CHAPTER 282: Qin & Tang Extra 56
This scene, this grandeur.
Students passing by instantly turned their heads, gasps of surprise rising one after another.
Tang Ruoyao nearly blacked out on the spot. Forcing a smile, she curled her lips at Qin Yinong.
Right now, she felt like strangling Wen Shuxian.
Qin Yinong pulled her over to stand by her side, appearing rather pleased with herself as she smiled and replied, "Hello, everyone."
Wen Shuxian: "Sister-in-law, you've worked hard."
Qin Yinong's smile deepened. "It's a pleasure to serve student Tang."
Wen Shuxian burst into laughter, clasping her hands in a playful salute. "Sister-in-law, you're too good at this. I concede defeat."
Qin Yinong glanced at the circle of young faces before her and offered politely, "Shall I treat you all to a meal?"
Wen Shuxian hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no." She winked and said, "You two enjoy your time. We third wheels won't intrude."
Qin Yinong chuckled. "It's not just the two of us, the principal is here, too. Why not come along?"
At the mention of the principal, the students' faces changed color instantly.
Wen Shuxian hooked arms with her two roommates and spoke rapidly, "The cafeteria's about to run out of food. We'd better hurry. See you next time, bye!"
The others nodded hastily and bolted as well.
Qin Yinong clicked her tongue at Principal Sun.
Principal Sun, the "utility man," suggested, "Should I leave too?"
Qin Yinong said, "No. If you leave, I'll just get swarmed again. Escort me to the dining hall first."
Principal Sun: "..."
Of course, Qin Yinong wouldn't actually discard a bridge after crossing it. She and Principal Sun had reached a friendly agreement, so sharing a meal was the least she could do. Even with the Principal accompanying them, Qin Yinong still drew countless stares along the way, with students lining the path, phones raised to capture the moment. The four of them eventually arrived at the campus restaurant.
Qin Yinong pulled Tang Ruoyao's hand, seating her on the same side of the table, while Principal Sun sat across from them.
Principal Sun studied Tang Ruoyao carefully.
Busy with administrative duties, he didn't have time to familiarize himself with every student, so Tang Ruoyao's face was entirely new to him. Now, observing her composed demeanor—neither submissive nor overbearing, far beyond her years—he found himself increasingly impressed.
His eyes brightened slightly as he gave her a kindly smile.
Tang Ruoyao returned a polite, measured smile.
Qin Yinong covered her lips with a light cough. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and lazily spun the cup between her fingers. "That's enough. Are you planning to stare forever?"
Principal Sun: "..."
He redirected his gaze to Qin Yinong instead. "When are you coming to give a lecture at the school?" A year's time—better to exploit the opportunity sooner rather than later.
Tang Ruoyao looked puzzled, turning to Qin Yinong.
What lecture?
Qin Yinong explained, "It's like this—Principal Sun has appointed me as a guest professor for the school."
A guest professor is an honorary position, often granted to notable figures—celebrities, officials, entrepreneurs—who occasionally give lectures or presentations without being full-time faculty.
Some universities have more visiting professors than regular ones. The Capital Drama Academy already boasted many industry giants who occasionally lectured. But Qin Yinong...
She had no need for this.
Without even thinking, Tang Ruoyao knew Qin Yinong had done this for her. She pressed her lips together lightly, saying nothing.
Principal Sun left after the meal. Once Guan Han had also been dismissed, Qin Yinong finally took Tang Ruoyao's hand, holding it firmly. "You don't like it?"
Tang Ruoyao shook her head.
She was just feeling a bit complicated, unsure where to begin.
Qin Yinong pinched her chin gently, lifting her face to meet her gaze, and said softly, "Whatever you're thinking, you can tell me."
Tang Ruoyao remained silent for a long moment before speaking. "Compared to what you've done for me, I don't know what I can do for you."
Qin Yinong tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "What have I done for you?"
Tang Ruoyao pressed her lips together.
Qin Yinong continued, "Buying you breakfast? Waiting for you after class? Or giving that lecture?"
