CHAPTER 77

To ask why Tang Ruoyao suddenly woke up at four in the morning, even she couldn't explain it clearly.

In the depths of her being, perhaps fate was guiding her. She got up to use the bathroom and, upon returning, instinctively unlocked her phone screen, only to see a message notification at the top of the screen.

Qin Yinong: [May you have great luck and fortune, Happy New Year!]

Tang Ruoyao clicked to claim it.

Looking at the displayed time, it didn't seem like a normal person's sleep schedule at all.

Qin Yinong had a precedent for sending her red envelopes. On the night she first joined the group, it was also late at night when Qin Yinong suddenly sent her a series of red envelopes. When Tang Ruoyao asked about it later, she said she was in a bad mood.

So, is she in a bad mood now as well?

Tang Ruoyao made a quick decision, fearing that she might miss her chance if she waited any longer. She immediately sent a reply, deleting the default system text that came with the red envelope and rewriting it: [Why aren't you sleeping yet?]

Qin Yinong was already shocked when she saw that Tang Ruoyao had claimed the red envelope so quickly. Now, she was even more at a loss for what to do with her phone in front of her.

Logic told her that she should play dead and not respond at this moment, but her emotions compelled her to reply.

The coldness in the room strangely dissipated as her fingers swiftly sent another red envelope. She mimicked Tang Ruoyao and changed the system text to what she wanted to say: [Can't sleep, how about you?]

The two of them communicated through red envelopes.

Tang Ruoyao honestly replied, [I woke up because I had to pee.] completely devoid of any idol baggage.

Qin Yinong replied with two words to save face: [Haha.]

However, her eyebrows unconsciously relaxed. What a coincidence, Tang Ruoyao happened to wake up and see her message.

[Why can't you sleep?] Tang Ruoyao typed and asked.

Qin Yinong turned to lie on her side, with one hand under her neck. After hesitating for a moment, she typed with a single hand, [Getting older, poor sleep quality.]

Tang Ruoyao responded with a string of ellipses, expressing her speechlessness.

Qin Yinong silently burst into laughter and typed at the same time, [Hahaha.]

Tang Ruoyao: [Insufficient sleep can lead to baldness, Senior Qin.]

Qin Yinong: [It's okay, I have a lot of hair. Washing it is troublesome. Less is better.]

Tang Ruoyao felt uncomfortable lying down, so she sat up and quickly typed on the keyboard, wanting to seize the opportunity to chat with Qin Yinong. However, her typing speed didn't match her thinking speed, and the faster her hands moved, the more her mind went blank.

In the end, she deleted every single word she had typed.

To be precise, it wasn't that she didn't know what to say, but rather that she couldn't gauge the appropriate scale of conversation. Chatting through a screen was different from face-to-face. She couldn't see Qin Yinong's expression, and she didn't want to accidentally offend her without realizing it.

Qin Yinong stared at the chat interface without blinking. Two minutes had passed since she sent her last message, and Tang Ruoyao still hadn't replied.

Unable to resist, Qin Yinong sent another red envelope: [Are you asleep?]

The smile in her eyes gradually faded. She locked her phone and placed it back on the bedside table, then turned off the lights and tried to sleep.

Just as she closed her eyes, a knocking sound startled her, causing her heart to pound heavily.

Qin Yinong abruptly opened her eyes, sat up, and pressed her overwhelmed heart, which had been working overtime all night, letting out a soft groan. In a gloomy tone, she asked, "Who is it?"

Tang Ruoyao's cold and calm voice came from outside the door, "Senior Qin, it's me."

Qin Yinong: "..."

A hint of annoyance flashed in her eyes. She reached up and grabbed her disheveled hair. As she passed by the dresser, she stopped and looked at herself in the mirror, tidying up a bit before reaching out to open the door, her face devoid of any smile.

Tang Ruoyao panicked when she saw Qin Yinong's expressionless face.

Did she, did she come at the wrong time?

Qin Yinong, on the other hand, was amused by her panic and let out a chuckle.

