The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 50

Feel free to bring them home for a meal sometime.

Lin Zhixia returned home with a heart full of apprehension.

“Ah, the young miss Lin still remembers her way home,” Zhao Jinchu leaned against the doorframe, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Welcome back, young miss.”

“Auntie” Lin Zhixia called out sheepishly, then immediately spread her arms to wrap them around her neck, burying her face against her shoulder and nuzzling. “I missed you so much.”

“Who would believe that? Go hug your mom,” Zhao Jinchu feigned disgust and gave her a light push. “Just the other day, your mom said you’ve been gone so long, maybe you ran off to America to get married.”

“Nonsense,” Lin Zhixia retorted. “Not everyone is like you two.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Zhao Jinchu bent down to fetch a pair of slippers. “In our day, we were the progressive youth at the forefront of the times.”

“You still are now,” Lin Zhixia said, holding onto her waist as she changed her shoes, her gaze sweeping across the room. “Where’s Mom?”

Only a warm yellow floor lamp was lit in the living room. An old black-and-white movie played quietly on the TV, and two wine glasses on the coffee table bore traces of dark red stains.

“Looks like you two have been living quite comfortably without me. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I’m here or not,” she pouted, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Zhao Jinchu gave her a light pat. “Your mom performed two surgeries today and was on her feet for over ten hours. I told her to have a drink to relax. She’s lying down in the bedroom now. Go give her a back rub later.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Director Lin emerged from the bedroom, supporting her lower back. Without her glasses, she squinted at her daughter. “So you still remember to come home.”

“Mom, you’ve worked hard. I missed you so much,” Lin Zhixia said, about to throw herself into her arms.

Director Lin, who was particular about cleanliness, took two steps back. “Go wash your hands and take off your coat.”

“As you wish,” Lin Zhixia came to an abrupt stop, quickly washed up, changed into loungewear, and then clung to her mother like a koala, acting coquettishly.

“Let’s hear it. Your ‘great achievements’ could fill a book,” Director Lin put on her glasses, her gaze as sharp as a scalpel.

“What great achievements? I’ve been incredibly busy lately, focusing entirely on work,” Lin Zhixia said, rubbing her head against her mother’s shoulder.

“Terminating contracts, getting paint thrown at you is that what you call work?” Director Lin raised an eyebrow to look at her.

Zhao Jinchu also shot her a glance, adding fuel to the fire. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think we had a big star in the family.”

“How did you find out?” Lin Zhixia immediately straightened up, growing wary.

“Your aunt came over for dinner yesterday and asked if you were dating someone. She’s worried that our little wolf cub hasn’t even grown up yet and might already be getting snatched away by someone else,” Zhao Jinchu said, pouring a glass of water and bringing it over.

“Don’t listen to her nonsense. It’s pure rumor. I’m not doing anything like that,” Lin Zhixia instinctively reached out to take the water.

“Step aside, this is for your mom,” Zhao Jinchu placed the tea on the nearby coffee table.

“She manages an entire city. Do you think she has nothing better to do than spread rumors about you?” Director Lin glared at her.

“I swear, I really haven’t,” Lin Zhixia grabbed the teacup and took a strategic sip of water.

“Have you eaten?” Zhao Jinchu turned to pour another glass and set it aside, her tone concerned.

“I have,” Lin Zhixia looked up and smiled at her, a little ingratiatingly.

“You didn’t even mention such a big incident.” Director Lin frowned slightly, but her voice unconsciously softened. “Breaking the contract is one thing, but splashing paint is so dangerous. What if you got hurt?”

“Don’t worry, I know my limits.” Lin Zhixia leaned against her shoulder while drinking water.

Director Lin stared at her for a few seconds before suddenly sighing. “That Yan Huaiqing bring her home for a meal when you have time.”

Lin Zhixia nearly choked on her water, scrambling for a tissue to wipe her mouth. “Mom! What nonsense are you talking!”

“Aren’t you life-and-death friends? Is having a meal together too much?” Zhao Jinchu walked over and sat beside Director Lin.

Director Lin adjusted her glasses, glanced at the water droplet at the corner of Lin Zhixia’s mouth, and turned slightly away as she added, “Your aunt told me she got injured protecting you. Shouldn’t we invite her for a meal to express our gratitude?”

“Oh… oh… so that’s what you meant.” Lin Zhixia’s expression shifted repeatedly.

“Otherwise, what did you think I meant?” Zhao Jinchu leaned in with a raised eyebrow.

Lin Zhixia faltered, stammering, “W-what could I mean I just thought it was too sudden.”

She hurriedly set down her teacup, pretending to cough to cover her embarrassment. “A meal isn’t impossible. I’ll ask if she’s free.”

Director Lin fell silent for a few seconds before turning back and asking bluntly, “Are you two really not dating?”

“Mom ”

Lin Zhixia’s ears instantly burned red, her mind involuntarily flashing back to the image of Yan Huaiqing kissing her, her heartbeat suddenly racing.

“Such a big reaction seems like there’s something going on.”

Zhao Jinchu smiled meaningfully and turned to Director Lin with a sigh. “This poor kid, could it be like when I was chasing you back in the day? A secret crush?”

“Is having a secret crush being ‘poor’?”

Director Lin disagreed with her view, analyzing rigorously, “To be precise, before the relationship is clarified, both pursuing and being pursued count as a secret crush.”

“That’s true too.”

Zhao Jinchu found this reasonable and nodded leisurely. “But your Lin family has finally broken tradition at last, someone knows how to pursue others.”

Director Lin: “Not necessarily. What if the other party is pursuing her?”

