CHAPTER 61

Tang Ruoyao casually scanned the messages and left the quiet script discussion group, then entered the 405 dormitory group.

There were 99+ messages. Tang Ruoyao glanced up at Tang Fei, who was playing with some unknown friends, and started reading from the beginning.

Wen Shuxian: [What are you all busy with, sisters? @everyone]

Cui Jiaran posted a picture of a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner with a funny expression.

Wen Shuxian cursed capitalism fiercely, but whether she cursed or not is another matter. She cursed and would continue to do so.

Fu Yujun took a picture at the airport.

Wen Shuxian immediately burst into laughter and replied with a different picture of a waiting lounge, hugging the other person with sympathy.

Wen Shuxian has been popular for the past three years. Every New Year's Eve, she's either rushing to a shoot or on the way to one. She works very hard. She's thriving in the industry, not afraid to confront the media, relying on her strong money-making ability. High ratings, investment companies optimistic about her, advertisers flocking to her, high returns. The company is more than willing to support her.

The rest of the messages were just playful banter. Tang Ruoyao raised her phone, carefully avoiding Tang Fei, and recorded a short video, then posted it in the group.

Instantly, three messages popped up simultaneously.

[Tang Tang has appeared!]

[Firecrackers! You're even more wicked than Cui Jiaran!]

[Happy New Year's Eve.]

Tang Ruoyao's lips curved slightly as she typed in reply: [Happy New Year's Eve. I'm celebrating the Lunar New Year in my hometown.]

Wen Shuxian: [No work during this time?]

Tang Ruoyao: [I do have work. I have a new film to shoot after the Chinese New Year. My manager gave me a week off.]

Wen Shuxian: [Wow, your manager is so good. My manager just pats my shoulder and says, 'Xian Xian, the fees for New Year's Eve performances are higher than usual. Seize the time to earn more money. My year-end bonus depends on you.']

Tang Ruoyao: Hahaha.]

Cui Jiaran: [Look at this, is this even human language? [Angry emoji]]

Wen Shuxian: [Or maybe Xiao Cui cares about me.]

Cui Jiaran: [If you can talk, then start a concert. I'm talking about your manager, @Universe's Invincible Beauty.]

Wen Shuxian: [Cui Jiaran, are you itching for a fight? Watch me throw a straight punch.]

Cui Jiaran: [I dodge, right hook.]

Wen Shuxian: [I dodge too, hip throw.]

The two of them engaged in a text-based boxing match, producing a bunch of nonsense. Tang Ruoyao opened a red envelope and sent it, showing that it was claimed within two seconds. The three of them thanked the sender and swiftly moved on to a new topic.

Wen Shuxian had a knack for gathering miscellaneous gossip. Some of it was half true, half false, but it sounded intriguing and entertaining. Tang Ruoyao's eyes curved with amusement. The damp and chilly night wind in the south was bone-piercing. Tang Ruoyao had been standing still for a long time, her fingers getting cold from the breeze. She pulled the cuffs of her down jacket up and switched hands to hold her phone. Occasionally, she used a finger to slowly type a few words on the keyboard to participate.

Cui Jiaran was forbidden by her parents from playing with her phone, but she still clung to it during the New Year. Fu Yujun's flight took off, and before they knew it, only Tang Ruoyao and Wen Shuxian were left in the group.

[I have a variety show coming up recently, and the production team wants to interview my good friend and make a VCR. Are you both available? @everyone] Wen Shuxian suddenly said.

Tang Ruoyao let out a sigh in her palm and asked, [When is it?]

[It will be air in April for the variety show. I estimate it will be one or two months in advance.]

[I should be on the set at that time, but if it's not possible, I can record a video for you with my phone.]

Wen Shuxian replied with a 'okay' and mentioned that her flight was about to take off. She estimated it would be early morning when she landed and wished everyone a happy New Year.

The group chat was no longer updating. It was as quiet as it had been lively before. Tang Ruoyao looked up at the night sky and stared blankly at her phone, her expression empty, lost in thought.

"Sister!"

