Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: “Deliberate Provocation.”

 

“I don’t smell mud. It’s already clean. I only smell body wash. The peach scent suits you very well,” Jiang Zhi whispered, leaning in close to her ear, her breath softly ghosting against Lin Anran’s earlobe.

 

With this simple, deliberate gesture, she could clearly feel Lin Anran’s body stiffen significantly. Even more noticeably, Lin Anran’s ears turned visibly red.

 

Pink and rosy ears—so cute.

 

Jiang Zhi gazed intently at her ears, wanting to reach out and pinch them, or even nibble them.

 

Was the habit of biting contagious? Lin Anran loved to bite people, and now Jiang Zhi seemed to have a similar urge.

 

And those pink ears were the most tempting, most bite-worthy spot.

 

Jiang Zhi’s eyes deepened, concealing a dangerous, almost aggressive look.

 

But for some reason, her mind gradually became slow and sluggish, feeling hazy and confused.

 

Her head suddenly drooped, as if she had lost strength, and she collapsed onto Lin Anran.

 

Lin Anran gasped in alarm and quickly held her up: “What’s wrong?”

 

She touched Jiang Zhi’s forehead; it was scorching hot: “Didn’t your fever already break? Why did it flare up again?”

 

The phrase “Didn’t your fever already break” carried a slightly complex information.

 

How would Lin Anran know she had a fever before? She hadn’t told Lin Anran about it…

 

Her slow, sluggish mind considered a possibility. She recalled that during the fever earlier in the day, she was alone on the sofa, thinking she wouldn’t make it to tomorrow. During that time, she vaguely felt someone accompanying her.

 

Jiang Zhi had always thought that was a dream. Could it be that it wasn’t a dream?

 

Was Lin Anran there when she had the fever earlier?

 

Jiang Zhi looked at Lin Anran, emotions swirling in her eyes. Her heart felt like it had been pierced, both sore and painful.

 

She had driven Lin Anran away, but she had never intended to leave and had been keeping watch, silently there when she needed her.

 

It was hard for Jiang Zhi not to be moved by this, as she had never truly been loved by anyone. She had always been alone, for so long that she had come to disbelieve that anyone would ever love her.

 

Lin Anran looked at her with concern: “Are you feeling very unwell?”

 

Jiang Zhi shook her head: “I’m fine…”

 

“Fine what, fine? If your cold wasn’t completely gone, why did you go out? Are you an idiot? Are you a pig? Even a pig wouldn’t be as stupid as you. Now look, you have a fever again…”

 

Lin Anran muttered curses, but beneath the insults was genuine care, which was incredibly comforting to hear.

 

She really enjoyed hearing Lin Anran curse… well, she had to admit, that seemed like a strange preference.

 

After helping Jiang Zhi lie down on the bed, Lin Anran turned to grab her phone to call her private doctor.

 

As soon as she turned, her wrist was grabbed.

 

The hot sensation from her wrist indicated that Jiang Zhi had been running a fever for a while. She had been unwell for so long, yet she hadn’t said a word and even claimed she was fine. Could “fine” lead to a fever like this?

 

Lin Anran frowned, wanting to scold her, but facing Jiang Zhi’s weak eyes, the words caught in her throat and couldn’t be spoken.

 

Lin Anran looked down at the wrist Jiang Zhi was holding: “Why are you holding me?”

 

Jiang Zhi’s gaze was fixed on her, unblinking. She didn’t speak, but she also didn’t let go of Lin Anran’s wrist.

 

Lin Anran: “I need to get my phone. I’m calling the doctor to come and check on you.”

 

Jiang Zhi shook her head: “That’s too much trouble. I have medicine in my bag. Just get it for me.”

 

Lin Anran: “Stop talking nonsense! You’re so much trouble! Don’t be so wishy-washy. If I say you need a doctor, then you absolutely need a doctor to come over. Shut up!”

 

Jiang Zhi chuckled softly. It seemed she really enjoyed being scolded by her; her first reaction was happiness.

 

Lin Anran called the doctor. By the time she returned, Jiang Zhi had already fallen asleep.

