《Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten》


 Chapter 1: Failed Transmigration, Pretending to Cultivate

    Lin Cheng Town, Sunshine Hope Kindergarten.


    A ray of morning sunlight pierced through the window, landing on a little boy''s utterly speechless face.


    He listened to the nursery rhyme playing in the classroom, watching a pretty teacher in a floral dress keeping time at the podium. With a gentle, child-soothing tone, she said, "Kids, listen to the song with me two more times, and then we''ll all sing together, okay? "


    The little boy seated by the window in the back row was named Lin Zhengran. At five years old, he was in his final year of kindergarten, Class 3.


    Previously, he had been a 28-year-old who had just come into a windfall from a major demolition payout. However, he was forcefully bound to a rogue system that transmigrated him to this world.


    According to the system, this was a Cultivation World, teeming with demons, ghosts, and bizarre phenomena. The living conditions for ordinary people were incredibly harsh. Lin Zhengran was supposed to start as a lowly rogue cultivator, gradually improve his cultivation, expand his influence, and eventually establish his own sect to become the strongest in the world!


    But... this cursed system! Never mind whether I wanted to transmigrate or not¡ªare you a pirated knockoff? Can you even tell where you''ve sent me?


    This still looks like Earth!


    Why are there cars, skyscrapers, and hot pot restaurants in a cultivation world? And why am I in kindergarten? And for heaven''s sake, why am I only five years old?! I can''t even swear properly anymore!


    System activated. Congratulations, host, on successfully transmigrating! The world you are in is called Lingqi Continent. Cultivation levels here range from 1 to 100. At level 100, one can become a god. With every ten levels, you will gain a unique skill to significantly boost your combat power.


    Lin Zhengran heard the system¡¯s voice echoing in his head. This setup... You really are pirated, no doubt about it.


    You are currently at cultivation level 1, with ordinary aptitude. A month into this world, your cultivation has not advanced, and you are at a complete loss about how to proceed.


    But today, fate smiles upon you! You encounter a rare opportunity: a fairy from a righteous sect, He Xianzi, whose cultivation level seems low. Through eavesdropping, you learn that she possesses a Pure Yang Elixir, which is said to massively boost cultivation if consumed. Combined with a Red Blood Elixir, it can even rebuild your physique!


    You must find a way to acquire this elixir to overcome your average aptitude. If you fail, blame your shallow luck and seek other opportunities.


    What the... It''s been a month, and you still haven¡¯t fixed your transmigration bug? System, for the love of everything holy, open your eyes! I''m in a modern society! There¡¯s no He Xianzi with a magical elixir here! What opportunities am I supposed to seize?!


    "Lin Zhengran? Lin Zhengran... You''re pressing on my hair!"


    The mosquito-like voice of the classmate sitting next to him interrupted Lin Zhengran''s thoughts.


    The little girl wore a pink dress and had her hair in pigtails. She looked at Lin Zhengran with innocent, wide eyes. Her name was He Qing, his desk mate and childhood friend, the girl next door. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lin Zhengran... my hair..." Her voice was soft, as if she were afraid of him.


    Lin Zhengran turned his head and saw that her hair was indeed caught under his arm. But instead of moving, he curiously asked, "Who told you to put your hair under my arm?"


    He Qing, looking pitiful, didn¡¯t dare retort. "I''m sorry... it¡¯s my fault. But could you lift your arm? I can¡¯t move, and I need to go to the bathroom."


    Afraid he might refuse, she pulled out a piece of Milk Candy from her pocket. "I¡¯ll give you this candy. My mom gave it to me this morning. It''s my only one."


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with a child and lifted his arm.


    He Qing quickly pulled her hair free, smoothed it out, and nervously placed the milk candy in front of him. "Here, you can have it..."


    She glanced anxiously at the teacher on the podium, hesitating, clutching her stomach, her face full of conflict.


    "I don¡¯t eat this stuff," Lin Zhengran said. He wasn¡¯t fond of sweets and initially intended to return the candy. But just as he picked it up, the system''s voice reappeared.


    To think you managed to coax a righteous fairy into giving you the Pure Yang Elixir without lifting a finger! Impressive! You should consume it immediately;otherwise, if she changes her mind, you¡¯ll lose this opportunity. You might also ask if she has other treasures or consider leaving before she regrets her decision.


    Lin Zhengran: "???"


    He stared at the milk candy in his hand and suddenly realized¡ªthis system might be blind.


    Wait a second... Could it be?!


    With a mix of curiosity and mischief, Lin Zhengran unwrapped the milk candy and ate it.


    To his surprise, a sense of refreshment washed over him, accompanied by a sweet milky taste. No, it wasn¡¯t just the taste¡ªhe could feel power surging from his fists!


    At that moment, Lin Zhengran felt like he could swat a giant mosquito barehanded!


    The elixir has enhanced your cultivation. Your level has risen to 3. Strength +1, stamina +1.


    Though this world didn¡¯t match the system¡¯s descriptions, Lin Zhengran did feel stronger.


    He Qing, who had been watching, was confused. "I thought you didn¡¯t eat it?" she asked in her childlike voice.


    Lin Zhengran froze momentarily, then realized¡ªso the system could still function even in a modern setting?


    This just got interesting.


    He looked at He Qing meaningfully.


    She, mistaking his gaze for anger, lowered her head in fear, clutching her stomach. "I didn¡¯t say anything..."


    Lin Zhengran grinned. "He Qing, do you have anything else to eat?"


    He Qing shook her head, her ponytail swaying. "No."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s smile turned ominous. "Are you sure? Didn¡¯t your mom give you a bunch of snacks this morning?"


    He Qing, still clutching her stomach, fished a single date from her pocket. "Just this... I ate everything else..."


    Red Blood Elixir! This is the perfect complement to the Pure Yang Elixir! Consuming both together will transform your physique, unlocking the door to the world of cultivation!


    It really works!


    Even in this different world, doing similar things could still exploit the system¡¯s bugs for rewards.


    Lin Zhengran took the date from her hand. Seeing He Qing on the verge of tears, he sighed and said, "I won¡¯t take it for free. You¡¯re holding your stomach because you¡¯re too scared to ask the teacher to let you go to the bathroom, right? I¡¯ll call the teacher for you. In exchange, this date is mine. Deal?"


    He Qing blinked in disbelief. In her memory, her next-door neighbor, Brother Lin Zhengran, had always been grumpy. Why would he say something like this?


    "Well? Do we have a deal?" Lin Zhengran asked again.


    He Qing nodded frantically.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t hesitate. He raised his hand. "Teacher! He Qing needs to go to the bathroom!"


    He Qing turned beet red. The entire class looked at her.


    But the kindergarten teacher was unfazed. "Go ahead, but come back quickly."


    He Qing, flustered but relieved, stood up and timidly replied, "Thank you, Teacher. I¡¯ll be quick."


    She glanced gratefully at Lin Zhengran, who was examining the date, and hurried out. She was about to burst.


    Lin Zhengran ate the date and immediately felt another surge of power.


    The teacher, however, coughed sternly. "Lin Zhengran! No eating snacks during class! You¡¯ll distract the other kids! Wait until recess!"


    What horror! After taking the fairy''s treasures, you now face her master¡¯s thousand-mile telepathic reprimand! It¡¯s fortunate you didn¡¯t harm her, or her master¡¯s retaliation would have been inevitable. This experience warns you to tread carefully in this world, or your life may be forfeit.


    You successfully absorbed the Red Blood Elixir. Your aptitude has been upgraded from ordinary to slightly extraordinary. Your level has risen to 4. Energy +1.


    Lin Zhengran: "..."


    "Got it, Teacher," Lin Zhengran said.


    This seems like a narration system. Still, misfortune and blessings go hand in hand¡ªat least there¡¯s no real danger to my life here. I can focus on developing steadily!


    But how do I cultivate in this world? Surely I can¡¯t just rely on eating elixirs... Wait, don¡¯t tell me I have to study.


    Lin Zhengran flipped open a kindergarten workbook.


    Cultivation in progress¡ªthis is an elementary cultivation manual. Memorizing it fully will allow you to break through to level 5.


    Lin Zhengran: "Seriously?! That means the difficulty will escalate like crazy later on!"

 Chapter 2: A Perfect Life Beckons

    A flustered sound came from the girls¡¯ restroom.


    He Qing pressed the flush button and stared at her wet sleeve, realizing she¡¯d accidentally splashed herself in her rush. Panicking, she rushed to the sink to clean it off with water.


    Just then, the recess bell rang. A little boy passing by the sink saw her sniffing her sleeve while washing it. After freezing for a moment, he curiously asked, ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t tell me you peed on your sleeve just now?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face turned red as she lowered her head, refusing to answer. She quickened her scrubbing pace.


    The boy suddenly grinned mischievously and even shouted loudly, ¡°Come and see, everyone! This girl peed on her clothes and is washing them!¡±


    His yelling drew a crowd of curious children.


    Terrified, He Qing burst into tears, her eyes blurred with tears as she didn¡¯t dare turn around.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran, still in the classroom, heard the commotion and the system¡¯s voice chimed in.


    You parted ways with the fairy, only to hear the sounds of a fight in the distance. It seems the fairy is being bullied by evildoers. Saving her may earn you her gratitude and perhaps a treasure as a reward. However, not intervening is also a valid choice;cultivation is dangerous, and every action should be carefully considered.


    Without hesitation, Lin Zhengran left the classroom. He found He Qing surrounded by a crowd, wiping her tears in grievance.


    He pushed his way through the group and demanded, ¡°Who shouted just now? What¡¯s wrong with you? Come out here!¡±


    The children fell silent as soon as they saw Lin Zhengran.


    He had a reputation in the kindergarten for being an intimidating figure¡ªnever playing with anyone, ignoring others, and speaking harshly. Most of the kids were scared of him. However, thanks to his good looks, some girls secretly admired his ¡°unique personality.¡±


    Now that he had spoken, no one dared respond.


    He Qing looked at Lin Zhengran through her tear-filled eyes, her face full of injustice.


    Lin Zhengran walked up to her. ¡°Why are you crying? If someone says something to you, can¡¯t you say something back? Why just cry?¡±


    Soft-spoken and introverted, He Qing rarely argued with others, making her an easy target for bullies who enjoyed teasing her. As her childhood friend who occasionally ate at her house, Lin Zhengran felt obligated to step in from time to time.


    ¡°Wahhh~¡±


    ¡°Stop crying! If you keep crying, I won¡¯t help you anymore!¡±


    He Qing immediately stopped crying but continued sniffling, her eyes still red.


    ¡°Who bullied you? Point them out,¡± Lin Zhengran said.


    He Qing lowered her head, unwilling to speak.


    Annoyed, Lin Zhengran pinched her cheeks. ¡°Are you going to talk or not?¡±


    Though it didn¡¯t hurt, He Qing still looked pitiful, whimpering until she finally glanced toward the culprit.


    Following her gaze, Lin Zhengran saw a trembling little boy, pale-faced with fear.


    ¡°Was it you who bullied He Qing?¡± Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°When I told you to come out, why didn¡¯t you? Come on, we¡¯re going to the teacher now. If the teacher doesn¡¯t handle it, we¡¯ll settle it outside!¡±


    He started walking toward the boy, but before he could finish speaking, the boy began crying as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to!¡±


    Grabbing the boy¡¯s shirt, Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Who can hear you muttering like that? Didn¡¯t you shout loudly just now? Shout again! Say ¡®He Qing, I¡¯m sorry!¡¯¡±


    Terrified, the boy sobbed loudly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! He Qing, I¡¯m so sorry! Please forgive me!¡±


    Seeing his intimidation succeed, Lin Zhengran let go and left the crowd without looking back.


    He Qing, her face red from crying, quickly followed him. As she walked behind him, she overheard the murmurs of the other children.


    The girls in the crowd whispered to one another:


    ¡°Lin Zhengran is so cool...¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s got such a unique vibe.¡±


    Biting her lip, He Qing hurried to keep up with Lin Zhengran, sticking close behind him.


    You chose to save the fairy. She is deeply grateful and now admires your remarkable skills. She even begins to entertain the thought of joining you on your future adventures. Deciding whether to travel alone or with a companion is a crucial choice for your journey.


    "Choice?" Lin Zhengran thought, rolling his eyes. "What choice? I¡¯m five years old. Am I supposed to stop going to school tomorrow to explore the world?"


    The next two periods were playtime. The students of Class 3 were running around in the kindergarten yard.


    Lin Zhengran sat by the slide while He Qing stood silently next to him, looking as if she¡¯d done something wrong.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. In his previous life, he wasn¡¯t particularly harsh, but He Qing¡¯s overly timid and naive personality made it impossible to speak to her gently. She never fought back when bullied and barely spoke up, which was frustrating.


    ¡°Why are you standing in front of me? You¡¯re blocking my sunlight.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± He Qing mumbled, taking two hurried steps to the side.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re blocking my breeze,¡± Lin Zhengran said flatly.


    ¡°Huh?¡± He Qing panicked. ¡°Then... where should I stand?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit down?¡±


    ¡°But... but the ground is dirty everywhere except next to you.¡±


    ¡°Then sit on the dirt.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± He Qing genuinely started to sit down.


    ¡°Okay, my foot! Sit next to me!¡± Lin Zhengran barked.


    Startled, He Qing cautiously sat down beside him. She tucked her legs together and folded her hands on her lap, fidgeting before nervously saying, ¡°Th-thank you for saving me earlier. How should I repay you?¡±


    ¡°Do you have more snacks?¡± Lin Zhengran asked.


    He Qing shook her head vigorously. ¡°I don¡¯t have any left, but I still have some at home... There are candies in my room.¡±


    She gestured with her hands, describing a box about the size of her two small hands. ¡°It¡¯s filled to the brim. Probably thousands of them.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t know numbers,¡± Lin Zhengran thought, chuckling. ¡°So, a storage box, huh?¡±


    ¡°All for me?¡±


    He Qing nodded like a pecking chick. ¡°Yes, all for you. Do you want anything else?¡±


    The fairy¡¯s gratitude is boundless. She even offers an entire box of her sect¡¯s elixirs. Judging by her tone, she may possess a particularly valuable treasure. Will you take it all or let it be?


    Curious, Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Do you have anything else?¡±


    He Qing hesitated, then reluctantly said, ¡°I also have a big chocolate bar. My dad bought it for me on my birthday. I¡¯ve been keeping it under my wardrobe, saving it because I can¡¯t bear to eat it.¡±


    Seeing her expression, Lin Zhengran asked if he could take a look. He Qing nodded and promised to show it to him that evening.


    Not long after, the kindergarten¡¯s dismissal bell rang. The pretty teacher organized the Class 3 students into a line to leave the school gate one by one.


    ¡°Everyone, stay in line and don¡¯t run around! You¡¯ll be home soon!¡±


    Lin Zhengran stood at the back of the line, spotting his parents waving at him from outside the gate.


    In the month since his transmigration, Lin Zhengran had come to understand his new life.


    His father, Lin Kai, nicknamed "Lin Handsome," was a steady-looking civil servant in the small town. He had good connections and authority at home.


    His mother, Lin Xiaoli, worked at a nail salon and had a sweet but slightly naive personality. She earned more than his dad, and her husband¡¯s nickname came from a cartoon she liked.


    Their family wasn¡¯t wealthy, but they were healthy and content. They even owned a 100,000-yuan car bought two years ago.


    Though this was the result of a failed transmigration, Lin Zhengran had only one thought:


    "The curse of the web novel orphanage is finally broken!"


    With this perfect family and his ability to exploit system bugs, wasn¡¯t a happy life waving enthusiastically at him?

 Chapter 3: The Naive He Qing

    Outside the school gate, Lin Xiaoli bent down with a cheerful smile to greet the two children. ¡°School¡¯s out! How were things today, Ranran and Qingqing? Did you have fun at school?¡±


    Seeing that her mother hadn¡¯t arrived, He Qing nodded and replied softly, ¡°It was fun,¡± before hesitantly asking, ¡°Auntie, where¡¯s my mom?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli, speaking in a tone as gentle as coaxing a child, patted He Qing¡¯s head. ¡°Your mom has to work overtime tonight, so she asked me to pick you up. You¡¯ll have dinner at our house tonight, okay?¡± She held up a finger and added, ¡°I bought shrimp today! They¡¯re really delicious! Your mom already agreed!¡±


    He Qing¡¯s sadness over her mother¡¯s absence was quickly overshadowed by her love of shrimp. She glanced at Lin Zhengran, biting her lip nervously, afraid he might disapprove.


    Lin Kai opened the car door. ¡°Ranran, you and Qingqing can sit in the back. Let¡¯s hurry;traffic will get bad soon.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli responded with a cheerful ¡°Got it!¡± and ushered the children into the car. Lin Zhengran got into the backseat first, but when he saw He Qing still standing outside, he frowned. ¡°What are you waiting for? Get in.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± He Qing murmured softly, her face lighting up slightly as she climbed into the car to sit beside him.


    On the way home, Lin Xiaoli, seated in the front passenger seat, opened a bag of snacks and handed it to the children. ¡°Ranran, Qingqing, here¡¯s some chocolate for you.¡±


    Remembering the system, Lin Zhengran took a piece but didn¡¯t hear any prompts. Puzzled about why nothing was triggering, he handed the snack to He Qing instead.


    ¡°Here, you eat it,¡± he said.


    He Qing looked surprised, and Lin Xiaoli was even more astonished, smiling meaningfully. ¡°Oh? Ranran and Qingqing are getting along so well now? You¡¯re even sharing your snacks with her?¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t like sweets,¡± Lin Zhengran replied, turning to look out the window.


    Lin Xiaoli chuckled, covering her mouth. ¡°Really? There¡¯s actually a kid who doesn¡¯t like snacks?¡±


    He Qing, less concerned about the deeper implications, looked flustered. ¡°You really don¡¯t want it?¡±


    ¡°Nope. It¡¯s yours.¡±


    Holding the snack, He Qing stared at it but didn¡¯t open it, though she did swallow nervously.


    Lin Xiaoli gently reminded her, ¡°If you¡¯re not going to eat it now, save it for later. Ranran said he doesn¡¯t want it, so he definitely won¡¯t eat it.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± He Qing whispered, stealing a glance at Lin Zhengran. In a tiny voice, she added, ¡°I¡¯ll show you the stuff I mentioned when we get home.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± he replied. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t upset, He Qing carefully put the chocolate in her pocket.


    When they arrived home, He Qing ran to her own house first, carrying her schoolbag. She entered the password and opened the door.


    He Qing lived in a single-parent household. Her mother often worked overtime, so she was used to coming home alone.


    From behind, Lin Xiaoli called out, ¡°Qingqing, we¡¯ll call you when dinner¡¯s ready, okay?¡±


    ¡°Got it! I¡¯m just grabbing something!¡±


    He Qing put down her schoolbag, went to her bedroom, and found a box of candies. Then she crawled under her wardrobe, stretching to reach a small box hidden there. Wiping off the dust, she pursed her lips reluctantly but remembered what had happened earlier that day and decided to give it to Lin Zhengran.


    Hugging the two boxes, she went over to Lin Zhengran¡¯s house, where Lin Xiaoli and Lin Kai were busy cooking in the kitchen.


    He Qing, naturally intimidated by Lin Zhengran, stood at the doorway of his bedroom, which he hadn¡¯t bothered to close. She watched him organizing his things on the bed but didn¡¯t dare step inside.


    From the doorway, she called out timidly, ¡°Lin Zhengran... I brought the stuff.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± he responded without looking up, assuming she had entered. But after a while, he noticed she was still standing there, staring at him with wide eyes.


    ¡°What are you standing there for?¡±


    He Qing hesitated, lowering her head. She was afraid that entering without permission would anger him, but she didn¡¯t dare explain.


    Lin Zhengran patted the bed. ¡°Come sit here. Give me the stuff, then close the door.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    He Qing obediently followed his instructions. She sat on the bed, handed over the boxes, got up to close the door, and then stood there absentmindedly, looking lost.


    Even her movements followed his sequence exactly, as if she didn¡¯t dare alter them.


    Though Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t usually quick to anger, a vein throbbed on his forehead at this moment.


    He walked over, lightly pinched her cheeks, and scolded, ¡°Why are you standing there again? Sit on the bed!¡±


    ¡°Sorry! Sorry!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making it look like I¡¯m always bullying you, but you¡¯re the one who drives me crazy.¡±


    Feeling wronged, He Qing murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t...¡±


    Returning to the bed, Lin Zhengran opened the candy box.


    Jackpot! It¡¯s a box full of nourishing elixirs! While the quality isn¡¯t particularly high, the quantity is exceptional. For someone new to cultivation, these are invaluable. If you consume and absorb them properly, leveling up several times within half a year is entirely possible!


    That¡¯s odd, Lin Zhengran thought, recalling the chocolate his mom had given him earlier. Could it be that only items from He Qing are considered treasures by the system?


    ¡°Where did you get these candies?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re from my mom. I save a few each time so I won¡¯t run out someday,¡± He Qing explained.


    Opening the second, flatter box, Lin Zhengran found the large chocolate bar He Qing had mentioned earlier. Inside was a block of dark chocolate studded with whole nuts. Unfortunately, it looked spoiled, likely due to its age.


    Black Blood Paste. Though of excellent quality, environmental corrosion has rendered it ineffective. It is now useless.


    Lin Zhengran was about to tell her the chocolate was expired but stopped when he saw her expression. Her small hands were clenched together, and she looked incredibly anxious.


    ¡°Are you reluctant to give it to me?¡± he asked curiously.


    He Qing quickly shook her head. ¡°No... It¡¯s not that... It¡¯s just...¡± She hesitated before whispering, ¡°This is the only gift my dad ever gave me. If you really want it, could you leave me a small piece? Just a little...¡±


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± Lin Zhengran asked, smirking. ¡°What if I don¡¯t leave you any? Not even a crumb?¡±


    ¡°Then... then where are you throwing the leftovers? I¡¯ll go pick them up,¡± He Qing replied, tears forming in her eyes.


    Lin Zhengran, at a loss for words, handed the chocolate back to her. ¡°Don¡¯t cry! I don¡¯t like this stuff. You can keep it. But as payment for me saving you earlier¡ª¡± he shook the candy box in his hand, ¡°¡ªthis box isn¡¯t enough. From now on, every time your mom gives you candy, you have to share some with me. And you have to listen to me. Got it?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s tears instantly stopped. Hugging the chocolate tightly, she nodded eagerly. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll split my candy in half with you every time. I¡¯ll listen to you!¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Lin Zhengran said, nodding. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡±


    You have chosen to temporarily team up with the fairy. Her naivety and gratitude have led her to agree to follow your lead. Perhaps out of obligation for taking her offerings, you consider teaching her about the dangers of the world during your time together, knowing you won¡¯t remain companions for long. This will help her on her future cultivation path.


    S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 4: A Month of Changes

    This system really seems to understand what I want.


    I¡¯m not a terrible person at heart. If I take something from it, I should give something back.


    From the kitchen, his mom shouted, ¡°Ranran, Qingqing, come eat! The shrimp is steamed and ready!¡±


    Lin Zhengran and little He Qing left the bedroom in response. The two kids sat at the dining table, while Lin Xiaoli placed a plate of shrimp in front of them. ¡°You two peel and eat these yourselves. Qingqing, don¡¯t hold back here at Auntie¡¯s house.¡±


    He Qing hesitated, waiting for Lin Zhengran to make the first move before she dared to take a shrimp. Her timid movements couldn¡¯t hide her inner glutton. She snapped the shrimp¡¯s head off and bit into it, savoring the flavor. The sweetness of the shrimp brought an unmistakable look of joy to her face.


    She then placed the body of the shrimp in front of Lin Zhengran. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Why are you giving this to me?¡± Lin Zhengran asked curiously. ¡°Do you not like it? Are you picky?¡±


    He Qing stammered, ¡°I¡¯m not picky...¡±


    Lin Zhengran understood immediately¡ªshe was trying to give him the tastiest part of the shrimp. He Qing had a kind heart, a deep sense of gratitude for even the smallest kindness. She just didn¡¯t express it aloud, making it difficult for other kids to understand her. Only someone like Lin Zhengran, who had been reborn, could guess her thoughts.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not picky, then take it back,¡± he said firmly.


    He Qing wanted to explain that the shrimp meat was delicious and that¡¯s why she was giving it to him, but Lin Zhengran¡¯s stern look silenced her. She reluctantly took the shrimp back, lowered her head, and nibbled on it timidly.


    That evening, Auntie He came home from overtime and took He Qing away. Auntie He was a stern woman, always with a serious expression that gave the impression of a heavy burden. Her strictness, combined with the absence of He Qing¡¯s father, was likely the root of He Qing¡¯s timid nature.


    On their way home, Auntie He held her daughter¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Qingqing, why do I feel like you¡¯re afraid of your Ranran Brother? Don¡¯t you like playing with him?¡±


    He Qing answered without hesitation, ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you keep calling him Lin Zhengran instead of Ranran Brother?¡±


    At first, He Qing had called him Ranran Brother, but Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t like it, so she switched to using his full name. Auntie He didn¡¯t press further when her daughter fell silent again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go visit Grandma this winter, okay? It¡¯s been a long time since we went back home.¡±


    ¡°Mm, okay.¡±


    That night, in his bedroom, Lin Zhengran ate the box of candy He Qing had given him. Each piece made him feel stronger, more energetic, or more vitalized¡ªjust like a cultivation elixir. The candy was so effective that he finished the entire box in one night.


    Good thing kids have strong teeth! Even after eating a whole box, he didn¡¯t feel any pain.


    For the next month, Lin Zhengran made it a habit to ask He Qing for snacks every day. In exchange, he would give her some of the snacks his parents gave him. He wasn¡¯t interested in the snacks themselves but in the system rewards they brought.


    During this time, he also began teaching He Qing how to stand up for herself¡ªor, as others might see it, how to cause trouble.


    For example, during class, if someone whispered bad things about He Qing, Lin Zhengran would tell her to throw a paper ball at them.


    He Qing didn¡¯t want to.


    ¡°You heard them bad-mouthing you, didn¡¯t you? Throw it!¡± Lin Zhengran demanded.


    When she still hesitated, he pinched her cheek. ¡°Do as I say! You promised, didn¡¯t you? Or do you want to break your promise?¡±


    Under the tyranny of Lin Zhengran, He Qing had no choice but to comply. But when the other kids saw it was He Qing who threw the paper ball, they simply glanced at Lin Zhengran and said nothing further.


    Lin Zhengran pushed her in other ways too.


    At lunch, if He Qing didn¡¯t get enough to eat, she used to stay hungry until dinner. But now, Lin Zhengran would make her raise her hand and call out, ¡°Teacher, I¡¯m still hungry!¡± If her voice was too soft, Lin Zhengran would poke her leg. ¡°Speak up! Who can hear you whispering like a mosquito?¡±


    He also made her ask for partners during activities, call for the teacher when she was scared to go to the restroom alone, and more.


    By the end of the month, He Qing didn¡¯t know what had gotten into Lin Zhengran. He seemed to be bullying her more than ever. But while she initially couldn¡¯t do anything and later realized resistance was futile, she found herself less shy about speaking up as time went on.


    One day, Lin Xiaoli took Lin Zhengran shopping at the mall. She loved browsing for clothes and shoes, taking forever at each store. Lin Zhengran, bored out of his mind, stood at the entrance and noticed a familiar figure outside the children¡¯s Taekwondo studio.


    It was He Qing, standing by herself and watching a promotional video on repeat.


    ¡¾Today, while out, you accidentally discover Fairy He studying a certain sect¡¯s martial art technique. You feel curious and wonder if you should approach her.¡¿


    He walked over and tapped her on the shoulder. ¡°He Qing?¡±


    She jumped, relaxing only when she saw it was him. She clasped her hands nervously in front of her like she¡¯d done something wrong.


    ¡°Why do you always have your head down when I see you? Next time, try looking up when you talk to me,¡± Lin Zhengran said bluntly.


    He Qing lifted her head but still looked timid.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°What are you doing here? Did your mom bring you?¡±


    He Qing pointed to a nearby caf¨¦. Following her gaze, Lin Zhengran spotted Auntie He sitting with a man. Her expression was as stern as ever, and it looked like she might start yelling at any moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s your dad?¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°Mm. Mom¡¯s arguing with him again. I didn¡¯t want to hear them fight, so I came outside.¡± Her voice grew softer. ¡°They rarely meet, but they always argue. I hate it.¡±


    Despite the heavy atmosphere, Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You actually expressed your feelings? You¡¯re learning to dislike things now? Seems like my ¡®bullying¡¯ this past month wasn¡¯t for nothing.¡±


    He Qing blushed and quickly covered her mouth, shaking her head to indicate she hadn¡¯t meant to slip up.


    Lin Zhengran pulled her hands away, scolding, ¡°Why are you shaking your head? Speaking your mind isn¡¯t a bad thing. Keeping silent all the time¡ªdo you think that¡¯s good? Do you think people like that?¡±


    He Qing pressed her lips together, wringing her hands nervously before whispering, ¡°But if I talk too much, I¡¯m afraid people will get annoyed...¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. He could imagine Auntie He coming home after work with a cold expression, making He Qing too scared to bother her.


    ¡°Even so, it¡¯s better than being silent all the time. When you¡¯re with me, just say whatever you¡¯re thinking, got it?¡±


    He Qing nodded vigorously.


    Lin Zhengran turned his attention to the Taekwondo promotional video. ¡°Taekwondo? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be interested in something like this. Are you planning to learn it?¡±


    He Qing blushed and shook her head. ¡°Not really. I just think it looks cool, and I want to...¡± She trailed off again, unable to finish her sentence.


    Frustrated, Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    ¡°Ow!¡± He Qing clutched her head, her eyes welling with tears.


    ¡°Speak up!¡± Lin Zhengran demanded. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to say what you¡¯re thinking?!¡±


    He Qing mustered her courage and stammered, ¡°I just want to protect you. If someone bullies you in the future, I can protect you.¡±

 Chapter 5: A Changed Fate

    Lin Zhengran froze before bursting into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re going to protect me? You must¡¯ve misspoken, right?¡±


    He Qing nodded, then realized something was off and quickly shook her head. She opened her mouth like a nervous little chick:


    ¡°Because you¡¯re always making the teachers and classmates mad at you in kindergarten, and none of the boys play with you. I thought if someone bullies you in the future, I could help you teach them a lesson... and stand up for you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t stop laughing, while He Qing¡¯s face turned bright red. She lowered her head, too embarrassed to make a sound.


    ¡°But aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s always getting picked on? You can¡¯t even protect yourself¡ªhow are you going to help me?¡± Lin Zhengran teased.


    He Qing bit her lip, her voice dropping even lower. ¡°Not anymore. Since you¡¯ve been teaching me to do bad things, the teachers say I¡¯ve been led astray by you. Now no one picks on me... except you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s laughter came to an abrupt stop. ¡°True. Thinking about it, lately, no one but me has been bothering you. But since you know I¡¯m bullying you, why would you still want to protect me?¡±


    She lowered her head, unsure of the reason herself. It was just how she felt.


    Lin Zhengran reached out his hand. He Qing flinched, thinking he was about to pinch her cheek again, and quickly shut her eyes and hunched her shoulders.


    But all he did was pat her on the shoulder.


    ¡°Even though I don¡¯t expect you to protect me, thanks anyway,¡± he said with a smile. Then he turned to the taekwondo ad playing on the screen nearby. ¡°As for this taekwondo thing¡ªif you really want to learn, ask Aunt He to sign you up. Who knows? Maybe you¡¯ll become pretty awesome at it one day.¡±


    ¡°R-Really?¡± He Qing asked, wide-eyed with surprise.


    ¡°Of course. You never know with these things,¡± Lin Zhengran replied casually.


    Children don¡¯t always fully understand their feelings, but He Qing was starting to realize why she didn¡¯t dislike being bullied by him. Lin Zhengran never dismissed her ideas.


    Every time her timidity held her back, he pushed her forward, giving her confidence.


    From afar, Lin Xiaoli¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Ranran! Time to go!¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned and shouted back, ¡°Coming!¡± He waved goodbye to He Qing. ¡°I have to go find my mom. See you tomorrow at school. Don¡¯t forget to bring me snacks!¡±


    ¡¾Your words have subtly influenced Fairy He¡¯s heart, altering her destiny in some way.¡¿


    ¡¾Encounter reward: +1 Charm.¡¿


    ¡°Huh? A hidden event?¡±


    As Lin Zhengran walked away, He Qing waved her small hand, her cheeks tinged pink. A moment later, she turned and headed back to the caf¨¦ where her parents were.


    That night, Aunt He returned home in a huff, dragging He Qing along. He Qing sat watching her mother sob silently on the sofa.


    Every time her mom met with her dad, it ended like this.


    But this time, He Qing intervened for the first time. She poured a glass of water and handed it to her mom. ¡°Mom, you should just divorce Dad. Stop being so upset.¡±


    Aunt He froze in shock, staring at her usually quiet daughter. Tears welled up even more before she suddenly laughed through her sobs. Her voice trembled as she asked, ¡°Who taught you to say that? When did you learn to talk like this?¡±


    He Qing had always been quiet, but she wasn¡¯t dumb. She¡¯d wanted to say these things for a long time. Lin Zhengran¡¯s month of ¡°bad influence¡± had finally given her the courage.


    Aunt He pulled her daughter into her arms and stroked her hair. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯ll be happier from now on.¡±


    A month passed.


    It was Wednesday morning, and Lin Yingjun was driving Lin Zhengran to school.


    Sitting in the car, Lin Zhengran flipped through a kindergarten workbook.


    When the system¡¯s voice chimed in, his eyes filled with tears of joy.


    Finally! After two months of conning He Qing and diligent cultivation, he¡¯d reached Level 10!


    ¡¾After two months of cultivation, you¡¯ve finally broken through to Level 10! This marks your first milestone on the path of cultivation! You¡¯ve unlocked your first exclusive ability. As proof of your progress, the low-grade elixirs provided by Fairy He will no longer have any effect.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t surprised by the system¡¯s announcement. Over the past two months, he¡¯d eaten so many snacks that they no longer tasted as good. In cultivation terms, it was probably a case of developing resistance.


    ¡¾Your current attributes are as follows:¡¿


    Strength: 3Stamina: 4Energy: 2Charm: 2


    ¡¾You¡¯ve unlocked your first exclusive skill: Fortune Link.¡¿


    ¡¾Your bond with Fairy He has created a unique change in your cultivation path. Over the past two months, you¡¯ve discovered that whenever Fairy He improves, you gain progress as well. In the cultivation world, this is known as a Fortune Meridian. Establishing a sect often relies on this principle. After delving deeply into this method, you¡¯ve made modest progress.¡¿


    Skill: Fortune Link


    Effect: Whenever you form a contract with a willing follower, their cultivation breakthroughs will grant you double the benefits.Note: The contract requires the follower¡¯s genuine consent to succeed.


    ¡°A contract? Why does this feel so familiar...?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still, this ability was powerful. He couldn¡¯t deny he liked the sound of it.


    ¡¾Fairy He is just ahead of you today. After two months together, do you want to form a contract with her or choose someone else?¡¿


    ¡°Ranran, we¡¯re here. Dad has to go to work now,¡± Lin Yingjun said as he pulled up to the school gates.


    ¡°Got it. Drive safe, Dad,¡± Lin Zhengran replied, jumping out of the car.


    Sure enough, not far from the school gates, He Qing was standing with her mom. Aunt He seemed in better spirits than usual, stroking her daughter¡¯s hair and giving her reminders about listening to the teachers.


    With a bright smile, He Qing waved goodbye to her mom. ¡°Bye, Mom! Be careful on your way to work!¡±


    As Lin Zhengran approached, He Qing immediately straightened up and greeted him sweetly. ¡°Lin Zhengran... good morning.¡±


    Watching Aunt He leave in a taxi, Lin Zhengran remarked, ¡°Your mom looks happier today.¡±


    He Qing nodded lightly, following his gaze. ¡°Ever since my parents got divorced, they¡¯ve both been a lot happier.¡±


    From her pocket, she pulled out a bag of candies and handed it to him. ¡°Here, I asked Mom to buy these for you. They¡¯re all your favorite flavors.¡±


    Two months had passed, and He Qing had shed many of her bad habits. She spoke more freely now and wasn¡¯t as secretive as before. Though she was still a little reserved at times, it was a big improvement.


    Lin Zhengran waved his hand dismissively. ¡°You don¡¯t need to give me snacks anymore. I don¡¯t want them.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He Qing froze, panic flashing across her face. Tears welled up as she stammered, ¡°Why? Are you mad at me? Why don¡¯t you want them anymore?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean mad? I just don¡¯t want them,¡± Lin Zhengran said, exasperated.


    ¡°But why? Did I do something wrong?¡± she asked anxiously.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like eating them anymore. Keep them for yourself,¡± he explained casually.


    They no longer boosted his progress, so there was no point in eating them.


    ¡°Why are you crying now?¡± Lin Zhengran asked, giving her an incredulous look.

 Chapter 6: The Taekwondo Master

    Seeing He Qing suddenly tear up, her eyes red and watery, Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but tug at her soft cheeks.


    ¡°Why are you crying?! I¡¯m not taking your stuff anymore, so shouldn¡¯t you be happy? Now you can have even more snacks every day!¡±


    He Qing whimpered as her face ached from his tugging, staring at him with watery eyes and muttering, ¡°But you used to take my stuff every day. Why don¡¯t you want it anymore today?¡±


    Lin Zhengran paused, unsure of what to say. ¡°Are you sick or something? Have you gotten addicted to being bullied?¡±


    He Qing held her cheeks with both hands, clutching the candy in her tiny fist, still looking pitifully at him.


    Too tired to continue the conversation, Lin Zhengran changed the subject. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to ask your mom to sign you up for taekwondo? Did you?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Not yet...¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to anymore?¡±


    ¡°I do!¡±


    Before Lin Zhengran could scold her for being too timid to speak up, she quickly waved her hands in explanation. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to say it. It¡¯s just that my mom¡¯s been busy with the divorce lately. I was planning to tell her tonight.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded in approval. ¡°Good. You¡¯re indecisive about little things, but at least you¡¯re clear-headed about the big stuff.¡±


    As the kindergarten teacher began calling the children inside, Lin Zhengran and He Qing walked toward the school.


    He Qing said softly, ¡°It¡¯s just that my parents haven¡¯t shared a bed for a long time. Since they¡¯re unhappy together, it¡¯s better for them to split up sooner.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her an admiring look. ¡°You¡¯re starting to sound much smarter than before. It¡¯s refreshing.¡±


    He Qing shyly lowered her head, feeling his words sounded a little strange.


    From a distance, the teacher called out, ¡°He Qing, are you here?¡±


    Before Lin Zhengran could habitually call out for her, He Qing raised her hand first. ¡°Teacher, I¡¯m here!¡±


    The teacher responded, ¡°Alright, get in line and don¡¯t run around.¡±


    Watching He Qing¡¯s shy gesture, Lin Zhengran felt that his two months of effort hadn¡¯t gone to waste.


    During the morning self-study session, Lin Zhengran stared at He Qing as she held onto the edge of her chair, blinking her big eyes in confusion.


    ¡°What is it, Lin Zhengran?¡± she asked.


    He smiled. ¡°He Qing, do you want to stick with me forever?¡±


    The system hadn¡¯t explained how to form a contract, but he figured sincerity on both sides would do the trick.


    But He Qing didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®stick with you forever?¡¯¡±


    At that moment, she overheard some classmates reading an illustrated storybook. It showed a cartoon bride and groom at a wedding, with the caption: ¡°Two people who will stay together forever.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s clever little mind quickly connected the dots. Her face turned bright red. ¡°Stick with him forever¡± must mean getting married, becoming a bride and groom, and even... sleeping together.


    Lin Zhengran, oblivious to her interpretation, continued, ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything else. You can think of it however you want¡ªmaybe as just being good fri¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, she looked back at him, her face still flushed, and nodded shyly. ¡°Okay... I¡¯m willing.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was surprised by her decisiveness and extended his hand. ¡°Then let¡¯s pinky promise. No take-backs!¡±


    He Qing hooked her little finger around his and repeated earnestly, ¡°No take-backs.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡¾You successfully formed a fortune bond with Fairy He, stealing talent from a potential rival sect. From now on, whenever Fairy He improves her cultivation, you will gain double the progress. However, it seems Fairy He had other thoughts when forming this bond.¡¿


    "Other thoughts?"


    Lin Zhengran asked bluntly, ¡°What are you thinking about me right now?¡±


    Still holding onto his pinky, He Qing looked confused and replied naively, ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t have any thoughts. I¡¯m just thinking I¡¯ll follow you from now on.¡±


    Lin Zhengran retracted his hand, placing a kindergarten book in front of her. As a transmigrator, he didn¡¯t consider anything beyond her being a five-year-old kid. ¡°Fine, think whatever you want. Just read your book.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    That day passed uneventfully. Lin Zhengran watched He Qing flipping through her book and then checked the system¡¯s cultivation progress bar.


    Why wasn¡¯t it moving? Did reading not count as cultivation for her?


    After school, He Qing approached her mom. ¡°Mom, I want to sign up for a class...¡±


    Aunt He, who had come to pick her up, was visibly surprised. When she¡¯d been struggling with whether to divorce, her daughter had been so withdrawn and silent.


    Now, with the divorce finalized, He Qing seemed to have become more talkative. Aunt He felt like the entire family was moving toward a brighter future.


    She knelt to meet her daughter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Qingqing, what kind of class do you want? Something to prepare for elementary school?¡±


    He Qing shook her head and pulled out a flyer from her pocket.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s this one.¡±


    Aunt He took the flyer and froze upon seeing the title. She looked at her docile daughter, then at the cheerful kids on the flyer.


    ¡°Taekwondo? You know this is all about fighting, right? You want to learn this? Do you think you can handle it? You might get hurt.¡±


    He Qing nodded and muttered, ¡°I can handle it. I¡¯m not afraid of getting hurt.¡±


    Aunt He chuckled and, after some thought, patted her daughter¡¯s head. ¡°They say kids grow up all of a sudden. Qingqing, you¡¯ve really grown up overnight. I didn¡¯t even realize when you became so strong.¡±


    She stood up and held her daughter¡¯s hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go check it out. If you really want to do this, I¡¯ll pay for the class today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mom!¡± He Qing beamed.


    Shortly after, Aunt He brought her daughter to the children¡¯s taekwondo center in a nearby mall. Watching the kids sparring, she couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    But He Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched her peers, strong and fearless.


    After the coach reassured her of the kids¡¯ safety, Aunt He signed He Qing up.


    From that day on, He Qing officially began her journey in taekwondo.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Zhengran noticed something interesting¡ªhis cultivation progress bar started moving again.


    ¡¾Fairy He, after wandering for months since leaving her sect, has finally found her cultivation path. She is now a Beginner Martial Artist. As her fortune-bound partner, you have automatically advanced to a Low-Level Martial Artist. Strength +2. Spirit Level +1.¡¿


    ¡¾Total Level: 11¡¿


    So... He Qing¡¯s cultivation path is taekwondo? I can already imagine what she¡¯ll be like in the future.


    Winter soon arrived, and this year¡¯s snow came early.


    The kindergarten went on winter break, but He Qing¡¯s taekwondo training continued.


    At the taekwondo center, Lin Zhengran sat in the spectator seats, watching He Qing sparring in her tiny uniform.


    Her cute face and powerful kicks created a strange contrast, but it was clear she had a knack for it.


    In just over a month, the timid girl who used to get bullied had turned into a standout at the taekwondo center, even beating many boys.


    She¡¯d become recognized as one of their top students.


    Of course, much of this was thanks to Lin Zhengran secretly coaching her during his free time.

 Chapter 7: Moving Up to Second Grade

    As for why Lin Zhengran was so skilled in Taekwondo, it could only be attributed to the incredible Level 10 talent granted by the System. Whenever He Qing improved her skills, Lin Zhengran''s abilities would double, and even theoretical knowledge about Taekwondo would naturally surface in his mind.


    This allowed Lin Zhengran to guide He Qing to higher levels whenever she hit a plateau, using both theory and practice. For example, today, on a Saturday, Lin Zhengran and He Qing were practicing grappling techniques on the bed. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing struck a fighting pose, let out a fierce "Ha!" and tried to throw Lin Zhengran. But with a swift counter, Lin Zhengran flipped her onto the bed.


    Flat on her back with her legs arched, He Qing froze, staring at Lin Zhengran standing triumphantly over her. Her clear eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Lin Zhengran, you''re amazing! How did you do that?"


    Sitting down, Lin Zhengran began explaining the key points of the move, and He Qing listened intently.


    But halfway through, Lin Zhengran noticed He Qing sitting like a duck, her little hands clutching the blanket as she suddenly giggled.


    With a stern face, Lin Zhengran asked, "What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"


    He Qing quickly shook her head, her ponytail swaying. "No, no! Everything''s right! But¡­ Lin Zhengran, how are you good at everything? You didn¡¯t even sign up, yet you''re better than me..."


    Crossing his arms and puffing up his chest, Lin Zhengran declared with an adult-like pride, "Why wouldn¡¯t I be better than you? Isn¡¯t that normal?"


    He Qing nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice. "Normal!"


    The two kids locked eyes, and Lin Zhengran noticed something odd in He Qing''s gaze¡ªa focused intensity that he couldn¡¯t quite describe.


    "What¡¯s with that look?" he asked.


    He Qing hesitated, lowering her head shyly and gripping the blanket tighter. "Nothing, I just¡­ I¡¯m really grateful to you. You¡¯ve always helped me train. Lin Zhengran, why don¡¯t you sign up for Taekwondo too? Then we could train together every day."


    Closing his eyes, Lin Zhengran firmly refused, "I¡¯m not signing up for that. I¡¯m not interested in Taekwondo. I¡¯m just helping you so you can get stronger and not get bullied."


    He Qing blushed, unable to hold back. "You''re so good to me¡­"


    Lin Zhengran''s eyes snapped open. "What did you say?!"


    She clammed up immediately, shaking her head. "Nothing."


    "Nothing? Then focus on practicing what I taught you this week. Don¡¯t you want to place in the top three at this year¡¯s dojo competition?"


    "Mm!"


    It was hard to say what exactly He Qing thought of Lin Zhengran at this moment. Or perhaps He Qing herself didn¡¯t know. Her little mind only wanted to spend every day with him, even if it meant being "bullied" by him.


    Even though her thoughts were simple, she wasn¡¯t oblivious. She knew that many other girls liked to be around Lin Zhengran too.


    She had noticed it long ago. Lin Zhengran was good-looking, skilled at everything, and difficult not to like.


    But during the two years in kindergarten, Lin Zhengran¡¯s aloofness and the small class size kept others at bay.


    Once they entered elementary school, though, things changed slightly as there were more classmates.


    This year, Lin Zhengran and He Qing turned seven and officially left kindergarten behind.


    In first grade, they were miraculously assigned to sit together. But when the second grade started, the teacher reorganized the classes, and He Qing was no longer in Lin Zhengran¡¯s class.


    Of course, this didn¡¯t stop them from playing together on weekends. After all, being neighbors meant they could see each other anytime.


    It was Friday.


    The small town had picked up a "Beer Festival" tradition, though it was more of an excuse for a street market. There were more stalls selling liquor than beer.


    Perhaps because the mayor cared a lot about the festival, there were even police officers patrolling the area.


    Lin Zhengran was wandering around the festival with his parents.


    After an hour, Lin Zhengran was still light on his feet, showing no signs of fatigue.


    It had been two years since the System activated.


    Thanks to weekly Taekwondo lessons with He Qing and her own dedication, He Qing had become the strongest girl at their Taekwondo Center under Lin Zhengran''s guidance.


    Naturally, Lin Zhengran''s abilities had also leveled up significantly.


    [Current Spirit Level: 18 ¨C Small Achievements Unlocked]


    [Attributes]


    Strength: 5


    Stamina: 6


    Endurance: 10


    Charisma: 4


    [The sunny weather and the lively market relaxed you. Perhaps today you could find an ancient map fragment¡ªafter all, that¡¯s a trope in all fantasy novels. But as you browsed the market, you suddenly heard the roar of a magical beast!]


    [This alarmed you. A magical beast in the human world? If left unchecked, the festival could become a sea of blood! Will you investigate or flee immediately?]


    A magical beast?


    Looking at the bustling market, with its excellent security, Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t imagine what the so-called magical beast could be. Could it be a tiger escaped from the zoo?


    And where was it, anyway? The System hadn¡¯t specified.


    "Ranran¡¯s dad, look at this hat! Isn¡¯t it cute? Should we get matching ones for Ranran and me?"


    Lin Xiaoli held up an adorable cartoon hat, laughing.


    "If you like it, buy it! Today¡¯s a shopping day anyway," Lin Yingjun replied with a smile.


    "I¡¯ll see if there are other styles," Lin Xiaoli said, bending over to browse while asking Lin Zhengran, "Ranran, do you like this one? How about this cat hat?"


    Lin Zhengran found it too girly and unattractive.


    "Mom, I want to go back to the car and rest. I¡¯m a little tired."


    "Already? We haven¡¯t been out long."


    "Mom, I¡¯m just a kid! I can¡¯t walk as much as adults," Lin Zhengran feigned innocence.


    Lin Xiaoli gave him a disdainful look, identical to his own when he looked down on others. "Nonsense. You practice Taekwondo with Qingqing all the time. Do you think your dad and I don¡¯t know? You¡¯re not tired."


    Lin Yingjun, noting his son¡¯s embarrassed face, understood the real reason: his wife¡¯s slow shopping pace. She lingered at every stall, making little progress after an hour.


    "Let him rest in the car if he¡¯s tired. The festival seems well-organized, with plenty of patrol officers near the parking area. He¡¯ll be safe."


    Lin Xiaoli shrugged. "Fine. Ranran¡¯s dad, take him back to the car. We¡¯ll find him there after shopping."


    Relieved, Lin Zhengran followed his dad back to the car.


    After his father left, Lin Zhengran pondered where this "magical beast" might be.


    On the street, a little girl with pigtails in a yellow dress was holding a small dog and waving a thin stick at a golden retriever in the distance.


    "Don¡¯t come any closer! If you do, I¡¯ll call the police!"

 Chapter 8: The Discipline Officer

    The half-meter-tall golden retriever cautiously moved its paw forward, prompting the pigtail-wearing girl to scream louder while flailing her stick wildly.


    ¡°Stay back! I warned you not to come any closer!¡±


    The golden retriever whimpered, retreated two steps, and froze in place, looking aggrieved.


    [You¡¯ve successfully detected the magical beast. This creature, with its golden fur and large build, is clearly of substantial cultivation. It appears to be engaged in a battle with a heroic girl. Will you assist her or prioritize your safety?]


    So the so-called "magical beast" was just this big dog? It didn¡¯t even bare its teeth¡ªit looked rather docile.


    Lin Zhengran got out of the car and walked over. As he approached, the girl seemed vaguely familiar. Even her voice sparked a sense of recognition.


    When he called out from behind her, the girl panicked, screamed, and crouched on the ground clutching the smaller golden puppy in her arms.


    ¡°Help! Police! Help me!¡±


    Baffled, Lin Zhengran took a closer look and recognized her. "Jiang Xueli?"


    Hearing a human voice and realizing the big dog hadn¡¯t attacked, Jiang Xueli slowly opened her tear-filled eyes.


    ¡°Huh?¡± She looked up and blurted, ¡°Lin... Lin Zhengran?¡±


    The two were classmates. Jiang Xueli was the discipline officer responsible for maintaining order and correcting disruptive behavior in their class.


    Lin Zhengran, known for napping during lessons and reading incomprehensible books, left a deep impression on her.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Zhengran asked curiously. ¡°Why are you yelling so much?¡±


    As if grabbing onto a lifeline, Jiang Xueli quickly hid behind him, pointing at the big dog.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran! Help me protect this little dog! That big dog tried to bite it to death. Look, the little dog is covered in blood! If I hadn¡¯t saved it, it would have died!¡±


    ¡°Blood?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the puppy in her arms and noticed reddish spots around its mouth and eyes. But the color seemed off¡ªit didn¡¯t look like blood. There were no visible wounds, and the redness even contained strange seeds.


    Suspicious, Lin Zhengran wiped a bit of the red substance with his finger and sighed. "This looks like¡­ dragon fruit to me."


    ¡°Dragon fruit? What dragon fruit?¡± Jiang Xueli looked puzzled.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the big golden retriever, who seemed wronged and pitiful. The truth was clear:


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this big dog is probably the little dog¡¯s mom. Why don¡¯t you put the puppy down and see if it goes to her?¡±


    Jiang Xueli hesitated but soon protested vehemently. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I saw the big dog biting the puppy¡¯s head with my own eyes!¡±


    Uninterested in arguing, Lin Zhengran gently took the puppy from her arms and placed it on the ground.


    The little golden puppy immediately wagged its tail and ran to its mother, who licked the dragon fruit pulp off its face before giving Lin Zhengran a grateful bark and walking away.


    [You¡¯ve saved the magical beast mother and child, earning their blessing. Charisma +1.]


    Jiang Xueli stood frozen, like a statue.


    ¡°What do you have to say now?¡± Lin Zhengran asked.


    ¡°This¡­ this... this...¡±


    He mimicked her stammering. ¡°This. This¡­ this?¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blushing, Jiang Xueli closed her eyes and declared, ¡°I meant well, okay!¡± Straightening her arms and clenching her fists, she pouted. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Like I¡¯m an idiot!¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Well, you¡¯re self-aware, at least. Why so worked up? I didn¡¯t even say anything.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s strong-willed nature made her flush deeper at his remark.


    Shortly after, a police officer approached, asking who had yelled for help. Without hesitation, Lin Zhengran pointed at Jiang Xueli.


    Mortified, she frantically waved her hands, her pigtails bouncing. ¡°No, no, Officer! I didn¡¯t yell! Nothing happened!¡±


    The officer chuckled and left, treating the incident as child¡¯s play.


    Lin Zhengran turned to leave, but Jiang Xueli, fists clenched, finally shouted, ¡°Thank you for saving me earlier! I¡¯m a person who doesn¡¯t forget debts!¡±


    Stopping in his tracks, Lin Zhengran turned to look at her.


    She bit her lip, embarrassed.


    After a moment, he teased, ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t catch that.¡±


    Caught off guard, Jiang Xueli stammered, ¡°I-I said...¡±


    Without changing his expression, Lin Zhengran interrupted, ¡°Actually, I heard you. You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    Watching him walk away, Jiang Xueli muttered to herself, ¡°What¡¯s his problem?¡± Then, covering her face, she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m so embarrassed,¡± and hurried off.


    A week passed.


    One day, as Lin Zhengran and He Qing walked to school, he noticed Jiang Xueli approaching from the opposite direction. Upon seeing him, she froze and quickly ran away¡ªa pattern that had repeated several times that week.


    He Qing, unaware of the girl, saw Lin Zhengran¡¯s puzzled expression and asked softly, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied.


    Still confused, He Qing tilted her head, but Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t elaborate.


    The reason behind Jiang Xueli¡¯s behavior became clear during a self-study session in class.


    The teacher was absent, and the classroom buzzed with chatter and noise. Lin Zhengran, as usual, was napping.


    Unable to tolerate the chaos, Jiang Xueli stood up. ¡°Quiet down! This is a self-study session! If you keep talking, I¡¯ll write your names on the board!¡±


    The class fell silent for a moment but soon resumed its lively chatter, leaving Jiang Xueli fuming.


    As the discipline officer, her role often overlapped with the class monitor¡¯s, leaving her unappreciated and frequently ridiculed.


    Frustrated, she marched to the blackboard and began writing down the names of the noisy students. But when she got to Lin Zhengran, she paused and skipped over him.


    Sharp-eyed classmates noticed immediately. ¡°Jiang Xueli, why didn¡¯t you write Lin Zhengran¡¯s name? He¡¯s sleeping too!¡±


    Panicked, she turned and stammered, ¡°I-I was just about to! Why are you rushing me?!¡±


    ¡°Liar! You were writing in order but skipped his name!¡±


    Hearing this, Lin Zhengran opened his eyes curiously and looked over. His gaze met Jiang Xueli¡¯s, causing her to quickly turn back to the blackboard and write a single "Lin" before erasing all the other names.


    ¡°Quiet down! This is your last chance. If you keep talking, I¡¯ll really write everyone¡¯s names!¡± she shouted before returning to her seat, stealing a nervous glance at Lin Zhengran.


    A boy in the class, catching on, teased, ¡°Discipline Officer, do you like Lin Zhengran or something?¡±

 Chapter 9: The Rumor

    ¡°Huh?¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli never expected anyone to say such a thing. But once someone started, the rest of the class eagerly followed, taking it as an entertaining joke rather than a serious matter.


    ¡°Wow! So the discipline officer likes Lin Zhengran! No wonder she didn¡¯t write his name earlier!¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see now!¡±


    ¡°Be together, be together, be together!¡±


    ¡°Marry him! Marry him! Marry him!¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned bright red as she flailed helplessly, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet. She could only shut her eyes and yell, ¡°Stop talking nonsense! Who said I like Lin Zhengran?! I never said that! If you keep this up, I¡¯ll tell the teacher!¡±


    ¡°Marry him! Marry him!¡± The class continued their chant, drowning out her protests.


    Jiang Xueli glanced at Lin Zhengran, then sat back in her seat, buried her face in her arms, and covered her ears, hoping the problem would vanish if she ignored it.


    Lin Zhengran, however, remained indifferent. He understood that arguing with fools only made you one of them.


    What did a bunch of seven-year-olds even know? Explaining would only encourage them further.


    Instead, he rolled a large paper ball and threw it at the first kid to start the commotion. Without changing his expression, he said coldly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    The class quickly fell silent. Everyone knew Jiang Xueli couldn¡¯t do much about their antics, but crossing Lin Zhengran could lead to an actual fight¡ªand the teachers usually took his side because of his good grades.


    Soon, the teacher entered the classroom and put an official end to the chaos: ¡°What were you all shouting about? The principal¡¯s office is right next door. Do you want to get kicked out of class?!¡±


    After class, Jiang Xueli approached Lin Zhengran. On their way home, she nervously pulled him into a secluded corner when no one was around.


    Lin Zhengran looked at her quizzically.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran!¡± Jiang Xueli said with a conflicted expression. ¡°About what happened in class¡ªdon¡¯t take it seriously. I don¡¯t like you. I just didn¡¯t write your name earlier because I was afraid you¡¯d tell everyone about the golden retriever incident. That¡¯s all! Please don¡¯t misunderstand!¡±


    Staring intently at him, she added, ¡°But since I helped you by not writing your name today, we¡¯re even now. So you won¡¯t tell anyone, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked, suspecting there had been some reason behind her actions. But receiving an unearned ¡°good person card¡± felt absurd.


    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why you¡¯ve been avoiding me lately?¡±


    Caught off guard, she bit her lip awkwardly. ¡°Y-yeah. I was afraid if we met, you¡¯d tease me about it in front of everyone. You boys are all the same¡ªalways bullying girls.¡±


    Then, in a quieter voice, she added, ¡°Though¡­ you seem a little different from them...¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t expected him to be so nonchalant. Shaking her head, her twin braids swayed. ¡°No, that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Good. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI don¡¯t like spreading rumors. And next time I¡¯m asleep, go ahead and write my name on the board. We¡¯re even now. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    Jiang Xueli watched his retreating figure, muttering to herself, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he get tired of acting so cool all the time? He¡¯s like a little adult.¡±


    From a distance, Lin Zhengran glanced back, catching her gaze. She quickly turned away, pretending to whistle and look elsewhere.


    Although most of the class forgot about the incident, a few mischievous kids kept bringing it up whenever Jiang Xueli enforced discipline.


    ¡°Discipline Officer, don¡¯t write my name on the board! I¡¯m close friends with Lin Zhengran!¡±


    Each time, Jiang Xueli gritted her teeth and retorted, ¡°What does your relationship with him have to do with me?! I told you, I have nothing to do with him! I¡¯ll write your name first and make sure the teacher punishes you!¡±


    The absurd rumor lingered through the second semester of second grade and even persisted into the following year.


    As summer approached and the end-of-term exams loomed, the school announced a sports competition, supposedly to prepare students for future exams.


    As the star of Class 2-2, Lin Zhengran dominated the competition, easily clinching first place. With the System¡¯s rewards, no peer could match his level.


    This victory, labeled a ¡°master-level battle¡± by the System, advanced Lin Zhengran to Level 20.


    [Today¡¯s martial arts duel earned you first place. You¡¯ve learned several advanced techniques and made a name for yourself. Spirit Level: 20. New skill unlocking soon. Rewards: Strength +1, Charisma +3, Stamina +2.]


    The System¡¯s commentary reflected reality. The win greatly boosted Lin Zhengran¡¯s popularity among his classmates.


    Girls from various classes began noticing him. ¡°There¡¯s a boy in Class 2-2 who¡¯s super handsome, gets great grades, and is amazing at sports!¡±


    From the sidelines, Jiang Xueli watched Lin Zhengran take the crown.


    A boy beside her teased, ¡°Discipline Officer, your Lin Zhengran is incredible! But it looks like a lot of girls from other classes are eyeing him. You¡¯re in danger!¡±


    Blushing, she snapped, ¡°Say that again, and I¡¯ll rip your mouth off! I told you, I have nothing to do with him!¡±


    Still, her gaze lingered on Lin Zhengran, lips pursed.


    ¡°Why should I care if others are watching him? It¡¯s so annoying...¡± Her voice softened as her lively eyes flickered with an indescribable emotion. ¡°...So annoying.¡±


    In Class 3-3, the quiet He Qing sat in the stands, secretly cheering for Lin Zhengran instead of her own classmates.


    Every time he won, she smiled brightly, thinking,


    But today, she overheard a troubling rumor:


    ¡°Did you see Lin Zhengran from Class 2-2? I heard he has a special relationship with their discipline officer. People are saying they¡¯re dating!¡±


    He Qing¡¯s cheerful expression faltered. She anxiously glanced at the gossipers.


    ¡°I heard that too! The discipline officer¡¯s name is Jiang Xueli, right? She¡¯s a bit fierce but actually kind of cute. They say they¡¯ve been like this since the first semester!¡±


    Clenching her small hands, He Qing felt deeply upset.

 Chapter 10: Transferring Schools

    After school in the evening, little He Qing was picked up by her mom.


    When she got home, carrying her small schoolbag, she had planned to go straight to ask Lin Zhengran about something. However, she happened to catch a glimpse of the comb in the bathroom.


    He Qing dragged a small plastic stool over to the vanity, climbed on, and carefully combed her stray hairs and ponytail in front of the mirror until everything was neat and tidy. Only then did she head to the kitchen to talk to her mom.


    ¡°Mom, I have something I want to ask Lin Zhengran. I need to go find him.¡±


    Aunt He was rummaging through the refrigerator for ingredients and casually replied, ¡°Alright, once dinner¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll call you.¡±


    At that moment, her phone rang. Aunt He hesitated when she saw the number, but quickly answered.


    ¡°Mom? Why are you calling me so late? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Moments later, her expression turned anxious.


    ¡°Are you okay? Should I come back and take you to the hospital? Hmm, alright. I¡¯ll bring her with me.¡±


    He Qing was about to head out the door when Aunt He, who had just hung up, called her back.


    ¡°Qingqing, wait!¡±


    He Qing looked back, puzzled. ¡°What is it, Mom?¡±


    Closing the fridge door and taking off her apron, Aunt He said, ¡°Don¡¯t go looking for your Brother Lin just yet. It seems your grandma isn¡¯t feeling well. Pack a few things;we¡¯ll head to her place tonight. I¡¯ll inform your school about your leave.¡±


    ¡°Grandma¡¯s sick? Is it serious?¡± He Qing asked, visibly worried.


    Aunt He hurried to her bedroom to pack clothes. ¡°She just said she¡¯s too weak to get out of bed, and she misses you a lot. She really wants to see you.¡±


    He Qing was perceptive enough to notice her mom¡¯s uneasy expression and the tense atmosphere. She didn¡¯t dare ask more. Reluctantly, she glanced in the direction of Lin Zhengran¡¯s house, then went to pack her things, ready to follow her mom to see her grandma.


    On the drive back to their hometown, He Qing noticed her mom making constant calls¡ªasking for leave and coordinating with the hospital. Sitting in the passenger seat, He Qing turned to look out the pitch-black window, her innocent eyes blinking as her mind filled with thoughts far beyond her years.


    Fortunately, it was just a scare. After a hectic night, He Qing saw her mom in tears the next morning at the hospital, though there was a smile on her face.


    The nurse explained, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. There are just some minor ailments. You¡¯ll need to take better care of her¡ªmaybe visit weekly to prevent any unexpected issues.¡±


    Aunt He nodded. ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°For now, we¡¯ll keep her under observation for the week. If she recovers well, she can be discharged. The reason she couldn¡¯t get out of bed is probably due to a fall a few days ago. Her leg injury just made it hard for her to stand. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After the nurse left, Aunt He let out a deep sigh of relief and turned to her mom, who was lying in bed and cheerfully stroking little He Qing¡¯s head.


    Her grandma, smiling happily, asked, ¡°Qingqing, it¡¯s been half a year since you visited Grandma. Did you miss me?¡±


    Standing by the bedside, He Qing nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I heard from your mom that you¡¯ve been learning taekwondo recently¡ªand you¡¯re quite good at it! How about showing Grandma when you have time?¡±


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll show you once you¡¯re discharged from the hospital!¡±


    Aunt He, sitting by the bed, asked, ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you call me right after your fall? You waited until you couldn¡¯t get out of bed!¡±


    Grandma gave her daughter a kind smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was a big deal. Everyone falls once in a while. How was I supposed to know getting hurt at my age would mean ending up in the hospital?¡±


    Aunt He sighed deeply, suddenly feeling emotional. Her voice choked with tears. ¡°Dad passed away early, Qingqing is still so young, and you¡¯re all I have left. On the way here, I was so scared something terrible might¡¯ve happened.¡±


    Obedient little He Qing tore off two tissues and handed them to her mom, cutely consoling her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Mom.¡±


    Aunt He smiled through her tears and stroked her daughter¡¯s head. ¡°Good girl, Qingqing.¡±


    Grandma, still smiling, added, ¡°What are you crying for? Didn¡¯t the doctor say I¡¯m fine? I¡¯m not even worried, so why are you? You should learn from Qingqing;she¡¯s braver than you.¡±


    Aunt He glanced at her mom, not sure how to respond, and the two exchanged a knowing smile, just like when she was a child.


    Though Grandma¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t serious, Aunt He quickly decided to resign and return to their hometown. There, she planned to find a flexible job while caring for her mom.


    This also meant transferring He Qing to a new school.


    He Qing understood her mom¡¯s reasoning and didn¡¯t complain. But when she overheard her mom arranging the transfer with her school, she couldn¡¯t help shedding a few silent tears.


    It wasn¡¯t the school she was reluctant to leave;it was Lin Zhengran, who had been her neighbor and playmate since kindergarten.


    Aunt He knew Lin Zhengran was He Qing¡¯s only friend and hugged her daughter. ¡°Qingqing, I know you don¡¯t want to leave your Brother Lin, but Grandma needs us. We have to go.¡±


    Burying her face in her mom¡¯s embrace, He Qing murmured, ¡°Mom¡­ we¡¯ll come back someday, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course! When you¡¯re older, you can return for middle school. I¡¯ll enroll you in a school here so you can reunite with your Brother Lin. But for now, you¡¯ll have to be apart for a while.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s small hands loosened their grip on her mom¡¯s clothes slightly. Her teary eyes fluttered. ¡°Okay¡­ When are we leaving?¡±


    ¡°In a month. You still have a month to say goodbye to your Brother Lin. Tell him you¡¯ll see him again when you¡¯re older.¡±


    Aunt He stroked her daughter¡¯s long hair, gazing out the window at the small town where she¡¯d lived for so many years. Her heart was a mix of emotions.


    ¡°And you can always video chat with him when you miss him. That¡¯s fine too.¡±


    By Saturday, Lin Zhengran was lying in bed, reading.


    The system chimed in with a notification about his cultivation progress:


    [Cultivation Multiplier ¨C Your expertise in the path of fortune cultivation has reached mastery. Any Fairy bound to you will experience doubled cultivation progress and learning speed under your guidance.]


    [Note: This ability is only active during your direct instruction and will not activate during independent cultivation.]


    ¡°This skill¡­ It¡¯s like I¡¯m being set up to establish my own sect.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought to himself. Any disciples he trained would grow at double speed. Moreover, thanks to his first skill, their progress would feed back to him at double efficiency.


    This was a compounding loop¡ªdouble, then double again, and again!


    Just then, the system added:


    [Fairy He is on her way to see you. She seems flustered, as though it¡¯s an urgent matter.]


    Moments later, there was a knock at the door.

 Chapter 11: I’m Willing to Be Bullied by You

    Since it was Saturday, Lin Zhengran¡¯s dad, Lin Yingjun, was home from work. Hearing the knock at the door, he went to check and found He Qing standing outside. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today, He Qing was wearing a pretty white dress, her ponytail resting on her shoulders. Her big, bright eyes sparkled, and it was clear she had dressed up¡ªlike a little white swan. ¡°Uncle, is Lin Zhengran home? I came to see him.¡±


    Lin Yingjun smiled and opened the door wider. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Qingqing. Come on in. Zhengran is resting in his room.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle.¡±


    Hearing that Zhengran was resting, He Qing tiptoed to his room and, instead of knocking, softly called out, ¡°Lin Zhengran? It¡¯s me, He Qing. I need to talk to you.¡±


    Lying on his bed with a book in hand, Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Just come in. Make sure you close the door.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    He Qing carefully pushed open the door, saw Lin Zhengran on the bed, and closed it quietly behind her. Standing by his side, she clasped her hands in front of her like always, looking as obedient as ever.


    Lin Zhengran turned his head, puzzled.


    He Qing¡¯s watery eyes stared at him, her lips pursed. ¡°I have three things to talk to you about today. Two are questions, and one is something I need to tell you.¡±


    ¡°That many? Just say it.¡±


    Lowering her head, He Qing slowly worked up the courage to ask the question that had been bothering her for days. ¡°Last week at the school sports event, I overheard people saying that¡­ you and your class¡¯s discipline officer are a couple¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression was blank. ¡°Oh, that. Yeah, I heard about it. So?¡±


    His indifference made He Qing¡¯s heart ache. Her eyes began to redden, and she sobbed as she choked out, ¡°Is it true? Do you really like another girl?¡± Tears rolled down her cheeks as she finished.


    Lin Zhengran, exasperated, closed his book and sat up, flicking her on the head. ¡°Why are you crying? Do you always have to cry in front of me? Of course it¡¯s not true! Do you even need to ask?¡±


    Covering her head where he had flicked it, He Qing immediately stopped crying when she heard it wasn¡¯t true. Her eyes brightened as she exclaimed, ¡°Really? It¡¯s fake?¡±


    Sitting cross-legged with his arms folded, Lin Zhengran scoffed. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be into little girls like you?¡±


    It was the truth. Before his rebirth, he¡¯d been 28. What 28-year-old man would be interested in a seven or eight-year-old kid? To him, this noisy little group of children was nothing but a headache.


    He explained, ¡°Something happened before, and rumors started spreading in class. But who cares what others believe?¡± He glared at He Qing. ¡°But you? I spend time teaching you taekwondo every week, and you still believe it? Where¡¯s your brain?¡±


    Being scolded by Lin Zhengran only made He Qing happier.


    A shy smile almost appeared on her face, but she quickly suppressed it, muttering, ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it. I thought it was fake¡­ just a silly rumor.¡±


    ¡°Then why were you crying just now?¡±


    Blushing, He Qing lowered her head and muttered, ¡°Because I don¡¯t have a brain. It¡¯s empty in here.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. ¡°¡­ At least you¡¯re self-aware. What¡¯s your second question?¡±


    Now that she knew he didn¡¯t like anyone else, He Qing grew bolder. ¡°The second question is related to the third thing I need to tell you. Can I say them together?¡±


    After receiving his permission, He Qing told him about her grandma¡¯s situation.


    ¡°My grandma has been sick lately, and her health isn¡¯t good. Mom has to go back to take care of her, so¡­¡± Her voice grew softer. ¡°So I¡¯ll be transferring schools next month¡­ I might not come back until middle school.¡±


    Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t expected such big news, though he had anticipated it to some extent. After all, Aunt He always went back to take care of her mom during winter and summer breaks, sometimes staying for a month. This showed her grandma¡¯s health had been poor for a long time.


    It was inevitable that they would return someday.


    This was also why he had been teaching He Qing to speak up for herself since kindergarten¡ªto avoid her being bullied after transferring.


    He patted the bed, signaling her to sit down.


    He Qing cautiously sat beside him, looking at him with clear reluctance.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Transferring is good. Now that you¡¯ve learned taekwondo, no one bullies you except me. Once you leave, not even I can bully you anymore. Isn¡¯t that something to be happy about?¡±


    He Qing shook her head. ¡°Not happy.¡± Lowering her head again, she fidgeted with her hands. ¡°I¡¯d rather you bully me every day¡­ I want to be bullied by you¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t respond immediately but flicked her forehead again, making her clutch her head protectively.


    ¡°You¡¯re seriously messed up in the head! You¡¯re not normal!¡± His face darkened as he leaned back against the headboard. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m your teacher now¡ªand your childhood friend. When you transfer schools, don¡¯t embarrass me. Don¡¯t let others bully you, okay?¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°They won¡¯t. Not many boys can beat me now. I¡¯m really strong¡­¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re strong. But the main problem is your temperament. If someone gives you trouble, stand up for yourself. You don¡¯t cause trouble, so just focus on protecting yourself.¡±


    He Qing nodded again and again but felt tears welling up.


    Even someone as clueless as her had figured out why Lin Zhengran had made her do all those "bad" things back in kindergarten.


    But her tears were quickly silenced by one sharp look from him.


    He reminded her to get to her second point.


    ¡°My grandma knows I¡¯ve been learning taekwondo. I told her I¡¯d win a championship to show her during the New Year. But if I transfer, I won¡¯t be able to do it. So¡­ could you teach me more this month? Maybe I can win it early. Also, the coach said champions get to pick a prize. There¡¯s something I want.¡±


    Without much thought, Lin Zhengran agreed. ¡°Alright. Since you¡¯re leaving soon, I can help with that. I¡¯ve made some new insights recently, so winning a championship should be easy.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected his latest skill to come in handy so soon. Without the double learning speed, helping He Qing win a taekwondo championship half a year early would have been a tall order.


    He Qing beamed with confidence, trusting his promise completely. Whenever Lin Zhengran agreed to something, he always delivered.


    From that day onward, Lin Zhengran dedicated as much time as possible to training He Qing. Whether it was after school, during lunch breaks, or weekends, the two were almost inseparable.


    With meticulous instruction, Lin Zhengran not only taught He Qing techniques but also analyzed all her potential opponents at the taekwondo center.


    Meanwhile, He Qing trained diligently, taking every lesson seriously. She dared not slack off even a bit.

 Chapter 12: Swan Chocolate

    After thorough observation, Lin Zhengran identified that He Qing had only one undefeatable opponent: a chubby boy named Xiao Long.


    Xiao Long, with his chubby cheeks and tall stature, had only joined taekwondo this year. However, his natural advantages allowed him to dominate even senior students. For He Qing, with her small arms and legs, defeating him seemed impossible.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Have you ever fought Xiao Long before?¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°Twice. The first time, he threw me to the ground in one move. I was completely dazed.¡±


    ¡°And the second time?¡±


    ¡°The second time, he threw me to the ground again in one move. Still dazed.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Do you think you can beat him?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± He Qing admitted honestly. Her reward for the truth was a flick to the forehead.


    Holding her head, He Qing looked up at him pitifully.


    Lin Zhengran asked again, ¡°Let me ask you one more time. Do you think you can beat him?!¡±


    This time, He Qing, looking as if she¡¯d made a mistake, hugged her head and nodded. ¡°I can beat him.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Lin Zhengran grinned. ¡°See? You just need some confidence! In kids¡¯ fights, size isn¡¯t everything. What matters is mental strength! As long as you don¡¯t fear him and show a fierce, unyielding expression even if you get hit, he¡¯ll definitely be intimidated by you.¡±


    He Qing tilted her head in confusion. Mental strength? Intimidation? What did those even mean? None of this was in her school textbooks.


    Still, she nodded earnestly. ¡°Got it!¡±


    ¡°For the next month, our training will focus on one thing: sharpening your awareness! Once your aura can overpower your opponent, things like strength and kicking techniques will just be extras. He won¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    Lin Zhengran adopted a coaching posture, pointing at her. ¡°Now, give me a scary or intimidating expression!¡±


    He Qing blinked in confusion before awkwardly baring her teeth in a toothy grin.


    Lin Zhengran groaned and tugged at her cheeks. ¡°What are you doing? Showing off your pearly whites? Trying to look cute?!¡±


    He Qing shut her eyes tightly, looking wronged. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to look cute¡­ I just don¡¯t know how.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed heavily. ¡°Fine. With your personality, who¡¯d ever be scared of you? Just follow my lead. I¡¯ll teach you how to frown, keep a cold face, and glare sideways.¡±


    Under his hands-on guidance, He Qing managed to settle on a somewhat intimidating expression.


    On the street, as the sun set, He Qing ran with furrowed brows and gritted teeth, trying her best to look fierce. The result was a mix of adorable and silly.


    Lin Zhengran looked as if he¡¯d swallowed a mosquito. ¡°This is going to take a while,¡± he muttered.


    Pointing to the road, he ordered, ¡°Now, run three laps around the block with me. No changing your expression while you run! Go!¡±


    He took off running.


    ¡°Wait for me!¡± He Qing called, scrambling to keep up. ¡°You¡¯re too fast! I can¡¯t catch up!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting, aren¡¯t I? Now hurry up! And don¡¯t drop your expression¡ªwhere are your bared teeth? Keep them up!¡±


    The month flew by, and training reached its final stages.


    On a rest day, He Qing accompanied her mom to the supermarket. Walking into the mall hand-in-hand, He Qing suddenly remembered something and scampered off to an expensive dessert counter.


    Pressing her nose against the glass display, she peered at the back of the counter where a white swan-shaped chocolate dessert was displayed.


    The dessert wasn¡¯t very big¡ªabout the size of her two hands¡ªbut it was pricey, costing several hundred yuan.


    The store clerk, a pretty young lady, recognized He Qing immediately. ¡°Back to see the dessert again, little one?¡±


    He Qing nodded, her soft voice piping up. ¡°Big Sister, no one¡¯s bought this chocolate yet, right? Please keep it for me. I¡¯ll buy it at the end of the month.¡±


    The clerk crouched down with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll save it for you. But¡­¡± She pointed at He Qing¡¯s mom, who was shopping nearby. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your mom? Why don¡¯t you ask her to buy it now? I can even give you a discount!¡±


    He Qing shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not for my mom to buy. I want to win it in a competition. My coach said I could pick any prize under 500 yuan if I win, and I want this.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± The clerk looked intrigued. ¡°What kind of competition are you entering? You seem pretty confident about winning.¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Taekwondo! I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll win!¡±


    The clerk chuckled, patting He Qing¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re so cute. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect this dessert until the end of the month. It¡¯s delicious, so you won¡¯t regret it!¡±


    He Qing shyly thanked her, then added, ¡°It¡¯s not for me to eat. I¡¯m giving it to someone else. He really likes chocolate.¡±


    She thought Lin Zhengran would love the gift, and this was why she had to win.


    When Aunt He called out that it was time to go, He Qing quickly rejoined her.


    Her mom asked, ¡°Did you see a dessert you liked? You always stop by there. Don¡¯t you want to buy one?¡±


    He Qing shook her head vigorously. ¡°Nope, not buying. Let¡¯s go home, Mom. I need to find Lin Zhengran.¡±


    She knew this dessert was special. If she got her mom to buy it, it wouldn¡¯t feel the same. It had to be a prize, or it wouldn¡¯t taste as good. She couldn¡¯t give a disappointing gift to Lin Zhengran¡ªit¡¯d make him angry.


    At the end of the month, the taekwondo center buzzed with excitement.


    Though it was just an internal competition, the promise of prizes had the participants fired up.


    In the locker room, He Qing adjusted her snow-white taekwondo uniform and took a deep breath in front of the mirror.


    Stepping out, she immediately caught sight of Lin Zhengran sitting in the stands, arms crossed. Their eyes met, and for once, Lin Zhengran gave her a rare thumbs-up.


    He Qing¡¯s cheeks flushed red as she nodded firmly. Today, she had to win¡ªespecially in front of him.

 Chapter 13: The Winner

    The taekwondo coach stood to the side and blew the whistle.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for our biannual competition! Just like before, the first-place winner will receive 500 yuan to choose their own prize. The second and third places will get special gifts prepared by the center. Now, let the matches begin!¡±


    The competitors lined up neatly and followed the coach¡¯s random draw to face off against each other.


    Lin Zhengran quietly watched as little He Qing defeated her opponents one by one.


    She was nothing like the girl from a few years ago who was constantly bullied.


    Her aura, strength, and even her gaze had undergone a complete transformation.


    He Qing had already made it to the final round. Only four people remained in the arena.


    After her match with the second-to-last opponent, she was thrown to the ground by a boy, though she eventually managed to win. However, it was clear she was in pain.


    The coach asked if she was okay, and He Qing shook her head, saying she was fine.


    After confirming there was no serious issue, the coach blew the whistle. ¡°Take a break! The final match between He Qing and Xiao Long will begin soon!¡±


    During the break, Lin Zhengran walked over. He Qing bit her lip and reported her progress: ¡°I won again.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her arm and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I won, but why did you zone out during the fight? What were you thinking about?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s voice became soft, and she lowered her head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ Just¡­ do you remember when we were in kindergarten¡ª¡± The rest of her words trailed off into a mumble.


    Lin Zhengran looked confused. ¡°What are you muttering about?¡±


    He Qing mustered her courage, her face reddening. ¡°Do you remember the pinky promise you made with me back in kindergarten?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that? Of course, I remember.¡± Lin Zhengran looked exasperated. ¡°You¡¯re talking about when I promised you¡¯d follow me forever, right?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyes trembled, glimmering with disbelief. ¡°You actually remember?¡±


    Lin Zhengran lightly knocked her on the head.


    She closed her eyes with a soft yelp.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only made one pinky promise in my life. How could I forget it? Besides, this is a competition! You zoned out over something so trivial and nearly got yourself hurt!¡±


    He Qing thought to herself that it wasn¡¯t trivial at all. Looking timidly at him, she explained, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know why, but I suddenly thought of it and got distracted¡­ I promise it won¡¯t happen in the next match.¡±


    Feeling exhausted, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t reply but didn¡¯t continue scolding her either.


    Instead, he reached out and gently patted her head, leaving He Qing stunned.


    ¡°For the first time.¡±


    ¡°Go for it. If you beat Xiao Long, you¡¯ll be the champion today. I believe in you.¡±


    He Qing had never felt so clearly encouraged. Her face turned bright red, and goosebumps rose on her arms. In her memory, this was the first time Lin Zhengran had ever supported her like this.


    Her heartbeat quickened, and she nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll definitely win!¡±


    He Qing¡¯s aura grew stronger than ever, almost twice as intense as usual.


    When she walked onto the stage, the tall and sturdy Xiao Long was shocked. ¡°What¡¯s with that expression?¡±


    He Qing pressed her lips together, her powerful aura intact, while keeping Lin Zhengran¡¯s advice in mind:


    ¡°When facing Xiao Long, don¡¯t smile. Don¡¯t show any expression. Just keep staring at him! Stare until he feels guilty!¡±


    Only then could she win the psychological battle.


    However, despite a month of devilish training, He Qing still hadn¡¯t mastered how to look intimidating.


    Lin Zhengran watched from the sidelines, covering his eyes. He couldn¡¯t bear to look.


    Yet, to everyone¡¯s surprise, He Qing¡¯s ¡°cute but serious¡± expression made Xiao Long blush and falter.


    ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s so cute¡­ How is she this cute?¡± Xiao Long thought, completely flustered.


    Putting on her most confident act, He Qing said in a sweet yet firm voice, ¡°Again!¡±


    Xiao Long, his face red, attacked, but He Qing noticed his punch lacked strength.


    Seizing the opportunity, she executed a perfect back-throw and pinned him to the ground, securing her victory as the coach blew the whistle.


    He Qing was stunned, while Xiao Long, lying on the ground, turned even redder. ¡°I lost¡­ You¡¯re both cute and amazing.¡±


    ¡°I won?¡± He Qing exclaimed, raising her hand excitedly. ¡°I won!¡±


    She waved at Lin Zhengran from the stage, her eyes shining with delight, as if to say, ¡°Your method worked perfectly!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed, realizing her victory was largely due to Xiao Long being overwhelmed by her cuteness. Still, even without that, He Qing¡¯s overpowering aura in the final moments would have secured her the win.


    After the competition, He Qing happily received her reward. She led the coach to the mall to claim her prize.


    When the pretty clerk saw her, she waved enthusiastically. ¡°Back again, little one? End of the month already¡ªare you just browsing or finally taking it home?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m buying it this time!¡± He Qing exclaimed joyfully.


    ¡°Oh? Did you actually win?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yep!¡±


    The coach paid with his phone, and the clerk handed over the carefully packaged item. ¡°Here you go. That¡¯ll be 499 yuan. Thank you for shopping, and see you next time!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sis!¡±


    He Qing cradled the chocolate dessert carefully, her face glowing with happiness.


    As night fell, He Qing and Lin Zhengran sat on the steps outside their apartment building. The sunset painted the surroundings a warm orange hue.


    Placing the chocolate cake on her lap, she announced, ¡°Lin Zhengran, this is the champion¡¯s prize!¡±


    ¡°Chocolate?¡± Lin Zhengran looked unimpressed. ¡°What a kid¡¯s prize.¡±


    He Qing handed the cake to him with both hands. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? For me?¡±


    ¡°Yep! I chose this just for you. That time my dad gave me chocolate, you didn¡¯t take any. I know it¡¯s because you didn¡¯t want to take it away from me, so I picked out a prettier one this time to make it up to you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was dumbfounded. His extreme reaction was to laugh.


    ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous. That chocolate back then was spoiled¡ªwhy would I want it?¡±


    Still, he didn¡¯t refuse her gesture. Instead, he opened the box, broke off one of the swan¡¯s wings, and handed it to He Qing.


    ¡°Here. Let¡¯s eat it together.¡±


    He Qing took the wing with her small hands and waited for Lin Zhengran to take a bite before starting.


    It was sweet.


    She happily munched on the chocolate, her little feet tapping against the ground, her ponytail bouncing along.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Are you really coming back here for middle school? There¡¯s not much going on here.¡±


    He Qing swallowed her chocolate. ¡°I¡¯m mostly coming back to see you. Oh, can I call you when I¡¯m back in my hometown?¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Whatever. Call if you want, but I might not pick up.¡±

 Chapter 14: Her Majesty the Queen

    Early the next morning, Aunt He finished moving out. She loaded all their belongings into the car, with little He Qing dutifully helping out. Carrying a package larger than her own head, He Qing was panting heavily from the effort.


    ¡°Qingqing, are you sure we¡¯ve got everything?¡± Aunt He reminded her. ¡°If we forget something, we won¡¯t be able to come back for it.¡±


    He Qing counted the packages carefully. ¡°We¡¯ve got everything.¡±


    She turned back to look at Lin Zhengran, who was heading out for school. Their eyes met briefly.


    Everything that needed saying had already been said over the past month, leaving nothing else to add. Lin Zhengran kept it simple: ¡°Safe travels.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s gaze was complicated. She hesitated, then called out, ¡°Lin¡­ Lin Zhengran!¡±


    He stopped in his tracks.


    He Qing stammered, ¡°While I¡¯m away¡­ could you¡­ could you try not to hang out with other girls too much?¡±


    Confused, Lin Zhengran frowned in disdain. ¡°Do I look that free to you?¡±


    The adults nearby burst into laughter, amused by the interaction. Their chuckling left He Qing so embarrassed that she began nervously fiddling with her hands, wishing she could disappear.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s father, Lin Yingjun, chimed in, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little Qingqing. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Zhengran for you until you come back.¡±


    He Qing bowed her head even lower. ¡°Thank you, Uncle¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, haha!¡±


    Aunt He urged, ¡°Qingqing, say goodbye to Zhengran. It¡¯s time to go.¡±


    He Qing waved at Lin Zhengran, and he waved back.


    The two climbed into their respective cars and drove off in opposite directions.


    As He Qing sat in the car, she kept turning around to look back until finally settling into her seat with a wistful smile.


    Though they were parting ways, she was already looking forward to seeing Lin Zhengran again in a few years.


    By then, he¡¯d probably be very handsome¡ªhe already was, after all.


    Surprisingly, He Qing and Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t drift apart as much as one might expect in the year following their separation.


    He Qing would often call him from her hometown, sharing updates and asking about his life.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, I showed my grandma the video of me winning the championship. She said I was amazing! I told her it was all thanks to a boy named Lin Zhengran who taught me! Grandma even said she¡¯d like to meet you someday.¡±


    ¡°Is that so.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, are you walking to and from school alone these days? You¡¯re not¡­ hanging out with other girls, are you?¡±


    ¡°No. Do you seriously think I have that much free time?¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, my grandma¡¯s health was improving, but she got sick again recently. How have you been?¡±


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m a kid. What could possibly be wrong with my health? I¡¯m growing strong!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, it¡¯s been over a year since I moved back. Time feels so slow. We¡¯re only in third grade now, and there¡¯s still fourth, fifth, and sixth grade to go. When will we finally reach middle school?¡±


    A year later, in fourth grade, their phone calls became less frequent, dropping to about once a week, and later to once a month. By the second semester of fourth grade, the calls were sporadic, happening only when He Qing experienced something particularly joyful or upsetting.


    The thread of their connection, like the telephone line, remained unbroken.


    Today, in the southern town where He Qing lived, it was a drizzly day. Nine-year-old He Qing dressed for school as usual.


    Having grown taller and more beautiful over the years, her ponytail was now longer than ever.


    She rode with her mom to school, carrying her backpack into the noisy classroom.


    ¡°He Qing, did you finish your homework yesterday? Let me copy it!¡±


    She handed her homework to the girl sitting in front of her. ¡°Just don¡¯t copy it exactly. The teacher will notice.¡±


    ¡°I know! Thanks, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°I told you not to call me that¡­¡± she muttered.


    Though He Qing¡¯s personality hadn¡¯t changed much, she had taken Lin Zhengran¡¯s advice to heart. Anytime someone tried to bully her, she¡¯d fight back with full force.


    Her iconic back-throws, performed publicly to demonstrate her strength, scared not only the girls but also the boys. This earned her the nicknames ¡°Queen of Back-Throws¡± and ¡°Her Majesty the Queen.¡±


    He Qing disliked these titles, but she couldn¡¯t stop people from using them. She had even complained about it to Lin Zhengran.


    Perhaps because of her tough exterior, He Qing still hadn¡¯t made close friends at her new school. She suspected her habit of back-throwing people when she first arrived had made her classmates wary of her.


    At lunch, He Qing went to the cafeteria as usual. The rain continued, and she carried her umbrella.


    As she walked down the path behind the school building, she heard an argument. Curious, she looked over and saw a group of girls surrounding a pretty girl who seemed vaguely familiar.


    Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Han Wenwen, a classmate known for her beauty and popularity with the boys.


    ¡°I already told you, it¡¯s not my fault he likes me!¡± Han Wenwen, cornered against the wall, didn¡¯t back down.


    One of the girls shouted, ¡°Liar! You did it on purpose! I¡¯ve walked to and from school with him since we were kids. He even said he¡¯d marry me when we grew up! But ever since he saw you, he¡¯s ignored me and only pays attention to you!¡±


    Another chimed in, ¡°Yeah, and my brother won¡¯t stop talking about you! It¡¯s all your fault!¡±


    Han Wenwen retorted, ¡°So your friends come to me, and that¡¯s somehow my problem? Do you see me talking to them? Plenty of boys try to talk to me every day. Maybe you should reflect on yourselves instead!¡±


    ¡°How dare you! Are you saying we¡¯re ugly compared to you? That we¡¯re all unattractive?¡±


    The group began to shove Han Wenwen, scratching her face and pulling her hair.


    He Qing rushed over. ¡°Stop fighting!¡±


    Despite her intervention, Han Wenwen¡¯s face was scratched, and her hair was a mess. Still, her fierce personality shone through as she fought back, leaving marks on her attackers.


    He Qing stepped in front of Han Wenwen and defended her. ¡°Stop it! I¡¯m in her class, and I can vouch that she hasn¡¯t been flirting with anyone. She barely even talks to the boys!¡±


    Turning to Han Wenwen, He Qing asked, ¡°Right? If I¡¯m not mistaken, you usually eat alone, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Han Wenwen wiped the blood from her face and nodded.


    The girls, now angry at He Qing, shouted, ¡°Who are you? What¡¯s it to you?!¡±


    He Qing warned, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer. Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    One girl grabbed He Qing¡¯s clothes. Without hesitation, He Qing performed a back-throw, slamming the girl into the muddy ground.


    With a loud splash, water and dirt flew everywhere.


    The girl froze, then burst into tears. ¡°It hurts! It hurts! I¡¯m going to tell my mom!¡±


    Panicking, He Qing tried to reassure her. ¡°You¡¯re fine! My back-throws are safe¡ªI won¡¯t injure anyone!¡±


    The others, terrified, quickly backed away and ran off.


    Han Wenwen, who had watched everything in shock, finally understood why He Qing was called the ¡°Queen of Back-Throws.¡±


    She had heard the nickname before, but seeing it in action was an entirely different experience.

 Chapter 15: The Foxy Girl

    It wasn¡¯t until the group of girls had run off that He Qing felt a wave of panic. What if they told the teacher? Wouldn¡¯t she be in big trouble?


    Still, she reassured herself that even if she got scolded, she had done the right thing. Surely even Lin Zhengran wouldn¡¯t criticize her for it.


    Turning to Han Wenwen, who still had blood trickling down her face, she asked, ¡°Are you okay? Did I show up too late?¡±


    Han Wenwen snapped out of her shock and smiled. ¡°No, you were a big help. If they call in the parents, I¡¯ll testify for you.¡±


    He Qing breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn¡¯t help noticing how beautiful Han Wenwen was. Her smile gave her a foxy charm, with her delicate oval face and petite features exuding an indescribable elegance.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. Should I take you to the infirmary? Your face is scratched.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Han Wenwen pulled a small mirror from her pocket and checked the wound. ¡°It¡¯s just a small scratch;it doesn¡¯t even hurt. I¡¯ll take care of it myself. You should head to the cafeteria and get some lunch.¡±


    With that, Han Wenwen walked off into the rain without an umbrella. He Qing, worried by her appearance, hurried to catch up.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have an umbrella? How about I go with you? You¡¯ll catch a cold like this!¡±


    Han Wenwen looked at He Qing with curiosity, surprised by her kindness. ¡°Why are you so nice? If you come with me, you¡¯ll miss lunch.¡±


    He Qing gave a helpless smile. If Lin Zhengran were here, he¡¯d instantly recognize that she was mimicking his expression. ¡°Skipping one meal won¡¯t hurt. The teacher always says helping classmates is the most important thing, right? We¡¯re in the same class, after all.¡±


    Han Wenwen was astonished. She never imagined someone would say such words in earnest. Smiling, she nodded and walked alongside He Qing.


    However, instead of heading to the infirmary, they ended up in the school¡¯s small garden, which had pavilions and fish ponds.


    He Qing was puzzled. ¡°Why are we here? If you¡¯re not going to the infirmary, there¡¯s still time to grab lunch at the cafeteria.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone to bring us lunch,¡± Han Wenwen replied.


    ¡°Bring us lunch? Who? Are your parents staff at the school or something? Do they deliver lunch at noon?¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked her pretty fox-like eyes. ¡°No, you¡¯ll see soon enough. By the way, do you like chicken cutlet rice? I heard they¡¯re serving it at the cafeteria today.¡±


    He Qing nodded eagerly. ¡°I do, but chicken cutlet rice is really hard to get. If you don¡¯t line up early, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled mysteriously and patted the seat beside her. ¡°Sit and wait. Since you helped me, I can¡¯t let you go hungry.¡±


    Still confused, He Qing sat down. Soon enough, a group of boys approached, each holding an umbrella and a lunchbox.


    ¡°Han Wenwen, what do you feel like eating today? We brought you everything you might like!¡±


    Under He Qing¡¯s astonished gaze, Han Wenwen walked up and selected two chicken cutlet rice boxes from the boys. Smiling sweetly, she said, ¡°Thank you! As a reward for bringing me lunch, here, take my hair clip.¡±


    The two boys she chose blushed furiously and accepted the hair clip with giddy smiles.


    As for the other three boys who weren¡¯t chosen, Han Wenwen didn¡¯t even glance at them. She returned to He Qing and handed her one of the lunchboxes, smiling brightly. ¡°See? I told you someone would bring us lunch. This one¡¯s for you.¡±


    He Qing, as if possessed, accepted the box, staring in disbelief as Han Wenwen began eating with a spoon. The boys, meanwhile, left one by one, though one called out persistently, ¡°Han Wenwen! Tomorrow, I¡¯ll figure out what you want to eat! You have to give me a gift!¡±


    Han Wenwen ignored him, eating her lunch happily.


    When the boys were gone, she finally explained. ¡°I know you have a lot of questions, so here¡¯s the short version: All those boys like me and have confessed to me. I don¡¯t like any of them, so I don¡¯t bother paying attention to them.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Licking a grain of rice off her lip, she continued, ¡°But some boys are stubborn. They think that if they keep chasing me, I¡¯ll eventually like them. So they bring me gifts and food every day. At first, I found it really annoying.¡±


    She turned to He Qing and said, ¡°Then I realized, why not just let them bring me lunch? I treat it as them running errands for me. In return, I give them a hair clip or a hair tie as a token of thanks. Everyone¡¯s happy.¡±


    He Qing was stunned. ¡°I¡­ think I understand what you¡¯re saying, but also¡­ don¡¯t? Is this what kids¡¯ lives are like now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t understand? That¡¯s strange. You¡¯re so pretty, too. Haven¡¯t any boys confessed to you?¡±


    Blushing, He Qing waved her hands. ¡°N-no¡­ well, actually, yes. One last year, and another this year. But I turned them down, of course. I mean, we¡¯re still so young, and besides, I¡ª¡±


    She stopped herself from saying her heart already belonged to someone.


    Han Wenwen blinked her enchanting eyes. ¡°Maybe you just haven¡¯t had enough boys chase you. Let¡¯s see¡­¡± She bit her spoon, counting. ¡°This semester alone, at least seven or eight boys have confessed to me.¡±


    ¡°Seven or eight? That¡¯s so many! I mean, I know you¡¯re pretty, but¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes curved into crescent moons. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I look like a foxy girl. I might not be the prettiest, but apparently, my looks are exactly what boys like. They all seem to want me.¡±


    She noticed He Qing hadn¡¯t started eating and urged, ¡°Go on, eat! This chicken cutlet rice cost me a hair clip. That clip wasn¡¯t cheap, you know.¡±


    Opening the box, He Qing found the elusive chicken cutlet rice. It was delicious, the kind that was almost impossible to snag during lunch rush. She took a bite and marveled at how good it was before remembering the earlier incident.


    ¡°What about those girls from before? You were wrongly accused, right? I mean, it seems like you don¡¯t even like boys.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes sparkled. ¡°Of course. How could I have been flirting with their childhood friends or brothers? I can¡¯t stand boys.¡±


    Relieved, He Qing smiled, only for Han Wenwen to add, ¡°Though, to be fair, their childhood friends and brothers do keep pestering me. Actually, two of the boys who just brought me lunch were from that group. If I wanted to, I could tell them their sisters attacked me. They¡¯d probably avenge me.¡±


    He Qing: ¡°¡­¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s tone softened. ¡°It¡¯s not like I want to break anyone up. That doesn¡¯t benefit me at all.¡±


    Taking another blissful bite of rice, she said, ¡°I¡¯m telling you this because you saved me. I won¡¯t forget it. Even with those boys, I¡¯ve never taken anything for free. I always give them something in return. I don¡¯t take advantage of people.¡±

 Chapter 16: Peculiar Events

    After experiencing Han Wenwen''s life firsthand, Little He Qing finally understood that the gap between people could be even wider than the gap between humans and dogs.


    At first glance, they seemed to attend school and leave school in the same way, but their experiences couldn¡¯t be more different.


    Out of the blue, Han Wenwen asked, "By the way, when we were talking about confessions earlier, why did you suddenly freeze up? Were you thinking of someone? Do you have a boy you like?"


    Little He Qing''s face turned red, and she was too flustered to answer, stumbling over her words.


    Han Wenwen smiled knowingly. "Alright, forget I asked. Let¡¯s eat." She clearly understood.


    That evening, when Little He Qing returned home, she eagerly shared the peculiar events of the day with Lin Zhengran.


    She secretly wished every day could bring something unusual so she¡¯d have a reason to call Lin Zhengran. Otherwise, what excuse could she use? She couldn¡¯t very well admit she just wanted to hear his voice...


    Late at night, Little He Qing sat against the headboard of her bed in her white pajamas, illuminated by her bedside lamp. Holding her mother¡¯s phone, she started chatting with someone.


    "Lin Zhengran, let me tell you what happened today. I helped a classmate¡ªa really pretty girl that lots of boys are chasing. Then we ended up eating together."


    Little He Qing wanted to share every detail but felt it wasn¡¯t polite to gossip, so she carefully picked what to say.


    Lin Zhengran, hearing this fragmented story, was confused. "Go on."


    Little He Qing fiddled with her ponytail, twirling it around her fingers. "That¡¯s it. Nothing more."


    Lin Zhengran: "...."


    Little He Qing: "...."


    After a moment of silence, she added, "What have you been up to lately? Still going to and from school by yourself?"


    "More or less. Sometimes there are others."


    "Ah?" she asked, puzzled. "Girls?"


    "Yeah, girls."


    Little He Qing¡¯s expression immediately darkened, her eyes turning red as tears welled up. She instantly imagined a mysterious girl walking with Lin Zhengran, eating with him, practicing taekwondo on weekends, and maybe even napping together. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But before her tears could fall, Lin Zhengran added, "Our neighbors are away, so their little female dog is staying at our house. She follows me around when I get home."


    Little He Qing gasped in surprise, clutching her chest before bursting into laughter. "So it¡¯s just a dog! What about anyone else?"


    "No one else. Oh wait, there is."


    "Who?!"


    "My parents."


    Little He Qing let out another sigh of relief. Every time she chatted with Lin Zhengran, it felt like she was swinging between heaven and hell. She murmured softly, "When I come back, I¡¯ll go to and from school with you... Oh, by the way, Lin Zhengran, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something."


    She recalled Han Wenwen¡¯s question earlier and wanted to ask Lin Zhengran the same.


    Before fourth grade, kids didn¡¯t really grasp the concept of ¡°liking¡± someone. But after that, the word seemed to pop up more and more.


    "Lin Zhengran, I¡¯m curious... have any girls confessed to you in the past two years?"


    "You¡¯re getting nosier by the day," he replied bluntly. "Yeah."


    Little He Qing had expected this answer. Her tone became tense. "So, someone did... Were there many?"


    "Not many. You know I don¡¯t like chatting with little girls. They¡¯re annoying, and I¡¯m not interested."


    He Qing thought to herself, But if she annoyed him, so be it.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t dare say this out loud, or she¡¯d get scolded.


    Little He Qing continued to play with her hair, inspecting the ends as the conversation stalled for a moment.


    Lin Zhengran asked, "We¡¯ve been talking for a while. Anything else? I¡¯m hanging up if there¡¯s nothing."


    "There is! Don¡¯t hang up!" Little He Qing racked her brain for another topic. "Let¡¯s talk a bit more... Oh! The chicken cutlet rice at the restaurant today was really good."


    "Really? Bring me some next time."


    "Okay."


    "Yeah, right. Didn¡¯t you say your restaurant¡¯s menu changes daily? They might not even have chicken cutlet rice again. Besides, who hasn¡¯t had chicken cutlet rice before?"


    Little He Qing stuck out her tongue mischievously, looking delighted despite his scolding.


    Though Lin Zhengran shared some updates about his life, there was one thing he didn¡¯t mention. The incident didn¡¯t involve anyone Little He Qing knew, and the details were still unclear.


    The next morning, Lin Zhengran packed his schoolbag and checked his stats.


    Two years had passed, and he was close to breaking through the level 30 bottleneck. However, leveling up had slowed considerably.


    [Today¡¯s weather: Overcast, with possible rain. You are in daily cultivation mode.]


    [Current Spirit Level: 28]


    [Total Attributes:]


    Strength: 8Energy: 9Stamina: 13Charisma: 11


    [Overall Power Evaluation: Unbeatable in the Starter Village.]


    "Ranran, it¡¯s time for school. The weather¡¯s bad today. Want to take an umbrella?" Lin Yingjun asked, putting on his shoes.


    Lin Zhengran opened the door. "I have one at school. No need to bring another."


    His father drove him to elementary school. Upon entering the classroom, Lin Zhengran glanced at the desk near the door. It belonged to Jiang Xueli, who was still in the same class as him.


    She hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    The mornings in their class were always noisy until Jiang Xueli, with her twin ponytails, walked through the door.


    Some students stopped talking when they saw her.


    Once fierce and authoritative, Jiang Xueli now looked like a shadow of her former self. The disdainful glances from her classmates didn¡¯t help.


    She sat at her desk, which felt lonelier than ever.


    She was no longer the Discipline Officer. Two days ago, she was removed from the position following a bizarre incident.


    The usually honest Class Monitor had secretly brought a phone to school, which was stolen on the first day. The next day, during a small class fundraiser, half the money collected by the Vice Monitor went missing.


    The teacher, furious, demanded the culprit step forward. Jiang Xueli took the lead in searching everyone¡¯s bags.


    But the stolen money and phone were found in her bag instead.


    Jiang Xueli panicked, hurriedly explaining, "It wasn¡¯t me! I¡¯m the Discipline Officer¡ªwhy would I steal?! This phone isn¡¯t mine either!"


    The class was skeptical until her deskmate, Jiang Xiao, stood up and accused her. "She took the money. I saw her in the classroom during lunch."


    Jiang Xueli stared at her deskmate in disbelief, her eyes trembling.


    The classroom erupted in whispers and judgments. The teacher removed Jiang Xueli from her position and notified her parents.


    [Miss Jiang has been accused of stealing both money and a sword. You have some rapport with her and noticed some suspicious details. Helping or not helping will lead to different opportunities.]

 Chapter 17: Do You Really Believe Me?

    Two days had passed since the incident, and Jiang Xueli remained in the same fragile state.


    Rumors about her had even begun spreading to other classes.


    As the system noted, Lin Zhengran, an utterly neutral observer, had noticed some inconsistencies in the story. Over time, it became easy to spot the discrepancies.


    During the third and fourth periods in the morning, the class had PE. The teacher instructed everyone to pair up for sit-up exercises, letting them choose their partners freely.


    As expected, even though there was an even number of girls, no one wanted to pair up with Jiang Xueli. One girl even preferred partnering with a boy rather than teaming with her.


    Jiang Xueli was left standing alone. The PE teacher asked, "Has everyone found a partner?"


    "Teacher! Jiang Xueli doesn¡¯t have a partner!" a boy called out gleefully, clearly enjoying the situation. All eyes turned to her, their gazes hard to describe.


    Jiang Xueli stood there, pale and silent.


    The PE teacher looked puzzled. "Jiang Xueli? Why haven¡¯t you found a partner? If you can¡¯t find one, just wait until the first group finishes, and then someone can help you."


    Someone in the crowd piped up, "Teacher, no one will help her! She¡¯s a thief. None of us want to partner with her."


    Jiang Xueli panicked and tried to explain, "I¡¯m not! I¡¯m not a thief!"


    "You are!" "Yeah, you dare say you¡¯re not?!" "Even the teacher took away your position!"


    The PE teacher finally recalled the recent incident and stopped the chatter. "No more talking about this during PE! We¡¯re only here to focus on exercise." Turning to Jiang Xueli, the teacher added, "Regardless of whether you¡¯re a thief, don¡¯t you have at least one friend in class?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes reddened as she met the teacher¡¯s gaze, which seemed to confirm the accusation. Yet, she couldn¡¯t find the words to defend herself.


    At that moment, a hand went up in the crowd.


    "Teacher, I¡¯ll pair with her."


    Everyone, including the teacher, turned to see who had spoken. It was Lin Zhengran.


    Even Jiang Xueli stared at him in disbelief.


    The PE teacher, surprised but approving, nodded. "Alright, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli will pair up. Everyone else, get ready and start warming up!"


    The class erupted in murmurs, familiar whispers spreading among the students:


    "I didn¡¯t believe the rumors about them being a couple, but now I do."


    "Yeah, but how could Lin Zhengran be into her? She¡¯s a thief, and he¡¯s the top student in our class."


    "They really are dating, huh?"


    Lin Zhengran glared coldly at the group. "What are you talking about?"


    The class fell silent. Nobody wanted to pick a fight with Lin Zhengran. He was a special case¡ªtop grades and strong to boot. If he¡¯d wanted to be class monitor, he would¡¯ve been elected unanimously.


    The PE teacher instructed everyone to start, and Lin Zhengran looked at Jiang Xueli as she approached.


    She stared at him as if he were a ghost. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "What¡¯s with that look? You¡¯re staring at me like I¡¯m a monkey."


    "I am not!" Jiang Xueli pursed her lips and lowered her voice. "I just... can¡¯t believe you¡¯d partner with me. Aren¡¯t you afraid of the rumors?"


    "You sure do worry a lot." Lin Zhengran¡¯s tone was indifferent. "First, we¡¯ve always been the subject of rumors in this class. Second, do you really think I care about what they say? I couldn¡¯t care less."


    Jiang Xueli stared blankly for a moment before muttering, "True. You¡¯ve always been weird. Nobody understands you."


    The PE teacher called for the class to begin, and Lin Zhengran sat on the grass while Jiang Xueli held down his legs for sit-ups.


    She hesitated before quietly asking, "Do you believe me?"


    Her voice was too soft, and Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t immediately respond. Thinking he hadn¡¯t heard, she didn¡¯t dare repeat herself.


    After two sit-ups, Lin Zhengran finally said, "If I didn¡¯t believe you, I wouldn¡¯t have partnered with you. Honestly, in this class, anyone could¡¯ve stolen the stuff¡ªbut not you. I can tell how much you care about being the Discipline Officer. You wouldn¡¯t ruin something you¡¯re passionate about."


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t know how to feel when she heard that. She just found the boy in front of her increasingly pleasant to look at.


    Her heart raced, and the heavy weight she¡¯d been carrying for days lightened. Even the air seemed fresher.


    A faint smile crept onto her face, tinged with an unnoticeable blush. She pressed down on his legs with a bit more force.


    By midday, the overcast sky had turned to rain¡ªa heavy downpour.


    When Lin Zhengran finished eating and returned to the classroom, he realized his umbrella was missing. He suddenly remembered leaving it at home after the last rainy day.


    The classroom was mostly empty;everyone had gone to the cafeteria.


    As Jiang Xueli was about to leave, she noticed Lin Zhengran walking out with empty hands. She glanced at her umbrella and, almost instinctively, followed him.


    At the ground floor of the school building, Lin Zhengran stared at the rain pouring outside. Sensing someone behind him, he turned. "Why are you following me?"


    Jiang Xueli froze. From her hiding spot, she stepped forward awkwardly and snapped, "Who¡¯s following you? I¡¯m just going to eat. This is the way, isn¡¯t it?"


    Lin Zhengran gave her a skeptical look. Jiang Xueli avoided his gaze, her twin ponytails bouncing playfully at her waist.


    She stammered, "Did you forget your umbrella? Do you... want to share mine? I¡¯ve never shared with a boy before, but I can¡¯t just let you get drenched." She kept her eyes elsewhere but stole glances at him.


    To her surprise, Lin Zhengran declined. "No need."


    "No need?" Jiang Xueli was shocked. She stepped closer. "How are you going to get through the rain without an umbrella? And didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re not afraid of rumors? Are you scared of walking with me?"


    Lin Zhengran replied nonchalantly, "Honestly, it¡¯s because you don¡¯t seem like you want to share."


    Jiang Xueli froze, clenching her small fists.


    "I don¡¯t! I mean, I don¡¯t want to share with you because I¡¯m a girl, and you¡¯re a boy! People will talk. But... but I can¡¯t just leave you to get wet!"


    Lin Zhengran studied her expression, which he¡¯d only ever seen in fictional stories. "Jiang Xueli, do you know what ¡®tsundere¡¯ means?"


    "Tsundere?" Jiang Xueli blinked, shaking her head. "Never heard of it. What is it?"


    "Nothing. Just take it as a compliment."


    Her expression grew skeptical as she muttered, "Really? It doesn¡¯t feel like one. I¡¯ll look it up when I get home tonight. Anyway, will you share the umbrella or not? People are watching, and I¡¯m shy!"


    Indeed, several students in the lobby were watching. Sharing an umbrella between a boy and girl was unusual in elementary school.


    Lin Zhengran finally thanked her, and Jiang Xueli relaxed, holding the umbrella for him.


    But as she wasn¡¯t tall, Lin Zhengran took over. "Let me hold it. Stretching your arm like that must be tiring."


    Jiang Xueli clasped her hands behind her, walking closely beside him. "Well, you¡¯re the tall one."


    Under the umbrella¡¯s cover, she hesitated before asking again, "Do you really believe me? Believe that I didn¡¯t steal? The whole class thinks I¡¯m a thief."


    "I already answered during PE." Lin Zhengran sighed at her persistent gaze. "Yes, I believe you. But are you just going to let this go?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes lit up. She clenched her fists. "Of course not! I¡¯m going to find out who framed me and make them pay! And... figure out why Jiang Xiao lied. She¡¯s clearly making things up!"


    "Oh? I didn¡¯t expect you to be so determined. You¡¯ve been moping these past two days."


    "Who¡¯s moping?!" she retorted, flustered. "I just needed time to bounce back!"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled lightly, deciding not to argue.


    Jiang Xueli lowered her fists, stealing glances at him as they walked. Her twin ponytails swayed cheerfully with her steps.


    "What are you laughing at? And why does your laugh look so silly?"


    Meanwhile, in the distant doorway of another building, Jiang Xiao stood with two pink umbrellas in hand, watching Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli leave together.


    Somehow, things seemed to have taken an ironic turn.


    "Lin Zhengran..."

 Chapter 18: The Investigation Squad

    That evening, Jiang Xueli returned home with her schoolbag.


    Her mother, seated on the sofa, noticed her daughter¡¯s improved mood and asked curiously, "Xueli? Are you feeling better now?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli paused, her twin ponytails bouncing as she replied cheerfully, "I¡¯m fine, Mom. I¡¯m heading to my room."


    Before she could enter, her mother added worriedly, "Don¡¯t overthink things. At least your mom believes you."


    Turning to her mom with a smile, Jiang Xueli reassured, "Thanks, Mom. I¡¯ve been the Discipline Officer for years, so my heart is strong. Something this small won¡¯t bring me down. Don¡¯t worry."


    She closed her door and leaned against it.


    Only Jiang Xueli herself knew how much pressure the situation had caused her. But recalling Lin Zhengran¡¯s words from earlier in the day¡ªsimple, straightforward trust¡ªmade her blush even in retrospect.


    "Who knew his judgment was so sharp? He realized I was framed," she muttered to herself as she set her schoolbag on the table and took out her mom¡¯s old phone from the drawer.


    Curious about what Lin Zhengran meant by "tsundere," she searched for the term online.


    The result popped up quickly.


    Reading aloud, she murmured, "Tsundere refers to someone who acts contrary to their feelings to hide their embarrassment..."


    The more she read, the redder her face grew, her eyes shimmering like rippling water. She glared at the screen in embarrassment. "What is this nonsense?! Who¡¯s shy around him? I¡¯m not tsundere! I absolutely despise¡ª"


    She trailed off, recalling his trust and their umbrella-sharing moment earlier. Her tone softened as she bit her lip, staring at the phone. "I despise that guy."


    Then, she searched another question: "Do boys like tsundere girls?"


    The answer displayed: "A divine personality since ancient times!"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight. "That¡¯s such a high evaluation!"


    Encouraged, she searched again: "Would a boy who thinks he¡¯s so mature like a tsundere girl?"


    ...


    The next morning, Jiang Xueli¡¯s alarm clock buzzed. She yawned, then sprang out of bed.


    After changing out of her pajamas into her school uniform, she went to the bathroom and styled her long hair into twin ponytails. Examining her playful tiger-tooth smile in the mirror, she made a vow:


    "Today, I¡¯ll find out what¡¯s really going on and clear my name!"


    An hour later, Jiang Xueli had cornered Lin Zhengran in a small alley.


    "You¡¯re asking for my help? Why should I?" Lin Zhengran asked, puzzled.


    Jiang Xueli glared at him stubbornly. "Why? Because we¡¯re... we¡¯re classmates, aren¡¯t we?! I came to you because you¡¯re smart¡ªnot just anyone would do!"


    Lin Zhengran yawned and turned to leave, but Jiang Xueli grabbed his arm, panicking. "Wait! Okay, fine, I¡¯ll be honest. I don¡¯t have any leads, and I need help. Besides..."


    She lowered her head, murmuring like a mosquito, "I feel like you¡¯re the only one I can trust..."


    "Hmm? I didn¡¯t catch that."


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and shouted, "You know I don¡¯t have any other friends! Please help me! I¡¯ll do anything if you do!"


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Anything?"


    Jiang Xueli froze, backing up a few steps as she hugged herself, her heart racing. "W-what are you thinking?! I¡¯m warning you, some things come with consequences! Don¡¯t do anything impulsive!" She backed against the wall, unable to retreat further.


    Lin Zhengran stepped closer, and Jiang Xueli, trembling, shut her eyes and bit her lip.


    A moment later, she felt a flick on her forehead.


    "That¡¯s the attitude you should have when asking for help. Otherwise, with your usual tsundere behavior, who would even bother?"


    Rubbing her forehead, Jiang Xueli opened her eyes, her defiance returning. "Tsundere? I¡¯m not tsundere!" She muttered inwardly,


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "What¡¯s with that weird look?"


    Stepping back, he said, "Fine, I¡¯ll help, but I¡¯m not doing it for free. You¡¯ll need to give me something in return."


    "Something in return? Like what?"


    [Miss Jiang¡¯s matter has been decided. You know that a young girl wandering the world must have a few treasured belongings. Helping her today might earn you one, or you could choose to act out of pure chivalry.]


    "Something precious?" Lin Zhengran thought, curious about what she might have. Could it be something like He Qing¡¯s chocolates?


    Jiang Xueli felt uneasy under his gaze.


    "Do you have anything valuable? Something you rarely let others see?" he asked.


    "Something valuable?" Jiang Xueli blinked, then hesitated. "I do, but... what do you want it for?"


    "So you do have something. What is it?"


    Blushing, she glanced away. "I¡¯m not telling you. It¡¯s mine."


    "Fine. You don¡¯t need to know why I want it. Just tell me if you¡¯re willing to give it to me. If you are, I¡¯ll help."


    Jiang Xueli frowned, visibly struggling with the decision. Whatever it was seemed significant. After a moment, she reluctantly agreed. "Fine! As long as you help me, I¡¯ll give it to you. It took me a long time to get it!"


    She extended her pinky. "Pinky promise! You have to keep your word!"


    Lin Zhengran, amused by how girls seemed to love this gesture, extended his hand as well. "Deal."


    From that moment, they officially became an investigation squad.


    Real-life mysteries weren¡¯t as convoluted as those in novels. For Lin Zhengran, figuring out a childish conflict was simple.


    First, he asked if Jiang Xueli had offended anyone recently¡ªespecially in the days before the incident.


    Jiang Xueli mentioned a few names and added, "Actually, the day before the Class Monitor¡¯s phone went missing, another girl in our class brought a phone to school. I reported her to the teacher."


    Lin Zhengran sighed inwardly.


    Next, he told Jiang Xueli to stage a crying scene in the classroom.


    "Why?" she asked.


    "You haven¡¯t noticed? Since everyone started calling you a thief, the Class Monitor¡ªwho lost the phone¡ªhasn¡¯t said a word against you. She won¡¯t even look at you. That shows she¡¯s feeling guilty. If you cry in front of her, she might spill the truth."


    Jiang Xueli was amazed. "You¡¯re a genius!"


    "But... how do I cry?"


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead. "You¡¯re a girl, and you don¡¯t know how to cry? Worst case, use eye drops."


    After buying eye drops, Lin Zhengran applied them to Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes¡ªperhaps too generously.


    Tears streamed down her face as she punched him lightly. "You put in too much! It¡¯s all running down my cheeks!"


    Lin Zhengran laughed at her teary expression. "It¡¯s perfect. The Class Monitor¡¯s alone cleaning the classroom now. Go cry in front of her and see what happens."

 Chapter 19: The Truth

    In the classroom, the honest and earnest class monitor was dutifully sweeping the floor.


    Following Lin Zhengran''s instructions, Jiang Xueli walked to her desk, tears streaming down her face as she choked back sobs. This startled the monitor, who hesitated for a moment before choosing to move aside.


    Jiang Xueli lay on her desk, sobbing for a while. Seeing that the monitor remained focused on her cleaning and ignored her completely, she wiped her tears and sneaked a glance toward the door, where Lin Zhengran was hiding. Her expression said:


    Lin Zhengran clicked his tongue, signaling with his eyes:


    Jiang Xueli nodded. Moments later, she suddenly wailed loudly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry... Class... Class Monitor, I¡¯m so sorry!¡±


    The class monitor, startled upon hearing her name, froze mid-sweep and looked at Jiang Xueli with a conflicted expression.


    Jiang Xueli continued to sob pitifully, ¡°Everyone says I stole your stuff, but I really didn¡¯t! Boohoo~ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. I... I¡¯m planning to drop out of school. I won¡¯t go to school anymore, and without school, I won¡¯t be able to find a job. I¡¯ll have to scavenge for garbage on the streets to survive.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From outside the door, Lin Zhengran: ¡°....¡±


    Though a bit over the top, it was certainly vivid.


    Jiang Xueli sobbed on, ¡°I¡¯ll have to eat rotten apples that others throw away, moldy tomatoes, and... and... even my mom won¡¯t want me anymore.¡±


    ¡°Jiang... Jiang Xueli, are you saying you¡¯re dropping out of school?¡± The young class monitor, unable to bear such a pitiful tale, felt this was entirely too tragic. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore, okay? Here, wipe your tears first.¡±


    Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t expected the monitor to comfort her and cried even harder, ¡°Boohoo, Class Monitor~ I know you don¡¯t believe me, but I really didn¡¯t steal your phone.¡±


    The monitor put her broom aside and approached Jiang Xueli. Seeing her tear-streaked face, she was moved and at a loss for words. ¡°I believe you. I do.¡±


    Jiang Xueli sniffled, staring at the monitor with wide, teary eyes. Her voice, broken by sobs, was shaky and hesitant. ¡°Rea... Really? You really believe me? But why would you believe me? Wasn¡¯t the phone found in my desk?¡±


    The monitor frowned, her expression betraying that she was on the verge of spilling something. Sensing the opportunity, Jiang Xueli quickly grabbed her arm.


    ¡°Class Monitor, do you know something? Please, just tell me! I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone it was you. Please.¡±


    Under the weight of her conscience, the class monitor decided to come clean. She set down the broom and checked to make sure no one else was nearby. Lin Zhengran took the chance to scurry off somewhere else.


    Fortunately, it was P.E. class, and everyone was out on the field, so there was little chance anyone would return to the classroom.


    The monitor handed Jiang Xueli two tissues to wipe her tears and began, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything I know. Honestly, this whole thing seems strange to me too. That day, I accidentally brought my phone to school. At noon, I didn¡¯t have it with me anymore because Jiang Lin borrowed it. She said she needed to call her mom and took my phone.¡±


    The monitor continued, ¡°Then, that afternoon, Jiang Lin told me my phone had been stolen. The next day, it was found in your desk. But it¡¯s all so weird because I remember clearly that I gave her the phone in the cafeteria at lunch. I kept it on me before then because I was worried about losing it. When I asked her for it in the afternoon, she said it had been stolen. But you didn¡¯t even go to the cafeteria that day;you stayed back to clean the classroom.¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded, ¡°Exactly! Because I didn¡¯t go to the cafeteria, everyone said I must¡¯ve stolen your phone while cleaning.¡±


    The monitor sat beside her. ¡°You see? Doesn¡¯t this all feel fishy? I even suspect someone set you up on purpose...¡±


    Hearing this, Jiang Xueli felt everything suddenly fall into place. Lin Zhengran, listening outside, had heard the whole exchange as well.


    After P.E. class, Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran skipped lunch in the cafeteria. Instead, they sat on the steps by the rooftop door, munching on bread. The rooftop was locked, so they couldn¡¯t go up.


    Watching Lin Zhengran chew his bread, Jiang Xueli remarked, ¡°So, it must¡¯ve been Jiang Lin and her group. I told the teacher about them playing with their phones the other day, so they must¡¯ve held a grudge and framed me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked ahead thoughtfully. ¡°That seems likely. But why would your desk partner accuse you? So far, this doesn¡¯t seem to involve her.¡±


    Jiang Xueli suddenly recalled something and took small bites of her bread, her face turning red. ¡°Actually, if I think about it, I can come up with a reason why she might frame me.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Jiang Xueli looked awkward and muttered, ¡°Can¡¯t you tell?!¡± Seeing Lin Zhengran¡¯s blank expression, she added, ¡°She likes you! Haven¡¯t you noticed how unhappy she looks whenever people joke about us being a couple? And she keeps sneaking glances at you...¡±


    ¡°Huh? How do you know she¡¯s sneaking glances at me?¡±


    Jiang Xueli rolled her eyes. ¡°Because I sit next to her!¡±


    ¡°So? I don¡¯t know who my deskmate looks at every day.¡±


    Blushing, she retorted, ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re not normal!¡±


    In truth, Jiang Xueli sometimes sneaked glances at Lin Zhengran herself, which is how she noticed her desk mate doing the same. But she kept this thought to herself.


    She huffed, took another bite of bread, and muttered, ¡°Forget it. Explaining this to a blockhead like you is pointless. Besides, it¡¯s just a guess. I can¡¯t be sure she¡¯d accuse me over something like that.¡±


    Lin Zhengran stared ahead. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ve been sticking with me these past few days, and it¡¯s clear you¡¯re in a better mood. The ones who framed you are bound to get nervous. Let¡¯s tail them quietly over the next few days. We¡¯ll hear something eventually.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Jiang Xueli handed him the last packet of pickled vegetables, pretending not to care. ¡°Here, you can have the last one. I don¡¯t like them.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was puzzled. ¡°You don¡¯t like them, but you ate two packs?¡±


    Her face turned red as she snapped back, embarrassed, ¡°Mind your own business! Don¡¯t think I¡¯m being nice to you, okay?! It¡¯s not what you think.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t thinking that at all.¡±


    Grinding her teeth, Jiang Xueli clenched her fists. ¡°Idiot! Big idiot! If you keep this up, no girl will marry you when you grow up!¡±


    ¡°And as if any guy would marry you, always shouting and stomping like that.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± She was too frustrated to continue, mumbling to herself, ¡°Fine, then we¡¯ll just end up together.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Jiang Xueli wanted to bury herself in the ground. She hadn¡¯t meant to say that out loud. Covering her ears in a panic, she stammered, ¡°I said nothing!¡±


    A few days later, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli secretly followed the group with a recorder. Sure enough, a week later, they overheard their conversation and obtained the crucial evidence needed to clear her name. The truth was finally revealed that very day.

 Chapter 20: The Truth Revealed

    Behind the bushes near the school cafeteria, a group of mischievous girls from the class, including Jiang Lin, were chatting nervously.


    ¡°Jiang Xueli has been sticking with Lin Zhengran these past few days. Do you think they¡¯ve found something out?¡± one girl asked.


    ¡°They shouldn¡¯t have. How could they? No one was around when we put the phone in her desk,¡± another replied.


    ¡°There was no one, but Lin Zhengran is the top student in our class. I¡¯m worried he might figure out it was us.¡±


    ¡°What should we do? I didn¡¯t expect things to blow up this much. If the teacher finds out, we¡¯ll all get in big trouble. Our parents will be called, and we might even get expelled!¡±


    The more they discussed, the more panicked they became. For days, they had been restless over the situation.


    Just around the corner outside the bushes, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli were pressed against the wall, listening. Jiang Xueli held a recorder in her hand, her expression growing darker as she heard their conversation.


    ¡°These little brats! So it them! I won¡¯t let them off the hook!¡± Jiang Xueli growled through clenched teeth.


    Lin Zhengran hushed her, motioning for silence, as the girls started mentioning Jiang Xiao.


    ¡°By the way,¡± one of the girls asked, ¡°what¡¯s the deal with Jiang Xiao? Why did she accuse Jiang Xueli in class? She wasn¡¯t even there when we planted the phone and money.¡±


    Jiang Lin replied, ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you. Actually, Jiang Xiao saw us when we were planting the phone. But she promised not to snitch and said she¡¯d pretend she didn¡¯t see anything. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d turn around and accuse Jiang Xueli in class.¡±


    ¡°Well, it makes sense. Jiang Xiao likes Lin Zhengran, doesn¡¯t she? She doesn¡¯t like Jiang Xueli.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Behind the corner, Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened. Her suspicions were spot on. Turning off the recorder, she whispered to Lin Zhengran, ¡°Now everything¡¯s clear, and we¡¯ve got the evidence.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked, ¡°Your name¡¯s about to be cleared. So, do you want to go straight to the teacher, or scare them a bit first? If you walk out there with the recorder now, I bet they¡¯ll all start crying.¡±


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists, puffing up with anger. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to scare them! Even if we¡¯re in the same class, this was too much bullying. I¡¯m not letting this slide!¡±


    Tossing her twin ponytails with confidence, Jiang Xueli stepped out from the corner, recorder in hand, and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve gone too far?!¡±


    Her voice startled the girls so much they froze in place, their faces pale with panic.


    ¡°Jiang... Jiang Xueli?! And Lin Zhengran?! What are you two doing here?¡±


    Jiang Xueli held up the recorder. ¡°What do you think? I¡¯ve recorded you just said. You¡¯re in for it now¡ªget ready for the teacher to call your parents!¡±


    Lin Zhengran stepped out as well, but before either of them could say anything else, over half the girls started bawling. They wailed apologies, sobbing about how they never thought things would go this far.


    Jiang Lin, the ringleader, was the first to cry.


    Lin Zhengran watched, speechless.


    Of course, no amount of crying could undo the situation. The incident would inevitably be reported to the teacher. Whether or not Jiang Xueli forgave them would determine how severe the punishment would be.


    Before reporting the incident, Jiang Xueli sought out Jiang Xiao alone.


    ¡°This has something and nothing to do with her,¡± she told Lin Zhengran. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡±


    Lin Zhengran shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself. I¡¯m just here to help.¡±


    When Jiang Xueli confronted Jiang Xiao, she revealed she already knew everything and even had the girls¡¯ confession recorded. Jiang Xiao hung her head. Although she didn¡¯t cry, her face was contorted with guilt and pain, as if she¡¯d anticipated this outcome.


    She said, ¡°I knew I couldn¡¯t keep this hidden. With Lin Zhengran helping you, he was bound to figure it out. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°It¡¯s too late to apologize now. I¡¯m going to ask the teacher to change our seats. We won¡¯t be deskmates anymore.¡±


    As she turned to leave, Jiang Xiao suddenly squatted down, covered her face, and began to cry. ¡°Jiang Xueli, I¡¯m so sorry! I shouldn¡¯t have done it! I don¡¯t even know why I did it. I just... I hated seeing you two together.¡±


    Jiang Xueli hesitated for a moment before speaking frankly. ¡°Honestly... at first, Lin Zhengran and I weren¡¯t even that close. If it weren¡¯t for all this drama, we probably wouldn¡¯t have spent so much time eating and chatting together.¡±


    Jiang Xiao cried even harder.


    With that, Jiang Xueli left. She didn¡¯t realize how much more painful her words were than outright scolding.


    That afternoon, Jiang Xueli, recorder in hand, marched into the homeroom teacher¡¯s office with the group of girls, Jiang Xiao, and the class monitor. She laid out the entire situation.


    The teacher, stunned by the revelation, scolded the girls harshly and summoned their parents, except for the class monitor¡¯s. The office echoed with cries for the rest of the afternoon.


    Afterward, the teacher apologized to Jiang Xueli privately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Xueli. I shouldn¡¯t have spoken to you that way in class. Your role as discipline officer will be reinstated. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡±


    Jiang Xueli smiled and nodded.


    The next morning, Class 2-2 sat in their seats as the teacher addressed them sternly from the podium.


    ¡°After thorough investigation, it has been proven that Jiang Xueli was wrongfully accused in the recent theft case. She did not take the class monitor¡¯s belongings or anyone¡¯s money. I won¡¯t name those who framed her, but you know who you are. It¡¯s only because of Jiang Xueli¡¯s forgiveness that this matter is resolved. But let this be a lesson to you all. If anything like this happens again, I won¡¯t go easy on the culprits!¡±


    The teacher¡¯s voice rose as she lectured for another ten minutes. Although no names were mentioned, it was obvious who was at fault. Those who had accused Jiang Xueli looked visibly embarrassed.


    The teacher concluded, ¡°From today onward, Jiang Xueli will resume her role as discipline officer. I hope she continues to uphold her duties diligently. Let¡¯s give her a round of applause!¡±


    The class erupted in applause, growing louder and louder. Jiang Xueli, shy and flustered, sat in her seat, blushing.


    With that, the week-long theft case was officially closed. Everything returned to normal. As kids often do, the class soon forgot about the incident entirely.


    Jiang Xueli, however, remained the same. She diligently wrote names on the blackboard whenever students talked during class.


    One mischievous boy teased, ¡°Hey, Discipline Officer, do you really like Lin Zhengran? If I tell you I¡¯m good friends with him, will you leave my name off the board?¡±


    Blushing, Jiang Xueli retorted, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?! Who said I¡ª¡± She paused, flustered, and changed her tone, ¡°I¡¯ll like whoever I want! What¡¯s it to you? I¡¯m putting your name at the top of the list!¡±


    The class erupted into laughter, and the teasing intensified. ¡°The Discipline Officer really likes Lin Zhengran! Look, she¡¯s blushing!¡±


    Frustrated and embarrassed, Jiang Xueli glanced at Lin Zhengran, who remained indifferent. This made her even angrier. Overwhelmed, she blurted out, ¡°What does it matter to you?! So what if I do like him?! Anyone who teases me will have their name written on the board!¡±


    The entire class fell silent, stunned. Even Jiang Xueli froze, realizing what she¡¯d just said.

 Chapter 21: I’m Just Taking Pity on You!

    The sudden honesty left the entire class speechless.


    Some of the boys and girls who had been teasing just for fun also stood there, blushing in embarrassment.


    No one actually expected Jiang Xueli to admit it.


    After all, the whole point of teasing was just for amusement. No one really believed that just because someone was teased about liking someone, they actually would, or that they''d truly end up together.


    They were just kids, after all. But Jiang Xueli¡¯s unexpected outburst¡­


    Not only did she embarrass herself to death, but she also made the entire class mature overnight. From now on, no one in the class would ask, ¡°Discipline Officer, do you really like Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Instead, the new question would be:


    ¡°Discipline Officer, will you two get married when you grow up?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face was as red as a cooked shrimp. She ran back to her seat, steaming, covered her ears, and buried her head on the desk. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran looked both surprised and unsurprised at the same time. While the others glanced at him to see his reaction, he simply flipped through his book as if nothing had happened.


    On the same day, far away in the south, Little He Qing kept sneezing. Her mom asked if she had caught a cold.


    Little He Qing shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡±


    She had no idea a thief had broken into their house.


    ¡ª


    Two days later, Saturday finally arrived.


    By the way, thanks to a casual question, Jiang Xueli had recently discovered that Lin Zhengran¡¯s house was just across the street from hers.


    It turned out they lived so close to each other.


    So on Saturday, the two of them met up, planning to check out the so-called "treasure" at Jiang Xueli¡¯s house.


    When they passed a vending machine, Jiang Xueli stopped and asked, ¡°What do you want to drink?¡±


    Lin Zhengran spread his hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring money.¡±


    Jiang Xueli rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you!¡±


    Lin Zhengran said he wanted a Pulse drink.


    Jiang Xueli responded with an ¡°okay,¡± inserted the coins, and mumbled as she bought the drink, ¡°It¡¯s not like I to treat you or anything. I just happen to have money in my pocket and don¡¯t want you dying of thirst.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even ask, so why are you explaining so much? Now it feels like you¡¯re going out of your way to buy me a drink.¡±


    Annoyed, Jiang Xueli threw the bottle at him. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it!¡±


    Lin Zhengran caught it and casually said, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    As they walked side by side, Jiang Xueli felt like the distance between them was shrinking.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, about what I said last week in class, don¡¯t take it seriously.¡± She lowered her head shyly, not wanting him to see her flustered expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t actually like you. I just blurted it out in the moment.¡±


    Lin Zhengran twisted open the bottle and took a sip. ¡°I know.¡±


    Jiang Xueli waited.


    And waited.


    But Lin Zhengran never said anything else.


    Her embarrassment slowly turned into anger. Her cheeks puffed up, and she kicked his calf hard.


    ¡°Ow! What the heck? You crazy?¡± Lin Zhengran scolded.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a blockhead! No, you¡¯re the blockhead!¡± She stopped in her tracks, frustrated. ¡°Idiot! Big idiot! Even if I didn¡¯t mean it that way, I still said I liked you in front of the entire class! Don¡¯t you have to say about that?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her acting all dramatic.


    Where did an eight- or nine-year-old girl even get this much emotional baggage? Why was she always so hung up on love and relationships?


    ¡°You literally just told me to take it seriously. What kind of reaction do you expect?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª! You¡ª! Ugh! You¡¯re going to end up single for life! Anyone who likes you has to be brain-dead!¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought for a second.


    Wait, wasn¡¯t she basically insulting herself?


    So he retaliated, giving her a light kick on the butt.


    Jiang Xueli gasped, covering her behind and glaring at him, completely flustered.


    ¡°What are you looking at? I was just returning the favor,¡± Lin Zhengran said casually. ¡°And don¡¯t insult so broadly¡ªthere are plenty of people who like me.¡±


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip, turned her head away, and huffed. ¡°Yeah, right. Who would like ?¡±


    ¡°Enough chit-chat. Just take me to your house already. I only agreed to help you because of that so-called ¡®treasure.¡¯¡±


    Jiang Xueli dusted off her clothes, thinking:


    She quickly caught up with him. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t walk so fast! Wait for me!¡±


    ¡ª


    At Jiang Xueli¡¯s house, Lin Zhengran entered her bedroom.


    This was the second time he had ever stepped into a girl¡¯s room.


    It didn¡¯t look much different from the first one¡ªpink everywhere.


    Stuffed animals were scattered on the bed.


    Yep. Girls really were all the same when it came to their rooms.


    Lin Zhengran sat on Jiang Xueli¡¯s bed, watching her fidget restlessly. After a long pause, she finally asked, ¡°So¡­ how do you think my room looks? I cleaned up especially for today, since I knew you were coming. You not say it looks bad¡ªI spent tidying up.¡±


    Lin Zhengran immediately flattered her. ¡°It looks great.¡±


    She knew he was just humoring her, but she still felt happy inside.


    Carefully, she took out a book from her drawer¡ªa handmade compilation of magazine and newspaper clippings.


    ¡°Here, this is my treasure. I spent collecting and putting it together.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took it and flipped through it.


    ¡¾You successfully helped Miss Jiang clear her name! In gratitude, she has gifted you her personal cultivation manual. This technique is a masterpiece, compiled from countless sources! Although it¡¯s not an ultimate-grade technique, it¡¯s definitely top-tier!¡¿


    ¡¾You carefully study the manual: Charisma +4, Strength +4, Stamina +1, Level +2¡¿


    ¡¾You are about to break through to Spirit Level 30!¡¿


    Two whole levels?!


    This was the best reward he had ever received.


    Taking a closer look, Lin Zhengran realized that this "cultivation manual" was actually a !


    It contained information on musicians, singing techniques, vocal exercises, and song breakdowns¡ªall incredibly detailed.


    He glanced at Jiang Xueli, who looked a bit embarrassed.


    ¡°You like singing?¡±


    Jiang Xueli hesitated, then stubbornly raised her chin. ¡°Yeah, so what?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I just never knew. You¡¯ve never sung in front of anyone before.¡±


    She clenched her little fists. ¡°Who randomly sings in front of people? They¡¯d think I¡¯m crazy!¡±


    ¡°Sing for me?¡±


    Jiang Xueli hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I usually don¡¯t sing in front of others. But if you want to hear¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Yeah, I do. If you put this much effort into collecting all this, I¡¯m curious about your skill.¡±


    Surprised by his seriousness, Jiang Xueli stood up. ¡°Fine. What do you want to hear? I¡¯m singing because I to. You¡¯re the one who asked, so don¡¯t complain if it sounds bad.¡±


    ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. Just not a nursery rhyme.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    She took a deep breath, adjusted her voice, and started singing.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes widened.


    He didn¡¯t expect her to be this good. At her age, her voice was already incredible¡ªalmost identical to the original singers. With this level of talent and passion, she had a bright future ahead.


    ¡ª


    That evening, as Lin Zhengran headed home, Jiang Xueli walked him to the door.


    ¡°Ever thought about becoming a singer?¡± he asked.


    Jiang Xueli admitted she had, but the industry was tough. ¡°My mom says it¡¯s not something just anyone can succeed in. The more I study, the more I realize how hard it is.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked ahead. ¡°It hard, but I think you¡¯ve got a shot. It¡¯d be a waste to give up so young.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was stunned.


    She had expected him to mock her, not encourage her.


    ¡°R-Really? You think so?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I genuinely do.¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Then, suddenly, she burst into laughter, stepped in front of him, and declared with a serious face:


    ¡°Lin Zhengran! If you can¡¯t find anyone to marry you in the future¡­ I¡ªI guess I could marry you!¡±


    She pointed at him, blushing furiously.


    ¡°But! It¡¯s because I like you! I¡¯m just taking pity on you! I just think you¡¯re such a blockhead that you¡¯ll never get a girl, got it?!¡±

 Chapter 22: He Qing and Jiang Xueli’s Doubts

    As summer approached, the evening breeze carried a hint of warmth.


    Standing on the street, the two of them locked eyes. Jiang Xueli¡¯s twin ponytails swayed slightly in the wind, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.


    Lin Zhengran heard her words but simply pressed his hand on her head and continued walking forward. ¡°I don¡¯t know. And do you even understand what getting married means before saying you¡¯ll marry me?¡±


    Jiang Xueli swatted his hand away. ¡°Who says I don¡¯t understand?! It just means marrying you and having babies, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned back in disbelief and saw her blushing as she added, ¡°But since I¡¯m only marrying you out of pity, I¡¯ll only have kid with you. Don¡¯t expect more.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond.


    Anyone who took a kid¡¯s words seriously would lose.


    Seeing him walking farther away, Jiang Xueli quickly chased after him. ¡°Hey! Slow down! You¡¯re really not going to react at all to what I just said?! You big idiot!¡±


    ¡ª


    When Lin Zhengran arrived home, it was his dad who opened the door. Since it was the weekend, both his parents were home.


    ¡°Ranran¡¯s back?¡± Lin Yingjun opened the door at the sound of knocking, only to see Jiang Xueli standing behind his son.


    This wasn¡¯t her first time at their house. Ever since she discovered they lived close to each other, she had come over three or four times.


    Jiang Xueli greeted him, looking both shy and reserved. ¡°Hello, Uncle. I came to bring Lin Zhengran home.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought,


    His father, Lin Yingjun, was usually a laid-back person. But as a parent in this moment, he found himself feeling a little awkward. ¡°Hello, Xiaoli.¡±


    The reason for the awkwardness was that his wife was in the living room, on the phone. Lin Xiaoli heard their son return and rushed over with the phone in hand. ¡°Ranran, you¡¯re back? Perfect timing¡ªQingqing called for you! Come take the call.¡±


    She stopped in her tracks when she noticed Jiang Xueli standing at the doorway.


    Her anxious expression instantly turned into a blank stare. Her brain shut down for a moment.


    Jiang Xueli, only half-understanding the situation, continued greeting politely, ¡°Hello, Auntie! I came to drop Lin Zhengran home.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli exchanged looks with her husband. Lin Yingjun glanced back at her. Then, forcing an awkward yet polite smile, Lin Xiaoli said, ¡°Xiaoli, have you eaten dinner yet? Why don¡¯t you stay and eat with us?¡±


    Jiang Xueli quickly shook her head. ¡°No need, Auntie! I still have homework to do, so I should head back.¡± She then turned to Lin Zhengran. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going home. See you next week, Lin Zhengran.¡±


    She waved at his parents as well. ¡°Bye, Uncle and Auntie!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Be careful on your way back.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    As soon as he stepped inside, he took the phone from his mom. ¡°Hello? Why are you calling me again?¡± he asked, heading straight to his room.


    Before heading downstairs, Jiang Xueli took one last glance at Lin Zhengran talking on the phone.


    That was a girl¡¯s name.


    Why did it sound so familiar?


    Was she a classmate?


    She walked down the stairs slowly, lost in thought.


    Then suddenly, it clicked.


    Back in first or second grade, there a girl who used to stick around Lin Zhengran all the time!


    But at some point, that girl disappeared.


    Did she move away? Transfer schools?


    But if that were the case, why were they still in contact?


    Was she a relative? A cousin?


    As she descended the stairs, her twin ponytails bounced with each step, and she seemed deep in thought.


    Meanwhile, Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli peeked out from their room, whispering.


    ¡°Xiaoli, be careful on your way back! You¡¯re welcome here anytime,¡± Lin Yingjun called out.


    Jiang Xueli paused, then turned around, blushing. ¡°Thank you, Uncle and Auntie! I¡¯ll come over again if I get the chance. Bye!¡±


    Then she hurried downstairs. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Xiaoli nudged her husband with her elbow. ¡°Ugh, that was so awkward! Why didn¡¯t you warn me?¡±


    Lin Yingjun sighed. ¡°How was I supposed to know she¡¯d walk our son all the way home? I never had this kind of treatment when I was a kid.¡± He glanced at his wife. ¡°You think Qingqing heard all that?¡±


    ¡°She definitely did. The call was still connected.¡±


    The couple sighed in unison.


    Lin Yingjun rubbed his temples. ¡°Why do I have this bad feeling that our son¡¯s future love life is going to be a ?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli nodded. ¡°I feel the same. Especially with Xiaoli and Little He Qing¡ªboth of them seem really nice. And¡­¡± She looked at her husband. ¡°Ranran¡¯s still in ¡­¡±


    ¡ª


    Back in his room, Lin Zhengran closed the door.


    On the other end of the line, He Qing asked, ¡°Did you just get home? Were you out today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I wasn¡¯t home all day.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± He Qing hesitated before carefully asking, ¡°I might¡¯ve misheard, but¡­ was that a girl¡¯s voice just now?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat down on his bed and answered naturally, ¡°Yeah, just a classmate. I wanted something from her, so I helped her out. I was at her house earlier to pick it up.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± He Qing sounded a bit unsure. ¡°Then¡­ why did she walk you home?¡±


    Lin Zhengran scoffed. ¡°How should I know? Maybe she felt guilty because I didn¡¯t take her gift. Anyway, what did you want?¡±


    Hearing his usual tone, He Qing felt a little relieved.


    ¡°Oh, I just made a really good friend recently! Remember that girl I mentioned before¡ªthe one who looks like a little fox? A lot of boys are chasing after her, but she¡¯s actually really nice! She helps me a lot, and I found out we¡¯re neighbors. Now we walk to school, eat lunch, and go home together every day!¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the water cup on his desk and decided to go to the living room to get some water.


    The moment he stepped out, his parents, who had been casually watching TV, suddenly sat up straight.


    His mom even asked with concern, ¡°Ranran, how¡¯s your call with Qingqing going? You two aren¡¯t fighting, are you?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Zhengran filled his glass. ¡°Why would I fight with He Qing?¡±


    ¡ª


    Two months passed in the blink of an eye.


    By the time he moved up to fifth grade, he finally broke through the Spirit Level 30 threshold.


    ¡¾After a period of cultivation, you have successfully reached the Level 30 milestone! A new hidden ability has been unlocked, making you even more formidable in the martial world!¡¿


    ¡¾New Ability: Medium Limit¡ªWhen any of your four main attributes reach a certain value, you will gain a transformation effect!¡¿


    ¡¾Your current stats are as follows:¡¿


    Strength: 13 ()Stamina: 15 ( )Physical Energy: 19 ()Charisma: 20 ()


    Looking at the additional effects, Lin Zhengran thought:


    ¡ª


    Another year passed.


    Sixth grade¡ªthe final year of elementary school¡ªhad arrived.


    Today was a special day in the southern town.


    It was Lianxin Festival.


    Legend had it that tying a red ribbon onto the Tree of Devotion on this day would bring good fortune.


    For singles, the heavens would grant them a fated match.


    For couples, their love would remain blessed and unbreakable.


    So, He Qing made a plan.


    She invited her best friend, Han Wenwen, and the two of them decided to sneak out¡ªwithout telling any adults¡ªto tie their ribbons during the festival.

 Chapter 23: Lianxin Festival

    Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, He Qing carefully adjusted her hairstyle and smoothed out the edges of her snow-white dress.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going out shopping with Han Wenwen! If Grandma wakes up, let her know for me!¡±


    Her mother, Aunt He, called out from the kitchen while making breakfast. ¡°Qingqing? You¡¯re not eating before you go?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just grab something with Wenwen! Bye, Mom!¡±


    By now, Little He Qing had grown into a graceful young girl, her beauty blossoming with time.


    If a few years ago she was simply cute and pure, now the word finally fit her.


    Of course, when it came to looks, she still thought she wasn¡¯t as stunning as her best friend, Han Wenwen. Ever since He Qing met her, she felt that Han Wenwen was growing more and more like a fox spirit.


    But unlike He Qing¡¯s sweetness, Han Wenwen¡¯s beauty had an indescribable charm¡ªsomething that wasn¡¯t exactly , but uniquely captivating.


    ¡ª


    At the street corner, He Qing stood waiting.


    Before long, Han Wenwen appeared from behind, wearing a fitted pink dress with her long hair cascading over her shoulders.


    Sneaking up from behind, she suddenly covered He Qing¡¯s eyes and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.


    ¡°Guess who?¡±


    Startled, He Qing yelped, ¡°Wenwen! Why do you always tease me like this?!¡±


    Han Wenwen giggled, covering her mouth playfully before tilting her head, her fox-like eyes glimmering mischievously.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s just a little kiss between girls. If I don¡¯t kiss you now, I might not get the chance in the future.¡±


    He Qing wiped her cheek helplessly and gave her friend a sideways glance.


    ¡°What do you mean ? Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d go to the same middle school together?¡±


    Han Wenwen linked arms with her. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go with you. But that¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m saying that once you start going to school with your , will there even be room for me?¡±


    He Qing blushed, unable to respond. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked. ¡°So, have you talked to him recently?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing much has been happening lately. But after we finish at Lianxin Festival today, I¡¯ll call him.¡±


    The two best friends walked toward the festival.


    ¡°You sure are diligent about updating him. I¡¯m really curious¡ªhow ridiculously handsome does he have to be for you to be this obsessed?¡±


    He Qing mumbled, ¡°He was pretty good-looking as a kid, but I don¡¯t know what he looks like now.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Don¡¯t you two talk on the phone all the time? You¡¯ve never done a video call?¡±


    ¡°Nope, never.¡±


    Han Wenwen stared at her in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re . You¡¯re way too timid!¡±


    ¡ª


    Two years ago, they met on a rainy day at school. Han Wenwen had been moved by He Qing¡¯s kindness and decided to repay her in whatever way she could.


    Whenever He Qing was assigned classroom cleaning duty, Han Wenwen would stay behind to help. If anyone badmouthed He Qing, Han Wenwen would clap back without hesitation.


    Not that He Qing needed the help¡ªshe was more than capable of fighting back on her own.


    But He Qing was the type who never forgot a kindness, no matter the reason behind it. Since Han Wenwen treated her well, she naturally returned the favor.


    Over time, the two became inseparable.


    Now, two years later, they were the closest of friends, knowing each other inside and out.


    ¡ª


    The Lianxin Festival was bustling with excitement.


    Holding hands or linking arms, the two girls wandered through the various stalls, enjoying themselves immensely.


    At one point, they stopped at a stall selling love letters.


    This reminded He Qing of something. ¡°Wenwen, has anyone confessed to you this month?¡±


    Bending down to inspect the envelopes, Han Wenwen propped her hands on her knees. She recognized quite a few.


    ¡°Oh, yeah. Maybe it¡¯s because of the festival¡ªjust yesterday, I found three love letters in my backpack.¡±


    ¡°What? Three? Did you read them?¡±


    Han Wenwen shook her head. ¡°Nope. I can already guess what they say¡ª blah blah blah. I¡¯m not interested in any of them.¡±


    Then she glanced back at He Qing with curiosity. ¡°What about you? Has your ever written you a love letter?¡±


    Flustered, He Qing replied, ¡°W-What? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re at that stage yet¡­ I don¡¯t even think he knows I like him.¡±


    Han Wenwen rolled her eyes. ¡°Do you think guys are dumb? Okay, maybe , but I doubt your good brother is an idiot.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ he is really smart. He¡¯s good at everything.¡±


    ¡ª


    The two girls wandered for hours, from the base of the hill to the heart of the festival¡ªthe Tree of Devotion, located halfway up the mountain.


    This was the busiest spot at Lianxin Festival.


    Interestingly, as they walked, a group of boys suddenly stepped out from the crowd, holding flowers. It seemed like they had been waiting there on purpose.


    The one in the center held out a bouquet toward Han Wenwen and confessed his feelings.


    Judging by his uniform, he was from another school.


    He Qing let out a sigh.


    Even she was getting used to this by now¡ªlet alone Han Wenwen.


    Sure enough, Han Wenwen turned them down cheerfully but directly.


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t like you.¡± Then, with a mischievous smile, she added, ¡°But you¡¯re pretty handsome¡ªmaybe some other girl will like you!¡±


    Before leaving, she even pulled a hair clip from her pocket and handed it to him. ¡°Here, take this as a souvenir. Anyway, we¡¯re off to shop more. Bye-bye!¡±


    That was just Han Wenwen¡¯s way¡ªshe always rejected people with a compliment.


    Maybe that was why even the guys she turned down still kept liking her.


    ¡ª


    Finally, they reached the Tree of Devotion.


    The massive, ancient tree was covered in fluttering red ribbons, swaying in the wind like a breathtaking sea of red.


    Seeing it for the first time, He Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled with wonder.


    ¡°It¡¯s like something straight out of a romance novel! I heard that a thousand years ago, a couple was separated for some reason, but after tying red ribbons on this tree, they found their way back to each other.¡±


    Han Wenwen nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the story. Did you bring your own ribbon?¡±


    He Qing pulled a red ribbon with a small cloth tag from her pocket. ¡°Of course! What about you?¡±


    Han Wenwen waved hers. ¡°Got it right here! Let¡¯s find a spot to write our wishes¡ªpeople say writing them on the spot makes them more likely to come true.¡±


    They squatted down and began writing.


    He Qing carefully wrote: sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I hope I can see him soon¡ªand that we¡¯ll always be together.¡±


    She glanced over and saw Han Wenwen chewing on her pen cap, lost in thought.


    ¡°Wenwen, you¡¯re not done yet?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking¡­ I¡¯ve never really considered what kind of guy I like.¡±


    He Qing chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious too.¡±


    Suddenly, Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Got it!¡±


    She scribbled on her ribbon:


    ¡°I want my future man to know exactly what I want.¡±


    He Qing looked confused. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It means I hope my future boyfriend is someone who understands me on a deeper level.¡±


    They both burst into laughter.


    He Qing covered her mouth, giggling. ¡°Wow, that sounds poetic.¡±


    After tying their ribbons onto the tree, they noticed a nearby stall offering wooden tokens that revealed the surname of one¡¯s future lover.


    Han Wenwen grabbed one at random.


    It had a single character on it¡ªLin.


    He Qing¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lin?¡±


    Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me your childhood sweetheart¡¯s last name is Lin?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, it is.¡±


    Han Wenwen laughed, linking arms with He Qing and holding up the token. ¡°Looks like we really are best friends! Even our future boyfriends have the same surname! Maybe he has a long-lost brother?¡±


    The two girls continued strolling through the festival, joking and laughing.


    Meanwhile, the two red ribbons they had tied onto the tree swayed in the wind¡ªtwisting together, as if bound by fate.

 Chapter 24: Childhood Sweethearts

    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.¡± S§×ar?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.¡±


    ¡ª


    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


    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¡ªI¡¯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.


    ¡¾You 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¡ªbetween classes, after school, and on weekends¡ªcoaching 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, ¡ªhe 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¡ªshe 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


    A year later¡ªtoday.


    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¡ªSMACK!


    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!¡±

 Chapter 25: A Fateful Encounter

    "If you put it that way, I suppose you''re right." Lin Zhengran''s expression remained calm. "But she¡¯s known me since kindergarten."


    "You..." Jiang Xueli was momentarily speechless, then suddenly puffed up in frustration. She clenched her little fists, leaning forward like a plane about to take off. "Then what about me?! I¡¯ve known you the longest!"


    "Technically, you could also be considered a childhood friend. As for who knew me first, it''s about the same. She was with me from small class through second grade, while you were from first to sixth grade."


    The more Lin Zhengran explained, the angrier Jiang Xueli became. She puffed up her cheeks and raised her tiny fists, ready to hammer him. "You''re so infuriating!"


    Her punches, however, were completely harmless.


    "What¡¯s there to be angry about? There''s no rule that says I can only have one childhood friend." Lin Zhengran effortlessly caught her flurry of phantom punches. "Besides, I''m just stating facts. You wouldn¡¯t want me to lie to you, would you?"


    "Well... that¡¯s true. If you lied and I found out later, I¡¯d be even angrier." She stopped punching but still clenched her eyes shut and yelled, "But something about this just feels wrong!"


    She stared at Lin Zhengran, feeling both frustrated and strangely unsettled. In the end, she could only huff, flip her twin ponytails, and storm off.


    Lin Zhengran stood there and called after her, "Walking so fast? You don¡¯t need me to walk you home?"


    "No need! I live right across the street anyway! Go back and call your childhood friend¡ªshe¡¯s waiting for you!"


    "Alright, then. Walk carefully."


    Jiang Xueli suddenly stopped in her tracks, gritting her teeth. Her tiny fists clenched even tighter as she turned around abruptly. "Come walk me home!"


    "Huh? Didn¡¯t you just say you didn¡¯t need me to?"


    "I never said that!" she huffed. "You always bully me, but now you¡¯re suddenly listening so well?! If you to walk me home, don¡¯t let my words change your decision!"


    Lin Zhengran wanted to say that he honestly didn¡¯t care either way. He had only come downstairs to talk about singing practice.


    Jiang Xueli knew that if she kept arguing, he might really just leave her behind. So instead, she walked right up to him, tilted her head, and looked up at him. "Big dummy, walk me home."


    Lin Zhengran sighed as he met her gaze.


    After walking a very jealous Jiang Xueli home, Lin Zhengran returned to take his call.


    The first thing He Qing asked was, "Who was just at your place? Was it... a girl?"


    Lin Zhengran: "....."


    That winter, the snowfall was heavier and came earlier than usual. Although Jiang Xueli had been grumbling ever since she learned about his childhood friend, she was still very serious about learning to sing.


    As the twelfth lunar month approached, Lin Zhengran planned to visit the mall to buy some materials for Jiang Xueli¡¯s vocal training.


    The snowflakes fell thickly as he walked along the still-thin layer of snow toward the mall.


    At a street corner, he found himself walking the same path as a girl dressed in a down jacket, wearing skin-colored tights, and a scarf wrapped around her neck. A subtle jasmine fragrance wafted from her.


    At first, Lin Zhengran paid her no mind. But then he noticed that she was walking at the exact same pace as him, just slightly ahead.


    Her long, draped hair covered a scarf that reached down to her waist. It swayed with each step, resembling a fox¡¯s tail.


    After a while, the girl seemed to sense someone behind her and turned around.


    It was then that Lin Zhengran realized¡ªit wasn¡¯t just the scarf that looked like a fox. She did too.


    She had a delicate, oval-shaped face with striking features, especially her naturally seductive eyes. She looked just like a reincarnated fox spirit, incredibly distinct.


    Because the mall was near the junior high school he was set to attend, Lin Zhengran was very familiar with the area. However, the "fox girl" seemed a bit lost.


    She stopped at a bus stop, blinking her fox-like eyes in confusion. "Where¡¯s First Middle School? It¡¯s snowing so much that I can¡¯t recognize the streets."


    Lin Zhengran casually pointed. "Go straight to the end of that road."


    She looked at him curiously and smiled. "Thanks, handsome."


    After that, they went their separate ways.


    At the mall, Lin Zhengran carefully selected the materials he needed. In the middle of shopping, he received a call from Jiang Xueli.


    "Big dummy! You went shopping? Why didn¡¯t you take me with you?"


    Lin Zhengran continued browsing. "Why would I? I¡¯ll just buy what I need and find you after. Be good and wait at home."


    After purchasing everything, he was about to leave when¡ªonce again¡ªhe ran into the fox girl at the entrance.


    She seemed to have just arrived.


    Recognizing him, she nodded politely.


    Lin Zhengran nodded back.


    As they passed each other, she took out her phone and reported to her best friend:


    "Hey, Qingqing? I went to check out First Middle School¡ªit looks nice! I couldn¡¯t go inside, but it¡¯s so pretty!" She giggled as she listened to her friend¡¯s response. "Okay, okay, I¡¯ll take some pictures for you later. I¡¯ll tell you all about the trip when I get back."


    Since he had to take the bus home, Lin Zhengran walked to the stop. Buses in town only came once every half hour.


    The snow was getting heavier, covering the entire town in a thick, white blanket. The bus stop was also piled with snow.


    He stood alone at the stop for about ten minutes.


    Then, someone else arrived.


    It was a familiar face.


    Han Wenwen, carrying her shopping bags, noticed the same boy she had now encountered for the third time. Even she tilted her head in slight confusion.


    Lin Zhengran was just as puzzled.


    They exchanged a brief, knowing smile and stood on opposite sides of the bus stop.


    As he stared off into the distance, something clicked in his mind.


    Wasn''t He Qing¡¯s southern best friend also nicknamed "Little Fox"?


    And wasn''t her name... Wenwen?


    But surely, it wasn¡¯t Wenwen.


    On the other side, Han Wenwen scrolled through her phone, her fingers slightly pink from the cold.


    After chatting with her best friend for a bit, she scrolled through her photos and found one from six months ago¡ªtaken during the Lianxin Festival.


    They said that if you made a wish for love at the Lianxin Festival, your fated partner would appear within a year. Even if you weren¡¯t together right away, you¡¯d definitely meet in some unexpected way.


    Han Wenwen smiled and sent pictures of the school to He Qing.


    She had been curious all these months¡ªhow would her destined one show up?


    A soft meow interrupted both their thoughts.


    They turned around at the same time.


    A small cat was stuck in the tree behind the bus stop, meowing pitifully from the cold.


    Without speaking, they both instinctively stepped forward.


    The tree was too tall and straight, and with the snow making it slippery, climbing was impossible.


    "Can we get it down? It¡¯ll freeze to death up there," Han Wenwen asked.


    Lin Zhengran looked up at the trembling kitten. "Find a cardboard box. I¡¯ll get something to stand on."


    "Okay."


    Both quickly gathered supplies.


    Lin Zhengran set a broken chair under the tree while Han Wenwen held it steady. He lifted the box and called to the kitten.


    Sensing their kindness, the kitten tried to jump into the box but slipped. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luckily, Lin Zhengran caught it in time.


    Han Wenwen let out a startled gasp.


    Afterward, she crouched down and stroked the kitten¡¯s head, grinning. "It¡¯s not a stray¡ªit has a collar."


    "Then let¡¯s wait. Maybe its owner will come looking."


    She nodded.


    Looking up, she smiled. "I¡¯m Han Wenwen."


    Lin Zhengran suddenly had a strange feeling.


    "Lin Zhengran."


    Han Wenwen blinked. "You¡¯re a Lin?"


    "Why?"


    She tilted her head, fox-like eyes glimmering. "Oh, nothing. Nice name."


    She continued petting the kitten, wondering¡ªcould the Lianxin Festival really be this accurate?


    She smirked.


    "If we¡¯re meant to be, we¡¯ll meet again."


    Lin Zhengran thought,


    "Maybe."

 Chapter 26: The Bold Little He Qing

    ¡¾Today, you had a brief encounter with the demon cult¡¯s enchanting maiden. She mentioned that you may meet again in the future. What kind of fate could this be for you?¡¿


    Demon cult maiden¡­ That title actually suited her quite well.


    Later, the little cat¡¯s owner rushed to the bus stop, relieved to have found their pet. Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen handed the kitten over, receiving heartfelt gratitude before they parted ways.


    Winter passed, and spring arrived once more.


    This was the final semester of elementary school. After the New Year, Little He Qing had asked her mother, ¡°Mom, when can I go to junior high and study with Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Aunt He replied, ¡°Probably in September. When junior high starts, you¡¯ll see him again. I¡¯ll register you in August during summer break.¡±


    ¡°What day in September?¡±


    ¡°That depends. It¡¯s usually at the start of the month, but the exact date changes every year.¡±


    Little He Qing smiled and responded with an "Okay!" before running to her bedroom. She flipped open a brand-new planner and began counting down the days until September 1st.


    Every day, she crossed out a date. Every day, she got one step closer to seeing Lin Zhengran again.


    Aunt He stood at the bedroom door, watching her daughter lie on the bed, resting her cheek on one hand, gleefully kicking her legs as she counted the remaining days.


    Four years had passed, yet He Qing still longed to return to that northern town.


    Aunt He had once thought that their childhood connection would fade with time. But now, it seemed stronger than ever.


    Having gone through a failed marriage herself, she gently reminded her daughter, ¡°Qingqing, when you finally meet your Ranran again, keep a close eye on him. Don¡¯t let him run away this time.¡±


    Hearing this, He Qing¡¯s face turned bright red. She stammered, ¡°M-Mom¡­ What are you saying?¡±


    Aunt He sighed, speaking from the heart. ¡°I mean exactly what I said. I truly hope my Qingqing can stay with the person she likes¡ªforever.¡± Then, she left for the kitchen, completely ignoring her daughter¡¯s flushed embarrassment.


    The final six months passed with He Qing marking off days in her notebook, counting each one with her fingers.


    She watched the countdown go from over a hundred days to fifty¡­ then from fifty to ten.


    The start of school. Midterms. Finals. Summer break.


    Her smile grew with each passing day.


    "Just ten more days¡­ Ten more days and I¡¯ll see him again!"


    Two days later, Lin Zhengran was lounging at home, watching TV with his parents.


    The family sprawled lazily on the couch¡ªLin Yingjun hugging his wife, Lin Xiaoli resting against his chest, and Lin Zhengran stretched out, legs propped up.


    Lin Xiaoli patted her son¡¯s leg and asked, ¡°Ranran, you only have five days left before junior high registration. Are you nervous? Once school starts, you won¡¯t be able to come home every day¡ªit¡¯s a boarding school.¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "What''s there to be nervous about? It¡¯s just junior high."


    Just then, the phone rang.


    Lin Xiaoli checked the caller ID and immediately sat up, delighted. ¡°It¡¯s Qingqing! Hurry and answer! Ask if she¡¯s coming back soon!¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran picked up the phone. Before he could even say hello, he was met with the sound of sobbing.


    "Lin¡­ Lin Zhengran¡­ Are you listening? I have bad news¡­"


    She choked on her words, sniffling. "I might not be able to see you when school starts."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    He knew how much she had been looking forward to this. Every time she called, she would count down the days. He quickly retreated to his bedroom for privacy and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    He Qing explained between sniffles, ¡°Mom said there¡¯s been an issue with my school registration. I might have to wait a whole month before I can join you. We won¡¯t be able to meet at the start of the semester.¡±


    Hearing that, Lin Zhengran let out a sigh of relief. ¡°You scared me. For a second, I thought you weren¡¯t coming at all.¡±


    Over the phone, He Qing sat curled up on her bed, hugging her knees and wiping her tears. "How could I not come?! I¡¯d crawl back if I had to! We ¡ªno one¡¯s allowed to go back on their word!"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled.


    Still sniffling, He Qing murmured, ¡°I had everything planned out. I even asked Mom exactly when I could go back to town. But now, I have to wait another whole month¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a month. What¡¯s the big deal? We haven¡¯t seen each other in ¡ªwhat¡¯s another month?¡±


    "It a big deal," she mumbled, burying her face in her knees. ¡°A month is so long¡­ And I already made you a gift for when we meet. I spent so much time learning how to make it¡ªit¡¯s a chocolate dessert.¡±


    Her voice grew more pitiful. ¡°If I wait another month, it¡¯ll spoil¡­ And even if I make a new one, it won¡¯t turn out as good. This batch was the best I ever made.¡±


    Lin Zhengran hummed. ¡°Got it. So basically, you¡¯re crying because of your chocolate?¡±


    He Qing sniffled, then burst into laughter. ¡°No! That¡¯s not what I meant! Stop teasing me!¡± She blushed, tracing Lin Zhengran¡¯s name on her bedsheet with her finger.


    Then, taking a deep breath, she whispered, ¡°I just¡­ I miss you, Lin Zhengran. I want to see you.¡±


    She hesitated for a moment, then added, ¡°So I came up with a plan with Wenwen. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll agree¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran was curious. ¡°What plan?¡±


    Timidly, He Qing explained her idea.


    Lin Zhengran was stunned.


    She actually wanted them to leave home at the same time and meet halfway between the north and south!


    His eyes widened. ¡°Are you insane?! Do you know how far apart we are? Even by high-speed train, a round trip in one day is impossible. And where would we even stay? Your courage is way too much¡ªI¡¯m agreeing to this.¡±


    But He Qing¡¯s voice, though teary, was firm. ¡°I¡¯m not scared¡­ And it¡¯s only halfway. There will be places to stay.¡±


    She tried to persuade him. ¡°Please¡­ Just this once? I¡¯m begging you.¡±


    She pleaded with him for a long time, insisting that she was older now, almost a teenager, with her own ID card. She wasn¡¯t a little kid anymore.


    She even lied.


    ¡°I¡¯m already on the way¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t believe it.


    After hanging up, he turned to his mother and said, ¡°I need to go find He Qing.¡±


    Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli, who were still watching TV, were stunned.


    Mouths hanging open, they were speechless.


    After Lin Zhengran half-explained the situation, the couple exchanged a look.


    Today¡¯s kids were truly something else.


    Lin Yingjun handed his son a phone. ¡°Take this. Check in with us while you¡¯re traveling.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Dad. I¡¯m heading out.¡±


    And with that, Lin Zhengran boarded a train south.


    Sitting by the window, he watched the scenery blur past and let out a tired sigh.


    He gritted his teeth.


    Meanwhile, He Qing, overjoyed by Lin Zhengran¡¯s agreement, packed a small bag, carefully placing her dessert inside.


    She nervously told her mother, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to Wenwen¡¯s. I¡¯m sleeping over at her place tonight.¡±


    Aunt He, tending to Grandma, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re not coming home?¡±


    He Qing guiltily avoided her gaze. ¡°Mm¡­ We¡¯re having a sleepover. I¡¯m heading out now.¡±


    ¡°Slow down! Why are you in such a rush?¡±


    She had already bolted.


    With her ticket in hand and Wenwen¡¯s borrowed phone, He Qing boarded the train north.


    Her heart pounded in anticipation¡ªjust a few more hours, and she would see Lin Zhengran again.


    Since this was her first time traveling alone, she kept her phone on, following Lin Zhengran¡¯s instructions every step of the way.

 Chapter 27: Meeting Again After Four Years

    On the way, Lin Zhengran asked her, ¡°Where are you now? Didn¡¯t you say you got on the bus a long time ago? Report your location to me.¡±


    Little He Qing had just managed to hail a taxi and hesitated, stammering, ¡°I¡­ um¡­ um¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression turned speechless as he realized something. ¡°Why are you stuttering? Don¡¯t tell me you just lied to me and haven¡¯t even left yet¡­¡±


    Afraid that he would get mad, Little He Qing quickly explained, ¡°I left, I left! I already got in the taxi! I¡¯m almost at the station.¡±


    ¡°He Qing! Are you actually lying to me now?! You told me you got in a taxi hours ago, and you¡¯re still not at the station?! Does your house happen to be hundreds of kilometers away from the station?!¡±


    His yelling startled He Qing, making her quickly move the phone away from her ear. She closed one eye cutely as if bracing for impact, then comforted him after he finished scolding her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, okay? I only lied because I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t want to meet me¡­ Uh, by the way, how do I buy a ticket when I get to the station? I¡¯ve never done it before.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­.. Just wait until you get there. I¡¯ll deal with you then.¡±


    There was no other choice now. He could only guide her step by step. ¡°Don¡¯t hang up the call. When you arrive, find the front desk clerk and tell her you need a ticket to¡­¡±


    With Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance and her firm resolve to meet him, the journey went relatively smoothly. From morning till now, she had bought tickets, transferred buses, and navigated stations.


    Of course, there were a few hiccups along the way¡ªlike her panicking over buying the wrong ticket or not knowing how to respond to staff inquiries. But thanks to Lin Zhengran¡¯s help, nothing major went wrong.


    Finally, at 4:30 PM, she arrived at Xinchun Bus Station.


    Following the crowd, He Qing stepped off the bus, looking around at the unfamiliar yet beautiful city. This was her first time traveling alone after getting her ID card. Even though it wasn¡¯t too far, it was still a significant experience for her.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran? I¡¯m at Xinchun Bus Station. Are you here yet? Where are you?¡± She clutched her phone, standing off to the side while scanning the crowd.


    Lin Zhengran reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t wander around. After getting off, go stand at the service counter and wait for me. Stand under the security camera, and I¡¯ll come to you. I¡¯ll say it again¡ªdon¡¯t run around. There are a lot of people.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I got it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m really obedient,¡± He Qing said as she walked to the service desk, growing more excited.


    She glanced at the reflective glass doors in the distance, using them as a mirror to fix her hair. Thinking her ponytail looked messy after the long trip, she carefully re-tied it.


    Feeling satisfied with her appearance, she checked the desserts in her backpack. Everything was perfect. Now, all that was left was to wait.


    A few minutes later, Lin Zhengran, who had arrived at the station much earlier, finally called, ¡°I see you. Look to your right. Hang up the phone.¡±


    Hearing his voice, He Qing turned her head.


    Her mind went blank.


    In her memories, Lin Zhengran had always been a small kid. Even though he was strong in her eyes, he was still just a child.


    But four years had passed. Both of them had grown a lot during their teenage years. The person standing before her now¡ªthis tall, handsome young man¡ªlooked nothing like the boy she remembered.


    He was at least half a head taller than her.


    His outfit was simple¡ªjust a T-shirt and long pants¡ªbut his presence was commanding. His bright, confident gaze still had the same intensity, making it hard not to feel shy when meeting his eyes.


    He Qing fidgeted with her fingers, her face growing redder the longer she looked at him. Slowly, she lowered her head.


    Even though he was annoyed at how reckless she had been, Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but be surprised when he first saw her.


    The little kitten-like He Qing from before had now grown into a beautiful young lady. She was slender, about 150 cm tall, with a delicate and sweet face. Her pure almond-shaped eyes only made her look even more innocent.


    At first glance, she had the aura of a first love straight out of a romance novel.


    As they got closer, He Qing bit her lip and whispered shyly, ¡°L-long time no see¡­ Lin Zhengran.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took a deep breath, then slowly raised his hand¡ª


    And knocked her on the head several times, !


    ¡°Ow! Ow! Ow!¡± He Qing yelped.


    With every hit, she seemed to shrink lower until she finally crouched on the ground, hugging her head like a scolded puppy.


    ¡°¡®Long time no see¡¯ my ass!¡± Lin Zhengran snapped. ¡°Do you even realize how far apart we live?! You¡¯ve never traveled alone before, and yet you dared to come all this way without even knowing how to buy a ticket?! If I hadn¡¯t guided you, would you even know where you are right now?!¡±


    Crouching, He Qing hugged her head and whimpered, ¡°Stop scolding me¡­ I know I was a little impulsive this time, but I just really wanted to see you. Besides, with you guiding me, I knew nothing would go wrong. And anyway¡­ you still came, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I only came because you told me you were already on your way! What else was I supposed to do?! If I didn¡¯t come, you¡¯d just end up crying to me every day about how much you missed me and how miserable you were! And now, you even dare to lie to me?!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you ever again,¡± He Qing said, pouting. Even though she was being scolded, she actually felt incredibly happy. It had been so long since she was last yelled at in person like this.


    She was so pleased that she even stuck out her tongue playfully¡ª


    Only to get another flick on the forehead from Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Ow~¡± He Qing whined.


    ¡°You¡¯re even sticking out your tongue now?! Are you even listening?!¡±


    She pursed her lips and cautiously looked up. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad¡­ It¡¯s been years since we last saw each other, and you¡¯ve gotten so tall and handsome. I almost didn¡¯t recognize you. But seeing how fierce you are, I knew it was definitely you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°....¡±


    He let out a long, deep sigh, wondering why he even knew someone like her.


    Self-mocking, he muttered, ¡°I could¡¯ve just told Aunt He to keep an eye on you and stop you from running around. Even if you got on the bus, she could¡¯ve made you turn back. That would¡¯ve been much safer. But instead, I somehow ended up coming all the way here myself. I must¡¯ve lost my mind.¡±


    He Qing smiled happily, but the moment Lin Zhengran shot her a glare, she quickly covered her mouth¡ªjust like when they were kids.


    ¡°¡­Forget it. What¡¯s done is done. Let¡¯s eat first.¡± Lin Zhengran extended a hand. ¡°Come on, you must be hungry after traveling all day. Let¡¯s find a place to eat, then figure out where to stay tonight.¡±


    Beaming with joy, He Qing grabbed his hand and stood up, her head already filled with happy little bubbles.


    ¡°What do you want to eat? There are plenty of options at the station.¡±


    ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll eat whatever you eat.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just get some noodles. There¡¯s a noodle shop over there, and it¡¯s not too crowded.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    As they walked together, He Qing carefully snuck glances at him, studying how much he had grown.


    She smiled unconsciously.


    Lin Zhengran caught her staring and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you smiling at me like that?¡±


    Snapping out of it, He Qing quickly put on a serious face and shook her head. ¡°Nothing! I wasn¡¯t smiling at anything.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her thoughtfully before casually remarking, ¡°It¡¯s been a few years, and I didn¡¯t expect you to grow up looking this pretty.¡±


    Her face instantly turned red as her mind went completely blank.


    Lin Zhengran continued, ¡°By the way, we won¡¯t be able to head back tonight. What did you tell Aunt He? She¡¯d never agree to let you stay out overnight.¡±


    ¡°I told her I was sleeping over at Wenwen¡¯s. If my mom calls tonight, I prerecorded a message for Wenwen to play as a cover.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. ¡°So you really didn¡¯t learn a single good thing in these past years, huh?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Not true¡­¡± He Qing explained, ¡°I know girls shouldn¡¯t stay out alone, but I¡¯m with you, so I¡¯m not scared¡­ Besides,¡± she blushed and mumbled, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes, ¡°isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran froze.


    Just what kind of nonsense had her best friend been teaching her?!


    There was no other choice¡ªhe had to knock some sense into her again.


    ¡°Right? Right what? What nonsense are you trying to say?!¡±


    He Qing clutched her head, feeling wronged. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything! I really didn¡¯t think of anything this time!¡±

 Chapter 28: Thank You, Mr. Spider

    Night was falling, and the lights in every household began to flicker on.


    In a small apartment in the southern town, a certain fox-like girl lay sprawled on her bed, munching on potato chips while flipping through an adult romance novel she had no idea where she had bought.


    The sudden ringing of her phone made Han Wenwen tense up. Seeing the caller ID, she smirked.


    Just as she expected¡ªAunt He was calling.


    She carefully retrieved a recorder from under her pillow before answering the call. ¡°Hello? Auntie?¡±


    Aunt He asked straightforwardly, ¡°Wenwen, is Qingqing with you?¡±


    Sitting up and leaning against the headboard, Han Wenwen lied without a trace of guilt. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s in the bathroom right now. Do you want me to call her for you?¡±


    Aunt He replied, ¡°No need. As long as I know she¡¯s with you, I¡¯m relieved. Sorry to trouble you again for letting her stay over.¡±


    ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t be so polite! I crash at your place sometimes too, don¡¯t I? I¡¯m more than happy to have her here.¡±


    Aunt He chuckled. ¡°Alright then, have fun, you two. I was just calling to check in. If you¡¯re free tomorrow, come over for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Okay! Auntie, goodbye. Bye-bye!¡±


    After hanging up, Han Wenwen let out a sigh of relief and immediately called He Qing.


    Lying back on her pillow with a mischievous grin, she answered in a deliberately sultry tone, ¡°Little Qingqing~ What are you up to? You¡¯ve probably met up with your dear ¡®big brother¡¯ by now, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    On the other side, He Qing was eating dinner with Lin Zhengran at a noodle shop. Her face instantly flushed as she lowered her voice, ¡°We¡¯re eating right now. How¡¯s it going on your end? Did my mom call you?¡±


    ¡°She did, but Auntie didn¡¯t suspect anything. Just enjoy your date.¡±


    He Qing blushed even harder and refuted shyly, ¡°It¡¯s not a date, it¡¯s just a meeting¡­¡± Noticing Lin Zhengran glancing at her, she quickly ended the call. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up now. Thanks for covering for me today! I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t disturb you two then. Have fun.¡±


    After hanging up, Han Wenwen put down her phone and stared at the white ceiling.


    Muttering to herself, she said, ¡°Traveling across the country to reunite with a childhood sweetheart after years apart¡­ How romantic.¡±


    For some reason, she suddenly recalled an encounter at a northern bus stop during her trip six months ago.


    Blinking her fox-like eyes, she murmured, ¡°That boy¡­ could he really be my future boyfriend?¡±


    Expressionless, she picked up her romance novel and continued flipping through it.


    ¡°Feels a little surreal. Can I even really like a guy?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She didn¡¯t dwell on the thought for long.


    ¡ª


    At the Xinchun Bus Station noodle shop, Lin Zhengran finished paying for dinner.


    Leading He Qing away from the station, they walked past numerous lodges meant for travelers.


    With her small backpack on, He Qing trailed behind him, glancing at the tightly packed motels they passed.


    Eventually, they reached a smaller, quieter inn, and she murmured, ¡°This one doesn¡¯t seem too busy¡­ There should be rooms available.¡±


    At first, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t catch her meaning. But when he saw her shy expression, he immediately understood.


    Fuming, he grabbed her cheeks and pulled. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of staying at a hotel, huh? Do you have any common sense?!¡±


    He Qing winced at the slight pain, squeezing her eyes shut, completely unaware of what she had said wrong this time. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to? I have an ID card. I¡¯ve stayed in hotels with my mom before.¡±


    ¡°What does having an ID have to do with this?! Do you even know how old you are?! You want me to go in with you?!¡±


    Still confused, He Qing clutched her sore cheeks and blinked innocently. ¡°Go in? What do you mean? I didn¡¯t say anything about that¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not even going to bother explaining.¡± Lin Zhengran sighed and kept walking. ¡°Anyway, a hotel is out of the question. We¡¯ll just make do somewhere else for the night.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Wait for me! So we can¡¯t stay at a hotel? I really didn¡¯t know. Then where are we going?¡±


    Luckily, it was summer. Otherwise, if it were winter, Lin Zhengran wouldn¡¯t have come all this way just to meet this clueless girl.


    He stopped by a small convenience store, bought two blankets, and scanned his surroundings.


    Eventually, he found an abandoned junkyard with a few scrapped vehicles and piles of metal debris. The place was overgrown with weeds.


    Climbing over the wall, he spotted an old car with intact windows. He opened the door, checked the inside, and found it acceptable.


    Returning to the wall, he reached out his hand. ¡°Come up.¡±


    He Qing grabbed his hand, stepped on the wall, and climbed over with him.


    They made their way to the scrapped car and opened the door.


    The interior was relatively clean since it had been sealed off from the wind. There was only a thin layer of dust, nothing a little padding couldn¡¯t fix.


    Lin Zhengran spread a blanket over the backseat. ¡°We¡¯ll just stay here for the night. Tomorrow morning, you¡¯re heading straight home.¡±


    He Qing nodded obediently. She didn¡¯t care where they stayed¡ªwhat mattered was that they were together.


    She even helped Lin Zhengran lay out the blankets. ¡°This is all my fault. Now you have to sleep here because of me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a sidelong glance. ¡°At least you know that. But this is a one-time thing. If you ever make me travel this far just to meet you again, I¡¯m not coming.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, you won¡¯t have to¡ªbecause from now on, we¡¯ll always be seeing each other.¡±


    ¡ª


    As the night deepened, the vast junkyard turned eerily quiet.


    Darkness engulfed the surroundings, and the occasional croaks of frogs and chirps of insects echoed in the air.


    Yet, with Lin Zhengran by her side, He Qing didn¡¯t feel scared at all. In fact, she even found the small space cozy.


    Opening her backpack, she carefully took out a dessert she had prepared¡ªa swan-shaped chocolate truffle.


    ¡°Look! This is your gift. What do you think?¡±


    Lin Zhengran was genuinely impressed. It looked just like the one they had shared years ago, though a bit smaller¡ªmaybe because they had grown bigger.


    ¡°How long did it take you to learn this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A long time.¡± She started unboxing it. ¡°At first, I had no idea what I was doing. I spent months practicing, from shaping the swan to perfecting the taste. This one was a lucky success. The next batch I made didn¡¯t turn out as nice.¡±


    She handed it to him expectantly. ¡°Here, try it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran broke off a piece and put it in his mouth while He Qing watched eagerly.


    After chewing for a moment, he nodded in appreciation. ¡°You¡¯ve really improved since we were kids. It¡¯s delicious.¡±


    He Qing bit her lip and grinned.


    ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll try some too.¡±


    As she chewed on the chocolate, she suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, won¡¯t your parents ask about you staying out overnight?¡±


    Lin Zhengran casually took out his phone. ¡°I called them on my way here. I¡¯ll check in with them again now.¡±


    He dialed home. ¡°Mom, Dad, I met up with He Qing. Do you want to talk to her? Okay, I¡¯ll pass the phone to her.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I have to say hi?¡± He Qing panicked, fumbling with the phone. ¡°Uh¡­ Hello, Auntie, Uncle! Yes, I met up with Lin Zhengran this afternoon. Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s fine¡­¡±


    After hanging up, she stared at him in surprise. ¡°You actually told them you came to see me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a guy. Of course, they¡¯d be less worried. Though I did lie about a few details. Otherwise, would they have let me come?¡±


    He Qing gazed at him in a daze.


    Yep. Lin Zhengran was still Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Thank you for coming to see me¡­¡±


    They chatted for a while longer before settling in for the night.


    Just as He Qing hesitated over sharing the blanket with him, she spotted a massive spider on the car window, spinning its web.


    Startled, she let out a yelp and instinctively burrowed into Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder.


    Lin Zhengran tapped on the glass, scaring the spider away. ¡°There are a lot of bugs at night. If you¡¯re scared, stay close.¡±


    Seeing him close his eyes to sleep, He Qing whispered, shuffled closer, and carefully rested her head on his shoulder.


    Feeling his warmth, she shut her eyes, pulling the blanket up.


    With a silent prayer of gratitude, she murmured, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Spider.¡±


    Outside the car, the spider turned back, as if saying,


    With that, it scurried away on its eight legs.

 Chapter 29: Demon Cult Maiden

    ¡¾Although He Xianzi will soon leave the sect again to venture with you, she missed you too much and secretly ran out to meet you in advance. She also brought the Black Blood Paste she carefully crafted to share with you.¡¿


    ¡¾You consume the exquisite Black Blood Paste: Strength +3, Charisma +2, Stamina +4, Level +2.¡¿


    ¡¾Current Spirit Level: 36.¡¿


    The next morning, warm sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating He Qing¡¯s face. She groggily opened her eyes.


    She paused for a moment, staring at the unfamiliar surroundings before remembering where she was.


    Turning her head, she saw Lin Zhengran still fast asleep. Her small mouth held her breath as she took in his features under the soft light¡ªhis sharp jawline looked even more handsome from the side than from the front.


    A shy He Qing noticed that part of his blanket had slipped off. She reached out to pull it back over him, but as she moved her hand, she accidentally bumped into something hard in Lin Zhengran¡¯s pocket.


    A card?


    Curious, she lowered her gaze. Since a corner was already exposed, it was easy to pull it out.


    Opening it up, she realized it wasn¡¯t a card but a small, folded poster.


    She flipped the poster over and suddenly felt a strange substance on her fingers. It was from the poster¡ªcolorless but with a familiar scent. She brought it to her nose and sniffed.


    It smelled nice and somewhat familiar, but she couldn¡¯t immediately place it.


    Her movements stirred Lin Zhengran awake. Instinctively, she hurriedly shoved the poster back into his pocket.


    Lin Zhengran rubbed his eyes. "You''re awake?"


    He Qing sat up. "Yeah." She smoothed the stray hairs on her face, worried about looking messy in front of him. "Did you sleep well? I slept really well next to you."


    Lin Zhengran yawned and checked the time. "Not bad." He sighed internally¡ªbeing young really was great. Even in such an environment, he could sleep soundly.


    "It¡¯s seven o¡¯clock. I¡¯ll take you for breakfast, and then you should catch your train back."


    "Okay." She nodded eagerly, helping him fix his messy hair.


    The two of them left the courtyard and grabbed a simple breakfast. Lin Zhengran bought He Qing¡¯s ticket for her.


    The whole time, the little girl remained cheerful, though she was still trying to recall where she had smelled that scent before.


    It wasn¡¯t until they waved goodbye and boarded trains in opposite directions that He Qing''s eyes suddenly widened in realization. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ª


    By evening, there was one more heartbroken person in this city.


    In Han Wenwen¡¯s bedroom, the "fox" hugged a pillow and stared at the tearful He Qing in confusion.


    "You¡­ what¡¯s wrong?"


    "Nothing," He Qing sniffled, her eyes brimming with tears.


    "Didn¡¯t have fun with your ¡®good big brother¡¯ yesterday?"


    He Qing wiped her tears but spoke nonstop, her voice both happy and aggrieved. "It was fun~ We ate noodles, and he even ate the chocolate I made. He said it was delicious. We talked for a long time last night¡ªI was so happy!"


    Han Wenwen frowned. "Then¡­ did he bully you? Did he do something you didn¡¯t want?"


    "No! He treats me very well. He¡¯d never do anything like that." Her voice grew more pitiful.


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes in confusion. "Then why are you crying? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re crying because you¡¯re happy?"


    He Qing whimpered, her voice choked with sobs. "It¡¯s all my fault¡­ I should¡¯ve been by his side all these years¡­ but¡­" Her face crumpled. "I think¡­ I think there¡¯s another girl around him now! And she¡¯s probably really pretty! What do I do, Wenwen?!"


    Honestly, He Qing had long expected Lin Zhengran to be popular. He was already like that before she left, and over the past four years, she had noticed from their phone calls that there always seemed to be girls around him. She had mentally prepared herself for battle.


    But when she ¡ªwith her ¡ªsmelled another girl¡¯s scent on him, she just couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions.


    Still, He Qing was no longer the same little girl from years ago. Crying didn¡¯t mean surrender. Until Lin Zhengran made a clear statement, she absolutely refused to back down!


    ¡ª


    A few days later, under the lingering heat of late summer, First Middle School officially started.


    Lin Zhengran went to register with Jiang Xueli.


    "Hey, idiot, do you even know where to go?"


    "Just follow me."


    Jiang Xueli clasped her hands behind her back, fantasizing to herself, but she refused to admit it aloud. "You don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be in the same class, do you? Ugh, I really don¡¯t want to see you every day, but life is full of disappointments, huh?"


    A few minutes later, they arrived at the registration area. Lin Zhengran pointed at the class list. "See? You got your wish. We¡¯re in different classes. Happy now?"


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists in frustration and snapped, "Happy, my ass! You¡¯re the worst!"


    Women were such strange creatures. She got what she wanted, yet she still wasn¡¯t happy.


    But as Lin Zhengran looked more closely at the class list, he suddenly froze.


    Something about it¡­ seemed off.


    Class 1: Lin Zhengran¡­ and Han Wenwen.


    Class 3: Jiang Xueli¡­ and He Qing.


    Sweat formed on Lin Zhengran¡¯s forehead. Nothing had happened yet, but he already had a bad feeling about this school year.


    Leaving the fuming Jiang Xueli behind, he headed toward his classroom.


    ¡ª


    Class 1 was lively and bustling. Though everyone was new, they already seemed familiar with one another. Small groups had already started forming.


    Han Wenwen arrived a little late, and by then, the classroom was packed.


    But the moment she walked in, Lin Zhengran knew¡ªthis fox was about to steal the attention of every boy in the room.


    Her figure, her face, her eyes, her expressions¡ªnone were perfect on their own, but together, they achieved an almost perfect balance.


    In the coming years, many boys would likely remember the middle school girl they never had a chance with. Some would sigh to themselves, Not that it would¡¯ve made a difference.


    ¡ª


    On the first day, every new student had to introduce themselves on stage.


    Han Wenwen stood up there, smiling with her eyes narrowed. "Hi, everyone! I¡¯m Han Wenwen. I hope we can all become great friends this year!"


    Lin Zhengran watched from below, already predicting the inevitable¡ªboys blushing left and right.


    This girl really was dangerous. But fortunately, it had nothing to do with him.


    Or so he thought¡ªuntil the teacher announced:


    "Alright, Han Wenwen, please take the seat next to Lin Zhengran. You two will be desk partners from now on."


    Lin Zhengran froze. Even Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow in surprise, glancing at him.


    As their eyes met from across the room, Han Wenwen gracefully walked over and sat beside him.


    She smiled, her expression carrying a hint of flirtation. "Didn¡¯t I say we¡¯d meet again if we were destined to?" Her voice was smooth, playful. "Looks like fate really did bring us together, Lin Zhengran."


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­.."


    ¡¾You have once again encountered the Demon Cult Maiden. The moment she appeared, she bewitched countless cultivators. You sense that, for some reason, she seems particularly interested in you. The world is truly full of dangers¡ªyou must tread carefully. Of course, this may also be a kind of opportunity.¡¿

 Chapter 30: Overlapping Memories and Photos

    Middle school life had begun.


    But in the month before He Qing arrived, Lin Zhengran¡¯s school life felt a bit¡­ strange¡ªbecause a certain fox had been observing him the whole time.


    The first instance was on the very first day of school. After they were assigned as desk partners, Lin Zhengran was reading out of boredom when he noticed Han Wenwen resting her face on one hand, gazing at him with undisguised interest.


    She stared at him like that for an entire morning.


    Lin Zhengran finally asked, "Do you need something?"


    Han Wenwen shook her head slightly, smiling. "Nope, nothing."


    But the moment she spoke, she jotted something down in her little notebook:


    ¡¾Although not very obvious, Lin Zhengran does care about how other girls perceive him.¡¿


    She made no attempt to hide what she was writing¡ªit was right there for him to see.


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­"


    ¡ª


    Another time, about a week later, the class was selecting a class monitor. Because Lin Zhengran was a top student and good-looking, many girls blushed and whispered about him.


    Han Wenwen took note of this as well:


    ¡¾Lin Zhengran excels academically and is very popular with girls.¡¿


    The homeroom teacher looked at him. "Lin Zhengran, how about you take on the role of class monitor?"


    Lin Zhengran declined without hesitation.


    Han Wenwen immediately added another note:


    ¡¾Does not like being in the spotlight. Good personality. If he were in a novel, he¡¯d survive for a long time.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­"


    Situations like these happened repeatedly. Even during meals, while she never sat with him, she always chose a table just one or two spots away.


    She would quietly eat while discreetly watching him. If she saw him eating with Jiang Xueli, she would pull out her notebook again:


    ¡¾No signs of picky eating. Also, his taste in girls seems varied. Omnivorous. (This is debatable¡ªmight just have a thing for ponytails.)¡¿


    One time, Jiang Xueli, chewing her food, asked curiously, "Hey, idiot, what¡¯s up? Your eating speed seems different lately."


    Lin Zhengran let out a long sigh, visibly drained.


    "Why are you suddenly sighing? Did I do something to annoy you?" she asked, confused.


    But after nearly a month of being observed, this peculiar routine finally came to an end one day¡ªwhen Lin Zhengran was staring absentmindedly out the window.


    It was the last period on a Friday.


    Han Wenwen had been writing as usual, but suddenly, she realized her little notebook was completely full.


    She blinked in surprise. "Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d fill it up so quickly."


    Lin Zhengran snapped out of his daze. "It¡¯s finished? Does that mean you¡¯ll stop staring at me every day now?"


    Han Wenwen tilted her head, flashing a sweet smile. "Yep, I¡¯m done. Thanks for letting me observe you all this time. If you had deliberately avoided me, it would¡¯ve been much harder to take notes."


    Letting her observe him? Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t recall ever agreeing to that.


    With a sigh, he said, "Even if I told you to stop, you wouldn¡¯t listen, would you?"


    Han Wenwen nodded without hesitation. "Nope. But if you had, I just wouldn¡¯t have done it so openly." She rested a finger on her cheek, playfully tilting her head. "I¡¯d have observed you in secret instead."


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­."


    Han Wenwen clasped her hands together, resting her upper body lazily on the desk like a lounging fox. "By the way, aren¡¯t you even a little curious why I¡¯ve been watching you every day? Don¡¯t you wonder why I¡¯ve been staring at you like some crazy fangirl?"


    "Not curious at all. I just hope that now you¡¯re done, we can go about our own business. Do you even realize how many guys have been glaring at me for the past twenty days because of you? It¡¯s like they think I stole their goddess."


    Han Wenwen glanced around the classroom and indeed noticed that Lin Zhengran had become the enemy of every boy in class because of her behavior.


    She smiled apologetically. "Oops, my bad."


    As the dismissal bell rang, she tucked her notebook into her pocket and stood up. "But after observing you, I¡¯ve confirmed that you really are different from other guys. Mature, handsome¡­ almost a perfect score in my book." With that, she strolled out of the classroom. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The students were in a rush to leave as well.


    Lin Zhengran watched Han Wenwen¡¯s retreating figure, then listened to the girls in class gossiping about her. He sighed¡ªthis fox was eccentric, but at least she treated He Qing well.


    That silly girl really had found herself a good best friend.


    ¡ª


    That Friday night, the dormitory was almost empty, aside from a few out-of-town students who stayed over the weekend.


    One of them was a certain fox.


    After dinner, Han Wenwen filled a basin with hot water, pulled the curtains shut, and took a relaxing bath.


    Drying her hair and body, she casually wrapped a towel around herself and sat on her bed, flipping through her notebook.


    "Hmm¡­ judging by his personality, it¡¯s gonna be tough for Qingqing to get together with him in middle school. He seems easygoing, but he actually has strong principles."


    She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. "Then again, if he have principles, when Qingqing spent the night with him last time, wouldn¡¯t they have already¡­?"


    Her mind wandered back to a month ago¡ªthe day He Qing and Lin Zhengran met after taking separate trains.


    That night, after He Qing tearfully complained that Lin Zhengran might have another girl around him, the two best friends had a long discussion.


    In the end, spurred by He Qing¡¯s unwavering determination, they decided to strike first!


    (Of course, this was entirely Han Wenwen¡¯s idea. No matter how bold He Qing was, she would never have suggested such an approach.)


    That night, Han Wenwen sat on the bed, looking at He Qing seriously.


    "Qingqing, even if another girl is around him, you have the advantage of being his childhood friend. Plus, he came all this way just to see you! That means you¡¯re still more important than that girl. We have to act first! We can¡¯t just sit and do nothing."


    He Qing¡¯s eyes were red. "But¡­ I won¡¯t be in the North for another month. It¡¯ll be a long time before I can see him again."


    Han Wenwen hugged her pillow, a knowing look in her fox-like eyes.


    " won¡¯t see him for a while¡­ but don¡¯t forget, can start school as usual. Give me his name and a photo¡ªI¡¯ll watch him for you. I¡¯ll take note of all his habits so that when you get there, you¡¯ll know exactly how he¡¯s changed over the years. It¡¯ll make your strategy easier!"


    He Qing, already determined, felt even more convinced. "But¡­ how will you observe him? That sounds difficult."


    Han Wenwen tapped her cheek, deep in thought. "Hmm¡­ it¡¯ll be a bit tricky. But as your best friend, this is nothing I can¡¯t handle. Just give me his name and a picture, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest."


    The next day, He Qing found an old childhood photo of Lin Zhengran and handed it to Han Wenwen.


    "Wenwen, this is the only photo I have of him when he was a kid. But after seeing him yesterday, I think he still looks pretty much the same. You should be able to recognize him."


    Han Wenwen eagerly accepted the picture. Even as He Qing¡¯s best friend, she had never known what her childhood sweetheart looked like or even his name. He Qing had always kept it a secret, and Han Wenwen had never pried. But in truth, she had always been curious.


    As soon as she saw the photo, her fox-like eyes widened in shock.


    He Qing said, "His name is Lin Zhengran."


    The boy in the photo overlapped with the one she had seen at the bus stop that day.


    Han Wenwen looked up, smiling slyly. "Got it. Leave it to me, Qingqing¡ªI won¡¯t let you down!"

 Chapter 31: Crossroads

    The wooden slats of the upper bunk were spaced apart, and Han Wenwen lay on her bed with only a blanket covering her. She curled up, stretching out a long, snow-white leg to try and reach the wooden board above.


    Even with her soft pink foot fully extended, she still couldn''t reach it.


    ¡°Even now, thinking about it still feels unbelievable¡­ The boyfriend that fate granted me just happens to be the childhood friend that Xiaoqing has been dreaming about day and night¡­ To be honest, I was completely shocked when I saw the photo.¡±


    Her expression was blank, or maybe just dazed. ¡°Good thing Xiaoqing didn¡¯t notice anything that day, or it would¡¯ve been a real hassle.¡±


    Flipping through her little notebook, Han Wenwen casually skimmed over its contents. If she looked closely, she could tell that many of Lin Zhengran¡¯s habits matched her own, and in the areas where they differed, they actually complemented each other quite well.


    ¡°Looking at it this way, we¡¯re actually pretty compatible. The Lianxin Festival is really something¡­ But honestly, whether I have a boyfriend or not doesn¡¯t really matter¡­¡±


    She turned over and lay on her stomach, picking up her phone and dialing her best friend. After a few rings, the call connected.


    Han Wenwen grinned. ¡°Xiaoqing, what are you up to? Did your school enrollment go smoothly?¡±


    Her legs swung up and down in a rhythmic motion. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re coming over next week? That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll pick you up at the station. By the way, I took care of everything I promised you. Your amazing brother is really outstanding~ and super handsome too.¡±


    A week later, Little He Qing arrived at the junior high school as planned. Han Wenwen personally went to the station to pick her up, along with Aunt He.


    As soon as the two best friends saw each other, they squealed, covering their mouths with their hands before hugging tightly, calling out each other''s names.


    Aunt He gave He Qing some last-minute advice and handed her some money. She had been a little worried about her daughter, but knowing that Han Wenwen would be studying with her put her mind at ease.


    While helping He Qing settle into the dorm, Aunt He watched her daughter, who was practically beaming with joy, and reminded her:


    ¡°Qingqing, you¡¯re a big girl now. Even though you and your Brother Ranran are close, you can¡¯t just go to his house whenever you want like when you were little. If you do go, you should bring a gift for Aunt Lin. You have to be polite now.¡±


    He Qing obediently helped her mother make the bed, with Han Wenwen assisting on the side.


    ¡°I got it. If I go see him, I¡¯ll bring something for Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin.¡±


    After everything was sorted, Aunt He stood up. ¡°Alright then, everything is settled here. I¡¯ll take the bus home this afternoon. You and Wenwen will stay in the dorm on weekends, and if anything happens, just call me. When the holidays come, we¡¯ll all go home together.¡±


    Then she turned to Han Wenwen. ¡°Wenwen, I¡¯m leaving Qingqing in your care. Look out for each other, alright?¡±


    Han Wenwen tilted her head and smiled. ¡°Aunt He, you¡¯re too kind. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡±


    He Qing, trying to prove she was all grown up, also responded seriously. ¡°Mom, you can trust me.¡±


    Without adding too many more words of farewell, Aunt He said her goodbyes at the school gate and left town.


    As they waved goodbye, He Qing and Han Wenwen turned to each other and suddenly burst into laughter, teasing each other in giggles.


    Han Wenwen leaned close to whisper something in He Qing¡¯s ear, making her blush and glare in mock anger. ¡°Wenwen, what are you saying?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saying you have great taste in picking a brother. Come on, I left my notebook in the dorm. It¡¯s all written down in detail¡ªeverything you want to know is in there.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing was obviously interested, so she linked hands with Han Wenwen and they returned to the dorm to check the notebook.


    On the way, Han Wenwen asked, ¡°Oh yeah, tomorrow afternoon you¡¯re picking up your dear brother at the school gate, right?¡±


    He Qing blushed. ¡°Of course I am. Otherwise, how would he know I¡¯m here? And didn¡¯t you say I need to take the initiative if I want a chance?¡±


    While the two of them were happily enjoying their weekend, Jiang Xueli, back at home, kept sneezing non-stop. It was eerily similar to what had happened to He Qing years ago.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s so hot¡ªthere¡¯s no way I caught a cold¡­¡± She was confused.


    Sunday evening arrived, and the junior high students trickled back to school, ready to start a brand-new week under strict dormitory rules.


    Since entering junior high, Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli rarely accompanied Lin Zhengran to school anymore.


    Instead, they just gave him money so he could take a taxi or bus on his own.


    Of course, this was something Lin Zhengran had requested himself. He felt that he wasn¡¯t a little kid anymore, and there was no need to be dropped off and picked up every day.


    On his way to school, he rarely checked his status panel, but this time, he did.


    [Current Spirit Level: 36]


    [Strength: 27]


    [Endurance: 23]


    [Stamina: 30]


    [Charisma: 33]


    Every time Lin Zhengran saw these upgrade perks, he struggled to keep a straight face.


    Not a single one sounded like a serious ability, yet somehow, they were all undeniably useful¡­


    The bus arrived at its stop, and a sweet female voice announced:


    ¡°Xincheng First Middle School has arrived. Passengers heading to Xincheng First Middle School, please exit through the rear door. Repeating¡ªXincheng First Middle School has arrived...¡±


    Lin Zhengran and the other students lined up to get off the bus.


    The bus stop was only two intersections away from the school¡ªfairly close.


    Just then, his phone rang. It was Jiang Xueli.


    As soon as he picked up, her exasperated voice came through. ¡°You big idiot, did you make it to school yet? I didn¡¯t ride with you today¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you got lost?¡±


    Lin Zhengran was unfazed. ¡°You¡¯re really one to talk. Who was it that couldn¡¯t even find the registration office on the first day of school?¡±


    Jiang Xueli huffed. He could practically see her tsundere pout through the phone.


    ¡°That was¡ª! That was just me testing you! Of course I knew where it was! Whatever, I¡¯m waiting for you at the school gate. My mom came shopping nearby this morning and dropped me off early. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve ridden with you.¡±


    ¡°¡­So why are you waiting for me at the gate?¡±


    Jiang Xueli huffed again, contradicting herself. ¡°I was worried you¡¯d get lost, okay? Not like I to wait for you or anything!¡±


    Then she suddenly spotted him. ¡°Oh! I see you. Hanging up now!¡±


    At the school gate, dressed in her uniform with twin ponytails, Jiang Xueli spotted Lin Zhengran from a distance.


    Flashing a grin with her little tiger teeth, she waved excitedly. ¡°Big idiot! Over here!¡± She ran toward him.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re here?¡±


    Before she could finish, another girl¡ªher long ponytail swaying¡ªhad also been waiting at the gate. As soon as she saw Lin Zhengran arrive, she ran forward too.


    The two girls spoke at the same time, stepping forward in unison.


    Their eyes met, and both of their pupils widened.


    This was technically their first meeting. Maybe they had seen each other before, but neither had remembered the other''s face.


    But now, as they stared into each other¡¯s eyes¡ª


    Both instantly realized that the girl in front of them was the one who had been by Lin Zhengran¡¯s side all these years.


    From a distance, Lin Zhengran also saw them¡ªHe Qing, Jiang Xueli, and¡­ Han Wenwen, who had just arrived late with a drink in hand.


    The four of them stood at the four directions of the intersection, frozen.


    Cars and pedestrians bustled past the crossroads.


    Meanwhile, the school gate''s security guard leisurely admired the calligraphy in his newspaper and sighed in appreciation.


    ¡°Now ¡ªthis is true art.¡±

 Chapter 32: The Blackboard Eraser

    On the way to the teaching building¡ª


    To Lin Zhengran¡¯s left, the twin-ponytailed girl had her hands behind her head, tilting her face away. Lin Zhengran himself walked calmly in the middle, as if nothing had happened. On his right, Little He Qing had her hands clasped in front of her, head slightly lowered. Han Wenwen, meanwhile, was holding onto He Qing¡¯s arm. Whenever Lin Zhengran looked in her direction, the little fox would flash him a playful smile and wave.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Lin Zhengran~¡±


    No one spoke along the way. After their brief introductions, the four of them walked forward in a slow but steady rhythm.


    The atmosphere was so subtly tense that even the passing dogs seemed tempted to buy some sunflower seeds, squat by the roadside, and watch the show unfold.


    Jiang Xueli discreetly observed He Qing¡ªfair-skinned, delicate, and stunningly beautiful even from the side.


    Meanwhile, He Qing sneaked a glance at Jiang Xueli¡ªlively, adorable, and full of energy, the type that was naturally likable.


    Their gazes met, and immediately, both looked away¡ªone turning her head, the other lowering her gaze.


    Fortunately, Lin Zhengran was unaffected.


    ¡°When did you get here?¡± he asked.


    Both Jiang Xueli and He Qing looked at him at the same time.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Han Wenwen stood to the side, clearly enjoying the drama, her expression practically screaming,


    Lin Zhengran blinked. ¡°Why are you all staring at me? I was asking He Qing.¡±


    Jiang Xueli turned away, her lips pursed, while He Qing whispered shyly, ¡°I came with my mom yesterday. I¡¯ve already completed my enrollment, so I¡¯ll be studying here for the next few years.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Did Aunt He go back already?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, my mom already left. From now on, I¡¯ll be staying at school on weekends, so if you ever need me¡­¡± He Qing glanced at Jiang Xueli¡¯s turned face, her voice growing softer. ¡°¡­you can come find me anytime, or just call me¡­¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    As they continued walking, Lin Zhengran suddenly noticed Jiang Xueli puffing up her cheeks like a pouting frog.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that face?¡± he asked.


    He Qing fell silent, while Jiang Xueli muttered, ¡°Nothing, this is just how my face naturally looks.¡±


    Lin Zhengran rolled his eyes and changed the subject. ¡°When did you arrive this afternoon?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s puffed-up cheeks immediately deflated. Though she was clearly pleased, she tried to act indifferent. ¡°A little after noon. I had lunch with my mom, then came straight to the dorm to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    After a few more steps, Han Wenwen suddenly let out a snicker.


    All three turned to look at her.


    Covering her mouth, she blinked innocently. ¡°Sorry, I just thought of something funny. Don¡¯t mind me, carry on.¡±


    Both Jiang Xueli and He Qing blushed, staying silent.


    He Qing nudged Han Wenwen with her elbow, signaling


    Still covering her mouth, Han Wenwen whispered into He Qing¡¯s ear, ¡°Sorry, Xiaoqing, but you guys are just entertaining¡ªI couldn¡¯t hold it in.¡±


    He Qing pouted adorably, pressing her lips together in silent exasperation.


    They walked all the way to the first floor of the teaching building before parting ways, without saying anything else.


    There was nothing left to say.


    Standing in the hallway, Lin Zhengran told the girls, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m heading to class. You two are in the same class, right?¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded, and He Qing, who had been surprised when Han Wenwen told her yesterday, nodded as well. She hadn¡¯t expected to be in the same class as Jiang Xueli.


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll see you after evening study. Bye.¡±


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing waved. ¡°Bye.¡± The atmosphere remained awkward as they turned and left.


    Han Wenwen, however, stayed put, watching them walk into Class 3-3 before covering her mouth and laughing again.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. ¡°What now?¡±


    Han Wenwen tilted her head playfully. Unlike the others, she never blushed when looking at Lin Zhengran. But her gaze wasn¡¯t ordinary either¡ªher eyes always carried an innate allure.


    ¡°Oh, nothing~¡± she teased. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Lin Zhengran ever found something amusing before? But¡­ Lin Zhengran, when did you realize I was Xiaoqing¡¯s best friend? You didn¡¯t seem surprised at all when you saw me earlier.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve known for a long time. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have let you follow me around all month.¡±


    Han Wenwen tapped her chin with a finger, pretending to think. ¡°That makes sense. I did wonder why you never stopped me from observing you. You must¡¯ve already figured out who I was.¡± She smirked.


    ¡°But we really are fated, aren¡¯t we? Last winter, we kept running into each other at the bus stop. And now, not only are we in the same class¡ªwe¡¯re even desk mates! If this were a novel, at this rate, I¡¯d start wondering if I¡¯ll end up having your kids someday, waiting for you to come home from work and eat dinner.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­..You¡¯d better not start wondering.¡±


    Ignoring her, he turned and walked into the classroom.


    Han Wenwen watched him go, amused.


    If it were any other guy, he¡¯d at least be flustered by that comment.


    After all, there was once a boy who, upon seeing Han Wenwen smile, immediately declared,


    Han Wenwen elegantly took her seat beside Lin Zhengran.


    Then, in a voice only he could hear, she whispered, ¡°But Lin Zhengran, secretly two-timing girls isn¡¯t good, you know? It¡¯ll break their hearts. I suggest you pick Xiaoqing soon. I¡¯m firmly on Team Xiaoqing.¡±


    Lin Zhengran stared at the blackboard, completely baffled by these girls who thought about nothing but romance.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you guys focus on something serious for once? And don¡¯t worry¡ªI wouldn¡¯t do something like secretly two-timing.¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯d do it ? That¡¯s even harder~¡± She rested her chin on the desk, her fox-like eyes gleaming mischievously. ¡°And just so you know, I support that.¡±


    She locked eyes with Lin Zhengran, scrutinizing him with a knowing look.


    After a moment, her gaze shifted in mild surprise.


    Then, she smiled meaningfully.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t seem like a junior high student, Lin Zhengran. You act more like an adult who¡¯s been in society for years. Your way of thinking is completely different from everyone else in class.¡±


    ¡ª


    Morning sunlight shone warm and bright.


    Jiang Xueli, He Qing, and Han Wenwen washed up in separate dorms, then headed to different classrooms for class. But ever since that morning, they found themselves spending every school break, mealtime, and lesson change with the same boy.


    No one talked much.


    This strange, awkward atmosphere lasted for over a week. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Until Tuesday of the second week¡ª


    That day, the teacher assigned a classroom cleanup. By coincidence, He Qing and Jiang Xueli were paired together.


    At first, things were a little awkward. They hadn¡¯t spoken all week despite being in the same class. But when it came to cleaning, they worked together surprisingly well.


    It wasn¡¯t until they were both standing on desks, wiping the blackboard, that He Qing accidentally dropped her blackboard eraser.


    Jiang Xueli picked it up.


    He Qing said, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    But when Jiang Xueli handed it back, she hesitated¡ªher hand paused mid-air before she withdrew it.


    He Qing blinked in confusion, then stared at her in surprise.


    Jiang Xueli grinned. ¡°This one¡¯s kinda worn out, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ll get you a new one.¡±


    He Qing quickly whispered, ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. I just dropped it by accident. I can still use this one.¡±


    Just then, the class monitor walked by, snatched the eraser from them, and started wiping the board.


    ¡°What are you two doing? Arguing over a blackboard eraser? There¡¯s still so much left to clean¡ªhurry up! School¡¯s almost out!¡±

 Chapter 33: The Tsundere’s Weakness and Determination

    Jiang Xueli and He Qing watched as the class monitor waved her arm, erasing the chalk marks on the blackboard.


    When their gazes met again, they suddenly burst into laughter.


    They both understood¡ªdespite neither of them being the type to act straightforwardly, in this matter, neither was willing to take a step back. That left only one option: to see who would emerge victorious in the end.


    He Qing was the first to speak:


    "Jiang Xueli, let¡¯s clean the blackboard first."


    The other nodded. "Alright."


    Each of them grabbed a new eraser and started wiping the board from opposite sides. Chalk dust flew into the air.


    Their speed gradually increased from slow to fast.


    He Qing pursed her lips, her gaze unusually determined. Jiang Xueli bit her lip, her twin ponytails swaying with her movements.


    Caught in the middle, the class monitor watched as their speed escalated, turning into what looked like a competition, and sighed, "You two sure are fast at this, huh?" But soon, she realized something. "Hey! Speed isn¡¯t everything! You have to clean it properly, or the teacher will scold you! Are you even listening?!"


    Inwardly, He Qing and Jiang Xueli both declared at the same time: I will win!


    And so, the silent battle for Lin Zhengran officially began that day¡ªand lasted for a whole month.


    For the next month, the battle raged on.


    Every morning, whether at the dormitory entrance or after class, Lin Zhengran would find He Qing and Jiang Xueli waiting for him¡ªat the exact same time.


    Not only were their actions perfectly in sync, but they also started bringing him snacks. The choices were even strategically different.


    Mealtime was another battlefield.


    Under Han Wenwen¡¯s subtle eye signals, He Qing would gracefully place a piece of food into Lin Zhengran¡¯s bowl and gently say, "Lin Zhengran, you should eat more meat. Junior high boys need to grow strong."


    Jiang Xueli, blushing but stubborn, huffed, "Idiot, I don¡¯t have much of an appetite today, so I¡¯ll just give you my meat. Otherwise, it¡¯d go to waste."


    Seeing the move, He Qing countered softly, "I¡¯ll give you some vegetables too. They¡¯re good for you."


    Not to be outdone, Jiang Xueli immediately fired back, "I have no appetite at all today, so just take all of mine."


    Lin Zhengran watched as their chopsticks moved at lightning speed, his plate stacking up like a small mountain while theirs remained empty.


    Finally, he snapped, his face darkening. "What the h*ll is wrong with you two?! How am I supposed to eat like this?! Are you guys even eating at all?!"


    On the side, Han Wenwen leisurely chewed her food, enjoying the show.


    Their tactics continued to escalate. On weekends, they each claimed portions of Lin Zhengran¡¯s time.


    But as the battle wore on, Han Wenwen, an outsider to the fight, started noticing a shift. The scales of victory were tipping.


    She propped her head on one hand, watching as Jiang Xueli crossed her arms, pouting after getting scolded.


    "I already gave it to you! How am I supposed to take it back now?! Idiot, always yelling!"


    Meanwhile, He Qing, having been scolded, quickly apologized. Seeing Lin Zhengran displeased, she hurriedly retrieved the food she had given him, repeatedly saying, "I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, don¡¯t be mad."


    Chewing on a piece of skewered meat, Han Wenwen mused to herself: This is why tsunderes always end up losing. Their personality is flawed. They refuse to be straightforward, so they never truly win.


    And sure enough, her prediction held true.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s stubbornness made her unwilling to admit anything outright. As a result, she repeatedly let prime opportunities slip away¡ªopportunities that He Qing, though not loud, was at least honest enough to take.


    In the end, even though their strengths seemed evenly matched, He Qing was the fresh contender, while Jiang Xueli had already spent four years practicing music with Lin Zhengran, seeing him almost every week.


    But now, He Qing had taken over more than half of that time.


    And so, by the end of the month, this battle¡ªfought without a single bullet¡ªwas nearing its conclusion.


    It was a Saturday morning, three weeks before the Freshman Talent Showcase. The event should¡¯ve happened earlier, but the town¡¯s middle school had a habit of delaying things, dragging it out until now.


    Jiang Xueli needed more practice time to impress the talent scouts from the music agency.


    Meanwhile, He Qing had also enrolled in the town¡¯s Taekwondo Center after returning and had encountered a formidable opponent¡ªso she needed Lin Zhengran to help her train.


    That morning, the four of them gathered before heading home.


    Han Wenwen clung to He Qing¡¯s arm and smirked, "So, Lin Zhengran, who are you going to spend the weekend with this time? Jiang Xueli or Little Qing?"


    She asked the question openly, in front of both girls.


    Both of them looked at Lin Zhengran.


    But Lin Zhengran simply said, "I can¡¯t spend every weekend with you two, right? This week, I¡¯m just going to stay home and sleep. Taking a break."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s reaction was immediate. She turned her head, arms crossed. "If you¡¯re resting, then rest. It¡¯s not like I need you to be there. The competition is still far away, I can practice by myself."


    He Qing, on the other hand, asked, "Are you feeling tired? Then rest up. But¡­ can I visit your house to meet your parents? I can even give you a shoulder massage or something." She waved a hand. "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be a bother."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes flickered toward Jiang Xueli, curious about her reaction.


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    That one sentence left her at a loss for words.


    Lin Zhengran shrugged. "Do whatever you want. I¡¯m not practicing today. I¡¯m just gonna sleep."


    He Qing smiled and nodded. "Okay, I promise I won¡¯t disturb you." Then she turned to Jiang Xueli. "Jiang Xueli¡­ do you want to come too?"


    Jiang Xueli scoffed, "Who¡­ who would want to go? That idiot just said he¡¯s resting. Unless he really needs a shoulder massage, who would even bother?"


    But the moment she said it, she regretted it.


    Lin Zhengran, carrying his backpack, walked out of the school gate. "Best if none of you come."


    He Qing, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli watched as he left. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing turned to Jiang Xueli once more. "Are you really not coming?"


    Jiang Xueli forced a smile. "No. I have other things to do today. Besides, I don¡¯t know how to give massages. You go ahead."


    He Qing gave her a bright smile, waved goodbye to Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli, and ran after Lin Zhengran.


    "Lin Zhengran, wait for me! I need to stop by the store first. Should I buy some bananas for your dad?"


    As the two figures disappeared into the distance, Han Wenwen turned to Jiang Xueli.


    "This weekend isn¡¯t like the others," she said. "It¡¯s not about practice¡ªit¡¯s a chance to be alone with him. The perfect time to grow closer. Are you really going to let He Qing take this opportunity? If you had insisted, I doubt Lin Zhengran would have refused."


    Jiang Xueli stared at them, then at Han Wenwen.


    "Aren¡¯t you supposed to be on He Qing¡¯s side? You¡¯re her best friend. Why are you worried about me?"


    Han Wenwen tilted her head and smiled. "We¡¯re all friends. Just thought I¡¯d ask." She waved. "I¡¯m heading back to the dorms. See you next week."


    Jiang Xueli stood there, suddenly feeling drained.


    How many times had she given He Qing a free pass?


    If this keeps up, I¡¯m going to lose¡­ No, I lose¡­


    She pulled out two movie tickets from her pocket.


    They were for tomorrow¡ªher birthday.


    But just as Han Wenwen had said, tsunderes could only play their game when the other person took the first step. They were incapable of making the move themselves.


    Unless¡ªat the critical moment¡ªthey chose to take that step.


    Jiang Xueli clutched the tickets and slowly walked home.


    "Idiot¡­ idiot¡­ idiot¡­"

 Chapter 34: I Have to Send It!

    He Qing carried two bunches of bananas and made her way to Lin Zhengran¡¯s house.


    After four years, she finally returned to this familiar place, her heart filled with nervous anticipation. When she knocked on the door, she found that Lin Zhengran¡¯s home hadn¡¯t changed much.


    Although some appliances and minor details had shifted, everything still felt so familiar.


    On the sofa, Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli were watching TV. When they saw a girl at the door, their first reaction was to assume their son had brought home another admirer. But once they recognized her, they were so shocked they couldn''t even speak.


    "Hello, Uncle, Auntie¡­" He Qing greeted them shyly.


    Hearing her voice, Lin Xiaoli, in particular, was stunned. The little girl who used to be so shy, barely reaching their thighs, had now grown into a sweet and beautiful young lady, standing at 1.5 meters tall. She couldn¡¯t help but exclaim:


    "Wait¡­ is this really Qingqing?! Little Qing, I haven¡¯t seen you in so many years! You¡¯ve grown so pretty!"


    Lin Yingjun also straightened up and marveled, "It really is Qingqing! You¡¯ve gotten so tall!"


    Feeling a little embarrassed, He Qing handed over the bananas. "Uncle, Auntie, it¡¯s been so long. I brought these for you. They¡¯re not expensive, but it¡¯s a small token of my gratitude. Thank you for taking care of me when I was younger."


    Lin Xiaoli laughed heartily and walked over to He Qing. "Oh, come on! You don¡¯t have to bring gifts when you visit! Are you treating us like strangers? Didn¡¯t I tell you back then to think of this place as your own home?"


    He Qing smiled, slightly embarrassed. "I remember¡­"


    Lin Xiaoli examined her closely and clicked her tongue in admiration. "Qingqing, you¡¯ve really grown into a beauty. Do you and Zhengran spend a lot of time together now?"


    He Qing shook her head slowly. "Not really, Auntie. We¡¯re in different classes, so we don¡¯t see each other often. But we do eat together and walk home after school."


    Lin Xiaoli nodded. "That¡¯s still good. You know, ever since you left, Zhengran kept thinking about you every day, always hoping you¡¯d come back." She turned to her son. "Isn¡¯t that right, Zhengran?"


    He Qing¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, curious if it was true.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran had just come inside, busy changing his shoes before heading to the bathroom to wash his face. He hadn¡¯t heard a single word of their conversation.


    "Huh? Mom, what did you say?" he asked, confused. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Xiaoli didn¡¯t bother repeating herself. Instead, she leaned closer to He Qing and whispered, "See? He just said ''huh.'' That¡¯s basically the same as nodding."


    He Qing turned red and was left speechless.


    She didn¡¯t know if Lin Zhengran had actually missed her¡­ but she definitely missed him. She had waited years for this moment.


    Lin Zhengran finished washing his face and headed to his room, acting just as he always did when he got home.


    Lin Xiaoli gestured for He Qing to follow.


    He Qing let out a quiet "Mm" and walked after him.


    As they entered the room and closed the door, Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun exchanged knowing glances and chuckled.


    "Qingqing turned out so beautiful. Who would¡¯ve thought they¡¯d meet again after four years?"


    Lin Yingjun nodded. "Girls change so much as they grow. Their fate is definitely something special."


    Inside his room, Lin Zhengran flopped onto his bed without hesitation.


    He Qing hesitated for a moment before offering, "So¡­ do you want to rest? I can give you a massage. It¡¯s really relaxing."


    Lin Zhengran, eyes closed, muttered, "Go ahead."


    Hearing his approval, He Qing¡¯s face lit up with joy. She quickly shook her head like a little rattle drum. "It¡¯s no trouble at all! I used to massage my grandma all the time. I¡¯m really good at it!"


    Biting her lip, she hurried over and sat beside him, her small hands gently kneading his shoulders.


    Seeing He Qing again after so many years made Lin Zhengran¡¯s parents especially happy. At lunch, they even prepared a full table of dishes, chatting and laughing with He Qing as if no time had passed.


    Like when they were kids, He Qing still quietly placed the first shrimp she peeled onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s plate, keeping only the head for herself.


    And just like when they were kids, Lin Zhengran frowned. "Why are you giving me your food? Are you picky or something?"


    He Qing lowered her voice nervously. "I¡¯m not picky¡­ I just wanted you to have it first."


    Hearing their little whispers, Lin Zhengran¡¯s parents burst out laughing. "This feels just like when they were in kindergarten! They used to huddle together and chat all the time back then too."


    In the afternoon, after lunch, Lin Zhengran said he needed to go out to buy something. He Qing tagged along.


    Curious, she asked, "What are you getting? Do you really need to go all the way to the mall?"


    Lin Zhengran replied casually, "A birthday gift for someone. She got me something last year, so I should return the favor. Also, my mom told me to pick up some snacks for you."


    That Saturday, He Qing spent the entire day with Lin Zhengran. When they finally parted ways, she walked home with a bright, happy smile.


    Across the street, in another residential complex, a girl in casual shorts sat cross-legged on her bed, strumming a guitar.


    Her long twin ponytails draped over her chest, swaying gently as her fingers plucked the strings.


    Normally, the soft pink hues of her room made it look dreamy and charming. But tonight, Jiang Xueli couldn¡¯t find any joy in it.


    She played the melody slowly, her voice gentle but melancholic.


    Through the window, she couldn¡¯t see anything but other apartment buildings.


    Yet in her mind, she could vividly picture a certain idiot sitting in his bedroom, chatting and laughing with a certain girl.


    A knock came at her door. It was her mother¡¯s voice.


    "Xueli, are you busy?"


    Jiang Xueli answered, "Mom, what¡¯s up?"


    Her mother laughed from outside. "Tomorrow¡¯s your birthday. Are you planning to go out, or do you want to celebrate at home with us?"


    Jiang Xueli paused.


    "I¡¯ll think about it. We can decide tomorrow night, no rush."


    Her mother didn¡¯t press further. "Alright. I have the afternoon off, so you can decide later."


    "Thanks, Mom."


    As her mother¡¯s footsteps faded, Jiang Xueli plucked her guitar strings absentmindedly.


    Then, suddenly, she flopped onto her bed, her twin ponytails draping lifelessly across her chest.


    "Idiot¡­ what were you doing with He Qing all day? Probably having the time of your life, huh? Even getting a massage?"


    She huffed. "What kind of guy lets a girl massage him anyway? Just sleep longer, problem solved!"


    She placed her guitar aside, her bright eyes staring into the distance.


    That night, Jiang Xueli barely slept.


    She lay in bed, holding two movie tickets in one hand and her phone in the other.


    Tossing and turning, sitting up and lying down, she hesitated over and over again.


    She wanted to call Lin Zhengran.


    She wanted to invite him to the movie.


    She even typed out a message:


    [Idiot, do you know tomorrow¡¯s my birthday? It¡¯s not like I you to celebrate with me, but I happen to have two extra movie tickets. Want to go? Otherwise, they¡¯ll just go to waste¡­]


    But she flushed red and immediately deleted it.


    She buried her face under the pillow, escaping reality.


    But then she muttered, "Even if I could, I¡¯d still be too embarrassed to say it¡­"


    The next morning, birds chirped outside her window.


    With dark circles under her eyes, Jiang Xueli still sat there, staring at her phone and the two tickets.


    From the living room, her mother called, "Xueli, we¡¯re heading to work! If you go out, don¡¯t forget your keys!"


    She finally snapped out of it.


    Gritting her teeth, she glared at her phone.


    "No! I have to send it! If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll really lose!"

 Chapter 35: Courage

    ¡°Just send it! Send it already!¡± She shouted after typing the message, her finger hovering over the send button.


    Jiang Xueli walked to the sink and filled it with hot water, then removed the hair ties from her twin ponytails, placing them beside her phone.


    The screen still displayed her chat with Lin Zhengran.


    However, the message in the input box¡ª"Lin Zhengran, today is my birthday..."¡ªremained unsent.


    With her long hair draped over her shoulders, Jiang Xueli gazed at her own weary, lifeless reflection in the mirror and sighed. ¡°No wonder that idiot always says I yell too much. Maybe he¡¯s not entirely wrong¡­ What the hell am I even doing?¡±


    She washed her hair and dried it off.


    While blow-drying, she suddenly got the idea to tie her waist-length hair into a single ponytail.


    Placing her hands together in front of her, she imitated the demeanor of a pure-hearted girl.


    Blushing, she looked at the mirror as if it were a certain someone. ¡°I-I¡­ idiot¡­ today is my b-birthday¡­¡± She closed her eyes and muttered against her own will, ¡°Not that I absolutely have to spend it with you, but I just so happened to pick up two movie tickets!¡±


    Jiang Xueli stared blankly at her reflection and muttered, ¡°So the result is the same, huh? I guess it¡¯s not about the hairstyle after all.¡±


    She tied her hair back into twin ponytails, deciding that a single ponytail didn¡¯t suit her. Once she finished blow-drying, she sat on the couch, opened her phone again, and searched for a phrase she had looked up years ago.


    ¡°What does ¡®tsundere¡¯ mean?¡±


    Baidu¡¯s answer remained unchanged: ¡°An ancient god!¡±


    Back then, Jiang Xueli had ignored the words ¡°ancient times¡± and only saw ¡°god,¡± thinking it was high praise. But now, she suddenly became curious¡ªwhy was tsundere referred to as an ancient god?


    She searched again: ¡°Why is tsundere called an ancient god?¡±


    Baidu¡¯s response:


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s tired eyes suddenly widened at the explanation, especially at the word ¡°separation.¡±


    Her pupils trembled. Perhaps it was the exhaustion from staying up all night, but she suddenly saw flashes of scenes that had never actually happened in real life.


    In her mind, Lin Zhengran and He Qing were playing around, growing up together, hugging, kissing, moving in together. And as they grew closer, her hesitation would only push her further away. In the end, she would be sitting in the audience at their wedding, staring blankly as they exchanged vows.


    ¡°Congratulations to the newlyweds!¡±


    A loud cheer erupted from outside the apartment complex.


    Jiang Xueli snapped out of her daze, jolting up in terror. Her vision blurred, and when she wiped her eyes, she realized tears had fallen.


    She rushed to the balcony, looking toward the source of the cheers.


    It turned out that a newlywed couple in her neighborhood was receiving well wishes from their friends.


    Her teary eyes fixated on the happy couple.


    For a moment, in her daze, she saw them as the future Lin Zhengran and He Qing. She opened her mouth, about to call out¡ª


    ¡°Idiot¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡±


    Reality snapped back into focus. Jiang Xueli stared at the unfamiliar newlyweds below, slowly clenched her fists, and gritted her teeth, her gaze firming with determination.


    It was as if she had made a decision. She turned and ran out of the house.


    Her lively twin ponytails seemed to sense their owner''s emotions, bouncing anxiously with every step as she rushed downstairs.


    While running, Jiang Xueli pulled out her phone, found Lin Zhengran¡¯s number, and called him without hesitation.


    The call connected quickly.


    Lin Zhengran, sounding bored, answered, ¡°Huh? What¡¯s up?¡±


    Jiang Xueli shouted, ¡°Idiot! You¡¯re home, right? Come downstairs now, I need to talk to you!¡±


    ¡°What? I just got back from the supermarket. I was just about to¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming to you! Don¡¯t go home yet, wait for me downstairs!¡± she cut him off.


    She hung up and sprinted toward Lin Zhengran¡¯s place. The images from earlier burned vividly in her mind.


    As if that was truly the ending that awaited her hesitation.


    Jiang Xueli wiped away her tears as she ran, her eyes growing even more determined.


    Idiot, even if we end up apart, at the very least, I need to hear you say you don¡¯t like me with your own mouth. I won¡¯t just hand you over to someone else like this.


    Crossing the intersection, Lin Zhengran stood at the entrance of the apartment complex, holding his groceries.


    Seeing Jiang Xueli running toward him, panting heavily, he asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s with the rush? What¡¯s so urgent?¡±


    The moment Jiang Xueli saw Lin Zhengran, she suddenly felt half her anxiety ease.


    Her steps slowed. Hiding the movie tickets behind her back, she tried to steady her breathing and walked up to him.


    Lin Zhengran asked again, ¡°So? What¡¯s up?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face was flushed. Her tsundere nature fought against her instincts. She knew Lin Zhengran well¡ªif she simply handed him the tickets, he probably wouldn¡¯t go with her. He hated doing things he found boring, and this was exactly why she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask.


    But¡­


    ¡°I-I-IDIOT!¡± she suddenly shouted, making Lin Zhengran jump in surprise. She stretched out her arm, eyes shut tight, her mind going blank.


    ¡°C-Could you go watch a movie with me?!¡±


    She said it. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even she was shocked by her own boldness. When she calmed down and opened her eyes, she felt utterly humiliated by Lin Zhengran¡¯s stunned expression.


    She quickly hid the movie tickets behind her back, turned her head away, and felt like she could never show her face again. Her cheeks were burning.


    ¡°I-I mean¡­ I just happened to find these two tickets in the trash¡­ It¡¯d be a waste not to use them.¡±


    She forced a laugh, trying to play it off, her fingers nervously clutching the tickets.


    ¡°But, honestly, wasting them wouldn¡¯t be a big deal either. It¡¯s just some crappy romance movie. Even elementary schoolers wouldn¡¯t watch something like this anymore, so whether we go or not, it¡¯s not real¡ª¡±


    She froze.


    She stopped mid-sentence, looking back at Lin Zhengran. Her voice softened.


    ¡°¡­Would you go with me? I know you probably won¡¯t agree, though.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s shocked expression turned neutral. He exhaled and took the tickets from her hand.


    ¡°That¡¯s what this is about? You made such a big fuss over something so small?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Jiang Xueli was dumbfounded.


    ¡°S-S-Small?!¡± She stammered, feeling utterly insulted. She clenched her fists and leaned forward in rage.


    ¡°Small?! Do you have any idea how much courage it took for me to ask this?! You idiot! You pighead! How can someone like you even have girls liking you?! Even if you don¡¯t want to go with me, you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can go with you,¡± Lin Zhengran interrupted.


    A car drove past.


    Jiang Xueli froze mid-rant, staring at him blankly. ¡°¡­What did you say?¡±


    Lin Zhengran spoke softly, ¡°I said, I can go with you. Today¡¯s your birthday, right? Watching a movie with you isn¡¯t a big deal. Consider it half of my birthday gift to you.¡±

 Chapter 36: Jiang Xueli’s Birthday

    The two of them stood at the entrance of the apartment complex, looking at each other.


    The twin-ponytailed girl slowly pressed her lips together, her heartbeat drowning out all other sounds around her. At this age, when feelings were just beginning to bloom, some things left a deep imprint.


    She looked up at him, eyes shimmering.


    "You... how do you know today is my birthday? I don''t remember telling you."


    Lin Zhengran answered casually, "Are you seriously that dumb? Who do you think has been helping you practice singing all this time? Who¡¯s been checking the requirements for the Children''s Talent Agency whenever they update? Of course, I know your personal details. Otherwise, how would I know you just turned twelve?"


    Without waiting for her reaction, he continued, "Besides, I was planning to call you at noon. I went to the mall yesterday and picked out a birthday gift for you. If you''re not in a hurry, I¡¯ll go upstairs and get it now."


    "A gift? You even prepared a birthday gift for me..." She murmured like a mosquito, her face visibly lighting up with happiness, the whole world around her turning dreamy and unreal.


    Her brain completely stalled for a good ten seconds before she finally cupped her mouth, hunched her shoulders, and stared at him with shy, sparkling eyes.


    When she saw Lin Zhengran turning to head upstairs, she grabbed the hem of his shirt, waving her arms in a panic, completely overwhelmed by emotions.


    "Wait, wait, wait! First, explain this birthday thing properly¡ªI don¡¯t quite get it!"


    Lin Zhengran turned back. "What don''t you understand?"


    Jiang Xueli was now all smiles, her hands hovering near her flushed cheeks as she glanced away.


    "I just feel like... something doesn¡¯t add up. If you''ve always known my birthday, then how come, after all these years of knowing each other, we''ve never celebrated together? Doesn¡¯t that contradict what you just said?"


    "Oh, that?"


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t quite sure how to explain.


    For guys, birthdays basically stop being a thing after turning eighteen.


    At least, that was how it had been in his previous life. Especially for someone like him, who had no parents and no one to remind him after graduation, birthdays had become insignificant¡ªeven after transmigrating, he still saw them as the smallest of small matters.


    "I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll get it, but for me, birthdays aren¡¯t that important, so I don¡¯t really care about them."


    "Not important?" Jiang Xueli knew this guy was weird, so she believed him, but something still felt off.


    "Then, if you always forgot birthdays before, why didn¡¯t you forget this year? You even went out of your way to buy me a... a gift..."


    She fidgeted, fingers nervously twisting behind her back, biting her lip as if imagining something.


    "Could it be that now that we¡¯re in middle school, you think we¡¯re grown-ups, and this year has some special meaning...? I''m telling you, I''m not that easy to fool... I mean, I a girl, after all... at the very least... hehe..."


    Lin Zhengran, seeing her start to act all self-important, immediately shattered her fantasy with a flick to the forehead. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are you -ing about?!"


    Jiang Xueli snapped out of it instantly and frowned. "Why''d you hit me?!"


    Lin Zhengran explained, "I''m giving you a gift this year because last year, when my parents celebrated my birthday, you gave me something too."


    At that, Jiang Xueli suddenly remembered.


    Last year, she had gone to find Lin Zhengran to hang out, only to stumble upon his parents celebrating his birthday. She had panicked, hurriedly bought a gift, and asked his mom to give it to him on her behalf.


    Lin Zhengran continued, "Of course, if you want a special meaning, there is one. This year is your first step into the music industry, so consider this a little encouragement gift."


    Jiang Xueli clenched her small fists again, then suddenly blurted out, "Y-You¡­ you idiot!"


    Lin Zhengran, confused, knocked her on the head again. "What¡¯s with the yelling? You crazy? I give you a gift and you start shouting? You don¡¯t want it or something?"


    Jiang Xueli, embarrassed and angry, gritted her teeth. "Who said I don¡¯t want it?! You already bought it¡ªof course, you have to give it to me! I was yelling because¡­"


    She pouted. "Girls'' thoughts aren¡¯t for you to guess¡­"


    She thought to herself,


    Lin Zhengran ignored her and turned back toward the stairs.


    "Wait here, I¡¯ll grab it. And since it¡¯s your birthday, I¡¯ll humor you and watch that movie with you."


    Seeing this, Jiang Xueli quickly followed, grinning from ear to ear. "I¡¯ll go with you!"


    "No need. Isn¡¯t it annoying to go up just to come back down again?"


    "What¡¯s it to you whether it¡¯s annoying or not? I to go." She huffed and hopped after him.


    Before long, Lin Zhengran handed her the gift he had bought the day before.


    The package was pretty big.


    "Wow, this is huge! What is it? Can you tell me?" Jiang Xueli hugged the gift like a treasure.


    "Just open it and see. It¡¯s a pair of over-ear headphones."


    "Really? That¡¯s perfect¡ªmy old ones were about to break. I¡¯ll just use these from now on."


    Honestly, it didn¡¯t matter to her what he got. If he had given her a rock, she probably would¡¯ve said,


    Jiang Xueli carefully cradled the gift. She said she¡¯d take it home first since carrying it to the movies would be inconvenient.


    Lin Zhengran reminded her she could open it now¡ªif she didn¡¯t like it, the store said they could exchange it.


    But Jiang Xueli hugged it tightly. "Nope. I want this one."


    After dropping off the gift, Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran headed to the theater.


    On the way, Jiang Xueli was nervous.


    After knowing this idiot for so many years, this was the first time they were going to the movies alone together.


    She was so anxious she could barely walk straight.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her strange expression. "Did you not sleep well last night? You look like you¡¯re both hyper and sleepwalking."


    Jiang Xueli, flustered, denied it immediately. "No! I slept great! Super well!"


    But barely three minutes after they sat down in the theater with their popcorn, Jiang Xueli fell asleep.


    She clutched the bucket and curled up in her seat, completely knocked out. The extreme excitement from earlier had drained what little energy she had left.


    Lin Zhengran had no idea what this girl had been up to last night.


    As she dozed off, her head tilted onto his shoulder. He didn¡¯t wake her.


    It was her birthday, after all.


    She didn¡¯t sleep for long, but it was a sweet, deep sleep.


    Only when the movie ended and Lin Zhengran shook her awake did Jiang Xueli clutch her head in regret.


    "I-I fell asleep?! I fell asleep while watching a movie with you?! I didn¡¯t see a single thing! Then what was all my agonizing over last night even for?!"


    Luckily, Lin Zhengran suggested they grab a meal together, which cheered her up. She agreed.


    After spending the entire day together, when they finally parted, Jiang Xueli even went home to cut him a big slice of cake.


    "Idiot, this is your reward for keeping me company today."


    Lin Zhengran accepted it as the system''s voice chimed in. "Thanks. Happy birthday."


    Jiang Xueli smiled shyly, waved goodbye at her apartment entrance, then turned around, balancing on the curbside like a tightrope.


    "Idiot¡­ idiot¡­ idiot¡­"


    She took a few more steps before hopping down, her twin ponytails bouncing along with her as she skipped back home.


    she hummed cheerfully, stretching out the words,

 Chapter 37: An Unexpected Discovery

    Lin Zhengran walked down the street, carrying a large slice of strawberry cake.


    Using a fork, he slowly scooped bite after bite, savoring the sweetness as he swallowed.


    Tasty, but a bit too sweet.


    ¡¾Today is Miss Jiang¡¯s birthday. As your longtime companion in this journey through the martial world, she spent a hefty sum to acquire two prestigious theater tickets and invited you to join her. After watching the performance, your Charisma +2, Stamina +1.¡¿


    ¡¾Miss Jiang has also gifted you the rare Seven-Colored Snow Oil Paste, something she only allows herself to eat once a year. This delicacy is of supreme quality¡ªafter consuming it, your cultivation increases, Spirit Level +1, Strength +1, and Energy +1.¡¿


    After finishing the cake, Lin Zhengran found the lingering sweetness cloying, so he decided to stop by the nearby mall for a bottle of water.


    He had only walked a few steps when he suddenly heard a heated argument in the distance.


    It seemed to be a young couple quarreling over something serious.


    The woman¡¯s voice was filled with disbelief. "I can''t believe you secretly raised a daughter behind my back! And to hide it from me, you even sent her away to study in another city?! If I hadn¡¯t found out myself, how much longer were you planning to keep this from me?! How am I supposed to marry you after this?"


    The man, standing next to an Audi, sighed. "I¡¯ve told you a dozen times¡ªshe¡¯s not my daughter. She¡¯s my niece. I¡¯m her uncle."


    "Oh, so now you remember you''re just her uncle?!" The woman¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. "She has a mother, doesn''t she? Why is it responsibility to raise her?"


    The man hesitated, seeming somewhat guilty. His voice lacked confidence. "Y-You''re being unreasonable¡­ I raised her because my sister wanted to abandon her back then. I pitied the kid, so I supported her education and helped her grow up."


    The woman lifted a hand, as if trying to keep herself from getting angrier.


    "You don¡¯t need to explain. I''m not being irrational¡ªI actually understand your reasons. I even acknowledge that you meant well. But Han Cheng, as long as you keep raising that girl, my parents will never agree to our marriage."


    She tried to reason with him. "Han Cheng, you¡¯ve already done enough. This is just the way things are. In two years, she¡¯ll graduate from middle school. At that point, I can even help by giving her some money so she can support herself.


    If she has the ability to continue her studies, she can work part-time, and we can offer financial aid. But if not, she¡¯ll have to find a job after graduation. Either way, she keep living with you. Otherwise¡­"


    She placed a protective hand over her belly. "Otherwise, when I give birth to child¡­ what will people think of me? How will I explain this to my parents? Do you really intend to take care of that girl ?"


    "I..."


    "Since we¡¯re already here, let¡¯s just be honest with her." The woman continued decisively, "We raised her until middle school¡ªthat¡¯s enough. We¡¯ll give her some money, and she can visit us during holidays, but she can¡¯t live with us anymore. She needs to stand on her own. If you can¡¯t say it, I¡¯ll say it for you."


    Since this road led to the supermarket, Lin Zhengran happened to pass by and overheard the entire conversation.


    Then, he noticed the woman turning her head, looking at someone in the distance.


    "There she is. I¡¯ll talk to her¡ªyou just stand by and watch."


    She sounded like she was comforting her fianc¨¦, but also convincing herself.


    "I don¡¯t think we¡¯re being unreasonable. After all, she¡¯s old enough to understand, right?"


    Lin Zhengran had already walked ahead, but when he heard that, he instinctively turned back.


    And when he saw the girl they were talking about, he was shocked.


    At the same time, his system chimed in.


    ¡¾The Demon Cult Maiden has been appearing around you quite frequently. Today, you set out for training, but unexpectedly stumbled upon this scene. You overheard her true origins¡ªher guardian intends to cast her out. You know this is a sensitive matter, and whether or not you intervene will lead to different fates.¡¿ S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The girl walking toward them wore a school uniform, her slender frame exuding grace.


    It was, of course, Han Wenwen.


    As always, she carried a faint smile.


    Her fox-like eyes were captivating, as if nothing in the world could truly affect her.


    When she reached the couple, she even bowed politely. "Uncle, you¡¯re here. And you must be Auntie? It¡¯s nice to meet you."


    The woman was momentarily stunned by Han Wenwen¡¯s beauty.


    She did take after her mother¡ªgorgeous but utterly wretched.


    Glancing back at Han Cheng, she then stepped forward and smiled.


    "Wenwen, you¡¯re such a lovely girl. Since this is our first time meeting, there¡¯s something I need to tell you. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t bring this up right away, but I have my own difficulties too. If you have any thoughts after hearing me out, feel free to share them with me..."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t hear the rest.


    By the time he finished buying water and stepped out of the store, Han Wenwen¡¯s uncle and soon-to-be aunt had already driven away.


    She stood by the roadside, her expression unchanged, as if she had already expected everything that had happened.


    She turned to leave, passing by the supermarket.


    When she spotted Lin Zhengran, she tilted her head and smiled playfully. "Lin Zhengran? What a coincidence."


    Lin Zhengran smiled back. "Yeah, pretty coincidental."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s expression showed a trace of fatigue. "It¡¯s just like last year. No matter where I go, I always seem to run into you. But I¡¯m a little tired today, so I¡¯ll head back to school first. See you tonight."


    She waved casually, her fox-like eyes glancing toward the distant school as she walked away.


    It was impossible to tell that she had just gone through something so heavy.


    Lin Zhengran twisted open his bottle of water, took a sip, and walked off without a word.


    That afternoon, Jiang Xueli was excitedly hiding in her bedroom, carefully unwrapping the gift Lin Zhengran had given her.


    A pair of yellow over-ear headphones¡ªsimple and stylish.


    She put them on and tested the sound.


    Absolutely perfect.


    Lying on her bed, she reminisced about the day''s events. Raising her hand, she declared, "So what if I¡¯m tsundere?! I, Jiang Xueli, will never be a loser in love! I¡¯m going to win!"


    She clenched her fists determinedly.


    Sunday night, middle school had mandatory evening classes, so everyone except day students had to attend.


    When Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran arrived at school together, both He Qing and Han Wenwen were waiting at the school gate.


    Each of them held out a small gift.


    "Jiang Xueli, happy birthday."


    Jiang Xueli was stunned. "Y-You two¡­ how did you know¡­?"


    He Qing, looking demure, spoke softly, "I followed Lin Zhengran home on Saturday. He mentioned that today was your birthday, so I bought you a little present. It¡¯s nothing fancy, just a small token of appreciation."


    Han Wenwen smiled. "Same here. We¡¯re all friends¡ªgiving a birthday gift is the least I can do."


    "Th-Thank you¡­" Jiang Xueli accepted the gifts, feeling flustered.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran quietly observed Han Wenwen¡¯s seemingly composed demeanor.


    At just twelve years old, her mental fortitude was already on a completely different level compared to He Qing and Jiang Xueli.


    But no matter how strong a fa?ade might be, it was still just a mask.


    The armor shielding her heart was paper-thin.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have worn expression when she left this afternoon.

 Chapter 38: Lin Zhengran’s Plan

    Time flew by, and just like that, three more weeks had passed.


    The annual Freshman Talent Showcase at Xincheng First Middle School was finally about to begin.


    Over these three weeks, since Jiang Xueli''s situation was more urgent, Lin Zhengran had spent more time with her.


    He would go see her on weekends and lie on her bed.


    Listening to her strumming the guitar or humming softly while sitting on the edge of the bed.


    If something was off, he¡¯d give a bit of advice, like tapping the back of his hand on her thigh: ¡°Your breath control is off. Lower the pressure for the first line. Start again.¡±


    Jiang Xueli would respond and rub the spot he had just touched, her heart skipping a beat.


    Then she¡¯d sneak a glance at Lin Zhengran, who was lying on her pillow staring up at the ceiling.


    She¡¯d think,


    ¡°This part is really tricky to practice. Even when I worked on it by myself for a long time, I kept making mistakes,¡± she explained.


    ¡°That¡¯s because I wasn¡¯t there. With me around, it¡¯s fine.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli thought.


    She followed his instructions and ran through it again. And this time, the improvement wasn¡¯t just a little¡ªit was a lot. She looked genuinely surprised.


    Lin Zhengran looked at her with satisfaction. ¡°Not bad. If you¡¯re still not smooth with it, just sing it a few more times. Follow my method. Adjust the pitch...¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded and sang it a few more times, each time better than the last.


    She couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡°It¡¯s seriously weird. I actually noticed this a while ago¡ªwhenever you teach me, I learn at least twice as fast as I do on my own. It¡¯s not just about technique either. There are lots of techniques I know, but it still takes me forever to get them right. Yet if you¡¯re around, I can pick them up instantly. Isn¡¯t that just... too freaky?¡±


    She looked at Lin Zhengran curiously. ¡°Big idiot, did your mouth get blessed or something?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat up unhurriedly, and under Jiang Xueli¡¯s confused gaze, curled his fingers and flicked her on the forehead.


    She yelped in pain, pouting and rubbing her head. ¡°Why¡¯d you hit me?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran lay back down. ¡°Quit talking nonsense and keep practicing your breath control. The Freshman Talent Showcase is coming up. Whether you get selected or not is all up to your skills. This is the first step toward achieving your dream. Take it seriously.¡±


    He yawned, turned over, and pulled her blanket over himself like he was about to sleep.


    Jiang Xueli blushed as she saw her personal blanket now wrapped around him, thinking,


    She shut her eyes in frustration and snapped, ¡°Big idiot!¡±


    With his eyes still closed, Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°You know, every time you insult me, it sounds like you¡¯re being all cutesy. Can¡¯t you at least tell me why you¡¯re mad? Otherwise, how am I supposed to know what I did wrong?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned bright red at a visible speed, her voice stammering, ¡°C-cutesy?!¡±


    Her little fists launched rapid punches against his back like she was giving him a high-speed massage, the force surprisingly perfect.


    ¡°Who¡¯s being cutesy?! I¡¯d never act like that with you! And who cares why I¡¯m scolding you?! I¡¯ll do it even without a reason! Big idiot! I hate you! You¡¯re the absolute worst!¡±


    Lin Zhengran ignored what she said, only noticing the pressure from her tiny fists.


    He calmly reminded her, ¡°Hit a little higher.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m actually giving you a massage?!¡± she grumbled, but still moved her fists up a bit, grumbling under her breath after she was done, ¡°Well? How was it?¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he murmured. ¡°Decent pressure.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re sick.¡± She muttered one more ¡°Ugh, so annoying,¡± then went back to practicing.


    But there was something Lin Zhengran never knew.


    Every time he lay on her bed, Jiang Xueli would tell herself she had to change the blanket right away¡ªit had been ¡®contaminated¡¯ by that big idiot.


    But when she returned to her room alone and stared at the blanket he had used, her cheeks would flush red as she bit her lip.


    This girl in the middle of her youth would sit down ceremoniously, gently place her guitar aside, and hug the blanket to her chest to sniff it.


    Her face would turn even redder, and she¡¯d mumble, ¡°Ugh, now the whole blanket smells like him... though, it actually smells kinda nice.¡±


    She¡¯d take off her shoes, sit properly against the headboard, pull more of the blanket into her arms, and pout, ¡°Well... I just changed it yesterday. It¡¯s a pain to wash again. I guess I¡¯ll just sleep with it tonight.¡±


    She even lied to herself, ¡°It¡¯s all that guy¡¯s fault for messing up my blanket.¡±


    She¡¯d curl up under the blanket that still carried Lin Zhengran¡¯s scent, eyes closed, looking so happy and content¡ªlike he was right there beside her.


    A week before the competition, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli were walking through school.


    Jiang Xueli, trailing slightly behind, asked, ¡°Big idiot, if I do get picked, does that mean I¡¯ll have to spend a lot of time practicing in the training room?¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Not necessarily. It depends. Most new people do train in the studio since they have professional instructors. But if the singer has their own resources, then yeah, they might not need to.¡±


    Jiang Xueli hesitated and looked ahead. ¡°But... but I don¡¯t really like practicing with other singers. I still want you to help me with my singing practice...¡± she lifted her chin arrogantly,


    ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea though! I just think you¡¯re actually really good at this singing stuff. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Lin Zhengran shot her a disdainful look. ¡°Oh really? Then I should thank Miss Jiang for thinking so highly of me.¡±


    She bit her lip and huffed, ¡°What do you mean, ¡®thank me¡¯? That sounded so passive-aggressive.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had already made plans.


    That children¡¯s talent agency, still running in a small town despite struggling, was owned by a middle-aged woman who was deeply committed to her dreams.


    She didn¡¯t cut corners¡ªonly valued real skill.


    So Lin Zhengran¡¯s plan was to help Jiang Xueli build up popularity before the audition.


    Then, once he had saved up enough money, he¡¯d buy the agency outright. That way, Jiang Xueli would become a singer under his company, and her future would be secure.


    It would also prevent her from being affected by unnecessary nonsense¡ªafter all, he¡¯d be the boss.


    Lin Zhengran said,


    ¡°Relax. I¡¯m letting you join the studio just to give you a platform¡ªa place to see more of the world for now. With that platform¡¯s help, you can participate in all kinds of performances and build experience. That way, you won¡¯t get tricked trying to navigate the scene alone. I¡¯ll be there when I can, but I can¡¯t always go with you.¡±


    ¡°Why not always?¡± she asked softly.


    He answered honestly, ¡°Because I have to teach He Qing too. She¡¯ll be entering competitions later as well. I need to help her too, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª! You¡¯re such a player! Hope you get so busy you drop dead!¡± she fumed, stomping her foot.


    Lin Zhengran went on, ¡°As for the training, I¡¯ll still be the one teaching you. You¡¯re basically a singer I personally cultivated. I¡¯ll definitely be charging you later.¡±


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t deny that part. Without his help, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be as skilled as she was now.


    But when it came to that ¡°payment¡±...


    She ran up ahead of him, completely unaware that not far away, a ponytailed, innocent-looking girl had spotted Lin Zhengran.


    She had wanted to run over, but stopped when she saw the two of them.


    Jiang Xueli turned toward him, body leaning forward, hands behind her back, and with that little bit of confidence she¡¯d gained from being more assertive last time, said:


    ¡°Big idiot, even if I become super famous in the future, I¡¯ll still keep my promise. I said I¡¯d repay your kindness, so I¡¯ll marry you¡ªbut only because I don¡¯t want you growing old and lonely, okay? Don¡¯t read too much into it!¡±


    Lin Zhengran flicked her on the forehead as he walked past. ¡°Who said that¡¯s the payment I want? And do you, a twelve-year-old girl, even understand what getting married means?¡±


    Jiang Xueli fumed, ¡°I¡¯m not a little kid anymore! I used to not know, but I do now! It just means getting married to you, right?¡±


    She clenched her little fists and yelled, ¡°I¡¯m not scared at all! And I¡¯m just paying you back, that¡¯s it!¡±


    The two of them bickered and laughed as they walked off into the distance.


    Little He Qing stood there in a daze, watching Lin Zhengran and listening to what had just been said.


    ¡°Married... Jiang Xueli actually said she wanted to marry Lin Zhengran someday...¡±


    A moment later, Han Wenwen walked up, seeing her best friend frozen in place.


    She asked what was wrong, then suddenly saw He Qing start crying again and throw herself into her arms.


    ¡°What do I do, Wenwen? It feels like the two of them are getting closer and closer. Am I... am I going to lose?¡±


    ¡°What should I do?¡±


    Han Wenwen tilted her head to comfort He Qing and thought,


    If Little Qingqing really was falling behind, then she¡¯d just have to step in herself and give them both a little push¡ªhelp speed up their romance a bit.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you come up with something.¡±

 Chapter 39: The All-Capable Lin Zhengran

    "The Freshman Talent Showcase is about to begin! Welcome to all the teachers and students joining us today. Now, let¡¯s invite our principal to the stage for a speech..."


    In small-town middle schools, it''s rare to see an official Freshman Talent Showcase. Most schools just have the principal gather the new students during the day for a quick talk, and that''s it.


    It was only in the past two years, as the town¡¯s economy improved and the school gained more funding, that they started emphasizing the event for promotional purposes.


    The showcase took place in front of the teaching building, utilizing its steps as a makeshift stage.


    The front row of the audience consisted of judges, including the principal and the head instructor. Behind them sat the homeroom teachers of each class, followed by the students.


    Hundreds of people sat in neat rows, banners hung around the venue, and spotlights moved back and forth, creating a lively atmosphere. It actually looked quite professional.


    As the top student in his class, Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t performing in any acts, but he had the privilege of acting as a student supervisor, moving between the audience and backstage. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why did he have such authority? Simple¡ªgood grades make everything negotiable with teachers.


    During the principal¡¯s speech, Lin Zhengran stood to the side with Jiang Xueli, glancing toward the second row where a few casually dressed outsiders were holding professional filming equipment.


    Because he often looked into the staff of the Children''s Talent Agency, Lin Zhengran recognized them right away.


    "Those people with cameras are probably from the Children¡¯s Talent Agency. Our school collaborates with them, so they''re in charge of filming and editing this event. If your voice is strong, your breathing steady, and your technique impressive, they¡¯ll definitely notice you."


    Jiang Xueli clutched her chest, taking deep breaths in and out.


    She looked incredibly nervous.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. As expected, Jiang Xueli snapped back, "Idiot, what are you looking at? I''m not nervous at all!"


    For once, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t tease her like he usually did. Instead, he smiled.


    "It¡¯s okay to be nervous. I believe in you. With your skills, you¡¯ll be fine."


    Words like this were rare from him¡ªhe only said them at critical moments. Jiang Xueli hadn''t seen this gentle side of him in a long time, and it made her even more anxious.


    She looked away shyly and muttered, "You''re so annoying... I got it." Her chest still rose and fell heavily.


    "Your act is seventh in line. You¡¯ve got some time to adjust. I¡¯ll check out the rest of the venue."


    Just as Lin Zhengran turned to leave, Jiang Xueli suddenly called out to him.


    "Idiot!"


    Lin Zhengran turned back.


    Jiang Xueli stared blankly at him. Around him, she always found confidence, because in her heart, Lin Zhengran was capable of anything.


    "Say that again... what you said just now."


    Lin Zhengran instantly understood.


    "I¡¯ll be in the audience watching your performance. I believe in you."


    Jiang Xueli slowly smiled.


    "I won¡¯t let you down."


    Once the performances started, Lin Zhengran returned to his class and sat down to rest.


    Han Wenwen sat beside him, eyeing him with amusement.


    "Jiang Xueli seemed a bit nervous just now, huh? I saw her clutching her chest the whole time while talking to you."


    Lin Zhengran looked forward and casually responded, "She¡¯s just a kid. It''s normal to be nervous. But with her skills, she¡¯ll stand out regardless. Even if she makes a small mistake, it won¡¯t matter."


    Han Wenwen smirked.


    "Lin Zhengran, you sound like such a big brother. So this whole plan¡ªto get Jiang Xueli to perform¡ªwas really so she could get scouted by the Children¡¯s Talent Agency? That honestly shocked me. Most kids our age are just playing around, but you two are already scheming about future careers?"


    "Jiang Xueli doesn¡¯t have connections. In an environment like this, if no one gives her a chance, even with her talent in singing and songwriting, she¡¯ll just end up blending into the crowd and living an ordinary life. Even gold sinks if it¡¯s buried deep in the ocean."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Han Wenwen looking at him oddly.


    Her gaze was filled with admiration and intrigue.


    Leaning on her knees with her hand supporting her chin, she smiled slyly.


    "So, Lin Zhengran... can you help me become a singer too?"


    She grinned. "Name your price. Once I start making money, I¡¯ll definitely repay you."


    Lin Zhengran continued watching the stage.


    "Honestly, if you were really talented at singing, I don¡¯t think you¡¯d even need my help. Besides, you''re much more ambitious than He Qing and Jiang Xueli. You''re not the type to just sit around and wait for opportunities."


    Han Wenwen paused, momentarily surprised.


    "Huh. That¡¯s an unusual way to compliment someone. But you¡¯re right¡ªI¡¯ve met plenty of guys before, but you¡¯re the only one I can¡¯t figure out."


    She straightened up.


    "And you¡¯re right about another thing. If I had any special talent, I would¡¯ve already found a way to use it. But talent isn¡¯t something everyone has. I just wish someone could tell me what I¡¯m really good at."


    She added softly, "If that ever happens, I¡¯ll be sure to thank them properly."


    As they watched the first act together, Han Wenwen suddenly asked in a gentle tone,


    "Lately, you¡¯ve been spending a lot of time with Jiang Xueli. Have you noticed that Qingqing seems a little upset? You haven¡¯t spent much time with her these past three weeks."


    Lin Zhengran hummed in acknowledgment.


    "I¡¯ll make it up to her once this is over."


    "Must be tough having two childhood friends. So, what do you really think of them? Wanna tell me in secret?"


    "I don¡¯t have any thoughts on twelve-year-old girls. What do they even know? Their minds haven¡¯t matured yet."


    Han Wenwen chuckled and leaned on her knees, tilting her head as she studied him.


    "I don¡¯t buy it. No way a twelve-year-old boy isn¡¯t at least a little interested in pretty girls. Let me be blunt¡ªQingqing will win. By the time we graduate middle school, I¡¯ll make sure you two are together."


    Lin Zhengran gave her a bored glance, but then he remembered something¡ªafter middle school, Han Wenwen would be homeless.


    With her personality and current grades, getting into high school on her own would be nearly impossible.


    She wasn¡¯t joking about this.


    This sly little fox was well aware that her days of casually eating lunch, going to school, and walking home with He Qing as her best friend were numbered.


    Han Wenwen noticed him staring and smirked confidently.


    "Staring at your childhood friend¡¯s bestie like that is a bit much, don¡¯t you think? If you were any other boy, I¡¯d assume you¡¯re into me instead of Qingqing."


    Her gaze was as mesmerizing as ever, but Lin Zhengran remained unaffected.


    The two of them locked eyes, neither backing down.


    In the end, Han Wenwen was the first to avert her gaze.


    Images of the snowy day at the bus stop flashed through her mind, and she lost to Lin Zhengran.


    Her slender fingers clenched slightly, a faint blush appearing on her face.


    Her voice lowered.


    "Stop staring already. I¡¯m a girl too, you know? I can get shy."


    But whether that blush and shyness were real or fake, who could say?


    "Just watch the show," Lin Zhengran said.


    The two sat close together.


    Han Wenwen opened a pack of snacks and shared half with Lin Zhengran.


    From a distance, they looked surprisingly well-matched.


    Of course, Lin Zhengran accepted.


    To the system, anything this fox gave him was basically a spiritual elixir.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s performance began.


    Everything went exactly as Lin Zhengran had expected.


    With four years of careful guidance, her skills far exceeded most kids her age¡ªeven those with professional training.


    An original song, an impressive voice, flawless technique, and an adorable stage presence¡ªthe moment she started performing, the talent scout in the audience gasped in shock.


    "What an incredibly gifted girl... I¡¯ve never seen someone this talented before!"


    Even Han Wenwen, hearing Jiang Xueli sing for the first time, was stunned.


    And she realized something.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s confidence wasn¡¯t natural¡ªit had been shaped over years.


    She glanced at Lin Zhengran.


    Was all of this his doing?


    And if that were the case...


    Could he help me take control of my life too?

 Chapter 40: On This Day, Little He Qing Grew Up

    As the stage lights converged, Jiang Xueli finished her song, gasping slightly as she looked out at the audience, listening to their applause.


    The bright lights made it hard for her to see their faces, but she knew¡ªwithout a doubt¡ªthat a certain big idiot was definitely smiling at her.


    Once her performance ended, Jiang Xueli bowed and stepped off the stage, immediately heading to find Lin Zhengran.


    In a corner outside the audience area, Jiang Xueli¡ªtorn between wanting to show off and acting nonchalant¡ªput on a proud front.


    "Hey, idiot, how was my performance? Pretty good, right?! Let me tell you, when I was up there just now¡ª"


    She laughed, chattering excitedly about her experience on stage.


    Watching from the Class 3-3 seating area, He Qing saw everything.


    She couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but her pure, round apricot eyes stared blankly at them.


    She saw Jiang Xueli¡¯s radiant smile and Lin Zhengran responding to her from time to time.


    He Qing clasped her small, fair hands together.


    "Lin Zhengran..."


    Before the showcase even ended, the Children¡¯s Talent Agency owner couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and went straight backstage to find Jiang Xueli. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the young singer chatting with a boy, she walked over without hesitation and handed Jiang Xueli her business card.


    "Hello! I¡¯m the owner of Children¡¯s Talent Agency. Our company has an ongoing collaboration with your school. I just listened to your performance, and I absolutely loved it! That song¡ªwas it an original? Your breath control and technique are excellent. Have you had formal vocal training?"


    Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t expected her to come so soon. She hesitated, slightly nervous, and nodded.


    "It¡¯s an original, but I¡¯ve never had professional training. I just practice at home¡­ with my friend."


    The talent scout was even more shocked.


    If this was her natural ability, then with just a bit of professional coaching, she¡¯d dominate the industry.


    She quickly launched into a detailed pitch.


    The gist: Was Jiang Xueli signed with an agency? If not, they wanted to recruit her. They would contact her parents tomorrow. She wouldn¡¯t have to miss school¡ªperformances would only be on holidays or special occasions. She could also train with them if she had free time. The company even offered a generous performance commission.


    Jiang Xueli pretended to listen attentively but kept stealing glances at Lin Zhengran.


    When it came to matters like this, she knew her limits. She was still young¡ªif she made the wrong decision, she¡¯d get scammed for sure.


    That¡¯s why she had her big idiot¡ªhe¡¯d figure it out for her.


    The talent scout finished her pitch.


    "Alright then, I¡¯ll visit your parents tomorrow. We¡¯ll talk again soon."


    "Okay."


    As soon as the scout left, Jiang Xueli bounced over to Lin Zhengran.


    "Hey, idiot! You heard everything just now, right?"


    Lin Zhengran crossed his arms.


    "Yeah, her offer is about what I expected. The terms seem decent¡ªshe genuinely appreciates your talent. I think it¡¯s worth considering. What do you think?"


    Jiang Xueli tilted her head and smugly replied,


    "I think... it sounds good. But mostly, I trust you."


    She grinned.


    "I¡¯ll just do whatever you tell me to, idiot."


    Lin Zhengran sighed, speechless.


    It was obvious she hadn¡¯t actually processed anything the woman had said.


    Oh well. As long as she listened to him, things wouldn¡¯t go too far off track.


    He smirked.


    "You¡¯re so lucky to have such a multi-talented friend like me."


    Jiang Xueli mimicked his pose, crossing her arms and huffing.


    "And I¡¯m lucky to have such a beautiful, patient childhood friend. Any other girl would¡¯ve lost her mind dealing with someone as dumb as you. Only I am nice enough to tolerate you!"


    The next day, the Children¡¯s Talent Agency contacted Jiang Xueli¡¯s parents.


    When her mom and dad watched the recording of the event, they were stunned¡ªthey had no idea their daughter shone so brightly on stage.


    After a few days of deliberation, research, and discussing it with their daughter, Jiang Xueli officially joined the local talent agency¡ªher first step into the world of music.


    At the same time, as Jiang Xueli¡¯s chapter wrapped up, He Qing and Han Wenwen¡¯s plan quietly began.


    Two weeks before winter break.


    In the girls'' dormitory, He Qing¡ªwearing cute cartoon pajamas¡ªcrouched on her bed like a little chick, hugging her pillow with a pitiful expression.


    It was adorable.


    Han Wenwen sat beside her, munching on chips.


    "Didn¡¯t Lin Zhengran spend the whole day practicing Taekwondo with you yesterday? Why are you sulking again?"


    He Qing¡¯s big, glistening eyes stared at her pillow.


    "I¡¯m not sulking¡­ Yesterday was really fun! He trained with me all day, we had lunch together, and he even spent the whole afternoon with me."


    "...So?"


    Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes.


    "You¡¯re happy when you¡¯re with him, but as soon as he¡¯s not around, you¡¯re miserable? That¡¯s some weak medicine¡ªthe effects wear off too fast."


    He Qing mumbled her true feelings.


    "It¡¯s just¡­ we¡¯ve been doing these things for years. Training, eating together, going to his house¡ªit¡¯s always been the same. Nothing ever changes.


    "But look at Jiang Xueli¡­ It¡¯s only been a short time, and she¡¯s already getting closer and closer to him."


    She turned to Han Wenwen.


    "Have you noticed? Jiang Xueli loves clinging to Lin Zhengran lately. And last time, for her birthday, he gave her a really nice pair of headphones."


    Han Wenwen tilted her head.


    "Birthday? Oh, but we got her gifts too."


    "That¡¯s different! We¡¯re just her classmates, and girls giving each other gifts is normal.


    "But Lin Zhengran¡­"


    Her voice dropped.


    "He¡¯s never given me headphones."


    Han Wenwen casually poked her cheek with a fox-like smirk.


    "Yeah, but¡­ you don¡¯t even listen to music?"


    He Qing hugged her pillow tighter, curling into a tiny ball.


    "Still¡­ I¡¯m scared. If this keeps up, one day I¡¯ll wake up and he won¡¯t need me anymore. Four years apart¡­ was too long."


    Han Wenwen could see it.


    Back in elementary school, He Qing had always been soft-hearted, but she¡¯d never been this insecure before.


    It was clear¡ªLin Zhengran meant too much to her.


    Han Wenwen smirked.


    "Well then¡­ it looks like it¡¯s time to use our trump card.


    "I¡¯ve been analyzing the root cause of why you two aren¡¯t making any progress, and guess what? I found the solution!"


    She pulled out a handwritten book and dramatically handed it to He Qing.


    "Behold! A compilation of my wisdom, strategies, and extensive research!


    "I call this masterpiece¡­"


    She announced each word slowly.


    "The He-Lin Manual!"


    He Qing blinked, confused.


    "¡­The He-Lin Manual? I¡¯ve only ever heard of Henan braised noodles."


    Han Wenwen clicked her tongue.


    "Not even close! Do I look like I¡¯m handing you a recipe?!


    "Listen, if you follow the guide step by step, I guarantee that within a year¡ªno, even just three months¡ªyou¡¯ll have Lin Zhengran in the palm of your hand!"


    Curious, He Qing slowly opened the book.


    She barely read a few pages before her face turned bright red.


    With a sharp snap, she shut the book immediately.


    Her voice trembled.


    "T-This¡­ W-Wenwen, where did you even get this stuff?!"

 Chapter 41: Han Wenwen’s Plan

    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes innocently.


    "I got it from romance novels. What¡¯s with the big reaction? There¡¯s nothing inappropriate there."


    He Qing let out a small gasp, clearly unconvinced.


    "How is this not inappropriate?!"


    "Let me see."


    Han Wenwen took the book back, flipping through it.


    "Yeah, there¡¯s nothing inappropriate. That¡¯s because I wrote it all myself. In my eyes, this book is as pure as can be¡ªclean and wholesome."


    He Qing begged to differ.


    She carefully hugged her pillow and cautiously peeked at the book¡¯s contents again¡­ but the more she read, the more embarrassed she felt.


    Han Wenwen licked the chip dust off her fingers, grabbed a wet wipe, and casually cleaned her hands before continuing:


    "In my opinion, the reason your relationship with Lin Zhengran isn¡¯t progressing is because you two have been too close for too long.


    "You¡¯ve seen that saying online, right? "The more familiar you are with someone, the harder it is to make a move¡¯?"


    "But Jiang Xueli has known Lin Zhengran for years too, just like me."


    Han Wenwen leaned against the wall, her imaginary fox ears twitching as she schemed for her best friend.


    "I don¡¯t know exactly what¡¯s been happening between them lately, but I can guarantee that Jiang Xueli must have done something different recently¡ªsomething she never did before.


    "That change is what¡¯s shifting their relationship and making Lin Zhengran feel a new sense of excitement."


    He Qing blinked blankly, not quite understanding.


    Han Wenwen smirked.


    "Otherwise, how else would a tsundere like her start winning? I underestimated her. Turns out, she¡¯s just as obsessed with Lin Zhengran as you are."


    He Qing continued to blink blankly, realizing that Han Wenwen was not only talking about Jiang Xueli¡­ but also about her.


    A pink flush spread across her face.


    Han Wenwen continued, "So, if you want progress, you need change. That¡¯s why I wrote this guide for you.


    "Here, let me read you a few tips¡ª"


    She casually flipped to a page.


    "For example, this one: Next time you visit his house, don¡¯t just sit there like a statue. Instead, make a small, natural movement to showcase your presence¡ªnothing too obvious, just a simple action like tucking your hair behind your ear and stealing glances at him."


    She demonstrated, gently brushing back her hair while looking at He Qing with soft, captivating eyes.


    "See? Doesn¡¯t it set the mood?"


    He Qing felt mortified.


    It didn¡¯t seem too bad when Han Wenwen did it, but imagining herself doing it in front of Lin Zhengran?


    She felt like she¡¯d rather crawl into a sewer and hide forever.


    Han Wenwen continued, "Another example¡ªwhen you¡¯re eating, if you don¡¯t mind, try taking a bite of something he¡¯s already eaten.


    "This kind of indirect intimacy has a huge impact on boys, and you can use it repeatedly."


    He Qing¡¯s entire head disappeared into her pillow.


    Her brain overheated.


    This¡­ this is basically indirect¡­ that!


    BOOM.


    Mental explosion.


    Han Wenwen kept going.


    "And here¡¯s another one¡ªsince you¡¯ve already decided on him, you should act on it.


    "For example, if the mood is right, accidentally sit on his lap.


    "Or maybe¡ª"


    She lowered her voice mischievously.


    "¡ªlightly bite his ear?"


    He Qing officially tapped out.


    She flopped face-first onto her bed, wrapped herself in her blanket, and screamed into the fabric.


    "STOP TALKING, WENWEN! NONE OF THIS IS SUITABLE FOR OUR AGE! IT¡¯S TOO EMBARRASSING!"


    "Okay, fine. What about just blowing into his ear?"


    A muffled voice came from the blanket.


    "IT¡¯S THE SAME THING! I could never do that! Even if I somehow forced myself, he¡¯d definitely get mad! He¡¯s scary when he¡¯s mad¡ªhe¡¯d flick my forehead for sure!"


    Han Wenwen imagined He Qing wrapped up like a giant cocoon, picturing all the scenarios she¡¯d just described.


    "Come on, it¡¯s not that bad. None of this is even on the level of kissing or hugging.


    "If I liked someone, I¡¯d probably try to seduce him eight hundred times a day."


    He Qing peeked out from her blanket, her innocent eyes filled with disapproval.


    "Wenwen, you¡¯ve been corrupted by romance novels. You¡¯re not pure anymore."


    Han Wenwen burst out laughing and patted He Qing¡¯s head.


    "Qingqing, you¡¯re too cute. Honestly, I have no idea how Lin Zhengran manages to resist you.


    "But¡­ if you don¡¯t do something, you¡¯re gonna lose.


    "And really, what¡¯s wrong with being a little more affectionate with the guy you like?"


    Seeing He Qing hesitate, Han Wenwen leaned in closer, her voice seductive.


    "Why not try it? Maybe it¡¯ll actually work."


    He Qing bit her lip, thinking for a long time.


    Then, she suddenly remembered something.


    "Wait, Wenwen¡ªforget this for now. I have something important to ask you."


    "Hm? Just say it. We don¡¯t need to be polite."


    Still wrapped in her blanket, He Qing sat up, and Han Wenwen instinctively joined her inside, wrapping them both up like two little caterpillars.


    Only their tiny heads peeked out.


    Adorable.


    He Qing hesitated, then spoke.


    "I¡¯m not in the same class as Lin Zhengran, but I know that besides Jiang Xueli, there are definitely other girls who like him too.


    "He¡¯s handsome, smart, and good at everything. He¡¯s been popular since elementary school."


    Han Wenwen agreed.


    "That¡¯s true. Even in our class, I¡¯ve noticed a lot of girls secretly crushing on him. Some even come from other classes just to talk to him."


    He Qing¡¯s voice got smaller.


    "C-Could you... um... keep an eye on him for me?"


    Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow.


    "You mean¡­ make sure he talks to fewer girls?"


    "Yeah¡­ something like that¡­"


    Han Wenwen smirked.


    "Easy. But just so you know, since I¡¯m his deskmate, if I start watching him more closely, people might start rumors about us.


    "You wouldn¡¯t get jealous, right?"


    He Qing smiled sweetly.


    "Of course not! I asked you to do it.


    "As a thank-you, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner tonight!"


    "Deal!"


    They pinky-promised.


    Then, Han Wenwen grinned mischievously.


    "So¡­ about the tips I just gave you¡ª"


    He Qing buried her face in embarrassment.


    "Let me think about it!"


    The Result?


    After this brilliant strategy session, the one who suffered most for the next two weeks¡­


    was Lin Zhengran.


    He Qing, once well-behaved, suddenly started acting strangely.


    For example:


    She kept tucking her hair behind her ear¡ªover and over again.


    Lin Zhengran frowned.


    "Is your head itchy? When¡¯s the last time you washed your hair?"


    He Qing froze, then panicked. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "N-No! I just¡­ uhh¡­"


    Mission failed.


    Another time, she stared at a half-eaten cookie, struggling to take a bite.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    "Are you a hamster? Why are you hoarding my food?"


    Another failure.


    As for blowing into his ear¡­


    She chickened out and just blew at his hair instead.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s vein twitched.


    "He Qing! What is WRONG with you lately?! Stand still¡ªI¡¯m gonna flick your forehead!"


    And so¡­


    The only thing she achieved was making him annoyed.

 Chapter 42: Winter Break and the Lianxin Festival

    Since Han Wenwen had promised to help Little He Qing keep an eye on a certain someone, she took her role quite seriously.


    Whenever a pretty girl from their class came to borrow something from Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen would deliberately lean on her desk, put on a sly fox-like expression, and say with a soft, affectionate voice,


    "Lin Zhengran, are you coming over to my place this weekend? I bought a new dress~"


    The girl who had originally come over would immediately get flustered and leave, easily connecting the dots.


    Lin Zhengran turned to Han Wenwen, completely speechless. "What nonsense are you spouting?"


    But Han Wenwen was unapologetic, saying whatever came to mind. "I''m just helping my dear Qingqing keep an eye on his childhood friend. One Jiang Xueli is already enough trouble for him¡ªI can''t let any more rivals show up. That wouldn¡¯t be good for Qingqing."


    Lin Zhengran didn''t even want to comment on this fox''s antics, but he couldn''t ignore the glares from the boys in class. Ever since Han Wenwen transferred in, she had been their unattainable goddess.


    So now, as she spoke, the male classmates all looked at Lin Zhengran as if they wanted to tear him apart and chew him to bits.


    ¡¾Ever since the Demon Cult Maiden appeared by your side, the righteous sect disciples have increasingly viewed you as an outsider. Rumors have even begun to spread that you''ve joined the Demon Sect. You must tread carefully on the path ahead.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran: "....."


    And this wasn¡¯t just a one-time thing. In the days leading up to winter break, similar incidents kept happening.


    Forget girls talking to him¡ªeven if a girl merely glanced at Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen would deliberately lean in close, flash a curious smile at the girl, and silently declare sovereignty on behalf of her best friend.


    But the most extreme case happened during PE class.


    That day, a girl from another class gathered her courage and approached Lin Zhengran to ask for his phone number.


    Han Wenwen suddenly appeared beside him, tugging pitifully at his sleeve. "Zhengran-gege, who is she? Am I not enough for you? Are you trying to break up with me?" She even looked like she was about to cry.


    The girl, realizing he already had a girlfriend, immediately turned red and ran away.


    Han Wenwen doubled over in laughter, clutching her stomach.


    Lin Zhengran shot her a look of disdain. "Han Wenwen, if you keep pulling stunts like this, people are really going to think you''re my girlfriend. Could you quit it already?"


    Han Wenwen laughed for a long time before finally straightening up and looking at him. "Are you actually worried about those rumors? Well, too late! I think the whole class has already accepted that I¡¯m yours." She then added with a teasing smile, "Besides, have you noticed how the boys in class have been looking at you lately? Not exactly friendly, huh?"


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes. "So what you''re saying is¡­ you just find it annoying when other guys confess to you, so you¡¯re using me as a shield?"


    Han Wenwen gasped in exaggerated shock, covering her mouth as she stared at him with wide eyes.


    "Oh my! Lin Zhengran, you''re so smart! I can¡¯t hide anything from you! Fine, I¡¯ll admit it¡ªever since everyone started assuming we¡¯re dating, I¡¯ve had way fewer people bothering me. So I suppose that¡¯s an unexpected bonus."


    She playfully tapped a finger against her lips, glancing into the distance. "But my main goal is still to keep other girls away from you. I mean, it¡¯s not my fault you¡¯re so popular! There are just too many girls trying to get close to you. I have to keep switching up my tactics to block them. As for the rumors, I already warned Qingqing about them ages ago, so I¡¯m not worried."


    She suddenly gave Lin Zhengran a sly, scrutinizing look. "Hmm? Or¡­ could it be that you actually like me? Is that why you¡¯re getting all shy when people say I¡¯m your girlfriend?"


    Then, as if having just realized something, she covered her face, blushing dramatically. "Oh no! If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll have to tell Qingqing! We can¡¯t betray her! Even though¡­ I do think you¡¯d make a pretty good boyfriend~"


    Lin Zhengran sighed and turned to leave. There was no point talking to this fox¡ªshe had long since abandoned the concept of normal human behavior.


    And besides, foxes didn¡¯t understand human speech.


    ¡ª


    Thankfully, winter break arrived quickly.


    Lin Zhengran no longer had to deal with a drama queen fox and a dumb girl messing with his peace every day.


    Surprisingly, the school was quieter than expected before break, with nothing major happening.


    He Qing and Han Wenwen were both heading back to their hometown in the south for the New Year, so the four of them said their goodbyes at the station.


    Han Wenwen, dragging her suitcase, waved at them with a bright smile. "Lin Zhengran, Jiang Xueli, see you next year! I had so much fun this semester~"


    He Qing looked reluctant to leave. She waved her little hand only slightly and whispered, "Lin Zhengran, Wenwen and I are heading home. See you after break. If anything comes up, just call me. Oh, and Jiang Xueli, see you next year."


    Jiang Xueli waved back.


    Lin Zhengran also waved. "Be careful on the road."


    As the high-speed train pulled out of the station, it signified a temporary truce in the battle between Jiang Xueli and He Qing for Lin Zhengran''s attention. And finally, Lin Zhengran could enjoy some well-earned peace.


    On the way home, he asked Jiang Xueli if she had any performances scheduled for winter break.


    Jiang Xueli shook her head. "Nope. The studio said they need to update their equipment this year, so I won¡¯t have any gigs until next year. But when I do, will you come with me? Not that I care or anything! I just figured you like watching lively events, so I thought I¡¯d invite you."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother arguing. "Of course I¡¯ll go. It¡¯s your first public performance¡ªI need to be there to keep you from getting into trouble. But I have to admit, this winter break is shaping up to be pretty relaxing."


    Hearing that he would accompany her, Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. She bit her lip, then started bouncing along the sidewalk with a little skip in her step.


    "Mhm! This winter break is going to be great!"


    ¡ª


    Winter break flew by in the blink of an eye.


    The days leading up to New Year''s Eve seemed to pass in an instant.


    And on the eve of the New Year, Lin Zhengran¡¯s cultivation level unexpectedly reached Level 39¡ªjust one step away from unlocking a new skill.


    ¡¾Since your first step into the Cultivation World, you¡¯ve met Fairy He descending the mountain, wandered the martial world with Jiang the lone swordswoman, and now even caught the attention of the Demon Cult Maiden. After enduring countless trials, you have finally reached Level 39, steadily developing the aura of a true master.¡¿


    ¡¾Current Attributes¡¿


    Strength: 34 (At 50, you will unlock the ability to maintain muscle tone without exercise.)


    Stamina: 29 (At 60, you will unlock the ability to go all night without fatigue.)


    Endurance: 36 (At 70, you will unlock Double Stamina and Triple Endurance.)


    Charisma: 40 (Unlocked Ability: Double Favorability Gain. This allows you to significantly improve social interactions, making strangers more willing to engage with you.)


    ¡ª


    In a small town in the south, a certain fox was getting dressed while chatting on the phone, exchanging New Year greetings with her best friend.


    In her palm, she held a wooden token¡ªone she had received from the Lianxin Festival.


    Carved onto it was a single character: "Lin." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And today, she planned to go again.


    Alone.

 Chapter 43: Too Many Fated Encounters

    The southern town wasn¡¯t rainy, but it was freezing cold.


    Wrapped in a thick down jacket and a scarf, Han Wenwen made her way alone to the heart of the Lianxin Festival¡ªthe ancient tree.


    Even though today wasn¡¯t the festival itself, the area was still inhabited, and the tree remained decorated with colorful lights. A small guard post stood nearby, where an old man was on duty.


    Han Wenwen approached and asked, "Grandpa, can I draw a token?"


    The old man smiled at her question. "You''re drawing a token for the New Year? Did you tie your red ribbon yet?"


    She lifted the red ribbon she had prepared, decorated with colorful cloth, and tied with the same wish she had written back in elementary school. She was here today to see if the tree''s blessing of a true destined partner was really accurate.


    Under the old man¡¯s supervision, she tied the ribbon to the tree and picked a new wooden token.


    The old man chuckled. "This old tree is pretty accurate. The surname I drew back then turned out to be the exact same as my wife¡¯s now."


    Han Wenwen''s eyes lit up. "Really? But I actually came here once before, years ago¡­ I just forgot the surname on the token. So I wanted to check if it¡¯s still the same. Do you think it¡¯ll still be accurate?"


    "If it¡¯s meant to be, fate won¡¯t let you miss it," the old man said with certainty.


    Han Wenwen looked down at the token in her hand, her warm breath puffing into the cold air as she read the carved character¡ª"Lin".


    Her pupils trembled slightly. Then, a smile slowly spread across her lips.


    Looks like Lin Zhengran really is my true destined one.


    ¡­But Qingqing¡­


    Han Wenwen shook her head, brushing the thought aside. She bid farewell to the old man and headed back to her uncle¡¯s house.


    ¡ª


    The streets were glowing with lanterns, every house lively with celebration.


    Her uncle¡¯s home was no different¡ªexcept this year, she was the only one there.


    Her uncle had gone to spend the New Year with his girlfriend¡¯s family, naturally not bringing Han Wenwen along.


    Sitting on the steps alone, her face cupped in her hands, she stared at the wooden token in her palm and murmured to herself,


    "Lin Zhengran really has too many fated romances, doesn¡¯t he?"


    Her stomach growled, breaking the silence. She got up, rummaged for food, and reminded herself, "Next year, I¡¯ll have to figure out my own place to stay during break. If I keep staying here, my future aunt is definitely going to get annoyed."


    ¡ª


    At midnight, fireworks exploded into the sky, lighting up the dark with brilliant colors.


    At the same time, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone buzzed three times.


    One message from Jiang Xueli.


    One from He Qing.


    And one from Han Wenwen. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Dumbass, Happy New Year!"


    "Lin Zhengran, Happy New Year."


    "Lin Zhengran, Happy New Year."


    Lin Zhengran replied to all three at once.


    ¡ª


    Half a month later, the new semester began.


    Han Wenwen and He Qing returned from the south, and the four of them were reunited again.


    Perhaps because of the break, those two were finally a little less chaotic than before.


    ¡­Though they still weren¡¯t exactly normal.


    Han Wenwen continued her self-appointed duty as childhood friend monitor, making sure that in every group project, PE class, or any situation requiring pairs, she was firmly glued to Lin Zhengran¡¯s side¡ªkeeping other girls from getting too close.


    The two of them had also become more familiar with each other, and Han Wenwen seemed increasingly at ease around him.


    One day, the teacher asked students to recite their assigned readings to each other.


    Since Han Wenwen wasn¡¯t great at studying, she completely blanked out.


    Lin Zhengran, without mercy, raised his hand and reported, "Teacher, she didn¡¯t memorize it."


    During break, Han Wenwen puffed up her cheeks in frustration, glaring at him. "Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re so heartless! You didn¡¯t even try to cover for me! Any other guy would¡¯ve kept quiet instead of snitching on me!"


    Lin Zhengran remained indifferent. "What a shame, I¡¯m not ¡®any other guy.¡¯" He glanced at her and added, "Besides, you¡¯re not even a girl¡ªyou¡¯re just a fox."


    She tilted her chin up proudly. "Hmph!"


    ¡­A reaction she probably wouldn¡¯t have had before.


    ¡ª


    Time passed quickly, and two months flew by in what felt like an instant.


    Then, one day, their class had a mock exam.


    Han Wenwen ranked near the bottom.


    The homeroom teacher called her to the office for a serious talk, telling her that if she kept up these grades, she would have no chance of getting into high school.


    Lin Zhengran happened to walk past the office at that moment.


    Through the window, he saw Han Wenwen standing there, her expression seemingly unfazed.


    But having far more life experience than his peers, Lin Zhengran could see it¡ªshe wasn¡¯t nearly as cheerful as she looked.


    She was hiding something deeper inside.


    ¡ª


    That same day, during PE class, Han Wenwen sat by the metal fence, her school jacket draped over her bent legs as she secretly played on her phone.


    Lin Zhengran looked ahead and remarked, "That dumb girl finally stopped pulling stunts on me. I¡¯m guessing you just ran out of ideas for her, huh?"


    Han Wenwen froze for a second, then gave him a sheepish smile. "Lin Zhengran, how do you always figure these things out?"


    Lin Zhengran rolled his eyes. "Come on. Anyone could tell those ridiculous schemes weren¡¯t her idea. If they were, she wouldn¡¯t be acting so bizarre all the time¡ªher brain and her actions never matched."


    Han Wenwen sighed, setting her phone aside. "I really thought all my plans would help Qingqing make some progress with you¡­ Even just holding hands would¡¯ve been nice. But it looks like it backfired. She told me you¡¯ve been scolding her more than ever lately. Guess I just made things worse."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother commenting.


    They both sat there, watching the green field as students ran and played.


    Suddenly, Han Wenwen murmured, "School life is really nice, huh?"


    She rested her chin on her knees. "When I was younger, I hated school. It always felt suffocating. But after I met Qingqing, I finally realized school could actually be fun. She was my first friend."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "Why are you suddenly getting all sentimental?"


    Han Wenwen gave him a mischievous smile. "Well, since I¡¯m basically your ¡®rumored girlfriend,¡¯ I figured I should at least guess what¡¯s on your mind. Like right now, for example¡­"


    She struck a sultry pose, her fox-like eyes twinkling. "I bet you¡¯re thinking, ¡®What the hell is this fox up to now?¡¯ So, I figured I¡¯d just answer you directly~"


    Lin Zhengran snorted.


    Then, Han Wenwen hugged her knees, speaking in a half-joking, half-serious tone. "Honestly, with my grades, I probably won¡¯t be able to get into high school. That¡¯s why I wanted to use this last year to help you two get together."


    She looked out at the school, her voice softening. "Because after middle school, I probably won¡¯t see Qingqing anymore¡­" She hesitated for a moment, then added quietly, "¡­And I probably won¡¯t see you again either, Lin Zhengran."


    "Wenwen? What did you just say?!"


    Behind the fence, He Qing had arrived, overhearing her words.


    She froze in place.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s body stiffened. She turned around in a panic, worried He Qing had caught the real meaning behind her words.


    "Qingqing?"

 Chapter 44: Renting a Place

    Little He Qing overheard the conversation and spoke through the iron fence, ¡°Wenwen, did you just say you¡¯re not planning to go to high school with us?¡±


    Han Wenwen let out an awkward chuckle, relieved that He Qing hadn¡¯t misunderstood the latter part of her sentence. She scratched her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to¡­ It¡¯s just that my grades are bad¡­ I probably won¡¯t make it.¡±


    He Qing, ever the enthusiastic friend, didn¡¯t see this as a big deal. She ran around the fence, making a wide circle before arriving at Han Wenwen¡¯s side.


    Clenching her small fists, she was both confident and anxious, ¡°If your grades are bad, I can tutor you! As long as I help you study every day, you¡¯ll definitely get into high school! We¡¯re best friends¡ªhow could we be separated?!¡±


    Han Wenwen awkwardly stared at her best friend, thinking to herself,


    Lin Zhengran caught a glimpse of the hidden emotion behind Han Wenwen¡¯s smile, as if he could already see how this would end.


    Sure enough, after that day, He Qing began spending extra time tutoring Han Wenwen both in the dorms and on weekends. Han Wenwen, on the surface, seemed to be taking it seriously and did her best not to let He Qing¡¯s enthusiasm go to waste. But her grades barely improved.


    Of course, part of it was that Han Wenwen simply wasn¡¯t cut out for studying, but more importantly, she knew that even if she improved, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. What she needed now was the ability to support herself, and that worry constantly distracted her.


    So, when more than a month passed and the final exam results for their eighth-grade year came out, He Qing saw that Han Wenwen¡¯s scores had only improved by a tiny margin. She was so anxious she was on the verge of tears.


    Han Wenwen spent an entire night comforting He Qing in the dorms, promising that she would do better in the future. Only then did He Qing finally calm down, albeit reluctantly.


    During the summer break before ninth grade, Han Wenwen didn¡¯t return to her hometown in the south with He Qing. Instead, she made an excuse, saying that her uncle had come to the north and that she would be staying here for a while before heading back.


    So, He Qing had no choice but to take the high-speed train home alone.


    One day, Lin Zhengran was heading downstairs to buy something when he happened to see a certain at the residential gate, inquiring with the security guard:


    ¡°Grandpa, do you have the landlord¡¯s phone number? I¡¯d like to ask about renting a place here.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, she saw Lin Zhengran walking out of the residential complex. Their eyes met from a distance.


    For once, Han Wenwen looked genuinely shocked. She forced a smile at Lin Zhengran and immediately turned to leave.


    But Lin Zhengran called out to her, ¡°I know of a place where the rent is really cheap. It¡¯s close to the school, a bit small, but it might be perfect for you.¡±


    Han Wenwen, who had been ready to run, stopped in her tracks and turned back, surprised. She spoke honestly, holding up five fingers. ¡°But I only have 500 yuan.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had already expected this. ¡°No wonder you can¡¯t find a place. But that¡¯s actually enough.¡±


    Ever since his system showed that his had reached 40 six months ago, Lin Zhengran had noticed that as long as his request didn¡¯t inconvenience others, people would easily be inclined to help him.


    Thus, he led the unusually quiet Han Wenwen to a residential complex called and found the landlord in person to ask about renting a place for a month.


    At first, when the landlady saw two kids trying to rent an apartment, she immediately refused. ¡°You need an adult to come talk to me. And no deposit? Absolutely not¡ªI¡¯ve never done business like that.¡±


    Han Wenwen sighed. She had expected this response.


    But then Lin Zhengran spoke, and everything changed.


    ¡°Big sis, we¡¯re students from Xincheng First Middle School, and we¡¯re locals¡­¡±


    He casually explained their situation. Han Wenwen thought, She had been sweet-talking landlords for days but still hadn¡¯t found a place that didn¡¯t require a deposit.


    Yet, to her shock, after hearing Lin Zhengran¡¯s words, the landlady¡¯s face lit up with delight.


    ¡°Aiya, what a sweet-talking little cutie! And he even called me ¡®big sis¡¯~¡± She giggled, covering her mouth. ¡°Fine, fine, since you¡¯re so young, I won¡¯t ask for a deposit. But if we¡¯re signing a lease, an adult still has to be present.¡±


    Han Wenwen was stunned.


    Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t said anything special¡­ How did he pull this off?!


    Quickly catching on, she nodded eagerly, pretending to be surprised. ¡°That¡¯s no problem! I¡¯ll just tell my uncle. He¡¯ll be here in a few days.¡±


    Lin Zhengran followed up smoothly, ¡°Big sis, could we stay here for a few days first and have the adults sign the contract later?¡±


    The landlady chuckled again. ¡°Of course, of course! Since little cutie asked, how could I say no?¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled to himself.


    ¡°Thank you, big sis. You¡¯re the best.¡±


    The landlady blushed, looking delighted.


    ¡°Aiya, such a sweet-talking little guy~¡±


    She found them a safe, vacant room¡ªa single apartment about 30 square meters, with just a bedroom and a bathroom. Though small, it was spacious and clean, furnished with a simple wooden bed, a table, and a few chairs.


    The entrance had a security camera, so they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about safety.


    Handing the keys to Lin Zhengran, the landlady said, ¡°Make sure your guardian comes within a week to sign the lease. After that, you can stay as long as you need.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, big sis.¡±


    Once the landlady left, completely satisfied with the compliments, Han Wenwen dumbly took the keys from Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand.


    Lin Zhengran smiled. ¡°This is your place now.¡±


    She stood beside him, looking around at her very own space.


    A bright, amazed smile spread across her face, and for a moment, her eyes shimmered with an indescribable light. ¡°Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Then she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ¡°You don¡¯t happen to know that landlady, do you? Otherwise, why would she agree so easily?¡±


    Lin Zhengran kept a straight face and replied without hesitation, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m handsome and good at sweet-talking.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked, then suddenly burst into laughter. Tilting her head with a playful smile, she said, ¡°You quite handsome. The best-looking guy I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    She lay flat on the bare wooden bed, gazing at the cozy little room. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled with contentment. ¡°I feel so happy¡­ This is the first time in my life I¡¯ve had a space that¡¯s truly my own.¡±


    Lin Zhengran, sitting on the bed, raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s just a rental, not a house you bought.¡±


    Han Wenwen closed her eyes and smiled. ¡°Lin Zhengran, you wouldn¡¯t understand. Some things¡­ only I truly know their meaning.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blurted out, ¡°After sitting next to you for so long, I can take a pretty good guess. You¡¯re a who hates owing people favors. Living with your uncle must¡¯ve made you feel like you were constantly in debt. And the school dorms? Even worse.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes snapped open in shock, staring at him.


    A memory suddenly surfaced¡ªthe wish she had written during the :


    Lin Zhengran turned to her and added, ¡°So yeah, I guess this is space. Temporary, but at least it¡¯s your freedom.¡±


    Han Wenwen listened to his words in full, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.


    For a brief moment, the words flashed through her mind.


    But before she could linger on the thought, something else struck her.


    She suddenly sat up, confused. ¡°Wait¡­ Lin Zhengran, how do you even know about my uncle?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran hesitated before admitting, ¡°Last year, that day at the supermarket¡ªI happened to be passing by that street and overheard a bit. I just never told you.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes widened.


    For the first time, she felt completely exposed in front of someone.


    Hugging herself defensively, her face flushed red.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ you¡¯re bad¡­¡±

 Chapter 45: Becoming Independent

    Han Wenwen turned her head away, puffing out her cheeks like a sulky little fox. "Hmph! I''m never talking to Lin Zhengran again! You made me sound like a total clown!"


    Lin Zhengran gave her a bored look. "Why are you always acting cute? Anyway, are you renting this place because you want to be completely independent now?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s expression relaxed. She put her hands down, crossed her legs, and suddenly smiled tiredly.


    "Mm, I have to rely on myself. My aunt said they could support me until I graduate middle school, and I could keep asking them for money, but I¡­"


    She smiled, eyes curving. "But I really don¡¯t want to keep living at my uncle¡¯s place. It feels awful to be a burden. And for the sake of my uncle¡¯s family harmony, as an outsider, I should take the initiative to leave." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She placed a finger near her lips, speaking in a bright tone.


    "Think about it. Even my own mother abandoned me when I was little, but my uncle took me in. To me, his kindness is something I can never repay. Now that he has a girlfriend, and my aunt is even pregnant, how could I shamelessly continue staying there and taking their money? If I have even a little bit of sense, I shouldn''t drag them down anymore."


    Lin Zhengran hummed in response, but he knew this little fox was still too young. "If I were you, I¡¯d probably do the same. But judging by the place you rented¡­ making money isn¡¯t easy, huh?"


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes, looking confident. "This is the internet age! Even without a job, there are plenty of ways to make money. I earned this 500 yuan by posting fashion tips for girls!"


    Lin Zhengran recalled how she had been sneaking peeks at her phone, even on the school track. So that¡¯s what she had been up to.


    She leaned in toward Lin Zhengran. "Are you worried I¡¯ll go down the wrong path? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t repeat my mom¡¯s mistakes. Even if I starve, I¡¯d never do something like that."


    Lin Zhengran actually had no idea what had happened with her mother¡­ That was something Han Wenwen had just let slip.


    He exhaled slowly. "Want me to help you?"


    Han Wenwen was surprised. "Help me? How? You¡¯re not planning to lend me money, are you?"


    "Of course not. Give me a week. I¡¯m busy practicing songs with Jiang Xueli right now. I¡¯ll come find you after that and teach you how to make money. If you follow my lead, you¡¯ll definitely earn more than you would on your own."


    Han Wenwen stared at him in a daze. If any other guy had said this, she wouldn¡¯t have believed them. But coming from Lin Zhengran¡­ she didn¡¯t doubt him at all. She laughed.


    "Alright! Thanks, Lin Zhengran! Oh, and about what I said earlier¡ªyou have to keep it a secret, okay? Since you helped me rent this place, kept my secret, and even promised to teach me how to make money, I¡¯ll treat you to lunch today. How about hotpot?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not the type to blab other people¡¯s secrets."


    "I figured. Otherwise, how could you have kept this from me for so long?" Han Wenwen bit her lip, looking a little shy.


    "Since you¡¯ve already helped me this much¡­ can you do me one more favor? I need help moving my stuff. Some of it¡¯s too heavy for a girl to carry alone."


    She tugged on Lin Zhengran¡¯s sleeve and acted cute. "Zhengran-gege~ please?"


    ¡¾Today, you witnessed the attempting to leave the and venture into the martial world on her own. However, her cultivation is still weak, and she knows her limits.¡¿


    ¡¾Since she has given you elixirs before and helped , you choose to lend a hand. You help her find temporary shelter and teach her a martial technique. In return, she offers you a bowl of .¡¿


    ¡¾This rare secret technique causes intense burning pain when consumed, but greatly enhances cultivation and strengthens the body.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran raised four fingers. "I¡¯ll help you, but you have to treat me to hotpot four times."


    Han Wenwen blinked. "Four times?! But I don¡¯t have that much money¡­"


    "You don¡¯t even have enough for four hotpot meals? How were you planning to survive this summer? Earning and spending as you go?"


    Han Wenwen chuckled sheepishly.


    Lin Zhengran sighed and got up. "You¡¯re really bold, little fox. Fine, just get the soup base ready. I¡¯ll buy the ingredients."


    "Really?! Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re the best! Don¡¯t worry, when I have money, I¡¯ll treat you to a huge feast!"


    The two of them headed to the school to pick up her belongings.


    For Lin Zhengran, carrying a large bag of bedding felt no different than holding a bottle of water.


    Han Wenwen was stunned. "Whoa¡­ Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re so strong. I bet you could lift me with one hand!"


    By the time they moved everything into her rental, set up the bed, and unpacked, it was already late afternoon.


    The little fox had clearly been planning to move out for a while¡ªher things were surprisingly complete. She even had a kettle, a small frying pan, and a hairdryer.


    She placed the frying pan on the table, opened the packet of hotpot seasoning, and poured it in.


    Then, she pulled out two cans of beer from her bag and handed one to Lin Zhengran.


    "Here, one for each of us."


    Lin Zhengran took it but frowned at the can. "Wait a second. Don''t you tell me you and He Qing drink this in the dorms on weekends?"


    Han Wenwen, who was about to change clothes, froze. A drop of sweat rolled down her forehead as she turned back. "Of course not! Qingqing wouldn¡¯t drink this. I bought it. It¡¯s my first time trying it."


    With that, she grabbed a dress and headed to the bathroom to change.


    Before closing the door, she peeked at Lin Zhengran with her fox-like eyes. "Moving was exhausting, so I¡¯m changing into a skirt and a fresh top. Don¡¯t peek, Lin Zhengran~"


    "I¡¯m not that bored." He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.


    Han Wenwen blinked, thinking to herself,


    ¡¾You and the consumed a pot of together. Your cultivation level has greatly increased. Strength +3, Stamina +1.¡¿


    A week later, Han Wenwen¡¯s uncle and aunt arrived at the rental.


    When they saw that Han Wenwen had found a place on her own and had even paid the deposit, they were completely shocked.


    They signed the lease with the landlord, and during the process, the couple tried to secretly leave 5,000 yuan for Han Wenwen.


    But she refused, saying she could already make money online, and if she ever needed help, she would ask.


    Though she declined, her uncle and aunt seemed to feel guilty and left the money anyway.


    Standing in the hallway, Han Wenwen waved at them with a bright smile. "Bye, Uncle, Auntie! I¡¯ll be fine, don¡¯t worry about me!"


    Her uncle and aunt waved back as they left.


    Through the window, Han Wenwen watched them get into their car. Inside, they looked happy together with their newborn baby.


    A gentle smile formed on her lips.


    But maybe fate had other plans.


    The next morning, when Lin Zhengran finished helping Jiang Xueli and went to find Han Wenwen to teach her how to make money, he was met with an unexpected sight.


    The little fox, looking feverish and groggy, opened the door weakly.


    "Lin Zhengran¡­ you¡¯re here¡­"


    She barely got the words out before she lost her balance¡ªfalling straight into his arms.

 Chapter 46: The Feverish Little Fox

    Lin Zhengran reacted quickly, catching Han Wenwen before she could collapse.


    Leaning against his chest, Han Wenwen murmured, confused, "Why do I feel so weak? My legs feel so heavy¡­" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "And Lin Zhengran, you smell really nice¡­"


    Noticing her flushed cheeks, Lin Zhengran placed a hand on her forehead. It was burning hot.


    "You''re running a fever."


    Han Wenwen closed her eyes and stubbornly shook her head. "I don¡¯t think so. I was fine this morning¡­ Just suddenly feel a little tired."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t argue. He simply picked her up and placed her on the bed, pulling the blanket over her.


    Surprisingly, the little fox, usually so lively, lay there obediently, her fox-like eyes looking up at him, pitiful and droopy. If she had actual fox ears, they would be flattened against her head.


    "Where¡¯s your room key? I¡¯ll go downstairs and get you a thermometer and some fever medicine. If your fever gets too bad, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital."


    Her long hair spread out on the pillow, and in her quiet state, she looked especially beautiful. "You¡¯re overreacting¡­ The key is¡­ on me."


    She reached under the blanket, feeling around for a long time but failing to find it.


    Lin Zhengran lost patience. "Where is it? I¡¯ll get it myself."


    "In my skirt."


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, your skirt?"


    Han Wenwen lifted the blanket slightly, reached into the pocket of her short skirt, and pulled out the key, handing it to him. "Here, my skirt."


    Lin Zhengran, who had lived for so many years, learned something new that day¡­


    He took the key, tucked the blanket around her, and turned to leave.


    Han Wenwen hesitated before whispering, "Come back soon."


    "Got it. Just wait here."


    He went to the pharmacy downstairs and bought fever medicine, cold medicine, a thermometer, and some fruit. It was the middle of summer, and recovering from a fever in this heat wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    When he returned, Han Wenwen had curled into a ball under the blanket.


    Lin Zhengran closed the door and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"


    "Nothing¡­ Just waiting for you," she replied weakly, her fox-like eyes half-lidded.


    "I mean, why are you curled up like that?"


    Lin Zhengran set a kettle on the stove to heat some water and sat beside her, unpacking the medicine.


    The usual charm in Han Wenwen¡¯s demeanor was gone. She was weak and fragile, almost reminding him of He Qing. But there was a difference¡ªHe Qing would get shy, while Han Wenwen just kept watching him.


    After a long pause, she finally answered, "Oh¡­ I feel cold. Curling up makes me warmer."


    Lin Zhengran placed the thermometer under her arm. Han Wenwen flinched at the cold sensation and pouted, "Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re so mean~ This thing is freezing!"


    Ignoring her complaints, he asked, "Have you eaten lunch?"


    She nodded. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you sure?"


    Han Wenwen blinked. "Sure about what?"


    "I¡¯m asking if you ate lunch."


    She frowned and thought for a moment before answering, "I forgot¡­ Maybe not."


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    Fortunately, he was experienced enough to know that you had to ask a sick person the same question multiple times. Otherwise, she¡¯d take the medicine on an empty stomach and end up feeling worse.


    "I¡¯ll help you sit up and eat something first. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to take the medicine."


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t want to move, burying her face into the pillow. But she also knew her own condition, so she slowly pushed herself up¡ªonly to shiver from the effort.


    Lin Zhengran let her lean against him and covered her with the blanket.


    He unwrapped a piece of bread and peeled a banana, handing it to her. She ate slowly, resting against his arm.


    Suddenly, her phone chimed with a message.


    "Someone texted me¡­ Where¡¯s my phone?" She looked around.


    Lin Zhengran picked up the pink phone by her pillow and checked the screen.


    There were a ton of messages.


    Someone was asking if she had finished writing a makeup tutorial and how much it cost.


    Someone else was demanding to know when their mobile game account would be leveled up, complaining that she was too slow.


    Another person insulted her, saying the commissioned fanfic she wrote was garbage and demanding a refund.


    New messages kept popping up constantly.


    Lin Zhengran checked the timestamps and noticed that she had been replying to people at 3 or 4 AM¡ªnot just last night, but for several nights in a row.


    "You sure have a lot of side gigs," he commented. "How many nights have you gone without sleep?"


    Han Wenwen nibbled on her banana, her usually bright fox-like eyes looking vacant. "I been sleeping¡­ I just reply whenever I get a message, so I don¡¯t sleep for very long at a time."


    "I told you I¡¯d come in a week to teach you how to make money. Did you really have to grind this hard?"


    Han Wenwen exhaled wearily. "I''ve been looking for ways to make money for a long time. Nothing comes easy¡­ So¡­"


    She tossed the banana peel into the trash and stared at him.


    "I feel like even if you teach me, it won¡¯t be much different. Besides, I don¡¯t want to owe you too many favors. You¡¯ve already helped me a lot lately."


    Lin Zhengran set her phone aside. When she reached for it, he pulled it away.


    "Did you think I was helping you out of pure kindness?" He smirked. "I expect something in return, so don¡¯t worry about owing me favors. And don¡¯t underestimate me¡ªI guarantee you¡¯ll make way more with my help."


    Han Wenwen pouted, puffing up her cheeks. "Underestimating me~ Do you really think you¡¯re good, Lin Zhengran? We¡¯re the same age! I don¡¯t believe you can make more than I do."


    "Facts speak louder than words. I don¡¯t have time to argue with you right now. Just take your medicine first."


    He had planned to hand her the cup, but seeing how out of it she was, he decided to feed her instead.


    "I¡¯ll help you drink it."


    Han Wenwen started to reach for the cup but hesitated, her face turning a bit red¡ªwhether from the fever or something else, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    After swallowing the bitter medicine, she collapsed onto the bed with a groan.


    Lin Zhengran checked the thermometer¡ªnearly 39¡ãC.


    He shook the thermometer and placed it under her arm again. If her fever didn¡¯t drop soon, he¡¯d have to take her to the hospital.


    Luckily, the medicine worked quickly, and her temperature dropped to a little over 38¡ãC.


    Seeing that she had finally fallen asleep, Lin Zhengran got up to buy dinner.


    But the moment he stood, Han Wenwen suddenly grabbed the hem of his shirt.


    She opened her eyes slightly, looking pitiful. "Where are you going? Are you leaving me alone?"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯re still awake? I¡¯m just going to buy dinner. I¡¯ll be back soon."


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t let go. She looked up at him with a mix of hesitation and sadness. "I don¡¯t believe you¡­ My mom used to say that too, but after she left, she never came back. I know I¡¯m just a burden to you guys, but at least today¡­ Can¡¯t you stay with me a little longer?"


    Lin Zhengran gently pried her hand off and tucked it back under the blanket. "Who said everyone sees you as a burden? He Qing definitely doesn¡¯t. She¡¯s always considered you her best friend. I¡¯ll go get food. If your fever gets worse, I won¡¯t leave tonight."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes studied him skeptically. "Really?"


    "Really. Besides, I¡¯ve never thought of you as a burden." He smirked. "Just a little annoying sometimes. But I still consider you a friend."


    Han Wenwen smiled softly, finally closing her eyes.


    "Lin Zhengran¡­ do you know why I keep trying to set you up with Qingqing?"


    Her voice grew slower, like she was falling asleep.


    "Because as long as you two are together, I can be at peace. She¡¯s my only friend¡­ I¡¯ve broken up so many couples in my life, so this time, I don¡¯t want to. Even if you¡¯re my ¡­"


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "True destined one?"


    Han Wenwen cracked one eye open and grinned. "Oops, slip of the tongue. Not telling you what I just said~"

 Chapter 47: Half-Dreaming, Half-Awake Han Wenwen

    Han Wenwen seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. Lin Zhengran took the key, went downstairs, and came back with dinner.


    Judging by her current condition, her fever probably wouldn¡¯t go down tonight.


    So when he went out, he also called his parents to say he wouldn¡¯t be coming home tonight.


    Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun had always thought their son was braver than most boys his age, often doing things others wouldn¡¯t dare.


    ¡°Ranran, you¡¯re not coming home tonight? What are you up to?¡±


    ¡°Staying at a classmate¡¯s place. Their home¡¯s not far from ours. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli lowered her voice, asking curiously over the phone, ¡°It¡¯s not at Jiang Xueli¡¯s house, is it? That we can¡¯t agree to, Ranran.¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded, not exactly lying: ¡°No. Mom, what are you thinking? It¡¯s at another classmate¡¯s house. Their little fox is sick, so I¡¯m helping take care of it.¡±


    Dad Lin Yingjun gave an ¡°oh¡± and assumed the classmate was a boy.


    ¡°I see. You scared us. Making friends at your age is a good thing. If anything comes up, call us anytime. Let us know you¡¯re safe before bed, and be careful, okay?¡±


    ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Back at the rental apartment with the dinner in hand, Han Wenwen was still curled up on the bed like a cocoon. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She looked cautiously toward the sound of the door opening, only relaxing when she saw it was Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± she even greeted politely.


    ¡°Did you just wake up?¡±


    Han Wenwen opened her mouth like she was going to respond, but before she could speak, she closed her eyes again and drifted back to sleep.


    Lin Zhengran figured the cold medicine was kicking in. Plus, she hadn¡¯t slept properly in days, so now she was just in a half-awake daze.


    He sat beside her and started eating the dinner he¡¯d brought back.


    But he had only taken a few bites when he noticed Han Wenwen¡¯s hand reaching out and grabbing the corner of his shirt again. She furrowed her brows like she was searching for something in her dreams.


    Her curled-up sleeping posture and pained expression from the illness made all of her usual fox-like facade disappear.


    What was left was pure, raw emotion¡ªlike a little creature abandoned in the forest, alone and lost.


    Lin Zhengran gently took hold of her frantic hand.


    Her tense expression visibly softened into peace and contentment, and she held his hand in return, falling into a deeper sleep.


    The few hours after taking medicine were usually the most unconscious.


    That¡¯s when she began mumbling dream talk.


    While eating, Lin Zhengran listened quietly at her side¡ªhearing all sorts of things he¡¯d never be able to find out normally.


    Like how her mother didn¡¯t want her when she was born, and how she once overheard her aunt and uncle arguing about her over winter break.


    And¡­ the reason Han Wenwen had everyone in class thinking Lin Zhengran had a girlfriend.


    She murmured, ¡°Actually, the whole thing about the class thinking I¡¯m your girlfriend... that was on purpose.


    At first, I really was just trying to help Little Qingqing keep an eye on you. But later on, I started wanting to hang around you more and more.


    When people said I was your girlfriend, I didn¡¯t hate it at all...¡±


    ¡°I even got happy when they said it. I could¡¯ve explained that we weren¡¯t anything, but I didn¡¯t.


    I didn¡¯t even know what I was thinking. I don¡¯t even know when it started¡­ when I began liking you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s chewing slowed as he cast a disdainful look at this little fox.


    What is she even saying... liking me? That¡¯s absurd.


    Han Wenwen held his hand tighter and kept mumbling to herself:


    ¡°Maybe I liked you from back at the bus stop.


    From the first time I saw you, I already thought of you as my boyfriend.


    You¡¯re the only one who knows what I¡¯m really thinking...


    It¡¯s all that d*mn Lianxin Festival¡¯s fault.


    Made me care about you more and more... made me more and more curious about you¡­


    Until I realized I really was starting to like you.¡±


    ¡°Lianxin Festival?¡± Lin Zhengran muttered curiously. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    But Han Wenwen had already drifted off into more dream talk, mumbling about her childhood now.


    So Lin Zhengran pulled out his phone and looked it up.


    After reading Baidu¡¯s explanation, he was stunned.


    ¡°A festival for seeking romantic fate? This little fox is just a kid!¡±


    He sighed. Kids really shouldn¡¯t be running around celebrating random festivals for no reason. Especially when they¡¯re still underage¡ªwhat¡¯s the point of asking for romantic fate?


    Just asking for trouble.


    After a while, Han Wenwen suddenly opened her eyes like she had woken up. Her first words were:


    ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran? Did you leave?¡±


    Lin Zhengran was playing on his phone and looked over. ¡°Not yet. You awake?¡±


    Han Wenwen sluggishly sat up, but then realized one of her hands was missing¡ªwell, not missing, but being held.


    She turned and saw it was in Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand. Her face flushed slightly red.


    She quickly pulled it back, clutching the blanket with both hands, retreating to the corner of the bed, and stared at him, panicking.


    ¡°Scared~ Classmate Lin Zhengran, why are you holding my hand? What are you trying to do?¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless.


    ¡°You think I wanted to? You kept pulling at my shirt in your sleep. I had no choice but to control your hand.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked blankly, still not fully awake. ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡±


    Then she tried to defend herself: ¡°Still, you can¡¯t just hold a girl¡¯s hand like that.¡±


    She glared at him. ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran really isn¡¯t a good person~ you took my hand¡¯s first time.¡±


    ¡°What kind of ridiculous metaphor is that... Han Wenwen, you¡¯ve got issues.¡±


    Then he caught himself: ¡°Wait, no, you do have issues right now. You¡¯re sick.¡±


    Han Wenwen stared off blankly, then got off the bed and headed to the bathroom.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom. I can¡¯t hold it anymore. Classmate Lin Zhengran, don¡¯t peek.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t even consider her a normal person right now.


    Right after that, she opened the door again and said, ¡°Oh, and cover your ears. I¡¯m gonna pee.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°.....¡±


    Insane.


    ¡°Hurry up,¡± Han Wenwen stared him down. ¡°I really can¡¯t hold it.¡±


    So Lin Zhengran reluctantly covered his ears.


    To be honest, sick Han Wenwen didn¡¯t seem much different from a normal girl.


    Seeing him cover his ears, the little fox finally locked the door with peace of mind and used the bathroom.


    Afterwards, she came back and lay flat on the bed again.


    Staring at the ceiling, she muttered, ¡°So sleepy. My head really hurts...¡±


    Lin Zhengran handed her dinner. ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, eat a little and take your medicine. You¡¯ll probably be back to normal by tomorrow morning.¡±


    Then she¡¯d realize all the absurd things she said tonight.


    Han Wenwen, with her fox-like eyes, stared at him.


    Being sick had made her speak and act without thinking:


    ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran, why are you so good-looking?


    Back then, guys always said I was pretty and that they liked me. I never understood what they meant...


    But after seeing you, now I do. It¡¯s the feeling of wanting to make you mine.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°So are you going to eat or not?¡±


    Han Wenwen suddenly pouted. ¡°Why are you being so mean? I didn¡¯t do anything~


    Call me Wenwen and I¡¯ll eat.¡±


    Lin Zhengran felt like flipping the table.


    ¡°Eat or don¡¯t!¡±


    Han Wenwen bit her lip, then turned her back to him.


    ¡°So mean. I don¡¯t wanna talk to you anymore.¡±


    She paused, then clutched her head. ¡°Ugh, my head hurts so much.¡±


    Trying not to stoop to a sick person¡¯s level, Lin Zhengran still held the dinner and medicine out:


    ¡°Come on, eat. After you take the medicine, scoot over. Leave me some space. Do you think I don¡¯t need to sleep tonight?¡±


    No response.


    Reluctantly, Lin Zhengran muttered, ¡°Wenwen.¡±


    Han Wenwen turned back with surprise and smiled shyly, ¡°Didn¡¯t catch that.¡±


    That was it. Lin Zhengran, unable to hold it in, gave her a solid forehead flick.


    Finally, she behaved, obediently ate, took her medicine, and lay back down.


    She¡¯d cursed him for not being a good guy when she first woke up, but now, even in her sleep, she tried to hold his hand again.


    So Lin Zhengran grabbed a pillow to create a barrier between them¡ªyet she still tried to reach over it.


    He had no choice but to dodge.


    Han Wenwen kept feeling around. ¡°Where¡¯s the hand?¡±


    ¡°No hand. I didn¡¯t grow hands.¡±


    ¡°Liar. Classmate Lin Zhengran isn¡¯t a fish. You totally have hands. Where are they?¡±


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t grow them.¡±


    He growled, feeling her fingers touching all over his arm.


    ¡°You stinky fox! Take your hand off my arm! I said I didn¡¯t grow any!¡±


    ¡°Why are you so mean? And calling me names, too.¡±


    ¡°Stinky fox! I¡¯ll say what I want!¡±


    It was a maddening night.


    Even Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t know how he made it through peacefully with this fox by his side.


    Until the next morning, when daylight came.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fever had gone down quite a bit.


    But when she woke up and turned to see Lin Zhengran¡¯s sleeping face on the pillow next to her, the memories from the feverish night slowly returned.


    Her face instantly turned red.


    Her eyes stared at him in panic.


    For the first time in her life¡ªshe was blushing that hard.


    What the h*ll did I do last night while I had a fever...

 Chapter 48: Wenwen, He Spent the Night at Someone’s House

    Lin Zhengran was jolted awake by the movement beside him. He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head¡ª


    Only to see a completely frozen Han the Fox, huddled in the corner of the bed, her brain seemingly crashed.


    Lin Zhengran carefully observed her expression and movements, wary that she might still be acting like she did yesterday.


    Fortunately, his worst fears didn¡¯t come true.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes fluttered. Her memories were fragmented but still relatively clear¡ªshe had totally been acting spoiled with him last night¡­


    "L-Lin Zhengran, good morning!" Han Wenwen awkwardly waved, pressing her lips together in a nervous smile.


    Her expression was a complicated mix of emotions, hard to put into words.


    Lin Zhengran, however, let out a small sigh of relief and sat up.


    Last night, she had been so unbearable that he ended up letting her hold his hand until the latter half of the night, when he finally managed to slip away. His palm had even gotten sweaty from it.


    "You¡¯re finally back to normal? How do you feel today?"


    Han Wenwen did a quick self-check. "Much better than yesterday. I actually feel pretty refreshed after sleeping. Just a little sweaty."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the air conditioner, which was set to a comfortable temperature. "Sweating a bit is good. But don¡¯t take a shower yet¡ªwait until you¡¯re fully recovered."


    "Mm."


    Almost instinctively, Lin Zhengran reached out and touched her forehead.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s cheeks immediately flushed, but now that she was fully conscious, she quickly forced herself to suppress the reaction. She simply stared at him blankly.


    He gave a small nod. "Still a little warm. Summer fevers don¡¯t go away so easily. Let¡¯s check your temperature again."


    He got out of bed, grabbed a thermometer, and tossed it to her before heading to the bathroom to run the tap.


    Han Wenwen watched him move around naturally, completely unfazed.


    The moment he disappeared into the bathroom, she could no longer hold back her embarrassment.


    Covering her face with one hand, she inwardly cringed at herself.


    She placed the thermometer under her arm. Just as she was waiting for the reading, Lin Zhengran returned from the bathroom.


    He mentioned he was heading out to buy breakfast.


    Just as he was about to leave, Han Wenwen called out, "Yesterday¡­ Thanks for staying with me, Lin Zhengran, and for buying me medicine and food. If you hadn¡¯t, I might¡¯ve actually ended up in the hospital today."


    Lin Zhengran turned back to look at her. She gave him a bright, cheerful smile.


    "I really want to say ¡®don¡¯t mention it,¡¯ but after everything you did yesterday¡­."


    Han Wenwen he hadn¡¯t forgotten.


    Her face burned with embarrassment. She quickly held up a finger, putting on an innocent, playful look.


    "That was because I had a fever! People do weird things when they¡¯re sick. Just think of it as me owing you a favor. I¡¯ll make it up to you somehow!"


    "That¡¯s more like it. Just treat me to a few meals once you have money." Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "What do you want for breakfast? I¡¯ll go grab it downstairs."


    Han Wenwen thought for a moment and answered at the same time as him:


    "Baozi?"


    The two of them froze for a moment, stunned by their unintentional synchronization.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯d been this in sync.


    Lin Zhengran simply nodded. "Got it."


    Just as he turned the doorknob, Han Wenwen asked the question that had been eating away at her.


    "Lin Zhengran, besides me clinging to you yesterday, did I¡­ say anything else? You know, something that might¡¯ve really surprised you¡­?"


    She stared at him intently, afraid she might have let something slip that she absolutely shouldn¡¯t have. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The problem was, her mind had been caught somewhere between reality and dreams last night. She had no idea what parts were real and what were just her fevered imagination.


    Lin Zhengran thought back to what she had said yesterday afternoon¡ª


    Confessing that she liked him.


    Talking about the Lianxin Festival.


    "You said a lot. But nothing particularly shocking."


    Han Wenwen let out a small sigh of relief.


    But oddly enough, she also felt a tinge of disappointment.


    She never wanted to interfere with Lin Zhengran and Qingqing, but¡­


    If she confessed in that feverish state, what would his answer have been?


    "Oh, by the way, Lin Zhengran, even though I was a little out of control yesterday, I¡¯ve acted spoiled toward any other boy before. You¡¯re the first one."


    Lin Zhengran responded with a simple "Oh," before heading downstairs.


    Han Wenwen sat there in silence, listening to the sound of the door closing.


    Then, she muttered to herself, "No matter what I say, he never gets embarrassed. He really has zero interest in me, huh?"


    Her mind short-circuited for a while.


    Then, she quickly grabbed a mirror from the table and checked her reflection.


    An oval face, fox-like eyes, delicate lips¡ªher features were flawless.


    She she was exceptionally good-looking.


    Otherwise, so many guys wouldn¡¯t have liked her.


    Yet, she couldn¡¯t understand it.


    Pressing her hands against her cheeks, she frowned at the mirror.


    She pouted. "So is what it feels like when someone you like doesn¡¯t like you back¡­ Ugh, I hate it. What he like, anyway?"


    A while later, Lin Zhengran returned with the baozi, only to see Han Wenwen on a phone call with Little He Qing.


    Through the receiver, He Qing¡¯s voice was sweet and soft. "Wenwen, when are you coming back? It¡¯s been over a week already."


    Han Wenwen waved a hand at Lin Zhengran as he entered the room, trying to keep her tone casual with her best friend.


    "I don¡¯t know. My uncle is still busy here. It might take a while longer. I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m heading back."


    He Qing sighed. "Alright¡­ Oh, right!" Her voice suddenly turned urgent.


    "Wenwen, I talked to Lin Zhengran¡¯s mom yesterday! She said he wasn¡¯t home last night¡ªhe spent the night at a classmate¡¯s house!"


    Han Wenwen nearly choked.


    Her gaze flickered to Lin Zhengran, who was casually unpacking their breakfast. She leaned back against the bed awkwardly.


    "Really? Where could he have gone?"


    Lin Zhengran, of course, could hear the phone conversation perfectly well.


    But he simply acted like he hadn¡¯t.


    He Qing sounded nervous. "I have no idea! Aunt Lin said he stayed over at a classmate¡¯s house¡­ because of some injured animal?"


    Han Wenwen broke into a cold sweat.


    He Qing was suspicious. "Wenwen, you¡¯re in the same class as him. Does he even any close guy friends? I¡¯ve never heard of any. This is so weird. I¡¯m just worried that¡ª"


    She hesitated, then suddenly blurted out in a panicked voice:


    "¡ªWenwen! What if he actually spent the night at a house?! No way, right?! What if he was at Jiang Xueli¡¯s place?!"


    Her voice grew hoarse, as if she were on the verge of tears.


    Han Wenwen rushed to comfort her.


    "What are you even thinking, Qingqing? No way, absolutely not! You know Lin Zhengran. He would never do something like that!"


    Her fox-like brain went into overdrive.


    "As for close guy friends? He doesn¡¯t really have any. Maybe that¡¯s just an excuse? Who knows what he was actually doing.


    "Remember when he took the train to see you? He must¡¯ve made up an excuse to tell his parents then too, right?"


    He Qing sounded even more upset. "Wenwen, are you saying he go to another girl¡¯s house?! Otherwise, why would he lie?!"


    Han Wenwen turned her head to look at Lin Zhengran, who was calmly eating his breakfast.


    Slowly, she bit her lip.

 Chapter 49: Forming a Pact with Han Wenwen

    Han Wenwen felt guilty. "Anyway, Qingqing, I think you should just ask Lin Zhengran yourself. Otherwise¡­ I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to sleep tonight."


    He Qing nodded fervently on the other end. "Mm-hmm! I was thinking the same thing. I¡¯ll call him tonight and ask him properly. Thanks, Wenwen, I feel so much better after talking to you."


    felt better, but Han Wenwen felt more anxious than ever.


    "Don¡¯t overthink things. Lin Zhengran definitely wouldn¡¯t do something like that. Anyway, I¡¯ve got some things to take care of, so I¡¯ll hang up now, okay?"


    "Bye, Wenwen!"


    "Bye, Qingqing!"


    As soon as the call ended, Han Wenwen let out a deep breath of relief.


    But then, she forced a stiff smile and turned to the person next to her.


    "Lin Zhengran, if Qingqing calls you tonight, can you tell her you¡¯re at my place? Otherwise, she¡¯s definitely going to be mad at me."


    "I¡¯m not an idiot. But¡­"


    Lin Zhengran handed her breakfast. "Speaking of He Qing, last time on the track, you said that once we enter high school, you won¡¯t see me or He Qing anymore. Was that how you felt?"


    Han Wenwen took a bite of her meat bun.


    With her stomach no longer empty, she felt much more at ease.


    "Mm. I can¡¯t even handle making money and studying at the same time, let alone balancing both. And once Qingqing starts high school, she¡¯ll definitely make new friends. Same goes for you."


    She suddenly started chewing with a bit of jealousy.


    "You¡¯ll get a , deskmate. Who would still remember a little fox that used to sit beside you? You¡¯ll definitely forget me. Even the strongest friendships need effort to maintain."


    Lin Zhengran hummed. "That¡¯s true."


    Han Wenwen shot him a glare, then dramatically turned away.


    "Hmph! I you were the type to abandon friends for beauty. You¡¯re far from being a good man!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed. For some reason, that sentence felt really weird.


    "But didn¡¯t you also say He Qing is your friend? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a shame to just let go like that?"


    Han Wenwen clenched her fists, her tone lowering.


    "Of course, it¡¯s a shame. Qingqing is my best friend. If I could, I want to go to school with her."


    She turned to Lin Zhengran, her voice soft.


    "But¡­ what can I do?"


    Before she could react, Lin Zhengran suddenly reached out his hand.


    Han Wenwen blinked in confusion. "What¡¯s this for?"


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s tone was serious.


    "When I taught Jiang Xueli and He Qing, I followed a process. The condition was that they had to be and about following me for life. Only then did I agree to teach them.


    "If you¡¯re willing, I told you before¡ªI can teach you how to make money while improving your grades."


    Han Wenwen instinctively found it amusing, covering her mouth with a sly smile.


    "That sounds really interesting. What do you mean by ¡®willing to follow you for life¡¯? And just by following you, my grades will improve? I¡¯ll actually make a lot of¡ª"


    She cut herself off mid-sentence.


    Because when she met Lin Zhengran¡¯s gaze, she realized¡ª


    He wasn¡¯t joking.


    For once, he was completely serious.


    Her smile faded, and her fox-like eyes quivered slightly.


    "Lin Zhengran¡­ are you serious?"


    "What do you think? I¡¯m only offering once. If you¡¯re not willing, forget it¡ªI¡¯m already busy enough as it is."


    The moment he finished speaking, Han Wenwen placed her hand in his palm without hesitation.


    "As long as that means making money with you, or even if it means belong to you¡ªI¡¯m fine with either."


    She smiled at him, her delicate fingers intertwining with his, their hands clasped together.


    Her expression was mischievous, as if she was teasing him, making it impossible to tell if she was joking or not.


    But knew.


    She meant it.


    She was willing to follow Lin Zhengran no matter what. The cunning expression was just a mask.


    And Lin Zhengran knew she meant it too.


    Because the system only responded when someone followed him.


    [System Notification]


    [Special Event]


    +1 Spirit Level+3 Strength+3 Stamina+3 Endurance+3 Charisma


    [New Level 40 Skill Acquired ¨C "Something From Nothing"]


    Hearing the system¡¯s voice, Lin Zhengran¡¯s interest was piqued.


    Originally, he had just wanted to link his fortune with Han Wenwen¡¯s.


    But not only did it directly boost his level, it even granted him a cashback skill.


    He had planned to start making money after entering high school.


    Now, he had saved himself a lot of time.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at Han Wenwen, who looked carefree but was secretly blushing.


    "Then it¡¯s settled."


    Han Wenwen withdrew her hand, her face slightly red.


    "Okay."


    Even though they had made a deal, Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t in a hurry to start training her.


    After all, this little fox was still recovering from a fever.


    It wouldn¡¯t hurt to let her rest for a couple of days first.


    Lin Zhengran returned home, and as expected, He Qing called him.


    Her tone was cautious, probing.


    "Lin Zhengran¡­ where were you last night? I called, and Auntie said you weren¡¯t home. She said you spent the night at a classmate¡¯s place¡­ I was a little worried about you."


    Lin Zhengran lay on his bed, holding the phone.


    "What¡¯s there to worry about? I was just hanging out with a classmate."


    "H-Hanging out? Doing what?"


    "Huh?"


    "No! I mean¡­"


    On the other end, He Qing was sitting on her bed, nervously tracing circles on her knee. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "C-Can I ask¡­ was it a guy or a girl? Do I know them?"


    Lin Zhengran answered without thinking.


    "It wasn¡¯t a girl. What are you even imagining?"


    Technically, he wasn¡¯t lying.


    After all, foxes weren¡¯t "girls"¡ªthey were "vixens."


    "I wasn¡¯t imagining anything!" He Qing let out a huge sigh of relief.


    She never doubted Lin Zhengran, but hearing it from him made her feel at ease.


    "Oh, since it wasn¡¯t a girl, then it¡¯s fine! Hehe~ What are you doing now? Let¡¯s chat for a bit! I went to the supermarket with Mom today¡­"


    That night, He Qing happily chatted away with Lin Zhengran.


    She might¡¯ve been timid, but when it came to calling , she was bolder than anyone.


    Meanwhile, back in the rental apartment, Han Wenwen lay alone in bed, still feeling a little warm.


    Her pale hand gently stroked the pillow where Lin Zhengran had slept the night before.


    "He actually stayed with me the whole night¡­"


    Her face turned hot.


    "I think I¡¯m falling for Lin Zhengran more and more.


    "And just thinking about him talking to Qingqing right now¡­


    "I¡¯m even a little jealous."

 Chapter 50: Dreams

    On the third morning, Han Wenwen was woken up by her alarm clock.


    She opened her eyes, grabbed the thermometer from the table, shook it, and placed it under her armpit before getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.


    Before brushing her teeth and washing up, she checked the reading¡ª37.5¡ãC. A clear improvement.


    Even for someone like Han Wenwen, who was well-versed in matters of love, there was still a first time for everything.


    No girl wanted to show their worst side to the person they liked.


    Since she couldn¡¯t wash her hair or put on makeup while sick, she had to work with what she had¡ªmaking small improvements to her appearance however she could.


    For example, she took out her lip balm, gently rubbed it with her pinky, and carefully applied it to her lips.


    This way, it looked more natural, as if she hadn¡¯t done anything special, yet still had a visible effect.


    She also dampened her comb and tidied her hair a little before using some facial cleanser to freshen up her skin.


    After doing these seemingly insignificant tasks, she lay back on the bed, mumbling to herself,


    Sure enough, not long after, Lin Zhengran unlocked the door and walked in with breakfast.


    The spare key he was using had been given to him by Han Wenwen.


    Her reasoning? It was more convenient this way¡ªno need for her to get up and open the door.


    Of course, that excuse didn¡¯t hold up to scrutiny.


    "Awake?" Lin Zhengran stepped into the room, seeing Han Wenwen lying on the bed, watching him.


    She smiled, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction.


    "Mm, just woke up. What did you buy for breakfast? I feel like eating today."


    "You didn¡¯t say that two days ago. I just bought whatever."


    She pouted. "Then what you buy?"


    "Youtiao."


    Han Wenwen stared at him in a daze.


    Was this¡­ destiny?


    How magical.


    Lin Zhengran sat on the edge of the bed. Seeing that her complexion had improved and her lips were no longer dry, he asked, "How are you feeling these past two days? Did you check your temperature this morning?"


    "Other than struggling to sleep at night because my mind was all over the place, I feel pretty good. My temperature was 37.5¡ãC this morning."


    "Not bad. Still, you were thinking too much at night? Were you worrying about money again?"


    "If you feel clear-headed today, we can talk about your future plans."


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t respond immediately.


    Truthfully, she hadn¡¯t spent the past two nights thinking about making money at all.


    Every time she closed her eyes, she dreamed about .


    After a moment¡¯s pause, she finally replied, a little delayed, "Talk about my future? What do you mean? I thought I was just going to follow you."


    Lin Zhengran took a big bite of his , while Han Wenwen sat up slowly.


    "It¡¯s true that you¡¯ll be following me," he said. "But if you look at Jiang Xueli and He Qing as examples, you¡¯ll understand¡ªI won¡¯t force you to do something you don¡¯t like.


    "Tell me what kind of work you¡¯d like to do, and I¡¯ll help you get better at it and make more money along the way."


    Han Wenwen was caught off guard.


    This wasn¡¯t what she had expected.


    She had assumed that "following Lin Zhengran" meant helping him run a street stall or assisting with some odd jobs.


    Leaning against the bed, she tilted her head and chuckled.


    "Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re really amazing? You mean I can do I want, and you¡¯ll help me make money from it?"


    "Yeah. That¡¯s why I always say, you guys are lucky to have a friend as awesome as me."


    Han Wenwen laughed, hugging her knees as she thought about it.


    "You know, I never really considered this before. I always assumed making money was hard, and most people don¡¯t even have the right to choose their jobs."


    Lin Zhengran leaned back against the bed beside her. Their shoulders were close enough to touch.


    "Let¡¯s reframe the question. Do you have a ? Or something you want the most?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s mind flashed through memories of her life so far.


    For a moment, she didn¡¯t know how to answer.


    After a pause, she looked at him with rare sincerity.


    "I¡¯ve always wanted a real home of my own.


    "To spend my life with the person I love.


    "Maybe even have a few little foxes with him."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s chewing slowed.


    "¡­Huh?"


    Han Wenwen continued smiling.


    "But that was my childhood dream.


    "After elementary school, I stopped thinking about it. I figured I¡¯d never meet someone I¡¯d actually like.


    "But now that you asked, I guess¡­ that dream is still the same."


    Because only this year did Han Wenwen realize¡ª


    She fall for someone.


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze and slowly asked,


    "¡­So¡­ what does that have to do with my question?


    "How the hell is that a ?"


    Han Wenwen looked at him, utterly unimpressed by his lack of romantic insight.


    She glanced up at the ceiling, holding her face in her hands as she thought.


    "Okay, fine. As for work¡­ I want a job where I can make money without leaving my house."


    She grinned. "Since you said I could pick anything, I want a job where I can just play games every day and still make money!"


    "Wow. Your dream is original," he deadpanned.


    "What? Is that not allowed? You might not believe it, but even though I seem outgoing, I¡¯m actually a homebody."


    She played with her fingers.


    "I love reading novels, playing games, and watching movies. That¡¯s why I always say I don¡¯t have any real talents."


    Lin Zhengran asked if she had a notebook and pen.


    Han Wenwen pulled out her schoolbag and handed them to him.


    He wrote down several job options.


    Han Wenwen peeked at the paper and saw a list of different online jobs.


    "I figured as much," Lin Zhengran said.


    "You¡¯ve tried all sorts of online side gigs before¡ªboosting accounts in games, writing fanfiction, making fashion tip videos.


    "But you never considered doing something like running a business.


    "So I already had a good idea of what kind of job would suit you."


    He passed her the list.


    "I wrote down a few ways to make money online. See if any of them interest you."


    Han Wenwen scanned the list and instinctively pointed at one.


    "If we¡¯re talking about what I ¡­ this one.


    "I actually tried it before, but I never made any money, so I gave up."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her choice.


    "Game streamer?"


    "Yep."


    "Huh. That technically a job where you get paid to play games at home."


    Lin Zhengran thought about it.


    "You know, this might actually suit you.


    "You don¡¯t like going out, you like gaming, and if you start streaming, your looks and voice alone will be a huge advantage."


    He suggested, "We can start by posting some voice-over videos first. Once we build an audience, we¡¯ll move to live streaming."


    Han Wenwen looked at him doubtfully.


    "But I suck at games.


    "I tried streaming for a few days, and I realized that in the gaming world, nothing else matters¡ª is the most important thing.


    "If you¡¯re bad, viewers will start flaming you."


    Lin Zhengran stood up.


    "That¡¯s easy to fix. I¡¯ll teach you how to play.


    "My dad has a PC in his study.


    "Get some rest this morning, and in the afternoon, I¡¯ll take you to my place so we can practice."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Going to house¡­?


    She forced herself to act nonchalant.


    "Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re so serious about this.


    "But I just picked something random. Can we make money from this? I don¡¯t have much cash left."


    "As you said, might not be able to.


    "But with here, that¡¯s another story."


    Han Wenwen gazed at him in a daze.


    She suddenly gripped her blanket tighter.


    Then, she asked the same question again¡ª


    "Since you¡¯re so capable, do you think could come true?"


    Lin Zhengran exhaled.


    "As much as I don¡¯t want to answer this¡­ if that¡¯s really your dream, as a good friend, I just hope it happens for you someday." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Wenwen covered her mouth, laughing brightly.


    "If that day ever comes, I¡¯ll be sure to thank you properly, Lin Zhengran."

 Chapter 51: Hubby, Ranran Brought Another Girl Home Again

    Han Wenwen had a sweet nap at the rental place around noon.


    With Lin Zhengran there, she always felt more at ease, even when sleeping.


    In the afternoon, she checked her temperature again¡ªbasically back to normal.


    Han Wenwen said she wanted to take a shower first and pick out some nice clothes;otherwise, she couldn¡¯t possibly go to Lin Zhengran¡¯s house like this.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t think it was that serious.


    ¡°Shower? Aren¡¯t you worried the cold will come back? You¡¯re just going over to my place to hang out. Just tidy up a bit, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Wearing slippers, Han Wenwen headed to the bathroom. ¡°Then can I at least wash my hair? It¡¯s my first time going to a boy¡¯s house, you know, I¡¯m kinda shy.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a dry laugh. No point in arguing.


    ¡°If you wash your hair, make sure to blow-dry it. If you get a fever again, I¡¯m not staying up another night with you.¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled at him, ¡°Got it. Thanks for caring so much, Classmate Lin Zhengran.¡±


    Inside the bathroom, with the door closed, Han Wenwen blushed and took a deep breath.


    She was going to Classmate Lin Zhengran¡¯s house¡­ to meet his parents...


    No one could imagine how nervous the little fox felt at that moment.


    She finished washing and blow-drying her hair, then changed into a skirt that covered her thighs and an off-shoulder short-sleeved top.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fashion style was totally different from He Qing¡¯s.


    One always looked pure and sweet no matter what she wore, the other looked pretty and charming regardless.


    Just based on appearances, no one would guess these two were besties.


    As they made their way to Lin Zhengran¡¯s house, Han Wenwen with her long hair flowing drew glances wherever she went.


    People couldn¡¯t help but marvel:


    Lin Zhengran was already used to the jealousy from his peers.


    Since it was Saturday, Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun were off work, cuddling on the couch watching TV.


    At home, Lin Xiaoli always acted like a gentle little bird, curled up against her husband, playing with his hand.


    When she heard the knock on the door, she asked curiously, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    From outside, Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°Ranran¡¯s back? Why¡¯re you home so early today?¡± Lin Xiaoli got up to open the door, just about to ask why he was back so soon¡ª


    But the moment she opened the door, she saw Han Wenwen standing next to him.


    That stunningly pretty fox-like face made Lin Xiaoli freeze in surprise.


    Her brain short-circuited while she stood there dazed, internally muttering:


    It was rare to see Han Wenwen this nervous. She offered a polite smile and half-bow: ¡°Hello Auntie, I¡¯m Han Wenwen. I¡¯m Lin Zhengran¡¯s classmate and desk-mate.¡±


    ¡°Oh, desk-mate huh. Hello, Little Wenwen...¡±


    Lin Xiaoli examined Han Wenwen and instinctively turned around in a panic, calling out:


    ¡°Hubby! Hubby, come here! Ranran¡¯s home! Hurry!¡±


    Still watching TV, Lin Yingjun responded, ¡°Yeah yeah, he¡¯s home, so what? Why are you yelling?¡±


    He turned off the TV and walked over.


    The moment he saw the beautiful Han Wenwen, the couple¡ªbeing a true couple¡ªwere both struck dumb.


    In a hushed voice, Lin Yingjun said, ¡°Brought another girl home¡­ that¡¯s the third one...¡±


    Lin Zhengran was confused. ¡°Mom, Dad, what are you two staring at?¡±


    He waved at Han Wenwen, ¡°Come on in. I¡¯ll take you to my dad¡¯s study.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then he told Lin Yingjun, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not using the computer today, right? I¡¯m gonna use it with a classmate for a bit.¡±


    Han Wenwen also gave Lin Yingjun a polite nod, ¡°Hello Uncle, I¡¯m Han Wenwen. Sorry for bothering you and Auntie today.¡±


    ¡°Hello, hello¡­ not a bother at all...¡±


    The little fox took off her shoes and followed Lin Zhengran into the study. The door closed.


    Meanwhile, in the quiet living room, the couple still hadn¡¯t snapped out of their daze.


    After a long while, Lin Xiaoli nudged her husband¡¯s belly with her elbow.


    ¡°Do you think Ranran¡¯s getting a little out of hand? Who does he take after? I, as his mom, only ever had one relationship.¡±


    Lin Yingjun looked at her, gulping, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Sure, you can say he got my handsome looks, but not part. I¡¯ve only ever dated you.


    Besides, our son is very traditional. They¡¯re probably just friends. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡±


    ¡°Even if they¡¯re just friends¡­ can¡¯t he have some guy friends too? Why are they all pretty girls...¡±


    Lin Xiaoli muttered curiously, ¡°Honey, do you think that pretty girl named Han Wenwen¡­ do Little He Qing and Little Xueli know about her?¡±


    Lin Yingjun clicked his tongue. ¡°Hard to say. But if they do¡­ I don¡¯t even want to imagine the scene.¡±


    The two exchanged a look and sighed in unison.


    In the study, Han Wenwen saw Lin Zhengran sit down at the computer desk.


    Thinking of what Uncle Lin said earlier, she asked, ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran, just now your uncle and aunt¡­¡±


    He booted up the computer. ¡°You think my parents¡¯ reaction was a little over the top, right?


    It¡¯s fine. The more you come over, the less they¡¯ll care. They were the same when Jiang Xueli came the first time. They¡¯ll get used to it.¡±


    Han Wenwen gave a helpless smile.


    Lin Zhengran launched a game and told Han Wenwen to take a turn while he watched.


    The games in this world were basically the same as the ones in his original world.


    Ten-player competitive games dominated the market.


    Before starting, Han Wenwen warned, ¡°Just saying¡ªI¡¯m kinda trash at this.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t mind. ¡°No worries. You¡¯re just playing against bots. How bad could it be? Unless you¡¯re¡­¡±


    Thirty minutes later, Han Wenwen¡¯s bot match score was 0¨C17.


    She died almost immediately every time she left spawn.


    When the victory screen finally popped up, she beamed, ¡°We won!


    Even though it was mostly my teammates carrying, I still had a few crucial plays, right? That round felt pretty good.¡±


    The little fox looked over at Lin Zhengran¡¯s dark expression and playfully asked, ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran, why does your face look so scary?¡±


    Lin Zhengran took a deep breath and stared at her seriously.


    ¡°No wonder your live streams never made money. With skills like that, even the dead skin on my heel plays better than you.


    Viewers probably thought you were trolling on purpose.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox eyes and pulled a bottle of lotion from her pocket.


    ¡°This gets rid of dead skin, y¡¯know.¡±


    ¡°Son of a¡ª!¡±


    Lin Zhengran launched into a savage critique of that bot match.


    Han Wenwen was stunned as she listened, mumbling under her breath, ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran¡¯s so fierce~¡±


    He paused mid-rant and glared at her. ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡±


    Han Wenwen, sweating, covered her face with one hand.


    ¡°Nothing, keep going. I¡¯m listening.¡±


    Lin Zhengran explained in detail, even teaching her hands-on.


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t understand at first, but as he got serious about coaching her, her thoughts started to click.


    ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s how it works! And what was that trick you said, Classmate Lin Zhengran?¡±


    ¡°Every game has techniques. This one¡¯s no different...¡±


    As he spoke, she took careful notes in her little notebook.


    Despite being a terrible player, she was serious about learning and wrote down every position, tip, and strategy he mentioned.


    She¡¯d tried learning this stuff online before but never improved.


    Now, under Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance, she found she could actually remember and her learning speed skyrocketed.


    Finally, after a few practice rounds, in the last bot match of the day¡ªHan Wenwen popped off.


    Score: 32¨C0.


    When the victory message flashed on screen, she cheered like she was soaring through the sky, completely overjoyed.


    She even felt like a pro playing against bots!


    ¡°We won! I¡¯m amazing!¡±


    She looked at Lin Zhengran with sparkling eyes.


    ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re awesome! I¡¯ve played so many times before and never got it. But today, I suddenly got so good!¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled in satisfaction.


    Good thing he was the one teaching¡ªwith all his double skill buffs.


    Otherwise¡­ this little fox really had no hope of making it as a game streamer.


    He reassured her, ¡°You¡¯re improving. Over the next month, I¡¯ll train you every day.


    In about a month, you¡¯ll be good enough to put out clips.


    Then with voiceovers¡ªyour voice plus solid gameplay¡ªeven just edited videos should earn you money.¡±


    Han Wenwen was hyped.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll come find Classmate Lin Zhengran tomorrow!


    My fever¡¯s mostly gone, and after that last round, I really feel like I can earn money playing games!¡±


    Lin Zhengran shot her down.


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t come tomorrow or the day after. I¡¯m spending those days helping Jiang Xueli with her singing practice.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s happy face instantly went blank.


    She puffed her cheeks, turned away, and muttered coldly, ¡°Classmate Lin Zhengran sure is busy.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. ¡°What¡¯s with that weird face?¡±


    Han Wenwen turned back, her fox-like eyes locking onto him.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you tell I¡¯m jealous?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°Yeah, and clearly, your fever¡¯s not gone.¡±


    Before they knew it, a month of training flew by, and more than half of summer break had quietly passed.

 Chapter 52: First Pot of Gold

    Over the past month, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t split his time evenly between Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli.


    He spent about four days a week with the little fox, while the remaining three days were with Jiang Xueli. After all, Han Wenwen was just getting started in the gaming scene and had a lot to learn.


    As for He Qing, they mostly just chatted over the phone at night¡ªhe didn¡¯t really spend time with her.


    But as the saying goes, hard work pays off.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s gaming skills finally progressed from being unable to beat AI bots to dominating casual matches, and eventually, she started climbing the ranked ladder. In just one month, under Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance, she had already reached the Emerald rank.


    In the ten-player battle royale ranking system, the divisions were Iron, Bronze, Silver, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Transcendent, and King.


    Beyond King, there was an exclusive peak region, a battlefield where top-tier streamers gathered, making it the most entertaining place for high-level random matchmaking.


    Although Han Wenwen wasn¡¯t skilled enough to enter that peak region yet, reaching Emerald in just one month was already impressive.


    Lin Zhengran instructed her to create a video account.


    "Your skills aren¡¯t at a crazy level yet, but you can still make some videos. In this industry, content isn¡¯t just about skill¡ªentertainment value is just as important."


    As he finished speaking, he looked at the highly charismatic Han Wenwen sitting beside him and realized he didn¡¯t even need to explain this to her.


    Han Wenwen set up the account and sat at the desk. "So next, I just edit a few clips, add some voiceovers, and upload them?"


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Streaming takes time to build up. Even the best streamers need consistency to grow their audience. For now, just focus on short videos to build a following. Once you have a solid fan base, you can transition into live streaming."


    Han Wenwen hummed in agreement and began recording voiceovers under his supervision.


    While she wasn¡¯t much of a singer, her voice was naturally alluring and playful.


    After listening to a few clips, Lin Zhengran was certain¡ªthis little fox was bound to blow up.


    Making money was only a matter of time.


    As they chatted, Lin Xiaoli knocked on the door and walked in, holding two glasses of freshly squeezed juice.


    "Xiao Wenwen, Ranran, I made some juice for you two. Try it and tell me how it tastes."


    Being incredibly socially adept, Han Wenwen immediately stood up to accept the drink.


    To her, gaming was important, but getting Lin Zhengran¡¯s parents to like her was more important.


    "Thank you, Auntie. I really appreciate your hospitality these past few weeks."


    Lin Xiaoli smiled and handed her the drink. "Oh, not at all! Your uncle and I love having you over. By the way, Xiao Wenwen, which face mask did you recommend last time?"


    "Oh! The one I used before! Let me find it for you."


    Han Wenwen set down the juice and pulled out her phone, eagerly discussing beauty products with Lin Xiaoli.


    Lin Zhengran, sitting on the side, found himself completely ignored.


    Han Wenwen lightly held Lin Xiaoli¡¯s arm and sweet-talked, "Auntie, you¡¯re already gorgeous with great skin. If you take just a little extra care, you¡¯ll be absolutely stunning..."


    Lin Xiaoli shyly covered her face. "Xiao Wenwen, you¡¯re too good at flattery! That mask you gave me last time worked wonders¡ªyour uncle even complimented my skin!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed internally. This fox really had a natural talent for charming elders.


    Thinking back, he realized that although his mother had known He Qing and Jiang Xueli for a long time, she had only occasionally asked, "Why haven¡¯t they come over to play lately?"


    But in contrast, ever since Han Wenwen started visiting, his mother had asked him at ten times:


    At this point, they had practically become best friends despite the age gap.


    On Jiang Xueli¡¯s side, nothing particularly eventful had happened. She had been focused on practicing her singing, though there weren¡¯t many performance opportunities in their small town.


    Most of the time, when Lin Zhengran visited her house for lessons, he ended up just catching up on sleep instead.


    He¡¯d lie on her bed, listening to her play guitar and sing.


    "Big dummy, how was my practice just now?"


    Lin Zhengran rolled over and tugged the blanket closer.


    Jiang Xueli blushed and huffed, "Are you using my place as a hotel?!"


    Lin Zhengran finally responded, "Relax, I wasn¡¯t ignoring you. You¡¯ve improved a lot lately. But right now, we¡¯re still in the preparation phase¡ªwe need a small breakthrough opportunity before you can stand out. Until then, just focus on mastering what I¡¯ve already taught you."


    Jiang Xueli pouted and playfully punched his back. "That¡¯s such a lazy answer! When are you going to teach me something new?"


    "When you get into an actual competition. Now stop distracting me and keep practicing¡ªI¡¯m taking a nap."


    Jiang Xueli huffed again but continued playing her guitar, thinking to herself,


    She smiled as she strummed.


    "Big dummy, so annoying~ I don¡¯t get what¡¯s so special about my bed, but he always naps here."


    That morning, Han Wenwen logged into the app¡¯s backend and was shocked¡ªher videos had suddenly gained a ton of comments!


    Just a few days ago, there had barely been any activity. But today, the platform¡¯s algorithm seemed to have boosted her content to the homepage. Likes and follows were pouring in nonstop.


    She scrolled through the comments:


    [Is this really her voice?!]


    [Whoa, a girl with gaming skills this good? And her voice is so nice! Followed.]


    [When¡¯s the live stream? This has to be a voice changer, right? I bet she¡¯s actually a guy.]


    [This video is hilarious! Take my donation¡ªI love it. More content, please! I wanna be an OG fan!]


    Within a single night, she had gained over 4,000 new followers, bringing her total past 5,000!


    Han Wenwen checked her earnings from donations and video plays.


    She sat on her bed, eyes wide, counting out loud:


    "1,613 yuan! Almost 2,000! That¡¯s more than I made working part-time jobs before!"


    Beaming with excitement, she immediately called Lin Zhengran to share the good news.


    Then, she invited him to dinner. "Lin Zhengran, I can finally pay you back for that hotpot! Let¡¯s clear my debt today!"


    She jumped out of bed and started changing. "I¡¯ll go buy ingredients now. Come over tonight¡ªI wanna celebrate!"


    There was no reason to turn down a dinner invitation from the fox.


    After all, the system recognized this as a golden opportunity.


    That night, Han Wenwen bought a feast¡ªbeef, lamb, tripe, and even two cans of beer.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "The extra food is one thing, but why the beer?"


    Han Wenwen grinned. "I¡¯m just a little happy today. I¡¯ll only have a tiny bit. Besides, you¡¯re here to watch over me, right?"


    Seeing how excited she was, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t argue.


    As they ate hotpot, Han Wenwen happily recounted the moment she saw her earnings and the comments that made her laugh.


    But after finishing just one can of beer, her cheeks were already flushed, and she was getting a little tipsy.


    Then, out of nowhere, she started saying things unrelated to today¡¯s success:


    "Lin Zhengran, you know... The happiest times in my life were, first, when I met Xiao Qingqing¡­ and second, this summer, when you helped me make money."


    "It¡¯s just 1,600 yuan. Also, why are you clinging to my arm? Are you really drunk off one can?"


    Han Wenwen rested her head on his shoulder, her expression hazy. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯m not just happy about the money¡­ The most important thing is that, when I was at my lowest, you were the one who pulled me up. You¡¯ve always been there for me."


    Her voice softened as she closed her eyes.


    "But... school is starting soon¡­ and then I¡¯ll have to help Xiao Qingqing chase after you again."


    Lin Zhengran glanced down. She had already fallen asleep, still clutching his arm.


    He sighed and continued eating his hotpot, deciding not to disturb her.


    But just when he thought she was truly asleep, Han Wenwen opened her eyes a little.


    Her pupils trembled, and she clutched his arm even tighter.

 Chapter 53: He Qing’s Decision

    The next morning, Han Wenwen lay on her bed wearing denim shorts and an off-shoulder top, scrolling through her video stats.


    "Lin Zhengran, how does this video algorithm work? My previous videos barely got any views for over ten days, but yesterday, my new one suddenly exploded! It''s about to hit a million plays!"


    Lin Zhengran, having kicked off his shoes, sat on her bed and explained,


    "As long as the video quality is good, the platform will occasionally push some traffic your way. The key is whether you can hold onto it. If you keep up the quality, your fanbase will keep growing. But if it¡¯s just a one-hit wonder, you¡¯ll only make some quick cash."


    After finishing his explanation, he noticed Han Wenwen propping up her face with both hands, staring at him with sparkling admiration.


    This little fox had done this in class before¡ªresting her chin on her hands, gazing at him with a teasing look, as if she just wanted to mess with him.


    If it were any other guy, they¡¯d probably be flustered beyond words, stammering under her gaze.


    But Lin Zhengran just gave her a weird look.


    "You¡¯ve been on the internet for so long, and you know how video algorithms work? Also... is it just me, or are your clothes getting shorter at home?"


    Han Wenwen glanced down at her denim shorts and first answered his initial question.


    "I didn¡¯t really understand video stuff before, but I looked it up last night, so now I do."


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. "Then why ask me?"


    Han Wenwen squinted her eyes playfully, smiling.


    "Because I just wanted to talk to the amazing Lin Zhengran~ I actually realized how impressive you were back when Jiang Xueli performed. You taught Xiao Qingqing Taekwondo, you taught Jiang Xueli how to sing, and now, you¡¯re insanely good at games too."


    She admitted without hesitation, "I how bad I was before. That¡¯s why I never considered making money from gaming. But in just one month, my improvement has been insane. If things keep going like this, won¡¯t I become a little rich lady soon?"


    Lin Zhengran simply looked at her.


    Han Wenwen finally answered his second question.


    "Oh, I dress like this because it¡¯s hot. Besides, girls always wear comfy clothes at home. No one likes wearing heavy, bulky dresses indoors."


    "But I¡¯m still here."


    Han Wenwen blinked innocently. "So what? Does that mean Lin Zhengran would have improper thoughts just because I¡¯m dressed like this? I remember you once said you wouldn¡¯t be interested in girls our age. Does that mean..."


    She bit her lip and stared at him teasingly.


    "Lin Zhengran, were you lying before?"


    Lin Zhengran regretted even bringing it up. He handed her phone back.


    He still didn¡¯t react much, but Han Wenwen blushed slightly and softly added, "Oh, and don¡¯t worry¡ªI wouldn¡¯t wear this outside. It¡¯s just for you to see."


    Her voice was sincere, completely different from her teasing tone earlier.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her, then grabbed his backpack. "Hold out your hand. I got something for you."


    "Huh? What is it?" Han Wenwen obediently held out her hand, a little nervous and curious. "Is it a gift? But today isn¡¯t a special occasion."


    Lin Zhengran placed a math and Chinese textbook in her hands. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Wenwen looked confused. "Textbooks? What¡¯s this for?"


    Lin Zhengran smiled innocently. "Obviously, it¡¯s for studying. You¡¯ve made money now, but we haven¡¯t started studying like we planned."


    Han Wenwen, the honorary representative of academic struggles, froze.


    This was her ultimate weakness.


    She gave a stiff smile, tilting her head. "But there are still a few days before school starts. Shouldn¡¯t we be making more videos?"


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Of course we could¡ªunless you don¡¯t want to go to college with He Qing."


    Han Wenwen immediately slumped over, hugging her knees.


    "I¡¯m not happy~ I suck at studying. I¡¯m not even as good at it as I am at games."


    Lin Zhengran, full of confidence, pulled out a few worksheets and handed them to her.


    "Relax, with me here, this will be easy."


    Han Wenwen stared at him.


    "Fine, fine. Let¡¯s study."


    For the last few days of summer vacation, Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran put their gaming videos on hold. Since they had already recorded a bunch, they only needed to upload one every few days to stay active.


    The rest of the time was dedicated to intensive studying.


    To Han Wenwen¡¯s surprise, everything felt different with Lin Zhengran teaching her.


    Her problem-solving process became crystal clear, and her memorization speed skyrocketed!


    Even though He Qing had always been a top student¡ªranking in the top five of their class¡ªHan Wenwen had never improved much under her tutoring.


    But Lin Zhengran¡¯s explanations, while seemingly the same as He Qing¡¯s, somehow just in her brain, as if her mental circuits had finally connected.


    Every time she had a breakthrough, she gasped in amazement.


    "Ohhh! So how you do it! I get it now! Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re amazing! You explain things even better than the teachers!"


    After a few days, Lin Zhengran gave her a mock test.


    Han Wenwen bit the tip of her pen, carefully filling in the answers.


    When Lin Zhengran graded it, he was genuinely surprised.


    "Not bad. 65 points¡ªway better than your previous 30."


    Han Wenwen could hardly believe it.


    She had never felt smart when it came to academics. But now?


    Her eyes widened with excitement. "Really?! Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re incredible! With you, everything just "


    Happy days always pass quickly.


    And just like that, summer break ended.


    Everyone was promoted to the next grade.


    When He Qing returned from the south and reunited with them, a new romantic battlefield was set to begin.


    The four of them went to check the class assignments.


    To their surprise¡ª


    He Qing and Jiang Xueli were still in the same class.


    And Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran?


    Also still deskmates.


    The little fox was over the moon.


    Meanwhile, He Qing and Jiang Xueli exchanged subtle glances.


    Surprisingly, neither of them made a move immediately.


    One Saturday, He Qing sat in the dormitory, holding Han Wenwen¡¯s recent mock exam results in both hands, utterly shocked.


    "Wenwen¡­ since school started, your grades have improved much! You¡¯ve scored above 80 multiple times now!"


    Han Wenwen sat on the bed with her, thinking,


    She linked arms with He Qing and smiled.


    "I told you, I¡¯d go to high school with you. How could I break my promise?"


    "I don¡¯t know how you did it, but I can tell you¡¯ve been working really hard."


    He Qing took a deep breath, her petite chest rising and falling.


    She looked like she was about to make a major decision.


    Han Wenwen tilted her head. "What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?"


    Then, He Qing stood up, her expression unusually serious.


    She bit her lip, clenched her small fists, and shut her clear, almond-shaped eyes for a moment¡ªgathering her courage.


    "Wen¡­ Wenwen, I¡¯ve made up my mind! I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a long time. And seeing how hard you¡¯ve worked made me realize¡ªI can¡¯t keep hesitating. I can¡¯t drag this out any longer! Otherwise, more and more girls will keep showing up around him!"


    She opened her eyes, her voice firm.


    "I¡¯ve decided¡­ I¡¯m going to confess to Lin Zhengran at the end of this semester! I want to be with him!"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s smile froze.


    Her pupils trembled.


    "...What?"

 Chapter 54: From Twice a Month to Once Every Three Weeks

    The air seemed to freeze.


    Han Wenwen almost thought she had misheard and asked again, "Xiao Qingqing¡­ what did you just say?"


    That brief moment of courage He Qing had earlier was completely gone¡ªshe couldn''t bring herself to say it again.


    Her face turned red as she fidgeted, unable to force out another word. Finally, she dove under her blanket, wrapping herself up like a cocoon, only leaving her adorable little head peeking out. Only then did she muster the courage to speak again.


    "I said¡­ I¡¯m planning to confess to Lin Zhengran this winter¡­ I want to be with him¡­"


    Han Wenwen blinked at her and leaned in, teasing, "I still didn¡¯t hear you clearly. Say it again?"


    He Qing¡¯s face was practically steaming at this point. She yanked the blanket over her head, muffling her voice even more.


    "I said¡­ I¡¯m planning to¡­ I want to¡­ Ugh, Wenwen, stop asking! You me!"


    Han Wenwen chuckled, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. She reached out and poked the blanket. He Qing peeked through a small gap to glare at her.


    Han Wenwen whispered, "Wanna talk inside?"


    He Qing nodded.


    And so, the two best friends squeezed into the blanket together, forming a cozy, safe little cocoon.


    Inside, Han Wenwen¡¯s invisible fox tail swayed behind her as she curiously eyed her best friend.


    "Xiao Qingqing, what made you suddenly get so bold? You¡¯re just gonna like that?"


    He Qing sat on the bed, drawing circles with her finger on the sheets.


    "It¡¯s not that I¡¯m bold¡­ I just don¡¯t have a choice anymore. Ever since middle school started, haven¡¯t you noticed how everyone keeps talking about relationships? Back in elementary school, no one really cared about these things, but in middle school, it¡¯s everywhere."


    She stared at Han Wenwen with wide, innocent eyes.


    "It¡¯s always ¡®who''s dating who,¡¯ ¡®who confessed to who,¡¯ or ¡®who got rejected.¡¯"


    Han Wenwen propped her chin with one hand. "Yeah, I¡¯ve noticed. The books say it¡¯s because of puberty. This is the age when girls¡¯ emotions are at their most sensitive. If this were ancient times, we''d already be by now."


    He Qing blushed.


    "I guess¡­ I don¡¯t know about that. But these topics are everywhere lately. I keep hearing stories about childhood sweethearts where one of them ends up liking someone else from another class. And those popular TV dramas lately¡­"


    Her voice dropped.


    "I watched a few out of curiosity, and I noticed that childhood friends lose. The ones who win are always the ones who show up out of nowhere!"


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t deny it. She read plenty of novels, anime, and dramas¡ª was practically a rule at this point.


    He Qing pouted, hugging her knees.


    "Why, though? Logically, childhood sweethearts should have the best chance! They grew up together! How do they lose to someone who just appeared out of nowhere?"


    "Probably for the same reason I told you before¡ªbeing familiar," Han Wenwen explained. "But Jiang Xueli isn¡¯t exactly a ¡®newcomer.¡¯ She and Lin Zhengran are childhood friends too. , you¡¯re the real ¡®newcomer¡¯ here."


    He Qing flinched.


    "Huh? a newcomer. But I¡¯m his childhood friend too!"


    Han Wenwen held up two fingers.


    "One finger for a childhood," she said, touching one.


    Then she touched the other.


    "And one for . Double bonus. Because only showed up in middle school."


    He Qing¡¯s eyes lit up. She popped her head out of the blanket excitedly.


    "You¡¯re right! If you put it that way, am the real ¡®newcomer¡¯!"


    Han Wenwen also peeked out from under the covers with a little "pop."


    "Not ¡ª you. Jiang Xueli has been with Lin Zhengran since they were little. She¡¯s got ¡®newcomer¡¯ energy."


    He Qing grinned.


    "That means I actually have a huge advantage!"


    Han Wenwen closed her eyes and smiled.


    "That¡¯s why I¡¯ve always thought you¡¯d win."


    Just as He Qing was about to get fired up, she suddenly remembered all the times she had annoyed Lin Zhengran in the past and deflated like a balloon.


    "Wait, no¡­ If I really had an advantage, then why haven¡¯t things progressed between us? And why is Jiang Xueli getting closer to him instead?"


    She hugged her knees again, shrinking into the corner.


    "When I think about last semester, I just regret everything. I tried to get closer to him, but all I did was make him mad¡­ He¡¯s even meaner to me now."


    Han Wenwen scratched her head awkwardly.


    "Yeah, about that¡­ I still don¡¯t get why my strategies backfired so badly. Even if they didn¡¯t help, they have made things worse."


    He Qing sighed.


    "Maybe they just weren¡¯t right for me. I think I need to use my method. So¡­ I¡¯ve decided to knit him a scarf this winter¡­ and confess."


    She thought of all the fluffy, lovey-dovey stories her classmates told.


    The idea of Lin Zhengran hugging her, kissing her, and holding her hand made her heart race.


    "I want to date him. I want him to spend more time with me."


    Han Wenwen watched He Qing¡¯s shy yet determined expression and leaned closer. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xiao Qingqing has really grown up. Since you¡¯ve already decided, I¡¯ll cheer you on. I hope you get your wish."


    He Qing blushed and mumbled like a mosquito.


    "Thanks, Wenwen¡­"


    Then, unable to hold it in anymore, she blurted out her frustrations.


    "But I really don¡¯t have much courage¡­! And lately, he¡¯s been spending less and less time with me. It used to be , but now it¡¯s ! And so many girls in our class like him, too! I¡¯m really scared that if I wait any longer, he¡¯ll¡­"


    Han Wenwen smiled as she listened to her best friend¡¯s complaints.


    For someone as timid as her, she was constantly trying to take action.


    But¡­


    Han Wenwen glanced out the window, her fox-like eyes unreadable.


    This week happened to be the one He Qing called the "once every three weeks" weekend¡ªmeaning Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t spending time with her or Jiang Xueli.


    But what he doing instead?


    On Saturday morning, the four of them gathered. Lin Zhengran slung his backpack over his shoulder and started heading home.


    "This week, I won¡¯t be hanging out with you guys. You two can practice on your own¡ªor just take it as a break."


    Jiang Xueli watched him leave, tilting her head curiously.


    "Big dummy, what have you been up to lately? You used to hang out with us , but now it¡¯s . It¡¯s been like this since summer break¡­"


    She turned to He Qing.


    "He Qing, do you know what he¡¯s been doing?"


    He Qing shook her head.


    "I don¡¯t know either¡­ and I was too scared to ask."


    Jiang Xueli sighed. She tried asking¡ªbut her tsundere way of doing it got her nowhere.


    She waved at them.


    "Well, I¡¯m heading home. See you guys next week, He Qing, Han Wenwen."


    Han Wenwen and He Qing waved goodbye.


    After Jiang Xueli left, He Qing asked, "Wenwen, are you working on videos again this weekend?"


    She knew about Han Wenwen¡¯s gaming videos.


    As her best friend, He Qing also understood her financial situation, so she never disturbed her when she was working.


    Han Wenwen nodded.


    "Yeah, I need to film a few more. So I won¡¯t be in the dorm during the day."


    "That¡¯s fine! But where do you film? An internet caf¨¦? We¡¯re not old enough to go into those, right? And those places seem kinda scary¡­"


    Han Wenwen smiled.


    "Nope! My uncle rented a place for me. It¡¯s just for making videos. I¡¯ll take you there sometime."


    He Qing¡¯s eyes widened.


    "You rented a place?! That¡¯s so cool! Take me there when you¡¯re free!"


    Han Wenwen nodded.


    "Sure thing. See you tonight!"


    She waved goodbye.


    And then¡ªshe secretly headed to meet Lin Zhengran at the rental apartment.

 Chapter 55: The Demon Cult’s Secret Technique – Golden Serpent Grip

    A whole semester had passed since that fever incident.


    Over the past few months, Han Wenwen had managed to earn some spare cash through her gaming videos. After covering her daily expenses, she still had over 8,000 yuan left in savings.


    Every time she looked at her account balance, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    If she had known Lin Zhengran was this skilled, she would¡¯ve asked him to teach her much earlier.


    On the streets of the town¡¯s electronics market, Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen entered a store specializing in electronic products. Today, they were here to buy a computer.


    As they browsed, the system¡¯s voice rang out as usual.


    ¡¾Since forming a pact with the Demon Cult Maiden, you have imparted internal energy techniques to her, greatly advancing her cultivation. In return, she has frequently shared techniques and medicinal decoctions from the Demon Cult to aid your progress.¡¿


    ¡¾Today, she lacks a suitable weapon, so you accompany her to a weapons shop to find one. Once she selects the right weapon, she may express her gratitude in some way. However, there¡¯s something else that piques your curiosity¡ªlately, she seems to have something on her mind, something that may even be related to you.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran glanced at Han Wenwen beside him but said nothing. Instead, he opened his system panel.


    ¡¾Current Spirit Level: 42¡¿


    ¡¾Your current attributes are as follows:¡¿


    Strength: 47 (At 50, you will gain the ability to develop muscles without exercise.)Stamina: 42 (At 60, you will gain the ability to last through the night without fatigue.)Physical Endurance: 51 (At 70, stamina will double, and endurance will triple.)Charisma: 45 (You have unlocked the ability to gain double favorability.)


    His level hadn¡¯t improved much in the past six months, mainly because nothing major had happened with either He Qing or Jiang Xueli. However, Lin Zhengran had already marked his calendar¡ª


    In a few months, both He Qing and Jiang Xueli would be participating in crucial competitions and programs. By then, his Spirit Level should see a significant boost, possibly even pushing the edge of Level 50.


    "Welcome! What are you looking for today?"


    As they entered the electronics store, Lin Zhengran told the shop owner that he was buying a computer and listed several hardware models for the build.


    After the owner brought out the components, Lin Zhengran carefully selected a few, setting them aside.


    The shop owner looked at him. He looked back at the shop owner.


    Then, both of them suddenly burst into laughter.


    Lin Zhengran smirked. "Boss, how about swapping these parts out?"


    The shop owner feigned innocence. "Ah, come on, these are brand new!" But when Lin Zhengran remained unfazed, he sighed and swapped out the second-hand parts. "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll replace them for you."


    Finding knowledgeable customers like Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t common, but not unheard of. The worst-case scenario? A slight loss in profit.


    Han Wenwen, being a perceptive little fox, had naturally picked up on the situation. She leaned in and whispered, "Lin Zhengran, you know about computers too?"


    "Just a little."


    She clapped her hands in admiration. "That¡¯s amazing! You know everything." Then, in a voice only the two of them could hear, she giggled, "Otherwise, we¡¯d have been ripped off again."


    Lin Zhengran was used to her constant flattery and didn¡¯t respond much.


    "I picked out a PC for you that costs around 4,000 yuan. It¡¯s more than enough for recording videos and should hold up for streaming, at least for now. If you feel like the response time is too slow later, you can upgrade to a higher-end one."


    The shop owner sighed while watching his premium components get picked out one by one. "To be honest, little sister, your friend is really impressive. He snatched up the best parts for this model¡ªI didn¡¯t even get a chance to make any extra profit."


    Lin Zhengran scoffed inwardly. If the guy wasn¡¯t making money, pigs could fly. If it weren¡¯t for the risk of getting faulty parts online, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered coming to a physical store.


    Han Wenwen smiled as she glanced at Lin Zhengran, her eyes gleaming. "He really is impressive."


    As Lin Zhengran watched the shop owner assemble the PC, Han Wenwen''s face flushed slightly.


    Shopping like this¡­ really felt like something a couple would do.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her staring. "What? Is there something else you want to buy?"


    Han Wenwen smiled. "Nope."


    After purchasing the parts, they took a taxi back and set everything up in their rental apartment.


    When the PC powered on for the first time, Han Wenwen cheered excitedly. "It¡¯s on! I finally have my first personal computer!" The little fox beamed at Lin Zhengran. "All thanks to you, Lin Zhengran."


    Lin Zhengran had her test out recording a video while playing. Everything ran smoothly.


    Still hyped from the new purchase, Han Wenwen played several rounds and even added commentary on the spot.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran lay on her bed, scrolling through her video account.


    In just a few months, Han Wenwen¡¯s followers had surpassed 40,000. Her growth was rapid. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although her income fluctuated since video revenue wasn¡¯t stable, she had already earned over 10,000 yuan¡ªfar more than what she made from her exhausting part-time jobs before.


    "If you stream a few times during winter break, your followers should double."


    Just as he finished speaking, Han Wenwen walked over.


    The little fox crouched down, resting her upper body on his legs.


    Lin Zhengran stared at her blankly. "Why are you lying on my legs?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes locked onto him. "If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d have spent way more on this computer. How should I thank you, Lin Zhengran?"


    Lin Zhengran bent one knee, forcing her off balance. "Let me think."


    Han Wenwen slipped off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, sitting beside him at an angle.


    After spending so much time in the rental apartment together, being alone no longer felt awkward.


    Lin Zhengran considered asking her to treat him to a meal, but he had already milked too many hotpot dinners out of her. Even the system had warned him that hotpot no longer contributed to his cultivation.


    Han Wenwen suddenly suggested softly, "How about¡­ I give you a massage? I¡¯ve been learning online, and even asked Little Qingqing for tips."


    ¡¾Demon Cult¡¯s Exclusive Advanced Technique¡ªGolden Serpent Bone-Gripping Hand. While this technique does not increase cultivation level, it enhances multiple attributes at once. It is a favorite among those who defeat stronger foes by playing weak. However, since this technique can only be used on others, even within the Demon Cult, true masters of it are rare.¡¿


    ¡­Massage? That sounded awfully fancy.


    But why didn¡¯t the system say anything when He Qing massaged him before? Did Han Wenwen¡¯s technique work differently?


    Lin Zhengran asked, "Why are you learning massage?"


    Han Wenwen blinked innocently, her fox-like charm in full effect. "So I can give you massages, of course. What other reason could there be?"


    ¡­That explanation was practically useless.


    Han Wenwen chuckled. "Mainly because massages don¡¯t cost money. Otherwise, treating you to meals all the time would be a little painful on my wallet. This way, you get to relax, and I save some cash. Win-win."


    Lin Zhengran lay down indifferently. "Fine. I¡¯m a little tired anyway. Go ahead¡ªI¡¯m taking a nap."


    "Do you want to rest your head on my lap? It¡¯ll be more convenient for me."


    "No need. This is fine."


    A little disappointed, she took his hand, massaging each finger before moving to his palm.


    Then, she knelt by his head, gently rubbing his temples.


    Surprisingly, it felt significantly better than when He Qing did it.


    "How¡¯s the pressure?" she asked.


    "It¡¯s good."


    She smiled. "I read that massaging the temples helps with sleep. You should try it."


    Under her touch, Lin Zhengran quickly drifted off.


    At some point, the distant hum of a passing car echoed in the quiet apartment.


    Han Wenwen gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, her movements slowing, her cheeks flushed.


    She murmured softly, as if speaking to someone, "The real reason for the massage¡­ is this."


    With a nervous gulp, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gently kissed his forehead.


    Pulling away, she gazed at him with deep affection.


    "If I had any doubts before, I don¡¯t anymore. I¡¯ve completely fallen for you, Lin Zhengran~"

 Chapter 56: The Scarf

    ¡¾As a reward for helping select a weapon, the Demon Cult Maiden used an exclusive secret technique on you. You gained +1 Strength, +1 Stamina, and +1 Endurance.¡¿


    ¡¾However, she seems to be paying more attention to you lately. Whether this is an opportunity or something else remains uncertain.¡¿


    By late afternoon, Lin Zhengran woke up feeling well-rested.


    Han Wenwen had long since finished the massage and was now lounging beside him, gazing at his sleeping face with the deep affection of a girl in her prime.


    As soon as Lin Zhengran opened his eyes and turned his head, she instantly snapped back to her usual playful demeanor, greeting him with a bright smile. ¡°Awake now, Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Curious, he asked, ¡°What time is it? Didn¡¯t you sleep?¡±


    ¡°I just woke up too.¡± She checked her phone. ¡°It¡¯s a little past three. How was your nap?¡±


    ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    He had to admit, Han the Little Fox had some serious skills.


    After a bit of tidying up, the two left the apartment and headed downstairs.


    Lin Zhengran recalled the system¡¯s earlier message and had indeed noticed a subtle shift in Han Wenwen¡¯s behavior recently.


    ¡°You and He Qing aren¡¯t scheming something again, are you?¡±


    Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. ¡°Lin Zhengran, you really do know everything, huh? Little Qingqing does have a big plan coming up.¡±


    ¡°A big plan?¡± He had no idea what that silly girl was up to this time. ¡°What kind of plan?¡±


    Han Wenwen brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze meaningful. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you the details, but¡­ it¡¯s something that takes a lot of courage.¡±


    That only made it sound more ridiculous.


    At the apartment complex entrance, Han Wenwen waved him off. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to school to keep Qingqing company. Take care on your way home.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°You too.¡± Then, he turned and left.


    Han Wenwen stood there for a long moment, waving until his figure disappeared from sight. Her fingers gently brushed her lips before she finally turned back toward school.


    Over the past few days, He Qing had been obsessively picking out scarf yarn online, debating colors and styles with Han Wenwen for hours.


    Eventually, the two best friends agreed that gray would suit wardrobe the best.


    A few days later, the yarn finally arrived. Clutching the package like it was a battle flag for an epic showdown, He Qing dragged it back to the dorm. Soon, her bed was completely covered with balls of yarn and knitting needles.


    Han Wenwen sat on her own bed, stunned. ¡°You bought much?¡±


    He Qing frantically flipped through a knitting guide, muttering to herself. ¡°I don¡¯t know! I thought it was just yarn and needles, but there are so many extra tools¡­¡±


    One of the yarn balls rolled off the bed and bounced across the floor.


    ¡°Ah! Why did it fall?!¡± She quickly scooped it up, patting off the dust.


    Han Wenwen, amused by her adorable panic, picked up the instruction manual and murmured as she read, ¡°Knit for an hour a day¡­ should take about a month and a half to finish.¡±


    She looked up in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s a long time! By then, we¡¯ll already be on winter break.¡±


    He Qing, still untangling her yarn, huffed, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I already did the math. If I do two hours a day and use weekends wisely, I can finish in under two weeks. Otherwise, it won¡¯t be ready until after the break, and that¡¯d be pointless.¡±


    Han Wenwen hugged her knees. ¡°Little Qingqing, you¡¯re really putting in the effort for this confession.¡±


    Blushing, He Qing lowered her head.


    From that night on, she diligently carved out time to practice knitting, especially in the evenings and on weekends when Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t around. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She even hid under her blanket, secretly working on the gift stitch by stitch.


    Knitting wasn¡¯t exactly her forte.


    In fact, Han Wenwen mastered it before she did, while He Qing constantly fumbled with the instructions.


    ¡°Ugh! Why did I mess up the pattern again?!¡± she groaned, realizing she had to unravel it .


    Still, practice made perfect, and she gradually improved.


    The only downside? Time was running short.


    More than once, Han Wenwen woke up at night or went to the restroom early in the morning, only to find He Qing still knitting away under the covers.


    ¡°Qingqing, you¡¯re still at it?¡± she whispered.


    Startled, He Qing peeked out, then smiled sheepishly. ¡°I just want to finish sooner.¡±


    Determined, she turned back to her stitches.


    Sometimes, she got so sleepy that she nearly nodded off, only to slap her own cheeks and pep-talk herself awake. ¡°No sleeping! I have to finish in time.¡±


    Han Wenwen sighed in admiration. She had it bad for Lin Zhengran.


    That Saturday, it was Lin Zhengran¡¯s scheduled training session with He Qing at the Taekwondo center.


    When he arrived, he saw her sparring with an older girl a few years her senior, exchanging blows with rapid precision.


    Yet, something was off.


    The usually invincible He Qing was struggling.


    She barely lasted a few rounds before she was panting, drenched in sweat.


    Then, as if confirming his suspicions, she botched a kick and twisted her ankle mid-movement.


    With a yelp, she collapsed onto the mat.


    Lin Zhengran and the coach immediately rushed over.


    Her sparring partner also looked concerned. ¡°Qingqing, are you okay?! You¡¯ve been off your game lately¡­¡±


    Embarrassed, He Qing forced a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m fine! Just a little mistake, don¡¯t worry¡ªI can keep going.¡±


    She tried to stand, but Lin Zhengran crouched down and said firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me check.¡±


    He Qing avoided his gaze.


    The coach examined her ankle, relieved to find it was just a minor strain. ¡°You scared me for a second there. But honestly, your form has been off since last week. Take a break for now and put some ointment on that.¡±


    He Qing hesitated. She didn¡¯t to rest¡ªif she missed this session, she¡¯d have to wait three more weeks for the next one, and by then, it¡¯d be winter break.


    Waving her hands, she protested, ¡°I¡¯m fine, really! I just slipped.¡±


    The coach, however, was having none of it. ¡°You¡¯ve been messing up your movements for days now. Today you even got injured. Go rest. Let your here take you to change and apply medicine.¡±


    At that, He Qing froze.


    Brother?!


    Sneaking a glance at Lin Zhengran, she suddenly found herself too embarrassed to lift her head.


    In the changing area, He Qing sat on a bench, dressed in her snow-white Taekwondo uniform, one foot bare as Lin Zhengran pulled out the ointment.


    She stayed silent, knowing full well she was about to get scolded.


    Though his voice wasn¡¯t particularly harsh, his words rang loud in her ears.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    She shrank into herself. ¡°¡­Nothing, I just kicked a little too high.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°Too high? I noticed your form was weak the moment you stepped on the mat. You had no strength, your reflexes were slow, and that last kick¡ª¡±


    He Qing fidgeted, her small hands clutching the hem of her uniform. She looked down at her bare foot, lips pressed tightly together, like a child resigned to being reprimanded.


    Lin Zhengran sighed, recalling Han Wenwen¡¯s cryptic words from earlier in the week.


    ¡°What have you been up to lately?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡± She turned red, startled that he might¡¯ve figured it out. ¡°N-Nothing¡­¡±

 Chapter 57: White Doves

    Lin Zhengran flicked He Qing on the forehead. She yelped and clutched her head with both hands.


    "You think I¡¯m stupid? You¡¯ve been acting half-asleep for the past two weeks. Every time we talk, you seem sneaky, like you¡¯re hiding something from me."


    "N-No¡­!" She stammered, clearly guilty. Then, remembering her promise not to lie to him, she quickly corrected herself. "I mean¡­ yes¡­ no¡­ ugh, yes! No! Ughhh¡­" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching her struggle with herself, Lin Zhengran sighed and scooped some ointment onto his fingers, gently spreading it over her ankle.


    The cool touch of the ointment combined with the warmth of his hand made He Qing squeak in surprise. She immediately slapped both hands over her mouth, her face turning scarlet.


    Lin Zhengran raised a brow. "Does it hurt?"


    She shook her head vigorously like a little drum, mumbling, "Nope. Now that you¡¯re putting medicine on it, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all."


    "But I haven¡¯t even finished applying it yet."


    Her heart pounded. Thinking fast, she blurted, "That¡¯s because¡­ because whenever you touch me, it stops hurting! When you care about me, it stops hurting!"


    "¡­."


    After finishing the bandage, He Qing sat quietly, her hands covering her flushed face.


    "Rest for a couple of days. Once the pain¡¯s completely gone, you can take the bandage off yourself."


    "Okay."


    She tucked her foot back into her shoe. Just as Lin Zhengran was about to press her again about what she was hiding, she covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.


    "I promised I wouldn¡¯t lie to you, but I really can¡¯t tell you yet! Just wait a few days, okay? I swear I¡¯ll tell you then. Please, just don¡¯t ask right now!"


    She peeked at him through her fingers and whispered, "If you stop asking, I¡¯ll do anything for you¡­ is that okay?"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t really care about the secret, so he let it go. He simply pried her hands away from her ears. "Go change."


    "Ah? Oh, okay."


    She hurried to the locker room, but just before stepping inside, she turned back, peeking out from behind the doorframe.


    "Where are we going? You¡¯re not going home already, are you? It¡¯s still early¡­"


    She looked disappointed.


    Lin Zhengran replied casually, "You¡¯ll find out after you change. I¡¯m taking you somewhere."


    Excited, He Qing nodded eagerly. As long as he wasn¡¯t going home, she didn¡¯t care where they went.


    A few minutes later, she emerged in a soft pink coat and sheer fleece leggings¡ªan outfit she only wore when she was alone with Lin Zhengran. Normally, she stuck to her school uniform.


    They left the Taekwondo center, heading down a path unfamiliar to He Qing.


    "Does your foot hurt?" Lin Zhengran asked.


    She swung her arms back and forth. "Nope, really not that bad!"


    "I heard from the coach that you signed up for the town¡¯s competition early next year?"


    "Yep! Didn¡¯t you say I should enter if there was one? I listened to you, of course. Plus, the coach said I¡¯m doing great, so I signed up. Oh! And I saw that the first-place prize is a few thousand yuan!"


    Beaming, she added, "If I win, I¡¯ll give half to my mom, keep a hundred for snacks with Wenwen, and spend the rest on something for you!"


    She tilted her head. "Is there anything you want? I should be able to afford it."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. She hadn¡¯t grown an inch past 1.6 meters since last year.


    "You sure sound confident for someone who got injured today."


    She flapped her hands like a little duck. "Of course I¡¯ll win! I barely trained when we were apart, but after a year of your coaching, I caught up super fast. As long as you¡¯re with me, I can do anything!"


    "So why did you slack off back then? What were you even doing?"


    Looking ahead, she absentmindedly replied, "Thinking about you, mostly. Wondering when I could call you, what you were doing every day¡­"


    Then, realizing what she had just said, she clapped a hand over her mouth, shaking her head furiously. "You didn¡¯t hear that!"


    Lin Zhengran rolled his eyes.


    They arrived at a bridge overlooking a small river. It was late in the year, and the trees had already shed their leaves, leaving only bare branches swaying in the wind.


    He Qing blinked in confusion. "Why did you bring me here?"


    "I passed by a few times and noticed something interesting around eleven in the morning. Since you¡¯re not training today, I figured I¡¯d show you."


    She tilted her head. "What¡¯s so interesting?"


    Checking the time, Lin Zhengran smirked. "Should be any minute now."


    Right on cue, a familiar cooing sound filled the air.


    He Qing turned toward the sky and gasped.


    A flock of white doves, dozens strong, soared toward them, their wings glistening in the sunlight.


    As they descended to the riverbank, their feathers drifted gently from the sky like falling snow.


    He Qing watched in awe as they flapped their wings and pecked at the water.


    "Doves! So many doves!"


    "More than usual, actually," Lin Zhengran noted.


    Excited, He Qing carefully stepped forward, but the birds, startled, scurried away.


    Realizing she wouldn¡¯t be able to touch them, she got a mischievous idea.


    Placing her hands behind her back, she bent forward and started hopping like a dove, cooing as she moved.


    A few birds noticed and mimicked her, flapping their wings and waddling around.


    Giggling, she clapped her hands. "They¡¯re so cute!"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled.


    Suddenly, she stopped, straightened up, and turned to him, her face flushed.


    "Um¡­ next Saturday night, can you come here? I have something I want to give you."


    He raised a brow.


    Behind her, the doves took flight, their wings fluttering in unison.


    Clutching her hands to her chest, her eyes sparkled. "It¡¯s a gift. A really important one. And¡­ I have something I need to say to you."


    From that night onward, He Qing burned the midnight oil, knitting as fast as she could. She was determined to finish her scarf in time for her confession.


    That same evening, in a dorm room elsewhere, Jiang Xueli was chatting with a new friend from the Children¡¯s Talent Agency.


    Hearing the girl¡¯s words, Jiang Xueli was stunned.


    "You¡¯re confessing?! For real?!"


    Over the phone, the other girl¡ªshy yet determined¡ªspoke up.


    "Yeah! I have to. I told you about my , right? He has this childhood friend¡ªsuper cute, always calling him, and they play together all the time. I mean, for ."


    Lying on her bed, the girl twirled her twin ponytails.


    "Recently, I¡¯ve been watching them¡­ and something feels off. Especially with that childhood friend¡ªshe¡¯s clearly planning something big."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s jaw dropped.


    "I can¡¯t just sit around! You know how it is¡ªgirls like don¡¯t get anywhere if we don¡¯t take the initiative!"


    The girl on the other end? A tiny, golden-haired tsundere, just like Jiang Xueli.

 Chapter 58: A Best Friend’s Confession Scene

    Early Sunday morning, Jiang Xueli arrived at the training room of the Children¡¯s Talent Agency.


    Although the studio had professional singing equipment, she rarely practiced there¡ªshe either trained at home or had Lin Zhengran teach her. But despite her infrequent visits, she had quickly become close with another twin-ponytailed girl, a golden-haired, blue-eyed mixed-race girl named Liu Xinyue.


    Liu Xinyue was a bit older than Jiang Xueli, but from the moment they met, they knew¡ªthey were kindred spirits.


    Standing outside the practice room, Liu Xinyue was already waiting. She wore a floral dress, her high ponytail contrasting with Jiang Xueli¡¯s low one.


    "Lili, you¡¯re here!" She hurried over excitedly.


    Jiang Xueli greeted her. "Yeah. Why did you suddenly hang up last night?"


    Liu Xinyue blushed. "My big brother came over, so I had to hang up. Come on, I need to tell you everything! I really need your help today, or I won¡¯t be able to do this!"


    Jiang Xueli nodded, and the two left the practice room, heading toward the mall as Liu Xinyue started explaining.


    "I¡¯m leaving for abroad next week, so I want to confess to my neighbor¡ªhe¡¯s in college¡ªbefore I go. If he agrees, I¡¯ll come back in six months. If not¡­ I probably won¡¯t return."


    Jiang Xueli already knew she was moving overseas.


    "But I¡¯m nervous," Liu Xinyue continued. "He has a childhood friend named He Qingqing who¡¯s always had a crush on him!"


    Jiang Xueli felt a weird sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    "As a kid, I didn¡¯t even know he had a childhood friend. I only found out in middle school. She has a bunch of freckles¡ªsuper cute! She¡¯s always liked him, and lately, I¡¯ve noticed her and her best friend plotting something. I think she¡¯s planning to confess!"


    Jiang Xueli blinked.


    Liu Xinyue sighed. "I think my big brother might like her too. He spends time with her occasionally! If she confesses first, he might say yes, and then I won¡¯t have a chance!"


    Frustration clouded her face. "I¡¯ve always hesitated because I¡¯m too tsundere to say things directly. But after hearing you talk about how you asked your crush to see a movie, I realized¡ªI need to take action too! If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll never get anywhere!"


    Jiang Xueli had only shared that story to boost Liu Xinyue¡¯s confidence, but apparently, it had become a guiding principle for her.


    Feeling a little awkward, Jiang Xueli said, "I get it now. Xinyue, I¡¯ll support you no matter what! So, when are you confessing?"


    "Tonight!"


    "Tonight?! That¡¯s fast!"


    "Yeah! It¡¯s his birthday today, so I want to surprise him with candles, flowers, and balloons. Then, I¡¯ll confess under the stars!"


    Her eyes sparkled with determination.


    Jiang Xueli, caught up in the excitement, immediately nodded. "Alright, let¡¯s do it!"


    The two girls hit the mall, buying everything needed to create the perfect confession scene. As they worked, Liu Xinyue admitted she had never done anything like this before.


    "Because of my tsundere personality, I always gave way to He Qingqing. But not today!"


    Jiang Xueli couldn¡¯t shake the sense of familiarity¡­


    After choosing a quiet spot in the park, they set everything up¡ªthe balloons were tied down with rocks, the candles arranged in a heart shape, and rose petals scattered in the center.


    By the time they finished, the afternoon had slipped away, and the winter sky darkened quickly.


    Liu Xinyue clutched a bouquet and took deep breaths.


    In the glow of the candlelight, she asked nervously, "Alright¡­ I¡¯m calling him. I¡¯ll succeed, right?"


    Jiang Xueli gave an encouraging nod. "Of course! You got this!"


    Liu Xinyue fumbled with her phone, found her big brother¡¯s number, and hesitated, her face growing redder by the second.


    "I¡­ can I really do this? I¡¯ve never taken the lead before¡­"


    Even Jiang Xueli was getting anxious for her. "You can! Go, Xinyue!"


    Liu Xinyue reached for the call button, then yanked her hand back, clenching her fists. "No, no, I¡¯m not ready yet! How should I even ask him to come out?!"


    Jiang Xueli, familiar with tsunderes, remained patient. "Just say it directly! You got this!"


    "You really think I can do it?"


    "Yes, you can!"


    Liu Xinyue squeezed her eyes shut, gathering her courage. "You¡¯re right! I can do this!"


    "You can do this!"


    "I can do this!"


    "You can do this!"


    Their chant continued, filling the park with determination¡­


    Until a passerby walked up, making them both freeze in embarrassment.


    "Are you two confessing, too?" the stranger asked. "What a coincidence! This park is usually empty, but today, there¡¯s actually confessions happening!"


    Jiang Xueli and Liu Xinyue exchanged a glance.


    "Wait¡­ someone else is confessing?"


    "Yeah," the passerby said, pointing. "Over there. A little girl just confessed to her childhood friend, and he actually said yes! If I wasn¡¯t heading home for dinner, I¡¯d totally stick around to watch." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Xinyue¡¯s eyes widened. "Really?"


    Then, turning to Jiang Xueli, she chuckled nervously. "Lili, should we¡­ go check it out? Maybe watching someone else confess will give me some confidence."


    Jiang Xueli figured it couldn¡¯t hurt, so they walked over.


    A small crowd had gathered around the other confession.


    The scene was much simpler¡ªjust a single candle on the ground and a bouquet in the girl¡¯s hands.


    The confessor was a freckle-faced girl in a white dress. She wasn¡¯t conventionally pretty, but she had a certain charm. The boy was tall, though nowhere as good-looking as a certain idiot Jiang Xueli knew.


    The girl beamed, holding out her flowers. "You really agreed to be with me?!"


    The boy smiled softly, nodding. "Of course. Since the girl made the first move, how could I refuse?"


    She took a deep breath. "I like you!"


    His voice was just as firm. "I like you too."


    The crowd started clapping and cheering. "Kiss! Kiss!"


    Blushing, the two leaned in for a shy kiss.


    Jiang Xueli laughed and turned to Liu Xinyue. "See? It¡¯s simple. Just say you like him, and¡ª"


    But before she could finish, she noticed something¡ª


    Liu Xinyue was .


    Her eyes were locked on the couple, trembling.


    Her bouquet slipped from her hands, hitting the ground.


    Her heart shattered into pieces.


    "M-My big brother¡­"


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the scene before her.


    There, in the middle of the crowd, was her beloved big brother¡ªkissing his childhood friend.


    "No¡­ no¡­"

 Chapter 59: The Three Who Took the Initiative

    By the flowerbed lined with heart-shaped candles, Liu Xinyue clung to Jiang Xueli, wailing uncontrollably.


    The cold wind slapped against her face.


    Jiang Xueli kept comforting her, but she couldn''t stop thinking about what had just happened¡ªthe so-called "Big Brother" and the girl who confessed to him had kissed for a full five minutes.


    She couldn''t even begin to imagine how deeply Liu Xinyue was hurt, especially since she had stood there and watched the whole thing.


    "Xinyue, don''t cry¡­ You have to stay strong¡­"


    Liu Xinyue sobbed, her voice choked and broken:


    "I¡­ I liked Big Brother for so many years. Even when I was overseas, I already liked him. The only reason I came back to the country was because he was studying here¡­ But in the end, I still lost¡­ and I lost so badly."


    Liu Xinyue had learned her lesson. Regret filled her voice as she looked at Jiang Xueli.


    "If I had known¡­ If I had known, I should''ve called him earlier. I noticed a long time ago that she was making big moves, showing signs that she was going to confess¡­ But I hesitated. I didn''t even realize it at first! Lili, you have to learn from me! Never underestimate a love rival!"


    Jiang Xueli let out a surprised "Ah?" and wondered why the conversation had suddenly turned to her.


    But the next second, she had a realization¡­ Lately, He Qing and Han Wenwen had been acting kind of suspicious too.


    ¡­No way, right?


    She comforted her best friend for a long time that night. But unexpectedly, that very night, Jiang Xueli had a similar dream.


    In her dream, flower petals rained down from the sky. The surroundings were a beautifully landscaped park with a flowerbed. In front of the flowerbed, heart-shaped candles flickered, and a crowd had gathered around.


    Standing at the center of the heart-shaped candles were He Qing, dressed in a white dress, and that handsome big idiot.


    Beside them, Han Wenwen smiled encouragingly at her best friend, while Jiang Xueli stood at a distance, watching.


    He Qing clutched a bouquet in her hands and spoke hesitantly:


    "I¡­ I like you! Lin Zhengran, will you be with me?"


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes were deep and unreadable.


    "Of course. Although, I actually prefer tsunderes more than you¡­ But since you confessed first, I''ll be with you."


    He Qing was thrilled. "R-Really? That¡¯s amazing!"


    Han Wenwen clapped her hands. "Congratulations, Little Qingqing, on your successful confession!"


    The surrounding crowd started cheering. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"


    In the dream, Lin Zhengran hooked a finger under He Qing¡¯s chin. Little He Qing closed her eyes, and the two of them slowly leaned in closer¡­ closer¡­


    At exactly midnight, Jiang Xueli shot up in bed, her face red with shock.


    "AH?! W-What kind of dream was that?!"


    That bizarre dream kept her up all night.


    The next morning at school, before class started, Jiang Xueli glanced back at He Qing, who was sitting obediently at her desk, massaging her fingers.


    As she rubbed them, she suddenly placed one in her mouth while using her other hand to flip open the textbook for the next period.


    Her cute little face puffed up slightly because of the finger in her mouth.


    Even if she was a love rival, Jiang Xueli had to admit¡­ S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "She¡¯s so cute¡­"


    But remembering last night¡¯s dream sent a chill down her spine.


    "She wouldn¡¯t actually confess, right¡­? If she really did¡­ then¡­"


    At that moment, she overheard a conversation between some girls nearby.


    "Hey, did you hear? A new zoo just opened in the city! I heard they have a lot of rare animals. Do you guys want to go?"


    "I heard about it too! I even got a bunch of flyers! I really want to go! They even have a giant python!"


    "That sounds terrifying, which makes me want to go even more! Give me a flyer!"


    The classroom filled with chatter as the girls excitedly passed around the zoo¡¯s promotional flyers. Curious, Jiang Xueli peeked over to take a look.


    The flyer had close-up images of tigers, lions, and peacocks.


    Her eyes sparkled. She was tempted.


    "A zoo? Our city actually has a zoo now? I''ve never been to one before!"


    Almost instinctively, she thought about asking Lin Zhengran to go with her. Maybe that would help her shake off last night¡¯s ridiculous dream.


    She glanced at the ticket price¡ª80 yuan per ticket. It wasn¡¯t too expensive. She still had some leftover New Year''s money from last year, enough to buy two tickets.


    And so, over the next two days, whenever Jiang Xueli was alone, she secretly practiced in front of the wall, rehearsing how to invite Lin Zhengran to the zoo.


    Two days later, on Thursday afternoon, the second period was math class.


    Near the end of class, the teacher sat at the podium, allowing the students to self-study and discuss.


    Lin Zhengran was reviewing Han Wenwen¡¯s latest mock exam paper¡ªshe had scored in the 70s. He marked the incorrect answers.


    "The solution method for these problems is similar to what I explained last time. As long as you clarify the problem-solving steps, it¡¯s actually quite simple."


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she lazily rested her chin on her desk, fox-like eyes admiring Lin Zhengran¡¯s profile.


    Lin Zhengran looked at her in exasperation. "Han Wenwen, are you even listening to what I¡¯m saying?"


    Han Wenwen hummed. "I heard you, but I didn¡¯t really understand¡­ Lin Zhengran, can you explain it again?"


    She just wanted to hear him talk.


    Lin Zhengran rolled up the test paper into a tube and bopped her lightly on the head. Han Wenwen let out a small "Ow~" like a pitiful kitten, eyes brimming with exaggerated grievance.


    "Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re so mean~"


    "I¡¯ve explained it to you three times already. Are you deaf? Try solving it yourself¡ªit¡¯ll take you one minute."


    He placed the paper on her face. Han Wenwen was just about to sit up and work on the problem when she suddenly heard the sounds of another class being dismissed.


    At the back of the classroom, Jiang Xueli peeked inside, watching.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes gleamed mischievously. She sat up slowly and smiled at Lin Zhengran.


    "Lin Zhengran, I¡¯ll do the math problem during night study. Otherwise, if I finish it now, you won¡¯t have time to check it."


    Then she subtly gestured toward the back door.


    "Because Jiang Xueli seems to have something to say to you."


    Lin Zhengran turned his head and locked eyes with Jiang Xueli, who was standing at the door, blushing.


    She immediately looked away, whistling silently as if she were just passing by. But in reality, she lingered awkwardly by the entrance.


    Lin Zhengran wondered why she had come looking for him during the break.


    The teacher announced the end of class, and Han Wenwen was the first to leave. As she passed Jiang Xueli, she gave her a knowing smile.


    "Such nice weather today~"


    Jiang Xueli glared at her in embarrassment and watched as she walked off toward the girls¡¯ restroom.


    Lin Zhengran stepped out of the classroom, curious. "You looking for me?"


    Hearing his voice, Jiang Xueli immediately straightened up, hands behind her back, and blurted out:


    "What do you mean ¡®looking for you¡¯? I¡¯m just passing by. That¡¯s all."


    Lin Zhengran was about to head to the restroom himself when¡ª


    Jiang Xueli suddenly called out to him, clutching her hands behind her back, her face red as she stammered:


    "Big idiot, um¡­ This Saturday, don¡¯t forget to practice singing with me! You helped He Qing train last week, so this week, it¡¯s my turn."


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Got it. I¡¯ll come over to your place on Saturday."


    Jiang Xueli grinned. "Great! Make sure you come¡ªI have something to tell you then."


    "Something to tell me?"


    She hesitated before quickly correcting herself. "Ah, you misheard! Nothing, nothing at all! I was just passing by!"


    She skipped away.


    Lin Zhengran wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead.


    When he came out of the restroom, Han Wenwen was waiting by the sinks. She handed him a tissue.


    "Here. Wipe your hands."

 Chapter 60: Han Wenwen Joins the Battle

    The little fox was acting just like a CEO¡¯s personal secretary, and this wasn¡¯t the first or second time she¡¯d done something like this recently.


    Of course, her overly attentive habit of handing out tissues often sparked jealousy among the boys and gossip among the girls.


    But Han Wenwen clearly didn¡¯t care.


    Lin Zhengran murmured a quick thanks as he took the tissue, tossed it into the trash after use, and walked back to the classroom with Han Wenwen.


    [Demon Sect¡¯s Golden Silk Handkerchief - Usage reached 100 times. You have gained +1 Stamina.]


    Han Wenwen curiously asked, ¡°What did Jiang Xueli want to talk to you about just now?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Han Wenwen averted her gaze, putting on a jealous act. Though she lowered her voice like she was muttering to herself, she made sure Lin Zhengran could hear her:


    "Fine, don¡¯t tell me. Not like I even want to know."


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    She secretly glanced at him before suddenly smiling mischievously. "Hey, Lin Zhengran, do you feel it? Something big is coming. And it¡¯s not just a small thing either~"


    Lin Zhengran looked at her. She seemed way too amused, like she already knew the answer to something he hadn¡¯t even figured out yet.


    He ignored her.


    Han Wenwen stopped walking, watching Lin Zhengran head into the classroom. She pouted to herself.


    "Ugh, Lin Zhengran is so cold~"


    Then, her gaze shifted toward the entrance of Class 3-3, where Jiang Xueli was chatting with someone. Her face showed both excitement and hesitation.


    Han Wenwen had a pretty good guess about why Jiang Xueli had come looking for Lin Zhengran.


    Her fox-like eyes gleamed with amusement.


    "Looks like I can¡¯t just sit around and do nothing¡­"


    That night, Little He Qing continued working on her knitting project under her blanket.


    She worked tirelessly, burning the midnight oil until past 1 AM.


    Finally, she completed the last row of stitches on the scarf.


    Her lips curled into a delighted smile as she held up the soft, cozy scarf she had spent so much effort making. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Done!"


    Saturday finally arrived.


    The weather was bright and clear, almost as if signaling that today was an important day.


    That morning, Jiang Xueli rode the bus home with Lin Zhengran. When they reached the crossroads, they parted ways.


    "Big idiot, hurry up and come over after you drop off your stuff, okay?"


    Lin Zhengran raised a hand in acknowledgment.


    Jiang Xueli grinned and rushed home. The moment she stepped inside, she tossed her schoolbag onto the sofa and ran straight to the bathroom¡ªto shower, brush her teeth, wash her hair, trim her nails¡­ the whole routine.


    Every time Lin Zhengran came over, Jiang Xueli always went through this preparation.


    Even her parents, who weren¡¯t home today, seemed to have gotten used to it. They had even left her a note:


    "Lili, Mom and Dad won¡¯t be home today. Here¡¯s some money¡ªbuy yourself something to eat. If Ranran comes over, you can buy extra and share with him."


    Wrapped in a bath towel, her damp shoulders still glistening with droplets of water, Jiang Xueli chuckled at the note. She set it aside, dried her hair, and started picking out an outfit from her wardrobe.


    In the end, she chose a warm pink sweater, a pleated skirt, and, of course, the ultimate favorite of girls¡ªskin-tone tights.


    She checked herself out in the mirror, nodding in approval. Her twin ponytails swayed as she moved her head.


    Checking the time, she figured the big idiot should be arriving soon.


    Lying on her bed, she pulled out her phone and started browsing promotional images of the new zoo in the city.


    "Big tigers, lions, little bears~"


    The more she looked, the more excited she became.


    At the same time, her nerves grew as she thought about inviting Lin Zhengran to go with her.


    Then, another thought struck her¡ªHe Qing.


    Muttering to herself, she frowned, "Wait, if He Qing is really planning to confess soon¡­ Is just inviting him to the zoo enough?"


    She set her phone down and buried her face in the fresh new blanket her mom had put on her bed.


    "No way, right? I mean¡­"


    Her mind flashed back to something Lin Zhengran had told her in the past, and her face instantly turned red.


    "He said before that I should always stay by his side¡­ Didn¡¯t that basically mean he wants to marry me when we grow up? That big idiot¡ªhe always means what he says¡­"


    She punched the blanket in embarrassment.


    "Ugh! So shameless! How does he even say stuff like that to a girl with a straight face?!"


    Jiang Xueli muttered to herself, her voice getting quieter.


    "¡­But then again, I guess I¡¯m the only one who would actually agree to that. What other girl would marry him and have his babies?"


    The doorbell rang.


    Jiang Xueli bolted upright on the bed.


    After confirming that someone was indeed at the door, she happily hopped off, quickly smoothing her clothes and hair.


    She even checked the pleats on her skirt to make sure there weren¡¯t any wrinkles before running over.


    "I''m coming! Big idiot, you¡¯re here so fast? I just finished getting dressed!"


    She swung the door open.


    Lin Zhengran stepped inside without hesitation. A pair of men''s slippers was already waiting at the entrance, prepared just for him.


    It was as if he had walked into his own home.


    Without missing a beat, he reached out and knocked her on the head.


    "Are you crazy? Weren¡¯t you the one who told me to hurry up? Are Uncle and Aunt home?"

 Chapter 61: The Same Confession Time

    Jiang Xueli clutched her head and answered first, "They went to work. And who¡¯s the one with a split personality here?"


    Lin Zhengran walked into her bedroom, and Jiang Xueli followed closely behind, running her fingers through her freshly washed twin ponytails¡ªsilky smooth.


    Sitting on the bed, Lin Zhengran said, "I checked the Children¡¯s Talent Agency¡¯s video updates a few days ago. You guys are hosting a competition in town next summer?"


    Jiang Xueli hummed in agreement and sat beside him. "The agency said that anyone available can sign up. Pretty much everyone has already registered¡­ but I haven¡¯t yet."


    Blushing slightly, she puffed out her cheeks and said tsunderely, "Not that I don¡¯t think I¡¯m good enough! I¡¯m actually one of the best in the agency! It¡¯s just¡­ if I sign up on my own and gets upset, what then?"


    She grumbled, "After all, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am now without help. If I just go ahead and do whatever I want, you¡¯ll definitely say I¡¯ve grown wings and started acting on my own. So shouldn¡¯t I at least ask for your opinion first?"


    Lin Zhengran stared at her, her face full of guilty conscience¡ªshe was a terrible liar.


    "Oh? Is that so?"


    Jiang Xueli, caught off guard, immediately went into defense mode.


    "Of course! What, do you think I you to be there?!" She huffed. "I can handle everything by myself! If that¡¯s what you think, then I¡¯ll call them right now and tell them I¡¯m signing up!"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "So I don¡¯t need to go, then?"


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    Her tsundere bravado came to a screeching halt. Panic flickered in her eyes.


    "O-Of course¡­ but, uh¡­ You really won¡¯t come?"


    She hesitated, then tentatively offered, "A-Actually, the place we¡¯re going has really beautiful scenery. If you come, you could enjoy the view too! And since you know me, I could even get you a front-row seat¡ªother people couldn¡¯t even dream of that! Oh, and I could cover your travel expenses too!"


    "Oh." Lin Zhengran¡¯s face remained expressionless. "But I¡¯m not really interested in scenery."


    Jiang Xueli gaped at him, then clenched her teeth and shut her eyes.


    She pounded her small fists against his arm.


    "Why won¡¯t you go?! Why won¡¯t you go?! What¡¯s the harm in just coming to watch?! It¡¯s not like you¡¯d lose a piece of yourself!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    Did she really think these little punches felt like anything more than a ticklish scratch?


    He let her vent before finally saying, "I was joking. This is your first big performance¡ªI¡¯d never miss it. After all, you¡¯re someone I personally trained. You¡¯re . How could I just leave you to fend for yourself?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s mind completely blanked. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­What did he just say?


    The phrasing was so strange¡ªlike he was saying she was , or something.


    Her entire face turned bright red. Her forehead felt like it was about to catch fire.


    Pretending to be annoyed but actually giddy beyond belief, she ran her fingers through her ponytails and muttered, "What nonsense¡­ Go if you want, not like I care."


    Her last two sentences were barely audible, afraid he¡¯d take them as an invitation to back out.


    Lin Zhengran yawned and lay back on the bed. "By the way, didn¡¯t you say at school that you had something to talk to me about?"


    "Ah? I¡­"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned even redder.


    "I said that? Did I really say that? I don¡¯t think I did¡­"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother arguing. "If it¡¯s nothing, then let¡¯s start practicing. I¡¯m gonna nap for a bit first."


    Jiang Xueli turned to him, seeing that he had already closed his eyes. She grumbled, "You really treat my house like a hotel¡­ You¡¯re acting like this is bed."


    "Don¡¯t worry. Even if I fall asleep, I¡¯ll wake up if you mess up a note." He pulled the blanket over himself and stopped talking.


    Jiang Xueli sighed and went to get her guitar.


    As she practiced, she kept sneaking glances at the peacefully resting Lin Zhengran.


    She hesitated.


    Her lips parted slightly.


    But before she could say anything, the house phone suddenly rang.


    Jiang Xueli immediately set her guitar down and went to answer it. Lin Zhengran opened his eyes to watch her.


    Seeing that the caller ID was her mom, she picked up.


    "Hello? Mom?"


    Her mother¡¯s voice came through the receiver.


    "Lili, your grandma really missed you, so she decided to take the bus over by herself! I¡¯m heading to the station to pick her up. Can you stay home this afternoon and keep her company?"


    Jiang Xueli blinked.


    "My grandma¡¯s coming? Okay, got it. Do you need me to come with you?"


    "No need. She¡¯s really something, though. Ever since I told her over the phone that you¡¯ve been practicing singing, she¡¯s been dying to see you. Who knew she¡¯d just hop on a bus today without even telling us? But whatever, if you want to come, then just meet me at the station."


    "Okay, Mom."


    After hanging up, Jiang Xueli saw that Lin Zhengran had already sat up.


    "Big idiot, we probably won¡¯t be able to practice today. My grandma¡¯s coming this afternoon, so I need to go meet my mom."


    Lin Zhengran nodded and got out of bed.


    "I heard. Then let¡¯s just practice tomorrow. The competition¡¯s still far away, no rush."


    He slipped on his slippers and walked to the living room. Jiang Xueli followed.


    "You¡¯re leaving already?"


    Lin Zhengran hummed. "Aren¡¯t you heading out too?"


    Jiang Xueli pursed her lips.


    "Then wait for me. Let¡¯s go downstairs together."


    Unlike last time, she didn¡¯t overthink it too much. As they walked down, she hesitated briefly at the stairwell before finally speaking up.


    "Uh¡­ Big idiot, can you come out for a bit this afternoon? I have something for you."


    "This afternoon?"


    Lin Zhengran suddenly remembered¡ªHe Qing had asked to meet him at 5 PM too. She also wanted to give him something.


    Jiang Xueli continued, "At 5 PM, under the small bridge by the park¡ªyou know, the one where the pigeons always gather."


    Then, as if afraid she¡¯d lose her nerve, she suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.


    "Big idiot! You to come at 5 PM! I¡¯ll be waiting for you by the bridge! I have something to give you! You to come!"


    And with that, she bolted.


    Shame flooded her entire body¡ªthere was no way she could stay near him any longer.


    She didn¡¯t even hear whatever Lin Zhengran called out to her.


    She had already disappeared in the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 62: Little He Qing Holding the Scarf Box

    During lunchtime, in the middle school girls¡¯ dorm, Little He Qing had already neatly folded the scarf and placed it inside a delicate gift box.


    Then she spent the whole morning holding that box tightly in her arms, afraid it would somehow get bumped or disappear into thin air.


    She kept taking deep breaths, nervous as h*ll.


    Han Wenwen came in carrying lunch she¡¯d bought off-campus: ¡°I¡¯m back with lunch! I even specially bought your favorite skewered meat, Qingqing.¡±


    Little He Qing sat on the bed, a little embarrassed: ¡°Thanks, Wenwen. I¡¯ll go get lunch tomorrow instead.¡±


    Han Wenwen gave her a smile and a glance, placing the food on the foldable table:


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be tired about? Today¡¯s the big day for Qingqing, and as your bestie, I¡¯m here to cheer you on¡ªpre-celebration feast!¡±


    Little He Qing shyly lowered her head. Han Wenwen handed her a pair of chopsticks, and only then did she carefully put the gift box down¡ªbut just a moment later, her face went pale.


    Han Wenwen blinked: ¡°You okay?¡±


    Little He Qing trembled nervously: ¡°Wenwen, what do you think he¡¯ll say? Honestly, I¡¯m kind of scared...¡±


    Han Wenwen opened her chopsticks and bit down on the tip: ¡°Well, that¡¯s hard to say. Lin Zhengran isn¡¯t like other boys, but there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m sure of¡­¡± She grinned:


    ¡°After today, you and Lin Zhengran are definitely gonna be closer.¡±


    Little He Qing slowly nodded.


    The two best friends sipped their drinks and ate their lunch.


    Elsewhere, Jiang Xueli and her mom brought Grandma back home. Sitting on the couch, Grandma asked her a few questions about her time at the Children¡¯s Talent Agency.


    Holding her granddaughter¡¯s hand: ¡°Lili¡¯s really grown up¡ªbecoming so impressive. Maybe one day, Grandma will even see you on TV!¡±


    Jiang Xueli stood in front of Grandma, a little shy at the praise.


    Grandma asked, ¡°But won¡¯t singing mean you have to travel far from time to time? Can you handle that on your own? Are you scared?¡±


    Jiang Xueli could be honest in front of Grandma:


    ¡°Grandma, I actually haven¡¯t gone far from home yet. But next year, I¡¯ll be competing right here in town. Thankfully, I have a really, really good male classmate. He stays with me every day and teaches me. When he¡¯s around, I¡¯m not scared at all.¡±


    Grandma looked at the expression on her granddaughter¡¯s face when she mentioned him and understood. She smiled and nodded: ¡°I see. Looks like that boy treats you really well.¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded: ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s really good to me. And super talented! He knows how to do everything! Remember I told you I had an amazing classmate? That was him.¡±


    Grandma¡¯s eyes were full of love: ¡°Our Lili is the best. Grandma believes you can do anything¡ªno doubt about it!¡±


    Jiang Xueli smiled and kept nodding: ¡°Thanks, Grandma.¡±


    She gave her grandma a big hug.


    At 3 p.m., two girls set out at the same time¡ªone from the dorm, the other from home. Jiang Xueli held a zoo flyer, and Little He Qing held the gift box with the scarf. They each said goodbye to their grandma and best friend, heading toward the bridge with the white doves.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran also left home, holding a bag of mixed grain, planning to go feed the pigeons early.


    He was the first to arrive¡ªhis house was the closest.


    A sky full of white doves seemed to sense food and flapped their wings, flying toward him in a flurry.


    Lin Zhengran scattered the grain on the ground, and the doves quickly surrounded him.


    On the side of the road, Little He Qing got out of a taxi, holding the box. She looked toward the bridge and was startled to see Lin Zhengran already there.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran?¡±


    She panicked. She had shown up more than an hour early!


    She clutched the gift and rushed over.


    On the other side, Jiang Xueli was casually strolling from home, her twin ponytails bouncing with her nervous steps.


    When she saw the figure feeding pigeons under the bridge, she was equally surprised and delighted: ¡°Big dummy? Why¡¯s he here so early?¡±


    She quickened her pace and ran toward the bridge too.


    They both wanted to call out to him. But it was that very call that made them speak at the same time from opposite sides.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran! Why are you here so early?¡±


    ¡°Big dummy! When did you get here?!¡±


    Just a second before they spoke, neither Little He Qing nor Jiang Xueli had expected the other to be there. Their eyes widened as they caught sight of each other, shocked.


    Their steps slowed and stopped at the same time.


    Jiang Xueli saw the box in Little He Qing¡¯s hands. Little He Qing saw the flyer in Jiang Xueli¡¯s hands.


    Both tightened their grip a little.


    Lin Zhengran turned around when he heard their voices and looked at them.


    The three of them stood by the bridge, staring at each other, and the awkwardness instantly filled the entire area.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes trembled as she stared at the box. She didn¡¯t know what it was, but it had to be an important gift! He Qing¡­ is she really here to confess?


    Little He Qing stared at the flyer in Jiang Xueli¡¯s hands, swallowing nervously.


    Why is Jiang Xueli here¡­ could she also¡­ be here to confess?


    Suddenly, both girls, blushing, quietly looked at Lin Zhengran:


    One timid and shy, unable to say a word in front of others.


    The other tsundere and stammering, not knowing what to say.


    In the end, it was Lin Zhengran who asked, ¡°What are you two daydreaming about?¡±


    Their embarrassed brains practically exploded.


    The white doves, unaware of the awkward atmosphere, cooed softly. Some flapped their wings and took off, their pure white feathers fluttering down in front of the three of them.


    Back in the girls¡¯ dorm, Han Wenwen sat at the edge of the bed, her slender fingers brushing her lips¡ªthose same lips that had kissed someone¡¯s forehead.


    Her face was filled with shyness¡­ and jealousy.


    That afternoon, a heavy rain fell, and the three of them ended up in the same taxi¡­ Soaked through, Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli sat inside the car, both blushing and silent.


    No matter what Lin Zhengran asked, they just kept their heads down, completely mute.


    The next day, the rain had stopped, but the roads were still damp.


    The morning sun was decent. Little He Qing held the box with the scarf inside and walked slowly along the side of the road.


    Yesterday afternoon, she hadn¡¯t managed to give her gift. Jiang Xueli and the sudden downpour had completely thrown off her plan.


    Then she happened to see a little golden retriever stuck in a broken manhole cover by the roadside. She hurried over and gently tried to comfort the puppy: ¡°Don¡¯t bite me, okay? I¡¯ll help you get your paw out.¡±


    The little golden retriever whimpered a few times, seemingly understanding her words. It lay flat and didn¡¯t move, its tail wagging slowly.


    Only then did Little He Qing cautiously walk over and crouch down. One hand held the gift box with the scarf, the other helped the puppy free its paw.


    But maybe because she only used one hand, and she didn¡¯t want to set the box down, the force was unbalanced. With one tug, the puppy¡¯s paw came loose¡ªbut Little He Qing ended up landing on the muddy, wet ground with a thud.


    The splash of mud also soaked the puppy in water and muck.


    She let out an ¡°Ah!¡± and quickly stood up, turning to check the dirt and stains on her butt. She awkwardly patted at it a few times, but it was useless¡ªin fact, it just made things worse.


    And because she¡¯d gotten splashed, the puppy instinctively shook itself off. Mud flew off like a washing machine, splattering all over Little He Qing.


    With a startled cry, Little He Qing shut her eyes and clutched the box tightly to her chest.


    There was mud here and there on her clothes¡ªand naturally, the box didn¡¯t escape either.


    The little golden retriever, as if realizing it had done something wrong, whimpered apologetically. Knowing it was dirty, it didn¡¯t dare go near her, almost like it was saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to!¡±


    He Qing didn¡¯t respond right away. She first checked the now-dirty gift box, quickly opened it to look inside¡ªand thankfully, the scarf was still clean and good as new.


    Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and put the lid back on. She smiled at the puppy: ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. My butt¡¯s already dirty anyway, I¡¯ll have to wash up later. You should go now¡ªdon¡¯t fall into any more cracks. Stay safe.¡±


    The puppy whimpered again, watching Little He Qing from afar as she walked away.


    Covered in mud, Little He Qing made her way to the entrance of a kindergarten¡ªit was where she and Lin Zhengran used to attend together. Familiar memories came rushing back, and she felt deeply nostalgic.


    After a while, she continued walking until she reached a small river. There was a long bench there, and she placed some tissue on it before sitting down, afraid her muddy clothes would dirty the bench.


    Looking at the countless muddy spots on her body, her mood took a dip.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d be here. When I dropped you two off last night, didn¡¯t you hear what I said to you?¡±


    Little He Qing¡¯s expression of frustration shifted immediately, because that voice was so familiar. She turned her head to look at the person: ¡°Lin... Lin Zhengran?¡±


    At some point, Lin Zhengran had appeared next to her. When he saw her messy hair, muddy clothes¡ªespecially the dirt all over her butt¡ªhe asked in confusion, ¡°What the h*ll happened to you? Were you playing in the mud or something?¡±


    Little He Qing panicked and stood up quickly, her eyes trembling as she shyly hugged the box: ¡°I¡­ I just helped a puppy, and I accidentally fell down. Why are you¡­ why are you here? And what about something you said yesterday? I didn¡¯t hear anything.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a helpless sigh. He remembered how, after the rain yesterday, he¡¯d called a taxi and let Jiang Xueli and He Qing get in first. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But during the entire ride, both girls just sat there blushing. No matter how many times he talked to them, they didn¡¯t respond¡ªlike a couple of statues, lost in who knows what thoughts.


    Completely spaced out.


    Lin Zhengran reached out his hand. Little He Qing thought he was going to flick her forehead and shut her eyes tight¡ªbut he didn¡¯t hit her immediately. His hand just paused mid-air, and when she cautiously opened one eye, , Lin Zhengran finally tapped her forehead.


    ¡°Ow!¡± she yelped.


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to my place to wash up. And don¡¯t you have something you wanted to tell me?¡±

 Chapter 63: He Qing’s Feelings

    ¡°Huh?¡­¡± She blushed.


    ¡°We have a dryer at home. I¡¯ll wash your clothes too while I¡¯m at it¡ªthey¡¯ll be dry in no time.¡±


    Little He Qing nodded slowly, her attention focused more on the second half of his sentence.


    Lin Zhengran turned to leave, and she instinctively tried to follow. But before she could even take a step, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, making her nearly collapse. She barely managed to grab hold of a nearby bench for support.


    Lin Zhengran turned back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    He Qing lowered her head to look at her ankle. ¡°It suddenly hurts a lot¡­ I don¡¯t even know why¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran had her sit down and checked her foot. He squatted down and carefully pulled down her sock a little. He Qing shyly watched him.


    He quickly discovered that the area she had injured last time was swollen and red again. He frowned and looked up. ¡°What happened? Why did you twist your ankle again? And in the exact same spot?¡±


    He Qing was just as confused. It hadn¡¯t hurt earlier.


    Stammering, she said, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ Maybe I twisted it when I fell saving the puppy just now? But it didn¡¯t hurt at the time¡­¡±


    Noticing Lin Zhengran¡¯s darkening expression, she hurriedly apologized. ¡°S-Sorry¡­ Please don¡¯t be mad¡­ I know I¡¯m kinda clumsy¡­ You can scold me if you want.¡±


    Lin Zhengran suddenly recalled how, when she was little, she used to call herself brainless when she messed up.


    Turning his back to her, he crouched down slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you. Let¡¯s go home and put some medicine on it.¡±


    He Qing was caught off guard, her eyes widening in surprise. Seeing his clean clothes, she quickly waved her hands. ¡°No, no! I¡¯m really dirty. I got mud all over me¡ªyou shouldn¡¯t carry me. I can walk¡­ I¡¯ll just go slow.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced back at her.


    That one look made He Qing go pale with fear. Her voice shrank to a mosquito-like murmur. ¡°I¡­ I can¡­¡±


    ¡°Get on.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m really dirty¡­¡± She didn¡¯t dare refuse him, but she still hesitated. Fortunately, Lin Zhengran casually said, ¡°Just wash my jacket later, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡±


    Since he put it that way, He Qing finally, hesitantly, climbed onto his back. Feeling bad, she kept apologizing, ¡°Sorry, Lin Zhengran¡­ I got your clothes dirty¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran told her to hold onto his neck. Awkwardly, she freed one hand and wrapped it around him.


    Then, securing his grip on her legs, Lin Zhengran stood up and carried her home. The little girl weighed less than a hundred pounds, and with Lin Zhengran¡¯s naturally strong physique, she felt practically weightless.


    Still, He Qing worried about being too heavy for him. She nervously asked, ¡°Am I heavy? Is it tiring to carry me?¡±


    ¡°Why do you talk so much?¡±


    ¡°Wuwu¡­¡±


    As they passed by the kindergarten He Qing had just walked past earlier, Lin Zhengran glanced over with her.


    ¡°So?¡±


    She blushed and nodded, knowing exactly what he was asking.


    Lin Zhengran carried her across the street. Some curious pedestrians gave them a glance, and even the kids playing at the kindergarten entrance took notice. Feeling her heartbeat quicken, He Qing clung to his back.


    Lin Zhengran had a pretty good idea of what was on her mind.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t get you girls and your constant inner drama. But I¡¯ll just say this¡ªI have no interest in middle school girls.¡±


    He Qing froze. Her eyes instantly turned red, as if she was about to cry.


    No interest¡­? What does that mean? Did I just get rejected? But I haven¡¯t even confessed yet! I haven¡¯t said anything¡ªhow did I already fail?!


    Just as Lin Zhengran was about to say something else, he suddenly heard her sniffle.


    ¡°¡­Are you crying?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m not crying¡­ Wuwuwu¡­¡± She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not crying¡­ wuwu¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Crying won¡¯t change anything. Stick your head forward.¡±


    ¡°Huh? ¡­Oh¡­¡± She leaned forward as much as she could. ¡°And then?¡±


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Take the hand you¡¯re holding onto me with and put it on your forehead. Then flick yourself. Hard.¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh. Okay.¡± Sniffling, He Qing placed her hand on her forehead and gave herself a hard flick. ¡°Ahh¡ªow!¡± She yelped from the pain, then teared up even more. ¡°That really hurt¡­ I hit myself too hard¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran found her ridiculous. She really went all out on herself. ¡°Good. That way you¡¯ll learn your lesson. Do you remember what you said when you were little? Why did you want to learn Taekwondo in the first place?¡±


    Still feeling wronged, she sniffled, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°I remember¡­ I wanted to become strong¡­ so I could p-protect you when you got bullied¡­ I wanted to grow up into someone strong¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°So have you done that? Do you think you¡¯ve grown up?¡±


    ¡°N-No¡­¡± She was completely honest with him. ¡°Actually, my Taekwondo training hasn¡¯t been going great lately¡­ and I keep making you mad¡­¡±


    She held onto the small box in her hands tightly.


    ¡°If you know you¡¯re not grown up yet, why are you overthinking things?¡±


    Lin Zhengran adjusted his grip on her legs and continued walking. After a pause, he added, ¡°If you win the town¡¯s Taekwondo competition next year, as a reward, I¡¯ll grant you one small wish.¡±


    He Qing blinked. ¡­A small wish?


    Then Lin Zhengran suddenly said, ¡°Also, when we start high school, we¡¯ll be sixteen, right?¡±


    She answered automatically, ¡°Yeah, sixteen in high school, eighteen when we graduate¡­ Mom says that once I start high school, I¡¯ll be a real young lady.¡±


    At first, she was just responding casually. But after a second, something clicked in her head. Her eyes widened, and her whole face lit up. Blushing, she muttered to herself,


    ¡°Wait¡­ a real young lady? When I start high school, I won¡¯t be a little girl anymore¡ªI¡¯ll be a real young lady!¡±


    Remembering what he had said earlier, she gathered her courage and asked, ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ You do like girls, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. ¡°Huh? What kind of question is that?! I¡¯m not planning on becoming a monk¡ªwhat do you think?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face broke into a bright smile. ¡°R-Really?! Then¡­ then if you don¡¯t like little kids, and I win the town¡¯s tournament next year, and I become strong, and I¡¯m not a little girl anymore when I start high school¡­ y-you¡­¡±


    Her brain worked fast, and she instinctively reworded her question. Carefully, she asked,


    ¡°You won¡¯t abandon me, right? When we were little, you said I could stay by your side forever.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, back in kindergarten, I did say you could follow me. That promise still stands.¡±


    Overjoyed, He Qing burst into a happy giggle. ¡°Really?!¡±


    Then her expression froze. She blinked blankly.


    Wait¡­


    So does this mean¡­ did I just succeed in confessing or fail?


    Emmm¡­ But I don¡¯t think I even confessed¡­


    This feels¡­ weird.


    S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 64: The Innate Lady of the House

    All of a sudden¡­ she found herself looking forward to high school. Looking forward to growing up.


    Little He Qing rested her forehead against Lin Zhengran¡¯s back, her face growing increasingly flushed.


    ¡°You¡¯re stabbing me in the back. What exactly have you been carrying since yesterday?¡± Lin Zhengran asked out of nowhere.


    ¡°Huh? Is it really that uncomfortable?¡± He Qing asked softly, adjusting the position of the box. ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you. I¡¯ll show you once we get home.¡± After adjusting it, she asked, ¡°Is it better now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a bit.¡±


    As they neared home, He Qing nervously asked, ¡°By the way¡­ are Uncle and Auntie home?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not. Just go take a shower when we get in.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    At the door, He Qing took off her muddy shoes and slipped into a pair of women¡¯s slippers. Even though her shoes were dirty, her socks were still pristine, and her little feet remained spotless.


    She headed to the bathroom, ready to take off her puffer jacket¡ªonly to realize she was still hugging her gift.


    Lin Zhengran also removed his mud-stained jacket and casually reminded her, ¡°Just set it down. I won¡¯t peek.¡±


    He knew she had been preparing this gift for a long time. After all, she had been acting distracted for the past two weeks, clearly preoccupied with something. She had probably been busy with this the whole time. Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t about to ruin her efforts with something as petty as sneaking a look.


    Hearing his reassurance, He Qing adorably placed the box on the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll show you after my shower.¡±


    She took off her jacket, but as she did, some of the mud splattered onto her sweater.


    Startled, she let out a small yelp. ¡°Ah! My sweater¡¯s dirty too! Now I have to wash it!¡±


    She quickly removed the sweater, revealing a plain white undershirt beneath. But in her clumsy rush, she accidentally smeared mud onto that too.


    She stared in horror at the dirty fabric, her face turning red.


    ¡°My undershirt is dirty too! Everything¡¯s dirty!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. How was she this clumsy? S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What are you doing? Trying to get every single piece of clothing covered in mud on purpose?¡±


    He Qing shrank her head down, feeling wronged. She wasn¡¯t doing it on purpose! Slowly, she started picking at the mud spots with her fingers.


    Lin Zhengran sighed and turned toward his bedroom. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some pajamas. You can wear mine until your clothes are dry.¡±


    He Qing mumbled her agreement, and soon, the sound of running water filled the bathroom as she locked the door behind her.


    Sure enough, as she undressed, she discovered that after falling into the mud earlier, even the inner layer of her pants was dirty. Only her underwear¡­ was still clean.


    And her bra.


    Frustrated, He Qing mimicked Lin Zhengran¡¯s habit of knocking on her own forehead, scolding herself. ¡°What are you doing?! Lin Zhengran just said he doesn¡¯t like useless girls, and you¡¯re out here being a complete airhead!¡±


    She grabbed the shower gel and shampoo and lathered herself up, drenching herself in warm water.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran lay on his bed, listening to the sound of her shower.


    Thinking back to yesterday, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwas Jiang Xueli about to say something like that to him, too? These two girls were too much.


    Then, He Qing called from the bathroom, ¡°Lin¡­ Lin Zhengran! Which towel should I use? Which one is Auntie¡¯s?¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised his voice to answer, ¡°My mom and dad use the same one. Just use mine¡ªthe white one with the blue border. I just washed it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ I-I¡¯m using yours?¡± He Qing¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper, but he could already hear the embarrassment in her tone.


    ¡°Yeah, just deal with it. There¡¯s no other towel left.¡±


    ¡°Okay! Got it!¡±


    Inside the bathroom, He Qing let the warm water run over her head. She turned to look at the blue-bordered towel hanging on the wall, her lips pressing together.


    ¡°That¡¯s his towel¡­¡±


    She stared at it, and before she knew it, a thought popped into her head. She hesitated, then slowly reached for it, inching it toward her nose.


    But just as she was about to sniff it, her face turned bright red. Panicked, she snapped her eyes shut and quickly put it back. She turned the hot water up, washing her face vigorously to cool down.


    In her mind, she chanted:


    ¡°I¡¯m not a pervert. I¡¯m not a pervert. I¡¯m not a pervert. I can¡¯t do that kind of thing.¡±


    About ten minutes later, He Qing finished her shower. Her loose ponytail was undone, and her long hair draped over her shoulders. She put on Lin Zhengran¡¯s pajamas and was shocked by how oversized they were.


    Just the top alone reached halfway down her thighs.


    And¡­ the scent of him lingered on the fabric.


    Peeking her head out of the bathroom, she checked if Lin Zhengran was in the living room. Seeing he wasn¡¯t there, she carefully wrapped her towel around her hair.


    Since long hair takes forever to dry, it was better to leave it wrapped for a while to prevent catching a cold.


    Then, like a proper lady of the house, she grabbed her dirty clothes and went to the balcony to toss them into the washing machine. Having visited this house countless times, she knew where everything was.


    Once she started the machine, she immediately grabbed a mop and returned to the bathroom to wipe the floor dry. Then, she placed the used towel into a basin to wash it by hand.


    That¡¯s when she noticed Lin Zhengran¡¯s socks, which he had taken off earlier.


    Hearing her bustling about, Lin Zhengran grew curious and stepped out of his room.


    What he saw left him speechless.


    She had made herself right at home. The washing machine was running, the mop was propped against the wall, and the little girl was busy at the sink, scrubbing a towel.


    Not only that, but she was even washing the socks he had just taken off.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked.


    He Qing turned around. ¡°Washing the towel.¡± She held up his socks. ¡°And your socks, too. They¡¯re done.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He was baffled. ¡°You could¡¯ve just thrown them in the washing machine. Besides, I only put those on this morning.¡±


    ¡°The machine is already washing our clothes, so I figured I might as well clean the towel by hand. And as for your socks, well, you wore them outside. A fresh pair would feel cleaner, and they¡¯ll dry quickly.¡±


    She wrung the socks out and said, ¡°Go rest in your room. I¡¯ll cut you some fruit. I saw apples and pears on the table¡ªdo you want one?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°Apple.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll cut it for you.¡±


    After hanging the washed towel and socks out to dry, He Qing neatly placed the mop on the balcony.


    She then let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°All done.¡±


    Sitting on the couch, she grabbed a small knife and expertly sliced the apple, poking a few toothpicks into the pieces. Then, she carried the plate into Lin Zhengran¡¯s room and set it beside his bed.


    ¡°All done. Just eat.¡±


    [Fairy He, after an intense battle with the Crimson Sky Demon Hound, was covered in blood. You brought her to your home. As a token of gratitude, she washed your clothes, cleaned the house, and even prepared you some fruit. These actions contained the essence of her True Spirit Qi¡ªupon absorbing it, your Strength increased by 1, and your Charisma increased by 2.]


    He Qing ran back to the bathroom and unwrapped her towel, ready to blow-dry her hair.


    But when she picked up the hairdryer¡­ she hesitated.


    This was a new model. She had never used it before.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, how do you use this? Teach me¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a deep sigh and walked over. ¡°Here. Like this.¡±


    He showed her how to use it, and as he did, he suddenly realized¡ª


    When tied in a ponytail, her hair didn''t seem that long. But now that it was down¡­ it actually reached her waist.


    Watching her struggle to dry it properly, he said, ¡°Since you did so much work just now, I¡¯ll help you. Give me the dryer and stand over here.¡±

 Chapter 65: The Clever He Qings Moment of Enlightenment

    He Qing was overwhelmed with surprise, but when Lin Zhengran called out again, ¡°Come here,¡± she hurried over.


    She turned her back to him first, letting him dry the back of her hair.


    Her small hands were clasped nervously in front of her, while the warm air from the hairdryer made her feel cozy. Occasionally, she would sneak peeks at Lin Zhengran through the mirror, watching him seriously dry her hair. Her cheeks grew redder each time.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown a bit taller since last year, haven¡¯t you? How tall are you now?¡± Lin Zhengran asked casually.


    Softly, He Qing answered, ¡°157 cm! I measured just a few days ago. But my growth has slowed down since last year¡­ I feel like I¡¯m still a bit short. If I could reach 165 cm, that would be perfect.¡± She added in a small voice, ¡°Wenwen is already 163 cm¡­¡±


    Since he was a full head taller than both of them, Lin Zhengran had never paid much attention to their heights. ¡°Really? You two seem about the same to me.¡±


    He Qing stroked a lock of her hair. ¡°She¡¯s definitely taller than me. Lin Zhengran¡­ do you think girls look better when they¡¯re short or when they¡¯re tall?¡±


    Lin Zhengran answered truthfully, ¡°I don¡¯t really have an opinion on that. It¡¯s all the same to me.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ what kind of girl do you like?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a specific type. I just like whoever I like.¡±


    He Qing pursed her lips. But in reality, Lin Zhengran was simply being honest.


    He reminded her, ¡°The back is almost dry. Turn around so I can get the front and the top.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± He Qing spun around¡ªonly to suddenly find herself face-to-face with his broad chest.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Blushing furiously, she lowered her head, her forehead nearly touching his chest.


    Lin Zhengran, on the other hand, was completely unbothered. He casually ran his fingers through her hair, methodically drying it.


    But the more natural he was, the more awkward she felt. Her hands clenched and unclenched anxiously, and every time he touched her hair, her forehead would brush lightly against his chest.


    She couldn¡¯t help but fidget, her fingers sneaking toward the hem of his shirt to give it a little poke. She let the warm air blow through her hair, deep in thought.


    Suddenly, He Qing¡¯s hand stopped moving.


    A realization struck her.


    Memories from before, combined with their conversation earlier on the street, all pieced together in her mind.


    Her sharp little brain had finally figured it out!


    Though¡­ an outsider might not have understood her thought process.


    Covering her red face with her hands, she thought to herself:


    At that moment, she realized something incredibly, incredibly important. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her sudden weird behavior. ¡°Why are you covering your face? Look up.¡±


    He Qing quickly responded, snapping her head up. She bit her lip and looked at him.


    Clutching the hem of her clothes, she spoke to herself in her mind:


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran had no idea what crazy thoughts were running through her head.


    Once he finished drying her hair, he put the hairdryer away. ¡°Alright, tie your ponytail back up.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Okay.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s expression was filled with pure joy as she turned to the mirror. She bit down on a hair tie and gathered her hair into a neat ponytail.


    By then, Lin Zhengran had already gone back to his bedroom, lying on his bed and eating an apple.


    After tying her hair, He Qing shook her head lightly, making her ponytail sway.


    She spotted the slightly dirty gift box on the floor. Carefully opening it, she took out the scarf, folded it, and hid it behind her back.


    Then, she walked into the bedroom.


    Lin Zhengran, still chewing on his apple, saw her sneaky movements and instantly knew she had brought the gift.


    He Qing slowly pulled out a delicate gray scarf. ¡°This is your gift. I knitted it for you, bit by bit. I chose a finer yarn and made it double-layered so it would be warmer.¡±


    She hesitated before continuing, ¡°Originally, I¡­ had a different reason for giving it to you¡­¡± Shaking her head, she murmured, ¡°But I just realized I was thinking about it the wrong way. So now, this is just a winter gift. I hope you like it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at the finely crafted gray scarf, feeling both surprised and not surprised at all.


    In his past life, girls had given him scarves before, but He Qing¡¯s was different. She had used fine yarn, which made the knitting process much more tedious.


    Moreover, the detailed edge work and intricate finish showed how much effort she had put into it.


    Sitting up, Lin Zhengran picked it up for a closer look. ¡°How long did this take you?¡±


    He Qing was about to sit down, but when he asked, she immediately stood up straight. ¡°Half a month!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve done this before? It looks really well made.¡±


    That one casual compliment was enough to make He Qing happy for an entire day. Her tone turned cheerful.


    ¡°Nope! This was my first time knitting anything. At first, I didn¡¯t even know how, so I kept messing up and redoing it. But since it was for you, I didn¡¯t want it to be sloppy.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked up and saw her eager expression, as if she had written all over her face.


    Instead, he reached out and flicked her forehead.


    He Qing yelped, covering her head. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran kept a straight face as he said, ¡°I like it. I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± He Qing blushed, but then he added¡ª


    ¡°But you spent half a month on this, got hurt during Taekwondo training, and spent your days spacing out. Do you have a problem?¡±


    He Qing pursed her lips and, for once, talked back. ¡°How is that a problem? You¡¯re really important to me.¡±


    Fidgeting with her fingers, she mumbled, ¡°No one¡¯s more important than you¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead again.


    She still had a lot of growing up to do.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before¡ªalways take care of yourself first. If you ever stay up late or get hurt just to make me something again, I won¡¯t accept it. Got it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Mm. Got it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the scarf again before casually wrapping it around his neck.


    Seeing this, He Qing beamed. ¡°Let me help you put it on properly!¡±


    ¡°I never said I was going to wear it.¡±


    She froze and stared at him. Then, in a mosquito-like whisper, she muttered, ¡°Try taking it off, I dare you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. She knew what that look meant.


    Tentatively, she reached out and gently adjusted the scarf, crossing it over and tucking in the end.


    ¡°There, all done.¡±


    Clasping her hands together in front of her, she grinned. ¡°You look really good with it! I¡¯ll go get a mirror!¡±


    She excitedly ran off to find one.


    With the dryer running, it would be a while before their clothes were ready. Lin Zhengran sat on his bed, reading under the blanket.


    He Qing boldly climbed onto the bed beside him, sneaking under the same blanket.


    Her little feet wiggled happily beneath the covers.


    ¡°What are you reading?¡± she asked cutely.


    ¡°Linear Algebra.¡±


    Since the system treated studying as cultivation, Lin Zhengran made it a habit to read whenever he had free time. His enhanced focus and memory allowed him to retain information far beyond the average person.


    He Qing peeked at the page, but it looked like a foreign language to her.


    Still, she was delighted just to sit beside him.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Can you even understand this?¡±


    ¡°Nope! Everything you read is too advanced for me.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you sitting here?¡±


    ¡°Ehhh, I just like sitting here.¡±


    Seeing his skeptical look, she avoided his gaze and pretended to read along.


    It didn¡¯t matter whether she understood.


    As long as she was beside him, today felt like a wonderful day.


    Under the covers, her little feet kept happily swinging.

 Chapter 66: The Twintail Girl’s Wild Imagination

    While reading, Lin Zhengran got up and found some medicinal balm for bruises. He Qing had no idea what he was up to until he returned and asked, ¡°By the way, does your foot still hurt?¡±


    Lying on the bed, He Qing only just realized it. She blinked, dumbfounded. ¡°Huh? It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore! When did it stop?¡±


    She looked at Lin Zhengran, and a sudden thought made her wave her hands frantically in defense.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think I was lying! I wasn¡¯t pretending just to make you carry me¡ªI swear! It really hurt earlier, but¡­ ever since we got to your house, I kinda forgot about it, and now it¡¯s fine¡­ You have to believe me! I told you before, I won¡¯t lie to you again.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her and lifted the blanket, checking her ankle. ¡°Why are you explaining so much? I never said I didn¡¯t believe you. Give me your foot.¡±


    He squatted beside the bed and examined her ankle. Earlier, it had been red but without any visible injuries. Now, even the redness had mostly faded.


    ¡°If the pain¡¯s gone this fast, then it was probably just the cold air irritating your old injury. After taking a hot shower, the warmth helped relieve it.¡±


    He Qing only half-processed what he said. The rest of her focus was entirely on him looking at her foot.


    She felt so shy~


    Wenwen had told her before that, among the parts of a girl¡¯s body boys liked, feet were super important. Some guys even thought a pair of pretty feet was more attractive than anything else.


    They¡¯d even want to¡­ play with them.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran seriously squeezed some balm onto his fingers. ¡°Since it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, I¡¯ll just apply a little as a precaution. But you should be more careful next time¡ªdon¡¯t run around in the rain again.¡±


    He Qing was lost in thought.


    Lin Zhengran repeated, ¡°Did you hear me?¡±


    She snapped back to reality, jolting. ¡°I heard! I¡¯ll remember!¡±


    She pursed her lips, watching him gently rub the balm onto her ankle.


    Once the clothes were dry, He Qing locked the bedroom door and changed into her freshly washed outfit. Then, Lin Zhengran accompanied her downstairs.


    At the entrance of the residential complex, he asked, ¡°Do you have enough money for a taxi?¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll just walk back¡ªit¡¯s not too far.¡±


    Lin Zhengran pulled out a large bill from his pocket. Over the past few weeks, as Han Wenwen had been making money, Lin Zhengran had naturally earned quite a bit as well.


    ¡°Take this and get a cab home. No need to stress your foot.¡±


    He Qing stared at the bill with wide eyes. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran added, ¡°Just pay me back later.¡±


    Only then did she reach out cautiously to take it, nodding meekly. ¡°Mm¡­ Then I¡¯ll pay you back after I win the Taekwondo tournament next year and earn some prize money.¡±


    Neither of them noticed that, at the street corner, a girl in a puffy jacket with twintails had her hands behind her back, slowly approaching.


    It was, of course, Jiang Xueli.


    The memory of yesterday afternoon still made her face burn with embarrassment¡ªthe moment when she and He Qing had awkwardly bumped into each other on the bridge.


    On the way home, she had overheard He Qing mentioning that she planned to visit Lin Zhengran in the afternoon.


    But Jiang Xueli had waited at home for ages, and he never came. So, she decided to take the initiative and see if he was at home.


    Just as she reached the entrance of the residential area, she spotted two figures in the distance.


    There was no way she¡¯d mistake Lin Zhengran¡¯s silhouette. But the girl with the single ponytail standing beside him¡­ was that He Qing?!


    Startled, Jiang Xueli quickly hid behind a wall, peeking out cautiously.


    And more importantly¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s just see what¡¯s going on firs¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t even finished the thought when her gaze landed on Lin Zhengran¡¯s neck.


    A scarf.


    A few meters away, He Qing said her goodbyes. She lingered, reluctant to leave. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯m going. See you next week.¡±


    ¡°Mm. Get home safe. Send me a message when you get to your dorm.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyes lingered on the scarf around his neck. Carefully, she reached out to adjust it for him.


    From her hiding spot, Jiang Xueli¡¯s pupils trembled.


    ¡°That scarf¡­ it couldn¡¯t be¡­ He Qing¡¯s gift, could it?¡±


    Yesterday, He Qing had been carrying a box¡ªclearly a gift box. It had looked large but light.


    If she imagined that a scarf had been inside, everything made sense.


    Which meant¡­ He Qing already gave him her gift.


    And¡­ he accepted it.


    Just then, He Qing glanced down and noticed her shoelaces had come undone. She bent down to tie them.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened dramatically.


    Because in her eyes¡ª S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing wasn¡¯t tying her shoelaces.


    She was kneeling down¡­ to propose.


    ¡°She¡­ She¡­ He Qing is down on one knee proposing to that big idiot?! A confession?!¡±


    It was exactly like her dream from the other night!


    She saw He Qing look up and say something to Lin Zhengran, but she couldn¡¯t hear it. The words were too quiet.


    But she could .


    In Jiang Xueli¡¯s mind, He Qing gazed up at Lin Zhengran with deep emotion.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, marry me. That¡¯s why I¡¯m down on one knee, proposing to you. Will you be my husband?¡±


    He Qing paused, then added, ¡°If you¡¯re willing¡­ please take my hand.¡±


    Jiang Xueli clutched the corner of the wall, biting her lip anxiously.


    And then¡ª


    Lin Zhengran reached out and pulled He Qing up.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart nearly burst out of her chest.


    She saw He Qing blush and say, ¡°I¡¯m so happy right now. I need to go back to the dorm and calm down. In a few days, let¡¯s go to the civil affairs bureau and register our marriage.¡± She waved.


    And Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you in a few days. Be careful on the way, my love~¡±


    Of course, all of this was purely Jiang Xueli¡¯s imagination.


    In reality, He Qing had simply tied her shoelaces and then checked her ankle.


    She pressed it lightly and looked up. ¡°My foot really doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    Lin Zhengran held out a hand and helped her up. ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t hurt, be careful. If the pain comes back, you¡¯ll need to see a doctor. Be extra cautious for the next few days.¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going now.¡± She waved.


    Lin Zhengran nodded back. ¡°Mm. Take it slow.¡±


    He Qing took three steps, then turned back for another look.


    Even after getting into the taxi, she rolled down the window and continued waving.


    Once she was gone, Lin Zhengran turned to head toward Jiang Xueli¡¯s house. There was a small rehearsal at her studio that afternoon, and after yesterday¡¯s events, he figured he should check in.


    But the moment he turned, he spotted someone peeking from behind a wall¡ªa small pinkish face and a pair of dangling twintails.


    He immediately knew who it was.


    ¡°¡­Jiang Xueli? Why are you hiding?¡±


    Jiang Xueli, caught red-handed, originally wanted to run.


    But her emotions exploded.


    Tears welling up, she stomped forward, clenched her fists, and shouted:


    ¡°Idiot! Dumbass! Big stupid pighead! You liar! How could you accept someone else¡¯s proposal?!¡±


    Biting her lip, her voice choked with tears.


    ¡°You promised to marry me! If you don¡¯t marry me, who am I supposed to marry?! Who will I be a bride for?!¡±


    Then she spun around and ran, covering her eyes as tears streamed down her face.


    ¡°Wuwuwu~ I hate liars~¡±


    But just as she passed Lin Zhengran, he grabbed her by the arm, utterly speechless.


    ¡°¡­What are you on about? What proposal? Who proposed to who? When did I lie? Explain before you run.¡±

 Chapter 67: Absolute Trust

    Seeing her tearful eyes, Lin Zhengran thought she was going to completely break down. Who knew she¡¯d suddenly grab his arm, tears still welling in her eyes, yet tugging at her mouth as she stared hard at him.


    ¡°You better explain¡­ explain now¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran broke into a cold sweat. What kind of people was he even hanging out with? ¡°Explain what? I should be asking you to explain! What were you rambling about just now?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes were red as she looked at him, all aggrieved: ¡°What do I have to explain, you big dummy? You¡¯re the one who should be explaining, dummy, stupid dummy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still cursing?¡±


    ¡°Not cursing anymore!¡± Though she clearly didn¡¯t dare go further.


    Seeing Lin Zhengran staring at her, Jiang Xueli spoke again: ¡°Anyway, I clearly saw her proposing just now, the two of you¡­¡± She poked Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm, ¡°Let go of my hand first. Let me tell you the truth, and then I want to see how you explain it.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran let go.


    Jiang Xueli used both hands to reenact the scene, mimicking He Qing¡¯s actions just now¡ªtying the scarf, kneeling on one knee, all of it:


    ¡°When I showed up just now, I saw you two like this, then like that, and then that¡ªthen she got down on one knee, and then you said you¡¯re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau this week to get your marriage certificate! Are you not going to admit that?¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked in confusion, ¡°Ah?¡±


    Even though her description was totally abstract, maybe because he¡¯d known her since they were little, he could vaguely get the gist.


    Basically, she thought she had just witnessed a proposal.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Let¡¯s set aside your this and that that nobody understands¡ªwhat do you mean we¡¯re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau this week to register a marriage? Do you seriously think middle schoolers can get legally married?¡±


    Jiang Xueli was about to respond but suddenly froze.


    Eyes still teary, she stared at him and blinked blankly: ¡°Oh, right. I think you have to be over twenty to get married¡­ then why did you say you were going to register?¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t hold it in and gave her a forehead flick.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Jiang Xueli yelped, holding her head with both hands and finally stopping the crying, ¡°Why¡¯d you hit me, you big dummy?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a look full of disdain: ¡°That ridiculous stuff you were saying just now¡ªdid you actually hear that with your own ears? Don¡¯t tell me you just imagined it all.¡±


    Jiang Xueli let out a guilty, ¡°emmmm¡­¡±


    ¡°So it was all in your head¡­¡±


    He flicked her again.


    Each flick wasn¡¯t actually painful, but enough to snap her out of her state. She pointed at the scarf on his neck: ¡°You hit me again! Then¡­ then what about that scarf you¡¯re wearing?! That scarf was from He Qing, wasn¡¯t it?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied casually, ¡°Oh, that?¡±


    He said deliberately, ¡°Alright, fine. You weren¡¯t wrong. Everything you imagined just now was totally true.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes went wide, and she suddenly swung her little fists, pounding Lin Zhengran wildly:


    ¡°Liar liar liar! I didn¡¯t hear anything just now, it was all in my head! You two aren¡¯t even together! And you¡¯re both too young to get married! Hurry up and tell me what really happened! I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d go back on your word¡ªmy big dummy isn¡¯t that kind of person!¡±


    Lin Zhengran, used to her phantom punches, caught her tiny fists and calmly said, ¡°I¡¯ll say it once¡ªHe Qing got her clothes dirty just now, so she came to my place to wash up. After she finished, I walked her downstairs. That¡¯s it.¡±


    Jiang Xueli stopped mid-punch. Then suddenly, she lit up, skipping any emotional transition.


    Hands behind her back, beaming: ¡°So that¡¯s what it was! You should¡¯ve just said so, you big dummy!¡±


    Her whole face radiated sunshine: ¡°I knew it¡ªeven if you¡¯re terrible at everything else, you¡¯re always honest. You¡¯ve never lied to me, and I really trust you.¡±


    In Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart, Lin Zhengran might be a little flirty, but he would never lie.


    And if there was ever a conflict between what Lin Zhengran said and the so-called facts¡ª


    Then what he said had to be the truth, and the facts had to be fake. Because back in elementary school during that theft incident, Jiang Xueli had already decided: the big dummy was the only one in the world she could trust without question.


    When it came to trust, both Jiang Xueli and He Qing had always been at 100% with Lin Zhengran¡ªa passive perk of growing up as childhood friends.


    Suddenly, a car came from the distance and stopped at the entrance of the residential complex. The driver¡¯s side window rolled down.


    Behind the wheel was a beautiful woman in her thirties.


    ¡°Jiang Xueli? What are you doing here? I¡¯m heading to the studio to record¡ªwant a ride?¡±


    Hearing the voice, Jiang Xueli turned and wiped her tears with her arm: ¡°Sister Zhang! Sure, I was just planning to go!¡±


    She didn¡¯t forget to introduce someone either¡ªcompletely dropping all suspicion about the He Qing situation.


    ¡°Sister Zhang, let me introduce him. This is Lin Zhengran¡ªhe¡¯s my childhood friend.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled, ¡°Hello, Sister Zhang.¡±


    Sister Zhang responded, ¡°Hey there, handsome. I think I¡¯ve seen you at the studio before. Weren¡¯t you the one who sometimes went with Xueli to pick things up or watch her record?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been there a few times with her.¡±


    Sister Zhang smiled thoughtfully, ¡°Childhood friends, huh? That¡¯s sweet. Alright, I¡¯ll give both of you a ride.¡±


    Jiang Xueli smiled sheepishly, said, ¡°Thank you, Sister Zhang,¡± and looked at Lin Zhengran: ¡°Big dummy, let¡¯s go together?¡±


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The two of them got into the car and headed to the Children¡¯s Talent Agency.


    Once there, since she had to record sooner or later anyway, Jiang Xueli went straight into the recording booth.


    Lin Zhengran sat in the audience rest area with his arms crossed, listening to Jiang Xueli sing.


    The moment she stood on stage, her singing talent switched on instantly¡ªthough¡­ her voice today was a bit off, probably from everything that happened earlier.


    The sound engineer asked, ¡°It started off okay, but toward the end, Lili¡¯s voice doesn¡¯t sound like usual. A bit hoarse? Want to take a break and let someone else go first?¡±


    Holding the mic, Jiang Xueli realized it was probably because she¡¯d cried earlier.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take a break and come back later.¡±


    She set the mic down and looked down¡ªand saw that there were two other girls, also singers, trying to get Lin Zhengran¡¯s contact info.


    ¡°Hey handsome, what school are you from? You¡¯re really good-looking. What¡¯s your number?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! What¡¯s your number? Did you come to watch someone rehearse?¡±


    Lin Zhengran had zero interest in these thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girls: ¡°I don¡¯t have a phone number. I¡¯m here with her¡ªthe one on stage.¡±


    Seeing her territory being threatened, Jiang Xueli waved her fists and hurried over.


    The girls saw her and exchanged a glance, a bit disappointed: ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Lili¡¯s date? Well, okay then. Wait, does that mean Lili has a boyfriend?¡±


    They left, chatting.


    Of course Jiang Xueli heard what they said. Her face flushed again¡ªbut she didn¡¯t deny it.


    Boyfriend~~


    She walked up to Lin Zhengran: ¡°Big dummy! What were you doing just now?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Sitting here listening to your song, what else? By the way, this studio really sees people come and go all the time¡ªnewbies in, old ones out.¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded, ¡°Yeah, lots of people sing for a bit and leave when they don¡¯t get famous. This studio doesn¡¯t have much backing anyway, and none of the singers here seem to have made real money.¡±


    Then she suddenly got annoyed again: ¡°Wait! That¡¯s not what I wanted to say! I meant¡ªwhy is it that every time you sit here, someone tries to hit on you?! Are you really that attractive to girls?! Okay, I admit you¡¯re handsome and talented, but still¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°And what does someone asking me for my number have to do with me? Besides, I didn¡¯t give it.¡±


    Jiang Xueli sat down beside him, pouting: ¡°Hmph, at least you¡¯re acting decent¡­¡±


    She glanced at the scarf around his neck. Her bright eyes noticed the fine craftsmanship.


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal with that scarf? It¡¯s from He Qing, right¡­¡±


    He looked down: ¡°Yeah, she said it¡¯s a winter gift for me. But after wearing it all afternoon, it¡¯s way too hot. I¡¯ll find a box and put it away tonight.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was surprised it was just a winter gift? Though she still felt jealous, at least it wasn¡¯t a confession?


    She suddenly remembered that she wanted to invite him to the zoo.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to tell me something yesterday too? I saw you holding some kind of flyer.¡±

 Chapter 68: A Certain Victory!

    The moment the word ¡°flyer¡± left Lin Zhengran¡¯s mouth, Jiang Xueli practically bristled like a startled kitten.


    She stammered, ¡°Huh? What flyer?! Oh... uh...¡± She forced a grin and quickly looked away. ¡°You mean flyer? Well, I just randomly picked it up on the street...¡±


    Her eyes inadvertently drifted toward a group of girls chatting in the distance. Some of them were stealing glances at her, waving or giggling behind their hands.


    It was the kind of look people gave at school when they were a couple, whispering things like


    Jiang Xueli snapped her gaze back to Lin Zhengran and, gathering her courage, said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask you a question first! Answer me, and then I¡¯ll tell you!¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s lips quivered as she struggled to speak. ¡°Big idiot... am I someone really important to you? Or am I just a simple childhood friend? Like... if I suddenly disappeared one day, would you even be sad for long?¡±


    She clenched her fists tightly on her lap. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t lie to me, so I want to hear your honest answer.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her. Jiang Xueli held her breath, her eyes locked onto his.


    ¡°That¡¯s supposed to be question? Feels like three. And why am the one being interrogated?¡±


    ¡°Who cares how many?! Who cares asks who?!¡± Jiang Xueli shut her eyes, blushing furiously, and shouted, ¡°Stop trying to change the subject at such a crucial moment!¡±


    Lin Zhengran watched her intently. He knew whatever he said next would mean a lot to her. But he wasn¡¯t the type to sugarcoat things¡ªhe would just tell the truth.


    ¡°What kind of nonsense are you asking? Of course, you¡¯re important to me. You, He Qing... and everyone else in my life. And what do you mean by ¡®just a simple childhood friend¡¯?


    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for For seven years, we¡¯ve practically been together every day. Yeah, you can be loud and annoying sometimes, but if you really disappear from my life one day...¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart pounded wildly. Her fingers, clenched tightly, began to tremble slightly.


    Lin Zhengran continued, ¡°I¡¯d definitely be worried sick. It has nothing to do with how long I¡¯ve taught you music. It¡¯s just... you¡¯re the only person who grew up with me.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes shimmered. She covered her lips with her hands, her voice tiny, her face red beyond saving. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I figured you¡¯d say something unexpected, but... I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be important to you... Big idiot...¡±


    Then, all of a sudden, she shut her eyes and started furiously punching Lin Zhengran like a tiny, overexcited hamster. Her mind was an absolute mess.


    ¡°Big idiot! Who told you to say things that make a girl this embarrassed?! This is so humiliating! How can you just things like that?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran watched her ¡°punch¡± his arm¡ªit was more like a light massage, really¡ªand said blankly, ¡°Are you insane? Didn¡¯t ask? I just answered. And how is that even cheesy?¡±


    Jiang Xueli spotted a girl passing by who was covering her mouth, giggling after overhearing part of their conversation.


    She immediately panicked. ¡° Then what considered cheesy?! Ugh, I you so much right now!¡±


    Desperate to change the subject, she dug through her pocket, pulled out the folded flyer, and unfolded it in front of him.


    ¡°Since you answered my question, I won¡¯t be embarrassed anymore! This is what I wanted to show you yesterday. A new zoo just opened in our city, and I want to take you there.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took the flyer from her. ¡°A zoo? After all that buildup... it was just this? But honestly, emmm... I¡¯m not really interested.¡±


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists. ¡°How could you not be interested?! I looked it up online¡ªit has You probably haven¡¯t even been to a zoo before, right? This is the perfect chance to go! And it¡¯s not like have to pay¡ªI still have tons of New Year¡¯s money left!¡±


    Lin Zhengran realized something.


    Even though Jiang Xueli had grown up with him, she actually didn¡¯t know much about his past experiences.


    For example, she assumed he had never been to a zoo. But in his previous life, he had visited them plenty of times.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Do want to go?¡±


    Jiang Xueli blushed. ¡°Mhm... more like, I ¡±


    Lin Zhengran handed the flyer back to her. Jiang Xueli blinked, dazed.


    Then he said, ¡°I can go. But you know I¡¯m pretty busy. So, if you win first place in next year¡¯s town competition, I¡¯ll take you.¡±


    He added, ¡°And we can also go watch a movie together. Last time, you fell asleep in the theater and kept whining about missing the ending for days. This way, you can finally make up for it.¡±


    Jiang Xueli practically with joy!


    She sit still¡ªshe jumped up, grinning ear to ear. ¡°For real?! Big idiot, you¡¯re gonna take me to a movie?! And you even... the invitation?! I need to think carefully about this.¡± She dramatically looked up as if deep in thought.


    Lin Zhengran teased, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go, then¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, Jiang Xueli frantically cut him off. ¡° Who said I wasn¡¯t going?! I want to go! Winning a little town competition? Pfft, easy!¡±


    She puffed up her chest confidently.


    ¡°Big idiot, after all these years of training under guidance¡ªand with my ¡ªI¡¯m basically in the studio! I was just being before!


    ¡°If I want to win... as long as you¡¯re by my side, I win!¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her confident expression, the way her eyes sparkled as she spoke. Her twin ponytails even bounced slightly from how animated she was.


    Just then, the recording engineer called out, ¡°Lili, everyone else is done recording. Have you rested enough?¡±


    Jiang Xueli turned and replied, ¡°Oh! I¡¯m good! Let me just take a sip of water, and I¡¯ll be right there!¡±


    She then looked back at Lin Zhengran, smiling. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll give you a sneak peek of the progress I¡¯ve made! As the star you personally trained, I lose to anyone!¡±


    She grabbed a bottle of water, took a quick sip, and dashed toward the recording studio.


    With a deep breath, she picked up the microphone. The sheer excitement and happiness from earlier fueled her, filling her with boundless energy.


    She sang her heart out¡ªthe song she planned to perform on stage next year.


    Lin Zhengran sat in the lounge, arms crossed, watching her. After a moment, he found himself smiling unconsciously.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s talent was indeed above average. And with his training, she had already reached a level where she outshined everyone else in the studio.


    The other singers in the room all turned to watch her, captivated by her performance, awed by her skill.


    Just then, the studio¡¯s manager, who had just finished handling business outside, stepped in.


    Hearing Jiang Xueli¡¯s voice, she couldn¡¯t help but pause and smile in appreciation.


    ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve seen a girl with much talent.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, throughout her entire performance, never took her eyes off Lin Zhengran.


    As she sang the final lyrics¡ª¡ªher cheeks flushed. She smiled at him with her eyes closed.

 Chapter 69: Together for a Lifetime

    By the time the recording session ended, it was already late at night.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s singing had left everyone feeling hopeful about next year¡¯s town competition. Maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthe studio could finally make a name for itself. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With her hands clasped behind her back, Jiang Xueli walked alongside Lin Zhengran on the way home.


    The winter night had fallen quickly, and though the streets weren¡¯t completely silent, the occasional passing cars made the surroundings feel a little less empty.


    ¡°Big idiot, I heard that girls go through a huge growth spurt when they get to high school. Do you think I¡¯ll grow super tall? Maybe even taller than you?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her bouncing twin ponytails. She was a little taller than He Qing, but...


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m still gonna grow, but I doubt you¡¯ll get much taller.¡±


    ¡°Huh?! Why not?! I¡¯m only right now! I¡¯ve grown a lot these past few years!¡±


    ¡°You never studied biology, did you? Middle school is when girls grow the fastest. While you keep growing in high school... it probably won¡¯t be .¡±


    ¡°Not height? Then what?¡± She was genuinely confused.


    Lin Zhengran rolled his eyes. ¡°Go read a book.¡±


    ¡°Tch, stingy. You act like the only smart one. My grades are pretty good too, you know? I¡¯m always in the upper middle ranks.¡± Jiang Xueli snuck a glance at Lin Zhengran¡¯s side profile, then muttered, ¡°Though... you better than me.¡±


    Maybe it was just eyes, but Jiang Xueli always thought this guy looked ridiculously handsome, .


    If only he didn¡¯t act cool¡ªit made him seem like a total adult, never like a kid.


    Out of nowhere, she blurted out, ¡°Middle school went by so fast. Winter break starts next week, and then we¡¯ll be in ... Honestly, ever since elementary school ended, I¡¯ve actually been a little scared.¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡± Lin Zhengran was curious.


    Jiang Xueli turned away, too embarrassed to look at him. ¡°I mean... scared that the world won¡¯t be the way I imagined when I grow up.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a small laugh but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Jiang Xueli stared at the ground as they walked. She knew what she had been afraid of these past two years.


    Afraid that when He Qing came back, her relationship with Lin Zhengran would change.


    Afraid that the big idiot would get stolen away by that adorable He Qing.


    Afraid that he would stop keeping her company, that he would forget about her.


    But now...


    ¡°But after what you said this afternoon, I feel so much better.¡±


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll think about losing. I¡¯ll win.¡±


    Her words were all over the place¡ªsome spoken aloud, some just in her heart.


    To an outsider, it would sound like a jumbled mess.


    But no matter what she said, Lin Zhengran never poured cold water on someone who was fired up.


    ¡°Good luck.¡±


    Hearing those two words, Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart thumped wildly. She bit her lip, feeling like steam was rising from her head.


    As they reached the intersection, she waved at Lin Zhengran. ¡°Big idiot, see you at school tomorrow! And don¡¯t forget your promise¡ªif I win the competition next year, you have to take me to the zoo to the movies!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I always keep my word.¡±


    Jiang Xueli grinned and waved as she crossed the street. Lin Zhengran turned and headed home.


    But just as the twin-ponytailed girl reached the middle of the intersection, she suddenly stopped.


    She didn¡¯t keep walking.


    Instead, she turned around and looked at Lin Zhengran¡¯s retreating figure.


    Then, she took a deep breath and shouted¡ª


    ¡°Big idiot! Don¡¯t forget the pinky promise we made at school¡ª¡±


    She for a large truck to pass by, deliberately mixing her next words with the sound of the engine¡ªbefore yelling at the top of her lungs:


    ¡°We¡¯re going to be together for a lifetime!¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned his head toward her.


    But by the time he looked, Jiang Xueli had already disappeared beyond the street corner.


    It almost felt like she hadn¡¯t been the one shouting those words at all.


    The loud passing truck drowned out most of the sound¡ªanyone else would have no idea what was said.


    But Lin Zhengran...


    He had heard her.


    With a soft chuckle, he exhaled and continued walking home.


    ¡ª


    Lin Zhengran had learned long ago that once a cultivation contract was signed, there was no way to break it.


    Which was why he never casually formed those contracts. After all, once the red thread of fate was tied, it was almost impossible to sever.


    ¡ª


    ???? System Notification: ????


    ¡¾Recently, both He Xianzi and Jiang Xueli have been struggling with inner demons, preventing their cultivation from progressing. If this continued, their minds would become unstable, leading them down a path of destruction, permanently halting their journey as cultivators.¡¿


    ¡¾However, thanks to your guidance, they have both overcome their inner demons and broken through to a higher level of cultivation.¡¿


    ¡¾As a token of gratitude, He Xianzi has gifted you a piece of hand-embroidered silk, crafted using her spiritual essence. This is a supreme artifact among immortals, permanently increasing your fortune, cultivation speed, and overall abilities.¡¿


    ¡¾Your fortune link with Jiang Xueli has also grown stronger, further accelerating your cultivation in the future.¡¿


    ¡ª


    ???? You have gained the following attributes: ????


    ¡¾Spirit Level: +3¡¿


    ¡¾Cultivation Speed: x2¡¿


    ¡¾Strength: +5¡¿


    ¡¾Stamina: +5¡¿


    ¡¾Charisma: +5¡¿


    ¡¾Endurance: +7¡¿


    ???? Current Spirit Level: 48


    ¡ª


    ???? Unlocked Abilities: ????


    ???? Strength (58) ¡ª At 50 points, you gained the ability to maintain muscle mass without exercise. ?


    ? Stamina (55) ¡ª At 60 points, you will gain the ability to exert yourself indefinitely without fatigue. ?


    ???? Endurance (63) ¡ª At 70 points, you will gain double stamina and triple endurance. ?


    ? Charisma (55) ¡ª Your charm is now doubled. ?


    ???? Additional Effect:


    Your body will no longer deteriorate from lack of exercise, and you are now immune to illnesses.


    ¡ª


    On the way home, Lin Zhengran listened as the system notifications into his brain.


    He could feel the enhancements to his body.


    The new strength boost surprised him the most.


    The system hadn¡¯t explicitly mentioned before, but now that he had unlocked it, he realized how valuable it was.


    ¡­But blankets were , so he was definitely still going to use one.


    As his figure faded into the distance, on another street corner, Jiang Xueli crouched behind a wall.


    Her chest heaved, her face burning red.


    She covered her mouth, her hands shaking from excitement.


    Then¡ª


    Her phone suddenly rang, nearly making her out of her skin.


    She scrambled to grab it, checking the caller ID.


    It was her mom.


    She answered quickly. ¡°Hello? Mom?¡±


    Her mother¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Nothing much, just wondering why you¡¯re not home yet. Dinner¡¯s almost ready.¡±


    Jiang Xueli let out a breath. ¡°Oh, oh! I¡¯m on my way now! I¡¯m almost home!¡±


    She hung up in a hurry and rushed toward home, unable to stop smiling.


    But just as she left, no one noticed that, on another street, someone been watching.


    A certain girl, out shopping, had caught everything.


    Han Wenwen stood frozen in place.


    That moment had her for an day.


    ¡°¡­That ... said it out loud... In public.¡±

 Chapter 70: The Most Ridiculous Thought Process

    Han Wenwen carried her groceries back to the dormitory.


    On the balcony, He Qing was stretching, her ponytail swaying with her movements. Despite her usual sweetness, at this moment, she looked focused and determined.


    She raised one leg high against the wall, stretching it past her head before slowly pressing downward.


    ¡°Wenwen, you¡¯re back? Did you go record another video today?¡± Seeing her best friend return, He Qing quickly greeted her.


    Han Wenwen closed the dorm door and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I spent the whole day at my rental place again. Picked up some dinner on the way. But why are suddenly working out in the dorm, Qingqing?¡±


    He Qing lowered her leg. ¡°Just loosening up a bit. I¡¯m preparing for next year¡¯s taekwondo competition. Ever since I started middle school, I feel like my training progress has slowed a lot. I haven¡¯t improved much in over a year, and I can¡¯t afford to slack off anymore.¡±


    She stepped outside to wash her hands, then returned. ¡°Otherwise, the competition will be really tough next year.¡±


    Han Wenwen, intrigued, sat on the bed, her fox-like eyes narrowing playfully as she patted the space next to her.


    ¡°Oh? Now that¡¯s interesting. What do you mean by ¡®slacking off for a year¡¯? Are you saying that ever since Lin Zhengran came into the picture, you¡¯ve been distracted that you couldn¡¯t even focus on taekwondo?¡±


    She smirked meaningfully and covered her mouth as she chuckled. ¡°So, tell me, during all those weekend training sessions over the past year... what were you doing? Don¡¯t tell me you weren¡¯t training at all and were secretly going on dates instead?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face turned red as she opened their takeout containers. ¡°What?! Of course we were training! It¡¯s just... ugh.¡± She admitted reluctantly, ¡°Wenwen, you what¡¯s been on my mind this whole time. Ever since Jiang Xueli appeared, I¡¯ve been distracted. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t been improving.¡±


    Han Wenwen tilted her head. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is... you¡¯re not worried about her anymore?¡±


    He Qing handed her a pair of chopsticks. ¡°More like... I¡¯m anymore.¡±


    Han Wenwen took the chopsticks, studying her best friend curiously. ¡°Qingqing, did you finally confess to Lin Zhengran today? What did he say? Don¡¯t tell me you chickened out after yesterday.¡±


    He Qing hesitated slightly but still answered honestly, ¡°Well... I confessed, I guess? But you Lin Zhengran¡ªhe¡¯s not interested in dating middle school girls, so of course he turned me down. Isn¡¯t that ?¡±


    She said it so confidently, as if it was the most natural conclusion in the world, without even a of disappointment.


    Han Wenwen blinked.


    Then blinked again.


    Slowly, her lips parted in confusion. ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    For once, the little fox had what He Qing was talking about.


    He Qing continued, completely oblivious to Han Wenwen¡¯s bewilderment.


    ¡°I mean, Lin Zhengran told us, right? You know this too, Wenwen¡ªhe¡¯s not into middle school girls. He thinks they¡¯re too young, so of he wouldn¡¯t agree! If a middle schooler confessed to him, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d accept.¡± She smiled as she spoke, completely confident in her logic.


    But ironically, her made Han Wenwen even confused.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s brain short-circuited.


    ¡°What are you even saying¡­¡± she mumbled. ¡°So if you he wouldn¡¯t accept, then what was the of working on your confession for the past ?¡±


    He Qing pursed her lips and answered softly, ¡°Because after I started middle school, Jiang Xueli showed up. So I got scared that he¡¯d be taken away. I wanted to get closer to him. The strategy you gave me didn¡¯t work very well, so I had to think of another way to strengthen our relationship.¡±


    She looked at Han Wenwen¡¯s frozen expression and earnestly explained,


    ¡°But I forgot something really important! And I only remembered it today when I went to Lin Zhengran¡¯s house!


    And that is...


    He and I have been together since we were little!


    I didn¡¯t need to confess at all! In fact, confessing wouldn¡¯t even strengthen our relationship!


    Because for us¡ªa couple that¡¯s already together¡ªconfessing is meaningless!¡±


    Han Wenwen: ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Han Wenwen: ¡°¡­What???¡±


    At that moment, the little fox¡¯s mind went completely blank.


    For once, she was speechless.


    She understood He Qing had just said.


    But when those words were put together in order¡ª


    What the hell did they even mean?!


    He Qing, however, was


    ¡°When we were little, we promised to be together forever! Back in kindergarten, we decided we would never separate! He never forgot, and never forgot.


    So, Wenwen¡ªI¡¯ve been thinking about this all wrong!¡±


    She blushed slightly and said, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be worrying about whether he someone else. What I be doing is making sure he doesn¡¯t cheat!


    I just need to make him like the most¡ªthat¡¯s all that matters!¡±


    The dorm was utterly silent. Only the faint sounds of students laughing outside could be heard.


    Han Wenwen blinked a few times, then suddenly burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.


    She couldn¡¯t stop.


    This was too much.


    He Qing pouted, embarrassed. ¡°Why are you laughing, Wenwen?! Am I wrong?¡±


    Han Wenwen as if surrendering.


    ¡°No, no¡ªnow that I finally understand what you¡¯re saying, I gotta admit¡­ Qingqing, for once, you actually sense.¡± She exhaled and slowly got herself together.


    She muttered thoughtfully, ¡°I mean, back when you first told me about him having other girls around, what were we worrying about? That he might start liking someone else, right?¡±


    She ran through the logic, then slowly nodded.


    ¡°If we were afraid of him liking someone else... it must¡¯ve meant that he liked you first.


    Which means¡­ technically speaking, yeah¡ªyou two were already together.¡±


    He Qing, blushing, nodded. ¡°Mhm! That¡¯s exactly what I thought, too!¡±


    Finally, their wildly ridiculous thought processes were


    With newfound determination, He Qing declared,


    ¡°So starting today, my goal has changed! S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I¡¯m going to care about what Jiang Xueli does anymore.


    What I do is become a better version of myself¡ªso that he sees me as more than just a little kid!


    That way, we can do the things that couples do!¡±


    Han Wenwen took two cans of soda from their takeout bag and handed one to He Qing with a grin.


    ¡°Well, in that case¡ªlet¡¯s celebrate the fact that you two have together all along. Cheers!¡±


    He Qing popped open her soda and clinked it against Han Wenwen¡¯s. ¡°Cheers!¡±


    Both girls took a big sip.


    After a moment, He Qing asked, ¡°Oh yeah, Wenwen, when I was at Lin Zhengran¡¯s house today, he said that if I win the town¡¯s taekwondo championship next year, he¡¯ll grant me wish.


    What do you think I should wish for?¡±


    Han Wenwen, intrigued, tapped her chin. ¡°Oh? Well... since you two are in that kind of relationship, there¡¯s no need to beat around the bush¡­¡±


    She leaned in and whispered something in He Qing¡¯s ear.


    Immediately, He Qing turned bright red. ¡°Huh?! That kind of wish would be so embarrassing... but¡­ it sound nice¡­¡±


    And so, with their interesting conversation, the long day finally came to an end.


    For the next week, both He Qing and Jiang Xueli seemed motivated, each busy with their own plans.


    Excited not only for next year¡¯s competition but also for ¡ªjust one year away.


    A week later, final exams arrived.


    Lin Zhengran even set aside time to tutor Han Wenwen, and thanks to his guidance, her scores ended up in the upper middle range.


    Another week passed.


    And finally¡ª


    The school officially announced the start of winter break.


    New Year¡¯s was just around the corner.

 Chapter 71: The Little Fox’s New Year

    The noisy school was bustling with students preparing to head home for winter break. Dorms were crowded with people packing up their belongings, tying up their bags, and getting ready to leave.


    Many parents had already arrived in their cars, waiting at the school gates to pick up their children.


    Although each class had different dismissal times, Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen, and their friends had agreed to leave together before heading to their dorms.


    As they walked, Little He Qing, walking on Lin Zhengran¡¯s right, asked her best friend, ¡°Wenwen, are you still not going back home this winter break? Staying with your uncle up north again?¡±


    Han Wenwen nodded with a bright smile. ¡°Yeah, my uncle has been busy with business these past two years. If I go back, I¡¯d be home alone, so I might as well stay with him.¡±


    Little He Qing let out a soft ¡°oh¡± and sighed. ¡°That means I have to go back by myself again. Let¡¯s keep in touch, okay? If you do end up coming back, let me know¡ªI¡¯ll meet you at the station.¡±


    ¡°Of course! Thanks, Little Qingqing. If I return to the South, I¡¯ll call you right away.¡±


    Han Wenwen spoke so naturally that it almost sounded like a lie. But Lin Zhengran, already used to her ways, only glanced at her without interrupting the best friends¡¯ farewell.


    At that moment, Jiang Xueli nudged Lin Zhengran with her elbow. ¡°Big idiot, my mom said we¡¯re going back to our hometown this afternoon. The studio is on break too, so I probably won¡¯t be back for about ten days.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her curiously. ¡°Going back home? Got it. Have fun, and when you get back, we¡¯ll continue training.¡±


    Jiang Xueli grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m back.¡±


    That afternoon, after packing up, the four of them went to the station to see Little He Qing off. After that, Jiang Xueli also left with her parents.


    As the evening set in, only Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen remained at the station.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°When do you plan on telling He Qing that you¡¯re never going back to the South?¡±


    Han Wenwen looked at the high-speed train that had already left.


    ¡°When I earn enough money to fully support myself. That way, Little Qingqing won¡¯t worry about me. If I tell her now that I¡¯m living alone, she¡¯ll definitely cry her heart out, insist that I stay at her house, or even try to give me money.¡±


    She turned her fox-like eyes toward Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to accept charity, especially not from my best friend. If I take her help, our friendship will change¡ªit won¡¯t be equal anymore.¡±


    Lin Zhengran observed her.


    She really did seem more mature than others their age.


    The little fox smiled mischievously. ¡°Of course, I could never repay Lin Zhengran¡¯s kindness. As a return favor, I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill any of your requests. If you want me to repay you with my body, I might even consider it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran, used to her teasing, ignored her and started walking out of the station. ¡°Do you have enough money?¡±


    Han Wenwen walked beside him. ¡°A little left. I didn¡¯t upload many gaming videos after school started, so I earned less.¡± The fox-like girl, always good at reading the mood, suggested, ¡°How about I treat you to dinner tonight? In exchange, you help me carry my luggage? I¡¯ve got too much to carry on my own.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°What do you want to eat, Lin Zhengran?¡±


    ¡°Braised chicken.¡±


    ¡°Great minds think alike.¡±


    ¡¾You have consumed the Demon Cult¡¯s Red Blood Chicken Soup. Stamina +1¡¿


    That night, Lin Zhengran helped Han Wenwen move her things from the school to her rental apartment. After dinner, he said goodbye to the little fox and headed home.


    Han Wenwen stood at the doorway, waving as he left.


    Before the New Year, families began stocking up on supplies, cleaning their homes, and putting up Spring Festival couplets to welcome the new year with a fresh start.


    But Han Wenwen had never done any of that.


    Growing up under someone else¡¯s roof, she was always an outsider.


    Every New Year, her uncle¡¯s house would have guests over, and she would hide in her room to avoid trouble. She didn¡¯t want to be in the way, nor did she want to hear the inevitable question from strangers:


    ¡°Oh? There¡¯s a child in your house?¡±


    With ten days left until the New Year, Han Wenwen got up early, took a hot shower, and dressed nicely before heading downstairs to the supermarket to buy some snacks.


    This was her first New Year living independently.


    On the way, she saw kids in brand-new clothes running through the streets, people on their phones telling their families that work had just let out, and others discussing what couplets to buy.


    The festive atmosphere truly made it feel like the old year was coming to an end.


    At the mall, she pushed a small shopping cart through the crowded supermarket, watching people excitedly buying their New Year supplies.


    A little child stared at Han Wenwen and blurted out, ¡°This big sister is so pretty.¡±


    Every time this happened, Han Wenwen would bend down with a smile, pat their head, and say, ¡°Such a cute little kid.¡±


    Standing in front of a shelf, she tapped her lips thoughtfully.


    ¡°What should I stock up on for the New Year? I don¡¯t need ingredients since my rental doesn¡¯t have a fridge¡­ I guess snacks will do.¡±


    She picked out her favorite snacks, instant noodles, and other dry goods¡ªafter all, the town¡¯s supermarkets wouldn¡¯t open during the New Year, and she needed to make sure she wouldn¡¯t starve.


    She also bought some ready-made food and fresh fruit before heading to the cashier.


    The cashier printed out her receipt. ¡°That¡¯ll be 373 yuan.¡±


    Han Wenwen was stunned by the price.


    New Year prices really were outrageous!


    Especially the fruit¡ªit had nearly tripled in price.


    Her small savings took a hit, and she felt her heart ache.


    Back home, she put the snacks into a box, washed the fruit, and sliced up some of the ready-made food for dinner. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When people are busy, they don¡¯t have time to think much.


    But after all the errands were done, lying alone in bed, looking out the window at the occasional fireworks in the sky¡­


    She sighed.


    ¡°There¡¯s really nothing much to prepare¡­ After all, this year, I¡¯ll probably just be home alone watching fireworks again.¡±


    A knock came at the door.


    Han Wenwen immediately knew who it was. She jumped up and ran over.


    As expected, it was Lin Zhengran.


    He carried some fruit inside and, noticing the ones on her table, asked curiously, ¡°You already bought fruit? If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve brought something else.¡±


    Han Wenwen stood there blankly for a moment. ¡°Yeah, I went to the supermarket and picked up some New Year supplies.¡±


    ¡°New Year supplies?¡± Lin Zhengran sat on the bed and glanced at the snack-filled box. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of snacks. You planning to live on chips and biscuits? What else did you buy?¡±


    ¡°Not much. Just worried about the supermarkets being closed, so I stocked up.¡± She sat down beside him.


    Lin Zhengran casually said, ¡°You have a small frying pan, right? A few days before New Year¡¯s, I¡¯ll go with you to buy some ingredients. It¡¯s cold, so food won¡¯t spoil easily. We can cook here¡ªthree dishes and a soup should be enough.¡±


    Han Wenwen was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re not having New Year¡¯s dinner at home?¡±


    ¡°Of course I am. But you¡¯ll probably be filming a New Year video, right? That¡¯s the biggest traffic surge of the year¡ªyou can¡¯t miss it. Just in case you mess up, I¡¯ll eat at home first and then come over to help with your editing. Making money is important.¡±


    Han Wenwen stared at him with her fox-like eyes.


    For some reason, she felt moved again.


    She had lost count of how many times Lin Zhengran had made her heart flutter.


    Tilting her head, she smiled mischievously.


    With her emotional intelligence, how could she not realize?


    He was just afraid she¡¯d be lonely.


    ¡°Mm. Then I¡¯ll be waiting here for you. We¡¯ll have dinner together.¡±


    Outside, another firework lit up the night sky.

 Chapter 72: The Little Fox Who Never Gets Tired of Stirring Things Up

    Three more days passed, and there were only seven days left until the New Year.


    Early in the morning, Han Wenwen, her long hair draped over her shoulders, sat in front of her computer in strawberry-print pajamas, launching a ranked match in her game.


    A knock came at the door.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s face lit up with excitement. ¡°Lin Zhengran?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gaming! Let yourself in.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took a spare key from his pocket and opened the door, spotting the little fox sitting in her chair. ¡°You¡¯re up early today.¡±


    Han Wenwen clicked her mouse, not looking up. ¡°Gotta make a living! Gotta play as much as I can over the break to stock up on content.¡±


    Lin Zhengran set the breakfast aside, pulled up a chair, and sat next to her.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s screen recording software was already running, but it wasn¡¯t picking up any sound. She smiled and asked, ¡°What did you get for breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Buns.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll transfer you the money later. What kind of buns?¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he tapped her head lightly. ¡°You missed a minion. Focus.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted.


    For some reason, whether it was He Qing or Jiang Xueli, although both girls had a pleasant scent, neither of them smelled as distinctly fragrant as Han Wenwen.


    When he first met her, Lin Zhengran thought it was just her shampoo or body wash. But later, he found out that they used the same brand.


    So where did this scent come from? He still had no idea.


    ¡°First blood!¡±


    When Han Wenwen recalled back to base, she leaned over and nudged Lin Zhengran with her shoulder. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to compliment me, Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Lin Zhengran remained expressionless. ¡°Nice. Keep going.¡±


    The fox-like eyes glanced at him. Then, she switched to a more teasing tone. ¡°Zhengran-gege, you can be so tsundere sometimes~ You don¡¯t know how to praise people properly~¡±


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead again.


    The little fox played along, letting out a dramatic ¡°Oww~¡±


    After finishing the game, Lin Zhengran picked up Han Wenwen¡¯s phone and checked her video platform stats. Over the past few days, she had earned over 40 yuan each day.


    ¡°As expected of the New Year season. If you could get this much with the same upload rate during school, that¡¯d be great.¡±


    Han Wenwen leaned against him, resting a hand on his leg for support. Their faces were just half a fist apart.


    ¡°But it¡¯s only this profitable during winter break. Normally, I only make about 20 yuan a day, and after paying rent and other expenses, there¡¯s not much left. Still, I¡¯m pretty satisfied.¡±


    ¡°No worries. This winter break, I¡¯ll play more games with you. If you post some New Year videos, you might catch the traffic surge and earn enough for half a year¡¯s rent and food.¡±


    Han Wenwen stared at his profile from up close, suddenly recalling the she had given to Little Qingqing.


    Curious, she wondered¡ªwasn¡¯t any of that effective on Lin Zhengran?


    Slowly, she leaned in and blew a soft breath into his ear.


    Lin Zhengran, mid-sentence, suddenly froze. He turned his head and looked at her speechlessly. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±


    Han Wenwen bit her lip and whispered shyly, ¡°Why are you scolding me? I read in novels that when a girl blows into a guy¡¯s ear, his heartbeat will speed up. Did yours?¡±


    She reached out, trying to touch his chest, but Lin Zhengran caught her wrist.


    Another flick to the forehead. ¡°Behave.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted and covered her head with both hands. Whether intentional or not, she rested her forehead against his shoulder, sneaking glances at him.


    ¡°So violent¡­ But even if Zhengran-gege is always fierce, I won¡¯t get mad. I¡¯ll just worry if your hand hurts from flicking me too much~¡±


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t in the mood to banter and pushed her away. ¡°I saw other families already putting up Spring Festival couplets. Are you planning to put some up this year?¡±


    The little fox instantly pulled her chair closer to him and said matter-of-factly, ¡°Of course! Why wouldn¡¯t I? I want to!¡±


    ¡°I thought you said you were broke?¡±


    She leaned in, looking at him up close. ¡°I can squeeze out a little. This is my first New Year living independently¡ªI have to do it properly.¡±


    Not wanting to sit so close, Lin Zhengran got up and walked toward the bed, picking up a book. ¡°Then finish dubbing your recent videos. I¡¯ll go with you to the market to buy some couplets. They¡¯re not that expensive¡ªjust a vertical pair and a horizontal one for the door.¡±


    Han Wenwen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned to her computer and said, ¡°Having Lin Zhengran here with me this year makes me really happy.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her as she started recording audio for her video but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Once she finished the recording, he double-checked the video before uploading it.


    It wasn¡¯t long before her loyal fans started commenting.


    ¡¾Grandpa! Your favorite streamer just uploaded a new video!¡¿


    ¡¾Finally, an update! One video a week isn¡¯t enough to get famous.¡¿


    ¡¾Love watching her play! A girl this good at games is rare.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran scrolled through the comments. He had to admit, aside from the gaming skills he had taught her, Han Wenwen indeed had an advantage in this field.


    After breakfast, she picked out a few outfits from her box and went to the bathroom, but not before teasing, ¡°Zhengran-gege, don¡¯t peek while I change~ Even though I¡¯m wearing underwear.¡±


    Lin Zhengran flipped a page in his book. ¡°You can¡¯t lock the door?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like locking doors.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I won¡¯t look. I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked and smiled. ¡°Oh? If that¡¯s the case, I might as well change here. Going to the bathroom is a hassle.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself.¡±


    She let out an exaggerated ¡°Oh~¡± as if she really planned to take off her pajamas.


    Accompanying the movement was a soft, breathy hum.


    ¡°Oh no~ My pajamas got stuck~ Zhengran-gege, help me~¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s temple twitched, and he tossed a pillow at her. ¡°Cut the act! Your pajamas are loose as hell¡ªwhat could possibly be stuck? Go change in the bathroom!¡±


    Han Wenwen caught the pillow in record time. She bit her lip, her face slightly flushed, and giggled. ¡°Looks like Zhengran-gege completely indifferent to girls. Little Qingqing and Jiang Xueli just haven¡¯t figured out his weakness yet.¡±


    He gave her a deadpan look. ¡°No, you¡¯re just annoying and interrupting my reading.¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement, as if saying,


    Without waiting for his response, she dashed into the bathroom. But just as quickly, she popped her head back out.


    ¡°Actually, no matter how bold I am, I¡¯d never really change in front of Lin Zhengran. I was just messing with you~ I¡¯m still a girl, after all. I¡¯d get shy too.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. He was starting to wonder¡ªwhen had she started calling him ?


    Probably last break¡­ and it had become even more frequent these past few days.


    But he knew better than to make her stop.


    Because if he did, this rebellious fox would definitely say something like:


    She would.


    Once she finished changing, the little fox wore a skirt with a sweater coat.


    Even in winter, she cared about fashion¡ªlike most girls her age.


    Walking outside, Han Wenwen stretched out her slightly reddened hands from the cold, checking the latest comments. She grinned.


    ¡°Zhengran-gege, did you know? No matter how many people praise me, none of them make my heart skip a beat like you do.¡±


    Lin Zhengran walked beside her. ¡°Is talking nonsense every day fun for you?¡±


    Han Wenwen pursed her lips and glanced at him. ¡°How is it nonsense? You don¡¯t talk much, so I have to start conversations. I just¡­ want to talk to you more.¡±


    sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 73: Shopping for New Year Goods with Han Wenwen

    While Han Wenwen was playing on her phone, a group of young girls in new clothes walked past them on the street. After passing Lin Zhengran, they turned back, whispering to each other.


    Han Wenwen half-turned and noticed their excited chatter and sneaky glances. Even though she couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, she could easily guess.


    Feeling a little annoyed, she instinctively linked her arm around Lin Zhengran¡¯s and shot the girls a slightly fierce glare with her enchanting fox-like eyes¡ªalmost as if she was declaring ownership.


    The girls, seeing her expression, laughed awkwardly and quickly hurried away.


    Once they were gone, Han Wenwen pouted and complained, ¡°Zhengran-gege, even outside of school, you¡¯re still super popular with girls. Maybe you should wear a mask next time we go out?¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked down at her sulking face, puffed up with jealousy.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that look? I don¡¯t like wearing masks, and whatever they say has nothing to do with me. Also¡­¡± Lin Zhengran pried her hand off his arm. ¡°Can you not cling to me? Haven¡¯t you heard of ¡®men and women should keep their distance¡¯?¡±


    Seeing him push her away, Han Wenwen turned her head with a little "hmph" of jealousy. But the moment she saw another girl walking their way, her instincts kicked in, and she quickly clung to his arm again.


    This tactic worked perfectly¡ªonce she "marked her territory," other girls wouldn¡¯t bother.


    Lin Zhengran sighed and pried her off again. But as soon as another girl appeared, she latched on once more.


    Back and forth they went. The street was bustling with people, especially kids, and their little game of tug-of-war didn¡¯t go unnoticed. A mischievous child suddenly pointed at them and yelled:


    For once, Han Wenwen blushed. She shyly waved at the child with a sweet smile.


    Lin Zhengran, on the other hand, was completely speechless.


    The more they kept this up, the worse the misunderstandings got.


    He finally gave up and sighed. ¡°Just buy what you need, and let¡¯s go back quickly.¡±


    Han Wenwen, seeing that he had stopped resisting, happily kept her hold on his arm and walked forward with a faint blush. ¡°We have a lot to buy today. It¡¯s still early.¡±


    The two of them arrived at a stall selling Spring Festival couplets and carefully picked out a set. In the end, they chose one with the year¡¯s zodiac animal on it, and it wasn¡¯t too expensive¡ªjust three banners in total.


    After packing up the couplets, Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes wandered to another stall selling red lanterns in the distance.


    She pointed eagerly. ¡°Zhengran-gege, let¡¯s buy two lanterns! In our southern town, every household hangs them for the New Year.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°But you live in a rental apartment. Where are you gonna hang them? On the air conditioning unit outside?¡±


    Han Wenwen tilted her head and pouted cutely. ¡°Just buy them~ Even if I can¡¯t hang them, I can still hold onto them for fun. Besides, I¡¯m paying, so it¡¯s not like Zhengran-gege has to spend money.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°You make a fair point¡­ But since you¡¯re still clinging to my arm, how about this¡ªI¡¯ll wait here, and you can go buy them yourself? That way, it has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Han Wenwen wasn¡¯t willing to let go. She probably knew that if she did, Lin Zhengran wouldn¡¯t let her hold onto him again.


    She stared longingly at the red lanterns, clinging even closer to him. It was an expression she had probably learned from He Qing.


    Lin Zhengran sighed in defeat and walked toward the stall. Han Wenwen quickly followed, clinging to him with a satisfied smile.


    They picked out a handheld lantern and also bought some small fireworks.


    Han Wenwen beamed at him. ¡°Thanks, Zhengran-gege~ You¡¯re so good to me.¡±


    ¡°Annoying fox, stop talking.¡±


    On their way back, they grabbed a few more snacks and, unsurprisingly, went over budget.


    However, back at the apartment, Han Wenwen¡ªwho had nearly emptied her savings¡ªdidn¡¯t seem the least bit distressed.


    Instead, she crouched on the floor, happily counting her fireworks and gently swaying her little red lantern.


    Her invisible fox ears seemed to twitch in excitement.


    Lin Zhengran sat on the bed, pouring himself a cup of water. ¡°You really don¡¯t plan on saving at all, huh? You¡¯re stingy with food but generous when buying useless stuff?¡±


    Han Wenwen playfully twirled the lantern in her fingers and grinned.


    ¡°It¡¯s about happiness~ Money can always be earned again. But if I didn¡¯t buy a few extra things, how else could I make Zhengran-gege accompany me for so long? Besides, if I can use money to buy time with Zhengran-gege, I¡¯d say that¡¯s a bargain.¡±


    Lin Zhengran watched her smiling face, unsure how to respond.


    For lunch, Han Wenwen attempted to cook in her small frying pan.


    Unfortunately, her cooking skills were a disaster. Compared to Little He Qing, the difference was night and day.


    Her tomato scrambled eggs turned out splotchy with weird shades of green and purple. Lin Zhengran could barely describe it¡ªit didn¡¯t even look like food made by a human.


    He stared at the dish and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been eating this every day?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s super nutritious! It just doesn¡¯t good, but it actually tastes great. Try it, Zhengran-gege~¡±


    Seeing her pick up a piece of the dish¡ªone that was faintly emitting smoke¡ªand try to feed him, Lin Zhengran immediately stopped her. ¡°Nope. I¡¯ll order takeout. You enjoy your own food.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the end, Lin Zhengran ordered braised chicken, while Han Wenwen sat across from him with her questionable tomato eggs and half a fried pancake.


    The two meals looked like they came from completely different worlds.


    Han Wenwen took a bite of her egg and watched Lin Zhengran eat his chicken leg. ¡°Is that braised chicken good?¡±


    Lin Zhengran tasted it and replied, ¡°Not particularly.¡±


    ¡°What does it taste like?¡±


    Lin Zhengran said flatly, ¡°Like braised chicken.¡±


    Han Wenwen bit her chopsticks and stared at the chicken longingly. ¡°I see¡­ Can I try a piece?¡±


    ¡°Nope. You have had some, but you wasted all your money instead.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted and reluctantly continued eating her scrambled eggs.


    ¡°¡­Fine.¡±


    Lin Zhengran felt a little bad seeing her like that. With a sigh, he quickly picked up a few pieces of chicken and tossed them into her bowl. ¡°Here. Just eat. Stop staring at my food.¡±


    Though Lin Zhengran always seemed resistant, Han Wenwen had long figured out that he was actually warm-hearted underneath it all.


    He really did feel like a big brother¡ªsomeone who gave her a strong sense of security.


    Smiling mischievously, she imitated his actions and used chopsticks to place two pieces of her eggs into his bowl. ¡°Zhengran-gege should try mine too! It¡¯s actually really good!¡±


    Lin Zhengran highly doubted that but gave it a taste anyway.


    Han Wenwen leaned in expectantly. ¡°Well? My cooking isn¡¯t bad, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran chewed thoughtfully, then deadpanned, ¡°You know what? I have to give you credit. It¡¯s impressive that you can eat something this bad with a straight face.¡±


    Han Wenwen burst into laughter, then playfully rolled her eyes. ¡°How could Zhengran-gege say that about my cooking? Other people would to eat my food, but only Zhengran-gege is this picky.¡±


    After lunch, Lin Zhengran took a short nap, lying on Han Wenwen¡¯s bed.


    This girl¡ªwho could barely afford meals¡ªhad somehow bought another pillow, claiming it was a "backup." But it was pretty obvious who it was meant for.


    As he rested, he got a call from He Qing.


    Her soft voice came through the phone.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran? Where are you? What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Sleeping. What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ then I guess I¡¯m disturbing you.¡± She whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything important. I just wanted to ask what your New Year plans are¡­ It¡¯s kind of lonely here without Wenwen.¡±


    Lin Zhengran hummed in response and turned his head¡ªonly to find Han Wenwen glaring at him.


    She muttered under her breath, ¡°Ugh. flirty.¡±


    Then, with a huff, she turned away, clutching her blanket, ignoring him completely.

 Chapter 74: The Fox’s New Year Approaches

    After chatting with Little He Qing for a while, Lin Zhengran hung up the phone.


    He closed his eyes again, ignoring the certain jealous fox beside him.


    But a moment later, Han Wenwen, still sulking, lightly kicked his leg with her foot.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. ¡°What¡¯s your problem now?¡±


    Han Wenwen turned over and grinned at him. ¡°Nothing, I just didn¡¯t like the way Zhengran-gege looked while talking on the phone.¡±


    Lin Zhengran pulled the blanket up over her face. ¡°Then don¡¯t look. Just take your nap.¡±


    Han Wenwen was momentarily speechless.


    Slowly, she pulled the blanket down and stared at his sleeping face, pursing her lips.


    Even though she knew he was just chatting with Little Qingqing, she still felt a little jealous.


    Once he fell asleep, the little fox mischievously reached out and lightly touched his hair.


    Lin Zhengran smacked her hand away.


    A few days later, with only two days left before the New Year, Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran finally made their official trip to the supermarket to buy groceries.


    Han Wenwen had an inexplicable love for chicken.


    Maybe she really was a fox spirit in her past life¡ªwho knew?


    Whenever she saw chicken at the market, she would stare at it with wide, hungry eyes, practically drooling.


    So, taking advantage of the New Year¡¯s preparations, Lin Zhengran bought an old hen along with some red dates, goji berries, and yam to make chicken soup for the holiday.


    As they passed a shelf in the supermarket, Han Wenwen suddenly stopped in front of a small bag of flour.


    She tugged at Lin Zhengran¡¯s shirt. ¡°Zhengran-gege¡­ Should we make dumplings for New Year¡¯s? It¡¯s just the two of us, so we don¡¯t need to make a lot.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked. ¡°Traditionally, yeah, but¡­ do you know how to make them? Because I don¡¯t.¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t either, but we can learn!¡± She looked up at him with a playful pout, shaking his sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s buy it, please~ It won¡¯t go to waste!¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t see the point. ¡°Why are you acting all cute? If you want it, just buy it. It¡¯s your money, and it¡¯s not even expensive.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked, suddenly realizing, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s true. You know, maybe I should just hand over my video account to Zhengran-gege. Then all the money I earn can go to you, and I¡¯ll just ask you for spending money.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a deadpan look. ¡°You¡¯re bored, huh? I don¡¯t see the point of that at all.¡±


    Han Wenwen casually tapped her lips with a finger. ¡°Well, if you control my money, then if I overspend, you can scold me! And I¡¯ll have the perfect excuse to act cute and beg you to buy things for me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m not playing along with your nonsense. If you¡¯re buying it, buy it. If not, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Han Wenwen rubbed her forehead with a little ¡°Zhengran-gege doesn¡¯t understand girls at all. Or maybe¡­ he understands well.¡±


    In the end, she bought the bag of flour along with some ingredients for dumplings.


    With only 24 hours left until New Year¡¯s, the countdown had begun.


    At midnight tonight, it would officially be the New Year.


    Early that morning, Han Wenwen got up with excitement.


    She swept her long hair over one shoulder, neatly arranging the ingredients. Then, she found a large cardboard box, flattened it on the floor, and laid a blanket over it.


    Now, they could sit comfortably while making dumplings.


    Testing it out, she sat down and leaned against the bed, then opened her phone to watch dumpling-making tutorials.


    Lin Zhengran arrived as usual, knocking on her door.


    ¡°Zhengran-gege?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    He used his key to open the door and found her already sitting on the floor, ingredients neatly prepared.


    Han Wenwen glanced up at him while watching her phone. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t bother knocking. Just use the key and come in.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s called being polite.¡±


    Han Wenwen, still focused on her screen, casually muttered, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be polite with me. Do whatever you want here¡ªI don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Lin Zhengran snorted and ignored her, sitting down as well.


    Han Wenwen sat up properly and held her phone up to his face. ¡°Look, I found a few dumpling-making videos. I¡¯ve already learned most of it. Do you want to watch?¡±


    Lin Zhengran took her phone, skimmed through the video, then handed it back. ¡°One watch is enough.¡±


    Han Wenwen was impressed. ¡°Zhengran-gege already memorized the steps?¡±


    ¡°I memorized them, yeah. But whether I can actually make them is another question.¡±


    ¡°You have such a good brain. I wish I were that smart.¡±


    They started rolling out the dough and shaping the dumplings.


    Because Lin Zhengran was usually good at everything, he was surprisingly clumsy at first.


    Han Wenwen giggled behind her hand. ¡°Looks like Zhengran-gege really need a girl in his life. Otherwise, learning all these little domestic skills must be a pain.¡±


    Lin Zhengran rolled his eyes.


    As she shaped the dumpling edges, Han Wenwen suddenly asked, ¡°I think I¡¯m pretty good at reading people. Zhengran-gege is definitely going to make a lot of money in the future.¡±


    Then, she shot him a fox-like grin. ¡°If you do get rich and become a big boss one day, I¡¯ll be your secretary, okay? I¡¯ll follow you around and handle all the tedious little things.¡±


    For once, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t immediately reject her.


    Instead, he actually considered it.


    That moment of hesitation made Han Wenwen¡¯s smile falter slightly.


    Lin Zhengran finally said seriously, ¡°If that day comes, I¡¯d consider it. A secretary¡¯s job might seem simple, but it actually requires handling a lot of responsibilities. Not just anyone can do it. But you¡¯d probably be a good fit.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly.


    Her invisible fox tails swayed behind her.


    ¡°For real?! Then it¡¯s settled! If Zhengran-gege gets rich, I¡¯m the only one who can be your secretary. And don¡¯t worry¡ªI know that position requires absolute loyalty to the boss. I promise I¡¯ll always side with you.¡±


    She gave him a playful look. ¡°I¡¯ll be Zhengran-gege¡¯s person from now on. Hello, Boss Lin~¡±


    Lin Zhengran refused to engage. ¡°Enough nonsense. Hurry up and finish, or we won¡¯t have dinner at this rate.¡±


    ¡°Whatever Zhengran-gege says~ Yes, sir!¡±


    The two spent most of the day making dumplings.


    By noon, Lin Zhengran started receiving phone calls.


    The first was from Little He Qing, just some casual small talk. Han Wenwen, sitting beside him, pouted as she continued making dumplings.


    The second was from Jiang Xueli¡ªwho rarely called¡ªawkwardly saying something that sounded like a New Year¡¯s greeting.


    Han Wenwen puffed up her cheeks even more, sulking in silence.


    Then, surprisingly, another girl called.


    Based on her introduction, she was a former middle school classmate who had specifically asked for Lin Zhengran¡¯s number to check on his New Year¡¯s plans.


    It wasn¡¯t uncommon for girls who had a crush on Lin Zhengran to find ways to contact him, and today wasn¡¯t the first time Han Wenwen had witnessed it.


    But today, for some reason, was the most jealous she had ever felt.


    Unlike before, this was supposed to be New Year¡¯s Eve together.


    This time, she was so irritated that she started kneading the dumpling dough with extra force.


    Finally, the last call came in.


    The phone screen displayed: Lin Xiaoli (Mom).


    sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 75: Embrace on a Snowy Night

    Lin Zhengran saw his mom¡¯s name pop up on the screen just as the call connected. Han Wenwen also noticed that it was Aunt Lin calling.


    "Hello, Mom? What¡¯s wrong?" Lin Zhengran asked.


    Lin Xiaoli sounded anxious, and there was even the sound of crying in the background. "Ranran, can you come to the hospital right now? Something happened to your dad. I¡¯ll send you the hospital address."


    "Huh?" Lin Zhengran stood up in shock. "Hospital? Is it serious?!"


    Han Wenwen also stopped making dumplings.


    Lin Xiaoli sniffled. "Don¡¯t panic, don¡¯t panic. The doctor said it¡¯s probably not too bad. Looks like he just hurt his leg."


    "Then why are you crying so hard?"


    "Mommy got scared, okay? As soon as I got the hospital¡¯s call, I couldn¡¯t stop my tears."


    Lin Zhengran let out a breath of relief. "Got it, I¡¯m on my way."


    Since he sounded so urgent, Han Wenwen didn¡¯t catch everything. She only vaguely heard something about Uncle Lin getting hurt. Her heart clenched. "What happened, Zhengran-ge?"


    Lin Zhengran washed his hands, grabbed his coat, and said, "Wenwen, I need to go to the hospital. My dad seems to be hurt. You finish up with the dumplings and dishes."


    "Uncle got hurt?" Han Wenwen also went to wash her hands and reached for her coat. "I¡¯ll go with you. I want to check on him."


    Lin Zhengran stopped her. "No need. You stay here. If it¡¯s nothing serious, I¡¯ll be back soon."


    Sensing his refusal, the perceptive little fox knew this wasn¡¯t the time to argue and make things difficult for him. She simply stood by the door and said, "Be careful on the way."


    "Mm, I¡¯m off."


    Watching Lin Zhengran¡¯s hurried departure, Han Wenwen suddenly had a flashback to when her mother left.


    Back then, her mom had also received a phone call, then rushed out in a hurry and never returned.


    That overlapping memory made her instinctively reach out and call softly, "Zhengran-ge..."


    Hearing her, Lin Zhengran turned back and met her gaze. He noticed her raised hand, hovering mid-air, and smiled. "It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll be back soon." Then, he headed downstairs.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes trembled slightly as she slowly withdrew her hand.


    ¡ª


    Lin Zhengran got into a taxi and went straight to the hospital address his mom had sent him.


    He wasn¡¯t too nervous at first, but the moment he stepped into the hospital and heard his mom¡¯s sobs, a wave of panic hit him.


    Then, when he finally saw his dad lying in bed, casually munching on an apple, he froze.


    Inside the hospital room, Lin Yingjun had one leg wrapped in bandages, but aside from that, he looked perfectly fine. Meanwhile, his mom was clinging to his dad¡¯s chest, crying her heart out.


    "I was so scared! I thought I¡¯d never see you again!"


    Lin Yingjun, still chewing on his apple, was used to his wife¡¯s panicked nature. He chuckled and reassured them both, "It¡¯s nothing. No need to cry! The roads were icy, and someone suddenly dashed in front of my car, so I swerved and hurt my leg a little. Nothing to be scared of."


    Listening to his dad¡¯s hearty laughter and his mom¡¯s dramatic sobbing, Lin Zhengran finally relaxed.


    "Did the test results come back yet, Dad?"


    "They should be done soon. I¡¯ve already finished all the checkups."


    Just then, a nurse arrived. Lin Zhengran quickly stepped forward. "Excuse me, is there anything serious?"


    The nurse checked the chart. "Family of patient in bed number three? His results just came in. He has a minor fracture in his right pinky toe. Other than that, he¡¯s in perfect health."


    She glanced at Lin Xiaoli, who was still crying. "And, um... why is she crying so much?"


    Lin Xiaoli wiped her tears with a pitiful look. "I was worried!"


    The nurse chuckled. "No need to worry. We did a thorough checkup¡ªno internal injuries. He can be discharged this afternoon if he still feels fine. Just make sure he rests at home, comes in for checkups, and he¡¯ll be fine in no time."


    Lin Zhengran nodded as he took the report from the nurse. A quick glance confirmed there was nothing serious.


    Lucky.


    Standing by the hospital bed, he sighed, "As long as you¡¯re okay."


    His dad, still holding onto his wife, took another bite of his apple. "Alright, alright, I¡¯m fine. No need for all this fuss."


    At that moment, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone vibrated with a message from Han Wenwen: "How¡¯s Uncle?"


    He quickly replied: "He¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since his dad had to stay for observation, Lin Zhengran remained with him until the doctor confirmed he could go home in the afternoon.


    Back home, he helped his mom prepare for the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner.


    By then, Lin Xiaoli had calmed down quite a bit. Lin Yingjun, on the other hand, hopped around on one foot and asked, "Need any help?"


    Lin Xiaoli was startled. "Sit down! Go rest! You¡¯re scaring me!"


    His dad just chuckled and obediently went to the couch to watch TV. Occasionally, he helped peel some vegetables.


    "Ranran," his mom asked, "are you going out after dinner tonight?"


    Lin Zhengran stirred the soup. "Yeah, I made plans with my friends." Then, he glanced out the window, surprised. "It¡¯s snowing. Quite a bit too."


    ¡ª


    That afternoon, as the sky darkened and snowflakes danced outside, Han Wenwen sat alone in her rental apartment. She had long since finished making the dumplings and was now simmering chicken soup.


    Usually, the aroma would make her mouth water, but tonight, she had no appetite.


    Every so often, she glanced at her phone.


    She reread the message from Lin Zhengran at noon. Most people would feel reassured by it.


    But Han Wenwen couldn¡¯t help remembering the past.


    It was a winter night like this when young Han Wenwen had waited at home, staring at a table full of food, expecting her mother to return after her phone call.


    She waited until the sky turned dark. Then until the next morning.


    But her mother never came back.


    Now, in the rental apartment, the soup was ready, the dishes were done, and the dumplings were prepped to be cooked. The clock ticked past 4 or 5 PM. The winter sky was already darkening.


    Han Wenwen clenched her phone and, for the umpteenth time, walked to the window.


    Feeling that the view from the window was too limited, she put on her coat, wrapped her scarf tightly, and stepped outside.


    Snow crunched beneath her feet as she walked toward the nearly empty street corner.


    All around, families were gathered indoors, celebrating together.


    The scene looked just like it did ten years ago.


    Her heart tensed as she gazed into the distance, eyes locked onto the dark road ahead.


    Back then, she had waited all night for someone who never returned.


    But this time¡­ at the end of the road¡ª


    A familiar figure slowly appeared.


    Lin Zhengran.


    Her eyes lit up.


    Lin Zhengran, making his way from home, also spotted Han Wenwen standing at the street corner. He was puzzled. "Han Wenwen? What are you doing out here this late?"


    The little fox took a step forward, then another. Her pace quickened until, in the swirling snow, she suddenly threw herself into his arms.


    And hugged him tightly.

 Chapter 76: The Destined Prince Charming

    The streetlights had long since flickered on.


    Large, fluffy snowflakes drifted down, covering the two figures locked in an embrace. Han Wenwen had clearly been waiting for quite a while¡ªsnow had already begun to settle on her head.


    As usual, Lin Zhengran looked at her in confusion. "What are you doing now?"


    But this time, Han Wenwen clung tightly to his coat, her face buried in his chest. "I thought¡­ I thought you weren¡¯t coming."


    Her voice was different from usual, carrying a slight tremor.


    Lin Zhengran knew about her childhood, and in that moment, he understood everything. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her away.


    That¡¯s when he saw her red-tinged, reluctant fox-like eyes staring at him.


    Letting out a long sigh, Lin Zhengran said, "Have I ever broken a promise? Besides, if you wanted to wait, couldn¡¯t you have done it inside? It¡¯s not like your room doesn¡¯t have a window."


    Han Wenwen bit her lip, then suddenly smiled. "Because I was scared. Scared that I wouldn¡¯t see you tonight. So I panicked and came down to wait."


    Lin Zhengran was momentarily stunned. This fox was really too straightforward. He sighed and muttered, "You really don¡¯t mind the cold, do you?"


    Han Wenwen suddenly turned her head with a huff, pretending to be angry. "Then why doesn¡¯t Zhengran-gege feel bad for me and hold me a little longer? Why did you push me away?"


    That line was practically begging for a flick to the forehead¡ªand sure enough, she got one.


    But after flicking her, Lin Zhengran casually brushed the snow off her head and started walking toward her apartment. "Enough nonsense. Let¡¯s go back and eat."


    Han Wenwen smiled and followed behind him.


    Of course, the little fox was never one to behave. She tentatively slipped her arm around his, only to be swiftly rejected.


    "Can¡¯t you keep your hands to yourself?" Lin Zhengran frowned.


    Han Wenwen rubbed her hands together and pouted. "I waited too long, and now I¡¯m freezing. My hands are red from the cold." She blew warm air into her palms. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you know it¡¯s cold, maybe next time you¡¯ll learn. Just wait inside like I tell you to." He urged, "Hurry up. You¡¯ll warm up once we get home."


    Han Wenwen stole a glance at him.


    For someone as perceptive as her, sweet words might not mean much, but Lin Zhengran¡¯s small promises always made her heart race.


    "I got it¡­ But Zhengran-ge, are you feeling a little bad for me right now?"


    "Heh, it¡¯s not like I told you to come outside."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s face flushed. "So, that means you won¡¯t say you don¡¯t feel bad for me either, right?"


    "If you could talk a little less, maybe this winter wouldn¡¯t feel so cold. There¡¯d be fewer cold jokes, after all."


    Han Wenwen stifled a laugh.


    A vein twitched on Lin Zhengran¡¯s forehead. "Laugh one more time and see what happens."


    "I wouldn¡¯t dare," she giggled. "By the way, how¡¯s Uncle doing?"


    "He¡¯s fine. Already back home. Just needs to rest for a couple of months."


    Han Wenwen sighed in relief. "That¡¯s good. I¡¯ll bring something over to visit Uncle and Auntie soon."


    ¡ª


    Back at the apartment, the warmth of the room made Han Wenwen shiver slightly before sighing in comfort.


    She and Lin Zhengran kicked off their shoes and sat by the bed where a blanket was laid out.


    Lifting the lid off the pot, she took a whiff of the chicken soup. Now that her mood had improved, she could finally smell how delicious it was. "Smells amazing~ Let¡¯s heat it up a bit more. I¡¯ll cook the dumplings too."


    Lin Zhengran set his coat aside and spotted the neatly wrapped dumplings. "You already finished all of them?"


    "Of course! I was just waiting for you. You didn¡¯t eat much at home, right?"


    "Only half-full. I¡¯ll eat more here."


    Han Wenwen grinned and tossed the dumplings into the pot.


    After a warm and satisfying dinner, all traces of the cold had disappeared. Han Wenwen clutched her bowl of soup, beaming with happiness as she snuggled against Lin Zhengran.


    "It¡¯s so good. Zhengran-ge, want a taste?"


    "Aren¡¯t I already drinking it?"


    "I meant mine. It¡¯s better because I drank from it."


    "No thanks."


    "Why not?"


    "Could be poisoned."


    ¡ª


    After dinner, Han Wenwen bundled up warmly and went outside with Lin Zhengran to set off fireworks.


    Though they hadn¡¯t bought the big ones, the small sparklers were enough fun.


    The tiny bursts of fire crackled from the sparklers, their golden light flickering against the winter night. It wasn¡¯t even midnight yet, but fireworks could already be heard going off in the distance.


    They strolled to the town¡¯s largest market square, where at midnight, a massive crowd would gather to light up the sky with countless fireworks.


    Lin Zhengran gazed at the bustling crowd and the fireworks waiting to be ignited, thinking about how in his past life, these things had been banned. Who knew how much longer people would get to enjoy this sight?


    Meanwhile, Han Wenwen was amazed at how many people were gathered here. Her hometown in the south had never had a place like this.


    As midnight approached, a man with a microphone stood at the center of the square, announcing, "Ten seconds until the New Year! Let¡¯s count down together! Ten! Nine! Eight¡­!"


    The crowd joined in, some shouting along, others quietly watching the sky, waiting for the fireworks to bloom.


    Han Wenwen also spoke softly, "Zhengran-ge, this is the happiest New Year I¡¯ve ever had. But¡­ I¡¯m greedy. I don¡¯t want this to be the last. So, from now on, will you spend every New Year¡¯s Eve with me?"


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "Isn¡¯t that asking a bit much? ¡®From now on¡¯ is a pretty big commitment."


    The countdown continued, the announcer¡¯s voice growing louder. "Four!... Three!... Two!..."


    Just as worry flickered in Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes, Lin Zhengran looked up at the sky and said, "But since I already told you you¡¯d be with me for a lifetime¡­ this, I can promise."


    "One!"


    With that final shout, fireworks burst into the night sky.


    Hundreds of dazzling colors shot upwards, illuminating the faces of the crowd as they cheered in unison, "Happy New Year!"


    Yet, no matter how bright the fireworks were, in Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes, nothing shone more brilliantly than the person beside her.


    Her lips parted slightly in shock, her eyes reflecting the exploding fireworks.


    Then, stepping forward, she cupped Lin Zhengran¡¯s face in her hands.


    Without hesitation, she stood on tiptoe, closed her eyes, and kissed his forehead.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes widened.


    After a moment, Han Wenwen shyly dropped back down, her face tinged with a soft, girlish blush. "Don¡¯t say anything yet! Let me finish first!"


    She reached into her coat and pulled out a small, red fox plush¡ªjust palm-sized.


    Tilting her head with a playful smile, she said, "I wonder if Zhengran-ge plans to take care of an adorable pet for the rest of his life? This is my New Year¡¯s gift to you¡ªa little fox. She represents me. It means I¡¯m giving myself to you."


    Then, leaning up once more, she whispered in his ear, "Happy New Year, my destined Lin Zhengran~"

 Chapter 77: Han Wenwen’s Letter

    Colorful fireworks were still crackling in the sky.


    While the New Year celebration wasn¡¯t over yet, before Lin Zhengran could get mad and scold her, Han Wenwen quickly waved goodbye to him, smiling brightly: ¡°Brother Zhengran, don¡¯t forget! After the New Year rush is over, come to the rental apartment and teach me how to play games to make money. I¡¯ll be waiting at home for you!¡±


    Lin Zhengran watched her run off, sweat forming on his forehead.


    But after walking a few steps, Han Wenwen turned back, her cheeks flushed: ¡°Oh right, don¡¯t forget to wipe off the lipstick on your forehead, or Uncle and Auntie might notice.¡±


    Lin Zhengran touched his forehead and realized there really was a bit of red.


    He wiped it off speechlessly. ¡°That d*mn fox.¡±


    After her figure disappeared, Lin Zhengran turned to leave too, still holding the little pink fox plushie in his hand.


    He had no idea where she had found this thing¡ªit actually really looked like Han Wenwen.


    Squeezing it, it even felt fluffy.


    Hmm?


    Lin Zhengran squeezed it again and felt something like a note inside the back of the fox.


    He turned the plush over and unzipped the back. Sure enough, there was a note inside.


    He took it out and read it, his expression gradually darkening.


    The letter read:


    [Brother Zhengran, did you know? In the small town where I was born, there¡¯s a festival called the Lianxin Festival. At the center of it is an ancient tree where people can pray for love. I¡¯ve been there twice, and both times, the name that appeared was your surname.


    I never thought I¡¯d ever really like a boy, because honestly, way too many boys have chased after me. But ever since I met you, Brother Zhengran, I realized I overestimated myself. In front of you, my heart races and I get butterflies.


    I used to think about backing off and letting Qingqing have you, but after that time I had a fever, I realized¡ªI just can¡¯t do it. I know I¡¯m selfish like that.


    So I swear, everything about Brother Zhengran, all of your firsts, I want them all. But I also have this faint feeling¡­ that Brother Zhengran will become amazing one day. And maybe in the end, both I and Qingqing will be your¡­ wings?]


    [P.S. There¡¯s more on the back.]


    Lin Zhengran flipped the note over.


    [I imagined that scenario, and knowing my personality, I¡¯d probably agree to it. After all, I never dare talk back to Brother Zhengran. And Qingqing¡¯s a good person too. But¡­ even if Brother Zhengran doesn¡¯t want just one girl, I still want to be the one you love most. That¡¯s everything I¡¯m thinking.]


    [P.P.S. If I confessed to Brother Zhengran directly, I know I¡¯d get rejected. But everything I did today¡ªBrother Zhengran wouldn¡¯t reject that, right? I never said I wanted to be your girlfriend. I just want everything that¡¯s yours.]


    [P.P.P.S. Make sure to tear up this note after reading, okay?


    Lastly¡ªthank you for spending this New Year with me, Brother Zhengran. I¡¯ve never been this happy. I¡¯ve never looked forward to the future like this.]


    Suddenly, a text message popped up on his phone.


    It was from Han Wenwen:


    Lin Zhengran sighed, put away his phone, tore the note into pieces, and tossed it in the trash can.


    He stuffed the fox plushie into his pocket and started heading home.


    [While traveling alone with the Demon Cult Maiden over the past few days, you encountered a vicious, massive Nian Beast. This Nian Beast is an ancient divine beast¡ªformless, immortal, impossible to defeat.


    So, you and she found an ancient technique and, with help from the townspeople, lured the beast into an open area and activated the formation it fears most¡ªthe Seven-Colored Firework Formation, trapping it until it vanished.]


    [After this life-or-death battle, the Demon Cult Maiden saw your strength and confessed she wanted to have you. Whether this is fortune or misfortune remains to be seen.]


    [You defeated the Nian Beast and absorbed its soul power: Spirit Cultivation +1, Strength +4, Stamina +1, Endurance +1.]


    [You also received a gift from the Demon Cult Maiden: the Transformed Little Fox. With this, you gain Strength +1, Stamina +1, Endurance +5, Charisma +10, and a large amount of EXP. You are now one step away from breaking through to Level 50.]


    As Lin Zhengran walked away, he felt all kinds of attribute boosts and figured¡ªhe¡¯d probably reach Level 50 next year.


    Just after he left, a Maserati completely out of place in this small town pulled up along the road where fireworks were bursting overhead.


    The passengers were just passing through.


    The rear window rolled down, revealing a slender silhouette inside¡ªa girl of breathtaking elegance watching the dazzling fireworks above.


    Her pretty, fair face framed a pair of icy-cold eyes. After a few moments, she looked away.


    Her expression didn¡¯t change much.


    ¡°Keep driving.¡±


    The driver nodded, and the car moved forward.


    After the New Year, everything sped up. Once the holiday greetings were over, winter break was almost done.


    A few days later, Jiang Xueli returned to the small town. Before, she only called Lin Zhengran in really important situations.


    But in this one winter break, she had already called him twice.


    And for no particular reason.


    ¡°Big dummy? I¡¯m back. What are you doing?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, lying at home reading: ¡°Reading.¡±


    Jiang Xueli: ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    A minute of silence passed.


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    ¡°Hey! Wait a sec! When are you going to practice singing with me?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought about it: ¡°After school starts. I¡¯ve got a few things to take care of right now.¡±


    Jiang Xueli answered with another ¡°Oh¡­¡±: ¡°What¡¯s keeping you so busy? Don¡¯t forget after school starts, okay?¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Got it.¡±


    After the call ended, in her room, Jiang Xueli shook her little fists angrily: ¡°It¡¯s been twenty days and this guy doesn¡¯t even miss me! Ugh, I hate him so much!¡±


    Of course, He Qing also called Lin Zhengran often. But compared to Jiang Xueli, Little He Qing¡¯s topics were even more random¡ªbut also more frequent.


    So every time, she kept Lin Zhengran on the phone for a while.


    With just a few days left of winter break, at the rental apartment, the little fox was recording a video while playing a game.


    She froze when she heard a knock at the door.


    Because since the New Year, this was Lin Zhengran¡¯s first visit. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was so startled that her gameplay fell apart.


    ¡°Brother Zhengran?¡±


    Lin Zhengran opened the door with his key and saw Han Wenwen smiling at him, sweat on her forehead: ¡°This is the first time we¡¯ve seen each other this year, Brother Zhengran.¡±


    No matter how sly the little fox was, she was still a girl at heart.


    So ever since she sent that letter, she hadn¡¯t slept at all on New Year¡¯s Eve. She¡¯d hidden under her blanket all night, blushing nonstop.


    Now, facing Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen smiled with squinted eyes.


    He glanced at her screen: ¡°What are you looking at me for? Keep playing. Weren¡¯t you recording?¡±


    Han Wenwen let out an ¡°Oh,¡± saw that her screen had already gone dark, and quickly bought gear and waited to respawn.


    As Lin Zhengran walked past her, he gave her a flick on the forehead without saying a word.


    Han Wenwen cried out: ¡°Why¡¯d you hit me for no reason? You don¡¯t even know how to treat a girl gently~¡±


    Lin Zhengran pulled up a chair and sat beside her.


    ¡°Han Wenwen.¡±


    Han Wenwen bit her lip and suddenly said shyly: ¡°Brother Zhengran, can you not be so mean? Can¡¯t you wait until I finish playing to say whatever you want?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    She finally finished the match, and just as the word ¡°Defeat¡± appeared on the screen, Han Wenwen quickly covered her ears with both hands.


    Her fox-like eyes sparkled as she looked at him: ¡°Okay, Brother Zhengran, whatever you want to say, go ahead.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°.....¡±


    Just as he opened his mouth¡ª


    Han Wenwen quickly cut in softly: ¡°I¡¯m hungry. How about we eat first? I¡¯ll make tomato scrambled eggs for you.¡±


    Suddenly, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone rang. He picked it up¡ªit was a call from an unfamiliar girl.


    This time, Han Wenwen immediately covered the ear he was using to answer.


    Looking jealous and annoyed: ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve wanted to say this for a long time. When you¡¯re spending time with me, unless it¡¯s something really important, you¡¯re not allowed to take calls from other girls¡ªnot even Qingqing¡¯s.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°And what business is that of yours?¡±


    Han Wenwen took his phone, hugged it to her chest, and laid on the table with just her fox-like eyes peeking out: ¡°It just is~ I won¡¯t let you talk to other girls.¡±


    The new semester started, then ended¡­ and started again¡­ and ended again.


    Middle school graduation was right around the corner.


    At the graduation ceremony, Little He Qing blinked and looked up at the graduation banner, sighing: ¡°Feels like ninth grade went by so fast.¡±

 Chapter 78: A Battlefield at the Dinner Table

    The middle school graduation ceremony was fairly grand, with a celebratory banner hanging at the school entrance for the graduating ninth graders.


    As He Qing adjusted her school uniform and sighed in nostalgia, Han Wenwen, linking arms with her, glanced at the nearby grade rankings.


    "Yeah, this year went by so fast. It feels like we blinked, and now we¡¯re here. And Lin Zhengran is really incredible¡­ He got a perfect score in everything except Chinese."


    He Qing, already used to it, simply replied, "That¡¯s just how he is. Unless he doesn¡¯t feel like writing during a test, he always gets full marks in the major exams."


    Standing next to them, Jiang Xueli scoffed, "Speaking of that idiot, where did he go?"


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes and looked around. "Lin Zhengran was just here."


    He Qing scanned the area before spotting him and smiled. "There he is!"


    Lin Zhengran emerged from the restroom, just in time to hear the teacher calling everyone for a group photo. He walked over to the three girls. "Stop chatting. The teacher is calling us for the graduation picture."


    He Qing and Jiang Xueli gave an "Oh" and headed to their respective class groups. Meanwhile, Han Wenwen followed Lin Zhengran to Class 1¡¯s lineup.


    Like a diligent secretary, she pulled two tissues from her pocket and handed them to him. "Zhengran-ge, wipe your hands."


    Lin Zhengran took them as if it were routine.


    She only called him Zhengran-ge when they were alone. The moment He Qing or Jiang Xueli was around, she would switch to the more distant Lin Zhengran-classmate¡ªa deliberate smokescreen to mislead the others.


    Lin Zhengran knew exactly what the little fox was up to. By adding "classmate," she created an artificial sense of distance.


    Clever, but so obviously calculated.


    Noticing his gaze, Han Wenwen blinked innocently. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Then, feigning shyness, she blushed and murmured, "You¡¯re making me embarrassed."


    "...Hah."


    Lin Zhengran tossed the used tissues into a nearby trash bin.


    ¡ª


    Over the past three years of middle school, Lin Zhengran had kept his focus primarily on reading and cultivation, steadily accumulating strength.


    After all, he was mentally an adult. He understood that at this age, getting caught up in unnecessary distractions was a waste of time. No matter the world, power was essential.


    However, Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing had only recently matured. Their first year had been a period of confusion, but by the second year, they started dabbling in thoughts of romance and relationships.


    As a result, Lin Zhengran had significantly less reading time.


    Thankfully, by ninth grade, after going through their own experiences, they had grown. They no longer obsessed over those things as frequently¡ªthough not entirely.


    This allowed the final year of middle school to pass by especially fast.


    With all three of them focusing on self-improvement, preparing for the high school entrance exams, and chasing their goals, they had far less time for unnecessary distractions.


    ¡ª


    Inside Class 1¡¯s lineup, the teacher instructed, "Everyone, stand in your designated spots. Once you¡¯re in place, don¡¯t move or talk."


    The photographer adjusted the camera. "Teacher, please step in front of the group."


    The homeroom teacher nodded and sat down.


    "Alright, time for the photo! No blinking, look at the camera, not at me! Three, two, one¡ªclick!"


    After checking the picture, the photographer gave a thumbs-up. "Great shot! Next class!"


    Once Class 3 finished their photo, the four of them grabbed their belongings and left the school together.


    This year, all four were sixteen.


    In just over a month, they¡¯d be high school students.


    ¡ª


    Walking out of the school gates, Lin Zhengran turned to He Qing.


    "The town¡¯s taekwondo tournament starts after high school begins, right?"


    Softly, she responded, "I checked the dates. It¡¯s scheduled exactly one month after school starts. I can come back on the weekend to compete."


    Lin Zhengran then glanced at Jiang Xueli, who had her hands clasped behind her back, her twin ponytails bouncing as she walked. "What about you? Any changes at your agency?"


    Jiang Xueli shook her head. "Nope. The town¡¯s music competition is set for two months from now, so it won¡¯t clash with He Qing¡¯s event."


    "Good," Lin Zhengran said. "I¡¯ll be there for both of you. After all, three years of practice should finally show results."


    He Qing and Jiang Xueli exchanged glances¡ªthen quickly looked away, blushing.


    Meanwhile, Han Wenwen curiously watched them, but unlike in the past, she could no longer remain neutral. A faint hint of jealousy flickered in her eyes.


    ¡ª


    At the school gates, they unexpectedly found Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli waiting for them.


    Their mother, smiling brightly, waved. "Ranran, you¡¯re out! And Qingqing, Xueli, Wenwen! We came to pick you up!"


    Lin Yingjun chuckled to himself. He had been watching for a while, and it was pretty clear¡ªhis son was surrounded by beautiful girls.


    Lin Zhengran was puzzled. "Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"


    His dad replied, "It¡¯s your graduation! Your mom and I had nothing else going on, so we made a feast to celebrate."


    Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing quickly greeted them politely.


    "Hello, Uncle! Hello, Auntie!"


    Lin Xiaoli, already familiar with them, smiled. "Hello, hello! Oh, Qingqing, you¡¯re heading home this afternoon, right?"


    He Qing nodded. "Yeah, I have a 3 PM bus." She then whispered to Han Wenwen, "Is your uncle still running his business up north?"


    Han Wenwen nodded. "Yeah, so I won¡¯t be going back again. But he called yesterday and said he might stop after I enter high school. If anything changes, I¡¯ll let you know."


    He Qing brightened. "Really? That¡¯d be great!"


    For the first time, Han Wenwen considered telling He Qing that she had been living alone.


    Lin Xiaoli clapped her hands. "Perfect! Everyone, let¡¯s go back to Auntie¡¯s house for a graduation feast! Afterward, Ranran can take you home. Oh, and Auntie got a new car today! I¡¯ll take you all for a spin."


    Lin Zhengran sighed but said nothing. Since his parents had already prepared everything, he wouldn¡¯t spoil the mood.


    The three girls had visited before, so they didn¡¯t refuse.


    "Thank you, Uncle and Auntie!"


    ¡ª


    They split into two cars and headed to Lin Zhengran¡¯s house. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once they arrived, the girls politely helped out¡ªsetting dishes, cutting fruit, and assisting the adults.


    Lin Zhengran observed the lively atmosphere in the kitchen.


    However, his parents, in their excitement to celebrate, had overlooked one key detail¡ªthis was the first time all three girls were here together.


    Once the hot, fragrant dishes were laid out on the table, the meal officially began.


    Lin Zhengran was just about to reach for his chopsticks when¡ª


    He Qing, as if on instinct, peeled a shrimp and placed it in his bowl.


    "Here, Lin Zhengran, eat this."


    Jiang Xueli, despite her usual tsundere attitude, had become much more proactive over the past year. She casually picked up some food and added it to his plate.


    "Big idiot, try this. Auntie¡¯s cooking is really good."


    Not to be outdone, Han Wenwen, sitting right beside him, also reached out with her chopsticks.


    "Lin Zhengran-classmate, have some ribs."


    Three sets of eyes met in a silent, intense showdown.


    Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli, caught off guard, exchanged glances, finally realizing the crisis they had unknowingly created.


    Lin Xiaoli whispered to her husband, "Oh no¡­ did we just make things worse? I only wanted to invite them for a nice meal."


    Lin Yingjun muttered back, "I got so excited about Ranran¡¯s perfect scores that I completely forgot¡­ Putting them together was a mistake."


    Then, as if struck by the same thought, they both looked at each other and murmured:


    "Which one¡¯s food will Ranran eat first?"


    At the table, everyone¡¯s eyes locked onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s chopsticks.

 Chapter 79: Lin Zhengran’s Childhood Engagement

    The five pairs of eyes staring at Lin Zhengran made him feel utterly exhausted.


    Even eating lunch could turn into a hassle. "Why are you all staring at me? Take back the food you picked for me and eat your own."


    The three girls blinked but remained unmoved.


    Only when Lin Zhengran looked at Little He Qing did she get scared and hurriedly take back the big shrimp to eat it herself. She didn¡¯t dare disobey his words.


    "I took it back, I took it back," she said timidly.


    Then he turned to Jiang Xueli. Though she usually bickered with him, it was all just talk¡ªshe never actually dared to make him angry.


    "Got it."


    Finally, there was Han Wenwen. Lin Zhengran locked eyes with her. "You too."


    Han Wenwen silently took back the rib she had given him and nibbled on it in small bites, blinking innocently as if nothing had happened.


    Lin Zhengran then glanced at his parents, only to see that they had been caught up in the atmosphere and were also chuckling.


    Feeling helpless, he sighed. "Dad, Mom, can¡¯t you two just eat properly? Why are you joining in the nonsense?"


    Lin Yingjun laughed heartily. "By the way, there¡¯s still soup over there with the girls. Ranran, have some soup too."


    Just as Lin Zhengran was about to reach for the ladle, he saw that Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli had already extended their hands.


    In perfect unison, they said, "I¡¯ll get it for you."


    Their hands landed on the ladle at the same time, and they looked at each other awkwardly.


    Lin Yingjun: "....."


    Lin Xiaoli: "....."


    The married couple had the same thought:


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran remained unfazed, calmly eating his food. "I told you to eat your own meals. I¡¯ll get it myself."


    Only then did the two girls start hesitantly letting go of the ladle.


    Lin Yingjun muttered to his wife, "You know, Ranran really has the air of the head of the family. Good thing he¡¯s got a strong personality;otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep these girls in check."


    Lin Zhengran, with his sharp hearing, caught his father¡¯s whisper.


    "Dad?"


    Lin Yingjun quickly laughed. "Eat, eat! Everyone, dig in. No need to hold back."


    This lunch felt oddly strange to the couple. Normally, when Wenwen, Qingqing, or Lili visited separately, things were peaceful and harmonious.


    But the moment they sat together at the same table, suddenly no one could say a word.


    It was only when Lin Yingjun or Lin Xiaoli occasionally made a comment that the girls would respond.


    After lunch, the three girls enthusiastically helped clean up, washing the dishes and pots for the elders.


    It was at this moment that Lin Zhengran heard his father¡¯s phone ring. He reminded him, "Dad, your phone is ringing."


    Lin Yingjun glanced at the screen and was surprised to see it was his father calling. He quickly answered. "Hello, Dad? What¡¯s up?"


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s grandfather spoke over the phone. "Son, I¡¯m at your neighborhood gate. Can you come pick me up?"


    "Huh? Dad, you¡¯re here at our place?"


    "Yeah, I wanted to see Ranran. It¡¯s been a while. And I also have something to discuss with him. He should be home, right? School¡¯s on break now, isn¡¯t it?"


    "That¡¯s right, middle school is on break. I¡¯ll come down with Ranran to pick you up."


    Lin Zhengran, who was wiping the table, overheard and looked up. "Grandpa is here?"


    Lin Yingjun washed his hands and went to change his shoes. "Yep, he¡¯s at the gate. Come with me to pick him up."


    "Alright."


    Lin Zhengran also headed to the door to put on his shoes. The three girls turned their heads at the mention of his grandfather but quickly went back to helping Lin Xiaoli.


    Lin Xiaoli asked her husband, "Why is Dad here so suddenly? What¡¯s he here for?"


    Lin Yingjun opened the door. "I have no idea. Maybe he just missed Ranran? I¡¯ll bring him up first and see."


    Lin Zhengran accompanied his father downstairs, meeting his fit and sturdy grandfather at the entrance.


    Along the way, Grandpa beamed at him. "Ranran, you¡¯ve grown so tall! It¡¯s only been half a year, and you already look different."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. He had indeed grown a bit taller in ninth grade. "Not by much. By the way, Grandpa, Dad said you have something to talk to me about?"


    His grandfather nodded. "Yes, there¡¯s something. I¡¯ll tell you upstairs. It¡¯s not a huge deal, but not a small one either. To be honest, I had completely forgotten about it. But then I heard about your almost-perfect score on the high school entrance exams."


    At this, he looked at his grandson with pride. "Didn¡¯t you get the top score in town? I was chatting with some old friends, and it reminded me of something from years ago."


    "What exactly?" Lin Yingjun asked, confused.


    As they talked, the three of them reached the apartment.


    Lin Yingjun opened the door.


    Inside, the three girls and Lin Xiaoli quickly came over to greet Grandpa.


    Grandpa held onto the stair railing as he stepped inside and answered, "Remember how I used to tell you about an old friend from my military days? We were very close, but back then, his daughter was much younger than you, so we could only set up a for Ranran. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    We were reminiscing about it at the reunion, and he mentioned that his granddaughter happens to go to the same high school as Ranran¡ª"


    His footsteps halted at the doorway.


    He looked at the three beautiful young girls in the house besides his daughter-in-law.


    Then, at last, he finished his sentence.


    "¡ªso I thought they could meet and see if they hit it off, maybe even try dating¡ª"


    At that moment, Lin Yingjun, Lin Xiaoli, Han Wenwen, He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and even Lin Zhengran himself all widened their eyes in shock.


    For the first time, they all blurted out the same word:


    "CHILDHOOD ENGAGEMENT?!"


    After the initial shock, the three girls quickly snapped back to reality and greeted Grandpa.


    "Hello, Grandpa..."


    Before long, Grandpa was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea that Lin Xiaoli had brought him.


    Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing, however, stood off to the side, all throwing jealous glances at Lin Zhengran. Clearly, this was news to them.


    Lin Zhengran looked back at them. "What¡¯s with those looks? I¡¯m just as surprised as you are!"


    Grandpa blinked, not expecting things to get this awkward. "Uh, these three girls are...?"


    Lin Yingjun introduced them. "Dad, these three are Ranran¡¯s... good friends."


    Grandpa observed their jealous expressions and whispered to his son, "Are you they¡¯re just good friends?"


    Lin Yingjun swallowed nervously and whispered back, "Dad, do you really have to ask? Do they like just good friends to you? Also, why don¡¯t I remember anything about this engagement?"


    Grandpa glanced at the three girls again and frowned. "What do you ever remember? But now... should I still say it?"


    Han Wenwen was the first to speak. "Grandpa, you just mentioned Lin Zhengran has a childhood engagement. What¡¯s that about? We¡¯re really curious."


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing both nodded, looking completely focused. "Yeah, we¡¯re all very curious."


    Grandpa wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had once worried his grandson wouldn¡¯t find a girlfriend, but now it seemed that was a completely unnecessary concern.


    "Well... actually, girls, about Ranran¡¯s ¡ª"


    The three girls interrupted in unison. "How did she go from a childhood engagement to a ?!"


    Grandpa quickly corrected himself. "Oh, no, no, childhood engagement! I meant childhood engagement! Back then, my friend and I both agreed to it, but whether it actually happens depends on Ranran. I just came to mention it."


    The room fell into silence.


    Grandpa, feeling like even at his age, this was one of the most amusing situations he¡¯d ever been in, suddenly remembered something.


    "Oh, right!" He pulled out a photo from his pocket. "My friend gave me a picture of his granddaughter from middle school. Ranran, do you want to see?"


    Lin Xiaoli took the photo first, and immediately, the three girls crowded around.


    Seeing it, they were all stunned.


    "She¡¯s ..."


    The girl in the picture wore a pure white dress, holding a wide-brimmed sun hat. Though it was only a side profile, her beauty was undeniable. Her cold, distant eyes gazed into the distance, and her long, jet-black hair was frozen in time by the wind.

 Chapter 80: What Does

    Lin Zhengran grabbed an apple from the side and took a bite. His natural human curiosity made him glance at the photo as well.


    Crunch, crunch, crunch. While chewing, he casually remarked, ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s really pretty.¡±


    The three girls instantly turned their heads to stare at him.


    One was more jealous than the other.


    His mother, Lin Xiaoli, grinned, impressed by her son¡¯s nerve. ¡°Ranran, you¡¯ve got guts, making that comment right in front of them.¡±


    Lin Zhengran answered nonchalantly, ¡°I was just stating a fact. Why is it okay for you all to say she¡¯s pretty, but not for me?¡±


    Little He Qing pouted unhappily. Jiang Xueli huffed and turned her head away. Han Wenwen shot Lin Zhengran a glare, looking like she didn¡¯t even want to acknowledge him.


    Since He Qing had to catch a train that afternoon, despite the awkwardness, they didn¡¯t linger at home for long.


    After saying goodbye to Grandpa, Lin Zhengran, along with Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli, accompanied He Qing to the station.


    At the ticket checkpoint, He Qing dragged her suitcase and looked at Lin Zhengran, who had come to see her off alone. ¡°See you in high school, Lin Zhengran.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Take it slow on the way home. Send me a message when you get there.¡±


    He Qing nodded but hesitated after taking just a few steps. She suddenly turned back, stepping closer to Lin Zhengran. Lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear, she whispered:


    ¡°Do you think that girl is pretty? I wear white dresses and sun hats too¡ªI look good in them! I¡¯m not ugly at all. If you like that kind of look, I can wear it for you to see anytime.¡±


    Lin Zhengran felt speechless. ¡°Do I look like I have that much free time? That was just a casual comment. I know you¡¯re pretty too. Now go catch your train.¡±


    He Qing let out a small ¡°Oh¡± and was still a little jealous, but hearing him acknowledge her looks made her feel slightly better. Her almond-shaped eyes gazed at him expectantly. ¡°Then, see you in high school. Bye-bye.¡±


    She waved at Lin Zhengran before turning to wave at Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli in the distance. ¡°Wenwen! Jiang Xueli! I¡¯m off. See you at the new school!¡±


    They all said their goodbyes, and He Qing boarded the train home.


    Jiang Xueli, still looking a little jealous, was next. Lin Zhengran walked up beside her and lightly flicked her forehead.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late. You should go home too.¡±


    Jiang Xueli covered her forehead and turned to glare at him. ¡°Why¡¯d you hit me? Fine, I¡¯ll go.¡±


    She flicked her twin ponytails and turned back before getting in the cab. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to come practice singing with me in a few days!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Jiang Xueli called for a taxi, but just as the car arrived, she suddenly turned back. Clenching her small fists, she closed her eyes and blurted out:


    ¡°You¡¯re such a damn flirt!¡±


    Then she bolted into the taxi and sped off before Lin Zhengran could react.


    Now only Han Wenwen remained.


    Covering her face, she no longer looked jealous. Instead, she changed her tone. ¡°Lin Zhengran, you wouldn¡¯t dare send home, would you? Technically, this week was supposed to be our gaming time.¡±


    The little fox had gone dark.


    Lin Zhengran was exhausted. ¡°If you keep making that face, I¡¯m just going home. It¡¯s not like I to spend time with you guys.¡±


    Han Wenwen instantly dropped the act, her mesmerizing fox-like eyes flashing with discontent. ¡°Who told Zhengran-gege to praise another girl¡¯s looks? And how come didn¡¯t even know about this childhood engagement?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know either. Besides, it¡¯s not like this is ancient times. Just because there¡¯s a childhood engagement doesn¡¯t mean I have to end up with her.¡±


    Han Wenwen suddenly froze. She tilted her head, stepping closer. ¡°Zhengran-gege actually explained himself to me. Does that mean you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll get jealous and are trying to appease me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran really wanted to roll his eyes. This girl¡¯s thought process was always on another level.


    Han Wenwen, however, spoke seriously this time.


    ¡°But Zhengran-gege underestimates his own charm. In my opinion, if a girl forms any kind of bond with you, she might not like you right away because of her personality or circumstances. But if she¡¯s around you long enough, even can¡¯t resist. What makes you think other girls can?¡±


    She poked Lin Zhengran¡¯s chest with her slender finger. ¡°Just in middle school alone, I had to block so many little vixens from getting close to you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran stepped out of the station. ¡°And have the nerve to call others vixens?¡±


    He hailed a cab. ¡°And you¡¯re overthinking it. Even if what you¡¯re saying is true, do you think I go around chatting with every girl I meet? I only interact with the people I about.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the only fox in the world. At best, I¡¯m just your favorite one¡ª¡± She paused, suddenly realizing something.


    Her face turned red.


    ¡°Wait¡­ ?¡±


    Lin Zhengran immediately regretted his words. ¡°Forget I said anything.¡±


    ¡°Zhengran-gege, explain properly! What do you by ¡®care about¡¯? Are you saying that, even though you won¡¯t admit it out loud, deep down you actually care about us? Hm?¡±


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, in a villa in Zitong City, inside a luxurious bathroom.


    A girl wearing black pajamas gathered her long hair into a bundle, her cold eyes gazing at herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair.


    Behind her stood another beautiful girl with a side ponytail, expressionless, holding a document.


    ¡°The school has sent out the high school transcripts. As always, you¡¯ll be giving the speech as the top female student. The male student representative is someone named Lin Zhengran.¡±


    The girl brushing her hair, Jiang Qian, gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.


    The girl with the side ponytail hesitated. ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ according to the transcript, your score is right below his. Though the difference isn¡¯t much.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s hand paused mid-brush. ¡°Let me see.¡±


    She reached out and took the transcript.


    The name stood out¡ªhis scores were nearly identical to hers, ranking first in almost every subject. The only difference was that his Chinese score was slightly higher than hers.


    The girl behind her continued, ¡°Also, your grandfather just sent an email. He forwarded the details of the boy you¡¯re engaged to. He said that he¡¯s attending the same high school as you, and you can meet him if you¡¯d like.¡±


    Jiang Qian stared at the name on the transcript.


    ¡°Not interested. It¡¯s that Grandpa even set that up. But out of courtesy, when I meet him, I¡¯ll reject it in person.


    "As for this Lin Zhengran¡­ his grades being higher than mine doesn¡¯t mean anything. I don¡¯t really care about these things. He probably just got lucky. Besides, there¡¯s another placement test after school starts. We¡¯ll see how well he does then.¡±


    The girl with the side ponytail took back the transcript, thinking,


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll definitely surpass him.¡±

 Chapter 81: He Said It Long Ago

    The break before the school year started passed quickly. While Lin Zhengran did spend some time practicing songs with Jiang Xueli, most of his days were spent at Han Wenwen¡¯s rental apartment.


    After all, high school wasn¡¯t part of compulsory education anymore, meaning there were more expenses. Fortunately, it was a public high school, so the costs weren¡¯t high.


    Lin Zhengran was lying on Han Wenwen¡¯s bed, reading a book. The little fox, dressed in denim shorts and a T-shirt, was packing daily essentials for high school¡ªclothes, skirts, and various miscellaneous items all being stuffed into a suitcase.


    ¡°Zhengran-gege, do you think we¡¯ll be in the same class in high school?¡±


    ¡°Probably not.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why not?¡± Han Wenwen asked curiously.


    Lin Zhengran turned a page. ¡°Because there¡¯s a placement test. Your talent for studying isn¡¯t great, and you don¡¯t fully focus on academics, so it¡¯s normal if we¡¯re in different classes.¡±


    Hearing this, Han Wenwen sat down beside him.


    ¡°There¡¯s a placement test for high school?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°Zhengran-gege really knows everything.¡±


    Han Wenwen lay on her side next to him, their bodies almost touching. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll end up in the same class as your ?¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned another page. ¡°It¡¯s been a month, and you¡¯re talking about this? And how would I know? I don¡¯t even know how well she studies.¡±


    After saying that, he glanced at her, feeling a bit speechless¡ªthis little fox¡¯s fingers were tracing circles on his stomach.


    ¡°Han Wenwen, I¡¯m giving you three seconds to take your hand off me. Three¡­ two¡ª¡±


    Only when he counted down to one did Han Wenwen finally stop, retracting her hand with a pout. ¡°So mean¡­ but Zhengran-gege actually has abs. I¡¯ve never even seen you work out.¡±


    ¡°There are of things you haven¡¯t seen me do. By the way, have you finished packing? Why are you lying here?¡±


    Han Wenwen closed her eyes and rested her forehead on his shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? There are still a few days before school starts. Once it does, I won¡¯t be able to lie in bed with Zhengran-gege anymore. Gotta make the most of it now.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°Then could you lie ? There¡¯s plenty of space on the bed¡ªwhy do you have to drape yourself me?¡±


    Han Wenwen opened her fox-like eyes and stared at him. ¡°What¡¯s Zhengran-gege afraid of? No matter how close I get, you never get shy.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She exhaled a warm breath against his ear. ¡°Right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    Han Wenwen yelped in pain and clutched her head. ¡°Ow~ that hurt!¡±


    Ignoring her, Lin Zhengran asked seriously, ¡°You have enough money to last through your first year of high school, right? Are you short on cash?¡±


    Han Wenwen, still rubbing her forehead, replied pitifully, ¡°Even though I spent a lot recently, I still have 10,000 yuan left. Public high school doesn¡¯t cost much, so I¡¯ll be fine. By the way, does Zhengran-gege need pocket money? I can give you a few thousand. I don¡¯t need that much anyway.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her.


    Over the past year, Han Wenwen¡¯s gaming skills had advanced from a low-tier player to .


    Her fanbase had grown to around 500,000, which was impressive for a content creator who never showed her face and relied purely on gaming skills and voice.


    She had earned tens of thousands of yuan from her videos.


    And because of the system, Lin Zhengran naturally received her earnings.


    At this point, his bank balance had nearly reached six figures. He had once wondered how the system even transferred money to him, but in the end, he just chalked it up to .


    ¡°Keep your money for yourself. I told you before¡ªI don¡¯t need it.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted. ¡°You said you don¡¯t want my money, only . I remember that.¡± She sighed dramatically. ¡°But Zhengran-gege doesn¡¯t seem to want either.¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned back to his book, thinking to himself that, ever since their contract was signed, he had already her in a sense¡ªafter all, as long as these three girls improved, he would reap plenty of benefits.


    ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®want or don¡¯t want¡¯ about it. You belong to me. You¡¯re supposed to stay by my side for life. So why even ask?¡±


    Han Wenwen sighed out of habit.


    Then suddenly¡ªsilence.


    The room became eerily quiet.


    After a moment, Han Wenwen¡¯s face turned red, and she opened her eyes. ¡°Huh? Zhengran-gege, what did you just say?¡±


    Lin Zhengran ignored her. ¡°Are you going to finish packing or not?¡±


    Han Wenwen jolted upright, face still flushed, and stared at him shyly. ¡°Wait, packing doesn¡¯t matter right now! I¡¯m asking what you just said. Did I mishear?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her, unfazed, and continued reading. Who knew what went on in her mind?


    ¡°What did I say? The same thing I¡¯ve always said. The whole reason I helped you was because you belong to me. What¡¯s so strange about that? Why else would I help you for so long, even saying I¡¯d take care of you for life?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s heartbeat had never raced this fast before. Slowly, she covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes turning red with embarrassment.


    She stared at Lin Zhengran as he flipped through his book.


    So¡­ Qingqing misunderstood.


    Zhengran-gege had confessed.


    And she had already agreed back then.


    The invisible tail of the little fox swayed shyly as she murmured, ¡°So¡­ in Zhengran-gege¡¯s eyes, these past few years, we¡¯ve all been wasting our time on meaningless things?¡±


    Even the gift she had given him in eighth grade¡ª, because she had already belonged to him.


    Lin Zhengran flipped another page. He didn¡¯t want to waste time discussing these things.


    ¡°How would I know what you girls were thinking back then? Middle school should have been a time to build up your skills and prepare for the future, but you two spent two whole years doing things I understand.


    All I ever wanted was for you to improve yourselves so you could do whatever you wanted when you grew up. But what were thinking and what was thinking were completely different.¡±


    Han Wenwen hesitated. ¡°But¡­ if that¡¯s the case, why does Zhengran-gege always avoid being too close to me? Since I¡¯m already yours, shouldn¡¯t it be¡ª¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat up, exasperated. He had said this !


    ¡°Because you¡¯re a fox who my reading! How hard is that to understand?¡±


    Han Wenwen shrank into the corner of the bed, burying herself under the blanket. Her fox-like eyes peeked out at him.


    ¡°For the first time, I think Zhengran-gege is . Why didn¡¯t you say such an important thing earlier?¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a deadpan look. ¡°I literally said, ¡®You¡¯ll stay with me for life.¡¯ You¡¯d have to be an idiot not to know what that means.¡±


    Han Wenwen suddenly realized something.


    ¡°Wait¡ªso Zhengran-gege to all three of us?!¡±


    ¡°So what? You¡¯ve always known I helped them too. It¡¯s not like I hid it. Even He Qing told you before.¡±


    Han Wenwen huffed in jealousy, hugging the blanket. ¡°How are you so about it?¡± She muttered under her breath, ¡°I my instincts were right¡­ Zhengran-gege is a flirt.¡±


    She sulked, twisting the blanket in her hands. And not just flirt¡ªa one.


    ¡ª


    A few days later, Lin Zhengran, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen carried their luggage and set off for their high school in the city.


    But after that conversation, Han Wenwen had a new plan for high school.

 Chapter 82: First Meeting at the School Gate

    Originally, Lin Yingjun was supposed to drive the three of them to high school, but something came up at work that day.


    So, they had to hire a van instead.


    Fortunately, with Lin Zhengran leading the group, both Lin Yingjun and Jiang Xueli¡¯s parents felt at ease.


    The back of the van was packed with luggage.


    As for the seating order in the back, from left to right: Han Wenwen, Lin Zhengran, and Jiang Xueli.


    "Are you sure you haven''t forgotten anything? Alright then, let¡¯s go," the driver said as he started the vehicle and headed toward the city.


    During the ride, Han Wenwen opened a big pack of sandwich biscuits and first offered one to Lin Zhengran. He refused.


    Then she handed one to Jiang Xueli. ¡°Lili, here.¡±


    Jiang Xueli froze for a second, looking at her with a weird expression. ¡°Lili...? What kind of nickname is that? Han Wenwen, don¡¯t you usually call me ?¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll call you Lili. It sounds more affectionate.¡±


    Jiang Xueli took the small packet of biscuits and said thanks, not really caring about the nickname, though the sudden closeness did make her get goosebumps.


    "Whatever¡­"


    Still, after opening the biscuits, she quietly asked Lin Zhengran, ¡°What¡¯s up with Han Wenwen?¡±


    Lin Zhengran had no idea what the little fox was thinking. ¡°How would I know?¡±


    Han Wenwen also opened a packet for herself and asked Lin Zhengran again, ¡°You really don¡¯t want any?¡±


    ¡°No, I just ate breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    The little fox stared out the window, slowly chewing her biscuit, lost in thought.


    Before, she had been a die-hard supporter of the (meaning she supported He Qing as the "main wife"), but after what happened a few days ago, dividing things into no longer seemed realistic.


    After all, Jiang Xueli was Zhengran-gege¡¯s person. That meant she and Jiang Xueli were destined to be .


    Oh, wait¡ªdoes that mean she could be a part of the ?


    Because He Qing could be the girlfriend, while she could just be the ! As long as she was Zhengran-gege¡¯s , nothing else mattered.


    Han Wenwen bit her biscuit angrily.


    Though she could Lin Zhengran dating multiple girls in special circumstances¡­


    Three girlfriends?! Wasn¡¯t that a bit much?


    For someone like Han Wenwen, who had a deeply obsessive personality when it came to love, once she fell for someone, she was ¡ªeven if the person wasn¡¯t good. Once she made up her mind, she would follow them no matter what.


    But that also meant she was jealous.


    Because in her heart, Lin Zhengran was the person she couldn¡¯t live without.


    Sitting in the middle, Lin Zhengran listened to the sound of biscuits being aggressively crunched beside him.


    Seeing the little fox practically her biscuit, he raised a brow.


    ¡°Han Wenwen, what did that biscuit ever do to you? Why are you chewing so loudly?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes glanced at him, and she smiled.


    ¡°Oh, nothing. I just imagined it as instead. I figured that flirty guys should be eaten up and swallowed whole¡­ But since I can¡¯t actually eat you, I¡¯m settling for this biscuit.¡±


    On the other side, Jiang Xueli heard this and assumed Han Wenwen was talking about the .


    Well, that made sense.


    Han Wenwen was a hardcore , so if He Qing¡¯s position was threatened, of course, her best friend would be upset too.


    ¡°Han Wenwen is right! Flirty guys be eaten up and swallowed whole!¡±


    She backed Han Wenwen up.


    Then she also started aggressively munching on her biscuits, giving Lin Zhengran a tsundere glare before dramatically turning away with a ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless.


    Nope. He wasn¡¯t going to entertain these two and their overly vivid imaginations.


    His phone rang¡ªit was He Qing.


    The soft, sweet voice came through the speaker. ¡°Lin Zhengran? When are you guys getting here? I¡¯m already at the school gate waiting for you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced out the window. ¡°Another ten minutes or so.¡±


    ¡ª


    Not long after, the van arrived at their new high school.


    The three of them were a little taken aback.


    Though it wasn¡¯t some ultra-luxurious private school, the spacious campus, the towering statue of Confucius, and the overall grandeur of the entrance made it feel much more impressive than their small-town middle school.


    Standing at the gate, He Qing spotted them and waved excitedly. ¡°Lin Zhengran! Wenwen! Jiang Xueli! Over here!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The three of them walked over. Han Wenwen was the first to hug He Qing in an affectionate reunion. Jiang Xueli also chatted with He Qing, asking her when she had arrived.


    Suddenly, they heard voices from nearby.


    ¡°Whoa, look at those three over there. They¡¯re !¡±


    ¡°Yeah, especially the one with her hair down¡ªshe looks just like a little fox! I¡¯ve never seen anyone that pretty before.¡±


    Some passing students were whispering among themselves, blushing as they admired Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli.


    Lin Zhengran was already used to it. Pretty girls were admired wherever they went.


    But as he stood there watching them chat, he had a thought.


    But then, as he observed them more closely¡ª


    Maybe because they were always together, he had never it before.


    At some point, all three of them had¡­ .


    Sixteen really a defining age for girls.


    For example, aside from all three of them having slender figures¡ª


    He Qing, compared to most girls, had a noticeably curvier upper body.


    Han Wenwen, on the other hand, had a that was beyond ordinary. Even now, in her pleated skirt, her natural advantage was obvious. Not to mention, when she wore tight-fitting outfits at home¡­


    As for Jiang Xueli¡­


    Jiang Xueli turned around and saw Lin Zhengran staring at them.


    Blushing, she walked over. ¡°Hey, idiot? What are you daydreaming about? What are you thinking?¡±


    For some reason, Lin Zhengran suddenly felt a little for her.


    He reached out and patted her head. ¡°Nothing much. You should eat more. Try to build up your strength.¡±


    Jiang Xueli had no idea what he meant.


    Feeling her face heat up from the sudden head pat, she stammered, ¡°W-what do you mean? Why are you suddenly so nice to me? Do you need a favor or something?¡±


    Lin Zhengran withdrew his hand. ¡°Nope. Just saying what came to mind.¡±


    Jiang Xueli turned even redder.


    She lowered her head, hands behind her back.


    ¡°I-I eat plenty! You think I¡¯m too skinny? I was actually planning on dieting this year, but now you¡¯re making me second-guess it¡­ Should I lose weight or not?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s need to diet¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, a Rolls-Royce suddenly pulled up in front of the school.


    All the students turned to look.


    The car door opened, and a long-haired, cold-looking girl stepped out.


    She wore a short skirt and long sleeves, her elegant demeanor completely unfazed by the attention she received.


    Beside her, another beautiful girl with a side ponytail followed, equally expressionless.


    The students at the gate whispered excitedly.


    ¡°A Rolls-Royce?! This girl must be ! And she¡¯s gorgeous too.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s probably a freshman. She doesn¡¯t look like an upperclassman.¡±


    Han Wenwen and He Qing also noticed them.


    He Qing admired the new arrival. ¡°Wow, she¡¯s so pretty. But¡­ what¡¯s a ?¡±


    Han Wenwen sighed. ¡°It¡¯s the name of that car. They cost .¡±


    ¡°Huh?! That expensive?!¡±


    Han Wenwen squinted at the girl. ¡°More importantly¡­ doesn¡¯t she look kinda familiar?¡±


    He Qing blinked. ¡°No way. I don¡¯t recognize her.¡±


    Jiang Xueli walked over. ¡°I kinda feel like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere before too, but I can¡¯t remember where.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    He Qing suddenly gasped.


    ¡°Wait¡­ now that you mention it, doesn¡¯t she look kinda like the girl in that ?!¡±

 Chapter 83: Two Crushing Defeats for Jiang Qian

    A single remark was like a wake-up call. The three girls blinked simultaneously, staring at the departing girl¡¯s back. Once she disappeared, they turned in unison to look at Lin Zhengran.


    As expected, Han Wenwen was the first to speak, her voice gentle: ¡°Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re really lucky~¡±


    The little fox¡¯s claws were practically out, her face brimming with murderous intent.


    It was only because Lin Zhengran usually dominated these three that the situation on the first day of school hadn¡¯t been too overwhelming for a normal person.


    After this brief moment of mischief, they all headed into the school to register, preparing for the first placement exam that afternoon.


    Meanwhile, as the girl named Jiang Qian walked into the school, her assistant, a girl named Fang Meng, reminded her:


    ¡°Qianqian, the placement exam starts this afternoon. If you¡¯re feeling nervous, you can take a break at noon.¡±


    Jiang Qian kept walking, her voice cool: ¡°There¡¯s no need. The placement exam is just slightly harder than the high school entrance exam. It¡¯s not worth worrying about.¡±


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you think. Anyway, that Lin Zhengran guy just got lucky.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Fang Meng, who had grown up with Jiang Qian, recalled how the second miss had stayed up late cramming for this test the night before. She didn¡¯t know how to react.


    Jiang Qian clearly cared a lot about winning and losing, yet she always acted like it didn¡¯t matter¡ªit was absurd.


    The placement exam that afternoon lasted longer than expected.


    Before the test, based on the abilities of the three girls, Lin Zhengran figured they¡¯d likely end up in the same class as him.


    But none of them believed it.


    Little He Qing clenched her tiny fists, full of determination: ¡°I¡¯ll do my best! I¡¯ll make sure we¡¯re in the same class!¡±


    Jiang Xueli puffed out her chest confidently: ¡°I was at least an above-average student in middle school. I¡¯ll definitely make it into the top class.¡±


    The little fox didn¡¯t want to admit it, but she knew her own limits: ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll have an exceptional performance?¡±


    Lin Zhengran decided not to dampen their spirits. ¡°Good luck.¡±


    As everyone sat in their assigned seats, Lin Zhengran unexpectedly found himself next to the long-haired girl from that morning.


    That cold yet striking face was definitely memorable.


    Jiang Qian sat in her seat, taking out a gel pen. Her curious and surprised gaze flicked toward Lin Zhengran.


    So this was that Lin Zhengran guy? He looked exactly like his photo.


    Most boys were intimidated by making eye contact with a beautiful girl. But Lin Zhengran, having lived two lifetimes, clearly wasn¡¯t afraid to stare at these little girls.


    Jiang Qian wasn¡¯t afraid either.


    So, the two of them just locked eyes, wordlessly staring at each other for a moment.


    It was only when the exam started that they finally looked away and focused on their papers.


    Jiang Qian was convinced she wouldn¡¯t lose to anyone.


    She skimmed through all the questions, the corners of her lips curving slightly. Just as expected, this test was nothing special. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Getting first place would be effortless.


    But what she didn¡¯t notice was that Lin Zhengran was so bored he was practically doodling the answers. These questions? He had them memorized since third grade. High school exams were fairly standardized, so his brain didn¡¯t even need to work.


    It was pure muscle memory.


    Meanwhile, the others were struggling.


    Little He Qing was biting the end of her pen, finding the questions incredibly difficult.


    Jiang Xueli was sweating bullets¡ªsome of these questions were completely new to her!


    Han Wenwen had already given up, resting her face on her hand as she muttered to herself: ¡°Studying is nothing like gaming. If you don¡¯t know something, you just don¡¯t. No luck involved.¡±


    After a grueling few hours, the exam was over.


    Outside the exam hall, Lin Zhengran spotted the three girls coming out, looking dejected.


    Curious, he asked, ¡°How¡¯d you do? You all look pretty disappointed.¡±


    The three of them exchanged glances before sighing in unison.


    Dreams shattered.


    Sure enough, when the class assignments were posted, Jiang Xueli, Han Wenwen, and He Qing were all in the same class.


    When Lin Zhengran arrived at his own class, he saw the familiar cold-faced girl along with the side-ponytailed girl who always followed her around.


    The test scores were posted a few days later.


    Teachers stuck the results up on the wall.


    Everyone crowded around to check their scores, but Lin Zhengran just took one glance and lost interest.


    As expected¡ªfirst place.


    Jiang Qian, however, was already standing there, staring at the results.


    Her cold eyes were filled with disbelief, her red lips pressed tightly together.


    Even Fang Meng, usually composed, widened her eyes in surprise. She murmured, ¡°Second place¡­ Jiang Qian. First place¡­ Lin Zhengran. And not just in Chinese¡ªhis math score was higher than yours too¡­ He got a perfect score in everything except Chinese again.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s delicate hand slowly clenched into a fist.


    Fang Meng asked hesitantly, ¡°Qianqian, are you okay? Maybe he just got lucky again.¡±


    Jiang Qian turned her head toward the window seat, where Lin Zhengran was lazily flipping through a book. She recalled that silent stare from the exam hall and let out a deep breath, as if trying to convince herself.


    She unclenched her fist and walked back to her seat, speaking as if nothing had happened:


    ¡°Why would I be bothered? It¡¯s just a small placement test. Maybe he really does have an absolute talent for academics.¡±


    She rambled on, ¡°Besides, I focus on being well-rounded. The military training starts in a few days, and I heard there¡¯ll be a sports competition. I doubt someone who¡¯s only good at studying will be great at sports too.¡±


    Fang Meng nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s true. If you study a lot, you don¡¯t have time to exercise. But you, Qianqian, balance studying, sports, and piano. You¡¯re not competing with people who specialize in just one thing.¡±


    Jiang Qian sat by the window, staring outside with cold eyes. ¡°So what if someone has better grades? It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Then, as if to reassure herself, she repeated, ¡°I don¡¯t care at all.¡±


    A few days later, military training began.


    The school issued training uniforms, and the first-year students started their two-week-long boot camp.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s so-called ¡°sports competition¡± was scheduled for the end of the first week. To encourage teamwork and physical fitness, the school organized various athletic events.


    The first race was the girls¡¯ sprint.


    Lin Zhengran stood at the sidelines, watching the female participants tie up their ponytails, preparing for the race.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s gaze was especially determined.


    Her eyes radiated a do-or-die mentality¡ªshe had to win, no matter what.


    And she was indeed skilled. From her starting posture alone, Lin Zhengran could tell she had received professional training.


    She took the lead right from the start and secured an easy first place.


    The PE teacher checked the stopwatch. ¡°Wow! Jiang Qian ran 14.35 seconds! One second faster, and she¡¯d qualify as a national-level athlete! Even most boys can¡¯t run that fast.¡±


    Jiang Qian let out a breath of relief.


    Fang Meng, also timing the race, smiled at her¡ªthis time, she was certain Jiang Qian had won.


    Then came the boys¡¯ sprint.


    The guys were all hyped up, eager to compete.


    Lin Zhengran, on the other hand, was indifferent.


    Back in town, he had tested this before¡ªthe system¡¯s stat boosts also enhanced his leg strength. At level 40, he could run 100 meters in 3.7 seconds.


    Now, at level 49, he was definitely even faster.


    But he wasn¡¯t interested in running at full speed. That would ruin his peaceful high school life.


    He¡¯d hold back¡ªjust a little.


    At the teacher¡¯s signal, Lin Zhengran shot forward.


    It was obvious he was much faster than the others.


    Even the PE teacher and the other boys were stunned.


    When he crossed the finish line, the teacher swore in shock. ¡°Holy s***¡­ 11.11 seconds? You¡¯re Lin Zhengran, right? If you train properly, you could make the national team!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless.


    Even when running lazily, he was still too fast.


    Jiang Qian, who had been watching, stood frozen.


    Fang Meng, stopwatch in hand, could barely find the words.


    She could only mumble, ¡°This guy is seriously strong¡­ And he¡¯s good-looking too.¡±

 Chapter 84: The Original Fiancé

    Amid the gasps and exclamations from their classmates, He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen from Class 3 also turned their attention toward the commotion.


    He Qing had been secretly keeping an eye on Lin Zhengran all along. The moment she saw his name at the top, she cheered excitedly, ¡°Lin Zhengran got first place!¡±


    Jiang Xueli blinked, feeling a bit shy but still impressed by that idiot¡¯s strength. ¡°He totally showed off again¡­ but with his abilities, it¡¯s not like anyone else stood a chance.¡±


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t praise him outright. Instead, she carefully observed the reactions of the surrounding girls, especially the ones from wealthy families¡ªtheir starry-eyed gazes were particularly concerning. The little fox bit her thumb, looking like a miniature Sherlock Holmes.


    ¡°Something feels off¡­ I have to nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand.¡±


    ¡ª


    The sports competition lasted the entire day, covering multiple events. At first, Jiang Qian thought that even if she had lost in sprinting, she could still outshine that boy in sit-ups, long jump, or other events.


    But to her shock¡­ she didn¡¯t win a single one.


    Even more frustrating, Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t even out of breath after each event, while she had given it her all.


    After the competitions ended, Jiang Qian sat on the steps in her military training uniform, staring blankly ahead. Her cold, determined eyes were now dull, her fighting spirit completely crushed by reality.


    Her assistant, Fang Meng, crouched in front of her, awkwardly glancing at the stats she had recorded.


    ¡°Qianqian, based on my observations, that Lin Zhengran is an absolute genius. His physical endurance, coordination, and reflexes are all top-tier. And combined with his academic record¡­¡±


    Jiang Qian looked utterly defeated. ¡°No need to tell me. I don¡¯t care about any of this¡­¡±


    Fang Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Fang Meng tried to console her. ¡°But Qianqian, you didn¡¯t lose to him in everything. Don¡¯t forget, after military training, there¡¯s the Freshman Talent Showcase! You¡¯re planning to perform a piano piece and send the recording to your uncle, right?¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Fang Meng.


    Fang Meng smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing piano since elementary school and have won several competitions in middle school. Studying and sports may not be your strongest suits, but when it comes to piano, no one can beat you. This time, you definitely won¡¯t lose.¡±


    Jiang Qian glanced toward Lin Zhengran, who was casually watching the competitions from the sidelines. After today¡¯s events, quite a few girls had started approaching him.


    The boy was undeniably good-looking, with a tall and athletic build. His charisma far exceeded that of his peers. This one competition alone had already earned him a group of admirers, including some upperclassmen.


    But instead of being discouraged, Jiang Qian said:


    ¡°No. I did a little background check on him. He¡¯s from an ordinary family. If I beat him at piano, it wouldn¡¯t even be a fair fight¡ªhe probably hasn¡¯t even practiced before. And even if I lose? So what? I¡¯ll just take first place in the next mock exam.¡±


    With that, she stood up and headed toward the restroom, as if she truly didn¡¯t care.


    Fang Meng blinked and muttered to herself, ¡°Still so dishonest¡­ But one of Qianqian¡¯s best qualities is that she never takes advantage of someone¡¯s weaknesses. That¡¯s pretty admirable.¡±


    Fang Meng stood up and followed her, already anticipating what would happen next¡ª


    That night, Jiang Qian would hole up in her room, staying up late to cram for the next exam.


    Sure enough, when Jiang Qian¡¯s older sister, Jiang Jingshi, came home, she was startled. ¡°Oh? Qianqian¡¯s been studying so hard these past few days?¡±


    Fang Meng gave a slight bow. ¡°Welcome back, Miss Jiang. Second Miss has indeed been unusually dedicated lately¡ªshe barely gets any sleep at night.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled warmly. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s found herself a strong rival again. Qianqian¡¯s competitive streak is as fierce as ever. Just let her be¡ªshe¡¯ll figure it out herself.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way, I heard from Grandpa that Qianqian has an arranged marriage? Has she met the guy yet? What¡¯s he like?¡±


    Fang Meng explained, ¡°Second Miss isn¡¯t interested in the matter. She hasn¡¯t met him yet.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Hmm. I suppose I could meet him in her place. After all, he¡¯s the grandson of Grandpa¡¯s old friend. We shouldn¡¯t ignore the engagement entirely¡ªit would be rude. Besides, I was originally supposed to be his fianc¨¦e. It was only because he was born later, the same age as Qianqian, that Grandpa reassigned the engagement to her.¡±


    She added, ¡°Remind her again in a few days. If she really doesn¡¯t want to meet him, I¡¯ll go instead.¡±


    Fang Meng nodded in understanding.


    With that, Jiang Jingshi turned and left, her high heels clicking against the floor. Her wavy, waist-length hair swayed gently with each step.


    ¡ª


    The next morning, the sun shone brightly, marking nearly two weeks since the start of school.


    High school was different from middle school. In middle school, boys and girls were just beginning to develop an awareness of romance, but many boys still didn¡¯t think much about relationships. At most, they were just experiencing their first stirrings of attraction.


    High school, however, was a completely different story.


    By now, everyone¡¯s minds were maturing, and boys were quick to notice which girls were the most beautiful in a crowd.


    A single glance could imprint a girl¡¯s face in their memory. A simple smile from the right person could make her the center of attention.


    In just these two weeks, students had already started exchanging notes on which class had the most beautiful girls.


    ¡ª


    During a break after the morning training session, the instructor gave Class 1 students a twenty-minute rest.


    Even though it was autumn, standing outside all morning was exhausting. The students were all parched, and Lin Zhengran sat down to rest. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A male classmate plopped down beside him. ¡°Lin Zhengran! Aren¡¯t you tired at all? You¡¯ve been training all morning, and you¡¯re barely sweating!¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded casually, ¡°I¡¯ve gotten used to it after a week of training.¡±


    The boy nudged him with an elbow.


    ¡°Used to it or not, it¡¯s still exhausting. But man, you¡¯re built differently. By the way, do you have a girlfriend? I noticed you don¡¯t really respond much when the girls in our class talk to you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Not interested.¡±


    Another classmate, a guy with the surname Pan, joined in.


    ¡°Honestly, the girls in our class just don¡¯t stand out, especially with Jiang Qian and Fang Meng around. Compared to them, everyone else seems kind of average. Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re so good-looking¡ªyou probably have high standards, huh? But did you know? Apparently, Class 3 has the most beautiful girls.¡±


    The first guy nodded eagerly. ¡°Yeah! I heard there¡¯s a girl named He¡­ He Qing, right? Super pretty! I saw her once, and wow, she¡¯s gorgeous!¡±


    Pan chimed in, ¡°He Qing is definitely beautiful, but there¡¯s also Jiang Xueli with the twin ponytails! She¡¯s even cuter! And she¡¯s so bubbly¡ªshe¡¯s basically everyone¡¯s dream girl.¡±


    Another boy overheard the conversation and joined in.


    ¡°Nah, the prettiest one has to be Han Wenwen. Haven¡¯t you guys heard? Tons of guys have been giving her love letters these past few days. Even some upperclassmen confessed to her! But of course, pretty girls aren¡¯t easy to chase¡ªshe apparently rejected all of them, saying she already has a boyfriend.¡±


    Throughout Lin Zhengran¡¯s life, there had been countless times when classmates had tried to befriend him.


    Some of them had even gotten close to becoming actual friends.


    But in the end, it always played out the same way.


    Just like right now¡ª


    As the guys were chatting about girls, they suddenly noticed a shy He Qing walking over, clutching a freshly sealed bottle of lemon water.


    And she was heading straight for Lin Zhengran.

 Chapter 85: He Qing Brings a Drink During Military Training

    By now, He Qing was already one of the most talked-about beauties among the boys. Whether they had heard of her before or not, the moment she appeared, every guy in Class 1 turned to look at her, all captivated by her pure and sweet appearance.


    ¡°Wow, she¡¯s gorgeous! Who is she?¡±


    ¡°She looks amazing even in a military uniform?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that He Qing from Class 3? What¡¯s she doing here?¡±


    ¡°Looks like she¡¯s delivering something¡­ Does she have a close friend in our class? Or is she¡­?¡±


    The boys murmured amongst themselves, all curious about who she was approaching.


    At that moment, the guy who had just been calling He Qing pretty nudged Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder, looking nervous. ¡°He Qing? Why is she coming to our class?¡± He paused for a second, then suddenly panicked, ¡°Wait¡­ oh sh*t! She¡¯s walking toward us?! Could she be coming for me?!¡± His heartbeat quickened.


    Of course, He Qing noticed the attention on her. She pursed her lips shyly, but when her eyes locked onto Lin Zhengran amidst the crowd, every other boy instantly faded from her view.


    She walked up to him, stopping right in front of him, staring directly into his eyes.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ I bought you lemon water. Get up for a second, I have something to tell you.¡± She clutched the drink tightly.


    Class 1 fell silent.


    The hopeful boy from earlier looked utterly devastated.


    He Qing from Class 3 was giving Lin Zhengran a drink?!


    What was going on?!


    Some speculated they might be dating. Others wondered if He Qing was trying to pursue him¡ªafter all, quite a few girls had started approaching Lin Zhengran since his recent sports competition victories.


    Seeing that she had something to say, Lin Zhengran got up, and the two of them moved to the side under the watchful eyes of the entire class.


    With so many people staring at her, He Qing¡¯s face turned bright red. She kept her head down, looking absolutely adorable.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her military uniform. Though plain, her long, silky ponytail and delicate features, combined with the light sheen of sweat on her forehead from the morning training, made her look like a classic first-love heroine straight out of a novel.


    Even though the loose military uniform didn¡¯t reveal much, it still couldn¡¯t fully hide her developing figure.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± Lin Zhengran asked.


    He Qing raised her head slightly, pushing the drink toward him as she whispered, ¡°I came to bring you a drink. I noticed that during break time, lots of girls from other classes were bringing drinks to their boyfriends, or vice versa. But I figured you¡¯d be too tired from training to bother getting one yourself, so I bought this for you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. This little girl was getting bolder every year.


    Back in middle school, she was brave enough to take a bus by herself just to find him, but she was still too shy to speak in public. Now, here she was, openly bringing him a drink in front of an entire class.


    The timid little He Qing from childhood would have never done something like this.


    Lin Zhengran accepted the lemon water, glancing at the boys from Class 1. Several of them were staring daggers at him.


    Feeling slightly awkward, he turned back to He Qing. ¡°Did you get one for yourself?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I already drank some water. I brought my own bottle, so I¡¯m not thirsty. You should drink it before the ice melts¡ªit won¡¯t taste as good then.¡±


    Then, she hesitated before whispering, ¡°Do you¡­ do you want me to put the straw in for you?¡±


    Since Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t refuse, she quickly unwrapped the straw, inserted it into the drink with a soft , and tucked the trash into her pocket.


    ¡°Drink up. When you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll throw away the trash for you. Otherwise, you¡¯d have to walk all the way to the trash can.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Lin Zhengran found a seat and sat down, while He Qing quickly took a spot next to him, placing her hands neatly on her knees.


    The sixteen-year-old He Qing watched Lin Zhengran drink with a delighted smile.


    She wasn¡¯t the sharpest girl around, but compared to her childhood self, she had definitely gotten smarter.


    Bringing him a drink wasn¡¯t just about keeping him hydrated.


    It was also a way to stake her claim.


    She wasn¡¯t blind¡ªever since the sports competition, plenty of girls had been approaching Lin Zhengran.


    If she didn¡¯t show up today, who knew how many more would try in the future?


    At the same time, her presence also discouraged the boys who had been interested in her.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t plan to hide any of this from Lin Zhengran. She laid everything out for him honestly.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ you got first place in every event the other day?¡±


    Lin Zhengran took a sip of lemon water and nodded. ¡°It was just a school-wide event. Everyone had to participate.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing beamed. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! I saw you from my class¡ªwe were all watching. Nobody even came close to beating you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her, sensing she had something else to say. ¡°If you want to say something, just say it. Why are you beating around the bush?¡±


    He Qing fidgeted with her fingers, her voice soft and a little jealous.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s nothing¡­ Just that, since you did so well in the competition, I¡¯m guessing a lot of girls have been talking to you, asking for your number and stuff¡­ Y-you¡¯re not interested in them, right? You don¡¯t like those types, do you¡­?¡±


    Lin Zhengran exhaled and nodded. ¡°Not really.¡±


    He Qing visibly brightened, grinning widely.


    ¡°Right?! I knew it! Actually, lately, some boys have been talking to me too. Some even said they¡­ l-liked me. But I ignored all of them¡ªI rejected every single one! I didn¡¯t accept anything they gave me either. I just wanted to tell you so you wouldn¡¯t think I was talking to them or anything. I¡¯m not. I only want to talk to you. Really. I don¡¯t want to talk to any other boys.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at He Qing¡¯s earnest expression¡ªshe was practically making a solemn vow.


    He handed her the half-finished lemon water. ¡°How¡¯s high school so far?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She took the bottle, not minding the fact that it had his straw in it. ¡°Military training is tiring, but otherwise, it¡¯s okay. You¡¯re not drinking anymore?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t that thirsty to begin with. This was enough.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gazed into the distance. ¡°High school is different from middle school. You¡¯re farther from home now. If you run into any problems you can¡¯t solve, come find me¡ªI¡¯ll help you. After training ends this week, rest well over the weekend. Don¡¯t let it affect your competition in two weeks.¡±


    He Qing felt warm at his concern, nodding eagerly. ¡°I¡¯m not that tired. But¡­ can I only come find you if I have a problem? What if I just want to see you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Do whatever you want. You¡¯re here now, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    He Qing giggled.


    After chatting a little longer, she waved goodbye, still holding the half-finished drink.


    Of course, she had no intention of throwing it away¡ªit was the one Lin Zhengran had already drunk from.


    But she was too shy to drink from the same side as him, so she flipped the straw around and used the other end.


    As she took a sip, her face turned red.


    I should bring him a drink again next time, she thought. That way, I¡¯ll get to drink from the same one again.


    Just then, a system notification appeared¡ª


    ¡¾Fairy He, seeing your exhaustion, has gifted you a divine elixir! You receive He Fairy¡¯s Frost Spirit Water. +2 Charisma, +1 Stamina.¡¿


    ¡ª


    Back at the rest area, the boy who had been leaning on Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder looked devastated.


    He had witnessed the entire scene firsthand.


    He might have been able to convince himself otherwise, but a girl¡¯s blushing face never lied.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ If you ever treat He Qing badly, I swear I¡¯ll kill you~¡±


    With a sorrowful wail, he left.


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    Before he could catch a break, another classmate nudged him.


    ¡°So, He Qing is your girlfriend, huh? No wonder you weren¡¯t interested in the other girls. Speaking of which, do you know if Jiang Xueli has a boyfr¡ª¡±


    He didn¡¯t even get to finish.


    Because at that moment, a shy yet determined Jiang Xueli appeared in the distance, holding another bottle of lemon water.

 Chapter 86: An Unexpected Confession and Agreement

    Jiang Xueli''s appearance once again caught the attention of the boys in Class 1.


    She spotted Lin Zhengran sitting in the crowd and shyly hid the lemon water behind her back.


    Don¡¯t be fooled by her short stature or lack of standout features¡ªher petite, lively, and playful face had enough charm to make plenty of boys¡¯ hearts race.


    After all, who wouldn¡¯t want a cheerful, pretty girlfriend?


    Jiang Xueli avoided eye contact as she slowly walked into Class 1.


    This time, no one in Class 1 really thought much of it at first. After all, He Qing had just come by to deliver water. No matter how wild their imaginations were, they¡¯d only assume Jiang Xueli was here to bring something to someone else.


    The boy surnamed Pan, who had just asked about Jiang Xueli, sat up straight when he saw her actually approaching. ¡°Jiang Xueli?! What¡¯s she doing in our class too? Don¡¯t tell me she also has a boyfriend?¡±


    Then everyone watched as Jiang Xueli walked step by step up to Lin Zhengran and stopped, staring stubbornly into his eyes. In the silent half-minute that followed¡ª


    The boys in class all widened their eyes, mouths agape, voices echoing with disbelief.


    ¡°No way¡­¡±


    The truth was right in front of them, but they still didn¡¯t dare to believe it¡ªuntil Jiang Xueli spoke: ¡°Da¡ª¡± Embarrassed by the crowd, she blushed and changed her words, ¡°Lin Zhengran, come out for a sec, I need to talk to you.¡±


    With that, she walked away and stood near the drinks, waiting.


    Pan¡¯s secret crush crumbled as he and the others muttered in unison, ¡°D*mn.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a long sigh, got up, and walked over to Jiang Xueli. Seeing how shy she looked, he asked, ¡°Brought me water?¡±


    Jiang Xueli froze. ¡°How¡¯d you know? No¡ªwho said I came to bring you water?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the hand she was hiding behind her back and asked helplessly, ¡°If it¡¯s not for that, then why did you come?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Jiang Xueli noticed all the eyes from Class 1 were on her. Although she wasn¡¯t scared of being watched when she was singing, this situation was definitely different.


    She looked back at Lin Zhengran and snapped, ¡°I here to bring water! So what?!¡±


    Fiercely, she pulled out the cup of lemon water with one hand, turning her head away with a shy huff.


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot today, I figured you¡¯d be thirsty, so I bought you a drink. Whether you drink it or not, that¡¯s up to you. I did my part by bringing it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran accepted the drink and asked the same question, ¡°Did you drink some?¡±


    ¡°I did.¡± She pouted. ¡°You think I waited in line that long just to buy it for you?¡± Then, suddenly clenching her fists and shutting her eyes in frustration, she blurted out:


    ¡°Fine! I didn¡¯t drink any! I rushed to bring it to you and didn¡¯t have time to take a sip. And then He Qing beat me to it!¡±


    She rattled on like a spilled jar of beans: ¡°He Qing is one thing, but you¡ªwhy are you still so popular with girls?! Do you even know how jealous I¡¯ve been these days, seeing all those girls talking to you?! It¡¯s seriously so annoying!¡±


    Her face burning red, Jiang Xueli took a few steps back and plopped down on the curb, hugging her knees with a tsundere pout.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me why I¡¯m jealous. Even if you ask, I won¡¯t say. But ever since high school started, everyone¡¯s been so bold. Even people came up to chat with me and said I¡¯m cute and stuff¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong with them? If I were really that cute, why haven¡¯t ever said it? What good does it do hearing it from them...¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat down beside her. ¡°Looks like a lot¡¯s happened to you these past few days. At first, I thought you hadn¡¯t changed at all from middle school, but now I can tell¡ªyou¡¯ve changed a bit.¡±


    Jiang Xueli kept hugging her knees and avoided looking at him.


    Until she heard Lin Zhengran say next, ¡°You¡¯re cuter than you were in middle school.¡±


    Her face turned beet red, steam practically rising from her head as she stammered, turning to look at him: ¡°Y-You! What are you saying?! C-Cuter?! Are you out of your mind?! Say that again if you dare!¡±


    ¡°You really are cuter than before. Still as tsundere as ever, but way better than you used to be.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s lips parted slightly, her eyes sparkling. It was as if colorful bubbles started floating around her.


    Too shy to meet his gaze, she shrank back and stared at her knees. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re totally crazy. Saying stuff like that to me¡­ are you some blooming cactus or something?¡±


    Then she heard the sound of Lin Zhengran inserting the straw. She turned her head to look at him.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow at her shy look.


    Jiang Xueli gave him a judging look. ¡°But seriously, you big dummy, you¡¯ve gotten a lot smarter since starting high school. Your mouth¡¯s gotten sweeter, too.¡± She suddenly grinned. ¡°How about I start calling you ¡®Little Dummy¡¯ from now on?¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran got goosebumps all over from her smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that face?!¡± Jiang Xueli argued, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a really affectionate nickname? Only people with a close bond use it¡ª¡®Dummy Dummy,¡¯ it¡¯s cute!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed and took another sip. ¡°So that¡¯s what you think, huh? No wonder you¡¯re so stuck on that nickname.¡±


    ¡°W-What else would it be? You don¡¯t like it?¡±


    Seeing Lin Zhengran actually nod, she thought for a second. ¡°Then how about this¡ªI¡¯ll call you¡­¡± She pursed her lips for a moment and softly said, ¡°Zhengran?¡±


    Right after saying it, she felt goosebumps all over herself.


    Lin Zhengran looked exasperated. ¡°Can¡¯t you just call me by my name like a normal person?¡±


    Jiang Xueli pouted and hugged her knees again. ¡°No way. He Qing already calls you that. If I say the same thing as her, won¡¯t I be falling behind? I¡¯ll just call you¡­ Zheng¡­ Zhengran. It sounds nice anyway.¡±


    Lin Zhengran handed the drink back to her. ¡°I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡±


    Jiang Xueli took it and watched as he drank only a sip. ¡°You only drank one sip? I waited in line forever, you know.¡±


    ¡°I just drank earlier. And since you didn¡¯t have any yet, you might as well drink the rest.¡±


    He stood up. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m heading back.¡±


    Suddenly Jiang Xueli grabbed his arm. ¡°Wait¡­ Zheng¡­ Zhengran, I want to ask you something¡­¡± She whispered, ¡°Do you really think I don¡¯t need to lose weight?¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought she was going to ask something serious. He looked her over and replied honestly, ¡°You really don¡¯t. Even though you haven¡¯t changed much¡­ I like how you are now. You¡¯re small and super cute.¡±


    Then he walked off.


    Jiang Xueli stood there, stunned for a moment before it sank in. ¡°Like? He said he likes me?¡±


    Her brain short-circuited as she muttered, ¡°L-Like¡­ He likes me! He said he likes me!¡±


    She stood up, closed her eyes, and shouted, ¡°I accept!¡±


    Then, covering her face in embarrassment, she ran off.


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re in high school, I seriously can¡¯t handle this guy anymore. Confessing like that out of nowhere¡­ how am I supposed to say no?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced back and heard what she said, speechless. ¡°That silly girl¡¯s acting nuts again.¡±


    He turned back¡ªonly to suddenly see the boy surnamed Pan crying as he ran off.


    And in the spot where he¡¯d been sitting¡ª


    Han Wenwen had squatted down at some point, holding a drink and staring at him.


    The rest of the class was already frozen in shock, eyes wide as they stared at Han Wenwen¡ªand even more so at Lin Zhengran.


    Han Wenwen smiled sweetly, full of jealousy. ¡°Lin Zhengran? Still thirsty?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°.....¡±


    And on the other side of the classroom, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng, who had just returned from the restroom, also noticed everyone staring at Lin Zhengran.


    Fang Meng said, ¡°That guy¡¯s really popular, huh? I¡¯ve lost count of how many girls from other classes have come to talk to him lately.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s cold eyes locked onto Lin Zhengran, who was talking to Han Wenwen, her thoughts unreadable.


    A few days later, military training was about to end, and the Freshman Talent Showcase was officially scheduled for the last day.


    As the freshman representatives, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian were naturally called into the office by the teachers before the event preparations began.

 Chapter 87: Curiosity and a Private Meeting

    ¡°Lin Zhengran, Jiang Qian, you two have the best grades among this year¡¯s freshmen¡ªactually, among the past few years of freshmen. After much consideration, the school leadership has unanimously chosen you both as the male and female freshman representatives.¡±


    Dressed in a military training uniform, Lin Zhengran was about half a head taller than Jiang Qian. This "Second Miss" stood with an air of elegance.


    Her posture was straight, and her gaze was clear yet indifferent. If it were anyone else, they would surely be overshadowed by her cold and aloof aura. However, Lin Zhengran carried himself with a similar level of maturity, ensuring he wasn¡¯t outshone.


    The teacher sitting in the chair looked at the two students, who exuded a completely different aura from their peers, and thought to himself, He smiled and said,


    ¡°So, over the next two days, you both need to prepare a speech. Tomorrow night, before the performances start, you¡¯ll deliver it. You already know the requirements¡ªit should be passionate and inspiring, something that can energize the students. Also, as school representatives, it would be best if you prepared a performance as well.¡±


    Jiang Qian spoke coolly, ¡°I¡¯ve already signed up for a piano performance.¡±


    The teacher nodded approvingly. ¡°Ah, right. I heard about your piano teacher before. You¡¯ve won quite a few piano competitions, haven¡¯t you? Excelling in both academics and music¡ªhonestly, it¡¯s almost unbelievable. What about you, Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Lin Zhengran felt like he didn¡¯t have anything particularly impressive to showcase.


    After all, he had dabbled in many different things over the past two years, but none stood out as a specialty. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about I play the piano too? Since our performances are back-to-back, it¡¯ll save time setting up the stage.¡±


    The moment he said this, both Jiang Qian and the teacher looked slightly taken aback. Even Jiang Qian, who usually remained expressionless, glanced at him in surprise.


    The teacher asked curiously, ¡°Oh? Lin Zhengran, you know how to play the piano?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded, recalling that he had learned a bit in his past life. Although he wasn¡¯t highly skilled, with some practice over the next two days, he should be able to manage. ¡°I learned a little a long time ago. I¡¯m not very skilled¡ªI¡¯ve only ever played accompaniment.¡±


    The teacher considered this and said, ¡°Really? In that case, why don¡¯t you two perform a piano duet? If your skill level isn¡¯t high, you can take the supporting role while Jiang Qian leads. I don¡¯t know much about piano, though¡­ Would that work, Jiang Qian?¡±


    Jiang Qian withdrew her gaze from Lin Zhengran and said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just pick a simpler piece. It¡¯s just a performance, after all.¡±


    The teacher nodded. ¡°Great! Then it¡¯s settled. Go sign up now¡ªpiano duet. After you finish your speeches, make sure to find time to practice. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly tomorrow night!¡±


    Both of them nodded in agreement.


    After leaving the office, Jiang Qian kept a straight face, but inwardly, she was quite surprised that Lin Zhengran could play the piano.


    However, since he had admitted that his skill level wasn¡¯t great, she didn¡¯t feel particularly inclined to compare.


    She said, ¡°Let¡¯s finish writing our speeches during the day, then start practicing in the stage rehearsal room tonight.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. By the way, how many pianos does our school have?¡±


    Jiang Qian looked ahead and replied, ¡°The school doesn¡¯t have any. I use my own, and you can use yours.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked. Jiang Qian turned to look at him. An awkward silence filled the air.


    Jiang Qian asked, ¡°You don¡¯t have a piano at home?¡±


    ¡°Nope. That¡¯s why I said I¡¯m pretty amateur. Maybe I should change my performance¡ªsinging could work too.¡± Lin Zhengran was straightforward.


    Jiang Qian wondered how he had learned without a piano, but after two previous encounters with him, she had developed a growing curiosity about him. She was very interested in seeing just how ¡°amateur¡± he really was.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have an extra piano at home. I¡¯ll have it brought over,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll still meet in the practice room tonight.¡±


    By the time their conversation ended, they had already exited the teaching building. Jiang Qian headed off into the distance, where Fang Meng was waiting for her at the far end of the corridor.


    Lin Zhengran called after her, ¡°Thanks, I owe you one.¡±


    Jiang Qian turned back slightly and glanced at him with curiosity. ¡°No need to thank me. I¡¯m just really interested in hearing you play.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled. He wasn¡¯t blind¡ªhe had long noticed that Jiang Qian seemed to secretly compare herself to him. But that didn¡¯t matter to him.


    He would just keep doing what he wanted to do.


    Jiang Qian reached Fang Meng¡¯s side, and the two girls disappeared from Lin Zhengran¡¯s view.


    As they walked away, Fang Meng noticed Jiang Qian¡¯s slightly odd expression and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qianqian? The student representative thing was decided ages ago. Why do you look surprised?¡±


    Jiang Qian replied, ¡°I¡¯m not surprised about the representative part. I¡¯m surprised that Lin Zhengran can play the piano.¡±


    ¡°Huh? He can play piano too? What he know?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious. He doesn¡¯t have a piano at home and even admitted he¡¯s not very good¡­ But even so, it was unexpected. My father hired countless professional tutors for me to reach my level, but he¡¯s clearly self-taught.¡±


    Jiang Qian turned to Fang Meng. ¡°Have your family send over two pianos to the school. I¡¯ll start practicing with him tonight.¡±


    Fang Meng nodded, but at that moment, she noticed something unusual in Jiang Qian¡¯s gaze.


    She had grown up with Jiang Qian and knew her well¡ªthis Second Miss was highly competitive, but she had never shown interest in any guy. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet now¡­


    She was clearly very curious about Lin Zhengran.


    And once a girl starts getting curious about a guy, that curiosity doesn¡¯t fade easily.


    In the final two days of military training, the instructors and students were finally able to rest. Those without performances studied in the classroom, while those with performances used the time to prepare.


    That afternoon, Lin Zhengran sat in an empty classroom near the practice rooms, writing his speech.


    Although it was called an ¡°empty classroom,¡± it was actually used as a storage space. Since no one rehearsed there, it was quiet enough for him to concentrate.


    As his carbon pen moved across the paper, filling it with dense text, a little fox suddenly passed by outside the hallway.


    She saw Lin Zhengran through the window and muttered to herself, ¡°Knew I¡¯d find him here.¡±


    She tiptoed in, but Lin Zhengran still heard her and turned around.


    Han Wenwen smiled and waved, holding a bottle of juice.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°Han Wenwen? What are you doing here?¡±


    The little fox closed the door behind her, pulled a chair over, and sat right beside him¡ª close. ¡°I missed you, so I came to see you. What are you writing, Zhengran-ge?¡±


    ¡°I mean, shouldn¡¯t you be in the classroom? If you don¡¯t have a performance, you shouldn¡¯t be able to come here, right?¡±


    Han Wenwen peeked at his speech draft and replied, ¡°Of course, I couldn¡¯t come if I didn¡¯t have a performance. That¡¯s why I signed up for one! I joined the girls¡¯ skit team as a background character¡ªjust a one-second appearance, and I¡¯m done.¡±


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes. ¡°So you joined just so you could¡ª¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Just so I could sneak over to see Zhengran-ge. Why else would I bother?¡± She playfully winked at him. ¡°And I haven¡¯t told Qingqing the real reason. I told her I just liked the skit.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was used to this little fox¡¯s antics and continued writing.


    Han Wenwen propped herself up on the desk. ¡°A speech as a freshman representative, huh? Zhengran-ge is really amazing. And I heard you¡¯re performing a piano duet with Jiang Qian¡ªyour ¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°The school assigned us together. I just went with the easiest option.¡±


    Han Wenwen had expected that answer and pouted. ¡°I you¡¯d say that¡­ But still¡ª¡±


    She suddenly leaned her face against his arm.


    ¡°No matter what you say, after this, you two will officially each other. And with how flirty you are, can you really just let her go? I¡¯ve been jealous ever since I heard about it¡ªso jealous I couldn¡¯t eat all day.¡±


    She blinked up at him, looking pitiful. ¡°Really. My stomach from how jealous I am.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the bottle in her hand. ¡°Then why are you holding a cold drink?¡±


    Han Wenwen froze, then quickly set the lemonade aside. ¡°Hmph! During military training, you drank from Qingqing¡¯s bottle and Lily¡¯s bottle, but If that¡¯s not favoritism, then what is?¡±


    She pouted on the desk, sulking.


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment and said, ¡°After school, there¡¯s a street near campus with good food. Want to go?¡±


    The little fox perked up. ¡°Really? But just the two of us! No one else.¡±


    Lin Zhengran picked up his pen. ¡°Fine. Now let me finish writing.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned. ¡°Then can I rest my head on your shoulder?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±

 Chapter 88: The Little Fox’s Private Feast

    The little fox pouted. ¡°If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have asked Zhengran-ge. I would¡¯ve just leaned on you directly. Would Zhengran-ge really have the heart to push me away?¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded with a flick to her forehead.


    The little fox let out a dramatic ¡°Ah!¡±


    It didn¡¯t hurt, but that didn¡¯t stop her from pressing her face against his arm, covering her forehead in exaggerated pain. ¡°Oww, that hurt so much~¡±


    ¡°Cut it out. I didn¡¯t even use any force.¡±


    She peeked at him with one eye. ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t, I¡¯ll still say it hurts. Otherwise, how would Zhengran-ge feel bad for me? It hurts so much~¡±


    Lin Zhengran was already used to her playful antics. He just huffed in response and said nothing.


    After that, Han Wenwen obediently lay on the desk, using her hands as a pillow. If she had nine non-existent fox tails, some would be gently swaying, while others would be wrapping around Lin Zhengran¡¯s legs.


    She silently observed his side profile as he wrote.


    Of course, before school ended, Han Wenwen still had to cover her tracks¡ªotherwise, this private meeting would be exposed.


    She sweetly told He Qing, ¡°Qingqing, our rehearsal is going to take a while. You and Lily should go ahead and eat without us. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Lin Zhengran for you, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let any other girls get near him.¡±


    He Qing nodded upon hearing that she wouldn¡¯t be able to join them for dinner. ¡°That¡¯s hard work, Wenwen. I¡¯ll cheer for you tomorrow when you perform.¡±


    Han Wenwen clung to He Qing¡¯s arm. ¡°Thanks, Qingqing~¡±


    Hearing their conversation, Jiang Xueli walked over. ¡°Wait, so that guy is really performing with that girl, Jiang Qian?¡±


    Han Wenwen confirmed, ¡°Yeah, it was arranged by the school. Originally, they were going to perform separately, but the teacher thought a piano duet would be better, so they paired them up.¡±


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing were both surprised at first when they heard about the duet. They had never heard of Lin Zhengran playing the piano before.


    Jiang Xueli sighed. ¡°That guy sure has a lot of secrets. Sometimes, I feel like I¡¯m not even his childhood friend.¡±


    He Qing nodded in agreement, though she had been away from Lin Zhengran for several years. It wasn¡¯t too surprising that she didn¡¯t know everything about him.


    Han Wenwen checked the time and decided it was about right. ¡°I gotta get back to practice. See you later, Qingqing, Lily! I¡¯m off!¡±


    She waved as she left. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing waved back.


    As they watched the little fox walk away, Jiang Xueli shivered and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s been half a month, but I still can¡¯t get used to her calling me ¡®Lily¡¯...¡±


    She exchanged glances with He Qing, and suddenly, they both burst into laughter.


    Though they had been rivals in love before, spending so much time together had built some kind of friendship.


    He Qing spoke gently, ¡°Then let¡¯s have dinner together tonight.¡±


    Jiang Xueli smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s.¡±


    When dinner time came, most students headed to the cafeteria. Meanwhile, Han Wenwen returned to Lin Zhengran¡¯s side.


    She asked if he had finished writing his speech.


    Lin Zhengran responded with a hum, packed up his speech, and stood up. ¡°Yeah, just a simple draft. Honestly, no one pays too much attention to these speeches. As long as the message is there, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Han Wenwen stood on tiptoe and played with his hair, pushing down a few stray strands. ¡°That¡¯s not true. At least will listen to every single word. I unconditionally support Zhengran-ge in everything.¡±


    Lin Zhengran walked toward the school gate with her. There weren¡¯t many students there.


    Han Wenwen curiously asked, ¡°Wait, how are we getting out? Boarding students aren¡¯t allowed to leave at night, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran casually walked up to the gate and greeted the security guard while pulling out a permit.


    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m heading out to buy something.¡±


    The security guard opened the gate for them. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you again, Lin. Go ahead.¡±


    Lin Zhengran put the permit away. ¡°Thanks, Uncle.¡±


    Han Wenwen was stunned. ¡°That worked? What kind of permit is that? Where¡¯d you get it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked at her shocked expression. ¡°I asked our homeroom teacher for it. I told them I might need to buy stuff for the performance, so they gave it to me.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Han Wenwen blinked. ¡°That¡¯s ?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe it.


    Lin Zhengran knew his system-enhanced charisma played a role, but he also understood the key factor: good grades.


    ¡°What else? If a top student asks, teachers trust them. But if a troublemaker asks, they¡¯ll probably be refused¡ªor even if they get one, the teacher might take it back immediately, worried they¡¯ll use it for something else.¡±


    Han Wenwen suddenly grinned and tilted her head. ¡°So even though you¡¯re such a good student, you¡¯re still sneaking out to buy food with a girl?¡±


    ¡°Want me to take you back to the cafeteria?¡±


    Han Wenwen clutched her stomach. ¡°No! Zhengran-ge promised me! My stomach hurts~¡±


    ¡°At least try to act more convincingly. Your stomach isn¡¯t even in the right place.¡±


    Han Wenwen quickly moved her hands to her chest.


    Lin Zhengran deadpanned, ¡°That¡¯s your heart. Your stomach is lower.¡±


    ¡°Zhengran-ge knows ~¡±


    The two of them walked a few blocks to a bustling night market filled with food stalls.


    There were people of all ages¡ªchildren, elderly, and families wandering about. Next to the market, a large entertainment plaza added to the lively atmosphere.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Whoa! I didn¡¯t know there was a street like this outside the school! We should totally come here on weekends!¡±


    Then she realized something. ¡°Wait¡­ Zhengran-ge, how do you know about this place? I¡¯ve never even heard of it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran casually replied, ¡°A senior invited me to come here once. I didn¡¯t go, but that¡¯s how I found out about it.¡±


    Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes and muttered, ¡°I it had to be a girl¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have asked.¡±


    As they walked through the crowded market, Han Wenwen struggled to see the food at some stalls due to the sheer number of people. At one point, she nearly got bumped into.


    Lin Zhengran reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her. ¡°Be careful.¡±


    She glanced down at his hand holding her arm and smiled. ¡°Thanks, Zhengran-ge. But since it¡¯s so crowded, why don¡¯t I just hold onto your arm? Otherwise, we might get separated.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at the dense crowd and figured she had a point. It wasn¡¯t the first time anyway, so he agreed.


    The little fox happily latched onto his arm, pumped her tiny fist into the air, and cheered, ¡°Yay! Let¡¯s go! I want fried chicken!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a stall up ahead. Let¡¯s check it out.¡±


    At the fried chicken stall, the vendor greeted them. ¡°Hey there, handsome and pretty! How many pieces do you want?¡±


    Han Wenwen held up two fingers. ¡°Two!¡±


    The vendor then pointed at a new item. ¡°This just came out¡ªa special couple¡¯s chicken combo. Two for fifteen yuan. Want to try it?¡±


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°We¡¯ll take one!¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°We just started walking around. Don¡¯t buy too much at once, or we won¡¯t be able to finish it.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted. ¡°But it¡¯s a ! And chicken bones barely have any meat on them. Buy it for me~¡±


    The vendor chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, young man. Just get it for your girlfriend.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s expression changed slightly to the word ¡°girlfriend.¡± She glanced at Lin Zhengran and slowed her speech.


    ¡°Buy it for me~¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Fine. As long as you can finish it.¡±


    Her eyes sparkled as she bit her lip shyly.


    She held onto his arm a little tighter.


    After getting their food, Han Wenwen pointed ahead. ¡°I want crispy chicken cartilage, wings, drumsticks, and¡ª¡±


    Lin Zhengran shoved a piece of fried chicken into her mouth. ¡°Are you sure you have a stomachache? Looks more like you have a appetite.¡±

 Chapter 89: Will Zhengran-ge Feel His Heart Flutter Because of Me?

    Han Wenwen took another bite of her fried chicken before holding it in her hand again. ¡°I having a stomachache, but now that Zhengran-ge is taking me out for a private stroll, wouldn¡¯t it be rude if I didn¡¯t cheer up?¡±


    She deliberately leaned in close, her face just inches from his, staring at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t I easy to cheer up? So next time I¡¯m mad, as long as Zhengran-ge coaxes me a little, I¡¯ll be happy again. The question is¡­ will Zhengran-ge be willing to spare just a bit of time to care about me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran curled his lips into a half-smile, saying nothing.


    They continued strolling through the snack street.


    In the end, Han Wenwen managed to get everything she wanted to eat. After all, Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t picky, and truth be told, he liked everything she mentioned too.


    Of course, with such an appetite, buying too much was inevitable. By the time they finished, they were carrying two large bags filled with snacks. Lin Zhengran pointed at the steps near the plaza ahead.


    Many couples were already sitting there, eating.


    So they walked over and found a spot near the edge.


    Han Wenwen took out the chicken cutlet she had been eating earlier, munching on it while watching the kids running around the plaza, as well as the passing crowd.


    But she refused to let go of Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm.


    Lin Zhengran picked up a drumstick and took a bite, reminding her, ¡°You¡¯re eating, so don¡¯t cling to my arm. Isn¡¯t it uncomfortable? You¡¯ll end up getting oil on your clothes.¡±


    Han Wenwen continued munching on her chicken cutlet and pulled out the drink she had brought in the afternoon, inserting a straw. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m holding on. Zhengran-ge, do you want a drink?¡±


    Lin Zhengran reached out to take it, but Han Wenwen simply brought it up to his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll hold it for you.¡±


    After he took a sip, she took it back and, with a blush, bit the same straw he had just used and took a sip herself.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her curiously.


    Han Wenwen, of course, knew exactly what she was doing. She blushed even deeper and said shyly, ¡°What? There¡¯s only one drink. Can¡¯t we share? It¡¯s not like I mind sharing with Zhengran-ge.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t care about this small detail and just continued eating his drumstick. ¡°So¡­ still having a stomachache?¡±


    Han Wenwen shook her head slowly. ¡°Not anymore.¡± Then, biting her lower lip, she whispered, ¡°So Zhengran-ge really worried about me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran kept eating as he gazed into the distance. ¡°Why else would I bring you out? I just wanted to get you something better to eat. Plus, I¡¯ve had enough of the school cafeteria¡¯s food. I don¡¯t know what they put in it, but even can¡¯t stomach it anymore.¡±


    Han Wenwen stared at him in a daze.


    Just then, a little kid ran past, playing too roughly and nearly bumping into her.


    Instinctively, Lin Zhengran used his other hand to shield her. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The child ended up colliding with his arm instead.


    Han Wenwen found herself leaning into Lin Zhengran¡¯s chest, staring up at him.


    The kids quickly apologized, ¡°Sorry, big brother, big sister! We didn¡¯t mean to!¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t make a fuss and just told them to be careful.


    But Han Wenwen remained in place, still thinking about how he had instinctively protected her. Her face turned slightly red.


    The little moments like these¡ªmoments most people wouldn¡¯t even notice¡ªwere what made her heart race the most.


    Lin Zhengran was about to sit up properly, but the little fox had other plans. Instead of moving away, she clung to his arm and slowly leaned her head onto his shoulder.


    The scent unique to her filled the air, making Lin Zhengran freeze for a second.


    Before he could say anything, Han Wenwen murmured shyly, ¡°That scared me just now. If I lean on you for a bit, I¡¯ll feel better. So don¡¯t push me away, okay?¡±


    Lin Zhengran she was faking it.


    But seeing her expression, which seemed genuinely flustered this time, he didn¡¯t say much.


    ¡°¡­At least let me sit properly first.¡±


    Han Wenwen looked at him. ¡°Go ahead. It won¡¯t stop me from leaning on you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran adjusted his posture and continued eating his drumstick.


    Han Wenwen also took small bites of her chicken cutlet, but her appetite was already being overshadowed by something else entirely.


    She asked suddenly, ¡°Has Zhengran-ge ever had a girl lean on his shoulder before?¡±


    Lin Zhengran answered honestly, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s expression darkened instantly. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°He Qing. Back when we met at the train station before starting middle school. We stayed overnight in town, remember? She thought I was asleep and leaned on my shoulder. Given the situation, I didn¡¯t mind¡ªshe was scared.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her sulking face. ¡°You already knew this, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Han Wenwen did remember. He Qing had told her back in elementary school. At the time, she hadn¡¯t felt anything about it¡ªin fact, she had even them a little.


    But now?


    Hearing the same story, she it. It just made her jealous and uncomfortable.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Then was she clinging onto your arm like this, too?¡±


    ¡°No, she wasn¡¯t as bold as you.¡±


    That made Han Wenwen feel a little better. ¡°Did she lean on this side?¡±


    ¡°Why does that even matter?¡±


    ¡°It matter! Tell me, Zhengran-ge!¡±


    Lin Zhengran tossed the finished drumstick into the trash bag and picked up another chicken cutlet. ¡°No, she leaned on my left side. Not the same as you.¡±


    Han Wenwen finally smiled. ¡°Really? That¡¯s good. At least this side has only ever been mine.¡±


    The setting sun painted the sky a deeper red.


    Despite the late hour, the night market was only getting livelier.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder was firmer than it looked, making it surprisingly comfortable to lean on.


    So comfortable, in fact, that Han Wenwen naturally shifted, her legs tilting toward his, lightly resting against them.


    She continued nibbling on her food, but somehow, she wasn¡¯t as hungry anymore.


    ¡°¡­In two weeks, Zhengran-ge is going back to town with Qingqing for the competition, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s been preparing for a year, so of course I have to go with her. I promised.¡±


    Han Wenwen kept going, ¡°And then the week after that, you¡¯re going with Lily for competition? Another whole week?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s been preparing for a year too.¡±


    Han Wenwen subtly tilted her head, her smooth hair brushing against Lin Zhengran¡¯s face and even sticking to his back.


    ¡°So that means¡­ it¡¯ll be next month before Zhengran-ge has time for again?¡±


    She sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve already earned enough to pay for my tuition this year. Next time Zhengran-ge spends time with me, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll want to play games anymore.¡±


    Her fox-like eyes locked onto him. ¡°Instead, I want Zhengran-ge to take me around the city. And¡­¡±


    She hesitated for a second before finishing softly, ¡°At night, I want you to stay over at my place. Just to keep me company. That¡¯s all.¡±


    She gazed up at the darkening sky, recalling the past.


    ¡°I¡­ actually get really scared at night sometimes. When I wake up in the middle of the night and see my room all dark, I can¡¯t fall asleep again. When I was little, I used to think about my mom to get through it. But now¡­ I think about Zhengran-ge.¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned to look at her.


    ¡°So why you randomly text me at night? Or call just to bother me?¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned sheepishly, remembering how she had done that a lot during middle school. ¡°I missed you! What else could I do?¡±


    She gently poked the back of his hand.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be this clingy when I liked someone. But reality is different from what I imagined when I used to read romance novels and dramas.


    Like right now¡­¡±


    She tilted her head, resting even closer to him.


    ¡°Just leaning on Zhengran-ge¡¯s shoulder makes my heart race. It¡¯s pounding so fast.


    Zhengran-ge, what about you?


    Do you feel your heart flutter because of me?


    Are you feeling shy?¡±

 Chapter 90: Holding Hands

    She reached out, wanting to check Lin Zhengran¡¯s heartbeat, but he quickly grabbed her hand.


    "You just held a chicken cutlet with this hand¡ªyou''ll get oil all over me."


    Han Wenwen locked eyes with him. Her delicate little fox-like hand curled slightly in his grasp. Lin Zhengran let go, but she didn''t pull back. Instead, her fingers lingered against his palm, slowly climbing up to his hand, intertwining their fingers together.


    As she did this, she spoke deliberately, word by word:


    "Zhengran-gege, are you afraid to let me hear your heartbeat because you don''t want me to find out that your heart races when you''re with me?"


    She leaned in, pressing her lips lightly against his ear.


    "I know that for you, dating isn¡¯t the most important thing. You have your own goals. But working hard all the time is exhausting, you know? There''s no rule that says you can only enjoy yourself after you reach the end. It¡¯s okay to reward yourself along the way¡­ isn¡¯t it?"


    She looked at their clasped hands.


    "For example, a girl¡¯s hand is really soft. Holding hands like this doesn¡¯t hurt anyone. And who knows? Maybe it''ll even motivate you more, Zhengran-gege."


    Their hands slowly lowered, and the little fox felt a surge of nervous anticipation. Finally, Lin Zhengran let out a deep breath.


    "You always talk so much. So noisy. I don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re saying half the time."


    And yet, despite his words, their hands remained firmly linked.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Han Wenwen¡¯s lips.


    "Is that so? And what¡¯s wrong with talking a lot? When a girl is with someone she likes, she naturally talks more. It¡¯s only when she¡¯s with someone she doesn¡¯t care about that she stays silent."


    She teased playfully, "Either way, I¡¯ll always stick by Zhengran-gege¡¯s side. I¡¯m totally ready to be your personal secretary! And if you ever get handsy with me, I won¡¯t even mind."


    Looking ahead, she mused, "Oh! And when I get my streaming account going, I can even make some money as a little backup fund for Zhengran-gege, just in case¡ª" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their eyes met, and all of a sudden, Han Wenwen grew shy.


    "Actually¡­ I still feel kinda hungry. Maybe I should switch hands with you? If I keep using my left hand to eat, I really might get oil all over myself."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at his phone.


    "It''s almost time for evening practice. Finish eating and let''s head back. If you keep clinging to me like this, who knows when we''ll actually leave?"


    Han Wenwen pouted, holding onto his hand as she whined, "What¡¯s the rush? I don¡¯t even have anything to rehearse tonight. It''s only you who needs to practice with¡ª"


    She suddenly remembered Jiang Qian and instantly glared at him.


    With no transition whatsoever, she snapped, "You know what? I won¡¯t hurry up! Why should I rush my meal just so you can go practice piano with some other girl? Zhengran-gege is great at everything, except for being way too much of a flirt!"


    Lin Zhengran picked up another snack, chewing casually as he answered, "People have flaws. It¡¯s normal."


    She scoffed. "Oh, so now you''re justifying being a player?"


    She released his right hand¡ªonly to grab his left instead¡ªwhile she resumed devouring her chicken cutlet with the right.


    The taste of the food, combined with their lingering touch, made the little fox¡¯s sense of happiness even more profound.


    "But just so we¡¯re clear, Zhengran-gege," she added between bites, "even if I do become your secretary, I refuse to help you chase after other girls. Aside from Xiaoqingqing and Lily, I will always oppose your harem plans."


    Lin Zhengran raised a brow. "Did I ever say I was chasing anyone? I don¡¯t even have time for that."


    Han Wenwen huffed, aggressively taking another bite of food. "You''re not even trying, and you already have so many girls around you. If you actually put in effort, it¡¯d be a disaster! You think you can handle that many?!"


    "Can you stop talking nonsense? Just finish eating so we can go."


    She suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right! Zhengran-gege, you still haven¡¯t told me if you¡¯ll stay at my place next month."


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment. "If your apartment has an extra blanket, I¡¯ll stay."


    "Really?! Of course, I have one!" She bit her lip, eyes shining. "And if I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d just go buy one this week! Then it¡¯s settled¡ªnext month, you¡¯ll go shopping with me, and at night, you¡¯re staying over. No backing out!"


    "But speaking of that¡­ I have something to say too." Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "Last time when you were sick, taking care of you was exhausting. Next time, can you sleep a little more peacefully? Kicking the blanket is one thing, but your hands were all over the place¡ªI barely got any sleep."


    "Did I?" She looked embarrassed. "Lies! I sleep just fine."


    "Oh, really? Then explain why you wake up looking like a mess every morning. Do you actually believe you sleep neatly?"


    The little fox huffed, "So what? You always say I¡¯m a fox, right? Well, foxes sleep like that. What can you do about it?"


    "You¡¯re impossible."

 Chapter 91: Harmony with All Things

    "Zhengran-gege is being mean to me~"


    Lin Zhengran, having finished his food, unexpectedly flicked her forehead.


    "You¡¯re talking back when the evidence is right in front of you? Getting bolder, aren¡¯t you?"


    Han Wenwen pouted at the "hit," but deep inside, she was thrilled. She knew that whenever Lin Zhengran "hit" her, he never actually used any force¡ªit didn¡¯t hurt at all.


    After that, the two of them focused on finishing their snacks without much conversation.


    Once they were done, Han Wenwen leaned back lazily, looking thoroughly satisfied. Lin Zhengran, still holding her hand, walked over to throw their trash into the bin.


    [System Notification]


    Today, Longcheng is hosting a Lantern Festival. You and the Demon Cult Maiden are strolling through the festivities together. Your long journey has made her increasingly interested in you¡ªto the point where she can hardly bear to be apart from you. Together, you sampled many of the festival¡¯s delicacies.]


    [You gained: +7 Charisma, +5 Stamina, +3 Strength, +2 Energy.]


    [Your cultivation level has successfully broken through to Level 50! You receive an additional +20 Charisma and unlock a new innate skill¡ªHarmony with All Things.]


    [Harmony with All Things: This skill can only be unlocked once your Spirit Level reaches 50 and your Charisma is maxed out.]


    [The skill has five levels. Each upgrade enhances your proficiency in all areas, including social interactions, alchemy, talisman crafting, and spell learning. Upon reaching the maximum level, you will attain a base-level mastery of all fields equivalent to that of a grandmaster. Further improvement requires cultivating bonds with designated contract partners.]


    Lin Zhengran sighed as the system once again bombarded him with information.


    He had already been stuck at Level 49 since eighth grade, and progress throughout ninth grade had been painfully slow. But now, at long last, he had broken through. And this new skill¡ªHarmony with All Things¡ªseemed far more powerful than the previous Charisma stat.


    After all, Charisma only worked on people, while this new skill apparently extended to everything.


    Hand in hand with Han Wenwen, Lin Zhengran made his way back to school while checking his status panel.


    [Your current Spirit Level: 50]


    [Body Refinement Phase complete. Qi Refinement Phase unlocked.]


    [Current Attributes]


    Strength: 68 ()


    Energy: 59 ()


    Stamina: 68 ()


    Harmony with All Things: Level 1 ()


    The previous Charisma stat had vanished, replaced by this new ultimate skill.


    And now, behind his Spirit Level, there was a new label: Qi Refinement Phase.


    So those four main stats had only been base values? Once maxed out, they transformed into something like Harmony with All Things, an ultimate attribute.


    Lin Zhengran had always felt these stats were a bit over-the-top, but now it seemed like they were just incomplete. His Energy stat was only one point away from hitting 60¡ªmeaning he''d soon unlock a new ability.


    Probably just needed one small event to push it over the edge.


    As they walked, Han Wenwen suddenly felt something odd. She glanced at Lin Zhengran.


    He noticed. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    She blinked and smiled. "I don¡¯t know how to describe it, but¡­ does it feel like you got even more handsome all of a sudden? It might just be my imagination, though. I mean, you were already good-looking to begin with."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and kept walking. "Quit imagining things. We¡¯re back at school."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s cheeks turned slightly pink. She gripped his hand a little tighter, thinking to herself that he really had always been ridiculously good-looking.


    Right on time, they arrived at the school gates.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the security guard in the distance and gave Han Wenwen a knowing look.


    She understood¡ªhe was letting go.


    Unhappy, she pulled her hand back, but the lingering warmth of his touch remained.


    As they walked through the gate, Lin Zhengran nodded at the guard.


    "Uncle, I¡¯m back."


    The guard smiled. "All done?"


    "Yeah, I finished everything the teacher assigned."


    Han Wenwen thought to herself:


    Back at the performance rehearsal room, they arrived just as Class 3 students were calling Han Wenwen over for practice. She responded quickly and had to part ways with Lin Zhengran in the hallway.


    Before leaving, the little fox grinned and waved.


    "See you tonight, Zhengran-gege! And by the way, I really did get the first official hand-holding moment!"


    Lin Zhengran watched her disappear down the hall, thinking:


    He then turned toward another rehearsal room. Through the window, he spotted a piano classroom.


    He was just about to open the door when he paused.


    Inside, Jiang Qian had already changed out of her military training uniform.


    She was now wearing a form-fitting white dress, her long hair draping over her shoulders. From the window, he could only see her cold, elegant profile, sitting gracefully at the piano.


    With her and that instrument together, she looked like an untouchable snow lotus on a glacier.


    Even though Lin Zhengran had never paid much attention to most girls, he had to admit¡ªJiang Qian¡¯s presence surpassed that of most others.


    Even when she was alone, she always carried herself with unwavering grace.


    Her slender fingers rested on the keys, and as they began to move, an elegant melody flowed from the piano.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t actually know that much about piano.


    Even with the system¡¯s learning abilities, his skill had only reached the equivalent of ten years of practice.


    But now, after just listening for a moment¡ªmaybe thanks to Harmony with All Things¡ªhe could immediately pick out the strengths and weaknesses in her playing. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In this brief melody, he smiled to himself.


    The system had said Level 1 of the skill wasn¡¯t very noticeable¡ªbut judging by his piano ability alone, he probably had the equivalent of thirty to forty years of training now.


    And this applied not just to piano. Anything he picked up, he would instantly have three to four decades of skill in.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s playing faltered as she paused, trying to pinpoint her mistakes. Then, she started over.


    The second time was already much better, though there were still some flaws.


    Lin Zhengran waited patiently until she finished before finally pushing the door open.


    "Sounds good."


    Jiang Qian turned slightly, glancing at him before standing up.


    "You¡¯re late."


    "Had dinner. Took a little longer than expected."


    She didn¡¯t seem to care about that. Instead, she glanced at the other piano in the room.


    It was clear she wanted to hear his level.


    "I had this piano set up for you. It¡¯s identical to mine. Try playing something."


    Lin Zhengran nodded, thanked her, and walked to the piano.

 Chapter 92: Jiang Qian’s Despair

    Sitting in front of the piano, Lin Zhengran did a quick sound check and immediately noticed how naturally his hands adapted to this piano, as if it were an old friend.


    Jiang Qian stood quietly nearby, watching his every move.


    From his playing technique, it was clear he had studied for quite some time¡ªthough within that fluency, there was also a strange touch of unfamiliarity.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t played in a while?¡± she asked.


    Lin Zhengran gave a quiet ¡°mm¡±: ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. Oh right, can I borrow the sheet music you were using just now? It sounded really nice.¡±


    Jiang Qian looked at him with surprise, then nodded and handed over her sheet music.


    She was going to say it was a difficult piece, but she hesitated, worried it might sound condescending, so she kept quiet.


    Lin Zhengran thanked her, flipped through it briefly, then smiled and placed it on the piano after memorizing it. His fingers began to play gently.


    From the very first moment the melody rang out, Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes widened slightly, her mouth agape in speechless shock.


    She listened intently to how he handled the challenging transitions in the piece, and the more she heard, the more astonished she became.


    Even her private piano tutor had praised her talent, saying she was exceptionally gifted.


    Yet even with that praise, she would still make mistakes playing this technically demanding piece.


    But not only did Lin Zhengran make zero mistakes, the way he handled the same key passages she thought she had played well¡ªhis rendition was smoother, more immersive.


    The beautiful melody echoed through the practice room for a long time, and the music reminded Jiang Qian of her past two failures.


    She recalled her own arrogance, thinking he didn¡¯t know how to play the piano.


    Her delicate hand slowly clenched into a fist.


    When the song reached its climactic second half, Jiang Qian fully realized¡ªher piano skills were no match for his. This was the one area she had the most confidence in.


    At that moment, Assistant Fang Meng also heard the music from the hallway and stepped inside. She stood there in shock, unable to speak.


    Mid-performance, Lin Zhengran suddenly commented without warning: ¡°If you handle this part like this, it¡¯ll sound much better. Give it a try.¡±


    He replayed the same section once more.


    Jiang Qian looked at him. Lin Zhengran also turned to her. Honestly, he didn¡¯t care whether she listened or not¡ªhe was just offering a friendly tip.


    Though she said nothing, the girl still sat at her own piano and gave his suggestion a try.


    She messed up the first attempt.


    Lin Zhengran reminded her, ¡°The second note¡ª¡±


    ¡°I got it.¡± She adjusted her posture and tried again¡ªand this time, played it smoothly. Jiang Qian was amazed.


    That section she had practiced countless times, tried numerous methods and still couldn¡¯t get perfect¡ªbut after just under a minute of his guidance, she suddenly grasped it like it was second nature.


    She played it again, twice, in disbelief. Both times, the melody was nearly flawless.


    Lin Zhengran was impressed by how fast she learned. While his twofold learning speed only applied to contracted partners, when teaching others, he was just a skilled instructor.


    Even when tutoring Han Wenwen before, he had to explain some questions multiple times before she got them.


    But with Jiang Qian, she understood before he could even finish the sentence.


    Talent really did vary from person to person.


    Lin Zhengran complimented, ¡°You¡¯re really talented. I bet you¡¯ll achieve a lot in this field. So how about we start rehearsing the duet we¡¯re doing for tomorrow night? Let¡¯s see what we¡¯re playing.¡±


    He picked up the score next to him¡ªit was a very simple piano piece, even beginners could learn it. Lin Zhengran said, ¡°This one¡¯s easy. Should we start now?¡±


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t reply, only stared coldly at the piano, her gaze holding something else entirely.


    Suddenly, she stood and walked toward the door. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯ll step out for a bit.¡±


    At the door, she paused. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need to rehearse. My piano skills aren¡¯t as good as yours. A simple song like the one we¡¯re playing tomorrow¡ªyou can handle it effortlessly. I don¡¯t even feel qualified to have you accompany me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked at her, wondering if it was really that serious. It¡¯s just a performance, right? ¡°So you¡¯re not practicing tonight?¡±


    Jiang Qian replied, ¡°We¡¯ll go straight on stage tomorrow. I know with your skills, it¡¯ll go just fine.¡±


    Then she left the room. Out in the hallway, Fang Meng had heard everything.


    Others might not understand, but Fang Meng knew that even though Jiang Qian acted indifferent, she was actually extremely competitive. Only through proving herself could she feel worthy of her father¡¯s heavy investment in her.


    That was how she justified not wasting the family¡¯s resources.


    But Lin Zhengran, a boy from an ordinary background¡ªhis academic and athletic achievements could be brushed off as luck or natural build. But piano? Jiang Qian knew full well there was no such thing as luck in this field. Being outplayed meant being outplayed.


    To the skilled, even the same song revealed a massive gap in ability. Let alone the fact that he was good enough to her.


    ¡°Qianqian! Are you okay?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Qian glanced back at Fang Meng, then continued walking forward. ¡°Going home. I want some quiet.¡±


    A Rolls-Royce soon arrived at the school gate. As classmates, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng rode home together.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran sat alone in the classroom, listening to the rehearsals a few doors down, thinking, since there¡¯s no more practice, I might as well read.


    In the car ride home, Fang Meng looked at Jiang Qian¡¯s gloomy expression.


    ¡°Qianqian?¡±


    Jiang Qian couldn¡¯t hear anything anymore.


    She was sixteen years old this year and had never faced such a powerful opponent. Lin Zhengran¡¯s performance left her with no clue how she could possibly surpass him.


    That night, once she got home, she locked herself in her room. Lying on the bed, the Second Miss stared blankly into the distance, her eyes hollow.


    The next morning, Jiang Qian came out of her room still wearing the same clothes.


    Fang Meng understood. ¡°Qianqian, you didn¡¯t even change before sleeping last night.¡±


    ¡°Because I didn¡¯t sleep at all.¡±


    Fang Meng: ¡°...That¡¯s intense.¡±


    Jiang Qian now looked like a walking corpse¡ªnumbly eating, washing up, taking the car to school, then staring into space in the practice room, all the way until that night¡¯s official freshman welcome ceremony.


    The homeroom teacher said nervously, ¡°You two are up soon. Jiang Qian, Lin Zhengran¡ªare you both ready?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded, ¡°No problem, teacher.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes were lifeless, her whole aura radiating despair. She muttered softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, teacher. There won¡¯t be any problem.¡±


    Cold sweat formed on Lin Zhengran¡¯s forehead. What¡¯s up with her? Why does she seem like a completely different person today?


    Still, the speech went smoothly. Despite her state, Jiang Qian wouldn¡¯t embarrass her family on stage. As a freshman representative, she delivered a passionate, rousing speech that energized the crowd.


    Their piano duet afterward also went flawlessly, elegant and refined.


    All the freshmen in the audience clapped and cheered at the beautiful piano performance.


    Over in Class 3-3¡¯s seating area, Little He Qing watched jealously as the two stood side by side on stage, her little hands clenched tightly.


    Jiang Xueli also gritted her teeth, squeezing her tiny fists, thinking: Why do they look so much like a couple?! D*mn you, Zhengran!


    Only the ever-perceptive Han Wenwen had been watching from backstage. Curious, she blinked: ¡°Hmm? Jiang Qian looks like she¡¯s taken a major emotional hit¡­ what happened?¡±


    She looked toward Lin Zhengran, her sensitive instincts flaring as she mumbled, ¡°I suddenly have a really bad feeling¡­¡±


    After Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian stepped offstage, Jiang Qian¡¯s cool demeanor once again collapsed into despair. From their duet alone, she could hear the huge gap between her and Lin Zhengran¡ªit was overwhelming.


    After the freshman showcase ended, Jiang Qian took three days of sick leave to rest at home.


    It wasn¡¯t until the morning of the fourth day that the Second Miss finally woke up from under her blanket, cheeks flushed, lying on the pillow with a maiden¡¯s shy expression.

 Chapter 93: The Second Miss’s Curiosity Syndrome

    In a two-story villa in Zitong City, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Jingshi, sat elegantly on the living room sofa, sipping coffee. She was dressed in a high-heeled dress, exuding grace.


    Due to their parents¡¯ excellent genes, both sisters possessed top-tier looks. However, compared to the icy and distant Jiang Qian, Jiang Jingshi had a noticeably gentler temperament, truly embodying the essence of an elder sister.


    She sat with her legs neatly together, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand while lightly blowing on the surface before taking a sip. ¡°How many days has Qianqian stayed in her room?¡±


    Fang Meng, who was also seated on the sofa, poured herself a cup of coffee while answering, ¡°Exactly three days. Since childhood, this is the longest she¡¯s ever shut herself in.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi took another sip of her coffee and pondered.


    ¡°This time, is the opponent really that strong? In the past, even when Qianqian faced someone she couldn¡¯t defeat, she¡¯d only lock herself in for half a day at most before figuring out a solution. But now, three days without eating or drinking¡­ This is a first.¡±


    Fang Meng lifted her own cup. ¡°This time is different. The opponent completely outmatches her in every aspect¡ªlooks, physique, academic performance, physical strength, special talents, starting point, even the piano, which Second Miss excels at. I¡¯d say he¡¯s the most talented boy I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    Hearing such high praise, Jiang Jingshi was a bit surprised. ¡°That extraordinary? And it¡¯s a boy?¡±


    Fang Meng nodded, glancing at Jiang Qian¡¯s room upstairs. ¡°But even against such a formidable opponent, I know her well¡ªshe¡¯ll always find a way.¡±


    She recalled many childhood experiences. In her eyes, Jiang Qian might get knocked down, but she would always get back up. She was the kind of person who could never be truly defeated.


    Just as they finished speaking, the door to Jiang Qian¡¯s room creaked.


    Both Jiang Jingshi and Fang Meng turned their heads toward the second floor.


    The door slowly swung open.


    Out walked Jiang Qian, still in her pajamas, her hair a bit messy. She was as beautiful as ever, but she looked a little drained.


    Jiang Jingshi smiled warmly. ¡°Qianqian, did you figure out a way to counter him?¡±


    Jiang Qian looked down at the two in the living room and replied blankly, ¡°No, I just realized I hadn¡¯t eaten in three days and was starving. Xiao Meng, hurry up and get me some breakfast before I die of hunger.¡±


    Fang Meng stood up immediately. ¡°Got it, Qianqian. Do you want to eat in your room or come downstairs?¡±


    Jiang Qian remained expressionless. ¡°I¡¯ll eat in the dining room. And bring me a glass of milk.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Meng smiled slightly, originally thinking Jiang Qian would continue her seclusion. But judging from her demeanor, she must have thought of something.


    A short while later, Jiang Qian, still in her pajamas, came downstairs and took a seat at the dining table.


    Fang Meng brought her breakfast and absentmindedly helped smooth out her messy hair. Jiang Qian, elegant yet swift, wolfed down her food.


    ¡°Another serving,¡± she demanded.


    Fang Meng was stunned. ¡°Uh¡­ okay, just a moment.¡±


    She brought over another plate, and once again, Jiang Qian devoured it in seconds.


    Her previously empty stomach finally felt some relief, and her complexion improved significantly.


    Seeing her sister return to normal, Jiang Jingshi finished her coffee, glanced at the time, and got up to leave. ¡°Since you¡¯re fine now, I¡¯m heading out. When are you going to school?¡±


    Jiang Qian turned to her sister. ¡°This afternoon.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi encouraged her with a simple, ¡°Good luck,¡± before leaving.


    Fang Meng, sitting nearby, leaned forward. ¡°So, how do you feel now?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Qian looked confused.


    ¡°I mean, about that boy, Lin Zhengran.¡±


    Jiang Qian froze. The moment she heard his name, her face inexplicably flushed, and she stared at the table, saying nothing.


    Fang Meng was bewildered. Seeing such a shy expression on Jiang Qian¡¯s face was a first.


    Of course, Jiang Qian wasn¡¯t in love with Lin Zhengran¡ªat least not yet.


    She had simply developed an extreme case of


    During those three days of self-isolation, Jiang Qian hadn¡¯t just been idly sulking. Her brilliant mind had been racing, coming up with thousands of potential strategies to surpass Lin Zhengran.


    She considered cramming literature, cutting her sleep down to two hours a night to practice piano, doubling her workout routine, and countless other drastic measures.


    But no matter how many simulations she ran in her head, the gap between them still felt like a tiny stream compared to the vast ocean.


    Completely


    This led her to a burning question¡ªhow did someone like Lin Zhengran, with such an ordinary family background, reach this level?


    Even if he was a rare genius, a once-in-a-million prodigy, he have put in immense effort to be superior in every single aspect.


    Thus, her curiosity deepened. It grew from mild interest to intense fascination.


    Eventually, after three days of overthinking and starvation-induced delirium, her admiration for Lin Zhengran reached an unprecedented level.


    Fang Meng suddenly had a terrible realization. She looked at Jiang Qian in horror.


    ¡°Qianqian! I¡¯m calling a doctor! You¡¯re sick!¡±


    Jiang Qian saw Fang Meng pull out her phone and quickly, albeit with a red face, stopped her. Fortunately, she still had some rationality left.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m just a little¡­ interested in him. It¡¯ll pass in a few days. Really.¡±


    Fang Meng had never seen Jiang Qian like this before. ¡°But your expression¡ªfine, whatever. I just it really passes.¡±


    At this moment, Fang Meng had an ominous feeling¡­ Something strange was about to unfold.


    ¡ª


    That morning, Jiang Qian took a nap, then got dressed and freshened up. Feeling rejuvenated, she hopped into the car and headed to school.


    Seeing her behave as usual, Fang Meng sighed in relief.


    But as soon as they arrived, they spotted Lin Zhengran walking from the dormitory to the classroom.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s cheeks instantly turned crimson. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fang Meng was dumbfounded.


    ¡°Qianqian! Are you really okay?¡±


    Jiang Qian turned her head away, her tone filled with an unfamiliar shyness. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°¡­I really don¡¯t think you are. Are you sure you don¡¯t need to see a doctor?¡±


    Jiang Qian covered her blushing face with one hand. ¡°I said I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Fang Meng: ¡°Please stop. You¡¯re scaring me.¡±


    ¡ª


    Once inside the school building, Jiang Qian didn¡¯t go to class but instead sought out the homeroom teacher, requesting a seat change.


    Her reason was logical, and her expression remained as composed as ever.


    ¡°Teacher, I believe that if I sit next to Lin Zhengran, my academic performance will improve. I¡¯d like to request a seat adjustment.¡±


    Surprisingly, the teacher picked up a newly arranged seating chart from after military training and replied,


    ¡°I actually already made that adjustment. And I¡¯ve also decided on our class monitor and vice monitor. Given how exceptional your scores are, I thought it best to have you two sit together.¡±


    Jiang Qian glanced at the new seating chart and the class appointments.


    At the top, it read:


    Class Monitor: Lin ZhengranVice Monitor: Jiang Qian


    For the first time in her life, Jiang Qian had been


    ¡ª


    That afternoon, the teacher announced the seating adjustments and the new class leadership roles.


    When Lin Zhengran heard Jiang Qian would be his new deskmate, he wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. After all, high school prioritized academics over randomness, and high achievers were often grouped together.


    However¡­


    After the seating was rearranged, he noticed Jiang Qian sitting beside him, flipping through a book with a flushed face, her aura still as untouchable as ever.


    She looked both and at the same time.


    Something about her felt¡­ off.


    Out of nowhere, she asked, ¡°Class Monitor, how much time do you usually spend studying?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her serious expression and answered casually, ¡°It depends. I study whenever I have time.¡±


    ¡°Same here. Thanks for the answer.¡±


    Jiang Qian mentally jotted down his routine and continued, ¡°You¡¯ve already started reading advanced textbooks, right? What have you been studying lately?¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    This¡­ felt oddly familiar.


    ¡°¡±


    Jiang Qian froze.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s not a high school textbook.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s actually a required course for a master¡¯s in ecology. I¡¯m just reading it for fun.¡±


    Jiang Qian: ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    She could practically the bottomless chasm between them.

 Chapter 94: Who Is His Girlfriend?

    Starting today, Jiang Qian began asking Lin Zhengran odd questions from time to time.


    However, unlike a certain fox-like person from before, her inquiries weren¡¯t as frequent. She would only bring up a question about Lin Zhengran¡¯s habits when it was naturally appropriate¡ªlike when the teacher asked deskmates to discuss a particular problem.


    That way, Lin Zhengran never felt annoyed answering her.


    ¡°Class Monitor, how many years have you been playing the piano?¡± Jiang Qian asked with a straight face, holding her math book.


    Lin Zhengran answered casually, ¡°I never really had formal lessons. I just picked it up now and then from watching others play. My family doesn¡¯t have a piano for me to practice on.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s expression darkened. If it were anyone else saying this, she might not have believed it. But coming from Lin Zhengran, the statement felt overwhelmingly genuine¡ªespecially since she had already witnessed his skill firsthand.


    A moment later, that gloominess shifted into something else¡ªshyness.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her reaction. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Her face reddened as she turned away. ¡°Nothing. Just curious.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the sheer level of talent sitting beside her. Over the past few days, instead of diminishing, her curiosity about Lin Zhengran had only grown stronger.


    Her heart raced.


    Seated at the back of the classroom, Fang Meng had been watching this entire interaction unfold. She stared blankly at Jiang Qian.


    ¡°Qianqian¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Fang Meng pressed her lips together, eyes filled with resolve. She this was going to lead to trouble sooner or later!


    As Jiang Qian¡¯s assistant, childhood friend, and bestie, she to do something to help!


    She clenched her fists. She was determined to find Lin Zhengran¡¯s !


    ¡ª


    Right at that moment, the class bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson.


    A girl with a high ponytail, looking fresh and youthful, happened to pass by Class 1¡¯s door.


    It was none other than Little He Qing.


    As she walked past, she peeked through the back door and saw Lin Zhengran talking to his deskmate¡ªJiang Qian.


    Her lips pouted slightly in jealousy.


    With a slow pace, she continued walking toward the girls¡¯ restroom.


    Fang Meng saw the entire scene unfold.


    Due to Lin Zhengran¡¯s stellar performance in the military training exercises and the Freshman Talent Showcase, he had gained quite a few admirers among the girls¡ªincluding upperclassmen who frequently came to chat with him.


    At first, Fang Meng didn¡¯t care much. After all, Jiang Qian had always attracted plenty of male admirers at the beginning of each school year as well. But since Jiang Qian was naturally cold and indifferent, she never paid them any attention.


    However¡­


    This ponytailed girl¡­ Fang Meng seen Lin Zhengran talk to her before. And for quite a while, too.


    She knew Lin Zhengran rarely interacted with girls, much like Jiang Qian. If he willingly spoke with this one, that meant their relationship was .


    If direct investigation into Lin Zhengran wouldn¡¯t work, then she would start by investigating her.


    Fang Meng glanced at the blushing Jiang Qian once more. As soon as class ended, she strode straight out of Class 1 and stopped near the girls¡¯ restroom¡ªwaiting.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, inside the restroom, He Qing had just finished washing her hands when she overheard a conversation coming from the next stall.


    ¡°Hey, did you watch last week¡¯s drama?¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°The one with the butterfly knot¡ªyou know, that of drama. It¡¯s been super popular lately. And I heard there are actually girls in our school like that.¡±


    ¡°For real? Who with who?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just rumors. But let me tell you about this novel I read¡ªthe female lead first becomes friends with another girl, then¡­¡±


    At first, He Qing didn¡¯t understand what they were talking about.


    But as the conversation continued and they described things in more detail, her face suddenly turned bright red with embarrassment.


    She covered her ears, unwilling to listen any further.


    The had something like this?!


    She hurriedly finished washing her hands and exited the restroom¡ªonly to find a stunning girl with a side ponytail standing outside, staring directly at her.


    Startled, He Qing lowered her head and tried to walk past.


    Although she had gotten much better at dealing with strangers thanks to Lin Zhengran¡¯s help, she got nervous when someone unfamiliar stared at her so intently.


    And if that person tried to approach her aggressively, she might just back-throw them on instinct.


    But before she could walk away, Fang Meng stepped forward.


    ¡°Hey there, I¡¯m Fang Meng from Class 1. Can we talk?¡±


    He Qing looked up in panic. ¡°T-Talk to me?¡±


    Fang Meng studied her closely. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯d like to be friends and chat for a bit.¡±


    ¡°¡­Friends? Chat?¡±


    At that moment, He Qing suddenly remembered the conversation she had just overheard in the restroom.


    Her face flushed instantly.


    She quickly waved her hands in refusal, her mind jumping to conclusions.


    ¡°N-No thanks! I-I gotta go! I already have a boyfriend!¡±


    With that, she tried to flee as if escaping for her life.


    Fang Meng was baffled.


    And¡­


    She turned back toward the restroom, where those same two girls were still discussing the butterfly knot topic.


    A faint blush appeared on Fang Meng¡¯s face as she suddenly realized what He Qing might have misunderstood.


    Quickly, she grabbed He Qing¡¯s arm and explained, ¡°Wait! That¡¯s not what I meant! I just want to ask you about Lin Zhengran! My sexuality is perfectly normal!¡±


    Straightforward. Direct. No nonsense.


    For a second, He Qing thought she was about to get attacked and instinctively grabbed Fang Meng¡¯s wrist in a defensive stance.


    Her self-defense training had kicked in. If this girl made any sudden moves¡ªshe¡¯d .


    But as soon as their hands made contact, of them froze.


    He Qing was ¡ªthis girl had trained in martial arts.


    Her coach had once told her that if you grabbed a trained fighter¡¯s arm, you¡¯d immediately feel the difference¡ªthe subtle tension, the underlying power.


    Fang Meng was just as surprised¡ªthis girl¡¯s grip and posture were perfect for a back throw.


    If she made the wrong move¡­


    She¡¯d be slammed into the ground in seconds.


    The two girls stared at each other warily for a moment before slowly letting go.


    Finally, He Qing snapped out of it. ¡°Wait¡­ you just said Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Fang Meng also blinked. ¡°Hold on. You said you have a boyfriend? Is it Lin Zhengran?!¡±


    He Qing nodded honestly. ¡°Yeah. Lin Zhengran is my boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    Fang Meng was stunned.


    Lin Zhengran has a girlfriend?!


    No, no, no! Jiang Qian¡¯s personality would allow that! If she knew he had a girlfriend, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be blushing like that!


    She just needed to snap her out of this curiosity-driven mess before she got in too deep.


    A sudden wave of relief washed over Fang Meng.


    ¡°Thank you! See you later!¡±


    She turned and left without explaining, leaving a confused He Qing behind.


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    After a moment, she mumbled to herself, ¡°Another girl who likes Lin Zhengran¡­?¡±


    She clenched her hands together, feeling a pang of jealousy.


    ¡°¡­Ever since we started high school, so many pretty girls have started liking him¡­ I don¡¯t like this¡­¡±


    ¡ª S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, at the classroom entrance¡­


    Jiang Xueli had just stepped out and overheard He Qing¡¯s words.


    She stood frozen in place.


    ¡°¡­Did He Qing just say¡­Zhengran is her boyfriend?!¡±

 Chapter 95: Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng’s Childhood Engagement

    Jiang Xueli¡¯s brain short-circuited as she watched Little He Qing return to the classroom.


    After a long silence, she clutched her head as if it were about to explode!


    She recalled that moment on the military training field¡ªZhengran had confessed to her, and she had said yes.


    Even though they hadn¡¯t spent much time alone together in the past two days, wasn¡¯t he still her boyfriend?!


    That night after delivering water to him, she had been too shy to sleep the whole night.


    She had even cherished that cup of water he drank from, savoring it little by little over the past two days.


    ¡°What the hell?!¡± Jiang Xueli covered her head, squeezed her eyes shut, and blushed furiously. ¡°That idiot¡ªwhose boyfriend is he, exactly?! Did he confess to He Qing too?!¡±


    Just then, Han Wenwen walked out of the classroom and saw Jiang Xueli clutching her head in agony. ¡°Lili? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jiang Xueli quickly dropped her arms behind her back, her face still flushed. ¡°N-Nothing. I¡¯m just¡­ going to the restroom.¡±


    She hurried off to the girls¡¯ restroom, clenched her tiny fists, and fumed with jealousy. She had to confront that idiot and get a clear answer!


    That day, he had confessed to her¡ªshe had heard it with her own ears!


    How could he go back on his word?! That damn playboy!


    The midday sun shone brightly over the public high school, where a beautiful lotus pond sparkled. Beneath a small pavilion beside the pond, the cold and aloof Jiang Qian sat on a long bench, gazing at the water rippling as koi fish occasionally bumped against the surface.


    Away from Lin Zhengran, her face no longer showed any trace of shyness¡ªshe had returned to her usual self.


    ¡°You said you had something important to tell me. What is it?¡±


    Her assistant, Fang Meng, held a file in her hands and spoke seriously. ¡°Qianqian, have you noticed anything strange about yourself lately?¡±


    Jiang Qian stared absentmindedly at the lotus pond, her thoughts drifting back to Lin Zhengran¡ªhis side profile, the determined way he worked hard¡­


    Fang Meng, seeing no response, called out again, ¡°Qianqian? Are you even listening to me?¡±


    Jiang Qian snapped out of her daze, her face flushing. But when she saw it was just Fang Meng, she quickly composed herself. ¡°What? Oh, I heard you. I don¡¯t think anything is wrong with me¡ªI feel perfectly normal.¡±


    Fang Meng disagreed. ¡°Not at all! You were just thinking about Lin Zhengran again, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    Jiang Qian turned her head away, suddenly looking guilty as she continued staring at the pond.


    Fang Meng sighed. ¡°I knew it¡ªyou¡¯re completely lovesick¡­ At first, I thought you¡¯d get over it in a couple of days. But now, it¡¯s obvious that as long as you¡¯re still curious about him, this isn¡¯t over.¡±


    She took a deep breath and looked down at the file in her hands. ¡°Luckily, I¡¯ve found something crucial that might help cure you.¡±


    She handed the file to Jiang Qian. ¡°Just take a look.¡±


    Jiang Qian accepted the file and saw that it contained information about a girl named He Qing and her relationship with Lin Zhengran.


    As she read, Fang Meng explained.


    ¡°This girl, He Qing, is Lin Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend. He admitted it himself, so there¡¯s no doubt about it. According to my quick investigation, they grew up together and even went to the same middle school. Lin Zhengran has always taken care of her, so honestly, Qianqian, the fact that you¡¯re blushing over him right now¡­¡±


    Jiang Qian stared at Lin Zhengran¡¯s picture on the document. Then, suddenly flustered, she covered her face with her hands.


    Fang Meng was stunned and quickly snatched the file away. ¡°Qianqian! Are you even listening to me?! Are you okay?!¡±


    Jiang Qian took a moment to calm down before exhaling deeply. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re telling me all this. It¡¯s not like I like him. Whether he has a girlfriend or not has nothing to do with me. I¡¯m just interested in his talent, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Fang Meng stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°Really? You actually know you don¡¯t like him? Well, that makes things easier.¡± She relaxed a bit.


    ¡°I was just worried about you. Every time you talk to him, you blush like crazy, so I was afraid that if this kept going, you¡¯d really start falling for him. That¡¯s why I wanted to help you snap out of it.¡±


    Jiang Qian slowly stood up, her icy-cold eyes staring at Fang Meng.


    ¡°Xiaomeng, what are you even thinking? How could I possibly like a guy? Besides, I made a vow a long time ago¡ªif I ever date someone, it will only be someone far stronger than me, someone who surpasses me in every way. If they don¡¯t meet that standard, I could never fall for them.¡±


    Fang Meng, now sitting on the bench, finally relaxed. ¡°Oh yeah, I remember you saying that before, so¡­¡±


    She suddenly tensed up again and looked at Jiang Qian. ¡°Wait, hold on¡ªaren¡¯t you basically describing Lin Zhengran?! That¡¯s exactly what you said you wanted in a boyfriend!¡±


    Jiang Qian blushed. ¡°Really? Does it really sound like him?¡±


    ¡°Of course it does! Look, you¡¯re blushing again! You can¡¯t just like him because he¡¯s strong! A boyfriend should be someone who treats you well, not just someone powerful. You¡¯ll only hurt yourself if you think like this! And how did this whole situation even come to this?!¡±


    The next second, Jiang Qian returned to her usual cold demeanor. ¡°I told you¡ªI don¡¯t like him. How could I possibly hurt myself?¡±


    Fang Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Was she developing a split personality?!


    Jiang Qian slowly stood up. Fang Meng asked where she was going.


    Jiang Qian answered, ¡°Back to the academic building to sit for a while. And¡­ to meet this He Qing girl. I want to see what Lin Zhengran likes about her. What does she have that I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Huh?!¡± Fang Meng couldn¡¯t see Jiang Qian¡¯s face from behind, but she did notice how tightly she clenched her fists. Curious, she tilted her head to get a peek at Jiang Qian¡¯s expression.


    And what she saw was¡­ a girl puffing her cheeks in jealousy.


    Fang Meng was speechless.


    Then, in an instant, she shot up and wrapped her arm around Jiang Qian¡¯s neck. ¡°Oh no, you¡¯re not going anywhere! You¡¯re obviously jealous! If you go, you¡¯ll definitely start liking him for real!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You will!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t. Let me go.¡±


    ¡°No one¡¯s going to believe that!¡±


    ¡°Then tell me¡ªwhat reason do I have to like him?¡±


    ¡°How should I know?! I¡¯m not the one who likes him!¡± Fang Meng was utterly exhausted.


    The weekend arrived quickly. Fang Meng, who returned home every two weeks to visit her family, took a bus home as usual. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But when she entered the house, she was surprised to see not only her parents but also two other guests sitting in the living room.


    Her parents introduced them. ¡°Mengmeng, you¡¯re back? Let us introduce you¡ªthis is your Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin, old friends of ours from our school days. We haven¡¯t seen them in years, but we happened to run into them recently.¡±


    Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli greeted her warmly. ¡°Xiaomeng, hello! You¡¯ve grown so much¡ªso pretty now!¡±


    Fang Meng had never met them before, but she still nodded politely.


    ¡°Hello, Uncle Lin, Aunt Lin.¡±


    Her parents chuckled. ¡°Oh, now that we see you, we suddenly remembered¡ªyour son must be grown up by now, right? Back when we were in school, didn¡¯t we joke about letting our kids marry each other when they grew up? We even arranged a childhood engagement for them!¡±

 Chapter 96: Closer Encounters and Fate

    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun had just picked up their teacups when they froze in shock.


    Fang Meng, too, stared at them in a daze.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Fang Meng¡¯s mother turned to her husband and asked, ¡°Honey, didn¡¯t this really happen? Or am I remembering wrong?!¡±


    Fang Meng¡¯s father suddenly recalled, ¡°No, no, you¡¯re right! Don¡¯t you two remember? Back in college, you two were inseparable, and Fang Meng¡¯s mom and I were also dating. The four of us joked that if our kids were born around the same time, we¡¯d arrange a childhood engagement for them. Have you seriously forgotten?!¡±


    Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun exchanged wide-eyed glances, memories of their university days flooding back.


    At the same time, they blurted out, ¡°Oh yeah¡­ that happen¡­¡±


    The couple fell silent, but a sense of impending doom loomed over them. After all, that engagement had been a joke at the time.


    They never expected that both their children would be conceived within the same year, be born around the same time, and¡ªon top of that¡ªend up as a perfect boy-girl pair.


    This had long been forgotten, and they never thought much of it.


    But now, recalling it wasn¡¯t the problem¡ªthe real issue was that their son, Zhengran, wasn¡¯t like other boys¡­


    Putting aside his childhood friend and that one female classmate¡ªthat was already two girls interested in him. And on top of that, his grandfather had recently introduced him to a . And now, here they were, about to add yet another girl into the mix¡­


    Fang Meng¡¯s mother smirked. ¡°Judging by your expressions, I take it you both remember now?¡± She gestured for her daughter to come over. ¡°Mengmeng, come sit down. Let¡¯s talk about this.¡±


    Fang Meng obediently sat down, still stunned that she was involved in something like this. ¡°A childhood engagement? I have a childhood engagement?¡±


    Her mother nodded. ¡°Yep! Back then, the four of us were the best of friends, so we made this arrangement. Oh, right, Xiaoli.¡± She turned to Lin Xiaoli. ¡°What¡¯s your son¡¯s nickname again? And where is he studying now?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli forced a smile, feeling a little awkward. ¡°His nickname is Zhengran. He¡¯s currently studying at First High.¡±


    ¡°Oh, what a coincidence! Mengmeng is also at First High!¡±


    Lin Yingjun was surprised. ¡°Huh? So they¡¯re actually in the same school?¡±


    Fang Meng¡¯s father burst into laughter. ¡°Now is fate! You must have pictures of your son on your phone, right? Can we see one?¡±


    Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli exchanged glances before chuckling helplessly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What else could they do at this point but go with the flow?