Zhao Jinchu: “Yan Huaiqing pursuing her? Can you even believe that yourself?”

“…”

Lin Zhixia’s face flushed red from their back-and-forth, unable to get a word in, her chest tight with frustration.

“Are you pursuing her?” Director Lin, left speechless by the question, turned to ask the person in question.

“No! No! No ” Lin Zhixia picked up her water cup again, taking a tactical sip. “A full professor and a department director you two should just become professional gossips.”

“Then why is your face red?” Zhao Jinchu sharp-eyed, noticed her ears were bright red and nudged Director Lin’s ear to hint at her.

Catching the signal, Director Lin reached out and pinched Lin Zhixia’s earlobe. “Burning hot must be at least forty degrees.”

“Stop guessing wildly, there’s really nothing.”

Lin Zhixia found it impossible to defend herself, dodging Director Lin’s hand as she prepared to stand and return to her bedroom. “I’m going to sleep.”

“How severe are her injuries?” Director Lin knew when to stop and changed the subject. “Should we ask an orthopedic colleague to examine her?”

“A minor fracture in her right shoulder.” Lin Zhixia sat back on the sofa, gesturing a two-centimeter length with her hand. “A tiny crack, about this long. How serious is that?”

“It’s not serious.”

Director Lin adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses carrying a hint of meaning. “But you need to take good care of it. Otherwise, when you get older, your shoulder will ache whenever it’s cloudy or rainy.”

Lin Zhixia grew anxious and leaned closer. “Then how should I take care of it to avoid any aftereffects?”

“I have experience with this,” Zhao Jinchu chimed in, leaning in to look at her. “Be shameless and show meticulous care that works best.”

“Cut it out, don’t make things messy.” Lin Zhixia ignored her and turned back to Director Lin.

“You need to rest properly, preferably doing nothing at all. Make sure your daily routine is taken care of and well-arranged. Increase your intake of protein and calcium, and the bone should heal within half a month.”

Lin Zhixia nodded thoughtfully.

Director Lin glanced at her, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “In your novels, situations like this usually call for repaying a favor. Are you planning to move in and take care of her?”

Zhao Jinchu hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn and couldn’t help but laugh out loud beside them.

Lin Zhixia was utterly speechless. Without looking back, she retreated to her room to sleep.

Truth be told, Director Lin had always been quite concerned about Lin Zhixia’s love life.

From childhood to adulthood, she had never shown interest in a classmate, never harbored a crush on a teacher, and had never even mentioned liking any celebrity or idol. When it came to anything that breathed, she had never displayed the slightest bit of interest.

Yan Huaiqing was an exception.

It seemed she cared quite a bit a good sign.

The old mother felt relieved.

Back in her room, Lin Zhixia closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a long sigh.

Her phone suddenly vibrated softly. She hurriedly unlocked it only to find it was an advertisement notification.

The human heart is a strange thing. Once something takes root inside, even the slightest stir can cause it to flutter intensely, as if tugged by an invisible string and then released.

She gave a self-deprecating smile and unconsciously opened the chat window with Yan Huaiqing. Her fingers hovered over the screen, unsure of what to type.

“Is your shoulder still hurting?” she had already asked that earlier.

“My mom said she’d like to invite you over for a meal?” that seemed too forward.

She tossed her phone onto the bed as if discarding a hot potato.

Even the simplest concern or a polite invitation had to be turned over and over in her heart. This feeling was exactly like having a crush.

Outside the window, the shadows of the trees swayed gently, and moonlight seeped through, scattering into shimmering ripples on the floor.

Lin Zhixia took a deep breath, turned on the light, drew the curtains, and headed for a shower.

Standing under the showerhead, the water stream washed over her body but couldn’t wash away the images in her mind.

Yan Huaiqing tapping her palm, teaching her how to write.

Her water-soaked palm stubbornly traced the lingering tingling sensation from that slight pain. It was just an ordinary touch, yet it made her heartbeat go haywire.

Yan Huaiqing pinching her chin, drawing her eyebrows.

She remembered every sensation vividly. Her breath hitched for a moment, and she unconsciously rubbed her eyebrows, afraid that the faint trace of ink might still linger on her skin, complicating her path to love.

Yan Huaiqing grabbing her wrist, pressing on her pulse.

The sensation was like a sudden static shock in winter subtle yet distinct. She looked down at her wrist, the water sliding over it as if she could still feel the warmth of that moment.

Yan Huaiqing hugging her, spinning her around.

Though it was just a brief moment of dizziness and joy, that rare happiness lingered far too long, like a mist enveloping her entire body, making it hard to breathe.

Yan Huaiqing kissing her, breathing softly into her ear.

Lin Zhixia turned off the shower, and the sound of water abruptly ceased.

So that’s how it is.

Amid the swirling steam, she looked again at her palm, wrinkled from soaking in water, and suddenly felt something in her chest gently breaking through the surface. It carried a damp warmth, swelling faintly with every heartbeat.

If every detail of a person is annotated by your subconscious.

If every action of a person is repeatedly interpreted by you as foreshadowing.

If every emotion of a person can stir tides in your bloodstream.

Then it’s far too obvious.

Just like a shadow under moonlight, it becomes clear with just a slight glance.

There’s simply no hiding it.

It’s a crush.

No doubt about it.

This realization made her fingertips tremble slightly, her heart feeling as though it were gently cupped in someone’s palm and softly kneaded aching and swollen, yet secretly tinged with sweetness.

Drops of water fell from the showerhead.

Plip.

Just like the heartbeat of this very moment.