I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

The wind fell silent in an instant, the rustling of the leaves vanished, and the surroundings became so quiet that every person’s breath could be heard with startling clarity.

Shen Qingzi moved slightly to shield Zuo Yin behind her, stepping forward to proactively break this eerie silence. “Dad, Mom.”

It wasn’t clear if Mrs. Shen was being mindful of their public surroundings, but her voice held no hint of reproach. “Qingzi, your father said that since the New Year is almost here, he’d bring some things over for you. Let’s go up first.”

Shen Qingzi nodded. She was about to turn to Zuo Yin and tell her to head home first, but Shen Lai stopped right in front of the two of them.

A massive shadow loomed over Zuo Yin as he spoke: “Xiao Yin, come up with us.”

Zuo Yin had no choice but to comply. She followed the two elders with a nod, maintaining a respectful distance from Shen Qingzi.

The walk upstairs was silent. The two young lovers, caught in a moment of intimacy by their elders, stood stiffly in the back, not daring to take a loud breath. Zuo Yin felt that if her heart rate were being monitored right now, she would surely break a Guinness World Record.

Upon entering the apartment, Shen Lai sat straight down on the living room sofa. “Qingzi, go help your mother.”

Shen Qingzi looked at the elders. Their expressions were equally calm, making it impossible to guess what they were thinking. She nodded obediently and turned to the girl beside her. “Then Xiao Yin, come with—”

Though it was meant to be a lifeline, Shen Lai didn’t give her the chance. “Since when is it proper to make a guest do housework at her girlfriend’s place?”

Shen Qingzi froze at her father’s words. In her previous state of panic, she hadn’t noticed that Shen Lai’s expression wasn’t a forced calm—it was the calm of someone who had already expected this. With that realization, she nodded and headed toward the kitchen.

Zuo Yin felt the temperature in the living room drop significantly. If the person across from her were just the Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts, she might not be this nervous. But Shen Lai wasn’t just the Dean; he was her teacher’s father—the father who had just caught her being intimate with his daughter.

“Your aunt and I intended to give Qingzi a surprise tonight,” Shen Lai began. “I didn’t expect you to give us a surprise first.”

Zuo Yin pursed her lips, unsure how to respond. She knew that no matter how eloquently she spoke, she couldn’t hide the fact that she was with her teacher.

“I heard from Qingzi that your work has made it into the national exhibition?” Shen Lai asked. Curiously, his focus seemed to have shifted away from the incident outside.

Zuo Yin nodded respectfully. “Yes.”

“Not bad,” Shen Lai commented simply. “With your level, getting into the exhibition means you’ll likely win an award.”

Zuo Yin gave a reserved smile; she desperately wanted to leave a good impression. “I still remember what you told me at the reception, Dean.”

Shen Lai nodded in approval. “And now you’ve done it. For a twenty-year-old, that’s quite remarkable.”

Hearing this, Zuo Yin felt a bit comforted and let out a small sigh of relief. “Thank you for the praise, Teacher.”

Suddenly, whether reminded by her words or for some other reason, Shen Lai’s tone shifted. “When did you and Qingzi start? Was it after that reception?”

“No, Teacher and I… we only just got together this month.” Zuo Yin shook her head quickly, as if the shortness of their relationship might somehow earn her more leniency.

“Teacher… you kids are becoming increasingly undisciplined.” Shen Lai caught her choice of words and raised an eyebrow, as if suddenly realizing something. “Though, that title does have a certain… flavor to it.”

Zuo Yin couldn’t tell what emotion was behind that remark. Shen Lai was even better at masking his feelings than Shen Qingzi. His eyes were like deep, still pools—unfathomable.

“Since you’re together, you must cherish it, mhm?” Shen Lai leaned forward slightly to pour himself a cup of tea. Perhaps softened by the water, his voice was no longer as stern.

Zuo Yin dazed for a moment, unable to process his sudden change in attitude. Does this mean he’s giving us his silent approval?

“Don’t be so nervous. I’m not a man-eating monster.” Shen Lai chuckled, returning to the approachable persona he usually held at the Academy.

Hearing this, Zuo Yin was even more certain he approved. Her heart leaped, and the anxiety that had been choking her turned into a celebratory rhythm in her chest. Promises to Shen Qingzi began to stack up in her mind, but she felt that saying them out loud right now might sound too grandiose and insincere.

She looked up and offered a simple, heartfelt vow: “I will definitely cherish her. Please don’t worry.”

Her pale hands were gripped tightly over her knees, wrinkling the fabric of her pants. In Shen Lai’s impression, Zuo Yin had always been a girl whose maturity was far beyond her years. He hadn’t expected her to be as flustered as any other child when faced with this.

He nodded. “Mhm. I believe you.”

Perhaps fearing he had played his “stern” role too convincingly, Shen Lai chatted casually to regain some ground. “Would you believe me if I told you I saw this coming long ago?”

Surprise flashed in Zuo Yin’s eyes. The idea that their secret had been transparent all along made her feel both shocked and bashful.

“In all these years, Qingzi has never brought anyone around. Not even Lin. She only brought you, and even took you as a student. I felt then that it was fate, though I didn’t realize it would be fate for both romance and career.” Shen Lai looked toward the kitchen where the two women were busy. To him, it felt like only yesterday that Shen Qingzi was a little girl who only reached his thigh.

“I assume since you’re together, you know about Qingzi’s past,” Shen Lai said. Zuo Yin nodded.

“She’s a very sensible child. Always has been. When they were little, Xiao Yue always bullied her, but she never complained. Even when she was dragged to get that tattoo, she never said it hurt. She still feels guilty to this day because her health became so poor after saving Xiao Yue.” Shen Lai sighed deeply.

“Though it might be a tall order, I hope you can be a sanctuary for her. I have no other request, other than that she can get a good night’s sleep when she’s with you. Can you do that?”

The words felt like a sudden emotional outburst, yet also something he had prepared for a long time. Zuo Yin felt the profound love of a father for his daughter. She realized that family ties aren’t only formed by blood.

“Treat her well, or I won’t let you off easily,” Shen Lai added, half-serious and half-joking.

“Don’t worry. If I ever treat her poorly, I won’t let myself off either,” Zuo Yin promised, her dark eyes full of sincerity.

“Good girl.” Shen Lai patted the back of Zuo Yin’s hand in approval.

“Oh, are you two still talking? Aren’t you tired? Have some fruit.” Seeing the atmosphere soften, Mrs. Shen walked over with an exquisitely prepared fruit platter. “Here, Xiao Yin, try this. It’s very sweet. And this one was just picked.” She handed Zuo Yin several neatly cut pieces of fruit on picks.

Overwhelmed by the hospitality, Zuo Yin thanked her and took the fruit, stealing a glance at Shen Qingzi. Shen Qingzi caught the signal and gently sat her mother down on the sofa. “Mom, don’t be so overbearing. Do you even know what Xiao Yin likes?”

“I don’t need to know; isn’t it enough that you know?” Mrs. Shen’s voice was different from her husband’s or daughter’s—it was bright, melodic, and resonant. With her hair swept back, she looked dignified yet kind.

“Exactly, so stop worrying. I know Xiao Yin, and Xiao Yin knows me. You can rest easy,” Shen Qingzi said.

Mrs. Shen laughed and popped a piece of cantaloupe into her daughter’s mouth. “Still, a little feeding is necessary.”

“Mom, it’s late. Shouldn’t you two be heading back?” Shen Qingzi checked her watch.

“Actually, your father and I planned on staying over tonight,” Mrs. Shen replied.

Shen Lai looked at the hesitating Shen Qingzi. “Is it inconvenient?”

“No, it’s just that Xiao Yin is in the guest room you usually use. I’d have to tidy up the guest room on the second floor.” Shen Qingzi didn’t dare say it was “inconvenient,” so she could only drop hints, hoping they’d take the hint.

But Mrs. Shen, usually a stickler for cleanliness, didn’t mind. She grabbed her bag and headed upstairs. “It’s fine. It won’t take a minute. It’s still early.”

“Alright then,” Shen Qingzi agreed, though her voice held a hint of disappointment. She had thought tonight would be a warm, romantic night together. Instead, they were separated by floors—close enough to see, but not to “touch.”

…

The waning moon hung in the sky, casting a silver light into Zuo Yin’s room. She had finished washing up and was lying in bed, tiny droplets of water still clinging to her pale face.

The room was exactly as it had been when she stayed here before. The clothes in the closet had been laundered and covered in dust bags; the cabinet she had secretly moved remained in its new position; even the carpet indentation from the cabinet leg had been repaired. The scent of iris—Shen Qingzi’s scent—filled the air.

She knew Shen Qingzi had done all this for her. Knowing the person who did all this was just in a room upstairs made Zuo Yin’s mind race with excitement. She couldn’t stop replaying Shen Qingzi’s smiles in her head, tossing and turning on the soft bed.

Tap, tap.

Amidst her restless thoughts, Zuo Yin thought she heard two faint knocks. She snapped her eyes open and looked toward the door in the pitch-black room. Aside from the rustle of her blankets as she sat up, the room was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Was it a hallucination?

As she wondered, her phone screen lit up.

Shen Qingzi: 【Open the door. I’m outside.】