022
Guan Han thought that once she said these words, Qin Yinong would easily become distracted. Even if Qin Yinong knew she was doing it on purpose, she would still let herself be fooled. Tang Ruoyao was her weak spot.
Unexpectedly, Qin Yinong shook her head instead. "Another time."
Guan Han was surprised.
Qin Yinong leaned back in the seat with her eyelids drooping and said indifferently, "I have been too indulgent recently."
So much for that.
Guan Han understood—don’t talk about Tang Ruoyao around her.
But anyone who conceals how they truly feel will eventually reveal themself. She could hide how she felt well in front of Tang Ruoyao, as well as in front of people like Guan Han who was with her almost all the time. But, there was no need since Guan Han was the one who handled all of her affairs.
The human heart is soft and tender, and whether you like it or not, there will be pity and intolerance that follow.
Qin Yinong had been in the cinema circle for many years, and ended up becoming friends with Principal Sun of the Capital Academy of Drama. Early on in her career, Principal Sun collaborated with her on a movie. After that, he pushed Qin Yinong to attend graduation ceremonies every year to open the eyes of the graduating class. In truth, he was suggesting that mostly as a joke.
Aside from movie promotions, Qin Yinong seldom appeared in the public eye, let alone attended any graduation ceremony for undergraduates in an acting school. She never went and studied at university herself—considering her as an honorary alumna was a stretch.
After talking with her this time, Principal Sun at the end of the conversation asked her again, "Hey, the kids at my school are going to graduate again. Would you like to come over and give a speech?"
Qin Yinong was about to refuse, but Tang Ruoyao's dim eyes at the awards ceremony flashed in front of her eyes, and she couldn't say no.
She was silent for a while, smiling modestly, and said, "Okay."
Principal Sun almost dropped his phone, and immediately went to see if the sun came out from the west today.
He kept asking to be sure.
Qin Yinong made up an excuse. "I plan on making a movie. I will be the producer and want to come to your school to find low cost labor."
President Sun happily said, "You’re always welcome. Then would you mind personally giving the degree certificate to our outstanding graduate representative?"
Qin Yinong hummed.
She’s going to give a speech during the ceremony, but she's also going to be awarding a degree certificate herself. It doesn’t make a big difference to her. As for who the graduate representative will be, she didn’t really think much about it. She just doesn't want to miss the most important moment in Tang Ruoyao's life.
Perhaps, her own appearance will make her feel a little bit better since Tang Ruoyao seemed to be in a bad mood recently.
But she can only do this, promoting her personal interests under the guise of a public appearance, and she can’t be honest about going to the graduation ceremony because of her. This decision alone was enough to make Qin Yinong feel anxious. She focused so much on Tang Ruoyao that she needed to calm her overwhelmed mind within a month before the graduation ceremony. If this continues, what will she do?
If you can't restrain yourself, you will be presumptuous.
Guan Han glanced at Qin Yinong’s face: her eyes were flashing, her lips were pressed slightly, and her fingertips on the pillow beside her slowly tightened. Finally, she made a decision and exhaled, turning towards the window to look out of it.
Guan Han sent Qin Yinong home. Qin Jianing hadn't slept yet, so she cleverly shouted "Auntie Guan!”
As if by magic, Guan Han took out two candies from her pocket and handed them to her. Ningning happily took them. Just as she was about to unpack the candies, Qin Yinong coughed beside her, and Ningning reluctantly handed over the candy. In Ji Shulan's hands, she persuaded herself and said, "I just brushed my teeth. I can't eat candy. I will eat it tomorrow."
She covered her mouth and yawned, so sleepy that Ji Shulan carried Ningning back to her room to sleep, leaving Qin Yinong and Guan Han alone.
Qin Yinong asked Guan Han whether or not she had made any progress in the past few days, and after getting a negative response, she ended the conversation there.
Qin Yinong stepped lightly and opened the door of Ji Shulan's bedroom. Little Ningning fell asleep while Ji Shulan was still awake.
The night wind blew into the window, and the two figures were relatively silent.
