CHAPTER 53

Qin Yinong was caught in a dilemma.

Calling Tang Ruoyao was absolutely impossible. Not only did she rarely initiate phone calls with her, but if Tang Ruoyao suddenly received a call from a child claiming to be her daughter, she would probably be scared out of her wits.

Qin Yinong instinctively avoided the topic for now. She had kept her family situation hidden so deeply, all to protect them. Regardless of who the other person was, she had no intention of exposing herself.

But if she didn't make this call...

Qin Yinong secretly glanced at Ningning's expression. Her eyes were still teary, ready to burst into tears at any moment.

Qin Yinong gently ruffled her daughter's head and softly agreed, "Okay." She raised her voice and called out, "Guan Han."

Guan Han, who was waiting outside the door, immediately came in.

"Qin Jie." Guan Han nodded at her, and once again, candy appeared out of her empty pocket. She stuffed it into Ningning's palm. Ningning's eyes were still red, but she managed to squeeze out a polite smile and said, "Thank you, Aunt Guan Han."

Qin Yinong deliberately spoke slowly, afraid that Guan Han might not hear clearly or understand her implied meaning. "Help me bring the phone over. Ningning doubts that I am an actress and wants to talk to my colleague, Yao Yao, to ask for proof."

Guan Han's eyes widened at first, but quickly understood. She glanced around and, taking advantage of the moment when Ningning was looking down at the candy, mouthed a question, "An Ling?"

Qin Yinong's eyelids drooped slightly but didn't fully close. She raised them again, indicating a nod.

Guan Han took out the phone from Qin Yinong's bag and spontaneously retreated.

She found a quiet place and quickly called An Ling. As soon as the call connected, she spoke rapidly, "Sister An Ling, Qin Jie needs your help with something..."

Inside the room.

Qin Yinong pretended to be weak and slowly slid her finger across the screen to unlock it.

Ningning had no suspicion towards her mother, so after Qin Yinong unlocked the phone, she temporarily edited An Ling's name in the contacts to "Yao Yao" and moved it in front of Ningning. In front of her own eyes, she dialed the number labeled as "Yao Yao." Ningning didn't doubt for a moment that this "Yao Yao" was fake.

To buy time for Guan Han to inform An Ling, Qin Yinong deliberately delayed and pointed at two identical characters arranged side by side on the phone screen, saying, "This is the character 'Yao.' Do you recognize it?"

Ningning shook her head.

Her eyes stared at the character "Yao," and her finger traced the strokes on the screen, struggling with the complex strokes, repeatedly stumbling and starting over.

Qin Yinong estimated that it was close enough and said, "Mom is going to call Yao Yao now."

Ningning pursed her lips tightly and nodded earnestly.

Qin Yinong showcased her acting skills as an international award-winning actress to the fullest. Ningning was completely fooled by her performance, and the fake "Yao Yao" on the other end, An Ling, felt helpless but nervously played along with her act.

As a top-notch talent manager, who could have imagined that one day she would have to achieve success in the field of acting as well?

"I'm doing fine, not too busy..."

"Just filming, you know how it is. This director is a bit difficult to deal with, always dragging on. I'll take a break after finishing this movie."

"What have you been up to lately? Did you take on any new roles?"

Qin Yinong and An Ling played off each other, appearing relaxed and occasionally casting a glance at Ningning as if to say, "See, Mom said I'm an actress. Do you believe it now?"

Ningning furrowed her delicate and beautiful eyebrows, lost in thought.

Qin Yinong continued her act for a while, and Ningning took off one earphone and whispered, "Can I talk to Aunt Yao Yao directly?"

The little child was quite clever, spontaneously changing her way of addressing An Ling.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and said, "Sure." She reminded An Ling on the other end of the phone, word by word, "Ningning wants to talk to you personally, you know." She didn't want any mishaps at a critical moment.

An Ling's heart jumped to her throat, and she cleared her throat, trying to adjust her tone to sound natural as she smiled and said, "Sure, I really like the little sweetheart." Who would have known that she had never even met the little sweetheart in person, only seeing photos of her in Qin Yinong's phone. They looked like they were carved from the same mold. If it weren't for being Qin Yinong's manager and knowing her schedule inside out, knowing that she had no time to get pregnant, she wouldn't have suspected that this child wasn't Qin Yinong's biological child.

