Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: “It’s Jiang Yi’s Scent, I Like It.”

 

“Why are you going to work again? Can’t you just quit? It’s so annoying. I don’t want to wait there. I wait for five hours, and it’s boring. Don’t you know how bored I get?”

 

Lin Anran stood with her hands on her hips, accusing Jiang Zhi.

 

Jiang Zhi took her hand and led her along: “You don’t have to wait for me. Just stay home, or go out and have fun by yourself. I’ll come back as soon as my shift is over.”

 

Lin Anran pouted, wronged: “No.”

 

The clingy little kitten didn’t want to separate for a moment, even though she disliked waiting in the convenience store, she still followed every day.

 

Jiang Zhi was at the cash register checking out customers. In her free moments, she would glance at Lin Anran, who was sitting in the rest area by the window.

 

Lin Anran would occasionally spread her palms to admire her nail art, occasionally pick at the rhinestone stickers on her phone case, and occasionally lay her head on the table, staring at the busy Jiang Zhi at the register with a look of melancholy.

 

She was practically screaming “I’m bored” with her face.

 

Jiang Zhi saw all of this. Lin Anran had always waited like this, and Jiang Zhi hadn’t felt much about it before. But now, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

 

She asked herself internally, Is this job really that important? Is it really necessary? Do I have to work here? Do I have to make Lin Anran wait for five hours?

 

The hourly wage was 20 yuan, neither high nor low. Working five hours earned 100 yuan, which was a considerable side income for Jiang Zhi.

 

When she was alone, she was perfectly happy to do this job, willing to spend all her leisure time earning money, even if the money wouldn’t make her rich—it was just spare change.

 

But now she wasn’t alone; she had a girlfriend…

 

Leaving her girlfriend aside for five hours meant she had absolutely no time to spend with her.

 

At this moment, Lin Anran was leaning on the table, bored and picking at the tabletop, looking utterly pitiful.

 

Jiang Zhi sighed quietly, her mood complicated. Other people’s relationships involved going to the movies, shopping, and dates. Her own relationship involved making her girlfriend wait at her part-time job until midnight.

 

A strong sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

 

Lin Anran drooped her mouth, listless: “When do you finish work? It’s annoying. I don’t like it.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “Just one more hour. It’ll be soon.”

 

Lin Anran: “How is that soon? That’s still one hour! Such a long, long time.”

 

Jiang Zhi didn’t answer. She pursed her lips, staring down at the computer in a daze.

 

After a long while, her eyes grew firm, as if she had made a decision.

 

As it approached 11 PM, Lin Anran’s eyes brightened. Her energy returned because it was time to clock out and leave.

 

She looked toward the cash register. Xiaoman had taken over Jiang Zhi’s duties, but Jiang Zhi was nowhere to be seen.

 

Lin Anran frowned, stood up, walked to the register, and asked, “Where’s Jiang Yi?”

 

Xiaoman: “Sister Zhi Zhi just stepped out with the boss. She seemed to have something to talk to the boss about. She should be back after that.”

 

Lin Anran said, “Oh.”

 

Bored, she returned to the rest area by the window, lying down on the table to continue waiting.

 

Like a kitten waiting for its owner to come home, she wasn’t interested in anything else. She just wanted to wait for Jiang Zhi to return.

 

“What is she talking to the boss about? Why is it taking so long?” Lin Anran impatiently checked the time frequently.

 

In reality, it had only been about five minutes.

 

“Welcome.”

 

The convenience store door opened, and the mechanical welcome sounded.

 

Jiang Zhi returned, wearing her black-rimmed glasses and the green work vest.

 

Lin Anran shot up, running over quickly: “Let’s go, let’s go! Time to get off work.”

 

Jiang Zhi: “Were you anxious waiting?”

 

Lin Anran rolled her eyes: “Duh.”

 

“You don’t have to wait anymore.”

 

“?”

 

Jiang Zhi smiled faintly, gently stroking her head: “I just told the boss I’m resigning. I don’t need to come in tomorrow, and you won’t have to wait this long for me anymore.”

 

Lin Anran stared at her blankly: “Why?”

 

Jiang Zhi shrugged: “No reason, I just…”

 

Before she could finish, Lin Anran immediately exploded: “Did your stingy boss bully you? How dare he fire you! You work so hard! Who does he think he is? I’m going to find him! Who does he think he is, running a convenience store like it’s a big deal!”

 

Her sudden outburst startled Jiang Zhi.

 

To make matters worse, the boss pushed the door open and walked in.

 

Jiang Zhi and the entering boss met eyes, and Jiang Zhi was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole.

 

However, she didn’t have time to be embarrassed because Lin Anran looked ready to rush over and fight him.

 

Jiang Zhi quickly held her back: “No, no, I resigned myself. I wasn’t fired.”

 

Lin Anran froze, suddenly falling silent.

 

Jiang Zhi bowed apologetically to the boss, who waved his hand, not holding a grudge.

 

Lin Anran, however, was still unhappy: “Why are you apologizing? You shouldn’t apologize! What’s wrong with me yelling at him? Your boss is a stingy freak anyway, and I’m not wrong. You’ve worked for him for so long, and he doesn’t even give you commission…”

 

The boss’s face turned as black as soot.

 

Jiang Zhi glared at Lin Anran, warning her to quiet down.

 

Although her salary had already been settled, so there was no fear of the boss withholding pay, the boss was actually quite nice. The part-time wage wasn’t low, and she hadn’t been treated unfairly in the work environment.

 

When she said she was quitting, the boss immediately paid her salary without dragging his feet or making things difficult. For a boss to do that was actually quite good.

