CHAPTER 125

Tang Ruoyao lowered her gaze and looked at the slender white fingers pinching her clothes, which quickly retracted upon sensing her gaze. The woman's ears also quietly blushed with a faint pink.

Tang Ruoyao's heart was squeezed by something, causing it to ache and soften in an incredible way.

Qin Yinong silently shifted to the side, making room for her.

Tang Ruoyao sat on the edge of the bed, neatly arranging the slippers, and climbed onto the bed with light and nimble steps. Before she could turn to the side, Qin Yinong had already taken the initiative to lean towards her, embracing her waist and finding a comfortable position in her arms, closing her eyes.

"Goodnight." Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and kissed her forehead gently, whispering softly.

"Goodnight."

Tang Ruoyao also closed her eyelids, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips.

Before long, she fell asleep, sleeping deeply. She didn't notice that in the darkness, the woman quietly opened her eyes. Her fingertips slowly caressed her eyebrows, nose, and lips. Tang Ruoyao murmured in her sleep, and Qin Yinong pressed her lips against Tang Ruoyao's.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but kiss her. She didn't have any ulterior motives. After encountering the extraordinary warmth and softness of Tang Ruoyao's lips, the tension in her mind suddenly snapped, and it became unstoppable.

Tang Ruoyao was sleeping soundly in her sweet dreams when she let out a low hum. Her brows furrowed, and she suddenly opened her eyes, taking a deep breath to relieve the pressure in her lungs that felt like it was about to burst.

The bedroom curtains were not completely closed, and a round, white moon hung in the sky. Soft, silvery moonlight spilled onto the ground, stretching from the window all the way to the head of the bed.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and, illuminated by the moonlight, observed Qin Yinong nestled obediently in her arms, peacefully asleep with a shallow breath.

Tang Ruoyao was a bit dazed. She pinched her own cheek with the free hand. Was she... just experiencing sleep paralysis?

After a moment of confusion, Tang Ruoyao waited for the lingering sensation of obstructed breathing to completely disappear before sighing softly and closing her eyes again.

Qin Yinong didn't do any more "mischievous acts" and honestly cultivated her sleepiness.

Perhaps it was because they talked about past events at night, she started having that long-unvisited nightmare again.

The beginning of the nightmare was always similar. She was running for her life in a fog, unaware of her destination or where she came from. Behind her were wild beasts or people wielding stones, the sound of shouting and killing constantly ringing in her ears. She could only keep running, running until her legs lost sensation. She was thirsty and tired, and she encountered a stranger with an indistinguishable face.

Her head felt heavy, her feet felt light, and even in the dream, her steps felt unsteady as she struggled to move forward. She asked the person in front of her with difficulty, "Hello, excuse me, where is this place?"

"The other person remains silent.

"Hello?" Qin Yinong looked ahead through the white fog, but suddenly her vision blurred, followed by a piercing pain in her pupils. The sound of overlapping camera flashes caused a sudden chill to crawl up her neck.

"Recently, your father..."

"No response?"

"Can you explain?!"

"Did you ever think that one day your lies would be exposed?"

"Do you think you are being fair to your fans who have always supported you?"

"Apologize! At least kneel down."

.....

The white fog in front gradually took shape, revealing reporters wielding cameras and microphones, smirking and reveling in her misfortune. They multiplied, like a sprawling net, closing in on her.

Her pupils shrank suddenly, and she raised her hand to shield her face. She took a step back and then ran.

Her back was covered in sweat, and the sweat in her eyes blurred her vision. Her legs felt like they were made of lead. Qin Yinong ran slower and slower, her lungs torn apart with pain. As she gasped for breath, it felt like a gust of wind was cutting through her throat, slicing it apart.

She fell to her knees, her hands planted in the cold soil. The fog dispersed, revealing a familiar valley, and voices emerged one after another.

"You wretch! Shameless woman! Slut!"

"We can smell your stench from hundreds of miles away."

"A person like you should have died long ago, a waste of air."

"Happy death anniversary."

"I hope you get hit by a car when you step outside, and your whole family dies!"

The voices echoed off the mountainside, creating a deafening reverberation in the empty valley.

Qin Yinong crouched down in agony, pressing her hands tightly against her ears.

It's a dream, don't listen.

Don't listen, it will soon pass.

Tang Ruoyao was suddenly struck on the cheek by Qin Yinong's raised hand, jolting her awake. Without any reason, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly reached to turn on the bedside lamp. She pulled down one of Qin Yinong's hands covering her ears and softly called her name, "Qin Yinong."

"..."

Tang Ruoyao pushed her shoulder and raised her voice, "Qin Yinong?"

Qin Yinong remained unresponsive.

Tang Ruoyao helped her up and looked at her pale face trapped in a nightmare, making up her mind.

Qin Yinong leaned against the headboard, propped up with two pillows behind her, holding the warm water brought by Tang Ruoyao in her hands. She took small sips, her voice slightly hoarse, and a hint of apology in her expression. "Did I scare you? I'm sorry."

Tang Ruoyao took two tissues and wiped the sweat off her forehead. "What did you dream about?"

"Nothing."

Tang Ruoyao stared at her, silent but with a determined look in her eyes.

After a brief moment of silence, Qin Yinong confessed honestly, "It's what I told you about at night." She paused and hesitated, "Actually..."

"Actually, what?"

"I know it's just a dream, and I'll wake up on my own after a while."

"Since I'm by your side, why wait for it to wake up naturally?" Tang Ruoyao said confidently.

Qin Yinong fell silent.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Yinong organized her words and said, "What I mean is, you don't have to be so nervous." Using that method, when Qin Yinong was kissed awake just now, she saw Tang Ruoyao's devoutly closed eyes in front of her and almost thought she was still dreaming.

Tang Ruoyao's eyes turned slightly red, whether it was from anger or fear, and she persisted stubbornly, "I am nervous!" If she were in Tang Ruoyao's shoes, she would be just as nervous. It's easy to talk when you're not the one experiencing it.

Qin Yinong's momentum suddenly weakened, and she hesitated as she ran out of words, "Then, you..." She sighed in her heart, "You can say whatever you want."

She looked weakly at Tang Ruoyao and said, "I want to take a shower."

Tang Ruoyao asked casually, "Are there any clean clothes here?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Guan Han brought them. They're on the sofa in the living room."

Tang Ruoyao impulsively asked, "Where is Guan Han?" She hadn't seen her since she brought Qin Yinong in.

Qin Yinong's expression briefly showed a blankness, followed by a few moments of silence.

Then Tang Ruoyao watched as she picked up her phone and made a call, "Come in, find a guest room to sleep in, and bring the change of clothes from the sofa in the living room. I'll be in the master bedroom on the first floor."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong looked uncomfortable and avoided eye contact.

Her original plan was just to give Tang Ruoyao a lesson, and she never expected it to develop to this point. Naturally, she forgot about Guan Han, who was waiting outside.

When Guan Han came in carrying a bag of clothes, Qin Yinong felt guilty and couldn't look her in the eyes. Although she was her assistant, her negligence was a bit too much.

Guan Han had been out in the wind all night, with pale lips and complexion, but she didn't show any complaints on her face.

"Qin Jie, I put the things here for you."

"Thank you." Qin Yinong stopped her as she was leaving, "Guan Han."

Guan Han turned around, "Any other instructions, Qin Jie?"

Qin Yinong said, "I'll give you a raise next month."

Guan Han smiled with a hint of restraint, "Thank you, Qin Jie." It was worth the wait. Her CP had indeed made it to the bed again!

Qin Yinong waved her hand, "You can go now."

Guan Han considerately closed the door behind her.

Qin Yinong raised her finger and pinched her brow.

Tang Ruoyao took the clothes out of the bag that Guan Han brought in, one by one. Her hand reached the bottom and touched something with a slightly hard texture. It was a square-shaped object that even scratched her fingertips, causing a bit of pain.

Curiously, she took it out to examine.

It was a small pink box with English writing on the front and Chinese on the back, filled with small lines of densely packed text. Tang Ruoyao blinked in confusion, about to focus and read what those small words said, but before she knew it, Qin Yinong snatched it away without warning.

"Senior Qin?" Tang Ruoyao looked up.

She froze directly.

Tang Ruoyao had never seen Qin Yinong's face so red before. It was as if she had turned into a steamed crab, with the crimson color spreading rapidly on her fair cheeks, and even her ears seemed to be emitting invisible heat.

Qin Yinong hid the hand clutching the pink box behind her back and cursed Guan Han a hundred times in her heart. She forced herself to stay calm and said, "It's not mine."

Tang Ruoyao's mind turned around, a smile flickering in her eyes as she said meaningfully, "Oh." She kneeled down and got closer to Qin Yinong, pretending to be a curious baby, and asked, "What is this?"

Qin Yinong, flustered and embarrassed to the extreme, forgot that she had used it in front of Tang Ruoyao before, and Tang Ruoyao couldn't possibly not recognize it. She explained seriously, "This is for medical use, to protect the fingers' hygiene. Guan Han sometimes uses it when helping me with tasks."

Tang Ruoyao elongated her voice and said, "Oh" again, her gaze seeming to hold a hidden smile. She kneeled a few more steps, and her nose almost touched Qin Yinong's nose. "You wear it on your finger?"

Qin Yinong restrained the impulse to retreat and met her eyes. "Yes."

Tang Ruoyao extended her hand to her, raising an eyebrow and smiling lightly. "Then... let me try it?"

Qin Yinong's throat felt ticklish as if it had been lightly brushed by feathers, suddenly itching badly.

"Wash... wash up first, then try."

Tang Ruoyao didn't expect her to say that, and her teasing thoughts were quickly replaced by nervousness. She stammered, "Then... I'll go get you some pajamas."

Qin Yinong went to take a shower, and the sound of running water came from the bathroom.

Tang Ruoyao sat on the sofa in the bedroom, elbows on her knees, fingers intertwined, occasionally glancing at the closed bathroom door.

They had shared a bed many times, but they had never taken that final step. On one hand, Tang Ruoyao felt inexperienced and didn't dare to rush, she wanted to make more preparations in case it left an unpleasant memory for the other person. On the other hand, she still didn't have an official status, and she hoped to wait until everything settled down, for Qin Yinong to willingly and wholeheartedly give herself to her.

Was the timing right now?

Tang Ruoyao didn't know.

Her hormone-rushed and dizzy mind gradually calmed down.

Qin Yinong came out wearing a snowy white bathrobe, the belt loosely tied, and the neckline open, revealing a piece of delicate, snow-white skin with a faint rosy tint. She had taken too long to shower, and the hot steam made her a little dizzy, almost bumping into Tang Ruoyao, who was standing by the doorway.

Tang Ruoyao promptly held onto her shoulder.

Qin Yinong grabbed the door frame, shook her head to clear her mind a bit, and asked, "Why are you standing here?"

"You sit first." Tang Ruoyao supported her and slowly walked towards the bed. Qin Yinong couldn't help but find it amusing. She was just a little dizzy, she could still walk, there was no need to make such a fuss.

She thought like this, but her body obediently enjoyed Tang Ruoyao's support.

Tang Ruoyao placed both hands on Qin Yinong's shoulders, slightly bent down to align her gaze with hers, and stared at her with utmost seriousness. She gently asked, "Do you like me?"

Qin Yinong remained silent.

Tang Ruoyao anticipated that Qin Yinong wouldn't respond, so her expression didn't show any surprise.

Qin Yinong often didn't answer her questions, especially those related to emotions. It was not only because she had concerns, but also because of her introverted personality and difficulty expressing herself. No matter how turbulent her heart was, she would remain silent.

Tang Ruoyao patiently continued, "If you like me, nod your head. If you don't, shake your head." It was much simpler than speaking.

But Qin Yinong still didn't move for a long time.

Tang Ruoyao didn't give up and held the hand that hung by her side.

A faint warmth enveloped the cold back of her hand, and Qin Yinong finally lowered her chin slightly, giving a subtle nod. Afterward, she seemed embarrassed, lowering her eyelids and avoiding eye contact.

Even though Tang Ruoyao had repeated to herself a thousand times that Qin Yinong did like her, it still couldn't compare to Qin Yinong's simple affirmation tonight. She almost cried tears of joy as she embraced Qin Yinong tightly.

"Thank you." She rested her chin on the woman's head, her eyes filled with tears, and she couldn't help but choke up, saying, "Thank you for liking me."

Qin Yinong's eyes also welled up with tears, she opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to say. Instead, she hugged Tang Ruoyao tightly, conveying the same feelings to her.

It should be her saying thank you.

Thank you for not fearing the thorns all over me and still walking towards me so resolutely.

Tang Ruoyao raised her face to suppress the warmth in her eyes to recede. She made a fuss over a good thing and made herself feel so melancholic. She sniffled and slightly calmed her emotions before continuing, "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

A visible shock appeared in Qin Yinong's eyes.

Such an expression appeared on her stunning face without any defense, which was a bit funny.

Tang Ruoyao cleared her throat and, with a thick-skinned face, said, "If you want to, nod your head. If you don't, shake your head."

She didn't wait for a response.

Tang Ruoyao changed the question and asked, "You're not sure? If yes, nod your head, if no, shake your head."

Nod.

Actually, Qin Yinong could answer this question verbally, but she preferred this form of communication over speaking. It made her feel more comfortable.

"Do you have many concerns?"

Nod.

"Is it related to your family?"

Qin Yinong nodded, then after a while, shook her head.

Tang Ruoyao wondered: 'What does this mean?'

But playing the game of nodding for yes and shaking for no made it difficult to ask the right questions. She could only guess and asked, "Is it related to yourself?"

Qin Yinong nodded.

Tang Ruoyao noticed a fleeting sadness in her eyes just now and decided to stop asking serious questions.

What comes next is...

A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of Tang Ruoyao's lips as she asked, "The box of finger c*ts prepared by Guan Han, is it for you?"

Qin Yinong: "!!!"

This little brat!

Tang Ruoyao blinked, "Senior Qin, I heard that many girls do it themselves. Do you?"

Qin Yinong calmly asked in return, "Do you?"

Tang Ruoyao's mind raced, and with a straight face, she lied, "Yes, I do."

Qin Yinong thought that information exchange shouldn't be one-sided, so she calmly responded, "Hmm."

"What does 'hmm' mean?" Tang Ruoyao pressed.

"It means yes," Qin Yinong pursed her lips.

The door to a new world quietly opened for Tang Ruoyao. Suppressing her shyness, she earnestly asked, "Using the things Guan Han gave?"

"...Yes."

"Inside or outside?"

"..."

"Let's discuss it."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes brightened astonishingly. Qin Yinong really wanted to open her head and see what was inside. She lowered her face and said, "Have you memorized the script for tomorrow's shoot?"

"I've memorized it!"

"Recite it again."

"Oh." Tang Ruoyao dragged her feet like a withered eggplant, dejectedly saying, "I'll recite it to you when I come back after taking a shower."

Qin Yinong watched her figure and couldn't hide her amusement in her eyebrows and eyes.

Such a kid.

But then she changed her mind. Someone who does it themselves cannot be considered a kid anymore.

She still had to educate her about being mindful of the frequency, as it could lead to mental fatigue, although Qin Yinong herself didn't take a stance on that statement.

"How often do you do it normally?"

Qin Yinong held a fashion magazine from some unknown year in her hand, calmly flipping through its pages.

Tang Ruoyao had just finished blow-drying her hair and was putting the hairdryer back in its place. She paused when she heard the question, "How often do what?"

"Just... that thing." Qin Yinong cleared her throat after speaking tensely.

"What thing is that?" Tang Ruoyao looked confused. She had already forgotten the lie she casually made up.

Qin Yinong put down the magazine, sighed, and with a slightly displeased expression in her beautiful eyes, she softly said, "Come here."

"Coming." Tang Ruoyao happily ran over.

Qin Yinong whispered two words in her ear.

Tang Ruoyao nodded twice, maintaining a calm expression on her face, but her mind was in chaos. What is considered normal frequency? She didn't know, how could she make up an answer? Did she have time to search online now?

Qin Yinong glanced at her and calmly said, "Speak."

Tang Ruoyao smoothly responded, "I can't remember. What about you, Senior Qin?" Her answer was similar to Qin Yinong's, so it shouldn't be wrong.

Qin Yinong didn't give her a chance to turn the question back on her and said straightforwardly, "I'm asking you."

Tang Ruoyao realized she couldn't fool her and hastily came up with an answer, "Once every two days."

Qin Yinong frowned, "Then why did you say you couldn't remember earlier?"

"..." Tang Ruoyao ran into trouble with her own lie. Her brain raced, and her large, expressive amber eyes began to lose focus. Qin Yinong could tell she was trying to deceive her.

During this period of time, the two of them were very close. It wasn't just Tang Ruoyao who was probing her secrets, but she also gained a deeper understanding of the seemingly innocent little white rabbit in front of her, who was actually a clever little white wolf.

Qin Yinong suddenly snapped, "Tell the truth!"

Tang Ruoyao trembled. The reverence that had been cultivated deep within her over the years was now triggered. Her heart raced, and she blurted out, "It's been many days, so I can't remember!"

"Is it many days once, or many times in one day?" Qin Yinong's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice turning cold.

Tang Ruoyao weighed the options and realized that many days once seemed indifferent, and it might affect their intimate life in the future. So she said, "Many times in one day." It also matched their previous experiences. Qin Yinong really liked to...toss her around every time.

Qin Yinong didn't say anything.

Tang Ruoyao stood with her head down, behaving properly like a disciplined primary school student, stealing glances at her with unease.

Was... there a problem?

Qin Yinong pinched the space between her eyebrows with her fingertips, as if she was holding back something, and said, "Aren't you tired?"

"I'm okay?" Tang Ruoyao tentatively replied, her tone uncertain.

Qin Yinong dropped the magazine, seemingly angry for no reason, and lay down in bed, closing her eyes. "Turn off the lights."

"Oh." Tang Ruoyao quietly took off her shoes and climbed into bed. With a soft thud, the heavy blackout curtains were drawn, enveloping the room in complete darkness.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't see Qin Yinong's expression, but when she embraced her, she felt a subtle resistance, although it quickly subsided. Still, Tang Ruoyao noticed it and cautiously asked, "Are you angry?"

"No," Qin Yinong's voice was faint.

"And you say you're not angry?" A phrase teasing children naturally came to Tang Ruoyao's mind, and she laughed, "You can hang an oil pot on your mouth." After saying that, she realized her words were inappropriate. Before she could apologize, the woman in her arms took the initiative to snuggle closer.

Tang Ruoyao widened her eyes, and a bold thought flashed through her mind.

Could it be that Qin Yinong is seeking maternal love from her?

After hesitating for two seconds, Tang Ruoyao called out, "Baby?"

Qin Yinong choked, and the veins on her forehead throbbed.

Sensing the unfavorable atmosphere, Tang Ruoyao quickly said, "Ah, I've lost my memory. What just happened?"

Qin Yinong replied coolly, "Nothing happened just now."

"That's good." Tang Ruoyao breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly started laughing. Her chest vibrated with a buzzing sound, and she couldn't stop laughing.

Did she lose her mind just now? Qin Yinong wanted to treat her as a daughter, but she didn't want to be someone's mother. A mother-daughter relationship would be inappropriate. Qin Yinong obviously didn't have such preferences.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't contain her joy, and her laughter stirred Qin Yinong's emotions, causing her to laugh softly, a low and pleasant sound.

Tang Ruoyao caught the softness in Qin Yinong's voice, and her eyebrows and eyes softened silently.

After laughing enough, Tang Ruoyao said, "I'm tired from laughing."

Qin Yinong said, "I'm tired from listening too."

Tang Ruoyao wanted to continue laughing, but her face was too sore. She couldn't laugh anymore, so she tried to hold back her laughter.

Qin Yinong couldn't help it and burst into laughter, saying, "Hahaha."

Then they both started laughing heartily together, shaking the bed with their laughter.

Qin Yinong hadn't laughed for such a long time, except when acting. She had inadvertently run out of breath and let out a soft cough.

Tang Ruoyao immediately stopped laughing. "What's wrong?"

"I ran out of breath, it's okay, I'll be fine in a moment." Qin Yinong eased for a while, yawned, and said, "I'm sleepy."

"Then go to sleep."

"Mhm." Qin Yinong closed her eyes, seemingly casually mentioning, "Let's not do it so frequently in the future. Once every two days is enough. Even if our bodies are in good condition, we shouldn't be reckless."

This time, Tang Ruoyao finally quickly understood what she was saying and obediently replied, "Okay, I understand."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and found Qin Yinong's lips. Qin Yinong naturally tilted her face up, and the two exchanged a light kiss before falling asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Guan Han woke up and found that the two of them hadn't gotten up yet. She calculated the time and went out to buy breakfast. When she returned with two bags of breakfast, she saw a figure sitting on the sofa.

She looked closely from the entrance and confirmed that it was Tang Ruoyao, not Qin Yinong.

"Good morning, Miss Tang."

"Morning." Tang Ruoyao glanced up at her and then lowered her head, focusing on the small trinket in her hand. Guan Han took another look and her eyes widened suddenly. Wasn't that the thing she prepared for Qin Yinong yesterday? How did it end up in Tang Ruoyao's hands?

Tang Ruoyao opened the packaging of the pink box and took one out. She held it between her fingertips, feeling its coldness and stickiness. She furrowed her brows and quietly sensed it, not knowing what came to her mind, involuntarily curling up her lips.

Guan Han approached a few steps. "Miss Tang?"

Tang Ruoyao quickly blocked the hand holding the object and asked cautiously, "What's wrong?"

Guan Han tactfully stepped back. "Breakfast is here. Should I call Qin Jie or should you?"

"I'll go." Tang Ruoyao took off the used one and tossed it into the trash bin, putting the rest into her own bag. After washing her hands, she pushed open the door to the master bedroom. Before Guan Han could fully shift her gaze from Tang Ruoyao's figure, she saw her panic-strickenly closing her eyes and hastily backing out, almost bumping into the wall behind her.

Backing away, she stammered, "I-I-I didn't mean to."

Qin Yinong calmly finished getting dressed and came out, unable to hold back her amusement as she looked at her.

She had skin as thick as the Great Wall when she wanted to, but when it came to being shy, she was like an innocent girl. It was hard to fathom her thought process.

Qin Yinong took a seat at the dining table while Tang Ruoyao insisted on handling everything, not allowing Guan Han to intervene. She attentively served Qin Yinong, eager to feed her every dish and even wanting to personally spoon-feed her the congee. She inserted the straw into the soy milk for Qin Yinong and handed it over, then suddenly asked, "Do you like me?"

Guan Han: "!!!"

Qin Yinong's ears turned red.

There are still other people present!

Tang Ruoyao sat beside her and whispered, "I'm afraid last night was just a dream."

"Do you like me?" She looked at the woman, her eyes filled with anticipation, as well as deep anxiety and unease.

Qin Yinong's gaze softened, and she nodded.

She paused for a few seconds, her thin lips moved, and she silently mouthed: I like you.

Author's note:

Guan Han: I'm dying, I'm dying!

Who doesn't want to switch places with Guan Han!

The filming of the movie is almost finished. We'll continue tomorrow~

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