CHAPTER 275: Qin & Tang Extra 49

Tang Ruoyao immediately called Qin Yinong to share the good news.

Qin Yinong acted as if everything was within her expectations, but in reality, she let out a huge sigh of relief. Now that her father-in-law had boarded her "pirate ship," it wouldn't be so easy for him to disembark. With half the weight lifted from her heart, Qin Yinong hung up the phone, took a bottle of red wine from the cabinet, and held a small celebration with Qin Lunong.

Qin Lunong scoffed, "Look at you, being so dramatic."

Qin Yinong was in a good mood and didn't argue with her. She smiled and took a sip of wine. "Ningning's first birthday is set for the 16th of next month. I've already had the invitations printed."

Qin Lunong hummed and said, "Whatever you decide is fine."

Qin Yinong clicked her tongue. "Whose daughter is she, anyway?"

Qin Lunong picked up Ningning, who had been sitting on the floor playing with a Chinese ring puzzle, and pointed at Qin Yinong. "Say 'little mommy.'"

Ningning didn't hesitate and said in a sweet, childish voice, "Little mommy."

Qin Yinong: "..."

Qin Lunong put the child back down.

Ningning brushed off her sleeves and even adjusted her sitting posture, continuing to play with her rings as if this kind of simple and rough behavior from her mother was an everyday occurrence.

Qin Yinong: "..."

If she ever had a child in the future, she would absolutely keep them far away from Qin Lunong.

Fortunately, Qin Lunong wasn't so heartless as to push all the responsibilities onto Qin Yinong. She had seriously considered the items for the "Zhuazhou" ceremony [a traditional Chinese ceremony where a baby grabs an item to predict their future]. Items like a dictionary, a pen, a ruler, and a drawing board were the basics. She also had a violin, a stethoscope, and many other things. It was going to be a lively event.

......

That day, the Qin household unexpectedly received an uninvited guest.

The landline on the table suddenly rang. Qin Yinong, who happened to be home, picked it up. Qin Lunong watched as her expression visibly darkened. After hanging up, Qin Lunong asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong replied, "Stay home with Ningning. I need to go out and greet a guest."

Seeing her expression grow increasingly grim, Qin Lunong pressed further, "Who is it?"

Qin Yinong said, "Someone from the Ji family."

Qin Lunong wasn't entirely clear on Qin Yinong's history with the Ji family. Could there be bad bl0od between them? But now clearly wasn't the time for details. She nodded and said, "Go ahead." After a pause, she added, "Should I take Ningning back to the room first?"

Qin Yinong frowned. "No need."

Who knew what this visitor wanted? Could she be here to celebrate Qin Jianing's first birthday? With so many descendants in the Ji family, would they even remember a granddaughter with a different last name?

Qin Yinong decided not to dwell on it—she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. First, she called security to let the car in, then went to the entrance to greet the guest.

A silver-gray sports car pulled into the courtyard. Ji Yunyao stepped out, removing her sunglasses. She wore military-green cargo pants and a cropped black jacket, her long hair styled with a few loose strands casually framing her face—a look that blended sharp handsomeness with a touch of refined gentleness.

But Qin Yinong wouldn't let her guard down just because Ji Yunyao appeared harmless at the moment.

Ji Yunyao, the only daughter of the current Ji family patriarch and heir to the Ji empire. She was just a year older than Tang Ruoyao, having graduated from Stanford Business School the previous year before returning to take over the family business. Qin Yinong had seen her twice at Ji family gatherings—always smiling, yet every member of the Ji family seemed to fear her. Qin Yinong couldn't read her, and her instincts warned that getting too close would invite disaster. So she had always kept her distance.

Ji Yunyao mentally sorted through the family hierarchy, finally placing this distant branch on the sprawling family tree of the Ji clan. She stepped forward, a smile blooming on her cheeks, and said, "Hi, Auntie."

The air began to flow again.

Qin Yinong's smile was even more genuine than hers. "Long time no see."

Ji Yunyao dangled a paper bag from her left index finger, swinging it slightly toward Qin Yinong.

"My grandfather asked me to bring this to my great-aunt Lan."

Qin Yinong took it and replied, "I'll thank my third uncle on behalf of my mother."

Ji Yaoyao used her pinky finger to pick her ear, masking a faint flicker of displeasure in her eyes.

Although there were many people in the Ji family who were older than her, a "young aunt" who was a bl0od relative within three generations suddenly appearing made her feel a little uncomfortable.

"Would you like to come in for some tea?"

Ji Yunyao nodded.

To her surprise, there were two more people in the living room—one who bore a striking resemblance to Qin Yinong and another who was just a little one.

Qin Yinong pointed to Qin Lunong and said, "This is my sister, and that's her daughter."

Ji Yunyao raised an eyebrow. "Biological?"

Qin Yinong: "Same mother and father."

The corners of Ji Yaoyao's mouth curved up.

'Well, whether it's one aunt or two, it's the same.'

As Qin Yinong went to make tea, Ji Yunyao studied the mother and daughter on the sofa. Qin Lunong had never met Ji Yunyao before, especially not when she wasn't being sarcastic, and simply saw her as a pretty young girl. Naturally fond of fresh-faced beauties, Qin Lunong introduced herself warmly, "Hello, I'm Qin Lunong—'Lunong' as in 'dew-laden blossoms brushed by the spring breeze.'"

Ji Yunyao responded, "Ji Yunyao—'Yunyao' as in 'beyond the clouds, a noble gentleman.'"

Qin Lunong, well-read as she was, was certain she'd never heard that line of poetry before and paused in slight confusion.

Ji Yunyao burst into laughter. "Hahahaha!"

Qin Lunong: "..."

'This person doesn't seem very smart.'

Qin Lunong lowered her head and gently shook Ningning's little hand. "Say hello to big sister."

Ningning, nestled in her mother's arms and clutching her clothes, blushed slightly and whispered shyly, "Hello, big sister." After a pause, she added, even more bashfully, "You're so pretty."

Qin Lunong: "..."

'Did I teach her to say that?!'

This little rascal, barely taller than a rice seedling, was already learning to flirt—no, to charm her elders. What would she be like when she grew up?

Ji Yunyao turned her attention to the little dumpling in Qin Lunong's arms. Delicate as carved jade, with snow-white skin, lips like spring cherry blossoms, and eyes like dark grapes—she looked like a fairy-tale princess in her childhood.

Ji Yunyao laughed heartily. "You have good taste." She asked, "Can I hold her?"

Of course, Qin Lunong had no objections. With her watching, it wasn't like Ji Yunyao could kidnap the child.

Ningning was a bit shy around strangers, but with her mother nearby, she was very well-behaved.

Ji Yaoyao held Ningning's small hand and swung it up and down, looking extremely fond of her. She asked, "How old is she?"

"She's almost one."

"What's her name?"

"Qin Jianing."

"Does she take her mother's surname?"

"Her father is no longer with us."

"...My apologies."

When Qin Yinong returned with the tea, she caught Ji Yunyao's apology and the harmonious scene between the two, leaving her utterly baffled. Ji Yunyao nodded at Qin Yinong and continued chatting with Qin Lunong as if no one else were there.

"You're Great-aunt Lan's daughter. Why haven't I seen you at any family banquets?"

"I just returned to the country not long ago."

"I see. Are you planning to stay for good now?"

"Yes."

"Then will you be attending this year's family banquet with Auntie?"

"If I'm not too busy."

Qin Yinong, who had been observing silently: "..."

Ji Yunyao looked up with a smile and said, "Auntie, have a seat. Why are you just standing there?"

Even though this was the Qin family home, she carried herself more like the hostess than Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong poured tea and sat down.

Qin Lunong's gaze shifted between the two of them, deep in thought.

Ji Yaoyao played with Ningning for a while and then left. Before she left, she gave Ningning a string of well-worn small-leaf sandalwood prayer beads on her wrist as a gift, saying that she had come in a hurry and hadn't prepared a gift. She would come back another day with a big gift to celebrate Qin Jianing's first birthday.

Once the "great Buddha" had been seen off, Qin Yinong trudged back with heavy steps and collapsed onto the sofa.

Qin Lunong asked, "Are you afraid of her?"

Qin Yinong replied, "It's not that I'm afraid, I just don't want to offend her."

Qin Lunong, puzzled, said, "Isn't she our relative? What's there to offend?"

Qin Lunong, absorbed in academia, had a relatively simple social circle and was unaware that people like Ji Yunyao—fickle and unpredictable—existed, especially when she hadn't shown that side of herself.

Qin Yinong opened her eyes and looked at her "naive" sister, raising a finger. "In the Ji family, aside from her parents and grandfather, no one isn't afraid of her—some relatives are much closer to her than we are."

Qin Lunong, holding Ningning in her arms again, simply said, "Oh."

She thought to herself: 'I actually think this little girl isn't so bad? Not as terrifying as you make her out to be.'

But thoughts aside, she and Ji Yunyao were unlikely to cross paths often, so she decided to heed Qin Yinong's advice and remain cautious.

The phrase "another day" is often used as a polite brush-off, but for Ji Yunyao, "another day" arrived the very next day. She played with Ningning for a long time before leaving. Qin Yinong wasn't home at the time—only Ji Shulan, Qin Lunong, and the others were present.

Ji Yunyao gifted a piece of jade carved into a small ruyi shape [a symbol of good fortune], to be worn when Ningning was older.

When Qin Yinong returned home and learned of this, she couldn't shake her unease and sought out a trusted distant relative for reassurance. The relative gave her peace of mind—it turned out Ji Yunyao gave lavish gifts to every newborn in the Ji family, not just Qin Jianing.

Seeing her sister's paranoia, Qin Lunong couldn't help but advise, "She won't provoke if unprovoked. No matter how erratic she is, she wouldn't target you without reason."

Qin Yinong reluctantly took the words to heart.

She missed Tang Ruoyao dearly—Tang Ruoyao was her anchor, her stabilizing force.

Qin Lunong thought for a moment and offered, "How about I sleep with you tonight?"

Qin Yinong mercilessly refused, "No." She added, "I have something to do tonight."

"What is it?"

"Video call with my girlfriend."

Qin Lunong raised her foot to kick her, but Qin Yinong dodged nimbly, darting up the stairs and vanishing in the blink of an eye.

......

The hospital's extra bed was hard and uncomfortable, making daily life inconvenient. Once Tang Hanzhang's condition stabilized, he no longer allowed Tang Ruoyao to stay there around the clock. With doctors and nurses making regular rounds, Tang Ruoyao packed her toothbrush and clothes and moved into her newly purchased home.

She usually left around 9 p.m., after Tang Hanzhang had fallen asleep, taking the night bus home.

9:05 p.m.

Qin Yinong sent a message: [Beep beep beep]

Tang Ruoyao: [Beep beep beep, your cutie is online]

Qin Yinong: [On the bus yet?]

Tang Ruoyao took a photo of the back of the driver's head, with the night scenery passing by outside.

Qin Yinong made a voice call.

Tang Ruoyao put on her earphones and answered the call.

She was sitting in a window seat in the middle of the row, with a young couple cuddling and whispering sweet nothings behind her. Just moments ago, Tang Ruoyao had felt a twinge of envy, but now she believed she was the happiest person in the world.

"Hello," she said softly, her brows lifting with quiet joy.

"I just finished showering."

"So early?"

"I was bored, so I showered earlier."

"Why were you bored?" Tang Ruoyao asked, already knowing the answer.

Following her current mood, Qin Yinong answered honestly, "Because you're not here, so I'm bored. I don't feel like doing anything."

Tang Ruoyao's lips curved into a smile.

Qin Yinong sighed. "When are you coming back?"

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her phone, checking the calendar. "Soon, just one more week."

Qin Yinong muttered under her breath, "One week, seven days, one hundred and sixty-eight hours, ten thousand and eighty minutes, six hundred and four thousand eight hundred seconds." She sounded like a lovestruck girl, complaining to her sweetheart about the agonizing wait.

Tang Ruoyao hesitated, torn. "How about I come back two days early?"

Qin Yinong immediately objected, "No! Stay at home like you're supposed to. If your dad finds out I talked you into coming back early, do you think I'll get off easy?"

Having just schemed against her father-in-law once, she couldn't risk Tang Hanzhang still being angry. Adding fuel to the fire was out of the question.

But her longing was unbearable. After Tang Ruoyao got home, she filled a bathtub with water and took a bath. Qin Yinong coaxed her gently to bring her phone into the bathroom.

Tang Ruoyao thought she wanted a video call, but that wasn't the case—though the alternative wasn't any gentler.

Tang Ruoyao's world opened up one door after another.

And Qin Yinong was the only one holding the keys.

Tang Ruoyao's unrestrained sounds on the other end of the line were like the soft paws of a kitten, lightly scratching at Qin Yinong's heart. Qin Yinong rolled onto her back, one hand covering her eyes, joining her in the moment.

Afterward, Tang Ruoyao was exhausted and nearly dozed off in the bathtub, her body slowly sinking underwater. Qin Yinong's voice came through the phone on speaker: "Yaoyao? Tang Ruoyao? Wake up."

Qin Yinong was well aware of Tang Ruoyao's "reincarnated as a pig" tendencies—the moment she fell silent, Qin Yinong knew she must have fallen asleep and called her name louder and louder.

With a splash, Tang Ruoyao propped herself up on the edge of the bathtub, shook her head, and her vision gradually cleared.

Qin Yinong asked, "Did you fall asleep?"

Tang Ruoyao admitted sheepishly, "Yeah."

Qin Yinong's heart still raced with lingering fear. She silently resolved to close this particular door in Tang Ruoyao's world—next time they engaged in phone int!macy, it wouldn't be under these circumstances.

The water had taken on an unexpected quality, and Tang Ruoyao hurriedly got up, rinsing off in the glass shower before wrapping herself in a large towel and flopping onto the bed. She bounced lightly on the soft mattress and said, "This is my new place. The bed is huge—next time you come over, we won't have to worry about it creaking."

Then it struck her—once their family moved to the capital, they might never come back here.

The house could be kept as an investment, but apart from that unreliable, noisy bed, Qin Yinong's memories of visiting her home were mostly of the hard, uncomfortable hospital bed. Tang Ruoyao buried her face in the pillow and sighed.

Qin Yinong seemed to guess her thoughts and said, "Alright, when we go back to Z City for vacation in the future, we'll stay there. I'm going to..." The woman's voice grew softer, exceptionally alluring in the darkness.

She mentioned some methods Tang Ruoyao had never heard of before. Actors have vivid imaginations, and Tang Ruoyao quickly painted a mental picture based on her descriptions, her cheeks flushing red, her breathing becoming uneven.

Qin Yinong was also just talking, but in moments like these, it was all about who had the thicker skin—whoever was bolder would win.

Qin Yinong won without a doubt.

Tang Ruoyao couldn't match her in words, but she secretly memorized everything Qin Yinong said and later looked it up online.

Thank goodness for the all-powerful internet.

As Tang Ruoyao stared at the content on her laptop screen, her jaw nearly dropped in astonishment.

'Wow!'

'So amazing!'

'Is this really possible?'

Tang Ruoyao was a hands-on learner, exceptionally gifted in her studies. Apart from being prone to falling asleep, she had almost no weaknesses. Not long after, Qin Yinong would pay a "painful" price for her actions—though that's a story for another time.

Tang Ruoyao woke up after a good night's sleep, white wired headphones dangling from her ears as she listened to the sound of Qin Yinong flipping through a script. She boarded the bus to the hospital.

The morning sunlight streamed through the bus windows, casting a vibrant glow over the thriving city.

A ringtone sounded in her headphones.

Tang Ruoyao took out her phone, saw the caller ID, said a quick word to Qin Yinong, and answered the call.

It was Jiang Xuezhen on the line.

An hour later.

Tang Ruoyao and Lawyer Wu sat in a private booth at a café, facing Jiang Xuezhen and her brother.

Jiang Xuezhen looked somewhat haggard, with faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept well for some time.

Her brother got straight to the point: "How much money are you planning to give?"

Jiang Xuezhen lowered her head.

Perhaps she felt ashamed and guilty for deciding to give up her son, or perhaps it was something else—it didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that Tang Ruoyao had already achieved her initial goal.

Tang Ruoyao calmly took a sip of coffee and said lightly, "How much do you want?"

Jiang Xuezhen's brother glanced at his sister, who kept her head down, and made an outrageous demand: "Five million."

Tang Ruoyao laughed, though her laughter carried a hint of mockery. "Do you think this is a TV drama? If I bundled the two of you together and sold you off, would you even be worth five hundred thousand?"

Jiang Xuezhen's brother said firmly, "Five million. Not a penny less."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Lawyer Wu."

Lawyer Wu adjusted his wristwatch and said gently, "Allow me to remind you both that, according to proper legal procedures, the chances of Ms. Jiang obtaining custody are very slim. Right now, my client, Mr. Tang, is willing to offer compensation out of humanitarian considerations. If the two of you are not sincere, we don't need to continue this conversation today."

Jiang Xuezhen's brother said coldly, "We've consulted a lawyer. Tang Hanzhang has no ability to work now, and he has you, his daughter. My sister is different—she can find a job now and has a stable income. The chances of Xiaofei being given to her are very high."

Tang Ruoyao pinched her chin with one hand, casting a disdainful glance at the two people before her. "Let's not even discuss whether Jiang Xuezhen is willing to work. Just talking about my father—he may lack the ability to work now, but that doesn't mean he won't recover in the future. Once he's better, whose salary do you think will be higher, his or your sister's?" She shrugged. "If you're unwilling to settle this peacefully, then we'll just go through a divorce lawsuit. There's plenty of time for that. We can drag it out as long as we want. In the end, you'll be left with nothing."

Jiang Xuezhen tugged at her brother's sleeve.

Clearly, she was more inclined to believe Tang Ruoyao's words. The last time she consulted a lawyer, they had also said the situation was tricky. Jiang Xuezhen had graduated from high school, which was considered a decent education in their small, underdeveloped town over a decade ago. She had married Tang Hanzhang, a civil servant over a decade her senior, who felt he had wronged her and never made her work a single day. With no experience whatsoever, the jobs she could find would inevitably pay poorly. Having been pampered for so many years, she could no longer endure hardship and would most likely have to remarry a kind, simple man who treated her well. The difference between taking Tang Fei with her or not was like night and day. Especially since she was a woman—society's expectations for men and women were different. She didn't have the courage to sacrifice her entire life for Tang Fei.

Tang Ruoyao's words had struck a chord with her.

Jiang Xuezhen's brother shot her an angry glare. Women are so easily swayed, utterly spineless!

He looked up at the young woman before him and sneered. "I heard from my sister that you have a girlfriend—someone quite famous, a household name, you could say." He drew out his words. "Celebrities like you go to great lengths to keep their relationships under wraps, especially same-s3x ones. What if I were to expose you..."

He tapped the table with his knuckles. "Tang Fei's custody might not be worth that much, but what if we add hush money into the equation?"

Tang Ruoyao's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unreadable.

She met Jiang Xuezhen's brother's gaze, her smile widening until she suddenly propped her forehead on her hand and burst into laughter, as if she had just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

Jiang Xuezhen's brother snapped, "What are you laughing at?"

Tang Ruoyao sneered. "I'm laughing at your ignorance." She lowered her hand from her forehead and lifted her eyes calmly, scoffing. "What do you think the entertainment industry is? Do you really believe reporters will care just because you leak something? Have you ever considered what the news would look like if they took every random tip at face value? Do you have money? Power? Do you even know that sc@ndals can be suppressed? No matter how loud you shout, all I need to do is throw money at it, and not a single word of yours will see the light of day. Do you understand what PR is?"

Of course, Jiang Xuezhen's brother didn't understand. His fingers clenched tightly around his knees under the table, his mind reeling with the unfamiliar yet vaguely recognizable concepts Tang Ruoyao had thrown at him.

Tang Ruoyao "kindly" explained, "It means money makes the world go round. Surely you've heard that saying before?"

A flicker of panic flashed in the man's eyes.

'So even if I expose them, it'll be useless?'

Tang Ruoyao slightly raised her hand, mimicking a gesture Qin Yinong had once used in a movie—casually blowing on her nails—and said lightly, "Besides, who told you I have a girlfriend? Where's the evidence? Just based on your baseless claims?"

She suddenly slammed the table, her voice rising sharply as she snapped, "Do you even know I could sue you for defamation?!"

The two people in front of her shuddered in unison, involuntarily lowering their heads.

Even Lawyer Wu next to her was startled, his heart skipping a beat as he hurriedly took a sip of coffee to steady his nerves.

Tang Ruoyao effortlessly shifted back to composure, calmly stating, "Lawyer Wu, enlighten them on the law."

Lawyer Wu took another sip of coffee and improvised, explaining in plain terms: "Here's the thing. As a public figure, Miss Tang's reputation rights are extremely important because they directly impact her commercial value..."

He concluded emphatically: "In short, if you slander her and damage her reputation, she can sue you. Then you'll be held accountable and required to compensate for her reputational and emotional damages, including but not limited to—" He dropped two heavy words, "Paying up." After a pause, he added, "A lot of money."

Tang Ruoyao gave him a look of satisfaction.

Lawyer Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

No one had warned him about this scenario beforehand. Thankfully, he was quick on his feet.

While the siblings Jiang Xuezhen and her brother couldn't grasp the earlier legal jargon about reputation rights, the words "paying up" struck them like a sharp sword piercing through their muddled minds.

Jiang Xuezhen immediately shook her head in denial: "No, it wasn't me! I never said you had a girlfriend!"

Her brother glared at her in frustration: "Sister, you—"

Jiang Xuezhen looked at her brother, stammering incoherently: "I—I was just guessing randomly! Pretend I never said anything!"

Her brother shot a resentful glance at the composed young woman before them.

They had thought they had leverage over her, but in the blink of an eye, the tables had turned. Her father had been such a refined scholar—how had his daughter turned out to be so cunning and formidable?

Tang Ruoyao met the man's gaze and smiled confidently.

Thoroughly intimidated by Tang Ruoyao and Lawyer Wu's combined efforts, the siblings were already at their breaking point, unable to put up any further resistance. The idea of exposure was abandoned. It would be a thankless task that might even backfire, leaving them liable for compensation—a losing proposition no rational person would pursue.

Finally, they could sit down and properly negotiate the deal.

At a leisurely pace, Tang Ruoyao slashed the price from five million down to eight hundred thousand, with an upfront deposit. The remaining balance would be paid only after Jiang Xuezhen signed the divorce papers and completed the divorce registration.

As Jiang Xuezhen's brother was leaving, he coughed, looking like he wanted to spit at her. Tang Ruoyao said coldly beforehand, "If you dare to spit, I'll make sure you don't get a single penny. We can always settle this in court."

The man snorted disdainfully and left with Jiang Xuezhen in tow.

Lawyer Wu offered to escort Tang Ruoyao back to the hospital, but she waved him off.

Alone in the private room at last, Tang Ruoyao shifted slightly, realizing her back was drenched in cold sweat.

Entertainment media might not easily take others at their word, but that didn't apply to her stepmother. Just as Qin Hongjian had once used baseless accusations to slander Qin Yinong, plunging her into years of nightmares, anything Jiang Xuezhen said would undoubtedly be believed by the press. At the peak of her rising career, the media would jump at any explosive scoop about her. The same tragedy could easily befall her. While Tang Ruoyao didn't care about such things for herself, she feared it might trigger painful memories for Qin Yinong.

Even a tiny possibility was enough for her to nip it in the bud.

Fortunately, everything was resolved perfectly.

Picking up her bag, Tang Ruoyao left the room with a faint smile curling her lips.

Author's Note: 

Jiang Xuezhen is officially out of the picture! Today's Tang Ruoyao isn't the weak "Tang Weak-o"—she's the super alpha "Tang 1 Yao"!!!

Qin Lunong belongs to the Nobel Prize. Stop shipping her with others, thanks everyone ('ཀ'」 ∠)

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