CHAPTER 120

Mu Qingwu sat in the study room of her home, the computer screen in front of her glowing. The document displayed simple lines of black text, describing a past that was long gone but still vivid with the blood and suffering of a living person.

Because of Qin Yinong's current strength and her unshakable position as an unbeatable peak in the entertainment industry, it was unimaginable that she had once been so helpless, subjected to public condemnation and endless verbal abuse without the ability to defend herself.

Even though Mu Qingwu had no personal connection to her, she couldn't help but be moved and her eyes turned red. How could they have driven a young girl to such a desperate situation? Whether she made it through or not, she would still have a tomorrow. But if she couldn't, it would be a permanent farewell. Those media outlets never considered that they were essentially killing someone with their words.

Even if she were to die on the spot, the media would bloom black flowers in her blood, squeezing out every bit of remaining value from her.

"The combination of beauty and uniqueness becomes a sin." Such baseless malice occurred every moment in every corner of the world.

The flaws in Han Yuping's words were numerous, and anyone with a bit of judgment would not easily believe them. But most people didn't care about the truth. The soil of the entertainment industry nurtured a crowd that fed on the blood and bones of others to survive. "The law does not hold the masses accountable," so they waved the banner of justice without restraint, releasing the dark side of human nature and ruthlessly destroying everything beautiful to satisfy their twisted interests.

What made Mu Qingwu even more sad was that this old incident wasn't difficult to investigate, but twelve years had already passed. Who would delve into the truth of that time? Even if the truth was apparent to the discerning eye, what difference would it make? The harm inflicted upon Qin Yinong would never disappear, and those who committed evil acts would continue to live with relish, without facing any punishment. Those who once insulted her might still be doing so now or redirecting their hostility towards the next person. They would never repent.

Even if this video were to be released to the public twelve years later, it would only serve as a topic for casual discussion, tearing open the scars of the victim over and over again, with fresh blood as a libation for others' "enjoyment." Perhaps there would be a wave of discussions against verbal violence online, with everyone repenting and reflecting for a few lively days, only to return to their usual state and continue their "violent acts" without any boundaries, insulting others until the next victim emerged in the public eye, and the cycle repeated.

The number of victims would forever increase, while the perpetrators would always go unpunished, not even recognizing their wrongdoing.

The foreseeable cold reality left Mu Qingwu feeling profoundly powerless.

Having been in the industry for many years, Mu Qingwu knew that online violence didn't only happen to artists, their managers also encountered it. When fans of an artist were dissatisfied with the artist's team, some fans would send private messages to the team members on Weibo, expressing extreme opinions, and in extreme cases, resorting to personal attacks. Mu Qingwu kept her private messages closed, no one could completely ignore others' criticisms, even if they were baseless. There was a young assistant she used to manage, an assistant to a male artist she worked with before. The girlfriend of that artist's fan base would humiliate her in various ways, not only online but also face-to-face. Eventually, she couldn't bear the pressure and changed her job.

Mu Qingwu was accustomed to online violence and had gradually become numb to it. She advised artists and their teams to be more open-minded, to close private messages if possible, to avoid reading comments if they could, and to seek psychological assistance or take a break if they felt mentally overwhelmed. They needed to protect themselves from all sides. But in the late night, she suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness.

They hadn't done anything wrong, so why did they have to endure baseless slander and harm?

Why is the world like this? Goodness is on the brink of extinction, while evil runs rampant without consequences, and rationality and kindness are mocked. Has it always been this way? Is it right?

The phone on the table buzzed.

Mu Qingwu pressed her warm eyelids with a tissue and picked up the phone.

Tang Ruoyao had replied to her.

[Not for now. I have a film shoot tomorrow, and crying for too long will affect my eyes and cause swelling.]

Mu Qingwu: [Okay, let me know when you want to know.]

Tang Ruoyao: [Okay.]

Mu Qingwu thought for a moment, knowing that it wouldn't make a difference, but still typed a message to her: [Don't be too sad, it's all in the past now.]

