CHAPTER 240: Qin & Tang Extra 14

The phone has been hung up.

Tang Ruoyao leaned against the hotel corridor, her demeanor relaxed, a faint blush tinting her usually cool face. But when she lifted her eyes, they remained bright and resolute.

She turned and went into the bathroom to wash her face, patted the droplets away, and returned to the table.

Guan Han called Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong gently paused her hand that was patting the baby in the swaddle, picked up her phone, and stepped outside.

"What's wrong?"

"Miss Tang wrapped up filming today."

Qin Yinong suppressed the sudden flutter in her heart and replied calmly, "Please send her a wrap gift from me."

"Not that, Qin Jie." Guan Han hesitated, "Miss Tang... she..."

She rarely hesitated. Did something happen to Tang Ruoyao?

Qin Yinong's brows furrowed slightly, a chill in her tone. "What happened to her?"

Guan Han said, "She said she was drunk, couldn't find her way, and didn't know where she was."

Qin Yinong: "..."

"Qin Jie."

Qin Yinong closed her eyes and asked, "Where is the wrap-up banquet being held?"

Qin Lunong opened her groggy eyes and hazily saw Qin Yinong putting on her coat to leave, sitting up slightly and asking, "Are you going out?"

Qin Yinong avoided her gaze and said, "Just some business."

She gently stroked the baby's cheek with her fingertip.

The ugly little monkey was no longer ugly, its skin was now a rosy white, and it had long eyelashes, clearly resembling its mother.

Qin Lunong hummed in response.

Qin Yinong hurried out.

Not long after she left, the baby woke up. The only way the baby expressed its needs was by crying. Qin Lunong was weak and couldn't breastfeed, so the baby had to be fed formula from birth.

Ji Shulan and the nanny rushed in upon hearing the baby cry, skillfully preparing the formula. The little one suckled on the bottle's nipple, stopping its cries, while Ji Shulan gently wiped away the tears from its face with a soft towel.

Qin Lunong watched in a daze and suddenly said, "Mom, am I useless?"

Ji Shulan turned to look at her and smiled, "How could that be?" She thought Qin Lunong was referring to something in the past, so she comforted her, "It's all in the past. From now on, let's live well."

Qin Lunong rested her face on the pillow, listlessly watching the nanny take care of the baby, her gaze slowly losing focus.

Leng Jie answered a phone call, looking surprised. "You're here?" After a pause, he said, "I'll come pick you up."

The others at the table looked on curiously and asked, "Who's here that even Director Leng has to go pick them up?"

Leng Jie raised an eyebrow, "You'll know when they arrive."

Tang Ruoyao clenched her fist on her lap.

Qin Yinong's arrival brought the atmosphere of the wrap-up banquet to its peak.

Qin Yinong's gaze wandered and landed on Tang Ruoyao at the table. Her heart finally settled back in her stomach, and after a brief pause, she discreetly withdrew her gaze.

She had lost weight.

Filming must have been tough.

Qin Yinong picked up the glass of wine that Guan Han handed to her and raised it, saying, "I'm here to join the fun, cheers to everyone."

Everyone politely drank with her.

Qin Yinong had invested in this film, but her share was very small—just enough to keep her name on it. At that time, it was out of respect for Leng Jie, and now she had a legitimate reason to be here.

When there were fewer people around, Tang Ruoyao approached holding her glass of wine, her gaze fixed on the woman, and in a clear voice, she said, "I toast President Qin."

Qin Yinong looked at her with a half-smile, half-amused expression.

Filming not only helped with weight loss but also built courage.

Qin Yinong quirked a smile and asked, "What if I don't drink?"

Tang Ruoyao tilted her head back and downed her drink in one go.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Tang Ruoyao refilled her glass without a hint of embarrassment, confidently continued, "I toast to President Qin again."

Qin Yinong raised her glass and clinked it with hers.

Tang Ruoyao drank again in one go, smiling at Qin Yinong after putting down her glass.

Qin Yinong: "..." She now believed Guan Han when she said Tang Ruoyao was really drunk.

Qin Yinong lowered her voice and said, "You're riding back with me later."

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

"No more drinking, understood?"

"Understood."

"How many is this?" Qin Yinong held up two fingers.

Tang Ruoyao chuckled, "Two."

Qin Yinong's eyes were filled with affection as she patted her head. Tang Ruoyao opened her arms to hug her, which startled Qin Yinong, causing her to quickly step back.

She managed to avoid it this time, but on the ride home, she couldn't escape.

Qin Yinong was caught in Tang Ruoyao's embrace.

There was a faint smell of alcohol on the girl, but it wasn't unpleasant, mixing with her subtle body fragrance as it stubbornly teased Qin Yinong's nose. Qin Yinong sat like a gentleman, allowing the girl to nestle into her embrace.

Guan Han silently watched from the rearview mirror, imagining holding a flower. She plucked a petal: dating. Plucked another: not dating. Dating, not dating.

The car stopped downstairs, and Guan Han got out first, moving from the passenger seat to the back door. Drunk people were very heavy, Qin Yinong half-supported, half-carried Tang Ruoyao out of the car, her expression somewhat strained. Guan Han naturally reached out to help, but Qin Yinong hugged the girl's waist and shifted to the side, her gaze briefly wary.

Guan Han's hand missed its target.

She didn't expect Qin Jie to be this kind of person.

Guan Han tactfully withdrew her hand and led the way ahead.

Qin Yinong helped Tang Ruoyao to sit on the sofa, Guan Han said, "Qin Jie, I'm leaving first."

Qin Yinong waved her hand.

Guan Han stepped back to the entrance, straightened the two pairs of shoes on the carpet, and closed the door behind her when she left.

There was cooled boiled water in the glass jug on the coffee table. Not caring about the temperature, Qin Yinong poured herself a glass and gulped it down, soothing her dry throat. She turned to glance at Tang Ruoyao, who was drunkenly slumped on the sofa, her voice slightly hoarse in the empty living room. "Do you want some water?"

Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth, her lips a rosy red and dry.

Qin Yinong's throat moved as she turned her eyes away, took another cup, and just as she lifted the kettle, her heart skipped a beat. On a whim, she covered the cup's opening and poured the water into the glass she had already drunk from.

She filled the cup with water, about eighty percent full. Qin Yinong turned back to help Tang Ruoyao sit up, watching her lips slowly press against the shallow red mark she had left.

Tang Ruoyao shook her head after drinking half a cup.

Her stomach was full of alcohol, and she simply couldn't drink more.

Qin Yinong finished the other half cup.

Tang Ruoyao sat up instead of lying down. Qin Yinong's shoulder was less than a fist's distance from hers. When Qin Yinong's shoulder sank, Tang Ruoyao leaned her head against it, her hands clutching the fabric on her knees tightly, gazing ahead motionless.

"Sister," Tang Ruoyao mumbled, her words a bit unclear.

Her chin rested on Qin Yinong's shoulder, so when she spoke, her breath blew against Qin Yinong's ear. Having drunk a lot, her breath was warm. Qin Yinong instinctively tilted her head slightly.

"Qin Yinong." This time the voice was clearer, soft and seductive.

Qin Yinong shivered.

The sound overlapped with the absurd dreams she had. The two of them were tightly entwined, and Tang Ruoyao whispered her name in her ear, increasingly lost in desire.

Qin Yinong's breathing unconsciously grew heavier.

"Sister Qin Yinong."

Tang Ruoyao was probably quite drunk, calling out randomly, her hands inching around Qin Yinong's waist. Her lips brushed against Qin Yinong's delicate ear, each touch causing Qin Yinong to catch her breath and tighten her grip.

Rationality told Qin Yinong to distance herself quickly, but the emotional comfort and satisfaction pinned her in place, allowing Tang Ruoyao to act recklessly.

