CHAPTER 110

The previous evening, Han Yuping specifically instructed the two main actors, "Go back and brew your emotions well." He then subtly reminded them, "Don't let your emotions get out of control. Rest early tonight."

Both of them agreed, and they took Qin Yinong's nanny car back to the villa together.

Tang Ruoyao's face was thicker than the Great Wall at this point. Again and again, she didn't hesitate to let Han Yuping find the production manager responsible for arranging transportation, and directly canceled the car that the crew prepared for her every day. She openly relied on Qin Yinong's car, truly sticking to her side.

Qin Yinong did want to refuse, but every morning when she left, Tang Ruoyao would give her a pitiful look with puppy dog eyes and silently follow behind her. She couldn't let the bodyguards take her away. That's how Tang Ruoyao managed to cling to her like that.

"Hello, Senior Tang," Qin Yinong's assistant team surrounding the car greeted her one after another, each one with a radiant smile.

"Hello," Tang Ruoyao smiled generously.

"What would Senior Tang like to eat for dinner tonight?" Xiao asked with a smile.

Since she was Qin Yinong's girlfriend, she was naturally the boss of the studio, and her attitude was naturally different.

"Whatever Senior Qin wants is fine for me." Tang Ruoyao replied. She also took advantage of Qin Yinong's dinner. It started when one day after work, the assistant asked her in the car about preparing dinner for Qin Yinong. She didn't know which person couldn't keep their mouth shut and asked Tang Ruoyao, who spontaneously said she wanted to eat this and that.

Qin Yinong was dumbfounded.

Guan Han was amazed in her heart.

Qin Yinong didn't want to lose face in front of her assistant, it was just a dinner, she could handle it herself if she wanted to. So for the past few days, Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong went in and out together, ate together... but the right to stay together was taken away by Qin Yinong. The method was simple, she would lock the door as soon as she entered the house.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

You have your plans, and I have my ways. Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but invite herself in. She knocked on the door, with a gentle and modest attitude, using the excuse of rehearsing their scenes to enter first. As for whether they actually rehearsed the scenes after entering, only the two of them knew.

Qin Yinong was forced to engage in a battle of wits with Tang Ruoyao, and while she felt mentally exhausted, she also felt that her mindset had become much younger. There were people around her with vibrant personalities, such as this group of assistants, Yi Yiyi from the studio, and sometimes even Guan Han was quite adorable. But there was always a clear barrier and a sense of distance between them. They laughed and joked around, but Qin Yinong felt a noticeable gap and isolation. She would smile and appreciate them, and genuinely want to protect these kind-hearted people, but she couldn't blend in. Despite the lively atmosphere around her, her heart remained cold and desolate.

Tang Ruoyao was an exception. Despite seeing the frosty walls surrounding her and the dark, sharp thorns that covered the other side, which would leave anyone who touched them battered and bloodied, she still chose to open her arms and step forward, aiming her softest interior at the cold thorns, without any hesitation.

It must be said that her almost sacrificial and resolute way of loving truly touched Qin Yinong's frozen heart.

Could there really be someone willing to love her more than they loved themselves? Qin Yinong began to believe it a little.

But how long could this passionate and courageous love endure? What would she do if one day it quickly faded away? Perhaps a year, perhaps tomorrow, how would she handle it?

Was it because she could never have what she truly desired that she pursued it relentlessly?

Qin Yinong glanced at Tang Ruoyao, who was speaking to her assistant beside her. Her expression changed intermittently, and she lowered her eyelids in silence.

Tang Ruoyao had been discreetly observing Qin Yinong with her peripheral vision. As soon as she noticed that uncertain look in Qin Yinong's eyes, she immediately abandoned the conversation with her assistant and approached with concern, "Are you feeling unwell, Senior Qin?"

"I'm fine." Qin Yinong habitually placed her fingertips on her forehead, but before she could press down, a warm hand gently held her hand, and Tang Ruoyao moved to the side. In place of Qin Yinong's hand on her own temple, Tang Ruoyao's fingers now rested there, radiating warmth.

Qin Yinong was taken aback.

"I'll give you a massage." Tang Ruoyao started without waiting for permission.

Their heights were similar, and it was inconvenient to do this while sitting. Tang Ruoyao kneeled on the seat, slightly taller than Qin Yinong, allowing for a more comfortable position to apply pressure.

"Is this okay?"

A gentle and steady voice sounded from above.

"Um," Qin Yinong lightly pressed her forehead against Tang Ruoyao's body and closed her eyes.

The car was driving smoothly, and Qin Yinong grasped the corner of Tang Ruoyao's shirt with one hand. The pressure on her temples was just right, and her nerves relaxed and eased, making her feel drowsy leaning against the other person.

They didn't even notice when the car stopped. The assistants exchanged glances and quietly opened the car door, filing out one by one.

Tang Ruoyao lightly touched Qin Yinong's slightly warmed cheek, whispering softly, "Qin Yinong, we've arrived home."

Qin Yinong rubbed her sleepy eyes and turned her head to see the villa enveloped in the evening sun through the open car door. The red bricks reflected the endless yellow rays, and the green stone slabs at the entrance extended all the way. The deep red and pale pink peach blossoms swayed in the wind, swirling and floating, creating a beauty reminiscent of a utopia, dreamlike and surreal.

Qin Yinong hesitated for a moment, realizing the words she had used.

At some point, Tang Ruoyao had started calling this place home.

But this "home" would come to an end once the honeymoon period ended, and they would have to leave, returning to where they started, living face-to-face in hotel rooms, cautious and avoiding suspicion.

Qin Yinong's eyes dimmed. It turned out that the time in this dream was shorter than she had imagined.

"Let's go downstairs." Qin Yinong stood up first, holding Tang Ruoyao's hand. Tang Ruoyao's legs had been kneeling for too long, causing her blood circulation to be obstructed. As a result, she couldn't stand steady and her knees gave way, causing her to fall forward uncontrollably.

Qin Yinong reacted quickly, holding onto her waist and falling sideways into the nearby seat. The two of them tumbled into it, with Tang Ruoyao landing on top of Qin Yinong.

Guan Han, who had already gotten out of the car, glanced inside at the commotion and asked, "Qin Jie, what happened?"

Qin Yinong suppressed a groan of pain and slightly furrowed her brows, saying, "It's nothing."

Tang Ruoyao propped herself up on the armrest and anxiously checked Qin Yinong, asking, "Did you hit anywhere?"

Qin Yinong didn't pretend to be strong and honestly replied, "I bumped my lower back against the corner of the armrest."

"Can you move?"

Qin Yinong tried to move, didn't say anything, but the beautiful arches of her eyebrows visibly furrowed with a hint of pain on her face. She sighed and said, "I'll rest for a while."

Tang Ruoyao bit her lower lip.

Qin Yinong saw her face turn pale with fear and softened her heart. She curved a smile at the corner of her lips and reassured her, "It's alright, it's just that as I've gotten older, my body's recovery ability isn't as strong as before. I just need to rest for a bit. If you have something to do, you can go inside first..."

Tang Ruoyao sat down in the seat next to her, refusing to budge. "I'll stay here with you."

Qin Yinong wasn't surprised and let her stay, both of them falling into silence.

Guan Han sent the assistants who were watching the commotion outside away and silently waited downstairs. After a few minutes, Tang Ruoyao helped Qin Yinong down with the support of her arm, and Guan Han followed them in silence.

They were escorted all the way to the second-floor room. Qin Yinong said, "Guan Han, I accidentally bumped into something earlier. Can you check if there's any bruising?"

Guan Han rolled up her sleeves and replied, "Okay."

Tang Ruoyao stopped Guan Han's hand and said, "Let me do it."

Guan Han looked at Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong nodded at her, and Guan Han left with Tang Ruoyao.

Qin Yinong lay on the bed, feeling the cool air brushing against her skin. Tang Ruoyao checked her while asking, "Senior Qin, what are your thoughts on tomorrow's scene?"

"What thoughts?"

"Do you want to rehearse beforehand? I'm afraid I won't handle it well."

Qin Yinong thought in her mind, 'You're probably just looking for an excuse to stay and sleep with me.'

"Sure." she smiled and agreed.

There wouldn't be many more chances to share a bed.

Qin Yinong didn't have any bruises, but she had hit her bone and pulled a muscle, causing her a great deal of pain.

She put her coat back on and went downstairs with Tang Ruoyao to have dinner. The assistant had prepared the same dishes for both of them. They weren't picky eaters and could eat anything, but their tastes inevitably had some preferences.

Suddenly, Qin Yinong's line of sight noticed an extra pair of chopsticks, and then she saw a piece of almost untouched chicken in her own bowl being taken and put into Tang Ruoyao's mouth. Tang Ruoyao then picked up two pieces of beef and put them on the empty spot on Qin Yinong's plate.

"You can have this one." Tang Ruoyao said calmly, "I'll eat the chicken."

Qin Yinong's eyelashes trembled, and her fingers holding the chopsticks tightened.

It was too intimate.

More intimate than Tang Ruoyao seizing the opportunity to share a bed with her.

Qin Yinong never touched those two pieces of beef and eventually threw them, along with the food container, into the trash can. Tang Ruoyao watched as Guan Han tied the trash bag tightly, threw it at the door, and then looked away.

The living room's television was on, and Qin Yinong was watching a domestic documentary about the Hexi Corridor. 

Tang Ruoyao took out chilled fruits from the refrigerator, went to the kitchen to plate them, and brought them over with two small forks, placing them in front of Qin Yinong. The documentary showcased magnificent scenery, with vast deserts and the setting sun over the long river. The music perfectly complemented the visuals. Tang Ruoyao sat beside her, silently watching along.

The atmosphere lacked warmth, but it wasn't entirely cold either. It fell somewhere in between.

The music suddenly stopped momentarily on the television, and Tang Ruoyao glanced towards the window. The strong wind had picked up again in the evening, causing the branches in the illuminated area to sway vigorously. The branches looked delicate and as if they were about to be blown away by the wind, yet despite the strong gusts, they remained attached to the tree trunk.

Qin Yinong's mind was elsewhere as she followed Tang Ruoyao's gaze.

As soon as Qin Yinong moved, Tang Ruoyao noticed and turned to face her, their eyes meeting.

Her eyes were the most striking feature among her facial features, always clear and bright, as if they could see into one's soul.

Qin Yinong was caught off guard and felt inexplicable panic. Her initial reaction was to look away, but she restrained herself with willpower. She quietly met Tang Ruoyao's gaze and casually asked, "What were you watching just now?"

"It's windy." Tang Ruoyao said softly, her eyes seemingly speaking as they roamed around her face.

"Mmm," Qin Yinong turned her face away and looked elsewhere.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and looked at the hand hanging by Qin Yinong's side. She lifted her own hand and pressed it against the back of the woman's hand. Her palm was warm, forming a sharp contrast with Qin Yinong's cool hand. It felt like a burning flame when their hands touched.

Qin Yinong's fingers twitched suddenly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Tang Ruoyao lifted her palm, separating the woman's fingers, and delicately intertwined their fingertips, firmly holding hands. She then brought the plate of fruit from the coffee table and fed a piece to the edge of Qin Yinong's lips with the fork.

Qin Yinong pursed her lips, lacking the courage to open her mouth.

Tang Ruoyao took a bite herself, then fed another piece directly into Qin Yinong's mouth, mouth-to-mouth.

Qin Yinong stared at her in a daze, being fed several more pieces in succession. Tang Ruoyao temporarily put down the fork, crossed her legs, and sat on the couch, pulling both of Qin Yinong's hands into her own palms.

"It's almost summer, why are you still so cold?" She rubbed Qin Yinong's icy fingers, using her palms to warm them.

"Low body temperature." Qin Yinong replied briefly.

"Did you fall into a lake when you were a child?"

"No."

"Did you wear too little clothing during school, prioritizing style over warmth?"

"No."

"Then why is that?"

"...I can't remember." Qin Yinong's expression briefly went blank, pausing for a moment. "I just gradually became like this."

"If you can't remember, then don't think about it. We'll take good care of you in the future," Tang Ruoyao said naturally.

"We? In the future?"

These were all long and elusive words, but in this quiet midnight, the television continued playing ordinary programs, and beside her was the genuine warmth of a young woman. Even the half-eaten fruit plate was extraordinarily ordinary, turning the future into something tangible that could be seen and touched.

"How will you take care of me?" she asked, almost absentmindedly.

"Eat well, sleep early, wake up early."

Is that it? A trace of amusement flashed in Qin Yinong's eyes.

"And occasionally have some passionate nights," Tang Ruoyao leaned over and hugged her, biting her earlobe and chuckling softly.

A slight tingling sensation spread across her ear, whether it was from Tang Ruoyao's words or her actions, she couldn't tell. Qin Yinong tilted her head, and Tang Ruoyao's kiss landed on her cheek, one after another, light and tender, like dragonflies skimming the water's surface, full of affection and care.

Qin Yinong's long lashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her gaze.

Finally, Tang Ruoyao lightly kissed her forehead, allowing Qin Yinong to adjust to a comfortable position in her arms. With one hand embracing the woman, Tang Ruoyao used the other hand to feed her fruits from the plate.

Qin Yinong parted her red lips and slowly savored each bite.

She felt at ease, unafraid even if the sky were to collapse.

She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this way.

Qin Yinong's eyelashes were moist, and she strained to open her eyes wider to look at the television, allowing her blurry vision to regain clarity.

Tang Ruoyao's brows relaxed, and contentment filled the corners of her eyes. She wasn't in a hurry to explain her innermost feelings to Qin Yinong. Words would put pressure on her, so she would prove it with her actions, making Qin Yinong believe and be certain that they could have a fulfilling future together. As long as she wanted, her own world would always be waiting, allowing her to be wild and free.

......

"Qin Jie."

"Qin Jie?"

Qin Yinong looked dazed and raised her gaze, then focused her thoughts to see that the person in front of her was Guan Han. "What's wrong?"

Guan Han said, "Director Han sent someone to call you. The filming is about to start."

"Okay." Qin Yinong blinked her eyelashes and picked up the glass of water on the table, finishing it in one gulp. She took a deep breath and stood up, saying, "Let's go."

Guan Han followed her from a distance, secretly feeling shocked.

Today, she didn't know how many times she had been shocked.

First thing in the morning, she went to knock on Qin Yinong's door on time. From inside came a "please come in," and Guan Han pushed the door open without any mental preparation. Then she almost couldn't control her facial expression and burst into a firework right there—she had blown herself up!

There were two people lying on the bed, both of whom she was very familiar with. One was Qin Yinong, and the other was naturally Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao?

Guan Han: "!!!"

God knows when was the last time she saw the two of them sharing a bed. In her memory, there was only one and only one time, three years ago, during the incident when she delivered finger c*ts to Qin Yinong. Why did Qin Yinong let her personally bring it into the room and give her that thing? It was to give Tang Ruoyao a profound understanding of her role as a lover after the accidental drugging incident, to prevent any improper thoughts from arising.

After lightly knocking on Tang Ruoyao once, Qin Yinong never let her into their room again. Especially the master bedroom where Tang Ruoyao slept, it became Guan Han's restricted area, off-limits without permission.

In fact, Qin Yinong had never allowed it even once. 

After four years, she finally witnessed this scene again!

Tang Ruoyao sat at the head of the bed and greeted her gracefully, "Guan Han."

Guan Han lowered her gaze and respectfully said, "Senior Tang."

She didn't even use the term "sister" anymore. It seems she has a clear understanding of her position as the boss. When are you two planning to hold a banquet? Have you already chosen a name for your child? How many do you plan to have?

"Then I'll go back to my room to freshen up."

Guan Han heard Tang Ruoyao's voice, which was noticeably softer than usual when speaking to Qin Yinong, gentle enough to melt away.

Goosebumps appeared on Guan Han's arms, and she couldn't control the upward curve of her lips. She quickly held it back.

She went to the wardrobe to get clothes for Qin Yinong and caught a glimpse of Tang Ruoyao leaning over and kissing Qin Yinong's lips. Qin Yinong lowered her eyes and obediently complied, completely resembling a doting wife.

"Go ahead." Qin Yinong's voice sounded somewhat cold, but the lingering affection could still be heard.

Tang Ruoyao kissed her again, her eyes and brows curved. With one hand supporting herself on the bed, she swiftly got off the bed and went to the adjacent room.

Guan Han suspected that she left so quickly because she wanted to finish freshening up quickly and return to see Qin Jie sooner.

The sweetness was overwhelming, and Guan Han felt a bit dizzy with happiness.

The metal hanger in her hand hit the cabinet door with a loud clang. Qin Yinong looked in the direction of the sound, and Guan Han regained her composure. She upheld her duties as an assistant and took out a set of sportswear similar to the one from yesterday, light pink and fresh.

She observed Qin Yinong's expression, and Qin Yinong didn't seem to have any objections to this outfit. She told her to place it on the bedside and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

The sound of an electric toothbrush hummed.

Guan Han knelt on the bed and tidied up the bedding, carefully picking out the long hairs on the pillow and throwing them into the trash bin. Her gaze casually swept over and suddenly stopped. She furrowed her brows slowly. Why weren't there any crumpled tissues on the bed?

Can't believe it, when they were sneaking around and lying on the same bed, there were tissues, but now that they're openly sleeping together, there are none?

Guan Han shook the trash bag on the edge, and indeed, there was nothing.

Guan Han: "..." Couldn't figure it out.

After Qin Yinong finished washing up and combed her long hair, she walked out from inside and said, "I'm going to change clothes."

Guan Han replaced the trash bag with a new one and carried it out.

Qin Yinong looked at Guan Han's back and furrowed her brows. She always felt that her small head was hiding a great confusion.

Closing the door, turning around, Tang Ruoyao happened to come out from the next room. She wore a white dress, young and beautiful, with good skin, and even the water droplets on her face were not wiped clean. Her natural beauty couldn't be blocked.

Guan Han: "Miss Tang."

Tang Ruoyao nodded and her gaze naturally fell on the trash bag in Guan Han's hand, quickly retracting her gaze, and focused on Qin Yinong's room door.

Guan Han asked, "Miss Tang, are you waiting for Qin Jie?"

Tang Ruoyao's gaze lingered on her face for a second, as if suspecting that she was asking knowingly, paused for a moment, and nodded, "Yes." Her tone was clear and devoid of any excess emotions.

Guan Han had a lot of questions in her mind, but she was always a woman of few words, asking anything seemed inappropriate, so she could only keep her mouth shut, put on a straight face, and silently accompany Tang Ruoyao and the others.

Qin Yinong came out from inside, Tang Ruoyao smiled at her and naturally held Qin Yinong's hand hanging by her side, gently caressing the back of her hand for a while. Their fingers interlocked, and they went downstairs together.

The world in front of Guan Han turned into a kaleidoscope of colors.

It wasn't until the two figures were about to disappear on the stairs that Guan Han tightly pinched her own wrist and quickly caught up.

The following events were the same as before, taking the same car to the set, except this time Tang Ruoyao held Qin Yinong's hand and didn't let go. Even when getting into the car, they were still together, one in front and the other behind, never apart. Tang Ruoyao went in first and then pulled Qin Yinong in.

At some point during the journey, Qin Yinong's hand seemed to be sweating, and Tang Ruoyao asked Xiao to get her a tissue to wipe it, then held her other hand. They didn't say a word, but the assistants' phones in their pockets were itching to chat about five thousand pieces of gossip.

On the set, the two of them separated to do their makeup. Qin Yinong seemed to be in a daze, slow to react when the makeup artist spoke to her. After finishing her makeup, she sat on the couch, absentmindedly staring into space.

Just before leaving the dressing room, Qin Yinong rubbed her face with both hands, adjusting her emotions once again before composing herself and walking towards the filming center.

Han Yuping didn't plan to shoot explicit scenes in this film, but since it involved a bed scene, there would inevitably be some degree of intimacy. As usual, they cleared the set and left only the necessary crew members.

Han Yuping was adjusting the lighting when he saw Qin Yinong approaching. He nodded indifferently at her and made a gesture for her to wait for a moment.

Tang Ruoyao arrived early, smiling slightly as she called out, "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong made a sound of acknowledgment, her expression indifferent.

Tang Ruoyao walked over, her eyes focused ahead, a slight curve on her lips. She didn't look at Qin Yinong, but the back of her hand secretly touched Qin Yinong's, their skin making contact.

Qin Yinong glanced at her, her gaze deep, unable to discern her emotions.

Tang Ruoyao responded with a determined gaze, holding her hand tightly and gripping it firmly.

It felt as if all the blood in Qin Yinong's body rushed to her heart, causing a heavy thump in her chest that traveled from the top of her head to her fingertips, like an electric shock.

Han Yuping came over to discuss the scene. It mainly involved physical actions and had very few lines. Knowing that the two of them were a couple, Han Yuping didn't bother instructing them on how to act, but instead mentioned a few emotional cues to pay attention to before letting them prepare individually.

The script supervisor clapped the clapperboard. "Scene 29, take 2, action!"

The two leads lay on the bed.

Han Yuping: "Cut."

Seconds later, Tang Ruoyao sat up, looking confused at Han Yuping, unsure of what went wrong. Han Yuping furrowed his brow but was actually looking at Qin Yinong. He said, "Yinong, your emotions are off, there's too much going on in your eyes. Keep it pure and simple."

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her suspiciously, mouthing the words of concern: "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong closed her eyes briefly, her lips turning pale. "I'll adjust myself."

Han Yuping raised his hand. "Five minutes. Makeup artist, touch up Qin Yinong's makeup."

Qin Yinong felt that her performance today was off, not bad, but off. She didn't have formal training, and her initial acting method, which is also her strongest method now, is immersion, a powerful ability to empathize. And empathy means she needs to fully channel her own emotions to give life to the character. The intertwining emotions between Shen Muqing and Han Zifei, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, both on and off the stage, were fused too tightly. Suddenly, she couldn't completely detach herself, only to perform as Shen Muqing.

This instinctively made her feel uneasy.

After five minutes, they started shooting again, and her premonition came true.

In the camera frame, the subtle and silent entanglement between the two characters was suffocating and chilling.

Qin Yinong's pupils lost focus as she tightened her grip on Tang Ruoyao's fingers, instinctively calling out in a suppressed voice.

"Yaoyao..."

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT