CHAPTER 75

Tang Ruoyao curled up on the sofa in her resting room, with her hands crossed under her chin, staring at the mobile phone screen placed on the coffee table. One leg uncontrollably trembled nervously.

Xin Qian's gaze was skeptical.

Has her "epilepsy" acted up again?

Tang Ruoyao inadvertently met her gaze, pressed her shoe soles against the floor, gradually calming herself down.

She sent a message to Cui Jiaran, and the content of the message was: [Do girls only pay extra attention to their appearance in front of someone they like?]

Tang Ruoyao couldn't provide a reference for herself. She didn't have a personal image before falling for Qin Yinong. In that kind of situation, all the later trivial matters didn't matter anymore.

Cui Jiaran was the only one in their dorm who had a boyfriend. They had been together for several years, and their relationship was stable. So Tang Ruoyao wanted to seek advice from her.

During the day, Cui Jiaran was rehearsing at the theater, and she only glanced at her phone during a break to check the messages. She opened a private chat and immediately felt delighted: [Do you have a crush on someone? Who is this amazing person who has captured the heart of our '405's Queen'?]

As a straight and unyielding woman, Cui Jiaran automatically assumed that the "girl" mentioned earlier referred to Tang Ruoyao.

Without clarifying, Tang Ruoyao vaguely responded, [I'm not sure if I really like the person.]

Cui Jiaran confidently sat down in her chair, ready to offer her expertise: [Then tell me specifically about their behaviors and actions, and I'll help you strategize.]

Tang Ruoyao replaced Qin Yinong with herself and recounted the incident that happened in the restaurant during lunchtime, while keeping Qin Yinong's identity vague.

Cui Jiaran: [Why are you hiding from people? It was just a hiccup, not a fart, hahaha.]

Tang Ruoyao imagined that scene and felt that Qin Yinong would probably twist her head off right then and there if she did that .

After Cui Jiaran finished laughing, she said, [Generally speaking, it's like that. You want to leave a good impression on him, right? The more you like someone, the more you care. There's a saying that goes 'A woman makes herself attractive for the one she pleases.' When I was dating my partner, I would only dress up and wear pretty dresses when I went to meet him.]

Dress up? Tang Ruoyao pondered. Qin Yinong always dressed very eye-catching every day, so she couldn't use that as a reference.

Cui Jiaran added some more details and finally asked her, [Do I have the privilege of knowing who this lucky person is?]

Tang Ruoyao smiled and typed, [If I can win that person over.]

Cui Jiaran: [Is there anyone who wouldn't like a goddess like you? If you're willing to be with me, I'll break up with my boyfriend right away.]

Tang Ruoyao: [Hahaha.]

Cui Jiaran: [I have to go for rehearsal now.]

Tang Ruoyao replied with a "Okay," but she forgot to mention one thing. Cui Jiaran had already leaked this conversation to Wen Shuxian. That night, Wen Shuxian started bombarding Tang Ruoyao in the dormitory chat group, demanding that she reveal who her secret crush was. Tang Ruoyao fully embraced the "playing dead" strategy, sparking wild speculation about her secret crush. But that is a story for another time, no need to dwell on it.

In the afternoon, Tang Ruoyao had a scene with Yi Yiyi, and after finishing her makeup, Yi Yiyi took the initiative to come find her.

Tang Ruoyao appreciated the kindness Yi Yiyi showed in teaching her acting, and as a result, Yi Yiyi's attitude towards her underwent a complete 180-degree transformation. She went from being an aloof and difficult-to-approach ice queen to a girl with a cold exterior but warm heart.

Although Tang Ruoyao was three years older than Yi Yiyi, she felt that Yi Yiyi was much more mature than herself.

Tang Ruoyao's feelings towards Yi Yiyi were... quite complicated. When she arrived, Tang Ruoyao felt a surge of jealousy, making a fuss about it. However, after the kissing scene, the jealousy disappeared completely. Nevertheless, she couldn't say that she liked Yi Yiyi.

