CHAPTER 57

Guan Han was taken aback when she saw the bandage on Qin Yinong's hand.

"I accidentally broke a glass and cut myself while cleaning up the shards." Qin Yinong waved her hand dismissively, downplaying the incident.

If Guan Han believed her, then Qin Yinong wouldn't be the astute and resourceful assistant she was.

What kind of shards would cover her entire hand?

A shadow passed through her mind as she vaguely recalled a similar scene. Several months ago, Qin Yinong was furious with Tang Ruoyao for not fighting back. She said some harsh words to her over the phone, locked herself in her room, and came out after a while with a mysterious band-aid on the palm of her hand.

— "I accidentally cut myself."

That was her excuse back then as well.

A terrifying speculation emerged in Guan Han's mind. Taking advantage of Qin Yinong reading in the study, she searched through the trash bin in her room. Qin Yinong should have cleared the bin, and Guan Han didn't find any remnants of glass.

But it further confirmed her suspicion.

Qin Yinong emerged from the study, knocking on the wooden frame of the door with her uninjured hand. Guan Han was crouching in front of a trash bin, peering inside, and suddenly, she was startled and stood up.

Qin Yinong's eyes were tinged with a hint of dark circles, and her tiredness was evident on her face despite the makeup trying to conceal it. She said in a faint tone, "Arrange an appointment for me with Wang Lin."

Guan Han: "... Okay."

.....

The door to the counseling room was tightly closed, with calming incense burning inside.

Her psychologist, Wang Lin, sat on the couch beside Qin Yinong, with a kind and gentle demeanor.

She naturally noticed Qin Yinong's unusual hand and casually asked when greeting her, "Did you get injured?" Actor injuries were common, and Wang Lin didn't know about her schedule, assuming she was currently filming.

Qin Yinong nodded.

Wang Lin didn't think much of it.

At that moment, Qin Yinong faced her and started unwrapping the tightly bound bandage on her hand, revealing a shocking and deep cut on her palm and fingertips. The wound had been treated, but the flesh still showed a vivid redness, tinged with fresh blood.

A sudden realization struck Wang Lin and her face turned pale. "This is..."

Qin Yinong nodded, affirming her speculation.

"I did it myself."

"Why?" Wang Lin asked.

"I couldn't control myself." Qin Yinong raised her right hand and pinched her brow, a flicker of self-derision crossing her expression. "Doctor, do you think I'm developing a tendency towards mental illness?"

Wang Lin comforted her, saying, "No, you're not. Is it because of excessive mental stress? How has your sleep quality been recently?"

"It's been good and bad at times." Qin Yinong replied. "I didn't sleep last night, and something unpleasant happened. I got emotional and smashed a glass while squeezing it."

She spoke casually, but Wang Lin was shocked.

Modern people experience high levels of mental stress, and some may resort to squeezing instant noodles or crackers. However, crushing glass with a self-harm tendency is not something that can be explained simply by stress.

Qin Yinong rewrapped the bandage, deftly tying a knot with one hand.

"Is there any medication that can help me regulate myself?" Qin Yinong got straight to the point, indicating that she had already made a preliminary assessment of her condition, and it wasn't optimistic.

"We can't prescribe medication lightly." Wang Lin gestured for her to lie down as usual.

Qin Yinong closed her eyes and lay flat on the soft couch, with her hands resting on her abdomen. Her breathing was steady, and she appeared calm.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wang Lin slowly steered the conversation towards the events of the previous night.

Qin Yinong, who had been cooperative before, abruptly pursed her lips and remained silent.

Wang Lin raised an eyebrow in surprise.

This was the first time Qin Yinong had resisted sharing her emotions so quickly. Either she had started to put up a defense against herself, or there was something about the incident that she particularly didn't want to talk about.

Wang Lin attempted to approach the topic from different angles, but Qin Yinong refused to confide, as expected.

She decided to play her "trump card" — Tang Ruoyao.

"Ruoyao..."

Unexpectedly, as soon as those two words were uttered, Qin Yinong's fluttering eyelashes trembled violently. Her clenched fist tightened in her palm, and a slow trickle of red seeped through the white bandage on her left hand.

The world seemed to spin before her eyes, and Qin Yinong abruptly sat up, breathing heavily.

Wang Lin was extremely close to her, and she immediately staggered backward, nearly falling to the ground, but Qin Yinong quickly pulled her back.

Qin Yinong's dry voice emerged from her hoarse throat. "I'll adjust as soon as possible."

The door to the counselor's room was opened, and Guan Han lifted her head from the tablet, looking astonished. "Qin..."

Why was she leaving so quickly today?

Qin Yinong moved swiftly, passing by the stunned Guan Han. She lightly patted her shoulder with her uninjured right hand and said, "Let's go."

Guan Han only had time to exchange a glance with Wang Lin. Wang Lin shook her head at her, and Guan Han's heart pounded anxiously as she hurriedly caught up with Qin Yinong.

But when she saw the seemingly shattered wound on Qin Yinong's hand, Guan Han's vision went dark, and she nearly fainted on the spot.

What kind of calamity had she brought upon herself?

Fortunately, Qin Yinong valued her own hands greatly. She sat in the back seat and instructed Guan Han, "Call my doctor and have him rebandage my hand."

Guan Han immediately regained consciousness and quickly made a call to the private doctor.

The doctor re-cleaned and disinfected Qin Yinong's wound. Guan Han watched with a wrinkled face, while Qin Yinong seemed completely at ease, her eyes fixed on the Kindle on her lap. Her uninjured hand flipped through the pages from time to time, undamaged and intact.

Only when the antiseptic solution seeped into the wound, a faint straight line would appear between Qin Yinong's thin lips. Her brow would lightly twitch, a fleeting expression of pain passing through, but afterwards, she remained calm and composed.

Doctor: "It's done."

Qin Yinong looked at the bandage on her hand, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. The corners of her eyes curved, and she said, "Thank you."

The doctor packed up his tools in the medical kit he carried with him. Unmoved by the naturally captivating face of the woman, he gave a stern reminder expressionlessly, "Avoid alcohol and spicy, stimulating foods. Stick to a light diet."

Qin Yinong: "..." The smile gradually disappeared.

She pressed her forehead with her fingers and chuckled helplessly.

Ah.

If she had known that she couldn't drink alcohol while injured, she wouldn't have acted so impulsively last night.

The doctor smirked and said, "Have you learned your lesson?"

The doctor was Qin Yinong's private physician, who knew her physical condition best. Being young, she relied on her good foundation and pushed herself to the limit. There would be consequences in the future.

The doctor closed the medical kit. "I'm not trying to scare you, but your health has been declining, especially in the past two years. I refuse to believe that you haven't noticed it yourself. Money can't buy endless health. If you continue like this, sooner or later..."

The private doctor was a straightforward guy. He thought he had saved Qin Yinong some face by holding back the words "spend money without regard for life." But why couldn't Qin Yinong understand his unspoken words?

He had good intentions, but his words came off as harsh and unpleasant.

Qin Yinong smiled and lazily scratched her ear with her little finger. She gave a signal to Guan Han, and Guan Han handed the sealed red envelope to the doctor. The doctor took her hand briefly and "strongly" reminded her once again with his eyes, before he left Qin Yinong's house.

After seeing the doctor off, Qin Yinong nestled on the couch, reading a book. Guan Han was focused on typing something on her tablet.

Suddenly, Qin Yinong called her name.

Guan Han looked up in response.

"Give me your phone." Qin Yinong said.

And that's how Tang Ruoyao came across the message.

[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.]

Tang Ruoyao stared at the message, unsure of what Qin Yinong meant. But regardless of the meaning, if Qin Yinong said something, she would follow through. Did the contract stipulate...wait, did it mention this?

During the time right after signing the old contract, Tang Ruoyao had anxiously studied it repeatedly, but afterwards, it was buried at the bottom of a box. Three years had passed, and memories had become blurry. Tang Ruoyao suddenly felt an urge to go back and review the contract.

She made a note of this in her memo and switched back to the chat interface, typing her reply: [Okay.]

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and continued, [I can recommend a private bodyguard company. When you return to Beijing, you can personally select a few suitable ones.]

Star Media wasn't a large entertainment company, so the bodyguards they found might not be reliable.

Tang Ruoyao replied as before: [Okay.]

She wondered, how did she know that I'm not in Beijing right now?

Qin Yinong's heart was tense due to one particular matter. Without realizing it, she had exposed herself. She found the manager's phone number of that private bodyguard company in Guan Han's phone, copied it, and typed: [This person's surname is Li. Just tell her your requirements. It would be best to hire a personal female bodyguard who can pretend to be your assistant in daily life, taking care of you even in the bedroom and bathroom. It's much more convenient than having a male bodyguard.]

She had said too much, more than usual.

Even Tang Ruoyao, who deliberately numbed herself, couldn't help but think more. In the end, she diverted her attention by forcibly thinking, "Could it be that Guan Han is not just an assistant but also a private bodyguard?"

[I will consider it.] Tang Ruoyao replied.

Qin Yinong tossed the phone back to Guan Han and said, "I'm hungry."

Guan Han paused, standing still in her place.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow at her, and only then did Guan Han realize that Qin Yinong's hand was injured. She quickly assumed her assistant demeanor and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

"Cucumber salad."

"I...don't know how." The ever-resourceful assistant, Guan Han, had limited skills in cooking, but her good upbringing allowed her to overcome any obstacles. "I'll follow the recipe and make it."

"I was kidding." Qin Yinong chuckled and nodded towards the direction of the refrigerator with her chin. "Cook me a bag of frozen dumplings. I'll have six, you can have as many as you want."

"Alright." Guan Han obeyed the order and went to work.

Earlier in the morning, Guan Han had gone to the market to buy fresh meat and vegetables. Now, as she opened the refrigerator, she asked, "Should I make some other dishes as well?"

"No need." Qin Yinong refused.

She just wanted to eat the frozen dumplings.

 Qin Yinong's hometown, they usually ate boiled dumplings in soup, while Guan Han, being a local native, preferred to eat them separately. 

In front of Qin Yinong was a bowl of soup dumplings, with chopped green onions sprinkled on top for flavor and decoration, giving the soup a fresh and fragrant taste.

Guan Han, on the other hand, plated her dumplings, scooping them out of the pot and dipping them in a small dish of vinegar.

Qin Yinong didn't like vinegar. The sourness of it made her feel uncomfortable when she smelled it, so the cucumber salad made by Ji Shulan never had vinegar in it. They all preferred it that way. When they were outside, it couldn't be helped, but when it was just the two of them at home, Guan Han conscientiously took her plate and vinegar dish to the coffee table in the living room.

The two of them sat together, each enjoying their dinner.

.....

At the same time, Tang Ruoyao was pulled out by Fu Yujun to have a late-night snack.

Disguised and blending into the crowd, the two of them briefly held hands to avoid getting separated.

The night market was lively, filled with bustling chatter. The aroma of grilled skewers, roasted fish, stir-fried dishes, and seafood permeated the air, overpowering and tantalizing. The bare-armed vendors, covered in sweat, flipped sizzling skewers dripping with oil over the blazing fire. Alongside them, the shop owners or their children helped attend to the customers, bustling around, creating a lively atmosphere of human fireworks.

Finally, the two of them settled on a ramen shop. The signboard was crudely made, but the small shop was clean. The chef worked in the back kitchen separated by a glass partition, with customers bustling in and out. The chairs outside for waiting were filled with people.

Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun took their number and wandered around nearby for a while. Each of them bought an ice cream cone and entered the shop. Since graduating, they rarely had such leisurely moments, and both had smiles on their faces.

Without discussing serious matters, they chatted casually. Soon, two bowls of noodles arrived, with thick and fragrant broth and rich toppings.

