CHAPTER 54

"It's nothing. You heard wrong." Lin Guoan hastily waved his hand, following the principle of "you move, I remain still" and adapting to changes. He adjusted his expression, striving to appear calm and composed.

As long as he didn't say it, could Tang Yaoyao forcefully pry open his mouth?

Tang Yaoyao rarely misheard things because when Lin Guoan was discussing important matters with her, her attention was exceptionally focused. So, she was absolutely certain that he said "girlfriend." The phrase "girlfriend" had only a few common combinations, and subconsciously, Tang Yaoyao filled in the missing word in her mind with "friend."

Girlfriend.

Whose girlfriend?

Hers?

Who is the girlfriend?

Tang Yaoyao had to figure it out.

"Director Lin," Tang Yaoyao softly called out to him.

Lin Guoan was drinking from a bottle of mineral water, pretending to be very thirsty. He glanced sideways at Tang Yaoyao, his eyes signaling her that she could speak up.

Tang Yaoyao's gaze was intense. "Last time, when Qin Yinong came to the set and we had a meal together. Did you notice anything?"

Lin Guoan's eyes darted around as he ambiguously uttered a vague sound, "Mm." The sound "mm" carried a tone of surprise, accompanied by his furrowed brow.

He was still pretending.

That day, Tang Yaoyao was occasionally absent-minded, barely eating anything, and even went to the restroom midway. The noticeable lipstick mark left by Qin Yinong on her lips was caught her attention at a glance.

There was no way Lin Guoan hadn't noticed. Coupled with his subsequent care and attention, it was evident that he knew what was going on.

If Lin Guoan didn't say anything, she certainly wouldn't take the initiative to break the silence.

"Director Lin," Tang Yaoyao's thoughts quickly turned, and she suddenly changed her address, lowering her voice to a softer tone. "What did Sister Qin tell you?"

Lin Guoan's heart skipped a beat, thinking indignantly, So the truth is about to be revealed, and I'm going to get scolded!

Lin Guoan paused his hand from pouring water for himself, tightened the bottle cap, and casually said, "She didn't say much, just mentioned that You Mingxuan was bothering you, so I should pay more attention and not let anyone take advantage of you accidentally."

Tang Yaoyao felt her heart skip a beat, and her breath unconsciously lightened.

It was somewhat expected yet beyond her imagination.

She could understand Qin Yinong's motives. She was currently under contract, and regardless of her feelings, her body belonged to her. It was normal not to want others to take advantage of her. What was beyond her imagination was that Qin Yinong would specifically instruct Lin Guoan.

Did this mean that she was ultimately different in Qin Yinong's eyes?

Tang Yaoyao subconsciously thought about it, and this speculation made her feel excited. But before the joy could be revealed through her brows and eyes, she quickly forced herself to dismiss such thoughts.

She couldn't let herself be easily swayed by Qin Yinong's words or fragments.

Tang Yaoyao tilted her head slightly. "Did she say that I'm her girlfriend?"

In her mind, Tang Yaoyao convinced herself that she was merely seeking information about this matter, not nurturing any hopes—nothing more than that.

However, her eyes uncontrollably stared at every subtle facial expression of Lin Guoan, afraid of missing any crucial information.

"Yeah." Lin Guoan confirmed.

Tang Yaoyao suddenly felt as if all the strength had left her body. The tense nerves relaxed with the utterance of that answer, and a smile appeared on her lips, a mix of joy and sorrow.

Lin Guoan: "???" What's going on?

Lin Guoan furrowed his brow. "Did you two have a disagreement?" Just yesterday, Qin Yinong was chatting with him quite happily.

"It's nothing." Tang Yaoyao shook her head, offering a sincere smile.

Even if it was just one of them, the term "girlfriend" was enough to put a satisfying end to this relationship that was destined to have no conclusion.

She had been happy because of her love, and it was still worth it even if she wasn't loved in return.

Tang Yaoyao picked up the topic that Lin Guoan had mentioned earlier, intentionally avoiding mentioning Ji Yunyao's name, and asked about others. She didn't shower herself with affection, and Lin Guoan naturally welcomed the change, smoothly turning the page on this matter.

It was Jiang Lao's seventieth birthday celebration, organized by his son, Jiang Shilong. Jiang Shilong, in his forties, wore a simple and formal deep gray suit with luxurious details. He personally greeted the guests at the entrance.

The red carpet seemed endless, with artificial landscapes on both sides. From the open door, one could see the brightly lit interior, where elegantly dressed guests holding champagne glasses whispered to each other in small groups, all familiar faces seen in news and television.

Tang Yaoyao showed her invitation to the handsome waiter standing at the entrance. She took the black pen handed to her and gracefully left her name on the signing board. The number of people invited to the event was not many, as long as one paid attention to the signing board for an extra two seconds, they could see it clearly.

Tang Yaoyao secretly imitated Qin Yinong's signature to the point of perfection. At a glance, she confirmed that Qin Yinong's signature was not there.

Did she not come? Or is she arriving later?

Tang Yaoyao held onto Lin Guoan's arm as they entered the red carpet. She wore a deep blue off-shoulder gown adorned with diamonds, her waist elegantly cinched, and her exquisite makeup and aloof temperament instantly became the center of attention.

Any social event inevitably involved socializing.

Tang Yaoyao calmly scanned the people present, and most of them cast different looks at her unfamiliar face in the "upper-class circle." After a few breaths, someone took the initiative to approach her.

Lin Guoan whispered in her ear, providing a subtle hint, and Tang Yaoyao mentally matched the person's face with their name. She took a glass from the tray carried by a nearby waiter, her red lips curved slightly, and lightly touched the glass with the approaching person.

The person in front of her was a man in his thirties, unremarkable in appearance but not to be underestimated in status.

Everyone here—except for the two directors she had collaborated with—were people Tang Yaoyao could only long for but not easily approach in her usual life. It was a great opportunity, so she mustered all her energy, focused her attention, and engaged in conversations with everyone in front of her.

Lin Guoan accompanied Tang Yaoyao throughout the event, providing her support every step of the way. With Lin Guoan by her side, Tang Yaoyao's nervousness eased considerably. After chatting with several business tycoons, Lin Guoan led her to a director.

This director was the first director Tang Yaoyao had worked with, and they had a prior relationship. They caught up and chatted, and Tang Yaoyao finally completely relaxed. It was then that she noticed her left palm was slightly sweaty.

The three of them enjoyed their conversation when suddenly, the surrounding voices abruptly fell silent.

Tang Yaoyao turned her head and noticed that everyone's gaze was directed towards the same direction. She followed their gaze.

Standing at the entrance was a young woman, around 170 cm tall, slender and elegant, and her profile looked familiar. She had just finished signing and lazily tossed the pen upward, perfectly landing it on the tray, then she took a silk handkerchief handed to her by her assistant and leisurely wiped her fingers that held the pen.

Before the young woman turned around, Tang Yaoyao heard a deliberately subdued voice saying, "Miss Ji."

As the person spoke, the woman turned around.

It was Ji Yunyao herself.

Tang Yaoyao was momentarily stunned. The last time she saw Ji Yunyao, she was wearing a long dress, resembling a girl-next-door. But this time, she was clad in a casual gray suit, with a colorful gemstone and white gold diamond wristwatch on her wrist. Every movement and gesture exuded an elite temperament.

Only she had that elusive smile on her lips, just like before, that made it hard to decipher her true intentions.

If the event had started as lukewarm water, Ji Yunyao's entrance raised the temperature by several degrees. Almost everyone's gaze was fixated on Ji Yunyao, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Ji Yunyao didn't look around, nor did she pause for anyone. Although she was smiling, there was a hint of indifference in her eyes and brows that deterred anyone from easily offending her.

She was the center of attention, the only one shining brightly.

Tang Yaoyao pursed her lips slightly and couldn't help but feel a sense of inferiority in the presence of Ji Yunyao's radiance.

Ji Yunyao was dazzling and truly exceptional, a true prodigy. Unlike her, who was merely struggling in the mire, reflecting a faint glimmer in the sunlight. But this glimmer was like a grain of rice compared to the moonlight in Ji Yunyao's presence.

If she were Qin Yinong, she would also treat Ji Yunyao with special attention.

"Xiao Tang?" Lin Guoan noticed that Tang Yaoyao's expression wasn't great and worriedly asked.

"It's nothing." Tang Yaoyao lightly shook her head.

Why did she keep thinking about Qin Yinong?

Don't you want her to die?!

Tang Yaoyao cursed herself in her mind for being so useless.

Ji Yunyao found a place to settle down, holding a glass of wine in her hand. One after another, young and old faces approached her, engaging in casual conversations and subtly flattering her.

Ji Yunyao let the words go in one ear and out the other, wanting to slip away. But due to her father and Jiang Lao's face, she had to stay here and act as their lucky charm.

After finally getting rid of one person, Ji Yunyao aimlessly scanned the room with her eyes. She saw Tang Yaoyao standing with two men whose hair was turning white, and a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

...So, the "stubborn and clingy little thing" is here too.

Ji Yunyao looked up at the stairs, lowered the hand propping up the table, lazily straightened her body, and confidently walked towards Tang Yaoyao.

"Jiang Lao is here!" Someone shouted.

Ji Yunyao looked at Tang Yaoyao, who was only a few meters away, and sighed inwardly. She could only join everyone else in directing their attention towards the stairs.

Jiang Lao, the birthday star, was wearing a black Tang suit embroidered with golden patterns. He held a dragon-headed cane and stood in the corridor on the second floor. His hair was half-white, and there was a deep wrinkle between his eyebrows, giving a formidable presence even when he wasn't angry.

Jiang Lao was undoubtedly the protagonist of today's banquet, but even more eye-catching was the woman on his left, who held his arm and wore a red cheongsam. Qin Yinong exuded an elegant and graceful demeanor.

Tang Yaoyao's eyes widened slightly.

Although she forced herself not to think about Qin Yinong, she had been secretly paying attention to see if Qin Yinong would show up among the people entering the event. She thought Qin Yinong wouldn't appear, but unexpectedly, Qin Yinong came out with Jiang Lao and sat on equal footing with Jiang Lao's son, as if they were family.

Not only Tang Yaoyao, but even the others in the room were secretly astonished.

Ji Yunyao raised an eyebrow lightly, her smile deepening at the corner of her eyes, yet not reaching the depths.

This little girl of hers has some skills. She calmly won over Jiang Lao. From now on, who would dare to obstruct her in this circle?

Ji Family, Jiang Lao... Ji Yunyao's gaze became profound. Qin Yinong, how high do you really want to climb?

Qin Yinong and Jiang Shilong supported Jiang Lao, with Qin Yinong on the left and Jiang Shilong on the right, as they descended the stairs. Jiang Lao stood in the center, tapping his cane on the ground and delivered his birthday speech under the gaze of the crowd.

Jiang Lao showed his vitality and strength, showing no signs of aging.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend my birthday banquet despite your busy schedules..."

The whole room was focused on Jiang Lao, except for two people. Tang Yaoyao thought she was being discreet as she secretly observed Qin Yinong, while Ji Yunyao's gaze shifted between Qin Yinong and Tang Yaoyao.

Qin Yinong's gaze quietly fell on his mentor, seemingly undistracted.

As Jiang Lao was speaking, he suddenly glanced to the side and noticed his excellent disciple daydreaming. The tense line of his lips relaxed slightly, and a faint smile appeared as if by chance.

"... I hope everyone enjoys themselves today." Jiang Lao concluded his speech.

As the speech ended, the venue erupted in applause.

Jiang Lao drank tea instead of alcohol, finishing it in one gulp, officially inaugurating the banquet.

Qin Yinong snapped back to reality and came over to support Jiang Lao. However, Jiang Lao pulled his hand back, avoiding her reaching hand. Qin Yinong looked helpless and said, "Teacher."

"In this place..." Jiang Lao leaned closer to her, his old eyes shining, and asked in a low voice, "Which one is Tang Yaoyao? Has she arrived?"

Qin Yinong remained silent.

"I wasn't paying attention. Let me assist you to rest first." Qin Yinong said, intending to evade the question. However, to her surprise, her mentor persisted and walked forward with his cane, saying, "If you won't tell me, I'll ask by myself."

Qin Yinong had no choice but to lean close to his ear and point out the person.

Qin Yinong didn't know if it was her imagination, but the guest list for the banquet was prepared by Jiang Lao's son, Jiang Shilong. She asked Jiang Shilong for an extra invitation card and he diligently asked for the name. Qin Yinong thought it wouldn't hurt to tell him. Little did she know that Jiang Shilong immediately turned and informed her father.

Jiang Lao had been retired for several years, enjoying his old age at home. At his age, he loved worrying about his children. Jiang Lao's children were all married and established in their careers, leaving only one disciple, Qin Yinong, whom he held dear. Jiang Lao had sharp ears and keen eyesight, and there were some things that he couldn't be kept in the dark about, like Qin Yinong's continuous concern for Tang Yaoyao behind his back. Jiang Lao was a perceptive person, and with a few probing questions, he extracted the truth from Qin Yinong.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything. I'll just observe and keep an eye out for you." Jiang Lao patted Qin Yinong's arm, smiling.

"Be careful with your image, Teacher." Qin Yinong reminded expressionlessly.

Jiang Lao adjusted his expression back, his shrewd eyes gleaming slightly.

Tang Yaoyao clearly felt that there were two pairs of eyes paying attention to her. One was Ji Yunyao, and the other... as she looked past the layers of people, her eyes met Qin Yinong's... and Jiang Lao's beside him.

Jiang Lao's eyes were like sharp falcons, emitting a cold light. When his gaze landed directly on her, Tang Yaoyao's heart instinctively skipped a beat. She resisted the urge to avoid his gaze and managed to squeeze out a respectful smile, nodding slightly.

Jiang Lao retracted his gaze and looked at Qin Yinong, revealing a hint of slight appreciation in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "She has guts and remained composed. Not bad."

Qin Yinong pursed her lips.

Did her teacher misjudge her? How did he determine that she had guts and composure?

After all, Jiang Lao was getting older and lacking vitality. After receiving everyone's blessings and taking a few bites of cake, he retired early to rest.

As soon as Qin Yinong was alone, various people approached her, trying to get close to her. Within a few minutes, the surroundings were filled with people, and she could only catch glimpses of her figure wrapped in a red cheongsam through the gaps in the crowd, her face as beautiful and charming as a begonia.

Tang Yaoyao hesitated, torn between joining in the excitement or staying honest. Suddenly, a strange fragrance brushed past her nose.

She quickly turned her head, just in time to avoid Ji Yunyao's reaching hand.

Tang Yaoyao stared at that slender, fair hand that was only a few centimeters away from her face, her heart still pounding. She calmly said, "Miss Ji, this gesture of yours seems a bit abrupt and lacking in grace, doesn't it?"

"Miss Tang." Ji Yunyao's lips curved into a smile as she said, "Long time no see."

Her hand did not withdraw, still resting in the air, supporting Tang Yaoyao's cheek, creating the illusion of an intimate couple from a distance.

A chill ran down Tang Yaoyao's spine, and she took two steps back before creating some distance between her and Ji Yunyao.

"Long time no see." Tang Yaoyao replied.

"What are you looking at?" Ji Yunyao followed Tang Yaoyao's gaze. As she approached once again, just as Tang Yaoyao was about to step back again, Ji Yunyao stopped, maintaining a moderate distance.

Tang Yaoyao discreetly breathed a sigh of relief.

Her subtle expression didn't escape Ji Yunyao's eyes. Ji Yunyao stood beside her, gazing at Qin Yinong in the crowd and said with a smirk, "Do you like her that much?"

Tang Yaoyao remained silent.

Ji Yunyao leaned her hands on the counter behind her and asked, "Does she like you?"

Tang Yaoyao continued to remain silent.

"She's heartless, she just sees you as something mildly interesting to play with. Whenever she's not in the mood, she can discard you at any time." Ji Yunyao looked at her with a pitiful gaze, but deep inside, excitement was burning, as if she was anticipating Tang Yaoyao's reaction.

The initial assumption of being "relatives" was overturned by Ji Yunyao's few words. Would real relatives speak like that?

Tang Yaoyao's heart slightly fluctuated. Ji Yunyao wanted to see her embarrassed, but she wouldn't give the other party the satisfaction.

The best course of action was to ignore her and not show any clues.

"Excuse me." Tang Yaoyao said, stepping aside and leaving.

"What has she given you?" Ji Yunyao suddenly raised her voice. As she spoke, the gazes of two people turned towards them, observing them with confusion.

She felt fearless and unrestrained. Tang Yaoyao halted her steps, her nails digging into her palms. She took a deep breath and walked back. "What exactly do you want?"

"I want you." Ji Yunyao lightly uttered three words.

Tang Yaoyao thought she was insane, but she couldn't leave, and she didn't know what to say.

Ji Yunyao looked at her speechless expression, laughed, and said, "Miss Tang, you're quite interesting." Pausing for a moment, she continued, "Whatever she has given you, I can give you twice, no, ten times more. Maybe you should consider finding someone else."

There are people in this world whom you cannot afford to offend. However, among these people whom you cannot afford to offend, there are some whom you cannot avoid offending. When fate brings you into contact with mold, it means you're destined to face disaster.

Tang Yaoyao said calmly, "Miss Ji, you're joking."

"I'm serious." Ji Yunyao said, taking a step closer. She lowered her voice and said, "As long as you're willing to come to me, I guarantee that in the future, you will be on equal footing with Qin Yinong."

Tang Yaoyao showed a pensive expression, seemingly seriously considering it.

Ji Yunyao still had a smile on her face, but if one looked closely, the laughter in her eyes faded as Tang Yaoyao took more time to think.

Dull and tasteless. Ji Yunyao said indifferently in her heart.

She didn't know what Tang Yaoyao was considering about being on equal footing. In her understanding, Ji Yunyao was Qin Yinong's lover, and Qin Yinong was the dominant figure between them. How could she hear from Ji Yunyao's words that it seemed like she was superior to Qin Yinong?

There were rumors in their circle that Qin Yinong had climbed up through unspoken rules. How old was Ji Yunyao now? When she was with Qin Yinong, she was probably only sixteen or seventeen years old. What kind of power could a sixteen or seventeen-year-old have?

Something was off, everything was off.

Tang Yaoyao finally voiced the question, coldly asking, "What exactly is your relationship with her?"

Ji Yunyao smiled ambiguously and replied, "Whatever relationship you think we have, that's the relationship we have." As she finished speaking, she reached out again, closing in on Tang Yaoyao's face. Tang Yaoyao took a step back, but Ji Yunyao advanced, pressing closer with each step.

Tang Yaoyao was greatly shocked. She couldn't believe Ji Yunyao had such audacity!

Even more surprisingly, with everyone watching, not a single person came forward to intervene!

Ji Yunyao cornered Tang Yaoyao against the wall.

With one hand supporting herself against the wall near Tang Yaoyao's neck, Ji Yunyao calmly gazed at her, as if she were looking at a trapped rabbit. Her lips curled slightly, tilting her head down.

Tang Yaoyao's hand hanging by her side clenched into a fist, veins bulging. Just as she reached the point of unbearable restraint and was about to strike Ji Yunyao's face with her fist, a familiar female voice came from behind, resounding with a deep tone, "Today is Mr. Jiang's birthday. Even if the two of you can't control your emotions, you should consider the occasion."

The tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Finally, someone had arrived.

Ji Yunyao raised an eyebrow slightly, calmly turned her head, and exchanged a glance with Qin Yinong, who had a solemn expression.

Qin Yinong said, "That's enough."

Ji Yunyao shrugged indifferently, taking the opportunity to escape and creating some distance from Tang Yaoyao. She gave Tang Yaoyao an ambiguous look.

Qin Yinong calmly glanced at Tang Yaoyao, who had a flushed face and tightly pursed lips, clearly still in shock from the previous fright. It was her own fault. She shouldn't have targeted the Ji family from the beginning, drawing Ji Yunyao's attention to Tang Yaoyao.

Ji Yunyao was a capricious and eccentric person who acted solely based on her preferences. Qin Yinong shouldn't have assumed that she could manipulate Ji Yunyao just because she thought Ji Yunyao had a liking for Ning Ning and entrusted the matter to her. Dealing with Ji Yunyao was no different from courting danger.

She should have known better.

Qin Yinong couldn't describe the feeling she had just experienced. She was surrounded by the crowd, but in an instant, she saw Tang Yaoyao trapped in the corner, completely helpless. Anger, panic, and fear seized her heart like a giant hand, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She forcefully pushed aside the people around her, accidentally knocking over two glasses of wine, but managed to save Tang Yaoyao just before things could get worse.

What should she do?

Qin Yinong's usually agile mind momentarily froze. Ji Yunyao observed the emotions Qin Yinong was struggling to suppress, lowered her head, and deliberately checked the time on her wristwatch, saying with a slight delay, "I'm sorry."

Tang Yaoyao glanced at the self-righteous Ji Yunyao and then at Qin Yinong, whose face was as calm as water, unable to discern her thoughts. After a few moments of contemplation, Tang Yaoyao took two steps back and chose to leave this place of conflict.

Ji Yunyao couldn't help but burst into laughter and said, "Your little lover has left you. Why don't you go after her?"

Qin Yinong responded with a disdainful smile, "She will come back sooner or later. Why should I chase after her?"

Ji Yunyao exaggeratedly exclaimed, then changed the subject, saying, "Your little lover loves you a lot."

Qin Yinong remained indifferent and casually replied, "I provide her with resources, so naturally, she loves me."

Even though they were in a corner of the hall, with many people around and prying eyes, it was not the place for such conversations. Qin Yinong glanced at Ji Yunyao, turned around, and walked towards a secluded area.

Ji Yunyao followed her footsteps.

Qin Yinong led the way ahead, unaware that Ji Yunyao had turned her head and fixed her gaze on Tang Yaoyao's direction. Tang Yaoyao noticed the provoking look and watched as Ji Yunyao and Qin Yinong turned into a certain corridor together.

Tang Yaoyao tightly clenched the champagne glass in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force.

"Xiao Tang, are you okay?" Lin Guoan approached, having just heard about the commotion that had occurred here. He was instantly alarmed. Everyone knew that Ji Yunyao had a peculiar temperament and didn't play by the rules, but no one expected her to be so audacious and reckless.

"I'm fine," Tang Yaoyao lightly exhaled a breath.

Stay calm. She told herself she had to stay calm.

The power of rumors was unimaginable. In such a short span of time, distorted versions of Tang Yaoyao and Ji Yunyao's relationship had spread, and even the director of their first film collaboration came over to ask, "Have you two known each other for a long time?"

Lin Guoan replied, "I'm not gossiping, and if you tell me, I won't tell anyone else. Why did she insist on having you join the crew before?"

Tang Yaoyao felt increasingly annoyed, the restlessness weighing on her mind. She looked up and downed the contents of her glass, maintaining her composure, and nodded slightly, saying, "I need to go to the restroom, excuse me."

Turning down two more corridors from the restroom, she reached the end of a long, secluded hallway, rarely frequented by people.

Tang Yaoyao stood hesitating at the entrance of the restroom. Suddenly, she bit her lower lip tightly and took off her high heels, walking barefoot towards the sound. Her steps were light and almost silent. After walking for about two minutes, she heard people conversing. She slowed her pace, approaching more cautiously.

Perhaps due to echoes or the two individuals facing the wind, she couldn't hear their conversation clearly, only catching sporadic words.

As Tang Yaoyao took a few steps in her pointed high heels, the conversation between the two suddenly became audible.

"I've taken a liking to your little lover. Are you willing to let her go for me?"

Tang Yaoyao was stunned.

Ji Yunyao's tone was coquettish, completely different from her aggressive demeanor earlier, revealing a peculiar intimacy.

Qin Yinong chuckled, the smile filled with mockery.

Tang Yaoyao's heart started pounding rapidly.

"You want the dirty one too?" Qin Yinong sneered. "When did you start specializing in second-hand goods?"

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