CHAPTER 80
"Why do you think?" Qin Yinong's smile seemed ambiguous as she casually threw the question back.
There was a moment of blank expression on Tang Ruoyao's face, but she quickly adjusted and pretended to be calm. "I really don't know, that's why I came to consult you. So that in the future, I'll have experience in dealing with such questions."
Her response was neither too much nor too little, and she didn't reveal her true intentions.
But Tang Ruoyao thought that she might have already exposed her flaw.
Qin Yinong still maintained her leaning posture, with a moderate distance between them, their eyes locked.
Qin Yinong gazed at the faint uneasiness in Tang Ruoyao's eyes, her smile deepening at the corner of her lips. "Then why was your manager so eager to clarify for you? And why did the company issue a statement?"
Tang Ruoyao was at a loss for words.
Whenever Tang Ruoyao was involved in any same-sex rumors with anyone, Mu Qingwu wouldn't be so nervous, and most netizens wouldn't take it seriously. At most, it would be seen as a joke. But Qin Yinong was different. Among the people she had been romantically linked with, from veteran actors in their eighties to underage young actors, there were indeed many who were just used for speculation and teasing. However, there were a few who caused a real sensation, like the candidates for empress and noble consort in the posts about selecting consorts. The "romance" generated just as much heat as any regular celebrity couple. Qin Yinong was such a flirtatious character, and it was more harm than good to be paired with her.
For those who had already established themselves in the industry after years of ups and downs, the impact was relatively small. But for Tang Ruoyao, a young actress in the rising stage of her career, it would directly damage her image and reputation. In extreme cases, it could even affect her commercial value, leading to a significant decrease in endorsements and advertising opportunities, as well as a decline in treatment. Such situations were not unheard of. Otherwise, when Qin Yinong was popular and in high demand during her early years at the age of eighteen, she wouldn't have struggled to receive a decent endorsement offer.
Mu Qingwu couldn't let Tang Ruoyao take any risks.
Tang Ruoyao came to test Qin Yinong but inadvertently exposed herself when she mentioned her manager.
Her eyes dimmed for a moment, then suddenly brightened.
How did Qin Yinong know that her company had issued a statement? It was done when the first wave of rumors came out. She had a busy schedule, so how did she notice it?
So... has she been keeping an eye on her all along?
Qin Yinong caught a glimpse of her changing expression and secretly pondered where she went wrong. Thinking back, she couldn't help but shake her head in self-disapproval. She had been careless, allowing a child to catch onto her rhetoric.
Qin Yinong interrupted her thoughts and calmly said, "This matter has nothing to do with you, it would be the same for anyone else."
"Hmm?" Tang Ruoyao instinctively made a questioning sound but immediately corrected herself and respectfully asked, "What do you mean?"
Qin Yinong straightened up and slowly began:
"Because someone has repeatedly oppressed me, and if I don't fight back, she will become even more ruthless." Qin Yinong revealed a part of the truth, leading Tang Ruoyao into her rhythm. "Do you remember the woman who mysteriously appeared in my room on the first day of filming?"
Tang Ruoyao indeed followed her line of thought and nodded.
Of course, she remembered. That night, Qin Yinong even gave her a red envelope because she was in a bad mood. The leaked surveillance video was also first revealed on that day, so Tang Ruoyao speculated that these two incidents might have been caused by the same person.
Qin Yinong's words confirmed her speculation: "It was her doing."
Tang Ruoyao cautiously asked, "May I ask who is behind all this? I promise not to disclose it."
Qin Yinong openly revealed, "It's Hao Meihua."
Tang Ruoyao almost blurted out, isn't she one of your "socialist sisters"? Yes, Hao Meihua, who plotted against Qin Yinong at least twice, now held a prominent position as a virtuous consort in Qin Yinong's harem, surpassing Tang Cairen's status [fifth-rank concubine] by an unknown margin.
Ji Sheng Yu, He Sheng Liang [Why give birth to Zhou Yu when Zhuge Liang is already born?; Out of jealousy, two men of equal talent would not bear the existence of each other.], they love and kill each other, their personas are intriguing, coupled with the "plastic sisters" [A relationship that appears to be in harmony on the surface, yet in fact both people hate each other or trying to compete with another in secret.] acting skills, they have always been flawless. In the first round of selecting consorts, Hao Meihua occupied one of the "Four Consorts" seats with a high number of votes, securing her position. She almost challenged the empress position one year and ultimately lost with a slight disadvantage.
Tang Ruoyao didn't know whether Hao Meihua was virtuous or not, but judging from Qin Yinong's attitude, she seemed quite disdainful of her. If Qin Yinong had the power to decide their rankings, she would probably relegate Hao Meihua to a lesser position.
Indeed, the competition among the prominent figures was fierce behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. One couldn't rely solely on surface friendships.
Tang Ruoyao sighed inwardly.
However, she didn't forget the main point: "So, is that why you decided to clarify the situation?"
She thought, there's a significant logical flaw here. If there was no intention to clarify, why did the production team make such a big fuss? Was it worth all the trouble?
Qin Yinong nodded.
"Mainly because I didn't expect someone to be so audacious right under my nose." Qin Yinong displayed a hint of anger at the right moment. "This film is already sensitive in terms of its subject matter, and the production team happened to encounter this kind of mishap. I don't want anything unexpected to happen again."
Tang Ruoyao was taken aback.
The significance of "True Colors" to Qin Yinong could be imagined.
It seemed that the loophole she had just noticed had been filled.
Tang Ruoyao became perplexed.
So, it was her misunderstanding again. She was just involuntarily dragged into this matter, it had nothing to do with her, right?
Tang Ruoyao was dismissed.
Qin Yinong lifted the cup of water from the coffee table with both hands and took a sip, revealing a slight sense of relief.
Guan Han glanced at the door that had been closed after Tang Ruoyao left and let out a sigh.
Ginger gets spicier as it gets older [the older, the wiser], yet Miss Yao is still a bit naive.
.....
The production was halted, and Qin Yinong was handling business in the lounge, feeling bored. Tang Ruoyao wandered around the set with nothing to do. Near the set, there were a few people dressed in casual clothes, but their posture and gaze revealed that they were not ordinary staff. They were hired by Qin Yinong to investigate the paparazzi in the vicinity. The relationship between paparazzi and celebrities was delicate. On the surface, they appeared to be archenemies, but in reality, they depended on each other. As long as things didn't go too far, celebrities wouldn't tear their faces with the paparazzi. They would turn a blind eye to the occasional paparazzi shots. However, this time, Qin Yinong dealt with the paparazzi who were tailing her, including those who were lurking in the hotel room opposite hers, with a heavy hand, causing a stir in the paparazzi circle. It was just some small discussions within the circle and didn't have much impact.
Then came the debunking on the internet, finally starting.
The official Weibo account of "True Colors," with the help of professional public relations, released a public statement. The statement stated that both Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao were dedicated and serious actors, and the leaked video circulating online was indeed a scene from their acting. They urged netizens not to spread rumors and respect the two actors.
The statement released by the official movie account still had some influence, with an official seal stamped in the bottom right corner.
Tang Ruoyao's fans, who didn't want to be associated with Qin Yinong, took the initiative to spread the statement and clarify things for Tang Ruoyao on various public opinion platforms.
Qin Yinong's fans were not willing to back down either. Although they were used to such scandals as fans, the recent feud between the two fandoms was intense. They wanted to distance themselves as much as possible from each other.
It was evident that the relationship between fans had nothing to do with the main characters.
However, the general public couldn't be easily fooled. Just because of a statement, should they believe everything? Then what's the point of being a bystander?
The bystanders were divided into two groups. One group trusted the production team and believed in Tang Ruoyao's character. They believed she was innocent and wouldn't associate herself with someone like Qin Yinong, whose reputation was tarnished. Since the production team clarified the situation, there was no point in stirring things up further. Gradually, the discussions quieted down, and the neutral bystanders belonged to this group. The other group completely distrusted the statement. Shortly after its release, marketing accounts started exposing information, claiming that Qin Yinong was the producer of the film and that she had complete control on set. They argued that the statement was just a piece of paper she casually issued. Why would she bother with multiple statements? It was all part of her plan. And because of her domineering nature, Tang Ruoyao, being just an ordinary actress, had no choice but to bear the consequences under her influence.
This argument unexpectedly garnered some sympathy for Tang Ruoyao.
It also made Tang Ruoyao certain that this person wasn't targeting her specifically. She simply wanted to deal with Qin Yinong, and the more accusations she could pile on her, the better. And now, she had been labeled as someone who oppressed newcomers and forced them into prostitution.
This marketing account is undoubtedly arranged by Hao Meihua's team. Qin Yinong's team immediately responded and took the initiative, seizing the opportunity to counter their words. Don't you understand Qin Yinong's style of doing things? So what if there are rumors flying around? When has she ever cared about what people say online? It's precisely the production team's clarification that goes against her usual approach, which shows that the production team doesn't just follow her orders.
Hao Meihua's team is no pushover either. They stubbornly emphasized the phrase "differential treatment" to further solidify this scandal, but An Ling had already anticipated this and prepared to counterattack according to plan.
Netizens were left shaken and confused, their minds almost fried from all the gossip.
As the fight between the two sides escalated, Mu Qingwu, who had just gotten off the plane, was shocked.
She hadn't even taken action yet, so how did the situation escalate to this point?
It wasn't suitable to bring outsiders to the set anymore, so Tang Ruoyao took her to a hotel and roughly explained the situation she had heard from Qin Yinong. Upon hearing that it was a battle between the big shots, with Tang Ruoyao being an unfortunate victim, Mu Qingwu furrowed her brows and sighed, "What a mess."
Mu Qingwu obtained An Ling's contact information and planned to communicate with her to see if they needed her cooperation. After all, they were the main force, and she was just a small fry.
Before making the call, Mu Qingwu remembered that she had previously clarified without informing An Ling, and her heart was filled with unease, afraid that the other party would hold a grudge. However, when the call connected, the other party seemed to be in a hurry, speaking rapidly, "Who are you?"
Mu Qingwu knew that the other person must be incredibly busy, so she quickly introduced herself, expressing her purpose in the most concise language.
An Ling only took a few seconds to think and said, "Clarify your own matters, play the victim if you want, you don't need to worry about us."
After speaking, she hung up the phone.
Mu Qingwu: "???"
The previous sentence is easy to understand, but what does "play the victim" mean? Are they suggesting that they go along with the current online narrative of Tang Ruoyao being forced into prostitution? Isn't that just adding fuel to the fire? How else can they play the victim?
Mu Qingwu looked up and down at Tang Ruoyao standing in front of her, with a cold and deceitful expression on her face, which was highly deceptive.
Mu Qingwu narrowed her eyes.
That night, Tang Ruoyao, who seemed bewildered by the first, second, and third waves of revelations, finally made a move that the netizens had been eagerly anticipating. Mu Qingwu acted decisively and directly released the complete surveillance footage from the hotel corridor that night, instead of just the snippet that had been circulating online.
The surveillance footage showed that after embracing each other, the two of them returned to their respective rooms without any inappropriate behavior.
The evidence was solid, and Tang Ruoyao's side stated that she had always been a hardworking and dedicated artist in the entertainment industry, respecting her seniors and her profession, and so on. Tang Ruoyao had always had a good reputation among the public, and she was particularly outstanding among this generation of actresses. As soon as the evidence and statement were released, a large number of people immediately expressed their belief in Tang Ruoyao.
However, there were also a few individuals whose attention was always diverted.
[Am I the only one who thinks this scene in the video is beautiful? The beauty that can't be blocked even by surveillance footage. Beautiful girls together are always a sight to behold.]
[They must be rehearsing a scene. Although there's no sound, their movements and silhouettes feel like they're performing in a play. Suddenly, I'm interested in this movie. What should I do?]
[Don't even think about it, same-sex films are not allowed to be released in mainland China.]
[+1 if you want to see it. I want to ship this couple. Red and white roses, please be my OTP!]
Mu Qingwu secretly arranged for positive publicity, solidifying Tang Ruoyao's image as someone who is unaffected by worldly affairs, and controlled the rhythm of the online discussion through water army or fake accounts, making it appear that she and Qin Yinong were completely unrelated.
Tang Ruoyao's progress here is going smoothly because Qin Yinong is attracting the majority of the attention, especially during the intense battle when the truth is unclear. At this moment, a heavyweight figure made a shocking appearance.
Han Yuping.
Han Yuping retweeted the official statement from the movie "True Colors" without saying a word, maintaining his aloofness. Although he was lazy and simply retweeted because Qin Yinong had hastily posted it, the netizens speculated wildly, imagining a grand drama unfolding.
Who is Han Yuping? He is the director of the "True Colors" production team and holds significant power within the crew. However, he also has another identity: Qin Yinong's rumored love interest.
Since Qin Yinong's first film, Han Yuping has been present as the director. In the past decade, Han Yuping has never left the center of attention, frequently interacting with each other and openly expressing their admiration. In the male version of the selection for consorts, Han Yuping truly occupies the position of the ultimate male figure, unshakable in his status, not even by a tiny bit.
If it weren't for Han Yuping being sixty years old, already married, and having an average appearance, the fandom would be filled with supporters of the Qin Yinong-Han Yuping ship. But at this critical moment, age and appearance are not issues. Han Yuping's statement finally completely distorted public opinion.
"It is well known" that Han Yuping and Qin Yinong have an improper relationship, so what does his Weibo post represent? Which heavyweight figure would allow their lover to fool around under their nose? Han Yuping is defending his sovereignty with a strong and firm attitude, declaring that Qin Yinong is his and has no connection to Tang Ruoyao or Li Ruoyao, not even a rumor is allowed.
This also explains why the production team would come forward to clarify the situation regarding Qin Yinong. Han Yuping and Qin Yinong? Everyone can clearly determine who has the higher status, power, and influence.
The next day, Qin Yinong's studio quietly retweeted Han Yuping's statement, without adding any words or even an expression.
It carries a hint of weakness and compromise.
Oh, so Qin Yinong and Han Yuping are the real deal, but everyone already knew that.
After two days of gossip, it turns out that the confirmed news is something that had long lost its freshness, and everyone disperses with a sense of disappointment.
As for Tang Ruoyao, after making an initial impact, she is completely ignored later on. The netizens who have realized the truth look back and sigh, wondering how Tang Ruoyao got caught up in their affair.
It's unfortunate, especially for Tang Ruoyao.
The consensus among the public has been reached.
With this, the entire farce has come to an end. Hao Meihua's plan has fallen through, and more evidence of the improper relationship between Qin Yinong and Han Yuping has emerged, unrelated to Tang Ruoyao. Only Tang Ruoyao remains innocent and gains sympathy and compassion.
Mu Qingwu's heart finally settles.
"It was a close call." she says with a smile.
Tang Ruoyao lowers her gaze, contemplating as she looked at the coffee cup in front of her.
Mu Qingwu asks, "What's the matter with you?" Aren't you happy even after the rumors have been debunked?
Tang Ruoyao raises her eyes and asks, "Sister Mu, don't you think everything has gone too smoothly?"
Mu Qingwu calmly cuts a piece of tiramisu on her plate with a fork and says, "Didn't you say that Qin Yinong and Hao Meihua were in a battle? You're just a small fry, no one cares about you. So what's wrong with things going smoothly?"
After two busy days, she finally had some time to relax. Leaning back in her chair, she glanced at Tang Ruoyao and said, "Do you still want to engage in a battle with their team for three hundred rounds?"
"No," Tang Ruoyao furrowed her eyebrows slightly. "I was just thinking..."
"Thinking about what?"
"It's nothing." Tang Ruoyao shook her head.
Mu Qingwu had biases against Qin Yinong, even if she explained, she might not understand.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Mu Qingwu, in a rare relaxed state, asked with curiosity.
Tang Ruoyao nodded.
"Not convenient to talk about it?"
Tang Ruoyao hesitated. "Not exactly."
"Then just say it. What are you embarrassed about when it comes to me?"
"It's not that I'm embarrassed, it's...it's..." Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth, looked directly into her eyes, and said, "If I say that Qin Yinong and Director Han don't have that kind of relationship, would you believe me?"
Mu Qingwu made a thoughtful sound, as if she was contemplating. After a few seconds, she said, "I believe you."
