Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: “I’ve Never Been Cherished Like this Before.”

 

After returning home, Jiang Zhi had mostly composed herself. She took out her phone to reply to Lin Anran’s pile of messages.

 

She skipped over all of them and replied to the very first topic:

 

It’s good that you don’t like instant coffee anymore. Although it may have given you a sense of novelty, it’s not suitable for you, and too much of it is bad for your health.

 

You should like things that are worthy of you. Don’t like cheap things or people…

 

Lin Anran sent a voice message cursing her: “Jiang Yi, are you crazy? If you can’t find a topic, then don’t. Don’t keep sending crazy, sick nonsense. Are you having an existential fit?”

 

Jiang Zhi tapped the voice message over and over, listening again and again. She finally laughed.

 

The laughter carried a subtle, almost imperceptible bitterness.

 

It wasn’t an existential fit; it was a fit of being overly sentimental.

 

She looked towards the kitchen, thought for a moment, walked over, opened the upper cupboard, and took out the large bag of instant noodles and coffee stored inside.

 

These instant noodles and coffee were items Lin Anran had hoarded previously.

 

But she hoarded too much and didn’t finish them, and later lost interest in them, so the food was naturally left behind.

 

She opened the bag, took out the instant noodles, checked the production date, and counted the time on her fingers.

 

The instant noodles had expired half a month ago.

 

The coffee had a longer shelf life and hadn’t expired yet, but since no one was eating it anyway, expiration was only a matter of time.

 

Jiang Zhi sorted out the expired instant noodles and threw them into the trash can.

 

The previously empty trash can was instantly filled with expired instant noodles.

 

Jiang Zhi gazed at the instant noodles in the trash can, lost in thought. She still remembered how much Lin Anran cherished these items when she first hoarded them; she even kept track of the quantity.

 

Once, she ate one packet, and Lin Anran noticed and questioned her about why one packet was missing.

 

Something that was so cherished once was now left in the cupboard for months, unheeded, until it all expired and was thrown into the trash can.

 

It was as if Jiang Zhi saw her future self through a trash can full of instant noodles.

 

A sudden wave of sadness washed over her.

 

Being overly sentimental was a sickness, and she felt quite ill today.

 

She walked to the mirror and looked at herself in the reflection.

 

The grey woolen coat she was wearing was exquisitely cut, and the inner shirt was made of soft fabric.

 

The woolen coat was thin, yet it was very warm to wear, offering more insulation than the bulky cotton coat Jiang Zhi wore in previous years.

 

Perhaps this was the difference between expensive and cheap; even in terms of warmth, there was such a significant gap.

 

The glasses on her nose had been replaced with silver-rimmed ones, no longer the black-rimmed spectacles, removing the original dowdiness and highlighting her restrained, gentle, scholarly demeanor.

 

And this entire outfit—the coat, shirt, pants, and even the glasses—were all chosen and styled by Lin Anran.

 

Looking at the person in the mirror, Jiang Zhi had the false impression of being dressed up—a fleeting sense that she had also reached the same level as Lin Anran, at least briefly in terms of attire.

 

She couldn’t remember if it was yesterday or the day before, but when she wore this outfit to work, a colleague walked around her and said:

 

“That coat you’re wearing is the latest model from Pules, right? Where did you buy the fake? It’s so real; I almost couldn’t tell it was a knock-off, I nearly thought it was authentic.”

 

“Seriously, even if you’re wearing a fake, you shouldn’t pair it with that shabby canvas bag. At least switch to a nicer bag…”

 

What Pules was, Jiang Zhi didn’t know, but she guessed it was a big luxury brand.

 

But even if she wore a luxury brand, even if she dressed gorgeously, it still couldn’t conceal her inner poverty, just like the mismatched canvas bag she carried.

 

Others wouldn’t think the clothes she wore were real; they would only think she bought a particularly good counterfeit.

 

But Lin Anran was different. Even if Lin Anran wore a rag, she would make the rag look incredibly high-class.

 

Temperament was something bestowed by the environment one grew up in. A sense of nobility was innate, and so was a sense of poverty.

 

Jiang Zhi took off the woolen coat and put on her original, bulky cotton coat. She removed the silver half-rimmed glasses and put on her original black-rimmed glasses.

 

Standing in front of the mirror again, Jiang Zhi felt instantly more normal.

 

This was her—the ordinary, mediocre her.

 

Unlike before, when wearing luxury brands, she always felt a sense of awkwardness—neither one thing nor the other.

 

“Ding-a-ling-ling”

 

Her phone rang with a call tone; it was a video call invitation from Lin Anran.

 

Jiang Zhi gathered her scattered thoughts, took a deep breath, and after forcing a smile, pressed the answer button.

 

Lin Anran’s exquisite and perfect face appeared on the phone screen.

 

Jiang Zhi held up the phone and smiled at the camera: “What’s wrong?”

 

Lin Anran’s beautiful eyes frowned: “How dare you ask ‘what’s wrong’? I sent you so many messages, why didn’t you reply?”

 

Jiang Zhi: “I was just about to reply when your call came through.”

 

Lin Anran sniffed in dissatisfaction: “Don’t think I was waiting for your reply. I just think it’s very rude of you. You should reply to messages promptly, don’t act aloof…”

 

She was about to continue scolding when her gaze fell upon Jiang Zhi. Her words stopped.

 

“Why are you wearing those ugly glasses again? Also, didn’t I tell you to throw away that shabby cotton-padded coat? Why are you wearing it again?”

 

“The cotton coat is more comfortable for me to wear.”

 

“How is it comfortable? It’s so bulky, you can barely move. Where’s the comfort?”

 

Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment. How should she put it? The “comfort” she spoke of wasn’t physical comfort in wearing the garment, but psychological comfort.

 

Jiang Zhi sighed softly: “But I’ve always worn clothes like this. I’ve dressed this way for so many years.”

 

Lin Anran didn’t understand: “So what? Just because you dressed ugly before, you have to continue dressing ugly in the future?”

 

Jiang Zhi didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

 

Lin Anran frowned tightly, scrutinizing the person on the phone: “Are you unhappy?”

 

The spoiled princess, who was usually thick-skinned and self-centered, was sometimes strangely perceptive. For example, now, she could tell she was unhappy.

 

Jiang Zhi shook her head: “I’m not unhappy.”

 

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she quickly added: “I am not unhappy, and even if I genuinely was, don’t transfer money to me.”

 

Lin Anran’s frown deepened: “What’s going on? I actually heard the words ‘don’t transfer money to me’ coming from your pauper mouth.”

 

Jiang Zhi chuckled breathlessly: “I’m not that exaggerated.”

 

Lin Anran: “You greedy ghost doesn’t want money anymore—that’s more than exaggeration. You’re sick.”

 

Jiang Zhi rubbed her forehead helplessly: “Speak properly, don’t always curse.”

 

“You…” Lin Anran raised her chin proudly: “Are you missing me that much, that you don’t even want money?”

 

Jiang Zhi was amused: “Yes, I miss you so much I can’t eat or sleep.”

 

Lin Anran lifted her chin smugly: “Pathetic. Such a worthless display.”

 

A loud noise came from Lin Anran’s end. Someone was calling her. She responded, and the video call was disconnected.

 

Looking at the abruptly ended call, Jiang Zhi shook her head. She had the nerve to call others impolite; she should at least say goodbye before hanging up.

 

Jiang Zhi tossed her phone aside and lay on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

 

The pink ceiling, the pink crystal chandelier—it was incredibly luxurious, a luxury that did not belong in this cheap rented room.

 

Jiang Zhi stared idly at the crystal chandelier above. She seemed especially preoccupied with price today; she calculated the price of the bag, the price of the clothes, and now she even wanted to…

 

Jiang Zhi took out her phone and tried to scan the crystal chandelier, attempting to find its price online.

 

But unfortunately, the crystal chandelier was likely custom-made, and she couldn’t even find a similar one online.

 

Jiang Zhi sighed in relief. It was a good thing she didn’t find the price. If a price of two or three hundred thousand yuan popped up, it would be another heavy blow to her psychologically.

 

Although she had already taken countless heavy psychological blows, one more probably wouldn’t make a difference.

 

As Jiang Zhi was lost in thought, two loud knocks came from the front door.

 

This familiar door-kicking sound…

 

Wait, Lin Anran was home. Logically, she wouldn’t come over at this time, especially since they had a video call just half an hour ago.

 

Jiang Zhi rose in confusion. She didn’t open the door immediately and cautiously asked, “Who is it?”

 

Two more kicks on the door: “Who else could it be? Open the door quickly, stop dragging your feet.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “…”

 

It really was her.

 

As soon as the door opened, Lin Anran entered, holding up the hem of her evening gown.

 

Jiang Zhi skillfully moved aside to avoid being knocked over by her impulsive dash.

 

Lin Anran’s return to the Lin family was for an unavoidable family gathering. Judging by her attire, the gathering had just ended, and she came straight here without even changing out of her evening gown?

 

Lin Anran held up the hem of her dress and surveyed the living room.

 

Jiang Zhi laughed: “Stop checking. Besides you, no one else comes to my house.”

 

Hearing this, Lin Anran temporarily stopped her inspection.

 

“Why are you back? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back until tomorrow?” Jiang Zhi asked.

 

“My sister only gave me one hour. I have to go back in an hour,” Lin Anran said.

 

Jiang Zhi was puzzled: “Since you don’t have time, why bother squeezing in one hour to come back? Just to check things out?”

 

“Do you think I’m bored?” Lin Anran’s gaze settled on her. “You were unhappy, so much so that you didn’t even want money. You were acting strange. I wasn’t worried, so I came back to check.”

 

Jiang Zhi was astonished.

 

Meeting Lin Anran’s worried gaze, her heart felt simultaneously sore and numb.

 

Just because she was worried that she was in a bad mood, she would intentionally take an hour out of a busy schedule just to come back and check?

 

Her nose felt a bit watery.

 

She had been alone for so many years. When had she ever been cherished like this…

 

She couldn’t tell if the feeling right now was love or just deep gratitude, but sometimes, perhaps she didn’t need to distinguish it so clearly.

 

She maintained a distance from everyone, not because she didn’t need companionship; on the contrary, she longed for companionship more than anyone.

 

But opposite that longing for companionship was a fear of it.

 

If only Lin Anran wasn’t Lin Anran.

 

If only Lin Anran was a little more ordinary, how wonderful would that be…

 

A selfish and pathetic thought.

 

How could she be so selfish as to wish that the other person wasn’t so good? What kind of terrible person would harbor such vile thoughts?

 

If Lin Anran knew about her vile thoughts, would she still like her? She would probably be disgusted and run far away.

 

Jiang Zhi’s gaze shifted downward, noticing a patch of grey dirt stained on the hem of Lin Anran’s evening gown. It must have been stained by the dress dragging on the floor as she climbed the four flights of stairs.

 

The places Lin Anran usually frequented were all covered with clean carpets, so her dress would never get dirty.

 

She only stained her dress because she came here.

 

A princess should not appear in a poverty-stricken place, and she should not harbor selfish thoughts, attempting to pull her down to earth.

 

Jiang Zhi’s gaze inadvertently fell on the glass window, which reflected the two of them.

 

One was wearing a pink, off-the-shoulder evening gown, glamorous and noble. The other was wearing a bulky cotton-padded jacket, plain and ordinary.

 

The two of them weren’t even in the same season.