Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: “I Was Impatient, Rushing to Want More and More…”

 

The feeling of shame initially made it impossible for Jiang Zhi to continue. She felt that exposing such a look was incredibly awkward and ridiculously unnatural.

 

But once she realized the other person was even shyer than her, the situation reversed, and it was a different matter entirely.

 

She noticed that Lin Anran dared not look at her, her hand holding the spoon trembled slightly, her expression was unnatural, and her earlobes were flushed red.

 

Jiang Zhi was astonished, but after the shock, she secretly laughed to herself.

 

This person was surprisingly easy to tease.

 

She hadn’t even done much, and her attempt at seductive eye contact was clumsy, yet Lin Anran was already showing such obvious shyness.

 

The usually unconfident Jiang Zhi suddenly felt a surge of confidence, so much so that she became a bit heavy-handed.

 

“Why are your ears red?” Jiang Zhi reached out and touched her earlobe.

 

Lin Anran covered her ears, as if trying to hide them, and retreated repeatedly, glaring at Jiang Zhi.

 

“Where are you weak? I see you have plenty of strength. Drink it yourself. I’m not feeding you anymore.”

 

She slammed the congee bowl heavily onto the table, splashing some of the congee onto the surface.

 

Lin Anran was either angry or embarrassed—or both. In any case, she turned around in a huff and walked away, but she didn’t go far, stopping at the sofa, sitting down with her back to Jiang Zhi.

 

Jiang Zhi touched her nose. It seemed she had pushed too hard just now. She needed to tone it down in the future, or she might cause the little cat to become stressed.

 

She pulled some tissues to wipe the spilled congee from the table, then picked up the bowl and slowly drank the congee.

 

She didn’t have much appetite, and the congee was quite bland. After only a couple of sips, she wanted to put it down.

 

Just as she was about to put the bowl down, she heard Lin Anran “da-da-da” run over.

 

She glanced at the congee, which had barely been touched, frowned in dissatisfaction, and firmly declared two words: “Finish it.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “I can’t eat anymore.”

 

Lin Anran’s frown deepened: “The doctor emphasized that you need to supplement your nutrition now. You must eat to recover quickly. You have to finish it.”

 

She put her hands on her hips, her expression a warning.

 

Jiang Zhi chuckled softly, indulged her, and picked up the bowl again.

 

Jiang Zhi ate one spoonful after another, while Lin Anran stared at every mouthful.

 

Only when the congee bowl was empty did Lin Anran finally drop her hands from her hips, her chin slightly raised: “You really know how to cause trouble. From now on, I’ll call you ‘Trouble-Maker.'”

 

Great, she had acquired another nickname: Trouble-Maker.

 

Jiang Zhi looked at her with soft eyes.

 

Lin Anran felt uncomfortable under her gaze and glared at her: “What are you looking at?”

 

Jiang Zhi chuckled lightly: “It’s getting late. I need to go home.”

 

Lin Anran, who had been relaxed, immediately became tense upon hearing this.

 

Jiang Zhi didn’t notice her emotions right away, busy getting out of bed, putting on her shoes and coat, and re-tying her slightly messy low ponytail.

 

When Jiang Zhi finished getting ready, she realized that Lin Anran hadn’t said a word the entire time.

 

It was unusual for the talkative person to be silent, making her slightly uneasy. She turned to look.

 

Lin Anran stood motionless in the center of the room, looking at her with a nervous and anxious expression.

 

Jiang Zhi was confused, but quickly realized what was happening.

 

The little cat was afraid. Afraid that when Jiang Zhi said she was going home, it wouldn’t include her, and that she would be left behind.

 

How could Jiang Zhi bear to leave her behind again? She reassured her: “We’re going home together.”

 

Upon hearing the four words “going home together,” the anxiety in Lin Anran’s eyes instantly lit up, replaced by immense joy.

 

Lin Anran’s emotional changes were particularly transparent and unmasked; her happiness and sorrow were instantly visible.

 

She appeared to be an aloof and rude person who was difficult to get along with, but after truly interacting with her, one could feel that she was extremely simple and pure.

 

All her joys, sorrows, and feelings were on her face. For instance, right now, she was so happy she was practically wagging her tail.

 

Of course, while “wagging her tail,” she didn’t forget to put on a tough front: “Who wants to go home with you? I’ve already broken off our friendship. I haven’t forgiven you.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “Are you a child? Breaking off friendships at the drop of a hat.”

 

She opened the door and started to walk out.

 

Lin Anran grew anxious and hurried after her: “Wait for me.”

 

Jiang Zhi smiled faintly and stopped, waiting for the person behind her.

 

As they walked side-by-side, Jiang Zhi lowered her head and looked at Lin Anran’s hand hanging by her side.

 

She debated internally: Should I hold her hand?

 

Before Jiang Zhi could deliberate for too long, Lin Anran suddenly sped up, walking ahead, childishly saying: “You walked so fast just now and didn’t wait for me. Now I’m not waiting for you either.”

 

Jiang Zhi was amused by her.

 

For the past few days, Jiang Zhi had been reluctant to go home because Lin Anran wasn’t there. Now, she was particularly looking forward to going home, because Lin Anran was by her side and would be going home with her.

 

People are like this: it’s hard to go from luxury to simplicity. She had gotten used to Lin Anran’s presence, and it would be very difficult to give it up again.

 

But she wasn’t planning to give it up anymore, and it seemed she didn’t need to for the short term.

 

She hoped this short term could be longer, and even longer, and even much longer.

 

As soon as the front door opened, Lin Anran rushed inside, pushing Jiang Zhi aside.

 

She immediately began inspecting her territory.

 

Living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom…

 

Jiang Zhi leaned against the door, watching her fuss.

 

The person who emerged from the bathroom inspection had a look of displeasure, her eyes full of resentment.

 

Jiang Zhi: “What’s wrong? What’s not right?”

 

She hadn’t packed up Lin Anran’s things this time, mainly because she hadn’t had time and couldn’t bear to pack them. Everything was kept as it was.

 

Logically, there shouldn’t have been anything that displeased her.

 

But Lin Anran’s expression clearly showed dissatisfaction, and significant dissatisfaction at that.

 

Jiang Zhi wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t ask further. Sure enough, after a few seconds, Lin Anran couldn’t hold back.

 

She ran into the bathroom in a huff, then ran out in a huff, with an extra towel in her hand.

 

“Why is there an extra towel? Whose is this!?”

 

Jiang Zhi looked at the towel in her hand and replied calmly: “I replaced an old towel with a new one. I kept the old one to use as a rag. I didn’t throw it away, I just hung it up there.”

 

Lin Anran looked perplexed: “If you replaced it, just throw it away. Why keep it as a rag? Are you too poor to buy rags? I don’t like an extra towel inexplicably being there.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “You know I’m thrifty. I save where I can. The old towel is perfectly good. It’d be a waste to throw it away. It’s perfect for a rag.”

 

She thought Lin Anran would definitely curse her out, as she never understood Jiang Zhi’s penny-pinching habits.

 

But surprisingly, Lin Anran said: “Got it.”

 

Jiang Zhi was astonished.

 

She would have preferred her to curse a bit, because Jiang Zhi didn’t want the princess to lower her quality of life to adapt to her own poverty and thriftiness.

 

Looking around the small one-bedroom rented apartment, having Lin Anran live here was already lowering her quality of life; it wasn’t just about whether an old towel was used as a rag.

 

But if she asked Lin Anran to go back home, she probably wouldn’t agree and would likely display that pitiful, wronged look of abandonment…

 

Jiang Zhi suddenly didn’t want Lin Anran to adapt to her anymore. Perhaps she should be the one to adapt to Lin Anran.

 

“Don’t you think this apartment is very small?” Jiang Zhi suddenly asked.

 

“Nonsense,” Lin Anran grumbled: “This tiny space is smaller than my bathroom at home.”

 

Jiang Zhi nodded, then changed the subject: “What’s it like living in a villa?”

 

Lin Anran paused, then pouted: “Stop acting like a bumpkin who hasn’t seen the world.”

 

“I am a bumpkin and I haven’t seen the world,” Jiang Zhi blinked and raised an eyebrow: “How about you take me to live in a villa and let me see the world? I’m incredibly curious what it feels like to live in one.”

 

Lin Anran’s eyes brightened: “You’re willing to go live there?”

 

Jiang Zhi laughed in a whisper: “Of course! I really want to live there. My kind young miss, please be charitable and let me experience it, okay?”

 

Lin Anran lifted her chin proudly: “Forget it. I won’t take you. Don’t dream such unrealistic dreams.”

 

The next second, she ran into the bedroom.

 

Jiang Zhi followed her and saw her pulling out a suitcase, opening it up on the floor: “Start packing, hurry up.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “…”

 

“It doesn’t have to be this rushed, does it?”

 

Lin Anran’s eyebrows shot up: “Be quick about your tasks. When it’s time to move, move quickly. When it’s time to pack, pack quickly. Don’t drag your feet. I don’t like it.”

 

“Cough, cough.”

 

Jiang Zhi covered her mouth and coughed twice: “I just recovered from a fever. I don’t have much strength to pack.”

 

Lin Anran glanced around the room and kicked the suitcase: “There’s not much to pack anyway. Just throw everything away.”

 

Jiang Zhi’s stinginess flared up, and she immediately refused: “Absolutely not.”

 

Lin Anran clicked her tongue: “You poor beggar. You can’t bear to throw away a pile of junk. Fine, I’ll move it all for you. I won’t rely on your sick self to pack.”

 

She immediately took out her phone, ready to call the bodyguards on 24-hour standby downstairs to help move things.

 

Jiang Zhi took her phone: “No rush. Don’t worry, I won’t go back on my word. Since I said I’ll move in with you, I definitely will.”

 

Lin Anran: “Who cares? I mean… no, wait! You were the one begging to move in, shamelessly wanting to live there. How did it become I’m afraid you won’t move in?”

 

Jiang Zhi rubbed the top of her head, coaxing her: “Okay, okay, my bad. I’m the one shamelessly begging to live there. So, we don’t have to rush. We can move slowly.”

 

Lin Anran liked being petted. She instinctively leaned into Jiang Zhi’s hand, wanting more petting.

 

Her actions showed her affection, but her mouth wouldn’t surrender: “I’m not in a hurry.”

 

“I am in a hurry.” Jiang Zhi’s gaze settled on her lips, lingering for a long time.

 

I am in a hurry. Rushing to want more and more…

 

“Do you want to eat beer duck?”

 

The topic change was exceptionally abrupt.

 

Lin Anran was puzzled: “Why bring up beer duck all of a sudden?”

 

Jiang Zhi shrugged: “I just feel like eating it.”

 

She regretted and was sad that Lin Anran hadn’t gotten to eat the beer duck she made before. Although the one she made alone on New Year’s Day was a failure and tasted awful.

 

But she had reviewed her steps since then. Presumably, the second time wouldn’t fail, and she could definitely let Lin Anran eat delicious beer duck.

 

“But we haven’t bought the ingredients yet. That’s fine. We’ll go to the supermarket and buy them,” Jiang Zhi said, ready to act immediately.

 

“Didn’t you usually go to the wet market to buy groceries?”

 

“The supermarket is the same.”

 

“Didn’t you say the supermarket was expensive?”

 

Jiang Zhi sighed: “You don’t like the wet market. You find it too noisy, too chaotic, and it has smells, right?”

 

Lin Anran ignored her words: “I want to go to the wet market.”

 

The wet market was crowded. Jiang Zhi would hold her hand to avoid getting separated. They could hold hands.

 

They could hold hands!

 

Jiang Zhi looked puzzled. Why did she suddenly insist on going to the wet market? But soon, Jiang Zhi started to understand.

 

She remembered that the last time they went to the wet market, Lin Anran was particularly keen on holding hands.

 

“We’re not going to the wet market,” Jiang Zhi said.

 

Lin Anran frowned, but the next moment, her hand was taken.

 

Lin Anran looked down blankly at their clasped hands.

 

Jiang Zhi squeezed her hand, a slight smile in her eyes: “Can we not go to the wet market now?”