CHAPTER 89

Xin Qian could tell from her expression that it was a serious matter, so she tried to remedy the situation. "I'll go buy it now!"

Tang Ruoyao was almost driven mad by her, she leaned against the wall for support and said softly, "Do you think the newly bought sheets need to be washed?"

Xin Qian lowered her head and whispered, "What do we do now then?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "Don't you already have spare blankets?"

"Do you want to use it?" Xin Qian looked up without hesitation and said, "Okay, but my blanket doesn't match the size of your bed." Her bed downstairs was 1.5 meters wide, while Tang Ruoyao's was 2 meters.

"Let's just forget that for now, we'll figure it out tonight." Tang Ruoyao waved her hand wearily.

"Okay," Xin Qian whispered in response.

She looked at Tang Ruoyao and said, "I'll go out now and buy you a new one, just in case when I come back..."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Xin Qian made up for her mistake.

Tang Ruoyao went to the glass room to take a look, trying to salvage the situation. She had to admit that Xin Qian had done an excellent job. The water was poured just right, and even if she washed it again and spun it dry, it wouldn't be much different from the current state. Her skill points were all messed up.

Tang Ruoyao sighed as she looked at the bedsheet.

In the evening, Guan Han went to the glass room to collect the bedsheets. She reached out and touched them, feeling the dampness and coldness. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she looked around the glass room thoughtfully before returning to her room.

Qin Yinong was about to be attended to by someone when Guan Han poured her a cup of tea and said, "Miss Yao's duvet cover hasn't dried yet."

"Hmm?" Qin Yinong flipped a page in her book without looking up. "Doesn't she have a spare?"

Qin Yinong's bedding had already been completely replaced with a new set, thanks to Guan Han, the versatile assistant. Guan Han wouldn't allow such a thing as a wet duvet cover to happen, nor would she let Qin Yinong use her own bedding in a compromised manner.

As for why Qin Yinong didn't wake her up last night to change the bedsheets and ended up sharing a bed with Tang Ruoyao, Guan Han naturally filled in the gaps in her mind in the direction she hoped for, without needing to inquire further.

Guan Han's tone was calm as she said, "I passed by her door just now and it seems like she doesn't have one."

Qin Yinong put down her book and let out a sigh.

From her expression, Guan Han could read one sentence: Why does she make things so troublesome?

Qin Yinong asked, "Didn't she think of it herself, or did her assistant not think of it either?"

Guan Han whispered, "I don't know." Most likely, she was so engrossed in her love affair that she lost her common sense.

Qin Yinong muttered to herself, "Then what is she going to do tonight?"

Guan Han chuckled to herself in her mind. Naturally, she would share the same bed with Qin Yinong again. But she remained calm on the surface, silent, waiting for Qin Yinong's instructions.

Qin Yinong asked, "How many sets of bedsheets and covers do we have left?"

Guan Han gestured with three fingers.

Qin Yinong stared at her gesture for a while, then a playful curve appeared at the corner of her lips. She chuckled, lowered her head, held the book again lazily, and said, "Let's leave it at that for now. We'll see tonight."

She wanted to see what tricks Tang Ruoyao had up her sleeve tonight.

"Oh, by the way, Qin Jie," Guan Han added with a hint of unease in her heart. She couldn't predict Qin Yinong's reaction, but she had to say it. "I discovered something."

"Speak."

"The bedsheets that were hung in the glass room today were wet because Miss Yao's assistant poured water on them. That's why they're still not dry." Guan Han felt that something was off after returning from the glass room, so she followed her work ethic of seeking truth and asked the bodyguard who was guarding downstairs. One bodyguard said he witnessed someone pouring water on the bedsheets, and since it wasn't Tang Ruoyao, it could only be her assistant.

Qin Yinong froze for a moment. "...Are you telling the truth?"

"Absolutely." Guan Han confirmed.

Qin Yinong gritted her teeth.

.....

Tang Ruoyao got tired of reading the script and slumped on the sofa downstairs, feeling frustrated.

