CHAPTER 103

Lin Ruohan knew Tang Ruoyao, but they had only met once.

As a veteran actress who had been in the industry for many years, Lin Ruohan's career had also entered a new stage, much like Qin Yinong's. She was not in the same league as young actresses like Tang Ruoyao. However, she was rather lazy and enjoyed life. She would frequently take breaks and relax, unlike Qin Yinong, who spent every day on set, balancing work and love.

Lin Ruohan gained fame through her works. Her performances were full of vitality, and she had a straightforward personality. She kept a relatively low profile outside the industry and had excellent public image. The most talked-about rumors surrounding her were her supposed affair with Qin Yinong, who was the legitimate queen, and her on-and-off relationship with her official girlfriend. However, there was no concrete evidence to support any of these claims.

During her years in school, Tang Ruoyao had to juggle between acting and academics. Aside from a few prestigious award ceremonies, she rarely attended public events. The year Tang Ruoyao won the Golden Plum Award for Best Newcomer, Lin Ruohan won the Best Actress award, and they had no interactions beyond that.

Of course, now Tang Ruoyao was enjoying great popularity among young actors. Last year, at the age of 22, she won the Best Actress award, catching the attention of many senior figures in the industry, including Lin Ruohan.

Lin Ruohan looked at the unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar face in front of her, radiating a coolness that exceeded what appeared on the screen. The corners of her lips curved with a playful arc as she said, "Junior Tang." She called her by the same name that Tang Ruoyao used for her.

Tang Ruoyao took the initiative to extend her hand and politely said, "Hello, Senior. I've heard so much about you."

Lin Ruohan shook her hand and replied, "Likewise." There was a hint of appreciation in her tone. "I've seen the movies you've acted in, and they are quite good."

"Senior's praise is too kind."

"Don't call me senior, it gives me goosebumps. If you don't mind, you can call me Sister Ruohan, just in case we have the opportunity to collaborate in the future." Lin Ruohan smiled openly.

Tang Ruoyao hesitated, pursed her lips, and whispered, "...Sister Ruohan."

Her voice was cool and distant, and her expression remained calm. Calling her by that name carried a different kind of significance. Lin Ruohan comfortably narrowed her eyes, but before she could savor the moment, Qin Yinong, who was nearby, suddenly spoke, "You two chat, I'll go first."

Lin Ruohan said, "Hey!" She quickly apologized to Tang Ruoyao and hurriedly chased after Qin Yinong. "I just arrived, show me some face."

Tang Ruoyao watched their receding figures and saw Lin Ruohan hooking her arm around Qin Yinong's shoulder, leaning in to talk to her. Seeing Qin Yinong's carefree smile, it seemed that Lin Ruohan was satisfied with the response she received.

Reuniting with an old friend, Tang Ruoyao didn't want to bother her with a fake smile. Now, she didn't dare to disturb her either. She found a quiet place and buried her head in the script, pretending not to see anything.

The empress wasn't in a hurry, but it was driving Xin Qian, the little eunuch, crazy.

Xin Qian scratched her head anxiously, which affected Tang Ruoyao. She looked up, a hint of displeasure in her eyes, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Xin Qian said, "Are you just sitting here?"

Tang Ruoyao casually replied, "What else?"

Worried that she might not know, Xin Qian hurriedly said, "Qin Yinong and Lin Ruohan are chatting over there!" They were a famous couple online!

Tang Ruoyao remained unaffected, calmly saying, "Let them chat. They won't be talking about me, so why should I care?" As long as she could forgot quickly enough, she wouldn't feel jealous. Tang Ruoyao focused all her attention on the blank script.

Indeed, they were discussing Tang Ruoyao over there.

In Qin Yinong's dressing room.

Guan Han brought out a plate of washed and chilled grapes from the refrigerator and placed it on the coffee table.

"Thank you." Lin Ruohan picked one up and put it in her mouth. She happily said to Qin Yinong, who was sitting on the sofa, "You didn't tell me beforehand that you were filming a same-sex scene."

"Is there a problem?" Qin Yinong leaned slightly, also took one from the plate, and skillfully peeled the grape skin with her fingertips. She used her eyes to signal Guan Han behind her to sit down.

"No problem at all." Lin Ruohan smirked, full of mischief in her eyes. "You're playing the submissive role here?"

She had seen it all. Tang Ruoyao kissed Qin Yinong in the scene, and the hesitant and indecisive appearance she showed in the drama clearly indicated who was the dominant and who was the submissive.

Qin Yinong: "..."

She raised an eyebrow, glancing at her sideways, and hit the nail on the head, "It's better than wanting to be the submissive but having no one to dominate you."

Lin Ruohan's face changed repeatedly, and she blurted out, "Damn it!" She was furious. "I just broke up, are you even human? Stabbing a knife into my heart like this?"

"It's been six months since you two broke up," Qin Yinong corrected her and then chuckled lightly. "I see you're full of energy. You don't look like someone who's heartbroken."

Lin Ruohan snorted, "Well, sis, I have strong self-healing abilities, okay?"

Qin Yinong finished eating the peeled grape, applauded half-heartedly, and said, "Hmm, great."

Lin Ruohan laughed and waved her hand in a merciful manner, indicating that she should drop the subject. She came to visit, of course, not just for fun. She cared and asked, "Are you adjusting well to life on the set?"

Qin Yinong stared at her with a puzzled look.

She spent 360 out of 365 days on the set. What could she possibly not be adjusting to?

An awkward silence ensued.

Lin Ruohan and Qin Yinong stared at each other, and they both found it amusing. Lin Ruohan said, "Forget what I said. I realized I really can't talk about serious topics with you. I'm prone to laughing."

"As long as you know." Qin Yinong replied.

Lin Ruohan went to sit on the sofa next to her, not too close, with about a person's distance between them, and asked, "How is your co-star?"

Qin Yinong was briefly taken aback and then realized she was referring to Tang Ruoyao. She chose her words carefully and said, "She's doing fine."

"I think she's pretty good." Lin Ruohan muttered to herself, saying, "She's twenty-three this year, right?"

"...Hmm."

"Does she have a partner?"

The more Qin Yinong heard, the more she felt something was off. She remained unfazed and said, "How would I know?"

"You've been filming together for almost two months."

"I'm not as nosy as you are." Qin Yinong half-lowered her eyelids, picked up another grape from the plate, and slowly peeled it without any change in her tone. "I think she seems straight."

"Huh, so you can tell if someone's straight or gay?" Lin Ruohan's eyes suddenly lit up. "Could it be..."

Qin Yinong stuffed the grape into her mouth.

"Mm!" Lin Ruohan blinked her eyes twice, puffed her cheeks, chewed a couple of times, and swallowed.

Qin Yinong said with a straight face, "After all, I have had countless lovers, both men and women."

Lin Ruohan burst into laughter without giving her face.

Although Qin Yinong had never clarified it with her, Lin Ruohan had known her for almost ten years. Setting aside the first few years when they weren't close, they had been friends for three or four years. Lin Ruohan believed she could even see through this aspect of Qin Yinong's appearance. Lin Ruohan was well aware of the complicated relationship between Qin Yinong and Haomei Hua, the love and hate between them. They were all part of the same group of popular actresses, plastic sisters who held hands. Everyone knew about each other.

In Lin Ruohan's view, Qin Yinong was like a little white rabbit disguised as a big bad wolf when it came to relationships. The more outrageous the rumors outside, the more innocent she was in reality. She was completely absorbed in her work every day, making it impossible for Lin Ruohan to see her in love, which was regrettable.

She laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach on the sofa.

Qin Yinong said nonchalantly, "That's enough."

