CHAPTER 213
Qin Yinong wore a deep blue gown that accentuated her figure, from the smooth and superior lines of her shoulders and neck down to her slender waist, highlighting her already stunning physique.
Blue is a marvelous color, with different shades evoking different feelings. Qin Yinong's gown had no intricate designs, just a solid blue color, like a lake, like the sea, like the sky above the misty mountains.
It was grand and expansive, encompassing everything like gentle water.
Yet within this boundless and majestic presence, there was a faint shimmer, impossible to ignore.
Whether it was the audience watching the live stream or the media friends taking photos on-site, their eyes were immediately drawn to Qin Yinong. She had a captivating presence that instantaneously attracted everyone's attention. Her beauty, her aura, her unparalleled elegance—no one could rival her in that moment.
But their gazes involuntarily shifted towards the young woman by her side.
Tang Ruoyao was undoubtedly a prodigy, a 22-year-old who had already won the Best Actress award. Not to mention the various Best Actress nominations before and after that accomplishment. She truly was the leading figure among the new generation, and the most likely candidate to succeed Qin Yinong. Because of her reserved nature, she always gave off a sense of distance, as if keeping others at arm's length. Some even perceived her as haughty. Despite her young age, her presence was undeniably powerful.
These two individuals—one representing the stalwart of the film industry, the other a rising star with a strong presence—symbolized a shift in generations and the passing of the torch. Many people had fantasized about what would happen if they shared the same stage.
Would it be the east wind overwhelming the west wind? Or would the west wind overpower the east wind?
Or perhaps they would both shine brightly, each with their own radiance, without one overshadowing the other?
None of the above.
As the two figures approached hand in hand, the feeling in people's hearts grew stronger, and their heartbeats accelerated.
If Qin Yinong was the gentle and accommodating water that benefits all without contention, then Tang Ruoyao was the unsheathed sword, its keen edge glimmering with icy brilliance. Yet standing beside Qin Yinong, her blade was tempered, its ferocity softened, for she wielded it only to protect the one she cherished.
They were a perfect match, born to stand side by side.
There was no gunpowder smoke, no undercurrents flowing. Tang Ruoyao walked over from the end of the red carpet, escorting Qin Yinong. She only willingly lowered her noble head in front of her, becoming the only subject in her kingdom.
Live comments:
— "Ahhh, I suddenly have a special excited feeling, but I don't know what I'm excited about!"
— "Same here! It's a pity I can't even say "F*ck" everywhere."
— "I don't care, now that the two of them are like this, then my ship must be real!"
— "I'm sitting up in my coffin."
— "If Xiaofei didn't die, then is this the brave Xiaofei from years ago, and Shen Muqing is also radiating her true brilliance? They're walking hand in hand on this red carpet."
— "Is the person who mentioned Xiaofei above a devil? The tiger sheds tears."
— "It does kind of look like that. Haven't you all noticed the significant change in Qin Yinong? Her temperament is particularly gentle, as if Shen Muqing walked out of a movie."
— "Roughly speaking, my Shen-Han happy ending had come true, hahaha."
The frequency of camera flashes was more intense than ever before, and the eyes of the reporters next to the red carpet were more fervent than ever. They regretted not having a few more hands or a few more cameras.
Qin Yinong's eyes were nearly blinded by the flashing lights. She couldn't even see who was where, but with her rich experience, she skillfully managed the situation and maintained an elegant smile. She turned her head and whispered to Tang Ruoyao, "Is your eyes hurting?"
Camera flashes: Click, click, click, click, click!
Live comments: Ahhhhhhh!
Tang Ruoyao: "..."
Her eyes didn't hurt before, but now they were starting to hurt from the flashes.
Taking advantage of a chance to change poses, Tang Ruoyao gave her a helpless smile.
A faint smile formed at the corner of Qin Yinong's lips.
The live comments went wild.
— "Goodness, I've found my OTP!"
— "Is there anyone who can read lips? Hurry up and give us a translation! It's making my heart itch!"
— "Hahaha, I'm going to die laughing in the barrage sooner or later."
They had lingered there for quite some time, under the intense pursuit of the reporters' camera flashes, the two of them walked up to the stage set up in the middle of the red carpet together.
The stage was built with a bit of height, and Tang Ruoyao looked sharp in her trousers with long, slender legs. She stepped up first and then pulled Qin Yinong up after her. Once Qin Yinong steadied herself, Tang Ruoyao naturally bent down and used her hand to adjust the hem of her long dress.
As she stood up, Qin Yinong pointed at Tang Ruoyao's temple, and Tang Ruoyao raised her finger to tuck the fallen hair behind her ear.