Qin Yinong said with a smile, "Can't sleep, so you came knocking on my door in the middle of the night? Hmm?"

Qin Yinong was slightly taller than Tang Ruoyao, and Tang Ruoyao lowered her head slightly. The two of them were extremely close, and the warmth of their breath brushed against Tang Ruoyao's forehead and nostrils as they spoke.

"You couldn't sleep, right?" Tang Ruoyao whispered, "I... came to check on you." She swallowed the three words "because I was worried about you."

"Have you finished checking?" Qin Yinong's lips curled into a smile.

Tang Ruoyao raised her gaze, saw Qin Yinong's relaxed expression, pursed her lips, and boldly said, "No."

Qin Yinong didn't expect her to respond like that. She was momentarily stunned but then spoke gently with a good temper, "Well, you can keep watching, watch all night if you want..." Qin Yinong quickly stopped herself. Her bad habit of speaking without thinking had resurfaced.

Tang Ruoyao's eyes suddenly lit up, "Watch all night?!"

Qin Yinong chuckled and pretended to be angry, "Dream on. Do you know how much I'm worth?"

Tang Ruoyao shook her head and blinked her eyes a few times, then asked seriously, "How much?" She could tell that Qin Yinong was joking, so she decided to play to her strengths and push her luck..

Qin Yinong pretended to think seriously and then laughed, saying, "Well, you definitely can't afford it."

Tang Ruoyao glanced at the infrared camera in the corridor and cursed it silently once again for being a nuisance. She discreetly took a breath, half-jokingly and half-seriously moving closer to Qin Yinong and whispered, "How about offering myself as a payment?"

Qin Yinong's breath hitched.

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

Qin Yinong only noticed now what Tang Ruoyao was wearing. She had put on a bathrobe just like before, but this time the opening of the robe was noticeably larger, revealing a delicate collarbone, translucent and fair, as smooth as fine snow.

Under Qin Yinong's gaze, Tang Ruoyao seemed somewhat uneasy. She took two deep breaths in succession to ease her nervousness.

Qin Yinong, in her superior position, naturally saw the enticing glimpse of spring hidden and revealed with Tang Ruoyao's every breath, within the folds of her bathrobe.

A tingling sensation arose in Qin Yinong's chest, and her thoughts wandered into forbidden territory. Unconsciously, she cleared her throat.

"You..."

"I was just joking." Tang Ruoyao raised her hand and adjusted the wide collar, smiling shyly.

Qin Yinong was taken aback by her gesture but couldn't bring herself to be angry. She made a sound of agreement and pursed her lips, saying, "It's late, go back and rest. If you don't sleep soon, it will be time to wake up."

"Okay." Tang Ruoyao responded, but her eyes still lingered on Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong patiently asked in a soft voice, "Is there something else?"

"Yes." Tang Ruoyao suddenly said, "I lied to you."

"Hmm?"

"I didn't get up to go to the bathroom. I had a nightmare."

Qin Yinong was momentarily taken aback and unconsciously spoke in an even gentler tone, "What kind of nightmare?"

Tang Ruoyao lowered her eyes and said, "After watching you and Senior Dai act like that tonight, I kept dreaming about that scene and it scared me awake."

Qin Yinong's heart softened, and she gently reassured her, "It's just a dream."

"I know," Tang Ruoyao's voice was low, "but I'm still scared."

She paused and called out to Qin Yinong, "Senior Qin."

"Hmm?"

Tang Ruoyao looked up, her expression pitiful, and said, "Can you hug me?"

Qin Yinong hesitated, her expression uncertain.

Tang Ruoyao didn't force her and said dejectedly, "I'm going back to sleep." Then she muttered to herself, "Maybe I shouldn't sleep after all. I can't sleep for long anyway, I'll just have nightmares..."

Qin Yinong suddenly spoke up, "Wait."

Tang Ruoyao's vision blurred, and Qin Yinong had already taken a step forward, reaching out to embrace her tightly.

In this sudden embrace, Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but let out a soft hum in the woman's arms.

A strange feeling flashed through Tang Ruoyao's heart.

