CHAPTER 66

During the short break, Qin Yinong generally didn't go back to the rest area but instead sat in the recliner provided by the crew. It was no longer a public property like before, now it had become her personal space. Even when it was unoccupied, no one dared to approach easily, let alone sit there.

Unknowingly, Tang Ruoyao became an exception to this.

It was now the morning of the second day, and lunch break was only an hour away. Only two assistants remained by Qin Yinong's side, while the others were probably busy preparing lunch or attending to other matters.

Guan Han, who was always reliable, stood by silently. When she saw Tang Ruoyao approaching without any surprise, she didn't even bother to remind Qin Yinong, who was focused on reading the script with her head down.

Tang Ruoyao slowly made her way over, observing Qin Yinong's profile, and then stopped, taking a seat on a small stool just a step away from her.

Qin Yinong heard the movement beside her and glanced out of the corner of her eye. Her eyelashes quivering slightly, and she absentmindedly pressed the corner of the script page with her fingers, maintaining a calm demeanor, waiting to see what Tang Ruoyao wanted to say.

"Senior Qin," Tang Ruoyao hesitated before speaking.

"Hmm?" Qin Yinong lazily hummed in response.

"I... There's a scene that I don't quite understand. Can I ask you for some guidance?"

Qin Yinong paused, lifting her eyelids to glance at Tang Ruoyao. She leaned slightly in her direction and gestured with her chin towards the script in Tang Ruoyao's hand, as if prompting her to proceed. She was about to say something when a smile suddenly blossomed on her face. "Go ahead."

Tang Ruoyao adjusted the script in her hands and asked the pre-planned question she had in mind. Qin Yinong listened attentively and responded with a perplexing look, patiently explaining her own understanding.

Tang Ruoyao received the answer and feigned gratitude, pretending to understand.

A silence fell between the two.

Qin Yinong could easily tell that Tang Ruoyao had something to say and was intentionally beating around the bush. If Tang Ruoyao remained silent, she would continue focusing on the script, but she knew the child couldn't hold back her words for long.

However, as the warm breath drew closer, slowly caressing her face with a faint fragrance, even more alluring than the most exquisite wine Qin Yinong had ever smelled, she struggled to resist the urge to curl her fingers. She inwardly sighed with frustration.

This person was truly becoming more audacious.

Tang Ruoyao didn't think of herself as being flirtatious. Her mind was consumed by the pressing matter at hand. She just didn't want others to overhear, so she leaned in close to Qin Yinong's face and asked in a low voice, "Why don't you clarify the situation?"

For a brief moment, Qin Yinong's expression turned blank, a result of being taken aback by the question.

Not only did Qin Yinong startle at the words that slipped out of Tang Ruoyao's mouth, but even Tang Ruoyao herself was taken aback. However, once words were spoken, they were like water spilled out; Qin Yinong's recent treatment had given her some confidence. She straightened her back, gazed directly into Qin Yinong's eyes, and held her ground.

"You..." Qin Yinong replayed Tang Ruoyao's words in her mind several times, finding them absurd. But at the same time, another emotion surged within her, which she forcefully suppressed. She sneered, exuding a superior aura, and stared sharply at Tang Ruoyao. "Who gave you the courage to question me?"

Tang Ruoyao's fingers clenched the fabric on her knees tightly, her heart sinking further with Qin Yinong's words. She suddenly licked her dry lips, seemingly at a loss, but she persisted in not averting her gaze from Qin Yinong's face. She took a gentle breath and summoned the bit of courage she had accumulated, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor."I thought... we were friends."

"No, we're not." Qin Yinong denied swiftly, giving her no room for a comeback. She pointed at Tang Ruoyao, then pointed at herself, her tone indifferent. "We are merely colleagues who have work-related interactions, nothing more."

So, there should be no crossing boundaries or meddling in her personal affairs.

She didn't need Tang Ruoyao's concern either.

Tang Ruoyao understood the underlying meaning of her words, forcing a strained smile on her lips. She nodded at Qin Yinong and silently left the scene.

Once Tang Ruoyao had walked away, Qin Yinong forcefully pinched the pad of her index finger with her thumb, causing the script in her hand with a loud rustle.

Mu Qingwu, not paying attention, suddenly noticed her precious artist heading towards Qin Yinong. Her heart raced with anxiety, fearing she might slip up. After a brief moment, she returned with a dejected expression.

Mu Qingwu's protective instincts were triggered, and she approached, pulling Tang Ruoyao's arm. She asked, "What happened? Did she b*lly you?"

Tang Ruoyao shook her head, her lips slightly pale.

It was her own fault for not knowing her place.

"Then why..." Mu Qingwu noticed her uneasy expression, softened her tone, and said, "I know you're dedicated to your work, so you often rehearse with her. But you can also ask the director, right? We don't have to endure her mistreatment."

Tang Ruoyao tugged at the corner of her lips and obediently replied, "Okay."

Mu Qingwu asked, "Would you like something to drink? I can ask Xin Qian to get it for you."

"No, water will be fine for me."

Although Qin Yinong didn't want her interference, a thought couldn't help but emerge in Tang Ruoyao's mind as she looked at Mu Qingwu.

She pursed her lips and asked Mu Qingwu softly, "Have you seen the recent hot topics online about Senior Qin?"

Yesterday, the film started shooting, which was considered a big event. Mu Qingwu had browsed the internet for a while, and Qin Yinong's name always caught people's attention, especially since she was at the top of the trending list. Tang Ruoyao nodded and asked, "Did you see it? What's the matter?"

Her mother's temperament flared up, and she spoke with a serious tone, "You must not follow her example, and certainly not that woman."

Tang Ruoyao interrupted her, her temples throbbing faintly, "It's fake."

Mu Qingwu asked, "What?"

Tang Ruoyao raised her head, her gaze heavy, "The online rumors are false. Senior Qin and I live on the same floor. That woman sneaked in by herself, lying in wait in advance just for this fake news. As soon as Senior Qin entered the room, she immediately came out."

Mu Qingwu narrowed her eyes, "Oh, so that's how it is." She didn't appear too surprised, but she spoke with concern, "It seems we need to be more cautious. In case someone tries to harm you in the same way."

"Sister Mu, I have a question for you."

"Go ahead."

"Why doesn't she clarify the situation?"

"Hmm? Why would she need to clarify?" Mu Qingwu responded with a light smile, naturally posing a counter-question. Ever since Mu Qingwu had a name in the talent management circle, she had heard about the romantic affairs and never-ending scandals surrounding Qin Yinong, the renowned actress. In her impression, Qin Yinong had never clarified any of them, so not clarifying seemed to be the norm for her.

"For female artists, reputation is important, isn't it?"

Those false, groundless accusations and filthy rumors, the insults aimed at her virtue, how could any female artist tolerate them? Moreover, Qin Yinong was not some unknown, insignificant figure. She had the capability to fight back.

"That's true, but..." Mu Qingwu saw Tang Ruoyao's persistence in getting to the bottom of it. In this crowded and noisy place, she stopped talking and led Tang Ruoyao into the rest area, closing the door behind them.

"Clearing one's name is a general principle for ordinary actresses, um, a rough guideline for handling such situations. However, it can't be generalized."

Tang Ruoyao handed Mu Qingwu a bottle of mineral water.

Mu Qingwu couldn't help but laugh and cry, "Are you trying to have a serious conversation with me?"

"Anyway, I don't have any scenes later, so I have free time." Tang Ruoyao didn't want to make Mu Qingwu suspect that she was overly concerned about Qin Yinong, so she joked, "I think being a talent manager is quite interesting. In case the actor can't continue in the future, I can switch careers."

Mu Qingwu sternly reprimanded her for that idea, and Tang Ruoyao pulled the corners of her eyes with both hands and stuck out her tongue, making a playful face. Lately, she had been playing a sixteen-year-old high school girl and unconsciously developed a bunch of little gestures that came naturally to her.

Mu Qingwu burst into laughter again.

