CHAPTER 155
Tang Ruoyao discovered that Ningning was an excessively disciplined child, for example, she had a strong sense of time.
There was a clock in the living room, and she would glance in its direction every once in a while. Tang Ruoyao's heart would skip a beat, thinking that she had done something to annoy her.
But that wasn't the case. Qin Jianing had piano practice in the evening, but she was reluctant to be separated from Tang Ruoyao, so she often checked the clock to see how much time they had left to talk.
Qin Yinong was busy with work, and Ningning's education outside of school was mainly handled by Ji Shulan, who was knowledgeable but slow in her responses due to her age. She couldn't satisfy Ningning's thirst for knowledge, so most of the time, Ningning preferred to listen to stories and learn on her own.
But everything changed when Tang Ruoyao came. She was knowledgeable and had a great memory, well-versed in both past and present. She had played the role of a teacher in movies and would often expand on topics, talking about whatever came to mind. This kind of free-flowing conversation might not be suitable for ordinary children, but Qin Jianing was not an ordinary child. She enjoyed this—simply put, it was the feeling of being overwhelmed by knowledge. She admired those who were smarter and knew more than her.
The clock on the wall pointed to half past eight as Qin Jianing glanced at it. She pursed her lips and said, "I have to go practice the piano."
Her reluctance was evident on her face, as children wear their emotions openly.
Tang Ruoyao's mood lifted, and she said, "Shall I accompany you to the piano room?"
Ningning nodded.
Tang Ruoyao took Ningning's hand. Children's hands were always warm, soft, and fleshy due to their young age, like holding a marshmallow. Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but give it a gentle squeeze, enjoying the sensation.
Ningning didn't notice.
Having learned from the previous lesson, Tang Ruoyao only dared to accompany her to the entrance of the piano room. She watched as Ningning walked inside, struggling to open the piano lid, sitting up straight, and then turning her face to look at her.
Tang Ruoyao smiled at her, waved, and considerately closed the door.
The piano room fell silent.
Ningning lowered her gaze and stared at the black and white piano keys for a long time. She pressed the first note, followed by a series of smooth and light musical notes.
Tang Ruoyao didn't have much knowledge about music, and her family's circumstances didn't allow her to indulge in such extravagant hobbies. She had only heard a few well-known piano pieces accidentally on her phone after reaching adulthood.
Ningning was playing a piece that she couldn't understand or judge its quality. Of course, in her heart, even if Ningning played "Two Tigers," it would sound beautiful. She used a music recognition app to identify it several times, and the result that popped up was "Sonata in C Major, First Movement."
Tang Ruoyao listened attentively at the doorway for a while, and suddenly, a blank space crossed her mind. She felt like she had forgotten something after being busy all night.
What could it be?
Tang Ruoyao furrowed her brows and walked back to the center of the living room, where she found her phone lying face down in the corner of the sofa.
Sure enough, there were several messages sent by Qin Yinong quietly waiting inside.
Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"
Qin Yinong: [I've arrived.]
Tang Ruoyao: [Okay]
Tang Ruoyao replied to this message, then finished her meal and glanced at her phone. And then...
[Watching TV with a picture of the TV turned on attached]
[Are you planning to stay here in the future?]
[What are you doing?]
[Is my mom asleep?]
[What is Ningning doing?]
[???]
Tang Ruoyao saw the last message and raised her hand to lightly tap her forehead, typing: [I was just with Ningning, had my phone on silent]
Qin Yinong replied instantly: [How did it go?]
Tang Ruoyao: [Guess]
Even through the screen, one could sense the hidden satisfaction in Tang Ruoyao's words. Qin Yinong curled her lips and said, [Seems like Teacher Tang is making good progress]
Tang Ruoyao replied: [Thank you, Teacher Qin, for giving me this opportunity]
Qin Yinong didn't dwell on that topic and said: [I'll be heading back soon.] She yawned and deleted the three words she had typed in the text box, "Feeling a bit sleepy."
Tang Ruoyao shamelessly said: [Shall I take a shower early and warm up the bed for you?]
Qin Yinong said: [Let's shower together]
Ever since the two of them broke through that layer of window paper, they only dared to flirt so boldly through the screen. If they were to meet face to face, neither of them would dare say a single word.
Tang Ruoyao immediately fantasized about countless scenarios, filled with romance and passion.
The mist water blurred their vision, and their fingers intertwined against the glass, causing the fog to take on various strange shapes.
Tang Ruoyao's mouth went dry, and she wanted to try and say: [Sure]
Qin Yinong quickly changed the topic: [Is Ningning practicing the piano?]
Tang Ruoyao smiled: [She's already gone, very disciplined.]
The next second, Tang Ruoyao received a call from Qin Yinong.
Tang Ruoyao answered it but remained silent.
Qin Yinong didn't wait for her to speak and took the initiative, saying, "Yaoyao."
Perhaps it was the darkness outside the window, or maybe Tang Ruoyao's mind was active, but the voice that came through the receiver was unexpectedly husky and deep, very seductive.
Tang Ruoyao replied in a low voice, "Hmm."
Both sides were quiet, hearing each other's amplified breathing.
Qin Yinong couldn't confess to her honestly how much she missed her during the three hours she was out. She didn't pay attention to what was playing on TV, not catching a single word. She had never felt time pass so slowly and painfully.
"Our plan..." Qin Yinong's voice lowered again and she said, "Let's put an end to it."
"Okay," Tang Ruoyao could hear the woman's dejected mood.
"I can pretend to be busy, and you can still accompany her, creating alone time for the two of you."
"Okay."
Qin Yinong pursed her thin lips and fell silent.
Qin Yinong couldn't bear not seeing Tang Ruoyao every minute and second, wishing she could turn herself into an ornament or anything convenient to carry, so she could be with Tang Ruoyao wherever she went.
If that wasn't possible, she would tie Tang Ruoyao to her side and not allow her to leave.
She knew her thoughts were wrong. People should have their own independent space, not spend 24 hours together like conjoined twins. Even if they loved each other, they would grow tired. But she couldn't control it, at least not at the moment.
"Baby?" Tang Ruoyao called.
Qin Yinong snapped out of her trance and asked, "What?"
"What are you thinking about?" Tang Ruoyao asked.
Qin Yinong instinctively said, "Nothing." She said, "I'm preparing to go back." Clearly, she didn't intend to continue the conversation.
Tang Ruoyao could only say, "Take care."
She sighed inwardly.
They had entrusted their lives to each other, and Tang Ruoyao no longer felt that Qin Yinong was intentionally hiding anything from her. People's personalities were difficult to change, unlike programs that could be modified simply by changing a line of code. Qin Yinong had been silently enduring and had deeply ingrained ways of dealing with the world for so many years. It wasn't something that could be changed overnight just by saying they should be open and honest, without any psychological burden, and sharing all their thoughts.
Tang Ruoyao was willing to patiently accompany her through the process of change, even if it took a long time. As long as they were together, it would be enough.
Qin Jianing had already gone to sleep in a separate room from Ji Shulan. She was also quite independent and didn't need the help of adults. She bathed and brushed her teeth by herself, changed into cute cartoon pajamas, let her long hair down, washed until she was rosy and white, and asked Tang Ruoyao, "Has Mom come back?"
Tang Ruoyao said no.
Qin Jianing obviously took it in stride and didn't show any signs of disappointment. Softly, she said, "Goodnight, Auntie Tang."
Tang Ruoyao smiled warmly, "Goodnight, Ningning."
With the elderly and the child both asleep, Qin Yinong slipped into the house.
She had been messaging with Tang Ruoyao, and as soon as she entered the residential area, Tang Ruoyao was already hiding in the entrance hall. Before Qin Yinong could even see clearly, she was embraced tightly.
Qin Yinong tensed for less than half a second before relaxing into Tang Ruoyao's arms.
Tang Ruoyao kissed her from her earlobe to the corner of her lips, then let go and held her hand, leading her upstairs.
Qin Yinong glanced at Tang Ruoyao's attire, the same outfit she wore before leaving, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Didn't you say you were going to take a bath and warm up the bed earlier?"
Tang Ruoyao playfully teased, "Didn't you ask me to wait for you to shower together?"
Qin Yinong remained unfazed, "I never said that."
Tang Ruoyao cleared her throat and chuckled softly, "I must have remembered it wrong."
Qin Yinong found pleasure in her indulgence and felt that she had been inconsistent. Even though it was a joke, it lacked grace. Qin Yinong tried to regain her composure and pressed down the embarrassment in her heart, speaking seriously, "Do you want to shower together?"
Tang Ruoyao was taken aback.
Qin Yinong maintained her composure and gave Tang Ruoyao room to choose, "If you want to..."
The air compressed with each word spoken by the woman.
Tang Ruoyao inexplicably became nervous and blurted out, "Next time."
Qin Yinong subtly breathed a sigh of relief.
Tang Ruoyao unconsciously swallowed and said, "You go ahead and shower, I have something I need to attend to."
Qin Yinong watched Tang Ruoyao naturally open the closet to get her nightgown, and asked, "What are you busy with?"
"Writing a paper."
"For me?"
"No," Tang Ruoyao turned around, "It's for Ningning. Didn't you ask me to write a paper? Not for you?"
In an instant, a complex emotion surged within Qin Yinong. She said, "Can I take a look at it?"
Tang Ruoyao said, "Of course, but I haven't finished writing yet. I just made a few outlines." She nodded and pointed to the notebook that she had brought with her and placed on the coffee table.
Qin Yinong took two steps towards the coffee table, stopped, and said, "I'll look at it later."
Tang Ruoyao casually replied, "Sure."
Qin Yinong felt a lump in her chest, unable to find relief.
"I'm going to take a shower." She stepped forward and took the nightgown from Tang Ruoyao's hand.
Tang Ruoyao grabbed a small stool and sat outside the bathroom, guarding Qin Yinong. When Qin Yinong opened the door, she saw Tang Ruoyao sitting there with her long limbs folded, her knees still holding the open laptop, and her fingers typing swiftly on the keyboard.
Qin Yinong, looking down from above, couldn't clearly see her expression shrouded in the shadows cast by the light.
"Isn't it tiring to sit like that?"
"Not at all." Tang Ruoyao stretched her sore neck and stood up. She tucked the laptop under her arm and grabbed the stool, smiling. "Go sit by the bed. I'll blow-dry your hair for you."
She was full of energy, bustling around with one task after another. Qin Yinong lowered her eyes, unable to say anything to her.
Tang Ruoyao's slender fingers moved through her long, black hair. She adjusted the hairdryer to the most suitable setting and, to make Qin Yinong more comfortable, let her lean against her chest. Lowering her head, Tang Ruoyao blew-dried Qin Yinong's hair.
Qin Yinong had only slept intermittently for less than two hours last night, and being taken care of so thoughtfully by Tang Ruoyao, a heavy drowsiness overcame her. By the time the hairdryer was turned off, she could no longer keep her eyes open and felt drowsy.
Tang Ruoyao supported her and laid her flat on the bed, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight." Her eyes curved with warmth.
Qin Yinong, like a computer that had been running smoothly for several years, suddenly shut down. All external sounds were cut off, and she sank into a deep slumber, breathing shallowly, with an unprecedented calm and tranquility in her features.
Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and looked at the hand that still held onto her sleeve even in sleep, smiling to herself. A soft emotion washed over her like flowing water. She gently separated each of Qin Yinong's fingers and tucked them under the blanket, carefully tucking the corners of the blanket. Then, she leaned down and placed a light kiss on the woman's lips before quietly leaving the edge of the bed.
.....
When Qin Yinong woke up, the room was dark. The curtains blocked the light effectively, making it hard to tell if it was night or day. Qin Yinong stretched her limbs under the covers, feeling her body weak and unfamiliar. In the dim light, she stared at the ceiling for a while before turning her head to look at the digital clock on the bedside table.
Qin Yinong's gaze fell on the "AM" on the clock, and her eyes trembled slightly. She rubbed her eyes and confirmed that it was "AM" and not "PM." She sat up, supporting her weary body.
There was a note next to the alarm clock with neat handwriting.
—I'm downstairs, send me a message when you wake up.
Signed by Yao Yao.
Qin Yinong pinched her forehead, her mind feeling heavy. She let out a long yawn and slid back into bed, closing her eyes.
......
"Is Mom still asleep?" Ningning sat on the living room carpet, in front of a castle made up of over six thousand building blocks, and asked Tang Ruoyao for the tenth time.
Tang Ruoyao glanced at her phone screen and said, "Yes, she is."
Sunlight poured down on the two of them, creating a pleasant and leisurely morning.
Ningning added a piece to the castle's tower, following the instructions on the blueprint.
Tang Ruoyao glanced at the colorful blueprints and found the next block for her to assemble, placing it by her side. Ningning looked up at her, revealing an incredulous expression.
She lowered her head and perfectly fit the block given to her by Tang Ruoyao.
"Why isn't Mom waking up?"
"Because Mom is tired from fighting bad guys."
"Is she sick?"
"Hmm?" Tang Ruoyao didn't understand. "Why?"
Ningning worriedly said, "She used to sleep this long only when she was sick."
Tang Ruoyao couldn't sit still and said, "I'll go up and check."
Ningning dropped the building blocks and said, "I'm coming too!"
Tang Ruoyao paused and waited for her.
Children have short arms and short legs, so climbing stairs takes time. Tang Ruoyao didn't think much and directly bent down, lifting Ningning up and letting her rest on her shoulder. She didn't notice Qin Yinong's face suddenly turning red, with an unusually shy expression.
Ningning gently buried her face in the crook of Tang Ruoyao's neck.
Tang Ruoyao was taken aback and wanted to see her expression, but at that moment, Ningning wriggled out of her grasp, turned the doorknob, and walked into the bedroom.
As soon as Qin Yinong opened her eyes, she saw two faces, one big and one small, leaning against the edge of the bed, both expressing concern.
Tang Ruoyao reached out her hand toward Qin Yinong's forehead.
Qin Yinong: "..."
She woke up with a slight headache and a hoarse voice. She asked in a husky voice, "You two..."
Tang Ruoyao said, "Ningning was worried that you were sick, so we came to check on you." She withdrew her hand, furrowed her brows lightly, and leaned over to press her forehead against Qin Yinong's, saying, "You seem to have a slight fever. Do we have a thermometer at home?"
Ningning immediately raised her hand and said, "We do."
Tang Ruoyao said, "Ningning, could you please fetch it?"
"Okay." Ningning skillfully rummaged through a drawer and pulled out the thermometer. "Here you go."
Tang Ruoyao gave her a thumbs up and praised, "Great job."
Ningning smiled brightly.
Qin Yinong glanced sideways, showing a look of surprise.
Why did she feel like Ningning, who had only been with Tang Ruoyao for less than a day, seemed livelier than before?
Meanwhile, Tang Ruoyao was thinking about something else. Even a child remembers where Qin Yinong's room thermometer is located, indicating that she must have been sick quite a few times. This infuriating woman, she can't feel at ease if she doesn't make her angry for a day.
Tang Ruoyao suppressed her anger and planned to give Qin Yinong a small lesson later.
Little did she know that this "later" would be delayed by almost a month.
Qin Yinong suddenly fell ill in a powerful manner.
In the morning, her body temperature was slightly elevated, 37.5°C, slightly higher than normal, and she only had mild discomfort. Qin Yinong was accustomed to enduring pain. Having a headache or feeling feverish was a common occurrence for her. Even after undergoing stomach surgery, she had to feel it to confirm whether it hurt or not. It seemed her pain receptors were not very sensitive.
Qin Yinong's eyelids were heavy, and she muttered, "Tired..."
Tang Ruoyao thought she was simply tired since she hadn't had much sleep in the past two days, so she took the child downstairs.
At noon, when the meal was ready, Tang Ruoyao went upstairs to call Qin Yinong for lunch. She was lying in bed, with flushed cheeks, dry lips, covered in cold sweat. Tang Ruoyao checked her temperature again and found that it had already risen to 39°C.
Dr. Qiu hurriedly arrived and, after examining her, looked alarmed and immediately arranged for her to be taken to the hospital.
After various examinations and procedures, Qin Yinong lay in a separate VIP ward, with an IV drip attached to her hand, her face pale as paper.
The doctor took off his mask, his expression serious, and said, "I suggest hospitalization."
Tang Ruoyao felt like her heart rate hadn't dropped below 120 since Qin Yinong was admitted to the hospital. She could barely stand steady, leaning against the back of a chair, her lips trembling. She managed to ask a complete sentence, "Will she be okay?"
The doctor didn't give a definite diagnosis, only saying, "She needs to rest and be observed for a while."
Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why did she suddenly fall ill?"
The doctor looked at the bed and sighed, saying, "She has been overworked, and her body has been under excessive stress. All her organs have suffered varying degrees of damage, with the liver and stomach being the most severe." His voice grew louder as he continued, "Especially her stomach. She just had surgery not long ago, and how long has it been since she started drinking again? Does she not care about her own body?"
Tang Ruoyao's heart trembled.
She lowered her gaze and said, "I will take good care of her from now on."
The doctor left a few instructions and exited the ward.
Tang Ruoyao looked at Guan Han, who had been silent since entering the room.
Guan Han lowered her head.
To explain how Guan Han ended up here, we have to start with Qin Yinong falling ill with a high fever. Tang Ruoyao immediately informed Ji Shulan and Aunt Fang, asking them to call a private doctor. And in the past three months, this wasn't the first time Qin Yinong had such a condition, so Ji Shulan had developed a conditioned reflex and called Guan Han first. Guan Han and Dr. Qiu arrived one after the other, with Guan Han being slightly earlier.
Guan Han took care of everything that followed, and her level of proficiency made Tang Ruoyao suspect how many times she had done this before.
Tang Ruoyao lowered her voice and said, "Guan Han, come out with me for a moment."
Although her tone was devoid of emotion, Guan Han's scalp went numb upon hearing it. She glanced at the hospital bed one last time, thinking, "I'm sorry, Qin Jie. I'll confess everything. I believe that if you wake up, you won't blame me."
Tang Ruoyao and Guan Han walked to a secluded corridor with no one around.
Guan Han didn't struggle unnecessarily and calmly recounted everything in a flat tone, starting from the night when the movie wrapped, the night when Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong had a big fight. She said, "Qin Jie had an acute gastric perforation that night and underwent emergency surgery overnight..."
A flicker of realization flashed through Tang Ruoyao's mind. "So those two calls I made..."
Guan Han said, "She was unconscious at the time, and I answered the calls. I made an excuse that she was busy..." She sighed and stopped there, saying, "The doctor advised her to rest and recuperate for a few months and not work. But then Qin Hongjian appeared, and there was the incident of you being attacked by fans and followed by unidentified individuals. We found out that Li Yichuan was behind it..."
As Guan Han finished speaking, she let out a breath and said, "Qin Jie might have collapsed suddenly because she finally let her guard down. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing."
Tang Ruoyao glanced at her, lacking even the strength to curl her lips, and a hint of mockery and profound self-disgust flashed in her eyes.
So Qin Yinong had been barely holding on until now, but she knew nothing about it.
......
Tang Ruoyao sat in front of the hospital bed, holding Qin Yinong's hand that had no intravenous drip, motionless.
Ji Shulan took Ningning back, and Guan Han bought freshly cooked meals from outside. She gently placed the plastic bag on the nearby table and softly called out to Tang Ruoyao, "Miss Tang, it's time for dinner."
Tang Ruoyao didn't respond.
Guan Han felt a bit awkward. Just when she thought Tang Ruoyao was going to refuse food, Tang Ruoyao released Qin Yinong's hand and stood up. Silently, she sat down at the table and uncovered the lid of the disposable meal box.
Guan Han quickly joined her.
Tang Ruoyao moved her lips and said, "Be gentle." Her voice was hoarse, as if her throat was filled with rough sand.
Guan Han lightened her movements.
Guan Han had bought the food according to Tang Ruoyao's preferences. Tang Ruoyao took a few bites, but the discomfort surging in her chest made her stop using the chopsticks. Guan Han looked up, her eyes filled with surprise. "Miss Tang?"
Tang Ruoyao's brows furrowed lightly. She abruptly put down the food container and rushed into the restroom.
Guan Han followed after her.
Tang Ruoyao closed the door.
Sounds of discomfort and retching came from inside. Tang Ruoyao hadn't eaten much today, only had some watery congee in the morning, and now she vomited it all out. Even after her stomach was empty, waves of nausea continued to wash over her like a tide.
Guan Han gently knocked on the door.
Tang Ruoyao ignored her. Guan Han was afraid of disturbing Qin Yinong's rest if she knocked too loudly, so she hesitated.
After a while, Tang Ruoyao washed her face and came out. Her complexion was as pale as Qin Yinong lying on the hospital bed.
Guan Han said, "Miss Tang, should I call a doctor for you?"
Tang Ruoyao shook her head. "No need." It wasn't a big deal, just excessive physiological reactions caused by psychological stimulation.
Guan Han couldn't help but say, "If Qin Jie wakes up and sees you like this..."
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Tang Ruoyao's lips. "I want her to see me like this."
Guan Han: "..."
Has she gone mad from the stimulation?
Tang Ruoyao's face was pale. She waved her hand and said, "I won't eat anymore. You can have it. Sorry for wasting your kind gesture."
Guan Han looked at her and thought, "She seems somewhat normal again."
Guan Han sat back at the bedside alone, ate a little, packed the disposable meal box into a bag, and went out to throw away the trash, taking her own bag with her.
"Miss Tang, I'll be sitting on the chair outside. Just call me if you need anything."
Tang Ruoyao replied softly, "Okay, thank you." Her gaze never left Qin Yinong's face.
Guan Han couldn't even remember how many times she had sighed in frustration this afternoon.
She shook her head lightly and went out, closing the door behind her.
Tang Ruoyao glanced at the time on her phone screen. According to the doctor's instructions, it was almost time for Qin Yinong to wake up. She couldn't help but hold her breath, staring intently at Qin Yinong's closed eyes without blinking.
The movement came from the fingertips first. Tang Ruoyao immediately felt the slight movement of the hand she was holding, the slight curling of the knuckles of the ring finger.
She could see the movement of Qin Yinong's eyeballs beneath her eyelids. Her long eyelashes trembled, and then she opened her eyes, looking straight into Tang Ruoyao's eyes. Those eyes were pitch black and bright, with a hint of a sigh.
Tang Ruoyao had prepared countless words to scold her, but tears betrayed her before anything else.
With Qin Jiejie always ending up in the hospital, once she recovers, we should make Yao Yao drink sixty-four cups of water! If you agree, please leave a comment!
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