The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Separated

The inspection results for that painting came back quickly; there was nothing wrong with it. It seemed she might simply have gained a love rival who wanted to repay a debt of gratitude.

But that was fine. Aside from the person her sister mentioned liking, no one else posed a threat. After Tao Yitong brought the painting back, she asked Jiang Zitan where she wanted to hang it.

Setting aside the identity of the artist, the work itself was a fine painting, and it likely held some sentimental value for Jiang Zitan.

“Put it away in the storage room.” Jiang Zitan decided the painting’s fate with a single glance.

“Okay~” Tao Yitong immediately and happily placed the painting in a corner of the storage room.

Jiang Zitan let out a soft laugh as she watched her retreat, but then she saw another notification pop up on her phone. It was Zhao Rou again.

Noticing the look in Jiang Zitan’s eyes, Tao Yitong’s inexplicable anger dissipated. She had known Jiang Zitan for more than a day or two; she was well aware of how stubborn Jiang Zitan could be. There was really no need to lose her temper over such a small thing. After all, she was the one who owed Jiang Zitan, not the other way around.

Having reached this realization, Tao Yitong relaxed her tense facial expression. However, she was too embarrassed to admit she was wrong, so her tone remained harsh: “You must be tired.”

Jiang Zitan nodded.

Realizing she had just stated the obvious, Tao Yitong became flustered and annoyed: “Hurry up and come drink some mung bean soup!”

Jiang Zitan was slightly dazed: “What?”

The young girl stood on the ridge of the field with her hands on her hips, bright and dazzling: “Mung bean soup! I brought you food. Eating something won’t delay your work, will it?”

It wouldn’t. In fact, Jiang Zitan’s stomach was already burning with hunger. After a few seconds of internal struggle, Jiang Zitan put down her hoe and leaped onto the ridge. Seeing that she didn’t refuse, Tao Yitong breathed a sigh of relief.

In the original novel, the Jiang Zitan of later years suffered from a very serious stomach ailment. Tao Yitong had always thought it was just a minor setting added by the author to embellish Jiang Zitan’s “beautiful, strong, yet tragic” persona. But since moving to Fengkang Town, she discovered that Jiang Zitan’s stomach issues were caused by years of irregular eating habits.

She suspected Jiang Zitan’s appetite was already starting to suffer, so she had prepared food that was both stomach-warming and refreshing. The mung bean soup had some Job’s tears added to it, and she had also prepared pumpkin porridge and some steamed pastries. The food was tightly sealed in boxes, so not a drop had spilled along the way, and it was still lukewarm.

Jiang Zitan was truly thirsty and hungry. She uttered a word of thanks and began to eat. Tao Yitong sat beside her, watching her drink the porridge, and leaned in with a mischievous smile: “Is it good?”

In the rural summer evening, the sky was gradually darkening, and the sounds of insects rustled nearby. The girl wore a mosquito-repellent bracelet on her wrist, and her two snowy-white hands propped her up beside Jiang Zitan, sitting extremely close.

Jiang Zitan looked at her with dark pupils and then lowered her thick eyelashes: “Mm.”

“Hehe,” she laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, her amber pupils as sweet as honey. “I brewed it.”

“Pffft!” Jiang Zitan choked and coughed, hurriedly putting the bowl down. “You… you brewed it?”

Not expecting Jiang Zitan to have such a terrified reaction, Tao Yitong was also stunned. She handed over a handkerchief: “I didn’t put anything strange in it, okay?”

“Cough! Cough cough… no,” Jiang Zitan’s face was flushed red from coughing, her black eyes glistening with a hint of moisture. “Cough… I wasn’t thinking about that.”

She was purely surprised that Tao Yitong actually knew how to brew porridge. Jiang Zitan silently found an excuse for her earlier loss of composure.

The girl, however, easily and openly poked through her true thoughts: “Is drinking the porridge I cooked that exciting?”

“…I’m not.” Jiang Zitan’s face was red. Ignoring the girl’s teasing gaze, she picked up the bowl and finished the porridge.

“Thank you.” Jiang Zitan offered her thanks, took the initiative to pack up the empty dishes, and jumped back down into the field to continue her work.

Perhaps because she had just eaten, she was full of energy. Tao Yitong sat on the ridge watching her for a while: “Jiang Zitan.”

Hearing Tao Yitong call her name, Jiang Zitan looked up.

