CHAPTER 94

Tang Fei poked his head out and cautiously spoke, "Sister?"

Tang Ruoyao's body stiffened, and she quickly pulled away from Qin Yinong's embrace. She hurriedly brushed her long hair by her ear, her cheeks heating up uncontrollably. She looked at Tang Fei from the opposite room and forced herself to remain calm. "Why did you come out?"

But Tang Fei's eyes were fixed on Qin Yinong, who was still standing behind her with her hand suspended in mid-air. His lips hesitated to speak, unsure of what to call her. A hint of uneasiness and shyness appeared on his handsome face. "Can I call you Sister Qin?"

Qin Yinong's lips curled into a gentle smile, and her tone was warm as she replied, "I am your sister's friend, so of course you can."

Tang Fei's eyes curved, and he sweetly said, "Sister Qin."

He curiously observed Qin Yinong, who was accustomed to such scrutiny. Instead of feeling uneasy, she smiled back at him.

Tang Ruoyao stepped forward and blocked Tang Fei's gaze. She turned back to Qin Yinong, apologizing with a smile. With one hand against her brother's back, she pushed him back into the room and closed the door behind them.

Before closing the door, Qin Yinong could still hear Tang Ruoyao educating Tang Fei, her tone serious, but the volume too low for her to make out the words.

Qin Yinong shook her head and chuckled, then turned back to her room. She assumed the siblings had a lot to talk about. She tidied up her clothes and went to take a shower.

Tang Fei sat up straight on the edge of the bed, and Tang Ruoyao brought a chair and sat across from him.

"Tang Fei," she spoke seriously, "it's impolite to stare at others like that, you know?"

Tang Fei blinked his eys, and said something unexpected, "What's your relationship with her?"

Tang Ruoyao remained composed, her face unchanged. "Didn't I already say? We're colleagues."

Tang Fei, with a skeptical expression, asked, "Why did she come back with you then?"

"It's on the way."

"Where is she going?"

"She..." Tang Ruoyao remembered that Qin Yinong's hometown was in the neighboring city. She had a clever idea and said, "She's also going back home. She's just making a stop here."

Tang Fei wasn't easily fooled. He said, "But I overheard her in the living room saying she'll be with you tomorrow."

Tang Ruoyao quickly responded, "She's a kind person. She's helping me out. After we finish, I'll take her to the airport. Is that okay?"

"Okay." Tang Fei nodded maturely, then changed the topic with a hidden meaning. "Sister, young people nowadays are very open-minded. Dad is lying down right now, and I am the only man in the family. You can completely rely on me and trust me."

Tang Ruoyao's ears slightly warmed, her face expressionless. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

After all, Tang Fei was only twelve years old, still considered minor, and couldn't control his emotions well. He glanced in the direction of the room door and leaned over, lowering his voice. "Sister, tell me the truth. Am I going to have a future sister-in-law soon?"

Tang Ruoyao's face hardened. "Nonsense! You're not even studying property at your young age. Where did you get such an idea?"

Tang Fei smirked, showing his little fangs. "Last time, when I returned home from school, I saw two sisters kissing by the river in the small park. The way they hugged each other was exactly the same as you and Sister Qin."

Tang Ruoyao raised her hand, indicating that she was going to knock on his head, and Tang Fei immediately exploded with a strong survival instinct. "I won't say it anymore!"

Tang Ruoyao said, "Study well."

Tang Fei replied, "I know."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Jiang... Does your mom know you have a cellphone?"

As soon as Jiang Xuezhen was mentioned, Tang Fei's mood suddenly dropped. He shook his head, lifted his eyelids, and tears welled up. In a low voice, he said, "But she took the card you gave me."

"It's okay, she doesn't know the password." Tang Ruoyao rubbed his head.

Tang Ruoyao had previously hired a private detective to investigate Jiang Xuezhen and found out that she had found a new partner outside. Originally, she wanted to hold onto this leverage and wait until her own career stabilized before making Jiang Xuezhen divorce Tang Hanzhang and consider taking custody of Tang Fei. But Jiang Xuezhen was even quicker than her. She sold the old house, the car under her name, and everything valuable that couldn't be taken away, exchanging it all for money. She was determined to move to another city with Tang Fei and her new partner.

Tang Fei came back home yesterday afternoon after school and found several suitcases in the living room. Jiang Xuezhen lied to him, saying they were going on a trip. Tang Fei was puzzled: he was about to take an important entrance exam, a critical time for studying, so why would they travel at this moment?

But Jiang Xuezhen was his biological mother after all. She came up with an excuse, saying it would help him relax. Tang Fei muttered in agreement, putting down his school bag, but Jiang Xuezhen made him carry it again, saying he needed to do his homework.

Tang Fei is a smart child. When he returned home, he found that the TV, refrigerator, washing machine, and other large furniture were missing. The living room was empty. He pondered over this matter and followed Jiang Xuezhen with suspicion.

Next, Jiang Xuezhen took him to meet an average-sized, plain-looking unfamiliar uncle. The uncle was also carrying a suitcase and nervously called out to him, "Xiao Fei."

Jiang Xuezhen introduced him as Mr. Zhou and asked him to call him Uncle Zhou. They were going to travel together.

Tang Fei had a foreboding feeling at that moment.

Before getting on the car, he shook off Jiang Xuezhen's hand and tentatively said, "Can I not go on the trip? I want to study at home."

Jiang Xuezhen firmly said, "No, you can't!"

Jiang Xuezhen exchanged glances with that Uncle Zhou. After Uncle Zhou closed the trunk of the taxi, rolled up his sleeves, it seemed like he was going to come and grab him. Tang Fei reacted quickly and ran away.

Tang Fei pushed his speed to the extreme. He could only hear the whistling wind by his ears, his heart pounding in his throat, with only one thought in his mind: He must not be caught!

The explosive power of a young teenager was astonishing. Tang Fei, utilizing his small and agile body, kept diving into crowded places, sprinting wildly. At first, he could still hear Jiang Xuezhen's frantic shouts and the occasional "Xiao Fei" from the man, sometimes far and sometimes near, but eventually, he couldn't hear them anymore.

Tang Fei ran into a convenience store, hands on his knees, panting heavily. His heart was pounding, and he had nowhere to go. He didn't have an ID card to go to a hotel, so he temporarily hid at a classmate's house and called Tang Ruoyao.

He described in detail what had happened at home. Tang Ruoyao, being extremely intelligent, immediately guessed what Jiang Xuezhen was planning to do. That's why she hurriedly rushed back; otherwise, Tang Fei might have been taken away by Jiang Xuezhen.

The land of China is vast, and finding someone like Jiang Xuezhen would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Tang Ruoyao didn't have the energy to devote herself to searching for someone, and she didn't know when she would see Tang Fei again.

After Tang Fei ran away, Jiang Xuezhen also guessed that he might go to a classmate's house. So she asked the homeroom teacher for the contact list of the students' parents and called them one by one to inquire. Tang Fei was clever; he first twisted his arms and legs to create two horrifying bruises, then tearfully lied to the classmates' parents that his mom had beaten him, asking them not to reveal his whereabouts. The parents of his classmates, being kind-hearted, looked at each other and indeed kept it a secret on the phone, and let him go to school with their own son the next day, reporting the incident to the teacher and asking the teacher to educate the parents.

In the phone call earlier, Tang Fei didn't provide so many details. Now he revealed everything one by one, and Tang Ruoyao listened with lingering fear. If it weren't for Tang Fei's quick thinking, she would have been uncertain whether she would see him tonight.

Even though Tang Fei sat there with his shoulders straight, looking composed with his young face, he was still a child who hadn't even finished elementary school. If anything went wrong in this situation, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Tang Ruoyao stood up and hugged Tang Fei.

Tang Fei hugged her waist back and said in a muffled voice, "Actually, I thought of another plan. If my classmate's parents had really told her that I was at their house, I would have run away before she arrived, or I would have called the police." He tightened his grip on Tang Ruoyao's sleeve. "Sister, I don't want to move away. I can't bear to leave you... and Dad."

Tang Ruoyao caressed the soft and dark short hair of the young boy and assured him in a deep voice, "I won't let her take you away. I'll go find her tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

Tang Fei shrank imperceptibly in her embrace.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Then will you stay at a hotel?"

Tang Fei shook his head, holding onto her even tighter, his voice filled with resentment and a nasal tone, "I'm scared to be alone."

Tang Ruoyao's heart softened, and she patted his back gently, saying tenderly, "Don't be afraid, sister is here."

.....

Qin Yinong finished taking a shower, dried her hair, and turned back to tidy up the bathroom before glancing in the direction of the bedroom door.

Sure enough, Tang Ruoyao hadn't returned.

She aimlessly paced around the room, and her legs seemed to have a mind of their own as they walked to the door. Her hand also autonomously reached for the doorknob, about to twist it open.

Knock, knock, knock...

The sound of knocking at such a close range was particularly nerve-wracking.

Qin Yinong hurriedly withdrew her hand, took a few steps back, and pretended to be calm as she asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Tang Ruoyao." The voice outside the door was quiet and low.

As expected.

Qin Yinong tidied her long hair in the mirror of the bathroom a few steps away, sat on the edge of the bed, picked up a book in her hand, and casually flipped through it, saying, "Come in."

Tang Ruoyao opened the door and walked in.

Qin Yinong continued to focus on reading, keeping her head down, without saying much to her.

Until...

"Senior Qin." A soft and gentle voice, like a cat scratching an itch on the heart in the night.

Qin Yinong looked up.

Tang Ruoyao had one hand behind her back, presumably holding her change of clothes. There was a hint of embarrassment on her face as she pointed to the shower room behind her. "I'm going to take a shower."

Qin Yinong absentmindedly murmured in response and went to look at the closed curtains.

Tang Ruoyao emphasized the word "shower" and repeated it.

Qin Yinong turned slightly, keeping her back towards her, and casually said, "Go ahead and shower, I won't look."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Why does this person not keep their word? If they said they would leave when she wanted to shower, hold on a moment, Tang Ruoyao suddenly realized that she was the only one who said that, and Qin Yinong didn't actually agree.

Oh well, Tang Ruoyao thought, since she wouldn't be at a disadvantage, it would be Qin Yinong who would feel uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but benefit from it.

She raised an eyebrow, entered the bathroom without any psychological burden, and quickly stripped herself naked. Barefoot, she stepped into the shower room in a flash. The hot water flowed from the showerhead, splashing onto the floor, and steam filled the glass enclosure.

Within the misty white fog, the woman's exquisite figure was partially concealed and partially revealed, like holding a pipa.

Tang Ruoyao stood under the showerhead, her neck stretched back, with a perfectly proportioned body. Due to regular exercise, her limbs were slender and powerful, her lower abdomen had an attractive "vest line," her skin was firm, without a trace of excess fat.

She let the warm water wash over her cheeks, shook her wet and dark hair, wiped off the water droplets from her face, and reached up to press the pump of the shampoo.

Suddenly, there was a commotion by her ear. Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow and looked outside through the blurry glass. The woman who was originally leaning against the headboard got off the bed, hurriedly left the room, stumbled over the corner of the bed, and made a cute stumble, followed by the sound of the door closing.

About this time last year, the Golden Laurel Awards ceremony had just ended, and she met Qin Yinong in the house in the capital. She was also taking a shower in the master bedroom's bathroom, but when she came out, Qin Yinong was nowhere to be found. Could it be that she also escaped like this at that time?

Tang Ruoyao suddenly smiled.

Guan Han was arranging the sofa in the living room when she looked up and saw a slender figure in front of the master bedroom.

Guan Han took a few steps forward and softly said, "Qin Jie."

Qin Yinong was startled and looked at her, still recovering from the shock. Before Guan Han could ask anything, she said, "I'm fine."

Guan Han suppressed the words she was about to say and suggested, "Would you like to sit on the sofa for a while?"

Qin Yinong waved her hand. "No need, I'll stand here for a while. I've been sitting for a long time today, and I'm tired."

Guan Han nodded. "Okay."

Qin Yinong added, "You go to sleep and don't mind me. Oh, you haven't showered yet, right? After Tang Ruoyao comes out, you can use our room."

Guan Han understood now that Tang Ruoyao was taking a shower inside.

But Tang Ruoyao was just taking a shower, not giving birth to a child. Why was Qin Yinong so nervous outside?

Guan Han lowered her gaze and said, "Thank you, Qin Jie."

She stepped back, deliberately turning her back to Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong felt much more at ease, waiting obediently at the door. Tang Fei from the opposite room quietly opened a crack in the door, then closed it silently.

The lights in the living room, guest room, and master bedroom went out one by one.

Both of them said goodnight to each other.

Qin Yinong kept her eyes open, unusually awake, and attentively listened to the movements beside her.

Tang Ruoyao had good sleep quality. It took no more than three minutes from closing her eyes to falling asleep, and her breathing was even and long. In the darkness, Qin Yinong pursed her lips and slowly shuffled closer with snail-like speed, getting closer to the source of warmth.

She could already feel Tang Ruoyao's body temperature against her shoulder. Carefully, she turned to lie down, lightly resting her forehead on Tang Ruoyao's shoulder.

Tang Ruoyao wrinkled her nose and murmured incoherently.

Qin Yinong's heart jumped, and she didn't dare to move. After she calmed down, she slowly retreated.

After a while, she began to repeat the previous actions. This time, before she could finish, Tang Ruoyao turned over, extended her long arms, and embraced her, pulling her into her own embrace. The lips against her ear murmured dreamy words.

The warm breath tickled her ear, and Qin Yinong stiffened for a moment before gradually relaxing. She adjusted herself in Tang Ruoyao's embrace to a comfortable sleeping position, closed her eyes, and prepared to fall asleep.

In a half-awake state, Tang Ruoyao felt the person in her arms struggling continuously. It disturbed her sleep, so she sat up, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and turned on the bedside lamp.

Qin Yinong, who had been released from her embrace, lay flat on the bed. Although there were no restraints, her limbs seemed as if they were nailed down, stiff and horrifying. Her hands clenched into fists, with white knuckles displaying a grim state. Her feet were straightened, toes curled up at an unimaginable angle. Sweat covered her forehead, and her expression twisted in pain.

Her lips moved incessantly, saying something unintelligible.

Tang Ruoyao leaned closer to her ear, trying to make out the words. She faintly recognized a word.

"Sister?" Tang Ruoyao furrowed her brows, murmuring to herself as she repeated the words she heard.

She hesitated, biting her lower lip lightly, and gently nudged Qin Yinong's shoulder, trying to wake her from the nightmare. "Senior Qin?"

Qin Yinong suddenly convulsed violently, like a dying fish struggling on a chopping board. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, wetting her eyelashes as they slid down her temples and seeped into the pillow.

In her dream, Qin Yinong cried silently, like a tightly stretched string, trembling all over, with clenched teeth. Due to difficulty in breathing, her gasps were heavy and restrained.

Tang Ruoyao felt extremely distressed watching this. She gritted her teeth and gave her a forceful push, loudly calling out near her ear, "Qin Yinong!"

......

"Sister, I'm coming in. Are you in the room?" Qin Yinong knocked on the door but received no response. She pushed open the door to Qin Luning's room.

"Sister?" The spacious room echoed eerily, as if there were no end in sight.

"Where are you?" The sound of footsteps on the floor echoed hollowly. Qin Yinong searched the entire room, going in circles as if trapped, continuously spinning around in place. "Ningning is crying. Can you hear it, sister?"

A door suddenly appeared in front of her. It was a deep brown wooden door with glass panels, the door to the restroom.

Qin Yinong's expression flickered for a moment when she saw the door. Suddenly, she shivered inexplicably and instinctively wanted to move away.

But her legs felt rooted to the ground and she couldn't move. She watched helplessly as the door approached her, while her right hand involuntarily gripped the cold metal door handle.

Don't.

Don't open it.

She shook her head forcefully, tears streaming from her eyes.

Creak—

She pushed open the wooden door.

Although Qin Yinong hadn't opened her mouth, she heard herself scream in horror.

First, it was the hair, seaweed-like long hair floating on the crimson water's surface.

She stumbled forward, both hands gripping the edge of the bathtub, peering inside.

A woman was submerged in a tub of rusty red blood water, her limbs stretched out but slightly stiff, displaying an unnatural stillness. Qin Yinong looked around in a daze for a moment, then looked up at the snow-white ceiling. Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a giant hand, on the verge of suffocation. She breathed in short, rapid breaths, tears filling her eyes.

Her hand loosened and tightened in the air, trembling fingers brushing aside the hair on the water's surface. The lifeless and pale face came into view, bearing a resemblance to Qin Yinong's own face.

As if branded by fire, Qin Yinong suddenly withdrew her hand, tightly covering her mouth as tears overflowed.

......

"Qin Yinong!"

Tang Ruoyao saw her trembling and crying, even showing signs of suffocation. She was extremely anxious and pushed harder, but the other person remained unconscious. Tang Ruoyao helped her up from lying down and held her in her arms, patting her back while continuing to call out.

"Wake up!"

"Qin Yinong—" Tang Ruoyao, in her desperate state, grabbed Qin Yinong's hand and rolled up her sleeve. She forcefully bit her arm while observing Qin Yinong's expression, determined not to give up until she woke her up.

"Hiss!" Qin Yinong winced in pain and finally opened her blurry tear-filled eyes.

Qin Yinong's heart was pounding, and the bright white light above her head caused a sharp pain in her eyes. She raised her hand to shield her eyes, and Tang Ruoyao quickly turned it off, leaving only a bedside lamp at the beginning. Qin Yinong hadn't fully regained her senses yet; she moved and found her arm against someone.

Her vision gradually cleared, and her black pupils reflected Tang Ruoyao's anxious face.

Qin Yinong suddenly pulled back, violently breaking free from her embrace. She resembled a wounded beast licking its wounds in the icy wilderness, displaying extreme vigilance.

Tang Ruoyao didn't rush forward but handed her a cup of water and then retreated, stepping back until she was standing on the ground barefoot. She left the entire bed for Qin Yinong, speaking in a soothing and calm tone, "Don't worry, I won't come closer."

Qin Yinong's pale lips moved twice, wanting to say something to her, but ultimately remained silent. She held the cup with both hands, her gaze vacant, and slowly sipped the water.

Tang Ruoyao retreated to the door, raised her hands, and asked, "Do you need anything else?"

Qin Yinong shook her head and lay down with her back to Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao sat down on the floor by the door, not making a sound.

After a long time.

Qin Yinong spoke, "Come up and sleep."

Tang Ruoyao tiptoed over and slept in a small corner.

Qin Yinong still faced away from her, and her voice didn't reveal any emotions, "I scared you just now, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Tang Ruoyao looked at her back and whispered softly.

Tang Ruoyao attempted to reach out her hand but didn't touch Qin Yinong's shoulder. Qin Yinong seemed to sense her presence and moved closer to the edge of the bed, putting more distance between them. She faintly said, "Go to sleep, good night."

"...Good night." Tang Ruoyao retracted her hand.

It took a long time for Tang Ruoyao to feel sleepy again. In a drowsy state, she seemed to see Qin Yinong getting up and leaving through the door.

The next morning.

Tang Ruoyao touched the cold bed next to her, sat up, cleared her mind for a moment, and then got up to wash, dress, and open the door. The aroma of breakfast greeted her, lingering in her nose.

"Miss Tang is awake." Guan Han greeted her. "Breakfast is here, please come and have it."

"Thank you." Tang Ruoyao turned the corner of the door and saw Qin Yinong sitting at the dining table. She was wearing the white sportswear they bought last night, and her whole demeanor looked much elegant.

"Good morning," Qin Yinong smiled at her and used her left hand, wearing disposable gloves, to hold a steamed bun.

"Good morning." The woman's smile was radiant, and Tang Ruoyao felt momentarily lost.

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "Your little brother hasn't woken up yet. Do you want to wake him up for breakfast?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated for a moment and replied, "...Okay."

After waking up the elementary school student and having breakfast, Tang Fei rubbed his eyes and sat in the chair. He greeted obediently, "Good morning, Sister Qin."

Qin Yinong's eyes curved slightly.

After the meal, the four of them took the elevator downstairs and went to Tang Ruoyao's new house.

Tang Ruoyao had bought the new house herself, thanks to her foresight. At the time of signing the house purchase contract, she didn't pay attention to Jiang Xuezhen's troublesome insistence. She resolutely wrote her own name, and Jiang Xuezhen had no power to use it. Otherwise, she wouldn't even be able to find Jiang Xuezhen now.

Guan Han had specially rented a car. When they arrived at the house, Tang Ruoyao placed her hands on Tang Fei's shoulders, looked him in the eye, and gently asked if he wanted to go up with her or wait in the car.

She was definitely going to confront Jiang Xuezhen today. Tang Ruoyao didn't treat Tang Fei like a child but spoke to him in a consultative tone, explaining what might happen when they went up and letting him make his own choice.

Tang Fei pursed his lips, hesitating.

Everyone patiently waited for him.

Tang Fei lifted his gaze and made up his mind. "I'll go upstairs with Sister."

Tang Ruoyao ruffled his hair, held his hand, and went upstairs, while Qin Yinong and Guan Han followed quietly, just like the previous night.

Tang Fei glanced at Tang Ruoyao, his gaze determined, and his heart filled with courage. He pulled the key out from his collar and inserted it into the lock, opening the door.

Jiang Xuezhen's voice immediately came from inside, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. She said, "Is... Is Tang Fei back?"

Tang Fei resisted Tang Ruoyao's attempt to stand in front of him, clenched his fist, and stepped into the door himself, speaking up, "Mom, it's me."

He was a man and couldn't rely on his sister alone!

Jiang Xuezhen rushed over and, upon seeing his face, first breathed a sigh of relief, and then angrily scolded, "You finally decided to come back? Do you know how long your Uncle Zhou and I have been searching for you? If you didn't come back, we were about to go to the police station!"

Jiang Xuezhen turned around and said, "Lao Zhou, Tang Fei is back."

Tang Fei immediately retreated.

Jiang Xuezhen walked over, displeased, and said, "What were you hiding for? You didn't hide yesterday—"

She suddenly fell silent.

Outside the door, Tang Ruoyao blocked Tang Fei with one hand, her face solemn as she stared at Jiang Xuezhen.

A flicker of panic flashed in Jiang Xuezhen's eyes. Subconsciously, she touched her lower abdomen. After encountering Tang Ruoyao's sharp gaze, she let her hand drop and awkwardly squeezed out, "How did you come back?"

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