With an excited shout, Tang Fei ran towards her, his face flushed like a vibrant sun, bursting with energy, and eagerly entered her field of vision.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but lift the corner of her lips. She took out a pack of tissues from her pocket, opened it, and took out one. Gently, she wiped his sweat and softly said, "How did you end up like this?"

Tang Fei pointed to two boys and a girl waving at him not far away. "I ran into some classmates!"

Tang Ruoyao squinted her eyes and followed his gaze.

"They invited me to watch a movie together. I want to go watch a movie with my classmates tomorrow. Is that okay?" Tang Fei asked, looking up at her.

"Sure." Tang Ruoyao lightly tapped his forehead with the tissue and smiled.

"Forget it." Tang Fei thought for a moment and said, "I'll stay at home and keep you company, sister." It had been a long time since his sister had come back.

Tang Ruoyao said, "You can come back after watching the movie. I need to review the script and can't accompany you all the time."

He was a young boy who needed companionship. Even though he relied on his sister in his heart, he also yearned to make new friends, to go out and have fun with them. His sister's role couldn't substitute for everything.

"Alright, I'll come back after watching it." Tang Fei tilted his head and after careful consideration, he said.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but pinch his cheek, asking him, "Still want to play?"

Tang Fei didn't want the fun to end and said, "Just a little longer."

Tang Ruoyao nodded, and he went off to have fun with his classmates.

Gradually, a deep sense of meaning filled Tang Ruoyao's eyes.

During her last visit home, she hired a private detective specifically to investigate Jiang Xuezhen. She suspected that there was something wrong with Jiang Xuezhen, and her suspicions turned out to be true. In the past year, Jiang Xuezhen had become very close to a man. The man was divorced, had no children, lived alone, had an average appearance, and held a decent job but with a modest salary. Based on the photos and information provided by the private detective, there seemed to be a hint of genuine love between them.

Tang Ruoyao, being understanding of human nature, could empathize with Jiang Xuezhen. Her father had been bedridden for three years, and the latter half of his life would probably be spent in the hospital, barely alive. Jiang Xuezhen was essentially acting a widow, feeling lonely and desiring to find someone else to spend the rest of her life with, which was understandable. However, she shouldn't have enjoyed the benefits provided by Tang Hanzhang as his wife while engaging in an affair outside, even neglecting her own biological son, Tang Fei.

She could apply for a divorce, and after the divorce, she could do whatever she wanted. Tang Ruoyao would not interfere, and she could rightfully claim custody of Tang Fei. But what was the situation now?

During the flight back and the past two days at home, Tang Ruoyao had been contemplating this matter, but she had yet to come up with a suitable solution.

Firstly, she currently has a contract with Qin Yinong, and she is still feeling her way through this new phase of her career in the capital city. She hasn't established herself firmly yet, so it would be reckless to immediately take Tang Fei away. She wouldn't be able to provide for his basic needs, let alone his education. Tang Fei is currently in the sixth grade and is about to enter junior high school, a crucial turning point. She doesn't know if handling things hastily at this point would be too risky.

Secondly, although Tang Fei has always stood by her side during the arguments with Jiang Xuezhen, his biological mother is still his biological mother. Nothing can replace a mother's role. If she were to let him know about Jiang Xuezhen's affair, it would hurt Tang Fei. Tang Ruoyao only wants to smoothly and safely take him away without hurting his heart. It would be better for him to find out in the future, if at all, rather than now.

Lastly, there is the possibility that Jiang Xuezhen might deny everything and cling to her, or she might break down in tears and beg for forgiveness in front of Tang Fei, manipulating his soft-heartedness. In that case, it would be a complete mess.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but raise her finger and pinch the space between her eyebrows, suppressing the immediate thought of confronting Jiang Xuezhen.

She glanced at Tang Fei, who was happily playing with his classmates, and decided to wait until he graduated from elementary school and completed the remaining last semester. She would gather more evidence against Jiang Xuezhen during this time, preferably irrefutable evidence that would leave her speechless and unable to argue.

They arrived home close to eleven o'clock. There was no sign of Jiang Xuezhen in the living room, and the door to the master bedroom was tightly closed. A faint light leaked out from underneath, and indistinct voices could be heard coming from the bedroom.

It seemed like Jiang Xuezhen was talking to someone on the phone.

Tang Ruoyao raised her hand and turned on the lights in the living room. The voices immediately stopped, and the bedroom door swiftly opened. Behind the door stood Jiang Xuezhen, forcing a stiff and polite smile on her face. "You're back." she said.

Tang Ruoyao replied with a simple "Hmm."

She sarcastically curled her lip. When had she ever been so enthusiastic? Clearly, she had something to hide.

Jiang Xuezhen didn't think much of Tang Ruoyao's unfriendliness and turned to ask Tang Fei with a bright smile, "Fei, how was your day? Did you have fun?"

Tang Fei vigorously nodded and grinned, saying, "I had a great time!"

Jiang Xuezhen beckoned him over and affectionately said, "Come here, I've prepared a New Year's gift for you."

Tang Fei happily went along, and Jiang Xuezhen pulled him into the bedroom. Unnoticed by them, Tang Ruoyao slightly narrowed her eyes, revealing a pensive expression.

.....

On New Year's Eve, Qin Yinong gave out red envelopes all night long.

The elderly couple in the family, as well as the little one, each received their share. And there was her work team, who had worked diligently throughout the year. As the boss, she naturally couldn't be stingy during the New Year. Year-end bonuses were one thing, but red envelopes were another.

Qin Yinong was generous in giving out red envelopes, distributing them at the highest amount. She handed out fifty in a row, to the point where her fingers were almost cramping.

Guan Han, being the closest confidante, didn't get a share in the red envelopes. So she quietly found a way to approach the boss through the back door and asked, [Qin Jie, can you distribute some of an equal amount next time?]

Qin Yinong didn't say a word but transferred fifty thousand to her.

Guan Han: [Thank you, Boss.gif]

Ningning wore a red jacket, her whole body filled with a vibrant red, resembling a beautiful doll from a New Year's painting. Qin Yinong picked up the camera and joyfully took dozens of pictures of her. Then, she took her to the courtyard to set off fireworks.

They can't set off any noisy or skyward fireworks, but it's fine to play with some on the ground.

Ningning is too young, and Qin Yinong is worried she might get hurt, so she sets off the fireworks herself while Ningning watches. The children around clap their hands and laugh. Ji Shulan stands by the door, quietly watching with a loving smile on her face.

Aunt Fang took leave and went home on the 28th, as her daughter picked her up to celebrate the New Year together. In the spacious house, only these three generations remained, making it both lively and quiet.

Ji Shulan gazes at Qin Yinong, who is joyfully playing in the center of the courtyard, and her mood be slightly complicated mood.

Qin Yinong will be turning thirty after her next birthday, and her lifelong matter still haven't been settled. It's fine to play around outside as she pleases, but will these days without an end continue? Ji Shulan doesn't even ask for her to get married, she just hopes Qin Yinong can live a simple and ordinary life like a ordinary woman, and she wishes for her to find a partner and settle down soon, to stop living as a drifting soul with no place to rely on.

Even raising a dog would be good! As long as she has time to spend with the dog!

Ji Shulan thought with a pained and anxious heart.

The nights in the capital were starless and moonless, and the lights in the villa cast a dim glow on the ground. The children were full of energy, and Qin Yinong was tired before Ningning, but she kept cheering her on, exclaiming, "Mom, keep going!" Although Qin Yinong didn't really understand why they are cheering her on just setting off fireworks, she still cooperated enthusiastically, occasionally putting on an exaggerated performance, saying, "How beautiful!"

Actually, it's not beautiful at all.

She's long past the age of playing with fireworks.

Qin Yinong finally understood the concept of "distance creates beauty" and "familiarity breeds contempt." No matter how well-behaved a child is, they're still a child. They need adults to play with them, and occasionally they can be mischievous. Qin Yinong had never spent such a long time with Qin Jianing before. It had been over half a year since she returned to China last year, and she had been with the kids day and night. Even the strongest maternal love had worn thin.

Now when she sees Qin Jianing, it's like seeing a little devil by her side. She grits her teeth and wishes to go the other way.

No wonder people always say online, "When I go home for summer vacation, my mom can only be nice to me for three days. After three days, she treats me like a cat or dog that she dislikes." Qin Yinong held her nose and spent the whole night playing with Ningning and fireworks. When the little one was eager to try the next activity, Qin Yinong forcefully tucked her into the bed.

Ningning blinked her innocent big eyes.

"Go to sleep." Qin Yinong commanded.

"But I'm not sleepy yet." Ningning held onto one of Qin Yinong's sleeves with her small hand and softly whined.

When Ningning acted cute, Qin Yinong's heart kept fluctuating between being tough and tender. Finally, she sighed softly and asked in a gentle voice, "What do you want to do?"

Ningning continued to blink her eyes and said, "Mom, tell me a story."

Qin Yinong gritted her teeth and told Ningning two stories, finally managing to coax the little one to sleep.

She wiped the sweat off her forehead and came out of the bedroom, unexpectedly meeting Ji Shulan's gaze. Ji Shulan was standing not far from the bedroom door, and Qin Yinong didn't know how long she had been watching.

Qin Yinong quietly closed the bedroom door and raised an eyebrow, softly saying, "Mom?"

Ji Shulan coughed while covering her mouth and turned to walk towards the nearby kitchen door. She maintained a slow pace, but before she went too far, she made sure she was within hearing distance for Qin Yinong.

"Taking care of a child is tough, isn't it?" Ji Shulan commented, expressing her feelings.

"It's manageable." Qin Yinong replied, taking a deep breath and couldn't help but speak the truth, "It's really difficult." Even with older family members and a nanny helping out at home, just taking care of a child like this made her worry to the point of exhaustion. "Mom, how did you manage in the past?"

Ji Shulan said, "I just got through it. When there's a purpose in life, you don't feel the hardship."

A purpose?

Qin Yinong was momentarily stunned, carefully pondering over this word.

Ji Shulan struggled to walk with her lame leg, so Qin Yinong stepped forward and supported her arm, walking with her towards the kitchen. "I have a purpose, you know. To raise Ningning into an adult as soon as possible, and watch her establish her own life. Well, even if she doesn't get married, as long as she has the foundation to support herself, it's enough."

"What about afterwards?"

"I'll take care of you in your old age."

Ji Shulan smiled, her smile filled with anticipation and bitterness. "I'm already at this age, halfway into the ground. I might not even live long enough to see Ningning grow up and be healthy."

"That won't happen." Qin Yinong paused and said firmly.

Ji Shulan looked down, raised her hand, and patted Qin Yinong's hand on her arm. There was a hint of melancholy in her gaze as she said, "With you by Ningning's side, I'm not worried. What I'm worried about is..."

Before she could finish, Qin Yinong interrupted her, cutting her off, "Take care of yourself and don't make me worry. If you two are doing well, then I'll be fine."

Ji Shulan glanced at her sideways.

Qin Yinong lowered her long lashes, unable to see Ji Shulan's gaze clearly, but she could still hear the decisiveness and sharpness in her words lingering in her ears.

Ji Shulan's eyelid twitched suddenly, and she suddenly associated it with some vague speculation.

Her lips moved, a faint paleness washed over her, and she trembled slightly, but ultimately, she didn't ask that question.

And what about you?

Is there even a tiny bit in your future that is planned for yourself?

Qin Yinong poured a glass of water for Ji Shulan, helped her back to her room to rest, and then slowly ascended the stairs. She walked slowly, as if the road had ten thousand steps, and when she reached the second floor, she had to lean against the corridor for a while.

From the perspective of the second floor, the living room was engulfed in darkness, with only a soft white light lingering near the floor-to-ceiling window, projected from outside. But it could only illuminate that corner, unable to reach other areas.

Qin Yinong sluggishly dragged her heavy body back to the bedroom and took a shower. She poured a glass of wine, sat at the desk, and started writing study notes. Compared to Tang Ruoyao's calligraphy with its iron hooks and exquisite mastery, her own handwriting seemed like scribbles.

Qin Yinong had ugly handwriting since her school days, and it remained consistent even after she started working, forming its own unique style. She had thought about practicing her handwriting, but first, she didn't have the time, and second, she had grown accustomed to it and felt it was passable. After all, she wasn't writing for others to see, as long as she could recognize it, it was sufficient.