Tang Ruoyao thought: 'All of it.'
Qin Yinong burst into laughter.
Tang Ruoyao looked at her.
"Why are you laughing?"
"I'm laughing because you're too easily satisfied," Qin Yinong said, lightly brushing her fingertip along Tang Ruoyao's nose bridge. The touch tickled, but Tang Ruoyao also found herself enjoying the int!macy. Qin Yinong added, "You're the campus belle, after all. Shouldn't you have a bit more pride?"
Tang Ruoyao: "..."
Qin Yinong said, "If you wanted, a hundred boys would line up to bring you breakfast every morning and escort you to class, rain or shine. The fact that you're giving me this chance is my honor."
Tang Ruoyao couldn't help but smile slightly. "That's nonsense."
Qin Yinong turned her chair to face Tang Ruoyao directly, pulling both of her hands into her lap. "As for the lecture, I just wanted to ask Principal Sun for a campus ID card."
She pulled the card from her pocket, which bore her photo and name, and asked, "Where's yours?"
Tang Ruoyao took hers out as well.
Qin Yinong placed the two cards side by side on the tablecloth. "Matching set."
Tang Ruoyao smiled again.
Qin Yinong said, "I'm the teacher, you're the student. It'll add to the immersion when we r0leplay later."
Tang Ruoyao was fine with the first part, but the second made her freeze: "???"
Yet Qin Yinong said it with complete seriousness, not a hint of embarrassment.
Putting the cards away, Qin Yinong concluded, "In short, everything I do is purely for my own happiness. Don't overthink it."
Tang Ruoyao's emotions came and went in waves—she was very good at self-regulation. The moment Qin Yinong mentioned the "teacher-student" dynamic, she stopped dwelling on the matter entirely.
Tang Ruoyao raised her hand. "Does the guest professor's fiancée get any special privileges?"
"Such as?"
"Knowing about your lectures before everyone else?"
"Sure," Qin Yinong chuckled. "But the school usually announces it in advance anyway. What's the point of knowing before the notice?"
Tang Ruoyao pouted.
Qin Yinong said, "Be bolder. Let me arrange a VIP seat for you."
Tang Ruoyao shook her head. "That wouldn't be right. I'll just grab a seat myself—I usually manage to get the front row."
Qin Yinong thought for a moment. "How about this: if you don't get the front row, I'll bring a chair and let you sit behind the podium."
Tang Ruoyao gave her a complicated look.
Qin Yinong burst into laughter.
The two lingered in the private room for a while longer before Qin Yinong walked Tang Ruoyao back to her dorm for a nap—this time, all the way upstairs.
Outside, the hallway was buzzing with noise.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Wen Shuxian peeked through the door crack and saw the corridor walls lined with people, pressed flat like pancakes. In the cleared path down the middle, two figures approached.
Tang Ruoyao lagged half a step behind Qin Yinong, not daring to lift her head. Suddenly, her wrist was seized as Qin Yinong pulled her forward, bringing her into step beside her.
Even against the light, Wen Shuxian recognized the two figures immediately.
Wen Shuxian swung the dormitory door wide open and called down Cui Jiaran, who had already climbed into bed, announcing, "Teacher Qin is here."
Qin Yinong stopped at the doorway of Room 405.
Wen Shuxian grinned, gesturing inside with an exaggerated flourish.
"Welcome, Teacher Qin, to inspect our facilities."
The dormitory conditions at the Capital Drama Academy were standard—modest in size, with four beds occupying most of the space. The narrow aisle between them was just enough for walking. The girls' dorm was cluttered with snacks, drinks, skincare products, and makeup bottles, but it was clean and well-organized. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a bright glow over the room.
Wen Shuxian asked playfully, "Teacher Qin, care to guess which bed is Tangtang's?"
Qin Yinong raised an intrigued eyebrow.
"Sure."
Tang Ruoyao subtly retracted her foot from stepping toward her own bed.
Qin Yinong began walking around, observing carefully.
She pointed to the left side near the balcony. "This one..."
Wen Shuxian's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Qin Yinong looked at her, a faint smile on her lips. "Is yours."
Wen Shuxian's grin faltered. "How did you know?"
Qin Yinong shrugged. "Just a hunch."
The desk in question was the messiest, clearly belonging to the carefree Wen Shuxian.
Using the photo of Cui Jiaran and her boyfriend on the desk to eliminate Cui Jiaran, Qin Yinong narrowed it down to Fu Yujun and Tang Ruoyao.
Their desks were nearly identical—books and notebooks neatly arranged. Qin Yinong rested her hand on one of the covers, but Wen Shuxian darted forward.
"No peeking at the handwriting!" That would give it away instantly.
Qin Yinong withdrew her hand, cupping her chin thoughtfully. After standing in the center of the room for a moment, she pointed to the leftmost bed near the door. "This one."
Tang Ruoyao smiled.
Qin Yinong asked, "Did I get it right?"
Tang Ruoyao nodded.
Wen Shuxian pressed, "Please state your reasoning."
Qin Yinong gestured to a skincare product on the desk. "I remember she uses this brand."
Wen Shuxian burst into laughter. "Hahaha, I ship it so hard!"
Qin Yinong frowned at Tang Ruoyao. "What is she saying?"
Tang Ruoyao quietly tugged Qin Yinong away. "Nothing, just ignore her."
Wen Shuxian clutched her chest dramatically. "Ah, I'm d3ad! Doing sit-ups in my coffin!"
Qin Yinong: "???"
Cui Jiaran promptly shoved Wen Shuxian back onto her bed.
Qin Yinong watched as Wen Shuxian wriggled like a worm under the covers. Though she had no idea what had gotten her so excited, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"I should let you nap," Qin Yinong said. "I'll head back now."
"So soon?"
"You have class this afternoon. Get some rest."
"...Okay." Tang Ruoyao hesitated. "Should I walk you down?"
Qin Yinong shook her head with a soft laugh. "No need. If you walk me down, I'll want to walk you back up, and then you'll walk me down again..."
Tang Ruoyao lightly swatted her arm.
Qin Yinong relented. "Guan Han is with me. I'll be fine."
Tang Ruoyao saw her out the door, watching as Qin Yinong and Guan Han walked away, their figures disappearing around the corner before she finally closed the door.
Qin Yinong's high-profile appearance at the Capital Drama Academy quickly became a sensation online, with countless student-recorded videos flooding the internet.
Her studio made no effort to curb the spread, allowing the buzz to grow unchecked.
That very day, the news shot to the top of trending searches.
[Qin Yinong's Relationship Exposed]
Over the years, Qin Yinong had been the subject of too many fake scandals. So, even though the search index remained high, netizens didn't take it too seriously before clicking. They thought coldly: 'Hmph, let's see what nonsense these gossip accounts have cooked up this time.'
But after clicking in...
Netizens: =口=
Entertainment Buzz v:
[This morning, Qin Yinong was spotted at the Capital Academy of Drama, appearing very int!mate with Tang Ruoyao. According to classmates, she personally delivered breakfast and accompanied Tang Ruoyao to class, sparking rumors of an official girlfriend reveal. What do you all think? [Entertainment Buzz's video link]]
Netizen comments:
[Huh? What? What?]
[Kid, do you have a lot of question marks right now?]
[Just yesterday, I swore Qin Yinong couldn't possibly be in a relationship, and today I get slapped in the face? I'm heartbroken!]
[Still, I'll wait for an official announcement.]
[This seems legit—they were holding hands in the video...]
[This gossip has me dizzy. I need a moment to process...]
After a while, the netizens, initially stunned by the bombshell, began to piece things together.
[Do you all remember the names of the Hope Primary Schools Qin Yinong donated to? I think they were called... Qin-Tang Hope Primary Schools. Tang Ruoyao must be the "Tang" in Qin-Tang, right?]
[So, the Hope Schools were actually a dog food project?]
[HAHAHAHAHA, the comment above calling it a "dog food project" is killing me. What do you gain from making me laugh to death?]
