I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The theater was dark and quiet, save for the sound of the film playing.

Shen Qingzi leaned back against the none-too-comfortable seat as her eyelids began to heavy. Her flickering lashes finally gave up the fight and settled against her delicate skin.

She was truly exhausted.

Yesterday, she had woken up early specifically to handle Zuo Yin’s affairs at school. She had planned to catch up on sleep after returning home, but the moment she stepped out, she encountered this “little kitten,” bedraggled and miserable from the heavy rain.

Finding her clothes, tidying the guest room, worrying that the girl wouldn’t feel a sense of belonging—she had even woken up early to personally prepare breakfast for her…

It had been a long time since Shen Qingzi had cared this much for anyone.

A deep dreamscape rolled in like a thick fog. In the pitch-black night, a crescent moon hung in the sky, surrounded by withered trees and crows at dusk.

Shen Qingzi walked alone down this eerie path. At some point, her loosely curled hand was gripped firmly by someone else.

She looked to her side. Shen Yue still looked exactly as she did at fifteen, wearing a pink dress, her soft, curly long hair looking light and fluffy.

“Sister,” Shen Yue called out to her in her usual crisp, clinging voice.

A relieved smile appeared on Shen Qingzi’s face. “Xiao Yue.”

“Have you been eating well?” Shen Yue asked.

“I have,” Shen Qingzi replied.

“Did you go to Dunhuang for me?” Shen Yue asked again.

“I went this year,” Shen Qingzi answered.

“Then… who is Zuo Yin?” Shen Yue asked.

Shen Qingzi’s heart skipped a beat.

Zuo Yin was her student; Shen Qingzi knew this better than anyone. However, as she prepared to explain this relationship to Shen Yue, her throat felt as though it were blocked by something, and the words simply wouldn’t come out.

“Shen Qingzi.” This time, Shen Yue changed her tone and the way she addressed her.

Her voice turned cold.

Shen Qingzi turned to look at Shen Yue in shock, only to find that the soft, sweet face had transformed into Zuo Yin’s indifferent and defiant features.

Her pure black pupils were like the night sky above—devoid of light, a pitch-black abyss that seemed ready to swallow everything that came near.

Zuo Yin’s thin lips parted, calling out over and over: “Shen Qingzi, Shen Qingzi…”

Shen Qingzi’s heart began to beat faster and faster. In an instant, the world spun. Withered vines twisted and tangled together, constantly shrinking and closing in on her.

Suddenly, Shen Qingzi snapped her eyes open.

Her head was resting against something unknown. In her tilted field of vision, there was still the darkness of the nightmare.

“Shen Qingzi, are you awake?”

Zuo Yin’s voice came from above her head. Still shaken, Shen Qingzi looked up. A pair of dark eyes gazed at her calmly—they were much brighter than the ones in her dream.

Shen Qingzi’s vision gradually cleared. She could vaguely make out the rows of audience seats in the dim light and the “unknown thing” she was leaning against—Zuo Yin’s shoulder.

Shen Qingzi breathed a sigh of relief; she had escaped the nightmare. But soon, a sense of embarrassment washed over her. “How long was I asleep…?”

“Hmm…” Zuo Yin thought for a moment and replied seriously, “From thirty minutes after the movie started until now, when it’s almost over.”

Only then did Shen Qingzi notice the cheerful, upbeat background music playing in the theater. She looked up at Jo sprinting across the screen; the blankness in her eyes betrayed the fact that she had no idea why this girl was running.

“I’m sorry, I was a bit tired. Thank you for the shoulder,” Shen Qingzi said apologetically.

“It’s fine.” Zuo Yin shook her head. She knew it was her own “trouble” yesterday that had made Shen Qingzi so tired; lending a shoulder was only right.

Seeing Shen Qingzi still looking a bit bleary-eyed, Zuo Yin asked one more question: “Did you sleep well?”

Not really, Shen Qingzi thought. She raised her hand to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. The unique, cool scent of the young girl floated through her hair. Shen Qingzi caught a whiff of it and retracted her previous answer.

“Because I had your shoulder, I slept very well.”

Thump. Thump…

Shen Qingzi’s voice still carried the weary rasp of someone who had just woken up, its tenderness wrapping around Zuo Yin’s heart once again. It was a perfectly ordinary comment, yet Zuo Yin felt her heart race uncontrollably.

The movie soon ended, and the lights of the theater flickered on. The few scattered people stood up and left in small groups. By the time they stepped out of the cinema, it was 3:00 PM.

“Are you hungry?” Shen Qingzi asked.

