The General Said She Would Not Take a Wife

Chapter 47: Listening to Opera

Yun Yan was a busy woman, burdened with countless affairs at the medical clinic. If anyone else had invited her to listen to opera, the answer would have been a resounding no. But the person asking today was Lin Aoxue, and that made all the difference.

As Yun Yan saw Lin Aoxue standing at the door, her face calm and composed, she noticed the subtle tell—the hands at her sides were unconsciously clenched into fists. Yun Yan was all too familiar with this small gesture, a telltale sign of Lin Aoxue's nervousness.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she gracefully rose to her feet. Walking over to Lin Aoxue, she smiled warmly and said, "How rare for Young Master Lin to extend an invitation. Naturally, this humble girl has time to spare. If Young Master Lin would kindly wait a moment, I shall go change my attire."

Her teasing tone left Lin Aoxue scratching her head awkwardly. She stiffly muttered, "Alright," and stood motionless, unsure of what to do next. Yun Yan, exasperated but amused, walked over and lightly tugged Lin Aoxue's sleeve, whispering, "Come over here, at least."

Lin Aoxue obediently followed Yun Yan's instructions, moving to sit at the table where Yun Yan had been reading moments before.

"Sit here," Yun Yan instructed again.

Lin Aoxue nodded and complied without protest. Yun Yan could barely contain her laughter, wanting to ruffle Lin Aoxue's hair but holding herself back. After all, this was neither the time nor the place for such gestures, as others might see and gossip. Instead, she smiled softly at Lin Aoxue and stepped into the inner room to change.

As soon as Yun Yan left, Lin Aoxue's nerves began to calm slightly. Her eyes wandered around the clinic, and she quickly noticed the furtive glances from the cleaning boy and the shopkeeper flipping through account books at the counter. Whenever Lin Aoxue's gaze met theirs, they would hurriedly look away, pretending to be focused on their work.

Lin Aoxue straightened her posture and pretended not to notice their curiosity, sitting upright and waiting for Yun Yan. While waiting, she picked up the medical text Yun Yan had left on the table and flipped through it. The content was dense and filled with complex terminology that Lin Aoxue could not make heads or tails of, yet a faint smile crept onto her face. Her eyes lingered on the neat, elegant handwriting in the margins, the delicate brushstrokes betraying Yun Yan's meticulous nature.

"Yan'er is so talented. Even her handwriting is this exquisite," Lin Aoxue thought to herself, a proud smile curling at her lips.

Yun Yan didn't make her wait long. Before Lin Aoxue could lose herself in her thoughts, she heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching from the back room. She quickly closed the book and turned to look, only to be utterly captivated when Yun Yan came into view.

Yun Yan was dressed in a pale pink gown embroidered with silver-threaded plum blossoms along the collar and sleeves. A jade pendant shaped like half a pair of mandarin ducks dangled from her waist. She wore light makeup, just enough to enhance her features, but every detail showed the care she had put into her appearance. As she approached, Lin Aoxue found herself momentarily breathless, as though Yun Yan had stepped straight out of a painting.

Lin Aoxue was stunned, her heart pounding wildly in her chest like a startled deer.

"Young Master Lin, does this attire meet with your approval?" Yun Yan asked playfully, making a graceful curtsy. Her radiant smile sent Lin Aoxue's head spinning.

Lin Aoxue swallowed hard, tearing her gaze away from Yun Yan with great difficulty. Her eyes fell to the floor as she struggled to regain her composure. Clearing her throat, she stammered, "Yun Yan, your beauty is unmatched. Of course, it's... it's lovely."