CHAPTER 228: Qin & Tang Extra 02
Tang Ruoyao remained calm under her gaze, but her heart was pounding rapidly, her throat was dry, and her palms were sweaty.
After all, she was a 19-year-old student, facing such a situation for the first time. She had a preliminary understanding of what she would face when she decided to offer herself to Jiang Shikun. That's why she had numbed herself. But now, she was completely immersed in the unknown.
She began to regret why she had impulsively entered the same room as her. They hadn't discussed anything between them, right? This person in front of her just took her away from the dining table like that. Did she even know that she wasn't yet Jiang Shikun's person? They only reached a verbal agreement, she didn't sign any contract, and she hadn't received any money.
If the other party didn't accept her terms and refused to let her go, what would she do if she forced herself on her? It would be a confrontation between the two of them, and she was alone...
Tang Ruoyao glanced backward, estimating the distance to the door and the likelihood of running out.
A crisp collision sound brought Tang Ruoyao's attention back. Her face turned pale, and she struggled to suppress her trembling instinct.
Qin Yinong, with her slender white fingers, held the spoon handle and stirred the sobering tea in the small porcelain cup, speaking in a deliberate manner.
Her voice was just like in the movies, gentle and pleasant, like a natural sound.
"Name."
"Tang Ruoyao."
"Gender."
"..." Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and said, "Female."
"Age."
"Nineteen."
Qin Yinong made a sound in her mind and thought: 'She's an adult now.'
"Occupation."
"Student."
"Which university?"
Qin Yinong noticed the slightly pursed lips of the young girl.
Presumably, she didn't want to embarrass her alma mater, so she didn't want to answer.
Tang Ruoyao, oh Tang Ruoyao, you've fallen into such a situation, yet you still hold onto this ridiculous bit of pride. Is it meaningful? Tang Ruoyao self-mockingly thought, and her pale lips parted slightly, saying, "My..."
But Qin Yinong interrupted her, speaking softly, "Since you're a student, why don't you focus on your studies instead of coming here to play?"
'Play?'
A hint of surprise flashed in Tang Ruoyao's eyes.
Did Qin Yinong not know what she was doing? Then why did she take her away from the dining table? No, she must know. It was said that many wealthy people liked to play these mysterious tricks.
Tang Ruoyao pondered for a moment and cooperated, saying, "It's summer vacation now." Meaning, she didn't have to go to school, so there was no problem with coming here to play.
Qin Yinong: "..."
Little did Tang Ruoyao expect that she would encounter a genuinely kind person in this mixed entertainment industry, and that person would be the notorious Qin Yinong.
She was so lucky.
Qin Yinong pinched her brow and found the self-righteousness of this child both funny and helpless.
A 19-year-old child is already like this... Suddenly, she thought of herself. When she was nineteen, she was even more sophisticated than this child. At nineteen, she could already drink and compete with others at the dining table.
'Forget it.'
Guan Han gently reminded, "Qin Jie, the sobering tea."
Qin Yinong reached out and touched the surface of the porcelain cup, feeling the temperature. She picked it up and drank the not-so-tasty sobering tea in one gulp, temporarily relieving the burning sensation in her stomach.
If one were to judge solely based on her appearance, it would be impossible to imagine that she was already suffering from a severe stomachache. No matter how good someone's alcohol tolerance is, their body would still sound the alarm. Taking advantage of her youth, she was only twenty-six years old, and at this moment, Qin Yinong didn't really care. Besides, she had long been accustomed to it.
Qin Yinong followed up on the young girl's words, asking, "So, why did you come here to play?"
Tang Ruoyao replied, "To earn money."
"Earn money?" Qin Yinong repeated her words, slightly furrowing her beautiful eyebrows.
"Yes."
"How much money do you need?"
After asking this question, Qin Yinong saw the young girl who had been keeping her head down lift her eyes for the first time.
Those familiar, unforgettable eyes.
Clear, hesitant, expressive yet reserved.
In the bright light of the restaurant, Qin Yinong finally got a clear look at her face.
During their encounter in the corridor, those eyes had captured all her attention, and she had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her appearance. Inside the private room, amidst the noise and occasional wafting smoke, she kept her head down, unable to see clearly.
Qin Yinong was momentarily stunned.
This young girl was naturally beautiful, with a snow-white oval face, exquisite eyebrows, a straight nose, and thin and moist lips. Even her lip shape couldn't be faulted. Moreover, her features exuded a sharp and uncommon aura not often seen in ordinary girls. No wonder Jiang Shikun was so reluctant to let her go and tried several times to dissuade her.
But what surprised Qin Yinong was the sense of familiarity this face gave her.
Qin Yinong had an excellent memory, especially when it came to remembering people. She searched her own mind and confirmed that she hadn't met her before.
Her index finger unconsciously tapped rhythmically on her knee.
After hesitating for a moment, the young girl timidly answered, "Five hundred thousand." The price she had agreed upon with Jiang Shikun was four hundred thousand, but it was evident that Qin Yinong had more money than Jiang Shikun. If she was willing to provide it, she could keep the extra money.
As for what she would do with the extra money, Tang Ruoyao had no intention of ruining her life with this matter. Even if it was difficult, she would find a way out in the future.
She held her breath and carefully observed Qin Yinong's expression.
Would she feel outraged by her audacity? Or would she outright refuse? Tang Ruoyao glanced once again in the direction of the room's door. If all else failed, she would run.
"What do you need the money for?"
Tang Ruoyao didn't tell the truth and simply said, "It's useful."
She didn't want to reveal her tragic circumstances. Moreover, for someone providing the money, she was giving herself in exchange. Once the money and goods were exchanged, what did the reason matter?
To Qin Yinong, the reason was important. If it weren't for this face and the random act of kindness she displayed on this night, she would have lost her patience, as her stomach began to act up again.
Sweat appeared on Qin Yinong's forehead as she endured the spasms of pain. In a gentle tone, she said, "It's getting late. Go back to your room and rest."
Tang Ruoyao was stunned.
Was she planning to sleep with her without giving her any money?
Did she agree or not?
Should she escape or not?
In the blink of an eye, several thoughts crossed her mind, and Qin Yinong had already taken the lead, walking towards one of the bedrooms. Her assistant followed closely behind, leaving her with an opportunity to escape.
Tang Ruoyao looked at the tightly closed door, biting her lower lip, and stood still.
Let's take a gamble.
She chose not to escape.
But...
"I have a question."
Qin Yinong was about to reach the doorway when she heard this voice in her ear.
Her first thought was that the girl's voice, when speaking at a normal volume, was surprisingly clear and pleasant to listen to.
She turned around, slightly smiling, and said, "Go ahead and ask."
The young girl looked at her intently, and the clenched fist at her side showed the courage she had gathered. She asked, "Are you Qin Yinong?"
Qin Yinong laughed softly.
The young girl felt her ears heat up, but she had to make sure.
She couldn't believe that the person she had encountered would be the famous Qin Yinong. She was a student at a professional performing arts academy, and Qin Yinong was the unattainable goal for all aspiring actors.
Qin Yinong found it somewhat amusing and said, "Don't I look like her?"
She never could have imagined that one day her own face would be questioned as not being her own.
Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips and remained silent.
She thought, 'What if you had plastic surgery to look like Qin Yinong? Qin Yinong is so beautiful, and many people have plastic surgery to resemble her, although most of them end up looking nothing like her. But it's possible that this exceptionally wealthy person had a successful transformation, right?'
After all, she had never seen the real Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong said, "Guan Han."
Guan Han stepped forward.
Qin Yinong lowered her voice and said, "Bring me my ID card."
Guan Han: "..."
Qin Yinong's actions tonight... Guan Han didn't know how to describe her.
As an assistant, Guan Han could only comply.
Tang Ruoyao saw the assistant handing her the ID card, and she stared at the name column three times. The ID card number was covered by Guan Han's hand, but the date of birth matched.
Confirming it was correct, Tang Ruoyao didn't know whether to feel relieved or more anxious.
Qin Yinong watched as Guan Han put away her ID card and smiled, "You're the first person, apart from security personnel, who has asked me to provide my ID card as proof."
Tang Ruoyao felt embarrassed but didn't think she had done anything wrong.
She maintained her upright posture.
Qin Yinong didn't say anything more and turned to enter the bedroom.
The door closed with a soft click, and a faint sound of the lock.
The living room fell silent.
Tang Ruoyao clenched her fist and walked towards the bedroom door.
.......
The water in the bathroom was turned on to the maximum, the sink and showerhead were both running, and amidst the sound of the water, the woman's vomiting was faint and barely audible, even to Guan Han outside the door.
Twenty minutes later, Qin Yinong emerged from the bathroom, her face covered in water droplets, her lips pale.
Guan Han timely handed her a cup of warm water and two stomach pills.
Qin Yinong swallowed them with water, sat down on the sofa, pressed a pillow against her stomach, and instructed, "Tomorrow, investigate her."
"Okay," Guan Han said, "Qin Jie."
Qin Yinong made a low sound of agreement, her eyelids slightly closed.
