Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: “Can You Not Leave.”

 

Jiang Yi stared blankly at the person sitting at the desk, her mind momentarily going blank. There was shock, confusion, and bewilderment.

 

This person, who had disappeared so suddenly, now reappeared just as suddenly.

 

Why was Lin Anran here, why was she wearing a professional suit and glasses—a complete style change—and why had she secured a manager position and transferred Jiang Yi to be her assistant?

 

What was this young miss trying to do now? It seemed that no matter what her intention was, Jiang Yi was no longer interested in playing along.

 

A month ago, Lin Anran disappeared without a reason. Jiang Yi was initially worried, then confused, and later, angry.

 

Various emotions mixed and changed, lasting for a very long time.

 

Now, a month later, not much emotion was left. If she had to describe her current feeling, there was only one word: exhausted.

 

Jiang Yi had originally thought that when she encountered her again, she would urgently press her for the reason for suddenly cutting off contact. But now that she was standing right in front of her, Jiang Yi no longer felt the urge to question her.

 

She was tired, so tired that she didn’t even have the energy to pursue the reason.

 

Therefore, her first words to Lin Anran were inevitably a bit cold: “Miss Lin, are you looking for me for something?”

 

At this, the smile on Lin Anran’s face faded by a fraction.

 

Lin Anran looked at her face, observing her expression, trying to guess what Jiang Yi was thinking.

 

But Jiang Yi’s face was devoid of emotion, wearing a polite smile, making it impossible to read her mind.

 

“It seems there is nothing. Since there’s nothing, I’ll be leaving now.” Jiang Yi nodded politely and turned to go.

 

“Who told you to leave?” Lin Anran immediately spoke up to stop her.

 

Jiang Yi took a deep breath: “Then what instructions do you have, Miss Lin? As your assistant, what work should I be doing?”

 

“Miss Lin,” “You” (formal address)—such terms instantly pulled the distance between them very far apart, as if they were not friends, but ordinary, or even unfamiliar, acquaintances.

 

Jiang Yi waited for her work instructions, but Lin Anran rested her hands on the desk, head lowered, and gave no response.

 

“If there are no other instructions, I’ll go out first,” Jiang Yi said.

 

“You are not allowed to go!” Lin Anran abruptly raised her head.

 

Jiang Yi sighed, watching her in silence.

 

Lin Anran’s eyes darted around, as if she finally thought of a suitable reason, and she immediately said: “I have a work arrangement for you.”

 

Jiang Yi: “What work? Please tell me, I’m listening.”

 

Lin Anran lifted her chin: “I need to go on a business trip, and you will come with me.”

 

A business trip?

 

Lin Anran’s manager position was most likely just nominal; it was unlikely she had any actual work, much less a need for a business trip.

 

But since she said so, Jiang Yi, as her assistant, seemed to have no choice but to follow her on this “business trip.”

 

And the truth was indeed as Jiang Yi had expected: Lin Anran didn’t need to go on any business trip.

 

Because the business trip Lin Anran spoke of was accompanying her shopping…

 

Lin Anran seemed a little guilty about this, but she wouldn’t admit it, so she spoke defensively: “What’s wrong? Isn’t it your duty as my assistant to accompany me shopping? This counts as a type of business trip, doesn’t it?”

 

Jiang Yi simply hummed, having no intention of arguing with her: “Yes, I will accompany you shopping.”

 

Lin Anran looked at her resentfully. Why the constant formal “you”? It was so annoying! This bothersome Jiang Yi!!

 

When she was in a bad mood, Lin Anran habitually started picking fights.

 

“What a terrible mall, the decor is so tacky, I don’t like it.”

 

“Why put such an ugly potted plant here? It’s an eyesore.”

 

“Why are the new clothes so ugly? They look like a pile of cheap rags, I don’t like them, bring a new batch of clothes.”

 

She didn’t just pick faults with the mall’s decor, the potted plants, and the clothes; she also picked on people.

 

The “lucky recipient” of her criticism this time was a sales associate at a shoe store.

 

Lin Anran spotted a pair of high heels and asked the associate to fetch the correct size to try on. But when the associate brought the shoes over, the fault-finding began.

 

“Why did you bring me red? I wanted pink.” Lin Anran looked at the associate with displeasure, adopting an accusatory stance.

 

The associate was momentarily stunned and quickly apologized: “I must have misheard, please don’t worry, I’ll go get the pink ones for you now.”

 

Lin Anran had no intention of being considerate, placing her hands on her hips: “Change them now? Why should I wait for you to go change them again? I clearly asked for pink, are your ears just for show…”

 

Jiang Yi rubbed her forehead, unable to watch. She stepped forward and took the high heels from the associate: “It’s alright, you go ahead and attend to others. I’ll help her try on the shoes here.”

 

Hearing this, the associate breathed a sigh of relief, thanked her, and quickly left.

 

Lin Anran was annoyed: “Did I tell her to leave? How dare you make decisions on your own?”

 

Jiang Yi ignored her, crouched down, and began to help her change shoes.

 

As soon as she grabbed her ankle, Lin Anran instantly pulled her foot back like a startled kitten.

 

“What are you doing?” Lin Anran looked down at the person crouching at her feet.

 

“Didn’t you want to try on the shoes?” Jiang Yi looked up at her: “I’ll help you wear them.”

 

An uncomfortable look flashed across Lin Anran’s face: “This isn’t your job. Ask the associate to come over…”

 

Jiang Yi directly pulled her retracted foot back, gently took off her original shoes, and put on the new ones.

 

Lin Anran’s initial aggressive demeanor instantly disappeared. Like an animal being stroked, she quietly watched the person crouching in front of her helping her change shoes, biting her lip, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

 

“Sales associates in this job usually stand for twelve hours, serving all kinds of customers. You might not fully understand their hard work because your life circumstances don’t expose you to these things,”

 

“I don’t demand you understand, but even if you’re in a terrible mood, don’t use these innocent workers as a punching bag, don’t make things difficult for them.” While helping her put on the shoes, Jiang Yi spoke to her calmly, reasoning with her.

 

In this statement, she used the informal “you” instead of the formal “you”.

 

Lin Anran listened quietly, not speaking, but it was unclear if she took the words to heart.

 

“Forget it, why am I telling you this? How could the third Miss Lin understand these things?” Jiang Yi stood up: “The shoes are on. Red suits you very well.”

 

If she could understand, she wouldn’t have disappeared for a month only to reappear casually without a single explanation.

 

Lin Anran had never been a person who considered the feelings of others; she only insisted on getting what she wanted. Jiang Yi had known this since the first day she met her.

 

Her personality had always been like this, and she wasn’t wrong. The only mistake was Jiang Yi misjudging her position.

 

Jiang Yi thought they were friends, but for Lin Anran, that status was debatable.

 

“Who says I don’t understand?” Lin Anran stood up, the added height of the heels allowing her to meet Jiang Yi’s gaze: “I understand!”

 

Jiang Yi shrugged: “Fine, you understand.”

 

It was back to the formal “you”.

 

Lin Anran pouted, wanting to say something but not knowing what. Clear grievance was visible in her eyes.

 

Jiang Yi looked away, pretending not to see her distress.

 

It was precisely because she often looked distressed in front of her that Jiang Yi had the mistaken impression that they were friends.

 

She didn’t want this delusion anymore, lest this young miss find it fun today and cling to her enthusiastically every day, only to find it boring tomorrow and disappear without a word for a month.

 

She was a little afraid of Lin Anran, and naturally, she couldn’t help but resist Lin Anran’s renewed closeness.

 

“I’m going to the restroom.” Jiang Yi turned and left.

 

Lin Anran stood rooted to the spot, watching the person walk away and disappear around the corner, her eyelashes lowered, her mood low.

 

After a while, she took a deep breath and suddenly glanced at the associate nearby.

 

The associate’s heart jumped. Oh no, was she going to cause trouble again?

 

When she brought the shoes earlier, the customer clearly said she wanted red, but when she saw them, she said she wanted pink—she was clearly deliberately trying to pick a fight.

 

“You, come here.” Lin Anran looked at her arrogantly.

 

The associate forced a smile, bracing herself and walking over: “Do you want to see any other shoes?”

 

Lin Anran completely ignored her question, asking something totally unrelated: “Is this job very hard?”

 

The associate was startled: “Not very hard, I suppose.”

 

Lin Anran frowned, looking displeased: “Jiang Yi said it’s hard work, so it’s hard work. Stop saying it’s not hard. Fine, I can’t be bothered to talk nonsense with you. Which pair of shoes gives you the highest commission?”

 

The associate was bewildered again, somewhat confused by her question, but still took a pair of shoes from the shelf.

 

“This pair of shoes…” She was about to introduce them but was quickly interrupted.

 

Lin Anran didn’t even glance at them, stating directly: “I’ll take this pair. Pack it up for me.”

 

The associate was stunned yet again.

 

Lin Anran rolled her eyes at her: “Hurry up and pack it for me. Why are you so slow?”

 

The associate snapped out of it, quickly nodding: “Yes, yes, I’ll go pack it and check you out right now.”

 

The associate had just thought this customer was difficult and loved to pick fights, but she had chosen the pair of shoes with the highest commission.

 

Instantly, the associate found Lin Anran’s eye-rolling and fault-finding suddenly quite adorable.

 

Jiang Yi came out of the restroom and happened to witness this scene.

 

Her emotions were subtle. She had thought Lin Anran hadn’t listened to what she said earlier, but it turned out she had been listening seriously.

 

Even if she listened seriously, given her personality, an apology seemed impossible. Buying a high-commission pair of shoes and giving the associate some money seemed to be a subtle way of apologizing?

 

Catching sight of Jiang Yi returning, Lin Anran snorted: “Why did you take so long in the restroom? You made me, your superior, wait here for you. You are a very unqualified assistant.”

 

Lin Anran choked, then glared at her indignantly.

 

Jiang Yi sighed softly and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

 

She hadn’t wanted to ask the reason, but ultimately, she couldn’t help it. She still wanted to know the reason for the month-long break in contact.

 

Jiang Yi had to admit that she was still angry—angry at Lin Anran’s sudden disappearance—otherwise, she wouldn’t have deliberately given her the cold shoulder.

 

Lin Anran: “What do I want? I don’t want anything.”

 

Jiang Yi looked at her intently, about to speak, when Lin Anran immediately interrupted her: “I’m thirsty. Go get me a cup of water.”

 

The question Jiang Yi was about to ask was forcefully swallowed back.

 

She understood now: she wanted an answer, but Lin Anran didn’t intend to explain, nor did she want to.

 

Lin Anran wanted to skip over the matter entirely and pretend it never happened.

 

Jiang Yi’s feelings were complicated. She seemed able to comply with Lin Anran in most things, but on this matter, she found herself unable to yield.

 

“Get your own water. It’s time to clock out. I need to leave now. Of course, if you’re not satisfied with me as your assistant, I’d welcome you to transfer me back to my original post.” With that, she turned and strode away.

 

“Jiang Yi.” Lin Anran called from behind.

 

Jiang Yi did not turn her head.

 

The associate held the freshly packed shoes, but sensing the tense atmosphere, she was in a bind—to go over or not? She was stuck.

 

Finally, she forced herself to go over: “Hello, your shoes have been packed. You can scan the code here to pay.”

 

The associate had expected a scolding, as this person clearly seemed like someone who got moody and liked to lash out, but surprisingly, she didn’t get angry.

 

She quietly took out her phone, quietly scanned the code, quietly picked up the shoes, and quietly left.

 

She said she left, but she didn’t go far, standing not far from the store entrance, head bowed, completely still.

 

Were those two dating just now? Although both were girls, the atmosphere was particularly like a couple arguing…

 

She couldn’t figure it out, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that today’s commission was very high. This one sale was enough for three days’ wages. The associate was in a very good mood.

 

“You’re back,” Lin Yishu stood on the yoga mat, practicing a dance move: “How did it go? Did you see your friend? Did you talk things out with her?”

 

Lin Anran didn’t even look at Lin Yishu. She tossed the shopping bag she was carrying onto the coffee table and slumped onto the sofa, looking dispirited.

 

Lin Yishu stopped her dance movements and looked back at her: “It didn’t go smoothly?”

 

Lin Anran ignored her.

 

Lin Yishu put on her shoes, walked over, and sat down beside her: “You even specially changed into an outfit you thought she’d like, dressed up for half the day—the suit, the half-rimmed glasses, and…”

 

Lin Anran leaned her body away, refusing to communicate.

 

“The way you look, I’m starting to doubt if you’re making a friend or a boyfriend. But, isn’t the other person a girl? You,” Lin Yishu hesitated:

 

“Your Second Sister specifically researched this area today. Your outfit, we’ll tentatively call it the ‘domineering big sister style,’ is clearly meant to attract girls…”

 

Lin Anran’s pupils constricted, her face flushed red, and she snapped: “Second Sister, you’re so noisy! What nonsense are you talking about?”