At noon today, one of Qin Yinong's assistants personally came over to deliver lunch. Qin Yinong didn't even leave her floor, and now it has been six hours since she last saw the assistant. She hesitated to knock on the door, afraid of disturbing her during her lunch break. After all, she didn't sleep well last night and needed to rest properly.

Tang Ruoyao turned over, facing the sofa, and let out a sigh that echoed through the empty living room.

Qin Yinong listened attentively and then had a thought, so she lightened her footsteps.

Tang Ruoyao was engulfed in her own emotions and didn't hear the movement behind her.

Qin Yinong approached stealthily, and suddenly Tang Ruoyao stopped sighing. She was puzzled, but the other person mechanically murmured, "Qin Yinong, Qin Yinong, Qin Yinong, Qin Yinong..."

It wasn't an emotional tone but rather a mechanical repetition. However, each name struck Qin Yinong's heart like a small pit, making it throbbed more powerfully than before.

Qin Yinong gave up her on the idea of getting closer and didn't turn back either. Instead, she sat down on the nearby single sofa, looking at the view outside the window and waiting to see when Tang Ruoyao would notice her.

Tang Ruoyao turned over again, facing downward, burying herself in the sofa, motionless, as if she had fallen asleep.

Qin Yinong: "..."

This sleeping posture isn't good for the heart. Qin Yinong hesitated whether to wake her up but then heard a muffled voice coming from beneath Tang Ruoyao's face, "I like you, Qin Yinong."

Qin Yinong's breath tightened suddenly, and her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. She immediately glanced at Tang Ruoyao, a mixture of joy, shock, and panic filling her. She dug her nails into her palm and hurriedly fled before Tang Ruoyao could "wake up."

The sound of footsteps receded in the distance and disappeared from the stairs.

Tang Ruoyao sat up, hugging her knees, looking at the empty staircase, and pursed her lips.

.....

"Qin Jie?" Guan Han softly spoke.

Qin Yinong snapped out of her daze and her fingertips trembled slightly. "What is it?"

"What would you like for dinner? I can have someone deliver it."

"I'm not hungry." Qin Yinong waved her hand.

"Your complexion doesn't look good. Are you feeling unwell?"

"No." Qin Yinong's lips were pale. She held the cup with both hands and took a sip of hot tea. "I'm just a bit cold."

"I'll get you a jacket."

"Okay."

Qin Yinong put on a thick jacket while Guan Han went to close the window. She touched the window and said, "There's a drizzle coming in. It might rain tonight. How are things for you tonight?"

Qin Yinong smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid it's not going well."

Guan Han fell silent, hesitant to speak.

Qin Yinong said, "Don't give Yaoyao new bedsheets and covers. Let her use them for another day." Her medicine was hers, and so was the poison. She only hoped for a safe and uneventful night.

"Okay." Guan Han replied.

At eight o'clock that night, Tang Ruoyao prepared herself mentally and casually came to knock on the door, putting on a pitiful expression. She confided in Qin Yinong, "Senior Qin, my bedsheets aren't dry yet, so..."

Before she could finish, Qin Yinong stepped aside and said, "Come in."

Tang Ruoyao stood still for a moment before hurriedly catching up with Qin Yinong's footsteps. She was initially shocked by the new bedding inside, realizing that there were spares. She had worried for nothing...

"Have you taken a shower?" Qin Yinong asked.

"...Not yet." Tang Ruoyao replied a beat slower.

Qin Yinong handed her a pair of slippers and placed them at the bathroom door. "Go get your pajamas."

Tang Ruoyao followed each command with a corresponding action. After changing into her clothes, she occupied half of the bed. The faint scent of the woman beside her lingered around her nostrils, bringing her heart back from the clouds to reality. However, her mind remained confused and muddled.

Why was Qin Yinong suddenly so easy to talk to? Did she have a sudden change of heart?

She had been avoiding her downstairs as if she were hiding from something, so why was she acting so natural now?

"Senior Qin," Tang Ruoyao propped herself up with one hand on the invisible boundary in the middle of the bed, leaning towards Qin Yinong curiously. She asked, "What book are you reading?"

