Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: “Indirect Kiss.”

Jiang Zhi was preoccupied with the arrival of the ¥10,000 and didn’t notice Lin Anran’s reaction, casually replying: “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I don’t love you. I guarantee I don’t.”

Lin Anran’s hand, brushing her hair, stopped. The blush on her face faded. She stiffly turned her head to look at the person who was blissfully staring at her bank balance on her phone, completely unaware.

Lin Anran’s molars were nearly grinding into dust, while the other person was still immersed in the joy of her ¥10,000, oblivious to the situation.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Zhi finally finished admiring her balance and was willing to put down her phone.

She looked up and met Lin Anran’s ashen face. Her gaze was resentful, as if she wanted to devour her.

Jiang Zhi: “?”

What was wrong now? What did I do to upset her this time?

“Should I transfer the ¥10,000 back to you?”

Jiang Zhi tried to guess the reason for her anger. It couldn’t be that she was unhappy about me accepting the ¥10,000, could it? A dignified wealthy heiress shouldn’t be reluctant over that amount…

“Are you insane?” Lin Anran glared coldly.

Jiang Zhi scratched her head. So, it wasn’t about the ¥10,000.

If it wasn’t that, then why was she angry?

Forget it. The young lady got angry every other day. If she had to find a reason for every outburst, she wouldn’t get any work done all day; she’d just be searching for reasons.

Lin Anran turned her head away, ignoring her.

Jiang Zhi tried to strike up a conversation, but Lin Anran shot her a sharp look.

Jiang Zhi smiled and made a gesture of zipping her mouth shut.

“Third Miss, we have arrived,” the driver up front reminded them.

Lin Anran didn’t even look at Jiang Zhi. She pushed the door open and got out, taking long strides forward. She didn’t look back or spare a glance for the person behind her.

Jiang Zhi was utterly confused, not knowing what she was angry about this time, especially since she seemed really furious.

It was truly hard to get a meal out of her. She had gotten angry countless times on the way here.

Lin Anran stopped in front of a Western restaurant. It was located in the city center, and just looking at it from the outside, you could sense the luxury of the interior decor.

Jiang Zhi usually walked around restaurants with this kind of decoration. The reason was simple: these types of restaurants were visibly expensive.

They were places for the wealthy. Poor people like Jiang Zhi shouldn’t go in and humiliate themselves. One meal might cost more than a month’s salary.

Lin Anran turned around. Seeing that Jiang Zhi was dawdling and still some distance away, she said impatiently: “Are you genuinely crippled? Walking so slowly. Hurry up and come over.”

Jiang Zhi raised an eyebrow. She’s not angry anymore, and she’s willing to talk to me?

What a temperamental Miss Lin. Jiang Zhi sighed.

Jiang Zhi jogged over, looking around as she did. The customers entering and exiting the restaurant were all dressed finely. While not necessarily in formal wear, they all looked respectable and fashionable.

Jiang Zhi looked down at her own clothes…

A white shirt, casual pants, and a pair of white sneakers.

Normal attire.

However, compared to the surrounding environment, it looked a bit plain.

“Plain” was an understated way of putting it. In reality, it was shabby.

She felt like a dusty figure walking into a lavishly decorated space, like an ordinary person who had strayed into a castle. She stood out, clearly not belonging here.

In contrast, Lin Anran didn’t feel that way at all. She was naturally noble and had an outstanding aura. She belonged here. She was suited to be in this kind of luxurious place. She was even more splendid than the luxurious setting itself.

Jiang Zhi looked down at the white sneakers on her feet. Against the reflective white tiles, the white sneakers didn’t look so white anymore, appearing greyish and a bit dirty.

She was afraid that stepping on this floor with these shoes would dirty it.

Jiang Zhi lowered her eyes, unconsciously rubbing the plain bracelet on her wrist.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with this feeling. She had strongly felt these emotions during her student years, at the age when pride mattered most.

It was called self-respect, called inferiority.

However, she was no longer a student. She was past the age of caring most about appearances, and now she could even joke about it frankly.

“You brought me here to eat? How about we don’t? I don’t really belong in a place like this. I feel embarrassed dressed like this.”

