CHAPTER 219

Qin Jianing's shout of "Mommy" caused a commotion throughout the audience.

Even the host couldn't help but feel a jump in their heart.

What was happening?

An unexpected accident?

Guan Han steadied herself on the railing beside her, afraid that she might faint from the excessive sweetness of this CP (couple pairing).

There was a commotion in the audience.

Most of them were Qin Yinong's fans, and even if they weren't, who wouldn't be familiar with the national superstar Qin Yinong? Tang Ruoyao, the rising star, also had a high presence among the young audience.

But these two... there were no news of any relationship between them, not even as rivals.

As for the die-hard fans who considered Tang Ruoyao as their foe, they were even more excited, whispering and discussing among themselves.

The situation on-site became more and more chaotic, and the interview could hardly continue.

The director on-site sent someone to temporarily control the situation. She made a gesture behind the camera, accompanied by mouthing the words, asking Qin Yinong if they should stop filming. Qin Yinong shook her head.

The recording continued.

After it ended, Qin Yinong calmly led Ningning off the stage. A middle-aged man who appeared to be a leader from the production team approached them. He exchanged a few words with Qin Yinong, probably discussing how they should handle the situation. In reality, he was asking if they should air the segment where Ningning made the slip of the tongue.

This was an unexpected situation. If Qin Yinong didn't want it to be aired, they could edit out that part during the broadcast.

Qin Yinong casually waved her hand, indicating that it wasn't a big deal and they could go ahead and air it.

A flicker of surprise appeared on the man's face, and he personally saw them off.

Once the two of them were in the car, they exchanged a glance and simultaneously broke into a smile.

Qin Yinong raised her opened right hand, and Ningning raised her hand to give her a high-five.

Ningning's pure little face was filled with joy, her eyes sparkling. She proudly said to Qin Yinong, "Mom, did I do well?"

Qin Yinong gently touched the tip of the child's nose and praised her with satisfaction, "You truly are my daughter."

Ningning laughed wholeheartedly.

Qin Yinong didn't forget to tell her something important and said seriously, "Don't tell Mommy about what happened on TV today, alright?"

Ningning tilted her head in confusion and asked, "Why?"

Qin Yinong replied, "It's a surprise for her."

Ningning understood and made a zipper motion across her lips, whispering, "Okay, I promise not to tell her."

Qin Yinong extended her pinky finger.

Ningning earnestly hooked her pinky with Qin Yinong's.

The mother and daughter returned home with a little secret, leaving Tang Ruoyao completely in the dark. She only felt that her daughter was unusually enthusiastic today, buzzing around her like a little bee, constantly calling out "Mommy" as if showing off something.

"Mommy!" Ningning sat on the floor playing with building blocks and suddenly called out again.

Tang Ruoyao responded loudly, "Yes?"

Ningning quickly got up, planted a loud kiss on her face, and happily ran off like a fluttering little sparrow.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head, amused for a moment, then looked at Qin Yinong, who was engrossed in reading a book on the couch, and curiously asked, "What's going on with her?"

Qin Yinong, skilled in acting, didn't show any unusual signs. She turned a page of the script and smiled calmly, saying, "What can I do about her? Don't try to guess a child's thoughts. No matter how much you guess, you won't understand."

Tang Ruoyao's eyebrows raised slightly as she said, "Then let me guess yours?"

Qin Yinong closed the book, opened her arms, and welcomed her, saying, "Go ahead and guess."

Tang Ruoyao pressed her ear against Qin Yinong's chest and listened to her heartbeat for a while. It was steady and powerful, gradually speeding up.

Qin Yinong lowered her head and gently asked, "What did you hear?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "I heard it."

She raised her face, looked into the woman's eyes, and with her fingertip separated by a thin layer of fabric, she touched the spot over her heart, speaking in a tender tone, "It's saying that you love me."

"You got it right." Qin Yinong smiled and, while Ningning wasn't paying attention, lightly kissed Tang Ruoyao's lips. "This is your reward."

