Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: “The Number You Have Dialed Is Not Answering.”

“Did my big sister say something bad to you?”

Lin Anran tugged uneasily at a corner of Jiang Zhi’s sleeve, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Zhi’s own.

“She didn’t say much.” Jiang Zhi turned her head, avoiding the gaze.

Lin Anran forcefully straightened Jiang Zhi’s head, compelling her to look her in the eye, making evasion impossible. Looking at the stubborn person before her, Jiang Zhi let out a helpless, soft sigh.

“She just deliberately ridiculed me a bit. Don’t worry, I can handle a few insults. I’m not that fragile; after all, I was mentally prepared before I went,” Jiang Zhi forced a smile, trying her best to appear relaxed and natural. “You forgot—I’m famous for being thick-skinned. How could a few words from her knock me down?”

Lin Anran was skeptical. “Really?”

Jiang Zhi nodded vigorously. “Really.”

Liar.

If Lin Han had simply mocked or ridiculed her, Jiang Zhi would have been sad at most, but it wouldn’t have pierced her heart. The problem was that Lin Han knew too well how to manipulate human psychology; she knew how to strike a fatal blow. Every word she spoke was like a sharp blade. It was as if a jagged knife had been thrust into her chest—and one stab wasn’t enough; the knife was twisted and pulled back and forth repeatedly. She didn’t leave until her victim was a bloody mess.

“You really didn’t take it to heart? You aren’t lying, are you?” Lin Anran pressed anxiously.

“I’m not lying,” Jiang Zhi said.

I am a complete fraud…

Lin Anran’s tension gradually dissipated, and she let go of the sleeve. “It’s good that you’re thick-skinned. Keep being that way. Don’t let a few sentences from my sister get to you. Actually, you shouldn’t have gone to see her at all. You aren’t allowed to see her ever again. She only knows how to bully people, do you hear me?”

Jiang Zhi nodded obediently. “I hear you. I won’t see her again.”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore,” Jiang Zhi took her hand. “Come on, let’s go home.”

Lin Anran happily swung their joined hands up and down. “I’m hungry. I couldn’t find you anywhere and didn’t even have lunch.”

“I’ll cook for you when we get back.”

“I want Beer Duck.”

“Okay.”

“And Corn and Pork Rib Soup.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Zhi’s smile was gentle, but beneath that gentleness was a bitterness that went unnoticed. The thoughts she had suppressed countless times were now growing wildly again. She truly wished Lin Anran were just an ordinary girl like herself. But unfortunately…

It took over two hours to prepare three dishes and a soup. In addition to the Beer Duck and Corn and Pork Rib Soup Anran had requested, Jiang Zhi made some simple home-style side dishes.

“Wash your hands and come eat!” Jiang Zhi called out to the person playing on her phone in the living room.

Lin Anran skipped over quickly. She glanced at the food on the table and pouted arrogantly. “Looks mediocre. I guess I’ll force myself to eat a little.”

Jiang Zhi looked at her with amusement. “Alright, just sit down and eat.”

Lin Anran picked up her chopsticks but suddenly pulled back before grabbing any food. “Aren’t you filming a video?”

Lately, Jiang Zhi had been filming food videos, recording a segment every time she cooked. Today, Jiang Zhi’s spirits were low. “Let’s skip it today.”

Lin Anran: “Why skip today? You were so full of energy before, filming every day. Did you suddenly lose confidence? Do you think you can’t become a food blogger with a million followers anymore?”

Jiang Zhi shook her head. “No, I’m just hungry and want to eat quickly.”

Lin Anran gave an “oh” and didn’t seem to care much, picking up a piece of duck and chewing it. Seeing that she didn’t press further, Jiang Zhi breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Previously, she had been full of drive, filming every day because she thought that if she could actually achieve success in this field, maybe—just maybe—she would be somewhat worthy of Lin Anran. She had naively planned and believed this.

