CHAPTER 70

"You..."

Qin Yinong's throat tightened.

Don't look at me with that kind of gaze.

She said in her mind.

But Tang Ruoyao completely failed to grasp her emotions. With those clear and unwavering deer-like eyes, she focused on Qin Yinong as if she were waiting for the next words.

Guan Han sighed inwardly from the side.

This is a complete role reversal.

Just as Qin Yinong felt anxious and breathless, struggling to find a suitable continuation after saying "you" for a while, Han Yuping shut off the equipment and walked over with a stern face.

Tang Ruoyao shifted her attention and withdrew her gaze from Qin Yinong, showing respect as she said, "Director Han."

Qin Yinong breathed a sigh of relief and turned her head, also calling out, "Director Han."

Han Yuping first looked at Tang Ruoyao and generously praised, "You performed excellently in this scene tonight."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but smile in response.

Qin Yinong stood by the side, straightening her back with a sense of pride.

Han Yuping's usual choice of words was "not bad," "okay," "decent." She had never used the degree adverb "very" before. That meant Tang Ruoyao's performance tonight was indeed quite outstanding.

Tang Ruoyao turned her head and looked at Qin Yinong gratefully once again. "I also want to thank Senior Qin for helping me get into the role. That's why I was able to perform so well."

Qin Yinong waved her hand and said calmly, "It's your own credit, no need to thank me."

"Now you've become quite capable." Han Yuping's previously softened expression suddenly turned serious. He expressed his dissatisfaction with Qin Yinong, "Next time, can you let me know in advance if you're going to take matters into your own hands? You made me lose my temper. for no reason."

Tang Ruoyao looked puzzled.

What... taking matters into her own hands?

Qin Yinong: "!!!"

Oh no!

She forgot to inform Han Yuping before taking the action!

Qin Yinong's mind raced, and she put on a calm face, casually laughing and saying, "Didn't you tell me that taking risks was allowed?"

Han Yuping spoke frankly, "When did I..."

Qin Yinong interrupted him, "Tsk, it seems your memory isn't so good as you get older."

Han Yuping: "???"

Did he say that?

Oh well, it doesn't matter.

The filming is already done, and it was done quite perfectly. Han Yuping couldn't be bothered to bring up old matters. With a cold face, he nodded and said, "Both of you go back to the hotel and rest early. We have to get up early tomorrow."

Qin Yinong put one hand in her pocket, turned around, waved to the two of them with a carefree smile, and said, "Goodbye."

Guan Han followed.

Han Yuping muttered lowly, "Why is she in such a good mood today?"

Tang Ruoyao paused at his words, her eyelids drooping, unable to discern what she was thinking.

After finishing the night scene, all the staff members who had finished their work on set were supposed to take the same car back to the hotel.

The person in charge of arranging the cars today seemed to have made a mistake or miscalculated, as they ended up with one car short when making the final arrangements. Although Tang Ruoyao didn't talk much, she had a good temperament. When her agent was around, she never missed out on giving everyone some benefits.

The person in charge stood in front of her, awkwardly rubbing his hands and said, "Senior Tang, could you fit in a couple more people in your car?"

As one of the main actors, Tang Ruoyao naturally had a car to herself.

"Sure." Tang Ruoyao nodded good-naturedly.

The person in charge called out loudly in a certain direction, "Xiao Lin, Xiao Zhao, come over and squeeze into the car with Senior Tang."

The wind carried the voice across the set, unusually clear in the late night.

Qin Yinong, with one foot inside the car, paused and looked back.

The car assigned to Tang Ruoyao had both side doors wide open. Tang Ruoyao entered with her assistant first. Xiao Lin and Xiao Zhao, two slightly plump girls, sat in the front row, while the other, of average build, sat in the back, holding props in her hands.

The space in the car wasn't very spacious, and it felt a bit crowded with three people in the back seat.

Guan Han noticed that Qin Yinong remained stationary in her original position, neither getting in nor stepping away. Taking the initiative, she approached Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong glanced at her with a deep gaze.

What kind of feeling is it to have such a smart assistant?

In a low voice, Qin Yinong said something to Guan Han, finally bending down and getting into the car. Guan Han closed the door for her before quickly walking towards another car parked under the tree shadows.

She approached the car, politely raised her hand and tapped the glass with her knuckles.

The window rolled down, revealing Tang Ruoyao's delicate and cool facial features.

Unlike before, Tang Ruoyao on the set didn't address Guan Han respectfully as "Sister Guan" every now and then. Even though their identities were clear outside, she didn't speak and instead gave Guan Han a puzzled look.

Guan Han whispered, "Qin Jie asked if you're willing to share a car with her." She added, explaining, "It seems a bit tight on your side."

Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow and replied, "Okay."

Guan Han opened the car door for her from the outside, and Tang Ruoyao gracefully stepped out of the car like a queen. Her assistant, Xin Qian, naturally followed suit without thinking, but Guan Han lightly placed a finger on her shoulder and gave a formal smile, saying, "Qin Jie only invited Ms. Tang alone."

Such a beautiful moment, such a night.

Xin Qian found the tone of Guan Han's words strange. What was this feeling of a secret meeting under the moonlight?

Xin Qian glanced at Tang Ruoyao, and Tang Ruoyao nodded at her. Xin Qian retracted her steps, not the first time she had been left behind. Last time, when Tang Ruoyao took Qin Yinong's car, she also stayed in place, waiting for the late arrival of the crew's car.

Familiarity comes with repetition.

Tang Ruoyao got into Qin Yinong's car.

This time, the car was unusually spacious and quiet. Qin Yinong's small assistants were not present, and there were no curious glances, which made her feel much more at ease. She had been filming with Qin Yinong for nearly half a month, so she had probably learned some of Qin Yinong's daily routines, more or less.

The only one who was always by her side was Guan Han. The other assistants followed the regular working hours, not working night shifts. They would disappear without a trace in the evenings. Last time, when Tang Ruoyao finished filming at night and returned to the hotel, she bumped into several assistants coming out of the 7-11 convenience store. They were carrying a bunch of snacks, and two of them had takoyaki. They were laughing and chatting, looking very carefree.

Compared to the commonly defined exhausted star assistants, they were living an almost heavenly life.

Tang Ruoyao happened to overhear Qin Yinong joking around with her assistants in private, using language and attitude that were quite indulgent. If it weren't for Tang Ruoyao witnessing it herself, she wouldn't believe it.

You can judge a person by how the people around them treat them.

Qin Yinong was strict and serious in front of her, but extremely easygoing with others. That was another form of special treatment. Tang Ruoyao thought to herself that Qin Yinong must have her reasons.

And then there was Director Han's words, which really made people ponder...

After getting in the car, Tang Ruoyao greeted Qin Yinong and then lowered her gaze, pondering her own thoughts.

Qin Yinong was almost restless, facing her face towards the window, barely restraining the impulse to stick her eyes onto Tang Ruoyao's face.

The scene that night had been too stimulating for her.

In fact, Shen Muqing, her character in the movie, was in a similar situation. She developed feelings for Han Zifei but was bound by moral constraints, constantly trying to restrain herself. Two people attracted to each other, until the sweetest moment of the "honeymoon" period when they lay in bed, locking eyes, unable to resist the temptation and tasting the forbidden fruit.

That was the only intimate scene that had been scheduled in the current script.

When was that scene supposed to be filmed again?

Qin Yinong suddenly wondered.

She cleared her throat, and her voice came out slightly hoarse, saying, "Water."

Both Guan Han and Tang Ruoyao moved at the same time. Tang Ruoyao realized that she was no longer Qin Yinong's lover and withdrew her hand midway. Subconsciously, she raised her gaze and happened to meet Qin Yinong's dark eyes, filled with desire and restraint entwined together.

She was all too familiar with that gaze. Every time they were deeply immersed in the moment, Qin Yinong looked at her like that. So much so that Tang Ruoyao easily connected the gaze with the scene, feeling a sudden dryness in her throat and involuntarily swallowing.

Her throat slid.

Qin Yinong's eyes grew even deeper.

Tang Ruoyao parted her dry lips, recalling the moment when Qin Yinong's lips had brushed against hers, wet, hot, and soft. It only made her thirstier. She wanted... wanted to experience it again.

But this time, she didn't want a brief taste. She wanted it to be passionate and intense, a kiss that would leave them both breathless.

Qin Yinong gripped the car door handle, her knuckles turning white.

No.

After finally returning to a normal relationship, they couldn't repeat the same mistakes.

Guan Han, who was facing away from them, wondered, "???"

Why did it suddenly feel like the temperature in the car had risen by several degrees?

She took a bottle of chilled mineral water from the car's mini-fridge, sensing the tension behind her and feeling a sudden chaos in the air. Should she turn around or not? What if she saw something happening right there?

Even if she couldn't see, just hearing the sounds would be so thrilling!

Guan Han tried her best to minimize her presence, not even making a sound with her breath.

Tang Ruoyao clenched the fabric of her shirt, gripping it tightly with her fingers, one by one.

No.

It wasn't the right time yet.

Tang Ruoyao gradually suppressed the impulse in her heart, coughed lightly, and spoke up, "Sister Guan Han, can you get me a bottle of water too?"

Upon hearing her husky voice, similar to Qin Yinong's, Guan Han's mind was filled with only two words: aftermath!

But it was impossible for such a short time, so it was most likely just a passionate exchange.

This was bad.

Guan Han took two bottles of water and handed one to each of them.

Tang Ruoyao unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip, moistening her dry throat. She noticed that Qin Yinong lowered her head, her fingertips resting on the bottle cap without opening it immediately.

Can't open it?

Tang Ruoyao speculated silently and kindly offered, "Senior Qin, shall I open the bottle cap for you?"

Qin Yinong glanced at her mysteriously, exerted a little force with her fingers, and opened it.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow at her, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Tang Ruoyao's mind was now filled with improper thoughts. From Qin Yinong's gaze and demeanor, she automatically added a sentence in her mind: How about my fingers? Don't you know them better than anyone else?

Tang Ruoyao almost choked on her water, quickly lowered her eyelashes to hide her embarrassment. In her peripheral vision, she noticed a brief pause from Qin Yinong before she slowly took small sips of the mineral water.

Tang Ruoyao watched her actions and frowned slightly.

Previously, when they spent time together on the set, the crew would occasionally provide extra meals and drinks, with each person having their own portion, including Qin Yinong. However, Qin Yinong never drank any of them. At first, Tang Ruoyao thought she was avoiding them to maintain her figure, but later she realized that Qin Yinong was cautious with all orally consumed beverages, including water. She would even inspect the ones handed to her by Guan Han before taking a sip.

It was wise for celebrities to be cautious and careful in public. Tang Ruoyao had experienced an unfortunate incident before and since then, she never let any drinks or alcohol out of her sight, not even for a second. But in a place like the set, which was essentially a public space, with assistants keeping an eye on things, she didn't pay much attention to this aspect anymore.

In her opinion, Qin Yinong's level of vigilance seemed almost pathological.

Could it be that she had experienced something bad in the past?

Tang Ruoyao's gaze sank deeper.

"Goodnight, Senior Qin. Thank you for giving me a ride today." Tang Ruoyao bowed slightly and expressed her gratitude in the hotel corridor.

"You're welcome." Qin Yinong replied and turned to open her room door.

Tang Ruoyao stood still in her place, her eyes fixed on her.

Qin Yinong turned around, a beat slower, and added, "Goodnight."

Tang Ruoyao's smile blossomed lightly.

"Goodnight." she tilted her head and whispered softly.

Qin Yinong felt a warm, invisible embrace in her chest. It came suddenly but gently, to the point where Qin Yinong couldn't resist it at all. She allowed herself to relax her muscles and soften her expression.

"Goodnight." she heard herself responding to Tang Ruoyao with a touch of tenderness.

Their gazes lingered and entwined in the air for a while.

Both room doors closed simultaneously.

Qin Yinong leaned against the door, took a gentle breath, and took a while to regain her composure.

Tang Ruoyao pulled out a chair, sat down, opened her contacts, and scrolled to Mu Qingwu's name. Her fingertip paused before pressing it. The last time she asked Mu Qingwu that question was enough to raise suspicions. If she were to inquire further, Mu Qingwu, who had just returned, might come back directly to confront her.

Tang Ruoyao skipped Mu Qingwu's name and opened Fu Yujun's profile on WeChat. With a determined expression, she typed and sent a message.

[There's something I want to ask if you can find out or provide me with some insights.]

Fu Yujun, being a busy person, didn't reply in a timely manner. Tang Ruoyao continued typing to herself: [I noticed that she is very cautious about what she consumes. She must have experienced something and suffered losses. What do you think?]

As the words were sent, Tang Ruoyao had a guess in her mind. A female artist who is extremely vigilant about what she drinks, it is highly likely to be that kind of incident.

She couldn't explain the feeling, but she felt like a stone was pressing on her chest. The air in the room felt thin, and breathing became a bit difficult.

She dragged her heavy steps to the bathroom and took a shower. The water poured down from above, submerging her closed eyes, making her eyelids moist.

Qin Yinong was cooling down her mind in the room when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

Looking through the peephole, she saw Tang Ruoyao returning. Qin Yinong furrowed her brows in confusion and opened the door.

"What..." Qin Yinong's throat froze when she saw Tang Ruoyao's expression.

Tang Ruoyao seemed to have just come out of the shower, not completely dried off. Water droplets adorned her face, and her long hair was damp, soaking her thick robe and leaving dark water stains.

She looked a bit disheveled.

"What's wrong?" Qin Yinong unconsciously softened her voice. "Did someone b*lly you?"

Tang Ruoyao looked at her, her eyes showing a barely noticeable redness.

Qin Yinong softly asked, "What happened?"

"I..." I just wanted to come and see you.

The words circled in Tang Ruoyao's mind, but she suppressed the sourness in her nose, and the words that came out turned into something trivial: "The hairdryer in my room broke. Can I borrow yours?"

Qin Yinong was taken aback.

Just for this? Making herself look pitiful as if she was about to cry?

Was she afraid of being scolded?

Was she someone who would scold her just for borrowing a hairdryer?

Moreover, when did she ever scold her? At most, she spoke sternly.

Thoughts spun in Qin Yinong's head.

"Is it okay?" Tang Ruoyao asked again, looking pitiful and innocent.

Qin Yinong felt a pang in her heart. If she could give her life, why would she hesitate over a mere hairdryer?

"It's fine." Qin Yinong said. "I'll get it for you." She took a few steps inside and turned back to gently warn Tang Ruoyao at the door, "Don't come into my room, or our relationship will become unclear."

Tang Ruoyao looked up at the infrared camera in the hallway and for a moment, she did have an impulse to make their relationship unclear.

She tentatively took a step inside, afraid of being scolded if Qin Yinong discovered her, but quickly retreated. Qin Yinong had her back turned, half of her body blocked by the corner. Tang Ruoyao repeatedly tested the boundaries at the edge of the door frame. When Qin Yinong turned around, Tang Ruoyao returned to her obedient girl posture, standing meekly with her head down.

"Here, remember to return it after using it. I haven't taken a shower yet." Qin Yinong said, raising the hairdryer in her hand.

Tang Ruoyao took it.

"I'll come back to return it in a moment."

Since they returned to the hotel until now, it had been almost an hour. The night scenes were shot passionately. Why hadn't she taken a shower yet? What was she doing inside?

Thinking back to her gaze in the car just now, Tang Ruoyao indulged herself in a romantic fantasy without causing any harm.

Could it be that she's thinking about me?

This thought only flashed briefly, and Tang Ruoyao took the hairdryer back to her own room. As she was drying her hair, her silent phone vibrated.

Fu Yujun: [If something like that really happened, given her current status in the industry, we definitely wouldn't be able to find out. The people who can approach her are definitely not ones we can afford to offend. It's easy to get into trouble.]

To be safe, both of them referred to Qin Yinong as "she" when talking about her.

Fu Yujun bit her lip and slowly typed another message: [Do you mind?]

Tang Ruoyao chuckled and replied: [I actually want to. Do I have the right to mind?]

Fu Yujun: [Hahaha]

Tang Ruoyao: [I just feel sorry for her.]

Just after sending the message, Tang Ruoyao long-pressed on it and clicked to recall it.

Fu Yujun had already seen it and replied: [I understand.]

Tang Ruoyao: [I know too little about her. I want to know everything, both the good and the bad, but I can't ask.]

Tang Ruoyao's phone vibrated, and she answered the call.

Fu Yujun's calm and reliable voice came through the receiver, "What's the progress between the two of you? Are you having a public romance on the set?"

"I'm not sure myself." Tang Ruoyao propped her hand on the bed and leaned back, tilting her slender neck. She sighed, "It's all unclear, but I feel like she treats me differently."

"Hmm?"

"For example... well... in any case, it's quite special." Tang Ruoyao bit her lower lip and smiled. "Let's leave it at that. I'll dry my hair now and return her the hairdryer later."

"Tsk tsk." Fu Yujun made these two sounds as her subtle expression. "Forget it, I'll ask my manager for you. She entered the industry earlier than Qin... Maybe she knows something."

"What should I ask?"

"What you just inquired about me, already forgetting so quickly?"

"Oh, right. Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome. I still need to read the script. I'll give you an update if there's any news." Fu Yujun said. 

"Good night."

"Good night."

After finishing drying her hair, Tang Ruoyao went to knock on the door. Qin Yinong answered and their eyes met. They exchanged a simple "thank you" and "you're welcome."

Tang Ruoyao pondered. It seemed that the most frequent dialogue between her and Qin Yinong on the set was "thank you" and "you're welcome" or "it's just a small effort." Usually, she was the one saying thank you, while Qin Yinong went above and beyond with these small efforts.

I wonder if her hand gets tired from all the lifting?

Tang Ruoyao chuckled.

The word "hand" was a highly sensitive term.

Especially after filming that scene and experiencing the intense atmosphere in the carriage.

Tang Ruoyao lay on the soft bed, and her mind wandered within moments. She repeatedly went over it, her breathing becoming rapid, almost on the verge of satisfying herself. But she lacked that experience, and embarrassment took hold. In the end, she gave up.

She turned over, lying on her side. In the darkness, she reached for her phone on the bedside table and logged into her familiar Weibo account,  "@OurDailyLifeWithMissQ."

The timeline stopped a few months ago.

She stared at it, unable to look away. Finally, she chose to log out, opened the memo app, held her breath, and forcefully typed on the keyboard: [I want to X her].

After typing, she didn't feel any relief. Tang Ruoyao slammed her phone shut, pulled the covers up, and let out a heavy sigh. She forced herself to sleep, trying not to overthink.

......

Qin Yinong lay flat on the large bed in her bedroom, gritting her teeth and trembling uncontrollably. Her thoughts drifted away into the clouds.

After a while, she slowly opened her narrowed eyes, the corners of her eyes red as if scorched by a wildfire. She released her teeth from biting her lower lip. Qin Yinong threw the tissue into the trash can, casually picked up a clean bathrobe from the pillow, and went to the bathroom for a second shower.

Surprisingly, they both slept until dawn without being awakened by nightmares.

The next day, in the lobby downstairs.

"Morning."

"Morning."

Both of them wore sunglasses, their voices revealing fatigue despite their attempts to sound energetic.

Without exchanging a word, they understood each other and turned their eyes away.

Tang Ruoyao managed to fall asleep, but she experienced a chaotic night in her dreams. The worst part was that when she woke up in the morning, she couldn't remember the scenes from her dream at all. Only the sensation of being thrown high up remained ingrained in her bones. Her limbs felt weak, and even moving her fingers felt extremely difficult.

In the filming set today, Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong didn't have any scenes together. They filmed their respective parts separately.

As soon as Tang Ruoyao arrived on set, she noticed that the atmosphere had suddenly changed.

Due to Han Yuping's personal temperament, the general state of the crew was quiet and efficient, with only occasional jokes and relaxation during breaks. But today, the atmosphere seemed livelier.

While she was wondering, a figure swiftly rushed over, and the voice sounded before Tang Ruoyao could see her face.

"Hello, Teacher Tang. I'm Yi Yiyi. It's a pleasure to meet you." The person extended their hand to her and introduced themselves warmly.

"...Hello." Tang Ruoyao calmly sized up the person in front of her.

They appeared to be two or three years older than herself, with a beautiful appearance and a familiar face that seemed to frequently appear in advertisements. But... Tang Ruoyao couldn't figure out why they were here.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Yi Yiyi maintained a humble attitude and explained, "I just joined the crew today. I'll be playing your college classmate in the movie. Please guide me, Senior Tang."

After speaking, Yi Yiyi even bowed respectfully, displaying good manners.

Tang Ruoyao suddenly realized.

"Hello, I'm Tang Ruoyao. It's not about guiding each other, we can learn from each other." Tang Ruoyao shook hands with her, displaying a genuine smile.

"You're too modest. It's my first time filming a movie." Yi Yiyi laughed heartily, rubbing her hands in embarrassment. "Um, if you see any mistakes or flaws in my performance, please point them out without worrying about my face."

Tang Ruoyao blinked slowly and remembered. This person seemed to be a popular rising actress known for her popularity and fan base.

Yi Yiyi?

Tang Ruoyao felt like she had forgotten something important.

What is it?

Qin Yinong walked over from a distance with Guan Han, and Yi Yiyi let out a low exclamation before immediately changing direction and rushing past like the wind, excitedly saying, "Senior!"

Tang Ruoyao raised her hand to tuck her wind-blown long hair behind her ear, and as she followed the direction in which the person ran, she furrowed her brows slightly.

Although Qin Yinong had a good temper, she disliked loud noises, especially those far exceeding normal human decibels. Normally, if there was any commotion on set, she would retreat to the rest area. This... Tang Ruoyao corrected herself in her mind, remembering that the person was three years older than herself. This person was probably asking for trouble.

Not everyone could easily approach Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao secretly thought with a hint of self-pride.

Then she witnessed a scene that surprised her.

Qin Yinong stopped in her tracks, showing no signs of alarm, and her expression seemed gentle and patient. Just by looking at their backs, it was clear that Yi Yiyi was constantly excited and gesturing with her hands. However, Qin Yinong never interrupted her and occasionally nodded in agreement, giving a light chuckle.

Yesterday, she had told Fu Yujun that she was special to her, but today she used that special treatment on someone else.

The smile in Tang Ruoyao's eyes faded slightly.

Qin Yinong placed her hand on Yi Yiyi's head.

Tang Ruoyao stared at them expressionlessly.

Qin Yinong lifted her gaze as if sensing something, and Tang Ruoyao was standing not far away, talking to her assistant Xin Qian. In the midst of their conversation, Tang Ruoyao suddenly affectionately rubbed Xin Qian's head.

Qin Yinong's eyes darkened.

Xin Qian felt a heat rising to her head, and her whole body felt like it was about to explode.

"Why did you touch my head?"

Tang Ruoyao replied lightly, "There was a leaf on your head."

Xin Qian said, "Oh, really?" as she raised her hand to brush it off.

"It's gone now." Tang Ruoyao suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

Here she was, making a fuss about her own little temper that only she knew about. She felt frustrated for a while, realizing that Qin Yinong might not have even glanced at her.

Qin Yinong suddenly found Yi Yiyi's round and smooth head displeasing. She retracted her hand, interrupting the younger member of the studio who was babbling on and spoke gently, "Yiyi, I'm going to rehearse with Tang Ruoyao. Take some time to study the script on your own."

"Okay, senior!" Yi Yiyi tactfully stepped back.

Tang Ruoyao knew she shouldn't let her thoughts wander. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes to calm herself, and tried to dispel her frustration. Suddenly, she felt someone gently tugging at her long hair.

Author's Note:

There's no mini-drama today. Sister has reached her limit, so we can't cause any more trouble. It's everyone's responsibility to care for sister  (:з」∠)

P.S.: Whether Tang Tang's guess is correct or not, it will remain a secret for now. But I can give you a sneak peek: Sister, from head to toe, inside and out, only has Tang Tang. So, you fragile and dirty-minded people, stop overthinking.

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT