CHAPTER 247: Qin & Tang Extra 21

Wen Shuxian was the least physically fit in Room 405 and was the first to give up, transitioning from running to walking, and then to standing outside the plastic track watching.

Soon, Cui Jiaran joined her.

Cui Jiaran leaned on her knees, panting heavily.

Wen Shuxian patted her shoulder, "Everyone has their own goals. Let's not compare ourselves to them."

Cui Jiaran rolled her eyes, "Is that how you use 'everyone has their own goals'?"

The two spectators watched as Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun ran lap after lap, neck and neck, neither falling behind.

Another lap, Tang and Fu ran past them. Wen Shuxian turned her head from right to left, asking, "Who do you think will last the longest?"

Cui Jiaran said, "Tangtang, she's eaten so much."

Wen Shuxian yawned, "Then I'll bet on Lao Fu."

The two idly made bets, watching as a figure stopped on the distant half of the track. Wen Shuxian craned her neck, "Who is it?"

Cui Jiaran squinted, "Can't see clearly."

The evening light was poor, and they were of similar height, only seeing two dark shadows from a distance.

As the remaining figure ran closer, Wen Shuxian laughed, "I win!"

It was Fu Yujun who ran over.

Fu Yujun stopped in front of them, "Tangtang is on the phone."

Wen Shuxian asked, "She brought her phone?"

Fu Yujun nodded.

Wen Shuxian said, "Why bring a phone for such a short run?"

Fu Yujun smiled.

Wen Shuxian, whose heart was as thick as steel, suddenly had a flash of insight from her smile and exclaimed, "I got it!" She slapped her thigh, "Ah! She must be talking to her significant other!"

Fu Yujun's smile deepened.

She hadn't said a word.

Qin Yinong had an event to attend tonight. While waiting backstage, for some reason, she really wanted to hear Tang Ruoyao's voice, so she called her using Guan Han's phone.

Looking at the call log, Qin Yinong's eyes darkened.

Why hasn't this little brat asked for her phone number yet? Does she plan to keep contacting her through Guan Han every day? Does she like me or Guan Han?

Qin Yinong glanced at Guan Han.

Suddenly sensing danger, Guan Han: "???"

Qin Yinong looked away and pressed the call button.

After a few rings, the call was answered, but no words were spoken—only hurried breathing.

Qin Yinong's expression turned subtle: "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao panted a few more times, speaking intermittently, "I'm running... ah..."

Qin Yinong: "..."

'If you're running, why are you moaning like that?'

Tang Ruoyao slowed her pace. Fu Yujun, who had run ahead, turned back in confusion. Tang Ruoyao waved her phone at her, and Fu Yujun continued running alone.

Tang Ruoyao walked further and further away, almost reaching the farthest corner of the field before stopping. She stood there, listening to the woman's voice in the night breeze.

Qin Yinong asked, "Where are you running?"

Tang Ruoyao's breathing was still uneven, though not as heavy. Her heart pounded, unsure if it was from the exercise or the call. She lowered her gaze, and a strand of loose hair fell softly by her cheek.

"On the school field."

Qin Yinong frowned.

Isn't that crowded? Did others hear her panting like that?

"You..." The woman paused for a few seconds, then said, "I'll buy you a treadmill." It's better to run in the dorm than on a crowded field.

"The dorm doesn't have space." Tang Ruoyao replied, her voice carrying a barely noticeable hint of amusement.

"Then..."

"Besides, the outdoors is spacious, and there are more people. It's motivating to run there."

Qin Yinong thought to herself: 'As if I didn't know it's crowded.'

"Everyone in my dorm came out with me." Tang Ruoyao added.

"Who's in your dorm?"

Tang Ruoyao was momentarily stunned.

This was the first time she had asked about the people around her. Tang Ruoyao's mood lifted, and she eagerly answered, "There are four of us in the dorm. Besides me, there are three others..."

She rambled on, and Qin Yinong listened patiently, occasionally humming in response.

Tang Ruoyao rubbed her toes against the ground, her face flushed with joy, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Qin Yinong stood up, turned her phone face down, and held it out.

Tang Ruoyao heard faint music and asked, "What is that?"

Qin Yinong replied, "A gala."

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips.

Qin Yinong, in sync with her, also chose silence.

Tang Ruoyao sensed something and blurted out, "I'll work hard."

Guan Han approached and whispered, "Qin Jie."

Qin Yinong took the opportunity to say, "I have to go. I'll hang up now."

Tang Ruoyao's already dejected face turned even more despondent. She forced herself to sound cheerful, "Go ahead."

