The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 5

It’s your turn help me choose.

Zhao Jinchu was absolutely right: only half of Yue Opera’s charm lies on the stage.

The rehearsal went relatively smoothly overall, though there were a few hiccups that caused several pauses. By the time it ended, the sky was nearly dark. Everyone was exhausted, yet their spirits were high.

Yan Huaiqing was chatting with a few staff members by the side curtains. As Lin Zhixia passed by her, she noticed Yan’s aura was completely different from when they had spoken before the rehearsal. With her head lowered, focused on the A4 documents in her hand, her expression was cold and stern, carrying a hint of intimidation.

One by one, people made their way to the break room. Lin Zhixia stopped by the restroom first. When she entered the break room, Jiang Jing had already transferred the photos to the computer, and everyone had gathered around in a circle.

The actors crowded around the photos, reliving moments from the stage. Lin Zhixia didn’t join the commotion. Instead, she grabbed a bottle of water and sat outside the circle, quietly observing them.

“I was a step off here.”
“My expression looks a bit stiff here.”
“My hand should’ve been a little higher.”
“Is my mustache crooked?”
“Next time, I’ll clip the mic on the left side.”

The photos recreated the scenes, capturing the actors’ dazzling moments while also revealing flaws from a third-person perspective. Their lively discussions were both meticulous and professional, and even their laughter was filled with earnest dedication.

What a vibrant and thriving group of people.

“Teacher Su looks so lovestruck in this one,” one actor remarked with admiration.

“Just wait I’ll mesmerize the audience,” Su Wangyue replied, clearly pleased with herself.

“With a look like that from Director Yan, you’re totally under her spell.”
“Who’s under whose spell? Let’s get this straight.”

Amid the chatter, they reviewed all the photos together before carefully selecting the best ones. Jiang Jing would then take the chosen photos for retouching.

Some went to remove their makeup, others complained of hunger with hands on their hips, and a few joked about ordering bubble tea to keep themselves going.

As the crowd gradually thinned, gaps appeared around Jiang Jing. From time to time, Lin Zhixia would sneak a glance at the screen through one of those gaps, then another.

Truth be told, Lin Zhixia was quite adept at entertaining herself. Leaning against the edge of the table, she stretched her legs out comfortably, the tips of her black ankle boots lightly tapping against each other.

Logically, with a quiet young girl sitting nearby, smiling sweetly as she watched them, one might expect a curious actor to strike up a conversation. Yet, despite sitting there for a long time, no one approached her. They merely glanced at her curiously before moving on.

This was the unique aura Lin Zhixia carried refined, polite, and perfectly content, yet somehow unapproachable.

When the water in her hand felt less chilly, she unscrewed the cap and took a sip. As she lifted her head, she saw Yan Huaiqing stride calmly into the room.

Yan had removed her headpiece and costume but still wore stage makeup, topped with a baseball cap. Her beige cashmere sweater was tucked into loose gray sweatpants. At first glance, her long legs stood out; upon closer look, her back was slender, and her waist exceptionally narrow.

Good posture naturally exudes a strong presence.

Even in her relaxed, casual attire, the moment she entered, the room was filled with a subtle yet palpable energy.

Lin Zhixia tightened the cap on her water bottle, sat up straighter, and pulled her feet back slightly, blinking as she watched Yan.

Yan Huaiqing acknowledged her with a glance before walking over to the circle of actors.

She was quite tall, leaning slightly to glance inside before lazily calling out, “Ah Jing, please help me sort through my photos first.”

After saying this, she turned and walked toward Lin Zhixia.

Ah Jing what a sweet way to address someone. Lin Zhixia was just pursing her lips, trying to mimic the tone, when she saw her approaching and quickly closed her mouth, standing up to greet her.

Yan Huaiqing quickly raised a hand to signal her to stay seated, then pulled over a stool and sat beside her.

“Teacher Yan, have you removed your makeup?” Lin Zhixia asked softly, then pressed her lips together. It was such an obvious question why even ask?

“Yes, I have.”

“You look beautiful.”

“Really?”

Yan Huaiqing smiled. Her makeup hadn’t actually been removed, so she wasn’t sure what Lin Zhixia was referring to.

“Teacher Yan, are you tired?” Lin Zhixia brushed the back of her hand against the tip of her nose. She had wanted to ask if she wanted water, but she had already taken a sip from the bottle in her hand.

“Today was alright, everything went smoothly.” Yan Huaiqing gave a slight smile, exuding an effortless sense of ease.

It seemed Lin Zhixia was always affected by her demeanor. With that smile, she felt a little less awkward, though she still didn’t dare let her gaze linger on Yan Huaiqing’s face.

She sat primly, hands resting on her knees, her short boots neatly aligned.

Yan Huaiqing took in her childlike posture in an instant, her eyes softening as she laughed again, a soft breath escaping her nose.

Hearing her laugh, Lin Zhixia finally looked into her eyes. One had to admit some things passed down through the ages truly stood the test of time. The shape of her eyes was simply exquisite.

For a face of such elegance, the simplest words of praise were often the most fitting. All those sophisticated adjectives suddenly felt inadequate in Lin Zhixia’s mind, leaving only one thought: “So beautiful!”

“Don’t be so reserved you can relax a little. Look at them, aren’t they all noisy and carefree?”

Yan Huaiqing gestured toward the lively group nearby, her tone light. The color of her lips seemed less vibrant than before, as if she had wiped them.

“Mm, okay.” Lin Zhixia followed her gaze, then after a moment turned back and asked, “Teacher Yan, I still don’t have any suggestions for you yet. Is that alright?”

Yan Huaiqing was a little surprised. The girl was looking directly into her eyes, asking with utmost seriousness, word by word.

This girl before her sat properly, seemed a bit awkward with pleasantries, and kept herself quiet, observing her surroundings with her eyes. But when she decided to look at you, her gaze was clear and unwavering.

Moreover, she took your words to heart and treated them with sincerity.

A flicker of curiosity in her eyes, Yan Huaiqing smiled and said, “Of course, that’s fine.”

Lin Zhixia smiled too, feeling herself relax a little. “Teacher Yan, I have a hat just like yours, but it’s blue.”

She tilted her head to glance at Yan Huaiqing’s beige hat, which suited her outfit better that day.

“Really? Then bring it next time, and we can wear them together.” Yan Huaiqing raised an eyebrow slightly, adjusting her hat brim. Without even needing to discuss suggestions, the girl seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. A faint smile tugged at the corner of Yan Huaiqing’s lips as she laughed again.

Lin Zhixia laughed along with her, no longer forcing conversation. Her gaze drifted past the gaps in the crowd, settling on the screen displaying the river view.

“Ah Yan , aren’t you coming yet? I can hear you.” A deliberately sweet voice called out from the crowd it was Su Wangyue.

Soon after, Lin Zhixia heard a soft scoff from Yan Huaiqing beside her. When she turned, she saw Yan Huaiqing wearing a smile and leisurely responding with an “Mm.”

Was she calling her?

Some called her Yan Tuan or Tuanzhang, others called her Teacher Yan or Boss Yan, while fans would shout her name, Yan Huaiqing.

But Su Wangyue called her A Yan!

So casual, so ambiguous it was truly enviable.

Yet, after responding, Yan Huaiqing didn’t rise immediately. Instead, she turned to Lin Zhixia and asked, “Help me pick photos this one, is it okay?” Her tone carried a hint of playful interest.

“Oh, yes, of course,” Lin Zhixia quickly replied.

The two stood up and walked toward the river view.

Only six or seven people remained by the computer. Some had found stools to sit on, while others stood hunched behind. Su Wangyue pulled out a stool and shifted it slightly, gesturing for Yan Huaiqing to sit beside her. Everyone made a bit of room for Lin Zhixia as well.

As soon as Yan Huaiqing sat down, Su Wangyue’s chin naturally drifted toward her shoulder. Yan Huaiqing chuckled and gently pushed her away. Su Wangyue leaned in again, only to be pushed away once more.

“Hmph! This woman so affectionate on stage, but off stage, she acts like she doesn’t know me. Who can I even complain to?” Su Wangyue grumbled with frustration, though there was little she could do except vent a bit.

Yan Huaiqing simply smiled, ignoring her, her gaze fixed on the screen.

Wasn’t this just the domineering CEO and her loyal puppy? It felt oddly sweet and endearing.

Lin Zhixia sat slightly behind Yan Huaiqing, experiencing firsthand the sweetness of the “Wang-Yan” CP so sweet it was almost cloying!

“It’s so sweet it makes my heart ache! Aren’t any of you going to say something?” Jiang Jing clicked the mouse to switch photos and sighed toward the back.

Lin Zhixia nodded emphatically in agreement.

“Two leaders who dares to say anything?”

“Exactly, we’re too busy trying to curry favor.”

“You’ve only seen a fraction of it. We see it every day our sugar intake is so high we can’t even lose weight.”

“That’s because you drink too much bubble tea.”

Murmurs of agreement came from behind.

“Darken the background for this one to highlight the movement the dynamic sense of kicking into the darkness,” Yan Huaiqing commented, pointing to a photo of Su Wangyue kicking her robe.

“Got it, I’ll make a note.”

Jiang Jing quickly understood and typed into the photo’s description: “Kicking into darkness, emphasize movement, dynamic sense.”

“Mm,” Yan Huaiqing acknowledged.

This was Lin Zhixia’s first time seeing Yan Huaiqing offstage, in her work mode.

Without any preamble or transition, with just one sentence, she instantly shifted everyone from playful banter to a focused work atmosphere.

Lin Zhixia was astonished by this ability and instinctively leaned forward to look at the screen. As her chin neared Yan Huaiqing’s shoulder, she caught a faint, refreshing scent of greenery pleasant and cool.

Su Wangyue also leaned in to glance at the screen, then gave Yan Huaiqing a satisfied eyebrow raise. “See? You’re the one who appreciates me best. Clearly, you care about me deep down you just won’t admit it. All tsundere.”

Yan Huaiqing ignored her and selected a few more photos, offering suggestions. She didn’t just focus on the lead actors; she even noticed the posture and expressions of the ensemble members details Lin Zhixia had missed even after multiple glances.

Jiang Jing’s cooperation was seamless. Professionals always quickly grasped each other’s points, and Jiang Jing spoke little while working, her expression serious, as if determined to captivate someone.

After sifting through the numerous candidate photos for the lead role, Jiang Jing skillfully placed them into a separate folder.

With a click of her mouse, she happened to open the one mentioned during rehearsals the one that could make it into her career’s top 250: a delicate hand covering the face, tears glistening in the eyes.

Yan Huaiqing glanced at the photo, then turned her head and said to Lin Zhixia, “Your turn. Help me choose.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, yet carried a cool, detached tone.

Lin Zhixia immediately straightened up and focused on the screen, looking rather troubled. “They’re all so beautiful. Do I really have to choose? Can’t we just keep them all?”

“We can keep them all, but we only need three to five for selection,” Yan Huaiqing replied, tilting her head to one side and closing her eyes briefly. She then raised her hand and gently brushed her eyelashes from bottom to top.

The opera makeup was heavy, with thick, long false eyelashes, and she had been staring at the screen for a while her eyes were probably tired.

Lin Zhixia shifted her gaze from the screen to Yan Huaiqing’s profile. What caught her eye were the sharp jawline and the elegant neckline exposed above the collar, the skin as pale as snow. It made her want to gently peel away the makeup along the edge of Yan Huaiqing’s jaw and take a closer look at her face.

Realizing her gaze had become too bold, Lin Zhixia took a soft breath and lowered her head, exhaling quietly through her nose.

Yan Huaiqing withdrew her hand and turned to look at her. Seeing Lin Zhixia slightly bowing her head, she asked softly, “What’s wrong? Still nothing?”

The word “still” was emphasized, making the following “nothing” sound particularly gentle.

Lin Zhixia felt pampered by her tone and lifted her head to look at the screen again. “I’d choose the one with the turn and sleeve flick, the one kneeling on the ground with eyes closed questioning the heavens, and the one with tears at the corner of the eyes.”

See? Being indulged gives one courage, even if it’s just a fleeting illusion.

Yan Huaiqing glanced at her again, a hint of surprise in her slightly raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, Jiang Jing had already swiftly clicked the mouse, pulling up the three selected photos on the screen.

Lin Zhixia stared at the photos without moving, her hands clenched into fists, awaiting the “judgment” of the circle of professionals.

Everyone was carefully examining the photos, and a brief silence fell.

Time stretched on endlessly.

Lin Zhixia was considering whether to add a “for reference only,” but then Yan Huaiqing’s voice came from beside her.

Her tone was calm, betraying no particular emotion.

“Mm, these three will do.”