Chapter 22: You Smile Like That at Others Too?

“Thwack!”

“Eleven…”

“Stand straight.”

“Thwack!”

“…”

The sound of the pointer meeting flesh echoed through the empty conference room.

Gritting her teeth, with each icy contact between the pointer and her calf’s skin, pain exploded across the surface.

Hua Qi’an’s body trembled uncontrollably.

She faced away from Lin Yanqiu, unable to see her expression now.

Nor did she know where the next strike would land— which leg, which spot.

For her, this was far worse than a simple palm slap.

“Twenty-three…”

Worse yet, Lin Yanqiu made her count them herself.

“Thwack!”

The air whistled; pain bloomed anew on her calf, her leg quivering, nearly buckling her to her knees.

But Hua Qi’an held firm.

She clenched her jaw and kept counting.

“…Twenty-nine.”

When she’d first met Lin Yanqiu, she’d played the ice queen, utterly indifferent to this adopted half-sister of hers.

But over time, under Hua Qi’an’s calculated overtures, Lin Yanqiu had eventually softened.

Until one day Hua Qi’an erred—shattering Lin Yanqiu’s cup by accident—and earned her first “punishment.”

From then on, Lin Yanqiu had spiraled into it uncontrollably.

Any misstep from Hua Qi’an, and “punishment” followed.

Hua Qi’an couldn’t tell if Lin Yanqiu truly despised her.

“…Thirty-six.”

Her voice already quavered; sensation had numbed below her knees.

Tears welled in her eyes from the pain, teetering on the brink, ready to spill.

“…Forty-three.”

“…Fifty.”

At last, it ended.

Hua Qi’an exhaled in shaky relief, her legs giving out as she sank to the floor in a kneel.

“Hiss…”

The pressure on the welts drew a sharp intake.

“Don’t sit on the ground.”

Lin Yanqiu’s voice came from above, still frosty but softened a degree.

Hua Qi’an looked up at her.

Their eyes met; Lin Yanqiu’s breath hitched for a beat.

Only then did Hua Qi’an realize the tears hovering in her eyes had long since trailed down her cheeks.

Embarrassed, she started to raise a hand to wipe them.

But Lin Yanqiu’s sharp-featured face drew close, her cool fingertips brushing Hua Qi’an’s cheek.

They skimmed her eye corner, whisking away every trace.

“Up—I’ll apply the ointment.”

After drying her face, Lin Yanqiu didn’t wipe her own hand—instead, she turned to open her bag on the desk.

Struggling to her feet, Hua Qi’an settled into the chair.

The ointment from the hospital yesterday—Lin Yanqiu had kept a tube herself.

Probably for moments like this.

Hua Qi’an glanced down at her calf: pale skin crisscrossed with angry red welts.

They looked ghastly.

Still stinging hot.

Yet somehow, that burn crept upward from her leg, flushing her face.

Hua Qi’an’s cheeks warmed inexplicably.

Her gaze wandered the floor.

“Lean over the backrest—bare your calf.”

Hua Qi’an complied, kneeling on the seat cushion, forehead resting atop the chairback.

This way, it’d be easier for Lin Yanqiu to tend.

Staring at the welts on Hua Qi’an’s leg, Lin Yanqiu drew a deep breath.

As if reining in some inner turmoil.

She squeezed ointment onto the calf, spreading it evenly.

The scent filled the air; Hua Qi’an willed herself not to dwell on the sensation in her leg.

But it was hard.

The fiery skin met cool salve in a strange alchemy; Lin Yanqiu’s rubbing hand added an itchy tingle.

“Behave, and you wouldn’t need this.”

Lin Yanqiu murmured while applying.

“Got it—no more remote, dangerous spots?”

Hua Qi’an mumbled a muffled “Mm.”

She’d still go.

But next time, better prepped.

Hua Qi’an suddenly recalled her plan to buy a new phone.

She’d handle it tomorrow or the day after.

At least a fresh device would blind Lin Yanqiu’s tracking for a bit.

Even knowing she’d tampered with her phone, Hua Qi’an couldn’t confront her outright.

When had Lin Yanqiu started monitoring her whereabouts…?

But this time, she’d laid it bare for the first time.

Hua Qi’an recalled past fainting spells mid-task—maybe that’s when it began?

