CHAPTER 206

Last year's proposal to legalize same-sex marriage was once again rejected, and the repeated setbacks have left many young people feeling pessimistic. However, as Liang Shu mentioned before, the fact that this issue can be openly discussed and that the rainbow flag can be seen waving everywhere indicates that there is intention from above. It's just that the corresponding laws and regulations haven't been perfected, so it hasn't been passed yet.

Allowing domestically produced films with same-sex themes to be publicly released is a significant step forward and a clear signal.

Tang Ruoyao was completely unprepared when the situation changed so dramatically in just one year. She couldn't believe it and asked, "Is it really true?"

Qin Yinong nodded and said, "It's true, but I have to fight for it again. There's no guarantee that it will definitely be approved."

Despite the strong presence of the LGBTQ+ community online and the emphasis on political correctness in the international mainstream, they are still a minority, not to mention the minority within the minority, the often overlooked lesbian community. Not every film is eligible for release; otherwise, wouldn't anyone be able to enter the film and television industry and share the spoils? First, it needs to go through the review process again, obtain the dragon logo, negotiate with cinema chains for cooperation, and finally, the news hasn't been announced publicly yet. "True Colors" is the first case, and it's not ruled out that businessmen might avoid being the first to take risks.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Regardless, if it gets released, we'll profit. If it doesn't, we won't suffer any losses, right?"

Qin Yinong replied, "That's right."

But since they have this opportunity, why not give it their all? They both want to make the world a better place and are willing to contribute their own efforts. It would be very meaningful if they could achieve this.

Tang Ruoyao turned towards Qin Yinong and looked at her, saying, "You've worked hard."

Qin Yinong chuckled and said, "I haven't done much yet."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Let me know in advance, okay? Drink less alcohol."

"Okay, I'll try to arrange meetings at tea houses," Qin Yinong reached out and gently touched her slender eyebrows with her fingertips, sighed, and said, "But I might not be able to come back as often as now."

She was never idle, and she was used to handling high-pressure work to keep up with both ends and maintain a good mental state. It was her first time as an executive producer, and now with the drastic changes in the situation, it would be a bit challenging to handle everything with ease. Moreover, she still needed to establish connections with cinema chains and prepare for future films. It was a long and arduous task.

Tang Ruoyao blinked and asked, "Will you miss me?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Of course."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'll miss you too. Let's both work hard." She paused and added, "Every time we part, it's for a better reunion."

Qin Yinong looked at her for a moment and said, "Okay."

She still had fears, but they weren't as overwhelming as before.

On the other hand, Tang Ruoyao seemed even more concerned about Qin Yinong. Two days before leaving, she bought enough clothes for approximately a whole season, and if Qin Yinong hadn't stopped her, she probably would have bought clothes for autumn and winter as well. She also bought a bunch of snacks, all low-calorie and long-lasting, and packed them neatly in her luggage, one by one.

Qin Yinong had never been in the habit of eating snacks, but now she always carried a few candies in her pocket. The more active she became, the more she reverted back to her old self.

Tang Ruoyao sometimes says that she is childish, and Qin Yinong feels that there may be a reason for her accustomed behavior. They both share responsibility for the blame.

"When you have a nightmare, call me." Tang Ruoyao said as she accompanied Qin Yinong to the car, following their usual routine.

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can I call you even if I don't have a nightmare?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong burst into laughter.

Tang Ruoyao raised her hand and pinched both sides of Qin Yinong's cheeks. "You're so annoying."

Qin Yinong's face was being squeezed, and with puffed cheeks, she complained unclearly, "You're imitating me."

"I'm imitating you, how about that?" Tang Ruoyao wasn't afraid of her at all now. Qin Yinong's authority as a teacher had already been greatly diminished in their daily interactions.

Qin Yinong pretended to be pitiful and said, "You're the head of the household, I can't do anything about it."

The head of the household released her hand, tidied her hair, straightened her collar, and finally grasped her two hands hanging by her side, looking into her eyes for a few seconds before tilting her head up and kissing her.

Qin Yinong closed her eyes.

The surroundings quieted down, with only a gentle breeze rustling the grass on the lawn. The April sun bathed the two of them.

Qin Yinong returned to Beijing and started her busy work.

After hearing about what she was doing, Ji Yunyao took the initiative to extend an olive branch. Huanyu Films was a leading company in the industry, and with Ji Yunyao's help, all the problems Qin Yinong faced would be solved easily, or at least the workload would be greatly reduced. However, Qin Yinong unexpectedly declined, which made Ji Yunyao extremely frustrated.

Business should involve mutual benefits to ensure long-term cooperation. Qin Yinong didn't want to owe too many favors, and she didn't want to rely on the Ji family for everything. For her, the disadvantages outweighed the advantages. But Ji Yunyao was not easy to handle, and it really took Qin Yinong a lot of effort to deal with her.

When Tang Ruoyao heard that Qin Yinong was jealous, they finally discussed their next meeting. Qin Yinong bought a new car for Tang Ruoyao to drive.

Tang Ruoyao, whether it was her being faithful or lacking flexibility, always stuck to driving the same type of car. Qin Yinong, on the other hand, liked to switch between various car models. Every time, Tang Ruoyao would stubbornly drive one car without any novelty. Under Qin Yinong's guidance, she finally learned new driving skills and significantly increased her driving frequency. However, compared to Qin Yinong's proficiency, she still had a long way to go.

Fortunately, she was young and had limitless potential.

In mid-April, Qin Yinong initiated a topic online opposing cyberbullying. Many artists who had been victims of online abuse spoke up, revealing the truth that sent chills down the spines of many onlookers, showing just how unscrupulous online bullying could be.

Many of them are just actors who honestly do their job, but because they played a villainous role, they were subjected to relentless criticism, both in public comments and private messages. Some even faced malicious editing on variety shows or were criticized to the point of being cursed along with their families, with their children being dragged into it.

There were also veteran actors who shared their experiences from twenty or thirty years ago when the internet was not as developed. Due to the deeply ingrained portrayal of their villainous characters, their windows were smashed, and they were pelted with eggs and vegetables when they went out in public.

Each of those who were criticized is a living, breathing human being, not impervious to harm just because they are public figures.

Qin Yinong also made an appearance on another talk show, hosted by someone she was quite familiar with. During the recording, the host noticed that she was different from before and directly asked her about it on the show.

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "Maybe it's because I've been happier lately."

The host followed up, "You've become more beautiful."

Qin Yinong smiled, politely nodded, and said, "Thank you."

Even hosts who had only met her once could see the change, which made those close to her even more aware. However, Qin Yinong was the most oblivious one among them. She just felt fulfilled and woke up every day with new hope.

She still occasionally suffered from insomnia. If it wasn't severe, she would work throughout the night and catch up on sleep when she felt tired. In more serious cases, such as when she had nightmares, she would call Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao would accompany her in a drowsy state, and listening to her partner's scattered words would ease her mind.

Things were going smoothly for Qin Yinong, but Tang Ruoyao encountered a small problem.

There are no secrets in the world. Someone leaked the news of Tang Ruoyao's marriage announcement at the filming location. With so many people around, she didn't pay much attention at the time, but it was only a matter of time before the news got out.

"Tang Ruoyao got married" became a hot topic, with a picture of her making the marriage announcement as solid evidence.

Netizens expressed their disbelief, thinking it was a joke.

[How old is Tang Ruoyao? Didn't she just graduate?]

[Replying to the previous comment, she graduated two years ago, but she's only 24?]

[Is her little boyfriend of legal marriage age?]

[She's the first flower of the '95s, and also the first one to get married. Why get married? Isn't focusing on her career enough?]

[If I were a fan, I would be furious.]

However, the fans publicly stated, [Don't spread rumors. We'll believe it when there's an official announcement. We won't believe anything unless Tang Tang herself confirms it.]

But secretly, they were devastated, saying, "Heartbroken. Not only did the pig eat the cabbage, but it also uprooted it."

Some people questioned the authenticity of the news and whether her mysterious boyfriend even existed.

In a certain gossip forum, there was a user claiming to be an insider in the entertainment industry who started a thread exposing that Tang Ruoyao had a wealthy sugar daddy who was influential enough to prevent her from marrying her boyfriend. They deemed the marriage news to be ridiculous, suggesting that either she insisted on getting married and was subsequently abandoned by the sugar daddy or it was a fabricated story. They sarcastically commented, Let's see how this unfolds.

The comment section turned into a fierce battle between fans and haters, creating a chaotic and hostile atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the parties involved were unaffected as they focused on filming. Qin Yinong had anticipated this day and had already discussed it with Tang Ruoyao as a precautionary measure. On the day the news broke, An Ling, their publicist, immediately contacted Mu Qingwu to handle the situation. Mu Qingwu didn't even have the chance to disturb Tang Ruoyao.

Time flew by, and it was now June 1st, Qin Yinong's 31st birthday.

Last year, Tang Ruoyao couldn't personally celebrate with her, but this year she had made arrangements well in advance and took leave to come to the capital. However, their dream of spending quality time together was shattered because Lin Ruohan organized a surprise birthday party for Qin Yinong—conveniently, Qin Yinong wasn't filming on set this year.

Qin Yinong apologized to Tang Ruoyao, explaining that she had also received a last-minute notification. It was a surprise prepared by Lin Ruohan and a group of friends. Tang Ruoyao reassured her that they could have their private time together whenever they wanted, so she didn't mind this minor inconvenience.

However, as Tang Ruoyao entered the villa with Qin Yinong, her lips twitched when she saw the people inside.

Apart from Haomei Hua, the "Plastic sister flower" consort, the other few prominent consorts and imperial concubines who had been on the harem recruitment rankings also came. Not only the virtuous and kind consorts, but also several imperial concubines and beauties.

When the crowd noticed Qin Yinong's arrival, their eyes lit up.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Looking at Qin Yinong beside her, it felt as if Tang Ruoyao had entered the Spider Cave.

The first consort approached, placing a hand on Qin Yinong's shoulder and throwing a seductive look at her, saying, "Your Majesty..."

Qin Yinong brushed off her hand and scoffed, "Stop fooling around."

She introduced Tang Ruoyao, saying, "This is Bai Xue."

Tang Ruoyao knew her and greeted her respectfully, "Hello, Senior Bai."

Qin Yinong then introduced Tang Ruoyao to Bai Xue, saying, "This is Tang Ruoyao, my..."

Bai Xue waved her hand and interrupted, "Your wife, I get it, I get it." She looked curiously at Tang Ruoyao.

Qin Yinong calmly said, "Don't bully her."

Bai Xue immediately looked disappointed.

"Can I tease her a little?"

"No."

Bai Xue pouted.

Qin Yinong herself wasn't fond of playing games, but her friends were quite lively. As soon as she and Tang Ruoyao stepped into the crowd, they were immediately surrounded, with more attention focused on Tang Ruoyao. People bombarded them with questions, talking all at once.

Tang Ruoyao displayed the grace and dignity befitting a main empress, handling the situation with composure.

Qin Yinong was originally worried that Tang Ruoyao might be overwhelmed, but seeing her inexplicably excited and not wanting her help, she found it amusing.

Lin Ruohan, the organizer, arrived late, and as soon as she arrived, the atmosphere immediately became lively. Qin Yinong used to be enthusiastic, and everyone was used to it, but Tang Ruoyao couldn't adapt to this kind of atmosphere. It was noisy. Qin Yinong considerately took her to a nearby sofa, served her a glass of watermelon juice, and brought a fruit platter. She whispered instructions to her.

On the other side, Lin Ruohan urged, "Are you done? How can you be so distracted by beauty?"

"Coming," Qin Yinong replied. Finally, she added, "I'll be there in a bit."

She leaned down and briefly touched Tang Ruoyao's lips before returning to the crowd.

Tang Ruoyao watched her figure and saw the expressions on the faces of a few people, guessing that they were teasing Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong handled it calmly, which was very different from her demeanor in front of Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao held the juice in her hands and unknowingly became fascinated.

Qin Yinong kept her word and only stayed with them for a while before coming to pick up Tang Ruoyao. Finally, they all sat in a circle, and Lin Ruohan suggested playing games. Qin Yinong immediately wore an expression of resignation.

Lin Ruohan added, "You're allowed to use cheat codes."

In the end, Tang Ruoyao played in front, while Qin Yinong was responsible for massaging her shoulders and cheering from the sidelines.

At exactly twelve o'clock, the wall clock in the corner chimed.

The lights in the villa's hall "snapped" and plunged into darkness.

A little friend who had secretly slipped away from the crowd brought in a cake with lit candles. Everyone sang the happy birthday song together, and Tang Ruoyao stood beside Qin Yinong, placing a birthday crown on her head.

The flickering candlelight reflected on the soft face of the woman.

Tang Ruoyao whispered, "Make a wish."

Qin Yinong clasped her hands in front of her and closed her eyes devoutly.

She recalled that at this time last year, she was still humbly praying for Tang Ruoyao not to leave her. But this year, everything had changed dramatically, all thanks to Tang Ruoyao.

Thank you.

She silently repeated these two words in her heart, with no other desires.

She opened her eyes and looked at Tang Ruoyao, who smiled at her.

Together, they blew out the candles.

Lin Ruohan handed them the cake knife, and Bai Xue turned on the lights. Everyone shared the cake and brought out the prepared birthday gifts. Qin Yinong took a trunk full of presents home.

The black sedan drove along the dimly lit streets. Qin Yinong sat in the back seat, half-closed her eyes, and leaned against Tang Ruoyao's embrace, dozing off. She had a few drinks, not enough to get drunk, but she still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

The shadows of the trees outside the car window swiftly passed by, casting intermingled patterns of light and shadows on their faces.

Qin Yinong woke up at some point, her eyes fixed on the side of Tang Ruoyao's face, completely absorbed in her gaze.

Tang Ruoyao noticed the woman's stare and turned her head, asking softly, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong's lips curved slightly, and she said, "Nothing."

Tang Ruoyao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Hmm?"

Qin Yinong wasn't one to express herself readily, not because there was a problem, but Tang Ruoyao, being a level 10 Qin scholar, had long been able to discern her emotions through subtle expressions. However, there were some thoughts hidden in her heart that Tang Ruoyao couldn't always guess, so sometimes it was necessary to say them out loud. Therefore, both of them were consciously working on improving their communication to strengthen their relationship.

Qin Yinong said, "I just suddenly feel like time passes by so quickly. It's been a year already."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Happy days always go by fast."

Qin Yinong lowered her head and found Tang Ruoyao's hand, leisurely pinching her fingers. Suddenly, a hint of emotion arose within her, and she said, "In the past, I only wanted to live until sixty. I couldn't be bothered with even an extra year."

"And now?" Tang Ruoyao asked.

Qin Yinong sighed and said, "Of course, I want to live as long as possible. A hundred years wouldn't be enough. I also hope that medical advancements improve a bit more. I don't want to get sick or grow old and have you take care of me."

Tang Ruoyao chuckled lightly.

She said, "We'll have regular check-ups and exercise our bodies. We won't get sick."

Qin Yinong replied, "Hmm."

They fell silent for a while.

Qin Yinong suddenly said, "I wonder if euthanasia will be an option in the future."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

Qin Yinong said, "The two of us could leave this world together, so the people we leave behind won't suffer so much."

Tang Ruoyao didn't say anything, she lowered her head and kissed the woman's forehead.

Qin Yinong might have been a little tipsy as she snuggled closer into Tang Ruoyao's embrace. Tears glistened in her eyes, and Tang Ruoyao gently wiped them away.

She slept all the way until they arrived home. After the car came to a stop, Tang Ruoyao didn't wake her up. Instead, she waited until Qin Yinong woke up and stretched her stiff and sore arms before they both got out of the car and entered their home.

Ji Shulan and Tang Fei had already gone to bed, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao quietly went upstairs and found four beautifully wrapped gift boxes at the entrance of the bedroom, each with their own names written on them. The one placed on top belonged to Ningning. The words she had practiced diligently were neatly written: "Happy birthday to the most beautiful mom in the world!"

Tang Ruoyao glanced at it and blurted out, "What about me?"

Qin Yinong said, "You are the smartest mommy."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Alright then." She bent down and picked up the gift box from the floor, saying, "Now, in terms of handwriting, yours is the ugliest in the whole family." After Qin Yinong started practicing calligraphy, she and Ningning were neck and neck, indistinguishable from each other. Now, it seemed that she had fallen behind again, and she probably wouldn't have another chance to surpass them in the future.

However, Qin Yinong said, "Nonsense, Aunt Fang's handwriting is even worse than mine."

Aunt Fang was a woman in her sixties who had just started learning to write. Tang Ruoyao admired her and gave her a thumbs up, saying, "You're right about that."

Qin Yinong felt no shame but rather took pride, saying, "Thank you."

Tang Ruoyao walked inside and placed the gift box on the coffee table, smiling and saying, "Even Aunt Fang's handwriting surpasses yours."

"If my handwriting is ugly, will you stop loving me?"

"No, of course not. I love you."

Qin Yinong walked over and tapped her fingertip on Tang Ruoyao's chest, saying, "Are you disgusted by my ugly handwriting?"

Tang Ruoyao protested, "I'm not."

Qin Yinong asked, "Then what are you disgusted by?"

Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth to speak but suddenly fell into a trap. Qin Yinong had been fond of playing this game recently, and every time she managed to catch Tang Ruoyao off guard. Tang Ruoyao sighed, laughed, and clasped her hands together, saying, "Please spare me, my baby."

Qin Yinong snorted and said, "I'll go take a shower first. Can you check the messages on my phone for me?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Sure."

Tang Ruoyao was familiar with most of Qin Yinong's friends. Some she asked about, and some that Qin Yinong voluntarily told her. Similarly, Qin Yinong was aware of Tang Ruoyao's circle of friends.

They were not like many couples who needed privacy or would get into heated arguments if one looked at the other's phone without permission. If circumstances allowed, they could spend 24 hours together without getting tired of each other. They had common hobbies and perfectly complemented each other's souls, as if they were carefully crafted by the Creator to fit each other's flaws, forming a complete circle when they came together.

It was Qin Yinong's birthday today, and she had received many text messages with well wishes, which she hadn't had a chance to reply to.

Tang Ruoyao sat on a small stool and opened each message one by one. She was quick with her fingers and replied to them swiftly. Qin Yinong hadn't finished showering yet, so she logged into her own account.

@Our Daily Life with Miss Q:

[Happy birthday to Miss Q, Tang loves you.]

She set the visibility to only herself and sent the message.

She flipped through it from top to bottom and found that this small gift was like proof of their love journey. She couldn't help but smile, and suddenly the light in front of her was blocked.

Qin Yinong stood in front of her in a robe, tilting her head and using a large towel to dry her long hair. She stood tall and looked down at Tang Ruoyao. Her face, devoid of makeup, with her rosy lips, exuded a breathtaking beauty. She asked, "What are you doing? Why are you smiling so happily?"

Tang Ruoyao's mind wavered, but she remained calm and said, "Just looking at something."

Qin Yinong didn't think much of it and said, "Come and open presents with me."

Tang Ruoyao tied her hair in a ponytail and stood by the bathroom door, saying, "Coming."

There were over a dozen gift boxes, all sent by friends, and they were all valuable and exquisite. Lin Ruohan sent a pair of couple bracelets, which fit perfectly into Qin Yinong's expectations. She had taken them out and placed them on the bedside table, planning to wear them the next day.

Ningning gave a painting, a family portrait. As she grew another year older, her artistic skills had improved rapidly. She no longer only drew houses, suns, and moons. She painted a blue sea and golden beach, and she even learned composition. In the painting, she piled sand into a castle on the beach, while Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao strolled hand in hand. Qin Shulan and Aunt Fang basked in the sun under a parasol, one holding a book and the other writing. Tang Fei was swimming in the sea, with the water glistening. Everyone was glowing.

At the top, a line was written with colored pencils: "Our family, never apart."

Qin Yinong looked at it for a long time, her eyes slightly red.

Tang Ruoyao also felt touched and said, "I'll go find a frame another day and hang this painting in our room, okay?"

Qin Yinong nodded, took a photo of the painting, and stored it in her phone. She opened WeChat and thought about changing her profile picture, but she was afraid it would complicate matters, so she decided against it.

Tang Ruoyao thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you post it on your Moments? Set it to be visible to only close friends."

Qin Yinong said, "Okay."

So she set it to be visible to family members and a specific group of friends.

Finally, it was Tang Ruoyao's gift, a beautifully crafted handmade DIY wool plush pink mouse—a representation of Tang Ruoyao, born in 1996, the Year of the Rat.

Tang Ruoyao remembered that Lin Ruohan had once given Qin Yinong a similar gift, and it had caused a frenzy among netizens, even helping her secure the position of the official queen. Every time she reminisced, she would bring up that highlight moment. From now on, she vowed to reclaim every step.

Qin Yinong was unaware of her little scheme and happily hung it on her bag, deciding that she would keep the rat even when she changed bags.

As the night grew late, the two embraced each other and fell asleep.

This birthday was the happiest one Qin Yinong had ever had in her thirty-one years.

Author's Note:

Countdown to the public release (conclusion)...Let's wish Sister Qin a happy birthday!

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