 

As for Lin Anran saying the boss was stingy and didn’t give commissions…

 

The truth was that the young miss hadn’t experienced working at the grassroots level. The treatment Lin Anran found terrible was actually decent or better.

 

“I’m sorry, Boss. She doesn’t speak nicely. Please don’t take it to heart. Thank you for taking care of me during this time,” Jiang Zhi apologized sincerely.

 

The boss looked at the arrogant Lin Anran, who had her nose in the air, looking like he wanted to be angry but couldn’t. He waved his hand and left.

 

Lin Anran snorted, but quickly remembered something, grabbed Jiang Zhi’s arm, and excitedly said:

 

“You quit! So, you won’t have to come here anymore! You’ll have five more hours to spend with me, right?!!”

 

Jiang Zhi looked at her gently, about to say yes, but before she could, Lin Anran’s face fell, and she said indignantly:

 

“Don’t you dare say anything about needing a breather or rest! I don’t like that kind of sick talk. You’re forbidden to say it!”

 

Jiang Zhi was startled. She had indeed said something like that before. At that time, she had spent the whole day shopping with Lin Anran, who then wanted her to continue shopping late into the night. Jiang Zhi, whose legs were about to give out, had said she wanted to rest and catch her breath.

 

She hadn’t expected Lin Anran to be so vengeful, still holding onto that phrase.

 

With Lin Anran’s fur bristling, Jiang Zhi soothed her: “No rest, and no need for a breather. I love being with you.”

 

Lin Anran looked happy, but after the joy came doubt: “Really?”

 

Jiang Zhi nodded sincerely: “Truer than true gold.”

 

Lin Anran was happy again, but didn’t forget to curse: “Jiang Yi, all you ever do is cling to people. You’re so sticky. Now you’ve even quit your job just to stick to me. You’re pathetic. I don’t like it.”

 

Jiang Zhi responded indulgently: “Alright, alright. My Lin Kitten who doesn’t like me, can you wait for me a little longer? I need to pack up my things.”

 

Lin Anran: “Hurry up! Don’t be sluggish. I don’t have the patience to wait for you.”

 

She doesn’t have the patience to wait? She waits five hours every day.

 

Forget it. She wouldn’t dwell on the past. She didn’t want her to wait like this anymore. It was unbearable to leave the playful, energetic kitten by herself for so long.

 

“You quit? Why so suddenly? Did something happen?” Xiaoman asked, looking surprised.

 

“Nothing happened. I just need more time…” More time to spend with my girlfriend.

 

She couldn’t bring herself to say those last few words.

 

Xiaoman looked at Lin Anran, then at Jiang Zhi, raised a knowing eyebrow, and drew out a lengthy, “Ohhh.”

 

Jiang Zhi shyly touched her nose.

 

“Well, I’m mostly packed up. I’ll be going now. Let’s try to get together sometime,” Jiang Zhi grabbed her things and waved goodbye.

 

She said they’d get together sometime, but without the job connecting them, whether they would ever see each other again was uncertain. This could well be their last meeting.

 

Xiaoman waved back.

 

Jiang Zhi took the hand of Lin Anran, who was boringly kicking the door, “Let’s go.”

 

Lin Anran obediently let her lead the way, walking side-by-side with her outside.

 

From behind, Xiaoman’s voice called out: “Be happy, both of you! Wishing you a long and lasting relationship!”

 

Jiang Zhi turned back, nodded, and smiled: “Thank you. I’ll take your auspicious words.”

 

Lin Anran looked at Jiang Zhi, then at Xiaoman, wanting to say thank you like Jiang Zhi, but after struggling for a long time, she couldn’t say it. She had never said thank you to anyone before.

 

After much awkwardness, she finally managed: “That sounds quite pleasant to the ear. I suppose you’re good with words.”

 

Xiaoman’s smile was youthful and bright. She gave a clumsy salute: “Thank you for the compliment, Sister Anran.”

 

After the pleasantries and goodbyes, Lin Anran and Jiang Zhi left.

 

“Where are we going?” Lin Anran asked.

 

“Home, of course. Where else would we go?” Jiang Zhi was slightly puzzled, as it was past 11 PM.

 

Lin Anran frowned.

 

Seeing her expression, Jiang Zhi knew she was reluctant to go home and wanted to go somewhere else.

 

Jiang Zhi understood exactly how to communicate with the kitten: “You’re right, I don’t really want to go home either, but I don’t know where to go out. Do you have any suggestions?”

 

Lin Anran immediately replied: “That street market up ahead. I think it’s slightly interesting. If you want to go, I guess I can reluctantly accompany you.”

 

Jiang Zhi understood. She wanted to go there.

 

She had taken Lin Anran there once before, but they hadn’t stayed long before Lin Anran’s eldest sister picked her up and took her home.

 

She had thought that after that separation, they would have no further contact and would become strangers. Unexpectedly, they circled back and ended up dating.

 

Things in this world often turned out unexpectedly.

 

However, Jiang Zhi was very fond of this unexpected turn.

 

“Okay, thank you, Miss Lin San, for accompanying me to the street market,” Jiang Zhi took off her own scarf and wrapped it around Lin Anran’s neck: “It’s cold. Don’t catch a cold.”

 

Lin Anran scoffed: “I’m not like you, catching a cold at the drop of a hat.”

 

She seemed to despise Jiang Zhi’s gray scarf, but she lowered her head and took a sniff. A faint scent of laundry detergent.

 

The scarf had Jiang Zhi’s scent. I like it.

 

The scarf also carried Jiang Zhi’s warm body temperature. I like it.