CHAPTER 92

A knocking sound rang out.

"Shh." Qin Yinong gestured to Qin Jianing in the video. "Mom will go and open the door. I'll be back in a moment."

"Okay." Ningning obediently responded.

Qin Yinong placed her phone upside down on the bedside table, adjusted her expression to a faint yet polite smile, and walked towards the door. The only person who would come knocking on her door at this time was Tang Ruoyao.

Less than an hour ago, Qin Yinong had just rejected Tang Ruoyao's request to use the bathroom, one reason being that the child had already taken advantage of her generosity today, and the other reason was that she had scheduled a video call with Ningning.

What excuse did she have now?

Qin Yinong opened the door and greeted in a warm voice, "Miss Tang." A hint of well-placed confusion and distress creased her brow. "You're looking for me so late. Is there something wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao stood at her door, her thin lips pursed, not saying a word.

"Miss Tang?"

"I came to borrow something." Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth slightly, stammering.

"Borrow what?"

"To borrow..." Tang Ruoyao's eyes flickered, hesitating.

Qin Yinong's lips curved slightly. How could she not see that Tang Ruoyao was making up excuses on the spot?

"To borrow a book." Tang Ruoyao had a sudden inspiration and said, "Yes, I came to borrow a book. It's still early, and I was bored in my room, so I wanted to ask Senior Qin for a book to read."

"Don't you have a lot of books with you?" Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow, not easily fooled this time.

"I've already read them all." Tang Ruoyao looked at her, unfazed.

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and said, "Come in."

Both Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao were people who cherished books. They were afraid of getting them dusty, so besides the one they usually read and kept on the bedside table, the rest were stored in a dedicated box. It was no wonder they both had personal assistants. The box of books was like a portable library, something an ordinary person wouldn't carry around.

Qin Yinong glanced at her phone not far away, then withdrew her gaze and looked at Tang Ruoyao, who was squatting on the ground, carefully selecting books.

"Senior Qin, do you like reading e-books?" Tang Ruoyao found a casual topic to chat with her. Although she came impulsively, it didn't mean she didn't know what to say. In fact, she was even more aware of it, which made her more determined and full of fighting spirit.

Qin Yinong was like a puzzle-type treasure hunting game. Since joining the crew, she had been in the process of understanding her, and every bit of information she gained helped piece together a larger part of the puzzle. In the end, the complete puzzle would reveal the unique treasure hidden in the cave.

The more precious it was, the more winding and lengthy the path to it would be, and she had long been prepared for it.

"E-books lack immersion." Qin Yinong urged her in a soft voice, "Have you made your selection? You can take the whole box and choose at your own pace."

"..." Tang Ruoyao hesitated for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Is Senior Qin busy?"

Qin Yinong nodded. 

"Then I won't be polite." Tang Ruoyao readily complied, closed the box lid, and pushed the heavy box towards the exit.

Qin Yinong sat at the bedside and said, "Please close the door on your way out. Thank you."

Hearing the sound of the door lock clicking, Qin Yinong was still not at ease. She got up and checked before finally picking up her phone. Ningning was already familiar with Tang Ruoyao's voice, so there was no need to confirm with Qin Yinong—it was her.

The child had a mysterious obsession with her mother's friends and asked again when she could meet them. Qin Yinong continued to appease her with excuses like "when I have time."

Qin Jianing pouted.

Qin Yinong coaxed her, "Mom will bring you a gift next time she comes home. What would you like?"

Changing the subject didn't work on clever children like Ningning. She turned her face away and, unusually, showed a bit of a temper.

A mature female voice came through the video, and Qin Yinong said, "Mom."

Ji Shulan placed the pure white Turkish Angora cat they raised on the sofa, and Ningning's attention was immediately drawn to it. She lowered her head and started playing with the cat. Ji Shulan awkwardly adjusted the tablet's camera to focus on herself.

Qin Yinong: "How have you been recently?"

Ji Shulan examined her carefully and replied, "I'm doing fine. And how about you? You seem to have lost weight again."

"I haven't lost weight, I've actually gained some." Qin Yinong pinched her cheek and smiled.

Ji Shulan nodded and remarked, "Hmm, your face does look a bit rounder."

Qin Yinong chuckled.

Ji Shulan paused for a moment and offered the usual advice, "Take care of yourself and don't push yourself too hard."

"I know," Qin Yinong asked with concern, "How is Ningning doing at kindergarten?"

Ji Shulan couldn't help but smile, "She's doing well. Before our video call today, her teacher even called to praise her, saying she is obedient, sensible, and has a strong sense of self-discipline." Ji Shulan's smile faded slightly as she thought about something, and she glanced at Ningning playing nearby. She whispered, "The teacher also mentioned that she's too quiet, a bit introverted, and doesn't play much with other children. It was fine last semester, but it's becoming more noticeable this semester."

"Has she been bullied at school?" Qin Yinong knew that nowadays, regardless of age, children tend to compare themselves and want to appear different from others even before they fully understand material possessions. Qin Jianing's situation was even more difficult—she didn't have a father, and Qin Yinong didn't want her to mention her mother outside, preferably not at all. So, she could only quietly hide in a corner and not participate in conversations.

Ji Shulan fell silent for a moment and replied, "Yes... some children have been saying mean things about her."

A stern expression crossed Qin Yinong's face, and she said in a low voice, "I see."

Qin Yinong and Ji Shulan deliberately avoided discussing Ningning further and chatted for a while. Ji Shulan asked Ningning to come and say goodnight to Qin Yinong before ending the video call.

Qin Yinong leaned back against the headboard, interlacing her hands behind her head, and stared blankly at the bright white ceiling lamp above.

.....

In the room next door, Tang Ruoyao flipped through the book covers in Qin Yinong's box, took pictures of them, and aside from psychology, most of them were about philosophy. She chose a biography of Ludwig Wittgenstein, placed it on the nearby bedside table within reach, and prepared to return the rest of the books.

She found another opportunity to knock on the door.

Qin Yinong didn't get up this time but simply called out, "Come in." She didn't lock the door.

Tang Ruoyao pushed the door open, returned the box to its original position, and reported what she had taken. Qin Yinong absentmindedly acknowledged with a sound of agreement.

"Do you have something on your mind, Senior Qin?" Tang Ruoyao asked.

"Yes." Qin Yinong replied.

Tang Ruoyao walked over and took the initiative to extend her hands, placing her fingertips on Qin Yinong's temples, gently massaging them.

Qin Yinong didn't expect her to be so bold, but instead of reprimanding her, she closed her eyes docilely, feeling the appropriate pressure on her temples. The tension in her nerves slowly relaxed.

Tang Ruoyao didn't take advantage of the situation and continued massaging in a proper manner.

Lately, due to the progress of the movie's plot, Tang Ruoyao's eyes were blinded by their seemingly rapid-developing relationship. Qin Yinong's attitude had taken a 180-degree turn compared to before, showing much more indulgence. But that didn't mean she accepted or was trying to accept Tang Ruoyao. It was just another form of passive resistance. Once the movie was finished, Qin Yinong would unhesitatingly return their relationship to its original state.

A woman who was heartless to her and even more heartless to herself.

Compared to physical intimacy, what Tang Ruoyao wanted now was to touch Qin Yinong's tightly guarded heart as much as possible. Because of this tranquility, she was particularly free of distractions.

The room was quiet, perhaps influenced by Tang Ruoyao's composed temperament. The soreness in Qin Yinong's temples subsided to some extent.

"That's enough." she opened her eyes, feeling relieved, and sincerely said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Senior Qin." Tang Ruoyao withdrew her hand and humorously remarked, "If you feel guilty, just transfer money to me."

Qin Yinong reached for her phone and transferred money to Tang Ruoyao through WeChat. She looked at the red envelope records flowing in and out, lost in thought.

Tang Ruoyao hadn't brought her phone with her, but she leaned over to take a peek. She immediately smiled, a hint of melancholy hidden in her smile.

They had been on set for so long, and even though they weren't together all the time, they hadn't had a serious conversation through text messages in private. Didn't this indicate something?

After a brief pause, Qin Yinong lightly tapped a few times on the keyboard and sent a red envelope.

"Good night."

"Good night." Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips and slowly exited, gently closing the door behind her.

Qin Yinong took a bottle of wine from the wine cabinet, poured a glass and placed it on a small table next to the balcony lounge chair. She sat in the lounge chair herself, reading by the light from the balcony. After a while, the phone next to the wine glass vibrated.

She slid open the screen, and below the record of the red envelope, a message popped up: [Wittgenstein's last words were, "Tell them I've had a wonderful life." even though his entire life was filled with pain and despair. Do you think he was genuinely optimistic or pretending to be after his death to establish his reputation?]

Qin Yinong: "..."

What a boring topic to bring up in the middle of the night.

But Qin Yinong still replied: [Have you finished reading the book?]

Tang Ruoyao obediently answered: [Not yet, just read ten pages.]

Qin Yinong: [Did you search online for information about the person?]

Tang Ruoyao anxiously scratched her ear and cheek in her room, expecting to be scolded.

Qin Yinong typed: [I asked you to write study notes before, did you just search for summaries online?]

Tang Ruoyao hurriedly replied: [No, I went to read the book.]

She just wanted to have a conversation with Qin Yinong, so she came up with the idea of using the book she had just borrowed. She quickly searched for a famous quote and went to ask Qin Yinong about it, only to be exposed by Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong: [I'll punish you even if I have to wait for the right moment. Do you have to choose a specific day? (This emperor will punish you.jpg)]

Tang Ruoyao stuck out her tongue and started earnestly reading the book, a slight smile forming at the corner of her lips.

At least Qin Yinong was willing to discuss it with her, right?

Qin Yinong stared at the message on the screen, no longer the record of the red envelope, and hesitated for a moment. She exited the conversation and sent a message to Guan Han: [Buy me another copy of "Wittgenstein's Biography" and put it in the drawer of my bedside table tomorrow.]

She happened to have not read this book yet, and if Tang Ruoyao finished reading it, she would probably be clueless about it.

....

"Morning." Tang Ruoyao came out of her room and yawned. Her voice was hoarse and low, her face pale without makeup, and she looked tired.

"Morning." Qin Yinong asked, "What time did you go to sleep last night?"

Tang Ruoyao recalled and deliberately subtracted two hours, whispering, "Around one o'clock."

Disapproval flashed in Qin Yinong's eyes. "You dared to sleep so late when you had filming during the day? Books are meant to broaden your horizons. Your main focus should be on studying the scripts, not getting lost in trivial matters."

"When did you go to sleep, Senior Qin?" Tang Ruoyao asked. After being neighbors for so long, Tang Ruoyao could probably guess that Qin Yinong didn't go to bed too early at night.

"Before midnight." Qin Yinong lied without changing her expression.

Years of insomnia had become a habit for her, and she didn't need as much sleep as a normal person to restore her energy.

"Oh," Tang Ruoyao didn't know whether to believe it or not, and smiled slightly. "I'll go to bed early today. I got too absorbed in reading unintentionally yesterday, so that's why I slept late."

Qin Yinong looked at her with deep eyes but didn't say anything. She took the lead and walked towards the stairs.

Tang Ruoyao followed behind her.

Xin Qian, who messed up her job last time, suddenly became diligent and was waiting downstairs early. As soon as she saw Tang Ruoyao, she quickly approached and said, "Tang Tang, the crew said we'll have an outdoor shoot today, and the road will be bumpy. They're asking if you want to go together with Senior Qin in her car or if they should send a car to pick you up."

Tang Ruoyao and Xin Qian both looked at Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow. "Come with me."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Sorry for the trouble, Senior Qin."

Xin Qian replied, "Then I'll go and inform them."

The electronic version of the production crew's notice was sent to Guan Han's mobile phone. Guan Han showed it to Qin Yinong, whose lips turned slightly pale. She knew in advance that this scene was in the script, but she didn't expect it to come so soon.

Bungee jumping.

Shen Muqing and Han Zifei's honeymoon activities.

Now it was Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao's turn to go bungee jumping. The location was a scenic area about forty kilometers away. It would take about an hour to drive there. Given their professionalism, they naturally wouldn't use stunt doubles and would do it themselves.

"Miss Tang, are you afraid of heights?"

A question came from beside her, and Tang Ruoyao was taken aback before replying, "Not really." Sensing something unusual in Qin Yinong's expression, she paused and asked, "Are you afraid?"

"I... um, not really." came the uncertain response.

Tang Ruoyao looked at her suspiciously.

Qin Yinong turned her gaze elsewhere.

On the set, Han Yuping arrived first, and the crew members were busy setting up the equipment, bustling yet quiet.

Below the bungee jumping platform was a deep gorge, and there was a vast lake that appeared tiny within the field of vision. Many of the crew members were trembling in fear, walking around it from a distance.

Qin Yinong's car was parked on the outskirts of the set. Many of her assistants didn't come with her today, but she brought Xin Qian along for the first time.

Tang Ruoyao got out of the car first, took a few steps, then stopped and turned back, waiting for Qin Yinong. Ten meters away was a cliff, and across from it were towering peaks. Tang Ruoyao considerately let Qin Yinong walk on the inner side and intentionally turned her body to block Qin Yinong's peripheral vision towards the surroundings.

Originally, it was Guan Han who would play this role, but with Tang Ruoyao present, Guan Han voluntarily stepped back behind Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong glanced at her, her pale lips pursed slightly.

Tang Ruoyao smiled at her.

Qin Yinong knew that she had figured it out, so she didn't pretend otherwise and whispered, "Thank you."