Although Guan Han didn't inquire about the reasons for her actions, when it was just the two of them, she could ask a few questions to better assist Qin Yinong.
Guan Han asked, "What will happen to her after dawn?"
Qin Yinong furrowed her brows lightly.
Her actions were impulsive, and she rarely acted on impulse. She hadn't thought about the aftermath.
Qin Yinong raised her finger and pinched the bridge of her nose.
A moment later, she gave a few orders and said, "Let's leave it at that for now. We'll discuss the rest later."
Guan Han lowered her head and said, "Okay." Then she asked, "Are you staying here tonight?"
Qin Yinong remained silent for a while and said, "Hmm." She waved her hand.
Guan Han quietly withdrew.
The door closed again, and Qin Yinong's expression became blank. She sat silently for a while, then picked up her phone from the coffee table and opened the WeChat chat box that was pinned at the top.
[T/L: There's some changes regarding the name of Qin Yinong's sister, I've changed her name from 'Qin Luning' to 'Qin Lunong,' the previous name used will be edited once the novel is completely translated.]
Qin Lunong: [Mom made your favorite dish, are you coming home for dinner?]
Qin Yinong: [Not going, I have things to do.]
Qin Lunong: [Are you coming back tonight? I'll leave the door for you.]
Qin Yinong: [Not sure, I'm busy. You go and do your own thing.]
After that, Qin Lunong didn't reply anymore.
Qin Lunong was her sister, the former prodigy, and now... just an ordinary woman returning home pregnant. Qin Yinong didn't want, dare, or wish to admit that the emaciated and frail woman was her admired sister from childhood to adulthood.
Countless late nights, she stood by the window of a high-rise building, relying on thoughts of Qin Lunong in a distant foreign land to stop her from the impulse to jump off time and time again. She had finally managed to hold on, but her pillar of strength had encountered troubles.
She didn't want to return to that home, refusing to face the cruel reality that made her feel unbearable pain.
Qin Yinong's eyes felt sour. She turned off her phone, pressed her warm eyelids with her fingers, and closed her eyes.
......
At seven o'clock in the morning, Tang Ruoyao's door was knocked on.
It sounded like a thunderclap in her ears.
Tang Ruoyao, who hadn't slept all night, jolted awake. She stood up slowly, her back against the door, and held onto the doorknob. "Who is it?"
Guan Han replied, "Qin's assistant."
Tang Ruoyao adjusted her long hair, opened the door, and politely said, "Assistant Guan."
Last night, she heard Qin Yinong calling her name several times.
Guan Han handed her a bank card and said, "There's 100,000 yuan in it. The initial password is six zeros. It's for emergencies. Is it enough?"
"It's enough." Tang Ruoyao was pleasantly surprised, but she didn't immediately take it. Instead, she pursed her lips and asked, "What do I need to do? I haven't done anything, so I shouldn't receive anything."
Qin Yinong hadn't given any instructions, so Guan Han thought for a moment and said, "For now, you don't need to do anything. Just take it."
Tang Ruoyao accepted the card and gratefully said, "Thank you."
Guan Han looked down at her attire, still wearing the clothes from last night, and said, "You haven't taken a shower?"
Tang Ruoyao said, "I don't have any clean clothes." It was just an excuse. She wasn't bold enough to go take a shower while living next to a wolf.
Guan Han said, "The mall hasn't opened yet, so you can't buy clothes now."
Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips again and asked, "Can I go back to school? I have a dormitory there."
Guan Han replied, "Wait until Qin Jie wakes up, I'll consult with her."
Guan Han remained cold throughout the interaction, and Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but feel that she was disliked. Feeling fearful, she could only say, "Thank you, Assistant Guan."
Assistant Guan replied in a flat tone, "You're welcome."
The door closed.
Tang Ruoyao let out a sigh of relief as the suffocating cold air moved away.
A few minutes later, she quietly opened the door and looked outside through the crack. The living room and dining room were empty.
......
Master bedroom.
Qin Yinong woke up early and sat in a wicker chair on the balcony. She held a glass of red wine, her fair fingertips against the deep red liquid in the transparent glass. The morning sunlight fell on her, making for a perfect scene in a director's film or a beautiful painting in an artist's hands.
Guan Han reported all of Tang Ruoyao's words and reactions as she had said them.
Qin Yinong took a sip of the red wine and lightly said, "She hasn't taken a shower?"
Guan Han replied, "Yes."
Qin Yinong smiled and said, "How can I sleep with her then?"
Guan Han's expression remained wooden.
She thought to herself, 'Stop playing around, I know exactly who you are.'
Qin Yinong looked at her expression and pretended to be displeased. She said, "Why won't you cooperate with me at all?"
Guan Han slightly raised the corner of her lips, a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Qin Yinong burst into laughter.
At this moment, she wasn't the lifeless shell she would become later. Her career was thriving, her studio was growing, she had signed her own artists, and she had the power to protect others. She had divorced Ji Shulan and Qin Hongjian gradually, cutting off all contact with that man. She had reclaimed her position in the Ji family, and her biggest adversary, Li Yichuan, was no longer at odds with her due to the Ji family. She had found the right person, created Feng Hong [Maple Red], and helped those in need.
After years of struggle and pain, she had finally reached the peak where no one could trample upon her. She should have been full of joy, except for one thing—her sister. Whenever she thought of Qin Lunong, all the happiness vanished.
Qin Yinong's smile gradually faded, ultimately dissipating into nothingness. She said, "Let her go back."
"Aren't you afraid she'll run away?"
"If she runs away, she runs away. I'll consider it a donation for a good cause." Qin Yinong shrugged indifferently, took another sip of wine, and waved her hand. "I have a headache. I want to rest a little longer."
Guan Han retreated in response.
Before closing the door, she took a glance inside, worry flickering in her eyes.
'Drinking alcohol when you have a headache, wouldn't that make it worse?'
When Tang Ruoyao heard that she could leave, disbelief filled her eyes. She was only nineteen years old, and not all emotions could be concealed well. In fact, it was clear at a glance to Guan Han, who had seen countless people's true selves while working with Qin Yinong.
Guan Han took out her phone from her pocket and said, "Your phone number."
Tang Ruoyao provided her number.
Guan Han dialed it, connected the call, and watched as Tang Ruoyao saved it in her contacts. Correcting her, she said, "You can go now."
Tang Ruoyao glanced at the door of the master bedroom.
Guan Han said, "Qin Jie is resting."
Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth hesitantly, considered it for a while, and politely said, "Please convey my thanks to President Qin on my behalf, Assistant Guan."
Guan Han nodded.
She escorted Tang Ruoyao to the door and then turned back.
She was Qin Yinong's personal assistant and bodyguard, and she wouldn't leave Qin Yinong's side without instructions.
.......
Tang Ruoyao immediately used an ATM to check her account balance, which showed a total of 100,000 yuan. She stood in front of the hotel building, basking in the morning sunlight on her face. Tang Ruoyao tightly held the bank card in her pocket, feeling a significant burden lifted off her shoulders for the first time. Despite facing unknown challenges, at least she now had money.
With this sum of money, she could repay the hospital debt and continue with the necessary treatment. Feeling uplifted, she walked almost skippingly towards the bus stop.
Unbeknownst to her, on a certain floor of the hotel building behind her, a pair of eyes had been watching her every move.
Tang Ruoyao first returned to her dormitory to take a shower. She had consumed a lot of alcohol the previous night, and her body reeked of it. Strangely, despite her usually low alcohol tolerance, she hadn't gotten drunk from last night's drinking, probably due to her willpower.
She never let go of the bank card, and she got off near the school, entering through the gates. During the holiday season, the campus was empty, and Tang Ruoyao quickly made her way back to the dormitory.
Their dormitory was a four-person room, and the other three had gone home, leaving her as the only one who applied to stay. Tang Ruoyao had a good relationship with her roommates. When Tang Hanzhang had just been in a car accident, her savings were not enough to cover the medical expenses, so she had borrowed money from her roommates. They readily lent her the money, but as students, they didn't have much to spare, so the borrowed amount was only a drop in the bucket.
Tang Ruoyao first repaid her roommates' debt from the money she had just deposited into her own account, and then she took her clothes and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
Afterward, she took the bank card and went to the hospital.
When Jiang Xuezhen learned that Tang Ruoyao had money, her eyes lit up, and she reached out to take her card, but Tang Ruoyao withdrew her hand. She didn't trust Jiang Xuezhen. She tolerated her only because she was the wife of her father, who had been accidentally harmed in the car accident. If it weren't for Tang Ruoyao, Tang Hanzhang wouldn't be lying in the hospital, and she wouldn't have traveled all the way from Z City, leaving young Tang Fei alone at home.
She absolutely couldn't entrust the money to Jiang Xuezhen.
Jiang Xuezhen wanted to cry and make a scene, but Tang Ruoyao gave her a cold glance.
Jiang Xuezhen inexplicably closed her mouth.
Tang Ruoyao stayed with Tang Hanzhang for a while and then continued to look for ways to earn money. She didn't want to rely on anyone—let alone rely on a benefactor and sit back comfortably. She had to work harder, she must work harder, to have a future.
......
A few days later, the moon was high in the sky.
In the luxurious suite of the hotel, Qin Yinong swirled the drink in her glass and looked bored as Guan Han reported the investigation findings.
"Tang Ruoyao, female, born on X month X day in Z City, J Province."
Qin Yinong's hand paused as she swirled the liquid in her glass. Her eyebrows slightly raised, but her eyes remained calm as she said, "A fellow provincial."
Guan Han didn't respond and continued reading, "Father Tang Hanzhang, stepmother Jiang Xuezhen, and a half-brother from the same father. Currently a student at the Capital Drama Academy, entering the second year."
This time, Qin Yinong didn't speak, but her gaze changed.
A student from a performing arts school, no wonder she looks so outstanding. Perhaps she will become a colleague in the future.
Guan Han continued reading, meticulously going through every detail. Qin Yinong interrupted her and said, "Summarize it briefly, my head hurts." She had spent the night drinking again, not because of any quarrel, but because she had attended social events with Han Yuping's circle. Everyone knew she had a strong alcohol tolerance and enjoyed playing drinking games with her.
Guan Han skimmed over lines like "biological mother Zhuo Peiyun" and several other details, flipping to the next page. She said, "Her family background is clean, nothing out of the ordinary."
Qin Yinong hummed in acknowledgment, placing the wine glass back on the coffee table and wearily closing her eyelids, gently rubbing her temples.
Guan Han noticed her tired expression and said, "Her father came to Beijing to visit her during the summer vacation, but had an unexpected car accident and is now hospitalized. She urgently needs money, so that's likely the reason."
Qin Yinong pressed her brow, pausing for a few seconds before asking, "Did you leave your contact information with her?"
Guan Hong replied, "I did."
Qin Yinong hummed again.
100,000 is probably not enough, if she's short on money, she should call Guan Han.
Qin Yinong originally wanted to instruct Guan Han, but she decided against it, thinking that Guan Han would definitely report back to her anyway, so she didn't bother. It would be the same next time she spoke.
Guan Han flipped to the last page, hesitated for a moment, and tentatively said, "Her grades are excellent, ranking first in the entire grade. She was the top student when she entered the school, both in her major courses and general education."
Qin Yinong slowly opened her eyes.
Guan Han understood her expression and proactively handed over the page with the report card.
Qin Yinong had a strong liking for top students, and Guan Han didn't know the exact reason, but she was aware of this. Qin Yinong had supported many underprivileged students, and she had personally met several students who were admitted to P University, but not others. What else could it be if not her preference for top-performing students?
After Qin Yinong looked it over, the corner of her lips subtly curved upward. She flicked the report card page with her finger and returned it.
Guan Han said, "Qin Jie, there's one more thing."
After seeing Tang Ruoyao's shining grades, Qin Yinong's mood improved slightly, and she asked, "What is it?"
Guan Han lowered her voice and said, "Jiang Shikun is looking for her."
Qin Yinong frowned.
Guan Han continued, "Jiang Shikun wants to take this girl back. I don't know where he heard the news from, but he knows that you didn't keep her."
Qin Yinong sneered, "These people have no shame."
Guan Han lowered her gaze.
Qin Yinong suddenly asked an irrelevant question, "What is she doing now?"
Guan Han replied, "She's doing part-time jobs to earn money."
Qin Yinong asked, "Has she spent all the money you gave her?" Then why didn't she call her?
Guan Han said, "I don't know. I'll ask her tomorrow."
Guan Han found it strange that she had to personally call someone to give them money. But then again, Qin Yinong had been giving money everywhere for a while now. It wasn't unusual for her to help a top student in need.
She made a note of this matter.
After sitting on the couch for a while, Qin Yinong stood up with her glass and said, "I'm going back to my room to sleep."
Guan Han watched her leave and sighed.
It had been many days, and Qin Yinong hadn't returned home even once.
The next day, Guan Han retrieved Tang Ruoyao's saved number from her communication records. She mentally prepared herself for the possibility of it being a wrong number, considering that she hadn't left any contact information. Finding someone in the capital was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Unexpectedly, the call went through smoothly.
Ring—
Tang Ruoyao looked at the blinking incoming call display on her screen, her heart skipped a beat, and her vision darkened.
'Oh no, Qin Yinong wants to sleep with me.'
Author's Note:
The future Tang Ruoyao: Why hasn't Qin Yinong come to sleep with me yet???
PS: The side couple's extra chapter is in the queue, please don't rush. I'll finish this one first.
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