Zhou Qishen choked on his own words, then clenched his right fist and pressed it against his lips to suppress a cough.
He lowered his gaze and naturally missed Zhao Xiyin's expression for that fleeting moment. A faint smile played on her lips, a small curve appearing and disappearing in an instant.
As we left the auditorium, the sun was setting, leaving only a faint glimmer of twilight in the gaps between the magnificent buildings.
The two stood two steps apart, one in front of the other. Zhao Xiyin's slender figure, from this angle, seemed to be bathed in light, her white dress tinged with a faint gold. A summer night breeze carried the lingering heat of the night. He remembered a similar summer evening, their honeymoon in Bali, Zhao Xiyin playing in the waves, laughing like a flower, when suddenly she turned around, her right hand forming a gun gesture, and fired at him, "Brother Zhou!"
That single-minded smile, brimming with adoration like a tidal wave, was reserved solely for him.
As Zhou Qishen watched her retreating figure, a sharp pain shot through his heart.
"Xiyin." He quickly caught up with her and said calmly, "I'll take you somewhere."
In the car, her phone kept ringing—from Ding Yahe, from Dai Yunxin. The constant ringing made her palms numb. At a red light, Zhou Qishen pulled the handbrake, then walked across the center console, snatched her phone, and quickly turned it off.
He returned the phone, saying, "I need some peace and quiet."
Zhao Xiyin was stunned for a moment, then smiled. Her smile put Zhou Qishen at ease.
The road looked familiar. Zhao Xiyin asked, "Where are we going?"
Zhou Qishen didn't answer. After passing two traffic lights, he parked the car in the underground parking garage and then took her up the elevator to the top floor. The new buildings in Beijing were becoming more and more magnificent and bright, but Zhao Xiyin was still overwhelmed by the opulent grandeur of this shopping mall.
Zhou Qishen, familiar with the area, led her to the innermost part. Zhao Xiyin's feelings were complicated upon seeing it. The words "Sealed-Off Haunted House" hung at the top, and the simple entrance decoration actually enhanced the eerie atmosphere.
The themed pavilion was newly opened, and there weren't many customers at the moment. Zhao Xiyin hesitated for a moment, then turned to ask, "Do you want to go in?"
Zhou Qishen repeated his previous statement: "I'll stay with you."
He had always known that Zhao Xiyin enjoyed these kinds of activities. Everyone has hobbies; some are obsessed with card games, while others love leisurely strolls by lakes and seas—aren't they all just looking for a little bit of fun?
Zhao Xiyin pursed her lips, her eyes brightening slightly. She tilted her head and looked into his eyes. "Think it over."
The haunted house was truly realistic and frightening, a replica of a hospital with top-notch set design. Even Zhao Xiyin was covered in a thin layer of sweat after she came out. She let out a soft breath and turned around.
Zhou Qishen's forehead was slightly damp as he raised his hand to loosen the collar of his shirt.
Caught red-handed, he froze for a moment, then gave a helpless smile. Zhao Xiyin couldn't help but chuckle as well. Back in the car, night had completely fallen. Zhao Xiyin leaned back in her seat, her fingers resting on the windowsill, tapping them lightly in a relaxed and contented manner.
Zhou Qishen asked, "Are you feeling better?"
Zhao Xiyin withdrew her hand and subconsciously sat up straighter.
Zhou Qishen was focused on driving and didn't notice her subtle change. He only said, "Don't think too much about other things. Whether you dance or not is your own business, and how you choose to live your life is also your own business. No one can make decisions for you."
Zhao Xiyin nodded and gave a very soft "hmm".
"Teacher Dai's intentions are good. You've had a teacher-student relationship with her for so many years, you understand it better than I do. She's doing this for your own good, it's genuine. Don't let this cause resentment or estrangement, it's not worth it." Zhou Qishen's profile was bathed in soft light and shadow, his voice was low, steady, and clear, with a comforting strength.
Zhao Xiyin's throat tightened. "I know."
After turning right at two intersections, we arrived at her residential complex. Zhou Qishen slowed down and asked her, "Do you want me to take you inside?"
Zhao Xiyin was distracted and didn't answer immediately.
Zhou Qishen then stopped at the roadside. "Let's stay here then. Drive carefully."
As Zhao Xiyin got out of the car, she heard Zhou Qishen call her, "Xiao west."
She turned around.
The car window rolled down, and his profile was illuminated by the light, highlighting his sharp features and affectionate gaze. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Zhou Qishen calmly said, "It's nothing, let's go back."
When Zhao Xiyin arrived home, Zhao Wenchun was writing something at his desk.
She went closer and took a look, then laughed, "Teacher Zhao is practicing calligraphy."
Zhao Wenchun raised an eyebrow, quite pleased with himself. "How's it written?"
Teacher Zhao's running script is superb, with a flexible style that combines both strength and soul. Zhao Xiyin looked at it from left to right, "The calligraphy is alright, but this poem doesn't suit your taste."
"An old steed in its stall may still aspire to gallop a thousand miles," but Teacher Zhao is just being sentimental and worrying unnecessarily.
Zhao Xiyin was good at coaxing people. She put her arm around her father's shoulder and said earnestly, "Don't think nonsense. You're not that old yet. Besides, if you really had grand ambitions, you would have achieved them when you were young. You've lived most of your life comfortably without causing trouble for others. That's a great blessing and a great deed. Teacher Zhao is the best. Teacher Zhao is my idol."
Zhao Wenchun's eye wrinkles bulged with laughter. There was nothing he could do; he simply couldn't handle his own daughter. You know, she just talks nonsense and wildly imaginative things, yet she always manages to touch people's hearts.
Zhao Xiyin accepted his calligraphy and spread out the Xuan paper again. Her back was straight, her figure graceful, and she held the brush and ground the ink with an air of elegance. True beauty lies in both bone and skin; Zhao Xiyin's gentle nature was something she learned from her father. Having danced for twenty years, she inevitably faced challenges in her craft. Only those who have experienced it truly understand how important it is to have a guiding light, a spark of warmth, and a corner of freedom within one's heart.
Zhao Wenchun became interested and wanted to know what his daughter would write.
He also taught Zhao Xiyin her running script; it was proper and unrefined, not enough to fool experts, but it would impress most people. She put pen to paper, completing the work in one go—
I want to eat Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste).
Zhao Wenchun laughed out loud and patted her hand, "Naughty."
After tidying up her writing materials, Zhao Xiyin slipped into the kitchen and, watching Zhao Wenchun chopping seasonings, suddenly asked, "Dad, I haven't had a proper job for the past few years. Do you feel ashamed?"
Zhao Wenchun's knife work was neat and precise, and he didn't even look up. "I haven't thought about this."
Zhao Xiyin clicked her tongue. "Tell the truth."
Zhao Wenchun laughed and said, "Before you got married, you and Li Ran ran an online store, and your income was higher than mine. After you got married, your husband didn't say a word, and he has even less to do with me. Shameful? What's shameful about it? I think it's fine."
Zhao Xiyin felt a mix of warmth and bitterness in her heart. Over the years, she had never asked her father, or perhaps she dared not ask. For such a peaceful and composed person to express disappointment was truly heartbreaking. In the warm yellow light, Zhao Wenchun's features seemed even thinner. His prime had passed, life was declining, and no one could stop the process of a loved one growing old.
When Zhao Xiyin spoke again, her voice was slightly choked, "Dad, what if I said I wanted to try it?"