I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The voices of the crowd gradually faded away, leaving Zuo Yin standing frozen as a biting chill seeped into her bones.

Seeing the phone in Zhou Lin’s hand, she was certain it was Shen Qingzi’s, but she couldn’t fathom why Zhou Lin had it. And this was a hospital. A terrible premonition bloomed in her heart. She watched Zhou Lin finish her conversation with the doctor and head toward the elevators; Zuo Yin quickly followed.

Zhou Lin glanced down at the two missed calls on the screen and swiped them away. Stepping into the elevator, she composed herself, erasing this small interloper from a place where Shen Qingzi couldn’t see.

The elevator doors began to slide shut, only to be forced open by a pair of hands.

“Sorry,” Zuo Yin said. She squeezed in just as the elevator neared its capacity, positioning herself right next to Zhou Lin.

“What a coincidence,” Zuo Yin said.

“Indeed,” Zhou Lin replied, feigning calm.

“Is Teacher in the hospital?” Zuo Yin didn’t like talking in circles. She went straight to the point.

Zhou Lin’s heart, which had already skipped a beat, began to pound. She didn’t know how Zuo Yin had found out, and she certainly didn’t want to tell her. “Yes.”

Zuo Yin’s nerves tightened instantly. “What happened to her?”

Zhou Lin answered coldly, “Qingzi has a fever.”

If Zhou Lin hadn’t gone to Shen Qingzi’s house yesterday morning, she wouldn’t have known her friend had collapsed into such a state. She had found Shen Qingzi slumped on the sofa in a thin dress, the balcony door slightly ajar, letting the cold wind strip the room of its warmth. Zhou Lin didn’t understand it; Shen Qingzi was usually so careful because of her fragile health.

“When did this happen?” Zuo Yin stared at Zhou Lin, swallowing the accusation of ‘Why didn’t I know?’ Did she even have the right to be notified anymore?

“Last night. A high fever of 39°C (102.2°F),” Zhou Lin said, her expression darkening. She looked at Zuo Yin, sensing that this had everything to do with her.

Zuo Yin’s brow furrowed. “Take me to see her.”

“Qingzi needs peace and quiet right now,” Zhou Lin refused sharply.

The elevator reached the first floor. Zhou Lin didn’t give Zuo Yin a chance to argue and stepped out quickly. Zuo Yin watched her retreat; she didn’t understand where this hostility came from, and she didn’t want to humiliate herself by begging. But because the person lying in that bed was Shen Qingzi, she had to pursue.

“Is this why you declined my calls?” Zuo Yin called out.

Zhou Lin stiffened, her hand tightening around the phone in her pocket. When did this child see that?

Seeing Zhou Lin’s guilt, Zuo Yin pressed on: “You’re acting on your own authority, aren’t you? You might keep this from Teacher now, but she’ll find out sooner or later.”

It was a blatant threat. Zhou Lin felt powerless against it; the call logs were there, and without Shen Qingzi’s passcode, she couldn’t erase the evidence. She paused, her voice laced with resentment. “Follow me.”

…

They bypassed the internal medicine building, crossed a courtyard of pines and cypresses, and arrived at the inpatient ward—a place Zuo Yin knew all too well. Three months ago, Shen Qingzi had been here to help her care for Zuo Lan’s gastric bleeding. Three months later, the roles were reversed.

“Don’t stay too long,” Zhou Lin warned, pressing the handle and opening the door to the room.

The room faced the sun. The afternoon light spilled through the glass, and a faint floral scent filled the air. As they entered, they saw Shen Qingzi tossing back the covers as if trying to get out of bed. She was in hospital blues; the striped gown made her look clean and fragile, her pale, slender wrists peeking out from slightly rolled-up sleeves.

Zhou Lin rushed over and pressed her back down. “What are you doing?”

“I just wanted a glass of water,” Shen Qingzi said helplessly.

“Sorry, I put it too far away.” Zhou Lin poured a glass of warm water and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” Shen Qingzi said, taking a few sips. “I can still take care of myself. You don’t need to be this careful.”

“Qingzi, you need to rest,” Zhou Lin insisted. “Otherwise, how will you be able to visit Xiao Yue with your parents next week?”

At the mention of Xiao Yue, Shen Qingzi’s expression dimmed. “I’ll be fine.”

Zuo Yin stood to the side, suddenly feeling like a complete outsider. Zhou Lin had known Shen Qingzi far longer; she knew everything Zuo Yin knew, and likely the deeper secrets Zuo Yin didn’t. The thought that Zhou Lin had been the one by her side during all those missing years—and even now—made a sharp, thorny feeling of jealousy take root in Zuo Yin’s heart.

But what right do I have to be jealous? I’m just her student.

Then, Shen Qingzi turned her head away from Zhou Lin’s nagging, and her pupils contracted. Standing near the door was the girl she had dreamed of while lost in her fever.

“Xiao Yin? Why are you here?”

The sudden shift in attention made Zuo Yin snap back to reality. “I… I ran into Sister Zhou Lin at the hospital.”

“Why are you here? Do you have a cold too?” Shen Qingzi asked urgently. Her voice was weak, but it held that unique tenderness reserved only for Zuo Yin.

The hollow feeling in Zuo Yin’s chest vanished. “No, I’m just here for my mother’s follow-up.”

Shen Qingzi breathed a sigh of relief. “How is she? Is she recovering well?”

“She’s better,” Zuo Yin said, walking to the bedside. Up close, she saw that despite the bright sunlight, Shen Qingzi’s face was pale and haggard. Medical tape was stuck to the back of her hand, covering needle marks. Just two days ago, she had looked so vibrant leaning against the car in the moonlight.

Zuo Yin’s heart ached. “Is it because I drove you home that night? Did you catch a chill then?” she asked softly, in a way only they could understand.

Shen Qingzi didn’t want her to feel guilty. “I told you, I have a weak constitution. The cold snap was sudden, and I’ve been around too many people lately. I just caught something. I wanted to hide it from you, but you found out anyway.” She offered a pale, weary smile.

Seeing those bloodless lips turn upward in an attempt to comfort her tore at Zuo Yin’s heart. She had never felt this much pain for another person.

As Zuo Yin leaned in, the scent of her cool fragrance reached Shen Qingzi. Shen Qingzi’s calm was once again pulled by the girl’s presence. She couldn’t resist placing her hand over the back of Zuo Yin’s hand. “It’s alright. Teacher is used to these colds.” She joked weakly, “It’s actually nice. I don’t have to go to all those banquets. I get some peace.”

“Don’t say that, Teacher,” Zuo Yin muttered, her brow furrowing deeper.

“Then don’t look at me like I’m at death’s door,” Shen Qingzi countered gently. “I’ll be better soon.”

“Mhm.” Zuo Yin nodded, unsure of what else to say. she reached out to tuck the edge of the blanket in.

The room remained the same, but Zhou Lin, standing between them, felt the sunlight become blindingly hot. Neither of them noticed, but their gazes had changed. For the first time, Zhou Lin felt redundant. She realized Shen Qingzi had shared things with Zuo Yin she thought were theirs alone, and they shared secrets she wasn’t a part of.

Just then, a phone vibrated. Zuo Yin pulled hers out—it was Zuo Lan.

“Where are you?!” Zuo Lan’s roar was audible in the quiet room.

Zuo Yin glanced at Shen Qingzi and stepped aside. “I ran into someone I know. I’m coming back now.”

“I think you’re trying to lose your own mother!” Zuo Lan shouted, her irritability rising.

Zuo Yin sighed. “Where are you?”

“First floor lobby. Hurry up!”

Zuo Yin hung up and turned to Shen Qingzi. “I have to go. My mother is waiting.”

Shen Qingzi nodded. “Get home safely.”

Zuo Yin waved her phone slightly in a silent goodbye and turned to leave. Zhou Lin watched her walk away, and her eyes widened in a sudden shock of recognition.

The phone in the girl’s hand was the specific oil-painting-collaboration model that she knew Shen Qingzi loved.

In that moment, Zhou Lin’s heart felt like it had been shattered. Cold blood seemed to rush to her eyes. She turned to Shen Qingzi, her voice trembling with a question she could no longer hold back:

“Qingzi… who exactly is Zuo Yin to you?”