She couldn’t deny Lin Yanqiu’s concern for her safety.

This punishment stemmed from her genuine mistake.

Since her health stabilized, she hadn’t fainted in ages.

So she’d let her guard slip—collapsing alone in that remote house.

“Hiss…”

Pain made Hua Qi’an flinch and gasp, instinctively drawing her leg back.

Lin Yanqiu’s hand clamped her ankle, holding firm.

Gazing at the slender ankle in her grasp—veins tracing pale skin, fragile as if one squeeze would snap it…

Lin Yanqiu pressed her lips thin.

“Almost done.”

Even as she said it, she didn’t quicken—still languidly massaging the salve into Hua Qi’an’s calf.

Hua Qi’an could only endure the oddness.

“This your first time seeing me teach?”

Lin Yanqiu’s voice drifted from behind, gentler now.

“Didn’t scare you?”

She seemed in decent spirits.

Hua Qi’an shook her head.

“It’s fine—I’ve long known your temperament, Sister.”

A non-scary Lin Yanqiu in class? Unthinkable.

“I picked it just to see you at work…”

She twisted back, smiling at Lin Yanqiu.

Lin Yanqiu merely glanced, then returned to the leg, hand never pausing.

“Heh… If you want me working, class is one way?”

“There’s another you’ll never see.”

Hua Qi’an arched a brow, noncommittal.

Her “wanting to see you at work” was a fib anyway.

She’d landed here purely from the auto-assign after missing the grab.

So, Lin Yanqiu in other roles? Unlikely she’d witness.

Plus, pondering how a med school prof taught “Evidence Law”…

“Don’t tease, Sister…”

Hua Qi’an murmured softly.

Lin Yanqiu finally released her ankle.

“All done.”

“Hope it sticks this time.”

She regarded Hua Qi’an.

“Plans tonight?”

“I can take you to dinner.”

Hua Qi’an hesitated, shaking her head—she was free evenings.

“But…”

Doubts lingered.

Lin Yanqiu knew why; her lips quirked.

“Relax—this one’s on me.”

“Won’t hit your tab.”

At that, Hua Qi’an’s tension eased; a genuine smile broke through.

Her eyes crinkled at Lin Yanqiu, the usual frost in her gaze melting to reveal gentle depths, like thawed lake waters.

“Alright—tonight’s all yours, then.”

With Lin Yanqiu offering, refusing would be rude.

She’d graciously accept.

But as she looked at Lin Yanqiu, the ease faded; she now stared at Hua Qi’an’s face, brow furrowed in faint puzzlement.

“…You smile like that at others too?”

Hearing it, Hua Qi’an’s smile slowly faded, as if not grasping the question.

“What’s wrong?”

Her lips curved up again; she touched her cheek.

The prior expression seemed illusory.

Lin Yanqiu fell silent a beat.

“Nothing.”

She glanced at the door.

“Pack up—we’ll head out. I’ll drive for dinner.”

Hua Qi’an caught the mood souring again.

But why, she couldn’t say.

Lin Yanqiu remained too unpredictable.

…

By dinner’s end and the return to campus, night had fallen.

“Crap—I left my pen in the classroom.”

Hua Qi’an rubbed her temple, turning toward the academic building.

Hangyang had no mandatory study halls, so evenings, classrooms stayed unlit—only motion-sensor hall lights flickered.

Just a pen, but if she could retrieve it, better; if not, oh well…

At the elective room’s door, as expected: dark inside.

Hua Qi’an entered through the front, scanning.

“Gah!”

She yelped instinctively, jolting.

In the pitch-black center sat a figure.

Hua Qi’an’s noise didn’t stir it.

She recognized the spot.

Her seat from class—right behind, where Chen Zhiyan had been.

“Click.”

She flicked on the podium lamp.

It stuttered, then steadied—though half the room stayed shadowed.

Enough to make out the front.

Hua Qi’an confirmed the silhouette.

“Chen Zhiyan?”

She recalled the outfit from today.

This had to be her.

Recalling the delivery for her roommate—thinking it impossible now, yet here she was.

Might as well hand it off.

Hua Qi’an approached her old seat, fishing the forgotten pen from the drawer.

She turned to Chen Zhiyan here.

The figure sat motionless, head bowed.

Long hair veiled her face from view.

On the desk before her: a red vanity mirror.