Qin Yinong detected her low spirits and softened. "Is there anything you'd like to eat? I'll make it for you this weekend."

Tang Ruoyao immediately exclaimed in panic, "No!"

Qin Yinong: "???"

Tang Ruoyao stammered to explain, "I-I mean, it's still early before the weekend. Let's talk about it then."

"Alright," Qin Yinong replied, utterly confused, before hanging up the phone.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and started running along the rubber track again.

That evening, after returning to her dorm and washing off the sweat, Tang Ruoyao lay in bed before sleep, scrolling through Qin Yinong's super topic. Sure enough, she found photos of Qin Yinong attending an event that day. Sitting among the invited guests, Qin Yinong looked stunningly beautiful, outshining all the other female stars around her, standing out like a lone blossom.

She then clicked into the trending search section, where Qin Yinong's appearance at the gala was still in the top ten. The posts were filled with fans and passersby gushing over her. Almost as if possessed, Tang Ruoyao typed her own name into the search bar.

What came up was the official announcement from the "Rouge" official blog, along with a few sparse and unremarkable mentions from media outlets: female, born in 1996, a student at the Capital Drama Academy—nothing more than a single page of results.

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips and posted a tweet using her alternate account.

[@MyDailyLifeWithMsQ:]

[Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao—a perfect match!]

She amused herself with the post, her cheek rubbing against the pillow as she fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

She was not yet twenty years old. At that age, young people don't know what it means to retreat in the face of difficulty or to recognize insurmountable barriers. All she knew was the stirring of ambition, the refusal to give up until she hit a wall.

The next morning, Tang Ruoyao woke up fully recharged, feeling even more motivated than before.

In her acting class, she had a scene that required an emotional outburst. Her scene partner was a male classmate, who, during the rehearsal, was so overwhelmed by her presence that he unconsciously stepped back, stumbling over lines he had previously memorized flawlessly.

The teacher raised a hand to her forehead and called for a stop.

Tang Ruoyao remained in character, her eyes red.

The male student looked ashamed.

While the teacher was giving the boy some guidance, Wen Shuxian quietly slipped over and gave Tang Ruoyao a thumbs-up, praising her without reservation, "You were amazing."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I still have a long way to go."

Wen Shuxian thought she was being modest and patted her shoulder, saying, "You're the top of our class now, miles ahead of the rest of us. Don't sell yourself short."

Tang Ruoyao paused, then lowered her voice, "How do you think I compare to Qin Yinong?"

Wen Shuxian nearly fell to her knees.

How could they even compare?!

She tactfully replied, "Well... having dreams makes anyone extraordinary, right?"

Tang Ruoyao smiled faintly.

She waved her hand, wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with a tissue, and looked ahead, saying, "She's my goal, so I really do have a long way to go."

Qin Yinong had once sent Tang Ruoyao a script for a film set to start shooting in the summer. Although Tang Ruoyao had already played the lead in Leng Jie's movie—which hadn't been released yet—it had opened the first door for her in the film industry. Currently, all her energy was focused on preparing for the audition for the new film.

The character was quite different from her own personality—an outgoing, cheerful, and even somewhat capricious girl. Recently, Tang Ruoyao had been consciously letting the character seep into her daily life. This was a method she had vaguely glimpsed while filming "Rouge." By burning her own genuine emotions, she could make her performance even more moving for the audience. An actor must believe in herself to make the audience believe in her—this is what's known as a sense of conviction.

Tang Ruoyao was making rapid progress on this path.

Qin Yinong didn't realize she was getting into character, she only felt that the young girl was becoming increasingly affectionate, to the point where she was almost overwhelmed.

"You're back."

As soon as Qin Yinong stepped into the house, a figure rushed over from the dining area and embraced her tightly. If the entrance hadn't been so narrow, Qin Yinong suspected she might have even tried to pick her up and spin her around.

Guan Han momentarily didn't know where to look.

Qin Yinong tentatively pushed Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, but it didn't budge. She cleared her throat and said, "Guan Han."

Understanding the hint, Guan Han turned and left, closing the door behind her.

Now alone in the house, Tang Ruoyao's arms tightened even more. Qin Yinong, both amused and annoyed, said, "Let go of me first."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "No."

Her willfulness left Qin Yinong at a loss for how to handle her.

Qin Yinong had no choice but to let her hold on quietly. A thought crossed her mind: she had heard that people only act this way with those they are close to. Did this mean Tang Ruoyao liked her even more now? How much more?

Qin Yinong's gaze softened unconsciously. She raised her right hand, which had been hanging by her side, and gently placed it on Tang Ruoyao's back.

Feeling her response, Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat. She tilted her head to look at Qin Yinong's fair profile, her excitement barely contained.

A warm, soft sensation touched her cheek, slightly damp, like the dew on the tips of grass in the early morning.

Tang Ruoyao pulled away almost immediately, releasing her embrace.

Qin Yinong's fingers involuntarily curled, and her throat felt dry.

She swallowed, her mind a jumble of thoughts, and she blurted out without thinking, "So... what do you want to eat?"

The pink bubbles in the air seemed to pop all at once.

Qin Yinong looked at Tang Ruoyao's suddenly fallen expression, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao muttered, "Don't make me any more delicious food."

Qin Yinong's heart skipped a beat. Had her cooking already lost its hold on her stomach?

"Why?"

Unaware of the tension in the woman's voice, Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and said, "Haven't you noticed... I've gotten rounder recently?"

"No."

Tang Ruoyao looked up and glared at her.

Qin Yinong laughed heartily, the previous gloom completely dispelled. She said, "I really don't think you're fat. A little extra weight feels nice to... touch." She bit her tongue, swallowing the rest of her words.

Tang Ruoyao heard her and muttered to herself, "But you don't touch me."

Her grumbling was loud enough for Qin Yinong to catch.

Qin Yinong stole a glance, silently reciting "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" to keep her composure.

Despite her obvious hints, Qin Yinong still didn't make a move. Tang Ruoyao was utterly disappointed. She hung her head and said, "I'm going back to the study to read the script."

Qin Yinong replied, "...Go ahead."

Qin Yinong nestled into the couch, looking down at her slender fingers. She pressed them down one by one, forming a fist, then opened them again, repeating the motion. She wondered, "What's with kids these days? Are they all so bold?"

As she pondered, Tang Ruoyao strode out, her face stern and imposing. She looked down at Qin Yinong and said, "You still owe me a meal."

Qin Yinong responded blankly, "Okay."

Tang Ruoyao pressed her lips together, said nothing more, and turned around decisively to leave.

Qin Yinong sat there in a daze for a while, then suddenly widened her eyes and slapped the couch.

'That little brat, how dare she!'

Not just Qin Yinong, but even Tang Ruoyao, after returning to the study and reading the script for a while, came to her senses. She covered her face with both hands, thinking, "What on earth did I just do?"

'Heavens, just kill me now.'

"Um..." The little wolf had turned back into a little rabbit, hesitating by the couch, stammering.

Qin Yinong closed her eyes, feigning sleep, clearly refusing to engage.

Tang Ruoyao returned with a dejected expression.

Qin Yinong's lips curled into a smile.

Life moved forward amidst Tang Ruoyao's alternating willfulness and obedience. With her strong self-discipline, Tang Ruoyao returned to her original weight within two weeks. The audition for the new movie went smoothly, and the female lead role was confirmed the following week.

Ruan Qin was over the moon. Two major director's films back-to-back, and after the official announcement, Tang Ruoyao's name left an impression on certain influential people. For a newcomer to secure such resources, she must have an impressive background.

Ruan Qin received numerous calls from companies interested in having Tang Ruoyao endorse their products. Tang Ruoyao wasn't famous yet, but with such resources being poured into her, she was bound to rise. While great fame depends on fate, moderate fame can be cultivated. Her future value would be incomparable to now, so it was best to strike while the iron was hot.

Ruan Qin was shortsighted, only seeing the short-term income from these endorsements, unaware of the negative impact that endorsing subpar products would have on Tang Ruoyao's future.

Ruan Qin picked a few high-paying offers and one day called Tang Ruoyao to the company, her eyes gleaming. "Take a look. If it's okay, sign them."

Tang Ruoyao skimmed through the contracts and pushed them back.

"What do you mean?"

"I won't sign."

"Who's the manager here, you or me?"

"You are, but I have the right to refuse."

"Are you stupid? Just signing a few names earns you more than filming a movie."

"Do you want to make big money?" Tang Ruoyao rested her chin on her hands, sitting right across from Ruan Qin. Despite her youthful appearance, she exuded a sense of authority that made Ruan Qin instinctively trust her.

Ruan Qin shook her head and asked, "What big money?"

Tang Ruoyao wasn't entirely sure, but when she got serious, she could be quite convincing: "The movie I filmed hasn't been released yet, and my future offers will only be higher than the current ones." She glanced down at the contract and added, "This is a chocolate brand, right? What if XX Chocolate comes looking for me next year?"

"How can you be so sure you'll be famous by next year?"

"I'll definitely be more famous than I am now."

Ruan Qin was somewhat swayed by her words but still couldn't bring herself to abandon all the offers. She pulled out two contracts from the pile: "Then let's sign these two for now. It's unlikely that we'll run into two endorsements for the same type of product next year."

As an artist, Tang Ruoyao knew she couldn't have complete autonomy, and this was already a good outcome. Most people had to grind their way up slowly. Even Qin Yinong, when she first debuted, had done a pancake commercial, wearing a floral apron and reciting awkward ad lines.

Tang Ruoyao: "Pfft."

When she looked up and met Ruan Qin's horrified gaze, Tang Ruoyao quickly suppressed her smile and signed the two contracts. One was for a third-tier brand's product endorsement, and the other was for an ambassador role. Tang Ruoyao hadn't heard of the brand, but Ruan Qin wasn't without foresight. They were in this together, for better or worse, like two grasshoppers tied to the same string.

After signing the contracts, Tang Ruoyao entered the studio to shoot her first official commercial. She had done photo shoots before, so she wasn't completely inexperienced, and having acted in films, she had a good sense of the camera.

A representative from the brand was present that day, rubbing their hands together in excitement, their eyes gleaming as if to say: "We hit the jackpot!"

The ads were soon released.

They weren't aired on TV but were instead spread online and offline. One of them was a shampoo commercial. Tang Ruoyao had beautiful, naturally black hair that shone brightly, cascading down her back, giving her silhouette an elegant and soft appearance.

In the ad, she played the role of a pure, ethereal campus beauty, perfectly embodying the character with just the right touch.

Some people are born to be stars, and there's no use envying them.

Tang Ruoyao's commercial caught the attention of the brand's director, who decided to ramp up its promotion. Tang Ruoyao's strikingly cold yet beautiful face unexpectedly gained a small wave of popularity.

It all started with a popular video editor who posted a montage. Tang Ruoyao appeared briefly in it, and many viewers were stunned by her beauty, asking who she was and which movie or TV show she was from.

Who is this girl?

No one knew.

The editor commented: [This is from a commercial. Here's the link: [web link]]

Curious, netizens went to watch the full version of the ad.

[OMG, this girl is killing me]

[Someone needs to turn this ad into a campus romance drama, stat! The female lead is so gorgeous, and her acting is natural and refreshing]

[The male lead is so ugly, I need a version without him]

[So, does anyone know this girl's name?]

[I found a promotional image on their official website. The female lead is Tang Ruoyao]

Soon, Tang Ruoyao's background was uncovered.

[So she's the female lead in Director Leng's "Rouge"! No wonder she looks familiar. I didn't think much of the stills before, but the video is absolutely stunning. I'm dead]

[How can I resist going to the cinema just to admire her on the big screen?]

[Does this girl have a Weibo? I need to follow her!!!]

The brand seized the opportunity to buy a trending topic to boost its visibility. Tang Ruoyao experienced a small surge in popularity. When she clicked on the link Wen Shuxian sent her, she was momentarily dazed—the advertisement she had filmed had already surpassed ten thousand reposts and was still increasing.

Ruan Qin called her, instructing her to verify her identity on Weibo.

Tang Ruoyao had a main account where she occasionally shared snippets of her daily life—sunrises and sunsets on campus, views by the lake and the sports field, along with a sprinkle of motivational quotes. Since there was nothing controversial that could be used against her, she decided to clear unnecessary followers and directly changed the account name. The verification process took some time.

By the time her Weibo account was set up, the hype around the trending topic had already subsided, and she only caught the tail end of the wave.

Tang Ruoyao gained ten thousand followers.

At that time, Qin Yinong had eighty million followers.

Tang Ruoyao was not one of those eighty million.

It wasn't that she didn't want to follow Qin Yinong, but not now. Qin Yinong's current following count was 129, and Tang Ruoyao wanted to be her one percent.

[@MyDailyLifeWithMissQ:]

[Seven million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, keep it up! You can do it!]

One day later.

"Eight million thirty thousand now, let's go!"

A week later.

"Eight million twenty-eight thousand, it'll peak eventually, let's go!"

Qin Lunong went to P University to unwind and had contacted Fang Cheng in advance to act as her guide.

Fang Cheng was a typical STEM guy—wearing a plaid shirt, glasses, tall, thin, and scholarly. When he met Qin Lunong, he couldn't hide his surprise. Before arriving, he only knew he was to host a friend of Qin Yinong's, but he hadn't expected this friend to look so much like her.

"I'm her older sister, Qin Lunong," Qin Lunong extended her hand first. "Hello."

"Hello," Fang Cheng cautiously shook her fingertips, barely daring to breathe.

Qin Lunong smiled gently, "I also graduated from here. If you don't mind, you can call me senior."

Fang Cheng obliged, "Hello, senior."

Qin Lunong: "I haven't been back in over a decade. Why don't you take me around?"

Fang Cheng agreed and led the way, introducing the campus as they walked.

The campus was quiet, with students walking confidently and composedly, exuding the aura of top-tier scholars. Fang Cheng noticed Qin Lunong's nostalgic glances at certain buildings and intentionally slowed his pace.

After a morning of wandering, they hadn't covered much ground. Fang Cheng took her to a campus café, where many people were reading, creating a strong academic atmosphere.

A girl looked up from her book, stretching her neck, and her gaze fell on a woman sitting by the window.

She appeared to be in her late twenties, wearing a dark green long dress. As she ate her dessert, her jet-black hair was swept to one side, held in place by her slender, pale fingers. Her entire demeanor was serene and elegant, like a budding spring orchid.

Time seemed to slow down around her, as if beauty was impervious to the passage of years.

The girl found herself entranced.

The woman looked up, revealing a face as exquisite as a painting.

The girl let out a soft "ah," and her pen fell to the ground. She bent to pick it up and glanced over again, her expression gradually changing.

Qin Lunong sat up straight, gazing out the window, when she suddenly heard a nervous voice close to her ear.

"Hello."

Qin Lunong was startled because the speaker was extremely close, almost touching her face.

When did students from P University become so impolite?

Qin Lunong took a slight step back, showing a hint of vigilance: "Hello."

The girl remained bent over, holding a piece of paper and a pen, and whispered, "Are you Qin Yinong?"

Qin Lunong: "..."

The girl's eyes sparkled with excitement as she softly asked, "Could you give me an autograph? I'm your fan."

"..." Qin Lunong smiled apologetically and said gently, "I'm sorry."

The girl replied, "It's okay." She kindly reminded her, "You should wear sunglasses. It's too dangerous to go out like this."

Qin Lunong smiled, "Thank you."

The girl reluctantly glanced at her and returned to her seat.

Qin Lunong touched her face and asked Fang Cheng in front of her, "Do I look like her?"

Fang Cheng nodded.

Qin Lunong murmured to herself, "I see..." She lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

If her face could be explained as a coincidence with a celebrity, their names couldn't possibly be the same, could they? Their names sounded like they belonged to sisters. When she was abroad, Qin Lunong used an English name and worked in a place with few Chinese people, so no one had ever suspected her relationship with Qin Yinong. Now that she had returned to the country and was working at P University, it was only a matter of time before her identity was exposed.

Would this cause trouble for Qin Yinong?

After returning home, Qin Lunong told Qin Yinong about the incident. Qin Yinong pursed her lips, her expression turning extremely grim.

Qin Lunong asked, "Is it a big problem?"

Qin Yinong remained silent.

Qin Lunong thought for a moment and said, "Should I change my name?"

Qin Yinong: "..."

Qin Lunong smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, "If there's something on your mind, just say it. Why keep it bottled up?"

Qin Yinong released her lower lip from her teeth, her gaze somewhat inscrutable, and slowly said, "Do you know that my reputation in the country is very bad?"

Qin Lunong had been abroad for many years, and no matter how much she cared about Qin Yinong, she wouldn't be aware of the rampant rumors in the country. She followed Qin Yinong on foreign websites, where the media spoke highly of her.

Qin Lunong's memory lingered on the incident years ago when Qin Hongjian had betrayed them. She gestured with her thumb and index finger, saying, "A little."

Qin Yinong said seriously, "Not a little, but a lot."

Qin Lunong frowned, "Is it still about your private life?"

Qin Yinong hummed, "Pretty much."

Qin Lunong scoffed, "These people are really bored." She didn't even have the desire to understand, it was obviously nonsense.

Qin Yinong said, "I'm afraid that once they find out you're my sister, they'll attack you."

"I understand." Qin Lunong said.

Qin Yinong waited for a while but didn't hear anything else. She asked in surprise, "And then?"

"Let them talk," Qin Lunong said indifferently. "They can talk, and so can I. It might even help clear your name..."

Qin Yinong suddenly interrupted her vehemently, "No, you mustn't say anything!"

Qin Lunong was taken aback.

Since their reunion, Qin Lunong had never seen her like this. Suddenly, Qin Lunong remembered the bottles of alcohol she had seen on the bar counter several times when she went upstairs—Qin Yinong wasn't happy.

Qin Lunong didn't press the issue but instead smiled and said, "I saw your kid's advertisement." She paused and added meaningfully, "Very fresh."

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