She Said: A Passionate Kiss [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 48
“Heh, I figured as much. No matter how much a top student earns, it’s still just a measly fixed salary,” Tao Li continued to mock.
Qiang Huai gave a small smile. Tao Li clearly knew what Gu Pingwan did for work but still asked anyway. “Tao Li, how much money can you earn? No matter how much it is, can it be more than what I make?”
“Money isn’t the only standard of judgment. The meaning of life isn’t about material things,” Qiang Huai said just as the server returned with the alcohol from outside.
Doudou couldn’t bear to hear more and tried to ease the tension. “Come on, come on, let’s drink! It’s rare for all of us to gather like this—let’s not get into arguments.”
“Exactly! Even if you’re making money, is it more than Qiang Huai? And you’re still talking,” a female classmate chimed in, standing up for Qiang Huai.
The server brought over two bottles of Moutai. Doudou took them and started opening one to pour drinks for everyone.
“Qiang Huai, come have a drink with us,” Doudou said, holding out a glass for her.
“No need. You guys enjoy. We’re heading out,” Qiang Huai said, standing and pulling Gu Pingwan along.
Several people tried to convince them to stay. “Gu Pingwan, you should get Qiang Huai to stay a little longer.”
Gu Pingwan tugged gently at Qiang Huai’s sleeve, not knowing how to handle such a situation.
Qiang Huai turned and clasped Gu Pingwan’s hand. “Sorry for killing the mood. I’ll treat you all another time. We’ve got to drive later, so we’ll skip the drinks.”
Everyone started blaming Tao Li. They all felt lucky just to run into Qiang Huai, and maybe even get some help from an old classmate. But now Tao Li had ruined it.
Tao Li wasn’t happy. As Qiang Huai walked out the door, he shouted after her, “I heard Yu Lele went to prison, and An Linlin ended up in a mental hospital. Looks like you’re really something, Qiang Huai.”
Qiang Huai frowned slightly. She roughly understood now why Tao Li was so confrontational—he had been close to Yu Lele.
He probably wanted to vent for his friend, but since he couldn’t do anything drastic, he settled for flinging words.
Gu Pingwan stopped in her tracks. She pulled her hand from Qiang Huai’s and rushed back inside, grabbing one of the Moutai bottles.
She was about to smash it when her mind flashed with images of the consequences. Instead, she put the bottle down, picked up a plate of mapo tofu with her left hand, and slammed it right onto Tao Li’s head.
“Yu Lele got what he deserved. And Tao Li—I still remember how you two threatened me after graduation,” Gu Pingwan said, staring at his face now smeared with sauce. The image of being cornered back then by Tao Li and Yu Lele was still vivid in her memory.
Qiang Huai hadn’t expected Gu Pingwan to react so aggressively. The whole thing took less than thirty seconds, and the people around hadn’t even processed what just happened.
With greasy hands, Gu Pingwan grabbed some napkins to wipe them clean, then tossed the soggy paper right onto Tao Li’s head. The sticky tofu clung to the wet tissues in the most revolting way.
Tao Li started to get up to retaliate, but Qiang Huai rushed over to shield Gu Pingwan.
The nearby students, who had been busy watching the drama unfold, were so engrossed they forgot to pull out their phones to film.
Tao Li was held back by Doudou and Xiongxiong while Qiang Huai led Gu Pingwan out of the restaurant.
Once in the car, the two leaned back in their seats and exchanged smiles.
“From now on, I’ll protect you,” Qiang Huai said, turning toward her and gently wiping a drop of oil from her hair with a tissue.
Gu Pingwan had previously mentioned that Yu Lele once threatened her. Who knew how much pressure she had endured back then?
Gu Pingwan chuckled foolishly. “Okay.”
The rain had finally stopped. They had originally planned to grab more food, but Gu Pingwan’s mother called saying she wasn’t feeling well, so Qiang Huai went with her to her home.
When they arrived in a hurry, her mom was lying on the sofa groaning.
“Mom? Where are you feeling unwell?” Gu Pingwan asked, not even bothering to take off her shoes.
Her mom opened her eyes and saw Qiang Huai was there too.
“My head hurts. I feel dizzy.”
Gu Pingwan touched her forehead—she had a slight fever.
“She’s got a fever,” Gu Pingwan said, getting up. “Should we go to the hospital?”
Qiang Huai touched her forehead as well. It was definitely hot.
“Going to the hospital might risk catching something else. Do you have any meds at home?”
It was true—visiting a fever clinic could mean exposure to a positive case. It was better to treat it at home if possible.
“There’s some in the cabinet,” Gu Pingwan said while rummaging through it. “What should she take?”
She wasn’t very familiar with medications—she rarely got sick herself.
Her mom was groggy and too weak to speak.
Qiang Huai pulled out a box of ibuprofen. “Let’s have her take this first. If she hasn’t improved by midnight, we’ll go to the hospital.”
After taking the medicine, her mom went back to her room to rest.
Every hour, Gu Pingwan went in to check her temperature. Since her mother was undergoing chemotherapy, she needed special care. Qiang Huai also advised her to notify the local community office. A volunteer came with a test kit and confirmed it wasn’t COVID.
“Sorry to trouble you. We didn’t even get to eat properly. I’ll cook something,” Gu Pingwan said as she came out of her mother’s room.
Qiang Huai was scrolling on Weibo on the couch and nodded when she heard her.
“What do you want to eat?” Gu Pingwan asked, opening the fridge. “Pasta or steak?”
This was just like the first time Qiang Huai had visited—same question.
“I’ll have pasta,” Qiang Huai replied. Back then, she’d deliberately picked something different so she could sneak bites from Gu Pingwan’s plate.
Once the meal was ready, Qiang Huai stared at Gu Pingwan’s steak. “Your steak looks so good, Gu classmate.”
Gu Pingwan cut off a small piece. “Try it.”
That gesture reminded her of the first time Qiang Huai had come over. So it turned out Qiang Huai had planned to mooch off her food from the beginning.
Just as Gu Pingwan fed a piece of steak to Qiang Huai, her mom—who no one realized had gotten up—walked in and saw the two of them.
“Mom! Why are you up?” Gu Pingwan was flustered. Her fork clattered onto the plate with a loud clang.
Qiang Huai, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.
Her mom went to pour herself a glass of water. “Eating late-night snacks at this hour?”
Gu Pingwan was still dazed. She nodded blankly. “Yeah.”
“Are you two dating?” her mom asked after taking a sip of water.
Qiang Huai tried not to laugh. Gu Pingwan’s face turned pale. She instantly replied, “Mom, what are you talking about? Are you still feverish?”
Her mom sat down on the stool beside Qiang Huai. “No fever. I’m perfectly clear-headed.”
“Xiao Huai, you tell me,” she said, finishing the water in one gulp.
“Auntie, yes, we’re together now,” Qiang Huai answered.
Gu Pingwan kicked her under the table.
“Mom, she’s joking! Go rest, please,” Gu Pingwan said, wishing she could tape Qiang Huai’s mouth shut.
But her mom wasn’t fazed. “Did this start today?”
Qiang Huai nodded. Gu Pingwan felt like her heart was about to leap out of her throat.
“I knew it. No wonder Xiao Wan went out today and specially bought a new dress,” her mom said. “So if you two are dating, and don’t have time to see each other often, how will that work?”
Gu Pingwan thought this was way too strange. What kind of mother, after finding out her daughter was in a same-s3x relationship, responded like this?