 

“Alright, alright, Second Sister won’t talk,” she said, but continued after a moment:

 

“But, Second Sister has to warn you, don’t let your Eldest Sister know. She won’t agree. She won’t interfere with you dating or making friends, but when it comes to marriage, Eldest Sister definitely won’t let you follow your own heart and mess around. Be cautious.”

 

Lin Anran stood up: “What? I’m just making a friend! Why are you guys bringing up marriage?”

 

Lin Yishu raised her hands in surrender: “Don’t get worked up, I got carried away. Speaking of which, didn’t you specifically go find her today? Why did you come back with this expression?”

 

Lin Anran puffed out her cheeks: “She’s a cheapskate.”

 

Lin Yishu laughed: “You didn’t contact her for a month, and I’m guessing you didn’t give her a single explanation. If I were her, I’d be a cheapskate too.”

 

“Then what should I do?” Lin Anran blinked, eager for guidance.

 

“Repeat after me: ‘I’m… sor… ry.'” Lin Yishu taught her word by word.

 

Lin Anran: “…”

 

The next day, nine in the morning.

 

Jiang Yi saw Lin Anran again at the magazine office.

 

Jiang Yi had thought that after yesterday, her attitude towards Lin Anran was clear, and Lin Anran should have understood. With her arrogant nature, she surely couldn’t tolerate Jiang Yi’s coldness and shouldn’t have come again today.

 

But… not only had she come, but she was staring at Jiang Yi unblinkingly.

 

Perhaps that description wasn’t accurate; a more precise one would be that she was secretly staring.

 

During a work break, Jiang Yi glanced over and saw a corner of the office curtain opened, with a pair of wide eyes sneakily looking in.

 

When Jiang Yi spotted her, she guiltily yanked the curtain shut.

 

While resting and drinking water in the pantry, Jiang Yi turned around and saw a small head peeking around the corner, looking in secretly.

 

When Jiang Yi noticed her, she guiltily shrank back immediately.

 

Preparing to go home after work, a gaze from behind was impossible to ignore. When she looked back, Lin Anran, who was following her, guiltily turned her back.

 

Jiang Yi shook her head helplessly, quickened her pace, and left the company.

 

As usual, she went to her convenience store part-time job after work. Her daily life continued as before, without much change due to Lin Anran’s sudden disappearance and sudden return.

 

Perhaps the only difference today was the little shadow following her outside the convenience store.

 

This shadow didn’t enter the store, but loitered outside, occasionally pressing against the window to look in, and sometimes circling to the door to peek inside.

 

When Jiang Yi looked over, she would immediately hide.

 

She looked as if “I dare not enter” was written on her face. Jiang Yi didn’t know what she was afraid of—that she would scold her? Jiang Yi didn’t think she had ever really scolded her.

 

What happened yesterday couldn’t be called scolding; at most, it was just not wanting to pay attention to her, being a little cold.

 

Jiang Yi shook her head, pulled her thoughts together, and stopped thinking about these bothersome things, too lazy to care what the little shadow outside was trying to do.

 

It was probably just the young miss being bored again and using her for entertainment.

 

Eleven o’clock, Xiao Man arrived on time to take over the shift.

 

“Why is your friend waiting outside all the time?” Xiao Man asked.

 

“Who knows,” Jiang Yi answered indifferently.

 

Xiao Man looked outside, then looked at the indifferent Jiang Yi: “Sister Yi, I thought the vibe between you two was strange from the beginning. Is she really just your friend? Couldn’t there be a ‘girl’ added before the word friend?”

 

Jiang Yi: “?”

 

Xiao Man touched her nose and coughed lightly: “It’s nothing, nothing. I’m just guessing wildly. If you don’t understand, just forget it.”

 

Jiang Yi casually picked up a pack of tissues from the register and gently tapped Xiao Man on the head: “I’ve seen it all. You spend all your time reading yuri novels. I think you’ve read too many and are constantly over-imagining things. She and I have a pure friendship…”

 

As the words “pure friendship” came out, Jiang Yi paused.

 

“Hmm? Is it not pure?” Xiao Man became alert.

 

“No, stop over-imagining.” Jiang Yi only felt that the term “pure friendship” was a stretch; they might not even qualify as friends.