Tang Ruoyao was somewhat tipsy and didn't fully comprehend her actions. She knew she was doing something very bold, yet she indulged herself.

One was careless, the other was unbothered.

Tang Ruoyao pulled back slightly and saw that Qin Yinong's long eyelashes were closed, her eyes shut. Her gaze fell to the woman's full, rosy lips. She gently held Qin Yinong's soft chin, the touch so pleasant that she didn't want to let go.

Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes, slowly leaned in, a smile playing at the corner of her lips, and planted a light kiss on the woman's cheek.

Qin Yinong suddenly opened her eyes.

Immediately, Tang Ruoyao's chin was held firmly in place, the woman's strength far greater than hers. She stared intently at Tang Ruoyao, the swirling emotions in those dark eyes startling her.

Her drunkenness almost instantly faded.

Qin Yinong lowered her eyes to her lips, knowing that if she just leaned forward a bit, lowered her head, she could completely cover that softness, taste the sweetest honey and the most fragrant wine in the world.

As long as she got close to this person, it would be hers.

The woman's features gradually magnified before her, and sensing something, Tang Ruoyao obediently closed her eyes in anticipation.

Perhaps Qin Yinong also had a slight liking for her, she didn't believe that all she felt was fake.

The grip on her chin suddenly loosened, and Tang Ruoyao looked up in shock, only to see the woman fleeing in panic.

"You're drunk, I'll go make you some sobering tea."

Tang Ruoyao slumped back into the sofa, staring at the ceiling rippling like water.

Her head ached badly.

Qin Yinong turned on the stove, boiling sobering tea in a pot.

She leaned against the marble countertop, lost in thought as the steam rose.

How did things end up like this?

The person she liked had stolen a kiss from her, and she had almost given in and kissed back.

Qin Yinong: "..."

The person she liked.

When did Tang Ruoyao become the person she liked?

It was just that seeing her made her happy, missing her when she wasn't around, feeling sad when she frowned, her heart racing when she got close, rushing over the moment she heard about her being lost, dreaming about doing inappropriate things with her.

'Is this what liking someone feels like?'

Qin Yinong let out a deep breath.

She lifted the pot lid, poured the ginger-colored sobering tea into a bowl, and walked out of the kitchen.

Tang Ruoyao, half asleep, half awake, tugged at her own collar with one hand, mumbling incoherently. Qin Yinong placed the bowl on the coffee table, supported her in her arms, and patiently fed her spoonful by spoonful.

The sobering tea didn't taste good, and the drunken Tang Ruoyao was uncooperative, muttering as she tried to spit it out. Qin Yinong softly coaxed her, "Be good, your headache will be gone after you drink it."

Tang Ruoyao immediately became obedient.

A strange sense of satisfaction spread in Qin Yinong's heart, blossoming into sweetness, and a smile unconsciously crept into her eyes and brows.

'Is this what liking someone feels like?'

She helped Tang Ruoyao back to the master bedroom, laid her down, twisted a warm towel, and wiped her face and neck to make her more comfortable. She propped her chin up and watched her at the bedside, sitting there for half the night, not blinking.

'So it turns out I like you too.'

Qin Yinong sighed, turned off the last light in the master bedroom, and quietly left.

But liking someone and being together are two different things. Today's affection doesn't guarantee tomorrow's. Good things in the world are not durable, colored clouds are easily scattered, and glass is fragile. The love of young people is inherently unreliable, especially when it's based on a relationship like theirs.

Perhaps tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, it will all dissipate with a gust of wind.

"Ugh." Tang Ruoyao pressed her temples as she woke up, her head pounding.

Outside, it was already bright, but the room remained dim. Tang Ruoyao looked around the strange yet familiar room, slowly recalling what had happened last night.

She had lied to Qin Yinong to meet her, then returned home with her, pretended to be drunk, and stole a kiss. After that, what happened?

Tang Ruoyao pounded her own head.

'Dropping the ball at a critical moment, what use are you?'

'And Qin Yinong...'

Following the usual pattern, she should still be in the house. Tang Ruoyao leaped out of bed and ran out without even putting on her shoes.

"Sister!"

Her voice echoed in the house.

Tang Ruoyao went to knock on the door of the guest room. After a few knocks without a response, she unlocked the door, finding it empty.

"Assistant Guan, was it President Qin who brought me back last night?" she called Guan Han on the phone.

The voice on the other end, Guan Han, replied woodenly, "Yes."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "When did she leave then?"

Guan Han said, "I don't know."

'Can you two lovebirds stop asking me about your relationship?'

Tang Ruoyao, feeling a sense of loss, sat on the floor, lips pursed.

Gone again.

'Does she even like me at all?'

If not, why did she appear at the wrap party despite being drunk, disregarding everything? She never mentioned she was attending, yet she often looked at her with the eyes of someone in love.

Qin Yinong has rich experiences, while Tang Ruoyao is a blank sheet, but she has a simple heart. Every time she made excuses to come out of the study to secretly watch her, Qin Yinong might have been watching her at those times, focused, serious, gentle, with eyes full of affection.

'If she does like me, why does she keep avoiding me over and over again?'

Qin Yinong pressed the bottle nipple against the baby's face, and the little one, unable to get milk, began to cry loudly.

Qin Yinong looked down and quickly reinserted the bottle into the baby's mouth. The little one had tear-streaked cheeks, and her bright, watery eyes looked up at Auntie, suckling on the prepared formula.

She stole a glance at Qin Lunong, relieved that Qin Lunong hadn't noticed her silly mistake.

The baby fell asleep after finishing her meal, and as Qin Yinong looked at her sweet sleeping face, she suddenly felt a twinge of envy.

Eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating—more carefree than a pig, and without the worry of being eaten when she grew up. How blissful.

She wanted to put the baby next to Qin Lunong, but Qin Lunong shook her head, gesturing towards the nearby crib, saying, "Let her sleep in there, I want to take a walk."

During the postpartum period, it was important to rest more, but some movement was also necessary, as a balance of work and rest helped with recovery. Qin Lunong was weak, and each time she got up, she couldn't stay up for more than half an hour.

Qin Yinong helped her walk to the living room.

After walking a few laps, Qin Lunong said, "It's too stuffy in the house, I want to go outside."

Qin Yinong brought a wheelchair and pushed her outside for a walk.

The wheelchair stopped in the yard, and Qin Lunong tilted her face to bask in the sun, her skin almost transparently white.

Qin Yinong, like a young fangirl, squatted beside her, hands cupping her chin, blinking her eyes.

Qin Lunong opened her eyes and saw someone squatting beside her. She raised her hand and patted Qin Yinong's head, saying in a strange tone, "Why do you want to act like a dog instead of being a good person?"

Qin Yinong retorted, "Tch."

A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory.

Qin Lunong smiled with her eyes narrowed, though it wasn't the hearty smile of the past, nor did it create laugh lines. She said, "You're already an aunt now. don't be so rude."

Qin Yinong sarcastically replied, "You're a mother now, but I don't see you acting refined either."

Qin Lunong said, "I used to be very refined, everyone used to praise me."

Qin Yinong scoffed, dismissively saying, "You just said 'used to be.' Look at you now, so skinny you're just skin and bones." As she spoke, she grabbed Qin Lunong's hand to measure her wrist. "You need to eat more, it makes me uneasy just looking at you."

Qin Lunong lowered her eyes and softly said, "Do you think so too?"

Qin Yinong didn't hear clearly, "What?"

Qin Lunong smiled and said, "Nothing, just push me for a few more laps."

After that, Qin Lunong remained silent, and so did Qin Yinong. She pushed the wheelchair around in circles, inevitably drifting into deep thought. She wondered if Tang Ruoyao would seek her out after waking up. If feelings go unreciprocated, it could be heartbreaking, right?

Should she continue pretending she didn't know Tang Ruoyao's feelings, or should she have an open conversation about it? If they talked, what would they even discuss? This was the first time Qin Yinong faced such a tricky problem.

A call from Guan Han came through, reporting that Tang Ruoyao had indeed looked for her.

Qin Yinong felt even more uncertain about what to do.

She had been at home for several days, immersed in her own thoughts, occasionally zoning out, and always responding a beat late when spoken to. Qin Lunong took a deep breath, raised her hand back, pressing it on the hand pushing the wheelchair, and said with a gloomy expression, "If you don't want to accompany me for a walk, then don't come out."

Her tone didn't sound like a joke, and Qin Yinong's heart inexplicably sank. She quickly replied, "I don't mind at all."

"Do you think that I, in my current state, would be better off dead outside, never to come back?" Qin Lunong lowered her head, one eye covered by the hanging bangs, her expression ever-changing.

Qin Yinong exclaimed in shock, "Why would you think that?"

'Yes, why would I think that?'

Qin Lunong's lips trembled slightly.

"Sister." Qin Yinong crouched down in front of her, tears already welling in her eyes. "Don't scare me."

Qin Lunong forced a smile, reaching up to rub the top of Qin Yinong's head. "I was just saying that because you always ignore me."

Qin Yinong felt wronged. "I'm not ignoring you."

Even if she really were ignoring her, she shouldn't say such things to frighten her.

Qin Lunong's facial muscles gradually regained control, and she raised her eyebrows, returning to the lively demeanor Qin Yinong was most familiar with. "Then what was I saying to you earlier? Did you hear it?"

Qin Yinong bit her lower lip.

Qin Lunong pointedly pinched her cheek, saying, "You better come clean."

Qin Yinong's defenses started to crumble.

What was there that she couldn't talk about with her sister? She was so smart, maybe she could give her some advice. But no, her feelings were a tangled mess, and asking her would be no better than asking a bird flying in the sky.

But maybe it would feel better if she said it out loud.

She took a deep breath, raised her eyes, and stuttered, "I-I have something..."

Qin Lunong chuckled, "You have something too."

Qin Yinong: "...."

She knew this woman wouldn't have a serious demeanor.

Qin Lunong changed the subject, her tone gentle, "You have someone you like, don't you?"

Qin Yinong blurted out, "How did you know?"

Qin Lunong raised an eyebrow, chin in hand, nonchalantly saying, "What don't I know? I even know you have a mole on your left butt cheek."

Qin Yinong glared at her. "You're a mom now, can't you be a bit more refined?"

Qin Lunong replied casually, "You didn't say you wanted me to be refined when you asked me to bathe you when you were little."

Qin Yinong's face turned red. "You—you—you..."

Qin Lunong smiled brightly.

The two elders of the Qin family watched the sisters bickering from a distance and exchanged smiles.

Ji Shulan said with relief, "Lunong hasn't been in a good mood lately, she can only truly smile when she sees her sister."

Aunt Fang nodded, "Second Miss is the same."

Ji Shulan smiled, picked up a watering can, and continued to water the flowers.

Meanwhile, Qin Lunong had finished teasing Qin Yinong and was ready to get to the point.

"You've been so distracted every day, it must be because you have someone you like." Qin Lunong joked.

Qin Yinong was somewhat surprised, feeling a bit embarrassed, she touched her face and said, "Is it that obvious?"

Qin Lunong nodded.

Qin Yinong murmured to herself, "I didn't realize I liked her this much."

Qin Lunong asked, "What does he look like? Do you have a photo?"

Qin Yinong hesitated.

Qin Lunong pressed, "What's wrong? Trying to keep it a secret and won't show me?"

Qin Yinong shook her head.

It was the 21st century, and the rainbow flag had already been paraded down the street. Qin Lunong had studied and worked in the U.S. for several years, so nothing surprised her. Qin Yinong gritted her teeth and confessed, "It's not a man."

Qin Lunong's expression turned understanding. "A transgender person, huh?"

Qin Yinong: "..."

When she got better, she would definitely strangle her.

Qin Lunong's eyes curved like crescent moons as she gently said, "She must be a beautiful girl."

Qin Yinong blurted out, "How do you know she's beautiful?"

Qin Lunong said, "Just guessing. I won't get fined for guessing wrong. So, is she beautiful or not?"

Qin Yinong lowered her eyes, softly replied, "She's beautiful."

Qin Lunong reached out, "Show me a photo."

Qin Yinong hesitated, feeling a mix of bashfulness and unexplainable joy. She chose the best photo of Tang Ruoyao from her phone's album, wiped the screen with her sleeve, and handed it over, anxiously waiting.

She wondered if her sister would like her.

Qin Lunong took a look and exclaimed, "She's so young!"

Qin Yinong quickly clarified, "She's of legal age."

Qin Lunong squinted, "A student?"

Qin Yinong nervously said, "She's in her second year of college."

She thought Qin Lunong would say something about her being an old cow eating young grass, but instead, Qin Lunong analyzed, "She's so young, she must not have seen much of the world. With your good qualities, if you pursue her sincerely, there shouldn't be a problem. But don't lure this innocent girl onto the wrong path, just don't do something you'll regret."

"..." Qin Yinong said, "It's not that."

"Not what?"

"It's not a matter of whether to pursue her." Qin Yinong closed her eyes, as if she was about to speak of something that pained her greatly, her voice strained, "She likes me."

"You like her, and she likes you." Qin Lunong was puzzled by her expression, she repeated it several times to herself before finally believing she wasn't mistaken, and said in astonishment, "Isn't this mutual affection? What are you afraid of?"

Qin Yinong looked at her deeply.

Suddenly, Qin Lunong understood, feeling a pang of sorrow in her heart.

What are you afraid of?

'Afraid that you will become the second me.'

Qin Lunong bit her lower lip tightly, turned away, and tears fell uncontrollably.

Qin Lunong bit her lower lip hard, turned her face away, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Not only had she ruined herself, but she had also destroyed the love of her most cherished younger sister.

She was a complete and utter failure.

Qin Yinong's voice came, "Actually, I don't need this kind of unnecessary emotion. I'm not alone, I have you and the baby. That's enough."

"That's not enough!" Qin Lunong suddenly turned around, the tear stains on her face still fresh, and her usually gentle and composed expression was somewhat twisted.

"Not enough," she said angrily, forcefully hitting the armrest of the wheelchair. "You need everything that others have!"

"Sister," Qin Yinong placed her hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes and said, "Calm down."

Qin Lunong's expression gradually softened, becoming eerily calm.

"I want to go back." she said, lowering her head.

Qin Yinong guided her back and watched as she fell asleep. It took a long time for her to drift off, her brows furrowed in distress even in her dreams.

Qin Yinong regretted it, she shouldn't have told her about Tang Ruoyao.

The next day, Qin Lunong was out in the yard again, trying to relax.

"I want to say a few things about what happened yesterday."

"Mm." Qin Yinong pushed the wheelchair slowly, saying, "Go ahead, I'm listening."

"I've had a bad influence on you, but you're not me, and she isn't that person. Life is short, and it's not easy to meet someone you truly like. I hope you can give it a try." Qin Lunong felt the wind brushing against her face and said, "Have I ever told you..."

"Told me what?"

Qin Lunong looked up at the clear blue sky and calmly said, "I don't regret it."

Even if she fell from the clouds to the dust, giving everything for love and ending up in a miserable state, she had never regretted yesterday's choices.

Qin Yinong also looked up at the same sky and said, "I understand."

Qin Yinong withdrew her gaze and said, "I won't be back tonight."

Qin Lunong patted her hand. "Good luck."

Qin Yinong smiled slightly.

That night, Tang Ruoyao made herself a bowl of vegetarian noodles at home, with a few vegetables and an egg. Just then, she heard the soft click of the door lock, and Qin Yinong, whom she hadn't seen in days, walked in.

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