The Green Tea Supporting Girl Is Still Playing Her Role Today (GL) - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

After soaking in the pool for a while and taking some pretty photos, Zhao Xiaojing went to a lounge chair to edit her pictures.

Wen Pinghan swam for a bit, then leaned against the poolside, admiring the stunning mountain scenery. A splash of water sounded nearby, and Xie Zhifei stood up from the pool, wiping droplets from her face. A large bead of water clung to her high nose bridge, lingering stubbornly. Wen Pinghan stared for a moment and, almost instinctively, reached out to wipe it away.

Xie Zhifei flashed a radiant smile, her jade-like skin shimmering like a gem against the blue water. Sunlight fell on her cheeks, her full, rosy lips curved with a smile as warm and vibrant as the autumn sun.

“Tired?” Xie Zhifei asked with a grin.

“Not bad. You?”

“I’m about done too.” Xie Zhifei called the waiter for drinks and fruit, then joined her, gazing at the boundless scenery. “Wow, it’s gorgeous.”

Wen Pinghan glanced at her, momentarily captivated by her profile. If she were a painter, she’d capture the flawless arc of Xie Zhifei’s face—it’d make a remarkable piece.

“Yeah, beautiful.”

At that moment, a young man approached them, smiling. “Ladies, mind if I get to know you?”

“No thanks, I like women,” Xie Zhifei said.

The man froze, gave an awkward smile, glanced over them, and left embarrassed.

Wen Pinghan was even more shocked. “Since when do you like women?”

“Just now,” Xie Zhifei said with a laugh. “Whenever I meet guys I don’t want to deal with, this excuse works best. Otherwise, they’ll ask for WeChat or something, and I’m too lazy to come up with reasons.”

Wen Pinghan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Noted.”

“Hey, how long are you two gonna play? Time to eat!” Zhao Xiaojing called from the shore.

“Let’s go.” Xie Zhifei climbed out and extended a hand to her.

“Okay.” Wen Pinghan took it.

They climbed out one after the other, rinsed off, and met at the restaurant. The restaurant was halfway up the mountain, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the valley. The opposite mountain was tinged with the yellow of maple leaves, and the scenery made their appetites even better.

“My birthday’s next week, A-Fei. You coming?” Zhao Xiaojing asked.

“Let me check my schedule.”

As Xie Zhifei pulled out her phone, Zhao Xiaojing coughed loudly, glaring at her. Xie Zhifei put the phone away with a smile. “I do have plans—attending our Miss Zhao’s birthday party.”

“That’s more like it.” Zhao Xiaojing smiled, satisfied, then turned to Wen Pinghan. “You come too.”

“Huh?” Wen Pinghan was surprised. If she wasn’t mistaken, they’d only just broken the ice a few hours ago, and now she was invited to a birthday party?

Zhao Xiaojing lazily cut her steak. “Come on, it’s a weekend. But fair warning, there’ll be a ton of friends there, and I might not have time to look after you. You’ll have to fend for yourself with food and drinks. Don’t blame me if I’m not the best host.”

Hearing this, Wen Pinghan immediately agreed. “Alright, I’ll be there.”

Just eating and drinking? No problem. She wasn’t fazed by superficial social scenes—she was a seasoned salesperson, after all. No fear of awkwardness, only of too few people to network with. Zhao Xiaojing’s friends were likely rich or influential—perfect for building connections. Where else could she find such an opportunity?

In the evening, the three sat on the suite’s balcony, watching the sunset.

A ringtone broke the serene atmosphere. Zhao Xiaojing picked up her phone, saw it was Li Feng, cursed under her breath, and went inside to take the call.

“Such a busy bee,” Xie Zhifei remarked, popping a grape into her mouth.

“Are they really broken up?” Wen Pinghan asked.

“Who knows? She used to dump guys without hesitation—delete, block, done. No chance for them to explain,” Xie Zhifei said with a laugh. “Maybe she still has some feelings for Li Feng but doesn’t want to hang herself on one tree, so she’s cutting it off early.”

Wen Pinghan had been curious about something for a while and finally couldn’t hold back. “How did you two become best friends?”

“We were classmates, and our families had some business dealings. We found we clicked pretty well and became drinking buddies. Then one time, she almost got hit by a car. I pushed her out of the way and got hit myself, thrown a meter away. Luckily, the car wasn’t going fast—just broke a bone and stayed in the hospital a few months. She felt she owed me her life, so we got really close. Whatever I like, she makes sure I get it,” Xie Zhifei said.

In truth, no one knew the original “Xie Zhifei” didn’t push Zhao Xiaojing to save her but to show off her selflessness when Gu Zhizhang happened to walk by. During her hospital stay, besides Zhao Xiaojing’s devoted friendship, Gu Zhizhang’s attentive care made her feel quite pleased.

“That’s how it happened… Your bond is really strong,” Wen Pinghan said.

“Yeah, yeah.” Xie Zhifei felt a pang of guilt for the original host and changed the subject. “Wow… the sunset’s gorgeous.”

What a stiff transition!

Xie Zhifei mentally scolded herself. Wen Pinghan followed her gaze, watching the sun sink slowly, tinting the clouds and half the mountaintop yellow. “Yeah, it’s stunning.”

She walked to the railing, lost in nature’s gift. A voice came from behind.

“Sister.”

She turned, hearing a click.

“Looks great.”

Xie Zhifei admired her candid photo. At the junction of sky and mountain, the sunset framed Wen Pinghan’s warm profile.

She sent the photo to Wen Pinghan, who couldn’t help but look at it a few times. Half her face was in the frame, the other half blending into the dusk, her hair caught mid-flutter. Her expression was natural, and she hadn’t even noticed the smile on her lips when she turned.

They stayed one night at the resort. The next morning, Zhao Xiaojing was called back by her parents to discuss her birthday party.

Xie Zhifei and Wen Pinghan leisurely ate lunch before heading home.

“By the way, does Zhao Xiaojing have anything she likes?” Wen Pinghan asked in the car.

“Men. Good-looking men. The more, the merrier,” Xie Zhifei blurted out.

“…I can’t gift that.”

“Oh, a gift for her? No worries, just get anything. She lacks nothing,” Xie Zhifei said, thinking for a moment. “You could give something thoughtful. Her other friends give expensive stuff, but we don’t have that budget, so go for something heartfelt.”

“Who’s ‘we’? You can afford anything,” Wen Pinghan said.

Xie Zhifei laughed. “But don’t go too heartfelt.”

“Why not?”

“I’d get jealous,” Xie Zhifei said boldly. “When it’s my birthday, what’ll you do then?”

Wen Pinghan’s lips curved. “Fair point. Can’t set the bar too high.”

In the end, Wen Pinghan decided to gift a bottle of custom-made perfume. She found a reputable studio online, booked a time, and went on Wednesday evening.

Based on her description of Zhao Xiaojing’s personality, the owner suggested scents for the top, middle, and base notes. Under her guidance, Wen Pinghan crafted a unique perfume and was quite satisfied with the result.

For some reason, she added, “I’d like to make one for another friend too.”

“Sure. What’s that friend’s personality? Any preferred types?”

“She’s like afternoon sunlight, blue ocean waves, gentle mountain breezes, layered clouds, and a one-of-a-kind rose.”

“Boyfriend?” the owner teased.

“No, a girl.”

The owner laughed heartily. “My bad, I got it wrong. The way you described her, I thought she was your partner. She must be important to you, huh?”

“Why do you say that?”

“I’ve run this shop for years, and it’s the first time I’ve heard someone describe a personality like that. Even the friend you mentioned earlier—you said she’s bold, loves freely, and lives vibrantly, right?”

Now that she mentioned it, it did ring true. Wen Pinghan mused, “Maybe… it’s hard to pin her down with precise words.”

“Then I won’t suggest anything. Go with your gut to pick scents that suit her. Ask me if you need help.”

“Okay.”

This one took twice as long, but she finally finished.

Soon, it was Saturday. Wen Pinghan picked a dress from her closet. In her line of work, she had to attend important events, so she had a few outfits that could hold their own.

Driving to Zhao Xiaojing’s house, she realized her Volkswagen looked awfully ordinary among the luxury cars.

After changing into heels in the car, she grabbed her bag and headed inside.

The banquet hall was romantically decorated, filled mostly with young people. She heard the older guests were upstairs, hosted by Zhao Xiaojing’s parents.

People chatted in small groups. Wen Pinghan made her way to the center of the living room, where she spotted the star of the day, dressed like a princess, laughing with friends.

As she approached, Zhao Xiaojing noticed her, paused, and looked her up and down, eyes widening slightly.

“Happy birthday.” Wen Pinghan smiled, pulling a gift from her bag.

“Thanks… Go have fun for now. I’ll find you later,” Zhao Xiaojing said, a bit dazed.

“Alright, you’re busy.” Wen Pinghan turned to hunt for food, eating while observing the guests, scouting for potential networking targets.

Unbeknownst to her, after she left, Zhao Xiaojing hurriedly called Xie Zhifei, whining, “I shouldn’t have invited Wen Pinghan.”

“What? She’s there?” Xie Zhifei, chatting with elders upstairs, stepped away and headed downstairs.

“Yeah, looking all elegant like a swan. She’s gonna steal my spotlight, ugh!”

“No way. Everyone’s here for you. You’re the prettiest prin—holy crap! I see her. She’s stunning!!”

“Xie! Zhi! Fei!”

“Gotta go, bye.”

Wen Pinghan, scanning the room, paused as she spotted a familiar figure on the spiral staircase. Her gaze locked on, unable to look away. As Xie Zhifei descended and was stopped by a man, she raised a hand to cut him off before he could speak and headed straight toward Wen Pinghan.

Xie Zhifei wore a black spaghetti-strap gown with a thigh-high slit. As she walked, her long legs seemed enchanted, impossible to ignore.

No wonder she worried about meeting leg-obsessed guys at that blind date—who wouldn’t be smitten?

Wen Pinghan, for the first time, felt she might have a bit of a perverse streak.

“Just got here?” Xie Zhifei asked, reaching her.

“Yeah, you?”

“Got dragged here early this morning,” Xie Zhifei sighed.

“Have you eaten?” Wen Pinghan picked up a small cake from a tray. “Want some?”

“Sure.”

Wen Pinghan meant to hand it to her, but Xie Zhifei just bit it right out of her hand. Oh well, the young miss was probably used to being spoon-fed.

They stood there eating, Wen Pinghan strategizing about networking while Xie Zhifei openly admired her beauty.

Wen Pinghan rarely wore bright colors, but today’s deep red dress, with its silky fabric hugging her curves, was both lazy and alluring. A necklace hung on her slender neck, its pendant resting at her collarbone. Her hair was up, and whether from the front or side, she looked breathtaking.

With bold makeup, she traded her usual innocent, non-threatening look for something striking. Beyond a slight unfamiliarity, it was pure awe.

If she was a white rose before, now she was a red rose.

“Gave her the gift?” Xie Zhifei asked suddenly.

“Yeah.”

“What is it?” Xie Zhifei was curious.

“A custom-made perfume.”

“Wow, that’s awesome! I’m so jealous!”

Wen Pinghan looked at her hesitantly, seeing her expression, and said, “Actually, I made one for you too.”

Xie Zhifei was thrilled. “But my birthday’s not here yet!”

“Just because.”

Xie Zhifei waited excitedly, but seeing no move to present it, asked, “Didn’t bring it?”

“I did.” Wen Pinghan slowly pulled another perfume bottle from her bag, muttering, “See if you like it…”

“Of course I’d love anything you—huh?” Xie Zhifei opened the cap and froze.

What was this intense, chaotic scent?

Wen Pinghan explained awkwardly, “The owner told me to match your personality, so I added bold, warm, romantic, crisp, steady, lively—everything, and… it ended up like this.”

Xie Zhifei burst into a smile, capped the bottle, and tucked it into her bag. “No worries. It shows you really like me! I’ll treasure it!”

Wen Pinghan smiled, relieved.

Just then, two more people entered: Gu Zhizhang and Fang Ningshu. He glanced at Zhao Xiaojing, who was mingling, and sent Fang Ningshu to deliver the gift. Scanning the room, his eyes locked on Wen Pinghan, and he approached with delight. “Wen Pinghan, what a coincidence!”

Wen Pinghan turned to him, and for some reason, blurted out, “Sorry, I like women.”

Xie Zhifei: “Ha?”

Gu Zhizhang: “Huh???”