CHAPTER 182

Tang Ruoyao had never been so candid about her insecurities in front of Qin Yinong before.

Her insecurity stemmed from the initial gap between them, deeply ingrained. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so timid in the first three years, giving up easily at the slightest setback. Later, due to their work on the film set, they were temporarily brought to an equal position, and Tang Ruoyao even had the upper hand until Qin Yinong accepted her confession. But once everything settled, the lack of confidence caused by that gap resurfaced.

During the time they were filming, Tang Ruoyao went home once, and Qin Yinong accompanied her. Tang Ruoyao had to deal with Jiang Xuezhen, and Qin Yinong willingly played the supporting role for her. When she saw Tang Ruoyao feeling down at night, she spontaneously solved Tang Fei's education problem for her. At that time, Tang Ruoyao fell into self-doubt, not knowing what to rely on to summon the courage to pursue someone so distant from her. Qin Yinong vaguely sensed it and found her on the balcony corridor, bringing her back.

It had been a long time, especially after they started dating. Each day could be cherished for a lifetime, and Qin Yinong was immersed in the passionate and beautiful moments Tang Ruoyao gave her. She had grown so fast, becoming gentle, tolerant, determined, and brave, to the point where Qin Yinong almost forgot what Tang Ruoyao was like at the beginning.

In this late night, Tang Ruoyao's confession deeply moved Qin Yinong.

Looking at Tang Ruoyao's lowered gaze and silence, she wanted to say something. She wanted to tell her that it wasn't like that, that she had become confident and strong because of her, that she couldn't do anything without her, or that she would love her forever. But the words reached the tip of her tongue, only to feel feeble and pale.

What they lacked was not sweet words, they both had unwavering belief in this love.

So much love, yet it couldn't last. Often, it was the little things that broke the dam. Qin Yinong was grateful that she heard Tang Ruoyao's words early on and didn't cause a big problem.

She had done too much, making it difficult for Tang Ruoyao to find her own place, so she stepped back and handed the initiative over to her. She could do many things, things within reach, that could give her the most basic happiness.

After asking that question, Qin Yinong's ears turned red, partially concealed by her long, black hair. She struggled to suppress the urge to cover her ears and nervously waited.

Tang Ruoyao didn't disappoint her expectations. She changed her sluggishness from earlier tonight, just a momentary daze, and leaned forward to kiss the woman.

A wall light in the room turned on, casting dim light that diffused inside the bedroom, projecting two tightly entwined figures.

The capital had already entered early winter, and the leaves by the roadside in the neighborhood had mostly fallen, covering the ground in a yellow hue. When the wind blew, those piled-up dry leaves swirled forward and flew with a gentle descent, eventually settling down.

In the early morning, a sudden strong wind arose, causing the balcony curtains to flutter uncontrollably.

Tiny beads of sweat formed on Tang Ruoyao's fair forehead as she held Qin Yinong motionless. Her heart was still in the intense rhythm it had just experienced, and the tingling satisfaction and happiness made her chest ache slightly.

Qin Yinong placed one hand over her eyes, slowly calming down. Her lips pursed slightly, appearing somewhat tired.

The balcony window was not tightly closed, and Tang Ruoyao felt the cold breeze coming in. Afraid that Qin Yinong would catch a cold, she reached out and tucked the covers around her.

Unexpectedly, Qin Yinong took her hand away and fixed her eyes on the person beside her.

Tang Ruoyao was startled. "I, I, I..."

Qin Yinong smiled. "What about you?"

Just experiencing the nourishment of love, her brows and eyes were infused with a unique laziness. Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat as she said, "Nothing." Pausing for a moment, she asked softly, "Are you tired?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Not really."

It's "not really" again.

Tang Ruoyao gritted her teeth.

Qin Yinong just answered without thinking, without giving it much thought. Her throat felt a little dry, so she coughed and said, "I want some water."

Tang Ruoyao put on a robe, washed her hands, and went out to pour water for her.

Qin Yinong took the opportunity to close the balcony window and sat back on the bed.

She wasn't really tired. The duration was short, and Tang Ruoyao was gentle and patient, taking great care of her feelings. Qin Yinong glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It had just passed twenty-five past midnight.

Tang Ruoyao came in with a glass of water, sat on the edge of the bed, and watched Qin Yinong drink half of it unhurriedly, asking, "Do you want more?"Qin Yinong shook her head.

Tang Ruoyao took the glass from her and placed it down, then climbed into bed and lay next to her.

Qin Yinong lay down as well.

The switch for the light was on Tang Ruoyao's side. She couldn't sleep and stared at the ceiling. Her eyelashes blinked intermittently, and a gleam of light flashed like a streamline.

Both of them remained silent, unlike the atmosphere Tang Ruoyao had imagined.

She turned over and faced Qin Yinong, seeing her long lashes slightly closed, with plump, red lips beneath her nose. She quietly swallowed and asked in a soft voice, "Are you going to sleep?"

"No." Qin Yinong didn't open her eyes, but her enunciation was clear, indicating that she was very conscious.

"Then, can I..." Tang Ruoyao hesitated.

"Do whatever you want." Qin Yinong said lightly, with a hint of disappointment in her voice if one listened carefully.

Tang Ruoyao smiled, hesitated for a moment, and then approached slowly.

Qin Yinong softly instructed again, "Turn off the lights."

"Okay."

Click.The room became completely dark.

The strong wind blew all night, and the temperature dropped suddenly.

The next day, when Tang Ruoyao opened the window, she felt the cold air rushing in, dragging the whole city into a deeper winter.

"It's getting colder." She turned back to the woman and said, "Pay attention to keeping warm these days."

"I know." After Qin Yinong washed her hair and took a shower, she came out of the bathroom wearing a long pearl-white satin robe that fell to her calves. She was tall, had a good figure, and elegant curves, so even in a robe, it looked like she was walking the red carpet.

The robe had a wide open collar, and the original snow-white skin was covered in scars. Tang Ruoyao caught a glimpse of it unintentionally and quickly averted her gaze, her ears turning red.

Qin Yinong was in a daze while taking a shower and didn't notice at all. It was only now that she reacted when she saw Tang Ruoyao's concerned gesture, lifting her hand to adjust the collar, appearing much calmer than the culprit herself. "What time is it?"

"It's half past eight. I cooked porridge," Tang Ruoyao brought the hairdryer and spoke softly, "Shall I blow-dry your hair first?"

Qin Yinong nodded.

She had slept late the previous night and was still a bit sleepy. She leaned against the sofa and dozed off lightly. Tang Ruoyao noticed and became even gentler in her movements, her fingers weaving through the smooth strands of hair.

After a while, Qin Yinong heard a voice say, "Done."

She opened her eyes and saw Tang Ruoyao putting away the hairdryer cord. Tang Ruoyao stood there with the cord resembling a utility pole, wearing a subtle expression.

Tang Ruoyao had been somewhat absent-minded since morning, not foolish, but absent-minded, as if her neural responses had been set to half speed, always pausing for a moment.

Qin Yinong reminded her, "The hairdryer."

Tang Ruoyao indeed paused for a moment before remembering that she still had the hairdryer in her hand. She put it away in a drawer and then continued to stare blankly at the drawer.

"...Yaoyao," Qin Yinong called her.

Tang Ruoyao startled and stood up straight. "Yes?"

Qin Yinong gestured for her to come closer.

Tang Ruoyao walked over quickly and asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong gazed at her intently. "What are you thinking?"

Looking into her focused eyes, Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but speak her thoughts out loud, softly saying, "I'm thinking... if this is just a dream."

Waking up from a dream in the early morning, Tang Ruoyao looked at Qin Yinong nestled in her arms and the additional ring on her hand, feeling a strong sense of unreality.

She had just finished a shoot like any other day, returned home, and then was proposed to. And after that, they had spent an unforgettable night together.

Her steps felt light as she walked, the sky outside filled with colorful balloons, the space around her emitting a soft white glow. The sounds that reached her ears seemed to be separated by a layer of glass, captured in a hazy manner, while her brain processed the received information slowly.

In short, happiness had clouded her mind.

Externally, it was reflected in the way Qin Yinong saw her.

Qin Yinong's eyes curved with a smile, and she pinched Tang Ruoyao's cheeks with two fingers, applying a little pressure as she asked, "Does it hurt?"

Tang Ruoyao burst into a silly laughter, her teeth shining white as she shook her head and said, "No, it doesn't hurt."

Qin Yinong couldn't bring herself to pinch her again, smiled, and withdrew her hand.

When Qin Yinong moved away, Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and gently pecked her fingertips, clasping her hand in her palm. Then, she pulled her up and sat herself on the sofa, embracing the woman completely, holding her tightly.

The happier the moment, the more fearful one could become.

She would still feel uneasy, worrying and fretting, but Qin Yinong would do everything in her power to alleviate this unease.

"Director Han has been urging me to go to his house for dinner again a few days ago." Qin Yinong raised her hand, gently stroking Tang Ruoyao's long hair behind her, and smiled, "He has been urging me for months, but I haven't been able to find the time."

"Hmm?" Tang Ruoyao buried her face in Qin Yinong's shoulder and didn't react for a moment.

"When are you free? Let's go together. We can also tell them the news of our marriage. What do you think?" Qin Yinong lowered her head, looking at Tang Ruoyao gently.

Tang Ruoyao gazed into the woman's dark eyes and whispered, "Okay."

Qin Yinong pondered for a while and said, "And Lin Ruohan, my other friends, we need to inform them as well."

Tang Ruoyao's fingers trembled slightly as she held Qin Yinong's hand.

Qin Yinong continued, "Your father, although lying unconscious in the hospital, for the sake of propriety, we should go together and let him know this good news."

A faint glimmer of water shimmered in Tang Ruoyao's eyes as she whispered, "Okay."

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and said, "Given our current situation, a grand celebration might not be possible, but we can arrange for a simple banquet, inviting a few close friends and relatives who know us well, like your roommates. Since you don't have parents on your side, and Tang Fei is too young, it wouldn't be formal. I've thought about it, we can ask Director Han and his wife to act as your parents. He likes you very much. If you don't mind, I'll talk to him?"

Tang Ruoyao's eyes welled up with tears, rendering her speechless, but she nodded vigorously.

Qin Yinong then asked her, "Do you prefer a Chinese-style wedding or a Western-style wedding?"

Tang Ruoyao's eyes turned red, and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Qin Yinong teased her, saying, "Crybaby."

The crybaby Tang Ruoyao wiped her tears on Qin Yinong's robe.

Qin Yinong chuckled, "Hey, you're being unfair."

Tang Ruoyao didn't cry too vigorously and wiped away a few tears. Choking back her sobs, she asked, "When did you start considering all this?"

Qin Yinong murmured, "Quite early, I suppose."

"How early is quite early?" Tang Ruoyao asked.

"Probably..." Qin Yinong recalled and said, "Around the time I bought the ring I wear myself." She cupped Tang Ruoyao's cheeks with both hands, expressing her feelings so directly and sincerely for the first time, "I want to marry you. From the moment we decided to be together, I've dreamed of marrying you one day."

She said, "Thank you for making my dream come true."

Tang Ruoyao didn't know how to reciprocate this heartfelt sentiment.

Perhaps the only way was to offer herself, to be together till the end.

Qin Yinong's firmness dispelled most of Tang Ruoyao's unnecessary worries. Even though there were limited areas where she could help Qin Yinong, love, as well as family and friendship, were not based on exchange value. The fact that the two of them would always be together was already enough.

Moreover, after last night, at least she excelled in one aspect that Qin Yinong greatly appreciated.

The golden sunlight streamed in through the window, filling the room with warmth.

Tang Ruoyao held Qin Yinong in her arms, and the two of them talked for a long time.

Qin Yinong told her that they had a lifetime ahead of them, and she didn't need to rush to grow up. At 23 years old, she still needed time and experiences. Sooner or later, she would become like the present Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong also asked her when she wanted to have the wedding and started searching for auspicious dates on her phone. Once the date was set, they would need to print wedding invitations. Although it wouldn't be a grand affair, they still needed to follow the necessary regulations.

Tang Ruoyao tried to maintain some composure, but it was in vain. She couldn't help but smile brightly.

.......

Fortunately, Tang Ruoyao didn't have any scheduled performances today, as she probably wouldn't be able to work properly in her current state.

Qin Yinong, on the other hand, had to go to the company. She flaunted her sparkling diamond ring after switching from her low-key platinum ring, attracting envious glances from An Ling and causing Guan Han to fawn over her in a secluded corner.

In the evening, when Qin Yinong returned home, she took Tang Ruoyao to meet Ji Shulan and earnestly informed her of the news.

Ji Shulan was overjoyed, repeatedly asking, "Is it true? I didn't mishear, did I?" Then she wiped her hands, went back to her room, and brought out a jade bracelet wrapped in red cloth. She personally put it on Tang Ruoyao's wrist and said a few auspicious words for a harmonious union. It was a tradition, with the mother-in-law passing it down to the daughter-in-law from one generation to the next.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head to look at the translucent emerald-green jade bracelet on her wrist, then shyly glanced at Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong reached out and held her hand, gently squeezing her fingers.

They shared a smile.

Ningning, tilting her little head on the side, experienced a moment of confusion.

Didn't Mom say they were already married a long time ago?

Next, it was time to inform the necessary people.

Qin Yinong first called Lin Ruohan, and as expected, Lin Ruohan exclaimed, "Damn! You two have only been together for a few months? Shotgun wedding, huh? I didn't expect you to be so trendy."

She clicked her tongue repeatedly.

Since there was only Qin Yinong in the room, she didn't hide her joy and pretended to be modest, saying, "Just trying to keep up with the trends."

"You're out of breath just saying you're fat?"

Qin Yinong smiled.

Lin Ruohan paused for a second and gossiped, "Who proposed?"

Qin Yinong said, "I did."

Lin Ruohan immediately smiled and said, "Wow, my dear sister, you're amazing! Can you tell me the specific details? Where did the proposal happen? Was it romantic? Did Tang Ruoyao cry with joy? I'm dying of curiosity here, you must tell me!"

The barrage of questions caught Qin Yinong off guard, and her smile gradually faded from her face.

Indeed, the proposal she had initially planned was nothing like this. She had intended to surprise Tang Ruoyao with Ningning's cooperation.

So what exactly did she do last night?

Qin Yinong briefly recalled the events. First, she cried, then Tang Ruoyao cried, and in order to stop Tang Ruoyao from crying, she took out the ring beforehand and straightforwardly proposed, leading to their immediate wedding.

Tang Ruoyao hadn't caught on at all. Qin Yinong had long noticed that she had secretly bought a ring, but she didn't say anything. She even urged the jeweler to expedite the process so that she could propose before Tang Ruoyao. The custom-designed engagement ring and wedding ring were still on their way, but Qin Yinong had already proposed.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Lin Ruohan: "Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"

Qin Yinong let out a heavy sigh and said dejectedly, "It wasn't romantic. I acted on impulse and proposed."

Lin Ruohan sensed her regret and disappointment, her mouth hanging open for a moment. She decided not to pry any further and tried to console her, saying, "Well, it doesn't matter if it wasn't romantic. Romance is just a process. In the end, we succeeded, didn't we?"

Qin Yinong responded with a noncommittal sound, still lacking enthusiasm.

Lin Ruohan, not hesitating to drag herself down, continued, "Look at me, I'm the epitome of romance. I've done everything from hot air balloons, yachts, helicopters, to hot springs, but it's all useless. I still don't have a wife, right?"

Qin Yinong followed up on the topic casually, "Is your ex-girlfriend still pursuing you?"

"Didn't you tell me about a movie last time..." Lin Ruohan began to change the subject.

Qin Yinong realized that it was probably still a lingering issue and tactfully didn't inquire further. After a brief conversation, she hung up the phone.

She checked the logistics information of the ring on her mobile phone and pinched the bridge of her nose, wondering what to do. Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed in her mind, and she narrowed her eyes slightly.

Who said a proposal can only happen once? Once she received the new ring, she could propose again, right?

Apart from Tang Fei, the person closest to Tang Ruoyao was the group of sisters from Room 405.

In the group chat that had been silent for a long time, Tang Ruoyao posted a photo of her wearing the diamond ring and tagged everyone.

The group members immediately started responding one after another.

Cosmic Invincible Beauty: [I'm here, I'm here, I'm here! Big sis, I love you!]

Fu Yujun: [Whose hand is this?]

Tang Ruoyao bit her lip and smiled, teasingly saying, [Guess who it is.]

Cosmic Invincible Beauty: [Oh Fu, you're so unfair. Whenever I mention everyone, you're always the last one to show up. Now you're even slower than the beautiful lady.]

Cui Jiaran: [What's this picture? Are you endorsing jewelry? That hand doesn't look like yours, is it a stand-in?]

Cosmic Invincible Beauty: "She's endorsing another luxurious brand. Big sis is awesome! Being awesome is enough.]

The only one who saw through the truth was the intelligent Fu Yujun: "Are you getting married?"

Cosmic Invincible Beauty: [Hahaha, what an international joke.]

At the same second, Tang Ruoyao sent a shy emoji.

Wen Shuxian fell silent.

Cui Jiaran also fell silent.

Fu Yujun said, [Congratulations.]

Tang Ruoyao replied, [Thank you.]

Wen Shuxian typed, [Have you thought it through?]

The last time they met their roommates was at the wrap-up banquet of the movie "True Colors." They witnessed Tang Ruoyao being put in her place by Qin Yinong, feeling embarrassed and having a negative impression of Qin Yinong, especially the hot-tempered Wen Shuxian. Although Wen Shuxian became a fan of Qin Yinong, when it came to Tang Ruoyao, she prioritized the greater good.

Tang Ruoyao wasn't someone who liked to talk about her personal relationships. Apart from occasionally mentioning it when Fu Yujun asked, she didn't tell Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran anything. It wasn't until she revealed her relationship on a show, making it a hot topic, and later the high-profile Golden Magnolia Awards, that Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran confirmed that she was really with Qin Yinong.

To be honest, including Fu Yujun, the three roommates didn't have high hopes for this relationship. But Fu Yujun was completely neutral without any bias, while the other two were repulsed.

Tang Ruoyao understood. After all, they hadn't spent much time with Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao replied, [I've thought it through very clearly.]

Wen Shuxian said, [I wish you happiness.]

Cui Jiaran said, [I also wish you happiness. I can start preparing the wedding red envelopes, right, @Cosmic Invincible Beauty?]

Wen Shuxian said, [@Cui Jiaran, I'm sure yours will be more generous than hers, don't worry.]

The two of them playfully bantered as usual.

Tang Ruoyao saw a number pop up in the top left corner and tapped on it. It was a private message from Fu Yujun: [Can I gossip a bit?]

Tang Ruoyao's lips curved slightly: [Sure.]

Fu Yujun: [Who proposed? That hand doesn't look like yours, so it must be her wearing the engagement ring. Did you propose?]

[The ring was bought by me, but she proposed.] Tang Ruoyao replied.

[...]

Tang Ruoyao looked at the ellipsis sent by Fu Yujun and belatedly realized something strange.

Fu Yujun: [Is all her money under your control? Or is she so stingy that she won't even buy a ring?] Fu Yujun couldn't believe the latter possibility. She was an internationally renowned actress with billions in assets, and she wouldn't spend money on a diamond ring?

Tang Ruoyao felt embarrassed and said, [No, it's not like that.]

She quickly came up with an idea and said, [We exchanged rings to propose to each other, similar to the ancient tradition of exchanging cups.]

Fu Yujun thought to herself, 'How can these two things be compared?'

She subtly reminded Tang Ruoyao, [Even though she's wealthy, she still needs to be willing to spend money on you. Pay attention to that.]

Qin Yinong, who was suspected of being stingy, was oblivious to the implication. She finished her phone call quickly, descended the stairs, and spoke behind Tang Ruoyao, "Did you tell your roommates?"

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat on the sofa. She immediately deleted the words she had typed in the input box, swiped her finger back to the main screen, and said, "I told them, and they all gave me their blessings."

"Why are you so nervous?" Qin Yinong didn't miss the fleeting emotion in her eyes.

"I've been downstairs for a long time, and it's quiet here. Suddenly hearing a voice scared me a bit."

"Oh." Qin Yinong walked around from behind the sofa.

Tang Ruoyao asked, "What did Teacher Lin say?"

"What opinion could she have?" Qin Yinong sneered.

Tang Ruoyao narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Did she make you angry?"

Qin Yinong maintained her composure and said, "No." She lightly touched her forehead with her fingertips and lied without changing her expression, "I heard about her on-and-off relationship with her ex-girlfriend, and it's exhausting."

Tang Ruoyao didn't think too much about it. She half-knelt on the sofa and placed her hands on the woman's temples, giving her a massage.

As she massaged, Qin Yinong suddenly tilted her head to the side.

Tang Ruoyao followed her gaze and noticed that Qin Yinong seemed to be looking at her... fingers? And she had a pensive expression.

A wave of heat rushed to Tang Ruoyao's cheeks.

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself: Is she thinking about it again?

Qin Yinong made up her mind: 'Let's propose again.'

Qin Yinong was usually restrained. Apart from last night, when she gave Tang Ruoyao honest feedback to boost her confidence, she returned to her reserved nature tonight. However, Tang Ruoyao's goal was to make her speak, prolonging the moist night endlessly.

In the end, Qin Yinong just wanted to sleep, and only then did Tang Ruoyao reluctantly let her go. Tang Ruoyao wanted to take Qin Yinong to shower together, but Qin Yinong held onto the blanket and refused to let go. She was so exhausted that she was on the verge of fainting, so Tang Ruoyao gave up.

It must be said that Qin Yinong's biological clock, developed over the years, allowed her to recover quickly after a short sleep. She woke up early, refreshed.

Tang Ruoyao was sleeping deeply, with warm breath brushing against the pillow, and Qin Yinong's face was just inches away.

Qin Yinong gazed at the young woman's peaceful sleeping face for a moment, then smiled and picked up a hair tie from the bedside table. She tied up her long hair and slipped back into the warm cocoon of the bed.

Tang Ruoyao suddenly opened her eyes, her heart beating like a drum.

She lightly inserted her fingers into Qin Yinong's soft hair and closed her eyes again.

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