Tang Ruoyao's vision blurred once again, and she quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, hastily replying: [Okay, I'm going to take a shower.]

It was precisely because it was in the past that she felt so heartbroken.

The person she cherished the most, the person who wanted to give her the best in the world, had experienced such a tragic past, while she was separated from her by the flow of time and couldn't do anything!

Mu Qingwu: [Go ahead.]

She reviewed the information in the document on her desktop once again, then shut down the computer. In truth, she hadn't discovered any crucial information, just bits and pieces. Continuing to investigate would become increasingly difficult, and the time required would only grow longer.

If Mu Qingwu's initial purpose in investigating Qin Yinong was only to help Tang Ruoyao, now a large part of it was driven by her own will. She wanted to know how this world, where good and evil were indistinguishable, had worn down a kind and sharp person like Qin Yinong into her current state.

... However, it's a bit distressing in terms of money.

The more secretive the truth behind the renowned Qin Yinong, the higher the price.

As Mu Qingwu walked toward the door, massaging her sore neck, she paused for a moment, let out a sigh, and realized that tomorrow she needed to discuss the sharing of the investigation expenses with Tang Ruoyao. She couldn't bear the burden alone.

If she ended up marrying Qin Yinong, that would be fine, but if she didn't, wouldn't she lose both money and a daughter-in-law? That would be a big loss.

.....

Tang Ruoyao sat on the bed wearing a robe, her eyelids slightly swollen. She picked up her phone from the bedside table and sent a red envelope to Qin Yinong.

[Wishing you prosperity and good fortune!]

Qin Yinong didn't accept it for a while.

Tang Ruoyao recorded a message using a voice recording app, listened to it, and found nothing unusual except for her slightly deeper voice. She felt reassured and dialed Qin Yinong's number.

In the room opposite, only a dim wall lamp was lit. Qin Yinong buried half her face in the pillow, breathing heavily. Just at the critical moment, the ringtone suddenly sounded, like a morning bell from the sky. Her sensitive senses abruptly cut off, leaving her suspended in mid-air.

Her fingertips hesitated for two seconds, torn between ignoring it and checking who it was. Finally, she gritted her teeth and chose the latter.

Her empty hand reached for the phone.

Incoming call displayed: Tang Ruoyao.

The name she had been thinking about filled Qin Yinong's mind. Seeing it suddenly appear, her palm grew hot.

She couldn't answer this call. If she answered and heard Tang Ruoyao's real voice, there was a high possibility of something happening right there and then. Everything would be exposed on the phone.

Qin Yinong declined the call and sent a message: [Busy, wait a moment.]

Tang Ruoyao replied instantly: [Okay.]

.....

Qin Yinong washed her hands and returned, a faint blush spreading at the corners of her eyes, making her look exceptionally beautiful. She called back, a hint of a smile in her voice, "What's the matter?"

The woman's voice was as gentle as ever, especially after the closeness they had developed over the past two days, exuding a tender affection that was starkly different from how she appeared to others. Tang Ruoyao's nose tingled, she opened her mouth to say something, fearing that her faintly crying voice would be exposed, but then closed it again.

Qin Yinong didn't receive a response and made a soft sound with her nose, "Hmm?"

A busy tone suddenly sounded in her ear.

Beep beep beep...

Tang Ruoyao hung up the phone.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Was this her petty retaliation for hanging up just now? Tang Ruoyao wasn't the type of person to be so petty.

Tang Ruoyao typed: [You haven't claimed my red envelope yet.]

Qin Yinong opened the chat box and claimed the red envelope, asking, [Why did you suddenly hang up?]

Tang Ruoyao replied, [I missed you too much.]

Qin Yinong: [????] Hanging up because she missed her, what kind of logic is that?

Tang Ruoyao's lips curled slightly and she said boldly, [I miss the time we spent together in X Town, sharing the same bed.]

Her words were quite bold.

Qin Yinong felt embarrassed, as if her hidden thoughts had been exposed. Fortunately, Tang Ruoyao couldn't see her at the moment. She let the heat rise, causing her entire face to blush.

Tang Ruoyao shamelessly continued, [Don't you miss me?] She remembered the alluring look Qin Yinong had when she melted in her arms, like a wolf in heat.

Qin Yinong: [The other party will be offline in three seconds.jpg]

[I was wrong, I was wrong.] Tang Ruoyao quickly typed.

Qin Yinong snorted lightly.

This little brat was teasing her, and if it weren't for...

Qin Yinong gritted her teeth.

Forget it, she would tolerate her for another two days.

Qin Yinong coldly said, [Going Offline, bye-bye.]

Tang Ruoyao pleaded, [I'm really sorry, Senior Qin. Please forgive me.]

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. [The phrase refers to the time when you are talking about someone, and he or she appears immediately.] Qin Yinong looked at the video request that popped up on the screen, answered the call, minimized the window, and typed, [I'm going to video chat with my daughter.]

Tang Ruoyao understood and obediently replied, [Okay, you video chat first, then get back to me. I'll read a book for a while.]

Qin Yinong was taken aback.

She didn't know if it was because of Tang Ruoyao's increasingly natural attitude towards her daughter or because she expected Tang Ruoyao to wait for her as a matter of course.

A doubtful child's voice came from the receiver, "Mom, why aren't you talking?"

Qin Yinong snapped back to reality and said, "Mom is looking for her earphones."

Ningning replied, "Then I'll wait for you."

Qin Yinong put on her earphones and replied to Tang Ruoyao, [Okay, if you're tired, go to sleep first." Then she switched to the video interface.

She chatted with the child for half an hour.

The child has been learning to draw lately. She showed her own drawings to Qin Yinong, which depicted their grandmother, mother, and a little girl wearing a pink dress with braided pigtails. The three of them held hands, with Qin Yinong standing in the middle.

She also learned a new piece of music. Last time Qin Yinong came home, she hadn't practiced it well. This time, she had Ji Shulan hold the phone while she sat on the piano chair. Her little body sat up straight, her profile serious, and she skillfully played a piano piece.

Qin Yinong didn't have much knowledge in music. When she was young, she followed the trend and practiced the electronic organ for a while without a teacher. She practiced blindly following the sheet music, but she had long forgotten most of it. The piece Qin Jianing played was not short, flowing smoothly with a lively rhythm. If you closed your eyes, you would never guess it was played by a child under four years old.

Qin Jianing played the last note and stood up like a professional pianist. She bowed towards the camera.

Qin Yinong applauded enthusiastically and praised, "Ningning, you're amazing!"

The little girl smiled, a bit shy.

Ji Shulan said to the phone, "Her piano teacher says she's very talented. She can already play Level 6 pieces."

Qin Jianing reached up and held Ji Shulan's hand. Ji Shulan smiled as she watched Qin Jianing take the phone from her and walked to the side. In a low voice, she said to Qin Yinong, "Grandma is exaggerating. I haven't practiced well yet." After a pause, she added, "Mom, what would you like to hear? I can play it for you."

Ji Shulan smiled and suddenly felt a sense of trance.

Qin Jianing seemed to excel at everything she learned, making rapid progress. Almost all her teachers liked her. The painting teacher said she could become an artist in the future, while the piano teacher believed she could excel in that field and become a performer. There were also mentions of her becoming a violinist or a calligrapher. In short, everyone treated her as a treasure, and there was fierce competition for her attention.

It always reminded Ji Shulan of Qin Jianing's biological mother, Qin Luning. The genius genes truly passed down through the generations. Before the family's decline, Qin Luning also attended music classes, where she displayed extraordinary talent. The teacher marveled at her as a prodigy. At a young age, she spoke clearly to Ji Shulan about her dream of performing on the golden hall of Vienna. But later, with the family's financial difficulties and the arrival of Qin Yinong, adding another mouth to feed, Ji Shulan didn't let her continue the lessons.