Considering they were in a public setting, Qin Yinong restrained herself from going too far. At home, she would personally tuck Tang Ruoyao's hair behind her ear.
But it was enough to drive the live streaming audience crazy.
— "I guarantee based on my ten years of dating experience, they are definitely in love! Otherwise, they wouldn't have such tacit understanding!"
— "This live stream is challenging my heart. I can't handle it just after they walked the red carpet. I might not exist in this world anymore by the time the awards ceremony starts."
— "So they want to kill me? Take my life!"
On the stage, the host looked at the two pairs of eyes looking back at her simultaneously. One pair was pitch black and bright, like fine black jade, while the other had lighter irises, resembling solidified amber. Despite the significant difference, the host could sense a faint resemblance.
The host composed herself and thanked the two for their presence, as per the usual protocol, before proceeding with the interview.
Host: "May I ask if the matching outfits of the Qin's leading actress and Ruoyao were planned in advance?"
Qin Yinong smiled and replied, "It's a coincidence. We didn't know what the other would be wearing beforehand."
Only one microphone was prepared on the stage for the celebrities. After Qin Yinong answered, instead of handing the microphone to Tang Ruoyao, she held it close to her own lips and naturally tilted her head slightly. Tang Ruoyao, following suit, spoke sparingly, "Yes."
The host smiled and said, "Well, that's really a coincidence. I thought you two were wearing matching couple outfits."
Qin Yinong glanced at Tang Ruoyao and then at herself, saying, "One in black and white, the other in blue. Where does it look like couple outfits?"
The host's expression froze subtly, thinking about how to defuse the situation. However, Qin Yinong lifted her lips and smiled, saying, "You could just say we look like a couple, so whatever we wear becomes couple outfits."
The host: "!!!"
She couldn't come up with a response to that.
What did Qin Yinong mean exactly?
The host was professionally trained and quickly came up with a response, saying, "After all, you two have played a couple before, haha."
Qin Yinong glanced meaningfully at the host, with a faint smile on her lips, saying, "Yes, that's exactly what I meant."
The host breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the sweat starting to come down.
What a strange feeling, like she had just kicked a cabinet door?
— "Hahaha, the host has it tough."
— "Qin Yinong: Let me out of the closet! Host: No, you can't!"
— "Qin CEO is fierce."
— "That's exactly what I meant." means "Don't talk nonsense, that's not what I mean."
During the red carpet interview, Qin Yinong mostly answered while Tang Ruoyao occasionally responded, but her answers were brief. Each sentence averaged no more than three words. Tang Ruoyao never took the microphone from Qin Yinong throughout the entire process; Qin Yinong held it the entire time.
Only seniors or top figures would let Qin Yinong hold the microphone for them, and Tang Ruoyao is far from qualifying. However, neither of them found this behavior inappropriate, and the interview ended smoothly as a matter of course.
In the latter half of the red carpet, they garnered more attention than anyone else in the first half.
Huo Yuke had been waiting at this end of the red carpet for a long time. Initially, they could only see blurry figures and the frenzy of reporters on both sides. Whenever Qin Yinong appeared, the scene was grand, and even if Tang Ruoyao stood next to her, it was enough to bask in her radiance, let alone a relatively unknown star.
Qin Yinong.
Huo Yuke silently repeated these name, feeling her heart gradually warming up. Her previous thoughts became even firmer—she must get involved with Qin Yinong. If she caught Qin Yinong's attention, just like Tang Ruoyao did in the past, she would become her bedmate.
As the two of them gradually approached, Huo Yuke's gaze locked onto Qin Yinong. She regarded Qin Yinong with the eyes of someone seeking a wealthy patron—rich, influential, and possessing both looks and power. Even their figures were top-notch. For those of them who relied on selling themselves to climb up the ladder, it didn't matter whether the patron was male or female. In fact, having a female patron was more convenient, there would be no unexpected pregnancies. Plus, female patrons tended to be gentler. The more Huo Yuke looked at Qin Yinong, the more she felt that Qin Yinong was far superior to Liu Yayu. Why didn't she have the same luck as Tang Ruoyao and encounter Qin Yinong first?
Her thoughts were focused entirely on Qin Yinong, and she didn't even notice that Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao were holding hands as they approached. Even if she did notice, all she would think was that it was just for show.
Tang Ruoyao caught a glimpse of Huo Yuke from the corner of her eye, but she quickly brushed it off as if she were indifferent to irrelevant people.
Qin Yinong only saw her when she was about to reach the end of the red carpet. Her gaze lingered on Huo Yuke's face for two seconds.
