CHAPTER 169

Tang Fei opened the refrigerator and took out two eggs before disappearing into the kitchen again.

Tang Ruoyao and Ningning rushed to take their showers, agreeing to meet downstairs. Ningning, being small, ended up getting her hair wet in the swimming pool, and it was Qin Yinong who helped her wash it.

When Tang Ruoyao came downstairs, the bathroom on the first floor was still closed, with light shining through the glass.

Tang Ruoyao patiently waited at the door.

After a short while, Qin Yinong emerged with a soft little princess. She wasn't wearing a skirt or pajamas but a red and black checkered oversized shirt that reached her knees, exhibiting a carefree and childlike style.

At such a young age, she was already at the forefront of fashion.

Qin Yinong handed the towel to Ningning and crouched down, asking her, "Would you like Auntie Tang to dry your hair?"

Ningning glanced at Tang Ruoyao without much hesitation and said, "Okay."

Qin Yinong glanced at Tang Ruoyao and gave her a meaningful look.

Tang Ruoyao smiled.

The child had soft and delicate hair, and it was the first time Tang Ruoyao dried her hair. Her movements were exceptionally gentle, her expression focused, and she dared not divert even a shred of her attention. Qin Yinong, who was just a few steps away, could only occasionally catch a brief glance.

Qin Yinong felt jealous and tried to convince herself that this was a necessary process. If Tang Ruoyao wanted to gain Ningning's approval, she had to pass this test.

Defeated by her own pettiness, Qin Yinong helped Ji Shulan carry a dish to the table.

Usually, there weren't too many home-cooked dishes, even with Tang Fei around. At most, there would be ten dishes. With more people, the advantage was significant. Just as Qin Yinong put down one dish and went back into the kitchen, the table was already neatly set.

Tang Ruoyao happened to finish folding the towel and lightly combed Ningning's hair before leading her over while holding her warm little hand.

She lifted Ningning on a chair and glanced around, only to find Qin Yinong standing by a chair, not moving and looking peculiar.

Tang Ruoyao pulled the chair for her and whispered in her ear with a low chuckle, "Should I hold you too?"

Qin Yinong glanced at her, half annoyed and half displeased, and then sat down with a smile.

The evening's family time flew by, and Ningning rubbed her eyes and went to her room to sleep. Upon Qin Yinong's signal, Tang Ruoyao took the initiative to invite, "Would Ningning like to sleep with us tonight?"

Ningning looked at Qin Yinong.

Last year, she would still proactively ask if she could sleep with her mother. But now that she's a year older, she no longer brings up such topics.

Qin Yinong gently said, "Mom has been in the hospital for so long and misses you a bit. Would you like to keep Mom company?"

Ningning leaped into her arms.

The master bedroom had a large bed, more than enough for three people, especially considering that technically Ningning wasn't a complete person yet, lying in the middle, small and petite.

Tang Ruoyao held a copy of "Harry Potter" in her hand and told stories to the mother and daughter. Her tone was calm and soothing, narrating the story with great skill, perfectly capturing the intense moments and captivating the audience.

Ningning was a quiet and well-behaved child. It was evident that she wanted to savor this warm moment a little longer. However, the biological clock took its toll, and she soon fell asleep with rosy cheeks and shallow breathing.

Tang Ruoyao closed the book, but Qin Yinong seemed to still want more.

Tang Ruoyao chuckled.

She didn't expect Qin Yinong to have such a childlike heart, getting more immersed in the story than Ningning.

"Did anyone read you storybooks when you were young?" With the child fast asleep, Tang Ruoyao spoke softly, mindful not to wake her, and asked in a gentle voice.

Qin Yinong shook her head.

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips, whispering, "Then I'll tell you stories every night from now on."

Qin Yinong glanced at Ningning, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her thoughts evident.

Tang Ruoyao leaned over, carefully avoiding the little one, and whispered word by word in her ear, "I'll tell them to you alone."

Qin Yinong's heart melted like honey, wanting to kiss her, but it wasn't convenient. The two of them coordinated their positions, careful not to disturb the child, and exchanged a gentle kiss.

Tang Ruoyao pulled back and turned off the bedside lamp.

The two adults slept on opposite sides, while Ningning slept soundly, motionless. Tang Ruoyao took the initiative to embrace her, and after holding the small child, she still had the strength to embrace Qin Yinong.

The mother and daughter squeezed into the same thin yet warm embrace, sleeping peacefully.

Unexpectedly, it was Tang Ruoyao who found it a bit difficult to fall asleep.

She repeatedly extended her hand, silently confirming the reality of the scene before her, and finally, with a faint smile on her lips, she drifted off into a deep sleep.

......

The next morning, the Qin family bathed in the sunlight.

Each member of the family went about their own tasks—practicing calligraphy, reading books, and Tang Fei accompanied Ji Shulan in the garden, watering the flowers. He got along well with the two elderly people, Ji Shulan and Aunt Fang, and often took the initiative to help with chores. Ji Shulan privately told Qin Yinong that she liked Tang Fei very much. She had learned about Tang Fei's current situation from Tang Ruoyao and had indirectly asked if he could stay here permanently. Qin Yinong expressed that it would depend on Tang Fei's own opinion.

But in Qin Yinong's opinion, Tang Fei probably enjoyed staying here. It was much better than being alone. The only thing that seemed a bit strange to her was that Ningning and Tang Fei, the two "peers," didn't play together as expected or form a friendship. Perhaps it was because they were of different genders? Both of them were more reserved, and it would take time for them to get to know each other.

Guan Han, who had rarely appeared these past two days, brought a private tutor for Ningning. They signed a confidentiality agreement. The teacher was a woman in her thirties with an overseas education background and a minor in psychology. She wore black-framed glasses and had a serious and stern appearance, rarely smiling.

They started the trial class with Qin Yinong watching from the side. She noticed that the teacher was different in class compared to her usual self, showing a lot of love for the child. She spoke persuasively, guiding her to think in an inspiring way. What was more important was that she was skilled at playing the piano, which meant they could save on piano lessons.

They immediately signed a contract which included working from ten in the morning to five in the evening, weekends off, and providing full social security benefits and a generous salary.

Ningning would now have a structured life of studying at home. Tang Ruoyao felt a bit regretful that she would have less time alone with Ningning, but Qin Yinong felt a sense of relief.

No matter how smart and well-behaved a child was, having them occupy your entire day, to the point where even dating required scheduling during nap time or at night, was truly like dealing with a little demon king.

On the first day of the little demon king going to school, Qin Yinong slept until five in the afternoon. She would sleep before three and get bored after three, picking up a strand of Tang Ruoyao's black hair and absentmindedly chatting. When she got tired of talking, she would nestle in Tang Ruoyao's arms and continue sleeping.

It was already getting dark when she finally got up lazily. Qin Yinong had never experienced such laziness in years. She felt boneless from sleeping, and only her peachy smiling eyes were visible from the covers.

Tang Ruoyao lifted her up and helped her put on her coat and tie her hair. It was loosely tied at the back of her head, with two strands falling in front of her forehead, accentuating her delicate and boneless appearance, exuding a lazy charm.

Tang Ruoyao pinched the hair tie behind her head, released it, and a smile appeared on her lips. She said, "Did your mom ever tie your hair like this when you were little?"

She used both hands to pull the corners of her eyes, elongating her big and spirited phoenix eyes, making them narrow.

Qin Yinong stared at her for a while and asked, "What do you mean?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "I read on Weibo once that when mothers tie braids for their children, they like to pull the scalp tightly, making it look lively." She found it amusing herself. "Did you experience that?"

Qin Yinong reminisced about her childhood and said, "No, my sister used to tie my braids." She lifted the corners of her lips and smiled self-deprecatingly. "My mom didn't have the time."

Tang Ruoyao said, "My mom passed away a long time ago."

Qin Yinong glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "What now? Are we competing to see who had a worse childhood?"

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter.

She said, "No, I just wanted to say that I wanted to try tying your hair for you."

Qin Yinong pretended to be angry. "You have some nerve!"

Tang Ruoyao laughed heartily and took the initiative to untie her hair tie. She carefully combed through her smooth and silky long hair, brushing the bangs in front of her forehead to the back, revealing a clean and full ivory forehead and captivating eyebrows.

While combing, Tang Ruoyao said, "When I first met you, it was through posters in a small shop near the school. I think they were one yuan each at that time."

Tang Ruoyao's movements were gentle as she tied her hair tightly, not causing her any pain. Qin Yinong closed her eyes and felt the pull on her scalp, lazily saying, "When you were a child?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "In fifth or sixth grade, who told you to debut so early?"

Qin Yinong chuckled and with her unique lazy tone, said, "So, it's my fault? How come this little kid is turning the tables?"

Since she played the role of a little sheep at home, she rarely showed this side of herself. Occasional glimpses of it, like the noon kiss where Tang Ruoyao took the initiative, always made her heart flutter.

Tang Ruoyao eased the pressure on her heart, paused for a few seconds, and continued, "I will always remember how you looked in the poster—your lazy, long curly hair, bright and mesmerizing eyes, slightly parted red lips, as if tempting anyone who saw it to kiss you."

Qin Yinong asked, "Hmm? Did you kiss me?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "Of course not, but many boys in our class liked you."

Qin Yinong quickly lost interest. "Oh."

Tang Ruoyao continued, "At that time, I was reading stories from the Bible, and whenever I saw Eve tempting Adam with the fruit from the tree of knowledge, I always thought of your face. If it were you, no matter what request you made, even if it meant someone immediately dying, he would willingly comply."

Qin Yinong opened her eyes and said, "Although I'm a bit flattered, why are you suddenly praising me?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "I just wanted to ask about your first impression of me." She complimented Qin Yinong, so it was only fair for Qin Yinong to compliment her back.

"Did you really recognize me as my mother's daughter back then?"

"No," Qin Yinong admitted, confessing that she had lied that night. "I only recognized you when I accompanied you home last time and saw the photo album. Before that, I just felt that you looked familiar."

"So, you love me simply because I'm me, and it has nothing to do with my mother?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, then what was your first impression of me?" Tang Ruoyao returned to the main topic, eagerly asking. A not-so-good beginning, because of the beautiful ending, also became beautiful.

Qin Yinong seemed like a heaven-sent hero, a hero riding a colorful cloud, rescuing her.

Qin Yinong showed a nostalgic expression.

That night at the dining table was not the first time Qin Yinong had seen Tang Ruoyao. She thought that Tang Ruoyao definitely wouldn't want her to know. She had come out for some fresh air from her own gathering and coincidentally witnessed her being harassed by a man, a man slightly shorter and overweight compared to her.

The young girl, who was still very naive at the time, clenched her jawline into a straight line, trying to turn her head and shake off the man's lecherous hand reaching for her chin.

Qin Yinong had drunk some alcohol at the time and quietly watched, her gaze devoid of emotion.

Guan Han followed her line of sight and softly said, "Qin Jie?"

Qin Yinong responded with a word and calmly withdrew her gaze.

Guan Han asked, "Shall we go back?"

"Yeah." Qin Yinong glanced back one last time but saw a pair of defiant yet restrained eyes, belonging to that girl.

Qin Yinong paused, lifted her eyelids, looked at Guan Han beside her, and spoke in an extremely calm tone, "Go find out which private room they're in."

......

"For the first impression, I thought you... were like a star," Qin Yinong pondered for a moment and said.

"Why?"

"Because you were shining." Although it was very faint, not even a warm glow, it was just sudden, like a lightning bolt tearing through the sky, and her world was no longer in darkness.

"What kind of metaphor is that?" Tang Ruoyao's finger movement paused, not fully understanding, but it didn't hinder her joy.

"I don't know, I was a bit drunk at the time." Qin Yinong smiled.

"And now?"

"Like the sun." Qin Yinong answered without hesitation.

"Does it warm you up?" Tang Ruoyao laughed.

"Very much." Qin Yinong tilted her head back and took the initiative to kiss her lips.

Tang Ruoyao's eyes curved with delight.

Tang Ruoyao tied a ponytail for Qin Yinong, making sure her long hair was neatly secured to her scalp. It didn't pull her eyes into a narrow slit like before, but the tightness on her scalp felt strangely unfamiliar to Qin Yinong.

"Actually, Mom used to like putting a flower on kids' heads. Since there's no flower, let me give you a kiss instead." Tang Ruoyao bent down and gently planted a kiss on her hair.

Tang Ruoyao handed her a mirror to see, and Qin Yinong's eyes showed satisfaction. Tang Ruoyao proceeded to tie one for herself, mimicking the same style.

The two of them looked at each other and suddenly couldn't resist their playful nature as they simultaneously said, "Mom."

They shared a knowing smile.

"Okay, let's stop playing," Qin Yinong's cheeks blushed slightly as she said, "Ningning should be looking for us after class."

Tang Ruoyao arranged her slippers for her, and Qin Yinong stepped into them. After nearly five hours of being apart, her feet touched the ground again. In the past, she wouldn't have dared to imagine idling around and sleeping for the entire afternoon.

Laziness can become addictive, Qin Yinong realized for the first time.

Ningning was watching TV in the living room. Qin Yinong asked her a few simple questions like "Are you tired?" and "Do you like your new teacher?" before joining her to watch cartoons. After a while, Tang Ruoyao felt like something was missing, and it was Qin Yinong who asked, "Where's Xiaofei?"

Tang Ruoyao couldn't find Tang Fei anywhere, so she asked Aunt Fang, who said the driver had taken him back home because he had to go to school tomorrow. He had an essay to write and homework to review.

Tang Ruoyao went to the side and called Tang Fei.After a couple of rings, Tang Fei answered the call.Tang Ruoyao felt embarrassed and said, "Xiaofei."

Tang Fei greeted her and said, "Did you wake up in the land of tenderness?"

Tang Ruoyao was momentarily speechless and said, "Why didn't you tell me when you left?"

Tang Fei replied, "Who knew what you and your sister-in-law were doing upstairs? Enjoying your honeymoon, I understand."

"You... You understand..." Tang Ruoyao's temples throbbed, and Qin Yinong looked at her with a puzzled expression. Tang Ruoyao swallowed back the inappropriate words and said, "Remember to send me a message next time."

"I got it."

"What are you having for dinner tonight?"

"Noodles. I've learned to make them myself. I'll cook for you when I have the time. They taste much better than before."

......

Tang Ruoyao hung up the phone and returned. Qin Yinong noticed that she didn't seem to be in a good mood, so she reached out and touched her face, asking, "What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao said she asked Tang Fei if he would be willing to move to Qin's house. Tang Fei said he wanted to finish this semester first, but if she wanted to see him, she could bring him to Qin's house anytime.

Ningning wasn't ready to change her name to "Mom" so quickly. After all, Tang Ruoyao didn't give birth to her or raise her. Essentially, they were familiar strangers. She thought it would be easier to talk to Tang Fei here since she was here. Wasn't it enough for him to move to a different neighborhood? He had already moved to the capital for her, let alone just switching to another residential area.

Qin Yinong remained silent for a moment and asked earnestly, "You've been a bit impatient lately. Is something bothering you?"

Tang Ruoyao panicked inwardly but calmly replied, "Is there something bothering me?"

Qin Yinong nodded.

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, "It's all because I want to marry you quickly. There are one problem after another that can't be solved. It will take forever to get married."

"Maybe it's because I have too much free time and I like to overthink." Tang Ruoyao made up an excuse casually.

"Do you have any good scripts?" Unexpectedly, Qin Yinong's expression became serious as she asked her.

"...Yes," Tang Ruoyao answered, her expression conflicted.

During her long break at home, including the few months after the completion of "True Colors," Tang Ruoyao had been waiting for a script. Naturally, she had received some good scripts, and Mu Qingwu had been urging her to respond as soon as possible.

But Tang Ruoyao hadn't given a definite reply yet.

"Hmm?" Qin Yinong asked her, "Is there any difficulty?"

"No, it's just..." Her voice lowered, "I don't want to leave you." A movie takes at least three months, and sometimes up to half a year. She was still in the honeymoon phase with Qin Yinong, how could she bear the pain of separation?

Qin Yinong felt a pang in her heart but refused to let emotions cloud her judgment. She asked, "What's the movie about?" Tang Ruoyao wasn't her, she was still in the rising period of her career. Her output was already low, and now she had been on hiatus for almost half a year. She couldn't afford any further delays.

Tang Ruoyao said, "It's a literary biographical film."

Qin Yinong narrowed her eyes, "Show me the script and the list of key personnel."

Tang Ruoyao responded, "Okay."

The two of them stopped discussing work further, but they both knew that this day would come sooner or later. The Golden Acacia Awards ceremony was just over half a month away, and Qin Yinong had been absent for so long, it was time for her to make an appearance.

She needs to face the media, the audience, and the doubts again. The only consolation for her is that Tang Ruoyao, as a nominated leading actress, will attend the awards ceremony with her. Even if they don't walk the red carpet together and their seats aren't arranged next to each other, it's enough to give her strength.

After Ningning was exposed, the online matters were basically calmed down under Ji Yunyao's thunderous measures. But even without Ningning, there were still many people speculating about the child's biological father. The gossip and entertainment forums were filled with countless posts, and there were new candidates every day.

Everyone sensitively avoided discussing the child's information and instead focused on Qin Yinong's various rumored partners, discussing them fervently. Ji Yunyao wouldn't intervene, and An Ling couldn't handle it well either. It had been a trivial matter for many years, and sending a lawyer's letter would only draw more attention. Moreover, Qin Yinong hadn't given her a concrete stance up until now, so she simply stopped caring. Out of sight, out of mind. She let the netizens speculate blindly and instructed the PR department to keep an eye on it, promptly putting a stop to any malicious rumors.

The entertainment industry was always filled with storms and dissipations, forever revolving around those fleeting matters.

And there was another person who sparked discussions among netizens—the mysterious person who helped Tang Ruoyao find love. Who exactly was it? Inside or outside the industry? Male or female? How far had their relationship progressed?

According to a certain gossip studio's revelation, they had once captured video footage of Tang Ruoyao and her mysterious boyfriend on a date in an outdoor parking lot of a mall. The video was taken from afar, so the quality wasn't high. Tang Ruoyao was naturally in disguise, wearing a black windbreaker, a mask, and a low-brimmed baseball cap. The man was of average height compared to her, and he appeared slightly shorter in the video. He also wore a long windbreaker, had black short hair, wore a mask, and looked slender and fragile, as if a gust of wind could blow him away. One of his hands was filled with delicate shopping bags. Tang Ruoyao walked ahead, holding the man's wrist from behind, and she turned around to smile at him, showing a close relationship.

Marketing accounts reposted it one after another.

"Tang Ruoyao's Mystery Boyfriend Exposed? Is He a Younger Guy?"

Fans were surprised.

[Oh my, what is this? His height???]

[Tang Tang, look at me, I'm even taller than this guy! He's so short, the child's genes won't be good in the future.]

[I thought it was going to be a tall and handsome gentleman, turns out it's a fragile little puppy, emmm.]

[Am I the only one who thinks he's not bad? Our Tang Tang is so dominant, how many men can tame her? It's better to have a little puppy by her side, to play around and have some fun. And the little puppy seems quite gentlemanly, always carrying things for her.]

[Yeah, it's better than dating an old man. Look at those 85-born brothers-in-laws, the fans are miserable.]

[No matter what, I still wish Tang Tang a happy love life and hope she doesn't get too caught up in love and focuses on her career. I hope she films a new movie soon. Her fans are eagerly waiting.]

[Going off-topic here, but the little puppy is kind of handsome. Even though only his eyes are visible.]

Tang Fei, the little puppy himself, thinking: "???"

It happened that Tang Ruoyao took him shopping for clothes that day, and who would have thought they would be caught by paparazzi! They even mistook him for her boyfriend. Did her sister-in-law approve of it?

"Sis!" Tang Fei called her on the phone. "My classmates are all asking if that person is me. How should I answer?"

"Isn't it too late to ask now? It's already evening. How did you answer?"

"I played dumb and managed to get through it." Tang Fei chuckled, then turned serious and asked, "Do you want to clarify anything? Should I cooperate with something?"

"What can you cooperate with?" Tang Ruoyao asked back.

Tang Fei scratched his head and said, "It seems like there's nothing I can really cooperate with." Tang Ruoyao could just post a photo of them together on Weibo, and the truth would be revealed.

He asked with a hint of caution, "Is my sister-in-law angry?"

"That's not something you should worry about. Focus on your studies for now, we'll talk later."

"Oh." Tang Fei stepped back.

Tang Ruoyao rubbed her forehead. She had just finished a call with Mu Qingwu, who was furious. She asked, "Aren't you dating Qin Yinong? How come you're playing both sides, with a man and a woman?"

Tang Ruoyao explained helplessly, "He's my younger brother."

Mu Qingwu complimented her brother's looks and asked how she wanted to handle the public relations. The best time to clarify things would be during the evening peak traffic period, which was when the news broke, or tomorrow at noon. He guaranteed that there wouldn't be any backlash.

Tang Ruoyao asked her to wait for a moment and walked back from the corner of the living room.

Qin Yinong put the child sitting on her leg down and stood up, heading to the upstairs study. "Come."

On the desk in the study, calligraphy scrolls were spread out, with neat and messy handwriting on separate sheets of white paper, each from a different person. Qin Yinong casually flipped one of the blank papers over so that it faced downward and asked, "What's the matter?"

Following An Ling's strategy of not bothering her with messy matters, Tang Ruoyao didn't report this incident. She handed her phone, which was still on the hot search page, to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong looked at the headline "Tang Ruoyao's Mystery Boyfriend Exposed" and felt a slight jump in her nerves that had been dormant in the gentle town for some time.

If she had felt that the person who just came to cause trouble was clueless before, now she couldn't even put on a normal expression on her face after reading it.

Media reporters are really going crazy chasing after news.

Qin Yinong handed the phone back without saying a word.

Tang Ruoyao shared the same thought as her, feeling helpless as she said, "Sister Mu asked me if I wanted to clarify things. I wanted to discuss it with you first."

She had already brought up Mu Qingwu's phone number from her contacts. Asking Qin Yinong was just a formality. Once Qin Yinong said the word "clarify," she would dial the number.

However, Qin Yinong said, "Don't clarify."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why?"

Qin Yinong raised her eyebrows and looked straight at her, saying, "Let the media and netizens think you have a boyfriend, and let your boyfriend be like this."

They understood each other so well. Their relationship couldn't be exposed at the moment. Tang Fei, who unexpectedly gained the title of a mysterious boyfriend, was the smokescreen Tang Ruoyao released to the outside world.

Tang Ruoyao slowly put down her phone and lowered her gaze, saying, "Okay."

Compared to the various speculations about her mysterious partner's identity on the internet, which caused a storm, using Tang Fei to silence the crowd was a clever move.

But she still couldn't feel happy.

Qin Yinong pursed her lips, walked around to the back of the study desk, opened a drawer, and inside lay a blue velvet box. After thinking for a moment, she took out what was inside the box and held it in her palm, then walked up to Tang Ruoyao and stopped.

"Yaoyao." The woman took a gentle breath and, in front of her, opened her palm. To Tang Ruoyao's surprise, there was a ring.

Tang Ruoyao was stunned.

Author's Note:

Miss Yao: Ah, I'm dead.

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