She wasn't afraid of heights, but she instinctively feared being close to dangerous places and didn't dare to look down from a high point. Besides, bungee jumping was something that very few ordinary people could face with a carefree attitude.

Except... Tang Ruoyao in front of her.

Qin Yinong: "..."

The wind was strong on the cliff, and Qin Yinong's slender figure swayed in the wind. Tang Ruoyao quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her, never letting go since then.

"When I was a freshman, during a vacation, the whole dormitory went on a trip. We tried bungee jumping, so it's not a big deal." Her voice was shattered by the gusty wind that passed by. Tang Ruoyao had to get close to Qin Yinong's ear and repeated it again.

In the wind, they walked and talked, their figures both unstable. Tang Ruoyao's lips occasionally brushed against Qin Yinong's earlobe. It wasn't intentional, nor was she taking advantage of the situation.

After a few more sentences, Qin Yinong raised her finger and pressed against her ear, covering the hot earlobe, and said, "Let's talk later. I can't hear clearly."

"Okay."

Finally, they entered a sheltered area and brought two chairs, sitting facing each other.

"At that time, it was in City N. We were just ordinary students at a well-known water sports tourist attraction. Wen Shuxian was more daring and loved to play. She dragged us straight to bungee jumping. Cui Jiaran's legs went weak on the cable car to the bungee jumping platform. She was terrified the whole time, and in the end, Wen Shuxian and I had to each support her with our arm to get her up there."

Qin Yinong had her hands in the pockets of her coat, slightly bending her waist to warm her hands quickly.

"You used to be quite lively." Qin Yinong said, unable to imagine that Tang Ruoyao would play such a prank of "pushing someone to their limits."

"I'm still lively now." Tang Ruoyao demonstrated a lively expression right there.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but suppress her laughter.

"I'm still cute, a little salty, a little sweet, adorable and capable. You deserve to have me." Tang Ruoyao smiled.

Qin Yinong wasn't very familiar with internet slang, but she had a general idea of what "salty" meant. But wasn't it a bit embarrassing to say it so openly? Or was Tang Ruoyao deliberately speaking provocatively in front of her? Testing her?

She glanced at Tang Ruoyao with a puzzled expression.

Tang Ruoyao slapped her forehead and exclaimed, "Oh!" She showed Qin Yinong the definition she found on her phone.

Qin Yinong remained silent for a while.

So that's what it meant. Did she indulge herself too much last night, that her mind was filled with nonsense thoughts?

"Senior Qin?" Tang Ruoyao softly called out when she noticed Qin Yinong lost in thought.

"Um, I heard that many people are pushed off the bungee jumping platform, is that true?" Qin Yinong uncomfortably cleared her throat, urgently needing to change the subject and clear her mind.

"Ah, yes, when I was in line at the back, out of every ten people, nine of them stood on the platform without daring to move and were eventually pushed off."

"What about you?"

"I jumped on my own."

"Impressive."

"To be honest, the scariest part is the short walk before reaching the bungee jumping platform, and also right before jumping. Once you actually jump, the nerves calm down a bit." Tang Ruoyao hinted at something. "It's natural for people to fear the unknown, but if you keep hesitating and overthinking, you'll miss out on many wonderful life experiences."

Qin Yinong lowered her gaze and remained silent.

Tang Ruoyao smiled again. "Later, you can carefully feel the whistling wind by your ear, and remember, you must keep your eyes open and look at the scenery of the mountains on both sides. It's a precious experience. Of course, if you're really scared, you can close your eyes. It doesn't matter if you don't look. It's not worth scaring yourself for nothing."

Qin Yinong evaded the answer and said, "Let's go and do our makeup."

Han Yuping called the two of them together to discuss the scene. Due to the strong wind, their heads were close together. Han Yuping said, "Later, Qin Yinong should show fear, and Tang Ruoyao, you're responsible for comforting her and jumping together..."

Qin Yinong thought to herself, 'Great, I have to act naturally again.'

At the bungee jumping platform, the staff checked and ensured that both of them had the complete set of safety measures, then signaled to Han Yuping.

Han Yuping loudly announced, "Get ready."

"Scene one, take one of 'True Colors,' action!"

Qin Yinong's face turned pale, devoid of any color on her lips. The strong wind lifted her long hair as she clutched the railing, continuously shrinking backward. She licked her dry lips and said, "Zifei, maybe I should... maybe..."

"Do you trust me?" Tang Ruoyao gazed at her intently.

"I do, but..."

Tang Ruoyao stood just a step away from her and reached out a hand.

Qin Yinong shook her head, her eyes becoming teary. "I'm scared."

"It's very safe, don't be afraid." Tang Ruoyao turned her palm upward, speaking softly. "Give me your hand."

