The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 33

Lin Zhixia wanted to see Yan Huaiqing drink because she looked beautiful when she did.

Out of politeness, Yan Huaiqing never turned the bottom of her glass toward others, never bit the rim, but instead gently rested the edge against her lips, tilting her head to the side to take a sip.

No matter where Lin Zhixia sat, she could always see Yan Huaiqing’s profile while drinking her jawline, her neck, accentuated by a graceful tendon. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Lin Zhixia also longed to see Yan Huaiqing drunk. She looked even more captivating then her gaze occasionally hazy, her voice much more languid. If ordering people around counted, she even became a little clingy. Adorable beyond words.

Unfortunately, none of this could be seen unless she drank.

There was no alcohol at home, and Lin Zhixia felt deeply regretful, her frown becoming all too obvious.

Yan Huaiqing’s gaze fell on the space between her brows, a little helpless. She felt Lin Zhixia had misunderstood her and furrowed her own brows slightly to ask, “Xiaxia, do you think I’m an alcoholic?”

“No, not at all.” Lin Zhixia shook her head while staring at her furrowed brow. “Teacher Yan, I really don’t think that at all.”

“Not at all?” Yan Huaiqing looked into her evasive eyes, enunciating the word “at all” with a meaningful tone. “Then why is it that every time we have a meal together, you think of alcohol first?”

“Well, it’s just that a feast isn’t complete without wine it’s part of hosting etiquette.” Lin Zhixia tried to cover up her ulterior motives.

“Then you might want to adjust your hosting etiquette. I can’t drink lately.” Yan Huaiqing picked up her phone to reply to a message.

“Why?” The disappointment in Lin Zhixia’s eyes was barely concealed.

“I have performances and I’m supervising a new production. I need to focus entirely on work.”

“Oh.” Lin Zhixia asked curiously, “Then, do you like drinking, Teacher Yan?”

Yan Huaiqing continued looking at her phone, blinked, thought for a moment, and replied, “I enjoy having a couple of drinks by myself when I have free time.”

Drinking alone.

Lin Zhixia pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, murmuring, “Oh.”

Yan Huaiqing put away her phone and looked at her. She suddenly realized that since Lin Zhixia’s identity had been exposed, she had become less guarded about her emotions. Though still subtle, hints of her feelings could now be read in the corners of her eyes and brows.

Like right now she looked quite dejected, as if still regretting something.

Seeing through it but not saying anything.

Yan Huaiqing smiled and reminded her, “The inspectors will be here soon. Is there anything you need to tidy up beforehand?”

“No.” Lin Zhixia admitted frankly, “I already tidied up in advance since Teacher Yan was coming.” After a moment’s thought, she added, “After the inspection, Teacher Yan can come sit in my study. I tidied that up too you didn’t get to go in last time.”

“Alright.” Yan Huaiqing glanced toward the study in anticipation. “I’d be honored.”

The inspectors were very professional, bringing various instruments and equipment, and even their own shoe covers.

Throughout the inspection, they were extremely careful. Though their eyes revealed surprise and curiosity, they never exclaimed over or commented on any of the decorations or arrangements in the home. They didn’t pry or ask excessive questions, only offering professional advice based on their experience, suggesting which materials were best kept out of the bedroom and study.

Before this, among all the people who had visited this home, only Yan Huaiqing had shown such understanding and respect.

Now, the people she had invited did the same.

So, it wasn’t hard to guess that Yan Huaiqing had specifically instructed the inspectors beforehand.

After checking every room, they also took samples from some areas, saying they needed to conduct detailed tests back at the lab.

Fortunately, the preliminary results were optimistic there were no obvious air quality issues. The detailed report would be sent via text message within three days.

After seeing them off, Yan Huaiqing breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Zhixia, however, seemed unsurprised, because she hadn’t told Yan Huaiqing that Zhao Jinchu had bought her a formaldehyde detector earlier.

Suppressing a smile as she closed the door, Lin Zhixia finally remembered to ask, “By the way, Teacher Yan, how is He Zhe doing? Is her apartment also being inspected today?”

“Yes, Teacher Su is accompanying her.”

“What about her throat? Is it serious? I heard she even coughed up blood.” Lin Zhixia raised her hand and lightly touched her own throat.

“Torn laryngeal mucosa. It can heal, and her vocal cords weren’t injured.” Yan Huaiqing’s tone was calm, offering no further details.

“But, Teacher Yan, is that Weibo account with 7.4 million followers really He Zhe’s?” Lin Zhixia stepped back, subtly guiding Yan Huaiqing toward the study.

“Yes, why?” Yan Huaiqing looked at her.

After all, He Zhe’s fans had dragged #YanHuaiqingNeglectsDuty onto the trending list, so Lin Zhixia didn’t dare react too dramatically. She cautiously studied Yan Huaiqing’s expression and said, “It’s just… she’s so cool! Her cosplay photos look like they’ve stepped right out of games and anime. I’ve often come across them before I never imagined it was her.”

“Mm, she has two Weibo accounts that don’t interfere with each other, so many people don’t know.” Yan Huaiqing showed no particular emotion.

“So, Teacher Yan, are you angry with her?” Lin Zhixia probed.

“No.” Yan Huaiqing smiled sincerely. “I’m grateful to her.”

“Why?” Lin Zhixia pushed the study door open against the wall, making way.

Yan Huaiqing walked into the study without hesitation. “She did what I couldn’t, didn’t dare to, and wasn’t able to do.”

Huh? Lin Zhixia followed behind her, pondering.

What could He Zhe do that Yan Huaiqing couldn’t?

After figuring it out, she smiled, jogged a few steps ahead to pull out a chair for Yan Huaiqing, and teased, “Is it because He Zhe is such a clean and well-behaved student?”

“Clean? Well-behaved?” Yan Huaiqing didn’t understand. Even after sitting down and thinking it over, she remained puzzled and looked at Lin Zhixia questioningly. “What do you mean?”

Lin Zhixia, holding back laughter, crouched beside her legs and naturally rested her hand on Yan Huaiqing’s knee. She explained word by word, “Because she’s always making the academy leaders lose face.”

Yan Huaiqing laughed.

Since it involved the leaders, she couldn’t laugh too openly and turned her face slightly away.

But Lin Zhixia tilted her head, following her gaze with a smugly raised eyebrow. Unconsciously, Yan Huaiqing tapped Lin Zhixia’s forehead with her fingertip as a gentle reprimand.

Lin Zhixia almost brushed her fingertip away to soothe the ticklish sensation on her forehead, still looking pleased. “I’m not wrong, am I? Let’s both pay our respects to Student He Zhe.”

Yan Huaiqing never spoiled the mood.

She didn’t deny or criticize but smoothly shifted to another perspective to explain.

“He Zhe is like a ‘wall breaker.’ She brought opera into the realms of anime and gaming, and she also introduced gaming and anime audiences to opera. These are things people couldn’t achieve before, so we really should thank her.”

“So that super popular game character was actually designed based on her?”

“Correct.”

“And she’s also the voice actress?”

“Correct.”

“Her fans even organized a cosplay exhibition of opera characters because of her?”

“Yes, they hold it once every year.”

“She’s really amazing.”

As Lin Zhixia praised her, she rested her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling, crouching in an obedient and adorable manner like a young girl experiencing her first crush.

“She is indeed remarkable.”

Yan Huaiqing lifted her eyelids slightly to glance at the person by her legs, cleared her throat, and then asked, “So, is Lin Xiaoman planning to switch her admiration to Teacher Hezhe now?”

“Switch my admiration?”

Lin Zhixia stood up, walked around to the other side of the table, and leaned against the bookshelf as she asked, “Then, who does Teacher Yan think I admired before switching?”

She had inadvertently trapped herself.

Yan Huaiqing took a breath, scanned the study, tapped her fingers lightly on the table, and replied, “If I recall correctly, you once said it was me.”

Lin Zhixia suddenly smiled.

“If it’s Teacher Yan, then there’s no need to switch.”

She seemed to have been waiting to say this all along, leaning leisurely against the bookshelf as she spoke.

Yan Huaiqing nodded but suddenly remarked, “Actually, Teacher Lin has surprised me.”

The form of address and the tone made Lin Zhixia slightly flustered. “Huh? Surprised about what?”

“Isn’t it surprising that there isn’t a single book in Teacher Lin’s study?” Yan Huaiqing emphasized the word “book” twice, infusing it with her unique sense of humor.

However, Lin Zhixia seemed prepared for this question as well. Leaning against the bookshelf again, she replied calmly, “Books are for one’s own reading, not for display. What’s the point in showing them off?”

Yan Huaiqing acknowledged this with a nod, then shifted her gaze behind Lin Zhixia and sighed, “There’s something else that surprises me even more.”

“What is it?” This time, Lin Zhixia didn’t panic, as if she had grown accustomed to such remarks like the boy who cried wolf.

“Your study has no books, but it does have a photo of me.” Yan Huaiqing shifted her gaze from the photo to Lin Zhixia’s eyes.

This time, the wolf had truly arrived.

The photo had been placed there over a month ago and had long since blended into the study, so she hadn’t even noticed it at first.

It was quite awkward.

Glancing back subtly, she discreetly moved to block the photo with her body and explained, “It was taken by the river. It looked nice, so I casually picked a few.”

“Oh? Which ones did you pick?” Yan Huaiqing raised an eyebrow and glanced around. “I don’t see any others.”

Lin Zhixia paused for a moment, but soon she pursed her lips and met the other’s gaze, replying, “They’re in the bedroom. Would Teacher Yan like to go see them?”

This was the real Lin Zhixia.

She had never been a delicate, shy wallflower.

Her upbringing had never allowed her to be timid or bashful.

If others were subtle, she would be even more subtle. If others took the offensive, she never hesitated, nor would she ever retreat.

She would never give anyone the chance to corner her in a tight spot.

Besides, Yan Huaiqing was the one who insisted on asking. A little counterattack wasn’t wrong, was it?

“Let’s go.”

Yan Huaiqing naturally averted her gaze, stood up calmly, and walked toward the study door with composed steps and an unruffled demeanor.

“Huh?” Lin Zhixia’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately grew tense.

Was she really going to the bedroom?

Was this still Yan Huaiqing?

She followed closely behind her, her heart growing increasingly uneasy with each step.

As they neared the bedroom door, Yan Huaiqing paused her steps, waiting for her to catch up.

Just as Lin Zhixia’s hand was about to reach for the doorknob, Yan Huaiqing turned again and headed toward the entrance instead.

“The groceries we ordered have arrived. Let’s go pick them up.”

This was the real Yan Huaiqing!

She would never allow anyone to trap her in a cramped corner.

She would fight back.

But since it was Lin Zhixia, a little scare was enough.