I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Extra · Fireworks

The moonlit night was silent. A lazy sparrow perched atop a withered tree heavy with snow. A car sped by in the distance, startling the bird into flight; as its wings beat against the air, a flurry of snow was shaken from the branches, dusting the roof of the passing vehicle.

“Teacher, where are we going?” Zuo Yin asked, staring out the window at the receding mountains and snow illuminated by the rhythmic glow of the passing streetlights.

Ever since she stepped off the plane, she had been whisked away by Shen Qingzi. Aside from the physical exhaustion of travel, her heart was filled with a sense of bewilderment.

Shen Qingzi looked at the brilliant neon signs in the distance and replied, “To see the fireworks.”

“Fireworks?” Zuo Yin repeated. As a memory flickered to life, the fatigue on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of excitement. “Is it this year’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Festival?!”

Shen Qingzi caught Zuo Yin’s exhilarated expression and felt a wave of satisfaction. “That’s the one. After thinking it over, I decided there was no better New Year’s gift for you than this.”

“I heard from Sister Yuqing that this festival was specifically designed by firework masters from Japan.” Zuo Yin pulled up her chat history with Sun Yuqing. “The tickets sold out the moment they went on sale last month. Yuqing told me she didn’t stand a chance; she was clicking as fast as she could, but they were gone in a heartbeat.”

Shen Qingzi nodded, confirming the description. “That sounds about right.”

“Then where did you get them?” Zuo Yin asked, her curiosity piqued. Her teacher was many things, but a person with “fast clicking fingers” was not one of them.

Shen Qingzi curled her lips into a slightly proud smile. “A friend of mine is the head coordinator for this festival. I asked her for two tickets.”

“I see.” Zuo Yin nodded, looking longingly at the venue as it drew closer.

The entrance to the festival was at the foot of a mountain; the organizers had reserved the entire hillside as the venue. Shen Qingzi drove through the ticket check and registration, following the arrows into the site.

The fireworks were set to begin at 10:00 PM. The snow-covered slopes were already crowded with people—parents with children, and couples with fingers tightly intertwined. On the night before the New Year, this mountain wilderness, which should have been lonely, was brimming with life.

Bright lights illuminated a nearby grove of plum trees. Buds capped with white snow were slowly unfurling, revealing a hint of pink at the center, as if they were blushing at the sight of so many guests.

“The plum blossoms are actually blooming here,” Zuo Yin noted, stopping beside one of the trees.

“Yes, even though it’s cold, they bloom early in this area.” Shen Qingzi gently touched a branch and asked, “Should we pick a spray to take back?”

Zuo Yin replied, “Yes—taking a branch back is good, but picking a single flower is better.”

Before Shen Qingzi could grasp her meaning, she felt a coolness by her ear. Zuo Yin’s fingers had tucked a blooming white plum blossom behind her ear. Under the cold moonlight, her delicate skin looked even more ethereal against the pure white petals. Carrying her unique air of aloof grace, Shen Qingzi looked like a hidden immortal stepping out from the plum forest.

“So beautiful,” Zuo Yin whispered, then lightly kissed Shen Qingzi’s earlobe.

At that moment, the clock hand finally reached the Roman numeral X. Accompanied by a sweeping musical score, a silver firework shell soared into the sky.

In an instant, the entire area fell silent. Everyone held their breath, gazing up at the night sky in anticipation. With a loud thump, a cluster of fireworks exploded like a massive, rounded hydrangea. Brilliant white sparks filled the sky, carrying the crowd’s cheers into the quiet night.

“Wow!” Shen Qingzi looked at the bursting light, unable to help but gasp at the beauty. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Yes, it’s stunning,” Zuo Yin agreed. No words could capture the magnificence of what they were seeing.

Several more shells exploded directly above them in quick succession. Shifting colors and radiant light spilled across the dark curtain of the night like a heavenly shower of petals, making the stars themselves fade into insignificance. Gasps of wonder erupted from the crowd.

Zuo Yin, however, had stopped watching the sky. Her vision was entirely filled by Shen Qingzi. The night breeze brushed against her teacher’s face, lending her an air of casual elegance. Her brown eyes were lit by the fireworks, reflecting countless falling stars. She looked like a goddess descended to earth—a beauty beyond the reach of language.

The warm fragrance from Shen Qingzi’s hair mingled with the scent of the plum blossoms, creating a unique, intoxicating aroma that swirled around Zuo Yin’s heart.

“Shen Qingzi,” Zuo Yin called out softly.

“Mhm?” Shen Qingzi turned to look at Zuo Yin during a lull between the explosions.

“I love you.”

As she made her heartfelt confession, a golden firework bloomed in the sky. The scattering points of light fell like falling stars, decorating the lonely, dark sky until it was as bright as day.

Shen Qingzi’s face was brilliantly lit, her gentle features overflowing with a smile. She wrapped her arms around Zuo Yin’s neck and whispered into her ear, “I love you too.”

The mountain wind blew past, carrying a chill. Beneath a sky illuminated by fireworks, they shared a kiss—deep, lingering, and unashamed.

(THE END)