I Woke Up And My Girlfriend Was Gone - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Revelation and the Ambush

A light breeze skimmed across the lake, wrinkling the calm water; similarly, ripples of emotion finally broke across Zuo Yin’s stoic face.

How many people in this world would have half a butterfly tattooed on their finger? How many could share the exact same silhouette and aura?

“This is Shen Qingzi, whom I mentioned earlier. You’re lucky to meet her today.” Sun Yuqing, completely oblivious to the turmoil in Zuo Yin’s eyes, introduced her.

“Shen Qingzi…” Zuo Yin barely knew what tone she used to utter the name.

The name “Shen Qingzi” did not just represent a person; it was the sacred pillar of her short years as a painter. Since she was fifteen, when she accidentally stumbled upon a magazine left by Zuo Lan and saw the full-page spread of The Girl in the Conservatory, that name had been etched into her soul. Even through the crude printing of a pirated magazine, Zuo Yin had been captivated by the exquisite detail and the dreamlike, fairy-tale atmosphere.

Envy, longing, jealousy, anticipation… flowers of intense emotion had bloomed across Zuo Yin’s barren inner landscape. For the first time, the usually stoic girl experienced feelings she had never known existed.

“First time seeing her, right?” Sun Yuqing asked proudly. She watched Shen Qingzi working in the studio and continued without waiting for an answer. “She doesn’t like having her picture taken. You won’t find her online. Such a beautiful person, yet so camera-shy. If I were that pretty, I’d be posting selfies every day! I want the world to know that the creator of The Girl in the Conservatory is even more beautiful than the girl in the painting…”

As Sun Yuqing prattled on, Zuo Yin pieced together a reality she hadn’t dared to dream of: Her one-night stand was the very person she had been chasing all these years.

The shock was so immense that Zuo Yin didn’t know whether to be joyful or distressed. Emotions wrestled violently in her mind, leaving her dazed.

…

Hidden Rivalries and Departure

“Well, I wondered who was over here singing praises non-stop. I should have known it was you.”

A laughing voice came from behind a flower hedge. A woman Zuo Yin didn’t recognize walked toward them. Her long hair fell elegantly over her shoulders, her manner both graceful and sharp.

“Am I not telling the truth?” Sun Yuqing countered.

“Of course, Ah-Zi is indeed incredible.” The woman nodded, then noticed Zuo Yin. “And this is?”

“This is Zuo Yin. She’s applying for a work-study position at the studio,” Sun Yuqing explained.

“Hello.” Zuo Yin gave a slight, cool nod.

“Hello, I’m Zhou Lin.” Zhou Lin returned the gesture, her slightly upturned eyes scanning Zuo Yin with hidden intent.

An odd chill settled over the group. Sun Yuqing, sensing the strange atmosphere, noted Zhou Lin’s bag. “Anyway, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know Xiao Yin once she starts. Zhou Lin, are you heading out?”

“Yes, my car is restricted today due to the license plate laws. I’m going to borrow Ah-Zi’s car.”

Sun Yuqing stopped her. “Ah-Zi didn’t drive today. Xiaojinshan is so close, she walked here.”

“I shouldn’t have encouraged her to buy a house in Xiaojinshan,” Zhou Lin sighed. “I’ll just call a cab then.”

After the introductions, Zuo Yin completed her interview and entrance tests. By the time she finished, the sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and red. She declined Sun Yuqing’s offer for a ride and walked through the grounds, her feet leading her—as if by fate—past Shen Qingzi’s small villa again.

The house was filled with paintings, but Shen Qingzi was gone. Zuo Yin remembered the words: “Xiaojinshan is so close, she walked here.”

…

The Restoration and the Night Walk

Inside the studio, Shen Qingzi was still working. One of Xu Ji’s paintings had been damaged just before the exhibition—a large water stain had ruined a section of a starry sky.

Under the warm glow of an orange lamp, Shen Qingzi worked with surgical precision. She scraped away the ruined pigment and began the delicate process of color matching. Her sensitivity to color was unparalleled; she could detect even the most microscopic deviations in hue. By 9:00 PM, the painting was restored to a state even more vibrant than the original.

She packed her things, turned off the lights, and began her walk home. To get to Xiaojinshan, she had to pass through an alley in an old villa district. At this hour, the alley was silent, save for the occasional bark of a distant dog.

As she walked, an old, flickering streetlamp overhead finally groaned and died. Before her eyes could adjust to the sudden, absolute darkness, Shen Qingzi felt a sudden force pull her.

Before she could react, she was locked in a tight embrace from behind.

Someone’s fingers traced the butterfly tattoo on her finger. A chin rested intimately on her shoulder. Shen Qingzi felt a rush of heat against her ear as a girl’s cold, aloof voice whispered:

“Sister… you won’t get away this time.”