyao casually withdrew her hand, brushing her long hair behind her ear.

"Mmm." Qin Yinong replied briefly without elaborating.

She had fallen asleep but was awakened by the sounds around her.

"Would you like some water?" Tang Ruoyao offered the glass from the side.

Qin Yinong furrowed her brows.

From her expression, Tang Ruoyao could read a thousand reluctances. She couldn't help but soften her heart, racking her brain to come up with a comforting phrase. However, Qin Yinong had already propped herself up and reached for the water, drinking from the glass.

She lay back down, covered herself with the blanket, and closed her eyes.

Tang Ruoyao squatted by her side like a big dog, staring at her serene face, lost in thought, with a warm smile in her eyes.

The gaze that watched her was ever-present, and Qin Yinong, being sensitive, couldn't find peace of mind even when she wanted to rest for a while. Unable to resist, she opened her eyes slightly and reprimanded softly, "Don't you have anything else to do?"

Tang Ruoyao was taken aback for a moment, then snapped back to reality. "Oh, right, right."

As she stepped back, she retreated too quickly and ended up sitting on the ground with a soft gasp.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but chuckle.

Tang Ruoyao's keen ears caught it and she quickly looked up, catching a glimpse of a faint smile at the corner of Qin Yinong's lips.

Qin Yinong's irritable mood, caused by the fever, had mellowed a bit. She softened her tone and said gently, "I'll just rest for a while. You go do your business. You can go to the study and read, no need to worry about me."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

After Qin Yinong closed her eyes again, Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips. How could she truly not care about her? Regardless of anything else, last night, the two of them kissed from the living room all the way to the bedroom, clothes scattered all over the floor, and they ended up rolling onto the bed, forgetting to close the windows tightly. Qin Yinong had been exposed to the wind on the outside for a few hours, enduring the rain and cold. How could she not catch a cold? When it came down to it, Tang Ruoyao couldn't escape her responsibility, and she was responsible for the majority of it.

Qin Yinong was half-asleep, half-awake, and once again, she was disturbed.

This time, Tang Ruoyao covered her with a blanket.

The weather remained gloomy today, with the city still damp from the rain. Even inside the house, they didn't need to turn on the air conditioning. Tang Ruoyao looked at the thin blanket covering Qin Yinong and worried that sleeping like this would worsen her cold symptoms. She took out a light and soft silk quilt from the wardrobe and gently unfolded it, covering Qin Yinong.

"You—" Qin Yinong abruptly opened her eyes and stared at her.

It was already difficult for her to fall asleep, and being awakened multiple times had made her angry. If it were someone else, they would have been kicked somewhere by now.

"I, I..." Tang Ruoyao stammered, "I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."

"Is it covered properly?" Qin Yinong lowered her head, looking at the corner of the quilt that was tucked up to her shoulders. Her eyebrows twitched involuntarily. She was furious. Was she being wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon? Or was this some ancient palace ritual for serving a beauty?

"It's covered properly." Tang Ruoyao weakly replied in a soft voice. "Please don't kick the blanket."

Qin Yinong sneered and immediately lifted the blanket, displaying a defiant attitude. She looked at Tang Ruoyao provocatively, as if saying, "What can you do to me if I don't listen to you?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated for a moment and then said, "Well, then don't cover yourself."

Qin Yinong hastily pulled the blanket over herself, haphazardly covering her body.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Your feet are still outside."

Qin Yinong kicked the part of the blanket that covered her feet even farther away.

Tang Ruoyao quickly changed her approach and said, "Actually, it's enough to cover up to your waist."

Immediately, Qin Yinong tightly wrapped the blanket around her entire body.

Tang Ruoyao's heart softened as if immersed in honey. Unable to suppress her emotions, she quickly turned her head to look at the door in the distance, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

She's so adorable with her tsundere attitude!

Qin Yinong became aware of how childish she had acted just now, her ears burning. But it was too late to take it back now, so she pretended nothing had happened.

To prevent Tang Ruoyao from waking her up again, Qin Yinong impatiently reminded her, "Is there anything else? Let's resolve everything at once."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head.

"Then don't disturb me again. I'm a light sleeper."

Tang Ruoyao suddenly realized something and felt guilty. "Did I wake you up just now?"

Qin Yinong kept her eyes closed and didn't respond, behaving as if she had silently acknowledged it.

"Do you want to sleep in my room? I'll be walking around in the living room, and it might disturb you." Tang Ruoyao suggested.

"Why would you be walking around?" Qin Yinong's voice sounded lazy.

"Just getting some water or fetching things." Tang Ruoyao replied. It was inevitable.

Qin Yinong didn't answer, but her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyes beneath her eyelids were moving, showing signs of contemplation. Tang Ruoyao patiently waited.

After a while.

Qin Yinong said, "...Alright."

Tang Ruoyao quickly removed the blanket she had just covered her with and reached out to support her. Qin Yinong glanced at her and spoke in a calm tone, "I'm not so weak that I can't walk."T

ang Ruoyao tactfully withdrew her hand.

Qin Yinong sat up on the bed, placing her feet on the ground and standing up. Her figure swayed for a moment, and almost instinctively, she reached out and grabbed Tang Ruoyao's arm to steady herself.

Qin Yinong: "..."

The turnaround came as fast as a tornado, striking her face.

Everyone has different levels of resistance, and their reactions to illnesses vary as well. Qin Yinong rarely fell sick. Injuries were understandable since there were always bumps and bruises while filming, but catching a common cold or fever was a rare occurrence for her. As a result, she had little experience in dealing with such symptoms.

She simply couldn't believe that a fever could cause weakness in the limbs, unsteady steps, and an inability to walk properly.

But as soon as she took a step forward, her knees weakened, and she involuntarily knelt down. Her mind went blank, and only one thought remained: It's actually true!

Her subsequent thought was: My image in front of Tang Ruoyao is completely ruined now.

Tang Ruoyao swiftly stepped forward and firmly caught her waist from behind, preventing her image from being completely destroyed. Just as Qin Yinong regained her composure, she breathed a sigh of relief but didn't have time to thank Tang Ruoyao before feeling a lightness on her body.

She was lifted up by Tang Ruoyao, who held her around the waist.

Qin Yinong thought, She's really bold.

"I'll carry you, Sister." Tang Ruoyao's calm voice sounded from above, slightly different from her usual tone, but filled with a sense of trust and security.

Qin Yinong hooked her arms around Tang Ruoyao's neck but didn't respond.

On one hand, she was indeed tired, and on the other hand, she was feeling dazed at the moment.

Tang Ruoyao's arms were thin but strong, and each step she took was steady. As Qin Yinong's tense back gradually relaxed, she looked up towards Tang Ruoyao's earlobe and lightly caressed the skin behind her ear.

Tang Ruoyao's heart raced, she turned her head slightly, pursed her lips, and awkwardly whispered, "Sister, please don't..."

Qin Yinong smiled, her already beautiful features becoming even more radiant. Tang Ruoyao was momentarily mesmerized and almost stumbled. Qin Yinong instinctively held onto this "floating log," and Tang Ruoyao clung tightly to her, afraid to lose focus again.

The following journey became even more stable. The bedroom door was slightly ajar. Tang Ruoyao approached the door, tilted her body to push it open with her shoulder, deliberately slowing down her steps. She took her time and carefully placed Qin Yinong onto the bed, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Qin Yinong understood her expression and spontaneously pulled the blanket over herself, silently avoiding a repeat of the previous "comedy."

Tang Ruoyao showed a relieved expression.

"You rest well." Tang Ruoyao asked, "Do you want some hot water? I'll go pour it for you."

Qin Yinong nodded and added, "Bring my phone over. place it on the coffee table."

"Okay."

Tang Ruoyao responded and quickly reappeared at the door. Qin Yinong sat at the bedside, already returning back to her usual self, the one Tang Ruoyao was most accustomed to. Tang Ruoyao handed her the water, and Qin Yinong politely thanked her. She unlocked her phone screen and slid her finger across it, checking if there were any important messages that required a response.

Tang Ruoyao felt a slight disappointment in her heart but didn't show it on her face.

"Well, I'll leave now." Tang Ruoyao said after checking the windows.

"Go ahead." Qin Yinong replied without looking up. "Don't disturb me if there's nothing important."

The sound of the door closing echoed in Qin Yinong's ears, and she withdrew from her seemingly focused state, sighing softly towards the door.

After replying to a few messages, Qin Yinong made a phone call and placed the phone on the bedside table beside her. She closed her eyes and lay down, feeling the throbbing in her temples gradually subside as her consciousness was consumed by darkness.

Tang Ruoyao went to the kitchen to cook porridge and brought a book to the living room sofa. The study and the bedroom were separated by two doors, so if Qin Yinong needed anything or called for her, she would be able to hear it immediately—although the likelihood of that was very small.

