CHAPTER 215

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao's grand wedding took place in early spring, but the preparations began at the end of the previous year.

The wedding video was also filmed starting from the preparations.

In the harsh winter, with the howling of the northern wind and the world covered in ice and snow, the inside of the house was warm like spring. The towering locust tree remained strong and upright even in the winter. The subtitle appeared: December X, 2019, Han Residence.

Han Yuping, Liang Shu, Ji Shulan, Qin Yinong, Tang Ruoyao, and others sat in a circle. Han Yuping held an almanac in his hands, focusing attentively as he turned the pages. The camera zoomed in, and the date March X was highlighted as an auspicious day for the wedding. He marked that date on the calendar, and everyone nodded in agreement. Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao turned their heads and smiled at each other.

The production of the wedding attire received a lot of footage. The skilled embroiderers meticulously threaded needles on the bright red wedding gown, day after day. Gradually, a lifelike golden phoenix emerged, stretching its neck and ready to take flight.

The pearls and gemstones on the phoenix crown were carefully placed in a box, shimmering with radiance. Skilled craftsmen meticulously adorned and embedded each one.

With professional narration accompanying the scenes, if one ignored the main characters, they would think it was a documentary explaining traditional wedding customs.

Tang Ruoyao watched attentively. Initially, Qin Yinong took care of most of the preparations, but when Tang Ruoyao went to shoot a movie in City W, Qin Yinong took charge of everything. There were some details, like the part where Qin Yinong chose the wine for the wedding ceremony, that Tang Ruoyao had no knowledge of.

When she saw Qin Yinong's initial unfamiliarity with the taste of the wine, wrinkling her brows in bitterness, Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but laugh softly.

In the video, there was an antique shelf behind Qin Yinong, stacked with barrels of wine. She and Han Yuping discussed the details of the wine ceremony with the consultant they hired. Qin Yinong was particularly courteous, slightly bowing her head, maintaining a serious and attentive posture throughout.

She tasted a small cup of all the wines, and in the end, chose one.

The lengthy, intricate, and meticulous preparations took three to four months. The process was extremely tedious, but Qin Yinong did not show the slightest impatience. Instead, she approached these tasks with a million percent focus and passion.

There was no other reason but her deep love for Tang Ruoyao.

Outside the video, Tang Ruoyao found Qin Yinong's hand and held it, intertwining their fingers tightly.

Qin Yinong glanced down and scooted closer to her.

Their shoulders were touching.

Qin Yinong still felt it wasn't close enough, but holding Tang Ruoyao in her arms would obstruct her view of the TV. Qin Yinong leaned over and pressed pause.

Tang Ruoyao: "???"

Qin Yinong pulled her into her embrace and kissed the young woman directly on the lips. Tang Ruoyao deeply felt the love from her, and her emotions were even more overwhelming. They entangled with each other, gasping for breath, until they couldn't anymore before letting go.

Qin Yinong hugged her for a while longer before pressing play again.

On the day of the wedding, Tang Ruoyao stayed in the backyard the whole time and had no idea what was happening in the front yard. In the video, she saw Qin Yinong busy all day long.

Qin Yinong was almost like her, she couldn't go to the backyard.

In the back room, in front of the dressing table, Liang Shu gently combed Tang Ruoyao's hair and recited:

"First comb, comb to the head, no worries about wealth and fortune;

Second comb, comb to the head, no illness and no worries;

Third comb, comb to the head, abundant blessings and longevity;

Another comb, comb to the end, equal in status and harmony;

Second comb, comb to the end, soaring together in harmony;

Third comb, comb to the end, eternal unity and companionship,

With a beginning and an end, a lifetime of wealth and fortune together."

Against the soothing, gentle backdrop of the elder's voice, the, the camera flashed back, from the preparations to the wedding, Qin Yinong's figure was present in every aspect. She held the splendid phoenix crown under the candlelight, carefully examined the embroidered patterns on the wedding gown, personally selected the gold and silver jewelry, and stared as they were placed in the lacquered and gold-bound box tied with a red silk ribbon. She scooped the bitter wine from the barrel and tasted it cup by cup...

No one would doubt that they were a perfect match made in heaven. They were destined to be together for life

Tang Ruoyao's nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Qin Yinong gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

The next segment is Tang Ruoyao's favorite. Qin Yinong is in the room changing clothes and putting on makeup. Wearing a fiery red wedding dress with black hair and a red silk, she steps out, standing at the end of the red carpet, a breathtaking sight in the world.

Tang Ruoyao replayed Qin Yinong's entrance three times. Qin Yinong knew she looked beautiful, but as she saw Tang Ruoyao about to watch it for the fourth time, she couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. She coughed and reminded her, "That's enough."

Tang Ruoyao complied and continued eagerly watching the rest.

The part where they meet is very lively. Lin Ruohan shouts loudly at the entrance, and Tang Ruoyao smiles while supporting her forehead from behind the screen.

The bridal sedan is lifted, and gongs and drums lead the way.

Porters carry box after box of dowry, a ten-mile long red procession.

Qin Yinong looked at the sedan and asked Tang Ruoyao, "What were you feeling at that time?"

Tang Ruoyao didn't answer and instead asked, "What about you?"

Qin Yinong said, "I can't remember."

Tang Ruoyao laughed, "Me neither."

Afterward, when they recall their wedding day, both of them are in a daze. Besides being nervous, they only remember to not make any mistakes.

Qin Yinong thought for a moment and said, "I remember now. At that time, I could only hear the sounds and couldn't see the bridal sedan. I was particularly worried that the sedan bearers might get lost and take you to the wrong place. What would we do then?"

"..." Tang Ruoyao joked, "And you were also afraid that someone might switch the bride? Even after we arrived, you were still worried and secretly checking on me."

Qin Yinong shyly smiled.

"For a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, of course, we have to be cautious," the woman said. "I've said my part, what about you?"

Tang Ruoyao thought for a moment and said, "I was probably thinking, I'm finally marrying you."

Qin Yinong raised her hand and said, "Then let me add, I also had the thought, I'm finally marrying you."

Suddenly, Tang Ruoyao asked, "Baby, do you have a certain feeling?"

Qin Yinong: "Hmm?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "We have only been together for a little over a year, but I always feel like we have been living together for several lifetimes."

Qin Yinong replied, "Yes, maybe we have a past-life connection."

Tang Ruoyao snuggled into her arms and fantasized, "It's not just the past life, there's also a previous past life, and a previous previous past life, for countless lifetimes. A few days ago, I had a dream where you were a wealthy lady participating in a marriage ceremony, and I, disguised as a man, was watching the spectacle next to you. Unexpectedly, I caught your embroidered ball."

"And then?"

"And then I married you."

Qin Yinong's lips curled up slightly as she leaned down and kissed Tang Ruoyao's eyes.

The two continued to watch the screen as the bridal sedan arrived, accompanied by music, announcing the wedding to the guests.

......

They watched for a while, chatted for a while, and occasionally showed affection. Before they could finish watching, the sky outside had darkened, with distant red clouds from a burning fire on the horizon.

Qin Yinong asked Tang Ruoyao to put away the computer, and the two indulged in their desires without restraint before heading home.

The Golden Magnolia Award ceremony came to an end, and the internet was buzzing with excitement as expected.

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao stole the spotlight on the red carpet, and videos and pictures of them went viral on the internet. "True Colors" had just been released a month ago and was still popular, providing solace to many fans in reality.

A talented editor combined Shen-Han and Qin-Tang's scenes together, seamlessly blending them, and within an hour, the reposts exceeded ten thousand, trending on the hot search.

Another incident involved Tang Ruoyao "publicly humiliating Qin Yinong" last night—Qin Yinong turned around and hugged her, but she remained motionless. This incident sparked even more controversy.

Apart from the fans who shipped them, most onlookers would rather believe in ghosts than believe in genuine "friendship" among female artists in the entertainment industry. They believed that confrontations and hidden undercurrents were more in line with their mentality of enjoying the spectacle without considering the consequences.

The true nature of their relationship became increasingly elusive.

Neither of them came out to explain anything to the gossiping crowd, nor did they bother explaining. So, this matter remained unanswered.

Most people believe that the two of them are just creating hype for the movie. Otherwise, how do you explain the lack of interaction before and suddenly being affectionate now? Their lack of interaction on Weibo after the movie's release further supports this point.

Online discussions and speculations are rampant, with gossip groups publishing several episodes of conspiracy theories. The individuals involved show no interest, with one working a nine-to-five job and occasionally going on business trips, while the other stays at home charging up and looking for suitable scripts for Qin Yinong.

Sometimes Tang Ruoyao would surprise Qin Yinong by picking her up from work without prior notice, creating small moments of joy in their lives.

.....

"Didn't you said they had a falling out?" Huo Yuke asked in a hushed voice.

"Isn't that the case?" The voice on the other end sounded indifferent.

"It's not!"

"If it's not, then it's not. Why are you so worked up?"

"You didn't do it, so of course you're not afraid!" Huo Yuke's chest heaved as she said, "Do you know that I've had several opportunities taken away from me recently? It's definitely her doing, deliberately retaliating against me."

You Mingxuan lounged on the couch at home, holding a glass of red wine in one hand, and casually said, "I just found out today that you're really timid. Competition in the industry is common, so stop scaring yourself."

You Mingxuan, having been in the industry for many years, knew the difference between ordinary competition failures and being targeted by someone. Just like back then, he fell from the clouds into the mud overnight.

You Mingxuan had some luck and managed to make a comeback after lying low for a while. Although not as successful as before, he knew that it's better to be a living dog than a dead lion. He took this opportunity to slowly transform, with the help of his uncle.

He had always held a grudge against Tang Ruoyao and coincidentally learned the true identity of the person behind her. He sent someone to investigate and concluded that Tang Ruoyao might lose her power. Having learned his lesson once, he didn't dare to take action personally, but as a precaution, he used Huo Yuke to do his dirty work.

Now he could only be grateful for his own decision.

He couldn't understand why Qin Yinong was willing to support Tang Ruoyao even though she had a boyfriend. He thought about it for a long time and came to the conclusion that either it was all fake, and Tang Ruoyao's boyfriend and the wedding announcement were just smokescreens, or Qin Yinong was willingly wearing the cuckold's hat.

"You!" Huo Yuke held back and said, "I've been ruined because of you. Don't you have any responsibility?"

You Mingxuan replied, "I only provided some information. Whether you disclose it or not is up to you." He sneered, "You chose your own path, so why blame me?"

Huo Yuke erupted into a furious rant on the other end of the line.

You Mingxuan hung up the phone and blocked her.

Half a month after the Golden Magnolia Awards, Qin Yinong's office welcomed An Ling, who had nothing to do.

They found the person who had conspired with Huo Yuke, and it was You Mingxuan, who had a grudge against Tang Ruoyao in the past.

"Guess how I found out?" An Ling sat across from Qin Yinong, teasing her mysteriously.

Qin Yinong smiled and played along, saying, "How did you find out?"

An Ling happily said, "These two are now fighting like dogs."

Qin Yinong curiously asked, "They are a man and a woman, and they have completely different paths. How can they fight each other?"

An Ling explained, "You Mingxuan has a competitor."

The current entertainment industry is like a field of leeks, one batch after another. The competition is not just intense; it keeps getting fiercer.

Although Huo Yuke was blinded by jealousy, she wasn't a fool outside of her issues with Tang Ruoyao. In fact, she was quite clever. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to keep Liu Yayu and achieve her current success.

As for You Mingxuan, he was truly a stupid person. Relying on his uncle's misdeeds, he used to indulge in a life of debauchery. He made his uncle clean up his messes. After experiencing society's blows, he temporarily restrained himself and learned some lessons. However, he was still far behind Huo Yuke. He never thought about the consequences before cutting ties with her and blocking her. He didn't consider whether she would dare to cooperate with him or question him, holding any leverage against him.

Huo Yuke indeed had leverage and turned to his opponent.

Qin Yinong: "..."

She clicked her tongue in an indiscernible manner, teasingly saying, "An Ling, is this the big fish you've hooked?" At best, it's just a small fry.

An Ling sighed and said, "Just consider it watching elementary school students fight. Let's enjoy the spectacle."

In the past, An Ling wouldn't have paid any attention to such spectacles.

Qin Yinong looked at her with sympathy.

An Ling frowned and said, "What's with that look in your eyes?"

Qin Yinong restrained her expression and said seriously, "It's nothing." She looked at An Ling, blinked her eyes, and sincerely suggested, "Why don't you take a long vacation? After all, it's almost New Year."

An Ling replied softly, "There are still two or three months left until New Year. Why don't you take a long vacation for yourself?"

Qin Yinong smiled bitterly, "I wish I could, but I still have unfinished projects in my hands."

Their roles were different. An Ling managed a studio that had been operating smoothly for many years, requiring little effort. After Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao stopped taking acting jobs, they became even more relaxed. Qin Yinong was more focused on managing a newly established company, which had a pile of things to deal with.

When it's dry, it's extremely dry, when it's wet, it's extremely wet.

After An Ling stayed for a while, she left and bumped into a young woman wearing a baseball cap and a mask. Her figure and temperament were outstanding, and she looked familiar. Tang Ruoyao took off her mask and gave An Ling a faint smile, saying, "Sister An Ling."

An Ling waved her hand casually and said, "She's inside, just go in."

Tang Ruoyao's figure disappeared behind the door. An Ling clenched her teeth and thought, We see each other every day at home, and now she comes to visit during the day too. Are the two of them not sick of each other?!

Tang Ruoyao didn't often come to the company, so when Qin Yinong saw her, she was delighted. She got up from her seat and went over, holding Tang Ruoyao's hands and sitting on the sofa, surprised, "Why are you here?"

Tang Ruoyao blinked and said, "Can't I come see you?"

"Of course you can." Qin Yinong asked, "Do you want something to drink?"

"Water."

"I'll pour it for you."

Tang Ruoyao held her back, and Qin Yinong turned around, confused, "???"

Tang Ruoyao stared at Qin Yinong's lips.

Qin Yinong understood and kissed her.

Tang Ruoyao savored her taste and slowly sipped the warm water poured by Qin Yinong. She looked up and saw Qin Yinong gazing at her attentively, her eyes filled with infatuation. Her ears couldn't help but turn warm, and she softly urged, "Go back to work. I just came to see you. If it delays your work, I won't come again."

"Okay." Reluctantly, Qin Yinong left and sat in the chair behind her desk.

The office where Qin Yinong worked had excellent natural lighting, with a full-length window. Tang Ruoyao took out a book from her bag and sat on a small stool, reading in the sunlight.

After about an hour, someone knocked on the door.

Tang Ruoyao retreated into the lounge, and there was some commotion outside, followed by silence.

Qin Yinong went inside and called for Tang Ruoyao to come out. There was now an additional recliner by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Tang Ruoyao moved from the stool to the recliner and continued reading. As she read, she yawned and eventually fell asleep, unaware of when a thin blanket was draped over her.

As twilight fell, Qin Yinong finished the last document, quietly approached Tang Ruoyao, and sat on the small stool where she had been sitting before. With one hand supporting her chin, Qin Yinong blinked and gazed unwaveringly at the young woman's sleeping face, feeling an overwhelming tenderness in her heart.

The sunset cast a hazy golden glow around the two figures.

Tang Ruoyao woke up naturally and the first thing she saw was the radiant smile on Qin Yinong's face. They exchanged a gentle kiss, held hands, and left the company to go home.

Time seemed to be winding like a clock, ceaselessly moving forward.

Seasons changed, and one year drew to a close.

In a room specially designated for displaying trophies, Qin Yinong had installed a new glass cabinet to showcase Tang Ruoyao's awards. There was still a noticeable gap between them, but Tang Ruoyao wasn't discouraged at all. She knew that one day she would catch up to Qin Yinong.

But even if she couldn't catch up, it didn't matter, because everything Qin Yinong achieved was also hers.

Tang Fei had grown taller again and was now truly taller than his sister. But Tang Ruoyao still felt like she could pat his head anytime she wanted. Qin Jianing had also grown significantly, and the height marked on the wall corner representing her growth kept getting higher.

Qin Yinong sat upright, holding a pen and practicing calligraphy in the study. Through her unwavering efforts and the careful guidance of Teacher Tang, those horribly written characters that invoked divine wrath had finally become a thing of the past.

Yet, Tang Ruoyao inexplicably felt a sense of nostalgia.

The notes she wrote in the scripts, the little reminders she received from the crew during her acting days, all seemed like an unreachable past. Even though it had only been two or three years, she suddenly trembled with realization: Has it already been just two or three years?

Yes, time never turns back. Two and a half years had passed.

Tang Ruoyao's gaze became melancholic.

Qin Yinong put down her pen, intending to show off her progress to Tang Ruoyao, but she saw Tang Ruoyao lost in thought.

"Yaoyao."

"Yes." Tang Ruoyao snapped out of her daze and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Teacher, please check my handwriting." Qin Yinong put the paper in her hands and respectfully presented it.

Tang Ruoyao also assumed her role as a teacher and carefully examined it. She said, "Not bad, you've made great progress."

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "What about my reward?"

Tang Ruoyao exchanged a glance with her, silently understanding, and said, "You'll get it tonight."

Qin Yinong was satisfied and casually asked, "What were you daydreaming about just now?"

Tang Ruoyao had no secrets with her and confessed, "I was recalling some past memories."

"Like what?"

"When we were having the script discussion for 'True Colors,' I accidentally saw the... the words on your script and thought you looked particularly cute."

"Ugly handwriting is cute?"

"Yeah."

"So am I not cute now?"

"It's not that, you're always cute." Tang Ruoyao said, "I just feel a bit..." She pursed her lips.

Qin Yinong understood her feelings and said, "Nostalgic for that time?"

"Yeah." Tang Ruoyao nodded, immediately realizing the ambiguity of her words and clarified, "I don't mean I miss the time when we weren't together, I mean..."

Qin Yinong once again shared her thoughts, blinking and saying, "Missing our past selves and the past me?"

Tang Ruoyao wanted to say yes, but felt it wasn't precise enough.

She lightly bit her lower lip, showing a troubled expression.

Qin Yinong set aside the paper filled with words, neatly pressed it down with a paperweight, and held Tang Ruoyao's hand as they sat on the couch.

Qin Yinong looked at her earnestly.

Tang Ruoyao returned the gaze with equal seriousness.

Women have always been her spiritual guides. What Qin Yinong understands, she understands. What Qin Yinong doesn't understand, she also understands. That comes from time and experience, belonging to the charm of mature women.

After a while, Qin Yinong said, "Lately, I've been thinking about the past."

Tang Ruoyao softly responded, "Hmm."

Qin Yinong continued, "I remember when we first met..." She paused and added an explanation, "Not when you were a child, but after you grew up."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Of course, she understood, but it sounded strange to hear "after you grew up." But thinking about it, she had fed her formula and changed her diapers, so there was nothing to fuss about.

Qin Yinong said, "I also thought you were cute back then, cautious and carefully trying to please me, afraid of making me angry. You were crazy enough to come up with all sorts of quirks for me, and you were tossed around here and there."

They had been together for so long that they understood each other's state of mind during that time.

Tang Ruoyao still responded with an "Hmm," waiting for her to continue.

"But I don't miss myself from that time, or you from that time," Qin Yinong gazed at her lover's brows and eyes, her gaze gradually becoming tender. "I remember it because those moments have truly become my memories."

Pain is long and enduring, while true happiness appears incredibly short-lived. Twenty-nine years and two and a half years can't be compared in terms of length, but the depth is worlds apart.

Qin Yinong never reminisced about the past because the past was a cage, so she always moved forward. She spent twenty-nine years breaking free from the shackles, but at the age of thirty-one, she miraculously began to look back at the past. The good and the bad were all covered by the word "memory" with a soft and beautiful halo.

She made peace with the past calmly.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Then what about me?" Her situation with Qin Yinong should be different.

Qin Yinong glanced at the calligraphy practice papers on the table and said seriously, "You're afraid that one day my handwriting will be better than yours and you'll be jealous of me."

Tang Ruoyao: "???"

The way Qin Yinong said it so seriously and solemnly made her, out of trust in Qin Yinong, actually contemplate the possibility. Was she really be jealous that Qin Yinong might write better than her one day?

It wasn't until Qin Yinong buried her face in Tang Ruoyao's shoulder and laughed quietly that everything became clear.

Tang Ruoyao suddenly realized she had been tricked and angrily pinched the woman's ear.

Qin Yinong had laughed enough and looked up, saying, "Tell me the truth, do you like the way I write ugly characters or the way I write beautifully?"

"Huh?"

"Just answer."

"I like both."

"You have to choose one."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't decide, but she had a brain. Her eyes turned sweetly as she answered, "The current you."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously, saying, "So your feelings for me before were just empty words?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Indeed, one should never underestimate a woman's ability to set traps.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but hold back her laughter. She patted Tang Ruoyao's smooth cheek and stood up, saying, "I'll go downstairs to see if Ningning has finished practicing the piano."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'll go with you."

Before going to bed that night, Tang Ruoyao was still contemplating this question. Why did she miss Qin Yinong's ugly handwriting? The only reliable conclusion she came to was: she was getting old.

She solemnly shared this conclusion with Qin Yinong, who was seven years older than her. Qin Yinong had an expression on her face that said, "Are you kidding me?" and "You're done for!"

Then Qin Yinong coldly laughed.

Tang Ruoyao suffered the consequences and was pressed down on the pillow by Qin Yinong. Over and over again, she couldn't even make a sound. From that day on, she no longer dared to call herself "old" in front of Qin Yinong.

The next day, Tang Ruoyao slept until noon and found a sticky note on the bedside table.

The signature was easy to recognize: Qin Yinong.

Her name was always written beautifully.

The other words on the note were large and round, shockingly ugly, almost horrifying. Only by carefully deciphering them could one make out what was written.

Tang Ruoyao examined it for a while and burst into laughter.

[So, you like the contrast of cuteness, right? Here you go.]

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