Qin Yinong considerately handed the phone to the little child, pressing it against her ear.

Ningning greeted in a childish voice, "Hello, Aunt Yao Yao."

The fake Yao Yao, the real An Ling, felt her heart melting as she smiled genuinely and cheerfully replied, "Hello, little one."

"Is my mom really an actress?"

"Yes."

"Why does she always lie in bed without moving for a while? Is being an actress so dangerous?"

"It varies from person to person. Your mom is just very tired, and it's not related to her work nature. As for me, I'm usually in good health."

"So, is she doing something dangerous?"

"Uh... not really." An Ling said. "She follows the rules and laws."

"Okay, thank you, Aunt."

The call ended.

Qin Yinong placed the phone on the bedside table. "Now do you believe me?"

Ningning seemed lost in thought.

Qin Yinong picked her up and placed her on her lap, gently comforting her, "Mom really isn't doing anything dangerous. Mom promises you that it won't happen again in the future."

It was time to prepare the other house, in case something happened and Guan Han could take her there. It wasn't good to constantly worry the elderly and children. Qin Yinong thought to herself.

Ningning looked up.

Qin Yinong smiled. "What's wrong, my little darling?"

Ningning bit her lip and asked in confusion, "Why does Aunt Yao Yao's voice sound much older than in the video?"

Qin Yinong pondered for a moment and explained seriously, "That's because the video used dubbing, not her real voice."

Once again, Ningning was fooled by her explanation, cutely tilting her little head and asking, "What's dubbing?"

Qin Yinong explained to the child and even showed her a TV drama she had acted in earlier, where her dialogue skills were poor. Living in the southern region, she had a slight accent in Mandarin, which was quite unbearable, so they had to use dubbing.

.....

"An Ling, my daughter said you're old." After settling Ningning with Ji Shulan, Qin Yinong poured herself a glass of warm water and sipped it leisurely, unable to help but chuckle.

An Ling: "..."

Her heart stirred, and she said, "I worked so hard to accompany you in acting, and this is the result?"

Qin Yinong burst into laughter.

An Ling: "So how did you deceive her then?"

She's in such a good mood now, she must have figured it out already.

Qin Yinong cleared her throat and smiled, "How can you call it deceiving? It's just comforting. I told her about the dubbing and explained it for half an hour until she finally dispelled her doubts. Besides, could I really make her call Tang Yaoyao? Do I want to risk my life?"

"Haven't you thought about finding a father for the child?" An Ling teased her.

"Are you volunteering?" Qin Yinong replied nonchalantly.

"No." An Ling refused decisively, "I'm still waiting to retire and keep a few young and fresh meat boys to spoil, taking turns to pamper them. How can I be stuck with you, the crooked tree?"

"I won't stop you from finding young and fresh meat, but you're responsible for putting my name on the list."

"It's a thankless task, whoever wants to do it can do it." Seeing that Qin Yinong was becoming more and more unruly, An Ling couldn't hear anything valuable—gossip—so she changed the subject, "The paparazzi were quite fast this time. You returned to Beijing in the morning, and by evening, it was trending. Do you want to take a look?"

"No, I don't want to see it." Qin Yinong lazily replied, "Just tell me the headline."

"Wait a moment." An Ling seemed to be searching for news and after a while, she chuckled before speaking word by word, "Qin Yinong has a new love interest. At the airport, she and a handsome man embraced each other as if no one else was around."

Qin Yinong was surprised, "Even when Shi Xiao covered his face like that, they could still tell he was handsome?"

An Ling half-jokingly and half-mockingly said, "The entertainment media trusts your judgment too much, huh?" Pausing for a moment, she persistently asked, as she had for years, "Do you want me to clarify it for you?"

Qin Yinong smiled, "I've never bothered to clarify anything. If I suddenly clarify it, wouldn't it confirm the rumor?"

An Ling said, "That's not the issue you should be considering. I have my ways."