After finishing an article, she looked at it again under the light. Three characters stood out in a chicken scratch-like handwriting, beautifully horizontal and vertical. They were the characters "唐" [Tang] from "唐吉诃德" [Don Quixote], "若"  [Ruo] from "若是" [If], and "遙" [Yao] from "遙遠" [distant]. These characters were mixed within the phrases, prominently displayed.

Qin Yinong forcefully closed her notebook with a loud clap and threw it into the drawer next to her bed.

She lowered her eyes and muttered something in annoyance, lifted the covers, sat on the bed, and grabbed her phone to check the time. It was 11:59, just one minute away from the new year.

In the blink of an eye, the hour hand quietly moved towards twelve o'clock. Distant New Year's bells chimed from outside the window, accompanied by the sound of forbidden firecrackers, making every household joyful and harmonious. Qin Yinong's phone suddenly went crazy, vibrating continuously, as the message interface was filled with New Year's greetings from various people.

Qin Yinong didn't know what she was looking for. In the empty and silent room, she opened and read through all the messages, replying to a few necessary ones, and then stared blankly at her phone.

Several group chats began sending out New Year's red envelopes, creating a lively scene everywhere.

There was sudden activity in the script group chat, and Qin Yinong's body reacted faster than her brain as she tapped into it.

Tang Ruoyao: [Wishing you prosperity and good luck in the new year]

Tang Ruoyao: [Wishing everyone a happy new year, and good luck with the start of the new drama after the holiday]

[System Message: dakfjsjfa has claimed your red envelope]

Separated by the phone, Tang Ruoyao, looking at the familiar face on the screen, and typed furiously on the keyboard: "!!!"

Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably as she typed into the input box. She finished typing the sentence, "Are you still awake?" but just before sending it out, she forcibly stopped herself.

Two minutes later.

dakfjsjfa: [Wishing you prosperity and good luck in the new year]

dakfjsjfa: [Wishing everyone a happy new year, and good luck with the new drama after the holiday]

[System Message: Tang Ruoyao has claimed your red envelope]

On both ends of the call.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but curl her lips. How lazy could she be? She copied the text without changing a single word.

Qin Yinong raised her slender, pale fingers and gently covered her smiling eyes.

The similar messages from both of them lay silently on the screen. Tang Ruoyao tossed and turned on her bed, occasionally entering the group chat. Chai Ziqiu and Han Yu Ping both made an appearance and claimed a red envelope. They were probably too busy and didn't have time to reply.

Tang Ruoyao looked at the new messages indicated by the system prompt, pursed her lips, took screenshots, and cropped out Han Yu Ping and Chai Ziqiu.

She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Out of habit, she opened Weibo and entered her alternate account's username and password. But biting her lip, she canceled the login, only thinking to herself, "She's so cute."

She drifted off to sleep in a daze.

Jiang Xuezhen became excessively attentive, and Tang Ruoyao thought she might have exposed something suspicious. After observing Jiang Xuezhen for two days, she realized that Jiang Xuezhen probably didn't have that kind of mindset. So why was she acting that way?

On the day before leaving home, Jiang Xuezhen finally revealed her true intentions—to ask for money. Naturally, she used Tang Fei as a cover. After considering it for a moment, Tang Ruoyao agreed but only gave her half of the requested amount. Immediately afterward, Tang Ruoyao instructed the private detective investigating Jiang Xuezhen to closely monitor her recent activities. It would be even better if they could find concrete evidence. If she refused to leave when the time came, Tang Ruoyao would have no choice but to make her leave this marriage!

Time flew by, and on the day of departure, Tang Ruoyao gave a few instructions to Tang Fei and boarded the flight back to the capital alone. After recording two programs in the capital, Tang Ruoyao, together with her manager, rushed to the filming location.

This time, the shooting location was not in the capital but in a small city in the south—City Y. The crew was going to stay here for three months, which meant she would be spending three months together with Qin Yinong day and night.

After three months, it would be the exact time when her contract ended, and she would regain her freedom. Although Tang Ruoyao now felt that their contract was inexplicably... already nonexistent.