Although this hug was obtained through her scheming, the strength and posture with which Qin Yinong embraced her gave her the illusion that she had longed for this.

Qin Yinong held Tang Ruoyao tightly, resting her chin on her shoulder. Tang Ruoyao had a high body temperature, and as Qin Yinong held her, a continuous warmth radiated from her body, seeping through the fabric and onto herself.

There was the fragrance of shower gel on her neck, mingling with the scent of her hair, intertwining and subtly seeping into their breath. Qin Yinong closed her eyes, greedily inhaling, her lips almost touching the delicate white skin of Tang Ruoyao's neck.

Her breathing became heavier, and her cheeks pressed against the warmth of Tang Ruoyao's neck.

Tang Ruoyao endured, closing her eyes, and the hand hanging by her side couldn't help but tighten into a fist.

In Qin Yinong's view, there was the smooth and fair skin behind Tang Ruoyao's earlobe.

She knew Tang Ruoyao's... preferences all too well, knowing that as long as she gently teased, this small patch of skin would quickly turn pink, and the desired sounds she liked would escape from her lips.

Qin Yinong stared fixedly at Tang Ruoyao for a moment, gradually reining in the desire in her eyes.

In the end, she simply held her quietly, without any movement. But this embrace lasted a long time, and Qin Yinong's arms remained tightly wrapped around Tang Ruoyao without loosening.

Tang Ruoyao's legs began to feel sore from standing, and only then did Qin Yinong let her go. Her gaze was calm, with a faint smile and a hint of tenderness as she softly urged her, "Alright, go back to sleep."

Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth as if to say something but hesitated.

"Goodnight." she managed to say.

"Goodnight." Qin Yinong replied.

After returning to her room, Qin Yinong lay on the bed and recalled Tang Ruoyao's actions. There were flaws, but she couldn't be bothered to investigate further. Her eyes grew heavy, her eyelids fought against each other, and she gradually felt drowsy again.

Perhaps the embrace therapy had worked, as Tang Ruoyao's warmth surrounded her in her dreams, and she slept until Guan Han came to knock on the door. She seemed much more refreshed than before.

Qin Yinong sat at the edge of the bed, lost in thought, and pinched her brow with force. It was a dangerous signal.

"Good morning, Senior Qin."

"Morning."

The two met in the lobby on the first floor.

Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong exchanged pleasantries. 

"Senior Qin, did you fall asleep later last night?"

Qin Yinong nodded. "I did." Then, reciprocating the courtesy, she asked, "And you?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "The alarm didn't wake me up."

The assistants: "!!!"

Guan Han and Xin Qian, who rarely exchanged glances, wondered what unspeakable things happened last night?!

Qin Yinong didn't want to bring up last night. Once Tang Ruoyao finished her sentence, she didn't respond. Tang Ruoyao was intelligent and tactful, skillfully steering the conversation away from that topic. The two sat on the couch waiting for the car, with Qin Yinong leaving first as usual and Tang Ruoyao following behind.

In the following days of the shoot, Han Zifei, who knew that Shen Muqing was a victim of  domestic violence,  tried to persuade Shen Muqing, but instead, she was advised by Shen Muqing to stay out of it. Han Zifei feels heartbroken and helpless. Every day, she travels a long way from school to home, becoming a non-residential university student, just so she can be there for Shen Muqing at the first sign of abuse.

Under her long-term care, Shen Muqing finally shows some signs of being moved.

Han Zifei often goes to keep her company. With an outsider in the house, Xu Shiming no longer behaves as recklessly, but he finds the neighboring girl particularly annoying. He complains to Han Zifei's parents, but Han Zifei is determined and doesn't listen to her parents' advice, steadfastly running to Xu's house. Besides scolding him a few times, Xu Shiming has no other way to deal with the situation.

Once, he got drunk and started getting violent. Shen Muqing screamed, and Han Zifei grabbed the mop from the balcony and started beating him.

Xu Shiming was caught off guard, cowered in a corner, and eventually fell asleep.

