CHAPTER 90

Qin Yinong: "..."

What does it feel like when someone you never doubted would always stand unconditionally by your side suddenly turns against you?

Qin Yinong looked at Tang Ruoyao in disbelief, but Tang Ruoyao didn't avoid her gaze guiltily. Instead, she nodded at her and gave a faint smile.

Qin Yinong's expression froze for a moment.

Han Yuping impatiently said, "Hurry up, what are you dawdling for? We still have to shoot later, so make good use of your time."

Qin Yinong collected her thoughts, adjusted her sleeves, and curved her lips in a half-smile that was almost a smirk. She said, "What's there to say?"

Han Yuping replied, "Confess."

Qin Yinong chuckled and let a few words linger on her tongue before lazily uttering, "What do I have to confess for? I already apologized yesterday, and I took responsibility for the losses incurred by the crew. Don't push your luck, Director Han."

Her attitude suddenly became firm, and every word she spoke made sense, catching Han Yuping off guard.

Han Yuping blurted out, "How shameless can you be?"

Qin Yinong let out a sarcastic "heh" and smiled insincerely, saying, "Is this the first time you've heard about this?" Although she was speaking to Han Yuping, her eyes were fixed on Tang Ruoyao. Her beautiful eyes seemed to be questioning why Tang Ruoyao didn't help her but instead chose to help an outsider.

Outsider? Was Han Yuping an outsider?

Qin Yinong also paused for a moment. Unconsciously, had she started to value Tang Ruoyao so much in her heart?

Han Yuping, relying on his loud voice, couldn't outwit the eloquent and shameless Qin Yinong. He quickly turned to Tang Ruoyao with a pleading look, but to his surprise, Tang Ruoyao was engaged in a "meaningful gaze" with Qin Yinong and didn't spare him a glance.

Han Yuping: "..."

He knew it. This kind of couple who argues at the head of the bed but makes up at the foot of the bed is absolutely unreliable!

Han Yuping coughed heavily twice.

Tang Ruoyao snapped out of the mesmerizing gaze from Qin Yinong's eyes and looked at Han Yuping in confusion. Han Yuping knew he couldn't count on her anymore, but he couldn't swallow his pride, especially when faced with a teammate like Tang Ruoyao. In the end, he chose his own familiar approach—venting and cursing.

After Han Yuping finished his rant and left in a huff, he threw a parting shot, "If it happens again, we're done working together!"

Guan Han escorted Han Yuping off, while Qin Yinong chuckled and looked at Tang Ruoyao with a curved smile in her eyes.

Tang Ruoyao remained calm.

Qin Yinong said, "Tang..."

Tang Ruoyao stood up and coldly said, "I'll take my leave as well, Senior Qin. See you later."

Qin Yinong pursed her thin lips slightly and replied, "...Okay."

Tang Ruoyao brushed past Guan Han, nodded slightly at her, and walked out gracefully.

Qin Yinong watched her fading figure, and her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Is she playing hard to get?

Qin Yinong wondered in suspicion.

.....

"Tang Tang, Senior Qin has come out." Xin Qian quickly reported to Tang Ruoyao, who was engrossed in reading the script.

Tang Ruoyao didn't even lift her head and lightly scolded, "Stop bothering me."

Xin Qian pouted in grievance and muttered, "...Oh." Weren't you staring at her every day? And now you don't care? She's so difficult to please, she can't do anything right. When will she become someone like Guan Han?

Tang Ruoyao calculated in her mind, "For the next three days, no, for today, don't mention Qin Yinong's name to me." If it weren't for the limited time left on set, Tang Ruoyao would have been mad at her for at least three days!

Xin Qian: "Did you have a fight with her?"

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and replied, "Sort of."

Xin Qian understood.

The set today appeared to be unusually quiet.

It was just that without Tang Ruoyao's figure approaching after each take, Qin Yinong felt uneasy everywhere. Her heart felt empty, and her gaze unconsciously turned towards Tang Ruoyao's direction.

Han Yuping: "Cut!"

Tang Ruoyao swiftly released Qin Yinong's hand as if struck by lightning, intending to walk away. But Qin Yinong reached out and quickly grabbed her wrist.

Tang Ruoyao avoided eye contact with her, her eyes half-lowered, looking at the jade-white fingers clasped around her wrist indifferently. She coldly asked, "Is there something you need, Senior Qin?"

Qin Yinong froze for a moment, at a loss for words, and said, "...No, what about you?"

Tang Ruoyao raised her gaze and gave her a perplexted look.

Clearly, you were the one who held onto me, but now you're asking if I have something to say?

Qin Yinong awkwardly let go of her hand, softly apologizing, "I'm sorry."

Tang Ruoyao nodded slightly and walked away.

Han Yuping, not far from them, witnessed Qin Yinong's frustration and felt delighted, as if justice was being served. Finally, there was someone who could teach her a lesson!

The morning shooting went smoothly, and before the lunch break, Han Yuping called Tang Ruoyao over.

Tang Ruoyao respectfully said, "Director Han."

Han Yuping asked her, "Have you noticed something?"

"What?" Tang Ruoyao's heart inexplicably tightened.

"Don't be nervous. Your emotional state today is very good." Han Yuping said. "But you're having an argument with Qin Yinong in real life."

"What?" Tang Ruoyao didn't catch on.

Han Yuping rarely revealed a smile and said, "Haven't you noticed how smoothly you switch between emotions on and off the set? Your control is much better than before. In the past, you would have been affected by reality and your performance would have suffered."

Tang Ruoyao was taken aback and said happily, "Thank you, Director Han."

Han Yuping chuckled, "Why are you thanking me? You still have much more to learn from Qin Yinong."

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips.

"Does hearing her name make you upset?" Han Yuping patted her shoulder and said, "Couples shouldn't hold grudges overnight. If there's a problem, communicate and resolve it in a timely manner, otherwise, it it will grow like a snowball."

Han Yuping was angry, but he still cared about the young couple. Qin Yinong was like a daughter to him, and he wanted the best for her. After being single for so many years, Tang Ruoyao seemed reliable. It would be hard to find another opportunity like this if they missed it.

However... both of them were delicate and gentle women, and they were both in the entertainment industry. It wasn't that Han Yuping was being chauvinistic, but he couldn't help but worry about how they would handle the numerous unknown challenges in the future.

Tang Ruoyao nodded lightly, but she had already made up her mind not to interact with Qin Yinong for the day unless she was coaxed by her.

Coaxed by her?

Tang Ruoyao bitterly smiled. That kind of thing would never happen, right?

During the lunch break, Tang Ruoyao didn't go back to her own dressing room. Instead, she and Han Yuping carried two small stools and sat face-to-face in a secluded corner of the set, chatting quietly.

It was late spring, with mild weather, neither cold nor hot. They sat near the lake, feeling the cool breeze brushing against their cheeks, enjoying the moment.

Tang Ruoyao gently pressed down her disheveled hair that was being teased by the wind, and asked, "Director Han, when did you first meet Senior Qin?"

Han Yuping squinted his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "It's been almost ten years."

"During the filming of 'Hazy'?"

"Mhmm. Actually, we had a brief encounter even before that, but I didn't leave any deep impression," Han Yuping said.

"What was she like back then? Is she much different from now?" Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow.

Han Yuping clicked his tongue. "The difference is not just big, it's like night and day."

"Night and day?" Tang Ruoyao lightly raised her eyebrow.

"It used to be day, now it's night." Han Yuping grumbled. "If I knew she would grow up to be like this, I would never have hang out with her."

"Hahaha." Tang Ruoyao knew he was joking and laughed along.

Han Yuping shook a cigarette out of the pack, skillfully held it between his fingers, and raised it towards Tang Ruoyao. "Mind if I smoke?"

He had a smoking habit and had been resisting it all morning.

Tang Ruoyao shook her head.

Han Yuping lit the cigarette with a lighter, took a deep drag, and exhaled a puff of white smoke. He said, "But I have to say, she has become more mature and adapted to this industry."