The crew specially sent someone to pick her up. Tang Ruoyao sat in the car and only greeted the person in charge at the beginning before maintaining her aloof and cold image without faltering. Mu Qingwu was her manager, and she was more talkative, asking about the situation on the set so they wouldn't go in blindly. "Has Qin Yinong arrived on set?"

"Yes, she just arrived, maybe half an hour earlier than you."

Tang Ruoyao adjusted her sitting posture, half-closed her eyelids, and perked her ears like a pair of antennas.

"Who's here now?"

"Almost everyone who should be here has arrived."

Han Yuping couldn't rely on connections to get in here. He was a strict person who insisted on entering the set on the designated day, unless there was an unavoidable matter that required some flexibility.

They chatted along the way and arrived at their destination while talking.

The set design team was still nitpicking over details, raising their chins, furrowing their brows, and adjusting things unsatisfactorily. Several props assistants were busy moving objects, shuttling back and forth on the set in an orderly and quiet manner.

The atmosphere on the set seemed to follow Han Yuping's lead, with everyone being quite silent, and most of them not uttering a word.

Suddenly, a wave of relaxed laughter drifted through the air.

A woman's voice was light and pleasant, like the song of a bird in an empty valley, making people feel comfortable when listening to it.

Tang Ruoyao let herself space out for a couple of seconds before turning her gaze in the direction where the voice came from. As expected, Qin Yinong was sitting on a wicker chair, lazily propping her hands behind her back. There was a circle of people around her, about seventy to eighty of them, both men and women. They may not have been extraordinarily beautiful, but each one was refined and appropriate.

Guan Han, who was always by her side, sat on her right. Her expression was cold, giving off the air of a dignified main wife.

On her left, a gentle and elegant girl held a cream strawberry in her hand and fed it to Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong lightly bit down on it, lifting her eyes and smiling, saying something.

The girl revealed a gentle smile and continued feeding her. This time, they were even closer, their actions becoming incredibly ambiguous.

Combined with Qin Yinong's reputation outside, at first glance, it seemed like a large-scale gathering of debauchery!

Tang Ruoyao nearly blacked out for a moment.

Why... isn't anyone reining her in? Wasn't it agreed that Han Yu Ping wouldn't tolerate any misconduct?!

Tang Ruoyao forcefully suppressed the anger that surged from her lungs to the top of her head. She closed her eyes and silently recited the calming mantra three times.

Beside her, Xin Qian kept peeking curiously in that direction, saying, "It's so lively over there with Qin Yinong. Tang Tang, should we go over and say hello?"

Veins popped on Tang Ruoyao's forehead.

Even her assistant was adding fuel to the fire!

Tang Ruoyao's voice almost squeezed out from between her teeth as she said firmly, "No, we're not going."

Mu Qingwu made her way over to the set and also saw the situation. She mistakenly thought that Tang Ruoyao's unpleasant expression was due to concern that Qin Yinong, the troublemaker, would target her. Trying to comfort her, she said, "Don't worry, with so many people around, she wouldn't dare do anything to you."

Before coming here, Tang Ruoyao had hoped that Qin Yinong wouldn't do anything to her. But now, looking at the irritating scene in front of her where Qin Yinong was affectionate with others, she couldn't help but self-deprecatingly think: It seems she no longer wants to do anything to me.

Whatever she desires, she can easily have it just by just beckoning with her finger, and it's not just one person either. It's just like the birds that are fluttering around her. 

She had the audacity to make Qin Yinong wait for three to four hours,  thinking she had the confidence to rely on Qin Yinong's favor and act willfully. No wonder Qin Yinong's attitude suddenly turned sour, she must have grown tired of her.

As if a bucket of cold water was poured over her head, Tang Ruoyao felt as if her limbs and body were frozen, trembling gently in the icy landscape. After a while, she regained some sense and felt the warmth of her blood flowing, sluggishly turning her head and asking, "What did you say?"

Mu Qingwu lifted her chin slightly and said, "Let's go over and say hello. Otherwise, it would be impolite. I'll accompany you."

Tang Ruoyao mechanically replied, "Okay."

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and walked towards Qin Yinong's direction.

Author's note:

The delightful (chaotic) life on set begins, and from now on, they'll be in the same frame, hehehe.

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