CHAPTER 270: Qin & Tang Extra 44

The two of them dashed out of the school gate together, the sounds of pursuit growing fainter behind them until they could no longer be heard.

Qin Yinong was about to keep running when Tang Ruoyao grabbed her arm, pulling her into a nearby corner. Pressing their backs tightly against the wall, their hearts pounded v!olently in their chests, almost leaping out of their throats.

A gentle breeze brushed their faces, tousling their hair slightly. The setting sun cast fragmented golden light from the low rooftops, sprinkling it over their hair and cheeks, enveloping them in a soft golden glow—both hazy and vivid.

Qin Yinong gasped for breath, struggling to speak between pants: "We... didn't do anything wrong, so why... did we... run?"

Tang Ruoyao, hands on her knees, replied breathlessly, "I... don't know either."

But they had already run, and now there was no turning back.

They exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

Their laughter drew the attention of nearby residents. One household opened their door, casting a curious glance toward the source of the sound, only to catch a fleeting glimpse of two figures—one in black, the other in white down jackets—running away, their long hair fluttering in the wind.

The resident frowned and closed the door again.

"That was close," Tang Ruoyao exhaled in relief, pulling a mask from her pocket and putting it on. As they strolled down the street, she glanced at Qin Yinong and asked, "Why aren't you wearing a mask?"

Qin Yinong pouted slightly, her moist, light pink lips tempting a kiss.

Tang Ruoyao forced her gaze away from those lips and murmured, "We're in public."

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Qin Yinong said, "I mean, can you help me put it on?"

She spread her arms slightly. Flustered, Tang Ruoyao retrieved the black mask from Qin Yinong's pocket and gently adjusted it behind her ears, concealing that captivating face—only a pair of slightly upturned peach-blossom eyes remained visible.

Qin Yinong bent one arm, and Tang Ruoyao naturally linked her arm through it. They walked the streets like a carefree, ordinary couple.

There weren't many people out on New Year's Eve. Tang Ruoyao's home wasn't in the city center, and as far as the eye could see, there were hardly any people around.

As they walked, Tang Ruoyao suddenly looked behind Qin Yinong, her pupils contracting slightly. "Where's your luggage?"

Qin Yinong blinked in confusion. "What luggage?"

Tang Ruoyao pressed, "Didn't you bring any luggage when you came to my place?"

Qin Yinong seemed to realize something. "Oh, I was in a hurry. I forgot."

Tang Ruoyao: "..." How could she forget something like that? She was starting to doubt Qin Yinong's ability to survive on her own.

"Did you bring Guan Han with you?"

"Am I that heartless of a boss? I don't have any work scheduled—it's New Year's Eve, she should be home celebrating with her family."

"Let's go buy you some clothes to change into first," Tang Ruoyao muttered under her breath. Most shops were already closed, and finding one open would be a challenge. Even if they did, newly bought clothes couldn't be worn immediately—they'd need to be washed first, and who knew if they'd dry in time...

Her delicate brows furrowed with worry.

A faint smile flickered at the corner of Qin Yinong's lips as she interrupted Tang Ruoyao's muttering. "I'm hungry."

That did it—Tang Ruoyao's frown deepened as if carved by a knife.

Qin Yinong reached up to smooth the crease between her brows, chuckling. "With that expression, I'd think you weren't happy to see me."

Tang Ruoyao immediately protested in a fluster, "That's not true!"

Qin Yinong said unhurriedly, "I know." She wrapped her arm around Tang Ruoyao's waist and added, "Alright, let's cross that bridge when we come to it. Let's go to your place for dinner first."

Tang Ruoyao nearly jumped.

"My place?"

"Where else?"

"There's nothing good to eat at my place," Tang Ruoyao's gaze avoided hers. She continued, "And it's small and shabby. Maybe next time..."

Under Qin Yinong's steady gaze, she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence and lowered her head.

"You don't want me to go to your place?" Qin Yinong's voice came from above, gentle in tone.

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

"Why is that?"

"...My stepmother," Tang Ruoyao paused before continuing, "She's a vain and greedy person. If she finds out I'm with you, she'll harass you in every possible way."

"Is she more formidable than Li Yichuan?"

"...No."

"If I'm not afraid of Li Yichuan, why would I be afraid of her?"

"It's not about being afraid or not," Tang Ruoyao mustered the courage to look up, enunciating each word clearly. "It's that I don't want to. I don't want you to see someone like her in my family, just like you wouldn't let me meet Qin Hongjian."

"It's different." Qin Yinong's voice, usually soft and flowing like a gentle stream, now carried a subtle firmness, crisp and cool like bamboo striking stone.

Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips together slightly, her eyes dimming.

Qin Yinong placed both hands on her shoulders, making her meet her gaze.

"I don't just like you when we're alone together. I like the liveliness you show with your roommates, the confidence you exude on camera, the brilliance you display on the awards stage, and the resilience, optimism, and openness you've shown in the face of hardship. Jiang Xuezhen may not be a good person, but she's part of the life that shaped who you are today. I don't want to get to know her—I want to know the you that exists around her, the you that interacts with your younger brother, the parts of you I haven't seen yet."

Her voice softened again as she looked at Tang Ruoyao earnestly. "Will you give me that chance?"

After a long hesitation, Tang Ruoyao nodded.

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Mm." Since she'd already agreed to let her into the house, there was no reason to refuse sharing a bed. Besides, Tang Ruoyao hadn't been sleeping well lately.

Hand in hand, they walked in the direction of Tang's place.

Suddenly, Qin Yinong stopped by the roadside, and with Tang Ruoyao's hand in hers, she walked into a hotel.

Tang Ruoyao: "!!!"

'Is she that thirsty?'

Standing in the ascending elevator, Tang Ruoyao overlooked the detail that Qin Yinong had bypassed the front desk and headed straight upstairs. She subtly reminded her, "Let's go home and eat first. Weren't you hungry? We can... after dinner..."

Qin Yinong's eyes, shadowed beneath her hood, flicked over her face. The brim was pulled too low for Tang Ruoyao to decipher her expression, but she thought she detected a hint of amusement.

They stopped in front of a door. Qin Yinong pulled a keycard from her pocket, swiped it, and pushed the door open. After inserting the card into the power slot, the lights flickered twice before fully illuminating the room.

Qin Yinong walked inside, pulled a black suitcase from the corner, and promptly returned, smiling. "Alright, let's go."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

After confirming there were no surveillance cameras in the hallway, she pushed Qin Yinong against the wall and pinched her soft cheeks hard.

'This woman! She tricked me again!'

Qin Yinong's eyes curved into a smile.

Tang Ruoyao huffily took her hands back and asked fiercely, "When exactly did you get here?"

Qin Yinong flexed her facial muscles, took a light breath, and confessed honestly, "I arrived over an hour earlier than when I sent you the message. I dropped my luggage at the hotel first. When I saw your WeChat saying you were at the hospital, I wanted to pick you up there. Who knew you'd already left? I missed you, so I took a taxi back. Later, you said you were at the park, and the rest you already know."

The thought of Qin Yinong running around alone in an unfamiliar city just to surprise her made Tang Ruoyao's heart melt. Seeing the woman's face reddened from her pinching, she cupped it gently with both hands and blew softly on it. "I'm sorry." she murmured.

Qin Yinong smiled radiantly. "It's okay," she said. "I'm actually very happy."

The anticipation of seeing each other, traveling a great distance, searching for her in a crowd—it was another kind of fulfillment. Love is mutual, and creating surprises itself is a romance shared between two people.

......

The rice cooker had already switched to the warming mode. Tang Fei walked into the kitchen, stood on his tiptoes to look at the few remaining ingredients on the stove, and asked, "Mom, is the rice almost done? How much longer?"

Jiang Xuezhen replied, "Fifteen minutes."

Tang Fei let out an "Ah" and said, "I'll go call my sister."

With that, he dashed off.

Jiang Xuezhen coughed repeatedly from the peppers sizzling in the pan. Peering out the kitchen door, she saw Tang Fei half-kneeling on the floor, his upper body sprawled across the sofa as he picked up the landline phone, pressing the receiver to his ear with a beaming smile.

Jiang Xuezhen gritted her teeth.

She really didn't know what kind of spell Tang Ruoyao had cast on her son to make him adore his stepsister more than his own mother.

Tang Ruoyao was already downstairs. She ended the call with Tang Fei and glanced at Qin Yinong, her lips pressed together.

Qin Yinong nudged her forward by the shoulder.

"Anyone who didn't know would think you're the one meeting the parents," Qin Yinong said as she entered the dark stairwell. "What floor?"

The motion-sensor light was broken. Tang Ruoyao turned on her flashlight and said, "Third floor."

The residential complex's property management was practically nonexistent. The walls were plastered with all kinds of advertisements, some featuring explicit images. Tang Ruoyao walked on the side closer to the wall, subtly shielding Qin Yinong with her body.

Qin Yinong kept her gaze straight ahead, focused only on the stairs.

This three-story climb was the longest Tang Ruoyao had ever felt.

They reached the door.

Qin Yinong stood with her hands in her pockets, perfectly at ease, while Tang Ruoyao was so nervous her palms were sweating. Her eyebrows trembled faintly, and the hand in her pocket had been clutching the key so tightly it was now warm to the touch.

"My stepmother and younger brother are home. Just call her 'Auntie,'" Tang Ruoyao whispered the words she'd rehearsed the whole way. "Once we're inside, I'll introduce you as a friend who happened to be here on business, and I'm treating you to a meal."

Jiang Xuezhen wasn't family—there was no need for her to know the real nature of Tang Ruoyao and Qin Yinong's relationship.

Qin Yinong nodded.

Tang Ruoyao felt a little more relaxed. She whispered, "I'm opening the door now."

She inserted the key into the lock, turned it gently, and the door swung open.

Jiang Xuezhen's voice rang out first: "You've been out so long on New Year's Eve. Hurry and come help me serve the food."

Tang Ruoyao opened the shoe cabinet in the entryway, took out a pair of slippers meant for Tang Hanzhang, and slipped into them herself, giving her own to Qin Yinong. They were about the same height, and their shoe sizes matched.

Jiang Xuezhen said impatiently, "You were nowhere to be found when it was time to cook, and now you're back but not lifting a finger to help. Am I just supposed to wait on you hand and foot?"

Tang Ruoyao walked from the entryway into the brightly lit living room.

Jiang Xuezhen snapped, "What are you standing there for?" Then she noticed the extra person behind Tang Ruoyao. "And this is...?"

Tang Ruoyao introduced, "This is my friend. She's here on a business trip, and I invited her to have a meal with us."

No matter how arrogant Jiang Xuezhen was, she wouldn't act high-handed in front of an outsider. But...

She eyed the guest suspiciously—dressed in a black down jacket, bundled up tightly, wearing a mask, and keeping her head down under a hood that obscured her face entirely. Jiang Xuezhen frowned. Could this person be a fugitive?

'Does Tang Ruoyao have the guts to do something like that? Oh well, there's nothing she wouldn't do.'

Jiang Xuezhen's facial muscles stiffened as she forced a smile. "There's no need to wear your hood inside, and you can take off your mask and put it by the entrance."

Qin Yinong slowly removed her disguise. Her long hair cascaded down the nape of her neck. She reached back to free it, tossing her wavy locks with a slight tilt of her head.

Jiang Xuezhen first sighed in relief upon seeing she had hair—not a convict's buzz cut—then scrutinized her face more carefully. Her eyes flickered with surprise. "You look just like a celebrity."

Qin Yinong extended her right hand gracefully. "Hello, I'm Qin Yinong, a friend of Tang Ruoyao's. Sorry for the intrusion."

Jiang Xuezhen's mind exploded.

What did she say her name was? Qin Yinong?

Qin Yinong!

The world-famous superstar Qin Yinong!

Noticing Jiang Xuezhen's stunned expression, Qin Yinong curled her lips into a faint smile and waved a hand in front of her face politely. "Auntie?"

Jiang Xuezhen snapped out of her daze, though her ears were still ringing. She took in the woman's breathtaking beauty and radiant smile, wiped her hands nervously on her apron, then gingerly grasped Qin Yinong's fingertips in a light handshake. "Hello."

Qin Yinong gave a slight bow. "I'm sorry to intrude."

Flustered, Jiang Xuezhen replied, "N-not at all. Having you in our home is... an honor." She stumbled over the formal phrasing, tongue nearly tied, then quickly turned to Tang Ruoyao. "Why aren't you pouring tea for our guest?"

Tang Ruoyao went to fetch disposable cups from the TV cabinet drawer.

Qin Yinong followed close behind her.

Wherever Tang Ruoyao went, Qin Yinong shadowed her. The kitchen, which had only held Jiang Xuezhen moments ago, suddenly felt cramped with two extra bodies. Jiang Xuezhen had no choice but to step out herself. Glancing back at the two acting int!mately inside, she didn't jump to conclusions about their relationship—just thought in shock: Tang Ruoyao actually knows Qin Yinong? And they're this close?

Later, Tang Ruoyao introduced Tang Fei, who was eyeing them curiously, to Qin Yinong: "My younger brother, Tang Fei."

Then she said to Tang Fei, "This is my friend. You can call her Sister Qin."

Tang Fei greeted politely, "Sister Qin."

Qin Yinong bent down with a warm smile. "Hello, Xiaofei." At ten years old, Tang Fei was still very much a child—nothing like the teenager he'd grow into years later. There was no way Qin Yinong would feel nervous around him now.

Instead, it was Tang Fei who blushed slightly under the attention of the beautiful older woman.

Jiang Xuezhen interjected hastily, "Shall we eat?"

Her gaze, however, was fixed on Qin Yinong, who had unwittingly become the one calling the shots. Qin Yinong nodded. "Let's eat."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

'Why does she look like she's the head of the household?'

Qin Yinong, as if sensing her thoughts, gave Tang Ruoyao a playful wink with her left eye when Jiang Xuezhen wasn't looking.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Neither of them noticed that Tang Fei, who was barely taller than the table, had caught every bit of their flirtatious exchange.

The dishes were served, abundant and complete.

Jiang Xuezhen said, "These are just some home-cooked dishes. Miss..." She didn't know how to address her and skipped over it. "Please make do with them."

Qin Yinong smiled. "Auntie, no need to be so formal. Ruoyao and I are peers—you can just call me by my name."

Jiang Xuezhen couldn't bring herself to do that and quickly shook her head.

Tang Ruoyao suggested, "Call her Teacher Qin. That's what we call her on set."

Jiang Xuezhen nodded.

Qin Yinong stopped being overly polite—if she kept it up, the food would get cold. As the guest, she took the first bite, and the others followed.

Jiang Xuezhen was visibly nervous, afraid of being a poor host, and kept glancing at Qin Yinong to gauge her reaction. Qin Yinong obligingly praised the dishes, mentioning that she was also from J Province, just a neighboring city, so their tastes were similar. She added that living in the capital wasn't easy and she often missed the flavors of home.

Only then did Jiang Xuezhen relax.

Despite Qin Yinong's approachable demeanor, her striking presence was intimidating enough that Jiang Xuezhen didn't dare speak much to her, only responding when spoken to and never initiating questions.

While Jiang Xuezhen went to wash the dishes, Qin Yinong entered Tang Ruoyao's room, with Tang Ruoyao following behind, pushing the suitcase.

The old apartment was small—less than 90 square meters divided into three rooms. The already cramped space, filled with furniture and bookshelves, left little room to move. Adding a suitcase and two adults made it feel even more crowded.

Tang Ruoyao's ears flushed with embarrassment.

"Maybe we should just stay at a hotel after all." she finally said.

"No." Qin Yinong walked to the bedside, picked up the pajamas Tang Ruoyao had left there, and buried her face in them, inhaling deeply. "This place smells like you."

The redness of Tang Ruoyao's ears deepened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

How had she never noticed before how shameless Qin Yinong could be?

Qin Yinong distracted Tang Ruoyao by telling her to close the door, then crouched down to open the suitcase.

Inside, there were very few clothes—half the space was taken up by Gundam model kits.

Qin Yinong pulled them out, placing them on the open suitcase lid, and rested her chin on one hand. "A gift for your brother. I asked around, and they said boys love these. Should you give it to him, or should I?"

"You bought it—you give it."

"Okay." Qin Yinong stood up. "But you're coming with me."

Tang Fei sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall.

A knock sounded at the door. He cracked it open just enough to let his two sisters in, carefully checking to make sure Jiang Xuezhen hadn't noticed—acting strangely secretive.

Tang Ruoyao frowned. "What are you doing?"

Tang Fei shushed her. "Keep your voice down."

Tang Ruoyao lowered her voice. "Why?"

Tang Fei sighed like a mature man. He motioned to Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao leaned in under Qin Yinong's suspicious gaze. Tang Fei whispered in her ear, "Is Sister Qin your girlfriend?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

'Are kids these days this sharp?'

Tang Ruoyao took Qin Yinong's hand and sighed as well, saying, "Let me reintroduce you. This is Qin Yinong, my girl—"

Tang Fei jumped up to cover her mouth: "I told you to keep it down! What if Mom hears?"

It was better to avoid trouble.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her voice so only the three of them could hear: "Yes, she's my girlfriend."

Tang Fei immediately straightened up, his serious little face tense. He looked up at Qin Yinong, who was a head taller than him, and said, "Hello, I'm Tang Fei, Tang Ruoyao's brother."

Qin Yinong found him amusing and handed him the Gundam model: "Hello, little brother. It's nice to meet you."

Tang Fei accepted the Gundam, thanked her, and then officially assumed the role of a family guardian, asking, "How far have you two gotten?"

Tang Ruoyao flicked his forehead with her finger: "Is that something a kid like you should be asking?"

Tang Fei had a whole list of arguments ready, but Tang Ruoyao swiftly silenced them all.

Qin Yinong watched them with a smile.

This scene was all too familiar in her own life—except she was always the one being suppressed.

Once Tang Ruoyao had Tang Fei under control, she looked up to see Qin Yinong's teasing smile. A blush spread across her fair cheeks as she self-consciously tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and sat up straighter.

Qin Yinong gave her a thumbs-up.

Tang Ruoyao beamed in response.

Tang Ruoyao lectured Tang Fei a couple more times, then pulled Qin Yinong's hand and went back to the room. She walked ahead while Qin Yinong followed, closing the door behind them. Suddenly, Qin Yinong parted her red lips and softly murmured, "Sister Ruoyao."

Tang Ruoyao turned around abruptly.

"What did you say?"

Qin Yinong feigned innocence. "Nothing."

But Tang Ruoyao could clearly see the smile in her eyes.

Small rooms had their advantages. With a single outstretched arm, Tang Ruoyao easily pulled Qin Yinong into her embrace, wrapping her arms around her waist. She asked again, "What did you just call me?"

Qin Yinong didn't bother hiding her amusement, blatantly lying, "I didn't call you anything."

Tang Ruoyao narrowed her eyes. "I heard you call me 'Sister.'"

"You heard wrong."

"I didn't."

"Do you have a witness?"

"..."

Unable to retort, Tang Ruoyao silenced her with a kiss.

But her kissing skills still paled in comparison to Qin Yinong's. Any previous dominance had only been because Qin Yinong allowed it. Now that Qin Yinong wasn't holding back, Tang Ruoyao was quickly overwhelmed, melting into a boneless puddle in her arms.

When their lips parted, the lingering sensation of the kiss—so intense it felt like her soul had been flung into the heavens—left Tang Ruoyao's scalp tingling as if electrified.

Her fingertips trembled slightly at her sides. "You..."

Qin Yinong steadied her with one hand while the other gently traced her burning cheek. She kissed her once more, licked her lips, and murmured in a husky voice, "Sister Ruoyao."

An otherwise proper term sounded utterly ind3cent coming from her lips.

This time, Tang Ruoyao heard it clearly—but she soon became keenly aware of her own reaction. Her already flushed face, still rosy from lack of oxygen, burned even hotter, the fire within threatening to consume her.

Leaning on Qin Yinong's arm for support, Tang Ruoyao straightened up with effort. "I need to take a shower."

Qin Yinong's eyes curved. She was clearly very satisfied with her reaction. "Go ahead."

Moving slowly, Tang Ruoyao walked to the wardrobe, retrieved her pajamas, and then turned her back to Qin Yinong as she picked out underwear from the bedside drawer. Unless absolutely necessary, she refused to let Qin Yinong see her face right now.

Qin Yinong watched her retreating figure with a silent smile.

After both had finished washing up, they sat side by side on the bed.

They would have preferred to find somewhere else to sit, but aside from the bed, there was only one chair—not enough for two—so they had no choice but to climb into bed early.

The two chatted intermittently about Qin Yinong's reality show. For the young couple, their brief separation only intensified their longing, and mere conversation couldn't satisfy the yearning they'd felt apart. As they talked, an occasional glance between them was like a spark igniting dry kindling—flames instantly leaped up, engulfing everything.

Their eyes darkened, and they leaned toward each other at the same time.

Qin Yinong cupped Tang Ruoyao's face and kissed her deeply. Propping herself up on the pillow with one elbow, she slowly guided Tang Ruoyao to lie down. Tang Ruoyao's breathing grew increasingly rapid. Though the fluorescent light in the room remained unchanged, the brightness she perceived dimmed steadily.

Her senses could only process signals from one person—signals that could make her feel alive, make her feel like dying, make her float on the ocean's surface, or sink to its depths.

An abrupt, grating sound interrupted them.

Qin Yinong raised her head and tilted her ear to listen. "What's that sound?"

Tang Ruoyao's raven-black hair was spread out on the white pillow. Her breathing was unstable. She said, "I don't know."

Qin Yinong lowered her head again but pricked up her ears—sure enough, she heard it once more.

The flush on Tang Ruoyao's cheeks slowly faded, replaced by slight embarrassment. "It's..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. Qin Yinong leaned closer to hear her murmur, "The bed's too old."

Qin Yinong kissed her forehead and lay down beside her. "Then let's sleep."

"But..." Tang Ruoyao bit her lip.

Qin Yinong had finally taken the initiative...

Qin Yinong turned to look at her, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "We won't be staying here tomorrow night. We'll go to a hotel."

Tang Ruoyao's heart instantly bloomed with joy, though she pressed her lips together to maintain some hint of restraint.

Qin Yinong teased her, feigning a frown. "You don't want to?"

"I do!" Tang Ruoyao blurted out.

A mischievous grin flashed across Qin Yinong's lips. Tang Ruoyao, long accustomed to her antics, didn't bristle. After all, her goal was already achieved—tomorrow, Qin Yinong would have no choice but to follow through.

"Sleep." Qin Yinong said, extending an arm. Tang Ruoyao nestled into the crook of her elbow and closed her eyes.

Qin Yinong silently counted down in her head.

Ten, nine, eight, seven... three, two, one.

She distinctly felt Tang Ruoyao's head grow heavier against her arm.

"Yaoyao?" she whispered.

Tang Ruoyao's breathing had already deepened, her warm exhales brushing against Qin Yinong's neck.

The corners of Qin Yinong's lips turned up silently.

If there were a competition for falling asleep in seconds, Tang Ruoyao would undoubtedly take first place.

Adjusting into a comfortable position, Qin Yinong closed her eyes as well.

The moon hung bright in the sky, casting silvery light across the ground.

Bathed in the hazy glow, Qin Yinong gradually drifted into slumber.

The next morning, Qin Yinong went out to buy gifts. In the afternoon, Tang Ruoyao took her to visit Tang Hanzhang at the hospital. Though Qin Yinong had only vague childhood memories of him, seeing him in such a state—especially knowing he was Tang Ruoyao's father—filled her with sorrow.

Holding Tang Hanzhang's hand, she spoke of her relationship with Tang Ruoyao, assuring him he had nothing to worry about.

Standing nearby, Tang Ruoyao suddenly noticed Qin Yinong's expression shift dramatically.

"What's wrong?" Tang Ruoyao rushed forward to ask.

Qin Yinong stared at the hand in hers before slowly looking up, disbelief in her eyes. "I think... I just felt his hand move a little."

Author's Note: 

Will Tang's father wake up?

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