CHAPTER 174

During her recovery, Qin Yinong frequently received signals of weakness and fatigue from her body, making her believe that she couldn't fully recover. However, after returning from Disneyland, she felt that the fatigue was gradually fading away, and she was becoming lighter day by day.

A few days before the Golden Magnolia Awards ceremony, she started rehabilitation exercises. The figure on the treadmill in the first-floor gym went from one to two. Qin Yinong no longer had to watch Tang Ruoyao with envy as she exercised.

Occasionally, Tang Ruoyao had to go out for a shoot, but Qin Yinong stayed home and didn't go out during this time. Ningning had grown accustomed to having her mother's company every day. So, the previous night, Qin Yinong specifically told Ningning, "Mom has work tomorrow and will be out all day. I'll be back the day after tomorrow."

But why stay overnight when the awards ceremony would end in the evening?

Tang Ruoyao, who was on the side, maintained a calm demeanor.

The two mothers understood each other without words.

Compared to before, when they would disappear for ten days or even half a month, or when they would go without seeing each other for up to four months during filming, Ningning had no objections to her mother being away for just one day.

Ningning nodded and asked, "Mommy, can you tell me what kind of work it is?"

Qin Yinong was somewhat surprised.

Because this was the first time Ningning had asked about the specifics of her work. Previously, she would use the term "work" in a vague manner, and the child never questioned it. Just as she had become curious about who Qin Yinong's colleagues were and was eager to confirm, her curiosity indicated her obvious growth.

So Qin Yinong didn't brush it off and answered seriously, "Mom and Auntie Tang are going to attend an awards ceremony."

Ningning blinked her eyes and asked, "Is Auntie Tang going too?"

"Of course, she's also on the list of nominees."

"What does it mean to be on the list of nominees?"

"The list of nominees means..."

The minute hand on the wall moved from 10 to 40, taking half an hour for Qin Yinong to explain the nature of an actor's work, how the awards ceremony came about, its process, and why they were both nominated.

Tang Ruoyao added, "There will be a live broadcast tomorrow, and you can watch it with Grandma."

Ningning nodded, seemingly understanding.

The awards ceremony was scheduled for Sunday, and Tang Fei was currently at the Qin residence. As a young person proficient in the internet, he immediately volunteered, saying, "I'll take care of it."

Tang Ruoyao assigned him the task.

Back in the bedroom, Qin Yinong suddenly felt a bit sentimental and said, "I still remember when Ningning was just born, such a small bundle wrapped in swaddling clothes. Now, she's grown so big in the blink of an eye. Do you think that if I blink again, she'll have someone she likes and bring her future husband home to ask for our opinions?"

Tang Ruoyao stood in front of the open wardrobe, handing clothes to Qin Yinong. She smiled and said, "Maybe. By that time, both of us will have grey hair."

"No, we won't," Qin Yinong corrected her seriously. "When she's twenty years old, we'll only be in our forties, maybe just a couple more wrinkles than now. Especially you, you're younger than me by so much, you might not even have wrinkles."

Tang Ruoyao joked, "What if she falls in love when she's a teenager? Maybe we won't even be forty yet."

Qin Yinong pondered for a moment and felt that she might have to get gray hair earlier than expected.

"Don't think too much." Tang Ruoyao said when she didn't hear a response for a long time. She turned her head and saw Qin Yinong standing still, lost in thought. It seemed that her mind had wandered to ten or more years later. Tang Ruoyao thought she was emotionally rich, unable to focus on the present and constantly lost in her thoughts.

"We have to wake up early tomorrow, so let's sleep early tonight." Tang Ruoyao handed the prepared pajamas to Qin Yinong and half-pushed her into the bathroom.

Qin Yinong had been away from filming for too long and had become sluggish. She stood in the bathroom, the water still not turned on, and asked slowly, "Hmm? Aren't we supposed to leave in the afternoon for the awards ceremony?"

Recently, they had been going back to sleep after their morning exercises, and she subconsciously thought they would have lunch and then get ready for the ceremony.

Tang Ruoyao sighed and said, "We have to arrive separately."

Tomorrow morning, she would go to her company, and Qin Yinong would go to her studio.

Qin Yinong stayed silent for two seconds and said emotionlessly, "Oh."

Tang Ruoyao had a clear understanding of Qin Yinong's clinginess and immediately coaxed her, "We'll go home after it's over, right?"

But they wouldn't see each other for at least a few hours. Qin Yinong thought to herself.

"I'm going to take a shower." She didn't want to discuss this topic any further.

"I'll wait for you at the door." Tang Ruoyao considerately closed two doors behind her. Qin Yinong's small emotional outbursts came and went quickly, and after a kiss from Tang Ruoyao, she would forget about everything.

After their respective showers, they spent some intimate time together, said goodnight to each other, and Tang Ruoyao turned off the lights.

Moonlight poured in through the white curtains, and there was a blue velvet box on the bedside table.

As the first rays of morning light broke through the horizon, the two of them woke up together. They followed their usual routine of exercising, having breakfast, taking showers, and changing clothes. Tang Ruoyao opened the small box and solemnly put the ring on Qin Yinong's finger.

The platinum band was simple and understated, but when it was placed on Qin Yinong's ring finger, it was like a thunderbolt on a clear day.

For example, Guan Han, who had returned to her working position after being away for several days, almost fainted when she saw Qin Yinong. The fireworks in her mind almost made her unable to control her facial expression.

Ah ah ah ah ah!

Is it a proposal?!

Has their relationship progressed so quickly in just a few days of her taking a break?

Qin Yinong hadn't been to the company for a long time, and there was something going on with An Ling, so she left earlier than Tang Ruoyao. At the moment, she was feeling down and seemed a bit distant. She said to Guan Han, "Let's go."

The two cars drove away from Qin's residence, and after a brief separation, they would eventually meet again.

.......

"Miss Qin."

"Hello, Teacher Qin."

"Hello, Senior."

"Hello." Qin Yinong had developed a habit of being friendly and approachable, and as she walked through the corridor towards An Ling's office after coming out of the elevator, she greeted the passing staff and artists with a smile.

However, her inner state was not as calm as it appeared on the surface. After working diligently for so many years, she had grown tired of the dirt and games in the entertainment industry. But she had also worked hard to build her own ideal world within this muddy environment, her own studio.

Now, the first step of her comeback started here, allowing her to gain a significant amount of strength after Tang Ruoyao. She wasn't completely empty-handed. In these years of hard work, she had actually accumulated a lot, but she lacked the eyes to see it.

She stood at the entrance of An Ling's office, a confident smile appearing on her lips as she pushed the door open.

An Ling looked up from behind her desk, greeted her with a "Hey," and then stood up, walking around to the front of the desk. She placed both hands on the desk and exclaimed, "The busy person has finally found time to visit. It's truly an honor for my humble self."

Qin Yinong blinked and said, "Sister An Ling~"

An Ling's body was covered in goosebumps as she replied, "So being in love is something to boast about?"

Qin Yinong lowered her gaze and smiled, rubbing the back of her index finger against her nose. She sat down on the sofa and casually greeted An Ling's assistant, "A cup of coffee, please."

An Ling said, "Make one for me too."

The assistant promptly responded and left.

An Ling sat down on another sofa and caught a glimpse of a sparkle on Qin Yinong's ring finger. She focused her gaze and said, "..."

Suppressing a bit of sourness in her heart, she continued, "You're moving too fast, aren't you? Talking about marriage and already wearing the ring. Oh, by the way, remember to take it off for the awards ceremony, don't let the media capture it."

Qin Yinong raised her left hand slightly and said, "We're not married. I intentionally wore it to show the media."

An Ling's mind turned quickly, and she immediately understood. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she exclaimed, "That's a great idea!"

It not only provided Ningning with a reasonable identity but also put an end to the media's rumors, killing two birds with one stone.

Qin Yinong said, "There's one more thing I want to ask you for a favor."

An Ling replied, "Go ahead, tell me."

Qin Yinong pursed her lips lightly and said, "You've always wanted to clarify things from the past for me, right? I've thought about it, and I agree. But I'll trouble you with the specifics and the careful planning."

An Ling's gaze was filled with astonishment as she exclaimed, "What are you saying?"

Qin Yinong repeated her words.

An Ling held her forehead, suspecting that she was dreaming and hadn't woken up yet.

She pinched her arm forcefully, feeling the intense pain. Qin Yinong, both helpless and touched, said, "It's true, I've figured it out."

An Ling was stunned for a moment and murmured, "I take back what I said earlier. Being in love is really something."

It was truly amazing!

Qin Yinong blushed slightly and changed the subject, saying, "There's no rush with this matter. Take your time to think about it. Has anything important happened recently? Give me a report."

Qin Yinong was aware of the online public opinion trends, but her period of recuperation seemed long, but in reality, it had only been a little over a month. So, there were still many company matters to attend to.

In addition, there was a drawer full of printed scripts.

Qin Yinong stopped Guan Han from moving the scripts and said, "An Ling, I don't want to film for now. Return all these scripts to me."

An Ling was surprised and asked, "Why? Aren't you... a workaholic? The one who spends 365 days seamlessly on set and would prefer to live on the filming set."

Qin Yinong twirled the ring on her ring finger and casually fed her a sweet line, saying, "I used to not know what else to do, so I could only act in movies. Now, I want to focus more on my family and spend more time with them. Of course, if there are good scripts or reliable crews, I'll still consider taking on projects."

An Ling responded, "...Alright."

At noon, Qin Yinong had takeout in An Ling's office. Paparazzi surrounded the studio, but she didn't bother to hide and simply stayed indoors.

Guan Han opened the takeout box and prepared the chopsticks for her, but she didn't take them. Instead, she took a photo with her phone and sent it to Tang Ruoyao, a single meal in a disposable box, looking quite pitiful.

[Timestamp: Attached Image]

Tang Ruoyao sent her a set of hugging and kissing emojis. Qin Yinong's eyebrows and eyes relaxed, and her lips curled up.

Another message popped up. Tang Ruoyao said, [I'm about to have my meal too. Sister Mu just finished her busy schedule.]

Qin Yinong was about to reply when Tang Ruoyao urged her, saying, [Stop chatting and eat your food before it gets cold. We can talk later.]

[Got it.]

Qin Yinong obediently put her phone down and started eating.

Guan Han could tell from her expressive face that she was chatting with someone. She hadn't even taken a few bites of her meal when she felt too full.

Makeup in the afternoon.

Qin Yinong never let go of her phone. She would instantly reply to Tang Ruoyao's messages, and if there were no messages, she would quietly wait. The makeup artists and stylists in the studio exchanged glances, almost impulsively applying bridal makeup on her.

Whispers about the ring on Qin Yinong's hand were inevitable. Guan Han frowned beside her and said, "Ahem."

Everyone quickly and skillfully resumed their work.

At exactly four o'clock, Qin Yinong got into a black sedan and left the studio.

As the closing act on the red carpet, she didn't need to arrive so early. However, since Tang Ruoyao's turn was scheduled earlier, she could go a bit earlier to see her for a little longer. It wouldn't hurt, so she decided to go early.

At half-past four in the afternoon, the official Weibo account of the Golden Magnolia Awards released photos of the red carpet. The endless red carpet was clean and tidy, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the various stars. In the middle of the red carpet was a small stage with the Golden Magnolia Awards logo. As one of the three major awards in the Chinese film industry, it also received attention with the trending topic of the Golden Magnolia Awards, and its popularity continued to rise.

[It's the end of the year, and the female celebrities are all out in force.]

[Who will stun us tonight with their appearance? 😄]

[I wonder if Qin Yinong will attend. If she does, who would dare to buy articles about stunning appearances? They'd probably be wasting their money. 😆]

[It's better if she attends. It'll save money for the teams of other female celebrities. 😂]

Qin's residence.

Tang Fei opened the live streaming app and tuned into the real-time coverage of the Golden Magnolia Awards. This year, due to certain reasons, the awards ceremony had gained extraordinary momentum, and the majority of celebrities in the entertainment industry were invited to attend. The barrage of comments on the live stream was overwhelming, flooding the screen.

However, Tang Fei couldn't participate in the barrage since she was accompanied by an elderly and a young person.

On the screen, only the voice of the host could be heard, along with the cameras set up on the stage, waiting for the red carpet event to begin.

Ningning blinked her big black eyes and sweetly asked, "Uncle, when will Mom and Auntie Tang come out?"

Tang Fei kept her eyes fixed on the screen and replied, "Soon."

......

As Tang Ruoyao got out of the car and steadied herself, she opened her handbag and took out her phone, which had vibrated a moment ago.

Qin Yinong: [Have you arrived?]

Tang Ruoyao: [Yes, I just went through the security check.]

Qin Yinong: [Why are you so early?]

Tang Ruoyao: [I wanted to see you sooner.]

Tang Ruoyao was more straightforward than usual in her messages, but Qin Yinong was pleased by her words and replied, [I'll be there soon. Wait for me inside.]

[Okay.]

The organizers had prepared temporary rest areas for the invited stars, directors, and other attendees. Tang Ruoyao was nominated for Best Actress for her role as He Peilan in "Under the Southern Mountains." She was walking the red carpet with the cast and crew of the film. After entering, she greeted a few colleagues who were coming towards her and then walked toward Lin Guoan's direction.

Lin Guoan, who had risen to fame with "Under the Southern Mountains," was full of confidence and vitality. Despite the touch of gray at his temples, he appeared much younger.

"Director Lin," Tang Ruoyao approached Lin Guoan and said coolly.

"Xiaotang," Lin Guoan smiled and said, "Long time no see."

There were other crew members who had arrived earlier by his side, including Xiao A, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Xiao B, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. They politely greeted her, saying, "Teacher Tang."

Tang Ruoyao nodded, "Hello."

Lin Guoan took an orange from a plate, peeled it, and handed it to Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao waved her hand, saying, "You eat it."

Because of her relationship with Qin Yinong, both publicly and privately, Lin Guoan treated her differently from others. However, this natural gesture, seen by someone observant, held a different implication.

Lin Guoan belonged to the same generation as Han Yuping, a renowned director. Although he didn't possess the same power and influence as Han Yuping outside the directing field, he was still beyond the reach of ordinary actors. Many people had fought tooth and nail for a role in his hands, and Tang Ruoyao not only played the lead role for him but also received special treatment from him. It seemed that, in some people's eyes, she had surpassed him in stature.

On Tang Ruoyao's forehead were four large characters that read, "I have a connection." With each appearance, these words became more deeply ingrained. As a result, a visible group of people slowly gathered around her.

Tang Ruoyao was absent-minded, dealing with each person one by one, occasionally raising her eyelids and casually glancing in the direction of the entrance.

In reality, she didn't need to pay attention because Qin Yinong's arrival would undoubtedly cause a different sensation at the venue.

The atmosphere momentarily fell silent as everyone, regardless of gender, turned their gaze in the same direction.

Tang Ruoyao's heart suddenly beat faster.

She had arrived.

She lifted her head and looked towards the crowd's focal point.

What entered her line of sight first was that perfect and flawless face bestowed by the Creator. Delicate eyebrows, red lips with a retro allure, a full and divine countenance, black long hair cascading over her shoulders, and dressed in a burgundy strapless gown with a long train, accentuated by slender high heels.

Like a wild rose in a thorny forest, she bloomed brilliantly in everyone's eyes.

Unlike Tang Ruoyao's situation, no one dared to approach her after she entered. The crowd unconsciously took a step back, instinctively creating a pathway that could accommodate one person.

Qin Yinong narrowed her eyes and lazily strolled around in a circle, finally resting her gaze on Tang Ruoyao in the center of the crowd.

A faint, almost imperceptible gleam shone from the center of her pupils.

Tang Ruoyao wore a black deep V-back fishtail gown, her flawless and smooth back partially hidden by her voluminous long hair, revealing slender and fair arms and a waist that could be held with a single hand. Her posture was graceful and elegant.

As she looked back from a distance, she slightly raised her slender neck and delicate chin, exuding a cool and elegant aura like a noble black swan.

Their gazes met, and a spark ignited.

At the same time, their hearts fluttered.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her gaze, and her ring finger trembled.

She overheard a few female stars whispering beside her.

"Why did Qin Yinong come here?"

"Isn't she the finale? She could have just gotten out of the car directly. I was almost scared to death just now."

"Me too. It's my first time seeing her in person, and she's even more beautiful than in the movies."

"Shh, keep your voice down."

A slight smile curved Tang Ruoyao's lips.

Qin Yinong, who should not have appeared in this place, confidently held her superstar demeanor and did not actively engage with anyone. Among the celebrities, there were a few bold fans who cautiously approached to ask for a photo opportunity.

Qin Yinong cooperated with a good temperament.

Tang Ruoyao's expression was gloomy and unclear as she nudged Lin Guoan's arm with her elbow.

Lin Guoan, with a mouthful of orange juice, swallowed it down, coughed twice, and lowered his voice, asking, "What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao leaned closer to him and said, "Qin Yinong is here. Aren't you going to say hello to her?"

Lin Guoan glanced in that direction and said, "Oh," then added, "I'm not going to be a third wheel for you two."

"Director Lin!" Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth. If she could go by herself, why would she need Lin Guoan as a cover?

After a moment of reaction, Lin Guoan realized what she meant, wiped his mouth, and said, "Got it."

He led the crew towards Qin Yinong's direction. Qin Yinong tightened her five fingers around her handbag, raised her phone for a selfie, and clicked the shutter, capturing the moment when Tang Ruoyao was distracted.

The fan didn't feel comfortable asking Qin Yinong for another photo, so after expressing her gratitude, she left awkwardly.

The break turned into a fan meeting for Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong politely declined the next fan who approached her. She took a few steps forward and coincidentally faced Lin Guoan. "Director Lin."

"Miss Qin."

They shook hands politely.

"I haven't congratulated you yet."

"Same to you, congratulations."

"These are a few actors from my crew." Lin Guoan stepped aside, revealing Tang Ruoyao and the other actors behind him.

"Hello, Teacher Qin." Tang Ruoyao respectfully reached out her hand and slightly bowed, maintaining an appropriate distance.

"Hello," Qin Yinong smiled lightly and held her right hand.

Their palms touched, one warm and dry, the other soft and slightly cool.

Tang Ruoyao quietly tightened her grip.

Lin Guoan mentally rolled his eyes.

Is it interesting to flirt in public?

Qin Yinong glanced at the two actors again, and Lin Guoan asked, "What about Lao Han?"

Qin Yinong replied, "He'll come later. Didn't he tell you?"

Lin Guoan huffed, "He did, can't I ask?"

You two can show affection, but he and Han Yuping can't display their close friendship?

Qin Yinong's eyes contained a smile as she said, "Of course, did Uncle mention that he wants to walk the red carpet with you?"

Lin Guoan was taken aback and said, "No, he didn't. Did he tell you?"

Qin Yinong raised her eyebrows and said, "No, I lied to you."

Lin Guoan immediately looked at Tang Ruoyao with accusing eyes.

Can't you control your wife?

Tang Ruoyao pretended to look around at the scenery.

What can she do? She's just a small actress with no connection to Qin Yinong.

Thanks to Lin Guoan, Qin Yinong had spent quite some time with Tang Ruoyao. Although they hadn't spoken much alone, Qin Yinong was satisfied. Tang Ruoyao had left early, and after staying for a while longer, Qin Yinong also left, coinciding with the start of the red carpet, where she could hear the host's introduction.

"Now coming towards us is the renowned director Lin Guoan and the famous actress Tang Ruoyao..."

Tang Ruoyao held onto Lin Guoan's arm, and the flashes on both sides of the red carpet quickly went off. Tang Ruoyao and Lin Guoan temporarily separated, posed for photos, sometimes with one hand holding a handbag by her side, and other times with one hand on her waist, tilting her neck and giving a cold and alluring gaze, striking various poses as required by the media.

After the photo shoot, she joined back with Lin Guoan, walking towards the small stage in the middle of the red carpet. The host conducted a short interview, talking about their feelings attending the awards ceremony, all clichéd phrases.

After dealing with the interview, Tang Ruoyao walked towards the finish line with the crew. This half of the red carpet had fewer cameras, and there was no need for specific photo spots. The staff were not as strict as the starting point and turned a blind eye, only intervening if someone significantly disrupted the order.

Tang Ruoyao didn't look around, not even for a second, and entered the venue from the red carpet.People nodded to each other, hugged, as the majority of the entertainment industry gathered here, shining brightly like a galaxy.

The venue became more crowded, indicating that there were fewer people outside.

Guan Han crouched down and carefully adjusted the hem of Qin Yinong's dress before standing up and whispering, "It's your turn, Qin Jie."

Qin Yinong murmured in agreement, her eyes filled with turbulent emotions.

As the red carpet reached its end, millions of viewers eagerly awaited the live webcast, all focused on one figure.

The host nervously rubbed his fingers together, silently reciting the script three times, took a deep breath, and with a louder and grander voice than before, introduced, "Lastly, coming towards us is the internationally acclaimed actress Miss Qin Yinong. We are fortunate to have her attendance. Please welcome her!"

The atmosphere in the venue reached its climax.

Even before she appeared, the camera shutters were already clicking, all racing to capture the first moment.

Since a few years ago, Qin Yinong's focus gradually shifted to overseas work, so she rarely attended domestic award ceremonies. Most of the awards were collected by the crew, otherwise Tang Ruoyao wouldn't have been so eager to see Qin Yinong at the Golden Laurel Awards last year.

Even though the media received insider information confirming Qin Yinong's attendance at the Golden Laurel Awards ceremony, their hearts would only settle and then beat wildly when they saw her in person.

That was the heartbeat that only Qin Yinong could bring them, belonging to her alone.

The people in front had already voluntarily cleared the way, including those who shamelessly tagged along on the red carpet. Without the staff's urging, they held up their skirts and ran faster than rabbits.

Qin Yinong calmly walked up the empty red carpet, clean and devoid of any people. Facing the cameras that could almost blind a person, she smiled gracefully.

The journalists' eyes sparkled with a wolf-like light, competing to take photos, as if they were about to break through the security and the opened line of defense—they had spotted the sparkling wedding ring on Qin Yinong's ring finger!

Qin Yinong stayed on the red carpet for a longer time than all the other celebrities, and the media was still not satisfied, crazily clicking their shutters. There were backstage interviews as well, and they consoled themselves in this way.

The young host came down from the stage and personally led Qin Yinong up.

"Hello," Qin Yinong saw the other person's nervousness and smiled slightly, taking the initiative to speak.

Her voice was clear and gentle, like dew melting into a lake, giving people the feeling of basking in the spring breeze. It was a stark contrast to her dominant image on the silver screen or the red carpet.

"... Hello," the host saw Qin Yinong in person for the first time and was not only amazed by her beauty but also stunned by her composure, momentarily forgetting his lines.

It was quite a mistake on his part.

Qin Yinong once again helped him out, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips as she gently teased, "Hmm? Don't you have any questions for me?"

The host snapped back to reality, sweating coldly, and recalling the script, he said, "Qin, you rarely appear in domestic events nowadays, so why did you come to participate in the Golden Magnolia Awards this time?"

Qin Yinong smiled, paused for a moment, and then softly said, "My loved one asked me to come."

Author's Note:

Miss Yao: I died again.

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