I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The weather in November was turning cold. Upon receiving Shen Qingzi’s call, Zuo Yin ran out of the classroom under the watchful eyes of her classmates. The cold wind scraped against her small face, leaving a flush of red that looked like the burning clouds at the edge of the sky.

“Teacher,” Zuo Yin panted, stopping in front of Shen Qingzi’s car.

Shen Qingzi looked at the breathless girl and crooked her finger at her. “Get in.”

“Okay,” Zuo Yin replied, habitually sliding into the passenger seat.

Seeing the girl’s rare look of innocent excitement, Shen Qingzi’s mood felt lighter as well. She started the car and said, “I’m taking you to eat something delicious.”

“Aren’t you going to the celebration dinner with the others?” Zuo Yin asked, worriedly glancing at her phone where the group chat was clamoring for Shen Qingzi to treat them.

“My father is there,” Shen Qingzi explained, implying that Zuo Yin didn’t need to worry about her absence.

“Then what are we eating?”

“You’ll know when we get there,” Shen Qingzi replied, keeping it a small mystery.

The car drove toward the setting sun, weaving through the bustling city. Gradually, the wide asphalt roads turned into a two-lane highway, and finally, the car entered the mouth of an alley, stopping only when the path became too narrow to navigate.

Shen Qingzi parked the car in a marked spot, and Zuo Yin followed her out. Looking down the alley, the view was filled with low brick walls and old residential buildings. Zuo Yin found it incredible that in such a prosperous city, there was another “lost land” so similar to her own neighborhood.

“Follow me,” Shen Qingzi said, stepping into the alley that seemed so at odds with her elegant appearance.

The lane was very much like the one near Zuo Yin’s house. In the darkness, high-wattage incandescent bulbs hung in front of shops, each one brightly illuminating its small patch of the world. However, this area was more neatly renovated than Zuo Yin’s; the old buildings had been uniformly updated with grey bricks and white tiles, and small stalls were interspersed among them, giving off a retro vibe reminiscent of the late Republican era.

Shen Qingzi led Zuo Yin directly to a noodle stall. The rising white steam looked warm and inviting against the winter chill. The stall was run by an elderly couple—one in charge of boiling the noodles and preparing ingredients, the other handling the money and welcoming guests. They operated with the silent, perfect harmony of a couple who had been together for decades.

“Ah Zi is here! The usual?” A gravelly, elderly voice reached Zuo Yin’s ears.

It was the grandmother at the stall. It appeared Shen Qingzi was a regular here.

“Yes, two bowls,” Shen Qingzi replied.

Hearing this, the grandmother looked at Zuo Yin. “Ah Zi brought a friend.”

“She’s my student,” Shen Qingzi answered.

“That’s wonderful.” The grandmother looked delighted. She turned to Zuo Yin and added, “I’ve never seen Ah Zi bring a student here before. Study hard with her; you’ll be able to make a great living in the future.”

Zuo Yin didn’t know how to respond, so she simply nodded. “I will.”

Knowing Zuo Yin wasn’t one for social pleasantries, Shen Qingzi intervened. “Let’s find a seat and sit down first.”

“Okay,” Zuo Yin replied. Her gaze remained fixed on the elderly couple as she quietly scanned the surroundings. “Do you come here often?”

The shop was filled with all kinds of people: men in sharp suits, unkempt workers, flamboyantly dressed women, and people with bare faces. These were people Shen Qingzi likely wouldn’t encounter closely in her daily life, yet they were all connected by this single shop.

“Not as often anymore, but I came every day when I was little,” Shen Qingzi said. “My family used to live in this alley, but we moved away when the city was rezoned.”

When I was little.

Zuo Yin dived into the word. She couldn’t imagine that such an alley was where Shen Qingzi had grown up. Two children ran out of a nearby lane, laughing as they kicked a ball; both girls wore matching twin ponytails. One was older, one younger, their laughter ringing out like clear, crisp bells.

Had a young Shen Qingzi played like that with her sister?

The wait wasn’t long before the grandmother brought the noodles. As the steam parted, Zuo Yin saw a plump, kind-faced woman wearing comfortable coarse cloth clothes and a yellowed apron. Her aged but soft-looking hands placed two bowls steadily in front of them.

“Ah Zi hasn’t visited in a long time,” the grandmother teased gently.

“Grandmother, I won an award,” Shen Qingzi said, her eyes curving. Zuo Yin heard a rare note of pride in her voice.

The wrinkles on the old woman’s face immediately crinkled into a huge smile. “Our Ah Zi is just amazing! No wonder you came here for noodles. Wait right there, I’ll add two eggs for you!” With that, the woman walked back to the stall with a steady gait.

Zuo Yin picked up on the implication. “Do you always come back here when you win an award?”

Shen Qingzi nodded. “When I was young, my parents were busy with work. Every time I won something, Xiao Yue would drag me here to celebrate because we could get two free fried eggs.”

As Shen Qingzi spoke, Zuo Yin began to sketch a mental image of Shen Yue. The child must have been like an angel, just as Shen Qingzi had depicted in The Flower House Girl.

Looking at Shen Qingzi, Zuo Yin realized that now, there was no one left to “drag” her here to eat noodles after a victory. A secret desire climbed into Zuo Yin’s heart. She wanted to be the person who accompanied Shen Qingzi to this stall. This time, and every time after.

“Here, one for each of you.” The grandmother returned quickly with two fried eggs. “You study hard too, little girl. When you win an award, come find Grandma. I’ll add an egg for you too, free of charge.”

This kind of familial warmth was something Zuo Yin had never experienced. She had no grandmother; she had never known this specific type of elder’s affection. She looked down at the bowl. A nest of noodles sat obediently in a clear white broth, garnished with scallions and topped with a savory, marinated fried egg.

Zuo Yin’s appetite was piqued. From the bottom of her heart, she said, “Thank you, Grandma.”

“You’re welcome. Take your time. Business is good today, so I’ll head back,” the grandmother said, not forgetting to credit Shen Qingzi. “It must be the good luck our Ah Zi brought.”

Shen Qingzi smiled as she watched her leave.

“You’re very close,” Zuo Yin remarked.

“She’s like my own grandmother,” Shen Qingzi replied. Regarding her birth, which she couldn’t choose, the past was no longer a thorn in her heart she couldn’t face. “Eat up, I’m sure you’ll like it.”

The aroma filled Zuo Yin’s nose again, and she lowered her head to eat. The rich broth flowed into her heart, reminding her of the noodles she had eaten at Shen Qingzi’s house. The more she ate, the more familiar it tasted. She was about to look up and ask if Shen Qingzi had learned to cook from the old man at the stall, but she saw Shen Qingzi eating with unhurried grace.

She ate one strand at a time, her every movement elegant. Zuo Yin had never seen anyone eat a bowl of noodles with such leisure. She recalled the day they ate together at Shen Qingzi’s house; she had probably been in too much of a rush then, only remembering the soft light enveloping the woman.

Despite the different settings, the lips stained by the broth were just as alluring—glistening, moist, and plump like fruit. Zuo Yin’s heart felt a sudden “bite” of longing, and she swallowed hard.

At that moment, Shen Qingzi looked up. Zuo Yin’s heart jumped, and she quickly looked down to keep eating.

Cough, cough…

Perhaps as “punishment” for her wandering thoughts, Zuo Yin choked on the very first bite. The rich broth went up her nose, and the deliciousness couldn’t hide the stinging sensation. She coughed repeatedly, her eyes welling up with tears. With her dark hair, red lips, and the flush around her eyes, she looked incredibly pitiable and lovely.

Shen Qingzi’s heart gave a sudden throb. She froze for a second before standing up to pour a glass of water for Zuo Yin. “Slow down.”

“Thank you.” Zuo Yin took the water and gulped it down, finally easing the discomfort. She set the glass down and looked at Shen Qingzi, offering a clumsy explanation: “I… I ate a bit too fast.”

“Eat slowly, no rush,” Shen Qingzi said, her fingers tightening slightly where they had brushed against Zuo Yin’s skin while handing over the water.

Zuo Yin nodded, and for the rest of the meal, she didn’t dare steal another glance. They finished their bowls in a comfortable silence.

“Full?” Shen Qingzi asked as Zuo Yin wiped her mouth.

“Mhm.” The portions were generous; Zuo Yin was nearly stuffed.

As it was dinner time, the shop was getting crowded. Shen Qingzi stacked the bowls. “I’m going to say a few words to them. Wait for me here, we’ll leave soon.”

“Okay.” Zuo Yin rested and watched the stall. The grandmother was enthusiastic, greeting guests while serving the noodles the grandfather made. But the grandfather was old; he was hunched over, and his movements were slow. Steam rose in billows as his aged hands stirred the noodles with long-handled chopsticks. Despite the wait, people kept coming.

Then, Shen Qingzi walked into view. She stood by the grandmother, saying something with a radiant smile that made the old woman laugh heartily. It was a picture of perfect harmony. Zuo Yin felt a twinge of envy. When would she and Zuo Lan ever be like that?

Suddenly, Shen Qingzi waved at her, beckoning her over.

“Teacher,” Zuo Yin said, standing by her side.

“What a fine young girl,” the grandfather praised, looking up briefly from his work.

Uncomfortable with such warm attention, Zuo Yin was relieved when Shen Qingzi chimed in, “It’s getting crowded, so we’ll head out now.”

“Alright, drive safe!” The grandmother waved them off.

It was dark now, and the alley was lit by bright lamps. The “smoke and fire” of ordinary life swirled around them.

“Grandpa and Grandma really like you,” Shen Qingzi said from behind Zuo Yin as she reached over to open the car door for her. Her warm breath brushed against the shell of Zuo Yin’s ear and fell onto her neck. It was itchy, sending a tingle through her body.

Just then, the phone in Shen Qingzi’s bag vibrated. She motioned to Zuo Yin, then turned aside to take the call.

The moonlight was hazy, and the branches of the old plane trees trembled in the wind. Zuo Yin watched Shen Qingzi’s back. Her lips moved, but she remained silent as she sat in the car.

She wanted to ask: What about you?