The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 39

Playing charades can lead to wrong guesses.

Lin Zhixia didn’t know that Yan Huaiqing was wary of her. All she knew was that Yan looked beautiful while on the phone

Standing by the fence in the distance, twirling a straw hat in her hand, the hem of her skirt half-hidden among the orange-yellow flowers, like a scene from an aesthetic movie poster.

After hanging up, she didn’t walk over immediately. Instead, she stood there and glanced at Lin Zhixia from afar. Her gaze was distant, unclear, yet still captivating.

Lin Zhixia noticed her fingertips tapping lightly on the brim of the straw hat, as if she had made some decision, before finally walking over.

“Professor Yan, was there something urgent?”

Just as she finished speaking, her own phone buzzed.

Yan Huaiqing approached, her eyes falling on the lit screen. Though she couldn’t see the content, she could guess the mastermind was about to receive her battle report.

“Take a look first,” she signaled with her eyes, then lowered her gaze and subtly stepped aside to give her space.

Lin Zhixia opened her phone. It was a message from someone saved as “Secretary Chen.”

“Dinner with Dean Han went smoothly. No need to worry. Take care of yourself while you’re away, and rest early.”

“Okay, thank you, Secretary Chen. You should rest early too.”

After replying, Lin Zhixia looked up and noticed that Yan Huaiqing’s calm and relaxed demeanor seemed to carry a trace of lingering detachment.

“Professor Yan,” she called softly.

“Hmm?” Yan Huaiqing turned back, her smile still perfectly composed. “Let’s go back first.”

As they reached the side entrance of the guesthouse, Lin Zhixia couldn’t resist asking, “Was it a call from the institute?”

“Yes, from Dean Han.”

Yan Huaiqing pushed the door open and led the way inside as she spoke. “She said times are changing, and the institute shouldn’t remain stagnant. Since we’ve chosen this kind of story to appeal to the younger market, we should respect the spirit of the original work. So, the character’s gender won’t be changed.”

After saying this, she let out a sigh of relief, her smile growing even more radiant.

Yet, for some reason, Lin Zhixia still sensed a subtle shift in her emotions. Just as she tried to discern what it was, Yan Huaiqing took a step forward, turned to block her path, and tilted her head slightly as she studied her.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Zhixia grew wary.

“Xiaxia, I’m curious how did you manage it?” Yan Huaiqing’s gaze was gentle yet ensnaring, as if weaving an invisible net around her.

“I…” Lin Zhixia grew flustered under her stare, leaning back to create distance. “I didn’t do anything. I’ve been with you the whole time you can vouch for that.”

“Aren’t you the least bit surprised?”

Feeling pressured by her gaze, Lin Zhixia tried to evade it.

But Yan Huaiqing held her firmly, refusing to let her retreat.

“Aren’t you also unsurprised, Professor Yan?”

“I’m not surprised because you already knew the outcome and hinted at it beforehand.”

“Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

She took another half-step forward, looking down at her, staring directly into her eyes, trying to guide her toward an answer.

“If you don’t explain, I might start thinking you’re far too formidable someone beyond my reach.”

The distance between them narrowed, and the intensity of her gaze and presence felt suffocating. Lin Zhixia leaned back until she lost her balance, instinctively reaching out to grab Yan Huaiqing’s clothes.

She refused to retreat even half a step,

Lin Zhixia hurried over, leaning her face close to the other’s shoulder with a pout. “Teacher Yan, I think it’s something remarkable that I have the ability to defend myself and share your burdens. I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I have to explain myself?”

Though she claimed she wouldn’t explain, her words were clearly doing just that.

Yan Huaiqing pressed her lips together in a faint smile and nodded. “Indeed, you’re amazing.”

“Then what does that smile of yours mean?”

Feeling uneasy, Lin Zhixia took another step closer.

“Using influence is still a form of strength. I did leverage my family’s backing, but I didn’t abuse that power or bully anyone. I just wanted to protect what matters to me.”

“Perfectly justified,” Yan Huaiqing replied with another soft laugh, then asked, “Anything else?”

“When others hold the knife and I’m the fish on the chopping block, the institute sees me as a weak, easily bullied young author and deliberately exaggerated the consequences of breaching the contract to force me to back down. If I hadn’t used my connections, I’d just be treated like a blade of chives, chopped up for dumpling filling,” Lin Zhixia explained further.