"Mhmm."

Han Yuping slowly narrowed his eyes, revealing a nostalgic expression, and began, "She is the most tenacious person I have ever seen. Like a delicate wild grass growing on the edge of a cliff, a gust of wind or a downpour can uproot her at any time, but she stubbornly clings on, refusing to admit defeat. I let her act in my movie partly because she does have talent, and partly because I was curious about how long she could persist."

Han Yuping casually mentioned things that Tang Ruoyao didn't know about, causing a strange pain in her heart. She temporarily suppressed her curiosity, didn't interrupt, and patiently listened to Han Yuping.

"Do you know how she approached me for an audition?" Han Yuping said. "Once, I attended a dinner party, and on the way back, it was late at night. Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the roadside and stopped my car. The driver swerved abruptly, and the tires scraped her leg. It was a close call, she could have been thrown away if it weren't for a small margin. I've seen artists go crazy for an audition opportunity, but I've never seen anyone so reckless."

Tang Ruoyao listened to his narration with lingering fear. Her throat tightened, and she asked softly, "Why was she so... so reckless?"

Han Yuping tapped his index finger on his knee and frowned. "She didn't tell you about what happened before?"

Tang Ruoyao shook her head.

Han Yuping suddenly realized something and a hint of annoyance appeared in his eyes. Of course, no woman would confide such a difficult-to-discuss matter to her lover. Even Han Yuping himself had conducted the investigation when he decided to help Qin Yinong back then. Afterwards, the two of them tacitly avoided bringing it up.

Han Yuping took a drag of his cigarette and sighed. "I guess it was because she felt it was the only opportunity she could seize at that time. If she failed, the consequences would be worse than death."

Fortunately, she won the gamble.

Han Yuping continued, "I got out of the car to check on her injuries, intending to take her to the hospital. At that time, I wasn't quite familiar with her face and thought she was just a random passerby who accidentally got hit. But then she climbed up on her own, limping and leaning on a lamppost, introduced herself. and she asked me for an audition opportunity. If I didn't have time, she could perform for me on the spot. Ten minutes, no, five minutes, even one minute would do."

"Were you dumbfounded?"

"I had to be dumbfounded." Han Yuping said. "I thought this person must be crazy or something."

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Tang Ruoyao's lips, but her heart felt heavy.

She couldn't imagine that Qin Yinong back then was willing to risk her life, embracing a mindset of facing death and not hesitating to gamble for a faint chance of survival. She wondered how Qin Yinong, facing Han Yuping who got out of the car, managed to maintain her composure and speak those words.

"Did you agree to let her audition?"

"I'm not as stubborn like her, I'm talking about the current Qin Yinong." Han Yuping said. "Of course, I didn't agree. I wanted to take her to the hospital to treat her injuries first, but she refused to go no matter what and demanded an answer from me. You know, I may appear cold, but I have a soft heart..."

Tang Ruoyao gave him a skeptical look.

Han Yuping corrected himself, saying, "...Alright, actually, it was because I was having trouble finding a satisfactory actress for 'Hazy.' I had seen countless actresses, big and small, in the industry, and many people knew that I was worried about casting for the film. She came and presented herself in a way that catered to my preferences, so I thought, why not give it a try? It would only take a few minutes of my time."

"So, in the end, did you let her audition on the street?" 

Tang Ruoyao grasped the key point.

Han Yuping cleared his throat. "I was in a hurry to get home. My wife was waiting for me. Besides, it was her own request. She was afraid that I would forget about her due to my busy work, so she couldn't wait and started performing. She was quite daring."

"At that time, she should have been quite famous. You let her perform on the street? And while limping? What if it made the news?" Tang Ruoyao, separated by years, complained on behalf of the previous Qin Yinong.

Han Yuping felt guilty. "I didn't know her back then." After a moment, he justified himself, saying, "She had acted in those crappy TV dramas before. Can they be called works? She was such a promising talent. It would have been great if she had come to me from the beginning. Instead, the talent agency squeezed her for three years."

Han Yuping lamented, "That's three whole years. She has only been in the industry for twelve years, and a quarter of it was wasted!"

A thought flashed through Tang Ruoyao's mind, and she asked eagerly, "What was the name of her previous talent agency?"

Han Yuping waved his hand dismissively. "I forgot. Who cares about that? It was a small company. The contract termination between Qin Yinong and that agency caused quite a stir back then, but it faded away later. It probably went out of business." He smirked. "That agency had a notorious reputation. They exploited people without mercy. It's strange if they could sign any new artists."

"A notorious reputation?"

"They were involved in some disgusting scandals that are not suitable for your ears." Han Yuping squinted and exhaled smoke.

Han Yuping was not interested in discussing it, but Tang Ruoyao was curious. She had a strong intuition that there was a significant connection between Qin Yinong and her previous talent agency. So she probed, "What was the reason for Qin Yinong's contract termination with the original agency?"

"They had different plans for her future route. Her agency treated her as a money-making machine, scheduling her day and night for various engagements—filming, endorsements, stage performances—whatever brought in quick money. She didn't have a professional background in acting and was completely ignorant about it. The agency had a short-sighted vision and didn't even provide her with a proper acting coach, fearing it would waste her money-making time. She found one by herself, but she ended up being too busy to attend the classes. With her talent in acting, if it weren't for that, how could she have made no progress in three years and remained stagnant in lousy films?" Han Yuping paused, deliberately concealing another more significant part of the story. "She had her own opinions and didn't want to continue like that. She had constant conflicts with the agency, and in the end, the conflicts escalated to a point where they couldn't be resolved. So... she unilaterally terminated the contract."

Han Yuping let out a sigh of relief, his eyes filled with moisture as he turned his head to look at the rippling lake.

Tang Ruoyao sniffed.

Suddenly, she understood why Qin Yinong was so resentful of her submissive attitude towards Ruan Qin. With Qin Yinong's protection, she was still oppressed by Ruan Qin. As for Qin Yinong in the past, she could only rely on herself and work hard step by step.

How did she spend those three years? The incident with the white paint seems to have happened during that time. Tang Ruoyao's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Wait... Tang Ruoyao's eyebrows furrowed.

Although Han Yuping glossed over many things or didn't mention them at all, according to the timeline, Qin Yinong went to find Han Yuping three years after her debut. If it was just a difference in career planning, why would she risk everything for a chance? Why would she be pushed to a desperate situation?

Something must have happened in between!

"Director Han!" Tang Ruoyao called out to him urgently.

Han Yuping turned around, his gaze calm as he looked at her.

"Since she hasn't told you, it means it's not the right time." Han Yuping flicked the ash from his fingertips and said calmly, "I've already told you as much as I can. If you have any more questions, I don't know."

He was starting to regret opening up this topic. He didn't know if Qin Yinong would be angry. But since they were already a couple, how could Tang Ruoyao not know anything? What kind of love is that?

"When did you two get together?" Han Yuping turned the tables and asked curiously.

"...It's been a while." Tang Ruoyao answered vaguely.

"One or two years?"

"Something like that."

"Mm, that's quite a while." Han Yuping found the answer to his question. "Do you rarely see each other normally?" That's why they lacked opportunities for communication. Young couples in the honeymoon phase don't have time to talk about their bad moods.

Tang Ruoyao hummed in agreement with his words, "We see each other once every three months, I guess."

"That's not easy." Han Yuping sighed.

"It's alright." Tang Ruoyao said, looking down.

"You two did a good job keeping it a secret. Not a single rumor came out. Especially Qin Yinong, with all the fake news flying around, you've managed to keep it really low-key." Han Yuping clicked his tongue.

"At the beginning, I almost believed those news, thinking that Senior Qin was really as the media portrayed her, charming and romantic. They were just one of her many close female friends." Tang Ruoyao smiled.

"Well, none of those can be trusted, they're all fake." Han Yuping leaned closer to her ear and whispered, 

"Let me tell you a secret."

