CHAPTER 56

Fu Yujun's shoulder was soaked with Tang Ruoyao's tears, rendering her shirt unusable.

It must be said that Fu Yujun was very foresighted as she was wearing a casual two-piece outfit today.

Tang Ruoyao's eyes were as red as a rabbit's, and she watched as Fu Yujun took off her jacket and set it aside. Only then did Tang Ruoyao belatedly feel her cheeks growing warm.

Tang Ruoyao cried for quite a while, but the only sentence that could be heard clearly was, "How could she say such things about me?" Fu Yujun picked up the lukewarm teapot and poured a cup of tea for each of them, relieving their exhaustion. She asked, "What did she say?"

Having acted all day and now having to play the role of a caring older sister, Fu Yujun kept her shoulder still for a long time. How could she not feel tired?

"She said..." Tang Ruoyao was not someone who excessively indulged in emotions. Whether it was sadness or happiness, her earlier excitement was mostly due to having Fu Yujun as a listener.

Just like a child who falls down and isn't seriously hurt, they can just pat their bottom and get up. But if an adult sees the child and perceives their pain, the child will start crying loudly and won't easily stop.

Tang Ruoyao was that kind of child. Swallowing her immense grievances, she suddenly found an outlet for her outburst and couldn't easily contain herself.

Now, she had regained much of her calmness and proceeded to tell Fu Yujun the exact conversation that took place between Qin Yinong and Ji Yunyao in private.

This included their disdain towards her, treating her as an unconscious commodity to be traded.

After hearing the whole story, Fu Yujun raised an eyebrow.

Tang Ruoyao suddenly felt regret after finishing her words. She didn't want to hear the brainless bashing that many best friends did on the internet. Her thought process had already worked itself out during her confession.

It was still the subconscious decision she made last night 一 to keep the bridges intact and the paths clear. There were so many people in the world, and after the contract ended, she could find someone else to like. Her relationship with Qin Yinong was ultimately an exchange of interests. She had the freedom to treat herself as a person or an object. By choosing this path, she had already trampled her self-esteem underfoot.

Having unnecessary emotions and the accompanying troubles were all just melodramatic. It was one thing to be melodramatic herself, but dragging Fu Yujun into it was another matter.

Fu Yujun spoke up, "Hmm."

Tang Ruoyao quickly interjected, "Let's forget it."

Fu Yujun chuckled, "Forget it? I haven't even said anything yet."

Tang Ruoyao said, "No need to say anything." She let out a deep breath. "I've already figured it out." After speaking, she smiled at Fu Yujun with confidence. "I will quickly regain my composure and return to normal."

Fu Yujun made a sound of acknowledgment and then looked at Tang Ruoyao from head to toe, her gaze filled with curiosity.

Tang Ruoyao unconsciously shrugged her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

Fu Yujun tilted her head and asked in an unconventional way, "How did you develop feelings for her?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Why did Fu Yujun suddenly start getting gossipy, as if she had been possessed by Wen Shuxian's spirit? Could it be that her own experience was too bizarre?

But there was no point in hiding anything now. Tang Ruoyao briefly described the initial peaceful time they spent together, omitting many details. Fu Yujun had a look on her face that seemed both amused and patiently enduring, making Tang Ruoyao feel more and more uneasy as she spoke. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Fu Yujun said. "I just find it surprising that the famous and flirtatious Qin Yinong is actually like this in private. I thought..." She chuckled, covering her mouth, and gave Tang Ruoyao a suggestive look that said, "You know what I mean."

Tang Ruoyao didn't really want to understand. Her ears turned slightly red as she said, "Appearances can be deceiving. At first, I didn't know she was like this. But after she saved me, I felt somewhat grateful to her."

Fu Yujun gave her a puzzled look.

Tang Ruoyao continued, "Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you. The person my previous manager, Ruan Qin, introduced to me was a different financial backer. That night, I was having dinner with that man, and at some point, someone came into our private room and brought Qin Yinong in. She took me away. Originally, that night I was going to go home with that man." The story would have taken a different turn.

Fu Yujun said, "Based on your description alone, I've already imagined a fifty-episode drama script about a domineering actress and a fallen girl."

Tang Ruoyao chuckled at her teasing. "Ah, I was scared out of my wits that night. One thing led to another, and I didn't think too much at the time." Later, she developed feelings for Qin Yinong, and their relationship remained in a hazy and ambiguous stage. Looking back at their initial meeting, she found it unexpectedly romantic.

With over 7 billion people on Earth and so many fallen individuals, it was quite a coincidence that Qin Yinong appeared before her like that.

"So, you're saying that she initially maintained a very pure relationship with you. Does that mean it became... impure later on? What was the turning point?" Fu Yujun paused and asked.

A shadow passed through Tang Ruoyao's heart, and she fell silent for a while before whispering, "Once, when I was outside, I accidentally fell into someone's trap."

Fu Yujun didn't inquire further.

For female artists, one of the most common "traps" they encounter is being drugged.

These celebrities may appear glamorous on the surface, but in reality, they are just a vulnerable group struggling within the industry. Regardless of their fame or lack thereof, without connections and relationships, they are subject to being taken advantage of and must grit their teeth and endure. They are left with only two choices: endure or leave.

"What happened afterward?" Fu Yujun asked softly.

"It's nothing." Tang Ruoyao shook her head. "She took me away."

Tang Ruoyao narrowed her eyes, recalling the memory.

Shortly after she drank the spiked drink, she felt that something was wrong. The drug was too strong, and it felt like fire was burning inside her.

She urgently tried to excuse herself, but the man who handed her the drink placed an arm around her shoulder, his hand gripping her tightly as if in a vice, and he smiled, saying, "Tangtang is drunk, I'll take her home."

Tang Ruoyao mustered all her strength to shout, but the sound that came out was barely audible. Onlookers saw her and the man in an "intimate" position, and they made suggestive remarks, their eyes filled with laughter and malicious anticipation, reminding her of that scene at the drinking table.

She was brought into the room and thrown onto the bed, almost losing all consciousness.

The situation escalated rapidly.

As the man breathed heavily, his breath reeking of alcohol, he whispered in her ear. In that brief moment, she regained momentary clarity and lifted her arm, using her elbow to strike him forcefully in the face. The man's head turned to the side, loosening his grip, and Tang Ruoyao pushed against his shoulders, rolling off the bed in a clumsy manner.

Even when she was fully conscious, she might not have been able to resist an adult man, let alone in a drugged state.

Before she could crawl far, the man captured her again, and this time both her hands were tied behind her back with a tie.

She struggled again but was greeted with a slap that left her dazed, her ears ringing for a long time.

As the drug took effect, her memories of what happened afterward became less clear.

The room's door was violently broken open, causing a loud crash as the door panel flew out, capturing the attention of the two people inside. The man shouted angrily, "Who's there? Who dares to ruin my fun?"

Immediately, several well-dressed bodyguards lifted the man off Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao's eyes were filled with blurry figures, not knowing who the person was. Subconsciously, she murmured, "Thank you," and then said, "Save me," as long as he wasn't the second assailant.

A coat with a familiar scent was draped over her, and a warm embrace pulled her close. Like a startled bird, she immediately tensed her body, trying to break free from the embrace.

The woman held her tightly, and with a gentle and suppressed voice, she whispered from above, "It's me, don't be afraid."

Tang Ruoyao's tears started to fall.

Qin Yinong took her to her car, and only when Tang Ruoyao reached a safe environment did the battle between heaven and man turn into a chaotic mess, shattering her composure in an instant.

She survived a tumultuous night.

When she woke up in the morning, she was in her own bedroom, wearing a soft silk pajama. She rubbed her sore temples, the events of the previous night fragmented in her memory. After a long pause, she sat up halfway with her body leaning against the headboard. She uncomfortably crossed her legs, her ears turning a faint shade of red. Although she couldn't recall exactly, the memories before the fragments and the unfamiliar sensations in her body at that moment were enough for her to deduce what had happened.

The door lock clicked, and someone pushed the door open.

Qin Yinong entered her bedroom, holding a glass of water.

She was dressed in black pants and a white shirt, with every button meticulously fastened to the top. There was no usual warm smile on her face. She didn't speak or smile, exuding an exceptionally cold and aloof aura.

This was the first time she entered without being invited.

Tang Ruoyao didn't feel displeased by her abrupt entrance. Many girls had such fantasies, and after a night had passed, a fundamental change had occurred in her perception of her relationship with Qin Yinong.

"Sister..." She uttered a word, her lips moved, but with hidden thoughts, she swallowed her words.

She wanted to call her by name, but she hoped even more that Qin Yinong would say it to her directly.

Qin Yinong placed the water on the bedside table and then sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her without blinking, her eyes filled with undecipherable emotions.

Tang Ruoyao felt her gaze upon her, and involuntarily, a sense of shyness surged within her. She lowered her head and softly said, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me." Qin Yinong's voice was faint. "I just dislike others touching my things."

Tang Ruoyao was stunned.

Wasn't she... Wasn't she the one she liked?

.....