Lin Ruohan decided to stop there, sat upright on the sofa, and said, "You really don't know her well?"

"Not really," Qin Yinong scoffed. "If you want to know, ask her yourself."

Lin Ruohan said seriously, "That was my plan."

Qin Yinong turned to look at her and asked, "Are you serious?"

Lin Ruohan shrugged. "When am I not serious about my relationships?"

That was actually the truth. Unlike some promiscuous individuals in the entertainment industry, constantly surrounded by admirers and changing partners like flowing water, Lin Ruohan, who was thirty-four years old, had been in the industry for many years and had only had three or four girlfriends. Some relationships lasted only a year or so, while others lasted three to five years. Her most recent relationship ended with her being dumped. If it weren't for the other person's change of heart, she might have already gone abroad with her girlfriend to get married.

Although she seemed a bit wild, like a butterfly, and did enjoy playing around, she was actually very loyal and didn't flirt with others. She was gentle and considerate, a trustworthy partner.

Qin Yinong's gaze grew serious. "Have you fallen for her?"

Lin Ruohan shook her head. "It's not that fast. I'm just a little curious." She smiled. "You know me."

Love was the most essential part of Lin Ruohan's life, just like how people need to eat and drink. For her, being in a romantic relationship was a necessity. After finally moving on from her previous relationship, she naturally had to search for the next one and immerse herself in love again.

Her taste hadn't changed. When she was in her twenties, she liked people in their twenties. And even at the age of thirty-four, she still preferred young and beautiful girls in their twenties. Tang Ruoyao perfectly fit her aesthetic preferences, which naturally sparked her interest.

Qin Yinong had initially only worried that Lin Ruohan might accidentally discover her connection with Tang Ruoyao, but she hadn't expected this possibility.

.....

A shadow fell in front of Tang Ruoyao, and she looked up to see Lin Ruohan.

"Do you mind?" Lin Ruohan's bright eyes smiled as she pointed to the seat next to her.

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I don't mind. Please sit, Sister Ruohan."

Lin Ruohan sat down beside her, adjusted the chair slightly, maintaining a distance that wasn't overly intimate yet not too distant. She glanced at the busy set in the distance and greeted her with a caring tone, "Are you getting used to the filming crew?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded. "I'm getting used to it, and I have to thank Senior Qin for taking care of me. She has taught me a lot."

Lin Ruohan thought to herself, "Why are you mentioning Qin Yinong when I'm talking to you?" But upon careful consideration, she realized that Tang Ruoyao probably wanted to find a topic through Qin Yinong, which suited her intentions.

Lin Ruohan said, "She's a good person, and she likes to mentor juniors."

Tang Ruoyao made a sound of agreement.

Lin Ruohan continued, "Do you feel uncomfortable filming same-s*x scenes with her? I mean... some intimate scenes. Are they more difficult to overcome?"

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her, a hint of doubt fleeting in her eyes.

Why was she asking this?

Lin Ruohan cited an example of a senior actor who had struggled with shooting a gay film early in his career, finding it difficult to let go. The director had exhausted his persuasive skills. Then she changed the topic and asked, "Has Director Han scolded you? He has quite a temper."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head and said, "Senior Qin helps me get into the role."

"..." Lin Ruohan remained silent.

Tang Ruoyao understood what Lin Ruohan was subtly inquiring about—her s*xual orientation. Lin Ruohan's s*xual orientation was an open secret in the industry, and Tang Ruoyao naturally knew about it. She had also heard that Lin Ruohan had broken up with her girlfriend six months ago. By asking such questions, Lin Ruohan forced Tang Ruoyao to speculate, so she became cautious and used Qin Yinong as a shield.

Though Tang Ruoyao maintained a cold expression and discussed Qin Yinong without showing any emotion, Lin Ruohan had no chance to see through her intentions.

When two masters clash, they anticipate each other's moves.

Lin Ruohan occupied the entire break time before Tang Ruoyao's next scene, but she couldn't extract any information from her.

In the rest area, Lin Ruohan's pacing figure made Qin Yinong dizzy. Unable to bear it anymore, Qin Yinong said, "Stop."

Lin Ruohan stopped her pacing and said, "I guess I believe you when you say you're not close to her. At least you're cold on the outside and warm on the inside. This person is an ice cube on the surface. I almost caught a cold from chatting with her."

"Achoo!" Lin Ruohan, who was behind the scenes, sneezed accordingly and puzzledly said, "At such a young age, where did she learn to be so aloof? It's baffling."

Qin Yinong's lips curled up slightly, thinking to herself: She's not like that at all.

Lin Ruohan asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm not laughing," Qin Yinong said, turning over a page of the script.

"Fine, if you're not laughing, then you're not laughing." Lin Ruohan said, unable to spare the attention to analyze Qin Yinong's subtle expressions. Her mind was filled with Tang Ruoyao's indifferent and exquisite face. She was truly cold, and she was undeniably beautiful.

A true cold beauty, a rare sight in the industry, refreshing to the eye.

In the entertainment industry, where everyone is immersed in a mix of personalities, there are rarely people who genuinely disregard everything or have an icy demeanor. Those "high and cold" icebergs or "as indifferent as a chrysanthemum" personas are mostly team-crafted images. Either they come from wealthy backgrounds, raised as pampered princesses since childhood, or they have achieved success and no longer need to care about others' opinions. Tang Ruoyao definitely did not fit into the latter category.

Lin Ruohan's eyes turned, and she curiously asked Qin Yinong, "What's her background?"

Qin Yinong replied indifferently, "How would I know?"

Lin Ruohan chuckled and said, "You know, you're quite similar to her in that way."

Qin Yinong paused her script flipping motion, casually asking, "Similar in what way?"

Lin Ruohan tilted her head and pondered, "The feeling she gives off? I can't quite put it into words."

"Hmm," Qin Yinong ignored her again.

Lin Ruohan took out her phone and called her manager, not bothering to hide it from Qin Yinong. She spoke directly, "How much do you know about Tang Ruoyao? Gather her information and send it to me, especially whether she's single." S*xual orientation doesn't matter, as long as she's single, it's fine.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and watched Lin Ruohan's figure as she pursed her lips.

Lin Ruohan's voice contained a smile

"Oh, come on, you've been with me for so many years and still don't understand me? It won't affect our work. When have my relationships ever hindered my work... Hahaha, those were things from so long ago. People grow up, don't they? I'm thirty-four? So what? My mental age is only eighteen. I'm still young, my waist is good, my kidneys are even better. Why are you jealous... Thanks."

Lin Ruohan turned around, and Qin Yinong had already lowered her eyelids, engrossed in reading the script.

Lin Ruohan touched the back of her neck, feeling an inexplicable chill from earlier. She looked at Guan Han, certain that this icy person had unintentionally frozen her.

Speaking of which, Qin Yinong was truly an odd person. She herself was an icy block, her assistant was an icy lump, and now the artist she was working with was also an icy person. Each one colder than the last. What was this? An icy block convention?

Lin Ruohan silently endured Guan Han's icy glare.

After finishing her conversation with her manager, Lin Ruohan didn't rush to go outside and find trouble with Tang Ruoyao. She stayed close to Qin Yinong and lazily asked, "What are you planning to treat me to tonight?"

Qin Yinong remained silent.

Curiously, Lin Ruohan glanced over and saw Qin Yinong lost in thought. She approached quietly and whispered in her ear, "Hey."

Qin Yinong startled, pressing her hand to her racing heart. "What did you say?"

"What are you planning to treat me to tonight?" Lin Ruohan reached out and messed up Qin Yinong's hair, not in a good mood. "What are you daydreaming about?"

Qin Yinong used to be distant, but not as distant as she is today, always absent-minded. Lin Ruohan didn't travel a long distance just to visit and receive a cold shoulder.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought." Qin Yinong acknowledged her fault and softened her tone with a smile. "I made a reservation two days ago. Don't worry, your feast won't be missed."

"That's more like it." Lin Ruohan's expression eased, and she leaned closer, whispering, "Are you living together with Tang Ruoyao now? Like how we used to live next door to each other."

"How did you—?" Qin Yinong spoke softly, and her sudden increase in volume was only a slightly faster speech if not listened to carefully. She quickly regained composure and spoke in a normal tone, "How did you find out?"

Lin Ruohan said, "Oh, I asked your production team before I came in just now."

Since she was on vacation recently and came to visit, she wasn't in a hurry to leave and would definitely stay overnight. She originally planned to book a room next to Tang Ruoyao's, but she only found out after asking that Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao were living together.She truly was a good sister, helping her behind the scenes.

Qin Yinong kept her eyes lowered.

Lin Ruohan continued to ask, "Do you have a spare room there?"

Qin Yinong replied calmly, "No."

Lin Ruohan didn't mind and said, "It's fine, I'll sleep on the sofa. Just give me a spot."

Qin Yinong's jawline tightened.

"Is she always this cold? I'm talking about Tang Ruoyao."

"...Hmm."

"How do you get along with her then?"

"Not that well."

"What about when you two are filming—"

"Filming is just filming."

"Well..." Lin Ruohan pondered.

Qin Yinong stood up. "I'm going to discuss the script with Han Yuping. You stay here for a while, and if you need anything, ask Guan Han to handle it."

"Sure, you go ahead." Lin Ruohan waved her hand at Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong left.

Lin Ruohan shivered again at the back of her neck, turned around and looked at Guan Han, with a puzzled expression on her face.

Guan Han remained expressionless.

She thought to herself: You're breaking up my CP (couple pairing), watch me glare at you discreetly!

Qin Yinong stood at the door of the rest area, took a deep breath, and held the script tightly as she went to find Han Yuping. On the way, she ran into Tang Ruoyao, who lightly curved her lips and said, "Senior Qin."

Not cold at all.

Qin Yinong smiled back at her. "Miss Tang."

"What are you doing, Senior Qin?"

"I'm looking for Director Han."

"I am too. Shall we go together?"

"Okay."

When Han Yuping saw them approaching together, he dropped the half-smoked cigarette from his mouth, stepped on it, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "What's the matter?"

"We have something to discuss." Qin Yinong handed him the script with a segment circled in red. "This dialogue, I think it's a bit unnecessary."

"Hmm, is that so?" Han Yuping took the script.

"It might disrupt the flow of my emotions during the performance." Qin Yinong was an actress with remarkable empathy. She might not cry beautifully, but when she cried, the audience in front of the screen would cry together with her. When she smiled, the audience would immediately break into laughter. The same applied to other emotions. Every gaze, every subtle facial expression conveyed the emotions she wanted to portray intuitively. The dialogue seemed more redundant, requiring extra effort to deliver the lines, which was not worth it.

Han Yuping furrowed his brow. "I'll discuss it with the screenwriter."

He was about to go find the screenwriter when Qin Yinong stopped him. "Miss Tang also needs to talk to you about something."

Han Yuping looked at Tang Ruoyao. "Hmm?"

Tang Ruoyao shifted her focused gaze from Qin Yinong's profile and said, "You can go ahead, I'm not in a hurry."

She was fine, she just wanted an excuse to walk the same path as Qin Yinong.

Han Yuping looked at the two of them, furrowed his brow in confusion, and instructed, "Don't argue." Then he left.

Argue?

Tang Ruoyao actually missed the times when they would "argue." At least Qin Yinong would be willing to buy fruit to appease her, instead of the current situation where they were so close yet felt like worlds apart.

Tang Ruoyao tilted her face upward and calmly pushed back the surging warmth. Who could tell her what she should do now?

Qin Yinong sat down in Han Yuping's seat and used his laptop to watch the playback of their scenes. In the drama, the two of them were filled with tenderness and sweetness, as if it were a beautiful dream fabricated by fate.

"Miss Tang."

Tang Ruoyao quickly responded, "I'm here."

"Why do you think Shen Muqing and Han Zifei separated in the script?"

She suddenly brought up the script, leaving Tang Ruoyao momentarily bewildered. She organized her thoughts and said, "Because... because of societal norms, because she wasn't liberated enough, and deep down, she's still a traditionalist?"

"Not entirely correct." Qin Yinong said.

In the script, shortly after Shen Muqing and Han Zifei returned from their trip, Shen Muqing's husband, Xu Shiming, who had been working in another city, was transferred back. Shen Muqing gathered her courage and proposed a divorce to her husband but encountered unprecedented resistance. Shen Muqing's parents, grandparents, and Xu Shiming's parents took turns trying to persuade her. The news of her divorce spread like wildfire, circulating throughout Yangxi Lane, becoming the gossip fodder for neighbors' tea time conversations. Rumors and whispers spread, accusing her of adultery and lacking propriety. People passing by the Xu family would cast sidelong glances, clicking their tongues in disapproval.

Even the school started gossiping, and her colleagues gave her strange looks, leaving Shen Muqing breathless.

Upon hearing that her parents were also speaking ill of Shen Muqing behind her back, Han Zifei had a big argument with them. She said Xu Shiming was abusive, and in her eyes, her parents were always reasonable people. But all they said was, "Who doesn't have their own issues? Why does she want a divorce when things are better now? The child is already grown, and she's causing a scene." "It's really unfortunate for the family to marry such a woman." Han Zifei was devastated and felt heartbroken for Shen Muqing. She wanted to go next door and comfort her.

But Xu Shiming had been complaining to her for a long time. He still remembered helping Shen Muqing settle the score with him. He locked the door and didn't easily let her in. When he came back from work, he would guard Shen Muqing and not let her go anywhere.

Their opportunities to meet each other greatly decreased. They secretly met a few times. Shen Muqing, who was initially resolute with encouragement from Han Zifei, became increasingly silent and eventually proposed a separation.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Gossip?" Rumors are fearsome, who isn't afraid?

Qin Yinong shook his head. "The most important point hasn't been mentioned."

There were some things not explicitly stated in the script, and Han Yuping didn't mention them either. Studying the script relied on the actors themselves. Tang Ruoyao, in her twenties, had just come out of the ivory tower, and she temporarily couldn't grasp the unspoken parts of the script.

Tang Ruoyao respectfully said, "Please teach me, Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong said, "It's her son, Xu Di."

Something flashed through Tang Ruoyao's mind, and she pondered.

Qin Yinong said, "When people live in this world, besides love, there are responsibilities they must bear. Shen Muqing is a mother, and for her, Xu Di is her responsibility. Xu Di cannot be separated from his father, and she cannot let Xu Di grow up alone by Xu Shiming's side and become another Xu Shiming. So, as her love, Han Zifei was abandoned."

Tang Ruoyao seemed to enter the script and clenched her fists as she asked, "What about herself?"

Qin Yinong said, "At the moment she decided to give up on Han Zifei, she also gave up on herself. From then on, the only thing supporting her to continue living is her responsibility to raise Xu Di safely and let him grow up."

A hint of sadness appeared in Tang Ruoyao's eyes.

Living like a walking corpse? Is this what it means to be alive?

"Do you approve of her actions?" Tang Ruoyao raised her eyes and asked.

Qin Yinong's heart inexplicably tightened at her sincere gaze. She remained silent for a few seconds, lowered her eyelids, and softly said, "As I portray her, I naturally have to believe in her."

Unlike Shen Muqing, she hadn't been living for herself since the day Qin Luning passed away.

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