 

Lin Anran was worried and held her finger beneath Jiang Zhi’s nose.

 

As soon as her hand was placed there, it was grabbed. Jiang Zhi smiled helplessly, but also with amusement: “I’m not going to die.”

 

Lin Anran pulled her hand free: “Who cares if you die or not.”

 

Jiang Zhi suddenly reached out to her.

 

Lin Anran: “What?”

 

Jiang Zhi: “I want to hold your hand.”

 

Lin Anran’s pupils contracted. She instinctively put her hands behind her back.

 

“I’m sick.”

 

“So?”

 

“I feel insecure when I’m sick. I need to hold your hand.”

 

“What is that? Where did that strange logic come from? Don’t be so dramatic. There’s no way I’m letting you hold my hand.”

 

Less than three seconds later, Lin Anran extended her hand. Jiang Zhi smiled and took it, holding it in her own.

 

“Fine, you’re holding my hand. Now stop being dramatic and stop being sick. Get well quickly.”

 

Jiang Zhi looked at their clasped hands: “Why did you help me find the wristband?”

 

Lin Anran stated the obvious: “You really care about that wristband, don’t you?”

 

Jiang Zhi: “Yes, it’s something I care about. But it’s not something you care about.”

 

Lin Anran subconsciously wanted to say, What you care about is what I care about, but she held back and instead said: “Why are you talking so much? Shut up.”

 

Jiang Zhi gently, slowly rubbed the back of Lin Anran’s hand with her thumb: “I’m sorry.”

 

“Sorry for what? Feeling guilty? Thinking you were a terrible person for how you treated me before? You are a terrible person! Hmph, I’m not forgiving you.”

 

“Don’t think that just because you’re sick and weak and apologized, I’ll forgive you. I’m not planning to talk to you anymore. From now on, we’re going our separate ways. We’re breaking up our friendship…”

 

Her little mouth kept chattering non-stop, but her words should be listened to in reverse, depending on the situation.

 

“Don’t break up our friendship, okay?”

 

“Now you’re begging me? It’s too late. It’s already over.”

 

Due to the fever, her head was throbbing badly. She wanted to continue listening to Lin Anran speak, but her eyelids closed uncontrollably.

 

She was so sleepy. She’d sleep for a little while, just a little while, and listen to her when she woke up.

 

Jiang Zhi was a little reluctant to sleep.

 

In her daze, Jiang Zhi could feel that Lin Anran was still there, she hadn’t left, occasionally feeling her forehead and occasionally checking her breathing.

 

Lin Anran’s way of caring was just that—she didn’t think to bring medicine to feed her, didn’t think to apply a cold towel to cool her down, and didn’t help wipe away her sweat. She just stared at her and worried about her dying…

 

However, that was enough.

 

Jiang Zhi felt very happy. She had never felt so happy and content while being sick. She was so content that she didn’t even want to get well; she wanted to stay sick forever.

 

Half an hour later, the doctor arrived. After checking Jiang Zhi’s condition, it was determined to be a fever caused by a cold, not serious. The doctor prescribed medicine, saying she would recover with enough rest.

 

After taking the medicine, Jiang Zhi fell into a deep sleep again.

 

When she woke up and opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the person sitting by the bed, asleep with her head resting on the mattress.

 

Lin Anran hadn’t left for a second; she had been keeping watch.

 

This reminded Jiang Zhi of the last time she had a fever. It was the same: Lin Anran watched over her constantly, even sleeping right next to her.

 

Jiang Zhi gently sat up, found the glasses on the nightstand, put them on, and then tilted her head to look at the person sleeping next to her, a faint smile playing on her lips.

 

A strand of Lin Anran’s hair slipped onto her cheek. Feeling itchy, she frowned and made a small sound, scratching her face.

 

Jiang Zhi chuckled softly, reached out, and tucked her hair behind her ear.

 

With the hair off her face, the itch subsided, and Lin Anran’s frown smoothed out. She looked like a sweet, well-behaved little cat sleeping soundly.