Yi Yiyi: "Senior Tang."

Tang Ruoyao responded with an "Hmm" and lowered her head to look at the script pages she had opened.

Yi Yiyi, accustomed to her coldness, found it particularly unique and didn't mind at all as she sat next to Tang Ruoyao politely and said, "Senior Tang, could you give me some guidance this afternoon?"

She still had lingering fear from being scolded by Han Yuping.

Tang Ruoyao didn't even lift her head and continued, "Hmm."

Yi Yiyi smiled.

Ignoring the presence of the other person, Tang Ruoyao focused all her attention on the script. However, Yi Yiyi had a straightforward personality, even inheriting some of Wen Shuxian's traits. If Tang Ruoyao didn't speak, Yi Yiyi could carry on a conversation by herself.

"Senior Tang, you don't know, I used to only film TV dramas. Senior Qin suddenly asked me to film a movie, and I was especially nervous, afraid of letting her down since I'm from her studio..." Yi Yiyi wasn't just chatting randomly. She had been observing on set for a few days and noticed that Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao had a good relationship. She wanted to take this opportunity to create an opening.

Unexpectedly, she unintentionally inspired Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao's expression froze for a moment, and a glimmer of light quickly flashed in her eyes.

She had been trying to understand the real Qin Yinong from various angles but was frustrated due to the lack of channels. Wasn't Yi Yiyi now the best source of information?

Tang Ruoyao suddenly looked up at Yi Yiyi, revealing a smile that could overturn the world.

Yi Yiyi couldn't help but feel her heartbeat quicken and nervously said, "Se-Senior Tang."

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "I want to ask you something."

Yi Yiyi respectfully replied, "Please ask, I will tell you everything I know."

Tang Ruoyao deliberately glanced at the door of Qin Yinong's resting room and lowered her voice, saying, "Don't blame me for being offensive, but there are many rumors in the industry that some of the artists from your studio are actually nurtured by Qin Yinong for her own..."

"That's a rumor!"

Yi Yiyi's sudden loud voice startled Tang Ruoyao.

She pressed her hand down, signaling her to lower her voice.

Yi Yiyi's expression was filled with anger and disappointment as she said, "Senior Tang, I thought you and Senior Qin were friends. I didn't expect you to have such a big misunderstanding about her!"

She was about to leave, swinging her arms, but Tang Ruoyao grabbed hold of her, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

This person is quite loyal.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her voice and tried to appease her, saying, "I don't doubt her, and I also think the media has gone too far. But how did these rumors come about?"

Tang Ruoyao debuted late and still had her student identity. Coupled with the fact that she used to have Ruan Qin, who was more of a failure than a success, by her side, she wasn't very perceptive and only had superficial knowledge about the industry. This was even with her deliberate observations. Qin Yinong debuted almost ten years earlier than her, and many things were embellished and distorted, making it impossible to see the truth.

She held a glimmer of hope, thinking that perhaps someone from Qin Yinong's studio might know some insider information.

Yi Yiyi looked at her several times, under Tang Ruoyao's "sincere" gaze, she should believe her. She sat back down and shook her head honestly, saying, "I don't know. Before I signed on, my classmates even warned me, saying that Senior Qin's studio wasn't suitable for someone as naive as me. They said I would end up being used and counting money for others, and even advised me to change careers."

Tang Ruoyao felt a slight disappointment, but she didn't give up and continued to inquire, "And now?"

Yi Yiyi shrugged and sneered, "Now I'm already very popular, while she is still struggling in the lower ranks..." Yi Yiyi realized it was inappropriate to say this in front of Tang Ruoyao and retracted her smile. She awkwardly added, "Of course, I'm still far behind Senior Tang..."

Tang Ruoyao waved her hand and smiled, interrupting Yi Yiyi's modesty. "It's okay."

TV dramas are inherently more capable of boosting someone's popularity and generating more exposure than movies. People like Qin Yinong, who have already reached the pinnacle of the industry and stand above the rest, are not in the same category.