She took a sip of water and said, "Let's start with the basics. As talent managers, we handle public relations for our artists. Not every rumor needs to be addressed and clarified. We have to weigh the pros and cons. For example, those D-list celebrities who desperately want to ride your coattails for publicity. If you clarify the rumor, you're actually giving them attention."

"So, is it possible that the model deliberately created the buzz around Qin Yinong?"

Mu Qingwu scoffed and said disdainfully, "That model isn't even at the C-list. Where did she get the audacity to pull a stunt like that? I guess she wanted to climb into Qin Yinong's bed and get some benefits afterward, like getting a role or something. But who knows, maybe Qin Yinong didn't pay her any attention because she has high standards. So, in a fit of desperation, she leaked the information to smear Qin Yinong or..." Mu Qingwu paused for a moment, "someone was manipulating her from behind."

Tang Ruoyao quickly grasped the idea, "Are you talking about a competitor?"

Mu Qingwu raised an eyebrow.

Tang Ruoyao had been targeted by those minor celebrities countless times since she entered the industry. However, Qin Yinong always managed to suppress the issues in a timely manner, but that didn't mean she was unaware of them. The only people who had a vested interest in Qin Yinong were the top actresses of the previous generation. The infighting among top actresses was not like the squabbles among minor celebrities. Instead of engaging in fan wars and buying some negative articles, they presented a plastic sisterhood image on the surface, acting friendly and supportive. But behind the scenes, they spared no effort in snatching endorsement deals and resources, fighting ruthlessly until they turned green with envy.

Tang Ruoyao remembered an incident she had heard from Wen Shuxian, involving a clash between two top actresses. Their tactics were frequent and jaw-dropping. The new generation, however, only engaged in minor skirmishes.

"The hotel has surveillance footage, and the time is marked on the videos. From the moment she entered to the moment she left, it would take at most a minute. Present the facts, and everything will be clear, right? Since that woman is a minor celebrity, even if the incident passes, she won't be able to make any waves." Tang Ruoyao insisted on her line of questioning.

Mu Qingwu wondered, 'How do she know all this so clearly? Was she present and observing?'

Mu Qingwu continued, "You make a valid point. If it were me, I would definitely clarify the situation for you. But Qin Yinong's PR team has always had this style. Don't you know that people in the industry say she doesn't have a PR team?"

"No PR team?" Tang Ruoyao almost jumped up from the sofa in disbelief.

"That's an exaggerated statement. It means she has never clarified any rumors." Mu Qingwu explained.

"Never?" Tang Ruoyao was shocked, and a hint of suppressed anger rose within her. Did she just let others talk about her like that?

"You, why do you always repeat what I say." Mu Qingwu clicked her tongue, her tone softening unintentionally, revealing a touch of sympathy. She sighed, "She has too much negative information. At this point, it doesn't make a difference whether she clarifies or not."

Mu Qingwu had been in the industry for nearly a decade and had never seen an artist, including male artists, with as many scandals as Qin Yinong. As long as one used their brain a little, they would know that not all rumors were true, or rather, most of them were false. Having even one-tenth of them be true was already scandalous enough. As someone of the same gender, Mu Qingwu naturally had empathy. Although she didn't like Qin Yinong's questionable personal shortcomings, the world's malice towards her had far exceeded what she should have endured. It shouldn't have been this way.

However, artists who relied on the entertainment industry for their livelihood were destined to be scrutinized like commodities.

Mu Qingwu said, "So, you know why she strives so hard to climb up, to work hard in filming, to vie for awards. How does that Jay Chou song go?"

Tang Ruoyao seemed briefly lost in thought and responded, "When I reach the top, no one can harm me?"

Mu Qingwu nodded, "That's right. Don't think that you're doing well now, it's just the beginning. In the future, you may also encounter a lot of malicious things. I'll do my best to help you, but you have to become strong on your own."

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and said, "When we reach the top, will we truly be immune from harm? Malice is still malice. The ones at fault are those who misunderstand and blindly follow, not us who are forced to cover our ears and eyes."

What did they do wrong again?