She didn't wait for instructions from Qin Yinong but instead received an unexpected visitor.

The doorbell rang at the entrance.

Opening the door, Tang Ruoyao found Guan Han standing there.

Guan Han politely greeted, "Miss Yao."

Tang Ruoyao stepped aside to let her in and asked, "Did my sister ask you to come, Guan Han?"

Guan Han nodded.

Tang Ruoyao closed the door behind her and handed her a pair of slippers without saying much.

Guan Han, being astute, couldn't fail to notice that Tang Ruoyao didn't particularly welcome her. However, since Qin Yinong had called her to come, she had no choice but to come. She was just a lowly assistant, and if her boss wanted her to be a third wheel, she had to be a third wheel.

Guan Han sat on the sofa, and Tang Ruoyao poured a glass of water for her. Guan Han accepted it and said, "Thank you."

"Is my sister leaving soon?" Tang Ruoyao cautiously asked.

"No," Guan Han replied, "She asked me to wait here. We'll leave once she wakes up."

The mention of "we" in Guan Han's words pricked Tang Ruoyao's heart slightly, and her gaze sank. She and Qin Yinong were supposed to be the "we," but she hadn't had the opportunity to use that term with Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao lifted her eyes and scrutinized Guan Han for a moment.

Guan Han, aged twenty-five or twenty-six, was at an age where a woman gradually transitioned from youth to maturity. There was no trace of youthfulness in her anymore. She exuded a unique charm that belonged to mature women, but it wasn't excessive. While she may not be as beautiful as the celebrities in the industry, she was undoubtedly considered elegant among ordinary people. Her features were well-defined, her skin fair, and the gold-rimmed glasses she wore added a touch of sophistication to her.

Since Tang Ruoyao met Qin Yinong that day, Guan Han had been inseparable from her. Whether it was during her public appearances or the occasional unauthorized snapshots taken by others, there was always a shadow by her side, and that shadow was Guan Han. If they were to compare their levels of intimacy, Tang Ruoyao acknowledged that she couldn't surpass Guan Han.

Previously, Tang Ruoyao had thought of Guan Han as Qin Yinong's trusted assistant, someone she valued for their closeness. However, today, a different thought suddenly arose in her mind.

Qin Yinong was so busy with her work on the set, she definitely wouldn't have time to indulge in anyone else. Could it be that Guan Han, who was closest to her... was actually one of her lovers?

Guan Han felt a chill down her spine under Tang Ruoyao's intense gaze.

"Miss Yao," Guan Han interrupted her scrutiny and asked, "Did Qin Jie take her medication?"

Tang Ruoyao's mind was elsewhere. "Huh? What medication?"

"Cold medicine. I sent it over last night." Guan Han replied.

"You came last night?" Tang Ruoyao was taken aback, remembering the lozenges placed on the bedside table. They weren't there before, and it turned out that Guan Han had brought them. No wonder she didn't know about it. Guan Han often appeared in the middle of the night, and most of the time, she was already asleep.

Guan Han adjusted her glasses on her nose and smiled in affirmation.

Then she watched as Tang Ruoyao's expression became strange.

Guan Han: "???"

Tang Ruoyao took a deep breath, feeling increasingly uneasy and convinced that something was going on between Guan Han and Qin Yinong.

"Miss Yao, you haven't answered me. Did Qin Jie take her medication?" Guan Han ignored Tang Ruoyao's odd behavior and continued with her duty-bound inquiry.

"I don't know." Tang Ruoyao replied nonchalantly.

Guan Han: "..."

She was completely confused. After thinking for a moment, she paid no attention to Tang Ruoyao's strange behavior and opened the drawer of the coffee table, taking out the cold medicine that Qin Yinong had put away last night and inspecting it.

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

Who exactly was the master of this household?

Her chest slightly rose and fell as she suppressed the urge to speak. This house was bought by Qin Yinong, and she could let anyone live here. If she claimed to be the master, she would likely lose to this confidante, who might also be her lover, once they confronted Qin Yinong.

The cold medicine was untouched. Guan Han held the medicine in her hand, unsure of what to do. Initially, she had prepared it for Tang Ruoyao, but it turned out that Qin Yinong was the one who fell ill. She had never dealt with a situation like this before and didn't know how to handle it. Even Guan Han, the resourceful assistant, couldn't recall a similar scenario from her vast knowledge.

