She Said: A Passionate Kiss [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 44
Lian Tang’s manager received a call from the hospital—one of the injured parties’ family members had arrived. She greeted Qiang Huai briefly before heading off to handle it.
“Terminating the contract? I’ll pay the compensation according to the contract,” Lian Tang said firmly, pulling Zheng Yu’s hand. Her tone was resolute.
“Fine. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you,” Qiang Huai replied calmly, her tone unreadable.
Zheng Yu had just heard from the assistant what had happened at the magazine shoot and hadn’t yet had the chance to ask Lian Tang.
Lian Tang didn’t respond to Qiang Huai’s words.
“If anyone’s leaving, it should be me. My reputation’s already ruined,” Zheng Yu said, patting Lian Tang’s hand.
“No, your future is brighter than mine. I haven’t won any awards for my films yet,” Lian Tang said, pushing Zheng Yu’s hand away. There was a shimmer of tears in her eyes.
Gu Pingwan silently watched the scene inside the room, not daring to make a sound.
Online public opinion quickly spiraled. Topics about Lian Tang and Zheng Yu shot to the trending list. Many people dug up their alternate accounts and discovered they had worn couple’s outfits.
Calls for Lian Tang to leave the entertainment industry grew louder, with people condemning her as a disgraced celebrity. Videos of the injured person receiving treatment in the hospital were leaked. Those who had disliked Zheng Yu before seized the chance to unleash vicious attacks.
“The domestic atmosphere doesn’t tolerate things like this—especially since we’re in a same-s3x relationship. If I go out and clarify things, you can still continue your career in the industry,” Lian Tang continued.
“What are you so afraid of?” Zheng Yu shouted. “Why can’t both of us stay? I’m just dating someone! What business is it of theirs?”
Lian Tang was flushed by Zheng Yu’s outburst. After a long silence, she finally said, “I’m afraid it’ll ruin your future.”
Qiang Huai, arms crossed, tapped her fingers against her forearm. “We’ll have Qin-jie handle the public opinion. What’s important now is how to resolve this.”
“Leaving the entertainment industry won’t actually solve the problem. I don’t think Zheng Yu would want to see you give up so much for her,” Qiang Huai said to Lian Tang.
Just then, Qin-jie received a call from Lian Tang’s manager. The injured person’s family demanded a public apology from the company and three million yuan in compensation—or they would sue Lian Tang.
In the entertainment industry, those with legal troubles were at the very bottom.
Although Lian Tang had her reasons, the fact remained that she had hit someone.
Gu Pingwan understood the full story: someone had insulted Zheng Yu, and Lian Tang, hearing it, lashed out.
It also got her thinking—if her own relationship with Qiang Huai were exposed, would it affect Qiang Huai’s career?
She opened her phone and checked the trending topics—almost all were scolding Lian Tang and Zheng Yu.
Qin-jie contacted the magazine’s photography team and retrieved surveillance footage from the shoot. The PR team had already prepared a draft. They planned to release the footage with the statement.
In the video, the man could clearly be heard verbally abusing Zheng Yu, accusing her of using underhanded methods to climb the ladder. It was evident that Lian Tang struck him in response to this.
Huaisheng Group’s official account was flooded with criticism. The hitting incident wasn’t even the top concern—people were more focused on Lian Tang and Zheng Yu’s relationship.
The top comments under the company’s Weibo demanded a direct response to the relationship rumors. Netizens dug up and compared photos of the two—clothes, shoes, accessories—creating “spot the difference” collages.
In the office, Lian Tang and Zheng Yu were still arguing.
“So what should we do now?” Lian Tang asked Qiang Huai.
Qiang Huai exchanged a glance with Sister Qin, who immediately understood.
“First, respond directly to the relationship rumors. You can say you’re just good friends—girls wearing couple’s outfits isn’t a big deal.”
“Second, post a statement invoking sympathy. Say it was a case of one woman helping another—just a change in wording.”
“Third, reassure fans, and maintain your usual interactions with Zheng Yu.”
“Everything else will be handled by the PR team. Most importantly, neither of you can leave the entertainment industry,” Qin-jie concluded.
Qiang Huai nodded.
“If one of you insists on leaving, I won’t stop you,” she said. “But all the effort you’ve made until now will be wasted.”
“When I signed you, Lian Tang, you said you loved acting, that you wanted to be an actress. And now you’re willing to give it all up just because of a relationship? Maybe I misjudged you.”
Lian Tang lowered her head. Zheng Yu interrupted, “Ms. Qiang, we won’t terminate our contracts.”
“But I don’t want to live in the dark. A relationship like this—it’s doomed to never see the light of day,” Lian Tang looked up, her eyes fixed on Zheng Yu.
Qiang Huai hadn’t realized the feelings between them ran so deep. How had it developed like this during the time she wasn’t around?
Still, Lian Tang was right—relationships like theirs were not widely accepted in society yet.
Even though technology and awareness were improving, most people still couldn’t accept this kind of love.
Gu Pingwan hadn’t expected that being a lesbian would cause so much hardship in life and career. What about her and Qiang Huai?