Qin Yinong raised the spine of the book, allowing her to see the cover.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Child Psychology?" She smiled and asked, "Are you interested in this field of study?"

Qin Yinong also smiled at her and replied, "I have a child."

Tang Ruoyao didn't believe her at all and laughed, "Hahaha."

Qin Yinong smiled ambiguously and said, "I really have a child."

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat lightly, and her smile froze on her face. The corners of her lips couldn't maintain their upward curve, and her voice trembled slightly, "Are you serious?"

There was an indiscernible expression in Qin Yinong's eyes. She reached out her hand to gently touch Tang Ruoyao's head, saying with pity, "I was joking."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes welled up with tears. Rarely going against her nature, choking with sobs, she accused, "Are you playing with me for fun?"

Qin Yinong said, "It's not fun." She embraced Tang Ruoyao, pressing her eyes against her own shoulder, and spoke softly, "I was wrong, I'm sorry."

The fabric on her shoulder was dampened by tears, and Qin Yinong felt a strong sense of suffocation in her heart. Her eyes also slightly reddened. She clenched her teeth and stared at the ceiling above her.

Tang Ruoyao pulled away from her embrace and said, "Don't make this kind of joke again in the future."

Qin Yinong fell silent.

Surrounded by an ominous premonition, Tang Ruoyao urgently called out her name, "Qin Yinong."

Qin Yinong made a soft "hmm" sound.

But Tang Ruoyao's intuition grew stronger and stronger.

Tang Ruoyao was a smart person. As long as she was given a hint, she could connect the dots and come up with a close guess. Tang Ruoyao had always been proud of this ability. She never expected that one day, Qin Yinong would use it against her.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but recall Qin Yinong's expression just now, analyzing every suspicious point, hoping to find the truth from the fog.

She had never thought that the reason Qin Yinong repeatedly rejected her and didn't dare to respond to her feelings would be because of this. She was already married and had a child, for a common yet extremely unusual reason that was so convincing, with no room for doubt.

Was this the truth?

Even though there was no evidence, maybe it was just a joke from her, so why did she feel so certain about it?

Tang Ruoyao knew it deep down, but her tears still disobeyed and rolled down from the corners of her eyes, dampening the pillow.

Tang Ruoyao lay with her back facing Qin Yinong, motionless, her spine stiff. Qin Yinong's hand was almost touching her shoulder, her fingertips moved slightly, but in the end, they didn't come down.

Tang Ruoyao slowly adjusted her emotions, loosening her grip on the pillowcase with her five fingers, relaxing her shoulder line.

She turned around to look at Qin Yinong, and their eyes met. Qin Yinong raised the film script in her hand and said lightly, "It's still early, want to rehearse a scene?"

Tang Ruoyao softly made a sound of agreement, sat up, and asked, "Which scene?"

"The bed scene." Qin Yinong said calmly, uttering the two words as if a thunderclap had suddenly sounded on a clear day.

Tang Ruoyao froze.

"We have a ready-made bed, and we don't even need to set up the scenery," Qin Yinong's smile was also faint.

In the past, if Qin Yinong had said these words, she would have been overjoyed. But today, Tang Ruoyao couldn't feel any joy, only a hollow emptiness.

"Sure," she didn't refuse, though.

"Do we need a script?" Qin Yinong asked.

"No need, I've memorized it a long time ago."

"Impressive." Qin Yinong chuckled.

"You too." Faced with Qin Yinong's praise, Tang Ruoyao only curved her lips out of courtesy.

Without a director, without a clapboard, without a camera, the two of them started acting out this scene in the room.

Tang Ruoyao leaned to the side, holding Qin Yinong tightly, and with one hand, she cupped her cheek. Her slender fingers gently traced the contours of her delicate earlobes. When she saw a strange crimson color on them, she leaned in and lightly kissed Qin Yinong's lips.

It was like a silent movie, even their breaths were restrained.

Repeated restraint led to a sudden and intense outburst.

One of Qin Yinong's hands was tightly held down by Tang Ruoyao against the pillow, just as she had done to her before. It was both comforting and a struggle against overwhelming emotions. She breathed heavily into her ear but didn't say a word, no words of affection, not even calling her by her full name, the name she loved for ten minutes today.

She bit her ear, with undisguised anger.

Too clever.

Qin Yinong was lost in a muddle of emotions, with only a trace of clarity remaining.

Tang Ruoyao held onto her without moving for a long time. After calming down a bit, she let go of her and reached for a tissue from the bedside table on the other side. They had acted out a small part that went beyond the script, but they hadn't reached the end.

Qin Yinong felt a sense of regret while also feeling an inexplicable sense of relief.

And then they fell asleep like that.

There were no nightmares, nor sweet dreams. It was a rare and peaceful night.

The next morning, Qin Yinong woke up in Tang Ruoyao's embrace. Tang Ruoyao, in a dominant posture, directly hugged her, making Qin Yinong feel unfamiliar with the warmth of her limbs.

"Good morning." As soon as she moved, Tang Ruoyao woke up and greeted her in a muffled voice. She naturally lowered her head and planted a kiss on the woman's forehead.

"!!!"

Every hair of Qin Yinong's body stood on end.

You little brat!

Tang Ruoyao's gaze fell on her lips, looking eager to try something. Qin Yinong scolded, "Back off."

Tang Ruoyao pouted, got off the bed, and said, "I'll go freshen up, Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong's temple throbbed, but she restrained herself from blurting out the word "get lost."

Tang Ruoyao opened the door and left.

The room instantly became empty. Qin Yinong suppressed the overwhelming sense of loneliness welling up inside and proceeded to freshen up.

Guan Han came over to fold the sheets and happened to catch a glimpse of several crumpled tissues in the trash bin. "!!!"

She lifted the sheets and carefully observed Qin Yinong's figure as she washed up in the bathroom. Half-kneeling on the bed, she sniffed while making the bed, trying her best to catch a scent.

When Qin Yinong came out, she naturally noticed the situation in the trash bin and frowned. "Change it."

Guan Han lowered her brows and eyes. "Yes."

.....

Tang Ruoyao was brushing her teeth in her own room, holding the the toothbrush in her mouth, with deep and obscure eyes.

She couldn't let her guard down with Qin Yinong, not even for a moment. Whenever they had a disagreement, she would set traps for her. The schemes she used were becoming more and more sophisticated. First, she ambiguously mentioned having a child, causing her to be mentally disturbed and start overthinking. Then she said they should rehearse a scene together. But it wasn't real rehearsal, it was just her self-perceived compensation.

What she wanted was a lifelong commitment, not a one-night pleasure.

The more Qin Yinong wanted her to give up, even resorting to using herself as bait, the more it showed how much she cared about her. But Tang Ruoyao deliberately refused to fulfill her wishes!

So what if Qin Yinong got married and had children? She could wait for her to get divorced and be with her. It's the modern era, she wasn't Shen Muqing, and Tang Ruoyao would never allow her to become Shen Muqing!

Tang Ruoyao took a sip of water, rinsed her mouth noisily, spat it out, and looked firmly at herself in the mirror.

She had made up her mind in this lifetime. Don't even think about her giving up.

Just wait and see.

....

Qin Yinong habitually pinched her brow, but she realized that she had slept so well last night that even her usual morning headache had eased a lot.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Her feelings towards Tang Ruoyao were now indescribably complicated.

She initially thought she had successfully set things up, but unexpectedly, Tang Ruoyao had outsmarted her and turned the tables, causing her to lose both the game and her dignity.

Qin Yinong wondered: Doesn't she feel sad or upset at all? Why does she always carry such fearless courage? Even if a thousand people oppose, she still goes forward. What is it about herself that makes Tang Ruoyao act this way?

Qin Yinong had excellent conditions and had never lacked admirers in the industry. There were also those who tirelessly and earnestly pursued her, using all means to win her heart, praising her to the skies. Qin Yinong had heard it all, but it never affected her. However, Tang Ruoyao had never specifically praised her qualities, yet her persistence made her doubt, "Am I really not that bad?"

"Guan Han." Qin Yinong quietly called her assistant beside her.

There were only the two of them in the first-floor living room. Although Qin Yinong found it strange why she suddenly whispered and spoke like a thief, Guan Han still cooperated and lowered her voice to the same level, softly responding, "Here."

Qin Yinong beckoned to her, and Guan Han approached. It was only then that Qin Yinong asked her in a barely audible voice, "Do you like me?"

Guan Han was taken aback.

"Like the kind of liking for a boss, be honest."

"Oh," Guan Han said, "I do like you."

"What specifically do you like about me?"

"I like that you're generous, pay salaries promptly, and give out bonuses and red envelopes. You have a good temper, don't scold people, aren't temperamental or artificial, fair and just, and can differentiate right from wrong," Guan Han listed the points clearly.

Qin Yinong pondered.

"Would you date someone like me?"

Guan Han choked, "...You're my boss."

"Forget it." Qin Yinong held her forehead with one hand, feeling truly desperate.

Guan Han's eyes shifted, and she whispered, "Qin Jie, do you want to know what Miss Yao really likes about you?"

Qin Yinong's hand slid down from her forehead, covering her face, as a faint pink blush spread across her ears and neck.

She's embarrassed. Guan Han thought. She said, "I can try to find out for you."

One eye peered through the gap between Qin Yinong's fingers, "How would you find out?"

Guan Han replied, "As her assistant, I can try to gather information through casual conversation."

Qin Yinong bit her lower lip and hesitated, "If you can't find out, then forget it. Don't let her know that I asked."

Guan Han replied, "I'll handle it, don't worry."

As they spoke, footsteps could be heard from the staircase. Both of them looked up simultaneously and saw Tang Ruoyao in a white shirt and black trousers, exuding a cool demeanor. She walked while wearing a wristwatch, exerting with a presence alone that overshadowed Qin Yinong downstairs.

Tang Ruoyao nodded slightly towards her, maintaining a polite distance, "The crew's car has arrived. I'll go ahead, see you on set."

"See you on set." Qin Yinong nodded.

Tang Ruoyao took the lead and walked away, her figure exuding an air of aloofness and pride, like a snow lotus blooming alone in the world.

She was tall with long legs, and Xin Qian ran after her while carrying something.

It wasn't until the two of them disappeared at the courtyard gate that Qin Yinong remembered to blink her eyes and, well... breathe.

Qin Yinong took a deep breath, feeling a dry throat and coughing slightly. Guan Han poured her a glass of water.

Qin Yinong moistened her throat, her hand pressed against her chest, feeling the intense beating of her heart, her expression dazed.

What kind of scene is this again?

.....

On set.

Han Yuping assumed Tang Ruoyao would appear with Qin Yinong, so seeing Tang Ruoyao coming alone and noticing the second-to-last button on her collar buttoned up, he couldn't help but get angry.

"You took a day off yesterday, and today it's Qin Yinong's turn, right? Why are you still here? I think this crew is going to break up sooner or later! Pay me the final payment quickly. I can't stand this annoyance!"

Tang Ruoyao faced the criticism head-on, calmly explaining, "I took the crew's car, and Senior Qin will arrive later. I didn't take a day off, so don't worry."

Han Yuping: "Hmm? Why did you take the crew's car? Did you two have a fight?"

Tang Ruoyao: "I was just..."

Han Yuping interrupted her, raising his index finger and pointing at her, "Oh, I see. You had a fight, didn't you? Did that scumbag Qin Yinong provoke you?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated and remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.

She was indeed a little angry.

In the morning, as she tidied up and reflected on the events of the previous night, she gradually grew upset. Qin Yinong could find all sorts of ways to hurt her and make her feel sad, so couldn't she be a little angry?

Even if she was strong, it still took time to process everything. 

In the morning, she didn't have any plans to provoke Qin Yinong or come up with new strategies to deal with it. She was simply angry, which resulted in her cold attitude. That was all.

Tang Ruoyao: "Director Han, are you trying to advise me?" She still remembered the last time Han Yuping said something about being magnanimous and not being petty, in order to have a lasting relationship.

Han Yuping shook his head, expressing solidarity, "I wish you could stay mad at her for a few more days!"

Yesterday, the production was halted for a day due to the producer indulging in pleasure. Han Yuping was furious, and it wasn't so easy for him to let Qin Yinong off the hook. He wished he had a hundred or a thousand mouths to collectively criticize Qin Yinong.

Having a hundred or a thousand mouths wasn't possible, but having Tang Ruoyao's support was good enough.

Tang Ruoyao and Han Yuping stood on the same side, and she said, "Then let's stay mad at her together."

Han Yuping: "Let's make a pledge and promise not to betray each other halfway."

Tang Ruoyao and Han Yuping high-fived, sharing a smile.

Qin Yinong instructed her assistants to wait in the car for the time being, and with Guan Han's cover, she sneaked into the set, looking around but not seeing Han Yuping's figure. She immediately felt relieved and headed straight to the rest area.

Han Yuping's scolding was inevitable, but she would rather endure it in the rest area than be publicly berated in front of the whole crew.

Did she not care about her reputation? Especially when Tang Ruoyao was present, she didn't want to lose face.

Tang Ruoyao messaged Han Yuping: [Director Han, she's here.]

Han Yuping: [Copy that, gather at the entrance of the rest area.]

Two figures approached the rest area from different directions on the set.

Qin Yinong had just taken off her coat and hadn't even had a sip of tea when she heard a knock on the door of the rest area.

Guan Han hung up her coat and went to open the door.

Qin Yinong heard her greeting.

"Director Han." Well, it was expected.

"Miss Tang." There was a pause, and Guan Han continued.

Qin Yinong looked surprised towards the door.

How could Tang Ruoyao come with Han Yuping? Wasn't Han Yuping unable to stand them together? Were they planning to gang up on her and scold her together?

Wasn't this going too far? Yesterday, she took all the blame and endured Han Yuping's scolding for so long. She asked him to spare Tang Ruoyao, and now he's here settle the score today? This old man was inconsistent and couldn't keep his word!

Qin Yinong gritted her teeth and calmly stood up, smiling as she took a few steps forward. "Director Han, didn't we clarify everything yesterday? Why are you involving an innocent person?"

After speaking, she secretly signaled Tang Ruoyao, who was behind Han Yuping, to leave quickly, but Tang Ruoyao pretended not to see it.

Qin Yinong cursed in her mind: What a brainless person. When she should be clever, she's not, and when she shouldn't be, she's acting smart.

Han Yuping had a stern expression. "Ahem."

Qin Yinong said, "Guan Han, serve tea to Director Han and... Miss Tang."

Guan Han brought a pot of tea and first served Han Yuping, then handed it to Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao remained calm and showed no signs of being in imminent danger of being scolded.

Guan Han grew suspicious.

Han Yuping took a sip of tea and cleared his throat. "Hmm, my throat is sore today, and I don't feel like talking much. When you called me yesterday to request leave, what exactly did you confess? Say it again."

Qin Yinong glanced at Tang Ruoyao, looking embarrassed, and whispered, "Um... isn't this inappropriate?" What she said yesterday was all harsh words!

Han Yuping said in a deep voice, "There's nothing inappropriate about it. I think it's quite appropriate. If you don't remember, I can remind you. 'Blame it on me. I didn't hold back.' 'I left a mark, a bit dark, and makeup can't cover it up.'..."

Tang Ruoyao gently raised an eyebrow, subtly showing a hint of confusion.

Qin Yinong, who was closely watching her, immediately interrupted Han Yuping in a low voice, scolding, "What are you saying? The person involved is still here. Don't assume everyone is as thick-skinned as you. The kid has a thin skin."

Han Yuping frowned and turned to ask Tang Ruoyao in surprise, "Thin skin? Xiao Tang, is she talking about you?"

Qin Yinong seized the opportunity and signaled urgently with her eyes. If Tang Ruoyao didn't run now, it would be too late!

Guan Han already had a bad premonition in her heart.

Sure enough, Tang Ruoyao calmly responded, "No, I actually wanted to hear Senior Qin's confessions as well."

Author's Note:

What exactly happened last night?

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