Mu Qingwu paused, carefully pondered her meaning, and sighed softly, "But you can't change others, you can only choose to change yourself."

"So, this is just self-deception." Tang Ruoyao's eyes were dull, her voice cold.

Mu Qingwu looked at her with suspicion.

"You're acting strange today."

"Is strange cute?" Tang Ruoyao blinked, disrupting Mu Qingwu's thoughts with a single sentence.

"Don't talk to me about cheesy sweet talk." Mu Qingwu laughed, "I'm not buying it."

Tang Ruoyao tilted her head, her brows and eyes curved, "I am. Sister Mu, you're strangely cute today."

Mu Qingwu initially had the expression of an "old man looking at his phone on the subway," stunned for a few seconds, then covered her fluttering heart and took a few steps back, "You've become mischievous lately, don't act cute anymore. My heart is still reserved for my true love,Are you taking responsibility for stealing it?"

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter and raised her hand to rub her nose.

Tang Ruoyao had a habit when filming. It may not be severe, but it wasn't insignificant either. She had a tendency to immerse herself too deeply in her characters, allowing the characters to enter her reality. Basically, with every film she made, her personality would undergo a transformation. From being reserved to becoming lively, from being aloof to becoming approachable, it was commonly known as getting too deep into character.

She starred in a romantic film two years ago, playing a woman who went crazy for love. In the film, she loved the male lead so intensely that she was willing to live and die for him. If it weren't for her attachment to Qin Yinong in her heart, she might not have recovered even after the film wrapped. This is also why many people in the industry develop feelings for each other and end up together after collaborating on a film.

Later on, she intentionally restrained a part of her emotions, but the results have been minimal so far. The benefits brought by this acting method are tremendous. She only needs to follow the emotions of the scene and instinctively react, which allows her to perform with great tension and leave the director amazed.

In that romantic film from two years ago, even though she was only nominated and didn't win an award, there was a monologue that became a classic. In that scene, Tang Ruoyao had both hands leaning on the railing of a suspension bridge, with a deep and dangerous ravine below her feet. Her long hair appeared dry and yellowish, blown by the wind that passed through the gorge, in a disheveled state sticking to her eyebrows. Tang Ruoyao casually tucked her hair behind her ear. Her complexion was slightly sallow, with freckles on her nose and under her eyelids, marking the passage of time. Facing the camera, she casually narrated the story of her and him, with the sweetness evident in the corners of her eyes and smile when talking about the romantic moments, and a well-timed pause and silence when expressing disappointment. The final line was delivered with a choked voice, mixed with tears and laughter, which was praised by the audience as a brilliant performance.

Tang Ruoyao is someone who fully expresses genuine emotions. After filming that scene, she ran over and hugged the male lead, who no longer belonged to her, and burst into loud sobs. The male lead was also deeply affected by her, feeling heartbroken. As a result, the two of them ended up crying together, creating a mix of tears and laughter on the set. Later, it was released as behind-the-scenes footage and is still occasionally mentioned as an anecdote to laugh about.

However, Qin Yinong seems to be different. She works intensively without any breaks or time for adjustment between filming. She's so busy, going from one project to another, smoothly transitioning between different characters as if she were an emotionless acting machine.

Speaking of which, she's so busy...

"Sister Mu."

"Yes?"

Tang Ruoyao, who had once been brought back to reality by Qin Yinong's words, raised a question again, "In your opinion, how much of the negative information about Qin Yinong online is true and how much is false?"

Mu Qingwu furrowed her brow.

"I'm not sure. If I had to guess, conservatively speaking, about seventy to eighty percent of it is false." Mu Qingwu gave an example based on her memory, saying, "Take that incident at the airport where she was seen being affectionate with her lover. Wasn't there a guy with his arm around her?"

Tang Ruoyao's expression became subtle.

She happened to have seen this news and even threw a small tantrum that only she knew about at the time.

"So it's fake?"

"It's completely fake. It looks fake at first glance." Mu Qingwu confidently declared.

"Why?" Tang Ruoyao felt her intelligence being threatened by the overwhelming jealousy.

"Well, the press release from that marketing account was all fake. It sounded so grandiose. The guy in the photos isn't even a male model; his identity was fabricated, and the pictures were photoshopped. They superimposed the face of the sunglasses-masked man onto a professional model's body. The photo editing skills were terrible. There were so many loopholes, and anyone with a discerning eye could tell it was fake. Only those who don't use their brains would believe it and go along with the rhythm." Mu Qingwu said disdainfully.

Tang Ruoyao, feeling a bit brainless herself at the moment, said, "..."

She carefully confirmed once again, "Are you sure it's fake?"

"Of course I'm sure." Mu Qingwu abruptly turned her head. This time, no cheesy lines from Tang Ruoyao would work. Mu Qingwu's gaze was intense as she sternly asked, "Tell me honestly, have you fallen for her?"

Despite countless reminders and warnings, it had only been two days since Tang Ruoyao started filming, yet her mind and eyes were filled with thoughts of Qin Yinong. Did that woman cast a spell on her? And now she was prying about whether the negative information about Qin Yinong was true or false. If it was fake, what did she plan to do?

"I haven't..." Tang Ruoyao instinctively tugged at her ear and calmly defended herself.

"I don't care whether you believe it or not." Mu Qingwu interrupted her, her voice unusually cold and stern. She warned Tang Ruoyao, "Even if all of this is fake, what happened in the past is still true. She accompanied people with smiles, drinks, and beds, maneuvering between various powerhouses, with deep scheming and never leaving a trace."

Each word felt like a sharp sword piercing through Tang Ruoyao's heart.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't control the change in her complexion, and it became unpleasant to look at.

"And then there's the scandalous photos—"

"Enough!" Tang Ruoyao's heart was pounding.

She wasn't aware of those past events, but the scandalous photos were definitely fake. She had personally confirmed the pictures, and they were not Qin Yinong at all!

Why did everyone attribute things they hadn't done to her? She was like that, and even Mu Qingwu, who had just defended Qin Yinong, suddenly spoke ill of her.

Did she witness all these things that Qin Yinong had done with her own eyes? How could Mu Qingwu speak so confidently!

It wasn't that Tang Ruoyao's attitude was strange. Mu Qingwu didn't intend to be so harsh with her words to completely cut off her thoughts. But Tang Ruoyao's intense reaction only heightened Mu Qingwu's ominous premonition. Her lips trembled, and she earnestly advised, "Ruoyao, listen to my advice. Don't provoke someone you can't see through."

Tang Ruoyao quickly regained her composure, raising her gaze and calmly saying, "You've misunderstood, sister Mu."

Mu Qingwu scoffed lightly, "Misunderstood what? You actually don't like her?"

"I truly don't like her." Tang Ruoyao smiled.

They locked eyes, and as Tang Ruoyao looked back at Mu Qingwu, the slanted light fell upon her lightly colored amber eyes, clear and transparent, revealing everything, making it impossible for anyone to resist feeling convinced.

Mu Qingwu exhaled softly, skeptical. "Then why did you ask me about her?"

"It's better to be prepared." Tang Ruoyao casually replied. "In case I become an international superstar in the future and someone starts spreading rumors about me, I can learn from the experience."

"You're young, but you have quite the attitude."

"You taught me well."

"I'll go to the set and see how the others are filming," Tang Ruoyao timely changed the topic that had strained their relationship, holding the script tightly in her arms as she left.

Mu Qingwu watched her figure, her eyebrows tightly furrowed.

Today, they were shooting scenes between Qin Yinong and a young actor. In the play, Qin Yinong's character, Shen Muqing, was a typical traditional woman, devoted to her husband and children. Her husband had a decent job, and her son was smart and talented. It was the most fulfilling life a woman could have according to the universal values of that time.

During the break, Tang Ruoyao walked over to the sidelines. The young actor was inexperienced and a bit shy, making his acting seem unnatural. Qin Yinong sat on a stool, gently holding the young actor in her arms, building a mother-son relationship.

Qin Yinong spoke softly and tenderly, "Do you like watching animated films? Do you watch Peppa Pig?"

The young boy shyly nodded.

Qin Yinong chuckled in her heart and quickly employed all the tricks she used to soothe Ningning at home, especially since she had been forced to stay at home with children for over half a year. She was quite adept at it.

Before long, the young boy became familiar and comfortable with her. He even held her hand and coquettishly expressed his desires, saying what he wanted to eat.

Tang Ruoyao stood silently a few steps away, her head lowered. Qin Yinong, who was engrossed in entertaining the child, didn't notice her. However, the young boy saw her first and hesitantly called out, "Sister."

Qin Yinong raised her gaze and warmly smiled at her, "You're here."

Her tone was natural, as if the unpleasant incident from half an hour ago had never happened.

Tang Ruoyao was momentarily stunned, but then quickly realized that the person in front of her was not Qin Yinong at the moment, but Shen Muqing.

Tang Ruoyao entered the state of Han Zifei, strolling leisurely. She first glanced at Qin Yinong, her shoulders subtly tense but quickly relaxing. Her gaze swiftly slid over a hint of affection, too fast to be captured, and then she playfully teased the young boy in Qin Yinong's arms, reciting her lines from the script, "Xiao Di, sister will take you to have delicious food. There's a new pastry shop on Qiantang Street. Do you want to go?"

The young boy swallowed and looked at his sister, then at his mother, his eyes revealing a faint plea—he was hungry and wanted to go.

Tang Ruoyao mischievously gave him an idea, saying, "Quick, coax your mom. Say, 'Mom, let me go with sister.'"

The young boy, without any guidance, learned to tug at his mother's sleeve, shaking it up and down, and coquettishly said, "Mom, please let me go with sister~"

Tang Ruoyao chuckled on the side, encouraging him, "Teacher Shen, please let Xiao Di go."

"Xiao Fei, you're really..." Qin Yinong shook her head, laughing and looking at her with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence, as if scolding but not really scolding.

That one glance penetrated deep into her heart. Birds in the forest flew into a frenzy, and the lost herd of deer dashed, making her heart ache, followed by a wild and intense throbbing.

Tang Ruoyao quickly lowered her gaze, concealing the momentary restraint.

She forced herself to loosen the tightness in her pursed lips and raised them into a triumphant, mischievous smile. "Does Teacher Shen want to try the sugar cake?"

"Very thoughtful." Qin Yinong smiled lightly, her voice soft and gentle. "I don't usually eat sweets, you can have it."

"How would you know if you haven't tried it, Teacher Shen?" Tang Ruoyao held the young actor's hand, walking backward, her black ponytail swaying behind her head. She laughed loudly and said, "I'll buy it for you, and you can taste it later."

"Oh, by the way," she blinked, "it's your birthday today. Happy birthday! I'll also get you a piece of cake."

Shen Muqing and her husband met through a mutual acquaintance. They had similar backgrounds and didn't dislike each other, so they followed societal norms, got married, and had children. They treated each other with respect and appeared to have an enviable relationship. Shen Muqing herself felt satisfied with her life, even though her husband didn't have much to say to her when he came home. After having children, their conversations mostly revolved around the child. They sometimes forgot their wedding anniversary and even her birthday occasionally. But they said that's how it was for everyone.

However, the girl in front of her was so vibrant, radiant, and full of boundless life and happiness. She was like a rising sun from the horizon, or the vast expanse of blooming wildflowers on the hillside that she had seen in her childhood.

After the blooming of the wildflowers, all kinds of flowers blossomed together. Qin Yinong stared blankly at the back of the girl in her high school uniform, and it felt like something in the long stagnant lake of her heart suddenly "cracked" open, giving birth to a swaying flower in the middle out of thin air.

She lightly furrowed her brows and turned her head to look at the potted green ivy on the windowsill. Her gaze was somewhat scattered, not quite understanding the sudden surge of this audacious sensation spreading in her chest, causing even her fingertips to tingle slightly. She couldn't comprehend what this intense and unfamiliar feeling was.

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