CHAPTER 55

The water flowing from the faucet enveloped Tang Yaoyao's slender fingers, following the curve formed by the back of her hand as it flowed downward.

Nervously, Tang Yaoyao rubbed her hands underwater, and her fingertips twitched suddenly. She changed her position, placing both hands on the stone edge of the sink, lowered her head, and took deep breaths.

Breathing became a luxury. Despite standing on solid ground, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, one step away from falling into the abyss. The suffocating sensation crawled up slowly, like creeping vines, branching out and tightening around her heart, constricting it further and further.

Tears that she had struggled to hold back earlier finally escaped her control and welled up uncontrollably. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand.

This wasn't the place to vent her emotions.

Tang Yaoyao looked up, biting her lower lip until it turned pale, forcing the tears that had welled up in her eyes back.

Footsteps could be heard near the entrance of the restroom—one light and one crisp footsteps. The light ones belonged to Qin Yinong, wearing flat shoes that complemented her cheongsam today. Despite her tall stature, she appeared slim even without high heels. The crisp ones naturally belonged to Ji Yunyao's pointed high heels.

Tang Yaoyao didn't know how she managed to discern who was coming just by the sound of their footsteps. In an instant, as the footsteps sounded, she quickly hid in one of the restroom stalls.

Qin Yinong was taciturn, while Ji Yunyao was quite talkative. They chatted about the new animated film, and Ji Yunyao mentioned wanting to take someone named Ningning to see it. Ningning was mentioned frequently by her, but Tang Yaoyao only felt a fleeting moment of curiosity instinctively and didn't let unwarranted curiosity take root.

From now on, her relationship with Qin Yinong would only be based on the agreements in their contract.

After the two of them left, Tang Yaoyao stayed in the stall for a while longer, then came out and quickly touched up her makeup before once again blending into the crowd of people with their fragrances and elegant appearances. During that time, she encountered Ji Yunyao's malicious glances several times, but Tang Yaoyao pretended they didn't exist.

She couldn't compete with Ji Yunyao, but she wouldn't let her manipulate her either. She was prepared to go all out if necessary.

If Qin Yinong wanted to give her away, it would depend on whether she was willing or not.

A faint, almost imperceptible cold smile tugged at the corner of Tang Yaoyao's mouth.

Ji Yunyao's gaze carried a hint of amusement as she once again turned her attention to Qin Yinong, who was surrounded by several guests, appearing to be the half-owner of the Jiang family.

How much of what you say is sincere? How much of it is insincere?

To be honest, she had no interest in Tang Yaoyao herself. In the entertainment industry, there were all kinds of beautiful women, and they could have anyone they wanted. Tang Yaoyao was just slightly attractive, not stunning, and her personality wasn't particularly captivating either. She was nothing more than "second-hand goods." She only sparked a hint of interest in Ji Yunyao when she was involved with Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong's dismissive attitude left her unable to judge, but it didn't matter whether it was real or fake anymore. Ji Yunyao happened to catch on to this situation and got excited, so she decided to play along. If she could make Qin Yinong feel a little uncomfortable, wouldn't that be delightful?

Ji Yunyao lightly sipped her drink, and a pleased smile formed at the corner of her eyes.

Her cousin had been quite successful lately, so it was her duty as a niece to give her a little push.

How could it be called bullying when it was done by a family member?

For Ningning's sake, there was a momentary flicker of guilt in Ji Yunyao, but then she thought, Ningning is Ningning, and Qin Yinong is Qin Yinong. What does it have to do with her?

.....

The banquet came to an end.

The secretaries and assistants from various companies were waiting outside, ready to escort their respective bosses or celebrities back.

Qin Yinong declined the Jiang family's offer to stay overnight and, under Jiang Shilong's escort, walked towards her car.

As Guan Han approached, she immediately noticed the strong scent of alcohol emanating from Qin Yinong's body, and alarm bells started ringing in her mind.

Qin Yinong had reached her current position where she rarely had moments of being intoxicated, so something unpleasant must have happened at the banquet.

"Qin Jie," Guan Han walked up to her, reaching out to hold Qin Yinong's arm and whispered, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Qin Yinong waved her hand. Thanks to years of drinking, Qin Yinong had developed a high tolerance for alcohol and could handle it well. She didn't show any signs of being drunk, and unless someone approached closely and smelled the alcohol, she appeared no different from an ordinary person.

But that was only how it appeared to others. Guan Han, who had been with Qin Yinong for years, couldn't be so oblivious as to not notice something unusual about her at this moment. The alcohol scent was a minor concern. What concerned Guan Han more was the tight grip of Qin Yinong's hand on her arm, causing her pain.

She must be suppressing something.

Guan Han's heart raced, and she quickly helped Qin Yinong into the open back door of the car.

The driver was Qin Yinong's usual driver, and without needing any words, he smoothly drove the car towards Qin's residence. However, Qin Yinong suddenly spoke in a soft voice, "Change course. Go to Hongmeng Manor."

Both Guan Han and the driver were taken aback. The driver replied with an acknowledgement and drove into the pitch-black night.

Hongmeng Manor was another property owned by Qin Yinong in a residential area. After her recent experience at the airport, she didn't want to worry her family, so she had asked Guan Han to prepare that vacant residence for her temporary stay. Guan Han had already made all the arrangements in advance, but she didn't expect it to be used so soon.

After uttering those words, Qin Yinong stared blankly out the window.

Guan Han pretended to be clueless and quietly suggested, "If you want a quiet place to rest, Miss Yao's place would be a good choice. She's currently on set filming and won't be there."

Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Yinong suddenly turned her head sharply and fixed her gaze on Guan Han. Her eyes were reddened, as if they had been burned by fire, with bloodshot veins spreading across the whites of her eyes. At first glance, it looked as if she had been immersed in blood. Her previously clear black pupils now carried a hazy mist.

She widened her eyes, as if by doing so, she could prevent tears from falling in the next second.

Guan Han's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Qin Yinong stared straight at her for a moment, without breathing, and then turned her face away.

The car fell into an eerily silence.

The driver took Qin Yinong to Hongmeng Manor. Guan Han accompanied her inside. As soon as they entered, Qin Yinong found the bathroom and locked herself in.

Guan Han stood guard outside the door, hearing the sound of intense vomiting and accompanied by strong coughing coming from inside.

She stood or crouched at the door, her legs going numb from the position. It wasn't until Qin Yinong finally opened the door that she had washed her face and hands, removed her makeup, and appeared with a plain face. Her whole demeanor looked both dim and pale.

Qin Yinong glanced at Guan Han, who was crouching on the floor, and asked in a casual tone, "Are you hungry?"

Guan Han, who was about to stand up, hesitated and replied, "...I'm good."

Qin Yinong nodded and said, "Then I'll make something for myself."

She turned and walked away.

"Um..." Guan Han called out to her, then said, "I'm hungry."

Qin Yinong's lips curled up, returning a very gentle smile.

Guan Han couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.

Qin Yinong was still wearing that bright red cheongsam, barefoot. This house had been left vacant for a long time, with cold and dim lighting, lacking vitality. She walked silently on the floor, dressed in red, and it inexplicably reminded Guan Han of a wandering ghost.

Guan Han fetched a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet in the entrance and placed them in front of Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong was slightly startled but obediently put them on. The sound of the slippers dragging on the floor reached Guan Han's ears, and she smiled.

In Guan Han's expectations, Qin Yinong wouldn't use this house until much later—at least after Tang Ruoyao's contract ended. That's why she hadn't asked the housekeeping staff to stock the fridge with fruits, vegetables, and meat in preparation for the owner's arrival. There was a box of eggs, two bags of frozen dumplings and wontons stored in the freezer, and two packets of instant noodles in the kitchen cabinet.

Qin Yinong casually walked around in her slippers, holding a plate of dumplings in one hand and a packet of instant noodles in the other. She asked Guan Han, who was circling around her, "Which one do you want to eat?"

Guan Han pointed at the packet of instant noodles.

Qin Yinong put the dumplings back and said, "You can watch TV on the couch for a while, and it'll be ready soon."

Guan Han responded in line with the current atmosphere, "Okay, thank you."

"You're welcome." Qin Yinong acted like a gracious hostess.

There was no way Guan Han could genuinely watch TV in the living room. She lowered the volume of the television to the point where it could be ignored and occasionally glanced at Qin Yinong's busy figure in the kitchen.

Suddenly, the crisp sound of a porcelain bowl shattering came from the kitchen. Guan Han instinctively stood up and grabbed a broom and dustpan, then hurriedly went inside.

"Qin Jie, let me clean it up."

Qin Yinong was picking up the broken pieces with her bare hands, and Guan Han spoke up, afraid that her precious hands might get injured.

Whether it was the jinx in her heart being effective or not, Qin Yinong accidentally cut her fingertip on a sharp shard, and a drop of crimson blood seeped out. Guan Han rushed to find the first aid kit and busily cleaned her wound, applying a band-aid.

Ignoring Qin Yinong's dazed expression, Guan Han, unusually firm in attitude, pushed her aside and tidied up the mess on the floor.

After Qin Yinong was finally done preparing two bowls of noodles, it was already an hour since they arrived home.

Guan Han had already eaten at the Jiangs', so she wasn't particularly hungry. But as soon as she smelled the aroma of the noodles, her digestive system suddenly accelerated, and her hunger surged. She took a deep breath and waited for Qin Yinong to pick up the first strand of noodles with her chopsticks, place it in the spoon, and leisurely bring it to her mouth before she started eating.

Qin Yinong only took a few bites before stopping, leaving more than half of the noodles in her bowl. She stared at Guan Han across from her, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

No matter how good Guan Han's appetite was, she couldn't withstand such a gaze. She silently slowed down her pace, but Qin Yinong continued to watch her.

The moment their eyes met, Qin Yinong called out her name.

Guan Han immediately put down her chopsticks and respectfully said, "Yes?"

Qin Yinong tilted her head and asked, "Do I disgust you?"

Guan Han was perplexed.

She even doubted if there was something wrong with her ears just now.

Qin Yinong continued, "I encountered Ji Yunyao today."

Guan Han's expression froze.

Just hearing the name Ji Yunyao made her involuntarily shudder. Ji Yunyao, the young lady of the Ji family, acted recklessly and Guan Han had nearly suffered because of her. Although the other party later claimed it was a joke, it was enough to leave a psychological shadow on Guan Han, causing her to avoid Ji Yunyao at all costs.

Qin Yinong calmly recounted, "It seems she has set her sights on something far away."

Guan Han listened patiently.

"We talked about her, and I said some really awful things." Qin Yinong's eyes suddenly turned slightly red as she restrained her emotions.

Guan Han didn't ask what exactly she said, but she could roughly guess. She spoke up to comfort her, "It was just a temporary measure. Someone like Miss Ji, who is crazy, can't be judged by common sense. It's best to be cautious."

"It's not just her. For all these years..." Qin Yinong smiled lightly, "I speak differently to different people, adapting to their preferences. I use any means necessary to climb up, utilizing anyone and anything that can be used. I show kindness to the weak in exchange for favors, and I grovel and flatter the strong, isn't that disgusting?"

She tightly concealed the remaining ounce of her vulnerability and didn't dare to easily reveal it to the person she loved.

Guan Han pressed her lips together and shook her head.

The night breeze gently brushed through the window, causing the white curtains in the living room to rise and fall.

"But I feel disgusted." Qin Yinong looked into her eyes and said each word slowly.

Guan Han felt her words stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.

She didn't see it that way.

In this dog-eat-dog world, once Qin Yinong stepped in, it was either her swallowing others or others ruthlessly tearing her apart. Wasn't the lesson from the past been bloody enough? At best, it could only be said that it was a means of self-preservation.

But in this world, there are countless strong individuals, always someone stronger than oneself, no matter how high one stands, they can't escape.

"Qin Jie..." Guan Han carefully began to speak.

Qin Yinong's face suddenly changed. She pressed her hand against her chest, quickly grabbed a stack of tissues from the tissue box, covered her mouth, and abruptly stood up from the chair.

She vomited again, this time not even able to expel the alcohol, only bringing up some sour liquid from her stomach.

After sending Guan Han away this time, Qin Yinong fetched a bottle of alcohol from the liquor cabinet and sat alone on the windowsill, pouring and drinking for herself. There was a dim moon amidst the dark clouds, casting a cold, white moonlight.

Ji Yunyao's words echoed relentlessly in her ears.

"Of course, I don't have a preference for second-hand goods. Who said I wanted to personally play with her? I'll raise her and find a few stunning beauties to train together, let them perform a live erotic show in front of me. Wouldn't that be more interesting? I'll invite you to watch then. Otherwise, I can record a video and send it to you."

"We made a deal. What's mine is mine. But I'm busy with work right now. Keep this little thing for me, and when I have some free time, I'll go find her."
x

Qin Yinong lowered her head, looking at the strong liquor in her cup, and suddenly laughed. The mocking curve on her lips growing larger.

After all these years of striving and scheming, she remained the same, without any change.

Before, she thought she could protect her sister, but her sister died.

Now, she thought she could shelter Tang Ruoyao, but the result was the opposite. Tang Ruoyao suffered because of her involvement.

Why?!

Qin Yinong gritted her teeth, the glass in her hand creaking. She tightly clenched the glass with her pale, slender fingers and forcefully smashed it on the marble surface of the window sill. It shattered into pieces. With one hand, she pressed against the glimmering shards, and they soon stained red with fresh blood.

She clenched a handful of glass shards in her palm, squeezing tighter and tighter as drops of fresh blood slid along her palm lines.

The pain stimulated her sensory nerves, but Qin Yinong forcefully kept her eyes wide open, never letting a single tear fall.

How she wished there was someone she could bury her head and cry to, but there was no one left in this world for her to rely on.

.....

Tang Ruoyao and Lin Guoan returned to the hotel in the same car they came in.

Tang Ruoyao's face was heavy with sorrow, and Lin Guoan, sensing her gloomy mood, wisely remained silent throughout the journey. Lin Guoan was still recalling the reactions of Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong at the banquet earlier. They truly lived up to their roles as actors, pretending to be strangers.

As the elevator ascended, getting close to Lin Guoan's floor, Tang Ruoyao called out from behind him, 

"Director Lin."

Lin Guo'an responded, "What is it?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "I want to take two days off."

Lin Guo'an asked, "Is something wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao vaguely replied, "There's some family matter."

A thought crossed Lin Guoan's mind.Ah, just as he expected. When young people meet, sparks fly, and they're bound to have some intimate moments. So, with a grand gesture, Lin Guoan generously agreed, "Sure, go ahead."

The filming schedule could afford the delay. Another day wouldn't be a problem.

Tang Ruoyao packed her luggage overnight, booked a flight, and took a taxi to the airport. Seeing her destination still in a daze, Xin Qian asked, "Where are you going?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "Visiting the set."

Jiangnan, a well-known film and television shooting base.

Fu Yujun, dressed in military attire with a fluttering cape, held a red-tasseled spear and urged the horse forward, galloping on the road, raising layers of dust with each hoofbeat.

Tang Ruoyao, dressed in a low-key manner, was led in by the staff and immediately got a face full of dust, causing her to cough.

Xin Qian handed her a tissue, and Tang Ruoyao instinctively covered her nose.

"Cut! That scene is done!" Fu Yujun's director shouted through the microphone.

Before the staff could approach, Fu Yujun pulled on the reins, letting out a soft "yoo" sound, and brought the horse to a stop. She dismounted swiftly, displaying a heroic and graceful posture as she landed on the ground. The crowd erupted in applause.

Tang Ruoyao's mood brightened slightly, and she also greeted the others while blending into the crowd.

Fu Yujun furrowed her brows and scanned the area, but didn't notice anything unusual.

She took off her helmet and held it in her hands, gathering her long hair and securing it with a red hairband. Her complexion was rosy, and her overall state of being looked exceptionally good. She handed her helmet and reins to the staff and walked briskly towards the director.

An actor's stage presence could be preliminarily judged from their walking posture alone. When Fu Yujun portrayed a concubine, her steps were light and fragrant, while as a general, she was swift and powerful, wielding a large blade.

Tang Ruoyao's lips curved as she hid behind a machine, lowering her cap and stealing glances at Fu Yujun through the gaps, wondering when she would notice her.

Fu Yujun stood beside the director, watching the playback with a focused expression. It wasn't until a staff member wearing a small pink hat—the one who had brought Tang Ruoyao in—approached her and whispered a few words in her ear that Fu Yujun turned her head sharply. Her gaze keenly captured Tang Ruoyao, who was hiding behind the machine, acting all sneaky.

Tang Ruoyao, realizing she had been exposed, confidently stepped forward and shrugged her shoulders at Fu Yujun.

Fu Yujun's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly approached, embracing Tang Ruoyao tightly. It wasn't a typical embrace between girls, it was a military-style embrace. After hugging her, Fu Yujun didn't forget to pat Tang Ruoyao's back forcefully.

Tang Ruoyao was almost out of breath from the sudden grip of her strong hands. Being patted so vigorously, her insides were shaking. She quickly tried to pry Fu Yujun's hands off while laughing, "General, let go. I'm not your good buddy."

Fu Yujun laughed heartily, full of vigor and openness. "Hahaha."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but join in the laughter, carried away by Fu Yujun's unique laughter.

Fu Yujun's assistant, a round-faced girl wearing glasses, who had a sharp eye, approached after the two let go of their embrace. She said, "Sister Jun, Sister Tang, let me take you to a more convenient place to talk."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Fu Yujun still had a few scenes to shoot, so they exchanged a few hurried words before she had to go back on set. Tang Ruoyao stayed on the set for the whole day, and during lunch, she had Xin Qian bring a chicken leg for the crew and a cup of milk tea as a gift.

Many young girls approached Tang Ruoyao asking for autographs, and she kindly agreed to each request, even taking a few photos with them.

As the evening approached and work ended, the director wanted to treat Tang Ruoyao to dinner. Tang Ruoyao thanked the director but politely declined, opting to go to a quiet restaurant with Fu Yujun instead. Their assistants stayed outside, and once they were in the private room with the door closed, Fu Yujun leaned back, chin raised, calmly looking at her. She leisurely said, "You came all the way here to see me. Can I indulge in some romantic thoughts?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "No, you can't."

Fu Yujun made a sound of understanding and raised an eyebrow. "So, there's something you can tell me, and something you can't?"

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips. "I don't know either." She just didn't want to be alone in the hotel. Fu Yujun was the only person who knew about her messy affairs, so she had come running without any hesitation.

"Then let's eat first." Fu Yujun said as she poured hot tea and set a set of utensils in front of herself. She pushed them toward Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao gestured to stop her. "I'll do it myself."

Fu Yujun went along with it, placing the teapot in front of Tang Ruoyao.

Fu Yujun didn't treat her as an outsider. By the time Tang Ruoyao finished setting the utensils, Fu Yujun had already used her tablet to order the dishes. They often went out to eat together with their dormmates, and Fu Yujun remembered everyone's preferences without needing to ask Tang Ruoyao.

The two sat facing each other, eating in silence. Fu Yujun put down her cup and chopsticks and asked, "You haven't finished filming yet, right? When are you going back?"

"Tomorrow night."

"How many days off did you take?"

"Just two days."

"It's a bit troublesome to travel back and forth. Xiao Wen's crew is in the neighboring city. Do you want to visit her while you're at it?"

"It's too rushed. Maybe next time."

"Shall we grab a late-night snack together then?"

" I don't feel like eating."

"Then how about I take you to a famous street food stall nearby. Our male lead often takes us out for a feast. It's delicious."

"Sounds like your crew has a good atmosphere."

"It should be fine after You Mingxuan left right?" Fu Yujun said.

"Yeah, it's okay." Tang Ruoyao replied.

The two of them exchanged words casually without much emotion.

Fu Yujun said, "Have you heard about that..."

Tang Ruoyao interrupted, "I've been financially supported by someone."

Both of them spoke at the same time and then fell silent together.

Fu Yujun didn't say anything. There was no surprise, sympathy, pity, or disgust in her expression. Her gaze was warm and gentle.

Tang Ruoyao slowly continued, "At the end of my freshman year, during summer vacation, I wanted to work part-time here to earn money for my next year's expenses. So I made an agreement with my dad not to go home during that break. My dad took a train for over ten hours to come and see me. I had work that day, so I sent him the address and told him to find me at my workplace. I waited until it was dark, but he never showed up. Around seven o'clock, I received a call from the hospital, saying that he had been hit by a car on the way."

"The driver didn't flee, but he didn't have any money. He would rather go to jail than pay compensation. Besides, the legal procedures would take a long time. My dad needed money for surgery, and there was no time to wait. So... I thought of this method to raise money."

Tang Ruoyao clenched her hands tightly together, as if she were a child admitting her wrongdoing in front of an adult.

Fu Yujun had suspected it beforehand, so she wasn't too surprised at that moment.

She felt sorry for Tang Ruoyao and also regretted her own shortcomings. If she had noticed earlier, maybe she could have prevented Tang Ruoyao from going down this path.

"How is your father doing now?" Fu Yujun asked.

"He's still lying in the hospital." Tang Ruoyao choked up, saying, "He hasn't woken up."

Fu Yujun tactfully changed the subject and asked, "The person who supports you... is it Qin Yinong?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Tang Ruoyao said, "I've fallen in love with her."

Fu Yujun sighed, "I could tell last time. You two were flirting with each other." She clucked her tongue.

The solemn atmosphere dissipated, and Tang Ruoyao retorted, "There was no flirting, where did you see that?"

"That wasn't flirting? It was exchanging glances, sending hidden signals?" Fu Yujun teased.

"..."

"It must be tough to have feelings for Qin Yinong, right?" Fu Yujun suddenly changed the direction of the conversation.

Tang Ruoyao was taken aback, and her eyes unexpectedly reddened. She quickly lowered her head and blinked her eyelashes, a tear dropping onto the ground.

Fu Yujun pulled a chair and sat beside her, gently pressing Tang Ruoyao's eyes against her own shoulder.

"You came all the way to find me because you're feeling wronged, right? It's okay to cry."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't hold back any longer and sobbed silently into her shoulder.

"How could she say such things about me..."

Author's Note:

Tang Tang: I came to seek comfort from Old Fu.

Sister Qin: There's no one who can comfort me. I choose to continue being fragile and helpless. [Weak, pitiful, and helpless.jpg]

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