CHAPTER 164

The young woman almost encircled her body, her slender and nimble fingers guiding her hand to write a well-formed character on the grid.

Qin Yinong felt uneasy and fidgeted.

Tang Ruoyao lightly brushed her ear with her lips and voluntarily backed away.

With Guan Han in front and Qin Jianing in the back, Tang Ruoyao wanted to continue teaching Qin Yinong how to write, but she had to consider Qin Yinong's thin-skinned nature.

However, she had already discovered this effective way of deepening their bond. In the future, they could practice calligraphy alone in the study and also do some things that couldn't be shared with others.

A smile appeared on the corners of Tang Ruoyao's lips.

Qin Yinong's mind went blank. She tightened the fingers holding the brush, feeling the clear sensation on her ear. Suddenly, she felt that her reliance on Tang Ruoyao had reached a new level. She had just come to embrace her briefly, not even a complete hug, yet she found herself wanting Tang Ruoyao to hold her continuously.

Calculating the time from morning until now, she had spent enough time with Ningning. It was time to spend some time alone with herself. Qin Yinong gently placed down the brush and stood up, leaning on the floor. She couldn't sit on Ningning's small stool, so she sat directly on the floor. Sitting for a long time was also a burden on her current body, and she didn't feel stable when she stood up.

Guan Han's expression slightly changed, but Tang Ruoyao had already helped Qin Yinong up.

"I have something I want to talk to you about." Qin Yinong said solemnly.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "In the room?"

Qin Yinong nodded.

The two of them disappeared from the living room together.

Guan Han approached Ningning, her gaze flickering, and asked her, "Do you like Auntie Tang now?"

Ningning lowered her head, pursed her lips, and smiled. It was obvious that she liked her a lot but felt embarrassed to say it.

Guan Han clicked her tongue in her heart. The golden phrase was here: 'You truly live up to your reputation, Miss Yao.'

Even the little girl was won over. In this family, Tang Ruoyao was unstoppable and invincible. Her CP (couple pairing) finally achieved peace and smoothly passed this ordeal.

Guan Han sighed in relief, leaned against the window, basked in the sunlight, and lowered her head to open a mobile game and play battle royale.

Out of habit, she opened her friend list. As a lone wolf, Guan Han only had a few friends, and their online status was clear at a glance. Besides the residents of the 405 dormitory, there were a few unfamiliar strangers she didn't recognize, probably teammates she had played with before, and they were all noobs. She scanned through them briefly, and Fu Yujun's ID, "BeautifulWildGirl," was displayed in gray, just like the others.

Guan Han closed the friend list and started playing the game alone.

She played until she went out to treat the masters to lunch. Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, who were upstairs discussing something, didn't come down.

.....

"What's the matter?" Tang Ruoyao followed behind Qin Yinong and entered the room.

"I don't know why, but I feel a bit tired." Qin Yinong effortlessly lied, looking exhausted.

Tang Ruoyao became overly nervous. "I'll call a doctor!" She took out her phone from her pocket and was about to dial Dr. Qiu's number.

Qin Yinong couldn't continue with this act and reached out to stop her. He sighed softly and said, "It's not that serious. I just don't want to stay in crowded places for too long."

Crowded places?

Tang Ruoyao thought, downstairs in the living room? Including Guan Han who came later, there were only four people.

She quickly figured it out.

"Senior Qin," she smiled.

"I'm tired." Teacher Qin knew from the sudden change in her eyes that she had seen through him. He took the initiative and said, "Sleep with me."

Tang Ruoyao went to get the pajamas she had taken off in the morning and folded them by the pillow.

Qin Yinong was about to undress but noticed that she was standing still. Quietly, he took the pajamas and went into the bathroom. When Tang Ruoyao finished changing and entered, the two of them got up at six and went back to sleep together at ten in the morning.

It was supposed to be a very pleasant day.

They were sound asleep, unaware that an unexpected guest had arrived at Qin's residence.

A pure black luxury sedan quietly stopped at the entrance gate. The chauffeur, dressed in a suit, quickly got out of the car, went around to the rear door, and opened it. A woman bent down and got out.

The car door closed gently.

"Pick me up tonight." She waved her hand casually, and the chauffeur respectfully bowed and retreated without making a sound.

The woman was probably in her mid-twenties, wearing a light blue casual suit and a valuable platinum diamond wristwatch. It seemed like she had just come down from a conference table, and her sharp and formidable aura remained. When not facing outsiders, she exuded a cold and unapproachable atmosphere, unlike Tang Ruoyao's indifferent indifference. Instead, she emitted a strong sense of hostility.

The chauffeur had already greeted Ji Shulan when he entered the security guard's office, and Aunt Fang was waiting for her. When she saw the woman coming out of the car, she proactively opened the heavy carved iron gate.

"Miss Ji." Aunt Fang greeted the young woman but kept her distance without approaching.

Miss Ji had a peculiar temperament and didn't like unrelated people getting too close to her.

Ji Yunyao nodded lightly, her expression calm. "Where is Ningning?"

Aunt Fang led the way and said, "She's playing in the living room."

Ji Yunyao's eyes revealed a faint, elusive smile, and the corners of her lips involuntarily softened. "Is she happy at home lately?"

"She's quite happy," Aunt Fang said. "She mentioned you a couple of days ago."

"Really? What did she say about me?" Ji Yunyao's interest piqued.

"She asked when you would have a vacation and take her out to play."

Ji Yunyao chuckled and walked briskly towards the inside.

Guan Han instinctively sensed a chill and looked up from her phone, only to see a tall woman entering from the doorway against the light.

Guan Han froze.

Ningning, on the other hand, appeared natural. She put down her book, put on a smile, and waited for the person to approach.

The young woman walked over, oblivious to Guan Han on the side, and bent down to pick up Ningning. She kissed her on the face twice in succession, happily saying, "Did you miss your big sister?"

"I did." Ningning's voice was soft and a little shy when facing someone she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Big sister missed you too." Ji Yunyao held Ningning in her arms, and the sweet scent of milk emanating from the little girl wafted into her nose. The faint hostility that surrounded her dissipated slowly, and her heart calmed down.

Ji Yunyao had come to the Qin residence on a whim. She had been in a meeting all morning with a group of old men who were indecisive and clueless. The proposed plans were constantly questioned and debated back and forth with the same few clichés. If it weren't for her father sitting there, she would have cursed them all out. Although she didn't hold back on her scolding today either, she still hadn't vented her anger.

After thinking about it, she realized that it had been a long time since she had visited the Qin family, so she decided to drop by. The vacation plan she had arranged earlier was disrupted by a bunch of internet trolls, and half a month had passed in the meantime.

Ji Yunyao sat down on the sofa, resting her chin on Ningning's shoulder, breathing heavily with exhaustion.

"Big sister, are you tired?" she asked.

"Yes." Ji Yunyao replied with half-closed eyes, lazily.

"Let me give you a back massage." Ningning wanted to get down from her lap and move behind her.

"No need," Ji Yunyao caught her in time and smiled. "You just hug your big sister, and she won't be tired anymore."

Ningning obediently hugged her tightly.

"Does it feel better now?"

"Much better. Hold me tighter."

Ningning exerted force with both arms, and her face turned red from the effort.

Ji Yunyao busily said, "That's enough."

Ningning's strength relaxed, and she breathed lightly.

Ji Yunyao teased her, "Your strength is not good, huh? Don't you exercise regularly?"

Ningning defended herself in a childish voice, "I'm still young. When I grow up, I'll be stronger."

Ji Yunyao chuckled.

While Ji Yunyao was unaware, Guan Han quickly sent a message to Qin Yinong: [Ji Yunyao is here!!!]

Little did she know that Qin Yinong had already gone to see Zhou Gong, anxiously waiting for a reply.

Tang Ruoyao was still here, who knew what trouble this eccentric person would cause again!

Qin Yinong took a long time to reply, and Guan Han's heart was burning with impatience. Taking a risk, she kept watch downstairs. Hearing their conversation at this moment, she couldn't help but feel the same sentiment multiple times: Ji Yunyao's mood swings were unpredictable. Every time she interacted with Ningning, it felt like she was a completely different person. But why did this topic sound so strange to her? Was it because she had a deep impression of Ji Yunyao's eccentricity? Even though her behavior seemed normal, she always felt that her love for Ningning wasn't pure.Ji Yunyao gently said, "I have a three-day vacation next week. How about I take you to Disneyland in S City?"

Ningning shook her head.

Ji Yunyao asked, "Why?"

Ningning said, "Mom said the bad people outside haven't been defeated yet."

Ji Yunyao said, "If you go out with me, you don't have to be afraid of the bad people outside. I'm much stronger than your mom."

A mother's image in a child's heart is still very majestic, so Ningning immediately became unhappy.

In order to win over the child's "heart," Ji Yunyao had to go against her own words, "I'm just as capable as your mom. Shall we take care of the bad people together?"

Ningning smiled, and obediently replied, "Okay."

Guan Han: "!!!"

Is this for real? Did the eccentric have a change of heart? Maybe we shouldn't believe what she says to a child.

Ji Yunyao sweetly and softly appeased the child, occasionally glancing at Guan Han's face. Guan Han tried to remain calm, treating herself as invisible. Ji Yunyao let out a mysterious chuckle, and Guan Han's scalp tingled. She waited for a long time before stealing a glance at Ji Yunyao, who was still sitting there, showing no intention of acknowledging her.

She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when a casual voice came from the quiet living room, saying, "Assistant Guan."

Guan Han looked up and calmly responded, "Miss Ji." Despite her fear, she couldn't show any weakness on her face.

Ji Yunyao said lightly, "You've disturbed me."

"..." Guan Han tactfully backed out, leaving the spacious living room to her.

She walked to the yard and glanced at a window on the second floor, contemplating the possibility of climbing up and knocking on the window to deliver a message. Can't we loosen up a bit under the blue sky and bright sun? With the enemy at the gates, shouldn't we focus on important matters? Guan Han was so frustrated that even a couple couldn't move her.

Ji Shulan and Aunt Fang were weeding in the vegetable garden. When they saw Guan Han pacing in the yard, they exchanged a puzzled glance, both showing confusion.

......

Qin Yinong's cheeks were slightly flushed as she woke up, propping herself up and reaching for the hair tie on the bedside table to tie up her messy hair. Suddenly, her phone screen lit up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and picked it up.

Guan Han's profile picture appeared with a clear "11" above it. She rarely sent so many messages, and Qin Yinong instantly woke up from her drowsiness, tapping on the message box.

[Ji Yunyao is here!!!]

[She's downstairs!!!]

[Qin Jie!!!]

Qin Yinong's eyes darkened.

Tang Ruoyao was sleeping soundly compared to Qin Yinong. Just as she woke up, she felt a woman's body temperature approaching and a hand wrapped around her slender waist. In a daze, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong said, "I'll go downstairs for a moment. You stay in the room."

She quickly got off the bed, pulling the clothes that were draped over the sofa onto herself, even forgetting to consider that Tang Ruoyao was right behind her.

Tang Ruoyao saw the seriousness in her expression and couldn't care about their intimate situation. She asked, "What's going on? Did something happen? Did someone come?"

"It's nothing." Qin Yinong instinctively denied it, paused for a few seconds, and then changed her words, "I'll tell you later."

With half of her buttons fastened, she turned around and held Tang Ruoyao back from getting up, saying, "Just stay here and don't move."

Tang Ruoyao stared at her for a while and slowly sat back down.

"Remember, we have to face things together." Tang Ruoyao said.

Qin Yinong meticulously fastened the buttons of her shirt, one by one, until the top one was securely in place. She leaned down and gently kissed Tang Ruoyao's forehead, holding the kiss for a while before releasing it. Her gaze softened, and she softly said, "I understand."

No matter what Ji Yunyao intended to do this time, they couldn't be separated. They were prepared for the worst-case scenario.

As the door closed in front of her, the woman's figure disappeared from sight.

Tang Ruoyao tightly clenched the pillow in her hands, her knuckles turning white.

.....

Qin Yinong stood at the corner of the staircase, where she could faintly see the figure sitting on the sofa in the living room. The conversation between the two could also be heard clearly. Qin Yinong released her grip on the railing, took a deep breath, and walked out.

Ji Yunyao, with her sharp hearing, heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. She turned her head and looked, her gaze seemingly smiling yet not.

"Little aunt." Ji Yunyao said.

Ningning jumped out of Ji Yunyao's arms and rushed over, exclaiming, "Mom!"

Qin Yinong crouched down to hug her, held the little girl's hand, and walked over together. She tugged at her lip, smiling gently, and asked, "Why didn't you greet me when you arrived?"

Ji Yunyao chuckled and replied, "If I greeted you, wouldn't I miss out on a good show?"

Qin Yinong's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and asked, "What do you mean?"

Ji Yunyao blinked and said, "Little aunt, how does it feel to be kept in a golden cage?"

Ningning looked up innocently and asked, "Mom, why didn't Auntie Tang come down with you?"

Ji Yunyao burst into laughter.

Qin Yinong realized where she had slipped up.

She rubbed Qin Jianing's head, closed her eyes for a moment, and coldly said to Ji Yunyao, "Don't speak so harshly. After all, she is your senior."

Ji Yunyao paused for a moment, then a playful arc formed at the corner of her lips.

Her stubborn little aunt was quite interesting, especially when she stood in front of her, with all her cards exposed, yet still showing a touch of tragic determination.

Ji Yunyao said, "Well, why don't you introduce this senior to me? As a member of the Ji family, it's my responsibility to keep an eye out for you, dear sister."

Qin Yinong sneered and sent a message to Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao quickly got dressed and came downstairs.

"We meet again, Miss Tang," Ji Yunyao waved at her, with a smirk on her face. "The conditions I proposed to you last time are still valid."

A hint of confusion flashed in Qin Yinong's eyes.

During that banquet, both of them remained silent about what Ji Yunyao had said to herself. Tang Ruoyao would never take the initiative to mention it.

Ji Yunyao glanced at her, afraid that one of them might forget, and brought up the old topic again. "Miss Tang, you can come to my side at any time. Whatever Qin Yinong can give you, I'll give you ten times that. Didn't you say you would seriously consider it before? How's your consideration going? In terms of youth and wealth, what do I lack compared to her?"

Tang Ruoyao, who hadn't fully digested the shock of seeing Ji Yunyao at the Qin family, had her face turn extremely pale at her twisted words.

When did she say she would consider it?!

Tang Ruoyao looked at Qin Yinong, opened her mouth, wanting to say that she didn't.

Qin Yinong's expression remained calm as she cast a reassuring look at her.

Tang Ruoyao strangely calmed down, her gaze towards Ji Yunyao turning icy.

Ji Yunyao pursed her lips and made a clicking sound with her tongue. "How boring."

Qin Yinong calmly said, "Ji Yunyao, Ningning is still here. Aren't you being too reckless?"

Ji Yunyao lowered her head, and Ningning, with her big eyes wide open, listened to the conversation of the three adults with a baffled expression. When she saw Ji Yunyao looking at her, she honestly asked, "Sister, what are you talking about?"

Ji Yunyao felt a tinge of annoyance in her heart. She crouched down, spoke gently, and said, "Nothing, sister is just joking with Mom."

Ningning tilted her head, seeming to understand and not understand.

Tang Ruoyao furrowed her brows.

What's going on again?

Ji Yunyao stood up again, took a gentle breath, and proactively extended her right hand to Tang Ruoyao, painting a warm smile on her delicate face. "Hello, Miss Tang. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Ji Yunyao, Qin Yinong's little sister."

Little sister?

Tang Ruoyao almost couldn't control her expression.

Qin Yinong nodded at her.

No one noticed that Qin Yinong subtly breathed a sigh of relief, and half of the burden that had been hanging in her throat dropped. She was gambling, gambling on how much Ji Yunyao truly liked Ningning, whether she could defeat her twisted interests, even if only slightly. She had won the bet, and the result was far better than she had expected.

Tang Ruoyao and Ji Yunyao shook hands, displaying courtesy. "Hello, Tang Ruoyao, Qin Yinong's girlfriend," Ji Yunyao said.

Ji Yunyao added, "Nice to meet you."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Likewise."

Ji Yunyao glanced at Ningning.

Ningning still didn't understand and spoke based on her intuition. "Let's not fight, everyone."

Ji Yunyao said, "We're not fighting, just joking."

Ningning asked, "Really?"

Tang Ruoyao also said, "Really."

Ji Yunyao sincerely said, "Your big sister and your auntie Tang are good friends."

Tang Ruoyao thought, 'This woman is full of nonsense.' She smiled and didn't refute.

Two opposing individuals strangely reached a consensus and temporarily pretended to be peaceful in front of a child.

Ningning showed a relieved expression, looking at both of them, and reminded again, "You must not fight, okay?"

Ji Yunyao raised her hands in surrender, smiling. "No fighting."

Tang Ruoyao laughed and said, "Let's listen to Ningning."

Ningning extended her hands and said softly, "Mom, carry me."

Qin Yinong lifted her up, not going far, and sat on the nearby sofa.

Ji Yunyao was "forced" to swallow her grievances, not given any room to maneuver.

Whenever Ji Yunyao saw her, she was always provocative. Now that she seemed frustrated, even Qin Yinong, who had a calm demeanor, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Tang Ruoyao had only had one close encounter with Ji Yunyao before and her understanding of her was mainly hearsay, but she also keenly sensed that Ji Yunyao seemed to be suppressing something.

The three of them sat separately.

Breaking the calmness with small talk, Qin Yinong faced Ji Yunyao and asked, "When did you arrive?"

Instead of answering directly, Ji Yunyao softly asked the little girl in her arms, "Ningning, do you remember?"

Ningning replied, "She came at half past ten."

Ji Yunyao's eyes curved as she praised generously, "Baby, you're really clever."

Ningning blushed and buried herself in Qin Yinong's embrace, her little face turning rosy.

Ji Yunyao casually remarked to Qin Yinong, "Sister, has Ningning grown taller? She's at the age when she should be growing." Ji Yunyao raised her hand and gestured around her waist, saying, "Last time she was here, and now today."

Qin Yinong replied, "Possibly, but I haven't measured her height recently, so I'm not sure."

Ji Yunyao's eyes lit up, and she said, "Should I take her to measure?"

Qin Yinong waved her hand, allowing Ji Yunyao to take the child away.

Tang Ruoyao finally had a chance to clarify things with Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong glanced at the two people and briefly explained, "My mother used to be the youngest daughter of the Ji family, but she cut off ties and eloped with Qin Hongjian. She and Ji Yunyao's grandfather were of the same generation, so Ji Yunyao calls me 'sister.'"

Tang Ruoyao still had many questions to ask, including what they talked about that night. Now that she understood the relationship between Ji Yunyao and Qin Yinong, it felt like she had removed half of the thorn embedded in her flesh. However, it wasn't the right time to talk about it. Tang Ruoyao only asked about the important matter, "What does she really want?"

Qin Yinong calmly replied, "I don't know. Maybe she's just acting out."

Tang Ruoyao chuckled.

Qin Yinong's humor was too adorable.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and said, "You're still laughing?"

Tang Ruoyao laughed again.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but laugh too.

Tang Ruoyao said, "No matter how worried we are, it's useless. Let's face whatever comes our way. I think she quite likes Ningning."

Qin Yinong rubbed her temples and said, "Indeed. I'm just basking in Ningning's glory."

Tang Ruoyao curiously asked, "How so?"

Qin Yinong sighed, "There are pros and cons."

It was Ningning who made her notice the peripheral branch of the Ji family and established a somewhat distant relationship, providing shelter for Tang Ruoyao. But because of this, she also developed a peculiar interest in Qin Yinong, mixed with subtle dissatisfaction.

Something flashed through Qin Yinong's mind, but she couldn't grasp it.

She could only continue along the previous train of thought, especially regarding the unexpected encounter with Ji Yunyao when she invited Li Yichuan. She clearly felt the hostility from Ji Yunyao towards her.

Qin Yinong didn't know what she had done to provoke her.

The hostility didn't appear today, perhaps because Ji Yunyao intentionally restrained herself.

Ji Yunyao returned with Ningning, and the two of them quickly changed the topic.

Ji Yunyao smiled and said, "She has indeed grown taller, by about two centimeters."

Qin Yinong responded with a smile.

Ji Yunyao said, "Sister, I want to eat the dish you cooked."

Qin Yinong stood up from the couch and said, "I'll go make it."

Tang Ruoyao grabbed her wrist, her gaze filled with worry, and whispered, "Your health... You can't stand for too long."

Qin Yinong sat back down and calmly said, "I just got out of the hospital. The doctor said I shouldn't exert myself."

Ningning chimed in, "That's right, no cooking allowed."

"...Alright then," Ji Yunyao smiled, "It seems like I came at the wrong time."

Qin Yinong said, "When I'm feeling better, I'll make a delicious meal and invite you."

Ji Yunyao tilted her head and asked, "Is it a promise?"

Qin Yinong replied earnestly, "It's a promise."

Ji Yunyao suddenly remembered and asked, "Why were you hospitalized, sister?"

Qin Yinong lowered her head, feeling ashamed, and said, "I got sick from exhaustion. All the troubles piled up together, and I couldn't handle them." She straightened her expression and continued, "I haven't thanked you yet for handling those rumors and troubles caused by the entertainment media online."

An Ling had already found out that Ji Yunyao was behind those incidents. As for the batch of marketing accounts that were shut down, due to the discussions among netizens, the official statement released two days later stated that they were involved in promoting vulgar and rumor-spreading content, and they needed to rectify the atmosphere and promote a healthy environment, which was why they were closed. They barely shifted the blame away from Qin Yinong. Over half a month had passed, and there were no major waves anymore.

Entertainment remains entertainment, no matter what, nothing changes.

Ji Yunyao didn't even look at her, indifferent as she said, "It was just a handy move. I wasn't helping you specifically. After all, they brought it upon themselves by messing with the wrong person." She gently pinched Ningning's nose tip and suddenly looked up, saying, "Sister, tell Ningning that I'm amazing, or she won't believe me."

Qin Yinong said, "..."

She looked at Qin Jianing, who was unaware of everything, and said, "Yes, your big sister is amazing. You can ask her for help with anything in the future."

Qin Jianing raised her sunny and radiant little face and said crisply, "I know. Sister also said she will help Mom fight the bad guys."

Qin Yinong's expression was skeptical.

Was she really that kind-hearted?

Ji Yunyao felt a bit stiff for a moment. It was just something she casually said to please the child.

But then again, Ji Yunyao had investigated Qin Yinong and Li Yichuan's past encounters. Li Yichuan, that old scoundrel, was despicable to the extreme and nearly caused harm to the Ji family. Sooner or later, she would settle this debt with him!

However, Ji Yunyao had her own plans and never intended to tell Qin Yinong from start to finish. Taking care of Li Yichuan was entirely her personal intention.

But it wouldn't hurt to go with the flow and sell Qin Yinong a favor, making her image in Ningning's eyes even more elevated. It seemed like a good idea.

After weighing her options, Ji Yunyao's lips curled slightly, a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Ask Mom if she wants me to help her fight the bad guys. If she wants it, then big sister will help her."

Ningning blinked and repeated Ji Yunyao's words, asking Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong gazed deeply at the capricious young woman before her. "If I ask you for help, will you really assist me?"

Ji Yunyao shed her nonchalant demeanor and spoke seriously, "I guarantee it with my family name."

Qin Yinong said, "A gentleman's word..."

"...is as uncatchable as a galloping horse," Ji Yunyao raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

Ningning didn't fully understand, unaware of how much Ji Yunyao's words had helped her mother.

[A gentleman's word is an uncatchable as a galloping horse is a metaphorical expression that emphasizes the importance of keeping one's promises and maintaining one's integrity. It suggests that a true gentleman or honorable person always follows through on their word and can be trusted to fulfill their commitments. Just as it is difficult to catch a horse that is swiftly galloping away, it implies that once a person's word is given, it is steadfast and cannot be easily revoked or ignored.]

Author's Note:

MVP of this scene: Qin Jianing, well done!

A morally ambiguous big boss has now become a supporting role. What does everyone want to say to Sister Qin, Little sister Yao, Qin Jianing, Ji Yunyao, and all the other characters, including the author?

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