But after meeting Lin Han, all her motivation had been shattered. She had to accept a reality: even if she reached the very top of this field, it still wouldn’t be enough. She wanted to catch up to Lin Anran, but she realized the distance between them was as vast as a galaxy. She could never catch up.

A look of fatigue hung between Jiang Zhi’s brows. She had lost interest in everything, falling into a cycle of despondency. Lin Anran wasn’t oblivious to these emotional shifts. While eating, she secretly observed Jiang Zhi out of the corner of her eye.

Big Sister must have said something to Jiang Zhi—something far beyond simple mockery. When she asked Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi wouldn’t speak, acting like a “silent gourd,” pretending everything was fine when it clearly wasn’t.

No, I have to find out.

Lin Anran acted fast. The next day, she rushed to the Lin Group corporate headquarters.

“Why are you stopping me? What right do you have to block me? Move! Didn’t you hear me? Move!” Lin Anran shouted irritably at the CEO’s assistant blocking her path.

“Third Young Miss, President Lin is in a video conference. You cannot go in now. Let me take you to the VIP lounge to wait for a moment.”

“So naggy! Why is there so much nonsense? I don’t care if she’s in a video conference or not. Get out of my way! Beat it!”

She impatiently gave the assistant a push. The assistant, wearing high heels, was pushed without warning. She twisted her ankle, lost her balance, and fell to the ground. Lin Anran frowned. She felt no guilt for pushing her; instead, she stood with her hands on her hips, looking down impatiently at the person on the floor.

Enduring the sharp pain in her ankle, the assistant struggled to climb up. She didn’t dare blame Anran, keeping a smile on her face. “Third Young Miss, President Lin’s video conference is very important and cannot be interrupted. I should still take you to the lounge to wait.”

Though she was smiling, cold sweat broke out on the assistant’s forehead—likely from the pain. Yet even in such pain, she didn’t dare raise her voice to Lin Anran.

Lin Anran didn’t listen at all, preparing to push her aside again. But halfway through the motion, she suddenly remembered what Jiang Zhi had told her: Working people have it hard. Don’t make things difficult for them just because you’re in a bad mood.

If she barged in and the video conference was interrupted, leading to consequences, Lin Han probably wouldn’t blame her. But what about the assistant? Would the assistant be punished for failing to stop her? A pay cut at best, or fired at worst?

As Lin Anran prepared to charge in, the assistant was frantic and at a loss. The Third Young Miss was never one to listen to reason, and she couldn’t exactly call security or physically restrain her…

Just as the assistant reached her wits’ end, Lin Anran suddenly went quiet. To the assistant’s bewilderment, Lin Anran said, “Where is the lounge? Take me there.”

The assistant froze.

“What are you standing there for? Take me there! Stop dawdling,” Lin Anran rolled her eyes.

In all her visits to the company, she had never been to a lounge. Every time, she had simply barged into the office, and no one could stop her. This time, she didn’t know what had happened—one second she was fuming, looking ready to tear the office apart, and the next she was suddenly calm and willing to wait.

The assistant couldn’t figure out why, but she didn’t dare delay. Fearing the young lady might change her mind, she immediately led her to the lounge, limping all the way.

Lin Anran followed behind, her gaze dropping to the assistant’s ankle. It was swelling up red and looked quite serious. With a “creak,” the assistant opened the lounge door and gestured for her to enter. Once Lin Anran was inside, the assistant limped over to pull out a chair for her, then hurried to pour water.

Lin Anran’s frown deepened. “Enough. Stop running around in front of me. It’s annoying to look at.”

The assistant was embarrassed. “Alright, I’ll head out now.”

As the assistant limped toward the door, Lin Anran spoke up: “Your foot—find a doctor to look at it.” Her tone was stiff, not sounding like typical concern.

The assistant was surprised. After a moment, she nodded quickly. “I will. Thank you for your concern.”

Lin Anran didn’t look at her again.

