I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Stars dotted the ink-black canvas of the night like diamonds. The massive, European-style vintage building was bathed in golden light, adding a sense of magnificence and luxury to the quiet evening. This was the venue for the National Oil Painting Exhibition’s award ceremony.

Zuo Yin, wearing a black high-slit gown prepared by Mrs. Shen, waited backstage with a hint of trepidation. The dark fabric was embellished with genuine diamonds that shimmered like the Milky Way, making her already extraordinary temperament seem even more ethereal and solitary.

As the youngest newcomer in the Gold Award group, she knew no one in the waiting area. Unskilled at small talk, she stood alone, watching the other award winners converse in low voices. The feeling of being an outsider slowly amplified.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the quiet backstage area as a wave of compliments flooded the small space. Zuo Yin, looking down at her phone reading a news article in French, didn’t let the noise distract her.

“Won’t you even look up when I’ve come to see you?” A soft shadow fell over Zuo Yin’s shoulder.

Zuo Yin froze in disbelief. She turned her head and saw Shen Qingzi standing beside her. The qipao Zuo Lan had custom-made for Shen Qingzi complemented her fair, delicate skin perfectly. The sleek tailoring at the waist emphasized her slender figure, appearing both reserved and exquisite.

Zuo Yin stared at Shen Qingzi, feeling that the most beautiful words in the world couldn’t capture even half of her current radiance.

“Why are you here?” Zuo Yin asked, quite surprised.

Shen Qingzi smiled and took Zuo Yin’s hand, whispering in her ear, “I missed you.”

Zuo Yin’s heart raced even faster. Her earlobes turned a soft red as she cautioned, “Teacher…”

Seeing this, Shen Qingzi retracted her playful smile, stepped back slightly, and comforted her gently, “Don’t be afraid.”

“I will be watching you from the audience the whole time. You don’t need to look at anyone else; just look at me.” Shen Qingzi’s face was filled with warmth, her fingertips lightly stroking the back of Zuo Yin’s hand, calming the girl’s nerves bit by bit.

“Next, we invite the Gold Award winners of this exhibition to the stage to receive their awards and give their speeches.”

The host’s voice echoed from the stage. Zuo Yin lifted the hem of her gown and said to Shen Qingzi, “Teacher, it’s time for me to go.”

“Zuo Yin.” Shen Qingzi called her name, holding onto her hand before she could leave.

Time seemed to slow down to half-speed as Zuo Yin watched Shen Qingzi bring her hand to her lips. Those full, soft lips pressed a moist, sincere, and reverent kiss onto the back of her hand.

Shen Qingzi looked up, her eyes brimming with tenderness as she lightly touched Zuo Yin’s waist. “Good luck, my Xiao Yin.”

In that moment, Zuo Yin felt her soaring anxiety settle instantly. Shen Qingzi had hit the mark, sending her heart safely back to the sanctuary she guarded.

…

Drawing courage from Shen Qingzi, Zuo Yin faced the audience watching from all directions and began her speech: “Hello, teachers. It is my honor to stand here today and receive this award.”

The people below were watching Zuo Yin, witnessing the rise of a new star in the art world. Meanwhile, this star was focused only on her favorite teacher in the crowd. Zuo Yin felt that with Shen Qingzi there, she possessed a courage that could never be killed.

Her speech was short—only a few sentences, concise and precise, perfectly matching her personality.

“Finally, I would like to thank my teacher…” Zuo Yin spoke the closing lines she had memorized. She looked at the faint lip mark on the back of her hand, pursed her own lips, and suddenly changed her tone. “My lover, Shen Qingzi. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I love you.”

For a split second, Zuo Yin saw a kaleidoscope of emotions in the eyes of everyone in the audience. But she didn’t care about anyone’s reaction. She stood on the stage under the spotlight, staring deeply at Shen Qingzi sitting in the audience.

Her teacher. Her lover.

Seeing the warmth and pride in Shen Qingzi’s eyes, Zuo Yin couldn’t help but smile. In front of everyone, they embraced each other with their eyes.

While the crowd was still processing this sudden declaration, Xu Ji—sitting next to Shen Qingzi—was the first to start clapping. Surprise and shock eventually dissolved into a roar of applause that filled the entire hall.

…

Zuo Yin didn’t return to the audience after leaving the stage. Wearing her stilettos, she slipped away during the exit and headed for the small garden in the back. Her actions had been quite bold, and she needed a quiet place to escape the rigid rules of the ceremony.

The fountain ran day and night, its waters shimmering under the moonlight. A breeze carried a cool mist against Zuo Yin’s arms, feeling incredibly comfortable in the warm summer night. She sat on the edge of the fountain, listening to the gurgling water behind her, and exhaled all the tension from the stage.

“I knew you’d be here.” A voice, cool yet gentle, came from behind.

Zuo Yin looked up. As expected, Shen Qingzi appeared in her line of sight. “Teacher.”

Shen Qingzi stood by her side and asked, “Why so sudden?”

“I wanted to give you a surprise,” Zuo Yin replied. Thinking about how many serious, elderly seniors had been sitting right next to her teacher, she felt she might have been a bit too daring. “Are you going to scold me?”

Shen Qingzi reached out to ruffle Zuo Yin’s hair. “Of course not. I’m very happy.”

“I’m happy to share this honor with you.”

Zuo Yin’s heart fluttered. “Then from now on, half of all my honors belong to you.”

Shen Qingzi’s eyes curved into crescent moons. “Alright.”

The wind brushed through their hair, intertwining the strands. Zuo Yin looked up at the night sky, tracing the full moon in her mind.

“The moonlight is beautiful tonight,” Zuo Yin whispered.

Shen Qingzi tilted her head slightly and replied, “And the wind is gentle.”

Both understood the hidden meaning in each other’s words but chose not to break the spell, simply sharing a smile. Their eyes—one pitch black, one deep brown—were filled with intense love for one another.

Shen Qingzi’s hand moved over the clutch bag hanging from her wrist. She spoke the words she had been harboring: “I might seem like I’m copying you right now, but I also have a surprise for you.”

Her voice was steady, the same tone she used for everyday conversation. The breeze from the fountain ruffled Zuo Yin’s short hair, tugging at her already restless heartstrings. Shen Qingzi reached into her bag and pulled out an exquisite red velvet box. Two nearly identical rings lay quietly inside.

Time seemed to stand still. Zuo Yin looked at the rings and forgot to breathe.

Bathed in the shimmering fountain water and moonlight, Shen Qingzi took a ring from the box. With a mix of hope and nervousness, she asked: “Let’s get married, Zuo Yin.”

For some reason, tears welled up in Zuo Yin’s eyes. It was uncontrollable, driven entirely by the emotion of the moment. She knew she would marry Shen Qingzi one day, but she never imagined it would be this day.

She remembered when she was just a high school girl looking up at Shen Qingzi’s paintings. Now, under her guidance, she had become a rising star in the industry and the person closest to her. And she was about to become her wife.

It felt like a dream. She, who once felt she didn’t deserve anything beautiful, would now spend her life with her lover.

“What is it? Do you not want to?” Seeing Zuo Yin’s long silence, fear crept into Shen Qingzi’s heart.

Zuo Yin quickly wiped her tears and sobbed out an answer: “No, I do. I do, Teacher.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingzi pulled her into a tight embrace. She had never laughed so vibrantly, nor had she been this ecstatic in a long time. She held Zuo Yin, feeling the tangible joy the girl brought into her life.

She slipped the ring meant only for them onto Zuo Yin’s finger. Zuo Yin looked at the silver band—a perfect fit—linking her and Shen Qingzi together for this lifetime. Never to be separated.

“Teacher, I love you,” Zuo Yin whispered into her ear.

“I love you too, Xiao Yin,” Shen Qingzi replied, kissing the corner of Zuo Yin’s eye to brush away a stray tear.

Their eyes held only each other as the gentle warmth of their love filled the small garden.

— THE END —