"Mom, I'm going to take Ningning to see my sister this Saturday." Qin Yinong sat on the bedside, gently stroking the child's smooth face with the back of her finger.
Ji Shulan was stunned, her heart suddenly full of mixed emotions, and she said in a low voice, "Okay."
The Qin family was very concerned about Ningning’s education and paid attention to equality and respect, so the next morning, Qin Yinong personally consulted Ningning’s opinions at the dinner table and asked softly, “Let’s go see your first mother on Saturday, is that okay?"
Ningning held the bowl, thought about it seriously, and responded gratifyingly, "Yes." She asked Ji Shulan, "Will grandma go with us?"
Qin Yinong said, "Grandma won't go."
"Grandma won't go." Ningning grumbled and sighed. "Well then, let's go."
Qin Yinong looked at Ji Shulan and she was silent.
On Saturday, Qin Yinong went to buy two bunches of flowers, and the driver took her and Ningning to the cemetery on the outskirts of the city.
The cemetery is located in the suburbs, and is built on the mountain. Locust trees are planted around the cemetery. The trees were high and deep with luxuriant branches and pavilions. Even at the end of May, there was no sweltering heat, so the wind passing through the leaves carried the wetness of the soil.
Qin Yinong's short-sleeved arms were swept by the mountain breeze, and goosebumps covered her arms.
The steps were as far as the eye could see, with solemn tombstones on both sides. Ningning walked for a while, panting with exhaustion, Qin Yinong bent over and carried her. Ningning was light for a three-year-old child, so her clothes and shoes added up to two or three kilograms. Qin Yinong carried her for a while and then let her walk on her own.
In no hurry, an adult and a child walked all the way and rested on the mountainside. Seeing the familiar tombstone from a distance, Qin Yinong stood still and shook her head. She put Ningning down, rubbed her sore arms, and squatted down. Keeping eye level with her, she reminded her in a low voice, "Remember what mom said to you?"
Ningning nodded.
Qin Yinong's tight lips softened, and with encouraging eyes said, "Go."
She stood a few steps back. Ningning looked back at her, sighed while stepping forward, and placed the carnation from her hand in front of the tomb. She looked at the three words on the grave indicating the name has two words that were the same as her own mother. The child’s voice said quietly: "Mom, I'm coming to see you."
Qin Yinong's eyes teared up in an instant, and she quickly raised her head to calm down.
Ningning explained to Qin Yinong everything that happened to her in kindergarten, mainly talking about how the teacher praised her, and how she got along well with her classmates and so on.
It was cold in the cemetery, silently surrounded by tombstones, and many of them had white flowers in front of them, adding to the chill.
Ningning was not afraid.
Since she had a good memory, she heard the name of her first mother from Qin Yinong's mouth. The few pictures in the family were well preserved, and Qin Yinong would hold her and tell the story of her first mother. Her first mother was a very smart and powerful person, in the heart of the little Ningning, she was just like her mother.
"The teacher said that I will definitely become a successful person in the future!" Ningning said in a rhythmical manner, ending with a childlike composition.
After Ningning finished speaking, she tilted her head to look at Qin Yinong, her eyes watering, thanks to Ningning’s story.
Children can't understand complex emotions, but they are more than keeping a promise with their mother.
Qin Yinong smiled and nodded at her, her eyes still red.
Ningning walked aside obediently, leaving time alone for Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong brought a bunch of Strelitzia, also known as the Bird of Paradise, which was a very vibrant flower. She placed them with Ningning's carnations, pressed her lips, and stared at the photo without saying a word.
The facial features of the woman in the black-and-white photos were similar to those of Qin Yinong, but the temperament was completely different. Qin Yinong is charming and sentimental, always smiling, but Qin Lunong was dignified and gentle, just like a knowledgeable daughter.
The first warm embrace Qin Yinong remembered was not her mother Ji Shulan, but her sister Qin Lunong. When she was born, Qin Lunong was about the same age as Ningning now. She laid on the side of the cradle all day, holding a rattle in her hand, shaking it so loudly that it made her giggle.
Qin Yinong was not very obedient when she was a child, and was not as smart as her sister. As soon as she was called to eat, she ran away. Qin Lunong carried a bowl and followed her to feed her. After feeding her, Qin Lunong was sweating and so tired that she ate her own meal cold. At that time, there was no money for her to go to kindergarten. When she became a teenager, Qin Lunong was responsible for teaching her how to read and write after returning home from school and doing the housework.
Her mother was busy making a living, and her father was always moody, so her sister was the only bright and beautiful figure of her childhood. Because of Qin Lunong's presence, she felt a hint of warmth in that cold home.
After developing a sense of herself, little Qin Yinong started following her sister all day long. Qin Luong's classmates all knew her, one by one they all started grinning cheekily, and they called her "sister" affectionately. Little Qin Yinong was a little scared, and constantly hid behind her sister. Qin Lunong drove off her classmates with a grin: "Stay away, you’re scaring her."
The classmates laughed and stuffed little Qin Yinong with a pocket full of snacks as an “apology”.
Qin Lunong's grades were excellent, and so she was admitted to the country's top universities. Qin Yinong was mediocre in studying, and couldn't keep up with her sister's progress no matter how hard she tried. In summer vacation that year, the postman sent a letter of admission to P University to Qin Lunong, and it stirred up commotion all over the city. The good news was even posted on the community bulletin board. The family was excited, even Qin's father said for the first time that he would agree to what Qin Lunong wanted.
Qin Lunong asked for an electronic piano because Qin Yinong wanted to learn the piano at that time.
The night before Qin Lunong went to college, Qin Yinong cried until her pillow was soaked with her tears. The next day she took money from her piggy bank, secretly bought a ticket and went north, only to find Qin Lunong on the bus. She was dumbfounded.
Qin Yinong refused to get out of the car, tears running down her face. Qin Lunong had to take her to the capital; she made a phone call home to report that Qin Yinong was safe, arranged the college affairs, asking to take a few days off, and sent Qin Yinong back home.
Qin Lunong coaxed her and said, "Sister is waiting for you in P."
Qin Yinong nodded with red eyes.
Before Qin Yinong entered high school, Qin Lunong went abroad with a full scholarship for further studies.
Qin Yinong was in disbelief.
Qin Lunong was busy with her studies, and it wasn’t easy to be abroad alone. When she was with her boyfriend, she spent less time with her sister. Qin Yinong felt that her words held no weight and resented her. The two talked very little on the phone, but every time Qin Lunong returned to China, Qin Yinong was awkward for a while, but they were still close. They were never to be separated from each other.
Qin Yinong recalled that memory in a trance.
No matter how many years have passed, she will always remember that day. It was a day she would never forget, even more unforgettable than Qin Lunong's pale, cold, lifeless face lying in the bathtub.
Three years ago, she finished an announcement and went home. On the sofa in the living room, there was a woman with disheveled hair, belly bulging high—she was pregnant. Ji Shulan wiped her tears.
Qin Yinong didn't recognize the person for a while, and while taking off her shoes, she thought inexplicably: Who was this person?
Hearing Qin Yinong’s movement from the door, the person slowly raised her haggard face and called her nickname.
Qin Yinong stiffened into a stone.
Qin Lunong, who always looked decent and kept herself clean and tidy, was unkempt with messy temples, shrunken shoulders, and cowering on the ground—no longer the pride of the past. She was so thin that she was almost out of shape, her cheeks were sunken as a full moon, and her eyes were deeply embedded in her eye sockets, scarily hollow.
In the eyes looking at Qin Yinong, there was a trace of her familiar warmth.
As if being punched hard on the bridge of the nose, Qin Yinong's eyes were sore and in pain. She opened her mouth, and her voice trembled: "Sister?"
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The author has something to say:
The text is too serious, the small theater is not suitable to show off again. This chapter randomly draws 100 red envelopes
Haruka will debut tomorrow~
Acknowledgment in this chapter: Deep water from now on
The next deep water plus one more chapter, okay
At the end of the month, the nutrient solution will expire if you don’t pour it~ Don’t pour it carelessly (*/ω＼*)
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!