She Said: A Passionate Kiss [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 15
Qiang Huai changed into slippers and entered the house. Qiang’s mother, smiling warmly, jogged to the kitchen. Hearing that Qiang Huai had returned, her father immediately washed his hands and came out to see her.
They bumped into each other in the hallway. Though he was speaking with a disgruntled tone, his eyes were smiling. “Well, well, well, look who finally remembered how to come home.”
“I was worried your mansion would go unclaimed.” Qiang Huai leaned against the doorframe, looking at the white hairs on her father’s head. “Mom, you should ask the stylist to dye Dad’s hair next time.”
Qiang’s mother quickly nodded. “Exactly! I’ve been telling him to, but he refuses.”
“I’m not that fussy. Go take a seat, dinner will be ready soon,” Qiang’s father said, then turned and went back to the kitchen.
Qiang Huai and her mother sat in the spacious living room, glancing at each other.
“Mom, wanna watch some TV?”
“Oh, sure,” her mother replied, a little awkwardly. She hastily grabbed the remote and started flipping through channels.
A historical drama was playing.
Trying to make conversation, Qiang’s mother said, “That young lady is quite pretty, don’t you think?”
Qiang Huai narrowed her eyes at the elegant woman on screen. “Mom, when I first debuted, she bullied me.”
Her mother immediately changed the channel.
“Oh, this young man is handsome.”
“He’s dating four people at once, and has something going on with the director.”
Another switch.
They landed on a parenting show—couldn’t go wrong with that, right?
“Don’t be fooled by their love and affection. That kid isn’t even his biological child.”
Qiang’s mother put the remote down. “Forget it. No more TV.”
Qiang Huai stifled a laugh and picked up an orange from the coffee table, peeling it. “Are you and Dad in good health?”
Her mother nodded. “With money and proper maintenance, we’re great.”
“Make sure to get regular checkups.” Qiang Huai handed her a peeled orange.
“We do, we do. What about you?” Her mother took a bite and nearly winced from the sourness, but forced it down. The orange had been picked by the housekeeper from the garden behind the villa.
“I’m doing okay too.” Just then, her phone vibrated.
It was a message from Gu Pingwan.
“Qiang Huai, I’ve re-calibrated the app—can you try it again?”
“Who’s messaging you? Look at that big grin.” Her mother subtly tossed the sour orange back into the fruit plate. She saw Qiang Huai smiling and thought: could it be a romantic interest?
Even Qiang Huai didn’t realize she was smiling. “Ah, just a high school classmate.”
“Hmm? Just a regular classmate?” Her mother pried further.
“For now, yeah.” Qiang Huai held her phone and turned to glance toward the kitchen, avoiding eye contact.
Her mother looked intrigued. “I remember reading in the news you said something about wanting to pursue someone again. Could it be this person?”
“Mom, I’m going to check if Dad’s done cooking.” Qiang Huai hurried off to the kitchen.
Hiding behind the kitchen door, she replied to Gu Pingwan’s message:
“Sure! Wanna meet tomorrow to test it?”
Pingwan replied quickly:
“Great. Want to get late-night snacks tonight?”
Qiang Huai blinked at the word “snacks.” Gu Pingwan really loved eating late at night?
But thinking about it, in a tech company, late nights were probably the norm. Back when she was in the research institute, it must’ve been the same.
“I’m in Jiangcheng today. Let me treat you tomorrow.”
Just as she sent the message, her dad called her out to help carry the last dish to the dining room.
The family gathered around the dinner table—it felt both familiar and strange.
Her father used scissors to cut off a crab leg from the king crab and placed it in her bowl. “Here, eat this. It won’t make you fat.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Qiang Huai took it with a smile.
The two parents exchanged a glance. After a while, her mom said, “Huaihuai, if you ever suffer outside, remember to come tell us. We’ll stand up for you.”
“Mom, Dad, I’m a CEO of a whole group. Who would dare bully me?” She carefully snipped open the crab leg with the scissors.
Her father hesitated, then said, “When you were little… we didn’t do right by you, so—”
“Where didn’t you do right?” Qiang Huai cut him off. She didn’t like these kinds of sentimental conversations. The love you missed out on as a child couldn’t be made up for later.
“I never went hungry, never lacked anything. Everything was fine.”
“We’re sorry,” her dad said. They had seen her recent news and wanted to call her many times, but kept thinking their daughter could handle it.
One day, her mother suddenly realized that because they always thought Qiang Huai was so independent, they had forgotten she was still a child.
“There’s no need to be sorry.” Qiang Huai smiled. “Come on, eat the crab before it gets cold.”
Her parents accepted the crab she handed over.
Qiang Huai looked at her mom and teased, “Mom, do you feel guilty?”
Her mother was caught off guard and froze. “Ah… well, yes.”
“Then how about giving me a few of your Hermès Himalaya Birkins?” She turned to her dad. “Weren’t you giving me villas? That’s not enough. I also want your vineyard in France.”