The two of them leaned their heads together, quietly snuggling up.

@ExclusiveOfficialWeibo:

[In this episode, we welcome the national goddess Qin Yinong @Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong appears on stage with her daughter, responding for the first time to the "discord rumors" with Tang Ruoyao. The true relationship between the two is revealed... For more excitement, this Friday at 9 p.m., don't miss out on "Exclusive."]

Before the show aired, they already created quite a buzz.

[Discord rumors? Real relationship? Wow! We're waiting in anticipation.]

[Looking at this summary, it seems like there's something fishy about their relationship. *Adjusts glasses*]

[The show's team is pulling out all the stops for attention and ratings.]

[Oh my god, is the ship I'm shipping actually becoming a reality??]

[Am I the only one waiting to see Qin Yinong's daughter? I never cared much about Qin Yinong, but who would have thought her daughter would win me over?]

[Same here, who doesn't love a beautiful little princess? *Sobs*]

[Taking care of kids has made me fall behind.]

Tang Ruoyao's real-life was fulfilling, so why would she bother paying attention to a small piece of news on the internet? On the other hand, the internet-addicted girl, Wen Shuxian, actively shared the link and mentioned her in the group.

Wen Shuxian: [@Tang Ruoyao, my sister, please give us a spoiler. What news did my sister-in-law reveal on the show? Are you two coming out? Ahhhhh]

Tang Ruoyao: "???"

Tang Ruoyao took her phone and went to the study to ask Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong was sitting in front of the computer, took off her anti-radiation glasses, and took the phone to carefully look at the Weibo link. She read, "Responding for the first time to the 'discord rumors' with Tang Ruoyao?"

She made a thoughtful expression and said, "Let me think."

After a moment, she frowned and said, "I can't recall. Maybe something I casually said was taken out of context for the sake of publicity."

It's all basic media manipulation. Tang Ruoyao didn't doubt it and said, "I think so too. It's just Wen Shuxian being dramatic as usual, always mentioning me."

Qin Yinong took the opportunity to naturally change the topic and asked, "Does she still not have a partner?"

Tang Ruoyao opened the group chat and replied to Wen Shuxian while answering, "No, she keeps complaining about being single all the time, but when someone actually pursues her, she acts like she's avoiding the plague."

Qin Yinong casually remarked, "She's still young."

Tang Ruoyao first nodded in agreement, but then said, "She's not young anymore. We're the same age, and she's turning twenty-five soon." She pointed at herself with a hint of pride and said, "I'm twenty-five, married with a daughter, while she doesn't even have a partner."

Qin Yinong found her adorable and teased her, "You don't even have the guts to say that in front of her."

Tang Ruoyao laughed out loud and said, "I don't have the guts. You know there's a saying that goes 'don't flaunt your wealth,' right? Well, I'm not flaunting my happiness."

Qin Yinong's lips curled up.

She thought to herself, 'Soon, the whole nation will know that you're married with a daughter.'

On Friday, the day before the Golden Laurel Awards ceremony, happened to be the day when the program "Exclusive" was aired. Qin Yinong deliberately planned the timing.

At half-past eight in the evening, Ningning finished practicing the piano and came out of the music room.

Tang Ruoyao handed Ningning her pajamas, preparing to wait for the child to finish bathing and then take her back to her room to sleep.

At ten minutes to nine, the little girl stood at the door of her room, wearing pink pajamas and shorts, refusing to go in. She softly pleaded with Tang Ruoyao, "Mommy, can I watch TV for a while?"

Tang Ruoyao asked in surprise, "Huh?"

TV?

She had never made such a request before.

As a competent mommy, Tang Ruoyao wouldn't simply refuse her, but asked gently, "What do you want to watch?"

Ningning replied crisply, "The program mom took me to a recording show last time."

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, 'Ah, I see.'

She agreed generously and reminded her, "You have to go to bed after watching, okay?"

Ningning obediently said, "Okay."

She had just taken a bath, her skin was fair with a rosy tint, and her face was smooth and tender. Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but gently rub her cheek with the back of her finger. She bent down, placed her hands on Ningning's shoulders, and turned her towards Qin Yinong, saying, "Go on, let mom find the TV channel for you."

Qin Yinong usually finished recording the program and didn't bother watching her own interviews. This time was no different as she sat on the sofa, with a calm expression, and focused on flipping through the script that Chai Ziqiu handed to her.

Ningning walked over and tugged at Qin Yinong's clothes, speaking softly, "Mom."

Qin Yinong raised her eyelids, a hint of tenderness in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Ningning said, "I want to watch a TV program. Mommy agreed."

Qin Yinong emphasized, "You can only watch for a while."

Tang Ruoyao was tidying up the child's towel in the restroom. As she heard the conversation between the mother and daughter outside the door, her heart filled with warmth, and her eyes couldn't help but curl up involuntarily.

If Qin Yinong could see Tang Ruoyao's expression at that moment, she would notice the big smile on her face.

Qin Yinong secretly gave Ningning a thumbs-up.

Ningning awkwardly blinked her left eye at Qin Yinong.

The mother and daughter understood each other without saying a word.

At exactly nine o'clock, the interview program began on time.

Tang Ruoyao had already taken her seat in advance.

Qin Jianing sat on her left with an upright posture, while Qin Yinong sat on her right, still not lifting her eyelids. She didn't find herself interesting enough to watch.

Tang Ruoyao was accustomed to this side of women. She herself would feel awkward watching her own interviews, so she didn't insist on having Qin Yinong accompany her.

Interview programs didn't offer anything new or exciting. It was a series of questions and answers, with the interviewees sharing their stories and experiences. Compared to variety shows and the like, the entertainment value was much lower. However, Tang Ruoyao found it fascinating, occasionally turning her head to glance at the woman beside her—a glamorous superstar and a lover in her casual clothes. The fusion of illusion and reality captivated her.

On the television, the program gradually reached its most crucial moment.

Qin Yinong put away the script in advance, her eyes fixed on the TV screen, even deliberately lightening her breath.

Ningning is fidgeting, forcing herself to focus, her little hands clenched into fists.

Tang Ruoyao, engrossed in watching the program, remained oblivious to all of this.

......

In the second half of the interview, the host suddenly came up with a brilliant question and asked, "Qin, the acclaimed actress, is it true that you and Tang Ruoyao are not on good terms?"

A huge photo of Tang Ruoyao appeared on the big screen.

Sitting in her arms, Qin Jianing, who had been calm and quiet, suddenly raised her hand and pointed at the photo. In a clear and crisp childish voice, she shouted, "Mommy!"

.....

Tang Ruoyao, outside the TV screen, froze, her eyes widening abruptly.

The program continued.

After this statement, the host was dumbfounded, and there was a commotion in the audience.

Qin Yinong gently pulled down her daughter's excited little hand and patted it lightly. Facing the host, she smiled and said, "Teacher Tang and I, we are not at odds."

The host forced a smile, shifting their gaze to the well-behaved little girl in her arms, and asked softly, "Little one, what did you mean by 'Mommy'?"

Qin Jianing perfectly displayed the nature of a child, tilting her head and looking innocent as she said, "Mommy is just Mommy, of course."

The host's heart raced, feeling like they had discovered a tremendous secret. They swallowed nervously and carefully confirmed, "Tang Ruoyao is your mommy?"

Qin Jianing smiled sweetly, dimples showing, "Yes."

Oh my goodness!

The host was dumbfounded, unable to speak for a while.

The camera switched to the audience, and everyone looked at each other. In the face of undeniable facts that they couldn't deny any longer, they completely lost their ability to think.

The fans experienced an unprecedented mental shock.

How is this possible?

Weren't they just rivals? They barely interacted, and even their interactions seemed perfunctory. How is this possible?

That night, the audience who witnessed this scene on the program collectively exploded.

[Qin Yinong's Daughter Calls Tang Ruoyao "Mommy"]

This topic skyrocketed to the top of the hot search rankings at lightning speed, landing in first place—boom!

— "OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!"

— "Ahhhhhhhh!"

—"OMG! OMG! My ship has become a reality!"

—"I died and came back to life! My ship has come out! I'm sitting up in my coffin!"

—"I, Qin the Emperor, was silent until I made a thunderous announcement. No wonder she's an alpha!"

—"Qin-Tang is the number one couple in the world! Who else is there?!"

—"Am I the only one, just a random person, who feels like they missed a big part of the story? Did I fall into a black hole? Why did it suddenly become "mommy"??? [Confused face.jpg]"

Not only the general public but even the dedicated fans and shippers were left dumbfounded.

The dedicated fans were busy trying to distance themselves, claiming it was just movie promotion and business tactics, and not to cue the "Emperor Qin/Daddy Tang" ship. The fans of both sides engaged in minor conflicts every three days and major conflicts every five days. The sky darkened, the sun and moon lost their light. And then, Qin Yinong's daughter boldly sold out her own team, leaving the dedicated fans utterly shocked.

As for the shippers, they watched as the hype around the movie "True Colors" gradually faded, with fewer and fewer opportunities for the two to appear together. They were preparing for the upcoming winter, not knowing that a rain of candy would suddenly pour down from the sky, leaving them in a state of confusion and dizziness.

Why bother producing any more crops? Is there any sweetness in the main pairing? Just give it to me!

The entire internet was passionately enjoying this spectacle.

At Qin's residence.

Tang Ruoyao placed both hands flat on her knees, her body stiff and motionless. She slowly turned her head, directing her gaze toward Qin Yinong's face. Qin Yinong's eyes carried a smile, full of tenderness.

Tang Ruoyao spoke with a trembling voice, "Baby..."

Qin Yinong quickly interrupted her, "Ahem." Her gaze shifted past Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, signaling her to look behind.

Only then did Tang Ruoyao realize there was still a little child. Her ears grew warm, and she turned to look at Ningning. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. Instead, her eyes started to moisten, tears shimmering in the depths of her eyes.

But it was Ningning who showed more maturity. She blinked and said, "Mommy said this is a surprise for you."

Tang Ruoyao was at a loss for words, and after a moment, she said, "...Thank you."

"..." Ningning looked at her with a subtle expression in her eyes.

This gaze was both unfamiliar and familiar, as if the two of them had just recently met. It was the same look Ningning often gave her, as if Tang Ruoyao wasn't very smart.

Tang Ruoyao's mind couldn't think properly, so she looked to Qin Yinong for help with her eyes.

Qin Yinong reached out and ruffled the child's head, saying, "Mommy is very happy to receive the surprise. The TV show is over, so you go back to your room and sleep. Mommy and I need to talk."

Ningning obediently left.

As they reached the doorway of the room, Ningning turned back and glanced, smiling with her crinkled eyes.

Qin Yinong turned off the TV and held Tang Ruoyao's hand, leading her upstairs. Throughout the journey, Tang Ruoyao's gaze remained fixed on Qin Yinong's face, staring at her intently without blinking.

Even after spending so much time together, Qin Yinong still felt uncomfortable under her fiery gaze. She turned her head slightly, not allowing her to look at her so openly.

But the next moment, Tang Ruoyao suddenly embraced her tightly. The woman's hands wrapped around her, encircling her slender waist.

Thump, thump.

Her heart raced fast, and even the breath against her ear sounded hotter than usual.

Tang Ruoyao's arms tightened continuously, her thin lips pressing against her ear, and a mixture of intense emotions surged within her. Her body trembled slightly uncontrollably.

Qin Yinong raised one hand and gently patted her back.

"Be good." Qin Yinong cooed softly, "No rush, take it slowly."

Under the woman's soothing, Tang Ruoyao calmed her trembling. She lifted her face from Qin Yinong's shoulder, her amber eyes glistening and fixedly gazing at her.

"I'm very happy." After so long, she finally spoke the first complete sentence.

Overwhelmed with joy, Tang Ruoyao smiled and wiped her eyes.

Qin Yinong gently returned her gaze, smiling and saying, "I am too."

Tang Ruoyao embraced her again, placing one hand on the back of her head. Her slender fingertips traced through her soft hair, one after another.

The two of them silently held each other, sharing the joy that filled their hearts.

"Baby."

"Hmm?" Qin Yinong's voice sounded lazy, enjoying this gesture that was similar to petting her hair.

"It's nothing, just calling you." Tang Ruoyao bit her lip and smiled, unable to control the upward curve of her lips.

Qin Yinong responded again, "Hmm," she said, "Call me a few more times."

Tang Ruoyao leaned close to her ear, lowering her voice, "Baby."

One after another, each call more affectionate than the last.

Gradually, it turned into a whisper as her lips pressed against hers.

Qin Yinong tilted her slender neck back, forming a graceful line, and proactively embraced Tang Ruoyao's head.

......

After taking shower, sitting side by side on the bed feeling refreshed, Tang Ruoyao suddenly recalled the abnormality of the past two weeks and asked, "Ningning seemed particularly excited when she came back after recording the show that day. Did you scheme it with her to expose it?"

Qin Yinong pretended to be displeased and clicked her tongue, "Sxheme?"

Tang Ruoyao corrected herself, "Plan."

Qin Yinong nodded, "Plan."

Her hair was not completely dry, and one hand casually played with the strands of hair near her ear. Her eyes and eyebrows, softened by affection, still had a misty quality, exuding a charming allure.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but get closer to her, and the scent of the shower gel captivated her breath.

They both used the same shower gel, and it seemed that Qin Yinong's body had an especially alluring fragrance.

Qin Yinong looked at Tang Ruoyao, who had involuntarily squeezed into her embrace, especially since the other person's nose kept sniffing around. Qin Yinong loosened her long hair, raised her hand, and patted her head, laughing, "Are you a dog?"

Tang Ruoyao quickly responded, saying, "I am a dog. What about you?"

Qin Yinong wasn't foolish either and immediately glared, saying, "You're insulting me."

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter and said, "I'm not."

Qin Yinong pressed both of her hands onto the pillow, flicked her long hair to the side, and looked down at her from a higher position.

"Here's another chance for you. What are you?" she asked Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao's gaze traversed from the woman's full forehead to her elegant nose, rosy lips, and fair and soft chin. Every aspect was impeccably exquisite.

She looked at the woman from bottom to top, her gaze unwavering.

After all this time together with Qin Yinong, she still felt a fleeting sense of unreality at certain moments, like now.

This person is hers.

This person actually belongs to her.

Does this person truly belong to her now?

"Qin Yinong," she called the woman's full name, breaking her usual pattern.

Qin Yinong was momentarily startled.

The mischievous smile in her eyes gradually disappeared, and she responded seriously, "I'm here."

"Qin Yinong."

"I'm here."

Tang Ruoyao looked into her eyes and said, "I am yours. And you?"

The woman's facial features magnified within her gaze, and before their lips met, Tang Ruoyao heard Qin Yinong's voice softly reply:

"I am yours too."

Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes and smiled, responding gently to the woman's kiss.

.......

After Qin Yinong's daughter program aired, where she accidentally called Tang Ruoyao "Mommy," the topic gained momentum overnight. Early-rising netizens, who had slept early, woke up the next day to find the discussion reignited.

An Ling and Mu Qingwu remained silent, refusing to respond, leaving netizens to speculate wildly.

Of course, the happiest ones were the fans of the couple. Their fan rankings skyrocketed, and giveaways were shared everywhere. Casual onlookers were happy as long as there was gossip to feast on. Meanwhile, after a night of calm reflection, the dedicated fans of Qin and Tang jointly developed a new template for defending their idols, as they found themselves standing on the same side for the first time—to clarify their love for their respective stars.

[Don't jump to conclusions about romantic relationships so easily, okay? Friends can have a good time together. What's wrong if your own child calls her best friend 'Mommy'? Does that mean best friends are no longer allowed to exist?]

[Don't spread rumors. They are just good sisters, and their friendship will last forever.]

Onlookers sarcastically commented, [It's you fans who claim they have a bad relationship, and now you say they are best friends. So, whatever you fans say goes, huh? I just want to ask, does it hurt when you contradict yourselves?]

[They are just two sisters who get along well. It's you fans who make a big deal out of everything, fighting battles for your idols every day, tearing down this one and that one. You really take yourselves too seriously.]

[Yesterday they were both beautiful, and today their friendship is eternal. [laughing until crying]]

Everything went according to Qin Yinong's expectations.

Qin Yinong deliberately chose this moment to reveal their relationship, initially not responding to anything and allowing the situation to naturally ferment for a day. If Tang Ruoyao could win an award, it would be even better, and they would take the opportunity to go public. But if she didn't win, it didn't matter either. Who said being called 'Mommy' always signifies that kind of relationship?

First, she wanted to dispel the false rumors about their discord, and then she would take further action.

Qin Yinong had a hunch that Tang Ruoyao would definitely win the Best Actress award this time. It was almost a sure thing. That's why she boldly had Ningning call her "Mommy" directly.

Shipper fans were in the minority after all, and the majority of casual netizens still believed in the "godmother" theory. Tang Ruoyao's puppy-like boyfriend and the smoke screen of their marriage news were handled so well that they hadn't been exposed yet. So, she remained steadfast. As for whether Qin Yinong was straightforward or not, she already had a daughter, so she must be straight too.

Two straight women, although their ship was popular, it was destined to be just a fantasy.

Netizens dug up all the past interactions between the two once again, evoking mixed feelings: [It's really hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood in the entertainment industry. Who would have thought that the big and small flowers, who showed no interaction in public, were actually good best friends in private?!]

[Shocking! My whole family is in shock!]

[They even have their child calling each other 'Mommy.' That's how deep their bond must be. How did these two manage to hide it so well? They deceived everyone!]

Netizens dug deeper, unraveled each thread, and reveled in the gossip.

Before they finished digging up the old information, new evidence surfaced.

Today was the Golden Laurel Awards ceremony, and this "good best friend" duo, who had just come to light the day before, appeared together again, instantly capturing the attention of many netizens. The number of viewers watching the live broadcast skyrocketed.

The debut of the "best friends"! It's a must-watch!

On the afternoon of the awards ceremony, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao arrived separately at the red carpet venue.

This time, Tang Ruoyao was nominated alone, and she needed to walk the red carpet with the crew members. In the dressing room, when the director Fan Hong and a few other colleagues saw her, their expressions became meaningful.

Presumably, they all knew about the gossip online and had discussed it before she arrived.

Fan Hong straightforwardly asked, "Are you close with Qin Yinong?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded, feeling a faint sense of guilt.

Everyone was astute and knew what could be asked and what couldn't. Fan Hong didn't dig deeper to ask why she had hidden their relationship. She just patted her hand and smiled, "Next time I work with Qin Yinong on a movie, could you put in a good word for me?"

Tang Ruoyao accepted the gesture and replied with a faint smile, "That's for sure."

Tang Ruoyao's gaze swept over a fellow actress who was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the same drama. It was the colleague who mistakenly believed that she had a bad relationship with Qin Yinong and always actively pulled her away. Their colleague's eyes met hers, and she seemed like she wanted to sink into the ground.

Tang Ruoyao took the initiative to approach her and ease the awkwardness.

As they were chatting, the surroundings suddenly fell silent, and all voices disappeared. Tang Ruoyao saw the actress in front of her winking and gesturing, following everyone's gaze towards the entrance. Her heart skipped a beat.

Qin Yinong gracefully walked towards her, causing everyone to step aside in her path. Qin Yinong didn't avert her gaze and quickly arrived in front of Tang Ruoyao.

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT