CHAPTER 189

Qin Yinong saw Tang Ruoyao staring at the phone screen in a trance and leaned over for a glance.

The interface in front of her was in editing mode, with a line of text already entered: "I love her @Qin Yinong."

Qin Yinong: "!!!"

Before she could react, Tang Ruoyao lifted her head and, right in front of her, deleted each letter one by one, ending with a slight smile at her.

Qin Yinong inexplicably felt a sourness in her heart.

Tang Ruoyao circled her phone in her palm and casually said, "I was just playing around, and this is my alternate account, so it doesn't matter even if I send it out."

She reassured Qin Yinong, saying, "Don't worry."

Qin Yinong looked at her and said, "I'm not worried."

Tang Ruoyao moved her lips but didn't say anything, lowering her gaze.

In terms of public exposure, Tang Ruoyao's strong intentions were already exposed to Qin Yinong. There was no use hiding it anymore.

Qin Yinong moved closer, gently covering the back of Tang Ruoyao's hand with her own.

Tang Ruoyao turned her palm upward, interlocking their fingers.

Not to mention Tang Ruoyao, even for Qin Yinong, it was impossible not to envy her. Confessing their love openly, known by everyone, linking their names together, there was an intimate term to describe their relationship: lovers, even lovers.

Unlike herself, who couldn't reveal Tang Ruoyao's real name.

Ren Xingyue's coming-out on the internet caused a huge sensation online. Before this, there had never been a celebrity in the entertainment industry with such a high profile, openly declaring their homosexuality in front of the entire nation.

In recent years, with the increasing openness of society, many public figures have bravely come out of the closet on the internet, including some celebrities. However, they all shared a common characteristic: they weren't famous. For those who did achieve fame, they would silently refrain from discussing such topics after gaining popularity. Some would even delete their previous social media posts as if nothing had happened.

Everyone in the world is driven by self-interest, and in the entertainment industry, where fame and fortune reign, everyone is waiting to pull you down and seize the opportunity to rise. While being homosexual wouldn't lead to being suppressed, it would inevitably affect one's career. Who wouldn't want to protect their feathers?

There were some particularly stubborn individuals who became famous and didn't deny their sexuality, even advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. However, these individuals generally didn't have the backing of major companies because major companies exert strong control over their artists and wouldn't tolerate any unruly behavior. Sociologically speaking, people have a herd mentality, as they feel more secure within the majority group. Going against the grain often leads to isolation, and without strong backing, it's difficult to remain independent. So, gradually, they would flop.

Actually, the essence of flopping is not because someone is a sexual minority, but rather due to capital. In simple terms, it's because they are not strong enough themselves, lacking the necessary tactics. However, this indirectly supports the prevalent "blacklisting" theory on the internet. Whenever a homosexual artist quietly fades away, moral guardians come out to proclaim: Look! They were indeed blacklisted! Well done!

This further intensifies the fear of fans, idols, and even artists themselves when it comes to publicly disclosing their sexual orientation.

Little do they know, there are even more heterosexual artists who quietly fade away. In the vast majority, the proportion of homosexual artists is extremely small. Yet, because they are different, each one is dramatically paraded and criticized.

It cannot be denied that being homosexual adds an extra "blemish" compared to being heterosexual. They have to face immense public pressure and their careers are more challenging than most. As a result, management teams would advise their artists to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Seven years ago, China introduced the "Designated Guardianship System" - as long as they are fully capable adults, they can designate a guardian according to their own wishes. This means that two adults without a legal relationship can sign consent forms for each other's surgeries and transfer their assets to provide some form of security for their partner.

This system, originally intended for an aging population, unexpectedly gained traction within the LGBTQ+ community. Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized, but at least they can grant certain rights to their partners through notarization.

Three years ago, the proposal for same-sex marriage was widely discussed during a convention. For the first time, this issue was brought to the forefront, inspiring and uplifting many young people. During that time, China was filled with rainbow flags.