Lin Anran was astonished: “You, of all people, with your thick skin, actually feel embarrassed sometimes?”

Jiang Zhi choked: “I occasionally care about my pride too, and I can be self-conscious, alright? Could you please consider my humble self-respect?”

Lin Anran scanned her up and down, scrutinizing her attire.

Of course, our Miss Lin wouldn’t say anything comforting: “You really are dressed quite rustically. It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s embarrassing. But don’t worry, with me here, I won’t let anyone laugh at you. I will protect your self-respect.”

Jiang Zhi didn’t fully grasp the meaning of this promise at first, until…

The restaurant waiter led them to the private room. During the walk, the waiter glanced back at Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi didn’t feel anything, but Lin Anran reacted as if triggered, immediately speaking up: “Don’t look at her with that kind of gaze! She has self-respect! Even though she’s dressed rustically and looks like a pauper, you mustn’t look down on her.”

The moment she finished speaking, silence fell.

Help me!

Jiang Zhi felt so embarrassed in that instant that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

The waiter was stunned. He had merely glanced back out of habit to see if the customers behind him were following. How did that become looking down on someone?

Jiang Zhi forced an awkward laugh: “It’s fine, it’s fine. She’s just joking.”

The waiter could only force an awkward laugh as well.

Jiang Zhi mouthed: Are you trying to make me publicly die of shame?!

Lin Anran looked displeased and muttered softly: “Wasn’t I protecting your self-respect? Why aren’t you grateful? You’re so ungrateful.”

Although she muttered softly, Jiang Zhi, standing right next to her, and the waiter, standing just ahead, could hear every word clearly.

Jiang Zhi lowered her voice: “My dear young lady, I beg you. If you just spoke a little less, I wouldn’t be so embarrassed.”

Lin Anran scoffed: “Put away all this nonsense about self-respect! You’re just here to eat a meal. Why be self-conscious? You’re so difficult to serve.”

The waiter in front couldn’t hold it in and chuckled aloud.

Jiang Zhi: “…”

The meal was served.

“That orange juice of yours looks really good,” Jiang Zhi’s gaze was fixed on the orange juice.

Lin Anran elegantly sliced a piece of steak with her knife and fork, while glancing at the person sitting opposite her: “If you like it, order a cup. You’re not paying, so stop being so stingy.”

Jiang Zhi shook her head: “No need to order another one. Just let me taste yours.”

Lin Anran clicked her tongue: “So troublesome.”

Her tone was impatient, but she still pushed the orange juice towards Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi picked up the orange juice, took a small sip, finding it sweet and sour. She nodded, it was quite nice.

After taking a small taste, Jiang Zhi pushed the glass back.

Lin Anran continued eating her steak. She casually picked up the glass, took a sip of orange juice, and was about to put the glass down when she inadvertently noticed a faint lipstick mark on the rim.

Her movements paused. She stared blankly at the rim of the glass, motionless for a long time.

Jiang Zhi had insisted on tasting the orange juice, so she had taken a sip. Lin Anran had just taken a sip too. The placement on the rim seemed to overlap.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Zhi looked up and saw Lin Anran spacing out while holding the glass.

Lin Anran snapped out of her trance, put the glass down, and became angry out of embarrassment for no reason: “Mind your own business. Just eat your food. Why do you talk so much?”

Jiang Zhi choked. How did she get angry again during the course of eating a meal?

Lin Anran pretended to be calm and continued slicing her steak, but her peripheral vision kept darting towards the orange juice glass by her hand.

After staring at the glass for a while, her gaze shifted to Jiang Zhi’s face, finally landing precisely on her lips.

Jiang Zhi didn’t usually wear makeup, so she rarely wore lipstick. Her lip color was pale, a light pink.

They looked soft, like jelly.

Jiang Zhi: “Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”

Lin Anran withdrew her gaze, coughed lightly, and instinctively picked up the orange juice and took a sip.

After drinking, she seemed to realize something. She looked at the rim of the glass, hastily put it down, picked up her knife and fork to continue slicing steak, while simultaneously glancing up at Jiang Zhi’s lips from time to time.

She looked slightly flustered.

Support