She Said: A Passionate Kiss [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 4
Gu Pingwan hesitated for a few seconds, then pushed the umbrella against her stomach and struggled to close it, shaking off the rainwater outside.
“Thanks for the trouble,” she said as she opened the car door, placed the umbrella by her feet, and got in.
Qiang Huai gestured for her to fasten her seatbelt. “No trouble at all. We’re high school classmates, helping each other out is normal.”
Gu Pingwan pressed her lips together and didn’t respond. Qiang Huai tugged at her mask and asked, “To the hospital?”
“Mhm.” Gu Pingwan nodded. Raindrops clung to her lashes, her eyelids were flushed pink, making her look pitifully delicate.
“Alright,” Qiang Huai didn’t ask any more questions and casually reached for a black jacket from the back seat.
She handed it to Gu Pingwan. “Put this on first, don’t catch a cold.”
Gu Pingwan’s damp eyes landed on the jacket. She took it and said, “Thanks.”
Qiang Huai was taller than her by a bit, but had a slim figure, so the jacket fit Gu Pingwan just right.
As Gu Pingwan unfolded the jacket, she caught a familiar scent — like tender flowers in the rain, mixed with mist and a splash of fresh orange juice.
Through her mask, Qiang Huai also caught a whiff of her own perfume. Now that it clung to Gu Pingwan, it seemed softer, as if filtered, and even more pleasant.
As her gaze dropped, it landed on the umbrella by Gu Pingwan’s feet. “You’re still using that umbrella?”
She started the car, steering around the crowds and heading for the overpass.
“I found it while cleaning up at home the other day, so I took it out again.” Gu Pingwan looked out the window at the streaking rain. She didn’t dare look at Qiang Huai.
Qiang Huai teased, “Oh? Really?”
Gu Pingwan gave a slight nod and said no more.
That umbrella had been a gift from Qiang Huai back in their senior year of high school, on the day they took graduation photos. It was raining, and Qiang Huai had rushed back after a magazine shoot, carrying an outrageous umbrella — the colors were all over the place, like a splash of oil paint, standing out dramatically among the sea of black, grey, and navy plaid umbrellas.
Everyone was wearing their class uniforms, taking photos on the stairs outside the academic building. When Qiang Huai showed up, impeccably made up, it caused a stir of excitement.
Gu Pingwan, however, was standing alone on the far left, back to the crowd, the back of her shirt soaked with rain, but she didn’t seem to care — like a Buddha statue amidst the bustling city. Qiang Huai strode over with long strides to hold the umbrella over her.
“Yo, the school beauty’s giving the top student an umbrella. You think she even cares?” a boy sneered — it was Yu Lele.
Qiang Huai snapped back, “Mind your own damn business.”
Gu Pingwan had been reciting vocabulary, but she paused upon hearing this. Turning slightly, she found herself face to face with Qiang Huai.
The moment the umbrella opened, the scent on Qiang Huai hit her — summer heat and youth wrapped her up in an instant.
“Take this umbrella. Don’t catch a cold.” Qiang Huai placed it over her shoulder and walked away before Gu Pingwan could refuse, dragged away for a group photo.
Now, wrapped once again in that familiar scent, Gu Pingwan felt herself pulled back to that rainy summer day — to that dry little space under the umbrella, and those fleeting years sealed in her memory.
She knew this was the Proust Effect — a specific scent triggering a vivid memory.
She wondered, did Qiang Huai feel the same?
On the surface, Qiang Huai kept her eyes on the road, but her mind had already drifted to the graduation photos. She remembered how Junjun had teased her for always glancing at Gu Pingwan during group shots — so much so that her eyes ended up off-camera in several photos. The thought made her smile.
“Classmate Gu, have you stayed in touch with anyone from high school?” she asked while making a sharp turn. They were two kilometers from the hospital.
Gu Pingwan shook her head. “No.”
Qiang Huai let out a breath of relief — afraid that Gu Pingwan had kept in touch with others but deliberately ignored her.
After graduation, Gu Pingwan had left every group chat, as if she had only been passing through high school, disappearing completely afterward.
It wasn’t until she got accepted into Tsinghua University and the school hung congratulatory banners for two months that everyone suddenly remembered the academic star among them.
“Fair enough.” Stopped at a red light, Qiang Huai tilted her head, pretending to watch the signal — but was actually sneaking glances at Gu Pingwan.
The person next to her had soft, clear eyes, as if untouched by the noise of the world.
Gu Pingwan noticed the stare and turned toward her. “It’s green.”
Snapping out of it, Qiang Huai stepped on the gas, silently cursing herself. Why am I still sneaking glances like I did in high school? And getting caught, too!
At the hospital, Gu Pingwan unbuckled her seatbelt and got ready to get out.
“Thanks for taking me this late. Drive safe on your way back,” she said, halfway through taking off the jacket when Qiang Huai stopped her.
“It’s really no trouble,” Qiang Huai added, “Keep the jacket on. Take care of Auntie, and don’t catch a cold.”
Gu Pingwan nodded, saying she’d wash it and return it later, then grabbed the umbrella and stepped out.
After she left, Qiang Huai sat parked at the curb for a while.
Staring at the white building in the rain, she suddenly slammed her forehead against the steering wheel with a loud thud. So embarrassing. Why am I still such a mess in front of Gu Pingwan?
She pulled down the sun visor and looked at her flawless reflection in the mirror, yelling at herself, “Qiang Huai! Use that face properly! Who wouldn’t be moved by this? Do something, already!”
“It took you this long to see her again and you’re still acting like that shy teenager!”
She was in the middle of her rant when — Knock knock knock! — someone tapped on her window.
Startled, she quickly put on her mask and rolled the window down. It was… Gu Pingwan.
Wait—had she heard what she just said out loud? Qiang Huai wanted to crawl into the trunk.
“Classmate Qiang Huai, want to grab some late-night food?” Gu Pingwan asked, surprised she hadn’t left yet. She figured Qiang Huai might be watching her figure, but still politely asked.
Qiang Huai’s eyes lit up, her earlier embarrassment instantly gone. “Sure! I just finished filming and have a whole month off — time to indulge!”
Gu Pingwan nodded and got in the car. They headed for “Snack Street,” just two kilometers away. The night in Jin City was lively — this was when things really began.
“Is your mom okay without you staying?” Qiang Huai asked, starting the car.
“She’s asleep. I left her a note saying I’d go home tonight.” Gu Pingwan wiped her arms dry with a tissue.
That made Qiang Huai think. “Your place is near our old high school, right? Why don’t we buy some food and go to your place? It’s not far from here.”
Gu Pingwan glanced up from adjusting her clothes. “Sorry, I didn’t think — it might not be convenient for you to eat out.”
“Then let’s go to my place. I’ve got food at home, I can cook,” she added.
Qiang Huai lifted her chin slightly and turned the wheel toward Gu Pingwan’s neighborhood.
“How do you know where I live?” Gu Pingwan asked, a little puzzled.
“Oh,” Qiang Huai paused and smiled. “I was a class officer, remember? I used to see everyone’s info. Plus, I’ve got a good memory — I can memorize scripts after just a couple of reads.”
Gu Pingwan looked half convinced, but Qiang Huai’s sincere expression made it seem believable.
In truth, Qiang Huai was glad she was an actress — it helped her lie convincingly.
She knew where Gu Pingwan lived because, back in their second year, some street thugs had been harassing her. Qiang Huai had happened to witness it and began secretly following her every night, making sure she got home safely. She often missed the last bus and had to bike home afterward.
By the second semester, she finally caught the creeps in action.
She immediately called her friends — girls in crazy-colored wigs, lip rings, and smudged makeup. They intercepted the pervs in an alley. Though there was no concrete evidence to call the police, they gave the men a taste of hell — pepper spray, stun batons, and a few kicks where it hurt most.
Then they stripped the creeps naked, snapped photos, and tossed their clothes into the sewer, leaving them shivering in the cold.
On her way out of the alley, Qiang Huai, still in full disguise, got caught by the dean. She got a scolding but nothing more.
The story spread fast. That’s how her “delinquent girl” reputation started — not that she cared.
Later, she saw in the newspaper that those three thugs had been arrested for theft and sent to prison.
…
“Qiang Huai, turn right at the next intersection into the parking lot.” Gu Pingwan’s voice brought her back to reality.
Qiang Huai nodded with a smile. Thinking back on her past foolishness made her want to laugh.
She glanced at Gu Pingwan sitting beside her — it all felt so surreal.
Who would’ve thought they’d end up in the same car again, heading home to eat together?
It felt like a dream from their youth.
Gu Pingwan’s home was neat and tidy — it was clear the owner appreciated life. Her father had died of illness when she was twelve, leaving only her and her mother in that apartment.
Since then, life had gotten tougher. Gu Pingwan became quiet and withdrawn.
She handed Qiang Huai a pair of slippers at the door, then went to wash up and grabbed some grapes and peach juice from the fridge.
Qiang Huai stepped inside. The ivory walls and wooden furniture gave the home a warm, cozy feel.
“Steak or pasta?” Gu Pingwan asked, handing her the snacks.
“What do you feel like eating?” Qiang Huai took them from her.
“Pasta,” Gu Pingwan replied after a moment’s thought.
“Then I’ll have steak,” Qiang Huai beamed, her smile lighting up the room.
“Alright, make yourself at home.” Gu Pingwan disappeared into the kitchen.
Qiang Huai nodded, placing the fruit and juice on the coffee table. There were several software development books neatly arranged there, along with some scattered papers.
She skimmed through them. One page was labeled with a model for a “3D Satellite Positioning Alert System.”
Another had a 3D Cartesian building model, with a globe projected in spherical coordinates. There were also files with data on sexual assault, bullying, and domestic violence cases in recent years.
Qiang Huai had no clue what the equations meant or what Gu Pingwan was working on.
She sat on the couch and took a sip of the peach juice.
The TV wall had many inset shelves filled with planetary models. Qiang Huai remembered — back in high school, Gu Pingwan had once said she loved astronomy and dreamed of exploring space. Qiang Huai had even pulled some strings to get her NASA books from abroad. She wondered if Gu Pingwan’s current job was related to it.
…
After a while, the food was ready. Qiang Huai rushed to help bring it to the table.
Gu Pingwan had made tomato pasta for herself, and the whole apartment was filled with a delicious aroma.
She sat down with a fork in hand. “It’s simple — not sure if it tastes okay.”
Qiang Huai cut a piece of steak. It was tender and juicy, flavored with black pepper and rosemary — absolutely mouthwatering.
“It’s delicious.” She cut another piece and placed it into Gu Pingwan’s bowl. “Classmate Gu, your pasta looks great too.”
Gu Pingwan’s eyes curved into a smile, lowering her head with a shy grin. “Here, try it.”
Qiang Huai’s little scheme had succeeded — she was overjoyed inside.