Shen Muqing and Han Zifei looked at each other and smiled.

Han Zifei let go of the mop handle and couldn't resist pulling her into her arms, gently kissing her hair.

Shen Muqing smelled the scent of the young woman and felt an immense sense of relief, unable to hold back her tears.

As time passed, Han Zifei's sophomore year was coming to an end, nearing summer vacation. Xu Shiming had been introduced to work out of town by relatives, leaving only Shen Muqing and her son, Xu Di, at home.

The dark cloud that had been hanging over Shen Muqing suddenly disappeared, and with Han Zifei's company, her smile began to return day by day.

Han Zifei quietly formulated a plan in her heart.

"Go on a trip?" Shen Muqing sat behind her desk, grading assignments, wearing a pair of wire-framed glasses that added a touch of elegance to her.

"Yeah." Han Zifei's relationship with her had changed greatly. Relaxed, she casually sat on the desk, one hand propped on the surface, leaning in to speak with her.

"But what about Xiao Di..." Shen Muqing hesitated.

"Send him to his grandparents' place." Han Zifei whispered, tempting her. "Don't you want to travel with me? Just the two of us, go to a place where no one knows us, and do whatever we want."

Shen Muqing was tempted.

She had always felt guilty towards Han Zifei. She had seen many young couples in love on the streets, full of youthful vitality. If Han Zifei liked someone else, she wouldn't be trapped in this small courtyard, constantly worried and afraid for her.

If she wanted to...

Han Zifei was perceptive and could guess what she was thinking from her eyes. She snatched the pen from her hand, pulled her hand towards her lips, and gave it a kiss, pressing it against her own face. Half playful and half serious, she said, "Stop always thinking for me and start thinking more for yourself."

"But..." Shen Muqing started to speak.

Han Zifei glared at her, a threatening look that seemed to say, 'Try saying that again.'

Shen Muqing became tongue-tied, pursing her lips, unable to speak. But her heart was filled with sweetness.

She had never experienced the feeling of being loved so clearly before, where someone would prioritize her in everything and only wanted to see her happy.

Han Zifei lightly hopped off the desk, went around to her side, and embraced her waist, helping her stand up. She made Shen Muqing look at her and gently asked, "You just need to answer me, do you... want to?"

After a long while, Shen Muqing bit her lower lip and nodded gently.

Han Zifei's eyes lit up with a smile.

...

Behind the surveillance monitor, Han Yuping said, "Cut."

Tang Ruoyao quickly let go of her hand that was wrapped around Qin Yinong's waist and smiled apologetically. She said, "Sorry for offending Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong gave her a meaningful gaze.

They had been shooting this scene for so long, and they didn't even know how many times they had kissed. Wasn't it too late to bring this up now?

Tsk.

Look at this little brat, feeling so proud. She must put her in her place.

Qin Yinong's mind quickly turned, and she reached around and hooked Tang Ruoyao's waist, gently pulling her into her embrace, holding her tenderly. The warmth and softness filled her arms.

Tang Ruoyao's heartbeat accelerated. "!!!"

Qin Yinong laughed. "We're even now." She let go of her and paused for a moment, as if savoring the moment, and teasingly licked her lips, not forgetting to say, "Your waist is quite slim."

Tang Ruoyao's ears were tinged with a faint blush.

Qin Yinong went to rest on the side, but her gaze continued to follow Tang Ruoyao.

Han Yuping couldn't bear to see it anymore. She pressed her fist against her lips and coughed heavily, giving a warning look.

Tang Ruoyao felt embarrassed and quickly said, "Director Han," before hurriedly running away.

Han Yuping clicked her tongue twice, feeling that the world was going downhill and becoming more and more crazy.

However, Han Yuping didn't mock them anymore. There was a reason for it. The "honeymoon" scene in the movie was coming up, where Shen Muqing and Han Zifei would go on a trip together. The two leads would be all lovey-dovey, which suited her taste perfectly.

If Tang Ruoyao still couldn't get into the right state after shooting this honeymoon scene... Han Yuping snorted coldly, wondering how to teach her a lesson. Han Yuping's facial lines tightened as she continued watching the playback.