 

After handing over the accounts with Xiao Man, Jiang Yi took off her green work vest, picked up her canvas bag, and walked out.

 

The moment she stepped out of the convenience store door, she saw Lin Anran standing under the streetlamp.

 

She was wearing a suit that didn’t suit her style at all and half-rimmed glasses that didn’t match her style either. She looked completely like a child playing dress-up as an adult.

 

It was already late autumn, and she was dressed thinly, shivering and stamping her feet on the spot.

 

Jiang Yi saw her. She had intended to ignore her, but ultimately, she softened.

 

She pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, sighed, and walked over.

 

She stopped in front of her.

 

Lin Anran, who had been shivering from the cold, immediately stood up straight when she saw Jiang Yi arrive.

 

She stood so straight it looked a bit like a military stance…

 

Jiang Yi didn’t say anything, but took off her own jacket and handed it to her.

 

Lin Anran looked at the jacket, then at her, and made no move.

 

“What, do you think my jacket is too low-quality, and you don’t like it?” Jiang Yi mimicked her way of speaking.

 

Lin Anran stared at her with longing eyes, still not speaking. The tip of her nose was slightly red from the cold, looking pathetic.

 

Jiang Yi was quite helpless. She walked directly behind her and draped the jacket over her.

 

The jacket carried Jiang Yi’s body heat and a faint, clean scent of laundry detergent—it was Jiang Yi’s familiar scent.

 

Lin Anran instinctively hugged the jacket tightly. It smelled good, it was warm, and she liked it.

 

However, she didn’t like the words Jiang Yi spoke.

 

“That’s enough. Go home. I’m going home too.”

 

Lin Anran didn’t move, but Jiang Yi didn’t look at her again. She turned and walked away.

 

“Jiang Yi.” Lin Anran called from behind.

 

She had thought this time Jiang Yi would also be resolute and not turn back.

 

But this time, she turned around. Not only did she turn around, but she also instructed her: “When you get back, remember to have someone brew you a cup of ginger tea to drink, to warm you up and keep you from catching a cold.”

 

After saying this, Jiang Yi prepared to leave again. Lin Anran panicked and took a step forward: “Jiang Yi.”

 

Jiang Yi: “Something else?”

 

Lin Anran bit her lip: “Nothing, but… you are not allowed to go.”

 

Jiang Yi chuckled lightly: “If you want to keep someone, you shouldn’t say, ‘You are not allowed to go.’ You should say, ‘Can you not leave?'”

 

The former was a stiff command, while the latter was an actual plea to stay.

 

Lin Anran said “Oh,” but had nothing more to say after that.

 

But Jiang Yi wasn’t in a hurry. She stood patiently at a distance neither too far nor too close.

 

Lin Anran’s struggle was written all over her face. First, she bit her lip, then she puffed out her cheeks. After holding it in for a long time, she finally managed to say awkwardly: “Can you not leave.”

 

Her voice was very small, and her speech was very quick.

 

Jiang Yi actually didn’t hear or catch it clearly.

 

But Jiang Yi decided not to make things difficult for her: “If I don’t leave, do you want me to stand here and freeze with you?”

 

Jiang Yi realized that Lin Anran was a person who was particularly prone to pushing her luck. The moment Jiang Yi softened her attitude, Lin Anran immediately jumped in front of her and snapped aggressively: “Jiang Yi, you are really petty and unlikable. I don’t like you at all, do you know that?”

 

“I know.” Jiang Yi walked forward, answering her perfunctorily.

 

“You don’t know.” Lin Anran skipped alongside her.

 

The dim streetlights stretched the shadows of the two people behind them, overlapping as if they were embracing.

 

“Jiang Yi, are you still angry now?”

 

“A little.”

 

“Why do you have to be ‘a little’? You should say ‘no.’ Say ‘no,’ hurry up. Why aren’t you saying it? Hurry up and say ‘no,’ say you’re not angry anymore.”

 

Jiang Yi stopped, turned her head to look at her, and sighed helplessly: “Who apologizes like that, forcing someone to say they’re not angry?”

 

Lin Anran lifted her head as a matter of course: “Well, then just willingly say you’re not angry, and that’s fine. Don’t be so bothersome. Hurry up and say it, and then we can put it behind us. Don’t be a cheapskate who keeps bringing up old grudges. You need to learn to be more generous.”