The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 2

Oh, we’ll see.

If it weren’t for that collision with Jiang Jing, the play would have ended just like that, and perhaps nothing would have happened.

But Jiang Jing bumped into her and even added her on We Chat, all because he needed to send her the backstage group photo.

By the time she got home, it was almost midnight. Lin Zhixia habitually opened her laptop to check her emails.

Having won a modest literary award last year, she was now a somewhat well-known writer. Her latest book was in the editing phase, and she often had to work with her editor on revisions. Many formal feedback notes still followed the publishing house’s communication protocol emails.

Fortunately, there was nothing urgent to deal with.

Lin Zhixia had moved out to live on her own last year. At first, Director Lin and Zhao Jinchu had both objected, worried that she couldn’t take care of herself. She didn’t argue or make a fuss she just kept buying books, blind boxes, and figurines every few days. In less than a year, the house was overflowing.

“Take all these books and dolls to your new place.”

It was Director Lin who gave in first. When she found her study completely taken over, she realized this was a silent protest.

Lin Zhixia’s current home wasn’t far from her family’s place just a few minutes’ drive. Along the way, there were two rows of century-old sycamore trees, shedding leaves in winter and casting shade in summer, making the walk incredibly pleasant. On nice days, she could stroll home.

Looking back now, the route also passed by Yan Huaiqing’s theater. Was it fate’s design all along?

After drinking some milk and washing up, just as she was about to sleep, her phone buzzed a few times. Jiang Jing had sent her messages.

“Little theater fan”

“Haven’t edited the photos yet”

“I’ll send them to you later”

“But”

“Are you really a new fan?”

“??”

“Who recommended Teacher Yan to you?”

“Investing in him is totally worth it!”

Lin Zhixia tapped into the chat box to reply, but buzz, buzz, buzz her phone kept vibrating.

Photos flashed across the screen one after another all of them were stills of Yan Huaiqing in various costumes and expressions. Some with glistening tears, some radiant with smiles, some with delicate hands covering his face, others with flowing water sleeves.

Each one was captivating.

“No rush with the photos, take your time editing them. And no one really recommended him my aunt brought me to the theater. This was my first time watching an opera, so I’m not exactly a fan yet. But if I get the chance, I’ll definitely go again.”

Lin Zhixia replied point by point, sending back a comparatively long message.

“Quick, quick, quick”

“Tell me”

“Is Teacher Yan”

“Good-looking?”

“Pleasant to listen to?”

“Is ‘Longing for Yan’ sweet?”

“PS: ‘Longing for Yan’ is the ship name for Teacher Yan and his partner Su Wangyue.”

Another flurry of messages from Jiang Jing.

Su Wangyue and Yan Huaiqing Longing for Yan.

What a clever ship name.

Lin Zhixia sat cross-legged on her bed and laughed.

Among the photos Jiang Jing sent, many were of the two gazing at each other tender, affectionate, and full of emotion. Yet both had clear, pure eyes, and their expressions were handled with such professionalism that only deep affection, not desire, was visible.

Longing for Yan it really was sweet.

Lin Zhixia tapped into the chat box and began typing.

“Teacher Yan’s stage presence was stunning. Her every move was gentle and elegant, her every smile and frown utterly captivating. Her voice was fresh and natural, her singing clear and melodious. The moment she began, I was drawn into the scene, as if Du Liniang from the play had stepped right in front of me. It was a truly magical feeling. Teacher Su, playing the young male role, had a refined and scholarly appearance, with a clean and bright singing voice. Every gesture and movement exuded charm. Their partnership in this scene presented the most challenging aspects of emotion and desire in a highly sophisticated manner they are a perfect duo.”

Without realizing it, she had typed out a long paragraph on her phone. After rereading it to ensure there were no typos, she tapped the send button.

“You?”

“How old?”

“Is it okay to ask?”

Jiang Jing fired off these questions almost within two seconds.

Even Lin Zhixia, who spent her days typing away at a keyboard, had no idea how she managed it.

“23, why?”

Lin Zhixia glanced again at the message she had just sent. Was there something wrong with it?

“You’re quite young.”

“Why do you sound so formal?”

“Like an expert.”

“hhhhhhh”

Looking at the other person’s rapid, brief messages and her own paragraph-style replies, Lin Zhixia felt a bit awkward. She lifted the back of her hand and brushed the tip of her nose.

In truth, she wasn’t a rigid person, and she didn’t usually speak this way. It was just that when typing, she always felt a sense of responsibility and obligation every word and sentence had to be clear and complete. It was a professional habit of hers.

Moreover, while looking at the stage photos earlier, her thoughts had drifted back to the opera she watched that evening, and she had unconsciously typed out so much.

“Really? Sorry about that.”

“Hahaha.”

She replied in a similar style to Jiang Jing, but inwardly she resolved to change her approach.

“I’m going to edit the photos now.”

“I’ll invite you to watch an opera when I have time.”

“Running into each other must be fate.”

“Let me guide you into the circle.”

“I can get you started in a month.”

Jiang Jing’s messages came through, accompanied by a confident cat sticker.

“Alright, Master Photographer Jiang.”

“Please guide me well.”

Her sentences could be short, but the punctuation had to be there it was her last stubborn insistence.

After ending the chat, Lin Zhixia saved all the photos one by one and browsed through them for a long time before opening the encyclopedia.

Yan Huaiqing, 30 years old, born in Shaocheng, Yue opera actress, specializing in female roles, first-class performer.

Winner of over ten opera awards, with a long list of classic performances.

Su Wangyue, 31 years old, born in Ancheng, Yue opera actress, specializing in young male roles, first-class performer.

Yue opera, originating from.

After learning some basic information about Yue opera, it was almost 2 a.m. Fortunately, many of the operas were adapted from folk tales or traditional scripts, most of which she was already familiar with, and she had even read the original texts for some.

She drank half a glass of milk before slowly falling asleep.

The next morning, Lin Zhixia rolled over in bed and fumbled for her phone. It was only a little past nine, so she could afford to laze around a bit longer. But her phone screen displayed a long string of messages.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up lazily.

The messages were from Jiang Jing dozens of photos and a series of texts. She quickly skimmed through the photos first. More than ten of them were backstage group photos, while the rest were stage shots from the previous night.

“Take a look.”

“How are the photos?”

“This one was a candid shot.”

“Teacher Yan’s gaze at you is so adoring.”

“I’m jealous.”

“You look quite cute when you’re shy.”

“Many fans get shy when they meet Teacher Yan.”

“But you have a certain aura.”

“Very special.”

“Would you consider being my model in the future?”

“I couldn’t resist sending you a few stills from yesterday’s shoot.”

“Ms. Yan!”

“Absolutely stunning!!”

“Yan Huaiqing is so sweet it’s explosive!”

“This one!”

“It’s definitely in the top 250 of my career!”

Reading the messages on the screen, Lin Zhixia smiled.

Jiang Jing was kind of adorable.

When she chatted, she rarely used punctuation and preferred short, abrupt sentences, as if her overwhelming emotions were about to burst forth at any moment as though even one extra word or punctuation mark would be too slow.

Yet, her photographs were the complete opposite a silent outpouring, a quiet depth of feeling.

The messages and photos had been sent around four in the morning. It seemed she had been editing late into the night. Now, only nine o’clock, the other person was likely catching up on sleep. Lin Zhixia closed the reply box and carefully examined the photos.

Each one captured the most iconic moments from yesterday’s stage performance. Even as an amateur, Lin Zhixia could tell the photographer was highly skilled. Whether it was the actors’ expressions, movements, or the chemistry between characters, every detail was captured with precision. Some nuances were even things she hadn’t been able to see clearly with her own eyes during the live performance. The composition and lighting of the photos also had a sophisticated feel.

She had to admit Jiang Jing was truly exceptional at capturing people!

Scrolling further back, she found group photos taken backstage. In the pictures, Lin Zhixia looked somewhat shy. In one of them, her gaze was lowered as if avoiding the camera the very one Jiang Jing had mentioned. Yan Huaiqing had his arm around her shoulder, his eyes tenderly fixed on her.

That moment had been perfectly captured!

It felt as if she had been transported back to that exact instant. Lin Zhixia felt her cheeks flush again and unconsciously raised a hand to touch the tip of her nose.

She tossed her phone aside on the pillow, rolled over onto her side on the bed, wrapped herself in the blanket, and gave another little wiggle.

“Yan Huaiqing” A soft, muffled voice emerged from under the covers, the tone drawn out and hesitant, as if shy to be heard.

The owner of the voice rolled around a few more times before finally getting up. She saved the original copies of each photo and went to wash up.

After taking a few sips of milk for breakfast, she was in the middle of peeling a boiled egg when someone knocked on the door. Clutching the egg, Lin Zhixia hurried over and peeked through the peephole.

It was her editor, Li Meng. Petite in stature, Li Meng was a workaholic with endless patience and stamina, known for her meticulous and responsible approach to work.

“Come in,” Lin Zhixia said as she opened the door. “Working on the weekend? Your editor-in-chief really knows how to push you. Have you had breakfast?”

“I’ve eaten, Ms. Lin. There are still some parts of the manuscript that need revisions, which is why I’ve come to trouble you.” As she spoke, Li Meng set her bag on the table and efficiently pulled out her laptop.

“Didn’t we agree yesterday that you could just email me? Why make a special trip? Don’t you need rest? And by the way, is my name that hard to say? Why ‘Ms. Lin’? I’m younger than you, Editor.”

Lin Zhixia had just finished her egg and was washing her hands.

“Got it, Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin.”

Li Meng adjusted her glasses and repeated the name a few times. As an editor, she was used to addressing everyone as “Ms.” or “Mr.” it was a professional habit.

“There are some matters our editor-in-chief felt needed to be communicated to you in person,” she said cautiously, pushing up the round glasses that took up half her face. Her expression was troubled.

In truth, just from the tone of Li Meng’s greeting, Lin Zhixia had guessed the purpose of her visit. There must have been an issue with the approval of her new book a serious one.

Her new book, Hearing the Silent, explores forbidden love between women during the 1970s and 1980s a same-sex theme that touches on ethics and human nature under the political constraints of that era. Editor Sun had already hinted, in vague terms, that without significant revisions, it might never see publication.

She gave a bitter smile and poured two cups of pear soup that had been timed to cook since the night before. Handing one over, she said, “Have some first. Your complexion looks a bit sallow.”

“Really? Must be from staying up too late last night.” Li Meng cupped her face with both hands before accepting the cup.

“Yes, you look years older.” Lin Zhixia leaned in for a closer look, then settled cross-legged on the sofa.

“As an overworked office drone, I’m lucky to catch my breath let alone worry about my complexion.”

Li Meng grumbled under her breath, took a small sip of the pear soup, and added, “Oh, by the way, another organization contacted our publishing house. They want to adapt your book Multiple Peaks. Since they couldn’t find the author’s information, they reached out to the publisher.”

Lin Zhixia had always published under the pen name “Fallen Paper,” keeping her real name, gender, and other personal details completely private.

Multiple Peaks was her second published book, written on a whim during her more rebellious college years.

The story follows an exiled princess who, despite her turbulent life, never forgets her deep-seated vengeance and the burden of restoring her kingdom ultimately destroying her enemy at the cost of her own nation’s downfall.

Revenge stories always captivate readers, which is why the book had consistently sold well. It was also the work that first brought Lin Zhixia into the spotlight.

“Oh.” She took a sip of her own pear soup.

“Lin, now that you’ve graduated, are you considering collaborations?” Li Meng encouraged her with an eager expression.

“We’ll see.” Lin Zhixia leaned back lazily on the sofa.

Li Meng blew softly into her cup and didn’t press further. The last time, the time before that, and countless times before, she had received the same answer.

After finishing the pear soup, their mouths felt sweet.

Not only had Li Meng tactfully conveyed Editor Sun’s message, but she had also showered Lin Zhixia with sincere praise from head to toe.

Finally, gathering her courage, she opened the document she had prepared in advance over seventy pages of revision suggestions!

“This is inhuman! Seventy-four pages! Who does something like this?”

Li Meng offered an awkward, weary smile, her eyes bloodshot from days and nights of overtime spent drafting that document.

She, too, was a victim why should one victim make things harder for another?

Lin Zhixia sighed deeply but was ultimately moved by Li Meng’s sincerity and dedication. She earnestly went through the revision suggestions with her.

It was nearly three in the afternoon by the time they wrapped up. After a quick lunch, Li Meng headed home.

Lin Zhixia rolled her neck a couple of times, picked up her phone, and replied to Jiang Jing’s message to thank her for the photos. To her surprise, the response came instantly.

“You’re welcome”

“Just woke up”

“Free tomorrow afternoon?”

“Want to come to my new play rehearsal?”

From the pauses between Jiang Jing’s messages, Lin Zhixia sensed a hint of post-sleep lethargy. She replied leisurely, “Would it be inconvenient?”

“Inconvenient??”

“Are you on your period?”

Jiang Jing’s message flashed on the screen.

Tomorrow was Sunday, a day most people had off. If someone mentioned inconvenience, the natural assumption would be that they had other plans.

But this reply of hers felt a bit mischievous, as if they were having a secret affair, with rehearsals serving as their code. Li Meng had even urged her a few days ago to write a spy-themed story.

“No, no, I was just afraid of disturbing the teachers,” Lin Zhixia quickly replied.

“Are you planning to roll around on the stage?”

“Or blow the suona in the orchestra pit?”

“Or maybe your gaze is so intense it could burn the teachers?”

“Curious.”

“How exactly do you plan to disturb the teachers?”

“??”

This Jiang Jing, her words were oddly sarcastic.

Lin Zhixia was first bewildered, then torn between laughter and exasperation.

It seemed that when dealing with Jiang Jing, it was best not to beat around the bush.

“Alright, I’ll go.”

Since it wouldn’t be a disturbance, her curiosity about the rehearsal quickly took over.

“1 p.m.”

“I’ll pick you up”

“Let’s have lunch together first”

“You don’t mind, do you?”

Judging by the speed of these messages, the other person was clearly wide awake now.

Lin Zhixia didn’t beat around the bush either and replied, “Just send me the address. I can get there on my own.”

After settling on a place for lunch, Lin Zhixia went to pick out her outfit.

Having graduated half a year ago, she had chosen to focus on publishing her new book instead of preparing for civil service exams or graduate school, calling herself a full-time author.

Though she spent most of her time at home, she wasn’t particularly reclusive. She often traveled to various places, and even if she couldn’t find friends to join her on weekdays, she would venture to distant locations alone, exploring quirky shops and buying unusual trinkets naturally, that included beautiful clothes.

As a result, she owned a wide variety of styles.

Rehearsals weren’t formal occasions, so it wouldn’t do to dress too formally.

But since they were all highly respected teachers, it also wouldn’t be appropriate to dress too casually.

Yesterday, judging by Teacher Yan’s demeanor and speech, she probably didn’t care for flashy outfits.

And it seemed Lin Zhixia didn’t own any flashy clothes anyway.

Lost in thought, she rummaged through her closet.

A pair of casual pants, paired with a simple short jacket and short boots simple and neat. That would do.

After picking her outfit, she turned on her computer and opened a Yue opera performance.

If you listened closely, you could even hear the sound of gears turning.