Chapter 299: A Few Things After Marriage 8
The auditorium was dimly lit, but Tang Ruoyao swore she could see the throbbing vein on Qin Yinong's forehead.
Tang Ruoyao smiled faintly.
It seemed their little one was even more popular than either of them had imagined.
In the second act, Snow White was like a little angel—gentle, kind, and full of love—playing with many small animals. Qin Jianing danced gracefully across the stage, her fairy-like appearance and demeanor making the character utterly convincing.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Queen, played by a child named Wei Nan, stood before a mirror, delicately stroking her face as she asked, just as she always did, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
But this time, the mirror did not give her the same answer. Instead, it replied, "It is Snow White."
The Queen flew into a rage, her face contorting with fury. "How could anyone be more beautiful than I? I must get rid of her!"
It had to be said that the stage effects were quite impressive. As the Queen spoke these words, the lights dimmed over Snow White's area, and even the animals playing joyfully with her froze in place.
At the same time, a rumble of thunder echoed, foreboding ill omens. The music quickened its tempo, beat by beat, making the audience below hold their breath in suspense.
Amid the tense sound effects, the Queen ordered the huntsman to take Snow White deep into the forest, kill her, and bring back her heart. The huntsman accepted the command and departed.
The lights dimmed once more, then brightened again, revealing the forest. The young boy playing the huntsman drew his knife, while Ningning, as Snow White, looked up with tear-filled eyes and sobbed, "Dear huntsman, please don't k!ll me. I will run deep into the forest and never return."
Unable to bring himself to harm her, the huntsman agreed to her plea and instead brought back the heart of a wild boar to fulfill his duty.
Hearing Qin Jianing's tearful voice, Qin Yinong couldn't help but pause in surprise.
Could it be that, influenced by their home environment, her talent for acting had truly been awakened?
Behind her, one parent whispered to another, "That child cries so naturally. Her acting is miles ahead of the other kids."
The other parent's child chimed in, "That's Qin Jianing."
The parent replied, "Oh, so it's her."
Qin Yinong thought, '??? How does everyone know my daughter?'
The child continued, "Her Mom is Qin Yinong, and her mommy is Tang Ruoyao."
The parent nodded in understanding. "No wonder. She's a star kid, trained from a young age."
Qin Yinong found a sliver of bittersweet comfort in the situation.
Snow White journeyed through the forest and discovered the dwarves' cottage, where she began to live with the seven dwarves. They warned her to be cautious and not to trust any strangers.
The sound effects shifted to a lighter tone as Snow White happily cooked, washed clothes, folded quilts, and sewed in the dwarves' home, living a joyful life.
Believing Snow White to be dead, the Queen was overjoyed and asked the mirror once more, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
The mirror still replied, "It is Snow White. She now lives happily with the seven dwarves in the forest."
The Queen's face twisted with rage.
"How utterly infuriating! I must make Snow White vanish from this world forever!"
The fairy tale play was quite lengthy, with a complete narrative structure. Even after being condensed and edited, it still ran longer than the other performances. Yet, far from growing impatient, the audience was thoroughly captivated. This was partly due to the impeccable stage lighting, sound effects, and costumes, and partly because of the young actors' performances—especially Qin Jianing's, whose every entrance was eagerly anticipated even by the parents.
After Snow White bit into the poisoned apple, she collapsed and fell into a deep slumber. The seven dwarfs placed her in a crystal coffin. When a prince from a neighboring kingdom passed through the forest, he fell deeply in love with her. Moved by his sincerity, the dwarfs allowed him to take the crystal coffin away. As the coffin was being moved, the jostling dislodged the poisoned apple from Snow White's throat, and she awoke. The two decided to marry, and the wicked queen, invited to the wedding, faced her punishment. The princess and prince lived happily ever after.
When the play concluded, the young actors gathered around Qin Jianing. After a brief, playful scramble lasting a few seconds, they lined up hand in hand and bowed to the audience, who responded with enthusiastic applause.
Qin Yinong's feelings were mixed. If her observation was correct, the brief commotion seemed to stem from everyone wanting to stand next to Qin Jianing. In the end, the prince and the child playing the queen, Wei Nan, who stood on either side of her, beamed with particular delight.
