CHAPTER 105

"I'll go to the restroom. You two can continue chatting." The corner of the woman's red dress swept past in her peripheral vision and disappeared behind the door.

Tang Ruoyao briefly lost focus and directed her gaze at the tea cup in front of her.

Lin Ruohan decided that when she returned later, she would give Qin Yinong a big hug. What a best friend she was, always supporting her even during meals, leaving Lin Ruohan and Tang Ruoyao to have their own time together.

Guan Han followed Qin Yinong as soon as she stood up.

Taking advantage of her newcomer status, Lin Ruohan asked Tang Ruoyao about local things, such as where to find good food and what places were worth visiting. Tang Ruoyao remained polite but distant, answering each question.

Lin Ruohan lifted a strand of hair behind her ear with her fingertip and smiled, saying, "Are you busy with your drama production? If not, could you show me around?"

She was an extremely beautiful woman, a few years older than Qin Yinong. While both were labeled as "sexy" in the outside world, they exuded completely different charms.

Qin Yinong was enchanting, like a fox spirit from ancient tales. Her allure had a touch of innocence that bewitched the hearts of others. This purity wasn't always on display, but occasional glimpses were enough to ignite strong possessiveness and protectiveness, leaving people mesmerized.

Lin Ruohan, on the other hand, embodied pure sensuality. Confident and exuberant, she exuded a powerful aura, giving off a sense of stability and reliability. She was a full-fledged mature woman, and being around her instinctively inspired trust and dependence. It was comfortable to be with her, as she silently showed care and tenderness.

Tang Ruoyao politely declined, saying, "The production schedule is quite tight, and you know Director Han's temperament, Sister Ruohan."

Lin Ruohan laughed heartily. "I know, I know. Then, when you have time..."

Tang Ruoyao continued, "I'll treat you."

Just because she was cold towards others didn't mean she lacked understanding of social norms.

Tang Ruoyao estimated that it had been a while and stood up, saying, "Sister Ruohan, I'll go to the restroom."

Lin Ruohan asked, "Would you like me to accompany you?"

Tang Ruoyao: "No need, we can't leave everyone alone here."

Lin Ruohan: "Then come back soon."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

At the entrance of the restroom, Tang Ruoyao bumped into Guan Han, who was waiting. A hint of surprise appeared in Guan Han's calm eyes, and she silently took out her phone to inform Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao could tell from her actions what she was going to do. Without any hesitation or pause, she walked past Guan Han and entered the restroom with a few steps.

Guan Han: "..."

Truly worthy of you, Miss Yao.

The phone in Tang Ruoyao's handbag vibrated. Before Qin Yinong could open it to check, Tang Ruoyao's indifferent and delicate face appeared in the mirror in front of her.

During their time on the set, Qin Yinong rarely saw her without a smile, almost forgetting that such a cold expression could appear on her face. Tang Ruoyao's indifference lasted only for a moment. She calmly approached and turned on the faucet at the adjacent sink. Her well-defined fingers rinsed under the water as she smiled ambiguously, "Senior Qin has been out for a while."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I was just about to go back."

Her expression was impeccable, elegant, poised, and free of any jealousy.

Tang Ruoyao's heart felt as if it were being roasted by an unnamed fire, and her gaze flickered between brightness and darkness.

Qin Yinong leisurely took out a tissue from the side and wiped her hands slowly and deliberately. Calmly, she said, "I'll go back first."

Tang Ruoyao remained silent.

Qin Yinong nodded slightly to her and turned to leave. As her shoulder brushed against Tang Ruoyao, she tightened her grip. Tang Ruoyao lowered her eyelashes and looked at the hand that still had water droplets, the cool beads of water trickling down her wrist, winding through Qin Yinong's palm, and slipping off her fingertips, dropping to the ground.

Qin Yinong's fingertips twitched imperceptibly as she pretended to be puzzled and looked at Tang Ruoyao . "What is this, Miss Tang?"

Caught off guard, she stumbled for a moment.

Tang Ruoyao tightly held her wrist and pulled her into her embrace, hugging her tightly.

Qin Yinong's heart raced uncontrollably, and she almost instinctively leaned into the embrace, but after only two seconds of stiffness, she struggled and lowered her voice, saying, "Tang Ruoyao!"

This was the restroom, and sooner or later someone would come in or out. They couldn't afford any pretense now. If someone saw this scene, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Tang Ruoyao firmly held onto her, smelling her hair and body fragrance. Anger and love intertwined in her chest, making it hard to speak, unable to say anything. She was driving herself almost crazy. She placed a kiss on the woman's ear, pressing it for a long time.

The sensation by her ear was noticeable, warm and slightly moist. Qin Yinong turned her head to avoid it and scolded in a low voice, "Are you out of your mind?"

Tang Ruoyao ignored her and continued to seek her lips.

Something was clearly wrong with her entire demeanor, and Qin Yinong was growing increasingly anxious. She knew she wouldn't be able to break free in a short period of time. She encircled Tang Ruoyao and half-embraced her, leading her into the nearest cubicle. Before she could even close the door, Tang Ruoyao pressed her against the door panel.

While evaiding Tang Ruoyao's persistent kisses, Qin Yinong reached behind her to find and fumbled to lock the door.

In the enclosed space, Tang Ruoyao was completely unrestrained.

Her slender fingers skillfully and alternately caressed Qin Yinong's cheeks, and the woman gradually couldn't resist. A dazed look appeared in her eyes. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tang Ruoyao pried open her teeth and slipped inside, their lips gently and sweetly meeting in a circle.

Qin Yinong took a deep breath, her scalp tingling, her mind becoming increasingly dizzy, losing her clarity of thought.

In the brief parting of their lips, Tang Ruoyao murmured, "Hold me..."

Their foreheads touched, their breaths entwined, lingering and entangled.

"Qin Yinong, hold me tightly..." Tang Ruoyao pecked at the woman's lips, murmuring intermittently.

Enchanted by her voice, Qin Yinong's consciousness became hazy, her gaze unfocused. She couldn't help but raise her hand and encircle Tang Ruoyao.

......

After a long and passionate kiss, the intense emotions gradually subsided. Tang Ruoyao gently caressed Qin Yinong's slightly warm cheek and looked at her lowered eyelids, wanting to embrace her again. However, Qin Yinong pushed her away.

It wasn't a strong push; Tang Ruoyao only took a step back, creating some distance between them.

But that slight distance was enough for Qin Yinong to turn around and open the door to leave.

Tang Ruoyao followed closely behind her.

Qin Yinong took out a mirror and lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup. She calmly instructed, "I'll go out first, and then you can leave to avoid Lin Ruohan misunderstanding."

Tang Ruoyao self-mockingly curled her lips, thinking, "Misunderstanding? Is there any misunderstanding between us?"

But all her courage had been exhausted in the previous moment. She always felt timid and hesitant in front of Qin Yinong, constantly weighing the pros and cons. And in this moment, she chose a compromise and obediently replied, "Okay."

Qin Yinong finished applying her lipstick and turned to look at Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao said, "I didn't bring any lipstick."

Helpless, Qin Yinong approached and carefully applied lipstick to her. The lipstick felt cool, and the sensation of applying it lightly on the lips was tingling. Tang Ruoyao stared intently at the woman in front of her, her long and curled eyelashes casting a small shadow on her eyeballs. Her gaze focused on her lips.

She had a cute little habit. Tang Ruoyao opened her lips slightly while waiting for the touch-up, unconsciously revealing the soft and moist redness hidden within.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but swallow involuntarily.

Qin Yinong's ears grew warm as she calmly said, "Done." She closed the lipstick and stepped back to a safe distance.

"I'll leave first." Qin Yinong picked up her handbag.

"See you later."

"See you later."

Guan Han saw Qin Yinong coming out from inside, glanced over her from head to toe, didn't notice anything unusual, and silently followed behind her.

The curtains of the waterside pavilion were lifted, and footsteps could be heard from behind. Lin Ruohan, who was lounging lazily, immediately sat up straight and turned around. But upon seeing the person, her face immediately fell. "Oh, it's you."

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "Not happy to see me?"

Lin Ruohan slouched back lazily and said, "No, but relatively speaking, I'd rather see Tang Ruoyao."

"Putting love before friendship," Qin Yinong took her seat and casually asked, "It hasn't even been a day, and you already like her?"

"You can't put it that way." Lin Ruohan raised a finger and shook it, "By my calculations, I've known her for eight hours."

"Oh," Qin Yinong replied without much interest.

Lin Ruohan had a lot to say and wanted to share with her, all excited. "Don't you think she..."

Qin Yinong glanced outside through the curtain and interrupted her, saying, "Why isn't the food here yet? I'm hungry."

Lin Ruohan pressed the bell on the table. "I'll remind them for you."

Tang Ruoyao arrived at the restroom after a two-minute delay. Two dishes were already on the table: steamed grouper and braised prawns. Lin Ruohan had just finished filming the upper part of a drama and was resting at home, so she didn't have many dietary restrictions.

She warmly welcomed Tang Ruoyao to take a seat and used the public chopsticks to pick a piece of fish and put it in her bowl in front of her, saying, "This fish doesn't have many bones. Give it a try."

Tang Ruoyao held the bamboo chopsticks and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Ruohan." She added softly, "I can do it myself."

Her voice was soft, and her attitude softened slightly, which was enough to make Lin Ruohan ecstatic.

She peeled a shrimp and put it on a plate, as if she hadn't heard Tang Ruoyao's previous words, and said, "Try this too. The waiter said it's their signature dish here."

Tang Ruoyao thanked her again and discreetly moved the bowl further away.

Lin Ruohan tactfully refrained from peeling for her anymore.

Qin Yinong tightened her fingers around the chopsticks but didn't speak up to intervene.

Lin Ruohan paid no attention to Tang Ruoyao and ignored Qin Yinong. She was used to taking care of people, whether they were lovers or friends. She also greeted Qin Yinong to eat and even peeled two large prawns for her. She pushed the dish of spicy oil forward and said, "I know you're not jealous. I just tried a bit of this chili oil, and it's pretty good. Dip some and give it a try."

Qin Yinong responded with an "Mm" and took it without hesitation, not being polite with her.

Several more dishes were served one after another.

Lin Ruohan verbally advised Tang Ruoyao but took more care of Qin Yinong in her actions. She would pick whatever Qin Yinong was eating and showed no signs of being picky.

Tang Ruoyao's gaze darkened, and she spoke up, "Sister Ruohan."

Lin Ruohan turned to her with a smile, saying, "What is it?"

Tang Ruoyao's expression was cold, adhering to the rule of not speaking while eating. Lin Ruohan had intentionally reduced the frequency of talking to her during the meal. But being actively called upon caught her off guard, and a hint of delight appeared in her eyes.

Tang Ruoyao pointed her chopsticks at a plate in the corner of the table and said, "Can you pass me the chopsticks for the bamboo shoots?"

The four of them were eating without a rotating tray, so the dishes were arranged in clusters, some closer and some farther away. Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao sat across from each other, with Lin Ruohan on Tang Ruoyao's left. Going clockwise, Qin Yinong and Guan Han were next.

The plate of bamboo shoots was placed in front of Qin Yinong, closest to her.

Qin Yinong was slightly startled.

The public chopsticks were within reach of both her and Lin Ruohan.

Tang Ruoyao stared fixedly at those chopsticks without blinking, and a clean, long white hand picked them up. Tang Ruoyao looked up, and the owner of the hand was Lin Ruohan.

A bitter taste welled up in Tang Ruoyao's mouth. She tugged at the corners of her lips but couldn't produce a genuine smile.

Just as things seemed slow, another hand swiftly reached out and lifted the entire plate of bamboo shoots, placing it in front of Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao was taken aback.

Lin Ruohan: "..."

She saw who started it all and the words "What the hell" rushed to her lips. But considering Tang Ruoyao's presence, she forcefully swallowed them and gritted her teeth, saying, "Guan Han!" Who asked her to be kind-hearted?!

Guan Han lowered her head and silently ate her meal without uttering a word.

She had Qin Yinong's protection, so she wasn't afraid of anyone.

Tang Ruoyao's emotions fluctuated again, and she inexplicably glanced at Qin Yinong across the table. Qin Yinong's long lashes drooped as she continued eating, and her expression couldn't be discerned.

Tang Ruoyao knew that without Qin Yinong's permission, Guan Han would never take matters into her own hands. But Qin Yinong's indifferent attitude at the moment made it difficult for her to believe that Guan Han was acting under her instructions.

In the car on the way back, Qin Yinong sat in the back seat, looking at her assistant in front of her.

"Guan Han," Qin Yinong's tone was cold, with a hint of anger.

"Here," Guan Han replied calmly and confidently.

"Who told you to bring that dish over?"

"You did." Guan Han said without lowering her head.

Qin Yinong said in a frustrated tone, "When did I..."

Guan Han grabbed her hand that had hid in her pocket, opening the fist that had been clenched since earlier. Qin Yinong hadn't trimmed her nails recently, and the tips were somewhat sharp, leaving faint traces of blood on her tender and fair palm, which were oozing a little fresh blood.

Qin Yinong reflexively tried to tighten her fist but was restrained by Guan Han's grip.

Guan Han silently took out the first-aid kit from the car and disinfected her hand before applying medication.

Qin Yinong let her dab the wound she had caused herself with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, saying, "Don't do this again next time."

Guan Han remained silent.

Qin Yinong's voice grew slightly stern, "Did you hear me?"

Guan Han lowered her eyelids and remained silent for another two seconds before whispering, "Yes, I heard you."

.....

Tang Ruoyao still shared a car with Lin Ruohan. Lin Ruohan shamelessly took advantage of being close to Qin Yinong's residence, and Qin Yinong couldn't easily refuse. Tang Ruoyao had no grounds to object, so she could only silently accept it.

It was comfortable chatting with Lin Ruohan in reality, but Tang Ruoyao seemed absent-minded. After a few sentences, she pretended to be a bit tired, tilted her head to the side, and closed her eyes to rest. Lin Ruohan quietly unfolded the blanket in the car and gently covered her.

Tang Ruoyao "woke up" and said, "I'm not cold, thank you, Sister Ruohan."

Lin Ruohan smiled generously and neatly folded the thin blanket again.

It seemed that the beauty currently had no interest in her, but that was fine. It made it more challenging. The chase itself was also a stage of love, and she enjoyed and savored every detail.

As usual, Qin Yinong arrived first, followed by the other two.

Qin Yinong was planning to entertain Lin Ruohan and stayed in the living room on the first floor, not going upstairs. Lin Ruohan entered the house and looked around inside and outside before smiling at Qin Yinong, "You have good conditions here, much better than ours back then."

"Don't forget how much more famous I am now." Qin Yinong humorously replied.

"Hahaha." Lin Ruohan nodded in agreement, "You're right. Where am I staying tonight?"

Qin Yinong had already figured it out on the way back, "You'll sleep in Guan Han's room, and Guan Han will sleep on the sofa tonight."

"Oh, I see." Lin Ruohan remembered how Guan Han ruined her plan earlier and laughed for a while before asking, "Where is Guan Han's room?"

Qin Yinong said, "It's upstairs."

Lin Ruohan's eyes lit up, "Where are you staying?"

Qin Yinong paused briefly and answered, "Also upstairs."

Lin Ruohan looked at her friend with a deeply grateful expression.

Qin Yinong felt frozen and her blood seemed to stop flowing, as if her fingers were no longer responding. The freshly healed wound was cut open again by sharp nails. She stood there, waiting for the slowly circulating blood to warm up her stiff and cold limbs, and slowly said, "It's still early. Feel free to look around. There are drinks in the fridge. I... I'll go back to my room first."

Lin Ruohan was eager for her to leave and said, "Go ahead."

However, Tang Ruoyao called out to the woman, "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong turned away from her, biting her lip, trying to calm her slight trembling, and said calmly, "What's the matter?"

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within her. She took two steps forward, wanting to go around and see the woman's expression, and as she walked, she said, "There are a few questions in the script that I'm not very clear about. Can I ask you for some advice?"

Qin Yinong heard the footsteps behind her but didn't let Tang Ruoyao catch up. She continued walking upstairs and replied, "Sure, bring the script over. I'll be in my room. Just knock on the door later."

Tang Ruoyao stopped in her tracks.

Lin Ruohan asked, "Do you have any fruits here?"

Tang Ruoyao snapped out of her thoughts and walked towards the fridge, saying, "I'll get them for you. What would you like to eat?"

Lin Ruohan wasn't foolish enough to wait for her to name the fruits. Instead, she followed her up and stood beside her, looking inside together. They chose a half-chilled cantaloupe. Tang Ruoyao was going to take it to the kitchen to cut, but Lin Ruohan swiftly grabbed it, using the excuse of "I'm older than you."

The kitchen was small, and if the two of them worked together, there would inevitably be physical contact. Tang Ruoyao decided not to join in the fun and waited outside to eat.

Lin Ruohan was skilled with a knife, able to cut fruits neatly and evenly, presenting them beautifully. She speared a piece with her fork and handed the cantaloupe, along with the fork, to Tang Ruoyao. "I just tasted a piece in the kitchen. It's quite sweet. Where did you buy it?"

Tang Ruoyao shook her head. "I don't know. Guan Han bought it."

Lin Ruohan just wanted to chat with her, any topic would do, so she continued, "Guan Han is still so capable." Suddenly, she remembered the incident from earlier and ground her teeth inwardly.

"After all, following Senior Qin, she must have some outstanding qualities." Tang Ruoyao smoothly redirected the conversation towards Qin Yinong.

"You're right." Lin Ruohan happily agreed. While eating the melon, she said, "You two are like two big blocks of ice."

Tang Ruoyao tilted her head slightly, her voice rising at the end, "Hmm?"

Lin Ruohan's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly concealed it and said, "Nothing. Haven't you noticed? Qin Yinong is always so cold. You two have been together for so long, but you still haven't gotten close."

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, 'What is she talking about?'

Lin Ruohan didn't notice her strangeness and wondered, "But she wasn't like this before. She used to be quite friendly with her acting partners." Has something happened recently? Lin Ruohan felt it necessary to ask her.

Tang Ruoyao casually replied, "Maybe she's not in a good mood."

Am I the reason for her bad mood?

Since returning from Z City, she hadn't genuinely smiled again.

Lin Ruohan said, "Maybe." She expressed concern, "When did she start having a bad mood? Has it been since joining the crew?"

"It's been on and off."

"Have you heard any strange noises at night?"

"Are you talking about... nightmares?" Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat.

"You know?" This time, it was Lin Ruohan who was surprised. Weren't they supposed to be unfamiliar with each other?

"I... accidentally entered her room one night." Tang Ruoyao stammered.

"..." Lin Ruohan forced a smile and said helplessly, "That's quite a coincidence. I also used to live together with her before and heard a lot of noise from the next room. I discovered it unintentionally."

"Does she often have nightmares?"

"She used to." Lin Ruohan tugged at her earlobe and pursed her lips. "I'm not sure now. I haven't lived with her, she doesn't allow it. But she has severe insomnia. If you're free, don't disturb her at night, especially when she's asleep. Don't make any noise at all."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

She thought, Has it always been like this for such a long time?

"Aren't you supposed to ask about the script?" Lin Ruohan remembered and gently urged, "Hurry up, ask, and let her rest early."

"Okay."

.....

Upstairs room.

Guan Han closed the medicine box, glanced at Qin Yinong twice, everything understood without words.

Qin Yinong felt an inexplicable sense of guilt welling up in her heart. She withdrew her hand and said, "I promise it'll be the last time, okay?"

Guan Han didn't believe her.

But the hand belonged to Qin Yinong herself. If she insisted on self-torture, Guan Han had no other choice but to give her medicine time and time again.

Guan Han thought for a moment, reopened the box, and silently took out a bandage.

Qin Yinong hid her hand behind her back and shook her head firmly. "I don't want it!" It's too ugly! What if Tang Ruoyao sees it later?

Guan Han approached her.

Qin Yinong's tone turned harsh but hesitant. "Are you planning to rebel?"

The two were locked in a stalemate when a knocking sound at the door saved Qin Yinong from the situation. She quickly signaled to Guan Han and whispered, "Put it away now!"

Guan Han threw the used cotton swabs on the table into the trash can, closed the medicine box again, and put it back in the cabinet.

Guan Han opened the door and nodded at Tang Ruoyao standing outside. "Miss Tang." After speaking, she returned to her own room.

Tang Ruoyao narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing that Guan Han seemed downcast.

She shifted her gaze and knocked on the open door. "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong said, "Come in."

Tang Ruoyao's nose was sensitive, and as soon as she entered, she smelled the scent of disinfectant alcohol and ointment, lingering in her nostrils. Qin Yinong naturally noticed it too and walked to the balcony, opening the windows wider for better ventilation.

Tang Ruoyao noticed a few bloody cotton swabs in the trash can, her gaze darkened, but she didn't mention it.

"Didn't you have questions about the script?" Qin Yinong returned and gestured for her to sit on the small sofa while she took a seat opposite her. "You..." Her words suddenly paused.

Tang Ruoyao had empty hands, she didn't bring the script at all.

Tang Ruoyao didn't sit in the position Qin Yinong wanted her to, but instead walked up to her, half squatting down, looking up at her with an almost reverent posture. She took Qin Yinong's right hand in her own, her amber-colored eyes tinged with a hint of sadness, and gently asked, "Why did you leave me downstairs?"

Qin Yinong was almost engulfed by the sorrow in Tang Ruoyao's eyes, and a dull ache echoed in her heart.She calmly met Tang Ruoyao's gaze and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Tang Ruoyao stared at her intently. "Is that so? Can't you see that she has feelings for me?"

"I... don't know."

"I'm telling you now, you know." Tang Ruoyao smiled lightly, tinged with a faint self-mockery, and asked, "Are you still going to push me away?"

Qin Yinong's jaw tightened, and her teeth clenched.Tang Ruoyao's finger caressed her face, but Qin Yinong turned her head to avoid it.

Tang Ruoyao withdrew her hand, changed the tone of her voice, and asked, "What kind of person is she?"

"Who?" Qin Yinong mechanically asked, tasting a faint metallic taste in her mouth.

"Lin Ruohan."

"She... comes from a prominent background, her family is a well-known aristocratic family in the capital." She will be able to protect you completely.

"I'm asking about her as a person, what's her personality like? Is she worth..." Tang Ruoyao paused, her tone casual but a knife stabbed into Qin Yinong's heart, "entrusting a lifetime to?"

The dull ache in Qin Yinong's heart turned into a sharp blade, causing her to gasp for breath. The hand held in the other person's palm began to tremble lightly, and she had to take a shallow breath before uttering two words, "She's worth it."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes suddenly turned red.

She opened her mouth as if she wanted to ask: And what about you?

But she couldn't say a word. She just pressed her forehead forcefully against the back of Qin Yinong's hand, exerting a lot of strength. Her whole body trembled, her teeth made a creaking sound, and then she abruptly stood up and rushed out like a gust of wind.

The door slammed shut with a loud sound.

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