Qin Yinong flipped through the script in her hand, feeling a headache coming on.

Forget about the honeymoon scene for now, there was another kissing scene coming up soon.

Why hadn't she noticed that there were so many kissing scenes when she reviewed the script? Did Chai Ziqiu have some kind of special fetish?

Feeling indignant, she sent a message in the silent script group:

[Come out and get beaten, @Chai Chai Chai Ziqiu]

It wasn't the first time Chai Ziqiu inexplicable offered to get beaten. He replied very amiably: [I can provide wolf's teeth clubs, wolf's teeth hammers, nunchucks, nine-section whips, knives, guns, swords, spears, axes, hooks, forks, and so on. Feel free to beat me up.]

Qin Yinong: [If you want me to hit you, wouldn't that make me lose face?]

Tang Ruoyao: "Pfft."

She deliberately chose a direction that faced away from Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong didn't notice that she was smiling until she lowered her head and saw a message pop up in the group.

Tang Ruoyao: [I'm willing to serve Senior Qin]

Qin Yinong snorted inwardly and quickly typed: [What business do you have? Just focus on acting honestly.]

Tang Ruoyao mischievously replied: [Is Senior Qin willing to rehearse with me?]

Qin Yinong thought: Who do you think you are? Trying to take advantage of me?

Ever since Qin Yinong "confessed" her one-sided love for Tang Ruoyao to Han Yuping, her position as the old dog in Han Yuping's eyes had become even more solidified. If she dared to take advantage of Tang Ruoyao in the kissing scenes, Han Yuping would dare to tear her apart. Pretending in the scenes was even more impossible. Han Yuping had sharp eyes and watched her every day.

Qin Yinong now regretted it, regretted it a lot. She could let it go in the scenes, but she had even given away her initiative not only in the scene but also off-screen.

Xin Qian looked at Tang Ruoyao, whose shoulders were trembling as she stared at her phone, and sighed: Recently, Tang Tang's "epileptic" episodes are becoming more frequent.

Han Yuping clapped her hands and raised the megaphone. "Actors, prepare for the next shot."

Qin Yinong handed her phone to Guan Han and the makeup artist came up to touch up her makeup.

That old thing Han Yuping really had to come over with a stern face before the scene and sternly warned her, "Pay attention to the character's emotions, focus on your performance, and stop fooling around."

Qin Yinong weakly elongated her tone, "Got it."

Tang Ruoyao had been performing well recently, and the number of scoldings had significantly decreased. Han Yuping furrowed her brows and simply said, "Maintain a normal level, don't be nervous."

Tang Ruoyao maintained a respectful attitude and softly breathed, "Okay."

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

Han Zifei's eyebrows raised, and he smiled, "You agreed?"

Shen Muqing nodded again.

Han Zifei was ecstatic and planted a firm kiss on her cheek.

The sound echoed, and Shen Muqing blushed, lowering her long eyelashes shyly.

In this area in front of the desk, the lighting cast a warm orange hue.The woman's flawless and rosy cheeks tempted one to kiss under the light.

Han Zifei's eyes gradually deepened in color as he gently pressed the woman against the edge of the desk, enclosing her in his arms. The confined space made Shen Muqing feel uneasy, but she didn't struggle. Instead, she lifted her gaze, looking at him with loving eyes.

However, her gaze was separated by a layer of lenses, as if veiled by a thin mist, making it unclear.

Han Zifei lifted her hand and slowly removed her glasses. With the lenses no longer obscuring her eyes, Shen Muqing's gaze suddenly became hazy. She reached out and held onto Han Zifei's shoulder, looking up at her with slightly parted red lips and eyes like peach blossoms, gentle and enchanting, unaware of her own allure.

The woman obediently leaned into her embrace, allowing herself to be cherished, as if she completely belonged to her.

Han Zifei was dumbfounded, and then her heart began beating at the fastest rate in her lifetime.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Ten seconds passed.

Tang Ruoyao didn't move.

