CHAPTER 148

Qin Yinong spoke decisively and resolutely, only Guan Han, who was holding her arm, noticed the slight trembling of her body when she uttered those words.

She was suppressing fear.

Guan Han had a bad feeling, as the entertainment media wouldn't let her off so easily. They were like bloodthirsty wolves who would only become more frenzied.

And indeed.

The scene froze for two seconds due to Qin Yinong's sudden action, followed by even more intense commotion. The reporters' anger and the sensational topics sparked a barrage of sharp questions. The flashes intertwined relentlessly, and the frequency of the noise made it impossible to keep one's eyes open.

"May I ask..."

"Please respond!"

The bodyguards were scattered and regrouped, trying to protect Qin Yinong's fragile figure amidst the surging crowd of journalists. Despite their efforts, she was inevitably pushed and shoved. Guan Han was anxious and furious, and in a fit of rage, she forcefully pushed away a journalist who was almost touching Qin Yinong.

As one was pushed away, there were still two, three, four, five, six more.

Guan Han's fists were no match for so many hands, and Qin Yinong struggled to move within the crowd.

The twisting faces in front of her caused Qin Yinong's vision to darken in waves, and a feeling of nausea rose in her stomach.

She could barely see clearly. She tugged on Guan Han's arm and, due to the noisy crowd, had to raise her voice, saying, "If you see any more microphones or cameras pushed towards me, smash them directly."

Guan Han obeyed without hesitation.

Some media outlets nearby heard this sentence and their expressions revealed shock.

Guan Han didn't give them time to react. Without even looking, she reached out and forcefully snatched a camera that was being pushed towards Qin Yinong's face, then threw it to the ground with all her strength, shattering the lens into pieces.

With the camera as the center, the entertainment media collectively took two steps back, creating even more turmoil.

Qin Yinong clenched Guan Han's arm, trying hard not to let her voice sound tense, not showing any signs of weakness. She spoke darkly to the bodyguards whose suits were wrinkled from the media's pulling, "If anyone else comes near, smash all their belongings."

......

After about ten minutes, Qin Yinong got into the car and left.

The road was left with several broken machines and a torrent of curses from the media.

And these journalists quickly got into their cars and rushed to the studio, scrambling for news and exclusive reports. The colleagues who were just united a moment ago had now become rivals fighting for their own livelihoods.

The scene was empty and clean, as if nothing had happened.

Qin Yinong sat in the car, closing her eyes, her chest heaving, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Guan Han understood and asked, "Are we going home?" At the moment, the most important thing was to check on Ningning.

Qin Yinong replied softly, "Yes."

She opened her eyes and quickly calmed down, saying, "Call An Ling."

After Qin Yinong's explosive incident, An Ling's phone had been bombarded with calls, including her private number. Fortunately, after the incident, An Ling provided Qin Yinong with an alternative contact number. Guan Han dialed the number and handed the phone to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong got straight to the point, "Can you suppress it?"

An Ling was clearly busy and spoke quickly, "I'm trying to control the trending searches, but the effect is minimal." Money is all-powerful, and with money, you can do almost anything. But the problem is, you're not the only one with money.

There were countless people ready to kick Qin Yinong while she was down. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, how could they let it go?

Qin Yinong asked again, "Can the photos and information be retracted?"

An Ling knew the urgency and replied, "I'm negotiating with the authorities. Exposing a child is morally wrong, and it can be retracted, but it will take time." An Ling lowered her voice by two decibels, "But with the speed of online dissemination, everything has already been spread."

Qin Yinong's mind was in chaos. She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. She closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, her gaze was filled with a touch of gloom. "Who exposed it?"

An Ling said, "It was a studio called Xi Si that first exposed it. I asked them where they got the information from, but they refused to say and are still in negotiations."

Qin Yinong said, "Let me know when there's a result. I'll go home first."

An Ling replied, "Okay."

Qin Yinong turned and dialed Ji Shulan's phone, asking about Ningning's condition. The answer she received provided her with a brief respite amidst her frantic state. The reporters might have realized that targeting a child not only lacked moral support but could also provoke public outrage. Moreover, they would gain much more from Qin Yinong herself. Therefore, only a few reporters lingered outside the kindergarten.

Some reporters tried to interview Ji Shulan, but she was accustomed to reporters since Qin Yinong's rise to fame. As soon as she saw a reporter with a camera and a recording pen, she immediately called the security guards.

The driver assigned to Ji Shulan was also skilled. Sensing something unusual outside, he came out and carried Ningning into the car without allowing the reporters to directly contact the child.

Ji Shulan asked anxiously, "What's going on?"

A trace of unease rose in her heart. How did the reporters suddenly find her? Were they looking for her or Ningning?

Qin Yinong pursed her lips and said, "I'll be home soon. We'll talk at home."

Ji Shulan replied, "Alright. Drive safely."

"Got it." Qin Yinong hung up the phone, tilted her head back, and covered her face with both hands, exhaling heavily.

Guan Han looked at her with concern.

While Qin Yinong was on the phone, Guan Han went online to check the situation, and it was not optimistic.

Qin Yinong slapped her cheeks, making them turn red. She forcefully shook her chaotic mind, trying to regain some clarity. She furrowed her brows and muttered something under her breath.

Guan Han listened attentively.

She heard Qin Yinong mentioning a few names, "Li Yichuan, Hao Meihua... who could it be?"

Who held such a grudge against her? They resorted to such despicable means, redirecting the blame onto a child. They didn't care if they attracted trouble to themselves?

Li Yichuan?

Qin Yinong intuitively felt it wasn't him, but she still made a call.

From a business standpoint, she didn't think Li Yichuan would gain anything from this. On the contrary, it would ruin their ongoing negotiations."Mr. Li, aren't you being unfair in this matter?" Qin Yinong got out of the car and walked in the villa's garden, speaking gently, her tone soothing, devoid of any anger.

"Hmm?" Li Yichuan signed his name on the document in front of him, looking surprised. He asked, "Since we parted last night, I just had a good night's sleep. What did I do? Please enlighten me, Ms. Qin."

Qin Yinong couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush with him and straightforwardly said, "Wasn't it you who exposed my daughter?"

Li Yichuan was taken aback, "You have a daughter? With whom?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Wasn't it you?"

Li Yichuan countered, "Why would it be me? What benefit do I gain from exposing your daughter?" He chuckled maliciously, "It seems Ms. Qin has made quite a few enemies. There's a saying, what was it again? 'Misfortunes never come alone...'" He trailed off leisurely.

Qin Yinong interrupted him, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Li."

Li Yichuan nonchalantly replied, "So you misunderstood me just now..."

Qin Yinong immediately cut him off, "I'm sorry."

She hung up the phone right away.

Li Yichuan stared at the disconnected phone and burst into laughter.

He was in such a good mood.

Indeed, women, especially children, were their weak spots.

When did she give birth to a child? Wasn't she supposed to adhere to the strictest moral standards? A hint of melancholy flashed in Li Yichuan's eyes. He touched his forehead with his cold, pale fingers, feeling a distinct protrusion of bone.

......

Qin Yinong stepped into her home and immediately spotted Qin Ningning sitting on the sofa in the living room, reading a comic book. She didn't even bother changing her shoes and ran barefoot to embrace her tightly, continuously kissing her soft head, her eyes slightly moist.

Qin Ningning, caught off guard by the sudden embrace, blinked her eyes and asked in confusion, "Mom?"

Qin Yinong held her for a while, her heart gradually settling down. Suddenly, she let go as if losing strength, and then she bent down to kiss her daughter's cheeks, forehead, and nose.

Ningning giggled as she felt ticklish from the kisses, letting out a clear laughter.

Qin Yinong smiled along with her and then let her go to play in her room. Ningning obediently left.

Ji Shulan, observing her excessive reaction, anticipated that something major had happened. She nervously asked in a low voice, "What happened exactly?"

"Ningning was exposed by the media." Qin Yinong remained calm at this moment and instructed, "Don't let her go to school for the time being. Let her rest at home for a while. Later, I'll consider whether to hire a private tutor for her or transfer her to another school."

"How did she get exposed?" Ji Shulan, having witnessed the madness of reporters, immediately became flustered and incoherent, saying, "Will they come to our house? Like, like before?"

"They won't." Qin Yinong said calmly, "We now live in the most secure villa area. They can't get in."

Ji Shulan slightly calmed down and looked at her, asking, "What are you going to do?"

Qin Yinong thought she wouldn't have any expectations for her mother anymore, but seeing the worry on her face, a warm surge flowed through her heart. Her voice involuntarily softened a bit as she said, "I'm fine. I've gotten used to it over these years."

Ji Shulan said, "Why don't you stay at home for a few days too? We won't go out."

Qin Yinong shook her head. "Someone has to handle these things. I can ignore the mud thrown at me, but Ningning can't. I can't tolerate any slightest insult towards her, even if she can't read or understand the malice behind those words."

Jishulan replied, "But..."

"I'm really fine, don't worry about me." Qin Yinong smiled and changed the subject. "Mom, have you noticed any suspicious individuals lately?"

"What do you mean by suspicious individuals?"

"When you pick up and drop off Ningning, have you seen anyone suspicious near the kindergarten, someone observing and monitoring you?"

"I don't think so?"

"Think about it carefully." Qin Yinong said.

If it wasn't Li Yichuan, then it must be someone else. Since they managed to take photos, they must have left traces. It's highly likely that they have been lurking there more than once.

Qin Yinong was just trying to get some clues from Ji Shulan and didn't have much hope placed on her. After saying that, she walked to the side to answer a phone call, missing the sudden contraction of Ji Shulan's pupils and her panicked expression.

Jis Shulan glanced at Qin Yinong's back, her figure frail and even vulnerable, yet she had always been the one shielding this family from the wind and rain. It felt as if a huge stone had suddenly been placed on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Beep beep." Slowly, she walked behind Qin Yinong, tears welling up in her eyes.

Qin Yinong turned around and made a "shh" gesture, saying calmly on the phone, "You asked, it's... " She hesitated, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of the table, turning pale.

Before making this call to Qin Yinong, An Ling had just snapped a pen in half.

"Who is it?" Qin Yinong asked.

"Qin Hongjian." An Ling gritted her teeth and slowly pronounced the name.

Qin Yinong almost blurted out "impossible." She furrowed her brows and said, "How could he know about Ningning?"

She had hidden everything so carefully, always staying in the car when she occasionally went to pick her up. Even Li Yichuan didn't know. Could Qin Hongjian be more well-informed than Li Yichuan?

An Ling, with a sore nose, said, "I don't know. I'll continue investigating."

Qin Yinong remained silent for a long time.

An Ling lowered her phone, which still showed an ongoing call, and wondered, "Hello?"

Qin Yinong slowly lowered her hand holding the phone and turned around, her gaze falling on Ji Shulan, whose eyes were slightly red. In that instant, a terrifying thought flashed through Qin Yinong's mind.

And this thought gradually became true under Ji Shulan's evasive gaze.

Qin Yinong's vision darkened, and her body shook violently.

"Qin Hongjian contacted you?" After a moment, Qin Yinong heard her own unsteady voice.

Ji Shulan lowered her head.Qin Yinong suddenly erupted, "Say something!"

Ji Shulan was startled by her outburst and raised her head under Qin Yinong's cold gaze, blaming herself, "Yes."

"You told him about Ningning's existence?" Qin Yinong's eyes turned red.

"I..." Ji Shulan couldn't say it, tears streaming down her face, "I'm sorry."

She raised her hand and slapped herself hard, "I didn't mean to. He told me he regretted his mistakes, that he had changed. He's getting older and wants to enjoy family happiness. He wanted me to plead with you. I know you don't like him, I didn't plan on bringing him into our home, but he is Ningning's grandfather after all, and he was so fond of your sister back then. I just said he could stand far away and take a look at the kindergarten gate, just a glance..."

"I didn't expect..." Ji Shulan sobbed, reaching out to grab Qin Yinong's sleeve, pressing her forehead against her daughter's arm, choking, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry, it's Mom's fault..."

Qin Yinong slowly pulled her sleeve back, her gaze full of sadness and immense grief.

Her heart felt tortured, cut into a thousand pieces.

Qin Yinong's face showed a smile that wasn't really a smile as she softly said, "He sold me for money before, and now he's willing to sell his granddaughter for money. He's just scum. After all these years..."

Qin Yinong let out two low, self-mocking laughs from her throat.

Yes, after all these years, nothing had really changed.

Everything they had gone through was like the cycle of history, repeating itself.

Qin Yinong brushed off Ji Shulan's hand that had grabbed her again and turned to walk upstairs.

Ji Shulan subconsciously followed.

A loud bang in front of them.

Qin Yinong had smashed her phone on the ground, shattering it into pieces. She turned her head, her chest heaving violently, staring at Ji Shulan with eyes crimson as blood, like a trapped beast roaring in a cage, but unable to make a sound.

Ji Shulan stopped in her tracks.

Qin Yinong's heavy figure disappeared behind the stairs.

It was never the last straw that broke the camel's back, but rather every single one that fell on her shoulders.

[the last straw that broke the camel's back is an expression that means the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone upset, angry, or some other bad feelings.]

......

As soon as Tang Ruoyao saw the trending topic, she immediately called Qin Yinong.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later..." Tang Ruoyao was extremely anxious. The phone had been switched off several times. She called Guan Han instead.

Guan Han answered the call.

Tang Ruoyao immediately asked, "How is Qin Yinong? Why is her phone switched off?"

Guan Han looked at Ji Shulan, who was shedding tears beside her, heard the sound coming from the room, and saw Ningning being comforted. She also saw Qin Yinong's shattered phone screen on the coffee table, shattered like a spider's web. There were so many things to say, but she didn't know where to start.

Tang Ruoyao anxiously said, "Why aren't you saying anything? Is she okay?"

Guan Han spoke truthfully, "Not very well."

After Qin Yinong locked herself in the room, Guan Han knocked on the door once, but Qin Yinong threw something at the door. It made a loud noise, frightening Guan Han, and she came down with a dejected look.

She had never seen Qin Yinong like this before.Tang Ruoyao asked, "Where is she now?"

Guan Han didn't answer and instead asked, "Aren't you shooting an advertisement? " Guan Han had two schedules on her tablet, one for Qin Yinong and one for Tang Ruoyao, so she was well aware of both.

"I've already bought a plane ticket back to Beijing. I'll be at the airport soon." Tang Ruoyao repeated her question, "Where is she?"

Guan Han remained silent.

Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes and asked in a hoarse voice for the third time, "Please, tell me, where is she?"

Guan Han bit her lower lip, and reluctantly sent the address to Tang Ruoyao.

......

The search index for Qin Yinong's illegitimate daughter skyrocketed, remaining consistently high with no sign of cooling down, capturing the attention of the public.

[This child is truly carved from the same mold as Qin Yinong.]

"[t's like magic when celebrities have children. I didn't even see her pregnant, and suddenly this big child pops out. It shocked my whole family.]

[Am I the only one curious about who the child's father is?]

[I bet even Qin Yinong herself doesn't know who the father is. She's so promiscuous, who knows whose illegitimate child it is.]

[Hey, that's going too far above. Regardless, the child is innocent. She's so young, what does she understand?]

[Are you the wild father of this illegitimate child, speaking up for the child?]

[These heartless media, exposing someone's daughter just for the sake of grabbing attention and making money. Disgusting.]

[We still don't know who wanted to make a splash and grab attention. Maybe she herself leaked it to attract a large audience's attention?]

Tang Ruoyao sat in the plane that was about to take off, expressionless as she exited the current interface. However, she saw two new trending topics related to Qin Yinong appearing below the previously trending one, both followed by a purple "explosive" label.

Qin Yinong's illegitimate daughter exposed, mother and daughter resemblance.

Qin Yinong's response.

Qin Yinong displays diva behavior! Publicly confronts the media!

The three trending topics stood side by side, firmly occupying the top three, with great momentum.

The second and third topics had similar content, and when clicked, both led to the same video. The video cut out the reporter's unreasonable questions and their intrusive behavior, leaving only the part where Qin Yinong slammed the microphone and the scenes of Guan Han and the bodyguards smashing cameras.

The well-built bodyguards in suits had cold expressions and showed no mercy as they smashed the cameras on the concrete floor one by one, shattering the lenses. The reporters, holding cameras and microphones, looked like a flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered, scrambling to escape. Cries of alarm filled the air, and a few female reporters seemed to be scared to tears by such brutal actions.

Strong against weak, celebrity against reporters.

The netizens were instantly furious.

[Displaying diva behavior is an understatement. I have reasonable doubts about involvement with organized crime. I suggest arresting them and conducting an investigation.]

[This is going too far! Aren't reporters human beings? How much does a professional camera cost? And you just smashed it, you scoundrel?]

[I think there's suspicion of taking things out of context. Let's all calm down for a moment and wait for a reversal.]

[At first, I thought it was shameless of the media to expose her daughter. But now, it seems like she deserves a lesson. She's so arrogant, but evil people will get what they deserve. I wonder if she has any other illegitimate children. Let's expose them all and let her witness the power of justice.]

[First, she exposes her daughter, then she confronts the media in anger. Well, it's clear that she's very career-oriented. This self-directed drama is quite impressive.]

[She should be boycotted. Artists should not only lack artistic integrity but also have low moral standards. If she continues to be active on the screen, who knows how many young people she will corrupt.]

[Support the boycott!]

The video spread widely, and public opinion pushed Qin Yinong into the eye of the storm. The comment section under Qin Yinong's Weibo post was once again occupied, but the person involved had yet to respond to any of the comments.

Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes heavily and switched her phone to airplane mode.

Two hours later, when she landed in Beijing, Guan Han arranged for a car to pick her up. It was a car frequently used by Qin Yinong in the residential area, so the security recognized it and let her in after confirming the driver's face.

Tang Ruoyao looked out of the car window at the green plants on both sides of the road in the residential area, wiping the sweat from her palms with tissues countless times.

As the car approached the villa, a figure paced anxiously in front of the iron gate, occasionally glancing towards the end of the road. Tang Ruoyao recognized her as Guan Han.

Her heart skipped a beat. When did Guan Han become so restless?

Before the car came to a stop, Tang Ruoyao pushed open the back door and stepped out in one stride.

The two of them walked quickly towards the inside while talking.

"How is she doing?"

Guan Han didn't waste any words and said, "After coming back this afternoon, Qin Jie locked herself in her room and hasn't come out since. I tried talking to her at the door, but she ignored me."

Tang Ruoyao immediately asked, "Was she upset because of those reporters?"

Tang Ruoyao knew Qin Yinong well. If it weren't for the reporters going too far, she would never have done something like smashing the microphone.

"Yes and no." Guan Han sighed and said, "It's hard to say. You should ask her yourself."

They passed through the small garden, and ahead was the brightly lit front door. Tang Ruoyao walked in and collided with a pair of bright watery eyes.

The little girl had long, black hair flowing down, wearing a snow-white dress and knee-high white socks. She was exquisitely beautiful. When the little girl saw Tang Ruoyao, she paused for a moment and hid behind an elderly person, revealing only the top half of her face. Timidly, she called out, "Aunt Tang." Her voice was soft and gentle.

Tang Ruoyao's breath hitched, and her mind unexpectedly short-circuited for a moment.

She saw Qin Jianing's photos online, but because they were taken by a journalist without permission and exposed without consent, she instinctively resisted and didn't look closely. She vaguely felt that the little princess was quite beautiful.

Now, seeing her in person, she had one word in mind: resemblance.

She looked so much like Qin Yinong, like a miniature version of her. Delicate eyebrows and eyes, rosy lips, and a straight nose.

It took Tang Ruoyao a while to react. The little girl was calling her. She trembled belatedly, curled her slender fingers, and snapped out of her momentary daze.

Guan Han couldn't stand it and reminded her in a whisper, "Respond."

Tang Ruoyao asked blankly, "Respond to what?"

Guan Han said, "Call her 'Ningning'."

"Oh, oh, oh." Tang Ruoyao quickly put on a friendly smile, wishing to use the gentlest voice in her lifetime, and said, "Ningning."

Qin Jianing: "..."

Auntie Tang really didn't seem very smart.

Guan Han sighed inwardly and said, "There's another one."

Tang Ruoyao didn't know the other person, but she could guess who it was. She slightly bowed and politely said, "Hello, Auntie. I am Tang Ruoyao, a friend of Qin Yinong."

Her gaze swept over the other person's aged face, noticing her swollen eyelids, and a hint of confusion arose within her.

Ji Shulan had cried all night and had just stopped not long ago. She nodded at Tang Ruoyao and said, "You've come to see Qin Yinong, right? She's upstairs." She then used the tissue in her hand to dab at the corners of her eyes.

Tang Ruoyao became even more puzzled, but she didn't have time to consider that now. Guided by Guan Han, she went upstairs.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door, pressing her ear against the door panel.

"Qin Yinong, it's Tang Ruoyao. Can you open the door, please?"

A familiar voice reached her ears, like a long-lost illusion from another world.

The figure sitting stiffly in the room moved slightly, turned around, and looked blankly at the door, with empty eyes.

The woman stared for a while, her expression devoid of joy or sorrow. Slowly, she turned back around.

"Qin Yinong?" Tang Ruoyao quickly made a decision. She firmly grasped the doorknob and pressed it down. She suddenly raised her gaze, her expression serious, and turned to Guan Han. "The door is locked from the inside. Do you have a spare key?"

Guan Han said, "I'll go ask the old lady."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'll go with you."

"A spare key?" Ji Shulan hesitated. "Yes, we have one, but she locked the door from the inside. Could it be..."

She exchanged a glance with Guan Han, and Guan Han's eyes showed the same hesitation.

Neither of them dared to open Qin Yinong's room without permission.

But Tang Ruoyao dared.

"If there's something, I'll take the responsibility."

Ji Shulan opened a drawer in the TV cabinet where the spare keys were kept together. There were too many rooms, and she couldn't figure out which one was for Qin Yinong's room. Tang Ruoyao simply grabbed all of them in her hand, without looking back, and rushed upstairs, trying one key after another.

Click—

The sound of the door lock being opened.

Tang Ruoyao pushed the door open.

The room was not lit, with only a beam of moonlight shining through the window. Tang Ruoyao's gaze was naturally drawn to the only source of light. Suddenly, her pupils contracted abruptly, almost losing her composure at the sight before her.

Qin Yinong had her back turned, still wearing the same clothes she had faced the reporters in the afternoon. Her long hair was loose, and she was sitting on the windowsill, with her legs dangling outside.

The night breeze rushed in through the window, causing the white curtains to flutter in the air. The woman's frail figure swayed unsteadily as if she could leap off at any moment.

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