The Green Tea Supporting Girl Is Still Playing Her Role Today (GL) - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

The door opened from inside, and Xie Zhifei’s face was slightly flushed, whether from anger or embarrassment was unclear. She raised her voice and said, “It’s not what you all think!”

“Then what is it?” Zhao Xiaojing asked humbly for guidance.

“I…”

Before Xie Zhifei could finish speaking, Wen Pinghan suddenly pushed her aside from behind. Then, under everyone’s gaze, she grabbed the gloating Wang Wan, shoved her hard, and flung her into the small room. She locked the door from outside just as they had done to her.

“Hey! Open the door! Wen Pinghan, let me out! Do you know who I am? I won’t let you off once I get out! You won’t ever marry into the Gu family after this!” Wang Wan pounded on the door madly from inside.

“What are you doing?” Zhao Xiaojing was utterly confused and looked at Wen Pinghan in bewilderment, almost not recognizing her. She had never seen Wen Pinghan act so ruthless.

“They locked us in first, so I just let her taste the same feeling.” Wen Pinghan said calmly.

Zhao Xiaojing and Fang Ningshu both looked at her in surprise, as if they had not expected that she, who appeared so gentle and kind, could be someone not to be trifled with.

Xie Zhifei was not surprised at all. She had known from the start that Wen Pinghan and Wang Wan were friends who loved and fought each other. In the early days, whenever Wang Wan made things difficult for her multiple times, she would strike back just as fiercely, and gradually, Wang Wan came to look at her in a new light, which was how they became friends.

Xie Zhifei was quite amused and even chatted with the system for a bit: [Look at this. Clearly, Wen Pinghan always repaid kindness with kindness and grudge with grudge when facing others. Why did she lose her mind specifically when she met Gu Zhizhang? And because of some misunderstandings, she could not open her mouth, leading to endless torment? This simply did not fit the overall tone of her character. It was not Wen Pinghan at all!]

System: [Ah, this… I’ll change it right now. I’ll change it.]

“Alright, let’s go. Just let her stay there for a while. We’ll go drink, and the staff will soon discover her.” Xie Zhifei organized everyone to go back and continue having fun, but it was already late, so they discussed where to have dinner.

The club had a restaurant, but Xie Zhifei wanted to eat outside, so they went to a restaurant outside for dinner, then each went home.

“Sister, get in the car. I’ll take you back.” Xie Zhifei called out.

Wen Pinghan had grown accustomed to riding in her car and did not stand on ceremony anymore. After getting in, she asked, “Do we really not need to check on Wang Wan?”

Xie Zhifei turned her head to glance outside and saw a certain figure walking toward the club. She smiled and said, “No need. Someone’s going to take care of it.”

*

In the dark room, only a few rays of light filtered in. Wang Wan huddled in the corner, hugging her knees with both hands and burying her head as she sobbed quietly.

At that moment, a sound came from the door, and then the door opened, letting outside light flood in.

She turned her head to look and, upon seeing the person at the door clearly, immediately lunged toward them. Tears welled up in her eyes again and fell uncontrollably: “Shu Sis, I… I’m scared. It’s so dark in here…”

“Then why did you lock others in here?” Fang Ningshu said indifferently.

“They had two people…”

“Even if they had thousands or tens of thousands of people, you still could not just lock someone in a room like that. Who exactly taught you to do these things?” Fang Ningshu pulled her hand away. “Wang Wan, you are twenty-two now. It is time you acted mature. You will eventually leave the Gu family’s protection. Your aunt will not indulge you without reason forever. She has her own son. Guess why she keeps you by her side?”

“I know…” Wang Wan lowered her head, and tears fell drop by drop again. She raised her hand to wipe them away and choked out, “But, but…”

“Enough, stop crying. I’ll take you back. Do not do things like this again in the future.” Fang Ningshu turned and strode away.

Wang Wan trotted after her all the way. Probing gazes came from all around, and she buried her head even lower. Only after getting in the car did she say in a hoarse voice, “Can you not take me back to the Gu family? If Cousin sees me like this, he will definitely lecture me.”

“Then where do you want to go?”

“To your place.”

“Miss Wang, I—”

Wang Wan lowered her head and started crying again: “Shu Sis, I do not want to go to a hotel. I am scared.”

Fang Ningshu took several deep breaths before driving her home.

“Make yourself at home. Later, tell Gu Zhizhang yourself that you are not going back.”

“Mm…” Whenever Wang Wan got into trouble before, she often hid at her place. She was very familiar with it. It remained as clean and empty as ever over the ten years. The guest room still had the vase she had given her before. She wandered around the room a bit nostalgically before going to take a shower.