The arts performance concluded successfully, with all the actors taking their final bow. Among the crowd, Qin Yinong's eyes immediately found Qin Jianing—not merely out of a mother's bias, for Ningning wasn't even in the center. Rather, no matter how many people were around, Qin Jianing's exceptional beauty made her stand out instantly—a natural gift, as some are born to be the center of attention.
It was no wonder that within just a week of starting school, she had already gained such popularity.
After the performance, the children rushed into their parents' arms like fledgling swallows returning to the nest. Ningning, perhaps overly excited, threw herself into Qin Yinong's embrace and exclaimed loudly, "Mom!"
Qin Yinong kissed her cheek and said, "You were amazing. Mom and Mommy were both stunned."
Ningning lifted her chin proudly. "Well, look whose daughter I am." She already knew both her mothers were remarkable actors—she had touched the trophies lining two walls at home.
Tang Ruoyao, who usually remained stoic in public, couldn't help but smile. "You were wonderful." she praised as well.
Ningning rushed over to hug her. With the casual familiarity they shared, she reached out to pinch Tang Ruoyao's cheek.
Qin Yinong cleared her throat lightly.
Ningning and Tang Ruoyao exchanged a knowing glance and smiled. Mom was a jealous soul—even her own daughter's affection could stir that jealousy.
Ningning withdrew her hand.
Just then, Tang Ruoyao's phone vibrated in her jacket pocket, and she felt a sense of foreboding.
A message from Wei Nan's mother read: "Jianing's mom, we're heading over. Please wait for us."
Tang Ruoyao sighed inwardly. They couldn't leave just yet anyway, because in that short time, several children had already gathered around Qin Jianing. Taking advantage of her proximity, Wei Nan had secured the prime spot.
"Hello, aunties," Wei Nan said politely, her round face utterly charming. "May I invite Ningning to come play at my house?"
"I'd like to invite Ningning to my house too. I have the Hogwarts Castle Lego set at home. Since Ningning likes Harry Potter, we can build it together." said the cross-dressing prince, Classmate Zhao.
Little Wei Nan grew anxious, tugging at his mother's hand. "Mom, I want to buy Harry Potter too."
Wei Nan's mother smiled warmly. "We'll buy it. I'll order it as soon as we get home."
Wei Nan insisted, "Buy it now! I want to play with it when we get back."
Wei Nan's mother relented, "Alright, alright. I'll have the housekeeper go buy it right now." She immediately called home to arrange it.
Little Wei Nan shot a challenging glance at Classmate Zhao before turning to Ningning. "Now I have Harry Potter too."
Classmate Zhao countered, "I have Barbie dolls."
Wei Nan retorted, "I have those too. I have the whole collection."
Qin Yinong & Tang Ruoyao: "..."
Popular Qin Jianing, witnessing a live scene of rivalry unfolding before her.
Other classmates, noticing the escalating tension, wisely kept their distance. After greeting Qin Jianing, they left with their parents.
Qin Jianing, at the center of the storm, showed no signs of being caught in the middle. Calmly interrupting the two, she said, "I'd like to go back to my own home. Is that okay?"
Wei Nan replied, "Of course."
Classmate Zhao, with his mixed-race features and deep-set eyes, offered an elegant, tender smile. "Of course, my princess."
Wei Nan: "..."
'So annoying.'
The two children exchanged a glare, neither giving the other a friendly look. Each holding their mother's hand, they bid farewell to Qin Jianing. "Bye-bye."
Qin Jianing's face was already strikingly beautiful without a smile, but when she smiled, she looked like a little enchantress. "Bye-bye, see you on Monday."
Classmate Zhao's face visibly flushed red, and she stumbled slightly.
"See you on Monday."
Qin Yinong & Tang Ruoyao: "..."
Once the two classmates had walked away, Qin Jianing immediately dropped her smile and buried her face in Qin Yinong's embrace, whining, "I'm so tired."
Qin Yinong gently stroked her daughter's long hair flowing down her back.
Hmm, it seems neither of them is her type.
Tang Ruoyao watched as Yang Ruixue and her mother approached, her temple twitching slightly. She murmured, "There's another one."
