CHAPTER 233: Qin & Tang Extra 07

Soft jade, warm fragrance, offering oneself willingly.

Qin Yinong's nostrils twitched, her breath filled with the scent of milk bath lotion from the girl's body. Her girl's limbs were soft, and the hand resting on her shoulder was delicate and boneless, melting into her embrace like a slow trickle of water.

No matter how skilled Qin Yinong was at acting, she couldn't hide her momentary stiffness.

She adjusted her breathing without a trace and slowly relaxed. In this sitting position, she asked softly, "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao sat on the woman's lap, half a head taller than Qin Yinong, looking down on her with a weaker aura. Her earlobes turned red, as if she wanted to say, 'Aren't you going to sleep with me? You don't have to wait until I'm asleep, you can do it now.'

But she couldn't bring herself to say it, her eyes glanced at her, she bit her lower lip, silently took hold of the woman's hand hanging by her side, slowly lifting and lowering it, feeling the smooth skin.

Qin Yinong's eyes darkened slightly, and her gaze towards the girl became dangerous.

Layers of goosebumps emerged, and her nerves and senses became extremely sensitive. Tang Ruoyao felt a sense of fear and suppressed the instinct to retreat.

It seemed like a long time had passed, yet it felt like only a few seconds.

Qin Yinong smiled as she looked at her, retracting her hand and saying, "I don't like forcing others."

Tang Ruoyao whispered, "I'm not forcing myself."

The next second, Qin Yinong's features loomed large in front of her. Tang Ruoyao instinctively leaned back and almost fell to the ground if it weren't for Qin Yinong reaching out and holding her waist in time.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong said, "Get down."

Tang Ruoyao obediently got down and stood still, with her hands hanging at her side like a disciplined elementary school student.

Qin Yinong said, "Go back to your room and sleep."

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her, mumbled something indistinctly, and then left in small steps.

The door to the master bedroom closed, and Qin Yinong let out a sigh of relief. She lowered her head and looked at the right hand that had just touched the girl, lost in thought.

'Youth is truly wonderful.'

She forced her brain to think this way, to marvel at it.

Suppressing her wandering thoughts and certain hidden desires, Qin Yinong lightly tapped her knee with her index finger. Tang Ruoyao probably wanted to please her and gain more leverage for the answer she would give her tomorrow.

If it were someone else, it would likely backfire, but in her case, Qin Yinong strangely didn't find it annoying. On the contrary, it was extremely adorable. Why? Qin Yinong circled back to the thought of youth being wonderful.

She picked up the book she had been reading halfway through, absentmindedly flipping through it with low efficiency, using a bookmark to mark her place before closing it.

She walked towards her own bedroom, and right before entering, her gaze briefly swept across the closed door of the master bedroom.

Returning to her room early today, Qin Yinong filled the bathtub with water and added a few drops of rose essential oil. She lay in the warm water, the ripples gently lapping against her. Cupping water in her hands, she poured it over her body, lost in repetitive motions, and once again, her mind wandered.

She was still thinking about that girl, the young body wrapped in a white towel, the charming gaze, the clumsy yet unexpectedly effective attempt to please.

一Splash.

Qin Yinong closed her eyes and sank into the water.

Qin Yinong is not like Tang Ruoyao, a naive girl who knows little about the world. She has seen and heard more things in the industry than Tang Ruoyao has. She herself is not 18 years old but a mature woman of 26. In addition, she has acted in countless movies, so she understands everything.

She couldn't help but laugh: 'Am I getting old? I was actually influenced by such a young girl and aroused desire.'

Qin Yinong spent a long time in the bathroom, and the physical exhaustion made her fall asleep more smoothly than usual.

As the moon set in the west and the sun rose in the east, Qin Yinong's biological clock woke her up on time. She got up, washed up, and put on her robe before unlocking the bedroom door. Tang Ruoyao was in the living room, squatting next to the coffee table, holding a cloth in her hand, looking serious as if she was diligently cleaning.

"Good morning." she said.

"Mhm," Qin Yinong replied.

"Guan Assistant hasn't arrived yet." Tang Ruoyao took the initiative to start a conversation with her.

"She'll be here soon," Qin Yinong answered.

Tang Ruoyao continued wiping the coffee table, raised her eyes to look at Qin Yinong, hesitated to speak.

Qin Yinong walked into the living room, continuing to move towards the direction of the television. Tang Ruoyao immediately said, "Do you want to watch TV?"

Qin Yinong nodded, and Tang Ruoyao quickly turned on the TV for her. "Still BBC?"

Qin Yinong nodded again.

Tang Ruoyao attentively asked, "Which show? Which episode?"

Qin Yinong looked at her and asked, "Which hospital is your father in?"

Tang Ruoyao, holding the remote control, looked stunned.

Qin Yinong adjusted the collar of her robe, a warm smile appeared at the corner of her lips, and she said, "You're pretending to clean here early in the morning, just to ask if I've made a decision, right?"

"So, have you made a decision?"

"I have." Qin Yinong smiled.

Tang Ruoyao held her breath, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.

Qin Yinong pondered and said, "I can help, but you have to promise me one thing. I haven't thought about what it is specifically, I'll ask you for it later, is that okay?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated.

Qin Yinong said, "It's not about extending the contract."

"Okay," Tang Ruoyao said. 

She thought, 'If it's really too much to bear, I'll just make excuses. Since there's no proof, and if it's just some weird request... I'll just have to accept it unconditionally, it's still a profit.'

She pondered, her eyes brightening, clearly having an idea.

Qin Yinong reached out and said, "Give me the remote."

Tang Ruoyao handed it to her and went to the balcony to wash up.

Qin Yinong inwardly criticized her: 'Using me and then leaving, this little white-eyed wolf.'

Half an hour later, Guan Han arrived. Qin Yinong called Tang Ruoyao over and asked her to talk to Guan Han about her father's situation. Guan Han's calm expression showed a hint of ripples as she glanced in Qin Yinong's direction.

Even her father is being cared for, could it be that she really slept with her?

Tang Ruoyao was still dressed in a youthful round-neck T-shirt, covering up everything that needed to be covered, giving no hints. Guan Han withdrew her gaze.

Finally, Tang Ruoyao said, "Please take care of it, thank you."

Guan Han had no expression on her face and said, "Thank Qin Jie."

Tang Ruoyao immediately turned to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong felt uncomfortable all over after being thanked by Tang Ruoyao last night. She adjusted her expression and spoke up in advance, "Don't forget the condition you promised me."

Tang Ruoyao said seriously, "I won't forget."

Qin Yinong wasn't good at dealing with sincere gratitude from young girls. She got up, changed her clothes in her room, and left with Guan Han.

Guan Han acted swiftly. On that day, Tang Hanzhang was transferred to the best tertiary hospital in the capital for expert consultation. After Guan Han finished reporting to Qin Yinong, she nodded nonchalantly, indicating that she understood.

Guan Han looked at Qin Yinong's calm and expressionless face, and doubts arose in her mind: Did she sleep with her?

Qin Yinong had too many things to worry about, and she hadn't had the energy to focus on a young girl's father's condition. She flew overseas and was invited to attend the award ceremony of the Venice Film Festival. After the closing ceremony, Qin Yinong stayed for two extra days to catch up with old friends. Her assistants, like birds let out of a cage, went on a shopping spree overseas. Qin Yinong provided them with a moderate reimbursement limit, allowing each assistant to buy a handbag. Some of the assistants jokingly chanted phrases like "Vast imperial grace" and "thank you for your grace" in the stores, attracting curious glances from the store clerks.

Guan Han's handbag was the most expensive, enjoying the VIP treatment befitting the head eunuch.

Qin Yinong walked to the display cabinet of the latest season's products, thought for a moment, and pointed to one of them to the nearby salesperson. The salesperson wrapped it up at the counter.

After all, she was the only person she "sponsored." It was appropriate to bring a small gift after going abroad.

Time flew by, half a month passed.

On the day of her return to China, Guan Han received a text message on her phone.

"Qin Jie." Guan Han called out to Qin Yinong.Qin Yinong turned around, her eyes expressing a question.

Guan Han reported, "Miss Tang said she took her father home and won't be in the capital for a little while."

Qin Yinong asked, "Did her father wake up?"

Guan Han replied, "She didn't say."

If she didn't say, it meant he didn't wake up. From hope to despair again, the image of her eyes reddened from crying floated in front of Qin Yinong, and she sighed.

"Let's go." she said.

......

City Z.

Renmin Hospital.

Tang Hanzhang's transfer procedures had been properly handled. He lay on the bed wearing a loose blue and white hospital gown, completely unaware. Many people believed that a vegetative state meant a person sleeping with closed eyes for a long time, but that was not the case. Besides maintaining autonomous breathing and heartbeat, they also had instinctive reflexes, such as light reflexes and unconscious eye movements.

So Tang Hanzhang's eyes were half-opened, and his eyeballs occasionally moved, as if he would wake up in the next second. Tang Ruoyao clung to hope time after time, rushing forward and calling out "Dad," only to fall into despair with each unresponsive attempt.

Jiang Xuezhen had been causing trouble in the capital for so long that she had accepted reality. She held the hand of a seven or eight-year-old boy, who ran excitedly towards Tang Ruoyao. With a clear and childish voice, the boy said, "Sister!"

Jiang Xuezhen sneered sarcastically, "You still call her sister? She's the reason you don't have a father anymore."

The boy looked at the patient lying on the bed, then at his sister with red-rimmed eyes, but still walked to Tang Ruoyao's side, holding her hand and asking softly, "Is Dad sick?"

Tang Ruoyao's throat choked up, and she couldn't speak

Little Tang Fei said, "Sister, don't be afraid. I'll protect you from now on."

Tang Ruoyao bent down and hugged her brother, burying her face in his shoulder, crying uncontrollably.

Little Tang Fei gently patted his sister's back, just like on countless nights when he had nightmares and cried, and Tang Ruoyao did the same to him, repeatedly comforting, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."

Having a son meant always siding with him, and Jiang Xuezhen was infuriated. She forcefully pulled Little Tang Fei out of Tang Ruoyao's embrace, causing him to burst into loud sobs.

Jiang Xuezhen scolded him harshly, "You don't cry when your father is gone, but you cry for this wretched woman? You ungrateful brat!"

Little Tang Fei cried even louder, "You're not allowed to curse at sister!"

Jiang Xuezhen's eyes turned red. "I will curse at her! Wretched woman, wretched woman, wretched woman! If it weren't for her, our once happy family wouldn't have ended up like this!"

Little Tang Fei didn't understand the severity of Tang Hanzhang's condition, and it was difficult for him to comprehend with his current understanding. But he knew that his sister was the best person to him, and he couldn't let anyone curse at her, not even his mother.

Jiang Xuezhen's insults became more and more vicious. Suddenly, her vision blurred, and Little Tang Fei raised his hand and lightly hit her shoulder.

The young boy had a slender physique and didn't have much strength. He held back his force, so it didn't hurt at all. But Jiang Xuezhen felt as if she had been slapped across the face.

She screamed sharply, "I'm your mother, and you hit me?!"

Little Tang Fei rubbed her shoulder, pursed his lips, and said, "Don't curse at my sister."

Jiang Xuezhen was overwhelmed with anger. "Fine, I won't curse at her!"

She sat down on a chair, placed Little Tang Fei face-down on her lap, and smacked his bottom hard.

The piercing scolding of the woman and the cries of the boy tore through the silence of the hospital room.

Unable to bear it any longer, Tang Ruoyao said, "Jiang Xuezhen!"

Jiang Xuezhen was itching to vent her anger, and Tang Ruoyao happened to be in the line of fire. She took a deep breath, preparing to once again unleash the vulgar words she had learned from playing cards and gossiping with neighbors. But Tang Ruoyao had already walked out in big strides.

Jiang Xuezhen lost her audience, and her enthusiasm faded by half. She raised her hand and smacked her son once more before letting him go.

Little Tang Fei's face was covered in tears as he cried.

Jiang Xuezhen couldn't contain her anger and twisted his ear. "Ungrateful brat!"

Tang Ruoyao stayed in City Z for ten days, arranging for a caregiver and handling the necessary matters. In the tearful farewell with Little Tang Fei, she embarked on her journey back to Beijing.

The Capital Theatre Academy had already started classes a week ago.

She had applied for a delayed registration with the school, and immediately returned to campus after returning to Beijing. The sound of rolling suitcases echoed through the fourth-floor corridor, and several dorm room doors peeked out with heads inside.

It was Tang Ruoyao.

She was wearing a simple white T-shirt, cropped pants, and sky-blue canvas shoes. Walking in the dimly lit corridor, she seemed like another source of light, illuminating the entire world.

Some people warmly greeted her, while others nodded in her direction.

A cold sneer sounded in her ear.

Tang Ruoyao turned around.

By the doorway of a dorm room that she had just passed, a girl stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the door frame. She mockingly said, "Isn't someone always so proactive? How come you're late for registration, and a whole week late at that?"

Tang Ruoyao looked at her calmly and continued walking without turning back.

"Don't tell me you can't afford tuition? If you can't, just say so. I could easily save half a month's pocket money, which would be enough to cover your tuition for a whole year." The girl's voice continued, "Your shoes are falling apart, and you're still wearing them. I have a few pairs in my dorm that I've worn before, but they still look brand new. As a token of our camaraderie as classmates, I'll give them to you."

Tang Ruoyao certainly couldn't afford to wear brand-name shoes. She came from an average family, but with scholarships and part-time jobs during holidays, it was enough to cover her daily expenses. Huo Yuke was just making things up for no reason, looking for trouble.

Before the summer vacation, Tang Ruoyao might have argued with her and exchanged some harsh words, like accusing her of having smelly feet. But now, she felt that everything was meaningless. She ignored Huo Yuke and walked towards her own dormitory.

Suddenly, the door of Room 405 opened, and a sweet-looking round-faced girl rushed out. She smiled at Tang Ruoyao at the door, then stood in the corridor and said something completely different from her appearance, "F*ck you, Huo Yuke! Everyone knows your feet stink! You can smell it from ten miles away, yet you have the nerve to fart here!"

Huo Yuke retorted, "You're the one farting!"

Wen Shuxian giggled and said, "Yeah, I only fart for people like you. Only losers can smell my fart. Can you smell it?"

Laughter erupted in the corridor.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and curled her lips slightly.

Wen Shuxian pulled Tang Ruoyao's arm and pushed her into the room, slamming the door shut.

Huo Yuke was caught off guard and couldn't unleash her anger. She was furious but couldn't do anything about it.

Inside the room, Wen Shuxian hugged Tang Ruoyao tightly and rubbed against her, saying, "Welcome back."

Cui Jiaran pushed her away and said, "My turn, my turn."

Tang Ruoyao's luggage was pushed to a corner by Cui Jiaran. She hugged one of Tang Ruoyao's arms, and no one needed to compete.

Fu Yujun sat in a chair with a laptop in front of her, the screen glowing. She turned around and smiled gently, saying, "I heard the sound of your return from afar. Truly a remarkable figure in our school."

Tang Ruoyao clasped her hands together and made a gesture of "please don't praise me too much."

Wen Shuxian had enough and hooked her arm around Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, casually saying, "Did you hear what she said? Lao Fu is filming a TV drama during the summer vacation. Didn't you know?"

Tang Ruoyao widened her eyes slightly. She really didn't know.

Fu Yujun waved her hand modestly, saying, "It's just a small production."

At this time, they were not the dazzling stars of the "All-Star Dormitory" three years later. Tang Ruoyao didn't know where her first breakthrough film was, Wen Shuxian hadn't been noticed by the leading talent agency Huanyu Film and Television, and Cui Jiaran was still diligently honing her skills, waiting to make a splash at graduation and be directly admitted to the National Theatre. It was only Fu Yujun who had become the first among the four to truly get involved in filming.

Wen Shuxian widened her eyes and said, "Well, it's still a TV drama. Many people can't even get a role."

Fu Yujun smiled and immediately had an indulgent expression on her face, as if saying, 'Whatever you say.'

Wen Shuxian grabbed Tang Ruoyao's arm and started telling her how Fu Yujun got a role, what character she played, and all the scenes she had. She was more enthusiastic than the person involved.

After listening, Tang Ruoyao said to Fu Yujun, "Congratulations." Then she smiled and said, "When fortune and glory come, don't forget us."

Fu Yujun laughed and said, "I won't forget. If I have a piece of meat to eat, I'll definitely share half with you. Xiaowen has been pestering me to treat her to a meal. Now that you're back, we can go out for dinner tonight. What do you want to eat?"

Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran chimed in at the same time, "Hot pot!"

Tang Ruoyao smiled faintly, "I'm fine with that."

Fu Yujun asked, "Did you come directly from home?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Fu Yujun said, "Then go take a shower and have a nap. We'll go have dinner later, okay?"

She always spoke softly and respectfully, never making anyone uncomfortable. Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran only played with people who shared their interests. Tang Ruoyao went with the flow, and Fu Yujun got along well with everyone, even the girls who sided with Huo Yuke. None of them had anything negative to say about her, and they even had good relationships with a few of them.

Tang Ruoyao didn't mind. She unlocked her wardrobe, took out a new bedsheet from inside, and stepped on the stairs to go to her top bunk bed. Before she knew it, Wen Shuxian hugged her waist from behind and lifted her off the ground.

With her feet back on the ground, Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Wen Shuxian hurriedly urged her, "We'll help you make the bed. Hurry up and take a shower, there's no time to sleep."

Tang Ruoyao was pushed into the bathroom.

"But my sleep..."

Cui Jiaran handed her pajamas.

Wen Shuxian quickly closed the bathroom door.

Fu Yujun smiled, supporting her forehead and murmured, "These two are like bandits."

Wen, the first thief, said, "Lao Fu, help us!"

Tang Ruoyao's quilt flew through the air, thrown from her bed to Fu Yujun's bed, with one end still hanging on the edge of the bed.

Wen Shuxian laughed with her hands on her hips and said, "We'll leave the bed-making to you."

Fu Yujun replied, "..."

The versatile roommate, Lao Fu, hated making beds.

Fu Yujun looked up and smiled, saying, "Jiaran, come and help."

Cui Jiaran hesitated, still holding onto Tang Ruoyao's bed, and kept muttering, "I'm busy, I don't have time. This bed is too difficult to make, I'm too busy. Why is this pillowcase so hard to put on?"

The dormitory was in complete chaos, with everyone passing the blame and struggling with the beddings.

But when Tang Ruoyao came out, the beds were completely refreshed. The old bedding was tossed into a basin with laundry detergent.

Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran stood on either side of the stairs, playing around and saying, "Please rest, Your Majesty."

Her majesty, Tang Ruoyao, opened the drawer of her desk and took out two White Rabbit milk candies, placing one in each of their palms.

"Thank you for your gracious gift, Your Majesty." they both bowed and stepped back.

Tang Ruoyao climbed onto her bed and drew the curtains.

The curtains in the dormitory were also drawn. Fu Yujun walked back from the window, put on headphones, and watched a movie. Cui Jiaran turned on the desk lamp and started reading a book borrowed from the library. Wen Shuxian laid on her bed, catching up on updates, wriggling like a worm, covering her mouth to prevent herself from laughing like a dog.

In the quiet atmosphere, Tang Ruoyao gradually fell asleep.

At half-past five.

Wen Shuxian tapped the iron railing of Tang Ruoyao's bed, saying, "Wake up, get ready to go out for dinner."

Tang Ruoyao replied in a muffled voice, "I'm awake, I'm changing clothes."

Sounds of rustling came from behind the curtain, as Tang Ruoyao's shadow was projected onto it. She tidied up and came down to go to the bathroom to comb her hair and wash her face, while the others were putting on their shoes outside.

The most dramatic solo comedian Wen Shuxian gave the order, "Kids, let's go!"

The group headed out in high spirits.

The appearance of the Theatre Academy was already eye-catching, and the deserving school flower and top student, Tang Ruoyao, was there. Wen Shuxian was relatively unknown for the time being, but Fu Yujun also had an impressive appearance, making them a beautiful scenery on campus.

Wen Shuxian happily linked her arm with Tang Ruoyao's, and she got along well with Cui Jiaran. However, the two of them often bickered with each other. So, one of them hooked arms with Tang Ruoyao, and the other hooked arms with Fu Yujun. They formed pairs and walked out of the campus, laughing and chatting.

They encountered a few people trying to strike up conversations along the way. Wen Shuxian was used to it and cheerfully took note of the phone number on a small advertisement on a utility pole.

Finally, they reached the bus stop.

Wen Shuxian let go of Tang Ruoyao's arm and looked at the celebrity endorsement advertisement on the bus stop, feeling a mixture of envy and admiration. She said, "When will we also appear on something like this?"

There were countless graduates from professional performing arts schools, but less than half of them could truly embark on an acting career. A class that had a few successful individuals could be considered a star-studded class, while some classes had no one who made it in the industry.

Only the best remain after the storm, and no one can guarantee that they are that gem.

Wen Shuxian touched the name of the celebrity on the cold glass with her finger, and a hint of melancholy appeared on her usually optimistic face. She raised her head and looked at Fu Yujun, patting her shoulder firmly. "Lao Fu, we're counting on you to let us bask in your glory."

Then she looked at Tang Ruoyao. "And Tang Tang, you've already signed with a talent agency. You're bound to soar to great heights in the future."

Finally, she looked at Cui Jiaran, sparing her from any teasing. "You have the most solid foundation in our class when it comes to lines. I'm sure you'll make great strides in the future."

A sense of unease weighed heavily on her heart, making her feel useless.

Why did she work so hard and go through the tough process of the performing arts entrance exam, only to end up becoming an internet celebrity or something? Those internet celebrities all had big breasts and sharp faces, but she not only lacked the bust, but also had a round face.

Wen Shuxian: "..." Heaven had forsaken her. She might as well be dead.

Suddenly, Tang Ruoyao said, "You have a talent that none of us have."

Wen Shuxian's eyes lit up in desperation. "What is it?"

Fu Yujun and Tang Ruoyao exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Xiangsheng."

[Xiangsheng also known as crosstalk or comic dialog, is a traditional performing art in Chinese comedy, and one of the most popular elements in Chinese comedy and one of the most popular elements in Chinese culture. It is typically performed as a dialog between two performers , or rarely as a monolog by a solo performer (similar to most forms of stand-up comedy in Western culture), or even less frequently, as a group act by multiple performers.]

They continued, "Female Xiangsheng performers are quite rare, especially solo ones."

Fu Yujun said seriously, "Who knows, you might lead the trend and establish the Wen-Shu Comedy Club."

Cui Jiaran said, "Rich lady, hug me."

Wen Shuxian burst into laughter. "Hahaha."

All her frustrations vanished.

The bus arrived, and the four of them lined up and boarded in an orderly manner.

There were only two empty seats left, and Wen Shuxian and Cui Jiaran took them. Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun held onto the handrails and exchanged smiles, each looking out of the window on their respective sides.

The hot pot restaurant was crowded on the weekend. Fu Yujun took a number, and the four of them sat in the waiting area, discussing the latest gossip from school. Tang Ruoyao spoke the least, but she listened attentively and occasionally asked a question, ensuring that her roommates didn't feel alienated. She had integrated well into this group.

Time flew by with laughter. When their number was called at the front desk, they paused their gossip and continued it at the dining table.

The dormitory had a curfew of 11 p.m., and after that, the dorm supervisor would lock the doors.

They managed to eat just before 10 p.m., settled the bill, and came out. Wen Shuxian, as usual, hooked her arm with Tang Ruoyao and headed towards the bus stop. Tang Ruoyao stood still and maintained a calm expression, saying, "I have something to do. You all can go back first."

Wen Shuxian was surprised. "Huh? Where are you going so late?"

Tang Ruoyao's gaze subtly avoided hers as she ambiguously replied, "I'm going to a friend's house."

Author's Note: 

I don't know why, but I'm really happy writing about the characters in the 405. The 19-year-olds haven't made it big yet, just ordinary silly students.

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