 

Jiang Zhi couldn’t resist. She raised her hand and stroked her hair, feeling her heart almost melt.

 

The stroking was light, but it still woke her up.

 

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

 

Her eyes were blurry, and she looked sluggish with sleep. It took her a few seconds to fully wake up.

 

“Jiang Yi, you’re awake,” she said, simultaneously checking her forehead: “No fever anymore. You’re better.”

 

Jiang Zhi’s smile was gentle: “Yes, I’m better. Thank you for your trouble.”

 

Lin Anran sat up straight and snorted: “Of course I went through trouble, Jiang Yi. Don’t ever get sick again. You are such a nuisance. It’s so much trouble, don’t you know? I’m exhausted. I don’t like taking care of people. Don’t be someone who likes to burden others…”

 

“Also, your physical condition is really poor. You keep getting fevers and colds. This is the second time you’ve had a fever.”

 

“The way you are, how dare you lecture me about wearing clothes and not catching a cold? I’m nothing like you, like fragile glass, getting sick every other day…”

 

Here she goes again, her mouth wouldn’t stop, she kept talking.

 

Jiang Zhi didn’t argue. She just listened quietly, occasionally nodding to humor her.

 

However, this attitude made Lin Anran misunderstand. She looked suspiciously up and down at the person sitting on the bed.

 

“Is your mental resilience that weak? I only scolded you a few times, saying you were a bother, and now you’re hurt and sad? How pathetic.”

 

Jiang Zhi’s gaze was soft: “Yes, I’m pathetic. Please be gentle with me.”

 

Lin Anran was uncomfortable with her display of weakness. She cleared her throat and asked: “Are you hungry? I had someone send congee over. It should be here any minute.”

 

As soon as she spoke, the doorbell rang.

 

“That must be the congee,” Lin Anran said, getting up to open the door.

 

Jiang Zhi’s eyes followed her.

 

Lin Anran felt watched, like pins and needles. Why was she staring at her without saying anything? She only scolded her a few times. Was she angry?

 

What a petty person. She wasn’t angry at her, yet Jiang Zhi had the nerve to be angry.

 

“Da”, Lin Anran unceremoniously placed the congee bowl on the nightstand.

 

“Eat it.”

 

Jiang Zhi looked at the congee and shook her head: “I don’t have the strength.”

 

Lin Anran’s beautiful eyes narrowed: “How can you not have the strength? Are you still sick? No, I need to call the doctor to check again.”

 

Jiang Zhi stopped the person reaching for the phone: “No.”

 

Lin Anran looked confused.

 

Jiang Zhi pointed to the congee on the nightstand: “I don’t have the strength to drink it.”

 

“Not hungry?”

 

Jiang Zhi pursed her lips, looking slightly awkward, but she forced herself to say: “You feed me.”

 

Lin Anran’s eyes widened.

 

Jiang Zhi avoided eye contact. Well, perhaps she wasn’t very good at seducing after all. Pretending to be weak and asking her to feed her congee felt awkward no matter how you looked at it.

 

But since the words were out, she couldn’t take them back. Jiang Zhi pretended to cough twice, sounding extremely weak.

 

She acted as if she couldn’t eat and would starve if Lin Anran didn’t feed her the congee.

 

Lin Anran looked at the congee, then at her.

 

The atmosphere settled into an eerie silence.

 

Just as Jiang Zhi was about to give up and eat it herself, Lin Anran picked up the bowl.

 

Clumsily, she scooped a spoonful and offered it to Jiang Zhi’s mouth.

 

Jiang Zhi: “It’s too hot. You need to blow on it first.”

 

Lin Anran said “Oh,” pulled it back, blew on it, and then offered it to her mouth again.

 

Jiang Zhi gently took the spoon into her mouth. As she looked up, her eyes met Lin Anran’s, her gaze full of affection.

 

Lin Anran was startled. Her hand holding the spoon trembled, nearly dropping it.

 

Jiang Zhi’s ears, hidden behind her hair, were flushed. Deliberately giving such a look, deliberately provoking her, she felt an inexplicable sense of shame.