My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 41 - Do You Need Me to Call You Teacher?

The atmosphere in the club gradually calmed down, leaving only the soft murmurs of Tang Huaijin and Xia Xinya discussing problems.

Bai Yuerou had been reading for a while when she suddenly seemed to remember something. She closed the book she had barely started and looked at Teacher Shen. “Teacher Shen, did you get the calligraphy piece Huaijin wrote last time framed?”

Shen Yiqiu’s fingers, which were flipping through a book, paused slightly. She looked up, her expression calm. “Not yet. I found a very reliable master to frame it, but it’s a meticulous process.”

Bai Yuerou nodded in understanding, though a hint of disappointment crossed her face as she glanced at a blank wall in the room. “I was hoping to hang it on that wall. Oh well, I guess we’ll have to wait until next week.”

Shen Yiqiu frowned slightly and said in a soft voice, “Why not just have Tang Huaijin write another one? Besides, the content of that piece isn’t exactly suitable for the reading club.”

“Yes, yes, let him write another one!” Xia Xinya chimed in enthusiastically, pursing her lips. She was well aware that the previous piece had been a jab at her, and she certainly didn’t want it displayed in the club as a constant reminder of her embarrassment.

Bai Yuerou found the suggestion reasonable and turned to Tang Huaijin with a questioning look.

Tang Huaijin sighed. “But we don’t have any paper or brushes in the club. I’d have to borrow some from the calligraphy club.”

“I’ll go!” Lin Ruoxi volunteered eagerly. It had been a long time since she’d seen Tang Huaijin write with a brush, and she was secretly looking forward to it.

Tang Huaijin frowned, for some reason unwilling to let Lin Ruoxi go and deal with a group of burly guys. He waved her off. “You stay put. I’ll go.”

At the calligraphy club, Tang Huaijin explained his purpose to the burly president, Zheng Hua. Zheng Hua, ever the generous type, not only gave him a full set of tools and plenty of Xuan paper but also suggested coming to the reading club to watch him write.

Tang Huaijin shook his head and declined. He explained that the reading club was full of girls and that their towering physiques might scare them. He promised to write a piece for them later instead.

Zheng Hua didn’t mind and even gave Tang Huaijin a knowing wink and a thumbs-up.

Back at the reading club, Tang Huaijin laid out the paper. Just as Shen Yiqiu was about to roll up her sleeves to help grind the ink, Lin Ruoxi naturally stepped in and began grinding the ink herself. Shen Yiqiu’s brows twitched as her gaze involuntarily lingered on Lin Ruoxi.

Tang Huaijin didn’t notice any of this. When he saw Lin Ruoxi grinding ink for him, a flicker of nostalgia crossed his eyes.

Once the ink was ready, Tang Huaijin paused briefly to think. He glanced at Xia Xinya before letting his brush flow freely across the paper.

The characters he wrote were “Heaven rewards the diligent,” a phrase perfectly suited for a study. Having noticed Xia Xinya’s recent efforts, he decided to write this piece as a gesture of appreciation for her earlier help in defusing the situation.

The running script¹ was as elegant and unrestrained as ever. The strokes were fluid and dynamic, exuding a majestic energy. It was yet another masterpiece.

Tang Huaijin was quite satisfied. Whenever he wrote with genuine emotion, his work seemed to carry a unique sense of depth.

The girls watched intently as he completed the piece with effortless grace. After admiring it for a moment, their expressions varied.

Shen Yiqiu’s face remained composed, but her eyes reflected pure admiration and approval.

Bai Yuerou, on the other hand, looked at the calligraphy and then at Tang Huaijin with a face full of awe. “That’s amazing!” she exclaimed sincerely.

Lin Ruoxi, however, didn’t focus on the calligraphy. She gazed at Tang Huaijin’s face with a hint of longing. She had seen his work countless times before, but what she truly missed was the feeling of grinding ink for him while he painted the world with his brush.

Xia Xinya stared at the calligraphy for a while, then turned to Tang Huaijin with a look of delight. Though she wasn’t well-versed in calligraphy, she could tell the work was exceptional. She understood the meaning of “Heaven rewards the diligent” and couldn’t help but wonder if it was meant for her.

