CHAPTER 69

Qin Yinong agreed.

A short message popped up: [Speak.]

A thought began to form in Tang Ruoyao's mind.

Qin Yinong used to reinforce their master-subordinate relationship, not allowing herself to overstep boundaries and demand her affection. Now, in a situation where their sponsorship relationship was practically nonexistent, she emphasized their professional relationship and refused to interfere in her personal matters. She even said things like "we're not friends."

Fu Yujun said it's best not to focus on what she says, but on what she does.

Words are the most deceiving, and for someone like Qin Yinong, a top actress, even the "window of the soul" mentioned in books, the eyes, can be used to lie. The things she does may not necessarily come from her true intentions, but every action a person takes has a purpose. Even for selfless individuals, their selflessness itself brings them happiness and fulfills their inner desires.

Tang Ruoyao first analyzed herself. What does she have that Qin Yinong would desire? Just youth, beauty, and a desirable body. The entertainment industry is filled with people like her, and with just a simple gesture, there would be a line of men and women willing to climb into her bed. Why should she hang onto this crooked tree?

Guan Han said she was playing a cultivation game. Then, she was one of the lucky ones among countless fallen girls, molded according to Qin Yinong's desires and expectations. But that alone couldn't explain all the doubts.

Her care for herself on set wasn't fake. Even though they agreed to have a normal professional relationship, she ended up going out of her way to please the director for the sake of a mere colleague. And when she wanted to step back, she resisted her. It wasn't just herself who was scolded on set; Han Yuping scolded others even more fiercely, in a cruel and inhumane manner. She sat there without even lifting her eyelids, let alone offering comforting words.

Her double standards were so obvious. Tang Ruoyao couldn't see it when she was immersed in her own emotions before, but once she broke free from that limitation, it was like a sudden enlightenment.

However, Tang Ruoyao had had enough of self-indulgent speculations and false assumptions. Now she wouldn't indulge in romantic illusions. She would slowly uncover Qin Yinong's mask. She still had time, and she could wait.

After pondering for a moment, she held her phone in both hands and typed a question about practicing body language.

After a while, a long string of text appeared in response.

As the message appeared on the screen, a knock on the door sounded at the same time.

Tang Ruoyao went to open the door.

It was Guan Han.

Guan Han handed her a USB drive and said in a monotone tone, "Qin Jie asked me to give this to you. It contains some of her past experiences that she no longer needs. It's perfect for you."

Tang Ruoyao nodded and said, "Thank you."

Guan Han nodded and returned to her room.

Tang Ruoyao skillfully rotated the small USB drive with her slender and distinct fingertips and plugged it into her laptop.

Qin Yinong's self-taught approach to acting was completely evident in the contents. The written summaries were typed out by her, one character at a time, with hardly any professional terminology. It was plain beyond imagination, but for new actors in the industry, it was undoubtedly a priceless treasure. Tang Ruoyao overlooked the occasional typo and eagerly read on, forgetting about time and even forgetting to reply with a thank you to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong glanced at her motionless phone by her side, sat there for a while, and then got up to take a shower.

Qin Yinong had a wealth of film viewing experience, and thanks to her habits, Tang Ruoyao had watched many classic movies during her study period. Qin Yinong often used movies as examples, citing specific performances by certain actors in certain films as representative and worth learning from. Tang Ruoyao could generally recall some of them, but as more and more movies were mentioned, Tang Ruoyao's knowledge fell short, forcing her to pause.

She picked up her nearby phone, unlocked the screen, and the interface was still on the long message Qin Yinong had previously sent her.

Tang Ruoyao's breath hitched: "!!!"

Didn't she reply with a thank you just now? She remembered she did!

Tang Ruoyao quickly replied with a thank you and explained that she was fascinated by what Qin Yinong had written, finding it exceptionally well-written.

One minute later, Qin Yinong responded: [No problem.]

She added: [It's late now, go to sleep. Staying up every night will affect your energy during the day.]

Tang Ruoyao glanced at the time on her phone, it was 3 a.m.

You're not sleeping either?

With four words and a punctuation mark, Tang Ruoyao furrowed her brows. She hesitated and didn't send the message. It seemed as if Qin Yinong could sense her thoughts because another message came in after a minute: [I was sleeping, your message woke me up.]

Tang Ruoyao deleted all the typed words, feeling guilty in her heart.

[I'm sorry, Senior Qin. I didn't pay attention to the time when I sent the message. I disturbed you.]

[Go to sleep.] Qin Yinong replied.

Tang Ruoyao imagined her tone and replied with a good night. Qin Yinong remained silent, not responding anymore.

She must have fallen asleep.

Tang Ruoyao thought and said another good night in her heart.

Qin Yinong sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her sore forehead. She turned off the light and slipped into the warm blanket.

Spring had arrived, and Y City, located in the southern region, experienced summer earlier than most cities. The weather forecast predicted a significant increase in temperature recently. Tang Ruoyao, who was afraid of heat and prone to sweating, would definitely kick the blankets in the night.

Qin Yinong sighed, lost in random thoughts, and fell asleep in a daze.

In her dream, she spent the whole night covering Tang Ruoyao with a blanket, only to be inexplicably criticized by her. Tang Ruoyao complained that Qin Yinong was making too much noise and woke her up. Qin Yinong tried to explain, but Tang Ruoyao began arguing with her, and their voices grew louder.

Tang Ruoyao exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, "You weren't like this before--"

Qin Yinong suddenly opened her eyes. The daylight was pouring in, and her heart raced, with cold sweat breaking out on her neck.

She sat up, supporting herself with her body, and stared at the curtain that was illuminated by the incoming light.

She often had nightmares, mostly about past experiences, but dreaming about Tang Ruoyao was rare. And this dream was so bizarre, was it indicating something?

Qin Yinong pinched her palm with her fingertips, a bitter smile forming on her lips.

"Thank you, Senior Qin." Tang Ruoyao handed back the USB drive personally in the hotel lobby. She had already copied its contents.

"You're welcome. I hope it will be helpful to you." Qin Yinong nodded slightly, her voice warm, but her eyes behind the sunglasses were not clear. Guan Han stepped forward and took the USB drive from Tang Ruoyao.

After she finished speaking, her assistant came to remind her that the car had arrived. Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao passed by each other, and as she turned around, the corner of her windbreaker brushed against Tang Ruoyao's hand that was hanging by her side.

It felt icy cold.

Tang Ruoyao's fingertips trembled for a moment, but she snapped back to reality and waited for the crew's car, then left.

Life on the set was monotonous. Every morning, she woke up, exchanged a simple greeting with Qin Yinong downstairs, and then went separate ways to the set. Sometimes, due to different shooting schedules, they wouldn't meet in the morning, but they would definitely encounter each other on the set later, and that's when they would film their scenes.

Tang Ruoyao's character, Han Zifei, had unrequited love for Shen Muqing, which made her involuntarily pay attention to her, observe her. It was during a crucial scene that she truly confirmed that the emotions she had developed were a shocking and unconventional love.

Love and obsession were often inseparable. When there is emotional connection, delusional thoughts arise.

It was the peak of summer when Han Zifei and Shen Muqing had become close, even establishing a relationship with Shen Muqing's son, Xu Di. At that time, the saying "better a close neighbor than a distant relative" held true. Han Zifei no longer needed an excuse to forget her keys when entering Shen Muqing's house. After finishing her homework and greeting her mother, Fang Jiao, she happily dashed into Shen Muqing's house like a freed magpie from its cage.

There was only Xu Di at home. When Han Zifei asked about her mother, Xu Di said she was taking a shower.

Soon after, the sound of running water could be heard.

The person inside heard the footsteps and asked cautiously, "Who is it?"

Han Zifei quickly responded, "Teacher Shen, it's me."

Shen Muqing was always attentive to her guests, and she didn't keep people waiting, even if they were familiar neighbors. Her gentle and soft voice came from inside, saying, "Just a moment."

Then she came out.

She was wearing a simple home outfit, with her jet-black long hair casually twisted, damp against her back. The fabric in front of her collarbone had also been soaked by the wet hair hanging down, turning it into a darker shade. Under her shorts, her slender white legs stood out.

Since they were all women, Shen Muqing didn't pay much attention to it. The room was empty, and her fitted short sleeves outlined her specific shape.

"Xiao Fei is here," Shen Muqing greeted her. "Would you like something to drink?"

Han Zifei involuntarily gripped the corner of the table next to her, her fingers turning white. Her mind was buzzing, her lips moved, but she forgot what she had said to Shen Muqing and almost wanted to escape.

That night, she tossed and turned in bed, having a provocative dream.

The scene Tang Ruoyao was going to perform tonight was this provocative and intense scene.

In fact, the scene itself wasn't highly explicit. Han Yuping didn't plan to make this film into an R-rated one. The final product would use editing techniques, and the focus was on portraying awakening and struggle. Therefore, this scene was a solo performance for Tang Ruoyao.

Han Yuping graduated from the Film and Photography Department and is a director with extremely high demands for visuals, especially when shooting same-sex films. He said that if he couldn't capture the beauty of same-sex relationships, he would be a failure. Those were his exact words.

Originally, Qin Yinong had no scenes and could have returned to the hotel. However, she decided to stay just in case Tang Ruoyao faced more criticism, so she could help smooth things over.

For the first time, Tang Ruoyao wished Qin Yinong would hurry back to the hotel.

She was alone on the bed, performing that scene, while Qin Yinong watched from the side. Just the thought of it made her ears turn red.

But Qin Yinong had a very composed expression. She even brought over a chair and chose the best seat to watch.

Considering Tang Ruoyao's young age and lack of experience in this aspect, Han Yuping was concerned that she might be too sensitive. So, he tactfully cleared the set, leaving only essential crew members... and Qin Yinong, who was there to watch the scene.

Han Yuping, being seasoned and having seen it all, took the opportunity to call Tang Ruoyao aside. In a hushed voice that only the two of them could hear, he asked her seriously, "Do you have any experience in this aspect?"

Tang Ruoyao subconsciously glanced in Qin Yinong's direction, not far away.

Han Yuping clicked his tongue and said, "Focus on me. Why are you looking at her?"

Tang Ruoyao coughed and lied, "No, I don't."

Han Yuping didn't know whether to believe Tang Ruoyao or not, so he continued to ask, "Have you had similar dreams?"

Tang Ruoyao considered for a moment and nodded, "Yes."

"Well, that counts as experience." Han Yuping said. "You don't need to take off your clothes later. Just lie there and think about the feeling you had in your previous dreams. Express all the emotions you felt at that time."

"Okay."

"Do you have someone you like?" Han Yuping asked again.

Tang Ruoyao resisted the urge to look in that direction again and lied once more, saying, "No."

Han Yuping pinched his brow, feeling somewhat troubled. As a straight man, he sighed, "If you can suddenly develop feelings for the opposite sex when filming a heterosexual scene, it won't work with Qin Yinong. We can't force someone's sexual orientation."

Silently, Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, 'I can actually do that.'

Han Yuping then gave her instructions on when to breathe heavily and when to tilt her neck, allowing her to go to the side to build up her emotions.

Han Yuping lit a cigarette and sat next to Qin Yinong, watching Tang Ruoyao focused on generating emotions in the corner. He squinted his eyes, blew out a smoke ring, and said, "This kid is not bad. She has potential for development."

Qin Yinong subtly furrowed her brows and waved away the smoke drifting in front of her. She calmly said, "She just lacks some experience and needs more practice."

"Sorry." Han Yuping extinguished his cigarette and said, "Old Lin told me the same thing. I thought he was just bragging at the time, but now, looking at it, in another ten or twenty years, there might be someone who can take your place."

Upon hearing his words, Qin Yinong turned her head slightly and gave him a meaningful look, saying, "Is it appropriate for Director Han to say this in front of me?"

Han Yuping smiled and replied, "It's precisely because you're here that I can speak so frankly."

Qin Yinong had both ambition and indifference. While she played both sides outside, she was actually very independent inside. She didn't care whether someone surpassed her or not. She lived in her own little world, where her friends and enemies were all herself.

Qin Yinong chuckled along and lazily adjusted her sitting posture. She lifted her chin in the direction of Tang Ruoyao and casually said, "Then let's wait and see her brilliant performance."

Han Yuping showed an expression of keen interest.

In her heart, Qin Yinong felt a bit anxious for Tang Ruoyao. The more talented the actor, the more demanding Han Yuping became.

The official filming began.

"Scene X of 'True Colors,' take one, action!"

Tang Ruoyao made an effort to ignore Qin Yinong's presence on set. She closed her eyes and imagined the ethereal version of Qin Yinong. She recalled the nights she had spent with Qin Yinong, awakening all her senses and becoming exceptionally sensitive.

The wind blowing in through the window carried a fragrance, a cool scent that fell somewhere between floral and fruity, reminiscent of the fresh snow on the branches of winter plum blossoms.

The warm breath of the woman seemed to brush against the lips, teasingly close.

Tang Ruoyao tilted her slender neck back, taking a noticeably deep breath.

.....

An unusually quiet scene unfolded in the set. In front of the monitor, Han Yuping instinctively tightened his face, but his eyes sparkled with brightness.

Very good.

He could only whisper slowly in his mind, taking it slow and maintaining the atmosphere.

He didn't dare to disturb the atmosphere on set.

In front of the camera, Tang Ruoyao let out her first breath, captured by the microphone and reverberating in the room, causing embarrassment to those who heard it. The assistant holding the microphone trembled, almost losing grip.

Han Yuping, with an expressionless face, said, "Cut, take two."

Tang Ruoyao opened her eyes, and remnants of a watery gleam could still be seen in her amber-colored eyes.

She took a deep breath and sat up, saying, "I'm sorry, Director."

Qin Yinong took the bottle of mineral water handed to her by Guan Han and took a sip. She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and the crimson shade on her neck was not very noticeable in the dim light.

Han Yuping suspected that Tang Ruoyao had experience in this aspect, or perhaps there was an error in the performance she borrowed from her predecessors. He pursed his lips, his face turning serious as he said, "Passed on the breathing part, but the emotional feeling didn't come through, it needs to be purer."

The script was quite abstract, but Tang Ruoyao took a gentle breath and simply said, "I'll adjust."

Seizing the emotions before they faded, they immediately called for action on the second take.

Han Yuping looked down with a furrowed brow. After the scene was completed, he said, "The emotion is there, but that part isn't enough, let's try a 70-30 balance."

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips and said, "Okay."

Qin Yinong, who was watching from the side, thought to herself, 'Here he goes again.'

The third take.

Han Yuping calmly smoked a cigarette, his hand tapping the table. With a rough voice, he said, "Let's do one more with your eyes open. Are you dreaming? Do you keep your eyes closed even in dreams?"

They  continued to shoot back and forth, picking out flaws repeatedly, but they couldn't reach Han Yuping's standards of perfectionism that bordered on obsession. They had to start over.

After the fifth take, Tang Ruoyao leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

Filming this kind of scene was physically and mentally exhausting. It not only took a toll on her physical strength but also drained her mental energy.

If she kept thinking like this, if she kept putting on the brakes, would she become indifferent towards Qin Yinong? Tang Ruoyao suddenly lost focus and chuckled to herself, lowering her head. She thought no one noticed, but Qin Yinong saw it clearly.

Before Qin Yinong's brain could catch up, her lips involuntarily curled up into a smile.

A child who can still laugh despite being scolded.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but suppress her laughter as she bit down on the straw in her mouth.

Han Yuping drank water behind the monitor and said, "Everyone, take a ten-minute break. We'll continue later."

Qin Yinong walked over and sat next to Han Yuping, lowering her voice as she asked, "What exactly do you want to achieve?" From Qin Yinong's perspective, Tang Ruoyao had already performed well enough in this scene. Han Yuping was simply nitpicking.

Han Yuping took a sip from the bottle of mineral water, made a sound, and furrowed his brow as he said, "I don't know either. It feels a bit off."

Qin Yinong: "..."

With him saying that, Qin Yinong couldn't do anything about it.

Directors are creatures with a strong sense of artistry. There's a famous director in the industry who is renowned both domestically and internationally. Surprisingly, he doesn't even give the actors the script. He only specifies the setting and provides simple lines, letting them act on their own. When the film is edited later, the actors are left bewildered, thinking, 'Was this what I was acting?'

Compared to that, Han Yuping at least talks about emotions, actions, and expressions. That's already good enough. If he says the feeling isn't there, then it's not there, and they have to continue reshooting with even greater precision.

Qin Yinong sat back down.

After ten minutes, they resumed filming, but Tang Ruoyao kept having NGs one after another. The frequent NGs also had a huge impact on the actors. She became increasingly exhausted, unable to meet even the basic standards.

Qin Yinong furrowed her brow.

Han Yuping's expression noticeably grew darker, and Tang Ruoyao remained silent with her head lowered for a long time. After apologizing once again, she requested five minutes to make adjustments and went alone to the yard downstairs.

Qin Yinong pondered for a moment and followed her outside.

There was a water pool in the yard, and Tang Ruoyao wanted to splash some water on herself to calm down. However, she was afraid of ruining her makeup, so she only rinsed her hands under the cold water, gazing absentmindedly at the flowing water from the faucet.

A profound sense of helplessness and frustration engulfed her, making her unaware of the sounds and movements around her.

Qin Yinong stood behind her for a minute, and she didn't notice. She had to clear her throat and remind her, "Ahem."

Tang Ruoyao looked up and first saw the shadow reflected on the wall.

That shadow was very close to her, almost merging into one, intimate and inseparable.

From that distinct throat-clearing sound, Tang Ruoyao had already identified the person who had come. She adjusted her expression to a proper smile and turned around politely, saying, "Senior Qin, why are you here too?"

Qin Yinong pretended not to notice her reddened eyes. With her hands behind her back, she pretended to look up at the moon, which was currently covered by dark clouds, and said leisurely, "Me? I came to enjoy the moon."

Tang Ruoyao's mind was in a daze, too exhausted to worry about anything else. She forced a smile, nodded, and said, "Then please enjoy yourself. I'll go upstairs to continue filming."

Qin Yinong thought to herself, in your current state, I'm afraid you'll be too afraid to face the camera after being scolded by Han Yuping.

"Wait," Qin Yinong gritted his teeth and called her back.

This troublesome child.

"Before I came down, Director Han told me a method that might be effective." Qin Yinong said. "Do you want to know about it?"

Tang Ruoyao indeed stopped in her tracks, turned back, and respectfully said, "Please tell me."

Qin Yinong remained composed and said, "Director Han said this is a special trick that cannot be revealed to you in advance." She lifted her chin lazily and said, "Let's go. I'll go upstairs with you."

Hmm, later I'll have to collude with Han Yuping.

Han Yuping tightened the cap of the mineral water bottle and placed it down. He picked up the microphone and announced, "All departments, get ready. Actors, get in position."

Tang Ruoyao returned to the bed and lay down. From the irregular rise and fall of her chest, it was evident that she was feeling a bit nervous now. Most likely, there would be NG takes without any surprises.

The script supervisor approached with the clapperboard, preparing to mark the scene.

Suddenly, Qin Yinong spoke up, "Wait a moment."

Han Yuping's temper flared up, and he shouted, cursing at anyone who provoked him, "What are you doing? Go to whatever it's cool!"

"I have something important to do." Qin Yinong smiled at him, calmly saying, "Give me two minutes."

Han Yuping's expression turned unpleasant, "Hurry up!"

Tang Ruoyao, lying on the bed, opened her eyes and looked puzzled at Qin Yinong walking towards her.

What is she going to do?

Qin Yinong sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully took her hand, and gently kissed it against her lips.

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

She almost instinctively tried to break free.

Qin Yinong held onto her hand tightly, her strength exceeding her imaginations. Her gaze gentle, and her low voice carried an irresistible tenderness. "I'll be over soon, just focus a little."

Tang Ruoyao gave up resistance.

Qin Yinong kissed her hand over and over on the back, then released it. She slowly leaned down, getting closer to her.

A cold fragrance brushed past her nostrils, and Tang Ruoyao's thoughts became hazy.

Qin Yinong lowered her head and kissed the corner of her lips, lightly touching them a few times before moving to her lips, but it was just a teasing graze, not going deep. She pinched Tang Ruoyao's fingertips, exerting more force than a gentle touch.

Tang Ruoyao winced in pain, and her blurred consciousness suddenly gained a hint of clarity.

This part was entirely a scene from Han Zifei's imagination, but Qin Yinong turned that dream into reality! She was helping her get into character!

Tang Ruoyao quickly cast aside her fanciful thoughts and immersed herself fully in the role.

Qin Yinong pressed her lips against hers until the end, then slipped her soft tongue between her lips.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't control the tension coursing through her body, and her breathing became rapid.

Qin Yinong pulled away from her lips and whispered softly in her ear, "Remember the feeling just now."

Qin Yinong straightened her posture, raised her hand towards Han Yuping, and smiled, "Director Han, we can begin."

Han Yuping glared at her.

Qin Yinong calmly returned to her seat.

Tang Ruoyao immersed herself deeply in the emotions, and without wasting a second, she immediately called out for the start.

In this scene, Tang Ruoyao portrayed a mixture of astonishment, passion, infatuation, and struggle with such depth that it reached the core of everyone's being. She balanced every nuance perfectly, causing everyone's faces to flush and hearts to race. Even the perfectionist Han Yuping couldn't find a single flaw.

The entire crew held their breath, waiting anxiously.

The lines on Han Yuping's nostrils relaxed, and he said in a deep voice, "Cut, it's a wrap."

The whole room erupted in cheers, thanking the director and praising Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao remained motionless, slumped on the bed, her limbs weak, and her body devoid of strength.

She was exhausted from acting.

It was more tiring than running ten kilometers.

Xin Qian came over and handed her water, but Tang Ruoyao weakly waved a finger beside her, saying, "Later."

Qin Yinong quickly poured half a bottle of mineral water down her throat.

Guan Han held a magazine that she didn't know where she got it from and fanned her, providing artificial cooling

Qin Yinong said, "Increase the wind a little more."

Guan Han suppressed her laughter in her heart, showing no change in her expression, "Okay."

So, this was how Miss Yao acted during those moments. Even as an onlooker, it made her ears burn and her heart race, not to mention Qin Yinong, who had experienced it firsthand. It was maddening.

Qin Yinong turned her head and noticed the "fan" in her hand, a momentary blank expression appearing on her face. She quickly composed herself and waved her hand, saying, "No need to fan."

Guan Han put away the magazine and calmly replied, "Okay."

Qin Yinong glanced at Tang Ruoyao resting, hesitated for a moment, but didn't go over. However, she heard a voice from behind, "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong's footsteps came to a sudden halt.

Tang Ruoyao had already come out of the scene, but after going through an intense performance, her voice was slightly hoarse and low.

Qin Yinong felt as if a thousand ants were crawling in her chest and throat, itching relentlessly. She resisted the urge to clear her throat and didn't turn around, asking, "Is there something you need?"

Tang Ruoyao got off the bed and hurriedly ran over, circling to face Qin Yinong. She slightly bowed to show her gratitude and said, "Thank you, Senior Qin."

Tang Ruoyao was indeed a dedicated actress. Aside from her hoarse voice, there were glistening sweat beads on her fair forehead and damp hair hanging on her pale neck. Her eyes, filled with moisture, looked over.

She couldn't help but feel pity for her.

Qin Yinong endured and resisted, with one hand behind her back and her thumb pinching each of her other fingers, finding it difficult to form a complete sentence.

"You..."

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