CHAPTER 260: Qin & Tang Extra 34

Is this really happening? Was it what she thought it was?

Tang Ruoyao's mind was in a daze, barely daring to breathe. Her back stiffened as she watched Qin Yinong's eyes shimmer under the lamplight. Almost involuntarily, she blurted out a question in return: "Do you know how?"

Qin Yinong lowered her eyes uncomfortably before raising them again, answering with feigned seriousness, "I don't."

Tang Ruoyao hesitated. "Then..." Too nervous to meet Qin Yinong's gaze, she lowered her voice and said, "I'll do it."

She climbed onto the bed and sat beside Qin Yinong, asking softly, "Do you prefer the lights on or off?"

Qin Yinong discreetly gripped the pillowcase behind her back, exhaling imperceptibly. "Either is fine."

"Then..." Tang Ruoyao faltered again before continuing, "Let's turn them off. We can... later..."

Qin Yinong interrupted, "You decide."

Thinking Qin Yinong might dislike her indecisiveness, Tang Ruoyao hurriedly switched off the light, nearly hitting her chin on the bedside table in her haste. The room plunged into complete darkness—not even a sliver of moonlight, truly pitch black.

Tang Ruoyao immediately regretted it.

This was too dark. What if she messed up? How could she ever face Qin Yinong again?

With no light in the room, Qin Yinong finally allowed the heat to rise unchecked to her cheeks.

Tang Ruoyao fumbled until she found Qin Yinong's hand, clasping it before pulling them both down onto the bed. Qin Yinong lay on her back while Tang Ruoyao lay on her side, her warm breath brushing Qin Yinong's ear as she shyly whispered, "Sister."

Qin Yinong stiffened further.

She'd never found the term problematic before, but in this context, it carried an almost tab0o sense of impropr!ety.

Qin Yinong breathed lightly, her voice low and husky. "Don't call me that."

Tang Ruoyao listened, then admitted honestly, "Your voice sounds strange."

Qin Yinong: "..."

Tang Ruoyao smiled demurely, leaning closer to murmur, "But it's nice."

She'd meant to relax Qin Yinong, but the words only made her more tense—so much so that Qin Yinong almost covered her mouth to stop the chatter. She'd never been this talkative before. Why now, of all times?

Qin Yinong cupped Tang Ruoyao's face, her other hand cradling the back of her head as she drew her closer.

Tang Ruoyao didn't actually want to talk either, but she didn't want Qin Yinong to think she was only interested in one thing. So she kept speaking, trying to appear more virtuous.

When their lips met, Tang Ruoyao abandoned her foolish conversation plan. Under Qin Yinong's guidance, she took on the role of the leader.

Qin Yinong became utterly pliant, yielding to her tender advances.

After a long kiss, Tang Ruoyao rested her forehead against Qin Yinong's, her fingers mimicking what Qin Yinong had done on the sofa earlier—her thumb stroking the other woman's flushed cheek.

They were so close that Tang Ruoyao could feel Qin Yinong's quickened breaths, far more rapid than before.

No further hints were needed. Tang Ruoyao already knew what to do. She lifted her head slightly, pressing light, repeated kisses to Qin Yinong's soft lips. Her fingers combed through silken hair as she buried her nose in the cool strands.

Qin Yinong's brows furrowed slightly. Her fingers tangled in Tang Ruoyao's hair, combing through it leisurely before suddenly curling as she bit her lower lip. In the dim light, her consciousness grew hazy.

Tang Ruoyao found her hand again, interlacing their fingers and pressing them against the snow-white pillow.

A flurry of bizarre images flashed through her mind—sometimes galloping horses across vast grasslands, sometimes eagles soaring through the skies, sometimes flocks of ducks swimming beneath the bridges of Jiangnan's water towns. The suffocating sensation of near-death surged like an unstoppable tide. Qin Yinong struggled with all her might to break free from it, but to no avail. She could only let it push her further and further away, straight into the eye of the storm. The gale howled, and soon, she couldn't even feel herself anymore.

A long time later, she finally regained consciousness.

The room was lit up, bright as daylight.

She squinted against the piercing white light. The moment her fingers twitched, a hand moved faster than hers, gently shielding her eyes.

"Is it too bright?" Tang Ruoyao asked.

"A little." Qin Yinong's voice came out hoarse from disuse.

Tang Ruoyao dimmed the light, letting it seep slowly through the gaps between her fingers. "Better?"

"Mm."

Tang Ruoyao first let her adjust through the slits before gradually pulling her hand away.

"Feeling better now?" she asked, her words carrying a double meaning.

Now fully recovered, Qin Yinong stretched her limbs and nerves lazily, still squinting. "Not bad."

Tang Ruoyao hesitated, suddenly at a loss for words.

After racking her brain for a while, she finally blurted out, "Do you want to take a shower?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Later." Then, glancing at Tang Ruoyao's hands, which had retreated awkwardly, she added, "Aren't you going to hold me?"

Tang Ruoyao stammered, "Oh—oh!" and quickly wrapped her arms around her.

"Too tight. Are you trying to strangle me?"

"Sorr—I mean, my bad."

Qin Yinong shot her a half-teasing, half-reproachful look before settling into a comfortable position in her embrace and closing her eyes.

Only after confirming that Qin Yinong wasn't watching did Tang Ruoyao allow herself to grin, her smile a little goofy.

This person—inside and out, body and soul—was hers now.

The two of them quietly savored the tender moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Qin Yinong, never one to feel drowsy easily, had her eyes fluttering open again after just a few minutes.

She had rested enough—she was ready for another round. But then she saw Tang Ruoyao fast asleep.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Somehow, she wasn't surprised at all.

Leaning over Tang Ruoyao, she reached out to turn off the bedside lamp. Amused and frustrated, she took the opportunity to tease her, pinching her cheeks firmly before finally pulling the deeply sleeping young lover into her arms, closing her eyes to coax herself into slumber.

The first light of dawn crept through the window.

Qin Yinong's fingers, resting atop the blanket, twitched. A light sleeper by nature, she opened her eyes the moment she detected faint rustling sounds. Looking down, she saw the top of Tang Ruoyao's dark head.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was lazy with sleep.

Tang Ruoyao, caught red-handed in her early-morning mischief, buried her face under the blanket like an ostrich.

Qin Yinong pulled her out, laughing. "I'm not scolding you, so why do you keep hiding?"

Tang Ruoyao kept her head lowered, her ears flushed crimson like a guilty puppy's.

Qin Yinong reached out and pinched one.

Tang Ruoyao buried her face into the pillow.

The pajamas they had worn the night before were still tossed at the foot of the bed. Tang Ruoyao's movements had pushed the blanket down to her waist, leaving her smooth, jade-like back exposed. Qin Yinong's gaze lingered for two seconds, her eyes darkening, before she pulled the covers back up for her.

Qin Yinong sighed and asked Tang Ruoyao, "Are you hungry?"

Tang Ruoyao's muffled voice came from beneath the pillow, "No."

Qin Yinong said, "I am."

With that, she propped herself up on her elbows. Suddenly, Tang Ruoyao pounced like a starving tiger, pinning her down.

Tang Ruoyao stared intently at her with large, expressive eyes.

Qin Yinong remained unruffled, the corners of her lips curling almost imperceptibly.

After all this hesitation, had she finally mustered the courage to get to the main event?

After a long pause, Tang Ruoyao said, "I'll make breakfast."

Qin Yinong's smile froze.

Tang Ruoyao scrambled out of bed, grabbed her robe from the sofa, and hurried out while tying the belt.

She left just in time—who knew if Qin Yinong might have kicked her off otherwise.

Left alone in the master bedroom, Qin Yinong lay with the back of her hand resting on her forehead, staring blankly at the ceiling as she questioned her life.

How could she let Qin Yinong both exhaust herself and make breakfast? With this thought, Tang Ruoyao entered the kitchen and got busy.

Qin Yinong took a shower, changed the sheets and tossed them into the washing machine, then left the bedroom for the living room and turned on the TV. Tang Ruoyao occasionally peeked at her from the kitchen door, like a newlywed bride. Qin Yinong's eyes curved slightly, pretending not to notice.

Tang Ruoyao brought two bowls of noodles to the dining table and set out chopsticks and porcelain spoons.

Without waiting to be called, Qin Yinong got up and walked over. Tang Ruoyao rushed forward in three quick strides, silently gripping Qin Yinong's arm with one hand and supporting her waist with the other, carefully guiding her steps.

Qin Yinong: "..."

She looked at Tang Ruoyao with a complicated expression and said, "I'm not pregnant."

Tang Ruoyao nodded vigorously. "I know."

Qin Yinong's expression grew even more inscrutable. "Then what are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao remained silent.

Qin Yinong: "..."

Fine, whatever.

But it didn't end there. After helping Qin Yinong into her seat, Tang Ruoyao dashed to the sofa, grabbed a cushion, then rushed back to tuck it behind Qin Yinong's lower back.

Qin Yinong stared at her: "..."

Still silent, Tang Ruoyao sat across from her, picked up her chopsticks, and transferred meat from her own bowl to Qin Yinong's, murmuring, "Eat."

Qin Yinong leaned back slightly, the soft cushion supporting her waist. As she lifted a few strands of noodles into her spoon, it suddenly dawned on her what kind of script Tang Ruoyao was following today.

Qin Yinong: "..."

It seemed there was a deep misunderstanding here.

Not everyone woke up sore and weak—especially after that level of exertion, which had been less taxing than her usual gym workouts.

But Qin Yinong, with a mischievous streak, chose not to correct her.

She smiled and took her first bite of noodles.

Seeing her genuine smile, Tang Ruoyao finally relaxed.

Truthfully, she'd sensed Qin Yinong's faint resentment toward her since morning. Everything had been fine the night before, so Tang Ruoyao assumed it was delayed discomfort. Combined with the novels Wen Shuxian had recommended, she'd arrived at her current conclusion. But women were shy—asking outright might provoke anger—so Tang Ruoyao opted for actions over words.

At the same time, she felt a smug sense of self-satisfaction. If she weren't capable, how could she have made Qin Yinong react like that? It seemed she had quite a talent in this area. The most crucial aspect of a harmonious relationship—she'd already mastered it. What a joyous achievement.

They were definitely going to last a lifetime together.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head and chuckled.

A lover's laughter is contagious. Though Qin Yinong didn't know what she was laughing about, she couldn't help but join in.

The two of them laughed facing each other.

By the time they finished breakfast, urging each other along, the food had nearly gone cold.

Qin Yinong took the tissue Tang Ruoyao handed her, wiped her mouth leisurely, and asked, "Coming home with me today? Mom made something delicious."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Sure."

"Ningning has started talking now—much more fun than before." Qin Yinong added.

Tang Ruoyao smiled. "Still calling you 'Mom'?"

Qin Yinong shook her head with a laugh. "Not anymore, but she's taken to calling me 'Auntie' quite naturally. She really likes me." When talking about the child, her eyes sparkled with an unusual brightness, her whole demeanor transformed.

Feeling moved, Tang Ruoyao bit her lip and asked, "Do you like children?"

Qin Yinong thought for a moment. "They're alright?" After a few seconds of frowning contemplation, she amended, "Actually, I quite like them. You know what? My sister's kid is so smart, she—"

After rambling for several minutes, Qin Yinong's cheeks grew slightly warm. She coughed and stopped herself.

Tang Ruoyao gazed at her tenderly. "I love listening to you talk."

The longer they were together, the more Tang Ruoyao realized Qin Yinong wasn't much of a talker—except when she was with her sister. The two of them could bicker all day long.

Tang Ruoyao admitted she felt a twinge of jealousy. She understood people behaved differently in different roles, not just due to closeness, but she still wished Qin Yinong would chatter away with her too, sharing everything.

Perhaps reading her thoughts, Qin Yinong nodded. "I'll try to talk more."

Even though they were alone at home, she leaned forward as if afraid of being overheard and whispered very softly, "But I prefer your voice... from that time."

Qin Yinong: "???"

Having awkwardly flirted with Qin Yinong, Tang Ruoyao—before Qin Yinong could even react—turned into a steamed crab on the spot. Flustered, she gathered the dishes and utensils, dashed toward the kitchen, nearly colliding with the half-open glass sliding door before barely squeezing past the edge.

Finally understanding what "that time" referred to, Qin Yinong burst out laughing. A moment later, she sighed, rubbing her forehead.

What to do?

If Tang Ruoyao kept being this adorably clueless, she might not be able to resist giving her some hands-on lessons.

For the third time since waking up, Qin Yinong wondered: What exactly had Tang Ruoyao been through? What had shaped her extraordinary imagination? What gave her such blind confidence? And who had taught her those suggestive remarks?

She couldn't figure it out.

Tang Ruoyao loaded the dishwasher, then cupped her hands under the kitchen faucet to splash water on her face. Remembering what she'd just said, she cringed so hard her toes curled.

'If you can't say it smoothly, then don't say it! Why did you have to open your mouth? So embarrassing!'

Tang Ruoyao felt as if a thousand ants were crawling inside her. Distractedly, she picked up a nearby cloth rag. When it was just a hair's breadth from her face, she snapped back to reality and tossed it back where it came from.

Tang Ruoyao: "Ugh, gross."

Qin Yinong's voice called from outside: "Yaoyao."

Tang Ruoyao took a deep breath. "Coming."

Qin Yinong raised her voice: "Get me some water."

"On it." Tang Ruoyao poured two glasses of water and was about to set them on the living room table when Qin Yinong reached out. She naturally placed one glass in Qin Yinong's hand. Qin Yinong's eyes stayed fixed on the documentary playing on TV, but her peripheral glance skimmed the glass before she brought it to her lips and took a sip.

A sudden surge of fear and revulsion made her hold the water in her mouth, unable to swallow.

Just as Tang Ruoyao sat down beside her, she saw Qin Yinong hook a nearby trash bin with her foot, lean over, and spit something out. A closer look revealed it was the water she had just sipped.

Tang Ruoyao paled in alarm: "Is there something wrong with the water?"

Qin Yinong's lips were slightly pale as she waved it off.

She studied the glass of plain water carefully before taking another slow sip and swallowing.

"It's fine. It's just me."

Tang Ruoyao wasn't about to take her word for it.

Suddenly, she remembered what Qin Yinong had told her the night before about being drugged. A few fragmented images flashed through her mind—one time at the badminton court, she had unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to Qin Yinong, who had hesitated before drinking. Was her caution toward anything she drank rooted in past experiences?

Tang Ruoyao's expression shifted. After a long hesitation, she murmured, "Can you tell me who that person was?"

Qin Yinong: "Hmm?" She tilted her head. "Planning revenge?"

"I'll make a note of it. If the chance ever comes, I'll make sure they pay." Tang Ruoyao echoed Fu Yujun's words: "What goes around comes around, and never underestimate the young and poor, right?"

Qin Yinong ruffled her hair. "Right." She sighed. "I can tell you, but you have to promise me you won't act recklessly."

Tang Ruoyao met her gaze steadily. "Do I seem like the reckless type?"

Qin Yinong shook her head.

She trusted Tang Ruoyao. Since she had already started, there was no point hiding the rest. Qin Yinong said, "His name is Li Yichuan."

Tang Ruoyao blinked in momentary confusion before pulling out her phone to search.

Sure enough, he was a prominent figure with his own Wikipedia page.

Qin Yinong traced the rim of her glass with her thumb, choosing her words carefully. "Seven years ago, I was at the peak of my debut fame. My former manager took me to a business dinner. I thought it would be the usual—drinking and socializing. But he wanted to curry favor with Li Yichuan and decided to offer me to him. I didn't suspect anything and drank the tea my manager handed me. The next thing I knew, I woke up on Li Yichuan's bed."

Tang Ruoyao stayed silent. Anything she could say felt hollow, like rubbing salt into Qin Yinong's wounds.

The back of Qin Yinong's hand, resting at her side, grew warm as Tang Ruoyao covered it with her own. She didn't know how to comfort her, so she let her presence speak for itself.

Qin Yinong knew she didn't mind, but she still smiled faintly, clarifying, "But he didn't succeed. I woke up just as he was about to..." Knowing the harm hadn't gone that far would ease Tang Ruoyao's mind.

Sure enough, Tang Ruoyao asked quietly, "What happened after?"

Qin Yinong narrowed her eyes as she recalled, "I fought with him and ended up smashing his head with an ashtray before hiding in the wardrobe. Much later, after he and his men had left, I came out and ran away."

The torment she endured that night couldn't be summarized in just a few casual words, as Tang Ruoyao well knew. The more she learned about Qin Yinong, the more Tang Ruoyao realized how different she was from her initial impression. The seemingly untouchable, goddess-like movie queen Qin, stripped of her halo, was just an ordinary person who had struggled bitterly in the industry—even coming from an extremely troubled family.

How had she ever thought Qin Yinong was some pampered young lady who had everything handed to her on a silver platter? Qin Yinong's glory shouldn't have blinded her to the truth. Tang Ruoyao raised her hand and lightly slapped herself.

Qin Yinong caught her wrist. "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'm a pig."

Qin Yinong replied, "I agree." Especially when it came to how soundly she slept, completely oblivious to everything.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong burst into laughter.

"Alright," she said, pinching Tang Ruoyao's still slightly chubby cheeks. "Apart from me and Li Yichuan, no one else knows about this. It's normal that you wouldn't have guessed."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes reddened slightly. "There's more."

Qin Yinong said, "Then ask me anything you want to know from now on." She took Tang Ruoyao's hand in hers. "You're now Qin-Tang Ruoyao. You can't hit yourself without my permission."

"Why not Tang-Qin Ruoyao?"

"Because the Qin dynasty came before the Tang dynasty, of course." Qin Yinong said with mock seriousness.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

That made so much sense she was left speechless.

Qin·Tang Ruoyao asked, "What was your previous agency called?"

"Huiyue Entertainment."

"I don't think I've heard of it."

"A small company. It's already gone bankrupt, so it's normal you haven't heard of it."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but clap. "Good riddance." Served them right for bu|lying Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong tilted her head, giving her a knowing look. "Guess how it went bankrupt?"

Tang Ruoyao searched online.

The internet never forgets. After finding a few old news articles, she looked up and said, "It says here they were shut down for money laundering."

"Not just that. Several executives ended up in jail, including my former agent, Du Ankai."

"Is that what they call divine justice, karma striking back?"

"You could say that." Qin Yinong hesitated but couldn't resist adding, "Actually, An Ling and I gathered evidence and reported them for money laundering."

"Wow." Tang Ruoyao's eyes sparkled with admiration. "You're amazing."

Qin Yinong curled her lips slightly, feigning modesty. "I guess so." Oddly, even when she had sent her enemies to prison back then, it hadn't made her as happy as Tang Ruoyao's simple praise did now. Maybe she had truly moved on.

Qin Yinong raised her eyebrows again.

"What else?" Tang Ruoyao asked.

"What else what?"

"More stories like this—where people wronged you, and you got back at them." Tang Ruoyao said. The young always burned with passion, believing in a just world where hard work guaranteed hope.

"Yes, there was." Qin Yinong paused the ignored television and said, "Didn't I injure Li Yichuan? After that day, Li Yichuan was searching everywhere for me, wanting to teach me a lesson. Knowing Han Yuping had a grudge against him, I intercepted Han's car one night. At that time, he was auditioning actresses for the female lead in his new film, but after searching for over half a year, he still hadn't found anyone suitable..."

Life is just like writing a novel—if it ends well, no matter how tortuous the journey, people will see it as inspiring.

Seeking refuge, intercepting cars, high-stakes gambles, crisis after crisis, finding hope in desperate situations, walking precariously across the knife's edge of a cliff before safely reaching the other side and stepping onto a broad avenue paved with red carpets.

If she hadn't told Tang Ruoyao about it, Qin Yinong wouldn't have realized how much she resembled a novel's protagonist.

She burst into laughter.

Tang Ruoyao's admiration for her was overflowing, her sparkling eyes making her look like an adoring fangirl.

The little fangirl shielded her eyes and said, "I need to process this for a moment."

"Take your time. We'll head home for lunch later." Qin Yinong replied, pressing play on the remote. The documentary about Earth playing on the TV had taken fifteen years to produce, involved tens of thousands of staff, and had been translated into 16 languages. The version Qin Yinong was watching had Chinese dubbing, voiced by a renowned veteran actor.

The voice acting was rich with emotion, and Qin Yinong listened intently. She wasn't formally trained, so she had painstakingly honed many of the essential professional skills actors needed from various sources, never slacking off.

After half an hour, Tang Ruoyao, having finished "processing," came over and wrapped her arms around Qin Yinong's waist.

Qin Yinong kept her eyes on the TV but accurately rested her palm on Tang Ruoyao's head, asking softly, "What's wrong?"

"You're my girlfriend." Tang Ruoyao said in a strange tone, neither questioning nor affirming.

"Mm."

"Why?" This time, Tang Ruoyao was genuinely asking.

Qin Yinong looked down and saw her smiling, her teeth gleaming white.

Qin Yinong smiled back. "Because you're a puppy."

Tang Ruoyao turned around, placed her hand near her tailbone, and wagged it playfully. "The puppy is wagging its tail for you," she said, acting cute.

She knelt on the sofa, facing away from Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong, whose experience far surpassed hers, immediately had some less-than-innocent thoughts. She took a quiet breath, closed her eyes briefly to suppress her wandering mind, then turned Tang Ruoyao back around, her voice low and husky. "Don't..."

Tang Ruoyao didn't catch the rest. "Don't what? Don't wag my tail?"

"Never mind," Qin Yinong said. "Go ahead." After a pause, she added calmly, "Just don't do it in front of others."

'If I can't have her, can't I at least look?'

Tang Ruoyao said, baffled, "I know that. I'm not stupid—it'd be so embarrassing!"

Qin Yinong asked, "Is it not embarrassing when you do it in front of me?"

Blushing slightly, Tang Ruoyao replied, "Of course not. I'm your puppy, after all."

Qin Yinong's heart stirred. "Then what am I to you?"

Without hesitation, Tang Ruoyao answered, "You're my Youlemei."

The advertisement for this milk tea had been wildly popular years ago, leaving a deep impression on Qin Yinong. Playing along, she feigned disappointment. "Oh? So I'm just milk tea?"

Gazing at her affectionately, Tang Ruoyao said, "That way, I can hold you in the palm of my hand."

Qin Yinong burst into laughter.

Tang Ruoyao was equally amused.

Conversations between lovers don't always need substance. The so-called passage of time is never wasted as long as it's spent with the one you love.

After playing around on the sofa for a while, they went to change clothes before heading to the Qin family home.

Before leaving, Qin Yinong said, "Wag your tail."

Tang Ruoyao turned her back and wagged it obediently.

Qin Yinong glanced around the entryway, her gaze lingering thoughtfully.

'...We could try it here someday.'

Author's Note:

Tang Ruoyao-1 has lived up to expectations and successfully taken the lead—what are everyone's thoughts? Hahaha?

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