Tang Ruoyao wasn't petty enough to compare her popularity with those of trending celebrities.

Yi Yiyi said, "I was quite nervous at first, afraid that Senior Qin might take advantage of me, but that never happened. In the company, my daily responsibilities include receiving scripts and filming. The scripts are all good, and my agent treats me exceptionally well. They don't let me participate in any messy social events."

A sarcastic smile curved Tang Ruoyao's lips as she thought of Ruan Qin. She wished she could bring her along to every social gathering and push her into someone's embrace, seeking benefits for herself. It was a stark contrast.

Yi Yiyi continued, "It's not just me, I've asked other colleagues, and they have the same experience. We only need to focus on acting, and the company provides us with all the necessary resources. As long as you work hard, you'll definitely become popular."

Small-scale popularity relies on promotion, while great fame relies on fate. In Qin Yinong's studio, they promote the up-and-coming artists like Yi Yiyi, but there are also many lesser-known artists. This indicates that the company does provide them with ample resources.

Tang Ruoyao's fingers, resting on the script, moved slightly as she carefully chose her words and asked softly, "Then why... hasn't anyone clarified the rumors for her?" Were they just allowing the entertainment media to tarnish her reputation?

Tang Ruoyao still remembered a particularly harsh article she had read before, using extremely offensive language, bringing up all sorts of scandals.

Yi Yiyi sighed and said, "It's not that we don't want to clarify things for her. The company strictly instructed us not to mention her publicly. If the media asks about it, we are supposed to avoid the topic or brush it off with a laugh."

"Why?" Tang Ruoyao furrowed her brows.

Yi Yiyi shook her head.

She suddenly remembered something, took out her phone from her pocket, and searched for keywords related to herself and Qin Yinong. She found a news article from last year and handed it to Tang Ruoyao to read.

Tang Ruoyao took it and raised an eyebrow.

Yi Yiyi explained, "Last year, a media outlet interviewed me, and I couldn't help but speak the truth. I said Senior Qin is a good person, but nobody believed me. It ended up causing Qin Yinong to trend on social media and receive backlash. Later, my agent scolded me."

The news article provided by Yi Yiyi had a video link. Tang Ruoyao clicked on it and watched the short 30-second interview video. It was evident from that moment that Yi Yiyi was filled with righteous indignation, her neck even turning red. It seemed like she hadn't lied.

Tang Ruoyao handed it back and asked, "Why aren't you allowed to mention her?"

Yi Yiyi thought for a moment and replied, "My agent didn't explain why, but I think it's probably to protect us. Senior Qin's public image isn't great, and associating ourselves with her wouldn't be beneficial, especially for newcomers like us. Even a seemingly ambiguous scandal could easily ruin us. Sometimes, when we attend events together, Senior Qin actively avoids being seen with us, unlike other managers and artists who are affectionate with each other. I haven't even taken a single individual photo with her."

A flash of insight crossed Tang Ruoyao's mind, as if she had grasped something in an instant.

"Avoid suspicion?" she repeated softly, unsure if she was asking Yi Yiyi or herself.

"Yeah." Yi Yiyi sighed, resting her face in her hands, and her features squeezed together like a bun. "Once I win a Best Actress award, I'll definitely clarify things for her again."

Tang Ruoyao was absent-minded and replied casually, "Good luck, then."

Could it be that Qin Yinong has always avoided appearing in the same frame with her and meeting outside of their homes to protect her?

Yi Yiyi continued to babble about how approachable and kind Qin Yinong was, how good she treated them, even giving them bonuses during holidays. She mentioned the staff and artists all receiving their share of benefits.

Tang Ruoyao chatted with her, extracting useful information bit by bit.

Yi Yiyi had a sense of discretion and didn't reveal any company secrets. Besides, Tang Ruoyao didn't even know what kind of secrets to ask about. Yi Yiyi only shared some trivial details that she considered unimportant, but that was exactly what Tang Ruoyao wanted.

While people unfamiliar with Qin Yinong were criticizing her, those around her were unanimously praising her. Anyone with a bit of judgment could tell who was more trustworthy.

Tang Ruoyao regretted deeply. She had once believed in those criticisms without question.

Qin Yinong had been curled up in the lounge for a long time. Finally, summoning up the courage, she cautiously peeked out and saw Tang Ruoyao and Yi Yiyi sitting together, chatting and laughing. Tang Ruoyao even handed a glass of water to Yi Yiyi.

Qin Yinong forgot about her embarrassment and walked over confidently.

Tang Ruoyao looked up and as soon as she saw her, she smiled beautifully and said, "Senior..."

Yi Yiyi suddenly stood up in surprise and exclaimed, "Senior..."

Qin Yinong, with an air of nobility and cold charm, ignored them completely. She walked past them, holding the thermos cup handed to her by Guan Han, and leaned against her own seat. Her eyelids lazily drooped as she leisurely sipped the hot water.

Tang Ruoyao and Yi Yiyi exchanged glances.

Tang Ruoyao's thoughts quickly changed, and she narrowed her eyes as she said to Yi Yiyi, "I'll go find Senior Qin. You focus on your own tasks."

Yi Yiyi, knowing not to meddle in the matters between big shots, tactfully replied, "Okay."

Tang Ruoyao occupied the small stool next to Qin Yinong's vine chair.

Qin Yinong glanced at her sideways, her gaze indifferent, and didn't say anything.

Unbeknownst to Tang Ruoyao, that small stool had gradually become her exclusive seat. It remained empty whenever she wasn't present. Her assistants were all observant and fell into the misunderstanding that "Qin Yinong had fruitlessly pursued Tang Ruoyao." They were quite self-aware and refrained from occupying the seat of the future boss's wife.

Qin Yinong also heard from Guan Han that they had been discussing privately how long it would take for her to pursue Tang Ruoyao, and they even made bets and guesses. This made her burst into laughter.

"Miss Yi was just looking for me to rehearse a scene." Tang Ruoyao said in a calm voice, explaining to her.

Qin Yinong turned her head slightly to look at Tang Ruoyao, a hint of playfulness flickering in her dark eyes, as if asking: Why are you telling me all this? Does it have anything to do with me?

Tang Ruoyao ignored her and continued to explain with a serious tone, "I handed her the water because she talks too much, and I wanted to shut her up."

Qin Yinong pursed her lips, turned her face away, and the corner of her lips couldn't help but curl up.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't see her expression, but from the relaxed shoulder line and the relaxed posture, she could roughly infer what kind of mood Qin Yinong was in. Tang Ruoyao's speculations in her heart seemed to be confirmed.

Qin Yinong seemed to be jealous.

After Qin Yinong calmed down a bit, she turned around but still had a lazy and indifferent attitude towards Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao also remained silent, just sitting beside her. They occasionally exchanged glances, and a hint of a smile flashed in their eyes.

The atmosphere strangely became gentle.

Guan Han, with an expressionless face, thought to herself, 'I should be under the car, not inside it.'

There was a gentle breeze on the set, and Tang Ruoyao's seat happened to be in a windy spot. Her loose hair was instantly blown around, covering her eyebrows and obstructing her vision. She raised her hand to tidy her hair, and when she let it down, she caught a glimpse of Qin Yinong retracting her hand, feeling slightly annoyed.

Why did her hand retreat so quickly?

Qin Yinong lowered her gaze and involuntarily curled her slender fingers, suppressing the urge to clear her throat.

The hormones between two people in love can be as dry as tinder without a drop of moisture, and a spark can ignite a raging fire. Although the set was spacious, the space where the two of them were suddenly became narrow and cramped, as if invisible walls had been erected, firmly enclosing them.