Zuo Yin gauged her stomach and nodded. “A little.”

“I know a very good Western restaurant. Want to give it a try?”

“Okay,” Zuo Yin agreed readily. She didn’t actually have much interest in Western food, but she was willing to try anything Shen Qingzi suggested.

The restaurant wasn’t in this mall. Shen Qingzi drove Zuo Yin toward another, even more prosperous avenue that Zuo Yin had never visited. The towering skyscrapers were secondary; it was the historic Western-style buildings interspersed among them that gave the entire district a completely different cultural atmosphere.

Zuo Yin subconsciously touched her clothes, finally understanding why Shen Qingzi had insisted on her outfit earlier.

Shen Qingzi parked the car smoothly in front of the restaurant. Before Zuo Yin could reach for the door handle, a valet opened it for her. Though Zuo Yin felt a bit out of place, she accepted the service with composure.

“Miss Shen.” A woman wearing a narrow black skirt with her hair pinned up impeccably walked over the moment Shen Qingzi entered.

“I don’t have a reservation today,” Shen Qingzi stated.

The woman understood immediately and quickly recommended a spot: “Would this table be alright?”

Shen Qingzi didn’t make the decision alone. She turned to Zuo Yin. “What do you think?”

Zuo Yin followed the woman’s gesture to a booth that offered great privacy. A designer lamp hung right above the spot, creating a wonderful atmosphere.

“It’s fine,” Zuo Yin replied.

Once they were seated, the woman produced two menus. “The Greenland beef Miss Shen usually orders was just air-freighted in this afternoon.”

“Good.” Shen Qingzi noticed Zuo Yin’s gaze lingering on the page featuring the Greenland beef. Zuo Yin had never been to such a high-end restaurant and was completely clueless about steaks.

Shen Qingzi set down her menu and pointed to the pictures on Zuo Yin’s menu. “The Greenland cut is delicate and better suited for medium-rare—that’s three-tenths cooked. This one, however, is firmer; seven-tenths cooked brings out its texture better…”

Zuo Yin’s eyes followed Shen Qingzi’s finger. The overwhelming array of steaks suddenly seemed less of a headache.

Zuo Yin settled her gaze on the Angus. “This one.”

“Very well, Miss.” The woman noted the order. “And for you, the usual…?”

“No, I’ll have the same as her. Angus, seven-tenths.” Shen Qingzi looked at Zuo Yin again. “Would you like some dessert?”

“No need,” Zuo Yin shook her head. Even though no prices were listed, she knew a place like this would cost at least four figures.

Shen Qingzi pursed her lips, appearing slightly dissatisfied. She flipped to the dessert section. “Two orders of vanilla panna cotta and blueberry taro paste, and a pitcher of lime yogurt.”

Zuo Yin looked up, only to meet Shen Qingzi’s gaze. Beyond that dissatisfaction, the look said: Why aren’t you listening to me?

As the waitress repeated the order, Zuo Yin felt like her wallet was hemorrhaging… actually, her wallet didn’t even have the chance; it was more like a dried-up riverbed.

Why is she being so good to me? Zuo Yin wondered, stealing glances at Shen Qingzi. Shen Qingzi wasn’t like Zuo Lan, who would nag about every cent spent. She simply handed over her card and took it back, completely devoid of the “stench of money.”

“Miss Shen, what a coincidence?”

Suddenly, a man’s voice broke the peace. Zuo Yin felt her chair move. Looking up, she saw a man in a sharp suit leaning rudely against the back of her chair. He was smiling broadly at Shen Qingzi.

Shen Qingzi’s eyes swept briefly over Zuo Yin before she replied coolly, “Mr. Wang.”

“I know I’d see you at the exhibition in a couple of days, but I didn’t expect to run into you today. It’s truly my honor,” the man said, his tone dripping with flattery.

Shen Qingzi gave a polite, thin smile. “How is your father lately?”

“My father is doing very well, though he still favors my older brother as much as ever.”

“Your brother’s artistic vision is extraordinary; it’s natural he would receive more favor.” Shen Qingzi’s voice remained flat—devoid of emotion.

“Ha, true.” The man glanced at Zuo Yin. “Little sister, do you mind if I share a table with your sister?”

The moment the word “sister” left his mouth, a hostile glint flashed in Zuo Yin’s eyes. She felt like a wolf whose territory had been invaded, fur standing on end, ready to tear out the man’s throat. She detested him.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Wang, but I do mind.”

Zuo Yin was just about to refuse him, but Shen Qingzi had already beaten her to it.