Both parents quickly nodded. “Sure, sure, everything’s yours!”
“Deal—just don’t let the adopted kid compete with me for attention.” Qiang Huai joked. She didn’t want to dig too much into her parents’ private plans.
Seeing her in this playful mood, her parents felt relieved.
…
The next day, despite her mother’s repeated efforts to keep her, Qiang Huai returned to Jincheng.
Before leaving, she said, “I’m off to win over my high school classmate.”
Her mom, wearing 15cm heels, stomped on the marble floor and shouted, “Go get him!”
Qiang Huai high-fived her mother. “I’m off!”
As she walked past the villa gate, her mom suddenly remembered something important. She yelled from afar, “Wait! Is that classmate a boy or a girl?!”
Qiang Huai waved without turning back. “Neither! She’s a genius!”
Her mother glared and pinched her silent husband beside her.
On the way to the airport, Qiang Huai bought Jiangcheng’s famous sticky rice and lotus-leaf chicken, stuffing it all into the 1-million-yuan handbag she had coaxed from her mom.
On the plane, she leaned her head against the window, watching the land of Jiangcheng shrink in the distance, her eyes slightly moist.
What child doesn’t long to be protected and grow up in a bubble of love?
She sniffled. She used to wonder: If I died at school, would my busy parents even come see me?
People praised her for being capable, tough, full of vitality—but in reality, she had crawled out of one emotional swamp after another.
Later, she learned to manage her emotions. In high school, she met a girl who was quiet, lonely, and fragile—just like her younger self. From that moment, she just wanted to protect her.
More accurately, she wasn’t just protecting that girl—she was saving herself, putting her own pieces back together.
Landing in Jincheng, Qiang Huai felt unusually heavy.
She kept her head down the whole way, with her mask, hat, and sunglasses covering nearly her entire face.
Then, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
At the airport pickup area stood a familiar figure.
That radiant person stood among the bustling crowd, stood in her memories—and now stood before her.
Gu Pingwan waved at her. Qiang Huai jogged, then broke into a run, and rushed toward her.
“Long time no see, high school classmate.” Gu Pingwan smiled bashfully.
Qiang Huai took off her sunglasses, her brows arched, eyes sparkling.
“It’s only been a few days. What, missed me already?” She playfully poked Pingwan’s shoulder.
Pingwan blushed red from her ears to her neck and stepped forward toward the ride she had already called.
“I… I booked a restaurant. Let’s eat first, okay?”
Qiang Huai nodded. “How’d you know I’d be here?”
Gu Pingwan showed her phone screen. “There’s only one flight from Jiangcheng to Jincheng today, and only one terminal.”
“Oh~ so you came just to have me test the app?” Qiang Huai leaned in closer. Pingwan wore a faint milk-scented perfume that was very pleasant.
“Not just that…” Pingwan’s gaze drifted as she checked the car’s license plate.
Qiang Huai pulled out the sticky rice and lotus-leaf chicken. “Here—still warm. You loved this in high school.”
Pingwan looked surprised. She hadn’t had sticky rice in years. She thanked her and took it.
“What? Too touched to speak?” Qiang Huai tilted her head, smiling with bright eyes.
“You’re the best, Qiang Huai.” Pingwan replied just as the car arrived.
The restaurant Pingwan had reserved was a floral-themed one. A server led them to a private booth.
Qiang Huai was glad her luggage had already been shipped home—otherwise she would’ve had to drag a suitcase to dinner with her crush. How unromantic!
After ordering, Pingwan took out her phone to show the app to Qiang Huai. Qiang Huai immediately got up and sat beside her.
They looked at the same screen, heads close together—like a couple sharing stories before the meal.
“Look, I added a feedback module.” Pingwan demonstrated, her eyes gleaming, awaiting praise.
Qiang Huai, very cooperative, lit up. “Wow! That makes it way easier! Chief Engineer Gu really is the best at what she does!”
Flushed with praise, Pingwan’s palms grew warm with embarrassment.
Qiang Huai gently placed her hand on Pingwan’s. “Oh? Chief Engineer Gu~ you’re not running a fever, are you?”
“N-no, I’m perfectly healthy.” Pingwan’s fingers curled slightly, brushing against Qiang Huai’s cool hand—it felt like chugging an ice-cold soda after a summer run.
Qiang Huai suddenly turned her head. Their eyes locked.
Pingwan flinched slightly, nervously biting her lip, unsure what to do with her hands.
Feeling she had teased enough, Qiang Huai smiled and returned to her seat. “Chief Gu, quick—try the sticky rice. See if it tastes like before.”
Pingwan, stunned for a second, quickly wiped her hands with an alcohol wipe and took a small bite. The rice was slightly hardened from cooling, but still tasted amazing.
She took another bite. “Thank you, Qiang Huai. It’s delicious—just like it used to be.”