As the crowd in the auditorium gradually dispersed, the Qin-Tang family of three and Yang Ruixue and her mother walked outside to the brightly lit square before getting down to business.
Yang Ruixue, already reserved by nature, blushed to the tips of her ears upon seeing Qin Jianing and couldn't even speak.
Yang Ruixue's mother pulled her forward. "Didn't you say you wanted to be friends with Classmate Jianing? Say hello."
Yang Ruixue bowed her head deeply.
Qin Jianing, on the other hand, was much more at ease and confident. In a soft, sweet voice, she said, "Hello, pretty big sister. My name is Qin Jianing. What's your name?"
The blush on Yang Ruixue's ears quickly spread to her cheeks. She slowly lifted her head, met Qin Jianing's bright, sparkling eyes, and stammered out her name. "My name is... Yang, Yang Ruixue."
"Sister Xiaoxue," Qin Jianing immediately switched, the epitome of sweetness. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
Yang Ruixue looked as if she were about to steam from blushing.
"I'm... in Class 3-2, one grade above you. During an outdoor activity once, we were in the same group. You ran really fast, and I... I cheered for you from the sidelines."
"Thank you, Sister Xiaoxue."
"You're... you're welcome."
......
For dinner, the Qin and Tang duo took the little one out to eat and asked about the outdoor activity.
Qin Jianing ate the steak that Qin Yinong had cut for her, casually explaining, "It was a sports competition that all the students in the school participated in. Instead of grouping by grade, it was organized with older students paired with younger ones. We competed by grade first, then combined the scores to rank by teams."
Qin Yinong vaguely recalled the event: "Was that the time you told me you won first place in several running events?"
Qin Jianing took another sip of her drink and said, "Yeah."
The kid was naturally athletic and passionate about sports, so she signed up for all the races suitable for her age group—50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m. Since the 200m and 400m were held consecutively, she only managed second place in the 400m but took first in all the others.
She also competed in the long jump and high jump, securing first and second place respectively. For events that weren't fully filled, she stepped in to make up the numbers and still performed quite well. Single-handedly, she boosted her team's overall score.
It was like she made a grand appearance in front of the whole school—calm as still water yet swift as a darting rabbit, and with her delicate beauty, no wonder the kids in the audience were so enthusiastic today.
Qin Yinong asked her, "Do you remember Yang Ruixue? I mean, before today's meeting."
Qin Jianing continued eating her steak, her voice still sweet as ever: "Nope."
"But you said you'd seen her before?"
"She obviously recognized me. If I said I'd seen her, it would make her happy." Qin Jianing put down her fork and said seriously, "Can't let a pretty big sister feel sad."
Qin Yinong: "..."
Whom did she inherit this inherently affectionate yet heartless personality from?
She couldn't help but glance at Tang Ruoyao, who had just taken a bite of steak. Tang Ruoyao immediately grabbed a tissue, spat the food into it, tossed it in the trash, and shook her head frantically in denial.
It wasn't her doing—had nothing to do with her!
Qin Yinong kept glaring at her. Of course, she knew it wasn't Tang Ruoyao's influence, but she was taking advantage of being spoiled, venting her frustration on her beloved. After all, Tang Ruoyao would always indulge her.
Sure enough, Tang Ruoyao turned to hold her hands and softly confessed, "I only love you. I don't even glance at anyone else. You know that."
Across the table, Qin Jianing grinned so widely her eyes disappeared, lowering her head and shaking with laughter, her fork trembling in her hand.
Qin Yinong blushed uncomfortably and whispered, "The child is here."
Qin Jianing immediately chirped, "The child isn't here."
Both Qin and Tang laughed.
Qin Jianing looked up and burst into laughter too.
After the family of three had their fill of laughter, Qin Yinong cleared her throat and said, "Hurry up and eat."
After the meal, they took the child home and then went to the cinema to watch a movie.
Tang Ruoyao had a crime film, The Detective, currently showing. She played the role of a brilliant female detective investigating a bizarre murder case. The production company was their own, with the script carefully vetted at every stage. She personally served as producer, assembling a strong team.
Such films were relatively rare in the domestic market, where female-led box office successes were mostly in the "chick flick" genre. When Qin Yinong decided to invest in this project, she faced significant resistance, making the production of this film particularly challenging.