Tang Ruoyao eagerly listened, and Han Yuping whispered in her ear, "She had never been in a relationship before, so you should be her first love."

Tang Ruoyao's lips couldn't help but curl up in a smile.

Han Yuping sat back and raised an eyebrow at her.

Tang Ruoyao sincerely said, "Thank you, Director Han."

Han Yuping said, "So, if there's anything she does wrong, be more forgiving. If it really bothers you, tell me, and I'll educate her on your behalf."

This was his true purpose, to speak up for Qin Yinong.

The heart of a parent is truly pitiful.

With a thought in her mind, Tang Ruoyao subtly set a trap for Han Yuping and smiled, "Director Han really resembles Senior Qin's father. Some biological fathers can't even compare to what you've done."

Han Yuping waved his hand, "Don't mock me, and don't mention the term 'father' in front of her either."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why?"

Han Yuping scoffed, "Her father is not a good person."

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, as expected.

"By the way, Yinong calls me 'uncle' in private. If you don't mind, you can call me 'uncle' too." Han Yuping said.

Tang Ruoyao revealed a restrained smile and said, "Qin Yinong hasn't formally introduced me to you yet, so let's change that in the future, Director Han."

Han Yuping thought about it and agreed that there should be a sense of ceremony.. "That's true, after we finish filming, when we have time, I'll invite you both to my house as guests. At that time, my wife and I will give you a red envelope."

Tang Ruoyao's cheeks slightly turned pink.

Han Yuping was thinking too far ahead.

If he knew that she hadn't won over Qin Yinong yet and was only pretending to be her girlfriend, it would be considered deceiving and fraudulent. Tang Ruoyao's overheated brain gradually cooled down, and she dared not fantasize anymore.

"Xiao Tang, how is your family doing?" Uncle Han started asking the typical questions a father would ask a son-in-law.

.....

Qin Yinong saw Han Yuping chatting with Tang Ruoyao by the lake before entering the rest area. She squinted and saw that they were still talking and laughing. Today, they had teamed up to target her the whole morning—one ignoring her except for acting, and the other ignored her except for directing.

Qin Yinong watched from a distance for a while and couldn't help but approach them.

Tang Ruoyao, with sharp eyes, alerted Han Yuping, "Senior Qin is here!"

Han Yuping quickly changed the topic and looked into the distance, where the reeds swayed in the wind.

Qin Yinong walked closer, a few steps away from the two. She half-bent down, calmly smiled, and asked, "What are you two talking about?"

The two of them acted as if they hadn't heard her.

Han Yuping pointed to the sky, pointing in a certain direction. "Xiao Tang, does that cloud look like a dog?"

Tang Ruoyao suppressed her laughter, cleared her throat, and continued, "I think it looks more like a unicorn."

"Does it have a horn?" Han Yuping asked curiously.

"Yes, it does. Isn't that the horn? Look..."

A shadow fell before their eyes, blocking their view. Qin Yinong stood tall in front of Tang Ruoyao, looking down at her and asked coldly, "Are clouds really that interesting to look at?"

"They're alright." Tang Ruoyao replied calmly.

Qin Yinong commanded, "No more looking at clouds, look at me."

However, Tang Ruoyao didn't react shyly as she expected. She cast a glance at Qin Yinong, implying 'you're acting really strange.' then brushed off the dirt off her hands and stood up, taking her folding stool and walking away.

Han Yuping, on the side, pretended to eat sunflower seeds and casually commented, "Arrogant! The domineering CEO act is outdated. Young people need to keep up with the times, or they'll be eliminated by the era."

Qin Yinong turned her face and gave him a fierce glare.

Han Yuping wasn't afraid of her and stared back.

Han Yuping said, "Are you trying to compete with me to see whose eyes are bigger? Your wife is waiting for you. If you don't chase after your wife, she'll run away."

Qin Yinong silently followed Tang Ruoyao's figure.

Tang Ruoyao caught a glimpse of Qin Yinong catching up and felt a surge of joy in her heart. She consciously slowed down her pace, but little did she know that Qin Yinong also slowed down, maintaining a distance that wasn't too far nor too close.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She truly believed Han Yuping when he said that Qin Yinong had never been in a romantic relationship before.

Tang Ruoyao's heart softened. She stopped first, turned around, and faced Qin Yinong, waiting for her to come closer.

But unexpectedly, Qin Yinong turned her head and walked away, with her back facing Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao froze.

She was furious!

Tang Ruoyao brushed her sleeves and walked away, completely ignoring Qin Yinong.

Guan Han, who witnessed everything, sighed, finding it incredible. "..."

To turn a relationship into this, it truly takes some skill.

Qin Yinong walked a distance and quietly turned around, but she couldn't even see a trace of Tang Ruoyao. Instantly, she became furious, the anger burning within her.

This is so inexplicable!

In the afternoon, the two of them stayed in different corners of the set, not acknowledging each other completely.

Han Yuping felt a sense of familiarity with the scene before him. Wasn't this a replay of the day they filmed the kissing scene? But back then, their relationship was ambiguous according to the script, which matched the characters' emotions. Now, during the honeymoon phase, they were acting like they were in a cold war.

Could it be that they weren't really immersed in the scene last time and were just having a petty argument?

Han Yuping: "..."

These two troublesome people are keeping their distance. Han Yuping couldn't be bothered to go to each of them individually, so he raised a loudspeaker and said, "Let's start rehearsing. The main actors come over here."

Both of them stood up at the same time, walked towards Han Yuping, and stood side by side. There was enough space for another Han Yuping in between them. Han Yuping looked at Qin Yinong, then at Tang Ruoyao, and remained silent.

The two of them took a step closer, reducing the distance by half.

Han Yuping reluctantly nodded in satisfaction and began giving instructions. After a few minutes, they started filming.

Han Yuping, watching the monitor, furrowed his brow, forming a knot. "Cut."

Han Yuping took a deep breath and spoke harshly to Tang Ruoyao, "I just praised you this morning, saying that you wouldn't let your emotions affect your performance, and now you're slacking off in the afternoon. Look at what you're portraying!?"

"Where is the passionate love in your eyes? I want passion and surging emotions. Who are you trying to deceive with this half-hearted effort?"

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head in shame, her face turning red.

Qin Yinong listened to her scolding without showing any expression.

Han Yuping dropped the loudspeaker, it hit the table with a dull thud, and he said in a dark tone, "Adjust it, three minutes."

Three minutes later, as expected, Tang Ruoyao hadn't made any adjustments.

Han Yuping said, "Two minutes, one more take."

Tang Ruoyao's face turned pale.

Qin Yinong pursed her lips and looked at Tang Ruoyao.

The third time.

Before this take could even finish, Han Yuping coldly shouted "Cut." He stood up from behind the monitor and angrily said, "You—"

Qin Yinong interrupted him, "Director Han."

Han Yuping, accustomed to this, waved his hand irritably and said, "Take her away quickly."

Qin Yinong glanced around and led Tang Ruoyao towards her dressing room. Tang Ruoyao wasn't very willing, but she knew that Qin Yinong wanted to teach her, so she obediently followed her.

As for why they had to go to the dressing room, she couldn't figure it out and didn't bother to think about it.

The dressing room was quiet and empty. Qin Yinong walked ahead and entered first, while Tang Ruoyao followed and closed the door behind her.

She turned around and met Qin Yinong's gaze.

Qin Yinong's eyes were deep and profound. She looked at Tang Ruoyao without saying a word. Suddenly, she took a step forward, and instinctively, Tang Ruoyao took a step back.

She moved closer, and Tang Ruoyao stepped back.

The woman approached her, step by step, getting closer and closer, until she almost pressed Tang Ruoyao against the door. Tang Ruoyao felt uncomfortable all over, and the cool scent that brushed past her nostrils intoxicated her. She suppressed the tickling sensation in her throat and couldn't help but speak first, "Senior—"

She suddenly widened her eyes, and her words disappeared in her throat.

Qin Yinong lowered her head and kissed her.

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT