CHAPTER 104

Qin Yinong continued to watch the playback in silence.

Tang Ruoyao sat alone in the chair next to her, and there was silence between them.

Tang Ruoyao was extremely intelligent, and Qin Yinong deeply understood her intelligence. Some things didn't need to be said, and she wouldn't say more than necessary.

Ningning was her secret, and she wouldn't tell anyone.

Tang Ruoyao didn't disappoint her expectations. She dissected and analyzed every word Qin Yinong said in her mind. Qin Yinong wouldn't randomly say such a thing in this tense situation, there must be a purpose behind it.

Shen Muqing was hindered by her son, forcing her to give up on Han Zifei. Although Tang Ruoyao regarded this choice as foolish, the final outcome of the script confirmed her thoughts. What was it that hindered Qin Yinong, preventing her from responding to her responsibilities?

Could it also be related to family?

"Child psychology? You're interested in that field of study?"

"I have a child."

"Hahaha."

"I really have a child."

That night, Qin Yinong's ambiguous smile surfaced in Tang Ruoyao's mind once again. Tang Ruoyao turned her head and stared blankly at Qin Yinong's profile. A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. Was it because of this?

But she wasn't Shen Muqing, and it wasn't the turn of the century nearly twenty years ago, with rigid thinking and fears of public opinion. If she wasn't happy, why didn't she divorce?

No, Tang Ruoyao suddenly bit her lip and shook her head ever so slightly.

Han Yuping had known Qin Yinong for ten years. At that time, Qin Yinong was only around twenty or twenty-one years old. If she had truly married and had a child, Han Yuping couldn't possibly be completely unaware. He even told her that the other person was her first love. Han Yuping had no reason to deceive her.

Was Qin Yinong hiding it from Han Yuping? Or did she get married earlier? At eighteen? Nineteen? Furthermore, Han Yuping mentioned that she was exploited by her previous management company and was busy for three years after her debut, with no time even for acting classes. Where would she have had time to get pregnant? Pregnancy lasts for ten months, then there's childbirth, confinement, postpartum recovery. Normal actresses need to free up at least half a year to return to work, and they have to be in excellent physical condition. Qin Yinong didn't have that opportunity to give birth.

It must be said that Tang Ruoyao was sometimes terrifyingly rational and calm. After speculating that Qin Yinong was highly likely to be married and have a child, she didn't indulge in self-pity or self-loathing. Instead, she searched for evidence from various aspects to overturn this assumption. Admittedly, there were reasons she subconsciously refused to acknowledge, but these facts were solid.

Qin Yinong was a highly watched female star, frequently making headlines, dominating search rankings, with a reputation for being flirtatious and fickle, surrounded by countless rumors. The only one missing was the pregnancy rumor. Given the sensitivity of the entertainment media, if Qin Yinong was really pregnant, it would be impossible for there to be no rumors.

Tang Ruoyao's eyebrows furrowed suddenly.

But that's not necessarily true either. The rumors spread by the media are all false, and the ones that aren't spread are the true ones. Tang Ruoyao herself was the best example.

She pinched her fingertip with her finger, took a deep breath, suppressed the trembling of her body, forced herself to calm down, and made her mind clearer. It wasn't enough, she needed more factual evidence.

Qin Yinong caught a glimpse of her distracted appearance. A thin layer of mist appeared in her ink-colored eyes, and she quickly lowered her eyelashes.

She hoped that Tang Ruoyao could find her deserved happiness soon, instead of wasting her time on herself.

"Senior Qin, I have something to attend to. I'll leave first." Tang Ruoyao suddenly stood up and calmly said.

Qin Yinong restrained the impulse to embrace her and nodded slightly.

Tang Ruoyao's whole body tensed, like a stiff puppet, and step by step, she moved away from Qin Yinong.

Just as Han Yuping finished discussing the issue raised by Qin Yinong with the screenwriter and was about to go back and inform her, Tang Ruoyao blocked his way. Han Yuping, being fond of her, smiled and asked, "What's the matter?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "Director Han, I have something I want to ask you."

Han Yuping hummed, "Go ahead and ask."

"This place is not convenient." Tang Ruoyao pulled Han Yuping into her dressing room.

Her eyes reddened, tears welling up, and with a sobbing tone, she said, "Director Han, I..."

Han Yuping: "..."

He pulled out a tissue from the table and asked in doubt, "No, what's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "I had a fight with Qin Yinong."

Han Yuping, with an expression that said, "I knew it." sighed and asked, "What happened between you two?" He felt like he was becoming a mediator rather than a director.

"We had a small disagreement this morning when we went out." Tang Ruoyao brushed it aside with a wave of her hand, sniffled, and continued, "Then while we were talking, we started arguing again, and she said she was already married and had a child..."

Han Yuping interrupted her in disbelief, his face stern as he scolded, "What nonsense is she spouting!" Seeing Tang Ruoyao crying so pitifully, he softened his tone and said, "She's just being malicious with her words, don't believe her nonsense."

In his heart, Han Yuping cursed Qin Yinong a thousand and eight hundred times. With such a beautiful and talented wife, she couldn't cherish and pamper her properly, and she kept causing trouble every day!

"I know, I didn't believe her." Tang Ruoyao, with her fair and tender complexion, looked even more delicate when she cried. Her nose turned red as she choked out, "But her acting skills are so good, and she said it so seriously, I couldn't help but suspect." She took the tissue from Han Yuping's hand, dabbed at the corners of her eyes, and choked, "I've only known her for two years, I don't know what she has experienced in the past, and she refused to tell me anything. I..."

Tang Ruoyao's genuine emotions were revealed as tears continued to flow down her cheeks, and she couldn't speak.

Han Yuping's chest heaved intensely, and anger surged up, making his hair almost stand on end. He patted Tang Ruoyao's arm soothingly, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to rush out, saying, "Wait for me here, I'll bring her over and make her apologize to you!"

Tang Ruoyao quickly held him back and said, "Director Han."

Han Yuping huffed and glared, unable to contain his anger, "Don't worry, I'll definitely handle this impartially today. If others can't control her, can't I? That little troublemaker! I'll break her legs!"

Tang Ruoyao could tell that he would be able to handle Qin Yinong, so she showed a hint of weakness and said, "Director Han, I also made mistakes in our fight."

Han Yuping exclaimed loudly, "She shouldn't say such things!"

"I know." Tang Ruoyao's voice was clear and cold, with a calming effect. She motioned for Han Yuping to sit down and spoke softly, "She spoke without thinking because she was angry. We can't entirely blame her."

Han Yuping picked up a glass of water from the coffee table, took a sip, and glanced at her coolly, saying, "Are you speaking up for her?"

"I'm not speaking up for her, it's the truth."

Han Yuping snorted coldly but remained silent.

However, Tang Ruoyao could tell that Han Yuping appreciated her attitude. After all, Qin Yinong was the closest person to Han Yuping, and if Tang Ruoyao kept badmouthing her, it would only lead to resentment.

Tang Ruoyao sat across from him and took the initiative to change her address, saying, "Uncle."

Han Yuping was momentarily stunned, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart. Unconsciously, warmth appeared in the corners of his eyes and lips.

"Please speak."

"I really like Qin Yinong, I love her." Tang Ruoyao's eyes looked at the ground as her hands clenched tightly. She said, "I want to spend my life with her, but sometimes I feel like she's distant from me. We're not as intimate as other couples, and I'm afraid..." Tang Ruoyao's voice trembled with suppressed emotion, "I'm afraid that we won't make it to the end."

Han Yuping asked softly, "Why?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled self-deprecatingly, "She doesn't tell me anything, and I have to guess everything. Do you remember when you told me that all the rumors about her were false? I only found out about it after being together for a long time. She never clarified it to me, nor did she debunk it online. The rumors just spread unchecked."

As Qin Yinong's significant other, Han Yuping, who was often the subject of rumors himself, managed to control his temper and said in a low voice, "She did handle that poorly, but..." He paused and carefully said, "Have you ever considered that she might have her own reasons for not speaking up?"

Tang Ruoyao sighed, "I have considered it, but I can't figure out why."

A conflicted expression flashed across Han Yuping's face, and he struggled silently for a while before carefully saying, "When she first entered the industry, she experienced some... extremely malicious treatment."

"I know some things." Tang Ruoyao said.Qin Yinong, when she debuted, because of her captivating appearance and her role as Su Daji, combined with her sudden rise to fame and the media's constant "affection" and "attention," became the target of endless slander and the fabrication of scandalous rumors. People in the industry also undermined her behind her back, and her reputation was tarnished to the point where she was universally disliked.

This malicious mistreatment continued until today, twelve years later, without ever stopping.

Of course, Tang Ruoyao knew. She had scrolled through Qin Yinong's old Weibo posts, where tens of thousands of comments were filled with filthy language and personal attacks, unbearable to read. It was only in recent years, with her increasing awards and a more stable position, along with a surge of enthusiastic fans and casual followers on Weibo, that things started to improve.

Han Yuping looked into her eyes and said, "I know you know, but can you truly understand? The insults written on paper and posted online now are merely a drop in the ocean, not even a fraction of a percent compared to what she endured back then."

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat, and she clenched her fingers tightly. "Please tell me." she said.

Han Yuping silently lit a cigarette, the ember flickering between his fingers. He took two deep puffs, squinted his eyes, and said, "When she debuted, she was eighteen in virtual age, but in reality, she was only seventeen, nine months away from turning eighteen. She was underage. With good luck, she became famous after starring in a film, but along with her rising fame came overwhelming dirty tricks and defamation. Baseless scandal, rumors, and the humiliation of being labeled a slut in the entertainment industry were things she had to endure from the past until now. It's commonplace in the industry, but for a young girl who hadn't even reached adulthood, it was incredibly cruel."

Tang Ruoyao's voice was hoarse as she let out a soft sound of acknowledgment.

Han Yuping continued, "At that time, she wasn't as patient as she is now. She would argue, get angry, and publicly scold those journalists who spread baseless rumors. She had a stubborn temper and a sharp personality. But the entertainment media... you know, the more you defend and clarify, the more excited they get, the more they have a topic to latch onto, and the more they bite onto you and won't let go."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes inexplicably welled up with tears, realizing that whatever Han Yuping was about to say next probably wouldn't be pleasant. But she needed to know, step by step, how Qin Yinong's sharp edges were worn down to become the person she is now.

Han Yuping said, "The entertainment media reached out to Qin Yinong's father, Qin Hongjian, and indirectly interviewed him. Qin Hongjian is truly a despicable person!" Han Yuping suddenly cursed with hatred, took a deep breath, and continued, "In front of the media, he talked freely, saying that Qin Yinong had always been popular with the opposite sex since she was young, and she would often bring male classmates home. He even claimed to have personally witnessed her being passionately involved with a certain male star and intended to bring him home to meet the family."

Tang Ruoyao was stunned. "Why would he..."

Being Qin Yinong's biological father, to reveal such information at a time like that, it was like nailing Qin Yinong to a pillar of shame with no room for defense.

Han Yuping said calmly, "Someone bribed him."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Who?"

Han Yuping replied, "The opposing party who wanted Qin Yinong dead."

"But..." Tang Ruoyao's eyes were filled with disbelief, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Isn't Qin Yinong his biological daughter?"

Han Yuping looked deeply into her eyes. "Not all fathers love their daughters. Scum like him doesn't deserve to be a father." He flicked the ashes from his fingers and lowered his gaze. "Qin Hongjian is infatuated with vanity, coveting wealth and luxury. After Qin Yinong became popular, Qin Hongjian kept asking her for money, wanting to buy a villa and drive luxury cars. Later, he even developed a gambling addiction, increasing his expenses. Qin Yinong ignored him and only sent money home regularly. He thought it wasn't enough, so they had conflicts. When someone else offered enough money, he gladly sold his daughter."

Tang Ruoyao furrowed her eyebrows. "The entertainment media doesn't know about this?" She couldn't believe that the resourceful paparazzi wouldn't have uncovered Qin Yinong's family situation or known that Qin Hongjian was a scum whose words were completely untrustworthy.

Han Yuping lifted his eyelids and silently stared at her.

Tang Ruoyao felt as if she had been thrown into an icy and snowy wasteland. Suddenly, she felt chills all over her body.

Han Yuping coldly laughed, his gaze mocking. "Is it more eye-catching for a popular actress to have a vampire father or for her outstanding private life to attract attention?" [Metaphor of vampire: to take something from someone else to benefit oneself, whether that be anything from blood to money.]

Tang Ruoyao fell silent.

Han Yuping said softly, "As you have seen, just the private life alone is enough for the entertainment media to report on for twelve years, tirelessly."

They didn't care about the truth. What they wanted was a topic, news, always staying ahead.

Tang Ruoyao felt like there was a lump of cotton in her throat. She raised her hand and pressed it tightly against her chest, feeling nauseous, disgusted, and heartbroken. Various emotions surged up, blurring her vision.

So, just for the sake of generating topics and continuous hype, was it fair for Qin Yinong, who was less than eighteen years old at the time, to endure such a stigma? Qin Hongjian, the media, and the hidden adversaries, who considered the feelings of those they jointly slandered?

"After Qin Hongjian's interview video was exposed, public opinion started to overwhelmingly criticize Qin Yinong..." Han Yuping's eyes shimmered with tears. His voice choked up, he sighed, and said, "I don't want to go into specifics, but for a long time, she couldn't lift her head outside, trembling nervously whenever she saw a camera, unable to utter a word. Sometimes she couldn't control her tears. It took her a while to overcome her fear and be able to give interviews normally. However, as you've seen, her interview frequency is minimal, except for necessary film promotions and award ceremonies. Although time has passed, the damage caused will not disappear. She still has bodyguards accompanying her during interviews, maintaining a safe distance because she's afraid."

Suddenly, Tang Ruoyao couldn't see Han Yuping's face clearly. A tissue was handed to her, and only then did she realize that tears were streaming down her face.

Han Yuping said, "She has clarified before, but the media and the public treat her as an ugly duckling, only wanting to see her provoked. When Qin Hongjian made those remarks, it further fueled the frenzy of public opinion. If you ask her to speak about these things personally, it's like digging into her heart. Neither you nor I are her, and we haven't experienced what she went through at the age of seventeen. We have no right to judge. I have never revealed to her that I know about these things. The words I'm telling you now, I hope they will remain our secret."

Tang Ruoyao cried uncontrollably, nodding her head vigorously.

Han Yuping said hoarsely, "Let me tell you something personal. I've never had children in my life, and Qin Yinong is like my daughter. I care deeply for her and hope that the second half of her life will be peaceful and smooth, without any more suffering. I can tell that you're a good child, and she likes you very much. She... She may have some flaws in her personality, and she's sensitive, but that's not her fault. Please... Please don't blame her."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head, unable to speak through her tears.

Han Yuping looked at her in distress, gently touched her head, and said, "Alright, if you keep crying, your eyes will get swollen, and if Qin Yinong finds out later, neither of us will have a good time."

Tang Ruoyao smiled through her tears.

The atmosphere lightened slightly.

Han Yuping pretended to have a light-hearted tone and said, "Of course, I still have to criticize her for making up stories about getting married and having children. You can go back and punish her by making her kneel and wash the clothes on the washboard. Don't worry, she has been on set for so many years, too busy to get married, let alone have children. It's all a lie. My wife has a booklet of her film schedules from these years, seamlessly organized. Do you want it?"

Tang Ruoyao, with tears in her eyes, said, "Yes."

Han Yuping smiled and said, "I'll call my wife later. She has nothing to do, that's why she organized it. I didn't expect it to come in handy."

Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth, wanting to be polite, but didn't know how to address Han Yuping's wife. Although she called him uncle as a temporary measure just now, it would be even more difficult to address his wife.

After all, Qin Yinong was still considering pushing her away.

Fortunately, Han Yuping didn't mind and sighed, "I won't say much about your private matters. If she spreads more nonsense, you can come to me, and I'll confront her face-to-face."

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "No need."

Han Yuping looked at her and suddenly said, "You've worked hard."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head, her lips curved with a gentle smile, "No, it's not hard."

Han Yuping didn't say anything, just gently patted the back of her hand.

"Take care."

"Okay." Tang Ruoyao replied earnestly.

Han Yuping left first, and Tang Ruoyao stayed in the rest area, waiting for her eyes to recover. Only when she couldn't see any traces of crying did she leave the rest area.

There was one last scene in the afternoon, and then they would wrap up for the day.

As soon as Lin Ruohan heard Han Yuping shout "cut," she pounced on Qin Yinong, immediately causing several young girls on the set to cover their mouths and scream. It seemed like they were fans of the couple.

Lin Ruohan generously gave the fans some sugar, picked up Qin Yinong, and twirled her around, like a scene from an idol drama.

The fans continued to scream, "Ah! So sweet! QinLin is real!"

Qin Yinong coldly said, "...Do you have a death wish?"

Lin Ruohan burst into laughter and put her back down. But in that moment when she turned her head, he unexpectedly met Tang Ruoyao's icy gaze.

Tang Ruoyao averted her gaze and turned to leave.

Lin Ruohan, being swayed by appearances, left Qin Yinong behind and quickly caught up with Tang Ruoyao, taking three steps in two: "Junior Tang!"

Tang Ruoyao halted and glanced indifferently, "Sister Ruohan, what's the matter?"

Lin Ruohan curved her lips into a slight smile and politely invited, "Yinong and I are planning to go out for a meal. Are you free tonight? Would you like to join us?"

Tang Ruoyao raised her eyelids and looked towards Qin Yinong, not far away.

Lin Ruohan signaled to Qin Yinong, but Qin Yinong remained unmoved.

Lin Ruohan was getting anxious, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, and said decisively, "She agreed!"

Qin Yinong: "..."

Tang Ruoyao's thin lips closed lightly as she calmly responded, "Then I'll respectfully comply."

Lin Ruohan smiled with her eyes and grabbed Tang Ruoyao's arm, walking in the direction of Qin Yinong. However, Qin Yinong quickly walked away, out of reach.

Lin Ruohan called out, "Hey!" Did she take the wrong medicine?

Tang Ruoyao withdrew her hand from Lin Ruohan's hold, maintaining some distance.

Lin Ruohan was frozen by the two icebergs in succession, her momentum instantly deflated.

But she quickly regrouped and persistently approached with enthusiasm.

Qin Yinong's car stopped in front of them. She bent down first, and Tang Ruoyao naturally followed, wanting to get in together. But Lin Ruohan pulled her back, whispering, "She's a germaphobe and doesn't allow anyone to ride in the same car with her."

"Is... that so?" Tang Ruoyao tilted her head slightly and blinked slowly.

Lin Ruohan said, "Yes!"

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself: But I've ridden in the same car with her several times before, and I haven't heard of this rule. The first time was when she invited me.

A trace of sweetness belatedly emerged from her heart.

She turned her face away, silently curling her lips.

Lin Ruohan was oblivious and led her towards another car, saying, "Let's take this one together and ignore her."

Qin Yinong watched their retreating figures from the car window, covered with tinted film. She placed her slender fingers on the edge of the window, slowly clenched them, relaxed, lowered her eyelashes, and concealed all emotions. "Let's go."

Guan Han focused her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, and replied, "Yes."

The dining location was set in an elegant pavilion, with a live classical music band playing. The faint sound of music could be heard from outside, making the box exceptionally serene.

Guan Han poured tea for the three of them. Qin Yinong held the purple clay teacup and sipped slowly, her eyelids lowered, not looking at anyone. She could hear Lin Ruohan's attentive voice.

"Where is Tang Tang from?"

"Province J."

"A place with talented people and spiritual energy. I've heard that Z City has beautiful women, don't know if it's true or not?"

"I'm from Z City."

"No wonder you're so good-looking."

"Sister Ruohan is joking."

"No, really. Just look at your facial features and bone structure, they're excellent. I've heard people say..."

.....

Tang Ruoyao responded absentmindedly to Lin Ruohan's attempts at getting closer, occasionally glancing at Qin Yinong sitting across from her with a dim and uncertain expression.

Lin Ruohan's intentions were so obvious, she couldn't believe that Qin Yinong couldn't see it. Was she really going to remain indifferent while watching someone show interest in her?

How much did she not want to be with her?

Tang Ruoyao's recently rescued self-confidence by Han Yuping was shattered in an instant, leaving nothing behind.

Feeling low and absent-minded, she suddenly heard a cry of surprise next to her. Before she could react, there was a warm woman's body in her arms. A twitch appeared on Tang Ruoyao's temple, almost causing her to immediately jump up. But when she lowered her head and saw the other person's face, she held back.

Lin Ruohan propped herself up with one hand and sat back properly, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Sorry, I was careless just now."

Tang Ruoyao whispered, "It's okay."

She looked at Qin Yinong, but Qin Yinong still didn't react at all. From beginning to end, she didn't even glance over, illuminated by the lights in the box, her skin like jade, undeniably beautiful, but devoid of any warmth, like an exquisite ice sculpture.

Following her gaze, Lin Ruohan looked over and whispered to Tang Ruoyao in confusion, "She's acting strange today."

Tang Ruoyao whispered back, "What's strange about her?"

Lin Ruohan scoffed, "Like someone owes her fifty million."

Tang Ruoyao smiled.

"You..." This was the first time Lin Ruohan had seen her smile today. It was as if the ice and snow had melted, bringing new life to everything. The mountain flowers bloomed across the fields, burning all the way, stunningly breathtaking.

Lin Ruohan looked stunned, momentarily captivated by the sight.

Qin Yinong placed her cup on the table, making a not-so-light sound when it made contact. Gracefully, she stood up and said, "I'll go to the restroom. You two can continue chatting."

Author's Note:

Today's cheesy dialogue:

Author: What kind of 'control' is Qin Jie?

Qin Jie: Remote control.

Author: Is it the kind of remote control where a press of a button makes everything go crazy?

Qin Jie: ...

PS: It seems that many people misunderstood the ending of the previous chapter, so let me explain:

Qin Yinong is not living for her sister, she is already suffering from a high-pressure life and is in great pain. When her pillar of support, her sister, suddenly passed away, she completely closed herself off and gave up on her own life. She cannot break free from this state, and responsibility is the only thing that keeps her going. Now she is living on inertia, without the courage or ability to love someone.

Tang Tang's role is to bravely hold her hand, step by step, and bring her out. Then the two of them can passionately... stay in bed for three days and three nights. [Not literally, it's a humorous remark.]


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Comments

  1. You know what, I really dislike Yinong even more now. Ruoha seems like such a sweetheart and this stupid ass is letting her chase the woman she's in love with only so that she can make a fool of herself. I think the author really doesn't want us to like Yinong at all

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