CHAPTER 269: Qin & Tang Extra 43

The reality show Traveling with My Sister wasn't about celebrities bringing their actual sisters on a trip. Instead, the production team had invited seven "elder sister" types as guests. Many netizens had grown tired of the "pale and youthful" aesthetic, shifting their preferences toward mature women. Capitalizing on this trend, the crew created this brand-new reality program. Among the seven, five were celebrities, while two were ordinary people—Qin Lunong being one of them.

They would travel abroad together, experiencing different cultures and taking on fun challenges.

On their first day in Turkey, Qin Yinong quietly slipped out of her room late at night to secretly contact her beloved.

The production team had rented a large house with a courtyard for the seven sisters. With only four bedrooms, it was unrealistic for each to have their own. Qin Lunong and Qin Yinong were unsurprisingly assigned to the same room, which had two single beds.

Qin Yinong put her hand on the doorknob, carefully pushed it open, and tiptoed into the room.

Click. 

Light flooded the room, bright as day.

Qin Yinong stood frozen in the doorway, still hunched over in her stealthy posture.

Qin Yinong: "..."

She hid her phone behind her back and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I have trouble sleeping in a new place." Qin Lunong leaned against the head of the bed and asked, "She's not asleep yet?"

She had said "she" instead of "you." It took Qin Yinong a moment to process before she nodded.

Qin Lunong yawned and lay back down.

Qin Yinong walked over to the bed next to her and lay on her side, facing Qin Lunong. They looked at each other from across the aisle. Qin Yinong stared at Qin Lunong, her eyes filled with unspoken words and a hint of guilt.

Just from her expression, Qin Lunong could guess what was on her mind. "Stop overthinking," she murmured. "Go to sleep."

She reached out and turned off the light.

The room was plunged into darkness.

Qin Yinong pulled the covers over her face. The glow from her phone screen illuminated her features as she reread her chat history with Tang Ruoyao from that night. Only then did she close her eyes, willing herself to sleep.

The first rays of morning sunlight fell on Qin Lunong's face. She squinted, raising a hand to shield her eyes, then glanced at the neighboring bed—unsurprisingly, Qin Yinong was already gone.

After freshening up, she stepped out of the room and nearly collided with a middle-aged female celebrity emerging from across the hall. The woman, in her forties but impeccably maintained with an elegant demeanor that made her look barely thirty, exchanged greetings with Qin Lunong before they headed downstairs together.

The first floor had an open kitchen. After going down the stairs, they saw Qin Yinong in the kitchen, wearing a pink apron and preparing breakfast.

The actress inhaled deeply, her face lighting up. "That smells amazing! What are you making?"

She then rolled up her sleeves and volunteered, "Need any help?"

One advantage of being around mature adults was that most knew how to navigate social situations. Whether they genuinely wanted to or not, they'd offer assistance—though, of course, there were always a few with princess complexes. Still, adults knew how to handle such dynamics gracefully.

Qin Yinong glanced at the sink and naturally directed, "Can you wash the vegetables? Sister, can you get five eggs out of the fridge for me?"

As the other guests gradually woke up, the kitchen grew livelier by the minute.

The morning light at eight o'clock streamed into the living room as everyone brought breakfast to the table. The camera zoomed in for a close-up: golden-brown stuffed pancakes, steaming egg and shredded pork noodles that looked as delicious as they smelled, and freshly fried golden crullers that made mouths water.

The table of female celebrities ate without a care for their image, not even leaving a drop of soup, and kept giving Qin Yinong enthusiastic thumbs-up.

A lively and talkative actress laughed heartily, "Before I met you, I always thought you were a pampered young lady who wouldn't lift a finger. Turns out you're better than all of us!" As she said that, she quickly grabbed the last dough stick.

Qin Yinong smiled and said, "There are still many days ahead. You'll have plenty of time to get to know me."

Qin Yinong and Qin Lunong exchanged a glance.

Just as An Ling had discussed with them earlier, Qin Yinong didn't need to put on an act—she just had to be her true self. The audience would then realize that the Qin Yinong from the rumors was nothing more than a baseless illusion conjured by their imaginations.

The current entertainment industry was no longer the way it used to be. Many celebrities, in order to avoid conflict and misinterpretation, chose not to express themselves. Qin Yinong, having long ago experienced the consequences of "being herself," had remained silent for years, like someone once bitten by a snake who shies away from a rope for a decade. Even now, she still feared showing her true self on camera, but she had gained the confidence and courage to stand against it all.

Her confidence came from years of hard work, and her courage stemmed from her longing for love.

She no longer wanted to be dressed up by others. She wanted to walk hand in hand with Tang Ruoyao on her campus, openly and without shame—escorting her to class, seeing her back to the dorm, embracing and kissing her at the doorstep like any ordinary couple, watching her walk away with either a light step or lingering reluctance. She wanted to wear the ring Tang Ruoyao gave her and proudly say her name in front of all the media.

She's in love. The person she loves is Tang Ruoyao.

......

Tang Ruoyao's biological clock was very accurate. Especially after she and Qin Yinong were separated, she woke up half an hour earlier than before. She had a good morning message from Qin Yinong, who also said that her phone was confiscated again and she might not get it back at night, so she should go to bed early and not wait for her.

Tang Ruoyao had barely stretched out an arm when the southern chill forced her to retreat under the covers. She warmed her thermal underwear under the blankets before slowly putting it on, then sprang out of bed and dressed at lightning speed, as if enduring an ordeal. Letting out a long exhale, she typed a message while walking out of the room.

[Why is there no heating in the south?] After sending this soul-searching question to Qin Yinong, she pocketed her phone and pushed open Tang Fei's door.

She reached out to touch Tang Fei's feet—icy cold—then fumbled around and pulled out a stone-cold hot water bottle. She refilled it with boiling water in the kitchen, wrapped it in a cloth, and placed it back at his feet.

With winter break underway, Tang Ruoyao didn't know when he'd wake up, so she just rinsed some rice to cook porridge, tossing in three or four peeled sweet potatoes before settling in a sunny spot in the living room to read.

Around 8:30, she heard the TV from the bedroom. The old house had thin walls, and Jiang Xuezhen had the volume turned up high. Tang Ruoyao put on noise-canceling earplugs and calmly turned a page.

Not long after, Tang Fei emerged from his room, clad in pajama bottoms and a thick jacket, drowsily shuffling toward Jiang Xuezhen's room. He knocked on the door.

Tang Ruoyao took off her headphones and heard Tang Fei speaking in a gentle tone, "Mom, turn the volume down a bit. Sister is still sleeping."

Tang Ruoyao had moved a small stool to sit in the corner behind the sofa, so Tang Fei didn't see her.

Tang Ruoyao stood up and said, "I'm here."

Tang Fei: "Sister?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "There's congee in the kitchen. Change your clothes, wash up, and eat. I'll take you out later."

Tang Fei: "I have homework to do in the morning. Can we go in the afternoon?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

She rummaged through the fridge, then went to the kitchen to cook, stir-frying a plate of peanuts and shredded potatoes with green peppers as side dishes for the congee. Tang Ruoyao went to call Jiang Xuezhen to get up and eat, but Jiang Xuezhen told her to keep the congee warm—she'd eat later.

The sound from the TV poured out incessantly, mixed with Jiang Xuezhen's laughter.

Tang Ruoyao picked up some shredded potatoes for Tang Fei, who looked up at her with a grin, revealing a row of small white teeth.

Tang Ruoyao sighed inwardly, thinking: 'Jiang Xuezhen is so lazy. If Tang Fei stays with her for a long time, he might be influenced. He's still well-behaved and self-aware now, but who knows what he'll become in the future? It would be great if he could live with me.'

This was the first time the thought of taking Tang Fei away had crossed her mind.

After breakfast, Tang Ruoyao settled into her usual spot to read, now with an extra chair beside her. Tang Fei brought over a small stool, leaned on the chair to do his homework, and occasionally glanced at Tang Ruoyao with a reassured look, as if she might disappear if he didn't keep an eye on her.

Tang Ruoyao ruffled Tang Fei's hair. The idea grew clearer in her mind. She opened her mouth and said, "Tang Fei, what if your mom and I—"

Tang Fei blinked at her.

Tang Ruoyao exhaled subtly and said, "It's nothing."

Lunch was prepared by Jiang Xuezhen, who spent the entire meal pestering Tang Ruoyao about how much money she had earned. Tang Ruoyao kept her head down, eating in silence, unwilling to engage. Jiang Xuezhen didn't dare get physical—she had learned the hard way during Tang Ruoyao's high school years just how strong she was. With a sullen expression, Jiang Xuezhen eventually shut up.

While clearing the dishes, she pretended to mutter to herself but was actually making pointed remarks, accusing Tang Ruoyao of being heartless, ruining her father's life, and abandoning her and her son to fend for themselves.

Tang Fei tugged at Jiang Xuezhen's sleeve, but she glared at him. "You're always on her side!"

Tang Ruoyao wrapped the pale blue scarf she had bought for Tang Fei the day before around his neck and led him out of the alley, boarding a bus.

Tang Fei looked up at the sign at their destination: Jincheng Jiayuan Sales Office.

Tang Ruoyao walked in with him. Tang Fei curiously glanced around, and soon a salesperson with a name tag approached them with a bright smile. "Miss, are you looking for a house?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Tang Fei's eyes widened.

The salesperson guided them to an elaborate scale model, asked about her requirements, and began a structured introduction. "Our community offers... The main units we're promoting right now are..."

"Do you have any ready-to-move-in units? Preferably ones available immediately." Tang Ruoyao interrupted.

"We do," the salesperson replied, circling a laser pointer around one of the buildings. "This one was just handed over last month. The layout is... Here's the floor plan, with a usable area of... If you're interested, you might want to act fast. The market's hot right now, as you probably know."

Tang Ruoyao went upstairs to view a show unit, left her contact information, and then headed to the next property.

Tang Fei followed her to three different properties before the chilly wind finally jolted him into asking belatedly, "Sis, are you buying a house?"

"Mm."

"You... won't be living with us anymore?"

"No," Tang Ruoyao said. "I won't be back often. It's for you to live in."

"I think our current place is fine."

"You call shivering from the cold at night 'fine'?"

"I use a hot water bottle."

"Ha, when I went into your room this morning, your feet were like ice."

"How could you barge into a boy's room without permission?"

"Say that again?"

"Ow ow ow, I won't dare anymore!"

Tang Ruoyao released Tang Fei's ear, then noticed the frostbite on it. She pulled her scarf higher, covering half his face until only his eyes peeked out.

After a few more steps, Tang Fei suddenly murmured, "If we move, what if Dad wakes up and can't find us?"

Tang Ruoyao's nose stung, and she quickly looked away to hide the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

"You dummy," she said, her voice slightly thick. "I'd go pick him up from the hospital, wouldn't I?"

"Oh, right."

During the New Year, many people who had returned to their hometowns were looking to buy houses, so the sales offices were basically open all the time. Tang Ruoyao took Tang Fei out every day. City Z was developing quickly, and the concept of school district housing had already appeared. Students were assigned to schools based on their area. One of Tang Ruoyao's main considerations was that there had to be a good school nearby. Nowadays, educational resources are concentrated. Parents with the means would make sure their children had a head start. Tang Ruoyao was no exception. After Tang Hanzhang's accident, Tang Fei was her only family. As long as she could, she would give Tang Fei the best.

Whether out of love or guilt, this was the only way she could ease her heart.

On the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, Tang Ruoyao settled on a fully furnished apartment—130 square meters, just over 100 after deducting shared space, with three bedrooms and two living rooms, facing south for ample sunlight.

She booked all the appliances and furniture in one go and only informed Jiang Xuezhen on New Year's Eve that they'd be moving after the holiday. Jiang Xuezhen was stunned.

"You, child, why didn't you tell me you were buying a house? How much was it?"

Tang Ruoyao named the price.

Jiang Xuezhen immediately exclaimed, "Oh dear, you've been swindled! That area isn't worth that much. Give the money to me—I know someone in sales who can get a discount."

Tang Ruoyao thought, 'Do you take me for a fool?'

She lowered her head and shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth. She said, "The moving company will start working on the seventh day of the new year." She completely ignored what Jiang Xuezhen had said.

Jiang Xuezhen became even more shameless. "Look at you, so young, and you have so much money. It's not right for a child to hold on to a huge amount of money. I'll keep it for you. Whenever you need to spend money, just ask me for it."

Tang Ruoyao kept eating, letting the words go in one ear and out the other—a skill she'd mastered to perfection. Frustrated, Jiang Xuezhen could only seethe silently.

That afternoon, the family visited Tang Hanzhang. He was still the same. Tang Ruoyao took a warm towel from the nurse and wiped his hands. The once-broad palms had grown bony after over a year of unconsciousness.

After seeing her father, they took a taxi home. When they arrived, Tang Ruoyao let Jiang Xuezhen and her son go ahead while she wandered aimlessly alone. A tear suddenly spilled over. She swiftly wiped it away and looked up at the sky.

She walked near a park, where not a single soul could be seen on this day of family reunions. She sat down on a bench by the lake, took off her mask, and let the cold wind brush against her face.

Tang Ruoyao sat there for a while, emptying her mind, then pulled out her phone from her coat pocket and tapped into the pinned chat with Qin Yinong.

The last message was from Qin Yinong at 11:30 in the morning.

[I'm going to eat now.]

She disappeared after that.

Tang Ruoyao raised her phone and took a picture of some wildflowers by the roadside, sending it over.

[There are still flowers blooming in such cold weather.]

Buzz.

Qin Yinong suddenly came back to life: [Where are you?]

[At a park.]

[Which park?]

Tang Ruoyao wondered why she was asking. 'Is she Doraemon? Can she take out a magical door and appear in front of me instantly?' But she answered whatever Qin Yinong asked.  She walked to the entrance to check the name and replied: [Donghu Park.]

[Why isn't it called Nanhu Park?]

[You'll have to ask the person who built the park.]

The corners of Tang Ruoyao's lips curled up unconsciously as she chatted idly with Qin Yinong.

What she didn't know was that Qin Yinong, who should have been thousands of miles away, had actually arrived in City Z—and was not far from her at all. Qin Yinong typed "Donghu Park" into the map app, which showed it was 2.5 km away.

Standing by the roadside, Qin Yinong hailed a cab, gave the address, and quickly typed replies to keep Tang Ruoyao in place.

Tang Ruoyao switched her phone to her right hand, blew warm air onto her frozen left hand, and tucked it into her down jacket pocket.

Qin Yinong, wearing a mask and pulling her hood low, peeked around to confirm the words "Donghu Park" carved into a large roadside boulder. Based on the glimmer of water in the photo Tang Ruoyao had sent earlier, she headed toward the lake.

Even though she hadn't seen her yet, Qin Yinong felt a kind of heartbeat she'd never experienced before, making her palms sweat and her pulse race.

She walked a little further, and in the silent expanse of the world, the figure sitting alone on the bench stood out vividly.

Qin Yinong's heart pounded, and she barely dared to breathe as she approached slowly and quietly.

Tang Ruoyao sat by the lake, letting the wind blow past her, completely unaware.

She looked down, scrolling through her chat history with Qin Yinong, a satisfied smile on her lips.

Suddenly, her vision went dark—a pair of warm, slightly damp hands covered her eyes from behind.

A woman's voice, light and playful: "Guess who?" A hint of nervousness, expertly hidden.

Tang Ruoyao froze.

Qin Yinong thought: 'Can't she recognize my voice?'

She was a little annoyed, but she still said in a gentle voice, "Do you want a hint? There are two conditions. First, it's someone very close to you. Second..."

Tang Ruoyao's shoulders trembled slightly.

Then Qin Yinong felt warmth and wetness against her palms.

'She's crying?'

Qin Yinong quickly pulled her hands away, stepped in front of her, and took off her mask, revealing her face. Anxiously, she said, "Yaoyao, it's me."

Tang Ruoyao looked at her. Only then did Qin Yinong see that she was crying and laughing at the same time. She was crying tears of joy.

Qin Yinong gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with her thumb and looked at her tenderly. She didn't know if she had been infected by her, but her own eyes were also glistening.

Tang Ruoyao, overwhelmed with surprise, stammered, "How—how did you suddenly appear here?"

Qin Yinong wrapped her arms around her and smiled. "I sensed you missed me terribly, so I came."

Tang Ruoyao gave her a light punch, her tears turning into laughter as she said, "You're so annoying."

Qin Yinong feigned sorrow, "I came all this way, and you still find me annoying. I'm going to be sad."

Tang Ruoyao sat up straight, cupped Qin Yinong's face, and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. Just as she was about to pull away, Qin Yinong raised her hand to hold the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

Tang Ruoyao panicked and quickly pushed against her shoulders.

Their lips parted slightly as Tang Ruoyao hurriedly whispered, "Outside... what if someone sees... mmm."

Qin Yinong ignored her and continued kissing her passionately. The breeze by the lake gently blew, their hair intertwining until it was impossible to tell whose was whose.

From the moment Qin Yinong had impulsively decided a few days ago to fly to Z City to reunite with Tang Ruoyao, the burning anticipation in her heart gradually settled during this long kiss. She finally released Tang Ruoyao's lips, giving them two more tender pecks before pulling her into a satisfied embrace.

Tang Ruoyao rested her hands on Qin Yinong's shoulders, her chest heaving as she nervously glanced around, afraid someone might see them.

Only after confirming no one was nearby did she let out a relieved sigh.

She was really too bold.

"You said you were going for lunch earlier..."

"My flight was about to take off then."

"Oh." A warm current seemed to flow through Tang Ruoyao's limbs, which had been cold ever since visiting Tang Hanzhang, enveloping her whole body like the gentle warmth of spring sunshine. She couldn't help but smile slightly, playing with a strand of Qin Yinong's dark hair as she asked softly, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"If I told you, where would the surprise be?"

"Actually... I'm just happy you came." Tang Ruoyao asked knowingly, wanting to hear Qin Yinong say something sweet. "Why did you come to see me?"

"I had some free time, so I came."

Tang Ruoyao pouted, "...Oh."

Pressing her ear against Qin Yinong's chest, Tang Ruoyao heard the steady heartbeat before realizing she'd been teased again. She looked up, flustered and annoyed.

Qin Yinong took the opportunity to kiss her forehead gently, whispering tenderly, "I missed you, so I came to see you."

Tang Ruoyao's earlier irritation was still written on her face, but now she was struck by the sweet words, her lips twitching as she tried to suppress a smile, making her look rather comical.

Qin Yinong burst into laughter.

A faint pink spread across Tang Ruoyao's neck as she shyly buried her face back into Qin Yinong's embrace.

Qin Yinong gently stroked her back, savoring this hard-won moment together.

As the wind grew colder, Qin Yinong began to shiver, her lips turning pale. Feeling her tremble, Tang Ruoyao pulled her up, stomping her feet to warm up. "Let's get a hotel room?"

Qin Yinong gave her a knowing look and teased, "Are you lu$ting after my body again?"

Tang Ruoyao wasn't particularly driven by desire, but Qin Yinong always loved to tempt her. In broad daylight, Tang Ruoyao remained steadfast, unmoved. "I meant just getting a room—hotels have heating. You need to warm up."

"Why can't we go to your house?"

"My house?"

"Yeah." Qin Yinong nodded seriously. "Didn't we say I'd meet your family?"

"..."

That had been their earlier agreement, but Tang Ruoyao had completely forgotten. Especially now that Qin Yinong was actually here, she particularly didn't want her to meet Jiang Xuezhen. She didn't want Qin Yinong to see any of the ugliness in her life.

"I'll take you to see my dad tomorrow." Tang Ruoyao said, deliberately skipping over Jiang Xuezhen.

"Okay."

"What does my father-in-law like?" Qin Yinong asked, as naturally as if it were the most ordinary question.

"..." Tang Ruoyao looked at her, at a loss for words, and said, "My dad is in a vegetative state, have you forgotten?"

Qin Yinong smiled brightly and replied, "No, but I still have to show my respect. What if my father-in-law gets happy when he sees me and wakes up?"

Tang Ruoyao poked her shoulder and said, "That's nonsense." Then she asked, "And why father-in-law, not father?"

She deliberately looked at the woman from head to toe in a flirtatious way and said, "If we're going by that classification, then my dad is your father."

Qin Yinong's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes clearly conveyed a "stop messing around" look.

Tang Ruoyao, feeling slightly outmatched in terms of presence, silently comforted herself, 'If we're talking about who's on top, Qin Yinong is on top quite often. She likes to be on top, so "father-in-law" it is.'

Holding hands, fingers intertwined, Qin Yinong strolled leisurely away from the lakeside and steered the conversation back on track. "So, what does my father-in-law like?"

"He likes practicing calligraphy. You can give him some calligraphy books."

"Isn't that a bit too modest? How about a full set of the Four Treasures of the Study?"

"Okay." Tang Ruoyao's eyes dimmed slightly—no matter how exquisite the set, he wouldn't be able to use it anymore.

Noticing her sudden shift in mood, Qin Yinong deftly changed the subject. "It's still early. I'd like to visit the school you attended. Would that be okay?"

Tang Ruoyao pointed ahead. "There."

Qin Yinong: "Hmm?"

Tang Ruoyao explained, "That's the elementary school I went to."

Qin Yinong's face lit up with joy. "Really?"

Tang Ruoyao chuckled. "Why would I lie to you?" It was just an elementary school—was it really worth getting so excited about?

Since it was vacation time, the main gate was shut tight, but a smaller side door was left slightly ajar, unlocked. The guardhouse was empty, so the two sneaked in like thieves.

The school had a classical architectural style, with low-rise buildings—only two stories tall—but numerous in number, their walls a deep brick red. Beyond the open spaces on either side, a moon gate stood in the center. Peering through it, one could see long, verdant vines winding along the wooden corridor, stretching seemingly endlessly into the distance.

Qin Yinong walked in with keen interest. "Which building were you in before?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated. "I forgot."

Qin Yinong looked back at her in disbelief.

Flustered, Tang Ruoyao said, "It's been too long. I don't remember." If she had known she'd be bringing her girlfriend back to reminisce about her elementary school days, she would've memorized every detail!

"No worries," Qin Yinong shrugged. "I don't remember either. I don't even know where my elementary school is anymore."

Tang Ruoyao burst into laughter. "Hahahaha."

Qin Yinong said with a serious expression, "Don't laugh. My old elementary school was turned into a residential area. After it relocated, I lost track of where it moved to."

Tang Ruoyao continued laughing. "Hahahaha."

Qin Yinong grabbed her chin, her gaze turning dangerous. "Still laughing?"

Completely unfazed, Tang Ruoyao doubled over with laughter.

Helpless, Qin Yinong could only laugh along.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the side of one of the school buildings. Because the corridor was dimly lit, he shone a flashlight in their direction and shouted, "Who's there? Who's there?"

Before Qin Yinong could react, someone grabbed her wrist, and she heard Tang Ruoyao yell, "Run!"

Instinctively, Qin Yinong took off.

The person behind them immediately gave chase.

"Stop!"

The wind whistled past their ears. Qin Yinong tilted her head slightly, her heart pounding wildly. In her field of vision, all she could see was Tang Ruoyao's profile, gilded by the setting sun.

Hand in hand, they sprinted toward the sunset.

Author's Note: 

Daily reflection: Why is Side Story 2 so beautiful? I think it could be even more beautiful.

Isn't such a beautiful Side Story 2 worthy of your comments? ╰(°▽°)╯

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