The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 21

Teacher Yan, Boss Yan, Commander Yan

Lin Zhixia was woken by the heat.

Before her eyelids even fluttered open, she let out a soft groan and kicked the blanket away, propping her leg on the back of the sofa like a kitten sunbathing on its back.

Only when the stifling warmth had mostly dissipated did she lazily crack open a sliver of her eyes.

Yan Huaiqing was sitting not far away, right in her line of sight, watching her.

Unlike the scenes in TV dramas, he didn’t immediately ask if she was awake or if she wanted water. His expression remained neutral.

It was awkward.

A belated sense of unfamiliarity and memories from before she passed out came flooding back, each detail enough to overwhelm her still-groggy mind.

She really wished she could just play dead.

Quickly, she pulled her leg back and sat up straight, grabbing the kicked-off blanket and attempting to fold it neatly, hoping to salvage her dignity after being sprawled out so inelegantly.

“Teacher Yan, did I get drunk?” Her voice was still hoarse with sleep.

“You did,” Yan Huaiqing replied, puzzled by her frantic blanket-folding. He added, “And now? Are you sure you’re awake?”

“I think so,” Lin Zhixia said with an awkward smile, clutching a corner of the blanket. “I didn’t make a scene, did I?” She didn’t recall doing anything outrageous.

“No,” Yan Huaiqing said as he stood and headed to the kitchen, his back to her. “You were very well-behaved. You just shut down and slept deeply.”

Very well-behaved? That was a relief.

She turned to look out the window but couldn’t see any lights on outside.

The floor to ceiling window reflected the scene inside: the main lights were off, leaving only a few scattered ambient lights that cast her corner in a warm, hazy glow. The fatigue and heaviness from the hangover finally caught up with her.

She fumbled under the blanket for her phone and was startled to see it was already past midnight.

Oh no, she had been drunk for so long!

It was her first time visiting his home for a meal, and not only had she gotten drunk, but she had also overstayed her welcome until the early hours. How embarrassing!

“Teacher Yan, I should head back,” she said, rising unsteadily to her feet. As she wobbled, she saw Yan Huaiqing emerge from the kitchen holding the same white porcelain bowl.

“Have some of this first to sober up,” he said, approaching her.

As he drew nearer, a sweet aroma wafted toward her. Lin Zhixia eyed the pear and loquat soup in the bowl and licked her lips. “It’s so late already. I’m sorry for troubling you this much,” she murmured, her voice growing softer.

“No trouble at all. I usually stay up late anyway. Here, sit and drink this. There’s warm water and fruit here too.” Yan Huaiqing placed the bowl on the coffee table and poured her a glass of water.

Lin Zhixia glanced between the soup and the bathroom, hesitating.

Noticing this, Yan Huaiqing chuckled. “Did the alcohol make you forget the way? Or do you need me to escort you?”

“No, no, I can manage on my own,” Lin Zhixia insisted, though she had actually been tempted to take a sip of the soup first. She hurried toward the bathroom, embarrassment propelling her.

Once the door was closed, she finally let out a long sigh. Staring at her reflection in the mirror hair disheveled, face flushed she slapped her forehead in frustration. “Oh my god, how mortifying.”

After using the toilet, she splashed cold water on her face, rehearsed what she would say when saying goodbye, took a few deep breaths, and finally stepped out.

Yan Huaiqing hadn’t served himself any soup. He was waiting by the table and explained as she approached, “This is freshly made, no alcohol added. See how it tastes.”

Lin Zhixia tiptoed over to her side and let out an awkward chuckle. “I’m really sorry to trouble you, Teacher Yan. I feel so embarrassed.”

“You? Embarrassed? Weren’t you just complaining that I was starving you and treating you like a puppy?” Yan Huaiqing teased, a playful smile curling at the corners of her lips.

“That was just drunken nonsense it doesn’t count.” Lin Zhixia’s ears burned with embarrassment as she lowered her head and took a small sip of soup from the bowl.

A delicate sweetness spread across her tongue, soothing her burning chest as it traveled down her throat. The sensation was so comforting that she couldn’t help but squint with pleasure.

Yan Huaiqing seemed to grow more interested, leaning in to study her. “They say drunken words are sober thoughts, so maybe those words should be taken seriously.”

Lin Zhixia gave another awkward laugh and tilted her head, trying to change the subject. “This soup is really good not too sweet or heavy. Aren’t you having any, Teacher Yan?”

“I already did. I drank the bowl I served you. I reheated it and had it myself while you were asleep.” Yan Huaiqing lifted her chin, gazing down at Lin Zhixia with lowered eyes.

Under the soft light, her features appeared even more defined and striking, her eyelashes shimmering. The angle alone was captivating enough, but she added a mischievous tone as she continued, “I even sneaked two glasses of rice wine and didn’t get drunk at all.”

“Cough, cough.” Lin Zhixia nearly choked.

Yan Huaiqing handed her a tissue, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Lin Xiaoman, does your family know about your alcohol tolerance?”

Lin Zhixia took the tissue and wiped her mouth, letting out a soft “hmph” before retorting, “And does everyone at the theater know how cheeky Boss Yan is?”

Yan Huaiqing tilted her head thoughtfully before replying, “Even if they did, it wouldn’t matter. I’m the boss they wouldn’t dare laugh at me.”

“Director Yan, you wield quite the authority. I’m almost afraid to work at your esteemed institution,” Lin Zhixia shot back, giving her a defiant glance.

In just three exchanges, she had gone from “Teacher Yan” to “Director Yan” neither conceding ground nor overstepping.

Yan Huaiqing accepted the new title with amusement, raising an eyebrow as she asked, “So you’re scared already?”

“Who wouldn’t be scared of boarding a pirate ship?” Lin Zhixia took a small bite of a loquat.

Yan Huaiqing handed her a glass of water, frowning slightly. “After adding you on WeChat, inviting you to dinner, cooking a whole table of dishes, and brewing two pots of sweet soup are you saying all that effort was for nothing?”

As they chatted more freely, Lin Zhixia grew bolder. She took a sip of water and adopted a lecturing tone. “The old-school method of drinking your business partners under the table is totally outdated now.”

Yan Huaiqing nodded, then handed her a strawberry, following her lead. “But what if your business partner insists on drinking, crying and begging for more? Shouldn’t you stop them?”

“Yan ” Lin Zhixia caught herself just in time, swallowing the rest of the name with a cough. She bit into the strawberry fiercely. “Who was crying and begging?”

Yan Huaiqing suddenly laughed. After a moment’s thought, she handed her a cherry and watched her eat it before asking seriously, “Lin Xiaoman, do you have any sense of caution at all?”

She took the tissue and wiped her mouth, drank the water when offered, and ate whatever was given almost unconsciously. It was utterly amusing.

Yan Huaiqing casually handed her a blueberry.

Unaware that she was being treated like a lab rat in a feeding experiment, Lin Zhixia took the blueberry and ate it, protesting, “I’m actually very cautious. Everyone in my family is cautious it’s in our nature.”

“Oh.” Yan Huaiqing barely held back a laugh and handed her another strawberry.

Having eaten, drunk, and rested well, it was time to stand up and take her leave.

Lin Zhixia took a deep breath, ready to deliver the words she had rehearsed in the bathroom, but Yan Huaiqing spoke first: “Lin Xiaoman, I’ve been drinking, so I can’t drive you home.”

Her heart sank with a silent “oh,” and though she felt a faint disappointment, she replied politely, “No need to trouble yourself, Teacher Yan. I’ve already taken up so much of your time tonight. I can take a taxi back.”

“Hmm, but the temperature has dropped outside, and it’s windy. It might even rain soon,” Yan Huaiqing lowered his voice, his tone oddly unsettling.

“Ah.” Lin Zhixia froze, glancing toward the window.

“After drinking rice wine, you can’t be exposed to the wind it’ll knock you right over,” Yan Huaiqing followed her gaze outside.

“It’s fine, I’ve sobered up. I probably won’t be affected by the wind,” Lin Zhixia stood up to look for her coat.

“I was talking about myself,” Yan Huaiqing casually draped a shawl over her shoulders, his tone still strange. “From my building to the community gate, it’s a kilometer. I can’t handle the wind, and I can’t walk you to get a taxi.”

Although she had already imposed on him for half the day and genuinely didn’t want to trouble him further, nor had she ever expected him to escort her hearing his words made her feel as if she were being kicked out. The disappointment and sadness were overwhelming.

Indeed, it wasn’t hard to notice. While she was asleep, Yan Huaiqing had already tidied the entire house meticulously.

The kitchen, the dining table, the living room except for the bowl on the coffee table, there was no trace left of her presence. And now, she herself was about to be discarded like a piece of trash, politely shown the door by the host.

Suddenly, she became overly sensitive, unsure of how to respond with polite pleasantries.

She scanned the room but still couldn’t find her coat, as if it had already been thrown away like garbage.

Her entire being grew restless.

Yan Huaiqing stepped in front of her, carefully adjusting the shawl around her neck. His fingertips brushed her earlobes twice, as if to snap her out of her distraction and focus her attention. Then, he spoke slowly, “But while you were asleep, I prepared the guest room.”

What did that mean? Lin Zhixia froze, her ears tingling.

Yan Huaiqing lowered his head, his hand resting on her shoulder, speaking in a persuasive tone.

“The bedsheets and duvet covers are freshly changed. Before putting them on, I even warmed them in the dryer.”

How thoughtful.

“The pajamas are ones I’ve worn before, but they’ve been washed clean.”

Wow.

“The underwear is disposable, so you can wear it directly.”

No worries at all.

“All you need to do is take a shower, and then you can burrow into the bed and roll around.”

Lin Zhixia’s imagination had always been vivid she could already picture herself nestled in the warm, soft bedding.

“On the bedside table, I placed a small stuffed toy to keep you company.”

Goodness.

“And, Teacher Su has never slept in it.”

This.

“Would you like to give it a try?”

Yes.

Lin Zhixia swayed forward slightly, utterly convinced by his words.

But reason and her upbringing pulled her back. Staying overnight at someone else’s house didn’t seem entirely proper.

“Teacher Yan, I’ve already troubled you all day. I’m sorry to impose further.”

Yan Huaiqing brushed her earlobe again, interrupting her sense of propriety.

“I don’t have anything to do tomorrow morning, so I don’t need to go to the office. You can sleep in without worry.”

Even more freedom than her own schedule at home.

“I’ve already asked the legal department to draft a contract. After lunch, we can go to the office together.”

Going to work together side by side.

“Could it be that you really don’t dare to board this pirate ship?” she finally asked, slightly frowning as she looked at her.

“I dare.” Lin Zhixia took the opportunity to step down the proffered stairs.

Yan Huaiqing suddenly broke into a smile, patted her shoulder, and said, “Go on, go take a shower.”

Lin Zhixia seemed to realize something, blinking twice before it dawned on her she had been played.