Qin Yinong continued to shake her head.

Tang Ruoyao approached and gently pried open Qin Yinong's hand clutching the railing. Her movements were gentle, and she then wrapped Qin Yinong's hands around her own waist. Step by step, they moved backward, with a sheer cliff behind them.

Qin Yinong couldn't see the cliff behind her, she resembled a desperate gambler. But Qin Yinong could see it all—her hesitant steps, her attempt to pull Tang Ruoyao back, but Tang Ruoyao's resolve in her steps.

"You'll know once you try." Tang Ruoyao stepped to the edge of the bungee jumping platform, revealing a stunning smile. She leaned backward and soared into the air.

In an instant, the world spun, with the head down and feet up. The two of them embraced each other as they fell from the bungee jumping platform.

They became two tiny dots in the vast expanse of the sky and earth.

Their bodies descended rapidly, accompanied by a sense of weightlessness. Despite the whistling wind in their ears, it didn't bring noise but rather an extreme silence, evoking a faint sense of tranquility.

Everything stood still.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but open her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Tang Ruoyao's black hair near her neck. A few strands were blown by the wind, tightly pressed against her fair and delicate neck. When Qin Yinong came down, almost instinctively, she buried her face in the nape of Tang Ruoyao's neck.

"How was it?" Tang Ruoyao gently whispered in her ear, "Were you scared?"

Qin Yinong wanted to shake her head, but she didn't dare to make such a motion in mid-air. Instead, she spoke, "Not scared."

It's not that she wasn't scared, but Tang Ruoyao's arms held her tightly, surrounded by a comforting and serene aura that made her forget her fear.

Even if she were to die in this very moment, as long as she was with Tang Ruoyao, she would willingly accept it.

The script didn't require any lines for this part, so Tang Ruoyao freely improvised, as long as she didn't call out Qin Yinong's real name. She exclaimed, "There's a deer that ran into the woods on the left side. It ran so fast, and its antlers were red! Did you see it?"

Qin Yinong looked in the direction she indicated, feeling dizzy and unable to see anything. She honestly replied, "No, I didn't see anything. How could there be a deer here?"

"It seems to be some kind of nature reserve." Tang Ruoyao said, holding back her laughter.

Qin Yinong stared for a while and said, "I feel a little dizzy."

"Then close your eyes."

But Qin Yinong didn't close them. Behind her were towering mountains, and in front of her was Tang Ruoyao's beautiful face just inches away. She couldn't free her hands, so she gently rubbed her cheek against Tang Ruoyao's cheek. "If time could stand still here forever, that would be wonderful."

"As long as you're willing, anything is possible." Tang Ruoyao stroked the long hair behind her and lightly kissed the woman's ear through the strands.

.....

The crew removed the safety equipment from both of them. Qin Yinong hadn't fully recovered, her face pale, heart pounding, head spinning. She leaned her forehead against Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, trying to steady her breathing.

Two assistants hurried over, offering water to each of them.

Qin Yinong waved them off for the time being, and Guan Han moved to take the water back. Tang Ruoyao took Qin Yinong's water instead.

They went to meet the director together. Han Yuping wasn't so heartless as to make them jump again. He pointed out a few flaws in the bungee jumping scene and re-shot it twice, showing mercy in the end.

After shouting "cut," Qin Yinong immediately ran over to Guan Han's side and didn't stay alone with Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao didn't insist on staying either and flipped through the script by herself. They rode back to the set together in the evening.

On the return journey, Qin Yinong was lost in thought, while Tang Ruoyao's phone suddenly rang.

Qin Yinong heard her speaking in a hushed voice on the phone, then suddenly raising her voice, displaying an unprecedented panic, but trying to calm the other person down with forced composure. Unable to help herself, Qin Yinong raised her eyebrows, showing surprise.

"Don't worry, don't cry. Stay at your classmate's place for now, and I'll be right back."

Qin Yinong saw Tang Ruoyao's hand trembling as she held the phone.

After hanging up the call, Qin Yinong asked, "What happened?"

"It's my younger brother... something happened." Tang Ruoyao vaguely mentioned, her voice suppressing a slight tremor. "Senior Qin, can you take me directly to the airport?"

"Of course." Qin Yinong signaled to Guan Han, and Guan Han instructed the driver, "Change the route to the airport."

Qin Yinong drove her to the airport, and Tang Ruoyao declined Xin Qian's company, getting off the car alone wearing sunglasses and a mask. Qin Yinong watched her slender figure, her five fingers gripping the edge of the car door tightly. She quickly caught up with her in big strides.

"I'll accompany you."

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