Leaving the lounge and returning to her post, the assistant rubbed her ankle, still in a state of shock. Was Lin Anran just worried about my injury? That Third Young Miss—the one who is always overbearing, arrogant, rude, and turns the world upside down whenever she’s unhappy—actually has a caring and considerate side? She wondered if that had been an imposter.

After waiting for nearly half an hour, just as Lin Anran was about to lose her patience and explode again, there were two knocks on the lounge door.

“Come in,” Lin Anran said sharply.

The assistant opened the door and said respectfully, “Third Young Miss, President Lin’s conference is over. You may go in now.”

Lin Anran stood up and strode toward the office. Just before pushing the door open, she turned back to look at the assistant, her gaze shifting downward. The assistant was confused at first, then realized: “I’ve applied a plaster. It doesn’t hurt much anymore. You don’t need to worry.”

Lin Anran scoffed. “Who’s worried about you? You’re crazy.”

With that, she ignored the assistant, kicked the office door open, and stormed inside. The assistant wiped cold sweat from her brow; in the entire company, Lin Anran was probably the only one who dared to kick President Lin’s door.

Lin Han, dressed in a white suit with a cold expression, sat at her desk holding a fountain pen, signing documents. Hearing the door being kicked, she didn’t even lift an eyelid, as if she were used to it.

Lin Anran: “Bad thing! What did you say to Jiang Zhi? Did you threaten her?”

After signing the document, Lin Han finally took the time to look up. “I’m your sister. What did you just call me?”

Lin Anran: “Bad thing!”

Lin Han’s cold, sharp eyes landed on her, like a freezing wind blowing against her face. Lin Anran shrunk her neck back, feeling a bit intimidated, but she continued to mutter under her breath.

Lin Han withdrew her gaze and shook her head. “You aren’t a child anymore. Stop throwing these childish tantrums.”

Lin Anran: “You’re the one who went to cause trouble for Jiang Zhi first! You threatened her first!”

Lin Han sneered. “Whether I threatened her or not—didn’t you already ask her? What, you don’t believe her words and need to confirm it with me? Do you two not even have basic trust? If that’s the case, it’s better to break up sooner rather than later.”

Lin Anran choked on her words, her chest heaving with anger.

“Looking at how nervous you are, maybe you should hurry back and check. Be careful—if you don’t keep a close eye on her, she might run away and disappear.” Lin Han’s cool features carried a hint of mockery.

Lin Anran froze for a second, her pupils trembling. She no longer had the heart to find out what Lin Han had actually said to Jiang Zhi. She turned and rushed out. Her heart was pounding wildly—she didn’t know if it was from the running or from the sheer terror.

“Drive faster! Faster! Drive even faster!” Lin Anran urged the driver frantically. While urging him, she kept calling Jiang Zhi.

“I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is not answering at the moment. Please try again later.” “I’m sorry, the number you have dialed…”

Lin Anran gripped her phone tightly, anxiously biting her lip until it bled, the tip of her tongue tasting the metallic tang of blood. It won’t happen. It definitely won’t. Jiang Zhi promised she wouldn’t leave. She said she wouldn’t lie to me.

Big Sister is just trying to scare me. She won’t, she won’t, she definitely won’t.

Hearing the “no answer” prompt over and over, Lin Anran’s eyes gradually filled with tears. She stubbornly redialed the number again and again.

“Third Young Miss, we’ve arrived,” the driver said as he pulled over.

Lin Anran snapped out of her daze. She dropped her phone and pushed the car door open. But as soon as she stepped out, her legs felt weak, and she collapsed to her knees. Her knees hit the pavement, the pain making her suck in a sharp breath. Lacking the strength to get up, she just sat on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

The villa was right in front of her, but she didn’t dare push the door open. She was afraid that Jiang Zhi had truly left, just as Lin Han said. What would she do if Jiang Zhi really was gone…

Lin Anran sat on the ground like an abandoned kitten, helpless and lost.

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