CHAPTER 178

Qin Yinong lifted Tang Ruoyao, who had fallen asleep in the bathtub, and let her lean against her chest. She carefully dried her off with a large towel and put a soft sleep robe on her.

Perhaps making too much noise, Tang Ruoyao woke up at some point without knowing when. She looked up at Qin Yinong, her eyes fixed and seemingly focused, but in reality, they were watery and drowsy. There was a faint circle of redness around the corners of her eyes, which stood out on her fair complexion, as if she had recently cried.

A soft and warm touch came on her chin.

Qin Yinong lowered her head and gently asked, "Did I wake you up?"

"No," Tang Ruoyao's voice was hoarse as if it had been scraped by rough stones, and it was slightly painful. She furrowed her eyebrows.

Qin Yinong said, "Let's not talk for now. I'll go get you a soothing throat lozenge."

Tang Ruoyao nodded and weakly snuggled into her embrace, closing her eyes.

She was too tired, overwhelmed by drowsiness, and her mind was slowly shutting down, like a baby ostrich.

Qin Yinong chuckled, becoming even more gentle in her actions. She tidied up Tang Ruoyao's clothes and carried her out, temporarily placing her on the couch. She then gave her a soothing throat lozenge to suck on.

The taste of the lozenge stimulated her taste buds and moisturized her throat, and Tang Ruoyao woke up again.

She had slept and woken up throughout the night, with only a small amount of time spent in a clear state. She had surprisingly become accustomed to this semi-dreamy state. She looked at Qin Yinong under the dim yellow light, her figure tall and graceful as she changed the bedsheets.

Tang Ruoyao caught a lingering scent in the air, and her ears grew warm. She propped up her exhausted body, attempting to stand up.

Qin Yinong had been keeping a close eye on her, and she quickly rushed over in three strides, pushing her back down. "What do you want? I'll get it for you."

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and said, "I want to open the window."

Qin Yinong busily replied, "I'll do it."

She walked to the balcony, stretched out her arms, and pulled open the heavy curtains. A thin line of light appeared on the horizon, enveloping the entire city in the cold brightness of early morning, about to awaken.

Qin Yinong quickly opened the window, then walked back, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably.

So... it's already dawn?

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her, feeling a bit uncomfortable, and averted her gaze, lowering her eyes. Her ears turned red, and the toes of her cotton slippers curled together.

They exchanged glances for a moment.

Qin Yinong suggested, "Do you want to sleep?"

Tang Ruoyao pressed her lips together and nodded.

She was tucked into the bed by Qin Yinong, and she slid down spontaneously, revealing a pair of clear amber eyes. She asked uncertainly, "Can we really sleep this time?"

Qin Yinong's credibility had never been so low with Tang Ruoyao. Last night, she had said "let's sleep" at least five or six times, but they were still awake when morning came.

Qin Yinong stared at her without turning her gaze away, and her throat moved slightly as she said, "Really."

Tang Ruoyao thought with amusement, "Then why did you swallow your saliva?"

Her eyes softened, and she changed her words, saying, "Not sleeping is also fine. I don't have any appointments tomorrow."

Qin Yinong kissed her forehead.

"Promise Ningning that you'll go back tomorrow."

"It's today." Tang Ruoyao corrected her.

She yawned while sleeping, and Qin Yinong couldn't bear to see her like that. Any hint of mischief that had just emerged vanished completely, and she honestly got into bed, embracing her, and urged, "Let's sleep."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes and fell asleep, without even giving herself a moment to adjust.

In her ears, there was a steady and prolonged breathing sound, noticeably heavier than usual. It was the sound of someone who was exhausted.

Qin Yinong was also tired, especially her arms. The tendons inside them throbbed with pain. She pressed her thumb against her wrist and could feel a faster pulse than usual, but she couldn't fall asleep.

She turned her head slightly, lowered her eyes, and Tang Ruoyao slept soundly in the curve of her arm, her eyes tightly closed beneath her long, dense eyelashes. Below them was a delicate nose and pale pink lips.

After the awards ceremony, she had taken three showers and, combined with the kisses, the lipstick she had applied had long faded away, leaving only a natural hue.

Qin Yinong gazed softly and couldn't help but lean in, gently pressing her lips against them.

Tang Ruoyao was in a deep sleep. In her drowsiness, she felt someone disturbing her rest and turned her face away, avoiding it, and made a dissatisfied murmur.

Looks like she's really tired.

Previously, whenever Qin Yinong kissed her while she was asleep, she would respond, and once she responded, it would never end.

The digital clock on the bedside table went from 6 o'clock to 8 o'clock, and Qin Yinong slowly fell asleep.

.......

The autumn sun rose high, shining through the leaves of the acacia tree at the door, casting slender rays of light. There was a breeze blowing, half-opening the balcony window, and gently lifting a corner of the curtain.

The young woman slept soundly on the bed, motionless.

Her sleeping posture was never good. When there was no one to restrain her, she would toss and turn, finding the most comfortable position. Because she was afraid of the heat, and the quilt was a thick winter one, the bedding was filled with hot air, so she kicked the quilt with both hands and feet.

After all, the weather had turned cooler. After being blown by the wind for a while, the chill drove away her sleepiness, and she woke up.

She reached out to touch her exposed skin, which was cold. She quickly wrapped herself up again. The ceiling and the bedroom seemed a bit unfamiliar, yet there was a hint of familiarity in between. The memories of last night slowly came back.

Tang Ruoyao looked at the empty pillow beside her, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

"Qin Yinong!" She abruptly sat up, about to throw off the covers and get out of bed. However, halfway through raising her upper body, she unexpectedly fell back down, emitting a muffled groan that sounded like pain.

Her back was sore.

She gritted her teeth and slowly sat up. As she lowered her head to look for her shoes, the door creaked open from the outside.

Tang Ruoyao looked up.

Qin Yinong, wearing a sleeping gown with an apron on top, looked somewhat out of place. Her eyes held a gentle smile as she walked over and said, "You're awake. I've made breakfast, and we can eat soon."

Tang Ruoyao stared at her intently, her eyes reddened with a mixture of resentment and grievance.

Qin Yinong finally noticed that something was wrong and quickly approached her. "What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao hugged her tightly.

"There's oil," Qin Yinong's hands circled behind her, untied the apron from herself, and took it out of Tang Ruoyao's suffocating embrace, tossing it aside.

"Why didn't you sleep with me?" Tang Ruoyao buried her face in her embrace and said in a muffled voice.

"I was afraid you would be hungry when you woke up, so..." Qin Yinong gently patted her back, explaining.

Tang Ruoyao interrupted her, "Do you know that every time I sleep here, I wake up and you're gone?"

Qin Yinong was stunned.

Tears welled up uncontrollably in Tang Ruoyao's eyes. "I just woke up, and once again, I was alone. I thought everything that happened these days was just a dream. You're not with me, you still see me as just a contract lover. Maybe our contract has expired, and I will never see you again."

She cried more fiercely, and her tears dampened the front of Qin Yinong's clothes.

Her words became incredibly pale, and Qin Yinong opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

Her lover wasn't invincible, she also had hidden fears in her heart. She was afraid that the beautiful moments were just illusions, her own fantasies, and she was afraid that the real her would abandon her.

If Qin Yinong had known that her recent decision would cause her lover to cry inconsolably in her arms, she would have stayed by her side without hesitation.

The first day of their true world as a couple began with Tang Ruoyao's heart-wrenching sobs.

Qin Yinong felt like her heart was being crushed by Tang Ruoyao's crying. Her eyes felt sore, and she found herself tearing up as well.

Tang Ruoyao didn't want to waste their precious time crying, especially at a moment like this. So she had been trying to adjust her emotions, focusing on the sweet memories, gradually stopping her tears. She used the sleeve of Qin Yinong's robe nearby to wipe her face and looked up, only to see Qin Yinong with red eyes and tears streaming down her face.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She knew she shouldn't laugh, but she couldn't help it. She asked, "Why are you crying?"

Qin Yinong turned her face away and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Tang Ruoyao comforted her, "I'm just being overly sensitive. Please don't cry."

Qin Yinong sniffled and replied, "I'm also being overly sensitive."

Tang Ruoyao played along and exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Wow, so both of us being overly sensitive. Does that mean we'll be washing our faces with tears every day?"

Qin Yinong couldn't help but laugh through her tears.

She turned her head and looked at Tang Ruoyao for a long time before earnestly saying, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to cook while you were still sleeping. Next time, I'll wait for you to wake up."

She was so sincere that Tang Ruoyao felt a bit embarrassed and said, "It's okay, I overreacted."

Qin Yinong shook her head, "You're right, it was my oversight."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I was also at fault for being suspicious."

Qin Yinong shook her head again, "No, it was my fault before. You didn't do anything wrong."

If they kept going on like this, they might talk until the end of time, and they might even bring up their first meeting. Tang Ruoyao straightened up and lightly pecked her lips, changing the subject, "I'm hungry."

Qin Yinong, being attentive, noticed the flicker of pain between her eyebrows and nervously assessed her from top to bottom, asking, "Is there something uncomfortable?"

Tang Ruoyao was still standing straight, gently exhaled, and said, "My back is sore. Can you support me?" She glanced at Qin Yinong with a hint of playfulness in her eyes.

Qin Yinong's face turned red, and she embraced her with both hands.

"Is this better?"

"It's better. I want to brush my teeth."

"I'll carry you."

"I can walk by myself. Just support me."

Tang Ruoyao placed her hands on the bathroom counter and slightly bent her body to make herself more comfortable.

Qin Yinong handed Tang Ruoyao an electric toothbrush with toothpaste already applied. Tang Ruoyao enjoyed the meticulous care from Qin Yinong, who stared at her without blinking, unknowingly tinted with a hint of blush.

Tang Ruoyao spat out the foam in her mouth, finished rinsing, and smiled as she asked, "Why have you been staring at me?"

Qin Yinong took a tissue and held it in her hand, still somewhat infatuated, and said, "You're beautiful."

Before Tang Ruoyao could feel shy, Qin Yinong gently placed the tissue on her face. She wasn't sure if it was to prevent her from saying more or to avoid letting her see her slightly blushing face.

As soon as they stepped outside, they could smell the fragrance coming from the kitchen.

Tang Ruoyao hadn't eaten since yesterday, or more precisely, since noon yesterday. Formal dresses demanded a certain figure, and most actresses stopped eating a few hours before attending an evening event.

Now, the rumbling sound from Tang Ruoyao's stomach could be heard.

"What did you make?" She followed Qin Yinong into the kitchen, peering around curiously.

Even though it had been her home for three or four years, everything still felt fresh and new.

"Seafood congee," Qin Yinong pointed at a steaming clay pot on the stove and then at the rice cooker. "There's also rice. You can decide what you want to eat. I haven't finished cooking the side dishes, so you can wait for me outside."

"Can I stay inside and watch?"

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and said, "Okay," she said, "but stand a bit farther from the range hood, so you don't get the fumes."

Tang Ruoyao squinted her eyes.

Qin Yinong unfolded the apron she had picked up from the bedroom floor, balled up, and was about to put it on herself when Tang Ruoyao spoke up, "Let me help you."

She leaned against the kitchen counter, finding it inconvenient to move, so Qin Yinong took the initiative and lowered her head gently.

Tang Ruoyao placed the apron around Qin Yinong's neck and wrapped her hands behind her, skillfully tying a knot with her fingers.

"There you go," she said with a hint of a smile.

Just as Qin Yinong was about to raise her head, Tang Ruoyao cupped her face with both hands, unexpectedly kissed her on the lips, and then let go. Her slender fingers curled up at her side as she pretended nonchalance and said, "A reward for cooking for me."

Qin Yinong's expression froze, and her heart started racing.

This was a completely different feeling—a passionate impulse and the warmth of everyday life—both brought to her by Tang Ruoyao.

She couldn't help but lower her head and kiss her.

Tang Ruoyao tilted her head back and took the initiative to deepen the kiss.

There were no children appearing at any time, and there was no need to worry about the occasional gaze from the elderly. The two of them kissed until they were satisfied before stopping.

Their foreheads touched.

Qin Yinong's gaze lingered on Tang Ruoyao's face for a while before she said, "You should wait for me outside."

Tang Ruoyao held Qin Yinong's hand, playing with her slender fingers, and used her other hand to tuck a strand of hair behind Qin Yinong's ear, asking knowingly, "Why?"

The playful sparkle in the young woman's eyes was like a seductive hook that tugged at Qin Yinong's heart. She discreetly swallowed and said, "I'll get distracted."

"Then let yourself get distracted." Tang Ruoyao murmured and leaned in to kiss her again.

Qin Yinong turned her head and avoided it.

Tang Ruoyao said, "...Turn around," releasing her hand that held her hair and instead holding the woman's chin.

Qin Yinong turned her face back, looking hesitant. "Your body can't handle it."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong chuckled softly. "Good girl."

She escorted Tang Ruoyao out of the kitchen and placed her in a seat at the dining table, cushioning her back with a soft pillow. Qin Yinong busied herself, serving Tang Ruoyao a small bowl of seafood congee and placing it in front of her. "Have something to fill your stomach."

She handed the spoon to Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao pretended to be sulking and put on a straight face.

Qin Yinong pondered for a moment and took the spoon back.

Tang Ruoyao genuinely became unhappy, thinking, "You won't let me eat?"

The legs of the chair made a slightly harsh sound as they scraped against the floor. Qin Yinong pulled over the nearest chair and sat down, lifted the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of congee, blew on it to cool it down, tasted it herself, and then brought it to the edge of Tang Ruoyao's lips.

Tang Ruoyao was momentarily stunned before opening her mouth and eating it.

The combination of scallops and the thick porridge had a savory aroma. The warmth spread from her throat to her stomach, making her limbs feel warm.

After feeding her two spoonfuls, Tang Ruoyao felt uneasy and lowered her gaze. She reached out, intending to take the spoon herself, and said, "I'll do it."

Qin Yinong didn't let go and asked her, "Embarrassed?"

Tang Ruoyao didn't dare to look at her and said, "A little." For no particular reason, she felt that Qin Yinong wasn't suitable for doing this and that she should be the one doing it instead.

Qin Yinong scooped a third spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and lightly said, "You'll get used to it."

"Get used to what?" Tang Ruoyao raised her head.

"Get used to relying on me." Qin Yinong's gaze was faint as she said, "Open your mouth."

Tang Ruoyao swallowed the third mouthful of congee and said, "I'm already relying on you a lot." Otherwise, she wouldn't have cried like that just now.

"It's different."

"What's different?"

"Relying is not the same as depending. You can't live without me, but..." Qin Yinong frowned, paused, organized her words, and continued, "I want to take care of you."

"I can take care of myself." Tang Ruoyao smiled. She was very capable of taking care of herself, and she was healthy. She didn't get sick twice a year, so Qin Yinong only needed to take care of herself.

"But I want to take care of you too." Qin Yinong pursed her lips, looking slightly displeased.

Tang Ruoyao sensed the change and wisely closed her mouth.

Qin Yinong finished feeding her the congee, cleaned up the bowls and spoons, and went back to the kitchen to continue cooking.

Tang Ruoyao sat at the dining table, contemplating the meaning of their conversation just now.

Relying? Depending?

The fragrance became even more enticing as Qin Yinong brought out the dishes, steamed, braised, and stir-fried, all with appealing colors and flavors. Tang Ruoyao's appetite was stimulated by the aroma, and she looked at Qin Yinong, who appeared calm and relieved.

It was their first time having a meal together at this dining table in their house. Tang Ruoyao took a bite of rice and then looked up at Qin Yinong sitting across from her. Their gazes met perfectly.

For some reason, Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter.Qin Yinong also laughed along and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Tang Ruoyao laughed again and leisurely replied, "I'm laughing because you're laughing."

They laughed at not wasting their youthful years, and at the fact that contract lovers eventually became a real couple.

The two female celebrities, who had lost their composure, put down their chopsticks and laughed heartily, face to face.

Qin Yinong had a slightly thinner skin, so she quickly picked up her chopsticks, cleared her throat, and reminded, "Eat quickly, the dishes will get cold."

Tang Ruoyao deliberately didn't eat, trying to playfully tease her.

They both made the "baa~ baa~ baa~" sheep gesture on their foreheads.

Qin Yinong couldn't completely contain her laughter, and when Tang Ruoyao hooked her, she almost sprayed rice. She quickly grabbed a tissue to cover her mouth and nose. She couldn't stop coughing, and Tang Ruoyao dared not play anymore. She went to the kitchen to get her some water.

Qin Yinong took a sip of water, lightly tapped her arm, and looked at her, saying, "Tang Ruoyao, you're really annoying."

"Hahaha."

Qin Yinong massaged her temples, and in less than a second, she also broke into laughter.

They were both crazy!

The annoying and non-stop laughter filled lunchtime with liveliness.

Qin Yinong got up to tidy up the bowls and chopsticks on the table. Tang Ruoyao offered to help, but Qin Yinong temporarily forbade her from doing housework, citing her discomfort. Tang Ruoyao resorted to her ultimate move, tugging on her sleeve, giving her puppy eyes, and looking pitifully at the woman.

Unable to resist, Qin Yinong softened her voice and said, "Could you throw a laundry ball into the washing machine on the balcony and press start? Okay?"

Tang Ruoyao's eyes curved into a crescent shape, and she sweetly agreed, "Okay."

She had made herself sick with her own sweetness.

However, when she saw Qin Yinong's brown eyes light up even more than before, clearly enjoying the situation, Tang Ruoyao realized that Qin Yinong liked this side of her. She knew it. So Tang Ruoyao sweetly called out, "Sister~"

Without mercy, Qin Yinong said, "Stop acting cute and go."

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter, realizing that she was being too clingy, and it was unbearable even for herself.

She hopped and skipped towards the balcony, but her body, which was sore and weak after just a couple of steps, rang an alarm bell. Tang Ruoyao bit her lip and changed to a slower pace. Humming a song, she arrived at the balcony, swiftly opened the lid of the washing machine, threw in a laundry ball, and just as she was about to close it, she took another look inside. Suddenly, she froze, and her ears slowly turned red, followed by her cheeks heating up.

It was filled with bedsheets.

Counting them, she had washed three bedsheets. After pressing start, Tang Ruoyao quickly left the balcony, her back stiff.

Qin Yinong was still in the kitchen, and Tang Ruoyao, who had just recalled something, felt too embarrassed to go back to her. She lay down on the recliner in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the sun.

Qin Yinong used to love lying here. There was sunshine during the day and pitch darkness at night. Tang Ruoyao wondered what she used to think during those times.

She asked Qin Yinong, who was sitting beside her on the floor.

Qin Yinong said, "I didn't think about anything."

"Just lying idly?" Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Qin Yinong answered frankly.

Tang Ruoyao squinted her eyes and said, "Didn't you miss me? Didn't you say you liked me a long time ago?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Didn't you notice that I've been lying here less often?"

After thinking for a while, Tang Ruoyao realized it and asked in surprise, "Why?"

Qin Yinong sighed and said, "I needed peace of mind. How could I lie down when I saw you in such a mess?" Besides, as their meetings became less frequent, most of their time together was spent on something else.

Tang Ruoyao's heart was turned upside down, drowning in sweetness. She smiled and said, "Since you liked me for so long, tell me two details that I don't know."

Qin Yinong was thin-skinned, and expressing affectionate words in a serious manner made her feel awkward. She pursed her lips and remained silent for a long time.

Tang Ruoyao pouted, turned to Qin Yinong, and playfully pointed at her heart, pretending to be displeased. She said, "I like you, and you can see that. But you like me, and I don't know anything. Isn't that unfair?"

Qin Yinong thought to herself, "Indeed, it's unfair."

As someone who values fairness and justice, she thought for a moment and carefully selected a detail to share. She said, "After we came back from last year's Golden Laurel Awards ceremony, you...seduced me."

Tang Ruoyao was puzzled. She asked, "When did I seduce you?"

Qin Yinong's ears turned red, but she continued, "You seduce me every day, every hour, every moment."

Tang Ruoyao chuckled and said, "Oh."

Qin Yinong covered her ears with both hands and muffled , "I won't say anymore."

Tang Ruoyao pulled her hands down and said, "I won't laugh anymore. Please continue."

Qin Yinong said, "That day, after we... afterwards..."

Tang Ruoyao interrupted her and asked seriously, "What about us?"

This woman, when they were intimate, never showed any mercy, and she was both teasing and clingy. She expressed herself in a veiled manner.

Qin Yinong knew she was doing it on purpose, so she didn't pick up on her question and continued, "That night, I didn't plan to leave. After you fell asleep, I was reading the book I took from your study, 'Brave New World.' I wasn't interested in the book itself; I wanted to read your study notes. And then, on the last page, I saw that you had written our surnames together."

Tang Ruoyao fell silent and asked, "Did I scare you away?"

Qin Yinong thought she would force a bitter smile, but she didn't. Her mood was relaxed from beginning to end. She said, "Yes, I was scared away."

"Coward." Tang Ruoyao teased her.

Qin Yinong responded, "Yeah."

"I like cowards." Tang Ruoyao added.

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "I know." She continued, "Actually, every time you fall asleep, I stay by your side until dawn. You don't sleep well at night, especially when it's hot. You kick off the blanket when it's too hot. I adjust the air conditioning temperature for you. When I see you curling up in the blanket, I raise the temperature, and when I see you stretching your arms and legs outside, I quickly lower it."

Tang Ruoyao's vision blurred a little as she smiled at her. She said, "Don't you have a fixed temperature? If I feel cold or hot, I adjust the blanket myself."

Qin Yinong replied again, "I know."

She lowered her head and looked at the ground in front of her, silent for a moment, and said, "But that was the only thing I could do for you at that time."

After a few seconds, Tang Ruoyao said, "You're really annoying."

Qin Yinong hung her head and replied, "Yes, I am annoying."

She noticed something unusual in the other person's voice, so she looked at Tang Ruoyao, who had tears streaming down her face.

She immediately panicked, feeling at a loss, and as her hand was about to touch Tang Ruoyao's eyes, she felt it was unhygienic, so she turned to the coffee table and grabbed a box of tissues. While wiping Tang Ruoyao's tears, she apologized, "I'm sorry, I won't say anything anymore."

Tang Ruoyao suddenly opened her closed eyes and said fiercely, "No! You have to explain everything to me, one by one!"

Qin Yinong was startled and shivered, saying, "Okay."

Tang Ruoyao knew she had been too harsh, so she softened her tone and asked, "Did I scare you?"

Qin Yinong gently replied, "It's okay." After savoring the moment, she said, "I actually quite like it... when you're fierce with me." Tang Ruoyao never gets fierce with others, indicating that she's special.

Tang Ruoyao laughed, "Are you a masochist?"

"What?" Qin Yinong didn't understand.

"Nothing," Tang Ruoyao made up a nonsense explanation, "It means I find you cute."

Qin Yinong's eyes curved, and she reciprocated, "You're cute too."

Tang Ruoyao intentionally played along and narrowed her gaze, saying, "You're the cutest."

Qin Yinong responded with a simple "Hmm."

Tang Ruoyao was taken aback.

Did she just accept it so readily? Qin Yinong wasn't this shameless before.

Qin Yinong saw through her confusion, and her cheeks slightly flushed as she said, "In your eyes, I'm the cutest, and in my eyes, you're the cutest. There's no conflict between the two."

They were the cutest couple in the world.

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