CHAPTER 170

"Yaoyao."

Qin Yinong showed her the ring in her palm, trying to maintain a restrained calm expression.

It felt like a small needle pricked her fingertip, numbing her entire body. Tang Ruoyao's mind became a chaotic mess, completely losing the ability to think. She looked down at the ring, then up at the woman, standing there at a loss.

She didn't even know if she was smiling with happiness or crying with excitement.

Qin Yinong didn't kneel down on one knee. She stood in front of her, holding the ring, and her lips moved a few times.

Tang Ruoyao didn't hear what she was saying at all. She moved her lips and her voice was very low and hoarse as she said, "I do."

Qin Yinong: "???"

Her eyes shimmered, displaying an incredulous expression as if she had heard something unbelievable. Then a flicker of annoyance and regret passed by.

Tang Ruoyao didn't pay much attention and reached out to take the ring.

What is restraint? Forget about it.

Qin Yinong raised her voice and said again, "Yaoyao."

The buzzing in Tang Ruoyao's ears created an invisible and silent wall that cracked open, the glass shattered, and the sounds from the outside world poured in. She glanced at Qin Yinong's withdrawn hand and realized that she had been continuously reaching forward, as if she was snatching the ring from her. It made her feel embarrassed for a moment.

She awkwardly retracted her hand, brought it back behind her, and thought about putting on the ring. She quickly brought it back down to her side and wiped her slightly damp fingers on her clothes.Qin Yinong didn't know how to speak anymore. The words she had just said couldn't be said a second time.

How could she have expected that Tang Ruoyao would think she was proposing right now and blurted out, "I do."

The woman remained silent for a long time, and it was far from the nervousness one would imagine during a proposal. Tang Ruoyao's intelligence, which had been absent when she ran away from home, gradually returned. She first focused her gaze on the ring that Qin Yinong had been holding in her palm. It was a plain platinum band, shimmering with a faint silver luster. It looked ordinary on the surface, without any large diamonds or even small diamonds for embellishment.

Qin Yinong wouldn't be careless enough to turn an engagement ring into a wedding band. Even if it was a pair of rings, there shouldn't be just one.

This didn't align with how she valued herself.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't hide her embarrassment, but she cleared her throat and said, "This is..."

Qin Yinong was afraid of any ambiguity, so she tried to express herself clearly and slowly: "The Golden Acacia Awards ceremony will take place in half a month. This is the ring I plan to wear that day."

The two of them shared a telepathic connection. Qin Yinong said the first part, and Tang Ruoyao already knew the next part. She solemnly asked, "Are you planning to announce your marriage to the media?"

Qin Yinong nodded.

They both skipped the topic of a proposal as if it never existed. Qin Yinong continued, "I've thought about it. Instead of letting them speculate, I'd rather announce it myself. As for who the marriage partner is, I won't answer. In the future, if there are any false rumors from the media, I'll have a legitimate reason for my studio to clarify them."

Qin Yinong had accumulated too much negative publicity, and clearing it all up wouldn't happen overnight. Releasing explosive news all at once would diminish its impact and leave nothing behind, while also leaving room for opponents to take advantage. She started by announcing her marriage, eliminating any future malicious rumors, and slowly cleansing her past.

Moreover, even though Tang Ruoyao never expressed any opinions on her rumors, Qin Yinong understood that even if she knew they were fake, it still made her uncomfortable. This was a respect for their relationship and for Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao murmured in agreement.

Her thoughts were completely consumed by this matter. She cared more about how Qin Yinong would choose to face the world this time, rather than a straightforward proposal based on timing. When she was in the hospital, Qin Yinong said she would consider her suggestions, and she thought it would happen much later, but it seemed like she was already preparing.

Every word she said, every single character, was sincere and not perfunctory.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Qin Yinong said halfway, noticing that Tang Ruoyao was staring at her intently. She raised her hand and touched her own face, wondering if there was something on it.

"It's nothing." Tang Ruoyao smiled and gently took Qin Yinong's empty hand, leading her to a nearby sofa. She said softly, "Let's sit down and talk instead of standing. We might get tired."

Unconsciously, Qin Yinong clenched the hand holding the ring into a fist and sat beside her.

Qin Yinong continued, "And about Ningning, I'll never publicly reveal her true identity to the media. But she must have a legitimate and unquestionable status in terms of morality and the law. She is my biological child, not a child of unknown parentage, and that's something I'm unwilling to disclose."

Tang Ruoyao nodded in understanding.

There was no need for unnecessary words. Tang Ruoyao understood everything. Qin Yinong tightened her fist, uncertain whether it was better to take out the ring that caused the misunderstanding or leave it be.

Sensing her dilemma, Tang Ruoyao mischievously remained silent, waiting for the woman's next move.

Qin Yinong still handed the ring to Tang Ruoyao and came up with a clumsy excuse, lacking confidence: "Could you help me put it on and see if it fits?"

Tang Ruoyao took it and held Qin Yinong's left hand, knowingly asking, "Which finger should I put it on?"

Qin Yinong lifted her ring finger.

Tang Ruoyao intended to laugh, but when she picked up the ring to put it on Qin Yinong's finger, she suddenly lost any inclination for teasing. Her gaze focused, her thin lips pursed, revealing her nervousness.

Tang Ruoyao held the woman's hand and slowly pushed the gleaming platinum ring onto the base of her ring finger. It fit perfectly, just right.

A peculiar affection surged within her, breaking free from all restraints, compelling her to bow her head involuntarily and lightly kiss the ring.

The icy ring slipped onto her ring finger, and the skin on the back of her finger was gently kissed. Qin Yinong lowered her gaze, watching the young woman before her devoutly kissing her, feeling an unusually calm mood.

She was like a weary traveler, journeying through a blizzard, and finally finding her place of safety.

A small house stood strong in the wind and snow, with a light always shining at the entrance. She quickened her pace, opened the door, and the howling cold wind swept in with snowflakes. She hurriedly closed the door, and her wife approached, saying, "You're back," while taking off her felt hat and wrapping her freezing red cheeks with a clean and warm towel, pulling her to sit by the fireplace. She poured her a cup of hot tea and gently asked about her day.

The child, at some point, had crawled to her feet and was sleeping soundly, with rosy cheeks. She took the blanket handed to her by her wife and spread it over the little one, and they exchanged a smile.

This was her imagination of a beautiful life, and Tang Ruoyao had made it all come true for her. In the days they spent together, Qin Yinong could feel her state of mind becoming more peaceful and serene with each passing day, along with an unshakable and secure happiness.

She was no longer a passerby, she was someone who had person coming home.

......

Tang Ruoyao nestled in Qin Yinong's embrace, one hand still holding the woman's left hand, while the other played with the newly worn ring, rotating it around her finger, and asked, "When did you buy this?"

Qin Yinong said, "A long time ago."

Tang Ruoyao pursued, "How long ago exactly?"

Qin Yinong recalled for a moment and said, "July 5th."

Tang Ruoyao laughed, "You remember it so clearly?"

Qin Yinong remained composed and unaffected, saying, "I have a receipt with the date on it." At that time, when she and Tang Ruoyao had just confirmed their relationship, Qin Yinong happened to pass by a jewelry store. Acting on a whim, she walked in and came out with a beautifully packaged bag in Guan Han's hands.

She naturally didn't buy the ring for the purpose of proposing; she intended to wear it herself when no one was around, just to indulge in the fantasy of a beautiful future. But she couldn't tell Tang Ruoyao that, as it would make her seem desperate for marriage.

However, Tang Ruoyao kept digging deeper, asking, "So you bought it a long time ago. Have you ever worn it yourself?"

Qin Yinong decisively lied, saying, "No, I've kept it in a drawer in the bedroom all this time."

Insightfully, Tang Ruoyao laughed and said, "Then how did it end up in the study now?"

Qin Yinong thought to herself, "What else could I do? I was afraid you would find out."

But Qin Yinong had a set of plausible excuses ready on her face as she said, "I planned to come to the study and tell you about this, so I brought it over in advance."

Tang Ruoyao exclaimed with a meaningful expression.

Qin Yinong's teeth felt a little itchy, and she involuntarily ground them, suddenly understanding why Tang Ruoyao enjoyed biting her so much. She didn't want to hit her, couldn't bear to kiss her, but by biting her with just the right amount of force, she could follow it up with a comforting kiss, killing two birds with one stone.

The two of them embraced each other in silence, forgetting about time until Tang Ruoyao's phone rang.

Tang Ruoyao checked the caller ID and straightened up from Qin Yinong's embrace. "Sister Mu."

Mu Qingwu asked, "Have you made up your mind? Do you want me to handle the public relations? I'm still at the company, waiting for your word."

Tang Ruoyao apologized first and then said, "No need to clarify, let everyone misunderstand."

Mu Qingwu knew about her relationship with Qin Yinong and asked one more question, "What does Miss Qin think? Have you asked her?"

Tang Ruoyao had a clean record without any negative news in the years before her debut. She also learned later that An Ling had been handling things behind the scenes, which made her particularly grateful.

Tang Ruoyao's cheeks flushed, and she looked up at Qin Yinong in front of her, whispering, "It's her decision."

Qin Yinong smiled at her.

Mu Qingwu was puzzled, "Why?"

Tang Ruoyao succinctly stated the key point, "Our relationship cannot be made public for now. If rumors circulate about me and someone else, she'll get jealous, but not with my brother."

Qin Yinong's hidden little thoughts were easily seen through, her mouth twitched, and she couldn't smile anymore.

Tang Ruoyao raised her lips and smiled happily.

Mu Qingwu, who had been fed dog food, said, "Alright then, I'll just go with the flow. The online comments are quite positive at the moment, so you don't need to worry." This was naturally thanks to Tang Ruoyao's popularity among the public and her untarnished reputation built through her works over the years.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Thank you, Sister Mu. You've worked hard. Let's have a meal together when you're free."

Mu Qingwu laughed and said, "You're about to become a big star. You're in a rush even for filming schedules, afraid of delaying your time to go home and be with your wife and children. And yet you have time to have a meal with me?"

Tang Ruoyao felt embarrassed and unconsciously softened her voice, complaining, "Sister Mu~"

She was almost acting spoiled.

Qin Yinong's expression subtly changed.

With her hands empty, Tang Ruoyao turned her head, and the phone that had been in her hand somehow ended up in Qin Yinong's hand. The woman calmly placed the receiver against her ear and said lightly to Mu Qingwu on the other end of the call, "Is this Miss Mu?"

Mu Qingwu recognized Qin Yinong's voice and said nervously, "You can just call me Xiaomu."

"Xiaomu," Qin Yinong readily complied, "Thank you for taking care of Yao Yao."

Mu Qingwu quickly replied, "It's my pleasure. Miss Qin is too polite."

Qin Yinong said, "When we have time, Yao Yao and I will treat you to a meal. Take care of yourself and rest well."

Mu Qingwu, being shrewd, naturally understood that Qin Yinong was indirectly telling her not to disturb their private time. Sensibly, she said, "Oh, I'm actually leaving work now. Miss Qin, goodbye. Please send my regards to Tang Ruoyao."

Qin Yinong didn't beat around the bush, "Hmm, goodbye."

She hung up the phone.

Mu Qingwu sat in her brightly lit office and let out a sigh of relief. Qin Yinong seemed gentle and easygoing, with no temper at all. It turned out her possessiveness was so strong. It was a lesson for Mu Qingwu not to judge a book by its cover. She was so scared that she even forgot to ask about the script for Tang Ruoyao.

On the other side.

Tang Ruoyao struggled to hold back her laughter. If she couldn't tell that Qin Yinong had something on her mind from her words, then she would be unworthy of being a top-notch student of Qin school.

She didn't expect Qin Yinong to be like this with outsiders. Just thinking about her cold tone and the strong possessiveness conveyed in her words, which were completely different from how she was in front of her, made Tang Ruoyao's legs weak. This woman had firmly grasped her heart. Tang Ruoyao liked every aspect that Qin Yinong showed, and she wanted nothing more than to mate with her right there.

Qin Yinong had an unusual expression on her face.

Tang Ruoyao thought she was annoyed by Mu Qingwu talking too much, so she approached and blinked her eyes. "Baby."

Qin Yinong pursed her thin lips.

Tang Ruoyao hugged her with both hands and teased her, "Why are you so fierce to Sister Mu?"

Qin Yinong didn't look at her and said calmly, "Am I fierce?"

"No," Tang Ruoyao loved her serious and awkward attitude, decisively changing sides. "You're too gentle."

Qin Yinong muttered, "I wonder who is gentle."

Tang Ruoyao heard it clearly, but she didn't understand. "What did you say?"

A faint displeasure appeared in Qin Yinong's expression as she said, "It's nothing."

She rarely showed this kind of emotion. Tang Ruoyao recalled their previous interactions in her mind, and suddenly realized the truth. She lightly tapped her forehead in regret and said, "Do you not like it when I talk to her like that? Are you angry?"

Qin Yinong glanced at her and said, "No, not at all."

The sound of the word "no" had a slight upward inflection, with an indifferent tone.

Translated into Qin language, it meant: Yes, very much! I'm furious!

Tang Ruoyao squatted down, straightened her posture, and explained sincerely, "Sister Mu is like a motherly manager, you know, the caring and considerate type. I treat her like a mother, that's why I talk to her like that."

Qin Yinong's anger subsided by more than half, and she said, "But you shouldn't..." Her thin lips trembled, and she spoke very softly, "...be affectionate with others."

Tang Ruoyao saw the grievances in her eyes, her heart softened and infatuated. She couldn't find her way in any direction, and she quickly responded, "Yes, I was wrong. I won't do it again. I'll only be affectionate with you."

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and then whispered, "Don't squat, get up."

Tang Ruoyao stood up and sat down, using the big dog-style bear hug to hold her, her eyes clear and bright.

"Sister."

Qin Yinong felt a bit uncomfortable and moved slightly, avoiding the warm breath blowing on her ear.

"Sister, sister."

Qin Yinong couldn't help but smile and hugged her back.

"Sister, I like you." Tang Ruoyao looked at her and said, her voice as sweet as candy.

Qin Yinong's eyes darkened, and she pressed her against the back of the sofa, leaning down to kiss her.

......

The ring on Qin Yinong's ring finger was taken off and returned to the blue velvet box. Tang Ruoyao held her hand as they walked out of the study, heading towards the staircase. She gently caressed Qin Yinong's empty ring finger with her thumb, thinking to herself, 'I will give you a real wedding ring sooner or later.'

Through this incident, Qin Yinong dispelled her doubts. Tang Ruoyao wouldn't be scared off by her proposal, in fact, she eagerly wanted to marry her.

Everything was ready, only the east wind was lacking.

Both of them were in a cheerful mood, occasionally making eye contact, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of malt candy.

Tang Ruoyao touched each finger, reaching the ring finger of Qin Yinong's left hand. Something flashed through her mind, and she suddenly asked, "Did you used to often wear a platinum ring on that finger?"

"Yes," Qin Yinong's eyes showed a hint of uneasiness.

"Why?"

"...Individualism." Although it was a valid reason, Qin Yinong felt a sense of embarrassment when explaining. Especially after being single for so many years and willingly falling into the pit called Tang Ruoyao, she couldn't extricate herself.

Is this what they call "being slapped in the face" that's popular on the internet?

Even if Tang Ruoyao could guess, she wouldn't have expected the convoluted thoughts going on in Qin Yinong's mind. She asked, "So where is that ring?"

"In the study, together with the one I just put away."

"Can you give it to me?"

"Huh?"

Tang Ruoyao tilted her head and smiled, "Keep it as a memento for me." Seeing the relieved expression on Qin Yinong's face, she laughed, "Why? Do you think I want to stay single? Being in love is so wonderful, having a... girlfriend is so wonderful. I won't be single in this lifetime, no chance."

Qin Yinong thought, girlfriend... What about "wife"? Does she secretly call me that?

Tang Ruoyao stared at the woman whose face was slowly turning red, "???"

Qin Yinong sensed her inquisitive gaze, cleared her throat, and said, "I'll give it to you later."

Tang Ruoyao stopped and looked at the empty first-floor living room, leaning over to plant a big kiss on Qin Yinong's cheek.

The sound was loud, echoing through the air and reverberating down the stairs.

In the piano room, the smooth and beautiful piano melody faltered for a moment, followed by several missed notes.

Qin Yinong's face turned red instantly.

Tang Ruoyao chuckled softly, and Qin Yinong pinched the back of her hand.

"Sister, that hurts..." Tang Ruoyao rested her chin on Qin Yinong's shoulder, her eyes shimmering with a watery glow as she spoke in a soft and coquettish voice.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Tang Ruoyao received the kiss she desired.

After Qin Yinong finished kissing her, and the spot on her hand where she was pinched returned to its usual fair color, she looked up at Tang Ruoyao and softly said without any hint of reproach, "Don't do that next time."

"Don't kiss you?" Tang Ruoyao teased her deliberately.

Qin Yinong corrected her, "Don't kiss me in such situations."

Tang Ruoyao felt like she was going crazy with suppressed laughter, pretending to be serious, she asked, "Then in what kind of situations is it allowed?"

"..."

"Can we do it now?" Tang Ruoyao blinked.

Qin Yinong's gaze that fell upon her was gentle, indulgent, and a little helpless.

Tang Ruoyao had initially meant to tease her, not thinking much about it, but now she had a lot of thoughts after being looked at by her like that.

She leaned over and kissed the woman, and they began kissing.

They were deeply engaged and enjoying the moment. Because they were in the living room, with all the doors on the ground floor closed, their hearts were beating faster than usual when kissing.

Gradually, they ignored all the surrounding sounds, only hearing each other's irregular breaths and warm exhalations.

The piano music had stopped at some point.

"Mom."

Qin Yinong was startled, she immediately pushed Tang Ruoyao away, and her heart almost jumped out of her throat.

Ningning stood not far away, covering her eyes tightly with her small hands, not letting even a sliver of a gap show. She appeared innocent and asked, "Are you done now?"

Tang Ruoyao sat back, hurriedly wiped the corner of Qin Yinong's lips with her sleeve, then lowered her head to wipe her own lips, and turned to look at Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong's face was flushed red.

Tang Ruoyao leaned to the side, blocking Qin Yinong behind herself, and said, "All done."

Ningning put down her hands and didn't comment on the scene just now. She said, "I want to go to sleep."

Tang Ruoyao was already accustomed to this and said, "I'll take you."

Ningning held her hand and looked back to see that Qin Yinong hadn't followed. She asked, "Where's Mom?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "Mom is shy."

Ningning giggled.

Qin Yinong's lip twitched.

Tang Ruoyao took Ningning back to her room, tucked her in and pulled down the curtains.

Ningning opened her eyes and called out, "Auntie Tang."

Tang Ruoyao softly responded, "I'm here. Do you want to hear a story? 'Harry Potter' or 'Grimm's Fairy Tales'?"

Ningning shook her head.

Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow.

The child asked, "Do you really like my mom?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Of course."

The child tilted her head and curiously asked, "Then why did you eat my mom's tongue? Are you a monster?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

No matter how shameless Tang Ruoyao was in front of Qin Yinong, she suddenly couldn't handle the child's question. After hesitating for a while, she stammered and reluctantly said, "It's not called eating the tongue, it's called..."

"What is it called?" Ningning blinked her eyes.

"People who love each other do that." Tang Ruoyao answered.

Ningning thought for a moment and said, "I love Mom, Mom loves me, why don't we do that?"

"Because..." Tang Ruoyao was sweating, trying to explain, "Your mom and I have a romantic love, but she has a maternal love for you."

"She used to kiss my mouth last year, but this year she said I've grown up and from now on, she can only kiss my face or forehead. No one else can do it, and if anyone does, I have to tell my parents."

"Your mom is right."

"Why?"

Tang Ruoyao wasn't good at educating children and hadn't read many books. She couldn't come up with an answer. What? She raised Tang Fei? But Tang Fei never had so many strange questions and just grew up in a daze.

"When you have a loved one in the future, you'll understand." Qin Yinong entered at some point, standing behind Tang Ruoyao, placing a hand gently on the young woman's shoulder to comfort her.

Tang Ruoyao felt relieved and quickly stood up, giving her the seat.

"Is a loved one like you and Auntie Tang?" Ningning asked.

Qin Yinong nodded. "Yes."

Ningning asked, "When will I have a loved one?"

Qin Yinong replied, "When you grow up."

Ningning asked again, "How can I grow up?"

Qin Yinong touched her little head and said, "Sleep well, and you'll grow up faster."

"Ah!" Ningning immediately closed her eyes. "Then I'll sleep. Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Auntie Tang."

"Goodnight." Qin Yinong bent down and kissed the child's forehead.

The two of them left together, gently closing the door. Tang Ruoyao sincerely gave Qin Yinong a thumbs up.

"Well done." Tang Ruoyao's eyes were full of admiration.

Qin Yinong waved modestly, but there was a hint of satisfaction in her expression.

After a few seconds, she couldn't help but laugh.Despite the laughter, education still had to be done. Both adults and children kept her on her toes.

"You're not allowed to do that in the future." Qin Yinong straightened her face, referring to unabashedly kissing in the living room.

"I know." Tang Ruoyao humbly accepted, bowing her head and admitting her mistake. As for whether she would change or not, it would depend on the atmosphere in the future.

"Of course, I'm also at fault in this matter." Qin Yinong always approached things seriously and fairly. Even if she blamed Tang Ruoyao, she wouldn't simply shift all the responsibility onto her. She said, "First, I didn't refuse you. Second, I didn't pay attention to Ningning's piano practice schedule. Third, I let you send her back to her room alone, leaving you speechless when she asked those questions."

Finally, she summed up her statement, "From now on, we'll supervise each other and avoid making the same mistakes."

She truly saw this as a mistake, not just because of shyness. She also knew that Tang Ruoyao didn't take it seriously. She gently said, "Ningning is still young and very curious. She doesn't have a concept of many things, and it's not good to expose her to them too early. Just imagine if she imitated us?"

After Qin Yinong's words, Tang Ruoyao deeply realized her mistake. She restrained her playful thoughts, feeling ashamed, and earnestly said, "I know I was wrong. I will never behave overly intimately in front of her again."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow, reaching up to ruffle her hair. "Good girl."

Tang Ruoyao felt that this gesture was oddly familiar. Just now, Qin Yinong did the same to Qin Jianing. She held the woman's hand and clasped it in her palm, squinting dangerously, "Tell me honestly, do you treat me like a daughter?"

Qin Yinong responded with a hum.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Did you used to feed me milk and change my diapers?"

A blush crept up on Qin Yinong's fair ears, hidden beneath her dark hair. She shook off Tang Ruoyao's hand and walked upstairs, saying, "That was many years ago. Why are you bringing up these things?"

Tang Ruoyao caught up with her. "Why can't I bring it up? After all, we grew up together."

Qin Yinong lowered her gaze and quickened her pace.

Tang Ruoyao laughed from behind her. "Hey, you were the one changing my diapers, and I wasn't even shy. Why are you feeling embarrassed now?"

Author's Note:

Hahahaha!

Today, I'm giving away 66 red envelopes in the comments to celebrate the diaper-changing moment. Just kidding! 😉

[Note]: Adapted from Zheng Chouyu's poem "Mistake": "The sound of my galloping horse is a beautiful mistake; I am not a traveler, but a passerby."

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