Actresses who could make it to the top usually had good looks. Objectively speaking, Huo Yuke's appearance was not much worse than Tang Ruoyao's. She skillfully carried herself in a golden gown, exuding beauty and elegance.
Huo Yuke was like a wealthy peony, while Tang Ruoyao was an alpine snow lotus. They couldn't be compared, nor should they be.
When Huo Yuke met Qin Yinong's gaze, she suppressed her delight and calmly accepted her scrutiny. She had only recently found out that Qin Yinong was Tang Ruoyao's patron, and time was short. She didn't know Qin Yinong's preferences, but they were probably similar to Tang Ruoyao's type. Acting aloof would be appropriate.
Huo Yuke didn't approach too eagerly, but instead waited until Qin Yinong was close and then took a step forward in a nonchalant manner, showing respect without appearing obsequious. She said, "Teacher Qin."
Pausing for a moment, she looked towards Tang Ruoyao beside her and said, "Ruoyao."
Tang Ruoyao nodded lightly.
She only had enmity with Huo Yuke and no friendship, so she couldn't be bothered with this superficial act.
Qin Yinong was slightly taken aback. She tilted her head and showed a puzzled expression, asking, "And you are?"
Huo Yuke felt like she had been slapped on the face right then and there, her cheeks burning. But she had endured plenty of slaps in her years of currying favor with Liu Yayu, so she quickly regained her composure. Acting as if nothing had happened, she introduced herself, "My surname is Huo, Huo Yuke."
She did not suspect that Qin Yinong did it on purpose. They had no grievances in the past and no enmity recently. Why did Qin Yinong want to make her feel embarrassed? Besides, with her status, why would she bother to compete with her?
Qin Yinong: "Oh."
Huo Yuke said, "Qin Yinong, I'm your fan and have been striving tirelessly to reach your level, but I'm still far behind. If I can achieve even one- tenth of your success in my lifetime, I will be satisfied."
Qin Yinong nonchalantly replied, "Keep up the good work."
Huo Yuke wanted to say something else, but Qin Yinong glanced ahead.
Huo Yuke quickly read the situation and made way, saying, "Let's go in quickly, it's about to start."
Qin Yinong lazily hummed in response.
Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao walked ahead, and as they brushed past each other, Huo Yuke caught a glimpse of a faint smile at the corner of Tang Ruoyao's lips. She didn't show any signs of being defeated, but a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
Could it be that the two of them still had a connection?
Were they back together?
An Ling was right, Huo Yuke was someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Just the thought that Tang Ruoyao might have Qin Yinong's support again made her uneasy and scared. Huo Yuke scared herself, and by the time the two of them had walked quite a distance, she hurriedly caught up, reassuring herself: Even if Qin Yinong is still with Tang Ruoyao, it doesn't mean I have no chance.
She didn't believe that Qin Yinong only had Tang Ruoyao as a lover. Liu Yayu was keeping several others besides her, and she was the most favored one, while the others were just passing flings.
Huo Yuke clenched her fists secretly, thinking: If it comes to it, I can serve Qin Yinong together with Tang Ruoyao. When it comes to fighting for favor, she might not necessarily win over me.
If Qin Yinong knew her thoughts, she would probably not even bother with perfunctory gestures and just want Guan Han to drag her away, as far away from her sight as possible.
Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao had spent quite some time outside, and the awards ceremony was about to begin. After greeting the people they met along the way, they headed straight to their seats.
When they sat down, Tang Ruoyao leaned against the back of the chair and discreetly supported Qin Yinong's waist. In a volume only they could hear, she asked with concern, "Are you tired?"
Qin Yinong chuckled softly, teasing her, "With how nervous you look, someone who doesn't know better might think I'm pregnant with your child."
Tang Ruoyao: "..."
Qin Yinong's gaze swept over her slightly blushing earlobe, and he continued in a low voice, "If it weren't for the fact that we can't have children, I would have already given you seventeen or eighteen kids."
Tang Ruoyao raised her eyes and widened them, "!!!"
She struggled to suppress her laughter.
Qin Yinong said, "Laugh."
Tang Ruoyao immediately burst out laughing, "Pfft."
She covered her mouth and coughed, managing to swallow back the laughter in time.
Qin Yinong clicked her tongue, "Your idol persona is pretty heavy."
Tang Ruoyao warned in a low voice, "Don't tease." But her eyes were filled with helplessness and indulgence.
Qin Yinong obediently said, "Okay, no teasing."
Tang Ruoyao had no choice but to agree.
Qin Yinong was pleased. If she floated alone, it would be fine, but if Tang Ruoyao didn't keep an eye on her and floated alongside her, then this award ceremony wouldn't be an award ceremony anymore. it might as well turn into a coming-out event.
Listening to what she would say in the red carpet interviews, there would definitely be a big reaction tomorrow.
Coming out was also an option, Tang Ruoyao could do it anytime, but Qin Yinong had personally told her that it wasn't the right time yet. She was currently enjoying her success, flying high in happiness, and couldn't bear to come down.
Before coming here, An Ling specifically called Tang Ruoyao and instructed her to control Qin Yinong and not let her do anything reckless. The tone was like that of a kindergarten teacher.
The one who came to the venue today was not Qin, the award-winning actress, but a three-year-old baby Qin. Baby Qin had received a precious item and wanted to show off to the other children at the kindergarten.
Han Yuping arrived a little later as he was catching up with someone.
Tang Ruoyao looked at Han Yuping as he approached and greeted him, "Director Han."
Qin Yinong lifted her eyelids, "Uncle."
In the past six months of their marriage, they had gotten used to calling him "Dad," so the sudden switch in public address made Han Yuping slightly uncomfortable. He absentmindedly rubbed his ear and unbuttoned one of his suit buttons before sitting down on Qin Yinong's left side.
Qin Yinong whispered in his ear, "Dad."
Han Yuping felt at ease and smiled.
Han Yuping asked her, "What have you been up to lately?"
Qin Yinong pursed her lips and shyly replied, "Just enjoying a blissful life."
"...Han Yuping's eyes stared at Tang Ruoyao, clearly saying: You should keep an eye on her!"
Tang Ruoyao felt a mix of pain and happiness and gave Qin Yinong a "that's enough" look.
Qin Yinong composed herself and said seriously, "Busy earning money to support the family."
Han Yuping said, "Then why didn't you come when I invited you to act in a movie? Did you think the pay was too low?" He knew that Qin Yinong had become very popular in the film and television industry, but she herself refused to take on any acting gigs.
Qin Yinong said, "No, it's just that I've been acting for so many years, and I wanted to take a break."
Han Yuping expressed understanding but also reminded her, "Don't stop working for too long. You'll get out of sync with the life on set. When you're ready, take on a film, even if it's something lighter or a small production. Don't let yourself idle too much and keep yourself charged."
Qin Yinong nodded, "I know."
Tang Ruoyao glanced at Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong noticed and didn't turn back, but gently reached over and patted the back of her hand.
Qin Yinong had no intention of telling Han Yuping the truth, and she wasn't really sure if she was completely retiring from acting. It was better to let sleeping dogs lie. Besides, she still had a backlog of projects from before, and even if she didn't act for a few years, there would still be movies released one after another. As for the future, she would deal with it later.
The three of them sat together in the "True Colors" crew. Because of the connection between Han Yuping and Qin Yinong, Tang Ruoyao's seat was closer this time, in the second row.
Huo Yu Ke sat in the fourth row, separated by one row, and could only see the back of Tang Ruoyao's head.
Perhaps the venomous gaze in her eyes was almost tangible, Tang Ruoyao turned her head and glanced lightly, noticing it was her, but her gaze didn't linger and she turned back.
Qin Yinong leaned over and whispered to her, "What's wrong?"
Tang Ruoyao shook her head, "Nothing."
Qin Yinong and she continued talking quietly as more people took their seats. Afraid of being overheard and discussing inappropriate topics, they stuck to normal conversations.
Huo Yuke naturally couldn't hear anything, she could only see the two of them being affectionate, being close to each other, without any signs of a rift. Qin Yinong's profile was gentle, clearly showing extreme tenderness.
She gradually became uneasy.
This didn't seem like mere acting, could it be that person had deceived her?
Huo Yuke's heart raced, she reached into her bag and felt the cold edge of her phone, gripping it tightly.
She wanted to ask him.
The live camera swept over.
Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao stopped talking and simultaneously looked up. One had a charming smile, the other had a faint gaze, one warm, the other cold, with distinct styles.
— "Help, I'm frozen."
— "The director is so understanding, they always give us dual-camera shots and a candy rain! Who can resist? I can!"
— "Since big sister can, then little sister can too!"
— "I'm sitting in front of the computer screen now, squirming like a maggot. My CP is too sweet."
— "Sigh, who isn't?"
The live stream camera shifted to other celebrities, while Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao continued their quiet conversation. Suddenly, the camera "whooshed" back! The two of them were caught off guard and were momentarily stunned.
Live comments:
— "Hahaha, these two brats are so cute. They're like naughty kids caught by the teacher in class. I want to pinch their cheeks."
— "The director knows how to play! Give them drumsticks! Give them ten!"
— "Mom is going to melt, quickly give me kisses, my two well-behaved brats, mwah!"
— "Oh, Qin the Emperor even batted her eyes coyly! Three-year-old Qin! Awsl!"
The camera left again, and once it was confirmed that it wouldn't suddenly return, Tang Ruoyao's jealousy erupted as she frowned and said, "Who told you to blink? No the whole country saw it!"
Qin Yinong said, "I was wrong."
She opened her eyes wide, as if she would keep them open as long as Tang Ruoyao remained silent.
Tang Ruoyao was good at self-reflection, and this was originally a trivial matter. Qin Yinong was so indulgent towards her, so Tang Ruoyao immediately said, "I was also wrong. I was being unreasonable."
Qin Yinong said, "You're not wrong. It's my fault for not paying attention."
She maintained the wide-eyed look, and Tang Ruoyao was afraid her eyes would become sore and uncomfortable, so she said, "Blink."
Qin Yinong blinked twice, her pupils bright and clear.
Tang Ruoyao's heartbeat skipped a beat, and her fair ears turned red as well.
Even after being together for so long, they still blushed and felt their hearts race because of a small gesture from each other, full of palpitations.
Tang Ruoyao's lips curled up slightly and she said, "We'll talk about it when we get back."
Qin Yinong softly said, "Okay."
Tang Ruoyao restrained the impulse to hug her and instead held Qin Yinong's hand. Qin Yinong tightly grasped her hand in response.
The lights in the auditorium dimmed simultaneously, concealing their intertwined fingers.
The award ceremony was about to officially began.
This was the third award ceremony attended by Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong together.
Tang Ruoyao felt the warmth of the woman's palm as she looked at the stage where the lights converged. One award after another was presented, and the recipients received their trophies from the presenters, their faces filled with joy, expressing their excitement or calmness in their acceptance speeches.
The actress who won the Best Supporting Actress award walked up, and the presenter was a highly respected performing artist.
Everything around them became quiet.
In Tang Ruoyao's eyes, the actress slowly transformed into herself, and the presenter transformed into the appearance of Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong handed her the dazzling golden trophy, gazing at her with clear and gentle eyes, "I'm proud of you."
Tang Ruoyao solemnly held the trophy with both hands, suppressing her excitement. After a moment, she said, "Thank you, I..."
After the Best Supporting Actress finished her acceptance speech, she left the stage, and the fantasy scene had vanished into thin air.
Tang Ruoyao's gaze returned to clarity, and she sighed imperceptibly. Her interlocked fingers with Qin Yinong subconsciously tightened slightly.
She needed to work harder.
She hoped that before Qin Yinong completely retired from the industry, she could get her to present her with an award.
Tang Ruoyao had long developed feelings for Qin Yinong, but after an accident occurred, she no longer held any hope for this relationship. Coincidentally, she was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Golden Rose Awards, and from the first row, which was far away from her, she saw Qin Yinong whom she hadn't seen for months.
At that time, Qin Yinong had just started to shift her focus to overseas projects, but she still made frequent appearances in the domestic film industry, at least attending major Chinese-language film awards. During that Golden Rose Awards ceremony, she served as a presenter and presented the Best Actress award.
The recipient of the award was also a young actress, as most of the winners tended to be. She was in her late twenties, similar to Qin Yinong at that time, but Qin Yinong was already in a position to present an award to her.
She was a fan of Qin Yinong.
The new rising actress was extremely excited, tears welling up in her eyes. On stage, she continuously expressed her love and admiration for Qin Yinong, while Qin Yinong listened with a gentle smile, never interrupting her.
In the end, Qin Yinong even initiated a hug with her.
Tang Ruoyao held the Best Newcomer award she had just received, the trophy feeling cold. She sat in the dimly lit audience seat below the stage.
At that time, she was thinking:
If she could become the Best Actress and Qin Yinong presented the award to her, would she be able to say the words "I like you" that she had kept hidden in her heart in front of her, confidently and openly?
Even if it was only that one time, even if it was borrowing the identity of a fan, it would still be a perfect ending to their relationship. She couldn't accept the fact that she couldn't even confess her feelings to the person she first liked.
This eventually became almost an obsession for her.
That year at the Golden Laurel Awards, disregarding the boundaries between them, she took the initiative to ask and imply that Qin Yinong return to the country. Qin Yinong agreed, but then changed her mind at the last moment and deliberately missed her award ceremony.
Even to this day, Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong had come to know and love each other, and they no longer needed the platform of an award ceremony. She still, for reasons she didn't fully understand herself, wanted to fulfill this wish.
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