The hand Qin Yinong retracted rested relaxedly on her waist, with slightly curled fingers and a delicate, snow-white back. Tang Ruoyao had once gently caressed and even kissed that jade-like cold and white skin. She could smell the faint fragrance that passed by her nostrils, lingering in her dreams countless times.Tang Ruoyao's mouth felt dry, and her throat made an imperceptible movement.

The air was filled with restless tension.

The intense gaze of the young woman seemed tangible. Qin Yinong's cheeks grew warmer, her ears slightly heated, and her chest rose and fell gently. Her heartbeat gradually increased in frequency, and suddenly she said, "Guan Han."

Guan Han's signature formal voice sounded, "Here."

The romantic atmosphere vanished.

Qin Yinong calmly said, "Go and ask when I'll start with my makeup."

Taking advantage of this moment, Qin Yinong picked up the script and stopped looking at Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes and looked in the direction where Qin Yinong wasn't, struggling to adjust her emotions.

The afternoon filming progressed smoothly. Yi Yiyi successfully passed Han Yuping's audition, which meant that she had acting skills, at least reaching the average level. It was just that she wasn't initially accustomed to the filming methods of movies when she first joined the crew. After spending a few days on set, she had gradually adapted.

Tang Ruoyao and Yi Yiyi finished their scene ahead of schedule. Han Yuping, holding a pear, glanced around the set and happened to see Qin Yinong. He decided to shoot another take.

It was a relatively simple scene, where Han Zifei and Shen Muqing reached a consensus, but when they met, they acted like strangers, only nodding faintly. The characters were played by Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, and the location was at the entrance of Shen Muqing's house. The time was three months after the breakup.

Han Yuping originally thought that one take would be enough, but what appeared in the shot was Tang Ruoyao with captivating and tender emotions in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes. She didn't look like a girl who had lost her first love before even having a proper relationship, she looked like someone deeply in love.

Han Yuping grabbed his short hair and harshly called out, "Cut!"

Before he could scold her, Tang Ruoyao hurriedly apologized sincerely, "I'm sorry, director. Give me two minutes."

With an unpleasant expression, Han Yuping let her go to the side to adjust.

Qin Yinong stood there chuckling softly.

Han Yuping gave her a disdainful glance and coldly said, "You're still laughing? Are you also in love? I think you're the one who corrupted her!"

Qin Yinong: "..."

Upon careful consideration, Qin Yinong realized that Han Yuping was not entirely wrong.

Tang Ruoyao was easily influenced by her emotions on set, and her off-screen state also affected her performance. Their ambiguous interaction just now did indeed affect Tang Ruoyao.

Tsk.

Qin Yinong felt guilty and awkwardly touched her tip of her nose.

Her action made Han Yuping suspicious. When had this old dog ever shown such an expression without a valid reason?

Could it be that she was really engaging in a scandalous relationship with a younger person?

Han Yuping looked at her with a puzzled expression, "You..."

Tang Ruoyao walked over, saying, "Director Qin, I'm ready now."

Han Yuping temporarily held back the words that were about to burst out of his throat, and instead focused on shooting, loudly declaring, "Departments, get ready."

Before filming, he gave Qin Yinong another fierce glare.

Qin Yinong: "???"

"True Colors," scene... action!" The clapperboard was clapped, and she quickly stepped into the frame.

After that night, Han Zifei lost one anticipation of going home, and in order to avoid the heartache of seeing Shen Muqing too frequently, she adjusted her frequency of going home to once a month. She didn't know if Shen Muqing was also avoiding her, as she hadn't seen the faint green figure busy in the courtyard during her last two visits.

The years turned lightly, from summer to autumn.

The desolate autumn wind blew the yellow beech leaves in front of the courtyard, swirling and falling at the girl's feet. No, it should be said, the feet of a young and beautiful woman.

She wore a white long dress, a gray sweater, black long hair cascading down, and a pair of trendy sheepskin ankle boots on her feet. The features of a twenty-year-old woman had not fully matured, still slightly youthful, but already showing the initial charm of an adult.

