CHAPTER 166

"If there's a need, I'll find you." Qin Yinong replied, though it was clear that her words were polite but perfunctory.

Ji Yunyao didn't mind and waved at her with a smile.

On her way from the first floor to the bedroom, Qin Yinong kept recalling the inexplicable words Ji Yunyao had deliberately called her over to say, as well as the meaningful gaze at the end. Once inside the bedroom, she pushed all her worries aside.

Tang Ruoyao walked over, opening her arms, and Qin Yinong nestled into her embrace.

Embrace, kiss.

They performed this scene countless times every day.

They kissed until they were breathless before parting. Tang Ruoyao asked her, "Are you tired?"

Qin Yinong replied, "A little."

Since Ji Yunyao arrived, her exhaustion levels had risen sharply.

Tang Ruoyao asked again, "Sleep or massage?"

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and said, "A massage." Apart from accompanying Ningning, it seemed like their daily activities revolved around cuddling and sleeping together, almost wasting time.

Qin Yinong changed into a set of silk pajamas in the bathroom, with long sleeves and long pants. First, it was for warmth since the weather had turned cooler, and the central heating hadn't started in the capital city yet, and using the air conditioning seemed unnecessary in this season. Second, it was to avoid direct skin contact between someone's hands and her smooth skin during the massage, which could give rise to inappropriate thoughts for both of them.

As for how many times those thoughts had crossed their minds, they both knew it well.

Tang Ruoyao knelt on one knee by her side, slowly massaging the woman's sore shoulders, and asked, "Is the pressure too strong?"

Qin Yinong pondered and said, "Hmm..."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Do you really have to think about it?"

Qin Yinong buried her head in the pillow and uncertainly said, "Well, it doesn't hurt anyway."

Tang Ruoyao asked again, "Is it comfortable?"

Qin Yinong had a subtle pause and said, "Comfortable."

Tang Ruoyao had a cold face, "Tell the truth."

Qin Yinong said, "I don't feel anything." After saying that, she took the pot and placed it on herself, saying, "I must have become dull from lying in bed while recovering recently. If you pinch me a couple more times, I'll feel it."

Tang Ruoyao remained silent for a second before saying, "I didn't apply much pressure just now."

Qin Yinong asked, "Huh?"

"What do you mean, huh? You can't even tell the truth when massaging a shoulder. Did someone pay you to lie or something?" Tang Ruoyao continued massaging her normally, and Qin Yinong couldn't help but let out a comfortable low hum.

Upon hearing Tang Ruoyao's words, she thought to herself, 'Is it just my imagination? Tang Ruoyao seems a bit hostile?'

She clenched the bedsheet with her fingers and turned her head to look at Tang Ruoyao. Due to the angle, she could only see a blurry side profile. She smiled and said, "You misunderstood me. I was afraid of hurting your self-esteem."

"I'm not a professional masseuse, so what self-esteem is there in this aspect? When you used to criticize my acting skills, pointing out flaws and shortcomings, did it hurt my self-esteem?"

"That's different."

"How is it different?"

"Before, I was your teacher, and now I'm your lover."

"So now you won't criticize my acting skills?"

"...It depends on the situation. I'll choose a gentler approach."

"Oh."

"You're not happy?" Qin Yinong had sensed something off about her since a while ago, and now it was even more apparent.

"No, I'm not." Tang Ruoyao said.

Qin Yinong turned over.

Tang Ruoyao tried to flip her back, but she had already propped herself up with her elbow.

Tang Ruoyao let her arm hang down, lowered her eyelashes, and pursed her lips without saying a word.

Qin Yinong approached and embraced her, pulling her into her arms, allowing her head to rest on her shoulder. She gently asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Unlike Qin Yinong, Tang Ruoyao tended to keep things bottled up and not speak up. She needed to be guided repeatedly. Once the woman asked, her desire to confide surged out.

"On Jiang Lao's birthday banquet night, do you remember?" she asked.

"I remember."

