The Green Tea Supporting Girl Is Still Playing Her Role Today (GL) - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“Miss Zhao, rumors stop with the wise,” Fang Ningshu reminded.

“Of course I know that. That’s why I haven’t said a word to anyone except you guys involved. Not even Li Feng could pry a single detail out of me!” Zhao Xiaojing declared confidently.

Fang Ningshu: “…”

“What’s with that look? Hasn’t Little Xie told you about this yet?”

“…She hasn’t.”

“Sigh, then I’ve got to tell you. She’s been holding in her feelings for Gu Zhizhang for years, and now she’s got a thing for you. If she keeps bottling it up forever, I can’t just stand by and watch. Otherwise, you’ll end up liking someone else, and she’ll get hurt again,” Zhao Xiaojing said earnestly.

Fang Ningshu didn’t know why Xie Zhifei hadn’t denied it, but since her boss didn’t want to talk about it, she naturally wouldn’t spill anything either. So, she changed the subject: “Let’s head downstairs. They’re all waiting for you to play mahjong.”

“No problem!” Zhao Xiaojing dashed downstairs excitedly, bursting with enthusiasm as she approached the mahjong table. “Here I am! Better watch your wallets, or you’ll lose everything down to your underwear!”

“Finally!” Xie Zhifei stood up to give her a seat, introducing Zhang Changsheng to her before sitting back next to Wen Pinghan to offer some guidance.

Zhang Changsheng, seated just below Wen Pinghan, occasionally asked for advice when she didn’t understand something.

“So, you two are both newbies?” Zhao Xiaojing said, puzzled. “That makes winning feel a bit unfair. Come on, let’s raise the stakes and have some fun!”

The three others: “…”

Zhao Xiaojing: “Forget it. How about we switch up the stakes? Everyone writes down their most desired wish for the near future. Whoever wins the most gets everyone’s help to make it happen. Sound good?”

“I’m in,” Wen Pinghan nodded.

The others agreed too, so everyone took a slip of paper, wrote down their wish, and handed it to Fang Ningshu for safekeeping.

With the new rules set, Xie Zhifei was only allowed to give occasional pointers to the two newbies, not full-on coaching, to keep things fair.

An hour and a half later, the game ended. Zhao Xiaojing stared at the big winner in despair. “The newbie halo is real!”

Wang Wan clutched her head in agony. “Why? Why did it have to be you who won?”

Wen Pinghan smiled. “Looks like my luck’s still a bit off.”

“I concede,” Zhang Changsheng said, her smile widening as she looked at them. “I didn’t expect to win either.”

“Come on, let’s see what Ms. Zhang Changsheng’s wish is!” Zhao Xiaojing rushed over to Fang Ningshu, grabbed her wish slip, and read aloud, “‘I want to hang out with you all.’”

Everyone froze. Zhao Xiaojing was especially stunned. “That’s it?”

Zhang Changsheng gave an awkward smile. “I… I don’t have many friends, and I’m not familiar with this place… Can I, um, join you guys again next time?”

“Of course,” Xie Zhifei said, patting her arm with a smile and pulling out her QR code. “Here, add me on WeChat. Contact me anytime.”

“Exactly! If your wish is that simple, it’s way too easy to make happen,” Zhao Xiaojing said, leaning in with her own QR code and flashing a big grin. “I’m no good at much, but I’m great at making friends. If you’re up for it, I can introduce you to some others.”

“Really?” Zhang Changsheng asked.

“Absolutely. I’m a party planner now, so I can even tailor a party just for you. It’s a bit pricey, though.”

“How much?”

Zhao Xiaojing quoted a price. “Since you’re our new friend, I’ll give you a seventy—”

“Deal,” Zhang Changsheng said.

Zhao Xiaojing blinked. “That quick?”

Zhang Changsheng smiled slowly. “I don’t have much else, so I might as well enjoy life while I can. Who knows, maybe one day I…”

“Go broke?” Zhao Xiaojing asked.

Zhang Changsheng’s smile deepened. “No, I’ve never spent money recklessly before. I saved it all, thinking I’d do so many things once I got better…”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Xie Zhifei discreetly pinched Zhao Xiaojing, who muttered, “I was just asking.”

“It’s fine, nothing I can’t share. It’s congenital heart disease,” Zhang Changsheng said.

Wen Pinghan, hearing this for the first time, felt a pang of surprise and suddenly asked, “Have you been to an amusement park?”

“Once, but I could only ride the carousel. I haven’t gone back since.”

“Then leave it to me. Our family owns an amusement park. How about we throw a custom party for you there?” Zhao Xiaojing suggested.

“Sounds good,” Zhang Changsheng said, a faint spark of excitement in her eyes, though her voice remained calm. “I’ll trouble you then.”

“No trouble at all! You’re my VIP client now. Come on, VIP, let’s talk details,” Zhao Xiaojing said, diving into party planning with her.

Wang Wan, getting bored, pulled Wen Pinghan aside to play video games.

Xie Zhifei sidled up to Fang Ningshu, pretending to ask about her work before sneakily reaching out.

Without looking up, Fang Ningshu handed her Wen Pinghan’s wish slip.

Xie Zhifei immediately turned to peek at it.

—Get filthy rich.

Yup, classic Wen Pinghan wish.

As dusk settled, Wang Wan got a call from Gu’s mother urging them to come home for dinner, so she left with Zhang Changsheng.

“It was great meeting you all today. See you,” Zhang Changsheng said with a smile.

“I’ve got to prep for this big gig!” Zhao Xiaojing said, thrilled, as she bid them goodbye.

Fang Ningshu had nothing else to do, but she’d rather eat instant noodles than stay and witness all the lovey-dovey stuff.

Soon, only Xie Zhifei, Wen Pinghan, and an aunt cooking in the kitchen remained in the villa.

The two sat on the couch watching a movie, sharing a blanket. Wen Pinghan leaned against Xie Zhifei, gazing at the snow falling outside. “Who’s Zhang Changsheng?” she asked softly.

From the moment Wang Wan took Zhang Changsheng back to the Gu family, Wen Pinghan had figured out Zhang Changsheng’s connection to Gu’s mother. Today’s lively gathering was clearly Xie Zhifei’s way of introducing Zhang Changsheng to everyone. But Wen Pinghan didn’t understand Xie Zhifei’s relationship with Zhang Changsheng, having never heard of her before.

“She’s from the Zhang family in the south. Pretty kind and gentle, as you saw. She’s been friends with the old lady for a while—they met as fellow patients. Now the old lady’s trying to use her to make Gu Zhizhang forget you.”

Wen Pinghan looked up. “Because she looks a bit like me?”

“Yup, classic stand-in trope. You get it.”

“…How could there be such a coincidence?” If Wen Pinghan didn’t know her own family so well, she might’ve wondered if she and Zhang Changsheng were related. If they were, her family wouldn’t have let someone as wealthy as Zhang Changsheng slip through their fingers.

“No such thing as a story without coincidences,” Xie Zhifei said with a helpless chuckle.

“So, what’s the most similar thing about us?” Wen Pinghan asked curiously.

“Your side profile.”

“Not the eyes?” Wen Pinghan had noticed Zhang Changsheng’s eye shape was similar to hers, which was why she’d been stunned at first glance.

“Nope,” Xie Zhifei said, turning to gaze into her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. “Her eyes are like calm, lonely well water. Yours? They’re full of me.”

Wen Pinghan’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Don’t think I didn’t see that book of yours, ‘How to Be a Romantic’.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand. Not at all,” Xie Zhifei said, playing stubborn.

Wen Pinghan laughed and tickled her neck. They tussled on the couch until Xie Zhifei flipped her over, pinned her down, and planted a deep kiss on her neck.

“Stop playing, dinner’s ready,” the aunt called, carrying dishes out from the kitchen.

Xie Zhifei sat up quickly, giving an awkward smile. “I-I was swatting a mosquito for her.”

The aunt set the dishes on the table, glanced at Wen Pinghan from a distance, and noticed a red mark on her neck. Frowning, she said, “Seriously, mosquitoes in this weather? I’ll grab some cream.”

Wen Pinghan kicked Xie Zhifei from behind. Xie Zhifei burst out laughing, slipping into her slippers to find the aunt. “Give me the cream. I’ll put it on for her.”

“Alright, hurry up. The food’s getting cold,” the aunt said before heading back to the kitchen.

When Xie Zhifei approached, Wen Pinghan had already put on a puffy jacket, zipping it up to cover her neck.

“Not hot?” Xie Zhifei asked quietly.

“Whose fault is that?” Wen Pinghan shot her a look.

“My bad, all my fault—this mouth of mine,” Xie Zhifei said, playfully tapping her own lips before leaning her neck forward. “Sis, you can get revenge.”

“Don’t think I won’t.”

“Please, don’t go easy on me.”

“…”

After dinner, Wen Pinghan had to leave since she had work the next day.

Xie Zhifei walked her downstairs. Wen Pinghan got out of the car and said, “Go back up. See you tomorrow.”

“Alright, see you, Sis.”

Wen Pinghan returned home, tidied her room, and stood in her bedroom lost in thought. After a moment, she opened a shopping app and started browsing for new bedding sets—the old ones were too worn and ugly.

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong—

Puzzled, she went to the door, checked who it was, and opened it. “Why’re you back?”

“What were you doing? Took you forever to answer,” Xie Zhifei asked, leaning against the doorway.

“Nothing… Hey, what color do you like?” Wen Pinghan asked suddenly.

“Color?” Xie Zhifei thought for a moment. “I don’t really have a favorite. As long as it looks good.”

Helpful.

“Do you like lace?” Wen Pinghan asked.

“???” Xie Zhifei was baffled, taking a while to respond. “If I’m not mistaken, we’re already pretty lacy together.”

“…” Oh.

“Sis, why’re you asking this?” Xie Zhifei looked utterly confused.

“Just curious. Come in.”

“Nah, if I come in, I won’t want to leave,” Xie Zhifei said with a smile, handing her something. “Here, a gift for you.”

“Gift?” Wen Pinghan took it, her expression complicated. “A stack of scratch-off tickets?”

“Yup. Whether you strike it rich depends on your luck.”

Wen Pinghan gave her a half-smile. “You peeked at my wish slip, didn’t you?”

“Yup,” Xie Zhifei admitted shamelessly. “Is one stack enough? I can get more.”

“It’s enough,” Wen Pinghan said, laughing through her exasperation.

“Actually… if you want to get rich, there’s an easier way,” Xie Zhifei said.

“What?”

“Marry me, and you’ll be rich,” Xie Zhifei said, cupping her face and batting her eyes dramatically.

Wen Pinghan couldn’t help but pat her head, smiling. “You’ve got it backward. It’s because I want to marry you that I really, really, really want to get rich.”