The flowers were sparse, only the flamboyant phoenix tree in Shen Muqing's courtyard remained, full of blossoms, its shape resembling fire. The phoenix tree blossomed twice a year, and now it was October, nearing the end of the second season, about to wither.

Han Zifei deliberately avoided the dazzling phoenix tree, stepping forward on the fallen leaves, her footsteps so light that they made almost no sound. The tightly closed wooden door suddenly creaked and gently opened.

Han Zifei turned her head to look back.

The gaze of the two met unexpectedly.

Shen Muqing's hand on the wooden door exerted more force, and the air in her lungs suddenly seemed to be sucked away. She opened her mouth and realized her voice had become hoarse. In the first moment, she couldn't speak a word. She had to slow down and nodded slightly, greeting in a warm tone, "Xiao Fei, you're back."

"Mm." Han Zifei's gaze was cold, and she politely said, "Hello, Teacher Shen."

The unfamiliar and indifferent tone felt like a stab in Shen Muqing's heart.

A hazy mist appeared in Han Zifei's eyes, she lowered her eyes, concealing a fleeting glimmer of water. She distanced herself and said, "I'm going home for dinner, goodbye, Teacher Shen."

"...Okay, goodbye." Shen Muqing's voice was as light as if she hadn't heard.

...

Han Yuping: "Cut."

Qin Yinong shook her wrist and walked over to watch the playback with Han Yuping.

Tang Ruoyao tilted her face upward, forcing back her tears, and followed Qin Yinong's steps.

The three of them crowded around a monitor.

Han Yuping turned around, squinting at the two of them, "What are you two doing?"

Just a moment ago, they were scolded for being in love, and both of them felt guilty at the same time, denying in unison, "Nothing."

Qin Yinong, relying on her thick skin, protected Tang Ruoyao behind her without showing any emotions, and said with a righteous expression, "Can't we just watch the playback? We strive for excellence in our acting."

Tang Ruoyao took the opportunity to stand a bit closer to Qin Yinong, lowering her head to a distance where she could kiss her.

Han Yuping was puzzled and said, "Alright, what I wanted to say is, don't stand so close to me, it's hot." He picked up the large fan next to him and manually fanned himself, feeling confused. "Aren't you two feeling hot?"

Being so close, they were like conjoined twins.

Tang Ruoyao held her breath, and Qin Yinong had no idea she was behind her, just a little bit away from kissing her.

Qin Yinong felt awkward, but she had a thick skin. She forced herself to say, "I'm not hot, I don't feel anything. If you're hot, you should have said so earlier."

Qin Yinong took a step back as she spoke, and there was a sudden warmth brushing against her ear, a soft touch.

Qin Yinong: "!!!"

What was this little brat doing?!

She turned her head abruptly, and Tang Ruoyao portrayed fear and panic perfectly, stuttering, "I-I'm sorry, Senior Qin, you moved back too quickly, I-I didn't react in time."

"You—"

Qin Yinong's pupils suddenly contracted, her heart filled with uncertainty.

Not to mention that Tang Ruoyao's acting skills were already good, but being taught by two great gods in the crew, it was impossible for Qin Yinong to determine solely based on this line that she was acting.

Then, the unusual sensation of lips brushing against her earlobe intensified, becoming clear, gradually igniting a fever within her.

Qin Yinong couldn't determine whether it was accidental or intentional, and her sudden anger appeared petty and nitpicky. The most important reason was that she couldn't bear it.

Qin Yinong's thin lips trembled, and in the end, she only uttered a casual admonition that couldn't even be considered a reprimand.

"Pay attention next time."

Tang Ruoyao watched Qin Yinong's figure as she walked away. She didn't deliberately approach her again; being too impulsive would backfire. Besides...

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang Ruoyao's lips.

Qin Yinong's ears turned red.

She saw it.

Author's note:

Today, I saw a very suggestive comment in the comments section - "After the iceberg melts, it goes crazy with water flowing."

Qin Jiejie: ???

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