On the table, there was sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and the homemade chili oil from the shop. Fu Yujun added each condiment to the noodle soup, stirring it evenly. Tang Ruoyao only added a bit of chili oil and sesame oil.

The vinegar was in a small bottle with a small cap. After pouring it, Fu Yujun forgot to close the cap, and the opening faced towards Tang Ruoyao. The faint scent of vinegar tickled her nose. Tang Ruoyao subtly wrinkled her brows, moved her body back slightly, and reached out to close the cap.

Fu Yujun looked up and noticed her action. He flicked the vinegar bottle towards his own side and chuckled, "Sorry, I forgot."

Tang Ruoyao didn't like the taste or smell of vinegar. She found it irritating. Usually, when they ordered takeout in the dormitory, they would specifically request no vinegar. The smell alone made Tang Ruoyao want to hide under her bed, the farther away, the better.

She mentioned that her father didn't eat vinegar, so their family never used it in cooking, except for specific dishes like sweet and sour ribs. Tang Ruoyao's taste naturally followed her father's.

In her memory, people from her hometown didn't like vinegar. It wasn't a common habit there.

Fu Yujun had a film shoot the next day, and Tang Ruoyao had to catch a flight back to Beijing. They had a brief conversation, quickly said their goodbyes, and made plans to meet up with Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran in the capital after they finished their work. Tang Ruoyao would treat them to a meal.

Tang Ruoyao's visit to Fu Yujun's set as a fan wasn't exactly a secret. It's unclear who leaked the information, but both Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun's teams seized the opportunity to generate some buzz around the two of them.

Two days after Tang Ruoyao returned to Beijing, "Tang Ruoyao visits Fu Yujun's set" became a hot topic that trended online. The sisterhood of Room 405 was already well-known and not a new phenomenon. Back in their school days, their dormitory had accumulated a large number of dedicated fans due to their stunning looks and talent.

There was the award-winning actress Tang Ruoyao, the rising star Fu Yujun, the popular young actress Wen Shuxian, and the quietly talented Cui Jiaran, who excelled in stage plays. Cui Jiaran was relatively less prominent, as she didn't often appear on camera. However, with the support of the other three sisters, she was able to gain recognition and have her name known.

The dormitory filled with celebrities, all young, beautiful, and talented, was a delight for gossip-loving netizens. They eagerly clicked and shared, happily propelling the topic to the top of the trending list.

Due to the strong bond between the main stars and their completely different career paths, there was almost no competition or rivalry between them. Even their fans were harmonious. The comments were all filled with silly and lighthearted remarks, keeping the atmosphere fun and carefree.

[Isn't Tang Ruoyao busy filming on her set? It's such a long journey from south to north just to visit. True love indeed!]

[TangFu is exploding! I ship TangFu! Ahhh, I can't contain my excitement! What a beautiful socialist sisterhood ever!!! [Insert image of a chicken made out of water.jpg]

[Wen Shuxian is on her way, rushing with a knife in hand.]

[Let's give a shout-out to Xiao Cui, haha! On November 1st, at the National Theatre, 'Love in the City' with a white tassel. Don't miss it!]

[The tickets sold out a long time ago!!! I'm here desperately seeking a transfer. If anyone can't make it, please transfer the ticket to me. I'm willing to pay extra. This show is completely sold out, and the ticket snatchers are like devils. I'm going crazy, begging for it!]

Tang Ruoyao had already immersed herself in the normal process of filming her movie. She deleted her alternate Weibo account from her phone, intentionally avoiding any further attention to Qin Yinong. Whatever she did or whether there were hidden details, what was said was like water thrown out, and once spoken, it became like a nail embedded in her heart. It would ache faintly when she thought of it, and she couldn't take it back.

Tang Ruoyao had no intention of getting further entangled with her.

She now had a female "assistant" by her side, standing at around 165cm, not very tall, with a somewhat delicate appearance that even seemed a bit fragile. However, anyone who witnessed her taking on ten big men barehanded would never consider her weak.

She was the bodyguard Tang Ruoyao hired, personally ensuring her safety. In addition to her, there were four male bodyguards who accompanied Tang Ruoyao during her schedules.

There was a shadow following Tang Ruoyao. At first, she felt uncomfortable all over, but gradually, she got used to it.

She was unaware of the fact that she was trending, until Wen Shuxian called her on the phone. When Tang Ruoyao picked up, she heard a sharp female voice on the other end, screaming incoherently, "Wow, you went to visit Lao [Old] Fu's set instead of mine! We're just one city apart! You've grown up now, becoming more capable. It's fine if you accidentally get caught up in a CP scandal, I know it wasn't voluntary. But now, you're actually involved with Lao Fu! What am I supposed to do? You heartless betrayer! I've been enduring the coldness for eighteen years..."

Tang Ruoyao instinctively held the phone a bit farther away, taking in a sharp breath.

After not seeing each other for a few months, Wen Shuxian's ability to babble had somehow strengthened!

Her bodyguard glanced at her and halted her steps.

"...You two have a father-daughter relationship! How can you be in a romantic relationship?" Wen Shuxian lamented with a pained heart, her words becoming more and more absurd. Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but interrupt her, "What the hell? Did you lack oxygen while speaking all those words at once?"

"Well, maybe a little." Wen Shuxian took a deep breath, relieving the dizziness caused by her lack of oxygen, and shouted, "I don't care! We are the legitimate CP! WenTang is real, WenTang is meant to be. It cannot be dismantled or reversed. You must give us official recognition!"

Tang Ruoyao suppressed her laughter. "How can I prove it?"

Wen Shuxian went on and on, explaining her point.

Tang Ruoyao pretended to be hesitant. "Well..."

With her superb acting skills, Wen Shuxian immediately put on a tearful voice. "If you don't acknowledge it, I won't live anymore! I'll jump into the Huangpu River right now!"

Tang Ruoyao had enough and chuckled. "Fine."

Ten minutes later.

On Weibo.

@TangRuoyaoV: 

[Xiao Wen insisted that I make an official announcement. WenTang is real, can't be dismantled or reversed (5 yuan per mention, delete these parentheses) [Old photo of Wen Shuxian pinching Tang Ruoyao's face]]

The comments were filled with joy.

—Our Goddess is so adorable! Tang Tang, who is not so aloof when facing her roommate, is back to her normal self today! [8888 likes]

—Hahahaha, only five cents per mention!!! This is too ridiculous, hahahaha!!! I can't allow the CP with the goddess to be so cheap. At least give me five yuan! *Facepalm* [7777 likes]

—Oh my god, hahahaha! I'm laughing so hard, need to take a break, hahahaha [6666 likes]

—What should I do? I'm a supporter of TangWen [5555 likes]

—Isn't a love triangle even more exciting? Only kids make choices, we adults want them all [4444 likes]

After a while, Wen Shuxian retweeted Tang Ruoyao's Weibo post.

[You said you would remove the parentheses, but now I won't even give you five cents! [Frustrated]]

In less than an hour, "Tang Ruoyao willingly becomes a water army for five cents" trended, and the netizens who clicked on it burst into laughter.

However, the story wasn't over yet. After Fu Yujun finished work on the set, she saw the Weibo link sent by Wen Shuxian, a slight smile appeared on her lips. Naturally, she joined in to stir up some excitement, pushing the storyline to its climax.

@FuYujunV:

[So, your feelings for Tangtang are only worth five cents from a water army. Now it's clear who's real and who's fake, right? Tangtang, come with me. I'll pick up trash to support you //@WenShuxianV: You said you would remove the parentheses, but now I won't even give you five cents! [Frustrated] //@TangRuoyaoV: Xiao Wen insisted that I make an official announcement...】

Three out of four roommates have spoken up. Netizens are saying they're waiting for the last one, Cui Jiaran.

Cui Jiaran finally joined in after her performance ended in the evening.

She retweeted Fu Yujun's post, saying:

[As soon as I'm absent for a day, how did my harem catches fire? Consort Tang, Consort Fu, Consort Wen, you are all good consorts. From now on, let's live in harmony and work towards a long-lasting heir for me. [Group photo in the dorm]]

—Never expected this outcome. Xiao Cui wiped out all three of them. Impressive, impressive!

—Haha, didn't expect it, did you? Our Little Cui is the master of schemes. Cui is awesome!

—Everyone is laughing, am I the only one shedding real tears? Genuine and sincere relationships like this are rare in the entertainment industry. Friendship is priceless. I hope all four of you stay true to your original intentions, grow old together, play together, and accompany each other till the end.

Cui Jiaran replied to the third comment with a smiling face emoji.

......

Inside the steady-moving car.

Qin Yinong held a tablet in her hands, sliding her fingers across the screen, with a smile playing at the corners of her eyes and lips.

She had been smiling for a while now, and Guan Han couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking at?" She had never seen Qin Yinong so happy while watching Tang Ruoyao's edited videos.

Qin Yinong cleared her throat and reluctantly restrained herself before handing over the tablet.

Guan Han looked at the interface in front of her. It was a marketing account that had compiled screenshots of the chaos in Dorm 405's CP from yesterday. Qin Yinong had been fixated on this and smiling for quite some time.

After Guan Han finished reading, her own eyes involuntarily curved upwards.

"Their dorm is so amusing." Guan Han thought about circling Dorm 405 and sharing the group's jokes with Qin Yinong. After all, it was difficult to make Qin Yinong genuinely smile.

Qin Yinong rubbed her stiff face with her right hand and agreed, "Indeed, it's quite interesting." Tang Ruoyao was obedient, reserved, and elegant in front of her, cold, gentle, and courteous in front of fans and cameras, and lively and animated with her friends, unlike her usual self.

Perhaps, for Tang Ruoyao, her own constraints had always been a burden.

She is still young, with a long road ahead of her. The infatuation with herself will fade, and she will fall in love with someone else, having a normal intimate relationship. She won't have to be like now, on the edge of a precipice, treading on thin ice.

Qin Yinong's heart felt a pang of sourness, but then her brows relaxed as she gazed into the distance through the car window.

To let the story end at the beginning, that would be their best ending for them.

For Tang Ruoyao, and for herself as well.

They were originally people from two different worlds.

......

Today, they finished work earlier than usual. The crew was packing up props, and Lin Guoan paced around the set, occasionally glancing at his watch and then at the phone in his hand, as if waiting for someone.

Little A said that a big shot was coming today, someone familiar.

Tang Ruoyao went to bid farewell to the director, and Lin Guoan looked at her, hmm... familiar but hesitant to speak.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She refused to reminisce and nodded before intending to take a step and leave.

She didn't want to see Qin Yinong.

Lin Guoan's phone rang, and as he looked at the incoming call display, he swiftly reached out and grabbed Tang Ruoyao's shoulder. "Wait a moment."

Tang Ruoyao was forced to stop.

Listening to Lin Guoan's familiar and cheerful conversation with the person on the other end of the phone, he said, "I've arrived... I'm at the entrance. I'll come to pick you up. Don't leave on your own. If I can't find you later, I'll be there immediately."

Tang Ruoyao hesitated, "Director Lin, I..."

Lin Guoan interrupted her, "Stop dilly-dallying. I'll take you to meet someone."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I don't..."

Lin Guoan grabbed her wrist and strode towards the entrance of the set.

A person was standing at the entrance, and Lin Guoan greeted them from a distance. The person turned their head, and Tang Ruoyao froze in place.

Author's Note:

Assistant Guan [clenches fist]: I will definitely circle Dorm 405 and entertain our Qin Jie to make her laugh!

Pomegranate: Excellent plan!

Currently, both of them are in a state of not wanting to be together, but as the author, I won't let them have their way because I have the final say →_→

When I post a cliffhanger, there's a surge of comments. But when I post something sweet, there's no one commenting. What should I do? If you enjoy sweet moments, raise your hand and leave a comment for me to see.

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