CHAPTER 144

There was not a single sound in the office.

Only the coffee in the cup rippled continuously with the unsteady movements of its owner.

An Ling sat down on the sofa opposite her, tugged at the corner of her lips, and pretended to smile casually. "Could it be that you're overthinking? The person who's following her is likely just a sasaeng fan. You might not know how audacious sasaengs are these days..."

An Ling gave her a few examples of popular idols, mentioning incidents where fans would chase after idols and scare them away, trying to convey that what Tang Ruoyao was experiencing was child's play and that she shouldn't worry.

"What about the attack incident?" Qin Yinong put down the coffee cup, causing a light thud on the marble tabletop.

"Why do you care about that attack?" An Ling tilted her head indifferently and asked, "Have you investigated the person's background? What if they specialize in holding grudges against women, especially those who are good-looking? Maybe they're just a perverted man, or someone who's failed in life and become mentally disturbed, seeking fame and attention through such means?"

Qin Yinong remained silent.

After a few seconds, An Ling softened her tone and said, "I understand your feelings, but aren't you being a bit too cautious? She's a grown woman, she can protect herself. If you're worried, just assign a few more people to protect her. Don't always think of the worst-case scenarios, it'll make life exhausting."

The more Qin Yinong stayed silent, the more it indicated that she had more hidden concerns. An Ling even felt that Qin Yinong had already made up her mind when she uttered those words.

"What if something happens just because of my carelessness?" Qin Yinong said.

An Ling: "..."

She asked, "Who do you think it could be?"

Qin Yinong lifted her long lashes and looked at her unusually calmly.

An Ling's pupils suddenly contracted, and she said, "No way? How could he have a grudge against Tang Ruoyao?"

An Ling had collaborated with Qin Yinong for many years and knew that she had offended a powerful figure in the industry. Although she didn't know the reason behind it, Qin Yinong had been maliciously suppressed and had relied on her relationship with Han Yuping and others to barely hold on until she reconciled with the Ji family in recent years. That person had somewhat restrained themselves during these years, and they had coexisted peacefully.

Qin Yinong sarcastically remarked, "For him, manipulating Tang Ruoyao would be a trivial matter. Perhaps he doesn't even need to get his hands dirty, just a few words from him, and there will be people rushing to please him."

The more powerful one is, the less they need to do things themselves. Many times, a single word can determine a person's life or death, especially in the entertainment industry where people are praised or criticized. Some minor celebrities have no idea who they have offended from beginning to end.

Qin Yinong also possesses this power, but she never uses it.

An Ling asked, "Then what should we do?"

Qin Yinong pressed her temple with her fingertips and shook her head. "I don't know."

If it is really him, we need to carefully consider our actions. Qin Yinong doesn't know how much he knows. If he is in the probing stage, the closer she gets to Tang Ruoyao, the more she puts Tang Ruoyao in danger.

.....

The weather in City N was sunny, with a clear blue sky and no clouds in sight.

This time, Tang Ruoyao didn't come alone, she brought Xin Qian and two bodyguards. She originally intended to bring only the bodyguards, but Xin Qian looked pitiful, so Tang Ruoyao thought that when Tang Fei arrived in the capital to study, she wouldn't be able to visit him only once in a blue moon like she does now. It was inevitable for Tang Fei and Xin Qian to meet someday, so she decided to bring her along.

Besides, Tang Ruoyao didn't bring her before, not because she didn't trust her, but because she didn't want others to know about her family situation. Xin Qian already knew about her relationship with Qin Yinong, so what harm would it do for her to know about Tang Fei?

Tang Ruoyao treated it as adding some amusement to the journey, and the three of them entered the residential area together.

Tang Ruoyao had informed Tang Fei in advance, and every minute, he would send her a message asking where she was. He had arrived early and was waiting downstairs. When he saw three people, two of whom were completely different from the ones he had previously met, his expression changed immediately. He grabbed Tang Ruoyao and took her aside, almost looking heartbroken, and asked in a deep voice, "Who are they?"

Was his sister so fickle?

As soon as Tang Ruoyao saw the boy's expression, she knew he was thinking the wrong way. She flicked his forehead with her finger and said in a displeased tone, "My assistant and my bodyguard."

Tang Fei said, "Oh, then what about my sister-in-law?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "She's in the capital."

Tang Fei asked with concern, "Are you two still doing well?"

Tang Ruoyao answered naturally, "We're doing great."

Tang Fei smoothed his non-existent beard and smiled contentedly, "That's good, that's good."

He then received another tap on the head and covered his forehead, chuckling. He turned to look at the two ladies and reached out to take the suitcase from Xin Qian's hand, being a gentleman, and said, "Let me do it."

The boy hasn't reached puberty yet, although he is tall and handsome, his voice still sounds childish. Xin Qian felt embarrassed and quickly said, "No need."

Tang Fei insisted, "Let me do it."

Xin Qian hesitated and glanced at Tang Ruoyao, who said, "Let him do it."

Tang Fei carried the suitcase and took the lead up the stairs. Tang Ruoyao and the other two followed behind. Xin Qian whispered with envy, "Tang Tang, you have a really good relationship with your younger brother."

Tang Ruoyao smiled.

"Please come in." Tang Fei unlocked the door with the key and placed the suitcase by the door. He gave slippers to the three of them. Tang Ruoyao didn't bother buying new household appliances after Jiang Xuezhen took away the ones she had sold. She only bought a small refrigerator, which was enough for Tang Fei's daily use. After all, no one would be living here soon.

After settling Xin Qian and the bodyguards, they had dinner together. Tang Ruoyao then took Tang Fei to her room to chat.

"Has your mom come to see you?"

"She did." Tang Fei honestly replied, "She asked if I wanted to live with them."

"How did you respond?" Tang Ruoyao's heart tightened. During the time she was away, she didn't communicate much with Tang Fei. What if Jiang Xuezhen really managed to persuade him...

Tang Fei gently stroked Tang Ruoyao's furrowed eyebrows with his warm fingers and smiled, revealing his small white teeth. "I refused."

Tang Ruoyao caught his hand and held it in hers.

Tang Fei said, "A gentleman's word is as good as gold. Once spoken, it's difficult to take back. I made a promise to my sister, and I can't go back on my word."

Tang Ruoyao's expression softened slightly. After thinking for a moment, she hesitantly said, "If you really want to be with your mom..."

"I don't want to." A hint of sadness finally appeared in Tang Fei's eyes. "Her belly is already so big, I don't want to disturb her family." He shrugged and continued, "She already has a husband and a child, while my sister has nothing. I want to be with you."

Tang Ruoyao pretended to be angry and disagreed, "Who said I have nothing? Doesn't your sister have a wife?"

"It's my sister-in-law." Tang Fei chuckled and corrected her.

"It's the same thing." Tang Ruoyao said. "By the way, your sister... sister-in-law has a daughter, she's three and a half years old."

Tang Fei widened his eyes.

Tang Ruoyao explained, "She's not her biological daughter, but she's raising her and will continue to raise her."

Tang Fei said, "So, you're going to have a daughter too?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded seriously, "Yes."

Tang Fei muttered to himself and sorted out the relationships in his mind. He said, "My niece?" Confusion flickered in the boy's eyes.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Don't you like it?"

"No," Tang Fei shook his head. "I thought it was a younger sister. I like younger sisters. But a niece is okay too. What does she like? I'll prepare in advance. As an uncle, I should give a gift when we meet."

Tang Ruoyao was taken aback.

Tang Fei looked at Tang Ruoyao's back as she hurried back to her room and called Qin Yinong in a hurry, "What does Qin Jianing like?" Even Tang Fei could think of that question, but she hadn't! Her mind was filled with thoughts of wife, children, and a warm bed.

She hadn't even met Qin Jianing yet, but she was already thinking about taking a leap forward.

Qin Yinong smiled.

She turned around and looked at Qin Jianing, who was sitting upright at the small table and working on her homework. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "She likes smart and beautiful... people."

Tang Ruoyao's thoughts were completely led by the woman, and she nervously asked, "Am I smart and beautiful?"

"What do you think?" the woman asked back.

"Um... I guess?" Tang Ruoyao said uncertainly.

Qin Yinong made a noncommittal sound, silently raising her eyebrows and eyes. She didn't tell Tang Ruoyao about Qin Jianing's evaluation of her as "Auntie Tang doesn't seem very smart."

"Qin Yinong." Tang Ruoyao softly called the woman's name.

Qin Yinong took a few steps away and went to the balcony, responding warmly, "What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao tapped the tabletop with her fingertip, feeling downcast as she said, "What if your daughter doesn't like me?"

"She will."

"But what if?"

Tang Ruoyao rarely showed lack of confidence in front of Qin Yinong, but her current uneasiness and anxiety softened Qin Yinong's heart. She said, "She won't. You're smart and beautiful, she will definitely like you."

"Do you think I'm smart and beautiful?"

"Yes."

"Do I have any other qualities?" Tang Ruoyao said dejectedly.

"Well, for example, you're very patient, determined, gentle, considerate, generous, and cute."

After praising her, Qin Yinong suddenly felt a strange feeling, and immediately after, she heard the pleasant laughter of a young woman in her ears. "So, in your eyes, I have so many good qualities."

Qin Yinong: "..."

She fell for it.

But she was quite happy about falling for it, and Tang Ruoyao laughed joyfully.

Tang Ruoyao: "So, do I have any flaws?"

Without thinking, Qin Yinong said, "No."

Tang Ruoyao's heart bloomed with joy, taking advantage of the situation and playfully humming, "There must be some flaws. Think of one."

Qin Yinong said, "I really can't think of any."

Hearing her hesitant voice, Tang Ruoyao let her off the hook and laughed, saying, "Well, maybe it's because we haven't spent enough time together. If we stay together every day in the future, I'm afraid you won't be able to count them all."

"No," Qin Yinong said firmly.

The overly decisive tone made Tang Ruoyao feel a hint of uneasiness amidst her happiness. However, she couldn't pinpoint the source of her uneasiness in a short time. She could only temporarily suppress it and said, "You're talking so confidently. I hope you won't be proven wrong in the future."

There's no couple that is perfect without flaws, but loving someone means accepting all of their imperfections. In the eyes of a lover, even their flaws are endearing.

"I won't," Qin Yinong still insisted on the same answer. However, she sensitively realized that this discussion shouldn't continue, so she changed the topic, saying, "After you arrived in City N, did you notice anyone following you?"

"I haven't noticed anyone for now."

"That's good."

"Did you ask An Ling?"

"I did. She said that man might be seeking attention due to a failed life, and the probability of someone following you being a private fan is high. She said not to worry. But just to be safe, I'll assign two bodyguards to you. You can focus on your work and treat them as if they don't exist."

"Okay."

The silence from Qin Yinong lasted for too long, and Tang Ruoyao skeptically spoke up, "Qin Yinong?"

"I'm here," Qin Yinong seemed to have just snapped back to reality.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about you."

Tang Ruoyao's heartbeat didn't have time to accelerate before she thought she might have misheard, and she asked in a surprised voice, "What did you say?"

Qin Yinong lowered her gaze and said calmly, "Nothing much, Ningning called me, I'll go and accompany her."

"Well, you go then," Tang Ruoyao said. "I miss you too." Her words carried a smile. "Fortunately, we'll be able to see each other soon. Just wait for me for two more days. I'll finish handling things in City N and come back."

"...Hmm."

On the other end that Tang Ruoyao couldn't see, Qin Yinong hesitated to speak.

Qin Yinong hung up the phone and opened the message sent by Guan Han, her expression dark and unclear.

"I found out that Qin Hongjian had been to the Li family two months ago."

Li Yichuan, the head of the Li family, was one of the people Qin Yinong least wanted to have any dealings with in her lifetime. As soon as she saw his eyes, sharpened like a poisonous cobra, smiling yet not smiling, ready for a fatal strike at any moment, Qin Yinong couldn't help but shudder.

An Ling said that she was unnecessarily worried, always inclined to think of the worst-case scenario. But the facts were proving her suspicions right. Qin Hongjian had disappeared for so many years, and suddenly he had connections with her enemy. Why?

Was Tang Ruoyao's recent encounter just a simple coincidence?

Qin Yinong vigorously rubbed the edge of her phone with her thumb, the veins on her temple gently throbbing, her heart pounding.

She must not let Tang Ruoyao get involved in danger!

......

Tang Ruoyao frowned as she stared at the blank screen of her phone.

Qin Yinong was acting strange, as if she was hiding something from her.

Tang Ruoyao recalled the tone of "I miss you" and Qin Yinong's subsequent reaction, and it didn't make sense. She had made analyzing Qin Yinong a daily task, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Even though she tried to convince herself that it was enjoyable to peek into her lover's thoughts when she knew that the other person loved her, she couldn't help but feel powerless each time she faced Qin Yinong's concealment.

She treated Qin Yinong as her beloved, someone she relied on in both good and bad times, but Qin Yinong didn't reciprocate.

She only treated herself as fragile porcelain, securely held in the palm of Qin Yinong's hand, afraid that any fall or collision would leave a tiny crack. She loved her, but she didn't trust her. She didn't believe that she could share the burdens on her shoulders or even consider giving her a small part of them.

She was weak, perhaps unable to protect Qin Yinong like Qin Yinong protected her, but didn't she deserve to know? Was it enough to keep her in the dark, showing only the bright and shiny side, just to make herself happy?

She also worried about Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and then sneered, a faint self-mockery tugging at the corner of her lips.

Tang Fei poked his head in from outside the door, looking at Tang Ruoyao's reddened eyes. He cautiously spoke, "Sister?"

Tang Ruoyao quickly turned around, facing the window, and discreetly sniffed, trying to appear calm as she asked, "What's the matter?"

Tang Fei swallowed the words he wanted to ask and said, "Nothing, it's just that both sisters have finished bathing. I came to ask if you want to take a bath now. The water is still hot."

"I'll go later." Tang Ruoyao breathed lightly, trying to calm her emotions as quickly as possible.

Tang Fei took a deep breath and walked in.

Tang Ruoyao heard the movement and found Tang Fei's attempt to stop her even more unusual. So she lowered her head, opened a drawer, and absentmindedly flipped through the photo album inside, casually asking, "Have you taken a bath?"

"No, ladies first," Tang Fei paced and observed Tang Ruoyao's expression from the side.

"You go ahead and take a bath. We don't need to differentiate between ladies and gentlemen."

Tang Fei didn't know why she was upset just now, but he had made up his mind to accompany her. He said, "If you're not bathing, then I won't either." He asked, "What are you looking at? A photo album? I want to see too."

Tang Ruoyao nodded in agreement, took a step aside, and Tang Fei squeezed in, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

Tang Ruoyao's height was mainly inherited from Tang Hanzhang's genes, and Tang Fei naturally inherited them as well. After not seeing him for a while, he had grown quite tall, already reaching Tang Ruoyao's eyebrows. Ignoring his somewhat immature face and slender shoulders, he almost looked like an adult.

Tang Fei pointed to one of the photos and casually asked, "How old were you here?"

Tang Ruoyao glanced at it and replied, "Around seven or eight years old."

"How old am I?"

"You haven't been born yet," Tang Ruoyao coolly replied. Didn't she know in which year he was born?

Tang Fei scratched the back of his head and laughed, "Hahaha."

Tang Ruoyao was amused by his silly behavior, and the atmosphere instantly lightened.

Standing against the backlight, their equally tall figures blocked the light, making the people in the photo album appear dimmer. Tang Fei turned the album towards the light, held it in his hand, and flipped through it page by page, engaging in casual conversation with Tang Ruoyao.

When they reached the page with a photo of Tang Ruoyao's birth mother, Zhuo Peiyun, Tang Fei said, "You resemble your mother a bit."

Tang Ruoyao made a noncommittal sound and said, "Is that so?"

Tang Fei said, "Yeah, this one is a bit blurry. The photos at Dad's place are clearer."

Tang Ruoyao was surprised and asked, "You've seen them?"

Tang Fei looked somewhat proud and smiled, "Is there anything in this house that I don't know?'" When he saw Tang Ruoyao about to flick his forehead, he quickly changed the topic, "When should we go to the hospital tomorrow to see Dad?"

"Let's go in the morning. I have something to do," Tang Ruoyao didn't tell him about the news she saw online.

"After you're done, come back to Beijing to meet sister-in-law?"

"Yeah." Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips, a hint of gravity flickering in her eyes, and she sighed softly.

Tang Fei's heart skipped a beat as he thought, Did they have an argument?

He lowered his gaze, pondered for a moment, and looked up at Tang Ruoyao firmly, saying, "Sister, don't bear it all by yourself. I'll grow up quickly too, and I can take care of you. I won't let anyone b*lly you."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes welled up with heat, but she held back the rising emotions. She gently flicked his forehead with her finger, lightly enough to not hurt, and chuckled, "You little brat."

Tang Fei vowed, "Believe in me!"

"I believe you, I believe you," Tang Ruoyao said in a teasing tone, pushing him out by his shoulder. "I need to get my clothes for bathing, you go play."

Tang Fei was locked out of the room. "I'm not playing, I'm serious."

Tang Ruoyao leaned against the door, a circle of redness appearing around her eyes.

She didn't want to admit it, but Tang Fei had hit a sore spot. She felt both distressed and upset, but there was no one to confide in. The only person who understood her seemed to be her recently graduated little brother. Where was the person she had been hoping for?

Tang Ruoyao checked herself in the mirror, everything seemed normal, and she opened the door while holding her pajamas.

Tang Fei stood up from his crouched position.

"I'll take a bath." Tang Ruoyao said.

Tang Fei immediately walked ahead, clearing the way. "I'll go fill the water for you." They used a solar water heater at home, and it required a lot of cold water to turn it into hot water.

Tang Ruoyao tested the water temperature, which was just right, and she lightly pinched the wet hands hanging at Tang Fei's side on his slender face. She smiled and said, "I'm really fine. You only make me nervous when you're so anxious."

Tang Fei made a sound of acknowledgment, glanced at her, and went to the living room sofa to search for news about Qin Yinong online. He didn't have a specific purpose, he just read through the information about the other party over and over again, from childhood to the current swirling rumors. It was as if he were a father-in-law scrutinizing his son-in-law, his brows furrowed tightly, unable to let go of his concerns.

The next morning, Tang Ruoyao took Tang Fei and the other two to the Renmin Hospital.

With her bodyguard accompanying her, Tang Ruoyao went to take a brain CT scan, leaving Xin Qian and Tang Fei in Tang Hanzhang's hospital room. There was nothing special in Tang Hanzhang's room, so Tang Fei started a conversation with his father. Tang Ruoyao took a long time, not returning, so he did what he used to do when he had nothing to do and started flipping through the photo album in the drawer.

The protagonist of this album was Tang Hanzhang and Zhuo Peiyun, and in the latter half, there appeared a young Tang Ruoyao during her toddler years. Tang Fei mainly looked at the latter half, and he almost memorized it. He looked amused as he read through.

Until he flipped to a page with a stranger—a girl around seven or eight years old wearing a blue school uniform, with a single ponytail, delicate features, and a charming appearance, like a doll in a New Year painting hanging on the wall.

She had her head slightly lowered, a smile on her face, and held a baby bottle, feeding little Tang Ruoyao with milk formula.

Tang Fei flipped past it at lightning speed and then flipped back again. His delicate eyebrows slowly furrowed.

"Sister," Tang Fei pressed his hand on that page and, as soon as Tang Ruoyao returned, he immediately held up the photo album in front of her and exclaimed excitedly, "Sister, sister!"

Tang Ruoyao took it from him, raising an eyebrow and asking, "What's with the fuss? Did you see a ghost?"

Tang Fei urged her, "Quick! Look!" It was scarier than seeing a ghost!

Tang Ruoyao finished looking at it calmly, lifted an eyelid without any fluctuations, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Tang Fei took out a photo he had just saved in the phone album and placed it side by side with the album, asking Tang Ruoyao, "Aren't these two people alike?"

Tang Ruoyao was puzzled but still looked carefully and said, "A little." They both had round and delicate features, just one was a bit older, and the other was a bit younger, around four or five years old.

Tang Fei mysteriously pointed at the photo on his phone and teased, "Do you know who this is?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled and asked, "Who?"

Tang Fei raised an eyebrow, saying, "Qin Yinong when she was little." It was thanks to him looking at various photos of Qin Yinong last night that he had a deep impression of her.

Tang Ruoyao's smile froze at the corner of her mouth, and she couldn't focus on speaking. She snatched Tang Fei's phone back in one swift motion and compared it to the photos in Tang Hanzhang's album.

"Are you sure?" Tang Ruoyao's lips trembled.

Tang Fei patted his chest and solemnly promised, "I'm sure this photo in my phone is her when she was little. If you don't believe me, search online."

Tang Ruoyao recalled the last time she and Qin Yinong saw this photo and Qin Yinong's unusual reaction. She was almost certain that it was the same person.

But why did Qin Yinong appear in her house?

Author's Note:

Short Scene:

Ningning: My mom has changed my diapers before, have you?

Ruoyao: Your mom has also changed my diapers (blushing(*/ω＼*)

Ningning: My mom has fed me milk, have you?

Ruoyao: Not only did your mom feed me milk in the past, she still feeds me milk now :)

Ningning: ???

Guessing Game: What secret will Ruoyao discover from this photo album?

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