Before heading home, Han Wenwen teased He Qing a few more times.


    As always, He Qing got flustered, pretended to be angry, and then Han Wenwen had to coax her back into a good mood.


    “Oh, right, He Qing! What’s the name of the school you’re applying to? My uncle is taking me on a trip up north this year, so I’m thinking of checking out the area.” Sёar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    “I haven’t asked yet. I’ll ask him tonight.”


    “Alright, let me know when you find out! See you tomorrow, Qingqing~”


    “Bye, Wenwen.”


    —


    That evening, He Qing was so distracted that she didn’t even taste her dinner properly. After quickly finishing her meal, she grabbed her mom’s phone and rushed to her bedroom to make a call.


    Coincidentally, at that very moment, Jiang Xueli was at Lin Zhengran’s house.


    And just as she was about to leave, she saw Lin Zhengran’s mother answering the phone with a peculiar expression.


    “Hello? Oh, Qingqing? Ranran is…”


    Lin Xiaoli glanced toward the door where Jiang Xueli stood, then turned to her son.


    She smiled helplessly. “Ranran, it’s He Qing calling.”


    “Oh,” Lin Zhengran responded casually. “Tell her to wait a bit. I’ll walk Jiang Xueli downstairs first, then call her back.”


    His relaxed attitude was a stark contrast to his mother’s awkwardness.


    Lin Xiaoli nodded. “Alright, I’ll let her know.” She relayed the message word for word.


    Since He Qing had been in a good mood all day, she didn’t overthink it and cheerfully replied, “Okay, Auntie! I’ll wait for him.”


    Lin Zhengran stepped outside and saw Jiang Xueli staring into space.


    “What are you daydreaming about? Come on, I’ll walk you downstairs. I also wanted to talk to you about school applications.”


    Jiang Xueli glanced back at Auntie Lin talking to that and then at Lin Zhengran.


    Her curiosity about the girl on the phone only grew stronger.


    Who was she?


    Why did she call this so often?


    —


    A year had passed since the


    With He Qing’s departure, Lin Zhengran’s life had fewer strange encounters.


    But fate had a way of balancing things out.


    One childhood friend left, and another one, , appeared.


    One year ago, when Jiang Xueli was struggling with a bottleneck in her singing, Lin Zhengran had casually asked, “You seem stuck. Want me to teach you?”


    Jiang Xueli had been so stunned that she burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.


    “You? Teach ? Do you even know how to sing?”


    Instead of explaining, Lin Zhengran simply demonstrated.


    During music class that day, he sang a song in front of everyone.


    He wasn’t , but he had studied a bit in his past life.


    Even their teacher praised his voice and technique, saying he had a lot of potential.


    Jiang Xueli had been .


    And so were many of their classmates.


    After class, she pulled him aside, staring at him with wide, dazed eyes.


    “You actually sing well…? How did I not know?!”


    Lin Zhengran smirked. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”


    Then, he got straight to the point. “So, do you want me to teach you or not? If you do, just nod and say you’ll follow my lead. If not, forget it—I’m not forcing you.”


    Jiang Xueli completely ignored the key part of his sentence.


    “F-Follow your lead?” Her face turned bright red.


    This time, she didn’t even try to act tsundere. She just nodded quickly.


    “I… I want to learn! If you’re really that good, then teach me! I’ll stick with you forever!”


    Just like He Qing had done back then, she held out her pinky.


    Lin Zhengran hooked his pinky with hers.


    And at that moment, the System activated.


    【You have successfully established a with Miss Jiang. From now on, every time she cultivates, you will receive double the feedback. Additionally, due to your Level 20 skill, any cultivation technique you teach will double the learner’s progress speed.】


    From then on, Lin Zhengran spent his free time—between classes, after school, and on weekends—coaching Jiang Xueli in singing techniques and songwriting.


    They didn’t even bother avoiding rumors anymore.


    They had already spread everywhere.


    And thanks to the system’s feedback, every time Jiang Xueli improved, Lin Zhengran’s growth doubled.


    Whenever she struggled, he gave her just the right guidance to help her break through.


    It amazed her.


    And, though she refused to admit it, she started to admire him.


    “You actually know much about music? If I had met you earlier, I might already be a celebrity! Ever since I started learning from you, my progress has skyrocketed…”


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    “Ow!” Jiang Xueli rubbed the sore spot. “What was for?!”


    “It’s not too late. I found out there’s a children’s talent agency in our town. They accept kids twelve and older, so once we start middle school, you can apply. It’s a legit agency with proper management. If you want to go pro, you should give it a shot.”


    Jiang Xueli felt like he had everything planned out.


    That time he told her, —he really it.


    Blushing with excitement, she asked the same question again.


    “I really do love singing, but becoming a pop star… Are you I can do it? Everyone says it’s so hard to make it in this industry. You think I have what it takes?!”


    Lin Zhengran answered confidently, “Why not? Even if can’t, I’m here to teach you.”


    She froze.


    She in that moment—she was going to fall for this idiot.


    Some things were just impossible to avoid.


    How could she ever like anyone else after hearing something like that?


    —


    A year later—today.


    Winter days were short, and the streetlights had already turned on.


    Jiang Xueli’s ponytail bounced as she followed Lin Zhengran downstairs.


    “We’ll be in middle school in half a year,” Lin Zhengran said. “I checked the talent agency’s forums, and they’ve been scouting potential child stars in different schools. Sometimes, they even attend school performances.


    “Our future middle school is on their observation list. That means your best chance will be the next semester.”


    He turned to look at her. “Your parents don’t mind you learning music. If the agency reaches out to , they won’t refuse.”


    Jiang Xueli nodded firmly. “Got it!”


    They continued walking under the streetlights.


    “For the next six months, I won’t teach you anything new. We’ll focus on strengthening your stage presence and refining your techniques. Stage confidence is a huge plus for kids.”


    “Mm.”


    Then, suddenly—SMACK!


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead again, this time .


    “Ow! What was that for?!” Jiang Xueli clutched her forehead angrily.


    “What do you mean, ? Were you even listening?”


    “Of course, I was! I’ll work hard, okay? When have I taken this seriously?”


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes. “Then what’s with that face?”


    Jiang Xueli puffed up her cheeks and turned away with a humph.


    “…Nothing.”


    After a moment, she finally blurted out what was really on her mind.


    “Who was that girl on the phone just now? Her name’s , right?” She muttered under her breath, “She calls you a … What’s your relationship with her?”


    Lin Zhengran answered honestly. “She’s my childhood sweetheart. She transferred schools a while back, but we still keep in touch.”


    “”


    Jiang Xueli’s face scrunched up in disbelief.


    “ childhood sweetheart? your childhood sweetheart! I’ve known you since first grade!”