Did the Tsundere Miss Get Slapped in the Face Again Today? - Chapter 77

Chapter 77: “It’s My Wife! Hehe, Give Me A Kiss!”

The footsteps grew closer and closer, the sound almost pressing against her ear, as if the distance between them was mere inches.

Hidden behind the massive tree, Jiang Zhi held her breath, her heart racing. In that instant, she couldn’t tell if she was more terrified of being discovered or secretly hoping for it.

The tap-tap of the heels stopped. One person behind the tree, one in front—they fell into a long, heavy silence.

Jiang Zhi didn’t dare make a sound. Her body was rigid, her back pressed against the rough bark, waiting, waiting, and waiting. The quiet lasted so long that Jiang Zhi began to think she had hallucinated the footsteps; maybe Lin Anran hadn’t approached at all.

Just as Jiang Zhi was about to lose her nerve and step out to look, the tap-tap resumed. She instantly froze.

Lin Anran stood in place for a while, staring at the tree. She looked at it for a very long time, as if looking at the trunk, or perhaps seeing something right through it. Time ticked away, second by second, until finally, Lin Anran turned and walked away.

The footsteps faded into the distance until they vanished entirely. Jiang Zhi slid down the tree trunk and sat on the ground. She couldn’t tell if she felt more relieved or disappointed. Her eyes were hollow as she gazed at the banquet through the window; inside, it was a sea of people, clinking glasses, and vibrant life. Jiang Zhi sat alone outside, an outsider to the joy.

She huddled there until her legs grew numb and stiff. Only then did she use the tree for support to slowly stand up. Forcing a smile, she returned to the banquet.

She found another corner to hide in, waiting for the night to end. She no longer tried to seek out Lin Anran’s figure. Having confirmed that Anran wasn’t too drunk and wasn’t in danger was enough. Everything else was none of her business as an outsider.

She took a piece of pastry and chewed. Though the cake was sweet, it tasted bitter in her mouth—a bitterness that wouldn’t dissipate. Despite having barely eaten all day, she still had no appetite, setting the pastry down after two bites.

Just as she set it down, a voice called from behind: “Hello.”

Jiang Zhi turned. Standing there was a girl in her early twenties, pretty and bright, with dimples that showed when she smiled.

“Hello,” Jiang Zhi replied with a polite smile.

“Do you like this pastry too? I love it! I just ate three or four pieces and I’m stuffed. Well, not that stuffed, but I’m supposed to be dieting, so I shouldn’t eat too much.” The girl was incredibly friendly. Though they were strangers, she spoke like an old friend.

Jiang Zhi opened her mouth to respond, but before a sound could come out, a figure suddenly charged between them. Jiang Zhi was bumped and stumbled. Not used to high heels, the sudden impact nearly sent her sprawling.

When she regained her balance, she saw Lin Anran standing like a barrier between her and the girl. The other girl had also been bumped and was visibly annoyed. “Hey! Why are you just charging around? Can’t you see there are people here?”

Lin Anran swept a glance over the girl. Once the girl realized it was Lin Anran, her voice caught in her throat, and she didn’t dare say another word.

Lin Anran rolled her eyes at the girl. Then, she turned her head and gave Jiang Zhi a roll of the eyes as well. Finally, she stepped away in her heels, chin held high, and walked off proudly.

She had run over for no apparent reason, bumped them apart, rolled her eyes at both of them equally, and left.

The girl looked disgruntled. “What’s with her? No apology after bumping into someone, just an eye-roll.”

“I’m sorry, she didn’t mean any harm, her personality is just… difficult…” Jiang Zhi subconsciously started to apologize for Anran, but she stopped mid-sentence. She no longer had the right to apologize for Lin Anran.

The girl looked at her in confusion. “Why are you apologizing?”

Jiang Zhi shook her head and lowered her gaze. “It’s nothing.”

The girl didn’t think much of it and looked at the departing Lin Anran, tsking. “That third Miss of the Lin family… such an ego. Just because she’s rich, she’s overbearing and looks down on everyone. It’s ridiculous. People that arrogant never end up with a good fate.”

Jiang Zhi’s brow furrowed. As the girl prepared to continue her rant, Jiang Zhi interrupted her: “She is indeed impolite sometimes, but that isn’t a reason for you to curse her. You say she won’t have a good end—what makes you think yours will be better? Are you such a wonderful person yourself?”

Jiang Zhi snapped back in defense.

The girl was stunned. “Are you crazy? I wasn’t even insulting you! Why are you protecting her like a mother hen? Psycho.” The girl walked away, muttering curses.

Not far away, Lin Anran, swirling a wine glass, had heard the commotion. Her attention had been on Jiang Zhi the whole time, so she hadn’t missed a single beat. As the girl stomped off in a huff, the corners of Anran’s eyes crinkled, and a delighted smile played on her lips.

The smile started small, but she couldn’t control it. It spread into a bright, radiant grin. She tilted her head back and drained her glass of red wine; even the alcohol tasted delicious now. She finished one and asked for another, laughing to herself, completely unable to stop.

Jiang Zhi watched with worried eyes. Why is she drinking again? As she saw Anran downing glass after glass, the frown on Jiang Zhi’s face deepened. Is she unhappy? Drowning her sorrows? Did she have a fight with her girlfriend?

Thinking about Anran’s “new girlfriend” sent Jiang Zhi’s mood plummeting. But as she saw Anran finish a third glass and reach for a fourth, Jiang Zhi couldn’t take it anymore. She approached her.

Whether it was the alcohol or just bad luck, Lin Anran suddenly tipped to one side. Jiang Zhi, who had just arrived, immediately reached out and caught her by the arm.

“Careful.”

Lin Anran looked up. Her cheeks were flushed with a drunken glow, and her eyes were hazy. A drunken Lin Anran was breathtakingly beautiful. For a moment, Jiang Zhi was dazed.

“Who are you?” Anran asked. Her speech was slurred, her eyes were vacant, and her sluggish brain made her look adorable.

“I… I’m nobody,” Jiang Zhi said. While supporting her arm, she took the wine glass away. “You’re drunk. You can’t have any more.”

She expected a drunken Lin Anran to be difficult—that she would throw a tantrum when her wine was taken. But to her surprise, Anran was obedient. Eerily so. She didn’t fight for the glass; she just gave a soft “oh” and stopped drinking.

Jiang Zhi’s heart softened at her docility. “Is your driver waiting outside? I’ll walk you out,” Jiang Zhi said.

“Mm.” Lin Anran let Jiang Zhi support her and followed her outside like a lost kitten.

Outside the villa, Jiang Zhi looked around the rows of parked luxury cars. It was going to be difficult to find Lin Anran’s car in this mess. She had to ask the drunken girl: “Where is the car? Or, call your driver and tell him to pull up to the gate.”

“Mm,” Anran agreed readily, but didn’t move an inch.

Jiang Zhi sighed helplessly. “Where is your phone? I’ll call for you.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhi found it both frustrating and funny. Why did she just keep saying “mm” to everything? Left with no choice, Jiang Zhi tried to find Anran’s phone herself, but Anran was wearing an evening gown—there weren’t exactly pockets.

Could she have forgotten it? With no driver and her being this drunk, where was Jiang Zhi supposed to take her?

Just as Jiang Zhi was stressing, the person leaning so obediently against her suddenly stood up straight. Without warning, Anran began walking away. Jiang Zhi jumped and followed.

“Where are you going? Be careful, don’t fall!” Jiang Zhi followed close behind, her arms slightly outstretched, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

After a few minutes, Lin Anran stopped in front of a milk tea shop.

“Do you want to drink this?” Jiang Zhi asked.

“Mm,” Anran nodded.

Jiang Zhi smiled softly. “Then I’ll buy it for you.”

“Mm.”

Again with the ‘mm’… A drunk Lin Anran seemed only capable of making that one sound. There was a bench next to the shop; Jiang Zhi led her over and pressed her down by the shoulders.

“I’ll go buy it, but you have to sit here and wait for me to come back. Be good.”

“Mm.”

Once she was sure Anran was sitting steadily, Jiang Zhi turned to the shop. But the moment she turned, her hem was grabbed.

Jiang Zhi looked down at the hand gripping her dress. She felt a surge of vertigo—it was like being back two years ago. Before they separated, Lin Anran used to grab her clothes just like this.

She tucked her thoughts away and softened her tone: “What is it? Do you not want milk tea anymore?”

Anran hummed.

“Then what do you want to do? Do you have your phone? Let’s call the driver.”

Anran stopped humming. She gave a clear, direct refusal: “No.”

Jiang Zhi knelt down in front of her, looking up slightly. “Do you know who I am?”

Lin Anran shook her head, then nodded.

Jiang Zhi guessed that she hadn’t recognized her. If she had, there was no way she would have followed her. The thought made Jiang Zhi shudder with a bit of fear—Anran was completely incoherent. She would follow anyone who led her. If she encountered someone with bad intentions… Jiang Zhi didn’t dare think about it.

Usually, bodyguards followed Anran. Why were they missing today? They were being far too negligent.

“I know you,” the drunken girl said, pinching Jiang Zhi’s cheek. Her grip was clumsy and far too hard, making Jiang Zhi wince.

But Jiang Zhi didn’t stop her. She just looked at her with a tender, indulgent gaze. “Since you know who I am, tell me. Who am I?”

Lin Anran gave a goofy grin. “Come closer. I’ll tell you a secret.”

Jiang Zhi smiled. Seeing that Jiang Zhi wasn’t moving closer, Anran leaned forward herself. She pressed her lips against Jiang Zhi’s ear and whispered:

“I know you. You’re my wife.”

As soon as the words left her mouth—Mwah!—she planted a kiss right on Jiang Zhi’s cheek.

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