Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: “Can We Stop Being The Evil Mother-In-Law, Please?”

She had no appetite. She set down her breakfast after only two bites. The banquet wasn’t until the evening, which meant she had an entire day of free time with nothing to do.

She transferred the raw footage she had filmed previously to her phone and began editing. She spent several hours cutting video, keeping herself occupied and busy to prevent her mind from wandering.

This tactic was clearly effective; for the two hours she spent editing, she was fully immersed and didn’t think of anything else. But once the video was finished and her tasks were done, certain thoughts began to seep into her mind through every crack.

She shook her head, trying to fling those thoughts away. She couldn’t stay idle; she had to find something else to do. But what? Aside from editing, there seemed to be nothing left.

As she struggled to find a task, her anxiety grew. she paced back and forth in the room like a spinning top that couldn’t stop—as if she could only stay alive by keeping in motion.

Right, the banquet tonight. I need a dress.

Yes, she needed to prepare a gown. That was a task, and a necessary one at that. Having found something to do, Jiang Zhi’s anxiety eased slightly, like a drowning person surfacing briefly for air.

She looked for evening gowns on shopping apps. Buying one was out of the question—too expensive. She would just rent one. Yet even the rental prices were high enough to make her gasp. Low-priced ones looked cheap, and she didn’t want to look too pathetic at the banquet; high-priced ones she couldn’t bear to pay for. Immersed in the struggle of saving pennies and agonizing over costs, Jiang Zhi truly didn’t have time to be sad.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang again.

Hearing the sound, Jiang Zhi looked toward the door, her face full of confusion. She walked to the door but didn’t open it immediately. She asked warily, “Who is it?”

A female voice responded: “Is this Miss Jiang Zhi? I’m a staff member from the video content creation exchange banquet organizers. I’ve brought you your evening gown.”

Jiang Zhi froze. The organizers provide evening gowns for this kind of event? Aside from her former company’s year-end dinner, she had never attended a formal banquet and didn’t know the protocol. Perhaps major, formal events did provide gowns for guests?

After all, they had provided a five-star hotel. With such a lavish budget, the scale of this banquet must be immense. But then again, was this the company’s doing, or Lin Anran’s arrangement? If it was her arrangement, what was her goal in giving her such an opportunity?

Jiang Zhi shook her head, refusing to think further for fear of falling back into an emotional spiral. She opened the door. The person outside was indeed a staff member, trailing a rolling garment rack with three evening gowns.

“Miss Jiang Zhi, these are the gowns the organizers prepared for you. Please see which one you like,” the girl with a staff badge said with a smile.

“Okay, let me see.” Jiang Zhi returned the smile and walked to the rack. After a quick glance, she fell silent.

Why were all three gowns bright red?

Jiang Zhi couldn’t imagine what kind of strange sight she would be in one of those. Usually, her wardrobe consisted of black, white, and grey. Even when she was looking at rentals online, she had chosen simple black or white styles.

Something so complex, gorgeous, and boldly red… Jiang Zhi was speechless.

“The gowns have been delivered,” someone reported to Lin Anran in real-time. “But Miss Jiang doesn’t seem to like them.”

Lin Anran arched an eyebrow, not at all surprised. Of course Jiang Zhi wouldn’t like them. Jiang Zhi never wore vibrant colors; she was always in dusty, muted tones. Making her wear a red dress was purely Lin Anran’s mischievous streak—she was doing it on purpose to mess with her.

Lin Yishu asked, “If she doesn’t like them, are you sure she’ll wear one?”

Lin Anran nodded confidently. “She will.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“She’s so stingy. Getting her own gown costs money, but the one I sent is free. Just watch—she’ll 100% wear it.”

“Stop playing around. Be careful not to go too far,” Lin Yishu laughed, but she felt the need to warn her.

“I told you, I know what I’m doing,” Lin Anran replied dismissively.

Lin Yishu shook her head. “Keep playing your games. I’m telling you, don’t mess with her too much. If your ‘wife’ runs away for real, don’t come crying to me.”

Lin Anran’s gaze was profound. “Who says I’m just messing with her? Can’t it be out of ‘well-meaning intentions’?”

Making her wear red wasn’t entirely about annoying her. Often, the clothes one wears represent one’s state of mind. Changing her attire was a way to help change her mindset. Lin Anran was determined; she wanted to help Jiang Zhi build self-confidence, starting by changing her dull, grey wardrobe. It was a step-by-step process, and the road was long.

“Alright, I’m done talking to you. I have to go. Eldest Sister is here to pick me up.” Lin Yishu stood up and straightened the collar of her qipao.

Lin Anran looked at her with a face full of displeasure.

“What? I can’t even mention the words ‘Eldest Sister’?” Lin Yishu asked, amused.

“You’re too close to her,” Lin Anran snorted. “Don’t come to my office anymore. I don’t play with people who side with her.”

“You can’t be serious,” Lin Yishu said helplessly. “Are we three sisters going to split into two camps and fight each other like mortal enemies?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t like it. Just get out.”

Lin Yishu was kicked out. A black sedan was parked by the curb. She walked over and tapped on the window. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a face as cold as frost.

Lin Yishu said, “Sister, you’re already here. Why not go in for a bit?”

Lin Han replied, “She doesn’t welcome me.”

Lin Yishu was speechless. It was true—Lin Anran did not welcome Lin Han. She had even just kicked out her second sister for being too close to the eldest. After getting into the car, Lin Yishu peeked at Lin Han.

Lin Han’s thin lips parted: “If you have something to say, say it.”

“So… Anran brought Jiang Zhi back. You probably know about this already, right?”

Lin Han gave a cold “mm.”

“You aren’t going to try and sabotage things again, are you?” Lin Yishu looked worried. Lin Han’s methods were too ruthless; if she sincerely wanted to interfere, Jiang Zhi would probably be driven away again.

Lin Han watched the city scenery pass by the window and didn’t speak.

Lin Yishu poked her arm. “Can we stop playing this ‘evil mother-in-law’ role? It’s really unnecessary. Jiang Zhi does have character flaws and her abilities aren’t outstanding, so it’s understandable you don’t approve of her.”

“But with feelings, you can’t just look at external conditions. Our family lacks nothing. There’s no need for you to play the villain and tear lovers apart. Is being an evil mother-in-law actually fun?”

Lin Han glanced at her. Lin Yishu shrank back, withdrawing her finger. Sometimes she wanted to be close to her eldest sister, but she couldn’t help being a bit afraid of her. After all, growing up under her high-pressure education made it hard not to be.

“Evil mother-in-law—that’s the wrong description. The generation is wrong.”

“Uh… it was just a metaphor.”

“No matter the metaphor, the generation is wrong.”

“…” The car fell into a strange silence.

“If you don’t like dancing, then don’t do it anymore,” Lin Han said suddenly.

Lin Yishu froze, not quite processing the words. One second, two seconds, three seconds. She whipped her head around to look at her sister, her eyes wide with shock. After the shock passed, her nose felt tingly, and she felt like crying.

Lin Han frowned. “Hold it in.”

“Sister… you’ve been the villain for so many years. Why did you suddenly ‘awaken’ and stop being the bad guy?”

“You’re noisy.”

Lin Yishu let out a low laugh. She knew her sister wasn’t a bad person; she just needed time to change. Boldly, Lin Yishu grabbed her arm. Lin Han pulled her hand away and looked at her coldly.

Meeting that cold gaze, for the first time, Lin Yishu didn’t feel fear. She stubbornly grabbed her arm again.

“It seems you still want to keep dancing,” Lin Han said cryptically.

Lin Yishu coughed and silently withdrew her arm. “Sister, you’re so resistant to people being close to you. How are you ever going to find a partner? Sigh, you can’t stay single for the rest of your life.”

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