CHAPTER 142

"Have you finished your exam?" Tang Ruoyao sat on the bed in her hotel room, taking off her high heels with one hand and gently massaging her sore ankles after standing all day. With her other hand holding her phone, she spoke to her younger brother, Tang Fei.

"I finished a few days ago." Tang Fei replied.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tang Ruoyao tiredly pinched her brow, "Are you afraid that I'd be too busy and forget?"

"Sister won't forget about me," Tang Fei innocently laughed, his laughter clear and bright.

Faced with her brother's trust, Tang Ruoyao silently held back the words she didn't say.

She had indeed forgotten. She had used up all her remaining energy each day thinking about Qin Yinong and had to rack her brains to write papers for her. One night, Mu Qingwu wanted to have a heartfelt conversation with her and was urged to return to her room by Tang Ruoyao, who was in a hurry to finish her paper. In the past month, Tang Ruoyao had insisted on writing at least three thousand words every day. Luckily, she had fast typing speed and barely managed to finish a fifty-thousand-word research paper titled "A Feasibility Study on Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong Being Together Forever."

Judging from Qin Yinong's attitude on the phone, it seemed that she was starting to loosen up. Tang Ruoyao's efforts had not been in vain.

The TV interview they had previously recorded was about to be broadcast. Whenever Tang Ruoyao thought about how Qin Yinong had to pretend to be calm despite going through tumultuous times, she couldn't help but wish to appear before her immediately and coax her into expressing all her true emotions.

Tang Ruoyao had already planned the major events for the next few years, including helping Qin Yinong overcome her health issues and her deep-rooted sense of inferiority. Despite her seemingly strong exterior, she was actually quite vulnerable.

Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth, but she didn't have time right now. She had just finished several business events and hadn't had a chance to catch her breath when the nationwide roadshow for her new film, "Under the Southern Mountain," began. It was directed by Lin Guoan and filmed last year.

Most of the key personnel from "Under the Southern Mountain" were present. Since they had used many new actors, the scene was filled with handsome men and beautiful women, which was very eye-catching. Tang Ruoyao didn't get too close with people, but she usually established good relationships with her co-stars. However, there was one person inside whom Tang Ruoyao didn't want to see—the formerly popular flow star You Mingxuan, who had played a dirty trick last year to drag Tang Ruoyao down but ended up ruining his own reputation.

When Tang Ruoyao received the news about the roadshow and the list of attendees, she had a thought and searched for You Mingxuan's recent updates online. It was impossible for him to completely withdraw from the entertainment industry. A star as famous as him couldn't disappear overnight. Although he had once caused a large number of his female fans to turn against him by falsely claiming to be in a relationship with Tang Ruoyao and then later clarifying that he had booked a room with someone else, those fans eventually returned. The company guided the situation, stabilizing the fanbase, and they still called him "Brother Mingxuan" and said, "We will accompany Brother Mingxuan on the flower road together," which showed the low demands of some male star fans. 

But fans in the circle are just icing on the cake. The real resources come from the team. Under An Ling's operation, he lost all his original endorsements, and his current resources plummeted. He could only take on second and third-tier products, exploiting his fans. Tang Ruoyao briefly glanced at his Weibo advertisements and didn't bother to read further. The entertainment industry is a place where fate plays a role, and it's difficult to become popular. For a flow star like him with no works, it's even harder to make a comeback.

You Mingxuan's exposure wasn't enough, so he wouldn't miss the opportunity of the "Under the Southern Mountain" roadshow.

Tang Ruoyao felt annoyed for a second, but she turned this person into air in her mind and continued writing a new paper for Qin Yinong.

At the first stop of the roadshow, Tang Ruoyao encountered the long-unseen You Mingxuan backstage. You Mingxuan, dressed in a neat manner, accompanied by his manager, approached while maintaining a safe distance and politely greeted, "Teacher Tang, long time no see."

Tang Ruoyao nodded and said indifferently, "Long time no see." Then, she made an excuse and left. You Mingxuan smiled good-naturedly, revealing a set of white teeth, and said, "Please go ahead, Teacher Tang." He seemed completely different from before.

Tang Ruoyao believed that the leopard couldn't change its spots, and she didn't spare him a single unnecessary glance before turning and leaving.You Mingxuan watched Tang Ruoyao's figure and a slight smile curved his lips.

You Mingxuan's manager, Li Xia, noticed and patted him, saying, "Don't provoke her, got it?"

"Got it," You Mingxuan lazily drawled, with a nasal tone. "I'm just curious about who her backer is, someone who spoils her so much." You Mingxuan hadn't been completely idle during this time. He had extracted quite a bit of information by prying from his uncle. He knew that Tang Ruoyao's family background wasn't prominent at all, but she had a wealthy backer who lavished her with money.

Li Xia said impatiently, "What's it to you?"

"Just curious." You Mingxuan pressed his tongue against his palate and smiled mysteriously, narrowing his eyes.

"Have you memorized the prepared speech?" Li Xia didn't bother with his irrelevant remarks.

"I've memorized it."

"It's not easy to have a decent announcement." Li Xia lowered her voice, advising him with a serious tone, "Let the past be the past. Don't lose sight of the bigger picture."

"I understand, Sister Xia." You Mingxuan nodded, and a hint of malice flashed in his eyes.

The movie screening ended, the lights came on, and the cast and crew appeared on stage. The theater resounded with applause and enthusiastic cheers.

"The first roadshow of the 'Under the Southern Mountain' crew officially kicked off.

Tang Ruoyao began a busier schedule than before, traveling from one city to another. Sometimes, she had to visit five or six theaters in a single city. An Ling had high hopes for this film, so the roadshow was particularly intense. Tang Ruoyao was always dedicated to her work, so she willingly went along with the nationwide promotion.

For ten consecutive days, Qin Yinong saw Tang Ruoyao's Moment updates with airport photos, taken at various airports during the day and night.

Unable to hold back, Qin Yinong commented on the latest post: [You've summoned all the dragons.]

Tang Ruoyao replied: [Hahaha.]

Then she replied again: [Finding joy in hardship, sigh.]

Qin Yinong didn't respond and made a phone call to Lin Guoan.

Lin Guoan: "Hello."

Qin Yinong's voice was calm, hiding her anger: "When will your movie roadshow end?" Last time she saw the leaked video of the roadshow online, Tang Ruoyao had lost weight.

Lin Guoan: "Do you want to come as a special guest?"

Qin Yinong scoffed.

Lin Guoan wisely held his tongue. Not to mention being a guest, Qin Yinong rarely attended the movie roadshows herself. Sometimes she would go once, as if she had won the lottery.

"Why are you asking about this?" Lin Guoan, the straightforward guy, wondered.

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and said, "Did you forget... that my girlfriend is in your crew?"

"Oh, oh, oh," Lin Guoan said, "Why don't you ask her directly? Why do you have to beat around the bush and ask me? Did you two have another fight?"

"What do you mean 'another'?" Qin Yinong frowned. "How do you know?"

"Old Han told me. You two argue a lot on set."

"Do you old men have so much to talk about?"

Lin Guoan burst into laughter and said, "Well, when I was in the capital city a while ago, I met him and we happened to chat about you two, so I mentioned a few things."

Qin Yinong remained silent.

An Ling sensed something was wrong from her silence and nervously coughed, quickly saying, "Anyway, the roadshow will last for a month, with twenty more days to go. It's tiring now, but the schedule will ease up in the later stages."

Qin Yinong responded with an indifferent "Hmm."

Lin Guoan speculated about her meaning and said, "How about I give Tang Ruoyao two days off?" Tang Ruoyao's absence from a few events was a small matter, but it displeased Qin Yinong greatly. Originally, there was no requirement in the contract for the lead actor to attend every event, but Tang Ruoyao was dedicated and followed along tirelessly.

"No need," Qin Yinong replied in a heavy tone.

"Really?" Lin Guoan's voice became softer, asking uncertainly.