Qin Luning was sensible from a young age and understood that the family had no money. If she couldn't study music, she would focus on her studies without a single complaint. But Ji Shulan felt guilty and always felt that she owed her. It was her fault that Qin Luning's talent was extinguished, so she subconsciously tried to make amends. Even later, when Qin Luning continued to excel academically, skipping grades, and entering a prestigious university with a full scholarship, she applied to study abroad. After graduating, she entered a top-notch biological research institute, dedicating herself to a great cause that would benefit all of humanity.

Ji Shulan still believed that if it weren't for her inadequacy, Qin Luning could have realized her childhood dream—dressed in beautiful attire, performing in the world's highest music halls, receiving thunderous applause.

Looking at Ningning, she felt like she was seeing Qin Luning from the past. Fortunately, Ningning had Qin Yinong to protect her and ensure a lifetime of security, peace, and happiness.

Ji Shulan lived her whole life in guilt. First, she was stubborn about Qin Hongjian's issues, which prevented her two daughters from growing up in a healthy environment. Then, she unconditionally favored Qin Luning, neglecting her younger daughter who deserved to be cared for. 

Furthermore, when Qin Hongjian spread malicious rumors about her, she chose to remain silent, causing her great humiliation. Now, in her old and frail state, she relied on Qin Yinong with the remaining years of her life to take care of her.

What was done couldn't be undone, but at the very least, she couldn't continue burdening Qin Yinong like this. Ji Shulan still had her prime years ahead of her.

Ji Shulan composed herself, leaned towards the camera on the video call, and asked, "When will the filming end?"

"In less than a month, why?" Qin Yinong replied.

"I have something to tell you."

"Can't we talk about it on the phone?"

"It's not very convenient." Ji Shulan said.

"Okay." Qin Yinong was momentarily puzzled but didn't pay much attention to Ji Shulan's words. It wasn't urgent, and she presumed it wasn't important either. In fact, anything Ji Shulan said wasn't particularly important to her. She was a symbol called "mother," and whether it was Ji Shulan or Li Shulan, she would be equally filial without any distinction.

Blood ties and family affection, these four words, for Qin Yinong, only represented Qin Luning alone. Ningning was the one she loved unconditionally.

Qin Yinong used to resent Ji Shulan, and she resented her deeply. She longed for a mother's love in her childhood but couldn't obtain it, so she harbored a mix of love and hate. After Qin Hongjian's incident, it escalated into complete resentment. She hadn't returned home for a long time unless Qin Luning came back to the country, and then she would symbolically perform a harmonious family scene. She manipulated Qin Hongjian's downfall and helped Ji Shulan get divorce because Qin Luning, who was far away overseas, couldn't rest assured about Ji Shulan.

As time passed, Ji Shulan became the responsibility she carried on her shoulders. She never forgave Ji Shulan for her mistakes but simply grew tired, no longer wanting to harbor hatred or revisit the past, adding unnecessary troubles.

After ending the video call, Qin Yinong got out of bed and poured herself a glass of water. Holding the water glass, she walked to the window and stared blankly outside.

She quietly contemplated for a while, feeling like she had forgotten something.

She suddenly raised her hand and lightly tapped her forehead, a look of annoyance flashing across her face. She quickly returned to the bedside, picked up her phone, and indeed found several messages from Tang Ruoyao.

[Is the video finished?]

[I have a question about the script that I want to discuss with you.]

[It has been an hour. Is your daughter still not asleep? Insufficient sleep is not good for a child's development. Feeling upset.jpg]

[I yawned.]

[Congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous year.]

The latest message was sent five minutes ago. Qin Yinong quickly clicked to receive the red envelope and replied, [Sorry, I got carried away with something and forgot to tell you.]

Tang Ruoyao immediately responded, [What are you thinking about?]

Qin Yinong's flirtatious nature was instantly aroused. Sweet words came naturally to her when she was in a arranged relationship with Tang Ruoyao. So, her fingers acted faster than her brain, and two characters quickly appeared on the screen.

[I miss you.]

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

She jumped up from the bed, showing off the excellent typing speed she had developed with Qin Yinong. She quickly took a screenshot.

Qin Yinong: "!!!"

[System message: Q has withdrawn a message.]

Tang Ruoyao looked at the system prompt and smiled triumphantly. Luckily, she had foreseen this. But she couldn't let Qin Yinong see the screenshot for now, to avoid giving her the chance to be more careful next time.

Tang Ruoyao pretended not to know, like a big bad wolf wagging its tail: [What did you retract? I went to pour water and didn't see it.]

Qin Yinong let out a sigh of relief: [It's nothing. It's late. Do you want to go to sleep?]

Tang Ruoyao: [Together?]

Qin Yinong: "..."

Tang Ruoyao could almost predict the speechless expression on the other side. She smiled and typed: [I meant sleeping separately. What are you thinking?]

Qin Yinong: [I'm not thinking about anything. What are you thinking?]

Tang Ruoyao: [Don't you know what I'm thinking? [Wife~.gif]]

Of course, Qin Yinong knew. She also knew that if she continued the conversation with Tang Ruoyao, the topic would become more and more inappropriate. She would need several more tissues in her trash can for emotional relief, but it would be detrimental to her health. She still had to film tomorrow.

Qin Yinong: [You're a flirt.jpg]

Qin Yinong: [Going to sleep.]

Tang Ruoyao: [I'm going to sleep too. Goodnight.]

[Goodnight.] Qin Yinong took a minute to reply.

[If you can't sleep, you can call me. I'll sing for you.] Tang Ruoyao turned off the lights and stared at the phone screen in the darkness for a few minutes. Seeing no response from the other side, she closed her eyes.

Her eyelashes trembled in the darkness, and she couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

Teasing Qin Yinong had made her feel at ease, but her body wasn't feeling quite comfortable right now.

She sighed with her eyes closed, tightened the quilt, and continued to make an effort to fall asleep.

A good night's sleep.

The next day, she was naturally awakened by her biological clock. Tang Ruoyao sat up like a jumping fish, turned off the phone alarm, rushed into the bathroom to wash up, changed clothes and shoes, and looked outside through the peephole on the door.

There was a lot of activity from the neighboring room early in the morning. Guan Han appeared in the corridor, entered Qin Yinong's room, and then came out. Soon after, Qin Yinong also came out, well-dressed.

Tang Ruoyao tidied her long hair, opened the door, and walked out.

"What a coincidence," she smiled and greeted the woman gracefully.

Qin Yinong's lips curved into a smile that seemed like a smirk.

Tang Ruoyao proactively invited, "Shall we go downstairs together?"

"Together." Qin Yinong's beautiful eyes slightly raised, a hint of playfulness appeared in her smile. As they passed by each other, a breeze carrying the fragrance of her hair brushed against Tang Ruoyao's nostrils.

Tang Ruoyao called out to her, "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong turned her head at the sound, and in an instant, she fell into a warm embrace.

At first, Qin Yinong stiffened, looking up at the infrared camera on the corridor ceiling, thinking that a hug shouldn't be a big deal. After all, there had already been two incidents in this hotel, and it wouldn't be so unlucky to have a third time.

So she slowly relaxed her stiff body in Tang Ruoyao's embrace.

Soon, she started feeling that something was wrong. Tang Ruoyao was holding her tightly, so tight that she almost started trembling. Tang Ruoyao's arms were wrapped tightly around her, and her chin rested on Qin Yinong's shoulder, remaining still and silent for a long time.

Qin Yinong raised her hand and gently patted Tang Ruoyao's back.

"What's wrong?" The woman's gentle voice sounded in her ear, making Tang Ruoyao suddenly have an urge to cry.

Despite being constantly surrounded by malice and let down by the world, she always remained like a sun, constantly trying her best to warm the people around her.

Tang Ruoyao didn't answer.

Qin Yinong's voice became even softer. "Do you want to talk to me about it?"

Tang Ruoyao was afraid of revealing her choked-up emotions, so she just shook her head and remained silent.

Qin Yinong let her hold on to her, not pressing for answers. Her hand remained on Tang Ruoyao's back, never leaving.

Tang Ruoyao calmed down the emotions that had been lingering since last night. When she lifted her face, there was a hint of redness around her eyes. She met Qin Yinong's surprised and worried gaze and explained, "I woke up this morning and read the script. I got too immersed in the second half."

Qin Yinong was somewhat skeptical.

Tang Ruoyao said, "The crew's cars are almost here. Let's go down quickly."

After saying that, she took a step forward, and Qin Yinong watched her retreating figure thoughtfully. She glanced at Guan Han, and Guan Han shook her head.

Did something happen at home?

Qin Yinong whispered, "Didn't you keep Tang Fei's contact information last time? Ask him how he's been lately."

Guan Han nodded.

Although Qin Yinong had a gut feeling that it wasn't about that, she really couldn't imagine what could be making Tang Ruoyao upset at the moment. Could it be because of herself?

"Have I been cold to her?" Qin Yinong asked again.

This time, Guan Han firmly shook her head.

Tang Ruoyao was practically getting sugar high, even sweeter than when she used to rummage through trash cans.

A small mountain formed between Qin Yinong's eyebrows.

Why was that?

Tang Ruoyao turned around and called out to her, "Senior Qin, the elevator is here."

Qin Yinong quickly relaxed her expression. "Coming."

The elevator door opened in front of them, and the three of them stepped in. Suddenly, Guan Han spoke up, her expression still as icy as ever. "Miss Tang, did you forget something?" Tang Ruoyao, however, sensed a hint of teasing in her eyes, subtle yet present.

Tang Ruoyao: "What?"

Guan Han: "Where's your assistant?"

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!" She forgot about Xin Qian again!

Frantically, she reached out to press the elevator button, but her body sank as the elevator had already started descending.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Guan Han coldly added, "It's too late."

Qin Yinong chuckled, covering her mouth, her eyes curved with amusement.

Tang Ruoyao inwardly scolded herself for momentarily forgetting her assistant due to being distracted. But then her mood soared, and the whole world seemed brighter.

Qin Yinong pressed a fist to her lips, coughed, suppressed her laughter, and the corners of her eyes still slightly lifted. She humbly said, "I'm sorry."

Tang Ruoyao waved her hand, saying, "It's okay, you can laugh as much as you want." She could laugh as long as she wanted, and if Qin Yinong allowed, she could even play the fool, making her laugh out loud.

She was dazzled by Qin Yinong's laughter, and suddenly, her nose felt cool.

Qin Yinong's slightly cool index finger affectionately touched the tip of her nose.

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat, and she stared back at her in a daze. In Qin Yinong's ink-colored eyes, there was a hint of unexpected surprise, as if she didn't understand how this scene had unfolded.

"I..." Tang Ruoyao stammered, feeling nervous for no reason. Her heart was beating much faster than usual. Qin Yinong curled her finger, not immediately retracting it. Instead, she continued the motion, gently pressing her fingertip against Tang Ruoyao's smooth and slender nose, creating a silent electric current that flowed through her body.

"...You have something dirty here." Qin Yinong unconsciously cleared her throat and casually withdrew her hand, tucking it back into the sleeve of her sportswear.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her gaze, watching Qin Yinong's hand, which was trembling slightly from nervousness, disappearing into her sleeve. Then she lifted her eyelids and curved her lips into a smile. "Thank you, Senior Qin."

"No... problem." Qin Yinong resisted the urge to avoid her gaze and smiled calmly.

Ding—

The sound of the elevator arriving was like a timely rain shower.

Qin Yinong didn't wait for the elevator doors to fully open before she rushing out, giving the impression of fleeing. Tang Ruoyao shook her head and chuckled as she watched her figure.

Qin Yinong's assistants gathered around her, surrounding her on both sides. The two of them whispered softly, as if they were asking her to be fair. Qin Yinong smiled with a twinkle in her eyes, attentively listening to their words. She said a few sentences to one person, and that person responded with a few sentences.

Both of them hugged her arm and giggled.

Tang Ruoyao turned her head to look at the green plants in the corner of the lobby, afraid that someone would notice the sudden moisture in the corners of her eyes.

Thank you for still being alive.

For allowing me to meet you.

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