CHAPTER 73

Tang Ruoyao instinctively tightened her fingers, interlocking them tightly.

Their ten fingers intertwined.

When their knuckles pressed against each other seamlessly, Tang Ruoyao let out a soft whimper and almost lost her balance. She leaned on the hand that was entwined with Qin Yinong's to steady herself.

She once again briefly lost focus.

However, because both of them had their eyes closed and the camera was still rolling, Han Yuping didn't notice anything unusual about her.

Holding hands, especially with fingers tightly intertwined, was essentially exclusive to couples. It represented a purer form of affection, something that Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong didn't fall into. So in Tang Ruoyao's impression, Qin Yinong rarely held her hand, including during kisses. Qin Yinong would gently caress her fingers and the back of her hand, but it was more like teasing, just to enhance their ultimate goal.

The only exception was during the most intimate moments.

At crucial times when Tang Ruoyao struggled to control herself, Qin Yinong always firmly clasped her five fingers with a dominant yet affectionate attitude. She would whisper sweet words in her ear, accompanying her as she slowly calmed down, their heartbeats transitioning from rapid to slow but powerful, merging into one, as if they were truly loving partners.

Tang Ruoyao developed feelings for Qin Yinong, and despite Qin Yinong's repeated hints and suggestions, she didn't break away from those thoughts. To some extent, it was because Qin Yinong involuntarily revealed her true feelings at that moment, allowing Tang Ruoyao to vaguely sense her being loved.

Love, this thing, even if you close your mouth, it still finds a way to sneak out from other places.

Whether it's Qin Yinong or Shen Muqing, when their defenses are down, the suppressed and restrained emotions burst out like a flood. It's unavoidable, there's nowhere to escape.

Forget it.

Qin Yinong, who had come back to her senses, thought, let herself indulge this time under the pretext of filming.

Just this once.

Warm and heated breaths entwined.

The atmosphere built up layer by layer, and the two of them passionately kissed, plundering each other's breaths.

Tang Ruoyao felt herself slowly losing control, but she didn't know how all of this had happened.

When Han Yuping called "cut," Tang Ruoyao found herself leaning sideways, almost sitting on Qin Yinong's lap. And her hand, which had been resting on the back of Qin Yinong's head, somehow ended up wrapped around the back of their neck, with a hint of desire in her eyes.

Qin Yinong's fingers landed on her face, gently caressing it, with a soft gaze.

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

Facing Tang Ruoyao's shocked gaze, Qin Yinong revealed a smile that could be interpreted in various ways.

Han Yuping's face turned pale with anger.

It was forgivable to have a mind-blowing kiss once, but what's with this second time? What kind of development is this?

Have these two main characters collectively lost their acting skills? Or have they immersed themselves too deeply in the role, completely forgetting about their character settings? The reserved ones are not reserved, and the proactive ones are acting like obedient little wives.

Qin Yinong released Tang Ruoyao, took a sip of water, and casually put the blame on himself: "Director Han, it's my fault."

Han Yuping's face darkened. "What fault of yours?"

Qin Yinong licked her lips and chuckled. "Miss Tang is incredibly charming." She couldn't help taking a few more bites.

Unexpectedly, Tang Ruoyao had no resistance at all and melted under her advances.

Tang Ruoyao blushed.

Han Yuping angrily slammed the table. "Get over here!"

Qin Yinong winked at Tang Ruoyao and tightened her skin as she approached to receive the scolding.

She sighed deeply in her heart. Even if she explained the situation to Han Yuping, he wouldn't believe it. He might even suspect them both and scold them mercilessly. She had considered confessing to Han Yuping, but firstly, her relationship with Tang Ruoyao was unclear, and they were bound to go their separate ways in the future. Secondly, she couldn't explain anything convincingly. Should she say they were former lovers? Lastly, she didn't want to indirectly affect Tang Ruoyao's state of mind. If Han Yuping found out, Tang Ruoyao would definitely sense it.

This is not Lin Guoan's crew. I still have to work with her for another two months. It will be too awkward by then.

Qin Yinong weighed the pros and cons and decided to take the blame alone, maintaining the status quo. They could drag it out day by day.

Han Yuping closed the door to the rest area, leaving only him and Qin Yinong inside.

Han Yuping turned around, his face dark, and questioned, "What do you mean?"

Qin Yinong smiled. "Just what you saw. I have been working closely with Miss Tang on set, and feelings have developed on my side."

Han Yuping: "..."

He had a horrified expression as if saying, "What on earth are you talking about?" He sternly asked, "Do you know where we are right now?"

"On set."

"Do you even know that this is a set?!" Han Yuping raised his voice sharply, full of anger.

Qin Yinong obediently lowered her head and admitted her mistake. "I was wrong. I reflect on my actions."

The rest area was specially built for Qin Yinong, and the soundproofing was better than other areas to avoid disturbances. Once the door was closed, no one outside could hear anything.

Han Yuping became furious, and everyone on set fell silent like cicadas in winter.

Tang Ruoyao stood in the front row, occasionally looking in that direction with a worried expression.

After about ten minutes, Han Yuping with a stern face came out, followed by Qin Yinong, who had a smile on her face. As soon as Han Yuping turned around, Qin Yinong performed a Sichuan opera "face-changing" act, drooping her ears and looking as if mourning for the dead, displaying a profound sense of reflection.

Han Yuping let out a cold snort, and his expression slightly eased.

Tang Ruoyao glanced away, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up.

"'True Colors,' take... action!"

This kissing scene was filmed smoothly. The two of them cooperated well, capturing both beauty and emotions.

Han Yuping's perfectionism kicked in again. He watched the playback twice and selflessly said, "Let's do another take." After a pause, he added, "The part where they hold hands in the second take was good, let's include that."

They filmed three takes in a row. Qin Yinong had nearly shown all the passion and impulsiveness she needed. She perfectly immersed herself in the role of Shen Muqing, responding shyly to Han Zifei's gentle kiss only at the end.

Qin Yinong had a strong presence, and Tang Ruoyao found it easy to be overshadowed in scenes with her. It had been the case in the previous two takes. However, once Qin Yinong fully immersed herself in the role, her performance returned to normal.

On the fourth take, Han Yuping watched the playback frame by frame, his brows furrowing tightly enough to crush a fly.

Qin Yinong was accustomed to seeing him like this. The better the take, the longer he would spend watching the playback. So, she moistened her lips and called out to Tang Ruoyao, who was nervously waiting: "Find a chair and sit down. This take should pass."

Tang Ruoyao had shared four kisses with Qin Yinong throughout the night, and each one felt different, especially the last one. She truly experienced the wonderful feeling of spiritual connection and mutual affection. Now her heart felt fluttery, and the sensation of their intertwined fingers was exceptionally clear.

She raised her gaze absentmindedly, as if she hadn't heard clearly, and asked again, "What?"

Qin Yinong's tongue felt a bit numb, and her lips were a little sore—thanks to Tang Ruoyao's impulsive actions just now. She cleared her throat and repeated clearly, "Sit."

Tang Ruoyao's gaze became subtle. "Sit?" Sit for what?

Qin Yinong: "..."

Guan Han couldn't bear to watch their mismatched communication. She took the initiative to fetch a chair and put it behind Tang Ruoyao.

"Thank you." Tang Ruoyao said awkwardly.

"You're welcome." Guan Han replied.

"Why is your assistant so lacking in foresight? Didn't she think to bring you a chair beforehand?" Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao were sitting not far from each other. They had just filmed that scene, and the atmosphere was a bit ambiguous, especially as they gazed at each other's slightly swollen lips. There was an invisible electric current crackling in the air, spreading to their chests. They both felt compelled to break the silence and speak.

"I'm not used to this. If I want to sit, I'll go back to my original spot." Tang Ruoyao replied absentmindedly, forcing herself to shift her gaze from Qin Yinong's lips to other parts of her face, maintaining direct eye contact.

Qin Yinong was even more straightforward. "She needs proper education. I think she has more free time than you do."

"I'll take care of it." Tang Ruoyao felt an itch in her throat but resisted the urge to swallow.

If they followed the script, this kiss was indeed meant to be brief.

One lacking experience, the other burdened with worries—no matter what, the sparks just wouldn't ignite.

Han Yuping had also instructed Tang Ruoyao to portray a clumsy and cautious demeanor. Just as she was starting to get the hang of it, it ended.

Fortunately, they didn't engage in awkward small talk for long. A triumphant voice came from Han Yuping's side: "It passed!"

Tang Ruoyao let out a relieved expression, clapping her hands together rapidly a few times, giving herself a round of applause. The whole gesture seemed quite childish.

Children will always be children.

Qin Yinong raised an amused eyebrow and habitually looked around.

At the moment she averted her gaze, Tang Ruoyao gently narrowed her eyes, gazing tenderly at Qin Yinong's back.

Next, there was another scene, the one where Shen Muqing rejects Han Zifei.

The scene had been discussed earlier, and Han Yuping only emphasized the emotions, allowing the two actors to adjust themselves. When they walked away, he intentionally or unintentionally gave Qin Yinong a warning look.

