CHAPTER 185

Ji Yunyao: "Qin Hongjian plans to expose the relationship between the two of you."

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, standing at the doorway, exchanged glances. Tang Ruoyao didn't know much about Ji Yunyao, and her first thought was whether Ji Yunyao's statement was true or false. If it was true, what should they do next?

It seemed that one wave hadn't settled before another rose. It felt like there was no time to rest properly.

Qin Yinong remained much calmer than Tang Ruoyao and calmly asked, "And then?"

Ji Yunyao walked over in a grand manner. It was certain that she didn't come all the way just to pass on information. She loved playing around, but the prerequisite for her to engage in something was that it had to be worth her time. Moreover, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao had just reconciled, so there was no reason for Ji Yunyao to deceive her with false news. Therefore, the matter was true, and there must be more to it.

Ji Yunyao revealed a childish expression of "Ah, you caught me," without any suspense. She straightforwardly said, "I intercepted it."

Qin Yinong's gaze was profound.

Given Ji Yunyao's style of doing things, her "interception" definitely didn't mean a literal interpretation. It probably involved restricting someone's freedom by sending people to persuade them.

"Mom," Qin Yinong raised her eyes and looked at Ji Shulan, who was wiping the TV cabinet. Ji Shulan turned around, as if she had never heard the name Qin Hongjian from beginning to end, and responded calmly, "Here."

Qin Yinong gently touched Ningning's head and said in a soft voice, "Let Grandma take you to your room to play. Mom needs to talk about something important with your big sister."

Ji Shulan motioned to the child.

Ningning walked over and placed her little hand in Ji Shulan's palm.

The elderly and the child went back to the room, with Ji Shulan trailing behind and closing the door tightly.

Ningning's room was filled with toys and books. She had brought back a backpack full of them after visiting Han Yuping's house. Ji Shulan helped her organize and put them on the shelves, arranging them one by one.

After Ningning placed her dolls neatly, she suddenly asked in a childish voice, "Who is Qin Hongjian? Why does he have the same last name as Mom?"

Ji Shulan's expression remained calm without a hint of disturbance as she answered, "He's a stranger unrelated to us."

.......

Living room.

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao took their seats across from Ji Yunyao.

Ji Yunyao closed the magazine in her hand and tossed it aside. She didn't mention Qin Hongjian's question again but asked, "On a big Sunday like this, where did you two go instead of staying at home? Where did you go to have fun?"

Qin Yinong replied indifferently, "Visiting relatives."

Ji Yunyao was curious, "Which relatives?"

Qin Yinong replied stoically, "No comment."

Ji Yunyao didn't get angry or upset, instead, she smiled, her lips curling up.

Qin Yinong said, "If you keep going in circles like this, you won't have much time to spend with Ningning."

Ji Yunyao weighed her options and said, "Alright, let's talk about the important matters first."

Ji Yunyao had found out about Qin Hongjian even before Ningning's accidental exposure. She secretly gave him a little lesson and had been keeping an eye on him ever since. After her relationship with Qin Yinong improved, she wanted to use Qin Hongjian to do her a favor for Qin Yinong and exchange something with her. However, Qin Yinong refused to cooperate, so Ji Yunyao had to abandon that idea.

Ji Yunyao didn't care much about Qin Hongjian, but she didn't keep him around out of kindness. She just wanted him to live in fear day and night and pay the price he deserved.

She didn't expect that this old cockroach was still able to make a fuss even when he was about to kick the bucket.

For this reason, Ji Yunyao took two hours out of her time and condescended to meet him. It concerned the Qin family, and she couldn't trust her subordinates to handle it.

Qin Yinong frowned. "How did he find out about my relationship with Tang Ruoyao?"

Ji Yunyao's visit wasn't in vain. She frightened Qin Hongjian to the point of tears, and he even confessed to wetting the bed when he was a child. Ji Yunyao kicked him to the ground and left with a disgusted expression on her face.

She threw her shoes at the door and got into the car with a new pair.

Ji Yunyao sneered. "Who else could it be? It was Li Laogou [Old dog] who told him."

Qin Yinong silently accepted Li Yichuan's nickname and asked, "Is he trying to use someone else to do his dirty work?"

Ji Yunyao shook her head.

"No, he knew about this long before Ningning was exposed."

Qin Yinong narrowed his eyes.

"Why didn't he reveal it back then and waited until now?"

"Because he ran out of money. He's preparing to sell this information for a good price." Ji Yunyao leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Sister, your father doesn't let go of any opportunity to squeeze out any bit of profit from you."

Qin Yinong calmly lifted her eyelids. "Oh."

Ji Yunyao curiously asked, "How do you want to deal with him?"

Qin Yinong avoided answering and asked, "Does he have any evidence?"

Ji Yunyao said, "No, isn't his identity the evidence?"

Qin Yinong sneered.

Indeed, he had already played this trick over a decade ago.

Sometimes Qin Yinong would think, how good would it be if there wasn't a drop of this man's blood running through her body? Just because there was a blood relationship, he held a sharp knife that could harm her anytime, anywhere.

If only she could make him disappear completely.

The thought crossed Qin Yinong's mind, and she met Ji Yunyao's gaze.

She asked, "Do you have a way to make him never appear again?"

Ji Yunyao certainly had a way, but she asked, "What are the conditions?"

Qin Yinong only said one sentence, "He is Ningning's grandfather."

With Ji Yunyao's protective nature, she would never allow such an unpredictable time bomb to appear around Ningning.

Ji Yunyao showed no surprise and shrugged. "Okay."

In fact, she had already figured out Qin Hongjian's fate before coming here. Although Qin Yinong's attitude wouldn't change her actions, it would affect her perception of him.

Fortunately, Qin Yinong didn't disappoint her.

As a polite reminder, Ji Yunyao asked, "Do you want to see him? Whether it's scolding him, humiliating him, or even beating him up, as long as it doesn't result in loss of life. After this incident, you probably won't have another chance to meet him."

Qin Yinong said, "No, I'm not interested."

Ji Yunyao smiled.

She looked at Tang Ruoyao beside her and asked, "And what about you?"

Tang Ruoyao shook her head.

If even Qin Yinong didn't want to see him, why should she get involved? Would it just cause trouble for Qin Yinong? Although deep down she did have a slight urge to beat up Qin Hongjian and seek revenge for Qin Yinong.

Ji Yunyao said, "Alright." She took out pen and paper from the drawer of the coffee table, and wrote in black and white, "On November X, 2019, Qin Yinong owes Ji Yunyao a favor."

She handed the notebook over, but Qin Yinong didn't understand and asked, "What is this?"

Ji Yunyao lifted her chin slightly and smiled. "Sign it, so you can't go back on your word."

Qin Yinong signed her name and returned it.

Tang Ruoyao silently repeated it three times in her mind, and Qin Yinong played with the child, forcing down the sourness in her heart.

"By the way," Ji Yunyao tore off the piece of paper, folded it neatly, and put it in her wallet. She said, "Li Laogou is probably a bigmouth. If he could tell Qin Hongjian, he might have told others as well."

Qin Yinong's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ji Yunyao said, "The relationship between the two of you can be hidden for a while, but not forever."

Qin Yinong said, "I know my limits." She hadn't planned to hide it forever anyway.

Ji Yunyao looked at her and then at Tang Ruoyao, and said, "But you two definitely don't have any plans to go public right now, do you?"

Qin Yinong sensed that there was something more to her words and asked directly, "What do you want to say?"

Ji Yunyao said, "I have a way. It can silence Li Laogou's mouth and prevent anyone from daring to expose your relationship, or more precisely, anything about Tang Ruoyao."

"Tell me about it."

Ji Yunyao lowered her voice and said a few words.

Tang Ruoyao's veins bulged on the back of her hand, wishing she could grab the water glass on the coffee table in front of her and splash it on Ji Yunyao's face.

Qin Yinong's face also turned dark, and she flatly refused, "No, it's not possible."

Ji Yunyao's idea was to make Tang Ruoyao her nominal girlfriend, so that no one would dare to touch her. What a ridiculous idea.

Both of them looked displeased, but Ji Yunyao smiled and said, "I was just kidding, don't be angry."

Qin Yinong's expression turned icy as she said, "I don't find it funny."

She stood up, gesturing for Ji Yunyao to leave. "Please go."

Only then did Ji Yunyao panic a little. She clung to the sofa and promised, "I won't say anything like that again."

Qin Yinong remained expressionless. "Go out."

Ji Yunyao quickly came up with a plan. "I wish you a lifetime of happiness and a happy family."

Qin Yinong withdrew her hand and continued to ignore her for another five minutes before asking, "What do you want to say?"

"There's a commercial event tonight, and Li Laogou will be attending," Ji Yunyao didn't dare to waste any more words and stated her second purpose for coming, "I came to invite Miss Tang Ruoyao to accompany me as my partner."

"Why?" Qin Yinong's gaze became wary.

"I need a partner." Ji Yunyao blurted out.

Qin Yinong scoffed.

"Didn't Li Laogou always try to trip up Tang Ruoyao secretly?" A few seconds later, Ji Yunyao's tone became casual, as if she was talking about something ordinary and effortless. "I'll take her in front of Li Laogou, let him restrain himself a bit, and also keep his big mouth in check."

Qin Yinong scrutinized her up and down, finding it hard to believe. She felt that Ji Yunyao couldn't be so kind-hearted.

Ji Yunyao shrugged. "Forget it, I won't go."

Qin Yinong said, "Give me some time to consider."

Ji Yunyao turned her head to look out the window, a hint of a shallow smile in her eyes.

After sitting for a while, she clapped her hands and stood up, heading to Ningning's room. Before leaving, she said, "Give me your answer before 4 p.m."

Tang Ruoyao looked at Qin Yinong, and Qin Yinong lightly patted the back of her hand.

After discussing it, they decided to let Tang Ruoyao attend the event with Ji Yunyao. However, Qin Yinong would personally drop her off at the entrance of the banquet hall and pick her up afterwards to ensure nothing went wrong. Ji Yunyao had no objections; she wasn't really trying to steal Tang Ruoyao.

It only made sense for Tang Ruoyao to be with Qin Yinong. She wasn't interested in being apart from her.

In the afternoon, Qin Yinong specifically paid attention to Ji Shulan. Ji Shulan was as usual, reading, watering plants, arranging flowers, and there was no sign of anything unusual. She didn't mention a single word about Qin Hongjian, as if nothing had happened at all.

Qin Yinong secretly withdrew her gaze.

In the evening, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao sat in Ji Yunyao's car and headed to the banquet venue. Qin Yinong watched as the two of them got out of the car one after the other. She looked out of the window covered with sunshade film until their figures climbed up the tall marble steps and entered through the door.

Most of the attendees at this evening banquet were people from the business world. Tang Ruoyao could recognize a few people when she attended events with Han Yuping, but here, she felt completely lost. The waiter at the entrance deepened his bow a few degrees upon seeing the invitation card handed over by Ji Yunyao, respectfully inviting the two of them inside.

Tang Ruoyao lightly hooked her arm around Ji Yunyao's, walking beside her into the golden banquet hall filled with fragrance and elegance.

There was a momentary silence in the entire hall as everyone instinctively turned their gaze towards the entrance.

Tang Ruoyao could clearly feel that a significant portion of those gazes were fixed on her and wouldn't let go. She calmly lowered her eyes for a moment before lifting them again, straightening her posture.

She thought it was natural for Ji Yunyao, with her prominent status, to attract so much attention. Little did she expect that she was the first female companion brought by Ji Yunyao, the first person qualified to stand by her side.

She still held Ji Yunyao's hand, and those who were more familiar with Ji Yunyao would know that she had a serious case of mysophobia.

After many people withdrew their gazes, they began whispering and discussing her identity.

A young man who seemed to be acquainted with Ji Yunyao approached, holding a champagne glass and curiously examining Tang Ruoyao. He asked Ji Yunyao, "Who is this..."

Ji Yunyao said, "Her surname is Tang."

"Miss Tang," the man politely nodded and slightly bowed.

"Hello." Tang Ruoyao replied coldly.

Ji Yunyao didn't engage in further conversation with the man and led Tang Ruoyao to the side. She raised her hand and pointed in a direction, saying, "That's Li Yichuan."

Tang Ruoyao followed her gaze and only saw the back of a man, average in height, wearing a gray-blue suit. Li Yichuan was sensitive, and almost the moment Tang Ruoyao locked eyes on him, he turned around.

The first thing that caught attention was his unusually pale complexion, dark-colored lips, clearly someone who had been sick since birth.

Li Yichuan covered his mouth with a handkerchief, sweeping his gaze across the crowd, suppressing the unusual feeling in his heart.

At this moment, a fair and delicate hand patted his shoulder.

"Mr. Li."

Li Yichuan turned his head upon hearing the voice. The person who approached softly called him, and a glass of champagne, still half full, spilled onto Li Yichuan's impeccably dressed suit, leaving a large dark stain.

A hint of cruelty flashed in Li Yichuan's cold eyes.

Ji Yunyao held an empty champagne glass and apologized sincerely, "I'm sorry, Mr. Li. I wanted to give you a surprise, but I didn't expect..."

She handed the champagne glass back to the waiter's tray and ordered loudly, "Quick, get a handkerchief, I'll personally clean it for Mr. Li."

Li Yichuan recognized the person and his expression changed slightly.

He had heard early on that Ji Yunyao, the young miss of the Ji family, had a peculiar personality and did things based on her own preferences, not following common rules. She was also a ruthless and formidable person not to be trifled with. Although he had no grievances with her, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Li Yichuan took off his suit jacket and smiled generously, saying, "It's just a suit, how could I trouble Miss Ji."

Ji Yunyao pretended to be kind and said, "How can that be?"

Li Yichuan was about to exchange a few more polite words, but he noticed the woman standing beside Ji Yunyao, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on her lips.

Li Yichuan shifted his attention to Tang Ruoyao's face.

He had never seen Tang Ruoyao in person, at most he had seen videos and photos of her. In reality, she looked slightly better than in the pictures, and it took him a few seconds to recognize her. Wasn't she Qin Yinong's girlfriend? When did she get involved with Ji Yunyao again?

Li Yichuan knew that Qin Yinong was related to the Ji family, but she only held a nominal position and had no real power. He knew that much.

What was going on now?

Li Yichuan was confused.

Uncertain in his heart, Li Yichuan asked politely, "And who is this..."

Ji Yunyao smiled ambiguously, her red lips slightly parted as she uttered two words, "Guess." The tone even had a slight upward inflection.

Li Yichuan: "..."

Li Yichuan had some dealings with Ji Yunyao, but they were all business-related and very rare. The Ji family looked down on his unscrupulous methods, and the two families had no contact unless necessary. Most of the time, they would just exchange nods at social events and move on.

Seeing Li Yichuan's frustrated expression, Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but recall a phrase in her mind: 'Evil begets evil.'

Li Yichuan adjusted himself slightly and smiled politely, "I can't guess, please enlighten me, Miss Ji."

Ji Yunyao affectionately wrapped her gloved hand around Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, her smile full of meaning.

"Now, has Mr. Li figured it out?"

Li Yichuan returned her smile, seeing through her without revealing it. He took two new glasses of champagne from the waiter's tray and handed one to Ji Yunyao. Ji Yunyao accepted it, but when Li Yichuan was about to clink glasses with her, she withdrew her hand, avoiding it.

A flicker of darkness flashed in Li Yichuan's eyes, as fast as if it had never appeared.

Ji Yunyao took a sip with an arrogant expression, then left with Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao turned back and revealing a triumphant smile.

The person by Li Yichuan's side couldn't stand it and spoke in a low voice, angrily saying, "Mr. Li..."

Li Yichuan raised his hand, silencing him with a cold snort.

Just a little brat who relied on her elders to act arrogantly, he couldn't be bothered to argue with her.

As for why Ji Yunyao suddenly embarrassed him for no reason, it was probably because someone around her had filled her ears with something. He originally thought she was an easily manipulated minor character, but he didn't expect her manipulative skills to be so formidable. Even Ji Yunyao, who had always stayed away from women, fell into her trap.

Li Yichuan pondered for a moment and said, "Call Ling Han and tell him not to touch this woman, Tang... whatever her name is."

In essence, Li Yichuan had no personal grudges or conflicts with Tang Ruoyao. He couldn't even remember her name. As long as it caused trouble for Qin Yinong, he would do it. The people below him speculated on his intentions and treated this matter as a task to be completed.

Now that she had climbed onto a higher branch, Li Yichuan had no reason to oppose her. It wasn't something a businessman would do to harm himself and benefit others. He didn't want to offend the powerful Ji family behind Ji Yunyao.

However, since Tang Ruoyao was with Ji Yunyao, did that mean Qin Yinong had been dumped? Her beloved lover, was she now in someone else's embrace? Maybe Ji Yunyao snatched her away from her, and the two of them had already fought over her. Just thinking about it made Li Yichuan feel a great sense of satisfaction.

For a brief moment, he also considered whether Ji Yunyao deliberately staged this scene with Tang Ruoyao in front of him. But firstly, he couldn't imagine Qin Yinong being able to influence Ji Yunyao. If she could, she wouldn't have been at a disadvantage in their previous confrontation. Secondly, even if it was just a performance, if Ji Yunyao personally intervened, he would give her face. A mere Tang Ruoyao, he would let her go, no harm done.

Ji Yunyao had been mistaken when she was with the Qin family. Li Yichuan wasn't a blabbermouth and didn't reveal the relationship between Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao. He just couldn't stand Qin Hongjian's nagging and, based on the principle of giving Qin Yinong a little discomfort for every annoyance he received, he impatiently told Qin Hongjian about it and then kicked him out. Li Yichuan didn't think exposing this news would have much impact on Qin Yinong because no one could suppress her. There was no need for him to go through the trouble of doing something that wouldn't yield any benefits. Initially, he only wanted to use Tang Ruoyao as a bargaining chip to threaten her, nothing more.

After the incident, Qin Yinong's side never contacted him again, and the agreed-upon contract was left hanging. He was busy with his own affairs until now.

There were people around Tang Ruoyao, making it difficult to make a move, and she was protected by Ji Yunyao. This useless chip was completely wasted.

Li Yichuan let out a heavy sigh and finished his drink in one gulp.

.......

Ji Yunyao hugged Tang Ruoyao and walked out of Li Yichuan's line of sight. She released her shoulder and said, "Good acting." That smile just now perfectly demonstrated what it meant for a petty person to succeed.

Tang Ruoyao replied politely, "You too."

Ji Yunyao lowered her head and looked at her own hand. She endured for a moment, then couldn't resist taking off the lace glove that had touched Tang Ruoyao's shoulder and threw it into the trash can.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Ji Yunyao showed a hint of apology and smiled as she explained, "Don't misunderstand, I just have a slight..."

Tang Ruoyao interjected, "Mysophobia."

They had already circled the banquet together, and Ji Yunyao still had some powers of observation.

Ji Yunyao nodded.

She glanced at her own arm that Tang Ruoyao had held, even if it was just for show, they occasionally made contact. She lightly bit her lip.

...She wanted to go back and take a bath.

Whether it was Tang Ruoyao's misconception or not, she suddenly felt that this Ji Yunyao seemed somewhat lively.

Ji Yunyao felt slightly uneasy under her gaze, but she concealed it well and suggested, "Should I escort you back to the car first? Sister is still waiting for you."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Her purpose for coming here had been achieved, and she had no further business here.

Ji Yunyao led Tang Ruoyao to leave first.

.......

Qin Yinong expected Tang Ruoyao to come out late, so she turned on the light in the backseat and held Tang Ruoyao's new script to read. The script was tentatively titled "Xiao Hong," which might change in the future. It told the story of the tumultuous yet brilliant life of the female writer Xiao Hong. Growing up in a wild manner, she carried the most primitive power and became a radiant pearl in the modern literary world.

Qin Yinong had also made a biographical film before, about a female actress who faced criticism while alive but was only proven innocent after her death. Their experiences had similarities, and Qin Yinong's film had been very successful, leaving a profound impact. Her "textbook-like performance" was often mentioned.

Xiao Hong had gone through several relationships in her life, and Qin Yinong was concerned that Tang Ruoyao might again get too deeply involved in the role. While reading the script, she paid special attention to the romantic scenes, making sure they didn't have overly dramatic plots. She felt a little relieved.

The printed pages exuded the scent of ink, and Qin Yinong immersed herself in the world depicted in the script. However, the nearby car door opened, allowing a cold breeze to rush in, followed by a graceful figure that caught her eye.

Tang Ruoyao bent down and got inside.

Qin Yinong put the script down, smiled, and reached out to embrace her. Tang Ruoyao's hands and face felt cold from the wind, and considering the driver in the front, she only held Qin Yinong's hand and sat beside her.

Before they could speak, the driver started the car.

Tang Ruoyao hurriedly asked, "Aren't we waiting for Ji Yunyao? Weren't we going back together?"

The driver respectfully replied, "Miss Ji said she will be finishing late. Let me take you back first and then come back to pick her up."

Tang Ruoyao politely said, "Thank you."

The driver glanced at the two of them through the rearview mirror, signaled, and smoothly drove the car into the bustling traffic on the well-lit road.

After arriving home, Qin Yinong held Tang Ruoyao's hand and asked, "How was it?"

Tang Ruoyao recounted everything in detail, especially the part where Ji Yunyao intentionally spilled wine on Li Yichuan. She vividly described the scene and how Li Yichuan dared not retaliate and had to swallow his anger.

Qin Yinong was familiar with Li Yichuan, just like Ji Yunyao, he was someone who kept his emotions hidden and had a deep facade. She could tell which parts were Tang Ruoyao's embellishments, meant to amuse her and make her happy, but she didn't expose it. With a touch of regret on her face, she said, "It's a pity I didn't see it with my own eyes."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I saw it on your behalf. He definitely won't be able to hold on for much longer."

Qin Yinong agreed, "That's right!"

Tang Ruoyao continued firmly, "Everything will turn out fine."

Qin Yinong nodded with a smile, burying her face in Tang Ruoyao's neck.

Everything will get better and better.

For the two of them, the eventful year of 2019 was coming to an end. The business for celebrities was becoming more frequent, especially for female stars. The red carpet photos were endless: today a golden dress, tomorrow a black and white polka dot dress, the day after tomorrow a pink gown. They were constantly trending and looked stunning.

Tang Ruoyao had almost daily engagements, ranging from fashion nights to major awards and commercial events. She was as busy as a spinning top. Qin Yinong, on the other hand, attended a charity banquet organized by the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine. They caught a glimpse of each other at the banquet, and their eyes conveyed unspoken affection. They were seated far apart, as usual, but in the final group photo, surrounded by numerous stars, Qin Yinong was embraced in the center.

While most people were busy at the end of the year, awaiting the arrival of the new year, Qin Yinong, Tang Ruoyao, and both sets of parents were busily preparing for the wedding. Qin Yinong finally believed in Ji Shulan's words. The production of the wedding gown and accessories alone was enough to give her a headache. From the overall design to the smallest details, such as a pearl or an embroidered pattern, discussions could go on for days, not to mention other matters.

Considering the production timeline for the wedding gown, they scheduled the wedding for early spring next year, in March.

Author's Note:

They're getting married! I'm sending out wedding invitations to all the readers, so please join us for the wedding ceremony, celebrate with us, and participate in the joyful activities. Have you prepared your blessings and red envelopes?

For those who can't come up with blessings, just continue screaming, "Ahhhhh!"

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