The Green Tea Supporting Girl Is Still Playing Her Role Today (GL) - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Gu Zhizhang had never been rejected by a woman before, but instead of feeling defeated, it felt fresh and sparked his competitive streak.

First glance: her fragility in the rainy night. Second glance: her sweaty allure on the tennis court. Third glance: her calm composure in the bar.

Very intriguing.

He smiled, using his gentlest tone in the noisy environment. “I just think it’s fate. I’d like to invite Ms. Wen for a drink, that’s all.”

Wen Pinghan’s expression shifted a few times. Just as Gu Zhizhang thought she might agree, she leaned closer and asked sincerely, “What did you say? Louder.”

“…”

The three spectators on the second floor had varied reactions. Li Feng was surprised—this was the first time he’d seen his old classmate actively pursue a woman.

Zhao Xiaojing tilted her head to look at her best friend. Xie Zhifei’s expression was hidden in the colorful bar lights, unreadable. Recalling their bathroom conversation, Zhao Xiaojing took a deep drag of her cigarette, convinced her friend couldn’t just let go of Gu Zhizhang so easily.

“Not going to stop them?” Zhao Xiaojing asked.

“I should stop them.” Xie Zhifei watched their heads inching closer, as if romance was about to blossom. As the manipulative side character hopelessly in love with Gu Zhizhang, how could she let this happen?

The next moment, Zhao Xiaojing saw her storm downstairs, cheering her on. “Get her!”

Gu Zhizhang lowered his gaze, looking at the face so close to his. The flickering lights danced on her fair cheeks, quickening his heartbeat. Just as he was about to speak, someone bumped his arm, making his glass tilt. A plaintive voice followed: “Oh, Brother Gu…”

He turned to see Xie Zhifei’s white top stained with red wine, conveniently right on her chest.

“Sorry.” The crowd was packed, and Gu Zhizhang didn’t know who bumped him. He had to handle the sudden mishap. “Do you have spare clothes?”

“I’m at a bar. Why would I bring spare clothes?” Xie Zhifei asked innocently.

“Fair point.” Gu Zhizhang hesitated, torn between taking her to change and wanting to stay with Wen Pinghan. He looked at Wen Pinghan. “Ms. Wen, could you—”

“Sure.”

He’d hoped to get her contact info, but her quick agreement surprised him. He smiled, reaching for his phone, only to hear her say to Xie Zhifei, “I have spare clothes. You can wear them.”

“Really? That’s so kind of you, thank you, sister!” Xie Zhifei gave her a sweet smile.

“Come with me.” Wen Pinghan returned to her table, said a few words to her colleagues, grabbed her bag, and led Xie Zhifei to the bathroom.

Xie Zhifei watched her pull out a familiar T-shirt from the bag and couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister, you carry this around too?”

“I left it at the office and only remembered to bring it home today.” Wen Pinghan hadn’t expected the coincidence. Lending the old T-shirt again, she turned to leave, but her wrist was grabbed.

“Sister, where are you going?” Xie Zhifei asked.

“Home.” Wen Pinghan lent her the clothes partly to slip away, avoiding Gu Zhizhang and her gossip-watching colleagues.

“Not staying?” Xie Zhifei asked again.

“Nope.”

“Alright, see you, sister.” Xie Zhifei let go, flashing another smile. “Really looking forward to our next meeting.”

Wen Pinghan gave her an ambiguous look, thinking: Better if we don’t meet again.

She wanted nothing to do with this bizarre pair.

When Xie Zhifei reappeared in Zhao Xiaojing’s sight, Zhao Xiaojing pointed at the “China” text on her shirt. “You actually wore that thing?”

“What else? Better than dirty clothes.” Xie Zhifei grinned, unbothered.

“No taste.” Zhao Xiaojing scoffed. “I’d rather go naked.”

As soon as she said it, Xie Zhifei swirled her glass mischievously and stepped closer, making Zhao Xiaojing back away in panic.

“Damn, I was kidding! Don’t do it! These clothes are new and not cheap!”

*

Wen Pinghan returned to her rental, receiving a message from HR asking for additional documents and informing her that promotion results would come next week.

The promotion.

She opened her laptop, organized the documents, sent them, and then showered.

Warm water cascaded over her body, her skin glowing in the steam like untouched porcelain. If not for a scar on her shoulder blade breaking the aesthetic, her body could be a flawless work of art.

Drying her hair, she checked new messages.

[Lin Zhimin]: Big Sis Han, I heard a super hot guy hit on you at the bar?! [drooling]

[Lin Zhimin]: Spill the tea! What’s the deal? Is your love life blooming? Is our team’s flower finally off the market?!

Gossip spread too fast. She suspected her colleagues weren’t even sober yet but still managed to pass it around accurately.

[Wen Pinghan]: Don’t know him.

[Lin Zhimin]: Hot or not? Hot or not? Hot or not?

Hot?

Wen Pinghan tried to recall, but in all three encounters, she hadn’t fully registered his face. He was probably handsome—why else would that beautiful woman pine for him so long?

Too lazy to entertain Lin Zhimin’s gossip, she tossed her phone aside, pushing the mess out of her mind. Her only thought before sleep: I hope the promotion goes smoothly.

The next day at work, several colleagues came to pry about the gossip, but she brushed them off.

“Here, milk tea, courtesy of Mr. Wu.” Lin Han handed her a cup and sat in the empty seat beside her. “Looks like those two deals yesterday really made him happy.”

Mr. Wu was the regional director at the dinner, the one who organized it.

Soon, Mr. Wu entered the office. Everyone greeted him, thanking him for the milk tea. He smiled, responding, then walked over to them. “Wen Pinghan, great work. I’m looking forward to you becoming one of my key players.”

Wen Pinghan exchanged pleasantries. Once he left, Lin Zhimin excitedly leaned over. “That’s a hint, right? If you get promoted, you’ll report to him directly. This is in the bag!”

Wen Pinghan didn’t smile, feeling a faint unease. Things seemed too smooth.

She was like that—since childhood, she never dared hope too much for things or outcomes, as they often fell through, leading to greater disappointment.

After hours, some colleagues were still working late, including Wen Pinghan. Rubbing her eyes, she heard a knock on her desk.

“Still here?” Mr. Wu smiled kindly. “Working this hard, don’t you care about your life?”

Wen Pinghan smiled. “Mr. Wu, need something?”

“No, just passing by and saw you working late. Checking in. Need any help?”

“Almost done.” Wen Pinghan shut her computer.

“Haven’t eaten, right? There’s a new clay pot porridge place nearby. Want to try it?”

Her boss was inviting her. Could she refuse? If she got promoted, he’d be her direct supervisor, the one she’d deal with most.

*

“Huh, isn’t that the Cinderella Gu Zhizhang’s chasing?” Zhao Xiaojing nodded toward a direction.

Xie Zhifei turned and saw Wen Pinghan in a corner, sitting across from a man. She instinctively thought it was Gu Zhizhang, but a closer look showed it wasn’t—more like someone from her company.

“She works at your company too?” Zhao Xiaojing sipped her porridge. “Tch, this place isn’t even that good.”

It was a do-nothing day, and Zhao Xiaojing had stopped by to check on her friend, dragged into working. They’d been high school buddies, both aiming to coast through life, sharing the same hobbies—spending money to satisfy desires. Kindred spirits for years, they knew each other’s quirks. When Zhao Xiaojing learned Xie Zhifei was working at her family’s company, she found it hilarious and came to visit today.

She glanced at her friend, now dressed in a proper shirt and pants, her makeup toned down to a fresh, minimal look. She couldn’t help but sigh—offices really ruin your appearance.

“Keep this up, and in a few years, that face of yours will be sallow,” Zhao Xiaojing teased.

“No way, I’ve got at least eight more years.” Xie Zhifei shared the same face as the original character. In her past life, her face held up through those years. After that? Who knows.

“You seem really focused on that woman,” Zhao Xiaojing said out of the blue.

“Am I?”

“You’ve snuck looks at her a few times.” Zhao Xiaojing smirked. “I get it—scope out the rival, then kick her out. Classic move.”

Xie Zhifei raised a brow, lowered her head to eat her porridge, and stopped looking over.

Wen Pinghan was oblivious to their exchange, spending most of her time pretending to check her phone while chatting with her boss.

Eating alone with a male superior brought some pressure and awkwardness. She could only fake replying to messages.

After the meal, Mr. Wu gallantly paid, and they left together.

Wen Pinghan offered to split the bill, but Mr. Wu laughed it off. “No need. You can treat next time.”

Wen Pinghan thought: Splitting was to avoid a next time. But knowing future interactions were inevitable, she nodded.

Passing through a narrow hallway, as they turned, Wen Pinghan felt a brush against the back of her hand.

She froze, turning to Mr. Wu.

“Sorry, it’s cramped. Didn’t mean to.” Mr. Wu gave an embarrassed smile. “I’ll walk ahead.”

His flustered guilt seemed genuine, likely an accident. But recalling how his hand seemed to linger along her fingers as he pulled away, she frowned slightly.

“How’re you getting home? I drove. Want a lift?” Mr. Wu asked at the door.

“No thanks, I live nearby. Bye, Mr. Wu.” Wen Pinghan stood a couple of meters behind, then turned to leave in another direction.

The night breeze was cool. After walking a bit, she took out flats from her bag, changed out of her heels on a bench, and continued.

A car honked behind her, several times, like a greeting. She quickened her pace, pretending not to hear.

But the car followed, the window rolling down, and a pleasant voice called, “Sister.”

Wen Pinghan looked over, surprised yet slightly relieved. “It’s you?”

“Yep.” Xie Zhifei drove slowly, keeping pace with her, smiling. “Get in, I’ll drive you.”

“No thanks.”

“So stubborn. Don’t you care about your life?” Xie Zhifei hinted.

Wen Pinghan followed her gaze to her feet, where her heels had rubbed her skin raw, still faintly aching. But she shook her head. “I’m fine. Almost home.”

“Still so stubborn.” Xie Zhifei couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister, you’re not afraid I’m plotting something, are you?”

Wen Pinghan stopped, turning to look at her.

Fair point. What was she scared of? Even if it was some absurd love triangle, it had nothing to do with her. If this woman wanted to dig or test her, what did it matter?

The barefoot don’t fear the shod.

With a thud, Wen Pinghan shut the car door. “The address is—”

“I know.” Xie Zhifei pulled up the navigation history, asking casually, “Any music you want?”

“Nope, your choice.”

“Then I’ll pick.”

The car was comfortably warm, with a faint fragrance. Wen Pinghan relaxed a bit, then heard an upbeat song blare from the speakers—

“Let’s conquer the docks together… When I move to the city, I’ll drive a Benz to pick you up, and then, hold you in my arms…”

Wen Pinghan: “…”

Xie Zhifei caught her complex look and grinned. “What do you think? Energizing enough? Perfect for driving to work.”

Wen Pinghan: …Energizing, sure. Brain-waking? Debatable.