“When will you be finished?”

Jiang Zitan licked her dry lips: “Probably… seven-thirty.”

Tao Yitong checked her phone: “It’s only six-ten.”

Jiang Zitan said: “If you’re bored, you can go back first.”

She expected the young miss to agree, but unexpectedly, Tao Yitong refused: “No.” She smiled as she sat on the plastic sheet, her eyes curving: “I’ll wait for you here, okay, Jiang Zitan?”

Jiang Zitan nodded, the corners of her mouth curving up: “Okay.”

This seemed to be the first time Tao Yitong had seen Jiang Zitan smile. It was as if hard ice had melted; her dark eyes held a few hints of tenderness, though it was fleeting. Tao Yitong was stunned. By the time she snapped out of it, Jiang Zitan had already returned to being that silent machine, burying her head back into the field work.

The work was finished at exactly seven o’clock.

Jiang Zitan jumped onto the ridge, drenched in sweat: “Let’s go back.”

Tao Yitong was almost falling asleep. She rubbed her eyes and stood up: “Mm-hmm.” Her voice was sweet and light, scattering into the summer night breeze. Just as she was reaching for her bag on the ground, Jiang Zitan’s hand got there first. With the hoe over one shoulder, Jiang Zitan turned and said: “Let’s go.”

“Okay.” Tao Yitong followed behind her. As they walked one after the other along the pitted ridge of the field, Tao Yitong saw Jiang Zitan’s sweat-soaked hair and her back, which was dampened by sweat, revealing her silhouette. The sound of slight panting came from in front of her. Listening to it, Tao Yitong felt a warmth in her heart. She knew Jiang Zitan had worked faster because she didn’t want her to wait too long.

Tao Yitong jogged up to Jiang Zitan’s side and leaned in with a soft smile: “Jiang Zitan, you’re so good.”

The girl’s words carried a hint of a smile, as sweet as lemon candy. Jiang Zitan’s eyelashes flickered slightly. She looked up, her dark eyes containing some unidentifiable emotion. She ignored her completely and quickened her pace.

Tao Yitong’s eyes widened slightly in the back. Thinking Jiang Zitan was annoyed, she jogged to keep up. However, she saw Jiang Zitan put the hoe into their own greenhouse and roll out a bicycle from the side. She hopped on and looked back at Tao Yitong.

Tao Yitong: ?

Jiang Zitan pursed her lips and looked away: “Get on.”

Oh, she was offering a ride.

Tao Yitong straightened her skirt and sat sideways on the somewhat tall bicycle, wrapping her arms around Jiang Zitan’s waist. Jiang Zitan felt uncomfortable. Remembering her back was covered in sweat, she turned her head and said haltingly: “…Maybe… you shouldn’t hold me.”

Tao Yitong: ? “If I don’t hold you, am I supposed to wait for you to throw me off to my death?”

Jiang Zitan: … That was a fair point.

Jiang Zitan didn’t say another word and slowly carried Tao Yitong down the road. Tao Yitong gripped the fabric at her waist and asked, seemingly casually: “Jiang Zitan.”

“Hmm?”

Tao Yitong asked: “Do you have to do farm work often?”

Jiang Zitan didn’t think much of it: “Yes.”

“Then what about studying? You’re busy with the house and the fields every day—do you have time to study?”

When this question was asked, Jiang Zitan didn’t reply for a long time. But even if she didn’t say it, Tao Yitong understood. In the previous life, Jiang Zitan was facing dropping out of school at this time. No matter how excellent her grades were, she couldn’t overcome her family dragging her down. Chen Huishu didn’t want her in school at all; she only wanted to exploit her, get her into a factory as soon as possible, and marry her off later for the betrothal money.

But in this life, she was here. She would never let Jiang Zitan experience that kind of desperate helplessness again.

When the two returned to the Jiang house, it was already past seven. A journey that normally took fifteen minutes had taken nearly half an hour today; Jiang Zitan had ridden very slowly, fearing Tao Yitong would be scared.

Tao Yitong got off the bike feeling like her bottom was a bit sore. She entered the house with Jiang Zitan. The Jiang family had returned long ago; the three of them were eating in the dining room. Since Jiang Zitan wasn’t there, Chen Huishu had to feed Jiang Shibao. Jiang Shibao was too slow; even though he wanted to eat by himself, he hadn’t learned how and made a mess everywhere.

Chen Huishu was blowing on the porridge for her precious son when she heard the door. She put down the spoon: “Jiang Zitan, come feed your brother.”

A moment later, the curtain to the dining room was lifted, and Tao Yitong’s beautiful face peeked in. She gave Jiang Shibao a smiling look. The latter felt ashamed and quickly grabbed the spoon, muttering: “I’ll eat by myself, I don’t need Jiang… Sister to feed me.”

Chen Huishu: ? She disparaged him: “How could you know how to eat by yourself?”

“How would I not know! I do!” Jiang Shibao shouted at her. Even if Chen Huishu wanted to stop her son from eating, she couldn’t. She turned her head, her gaze somewhat reproachful toward the culprit, Tao Yitong.

Tao Yitong laughed smugly, gave a couple of “he-he’s,” and took Jiang Zitan upstairs.

“What a piece of work…” Chen Huishu cursed under her breath. Seeing her son making a mess all over the table, she felt frustrated and shouted at Jiang Xianshun, who was sitting nearby: “Are you just here to eat!? Hurry up and feed your brother!”

Upstairs, Jiang Zitan was pushed into the bathroom by Tao Yitong. After coming out from a shower, Jiang Zitan was about to head back when she was stopped.

“Jiang Zitan, come here.” Tao Yitong put down her phone and patted the sofa beside her. Jiang Zitan went over and sat down. Tao Yitong’s expression was serious: “Jiang Zitan, do you want to get a summer job?”

Jiang Zitan was stunned: “…A summer job?”

“Yes.” Tao Yitong nodded. “I have connections and can help you find one. If your mother doesn’t agree, I’ll go talk to her. You can save the money you earn for emergencies. Right now, you’re busy with the house and the fields every day—you don’t have time to study at all. In the future, after you finish work every day, come to my place, and I’ll tutor you. What do you think?”

This proposal was no different from a pie falling from the sky; it almost made Jiang Zitan dizzy. She felt uneasy: “But…”

“No ‘buts.’ Just tell me if you want to and if you’re willing.” Tao Yitong looked her straight in the eye, almost seeing right through her.

Even the composed Jiang Zitan couldn’t help but feel excited upon learning someone would introduce her to a job and tutor her. To her, this felt like a dream—a wonderful thing that shouldn’t have happened to her. Almost without thinking, Jiang Zitan looked at Tao Yitong earnestly: “I want to… I’m willing.”

At this moment, Jiang Zitan almost viewed Tao Yitong as her savior. Even if this benefactor’s kindness seemed, in Jiang Zitan’s eyes, so abundant that anyone could have it, Jiang Zitan was deeply grateful and made a promise deep in her heart to repay Tao Yitong in the future.

Having received a definite answer, Tao Yitong’s eyes curved. Suddenly remembering something, she took a white mobile phone out of the cabinet.

“This is for you.” Tao Yitong handed over the phone and the charger.

Jiang Zitan was stunned and hurriedly shook her head: “I don’t want it.”

“Take it.” Tao Yitong smiled gently, placing the phone by Jiang Zitan’s hand with a kind attitude. “If you go to work, it will be very inconvenient without a phone.”

“…I don’t need it.” Tao Yitong had already done enough for her; she didn’t want to take advantage of her anymore.

Seeing her resistance, Tao Yitong took a step back: “Then consider it a loan, okay?” She smiled playfully, her features vivid. “When you get your wages, you can treat me to a meal, okay, Jiang Zitan?”

Tao Yitong stopped her footsteps. Every time she spoke a sentence, she only received a brief “Mm” from behind. And though it was just a simple word, the voice sounded as if it were a recording being played on loop—the tone and pitch hadn’t changed at all. Unless it was a robot, who could guarantee that every single sound they made was identical?

From the corner of her eye, Tao Yitong caught a glimpse of the clothing hem behind her. It was indeed Jiang Zitan’s clothes, but…

She spun around suddenly, only to find that the person behind her wasn’t Jiang Zitan at all! But why hadn’t she noticed any change in the presence or the sound of footsteps just now? Something was wrong!

Tao Yitong gritted her teeth and struck out with a palm. That “person” crashed to the ground, and blood even seeped from its mouth, causing the surrounding people to scream, shouting, “Someone is dead!”

Tao Yitong’s face turned deathly pale. Ignoring the reactions of the others, only one thought remained in her mind: they had been separated!

Support