Tang Ruoyao was slightly surprised.
Mu Qingwu smiled and said, "If you say so, I believe you." After all, she had nothing to lose, and in reality, Mu Qingwu had her doubts. Being in the industry, it wasn't that easy to distinguish between truth and lies, and she had understood this long ago.
The advice Mu Qingwu had given Tang Ruoyao to stay away from Qin Yinong was just her way of guiding Tang Ruoyao towards the best choice and avoiding risks.
With Mu Qingwu's trust, Tang Ruoyao smoothly continued, "Then why did she use Director Han as a cover? She indirectly clarified her relationship with me but directly tarnished herself."
Tang Ruoyao had personally witnessed Qin Yinong's attitude when she had Han Yuping retweet that day, which made her feelings even stronger.
It's not necessary.
That's how she felt at that time, being fooled by Qin Yinong's words.
Now that everything has settled, she is even more convinced that it's really not necessary.
Mu Qingwu and Tang Ruoyao have different information, and Mu Qingwu can't make sense of this question: "What does it mean to use someone as a cover?"
Tang Ruoyao suddenly realized that it was difficult for her to explain to Mu Qingwu, so she vaguely brushed it off, saying that it was just a fleeting thought and she herself didn't know what she was saying.
Mu Qingwu: "..."
Why is this child so unreliable lately?
.....
Two days later, the online public opinion calmed down, and the crew resumed normal work.
Han Yuping and Qin Yinong had a big fight in the rest area.
When Han Yuping agreed to retweet Qin Yinong's Weibo, little did he know that he was being used as a scapegoat. Now, he didn't know who heard it from, but he was furious. Qin Yinong accompanied her with a smile, unable to fight back. She had anticipated that Han Yuping would scold her when he found out, but she had to take action first. If Han Yuping had known her intentions beforehand, he certainly wouldn't have agreed.
Han Yuping didn't care about his own reputation. He was already halfway in the grave and he was a renowned director. It didn't matter to him what the entertainment media arranged for him. But Qin Yinong was still young. She shouldn't casually throw dirty water around just because there was a lot of it, and she shouldn't be the one splashing herself with it.
Han Yuping was furious.
When discussing the plan with An Ling, Qin Yinong's unconventional approach had already earned her a scolding from An Ling. But this was indeed the simplest and most effective way to single out Tang Ruoyao. So what if she received some scolding? She would get used to it.
Qin Yinong listened to it with one ear and let it out from the other, maintaining a very humble attitude. She instructed her assistant to bring Han Yuping a calming drink.
Han Yuping's face turned pale. "I won't drink it!"
Tang Ruoyao bumped into Han Yuping, who was brushing past her, and opened her mouth to say, "Director..."
Han Yuping walked away quickly, not even sparing her a glance.
Familiar with this situation, Tang Ruoyao continued forward and arrived at the half-closed door of Qin Yinong's resting room.
Guan Han came over to close the door and came face to face with Tang Ruoyao who was peering inside.
When Qin Yinong and Han Yuping were arguing, she had cleared the room, and Guan Han was the only assistant. Instead of informing Qin Yinong, Guan Han directly let Tang Ruoyao in.
Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow.
Guan Han's position was indeed different.
Qin Yinong wasn't afraid of being scolded, but at this moment, she had been yelled at by Han Yuping to the point of a splitting headache. With her eyes closed, she rested on the sofa, one hand gently massaging her throbbing temple.
Tang Ruoyao had a sudden thought and quietly approached Qin Yinong from behind. Her two fingers slowly approached Qin Yinong's temple, intending to give her a massage.
The woman, with her eyes closed, leaned lazily on the sofa, looking exhausted. Meanwhile, the other person lightly bit her lip, stars shining in her eyes, cautiously and joyfully approaching her beloved.
A match made in heaven.
Guan Han didn't want to interrupt, but her professional ethics required her to speak coldly and impartially. "Qin Jie, Miss Tang is here."
Qin Yinong suddenly opened her eyes, and Tang Ruoyao quickly pulled her hand back.
Just a little bit more and they would have touched!
Guan Han scolded herself in her mind.
Qin Yinong sensed the presence behind her, turned her head to look, and saw Tang Ruoyao curling her fingers at her side. Calmly and gracefully, Tang Ruoyao moved from behind to the front, returning to her gentle and modest demeanor. She said courteously, "I came to thank Senior Qin."
"Thank you?" Qin Yinong blinked in confusion, then lazily lifted her eyelids halfway and suddenly realized, "You mean the online incident?"
"Yes."
"You're welcome." Qin Yinong said.
You're... welcome?
Tang Ruoyao couldn't hide her astonishment. What kind of response was that?
She thought Qin Yinong would say, "I'm doing my own thing, why are you thanking me?" or act like she didn't understand what Tang Ruoyao was talking about, making her feel like she was being presumptuous again. She had always responded in that way before, and Tang Ruoyao felt like she had figured out her patterns.
But "thank you" and "you're welcome" seemed to be a commonly used phrase pair.
What did she mean by that?
Tang Ruoyao's previously determined thoughts were once again thrown into uncertainty by Qin Yinong.
Before Tang Ruoyao could analyze it further, Qin Yinong gestured with her chin towards the tea table in front of her and casually asked, "Would you like some soup?"
Following her gaze, Tang Ruoyao looked ahead and saw a bowl of silver ear mushroom and lotus seed soup in a white ceramic bowl, emitting steam.
Tang Ruoyao was somewhat surprised and delighted. "For me?"
Qin Yinong found it amusing in her heart, straightened her lazy body, and raised an eyebrow. "Originally, it was for Director Han, but he's full of anger. You drink it, so it won't go to waste. Don't worry, it's untouched."
Full of anger?
Tang Ruoyao went along with it and slowly stirred the soup with a small spoon, casually asking, "Why is Director Han so angry?"
Qin Yinong glanced at her.
Tang Ruoyao met her gaze, blinked in confusion.
Qin Yinong couldn't stand it and withdrew her gaze, not giving a direct answer. She smiled ambiguously and said, "Why don't you guess?"
Tang Ruoyao didn't want to guess. Qin Yinong had definitely set a trap for her.
Not getting a response, Qin Yinong became somewhat disinterested. Tsk, the little one has grown up and isn't as easy to tease anymore.
Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and drank the soup, with the soup stains on her lips making them even more rosy and full.
She was very well-behaved while eating, holding the soup bowl steady with one hand. Even though the bowl had some weight, it wouldn't tip over, but she still held it. With the other hand, she held the white porcelain spoon, and the curve of her finger joints was particularly beautiful.
One spoonful after another. She never lifted her head.
Was it really that delicious?
Qin Yinong propped her forehead, wondering strangely.
Silver ear mushrooms, lotus seeds, red dates, goji berries, and rock sugar. Qin Yinong could recall all the ingredients, as she had been drinking it for the past two days to relieve her internal heat. How did it become a delicacy in Tang Ruoyao's mouth?
Tang Ruoyao closed her red lips, and as Qin Yinong continued to gaze at her, she couldn't help but get lost in her thoughts.
The soundproofing in the lounge was excellent, separating the bustling noises of the crew from afar, making the room unusually quiet.
Tang Ruoyao knew that Qin Yinong was looking at her, and she had been looking for a long time. Gathering her courage, she raised her eyes and caught a glimpse of Qin Yinong swallowing her saliva.
Tang Ruoyao furrowed her brows slightly, lowered her head to look at the soup bowl in front of her, and her long eyelashes blinked twice in succession. She reached out and touched the temperature of the ceramic bowl, picked it up, and sat down beside Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong snapped out of her trance, and Tang Ruoyao's porcelain spoon was already at the edge of her lips, held by Tang Ruoyao's hand underneath.
Neither of them spoke.
Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao locked eyes, silently gazing at each other for a long time. Then, Qin Yinong opened her mouth and took a sip, drinking the soup in one clean gulp.
Tang Ruoyao fed her again, and she drank again.
Their gazes never wavered from each other, silently entwined in the air.
After the last spoonful of soup was fed, Tang Ruoyao didn't move away. She propped one hand beside Qin Yinong and slowly leaned down.
Author's Note:
Guan Han: I command you! Give me a kissing scene quickly!
still guan han witnessing this two being lovey-dovey front row..
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