CHAPTER 156

Her body felt heavy, and at times her limbs seemed to be nailed to the bed, firmly pinned down. At other times, it felt as if she had sunk into a dark sea, with layers of water separating her from her surroundings—empty, distant, and ethereal.

She drifted along with the current of the sea, unable to exert any strength.

Her eyelids also felt heavy, weighing heavily on her eyeballs. Qin Yinong had been constantly fighting against the force that confined her body. After an unknown period of time, she felt a slight sensation in her numb limbs.

She first tried moving her ring finger, then fluttered her eyelashes, slowly opening her eyes.

The familiar scent of disinfectant in the hospital entered her nose, and she saw the white ceiling above. Looking downward, she saw an unfamiliar face at the head of the bed. The reason she said it was unfamiliar was that Qin Yinong had never seen this face when she woke up in a hospital bed. More precisely, she had eliminated any possibility of Tang Ruoyao seeing her in this state.

Weak, haggard, pale, and sickly—perhaps even a bit ugly.

Qin Yinong instinctively had a fleeting thought of escape, but in a brief moment, she chose to give up.

Because tears slowly appeared in Tang Ruoyao's eyes.

Tears fell from her eyelashes, seeping into the white bedsheet at the head of the bed. They clearly didn't touch Qin Yinong's skin, but they made her heart burn.

Tang Ruoyao was still holding her hand. Qin Yinong moved her fingers and found the gap between Tang Ruoyao's fingers, gently shaking her with the only strength she could muster. The corners of her usually flirtatious peach blossom eyes drooped slightly, revealing a hint of pitifulness.

Like a child who had done something wrong.

Tang Ruoyao wasn't someone who cried easily. Although in this situation, it would be fitting for her to bury her face in Qin Yinong's hand and cry uncontrollably in the novel, expressing her post-traumatic fear for Qin Yinong's "narrow escape." However, Qin Yinong was truly good at pretending, always hiding her true self. She had significantly raised Tang Ruoyao's threshold for emotional endurance.

So she only shed that one tear, reddening her eyes, and turned to wipe it away with a tissue.

Tang Ruoyao had considered whether to take advantage of this opportunity to cry, to employ a strategy of feigning suffering, making Qin Yinong worried and see if she would dare to mistreat her own body again. She didn't care about herself, but she couldn't let Tang Ruoyao be treated poorly.

However, in the end, the joy of seeing her wake up prevailed. Tang Ruoyao couldn't bear to make her endure any additional sadness. From now on, she would be by her side and prevent it from happening again.

Tang Ruoyao leaned over and touched her forehead, gently asking, "Is there anywhere that doesn't feel comfortable?"

Qin Ning wanted to shake her head but realized she was dizzy. She changed to speak and opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She mouthed, "Water..."

Tang Ruoyao fed her some water through a straw.

The burning sensation in Qin Ning's throat eased a bit, and she said, "I feel a little dizzy, probably from sleeping too long. It's nothing."

Tang Ruoyao pressed the button on the bedside, and upon hearing her words, she became angry. She said, "Are you a doctor? How can you determine if it's nothing? Just because you say it's nothing, does that make it so?"

Qin Yinong blinked her eyes, her expression confused.

Why did her girlfriend suddenly get so angry?

Tang Ruoyao's temper flared up first, and she spoke unkindly, saying, "Who told you to blink your eyes?"

Immediately, Qin Yinong widened her eyes and became very obedient.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why do you have such big eyes?"

Qin Yinong returned her eyes to their normal size and pursed her lips in grievance.

Tang Ruoyao felt both anger and tenderness, her affection overflowing. She couldn't say anything harsh, so she grabbed Qin Yinong's hand, opened her mouth, and bit down, leaving shallow rows of teeth marks on her hand.

Qin Yinong quickly reacted and furrowed her brows, pretending to be in pain.

Tang Ruoyao's heart softened completely.

When the doctor entered the room, Tang Ruoyao was kissing Qin Yinong's hand with her eyes closed. Qin Yinong lowered her head to look at Tang Ruoyao's black hair, her eyes gently curved, filled with tender affection.

The doctor cleared his throat and said, "Ahem."

Guan Han, who was following behind the doctor, automatically switched to shutter mode.

Tang Ruoyao looked embarrassed and stood up to make way for the doctor to examine Qin Yinong.

"Is there any discomfort anywhere?" the doctor asked.

Qin Yinong carefully felt it and honestly confessed, "Dizziness, weakness in limbs, chest tightness, and a bit of shortness of breath..."

Tang Ruoyao, who was listening on the side, muttered to herself, '...This woman! She always deceives her!'

After the doctor finished the examination and left, a nurse came in and started to administer an IV drip.

Qin Yinong looked at Tang Ruoyao, who was sitting far away with her back turned, and swallowed some saliva. She spoke up, "Yaoyao."

Tang Ruoyao didn't want to pay attention to her and pretended to play with her phone.

Then came the creaking sound from the bed, as if Qin Yinong was struggling to sit up. Tang Ruoyao turned around and saw Qin Yinong propping herself up on the bed with both elbows, trying to raise her upper body.

"Qin Yinong!" Tang Ruoyao heard her own voice filled with resentment.

In Qin Yinong's pupils, she saw the figure of a young woman rushing over. She pressed her shoulder to make her lie back down, her eyes red with anger. "When will you properly take care of your own body? If something were to happen... Have you ever thought about me..."

What am I supposed to do?

She couldn't go on speaking, with her eyes red, she looked at the ceiling.

Qin Yinong tugged at Tang Ruoyao's sleeve.

Tang Ruoyao shook it off.

Qin Yinong tugged again.

Tang Ruoyao angrily asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong remained silent for a moment and spoke softly, "I want to go to the restroom." She had been holding it in all day, and her bladder couldn't take it anymore.

"...," Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Qin Yinong curled her lips and said, "You were ignoring me, weren't you?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She was making herself feel wronged too?

Qin Yinong tugged at her sleeve and shook it, her eyes clear and bright like a child's.

Tang Ruoyao thought indignantly: Being an actor is really troublesome.

Qin Yinong didn't say anything, but her eyes clearly conveyed the message: Don't be mad at me, look how cute I am, can you bear to be mad at me?

Tang Ruoyao barely restrained herself from laughing out loud, put on a serious face, and said expressionlessly, "I'll help you to the restroom."

Qin Yinong thought to herself: Ah, it's going to be difficult to appease her this time.

Qin Yinong was so weak that she could barely walk on her own. Tang Ruoyao raised the IV bag with one hand and avoided her left hand where the infusion was taking place. She circled Qin Yinong's waist and took step by step towards the restroom.

Fortunately, she had much stronger physical strength than an ordinary woman, otherwise she might not have been able to handle it alone.

As soon as they entered the restroom, Qin Yinong calmly said, "Okay, wait for me outside."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Can you manage by yourself?"

Qin Yinong said, "Yes."

Tang Ruoyao said casually, "Can you show me if you can manage by yourself?" If she couldn't even walk, how could she expect her to go to the restroom alone?

Qin Yinong hesitated for a while.

Tang Ruoyao lifted the toilet lid for her and took out a tissue from the side, holding it in her hand, prepared. She said calmly, "What have you got that I haven't seen? Even if I haven't seen it before, I'll see it in the future. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Qin Yinong's face instantly turned red.

Tang Ruoyao stared at her, thought for a moment, and handed her the tissue, saying, "Hold this for me." Then she reached out towards Qin Yinong's waistband on her own, but Qin Yinong quickly avoided it, saying, "I-I can do it myself!"

Tang Ruoyao knew that Qin Yinong was very thin-skinned and didn't want to push her, so she turned around and said, "If you can't do it, call me. Don't force yourself."

Qin Yinong softly murmured an "Mmm."

Tang Ruoyao listened to the sounds behind her, trying to judge if Qin Yinong was struggling or not. After a while, her own face started to feel hot, and she cursed inwardly.

Although the two of them had experienced the most intimate moments, they felt completely different emotions in this narrow space. One was the passionate thunder and lightning, while the other was the steady flow of everyday life.

Tang Ruoyao helped Qin Yinong back to bed and lay her down again. Qin Yinong closed her eyes and didn't dare to look at her, her limbs tense and her expression a mix of resignation and desolation.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but suppress her laughter.

She had actually read jokes online about how couples who had been together for several years could do anything in front of each other without considering personal image. She pondered for a while and realized that she was actually looking forward to it.

Of course, the current Qin Yinong was also very cute now.

At the same time, Tang Ruoyao had a question in her mind: How did Qin Yinong manage to act like that in front of her before? Clearly, she was moved, but pretended to be cold and indifferent. Clearly, she was a shy and introverted little white rabbit, but she wore the skin of a domineering and gentle wolf.

Tang Ruoyao's gaze fell on Qin Yinong's hand resting on the quilt, her slender and fair fingers. Unconsciously, she swallowed her saliva. This couldn't be an act, right? Her infatuation and excitement at that time were not fake. Could it be that Qin Yinong had two sides, but the little white rabbit temporarily took the upper hand?

Tang Ruoyao analyzed Qin Yinong's behavior with great interest. Even if Qin Yinong closed her eyes, she could still feel the other's gaze locked on her face. As a result, the temperature of her cheeks didn't decrease but instead rose.

Tang Ruoyao reached out and touched Qin Yinong's earlobe, then moved down to her tender white earlobe, pinching it lightly. Qin Yinong startled and couldn't help but open her eyes.

Tang Ruoyao restrained her laughter and maintained a calm expression.

Qin Yinong held the edge of the quilt, with only her eyes visible, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao replied casually, "Nothing."

"Then... why are you pinching my ear?" Her voice became softer.

"I just wanted to," Tang Ruoyao said matter-of-factly, "Any problem with that?"

"...No." Qin Yinong thought Tang Ruoyao was still angry, so she uncovered her face that she had just covered, allowing her to pinch as she pleased, as long as Tang Ruoyao vented her anger.

Since Tang Ruoyao had been given an opportunity, she naturally wouldn't let it go. Her fair fingers continued to pinch and play with Qin Yinong's beautiful face, enjoying it and casually chatting, "You said you work day and night, drink alcohol, have nightmares, and suffer from insomnia. Why is your skin still so good?"

This question had been lingering in her mind for a long time.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised, and asked, "Is my skin good?"

"Yeah," Tang Ruoyao said. "It might be an exaggeration to say it's like when I was eighteen, but in your mid-twenties, your skin is indeed tight, smooth, no acne, and no other issues. Even your pores are barely visible unless under the light. And this is without any makeup. Even if you put on some makeup and throw yourself into a crowd of students, you wouldn't look out of place."

But Tang Ruoyao was different. During the filming of "True Colors," a few days before her scenes were finished, she had great pressure and couldn't sleep well at night. Pimples started popping up on her forehead, although they quickly vanished, she still couldn't compare to Qin Yinong, who was in her thirties.

Qin Yinong was a celebrity with a makeup team of so many people. It would be a lie to say that she didn't know her skin was good. It was a gift from heaven, nothing she could do about it. She raised her hand and touched her face, sighing, "It's not as good as before, sigh, getting old."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She was taking advantage and acting cute!

She was so angry, she felt like biting Qin Yinong's face. She gritted her teeth and was eager to give it a try.

But then Qin Yinong suddenly gazed at her, softened her eyebrows and eyes, and said softly, "It's yours."

Tang Ruoyao retracted her teeth and gave her a firm kiss on the cheek, smiling happily.

Qin Yinong closed her eyes and laughed.

Tang Ruoyao asked her, "So, how do you take care of your skin usually? What brand do you use? Any recommendations?"

Qin Yinong smiled and opened her eyes, explaining in a gentle manner.

The conversation between female celebrities was so down-to-earth.

Qin Yinong was physically exhausted after talking for a while, showing signs of fatigue. Tang Ruoyao promptly stopped and asked her, "Are you tired?"

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "Not tired."

Tang Ruoyao's gaze flickered, but she didn't say anything.

Qin Yinong obediently changed her statement and said truthfully, "A little."

"Just a little or a lot?"

"Just a little bit," Qin Yinong said. "I want to talk a bit more with you."

Tang Ruoyao's mood was smoothed by the woman's words, and her eyes contained a smile as she said, "Take care of your body, and we'll have plenty of time to talk in the future."

Qin Yinong mumbled softly.

Tang Ruoyao turned her head and took her phone. She didn't see Qin Yinong speak, so she asked when she returned, "Did you say something just now?"

Qin Yinong said, "No. Are you going to make a call?"

"No," Tang Ruoyao unlocked her screen and remembered something. She got up and rummaged in her bag, taking out a lipstick and applying it on Qin Yinong's lips. Her complexion looked much better, and she said, "I promised Ningning that we would video chat before going out."

"When did you add my mom on WeChat?" Qin Yinong exclaimed.

"This morning when you were sleeping," Tang Ruoyao said. Not only did she add Ji Shulan, but she also added Fangyi.

Qin Yinong: "..."

The call connected quickly, and Ningning appeared on the screen.

"Mom, Auntie Tang," a soft and tender voice came through.

Aunt Tang turned the camera to the bedside and gestured to Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong smiled and said, "Has Ningning been good at home?"

"Yes, is Mom feeling better?" Ningning asked.

"Much better. With Auntie Tang here, Mom will be fine. I'll be back home in a few days." Qin Yinong inserted a compliment for Tang Ruoyao whenever she had the chance.

Tang Ruoyao held the phone and smiled affectionately beside Qin Yinong.

Ningning asked, "Why can't I see Auntie Tang?"

Aunt Tang immediately made herself appear in the camera, leaning her head against Qin Yinong's, both looking at Ningning in the video.

Ningning suddenly became shy and turned her face, calling out, "Grandma."

Ji Shulan came over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ningning said, "Talk to Mom."

She handed the phone to Ji Shulan and ran off.

Tang Ruoyao glanced at Qin Yinong, took the phone, and walked to the side, switching to a voice call and holding it to her ear.

Ji Shulan had to take care of the child at home, and with her age, she didn't come over together. She had sent several messages to Tang Ruoyao in the afternoon, inquiring about the situation. She knew the basic details, but now she asked about dietary restrictions, saying she planned to make soup tomorrow and have Guan Han deliver it. She cautiously asked if it was alright, and her voice carried a trace of caution.

Tang Ruoyao was cautious and said she needed to consult Qin Yinong before giving a definite answer.

Qin Yinong didn't say anything, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Tang Ruoyao replied to Ji Shulan: [It's fine.]

She showed the chat record to Qin Yinong, who couldn't resist and scrolled through a few pages before returning the phone to her. Fatigue hit her, and she yawned.

Tang Ruoyao gently urged her, "Go to sleep."

Qin Yinong resisted the drowsiness and asked, "Where will you sleep?"

"Here," Tang Ruoyao lifted her chin and pointed to the empty bed next to them.

Qin Yinong said, "Won't you sleep with me?"

Tang Ruoyao's heart softened. She really wanted to sleep with Qin Yinong. but she had an intravenous drip in one hand, and it would be terrible if she accidentally touched it in the middle of the night. She said, "No, because of your hand..."

Qin Yinong moved to the side, making space enough for one person to lie down.

Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong were engaged in a battle of wills. "I have bad sleeping habits." Tang Ruoyao said.

Qin Yinong looked at her intently and replied, "I can't fall asleep without you beside me."

Tang Ruoyao instantly surrendered, her lips curling up. She bent down and kissed the woman's forehead. "Then I'll go take a shower first."

Qin Yinong's lips moved, but no sound came out. However, Tang Ruoyao understood the look in her eyes: Hurry up.

Without further delay, Tang Ruoyao grabbed her nightwear and rushed into the bathroom. She quickly took a shower and came out, turning off the lights before lying down beside Qin Yinong. The drowsy Qin Yinong found her hand and held onto it, leaning her head against Tang Ruoyao's shoulder. Her features relaxed, and she quickly fell asleep.

Tang Ruoyao propped her hand behind her head and looked at the moonlight streaming through the curtains. She listened to the steady and soft breaths beside her and gradually fell asleep.

News of Qin Yinong being hospitalized couldn't be kept from everyone, but it did manage to be hidden from most people.

The next day, visitors came to see her.

First was her manager, An Ling. It was quite a coincidence that An Ling, who had been entrusted by Qin Yinong to take care of Tang Ruoyao for several years, had never met Tang Ruoyao before. As a manager, An Ling had lower visibility compared to artists, and combined with Qin Yinong's low-profile nature, she rarely made public appearances and mainly worked behind the scenes.

After Ji Shulan, Tang Ruoyao met another close friend and collaborator of Qin Yinong. Ningning referred to her as "Grandma An Ling," but she was actually not yet forty years old, two years older than Mu Qingwu. She couldn't be described as beautiful, but her features were well-proportioned. Wearing a dark gray professional suit, she exuded an air of professionalism.

"An Ling."

"Tang Ruoyao."

The two shook hands friendly, and Tang Ruoyao took the flowers that An Ling brought and put them aside.

It was also the first time An Ling met Tang Ruoyao in person, and she calmly observed her. Tang Ruoyao was tall, and although she didn't need to bear children, being taller was always a plus. As for her appearance, it went without saying—her face resembled white jade, her eyes were like amber, and she had a well-matched appearance with a good figure and temperament. However, her delicate eyebrows and eyes seemed too cold, giving off an indifferent and cool aura, not like someone with deep-rooted emotions.

An Ling sat down at the bedside and expressed her concern for Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao poured her a glass of water. "Please have this." Even though she was polite and courteous, her tone was distant and cold.

An Ling felt a hint of doubt and politely replied, "Thank you."

Could it be that Qin Yinong was being overly sensitive? Could this sly fox have been deceived by a cunning little fox?

Tang Ruoyao nodded at her and took a few fruits from the ones An Ling brought, then turned and went to the bathroom.

Qin Yinong's gaze remained fixed until Tang Ruoyao's figure disappeared from sight before retracting.

An Ling waved her hand in front of Qin Yinong and clicked her tongue. "Look at you, completely infatuated with a young girl."

Qin Yinong's face in front of others had grown thicker at an exponential rate. She raised her eyebrows lightly, a casual smile playing at the corners of her lips. She said, "Why don't you say that she's completely captivated by me?"

An Ling shrugged. "I didn't notice that."

Qin Yinong lazily replied, "That's because your eyesight isn't good."

An Ling asked, "Are you sure she really likes you?"

"I'm sure." Qin Yinong wanted to show off their affection but hesitated and said, "Well, anyway..." Before she could finish her sentence, she couldn't help but laugh. "Never mind, I won't say it."

An Ling: "..."

She was dumbfounded. Was the woman in front of her, who seemed like a blooming iron tree and a teenage girl in love, really the same Qin Yinong she knew before?

Qin Yinong realized she had lost composure, cleared her throat, and changed the subject. "Let's talk business."

An Ling scoffed, "I have nothing to discuss with you. You're half paralyzed, so worry about yourself."

Qin Yinong smiled lightly, defending herself, "What do you mean half paralyzed? I'm doing fine."

Tang Ruoyao walked out.

She politely asked An Ling if she wanted some fruit, but An Ling declined. Tang Ruoyao took an apple in her hand, sat on the other side of Qin Yinong, and skillfully started peeling it with her fingers.

When there were outsiders present, she usually remained quiet, sitting to the side with her swan-like neck lowered, revealing a beautiful and fair neckline.

An Ling somehow felt her heart calming down, and even her voice became naturally softer.

The room was quiet, occasionally disturbed by a gentle breeze rustling the curtains.

The young woman remained focused, listening to the conversation between her lover and colleague, her expression calm and even a bit distant. But upon closer observation, when it was her lover's turn to speak, her lips would subtly curl up, forming a slight arc.

Tang Ruoyao cut the peeled apple into small pieces, placed them on a plate, and inserted toothpicks into them, patiently feeding them to Qin Yinong one by one.

Qin Yinong, with the apple in her mouth, suddenly smiled brightly at her, and Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but follow suit, laughing until her eyes curved like crescent moons, her teeth shining white. She seemed somewhat childlike, completely different from her previous cold demeanor.

The air was instantly filled with pink bubbles.

Even though there were no excessively intimate actions, they displayed their affection as if nobody else was present.

An Ling: "..."

She should be underground, not here.

No wonder Guan Han is not here. It turns out she already had a clear understanding.

But An Ling really came here today. She didn't just come to see Qin Yinong, she had something to discuss with Tang Ruoyao as well, so she took care of both matters at once.

Tang Ruoyao was called out by An Ling alone, wearing a somewhat serious expression. She said, "Do you remember the Xisi Studio I mentioned to you before?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

It's the media that first exposed Ningning.An Ling said, "It's closed. This morning, one of their marketing accounts with several million followers also got banned. You can't find them on Weibo anymore."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Who did it?"

If it was An Ling, she wouldn't speak in that tone.

An Ling's eyes darkened and she said, "I don't know." This news broke just a few days ago, and in such a short time, they managed to shut down a large studio, cutting off their online presence. Who could achieve that? At least An Ling couldn't.

Tang Ruoyao pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you think it's an enemy or a friend?"

An Ling shook her head.

Her phone in her pocket suddenly buzzed.

An Ling glanced at the incoming call display, gestured to Tang Ruoyao, and went aside to answer the call.

In the meantime, Tang Ruoyao opened Weibo and indeed found a trending topic about Xisi Studio. It was a well-known paparazzi account associated with Xisi Studio. Xisi Studio gained fame through exposing scandals. There was a famous marketing account named Zhang Xisi, with the Weibo verification as "Xisi Studio's top reporter," although it wasn't a real name. But this studio's exposure was different from other entertainment media outlets. Their information was often particularly accurate, so they had a large following of gossip enthusiasts.

Even someone like Tang Ruoyao, who didn't care much about gossip, had heard of "Zhang Xisi." As far as she knew, many celebrities had cooperated with Xisi Studio. Some would contact them proactively to request exposure in order to generate buzz and increase their popularity. Some celebrities were genuinely caught off guard, such as the perennial cheating teams that became the subject of heated discussions.

Some celebrities would spend a large sum of money to privately settle with "Zhang Xisi" and buy out the unreleased information. Others would take a more aggressive approach and sue "Zhang Xisi" in anger. Xisi Studio had its victories and defeats, but it remained standing in the industry, and its reputation continued to grow.

This time, Xisi Studio took the lead in exposing the exclusive news about Qin Yinong, which showed the depth and breadth of their information digging, sending shivers down people's spines. Many celebrity teams were reevaluating their relationships with them. In this world, who doesn't have some dirt on them? And if they don't, it can be fabricated for you.

Over the years, discerning individuals could see that this studio must have had some background and was not to be trifled with. But just when this seemingly influential studio was at the height of its popularity, it suddenly disappeared overnight. "Zhang Xisi" got banned, and everything was gone.

"I woke up this morning, as usual, to enjoy some gossip from Zhang Xisi, but I couldn't find them in my follow list. Am I the only one?"

"Same here. My reliable source of juicy information is gone."

"Did someone report them?"

"It's not like they were involved in any illegal activities. Is it a crime to entertain us with some gossip about a few celebrities we adore and spend money on?"

The news of "Zhang Xisi's disappearance" stirred up a huge commotion, with most netizens expressing their sorrow. Only a few scattered comments suggested that this marketing account, which focused on celebrity scandals every day, should have been shut down long ago. There were even debates and insults in the comment section.

But this matter was far from over.

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