CHAPTER 224

Footsteps were heard nearby. Qin Yinong wrapped her arm around Tang Ruoyao's waist and gently pulled down the hood of her cap. They quietly walked away from under the tree, blending back into the inconspicuous couple of the night.

They also bought movie tickets, for the 10:50 PM showing. They intentionally arrived a few minutes late and quietly entered the theater after the lights had dimmed, avoiding the attention of others.

Tang Ruoyao had picked the film, an art-house movie with a small audience. They sat in the last row, unnoticed by anyone else.

It was their first time watching a movie together in a cinema, taking their date to the next level.

Both of them were serious about it, focusing their gaze on the big screen, although their minds were somewhat occupied with something else. After watching for a while, Tang Ruoyao leaned closer to Qin Yinong's ear and whispered, "What do you think?"

As someone working in the film industry, Qin Yinong didn't find it impressive. Whether it was the director or the actors, it didn't meet her standards. They had chosen a cinema close by and a showtime that suited their schedule, and the result was... no surprises.

But for their first official date, they needed to give it some face, so Qin Yinong replied, "It's alright."

She said it was alright, and Tang Ruoyao's throat moved as she swallowed back the words "I think it's average."

After watching for a while, Qin Yinong also remembered to ask her softly, "What do you think?"

Tang Ruoyao pondered for a moment and responded, "It's okay, I guess."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow, pushed up the armrest between their seats, and reached out to hold Tang Ruoyao's hand.

Tang Ruoyao's hand was held by Qin Yinong, and her fingertips were gently caressed. It was like a silent affection, and unconsciously, she rested her head on Qin Yinong's shoulder.

They continued watching the movie like that.

The actors were all new faces, and it was evident that they were putting in a lot of effort in their performances, sometimes even overdoing it. Qin Yinong was someone who could appreciate the efforts of others in acting. Otherwise, anyone who didn't meet her standards would be rejected by her, and there wouldn't be many people in the country that she would find impressive. In the middle of the film, the female lead had a small breakthrough, and a hint of surprise flickered in Qin Yinong's eyes. She was about to lower her head and share her thoughts with Tang Ruoyao, taking advantage of the dim lighting in the theater, but Tang Ruoyao's long eyelashes gently fell, covering her closed eyes, breathing evenly and softly.

...Tang Ruoyao had fallen asleep.

Qin Yinong was momentarily stunned, but then a big smile spread across her face.

She was afraid that her laughter would shake her chest and wake Tang Ruoyao, so she clenched her hand tightly, struggling to hold back.

Tang Ruoyao didn't sleep for long, she woke up in the second half of the movie. She looked up and glanced at Qin Yinong, who was sitting up straight, carefully raising her hand to touch the corner of her own lips. Thankfully, there was no saliva dribbling out.

Her heart settled back into her stomach, and she picked up the movie that she had completely lost track of and continued watching.

Qin Yinong noticed her little gesture, didn't say anything, and simply extended a hand to touch the side of the young woman's face, gently pinching her ear and her hair.

Qin Yinong enjoyed physical contact with Tang Ruoyao, not necessarily the most intimate kind, but others like holding hands and hugging, and especially these affectionate little gestures like now. Tang Ruoyao had been asleep just now, and she was worried about waking her up, so she stayed still, enduring it for a long time.

With Tang Ruoyao playing around, Qin Yinong lost interest in the movie.

Qin Yinong leaned close to Tang Ruoyao's ear and whispered something softly.

Tang Ruoyao widened her eyes, turned around, and shook her head seriously.

The screening room had infrared surveillance, even if no one was necessarily monitoring it, but what if someone was? The request to sit on her lap was a bit too...

Tang Ruoyao's gaze swept downward, discreetly swallowing her saliva, although the suggestion was indeed tempting.

Qin Yinong compromised and asked for a kiss instead. Upon hearing about the surveillance, her response was to use her jacket to cover their heads, completely hiding in the darkness to kiss.

Someone in the front row inadvertently turned around, nearly jumping in fright.

Upon closer inspection, they realized it was just a young couple.

They thought, 'Just a kiss, who hasn't kissed in a movie theater? Is there a need to make it so mysterious? Or is it some kind of trendy thing?'

The movie finished playing.

The lights brightened.

Both of them pulled up their hoods, covering themselves tightly, and their faces under the masks turned red.

No one paid attention to the rest of the plot, they were too preoccupied with kissing.

Once everyone else had left, the two of them held hands and walked out, keeping their heads down.

This shopping mall is not far from the villa. The two of them strolled back together, not saying a word along the way.

Once they entered the residential area, Qin Yinong stared at the ground and suddenly whispered, "I don't like watching movies outside."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I don't like it either."

They reached an agreement and decided to remove movie-watching from their list of activities during dates.

Both of them often watched movies at home. They had a dedicated home theater with equipment and sound effects comparable to a cinema. Sometimes they watched serious films, while other times they enjoyed more lighthearted ones. They were free to do whatever they wanted.

After spending the whole night outside, they didn't get home until 2 a.m. They took a shower and went straight to bed, and the sun-dried bedsheets carried a faint scent of soap.

The next day, "Unexpected Encounter: Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao" became a hot topic.

Their popularity and national recognition were evident to all. It was impossible to escape everyone's attention, especially after coming out publicly, attracting the attention of the paparazzi.

Fortunately, those who encountered them were considerate and didn't bother them. However, they later posted about it on Weibo.

The person at the restaurant had already mentioned it, and there was also someone who encountered them during a stroll by the river. According to a netizen's report, she was a resident living nearby. It was her habit to take a walk after dinner around 8 or 9 p.m. One day, she saw two familiar figures. Stars and ordinary people are different, even in their casual attire, their extraordinary aura stands out.

She passed by them face to face once and immediately recognized them. Afraid of disturbing them, she didn't say anything, pretending not to notice, and only took a careful photo of their backs after they walked away.

In the photo, the two of them walked side by side, their silhouettes blending into the varying shades of the night, always holding hands.

Another netizen encountered them at the movie theater. The netizen's report stated, "After having dinner with my friend at the mall, we bought movie tickets to support our idol's new film. Qin and Tang entered after the movie started. I didn't recognize them at the time, the lighting was too dim, and no one would pay attention to someone who entered late and sat in the back row."

So how did she discover their presence? The netizen revealed that, halfway through the movie, she inexplicably turned her head to look at the projection, and she saw two people with their hoods covering their heads, hiding and kissing under their hoods. She thought they were acting foolishly, so after the movie ended, she intentionally glanced at them a few times. The more she looked, the more familiar they seemed. However, she still couldn't be certain, so she pretended to leave while actually lurking with her friend near the exit of the theater, observing their actions.

Those two people finally came out, wearing hats and masks, very low-key. But those two pairs of eyes, as fans, would never mistake them. Finally, when they entered the elevator, Qin Yinong raised her hand and rubbed Tang Ruoyao's head.

And there was the encounter at the dessert shop, where the two of them exchanged affectionate glances and fed each other desserts, bite after bite.

And so on, and so on.

Overnight, it seemed like the whole world was bumping into Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao.

Netizen comments:

[I'm feeling sour [sour lemon.jpg]]

[Why do I feel like they've been living their lives to the fullest since coming out?]

[Exactly! They used to have to hide, but now that they have a relationship, they can't help but show off a bit.]

[Hahahaha, what's with the suffocating act of kissing under their coats? @Qin Yinong @Tang Ruoyao]

[I'm dying, I'm dying]

[Hurry up and do a variety show as a couple! I want some dog food!]

[Is it still possible for me to go there and randomly encounter them?]

......

At ten in the morning, Qin Yinong slept until she naturally woke up. Tang Ruoyao, in the crook of her arm, was still fast asleep, completely unaware. Qin Yinong tilted her head to look at her, touching her eyebrows and her face.

Tang Ruoyao was tickled by her actions and hummed while avoiding her hands.

Qin Yinong didn't relent, sticking to her like a shadow. Tang Ruoyao finally woke up and grabbed Qin Yinong's slender wrist, pressing it against the pillow.

A smile played at the corner of Qin Yinong's mouth. "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao propped herself up on her elbow, looking down at her with a dominating presence, her gaze dangerous. "What do you think I'm doing?"

Qin Yinong calmly looked at her for two seconds, then raised her hand to hold her head and guided it towards herself.

Tang Ruoyao: "Mmm."

A little struggle was inevitable, with the one with better skills emerging victorious.

They went back and forth for two hours. In the end, Qin Yinong relied on her thick skin and spoke dirty talk fluently, winning with a single move.

After washing up and getting up to eat, too lazy to cook herself, she had Guan Han arrange a meal to be delivered. In the afternoon, she took a flight back to the capital.

Qin Jianing, accompanied by Tang Fei, personally went to the courtyard gate to greet them.

Life returned to normal, seemingly no different from the past, but those who were in it clearly felt the changes.

That night, after dinner at the Qin residence, Qin Yinong suggested, "Shall we go for a walk later?"

Ningning raised her hand first and said, "I'll go!"

Her previous activities were limited to the courtyard, hardly ever leaving the house. As her background was exposed, she gradually gained the freedom to go out of the gate. It was still a fresh experience, and she was particularly enthusiastic each time.

Qin Yinong smiled and glanced at Tang Ruoyao, saying, "Mommy will also go tonight."

Tang Ruoyao was slightly surprised.

Ningning clapped her hands and said, "Great! Finally, I can take a walk with Mom and Mommy together. I'm going to change into my prettiest clothes!"

She jumped off the table and hurriedly ran towards her room.

Qin Yinong spoke warmly, "Would you like to change into a nice outfit too?" She looked at Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'm not a child."

She got up to clean up the dishes, and Qin Yinong joined her, both of them entering the kitchen.

After a moment of silence, Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips and tried to cover up, "It seems like I got my sleeves dirty. I'd better change."

Without daring to look at Qin Yinong, she quickly left.

When Qin Yinong mentioned taking a walk together, it meant that she wanted to introduce their relationship solemnly to every neighbor they encountered. How would she introduce herself? "This is my wife?" "This is the mother of my child?"

Hahaha.

Tang Ruoyao was picking clothes in the wardrobe, unable to control the upward curve of her lips. Her smile grew bigger and bigger.

Just as she was getting lost in her own imaginative world, Qin Yinong pushed open the door and came in, embracing her from behind. Tang Ruoyao's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, and she touched Qin Yinong's hand around her waist.

Qin Yinong maintained the embrace and whispered in her ear, "In the left wardrobe, all the way inside, there's a big pink box."

Tang Ruoyao frowned in confusion but still followed Qin Yinong's instructions and brought out the large box.

Qin Yinong straightened up and looked at Tang Ruoyao with a smiling gaze, saying, "Open it."

Tang Ruoyao opened the box, and inside was...

Tang Ruoyao's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

Tang Fei watched the couple coming down the stairs hand in hand, and a smile appeared on his lips. His sister and sister-in-law were a perfect match to begin with, and wearing couple outfits made them even more compatible. They wore matching shirts and pants, both tall and slender with long legs and slim waists. The black and white outfits were classic and stylish, with subtle differences in the details.

While Tang Fei was still marveling, Tang Ruoyao threw a bag at him and said, "Change into it."

Tang Fei: "Huh?"

He looked down and saw a set of clothes in the bag, similar to the style worn by the two of them.

Tang Fei: "???"

Tang Fei gave her a strange look.

Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "Family matching outfits."

Tang Fei understood and grinned.

So it was family outfits, not couple outfits.

Tang Ruoyao gave the other set to Ningning. As soon as Ningning changed out of her beautiful little dress and saw the clothes that resembled the styles of her two mothers, she immediately abandoned the dress.

At 8 o'clock in the evening, the group set out on time.

Qin Yinong held Tang Ruoyao's hand, and Tang Fei held Ningning's hand. All four of them had strong genes, tall and slender in stature. Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, both actors who had been through the scrutiny of the big screen, didn't need further description. Ningning was a complete replica of Qin Yinong, molded in her image. Among the four, she was the only one wearing overalls, a white shirt paired with overalls. The cuffs and waist were adorned with cherry decorations, and she even had a hairpin in the shape of a red cherry on her shoulder-length hair, adding a touch of playfulness and cuteness.

Tang Fei's current height was 174cm, surpassing both Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao. He had a handsome appearance, with a face like jade and red lips and white teeth. What set him apart at his young age was his rare maturity, which already gave him the charm of an adult man. However, because his facial features were still too young, this combination of boyishness and manliness made him even more attractive.

In any case, the family of four walked through the neighborhood, attracting a hundred percent of the attention.

Qin Yinong had the intention to show off a bit and prepared herself. However, perhaps their presence was too imposing for this area, as they passed by several neighbors who only dared to watch them from a distance. If they approached, it would only be a nod of acknowledgment without any intention of striking up a conversation. After passing by, they would whisper to each other in hushed voices.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Why didn't they just ask any questions directly?

Finally, they encountered a middle-aged lady walking her Poodle. She strolled leisurely, and Qin Yinong took the first step forward, followed by the other three.

The lady looked at the four people approaching, her expression tensed. She pulled on the leash, but the little poodle walked comfortably, refusing to listen to her and continued in the direction of the four.

Helplessly, the lady was led by the dog and involuntarily arrived in front of the four.

Qin Jianing quite liked small animals, and when the poodle stopped in front of her, it rubbed its head against her leg. Qin Jianing crouched down and gently stroked the dog's head.

The lady stopped there, under the illumination of the neighborhood streetlights, she recognized Qin Yinong. Before she could speak, Qin Yinong looked at the child playing with the dog and kindly introduced, "This is my daughter, Ningning."

Qin Jianing raised her head with a slight smile, "Hello, Auntie." Her voice was sweet, soft, and tender.

The "housewife killer" went into action, leaving no grass behind.

The lady immediately froze.

After staring at Qin Jianing for a few seconds, she sincerely praised, "You're really fortunate to have such a beautiful and well-behaved daughter."

The ice was broken.

Qin Yinong stepped aside, allowing Tang Ruoyao to showcase herself better in front of the lady.

"This is my partner." she introduced to the lady in such a manner.

Tang Ruoyao's heart suddenly raced.

The lady's gaze fell on the young woman next to Qin Yinong. She was of the same height as Qin Yinong, wearing a white shirt and fitted black pants. Her temperament was extraordinary and elegant. It seemed like all the light in the surroundings gathered on her face. Her skin was as beautiful as fine jade, radiating a lustrous glow. Not to mention her already exquisite facial features. The lady was momentarily mesmerized.

Such a stunning beauty unexpectedly exists.

Qin Yinong covered her lips and coughed.

That's enough, isn't it? Are you still going to keep staring?

Reluctantly, the lady withdrew her gaze, looking at the last person.

Qin Yinong said, "My younger brother."

Tang Fei resembled his sister to some extent, especially after going to Beijing for studies. As he grew older, his emotions no longer exposed themselves as openly as before. He nodded, politely saying, "Hello, sister."

The lady, being older, was called "sister" by a young handsome boy in his teens. She laughed so much that her limbs trembled, almost unable to find her eyes.

Qin Yinong and the lady started chatting with each other.

Before leaving, the lady's face revealed envy, and she lived up to expectations by saying the words Qin Yinong wanted to hear, "Your whole family is truly happy."

She walked away with her dog once again.

Qin Yinong asked Tang Fei to take Ningning a few steps forward. Taking advantage of the two children not being able to see, she bit onto Tang Ruoyao's ear and teased, "Do you know how many times that person just now looked at you?"

Tang Ruoyao corrected her, "That person is Mrs. Lin. She'll often come out for walks, and we'll definitely interact more. Remember to address her properly."

Qin Yinong said, "I don't care if she's Mrs. Lin or Mrs. Bird. You attract attention wherever you go."

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her sideways, feeling a bit warm. She rolled up her sleeves casually and said, "You're the one who brought me out. If people enjoy looking at me, what can I do?"

Qin Yinong pursed her lips, feeling jealous.

Tang Ruoyao changed her tone and said, "Doesn't this prove that you have good taste?"

The corners of Qin Yinong's lips lifted slightly, but she maintained a serious expression.

Tang Ruoyao suggested, "How about this? Next time we go out, you can hang a sign around my neck."

Qin Yinong asked, "What should it say?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Write 'Property of Qin Yinong, no trespassing' on it."

Qin Yinong propped up her chin, pretending to be seriously considering it, and nodded, "That's a good idea."

Of course, there were joking, and most of Qin Yinong's jealousy had dissipated, leaving only a trace. She played with Tang Ruoyao's slender fingers back and forth, sighing, "I used to think that once we came out, you would be mine alone, and only I would be able to admire you. But now, it seems like you're becoming more and more popular. Do you know what people say about you online?"

Tang Ruoyao was curious, "What do they say?"

Qin Yinong ground her teeth and restrained herself, saying, "It's nothing."

In the past, Tang Ruoyao enjoyed browsing Weibo, while Qin Yinong didn't spend much time online. Now it was the other way around, with Tang Ruoyao immersed in real life while Qin Yinong loved showing affection publicly and often surfed the internet.

The post of their encounter at the Western restaurant went viral, providing netizens with ample imagination about their relationship. Tang Ruoyao became a character with an otherworldly aura, an ice queen who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. From then on, every iceberg-like female protagonist in novels had a face.

The reason why a couple pairing (CP) attracts fans is because the characters they portray within the CP's interactions are more developed and emotionally engaging than they are individually. From their stoic demeanor towards outsiders to their gentle consideration for each other as lovers, Tang Ruoyao's stark contrast captivated fans to the point of obsession. Discussions about who takes on the dominant or submissive role could go on for an eternity.

The CP generated tremendous popularity, and a large portion of that popularity was directed at Tang Ruoyao. Qin Yinong's fame couldn't increase any further, but Tang Ruoyao's could. She was crazily gaining fans, especially among... female fans.

Qin Yinong couldn't make sense of the current state of online fans. As an experienced netizen, she couldn't understand why, even though Tang Ruoyao was in a committed relationship, the number of people calling her "husband" had increased. Previously, Tang Ruoyao's Weibo comments would have a few normal ones, but now they were flooded with "husband" and "wife" declarations, along with unrestrained screaming.

Qin Yinong knew she shouldn't compare herself to online fans, but she couldn't help feeling unhappy.

She had found herself a treasure, and she had wanted to tell everyone that this treasure was hers. But as more and more people coveted her treasure, they also discovered her goodness.

Qin Yinong pursed her lips and walked forward in silence.

Tang Ruoyao said, "Baby... Qin Yinong."

Qin Yinong, snapped irritably, "Now you call me by my full name every day!"

"... " Tang Ruoyao lowered her voice and said, "Baby."

She saw Qin Yinong pursing her lips, looking a bit unhappy. Softly, she explained, "We're outside now. When we go home, I'll call you whatever you want."

"What's wrong with being outside? We're already public about our relationship, so there's no need to hide it." Qin Yinong was filled with anger, burning in her heart and lungs.

Tang Ruoyao smiled and calmly said, "I'm afraid others might hear and start imitating me, calling you 'baby' too. Wouldn't that make me jealous?"

Qin Yinong thought to herself, 'I'm already jealous.'

She angrily said, "If you don't say it, how will they know that you only love me?"

Tang Ruoyao was confused, "Huh?"

What do you mean by "if you don't say it, they won't know"? Who are they?

Qin Yinong realized she was being petty and getting worked up over trivial matters. The tension in her facial expression slowly eased, and she said, "It's nothing. I'm just feeling hot, and I don't even know what I'm saying."

She fanned herself with her hand, creating some air movement.

For such minor issues, she could sort it out on her own without making a big deal out of it. After all, she was a public figure who had weathered various storms. Couldn't she handle a few fans?

Qin Yinong pretended to look around at the scenery, but Tang Ruoyao was more observant.

After the four of them finished their walk, they headed back together.

Qin Yinong's mood had completely recovered, and she reminded Ningning to walk slower while walking behind her. She also asked Tang Fei to hold her hand a bit and looked at Tang Ruoyao with a gentle and affectionate gaze.

Tang Ruoyao entered the house first, changed her shoes in the entrance, and neatly arranged Qin Yinong's shoes together with her own.

Tang Fei went to take a shower in his room, and Ningning also took some clothes and went into the bathroom.

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting for the little one to finish showering and be taken back to his room to sleep.

Tang Ruoyao was looking at her phone.

Their names were still trending, already ranking in the thirties. Tang Ruoyao casually clicked on it and quickly scrolled through the content. Remembering what Qin Yinong had said, she still couldn't quite figure it out.

She didn't appear to not love her in the repost. The feedback from those bloggers was mostly genuine.

"Baby."

Qin Yinong turned her head to look at her, her eyes softened.

Tang Ruoyao locked her phone screen and decided to ask directly, "Who made you angry?"

Bringing up past issues again, Qin Yinong's eyes flickered, and she said, "No one."

Tang Ruoyao said seriously, "Is there anything between us that we can't talk about? Even if it's a piece of wood or a wall that makes you unhappy, you should tell me, and I'll help you break it."

Compared to Tang Ruoyao's seriousness, her jealousy seemed more childish.

"Ah." Qin Yinong suddenly blushed a bit and said, "There really isn't anyone."

Tang Ruoyao came over and hugged her, softly saying, "Just tell me."

Qin Yinong felt even more embarrassed, and a hint of blush appeared on her fair ears as she shook her head.

Unexpectedly, Tang Ruoyao suddenly lowered her head and kissed the woman's lips lightly. "Will you tell me or not?"

Qin Yinong's lips felt a bit numb.

Warm, hot, and tender. Even though there was no deep contact, it made her feel the trembling of her heart. She was stunned.

Tang Ruoyao kissed her again, not pulling away after the kiss. The two were very close, able to see the reflection of each other's pupils.

Qin Yinong's throat tightened.

Tang Ruoyao held her with one hand, pressing her against the sofa, and said in a low voice, "Still not telling?"

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