“Truly despicable,” Yan Huaiqing agreed, still humoring her. “Anything more?”

“And also.”

Lin Zhixia suddenly grew quiet, carefully studying the other’s expression before lowering her voice. “Teacher Yan, are you… dissatisfied with how I handled things? Am I?”

“You handled it so well why would I be dissatisfied with you?”

Yan Huaiqing glanced at her, then looked away and continued walking, her tone neutral and unreadable.

“Then… you seem a bit strange.” Lin Zhixia frowned, lost in thought and self-reflection.

“Xiaxia,” Yan Huaiqing suddenly turned to face her, her voice gentle. “The strange one is you, isn’t it? I’m not dissatisfied with you you’re the one who’s dissatisfied with yourself, projecting it onto me.”

Lin Zhixia looked up at her, even more confused.

Yan Huaiqing patted her shoulder and guided her toward their residence as they walked and talked.

“Xiaxia, if you have something weighing on your heart, you should speak up. Keeping others guessing with riddles can lead to misunderstandings.”

Lin Zhixia wasn’t sure what she meant and stole a sidelong glance.

Yan Huaiqing met her gaze briefly and confessed, “Xiaxia, I have my own burdens too. When Dean Han called to inform me, I did feel somewhat wary of you, and a little defeated. I’m used to being in control, so being quietly arranged for by someone else was hard for me to accept at first.”

“Teacher Yan.” Lin Zhixia wanted to explain.

But this was Yan Huaiqing she didn’t need explanations.

“After observing you more closely, I understood and accepted it,” Yan Huaiqing said softly. “If someone in this world must enjoy privileges, I’d rather it be you than anyone else.”

She looked at her with patient, gentle eyes. “Xiaxia, I’ve resolved my inner conflict. What about you? You’ve analyzed everyone else so clearly, yet you’re playing riddles with yourself. Have you figured it out? Have you crossed that hurdle in your heart?”

Her gaze drifted toward Lin Zhixia’s chest.

The human heart receives gentle signals more readily than other organs, for all the emotions flowing in the blood gather and disperse in its chambers.

Lin Zhixia’s chest rose and fell unevenly as she asked knowingly, “Teacher Yan, what are you trying to say?”

Yan Huaiqing turned away, slowing her pace as she guided her patiently.

“You know what you’re defending isn’t wrong, and you know how to strategize a counterattack. Yet when the outcome is achieved, you show no joy, refuse to acknowledge your involvement, and cautiously observe my emotions, afraid I might resent you.”

“Why is that?”

Yan Huaiqing looked at her.

“Why?”

Lin Zhixia didn’t meet her gaze, still echoing the question.

“You despise being pressured by the institute’s dominance and arrogance, yet you have to retaliate with even greater dominance and arrogance. So, I suspect you haven’t yet accepted this version of yourself, and you’re afraid I won’t accept it either. Am I right?”

Yan Huaiqing spoke softly, her tone laced with a hint of amusement.

Lin Zhixia fell silent, her steps slowing even more.

She didn’t want anyone to see her hand, so she had distanced herself from the start.

What she had been avoiding under the guise of sightseeing had been seen through by the other person in an instant.

It was a little embarrassing.

Yan Huaiqing switched her hat to the other hand, raised her arm to rest on Lin Zhixia’s shoulder, and pulled her forward as they walked.

“I suspect you’re actually quite bothered by your family stepping in, and you didn’t want power to interfere. In this farce, you tried to resolve it on your own, but because I was caught in the middle, you were afraid I’d be implicated, so you hastily asked your elders to mediate.”

“Is that right?” Yan Huaiqing leaned close to her ear, as if drunk, and whispered.

Asking for parental backup when you can’t win on your own is pretty embarrassing.

Lin Zhixia pressed her lips together and stayed silent, answering only with the faint redness of her ears.

Yan Huaiqing’s gaze shifted from the corner of her mouth to the tip of her ear. She smiled and continued, “When Dean Chen called me, her tone was relaxed, even cheerful. It seems that besides Editor-in-Chief Sun, there was someone else at the dinner who won her over completely. She didn’t say who, but she asked about you.”

“She was treated with respect and courtesy by someone she looks up to, which means you didn’t convey your dissatisfaction and anger to your family. You had no intention of retaliating or seeking revenge. You tried to foster cooperation in a more amicable way. You handled it well rationally and maturely, even better than I would have.”

Lin Zhixia felt embarrassed and replied softly, “Teacher Yan, I didn’t do well. I was the most passive one in all of this. I struggled for so long, scheming and fighting, yet I couldn’t resolve it. Then you came and effortlessly said you could handle it, and someone else solved it with just a phone call and a meal. I’m the one who feels the most defeated.”

“So, you’re trying to console yourself by consoling me? And using my eyes to examine yourself?”

“Mm.” Lin Zhixia nodded.

Yan Huaiqing leaned even closer to her cheek. “Xia Xia, you’ve already untangled the knots in my heart. Why are you still trapping yourself? Power isn’t something everyone has, and the fact that you use it so cautiously and carefully means you’re already doing very well.”

Yan Huaiqing withdrew her hand and walked shoulder to shoulder with her. “Besides, you counted me among your gains and losses, and you worked hard for my sake. I’m very grateful to you.”

Her tone was gentle, her words sincere, without a trace of awkward sentimentality.

Lin Zhixia pressed her lips together and responded just as honestly, “Teacher Yan, no one wants to cooperate with someone who isn’t open or equal. I was guarded against you and kept things from you twice.”

“I forgive you.”

Yan Huaiqing smiled, then abruptly changed the subject. “But, Xia Xia, I’m curious. If I hadn’t passed your test, what would the outcome be now?”

“Teacher Yan, I really wasn’t testing you.” Lin Zhixia grew anxious, almost raising her hand to swear an oath.

Yan Huaiqing let out a chuckle and stopped teasing her, his tone even carrying a hint of admiration. “Your attitude toward Dean Han has really surprised me. I believe that even if I were on the opposite side, you’d handle it well.”

Lin Zhixia felt the knot of frustration in her chest gradually loosen, replaced by a sense of ease. She explained her reasoning: “Teacher Yan, the truth is, I deeply respect Dean Han.”

“Oh?” Yan Huaiqing looked at her in surprise.

“I heard from Sister Xiaohua that Dean Han never stepped onto the stage herself she worked her way up from the logistics department to where she is today. Over the years, as the theater underwent reforms, she became the only female leader in the senior management with decision-making authority.”

“They say that a few years ago, a trend of mixed-gender performances suddenly swept through Yue opera troupes across the country. It was Dean Han alone who managed to keep that trend from affecting our theater.”

“She may be somewhat authoritarian and domineering, but without that very quality, our all-female troupe might not have survived to this day.”

“That’s why I respect her so much.”

Lin Zhixia looked up and saw Yan Huaiqing blinking at her approvingly, which encouraged her to say more.

“I don’t want to listen to rumors about how she climbed to her position. As women, if she’s made it there, I hope she stays firmly in place. With her around, something can be changed or at the very least, something can be preserved. Don’t you think so?”

Yan Huaiqing was once again taken aback. While he was still admiring the young woman’s sincerity and resilience, he hadn’t expected her to think so deeply and far ahead.

He took a deep breath and didn’t hold back his praise: “Xiaxia, for someone your age to understand all this I’m truly impressed.”

Lin Zhixia didn’t dare let it go to her head and gave a small smile. “It’s all because Teacher Yan knows how to recognize talent and assigned me to Sister Xiaohua. That was very forward-thinking of you.”

“Hmm, such a sweet-talking assistant,” Yan Huaiqing said with a light laugh.

Lin Zhixia smiled again, her eyes drifting to a small courtyard ahead not the one she was staying in.

That was.

“Teacher Yan, do you feel like having a drink?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“You want to drink?” Yan Huaiqing’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“I can’t drink, but I’d like to watch you have some,” she admitted, her guard down enough to speak her mind.

It seemed like every time they drank, they ended up staying together.

Yan Huaiqing glanced in the direction of his own room and said awkwardly, “That might not be possible.”

“Why not?” Lin Zhixia pressed, unwilling to let it go.

Yan Huaiqing looked even more uncomfortable as he replied, “It’s that time of the month. I can’t drink.”

“Uh…”

Lin Zhixia froze, then blushed, stumbling over her words. “Teacher Yan, I, I didn’t know.”

Seeing her flustered expression, Yan Huaiqing couldn’t help but laugh. He reached out and gently flicked her earlobe, extending an invitation.

“Come on, let’s go sit in my room for a while.”