CHAPTER 267: Qin & Tang Extra 41
Tang Ruoyao clicked into the trending topic. The top-ranked post was from a marketing account with millions of followers.
The account had posted a photo of Qin Lunong with the caption: [Qin Yinong's biological older sister. Do you guys think they look alike? [melon emoji]]
Comments:
[Is it trendy now to just make up family ties based on a single photo? (111,111 likes)]
[I've never heard Qin Yinong mention having a sister. So, OP, do you have actual proof? That said, this 'sister' is really beautiful. (99,999 likes)]
[If this gets over 500 reposts, watch out for a lawyer's letter from Qin Yinong's studio. [dog head emoji] (77,777 likes)]
[Even if she is her sister, who gave you the right to expose a private citizen? Shameless media. [smile emoji] (55,555 likes)]
[I think this is all staged. Qin Yinong probably wants her sister to debut using her fame—why waste such a hot topic? I'll make a bold prediction: soon, they'll start pushing the 'sisterly bond' narrative. (44,444 likes)]
The taxi stopped at the school gate, but Tang Ruoyao remained motionless. The driver turned around and reminded her, "Miss, we're here."
Tang Ruoyao glanced at the fare on the meter, took out cash from her wallet, handed it over, and stepped out of the car.
She sent Qin Yinong a message asking about the situation, but there was no reply.
There were no classes in the afternoon. After their nap, the three roommates in Dorm 405 skipped the library and stayed in their room to study while waiting for Tang Ruoyao to return.
Tang Ruoyao slipped her phone into her pocket, pushed open the door, and closed it quietly behind her, her expression calm.
Wen Shuxian said, "The media really has no bottom line—now they're targeting family members too."
Cui Jiaran added, "I hope this gets buried soon. If not, they should just sue the hell out of them."
Tang Ruoyao didn't respond, offering only a faint smile to her roommates.
Wen Shuxian tactfully dropped the subject, choosing instead to check for updates online from time to time.
Within just a few hours, another trending topic surged to the top.
[The True Identity of Qin Yinong's Sister]
Clicking into the feed, a marketing account had screenshotted a comment from Weibo: [Isn't this the legendary professor from P University's biology department—the one students wake up at 5 a.m. just to grab a seat in her class?]
The revelation sent shockwaves through the internet.
Netizens were stunned.
Many claimed to be P University students, rallying in support of their professor.
When it came to gossip, netizens preferred digging up details themselves rather than swallowing whatever was spoon-fed to them. Discussions about Qin Lunong's true identity exploded across entertainment forums, with threads dissecting every possible angle.
Eventually, an exposé account compiled the findings and posted them on Weibo:
[Qin Lunong, female, born in 1986. Admitted to P University at 15 as the city's top science student and the province's second-highest scorer. Went abroad for exchange studies at 17 and spent several years overseas. From 2005 to 2009, studied in the Molecular Biology Department at MIT, earning a Ph.D. From 2009 to 2011, conducted postdoctoral research in the same department. From 2011 to 2016, worked at CSHL. Returned to China in 2017 and currently serves as a professor and doctoral advisor in P University's biology department. As of November 2017, Qin Lunong has published 37 academic papers as first author in journals such as Nature, Science, and Cell, with additional publications as corresponding author...]
Line after line of text seemed to prove just how vast the gap between genius and ordinary mortals could be.
Netizen 1: [Big sis, is my kneeling posture up to standard?]
Netizen 2: [As a fellow biology Ph.D. student, I can say that the achievements of this thirty-year-old are something most people could never reach in their entire lives. For those who don't know, CSHL—Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory—is known as the holy land of life sciences and the "cradle of molecular biology." It's the undisputed top-tier biological research institution in the world and has produced eight Nobel laureates.]
Netizen 3: [Not a professional here, but I looked it up online to add some context. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is located in New York, USA, and is considered the most beautiful lab in the world. It's also an international hub for life science conferences and training. Every year, major genetics conferences are held there. For those who've had basic education, the lab's director, James Dewey Watson, is one of the discoverers of DNA's double-helix structure and is known as the "Father of DNA." [kneeling]]
Netizen 4: [Did I get my courage from Liang Jingru? How dare I click on this trending topic?]
Netizen 5: [I just came here for the drama, but I didn't expect this outcome.]
Netizen 6: [This is the definition of "could rely on looks but chooses to rely on talent." I saw a photo of her in a lab coat, and I think I'm in love. What do I do?]
Finally, someone remembered the original point of this trending topic.
Netizen 6: [With names and looks this similar, they must be related. So why has Qin Yinong never mentioned having such an incredible sister?]
Netizen 7: [Probably to protect her family from media harassment?]
Netizen 8: [Which media outlet dares to bother Sister Lunong? I'll be the first to stop them!]
Netizen 9: [I don't know why, but thanks to Sister Lunong, I suddenly find Qin Yinong much more likable. Is this the power of love?]
Netizen 10: [Draw your swords, love rivals! Sister Lunong is mine!]
......
An Ling pointed at the computer screen in front of Qin Yinong and laughed. "The halo of academic excellence is truly remarkable. This is going even smoother than we imagined."
Qin Lunong had been teaching at the university for several months, and those who needed to take notice had already done so. The school forum buzzed with discussions about her relationship with Qin Yinong. One day, as Qin Lunong left the lab, she was ambushed by a reporter waiting at the building entrance.
The reporter introduced themselves and asked for an interview. Qin Lunong simply put on her mask and walked away without a second glance.
Later, she told Qin Yinong about the incident. After discussing it with An Ling, they agreed the timing was right.
If they didn't strike first, their scheming rivals would seize the opportunity to twist the narrative. Though Qin Yinong didn't think rivals like Hao Meihua posed any real threat, it was better to resolve things smoothly and quickly.
So An Ling orchestrated this entire spectacle.
Instead of facing criticism, Qin Lunong was met with overwhelming admiration after her dazzling credentials were laid bare. Her combination of beauty and brilliance captivated the public.
Qin Yinong's fingertip brushed the computer screen, pausing on the tenth top comment. Her gaze was inscrutable.
[Draw your swords, love rivals! Sister Lunong is mine!]
It was easy to predict—Qin Lunong's "wife squad" was about to make its grand debut.
Overnight, Qin Lunong became the talk of the town, tagged with all sorts of labels, and many people expressed their desire to form groups to visit P University just to catch a glimpse of her.
......
Qin Lunong, basking in the attention along the way, walked into the classroom as usual.
She paused at the doorway, taking in the sight of the densely packed students inside—those standing at the back, those sitting on the steps—a sea of dark figures that nearly triggered her trypophobia. There were also a few individuals who clearly didn't look like students, mingling in the crowd and furtively fiddling with their phones.
Qin Lunong wore a deep blue V-neck satin blouse that revealed her slender, fair neck, enhancing her gentle demeanor. Hidden in the corners, phones were snapping photos frantically. Resting one hand on the lectern, Qin Lunong said, "Students who haven't enrolled in this course, please leave the classroom. I'll start taking attendance now. Those whose names are called, please stand up."
The enrolled students looked as if they had finally been rescued, while some of the others began to leave gradually. However, more chose to stay, just in case.
Qin Lunong pulled up the class roster from her phone's photo album and called out names one by one.
Over forty students stood up in the classroom. Those who weren't called, including the imposters who had sneaked in, all slunk away sheepishly.
Only then did Qin Lunong offer her students a warm, graceful smile.
"Please take your seats. Let's begin the class."
Everyone sat down in unison, sitting up straight and listening attentively.
After work, Qin Lunong returned home. As soon as she stepped inside, Qin Yinong rushed over from the sofa, grabbed her arm, and scrutinized her from head to toe, asking anxiously, "Are you okay?"
Qin Lunong handed her bag to Qin Yinong, who hung it on the stand by the door.
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Qin Lunong waved at Tang Ruoyao in the living room and greeted her with a smile, "Xiaotang, you're here too. No classes today?"
Tang Ruoyao replied, "I came over after my class ended."
Qin Lunong chatted with her as if her sister wasn't there, "Dudu told me you're an excellent student, always ranking first in exams."
Previously, Tang Ruoyao only knew that Qin Lunong was a returned overseas Ph.D. and seemed impressive. But it wasn't until Qin Lunong trended on social media and she joined her roommates in gossiping that she truly grasped what "impressive" meant.
Not just netizens—even people at their school were caught up in the buzz. Between classes, on the way to and from lectures, and even in the cafeteria, everyone around was discussing it. Wen Shuxian deeply regretted not asking Qin Lunong for an autograph last time—or at least exchanging a few more words! Maybe she could've absorbed some of the top student's brilliance and improved her own idiom skills.
Cui Jiaran earnestly told her, "Molecular biology is a science subject. You're worshipping the wrong idol."
Wen Shuxian didn't care. Before Tang Ruoyao returned this time, she even asked her to get an autograph from Qin Lunong.
In front of Qin Lunong, how could Tang Ruoyao possibly boast about her exam results? Feeling embarrassed, she said humbly, "It's just small achievements, nothing compared to Sister Lu."
Qin Lunong shook her head. "In Qin Yinong's eyes, you're much better than me."
Tang Ruoyao glanced at Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong glared. "Hey! I never said that! I only praised her grades—I didn't say she's better than you! Don't twist my words!"
Qin Lunong snorted.
Tang Ruoyao felt like she had stumbled into some bizarre sisterly battlefield and quickly retreated to the kitchen to fetch water for both of them.
When she came back, the two had already made up. Qin Yinong's cheeks were slightly flushed, as if pinched by fingertips. Tang Ruoyao walked over, and Qin Yinong gave her a pitiful glance. Tang Ruoyao sat down beside her and gently took her hand.
Qin Yinong said seriously, "I mean it—do you want to take a few days off to lay low? There'll definitely be a lot of entertainment media sneaking into the school to ambush you or take photos to post online."
Qin Lunong replied, "I'm leading a research project with a team of graduate students. If I don't show up, they won't be able to get anything done."
Qin Yinong compromised, "How about I assign you a few bodyguards?"
Qin Lunong waved it off, "No need. I only have one class a week, and the rest of the time I'm in the lab. Security is tight—they won't find me. After a few failed attempts, they'll stop coming."
Qin Yinong frowned, "But—"
Qin Lunong cut her off, "No more buts. You're being fussy. Your agent said I should cooperate with the clarification. When can we arrange that?"
Qin Yinong's expression shifted slightly. "An Ling told you about that too?"
Qin Lunong raised an eyebrow. "I asked her. Got a problem with that?"
"...No."
Tang Ruoyao listened on, utterly confused.
That night, as they lay in bed, Qin Yinong pulled Tang Ruoyao into her arms, idly playing with her slender fingers one by one, and explained, "Back when I first debuted, Qin Hongjian took money to mal!ciously spread rumors about me and a male celebrity, claiming I'd been promiscuous even during my student days. Because he was my father, everyone believed the interview when it aired. That was the beginning of all the gossip."
Tang Ruoyao was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I didn't curse him enough last time."
Qin Yinong chuckled. "So An Ling wants to uproot this rumor once and for all. She actually has evidence, but with my sister's statement, it'll be even more credible."
"You don't want her to step forward?"
"No. She's not in this industry. She doesn't realize how a single offhand remark can be twisted from countless angles. If people want to smear you, they'll find a way. She's pure and clean—no need to wade into this muddy water."
"I have a different take," Tang Ruoyao raised her hand like a student. "Can I share it?"
Qin Yinong caught her hand and brought it to her lips for a soft kiss. "Permission granted."
Tang Ruoyao said, "If I were her, I'd really want to do something to help you."
Qin Yinong disagreed. "Her staying quiet is the biggest help she can give me. The honors she's earned didn't come easily. If my issues tarnish her reputation, I'd never forgive myself."
"That's not how it is," Tang Ruoyao gazed at her softly. "Honors are honors, and you're not a stain."
"I know, but—"
"Let me finish," Tang Ruoyao interrupted. "I know you want to protect everyone around you—whether it's Sister Lu or me. But have you ever truly considered how we feel? Whether we're willing to accept everything you arrange for us, whether we're willing to watch you face the storm alone? To us, you're the most important thing. Do you understand?"
Qin Yinong fell silent.
Tang Ruoyao said, "Although I haven't known Sister Lulu for long, I can tell she's a strong-willed person. If you insist on shielding her behind you, do you really want her to argue with you? And since you can't win an argument against her anyway, why bother?"
Qin Yinong: "..." She replied gloomily, "Why do I feel like you're starting to sound like her now?"
Tang Ruoyao chuckled, "Do I?"
Qin Yinong suddenly pinched her cheek and said, "You do." One Qin Lunong was enough—if she had to deal with a mini version too, she might as well just end it all!
Tang Ruoyao smiled sweetly, "No, I'm very obedient to you, and I won't argue with you either."
"Then who was it that refused to let me drive her to school last time?" Qin Yinong began dredging up old grievances, pretending to be angry.
Tang Ruoyao tilted her head, feigning ignorance, "Who was it?" She looked around playfully, her tone turning adorable, "Who was it?"
Qin Yinong cupped her face with both hands so she couldn't move.
Tang Ruoyao's features were squeezed together, making her face look like a steamed bun and her expression comical.
Qin Yinong kissed her lips, then loosened her grip. Tang Ruoyao caught the woman's lips in return, gently pushing her backward until they slowly toppled over...
......
Tang Ruoyao handed a book to Wen Shuxian.
Wen Shuxian glanced at the cover and frowned, "An Idiom Dictionary? Why are you giving me this?"
Tang Ruoyao said, "Open the title page and see."
Wen Shuxian did as told and discovered Qin Lunong's signature on the title page, accompanied by a note: "Study hard, little sister."
Wen Shuxian stared at the elegant handwriting and giggled foolishly, "She called me 'little sister.'"
Cui Jiaran, overhearing, teased, "Little sister~"
Wen Shuxian snapped, "Get lost!"
Cui Jiaran burst into laughter.
Suddenly, Wen Shuxian declared, "I'm going to take the postgraduate entrance exam for P University—cross-disciplinary, majoring in biology."
Only Cui Jiaran played along, exclaiming, "Wow, P University is super hard to get into!"
Wen Shuxian immediately grinned triumphantly, "Just kidding!" She looked around at her three roommates, "So? Did I scare you?"
"Yeah, totally scared," Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun replied flatly, barely mustering a smile.
Fu Yujun dragged her chair closer to Tang Ruoyao and whispered, "How's the ring selection going?"
Tang Ruoyao pulled open the right drawer of her desk. Light spilled in, revealing a small blue velvet box nestled inside.
Fu Yujun discreetly gave her a thumbs-up.
Tang Ruoyao tucked the box into her pocket and placed it under her pillow. That night, after lights-out, she used her phone's flashlight to examine the diamond ring over and over, her eyes sparkling with joy as she imagined how Qin Yinong would react when she received it. Would she be moved to tears like the heroines in TV dramas? Tang Ruoyao couldn't quite picture it—it felt oddly out of place.
More likely, she'd be the one bawling during the proposal.
Shaking her head to dispel the ridiculous image, Tang Ruoyao seriously pondered how to propose. But as she thought, drowsiness crept in. She returned the ring to its box, placed it within easy reach, and drifted off to sleep.
She dreamed.
She dreamed of having a candlelit dinner with Qin Yinong at a romantic restaurant. Amidst the gentle and beautiful piano music, the two of them spoke softly to each other. At one point, Qin Yinong put down her knife and fork, interlaced her fingers, and rested them under her chin, gazing at her with sparkling eyes, as if expecting something.
Tang Ruoyao suddenly produced a diamond ring, knelt on one knee before the woman, and said emotionally:
"Qin Yinong, will you marry me?"
Qin Yinong looked at her and slowly, earnestly replied, "Yes."
She extended her left hand, allowing Tang Ruoyao to slide the ring onto her finger. The band fit perfectly at the base of her ring finger.
Tang Ruoyao stood up, and the two held hands, facing each other, gazing deeply into each other's eyes.
They naturally began to kiss.
The surroundings suddenly changed, and the two found themselves in an endless wilderness, the sky filled with pink petals fluttering down like a rain of flowers.
They kissed amidst the shower of blossoms.
"This is terrifying," Wen Shuxian had been standing by Tang Ruoyao's bed for several minutes, and Tang Ruoyao had been grinning foolishly the entire time. She whispered to Cui Jiaran, "Did you hear that?"
Cui Jiaran nodded.
Wen Shuxian sighed again and said, "This is terrifying." She beckoned to Cui Jiaran and asked, "What do you think she's dreaming about? One moment she's giggling, the next she's making smacking sounds, like she's sucking on something."
Cui Jiaran casually replied, "Probably dreaming about something delicious."
Wen Shuxian swallowed her saliva. "What could be so delicious that she's still thinking about it in her dreams?"
Cui Jiaran said, "Ask her when she wakes up."
Fu Yujun emerged from the bathroom fully dressed and saw the two whispering while Tang Ruoyao's bed curtain remained closed. She said, "What time is it? Why haven't you woken her up yet?"
Wen Shuxian smiled. "She's having a sweet dream. We couldn't bear to wake her."
Fu Yujun shook her head and tapped on Tang Ruoyao's bed frame with her finger.
"Time to get up, Tangtang."
Tang Ruoyao's eyes darted rapidly beneath her eyelids before slowly opening.
The shower of petals was gone. Qin Yinong was gone. Tang Ruoyao wiped the drool that had trickled onto her pillow and said, "I'm awake. Why didn't my alarm go off?"
Wen Shuxian said, "It did, but you turned it off. We thought you were already up."
"Really?" Tang Ruoyao said. "Maybe I fell back asleep."
She sat up, rubbed her face, changed into the clothes she had prepared the night before and folded at the head of her bed, then climbed down the ladder to go wash up in the bathroom.
Wen Shuxian followed her.
Tang Ruoyao squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush and saw Wen Shuxian's inquisitive face in the mirror.
Tang Ruoyao turned around. "What's wrong?"
Wen Shuxian said, "Nothing. I just wanted to ask what you were dreaming about this morning."
A hint of awkwardness flashed in Tang Ruoyao's expression. "Why do you ask?"
Wen Shuxian said, "We kept hearing you smacking your lips like you were tasting something. Did you dream about something delicious?"
Tang Ruoyao nodded seriously. "I dreamed about sucking on jelly." Qin-flavored jelly—soft, sweet, and smooth. Addictive.
"Jelly?" Wen Shuxian pouted in disappointment. "I don't really like jelly that much."
Tang Ruoyao smiled and said, "You'll like it in the future."
Wen Shuxian looked up blankly. "Huh?"
Tang Ruoyao said, "Nothing. Have you brushed your teeth yet?"
"We've all brushed our teeth. Hurry up and wash up, or the canteen will run out of eggplant-filled buns soon." With those words, Wen Shuxian headed back.
Tang Ruoyao brushed her teeth while savoring the delightful memory of sipping jelly, a faint smile unconsciously creeping into the corners of her eyes.
Another Saturday arrived.
Qin Lunong had stayed up all night the previous day working on a thesis and didn't wake until ten in the morning. Tying the belt of her robe, she yawned as she stepped out of her room and spotted Qin Yinong holding Ningning's hand, guiding the child in the living room. Surprise flickered in her eyes.
"Aren't you going to spend time with your girlfriend?"
"She's busy."
"What could a student possibly have to do?"
"Of course, it's about studying. She said there's a paper she hasn't finished and needs to spend another day in the library."
Qin Lunong scoffed, "And she calls herself a top student? Can't even finish a paper without dragging it into the weekend."
Qin Yinong couldn't understand why her sister was so hung up on that almost-forgotten compliment she'd given Tang Ruoyao. Deciding it wasn't worth arguing over, she humored Qin Lunong, "Yeah, how could she ever compare to you?"
Qin Lunong picked up a washed red apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, took a bite, and said, "Different fields, different expertise. Why would I compare myself to her?"
Qin Yinong kept her smile intact while thinking to herself: 'Pfft.'
After finishing the apple, Qin Lunong clapped her hands clean. Ningning immediately abandoned the aunt who had taken care of her all morning, wobbled over while holding onto the coffee table, and giggled as she threw herself into Qin Lunong's arms.
Qin Yinong muttered behind her, "Little ungrateful one."
With the child handed back to her mother, Qin Yinong went to the study to grab a book and brought it downstairs to read.
Qin Lunong bent over to glance at the cover and asked curiously, "Since when did you start reading about finance?"
Qin Yinong sighed, "Money isn't easy to earn. Without some sharp instincts, I'm afraid I'd be chewed to the bone."
Qin Lunong looked at her with mixed emotions.
Realizing she'd inadvertently painted herself as pitiable, Qin Yinong quickly changed the subject. "Ningning's almost one. Shouldn't we prepare a 'zhua zhou' ceremony for her and invite some friends to celebrate?"
Qin Lunong replied, "I haven't made any close friends yet. You handle the guest list—it'd be good to liven things up. Ningning hasn't met many outsiders anyway."
Qin Yinong began drafting the list: Lin Ruohan and her girlfriend, a few industry friends, and Tang Ruoyao's roommates—if they were willing to come.
At six in the evening, Qin Yinong went upstairs to change and came back down. After saying goodbye to Qin Lunong, she left the house.
Tang Ruoyao had invited her to dinner.
Given Qin Yinong's status, the two rarely dined out, usually cooking at home instead. But couples needed a little romance now and then, and Qin Yinong was happy to indulge in the occasional change of pace.
The Western restaurant they'd chosen was priced to exclude most people and designed for maximum privacy. Unless someone deliberately approached their booth, no one would know who was inside.
The soft notes of a piano drifted through the restaurant.
Guided by the waiter, Qin Yinong arrived at the table. Tang Ruoyao stood up, smiling as she presented a prepared bouquet of roses. To Qin Yinong's surprise, Tang Ruoyao wasn't just wearing delicate makeup—she was dressed in a white, knee-length strapless dress paired with slender high heels.
Qin Yinong's lips curved. "Thank you, I love it." She accepted the flowers, placed them beside her seat, smoothed her clothes, and sat down.
They exchanged a smile.
Tang Ruoyao pushed the menu toward her, her voice softer than usual. "See what you'd like to eat?"
For some reason, Qin Yinong's ears warmed. She murmured an acknowledgment and took the menu.
Tang Ruoyao carefully cut the cod on her plate into small pieces, placing them gently in front of Qin Yinong.
Her gaze was tender, like invisible threads wrapping around Qin Yinong. Qin Yinong glanced at her, then quickly lowered her eyes. "Thank you."
Halfway through the meal, Tang Ruoyao focused entirely on serving Qin Yinong. No matter how many times Qin Yinong politely insisted she could manage on her own, Tang Ruoyao wouldn't listen.
Qin Yinong finished her meal under the intense gaze. Tang Ruoyao asked her, "Are you full?"
Qin Yinong nodded.
Then she watched as Tang Ruoyao reached for the handbag placed nearby. Qin Yinong stared unblinkingly, causing Tang Ruoyao to pause mid-motion. She bit her lip lightly and turned to Qin Yinong, saying, "Could you... not look?"
Qin Yinong suddenly found her expression amusing and teased her with a playful glance.
Tang Ruoyao's face visibly flushed. In a soft voice, she pleaded, "Close your eyes, please?"
Qin Yinong surrendered, raising her hands in mock defeat before obediently shutting her eyes.
Tang Ruoyao pulled out a blue velvet box from her bag, her palms sweating nervously. "Don't open them yet," she said. "Count to ten in your head before you look." Steadying herself against the edge of the table, she quietly stepped around and stood before Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong complied, counting slowly to ten before gradually opening her eyes. A voice whispered beside her ear.
"Qin Yinong, will you let me take care of you for the rest of our lives?"
Author's Note:
Will she?
[Note]: All references are sourced from the internet. Efforts have been made to verify accuracy, but please do not take any potential inaccuracies too seriously.
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