It seemed to say: 'Dare to prioritize personal interests over the greater good? Try it and see.'

Qin Yinong was speechless.

In this movie script, Tang Ruoyao was taking advantage of her at every turn. What could she possibly gain from this? Let her take even more advantage? No matter how you looked at it, she was the one being taken advantage of.

Tang Ruoyao blinked in confusion.

Hmm, Director Han and Qin Yinong were acting strangely.

"'True Colors,' the... the first take, action!"

Tang Ruoyao pulled back from Qin Yinong's lips after a shallow kiss, burying her face in Qin Yinong's neck, breathing lightly. She held her tightly and didn't let go.Qin Yinong's breathing became uneven as well.The two of them sitting and standing in such an awkward manner didn't look good on screen, so they changed their positions. Qin Yinong sat on Tang Ruoyao's lap, and Tang Ruoyao wrapped her arms around Qin Yinong's waist.

The sitting posture had a significant impact on their mental state, shifting from being active to completely passive, without any room for resistance. Qin Yinong suppressed her psychological discomfort and continued to play her role as Teacher Shen.

Han Zifei greedily sniffed the scent on Shen Muqing's body, and her young heart began to stir restlessly.

She took Shen Muqing's hand and brought it to her lips, lightly kissing the smooth, jade-like back of the hand.

Shen Muqing, unaccustomed to this, slightly curled her fingers but didn't pull away, allowing Han Zifei to continue kissing.

Han Zifei released her hand and moved closer to Shen Muqing's cheek, planting a series of soft, lingering kisses, trailing from the cheek to the earlobe, exhaling warm breath.

Shen Muqing finally felt uncomfortable and tilted her head slightly.

Sensing her resistance, Han Zifei restrained herself and instead rested her chin on Shen Muqing's shoulder, pressing against her ear, gently calling her name, one syllable at a time.

Shen Muqing.

Muqing.

Qingqing.

When she called out "Qingqing," Shen Muqing couldn't help but laugh, rejecting that nickname.

Han Zifei whispered softly in her ear, "You like me, don't you?" Excitement and joy radiated from her, like a child who had finally received a candy.

The smile on Shen Muqing's face gradually froze.

Han Zifei didn't notice her unusual reaction. Her lips moved down, suppressing the urge to continue exploring Shen Muqing's fair and slender neck. Her nose sensed the pulsing of the blood vessels, her breathing becoming heavier, eager for another round of intimacy.

Shen Muqing's gaze struggled, and she broke free from Han Zifei's embrace.

.....

The following scene only took two takes before it was completed.

Han Yuping called for a wrap, and Guan Han quickly came over to help Qin Yinong put on her coat. The temperature was still bearable during the day, but it dropped significantly at night, and this scene was being filmed late into the night.

Qin Yinong rubbed her freezing cold fingers together and tucked her hands into her pockets.

She turned to look at Tang Ruoyao, who was unusually silent.

Tang Ruoyao blankly met her gaze, stunned for a few seconds before catching up with quick steps. "Senior Qin."

"Hmm." Qin Yinong nodded and spoke softly, "Just finished shooting?"

"Yes." Tang Ruoyao said sheepishly, "Are you going back to the hotel?"

"Why?"

"Let me walk with you." Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow. Tang Ruoyao knew what she was about to say and quickly added, "I mean, walk downstairs together, not asking for a ride in your car."

Tang Ruoyao had spent a month with Qin Yinong and had already figured out how to make use of her "ordinary colleague" identity.

Qin Yinong: "...Alright."

The distance from the set to the parking area was not very short, and Tang Ruoyao intentionally slowed down her pace. Qin Yinong either didn't notice or didn't bother to pay attention, casually following her steps.

Guan Han tactfully stepped back a couple of steps, creating some distance.

Having just finished shooting the rejected scene, Tang Ruoyao's mood was affected. Finally, she had an opportunity to be together with Qin Yinong, but just like Han Zifei in the movie, her thoughts were tangled, unsure of where to start.

Qin Yinong had an indifferent expression and showed no interest in starting a conversation. She adjusted the collar of her coat, zipped it up to the top, lowered her head, and buried her chin inside, covering up half of her jade-like face.

The two of them separated midway and went in their respective directions towards their cars.

Guan Han: "..."

Did "walk downstairs together" really just mean walking down one flight of stairs?

Qin Yinong got into her car and looked out through the tinted windows at Tang Ruoyao's back for a while. Then she raised a finger and pinched her brow.

"Guan Han."

"Yes."

"Get me something."

"What?" Even though there was no one else in the car, Qin Yinong's voice suddenly lowered, tinged with a slight embarrassment. "Um...the thing you put in my bag before."

