The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 30

Little Assistant, You’ve Worked Hard.

Lin Zhixia was sick.

She had always been this way since childhood every time the seasons shifted between cold and warm, she would run a high fever. If someone around her fell ill, she would inevitably catch it too. Each time, the illness struck fiercely but passed quickly.

Recently, the weather had fluctuated between warming up and cooling down several times in a row. On top of that, she had noticed He Zhe’s throat was inflamed. With all these factors combined, it was only natural that she fell ill.

Director Lin once said that this phenomenon was her body’s way of self-regulating and wasn’t entirely a bad thing. So, she had grown accustomed to it since she was young.

At six in the morning, her mother wasn’t home, so she went to the hospital alone to seek emergency care, not feeling the least bit sorry for herself.

Half-lying on a chair in the emergency room, receiving an IV drip, she felt a vague sensation of someone brushing against her forehead and ruffling her hair. When she opened her eyes and saw it was Yan Huaiqing, she suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of self-pity.

A child who is cherished doesn’t need to be strong; only when someone shows concern do they have the right to feel wronged. She understood this all too well.

“Teacher Yan, why are you here?” Her voice was terribly hoarse, and her lips were dry and red.

“And you? Are you imitating others by getting an IV drip too?” Yan Huaiqing glanced at the IV bag and sat down beside her.

“I’ve been like this since I was little. It’s not something I want.” Lin Zhixia squirmed slightly and leaned against her shoulder, looking pitiful.

A child who has been pampered by their mother when sick naturally learns to lean on others. Yan Huaiqing let her rest against her.

“I noticed your lips were already very red yesterday. If you weren’t feeling well, why did you go out in the wind with me?” Her tone was self-reproachful, though her words sounded like a reprimand.

“I was fine yesterday. The fever only started during the night.” Lin Zhixia sniffled weakly, but at the thought of the previous day, she managed a slight smile.

After Su Wangyue took He Zhe to the hospital yesterday, it was still early, so Yan Huaiqing took her to a private restaurant by the lake for dinner. After the meal, they went for a walk together.

As they strolled by the lake, Yan Huaiqing suddenly leaned in close to examine her and said, “Xiaxia, is it because of the wind? Your eyes look especially bright today, and your lips are particularly red, like a delicate, fragile beauty.”

Lin Zhixia was thrilled by the compliment, only to fall ill that very night.

But how did Yan Huaiqing know she was sick?

She was neatly dressed, her hair tidy, and she wore a mask. It was clear she hadn’t rushed over in a hurry, nor did she seem to be sick herself.

“Teacher Yan, why are you here?” Lin Zhixia lifted her head and repeated the question.

Her breath was hot, and her mouth was dry. She kept unconsciously licking her lips.

Yan Huaiqing took a lip balm from her bag, opened it, and handed it to her. “Don’t lick your lips. It’ll only make them drier.”

“Oh.” Lin Zhixia retracted her tongue and hesitated, not daring to use the lip balm.

It was something that touched the lips directly. She was afraid Yan Huaiqing might mind, worried about passing on her illness, and felt a little embarrassed too.

“What? You won’t use it if someone else has used it?” Yan Huaiqing’s tone was resigned but gentle, sounding very patient.

“No.” Lin Zhixia gave an awkward smile, took the lip balm, held her breath, and applied it only to the outer edges of her lips before gently pressing her lips together.

The little bit of lip balm she had applied was almost entirely gone after she pressed her lips a few times, leaving her lips even redder and drier.

Yan Huaiqing watched with growing helplessness, reached out to cap the lip balm, and left it in her hand.

“Ah?” Lin Zhixia finally released her grip on the lipstick, her voice trembling as she anxiously asked, “I didn’t get any saliva on it. Do you not want it anymore, Teacher Yan?”

Yan Huaiqing chuckled softly, turning her face away briefly before looking back and gesturing toward Lin Zhixia’s lips. “Apply it again later. I have more.”

“Oh, okay.” Lin Zhixia felt awkward, her thumb rubbing the lipstick cap a few times. She realized her lips were indeed dry again and unconsciously pressed them together but didn’t lick them.

Just as she was about to ask another question, Yan Huaiqing explained, “It’s about He Zhe. Her throat had a bit of an accident. I came to see her and spotted you from afar while passing the emergency room.”

“Didn’t she go to the hospital for an injection yesterday? How did it get worse?” Lin Zhixia asked, only realizing afterward that an accident and worsening were two different things.

Yan Huaiqing hesitated, then simply said they’d wait to hear what the doctor had to say.

Lin Zhixia’s thoughts drifted inexplicably to Sheng Yanqiu, and she couldn’t help but feel anxious for He Zhe. Pinching her nose, she urged, “Teacher Yan, you should go check on her first. She has a competition tonight see if there’s any way to fix this.”

“What about you? Will you be okay alone?” Yan Huaiqing tugged Lin Zhixia’s collar up a little higher, her fingers brushing against her neck, which still felt feverishly warm.

“I’m fine.” Lin Zhixia pulled her neck back, letting out a congested laugh. “I was alone to begin with.”

Hearing that, anyone would feel a pang of sympathy.

Yan Huaiqing’s gaze lingered on Lin Zhixia’s lower lip. As her smile faded, the fine lines there deepened, red like tiny scars, making her uneasy.

“Is Director Lin not back yet?” she asked again.

“She’s on an afternoon flight and won’t be home until tonight. But many of her colleagues know me. Look the blanket, hot water, tissues, throat lozenges, oranges, and even the pillow were all brought by her students and coworkers. The nurses and doctors check on me from time to time too. I’ll be fine.”

Her illness made her speak slowly, punctuated by occasional coughs, as if everything she described was perfectly normal and reasonable.

Still, Yan Huaiqing could tell: this was a child who had grown up surrounded by love and care, someone whose fever could stir up half the hospital.

It seemed she had worried unnecessarily.

Smiling faintly, she stood up and pressed the back of her hand to Lin Zhixia’s forehead. “Then I’ll head over first. Text me when your IV is done, and I’ll take you home.”

“No need to take me home, but ” Lin Zhixia hurriedly asked, “After my IV, can I go see Teacher He Zhe?” She almost said “sister” but caught herself, her hoarse voice swallowing the word.

Yan Huaiqing hesitated, phrasing it tactfully, “She probably doesn’t even want to see me right now.”

“Oh, I see.” Lin Zhixia took the hint, sniffled, and added, “Then let her rest well.”

“You rest well too. Don’t forget to text me after your IV.” Yan Huaiqing’s tone was almost commanding as she looked down at her, leaving no room for refusal.

Lin Zhixia responded well to that kind of firmness, obediently replying, “Okay.”

By the time Yan Huaiqing reached the ENT department, the doctor had already finished the diagnosis. Su Wangyue had taken someone to follow the prescription, getting scans and lab tests done across various departments while they waited for the results.

He Zhe looked as if even breathing was a struggle, yet her face still wore that half-dead, defiant expression, greeting people with nothing more than a lift of her eyelids.

If anyone else greeted others like that, you’d think they were incredibly rude. But if it was her, you’d feel as if you were being given undue attention.

“How is it?” Yan Huaiqing stepped around her and went straight to ask Su Wangyue.

“The doctor on duty today is quite young and inexperienced. She only said it seems like she ingested something by mistake, which caused irritation, and we need to wait for the test results.”

The worry in Su Wangyue’s eyes was sharp, especially when she looked at He Zhe’s stubborn face she felt like giving her a good smack, but when she actually looked at her, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Yan Huaiqing unconsciously furrowed her brows along with her. “How is her throat now? Can she participate in tonight’s competition? If she can’t, we need to inform the organizers in advance.”

“I can participate,” He Zhe replied weakly, her voice muffled and hoarse.

“Stop showing off,” Su Wangyue snapped at her, turning her face away. He Zhe immediately huffed and turned her head in the other direction, not bothering to argue.

Yan Huaiqing pursed her lips, glanced at the time, and made a clear plan. “It’s 7:30 now. Normally, specialist consultations start at 8. I’ll try to get an expedited appointment. Once the imaging and test results are out, we can take them directly to the specialist.”

“As for the competition, if she can go, she should. If not, focus on treating her throat. No one in the troupe will blame her for this.” This was directed at He Zhe.

“Once the competition organizers start work, I’ll call them to communicate in advance and have them prepare for a withdrawal. If she can participate, we’ll try to adjust her performance to a later slot so she has more time to rest and prepare later.”

“I have things to attend to later. Keep an eye on my messages, and if there are any issues, call me directly.” This was an instruction for Su Wangyue.

“What do you have to do? Can’t you stay?” Su Wangyue’s mind was entirely on He Zhe, leaving no room to think about anything else.

“My students are also participating in the competition. Someone has to guide them. I can’t be absent from the judges’ panel without reason, and I still need to arrange for someone to get that specialist appointment.” Yan Huaiqing looked at the unreliable master and disciple, her face full of worry.

“Oh, then your time is even tighter. Hurry back.”

Before Su Wangyue finished speaking, she saw Lin Zhixia walking toward her and blurted out, “What’s with your look? Are you sick too?”

Yan Huaiqing turned around and saw Lin Zhixia pushing a mobile IV stand, greeting them as she walked. “Teacher Su, I’m fine. I’m just here to show you the way.”

“Show us the way? You look sickly yourself,” Su Wangyue said, her mouth moving faster than her brain.

“Director Chen, the ENT specialist. My mom said she just arrived at her office. Before the queue forms, I’ll take you to see her first.” Lin Zhixia spoke hoarsely, sounding genuinely concerned.

Yan Huaiqing walked over to push the IV stand for her and supported her arm, feeling a pang of sympathy.

“See, it pays to have connections at the hospital. For this great kindness,” Su Wangyue pointed at He Zhe, who was about the same age, and said through gritted teeth, “she will never forget it.”

He Zhe lifted her eyelids and thanked Lin Zhixia, “Thank you. I’ll never forget it.”

She sounded as if she were thanking an enemy.

Lin Zhixia gave a wry smile. Yan Huaiqing held her arm and smoothed things over. “Well, let’s go.”

Lin Zhixia led them through the corridor of the hospital’s rest area and into a large physician’s office.

Not only was Director Chen there, but her students and a respiratory specialist were also present. The imaging and test results were already pulled up on the computer, and they were collectively consulting on He Zhe’s condition a rather grand scene.

Out of respect for the patient’s privacy, Lin Zhixia and Yan Huaiqing waited by the door.

“Can you stand properly?” Yan Huaiqing asked, supporting her.

“I’m fine, just checked my temperature and it’s almost back to normal.” Lin Zhixia glanced at the half-empty IV bag. “Once this bag is finished and I use the restroom, I’ll be good to go.”

“Need to use the restroom?” Yan Huaiqing asked.

“Not right now, I went before coming. My metabolism is pretty fast three bags of IV fluids will process quickly.” Lin Zhixia didn’t know why she felt oddly proud about this, especially concerning bathroom matters.

Yan Huaiqing didn’t laugh at her. Lowering her gaze, she said softly, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, it’s my duty.” Lin Zhixia smiled in response.

“Why should it be your duty?” Yan Huaiqing seemed puzzled.

“Isn’t it an assistant’s job to share the boss’s burdens?”

Lin Zhixia’s answers always sounded matter-of-fact yet never failed to surprise.

Yan Huaiqing was gradually getting used to her unexpected remarks and simply hummed in acknowledgment.

“You’ve worked hard, little assistant.”

“Not at all. I’ll follow Boss Yan to the ends of the earth.”