"I'll go out and buy some fever-reducing medicine. If Qin Jie wakes up with a fever, please encourage her to take the medicine." Guan Han explained briefly, picking up her bag and preparing to leave.

Tang Ruoyao thought indifferently, "Wouldn't it be better if you encourage her?"

She interpreted Qin Yinong's previous stubborn behavior asa  resistance to her care in every aspect. She felt a pang of sadness, realizing that she had mistakenly thought Qin Yinong was showing her special affection.

Unaware of the thoughts swirling in Tang Ruoyao's mind, Guan Han simply opened the door and left.

Tang Ruoyao watched as Guan Han came and went, seemingly treating herself as half of the master of the house, and her expression worsened. She picked up a book nearby, found the bookmarked page, but didn't flip through it for a long time. Eventually, she put the book back down and sat on the couch, feeling frustrated.

After about ten minutes, the doorbell rang again.

In a high-end residential area like this, the surrounding facilities were well-equipped, making it convenient to buy anything.

Tang Ruoyao didn't feel like opening the door for Guan Han. She delayed for half a minute before reluctantly making her way there.

Guan Han was holding a bag full of medicine. This time, Tang Ruoyao stood in front of her. Tang Ruoyao reached out to take the medicine and politely said, "Thank you for your hard work." For some reason, it reminded her of Qin Yinong from the previous night. Although their tones were slightly different, they still seemed compatible.

A faint smile appeared on Guan Han's icy face. "You're welcome. It's my duty."

She was referring to her responsibilities as an assistant. However, in the mind of a jealous woman, anything could be misinterpreted. Sure enough, Tang Ruoyao thought, Are you provoking me?

"I cooked some porridge in the kitchen." she said.

"What kind of porridge?"

"Millet porridge."

"That's good for the stomach." Guan Han habitually pushed up her glasses and offered a friendly suggestion, "Do you want me to make some side dishes as well? Just eating porridge might be a bit bland."

"I'll do it." Tang Ruoyao immediately responded.

Guan Han blinked her eyes behind her glasses. Why did she feel like Tang Ruoyao was afraid of her taking the lead? Qin Yinong had excellent cooking skills but looked down on the dishes Tang Ruoyao made. However, it was different when her loved one made them.There was once Qin Yinong had lunch here and complained on the way back about eating too much, even taking several digestive pills.

During Qin Yinong's rest period, Guan Han had nothing else to do except memorize a few of her scheduled activities. Qin Yinong was most concerned about Tang Ruoyao, so Guan Han thought it would be better to lend a hand in the kitchen.

Tang Ruoyao guarded herself tightly, saying, "No need to help."

Guan Han replied, "I'll wash the vegetables."

Tang Ruoyao calmly blocked her hand and said, "I can handle it myself."

Guan Han thought, "...alright." She figured she could just watch from the side.

Tang Ruoyao skillfully handled the ingredients, slicing the bamboo shoots into even strips. Her hand holding the knife was steady, and the rhythmic sound of chopping echoed on the cutting board. It was the first time Guan Han had witnessed Tang Ruoyao cooking, and she found it quite intriguing. Previously, Qin Yinong would always deliberately chase her away before Tang Ruoyao entered the kitchen, being extremely possessive.

Stir-fried spicy bamboo shoot strips and smashed cucumber salad were both simple dishes.

Guan Han said from the side, "Qin Jie likes to eat smashed cucumber salad. You can make a little more." Qin Yinong was an approachable person and had a comfortable and happy time with her team. Ji Shulan would make some homemade pickles and fermented tofu, which she would generously bring to share with the team. Apart from smashed cucumber salad, only Guan Han, the most favored one, would be rewarded with a piece or two.

Upon hearing this, Tang Ruoyao turned around and gave her a faint glance.

Guan Han: "???"

What's going on with Miss Yao today? Did I offend or provoke her?

"The kitchen is filled with smoke. Guan Han, you can take a break outside." Tang Ruoyao said in a gentle tone, smiling lightly.

But... you're making a cold dish. Guan Han's expression became subtle, but she went along with it and retreated.

Tang Ruoyao went online and searched again for the recipe for smashed cucumber salad. She followed the recipe to make one dish and made another using her own method. She tasted both dishes side by side and thought her own version was a bit more delicious, but she couldn't be sure of Qin Yinong's taste preferences. So, she decided to keep both dishes.

Putting away the apron, Guan Han sat on the sofa, playing a shooting game on her phone. Tang Ruoyao glanced at it, intentionally or unintentionally. Guan Han's skills were truly lacking, as she failed three consecutive rounds, with each round ending in defeat. Once, the character fell on the roof and rolled down, resulting in a game over.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but laugh.

Guan Han looked up and politely said, "Miss Yao, do you play as well? Can you show me?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She had brought trouble upon herself.

In Room 405, both Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran enjoyed playing this game. They often dragged her and Fu Yujun to form a team of four for the sake of dormitory camaraderie. Occasionally, Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun would agree, and Tang Ruoyao had a decent talent for the game and often led the team to victory.

Tang Ruoyao logged into the game client and added Guan Han as a friend.

When Qin Yinong woke up from her nap and pressed her temples, the first thing she saw was her legal wife and the chief eunuch sitting cross-legged on the living room floor. They were both engrossed in their phones, their heads tilted close together, as if engaged in some secret rendezvous.

As Qin Yinong approached, she could hear Tang Ruoyao intentionally lowering her voice.

"Do we have a first aid kit? I have one here."

"Any M24? Or a 98K would work too."

"556, do we have any 556? Give me some ammo."

"There's an enemy behind the tree at 345. Smoke them out, let's go."

"Why don't you go in? Don't you know the difference between north and south? What about left and right?"

Qin Yinong: "..."

What kind of professional jargon is this? It sounds like they're at war?

What puzzled her even more was Guan Han's perpetually delayed reactions.

"I think I have a first aid kit. Let me find it."

"What gun was that?"

"We don't have any 556, only a 726. Is that okay?"

"Where's the smoke? I didn't see it."

"I died again."

Guan Han, frustrated by her consecutive defeats, looked up and met Qin Yinong's curious big eyes and a half-smiling face from behind the sofa.

Guan Han's back tensed, and she patted Tang Ruoyao's arm.

Tang Ruoyao didn't even lift her head. "Wait a moment, let me take him down first."

Guan Han silently stood up and retreated behind Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong turned back and gave her a chilly glance, her eyes filled with a dangerous aura.

Tang Ruoyao shot down the enemy with a single bullet, then looked up. The phone slipped from her grip and fell onto her lap.

Qin Yinong walked over, bent down to pick up the phone, and personally handed it back to Tang Ruoyao. She smiled lightly and said, "Continue."

Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth and finished the round under Qin Yinong's gaze.

The screen displayed the words "Winner Winner Winner" along with the number of kills and other stats.

Qin Yinong, who had never played before, understood. "Does that mean you won?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Qin Yinong smiled insincerely and praised, "Oh, very impressive."

Tang Ruoyao's lips seemed to be sealed, unable to respond properly.

After a while, she regained her voice and stuttered, "Did sister's fever go down?"

Qin Yinong thought to herself with a hint of dissatisfaction, with their enthusiasm for playing games, even if she were burning up, no one would know.

She sat down and casually replied, "It should have gone down."

Tang Ruoyao fetched a forehead thermometer, but Qin Yinong raised her hand to block her forehead, lazily turned her head away, and was very uncooperative.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Tang Ruoyao weakened her tone and acted cute, saying, "Sister."

The unyielding Qin Yinong wasn't swayed by this.

The two of them remained at an impasse.

Guan Han watched from the side, zipping her lips, not daring to say a word. She belatedly realized what a huge mistake she had made by playing games with Tang Ruoyao, especially in front of Qin Yinong.

Rounding it up, it was like an ancient emperor witnessing his empress and chief eunuch being unclear about their relationship. Her life was in danger.

Guan Han kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, trying to minimize her presence, hoping that the fiery conflict between the young couple wouldn't spread to her.

However, the more she feared, the more it came true.

Tang Ruoyao became incredibly clingy, and Qin Yinong's heart softened to a mushy state. She was on the verge of surrendering. In a panic, her gaze swept around, and it landed on Guan Han standing there like a utility pole. A thought crossed her mind, and she squinted her eyes.

"Guan Han." she called.

"..." Guan Han almost blacked out. Was it too late for her to start running on the spot with a fever? She had to answer honestly, "Here."

"Come over and take my temperature." Qin Yinong said calmly.

"Yes," Guan Han lowered her eyelids and responded flatly.

Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth behind Qin Yinong's line of sight, reluctantly handing the forehead thermometer to Guan Han.

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT