CHAPTER 188

Qin Yinong initially thought of giving Tang Ruoyao a memorable proposal ceremony so that they could reminisce about it even when they grew old.

Fine lines appeared at the corners of Tang Ruoyao's eyes as they sat in the courtyard, watching the sunset together. She would speak in a nostalgic tone and ask, "Do you remember when you proposed to me back then?"

Qin Yinong would take her hand and place a kiss on it, smiling as she replied, "Of course, I remember. I remember how I was back then and how you were."

At that moment, Tang Ruoyao would affectionately nestle into Qin Yinong's embrace and say, "It was so romantic."

Qin Yinong had dreamt of this scene countless times and had woken up with a smile on her face each time. Fortunately, Tang Ruoyao was a deep sleeper and barely noticed. However, there was one time when Qin Yinong was particularly ecstatic in her dream, and it ended up waking Tang Ruoyao.

Rubbing her eyes, Tang Ruoyao turned on a bedside lamp and asked in a drowsy voice, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong gently patted her back to soothe her and replied, trying to evade the question, "It's nothing, just go back to sleep."

But Tang Ruoyao couldn't fall asleep anymore.

Unable to help her, Qin Yinong let her tire herself out until she eventually fell asleep again, completely forgetting about the incident when she woke up the next day.

Qin Yinong wanted every significant event in their lives together to be worth commemorating, with a sense of solemn ceremony. This included not having the intention to give the ring as a Christmas gift before this morning.

She had planned to propose on New Year's, even considering involving Ningning, but she hadn't yet come up with a complete plan for how to execute it.

However, just after preparing Christmas gifts for everyone, Qin Yinong suddenly changed her mind.

December 25, 2019.

Tang Ruoyao woke up and found herself being Qin Yinong's wife.

They would forever remember this Christmas, their first Christmas together. Every Christmas, every holiday, every day from now on. 'With you by my side, life has meaning.'

......

Tang Ruoyao threw herself into Qin Yinong's arms, crying and laughing at the same time. Tears seeped into the neckline of Qin Yinong's pajamas, making her skin cool and damp.

Qin Yinong didn't intend for her to cry, but seeing Tang Ruoyao's reaction, she silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Two proposals in one lifetime, and neither of them messed up.

Tang Ruoyao was deeply moved.

Qin Yinong was moved by her emotions and lowered her head to kiss the top of her head, gently coaxing, "There, there, don't cry."

Tang Ruoyao wiped her tears and looked up, her tear-streaked face adding a unique beauty to her fair and pure complexion. Unable to resist, Qin Yinong kissed her eyes.

"When did you buy it?" Tang Ruoyao asked with a choked voice, still sounding a bit nasally from crying.

Qin Yinong praised her cuteness in her heart and replied, "Earlier than you."

"How much earlier?"

"Wait a moment," Qin Yinong said, taking her phone from the bedside table and logging into her email. She showed Tang Ruoyao their email correspondence with the foreign jewelry designer.

Tang Ruoyao looked at the earliest date of the emails, her eyes widening, and looked back at Qin Yinong.

She was about to cry again.

It turned out that Qin Yinong wanted to marry her so early, even before they officially got together. Tears welled up in the young woman's eyes. Qin Yinong was happy to see her moved, but she didn't want her to cry frequently for her sake. So, before the tears could fall, she carefully kissed them away.

Tang Ruoyao smiled through her tears.

"Qin Yinong," she nestled back into the woman's embrace, her cheeks pressed tightly against her, able to hear her steady and powerful heartbeat.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

As soon as the words fell, Tang Ruoyao initiated a kiss.

They temporarily took off the newly worn ring, as not to scrape their delicate skin.

The sun rose in the sky, and the snowflakes on the glass window gradually melted, forming small streams of water flowing downward. The temperature in the room gradually rose, filled with the warmth of winter.

Qin and Tang lazily stayed in bed until noon, and everyone tacitly agreed not to disturb them.

As they went downstairs, the aroma of food greeted their hungry stomachs.

The two exchanged a glance, both smiling.

Ningning was playing with roller skates in the room. After making a beautiful stop, she stood in front of them and said, "Mom, Mommy, good afternoon."

Tang Ruoyao: "Good afternoon."

Qin Yinong: "Good afternoon."

Ningning quickly skated away.

Qin Yinong went to the kitchen to check on the food, almost ready, so she came back to sit on the sofa, conserving her energy. With the events of the night and day combined, she was exhausted and starting to feel overwhelmed.

Ningning came back, once again approaching Qin Yinong, and in a childish voice, she said, "Mom, I received a gift from Santa Claus this morning."

Qin Yinong pretended to be surprised and asked, "Really? What is it?"

Ningning said, "It's a music box, Elsa's magical castle. And there was a note that gave me a Christmas wish and told me to make a wish to you, saying that no matter what I ask for, you will grant it. Is that true?"

Qin Yinong replied, "It's true. What do you want?"

Ningning tilted her head, tapping her chin, and said, "I haven't thought about it yet. I'll tell you when I figure it out."

And she skated away again.

Everyone, except her, had received Christmas gifts.

Tang Fei received a pair of limited-edition sneakers.

Aunt Fang received a cashmere sweater.

Ji Shulan received a handmade cheongsam.

Qin Yinong received the smiles of everyone, and she was content, having no other desires.

After waking up, Tang Ruoyao learned from Tang Fei that Qin Yinong had prepared gifts for everyone except herself. Qin Yinong had no expectations, but Tang Ruoyao felt a mix of emotions and it didn't sit well with her.

Christmas had already passed for most of the day, and she had an evening engagement and needed to leave in the afternoon. Not to mention that even if there was enough time to prepare a gift, she couldn't come up with anything unique in such a short time.

Before leaving for the Guangdong Media Center, she whispered to Qin Yinong, "Let's go there tonight."

"There" referred to the little nest they lived in.

Qin Yinong responded with an understanding expression.

Tang Ruoyao hurriedly left, and in the evening, after Qin Yinong finished dinner at home, she made an excuse and slipped away as well.

She arrived much earlier than Tang Ruoyao. The living room played background music from a documentary. Qin Yinong washed a plate of fruit by herself, carefully and patiently arranging them into a fruit platter. She took a photo and sent it to Tang Ruoyao with the caption: "How does it look?"

After about ten minutes, she received a reply: "Looks good."

Tang Ruoyao sent back a photo of the recording scene.

Qin Yinong: "Touch it."

Tang Ruoyao was participating in the recording of a program for a certain satellite TV station's New Year's Eve party. As a star with no special talents other than acting, she usually sang on occasions like this. Tang Ruoyao had decent vocal abilities, much better than karaoke, and she stood out among the amateurs.

The program was scheduled for the middle section. Despite her young age, Tang Ruoyao had a calm temperament and never showed nervousness in any situation. She completed the recording in one take, bid farewell to her colleagues in the entertainment industry and the organizers of the program, and left the Guangdong Media Center.

Qin Yinong waited until 11 o'clock, and the sound of the electronic lock came from the door.

Tang Ruoyao, wearing a long white down coat, stood at the entrance. It had snowed again in the evening, and by the time she arrived home, the snowflakes had turned into goose feathers. She had accumulated quite a few snowflakes on her way from the car to the door. The northern snow was dry and cold, and it hadn't melted. There was still a sparkling white patch on her head.

Qin Yinong raised her hand and gently brushed away the snowflakes on her hair.

Suddenly, Tang Ruoyao produced a bouquet of flowers from behind her back.

"Merry Christmas," the young woman said, with a slightly serious expression.

"Thank you." Qin Yinong received the bouquet with both hands, lowered her head to smell it, and said, "It smells lovely."

Tang Ruoyao's knuckles holding the bouquet were stiff as she said, "I'm actually a bit nervous, did you notice?"

Qin Yinong said, "I am too."

Tang Ruoyao said, "It's the first time I've given someone flowers."

Qin Yinong said, "And it's the first time I've received... flowers from you."

Well then, Tang Ruoyao thought, does that mean you've received flowers from someone else?

The taste of jealousy prevailed, and Tang Ruoyao completely lost her nervousness. She hung her down jacket on the clothes rack by the door and pretended to be angry, saying, "Come clean with me, who else has given you flowers?"

Qin Yinong's gaze wandered as she said, "Well... like from brand sponsors and such, you should have received them too."

Tang Ruoyao wrapped her hands around the woman's waist and pressed her down onto the sofa, dangerously narrowing her eyes. "Confession is leniency, resistance is strict."

Qin Yinong curiously asked, "And what if I resist?"

"The consequences of resistance... hmph." Tang Ruoyao unexpectedly tickled her sides.

Unprepared, Qin Yinong burst into laughter and dove into her embrace.

Tang Ruoyao continued tickling her ticklish spots. They had already been honest with each other, so there was nothing they didn't know about each other. She kept tickling and teasing, saying, "Still resisting? Still resisting?"

"I... hahaha... can't take it anymore... help..."

Qin Yinong laughed so hard she almost ran out of breath.

"I was wrong!" Qin Yinong, recognizing the situation, curled up and raised her hands in surrender.

Tang Ruoyao lifted her up and asked, "Who else?"

Qin Yinong hadn't intended to keep it a secret from her in the first place and just wanted to play around a bit, but she didn't expect to endure such "torture." She wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes and said, "Some previous pursuers, but I threw away the flowers after receiving them. Also, some young artists from our company. During the holidays, someone would buy flowers for all the employees in the company. As for brand sponsors and business partners, there's nothing much else, I didn't really care about them."

Tang Ruoyao climbed up smoothly and said, "So I'm the only one you cared about?"

Qin Yinong nodded firmly.

Tang Ruoyao suddenly softened her voice and said, "Baby."

Qin Yinong looked at her.

Tang Ruoyao grew up in the south and wasn't particularly afraid of the cold, especially after coming to the north. She was only wearing a tight black sweater inside her down jacket, and the sweater wasn't anything special, but it was tight-fitting, accentuating her curves.

Qin Yinong discreetly swallowed her saliva.

Tang Ruoyao pressed her lips against hers.

After kissing for a long time, their passion gradually grew. Qin Yinong held her waist and, in the gaps between their lips, whispered, "Let's... go to the bedroom."

Tang Ruoyao relentlessly chased after her and, as the other was about to get up, she firmly grabbed her wrist, keeping her imprisoned in place.

.......

As the hour hand crossed twelve o'clock, the Christmas bell faded away. Qin Yinong received her gift that belonged to her.

Tang Ruoyao sat on the sofa, slowly calming down. Her heart was gently beating, feeling a bit embarrassed. Qin Yinong noticed her shyness and considerately refrained from teasing her. She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, extended her arms outward, and opened the curtains.

There was only one floor lamp lit in the living room, casting a hazy light.

A woman draped in a white robe stood before the city's bright lights.

Tang Ruoyao tightened her grip around her waist, embracing her from behind. She rested her chin on the woman's shoulder, and Qin Yinong tilted her head, rubbing against Tang Ruoyao's soft cheek.

A few minutes later, the two sat side by side on the carpet in front of the window, holding hands.

Tang Ruoyao said, "I suddenly feel a bit reluctant to leave this place."

Their new house had already been purchased. Qin Yinong was decisive in everything except matters of the heart. She had chosen a few promising properties and sought Tang Ruoyao's opinion before finalizing the decision.

If everything went smoothly, they would be able to move in after the renovation next year. The new house was closer to Qin Yinong's home and much larger in size.

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and said, "Me too."

Humans are strange creatures. Just because their mindset changes, unpleasant or even deeply disliked things become beautiful memories. This place recorded every bit of their life together, filled with memories.

But a person cannot live in one place forever.

"Let's keep this house. We can still come here occasionally," Qin Yinong surveyed the surroundings and said, "In the future, we'll create new memories elsewhere."

Tang Ruoyao nodded and said, "Okay."

"Let's go to bed." Qin Yinong stood up first and pulled Tang Ruoyao up with her.

The light in the living room dimmed, and the light in the bedroom turned on. The sounds within the house settled down after a long time.

After a night of snowfall, the next day dawned with a blanket of white, the trees in the neighborhood adorned in silver. The two of them lazily stayed in the warm bed until around ten o'clock. Afterwards, Qin Yinong sent Tang Ruoyao back home and headed to the company herself.

Once life begins, it's not measured in minutes or hours, but in days and months.

The Spring Festival was approaching.

New clothes, holiday preparations, visiting relatives and friends—the latter being something they hadn't done in previous years, but it had to be added this year. On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qin Yinong finally had a break, concluding a year of work.

Aunt Fang's daughter took her back to celebrate the New Year, leaving on the twenty-eighth day. Qin Yinong miscalculated and added an extra person, making a total of seven instead of eight, but it was still livelier than before.

The weather had been gloomy for the past few days, with piercing cold northern winds.

Qin Yinong entered her home and saw several pairs of Spring Festival couplets placed on the dining table. One pair was already unfolded, and Tang Ruoyao was applying glue to it. She had been invited by a few television stations to participate in live Spring Festival galas, but she declined them all. Compared to Qin Yinong's work, her schedule was relatively relaxed.

Tang Ruoyao opened up her thoughts. After all, she knew she could never surpass Qin Yinong in this lifetime. Instead of chasing after more money for their dowry by traveling all over for work, being apart more often than together, it would be better to earn a little less and have more time together.

She adopted a carefree attitude, which made her fans cry, especially her career-oriented fans.

Since the completion of the film "True Colors," Tang Ruoyao had been busy with various projects, her career ambition soaring. Even openly dating a "young fresh meat" didn't hinder her from taking on numerous jobs. Her fans were extremely pleased. However, this Lunar New Year, Tang Ruoyao, who never missed the Spring Festival Gala, had no news at all. The program schedules of various TV stations were released, confirming that their beloved idol was indeed staying at home.

[Tang Tang, what's wrong with you?]

[Sis, are you there? Can you come out to work? [pleading face]]

[I've been praying in front of the Buddha for thousands of years, please work online for a bit]

[It's almost New Year, why are you suddenly silent?]

Tang Ruoyao was focused and didn't notice that Qin Yinong, who usually arrived home later, slowly approached her from behind.

"Yao Yao." Qin Yinong suddenly spoke up.

Tang Ruoyao was startled, realizing she had applied too much glue. She quickly spread it, afraid the paper would get soggy. She let out a breath and then turned around, giving Qin Yinong a somewhat annoyed but affectionate look.

Qin Yinong smiled and kissed her, causing Tang Ruoyao's face to light up with a smile.

Qin Yinong asked, "Are you putting up the Spring Festival couplets?"

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head. "Of course."

Qin Yinong looked at it for a while and said, "Need any help?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Yes."

She finished applying the glue, and both of them put on their thick down jackets. They walked to the doorway, where Tang Ruoyao stepped onto a folding ladder and removed last year's couplets. She bent down and reached out her hand towards Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong handed them to her and then stepped back a bit to see if she was pasting them straight.

"It's crooked," Qin Yinong said. "A little to the left."

Tang Ruoyao perked up her ears and adjusted to the left.

"Now it's too far to the left, a little to the right."

The wind outside was strong, and with the hood of her down jacket on, Tang Ruoyao couldn't hear clearly at the moment. She decided to take off her hood, and her long hair flew about.

"To the right."

Tang Ruoyao heard it clearly and, under Qin Yinong's guidance, properly pasted the first line of the couplets.

When she came down from the ladder, her cheeks were bright red from the cold, and her hands felt like they had been dipped in an ice cellar. Seeing her in such discomfort, Qin Yinong immediately pulled her inside and closed the door, saying, "It's too cold, don't go out anymore."

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "I've only finished half of one set." She lifted her chin towards the dining table and added, "There's still the second line and the horizontal scroll, and we also need to paste them at other doorways."

Qin Yinong firmly disagreed, saying that either she would do it.

Tang Ruoyao refused to agree.

After a brief stalemate, they reached a consensus — let Tang Fei do it.

Boys have a lot of energy, and they consider blowing in the wind as a form of exercise.

Tang Fei, accompanied by Ji Shulan and Ningning, returned from the supermarket with their hands full of Lunar New Year goods, appearing quite manly. As soon as he heard his sister calling him, he put the goods at the doorstep and rushed over without even putting on his shoes.

"What's the matter?"

That's how it is between siblings. Tang Ruoyao had no qualms about ordering Tang Fei around and said, "We haven't pasted the couplets yet."

Without a second thought, Tang Fei replied, "Where are they?"

Tang Ruoyao pointed to the dining table.

Tang Fei hooked his arm and said, "Alright."

In the past, the two of them used to paste couplets at home, with Tang Fei being responsible for applying the glue and fetching the couplets when he was shorter, while Tang Ruoyao was in charge of pasting. Now, it happened to be the opposite. Qin Yinong wanted to go and watch, but Tang Ruoyao forcefully wrapped her in a scarf, put gloves on her, and even a hat with a large brim before allowing her to observe.

Ningning also wanted to watch, so Qin Yinong covered her face with hands wearing knitted gloves.

Tang Fei suddenly felt the pressure.

Why are there spectators for simply pasting couplets?

Tang Ruoyao stood with her hands in her pockets, relaxed and at ease, saying, "A little to the left."

With each of Tang Fei's movements following her instructions, his fingers froze.

Ningning shouted in the wind, "Uncle, you can do it!"

Tang Fei immediately became motivated.

In no time, they finished pasting couplets at all the necessary places, and two red lanterns were hung at the doorway. Tang Fei went back inside, holding the hot tea poured by Ji Shulan, shivering for a while, and then revived. He started looking for things to do everywhere, unable to relax at all.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, Qin Yinong personally went to pick up Han Yuping and his wife to have a reunion dinner together.

Ji Shulan had heard about the two of them but hadn't met them in person. They had mostly discussed wedding details over the phone during this period, and she knew how important these two people were to Qin Yinong. She had been eagerly anticipating their arrival.

Han Yuping and Liang Shu arrived with bags full of items. As soon as Ji Shulan saw them, she said, "You've spent so much, it's unnecessary. It's enough that you're here. Why did you bring so many gifts?"

Liang Shu held her hand and said a few polite words, praising her for raising a good daughter.

It was a typical exchange between parents.

In front of three elderly people in their sixties, Qin Yinong was like a child and didn't have the right to interrupt. She went to find Tang Ruoyao, who was making a phone call in the upstairs study. When Tang Ruoyao saw her coming in, the corners of her eyes slightly curved upwards.

Qin Yinong obediently stayed silent and waited for Tang Ruoyao to end the call before asking, "Who was that?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "One of my former teachers, my university professor."

Qin Yinong asked, "What happened?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "The teacher is hospitalized, and I wanted to offer my condolences."

Qin Yinong made a soft sound and asked, "Are you going to visit her?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "I should. But these two days might not work. Maybe on the third or fourth day of the Lunar New Year. I'll see if I have time."

Qin Yinong's tone was half-joking and half-serious as she said, "Shall I go with you?"

Tang Ruoyao looked at her and said, "Sure."Qin Yinong was taken aback.

Tang Ruoyao said, "The teacher took good care of me before, and she's a nice person. She probably won't tell anyone about our relationship."

Qin Yinong hesitated and said, "Let me think about it."

Tang Ruoyao didn't push her and simply said, "Take your time, no rush."

Tang Ruoyao understood her thoughts. If it were possible, no one would want to secretly have a relationship and even get married. Tang Ruoyao had integrated herself into Qin Yinong's life in various aspects, and most of the trustworthy people around her knew and approved of their relationship. Han Yuping and his wife were a perfect example, and it was only a matter of time before they considered her their daughter-in-law.

On the other hand, Qin Yinong only had Tang Ruoyao. Her younger brother, Tang Fei, was almost like Ji Shulan's grandson now, and her closest friends' attitudes were unclear. They hadn't even had a normal meeting yet. Tang Ruoyao knew very little about Qin Yinong's life outside of their relationship.

She didn't know which teacher Qin Yinong liked during her school days, nor did she know who her friends were in the industry. They had only been together for a few months, so it was normal. As time passed, they would become more familiar with each other. But Qin Yinong wanted to know everything about her immediately and leave her mark on her body and mind.

Her love seemed gentle, but in reality, it burned like a fierce flame. Fortunately, beneath Tang Ruoyao's icy exterior, she was just as passionate.

Tang Ruoyao was waiting for an opportunity to make their relationship public.

On the morning of the first day after Christmas, Qin Yinong, apparently addicted to surprises, gave Tang Ruoyao another ring. This time it was a wedding ring made of platinum, with small diamonds embedded in the outer ring and delicate patterns, making it look especially beautiful in the light.

Qin Yinong wore it on her ring finger and didn't take it off. Tang Ruoyao, on the other hand, threaded it through a plain rope and wore it around her neck, keeping it on even when she wasn't wearing formal attire.

Whenever she attended events, she had the urge to show off the ring by touching the neckline.

To be honest, she wasn't afraid of gossip at all. Overblown rumors of being blacklisted were just exaggerations. At most, her career might face some setbacks, but she had confidence in making a comeback. Besides, she had Qin Yinong by her side. She wouldn't be left with no acting opportunities.

But she couldn't, she didn't mind, but Qin Yinong did. So she could only endure, repeatedly heating the ring with her body temperature in the dressing room until it became scalding hot.

Especially on New Year's Eve, every household was making dumplings and preparing for the reunion dinner when the hot search suddenly exploded.

[Lin Ruohan Comes Out of the Closet]

As expected, Weibo collapsed.

The first to explode was the 405 Dormitory Group, and Wen Shuxian was quick to capture the screenshot and @ everyone in it.

In the lunar year of 2019, before the last second, you would never know what this year's most shocking news would be.

When Weibo returned to normal, Tang Ruoyao clicked on the trending topic.

At the top of the rankings was a microblog by a singer named Ren Xingyue, who happened to be Lin Ruohan's ex-girlfriend. Just like her name, Ren Xingyue was like a star and a moon. Her parents were not only celebrities but also the king and queen of the industry. She was born with countless admirers and made a high-profile entrance into the entertainment industry. She was a talented singer-songwriter with a powerful presence. Her world tour concerts were always sold out, which was a miracle in the current stagnant music scene.

Ren Xingyue's microblog:

[I love her @Lin Ruohan]

Lin Ruohan had not responded yet.

But the rumors of their relationship had caused a sensation in the city. They didn't try to hide it at all and were often caught by paparazzi holding hands and strolling together. People in the industry knew it well, and even many outsiders believed it.

Outsiders didn't know about their breakup, and some even thought they had already registered their marriage abroad and were just keeping a low profile.

With the release of Ren Xingyue's microblog, the entire internet was boiling.

Young people picked up their phones one after another, forgetting about making dumplings and focusing on this juicy gossip!

The number of reposts quickly exceeded ten thousand, then one hundred thousand. The comments also surpassed one hundred thousand, reaching five hundred thousand. Blessings from fans flooded the front rows, while both fans and casual observers liked the post. Slowly, the moral guardians arrived, making comments like "disgusting," "homosexuality will lead to human extinction," and "ban homosexuality." Even more unsightly were comments from some cisgender men lamenting the scarcity of available partners.

Qin Yinong called Lin Ruohan, but the line was busy and she couldn't get through. It was likely that Lin Ruohan was already surrounded by various people, so Qin Yinong didn't call again and instead sent her a message from another number.

Tang Ruoyao had been scrolling through her phone, the words entering her eyes but not registering in her mind.

She exited the page and clicked on Ren Xingyue's profile, staring at that Weibo post. Slowly, Ren Xingyue's name became her own, and the @ symbol became Qin Yinong.

Tang Ruoyao's Weibo post:

[I love her @Qin Yinong]

Author's Note:

Yaoyao: Editor, send it out.

Qin Jiejie (Sister Qin): !!!

Lin Ruohan: Good sisters should explode the entertainment industry together.

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