"What happened next?" Fu Yujun immediately indulged in imagination, asking eagerly.

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I remember you weren't this nosy before."

Fu Yujun said, "You should serialize your experience on a website, label it as a true story adaptation, and it will definitely become popular. Come on, tell me."

Tang Ruoyao covered her face with her hand. "After that, things just weren't so pure anymore." She didn't want to dwell on the details, brushing it off with a carefree laugh. "Haha, one of life's three great illusions, she likes me. Turns out, I couldn't escape it either."

Fu Yujun raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

It's not important what someone says; what's important is what they do.

She felt that Qin Yinong was quite peculiar, but since she had no connection with Qin Yinong, it wasn't appropriate to make judgments without proper knowledge.

"Does it mean that you two accidentally slept together, and she distanced herself from you afterwards?" Although on the surface, the two of them became closer, in reality, it went from an emotional connection to being purely physical one.

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

"Why?" Fu Yujun asked curiously.

"..." Tang Ruoyao couldn't come up with an answer and speculated, "Maybe because I almost got involved with someone else? She feels that I've been contaminated by someone else's and is not clean anymore?"

"Then why did she still engage with you afterwards, countless times?" Fu Yujun propped her chin and lightly chuckled, asking, "Did she engage with you or did you engage with her?"

Tang Ruoyao blushed brightly at her straightforward words.

She glanced at Fu Yujun and whispered, "She... and I."

Fu Yujun instantly understood, burst into laughter, and applauded, saying, "Impressive, impressive."

Tang Ruoyao felt much better and joked with her, "What if it's me pursuing her?"

Fu Yujun replied, "You'd hit the jackpot!"

Tang Ruoyao tilted her head and coughed, but Qin Yinong didn't let her hit the jackpot.

Fu Yujun briefly diverted from the topic but then returned to it, saying, "Why did she suddenly distance herself from you?"

Tang Ruoyao shook her head honestly.

Fu Yujun lowered her head and typed on her phone. Tang Ruoyao asked, "What are you doing?"

Fu Yujun said it was nothing and then continued, "Let's leave that part aside for now. Ever since you've been with Qin Yinong, she has consistently provided you with resources, which means she hasn't neglected you in that aspect."

"Yes." Tang Ruoyao had a sudden realization and said, "Oh, I remember something I didn't tell you. Last time, Huo Yuke took my role for the current project I'm filming. But then I suddenly got it back, right?"

Fu Yujun made a sound of agreement, gesturing for her to continue. She knew about this matter, as Fu Yujun had even confronted Huo Yuke at the graduation ceremony.

"It was Qin Yinong who helped me get the role back. And because I didn't tell her about being replaced, she got angry at me and scolded me, calling me useless. Later, her assistant explained to me, saying that she hopes I can be self-reliant and not be timid or afraid of things. She told me to come to her whenever I encounter any problems, and she will support me as my backing, helping me establish myself firmly in the entertainment industry." Tang Ruoyao said, "Oh, and last month, You Mingxuan caused some trouble, so I called her and asked her to help me resolve it. After that, You Mingxuan became quiet, and it seems like he had a pretty bad time. He even lost his endorsement deals... Why are you looking at me like that?"
Fu Yujun's expression became subtle.
x

"Where did you find such a benefactor? When will the heavens grant me one?" Fu Yujun sighed.

Tang Ruoyao sighed in response.

"What are you sighing about?" Fu Yujun asked.

Tang Ruoyao rubbed her face and said with frustration, "The more I talk about it, the more I realize she's been really good to me. She has saved me twice. She has given me everything except for love, and I can't even get angry with her."

"She has indeed been very good to you." Fu Yujun said.

"Don't say it like that either," Tang Ruoyao exclaimed in annoyance. "Every time you say that, I start to develop feelings for her again. She treats me like an object, something she can casually give away without caring."

"If I don't say it, your feelings will still resurface." Fu Yujun saw through everything and said, "Don't even talk about resurfacing, your feelings have never extinguished. You still get hurt and upset by the things she says. You cry your heart out, and at least for the short term, your feelings won't fade away."

"Is there any way to extinguish these feelings? It's too exhausting." Tang Ruoyao asked.

Fu Yujun extended two fingers.

Tang Ruoyao: "Hmm?"

Fu Yujun: "One, time; two, new love."

Both ideas were not practical, and they exchanged a glance, reaching a consensus.

"So," Fu Yujun took a sip of water to moisten her throat, "since it has come to this, let's just accept it."

Tang Ruoyao sighed once again, "It can only be like this." Anyway, she wouldn't update her Weibo account anymore. All emotions can fade away with time, including those towards Qin Yinong.

Fu Yujun spread her hands, placing one on each side of her chin, and playfully said, "Tang Ruoyao, how would you rate my performance as a language interpreter today?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Eight out of ten."

Fu Yujun smiled, "Alright, not bad."

Tang Ruoyao added slowly, "On a scale of one hundred."

Fu Yujun's fist landed on her shoulder, a punch from a general that one should not mess with. Tang Ruoyao cooperated by taking three steps back. They settled the matter and left the restaurant, chatting and laughing along the way.

Xin Qian was surprised by the stark contrast between the current and previous versions of Tang Ruoyao. She turned her head, intending to talk to Fu Yujun's assistant with the round face, but the assistant calmly adjusted her glasses and followed along.

Xin Qian: "..."

Why did it seem like other people's assistants, who appeared approachable, were so aloof? She had so much to say while being surrounded by a cold artist.

Fu Yujun enjoyed observing and analyzing everything and everyone that could be analyzed, the more complex the better. She didn't know when she developed this habit or hobby, but over the years, it gradually became her expertise. Her character analysis surpassed even the screenwriters themselves.

This expertise brought her many benefits, so she allowed it to develop further.

It had to be said that the Qin Yinong mentioned by Tang Ruoyao and the Qin Yinong she knew through conventional channels were vastly different, they were like night and day. The lack of information made it feel like she was exploring blindly, which made her even more interested.

Of course, her initial motivation was due to the unusual relationship between Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao. Otherwise, with so many people in the industry, she would be studying them every day, and even with 240 hours in a day, it wouldn't be enough.

Once back at the hotel, she sat in a chair and began contemplating this matter.

Tang Ruoyao, being the one involved, was bewildered and highly sensitive to the impact of Qin Yinong's words, which greatly affected her judgment. Just as a literary figure once said, the sorrows and joys of humans do not intersect, and even the best of friends cannot truly empathize with each other. Fu Yujun, who was naturally rational to the point of being cold-hearted, had no emotional fluctuations when Tang Ruoyao relayed Qin Yinong's words to her. In fact, a thought quickly took the upper hand.

"Why would she say that?"

Ji Yunyao, another influential figure standing high above, how coincidental that Tang Ruoyao happened to overhear their conversation?

"She was provoking me." Tang Ruoyao received her call and recalled the events before responding.

"What do you mean?"

"Last night, I attended a birthday banquet, and Ji Yunyao relentlessly pursued me, nearly forcing a kiss on me." Tang Ruoyao didn't mention the eavesdropping incident in the private room to Fu Yujun, but now she explained, "Later, Qin Yinong came out to defuse the situation, saying that we both have complicated feelings and need to separate in certain circumstances."

"I see." Fu Yujun chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing." Fu Yujun wrote two words on paper: 'defuse' and 'jealousy,' each followed by two question marks.

"When they were at a standstill, I left first. Later, Qin Yinong led Ji Yunyao away, and Ji Yunyao kept looking back at me." Tang Ruoyao's voice sounded slightly distorted through the phone, "I knew she deliberately lured me to listen, but the words were spoken by Qin Yinong herself, weren't they?"

"Did you hear the complete conversation?" Fu Yujun asked.

"I..." Tang Ruoyao paused abruptly, recalling a detail. She couldn't hear what they were saying clearly at first, but it suddenly became clear when the sound of high heels walking a few steps away resonated.

Last night, Qin Yinong was wearing flat cloth shoes, while only Ji Yunyao was wearing high heels.

What did they say before that?

Tang Ruoyao immediately suppressed the softened thought. "Regardless of what happened before, she did say that sentence." Her tone became hesitant, what if she had missed some crucial information?

Fu Yujun pursed her lips, unsure whether it was right or wrong for Tang Ruoyao to dig so deep and try to uncover the truth. This relationship was destined to be difficult, and Tang Ruoyao had already made up her mind to give up. The words she was saying now were clearly shaking that decision.

But once the arrow is released, Tang Ruoyao had already developed doubts. Even if she didn't say anything, she would still overthink. Fu Yujun's regrets were useless at this point, so she asked again in a deep voice, "What is the relationship between Ji Yunyao and Qin Yinong?"

"I don't know. Initially, I thought they had the same relationship as me and Qin Yinong. But after meeting them yesterday, I found it strange. Ji Yunyao was arrogant and seemed to not regard Qin Yinong highly." Tang Ruoyao recounted the sentence Ji Yunyao said to her, "Come to me, and in the future, you will be on equal footing with Qin Yinong."

Tang Ruoyao's thoughts were sometimes confused and sometimes clear under Fu Yujun's sorting, and vague ideas flashed through her mind, but she couldn't grasp them.

Fu Yujun wrote quickly, her words flowing rapidly:

"I don't know Ji Yunyao, but she works at Xiao Wen Company. I'll give her a call and see if she knows anything."

"Okay."

Tang Ruoyao lay on the bed, looking up at the snow-white ceiling of the hotel room. After a while, she opened her chat history with Guan Han and scrolled through it, going back to the time of her last direct conversation with Qin Yinong. She suddenly jolted woke up, throwing her phone aside.

She turned over and got up, heading to the sink in the bathroom, repeatedly splashing her face with cold water.

.....

"Ji Yunyao?" Wen Shuxian's voice sounded noticeably distressed, "Why are you asking about her?!"

Fu Yujun raised an eyebrow at her reaction and said, "I just saw some gossip news about her online and wanted to ask you."

"She's in the gossip news again?" Curiosity overcame fear as Wen Shuxian asked, "What kind of news? Tell me."

Fu Yujun looked at a random entertainment news article on the tablet in front of her and said, "It talks about some strange quirks of hers, like how she likes to make male celebrities strip in front of her. Is it true?"

"It's true." Wen Shuxian interjected, "That's just the tip of the iceberg. She even makes them do things to each other, but she doesn't touch them herself. She seems to have a germophobia."

"These male celebrities really dare to do anything." Fu Yujun sighed.

"But they have resources, so it's a case of willing to give and willing to receive." Wen Shuxian, who had been in the industry for several years, was familiar with these dirty matters and said, "It's not just men; there are also men with women, women with women. I suspect she doesn't watch online content, that's why she prefers the live version. Hahaha."

"... " Fu Yujun fell silent for a moment and said, "You're quite optimistic. Hasn't she set her sights on you?"

"Jiejie, I have natural beauty, so of course, someone has set their sights on me, but I refused. No one can forced me, those people chose to fall into decadence themselves. They can't blame others."

Fu Yujun thought of Tang Ruoyao, who was "forced into decadence." and felt a complex mix of emotions. She didn't know how Wen Shuxian would react if she knew about this.

"Does Ji Yunyao hold a lot of power in the company?" Fu Yujun had a rough idea but wanted to confirm with her.

"More than just a lot. Her grandfather is the honorary chairman, taking care of his health at home. Her father doesn't handle the business, so she works directly in the general manager's office. Can you imagine? And I heard she's been training here for two years, and she plans to take control of the Ji family in the future." Wen Shuxian scoffed at Ji Yunyao over the phone.

The famous Huanyu Entertainment is just one of the film and television companies under the vast Ji family. Otherwise, Ji Yunyao wouldn't be so arrogant, and Qin Yinong wouldn't consider her Ji family blood as their ultimate trump card.

"Okay, I got it."

After finishing the call with Wen Shuxian, Fu Yujun's heart sank.

She had a speculation that Qin Yinong might have been threatened by Ji Yunyao or a similar situation. 

However, she had no evidence and couldn't seek confirmation at the moment. She couldn't tell Tang Ruoyao either.

"Didn't you say she handed you over to Ji Yunyao, then you should wait for her next move." Fu Yujun carefully chose her words and slowly said, "I think sometimes you shouldn't pay too much attention to what she says but rather observe what she does."

People's mouths can deceive, sweet words can hide treacherous intentions, and one can have a tough exterior but a soft heart. Isn't it often the case?

Fu Yujun didn't intend to defend Qin Yinong, she only made the most reasonable judgment based on her analysis.

"You only have a few months left in your contract. Just quietly focus on your job and don't overthink things. Concentrate on acting, keep yourself busy, and time will pass quickly." Fu Yujun concluded with another piece of advice. "If you ever feel troubled and confused, give me a call." She smiled to herself after speaking. "I hope I won't receive a call from you every day."

Tang Ruoyao smiled. They had been classmates for four years, and their friendship was like this, there was no need to mention gratitude explicitly. She simply responded softly: "Okay."

That evening, Tang Ruoyao received a sudden message from Guan Han.

[Miss Yao, do you usually have bodyguards provided by the company for your schedules and when you go to the set?]

[If there are many people at the filming location and there are security risks, they will arrange it. Otherwise, not usually.] Tang Ruoyao honestly replied.

Qin Yinong, with one hand wrapped in bandages, had pale lips tightly pressed together as they typed: [Your current net value is not the same as before. For safety reasons, it's best to apply for a few bodyguards to accompany you at all times.]

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