…
Lian Tang cooperated with the PR team to film an apology video. They accepted the injured party’s demands. But the online hate didn’t stop—Zheng Yu and Lian Tang’s accounts were flooded with abuse. Brands Lian Tang once endorsed sent termination notices.
After Qin-jie released the official statement and video, some netizens began to sympathize with Lian Tang—after all, she wasn’t the one who started it.
But the public didn’t care about facts. Following gossip blindly, they became tools of internet outrage.
After Lian Tang and Zheng Yu left, only Qiang Huai and Gu Pingwan remained in the office.
Qiang Huai looked tired—they’d spent the whole afternoon discussing the matter.
“I’m flying back to the research institute tomorrow,” Gu Pingwan said softly. She regretted kissing Qiang Huai that morning. With everything unclear between them—and now this scandal—she was scared.
She had many concerns: Qiang Huai’s job, her own work, the impact public opinion might have on her mother.
“What time?” Qiang Huai smiled gently, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Gu Pingwan’s ear.
“Seven o’clock,” Gu Pingwan replied, lips pressed into a thin line.
“I’ll—” Qiang Huai started to say she’d take her, but was cut off.
“It’s been a long day. I’ll head back first. No need to see me off tomorrow,” Gu Pingwan said, getting up.
Qiang Huai noted the expression on her face. She didn’t press. Instead, she asked Xiaoyu to call a driver to take her home.
…
The situation with Lian Tang came to a temporary close. Zheng Yu shared Lian Tang’s apology video. On her way home, Gu Pingwan saw it on Weibo.
Zheng Yu didn’t admit to the relationship. That was the PR team’s decision—if she did, it would confirm all the rumors.
But if she didn’t, they could frame it as “girl helping girl,” and downplay it into simple friendship.
Gu Pingwan turned off her phone. Just then, Pei Yang called.
“Chief Engineer Gu, if you’re free, can you write a detailed description of the software development?” he asked excitedly.
“Didn’t I already write one?” Gu Pingwan remembered the version she wrote when Pei Yang wanted to submit the app for a competition.
“The judging panel wants something more detailed this time—with the core development logic included,” Pei Yang explained. “I think you have a real shot at winning this award.”
Gu Pingwan didn’t think much of it. She checked the time and asked, “I’m in Jin City—can I drop by your office?”
“Of course! I’ll be waiting in my office,” Pei Yang said cheerfully, and told his assistant to order two dinners.
She had the driver take her back to the office. Qiang Huai messaged her, asking if she had gotten home yet.
She took a deep breath and replied:
“Classmate Qiang Huai, I’m sorry. I think I need to think carefully about our relationship.”
Qiang Huai wasn’t surprised. After everything that had just happened with Lian Tang and Zheng Yu, anyone would be shaken.
“Alright.”
Taking time to think wasn’t a bad thing. She had waited for so many years—what’s a little more?
…
The next morning, as Gu Pingwan came downstairs to leave for the airport, she saw a familiar car.
Qiang Huai was waiting for her.
“Classmate Gu, hop in. It’s hard to catch a cab at this hour,” Qiang Huai rolled down the window. It was 5 a.m., and the streets were nearly empty.
Gu Pingwan hesitated for a few seconds, then got in.
“Breakfast.” Qiang Huai handed her a bag with sandwiches she had made herself.
“You—” Gu Pingwan started to speak.
“We’re classmates. It’s just a small favor,” Qiang Huai said righteously.
Gu Pingwan wondered—was she being too dramatic?
“So now we’re classmates who’ve kissed?” Qiang Huai teased.
“That… uh… I guess so,” Gu Pingwan coughed, flustered. She didn’t know whether her ears were red from coughing or embarrassment.
Qiang Huai held back a laugh. Maybe Gu Pingwan really did want to take this relationship seriously.
At the airport, they didn’t say much—just went their separate ways.
…
Lately, Qiang Huai had been very busy. Her earlier suspense film Killing Yesterday had performed remarkably well, making her the queen of box office with a total of 12 billion yuan. High-end endorsement deals flooded in, and her schedule was fully booked until after the New Year.
She had just accepted a role in a new movie called Rabbit’s Vengeance, playing a female assassin. The story was about revenge, and parts of it would be filmed abroad.
The director was an international award-winner—this was a prestige film aiming for accolades.
After her audition, Qiang Huai and Xiaoyu entered the lounge. A bouquet of white roses had been placed there.
“You bought these?” Qiang Huai asked.
Xiaoyu shook her head. “No.”
There was a card attached. It was from Junjun, congratulating her on the success of her suspense film.
Qiang Huai accepted the flowers and texted Junjun:
“Thank you.”
Junjun immediately called.
“I saw Gu Pingwan in Beijing!” she exclaimed. “Guess what?”
“So you saw her. And?” Qiang Huai pretended to be indifferent, though she was dying to know.
“Alright, I’ll hang up then,” Junjun said, teasingly.
“Spit it out already,” Qiang Huai, holding the roses, walked away.
Junjun continued, “Well well well… you don’t even know your ‘kissed-on-the-lips’ friend is dating someone else?”
“I think she’s in a relationship—with a woman. She actually avoided eye contact with me when we met!”
Qiang Huai let out a surprised noise. “What did you just say?”