CHAPTER 254: Qin & Tang Extra 28

The two lovebirds were lost in their own sweet world behind her, while Guan Han remained as emotionless as a machine, keeping her eyes peeled through the windshield.

Suddenly, she spotted a suspicious figure approaching from the right side mirror.

"Qin Jie," Guan Han tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp and alert.

Qin Yinong, who was holding Tang Ruoyao's hand, asked, "What's wrong?"

"Someone's coming."

Qin Yinong quickly put on her sunglasses and face mask.

At the same moment, the rear window was knocked.

Ruan Qin had already circled the car and recognized its luxury brand—a favorite among successful business elites, undoubtedly expensive. Had Tang Ruoyao secretly hooked up with some rich guy behind her back?

Her first thought was Jiang Shikun.

A wave of anger surged through her at the thought of being kept in the dark. She had introduced Tang Ruoyao to a wealthy patron, and not only had the girl shown no gratitude, but she'd also hidden this from her. Had Jiang Shikun pulled strings to get her the lead role too? And yet, he'd never mentioned it either.

Ruan Qin was convinced they had conspired to make a fool of her. But she couldn't confront Jiang Shikun—she could only take her frustration out on Tang Ruoyao.

She banged on the window with force.

"Tang Ruoyao, I know you're in there!"

Inside the car, Tang Ruoyao stiffened, unsure how to handle the situation. Her fingers tightened slightly. "I'll go deal with it." she said. If she opened the door fast enough, Ruan Qin wouldn't get a clear look at Qin Yinong. And since Ruan Qin wasn't as strong as her, she wouldn't be able to force her way in.

Qin Yinong tried to stop her with a look, but her sunglasses made it impossible for Tang Ruoyao to see. Instead, Qin Yinong grabbed her hand, pulling her back with slightly more force than intended—sending Tang Ruoyao tumbling straight into her arms.

Qin Yinong took the opportunity to wrap her arms around her.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Guan Han: "..."

Qin Yinong quite enjoyed the feeling of their int!mate closeness and, still holding her, said, "No need to go. The window's sturdy—she can't break it."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Was that really the issue here?

Ruan Qin's knuckles ached from knocking, but there was no response from inside. She bent down instead, pressing her face against the glass in an attempt to peer inside, her voice turning urgent. "President Jiang? President Jiang? It's me, Xiaoruan!"

The tinted windows made it impossible to see anything from the outside, but Qin Yinong caught a glimpse of the woman's distorted face pressed against the glass. She glanced away and asked Tang Ruoyao, who was half-lying in her arms, "Who is she?"

"My agent."

"The one who asked what you were doing?"

"Huh?"

"You sent me a voice message before your magazine shoot. I heard her voice."

"Yeah."

Qin Yinong frowned in thought for a moment before saying, "Roll down the window."

Tang Ruoyao pushed herself up from Qin Yinong's embrace. "What if she sees you?"

"That's the point."

"No!" Tang Ruoyao's refusal was firmer than ever.

Qin Yinong didn't quite understand but compromised. "How about this—you lower the window, and I'll put on a hat so she can't see my face. Deal?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated.

"If she sees you in my car, she won't let this go easily. I don't want to waste your time on her." There was a faint edge of displeasure in Qin Yinong's voice.

Tang Ruoyao didn't argue further and silently handed her the hat.

Qin Yinong said, "Tell her I'm your sister."

She pulled the black baseball cap low over her face and turned her head to the side.

Tang Ruoyao rolled down the window.

Ruan Qin's hand was still pressed against the car window when suddenly, with a buzz, the glass began rolling down. Startled, she immediately straightened up.

Tang Ruoyao only lowered the window halfway, her cold gaze peering out. "What do you want?"

"President—" Ruan Qin bent down to peer inside, her eager smile freezing when she caught sight of the woman with her arms crossed, her profile turned away. The name "Jiang" died in her throat.

Tang Ruoyao rested her hand on the front seat, blocking Qin Yinong from view, her voice growing even icier as she repeated, "What do you want?"

Ruan Qin hesitated, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "Who is she?"

"My sister," Tang Ruoyao replied.

"Since when do you have a sister?" Ruan Qin scrutinized the figure through the gap—long, wavy hair, and even without seeing her face, her demeanor and attire screamed someone extraordinary.

"None of your business." Sensing the increasingly oppressive atmosphere in the car, Tang Ruoyao turned forward. "Assistant Guan, drive."

Guan Han immediately started the engine.

Tang Ruoyao rolled up the window.

Ruan Qin stood dumbfounded, watching the sleek black luxury car speed away.

Qin Yinong removed all her disguise, reaching for the back of her neck—but another hand was faster. Tang Ruoyao gently adjusted her long hair, smoothing it over her shoulders, murmuring softly, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Qin Yinong's tone was flat.

"For you having to deal with this." Tang Ruoyao's voice grew quieter, her head lowering. She didn't want Qin Yinong to witness any of the ugly, unpleasant aspects of her life.

"I only saw it. You're the one who actually has to deal with it." Qin Yinong sighed, her gaze softening. "She treats you so poorly. Let me get you a new agent."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head.

Qin Yinong pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling heavily.

"Don't be angry. I just didn't want to trouble you." Tang Ruoyao quickly explained.

Qin Yinong, already exhausted, felt the dull ache in her temples intensify. Narrowing her eyes, she emphasized, "Trouble?"

"I just didn't want you to worry over something so trivial."

"Trivial?" Qin Yinong let out a humorless laugh.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She cupped Qin Yinong's face and quickly pressed a kiss to her lips.

Not too firm—just a light, soft mwah.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Her ears flushed visibly red, a tingling sensation spreading from her nerves to her core, making her shiver slightly. Struggling to maintain composure, she asked, "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao gazed at her. "I didn't know how to calm you down, so..." She kissed her again, her eyes tender.

Qin Yinong's scalp prickled, her entire body reacting helplessly.

They'd shared far more int!mate kisses before, yet somehow, these kitten-like, featherlight touches left her utterly defenseless. A few more, and she'd melt into a puddle, heart and body alike.

"Use your words, not your mouth." Qin Yinong said, pushing her hand away.

Just then, the car stopped at a red light. Guan Han waited at the crosswalk, eyes fixed ahead, ears perked, fully attentive to the scene unfolding behind her.

Qin Yinong muttered, "We'll talk at home."

Guan Han: "..."

The car pulled up at Wangyue Mountain Residence.

Tang Ruoyao stepped out first. Qin Yinong exited from the other side but didn't join her immediately—instead, she walked to the trunk, opened it, and retrieved a bouquet of pink roses.

She presented them to Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao bit back a smile, asking needlessly, "For me?"

Qin Yinong arched a brow, lips curving faintly.

Tang Ruoyao accepted the flowers, lowering her head to inhale their scent before murmuring with restrained delight, "Thank you."

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "As long as you like them. I..." She paused, hiding a fleeting shyness, then added softly, "It's my first time giving someone flowers." As if afraid of Tang Ruoyao's response, she quickly took hold of the other's wrist and started walking forward.

Tang Ruoyao noticed the tips of her ears turning pink.

Guan Han didn't dare glance around and left as soon as she escorted them inside.

Tang Ruoyao found a vase, arranged the flowers, and placed them on the coffee table. The house's décor had a somewhat dark color palette, but the pink roses added a touch of brightness.

Qin Yinong sat on the sofa, one arm outstretched. Tang Ruoyao walked over and naturally nestled into her embrace. "Weren't you supposed to arrive in the evening?"

"I finished my business early, so I came back ahead of time." Qin Yinong tightened her arm, burying her nose in the girl's soft hair, nuzzling her cheek against it. Tang Ruoyao's long hair, unpermed and undyed, was smooth and silky. Qin Yinong immersed herself in the feeling, resting her chin on Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, gradually becoming still.

As the weight on her shoulder grew heavier, Tang Ruoyao began to feel a slight ache. She shifted her neck, and Qin Yinong suddenly startled awake, pulling her face away. "Did I hurt you?" she asked gently.

"No." Tang Ruoyao replied.

She turned to look at Qin Yinong and, under the soft indoor lighting, noticed the faint tiredness beneath her eyes.

"Are you tired?" Tang Ruoyao asked.

"A little." Qin Yinong covered a yawn with her hand.

She had been out until midnight yesterday, didn't even go back to the hotel, and took an early flight here, which was why she arrived so early.

"Then you should go rest." Tang Ruoyao pulled her up and led her to the second bedroom. Apart from her initial visit to familiarize herself with the place, Tang Ruoyao had never entered this room again after it became Qin Yinong's residence.

Now, she stepped inside once more—this time, rightfully, as Qin Yinong's girlfriend.

The second bedroom was much smaller than the master bedroom, appearing rather sparse. Aside from the bed and wardrobe, the only major furniture was a single armchair by the window, identical to the one in the master bedroom, though without a coffee table. A few books sat on the nightstand, and the bed was neatly made.

Holding back a secret delight, Tang Ruoyao walked to the wardrobe and casually asked, "What do you wear to sleep?"

"A white silk nightgown," Qin Yinong replied. "It's in the left-side cabinet. You'll see it when you open it."

The little figure in Tang Ruoyao's mind jumped for joy, but outwardly, she calmly opened the wardrobe and picked out the nightgown, holding it up. "This one?"

Qin Yinong stood in front of the bathroom mirror, holding a hair tie, tying her hair. Hearing Tang Ruoyao, she poked her head out to look. "Yes," she said. "Bring it in. I need to take a shower first."

Tang Ruoyao hummed.

Her gaze swept over the drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe. If she's showering, she'll need to change her underwear, right? Should she get it for her too? Tang Ruoyao bit her lip, both shy and expectant.

"Yaoyao." A soft call came from inside.

Tang Ruoyao nearly bit her tongue, her dimples involuntarily appearing.

Who was calling her "Yaoyao"? How could a name sound so sweet?

Head lowered, she carried the nightgown inside and placed it outside the glass shower door.

Qin Yinong stepped out briefly and returned with something in her hand, setting it next to the nightgown. Tang Ruoyao glanced over—it was black, with what looked like lace.

Her face burned uncontrollably, yet she remained rooted in place, lost in thought.

Qin Yinong coughed awkwardly and whispered, "Are you going to watch me shower here?"

Tang Ruoyao let out a soft "Ah," looked up, then immediately lowered her head again upon seeing her face before rushing toward the door, barely brushing past the doorframe as she fled outside.

Qin Yinong closed the bathroom door, raised a hand to touch her slightly warm cheeks, and took a few light breaths before the heat in her face finally subsided.

If Tang Ruoyao had really stayed to watch her shower...

Qin Yinong shook her head vigorously. She couldn't dwell on that thought any longer—things might get out of hand.

Tang Ruoyao stood a few steps away from the door, listening to the sound of running water inside, covering her face with both hands as her ears turned completely red.

Ah, what on earth was going through her mind?

It was all Wen Shuxian's fault—

Telling her about "feelings grew over time"...

Far away at the film set, Wen Shuxian suddenly sneezed.

Tang Ruoyao returned to her own room to wash her face, then pulled out her script and read for ten minutes, finally calming the improper thoughts in her heart. Estimating that Qin Yinong had probably finished showering, she went back to the second bedroom.

Just as Qin Yinong stepped out of the bathroom, her complexion glowing with a delicate pink flush against snowy skin. The exposed skin outside her nightgown appeared radiant and translucent, the faint rosy hue from the steam making her look even more languid and alluring.

Seeing Tang Ruoyao approach, Qin Yinong lowered her head to share a soft, damp kiss, her thumb caressing the younger woman's hair with tender affection as she murmured, "I'll sleep for a bit."

"I know." Tang Ruoyao lightly bit her lower lip, gathering courage to lift her gaze. Her clear, bright eyes met Qin Yinong's as she whispered, "I came to ask if you'd like me to stay with you."

Afraid of being misunderstood, she quickly added, "Not for... that. Just to sleep together under the covers."

The more she explained, the more it felt like protesting too much. Maybe Qin Yinong hadn't even considered that implication. Tang Ruoyao thought despairingly—what kind of image did she have in Qin Yinong's mind now? Did she seem completely... yellow-minded?

Noticing the rapidly changing expressions, Qin Yinong couldn't help but feel amused.

The older woman spoke gently, "Not for now. Haven't you had lunch yet? Go eat something first."

Not wanting to reinforce her "little yellow person" image, Tang Ruoyao immediately said, "Then I'll cook extra so I can heat it up for you when you wake."

"Okay."

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and twisted her fingers. "I'm not very skilled, so please bear with it."

Qin Yinong frowned. "Don't be so formal with me."

"Understood. I'll work on changing that. Rest well."

Yawning deeply, Qin Yinong decided not to press the matter for now and climbed into bed.

Tang Ruoyao sat by the bedside, tucking in the blanket corners. Watching as the woman closed her eyes, she pressed a light kiss to the back of her hand before quietly retreating and closing the door behind her.

After she left, Qin Yinong opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for several long minutes, her brows alternately relaxing and tensing. She got up to lock the bedroom door before lying down again.

Humming softly to herself amidst the clatter of pots and pans, Tang Ruoyao prepared three dishes and a soup. Having grown accustomed to Qin Yinong's cooking, she felt dissatisfied with her own culinary skills. While she could tolerate it for herself, serving it to Qin Yinong was...

She could only comfort herself with the thought that "love sees no faults"—even egg fried rice could become a royal feast in a lover's eyes.

Tang Ruoyao had her belated lunch alone, cleaned up the dishes, and then settled on Qin Yinong's daybed to read. By the time the clock struck three in the afternoon, she found herself glancing repeatedly at the door to the second bedroom. Eventually, she tiptoed over barefoot to avoid making any noise. Standing before the door, she reached for the handle.

Now that they were girlfriends, surely there was nothing wrong with sneaking a peek at her sleeping, right?

With this cheerful thought, Tang Ruoyao turned the handle—only to find it wouldn't budge.

She stood frozen in place.

The door was locked.

Qin Yinong, for once, enjoyed a deep and restful sleep. As the setting sun filtered through the white curtains, it cast a soft golden glow across the room. She woke up, stretched languidly in the warm light, and went through a series of stretches to loosen her muscles.

Stepping out of her room, she found the living area empty. Without hesitation, she made her way to the study and pushed the door open.

Tang Ruoyao appeared to be engrossed in a book.

"Appeared" being the operative word, because the moment Qin Yinong pushed the door open, Tang Ruoyao startled so violently that the pages she'd been holding slipped from her fingers. The book snapped shut with a sharp rustle of paper.

Qin Yinong stood at the study doorway, backlit, her figure blurred.

Heart pounding, Tang Ruoyao looked up. "You're awake."

Qin Yinong walked over, her figure growing clearer with each step. She picked up the book Tang Ruoyao had been reading, flipping through it idly. "Didn't take a nap?"

"No," Tang Ruoyao replied. "Are you hungry? I can make you something."

"No."

Tang Ruoyao immediately knew that Qin Yinong was mimicking her tone.

"Something on your mind?" Qin Yinong set the book down.

Young hearts were transparent, even when Tang Ruoyao tried to keep her emotions off her face, they shone plainly in her eyes. Before, Qin Yinong hadn't felt entitled to pry. Now, as her girlfriend, she intended to exercise that right.

"No."

"I'll give you three seconds to think about it. One, two—"

"I'll tell you." Tang Ruoyao looked up at her. Qin Yinong rested her hand on the table, bending down slightly to keep her gaze level with Tang Ruoyao's.

After a brief hesitation, Tang Ruoyao murmured, "This afternoon, I wanted to check on you in your room, but the door was locked. Did you... lock it after I left?"

Qin Yinong remained silent.

"I don't know how other couples are," Tang Ruoyao continued, "but if this is your personal habit, I'll respect it."

She even nodded earnestly at the end, as if to reassure herself as much as Qin Yinong.

After a pause, Qin Yinong said quietly, "This has indeed been my long-standing habit."

"I know," Tang Ruoyao replied, forcing a light tone. "That's why I said it's okay."

Qin Yinong took one of her hands, holding it firmly while meeting her eyes. "Just give me some time." 'I'll slowly overcome it.'

There was a weight in Qin Yinong's expression that made Tang Ruoyao instinctively want to drop the subject. She squeezed Qin Yinong's hand in return. "I'll go heat up the food. Do you want to come with me?"

"Okay."

Tang Ruoyao brought the dishes back to the table. With her upcoming film shoot, she needed to watch her diet just like Qin Yinong, so neither ate much. Qin Yinong wasn't one for conversation, and Tang Ruoyao didn't initiate any, leaving the meal to pass in unusual silence.

The sweetness that should have blossomed during their honeym0on phase was abruptly stifled, leaving an invisible barrier between them.

Later, Qin Yinong leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Tang Ruoyao tidy up.

"Why won't you let me change your agent for you?"

"I want to handle it myself."

"If you can't handle it, remember to tell me."

"I know."

Qin Yinong wanted to find another excuse to linger, but her words felt dry. Her gaze settled on that slender figure's back, and she slowly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Tang Ruoyao's slender waist from behind.

Tang Ruoyao had been embraced from the front many times, but this was the first time from behind. The woman's warm, soft body pressed tightly against her back—it was an entirely different feeling, an int!macy unlike any other.

Tang Ruoyao relaxed into her embrace, tilting her head to look at her. Qin Yinong naturally captured her lips and began kissing her.

At some point, the cloth in Tang Ruoyao's hand had been set aside. She was pushed against the edge of the marble countertop, her arms circling Qin Yinong's waist as she closed her eyes and returned the kiss.

Having an official relationship made all the difference in how a kiss felt.

Before, when they kissed, they had enjoyed the wet, entangled comfort of the act itself. But now, a more intense feeling came from their minds—the fulfillment of mutual understanding, of souls merging—something they had never experienced before.

They clung to each other like they were glued together with superglue, each brief separation followed by an even more int!mate entanglement.

Tang Ruoyao was no longer the fool who didn't even know how to breathe during a kiss. Occasionally, bold thoughts surfaced, and she would pull Qin Yinong closer to her. Qin Yinong indulged her, but after letting her have her way for a moment, she would inevitably take control with even greater dominance.

Outside the window, the moonlight shimmered hazily.

Their foreheads pressed together, their breaths uneven.

After a short rest, Tang Ruoyao cleaned the last corner of the kitchen and left the kitchen with Qin Yinong.

She glanced at the wall clock—once she saw the time, she was startled. They had spent at least an hour in the kitchen. No wonder her lips felt slightly sore.

Qin Yinong had Tang Ruoyao bring over her script, questioning her on her preparations, her understanding of the character, and even had her act out a few scenes, offering serious guidance.

Time slipped away minute by minute until the clock struck ten at night.

Qin Yinong closed the script and said, "You should go take a shower."

Tang Ruoyao looked at her.

Qin Yinong: "Hmm? What's wrong?"

Tang Ruoyao remained silent.

Understanding, Qin Yinong stood up, kissed her lips, and coaxed softly, "Be good, go on."

Tang Ruoyao pouted and reluctantly left.

Their first day together as a couple—aside from kissing in the kitchen—ended with Qin Yinong giving her a whole night of acting lessons. Was this how other couples dated?

Cui Jiaran, the only non-single person in Room 405, received Tang Ruoyao's confusion.

[What do you and your boyfriend usually do?]

Cui Jiaran: [Eat, go shopping, watch movies, attend concerts. If it's a holiday, maybe travel. Not much else, why?]

Tang Ruoyao typed quickly: [No reason, just asking. What do you do at night?]

Cui Jiaran: [Uh...]

She replied tactfully: [I'm staying at my own place for now. My parents don't let me stay out overnight.]

Tang Ruoyao: [So you don't spend nights together?]

Cui Jiaran: [Yeah, but we still go out sometimes—look at the night view, talk about poetry, philosophy, life...]

Tang Ruoyao: [If you lived together?]

Cui Jiaran, avoiding the blush-inducing answer, joked: [Picking each other's feet, hahaha.]

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She cut straight to the point: [She gave me a whole night of acting lessons. Do you think that's normal?]

Cui Jiaran: [You mean Qin Yinong?]

Tang Ruoyao replied with a simple [Yes.]

Cui Jiaran sent back a string of exclamation marks, saying, [You don't know how lucky you are! Having Queen Qin give you acting lessons—you're the only person in the world with this privilege, and yet you're still being picky! Don't give me that!]

Tang Ruoyao sighed helplessly, [I was asking whether it's normal. She's my girlfriend. I'm a living, breathing person right in front of her, yet a few pages of script are more appealing than me?]

Even if they didn't engage in anything inappropriate, there should at least be some sweet int!macy. The thought of her being away filming for three months with only memories of Qin Yinong teaching her was terrifying.

Cui Jiaran's comment did seem a bit odd. [Maybe she's got some kind of issue?]

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, 'She's not a man—what kind of issue could she have? Her fingers are perfectly fine, unbroken and well-maintained, soft and delicate.'

[I meant a psychological issue.] Cui Jiaran clarified in her next message.

Qin Yinong sat on the living room sofa, lost in thought.

Ever since Tang Ruoyao mentioned in the study that she had deliberately locked the door, Qin Yinong realized she had overlooked a major problem.

They had smoothly entered a relationship, but did that mean she had to share every part of her life, including her past? If so, she couldn't do it. She couldn't even share a bed with Tang Ruoyao—she feared lying awake all night, feared suddenly jolting awake from nightmares, feared retreating into a closet, clutching a hanger and lashing out at anyone who came near.

She was sick.

She began to regret confessing to Tang Ruoyao before she had healed.

Would Tang Ruoyao think she didn't love her? Would she misunderstand her sincerity?

Qin Yinong raised a hand to cover her face, dragging it down forcefully.

Abruptly, she stood and strode toward the master bedroom.

Tang Ruoyao set down her phone and opened the door.

Looking up, she unexpectedly locked eyes with Qin Yinong standing right outside.

"I—"

"I—"

Qin Yinong said, "You first."

Tang Ruoyao scratched her temple. "No, you go ahead."

Qin Yinong gazed at her, enunciating each word clearly. "I love you. I've never loved anyone before you, and I never will after. You're the only one."

The sudden confession caught Tang Ruoyao off guard, and her face lit up with joy.

Dazed, she thought, 'What was I about to say again?'

Qin Yinong's cheeks flushed slightly after speaking, but she didn't avert her gaze. Standing straight, she said earnestly, "Your turn."

After a moment of recollection, Tang Ruoyao finally replied, "I was going to say... I won't leave you. And also—" Her long lashes fluttered under the hallway light, shimmering before she lifted them, murmuring softly, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

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