"Really, I was just casually asking," Qin Yinong laughed and said, "You're busy, I wish you great success at the box office."

"Alright."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Guoan felt restless. Why did Qin Yinong suddenly call and ask him about this? Did Tang Ruoyao feel that the roadshow was too tiring and didn't want to tell him directly, so she had Qin Yinong hint at it?

Dealing with people was what Lin Guoan hated the most. He wished he could bury himself in the movie and never come out. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent so many years working for a talent agency. Qin Yinong's sudden phone call made him uneasy, so he called Tang Ruoyao.

"Director Lin."

"Xiao Tang," Lin Guo'an said seriously, getting straight to the point, "Are you feeling tired recently?"

"It's fine, not too tired," Tang Ruoyao couldn't figure out what he meant.

"How about taking a rest for two days? You don't have to attend the screenings in Lincheng tomorrow."

"No need, Director Lin," Tang Ruoyao politely declined with a faint smile, "You're already at such an age, working so diligently. I'm only in my early twenties, can't I handle a little hardship?"

"It's not about that," Lin Guo'an racked his brains, stumbling over his words.

"Director Lin, are you hiding something from me?" Tang Ruoyao keenly asked.

Lin Guoan couldn't hold it in any longer. Tang Ruoyao asked, and he immediately sold out Qin Yinong, breathed a sigh of relief, and spoke frankly, "Let's not beat around the bush. If you really want to take a couple of days off, I have no objections. You don't have to feel embarrassed. A good team is based on communication and understanding."

"I understand. I currently have no plans to take a leave. Thank you, Director Lin."

A weight was lifted off Lin Guo'an's heart. Then he lowered his eyebrows and asked, "Can I discuss something with you?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Next time, if you have something, just come directly to me and don't go through Qin Yinong. My heart can't handle it when she lowers her voice to talk."

Tang Ruoyao paused for a second and didn't defend herself. She took the blame and said, "Okay, Director Lin, don't worry."

"Ah," Lin Guoan responded, sighed, and hung up the phone.

Tang Ruoyao listened to the busy tone on the other end, lowered her eyes, and quietly contemplated for a while.

She clicked on Qin Yinong's profile picture, her fingertip hovered over the message box, hesitating to send.

She wanted to ask Qin Yinong why she didn't come and ask about her schedule, why she had to take the long way around? Why did she have to hint at Lin Guoan to give her time off instead of asking her directly? If she had just said two words to her, she would have disregarded everything and flown back to see her, even if it meant coming back overnight.

Tang Ruoyao thought Qin Yinong was just not good at expressing herself, but she didn't expect her to prefer going through others to achieve her goals, rather than revealing a single word to her.

Did she even consider her as someone she wanted to spend her life with? When she confessed that night and asked if she could face the unknown storms with her, she suddenly became this stubborn and secretive woman who carried everything on her own. The next day, she said she was hurt, and it seemed like she was really hurt. Everything she said before was just nonsense.

Did she think that paving the way for her was all she wanted? Is this finding a wife or raising a daughter?

Even raising a daughter doesn't require as much worrying as she does! Tang Ruoyao already had poor health, and with all this additional stress, she doubted she would live a long life. They wouldn't be able to grow old together.

Tang Ruoyao updated her secondary Weibo account.

@Our Daily Life with Miss Q:

[Did Miss Q make you angry today? Angry to death [smile emoji]]

She scrolled through the recent updates on Weibo, almost every post expressing her anger towards Qin Yinong.

Indeed, love makes one irritable in daily life.

@Our Daily Life with Miss Q:

[But I love her too, so I'll manage. What else can I do?]

Tang Ruoyao closed the Weibo interface and sent a message to Qin Yinong: [Goodnight, I'll be going to Lincheng tomorrow.]

Qin Yinong replied quickly: [Goodnight.]

Tang Ruoyao: [During the roadshow, there's a stop in Province J, very close to City N. I plan to go and pick up Tang Fei on the way, as he's done with his exams.]

Qin Yinong: [Alright.]

Tang Ruoyao: [Afterward, I'll take Tang Fei back to Beijing, settle him down, and then continue with work.]

Qin Yinong: [Okay.]

Tang Ruoyao: [I'll be staying in the capital for one or two days.]

Qin Yinong, resolute: [Hmm.]

In her imagination, Tang Ruoyao bit the woman's cheek and typed indignantly: [Don't you want to see me at all?]

It has been a month, and I can't stop thinking about her. She fills my dreams every night, and I hesitate to wake up in the morning. I know Qin Yinong must miss me too, but she acts indifferent and carefree on the surface, as if she's unaffected.

After waiting for a few minutes, Tang Ruoyao finally received a response.

Qin Yinong casually replied: [We'll talk about it later.]

Tang Ruoyao was infuriated. She gritted her teeth and forcefully typed on the screen: [Tell Guan Han to prepare a box of finger cots. I want to * you.]

Qin Yinong was in the living room, playing with blocks with Ningning. When she heard her phone vibrate, she immediately picked it up, unable to hide her smile. But as soon as she focused on the screen and read the message, her finger trembled unexpectedly, causing her to drop the phone on the floor. Ningning blinked her eyes innocently and picked up the phone for her. "Mom?"

Qin Yinong's legs felt weak, and she leaned on the floor for support. A tingling sensation ran through her spine, and she took a deep breath.

Curious, Ningning glanced at the screen, but Qin Yinong quickly snatched the phone back. She was just a child, why was she looking at that?

[System prompt: Tang Ruoyao has retracted a message.]

As Qin Yinong breathed a sigh of relief, a subtle sense of regret arose within her.

Lately, her nights had been quite difficult, and if Tang Ruoyao were there, perhaps things would be a bit smoother.

Qin Jianing giggled.

Blushing, Qin Yinong straightened her hair and pursed her lips. "What are you laughing at?" Her heart tightened. Ningning shouldn't know all these words, right? Even if she does, she wouldn't understand their meaning.

Ningning asked, "Are you chatting with Sister Yao?"

Qin Yinong didn't think there was anything wrong with that address before, but now that she heard it, it felt unfamiliar. She corrected her, "You should call her Auntie."

Setting down the blocks in her hand, Ningning blinked in confusion and said in a sweet voice, "Why can't I call her sister? The teacher said girls like to be called 'sister' and don't like being called 'auntie'."

Qin Yinong replied seriously, "She likes being called Auntie." Calling her sister would imply they were of the same generation.

Ningning didn't blindly follow but appeared to be contemplating. After a moment of thought, she said, "Can I ask her directly?"

"How would you ask?"

Ningning pointed at Qin Yinong's phone, revealing a mischievous smile.

Qin Yinong bit her lip, a firmness flickering in her eyes. She handed Ningning the phone, with the interface still showing her conversation with Tang Ruoyao.

Ningning smiled and tapped on Tang Ruoyao's phone number, making a call.

Tang Ruoyao had poured a glass of water and placed it on the bedside table, preparing to turn off the lights and go to sleep. Tomorrow, she would once again engage in a battle of wits with that annoying woman. Unexpectedly, she saw Qin Yinong's name flashing on her phone screen.

This was the first time Qin Yinong had taken the initiative to call her since they parted ways from the set.

Tang Ruoyao's happiness surged, and the anger she had just arched up disappeared instantly. She quickly answered, "Hello."

Qin Yinong nervously stared at Qin Jianing and heard her clear and sweet voice saying, "Hello, Sister Tang Ruoyao?" Qin Yinong couldn't help but press her ear against the back of the phone, regretting not preparing earphones in advance.

Tang Ruoyao was stunned.

"You are..." her tone was almost cautious.

"I am Qin Jianing. Qin Yinong is my mom."

"Hello. I am Tang Ruoyao. Qin Yinong is my... she's my..." Tang Ruoyao's words became incoherent, and her fingers holding the phone trembled even more. Her voice was trembling, "colleague."

"I know. My mom has mentioned you to me." Ningning's voice was gentle and sweet.

Tang Ruoyao's heart melted, and she blurted out, "Nice to meet you, no, nice to hear you. Thank you!"

Qin Yinong chuckled.

Hearing that sound was like receiving a pardon. Tang Ruoyao quickly asked, "Qin Yinong, are you there?" Help!

Qin Yinong took the phone from Ningning's hand and smiled, saying, "Yes, what's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao's heart pounded like thunder as she said, "You scared me."

Qin Jianing tilted her head back and smiled at Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong lightly tapped her nose, turned her head to talk to Tang Ruoyao, and pretended to be angry, "Is my daughter scary?"

"No, not at all. I was just...oh," Tang Ruoyao suddenly laughed, unable to contain her joy, "I didn't expect you to let her talk to me so soon." She thought she would have to wait at least another year or so.

Qin Yinong muttered, "I didn't expect it either."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "What did you say?"

Qin Yinong cleared her throat and calmly said, "Nothing. She asked me to ask you if you prefer her calling you 'older sister' or 'auntie'."

Tang Ruoyao's mind quickly turned, and she replied, "Is there a third option?"

Qin Yinong couldn't help but understand what she was thinking. She coldly rejected, "No, there isn't." If she wanted to change it to a more intimate term, she would have to wait until Ningning willingly did so. They still had a long way to go.

Tang Ruoyao touched her nose and smiled, "Auntie is fine. We shouldn't mess with the generation gap."

Qin Yinong brought the phone close to Ningning's ear and said, "Call her Auntie Tang."

Qin Jianing happily shouted, "Auntie Tang~~"

Auntie Tang herself was so overwhelmed by her beauty that she couldn't stop laughing.

Qin Jianing lowered her head and went to play with her building blocks.

After hanging up the phone, she raised her small face and sighed like a little adult, saying to Qin Yinong, "Auntie Tang doesn't seem very smart."

Qin Yinong couldn't stop laughing.

She decided to keep Ningning's evaluation as a surprise for when they officially met. She would tell Tang Ruoyao then.

Tang Ruoyao rubbed her stiff facial muscles from smiling and took a slightly bolder step, saying, "Do you have a photo of our daughter? Could you show me one? I want to mentally prepare myself and adapt in advance."

Qin Yinong stared at the word "our" blankly for a long time before replying, "What about your face?"

Tang Ruoyao felt a small sense of accomplishment tonight and shamelessly said, "Never mind, people who have dignity don't have a wife."

Qin Yinong couldn't handle it anymore and slipped away.

She didn't send Tang Ruoyao any photos because she couldn't reveal too much at once. Otherwise, Tang Ruoyao would truly ascend to heaven.

Qin Yinong put Ningning to sleep and went to the bedroom on the second floor. She skillfully took out a pink box from the drawer, closed her eyes, and immersed herself in a world where all senses were magnified and exquisitely delicate.

The promotional tour for "Under the Southern Mountain" was more than halfway through, and Tang Ruoyao's current stop was in the provincial capital of Province J. Although it wasn't a capital city, she received an even warmer welcome than before.

However, an unexpected incident occurred under unforeseen circumstances.

At that time, Tang Ruoyao had a faint smile on her face as she held the microphone and answered questions from fans. Her voice was clear and calm, "He Peilan ultimately chose to settle down in Nanshan as a teacher. Perhaps our generation finds it difficult to understand, but for that era, it was a common choice. It represented the integrity of literati, the soul of the nation, and it portrayed a generation. This film depicts a group of individuals, precisely because of the selfless dedication of these predecessors..."

Tang Ruoyao's vision blurred for a moment, instinctively taking a step back. However, her retreat was insufficient as a dark figure rushed towards her, embracing her waist tightly. The unfamiliar presence made Tang Ruoyao's hair stand on end, and she instinctively struggled. But due to the vast difference in strength between them, she was easily pressed down to the ground, and the back of her head hit the tabletop with a bang.

Even though the tabletop was made of wood, Tang Ruoyao's ears still buzzed, and for a moment, she couldn't hear anything.

In the chaos that followed, nobody could react in time.

In the confusion that followed, the rest of the cast and security personnel quickly rushed forward, pulling the perpetrator away from Tang Ruoyao and restraining them.

The nearest actor helped Tang Ruoyao up, and she adjusted the hem of her long skirt. First, she assured her fans present that she was "fine," and then she looked towards the person being taken away. All she could see was their broad back and strong build.

A strange feeling flashed through her heart.

The scene was in complete disarray.

The audience was filled with complaints, and a small group of Tang Ruoyao's female fans were so angry that they cried. The host tried their best to appease the audience. Lin Guoan's face turned pale, and the captain of the security team was drenched in sweat, repeatedly apologizing as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Tang Ruoyao withdrew her gaze from the perpetrator and looked at the security team leader with a deep gaze.

It was impossible to continue the event no matter what. The meet-and-greet with the cast was terminated in advance. Tang Ruoyao sat in the car on the way back to the hotel, with Xin Qian pushing her hair aside to check the back of her head.

Tang Ruoyao let out a soft hiss.

Xin Qian immediately stopped moving her fingers and anxiously said, "Should we go to the hospital just in case of a concussion?"

Tang Ruoyao turned her head and glanced at her, saying lightly, "Can't you hope for a little better outcome for me?"

Xin Qian stammered.

Tang Ruoyao understood what she meant and waved her hand, saying, "I'm just a little dizzy. I'll be fine in a while. It's not that easy to get a concussion."

Xin Qian shifted her tone and cursed the person, saying, "Fans these days are too scary. Some people are just crazy!"

"They're not fans." Tang Ruoyao said lightly.

Xin Qian filled with righteous indignation, "Exactly! Those crazy people don't deserve to be called fans!"

Tang Ruoyao's expression flickered slightly, not bothering to explain further. Instead, she turned to look at the close protection bodyguard who had been silent and lowered her head since they left the venue. She had seen that person when she was standing below the stage, but everything happened so suddenly that by the time she went on stage, Tang Ruoyao was already on the ground. She felt that she hadn't fulfilled her duty, and the bodyguard's silence felt particularly heavy.

Tang Ruoyao called out the other person's name.

The female bodyguard looked up.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Did you notice where he came from? What was he doing before rushing onto the stage?"

Being a bodyguard requires not only dealing with unexpected situations but also taking preventive measures and being aware of one's surroundings. The female bodyguard recalled the moments before the incident and slowly said, "He was looking at his phone, wearing a Bluetooth earpiece... making a phone call."

"Do you think he was a fan?"

"Not like one." The bodyguard shook her head.

"I agree." Tang Ruoyao nodded. Being a celebrity is a dangerous occupation, and they often face harassment from so-called "fans" during public events. Even without paying special attention, Tang Ruoyao knew about numerous incidents, not to mention the years of harassment that Wen Shuxian endured. The person who rushed towards her just now didn't behave like a fan at all. It wasn't an accidental result of excessive force during a leap; his intention was to make her fall to the ground.

Tang Ruoyao squinted her eyes, unable to understand.

Had she offended someone recently?

.....

Qin Yinong personally cooked a sumptuous breakfast, and Guan Han enjoyed a meal with her. Feeling satisfied, she strolled through the garden of Qin's residence, digesting her food while using an iPad to keep up with online updates.

Her fingertips suddenly paused, and she quickly delved into the content.

After the washing machine finished its cycle, Qin Yinong was hanging each piece of clothing on a clothes hanger, placing them on the clothesline.

"Qin Jie!"

After hanging one piece, Qin Yinong turned around, her gaze passing over Guan Han's face. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and she smiled lightly, saying, "What's wrong?"

"Something happened to Miss Yao." Guan Han handed over the iPad.

Author's Note:

Well, here I go again. I'm amazing, as expected. (laughs)

Mini Theater:

Yao Yao: I'm incredibly fast at typing my essays!

Liuliu: Can I interview you about it?

Yao Yao (laughs): It's a skill I developed.

Liuliu: Can you tell us how you developed it?

Qin Jie, annoyed and embarrassed: Shut up!

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