But it turned out that the most crucial foundation for a movie's box office success is the script. With a good script, a reliable team, and excellent actors to enhance it, you have a solid commercial film.
When watching the film, the audience hardly paid attention to the actor's gender, completely immersing themselves in the thrilling and intense plot. Later, they would realize that Tang Ruoyao's performance seamlessly blended into the storyline—neither excessive nor lacking, sharp and precise. Her action scenes flowed with effortless grace, and every move she made captivated the audience, creating an unparalleled cinematic experience.
During the interrogation scenes, the intellectual battles with cunning criminals were masterfully executed. Every subtle expression and every confrontation left viewers in awe. Tang Ruoyao's performance in these moments dominated social media trends, with comments flooding in like, "Tang Ruoyao's charisma knocked me out!" "I want to be that criminal!" "Interrogate me, sister!" "Is the crew in need of a c0rpse? I volunteer!"
The film ultimately grossed 1.8 billion yuan at the box office, making it a standout among crime thrillers, especially rare for a female-led production.
However, two issues arose: First, with the film's massive success, Tang Ruoyao gained a legion of adoring female fans, with comments like "Sister, kick me—I'm a door," "Sister, take me," and "Ahhh, what a goddess!" Second, the film was actually a dual-female lead story, with the other lead being a forensic expert who worked alongside Tang Ruoyao. Though their bond was purely platonic—a deep friendship—netizens ignored this, flooding forums with "I ship it!" and "They're so perfect together!" The fanbase for this pairing even surpassed that of Qin and Tang's ship, leaving Qin Yinong intensely jealous. Tang Ruoyao had no choice but to make it up to her in bed.
With the first film's box office success, Qin Yinong decided to turn The Detective into a series, pioneering the trend of female-led crime films in recent domestic cinema.
The following year, at the Golden Osmanthus Awards, Tang Ruoyao was nominated for Best Actress for her role in The Detective and ultimately took home the trophy—her third Golden Osmanthus Award. Later that year, she was nominated again at the Golden Rose Awards and won her second Best Actress award, completing the "Triple Crown" of Chinese cinema at just 28 years old.
That same year, same-s3x marriage was legalized, and the two became one of the first same-s3x couples to register their marriage. They proudly shared their marriage certificates on Weibo.
Qin Yinong V: [Hello, Mrs. Qin, Tang Ruoyao]
Tang Ruoyao replied just as she had years before: [Hello, Mrs. Tang, Qin Yinong]
Countless netizens flooded their posts with blessings.
Autumn Sun Sheep: [Legally married now, congratulations!]
Nobody: [I also got my marriage certificate with my girlfriend today—she's my wife now [image].]
Lin Fifty-Eight: [I don't know why, but seeing these two identical captions brought tears to my eyes.]
A Cat's Ear: [Amid all the chaos and breakups in the entertainment industry, your relationship feels like a peaceful, happy haven. Please stay together forever.]
Qin Yinong replied to A Cat's Ear: [We will.]
In mid-November, the shortlist for the Feitian Awards—one of the three most prestigious television awards—was announced. Wen Shuxian was nominated for Best Actress for her role in Intern Doctor, and Fu Yujun was also on the list. Both had focused their careers on television and were now facing off directly on the awards battlefield.
Fans inevitably clashed, but it never escalated into a full-blown feud. Wen Shuxian, as a top-tier female star, had fiercely loyal fans who could easily overpower any opposition. However, Wen Shuxian urged her fans to keep the peace. Her team coordinated with fan clubs to ensure no one would provoke conflict, and once everything was under control, she celebrated by sending red envelopes in their group chat.
[Good fortune and prosperity!]
[Good fortune and prosperity!]
After sending five, she typed into the wallet: [Quick, wish me to win the award and wash away the shame!]
Fu Yujun: [Tsk]
Wen Shuxian: [Lao Fu, confident you can beat me this time? [Hands on hips, laughing maniacally.gif]]
Fu Yujun: [Petty triumph]
A few seconds later, Fu Yujun added: [That last message wasn't from me [blushing]]
Wen Shuxian: [So what if you have a partner? If you're so great, bring her to the group chat and show off!]
Fu Yujun said seriously: [She's shy]
Wen Shuxian: [[Smirking]]
Suddenly, Fu Yujun had a bad feeling.
System message: [Wen Shuxian invited "guanhan" to join the group chat]
Fu Yujun: "..."
When did they become friends?!
Wen Shuxian: [[Screenshot of "Petty triumph" chat] Manager Guan, verification please: was this sent by you or by Lao Fu herself?]
Guan Han: [？？？ I'm working, it wasn't me]
Fu Yujun had just been flaunting her relationship one minute, only to get slapped in the face the next—truly painful.
Wen Shuxian: 【I knew you wouldn't be that bored. Faker Lao Fu, come out and take your beating Fu Yujun]
Fu Yujun: [Please don't take pity on me just because I'm a delicate flower! Bring it on!]
Everyone in front of their screens shuddered in unison, breaking out in goosebumps.
Wen Shuxian: [[You're so sleazy.jpg]]
Cui Jiaran: [[You're so sleazy.jpg]]
Even Tang Ruoyao, who usually disdained following trends, couldn't hold back anymore: [[You're so sleazy.jpg]]
Qin Yinong laughed so hard she collapsed onto Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, unable to lift her head. Wiping tears from the corner of her eye, she skillfully pulled out the timeless Hong Shixian face from her now much more youthful sticker collection: [[You're so sleazy.jpg]]
System message: [Fu Yujun retracted a message]
Wen Shuxian: [If you're going to post it, don't retract it!]
Fu Yujun: [My dear said if I keep acting sleazy, we're sleeping in separate rooms tonight [sweating]]
Guan Han: [...]
Qin Yinong: [You're really something [thumbs up] @Guan Han]
Guan Han didn't like to talk, even in group chats, but Qin Yinong—she had to reply: [Thank you, Qin Jie】
Fu Yujun: [I'm jealous @Guan Han]
Guan Han: [Stop messing around, talk privately if you have something to say]
Wen Shuxian rolled back and forth on the wool carpet in her large villa, sending a voice message roaring: "Is there no justice in this world?! What good does killing me, this single dog, do for you?! Huh???"
She simply started a group voice call.
Cui Jiaran, wearing headphones: "Stop yelling. Besides you, isn't there still me in the group?"
Wen Shuxian said angrily: "You, a married young woman, shouldn't talk! I still remember you tossing the bouquet to Fu Yujun at your wedding!"
Cui Jiaran could feel the spray of saliva through the screen and wiped her face.
Fu Yujun clarified for herself: "I caught it with my own skills. If you were a few centimeters taller, maybe the bouquet would've been yours."
Bringing up a sore subject—the average height in Room 405 was 168 cm. Tang Ruoyao and Fu Yujun were both 170 cm, Cui Jiaran was 167 cm, and Wen Shuxian, barefoot, was 164.9 cm—the shortest in the dorm. Her heart shattered into pieces, and she wailed: "No humanity! Stabbing right at the heart! What's the point of me living—"
Just then, the doorbell rang. Cui Jiaran, who could come and go freely in her home, walked in carrying a bag of barbecue, shaking it: "Want some?"
Wen Shuxian was so immersed in her emotions that tears still clung to her lashes as she nodded blankly.
Cui Jiaran unwrapped the takeout bag, filling the living room with the aroma of grilled skewers. Wen Shuxian swallowed hard.
Cui Jiaran shot her a glance and said disdainfully, "Wipe your tears. Aren't you embarrassed?"
Obediently, Wen Shuxian took a tissue and dabbed her tears dry. "It's not like anyone else saw." she murmured.
Cui Jiaran sighed. "How can I ever stop worrying about you when you're like this?"
Wen Shuxian's face paled in alarm. "Do you have a terminal illness?"
A vein throbbed at Cui Jiaran's temple. She kicked out, sending Wen Shuxian sprawling to the floor with a yelp.
A soft chuckle came from the phone on speaker mode, followed by a leisurely, mocking voice: "Don't you just love to ask for it?"
Wen Shuxian bristled and exclaimed, "Lao Fu! Now that you have a wife doting on you, you're getting full of yourself! You're no longer the beloved Lao Fu I used to respect!"
Fu Yujun said, "I'll give you the bridal bouquet at my wedding."
Wen Shuxian shamelessly changed her tune, "Dad!"
Tang Ruoyao picked up her phone, pressed the microphone, and interjected with dissatisfaction, "Why are you calling everyone 'Dad'? Weren't you calling me 'Daddy' just the other day?"
Wen Shuxian chuckled, "You're both my dads. Daughter loves you." She added in English, "Love you!"—since "you" in English can refer to both singular and plural, having two dads was perfectly fine!
Cui Jiaran lightly slammed the bag of barbecue on the table and squinted, "What about me?"
Wen Shuxian, "Mom!"
Cui Jiaran gently patted her head like a dog, "Good girl."
Wen Shuxian, "Mom, I want beer. The beer is in the fridge."
Cui Jiaran stood up, "I know, Mom will get it for you."
Fu Yujun, "How much barbecue did you buy? Is it too late for me to come over now?"
Wen Shuxian had already rolled up her sleeves and started eating, devouring a skewer of beef in one bite. She estimated, "Probably too late. My mom only bought enough for three people. By the time you get here, I'll probably have finished it all."
"Only enough for three?" Fu Yujun frowned.
"Hehe, I'm eating for two. I lost ten pounds filming my last drama and desperately need to replenish calories."
"Then I'll buy some more. Do you need beer?" Rustling sounds came from the group voice chat as Fu Yujun put on her jacket and grabbed her keys, preparing to head out.
Wen Shuxian mumbled while eating, "Yes, and some fried chicken would be even better."
"You wish," Fu Yujun said. "Besides fried chicken, what else do you want?"
"Dad, you're such a tsundere. Did you catch it from Boss Guan?"
"You should be glad she hasn't joined the voice chat."
"Who said that?" A cold voice sounded beside Fu Yujun.
"Oh, darling, you're here." Fu Yujun immediately smiled and said, "She's insulting you. I'm defending you."
"Boss Guan, I didn't mean it." Wen Shuxian, remembering Guan Han's perpetually icy expression and her strength enough to snap her neck with one hand, nearly knelt in fear. "I was wrong."
The beef skewer in her hand immediately lost its flavor.
Guan Han: "I'm going back to work."
Wen Shuxian looked down at the screen and noticed Guan Han's avatar was still in the group voice chat.
Wen Shuxian, "..."
Wen Shuxian fell into deep self-doubt.
Had she been possessed by a ghost earlier? Why did she add Guan Han, that big ice block, to their dorm group chat? Was it too late to kick her out now?
Wen Shuxian opened the group info and found that the group owner was Fu Yujun.
"..."
Heaven was out to get her!
Cui Jiaran came over with four cans of beer and saw two lines of tears slowly streaming down Wen Shuxian's cheeks. Puzzled, she asked, "Why are you crying again? Is the barbecue that bad?"
Wen Shuxian shook her head, covering her mouth to suppress her sobs.
Tang Ruoyao, hearing the commotion on the other end, held back Qin Yinong's overly mischievous hands and turned on her microphone again. "Huh? Is the barbecue not good? Should I buy some ingredients and come over to make hot pot? It's warm to eat hot pot in winter."
Wen Shuxian used her remaining brain cells to think quickly: If Fu Yujun came, Guan Han would definitely come too, and then she'd be like meat on a chopping block, at their mercy. But if Tang Ruoyao came, Qin Yinong, who stuck to her like glue, would also come, and wouldn't that resolve her crisis?
"Is Boss Qin free?" she asked flatteringly.
Qin Yinong, who had been addressed, was a bit puzzled and replied, "I'm free."
"Are you two coming together? For hotpot—I can go buy the ingredients myself. Do you need me to pick you both up? It's freezing out, I don't want to trouble Boss Qin."
Qin Yinong chuckled and asked, "Why are you being so polite?"
Wen Shuxian said earnestly, "From today on, you are my grandpa."
The three members of 405: "..."
How had Qin Yinong suddenly become a generation above them?
Tang Ruoyao frowned and said, "Don't call her that. If she's your grandpa and I'm your dad, what does that make us? Father and son committing incest?"
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