Fang Ningshu worked in the living room for a while. After Wang Wan finished showering, she poured a cup of hot water and placed it in front of her. She stood awkwardly by her side and asked, “Shu Sis, what exactly happened between you and Cousin? Why does it seem like you have such strong hostility toward us?”

“Do not concern yourself with adult matters.”

“I am twenty-two now. I am not a child anymore!”

“You know now that you are not a child?” Fang Ningshu raised her eyes and looked at her swollen, tear-streaked eyes, then at her palm-sized face.

In truth, Wang Wan had a sweet and cute appearance, but she preferred mature makeup, which made it hard to recognize her original face after applying it. Her current bare-faced look added a few points of pure and clean innocence. It was just that her eyes, like light bulbs, looked a bit funny.

“That woman named Wen Pinghan is really detestable.” Wang Wan said.

“You still blame her?”

“Who made her seduce Cousin? Aunt said she would never let that kind of person through the Gu family’s door.”

“Was it Gu Zhizhang who said Wen Pinghan seduced him?”

“Cousin said he would marry no one but Wen Pinghan in this lifetime. Aunt got furious and said Wen Pinghan seduced him.”

Fang Ningshu frowned slightly. Suddenly, she felt that her failed confession might not have been such a bad thing after all. Even if she and Gu Zhizhang had really gotten together, getting past Gu’s mother would probably have been extremely difficult.

“Wen Pinghan did not seduce him. Based on my observations, Wen Pinghan might not even like Gu Zhizhang at all. It is your cousin who has been pestering her relentlessly.” Fang Ningshu said.

“How is that possible? That is my cousin. How could he pester someone like that?” Wang Wan asked in disbelief. “Shu Sis, did Wen Pinghan give you some kind of bewitching potion too? Why do you keep speaking up for her?”

“I am just speaking objectively. As for you, Miss Wang, believe it or not, it is up to you. This is also the last time I take you in. Find your own place in the future.” Fang Ningshu closed her laptop and turned to go back to her room.

“Shu Sis!”

Fang Ningshu paused in her steps and heard her voice, which carried a hint of grievance: “Can you not call me Miss Wang? Can you not call me Wanwan like you used to?”

Fang Ningshu did not answer and continued walking forward.

“You and Cousin had a falling out. That is between you two. But I did not want to have a falling out with you. I have always respected you and liked you. In my heart, you will forever be the best Shu Sis.” Wang Wan hurried after her closely.

“Go to sleep.” Fang Ningshu closed her room door, shutting her out.

Wang Wan lowered her head in dejection and slowly made her way back to her room. She sent a message to Gu Zhizhang, saying she was at Fang Ningshu’s place, and asked what exactly had happened between him and Fang Ningshu.

Gu Zhizhang: [Nothing much, just a small issue at work. Get some early rest. I am free tomorrow, so I will take you out to eat.]

A small issue at work?

How could it possibly be just a work issue! Shu Sis was not even paying attention to her anymore!

*

The next day, after Xie Zhifei arrived at the company, Fang Ningshu came to her office to confirm the day’s itinerary with her. Once everything checked out, Xie Zhifei asked, “Did you pick up Wang Wan yesterday?”

Fang Ningshu nodded: “Mm, she was too disheveled yesterday, so she did not want to go back to the Gu family. I let her stay over at my place temporarily. She went back to the Gu family today.”

Xie Zhifei nodded and asked again, “How is your relationship with her?”

“Not much of one. I only interact with her because of work.” Fang Ningshu glanced at her and countered, “I have not even asked President Xie about your relationship with Wen Pinghan yet. That scene yesterday did give people quite a shock. If you two really did that, it would be best to give me a heads-up in advance so I can prepare some responses.”

“Cough!” Xie Zhifei suddenly coughed hard. “I do not know what you are talking about. Meeting time, let us go to the meeting!”

“Alright.” Fang Ningshu left gracefully to prepare for the meeting.

Xie Zhifei drank a few sips of water, took a deep breath, and pinched her earlobe. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to that small dark room yesterday. The deep and shallow breaths seemed to still linger in her ears, accompanied by an unidentified fresh fragrance, which made her entire dream last night a spring garden.

After the meeting, Xie Zhifei took her two little secretaries out to meet clients, while Fang Ningshu kept an eye on things at the company for her, especially the progress on the assessment project. Fang Ningshu had just joined the company not long ago and was the least likely to have personal connections with these people, so Xie Zhifei felt at ease about it.

Wen Pinghan reported the progress to Fang Ningshu and sneaked a few glances toward the next office over.

“President Xie is not here.” Fang Ningshu said without lifting her head from the computer screen.

Wen Pinghan guiltily withdrew her gaze. Seeing that she had nothing more to say, she could not help but ask, “Did she go to see Li Hongyan again?”

“No, President Wang. The project is done, so she went over to sign the contract.” After Fang Ningshu finished speaking, she handed her the documents. “You seem very concerned about Li Hongyan?”

“No, I just happen to know Li Hongyan, that is all.” Wen Pinghan quickly explained.

“Then should you not be asking about Gu Zhizhang even more? You are more familiar with him, right?”

“…” Wen Pinghan took the documents. “If there is nothing else, I will go now.”

“Wait.” Fang Ningshu opened her calendar and said lightly, “Next Wednesday is President Xie’s birthday.”

Wen Pinghan paused in her steps and nodded: “Got it. Thanks.”

Two days later, Xie Zhifei finally wrapped up the project with President Wang and went to headquarters to report to Xie Hongxu.

Xie Hongxu was overjoyed and laughed until his eyes could not stay open: “As expected of my daughter. You landed another big project. Tell me, what birthday gift do you want?”

“Birthday?” Xie Zhifei was stunned for a moment.

“It is your birthday next week. You forgot? In the past, you started preparing your birthday party one or two months in advance.” Xie Hongxu said.

“It is not that I am busy. Time flew by so fast to the birthday.” Xie Zhifei smiled. “For the gift, you decide. I will be happy with whatever you give me.”

Xie Hongxu was even more delighted and looked gratified: “Then this year’s party must be grand!”

“No need. Everyone has their own things, and I am quite busy next week too. Just having dinner with friends will do. Do not make it too elaborate. I do not have the time or energy to handle it.”

“Fine, as you wish.”

On the way back to the company, she received a call from Zhao Xiaojing. Before she could even speak, the other side was already chattering away about the birthday party arrangements: “The venue is already booked for you. At the time, invite your friends and our classmates to gather together.”

“No need, really no need.”

“That will not do. It is a rare chance to get together, so we cannot just let it pass. You have no idea how long I have been looking forward to it!”

“…” So it turned out she just wanted to have fun herself.

“That day is a workday. I will be very busy.”

“No problem. I will help you host. You just need to show up, cut the cake, and that is it. OK? I already booked the venue, cake, and drinks! In the past, we always celebrated your birthdays together!”

“Alright then. I will just show up and sign in at that time.” Xie Zhifei said.

“Great! Love you. The gifts are all ready. Wait for you to come and unwrap them on site.”

“Not from a man, right?”

“Pah, in your dreams. If there is a man, I will keep him for myself. No turn for you.”

Xie Zhifei laughed: “Alright, then I will leave it to you to fuss over slowly.”

As soon as she entered the office, she handed the contract to Fang Ningshu, glanced at the time, and said, “It is almost six o’clock. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Fang Ningshu took the contract to file it away and mentioned the company situation over the past two days at the same time. “Currently, four teams are far ahead of the others. They might finish the task even before the deadline.”

“Which four teams?”

Fang Ningshu named three teams, paused, and then said, “And Wen Pinghan’s.”

Xie Zhifei’s lips curved up: “Not surprising.”

“Mm, her team is having dinner with Gu Zhizhang right now.”

“What?!” Xie Zhifei’s smile twisted immediately. “This guy is at it again, huh!”

Fang Ningshu raised an eyebrow and calmly went to tidy her desk.

Xie Zhifei paced a few circles in the office but still could not hold back. She called Wen Pinghan: “Hey, Sister~”

Fang Ningshu shivered at the sound.

“Nothing, nothing. I just wanted to ask… Next week is my birthday. Xiaojing wants to organize a gathering. Would you like to come~”

Fang Ningshu rubbed the goosebumps on her arms.

“Yay, of course I am happy if Sister comes. What are you doing right now?”

“Oh oh, so you are having dinner with Brother Gu. What are you eating?”

“That sounds great. I really want to eat Thai food too. I am starving~ But I just got back to the company and have not had time for dinner. Secretary Fang even prepared a bunch of work for me. I do not even know when I will finish~”

Fang Ningshu: …Fine, my main job is secretary, and part-time scapegoat.

“No need, no need. You do not have to worry about me. Just keep having dinner with Brother Gu. Work comes first. But do not let Brother Gu drink too much. He goes crazy when drunk. It is very scary and not normal at all~”

After hanging up, Xie Zhifei returned to her seat and leisurely sipped her freshly ground coffee: “What is that look? What, am I wrong? Does Gu Zhizhang not go crazy when drunk?”

“Yes, he also forcibly kisses people. It is terrifying.”

“What, really or fake?!” The coffee in Xie Zhifei’s hand spilled right out, and she stood up to head to the scene.

“Fake.”

“…” Xie Zhifei stared at her with resentment.

“If you want to go find her, just go. Do not put on this green tea act here.”

“What joke are you making?” Xie Zhifei was unconvinced. “Excuse me for being blunt, but you are questioning my acting skills. I am not acting. I am real green tea!”

Fang Ningshu: “Heh.”