In small towns, some elderly people, who were oblivious to the existence of such a group, finally learned about it. They persistently fought for love and freedom. Some people cursed and said the world had gone mad, it was becoming more and more unreasonable. Some parents looked at their tearful children kneeling before them, silent and helpless. And there were also those who passed by, patting the shoulders of young people and saying, "Keep going."

Although the final outcome was not entirely satisfactory, it represented unprecedented progress. This time it failed, but there will be a next time. They still have hope, and they will ultimately achieve victory.

Ren Xingyue's appearance was not a coincidence. With the progress of the times, today there is Ren Xingyue, and tomorrow there will be more individuals like Ren Xingyue. There will be an increasing number of sexual minority groups stepping forward in front of the world, standing in the sunlight.

But Ren Xingyue is the first, and being the first means she was swept into an unprecedented storm of public opinion.

Netizens were divided into three factions.

Die-hard fans and supporters of sexual minority groups offered their blessings, wishing them a happy and lasting life. The neutral faction thought, "What do I care if they like men or women? Mind your own business. Are you the Pacific Police, so concerned about everything?" The third faction was the radical opposition, waving the flag of righteousness, firmly resisting homosexuality. They believed that human reproduction is natural, and the proliferation of homosexuality would lead to the extinction of humanity, pushing humanity into an irreparable state of doom. They considered it an extremely selfish behavior.

The neutral faction embraced love and peace, while the first and third factions engaged in fierce battles. Through prolonged intellectual debates, both factions have accumulated rich experiences. At this point, it was just a rehashed discussion, albeit more widespread and involving more people.

The topic inevitably shifted to the legal process of same-sex marriage. Some people in the third faction claimed that same-sex marriage would promote the legalization of surrogacy. The first faction quickly refuted this claim by pointing out the obvious: "Forget about the lack of necessary connection between surrogacy and same-sex marriage. Let's take a step back, can you see that both individuals in question are women? Who can give birth without a uterus?"

Throughout history, women have been an invisible group as the second gender. Even within the LGBTQ+ community, they are still overshadowed by male dominance, becoming invisible and transparent, as if homosexuality only refers to male same-sex relationships.

Following these three factions, the feminists who support equal rights finally expressed their anger and spoke up for the overlooked lesbian community.

The online battle raged on, and as a young person of the new generation, Tang Fei finished scrolling through Weibo and started chatting with Ji Shulan, who was making dumplings. Tang Fei was in his puberty and didn't have an ounce of rebellion in him. On the contrary, he was like a child who would casually talk about interesting things he saw with his family. Ji Shulan, an older person, enjoyed listening to young people talk, even if she didn't always understand. The relationship between the two was getting better, to the point where Qin Yinong believed that Tang Fei was almost like Ji Shulan's second grandson.

Ji Shulan listened with delight and said, "So, does that mean your sister and my Yinong can also come out? Is that how you say it, 'come out'?"

"Yes!" Tang Fei nodded vigorously and even gave her a thumbs up. "Aunt Lan, you're so trendy, you even know about 'coming out.'"

Ji Shulan finished wrapping a dumpling and used her pinky finger to adjust her hair. She shyly smiled and said, "A few years ago, when I went out, I saw many young people holding rainbow flags on the street." Later, when Qin Yinong fell in love with Tang Ruoyao, she specifically learned about it.Liang Shu, who was beside them, said, "In my opinion, it has become legal in these past few years."

University professors are cultured individuals, so Ji Shulan humbly asked for advice, "Why do you say that, dear? Wasn't the proposal last year rejected?" Proposed every year, rejected every year, even the most confident individuals would eventually lose hope. The pessimistic view of "regression" seemed to gain the upper hand on the Internet, and the situation was deadlocked.

Liang Shu smiled softly and said, "The fact that it can be openly discussed now shows that the higher-ups have the intention. However, legalizing same-sex marriage requires the establishment of corresponding laws and regulations. It's a massive project, so it won't happen quickly, but it definitely won't take ten or twenty years."

Ji Shulan nodded repeatedly and said, "Dear, you make sense."

Han Yuping focused on rolling the dumpling skins, fully embodying his serious demeanor.

Qin Yinong glanced at her phone and still hadn't received a message from Lin Ruohan. Lin Ruohan also hadn't responded to Ren Xingyue's message on Weibo.

She had a vague sense of unease.

At first, she thought it was a public coming out. The trending topic on Weibo was "Lin Ruohan comes out of the closet," because Lin Ruohan was well-known. Among the top female actors in the country, besides Qin Yinong, Lin Ruohan was right behind her. Ha Meiwha was slightly behind. Lin Ruohan had achieved the "Triple Crown," and there were no more than three female actors in the country who could achieve such recognition. Lin Ruohan was one of them, and she had even won two Best Actress awards at international A-level film festivals.

But then she thought, based on Lin Ruohan's personality, it was impossible for her to not say anything if they got back together. Qin Yinong hadn't heard any rumors beforehand, which might be because Ren Xingyue acted on her own without consulting anyone.

Either Lin Ruohan hadn't agreed to get back together, and this was a confession strategy rather than a public announcement.

Lin Ruohan was completely dragged into this.

Qin Yinong: "..."

When dinner was almost ready, Qin Yinong was standing by the window lost in thought, holding her arm. Tang Ruoyao approached with a subtle expression, gently calling out to her, "Qin Yinong."

Qin Yinong: "Hmm?"

She took the phone from Tang Ruoyao and saw another trending topic under the coming out one: 

[Lin Ruohan Deletes in Seconds].

Qin Yinong clicked on it in confusion, and it was a screenshot of Lin Ruohan's Weibo post by a marketing account.

Lin Ruohan V:

[I love her @Qin Yinong]

Qin Yinong: "?!?!"

She couldn't help but curse softly, "Damn it," why was she involved in this?

She looked at Tang Ruoyao and said, "Let me explain."

Tang Ruoyao made a sound of agreement and said calmly, "Go ahead."

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and said, "...I guess, I speculate that Ren Xingyue did this without notifying her, and then Lin Ruohan got angry and mentioned me, but later she realized I have a partner now, so she deleted it."

Tang Ruoyao accepted this explanation but still felt jealous. So, she pretended to be magnanimous and wanted Qin Yinong to see her jealousy, sarcastically saying, "It's okay, it's not the first time she has said she loves you in front of everyone."

"But she's just a friend." Qin Yinong put her hands on Tang Ruoyao's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "If it bothers you, I'll ask her not to say those things in the future."

She looked serious, and Tang Ruoyao knew that if she nodded, Qin Yinong would definitely talk to Lin Ruohan. Tang Ruoyao recalled her previous thoughts of wanting Qin Yinong to have the best relationship in the world and actively promote their friendship with Lin Ruohan. Now, because of a few words, she was making a big deal out of it.

She deeply reflected on herself and lifted her gaze. It was clear now, as the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared. She said, "It's okay, I don't mind."

"Really?" Qin Yinong confirmed with her.

Tang Ruoyao nodded.Qin Yinong squinted her eyes, something flashed through her mind, and she said, "When Lin Ruohan was in a relationship before, her girlfriend was insanely jealous of me. She didn't allow Lin Ruohan to mention me on Weibo, and then Lin Ruohan had zero interaction with me except for sharing film promotions."

Tang Ruoyao thought for a moment and realized that indeed their interactions on Weibo were limited in the past few years. Some netizens even speculated that their relationship had broken down. But whenever they appeared together at award ceremonies and events, they were happy and harmonious. Netizens then changed their tune and called them "plastic sisters." In reality, they had already reconciled long ago, but they deliberately created drama by capturing their subtle expressions and creating a palace intrigue. The truth turned out to be unexpectedly simple.

But Tang Ruoyao didn't understand why Qin Yinong suddenly brought this up and asked, "So what?"

Qin Yinong hummed twice and said, "So, she was the one who treated me unfairly first, so don't blame me for not treating her justly."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but smile and asked, "What do you mean by 'not treating her justly'?"

Qin Yinong said seriously, "I'm going to cut off ties with her on Weibo. She is not allowed to mention me ever again."

Tang Ruoyao: "Hahaha."

Qin Yinong opened her arms, and Tang Ruoyao naturally dove into her embrace, laughing and saying, "You're annoying."

Qin Yinong kissed her soft hair and said, "I just wanted to say that if you feel jealous, I will mention it to her, and it won't affect our relationship. Don't worry, if there's anything that makes you unhappy, you must tell me."

"I'm really not unhappy." Tang Ruoyao lovingly rubbed her chin. Qin Yinong was comforting her like this, so what else could Tang Ruoyao fuss about? She wasn't that petty.

But Ren Xingyue clearly was.

Tang Ruoyao became a little curious and tilted her head up, saying, "Tell me more about Lin Ruohan and her ex-girlfriend."

Qin Yinong said, "Okay."

Unaware of their actions, the two of them continued holding each other, speaking softly and intimately.

Ningning covered her eyes and went to find  Uncle Tang Fei. Tang Fei took her to a room, and the two of them played with building blocks.

Han Yuping switched his phone to camera mode, gently tapping his wife's arm and lifting his chin towards the window. Liang Shu disdainfully said, "Can't you take it yourself?"

Han Yuping pouted.

Liang Shu couldn't hold back and took the phone, secretly capturing a silhouette.

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao were too relaxed at home, and neither of them noticed the fleeting camera.

As artists, they were sensitive to cameras. Liang Shu didn't dare to take too many photos, fearing they would be discovered. She immediately put away the phone and returned it.

It wasn't until Ji Shulan came out of the kitchen and called them for dinner that the two realized their position. The three elderly people tacitly acted as if nothing had happened, relieving the awkwardness between the two.

Everyone took their seats one by one, and their glasses were filled with juice.

The eldest Han Yuping remained silent, and Qin Yinong's mother also didn't speak. All eyes filled with expectations were cast upon Qin Yinong.

In this large family, Qin Yinong was the bond that brought them together.

Qin Yinong lifted her glass, feeling a mixture of emotions for the past year, countless words rushed to her mind, but they condensed into a simple sentence: "May every year be as joyful as today."

She looked around the table, a faint layer of water shimmering in her eyes. She took a gentle breath and raised her glass to the center, saying, "Cheers."

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses in unison.

Since it was the New Year, it was necessary to say a few auspicious words.

Han Yuping and Liang Shu toasted Ji Shulan, and Ji Shulan reciprocated.

They then toasted Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao as a couple, and the two of them returned the toast.

Tang Fei watched as it was almost his turn. He proactively picked up his glass, nervously stood up, and said, "Uncle and Auntie, I toast to you, wishing you happiness and harmony, and a joyful family."

He finished the drink in one gulp.

Han Yuping and Liang Shu exchanged a smile and also drank their glasses.

Ningning jumped down from her chair, immediately squatting down so that only her dark head could be seen on the dining table.

Being clever, she directly approached Han Yuping and Liang Shu with her glass, imitating an innocent voice as she toasted, "Grandpa and Grandma, I wish you blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and a long life as towering as the Southern Mountain."

Han Yuping and Liang Shu burst into laughter together.

Liang Shu was even more melted by her and lifted her up to sit on her lap, not wanting to let go.

Ningning ate a meatball fed by Liang Shu and took the initiative to say goodbye, "Mom said I've grown up and shouldn't let others feed me. Grandma, I'm going back to my own seat."

Liang Shu touched the child's face and reluctantly put her down.

Ningning sighed in a mature manner and said, "I'll sit across from you so that when you look up, you'll see me. Don't be so sad."

Her childish words made the whole room burst into laughter.

Ningning blinked, not knowing what everyone was laughing about, but it didn't stop her from laughing along.

The reunion dinner gained a lively treasure, and the joyful sounds and laughter at the table never ceased, filled with a cozy family atmosphere.

Since dinner was finished early, and the Spring Festival Gala hadn't started yet, Qin Yinong led Ningning to take a bath and changed her into new clothes. From head to toe, she was dressed in red, even the hairband she wore was red. Qin Jianing twirled in front of the mirror, thoroughly enjoying herself. She ran around in her little red shoes, showing off to the adults.

"Do I look pretty?" she asked Ji Shulan.

Ji Shulan's eyes lit up. "You look beautiful."

With her naturally delicate features and fair complexion, the red outfit complemented her well.

"Do I look pretty?" she asked her grandparents.

Han Yuping and Liang Shu asked her to be their model and took hundreds of photos of her, all stored in their phones.

Qin Jianing went to find Qin Yinong but couldn't find her. Tang Fei said, "They went upstairs."

Second-floor bedroom.

Qin Yinong was mysteriously taken upstairs by Tang Ruoyao, who instructed her to close her eyes and counted down from one hundred.

When Qin Yinong reached "ten," the footsteps beside her stopped, and she asked, "Is it done?"

Tang Ruoyao, panting, said, "Yes, open your eyes now."

There was a large gift box on the table in front of Qin Yinong, tied with a ribbon. Under Tang Ruoyao's expectant gaze, Qin Yinong opened it to find a purple cheongsam.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow. "New clothes?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded and said, "Go change in the dressing room."

Qin Yinong thought of the sound of her running around just now and asked, "Did you take it from the dressing room?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Yes."

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and said, "If that's the case, why didn't you just take me to the dressing room directly?"

Tang Ruoyao also fell silent.

Yeah, why?

Qin Yinong thoughtfully came up with an answer for her, "That way, it would be easy to guess that the gift is new clothes. You wanted to give me a surprise."

Tang Ruoyao smiled sheepishly.

Qin Yinong's tone was cheerful. "I'll go try on the clothes."

Tang Ruoyao knew her size well, and the clothes fit perfectly. Cheongsam is not something anyone can pull off. The most important thing is to have a good figure with curves. A flat body won't bring out the charm.

Qin Yinong's figure was, needless to say, tall and slender, with narrow shoulders and a slim waist. She filled out all the right places, with a captivating silhouette that held people's gaze.

The high slit design revealed her long, snow-white legs as she walked, exuding a vibrant and alluring charm.

If Tang Ruoyao's cheongsam showcased an otherworldly temperament, then the one worn by Qin Yinong displayed a variety of enchanting styles, with flowing grace and a mesmerizing smile.

The purple color added an air of nobility and elegance, striking the perfect balance.

She had worn cheongsam in public before, but the occasions were few. It was usually for international award ceremonies, where her team said they wanted to promote Chinese culture. She remembered that each time she wore it, it caused quite a sensation. The foreign media went crazy, praising her with endless beautiful words, calling her a muse and more.

Even Qin Yinong's own team wouldn't dare to praise her so much.

Qin Yinong looked at herself in the mirror, with Tang Ruoyao's fair hands clasped around her waist from behind. She asked, "Do you like me wearing this?"

Tang Ruoyao rested her chin on Qin Yinong's shoulder and said, "I like it, but it's rare to see you in this. You look amazing."

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and said, "It's drafty."

Tang Ruoyao didn't catch on. "Huh?"

Qin Yinong said, "I don't wear it often because it's drafty."

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter.

Qin Yinong looked again and asked, "Is it really beautiful?"

Tang Ruoyao kissed her cheek affectionately and said, "Yes, it's really beautiful."

Qin Yinong squinted her eyes and said, "Okay, then I'll wear it more often."

"No!" Tang Ruoyao immediately objected.

"Why?" Qin Yinong asked.

"It's drafty, I'm afraid you'll feel cold."

"Hahaha," Qin Yinong laughed, "You're so annoying."

Tang Ruoyao held her tightly and acted spoiled, saying, "I don't care, just don't wear it outside, let me be the only one to see."

Qin Yinong agreed without thinking, smiling and saying, "Okay."

On the contrary, Tang Ruoyao became hesitant and said in a hesitant manner, "Is it not good for me to be like this? It's a bit... possessive, right?" She was afraid that Qin Yinong wouldn't understand the internet slang, so she explained, "For example, many girls want to wear shorts in the summer, but their boyfriends strongly oppose it. No way! You belong to me, how can you show off to others? Something like that."

She quickly added, "If you want to wear it, I have no objections." At most, she felt a bit jealous. The slit on that cheongsam was really high!

After a while, Qin Yinong exclaimed, "Oh."

Tang Ruoyao felt anxious and uncertain.

Qin Yinong remained silent and then said in a puzzled tone, "But I've always been yours, right?"

Tang Ruoyao's heart was in chaos, like a deer running amok.

Thud, it crashed.

Ah.

How can she be so good?

Qin Yinong heard Tang Ruoyao burying her head on her shoulder and stifling her laughter.

Qin Yinong's laughter was warm and gentle. She asked, "What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao raised her head and affectionately rubbed her nose against Qin Yinong's face, saying, "It's nothing." She paused and said, "Baby, I love you."

Qin Yinong looked at her in the mirror, gently caressed her head with her hand, and said, "I know."

"Do you love me?"

"Mm."

Tang Ruoyao pinched her chin and turned her face, giving her a gentle and beautiful kiss.

Now she responds too. Tang Ruoyao believed that in the near future, Qin Yinong would be able to say "I love you," just thinking about it made Tang Ruoyao intoxicated.

After the kiss, Tang Ruoyao sighed and treated her like a little baby, earnestly teaching her, "Even if you belong to me, you shouldn't obey my every word. Today, I can prevent you from wearing a cheongsam, tomorrow I can prevent you from wearing a skirt, the day after tomorrow I won't allow you to go out." She exaggerated, "Maybe I'll even make you wear a veil at home, only revealing your eyes. It would be quite terrifying."

Tang Ruoyao: "Intimate relationships are most prone to unconscious violence. You should have your own judgment, you know?"

Qin Yinong looked straight at her, nodded seriously, and her gaze was clear. She said, "And can you?"

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and said, "No, I can't."

Qin Yinong nodded again, nonchalantly saying, "Then that's fine."

Tang Ruoyao covered her face with both hands.

Qin Yinong playfully pulled her hands down and asked, "What's wrong again?"

Tang Ruoyao felt embarrassed, unwilling to let Qin Yinong see her face, and with a mournful expression, she said, "My intelligence has gone offline again. Can you pretend you didn't hear what I just said earlier?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Sure."

Tang Ruoyao peeked at her through her fingers, blinking, and asked, "Really?"

Qin Yinong looked puzzled and asked, "Hmm? What did you just say to me? Baby, what am I to you?"

Tang Ruoyao obediently and sweetly said, "I love you."

Qin Yinong's eyes curved with a smile, once again pleased by her words.

Indeed, hearing these words of affection several times never gets old.

She held Tang Ruoyao's hand completely, intertwining their fingers, and said, "Alright, let's go downstairs. Ningning must be looking for me."

Tang Ruoyao held onto her wrist.

Qin Yinong turned back.

"Change out of the cheongsam." Tang Ruoyao lowered her gaze and said casually.

Author's Note:

[Note]: Information source: the internet

I mentioned it before, but I'm afraid you might have forgotten, so I'll say it again. This story is set in a modern fictional world where the process of legalizing same-sex marriage is different from reality. Not only will Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao get married privately, but they will also obtain their marriage certificate! They will flaunt their love shamelessly and shower you with so much dog food that you won't be able to handle it anymore!

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