"After you stopped Ji Yunyao from harassing me, the two of you went off alone and had a conversation in a secluded corridor."

"How do you know about that?" This incident had happened over a year ago, and the memory wasn't very clear for Qin Yinong. A faint thought just came to her mind.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her gaze and said, "I heard it all, I heard you calling me..." She paused for a few seconds before softly uttering those three words, "second-hand goods."

Time had passed, and Tang Ruoyao thought she wouldn't get angry, especially after finding out today that Ji Yunyao was a lunatic. She could understand why Qin Yinong said those words, surely to protect her from being noticed by the other party. She wouldn't blame Qin Yinong because everything had a reasonable explanation.

Including the sudden clear voice, it was most likely a trap designed by Ji Yunyao, intentionally letting her hear it. It was her own foolishness, lack of composure, that made her fall into the other's scheme.

But facing the person she loved, who had spoken those words back then, she couldn't help but feel stubborn, hurt, wronged, and sad. These emotions couldn't be controlled by reason and only surfaced in front of the closest person.

Qin Yinong, prompted by her, recalled the incident, let out a soft "ah," sighed, and kissed Tang Ruoyao's fair forehead. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Tang Ruoyao said in a muffled voice and nestled into her embrace once again.

Qin Yinong briefly explained the situation of that day, which matched Tang Ruoyao's speculation.Qin Yinong said, "That's why I had you find a bodyguard to protect you closely."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Did she dare to directly abduct me?"

"Just in case." Qin Yinong replied.

Tang Ruoyao didn't like dwelling on past matters, especially misunderstandings. She immediately sensed the sweetness in it and raised her face with a smile. "You already loved me back then?"

Since the wrap-up party, Tang Ruoyao had known that Qin Yinong had fallen in love with her earlier than she did. However, she always had a sense of illusion about this long-lasting affection because Qin Yinong was so good at acting. Even right after waking up, she could calmly say things like "more than one lover." No matter how much Tang Ruoyao tried to deceive herself, she couldn't hold onto that belief. Now, when they talked about the past, it was about the rich details of their love.

This woman's love wasn't a raging storm or thunder and lightning; it was drip by drip, silently nourishing everything.

Qin Yinong usually didn't respond directly to overly explicit words but chose to tighten her embrace.

Tang Ruoyao chuckled, deliberately holding her breath and feigning weakness. She said, "Baby, I'm a bit out of breath."

Qin Yinong panicked and quickly loosened her grip.

Tang Ruoyao laughed again and tilted her head to kiss Qin Yinong's chin. "You're too cute."

Qin Yinong glanced at her with a trace of delight in her slowly softening expression. She didn't say anything and Tang Ruoyao lay down, hugging her and letting Qin Yinong rest her head on her arm. Tang Ruoyao's eyes carefully observed the delicate features of the woman's face and asked, "What is the relationship between you and the Ji family? And did you have any conflicts with Ji Yunyao before?"

Their conversation in the living room earlier was too brief, and apart from knowing that Ji Shulan was actually a daughter of the Ji family who had eloped, Tang Ruoyao was completely clueless about everything else.

Qin Yinong had intended to find the right time to tell her, but since the opportunity had presented itself, she began to explain.

After Ji Shulan eloped with Qin Hongjian, she never mentioned her family again. Qin Yinong and her sister had been curious when they were young, wondering why other people had grandparents while they didn't. Ji Shulan would avoid their questions, claiming that her grandparents lived far away. Whenever Qin Hongjian overheard, he would interject with a sneer, saying, "They've long been dead. Why do you ask so many questions?"

For a long time, Qin Yinong didn't know whether Ji Shulan's grandparents were dead or living somewhere else. It wasn't until Qin Hongjian's temperament grew more volatile, and he would say incoherent things when drunk and physically abuse Ji Shulan, spouting nonsense like, "Why don't you go find your parents?" or "Call your parents to come and punish me!" "Your parents, you, all of you look down on me! I know you look down on me!" "Do you regret marrying me? Do you? Do you?!"

His eyes would turn bloodshot as he cursed and hit her.

Sometimes, he would drunkenly slump on the couch and mockingly say to Ji Shulan, who busily attended to him, "The Ji family? Hah, what's so great about being a daughter of the Ji family?! You're nothing more than a dog!"

Ji Shulan had grown accustomed to it, seemingly deaf to her husband's insults.

Qin Yinong trembled in fear, hiding in a poorly soundproofed room, as the man's insane ramblings filled her ears.

Many years later, Qin Yinong had established her own career in the entertainment industry. After discussing with Qin Luning from abroad, she set a trap for Qin Hongjian. He was a failed man, one who held himself in high regard and refused to face his own failures. What did he desire the most? A woman who would be attentive, understanding, and offer solace and admiration. Clearly, Ji Shulan, the submissive and long-suffering wife, couldn't provide that for him.

Qin Hongjian fell into the trap more smoothly and quickly than she had anticipated.

Ji Shulan witnessed Qin Hongjian having an affair with another woman in bed, and her illusion shattered. Disheartened, Qin Yinong took the opportunity to take her away, severing all contact between Qin Hongjian and her. Qin Hongjian was stubborn and refused to divorce, but Qin Yinong's lawyer coldly threw a bag filled with evidence in front of him, scattering various photos on the floor.

The evidence of infidelity within their marriage was irrefutable. He had two choices: either face a public lawsuit exposing his ugly affairs, leaving him with nothing, or agree to a divorce settlement and leave quietly. Perhaps Qin Yinong, the person involved, might show some mercy and give him some money.

Tang Ruoyao listened to this and suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Isn't this the same method she used to deal with Jiang Xuezhen? The difference is that Jiang Xuezhen was the one who had an affair, while Qin Hongjian was deliberately set up by Qin Yinong. No wonder she looked thoughtful when she saw her earlier, recalling the past.

Thinking about it, their life trajectories had quite a few similarities. Qin Yinong had an absent biological father, while she had lost her birth mother from the beginning. Qin Yinong had a sister, and she had a younger brother, and they both relied on each other.

In the depths of fate, destiny guided them to meet and fill each other's voids.

Qin Yinong had been involved in the entertainment industry and naturally heard about the unshakable Ji family and the extent of the Ji family's power. Huan Yu Media, which occupied a significant portion of the film and television industry, was just one small branch of the intricate Ji family tree. However, in recent years, with the rapid development of the entertainment industry, the Ji family had appropriately shifted its focus towards film and television. Apart from Ji Yunyao's role at Huan Yu, there were a lot of other affairs waiting for her in the Ji family, which explained why she was so busy.

Qin Yinong had heard those insults when she was a child. At first, she didn't connect the powerful Ji family, who looked down on her, with her mother, who was submissive before her eyes. Until one evening, the TV was showing the news.

It was a meeting hosted by a leader, inviting experts and people from the business world to discuss a certain issue. The camera stayed on an elderly person's face for two seconds. Ji Shulan propped herself up on the couch, her hand trembling slightly, almost unable to control herself from standing up. Her lips moved, but the scene had already passed, leaving Ji Shulan in a dazed state.

Qin Yinong recognized that elderly person with the surname Ji.

She didn't immediately ask Ji Shulan about it. Instead, she tried a few times and privately had people investigate the old stories of the Ji family. It was difficult to find information about the numerous descendants of the Ji family now, but thirty years ago, the Ji family had announced the accidental death of a young lady whose age and name matched Ji Shulan.

Ji Shulan burst into tears.

After Qin Yinong learned about this bombshell, she tossed and turned for a long time. No one could remain indifferent to such a powerful backing, especially since she had been fiercely competing with Li Yichuan at that time and needed something to shake him. However, firstly, the Ji family might not admit that Ji Shulan, who was declared "dead" long ago, was still alive, and secondly, Ji Shulan might not be willing to return to the Ji family.

But it was Ji Shulan who took the initiative to bring it up.

What was the reason back then? Qin Yinong couldn't remember clearly, but she only remembered that one time she drank a lot and came back home from outside. The next morning, she woke up lying on the couch in the living room. Perhaps she had said something incoherent while drunk. Perhaps Ji Shulan's conscience was pricked, and she wanted to make it up to her, give her more security. Qin Yinong didn't ask her afterwards, and Ji Shulan didn't bring it up either.

Qin Yinong was recognized as a member of the Ji family along with Ji Shulan. The Ji family valued bloodline and wouldn't let someone with Ji blood be left out in the cold. As a result, there were many illegitimate children in the family. Their family was vast, with a long line of descendants, and they didn't care about a few extra people, especially since they were from a collateral branch and couldn't shake their core interests. Qin Yinong's treatment in the Ji family was essentially that of a transparent person. Due to her lack of inheritance qualifications, she occasionally encountered friendly goodwill.

Among the collateral branches of the Ji family, there were also a few ambitious individuals who had built their own careers. However, the main branch, to some extent, looked down upon those from the collateral branches. Qin Yinong didn't provoke them and instead interacted with others from the collateral branches, which broadened her network.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "What about Ji Yunyao..."

Her understanding of the Ji family was similar to Qin Yinong's understanding of the Ji family back then when she hadn't recognized her identity and only knew about the surface-level power and influence.

Qin Yinong seemed a bit tired as she rubbed her eyelids and said, "The previous head of the Ji family was my mother's third brother. He retired two years ago and handed over the conglomerate to his fourth son, who is Ji Yunyao's father."

"So, she's considered part of the main branch?"

"Yes, people in the industry say she is the next head of the family. Judging by her actions and style, it's almost certain. Even the collateral members of the Ji family are afraid of her."

Tang Ruoyao commented, "The social hierarchy seems so strict, like ancient imperial palaces."

Qin Yinong couldn't help but laugh, "Where there are many people, there are many rules. Do you know how many people are in the Ji family?"

"How many?" Tang Ruoyao asked curiously.

Qin Yinong replied honestly, "I don't know. There are too many to count." Every time she attended a family gathering, it felt like a grand commercial banquet in the entertainment industry.

Tang Ruoyao lost interest in pursuing further questions after hearing that.

"Have you had any conflicts with her?"

"Not that I remember. We have no interaction in the family except for Ningning."

Tang Ruoyao's gaze flickered as she said, "Does she like you? After all, you're so beautiful..." A faint hint of jealousy hung in the air.

Qin Yinong helplessly said, "We're relatives, blood-related within three generations." A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes. She wondered why she hadn't realized before that Tang Ruoyao had such a vivid imagination.

"Forget about her, let's go to sleep." Qin Yinong snuggled into Tang Ruoyao's arms and wearily closed her eyes.

Tang Ruoyao tucked her in and yawned as well.

The matters concerning the Ji family came to an end. As long as Ji Yunyao was doing well and not causing trouble, they would both be fine.

They embraced each other and fell asleep.

When they woke up from their nap and went downstairs, the troublesome Miss Ji was still in the living room. Ningning was wearing headphones, listening to a story, while Ji Yunyao was writing, using Ningning's calligraphy practice book.

Upon seeing them coming down, Ji Yunyao lifted her eyelids slightly and said, "Good afternoon."

Her tone was neither friendly nor hostile. What surprised them the most was that her malicious facade had disappeared, and she exuded a sense of indifference to worldly matters.

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao exchanged a glance and saw caution in each other's eyes.

Ji Yunyao paid no attention to their wariness and calmly continued her calligraphy practice.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Ji Yunyao received a phone call. She walked back from the balcony and gently rubbed Ningning's little face in her hands, saying, "Big sister has to go back now. If you miss me, remember to call me."

Ningning obediently nodded.

"Do you remember big sister's phone number?"

Ningning was still at the age where she could remember the numbers of close family members, so she fluently recited a string of digits, "18XXXXXXXXX."

"Good girl." Ji Yunyao kissed the child's cheek, and the child kissed her back.

"See you next week, big sister." Ningning accompanied her to the entrance of the main house, reluctant to part.

"See you next week." Ji Yunyao crouched down, linking her pinky finger with Ningning's.

Qin Yinong accompanied her to the gate, watching her get into the driver's car.

Ji Yunyao sat in the back seat, nodded towards her, and raised the window, blocking the prying eyes with the dark tinted film.

Qin Yinong watched the black luxury sedan drive away, then turned around and met Tang Ruoyao's furrowed brows.

"What's wrong?" The woman paused for a moment and asked.

"Nothing." Tang Ruoyao let out a relieved breath and smiled. "She's finally gone."

"Yes, she's finally gone." Qin Yinong's lips curved into a smile and echoed her sentiment.

The atmosphere at home returned to normal. Qin Yinong relaxedly sat on the floor with Ningning and absentmindedly picked up the calligraphy practice book that Ji Yunyao had used on the nearby small table. The content was the same as Ningning's previous page, even the handwriting deliberately imitated Ningning's, with large and round childlike characters.

This person is incredibly meticulous, even when writing a word, as if she is guarding against anyone glimpsing her thoughts.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow without expressing agreement or disagreement and closed the notebook.

Her phone buzzed and vibrated.

Qin Yinong lowered her head, unlocked her phone, and saw a message from Tang Ruoyao. With a questioning look of "Why send a message when we're face-to-face," she opened the message box.

Tang Ruoyao sat next to her, pointing to a link on her screen and the words "Supporting the Responsible Use of Original Works." She said, "Wen Shuxian recommended it. Weren't you looking to read a novel?"

Qin Yinong clicked on the link, which led to a novel website called "Jinjiang Literature City." Tang Ruoyao patiently guided her through the registration and top-up process, then entered the recommended novel's title in the search bar, made the purchase, and completed the download.

Qin Yinong blinked, and Tang Ruoyao said, "There you go."

Qin Yinong then went to the side to catch up on her lessons, holding her phone.

Tang Ruoyao estimated the time when school would be over and called Tang Fei.

Tang Fei picked up instantly, saying, "Sis!"

Listening to the honking on the other side of the road, Tang Ruoyao naturally felt a hint of worry and advised, "Be safe."

"I know, I'm always on the sidewalk, far away from those cars." The young voice was full of energy. He happily bounced and asked, "How is my sister-in-law's health?"

Tang Ruoyao glanced in Qin Yinong's direction, noticing her slightly furrowed brows. It seemed she hadn't had much exposure to online literature. She couldn't help but lower her eyes and smiled, saying, "She's doing well, reading a book."

Qin Yinong also looked up at her, her gaze warm.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Your sister-in-law and I..." She blurted out that term of address and her ears slightly reddened. Meeting Qin Yinong's teasing gaze, she blushed even more and lowered her voice, saying, "We plan to invite you to the Qin family for dinner tomorrow. What do you think?"

Tang Fei exclaimed, "Tomorrow?!"

Tang Ruoyao looked slightly startled, "Are you busy?" Did you make plans with your classmates to go out?

"I'm free." Tang Fei lamented, "Sis, why are you so thoughtless? You're telling me about such an important matter just today? I haven't made any preparations at all!"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Tang Fei: "You're driving me crazy!"

Tang Ruoyao: "Can't you just come as yourself? What preparations do you need?"

"My niece's gift!" Tang Fei swiftly scanned his surroundings, contemplating if there was a large shopping mall nearby. After thinking for a moment, he dashed in a particular direction while speaking rapidly, "Does she like dolls? Or does she prefer Transformers? How tall is she? Does she like wearing little dresses? White or pink?"

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

After Tang Fei's barrage of questions, she suddenly remembered that it had been so long, and she completely forgot about preparing a gift for Ningning.

"That's your niece." Tang Ruoyao corrected him dryly.

"I even got the title wrong," Tang Fei said, "Sis, I'm so disappointed in you! Hurry up, if you don't know what she likes, just ask my sister-in-law, stop dragging it out."

Tang Ruoyao, being scolded by her "little father" Tang Fei, felt her head drooping, and she decided to leave this matter to Qin Yinong. Generally, it was the man's responsibility to invite the woman's parents.

Qin Yinong was quite satisfied with her trust and took the phone, speaking calmly, "Is this Tang Fei? I'm Qin Yinong. Well, tomorrow I plan to invite you to formally meet my family and discuss mine and Tang Ruoyao's lifelong commitment."

Lifelong commitment?

Tang Ruoyao's shoulders tensed up, and her heartbeat skipped a beat uncontrollably. She didn't mention this step before!

She was far from prepared for a dowry!

Qin Yinong, with a probing mindset, held her breath and glanced at Tang Ruoyao from the corner of her eye, anxiously wondering: Is she resistant to marriage?

Tang Fei, mature beyond his years, said, "Alright, I'll definitely come."

Qin Yinong said, "I will send a car to pick you up. Guan Han will go together. You know her, right?"

Tang Fei, easygoing, said, "I know her, I know."

Tang Fei displayed a courteous demeanor in front of Qin Yinong, speaking in a measured and composed manner, truly displaying the demeanor of a parent. However, when he was about to address Qin Yinong as "您" (a polite form of "you") or "你" (a less formal form of "you"), he hesitated.

Tang Fei carefully chose his words, saying, "I heard from my sister that you have a daughter who is almost four years old, right? I thought of buying her a gift, I don't know what she would like."

Qin Yinong chuckled and said, "There's no need to spend money."

Tang Fei earnestly replied, "I insist."

Qin Yinong pondered for a moment and said, "Then buy her a Nine Rings Puzzle or a Rubik's Cube. They are practical and not expensive. If Ningning doesn't want to play with them, Tang Ruoyao can teach her. Tang Ruoyao is so smart, she will definitely learn quickly."

Tang Fei replied, "Okay."

After a brief conversation, Qin Yinong handed the phone back to Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao's mind was filled with echoes of Qin Yinong's words about a "lifelong commitment," and she was momentarily stunned when she took the phone.

Tang Fei confirmed that he was talking to his sister again and said, "Sister-in-law told me to buy a Nine Rings Puzzle or a Rubik's Cube, but I think that's too casual. So I'll also buy a set of Barbie dolls. Sis, is that okay?"

Tang Ruoyao absentmindedly replied, "Sure."

Tang Fei counted and said, "Nine Rings Puzzle, Rubik's Cube, Barbie dolls, bird's nest, fruit. What else should I buy?"

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why so many?"

Tang Fei sighed, feeling tired, and said, "There's also my sister-in-law's mother. Should I visit her empty-handed?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "...It's up to you. You're just a little kid, but you're so particular about etiquette."

"I'm doing it all for you! Isn't it all for your sake?" Tang Fei said earnestly, "I'm your only relative from your natal family. My face is your face."

"Alright, that's enough," Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but smile.

Tang Fei also laughed and said, "Okay, I'll go buy them, and you can reimburse me."

"Reimburse," Tang Ruoyao said, "Buy them quickly and send me a message when you get home."

Qin Yinong looked at Tang Ruoyao putting away her phone and smiled, "Did you finish talking?"

"Yes," Tang Ruoyao hesitated to speak, and after a while, her lips moved slightly as she whispered, "Qin Yinong."

Qin Yinong gently looked at her, "Hmm?"

Tang Ruoyao bit her lower lip, mustered up her courage, and asked, "What did you say just now, about discussing... something between you and me?"

Author's Note:

Sister Qin [Elong Roaring]: A lifelong commitment! Yes! Marry me!

↑I hope this lady can say it in the main text. Let's encourage the shy Sister Qin, okay? Let's put the proposal on the agenda as soon as possible. Whether Qin will be the attacker or not depends on this moment, let's go, Qin attacker! The banner of Qin attacker will never fall!

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