Once the ink had dried, Shen Yiqiu stepped forward, ready to take the piece. “A work like this deserves to be properly mounted,” she said.

But Bai Yuerou was quicker, pressing her hand gently on the paper. She smiled at Shen Yiqiu and said, “Teacher, let me handle it. Since it’s going to be displayed in the club, it doesn’t need to be overly elaborate. My father has plenty of friends who can help with this.”

Shen Yiqiu gave Bai Yuerou a measured look, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Alright then,” she replied.

Xia Xinya turned to Tang Huaijin, her face glowing with excitement. “Tang Huaijin, this calligraphy-did you write it for me?”

Tang Huaijin glanced briefly at Lin Ruoxi before smiling. “Yes, I did. Seeing how hard you’ve been studying, I felt inspired. Besides, this piece fits perfectly with the atmosphere of our club.” He thought to himself, If Ruoxi weren’t here, I’d definitely tease you for being so self-absorbed.

Hearing that the piece was a compliment to her, Xia Xinya was overjoyed. She circled the calligraphy, muttering praises to herself. “Even though Tang Huaijin isn’t much of a person, his calligraphy is undeniably impressive. Hmm, it’s worthy of someone like me.”

Tang Huaijin rolled his eyes in exasperation as he listened to her endless praise without her being able to articulate what exactly she liked about the piece.

Lin Ruoxi, on the other hand, scoffed quietly, her lips curling in disdain. She silently chastised herself for ever getting upset with someone as clueless as Xia Xinya.

Bai Yuerou couldn’t help but laugh, her laughter light and melodic. She patted Xia Xinya on the shoulder and said, “Alright, stop showing off. Let me put this away. Doesn’t Tang Huaijin still need to write another piece for the calligraphy club?”

Once Bai Yuerou had carefully stored the calligraphy work, Tang Huaijin quickly penned a casual piece for the calligraphy club. Just as he was about to pack up the materials, Shen Yiqiu stepped forward, picking up the inkstone. Tang Huaijin was taken aback by the gesture. “Teacher Shen, no need. I can handle it.”

Shen Yiqiu glanced at Tang Huaijin, then casually poured the remaining ink into the trash. “This ink was ground too thick,” she said coolly. “I noticed you were struggling to let your brush flow freely. Why didn’t you mention it?”

“???” Tang Huaijin’s brow twitched. It was true that Lin Ruoxi’s ink grinding wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t so bad as to hinder his writing. Shen Yiqiu’s comment was clearly an exaggeration. He noticed Lin Ruoxi’s face darken at the remark and immediately realized the situation could escalate. The last thing he wanted was to upset her.

Back when they were together, Tang Huaijin had always treated Lin Ruoxi with the utmost care, never once blaming her for anything, even minor faults. As a result, her ink-grinding skills weren’t particularly refined. Considering how long it had been since she last did it, her effort today was already commendable.

Thinking quickly, Tang Huaijin chuckled and said, “Teacher Shen, please don’t judge us students with the critical eye of the calligraphy association’s president.”

Shen Yiqiu’s expression remained unchanged. She picked up the ink and began grinding it anew on the inkstone. “A true teacher learns from those who excel,” she said. “Your running script surpasses mine by far.”

After grinding the ink, she carefully laid a fresh sheet of Xuan paper for Tang Huaijin. While rinsing the writing brush, she spoke with a calm yet deliberate tone, “According to my family’s traditions, I should offer you a cup of tea as a gesture of respect. But given our… unique relationship, let’s simplify things a bit.”

Once the brush was rinsed, she held it with both hands, slightly bowed, and said, “Please teach me running script.”

Tang Huaijin felt his hair stand on end. His father was a master calligrapher, so he was well aware of the formalities involved in such a request. Quickly, he reached out to steady Shen Yiqiu’s hands, flustered by her solemnity. “Teacher, there’s no need for such formality. ‘Teach’ is too strong a word. We can just exchange ideas.”

Taking the brush from her hands, he asked, “What would you like to learn?”

Her expression remained composed as she replied, “Just guide me through it once.”

Hearing this, Tang Huaijin hesitated. Guiding her through it would mean holding her hand and leading her to write an entire piece.

Noticing his hesitation, Shen Yiqiu remarked, “What, you’re unwilling to teach me? Or do I need to call you ‘Teacher’ instead?”

That statement broke through his defenses instantly. Waving his hands in surrender, he said, “No, no, that’s not it at all. Alright, let’s do this.”

Satisfied, Shen Yiqiu nodded and stepped up to the desk. She dipped the brush in the ink, then looked at Tang Huaijin expectantly.

After a moment of internal struggle, Tang Huaijin finally moved closer. Standing to her left, he carefully took her hand in his, maintaining a respectful distance of about a fist’s width between them. As he guided her hand across the paper, he couldn’t help but notice the faint, elegant fragrance wafting from her hair. It was pleasant, but her serious demeanor reminded him to stay focused. He concentrated fully on teaching her.

Shen Yiqiu’s expression was one of intense focus. After guiding her through a few characters, Tang Huaijin realized she had a solid foundation in regular script², evident from her precise strokes. However, her running script lacked the fluidity it required. Patiently, he began to explain.

“Running script emphasizes grace and flow. To master it, I even practiced cursive script³ for a while, just to capture that fleeting sense of inspiration.”

“Your hand is too stiff, Teacher. You’re still stuck in the mindset of regular script-too rigid, not free enough.”

After leading her through a few more characters, Shen Yiqiu suddenly leaned slightly to the side, as if fatigued. Her movement was subtle but enough for her to brush against Tang Huaijin. The soft, smooth sensation against his thigh was fleeting but unmistakable, causing his hand, which was guiding hers, to falter. The brush left an unintended blot of ink on the Xuan paper.

The touch of her form-fitting black skirt against his leg sent a wave of warmth through him, momentarily scattering his thoughts. His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily.

Shen Yiqiu, however, seemed entirely unaware. Without a change in her stoic expression, she shifted her weight slightly, her soft curves brushing against his leg again. The faint friction made his breathing grow heavier. His hand, still holding hers, froze momentarily, leaving another ink blot on the paper.

Her face remained impassive, but a faint blush began to creep up her otherwise pale neck. Her fingers, gripping the brush, turned slightly white from the tension. Finally, she stepped aside, putting some distance between them. Her voice, slightly unsteady, broke the silence. “That’s enough for now. I’ll practice on my own.”

Tang Huaijin quickly released her delicate hand, realizing his palm had grown slightly damp during the brief interaction.

Shen Yiqiu’s movements were discreet. The other girls, who had initially watched out of curiosity, soon lost interest and returned to their own calligraphy practice on the sofa. None of them seemed to notice what had just transpired-except for Bai Yuerou, who cast a slightly puzzled glance in Shen Yiqiu’s direction.

Tang Huaijin returned to the sofa, his expression a touch unnatural as he sipped his tea.

Shen Yiqiu, on the other hand, stood with her back to the group, as if still engrossed in her calligraphy. Her right hand, however, had long since abandoned the brush and was now braced against the desk for support.

If anyone had walked around to face her at that moment, they would have easily noticed the faint but striking flush of crimson spreading across her otherwise icy, stoic face-a vivid, almost otherworldly hue of alluring vulnerability.

Footnote:

1. Running Script(行书):Running script is a semi-cursive Chinese calligraphy style renowned for its fluid grace and rhythmic vitality. Unlike rigid regular script, it allows personalized expression through dynamic brushstrokes that balance structure and spontaneity.
2. Regular Script(楷书):Regular script is the most standardized form of Chinese calligraphy, known for its balanced structure and clear, methodical strokes. Often used in official documents and printing, it embodies precision and discipline, serving as the foundation for learners. Its beauty lies in the harmony of proportion and stability, like architectural typography in ink.
3. Cursive Script(草书):Cursive script is the most abstract and expressive calligraphy style, where strokes dissolve into fluid, almost dance-like gestures. Prioritizing speed and emotion over legibility, it ranges from semi-cursive (行书) to wildly unrestrained “wild cursive” (狂草).