CHAPTER 146

Tang Ruoyao let Qin Yinong say some embarrassing words before reluctantly letting her off the hook.

Qin Yinong, feeling relieved, grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. She said, "Go to bed early, I have to catch a flight."

Tang Ruoyao confirmed with her one last time, "We can meet in at most three months, right?"

Qin Yinong, out of habit, conservatively replied, "That's the plan."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I don't want plans. Give me an exact time."

"Three months." After calculating in her mind, Qin Yinong gave a definite answer. Since she had promised Tang Ruoyao, no matter what method she used, she would definitely make it happen.

"After three months, no matter what new reasons you have, I will fly to see you. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Deal." Tang Ruoyao said firmly, then softened her tone and added, "Now board the plane, and I also have an early morning flight tomorrow."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Tang Ruoyao sighed as she hung up the phone.

She checked her luggage once again, went to Tang Fei's room to make sure nothing was left behind, and then returned to her own room to go to bed.

The person Qin Yinong arranged to pick her up was a tall and thin young man who appeared to be two or three years older than Tang Ruoyao. He wore black-framed glasses and gave off an intellectual and distinguished aura.

The young man introduced himself as Fang, called Fang Cheng, and asked Tang Ruoyao to call him "Xiao Fang" [Little Fang]. Out of politeness, Tang Ruoyao referred to him as Mr. Fang.

Apart from Guan Han, Tang Ruoyao had little contact with the people around Qin Yinong. She didn't know what Qin Yinong was busy with every day, and she was eager to learn everything about her. Fang Cheng was the second person she had contact with.

Fang Cheng drove Tang Ruoyao to meet the school leaders, which was naturally arranged by Qin Yinong. The two sides met face to face. Tang Ruoyao sat in the car and glanced at Fang Cheng in the driver's seat. With courtesy, she asked, "I'm curious about the relationship between Mr. Fang and Senior Qin. Could you enlighten me?"

Fang Cheng focused on the road ahead and didn't look away as he replied, "Qin... Teacher Qin has shown kindness to me."

"Kindness?" My family was poor, and Teacher Qin started sponsoring me when I was in middle school. She supported me all the way until I graduated from university. I wouldn't be where I am today without her." Qin Yinong had instructed Fang Cheng to be open and honest with Tang Ruoyao, so he was very sincere.

"How old are you, Mr. Fang?"

"Twenty-five."

Tang Ruoyao calculated in her mind. If it started from the age of fifteen, Qin Yinong had been sponsoring impoverished students for ten years. Ten years ago, Qin Yinong was only twenty years old and was still in a precarious stage of her life. Even if we take the latest starting point from the age of eighteen, seven years ago Qin Yinong was twenty-three, having just cleared her debts and her career was still in its early stages.

Fang Cheng said, "I graduated with a master's degree this year and I am teaching at your brother's school. If there's anything, he can directly contact me."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Thank you, Mr. Fang."

Her heart warmed, collapsing layer by layer like melting hot chocolate.

The woman she loved always did more than she said. She considered what Tang Ruoyao had thought about, and even things she hadn't thought of, she had thought about for her. How fortunate she was not to have missed her.

At a red light, Fang Cheng hit the brakes and stopped. He said somewhat uncomfortably, "We'll have more interactions in the future. You really don't need to be so polite. Just call me Xiao Fang. Teacher Qin also calls me that."

His last sentence convinced Tang Ruoyao, and she changed her address, "Xiao Fang."

Fang Cheng smiled.

Tang Ruoyao noticed the pause after he initially called her "Teacher Qin" and asked, "How do you usually address her?"

Fang Cheng replied, "Sister or Sister Qin. We all call her that."

Before Tang Ruoyao could ponder, she asked in confusion, "All of you?"

Fang Cheng sighed and said, "I have a younger sister. She's a junior this year, and she's also sponsored by Teacher Qin. Our parents passed away unexpectedly, leaving the two of us. Originally, I planned to drop out of school and work to support my sister's education..."

According to Fang Cheng, it was only after he got into a university in the capital that he saw the true face of the kind person who had been sponsoring him and his sister. Qin Yinong was a well-known celebrity, and for several days after seeing her, he didn't realize it and thought he was dreaming. How could it be Qin Yinong?

Based on Qin Yinong's low-key personality and actions, it seemed unlikely that she would appear in person. Tang Ruoyao narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, "Which university did you graduate from?"

Fang Cheng answered, "P University."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes flickered with understanding as she said, "Impressive."

Fang Cheng humbly replied, "Not really."

The two of them chatted all the way, and Tang Ruoyao learned a lot about Qin Yinong from Fang Cheng. Fang Cheng's understanding was actually not deep, just surface-level information, but for Tang Ruoyao, this was already an unknown side of Qin Yinong, and she was thirsty for it.

Tang Ruoyao leaned her head and looked out of the car window at the receding landscape, the shadows of trees passing over her deep, calm, and distant amber eyes.

Regarding Qin Yinong, how much more does she not know?

The car stopped in the underground parking lot of a residential complex. Fang Cheng led Tang Ruoyao and her younger brother to the elevator. The door was opened by a middle-aged woman wearing a cheongsam. She spoke softly and gently, exuding the charm of a water town in the Jiangnan region.

She nodded at Fang Cheng first, then looked at Tang Ruoyao and her brother standing behind him, politely inviting them into the house. After knocking on the study door and exchanging a few words inside, she came out with a middle-aged man wearing glasses.

After the initial self-introduction, Tang Ruoyao barely said a word. Fang Cheng was talkative and composed, handling all the necessary negotiations, including Tang Fei's grades and the competitions he had won in the city of N. Everything was well-prepared.

The man asked Tang Fei a few questions, and although Tang Fei was not shy, he was a bit nervous facing strangers. However, he managed to answer them, and the man smiled and patted the young boy's shoulder, clearly liking him.

Afterward, the three of them had a lunch together, and Tang Fei's academic issues were effortlessly resolved, as if it required no effort at all.

Tang Ruoyao knew that the ease she was experiencing now was all thanks to Qin Yinong's efforts behind the scenes. On the way to the house that Tang Fei had rented, Tang Ruoyao opened Qin Yinong's message thread. After numerous revisions, a thousand words condensed into just two ordinary words.

[Thank you.]

Qin Yinong replied that night: [You're welcome. [Smile]]

Then she asked: [Is Tang Fei satisfied with his accommodation? Has the maid seen it? If he doesn't like it, we can change it.]

[Their school allows for dormitory applications. If he doesn't want to commute, he can live on campus. If you have time on weekends, you can pick him up and go out together. Or I can arrange someone to accompany him around the capital.]

[Does he need some new clothes and shoes? He should be growing quickly at his age. Tomorrow, I'll send an assistant over. How about Xiao Xiao?]

When Tang Ruoyao was taking a shower, several messages from Qin Yinong came in on her phone, and each one was not short.

She couldn't help but hum lightly and typed: [You don't have that much to say to me, but when it comes to Tang Fei, you have so much to say.]

Qin Yinong: [Jealous?]

Tang Ruoyao: [Yes, so how are you going to coax me?]

After last night, Tang Ruoyao became more and more accustomed to relying on her spoiled nature.

Qin Yinong dialed her phone.

Tang Ruoyao answered, pretending to be indifferent, "What do you want?"

Qin Yinong said, "Aren't you jealous? I'll coax you."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Then coax me."

Qin Yinong remained silent.

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips and said, "Do you think that calling me on your own initiative counts as coaxing me?"

Qin Yinong remained silent and said, "Isn't it?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "At the very least, you should say something nice."

Upon hearing the phrase "something nice," Qin Yinong's memories from last night flooded her mind, causing her scalp to tingle. After hesitating for a while, she said, "I have prepared a surprise for you."

She had originally planned to wait for the official announcement and send it directly to Tang Ruoyao. However, to avoid using cheesy terms of endearment, she decided to tease her in advance.

"What kind of surprise?" Tang Ruoyao's attention was indeed diverted.

"It's an..." Qin Yinong squinted her eyes and thought for a moment. She said, "Let's call it a gift for you, to accompany you in my place."

"It's not a stuffed toy, is it?" Tang Ruoyao's curiosity was piqued, and she guessed.

Qin Yinong smiled mischievously, "No, it's not."

"A figurine? Your model?"

"No."

"A poster, a scroll, a photo?"

"None of those." Qin Yinong chuckled. "You'll know when the time comes, in just over half a month."

"So long?"

"There are some... um... post-production work to be done."

Post-production?

Tang Ruoyao caught a key term. Could it be a video? Edited by herself? Tang Ruoyao dismissed the idea in her mind, as Qin Yinong wouldn't have time for that. She didn't ask any further. Since Qin Yinong was being mysterious, she patiently waited in anticipation.

In late July, the sweltering heat was relentless. The scorching sun baked the asphalt roads, and even at 5 PM, its intensity showed no signs of weakening.

At the entrance of a provincial radio and television center, Tang Ruoyao entered a car with Xin Qian's escort. She twisted open the chilled mineral water in the car and downed half a bottle in one gulp.

Her phone buzzed.

Tang Ruoyao opened WeChat, and Qin Yinong had sent her a link to a Weibo post. Tang Ruoyao lightly bit the edge of the mineral water bottle cap, raised an eyebrow, and curiously clicked on the link.

@GuDeMapV:

[Summer vacation is here! For everyone's safe travels, GuDe has teamed up with the famous actress @QinYinongV to launch the Qin Yinong Safe Travel Navigation Voice. Now, open GuDe Map and search 'Qin Yinong' to enjoy the seductive voice of the goddess Qin Yinong. Come and give it a try! With a land area of 9.6 million square kilometers in China, Qin Yinong's voice will accompany you warmly. @QinYinong Qin Yinong Studio.]

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

What is this?

She casually clicked on the comments.

[Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Damn! AWSL, Ah Wei is dead!]

[Did I go blind? Qin Yinong actually recorded a navigation voice!!!]

[I never thought much of other celebrities recording navigation voices, and I even felt like they were just cashing in on their fans. But as soon as Qin Yinong recorded one, the quality instantly went up. GuDe Map has class!]

[Ahhh! A heavenly being has descended to record a navigation voice! I've decided to use the voice navigation wherever I go!]

[Do we ever get to hear Qin Yinong talk so much in normal circumstances? No! Everyone, quickly set it up!]

...

Lost in thought, Tang Ruoyao found the map app on her phone and opened it. In the navigation voice package section, she found the newly released Qin Yinong voice. She clicked on the download button, and within a few short seconds, her hand holding the phone was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and her fingertips trembled.

Download completed. She clicked on "Use."

In the quiet cabin, Qin Yinong's gentle voice came through, saying, "Qin Yinong voice setting successful."

Her diction was clear, as if deliberately carrying a slight nasal tone, giving it a special touch of laziness. It felt as if they were lying side by side, sharing a pillow in the quiet of the night, with their ears brushing against each other.

It was maddening!

Tang Ruoyao immediately clenched her phone and sternly said to Xin Qian, "Give me the earphones."

Xin Qian touched the goosebumps on her arm and took out the earphones from her bag, conscientiously covering her own ears with both hands and closing her eyes, indicating that she couldn't hear or see anything.

Xin Qian couldn't help but admire Qin Yinong in her heart, the renowned actress truly deserved to be called the queen of romance.

Tang Ruoyao entered her destination and selected driving navigation. As the car smoothly moved forward, Qin Yinong's voice resounded in her ears, one sentence after another, gently and melodiously.

"Travel safely with me by your side. I am Qin Yinong. Fasten your seatbelt. Let's go."

"In 500 meters, make a left turn. Please change lanes in advance."

"There are frequent accidents ahead. Please drive cautiously and remember that someone who loves you is waiting for you."

Unconsciously, Tang Ruoyao pressed her hand against her chest. After hearing that sentence, she almost asked the driver to reverse and go back.

As she listened to Qin Yinong's navigation throughout the journey, she noticed a special notification popping up at the top of the screen. Qin Yinong's long-dormant Weibo account had been updated again. She retweeted GuDe Map's Weibo post and wrote a message of her own.

@QinYinongV:

[Long time no see. May my voice always accompany you, safe and happy.]

Qin Yinong's fans, the Empresses, left a flurry of comments. "Ah, I can't believe it!" "It's been so long, sob sob." "You should also stay safe and happy." "We'll always be there for you." "AWSL, I died after hearing just the first sentence. A divine being speaking." Many fans believed that this was a special treat from Qin Yinong to them. After all, for Qin Yinong, accepting such an endorsement didn't match her status as a celebrity.

There were also many radical career fans who felt that Qin Yinong recording a navigation voice was a downgrade, a blemish on her reputation. They wondered if she had trouble finding good film roles or if she was taking too many luxury endorsements, which led her to record something so low-class.

Some fans expressed different views in response to the radical career fans. Given Qin Yinong's status, she had reached a point where she could do whatever she wanted. Maybe she found it fun, or she simply wanted to be more down-to-earth. If she didn't want to do something, no one could force her. It was clear that she did it voluntarily, so who had the right to criticize her?

For the first time on her alternate Weibo account, Tang Ruoyao made a post that was visible to more than just herself.

@Our Daily Life with Miss Q:

[You too. Stay safe and happy. //@QinYinong: Long time no see. May my voice always accompany you, safe and happy.]

.....

[I Received the gift.] Tang Ruoyao arrived at another filming location. The voice prompt in her earphones indicated that she had reached her destination, and the voice navigation ended. Tang Ruoyao then, as if waking from a dream, sent a message back to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong was still busy and didn't reply immediately.

Tang Ruoyao switched to pedestrian navigation and walked through the corridor, unable to help but lift the corners of her lips.

The signal was weak inside the building, but she could still hear Qin Yinong saying, "GPS signal is weak."

Late at night, after finishing the filming, she looked at her phone again, and Qin Yinong replied with a smiling face.

Tang Ruoyao put on her earphones once again and typed while navigating: [I'm listening to your voice.]

Twenty minutes later, Qin Yinong replied with a smiling face.

Tang Ruoyao asked her, [Why aren't you typing?]

After waiting for a few seconds, Qin Yinong said, [Sorry.]

Tang Ruoyao laughed and asked, [Why?]

Qin Yinong replied, [It's different from what I imagined.]

Tang Ruoyao asked, [What did you imagine it to be like?]

Qin Yinong responded, [More serious.]

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter and asked, [Isn't it serious now?]

Qin Yinong buried her face in the pillow, rolled over twice, picked up her phone again, and blushed as she replied, [I feel it's a bit cheesy, especially some of the prompts. The voice sounds like it's soaked in honey.]

Tang Ruoyao said, [No, I really like it.]

Qin Yinong glanced at the phone screen and said, [As long as you like it.]

Tang Ruoyao took out her keys to open the door and said, [I'm home now.]

They switched to a phone call.

After closing the door, Tang Ruoyao held her phone with one hand and leaned against the entrance, bending down to change her shoes. She asked, "Is recording this tiring?"

"It's okay," Qin Yinong replied with her signature answering style. The word "tired" could never be heard from her mouth. In fact, Qin Yinong had been in poor physical condition lately, lacking stamina. She recorded while receiving intravenous drips.

Tang Ruoyao helplessly asked, "How long did you record for?"

"Three days," Qin Yinong said.

"How many lines did you record?"

"Probably a few thousand, I didn't count them specifically."

"You've worked hard."

"It's fine."

"What if I record one too?" Tang Ruoyao suddenly had an idea.

"No," Qin Yinong immediately vetoed without hesitation, "It would raise suspicions if we were seen together. After I attracted attention by recording a navigation system, wouldn't it be even more noticeable if someone like you, who avoids the limelight, did something similar?"

Although they had no interaction after finishing the movie, Qin Yinong had not responded to Tang Ruoyao's birthday wishes. On the surface, they had zero interaction, and in the eyes of the vast internet users, they might even be enemies. But Qin Yinong didn't want Tang Ruoyao to take any risks.

Today, she thought and contemplated about this Weibo post. She even asked An Ling for her opinion and finally made a decision under An Ling's disdainful gaze.

"I was just casually suggesting, I won't actually go and record it," Tang Ruoyao said.

Qin Yinong responded with a sound of agreement.

"Hey, I remember there's a feature on that map where you can record your own voice. How about I record one for you?" Tang Ruoyao said with a smile.

"I've tried it before, the results weren't ideal. Plus, the official studio has professional recording facilities and technical synthesis. If you record it yourself, it will lack comprehensiveness and practicality," Qin Yinong replied seriously, indicating that she had indeed experimented with it.

When Qin Yinong went to the studio to have An Ling contact Gu De Map, An Ling frowned so tightly that it could crush a fly and said, "Have you lost your mind?"

Qin Yinong calmly explained her intention to record it for Tang Ruoyao.

An Ling slammed the pen down and angrily exclaimed, "You've definitely lost your mind!" Then, grumbling, she dialed the phone and talked to the person in charge on the other end. The person was shocked by the request and cautiously asked about the appearance fee, subtly indicating that the budget was limited.

An Ling glanced irritably at Qin Yinong, who was calmly sipping coffee on the couch, and quoted a slightly higher price than the previous stars they had hired. They quickly reached an agreement, and the next day Qin Yinong went directly to the recording studio. She signed the contract and completed the recording in one go, even requesting an urgent deadline for the online release.

Recording was physically demanding, and Qin Yinong spent the entire day inside, repeatedly adjusting her tone. When she came out, her face was pale as paper. On the second and third days, she was hooked up to an IV drip, barely managing to support the recording project. Of course, Tang Ruoyao didn't need to know these details.

After listening to Qin Yinong's words, Tang Ruoyao didn't immediately give up but instead said, "After we meet next time, I'll try recording a few lines on your phone, okay?"

"Okay," Qin Yinong gently agreed.

"It's been almost a month. Have you sorted out your matters?"

"Yes."

"Can we meet in two months?"

Qin Yinong remained silent for a second, her tone calm and resolute, "Yes."

"Then I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'm going to take a shower and go to sleep."

Qin Yinong said, "Good night."

Tang Ruoyao was dissatisfied, "Say 'good night' to Yao Yao."

Qin Yinong obediently said, "Good night, Yao Yao."

"Good night," Tang Ruoyao chuckled, waited for three seconds, and hung up the phone.

Qin Yinong sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought for a few seconds, then headed to the study, made a cup of coffee, and turned on the computer on the desk. The night was deep, and the study's light remained on until the faint light of dawn appeared on the horizon. Qin Yinong returned to her room, took a shower, closed her eyes for two hours of rest, went downstairs for breakfast, and Guan Han had already arrived.

Early mornings and late nights.

Guan Han set Dr. Qiu's number as a speed dial.

The promotional tour for "Under the Southern Mountain" had ended some time ago, and the movie had achieved excellent box office results, with a final gross of 1.48 billion yuan. Tang Ruoyao, as the female lead, once again proved herself. It was her first successful film after finishing her student life, and Lin Guoan also made a comeback with this movie.

In August, the Golden Acacia Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the Chinese film industry, announced the list of nominees for this year. "Under the Southern Mountain" received five nominations for Best Director, Best Music, Best Screenplay, Best Film, and Best Actress.

Tang Ruoyao informed Qin Yinong of this good news as soon as possible.

Qin Yinong replied to her: [Congratulations. Do you have confidence in winning?]

Tang Ruoyao said: [Hahaha, absolutely not.]

Qin Yinong hurriedly walked, supporting Guan Han's arm, and sent her a voice message: "Why do you have so little confidence? Are there really strong competitors this year?"

Tang Ruoyao replied with a voice message.

Qin Yinong clicked to convert it to text, and Tang Ruoyao said: [Yes, it's you.]

Qin Yinong: "..."

She turned her head and asked Guan Han, "Am I nominated for the Golden Acacia Awards this year?"

Guan Han silently nodded.

Qin Yinong wondered, "But I haven't made a movie in a long time, right?" Her output this year was just one film, "True Colors," which couldn't be released in mainland China.

Guan Han said, "Inventory." After a pause, she added, "A lot, a lot of it."

Movies aren't released immediately after filming. With Qin Yinong's work intensity, even if she doesn't make a new film for five years, her works will continue to be released one after another.

Qin Yinong: "..."

After thinking for a moment, she sent Tang Ruoyao an encouraging voice message, gently saying, "Keep going. Even if your opponent is me, you can't give up."

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself: It's not that I want to give up, it's that everyone else has given up. If you don't win the award, others will suspect foul play.

Tang Ruoyao cleverly changed the subject with a joking tone and said, "Hao Meihua is also nominated, did you know?"

"Now I know since you've told me," Qin Yinong said. "She even spoke ill of you last time, but now that she knows both of us are nominated, she's probably fuming with anger at home."

"How do you know she spoke ill of me? Did you watch the awards ceremony?" Tang Ruoyao keenly grasped the point.

Qin Yinong lightly tapped her nose with her index finger and admitted, "Yes."

"When did you watch it?"

"Um... on the first day after returning from Cannes," Qin Yinong whispered.

Tang Ruoyao chuckled on the other end of the phone.

"I'll go and get busy now." Qin Yinong's cheeks flushed slightly as she put her phone in her pocket. When she got in the car, she somehow missed a step, but Guan Han quickly supported her from behind.

"Qin Jie!"

"I'm fine." Qin Yinong shook her head and bent down to sit in the car.

......

Tang Ruoyao's days were counted, three months, two months, one month countdown, nervous yet excited.

Tang Ruoyao was shooting a commercial in a coastal city. She was wearing a long dress, her snowy white feet bare, strolling along the beach, leaving one footprint after another on the soft sand.

Director: "Cut, that's a wrap."

Tang Ruoyao walked back from the beach and sat down in a chair to rest, drinking water.

Fragments of discussions floated into her ears, whispered conversations.

"Is Weibo down? Why can't I open it?"

"Did some popular celebrity announce a relationship again?"

"No, it's... don't you know yet?"

Tang Ruoyao didn't pay attention at first, until Qin Yinong's name reached her ears.

Her eyelids twitched, almost doubting what she heard.

The crew member who was speaking raised their voice a bit, "Qin Yinong's illegitimate daughter has been exposed. It's gone viral online. How could Weibo not crash?"

A stone caused a thousand waves.

The set fell silent for a second, then erupted.

"Oh my god, is it true or not?"

"Guaranteed authentic, my friend took a screenshot. That little girl looks exactly like Qin Yinong, she seems to be three or four years old."

"Oh my goodness, when did she get married? How did she suddenly have a child?"

"Getting married and having a child aren't mutually exclusive, right? Online rumors say it's her illegitimate daughter, but we still don't know who the child's father is."

"Tsk, with Qin Yinong's lifestyle, I wouldn't be surprised if there are other illegitimate children."

More and more people gathered at the gossip center, the crowd grew larger, and the voices grew louder, discussing fervently.

Tang Ruoyao immediately searched online, and indeed, Weibo was completely blank. Her palms were sweating profusely as she anxiously refreshed the page. At some unknown second, the page jumped out.

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat.

At the top of the hot search list was an exaggerated search index of over tens of millions, followed by a prominent "explosion"!

[Qin Yinong's Illegitimate Daughter Exposed, Mother and Daughter Resemble Each Other]

Author's Note:

Finally wrote up to this point! Will continue tomorrow~

PS: Instructions for setting Qin Yinong's navigation voice: Open the GuDe Maps app → My → Settings → Voice Settings → Voice Package → Download and use Qin Yinong's voice, and you'll successfully set it up.

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