Qin Yinong's fans, the "Empresses," were fuming as they rushed to control the narrative and clarify.
[Leave Qin alone. She thrives solo.]
[Until there's an official statement, please refrain from spreading rumors.]
[Forwarding this over 500 times can get you sued for defamation. Have you forgotten the legal notices from Qin Yinong's studio?]
Meanwhile, Tang Ruoyao's fans, the "Sugar Beans," trembled in fear, vastly outnumbered and advised to stay silent and endure the mockery from the senior fans.
Unsurprisingly, An Ling's phone was bombarded with calls.
Reporters pressed for confirmation: "Miss An, is Qin Yinong's relationship with Tang Ruoyao real?"
An Ling twirled a pen between her fingers, a faint smirk on her lips, and replied, "We are not denying it."
'Not denying it!'
Netizens:
[D@mn! Not denying it is basically admitting it!!!]
[It's official! It's official! It's official!]
[Starting today, I'm shipping Qin-Tang! Scheming queen & innocent school beauty—any writers out there?]
[Am I the only one reading between the lines here? Could it be that Qin Yinong hasn't actually won her over yet?]
[If she hasn't, isn't showing up with breakfast just causing trouble for the other person?]
[Am I the only one who thinks Qin Yinong's character is questionable? If the genders were reversed—an older male star pursuing a female college student—he'd be crucified by now, right?]
[Middle-aged? Do you have some misunderstanding about Qin Yinong? She's practically a post-90s baby, okay? She's only twenty-eight this year, which is still considered a fresh young age for male celebrities. What's wrong with dating a college student? Is a seven-year age gap really that big? Just because she's won a lot of awards doesn't mean you can automatically add twenty years to her age. Those so-called "oppas" that little fans fawn over are out there hooking up left and right, and they still get all the love.]
[How do you know Qin Yinong isn't doing the same? Just because she went on a variety show, you think she's really cleaned up her image?]
And so, the battle between passersby, fans, and haters began.
The "Imperial Concubines" (Qin Yinong's fans) and "Sugar Beans" (Tang Ruoyao's fans) went all out, igniting a full-scale war.
The Imperial Concubines accused Tang Ruoyao of riding on Qin Yinong's coattails, while Sugar Beans fired back, saying Qin Yinong's side never denied anything, so how could this be blamed on Tang Ruoyao? Are seniority fans allowed to twist the truth? Let's get this straight—anyone with eyes can see from the video that it was Qin Yinong who approached Tang Ruoyao first.
Discussions about Tang Ruoyao exploded across gossip forums and entertainment sections, with threads popping up one after another.
With the relationship now out in the open, Tang Ruoyao—once eliminated in the first round of the "rumored partner" popularity contest—was back in the spotlight. She had made her mark in the film industry with her debut movie Rouge, winning last year's Golden Rose Award for Best Newcomer. This year, she was also nominated for the Golden Laurel Award's Best Actress, a remarkable achievement. More and more high-quality endorsements were reaching out to her team, inevitably stepping on some toes.
Tang Ruoyao's team had never crafted a specific persona for her, but numerous marketing accounts and articles, eager for clicks, portrayed her as "untainted by the mud," a pure and independent talent who relied on no one—a "star sent from heaven" who caught the attention of top directors, making her the untouchable flower of the entertainment world.
Now, with this "persona collapse," the untouchable flower had fallen from grace. Rival fans and opportunistic trolls seized the moment, turning her into a laughingstock overnight.
Weren't they saying she made it all on her own? How could she land the lead role in Director Leng Jie's film as a sophomore without connections? How could she star in one big director's movie after another? Even seasoned actresses couldn't pull that off. A nepot!sm baby, and her fans still have the nerve to brag?
Now that they're in a relationship (assuming it's even real), who's to say she didn't sleep her way to the top? How would a college student even meet Qin Yinong? Probably in that kind of place. Logically speaking, neither of them is any good—just a high-class john and a high-class escort.
Qin Yinong's rivals also took the opportunity to drag her down.
Netizens, ever the fence-sitters, swayed with whichever side seemed more convincing at the moment.
The next day, Qin Yinong attended an event where she faced a barrage of questions from reporters.
The backstage interview area had turned into a full-blown press conference. Qin Yinong's bodyguards maintained order as she smiled gracefully under the relentless, almost nauseating barrage of camera flashes.
A reporter raised their hand: "Best Actress Qin, how long have you and Tang Ruoyao been together?"
Qin Yinong replied, "We've known each other for twenty-one years, and been together for over a year."
The reporter: "???" She couldn't believe her ears and raised her voice, "Twenty-one years? Did you say twenty-one years?"
Qin Yinong blinked. "Yes."
The reporter pushed forward eagerly, "Could you elaborate on that for us?"
Qin Yinong said, "Our families were neighbors. I attended her full moon celebration and held her when she was still in swaddling clothes. I've known her for as many years as she's been alive. Is that detailed enough for you?"
'What earth-shattering news!' The reporter's eyes sparkled with excitement as they exclaimed, "Is this true? We've never heard you mention this before."
Qin Yinong curved her eyes, smiling like a fox. "You never asked me before."
The reporter cursed inwardly.
'Who could have guessed that you and Tang Ruoyao had this kind of relationship? They seemed like complete opposites, yet they were actually a couple!'
Reporter: "You two have kept your relationship hidden for so long. Why choose to reveal it now?"
Qin Yinong lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "We just felt like revealing it. There's no particularly noteworthy reason."
A male reporter threw out a sharp question: "Did you appear on that reality show earlier to whitewash your image in preparation for going public with your relationship?"
Qin Yinong's gaze turned icy as she locked eyes with the reporter.
Her smile faded, and for the first time, her expression before the cameras lost its usual gentleness. Her eyes glinted with cold stars, as if time had reversed and she had returned to her bright, rebellious, and sharp-tongued seventeen-year-old self.
"I was merely clarifying things I never did," Qin Yinong said, narrowing her eyes at the logo on the male reporter's microphone. "Jitian Entertainment, is it? If you have solid evidence, feel free to report it in your biggest headlines. But if you're just spouting baseless accusations, let me remind you—spreading rumors can land you a court summons."
The male reporter awkwardly replied, "I just used the wrong word."
Qin Yinong retorted bluntly, "With that level of literacy, you still dare to call yourself a journalist? Do your colleagues agree with this?"
The colleagues trembled in fear, not daring to speak up.
After Qin Yinong shut one person down, the others became cautious with their words, striving for objectivity and fairness.
Qin Yinong was the type to return tenfold the respect she was given, so the latter half of the interview proceeded harmoniously.
"May we ask how far along your relationship is?"
"We've already met each other's parents." Qin Yinong said with a smile.
Though Tang Hanzhang hadn't explicitly given his approval, Qin Yinong had already wrapped her future father-in-law around her finger—he had no choice but to accept.
Reporter: "Does that mean wedding bells are near?"
Qin Yinong: "I'll announce any good news when the time comes."
Qin Yinong signaled to Guan Han, who stepped forward and said coolly, "That concludes today's interview. Any further questions can wait for next time."
Qin Yinong added, "If you have questions, direct them to me. Please don't disturb Tang Ruoyao."
Escorted by her bodyguards, Qin Yinong left the backstage area and boarded her van home.
She texted Tang Ruoyao: [Did any reporters ambush you today?]
Tang Ruoyao: [Yes.]
The Capital Academy of Drama had relatively strict management. Aside from events like freshman orientation or graduation ceremonies, outsiders weren't usually allowed to visit. But even the strictest places couldn't stop determined reporters.
When Tang Ruoyao left her dorm that morning, several reporters were already lying in wait downstairs. The moment they spotted her, they swarmed forward.
Qin Yinong had already notified Principal Sun in advance and sent two bodyguards over. As soon as the reporters moved, the two towering men in black suits—each standing at 1.9 meters tall—acted even faster, forming an impenetrable barrier in front of Tang Ruoyao.
A frail male reporter didn't notice and was bumped backward by the bodyguard's rock-hard pectoral muscles, grimacing as he rubbed his shoulder.
Wen Shuxian cheered from the sidelines, "Bodyguard bro is so cool."
The bodyguard's mouth twitched, barely managing to maintain his stern expression.
Tang Ruoyao was shielded behind him, leaving the reporters only able to catch glimpses of her through the gaps. One asked, "Yesterday, rumors about your relationship with Actress Qin were exposed online. Her agent didn't deny it. What's your take on this? Is your relationship real? Could you give us a direct response?"
Wen Shuxian stepped out from behind the bodyguard and said, "This is a school. You've entered without permission, violating our campus rules. I've already called security."
The reporter didn't take the young girl seriously and continued pressing Tang Ruoyao, "If it's true, why are you refusing to answer?" He smirked with ill intent, "Do you and Qin Yinong have some unspeakable relationship?"
What did he mean by "unspeakable relationship"?
Wen Shuxian's temper flared instantly, her fiery rage barely contained. Fu Yujun managed to yank her back just before she could lunge forward to smash the reporter's camera.
The reporter pressed on aggressively, "Were all the film resources you previously obtained given to you by Qin Yinong? This contradicts the image your team has been promoting. What do you have to say to the public?"
"Do you think you deserve the honors you've received now?"
Fu Yujun tightly covered Wen Shuxian's mouth.
Security arrived quickly and escorted the reporters who had slipped in out of the school.
Tang Ruoyao typed: [I didn't answer anything.]
Qin Yinong: [Those people have ulterior motives, deliberately setting traps for you. Let your team handle the response—Mu Qingwu is better at navigating these verbal tactics than you. You're a student, focus on your studies at school and don't worry about outside matters. Stay off the internet for a while.]
Tang Ruoyao: [Okay.] After a pause of a few seconds, she added, [I don't care about those comments. Don't worry about me.]
Before going public, Tang Ruoyao had anticipated this situation. The gap between her and Qin Yinong was too vast, inevitably inviting skepticism, attacks, and slander. Qin Yinong had provided her with a ladder, but it was Tang Ruoyao herself who climbed to the moon. Countless actors, including many talented ones, had been eliminated during the auditions for Rouge, but Leng Jie had chosen her. Her second film role came after she had built up experience from the first. People often see things in black and white—once her name was linked with Qin Yinong's, all her hard work could be easily dismissed. From this day onward, it might take her a very long time to prove herself again.
Tang Ruoyao wasn't entirely unaffected, but she had chosen what was more important to her.
Besides, compared to the misunderstandings Qin Yinong had once endured, what she was experiencing now was merely a drop in the ocean.
She was walking the path Qin Yinong had once walked.
Tang Ruoyao even found a hint of sweetness in it.
She truly was... a little crazy.
Tang Ruoyao laughed, resting her forehead in her hand.
Tang Ruoyao's heart was vast—capable of embracing countless roles and the boundless drama of life—yet it was also small, so small that it could only hold Qin Yinong alone.
Everything else was insignificant and didn't matter.
......
Qin Yinong's interview with the reporter once again stirred up waves online.
Entertainment media headlines: [Qin Yinong Reveals She Has Known Tang Ruoyao for 21 Years, Attended Her Full Moon Celebration.]
Netizens:
[Ahhhhhhh what kind of childhood sweethearts, destined-from-birth fairy tale is this?!]
[I'm dying from the sweetness, I'm obsessed!]
[Who would have thought that the first day of shipping Qin Tang would be so intense? How many more surprises do you have that I don't know about? Huh?]
[So Tang Ruoyao is Qin Yinong's child bride? I'm d3ad, I'm d3ad, I'm completely d3ad!]
The next day, Qin Yinong updated her Weibo.
Qin Yinong v:
[I am her child bride. @Tang Ruoyao]
Author's Note:
Is this level of sweetness even real? I'm dying from the sweetness, I'm actually d2ad ahhhhhhh!
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