Guan Han understood what she meant and nodded. "I'll go buy it tomorrow." She paused and added, "Is the hotel not safe? What if someone finds out that Miss Yao went into your room...should I find a safer place?"

Qin Yinong's face flushed, and she tugged at her ear, covering her reddened earlobe. "Who said it's for her?"

Couldn't she use it herself?

Guan Han, usually smart but momentarily confused, almost slapped herself in the face and quickly closed her mouth.

She had thought that with the way the two of them were interacting on set, constantly going back and forth, it seemed like they were about to ignite a flame and have a fierce battle when they returned. And just at this moment, Qin Yinong happened to mention it, so she thought...but turns out it was for personal use.

On the other hand, why did she run out so quickly this time?

Guan Han couldn't help but sympathize and think, 'Qin Jie has it tough.'

Tang Ruoyao was still immersed in the emotions of the scene, unable to calm down. The perfect opportunity was right in front of her, but she had missed it because of her own mistakes. She hated herself so much that she bit her own arm, her eyes almost turning red with anger.

...Why was she so useless? Always dropping the ball at crucial moments!

Xin Qian snatched her arm out from under her mouth. "Don't bite yourself. If you're angry, bite me."

Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth and grabbed the coat that Xin Qian had prepared for her but hadn't worn. She forcefully covered her face with it.

Xin Qian: "You have a new message on your phone."

Tang Ruoyao removed the coat and slid her finger across the screen to unlock it.

Fu Yujun: [Can we talk?]

Fu Yujun rarely privately messaged Tang Ruoyao. Usually, if there was something important, she would mention it in their dormitory group chat. The formal tone of the message immediately made Tang Ruoyao think about the matter she had asked Fu Yujun to investigate.

Tang Ruoyao typed a reply: [Just finished work, on my way back to the hotel.]

Fu Yujun: [Let's talk when you get back.]

Tang Ruoyao confirmed with her: [Is it about her?]

Fu Yujun responded with a [Yes].

Tang Ruoyao didn't have time to be frustrated anymore. She quickly returned to the hotel, closed the door, and immediately called Fu Yujun.

"What did you find out?"

Fu Yujun didn't like to beat around the bush or waste time on small talk. She directly said, "My manager said that about ten years ago, or maybe a little longer, Qin...she went on a variety show or attended some event. Someone poured white paint into the bottle of milk she was drinking, and she accidentally consumed a lot of it. She was taken to the hospital for gastric lavage."

Tang Ruoyao exclaimed in surprise, "How could they mistake white paint for milk? The taste must have been different, right?"

Fu Yujun replied, "It seems like there was some kind of game or spicy eating competition happening at the time. The spiciness numbed their senses. My manager doesn't know the specific details, but she was with another artist at the time and happened to witness the scene when Qin Yinong was taken to the hospital."

Tang Ruoyao asked further, "Do you know who did it?"

"I don't know. The matter was eventually dropped." Fu Yujun switched her phone to her other hand and slowly typed on the keyboard of her notebook. It had been too long, and many things had been buried and forgotten. "At that time, she was both loved and hated to the extreme. It could have been someone who simply didn't like her or perhaps someone who wanted to bring down their rival. It seemed well-planned, and I lean towards the latter."

Fu Yujun paused for a moment and said, "The assistant who was responsible for looking after her bag was hers. Could it be a problem with the assistant? The agency she debuted with doesn't seem to be that reliable? My manager mentioned it briefly, and she is quite strict with me, so I didn't dare to ask too much. Sorry."

"It's okay. It's still better than me wandering around aimlessly." Tang Ruoyao said, "So, is her cautiousness now because of mistakenly consuming white paint back then? Because of the assistant's mistake, she doesn't trust assistants?"

Compared to experiencing something like that, this matter was much less severe.

"It's not certain." Fu Yujun stopped typing and carefully replied, "You should understand that these two incidents are not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship."

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat, and her voice inexplicably softened.

"So you mean..." Both possibilities exist?

Tang Ruoyao clenched her fist.

"I can't draw conclusions without solid evidence." Fu Yujun said, "But based on your description, her extreme cautiousness could either be due to the incident of mistakenly consuming white paint being connected to something else, leaving a deep impression on her, or it could be more than just that one incident."

When a person mistakenly consumes food, they may be cautious for a month, two months, or even a year or two. But it has been ten years now, and Qin Yinong shows no signs of relaxation, which is highly unusual.

"So we still can't confirm whether she has been... targeted?" Tang Ruoyao swallowed the words in the middle.

"In theory, only she knows the answer to that question." Fu Yujun stated objectively.

Tang Ruoyao leaned against the table, fingers gripping the edge.

"By the way, I heard something about her. I don't know if it's true, but it's related to her."

"What is it?"

"After she debuted, the company organized a birthday party for her, but it was abruptly canceled halfway through. They said that some extreme individuals were found among the fans at the venue, carrying bottles of sulfuric acid, so they were concerned about ill intentions." Fu Yujun furrowed her brow and continued, "It's quite mysterious, and there are many loopholes. Just take it as casual information, don't fully believe it."

Tang Ruoyao lightly hummed in response.

Fu Yujun finished sharing everything she had heard before asking, "How's the public-funded romance going?"

Tang Ruoyao touched her lips and said, "It's going fine." She suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added, "I have something to take care of. I'll talk to you later."

Fu Yujun said, "Okay."

Tang Ruoyao rushed into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. The redness and swelling caused by the sucking on her lips had completely subsided, and the color had returned to its normal light pink. She couldn't help but curl her lips.

If she had known, she should have taken a picture earlier as a keepsake.

Now she could only wait for the movie to be released and see if she still liked Qin Yinong by then.

......

Qin Yinong returned and took a hot bath to warm up before sitting on the bed to read the script.

After Shen Muqing and Han Zifei broke up, they would only nod and greet each other casually when they met, devoid of their previous intimacy. The boundary they crossed that night became a secret they could never speak of.

That year was 1999. It was the late 1990s when state-owned enterprises were undergoing restructuring, and many workers were forced to be laid off, losing the "iron rice bowl" they thought they could hold onto for a lifetime. Xu Shiming, Shen Muqing's husband, was one of them. Overnight, he went from a respectable person to an unemployed wanderer, falling from the clouds into the mud. His temperament changed drastically—drinking excessively and resorting to cold violence, which eventually escalated into severe domestic abuse.

"Dad, please stop hitting Mom!"

"Get lost! You worthless piece of crap!"

Qin Yinong looked at the lines on the script, vigorously shook her head, and forcefully pushed the images and sounds that kept surging in her mind away.

Shen Muqing was beaten by her drunken husband, leaving a terrifying bruise around her eye that wouldn't fade away. Han Zifei, who only came home once a month, happened to witness it. Startled, she grabbed Shen Muqing and asked about it, but Shen Muqing evaded the question. In the end, she learned the truth from her parents, causing her immense heartache.

This was the turning point of the story. On one side was a crumbling marriage and family, and on the other side was the considerate care and concern from her loved one. The scales in Shen Muqing's heart gradually tilted towards Han Zifei, and under her persuasion, she decided to divorce her husband and pursue her own happiness.

Qin Yinong was familiar with the subsequent plot and only carefully read through the parts they would be filming in the next few days.

Seeing herself getting beaten badly in the movie, Qin Yinong playfully raised an eyebrow.

I wonder if the child actor will get so angry on set that she start crying? Or maybe the actor playing Xu Shiming, will get beaten up?

The fake child was next door, while the real child suddenly appeared.

Qin Yinong's phone, placed beside her pillow, suddenly buzzed and vibrated. She lowered her head and saw a video invitation popping up on the screen, the requester being "NN."

Ningning.

Qin Yinong softened her gaze, set aside the script, and answered the video call.

Qin Jianing's tender little face appeared on the screen, waving and greeting her mother. Softly and tenderly, she said, "Good evening, Mom."

"Good evening." Qin Yinong asked gently, "What time is it? Why aren't you sleeping yet?"

Qin Jianing hadn't met Qin Yinong in a long time, so she became a bit reserved and shy. She used a pillow to cover half of her face, leaving only a pair of big eyes that resembled black grapes. "I went to bed early today and just woke up. I can't fall asleep." Her voice suddenly sounded like the buzzing of a mosquito. "I miss you."

Qin Yinong's eyebrows raised high, pretending not to hear clearly. "What did you say?"

This time, Qin Jianing covered her entire face, speaking in a hesitant and timid manner. "I... miss you."

"I miss Ningning too." Qin Yinong said with a smile.

"When are you coming back home?" Qin Jianing asked.

"It will be another two months."

"That's so long." Qin Jianing's face still remained hidden, and she said in a subdued tone.

Qin Yinong was in a dilemma. She had just thought of saying, "Let me see if I can ask the director for leave and come home for a visit." when someone knocked on the door.

She grabbed her phone and looked through the peephole, seeing Tang Ruoyao.

Author's Note:

Mini Theater:

Qin Yinong: Ningning, don't say anything. I'm meeting a friend.

Qin Jianing screamed loudly through the phone: Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!

Qin Yinong: !!!

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