Qin Yinong fell silent.

An Ling thought she had shaken her, although she didn't know why. She cautiously advised in a low voice, suppressing her joy and anticipation, "Even if you don't care, there are others who will."

The person she was undoubtedly referring to was Tang Ruoyao.

During Qin Yinong's break, she rarely appeared in public, keeping a low profile, so naturally, there were fewer news reports. Counting them, there was only the graduation ceremony she attended for the recent graduates of the Capital Drama Academy, and the release of her film inventory some time ago, which resulted in even fewer rumors.

Bringing up Tang Ruoyao didn't have the desired effect for An Ling. Instead, it had the opposite effect. Qin Yinong's previously hesitant and indecisive attitude, as An Ling perceived it, instantly became resolute. "Forget it, I'm used to it. It will quiet down soon anyway."

"I'm going to accompany Ningning. We'll talk next time." Qin Yinong threw her phone onto the counter.

.....

@GossipDucksGroup:

[Latest news,  Qin Yinong, the empress of Qin, has a new love interest again. It is said that this young man is a model. Look at those long legs and muscular physique. Even though he's wearing sunglasses and a mask, it can't hide his astonishing handsomeness. Qin Yinong's romantic luck is so prosperous. When will she publish a love guidebook? [Eating popcorn]]

[If you have money, you can do it too. The power of financial capability. [Eating popcorn.jpg]]

[The blogger must have been kidnapped. She's not in a normal relationship. She changes partners like clothes. We've only heard about the ones that were exposed. Who knows how many more there are that haven't been revealed? Look at her bad complexion. Maybe she's got a disease from promiscuity. [Covering mouth and laughing]]

[The person above is such a hater. NM&L (Ni Ma Si Le[your mom's life is rotten])]

[Are Qin Yinong's fans all so vulgar? Just because someone speaks the truth, they get attacked. Stop jumping around. No matter how much you jump, your idol won't favor you.]

[Most netizens are just sour grapes because they can't have what they want. Qin Yinong has money and status. So what if she changes partners like clothes? If I had money, I would keep seventeen or eighteen young and fresh meat boys. Even without them, I still enjoy looking at them. I haven't cheated or intervened in anyone's marriage. What's the problem? Does it bother you that much? Wake up, it's early in the morning and the Qing Dynasty has already perished.]

[Did the person above forget about Han Yuping, Director Han? I've noticed that Qin's fans have a really short memory. Artistic achievements are one thing, but a person's character is another. Just because I praised her acting in a film doesn't mean I can't criticize her for being dirty.]

In the evening, after dinner, it was the peak time for online activity.

Tang Yaoyao logged into Weibo using her alternate account, as she usually did, to check Qin Yinong's updates. That's when she came across this piece of news. Over the years, she had seen numerous news articles starting with "Qin Yinong's new love interest," numbering in the double digits. The subsequent details were more or less the same, but that didn't mean she could dismiss them as ordinary.

On the contrary, compared to before, the recent closeness between them had almost made her forget that Qin Yinong was a person of many affairs. So, when she saw this news, she felt a surreal sense of being disconnected from reality. Then, a feeling rose from deep within her heart, like slowly rising tides suffocating her senses.

She was alone in her hotel room. Nevertheless, she tilted her face upward, holding back the tears swirling in her eyes, refusing to let them fall.

Without paying further attention to Qin Yinong's unusual demeanor, Tang Yaoyao exited the hot search and logged out of her alternate account as well.

In all these years, Qin Yinong's studio had dealt with negative rumors at such a swift pace that Tang Yaoyao had never doubted the authenticity of these news articles. It was simple logic—if these rumors were false, why would Qin Yinong's studio not say a word? At the very least, they could send a formal lawyer's letter, even though most people in the industry knew that lawyer's letters were mostly bluffs, and few would actually pursue legal action. Sending too many would even be treated as a joke.

The reputation of a female star is of utmost importance, and Qin Yinong's studio is well aware of this. Its silence is equivalent to the truth, signifying tacit approval.

Tang Yaoyao is no different from the majority of people, she believed it. Otherwise, with her level of intelligence, she would have quickly noticed something amiss.

In the moment she logged out, an image of Qin Yinong leaning against a strange man, with her pale lips, flashed through Tang Yaoyao's mind. A strange feeling flickered within her but was quickly suppressed by bitterness.

She decided to watch a classic foreign film to distract herself, but just as she started, her phone vibrated.

Guan Han: [Have you decided on the car I asked you to choose last time?]

Tang Yaoyao sarcastically curled her lips, juggling between her new love and not forgetting her "old love." Qin Yinong sure knows how to have it all. Reason told her not to be willful, and she should be grateful that Qin Yinong still remembered her, but in this moment, emotions took the upper hand.

She set her phone aside without replying.

.....

"Did she respond?" Qin Yinong pinched her throbbing brow.

"Not yet. Maybe she's busy and missed it." Guan Han said. "Why don't you take a break again?"

"Now that I've slept, i don't have to sleep at night." Qin Yinong waved her hand.

Not long after waking up, she had a nagging feeling that she had forgotten something important. With a serious expression, she asked Guan Han. Guan Han and her stared at each other, but the ever-reliable assistant couldn't remember anything significant. In the end, she held up her tablet and checked the memo one by one, only to discover that it was about buying a car for Tang Yaoyao.

Guan Han: "..." She had never felt so sour before.

"Alright." Qin Yinong said. "When she replies, let me know immediately."

Guan Han nodded, lowered her head, and opened the schedule. She said, "Jiang Lao's birthday banquet is coming up soon. You might have a chance to ask her face to face."

"Birthday banquet?" Qin Yinong furrowed her brows in frustration.

She had lost track of time and asked, "When is it?"

Guan Han replied, "Next Saturday."

Qin Yinong curled her fingers and opened her mouth, "The gift..."

Guan Han gave her an affirming look and said, "You prepared it half a year ago."

Qin Yinong suddenly felt relieved, as if a burden had been lifted. "That's good." she thought she had forgotten.

Guan Han's mind flashed, and she cleverly suggested, "Should I arrange some new clothes for you?"

"In the previous period, didn't we just..." Qin Yinong began to say but abruptly halted her words, awkwardly changing her tone, "That's fine too. It's almost autumn, and I do have a shortage of clothes."

Guan Han lowered her eyes, concealing the amusement in her gaze, and replied calmly, 

"I will arrange it then."

.....

Tang Yaoyao carefully unfolded and folded the invitation card, repeating the process without any expression on her face.

Xin Qian couldn't bear to watch, her eyes hurting. "Tang Tang, what are you doing?"

Tang Yaoyao maintained her calm demeanor, closing the exquisitely embossed invitation card with delicate gold trim, pinching one corner with her fingers, and calmly said, "It's nothing."

Xin Qian leaned over to see the words written on the invitation card. She recognized Jiang Lao's name, but her perception was far from sharp. Seeing Tang Yaoyao's seemingly troubled expression, she asked, "If you don't like it, can't you just not go?"

"No, I can't." Tang Yaoyao said.

"Oh."

That day, Tang Yaoyao intentionally delayed her response until late, claiming that she needed to think it over. Unexpectedly, Guan Han replied to her instantly: [Then take your time to think, no rush].

Guan Han thought to herself: Anyway, you'll meet next week, and whatever you want to do at that time, just do it.

In Tang Yaoyao's mind, it was a completely different interpretation: Qin Yinong indeed had found a new love. She was so enthusiastic before, eagerly sharing screenshots and discussing with her. But now, she was being so dismissive.

Her spirits had been low these past few days. After finishing filming, she would quietly keep to herself. As the date on the invitation card drew nearer, she found herself contemplating escape. She knew very well that Qin Yinong was like a poisonous drug, yet she had been trying to quench her thirst with it. When would this cycle end?

With seven months left, she was uncontrollably sinking deeper and deeper. On the day her contract ended, would she be able to cleanly break away?

To prevent unexpected situations, perhaps she should start preparing early.

Tang Yaoyao narrowed her eyes, a glimmer of darkness fleeting through her gaze, too quick for anyone to catch.

She would treat this banquet as a test.

She would never let herself get lost again.

Xin Qian silently observed for a while and noticed a faint smile tugging at the corner of Tang Yaoyao's mouth, radiating danger and calculation.

Xin Qian felt a shiver run down her spine instinctively, but before she could fully grasp it, the smile abruptly disappeared.

On the film set, Director Lin brought up once again the matter of attending Jiang Lao's birthday banquet tomorrow. Tang Yaoyao assured him that she remembered and was looking forward to it.

Lin Guoan turned around and reported to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong found middle-aged gossipmongers like Lin Guoan, who were approaching old age, extremely annoying. However, due to the "couple" relationship she had previously confessed to, she was forced to learn about many daily updates regarding "his girlfriend" from Lin Guoan.

Including, but not limited to, which scene she performed exceptionally well in today, the arrival of a cat on the set, and Tang Yaoyao feeding the cat. There was also a stray dog that came to the set, and Tang Yaoyao bought food for the dog as well. Truly a compassionate young person. Attached was a photo.

The photo was taken by Lin Guoan. In the photo, Tang Yaoyao wore a water-green cheongsam, her long hair twisted into a braided bun with wispy strands of hair at the end, giving off a fresh and lively vibe. When she squatted down to feed the cat, her slender fair hand contrasted sharply with the dirty fur of the stray cat. The sunlight behind her spilled out in a golden hue, and as the young woman noticed the camera, she bent her eyes and smiled towards this direction.

A gentle yet somewhat distant smile instantly pierced through the screen, leaving no room to escape.

Qin Yinong stared at the photo for a while, long-pressed to save it, and then set it to be hidden. She felt a tickle in her throat, took a big sip from the water glass in front of her, and replied, [I didn't expect Director Lin to have the talent of a photographer.]

Lin Guoan responded;  [Did you forget? I studied photography in college]

Many of those veteran directors have a background in photography, including Han Yuping. Qin Yinong's mind was clouded by beauty, and she awkwardly touched her nose while typing with a smile: [I did indeed forget.]

[I'll complain to Old Han later.]

Speaking of Han Yuping, Qin Yinong had a question: [Has Director Han finished filming?]

Lin Guoan glanced at Tang Yaoyao, who was playing with the cat, and seeing that she wasn't paying attention to him, he replied: [It's almost done. Can't say for sure if it'll be earlier than me. By the way, why don't you ask him yourself?]

[I don't want to disturb Uncle Han.] Qin Yinong said in a righteous manner, but the truth was that she was feeling timid. She had been secretly seeking directors and pulling in investments for her film outside, all without Han Yuping's knowledge. She felt guilty and didn't dare to have a direct conversation with him.

Lin Guoan actually believed her nonsense and straightforwardly said, [It's not that serious. Other people would be a bother, but your disturbance isn't considered a bother. Han Yuping has no sons or daughters, he treats you like his own daughter. If you don't go to him, I reckon he'll be heartbroken in the far North.]

Qin Yinong and Lin Guoan laughed for a while before getting back to business: [When should we sign our contract?]

Lin Guoan wasn't in a hurry: [Whenever you're free, come over and sign it. Or we can wait until the end of 'Under the Southern Mountain' filming and set a time for both of us.]

Qin Yinong replied: [Then let's wait until Jiang Lao's birthday banquet is over. I'll find some time to visit you.]

To avoid trouble in the long run.

Qin Yinong suppressed the unspoken words.

A corner of the bedroom curtain was suddenly lifted by the wind, allowing the cool autumn breeze to enter.

Qin Yinong turned her head and suddenly felt a sense of unease, accompanied by an inexplicable ominous premonition.

[Finding an excuse to come to your girlfriend again, huh? Young couples, one day apart feels like three autumns. I'm always welcoming, even if you come every day.] These words appeared on the screen once again.

Facing Lin Guoan's teasing, thinking he was being witty, Qin Yinong simply brushed it off. Whatever he said, in any case, this time Qin Yinong had no intention of returning to the set.

Keeping a distance.

To prepare for the inevitable separation.

She and Tang Yaoyao had their own considerations and coincidentally made the same choice.

Qin Yinong left the dressing table and closed the windows of the master bedroom one by one, allowing the goosebumps on her arms to slowly subside.

一One leaf falling reveals the coming of autumn.

On Jiang Lao's birthday, it was a windy day, and there were few people at the hotel entrance.

Tang Yaoyao turned her head and looked at a withered leaf that had fallen onto her shoulder. She lifted her finger and pinched it, but before she could examine it closely, it crumbled completely in her hand, as if it had no substance. A gust of wind passed by, leaving only a faint gray mark on her finger.

Tang Yaoyao flicked her fingertip, and the faint mark completely disappeared. The sorrow in her heart drifted along with the shattered leaf, leaving her in a daze amidst the autumn scenery.

"Tangtang," Xin Qian draped a shawl over Tang Yaoyao, who was wearing a shoulder-revealing dress, and whispered, "Go inside and wait. Don't catch a cold."

Tang Yaoyao snapped back to reality, walking towards the hotel lobby while leisurely wiping her fingers on the tissue Xin Qian handed her. She lifted her lips lightly and asked, "Is Director Lin still not ready?"

"Who knows? He's more naggy than a woman." Xin Qian whispered to her, complaining.

A slight hint of reproach appeared in Tang Yaoyao's eyes as she said, "We arrived too early, the appointed time hasn't come yet."

Xin Qian lowered her head to look at her phone. "There are still ten minutes."

As soon as she finished speaking, a pure black luxury car drove up to the red carpet at the hotel entrance. A waiter went around to the back and opened the car door. A middle-aged man with graying temples, dressed in a suit, stepped out while tucking in one cuff of his sleeve.

Lin Guoan walked casually towards Tang Yaoyao, who was standing quietly in the lobby, and elegantly performed a gentleman's greeting.

The corner of Tang Yaoyao's lips curved up, and she placed her hand on the director's palm, exuding the air of a proud queen.

The atmosphere inside the moving car was quiet. Lin Guoan quietly introduced the prominent figures attending this event to Tang Yaoyao, explaining their specific roles and responsibilities. Of course, the list was provided by Qin Yinong, accompanied by a detailed introduction in a document consisting of tens of thousands of words. If it weren't for the fact that Lin Guoan already knew most of them, it would have been difficult to remember everything.

Lin Guoan had truly put in a lot of effort for Qin Yinong and her girlfriend, and no one else could say otherwise.

Tang Yaoyao memorized everything in her heart.

When she heard a familiar name, she paused for a moment and repeated, "Ji Yunyao?"

"Yes." Lin Guoan considerately added an explanation, "She is the successor of Huan Yu Entertainment, Ji Zong is already old, so he lets his daughter handle most matters."

Lin Guoan clicked his tongue as he continued, "Ji Yunyao has a somewhat peculiar personality, and her reputation in the industry is not very good. If you happen to encounter her, remember to be cautious."

Tang Yaoyao's expression turned subtle as she said, "I have met her before." Did he forget how she entered the set?

Lin Guoan met her gaze for a while before exclaiming, "The big boss who invested in our production team!"

Tang Yaoyao: "..." It's impressive that he can still remember the big boss.

Tang Yaoyao deeply doubted the reliability of the information Lin Guoan had just introduced to her. Somehow, Lin Guoan suddenly understood the distrust in her eyes and blurted out, "You may not trust me, but you should trust your girlfriend—cough, cough..."

Lin Guoan suddenly started coughing repeatedly, pretending to look for water in a fluster, his eyes darting around anxiously.

Oh no, it seems like he accidentally let something slip. Hopefully, Tang Yaoyao's ears were temporarily deaf during that moment and she didn't hear it.

Tang Yaoyao patiently waited for him to finish coughing and raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling ambiguously. She said, "Girlfriend...what?"

Author's Note:

Qin Jiejie: Oh no, am I about to be exposed???

Almost there, almost there.

The storyline in my mind has already progressed to the point where Yao Yao and Jiejie have drunk ten thousand cups of water! Ahhhhh!

Hand: What are you talking about???

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