Han Yuping's face turned stern. "Cut."

Qin Yinong took a deep breath and pushed Tang Ruoyao away. "Can't you move? Do you know that older people have weak waists and legs?"

Tang Ruoyao hurriedly said, "I'll give you a massage."

Qin Yinong brushed off her hand and sat back in her chair, with a hint of schadenfreude in her voice. "Wait for Director Han to scold you."

Han Yuping approached angrily.

With a loud slap, the script landed on the desk, and Han Yuping pointed at Tang Ruoyao's nose and scolded, "What's wrong with you? Daydreaming?"

Tang Ruoyao mischievously diverted the trouble, "Senior Qin is too good-looking."

Qin Yinong: "..."

Han Yuping glared at Qin Yinong, wanting to say something even if there was nothing to say. "Why are you so good-looking when you have nothing better to do?"

"I—" Qin Yinong fell silent, gritted her teeth, and used the script to cover her face.

Tang Ruoyao, feeling guilty, immediately apologized sincerely. "I didn't handle my emotions well. I won't make the same mistake again—hiss."

Han Yuping was puzzled. "Why are you hissing?"

"It's nothing." Tang Ruoyao silently moved the foot that Qin Yinong had accidentally stepped on under the table to the back. "I've adjusted myself. Let's start, Director Han."

Han Yuping: "If you keep daydreaming, I'll make you face the wall! Let you daydream all day!"

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

Han Zifei gently pressed Shen Muqing against the edge of the desk and removed her glasses.

Shen Muqing understood her intention and nervously glanced at the door, whispering, "Don't."

Han Zifei paused in her approach, her voice rising with a smile as he asked, "Why?"

Shen Muqing curled her slender fingers, pursed her lips, and lowered her gaze. She replied, "Xiao Di... Xiao Di is still at home."

Han Zifei chuckled and took a strand of her long hair in front of her, twirling it around her pale finger. She leaned in closer, almost touching her ear, and said, "He's asleep, and I specifically locked the study door. No one will come in."

Shen Muqing hesitated, "But..."

She always said "but," it had become her habitual phrase.Han Zifei had long caught onto her unspoken thoughts. She slowly lifted her soft chin with her palm, and her thumb brushed against her lips.

Heat spread from the point of contact on her fingertip, tingling and slightly numbing.

She didn't rush to kiss her, instead, she leisurely caressed the woman's tender lips with her finger. Shen Muqing was overwhelmed by a small electric current that surged through her hair, and she suddenly grabbed the fabric of Han Zifei's shoulder, almost letting out a sound.

Even though she hadn't done anything, she inwardly bit her lip in frustration.

Tang Ruoyao quickly regained her composure.

Since Shen Muqing accepted her in the drama, every time she filmed, she had to see Qin Yinong acting all dependent on her, completely different from reality. The challenge she faced was not insignificant.

She couldn't mess up the scene.

As Tang Ruoyao felt Qin Yinong's fingers exerting more and more force, she slowly leaned in for a kiss.

She lightly pressed her lips against the other's, neither too deep nor too close.

Qin Yinong would withdraw as Tang Ruoyao advanced, and Qin Yinong would advance as Tang Ruoyao retreated, teasing her intentionally, never engaging in a full-on encounter.

When Qin Yinong couldn't resist and tilted her head, pulling Tang Ruoyao towards her, that's when Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes and smiled. Their soft tongues gently intertwined as they explored each other.

The camera shifted to capture the warm silhouette cast on the wall, then to the night sky with the moon at its zenith, the empty courtyard, and the mirror-like reflection on the ground beneath the snowy moonlight.

The sound of cicadas chirping one after another.

This scene was different from the previous kissing scene. It ended here because there were no more lines to deliver, just a crucial moment to confirm that they would go on a trip together. The focus was on the atmosphere, on capturing the essence.

However, the main actors on set were unaware because Han Yuping hadn't called "cut" yet.

Author's Note:

Director Han (crossing his legs): Let me ship the couple a bit longer. [Not sure what the last sentence means, could you please clarify?]

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT