CHAPTER 276: Qin & Tang Extra 50

"I've already agreed to give her eight hundred thousand," Tang Ruoyao said as she gently wiped Tang Hanzhang's palms with a warm towel, then turned his hands over to clean the backs with the same care. She continued softly, "So when it comes to the divorce settlement, you don't have to give her more than that."

Tang Hanzhang looked at his daughter sitting by his hospital bed, his eyes filled with both pride and complexity.

Divorce would inevitably involve the division of assets. Although Tang Hanzhang had been bedridden and had no source of income for over a year, when all was said and done, the family had a lot of assets. There was the house in the old neighborhood that was about to be demolished, the money the at-fault driver was ordered to pay, and a lump sum from Tang Hanzhang's workplace. All of this added up to at least a million yuan in cash.

During his last conversation with Jiang Xuezhen, Tang Hanzhang had been firm, but at heart, he was soft. As a man, he felt he should yield to her. When the divorce was finalized, he would likely give her more, especially if she cried and played the victim—perhaps even handing over the entire house.

Even if Tang Ruoyao didn't give Jiang Xuezhen money, Tang Hanzhang would have compensated her. Instead, she used funds that would have been given anyway to peacefully resolve the issue with Tang Fei and decisively sever Tang Hanzhang's lingering sympathy.

K!lling two birds with one stone.

After she finished wiping his hands, Tang Hanzhang patted the back of her hand lightly, his eyes crinkling warmly at the corners.

She had grown capable of standing on her own, considering things more thoroughly and far-sighted than he ever could. If her mother were still alive, she would have been so proud.

......

After the Lantern Festival, on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

Tang Ruoyao wheeled Tang Hanzhang to the civil affairs bureau to finalize the divorce with Jiang Xuezhen.

The staff handed over the divorce certificates, and each took theirs. Tang Hanzhang glanced at Jiang Xuezhen, lips trembling as if to speak, but in the end, he said nothing and sighed.

Over a decade of marriage, sharing a bed and life together, now parting ways—it was impossible not to feel something.

Jiang Xuezhen was unusually quiet too. Just as Tang Ruoyao was about to wheel Tang Hanzhang away, she called out, "I have one request."

Tang Ruoyao turned back.

Jiang Xuezhen pleaded, "Could Tang Fei stay with me for one more night? I'll bring him to you tomorrow myself."

Tang Ruoyao hesitated.

Tang Hanzhang nodded.

"Fine," Tang Ruoyao said. "Then I'll transfer the remaining payment tomorrow." The unspoken implication was clear—if Jiang Xuezhen tried anything, she wouldn't get a single cent of the remaining money.

"Thank you." Jiang Xuezhen said gratefully.

Grateful? Tang Ruoyao was momentarily taken aback, then sighed inwardly. The love of parents knows no bounds, but she felt no sympathy. Had Jiang Xuezhen realized her mistakes earlier, things wouldn't have come to this.

Jiang Xuezhen went to the market and bought a mountain of groceries—chicken, duck, fish, meat—and spent the entire afternoon cooking until evening, preparing a lavish feast.

Blinking back tears, she knocked on Tang Fei's door and said gently, "Fei, dinner's ready."

Ever since his parents started talking about divorce, Tang Fei had been locking himself in his room, staying quiet all day and not saying a word.

He walked out quietly and headed to the kitchen to serve himself rice.

"I've already filled your bowl." Jiang Xuezhen said, guiding him to the table and pressing chopsticks into his hand. She sat down too, piling his plate high with food until it resembled a small mountain.

Tang Fei ate everything, if only to be polite.

Jiang Xuezhen looked at him expectantly: "Is it good?" The glimmer in her eyes seemed like pearls formed from tears.

Tang Fei nodded and also picked up a piece of fish for her, saying, "Mom, you eat too."

"Okay." Jiang Xuezhen lowered her head, quickly blinking away a tear.

The mother and son shared the most silent yet warmest meal they had ever had.

That night, Jiang Xuezhen called Tang Fei to sleep in her room, turning on the air conditioner she had always been reluctant to use, gently patting her son's back.

In a nostalgic tone, she said, "When you were very, very little, you used to cry and refuse to sleep unless someone patted your back."

After a long pause, Tang Fei finally choked out a response: "Mm."

Jiang Xuezhen was silent for a while before saying, "Sleep now."

"Mm." Tang Fei clenched his teeth tightly, tears soaking the pillow beneath him.

Jiang Xuezhen patted his back all night, and the next day, her arm was so sore she could barely lift it.

She packed Tang Fei's luggage and personally took him to the hospital.

When Jiang Xuezhen handed him over to Tang Ruoyao, Tang Fei, who had been so well-behaved and obedient all this time, finally couldn't hold back. He turned and threw himself into Jiang Xuezhen's arms, wailing with heart-wrenching sobs.

Jiang Xuezhen's face was streaked with tears.

Tang Ruoyao didn't pull them apart. Instead, she waited until they had cried themselves out and gradually calmed down before taking Tang Fei's hand. She said to Jiang Xuezhen, "Did you save my number?"

Jiang Xuezhen, no longer the haughty woman she once was, softly replied, "Yes."

"If you want to see him, call me beforehand."

"Thank you."

"No need. You're Tang Fei's mother. That will never change."

"Thank you." Jiang Xuezhen repeated, this time bowing deeply to Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao accepted the gesture.

"I'll take good care of him."

Jiang Xuezhen took one last look at Tang Fei before leaving the ward. Her family came to take her home.

On the eighteenth day of the lunar month, Tang Ruoyao wrapped up her affairs in Z City and returned to Beijing with her family.

Qin Yinong couldn't appear in person, so she sent Guan Han to pick them up.

Guan Han handled all the paperwork for Tang Hanzhang's new admission.

Guan Han had been to Z City before, and Tang Hanzhang knew she was Qin Yinong's assistant. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: 'The more I owe, the deeper I'm trapped—what a cunning fox.'

He was assigned a private room again, with even better conditions than in Z City. A doctor came to examine him as soon as he arrived. The window overlooked greenery, offering a pleasant view. After Guan Han left, Tang Hanzhang asked, "How much does this cost per day?"

Tang Ruoyao knew what he was thinking and said, "I'm covering all your medical and hospitalization expenses. Don't worry about it."

Exposed, Tang Hanzhang felt a bit embarrassed but stubbornly retorted, "Your money isn't money? There'll be plenty of expenses in the future—you should save where you can."

Tang Ruoyao didn't argue with him. She smiled and said, "Isn't money meant to be spent?" Seeing Tang Hanzhang's displeased expression, she quickly added, "I still have a lot left from my advertising and film earnings. Don't worry, I won't go broke. You have no idea how wealthy I am now."

Tang Hanzhang rolled his eyes. After a moment's thought, he said, "When the money from the house comes in, you take it."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Okay."

She didn't need the money, but Tang Hanzhang was drowning in guilt. This would ease his conscience a little.

"Is Xiaofei's tuition expensive?" Tang Hanzhang continued, "There's still some money left in my card—"

Tang Ruoyao cut him off, urging, "You've been traveling all day. Aren't you tired from worrying so much? Hurry up and get some sleep."

Tang Hanzhang laughed helplessly.

Tang Ruoyao glared at him. "Are you going to sleep or not?"

Tang Hanzhang said, "I'm sleeping, I'm sleeping." With that, he closed his eyes.

After settling Tang Hanzhang, Tang Ruoyao took Tang Fei to their new home.

Qin Yinong was extravagant with her wealth but stingy with herself. When it came to Tang Ruoyao, however, her attitude was always, "Buy it! Buy everything!"

This time, she had initially wanted to buy a house for Tang Hanzhang and his son, but Tang Ruoyao stopped her in time. The two had just moved to the capital and were unfamiliar with the area. One would be staying in the hospital for a while, and the other was still in school—neither had settled down yet. What was the point of buying a house now? They could consider purchasing one later, once they had lived there longer and had concrete future plans.

Another reason was that Tang Ruoyao didn't want to owe Qin Yinong too much. Although Qin Yinong kept insisting it was all part of her scheme to win over her father-in-law, Tang Ruoyao still felt undeserving.

In the end, they rented an apartment near Tang Fei's elementary school, which was also not far from the hospital. Qin Yinong always thought things through meticulously when it came to matters involving Tang Ruoyao, making her feel secure.

Of course, Tang Ruoyao paid the rent—Qin Yinong couldn't win that argument.

Tang Ruoyao's expenses had been high recently: a fully paid house in City Z, Tang Hanzhang's hospitalization and medical fees, Tang Fei's rent and tuition. She did a quick mental calculation and checked her bank balance on her phone—it was just enough to last two months, not even counting her daily expenses.

A sense of urgency crept in, so she called her new agent, Mu Qingwu.

True to her reputation as a top agent, Mu Qingwu quickly secured a suitable commercial deal for her, alleviating her immediate financial strain.

Tang Ruoyao took Tang Fei to the new apartment. Worried he might be scared sleeping alone, she stayed with him for the night and hired a housekeeper to cook for him, calling him three times a day to check in.

Tang Fei had become much quieter, which was inevitable. Tang Ruoyao suggested he could call Jiang Xuezhen, and though he did, it didn't help much. Some things could only heal with time.

Tang Ruoyao had already returned to school.

In the second semester of her junior year, even fewer classmates remained on campus compared to the previous term. It was rare for all four roommates in a dorm to stay, but Room 405 was an exception among exceptions.

Cui Jiaran had a boyfriend but never moved out to live with him, stubbornly sticking to dorm life. Wen Shuxian, a dreamer with a slacker's demeanor, appeared very unserious but worked very hard to seize every opportunity to climb the ladder. She had just filmed a TV show that hadn't even aired yet, and she was getting more commercials than Tang Ruoyao. She could camp out in an advertising studio for three days straight without moving, earning her the dorm nickname "Wen the Workhorse," which she loved so much she added it to her Weibo bio. Fu Yujun, whose acting and career were both very solid, would occasionally go for auditions. As long as she felt there was room to showcase her skills, she would take on small roles. Her scenes were usually short, so she wrapped up quickly.

Everyone cherished their friendship deeply. No one knew what the future held, so they made the most of their time together while they could. Together, they burned bright as a flame; apart, they shone like scattered stars.

Some acting students believe they can learn more on set than in school, so whenever they get the chance, they spend more time filming with crews. But nowadays, good production teams are rare—most are just muddling through, rushing to make quick money, offering little of real value to learn. On the contrary, the foundation built during student years forms the framework for future performances. These fundamentals are far more precious than the superficial "on-set experience" floating on the surface. Only with a solid foundation can one build a sturdy and magnificent structure in the future. Many teachers at school have acting experience themselves, having portrayed classic characters—they are seasoned performers who genuinely don't hesitate to share their knowledge.

The 405 dorm sticks together, advancing and retreating as one, pushing what can and should be done during student years to the limit. Not just in grades but in foundational skills, they've left most of their overly ambitious peers far behind. These efforts might not show immediate results, but they will reward them greatly in the future.

Wen Shuxian, having finished her work and studies, collapsed onto her bed like a d3ad dog.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, and a reminder popped up.

It read: Traveling with My Sister  variety show premiere.

Wen Shuxian's eyes widened. She attempted a carp leap off the bed but only managed to lift her waist halfway before flopping back down with a thud. She groaned, rolled over twice, and weakly gasped, "H-help... I... can't..."

Fu Yujun stepped down from the upper bunk, crouched beside her, and rubbed her sore back.

"Feeling better?"

Wen Shuxian lay face down, whimpering for a bit before replying, "A little."

Peering through the railing at Tang Ruoyao, who sat upright at her desk watching a film while taking notes, Wen Shuxian said, "Tangtang, your girlfriend's variety show is airing tonight."

Tang Ruoyao glanced at the red circle on her desk calendar and replied, "I know."

"Wanna watch it together tonight?"

"Sure."

"I want to watch too." said Cui Jiaran, raising a hand while wearing one earbud.

Fu Yujun added, "Count me in. I'll finish next week's essay first."

Nowadays, variety shows and reality programs are streamed online at the same time. At 8 p.m., the four roommates sat in a row of chairs. Wen Shuxian had bought Zhou Hei Ya snacks from outside the south gate—duck tongues, duck feet, duck hearts—all richly spiced. Cui Jiaran prepared a big bag of sunflower seeds, Fu Yujun dug out cookies and chocolates from her storage box, and Tang Ruoyao provided drinks.

Tang Ruoyao opened the video app and searched for  Traveling with My Sister , which showed the first episode updated with a "new~" tag.

Her finger hovered over the mouse, frozen as if she were in a state of meditation.

Wen Shuxian: "???"

Wen Shuxian cracked a melon seed, chewed it quickly, and leaned in to whisper, "What are you doing?"

Tang Ruoyao startled, her finger instinctively clicking the mouse, and the playback screen popped up.

Wen Shuxian slapped her thigh and burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHA!"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

She smoothed her hair behind her ear, subtly masking a hint of embarrassment.

For some reason, she had suddenly felt nervous—like the first time she brought Qin Yinong to meet her dad.

Wen Shuxian chattered on, "You're not logged into VIP?"

Tang Ruoyao logged in as a VIP again. She skipped the ad, and the opening credits began.

Since Qin Yinong wasn't on screen yet, Tang Ruoyao kept the barrage comments on. The screen was already flooded with messages.

[Qin Yinong, I'm here for you!]

[Auntie is a treasure of this world! Finally, a show tailored for older aunties! I'm totally shipping this!]

Tang Ruoyao: "???"

Qin Yinong was only twenty-seven, wasn't she? Even calling her "big sister" felt a bit much, so just because she debuted early, she automatically got lumped into the "auntie" category?

Barrage comments:

[Where's the Lu Zhu army?!]

[Lu Zhu reporting in!]

[Here! Hands up!]

[Beauty and brains, Qin Lunong! Heaven's favorite, Qin Lunong! Science for the nation, Qin Lunong! Future Nobel Prize winner, Qin Lunong!]

Wen Shuxian stared at the colorful barrage flying across the screen, dumbfounded. "Our girlfriend's sister seems to have more fans than I do. Is this the power of knowledge?"

Tang Ruoyao muttered under her breath, "She's my girlfriend. Mine."

Cui Jiaran said, "This is why I told you to study more."

Wen Shuxian laughed. "That kind of thing takes talent. Let it be. Have some duck neck, have some duck neck."

When the show moved to the segment of the stars leaving their homes, Tang Ruoyao turned off the distracting barrage.

The subtitle appeared: 6:00 AM, Qin Residence.

The giggly Wen Shuxian sat up straight, eyes glued to the computer screen.

A staff member walked up to Qin Yinong's door and pressed the doorbell.

Tang Ruoyao recognized that this wasn't the home they shared, nor was it the Qin family villa. It was a place she'd never seen before—likely another private property Qin Yinong owned.

Silently calculating the gap between herself and Qin Yinong, Tang Ruoyao sighed inwardly.

At the same time, millions of viewers across the country sat in front of their screens, watching the show and happily roasting it.

The doorbell rang for a while before someone opened the door from inside. The person was tall, dressed in an ankle-length robe, the collar neatly arranged and the belt meticulously tied. Her face was free of makeup, exuding a gentle and reserved aura, like a piece of jade returned to its purest form.

With a warm smile, she greeted, "Hello."

The staff member at the door froze.

Very few people had seen Qin Yinong without makeup. Though she didn't wear heavy makeup in public, her styling always emphasized her public persona—bold, glamorous, and utterly flamboyant.

Now, without makeup, the staff member couldn't immediately tell whether this was Qin Lunong or Qin Yinong.

The staff member stiffened, opting for a safe address: "Ms... Qin?"

Barrage comments:

[Sister Lu! Sister Lu, I love you!]

[What 'Lu'? Are you blind? This is clearly Qin Yinong!]

[Holy cr@p, can anyone tell who this is at a glance? Why can't I tell?]

[I bet it's Qin Lunong!]

[Fifty cents! It's definitely Qin Yinong!]

The variety show had barely started, and the first major talking point had already emerged. The show's promotional team seized this highly viral moment, kicking off a marketing blitz online.

Real-time trending topic on Weibo: [Can't tell Qin Lunong and Qin Yinong apart. Crying emoji]

Back on the show, after inviting the staff inside, the person revealed the answer: "My sister stayed up all night working on her thesis and is still asleep. Please keep your voices down."

Barrage comments:

[It's! Qin! Yi! Nong!]

[I guessed right too. Why do I feel inexplicably proud? Hahaha.]

[How could it be Qin Yinong? This vibe is totally not like her! Such gentleness can only come from our Sister Lu!]

[Could they be role-playing as each other?]

[It's possible. Maybe they're in on it with the production team.]

[I was sure it was Qin Yinong, but after seeing these comments, I'm not so confident anymore. Let me watch some more.]

Room 405.

Wen Shuxian gnawed on a duck neck, voicing the same confusion as most viewers. She turned to the ultimate cheat code: "Tangtang, is the one who opened the door your girlfriend or your girlfriend's sister?"

Tang Ruoyao said with a straight face, "My girlfriend."

Wen Shuxian: "Oh." She added, "She's so gentle, speaking so softly. I almost didn't recognize her."

Tang Ruoyao's expression turned even colder. "She's always been like this."

Wen Shuxian let out another "Oh" and continued, "And without makeup, she looks even younger than her actual age. This is no Great Demon King—more like an adorable little sister. Tsk tsk, effortlessly switching between big sister and little sister modes. You really hit the jackpot."

Tang Ruoyao took a deep breath.

Fu Yujun cleared her throat. "Ahem!"

Wen Shuxian's attention immediately shifted. "What's wrong?"

Fu Yujun said, "Give me a duck neck."

Wen Shuxian: "Sure thing."

Fu Yujun glanced at Tang Ruoyao's stormy expression and silently cursed Wen Shuxian for being oblivious.

Couldn't she see someone was drowning in jealousy? And here she was, fanning the flames.

......

Qin Yinong was alone, packing luggage for two. Both suitcases were silver—one had stickers, the other didn't. Qin Lunong had initially suggested one of them use a black one, but in a fit of childishness, neither wanted black, so they ended up with identical ones.

Qin Yinong introduced each item to the camera, explaining what they were and their purposes.

The barrage grew even more confused.

[This frugal, homemaking type must be our Sister Lu!]

[Role-playing confirmed! The production team is playing 4D chess!]

[The only one who sees the truth is a detective who appears to be a child but possesses wisdom beyond his years—Conan!]

[As a die-hard Qin Yinong fan, I can confirm this is our Emperor Qin! So adorable, mwah mwah!]

All debates came to a halt when Qin Lunong emerged, yawning.

Individually, the two looked strikingly similar, but side by side, it was easy to tell who was the elder sister and who was the younger. The one with neatly draped long hair, wearing her robe with meticulous precision, exuding an air of seriousness—that was Qin Yinong. The other, with her hair a tangled bird's nest, looking like she could hatch a couple of eggs right there, drowsy-eyed, her robe wrapped around her like a cocooned caterpillar—that was Qin Lunong.

Barrage:

[My eyes! My Sister Lu! Oh no!]

[Qin Lunong is so relatable. This is literally me after pulling an all-nighter to finish a paper. STEM student life.]

[I'm shook!]

[Gotta admit, with looks like theirs, even a bird's nest hairstyle is a vibe. Sister Lu, I'm yours! Look at me!]

[HAHAHAHAHAHA why are these two so hilarious standing together?]

[It's not role-playing—it's a soul swap! Clinging to my last shred of stubbornness, refusing to let go. Is the next stop heaven? Even if it's despair, I won't lose hope!]

[Why does this song lyric fit so perfectly here? What's happening?]

The production team on set also showed the same confusion as the commenters, proving beyond doubt that none of this was scripted.

Qin Yinong said, "I've packed your luggage. Do you want to double-check it?"

Qin Lunong ruffled her hair, revealing her sleepy, half-lidded eyes, then crouched in front of the suitcase to inspect it briefly. "It's fine. I'm going back to sleep. Wake me up when we're about to leave." she said.

Qin Yinong replied, "Go ahead."

Qin Lunong closed the bedroom door behind her.

The staff present: "..."

The camera followed Qin Yinong into the bathroom, capturing her brushing her teeth and washing her face. Then, with a quick cut, Qin Yinong was seen waking Qin Lunong up. After a Herculean effort, Qin Lunong finally sat up on the bed, clutching her blanket and muttering under her breath. The subtitles thoughtfully displayed her grumbles: ["If you dare wake me up again, I'll beat you up."]

The rest of her mumbling was too indistinct for the subtitlers to catch, leaving them helpless. But the editors had a playful touch—they added a crying chibi version of Qin Yinong next to her, complete with two sobbing sound effects and bold text: ["Life is so hard."]

The live comments exploded with laughter.

[Feel bad for Younger Sister Qin for three seconds.]

[Before this show, I never imagined Qin Yinong would have such an adorable vibe. Mommy loves you, baby Qin! Go defeat your sister, the big bad villain!]

[These sisters are too cute! I could watch their daily lives forever! More screen time, please!]

[The country owes me a sister like Qin Yinong!]

Dressed neatly, Qin Yinong and the now-humanized Qin Lunong pushed their suitcases forward. With strikingly similar faces but contrasting expressions—one radiant, the other gentle—they waved at the camera and smiled, saying, "See you later."

The scene then cut to the next guest.

The live comments erupted with cries of "Aaaah, not enough!" Wen Shuxian had nearly finished gnawing on a duck neck bone before snapping back to reality, sighing wistfully, "I wish I had an older or younger sister too. Being an only child is kinda lonely."

Cui Jiaran hooked an arm around her neck and lifted her chin with a finger. "Call me 'Sister.'"

Wen Shuxian: "Get lost."

Cui Jiaran: "Hahahaha!" With lightning speed, she snatched the last duck neck from the bag on Wen Shuxian's lap.

Wen Shuxian chased after her, but the dorm was too small for a proper pursuit, and the two soon ended up in a tussle. Cui Jiaran raised her hand high. "Lao Fu, duck neck, quick!"

As the snipe and clam fought, Fu Yujun reaped the fisherman's reward. With her height and long legs, she effortlessly caught the duck neck and began munching away.

Wen Shuxian was fine as long as Cui Jiaran didn't get her way. She had no objections to Fu Yujun eating it and sat back down with a grin, returning her attention to the variety show.

"Traveling with My Sister" was produced by XX TV's top-tier team, excelling in cinematography, pacing, conflict, and post-production. Coupled with a cast of goddess-level guests, the first meeting alone sparked countless fireworks. Naturally, the Qin sisters stood out the most, their "contrasting cuteness" shining in every aspect, consistently delivering unexpected laughs that left audiences in stitches and clamoring for more.

Netizens gave them a nickname: "Qin the Tyrant" and "Qin the Pitiful."

During the first episode's broadcast, real-time comments overflowed with cheerful banter from viewers, drawing in even more audiences. By the time the episode ended, the show had dominated the trending charts.

The first, third, fifth, and tenth spots were all related to Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong, utterly defenseless against Qin Lunong, perfectly embodied "weak, pitiful, and helpless." Memes of her spread like wildfire across the internet.

Reality shows have always been a powerful tool for celebrities to "cleanse" their image. As the show aired and viewership grew, discussions skyrocketed, and Qin Yinong's public perception flipped almost overnight. The entire online landscape transformed into a massive "I was wrong about her" celebration.

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