The Night is Called Gentle - Chapter 6

Don’t you need to explain something?

Yan Huaiqing said he’d choose these three photos, and Lin Zhixia’s mind exploded with shock, as if struck by lightning.

Wasn’t he going to look further? This kind of plot? A golden finger? Had the overwhelming protagonist halo finally landed on her?

No matter how much she tried to stay composed, she couldn’t help feeling a bit unsettled. Her eyes widened as she stared blankly at the person beside her.

“Continue.” Yan Huaiqing stared at the screen, showing no intention of explaining.

??!

“What’s this, some kind of domineering CEO and assistant drama? And right in front of me!”

Su Wangyue scanned the two of them and raised her voice to ask, “Don’t you plan to explain anything to me?”

Every word was emphasized.

However, her voice was so gentle that it didn’t feel oppressive at all.

Jiang Jing shrank her shoulders and glanced at Su Wangyue, wanting to explain, but she only opened her mouth without saying anything. Instead, she turned to the other side, looking first at Yan Huaiqing and then at Lin Zhixia. Her inner monologue was probably: “Only a fool would miss out on watching this drama.”

Lin Zhixia was also curious, her gaze fixed dully on the screen as she waited for Yan Huaiqing to explain.

But Yan Huaiqing showed no intention of speaking. First, she raised one hand and rested it on her other forearm, then slowly turned to look at Lin Zhixia, who was standing slightly behind her. Her index finger tapped lightly, calm and composed, as if lost in another world.

Su Wangyue’s gaze followed, and soon, everyone’s attention was focused on Lin Zhixia.

Feeling the weight of everyone’s stares, Lin Zhixia’s scalp tightened. Only when she saw Yan Huaiqing’s finger tap twice on her forearm did she realize that everyone was waiting for her to explain.

She opened her mouth and slowly began, “This turning and sleeve-fluttering movement may seem effortless, but it carries a lot of tension exactly the dynamic sense you mentioned earlier. Moreover, it echoes the movement in the photo of Teacher Su kicking her leg.”

After speaking, she paused for a moment, aware that her wording was far from professional.

But no one responded.

Uh, she added, “As for the photo with the eyes closed, facing the sky, the scene and composition are tragically beautiful. I remember the rehearsal plot involved a long solo. After the character’s self-interrogation, she suddenly kneels, slowly raises her head, and closes her eyes either accepting fate or questioning it. It’s very thought-provoking.”

“The one with the tear at the corner of the eye needs no explanation.” Because it was simply too beautiful.

After finishing, Lin Zhixia added two more words: “That’s all.”

Since no one responded, she might as well wrap it up neatly. After speaking, she sat quietly, meek as a little quail.

The first to respond was Jiang Jing, who nodded at the screen in agreement.

Lin Zhixia breathed a sigh of relief. Even though her top 250 picks weren’t chosen, she didn’t hold a grudge.

“The last photo was a great choice beautiful and eye-catching. As for the first two, after your explanation, they make a lot of sense too,” Su Wangyue murmured, cupping her face in her hands. Still in her stage costume, she nestled beside Yan Huaiqing, looking utterly adorable.

“I think the sleeve-fluttering photo was an excellent choice. Paired with Teacher Su’s kick photo, doesn’t it feel like fate?” an actor behind them remarked, pointing at the screen.

Jiang Jing quickly moved the mouse, pulling up the previously annotated photo and placing the two side by side.

“It really does. Looking at these two photos back-to-back, the sense of fate is overwhelming, and there’s even a touch of tragic beauty in it,” another actor nodded, gazing at the screen.

Jiang Jing was quite obliging. He clicked the mouse to bring up the photo of the girl with closed eyes and upturned face, saying earnestly, “This one, out of all the photos I took today, has the most soul.”

Soul? Where could that be seen?

Su Wangyue examined the photo carefully but couldn’t find it.

However, she turned to look at Yan Huaiqing and Lin Zhixia in turn and remarked, “Hey, Ah Yan, don’t you think this girl is quite similar to you? Instead of choosing the most flattering and prettiest shots, she picks ones with meaning and significance. Don’t you two share some kind of connection? At any rate, you’re quite different from the rest of us.”

“What, are you jealous that they’re alike?” The actor behind Su Wangyue teased while massaging her shoulders.

“Isn’t she always jealous, anytime, anywhere, of anyone? Whether it’s genuine or fake, we can’t really tell,” another actor chimed in.

“Better not say such things carelessly, or their CP fans might teach you a lesson,” they all chattered on, one after another.

Lin Zhixia’s gaze remained fixed on the screen, but her peripheral vision was taking in Yan Huaiqing’s reaction. When Su Wangyue said she resembled Yan Huaiqing, she felt a flicker of pride.

Yet Yan Huaiqing remained silent, offering no response or reaction.

In truth, when Jiang Jing pulled up those three photos, she was somewhat surprised.

The girl beside her, blinking her eyes without a word, had taken only two seconds to select three photos out of forty-seven, without even asking to preview them all.

One showcased basic skills, one captured the character’s psychology, and one was a close-up of the actor, covering wide shots, medium shots, and close-ups. Each was chosen with precision, and together they formed a complete set.

Did she really not understand theater? Could she really have no suggestions after watching the rehearsal?

Beyond surprise, Yan Huaiqing also felt curious, but she merely lowered her gaze and listened to how Lin Zhixia would explain her choices.

When Lin Zhixia finished her explanation, and the others either praised or agreed, Yan Huaiqing responded in a calm tone, “It’s a very complete set of photos, each one chosen well.”

Still, Lin Zhixia detected approval and support in her tone and smiled knowingly, continuing to sit quietly like a little quail.

By the time the photos were selected, it was already past eight in the evening. Su Wangyue suggested they all have dinner together, but Yan Huaiqing shook her head and glanced toward the two people sitting by the door.

They were the lighting technicians, who had been waiting at the door while the photos were being chosen, apparently to discuss replacing a follow spotlight.

“Sorry, I have something to attend to. Let’s have dinner together another time,” she said, turning to Jiang Jing and Lin Zhixia, as Lin Zhixia was the only one present who wasn’t a close acquaintance and had come with Jiang Jing.

“No problem, the play comes first. Don’t let it delay the progress,” Jiang Jing replied while packing his camera and laptop bag.

“Of course, Teacher Yan, please go ahead with your work,” Lin Zhixia added promptly. After a moment, she looked at Yan Huaiqing’s thin cashmere sweater and added with concern, “Teacher Yan, it’s quite chilly tonight. You should put on a coat before you go.”

Yan Huaiqing smiled and gently patted her arm. “Alright. Feel free to come by often. You don’t need to give suggestions just visiting is fine too.”

Her tone was warm and friendly, and Lin Zhixia nodded in response.

“Busy, everyone’s busy. Being busy is good, ahem, ahem…” Su Wangyue hunched over, one hand on her waist and the other on the table, imitating an old woman’s voice and wobbling with each step.

An actor is truly an actor. She imitated it so vividly that she had everyone roaring with laughter.

Yan Huaiqing shook his head helplessly, gave her a firm pat on the back, and then headed to the stage with the lighting technician.

After saying their goodbyes, Lin Zhixia followed Jiang Jing to the parking lot. It wasn’t too late yet, so after a brief discussion, the two decided to head to Li’s Eatery for another meal.

With a low growl, the car eagerly sped out of the garage, like a boat drifting through the sea of city lights.