    Zhengran, son¡­ don¡¯t blame us for making things more complicated for you. This is just fate. Besides, Xiaomeng is really cute¡ªshe probably has a lot of admirers too¡­


    Lin Yingjun eventually found a photo from last year¡¯s winter break and handed his phone over. ¡°This was taken last year. Take a look.¡±


    Fang Meng¡¯s parents took the phone and were immediately stunned.


    At the same time, they exclaimed, ¡°He¡¯s good-looking?!¡±


    Their shock was genuine.


    Lin Zhengran had always been exceptionally handsome, but with the system¡¯s added charm bonuses, his appearance had only become more and more striking over the years. Even just from a photo, he exuded an undeniable allure that naturally made people feel drawn to him.


    ¡°Your Zhengran inherited all of your best features! He looks so likable.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli felt a surge of pride. ¡°Zhengran really good-looking. Yingjun and I can¡¯t even compare.¡±


    She then handed the phone to her daughter. ¡°Mengmeng, take a look. This is your Zhengran-ge, your childhood fianc¨¦.¡±


    Fang Meng had been skeptical at first.


    How good-looking could he really be?


    In her opinion, the most handsome guy in her class was already Lin Zhengran himself. She doubted anyone could be more attractive¡ªcertainly not more than the guy Jiang Qian was obsessed with.


    But when she took the phone, she froze.


    She even rubbed her eyes, staring at the figure in the snowy landscape, wrapped in a long coat.


    This¡­ this guy looked like Lin Zhengran.


    Apart from the outfit, it was practically a perfect match.


    Wait¡­ wasn¡¯t this just ?!


    Fang Meng¡¯s pupils dilated, her slightly parted lips revealing her shock.


    So Lin Zhengran is actually my fianc¨¦?!


    And the guy Qianqian likes¡­ is technically my boyfriend?!


    I¡¯ve been¡­ totally blindsided?!


    Her mother called out to her. ¡°Mengmeng, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Fang Meng snapped back to reality.


    Her mother chuckled. ¡°Why are you spacing out? I asked if you want to meet your Zhengran-ge. Since we all live in the same city, we can visit your Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin¡¯s house sometime so you two can meet.¡±


    Fang Meng stared at the photo.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t know what to say.


    After a long pause, under the expectant gazes of the adults, Fang Meng finally muttered, ¡°¡­Alright, I guess we can meet.¡±


    Her parents clapped in delight. ¡°Great! So Xiaoli, Yingjun, it¡¯s settled then? Next time, we¡¯ll visit your home so the kids can meet and become friends. And while we¡¯re at it, the four of us can have a proper reunion!¡±


    Lin Yingjun smiled helplessly, accepting his fate. ¡°Alright. Just let us know when you¡¯re coming. Now that we¡¯ve reconnected, we should definitely keep in touch. Maybe in the future, we can even take the kids out together in the city.¡±


    Meanwhile, Fang Meng continued staring at the photo of Lin Zhengran.


    Since Qianqian still likes him despite him having a girlfriend¡­ I guess I¡¯ll just have to dig deeper and find his weaknesses. The only way to uncover them is to get closer to him¡­


    But¡­ I have to admit, he really is pretty damn handsome.


    It was the weekend, but ever since starting high school, Lin Zhengran had stopped going home every week, opting to visit once every two weeks instead.


    After all, every time he went home, he had to help these girls practice their respective talents.


    So weekends at school weren¡¯t much different for him.


    Since he¡¯d be accompanying Little He Qing to a competition next week, he decided to use this weekend to sleep in at the dorm. Even though the system¡¯s bonuses kept him from ever feeling fatigued, the occasional lazy day was still one of life¡¯s small pleasures.


    To prepare, he headed to the large supermarket outside school to stock up on some ready-to-eat food and instant noodles.


    While browsing the shelves, he suddenly bumped into someone¡ªa beautiful woman in high heels, her long, slightly wavy hair cascading down her back. She had been focused on the shelves and hadn¡¯t noticed him.


    A pleasant fragrance filled the air.


    She turned to look at him, and he looked down at her.


    The moment he saw her, Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but think¡ª


    The woman, dressed in form-fitting jeans, lifted her gaze to examine him. Her oval face, coupled with those gentle yet captivating eyes, exuded elegance. She softly apologized, ¡°Sorry, I was looking at the shelves and didn¡¯t notice you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled. ¡°No worries. I wasn¡¯t paying attention either.¡±


    Neither of them said anything more as they turned back to the shelves, both eyeing the same brand of instant noodles.


    Then, coincidentally, they reached out at the same time, their hands landing on the same cup of noodles.


    They froze for a moment, eyes meeting.


    After a brief pause, they both chuckled and, at the same time, withdrew their hands.


    ¡°You take it,¡± they said in unison.

 Chapter 97: The Empress of the Imperial City

    For a moment, both of them were frozen in tacit understanding.


    Jiang Jingshi picked up the cup of instant noodles and placed it into Lin Zhengran¡¯s arms before taking another one for herself. ¡°Problem solved.¡±


    With that, she turned and left. Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t think much of it and continued selecting a few more ready-to-eat foods before heading to the checkout counter.


    After exiting the supermarket and crossing a street, he suddenly noticed a little girl crying on the sidewalk. The same woman from earlier was crouching in front of the child, gently comforting her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, little one? Why are you crying?¡±


    The little girl pointed at a large tree nearby, where a pink balloon was stuck between the branches.


    ¡°My balloon~ It accidentally flew up there.¡±


    It was a massive plane tree, its branches still thick with leaves since autumn had yet to fully set in. The balloon was caught quite high up, far beyond the reach of an average person.


    ¡°Where is it? Let me see.¡± Jiang Jingshi stood up and scanned the tree. Spotting the pink balloon, she bent down again and asked, ¡°Where did you buy this balloon? How about I get you a new one?¡±


    The little girl wiped her eyes and shook her head slowly. ¡°No, I want one¡­ It has little star stickers inside that I can¡¯t find anywhere else.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi stared at the plane tree in contemplation.


    ¡°That¡¯s really high¡­ Let¡¯s see if we can find something long enough to reach it.¡± She started looking around for a long stick or branch¡ªjust then, she spotted Lin Zhengran walking out of the supermarket.


    Their eyes briefly met in recognition from their earlier encounter. Jiang Jingshi gave him a polite smile before continuing her search, while the little girl joined her in looking around.


    Lin Zhengran glanced up at the tree.


    It wasn¡¯t high.


    He lightly jumped about a meter, grasped the branch holding the balloon, and easily pulled it down to retrieve it.


    Hearing the rustling of leaves, Jiang Jingshi and the little girl turned around.


    Lin Zhengran held out the balloon as Jiang Jingshi stared at him in surprise. ¡°Here, take it.¡±


    The little girl blinked up at him in awe, then shyly murmured, ¡°Thank you, handsome big brother¡­¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    The girl clutched her balloon tightly, beaming with joy. She waved goodbye to both Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi, saying another soft ¡°thank you¡± before running off.


    Even as she left, she kept glancing back at Lin Zhengran, clearly reluctant to part. Finally, she disappeared around the street corner.


    Once the girl was gone, Jiang Jingshi chuckled. ¡°Are you a sports student? I didn¡¯t see it clearly, but did you just jump really high?¡±


    Lin Zhengran had deliberately controlled his jump. That height was nothing to him¡ªhe could have simply reached up and grabbed the balloon directly.


    But to avoid drawing attention, he kept his jump to just over a meter and pulled the branch down instead. That way, no one would think much of it.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t too hard. The balloon was caught on a branch, so as long as I could reach it, it was fine.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi looked between the tree and Lin Zhengran. ¡°Still impressive. But¡­¡± She pointed at the plastic bag in his hand. ¡°Your bag got torn on a branch, and your stuff is about to fall out.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced down. Sure enough, there was a small hole in the bag, and his instant noodles and other items were precariously close to spilling out.


    Jiang Jingshi quickly helped catch some of the falling groceries. ¡°You bought a lot. Is your dinner in here too? If you don¡¯t mind, I have extra bags in my car. And if you need hot water, I have some there too¡ªgood for instant noodles.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked up at her.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s naturally gentle eyes curved into a smile.


    ¡°What? Worried I might be a bad person?¡± she teased. ¡°I just have a younger sister who wears the same school uniform as you, so I felt like helping out. You go to First High, right? I figured a guy who helps little girls retrieve balloons must be a good person.¡±


    She pointed to a Rolls-Royce parked nearby. ¡°That¡¯s my car. I was planning to have some instant noodles myself¡ªwanna join me?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi walked over to her car and opened the door.


    She pulled out a new plastic bag for Lin Zhengran, then took out a thermos of hot water. ¡°So, want to eat together?¡±


    ¡¾Today, while traveling, you helped a little girl and caught the attention of a kind-hearted woman. Impressed by your good nature, she warmly invited you to share a meal. Though she appears carefree and welcoming¡ªeven to strangers¡ªyou are well aware that she is no ordinary passerby. The high-grade magical artifact she carries proves that her strength is terrifyingly immense.


    ¡¾Precisely because of this, she does as she pleases without concern for others¡¯ opinions. After all, you¡¯ve already discerned her true identity¡ªshe is the Empress of the Imperial City.¡¿


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    That was an dramatic title.


    Still, Lin Zhengran had already guessed her identity.


    The Rolls-Royce she drove was identical to Jiang Qian¡¯s, and while their expressions and aura differed vastly, their facial features bore striking similarities.


    They were most likely sisters.


    But if her elder sister was the , what would Jiang Qian be in the system¡¯s eyes¡­?


    ¡¾She has already offered you a cup of specially brewed nectar. Will you leave now, or accept this unexpected opportunity?¡¿


    Normally, Lin Zhengran would have politely declined and left.


    But since the system had specifically highlighted this encounter, there was no way he was going to let this opportunity slip by.


    He walked forward. ¡°Then, thank you, Jie.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s smile deepened as she gestured toward the car. ¡°Hop in, then.¡±


    Lin Zhengran climbed into the vehicle, and Jiang Jingshi followed, though she left the door open.


    She opened her own instant noodles and twisted the cap off her thermos.


    But when Lin Zhengran opened his, he noticed something strange¡ªthere were no seasoning packets inside.


    He pulled out the dry noodles and checked the bottom. Completely empty.


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled and poured half of her own seasoning packet into his cup. ¡°Half should be enough, right? Too much would make it too salty.¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    She handed him the hot water, and he poured it into his noodles.


    ¡¾You have consumed the premium nectar from a high-grade spiritual flask. Strength +3.¡¿


    Soon, the instant noodles were ready, along with some side dishes.


    Jiang Jingshi casually asked, ¡°You must be pretty popular at school, huh? You¡¯re good-looking athletic.¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re very beautiful too, Jie.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi studied him for a moment before breaking into a soft laugh. ¡°Smooth talker. But I bet you know my sister, right? My name is Jiang Jingshi, and my younger sister is Jiang Qian. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you two have been spending a lot of time together lately?¡±


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze and chuckled. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re deskmates.¡±


    He introduced himself as well.


    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re not even a little surprised. Looks like you figured out who I was already.¡± Jiang Jingshi adjusted her posture with a composed elegance. ¡°Well, I suppose that makes sense. We look alike¡ªit¡¯s pretty easy to tell.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi had a keen business sense, and the moment she saw Lin Zhengran, she knew he was different.


    Even though this was her first time meeting him, his looks, presence, and athletic ability were enough for her to confirm¡ªthis was the boy Qianqian had been struggling to surpass.


    A young man with this many exceptional qualities was rare, almost rare.


    ¡°My sister can be a handful. Thanks for looking after her. If you ever have time, come visit our home¡ªJie would love to have you over.¡±

 Chapter 98: Wishes and the Clingy Han Wenwen

    Jiang Jingshi sat in the driver¡¯s seat, slipping off her high heels to reveal her stocking-clad feet. She changed into a pair of flats for easier driving before turning to wave at Lin Zhengran, who had just stepped out of the car.


    ¡°Little brother Lin Zhengran, that bowl of instant noodles was quite enjoyable. Let¡¯s meet again sometime!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded politely in farewell.


    As the Rolls-Royce drove off, Jiang Jingshi glanced at the rearview mirror, watching Lin Zhengran¡¯s figure fade into the distance.


    Suddenly, a long-buried memory surfaced¡ªa boy she had met in elementary school.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s thoughts wandered as she murmured to herself,


    She refocused on the road and activated her Bluetooth headset. ¡°Look into a student at First High named Lin Zhengran. Find out which kindergarten he attended.¡±


    In the girls¡¯ dormitory¡¯s private shower room, steaming hot water cascaded down Little He Qing¡¯s fair skin.


    She squeezed a generous amount of body wash onto her soft palm, lathering it into a rich foam with a bath sponge before rubbing it onto her arms and neck. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tilting her head back, she let the warmth of the water wash away the exhaustion of the past week.


    A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips. ¡°So comfortable~¡±


    After finishing her shower, she wrapped a towel around her damp hair and put on her pajamas before stepping out of the bathroom.


    Back in the dormitory, she saw Han Wenwen drying her hair. Feeling completely refreshed, He Qing plopped onto her bed with a satisfied sigh. ¡°That felt amazing. I actually thought this school didn¡¯t have private showers at first, so I kept going outside to use public ones for the past few weeks.¡±


    Han Wenwen, finishing with the hairdryer, turned to her. ¡°I just found out too. You wanna dry your hair now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait a bit.¡±


    Han Wenwen put down the hairdryer and sat beside her, leaning in to take a sniff. ¡°Xiao Qingqing, you smell so nice~¡±


    He Qing blushed and gently pushed her away. ¡°Wenwen! Don¡¯t mess around. It¡¯s just the scent of body wash.¡±


    Han Wenwen grabbed a comb and began brushing He Qing¡¯s hair. ¡°That¡¯s part of it, sure. But you do know that girls have a natural scent, right?¡±


    He Qing blinked in confusion. ¡°Natural scent? I¡¯ve heard of it¡­ but is that even real?¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked knowingly, covering her mouth as she whispered into He Qing¡¯s ear, ¡°They say that as long as a girl hasn¡¯t been, you know¡­ touched by a guy, she¡¯ll have a unique fragrance. And only her will be able to smell it.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face instantly turned scarlet. ¡°You¡¯ve been reading too many romance novels, Wenwen! That sounds way too far-fetched.¡±


    Han Wenwen continued combing her hair, unwavering in her stance. ¡°What¡¯s so hard to believe? If you don¡¯t buy it, you could always ask Lin Zhengran to sniff you next time and see if he notices anything special.¡±


    Just the thought of that made He Qing bury herself under her blanket, pulling the covers over her head. ¡°I would ask him to do that¡­ That sounds way too inappropriate.¡±


    Han Wenwen couldn¡¯t stop laughing. ¡°Xiao Qingqing, you¡¯re cute.¡±


    But her laughter came to an abrupt stop.


    She suddenly froze, her expression stiffening.


    He Qing peeked out from her blanket, puzzled. ¡°Wenwen? Why¡¯d you stop talking? Why are you staring at me like that?¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes and observed He Qing curled up on the bed.


    The way her pajamas pressed against her figure made certain¡­ aspects stand out.


    ¡°¡­Xiao Qingqing,¡± Han Wenwen murmured. ¡°How come I never noticed before¡­ You¡¯ve developed since starting high school, huh?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Developed?¡± He Qing followed Han Wenwen¡¯s gaze, looked down at herself¡ªthen immediately turned beet red.


    With a squeak, she yanked the blanket up to cover her entire body. ¡°Wenwen! What are you even saying?!¡±


    Han Wenwen glanced down at her own chest, then at her backside. She sighed, sounding a little dejected. ¡°Why is it that barely grew at all?¡±


    She twisted to check her reflection. ¡°¡­Looks like only my hips filled out. I was hoping for a more growth.¡±


    He Qing had no idea why she always ended up having these kinds of conversations with Han Wenwen.


    Not that she minded, but they happened too often.


    ¡°Wenwen, enough about that,¡± He Qing said, shaking her head. ¡°I actually wanted to talk to you about something important.¡±


    Han Wenwen looked at her knowingly and smirked before turning to collect her laundry from the balcony.


    ¡°I what¡¯s on your mind,¡± she said casually. ¡°You want to talk about next week¡¯s competition when you and Lin Zhengran go back to the town, right? He promised that if you won, you could make a wish. And after we discussed it, your wish was to hold hands with him, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    He Qing gripped her blanket tightly and nodded, her voice soft. ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ that¡¯s it. Wenwen, do you think he¡¯ll actually agree if I ask to hold¡­ hold hands?¡±


    Han Wenwen was briefly reminded of her own outing with Lin Zhengran at the snack street a few days ago.


    She turned around, curious. ¡°Why he? Aren¡¯t you basically his girlfriend now? Holding hands isn¡¯t a big deal, and besides, didn¡¯t he carry you on his back before?¡±


    He Qing bit her lip, her expression slightly uncertain.


    ¡°I mean, sure¡­ We¡¯ve known each other since we were kids and have done all kinds of things together. But¡­ we¡¯ve never really done that a couple would do. If¡­ if I can really hold his hand, then maybe that would finally confirm our relationship.¡±


    Han Wenwen looked at He Qing¡¯s shy, expectant expression and imagined her hand in Lin Zhengran¡¯s.


    A small pang of jealousy surfaced¡ªbut just as quickly, she pushed it down.


    Sitting back down beside He Qing, she grinned and encouraged her. ¡°Go for it! Just be bold and ask him when the time comes.¡±


    He Qing smiled, seeming more confident now. ¡°Mm.¡±


    Han Wenwen ruffled her hair, though the jealousy she¡¯d repressed grew stronger.


    Later that night, under the cover of darkness, Han Wenwen called Lin Zhengran and secretly arranged to meet him near the boys¡¯ dormitory.


    Lin Zhengran, puzzled, asked, ¡°Why are you looking for me so suddenly again?¡±


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, she crouched down in a corner, sulking as she looked up at him.


    ¡°I just missed you,¡± she murmured. ¡°I want my Zhengran-ge to comfort me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat down beside her, holding out his hand. ¡°How many times have you secretly come looking for me now?¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned, lacing her fingers through his, and leaned her head on his shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t know. A lot. But foxes are naturally clingy, you know. Zhengran-ge has to spoil me more.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gently patted her head, and Han Wenwen closed her eyes, smiling contentedly.


    But when he stopped, she pouted.


    ¡°Hey¡­ Why¡¯d you stop? Keep petting me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°So why you call me out here?¡±


    ¡°No reason,¡± she said, snuggling closer. ¡°I just wanted you to pat my head.¡±


    Lin Zhengran exhaled in exasperation, but Han Wenwen, now satisfied, closed her eyes again. Her imaginary fox ears flicked happily.


    ¡°¡­I just wanted to remind you not to forget our plans next month.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already reminded me a dozen times.¡±

 Chapter 99: The Eternal Gap Between Lin Zhengran and Me

    A new week began, and nothing particularly special happened¡ªexcept for a small charity fundraiser organized by the school on Wednesday.


    After Jiang Qian made her donation, the homeroom teacher was both shocked by the amount she contributed and curious about something. After class, the teacher called her aside to ask a question.


    Lin Zhengran happened to be passing by and overheard.


    ¡°Jiang Qian, are you sure you want to personally donate two pianos to our school?¡±


    Jiang Qian remained expressionless. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. I just hope that after donating, the school will allow me to occasionally use them to practice in my free time.¡±


    The teacher sighed, thinking how children from wealthy families really did things differently. Smiling, she said,


    ¡°I¡¯ll report this to the administration. We haven¡¯t had many cases like this before, but I don¡¯t think a small request like yours will be a problem. No matter what, I want to thank you on behalf of the school for your contribution. And about your donation to the underprivileged areas just now¡ªyou alone donated more than several entire classes combined. Thank you.¡±


    Jiang Qian simply replied, ¡°No need to thank me, teacher. I¡¯m just doing my part.¡±


    Few people truly understood the second Miss Jiang¡¯s motives. Only Fang Meng realized the real reason behind Jiang Qian¡¯s donations when she heard about them after class.


    Jiang Qian wasn¡¯t the type to suffer losses, nor would she waste her family¡¯s resources carelessly. Everything she did had a purpose.


    For example, donating pianos wasn¡¯t just an act of generosity. First, it allowed her to practice whenever she wanted. Second, it ensured that even if she made minor mistakes or had special requests in the future, the school would be more lenient with her¡ªafter all, this was just the beginning.


    There would be many more charity events over the next three years, and Jiang Qian would undoubtedly contribute a lot to this high school.


    As for the monetary donation, that was something she had to do. Her name didn¡¯t just represent herself;it represented the future successor of the Jiang family.


    Donating a large amount wouldn¡¯t necessarily win her praise, but if the second Miss Jiang refused to donate at all, it would certainly leave a bad impression. And considering that this money was nothing more than a drop in the ocean for her, there was no reason to be stingy.


    On Thursday afternoon after school, the teacher called Jiang Qian aside and handed her the key to the school¡¯s newly opened piano room.


    ¡°This is the key to the piano room. The director said that from now on, you can use it freely on weekends or during your free time.¡±


    Jiang Qian accepted the key with a smile. ¡°Thank you, teacher.¡±


    At that moment, Lin Zhengran was about to head to the cafeteria for dinner when Jiang Qian walked up to him.


    ¡°Class president, meet me in the piano room tomorrow after lunch. I have something for you.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left, leaving Lin Zhengran staring after her.


    [A month ago, while traveling, you received a handwritten letter from your family. It revealed that hundreds of years ago, the Lin family patriarch was a close friend of the current imperial family. Recently, a meeting between the Lin family and the royal envoy brought up an old engagement contract between you and the imperial princess.]


    [The envoy mentioned that the princess was also traveling in the northern regions. If fate allowed it, you should meet her and inform her of the engagement.]


    [A few days later, while traveling, you indeed encountered the princess. She had an icy demeanor and unparalleled talent, yet she seemed completely unaware that you were her betrothed.]


    [However, even without knowing about the engagement, after several battles and encounters, the princess became deeply interested in you.]


    [Today, she has invited you to meet her at the Myoyin Temple at noon tomorrow, saying she has a treasure to give you.]


    [You do not know what this treasure is, but going might grant you an unknown opportunity. Not going is also a choice.]


    After listening to the system¡¯s narration, Lin Zhengran chuckled and continued walking to the cafeteria.


    Since it was a potential opportunity, there was no reason to refuse.


    But in the system¡¯s eyes, Jiang Qian was really the imperial princess¡­ No wonder her older sister, Jiang Jingshi, was described as the Empress of the Imperial City.


    That night, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng took a car home.


    Jiang Qian had piano lessons twice a week, with two highly professional tutors personally guiding her practice.


    In the grand piano room of her family¡¯s villa, Fang Meng sliced some fruit, brewed hot tea, and brought them in.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s playing was elegant and refined, her fingers dancing rhythmically across the keys.


    The two tutors applauded. ¡°Excellent, Second Miss! Your piano skills have improved significantly. This piece is incredibly difficult¡ªplaying it flawlessly is nearly impossible without extraordinary talent.¡±


    Jiang Qian listened to their praise but remained expressionless, her gaze fixed on the piano.


    She was once again reminded of the scene when Lin Zhengran had practiced that day.


    The difference in skill between them wasn¡¯t just a gap¡ªit was an entirely different level.


    Fang Meng, ever perceptive, noticed the subtle change in Jiang Qian¡¯s expression. She set the fruit plate and tea aside.


    ¡°Qianqian, take a break and have some tea.¡±


    The tutors also expressed their thanks.


    Then, out of nowhere, Jiang Qian suddenly said, ¡°I want to start practicing now, instead of waiting until next year.¡±


    Both tutors were taken aback.


    ¡°?¡±


    was a notoriously difficult piece often performed at music festivals. Its melody rose and fell dramatically, with extreme shifts in tone that made it infamous. Only pianists with exceptionally steady foundations could hope to play it smoothly.


    As soon as Jiang Qian spoke, Fang Meng immediately retrieved the sheet music and placed it on the piano.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s fingers moved gracefully. The opening was manageable¡ªher years of training ensured she played it smoothly.


    But at the first climax, she began making mistakes.


    By the second climax, where the melody required a drastic shift, she completely lost control.


    She stopped playing.


    Even so, the tutors still applauded.


    ¡°Second Miss, that was incredible! This piece is extremely difficult. The fact that you could play this much on your first attempt is already remarkable. With more practice, you¡¯ll definitely improve.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Qian restarted from the beginning, but the same mistakes occurred.


    Piano playing wasn¡¯t about luck¡ªyou either had the skill, or you didn¡¯t.


    The tutors approached to offer their guidance. Jiang Qian listened carefully but frowned slightly.


    She wasn¡¯t shocked by their words.


    She was shocked by Lin Zhengran.


    What these two tutors explained made sense, but it wasn¡¯t the same as what Lin Zhengran had told her that day.


    Back then, she had a distinct feeling that his teaching was¡­ clearer.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s curiosity about Lin Zhengran¡¯s skill deepened.


    Could he actually be better than these two instructors, who had spent over thirty years in the industry?


    She stood up. ¡°Please play it for me¡ªI¡¯d like to hear it first.¡±


    The tutors smiled and nodded. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll demonstrate it for you.¡±


    Jiang Qian watched as one of the tutors sat gracefully at the piano.


    On his first attempt, he made mistakes.


    His second attempt was smoother.


    But even when he successfully played the piece, Jiang Qian¡¯s frown deepened.


    She was certain these two tutors were better than her.


    But¡­


    They were probably not as good as Lin Zhengran.

 Chapter 100: The Look of Admiration

    Fang Meng had been watching Jiang Qian¡¯s expression the whole time as the two tutors enthusiastically explained their theories.


    She knew it was only a matter of time before they lost their jobs.


    ¡ª


    The next day was Friday, and the last two periods in the afternoon were PE class.


    Students were unusually excited¡ªafter all, the long-awaited weekend was just a day away.


    Lin Zhengran remembered that Jiang Qian had asked him to meet her in the piano room. So when he noticed that she had disappeared from the field, he informed the teacher and headed to the academic building.


    As he approached the newly established piano room in the school¡¯s multimedia building, which wasn¡¯t officially open yet, he heard a beautiful melody floating through the air.


    Standing at the back door of the classroom, he gently pushed it open.


    Jiang Qian was at the piano, and her playing had once again halted at the first climax of .


    The tutoring session last night hadn¡¯t helped her improve at all. At best, it gave her a better understanding of the piece.


    As the music stopped, Jiang Qian turned around and saw Lin Zhengran standing there. Her cold eyes locked onto him as she stood up.


    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°You said you had something for me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran walked up to her, and Jiang Qian pulled a key out of her pocket.


    ¡°This.¡± She handed him the key. ¡°The teacher gave it to me last night. Didn¡¯t you say before that you had nowhere to practice the piano? Now, with this key, you can come here anytime you want.¡±


    She glanced around the room and spoke seriously.


    ¡°Our school doesn¡¯t offer piano lessons, so even though I donated these two pianos, this room will probably stay empty unless there¡¯s some performance event. You don¡¯t have to worry about anyone disturbing you. Plus, the piano is the same one you played that night¡ªI noticed you handled it quite smoothly.¡±


    She looked up at Lin Zhengran and extended the key toward him.


    ¡°Think of it as repayment for your help last time. That simple explanation you gave me was incredibly useful.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was a little surprised¡ªthis second Miss Jiang actually knew how to return a favor. He smiled and explained,


    ¡°Actually, I only helped you because, back when the teacher assigned us to the freshman showcase, I didn¡¯t have a piano. You went and brought an extra one for me, didn¡¯t you? So I was just returning the favor. You don¡¯t have to pay me back for that.¡±


    Jiang Qian stared at his smiling face, and for some reason, her cheeks flushed slightly.


    Her curiosity about him flared up again.


    But she quickly adjusted her emotions and looked at him once more.


    ¡°Is that so? So you helped me because of that¡­¡± She hesitated slightly before saying,


    ¡°But since I¡¯ve already given you the key, it would be a waste to take it back. How about¡­¡± She paused briefly.


    ¡°How about you teach me again today in exchange for the key? Besides, this room isn¡¯t just a piano room¡ªyou can treat it as your personal lounge for the next three years. No one else can get in, after all.¡±


    ¡ª


    [The Key to Myoyin Temple: Once obtained, you may freely enter Myoyin Pavilion. This place is rich in spiritual energy and serves as an excellent resting spot.]


    Myoyin Pavilion, huh¡­


    Lin Zhengran took the key.


    ¡°Alright. I do need a quiet place to practice sometimes. I¡¯ll accept it.¡±


    ¡ª


    [You have obtained the Key to Myoyin Temple. Due to your encounter with the Imperial Princess, your stamina has increased by 1.]


    ¡ª


    Jiang Qian smiled slightly¡ªsomething she rarely did.


    She sat back down at the piano, placed her hands on the keys, and started playing again.


    ¡°I¡¯ve actually tried to play this piece before, but I never got it right.¡±


    She reached the first climax and got stuck.


    Lin Zhengran pulled up a chair and sat beside her.


    Jiang Qian asked, ¡°I know how to play this part, but my notes always feel stiff, and the rhythm doesn¡¯t flow properly. How do you think I should improve?¡±


    Lin Zhengran picked up the sheet music she had placed on the piano and flipped through it briefly.


    Thanks to , he quickly developed a familiarity with the piece.


    But what surprised him was¡ª


    ¡°This piece is really difficult. It¡¯s practically a gateway piece for professionals.¡±


    Jiang Qian was slightly surprised. ¡°It is a gateway piece. But¡­ you¡¯ve never heard of it before? You¡¯re obviously so good at piano¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the sheet music and admitted,


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. I try to listen to and learn as much as I can, but there are only so many hours in a day. There¡¯s still a lot I don¡¯t know.¡±


    He looked at Jiang Qian. ¡°But now I do.¡±


    He suggested, ¡°Can I try playing it first? I need to figure out the key points myself.¡±


    Jiang Qian nodded and stood up, giving him space.


    As Lin Zhengran sat down, he suddenly felt a bit flustered.


    The seat was still warm from where Jiang Qian had been sitting.


    There was lingering body heat¡­


    He exhaled lightly and, after memorizing the sheet music, placed his fingers on the piano keys and began to play.


    Jiang Qian was absolutely stunned.


    If this was really his first time playing ¡­


    The fluidity, the ease, the natural mastery¡ª


    It was something her two piano tutors couldn¡¯t even come close to.


    It was hard to believe that this boy was only in his teens.


    Among the pianists Jiang Qian had seen, only those with thirty to forty years of experience and natural talent could play at this level.


    Lin Zhengran finished playing once.


    Finding the piece interesting, he played it again.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s lips parted slightly, but she was too stunned to say anything.


    His second playthrough was even more refined than the first¡­


    This boy¡­


    She slowly closed her lips and watched him, fully focused on his playing.


    For the first time in her life, she felt completely out of reach compared to someone else.


    The more she interacted with Lin Zhengran, the more she realized the vast distance between them.


    Her cold eyes¡ªeyes that had never shown admiration for anyone¡ªnow carried a glimmer of awe.


    ¡ª


    After playing the piece twice, Lin Zhengran stood up and smiled.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve figured out the technique. Your turn. It¡¯s actually pretty simple¡ªlet me point out the key areas, and you try again.¡±


    Jiang Qian sat back down.


    And suddenly¡ªher cheeks flushed.


    For the exact same reason Lin Zhengran had felt flustered earlier.


    Lin Zhengran carefully explained the techniques he had discovered.


    Jiang Qian listened closely.


    She was certain now¡ª


    He was different.


    Everything he said was crystal clear. Every sentence carried an almost enlightening effect.


    After listening to his explanation, Jiang Qian nodded seriously.


    ¡°I understand now. Let me try.¡±


    She carefully started playing again.


    This time, she flawlessly passed the first climax.


    As she approached the second climax, her expression turned tense and astonished.


    She had never successfully played this part before.


    Lin Zhengran reminded her, ¡°The second climax is coming up. The difference in pitch is extreme¡ªjust do as I said and don¡¯t hesitate.¡±


    Jiang Qian nodded. Her fingers danced across the keys.


    She passed the second climax, too.


    Last night, she had practiced for hours. Even before, she had never been able to get through it.


    But Lin Zhengran had only taught her a few sentences.


    Suddenly, she stopped playing.


    The smooth melody still lingered in the air, but her mind went blank.


    Her heart pounded wildly.


    Lin Zhengran thought she hadn¡¯t learned it properly and said regretfully,


    ¡°You were so close¡ªjust one more section. But even stopping here, you should understand the techniques I explained, right?¡±


    Jiang Qian clenched her hands slightly, curiosity about him filling her mind once more.


    Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and even her voice became a little softer.


    ¡°Mm¡­ I understand better now. Teach me again¡ªI want to finish the whole piece.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Zhengran nodded.


    As he explained further, Jiang Qian listened intently.


    She didn¡¯t take her eyes off him.


    Her gaze was full of admiration.


    ¡ª


    Outside the classroom, Fang Meng had been watching through the window for a while. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She stared in shock at Jiang Qian¡¯s expression as she gazed at Lin Zhengran.


    People in the moment might not realize it.


    But as an outsider, Fang Meng clearly saw it¡ª


    That fleeting curiosity Jiang Qian had for Lin Zhengran¡­


    Was beginning to take root.

 Chapter 101: The Long-Awaited Time Alone

    Jiang Qian finally played through the entire piece without mistakes.


    She was delighted¡ªbut also suddenly a little disappointed.


    Because she knew that Lin Zhengran wouldn¡¯t always be there to teach her. Today¡¯s lesson had only happened because of the key.


    Lin Zhengran praised her, ¡°Great job. You finally played through it smoothly. You really have talent¡ªjust a little guidance, and you grasp the technique quickly. If you practice a few more times, you should be able to master it.¡±


    Just then, a soft, sweet voice called out from outside the building.


    ¡°Lin¡­ Lin Zhengran? Are you here? Lin Zhengran?¡±


    That sweet, lilting tone could only belong to Little He Qing.


    She peeked her head through the entrance but, hearing no response, didn¡¯t step inside. Instead, she turned to Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli, who were also outside.


    ¡°He¡¯s not in there either¡­ Why did Lin Zhengran tell us to wait here?¡±


    Han Wenwen crouched down, watching a tiny bug with a shell crawling through the grass. Her invisible fox tail swayed lazily behind her.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran probably got caught up in something again. He¡¯s the freshman representative, after all¡ªif there¡¯s something important, the teachers always go to him first.¡±


    Jiang Xueli crouched beside her, also watching the little bug. But she wasn¡¯t saying anything¡ªlost in thought.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s so small.¡±


    Seeing them both crouched down, He Qing hesitated for a moment before crouching too.


    But the sight of all those tiny insects in the grass made her nervous, and she clung to Han Wenwen¡¯s arm.


    ¡°What are you guys looking at? There are so many bugs in the grass¡ªit¡¯s kind of scary.¡±


    Han Wenwen chuckled. ¡°Just watching this little bug crawl around. We don¡¯t have anything else to do while we wait, right? Lin Zhengran should be here soon.¡±


    Inside the piano room, both Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian heard He Qing¡¯s voice.


    Lin Zhengran stood up. ¡°Someone¡¯s looking for me. And since I¡¯ve already taught you the piece, I¡¯ll be going now. I¡¯ll take good care of the key.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something¡ªbut in the end, she just nodded.


    Lin Zhengran turned and left without another word.


    Jiang Qian remained seated, waiting until he was completely gone before she slowly stood up and walked out onto the hallway.


    From a distance, she watched as Lin Zhengran met up with the three girls, her eyes subtly shifting.


    ¡ª


    Outside the multimedia building, Lin Zhengran saw the three girls squatting by the curb.


    ¡°What are you guys doing?¡±


    Hearing his voice, all three turned around.


    He Qing lit up instantly.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran! Where were you? Are you done with your business?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded and waved the key in his hand.


    ¡°The school just opened a piano room, and I got a key. If I ever need a quiet place, I can go there to practice.¡±


    Han Wenwen perked up. ¡°Wow, so now Lin Zhengran has his own personal office?¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran shot her a look. Han Wenwen grinned and stayed quiet.


    Jiang Xueli, meanwhile, was pouting slightly.


    She had been trying to find a chance to talk to Lin Zhengran alone about what happened that time, but there had been no good opportunity.


    Now, she figured she¡¯d just have to wait until it was her turn for singing lessons with him.


    ¡°Zhengran, let¡¯s go eat. I¡¯m getting hungry.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The four of them walked toward the cafeteria, Lin Zhengran in the center.


    They chatted and laughed, though each had their own little thoughts in mind.


    Meanwhile, from the hallway of the multimedia building, Jiang Qian silently watched as Lin Zhengran conversed so effortlessly with the three girls.


    She said nothing.


    Fang Meng had seen everything too.


    She frowned slightly.


    Wasn¡¯t that He Qing girl supposed to be Lin Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend?


    Then why¡­ were there two other girls?


    And more importantly¡­


    Fang Meng glanced at Jiang Qian.


    She stepped closer.


    ¡°Qianqian.¡±


    ¡ª


    The sun was shining brightly.


    After over a year of waiting, it was finally the day of Little He Qing¡¯s Taekwondo competition in town.


    She woke up early to wash up and pick out her outfit.


    Han Wenwen lay on the bed in her pajamas, resting her chin on one hand.


    ¡°You really are like a girl in love,¡± she teased. ¡°Just look at how anxious you are¡ªgetting all dressed up just to see Lin Zhengran.¡±


    He Qing blushed and gave her an embarrassed glance.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me.¡±


    She slipped into a pretty skirt and twirled in front of Han Wenwen.


    ¡°How do I look?¡±


    Han Wenwen gave her a once-over.


    The simple white sweater and skirt weren¡¯t fancy, but on He Qing, they made her look clean and effortlessly pure.


    Even the little fox couldn¡¯t resist¡ªshe reached out and touched He Qing¡¯s smooth, porcelain-like legs.


    ¡°You look great. Good luck today.¡±


    He Qing swatted her hand away, blushing.


    ¡°Agh! Stop that!¡±


    She checked herself in the mirror one last time.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m heading out now. I¡¯ll be with Lin Zhengran today.¡±


    Han Wenwen nodded.


    ¡°Good luck with the competition. And don¡¯t forget to ask him if you have a special scent.¡±


    ¡°Wenwen!¡±


    He Qing gave her an exasperated look but quickly smiled again, waving as she walked out.


    ¡°Bye-bye!¡±


    ¡°Bye-bye.¡±


    He Qing dashed out of the dorm, eager to find Lin Zhengran.


    Han Wenwen, still lying on the bed, crossed her arms and rested her chin on them.


    She stared at the ceiling for a while, lost in thought.


    Then, suddenly, she pulled the blanket over her head.


    ¡°Ugh, that stupid Zhengran! Always such a flirt. I¡¯m gonna beat him up in my dreams!¡±

 Chapter 102: Staying at Lin Zhengran’s House

    ¡°Lin Zhengran! I¡¯m late!¡±


    At the school gate, Lin Zhengran turned around to see Little He Qing running toward him in a hurry.


    A thin layer of sweat had formed on her forehead from rushing. She slowed down as she reached him, panting slightly, her voice full of apology.


    ¡°I took a little extra time tidying up my dorm¡­ I came down a few minutes late.¡±


    She tugged at the hem of her skirt.


    In truth, He Qing rarely wore skirts like this¡ªones that fully exposed her calves and even showed a little bit of her thighs.


    She always felt a little embarrassed wearing them.


    But in high school, almost every girl dressed like this because it really did look good. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And honestly, their skirts were even shorter.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her smooth, jade-like legs.


    ¡°You¡¯re not late. I just came down early. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you wear something like this before.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He Qing tugged at her skirt again, looking down at her legs.


    ¡°This is actually my first time wearing it. Last time I went shopping with Wenwen, she saw this skirt and told me I had nice legs and that it¡¯d look good on me. So I bought it¡­ just to show you.¡±


    She hesitated, then explained further.


    ¡°The skirts that are popular now are really short¡ªthey only go halfway down the thigh.¡±


    She gestured at her own thigh to demonstrate.


    ¡°But Wenwen and I both bought slightly longer ones¡­ because we didn¡¯t think we could pull off the super short ones.¡±


    Then, shyly, she asked in a soft voice,


    ¡°¡­Does it look bad on me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran casually replied,


    ¡°The length you two picked is just right. Any shorter would be unnecessary. And yeah, your legs do look really fair.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face turned bright red.


    She lowered her head, unsure of what to say.


    ¡°¡­R-really? As long as you like it¡­¡±


    ¡ª


    A few minutes later, the bus arrived.


    Lin Zhengran and He Qing scanned their passes and boarded together.


    Whenever they took the bus home, He Qing always insisted on finding a two-seater in the back.


    Because if they sat there, Lin Zhengran would always let her sit on the inside.


    That way, she could be close to him.


    Their thighs would touch.


    And with the way the bus swayed, she could get away with leaning against him completely naturally.


    They found a seat and sat down.


    As the bus started moving, Lin Zhengran asked curiously,


    ¡°Last night, I suggested we take a taxi, but you weren¡¯t happy about it. Why?¡±


    He Qing nodded and explained,


    ¡°Well¡­ taxis are expensive.¡±


    Then, she mumbled softly¡ªso softly that even she wasn¡¯t sure if she had heard herself properly.


    ¡°¡­And every time we take a taxi, you either sit in the front or too far away from me¡­ I don¡¯t like that.¡±


    Lin Zhengran frowned slightly.


    Realizing what she had just said, He Qing quickly waved her hands in a flustered panic.


    ¡°I mean¡ªit¡¯s the same either way! And since there aren¡¯t a lot of people taking the first morning bus back to town, a taxi isn¡¯t necessary!¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t really care either way.


    If there were seats on the bus, it didn¡¯t matter to him.


    If not, he¡¯d just take a taxi.


    Since this girl was happy, that was what mattered.


    Of course¡­ he had heard her previous words.


    ¡ª


    As the bus swayed, He Qing kept sneaking glances at her thighs.


    Every time the bus shook, her leg would brush against his.


    Every little touch sent a hint of shyness across her face.


    This¡ªthis was the best part about taking the bus.


    The constant swaying made it so easy to end up pressed against him.


    And sometimes¡­


    The bus made a sharp turn.


    He Qing lost her balance and¡ªbam!¡ªher head landed directly on Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder.


    She stayed there for a moment before straightening up again.


    Then, she placed her hands in her lap, clasping her fingers together.


    Her heart was racing.


    Even things like this could happen?


    Bless the almighty bus.


    ¡ª


    An hour later, they arrived back at their hometown and stepped off the bus.


    Compared to the city, the traffic here was far lighter.


    On the roadside, a vendor was selling roasted sweet potatoes.


    The rich aroma drifted into the air, and He Qing caught a whiff from far away.


    Her stomach grumbled.


    She hadn¡¯t eaten breakfast yet.


    Quietly, she took out her phone and checked how much money she had left for the week.


    She had just enough to buy one.


    She hesitantly suggested, ¡°We¡¯re not in a rush to go home, right? Can I buy a sweet potato?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    He Qing quickly ran over.


    ¡°Boss, how much for a sweet potato?¡±


    ¡°The big ones are seven yuan, the small ones are five,¡± the vendor replied, pointing out the size difference.


    She only had six yuan left.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a small one, please! But can you pick a really sweet one?¡±


    ¡°No problem. This one should be good.¡± The vendor handed her a perfectly roasted sweet potato.


    As soon as He Qing took it, her stomach rumbled again.


    She carefully peeled back the skin, revealing the steaming, golden flesh inside.


    Bringing it to her nose, she took in the delicious scent before extending it toward Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t had breakfast, right? I peeled it for you. It smells so good.¡±


    She smiled brightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold it so it doesn¡¯t burn your hands.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°This is for me? Didn¡¯t you buy it for yourself?¡±


    He Qing responded naturally, ¡°I bought it for you.¡±


    She puffed out her cheeks slightly.


    ¡°I already spent all my money this week, so I could only afford one. But since you didn¡¯t eat breakfast either, I figured you should have it first. I¡¯m not craving it or anything.¡±


    As she spoke, she subconsciously licked her lips.


    The ultimate foodie move.


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    He sighed and pushed the sweet potato back toward her.


    ¡°You eat it. I¡¯m not hungry. If I was, I would¡¯ve bought one myself¡ªI still have money.¡±


    He Qing blinked at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re not craving it? But it smells so good¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really not. It¡¯s just a sweet potato.¡±


    She clutched the warm snack in her hands, still hesitating.


    ¡°¡­But it doesn¡¯t feel right eating it all by myself. How about¡­ you take one bite first? Then I¡¯ll eat the rest. That way, it¡¯s fair?¡±


    Her big, expectant eyes stared at him.


    ¡°¡­Good things should go to you first. If you don¡¯t eat, I won¡¯t have an appetite either.¡±


    Lin Zhengran knew how persistent she could be.


    Without further delay, he opened his mouth.


    He Qing immediately understood and brought the sweet potato to his lips.


    Lin Zhengran took a small bite.


    He Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    ¡°Is it good?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good. Now you eat.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Only after he had eaten did she feel justified in eating.


    She swallowed hard before taking a huge bite herself.


    The heat made her huff and puff, but she still chewed happily.


    ¡°Mmm! It¡¯s so sweet! Do you want more?¡±


    ¡°No, you enjoy it. And slow down¡ªaren¡¯t you burning your mouth?¡±


    She hummed in response, stuffing another bite into her mouth.


    Sometimes, rules were meant to be broken.


    ¡ª


    Back at Lin Zhengran¡¯s house, Lin Yingjun was watching TV on the couch.


    Seeing his son return with He Qing, he greeted them casually.


    ¡°You two came back together?¡±


    He Qing, feeling a little shy, greeted politely, ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at his dad.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking He Qing out for a bit. We¡¯ll be back later. Oh, and¡ªshe¡¯s staying over tonight.¡±


    Lin Yingjun nodded, then paused.


    ¡°¡­Little Qing is staying over?¡±


    He Qing froze.


    Her face turned red as she looked at Lin Zhengran in shock.


    Lin Zhengran met their questioning gazes.


    ¡°What, do you want to go back to school? Fine, suit yourself.¡±


    He Qing stammered.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t want to go back¡­¡±

 Chapter 103: An Unexpected Encounter

    Lin Zhengran casually said, ¡°I have a double bed in my room, so we can just share it. If you''re uncomfortable, we can put a blanket in the middle as a divider.¡±


    After saying that, he went to his room to drop off his bag and change clothes.


    Little He Qing blinked in shock, her brain short-circuiting. Her heart pounded wildly, and she felt incredibly nervous.


    Lin Yingjun, who was standing nearby, blinked as well. He trusted his son¡¯s righteous character¡ªafter all, they had grown up together and often played and napped in the same room. But still¡­


    He walked into his son¡¯s room and hesitantly asked, ¡°Ranran, about this¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Lin Zhengran explained, ¡°I was just teasing her. I¡¯ll sleep in the study tonight.¡±


    His father chuckled in relief. He knew it.


    Stepping out of the room, he smiled at He Qing and said, ¡°Little Qingqing, since you¡¯re staying over, I¡¯ll find an extra blanket for you tonight.¡±


    Still unaware of the truth, He Qing blushed and looked at Uncle Lin in embarrassment. ¡°T-Thank you, Uncle.¡±


    By the time Lin Zhengran finished changing and freshening up, he saw He Qing curled up on the sofa, her face flushed red as if she was lost in some kind of fantasy about tonight.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving, He Qing.¡±


    She was startled by his voice and immediately stood up. ¡°Okay!¡±


    After saying goodbye to Lin Yingjun, the two of them left the residential complex and headed straight for the town¡¯s Taekwondo Center.


    On the way, He Qing bit her lip, unable to shake off the thought of unexpectedly staying over at his house.


    Seeing her dazed expression, Lin Zhengran knocked her on the head. ¡°The competition is today. What are you daydreaming about?¡±


    He Qing clutched her head and stammered, ¡°N-Nothing¡­ It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    She lowered her head, staring at the ground. ¡°It¡¯s just that this is my first time spending the night at your place¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, if you put it that way. But didn¡¯t you used to sleep in my bed all the time when we were little? This isn¡¯t the first time we¡¯ve spent the night together.¡±


    Hearing this, He Qing realized he was right¡ªit wasn¡¯t their first time.


    But¡­ sharing a bed now felt completely different from before.


    Lin Zhengran reminded her, ¡°Stop thinking about pointless stuff. Focus on the Taekwondo competition. You¡¯ve been preparing for so long, and the match is this afternoon. Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After all these years of your training, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll lose.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. But if you do end up facing someone really strong, I¡¯ll teach you a few emergency moves.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Even though they were still in town, He Qing¡¯s Taekwondo skills had already become much more professional, unlike the mix of martial arts and basic Taekwondo she learned in kindergarten and elementary school.


    Back then, the training had been all over the place and unstructured. It made sense¡ªafter all, the place was called the . They taught a bit of everything.


    But ever since middle school, He Qing had only been learning proper Taekwondo techniques. Many of the old, unregulated moves she had picked up before were no longer allowed.


    When they arrived at the Taekwondo Center, the coach welcomed her warmly.


    ¡°He Qing! We¡¯ll be taking the bus to the town¡¯s competition hall in an hour. You can use this time to warm up. This morning, we¡¯ll meet the other competitors from different dojos, and the official matches will start in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Coach.¡±


    The coach, dressed in a crisp white Taekwondo uniform, let out a deep breath.


    ¡°Honestly, even though you signed up here at the start of middle school, I haven¡¯t really taught you much. Most of your training came from Lin Zhengran. This place is basically just your practice ground.¡±


    He Qing smiled sheepishly.


    It was true¡ªeverything she knew was taught by Lin Zhengran. She had only learned a little from the coach when she was a clueless kid, but after transferring schools and coming back, all her training had come from Lin Zhengran.


    And it wasn¡¯t just her¡ªthe coach himself had occasionally learned from Lin Zhengran too.


    For the next hour, Lin Zhengran helped He Qing with some light warm-ups.


    Watching her, barefoot in her Taekwondo uniform, delivering powerful kicks to the sandbag, he couldn¡¯t help but admire how much she had grown over the years.


    An hour later, all the students boarded the bus to the town¡¯s Taekwondo competition center.


    The venue was massive. As Lin Zhengran, He Qing, and the others entered, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of excitement.


    There were five or six professional competition platforms, surrounded by a wide audience area, making the place feel grand and impressive.


    The coach reminded everyone, ¡°The other dojos will be arriving soon. Since you all share a love for Taekwondo, feel free to make friends and exchange contacts, but remember¡ªthe main focus today is the competition.¡±


    Although the coach said that, in reality, small-town tournaments like this were more about socializing. After all, finding a truly outstanding athlete in a small town was rare.


    As Lin Zhengran scanned the crowd, watching coaches and competitors from different dojos arrive, his eyes suddenly landed on a familiar figure.


    She had long, slightly wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, a slender waist, and a pair of perfectly proportioned legs. She walked gracefully in high heels, her gaze warm and gentle.


    It seemed many of the coaches already knew her¡ªsome even greeted her directly.


    ¡°President Jiang, I didn¡¯t expect you to come watch the competition in person this time.¡±


    That woman was none other than Jiang Jingshi.


    She surveyed the venue with a scrutinizing gaze. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that there¡¯s a very talented girl in this tournament? Stronger than your veteran students? I wanted to see for myself. Which dojo is she from?¡±


    The coach pointed in Lin Zhengran¡¯s direction. ¡°She¡¯s over there.¡±


    Following the direction of his finger, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes landed on a familiar young man.


    Their gazes met from across the room.


    At first, Jiang Jingshi was surprised, but then she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a coincidence¡­¡± she murmured to herself.


    She lifted her hand slightly in greeting.


    Lin Zhengran nodded back in acknowledgment.


    Seeing this exchange, He Qing turned toward the beautiful woman in the distance and asked in surprise, ¡°Who is that? Lin Zhengran, do you know her?¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°I¡¯ve met her once before.¡±


    Their coach walked over and asked in shock, ¡°Lin Zhengran, you know President Jiang?¡±


    He Qing was puzzled. ¡°President Jiang?¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The coach nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s Jiang Jingshi. Don¡¯t let her young age fool you¡ªshe¡¯s only about four years older than you guys, but you see how big this venue is?


    This competition hall wasn¡¯t always this grand. It was because of President Jiang¡¯s investment that it got such a huge renovation. The tournament was actually canceled for a year, and it was only thanks to her funding that we¡¯re able to hold it again.¡±


    The coach then noticed Jiang Jingshi walking over and quickly straightened up. ¡°I don¡¯t know why she did it¡ªmaybe rich people just have their own reasons.¡±


    He immediately greeted her. ¡°Good afternoon, President Jiang!¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded at him before another coach introduced He Qing.


    ¡°She¡¯s the one¡ªthe strongest student from that dojo. Her name¡¯s He Qing.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s coach nodded. ¡°She¡¯s our best student. With proper training, she could even compete at the provincial level.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at He Qing, then at Lin Zhengran.


    Seeing how closely He Qing stood next to him, clearly relying on him, Jiang Jingshi asked, ¡°I heard He Qing is your student, but you¡¯re not actually the one who trained her?¡±


    The coach scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s right, President Jiang. It was mostly this kid, Lin Zhengran, who trained her. He never officially signed up for Taekwondo, but his talent is incredible¡ªI even learn from him sometimes.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi looked at Lin Zhengran in surprise, thinking to herself,


    Clicking her heels against the floor, she approached him with a warm smile.


    ¡°Well, well, Ranran, fancy meeting you here.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to run into you here either, Jiang Jie.¡±


    He Qing looked back and forth between the beautiful woman and Lin Zhengran, suddenly feeling that something about this situation was¡­ strange.


    A girl¡¯s intuition.

 Chapter 104: Jiang Jingshi’s Elite Team

    During lunchtime, Jiang Jingshi, as the venue¡¯s biggest sponsor, provided free, high-quality boxed meals for everyone.


    People scattered to find their own spots to eat.


    Before handing out the meals, Jiang Jingshi specially came over to ask Lin Zhengran, ¡°Ranran, and little He Qing, do you two want to eat in my car? There¡¯s not much space here, and I have some extra dishes in my car. After eating, you can also rest for a bit.¡±


    He Qing was puzzled¡ªwhy was this beautiful sister treating Lin Zhengran so well? Weren¡¯t they supposed to have only met once?


    She didn¡¯t say anything and simply looked at Lin Zhengran.


    He politely declined, ¡°Thanks, Jiang Jie, but we¡¯re fine here. I want to take He Qing to observe the competition area after we eat.¡±


    A faint sense of happiness flashed across He Qing¡¯s face, but she kept her expression neutral, trying not to show it. Instead, she just stood naturally beside him.


    Jiang Jingshi smiled and didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t bother you two. Good luck in the afternoon matches, little He Qing.¡±


    He Qing blinked and nodded.


    Jiang Jingshi left, heading back to her car. No matter where she passed, the coaches would greet her respectfully as ¡°President Jiang,¡± and she acknowledged each greeting with a simple nod.


    He Qing watched her elegant figure and graceful demeanor, as well as the way she commanded so much respect. Her little head was filled with thoughts she couldn''t quite sort out.


    She was so lost in thought that she didn¡¯t even hear Lin Zhengran calling her.


    ¡°He Qing, there are two types of boxed meals. Which one do you want?¡±


    He called her twice before she snapped back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything! Whatever you eat, I¡¯ll eat too!¡±


    After lining up to get their meals, the two of them sat in the audience section along with the rest of the Taekwondo team.


    Opening the boxes, they saw a generous portion of meat, vegetables, and even a bowl of pork rib soup.


    Just as He Qing picked up some meat with her chopsticks, Lin Zhengran immediately stopped her.


    ¡°Focus on eating for yourself today. I¡¯m just a spectator this afternoon, but you¡¯re the one competing.¡±


    Surprisingly, he even put a piece of rib meat into her bowl. He Qing was caught off guard, staring at him in astonishment before breaking into a silly, sweet smile. Not wanting to feel like she was taking advantage, she picked up another piece of meat and placed it into his bowl.


    ¡°Then you eat this one. I can¡¯t finish all of it.¡±


    Despite her words, she actually had quite a large appetite¡ªabout twice that of an average girl.


    After all, although He Qing looked soft and delicate, her seemingly slender limbs were packed with strength. Not to mention her well-developed upper body¡ªwithout a proper diet, there was no way she could maintain her energy and growth.


    Halfway through the meal, she swallowed her rice and tugged at Lin Zhengran¡¯s sleeve.


    He looked at her curiously. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    She hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Um¡­ that sister¡ªhow did you meet her? I don¡¯t think you ever mentioned her before.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lin Zhengran answered truthfully, not seeing any reason to hide it.


    ¡°She¡¯s actually Jiang Qian¡¯s older sister. Last week, I ran into her while buying groceries at the supermarket. She found out I¡¯m her sister¡¯s desk mate, so we just chatted for a bit. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Jiang Qian¡¯s sister?!¡± He Qing was surprised. ¡°Isn¡¯t Jiang Qian your childhood engagement partner? So she¡¯s her older sister?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Why, are you really curious about her?¡±


    He Qing blinked a few times. Suddenly, she regained her appetite, realizing she might¡¯ve been overthinking things.


    If Jiang Qian¡¯s sister was so nice to Lin Zhengran, it was probably just because of her sister¡ªnot for any other reason.


    Grinning, she said, ¡°No, I was just asking.¡±


    Seeing her mood improve, Lin Zhengran continued eating.


    The afternoon matches kicked off in full swing.


    All participants, dressed in their Taekwondo uniforms, lined up for the drawing lots. The tournament was spread over two days, with separate categories for men and women. It was an elimination-style competition, where only one champion would be crowned.


    Since there was still some time left for warm-ups, Lin Zhengran used the opportunity to observe the competitors.


    He quickly noticed one particularly strong team¡ªthey weren¡¯t just here for fun. They looked like serious athletes aiming for professional competition.


    And at the front of that team stood Jiang Jingshi, speaking to them.


    Seeing his curiosity, Lin Zhengran¡¯s coach explained, ¡°That¡¯s President Jiang¡¯s personal team. They¡¯re all talented fighters with solid technique. If He Qing has any real competition today, it¡¯ll be from them.¡±


    He Qing tightened her belt with confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯m not losing to anyone!¡±


    Soon, the referees began calling the contestants for the first round of eliminations.


    Lin Zhengran sat with the other coaches, carefully watching the fights.


    But as expected, He Qing, with her natural talent and years of training under Lin Zhengran, easily dominated her opponents.


    None of the girls could even land a proper hit on her.


    At the same time, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s team was also crushing their competition. Out of their seven participants¡ªfive girls and two boys¡ªnot a single one had been eliminated.


    He Qing stood in the competition zone, locking eyes with the other remaining fighters. They all seemed to recognize who their true opponent was.


    As the afternoon matches continued, the tournament quickly narrowed down to the Top 16. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing stretched briefly before stepping back onto the competition mat, her expression unwavering.


    At that moment, Jiang Jingshi, wearing high heels, walked over to Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Ranran, this little He Qing is really impressive,¡± she said with a soft smile. ¡°After watching all afternoon, I¡¯d say she¡¯s on par with my team¡¯s best fighters.¡±


    Lin Zhengran greeted her and looked back at the competition area. ¡°She¡¯s strong. Her goal has always been the championship.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi took a seat beside him, her elegant fragrance subtly filling the air. Unlike Han Wenwen¡¯s alluring scent, hers was comforting and calming.


    Her lips parted slightly as she asked, ¡°Where did you find her? Talented young athletes like her are rare in the city. And from what I heard, you¡¯re the one who trained her?¡±


    Lin Zhengran never saw the need to hide things that were already public knowledge.


    ¡°Yeah, I taught her. But I didn¡¯t ¡®find¡¯ her¡ªwe¡¯ve known each other since we were little. He Qing is my childhood friend. Ever since she got into Taekwondo, I¡¯ve been training her. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi studied him curiously. ¡°So you¡¯ve been practicing Taekwondo since you were a kid too? Why didn¡¯t you ever officially enroll?¡±


    ¡°I was never really interested in competing myself. I just know a little, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi had met many people in her life. She smirked slightly¡ªshe could tell when someone was being modest.


    Looking toward He Qing, she mused, ¡°You¡¯re downplaying yourself, Ranran. No matter the field, an outsider can never effectively train an expert. A fighter like He Qing, who never had professional training yet reached this level, couldn¡¯t have gotten here without a coach who truly knows their stuff.¡±


    She paused, then added with a subtle smile, ¡°You really have a way of making people curious about you. My team¡¯s coaches are all professionals, yet somehow, they don¡¯t seem to have outperformed you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Now sounds like modesty, Jiang Jie. I¡¯m not that skilled.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s gaze deepened as she studied him. ¡°I hope I being modest. After all, I¡¯ve invested a lot of money into training this team. My goal was to nurture at least one athlete who could reach the top¡­ and now¡­¡±


    She let out a soft sigh.


    ¡°¡­Three of my fighters have already been eliminated by this little He Qing.¡±

 Chapter 105: Jiang Jingshi’s Thoughts and Caution

    On the stage, He Qing was panting heavily, her face drenched in sweat as her clear almond eyes looked down at her fallen opponent.


    Ever since she started competing against this team, she could clearly feel the difference in skill level compared to the others. These girls weren¡¯t just Taekwondo enthusiasts¡ªthey were on a whole different level.


    But that didn¡¯t stop He Qing from advancing round after round, defeating every opponent she faced.


    The girl lying on the mat stared at He Qing in shock. Apart from Lin Xue, the top fighter on her own team, she had never encountered another competitor of the same age with such a dominant gap in strength.


    The referee blew the whistle. ¡°He Qing wins!¡±


    He Qing walked over and extended her hand to help her opponent up. ¡°Here.¡±


    The girl hesitated for a moment before accepting the hand and getting up. Then, she gave He Qing a sincere compliment. ¡°You¡¯re really strong. To think you¡¯ve never had professional training¡­ I lost fair and square.¡±


    He Qing smiled sweetly. ¡°You¡¯re strong too.¡±


    The girl gave a friendly warning. ¡°With your skill, you¡¯ll at least take second place.¡±


    ¡°Second place?¡±


    ¡°Because we have a girl on our team named Lin Xue.¡±


    She gestured toward another competition platform, where a short-haired girl had just secured her spot in the Top 16.


    ¡°That¡¯s her¡ªLin Xue. She¡¯s definitely taking first place.¡±


    Following the direction of her opponent¡¯s gaze, He Qing looked at the girl in question.


    Then, she turned back and said confidently, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I face¡ªI¡¯m going to win.¡±


    The girl was stunned for a moment, impressed by her confidence. She nodded in admiration. ¡°If you really do win¡­ you have an incredible future ahead of you.¡±


    ¡ª


    From the audience, Jiang Jingshi observed both He Qing and the men¡¯s matches. Although one of her male fighters won, it was clear that he simply hadn¡¯t faced a strong opponent yet.


    Skill-wise, the two boys in her team were nowhere near the level of the girls. They weren¡¯t even good enough for a city-level tournament, let alone a provincial one.


    Investing any more money in them would be a waste.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Well, at least after this tournament, I¡¯ve sorted out which competitors are worth keeping.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at the short-haired girl. ¡°So Lin Xue is the strongest fighter in your team, huh? She does seem to be on another level compared to the rest.¡±


    ¡°Mm. She¡¯s not from this province¡ªI recruited her from another region. Lin Xue is incredibly talented, but she has a bit of an arrogant personality.


    As strong as He Qing is, I don¡¯t think she can beat Lin Xue.¡±


    Lin Zhengran remained silent.


    Jiang Jingshi raised an eyebrow. ¡°What? Do you think your little He Qing can win?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her, then hesitated slightly before saying, ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve invested so much money into training your team, I don¡¯t want to sound biased¡­¡±


    Jiang Jingshi laughed. ¡°Just be honest¡ªI prefer straight talk.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes shone with unwavering confidence. ¡°I think He Qing is going to be the champion. And not just that¡­ she win.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes widened slightly before she suddenly chuckled.


    ¡°If that really happens, then it just proves there¡¯s always someone stronger out there.¡±


    She looked at Lin Zhengran with renewed interest. ¡°Still, I have faith in my fighter. Let¡¯s see which one of us is right¡ªI say Lin Xue will win.¡±


    ¡ª


    The competition continued, narrowing down the final eight fighters.


    By sheer luck¡ªor misfortune¡ªHe Qing didn¡¯t get matched against Lin Xue this round. Instead, she drew another competitor.


    After taking a short break to drink some water, He Qing glanced toward the audience and immediately noticed something.


    That beautiful older sister had somehow ended up sitting beside Lin Zhengran. The two of them were chatting away, looking quite comfortable together.


    Her body stiffened, her gaze turning blank as she stared in disbelief.


    A tiny surge of jealousy bubbled up inside her.


    But at that moment, Lin Zhengran noticed her looking and casually waved at her.


    Seeing this, He Qing finally smiled and waved back, feeling motivated again.


    Jiang Jingshi, watching from the side, took note of this exchange.


    ¡ª


    Suddenly, Lin Zhengran turned to Jiang Jingshi and asked, ¡°By the way, Jiang Jie, why did you invest so much money into training a competitive Taekwondo team? The Jiang Corporation is mainly involved in offline product sales, right? What got you so interested in Taekwondo?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a personal hobby. When I was little, I watched the Olympics and thought Taekwondo was really cool. The female athletes had such elegant physiques, and I admired that. But since I had no talent for it myself, I decided to invest in people who have talent.


    Of course, this isn¡¯t the only field I invest in.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°You invest in other areas too? Also in sports?¡±


    ¡°Oh, not exactly. I also have a team of singers. In fact, I¡¯m sponsoring a music competition next week.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    A music company?


    As far as he knew, the only major competition happening in town next week was the one Jiang Xueli was participating in.


    So that meant¡­


    Jiang Jingshi noticed his thoughtful silence. ¡°What? Something surprising?¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°No, nothing.¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She turned her attention back to the tournament.


    ¡°Of course, at the end of the day, I¡¯m still a businesswoman. While my personal interests play a role, my ultimate goal is to cultivate future stars. If I personally invest in their growth, they¡¯ll be loyal to me.


    That means I won¡¯t have to spend as much money hiring them for advertisements and promotional videos. It¡¯s a long-term investment.¡±


    She held up a finger.


    ¡°Think of it this way¡ªI''m not just helping my family¡¯s corporation, but also my little sister¡¯s company.


    Nowadays, whether it¡¯s a sports star or a music artist, their value skyrockets in the digital age. With enough funding and exposure, even a random meme can make someone go viral.


    Now imagine what happens when I put that same money into actual professionals. With my resources, I can push them into the spotlight and make a fortune.¡±


    Before Lin Zhengran could respond, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes sharpened slightly.


    A subtle trace of admiration, mixed with a hint of caution, appeared in her gaze.


    She stared straight into his eyes and spoke slowly, her tone measured.


    ¡°So, Ranran, what are plans for the future?


    You clearly have the talent to train elite fighters. You excel in so many different areas, yet you never compete yourself.


    I don¡¯t think you¡¯re just helping He Qing out of kindness.


    It feels like¡­ you have your own plan.¡±


    Before he could answer, the referee¡¯s voice echoed through the venue.


    ¡°The match is over¡ªHe Qing wins!¡±

 Chapter 106: Sneaking Over to Find Him at Night

    Hearing the referee¡¯s announcement, Jiang Jingshi turned toward the arena.


    ¡°The matches are over for today. As expected, no one besides Lin Xue could put up a real fight against little He Qing. Well then, Ranran, I have some things to take care of, so I¡¯ll be heading out first. Tomorrow¡¯s the final two matches¡ªwe¡¯ll see who takes the championship then.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°See you tomorrow, Jiang Jie.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled. ¡°Goodbye, Ranran. I enjoyed our chat.¡±


    Just as she was about to turn and leave, her high heel suddenly got caught in a small dent on the audience platform floor.


    She lost her balance and almost fell¡ª


    But Lin Zhengran reacted swiftly, instinctively reaching out to support her.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s entire body leaned against his chest, their hands grasped together. A delicate fragrance filled the air.


    ¡°Jiang Jie, are you alright?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi slowly looked up, her face inches from his. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ Thanks.¡±


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, He Qing was still smiling after her victory, but when she turned toward the audience, she suddenly froze.


    She saw Jiang Jingshi leaning against Lin Zhengran, their hands still intertwined.


    Her face instantly turned pale.


    Without even taking off her protective gear properly, she rushed down from the arena.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran!¡±


    ¡ª


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s near fall had caught the attention of several coaches and tournament officials, who hurried over in a panic.


    ¡°President Jiang! Are you alright?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi steadied herself and glanced down at the small hole in the floor. ¡°I¡¯m fine. But you should get this fixed. If someone else steps into it, they might actually get hurt.¡±


    The venue manager nodded hastily. ¡°Yes, yes! We¡¯ll have it repaired tonight! We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience!¡±


    Jiang Jingshi wasn¡¯t angry, but as she turned back to Lin Zhengran to thank him once again, she noticed He Qing approaching.


    Smirking slightly, she whispered, ¡°See you tomorrow, Ranran.¡±


    Just then, her phone rang. She answered it as she walked away, flanked by a few assistants, disappearing into the distance.


    ¡ª


    By the time He Qing reached Lin Zhengran, Jiang Jingshi had already left the competition hall.


    Still sweating from her match, He Qing was so flustered she could barely form a sentence.


    ¡°What¡­ What just happened?! What was that?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her amusedly. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry?¡±


    ¡°How could I be? I just saw¡ªI just saw¡ª¡±


    Knowing exactly what she was worried about, Lin Zhengran calmly explained, ¡°Jiang Jie almost tripped just now, so I just helped her up. That¡¯s all.¡±


    He Qing stared at him blankly.


    He pointed at the small dent in the ground. ¡°Right there.¡±


    She glanced at the hole skeptically but still asked, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°What else would it be?¡±


    Lin Zhengran noticed sweat dripping down from her forehead, even clinging to her eyelashes.


    He reached out and gently wiped away the moisture from her eyes. ¡°You did great today. Let¡¯s head to the locker room so you can change and relax.¡±


    Feeling the warmth of his touch, He Qing¡¯s frustration melted away.


    Her cheeks flushed red, and she nodded. ¡°Mm¡­ Then I¡¯ll go change.¡±


    With that, she wiped her forehead with her wrist, her gaze lingering on him before she hurried off.


    ¡ª


    Before she left, Lin Zhengran¡¯s coach approached with a big grin.


    ¡°He Qing, why are you running off so fast? You did an amazing job today! You¡¯ve made it to the final four! Just two more matches tomorrow!¡±


    He Qing beamed. ¡°Yes!¡±


    Several other competitors came over to congratulate Lin Zhengran as well.


    Even though they had lost to He Qing, seeing her dominate every round still made them feel proud of her.


    Hearing their praises, He Qing couldn¡¯t help but feel a little smug.


    Back in kindergarten, she had been the kid everyone bullied and picked on.


    Now, she was the one everyone admired.


    Only she knew how satisfying that felt.


    ¡ª


    Lin Zhengran accompanied He Qing to the locker room.


    The tournament venue had designated post-match relaxation areas where female trainers guided the athletes on how to relieve muscle tension and recover their stamina.


    He Qing spent a good amount of time there before finally taking a shower.


    By the time she came out, her body felt completely refreshed and relaxed.


    Her hair was tied up again, and she had changed back into her regular clothes.


    With a bright smile, she ran up to Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran! Let¡¯s go to the car! Did you watch all my matches today? Were you satisfied? I didn¡¯t lose a single one!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded as they walked toward the car. ¡°I was watching the whole time. You did amazing. Are you feeling sore anywhere?¡±


    ¡°Nope! But one of the girls told me that tomorrow I¡¯ll be facing a really strong opponent¡ªLin Xue.¡±


    ¡°I saw her too. The short-haired one, right? She¡¯s definitely on a different level than the others. But don¡¯t worry¡ªget some good rest tonight, and I¡¯ll teach you a new move in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± she chirped, as cheerful as a little sparrow.


    ¡ª


    By the time they got home, it was already evening.


    Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun had prepared dinner in advance.


    As soon as they saw He Qing, Lin Xiaoli beamed.


    ¡°Oh! Little Qingqing and Ranran are back! I heard you guys went to a tournament today?!¡±


    He Qing greeted her politely, ¡°Good evening, Auntie! I did, but it¡¯s not over yet. There are still two matches tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re competing again tomorrow?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli adored He Qing. ¡°How did you do today? Did you win?¡±


    He Qing grinned. ¡°Of course! With Lin Zhengran training me, I lose!¡±


    Lin Xiaoli clapped her hands excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s my Qingqing! You¡¯re definitely going to win tomorrow too!¡±


    Lin Yingjun, though unfamiliar with Taekwondo, smiled at their enthusiasm. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat. Wash your hands first, you two.¡±


    The four of them gathered around the dinner table, eating like a family.


    ¡ª


    After dinner, it was already past 7 PM.


    Outside, the night sky was pitch-black.


    In Lin Zhengran¡¯s bedroom, he carefully checked He Qing for any injuries.


    Satisfied that she was fine, he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom.¡±


    As soon as he left, He Qing hurried to tidy up the bed¡ªflattening the blanket, adjusting the pillows¡ª


    Because tonight¡­ she was so nervous.


    Even more nervous than during the competition.


    She had been thinking about it all day.


    She was going to sleep in the same bed as Lin Zhengran.


    But when Lin Zhengran returned from the bathroom, things didn¡¯t go as she expected.


    He glanced at her tidying up and casually said,


    ¡°No need to do all that. Just lie down and get some rest. Recovery is the most important thing after a match.¡±


    Then, without hesitation, he grabbed a pillow and a blanket¡ª


    And walked toward the door.


    He Qing blinked in confusion. ¡°Where are you going? Why are you taking the blanket and pillow? I just made the bed!¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied matter-of-factly, ¡°I¡¯m sleeping in the study. Of course, I¡¯m taking my stuff.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He Qing scrambled off the bed and followed him. ¡°What do you mean? Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d sleep in the same room? In the same bed?¡±


    As he arranged his bedding in the study¡¯s single bed, he answered nonchalantly,


    ¡°You actually believed that? I was just messing with you. You¡¯re not a little kid anymore. Do you really think it¡¯s normal for us to share a bed now?¡±


    ¡°But I used to sleep in your bed when we were little!¡±


    ¡°That was during nap time. And now isn¡¯t the same as back then. I¡¯m letting you have the big bed so you can sleep comfortably. It¡¯s big enough for you to stretch however you want.¡±


    He turned to see her standing in the doorway, looking completely dumbfounded.


    ¡°What are you standing there for? Go rest. I¡¯ll wake you up in the morning.¡±


    A few minutes later, Lin Zhengran led her back to his bedroom, tucked her into the bed, turned off the lights, and closed the door.


    ¡°Alright. Good night. If you need anything, just call me¡ªI¡¯m right next door.¡±


    The door shut.


    Lying alone in bed, staring at the dark ceiling, He Qing suddenly felt like crying.


    After spending so much time with him, she didn¡¯t to sleep alone anymore¡­


    Tossing and turning for what felt like forever, she made a decision.


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 Chapter 107: Wish

    It wasn¡¯t too late at night. Through the window, lights from neighboring homes were still visible.


    After forming her little plan, Little He Qing slowly sat up in bed.


    Just as she was about to get out, she suddenly heard Lin Xiaoli¡¯s voice from the living room:


    ¡°Ranran, has Little Qingqing lain down yet?¡±


    Frightened, He Qing¡¯s body stiffened, not daring to move.


    Outside, Lin Zhengran was tidying up the single bed in the study when he heard his mom¡¯s curious question. From the sound of it, she had just plopped down onto the bed.


    ¡°She just lay down. She¡¯s probably still awake,¡± he replied.


    Lin Xiaoli said, ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll go check on her. This is her first time staying over at our place, after all.¡±


    He Qing quickly heard Aunt Lin knocking on her door.


    Panicking, she hurriedly shrank back under the covers, anxiously tidying her blanket. Her small hands clutched the edges tightly, acting all obedient.


    Outside, Lin Xiaoli, dressed in her pajamas, knocked and asked, ¡°Little Qingqing? It¡¯s me, Auntie. Are you asleep?¡±


    Pretending to be drowsy, He Qing still had a bit of cunning in her. If she seemed sleepy, she wouldn¡¯t have to chat too long with the adults and could sneak away later.


    ¡°Mmm, Auntie, I¡¯m not asleep yet. What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Oh, nothing much, just checking if you¡¯re comfortable. It¡¯s your first time staying over, after all.¡±


    He Qing replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m sleeping very well. Also, Auntie, you can just come in and talk. No need to stay outside.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli opened the door and poked her head in. Seeing He Qing blinking up at her, they both ended up giggling foolishly at each other.


    Walking over, Lin Xiaoli sat on the bed. ¡°Is it comfy, Little Qingqing? When I got back this afternoon, your uncle told me you were staying the night, and I was so surprised!¡±


    Grinning widely, He Qing said, ¡°Sorry for intruding, Auntie and Uncle. Next time I come over, I¡¯ll bring you guys some tasty treats!¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re too cute, Little Qingqing. No need for that! Just treat this place like your own home. If you ever want to stay, just stay. Ranran can always sleep in the study.¡±


    ¡­


    In the study, Lin Zhengran shut the door, lying in bed with just a bedside lamp on, reading under the covers. A few minutes later, he heard his mom leaving his room after talking with He Qing.


    As she passed the living room, she turned off the lights.


    ¡°Little Qingqing, have a good rest. Auntie is going to bed too.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s voice responded, ¡°Okay, Auntie, sleep well. Good night.¡±


    ¡°Good night, Little Qingqing.¡±


    Then came the sound of doors closing and lights switching off. Through the crack under his door, Lin Zhengran could see the living room turn completely dark.


    But about two minutes later, he suddenly heard rustling noises¡ªlike a little mouse sneaking around.


    The sound came from He Qing¡¯s room.


    This mouse was moving slowly, even closing doors quietly.


    Then, in a hushed whisper:


    ¡°Lin¡­ Lin Zhengran? Lin Zhengran? Are you asleep? Are you?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the door, wondering what this little mouse was up to.


    Outside, He Qing, not getting a response, hesitated to knock for fear that Auntie and Uncle would hear.


    Spotting the small gap under the door, she suddenly had the idea to lie on the floor and speak through it. That way, he should hear her better.


    But just as she whispered, ¡°Lin¡ª¡±


    The door swung open.


    At first, Lin Zhengran saw no one, then looked down and spotted He Qing sprawled on the floor.


    So he hadn¡¯t misheard.


    ¡°What are you doing, crawling around like a little mouse?¡± he asked.


    Terrified that Auntie and Uncle would hear, He Qing quickly put a finger to her lips and hushed him. ¡°Shh! Keep your voice down! They¡¯ll hear us.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had no idea what she was so nervous about. So what if they heard? It wasn¡¯t like they were doing anything bad. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing slowly got up from the floor, patting the nonexistent dust off her clothes. The floor was actually quite clean since they had mopped after dinner.


    She anxiously glanced at Lin Zhengran, fidgeting with her fingers.


    ¡°I¡­ can I come in and talk?¡± she asked.


    After closing the door again, Lin Zhengran sat on his bed, looking at He Qing standing in front of him. She still spoke like a guilty child explaining herself.


    ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± he asked.


    The room was dim, lit only by the small bedside lamp, making everything feel quiet and intimate.


    He Qing looked at him, but now that she was here, she didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°I just¡­ can¡¯t fall asleep alone,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°Are you scared?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No, not scared. You¡¯re right next door, so I¡¯m not afraid. I just¡­ I just can¡¯t sleep alone.¡± She repeated herself.


    Lin Zhengran blinked, puzzled. ¡°So? How can you fall asleep then?¡±


    Head down, she nervously twisted her thumbs together, sneaking glances at him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just can¡¯t sleep alone,¡± she mumbled.


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. But he had a good guess what this little girl wanted. So, he came up with an idea.


    ¡°How about you sit in my bed for a bit? See if it makes you sleepy. If it does, then go back to your room.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyes widened, surprised by the offer. Slowly, she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Zhengran moved to the side and lifted the blanket near the wall. ¡°Come sit under the covers. Warm your feet up first.¡±


    Hurriedly slipping off her slippers, He Qing climbed onto the bed, sitting next to him with her lower body covered by the blanket.


    Lin Zhengran smirked at how happy this little fool looked.


    ¡°Think this will make you sleepy?¡± he asked.


    She eagerly nodded. ¡°Mhm! It will.¡±


    Ignoring her foolish excitement, Lin Zhengran continued reading, the warm light casting sharp shadows on his features.


    Meanwhile, He Qing felt her heart racing. Far from feeling sleepy, she was getting more and more excited.


    Her heart pounded wildly.


    ¡°¡­Lin Zhengran,¡± she murmured, ¡°do you think that older sister from the daytime is pretty?¡±


    ¡°Hm? What do you mean?¡±


    She hesitated, then asked, ¡°I mean, do you like her type more, or do you like my type more?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at He Qing¡¯s determined little face, realizing she had mustered a lot of courage to ask this.


    After thinking for a moment, he kept his eyes on the book and answered:


    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about ¡®type,¡¯ it¡¯s about the same. Whether it¡¯s a cool older sister or a silly little sweetheart, they¡¯re both fine to me. But if you¡¯re asking about a person¡­ right now, I like you more. You¡¯re with me all the time, after all.¡±


    He Qing felt like she was floating. Her eyes widened, shoulders tensed.


    Mouth slightly open, she stared at him in disbelief.


    ¡°R-really?¡±


    ¡°Really. Why would I lie to you?¡±


    She rubbed the blanket with her little hands and whispered, ¡°Then I¡¯ll answer too¡­ I like you too.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand paused mid-page flip. He turned to look at her flushed cheeks and her dazed expression.


    ¡°¡­What did you say?¡±


    Blinking once, He Qing spoke softly but clearly.


    ¡°I said¡ªI like you.¡±


    A brief silence.


    Then, unable to contain herself, she covered her burning face with both hands, curled up, and buried her head in her knees.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything by it!¡± she hurriedly explained. ¡°It¡¯s not a confession or anything, just¡­ just saying it.¡±


    Like a tiny mosquito, she muttered, ¡°I just wanted to tell you that I like you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran exhaled a chuckle and set his book aside.


    ¡°If I win the championship tomorrow, what wish do you want granted? I did say I¡¯d grant you one.¡±


    He Qing peeked up cautiously, seeing that he wasn¡¯t angry.


    ¡°¡­I thought about it,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°And?¡±


    She bit her lip.


    ¡°I want to hold hands¡­ I want to hold hands with you.¡±


    Their eyes met.


    ¡°¡­Is that so? Alright.¡±

 Chapter 108: A Wonderful Dream That Wasn’t a Dream

    He Qing didn¡¯t expect him to agree so quickly. She immediately sat up. ¡°Really?¡±


    Lin Zhengran answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Of course. I promised to grant you one wish, and I always keep my word. As long as it¡¯s not too much, I¡¯ll agree to anything you ask.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Anything¡­¡±


    Even though she was happy, He Qing suddenly felt like she had lost out on something. If she had asked for something even bolder just now, maybe he would have agreed too¡­


    ¡°Can I change my wish?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Of course not. You can¡¯t take back a wish. You only get one chance.¡± Lin Zhengran rejected her outright.


    Seeing her flustered and looking both wronged and regretful, he patted his shoulder as a sort of compensation.


    At first, He Qing didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What?¡±


    But then she quickly caught on, her heart racing and her face turning red.


    Lin Zhengran picked up his book again.


    ¡°Lean on me and rest for a bit. If you just sit there like that all night, I doubt you¡¯ll ever feel sleepy. Besides, even though you didn¡¯t get hurt today, you still fought matches all afternoon. You must be exhausted. Sitting upright won¡¯t help you recover, but leaning on me might be a little more comfortable.¡±


    He Qing pursed her lips.


    Everything happening tonight felt unreal.


    He was being so nice to her today.


    Even if it was just a dream, she wanted to get closer to him while she still could.


    Still, she hesitated. ¡°I really¡­ can lean on you?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, go ahead.¡±


    Tentatively, He Qing grabbed onto the sleeve of his pajama top, slowly shifting her weight until her whole upper body was resting against his shoulder.


    Her long hair draped down naturally, and she felt completely at ease.


    Feeling the solid warmth of Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm and breathing in his scent, she was overwhelmed with happiness, as if colorful bubbles were floating all around her.


    ¡°Your shoulder is so comfy¡­ feels really¡­ soft,¡± she murmured.


    Lin Zhengran frowned, glancing at her. ¡°What do you mean ¡®soft¡¯? Can¡¯t you describe things properly?¡±


    Startled, He Qing quickly sat up, afraid he¡¯d get mad and stop letting her rest on him. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that! I meant it¡¯s very comfortable! Your arms are really strong! I didn¡¯t mean ¡®soft¡¯ like that!¡±


    Lin Zhengran ignored her nonsense and went back to reading.


    He Qing sighed in relief.


    At least he hadn¡¯t pushed her away.


    Feeling particularly clever, He Qing started sneakily inching her hand toward his arm, wanting to link arms with him like she had seen in TV dramas.


    She moved bit by bit, afraid he would notice.


    Of course, Lin Zhengran knew exactly what she was up to. He just didn¡¯t bother stopping her.


    Eventually, she successfully hooked her arm around his, grinning proudly to herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m so smart,¡± she giggled. Then she asked, ¡°Lin Zhengran, why do you always read?¡±


    ¡°What else would I do?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± She counted on her fingers. ¡°Chat with Wenwen! We talk about clothes, makeup, school, and¡­¡± She blushed. And dirty jokes.


    Han Wenwen loved talking about those.


    Lin Zhengran turned another page. ¡°Talk about what?¡±


    Like a little drum, He Qing shook her head vigorously. ¡°Nothing! Nothing at all!¡±


    She quickly changed the subject. ¡°But I just meant¡­ don¡¯t you ever take a break? Studying all the time must be exhausting. I feel bad for you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    The way she looked at him¡ªso concerned, so sincere¡ªwas ridiculous.


    ¡°Close your eyes and rest,¡± he told her. ¡°Once you get sleepy, go back to your room. You have another match tomorrow.¡±


    He Qing nodded, happily snuggling against him. Her small feet rubbed against his leg under the blanket, and she shut her eyes.


    Tonight really felt like a dream.


    Lin Zhengran smelled so nice¡­


    Oh! Right! I was supposed to ask if he thinks I smell nice too¡­ I forgot!


    They say when two people like each other, they can smell a special scent on one another.


    I can smell his¡­ I wonder if he can smell mine?


    To Lin Zhengran¡¯s surprise, He Qing fell asleep almost instantly.


    Her breathing evened out in less than two minutes.


    She was out like a light.


    Looking at her sleeping face, he noticed her long eyelashes.


    Even though they spent all their time together, and he had gotten used to her looks, there were still moments when he was struck by how sweet her face was. A kind of sweetness that even other pretty girls couldn¡¯t match.


    She had been exhausted. The only reason she couldn¡¯t sleep earlier was because of all the nonsense in her head. But as soon as she relaxed, she was out in an instant.


    Carefully, Lin Zhengran climbed out of bed.


    Then, in a princess carry, he lifted He Qing into his arms and carried her back to her room.


    After tucking her in, he was about to leave when she murmured in her sleep:


    ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ we¡¯ll be together forever, right?¡±


    He reached out and gently patted her head.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Then he quietly shut the door and left.


    The next morning, the sun was shining.


    He Qing woke up feeling well-rested.


    But the moment she saw her surroundings, she froze.


    Wait. This is Lin Zhengran¡¯s house.


    She shot up in bed, her mind replaying everything from last night.


    No way. No way!! Was last night really just a dream?!


    Outside, Lin Zhengran knocked on her door. ¡°What¡¯s with all the yelling? Get up and eat breakfast.¡±


    Hearing his voice, He Qing hurriedly called out, ¡°Lin Zhengran! Don¡¯t go! I need to ask you something!¡±


    Lin Zhengran opened the door, already used to her clueless antics. ¡°What?¡±


    Wearing her pajamas and blushing, He Qing stammered, ¡°I¡­ last night¡­ did I¡­ did I come find you?¡±


    Lin Zhengran stared at her blankly.


    She stared back just as blankly.


    Finally, he sighed. ¡°You fell asleep, so I carried you over. Whatever weird dream you just had, forget it. Now get up.¡±


    A wave of happiness washed over He Qing.


    She couldn¡¯t stop smiling.


    Joy radiated from her face as she beamed at him.


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯m getting up!¡±


    Humming cheerfully, she got dressed, her inner "lady of the house" instincts kicking in. She neatly folded Lin Zhengran¡¯s blanket and straightened up his bed.


    As she worked, she sang to herself.


    ¡°Not a dream~ Not a dream~ It¡¯s all real~¡±


    Then she skipped out of the room.


    ¡°Where are Uncle and Auntie?¡± she asked.


    Sitting at the coffee table, eating breakfast, Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°They went out shopping. Probably won¡¯t be back until the afternoon. But we won¡¯t be here by then¡ªwe¡¯ll go straight to school.¡±


    ¡°Oh, got it!¡±


    After washing her hands, she sat down beside him, turning to look at him.


    She wanted to say something.


    Lin Zhengran looked back at her. ¡°What now?¡±


    Like a lovestruck girl, He Qing shyly mumbled, ¡°I want to lean on your shoulder again¡­ like last night.¡±


    Lin Zhengran continued eating. ¡°Fine. But after that, make sure you win today¡¯s match. Don¡¯t lose to that Lin Xue girl.¡±


    ¡°Really?! Yay! I won¡¯t lose!¡±


    Grinning, He Qing scooted her chair closer, linking her arm around his and resting her head on his shoulder. Her feet dangled off the chair, swinging back and forth.


    ¡°This bread is so good! Here, let me feed you,¡± she offered sweetly.


    ¡°No need. I have hands.¡±


    sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 109: A Perfectly Conditioned He Qing

    After breakfast, before even heading to the taekwondo center, Lin Zhengran started explaining a certain technique to He Qing at home.


    In reality, taekwondo only had a limited set of moves. There were a few advanced techniques He Qing hadn¡¯t learned yet, but Lin Zhengran knew that without sufficient practice, chasing after flashy moves was useless¡ªit would only make her look clumsy.


    Despite her slender figure, He Qing¡¯s greatest advantage was her strength.


    She might look delicate, but this little girl was actually quite powerful.


    So, in his training, Lin Zhengran always emphasized making full use of her strengths. Even if she didn¡¯t master any fancy techniques, just a simple front kick, side kick, or back kick would be more than enough to take down so-called elite fighters.


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°I¡¯ve always focused on helping you improve your speed and power application rather than teaching you fancy moves. But since Jiang Jie mentioned that Lin Xue is really strong¡­¡±


    He raised a finger.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you one more move just in case. You¡¯ve actually practiced it before, but executing it well versus executing it poorly makes a huge difference.¡±


    Curious, He Qing asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Aerial back kick. It¡¯s considered a difficult move, but it¡¯s actually quite simple. And for you, it¡¯ll be especially useful since your strength is solid.¡±


    After practicing at home for a while and getting the hang of the power application, they headed to the taekwondo center for actual combat training.


    Under Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance, He Qing picked it up quickly. By the end, even Lin Zhengran could feel the sheer force behind her kicks.


    When her foot struck the kicking pad he was holding, there was a loud cracking sound!


    Lin Zhengran grinned, confident in the outcome. ¡°That¡¯s it! There¡¯s no way she can block that.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Really?!¡±


    The coach, who had been observing from the side, was impressed.


    ¡°It¡¯s amazing how such a common move can look so terrifying when you two practice it,¡± he remarked. Then, lowering his voice, he added, ¡°And you two sure are glued to each other this early in the morning.¡±


    ¡ª


    By the afternoon, Lin Zhengran and He Qing were on their way to the town¡¯s taekwondo tournament venue.


    Upon arrival, He Qing was brimming with energy and confidence, a faint smile playing on her lips.


    In contrast, Lin Xue, who stood beside Jiang Jingshi, looked far less at ease.


    Jiang Jingshi and Lin Xue had arrived earlier, and as soon as they spotted Lin Zhengran and He Qing, the eldest Miss Jiang led her heavily trained Lin Xue over to greet them.


    ¡°Zhengran, little brother, today¡¯s the finals. Still feeling as confident as yesterday?¡± she asked playfully.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at He Qing, whose fighting spirit was burning strong. ¡°Of course. What about you, Jiang Jie?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled slyly. ¡°Of course I am.¡± Then she turned to Lin Xue. ¡°Lin Xue, greet your opponent. You two will most likely be facing each other in the final match today.¡±


    He Qing exchanged a quick glance with Lin Zhengran before politely nodding at Lin Xue. ¡°Hello.¡±


    Lin Xue, silent and proud, merely gave a small nod in response, saying nothing.


    He Qing thought, This big sister seems kind of scary¡­ but whatever. I can be scary too!


    After all, when she was little, Lin Zhengran had taught her how to act intimidating. She wouldn¡¯t lose.


    ¡ª


    The afternoon matches began quickly, starting with the semifinals.


    On the men¡¯s side, the competition wasn¡¯t as fierce, and the skill gap between the male and female competitors was too vast, so most of the audience¡¯s attention was on the women¡¯s division.


    As expected, both He Qing and Lin Xue won their first matches with ease.


    Then, it was time for the final showdown.


    In the audience, Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran sat together.


    Unlike before, neither of them were chatting¡ªthey were too focused on the match.


    The referee¡¯s voice rang out:


    ¡°The next match will determine the champion and runner-up! Competing are He Qing and Lin Xue! Both fighters, please step onto the stage!¡±


    In the competition ring, He Qing and Lin Xue, dressed in their crisp white taekwondo uniforms, bowed to each other before assuming their stances.


    He Qing studied Lin Xue¡¯s serious expression.


    She recalled what Lin Zhengran had told her that morning over breakfast while teaching her the aerial back kick:


    ¡°This girl, Lin Xue, I observed her yesterday. She¡¯s all about raw strength and physical toughness, but her speed is average. If you feel overwhelmed during the fight, just use your speed to win. Even if your strength isn¡¯t as high as hers, as long as your kicks are faster, she won¡¯t be able to beat you.¡±


    He Qing kept his words in mind.


    But Lin Xue¡¯s determination far exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations.


    The moment the match started, He Qing planned to observe for a bit.


    But before she could, Lin Xue launched a rapid, aggressive series of powerful kicks at her.


    He Qing had no choice but to immediately switch to defense.


    Wow, this big sister is really fierce!


    Her kicks looked powerful, but¡­ something felt off.


    They didn¡¯t hurt.


    From the audience, Lin Zhengran also noticed Lin Xue¡¯s unusually intense fighting spirit.


    Jiang Jingshi smiled knowingly.


    ¡°Zhengran, did you see? Lin Xue really wants to win. I know her personality too well. Ever since I recruited her, she¡¯s never taken any other fighter seriously. Last night, when I suggested she might lose, she got mad. Said I was underestimating her and that she¡¯d prove me wrong.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you did it on purpose? To fire her up? But using all her strength right from the start¡­ that¡¯s not ideal for a long fight. She¡¯ll burn out quickly.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smirked. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need a long fight. Lin Xue always prioritizes explosive power.¡±


    Lin Zhengran continued watching the match.


    Then, after a moment, he suddenly smiled.


    Jiang Jingshi noticed his expression and immediately tensed up, her gaze snapping back to the ring.


    On stage, He Qing had been dodging and blocking the entire time, carefully defending against Lin Xue¡¯s seemingly heavy attacks.


    But as she absorbed the impacts, she had only one thought:


    Is this big sister holding back?


    She looks so aggressive, but¡­ why does she feel so weak? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Time to test it out.


    The moment Lin Xue raised her leg for a high kick, He Qing seized the opening and countered with a swift, fierce strike.


    Lin Xue had anticipated He Qing¡¯s impatience and quickly raised her arm to block.


    But the second she made contact¡ª


    A surge of force, solid as iron, slammed into her forearm.


    Lin Xue gasped in pain, involuntarily staggering back two steps.


    Her arm went numb.


    She stared in disbelief at the sweet-looking girl in front of her, unable to comprehend the raw strength she had just felt.


    He Qing¡¯s innocent eyes sparkled as she adjusted her stance, as if silently telling her opponent:


    Big sister, you can go all out. I¡¯m in top form today¡ªno need to hold back.


    Except Lin Xue really hadn¡¯t been holding back.


    The truth was, He Qing¡¯s body was operating at one and a half times its usual capacity.


    A blissful night¡¯s sleep, combined with the pure joy of leaning on Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder that morning, had filled her with so much energy that she had unknowingly broken through her previous limits.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xue, despite being fired up, had let her emotions cloud her judgment, restricting the precision of her attacks.


    Not attacking anymore? He Qing thought. Alright, my turn!


    Switching from defense to offense, she advanced with a series of rapid kicks.


    Lin Xue, still seething, abandoned defense entirely and met her kicks head-on.


    Their strikes clashed fiercely, the sheer force making spectators wince just watching.


    Jiang Jingshi clenched her fists. How is this possible¡­?


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Looks like He Qing¡¯s won the first round. Lin Xue really doesn¡¯t have the endurance for this.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi frowned, realization dawning.


    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t think the gap between them would be this big.¡±

 Chapter 110: This Grudge, Big Sister Won’t Forget

    After several fierce exchanges, He Qing gathered all her strength and delivered a perfect spinning back kick, forcing Lin Xue to stumble several steps backward.


    The referee blew the whistle and announced the score.


    ¡°First round, victory to contestant He Qing!¡±


    Lin Xue¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, unable to accept the result, while He Qing excitedly raised both hands in celebration.


    From a distance, Lin Zhengran stood up and gestured to her, signaling that her kicks were excellent.


    Beaming, He Qing waved back at him.


    This time, Lin Zhengran even took the initiative to leave the stands and walk over to the resting area to encourage her.


    ¡°How are you feeling? Was winning difficult?¡±


    Seeing him approach, He Qing happily replied, ¡°Not at all.¡±


    Then, covering her mouth, she whispered in his ear, ¡°That sister just looks scary, but I feel like she wasn¡¯t in top form. She wasn¡¯t using her full strength.¡±


    She grinned. ¡°At first, I was worried that if my strength wasn¡¯t enough, I¡¯d have to rely on speed, and that might be tiring. But it turns out I had nothing to worry about.¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and reached out to pat her head.


    Her face turned red instantly, but she grinned from ear to ear.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, finish the next match quickly so we can head back to school early,¡± he suggested.


    He Qing nodded eagerly.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, in the resting area, Lin Xue sat slumped, exhausted and frustrated.


    Jiang Jingshi walked over after stepping down from the stands, but Lin Xue was too embarrassed to even look at her.


    Jiang Jingshi reassured her, ¡°Losing isn¡¯t a big deal. Just win the next round and make a comeback.¡±


    She said it casually, but deep down, she already knew the outcome.


    Lin Xue clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles cracked.


    I¡¯ve beaten city champions in private matches before. How could I lose to some silly, sweet-faced girl in a small-town competition?


    Seeing Lin Xue remain silent, Jiang Jingshi didn¡¯t linger. Instead, she returned to the stands, murmuring to herself:


    Looks like the elite team I spent so much money training isn¡¯t as invincible as I thought. But¡­


    Her gaze drifted toward Lin Zhengran, who was chatting with He Qing.


    This kid¡­ is far more valuable than any tournament.


    ¡ª


    The second match was about to begin. If He Qing won this round, the tournament would be over.


    Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi returned to their seats.


    This time, Jiang Jingshi changed the subject entirely.


    ¡°Zhengran, have you considered joining a good company after graduation? It would provide a stable starting point, and having the right backing can make things much easier.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the type to be satisfied with just earning a salary, but having a solid platform to start with isn¡¯t a bad idea. And once you grow enough, you can always leave.¡±


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t surprised by her sudden change in topic. Clearly, she had already foreseen the match¡¯s outcome.


    ¡°To be honest, Jiang Jie, I¡¯m not interested in working for someone else¡¯s company. Besides, it¡¯s too early to be thinking about this. I haven¡¯t even graduated high school yet.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi shot him a sideways glance.


    She didn¡¯t believe the second half of his sentence at all.


    Talented people weren¡¯t bound by their age. Even if he wasn¡¯t ready now, he must already have plans.


    ¡°So that means you¡¯re planning to start your own business?¡± she asked, exhaling slowly.


    A sense of danger crept into her instincts¡ªa sharp intuition honed from years in business.


    ¡°If it were anyone else saying that at your age, I¡¯d call them naive. But you¡­¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Even though I don¡¯t know you that well yet, I have a feeling you¡¯ll become a strong competitor of mine in the future.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled faintly, his tone calm as always. ¡°Jiang Jie, you¡¯re joking. I¡¯m no different from an ordinary person.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi studied him for a moment before chuckling softly.


    ¡°There¡¯s a big difference,¡± she said. ¡°At the very least, from the first moment I saw you, I already liked you.¡±


    With that, she turned her attention back to the match, which she already knew the result of.


    ¡ª


    The second round began, and Lin Xue was even more aggressive than before.


    Realizing she wasn¡¯t in top condition today, she grew desperate. If she couldn¡¯t overpower He Qing, she needed to rely on her experience and speed¡ªthough speed had never been her forte.


    She launched into a flurry of complex attacks, hoping to overwhelm He Qing and secure a quick win.


    But He Qing barely needed to block.


    She simply dodged effortlessly, occasionally raising her guard only when necessary.


    Tilting her head, she gazed at Lin Xue curiously, her expression almost teasing.


    Her eyes seemed to say:


    Big sister, you won¡¯t win like this. You¡¯re too anxious. And fighting like this? It¡¯s no fun at all.


    Lin Xue could see the mockery in her gaze, which only made her even angrier.


    She attacked even faster, but to He Qing, it felt like watching a child throw a tantrum.


    She really doesn¡¯t want to lose, huh?


    Lin Xue refused to believe she was about to lose again.


    She had never lost before.


    Desperate, she delivered a powerful horizontal kick.


    But He Qing blocked it effortlessly with just one arm.


    Lin Xue¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    At that moment, He Qing¡¯s expression hardened.


    She had been patient, but enough was enough.


    With a single, decisive kick, she sent Lin Xue flying backward.


    Lin Xue took a hit, but she grinned slightly as if saying:


    Little sister, you seem tired too. That kick didn¡¯t hurt much.


    He Qing¡¯s smile faded.


    She slowly lowered her arm, her expression sharpening with determination.


    Taking two steps back, she prepared herself.


    Lin Xue immediately recognized the stance.


    An aerial back kick? That¡¯s such a basic move. Anyone can defend against it. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll lose to that.


    But before she could react, He Qing surged forward.


    In a split second, with a crisp breath, she executed a near-perfect aerial back kick¡ªjust as Lin Zhengran had taught her.


    Bam!


    With sheer force, she sent Lin Xue soaring through the air!


    Lin Xue crashed to the ground and even slid backward by a full step¡¯s distance.


    Lying on the mat, her trembling eyes were filled with shock.


    Her hands were completely numb.


    She knew it was over.


    Staring up at the stadium ceiling, her eyes welled with tears as she slowly shut them.


    Even the referee was stunned by the overwhelming difference in skill.


    Then came the final announcement. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Match over! Contestant He Qing is the champion!¡±


    The other fighters from Jiang Jingshi¡¯s team were utterly dumbfounded.


    No one had expected Lin Xue to lose two rounds in a row¡ªespecially not this decisively.


    Meanwhile, even those who had lost earlier were cheering for He Qing¡¯s victory.


    ¡°He Qing! He Qing! He Qing!¡±


    The crowd chanted her name in unison.


    Among the celebrations, He Qing glanced at Lin Xue, who lay motionless on the ground, completely drained of her fighting spirit.


    What was she thinking about right now?


    ¡ª


    In the stands, Jiang Jingshi sighed.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe she lost. This was unexpected. He Qing¡¯s condition today was just too good¡­ and her strength was absurd. Lin Xue really couldn¡¯t compare.¡±


    Before Lin Zhengran could say anything, Jiang Jingshi suddenly turned to him, her eyes warm but her tone playful.


    ¡°Zhengran, little brother, I¡¯ll remember this grudge. One day, I¡¯ll get my revenge.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sweatdropped.


    Before he could respond, his phone rang.


    Checking the caller ID, he saw it was his grandfather.


    Jiang Jingshi immediately hushed him and answered her own ringing phone, suddenly nervous like a little girl.


    ¡°Hello? Grandpa? It¡¯s me, Jing Shi. What¡¯s the occasion?¡±


    Whatever her grandfather said shocked her.


    ¡°You¡¯re home already? Okay, okay, I¡¯ll head back right now. Wait for me.¡±


    After hanging up, she looked a bit troubled.


    ¡°Zhengran, something urgent came up at home. I have to leave.¡±


    She pulled out a business card from inside her coat.


    ¡°I forgot to give you my number last time. Let¡¯s consider this our official introduction. I have a feeling we¡¯ll be seeing each other again soon.¡±


    She smiled.


    ¡°This time, it¡¯s not about my sister. Zhengran, do you mind having me as a friend?¡±


    Lin Zhengran took the still-warm business card¡ªit had been in her coat pocket all along.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± he replied. ¡°My number is¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, Jiang Jingshi leaned in close and whispered, ¡°No need. I already have it saved.¡±


    Then she stood up, waved, and gracefully strode out of the arena.


    Her wavy hair swayed with each step, exuding an indescribable air of elegance and maturity.

 Chapter 111: Cool and Collected

    After the match, the event staff presented He Qing with her award. There wasn¡¯t a gold medal, but the prize money was a hefty ten thousand yuan.


    When He Qing received the thick stack of cash, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be two thousand? Why is there so much?¡±


    The staff member explained, ¡°The prize amount was adjusted a few days ago. President Jiang increased the championship prize to ten thousand. You mean you, the champion, didn¡¯t even notice?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He Qing was genuinely clueless. She had been so focused on winning that she never checked for updates on the prizes.


    The staff member chuckled. ¡°Well, either way, congratulations on your victory.¡±


    ¡°T-Thank you¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Holding the prize money, He Qing waved at the cheering crowd from the stage.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone dinged with a notification. It showed that the previous week, he had won second prize in a cola raffle¡ªtwenty thousand yuan.


    [System Commentary: The system¡¯s double rebate feature always finds a convenient excuse to work its magic.]


    On stage, He Qing waved at Lin Zhengran, and he smiled back at the little girl.


    [These past few days, you and He Xianzi returned to her sect for the annual grand tournament. Thanks to the cultivation techniques and immortal spells you¡¯ve taught her over the years, He Xianzi¡¯s strength has soared. Though she encountered a formidable opponent, she defeated them with ease, securing victory in the sect¡¯s martial tournament.]


    [After winning, He Xianzi told the sect elders that she wished to travel down the mountain to train with you for a while.]


    [After much discussion, the elders agreed, believing that He Xianzi¡¯s strength had already surpassed that of her peers. Thus, they allowed her to leave for further training, hoping she would grow even stronger.]


    [As a token of gratitude, He Xianzi wishes to repay you for your guidance. For you, this is yet another fateful opportunity.]


    ¡ª


    After the tournament, the coach and the other trainees celebrated. They all realized that He Qing wasn¡¯t just a small-town underdog¡ªthere was no way she would remain here, continuing with basic sparring. She was bound for a bigger stage.


    The coach, doing his best to help, pulled out a business card.


    ¡°He Qing, Lin Zhengran, this is from a friend of mine. He runs a taekwondo center in the city¡ªbetter than mine. If you¡¯re interested, you can check it out. It¡¯s not as big as the top academies, but he¡¯s a good person.¡±


    Regardless of whether it would be useful, Lin Zhengran naturally accepted the card. They hadn¡¯t known each other for long, but they were at least acquaintances over the past few years.


    ¡°Thank you, Coach.¡±


    Not far away, Lin Xue, the defeated finalist, silently watched the scene. She suddenly realized that, in the past, when she won and everyone celebrated her victory, she never really acknowledged them.


    ¡ª


    After the match, He Qing stared at her prize money and declared that she would set aside two thousand yuan to treat everyone to a meal. The once na?ve little girl had learned the importance of social connections. After all, who knew if she would see these people again in the future?


    Before leaving, He Qing went to the locker room to change and unexpectedly found Lin Xue alone in the corner, also changing.


    Her usual stern expression had softened into disappointment. She quietly folded her taekwondo uniform and placed it into her bag.


    He Qing hesitated for a moment before walking over. ¡°Sister Lin Xue?¡±


    Lin Xue turned at the sound of her name, her face carrying a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment¡ªnot just from losing the match, but also because He Qing was two years younger than her. With her soft, gentle demeanor, she looked just like a little sister.


    Now that the heat of competition had passed, Lin Xue reflected on how aggressive she had been during the fight. Suddenly, she felt that her behavior on stage had been disgraceful.


    Winning or losing aside, she wasn¡¯t even sure anymore if winning would have actually made her happy.


    He Qing stared at Lin Xue for a moment before grinning. ¡°Jie, your taekwondo is really amazing! Honestly, before the match started, I was scared I wouldn¡¯t be able to beat you.¡±


    Lin Xue slowed her movements, then smiled at He Qing.


    He Qing scratched her head sheepishly. ¡°Even though I won, I feel like luck played a part. You didn¡¯t seem to be in the best condition today.¡±


    Lin Xue was surprised by the little girl¡¯s innocence. Her words only made Lin Xue feel more guilty. ¡°It wasn¡¯t luck. That was just my level, even my best effort. I lost because my skills weren¡¯t enough.¡±


    He Qing shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not true! I could tell¡ªyou wanted to win so badly that you got anxious! If you had stayed calm, you would¡¯ve been even stronger!¡±


    Lin Xue was momentarily stunned. Then, she smiled. ¡°You¡¯re really kind¡­ I looked at you with such a fierce expression on stage. I¡¯m sorry, little sister. I shouldn¡¯t have done that.¡±


    He Qing blinked, then grinned brightly.


    ¡°Ah, well, I kind of¡­ did something back too¡­ emmm, I don¡¯t know how to put it, but Jie, you have so much talent! I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll become even stronger in the future.¡±


    She continued seriously, ¡°Winning is important, but we practice taekwondo because it¡¯s fun, right? If we fight recklessly, then what¡¯s the point? It¡¯s supposed to be cool!¡±


    Her eyes sparkled. ¡°Anyway, I really look forward to fighting you again! Next time, let¡¯s both give it our all and see who¡¯s stronger¡ªnot end things so quickly like today!¡±


    A glimmer of determination flickered in Lin Xue¡¯s eyes.


    Just then, Lin Zhengran called out from outside.


    He Qing responded and waved at Lin Xue. ¡°Jie, my boyfriend¡¯s calling me. I gotta go! Bye-bye!¡±


    Lin Xue also waved back. ¡°Bye-bye.¡± Then, as if on impulse, she suddenly called out, ¡°Little sister! Let¡¯s meet again someday!¡±


    He Qing paused, then turned back with a bright smile, waving once more. ¡°Mm! We¡¯ll definitely meet again!¡±


    ¡ª


    After He Qing left, Lin Xue finally let out a deep breath, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.


    She stood there in a daze for a moment before pulling out her phone and looking at the resignation message she had drafted for her coach. Slowly, she deleted it.


    She remembered how she had started taekwondo because she loved it. Somewhere along the way, she had lost that passion, focusing only on winning.


    ¡°I really lost to that little girl in every way¡­¡±


    Lin Xue put her phone away, stretched lazily, then slung her bag over her shoulder and left the locker room.


    As she walked back to her team, her fellow trainees and the coach turned their eyes toward her.


    They all knew Lin Xue¡¯s proud and aloof personality, so after her loss, no one knew what to expect. Some even feared she might react badly.


    Someone cautiously stepped forward to comfort her¡ª


    But before they could say anything, Lin Xue grinned, pulled out her second-place prize money, and waved it playfully.


    ¡°Well, I may have lost, but I still won three thousand yuan. Let¡¯s go eat, my treat.¡±


    She paused, glancing at their puzzled expressions, then thought back to that little girl¡¯s words.


    ¡°What? It¡¯s just one loss. Next time, I won¡¯t lose.¡±


    Her teammates exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Next time, Sister Lin Xue will definitely win!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s been leading us to victories all this time!¡±


    The coach sighed in relief and patted her shoulder. ¡°That girl was just too strong. Losing to her isn¡¯t a failure¡ªit just means she¡¯s on a different level. Keep training, and you¡¯ll get there.¡±


    Lin Xue sighed with a smile, thinking of He Qing. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s all work hard to surpass her together.¡±


    ¡ª


    That afternoon, He Qing and Lin Zhengran had a simple dinner with everyone before catching a ride back to school.

 Chapter 112: Aren’t I Already Yours?

    This time, they didn¡¯t take the bus. Since it was Saturday morning, there were plenty of seats available, but by the afternoon, the bus would be packed.


    Instead, Lin Zhengran hailed a taxi to take them back to school. While they were waiting, He Qing suddenly asked, ¡°Can we talk about something? I want to give four thousand yuan from my prize money to my mom and grandma. Is that okay?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s your money¡ªyou can spend it however you want.¡±


    He Qing grinned and nodded, then took four thousand yuan from the eight thousand she had left after dinner and tucked it into her pocket. That left her with four thousand remaining.


    She handed the rest to Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Here, you take this.¡±


    Standing on the street, Lin Zhengran was puzzled. ¡°Why are you giving it to me?¡±


    He Qing replied as if it was the most natural thing in the world:


    ¡°Did you forget? I told you before that I¡¯d give it to you! You¡¯re the one who taught me taekwondo¡ªhow else would I have won?¡±


    She reminisced, ¡°Back in middle school, we said that if I won two thousand yuan, I¡¯d give half to my mom, then out of the remaining thousand, I¡¯d give you nine hundred, and Wenwen and I would use the last hundred to buy snacks.¡±


    Thinking about snacks, she swallowed hard before continuing, ¡°But things are different now. I¡¯m your¡­ y-your girlfriend now, right? So I¡¯ll just give it all to you. If I want to buy something later, you can just give me a little allowance.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her helplessly. ¡°So now this money is mine? No way. You earned this through two tough matches¡ªkeep it for yourself.¡±


    He Qing didn¡¯t understand. Her clear eyes blinked at him. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®mine¡¯ and ¡®yours¡¯? Aren¡¯t already yours? So my money is obviously yours too! And your money¡­ is still yours.¡±


    She scooted closer and pushed the money toward him again. ¡°Come on, take it! Girls should give their money to their boyfriends. I can¡¯t hold onto money¡ªI¡¯d just spend it all on snacks if I kept it. Hurry and take it.¡±


    She kept poking his hand with the bills, trying to shove them into his palm while giving him an aggrieved look. ¡°If you don¡¯t take it, I won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. I really can¡¯t be trusted with money.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was amused by her silly logic and didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or sigh.


    In the end, he had no choice but to accept it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll hold onto it for you. If you ever need it, just ask me, and I¡¯ll give it back.¡±


    Seeing him finally take the money, He Qing beamed. ¡°Okay! Anyway, from now on, you¡¯re in charge at home¡ªyou make the decisions.¡±


    He Qing had never even considered the possibility of breaking up. Since last night, when she rested on his shoulder¡ªor maybe even before that¡ªshe had already imagined a future where they were married and living together.


    She watched as Lin Zhengran tucked the money away and, feeling a little shy, mumbled, ¡°Uh¡­ Lin Zhengran, can you give me a hundred yuan? I want to buy some snacks when we get back to school and celebrate with Wenwen.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took out two hundred and handed it to her. ¡°Then why did you just give me three thousand nine? Besides, what can you buy with just a hundred? Take two hundred.¡±


    But He Qing was stubborn and had her own reasoning.


    ¡°That¡¯s totally different! If I kept that money for myself, it¡¯d be like stealing from our home. But if give it to me, then it¡¯s just me asking my boyfriend for money. Not the same at all!¡±


    She looked at the bills in his hand and took just one. ¡°I won¡¯t spend that much. One hundred is enough. You keep the rest for yourself.¡±


    Then she grinned cheekily. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not spending it on some other girl, I don¡¯t care what you buy! Boys should treat themselves well, too.¡±


    The taxi arrived. He Qing happily tucked the hundred yuan into her pocket, already thinking about what snacks to buy. A hundred yuan could get her a lot.


    They got into the cab, and He Qing called her mom to tell her all about her big win.


    On the other end, Aunt He was surprised. ¡°You really won? And took first place?¡±


    He Qing, a little embarrassed, smiled. ¡°Mhm! I did! And I even got prize money.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s prize money, too? How much?¡±


    He Qing lowered her voice, glanced at Lin Zhengran, and said, ¡°Six thousand yuan! But since I won¡¯t be training at the town¡¯s taekwondo center anymore, I spent two thousand treating everyone to a meal. The remaining four thousand¡ªI¡¯ll bring it home for you when I visit during the holidays.¡±


    Aunt He was pleased. ¡°It¡¯s normal to treat everyone, but wow, that¡¯s a lot for a championship prize! You don¡¯t need to give me anything¡ªyou earned it, so spend it on yourself.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that much at first, but they increased it later. Anyway, I don¡¯t want to spend it on myself. I¡¯d rather give it to you and Grandma to buy something nice.¡±


    Aunt He could only sigh at how much her daughter had grown.


    Still, she declined. ¡°How about this, Qingqing? I won¡¯t take the money. Just save it, and next time you visit, buy something nice for your grandma. Tell her you used your prize money to get it¡ªshe¡¯ll be so happy.¡±


    He Qing hesitated. ¡°Mom, you really don¡¯t want it? Alright then, I¡¯ll use it to buy gifts for you and Grandma.¡±


    The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer before He Qing happily hung up.


    She turned to Lin Zhengran and repeated, ¡°Mom said I should just buy them something instead.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Since they still had a bit of time before reaching school, He Qing scooted closer, leaned her head on his shoulder, and dozed off for the rest of the ride. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Half an hour later, the taxi pulled up at the school gate.


    They got out and walked toward the teaching building. Since they were early, they strolled at a leisurely pace, with He Qing chattering about the tournament.


    She was completely at ease¡ªuntil her small, soft hand accidentally brushed against the back of Lin Zhengran¡¯s.


    Her body tensed. She blushed and glanced at him.


    The conversation stopped abruptly.


    Lin Zhengran kept his gaze forward, but He Qing lowered her head, suddenly aware of something.


    The golden sunset cast a warm glow on her face, making her blush even more vivid. Remembering her wish from last night, she hesitated. ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ about what I said yesterday¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, she felt something warm wrap around her fingers.


    Her eyes widened as she looked down.


    Their hands were intertwined.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Does this count as granting your wish?¡±


    Her face turned as red as a ripe fruit. It was so hot she swore steam was rising from her head.


    But she didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, her delicate fingers tightened around his as they strolled through campus, hand in hand.


    ¡°Mm¡­ it does.¡±


    His hand was so big¡­ and warm¡­ Holding hands felt so nice.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. ¡°So, are we heading to the supermarket first or looking for Wenwen?¡±


    He Qing flinched and instinctively gripped his hand tighter. Her heart pounded. ¡°L-Let¡¯s find Wenwen first¡­ I want to go shopping with her.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    When they reached the girls¡¯ dormitory, Lin Zhengran stopped.


    ¡°Here you are. Head on up.¡±


    He Qing turned to look at him, reluctant to leave.


    Suddenly, an idea popped into her head.


    Summoning an unusual burst of courage, she stepped in front of him, took his hand, stood on tiptoe, and grabbed his shoulder.


    Then, she lightly kissed the side of his neck.


    With a soft, sweet, yet nervous voice, she whispered, ¡°I like you.¡±


    Before he could react, she turned bright red, dashed off, and waved from a distance.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading to my dorm! Bye-bye!¡±


    Too flustered to say another word, she ran away without looking back.

 Chapter 113: A New Ability from Stamina

    Lin Zhengran could still feel the faint warmth lingering on his neck.


    He had witnessed this little girl¡¯s growth firsthand¡ªfrom a timid child who never spoke out, who followed instructions to the letter, even needing to place things down in a specific order before closing a door, to now, where she had gradually become so much bolder.


    Watching her figure disappear into the dormitory building, he smiled and turned back toward the boys'' dorm to pack his things.


    Meanwhile, in the girls¡¯ dormitory, He Qing had completely lost the strength to walk. She crouched in a corner, covering her burning face, and waited a long time before finally daring to stand up.


    She sneaked a glance back to check if Lin Zhengran had left. Once she confirmed he was gone, she slowly made her way upstairs.


    I¡¯m so brave!


    On her way up, she ran into Jiang Xueli, who had just come out of the bathroom carrying a basin of clothes to wash.


    Jiang Xueli noticed her glowing expression. ¡°He Qing? You and Zhengran are back?¡±


    He Qing let out a little ¡°Ah,¡± then grinned. ¡°Mhm, we¡¯re back.¡±


    Then she continued on her way, still in her dreamy daze.


    Jiang Xueli watched her curiously. What¡¯s with that look?


    She looked like something wonderful had just happened.


    Like¡­ someone in love.


    Wait¡­ in love?!


    Jiang Xueli suddenly froze, remembering that just last week, He Qing had told her she was Lin Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend.


    Her brain short-circuited.


    The basin slipped from her hands, clattering onto the floor. She stood there like a statue about to crumble.


    ¡°¡­No way¡­¡±


    ¡ª


    When He Qing pushed open the dorm room door, she saw Han Wenwen lying on the bed, reading a novel.


    ¡°Wenwen! I¡¯m back!¡±


    Han Wenwen immediately sat up. ¡°Xiao Qingqing¡¯s back? Where¡¯s Lin Zhengran?¡±


    At the mere mention of her crush¡¯s name, the girl in love instinctively blushed. Lowering her head shyly, she climbed onto her bed.


    ¡°He went back to his dorm after dropping me off at the entrance to the girls¡¯ dorm.¡±


    Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? He you to the entrance?¡±


    Then, in the blink of an eye, she teleported to He Qing¡¯s bedside. ¡°Spill it! What happened between you two this weekend?¡±


    He Qing let out a tiny squeak. ¡°Nothing happened¡­ I just went to the tournament.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Really really?¡±


    ¡°Really really!¡±


    ¡°Tell me, tell me!¡± Han Wenwen lunged at her, fingers ready to tickle.


    He Qing giggled, trying to squirm away. ¡°Wenwen, stop it! Haha¡ªthere¡¯s nothing to tell! I just won the tournament, and I came back to buy snacks with you. Oh, and¡­ we held hands.¡±


    Han Wenwen froze. ¡°You ?¡±


    He Qing shyly nodded.


    She had some secrets now¡ªthings she wouldn¡¯t share, like how she had kissed him just a little while ago.


    ¡°Mhm¡­ just that. Nothing else.¡±


    Even so, just hearing about the hand-holding was enough to make a certain fox-eyed girl jealous.


    ¡ª


    That evening, after night study, Lin Zhengran noticed something was¡­ off.


    Jiang Xueli looked like a ghost. Her face was pale, lifeless. When he spoke to her, she didn¡¯t even have the energy to respond.


    Meanwhile, Han Wenwen was clinging to He Qing¡¯s arm.


    She kept sneaking glances at Lin Zhengran, but the moment he looked her way, she would whip her head around, acting all pouty and jealous.


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­"


    [After winning the tournament, He Xianzi received a vast amount of sect resources. However, due to her feelings for you, she handed them all over, entrusting you with their safekeeping.]


    [He Xianzi has confessed her true feelings. Though emotions aren¡¯t tangible objects, the spiritual energy within her unconsciously gravitates toward you. As a result, your cultivation has increased.]


    [Today, He Xianzi¡¯s cultivation realm has advanced. Due to your contract, you will receive double cultivation points and additional rewards.]


    [From this sect tournament, you have gained: +2 Cultivation Levels, +5 Stamina, +5 Strength, +7 Energy.]


    [Your current Spirit Level: 52 (Qi Refinement Stage).]


    [Your current attributes:]


    Strength: 77 ()Energy: 66 ()Stamina: 69 ()Affinity with All Things: Level 1 ()


    [Newly Unlocked Ability: "Seven Times a Night Without Fatigue"¡ªFrom this moment onward, your household will flourish, your future children will be exceptionally healthy, and your wife¡¯s aging process will slow down depending on how often¡­ well, you know.]


    Lin Zhengran silently absorbed the system¡¯s notifications as he walked.


    ¡­Alright, putting it seriously, this new ability is¡­ actually pretty useful.


    ¡ª


    That night, in a two-story villa in Zitong City¡­


    Jiang Jingshi and Jiang Qian sat quietly on the couch, barely daring to speak.


    A stern-looking elderly man sat in the center, his presence commanding authority without the need for anger.


    ¡°Qianqian,¡± he said in a deep voice, ¡°I mentioned the childhood engagement to you before. Have you met with the boy yet?¡±

 Chapter 114: Information on the Blind Date Partner

    The lights in the villa''s living room shone brightly. The elderly grandfather sat in silence, his sharp gaze sweeping over his two granddaughters.


    Though both remained quiet, the elder granddaughter, Jiang Jingshi, had an amused expression, while the younger one mirrored their grandfather¡¯s stern face, staring at the coffee table, lost in thought.


    Family resemblance.


    Fang Meng, the assistant, approached with a tray of tea and placed it in front of them. "Grandfather, have some tea."


    The old man acknowledged with a grunt, nodded in thanks, and gently blew on the steaming tea. He even made polite small talk. "It¡¯s been a while, Xiaomeng. How are things since you and Qianqian started high school? Any difficulties with studies or daily life?"


    Fang Meng thought, She answered, "No, Grandpa, everything is going well."


    "That¡¯s good. If anything comes up, just let me know. I¡¯ll handle it right away."


    She then handed tea to Jiang Jingshi and Jiang Qian. Jiang Jingshi smiled at Fang Meng with a meaningful look, making her feel slightly helpless.


    Jiang Qian, however, neither spoke nor touched her tea. It wasn¡¯t until Fang Meng took a seat that she suddenly responded, "I didn¡¯t meet him."


    The elderly grandfather, just about to take a sip of tea, paused and glanced at his younger granddaughter. "Didn¡¯t meet? Why not?"


    "Because I wasn¡¯t interested."


    "What?" He put down his teacup.


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled. She knew their grandfather well¡ªthough the Jiang family had grown immensely powerful, his authority within the household was still undisputed. After all, he was the one who made the family''s first fortune.


    "Grandpa, Qianqian only just started high school, and she has a lot on her plate. Besides, it¡¯s only been a month since school began. She probably just didn¡¯t have time for a childhood engagement meet-up."


    Grandfather picked up his teacup again.


    But Jiang Qian countered, "That¡¯s not it, Sister. It¡¯s not because of my studies. Although I¡¯ve been busy, that¡¯s not the reason. Mainly, Grandpa didn¡¯t bring it up before, so why should I have taken the initiative? I think not outright refusing to meet is already considerate enough."


    Jiang Jingshi blinked at her sister.  S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Arranged childhood engagements¡ªwho would bother meeting up unless they truly liked the person or wanted a relationship?


    Grandfather froze mid-sip but had to admit that times had changed.


    In the past, both men and women rushed to attend arranged blind dates. Now, none of these girls were in any hurry.


    He exhaled. "Fine, whatever your reasons for not meeting earlier, I understand. I know the world has changed, and even a childhood engagement doesn¡¯t guarantee marriage."


    Then he reminded them, "But I wouldn¡¯t set up my granddaughter with just anyone. I¡¯ve seen the boy¡¯s photo myself, and I even looked into his background from childhood to now. While his family¡¯s finances aren¡¯t as strong as ours, he is extremely talented and has a bright future. He¡¯s a promising young man."


    At last, he was about to take his first sip of tea when he asked, "Even if you haven¡¯t met him, you must have at least looked at his profile, right? I sent it to you a month ago."


    "I didn¡¯t read it," Jiang Qian answered honestly.


    Grandfather turned his head sharply toward her.


    Jiang Jingshi interjected, "Grandpa, maybe you should just drink that first sip of tea. Watching this back and forth is tiring."


    Grandfather set his cup down. "Drink what?! Qianqian, why didn¡¯t you even read the profile I sent you?!"


    Jiang Qian responded matter-of-factly, "I figured I¡¯d look at it when I actually meet him."


    "But you didn¡¯t meet him!"


    "Exactly. So why read it? I¡¯ll check before the meeting."


    Grandfather: "¡­"


    Jiang Jingshi: "¡­Still makes sense."


    Feeling exasperated, Grandfather turned to Fang Meng. "Xiaomeng, did you read it?"


    Fang Meng was caught off guard. "Uh¡ªno, I didn¡¯t. Since Qianqian never checked it, I never opened it either."


    "Then go print a copy now. We¡¯ll review it together."


    "Oh, okay. Please wait a moment, Grandpa." Fang Meng got up and headed to the study.


    Meanwhile, Grandfather continued speaking to his granddaughters.


    "The main reason I came today is to settle this engagement. I¡¯ve already discussed it with my old comrade. Regardless of whether you two hit it off, you at least need to meet once and see if there¡¯s any chemistry. That¡¯s not too much to ask, is it?"


    Jiang Qian replied coldly, "Just a meeting isn¡¯t unreasonable."


    Grandfather finally took that long-awaited first sip of tea¡ªsweet and satisfying.


    In the study, Fang Meng turned on the computer, retrieved the email attachment from Grandfather¡¯s inbox, and sent it to print.


    The printer hummed as pages of detailed personal history rolled out.


    Fang Meng marveled at the sheer amount of information. "Wow, is the guy from a wealthy family too? Regular people don¡¯t usually have this much data¡­"


    She casually picked up a page.


    It read:


    Second grade: Ranked first in town for math and Chinese;received the "Model Student" award.Third grade: First in town for math, second in English, first in Chinese, and first in moral character.


    The document meticulously listed every academic achievement and honor.


    Fang Meng was stunned. "This guy¡¯s incredible! Full marks in everything since childhood?!"


    Then she remembered something. "Grandpa mentioned he goes to our high school. But do we even have a student this impressive?"


    She flipped to the first page, which had the name, birthplace, and a color photo.


    Just as she was about to read the name, she muttered, "As far as I know, the top student at our school is the one Qianqian has been paying a lot of attention to lately¡ªLin Zhengran. And I remember checking his academic record before, too. Seems like he¡¯s always been first in¡ª"


    She paused on the final syllable.


    Her eyes locked onto the name and photo on the profile. Her eyes widened in disbelief.


    The document read:


    Jiang Qian¡¯s childhood engagement partner: Lin Zhengran.


    Fang Meng: "LIN ZHENGRAN?!"


    The printer stopped humming. She rubbed her eyes to confirm she wasn¡¯t seeing things.


    No mistake.


    This was too much of a coincidence.


    Also¡­ wasn¡¯t she supposed to be engaged to Lin Zhengran?!


    How did he end up being Jiang Qian¡¯s fianc¨¦ instead?!


    "What the¡ª?!"


    Her exclamation was loud enough to be heard by Jiang Jingshi, who had just arrived at the door to check on the progress.


    She pushed open the study door. "Xiaomeng, what¡¯s wrong? The documents aren¡¯t done printing yet?"


    Fang Meng forced herself to stay calm, clutching the document as she smiled stiffly.


    She cleared her throat. "They¡¯re done¡­ but, um, it¡¯s a bit¡­ surprising."


    Jiang Jingshi raised an eyebrow. "Surprising? How surprising?"


    She glanced at the stack of documents. "Is there a lot?" Her curiosity was piqued. "Let me take a look. I want to see what kind of person Qianqian¡¯s fianc¨¦ is."


    "Here you go."


    Jiang Jingshi took the papers and began reading aloud.


    "Jiang Qian¡¯s childhood engagement partner: Lin Zhengran. Hmm¡­ HMM?!"


    She froze.


    Her warm, gentle eyes widened in disbelief.


    She looked up at Fang Meng.


    "Lin Zhengran?! That¡¯s¡­ Zhengran?"


    Fang Meng smiled awkwardly. "I didn¡¯t expect this either. But maybe Grandpa was right¡ªQianqian really should¡¯ve checked this profile earlier¡­"

 Chapter 115: Sister, Should I Go in Your Place?

    Jiang Jingshi lowered her head, carefully scanning through the printed profile and the accompanying photo. She flipped through the pages of achievements, and suddenly, she couldn''t hold back a chuckle.


    She looked amused, as if she had just thought of something particularly entertaining. "I wonder how Qianqian will react when she finds out that the childhood engagement partner she¡¯s been so reluctant to meet¡­ is actually Lin Zhengran, the guy she¡¯s been secretly paying attention to?"


    Fang Meng admitted honestly, "To be honest, I really want to see her reaction too."


    Jiang Jingshi held the documents in her hands and suddenly had an idea. "Hmm¡­ I just thought of something interesting. Let¡¯s see how this plays out."


    She turned and walked out of the study. Fang Meng, not quite understanding her intentions, hurried after her.


    Back in the living room, Jiang Jingshi raised the papers. "Grandpa, I¡¯ve printed the documents. Qianqian, do you want to take a look?"


    Jiang Qian, seated on the couch, barely reacted. She responded flatly, "Give it to me."


    She extended her hand.


    But just as Jiang Jingshi was about to pass the documents over, she suddenly withdrew them and, with a curious expression, turned to ask their grandfather,


    "Wait a moment, Grandpa. I remember you telling me a long time ago that, originally, this engagement was supposed to be mine. It was only because he was born late that it got arranged for Qianqian instead, right?"


    The elderly man sipped his tea and nodded. "Yes, that¡¯s true. Back when my old comrade and I arranged this engagement, your mother had just found out she was pregnant with you. But at the time, my comrade¡¯s son still hadn¡¯t been born. It wasn¡¯t until years later that they had a child, so we arranged for him to be betrothed to your sister instead."


    Fang Meng had no idea where Jiang Jingshi was going with this.


    Jiang Jingshi looked down at the photo again, recalling her interactions with Lin Zhengran at the town competition over the past couple of days. Her cheeks flushed slightly as a mischievous thought surfaced.


    She asked, "Grandpa, this boy is only three years younger than me, right?"


    "Four years. You¡¯re twenty, he¡¯s sixteen."


    Jiang Jingshi clicked her tongue and corrected him, "What do you mean twenty? I¡¯m nineteen. My birthday is in November."


    Grandfather sighed. "Fine, fine, you¡¯re nineteen. That means you¡¯re three years apart."


    "Right, a three-year age gap isn¡¯t that much. Older-sister-younger-brother relationships are pretty popular these days. How about this, Grandpa¡ªif Qianqian doesn¡¯t want to meet him, how about I do it instead? I¡¯ll go on the blind date."


    Grandfather stared at her in shock. "You¡¯ll go?"


    Jiang Qian remained expressionless. Though she wasn¡¯t sure what her sister was thinking, she just felt relieved.


    But she failed to notice Fang Meng¡¯s eyes widening in disbelief. "Miss Jiang, you¡ª!"


    Jiang Jingshi turned to look at her, pressed a finger to her lips, and hushed her. Fang Meng immediately shut her mouth.


    Jiang Jingshi then continued, "Grandpa, what do you think? A meeting is a meeting, right? If Qianqian isn¡¯t interested, I am."


    "Well¡­ that¡¯s true." Grandfather glanced at Jiang Qian. "But you should ask Qianqian first. After all, the engagement was arranged for her."


    "Nonsense," Jiang Jingshi corrected with a playful pout. "Didn¡¯t you just say it was originally meant for me?"


    "Oh, right. I meant that he was born too late, so we gave him to Qianqian instead. If she doesn¡¯t want to meet him and you do, I suppose that works too. After all, you¡¯re both outstanding girls."


    Jiang Jingshi bit her lip, clearly pleased with herself. She gracefully took a seat next to her sister and asked softly,


    "Qianqian, what do you think? Do you want to meet him yourself, or should I go in your place?"


    Jiang Qian, freed from an obligation she had no interest in, calmly picked up her tea and took a sip. "If you want to go, then go. I was never interested in this in the first place."


    Jiang Jingshi narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure? Really sure? Just to be safe, I¡¯ll ask two more times. You¡¯re really giving him to me?"


    Jiang Qian remained indifferent. "Yes, I¡¯m sure."


    At this point, Fang Meng couldn¡¯t help but interject, "Qianqian¡­ I¡¯d advise you to reconsider because¡ª" She glanced at Jiang Jingshi, then rephrased her words carefully.


    "Because I think meeting him wouldn¡¯t hurt. At least take a look at his profile first. You might actually find him interesting."


    Jiang Qian stared at her tea, thinking back to everything about Lin Zhengran in recent days.


    She had never thought about who she might marry in the future. She had never even considered liking someone.


    Her focus had always been on the Jiang family, constantly thinking about how she would grow up to make the family even stronger.


    If she were to ever care about someone, Lin Zhengran was the only possibility.


    He was not only exceptionally talented but also had a personality that perfectly complemented hers.


    But love was nothing more than a distraction from progress. Books often said that falling in love made people stagnant, and only after a breakup did they soar forward again.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine herself relying on a boy, much less being in his arms. Just the thought of it felt ridiculous and dull.


    That was valuable study time wasted. Hugging a boy? That¡¯s the time it takes to turn a page of a book¡ªgone.


    Kissing? That¡¯s two pages wasted.


    Besides, kissing didn¡¯t even seem sanitary. Why did kissing even exist? Lips were for eating, weren¡¯t they?


    She knew she didn¡¯t have romantic feelings for Lin Zhengran. She was just extremely curious about why he was so strong.


    So, if she couldn¡¯t even like him, someone she admired yet could never surpass, then she figured she would probably never like anyone.


    Or marry anyone.


    Jiang Qian took another sip of tea.


    Of course, at this moment, she had no idea just how flawed her logic was.


    After all, people cannot understand things they have never experienced¡ªjust like how you can¡¯t earn money beyond your level of knowledge.


    Jiang Jingshi asked once more, "Qianqian, are you absolutely sure you¡¯re giving this boy to me?"


    Jiang Qian nodded slowly. "Yes. No matter how many times you ask, my answer won¡¯t change. I¡¯m not interested in blind dates."


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s lips curled into a smile, her gaze softening as she looked at the profile again. She recalled the moment she had her assistant investigate Lin Zhengran after their instant-noodle incident.


    She had never expected that the boy who had once scolded her back then¡­ would turn out to be Lin Zhengran.


    "Thanks, Qianqian. Though, technically, ''thanks'' isn¡¯t quite right, since he was originally mine anyway."


    Grandfather, having listened to their entire conversation, nodded in satisfaction. "Since that¡¯s settled, then Jingshi will go instead. Either way, you¡¯re both excellent."


    Fang Meng glanced at Jiang Qian¡¯s utterly zen-like expression and let out a sigh.


    She didn¡¯t like seeing Jiang Qian let her curiosity cloud her judgment, but something told her that Jiang Qian was definitely going to regret it.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Jingshi folded the profile documents neatly and tucked them away, looking forward to the upcoming blind date. "So, Grandpa, when¡¯s the meeting scheduled?"


    "Isn¡¯t there a holiday next week? National Day. Let¡¯s set it for the evening of the second day of the holiday. I¡¯ll also inform his grandfather."


    "Alright, let me check my schedule." Jiang Jingshi pulled out her phone and skimmed through her upcoming plans.


    "Hmm¡­ I have quite a few things to do this week. I¡¯ll need to finish everything up in the next couple of days so I can free up a day for the date. And for the evening¡­"


    She bit her lip in thought. "Should I go for a candlelight dinner? There are actually a lot of things I¡¯d like to talk to him about. But¡­ what should I wear for the date?"


    She stood up. "Grandpa, I¡¯m heading to my room to pick out an outfit. This is my first blind date, after all¡ªI have to look my best."


    Grandfather gave a slight nod, amused by how eager his granddaughter was.


    After finishing his tea, the elderly man stood up. "Well, since that¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll head to my room to rest. I¡¯ll be staying here for the week. By the way, has my room been prepared?"


    Fang Meng quickly replied, "Yes, Grandpa, everything¡¯s been taken care of in advance."


    "Good work, Xiaomeng."


    She watched as the old man made his way upstairs, noting how healthy and energetic he still was. "Goodnight, Grandpa."


    "Mm. You two go ahead and chat."


    With Grandfather and Jiang Jingshi gone, Fang Meng turned to see Jiang Qian still sipping her tea. She let out a long sigh.


    The whole family meeting had left her with one lingering question¡ªwhy was Jiang Jingshi suddenly so interested in this blind date? Weren¡¯t she and Lin Zhengran supposed to be complete strangers?


    Jiang Qian seemed to have the same question. "By the way, why is my sister suddenly so interested in this blind date? She has a lot of hobbies, sure, but dating never seemed to be one of them. She¡¯s always disliked being alone with guys."


    Fang Meng hesitated. "Well¡­ I don¡¯t know the exact reason, but I guess it depends on the person. Oh, right¡ªQianqian, I know it¡¯s a little late, but do you want to see who your childhood fianc¨¦ actually is?"


    "No." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright¡­ I¡¯ll ask again tomorrow."


    School resumed, and during the day, Fang Meng noticed that Jiang Qian continued observing Lin Zhengran. Though she didn¡¯t seem as flustered as before, her curiosity about him was still evident.


    That evening, Fang Meng asked again, "Qianqian, are you you don¡¯t want to check who your childhood fianc¨¦ is?"


    Jiang Qian replied absentmindedly, "Nope."


    On the third night, Fang Meng asked yet again.


    "Qianqian¡­ are you sure?"


    Jiang Qian frowned slightly. "Why do you keep asking? What¡¯s your point?"


    "Nothing, really. I¡¯m just reminding you that National Day is the day after tomorrow. If you don¡¯t check now, it¡¯ll be too late. I just tell you his name outright, but since you refuse to look, I won¡¯t say it directly.


    "After all, I also think you don¡¯t necessarily need to meet him. But at the same time, I don¡¯t want you coming back later asking why I didn¡¯t warn you. So¡­ I¡¯m just reminding you."


    Jiang Qian: "¡­"


    Still, she didn¡¯t suspect anything.


    School was finally out for the holiday! The entire country was in a celebratory mood.


    After school, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng sat in the backseat of the car. Fang Meng gazed out the window and casually asked again, "Qianqian, wanna look?"


    But this time, Jiang Qian actually hesitated.


    "You know," she said, "I wasn¡¯t curious at first. But now that you¡¯ve asked so many times, I want to know his name. Let me see."


    She held out her hand but then mumbled to herself, "Not that it really matters. Even if he Lin Zhengran, so what?"


    She muttered, "Which is impossible, anyway. Since Grandpa¡¯s old comrade arranged this, the guy is definitely the son of a businessman. I wouldn¡¯t mind making friends with someone my age in the business world, but dating? No, thanks."


    "Oh? So that¡¯s how you see it? No wonder¡­" Fang Meng smirked and turned to her with a playful glint in her eye.


    "Well, since you¡¯re so open-minded about this, that¡¯s a relief. Otherwise, I¡¯d actually be worried you¡¯d regret it."


    She pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it over.


    "Here, take a look."


    Jiang Qian took the paper, only to see that it was a perfect score report¡ªwith Lin Zhengran¡¯s name on it.


    She blinked in confusion. "Why are you giving me Lin Zhengran¡¯s test scores? I thought you were showing me my fianc¨¦¡¯s profile?"


    Fang Meng let out an exaggerated "ohhh" and said, "I didn¡¯t bring the full profile, but it¡¯s the same either way. The names match."


    Jiang Qian frowned. "What do you mean? names match?"


    "Exactly what it sounds like. Your childhood fianc¨¦¡¯s name is Lin Zhengran."


    There was a long pause.


    Then, Fang Meng continued with a teasing smile, "In other words, your is currently preparing to go on a blind date with Lin Zhengran."


    For a moment, Jiang Qian didn¡¯t react.


    Then¡ª


    She froze.


    Like a statue.


    Completely petrified.


    If someone touched her, she might actually crack into pieces. Small bits of rock even seemed to tumble off her.


    Fang Meng casually brushed off the that had onto her lap.


    "Qianqian, is it really that shocking? Just now, you said that even if it Lin Zhengran, it wouldn¡¯t matter.


    "And it¡¯s not like you even like him, right?"


    Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce continued smoothly down the road.


    The driver suddenly furrowed his brows. "Strange¡­ why does the car feel so much heavier today?"


    Fang Meng answered matter-of-factly, "That¡¯s because we¡¯re carrying a massive rock in the backseat. Heaviness is to be expected."


    As she spoke, she patted the imaginary "stone debris" off her lap again.


    Even if it wasn¡¯t love yet¡­


    At this rate, it was only a matter of time.

 Chapter 116: Another White Season

    On the second morning of the National Day holiday, before the sun had even risen, the school was already bustling.


    Many students were preparing to leave early to catch their rides home, and among them was Lin Zhengran.


    After all, certain little troublemakers didn''t like taking taxis¡ªjust like He Qing, they always preferred to take the first morning bus home.


    Maybe they shared the same logic.


    At around five in the morning, Lin Zhengran stepped out of the dormitory and made his way to the school gate.


    He wasn''t skipping his morning reading¡ªhis mind was preoccupied with something else.


    Recently, he had been able to earn some cashback from those little troublemakers, but progress felt slow. He figured it was time to be more proactive. He had grown enough now to start doing more.


    Today, Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli would be heading back to the town with him, while He Qing would be going to her hometown instead.


    As he stood waiting at the gate, the dark morning sky still lingering, a soft and sweet voice called out from a distance:


    "Lin Zhengran!"


    Turning around, he saw He Qing running towards him, slightly out of breath.


    "You''re here this early? And alone? Where¡¯s Wenwen?"


    He Qing adjusted the small backpack on her shoulders and grinned, giggling at what could be interpreted as concern from him.


    "My high-speed train is at six, so I had to get up early. Wenwen is still packing, but I came down first to find you! I figured you¡¯d be early, but I didn¡¯t think early."


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "You came down early just to see me? What for?"


    "No reason!" She shook her head.


    Sometimes, he just couldn''t understand how her mind worked. "But why book a six o¡¯clock train? You usually take the eight or nine o¡¯clock one so you can sleep in."


    Standing beside him, He Qing smiled.


    "Oh, I just wanted to go home earlier today. I still need to buy gifts for my mom and grandma. And¡­" She hesitated for a second before continuing, "I knew you guys would take the six o¡¯clock bus, so I got a six o¡¯clock train ticket. That way, I could see you a little longer this morning."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "Is it really that necessary? Don¡¯t we see each other every day?"


    He Qing blinked and looked up at him. "Yeah, but just because we see each other every day doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t miss you. And we won¡¯t see each other for a whole week, so I wanted to see you before I left!"


    Lin Zhengran reached out and flicked her forehead.


    "Ow¡ª" She pouted, rubbing the spot, though it didn¡¯t actually hurt.


    Glancing around, she noticed that Han Wenwen still hadn¡¯t arrived. "Where¡¯s Jiang Xueli?"


    "Not here yet. You¡¯re the first one here. They usually don¡¯t show up until at least five-thirty."


    Hearing this, He Qing¡¯s ears turned red. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Maybe it was the chilly morning air¡ªor maybe not.


    "Oh¡­ So it¡¯s just the two of us."


    She lifted her gaze toward him, her expression subtly hinting at something.


    Lin Zhengran, curious, observed her. "What are you up to?"


    She nervously fiddled with her fingers and glanced at his hands.


    "Um¡­ since they¡¯re not here yet¡­ are your hands cold? D-Do you want me to warm them for you?"


    Her voice was timid, almost hesitant.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "Warm my hands? You look colder than I am."


    He Qing quickly shook her head. "Cold? Nope! But girls'' hands are usually colder than boys''."


    She cupped her hands together and blew warm breath into them before offering, "Now they¡¯re warm! Let me warm your hands before the others get here! Wenwen will be here any second¡ªhurry!"


    Her urgency, along with her innocent eagerness, amused Lin Zhengran.


    He extended his hand.


    Seeing this, He Qing quickly took both of his hands in hers, cupping them gently and blowing warm air onto them.


    She beamed.


    "There! Not cold anymore, right? The heat from my breath is 37 degrees Celsius, same as body temperature! Wenwen told me that guys find 37 degrees really warm!"


    Thirty-seven degrees, huh?


    Lin Zhengran, for some reason, felt like Han Wenwen probably didn¡¯t mean it like that.


    That fox was far more mature than He Qing¡ªwho clearly only had a vague understanding of certain things.


    Meanwhile, He Qing used the excuse of ¡®warming his hands¡¯ to inch a little closer to him.


    ¡ªBut what they didn¡¯t know was that, not far away, someone else had woken up much earlier than usual.


    Jiang Xueli was usually awakened by her alarm at five-thirty.


    But this morning, she had woken up half an hour earlier¡ªand after tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, she simply got up.


    She had been preoccupied all week, so after a quick wash, she decided to head down early.


    However, just as she arrived near the school gate, she spotted Lin Zhengran standing there.


    She had just been about to greet him when¡ª


    He Qing¡¯s voice rang out.


    For some reason, Jiang Xueli froze.


    She hid behind some bushes, peeking through the leaves to observe them.


    Though she was too far away to hear their conversation, she saw everything¡ª


    The way He Qing talked to him.


    The way she moved closer.


    And finally¡ª


    The moment Lin Zhengran held out his hand¡­


    And He Qing took it in both of hers and breathed warm air into it.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened in shock, lips slightly parted.


    ¡ªAnd unbeknownst to both Jiang Xueli and He Qing, they weren¡¯t the only ones watching.


    Further back, Han Wenwen had also arrived.


    She had rushed downstairs the moment He Qing left, knowing full well that the girl had gone straight to Lin Zhengran.


    And, sure enough, she caught them in the act.


    Seeing He Qing holding Lin Zhengran¡¯s hands, Han Wenwen pursed her lips in jealousy.


    However¡ª


    Before she could react, she heard a rustling sound nearby.


    She turned her head and saw¡ª


    Jiang Xueli, crouched behind the bushes, secretly watching as well.


    At that moment, an unspoken chain of events lined up¡ª


    Han Wenwen ¡ú Jiang Xueli ¡ú He Qing &Lin Zhengran.


    Like a perfectly arranged drama scene.


    Luckily for Jiang Xueli and He Qing, He Qing was leaving soon.


    And Han Wenwen had had enough.


    Stepping forward, she broke the tension with a deliberately cheerful voice.


    "Xiaoqing! Lin Zhengran! Why are you two in such a rush to leave the dorms so early? Especially you, Xiaoqing! You didn¡¯t even wait for me!"


    At the sound of her voice, He Qing panicked, quickly releasing Lin Zhengran¡¯s hands.


    Her face turned bright red, and her hands and feet seemed to not know where to go.


    Jiang Xueli, hiding in the bushes, also flinched¡ªinstinctively shrinking back.


    As if nothing had happened, Han Wenwen walked up, flashing a sweet yet sharp smile.


    "Xiaoqing, shouldn¡¯t you be heading to your train now? If you wait any longer, you¡¯ll be late."


    She spoke in a friendly tone.


    But when she looked at Lin Zhengran¡ª


    She shot him a glare so sharp he could practically feel it.

 Chapter 117: Jealousy

    Little He Qing took out her phone to check the time. "Oh, right, I gotta go!"


    She had originally planned to lean on Lin Zhengran''s shoulder for a little longer while they were alone, but time had flown by faster than she expected.


    Whenever she was with him, time always seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.


    She glanced into the distance. "Jiang Xueli isn''t here yet? I can''t wait for her then, I need to catch the high-speed train. Wenwen, if she shows up later, let her know I¡¯ve left."


    "Mm, don''t worry, Little Qingqing."


    Little He Qing waved goodbye to Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen. "Lin Zhengran, Wenwen, see you! I''m heading off!"


    She was noticeably shy when calling Lin Zhengran''s name. After speaking, she ran toward the row of taxis parked outside the school gate, giving a final wave before getting into one.


    Han Wenwen waved back, watching until the taxi disappeared into the distance.


    Then, her fox-like eyes shifted toward Lin Zhengran, pretending to be upset as she looked away. "How sweet~ Holding hands to keep warm in the morning, huh?"


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "You¡¯ve been here for a while, haven¡¯t you?"


    Han Wenwen scoffed. "More than just a little while¡ªthis morning has been eventful."


    From the grass in the distance, Jiang Xueli slowly walked over, her expression unreadable. She didn¡¯t say anything about what had just happened, but a faint trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes.


    She greeted them with a forced smile. "Morning, Zhengran!"


    Lin Zhengran turned to her. "Morning."


    Han Wenwen also looked at Jiang Xueli, then back at Lin Zhengran. The little fox was practically radiating jealousy.


    This week was supposed to be Jiang Xueli¡¯s turn to spend time with Lin Zhengran, yet the very first morning of the break started off like this.


    Seems like Zhengran will be spending quite a bit of time with Jiang Xueli this week.


    On the bus back to town, the three of them sat together.


    Suddenly, Jiang Xueli clutched her stomach in discomfort.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Jiang Xueli shook her head with a smile. "It¡¯s nothing, probably just the cold from this morning. I¡¯ll be fine once I warm up at home."


    She kept smiling but avoided looking at Lin Zhengran, instead staring at the bus window, watching the scenery blur past.


    She couldn¡¯t shake the image of He Qing holding Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand earlier that morning.


    That kind of gesture¡­ it was obviously something couples would do.


    Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When they arrived at the bus stop, all three got off together. Despite everything, Jiang Xueli still instinctively called out, "Um, Zhengran, the competition is this week¡­"


    But she hesitated mid-sentence.


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "I know. I¡¯ll sort out my things at home first, then come find you to discuss the details."


    Jiang Xueli chuckled and looked at him playfully. "Actually¡­ it¡¯s not urgent. You can take your time. The competition is still a few days away, after all."


    She waved at him. "I¡¯ll head home first. You should go home and get your stuff sorted too, Zhengran."


    As she turned to leave, she winced from the pain in her stomach again, pressing a hand to her abdomen.


    she wondered.


    After watching Jiang Xueli leave, Han Wenwen turned to Lin Zhengran. "Looks like I¡¯m not the only one who needs comforting. is jealous too. Having three girlfriends has its perks, but it also has its downsides~"


    Lin Zhengran watched Jiang Xueli walk away. He had known this kind of situation was bound to happen sooner or later.


    Han Wenwen studied his face. "Looks like Brother Zhengran already has a plan in mind."


    When they were alone, she naturally switched to using "Brother Zhengran."


    "By the way, how long will you be busy with Jiang Xueli¡¯s competition?" she asked.


    "Probably until the 6th. The singer competition lasts two days and should end by 6 PM."


    Han Wenwen had hoped it would be sooner and pouted. "Then I¡¯ll call you at 6 PM."


    She poked his chest with a finger.


    "I''ve had of watching you and He Qing being all lovey-dovey this week. Do you know how it makes me to see the guy I like getting all close with another girl? If you don¡¯t make it up to me properly, Brother Zhengran, you¡¯ll see that even little foxes can bite!"


    She narrowed her charming eyes at him, full of playful jealousy.


    Then, to vent her frustration, she leaned in and his arm.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t actually bite hard¡ªjust enough to leave some saliva on his skin.


    "You make it up to me on the 6th," she huffed. "Otherwise, I¡¯ll blow up your phone with calls until you come!"


    Lin Zhengran wiped his arm with her sleeve. "Got it. I¡¯ll come find you at 6 PM."


    Han Wenwen recoiled. "Ew! So gross!"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "It¡¯s your own saliva."


    "That¡¯s exactly why it¡¯s gross! If it were saliva, I wouldn¡¯t mind. Ugh, whatever, I have to do laundry when I get home anyway."


    She looked up at him. "Alright, I¡¯m heading back to my apartment. Don¡¯t forget¡ª6 PM on the 6th!"


    "Mm. Take care on the way back."


    Han Wenwen waved at him and left.


    As she walked, she started plotting.


    Right now, Zhengran only had girlfriends. What if he got one? Or even ? How long would she have to wait then?


    She had to figure something out.


    Zhengran to spend more time with .


    Meanwhile, Jiang Xueli¡¯s stomachache worsened as she walked home. She had to stop and squat down for a while because of the pain.


    With no other choice, she headed straight to a nearby clinic.


    She registered at the front desk and was soon seen by a female doctor wearing a white coat.


    "Name?"


    "Jiang Xueli."


    "Age?"


    "Sixteen."


    "What¡¯s bothering you?"


    "Stomach pain. It started this morning and keeps getting worse."


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Jiang Xueli sat down and extended her hand while the doctor briefly checked her pulse, flipping through some medical records with her other hand.


    Jiang Xueli hesitated. "Doctor¡­ do you know what¡¯s wrong with me?"


    The doctor nodded. "Mm. You¡¯re pregnant."


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    "¡­Huh?! P-Pregnant?! No way!"


    The doctor handed a medical file to a woman who had entered before her. "Your test results confirm you¡¯re pregnant. You should go to the hospital for a full check-up."


    The woman took the file and nodded. "Thank you, doctor. I¡¯ll go today."


    After she left, the doctor turned back to Jiang Xueli. "Now, where were you hurting again?"


    Jiang Xueli let out a long breath, wiping the sweat from her forehead.


    "No, no, I said my hurts, doctor. It started this morning."


    "Have you had this pain before?"


    "No."


    "Are you on your period today?"


    "Uh¡­ yeah, I think so¡­"


    "Do you usually get cramps?"


    "Sometimes, but not that bad."


    "Have you ever been sexually active?"


    "Sexual¡ª?! No! Absolutely not!" Jiang Xueli frantically waved her hands. "I haven¡¯t even held a guy¡¯s ! I swear!"


    The doctor gave her an amused look. "Judging by how flustered you are, I believe you. By the way, have you been upset about something today? Stress can make cramps worse."


    "Upset¡­?"


    She immediately thought of the morning¡¯s events.


    "Yeah, I guess so."


    The doctor nodded. "It¡¯s just menstrual cramps. I¡¯ll give you some medicine¡ªit should help. Try to keep your mood light and drink warm water. Next patient!"


    Jiang Xueli sighed in relief.


    But still¡­ how was she supposed to be in a good mood after seeing them hold hands?

 Chapter 118: Jiang Xueli Confesses Her True Feelings

    Jiang Xueli returned home with the medicine she had bought. Her parents weren¡¯t off for the National Day holiday, so as usual, she was home alone.


    She saw the note and some pocket money her mom had left on the coffee table.


    As always, she set her bag down and was about to take a shower first thing after getting home.


    After all, Lin Zhengran was coming over soon.


    But the pain in her abdomen made it hard to even think about bathing.


    She hesitated in front of the bathroom door, staring at her reflection in the mirror.


    In the end, her willpower won over the discomfort.


    ""


    "" She comforted herself, warming up a kettle of water and taking the "Yuanhu Pain Relief Pills" prescribed by the doctor.


    Then, she finally headed to the bathroom.


    She took off her coat, removed the hair ties from her twin ponytails, and let her long hair cascade over her shoulders.


    Barefoot, she walked into the bathroom, let the hot water run for a moment, and then closed the door.


    The doctor had told her to keep a positive mindset and not dwell on unhappy thoughts.


    But how could she help it?


    As she bathed, all she could think about was He Qing holding Lin Zhengran¡¯s hands that morning, blowing warm breath onto his palms.


    She frowned.


    "Zhengran¡­ big idiot."


    Another wave of pain hit her, making her crouch down to clutch her abdomen.


    After a quick rinse, she smartly placed the house key under the doormat so she wouldn¡¯t have to get out of bed to let that big idiot in. Then, she climbed into bed to rest.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran had nothing pressing to do after returning home.


    He showered, had breakfast, and double-checked the competition¡¯s date and location to ensure there were no changes.


    Once everything was confirmed, he headed to Jiang Xueli¡¯s house.


    When he arrived, he knocked on the door.


    No answer.


    Jiang Xueli, curled up in bed, heard the knocking and called Lin Zhengran.


    When he picked up, she explained, "Hey, Zhengran? The key¡¯s under the doormat. Let yourself in."


    "Under the doormat? Aren¡¯t you home? Why¡¯d you put it there?"


    "I¡­ I¡¯ve got a stomachache and don¡¯t feel like getting up. But¡­" She didn¡¯t want him to leave. "I¡¯ll be fine after a bit. I can still practice singing."


    "Stomachache?"


    Lin Zhengran found the key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.


    The first thing he noticed was her bag and clothes casually tossed onto the sofa. He recalled how she had already been feeling unwell on the bus earlier.


    So, he went straight to her bedroom.


    Opening the door, he saw Jiang Xueli lying on the bed, her long hair spread out, clutching her stomach.


    The usual feisty and proud girl looked unusually frail today.


    Her eyebrows were furrowed slightly, her lips a little pale, yet she still looked as stunning as ever.


    When she saw him enter, she mustered up a smile despite her discomfort.


    "Zhengran, you¡¯re here? Take a seat. My stomach hurts, but I just need a little time to recover. It¡¯s not urgent. We can still talk about the competition while I rest."


    She gritted her teeth through the pain, but a thin layer of sweat had already formed on her forehead.


    Lin Zhengran sat on the edge of her bed. "Forget the competition for now. What¡¯s going on with you? Did you see a doctor?"


    Jiang Xueli, despite acting tough, was just like any other girl¡ªwhenever the guy she liked showed concern for her, it made her feel instantly better.


    But this morning¡¯s events still weighed on her, making it hard to express herself.


    "Yeah¡­ I saw a doctor. They said it¡¯s just¡­" She hesitated, feeling embarrassed. "Period cramps. Nothing serious, just a minor issue."


    "Period cramps?"


    Jiang Xueli lowered her voice. "What? I¡¯m a girl, you know. Lots of people get them¡ªit¡¯s not a big deal."


    Seeing how weak she looked, Lin Zhengran got up, planning to go buy something for her.


    But before he could even take a step, Jiang Xueli instinctively grabbed the hem of his shirt.


    "Zhengran, where are you going?! Don¡¯t leave! I practice singing today!"


    She panicked, forcing a grin. "See? My stomach doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. Look, I¡¯ll sit up right now!"


    She tried to push herself up with her arms, but the moment she sat up, the pain intensified.


    On top of that, a cool draft hit her skin¡ª


    The blanket covering her slipped down, revealing her smooth, bare shoulder.


    She turned her head and¡ª


    In her rush to lie down earlier, she had completely forgotten¡­


    She hadn¡¯t put on any clothes after her shower.


    She was completely bare beneath the blanket.


    "AHH!"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned beet red as she yanked the blanket up to cover herself.


    "Don¡¯t look!" she shrieked. "How could I forget¡ª"


    Then, she realized her clothes were still at the bathroom door.


    Her face burned even more.


    But before she could dwell on that, another sharp pain hit her abdomen, making her clutch her stomach again.


    Now she was flustered in pain.


    Lin Zhengran had no idea what she was doing, flailing around like some sort of lion dance performance.


    Without a word, he leaned over and tucked the blanket securely around her.


    Jiang Xueli shut her eyes tightly, panicking. "W-What are you doing?! Don¡¯t come any closer! I may not be able to fight back right now, but I get mad! And when I¡¯m mad, I¡¯m really scary! I¡¯ll hold you accountable!"


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    "Shut up."


    She winced from the light pain, finally calming down.


    He sighed. "Why are you acting so weird while feeling unwell? Just lie down and rest. Have you eaten?"


    She peeked at him from under the blanket. "No¡­ I wasn¡¯t in the mood to eat. And why¡¯d you flick my forehead?"


    Lin Zhengran sighed again. "Did you at least take your medicine? Painkillers?"


    "Yeah, I did¡­"


    "Unbelievable. You took medicine but didn¡¯t eat? You know that an empty stomach makes cramps worse, right? And taking painkillers on an empty stomach? smart move. Now lie down properly!"


    Jiang Xueli, intimidated by his stern tone, didn¡¯t dare talk back. She obediently curled up under the blanket.


    Lin Zhengran stood up. "I¡¯m going to buy you some warm food. Stay in bed and wait for me."


    "Oh¡­"


    Just as he reached the door, Jiang Xueli anxiously called out, "Zhengran¡­ You¡¯re not going to leave me behind, are you?"


    Lin Zhengran turned back. "What do you think? When have I ever abandoned you? If I wanted to leave, I wouldn¡¯t make up an excuse¡ªI¡¯d just say so directly. Now stay put."


    With that, he stepped out of the room, checked the fridge¡ªnothing useful¡ªthen headed out.


    Jiang Xueli lay in bed, blankly staring at the door.


    She listened to him leave, repeating his words in her mind.


    Lin Zhengran went to the store, buying brown sugar, red dates, and lemons.


    Then, he stopped by a food stall to get millet porridge and steamed buns.


    When he returned, he checked on her first.


    "Still hurting?"


    Jiang Xueli saw him and immediately felt better. She nodded slightly. "A little¡­ What did you buy?"


    "You¡¯ll see in a bit."


    Lin Zhengran closed the bedroom door behind him and headed to the kitchen.


    Even though he hadn¡¯t dated in his past life, he had read too many random books.


    Besides, while he wasn¡¯t exactly popular with the guys in this life¡ªthanks to a certain trio of clingy girls¡ªhe actually had quite a few good friends in his past life.


    He particularly remembered one "big warm guy" from his college dorm.


    That dude used to go on and on about how he spoiled his girlfriend¡ªcooking her brown sugar water, giving her massages, warming up her hands and feet, even rubbing her stomach when she had cramps.


    Nobody cared about those details, but he repeated them so often that Lin Zhengran and his other roommates ended up memorizing them anyway.


    Now, relying on those leftover memories and a quick online search for a proper recipe, Lin Zhengran spent the next while messing around in the kitchen.


    Eventually, he successfully made a fresh pot of brown sugar water.


    He took a sip himself¡ªtasted decent.


    Satisfied, he poured some into a cup, grabbed the breakfast he¡¯d bought, and carried everything to Jiang Xueli¡¯s bedroom.


    ¡ª


    Jiang Xueli looked up as he walked in, spotting the cup in his hand.


    She had heard him doing something outside earlier, but she hadn¡¯t expected


    "Brown sugar water? You it?"


    "Where would I even buy this? Brown sugar is sold, sure, but just dissolving it in water isn¡¯t as effective. So, I made it myself in the kitchen."


    "You¡­ made it yourself?" Jiang Xueli stared at him, utterly stunned. Her face turned bright red.


    She had no idea how much of an this act of kindness was to a girl in her condition.


    "You actually know how to make this? Isn¡¯t it a hassle?"


    "It¡¯s pretty simple." He sat on the bed and asked, "Can you sit up?"


    "Yeah."


    This time, she carefully adjusted the blanket to cover herself as she sat up.


    Her gaze lingered on him as he blew on the hot drink, hesitating before she mumbled, "Where¡¯d you learn this? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ He¡ª"


    "I just looked it up," Lin Zhengran cut her off. "I¡¯ve never made it before, but it¡¯s easy enough to learn."


    Jiang Xueli blinked.


    Lin Zhengran blew on the drink again. "Try a sip."


    She was still lost in thought, staring blankly.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" he asked.


    Jiang Xueli snapped out of it and quickly shook her head. "N-Nothing! I was just¡­ wondering if He Qing gets cramps too."


    Lin Zhengran instantly understood.


    She thought he had learned this because he¡¯d made it for He Qing before?


    He flicked her forehead.


    "Ouch!"


    "I said I learned it today! Are you deaf? And He Qing doesn¡¯t get cramps. Do you think I¡¯d go out of my way to learn this if I didn¡¯t see you suffering?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened, and for once, she was completely speechless.


    Her face flushed as she lowered her head. "So¡­ you learned it just for me?"


    Lin Zhengran sighed, shoving the cup toward her. "I don¡¯t feel like explaining anymore. I¡¯ll hold it for you¡ªjust drink it already."


    Jiang Xueli reached out. "I can hold it myself!"


    But the second she moved, her blanket slipped again.


    Flustered, she grabbed it back up, her face burning.


    Lin Zhengran was done. "Just hurry up. I¡¯ll hold it for you. Stop making this so complicated."


    "I-I¡¯m not!" she stammered. "It¡¯s just¡­ you¡¯re being too nice today. It¡¯s embarrassing¡­"


    She peeked up at him. "I¡¯m drinking, okay?"


    "Yeah, go ahead."


    Jiang Xueli slowly brought her lips to the rim of the cup and took a small sip.


    She licked her lips, savoring the taste. "It¡¯s really sweet¡­ and there¡¯s even red dates and lemon in it? You actually put in this much effort?"


    "Since I was making it anyway, I figured I¡¯d do it properly," Lin Zhengran said. "Drink some more, then eat your breakfast."


    "Oh¡­ okay."


    She took another sip, but it was still too hot. Lin Zhengran blew on it for her.


    "Try again."


    That simple action hit her harder than she expected.


    She obediently took another sip.


    Then nodded. "Okay, I think I¡¯m ready to eat now."


    Satisfied, Lin Zhengran set the cup aside and handed her the breakfast and porridge.


    Maybe it was her improved mood, the medicine, or the brown sugar water, but her cramps felt a lot better.


    She finally calmed down enough to properly adjust her blanket before reaching out. "I¡¯ll feed myself."


    Lin Zhengran handed her the food.


    "Thanks," she murmured before taking small bites.


    All the while, her bright, proud eyes occasionally snuck glances at him.


    Whenever he looked back, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending nothing had happened.


    Once she finished, he asked, "Feeling better now?"


    "Much better."


    Then, she blushed again and mumbled, "But¡­ how do you know so much about girls¡¯ issues? If He Qing doesn¡¯t get cramps, then how did you know that not eating makes them worse¡­?"


    "What does He Qing have to do with this?"


    "Ah¡ªno! I mean¡ªum¡­"


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes.


    "You saw what happened at the school gate this morning, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you keep bringing up He Qing."


    Jiang Xueli hugged the blanket tighter and hesitated.


    Then, she slowly nodded.


    "Yeah¡­ I saw it all. But I spying!" she clarified quickly. "I just happened to be there a few minutes early, and then I saw her holding your hands¡­ warming up hands."


    Jiang Xueli suddenly felt a pang of guilt.


    "...Actually, you¡¯re right. We¡¯ve been together for two weeks now, but I feel like we haven¡¯t really spent any time alone together¡­ Maybe you think dating me is boring. That¡¯s why¡­ you cheated¡­ That¡¯s why you want to break up with me and be with someone else."


    "Huh? Be with someone else?"


    "Huh, what ?"


    Jiang Xueli lifted her head to glare at Lin Zhengran. Normally, she¡¯d be throwing a fit by now, but since he had just taken care of her, she couldn¡¯t even get mad properly.


    Not that she ever bring herself to be truly angry with him.


    "You lie to me! Are you seriously not going to admit what happened this morning?! I it with my own eyes!"


    "I mean¡­ yeah, it happen."


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip, feeling wronged. She shut her eyes tightly and huffed.


    "Then there you have it! You want to break up with me! You want to be with He Qing instead!"


    She clenched her blanket, voice trembling.


    "I this. We got together. We haven¡¯t even done anything yet¡ªno, actually, we haven¡¯t had time to do at all! And now you¡¯re just¡­ throwing me away!"


    Hugging the blanket tightly, she buried herself in it, as if accepting reality¡ªbut in truth, she accept it.


    The proud tsundere facade crumbled.


    "Fine, whatever. If we¡¯re breaking up, we¡¯re breaking up."


    Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to sound strong.


    "Even if you don¡¯t want me anymore¡­ I like you. I¡¯ve liked you since forever. Since elementary school, when the whole class doubted me, but believed in me¡­ that¡¯s when I fell for you."


    Her voice softened.


    "Every morning, the thing I looked forward to the most was seeing you. I¡¯d try to find excuses just to talk to you more. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know I¡¯m stubborn. I know I don¡¯t always say what I mean. But that¡¯s just because I get shy."


    As she spoke, her nose tingled, and her eyes welled up with tears.


    "I don¡¯t know how other girls can be so with their feelings. Every time I to say I miss you, I just¡­ I can¡¯t. And even when I do say it, I end up contradicting myself right after¡­


    "That¡¯s why I always give other people a chance to butt in.


    "I don¡¯t to be a tsundere! I¡¯ve trying to change ever since high school, but¡­ this is just who I am."


    She sniffled, hugging her knees.


    "I being a tsundere. Who would like being like this?! Always arguing with the person they like, always pretending they don¡¯t care¡­ always making them mad¡­"


    "But the truth is¡ªI like you."


    Jiang Xueli reached out for tissues, but couldn¡¯t find any.


    Lin Zhengran wordlessly handed her one.


    She took it and even remembered to say, "Thanks," before continuing her rant.


    "...I know this probably isn¡¯t very attractive, but even if you dump me, my heart is still full of , you idiot!


    "I don¡¯t even at other guys. I fit anyone else in my heart anymore."


    She wiped her eyes, then¡ªjust to vent some frustration¡ªgently Lin Zhengran under the blanket.


    She completely missed the curious look on his face.


    "I mean, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m saying all this to make you change your mind or anything," she huffed.


    "It¡¯s just¡­ I should¡¯ve told you all of this a long time ago. Might as well get it all out today."


    Tears clung to her lashes as she choked out her final words.


    "I like you.


    "And when I said before that if you couldn¡¯t find a girlfriend, I¡¯d marry you¡­ that was a lie.


    "You¡¯re too popular with girls. There¡¯s no way you wouldn¡¯t be able to find a girlfriend.


    "I just wanted an excuse to marry you. That part was real."


    She lowered her head.


    "...That¡¯s it. I¡¯ve said everything.


    "Whatever you say next, I¡¯ll accept. Go ahead."


    Her lips quivered again.


    She tried to sound accepting, but her tears were already spilling over again.


    "Even if you say you don¡¯t want me anymore, I¡­ I¡¯ll still accept it¡­ even though I don¡¯t want to¡­ "


    ¡ª


    Lin Zhengran stared at her, speechless.


    This was¡­ probably the longest, most heartfelt speech she had ever given him.


    "You think I don¡¯t want you anymore?" He sighed.


    "How many times have I told you before? I don¡¯t just people. So of course, you¡¯re still mine."


    "¡­¡ªhuh?"


    Jiang Xueli had been mid-sob when his words registered.


    She blinked, confused.


    Wait¡­


    She had braced herself for the worst, but he was her?!


    She quickly wiped her tears. "Then¡­ what about He Qing?"


    Lin Zhengran answered casually, "Oh, He Qing? She¡¯s mine too, of course. I¡¯m not letting go of either of you."


    "¡­What?!"

 Chapter 119: The Honest Lin Zhengran

    The quiet atmosphere made every sound outside¡ªcars passing by and the loudspeaker of the woman selling fried dough sticks at the neighborhood entrance¡ªseem exceptionally clear.


    In her bedroom, Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened slowly. She had imagined countless things Lin Zhengran might say today, but this¡­ this completely shattered the barrier of what she thought was possible.


    "What do you mean ''you''?!" Lin Zhengran asked. "Isn¡¯t this normal?"


    "Nor¡­ nor¡­ normal?!" Jiang Xueli stammered. "Did I hear you wrong, you idiot?! What did you just say?! You actually said that both of us are yours!" Her eyes were still red, but she had already clenched her small fists, shutting her eyes tightly as she tried to argue.


    "You didn¡¯t hear wrong. I did say that."


    "No! Say it again if you dare! What did you just say?!"


    "I said you both are mine."


    "Say it again!"


    "I said, you''re both mine."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned red as she stared at Lin Zhengran in shock. She couldn¡¯t believe that such a shameless person could exist in this world.


    "You actually repeated it multiple times! How can this be?! You can only choose one between me and He Qing! How can someone have two girlfriends? I¡¯ve never even heard of such a thing before!"


    Lin Zhengran sat on the bed, looking completely serious. "That¡¯s not true. Are you sure you¡¯ve never heard of it? Isn¡¯t it pretty common on TV?"


    She suddenly remembered that, yes, she had seen it in dramas before. So, she changed her argument. "Okay¡­ maybe I have heard of it, but still!" Jiang Xueli blushed, hugging her blanket and curling up.


    "This is ridiculous! How can you be like this? And you still say you¡¯re not an idiot? Only idiots say things like this! Idiot! Pighead!"


    As soon as she finished, her stomach started hurting again. She clutched it in frustration.


    Lin Zhengran sighed and handed her the cup in his hand. "Why are you getting so worked up? Do you really have to make yourself sick over this? Drink another sip."


    Jiang Xueli looked at him in confusion, thinking, Gentle yet so shameless¡ªshe didn¡¯t even know how to react anymore.


    But seeing that this was the brown sugar water he had personally made for her, she could only lower her head and take a small sip.


    It was still a bit hot, so she didn¡¯t drink much.


    Lin Zhengran blew on the surface of the water. "Try again."


    Jiang Xueli shyly glanced at his lips before taking another sip. She swallowed¡ªit was still very sweet.


    Her heart pounded wildly.


    But that just made her feel even more off. She quickly shut her eyes again, burying her head in her knees.


    "Even if you treat me this well, I still won¡¯t agree. This is impossible. I can promise you anything else, but not this. Idiot Zhengran! How can you be so unfaithful?!"


    She secretly peeked at Lin Zhengran¡¯s reaction, only to find that he remained as composed as ever.


    Confused, she asked, "How are you so calm?! Say something!"


    "Say what? Didn¡¯t I already say it clearly? I said you both are mine." Lin Zhengran answered righteously.


    "What¡¯s with that serious look on your face?! What I mean is¡­ this is way too simple! If you were going to say something so outrageous, shouldn¡¯t you at least have an excuse? Something that would make me have no choice but to agree?"


    Lin Zhengran set down the cup and answered sincerely,


    "I wouldn¡¯t do that. I don¡¯t like forcing or deceiving others, especially girls, because true feelings can¡¯t be forced. It¡¯s like when I taught you how to sing. I told you back then that as long as you were willing, I would guide you, and you would improve. Didn¡¯t I say that?"


    "You did." Jiang Xueli recalled that day from their childhood. "And I agreed¡­ but¡­"


    She tightened her grip on the cup, letting the sweetness of the brown sugar water linger on her tongue. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But having a girlfriend is different. Although I do appreciate that you won¡¯t lie to me¡­"


    She turned away, mumbling to herself, "Unless you¡¯re really serious about this, I won¡¯t agree. But if you really insist¡­ then I guess I don¡¯t have a choice."


    "You gave in so fast."


    "What do you mean ''gave in''?" Jiang Xueli hugged her head, suddenly realizing, "Ah! Did I just agree?!"


    Her blanket slipped again, and she quickly grabbed it, her face still flushed as she muttered,


    "What else can I do?! You know I like you! I¡¯ve liked you for so many years! Even knowing how unfaithful you are, I still stay by your side every day! But¡­"


    She clenched her fists and questioned him,


    "Tell me! Answer me this! Do you even have the determination to take care of two girlfriends?! Having two means twice the jealousy, twice the effort¡ªyou have to comfort both of us!"


    Lin Zhengran: "I know. I knew that from the start."


    "You¡ª!" Jiang Xueli buried her face in her knees again and let out a deep sigh. "I¡¯m speechless. Do whatever you want, idiot. I must be crazy for being this obsessed with you."


    Lin Zhengran handed her the cup again. "Drink a little more and then lie down. Even if your stomach doesn¡¯t hurt now, your period is still going to make you uncomfortable for a couple of days."


    Jiang Xueli looked at him again, pursing her lips before taking the cup and gulping down the rest.


    Then she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.


    "Wait¡­ don¡¯t tell me you planned this from the start? That you wanted everything? You never intended to let go of either of us?"


    Lin Zhengran took the empty cup from her. "Of course. I¡¯ve never changed my mind."


    "You really are¡ª!" Jiang Xueli started smacking his arm with her small fists. "You¡¯re seriously the most shameless person ever!"


    As she kept hitting him, she suddenly lost her balance, her face landing against his arm.


    But she didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, she rested her forehead against him, her lips pressing together as she sniffled softly.


    Lin Zhengran was surprised. "What¡¯s wrong now?"


    Jiang Xueli shook her head and softly muttered,


    "Nothing¡­ It¡¯s just¡­ even though you¡¯re so shameless and openly saying all this, I actually feel a little happy inside. Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯ve always been like this, and I¡¯ve gotten used to it. But what matters most to me is that¡­ you still care about me."


    Lin Zhengran: "It¡¯s not ''still''¡ªit¡¯s that both you and He Qing have always been important to me. I¡¯ve always cared about you both, and that will never change. Even when you act all tsundere and make conversations extra difficult."


    Jiang Xueli suddenly let out a soft, embarrassed "hmph," feeling ticklish inside from his words.


    She quickly lay back down, pulling the blanket over herself for protection. Her face was still red as she asked,


    "By the way¡­ you saw everything you weren¡¯t supposed to today, didn¡¯t you? I lost my blanket so many times."


    Lin Zhengran recalled the multiple times she had dropped her blanket today and, being honest, said, "No. I didn¡¯t see anything. At most, just your shoulder."


    "That¡¯s impossible!" She knew he never lied, but still, she was curious. "Really?!"


    "Really. You¡¯re small."


    "Small?" Jiang Xueli froze before realizing what he meant. She immediately started hitting him again. "Are you saying is small?! That even if the blanket fell, there¡¯s nothing to see?!"


    "It¡¯s fine. Small is cute too."


    "You¡¯re the worst!"


    She huffed and turned away. "I don¡¯t you to stay, but since you¡¯re my boyfriend now, keeping me company isn¡¯t a big deal, right? I want to sleep. When I wake up, I want to see you still here."


    "Yeah, I wasn¡¯t planning on leaving. I was here to talk about the competition with you anyway."


    Jiang Xueli smiled, her lips curling up slightly. "And it¡¯s so warm in here¡ªwhy don¡¯t you take off your coat? You can throw it over me. I can use it as a blanket."


    She closed her eyes and, without realizing it, whispered out loud, "That way, I can sleep while smelling your scent."


    Lin Zhengran sighed, thinking,

 Chapter 120: A Paper Marriage Agreement

    When Jiang Xueli woke up, her vision was still hazy as she turned to look behind her. Lin Zhengran was sitting against the bedframe, reading a book. She blinked clumsily, trying to clear her thoughts.


    Her stomach wasn¡¯t hurting as much anymore, and her mind had fully awakened.


    But this time, before her awareness could fully settle, an overwhelming sense of shame rushed to her head at an unprecedented speed.


    That morning, between her cramps, Lin Zhengran¡¯s gentleness, and the lingering sadness from heartbreak, she had blabbered on and on. But she hadn¡¯t been fully conscious of what she was saying at the time.


    Now, all of a sudden, it hit her.


    She had confessed that she liked him. Said that the excuse of marrying him because no one else wanted him was just that¡ªan excuse. She even said¡­ even if he dumped her, she would still love him wholeheartedly, that he was the only one in her heart.


    Although every word had been true, she had never imagined that she would say it all


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye¡ªon the verge of explosion.


    Fortunately, Lin Zhengran, ever the keen observer, noticed her unusual reaction and promptly flicked her forehead. A well-placed "forehead flick" deflated the metaphorical balloon of her embarrassment before she could start attacking him with her little fists.


    Honestly, Jiang Xueli acted fairly mature and composed at school. But every time she was alone with him, she seemed to revert back to her childhood self.


    He Qing was the same way.


    And that little fox? She was even worse¡ªwhenever they were alone, she¡¯d practically drape herself over him. Forget acting like an adult;she didn¡¯t even act human¡ªjust like a fox through and through.


    At this moment, Jiang Xueli clutched her forehead, wincing from the flick.


    Lin Zhengran asked, "Awake?"


    Jiang Xueli, still blushing, pouted. "Stupid Zhengran, why¡¯d you hit me for no reason?"


    "Does your stomach still hurt?"


    Jiang Xueli thought for a moment. "N-No, not really¡­ But I still feel a little uncomfortable. I think I should be able to practice singing in the afternoon, though."


    Lin Zhengran reached out his hand. Jiang Xueli instinctively thought he was going to flick her forehead again, but instead, he gently tucked away a stray strand of hair that had stuck to her lips while she slept.


    Jiang Xueli stared at his delicate movements, her heart fluttering with a girlish shyness.


    Her ears turned completely red.


    Maybe¡­ maybe it wasn¡¯t so bad that she had said those things this morning. It was embarrassing, but wasn¡¯t it normal to say such things to her ? It wasn¡¯t like it was something to be ashamed of.


    As Lin Zhengran got up to fetch his guitar, he glanced back at her curiously. "By the way, do you want some clothes? I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a restless sleeper. Your legs keep stretching out of the blanket¡ªI¡¯ve had to cover you up two or three times already."


    "Huh?" Jiang Xueli looked down and realized that one of her smooth, bare legs was currently sticking out from under the blanket.


    Since she wasn¡¯t wearing leggings, the gap in the blanket even exposed a little more than just her leg.


    Flustered beyond belief, she quickly yanked her leg back under the covers, burying herself inside. "PERVERT!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "So¡­ should I still bring you some clothes or not?"


    "Of course you should!" She peeked out just enough to glare at him. "Big pervert~"


    Lin Zhengran let out a helpless sigh. "You girls have been way too well-protected by me. Do you even know what a pervert is like? Here, let me show you."


    With that, he pretended to pull off his shirt. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli panicked instantly and dove back under the blanket. "No! I was wrong! What are you doing?! Calm down!"


    Lin Zhengran found teasing these girls to be quite entertaining¡ªit really added some fun to life. He chuckled. "Relax, I was just messing with you. I¡¯ll go get your clothes now."


    With that, he walked out of the bedroom.


    Jiang Xueli only peeked out again when she heard the door close. She huffed softly, then let out a little giggle. "Zhengran is kind of cute sometimes¡­ even if he is a bit of a flirt."


    Not long after, Jiang Xueli had changed into some comfortable loungewear and was sitting on the bed with a guitar. She even tied her long hair into twin ponytails with a couple of hair ties.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯re not even going outside. Why go through the trouble of tying your hair up?"


    Jiang Xueli answered matter-of-factly, "I feel like tying my hair makes me sing better. Speaking of twin ponytails, I saw this online post the other day¡­ I forgot where exactly.


    It said that this hairstyle lets boyfriends hold onto them with both hands? What does that mean? Hold onto what? I checked the comments, but they all just said ¡®if you know, you know.¡¯"


    Lin Zhengran smiled knowingly. He instantly understood what those netizens meant.


    "You really want to know?"


    Jiang Xueli nodded. "Yeah, so what does it mean? Do you get it, Zhengran?"


    "Oh, I get it," he replied with a smirk. "I¡¯ll tell you, since you¡¯re grown up now. Even if I don¡¯t explain it, you¡¯ll probably figure it out sooner or later from the internet. Come closer, and I¡¯ll whisper it in your ear."


    Jiang Xueli was intrigued. "So mysterious?"


    She straightened her knees and leaned in.


    Lin Zhengran whispered the meaning to her in a low voice.


    Jiang Xueli completely froze for a second. Then, her face turned beet red.


    She immediately grabbed both of her twin ponytails and hugged them to her chest, screaming in shame. "Zhengran, you pervert! You¡­ You total pervert! What are you even talking about?!"


    Lin Zhengran looked innocent. "Hey, you asked, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s not like I brought it up on my own."


    "T-That¡­ that doesn¡¯t matter! It¡¯s still perverted!" She covered her head with both hands, groaning in regret. "If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have asked! Now I have a mental image stuck in my head!"


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead again. "Snap out of it! Time to practice your singing!"


    That knocked some sense back into her.


    Of course, there was no way she was going to forget this. Somehow, she just had this feeling¡­


    That one day, Zhengran would actually do to her¡ªhold onto her twin ponytails with both hands.


    That afternoon, Jiang Xueli practiced guitar in bed. Ever since military training ended, she hadn¡¯t felt this genuinely happy. Her mood was so light that when she sang, her voice was in perfect condition.


    Lin Zhengran brought up something new. "Oh, right, Lily. I used to think you were too young for this, but now that you¡¯re older, have you ever thought about turning your original songs into videos and uploading them online? You could earn some extra money and build your reputation at the same time."


    Her fingers paused on the strings.


    "Lily¡­" Jiang Xueli¡¯s attention was completely fixated on those two syllables.


    Because¡ªLin Zhengran had never called her that before.


    Jiang Xueli spaced out for a long while until she noticed Lin Zhengran frowning at her. Quickly, she scratched her cheek awkwardly and looked up at the ceiling, blushing as she answered,


    "Oh, this¡­ let me think¡­ Oh, right! I actually did consider it before. But back then, I didn¡¯t think my singing was good enough, so I didn¡¯t bother. I mean, once you post something online, people will definitely leave all kinds of comments, right? Then school got really busy, and I just forgot about it."


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Well, the number of comments wouldn¡¯t be that high. Most videos uploaded online don¡¯t even get bot comments. The ones you see with tons of engagement are viral hits."


    Jiang Xueli blinked. "Really? I didn¡¯t know that. But yeah, I¡¯ve seen how hard it is for people to get popular."


    "Speaking of which, shouldn¡¯t your talent agency encourage this? It¡¯s pretty standard for musicians to have their own video accounts."


    Jiang Xueli thought for a moment. "I think they allow it. I¡¯ve seen others upload videos before, but it doesn¡¯t seem like anyone has made money from it."


    Lin Zhengran considered this. "You can check with them before the competition. If they allow it, we can start with the upcoming town competition. I¡¯ll record your performance separately and upload it to your personal account. This will significantly speed up your rise to fame."


    After all, with his ability, any video he filmed would be leagues ahead of regular content.


    Jiang Xueli nodded. "Alright, I¡¯ll go with whatever you say."


    "Good."


    Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Jiang Xueli perked up. "Oh, right! Zhengran, you didn¡¯t forget, did you? You promised me¡ªif I win the championship, we¡¯ll go to the zoo and then watch a movie together."


    "Of course, I didn¡¯t forget."


    Jiang Xueli grinned in excitement. "Good!"


    A ¡­ Now that she and Zhengran were officially boyfriend and girlfriend, wouldn¡¯t that mean¡­?


    Wouldn¡¯t they be able to do couple-like things while walking around?


    Holding hands¡­ hugging¡­ maybe even¡­


    Jiang Xueli let her thoughts wander into a dreamy fantasy.


    ¡ª


    As autumn evenings darkened quickly, Lin Zhengran said goodbye and headed home.


    Before he left, Jiang Xueli got out of bed and stood at the door, waving with a bright smile. "Bye-bye, Zhengran! Come over again tomorrow!"


    "Mm."


    After crossing the busy intersection, Lin Zhengran returned home, only to find an unexpected visitor¡ªhis grandfather, sitting on the couch and sipping tea.


    "Grandpa? What brings you here?"


    His grandfather looked up and sighed dramatically. "My good grandson! It¡¯s only been a month, and you¡¯ve grown even taller!"


    From the kitchen, Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun were tidying up.


    Lin Xiaoli called out, "Ranran¡¯s back? Ranran, Dad¡ªgo wash your hands. Dinner¡¯s almost ready."


    Both Lin Zhengran and his grandfather responded with a quick "Okay."


    Lin Zhengran then turned back to his grandfather. "Grandpa, there¡¯s no way I grew that much in just a month. So, what brings you here?"


    His grandfather stood up. "Oh, I just brought some stuff for your parents from back home. But aside from that, I also wanted to talk to you about your . Now that you''re in high school, have you met the girl yet?"


    Lin Zhengran immediately thought of Jiang Qian. "I wouldn¡¯t say we¡¯ve officially met, but I do know what she looks like."


    He didn¡¯t mention that Jiang Qian might not even know was her fianc¨¦¡ªafter all, the topic had never come up between them.


    "Oh? What do you mean?" his grandfather asked, confused. "Anyway, I already spoke with my old war buddy. Originally, we planned to arrange a formal meeting for you two on the second, but then we figured young people have their own busy schedules.


    So, you two should arrange it yourselves. The girl¡¯s side will be adding you tonight. Set up a time in the next few days and meet her properly. According to my old war buddy, she¡¯s actually looking forward to seeing you."


    ¡ª


    In an office of a music team based in L¨¹teng City, a large group of singers, staff members, and executives sat in an orderly manner, attending a meeting.


    At the head of the room sat the elegant and mature of the team¡ªJiang Jingshi.


    She flipped through documents regarding other studios participating in the competition. "I¡¯ve said everything I need to. Do your best in the upcoming competition. If you win the championship, I¡¯ll have a big reward for you.


    By the way, are there any particularly strong competitors this time?"


    One of the executives spoke up. "President Jiang, I¡¯ve heard of one. There¡¯s a singer from a neighboring studio¡ªsomeone named Jiang Xueli. She¡¯s extremely talented. I heard her sing once before, and she¡¯s good."


    "Jiang Xueli?" Jiang Jingshi raised an eyebrow. "What¡¯s her background? How old is she?"


    "She doesn¡¯t have any major background. Just sixteen or seventeen years old. Pure talent. And from what I heard, she didn¡¯t even learn from the studio¡ªshe has a private teacher. A boy around her age."


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s hands froze as she flipped through the documents.


    Something about that sounded strangely familiar.


    She lifted her head. "What?"

 Chapter 121: The Tsundere is Only Left with

    "Another highly talented student? And this one also has a private tutor instead of learning with a team?


    Just like last time with Taekwondo...


    Exactly the same."


    Jiang Jingshi found it hard to believe. No matter how talented Zhengran¡¯s little brother was, could he really be good at everything?


    Training one girl could still be explained as a hobby or interest. But training two...


    And both of them just happened to be closely connected to her?


    She turned to the team leader and asked, "Do you know the name of that boy? Do you have any information on him?"


    "Uh... I¡¯m not sure, Miss Jiang. I only heard about it in passing. But I heard Jiang Xueli sing before¡ªshe¡¯s very talented."


    At that, the team leader added, "Oh, right! Besides Jiang Xueli, since you paid to bring in some famous singers as judges, it seems another team from within the province has also joined after hearing about it. They¡¯re called . Supposedly, they have a rather mysterious background and are incredibly strong."


    "New Star?" Jiang Jingshi didn''t really care about that. Right now, her curiosity was entirely focused on Lin Zhengran.


    It was one thing for her little sister to keep losing to him¡ªshe was still young. But was an older sister. She didn¡¯t over winning or losing, but after investing so much money, constantly losing just didn¡¯t sit right with her.


    "Got it. Anyway, make sure you all give it your all in the competition on the 5th and 6th. Don''t get careless. This time, there are two themes: one song with an ethereal style, and one fully original. Each person must prepare two songs. Understood?"


    Everyone in the team nodded. "Yes, Miss Jiang!"


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at her phone for the time, then stood up and walked out of the large office. "Meeting dismissed." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sharp click of her high heels against the floor made everyone a little anxious. But the moment she left, they all let out a breath of relief.


    Because despite her usual soft and gentle way of speaking, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s actions were nothing like her words.


    When it came to business negotiations and training students, she was strict and unwavering. If someone made a mistake, she had no mercy when handing out punishments.


    This contrast¡ªwarm on the surface but ruthless in action¡ªwas what made Jiang Jingshi so unique.


    Even though she came from the powerful Jiang family and could have simply taken over the family business or lived a carefree life after coming of age, she instead used her sharp business instincts to make a fortune in other industries. She even brought in numerous investors for the company.


    Because of that, she was well-known within the Jiang Group.


    She just hadn¡¯t expected Lin Zhengran to suddenly appear out of nowhere and make her shift her focus from making money to figuring him out.


    Back in the Rolls-Royce, the driver sat in the front seat, waiting silently. If Jiang Jingshi didn¡¯t speak, he wouldn¡¯t either.


    In the back seat, the woman crossed her legs, the sleek curve of her black silk stockings accentuating the flawless shape of her calves and ankles.


    She found a certain someone¡¯s WeChat ID and sent a friend request from her alternate account.


    A teasing smile played on her lips, lightly glossed with nude lipstick.


    The note on her friend request read: Your fianc¨¦e.


    Meanwhile, in his bedroom, Lin Zhengran was browsing something on his phone when a friend request popped up.


    He often received requests from juniors and seniors alike, so he usually ignored them.


    But today, after what his grandfather had told him, he happened to check it. And when he saw the words "Your fianc¨¦e", he froze.


    "...Fianc¨¦e?"


    What the hell?


    Not to mention, and were two entirely different things.


    And wasn''t his childhood engagement with Jiang Qian?


    Would she really write a note like this?


    Lin Zhengran clicked "accept."


    Back in the car, Jiang Jingshi bit her lip, playing the role of an older sister teasing her younger brother. She began typing seriously:


    "Hello, you''re Grandpa Lin''s grandson, right? I''m your fianc¨¦e. My last name is Jiang. You don¡¯t have to tell me your name¡ªlet¡¯s keep a bit of mystery between us."


    On the other end, Lin Zhengran had a big question mark floating over his head.


    "Hello. I''m free on the nights of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. On the 5th, I might be busy. I won¡¯t be free on the 6th and 7th at all. Pick a time."


    Jiang Jingshi raised an eyebrow.


    She replied: "Why are you in such a hurry to set a date? Since this is a blind date, shouldn''t we at least get to know each other first?"


    Lin Zhengran: "This isn¡¯t a blind date, right? It¡¯s just a meeting. You probably think so too. We meet once and that¡¯s it."


    Jiang Jingshi smirked and responded:


    "Who says I just want to meet once? To be honest, I want a boyfriend. My family has been pressuring me to meet men I don¡¯t like¡ªrich heirs and businessmen¡ªbut I¡¯m not interested in that type. I want someone I truly admire."


    A full minute passed before Lin Zhengran replied:


    "¡­6."


    Jiang Jingshi couldn''t help but burst out laughing in the car. Even with just a single number, this little Zhengran was so amusing.


    But if she kept talking, she might give herself away. It was enough teasing for today¡ªwhat mattered was the actual meeting.


    "Alright, let¡¯s talk about our meeting. By the way, why did you only list evening times? Aren¡¯t we spending the whole day together?"


    Lin Zhengran: "Let¡¯s meet in the evening first. I have things to do during the day over National Day. I really can¡¯t make time."


    Reading the words , Jiang Jingshi had a gut feeling.


    So the behind Jiang Xueli... was Lin Zhengran?


    That meant... he was training someone in the same field she was?


    What a coincidence.


    "Fine, then. The 5th at night. I''ll come find you."


    "The 5th? I really might not be free that night."


    "You be. We''ll definitely meet. That''s that. I have things to do, so let¡¯s end the chat here. I¡¯m looking forward to it."


    "?"


    Lying in bed, Lin Zhengran finally gave up trying to figure it out.


    He picked up the photo Grandpa Lin had given him of Jiang Qian, looked at it, then glanced back at the chat.


    Then why did he feel like...


    He sighed, staring at the photo again.


    He really couldn''t tell who his childhood engagement was with anymore.


    But whatever.


    It didn¡¯t matter.


    It was just a meeting to trigger a "fortunate encounter" event reward, anyway.


    Lin Zhengran woke up early as usual and headed to Jiang Xueli¡¯s house.


    The talent agency had issued a new announcement about the competition on the 5th and 6th.


    Sitting on Jiang Xueli¡¯s bed, Lin Zhengran scrolled through the details while Jiang Xueli sat cross-legged beside him, curiously reading over his shoulder.


    Lin Zhengran: "They just posted a new notice about the competition. And it¡¯s kind of long."


    Jiang Xueli read aloud:


    **"New Notice: The competition on October 5th-6th has undergone some changes. Instead of an elimination system based on cover songs, the competition will now use a ¡®Little New Star¡¯ ranking alongside professional judges¡¯ votes.


    Each contestant must compose two original songs. The top ten will receive prize money and an additional mystery reward."**


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened. "Two original songs?! And this ranking¡­ it¡¯s the one I¡¯m thinking of, right? But there¡¯s a ¡®Little¡¯ in front of it..."


    Lin Zhengran: "New Star? You mean the ranking for rising music talents?"


    Jiang Xueli nodded.


    "It has to be New Star ranking, right? The one for top music candidates at the festival in Magic City? As long as you make it into the top 100, you can join the ¡ªand every singer who gets on that show becomes famous! The only difference is how big their fame gets!"


    Lin Zhengran had looked into this before. It was similar to from his past life¡ªa massive, high-profile music competition.


    It was, without a doubt, a stage for musicians.


    Jiang Xueli frowned. "But this competition has the word in front of it. Does that mean it¡¯s different?"


    Lin Zhengran: "Let¡¯s keep reading."


    Still in shock, Jiang Xueli nodded and continued:


    "This time, for the judging panel, we¡¯ve specially invited famous music stars and to participate¡ªwait, Those two are names!"


    Even Lin Zhengran knew them. In this world, they were incredibly influential music icons.


    The kind whose net worth exceeded .


    He hadn¡¯t expected such to show up for a small town competition.


    Normally, judges of this caliber only appeared in high-level competitions. Yet, here they were.


    Jiang Xueli, now fully hyped, kept reading:


    "Each contestant must create two original songs¡ªone with an theme, and one completely free-style. The judges will determine who gets eliminated. Anyone who isn¡¯t eliminated will be listed on the ranking.


    The final winner will be decided by online voting.


    Prize money has also been increased from the original 1,000¨C10,000 range to 10,000¨C70,000 yuan.


    These are all the updates. We encourage every contestant to take this competition seriously."


    Jiang Xueli was so worked up by the end that she couldn¡¯t sit still.


    "Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be a small competition?! Why did they suddenly make it ?! First, they introduce a ranking system, then they bring in celebrity judges, and now the jumped from 10,000 to 70,000 yuan?! What the heck?!"


    Lin Zhengran skimmed through the competition details again.


    That¡¯s when he noticed a familiar name among the list of investors¡ªJiang Jingshi.


    He sighed inwardly.


    So, this whole was probably Jiang Jingshi paving the way for her music team.


    Still¡­ even though she had a lot of money, level of investment was overkill. The only explanation was that her funding had created a snowball effect, attracting other wealthy investors who wanted in on the action.


    Lin Zhengran opened the talent agency¡¯s group chat.


    As expected, it was .


    The singers in the agency were freaking out:


    "Holy sh*t! Did you guys see the new announcement? Steady and Qiang Jie are coming to our town¡¯s competition! Those two are !"


    "Yeah, I saw it! I seriously can''t believe this little competition got big. Weren¡¯t we told it was just a small event?!"


    "Apparently, a ton of investors poured money into it over the past six months. That¡¯s why it expanded so much. Even singers from outside the province are coming now."


    "Then how the hell are supposed to win? There are gonna be so many pros!"


    "What¡¯s really crazy is this ranking. Isn¡¯t that usually an annual thing? How are we even getting into that?"


    "Did you guys ? This is the New Star ranking¡ªit¡¯s a special one just for this competition. But I heard from an insider that the ¡®mystery reward¡¯ for the top ten is a to the ! Even if you get eliminated in the first round, you¡¯ll still be on ! That¡¯s !"


    Even in the age of the internet, people still had an undeniable obsession with being on television.


    Lin Zhengran skimmed through the chat, then put his phone away to think.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Xueli was completely losing her mind.


    She sat there in a daze before snapping out of it, then grabbed Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm and started shaking him wildly.


    "This competition just got ! What do I do, Zhengran?! Can I even win now?!"


    Lin Zhengran watched her panic. "Why are you freaking out? Even though the competition is bigger than we expected, music level is already high. Plus, I¡¯ve been teaching you for so long. I doubt many of these newcomers can beat you."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes sparkled. ""


    She was so excited she kept shaking his arm, eyes squeezed shut.


    "But I¡¯m ! And I have to write original songs! The competition is only a few days away! The songs I wrote before don¡¯t feel for a stage this serious!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed and flicked her forehead with his knuckles.


    Jiang Xueli let out a yelp and instantly quieted down, holding her head.


    ""


    Lin Zhengran knew she was just panicking because she was young. The moment she heard turn into , she lost her composure.


    "Why are you freaking out? Sure, the competition got bigger, but it¡¯s actually now. There¡¯s no elimination round. You just go on stage, sing your two songs, and the judges cut the filler contestants. After that, the real competition is decided by online voting."


    Jiang Xueli hugged her head. "That easy, but¡ªthis is my first competition! Of course I¡¯m nervous!"


    She clenched her tiny fists.


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead again.


    "" She winced but quickly calmed down.


    She was getting hit.


    Lin Zhengran spoke seriously. "Just believe in yourself. As for the original songs, I¡¯ll help you write them over the next two days."


    The moment he said that, Jiang Xueli¡¯s confidence soared. "Really?! You¡¯ll help me write them?! Then I won¡¯t be nervous anymore!"


    "I I¡¯ll help, but mostly I¡¯ll just give you suggestions and edits."


    "That¡¯s more than enough! Let¡¯s start now! It¡¯s already the 2nd, and the competition starts on the 5th¡ªwe don¡¯t have much time!"


    "Alright, let¡¯s get to work. Go grab some paper and pens."


    "On it!"


    Jiang Xueli jumped off the bed, found a notebook and pen, then climbed back onto the bed, placing the notebook on Lin Zhengran¡¯s lap. She sat cross-legged, thinking hard.


    And then¡­


    Thirty minutes passed.


    Still no words on the page.


    She turned to him with a sheepish smile. "Zhengran¡­ do you have any ideas? How do you even an ethereal-style song? My mind is completely blank."


    Lin Zhengran: "..."


    Jiang Xueli rarely acted this soft. She pouted, her big eyes staring at him with pure helplessness.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "Alright, listen¡ªI¡¯ll explain how to compose it."


    For the next , he barely left Jiang Xueli¡¯s room.


    Thanks to his deep understanding of music and his natural talent, he grasped the essence of "ethereal" almost instantly. Sitting on the bed, he broke it down for Jiang Xueli.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes lit up as she listened. Her tiny fangs peeked out when she spoke, her gaze filled with excitement.


    "I ! So we should base the song¡¯s theme around the ?"


    "Anything works. Deep sea, forests, even a quiet city at night¡ªall of them can evoke an ethereal feel," Lin Zhengran explained.


    "Then let¡¯s go with the deep sea! I¡¯ve got it!"


    After three days of brainstorming, tweaking, and , they finished writing:


    "Whale" (An ethereal-themed song)


    "You Are My Star" (A reworked version of a song Jiang Xueli had written long ago)


    With those two songs, she was ready for the competition on the 5th and 6th!


    On the afternoon of the 4th, she raised her notebook triumphantly.


    "I¡¯m definitely getting into the top ten with these!"


    Lin Zhengran smirked. "Not aiming for first?"


    Jiang Xueli grinned. "Gotta set a goal first. But of course¡­ my real goal first place. If I win, I get to go on a date with you, after all."


    The next day, the finally began.

 Chapter 122: Zhengran, We Meet Again

    On the morning of the 5th, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli met up and took the talent agency¡¯s car to the competition venue together.


    Before they left, the female boss of the agency gave one final serious reminder:


    *"Listen up, everyone. This competition wasn¡¯t supposed to be this formal¡ªit was just a small-town event at first. But after a series of changes, the scale has grown significantly.


    If you can avoid elimination by the judges today and get your original songs onto the ranking, you might have a chance to step onto the stage of the in the future.


    This is a rare and invaluable opportunity."*


    She looked at the singers from her agency.


    Her words made the already-nervous contestants even more tense.


    On the way to the venue, the others in the car kept chatting nervously. Jiang Xueli, gripping her knees tightly, took deep breaths over and over.


    Lin Zhengran reached into his pocket and handed her a candy he¡¯d brought from home.


    Jiang Xueli turned to look at him.


    Their eyes met.


    She was ¡ªno matter the situation, this guy never seemed to get nervous.


    Lin Zhengran smiled. "Here."


    Jiang Xueli hesitated for a moment, then took the candy. "Thanks."


    She unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. Immediately, the tension in her chest eased by more than half.


    The Competition Venue


    The venue was a indoor stage with a wide-open space.


    At the very front, there was a large elevated platform, and below it, rows and rows of audience seats.


    From the setup, it looked like this place was originally meant for stage plays, but had been remodeled into a music competition venue.


    The moment Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran stepped in, they were greeted by a crowd.


    Four to five people, all squeezed together, the noise filling the air.


    At first, everyone from the talent agency assumed most of them were audience members.


    Then, after asking around, they realized¡ª.


    Every single person here was a contestant.


    Jiang Xueli was .


    The other singers were just as shocked.


    "I thought I signed up for some kind of  festival."


    Even the agency boss felt the pressure. "Looks like a lot of contestants came from outside the province too. This competition really is massive."


    As discussions heated up, the back door opened, and from inside, two celebrity judges stepped out¡ª and .


    And alongside them was today¡¯s biggest investor¡ªJiang Jingshi.


    The two judges walked while casually chatting with Jiang Jingshi. Their conversation seemed polite and professional.


    Jiang Jingshi responded with a graceful smile, "Thank you both for your hard work over the next two days. I hope we can select contestants that even you find impressive."


    The two celebrity judges nodded in agreement.


    A Familiar Face


    In the crowd, Lin Zhengran casually glanced toward Jiang Jingshi.


    Beside him, Jiang Xueli stared curiously at the beautiful woman. ""


    The agency boss answered, "That¡¯s Miss Jiang¡ªthe biggest investor in this competition. She may look young, but she manages a professional music team, and she¡¯s the toughest competitor you¡¯ll face in this competition."


    That voice¡­


    That face¡­


    Jiang Xueli frowned slightly.


    Something about this woman felt familiar.


    But she couldn¡¯t quite figure out why.


    The boss clapped her hands. "Alright, let¡¯s head to our seats. When the judges call your name, just go up in order. We have 20 singers from our agency, and at least 10 of you need to make it past today¡¯s elimination."


    Everyone responded in unison, "Got it!"


    Lin Zhengran was about to follow the group to the seating area.


    But at that moment¡ª


    From a distance, Jiang Jingshi turned her head.


    Her gaze landed on him.


    For a second, she was surprised, but then she let out a small, knowing smile.


    Her eyes shifted slightly¡ªto the standing beside him.


    Curious.


    She started walking toward them.


    Jiang Xueli and the agency boss noticed Jiang Jingshi approaching and instinctively moved aside, assuming she was passing through.


    But to their surprise¡ª


    Jiang Jingshi walked to Lin Zhengran and stopped in front of him.


    Her heels clicked softly against the floor.


    With a warm yet appreciative gaze, she spoke:


    The agency boss was stunned.


    Jiang Xueli was also dumbfounded.


    Lin Zhengran grinned. "Miss Jiang, we meet again."


    Jiang Jingshi lowered her gaze slightly, looking at Jiang Xueli.


    Jiang Xueli, usually confident, found herself caught off guard. But unlike He Qing, who would stay silent in such situations, Jiang Xueli took the initiative.


    Lin Zhengran leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "She¡¯s Jiang Qian¡¯s older sister."


    That¡¯s why she looked familiar!


    Jiang Xueli''s eyes widened in realization.


    No wonder.


    Jiang Jingshi smiled gently. ""


    Jiang Xueli let out a small laugh. She didn¡¯t think of herself as a ¡ªshe was just giving it her all.


    But Jiang Jingshi wasn¡¯t just being polite.


    She ¡ªif Lin Zhengran was personally guiding this girl, that meant she had enough talent to take seriously.


    The of losing to him in last week''s Taekwondo competition was still fresh in her mind.


    She wasn¡¯t going to underestimate him .


    Jiang Jingshi turned back to Lin Zhengran.


    Then, in a , more personal tone, she added:


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Thanks for the warning, Miss Jiang."


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at him meaningfully before turning and walking away with her group.


    Jealousy Incoming


    Jiang Xueli blinked.


    She stared at Jiang Jingshi.


    Then at Lin Zhengran.


    Then back at Jiang Jingshi.


    Then back at Lin Zhengran.


    she whispered urgently.


    Lin Zhengran tilted his head. "What?"


    way too to you?"*


    Lin Zhengran scratched his head. ""


    This situation felt too familiar.


    Didn¡¯t He Qing ask him the exact thing before?


    Sure enough, moments later¡ª


    Jiang Xueli, now thoroughly jealous, sat down beside him and demanded an explanation.


    So, Lin Zhengran casually recounted how he met Jiang Jingshi, throwing in the details about last week''s Taekwondo competition.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s jaw dropped.


    "Yeah. That¡¯s probably why she came to talk to me just now. Anyway, you should stay sharp."


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists.


    Lin Zhengran smiled and gently squeezed her hand. "Do your best."


    Jiang Xueli immediately froze.


    Her heart pounded wildly.


    she stammered.


    Then, Lin Zhengran casually let go.


    Jiang Xueli pouted at her now hand.


    " S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She puffed up her cheeks in frustration.


    The microphone crackled as a judge spoke:


    As Lin Zhengran glanced at Jiang Jingshi standing confidently on stage, he had to admit¡ª


    This woman was one of the strongest players in their generation.

 Chapter 123: The Competition Results & The Nighttime Meeting

    After the competition started, the host called out each contestant¡¯s name in order. Once on stage, they would perform their original song.


    Of course, most singers didn¡¯t even get to finish. The two celebrity judges would hit the rejection buzzer after just a few lines, give them some brief feedback, and move on to the next contestant.


    Only those with exceptional vocals and lyrics got to perform their entire song and move on to the second round.


    The first round eliminated 400 of the 530 contestants, leaving only 100 for the second round. Then, the second round would cut that number in half, leaving 50 contestants to enter the ranking.


    However, if a contestant¡¯s performance was outstanding, they could skip the second elimination round and be placed directly in the top 50.


    Jiang Xueli Takes the Stage


    By the time Jiang Xueli¡¯s turn came up, it was already close to noon. She was contestant #237.


    Right before her, the previous contestant had barely sung ten lines before getting rejected. That made Jiang Xueli even more nervous.


    Before stepping onto the stage, she bravely brushed her hand against the back of Lin Zhengran¡¯s¡ªstealing a bit of his calm for herself.


    The host¡¯s voice rang out:


    Jiang Xueli walked up with her guitar.


    The two judges examined her and said, ""


    Jiang Xueli gripped the microphone. ""


    ""


    No unnecessary words.


    Jiang Xueli took a deep breath, placed her fingers on the guitar strings, and began to sing.


    Her voice spread through the venue¡ªclear, pure, and incredibly soothing.


    An Unforgettable Performance


    Jiang Xueli was a true talent.


    She might not have been a once-in-a-century prodigy, but over the years, under Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance, her ceiling had been raised significantly.


    The moment she began to sing¡ª


    The judges, who had been casually scanning the lyrics, froze mid-read.


    They exchanged a glance.


    For the first time in a while, they stopped critiquing and simply listened.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s ethereal voice drew everyone in.


    It had a dreamlike quality, making people feel as if they were floating in a tranquil, peaceful world.


    It relaxed nerves and immersed listeners into the song¡¯s poetic imagery.


    In the audience, other contestants¡ªwho had been comparing every singer to themselves¡ªstopped.


    Instead, they simply listened in awe.


    Who trained this girl?


    Even their talent agency boss was beaming with pride.


    Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t been personally trained by her, but there was no denying that under Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance, her voice had become more mature, stable, and refined than it was in middle school.


    At the front row, Jiang Jingshi, seated with a steel pen spinning in her fingers, had been focused on Jiang Xueli the moment she stepped on stage.


    But when she actually heard her sing¡ª


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    She turned slightly, gaze landing on Lin Zhengran.


    Jiang Jingshi gripped her pen tightly.


    She let out a small, self-deprecating laugh, her red lips curving.


    Direct Advancement!


    As Jiang Xueli finished her performance, she gave a small bow.


    Judge Qiang Jie and Steady immediately applauded.


    Even the other contestants clapped¡ªthough their faces were full of frustration and admiration.


    Judge Qiang Jie smiled. ""


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face lit up. ""


    Qiang Jie pointed at her. ""


    Jiang Xueli gasped. ""


    As she walked off the stage, she could feel the envious stares. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even her fellow agency members were speechless.


    Jiang Xueli blushed at all the praise. She sat next to Lin Zhengran. ""


    But by the end of the competition¡­


    Her entire talent agency got eliminated.


    After the Competition


    The agency boss rubbed her temples in frustration.


    The other girls, who had just been eliminated, sat there dejected.


    Some even started doubting their entire careers.


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t even know how to comfort them.


    Instead, she turned to look at Lin Zhengran¡ªonly to see him staring at the rankings, deep in thought.


    The final 50 contestants were displayed on screen.


    Out of them, 20 were from Jiang Jingshi¡¯s team.


    Another 15 were from an unfamiliar "New Star" music studio.


    The rest were a mix of independent contestants.


    On stage, the host made the announcement:


    Jiang Xueli nudged Lin Zhengran. ""


    Jiang Xueli shook her head. ""


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes.


    Jiang Xueli leaned in, whispering. ""


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ""


    Jiang Xueli nodded seriously. ""


    Lin Zhengran blinked. ""


    Jiang Xueli blushed and looked away. ""


    A quiet dinner¡­ alone¡­


    In a romantic setting¡­


    Wouldn¡¯t something happen?


    But then¡ª


    Jiang Xueli: "?!"


    "


    That evening, they parted ways.


    Just as Lin Zhengran arrived home, his phone lit up with a message.


    Mystery Contact:


    Lin Zhengran replied:

 Chapter 124: A Blind Date with Jiang Jingshi

    Inside a Two-Story Villa in Zitong City


    Jiang Qian sat on the sofa in her pajamas, her long black hair draped over her shoulders. Her gaze was cold as she sipped her coffee, watching the scene unfold in front of her.


    In the middle of the living room, Fang Meng held a deadly weapon¡ªa freshly peeled carrot¡ªand had a suited man pinned against the wall.


    The man pleaded, sweating nervously.


    Jiang Qian lazily lifted her coffee cup and took another sip.


    Fang Meng, seemingly out of nowhere, pulled out a vegetable peeler and started shaving the carrot into thin strips.


    The man gulped hard in fear.


    Despite Fang Meng¡¯s usual plain and harmless appearance, she was far from ordinary. As Jiang Qian¡¯s assistant¡ªand part-time bodyguard¡ªshe had more than enough skill to handle situations like these.


    she said coldly.


    She carved the carrot into a sharp dagger shape, its tip gleaming under the light, and held it just inches from the man''s throat.


    The man was so terrified that he nearly blurted everything out¡ªexcept¡­


    Fang Meng retracted the carrot knife and said in the scariest tone imaginable:


    Jiang Qian wasn¡¯t surprised.


    She knew her sister¡ªJiang Jingshi wouldn¡¯t be careless enough to reveal her schedule to random employees.


    In fact, she often spread false information on purpose, just to keep people guessing.


    But somewhere in all those fake details, there had to be a thread of truth.


    Jiang Qian narrowed her eyes.


    The man nodded frantically. ""


    The Investigation Begins


    After gathering thirty-seven reports from different people, Fang Meng compiled the information and handed Jiang Qian a thick notebook.


    Jiang Qian took the notebook and started reading.


    A deep frown formed on her face.


    *"So¡­ on October 1st, my sister first drove to a public restroom. Then she went to an amusement park and bought an ice cream. Then, she went back to the restroom outside the park, bought a bowl of snail noodles, and then went back inside¡­ to buy another ice cream?


    Then, she had someone drive her to a snail noodle factory, bought a whole box of chocolates, and gave them to the kids at the amusement park?"*


    She slammed the notebook shut.


    Fang Meng shrugged. ""


    Jiang Qian pushed the notebook back.


    Fang Meng immediately got to work, filtering out impossible routes¡ªones that didn¡¯t match in timing or made no logical sense.


    Soon, she extracted the most likely real locations.


    She handed the revised list to Jiang Qian.


    Jiang Qian examined them. None of the schedules overlapped, meaning she¡¯d have to check multiple locations.


    She stood up.


    Fang Meng nodded but hesitated for a moment.


    Jiang Qian paused mid-step.


    Fang Meng reminded her.


    Jiang Qian stood still for a few seconds before replying:


    Jiang Qian then went upstairs to change, shutting the door behind her.


    Fang Meng stared after her and sighed.


    Moments later, Jiang Qian flung the door open again.


    She slammed the door shut again.


    Fang Meng wiped the sweat off her forehead.


    Then, the door opened a third time.


    SLAM.


    Fang Meng wiped more sweat off her forehead.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s Blind Date


    That night, the sky was full of stars.


    Lin Zhengran changed his clothes and pulled out his phone, checking the location sent by his mysterious "date."


    It wasn¡¯t far¡ªjust a ten-minute taxi ride away.


    But¡­


    The meeting spot was¡­


    A Lanzhou noodle shop?


    A little weird for a blind date, but whatever.


    Lin Zhengran hailed a taxi and headed over, curious about who he was meeting.


    When he arrived¡ª


    The noodle shop was closed.


    The street was mostly empty.


    Just as he was about to take out his phone to text¡ª


    The neighboring cat caf¨¦ suddenly opened its door.


    A young woman in a work uniform stepped out. She looked nervous but polite.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    The girl blushed slightly and pointed to the cat caf¨¦.


    Inside the Cat Caf¨¦


    Lin Zhengran followed her through the cozy guest area¡ªtemporarily closed to customers¡ªand into a hidden backroom.


    Unlike typical cat caf¨¦s, which had small backrooms for feeding and cleaning, this one had a massive, luxurious space, even bigger than the guest area.


    The walls were decorated with artistic pink cat-themed murals, and tiny star-shaped lights hung from the ceiling.


    Over twenty cats lounged around the room¡ªnapping, stretching, yawning.


    And in one corner¡­


    A woman in silver heels and an elegant white gown sat gracefully, feeding a few cats by hand.


    Her long, wavy silver hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her long lashes fluttered as she looked down at the cats.


    Her red lips curved slightly.


    Even from the side¡ª


    She looked like a work of art.


    Then, she turned her head and smiled.


    Jiang Jingshi.


    Lin Zhengran laughed helplessly.


    The Cat Caf¨¦ and a Subtle Ambush


    The kittens in the caf¨¦ seemed to be naturally drawn to Lin Zhengran. They meowed at him in their soft, high-pitched voices, squeezing closer as if trying to get his attention.


    Jiang Jingshi observed this and glanced around at the other cats in the room.


    To her surprise, nearly every single one was curious about Lin Zhengran¡ªsome even approached him on their own.


    She chuckled and said,


    Lin Zhengran smirked as he gently stroked the large cat beside him.


    Jiang Jingshi moved a little closer, her tone soft.


    She paused, then added slowly,


    Jiang Jingshi let her words linger, watching his reaction.


    Her teasing tone made Lin Zhengran turn his head toward her. Their eyes met.


    Jiang Jingshi held his gaze, smiling.


    She turned away and reached down to scratch a kitten¡¯s chin.


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at him sideways, voice carrying a hint of challenge.


    Lin Zhengran shifted his gaze to the cats.


    Jiang Jingshi laughed and gave him a playful glare.


    She smiled meaningfully.


    Her tone was unreadable.


    *"Ever since I met you, my career has been full of setbacks.


    Take today¡¯s competition, for example¡ªI¡¯ve invested far more money in this than I did in the Taekwondo event. But the moment I saw you at the venue this morning, my heart skipped a beat.


    Because for the first time... I wondered if I might lose again."*


    Lin Zhengran was about to reply when Jiang Jingshi cut him off.


    Lin Zhengran hesitated, then nodded.


    Jiang Jingshi let out a soft chuckle.


    A cat jumped onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s lap, rubbing against his chest.


    Jiang Jingshi noticed some cat fur sticking to his shirt and reached over to gently pluck it off.


    Her fingers brushed lightly against the fabric as she spoke.


    She let out a small sigh.


    *"Strangely enough, though¡­ When you and He Qing won against my Taekwondo team last time, I was a little angry. You cost me a lot of money, after all.


    But this time¡­ even after hearing people whispering that my team might lose again¡­ I wasn¡¯t that mad.


    Instead, I found myself thinking¡ªwill Zhengran show up at my next project, too? If he does¡­ will I lose again?"*


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes.


    Jiang Jingshi smirked.


    Lin Zhengran: "..."


    Jiang Jingshi noticed his expression and arched a brow.


    Just then, several of the cats in the room started sniffing the air.


    They looked at Jiang Jingshi, then at Lin Zhengran.


    As if they sensed something, they suddenly rushed toward her, jumping into her arms all at once.


    The sudden weight threw her off balance¡ªand before she knew it, she was falling straight into Lin Zhengran¡¯s chest.


    Lin Zhengran instinctively caught her.


    Jiang Jingshi let out a surprised yelp, leaning heavily against him.


    As she steadied herself, she turned back to glare at the cats¡ªonly to find them scattered, pretending as if nothing had happened.


    She frowned.


    She sighed, about to get up¡ª


    Then she turned her head and found herself face-to-face with Lin Zhengran.


    Their noses were inches apart¡ªso close that from a distance, there was barely a strand of hair¡¯s width between them.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes softened. Her cheeks flushed slightly.


    At that exact moment¡ª


    The door suddenly swung open.


    The staff member froze mid-sentence.


    She blinked at the scene in front of her.


    Jiang Jingshi¡­ lying in a man¡¯s arms¡­ faces dangerously close.


    The realization hit her like a truck.


    She whipped around, clamping her hands over her eyes.


    Jiang Jingshi quickly pulled away, standing up while covering her lips with the back of her hand.


    Her heart was pounding, and the heat in her face refused to fade.


    To regain composure, she forced her voice into its usual firm, calm tone.


    The staff member nearly panicked. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She bowed repeatedly.


    Jiang Jingshi took a slow breath.


    Lin Zhengran, who had been watching the scene unfold, finally stood up.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s smile returned¡ªthough there was still a hint of rosy warmth in her cheeks.


    The staff member quickly scurried out.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    Jiang Jingshi exhaled slowly, still suppressing the lingering embarrassment from earlier.


    Then, she smoothly changed the topic.


    She smiled.


    Jiang Jingshi led him toward a hidden kitchen behind a sliding panel.

 Chapter 125: Jiang Jingshi’s Thoughts

    Lin Zhengran smiled and nodded.


    Jiang Jingshi was pleasantly surprised by his insight. She paused in wiping off the lipstick stain on his shirt.


    She resumed her task, speaking as she worked.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment before asking,


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled.


    Jiang Jingshi hummed in thought, then continued wiping at his shirt until the lipstick stain was completely gone.


    Lin Zhengran nodded without hesitation.


    *"Yes. Here¡¯s the problem: while they are talented, they aren¡¯t that talented.


    There are 15 contestants from who made it into the final top 50. But in my opinion, at most five of them actually deserved it. The rest? Their skills don¡¯t even match some of the contestants who got eliminated."*


    Jiang Jingshi frowned.


    Lin Zhengran hesitated before speaking.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s expression softened.


    Lin Zhengran took a deep breath.


    *"Your team is strong, but I don¡¯t think all 20 of your contestants deserved to make it into the final rankings. Realistically, maybe 10 should have.


    But since Steady was brought in by your connections, I have to ask¡ªwas he giving your team a bit of an advantage in scoring?"*


    Jiang Jingshi smiled, locking eyes with him.


    *"No wonder you were worried about offending me. If anyone else had said this, I really would be upset.


    I never told Steady to favor my contestants, but¡­ you¡¯re right. Sometimes, personal relationships play a role, even if it¡¯s not openly discussed."*


    She let out a sigh.


    A Deeper Problem


    Lin Zhengran glanced at his plate of beef.


    *"So the issue today isn¡¯t huge.


    The final rankings will be determined by public voting, so even if the elimination rounds were biased, it shouldn¡¯t impact the results too much.


    However¡­ while coming here, I had a thought.


    Jiang Jie¡ªwhat if ends up merging into your company?"*


    Jiang Jingshi blinked. Then, she laughed.


    *"That¡¯s not happening. Why would you think that? If a merger was happening, I¡¯d be the first to know.


    I¡¯m busy managing multiple businesses, and my music division is usually handled by Jiang Cheng. But something that big¡ªhe would definitely tell me."*


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    Jiang Jingshi froze for a moment.


    Connecting the Dots


    Lin Zhengran continued,


    *"I¡¯m just thinking hypothetically.


    This competition unexpectedly became massive¡ªcelebrity judges, public voting, major investments. Even for you, Jiang Jie, this went beyond your initial plans, didn¡¯t it?


    Now, if secretly merged into your company, it would mean that out of the 50 finalists, 35 of them would technically belong to you.


    Essentially, your contestants wouldn¡¯t have faced elimination at all."*


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s frown deepened.


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    *"Exactly.


    Think about it¡ª30+ music studios participated in this competition. But in the end, almost all the independent singers got eliminated, leaving only your team and New Star.


    If someone were to leak this information to the public, doesn¡¯t it scream corruption?"*


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s face darkened as she thought it through.


    *"If that¡¯s the case¡­ even without a full merger, just having so many of my contestants in the final round already looks suspicious.


    And if we add 15 contestants on top of that? The entire competition would be labeled rigged.


    Worse still¡ªif Jiang Cheng was bribed, he could have given Steady money, too.


    If Steady later claims that I paid him to manipulate the competition, it wouldn¡¯t just ruin my reputation¡ªit could damage my other businesses, even hurt the Jiang Group itself."*


    Lin Zhengran folded his arms.


    *"Exactly. If someone wanted to take you down, even a small incident like this could be blown out of proportion.


    It could trigger a chain reaction."*


    Jiang Jingshi picked up a piece of beef with her chopsticks, deep in thought.


    *"I knew something felt off today¡­ and now I realize what it was.


    My team¡¯s success rate was too high. Even I found it unnatural."*


    She lifted the piece of beef and fed it to Lin Zhengran.


    Without thinking, he took a bite.


    She smiled as she gently wiped his mouth with a napkin.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled.


    Jiang Jingshi blinked, realizing what she¡¯d done.


    Her cheeks turned slightly pink, but she still finished wiping his mouth.


    *"Thank you for telling me all this, Zhengran.


    Even if this is just a theory, I have a really bad feeling¡ªlike this is something that¡¯s already happening.


    And the worst part? No one else would have noticed.


    Because who would dare question celebrity judges?


    Even if contestants suspected something, they wouldn¡¯t voice it.


    The problem will only explode once the rankings go public."*


    Lin Zhengran added,


    Jiang Jingshi let out a soft laugh.


    *"Please, Zhengran. Don¡¯t be so humble.


    I finally understand why my little sister kept losing to you.


    It¡¯s because you really can do anything¡ªand you¡¯re damn good at it."*


    She sighed, voice soft.


    *"Honestly¡­ running a business is exhausting.


    Everyone always assumes I have it easy because I make a lot of money.


    But in reality, I¡¯ve failed plenty of times, too. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    My father¡¯s getting older. Our family only has me and Qianqian left to manage things.


    She¡¯s supposed to run the internal business, while I focus on expanding our influence."*


    She met Lin Zhengran¡¯s gaze.


    *"Zhengran, if you ever wanted to work with me¡­ you could name your price.


    I¡¯d pay whatever you wanted."*


    Lin Zhengran shook his head, smiling.


    Jiang Jingshi sighed.


    *"I figured you¡¯d say that. But if I could, I¡¯d much rather follow you.


    Because, Zhengran¡­ I know you¡¯ll achieve greatness.


    And when you do¡ªI hope we¡¯ll be allies, not enemies."*


    She smiled.


    Lin Zhengran smiled back.

 Chapter 126: The Sisters Battlefield

    Jiang Qian''s car passed right by the taxi Lin Zhengran was in.


    Naturally, Lin Zhengran noticed the familiar car, and Jiang Qian also caught a glimpse of a figure in the taxi, her expression shifting slightly.


    The taxi disappeared into the distance, and the Rolls-Royce came to a stop.


    Jiang Jingshi curled her red lips into a smirk, crossed her arms, and curiously observed Jiang Qian and Fang Meng as they stepped out of the car.


    Jiang Qian''s gaze was icy as she approached her older sister, exuding an imposing aura. But while Jiang Jingshi was gentle in demeanor, her own presence was just as formidable.


    She spoke in an almost deliberately tender voice, "Qianqian? What brings you here so late at night? Taking a drive with Xiaomeng?"


    Jiang Qian frowned slightly, scanning her surroundings until her gaze landed on a pet shop. The lights were off, but the door was open.


    She clenched her fists¡ªher sister had clearly just been inside meeting Lin Zhengran.


    Such a hidden spot, yet she still managed to think of it.


    The two sisters locked eyes, an invisible current crackling between them. The air was thick with tension, neither willing to back down.


    Meanwhile, Fang Meng at the back had already resigned herself to the situation.


    Standing there, she pulled a carrot from her pocket and took a crisp bite.


    Munch, munch. Just another show to watch.


    Her mission for the day was already complete. And honestly, the rivalry between the eldest and second miss had been ongoing since childhood¡ªnothing new.


    Jiang Qian: "You knew who he was all along, didn''t you? That''s why you deliberately kept me from coming."


    Jiang Jingshi gazed at her sister with feigned innocence. "I don¡¯t know what my dear little sister is talking about. And what do you mean by ''deliberately keeping you from coming''? I don¡¯t understand."


    "Still playing dumb? I¡¯m talking about the childhood engagement!"


    "Oh, that." Jiang Jingshi finally acknowledged it with a casual tone. "I didn¡¯t know who he was before. I only found out on the night Grandpa arrived. And today was important for me, so of course, I couldn¡¯t let anyone interrupt."


    Jiang Qian''s eyes locked onto hers. "Important?"


    "Of course. It was a date between a man and a woman."


    From the back, Fang Meng quietly interjected, "I can vouch for that. The eldest miss really only found out Lin Zhengran was the guy on the night Grandpa arrived."


    Jiang Qian refuted, "But he¡¯s my classmate! We agreed as kids that no matter what, we wouldn¡¯t interfere in each other¡¯s lives or the people around us. You broke the rules!"


    Jiang Jingshi laughed.


    "Qianqian, we did say that, but don¡¯t you think that sounds a little ridiculous? Sure, I only found out the guy was Lin Zhengran that night, but we both knew for a long time that the childhood engagement was with a high school student."


    She let out a huff. "And honestly, your argument is weak. Lin Zhengran is my fianc¨¦. You came to me today, interrupting my date with my fianc¨¦. Isn''t that also interfering in my personal life? You broke the rules too."


    "What did you just say?! I interfered with your personal life?"


    "Didn¡¯t you?" Jiang Jingshi said sweetly. "And I can say it again. And a third time. Qianqian, you interrupted my date! You got in the way of my time with my fianc¨¦!"


    Fang Meng, watching from the sidelines, knew that Jiang Qian was at a natural disadvantage in this argument. This time, the eldest miss had the stronger reasoning, whereas Jiang Qian¡­


    Jiang Qian: "Since when did Lin Zhengran become your fianc¨¦?!"


    Jiang Jingshi answered matter-of-factly, "Of course, he''s mine. Who else would he belong to? He was always mine, even years ago. Maybe some unexpected circumstances let you meddle back then, but so what? That night, I asked you twice if you wanted to return him to me, and both times, you agreed."


    "But I didn¡¯t know it was Lin Zhengran!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now you''re just being unreasonable. That night, you chose not to look. And even if you had known, what difference would it have made? Would you have refused? Don¡¯t you always say at home that you don¡¯t like him?"


    Jiang Qian knew she was running out of ground to stand on. "What about you? Do you even like Lin Zhengran? You don¡¯t even know him! If you don¡¯t like him, then this date was unnecessary. You¡¯re not going to be together, so what¡¯s the point of meeting? A phone call would¡¯ve sufficed!"


    "But he¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s old war buddy¡¯s grandson. A phone call would¡¯ve been disrespectful. Just like you¡ªat first, you didn¡¯t meet him either, but you didn¡¯t settle for just a call, did you? And now you expect me to?" Jiang Jingshi smirked. "Qianqian, you¡¯re getting flustered."


    Before Jiang Qian could speak, Jiang Jingshi added, "Besides, who said I don¡¯t like Lin Zhengran? Who said I don¡¯t know him? I know him. I like him. In fact, I like him a lot. I¡¯ve already decided to be with him. I¡¯ve decided to marry him. What are you going to do about it?"


    "Jiang Jingshi, what did you just say?!" Jiang Qian couldn¡¯t believe her sister would be so direct. "Do you even believe what you¡¯re saying?!"


    "Qianqian, I¡¯m saying it, and I mean it. Why wouldn¡¯t I believe it? I really like him. And one day, I¡¯ll have a baby with him. Our child will call you Aunt Qian. If it¡¯s a girl, we¡¯ll name her Lin Shishi."


    "Over my dead body! I won¡¯t let you be with him!"


    Jiang Jingshi laughed mockingly. "And what do you think your opposition is worth? What are you going to do? Not come to the wedding? Fine, I¡¯ll just send you a recording of it afterward."


    Jiang Qian clenched her fists, her teeth grinding as she glared at her sister. Jiang Jingshi, arms crossed, met her gaze with equal intensity.


    Their foreheads were nearly touching.


    Jiang Qian: "Jiang Jingshi, you¡¯ve always taken things from me since we were kids. This isn¡¯t the first time. But I¡¯m warning you¡ªanything else, fine. But Lin Zhengran? Don¡¯t even think about it!"


    "You talk like he belongs to you. Qianqian, I usually let you have your way because I have a good temper. But do you really think I¡¯ll back down this time? Do you think I¡¯m afraid of you?"


    The air crackled with tension.


    "You let me have my way?"


    "Of course. How many times have I taken care of you since we were little?"


    "Oh, you mean how you¡¯ve always caused me trouble, stolen my things, and made sure you were always one step ahead of me?"


    "Please. I¡¯ve looked out for you plenty too. Remember all the times I took the blame for you when you got in trouble as a kid?"


    "Took the blame? Like when you shattered Dad¡¯s antique vase worth millions? Wasn¡¯t it because you threw something at me, and I dodged? You were the real culprit."


    "Well, why did you dodge? And why did I throw it? Because you were eating my snacks!"


    "Your snacks? Dad bought those. When did they become yours?"


    "Dad bought them for me! I liked them!"


    "Ridiculous! Dad started buying those before you were even born!"


    Fang Meng, still munching on her carrot, listened to their nonsense argument and sighed.


    After a full thirty minutes, their fight came to a temporary halt, though both remained unwilling to back down.


    Jiang Qian, still fuming, tried to put an end to it. "Fine, you met him tonight. But from now on, stay away from Lin Zhengran. The engagement is over."


    Jiang Jingshi: "Says who?"


    Jiang Qian: "Then what do you¡ª"


    She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, stepping closer.


    Her eyes narrowed as she wiped a faintly smudged spot on Jiang Jingshi¡¯s lipstick. "Why is your lipstick so light¡­ as if¡­"


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s face flushed. "As if it got smudged on something? You¡¯re right. My lipstick rubbed off on my fianc¨¦¡¯s shoulder when he hugged me just now."


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Hug¡ª" She clenched her jaw. "Jiang Jingshi!"

 Chapter 127: The End of the Music Competition and a Stirred Heart

    Fang Meng was shocked when she heard those words. Was this for real?


    A hug¡­ That seemed a bit too much, didn¡¯t it?


    Although the eldest miss always spoke gently and amiably with those around her, she had always been extremely disciplined when it came to matters between men and women.


    The fact that she had gone out of her way to dress up and meet Lin Zhengran for this childhood engagement had already been surprising enough.


    But a hug¡­


    Even if Jiang Jingshi was lying about that, didn¡¯t it still prove that her feelings toward Lin Zhengran weren¡¯t just about messing with Jiang Qian anymore?


    If she actually liked him¡­


    Fang Meng let out a quiet sigh. Listening to the sisters argue again, she had a feeling life was about to get a lot more complicated.


    These two were actually fighting over a guy¡ªsomething Fang Meng never would¡¯ve imagined before.


    As the night grew deeper, no battle, no matter how intense, could last forever. Exhaustion would always set in eventually.


    Tonight¡¯s clash between the sisters had lasted longer than usual, but in the end, it still came to a close.


    Like two feuding sisters giving each other the silent treatment, the two Rolls-Royces sped off in opposite directions.


    Inside Jiang Jingshi¡¯s car, the young lady in the silver-white gown, who had been at each other¡¯s throats with her sister just moments ago, was now perfectly composed.


    Far from being angry about what had happened, she actually found it amusing.


    So Qianqian really is starting to care about Lin Zhengran.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have argued with her for so long.


    Though, Jiang Jingshi had to admit that when she first met Lin Zhengran at the supermarket, she had been curious about him because of her sister. But by now, she understood that their connection was no longer about anyone else.


    She was genuinely drawn to him.


    Thinking back to earlier at the cat caf¨¦, when she had been pushed by the cats and ended up in his arms, she didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all. If anything, just remembering it made her heart race a little.


    Staring out at the night sky, she suddenly recalled something important and pulled out her phone to call someone she absolutely trusted.


    The call connected quickly.


    "Hello, President Jiang?"


    Jiang Jingshi looked out the window.


    "Investigate everything Jiang Cheng has been up to recently. I want a full report¡ªwho he¡¯s met, where he¡¯s been. Also, check if he has any connections with today''s New Star Music competition."


    "Understood."


    "And¡­ prepare a fake version of tomorrow¡¯s music rankings for me. Get some online users to create fake votes, but make it look as convincing as possible."


    She reminded them, "Do it quickly. I need it done tonight."


    The other person, though unsure of her intentions, was absolutely loyal. "Understood, President Jiang. I¡¯ll gather people to work overtime and get it done tonight." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Good. Once this is finished, I¡¯ll have finance issue bonuses for you and your team."


    After exchanging a few more words, she ended the call and dialed Qiang Jie next.


    While Stidi was a big name, he wasn¡¯t quite on the same level as Qiang Jie in the music industry. Stidi might have been bribed, but Qiang Jie had worked with Jiang Jingshi before.


    If there was any behind-the-scenes manipulation in today¡¯s competition, he would have noticed.


    The call connected.


    Jiang Jingshi smiled. "Qiang Jie, are you still awake?"


    "Not yet. What¡¯s up, President Jiang?"


    "I want to talk to you about today¡¯s competition. It¡¯s important. I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up."


    As long as she could figure out what Jiang Cheng was planning, she could handle it with ease.


    That night, Jiang Jingshi met Qiang Jie in an office. After a brief conversation, he handed her a list of names he had secretly noted down.


    "These are the contestants I believe should have advanced. I heard Stidi repeatedly saying certain people had to pass, which already felt off to me. But I figured you wouldn¡¯t usually bother with this kind of thing, since rigging a music competition is pretty pointless. Turns out, I was right to be suspicious."


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled, taking the list.


    "Thanks for keeping an eye out. This makes things a lot easier."


    Later that night, she sent the competition footage of these contestants to Lin Zhengran, asking him to confirm if everything looked right.


    For some reason, she trusted his judgment more than anyone else¡¯s now.


    She couldn¡¯t explain why.


    Only after Lin Zhengran confirmed there were no issues did she finally relax.


    Lin Zhengran met up with Jiang Xueli, and the two headed to the competition venue together.


    Compared to yesterday, the number of contestants had drastically decreased. At a glance, there were barely sixty people left.


    And that was including the cameramen and staff.


    Standing beside Lin Zhengran, even Jiang Xueli was surprised. "Why are there so few people today? Did the eliminated contestants just not bother showing up?"


    The moment Lin Zhengran saw the situation, he knew exactly what Jiang Jingshi was up to.


    Sure enough, the back doors of the music competition venue soon opened.


    Just like yesterday, Jiang Jingshi stepped out alongside two judges, chatting and laughing as they walked.


    But amidst her casual conversation, she glanced into the distance, spotted Lin Zhengran, and flashed him a smile.


    Lin Zhengran smiled back.


    A few minutes later, the competition officially began as the host made the announcement.


    For today¡¯s round, the judges didn¡¯t have to do much. The fifty contestants would simply take turns performing while being recorded.


    The videos would then be uploaded to the New Star Music ranking board, where online users could vote.


    After the competition ended, Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran sat in the audience area, waiting.


    Jiang Xueli scrolled through her phone, checking the New Star Music rankings. The voting period was set to last only a few hours, ending at 2 PM.


    Despite the short window, thousands of votes had already poured in within a short amount of time.


    Jiang Xueli was shocked. "The votes are coming in fast! But¡­ why does my ranking feel so low? Zhengran, look!" She anxiously handed her phone to Lin Zhengran.


    He glanced at it. Jiang Xueli had only received around 100¨C200 votes, while the contestants under New Star Music and Jiang Jingshi¡¯s management already had 300¨C400.


    Leaning in close to her ear, Lin Zhengran whispered, "Don¡¯t worry about it. This ranking is fake, and so are the voters. I¡¯m guessing the real rankings will be released tonight or tomorrow, and the contestant list will change too."


    "Huh? Why?"


    Lin Zhengran briefly explained what Jiang Jingshi had told him about the behind-the-scenes manipulation.


    Jiang Xueli was stunned.


    "Seriously? So that¡¯s where you went yesterday¡ªyou met with Jiang Qian¡¯s sister?!"


    She suddenly felt like she had been caught up in something big. Looking at the fifty or so other contestants in the resting area, all anxiously staring at their vote counts, she swallowed nervously and leaned closer to Lin Zhengran, whispering, "So today¡¯s rankings are just a trap Jiang Jingshi set up to catch a traitor?"


    "That¡¯s what it looks like. So don¡¯t worry about the rankings. The real ones will probably be posted tonight or tomorrow."


    "Whoa¡­ so this is what business warfare is like? This is my first time seeing it up close¡ªit¡¯s intense!"


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­..."


    As expected, at exactly 2 PM, the rankings were finalized.


    The top 35 contestants all belonged to Jiang Jingshi and New Star Music.


    At the same moment, the internet was suddenly flooded with posts and videos exposing Jiang Jingshi for rigging the competition.


    These posts quickly gained traction, accumulating high view counts and engagement.


    It was clear that someone had pre-recorded the videos, purchased traffic, and had been waiting for the exact moment to release them.


    However, instead of sparking outrage, the posts didn¡¯t seem to have much of an effect.


    In fact, the comments section was filled with confusion.


    ¡ª User: If My Mom Had a Chicken, She¡¯d Be My Dad: "What rankings? What scandal? I don¡¯t see anything suspicious."


    ¡ª User: My Dog Looks Like Me, I Look Like My Dog: "Yeah, if you¡¯re gonna expose a rigged ranking, shouldn¡¯t there actually be rankings to compare? I don¡¯t see them anywhere."


    ¡ª User: I Shot My Sunday Off, So Today¡¯s Monday: "Wow, this video has so many views? But wasn¡¯t the official ranking supposed to be released at 2 PM? Isn¡¯t it not even out yet?"


    ¡ª User: Holy Crap Original: "I just saw the official rankings! They just got posted! But they don¡¯t match the ones in these ¡®exposed¡¯ posts at all. The names don¡¯t even line up. Did someone Photoshop these? At least wait for the rankings to be released before faking a scandal."


    The sudden reversal left netizens completely bewildered.


    For them, it was just confusion.


    But for Jiang Cheng, the person managing Jiang Jingshi¡¯s music team from behind the scenes, it was a total disaster.


    This was not how things were supposed to go.


    According to his plan, the internet should have erupted in outrage.


    But now, it was as if the people commenting were an entirely different group from the ones voting before 2 PM.


    Before the deadline, the users had been actively voting and occasionally asking if the rankings were rigged. Jiang Jingshi had even responded in the comments, denying any wrongdoing.


    But after 2 PM, it was as if none of them had ever seen the rankings before.


    And what did they mean by "the official rankings were only released at 2 PM"? Hadn¡¯t the rankings been finalized at 2 PM?


    And what was this new ranking? Since when was that a thing? Why hadn¡¯t he known about it?


    His mind was filled with questions as he rushed to investigate.


    But before he could, Jiang Jingshi arrived at the backstage area with a group of people, blocking his way with a bright smile.


    "Manager Jiang, where are you off to?" she said lightly. "I was just looking over the records and noticed something strange. Since when did fifteen of New Star Music¡¯s contestants join my team? When exactly did you pull them under my name without informing me, their boss?"


    Jiang Cheng instantly broke out in a cold sweat. His eyes darted toward the group she had brought with her. "President Jiang, I¡ª"


    Jiang Jingshi pulled out a few photos and handed them to him.


    "Taking my money while secretly colluding with another company to set me up. Impressive. Just a reminder¡ªspreading false rumors and defamation is a criminal offense. I¡¯ve already called the police. Get ready to spend the next three years behind bars, traitor."


    Her strategy had been simple.


    Since Jiang Cheng wanted to make it seem like the competition was rigged, he would naturally hire people to manipulate the votes when the rankings were released.


    So Jiang Jingshi had simply gone along with it.


    She fabricated a fake ranking, planted fake voters, and instructed her team to mislead Jiang Cheng into believing it was real.


    Then, after 2 PM, she published the real rankings¡ªthe same ones that Qiang Jie had secretly recorded and Lin Zhengran had verified.


    With that, the setup was flawless.


    Of course, because of all this maneuvering, the competition had to make some adjustments.


    The actual 50 finalists were called back on the afternoon of the 6th to re-record their performances, properly securing their places in the real New Star Music rankings.


    The voting period was extended to two full weeks.


    After that, public voting would determine the final winner.


    That afternoon, after finishing her recording, Jiang Xueli stood beside Lin Zhengran, excitedly checking the real New Star rankings.


    "Zhengran, look! I¡¯m in the top twenty!"


    Lin Zhengran, always confident in her abilities, reassured her, "It¡¯s only just been posted. Let¡¯s check again tonight."


    "Mm!"


    Suddenly, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone vibrated.


    It was a message from Han Wenwen.


    "Zhengran-ge? It¡¯s already the evening of the 6th! Is the competition with Lily over? When are you coming to see me?"


    He replied briefly: "Still busy. I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done."


    Han Wenwen sent a sulky fox emoji:


    "Fine¡­ but you haven¡¯t called me even once these past few days!"


    Jiang Xueli, noticing him texting, asked curiously, "Who are you messaging?"


    Lin Zhengran answered honestly, "My girlfriend."


    Jiang Xueli instantly pouted, turning away. She assumed he was texting He Qing.


    "Fine, I agree that you could have two girlfriends, but¡­ can¡¯t you at least wait until we¡¯re home? Doing this in front of me¡­"


    Lin Zhengran put away his phone and looked at her, amused.


    He reached out and patted her head. "You¡¯ve worked hard these past few days. Once the rankings are out, I¡¯ll take you to the zoo."


    Jiang Xueli blushed, her voice turning soft. "The rankings aren¡¯t out yet¡­ I might not even win¡­"


    "You¡¯ll definitely win. But even if you don¡¯t, I¡¯d still take you."


    Jiang Xueli wavered for a moment, then clenched her small fists confidently.


    "What do you mean, ? If I don¡¯t win, I¡¯d be too embarrassed to go! Just wait¡ªI¡¯ll definitely win first place!"


    Not far away, Jiang Jingshi approached with a group of people.


    Seeing Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli chatting happily, she felt a strange emotion stir within her.


    "Zhengran," she called out.


    Lin Zhengran turned. "Jiang-jie."


    Jiang Jingshi smiled. "This competition was a bit messy, but the results turned out well. Seven of my contestants made it onto the New Star rankings. Let¡¯s see who takes the championship in two weeks. Thanks for your help."


    "No need to thank me. I just wanted to ensure a fair competition."


    "Mm. See you when the results are announced."


    She turned and left.


    Back in her car, Jiang Jingshi glanced at Lin Zhengran through the rearview mirror, her slender fingers tightening slightly.


    A faint blush colored her cheeks.


    "I really don¡¯t feel like saying goodbye to you at all."

 Chapter 128: The Fox Spirit from Another World

    Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli took a car back to the talent agency and then walked home together.


    On the way, Jiang Xueli kept checking the New Star Music rankings.


    Originally, this competition didn¡¯t have much attention. Even though Qiang Jie and Stidi¡¯s fans cared about it, a small-town event wasn¡¯t expected to gain much traction.


    But thanks to Jiang Cheng¡¯s mess¡­


    A bunch of netizens suddenly became curious about what this music competition was all about.


    Many of them decided to check out the performances, and by pure coincidence, the rankings¡¯ playback volume shot up to an unprecedented level.


    In just an hour, there were already thousands of song plays.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s song had climbed into the top fifteen.


    "Top fifteen!" Jiang Xueli practically reported her rank every time it jumped up, her twin ponytails bouncing with excitement.


    Lin Zhengran reminded her, "Caring about the results is good, but do you really need to stare at your phone the entire time? Are you nervous?"


    "Nervous?"


    Jiang Xueli abruptly put her phone away, pretending to be just as casual as Lin Zhengran. "I¡¯m not nervous at all! Didn¡¯t I already say I¡¯m definitely going to win? I¡¯m just checking, that¡¯s all."


    As they continued walking, Lin Zhengran thought about how both Jiang Xueli and He Qing¡¯s competitions had wrapped up. Even though the music competition¡¯s results wouldn¡¯t be out for another two weeks, at least these two little troublemakers could finally take a break.


    Suddenly, a couple passed by them on the street, holding hands and chatting sweetly.


    Their conversation drifted into earshot¡ªsomething about a movie.


    "I heard there¡¯s a romance film called that¡¯s super popular right now. Wanna watch it tomorrow?"


    "Yes, yes! Let¡¯s go to the city for a movie, and then we¡¯ll book a hotel for the night and not go home."


    Jiang Xueli, walking beside Lin Zhengran, overheard their conversation.


    Her face instantly turned red.


    She was a little envious¡ªnot about the part, of course, but about the date.


    Then she suddenly remembered¡ªWait, I¡¯m Lin Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend now!


    What was she even jealous of?


    Wait¡­ if I¡¯m his girlfriend, then why do I have to wait until I win the competition to go on a date with him?


    Why can¡¯t we just go now?!


    Lin Zhengran noticed her expression and had a pretty good guess about what was going through her mind.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    "Huh?" Jiang Xueli clasped her hands behind her back, her face burning. "Nothing! I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything! I was just¡­"


    She hesitated, then finally mustered up the courage to say:


    "The competition results won¡¯t be out for another two weeks, but tomorrow is still part of the National Holiday, right? Technically, tomorrow should be my time too. We¡¯re not still practicing music tomorrow, are we?"


    She fidgeted, battling her own pride. "Since the competition¡¯s over, we do¡­ other things, right?"


    She looked at Lin Zhengran expectantly.


    But instead of saying what she wanted to hear, he deliberately teased her.


    "Nothing much to do, really. Unless you don¡¯t like practicing music? I think it¡¯s pretty fun."


    Jiang Xueli nearly exploded.


    This guy is such a huge idiot!


    And he won¡¯t even let me call him that, but he totally is!


    She frowned. "That¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, practice is fun, but¡­"


    "But?" Lin Zhengran prompted.


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    "But¡­ since the competition¡¯s over, we could¡­" Her voice trailed off, her face turning bright red.


    "We could¡­ go on a date¡­? We can¡¯t practice music day. I want to go on a date."


    "I didn¡¯t catch that. Say it louder?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face burned even hotter.


    "Agh! I said I WANT TO GO ON A DATE!" she shouted. "I want to go on a date with you, you idiot! I finally became your girlfriend, so we can¡¯t just keep acting the same as before!"


    Lin Zhengran stared at her.


    She had mustered up all that courage, but after shouting, she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.


    "But it¡¯s up to you," she mumbled. "Even if I want to¡­ you have to be free first, right?"


    Lin Zhengran was straightforward.


    "Let me think¡­ Okay, how about this? I promised you two things before¡ªso let¡¯s split them up. In two weeks, I¡¯ll take you to the zoo. But for now, to celebrate you making it onto the New Star Music rankings, I¡¯ll take you to a movie tomorrow. How about that?"


    "Huh?" Jiang Xueli¡¯s conflicted expression instantly turned into excitement. Her eyes sparkled.


    "Really? REALLY?! You¡¯ll take me to a movie tomorrow?!"


    "Yeah, let¡¯s watch that romance film those two were talking about."


    "Yes! I¡¯ll buy the tickets! My treat!" She beamed. "What time are we meeting tomorrow?"


    "Eight in the morning. You¡¯ve been exhausted these past few days, so you should sleep in a little."


    "Okay! I¡¯ll call you at eight sharp!"


    Jiang Xueli laughed happily, practically skipping as she walked.


    At the crossroads near their homes, Lin Zhengran waved her goodbye.


    Jiang Xueli literally bounced home, humming to herself:


    "Movie, movie~ Watching a movie with Zhengran~"


    She was way too excited.


    [System Commentary:]


    [In the past few days, you accompanied Miss Jiang in a grand martial arts sect competition. Under your guidance, she dominated the event and achieved a top-ranking victory. However, during the competition, you discovered that a sinister force was attempting to sabotage the event.]


    [By chance, you also learned that the Empress of the Imperial City was secretly involved in the competition. Having a prior connection with her, you had a brief conversation and swiftly eliminated the villains, ensuring the competition proceeded fairly.]


    [During the competition, you also took the opportunity to meet the fianc¨¦e your family arranged for you. You originally thought she was Princess Jiang Qian, but to your shock, the person who arrived was none other than the Empress herself.]


    [It turned out that she was the wife your family had chosen for you.]


    [The Empress, a ruler of an entire empire, deeply admired your abilities. During your conversation, an unexpected incident led to her falling into your arms. You couldn¡¯t help but notice that her body was incredibly soft and sweetly fragrant.]


    Lin Zhengran: "???????"


    [She invited you to abandon your wandering lifestyle and stay by her side forever, offering you immeasurable wealth and power.]


    [You knew this was a crucial decision. However, the opportunities and treasures in the martial world far exceeded what a single empire could offer. Plus, you didn¡¯t want to be tied down. So, you firmly declined the Empress¡¯s offer. She was slightly disappointed.]


    [However, instead of being angry, she became even more intrigued by you. She promised never to stand against you in the future and even admitted that¡ªif it weren¡¯t for her empire¡ªshe might have chosen to wander the world with you instead.]


    [Some things are simply a matter of timing.]


    [System Commentary:]


    [You parted ways with the Empress of the Imperial City and continued your journey with Miss Jiang, awaiting the results of this competition.]


    [At first glance, this encounter didn¡¯t seem to bring you much, aside from Miss Jiang¡¯s growth and the double feedback bonus you received. However, the favor of the Empress is not something an ordinary person can obtain. What you don¡¯t know is that while she spoke to you, she unknowingly planted a strand of her fate¡¯s silk thread into your being.]


    [Rulers have no love. But for her to leave behind her last strand of emotional fate inside you proves that your connection is far from over. If she had a choice, you would be her only one. What the future holds for the two of you remains uncertain.]


    [From this competition, you have gained +2 Spirit Level, +5 Stamina, +5 Strength, +5 Energy.]


    [Your current Spirit Level: 57 (Qi Refinement Phase)]


    [Your attributes:]


    Strength: 85 ()Energy: 73 ()Stamina: 74 ()Affinity with All Things: Level 1 ()


    [New Unlocks:]


    Your stamina has doubled, and your endurance has tripled. Unless you experience an intense battle, your body will no longer feel fatigue.Your body core has been enhanced. Your Spirit Level increases by another +2, and when fully focused on a task, your concentration and stamina will be tripled.Due to breaking through endurance limits, your lifespan has increased and will continue to extend with further stamina growth.Your endurance and "seven times a night" ability have merged, forming a "Dreamlike Effect." As long as you frequently "care for" your wives, their beauty will age slower, and their lifespan will increase. However, since this ability originates from you, their ultimate lifespan limit depends on yours.


    [Your current Spirit Level: 57 ¡ú 59]


    Lin Zhengran listened as the system rattled off a flood of messages.


    He could clearly feel his physical strength increasing once again.


    Level 57 now¡­ just three more levels until 60. At that point, he¡¯d unlock another new talent skill.


    He was only a high school freshman, yet he was progressing way faster than expected.


    By the time he got to university, his level might be far beyond what he had originally envisioned.


    Just as he was thinking about this, his phone buzzed.


    A message from Han Wenwen.


    (This fox is getting impatient.)


    From the moment today¡¯s competition ended, she had already sent him three or four messages.


    To be fair, he had been super busy these past two days and hadn¡¯t had time to check in on her.


    Without any further delay, Lin Zhengran headed to Han Wenwen¡¯s apartment.


    He arrived at the familiar residential complex and walked up to her rental unit.


    Knocking on the door, he heard an excited yet sulky voice from inside.


    "Zhengran-ge?! You don¡¯t need to knock, just come in!"


    Unlocking the door with his spare key, Lin Zhengran stepped inside.


    Immediately, a strong fragrance hit him.


    It was her scent¡ªthat unmistakable, alluring aroma.


    Whenever he spent time around her, it wasn¡¯t overpowering. But if they hadn¡¯t seen each other for a few days, her scent always seemed extra intoxicating.


    But today, the room carried another scent¡­


    Fried chicken.


    Lin Zhengran frowned slightly and looked up.


    What he saw made him pause for a moment.


    Han Wenwen was standing in the kitchen, wearing a traditional Chinese hanfu.


    The long red-and-white robe draped elegantly around her, and her slender jade-like legs peeked out beneath the flowing fabric.


    She stood at the stove, attempting to fry chicken cutlets in a small pan.


    Her hairstyle was completely different¡ªstyled in an old-fashioned, vintage updo, making her look even more like a fox spirit from ancient times.


    Yet, instead of looking strange, the outfit suited her perfectly.


    Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a silk waterfall, emphasizing her already mesmerizing features.


    The first thought that popped into Lin Zhengran¡¯s mind was:


    "Demon Cult Maiden."


    "You time-traveled?" Lin Zhengran asked. "When did you get back?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes sparkled mischievously. She gave him a seductive smile and replied,


    "Just now, Young Master Lin. Close the door behind you."


    Lin Zhengran had no idea what she was up to, but Han Wenwen was always like this¡ªrarely acting "normal" for long.


    He walked over to the kitchen.


    She turned off the heat and cut a small, thin piece of fried chicken with a spatula.


    Then, picking it up with a toothpick, she held it up to his lips.


    "Ahh~ Young Master Lin, try a bite of our fox clan¡¯s mountain chicken. It¡¯s delicious."


    Lin Zhengran looked down at her.


    In this outfit¡­ with that playful yet enchanting expression¡­


    She was even more dangerous than usual.


    But Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t an ordinary man.


    Without hesitation, he took a bite.


    Han Wenwen leaned closer, eyes bright. "How is it?"


    Lin Zhengran chewed, then gave his verdict.


    "It¡¯s alright. Just a little burnt."


    Han Wenwen rolled her fox-like eyes at him.


    "Hmph! You¡¯re just saying that!"


    Pouting, she cut herself a piece and took a bite¡ªthen instantly deflated.


    "...It is a little burnt."


    She sighed dramatically. "Am I really that hopeless at cooking?"


    Lin Zhengran casually sat on the bed, noticing the scattered packaging from her hanfu purchase.


    "You got that outfit online?"


    Han Wenwen twirled around in front of him, showing off her robes.


    "I was out shopping today, and a clothing store was open. When I walked in, this caught my eye! How does it look? Gorgeous, right?"


    This time, Lin Zhengran gave her a very honest opinion.


    "With that outfit and a tail, you¡¯d look exactly like a real fox spirit."


    Han Wenwen giggled, bending down slightly to lean closer to him.


    With her hands resting on her knees, she looked him straight in the eyes. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If it didn¡¯t look authentic, I wouldn¡¯t have bought it," she purred.


    She smirked. "I only got it so I could seduce you, Zhengran-ge~ I wanna devour you whole~"

 Chapter 129: I Belong Only to You

    "One night passed without a word," the little fox deliberately remarked.


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes at her. Once he realized what she was implying, he casually flicked her forehead.


    "Ow!" Han Wenwen yelped in protest.


    Lin Zhengran: "Been reading too many novels, huh? Where¡¯d you pick up all this nonsense?"


    Han Wenwen pouted, rubbing her forehead with one hand while resting the other on her smooth, fair thigh. She turned her head away, pretending to be indifferent.


    "Isn¡¯t this how it always goes in novels? "


    Lin Zhengran sighed. No wonder He Qing always said Wenwen filled her head with nonsense.


    At this point, he didn¡¯t even need to doubt it¡ªat least half of He Qing¡¯s dirty thoughts had probably been influenced by this fox.


    Just then, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone rang.


    He checked the caller ID¡ªit was his mother.


    Han Wenwen, unaware of who was calling, glanced back at him.


    Lin Zhengran answered, "Hey, Mom? What¡¯s up?"


    On the other end, Lin Xiaoli asked, "Ranran, are you coming home for dinner tonight?"


    Hearing this, Han Wenwen¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Her delicate fingers grazed Lin Zhengran¡¯s thigh, as if trying to convey something.


    Lin Zhengran immediately understood her meaning and replied, "I won¡¯t be home for dinner tonight. I¡¯m eating out with someone and will head back later."


    Lin Xiaoli sighed, already used to it. "Not coming home again? Alright then, your dad and I won¡¯t wait up. Stay safe, okay?"


    "Got it, Mom."


    The moment the call ended, a satisfied smile flickered across Han Wenwen¡¯s lips.


    But she still pretended to be nonchalant, turning away and feigning ignorance.


    "Oh? Zhengran-ge isn¡¯t going home tonight? Who are you having dinner with?"


    Lin Zhengran, deciding to tease her, kept a serious expression.


    "I have plans with a friend this afternoon. After I leave here, I¡¯m heading out to meet him for dinner, so I won¡¯t be staying here for too long."


    Han Wenwen immediately spun around, looking completely betrayed.


    "A friend? You¡¯re not eating with me?!"


    The moment she caught his teasing gaze, she realized he was messing with her.


    Pouting, she glared at him¡ªher expression was a mix of anger, helplessness, and shyness.


    "Zhengran-ge, you¡¯re so annoying! You never used to tease me like this!"


    She huffed. "I don¡¯t care if you really have plans or not. You just got here, so I won¡¯t let you leave!"


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone buzzed again¡ªthis time, a message from Jiang Xueli.


    [Zhengran, are you home yet?]


    He replied while speaking to Han Wenwen.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not leaving. But what¡¯s for dinner? Besides your burnt chicken cutlets, is there anything else?"


    "Of course there is!" Han Wenwen shot back.


    Then, noticing his phone, she leaned in curiously.


    "Who are you texting now?"


    "Lily. She was just checking if I made it home."


    "Oh? And did you reply?"


    "Yeah, I told her I did. She said she just started eating and told me to rest early tonight."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes glimmered with mischief.


    She immediately caught onto the deeper meaning behind Jiang Xueli¡¯s words.


    Clearly, something must have happened between them these past few days.


    A knowing smirk spread across her lips as she reached out and blocked Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone screen with her hand.


    "Since you¡¯re done replying, no need to chat anymore, right?"


    Then, in a sweet yet mischievous tone, she purred,


    "Zhengran-ge~ What¡¯s up with this ¡®Lily¡¯ thing, huh? You used to always call her by her full name."


    Lin Zhengran looked at her and answered matter-of-factly.


    "Changed it."


    Han Wenwen snatched his phone, setting it aside.


    She leaned forward, her hands pressing against the bed as she stared him down.


    "And why¡¯s that? People don¡¯t just randomly change nicknames for no reason."


    Lin Zhengran remained calm. "No real reason. Just felt like it."


    Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes.


    "Does she know she¡¯s your girlfriend now?"


    "Mm. You¡¯re really sharp."


    Han Wenwen puffed her cheeks, her expression instantly sour.


    "I knew it! That explains why you showed up so late today."


    She whipped out her phone and checked the time.


    "I texted you at 3 PM, and now¡­" She squinted at the screen. "It¡¯s already past 6 PM!"


    "I got dressed and waited at home this entire time," she complained. "And yet someone didn¡¯t seem the least bit eager to come see me."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "I was late because of the competition, not for any other reason."


    As he spoke, he suddenly noticed a red scratch on Han Wenwen¡¯s right ring finger.


    "What happened to your hand?"


    Han Wenwen glanced at it, seemingly unaware until now.


    "Huh? No idea. Maybe I scratched it while changing clothes earlier. I didn¡¯t even feel it."


    "Let me see."


    Even though she was sulking, she obediently stretched out her hand.


    Lin Zhengran took her hand, examining the tiny wound.


    Her fingers were slender, fair, and soft¡ªmore delicate compared to Jiang Xueli or He Qing¡¯s hands.


    When he gently touched the scratch, Han Wenwen¡¯s brows knitted slightly, and she pursed her lips.


    "Does it hurt?"


    She nodded.


    "A little bit."


    "Do you have band-aids at home?"


    She pointed toward the bedside drawer.


    "I think I have a few in there."


    Lin Zhengran found one and carefully wrapped her finger, securing it neatly.


    Han Wenwen watched his every movement¡ªhis touch gentle and precise.


    Although she had been feeling jealous and pouty, the moment he focused on tending to her wound, those feelings melted away.


    "Alright," Lin Zhengran said, letting go of her hand. "Be more careful next time."


    But Han Wenwen didn¡¯t pull her hand away.


    Instead, she tightened her grip, intertwining her fingers with his.


    "My mind¡¯s been full of you these past few days," she murmured. "How could I even notice if I got hurt?"


    She suddenly leaned sideways, resting her head on his lap like a lazy, affectionate fox.


    Her voice softened.


    "I really missed you, Zhengran-ge¡­"


    She sighed.


    "I wanted to text you so badly, but I was afraid I¡¯d interrupt your competition with Lily¡­ Afraid I¡¯d disturb your time together¡­"


    Pausing, she buried her face deeper into his lap.


    "You know, I never used to understand why guys would get so jealous over a girl."


    "But now?"


    She exhaled deeply.


    "Now I get it. Knowing the person you like is spending time with another girl¡ªit sucks."


    Lin Zhengran stroked her soft hair, his fingers brushing through her silky locks.


    She nuzzled into him, her eyes filled with jealousy and longing.


    He reassured her, "That¡¯s why I came over right after the competition. I knew you were waiting."


    Han Wenwen lifted her head, then suddenly sat upright, positioning herself directly in front of him.


    She leaned in close, her breath warm against his skin.


    "You weren¡¯t planning to go home first? Eat dinner, take a shower, sleep, then visit me?" she teased.


    She pouted dramatically.


    "If you¡¯d done all that, I¡¯d have been dead waiting in this apartment!"


    She leaned closer, her voice a soft murmur.


    "Zhengran-ge¡­ don¡¯t you feel bad for me? I¡¯m a fox who only has eyes for you."


    "Be serious."


    "I''m being serious."


    "And besides that?"


    Han Wenwen shook her head while lying comfortably in his arms. Her long, smooth legs were already up on the bed, bent slightly beside Lin Zhengran¡¯s.


    But her restless feet kept rubbing against his leg from time to time.


    "Then I¡¯ve just been gaming, recording some videos. But I feel like when I play alone, my skill improvement is so slow! Whenever Zhengran-ge is with me, I learn so much faster¡ªit¡¯s like magic! Oh, by the way, I hit Master rank these past few days!"


    "Master? That was pretty fast."


    "Of course! Your little fox is amazing!" She grinned proudly.


    "But the last two ranks are really tough. I think it''ll take a while. Oh, and I found out there¡¯s some gaming content creator tournament happening soon? The prize pool is over 10,000 yuan! It was originally scheduled for the first half of the year, but this morning, I checked again, and they delayed it to the second half of the year. The best part? You don¡¯t even need to leave home to play¡ªbut it requires a duo partner."


    She looked at Lin Zhengran, gently placing a finger on his lips.


    "Zhengran-ge, are you busy in the second half of the year? Will you team up with me? If I have you, that money is basically ours already!"


    "I don¡¯t even know how to answer that," Lin Zhengran said, chuckling. "¡®Second half of the year¡¯ is a pretty vague timeframe."


    "But the tournament is still in its early stages, so I don¡¯t even know the exact date yet."


    Lin Zhengran thought about it. This must be Jiang Jingshi¡¯s tournament.


    After all, he had looked it up last night, and this was the only high-prize competition happening anytime soon.


    "Let¡¯s wait for the actual date first. If it works with my schedule, I¡¯ll join you."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes lit up as she nodded enthusiastically.


    "Then it''s a deal! You¡¯ll stay home and duo with me for the tournament!"


    "Alright."


    Just as Lin Zhengran finished speaking, Han Wenwen¡¯s red sash slipped down from her waist.


    It revealed the lace lining of her underwear, dangerously close to the hem of her hanfu.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    "Wenwen, where¡¯s your safety shorts? Are you just wearing this?"


    Han Wenwen realized his gaze and immediately covered herself, her face turning crimson.


    "Ah! Of course! Why would I wear safety shorts at home?"


    She then smirked, lowering her voice teasingly.


    "Zhengran-ge, what¡¯s with that reaction? Didn¡¯t I already say this outfit was meant to seduce you? I¡¯m your person. Why would I be embarrassed?"


    But the moment she said that, she couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore.


    Leaning in close to his ear, she whispered the truth:


    "Actually, I forgot. I I was wearing them. But don¡¯t worry, Zhengran-ge, I¡¯d never wear this outside¡ªonly at home, just for you."


    Lin Zhengran was speechless.


    Suddenly, Han Wenwen sniffed the air.


    Like a little pup, she nuzzled closer, inhaling the scent on Lin Zhengran¡¯s shirt.


    Her expression shifted.


    "Zhengran-ge¡­ what¡¯s that smell on you?"


    "What smell? I don¡¯t think I smell like anything."


    He sniffed himself but didn¡¯t notice anything unusual.


    Han Wenwen let out an ¡®oh¡¯, suddenly remembering.


    "I forgot¡ªyou don¡¯t know about this. Let me tell you a little secret."


    She grinned mischievously.


    "Ever since I was a kid, I¡¯ve had a special ability that I never told anyone about¡ªI have an extremely sharp sense of smell."


    "Oh?" Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t particularly concerned.


    "Yeah! And I don¡¯t just mean normal smells. If I really focus, I can even detect scents from things you touched days ago."


    "Is that so?"


    "You don¡¯t believe me, do you?" Han Wenwen smirked.


    "Let¡¯s test it, then!"


    "Go ahead."


    The little fox sat up, pressing her entire body against Lin Zhengran as she sniffed.


    She nuzzled into his chest, sniffing his shirt, his arms, and even his hand.


    Then, her expression darkened.


    She glared at him for a moment before suddenly leaning in and sniffing his neck¡ªand then, his lips.


    Lin Zhengran found it amusing.


    "Well? What¡¯d you pick up?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile.


    "A lot."


    She tapped his right shoulder.


    "For example, Lily leaned on your shoulder recently, didn¡¯t she? And I don¡¯t mean just hooking arms¡ªI mean resting her head on your shoulder."


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    He recalled that the day before Jiang Xueli¡¯s competition, she had buried her face against his shoulder out of nervousness.


    Not only that¡­


    Han Wenwen continued, "And she hugged you, too, right?"


    Lin Zhengran exhaled.


    "Your sense of smell is insane. That was two days ago, and you can still tell?"


    "Impressive, huh?" Han Wenwen beamed.


    "But that¡¯s not all."


    She sniffed the front of his shirt again, her expression turning serious.


    "At first, I wasn¡¯t completely sure. But now that I¡¯ve checked thoroughly, I¡¯m certain¡ªthere¡¯s another woman¡¯s scent on you."


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­"


    Han Wenwen bit her lip, tapping her chin.


    "This scent is very faint but mixed with high-end shampoo. Based on the smell, I¡¯d say you didn¡¯t hug her¡ªmore like she accidentally bumped into you or something."


    She picked up his hand, examining it.


    "And you helped her up with this hand, didn¡¯t you?"


    For once, Lin Zhengran was genuinely impressed.


    "You really have an overpowered ability. You¡¯ve had this since you were a kid?"


    Han Wenwen nodded.


    "Yep! But I can¡¯t smell everyone this accurately. I¡¯ve known you for so long, and foxes are most sensitive to their master¡¯s scent. That¡¯s why I can read you so well."


    "What if I changed my shampoo?"


    "It wouldn¡¯t matter! I¡¯m not sniffing the shampoo, Zhengran-ge. I¡¯m smelling your scent. No matter what soap or perfume you use, I¡¯d still recognize you!"


    Then, she tilted her head, her smile growing sly.


    "That aside¡­ who¡¯s this new girl, Zhengran-ge?"


    She pretended to be open-minded, but there was a dangerous undertone in her voice.


    "You¡¯re not thinking about four girlfriends, are you? Because from the way it smells, you spent quite a while with her. And don¡¯t even try to say she was a random passerby."


    She tugged at his shirt collar.


    "Besides, I know she wiped something off you. There¡¯s a faint trace of lipstick and makeup remover on your shoulder."


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­"


    Han Wenwen huffed, unable to hold back her jealousy anymore.


    "Zhengran-ge! Who is she?!"


    "No one special. She just tripped, and I helped her up. That¡¯s why her lipstick smudged on me, and she wiped it off."


    "Really?"


    "Of course."


    "¡­Was she pretty?"


    "She was okay."


    Han Wenwen clicked her tongue.


    "¡®Okay¡¯ means she was stunning. Zhengran-ge, your standards are insanely high. Now tell me¡ªwas she prettier than me?"


    Lin Zhengran hesitated.


    "You two have different styles, so I can¡¯t compare. You¡¯re both beautiful."


    Han Wenwen pouted, then dramatically flopped onto his chest.


    "Ugh! I don¡¯t wanna talk to you anymore! Flirty bastard!"

 Chapter 130: Playing with Fire

    Just as Lin Zhengran lifted his hand, Han Wenwen collapsed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his body.


    She lowered her head deliberately.


    The meaning was clear¡ªZhengran-ge, hurry up and pat my head, I¡¯m ready.


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but admire this fox¡¯s natural talent for acting spoiled.


    It was as if she had been born for this.


    He ran his fingers through her silky black hair, and Han Wenwen buried half her face against his chest, looking completely at ease.


    Her legs curled up instinctively, resting against his.


    "Mmm¡­ Zhengran-ge¡¯s hands are so big," she murmured, her fingers trailing along his toned chest.


    One hand rested against his abdomen, moving lazily up and down.


    Tracing from his stomach to his chest.


    Then from his chest back down.


    She was clearly enjoying the feel of his firm muscles.


    At some point, she even thought¡ªthis damn shirt is in the way.


    She was tempted to slide her hand underneath his clothes.


    But before she could¡ª


    Thwack!


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead as a warning.


    Han Wenwen pouted.


    "Zhengran-ge isn¡¯t a girl. What¡¯s the big deal if I touch a little?"


    "Behave."


    Lin Zhengran changed the subject.


    "What are we eating tonight? Didn¡¯t you say there was more than just chicken cutlets?"


    Han Wenwen looked up at him, but her fingers didn¡¯t stop tracing circles on his abs.


    "Yeah, I said there were other options."


    She began counting with her fingers.


    "Let¡¯s see¡­ We have: burnt chicken cutlets, expired snacks, and, oh! The most delicious option of all¡ªme."


    She grinned mischievously.


    "Zhengran-ge can pick anything for dinner."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t even react¡ªhe had expected this answer.


    Still, he played along.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Mhmm, absolutely sure."


    "Then I pick you. But as food, are you properly cleaned?"


    Han Wenwen smugly nodded.


    "Of course! First thing I did this morning was take a bath. So, Zhengran-ge¡­ where do you want to start?"


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s gaze swept over her, his lips curling slightly.


    "Let¡¯s start with your neck."


    A dangerous thought crossed his mind.


    This fox had been restless for too long¡ªmaybe it was time to teach her a lesson.


    "Okay."


    Han Wenwen sat up, but since she wasn¡¯t tall enough, she knelt in front of him instead.


    Tilting her head back, she exposed her slender, swan-like neck.


    She even pulled down the collar of her hanfu, revealing more of her delicate, snow-white skin.


    "Here you go, Zhengran-ge~" she said, cheeks slightly flushed.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t hold back this time.


    Instead of ignoring her teasing like before¡ª


    He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.


    "Huh¡ª?"


    A small gasp escaped her lips.


    His warm breath brushed against her neck, making her body tremble instinctively.


    No matter how much she loved flirting, no matter how much she pretended to be bold¡ª


    At the end of the day, she was still a girl who had never been touched before.


    And at the moment of real intimacy¡ª


    Her body¡¯s natural reaction betrayed her.


    A simple embrace.


    A slight shift in temperature.


    It was enough to send waves of shivers through her body.


    Her heartbeat pounded violently, her breath growing uneven.


    She lowered her gaze, seeing Lin Zhengran¡¯s serious expression.


    Like a predator watching its captured prey.


    Her face turned completely red.


    Lin Zhengran studied her reaction carefully.


    Then, in a low and deliberate voice, he asked:


    "I¡¯ll ask you one more time¡ªare you sure you¡¯re ready for this?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes glistened, and she bit her lower lip.


    Her breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling rapidly.


    Turning her head away slightly, she hesitated¡ªher voice soft and almost trembling.


    "I¡­ I was wrong¡­"


    Her fingers clenched slightly.


    "Not¡­ not yet. It¡¯s too soon¡­ I¡¯m not ready."


    She swallowed.


    "And¡­ and you¡¯re not even staying the night. If we really did that, I¡¯d have to sleep alone after, and I¡¯d probably be scared."


    Her fingers tightened even more.


    "Let¡¯s¡­ let¡¯s wait for the right time. When you¡¯re staying the night¡­ or if you really can¡¯t hold back, maybe I can¡­ use my hands instead?"


    Her voice was barely above a whisper.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled.


    Letting go of her waist, he stood up.


    "Go get dressed. I¡¯ll take you downstairs to buy groceries."


    Han Wenwen froze.


    She looked up at him¡ªher expression stunned.


    For a split second, she had actually worried that he might be angry at her rejection.


    Of course, if Lin Zhengran really wanted to, she wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    But then she saw his amused expression.


    Slowly, he exhaled.


    "You''re so bad at this."


    That¡¯s when she realized¡ª


    He had been messing with her the entire time.


    He had never actually intended to do anything.


    Her face turned scarlet.


    "You¡ª!"


    She couldn¡¯t even find the words.


    Covering her face with both hands, she collapsed onto the bed, curling up into a ball.


    "Zhengran-ge, you¡¯re so mean! You used to be so serious¡ªwhy are you like this now?!"


    Her heart was still racing.


    Her fingers clutched the blanket tightly.


    Even her breathing was uneven¡ªshe had actually mentally prepared herself just now!


    Thinking back to her own thoughts earlier, she wanted to hide forever.


    "Wenwen?"


    Hearing him call her name, Han Wenwen¡¯s body jolted slightly.


    She turned around slowly, her face still flushed red.


    "W-What?"


    Lin Zhengran tilted his head.


    "Still flustered? Hurry up and get changed¡ªwe¡¯re going grocery shopping."


    Han Wenwen stared at him for a moment.


    Then, pouting pitifully, she opened her arms.


    "¡­Hug me."


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    She really was shaken up, huh?


    With a small sigh, he walked over.


    The moment he got close, Han Wenwen shot up¡ªkneeling on the bed¡ªand immediately wrapped herself around him.


    Her arms locked around his shoulders, and she nuzzled against his chest.


    She stayed like that for a long time.


    Only when she finally calmed down did she reluctantly let go.


    Later that night, with her face still slightly flushed, Han Wenwen went shopping with Lin Zhengran.


    On the way back, Lin Zhengran asked Han Wenwen, "Do you want to eat out instead? That way, we don¡¯t have to deal with cleaning up at home."


    But Han Wenwen loved the feeling of "home."


    If she could stay at home with Lin Zhengran, then there was no reason to go out¡ªunless other people were involved.


    "Nope, let¡¯s eat at home."


    That night, the two of them carried some vegetables, noodles, and a whole roasted chicken back to her apartment.


    Han Wenwen sat close to Lin Zhengran, looking soft and delicate beside him.


    They sat on a blanket spread on the floor, using a simple folding table to hold their food.


    She tore off a chicken leg and fed it to Lin Zhengran.


    "Ahh~ Zhengran-ge, take the first bite!"


    Lin Zhengran took a big bite.


    As he chewed, Han Wenwen asked, "By the way, how¡¯s Lily¡¯s competition going? Did she win the championship yet? Last time, Xiaoqing won first place. She was so excited about it when we were chatting in the dorm last week."


    Thinking about the past few days, Lin Zhengran replied,


    "Lily made it to the final rankings, but the final result won¡¯t be announced for another two weeks."


    "Two weeks? That¡¯s so slow!"


    "Yeah. The results should¡¯ve come out sooner, but because of some issues, they extended the voting period to make sure everything is fair."


    Han Wenwen nodded in understanding, then asked, "So¡­ what¡¯s Zhengran-ge¡¯s plan for tomorrow?"


    "I¡¯m taking Lily to the movies. We already made plans."


    Han Wenwen froze mid-chew.


    Then, without a word, she yanked back the chicken leg from Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand and started biting into it aggressively.


    "I knew you wouldn¡¯t have time for me tomorrow," she muttered.


    "Well, this week is Lily¡¯s turn. Next week, I¡¯ll properly spend time with you."


    Han Wenwen chewed her chicken leg angrily but knew she couldn¡¯t really complain.


    After all, with three girlfriends, things had to be fair.


    And honestly, the fact that he came to see her today was already a special treat.


    Still, she reminded him yet again, "Then don¡¯t forget! Next week, you have to stay over! You promised¡ªno backing out!"


    "I won¡¯t back out."


    Han Wenwen smiled and leaned against his shoulder.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "Can you eat properly? Last time I took you to the snack street, I came back to the dorm and found oil stains all over my clothes."


    "No way! I¡¯ll be careful this time! I¡¯m just leaning while eating¡ªthere¡¯s no way¡ª"


    Drip.


    A drop of chicken grease fell onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s pants.


    He stared at her wordlessly.


    Han Wenwen froze, blinked, and then quickly wiped it with her hand.


    But instead of fixing the problem, she just smeared more oil on his pants.


    Her face went blank.


    "Uh¡­ uh¡­ it¡¯s fine! I¡¯ll wash it for you, okay?"


    Then, as if suddenly getting an idea, she beamed.


    "Actually, Zhengran-ge, you should just leave some extra clothes at my place! I mean, my home is your home, right? You should at least have a change of clothes here!"


    Lin Zhengran actually considered it for a moment.


    He really did come over here a lot. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to leave a few things here.


    "Maybe I¡¯ll buy some and leave them here."


    Han Wenwen lit up instantly.


    "Really?! Yay! I¡¯ll make a special spot just for your clothes!"


    After dinner, Lin Zhengran chatted with Han Wenwen for a while.


    Time passed without them realizing it, and before they knew it, it was already 9 PM.


    Under Han Wenwen¡¯s reluctant gaze, Lin Zhengran finally got up to leave.


    She even walked him downstairs, watching him until his figure disappeared into the night.


    Only then did she slowly head back inside.


    Meanwhile¡­


    In a nearby apartment, a certain twin-ponytailed girl was wide awake in her bedroom.


    Last time, she couldn¡¯t sleep because she was upset.


    This time, she couldn¡¯t sleep because she was too happy.


    Tomorrow, she was going on a movie date with Lin Zhengran!


    Jiang Xueli tossed and turned on her bed, unable to contain her excitement.


    Her big, lively eyes stayed wide open, staring at the ceiling even at 3 AM.


    She hummed to herself,


    "Tomorrow is movie day~ Tomorrow is movie day~"


    Her heart was full and content.


    The Next Morning


    As the sunlight streamed in, Jiang Xueli sat up in bed and clutched her head.


    "I¡­ I pulled another all-nighter?!"


    But after checking the time, she realized it was too late to go back to sleep. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Instead, she jumped out of bed, rushed to the bathroom, and started washing up.


    She put on the outfit she had spent all of yesterday picking out.


    After brushing her teeth and fixing her hair, she examined herself in the mirror.


    Her eyes were a little tired, but overall, she still looked full of energy.


    "I should be fine, right? This is different from last time! This time, I lost sleep because I was excited, not because I was upset! I definitely won¡¯t fall asleep during the movie!"


    She nodded firmly to herself.


    At 8 AM sharp, Jiang Xueli called Lin Zhengran.


    The two met up at their usual spot¡ªthe crossroads near their homes.


    Jiang Xueli waved happily, flashing a playful smile.


    "Zhengran! Good morning! So, where are we watching the movie?"


    Her small tiger teeth peeked out as she grinned.


    Lin Zhengran hailed a taxi and opened the door for her.


    "We¡¯re going to the city. You haven¡¯t had breakfast yet, right? Let¡¯s grab something to eat first."

 Chapter 131: A Long-Awaited Date

    As the taxi moved along, Jiang Xueli sat stiffly, her face flushed as she stared out the window.


    She looked really nervous¡ªprobably because this was her first official date. Her small hands were tightly clasped together.


    But while it was technically their first date, it wasn¡¯t the first time she and Lin Zhengran had hung out alone.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her tense posture and wondered¡ªwas she like this because it had been too long since they last went out together?


    The taxi didn¡¯t head all the way to the city center, as it was too far. Instead, it stopped at a large mall on the outskirts.


    This place was always lively, with plenty of entertainment and shopping options. And since it was still the National Day holiday¡ªeven though it was the last day¡ªthere were still lots of people coming and going, including many couples.


    It was bustling.


    Lin Zhengran asked Jiang Xueli what she wanted for breakfast.


    Jiang Xueli looked around and spotted a fast-food restaurant nearby. After thinking for a moment, she said, ¡°A burger?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    As they walked into the restaurant, Jiang Xueli suddenly suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll order!¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t object.


    But just as he was about to watch her place the order, Jiang Xueli panicked and pushed him toward the seating area. ¡°Go sit down! No need to watch me, just go and rest!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need me to carry the food?¡±


    ¡°No, no! If I can¡¯t carry it all, I¡¯ll call you! Hurry and find a seat before they¡¯re all taken.¡±


    After Lin Zhengran left, Jiang Xueli lowered her voice and asked the cashier, ¡°Do you have any¡­ couple¡¯s meal deals?¡±


    The cashier, a cheerful young woman, nodded. ¡°Yes! We recently launched two couple¡¯s meal options. Here, take a look.¡±


    She slid a menu across the counter and pointed to the section with the couple¡¯s meals.


    Jiang Xueli looked at the first option: two burgers, two chicken wraps, two sodas, and a choice of snacks.


    She frowned.


    How was this a couple¡¯s meal?


    It was just a regular two-person meal with a heart symbol slapped on it.


    Did these people even understand why couples bought special meal deals?!


    Just as she was mentally complaining, the cashier added, ¡°If you choose the first set, you¡¯ll also get a free heart-shaped toy!¡±


    Jiang Xueli flashed her small tiger teeth in a grin but immediately refused. ¡°I¡¯ll check the other one.¡±


    What am I, a kid?!


    The second option included four burgers, six chicken wraps, one extra-large couple¡¯s drink, and four snack items. The highlight of this set was the straw¡ªit was one of those trendy online designs, where two straws merged into one in the middle.


    The moment Jiang Xueli saw it, she was tempted.


    But¡­ this set was more than twice the price of the first one.


    She sighed. It wasn¡¯t that burger places didn¡¯t know how to do business¡ªit was that they were too good at it.


    Damn capitalists!


    ¡°Does the second set come with any freebies?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Nope~¡± The cashier smiled, showing a row of neat teeth.


    ¡°But the first one does?¡±


    ¡°Yep! Fewer people buy the cheaper one, so we include a toy to encourage sales.¡±


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t know what to say.


    But as she thought about that straw, her face turned red. ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯ll take the second set.¡±


    ¡°Alright! Please wait a moment.¡±


    A short while later, Lin Zhengran was stunned to see Jiang Xueli carrying an entire tray loaded with food¡ªburgers, chicken wraps, snacks, and a huge cup of milk.


    His eyes widened. ¡°Did you skip dinner last night?¡±


    Jiang Xueli blinked. ¡°No, I ate.¡±


    Lin Zhengran recalled that she had messaged him last night about her dinner, so he knew she wasn¡¯t lying.


    ¡°Then why¡¯d you order so much? Can you even finish all this in the morning?¡±


    Jiang Xueli, being her usual tsundere self, wasn¡¯t great at lying. Her face turned red as she placed the tray on the table and pretended to be clueless.


    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t realize it¡¯d be this much. I just saw a set meal and ordered it without looking closely. It¡¯s fine! I¡¯ll eat more so it doesn¡¯t go to waste.¡±


    Before sitting down, she discreetly removed the two-in-one couple¡¯s straw from the drink. It would¡¯ve been too obvious if she left it in.


    ¡°Um¡­ Zhengran,¡± she said, trying to sound casual. ¡°I only just noticed the straw after I ordered¡­ It¡¯s one of those couple¡¯s ones¡­ So, if you want some, um¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran had already seen her sneakily hide the straw earlier, so he knew exactly what was going on.


    He smirked and deliberately teased her. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty. You drink it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?!¡±


    Jiang Xueli was horrified.


    Then what was the point of her buying this ridiculously big drink?! What was the point of this couple¡¯s meal?!


    But she still stubbornly said, ¡°O-okay¡­ I¡¯ll drink it myself then.¡±


    She plugged in the straw¡ªtwo separate tips but a shared middle section¡ªand sipped her drink with a pout. She then unwrapped a burger and took a few bites, looking like a defeated puppy.


    Lin Zhengran took a bite of a chicken wrap and shook his head. ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m kind of thirsty. Can I have some?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thirsty?!¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes lit up. She put down her burger and excitedly handed him the drink.


    ¡°Here! Drink from the other straw!¡±


    Lin Zhengran took it and drank a couple of big gulps.


    Jiang Xueli stared at his moving Adam¡¯s apple, her gaze fixed.


    Even though they were using separate tips, the middle section was the same¡­


    And she had already drunk from it before¡­


    D-does this count as an indirect kiss?!


    Her face grew even redder.


    Lin Zhengran handed the drink back. ¡°If you can¡¯t finish all the food, we can just pack it up.¡±


    Jiang Xueli took it, her voice full of suppressed excitement. ¡°Okay.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Zhengran. I¡¯m still really hungry¡ªI probably won¡¯t leave much behind.¡±


    With that, she eagerly gulped more of the drink and chomped down on her burger.


    Her appetite had returned.


    Half an hour later, thanks to her enthusiastic eating, there wasn¡¯t much left¡ªjust one burger and two chicken wraps. Though, to be fair, Lin Zhengran had eaten nearly half of it himself.


    Still, Jiang Xueli was stuffed.


    She clutched her stomach. ¡°Ugh¡­ I ate too much.¡±


    After breakfast, they sat at the table and checked the showtimes for the romance movie.


    But there weren¡¯t any morning screenings. The first one was at 10:30 AM.


    It made sense¡ªmost film festivals wouldn¡¯t schedule romance movies first thing in the morning. After all, couples wouldn¡¯t wake up early just to watch one.


    Jiang Xueli saw the timing and asked, ¡°There¡¯s no morning screening¡­ so what do we do now?¡±


    She already knew this in advance. She had checked last night.


    This whole conversation was an act¡ªa ploy to extend their date.


    Today¡¯s Jiang Xueli was full of schemes.


    But Lin Zhengran casually replied, ¡°If that movie¡¯s not available, let¡¯s watch something else. How about this one? It says it¡¯s a groundbreaking Chinese animated film.¡±


    Even after two lifetimes, Lin Zhengran still enjoyed entertainment. He was still a sixteen-year-old boy, after all.


    Jiang Xueli liked animated films too.


    But¡­ if they watched this, would they still watch the 10:30 romance movie?


    She didn¡¯t dare ask, since she had offered to pay today, and her money only covered one movie.


    Plus, Zhengran had already suggested it himself.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she agreed. ¡°Hey, Zhengran, doesn¡¯t this tagline sound familiar? I feel like I¡¯ve seen it before¡­¡±


    ¡°Who knows? Maybe they¡¯ve had multiple ¡®groundbreaking¡¯ moments.¡±


    They bought their tickets and headed for the entrance.


    As they handed their tickets over, the ticket girl suddenly asked, ¡°Excuse me, are you two a couple?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s body stiffened. She looked at Lin Zhengran.


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Jiang Xueli beamed. ¡°Yes! We¡¯re a couple!¡±


    The ticket girl smiled. ¡°We have a promotion for couples today! If you touch each other¡¯s noses, you get a free bucket of popcorn.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart pounded.


    ¡°Really? But¡­ w-we have to do it here?¡± She turned to Lin Zhengran and pretended to hesitate.


    ¡°Zhengran, do you think it¡¯d be embarrassing? But if we don¡¯t do it, we¡¯d be losing free popcorn¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran pointed to a sign nearby.


    Jiang Xueli looked over and saw that the promotion started at 10:30 AM¡ªright when the romance movie was scheduled to begin.


    The ticket girl added, ¡°This event only starts at 10:30, so if you¡¯d like, you can come back later for another movie.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s expression fell instantly.


    Then why even mention it?!


    What was the point of bringing this up when she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to watch the 10:30 movie? She didn¡¯t even have money left!


    Lin Zhengran noticed her sulky expression, a small smile playing on his lips.


    He had his own plans.


    The ticket girl asked again, ¡°Would you two like to buy popcorn and drinks?¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since they had just eaten, they both declined.


    After getting their tickets checked, they entered the theater.


    As they approached the screening room, Jiang Xueli suddenly marveled, ¡°Wow, so this is what the inside of a movie theater looks like! It¡¯s so dark.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was confused. ¡°You¡¯ve never been to one before?¡±


    Jiang Xueli shook her head matter-of-factly.


    ¡°Nope. Who would I go with? My parents are always busy, and I usually have singing practice. I don¡¯t really have close friends¡­ It¡¯s just you¡­ I mean, I only know you. Have you been here before?¡±


    Lin Zhengran found her response ridiculous. Was this girl experiencing memory loss?


    ¡°You forgot? I took you to the movies last time. You wouldn¡¯t stop complaining about how you fell asleep and missed the whole thing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right!¡±


    She suddenly remembered.


    She had literally spent days whining about how she fell asleep and missed the ending¡ªso how did she forget this?


    But then¡­


    ¡°I really don¡¯t remember much about that movie,¡± she muttered blankly. ¡°I just remember watching it with you¡­ and then falling asleep.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment. ¡°Probably because you were too tired. You were half-asleep the whole time. Maybe you were even sleepwalking.¡±


    ¡°Emmm¡­ That¡¯s possible. But this time, I¡¯m gonna pay attention!¡±


    She clenched her tiny fists determinedly.


    They pushed open the door.


    Darkness.


    Jiang Xueli hesitated. ¡°Zhengran¡­ It¡¯s so dark. How do we find our seats?¡±


    Lin Zhengran reached for her hand.


    ¡°Just follow me. Your eyes will adjust soon.¡±


    His warm hand clasped hers.


    In the darkness, Jiang Xueli could barely process what was happening. Her heart pounded wildly.


    She stared at their barely visible hands, her face burning as she let him lead her to their seats.


    Lin Zhengran checked the seat numbers before letting go. ¡°Here.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was amazed.


    ¡°How did you find it so fast? It¡¯s so dark!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that dark anymore. Haven¡¯t you noticed? You can see now.¡±


    She looked around. He was right¡ªher vision had adjusted. ¡°Oh! Did they turn on some small lights?¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°See? You really don¡¯t study enough. Your eyes just adapted.¡±


    Jiang Xueli sat down, still marveling. ¡°I know that, but it¡¯s still kinda cool.¡±


    She really did seem like it was her first time in a theater.


    They sat side by side.


    Jiang Xueli glanced around. Besides a couple sitting far away, the theater was almost empty.


    ¡°Not a lot of people¡­¡±


    ¡°We came too early. But hey, it¡¯s like we rented out the whole place¡ªpretty nice, right?¡±


    Since she had never properly been to a movie theater, everything felt new to Jiang Xueli.


    Everything except¡­ the armrest between them.


    Why did they design this thing? It kept people apart.


    Wait.


    Had this armrest been here last time?


    She swore it wasn¡¯t.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her confusion and demonstrated, ¡°It moves.¡±


    He lifted the armrest up.


    Jiang Xueli was shocked.


    ¡°Wait, what?! This thing can move? I was just thinking¡ªhow do couples even watch movies comfortably with this thing in the way?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned to the screen. ¡°The movie¡¯s starting. Focus.¡±


    Jiang Xueli followed his gaze, thinking, Even if it¡¯s not a romance movie¡­ it¡¯s still the first¡ªno, the second¡ªtime I¡¯m watching a movie with Zhengran!


    This time, she was determined¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t fall asleep!


    And maybe, just maybe¡­


    Her cheeks flushed.


    She remembered how he held her hand when they walked in.


    Would he¡­ do it again?


    His hands were so big and warm¡­


    Stay awake. Hold hands.


    The movie began.


    Three minutes later.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyelids started fighting each other.


    Her head tilted slightly¡­ and soon, she was fast asleep, leaning against Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder.


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    He had already guessed this would happen.


    Even though she had been energetic in the morning, anyone who pulled an all-nighter looked different from someone who had a full night¡¯s sleep.


    She might have been fine while walking, but after stuffing herself with food? No chance.


    And with the comfy theater seats?


    She was doomed.


    In fact, this was exactly why Lin Zhengran picked this early morning movie¡ªnot to watch it, but so this twin-ponytailed idiot could take a nap.


    That way, she¡¯d be well-rested for the 10:30 AM romance movie.


    As Jiang Xueli slept peacefully beside him, Lin Zhengran glanced at her face.


    He had always thought she was the cutest of the three of them.


    He Qing was playful, but not exactly cute¡ªshe was more like a mischievous gremlin.


    Jiang Xueli, though, was all chaotic energy.


    She looked different from when they were kids, but some things never changed¡ªlike the way she bounced when she was happy, or the way she¡¯d turn her head away stubbornly whenever she got shy.


    Watching her always made Lin Zhengran smile.


    The movie ended.


    Outside the theater, Jiang Xueli stood in a daze.


    ¡°¡­Where am I?¡±


    Lin Zhengran crossed his arms. ¡°The theater entrance. The movie¡¯s over. Not that you watched it¡ªyou fell asleep.¡±


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    Slowly, she turned to him.


    ¡°¡­Over? I fell asleep?¡±


    Lin Zhengran laughed. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you barely slept last night?¡±


    Jiang Xueli clutched her head in despair. Why. Why. WHY.


    ¡°I fell asleep again?! That¡¯s two dates completely wasted! What was I even doing?!¡±


    She sniffled dramatically, wiping away imaginary tears.


    Lin Zhengran started walking. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s walk around for a bit.¡±


    Jiang Xueli sighed and reluctantly followed.


    Despite her frustration, the nap had cleared her mind.


    They strolled down the lively streets outside the mall.


    Jiang Xueli looked around and suddenly realized¡ªit had been so long since she had aimlessly wandered around with Lin Zhengran.


    Back in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, they were always together.


    Every day.


    They ate together. Went to school together. Left school together.


    For three whole years.


    At the time, she never thought much about it.


    But now¡­


    She could barely remember all the little moments they had shared.


    Lin Zhengran spoke. ¡°The last time I wandered around with you like this must¡¯ve been¡­ a long time ago.¡±


    Jiang Xueli looked up at him, her ponytails bouncing with each step.


    ¡°Yeah. Ever since we started middle school, we¡¯ve never gone out alone together¡­ Not since He Qing joined us. It¡¯s always been the three of us.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve really changed. You¡¯re prettier now¡­ and a lot calmer.¡±


    Jiang Xueli blushed furiously.


    She shyly murmured, ¡°¡­Do you think being with me is fun?¡±


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze.


    ¡°¡­Yeah. I do.¡±


    Jiang Xueli beamed, and in that moment, she knew¡ª


    She was madly, hopelessly in love with him.


    And then¡ª


    Lin Zhengran pulled out two movie tickets.


    ¡°For the 10:30 AM romance movie.¡±


    Jiang Xueli gasped.


    ¡°¡­You planned this?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled. ¡°So, wanna go?¡±


    Jiang Xueli grinned.


    ¡°You big idiot¡ªof course I do!¡±


    Hand in hand, they rushed back to the theater.

 Chapter 132: A Reunion of Three

    By now, the theater was much busier.


    A long line had formed at the entrance, and when it was finally Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli¡¯s turn, the ticket girl blinked in surprise at their familiar faces.


    Lin Zhengran handed her the tickets.


    She smiled. ¡°You two look familiar! Would you like to join the couple¡¯s event? If you touch noses to prove you¡¯re a couple, we¡¯ll give you a big bucket of popcorn!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Jiang Xueli, upon seeing him agree, immediately nodded as well. ¡°We¡¯ll do it!¡±


    The ticket girl clapped her hands. ¡°Alright, go ahead!¡±


    Jiang Xueli turned her head and realized¡ªso many people were watching them.


    But thankfully, Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t shy at all.


    Since the guy wasn¡¯t nervous, the girl naturally had an easier time being bold.


    So Jiang Xueli gathered her courage, placed her hands on his chest, and stood on her tiptoes.


    Their faces drew closer.


    Their noses grazed against each other.


    For a brief moment, their eyes met.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart pounded.


    Then she lowered her heels, ending the little ceremony.


    Her nose felt¡­ ticklish.


    She touched it absentmindedly, her face burning.


    The ticket girl handed them a giant bucket of popcorn¡ªalmost as tall as her forearm.


    ¡°Here you go! I hope you two stay sweet and never separate!¡±


    Lin Zhengran reached for it, but Jiang Xueli grabbed it first, checking the weight.


    She looked at him in awe. ¡°Wow! This is huge¡ªtotally worth it!¡±


    The couples waiting in line saw the size of the popcorn bucket and suddenly became restless.


    They might be shy, but free stuff is free stuff.


    Back inside the theater, Jiang Xueli wasn¡¯t as nervous this time.


    She didn¡¯t even think¡ªshe just let Lin Zhengran hold her hand and followed.


    Following this big idiot was always the right move.


    Once they found their seats, Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t even wait¡ªshe skillfully lifted the armrest and placed the popcorn in the middle.


    Though the theater was much more crowded this time, it didn¡¯t affect their mood.


    ¡°This was supposed to be my treat,¡± she said, feeling a little guilty. ¡°But you still ended up paying.¡±


    Lin Zhengran kept his eyes on the screen. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter who pays. You¡¯re mine anyway.¡±


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip.


    How did he say something so embarrassing so easily?!


    If it were her, she¡¯d never be able to say something like that out loud.


    ¡­Unless it was a special situation¡ªlike last time.


    Seeing her go quiet, Lin Zhengran smirked and teased, ¡°Am I wrong?¡±


    Jiang Xueli froze, then slowly nodded.


    ¡°Of course I am.¡±


    Lin Zhengran pretended not to hear. ¡°Huh? What did you say?¡±


    Jiang Xueli puffed up her cheeks like she wasn¡¯t going to back down. She grabbed a popcorn kernel and held it up to his mouth.


    ¡°I said yes! Even if you didn¡¯t ask, I **was always yours! Forever yours! Is that good enough?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran took the popcorn and ate it, highly amused.


    Teasing this girl was always fun.


    Jiang Xueli, feeling a little embarrassed, also grabbed a popcorn kernel and popped it into her mouth.


    So sweet.


    She took another.


    Then another.


    But somehow¡­


    Even though the bucket looked huge, after just a few bites¡ªit was gone.


    Even before the movie had started.


    Jiang Xueli reached in and touched the bottom.


    Wait. What?


    How?!


    She flipped the bucket over and examined it.


    That¡¯s when she discovered the scam.


    In the middle of the bucket was a hidden cardboard layer, and underneath was foam¡ªhalf the bucket was fake!


    Only the top layer was actually filled with popcorn.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s jaw dropped.


    ¡°¡­The people who came up with this event must¡¯ve had a really hard time,¡± she muttered. ¡°They want to give stuff away, but not really.¡±


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t surprised. These kinds of tricks were becoming more common.


    Jiang Xueli gave up, placing the empty bucket in the middle.


    After a refreshing nap, she happily intertwined her fingers with Lin Zhengran¡¯s and thought, Finally! I can actually enjoy this movie!


    This was the third time.


    At long last¡­


    Three minutes later.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyelids drooped.


    And then¡­


    She fell asleep on Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder.


    Jiang Xueli slumped onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder again¡ªthis time, even he was shocked.


    ¡°Lili? You fell asleep again?¡±


    No response.


    Jiang Xueli was deeply asleep, her face peaceful and happy.


    Lin Zhengran was speechless.


    For the first time, he truly understood¡ªher habit of falling asleep during movies had nothing to do with whether or not she had pulled an all-nighter.


    He had assumed it was lack of rest, but no¡­ She was just allergic to movie theaters.


    Still, he had a strong feeling¡ªthis girl would definitely come back again.


    An Hour Later


    As they walked out of the theater, Jiang Xueli was clutching her head in despair.


    ¡°I MISSED IT AGAIN!¡±


    Lin Zhengran had gotten used to this at this point. He shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    ¡°But I was so excited for this movie! What even happened in it? I really thought I was wide awake this time¡­ How did I fall asleep again?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Some people are just built differently.¡±


    Jiang Xueli frowned. ¡°So¡­ does this mean I can¡¯t go to the movies for our next date?! I still wanna experience actually watching a movie in a theater!¡±


    This had clearly become a personal challenge for her.


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment. ¡°Actually, if you just want to watch a movie, it doesn¡¯t have to be in a theater. We could set up a home theater instead.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, still holding his hand, perked up. ¡°Wait, really? How would we do that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you next time we have a chance.¡±


    Jiang Xueli pouted.


    Next time? That meant she¡¯d have to wait weeks for their next date¡­ Ugh, why did I fall asleep again?!


    She was so frustrated!


    They took a taxi back.


    As they arrived at the familiar intersection, Jiang Xueli glanced down at their intertwined hands.


    The disappointment of missing the movie faded instantly. A soft smile appeared on her lips.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. ¡°I have to head back to school this afternoon. So¡­ does that mean our date is over?¡±


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t want it to end.


    It felt like their date had been too short¡ªlike she hadn¡¯t done anything¡­ except take two naps.


    She didn¡¯t want to let go of his hand.


    Seeing her downcast expression, Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t we say we¡¯d have another date after your competition results come out? You can watch the movie then.¡±


    Jiang Xueli blinked, then slowly nodded.


    That¡¯s true¡­


    A taxi pulled up at another part of the intersection.


    From the car stepped a sweet-looking girl with a single ponytail.


    She had just arrived, and her best friend¡ªa fox-like girl¡ªwas already waiting for her.


    As they reunited, the taxi drove off, passing right behind Jiang Xueli.


    The breeze from the moving car made her twin ponytails sway slightly.


    Jiang Xueli took a deep breath.


    Then, mustering all her courage, she stepped closer to Lin Zhengran.


    She grabbed the edge of his shirt, stood on her tiptoes¡­


    And with her stubborn, proud eyes locked onto his, she whispered, ¡°See you this afternoon, Zhengran.¡±


    Then¡ª


    She kissed his neck.


    Softly.


    Gently.


    And then¡­ she licked it.


    Where she learned that move? Who knew.


    Lin Zhengran froze, completely stunned.


    Jiang Xueli stammered, her face completely red. ¡°I-I¡¯m heading home now. Even though it felt like we didn¡¯t do much today, I had a lot of fun.¡±


    Then she let go of his hand, covered her mouth in embarrassment, and ran off.


    Even after running far away, she turned back, flashed her little tiger teeth, and waved.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving! Don¡¯t forget, after the competition results, you owe me a trip to the zoo!¡±


    Lin Zhengran watched her retreating figure and sighed helplessly.


    She looked so proud¡ªlike she had just won something.


    He raised his hand and called out, ¡°Walk slowly!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    Just as Lin Zhengran was about to turn home, he noticed two people standing in the distance.


    A pair of wide, almond eyes stared at him in shock.


    He Qing.


    Her red lips slightly parted.


    Next to her, Han Wenwen also stood frozen, her gaze locked on Jiang Xueli¡¯s kiss.


    Three people.


    Awkward silence.


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    Since when had they been standing there?!


    The noon sun was warm, but He Qing looked¡­ not so warm.


    She wasn¡¯t happy.


    She stared at the spot on his neck where someone had just kissed him.


    Then she stared at the ground, lost in thought.


    Meanwhile, Han Wenwen linked arms with He Qing, her fox-like eyes filled with jealousy.


    Her expression practically screamed:


    "Seriously? You two couldn¡¯t find a more private place? Now look what you¡¯ve done, Zhengran-ge!"


    Most guys, in a situation like this, would be panicking, trying to think of a way to explain themselves.


    But Lin Zhengran?


    Unbothered.


    Two lifetimes had made him immune to panic.


    He looked at them calmly and asked, ¡°Why are you two here?¡±


    Even his tone was strong and steady¡ªcompletely guilt-free.


    He Qing lowered her head, her voice soft.


    ¡°Um¡­ I called Wenwen last night, and we were talking about how I¡¯d never visited her place since she moved¡­ So I thought, since I had to go back to school today anyway, I could stop by and see her before heading back.¡±


    She fidgeted.


    ¡°¡­And we just got here.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned mischievously, hugging He Qing¡¯s arm. ¡°I came to pick up Qingqing~¡±


    Then she turned to Lin Zhengran, her fox-like eyes glinting.


    ¡°Zhengran-classmate, do you have plans this afternoon? If not, why don¡¯t you come with us? I made some food~¡±


    She smirked.


    Her gaze practically screamed:


    ¡°Are you seriously not going to comfort Qingqing? She¡¯s jealous, you know. And I¡¯m not exactly happy either.¡±


    She tilted her head playfully, clearly expecting an answer. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet. Sure, I¡¯ll come.¡±


    Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow.


    Damn.


    He really never panicked.


    That level of confidence¡­ so attractive.


    At Han Wenwen¡¯s Apartment


    The three of them arrived at Han Wenwen¡¯s small apartment.


    She linked arms with He Qing and proudly introduced her place.


    ¡°It¡¯s small, but the location is great! And there are security cameras everywhere, so it¡¯s pretty safe.¡±


    He Qing walked quietly beside her, sneaking glances at Lin Zhengran from time to time.


    A little jealous. A little sulky.


    Han Wenwen called out, ¡°Qingqing?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He Qing snapped back to reality. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Wenwen?¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled. She totally caught her spacing out.


    ¡°I was asking what you think of my place. We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Right! Yeah, it¡¯s nice. Great location.¡±


    Han Wenwen unlocked the door.


    ¡°Come in! I¡¯ll show you around.¡±


    Inside was a cozy little room. A bed, a desk, random personal items¡­ and a thick, fluffy white rug beside the bed.


    ¡°So pretty,¡± He Qing commented.


    Han Wenwen smirked. ¡°Right? What about you, Zhengran? First time here¡ªgive me your review.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°It¡¯s a very pretty room.¡±


    He Qing side-eyed him.


    Han Wenwen squinted at him.


    ¡°¡­Just get in already.¡±


    As they settled in, He Qing¡¯s eyes landed on a pair of men¡¯s slippers in the corner.


    ¡°Wait¡­ these are men¡¯s slippers?¡±


    Silence.


    Han Wenwen froze.


    Lin Zhengran turned his head.


    Uh-oh.

 Chapter 133: Two Jealous Girls

    ¡°I¡¯ll heat up some water first.¡±


    After neatly folding Lin Zhengran¡¯s jacket and setting it aside, He Qing effortlessly filled the kettle with cold water, placed it on the small home heater, and pressed the boil button.


    The cold water began to warm up, tiny bubbles forming at the bottom.


    Lin Zhengran, sitting nearby, had already started unwrapping the packaging for their self-heating hot pot.


    He Qing carefully sat down beside him¡ªvery close.


    ¡°I can do it,¡± she murmured, voice soft and sweet. ¡°You should just rest. Let me handle something so small.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just unwrapping packaging, no big deal,¡± he replied casually.


    He Qing hesitated, stealing glances at him¡ªlike she had something on her mind but didn¡¯t know how to ask.


    Lin Zhengran noticed. ¡°Thinking about what just happened with Lili?¡±


    Her hands paused, then she nodded slightly.


    ¡°Mm¡­ You two were on a date, weren¡¯t you?¡± she asked softly. ¡°I remember you saying the competition ended on the 5th or 6th¡­ but today¡¯s the 7th. That means today was¡­ a date, right? Oh, and I heard from Wenwen that Lili made it onto some ranking list. Sounds impressive.¡±


    She tried to sound neutral, but her voice was laced with a hint of jealousy.


    ¡°Yeah, she made it to the top fifty, so I took her to the city to watch a movie.¡±


    ¡°A movie¡­¡±


    He Qing pursed her lips.


    She suddenly realized¡ªshe had never been to a movie with Lin Zhengran.


    As if reading her mind, Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Now that I think about it, we¡¯ve never watched a movie together, have we? How about next time we go on a date, we watch one?¡±


    The kettle began gurgling, the water inside bubbling.


    He Qing turned her gaze to him.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯d like that.¡±


    Lin Zhengran reached out and patted her head.


    ¡°Then next time, we¡¯ll go.¡±


    Feeling the warmth of his large hand, He Qing suddenly gripped his sleeve and, with a small whimper, leaned her forehead against his shoulder.


    ¡°So¡­¡± she mumbled, ¡°you and Lili¡­ are together now?¡±


    She hesitated.


    ¡°¡­How far have you two gone?¡±


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze. ¡°We only held hands today.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyelashes fluttered. ¡°But¡­ didn¡¯t she also kiss you? On the neck?¡±


    Her voice was barely a whisper.


    ¡°Was that your first kiss, or¡­ have you two kissed a lot before?¡±


    Lin Zhengran placed his hand over her puffy cheeks, smirking.


    ¡°Jealous?¡±


    He Qing pouted. ¡°...A little.¡±


    ¡°Today was the first time,¡± he said truthfully. ¡°And that sneak attack she pulled¡ªwasn¡¯t it the same as what you did back at school?¡±


    He Qing froze.


    ¡°¡­First time?¡±


    Hearing that, she relaxed a little.


    If he had kissed her many times already, she would have definitely cried.


    She lowered her head, absentmindedly playing with the fabric of his sleeve, her voice soft.


    ¡°Well¡­ I kinda always knew that you¡¯d end up with both Lili and me.¡±


    She smiled faintly.


    ¡°After all¡­ we¡¯ve known each other for so long. And you two have been childhood friends forever. I could see how much you care about her. And¡­ I know you really like her.¡±


    She exhaled.


    ¡°I told myself I could accept it.¡±


    Her fingers twisted the sleeve in her grip.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m an idiot. Ever since we were kids, I¡¯ve just done whatever you told me. My brain never really thought about it.¡±


    She gave a small laugh, then continued, voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°At first, I wanted to stop you from liking other girls. I didn¡¯t want you to be with anyone else. But then I thought¡­ if I couldn¡¯t stop you, what could I do?¡±


    She sighed again.


    ¡°I figured¡­ at least Lili¡¯s a good person. And she loves you too. So if I had to share, at least I could be her sister.¡±


    Her voice trembled slightly.


    ¡°But when I saw her kiss you¡­¡±


    Her grip tightened.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but it¡­ hurt.¡±


    Her voice grew even softer.


    ¡°I felt¡­ empty. It didn¡¯t feel good at all.¡±


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°Can you¡­¡±


    She looked up at him, her almond eyes pleading.


    ¡°Can you comfort me, Zhengran?¡±


    Her fingers clutched his sleeve tightly, as if she were afraid he¡¯d disappear.


    ¡°If you say something nice, I¡¯ll be okay. I promise. Just¡­ say anything to make me feel better, and I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    She sniffled.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay mad at you anyway. Please?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    Then¡ª


    He opened his arms.


    He Qing¡¯s eyes widened in shock, but immediately threw her arms around his neck.


    She half-knelt on the couch, hugging him tightly.


    Lin Zhengran had meant for her to just rest against him, but He Qing¡ªhaving never hugged a guy before¡ªinstinctively clung onto him like in the dramas.


    This made their bodies even closer.


    Feeling his warmth, He Qing finally smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re so warm¡­¡± she murmured.


    She rested against him, completely at ease.


    ¡°¡­I think this is the first time you¡¯ve ever hugged me.¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned slightly, looking at her.


    ¡°You smell different today. Did you take a shower before coming?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face flushed.


    She suddenly remembered what Wenwen had told her about "body scent."


    Apparently, when two people liked each other, they could pick up on a unique scent from each other.


    She nodded shyly. ¡°Yeah, since school¡¯s starting again.¡±


    Then she hesitated.


    ¡°Oh¡ªZhengran, actually, I wanted to ask you something. Not about Lili¡ªsomething else.¡±


    She gazed at him seriously.


    ¡°¡­Can you smell a unique scent on me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± she explained, ¡°books say that when two people like each other, they can pick up on a special scent that no one else can smell. I can smell yours¡­ can you smell mine?¡±


    Lin Zhengran paused.


    Just one second of hesitation¡ª


    But He Qing panicked.


    ¡°Wait, can¡¯t you smell it?! Is it just shampoo and body wash? No way! Maybe you just didn¡¯t get close enough¡ªtry again!¡±


    She leaned in even closer, practically pressing her chest against his face.


    Unlike Lili and Wenwen, He Qing had a much more¡­ "generous" upper body.


    Lin Zhengran was instantly suffocated by fabric.


    ¡°Hey¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sniff harder!¡± she whined.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be this close. I can smell it.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyes brightened.


    ¡°Really?! What does it smell like?¡±


    ¡°¡­Like dairy. A sweet kind of milk.¡±


    Her cheeks turned pink.


    ¡°Milk? Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Kind of like fresh milk, but with a little extra sweetness. I don¡¯t know how to describe it exactly.¡±


    He Qing thought for a moment.


    ¡°Oh! I remember one time when I was little, I spilled milk on myself. My mom said I smelled like milk all day¡­ Could it be from that?¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°That was years ago. No, it¡¯s just your natural scent.¡±


    She pouted. ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­ but¡ªdo you like it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    She beamed, looking completely pleased.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°You said you could smell mine. What does mine smell like?¡±


    He Qing thought for a second.


    ¡°¡­Like a cool smell.¡±


    ¡°Cool?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Not exactly a fragrance, but¡­ it¡¯s really nice. Every time we¡¯re alone, I just wanna be closer to you so I can smell it more.¡±


    They both laughed softly.


    Then¡ª


    She whispered into his ear.


    ¡°Since Lili kissed you¡­ I want to kiss you too.¡±


    She hesitated.


    ¡°Not just once. Twice. Can I?¡±


    Lin Zhengran gently cupped He Qing¡¯s soft, fair cheeks. She blinked, her round eyes full of anticipation as she waited for his answer.


    When he finally agreed, she brightened instantly.


    ¡°Alright. Where do you want to kiss?¡±


    ¡°The first one¡­ I want to kiss your neck! But on the other side¡ªsince Lili already kissed this one.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked and tilted his head to expose the other side of his neck.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    He Qing, delighted, leaned in slowly.


    Her lips hovered just above his skin as she swallowed nervously.


    Then¡ª


    She pressed a gentle kiss against his warm neck.


    But unlike Jiang Xueli, who had been quick and impulsive, He Qing lingered.


    She didn¡¯t pull away immediately.


    Instead, she kept her lips against his skin, eyes closed, savoring the moment.


    The jealousy she had been holding in from earlier was much stronger than she had admitted.


    She wasn¡¯t going to waste her first kiss with him.


    Lin Zhengran let her stay there, one arm wrapped around her small frame.


    It was hard to say if this counted as a kiss¡ªit felt more like her lips were simply resting against his skin.


    Only after a long moment did He Qing finally lift her head.


    This time, she was truly happy¡ªher cheeks flushed all the way to her ears, glowing a bright red.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Alright, that was the first one. Where do you want the second?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s eyes wandered over his face.


    From his ears, to his eyes, to his nose¡­


    Then finally, her gaze landed on his lips.


    Her heart started pounding.


    Would it be okay to kiss him there?


    After all, his earlier offer seemed to mean she could kiss him anywhere she wanted¡­


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°This time, I want to¡­¡±


    Just as she was about to say it¡ª


    The bathroom door creaked open.


    A tiny noise, but enough to startle her like a frightened kitten.


    She immediately panicked, her hands flailing as she jumped off Lin Zhengran, quickly retreating to sit properly on the couch.


    The bathroom door fully opened¡ªand out walked Han Wenwen.


    ¡°I¡¯m done changing. You two¡ª¡±


    She paused.


    Her fox-like eyes immediately noticed He Qing¡¯s flushed face, her head tilted down, lips pressed together tightly.


    ¡°¡­Qingqing?¡± Han Wenwen¡¯s voice was teasing. ¡°Your face is so red~¡±


    He Qing¡¯s hands flew to her cheeks, desperately trying to cover her entire face.


    ¡°W-What? No it¡¯s not! I¡¯m not red at all!¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked and turned to Han Wenwen.


    ¡°Your outfit looks nice.¡±


    Han Wenwen hummed in response, shifting her gaze back to the two sitting on the couch.


    She felt a small sting of jealousy but didn¡¯t let it show.


    Today, she was wearing a light red sweater paired with a classic pleated skirt.


    Soon, as winter approached, she¡¯d likely add tights to the look.


    Lin Zhengran always felt that girls¡¯ outfits were mostly similar, but they would emphasize tiny differences¡ªlike a new sweater or a different color scheme.


    He Qing peeked through her fingers, stealing a glance at Lin Zhengran.


    Lin Zhengran caught her gaze and smirked slightly.


    His eyes seemed to say:


    "Next time, when we''re alone, I''ll let you kiss properly."


    He Qing¡¯s face turned even redder¡ªbut she smiled secretly and nodded.


    Han Wenwen, being keenly observant, didn¡¯t miss the silent exchange.


    She pretended not to see it, though she could feel her own jealousy building up.


    She walked over to check the hot water kettle.


    ¡°The water¡¯s ready,¡± she noted.


    Then, looking at the three untouched self-heating hot pots, she raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°¡­Why are they still in their packaging?¡±


    She grabbed a few cups, poured some hot water, and then poured cold water into the bottom compartments of the self-heating hot pots.


    As she worked, He Qing suddenly felt an urgent need.


    She had been holding it in for a while, but earlier, she had been too caught up in the moment to notice.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to use the bathroom real quick,¡± she said.


    Han Wenwen nodded. ¡°No rush. The hot pots take about five minutes to heat up anyway.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing quickly got up, but before shutting the door, she stole one last look at Lin Zhengran, then bashfully closed and locked the door.


    Inside, she sighed in relief.


    However, due to the thin walls of the apartment, both she and Han Wenwen had to be careful in the bathroom¡ªotherwise, the sound would carry outside.


    That also meant¡ª


    For the next few minutes, Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen were alone.


    The moment the bathroom door closed, Han Wenwen¡¯s expression completely changed.


    Her polite smile vanished, and she let out an annoyed huff, looking thoroughly jealous.


    She turned away from Lin Zhengran, pouting dramatically.


    She had been patient this entire time¡ª


    Letting Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli have their moment.


    Then letting He Qing have her moment.


    But now?


    Her patience had run out.


    ¡°Zhengran-ge,¡± she grumbled. ¡°So, you had your date with Lili, and now you¡¯ve finished comforting Qingqing, huh?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    This fox definitely got jealous the fastest out of the three.


    ¡°Mm. Feeling jealous again?¡±


    Han Wenwen turned to face him, looking utterly pitiful.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± she pouted.


    ¡°Not only did I watch you and Lili be all sweet in public, I even gave you space so you could comfort Qingqing.¡±


    Her eyes glistened with pretend suffering.


    ¡°My heart hurts so much!¡±


    Lin Zhengran leaned back against the bed and stretched out his arms.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    Han Wenwen huffed, tilting her chin up.


    ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m still mad at you.¡±


    But before he could withdraw his arms, she immediately rushed over and buried herself in his chest.


    Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as she nuzzled against him, refusing to let go.


    As if to make up for her sulking, she whispered,


    ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you gonna pet my head?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed fondly.


    ¡°You really are a fox.¡±


    As his fingers gently ran through her soft hair, Han Wenwen finally started to feel better.


    Still, her jealousy hadn¡¯t completely faded.


    She tilted her head, her fox-like eyes gleaming.


    ¡°So, Zhengran-ge¡­ How was your date with Lili? Did you have fun?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, recalling the day¡¯s events, answered truthfully.


    ¡°Yeah, I had fun. I always enjoy spending time with you three.¡±


    Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes. ¡°And what exactly did you two do?¡±


    Lin Zhengran shrugged. ¡°We just watched two movies.¡±


    ¡°¡­Two?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s sharp mind immediately caught onto that.


    Watching one movie was already a long time sitting in a theater.


    Why would they watch two?


    Then it hit her.


    She squinted at him suspiciously.


    ¡°¡­Your heart wasn¡¯t really on watching movies, was it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her calmly.


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. We really just watched movies. She was too tired from last night, so the first movie was basically just a nap for her.¡±


    Han Wenwen raised a brow.


    ¡°¡­And the second one?¡±


    ¡°The second movie¡­ I thought she¡¯d be fully awake after her nap and finally enjoy it¡ªsince that was the one we actually wanted to watch. But she fell asleep again. So even though we technically spent the entire morning on a date, she spent most of it asleep.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked her captivating fox-like eyes, looking completely skeptical.


    ¡°¡­Zhengran-ge, are you messing with me? There¡¯s no way she slept through two entire movies! This was a date! Does Lili really have that kind of heart?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but she really did. If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t you smell for yourself? You can tell how long she was leaning on me just from her scent.¡±


    Han Wenwen paused, then nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯re right! Let me check if Zhengran-ge is lying.¡±


    She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned in.


    Her fox nose twitched, as if awakening some ancient bloodline, and she carefully sniffed every part of him.


    From his face, to his neck, to his shoulders, all the way down his upper body.


    Lin Zhengran almost laughed out loud.


    ¡°This is getting ridiculous. You could just take a quick sniff¡ªwhy the full-body investigation?¡±


    Han Wenwen ignored him, continuing to inspect.


    ¡°If I¡¯m gonna smell, I have to do it properly. Otherwise, I might miss some important details.¡±


    She made a full round, then returned to his neck, sniffing a bit harder.


    Her brows furrowed.


    Because the scent here was¡­ too strong.


    And not just one scent¡ª


    There were two distinct ones, and one was particularly fresh and strong.


    Clearly, it was He Qing¡¯s lingering scent from earlier.


    Han Wenwen puffed up her cheeks in frustration.


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter anymore. ¡°So? Do you believe me now?¡±


    She pouted. ¡°I do¡­ but! You two held hands, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°We did.¡±


    ¡°¡­For a long time?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°She fell asleep while I was holding her hand, so I just kept holding it.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s jealousy exploded.


    ¡°¡­But when I fall asleep, Zhengran-ge never holds my hand the whole time!¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well¡­ you¡¯ve never fallen asleep around me.¡±


    Han Wenwen froze.


    ¡°¡­Oh. That¡¯s true.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°You said it yourself¡ªwhen you¡¯re with me, you treasure every second, so you don¡¯t want to waste time sleeping.¡±


    She huffed, but still pouted deeply. ¡°Still! You never held my hand while I slept! That¡¯s unfair!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°So now you¡¯re just finding reasons to be upset, huh?¡±


    Han Wenwen crossed her arms. ¡°Yep! I am! What are you gonna do about it? It¡¯s your fault for being such a playboy! You even let Lili kiss you in public! What if someone saw?!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to do that either.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Good thing she was the one who kissed you¡ªif it had been you kissing her, I¡¯d be so mad I¡¯d probably have a stomachache and not be able to eat all day!¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°That¡¯ll happen eventually.¡±


    Han Wenwen clicked her tongue in annoyance. ¡°Ugh, Zhengran-ge! Even if that¡¯s true, don¡¯t say it out loud! Also¡­ did Qingqing kiss you just now too?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°She did.¡±


    ¡°And you hugged her too, huh? Your whole body smells like Qingqing right now.¡±


    ¡°¡­I had to comfort her somehow.¡±


    Han Wenwen sighed dramatically.


    Having multiple girlfriends was fine when they were separated¡ªeveryone understood their sisterhood.


    But the moment they were all together, it was nothing but jealousy and competition.


    ¡°¡­Then I want a kiss too.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°Where do you want it?¡±


    Han Wenwen thought for a moment, staring at his neck.


    Then, a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.


    ¡°¡­Actually, I have a question first.¡±


    She leaned closer, smirking. ¡°So far, everyone has been kissing you¡­ but have you ever kissed anyone first?¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Not yet. Holding hands with you guys is already a recent development¡ªI haven¡¯t reached the level of just casually kissing you all.¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted.


    ¡°Then¡­ I don¡¯t want to be the one kissing you.¡±


    She tilted her head up, their noses touching.


    ¡°I want you to kiss me.¡±


    She lowered her voice, teasing.


    ¡°¡­Kiss my neck. You can even bite me a little if you want~¡±


    The little fox brushed her nose against his, rubbing against him like a pampered kitten.


    ¡°Come on~ Just one little kiss. Please?¡±


    Lin Zhengran suddenly remembered something. ¡°Weren¡¯t you terrified of being bitten last time?¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned confidently.


    ¡°That was last time! Now I¡¯m mentally prepared!¡±


    She suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered¡ª


    ¡°Oh, and speaking of that¡­¡±


    Her voice was dangerously soft, dripping with seduction.


    ¡°Even though my 18th birthday wish is to give myself to Zhengran-ge¡­ that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t do other things before then.¡±


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression shifted slightly.


    Han Wenwen giggled.


    ¡°I know boys start having thoughts at a young age~¡± she cooed. ¡°So if you ever feel restless, just come find me.¡±


    She grazed her finger over her lips, her cheeks turning a deep red.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do everything yet, but¡­¡±


    Her voice dropped to a sultry whisper.


    ¡°¡­I can help in other ways.¡±


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Han Wenwen yelped, rubbing her head.


    Lin Zhengran scowled. ¡°What the hell have you been reading?¡±


    Han Wenwen pouted dramatically, pretending to be in pain.


    ¡°Waaah~ Zhengran-ge is so mean to me!¡± she whined. ¡°I was just trying to be a good girlfriend!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°You¡¯re such a little fox.¡±


    She beamed, her tail practically wagging.


    ¡°Of course! But I¡¯m a fox that belongs only to Zhengran-ge~¡±

 Chapter 134: Fighting for the First Kiss

    After speaking, Han Wenwen tilted her head slightly, gently tugging at the fabric of her top, exposing part of her delicate shoulder and graceful swan-like neck.


    A uniquely alluring scent, one that belonged only to Han Wenwen, floated toward him.


    ¡°Zhengran-ge, hurry up~¡± she whispered. ¡°If you take too long, Qingqing will come out of the bathroom.¡±


    Lin Zhengran wrapped his arms around her and looked into her expectant, slightly bitten lips.


    She was completely prepared.


    ¡°¡­Then I¡¯m going to bite.¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­¡±


    This time, he didn¡¯t hesitate.


    Without any warning, he sank his teeth into the soft skin of her neck.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    For the second time in her life, she felt a sensation like an electric current running through her body.


    The first time had been when Lin Zhengran held her by the waist.


    The second¡­ was now.


    She had read in novels before that when a girl was truly touched by the man she liked, her body would naturally react¡ªand that kind of feeling couldn¡¯t be faked.


    She had always been curious.


    What exactly did it feel like?


    Last night¡¯s moment had been too sudden¡ªshe hadn¡¯t fully processed it.


    But this time¡­


    The moment his lips and teeth touched her sensitive skin¡ª


    Han Wenwen shuddered.


    Her slender fingers dug into his shoulders, her usually sharp fox-like eyes becoming misty.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    For a moment, it felt like something invisible had passed through her body¡ªlike she had suddenly lost all strength in her limbs.


    No matter how mature she acted, reading about something and experiencing it firsthand were two very different things.


    The bathroom door clicked open.


    He Qing stepped out.


    She saw Lin Zhengran sitting alone on the carpet beside the bed. The self-heating hot pots on the table were steaming.


    And Han Wenwen?


    She was lying on the bed, facing away from them, her body slightly curled up, clutching the blanket tightly.


    He Qing blinked in confusion.


    ¡°Wenwen? Why are you lying down? The hot pots should be ready, right?¡±


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t respond.


    She was too afraid that if she spoke, her voice would betray her.


    She simply shook her head.


    Lin Zhengran spoke up instead. ¡°She said she just wanted to lie down for a bit. Let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    He Qing, still a bit confused, sat next to Lin Zhengran and glanced at Han Wenwen.


    ¡°Wenwen? You sure you¡¯re okay? We¡¯re gonna start eating.¡±


    Han Wenwen nodded slowly.


    Seeing that, He Qing turned to Lin Zhengran and lowered her voice.


    ¡°¡­What¡¯s she doing?¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at Han Wenwen and smirked.


    This fox always acted bold, but when it came to real intimacy, she was actually the most sensitive.


    She had been so flustered just from that one bite.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± he said lightly. ¡°Just a bit dramatic. She was asking me about you earlier, actually.¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face flushed slightly.


    ¡°¡­What did you say?¡±


    Lin Zhengran shrugged. ¡°Just the basics. She¡¯ll probably ask you later too.¡±


    He Qing giggled softly.


    Meanwhile, if He Qing had turned her head, she would have seen Han Wenwen¡¯s face completely red, her lower lip slightly swollen from biting down too hard.


    She touched the spot on her neck where Lin Zhengran had bitten her.


    She could still feel the warmth of his lips lingering there.


    Her heart was racing uncontrollably.


    Being bitten by Zhengran-ge¡­ feels so strange¡­ so intense¡­


    She swore to herself¡ª


    Next time, when it¡¯s just the two of them, she would definitely bite him back!


    Han Wenwen was determined.


    But then she thought back to last night.


    If he had kissed her first instead of just holding her waist¡­


    Would she have even been able to say anything at all?


    Would she have just gone along with whatever happened next?


    Thinking about that made her face burn hotter.


    Two minutes later, Han Wenwen finally composed herself.


    Since nothing had gone further, she was able to recover quickly.


    Otherwise, she might have curled up in Lin Zhengran¡¯s arms and refused to leave.


    She slid off the bed and onto the soft carpet, letting out a deep breath.


    He Qing immediately turned to her.


    ¡°Wenwen?¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled brightly, her usual playful expression returning.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    He Qing tilted her head. ¡°I was just wondering why you suddenly lay down earlier.¡±


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t even think before responding.


    ¡°Oh, no reason! Just felt like lying down.¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re not feeling unwell, right?¡±


    ¡°Nope! I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Qing giggled. ¡°I do that sometimes too¡ªrandomly lie down for no reason.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned.


    ¡°Right? Sometimes, you just need to relax.¡±


    Lin Zhengran, watching the two girls chat, smirked slightly.


    Han Wenwen was always good at covering things up when she wanted to.


    But he knew the real reason she had been lying there curled up like that.


    He Qing, completely unaware, started serving food.


    Han Wenwen, meanwhile, was still fuming internally.


    Hmph! Next time, I¡¯m definitely getting revenge.


    She sneaked a glance at Lin Zhengran.


    He caught her gaze immediately, his eyes glinting as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.


    Han Wenwen pouted, but quickly smirked back.


    Just you wait, Zhengran-ge.


    Next time, I¡¯m taking the lead.


    The two best friends exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.


    He Qing said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat. Everything¡¯s ready.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    As they prepared to eat, Han Wenwen snuck a glance at Lin Zhengran, and once again, a soft blush spread across her face.


    As Lin Zhengran began to open his chopstick wrapper, He Qing¡¯s wife-like instincts immediately kicked in.


    She took the chopsticks from him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at the little fool in confusion. ¡°I can do it myself.¡±


    He Qing didn¡¯t say anything, but the pure look in her eyes practically spoke for her:


    "Why should you do it? I¡¯m your girlfriend¡ªof course, I should handle these little things. You just sit and relax."


    Lin Zhengran wondered, who the hell taught her this way of thinking?


    Before now, he had never noticed how deeply ingrained her housewife-like tendencies were.


    In reality, He Qing hadn¡¯t thought too deeply about it.


    To her, men were supposed to be the providers¡ªhandling the big responsibilities. She wasn¡¯t sure how much help she¡¯d be when it came to important matters, so if she couldn¡¯t help with the big things, she would at least handle all the small things.


    She was just naturally wired this way.


    After unwrapping his chopsticks, she also opened the chili oil packets for him.


    ¡°How much chili do you want?¡±


    ¡°All of it.¡±


    ¡°That much? Isn¡¯t that bad for your stomach?¡±


    Seeing Lin Zhengran¡¯s look of confusion, He Qing relented.


    ¡°Fine¡­ But you shouldn¡¯t eat too much chili oil. The store-bought kind isn¡¯t very good. Next time, I¡¯ll bring some homemade chili oil with me. If you want chili, just use mine.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    Han Wenwen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s jaw dropped.


    She was stunned.


    She had never realized her best friend was this detailed and thoughtful when it came to taking care of someone.


    Han Wenwen knew she spoiled Zhengran in other ways¡ªlike massaging his shoulders or snuggling up to him.


    But when it came to these small, everyday details?


    She just¡­ wasn¡¯t built for it.


    Meanwhile, He Qing continued preparing Lin Zhengran¡¯s food.


    ¡°What about sesame seeds?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, put them all in.¡±


    She finished mixing everything for him, then picked up a slice of lotus root and almost brought it to his mouth to feed him.


    But just as she turned, she saw Han Wenwen watching her with a teasing smirk.


    Her face turned red, and she quickly put the food back down.


    ¡°It¡¯s all ready¡­ You can eat now.¡±


    If Han Wenwen wasn¡¯t here, she definitely would have fed him bite by bite.


    Lin Zhengran, already used to her silly behavior, simply patted her head.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Just that simple head pat made He Qing grin like an idiot.


    Han Wenwen watched, feeling both jealous and annoyed.


    She had never been that good at acting like a sweet, obedient girlfriend¡ªbut seeing He Qing like this made her think, maybe she should try¡­?


    Seeing Han Wenwen spacing out, He Qing tilted her head.


    ¡°Wenwen, why aren¡¯t you eating?¡±


    Han Wenwen leaned in close and whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to open these packets either. Should Qingqing help me too?¡±


    He Qing gasped, flustered.


    ¡°W-Why are you saying that in front of him?! He might hear!¡±


    Han Wenwen clicked her tongue.


    ¡°Wow, so Qingqing is only this nice to Lin Zhengran?¡±


    He Qing nodded firmly, whispering back, ¡°Well, he¡¯s my boyfriend. Of course, I treat him differently.¡±


    Han Wenwen rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Ugh, traitor.¡±


    ¡°Yup,¡± He Qing nodded shamelessly.


    That self-righteous confidence¡ªshe definitely picked that up from Lin Zhengran.


    As they continued eating, He Qing couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how she still owed Zhengran a kiss.


    When they were alone later¡­ she¡¯d definitely make it happen.


    As they ate, Lin Zhengran got up to use the restroom.


    He Qing immediately noticed that his water cup was empty.


    She grabbed the hot water kettle and refilled it for him.


    But as soon as the bathroom door clicked shut, the two best friends locked eyes.


    A moment of silence.


    Then¡ª


    They both burst into quiet giggles.


    He Qing, flustered, whispered, ¡°What?! Why are you laughing?¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned slyly.


    ¡°¡­What were you two doing while I was in the bathroom earlier?¡±


    He Qing¡¯s face exploded in redness.


    She knew Han Wenwen was going to ask this!


    She quickly covered her burning cheeks.


    ¡°N-Nothing! We didn¡¯t do anything! He was just comforting me because Lili kissed him!¡±


    ¡°¡­Lili?¡± Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you always call her Jiang Xueli before? Since when did you start calling her ¡®Lili¡¯?¡±


    He Qing groaned, burying her face in her hands.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it! I just started calling her that¡ªdon¡¯t ask me why!¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked knowingly. ¡°Sounds like someone¡¯s getting too comfortable with the idea of being Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend.¡±


    He Qing sighed dramatically, taking a sip of her water.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ But honestly, what was I supposed to do? You know what kind of person Lin Zhengran is.¡±


    Han Wenwen nodded aggressively.


    ¡°Oh, trust me. I know exactly what kind of person he is.¡±


    He Qing leaned closer, lowering her voice.


    ¡°Right? So knowing him, do you really think he was gonna let Lili go?¡±


    She pouted.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t stand a chance. If he was dead set on it, what could I do? Fight him?¡±


    Han Wenwen clicked her tongue.


    ¡°¡­Idiot.¡±


    Then, she sighed dramatically.


    ¡°¡­Though, I guess I¡¯m just as much of an idiot as you.¡±


    He Qing stuck out her tongue playfully.


    ¡°Well, when I¡¯m with him, I am a bit of an idiot. Can¡¯t help it~¡±


    He Qing¡¯s clever brain suddenly started working overtime.


    ¡°I was thinking in the bathroom¡­ Even though we¡¯re both his girlfriends, there are still some things we¡¯ll have to compete for.¡±


    She leaned closer to Han Wenwen¡¯s ear and whispered:


    ¡°Zhengran¡¯s first kiss is still untouched. I want it.¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?!¡± Han Wenwen froze.


    He Qing¡¯s face turned red, but she stood her ground.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®huh¡¯?! If I don¡¯t claim it first, Lili will definitely take it! And not just his first kiss¡ªthere are many, many firsts that we need to fight for! You saw it today, right? Lili isn¡¯t just sitting around waiting anymore¡ªshe¡¯s way more proactive than before!¡±


    Han Wenwen was speechless for a moment.


    But I want all of Zhengran-ge¡¯s firsts too!


    So if that¡¯s the case¡­


    ¡°¡­Why does this feel exactly like middle school?¡± Han Wenwen mused. ¡°A few years ago, you two were competing to confess to him¡ªnow you¡¯re competing for his first kiss?¡±


    He Qing blinked, then hesitated.


    ¡°¡­That does sound familiar¡­¡±


    But then she shook her head.


    ¡°No, no! It¡¯s different now. Back then, Lili and I were just normal friends. But now? We¡¯re sisters¡ªwe¡¯re the closest we¡¯ve ever been! But¡­¡±


    She bit her lip.


    ¡°¡­Sisters or not, this isn¡¯t something we can share. Who wouldn¡¯t want to be his first?¡±


    Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°Which first are you talking about? First what?¡±


    ¡°¡­Just his first kiss, obviously!¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked. ¡°Oh? Just his first kiss? Only his first kiss? You sure?¡±


    He Qing turned even redder.


    ¡°¡­Wenwen! Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know what I mean!¡±


    Han Wenwen stared at her knowingly, then playfully poked her in the stomach.


    ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Qingqing~ You¡¯re getting sneakier.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? This isn¡¯t being sneaky!¡±


    He Qing, ticklish, giggled and squirmed under Han Wenwen¡¯s teasing pokes.


    ¡°Haha¡ªstop it, Wenwen! If you keep messing with me, I¡¯ll get revenge!¡±


    ¡°Oh? How?¡± Han Wenwen smirked, wiggling her fingers threateningly.


    ¡°Like this!¡± He Qing lunged at her, tickling her back.


    The two best friends erupted into laughter, rolling around as they playfully attacked each other.


    Eventually, He Qing stopped laughing and looked at Han Wenwen seriously.


    ¡°¡­By the way, Wenwen, I had no idea you¡¯ve been living alone for so long. You never told me! If you needed money, I could have helped you! I could¡¯ve asked my mom or even earned it myself to support you.¡±


    Han Wenwen had expected this reaction and simply smiled.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that, Qingqing. That¡¯s exactly why I didn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    She leaned back slightly.


    ¡°But I¡¯m doing fine now. I¡¯m already making more than enough money for myself. As long as I don¡¯t spend too much, I¡¯m actually pretty stable now. The worst part is already over.¡±


    He Qing sighed. ¡°You really are amazing, Wenwen. Even though Zhengran taught me some things, I still haven¡¯t made much money yet.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned.


    ¡°And yet you¡¯re the town¡¯s Taekwondo champion! That¡¯s way cooler than what I do.¡±


    He Qing shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that amazing. Actually, when I saw those men¡¯s slippers in your apartment, I started thinking about something¡­ Wenwen, have you really never met a guy you like? Are you still not planning on getting a boyfriend?¡±


    Han Wenwen paused, then smirked.


    ¡°¡­How about this?¡± She leaned close to He Qing¡¯s ear and whispered:


    ¡°Since Zhengran already has both of you, why don¡¯t I just join in too?¡±


    ¡°Wenwen!¡± He Qing gasped, laughing as she pushed her away.


    ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t just pick a boyfriend for fun! You should like the person first!¡±


    The two of them started playfully wrestling again, rolling around on the floor.


    As they were still laughing and tickling each other, the bathroom door suddenly swung open.


    Lin Zhengran stepped out¡ª


    Only to find two girls tangled together on the floor, tickling and giggling like kids.


    Awkward silence.


    The three of them stared at each other.


    Both girls froze.


    Then¡ª


    They scrambled to sit up, acting like nothing had happened.


    Han Wenwen smiled sweetly, as if she hadn¡¯t just been rolling around the floor.


    Meanwhile, He Qing covered her face in embarrassment, mortified that Lin Zhengran had seen her acting so childish.


    After finishing their hot pot, they chatted a little longer before Lin Zhengran went home to grab his things.


    They had agreed to meet up later to take the bus back to school together.


    Of course, while he was out, Jiang Xueli naturally sent him a message and joined in.


    So, when the afternoon came and everyone had packed up¡ª


    They all found themselves standing at the intersection.


    Four people.


    Lin Zhengran.


    Jiang Xueli.


    He Qing.


    Han Wenwen.


    All at the same crossroads, just like three years ago.


    They looked at each other.


    Only this time¡ª


    The ones feeling the most awkward were Jiang Xueli and He Qing.


    The two girls made eye contact for just a moment¡ª


    Then immediately, one turned away shyly, while the other lowered her head, avoiding eye contact completely.

 Chapter 135: Meeting Again Soon

    The four of them slowly walked toward the curb as Lin Zhengran hailed a taxi.


    He Qing stood on his left.


    Jiang Xueli stood on his right.


    As they waited for the taxi to arrive, no one spoke.


    The air was strangely quiet.


    Jiang Xueli fidgeted inside her shoes, lightly tapping her toes against the ground.


    Meanwhile, He Qing twisted her fingers together in front of her, her head lowered.


    Neither of them knew how long they had been standing there before they finally glanced at each other.


    And then¡ª


    At the exact same moment, they both spoke up.


    Jiang Xueli: ¡°Qingqing, what are you doing here?¡±


    He Qing: ¡°Lili, I heard you made it onto the ranking for the music competition?¡±


    Both girls froze, staring at each other.


    It wasn¡¯t just that they had spoken at the same time¡ª


    It was that they had called each other by nicknames.


    They had always called each other by their full names before.


    Now it was Lili and Qingqing¡­


    Their faces flushed pink, but then, after a brief pause¡ª


    They both giggled shyly.


    And again¡ªat the same time, they answered each other¡¯s question.


    Jiang Xueli looked up, speaking first. ¡°Yeah! Zhengran and I entered the competition together, and I made it into the top fifty. But the final results won¡¯t come out for another two weeks.¡±


    He Qing nodded. ¡°Oh, I see! Wenwen rented an apartment here a while ago, and I¡¯ve been meaning to visit her for ages. Since school is starting, I thought today would be the perfect time.¡±


    Han Wenwen, watching from the side, narrowed her fox-like eyes, clearly amused by how in sync they were.


    Lin Zhengran, noticing this too, smirked.


    ¡°You guys spoke at the same time and asked each other questions¡ªdid you even hear what the other person said?¡±


    The taxi arrived, cutting off their conversation.


    Lin Zhengran took the front seat, while Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli squeezed into the back.


    Despite the change in setting, the awkward atmosphere remained.


    The car moved, but inside, there was still silence.


    Jiang Xueli stared out the window.


    He Qing kept her hands on her lap, staring down.


    Finally¡ª


    Han Wenwen broke the tension.


    She reached into her pocket, pulled out three lollipops, and held them out.


    ¡°Qingqing, Lili, do you guys want some candy?¡±


    Both girls perked up and took one.


    Jiang Xueli inspected the unfamiliar packaging.


    ¡°¡­Why is it so black? What flavor is this?¡±


    He Qing looked at hers curiously. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never seen this before. Is it a new brand?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like grin widened.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you taste it.¡±


    Without thinking much of it, the three girls unwrapped their lollipops and popped them into their mouths at the same time.


    A moment later¡ª


    Their faces twisted in horror.


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing immediately pulled the candy out of their mouths, looking betrayed.


    ¡°What the heck is this flavor?!¡± Jiang Xueli exclaimed. ¡°It¡¯s so bitter!¡±


    He Qing grimaced, covering her mouth as she laughed through the pain. ¡°Yeah, this tastes so weird! Who would eat this?!¡±


    Han Wenwen, also wincing from the taste, still managed to grin.


    ¡°It¡¯s a newly released bitter melon and fish-flavored lollipop. Apparently, mixing these two flavors creates a unique chemical reaction. I thought it sounded interesting, so I bought a few to try.¡±


    He Qing giggled, still struggling to get rid of the taste.


    ¡°But it¡¯s so strange! Who would actually enjoy eating this?¡±


    Han Wenwen shrugged. ¡°Probably people who are just as curious as me. The first batch sold really well because everyone wanted to try it. But if sales drop, the company will probably just stop making them.¡±


    Jiang Xueli stared at the lollipop in her hand.


    ¡°¡­So this is a limited edition candy? In that case, I have to give it another try.¡±


    She bravely put it back into her mouth¡ª


    And immediately regretted it.


    ¡°¡­Nope, still gross.¡±


    The three girls burst into laughter.


    Before today, both Jiang Xueli and He Qing had been nervous about how they¡¯d interact now that they were officially dating the same person.


    But now?


    Laughing together like this, they realized¡ª


    Nothing had to change.


    They had been friends before, and they were still friends now.


    Nothing needed to be forced or awkward.


    Everything was fine.


    Han Wenwen grinned and pulled out one more lollipop.


    She leaned forward and held it out to Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Zhengran-classmate, do you want to try one too?¡±


    Hearing their conversation, Lin Zhengran reached out and took it.


    ¡°Sure. Let me see what all the fuss is about.¡±


    He unwrapped it, put it in his mouth¡ª


    And froze.


    The bitter melon and fish flavor clashed in the most horrifying way possible.


    ¡°¡­Wow.¡±


    His expression remained calm, but internally, he was re-evaluating all of his life choices.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding. This really is a unique taste.¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked. ¡°Magic Cult Special Elixir, rarest blend. Congratulations! After eating it, you gain +1 strength.¡±


    At the same time, in a grand concert hall, a piano performance was taking place.


    Jiang Qian sat gracefully on stage, dressed in a silver-white gown, her elegant fingers dancing across the keys.


    Her cold, focused gaze remained fixed on the piano as she played a captivating melody.


    In the audience¡ª


    Jiang Jingshi and Fang Meng sat together, watching her.


    Jiang Jingshi, also in a long gown, wore elegant artistic earrings.


    She sighed.


    ¡°¡­Qianqian¡¯s piano skills have improved a lot recently. She¡¯s progressing so fast.¡±


    Fang Meng nodded. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s gotten much better.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t she fire all of her piano teachers? What happened? Did she have some kind of epiphany?¡±


    Fang Meng hesitated before answering.


    ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s a long story.¡±


    She glanced back at the stage.


    ¡°The short version? Qianqian thinks most piano teachers aren¡¯t as good as a certain someone.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°¡­A certain someone?¡±


    Fang Meng smirked.


    ¡°Yeah. Lin Zhengran. Apparently, he¡¯s been helping Qianqian with her piano recently. After comparing her previous teachers to him, she decided they weren¡¯t worth keeping anymore.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi finally understood.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that Qianqian¡¯s piano skills have improved this much¡­ because of Zhengran?¡±


    She laughed in amazement.


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty incredible. By the way, is Qianqian still challenging him in all sorts of random competitions?¡±


    Fang Meng shook her head.


    ¡°Not really. Zhengran is too strong in every aspect. Qianqian just can¡¯t win. But she¡¯s still watching him carefully.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi stared at the stage, and suddenly, a memory from the cat caf¨¦ surfaced in her mind¡ª


    That moment when she had accidentally fallen into Lin Zhengran¡¯s arms.


    For the past two days, that image had been lingering in her head.


    Before meeting him, Jiang Jingshi had never thought she¡¯d ever be this affected by a single guy.


    But after encountering Lin Zhengran, she had to admit¡ª


    Fate really does exist.


    Even if she wanted to deny it, she couldn''t.


    Just then, a man in a suit walked up to her, bowing respectfully.


    ¡°Miss Jiang, I have the latest rankings for the Little Star Chart, as well as the information you asked me to investigate¡­¡±


    He leaned down and whispered in her ear.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    She turned to Fang Meng.


    ¡°Xiaomeng, tell Qianqian that I had to leave for something urgent. Let her know her performance was very good today.¡±


    Fang Meng nodded.


    ¡°Understood, Miss Jiang.¡±


    As Jiang Jingshi got up and walked out of the hall, her assistants followed.


    Fang Meng pressed her lips together, lost in thought.


    Lately, Miss Jiang seems to be paying a lot of attention to Lin Zhengran¡­


    It was starting to feel like her interest in him wasn¡¯t just about Qianqian anymore.


    It was something deeper.


    Something more¡­ primal.


    A woman¡¯s curiosity about a man.


    Fang Meng sighed to herself.


    ¡°¡­No matter how long I¡¯ve been around rich people, I still don¡¯t fully understand their world.¡±


    On the way back to her car, Jiang Jingshi walked in graceful strides, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.


    She spoke to the assistant beside her.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying that the girl named Jiang Xueli has already reached third place?¡±


    The assistant nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Miss Jiang. In just one night, she went from 20th place to third¡ªand she¡¯s still rising fast. It doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯s going to stop anytime soon.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi gazed into the distance.


    Zhengran, every time I cross paths with you, it seems I have to lose some money.


    She returned to her Rolls-Royce, took out her tablet, and opened the Little Star Chart rankings.


    Only one day had passed since the competition began.


    Because of the scandal involving Jiangcheng, the chart¡¯s popularity was at an all-time high.


    Even the ranking comments section had over 10,000+ messages.


    The music plays were already in the hundreds of thousands.


    At the top of the rankings¡ª


    1st Place: Ping Yifei (one of Jiang Jingshi¡¯s signed artists)


    Plays: 130,000


    Votes: 60,000


    2nd Place: Chen Li (another of Jiang Jingshi¡¯s artists)


    Plays: 100,000


    Votes: 30,000


    3rd Place: Jiang Xueli


    Song:


    Plays: 50,000


    Votes: 25,000


    Jiang Jingshi frowned slightly.


    ¡°¡­Her play count isn¡¯t that high. So why is her vote count this absurdly high?¡±


    She tapped on Jiang Xueli¡¯s song, scrolling through the comments section.


    It was full of praise.


    Netizen 1:


    Netizen 2:


    Netizen 3:


    Netizen 4:


    Jiang Jingshi skimmed past most of the chaotic comments, but one thing was clear¡ª


    The overwhelming positive reception was undeniable.


    At this rate, even second place wasn¡¯t safe anymore.


    Still, this outcome wasn¡¯t too surprising.


    She had seen Zhengran¡¯s influence before.


    The people he nurtured¡­ never failed.


    Luckily, the first-place artist was a well-established singer.


    From the looks of the current vote gap, it seemed unlikely that Jiang Xueli would surpass them¡ªat least, not easily.


    Jiang Jingshi turned to her assistant.


    ¡°You said you also finished investigating New Star Music, right?¡±


    The man nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Miss Jiang. We confirmed that the company behind New Star Music is Pan Cheng Electronics. They worked with Jiangcheng to create the previous scandal, all in an attempt to generate public attention.¡±


    He paused before adding¡ª


    ¡°They recently developed a new product, so they likely intended to use this media chaos to boost their sales.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled.


    ¡°Pan Cheng Electronics? Now, that¡¯s a familiar name.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t the first time she had dealt with them.


    Pan Cheng Electronics was a long-established company in Zitong City¡ªone that had been at odds with the Jiang family for a long time.


    And more importantly¡ª


    They had been investing heavily in music lately.


    Now that she had entered the scene, they were probably getting nervous.


    Jiang Jingshi smirked.


    ¡°And after their plan failed, do they have any other moves planned?¡±


    The assistant shook his head.


    ¡°Not for now. However¡­ I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re taking a strong interest in the Little Star Chart.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes flickered toward the rankings¡ª


    Then her gaze landed on Jiang Xueli¡¯s affiliated music studio.


    Something clicked in her mind.


    She suddenly laughed softly to herself.


    ¡°¡­Zhengran, it looks like we¡¯ll be working together again very soon.¡±


    She set down her tablet and pulled out her phone.


    She opened WeChat, found Lin Zhengran¡¯s chat, and sent him a message.


    Jiang Jingshi:


    A few moments later¡ª


    Lin Zhengran:


    Jiang Jingshi sighed.


    Right. He¡¯s still in school. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran:


    She typed back:


    Jiang Jingshi:

 Chapter 136: Meeting

    "Something happened at the studio?"


    Jiang Jingshi guessed and replied, "I think it''ll be after the New Star Ranking ends. This is a bit hard to explain over WeChat¡ªwe need to find a place to talk in person. Zhengran, let me know when you''re free. Your sister is available anytime."


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment. "How about Wednesday afternoon? I have two PE classes then. I¡¯ll figure out a way to take a break and meet up with you, Sister Jiang."


    "Alright, then I''ll be waiting for your call on Wednesday afternoon."


    "Okay, Sister Jiang. If there''s nothing else, I''ll stop here. I just arrived at school."


    "Mm."


    After a brief conversation with Lin Zhengran, Jiang Jingshi smiled as she looked at the chat history on her phone. She then turned to ask the person outside the car, "What''s my schedule like for Wednesday?"


    "There''s a meeting for a live-stream competition¡ªit''s about the big event in the second half of the year."


    Jiang Jingshi didn''t hesitate. "I remember that meeting isn¡¯t urgent, right? If it''s not pressing, push it back. I have something more important on Wednesday."


    "Understood, President Jiang. I''ll make the arrangements now and reschedule the meeting for next week."


    Jiang Jingshi nodded.


    The man hurried off to handle the changes while she stayed in the car, scrolling through the New Star Ranking on her tablet. Every time she refreshed the page, she saw Jiang Xueli''s votes climbing higher.


    "Impressive momentum," she remarked.


    Over the next three days, Jiang Xueli''s original song, , performed beyond everyone''s expectations.


    Rankings are usually time-sensitive. Songs don¡¯t typically maintain the same growth rate from start to finish¡ªthey have peak and low periods. At least, that¡¯s how it is for other songs. But Jiang Xueli¡¯s track seemed to be playing by different rules.


    It surged steadily, increasing at a breakneck pace 24/7.


    In just two days, it reached second place. By Wednesday morning, it was aggressively closing in on first.


    In the girls'' dorm on Wednesday morning, Jiang Xueli went about her routine as usual¡ªgetting up, brushing her teeth, and freshening up. She slipped on her slippers and headed to the sink, squeezing toothpaste onto her toothbrush and wetting it before putting it into her mouth.


    That¡¯s when she overheard a group of girls chatting excitedly nearby.


    "Have you guys heard that song lately? ? It¡¯s amazing!"


    "I have, I have! I heard it''s in some ranking competition and getting super popular!"


    "But I¡¯ve never heard of this singer before. Her stage name is ¡®Xue¡¯? Is she a new artist? Her voice is so cute!"


    "I think she only has this one song. She must¡¯ve just debuted. Her talent is insane!"


    Jiang Xueli froze mid-brush, her expression shifting from disbelief to shock.


    At first, she thought they might be talking about someone else¡¯s song.


    But the song title and the stage name were identical to hers.


    And they even mentioned a ranking competition. That couldn''t be a coincidence¡­


    Could it be¡­


    Jiang Xueli stared at her reflection in the mirror, eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "I''m going viral?" she murmured to herself. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sometimes, things go unnoticed until they start. But once they do, Jiang Xueli realized these whispers were popping up everywhere¡ªlike they¡¯d been there all along, just waiting for her to hear them.


    From washing up to having breakfast to heading to class, she kept catching snippets of conversations about her song.


    She was stunned.


    How did everyone suddenly know about it overnight?


    After all, the competition she entered wasn¡¯t even that big.


    Finding a discreet spot, she quickly pulled out her phone and checked the rankings.


    Her song was now ranked second.


    had amassed 650,000 total plays and 230,000 votes, securing the No. 2 spot.


    The gap in total plays between her and the first-place song was still huge¡ªfirst place had 900,000 plays.


    But in terms of votes, she was catching up fast.


    First place only had 270,000 votes.


    And when she opened the comment section under the No.1 song, she was even more surprised.


    There were people supporting .


    "The lyrics are great, but it feels like it falls just short of . I think it''ll get overtaken soon."


    "If the first-place singer weren¡¯t a veteran, they¡¯d probably be losing already. This newcomer is crazy good."


    "I keep seeing pop up in short videos. This song is about to blow up!"


    "I''m betting in two days, will be No.1. If I''m wrong, I¡¯ll chop off my hand during a live stream!"


    "Damn, brutal. I''ll join you¡ªdouble chop!"


    The more Jiang Xueli read, the more thrilled she became.


    She could hardly believe it was real.


    During the break, she rushed to tell Lin Zhengran the good news.


    It turned out he was just as invested in the song¡¯s ranking.


    When she pulled him aside between classes to tell him, he simply grinned and said, "I saw it already. Your votes are skyrocketing. At this rate, first place is yours."


    Of course, not everyone was happy about this.


    While Lin Zhengran, Jiang Xueli, and their studio celebrated, someone else was definitely feeling the heat.


    Meanwhile, the artists under Jiang Jingshi¡¯s music team looked as deflated as wilted eggplants. Ever since the ranking competition began, these professionally trained singers had been living in fear. None of them expected to be completely crushed by a small independent studio¡¯s contestant.


    Every meeting became painfully silent as they gathered, too embarrassed to say a word.


    As the leader of the team, Jiang Jingshi sat in her office, staring at the rankings. She let out a self-deprecating chuckle.


    "Looks like I¡¯m losing again... Even a veteran singer with multiple releases is being overtaken by Jiang Xueli, the talent cultivated by Zhengran? What am I supposed to do about the live-stream competition in the second half of the year?"


    Leaning back in her executive chair, she sighed.


    "For the first time, I feel like my investments in these teams have been a total waste..."


    By Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 PM, the rankings updated.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s song officially surpassed the previous No. 1 from Jiang Jingshi¡¯s team, making her the new top-ranked artist!


    And her votes were still rising rapidly.


    With over a week left in the competition, she had more than enough time to completely dominate the other contestants.


    The second class that afternoon was Chinese.


    Lin Zhengran sat by the window, absentmindedly staring at the campus scenery outside.


    The weather was nice today. The sunlight cast sharp contrasts on the leaves, making their veins distinct.


    Although his song was soaring in the rankings, his mind wandered back to the message Jiang Jingshi had sent him on the first day of school.


    If something really was wrong with the studio, then he might need to move his plans forward.


    "Class monitor, answer this question," the homeroom teacher called out.


    Lin Zhengran stood up effortlessly. Without even looking at the textbook, he answered smoothly.


    The female teacher raised her eyebrows¡ªhalf surprised, half unsurprised. "Correct. Sit down."


    From the podium, she had seen him daydreaming earlier.


    But with Lin Zhengran, it didn¡¯t really matter. He always aced his exams, and no matter what she asked, he always had the right answer.


    If he wanted to space out, well... she wasn¡¯t going to stop him.


    Sitting next to him, Jiang Qian, poised and elegant, watched as he resumed staring out the window. Her cold, sharp eyes flashed with surprise.


    Was he really so skilled that he could listen to the lecture while daydreaming?


    And this wasn¡¯t even the first time she had seen him do it¡­


    After class, Lin Zhengran left the classroom and went to find his teacher.


    He told her he wasn¡¯t feeling well and needed to skip the next two PE classes to rest in the dormitory.


    The homeroom teacher had no doubts. He acted convincingly, and besides, good students had an easier time getting permission to leave.


    With little hesitation, she approved his request.


    After that, during the break, he went to Jiang Xueli, He Qing, and Han Wenwen¡¯s classroom to greet them.


    The moment he appeared at the door, all three girls came out at the same time.


    "What¡¯s up?" they asked.


    Lin Zhengran explained, "You three don¡¯t need to wait for me for dinner at the cafeteria tonight. I have something to do this afternoon."


    Little He Qing asked, "Where are you going?"


    "Meeting a friend, so just eat without me."


    Before they could ask more, their teacher stepped out and called them back for class.


    As they returned to their seats, Jiang Xueli and He Qing exchanged curious glances.


    They were both a little puzzled, but since neither of them had snuck out, they figured it wasn¡¯t anything suspicious.


    After all, Lin Zhengran had plenty of girls around him, but he wasn¡¯t the type to meet just anyone one-on-one.


    Only Han Wenwen frowned slightly, her fox-like eyes narrowing as she watched Lin Zhengran walk away.


    She suddenly recalled the last time she had smelled another girl¡¯s scent on him.


    Back then, Zhengran had also said she was just a friend.


    Could it be her again?


    Not long after, PE class started.


    As the vice monitor and PE class representative, Jiang Qian arrived at the track to take attendance.


    She quickly noticed Lin Zhengran was missing.


    When she asked the teacher, she was told he had called in sick.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s expression shifted slightly. "Not feeling well? What¡¯s wrong with him?"


    The PE teacher shrugged. "No idea. His homeroom teacher just said he wasn¡¯t feeling well."


    Fang Meng, who was also curious about his absence, walked over. "Qianqian, Lin Zhengran isn¡¯t here?"


    Jiang Qian replied, "The teacher said he took a sick leave."


    "Sick? That¡¯s odd. He seemed fine last period."


    "I didn¡¯t notice anything wrong with him either¡­" Jiang Qian trailed off, glancing toward the boys¡¯ dorms, looking slightly concerned.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran had already left the school.


    The moment he stepped out, he received a message from Jiang Qian.


    Jiang Qian:


    Lin Zhengran was confused.


    Another message quickly followed.


    Jiang Qian:


    Realizing the situation, Lin Zhengran replied:


    Jiang Qian:


    Lin Zhengran:


    Jiang Qian:


    Lin Zhengran:


    After replying, he looked up and spotted a Rolls-Royce parked by the curb in the distance.


    The luxury car¡¯s driver stepped out and opened the door for him.


    "Mr. Lin, please get in."


    Lin Zhengran found the formality a bit excessive but stepped forward anyway. Inside, Jiang Jingshi was already waving at him from the backseat.


    She was dressed neatly today, opting for a simple yet elegant outfit instead of something overly glamorous.


    She smiled warmly, swinging her arm playfully. "Zhengran, little brother, long time no see."


    Lin Zhengran smiled back. "Indeed, Sister Jiang, it¡¯s been a while."


    He got in, and as the door closed, the car smoothly drove off into the distance.

 Chapter 137: Jiang Jingshi’s Proposal

    As the car drove on, Lin Zhengran asked where they were headed.


    Jiang Jingshi replied, "I know a great French restaurant. Their food is excellent. How about I take you there to try it?"


    Lin Zhengran found this a bit excessive.


    "No need, Sister Jiang. I came out today to discuss business, not for a fancy meal. Besides, I have to head back in the evening. We can just find a casual place to talk."


    Jiang Jingshi gazed at him warmly. "But last time, we agreed that we still owe each other a meal."


    "True, but a high-end French restaurant like you mentioned must be really expensive. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯d be able to pay you back. You already treated me last time."


    She chuckled. "Do we really need to be so particular about that?" Then, an idea came to her. "Alright, let me ask you this¡ªwhat did you have for dinner last night, Zhengran?"


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t sure what she was getting at. "Tomato and scrambled eggs. The school cafeteria made it."


    "Was it good?"


    He shrugged. "Not really. It¡¯s cafeteria food¡ªwhat do you expect?"


    Jiang Jingshi covered her mouth with the back of her hand, laughing. "I figured. How about this? Forget the fancy restaurant. Tonight, I¡¯ll personally cook you some homemade tomato and scrambled eggs. Let¡¯s just go to my music team¡¯s office instead."


    The driver, who had been silent the whole ride, was visibly surprised. In all the years he had worked for her, he had never seen Jiang Jingshi cook for anyone before.


    She casually found an excuse for it. "Cooking is a hobby of mine anyway. And I make a great tomato and scrambled eggs dish. It¡¯s simple and affordable. Of course, if you feel bad about me covering all the costs, why don¡¯t you buy the tomatoes and eggs?"


    Lin Zhengran smiled. He honestly didn¡¯t care much about what they ate. "Alright then, that works. Thanks for the trouble, Sister Jiang."


    "It¡¯s no trouble at all." She turned to the driver. "Take us to the mall."


    "Understood, President Jiang," the driver responded.


    The car changed direction toward the mall, and the two of them¡ªsomewhat absurdly¡ªended up buying just a few tomatoes and eggs.


    Afterward, they headed to Jiang Jingshi¡¯s music studio.


    Upon arrival, the studio was bustling with singers practicing and rehearsing. The moment they saw Jiang Jingshi, many stood up to greet her.


    "Good afternoon, President Jiang!"


    "Hello, President Jiang!"


    Jiang Jingshi simply nodded in acknowledgment.


    Walking alongside her, Lin Zhengran took in the layout of the music studio. Compared to the one Jiang Xueli trained at, this place was on a whole different level.


    For starters, it was at least twice the size.


    It spanned three floors, with elevators and circular staircases on either side. There were personal rest areas, a lounge, and a tea room¡ªeverything was sleek and well-designed.


    Despite being filled with singers, the soundproofing was excellent.


    Back at Jiang Xueli¡¯s studio, Lin Zhengran could easily hear people practicing even from outside the rooms. While wearing headphones helped to keep sessions from interfering with each other, the noise still bled through.


    Here, as he passed by the rehearsal rooms and observed through the glass walls, he realized he could barely hear a thing unless he listened carefully.


    Noticing his reaction, Jiang Jingshi gave a slightly embarrassed smile.


    "I¡¯ve invested a lot more money into this music studio than my taekwondo ventures. The music industry demands a lot of resources¡­ but even so, one New Star Ranking was enough to expose our flaws. We¡¯re still lacking that final edge."


    Lin Zhengran offered an honest opinion. "I wouldn¡¯t say that. Your music team is still top-tier¡ªcompared to other studios, they¡¯re practically unbeatable."


    Jiang Jingshi raised a brow. "And yet, they still lost to you?"


    Lin Zhengran simply chuckled.


    "Just lucky, I guess."


    Jiang Jingshi smirked. She didn¡¯t believe in luck.


    They entered her office, and Lin Zhengran was surprised to find it quite simple.


    Aside from a water dispenser, a sofa, a desk, and a filing cabinet, there wasn¡¯t much else.


    Before closing the door, Jiang Jingshi gave instructions to her staff. This time, she made sure to emphasize it.


    "Unless it¡¯s something urgent, don¡¯t disturb me. And knock before coming in."


    Her employees thought to themselves,


    Still, they nodded in acknowledgment. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After shutting the door and drawing the curtains, Jiang Jingshi gracefully retrieved a file from her desk and sat beside Lin Zhengran.


    "I¡¯ve almost finished investigating everything over the past couple of days. Take a look."


    Lin Zhengran accepted the file and flipped through it.


    It contained information on a company called Pan Cheng Electronics.


    Jiang Jingshi explained, "Pan Cheng Electronics has been making a big name for itself in the internet industry over the past two years. They''ve been in competition with our Jiang Group multiple times. However, since our company is well-established with a solid base of loyal clients, they¡¯ve faced repeated setbacks."


    "Of course, no one wins all the time. They¡¯ve scored a few victories here and there, but overall, they haven''t gained much from competing with us."


    Lin Zhengran continued flipping through the pages, stopping when he saw photos of some musicians and former New Star Music contestants.


    His brows furrowed slightly as he processed the information.


    "You mean Pan Cheng Electronics was behind the previous music competition incident?"


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. "That¡¯s right. New Star Music, along with Jiang Cheng¡ªthe singer under my team¡ªboth took money from Pan Cheng Electronics. Their company has a new product launch coming up, so they likely used the competition to generate publicity and divert attention toward their brand."


    She added, "Of course, all of this is happening behind the scenes. There''s no concrete evidence proving they orchestrated it. But aside from them, who else would dare pull something like this? One of Pan Cheng Electronics'' vice presidents is known for shady tactics like this. And since their plan failed last time, I¡¯ve heard they¡¯ve now set their sights on the New Star Ranking. They¡¯re probably about to make a move soon."


    Lin Zhengran carefully examined the profiles of Jiang Xueli and their small-town music studio in the documents.


    "A move... You mean, they¡¯re planning to take over our studio?"


    Jiang Jingshi smiled and nodded. "Most likely. Even though you''ve already beaten me twice, the truth is¡ªI¡¯ve never lost this badly before meeting you. You don¡¯t have any major resources backing you, but I have both money and connections. Yet, I still lost. So, if my team was shocked by the outcome, I bet every other company watching this is just as stunned."


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "It¡¯s just that you¡¯re too fair, Sister Jiang. If you really wanted to win, you probably had plenty of ways to make it happen. But clearly, you don¡¯t resort to those kinds of tactics."


    Jiang Jingshi couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh.


    "Zhengran, you¡¯re really giving me too much credit. The world isn¡¯t like it used to be¡ªthings on the internet are much more transparent now. No matter how big the Jiang Group is, we¡¯re still just the largest enterprise in this city, not some all-powerful force that can do whatever it pleases. Winning by unfair means is the same as losing. And honestly, before I met you, I never thought a team I invested so many resources into could lose like this."


    She paused, then smiled wryly. "I¡¯m getting off track."


    Regaining her composure, she continued, "Anyway, Pan Cheng Electronics isn¡¯t stupid. They¡¯ll definitely recognize Jiang Xueli¡¯s talent. And considering that your studio has no strong backing, taking over a small independent music studio like yours would be ridiculously easy. They¡¯re watching the ranking closely, and I¡¯d say it¡¯s only a matter of time before they take action."


    Lin Zhengran closed the file in his hands.


    "Yeah, and our studio¡¯s owner would never agree to a buyout. She¡¯s a dreamer¡ªshe¡¯s been dedicated to discovering and nurturing new talent for years. Even though her team has never been wildly successful, she¡¯s never given up. If Pan Cheng Electronics can¡¯t poach Jiang Xueli directly, they¡¯ll probably resort to other methods to pressure the studio into handing her over."


    "Exactly."


    Jiang Jingshi then added, "There¡¯s one thing I haven¡¯t told you before. A while ago, I actually approached your studio¡¯s owner about a buyout, too. I even made an offer to acquire Jiang Xueli."


    Lin Zhengran looked at her in surprise.


    She gave him a meaningful look. "Why are you so surprised? My thinking was simple¡ªif I could recruit Jiang Xueli, then you''d likely follow as well. In the end, it¡¯s you that I truly want, Zhengran."


    Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to shift.


    A slight flush crept onto Jiang Jingshi¡¯s cheeks as she admitted, "Of course, my recruitment plan failed. Your studio¡¯s owner had no interest in selling. She turned me down outright. And that tells me one thing¡ªif I couldn¡¯t poach her, then there¡¯s no way Pan Cheng Electronics can, either. But unlike me, they won¡¯t be as gentle about it."


    "So, the studio is bound to run into trouble," Lin Zhengran concluded.


    "Not necessarily," Jiang Jingshi replied, leaning back on the couch and crossing her legs. "But it¡¯s very likely. Fortunately, now that we know their intentions in advance, we can take precautions. However, let me be blunt¡ªno matter how this turns out, that small studio simply doesn¡¯t have the means to support someone as talented as Jiang Xueli in the long run."


    Her voice suddenly softened as she looked at him. "And you won¡¯t stay there forever, will you? I had someone look into Jiang Xueli¡¯s contract¡ªleaving the studio wouldn¡¯t be difficult for her."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "I get what you¡¯re saying, Sister Jiang. You still want me and Jiang Xueli to join you, don¡¯t you?"


    To his surprise, Jiang Jingshi shook her head and smiled brightly.


    "No. I already asked you about this once, and you turned me down. I¡¯m not going to be pushy about it. Instead, I have a different idea¡ªif you trust me, why don¡¯t we start a studio together?"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "You and me?"


    She nodded seriously, pointing at herself and then at him.


    "I¡¯ll be the vice president, and you¡¯ll be the president. I¡¯ll support you. You may still be young, but with my guidance, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll pick up the ropes quickly. We can put both our names as responsible parties. Or, if you¡¯re worried about risk, we can just put my name on the paperwork for now. Later, whenever you feel ready to take full charge, we¡¯ll draft a contract to add your name at any time. You¡¯ll have the majority share, and I¡¯ll take a smaller cut. No tricks¡ªthis is my genuine offer."


    She exhaled slowly, as if worried he might refuse. "I know that starting a business together requires complete trust, and without that, there¡¯s always a risk. That¡¯s why, for now, I¡¯ll provide the funding, and you¡¯ll contribute your skills. Even if things go south, you won¡¯t lose anything. But honestly, I believe that if we work together, we won¡¯t just succeed¡ªwe¡¯ll thrive. Because what we¡¯re investing in isn¡¯t just a business¡ªit¡¯s people."


    Her gaze softened, filled with sincerity.


    "Think about it, Zhengran. Jiang Xueli and He Qing may be young, but their talents are already shining through. Their growth will only accelerate. Without a solid backing, they¡¯ll face obstacles down the road. But if you have your own company, things will be different. They won¡¯t have to be at anyone¡¯s mercy. And you can count on me¡ªI¡¯ll do everything I can to support you."


    Lin Zhengran was genuinely taken aback by her proposal.


    Especially since, from her explanation, there seemed to be no downsides for him at all.


    Jiang Jingshi took the file from his hands and smiled.


    "I know you¡¯re probably wondering why I¡¯m doing this. The truth? Other than gaining you as a partner, there¡¯s really no other benefit for me. But¡­ if I¡¯m being honest, I think it¡¯s worth it. Maybe this is what they call admiration for talent."


    Of course, there might be other emotions mixed in as well.


    Just as she finished speaking, a sudden knock came from the door.


    "President Jiang, urgent matter!"


    Jiang Jingshi turned toward the door. "What is it? Just say it."


    The person outside hesitated for only a moment before responding, "It¡¯s the studio you asked us to keep an eye on¡­ Something¡¯s happened!"

 Chapter 138: The Biggest Problem and the Simplest Solution

    "What?"


    Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing¡ª


    She immediately got up and opened the door. "Come in and explain!"


    The man outside, seeing that it was Jiang Jingshi, wasted no time reporting the situation.


    "President Jiang, it¡¯s like this¡ªthe music studio where Jiang Xueli works shut down this morning. They put up a sign saying they were ¡®temporarily closed,¡¯ and her song has been taken down."


    "Temporarily closed, and the song was removed?"


    Lin Zhengran pulled out his phone and checked the New Star Ranking. Sure enough, the song was still listed, but its title had turned black, indicating a copyright issue. It was marked as ¡®unavailable due to licensing adjustments.¡¯


    The comment section had turned into chaos.


    Some were confused as to why the song wasn¡¯t playing. Others speculated about what had happened.


    Jiang Jingshi reassured Lin Zhengran, "Don¡¯t panic. Let¡¯s figure out what¡¯s really going on first."


    She turned to the man and asked, "Do we know why they shut down?"


    He shook his head. "Not yet. From what we¡¯ve gathered, the studio¡¯s owner, Ms. Wang, looked off when she left work last night¡ªlike she had just received some bad news. Then, this morning, the studio was closed."


    "Bad news¡­ could it be that they already have something on her?" Jiang Jingshi thought for a moment. "Has there been any negative news about the studio online today?"


    "No, I checked. Nothing yet."


    Lin Zhengran added, "Then it¡¯s just like you said, Sister Jiang. Their goal isn¡¯t to destroy the studio¡ªit¡¯s just to take Jiang Xueli. If they had dirt on Ms. Wang, they¡¯d use it as leverage but wouldn¡¯t expose it publicly right away."


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. "That seems to be the case. I just didn¡¯t expect them to act so fast. If they found leverage this quickly, it means Ms. Wang must have made mistakes in the past that gave them an opening."


    She turned back to the man. "Any other updates?"


    "Not for now, President Jiang. We¡¯re still investigating."


    She waved him off, signaling that he could leave, then closed the door and turned to Lin Zhengran.


    "Zhengran, I¡¯m shutting down the New Star Ranking temporarily. Otherwise, if Jiang Xueli¡¯s song is taken down and others rise in the rankings, the entire chart will become distorted."


    Lin Zhengran was surprised. "You¡¯re stopping the ranking? But it¡¯s at peak popularity right now, and the song sales are linked to it. Won¡¯t this cost you a lot of money?"


    Jiang Jingshi smiled gently.


    "Not too much. And while I¡¯d love for my team to win and make money, I already told you¡ªwinning unfairly is meaningless. Besides¡­ I¡¯ve already changed my mind about running a team alone. Just now, on the couch¡­"


    She trailed off, but Lin Zhengran understood.


    Jiang Jingshi was different from other businesspeople. Making money wasn¡¯t her sole purpose. Despite her belief in his talent, she didn¡¯t know exactly how capable he was.


    Yet, she was still willing to take a gamble on him.


    And in truth, this deal was entirely in his favor. Running a company required both skill and the right people¡ªhe couldn¡¯t handle everything alone.


    "President Jiang, what you proposed earlier has no downsides for me," Lin Zhengran said. "How about this¡ªonce we resolve this situation, we¡¯ll discuss the new studio in detail. I¡¯d be happy to partner with you."


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes widened in delight, as if she had just made millions. "Really?! Zhengran, you¡¯re willing to start a business with me?!"


    Lin Zhengran had never seen her this excited before¡ªshe was grinning from ear to ear.


    "Yeah, really."


    "That¡¯s amazing! Once this situation is settled, I¡¯ll handle all the foundational setup for the company. You¡¯ll just need to make key decisions and train our team."


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Even without a formal contract, his experience already far surpassed most so-called experts. He¡¯d have no trouble leading a team.


    Jiang Jingshi had more to say, but then she realized she had gotten a bit carried away. Her face turned slightly red. "Alright, let¡¯s focus on the current issue first. We¡¯ll talk about the studio later."


    "Yeah. First, we need to find Ms. Wang and at least figure out why she shut down the studio."


    Without wasting any time, they got into a car and headed to Ms. Wang¡¯s residence.


    With Jiang Jingshi¡¯s connections, tracking down someone¡¯s address was a simple task.


    Soon, they arrived at the residential complex where Ms. Wang lived.


    Her apartment door was locked.


    Lin Zhengran knocked. "Ms. Wang? Are you home?"


    There was no response.


    Jiang Jingshi spoke up as well. "Ms. Wang, I¡¯m Jiang Jingshi from the Jiang Group. I know you¡¯re in trouble. Please open the door¡ªI¡¯m here to help you."


    At last, they heard movement from inside.


    A hesitant voice came from behind the door.


    "President Jiang¡­? You¡¯re really here to help?"


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s reputation carried weight.


    "Open the door first. We can talk inside. Staying in here won¡¯t solve anything," she said firmly.


    The door slowly opened.


    Even though it had only been one night, Lin Zhengran immediately noticed how exhausted and haggard Ms. Wang looked.


    Inside the apartment, there was another person¡ªa young and good-looking man.


    The young man greeted them politely, "Good afternoon, President Jiang, Lin Zhengran."


    Lin Zhengran recognized him right away. He was one of the male singers from the studio, probably around eighteen or nineteen¡ªa university student.


    Jiang Jingshi also noticed him and instantly understood the situation.


    The two of them were clearly not mother and son.


    Inside, Ms. Wang¡¯s apartment was not overly luxurious but was still spacious and well-equipped. After all, despite years of struggling financially, she had managed to keep her music studio running, proving that she had some level of success.


    She invited Jiang Jingshi to sit while she hurried to pour water. When she saw Lin Zhengran, she hesitated.


    "Zhengran, you¡¯re here too¡­"


    She had seen Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran talking at the last competition, but she never expected them to be this familiar¡ªenough to visit her together.


    Before Lin Zhengran could say anything, Jiang Jingshi casually spoke from the couch.


    "I¡¯m Lin Zhengran¡¯s fianc¨¦e."


    The room went dead silent.


    Ms. Wang and the young male singer were both stunned. Even Lin Zhengran turned to look at Jiang Jingshi.


    She smiled sweetly. "What¡¯s wrong, Zhengran? Did I say something incorrect?"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. While it sounded a bit exaggerated, technically, she wasn¡¯t lying.


    Meanwhile, Ms. Wang and the young man were completely shocked.


    The famous heiress of the Jiang Group¡ªJiang Jingshi¡ªwas actually engaged to Lin Zhengran?


    More than that, they had known each other for a long time, yet no one had ever suspected he had such a powerful connection.


    Ms. Wang''s entire attitude toward Lin Zhengran shifted. "Please, Zhengran, have a seat¡ªI¡¯ll get you some water!"


    Lin Zhengran waved his hand. "No need for that, Ms. Wang. We¡¯re here today to ask about what happened to the studio. Why did it shut down? And why was Jiang Xueli¡¯s song removed from the ranking?"


    Ms. Wang hesitated, glancing between Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi.


    Jiang Jingshi spoke up. "Just be direct. Since I¡¯m the one reaching out, you should already know I¡¯m here to help. As for why¡ªI think you understand by now."


    Ms. Wang nodded. Jiang Jingshi was clearly implying that she was doing this for Lin Zhengran¡¯s sake.


    After a brief pause, Ms. Wang glanced at the young man, who then went into the room and retrieved an envelope, handing it to Jiang Jingshi.


    Ms. Wang explained, "This arrived last night from Pan Cheng Electronics. I¡¯m not sure how familiar you are with their company, but ever since Jiang Xueli gained popularity, their people have approached me¡ªjust like you did, President Jiang. But I turned them down."


    "Then, after I refused, I received this package. Inside was a phone containing two videos and an audio recording. Because of these, I had no choice but to shut down the studio."


    Jiang Jingshi opened the phone and played the videos.


    Lin Zhengran leaned in to watch.


    As expected, both videos showed Ms. Wang and the young male singer in various intimate settings¡ªgoing on dates, kissing, and more.


    Then, there was the audio recording.


    [Recording]


    After listening, Jiang Jingshi skimmed through the legal notice. The compensation amount was astronomical¡ªfar beyond what this small studio could afford.


    Even if they somehow managed to pay it, they would be left bankrupt.


    Moreover, Pan Cheng Electronics was a much larger company. Fighting them in court was impossible. And with the intimate videos as well¡­


    Jiang Jingshi asked, "What¡¯s this copyright infringement claim about?"


    Ms. Wang quickly explained, "It¡¯s not real copyright infringement! Early on, our contracts had some loopholes, and they used that to poach two of our singers. Then, they manipulated the situation to falsely accuse us of plagiarism. It¡¯s all a setup!"


    "And what did your lawyer say?"


    Ms. Wang hesitated. "I consulted a lawyer last night¡­ legally, they do have a case. It¡¯s all because our contracts were too weak at the time."


    She sighed. "As for the harassment claims¡ªit¡¯s not true! I¡­" She motioned toward the young singer. "He and I are in a real relationship. He was the one who pursued me."


    The young man nodded. "Yes! I was the one who chased after Ms. Wang!"


    Jiang Jingshi sighed internally.


    A middle-aged female studio owner dating a young male singer? The outside world would immediately assume she was taking advantage of him.


    And as for the copyright issue¡ªsmall companies often suffered from contract loopholes. It was just a matter of whether someone chose to exploit them.


    She turned to Lin Zhengran. "This situation is trickier than expected. It¡¯s going to take a lot of money to resolve."


    She deliberately left her sentence unfinished, but Lin Zhengran understood her meaning.


    From a purely practical standpoint, this wasn¡¯t their problem.


    If Pan Cheng Electronics succeeded in forcing Jiang Xueli to leave, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue. She could easily terminate her contract by paying a fee¡ªfar cheaper than rescuing the entire studio. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, Lin Zhengran had personally reviewed Jiang Xueli¡¯s contract before. Ms. Wang had never imposed strict contractual restrictions on her, so she had complete freedom to leave.


    However, if they didn¡¯t intervene, the studio would collapse, and Ms. Wang¡¯s career would be ruined.


    And Ms. Wang had always been good to Jiang Xueli¡ªshe was a genuinely kind employer.


    That said, spending a fortune to save the studio would be playing right into their opponent¡¯s trap. The cost was simply too high.


    At first glance, it seemed like an impossible problem to solve.


    But then, Lin Zhengran suddenly smiled.


    Because in reality, the solution was simpler than it seemed.


    He just had to take matters into his own hands.


    After all, he wasn¡¯t exactly an ordinary person.


    And by ¡®ordinary person,¡¯ it wasn¡¯t about having powerful connections¡ªit was a more meaning. He was fundamentally different.


    Ms. Wang, still distressed, noticed his expression and asked anxiously, "Zhengran, why are you smiling?"


    Jiang Jingshi was also curious. She had no clear solution¡ªthe evidence was in their opponent¡¯s hands, and the only way out seemed to be paying a hefty sum.


    "Zhengran, do you have an idea?"


    Lin Zhengran handed the phone and documents back to Ms. Wang.


    "Not really. But now that I know what¡¯s going on, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a way to fix it."


    With that, he and Jiang Jingshi temporarily left.


    In the Rolls-Royce downstairs, the driver waited outside while Jiang Jingshi turned to Lin Zhengran and admitted, "If I were to handle this, I¡¯d need at least two days to gather the funds. The amount is just too large to pay all at once."


    To her surprise, Lin Zhengran responded, "No need, Sister Jiang. It wouldn¡¯t be right for you to pay for this alone. Besides, this isn¡¯t your responsibility."


    She smiled warmly. "Of course it is. If it concerns you, then it concerns me¡ªafter all, we¡¯re partners now."


    Lin Zhengran paused before saying, "Let¡¯s give it a day. By tomorrow morning, this problem might just solve itself."


    Jiang Jingshi blinked. "Wait¡­ what? You had a plan back at the apartment, didn¡¯t you? What are you going to do?"


    "You¡¯ll find out tomorrow morning," he said with a grin.


    After returning to school, he requested leave for two evening classes.


    Then, as he stepped outside the campus once more, he glanced at the system panel.

 Chapter 139: First Time Using Inhuman Methods

    ¡¾Current Spirit Level: 57¡¿¡¾Qi Refinement Phase¡¿


    ¡¾Attributes¡¿


    Strength: 87 ¡¾Unlocked: Strength Never Declines &Immunity to Disease¡¿


    Stamina: 74 ¡¾Unlocked: Future Offspring Will Be Strong, Capable of Seven Rounds a Night¡¿


    Endurance: 76 ¡¾Unlocked: Lifespan Exceeds Limits, Increased Body Durability, Double Cultivation Efficiency¡¿


    Affinity with All Things: Level 1 ¡¾Beginner Affinity ¨C Can Quickly Master Any Skill and Far Surpass Normal Humans¡¿


    After reviewing his stats, Lin Zhengran pulled out his phone and looked up the address for Pan Cheng Electronics.


    At first, he thought about taking a taxi. But since he was alone tonight, there was no need to waste money.


    He stepped into a small alley, placed a hand on the wall, then easily braced himself with his feet, swiftly climbing up between the walls until he reached the rooftop.


    Standing there, he surveyed the cityscape. Using the rooftops as stepping stones, he took off toward his destination.


    Back in middle school, he had once arm-wrestled with his father to gauge the strength of a normal adult. Starting with almost no force, he gradually increased his strength, analyzing the numbers.


    At around a strength value of 12, his father couldn¡¯t overpower him anymore.


    Assuming the strongest normal human had a strength value of around 15 to 16, his current 87 strength value didn¡¯t just make him four or five times stronger¡ªit was much more than that.


    Especially since strength and endurance multiplied each other, his true power was hard to calculate.


    But one thing was certain¡ªjumping across rooftops was a non-issue.


    His figure flickered through the night like a blur.


    By the roadside, a little girl holding her mother¡¯s hand suddenly pointed at the rooftops.


    "Mommy, look! A big black bird just flew past up there!"


    Her mother, puzzled, looked toward the rooftop but saw nothing. "A big black bird? There aren¡¯t any big birds in the city, just sparrows."


    "Sparrows? Mommy, what¡¯s a sparrow?"


    "They¡¯re the little birds you see in the trees."


    The little girl let out a thoughtful "hmm," then looked back at the now-empty rooftop. "But that bird looked really big."


    Her mother chuckled. "Maybe it was just an airplane flying by. It¡¯s late at night, after all."


    "Maybe¡­" The little girl soon lost interest, swinging her mother¡¯s hand as they continued walking.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran darted through the urban skyline and arrived at Pan Cheng Electronics'' headquarters in just ten minutes.


    He perched on a rooftop, observing the seven-story building.


    Only a few offices still had their lights on¡ªmost employees had already left for the day.


    This wasn¡¯t a major metropolis where everyone worked late into the night.


    Lin Zhengran scanned the security guards and surveillance cameras outside the building. The guards weren¡¯t a problem, but the cameras were annoying.


    Fortunately, he had Affinity with All Things.


    With a simple program, he could disable the cameras for about 30 minutes¡ªjust enough time.


    He descended from the rooftop, carefully using the building¡¯s structure to climb down with ease.


    Then, he found an electronics store that was still open and walked inside.


    He bought a USB drive, handed the store owner some extra cash, and asked for a custom program.


    The owner, curious, asked, "What kind of program?"


    Lin Zhengran casually made something up. "A game software."


    The owner, intrigued, agreed to let him use a computer.


    Sitting down, Lin Zhengran opened the coding environment. Immediately, his Affinity with All Things activated.


    At Level 1 Affinity, he could instantly gain the equivalent of 40¨C50 years of programming expertise.


    Hacking a simple surveillance system was child''s play.


    The store owner, watching him type at lightning speed, was dumbfounded.


    "Bro¡­ are you a hacker?! Just don¡¯t hack my computer, alright?"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "Relax, I¡¯m just making a game script."


    In no time, he finished coding, saved the hacking program to the USB, and left the store.


    With no hesitation, he walked straight up to the security checkpoint at Pan Cheng Electronics.


    At that moment, the security guards were being lectured by a female supervisor¡ªa woman in her early thirties with sharp features.


    She was speaking in a strict tone:


    "Remember your responsibilities! You are the company¡¯s first line of defense. Security may seem like an easy job, but the company¡¯s main gate is the most fundamental layer of protection, and you are its guardians! Do not let suspicious individuals wander in freely! Any visitors must register properly. Understood?"


    The guards nodded in unison.


    "Understood, ma¡¯am!"


    The female supervisor turned to face Lin Zhengran, eyeing his student uniform with suspicion.


    "A student? What do you want?"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t usually resort to his to change his life, as it felt unnatural. If he truly wanted to, he could¡¯ve used countless shady methods to make a fortune and never work a day in his life.


    But those shady methods wouldn¡¯t help him level up.


    If he wanted to grow stronger, he needed to study, train, and mentor his three little prot¨¦g¨¦s.


    After all¡­ he was still curious about what full max level would be like.


    "Big sis, my dad just went out for something. I have to wait for him here, but it''s really cold outside. Can I sit inside the security office for a bit?"


    Normally, the woman wouldn¡¯t have agreed.


    Even though Lin Zhengran had delicate and attractive features that many women found appealing, this was still a corporate environment.


    But this was where his charm attribute came into play.


    As long as his request wasn¡¯t excessive, no one would refuse him.


    The female supervisor hesitated for a moment. Seeing how pitiful and polite he looked, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no.


    "Alright, just for a little while."


    Lin Zhengran smiled warmly. "Thank you, big sis. But will you get in trouble for letting me in?"


    The woman blushed slightly.


    "Ah, don¡¯t worry about it! I¡¯m the one in charge here¡ªwho¡¯s going to scold me?" she said confidently. "Come inside quickly. It¡¯s cold out."


    "Thank you, big sis."


    "No need to thank me."


    With that, she watched him enter the security booth while she continued lecturing the other guards.


    Inside the booth, Lin Zhengran immediately located the monitoring system.


    He plugged in the USB drive and ran the program.


    The process was simple¡ªonce executed, the system would show "backup lost" the next time someone checked it.


    The surveillance footage for the next 30 minutes would be wiped and replaced with the previous 30 minutes'' recording.


    With the cameras disabled, the rest was easy.


    Lin Zhengran casually exited the security booth.


    "Big sis, I have to go now. Thanks again."


    The female supervisor blinked. "Already? You¡¯re leaving so soon? Why not stay a bit longer?"


    He smiled. "No need, big sis. My dad just texted me that he¡¯s on his way, so I have to go."


    The woman beamed. "Alright, be careful on the way home, little brother!"


    "Got it."


    After leaving the booth, Lin Zhengran moved to an empty section of the perimeter wall and easily scaled it.


    Once inside, he casually walked through the front entrance of Pan Cheng Electronics'' headquarters.


    Since the CEO¡¯s office was always on the top floor, he headed straight for the stairs.


    Whenever an employee working overtime passed by, he would simply step aside and blend into the shadows.


    Once the hallway was empty, he continued upward.


    On the seventh floor, outside the Vice President and CEO''s offices, it was completely deserted.


    The real corporate workers were still pulling late hours, but the higher-ups had already gone home.


    "Typical."


    Remembering what Jiang Jingshi had said, Pan Cheng Electronics¡¯ shady dealings were mostly orchestrated by one particular Vice President.


    So, he started with the VP¡¯s office.


    The Vice President¡¯s office had a simple key lock.


    Wearing gloves, Lin Zhengran pulled out a thin metal wire from his pocket.


    Affinity with All Things activated.


    With the equivalent skill of a 40-year veteran locksmith, he quickly picked the lock and entered.


    With no surveillance cameras, he could do whatever he wanted¡ªno one would notice.


    He pulled the curtains shut and powered on the office computer.


    A password screen appeared.


    Affinity with All Things activated again. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To someone with 40+ years of programming experience, cracking a simple office login was child¡¯s play.


    After bypassing the password, he searched for video files.


    Sure enough, he found the blackmail video of Ms. Wang and the young singer.


    He checked the file source¡ªit had been transferred from a USB drive.


    "A USB drive?"


    That meant it had to still be somewhere in this office.


    Step one¡ªdelete the video from the computer.


    Then, he searched through locked cabinets.


    With another quick pick of the lock, he found several USB drives, but none contained the right file.


    His eyes landed on a small safe inside the cabinet.


    Unlike normal locks, a safe couldn¡¯t just be picked open.


    He tried anyway¡ªno luck.


    That left the simplest and most direct solution¡ªbrute force.


    Taking a deep breath, Lin Zhengran gripped the safe door like he was holding an apple¡ª


    And ripped it apart with his bare hands.


    The high-end security safe groaned and creaked under the pressure¡ª


    Until it completely bent and tore open.


    He accidentally used too much force.


    The entire safe snapped in half, sending its contents flying across the room.


    Lin Zhengran sighed and started sorting through the mess.


    Finally, he found two USB drives.


    Checking them, he confirmed¡ª


    One of them contained the original blackmail video!


    The other USB was completely encrypted, holding an unknown set of files.


    "Hmm. Might as well take it."


    He stuffed both USB drives into his pocket.


    Then, he turned to look at the twisted remains of the safe.


    "Yeah¡­ there¡¯s no fixing that."


    So, he simply crushed it into a ball and set it aside.


    Now that the blackmail video was destroyed, half the problem was solved.


    But there was one more issue¡ªthe two singers who sued Ms. Wang¡¯s studio.


    Lin Zhengran searched the VP¡¯s documents for recent employee records.


    Since he never asked Ms. Wang for their names, he sent her a quick message.


    She replied immediately, providing their names.


    She also asked,


    He responded briefly,


    He put his phone away and continued searching.


    Once he found their employment records, he also discovered their home address¡ª


    And they lived together.


    Since they were suing for plagiarism, Pan Cheng Electronics must have already signed contracts with them¡ª


    Otherwise, they could back out anytime.


    Digging through the VP¡¯s safe files, he found their contracts.


    Everything was coming together too perfectly.


    Clearly, the VP never imagined that someone would break into his office in the middle of the night, rip apart his safe, and steal the blackmail files and legal contracts.


    With everything he needed, Lin Zhengran secured the USB drives and contracts, exited the office, and locked the door behind him.


    Then, he casually walked downstairs, jumped over the perimeter wall, and headed toward the front gate.


    Before leaving, he tossed the crumpled remains of the safe into a garbage bin outside.


    It landed with a loud thud.


    Pulling out his phone, he checked the map.


    He stretched his arms.

 Chapter 140: Three People Beyond Comprehension

    In the silent night, Lin Zhengran once again moved swiftly through the city, making his way to the residence of the two former singers.


    The next morning.


    As the sky gradually brightened, Liu Yong, the Vice President of Pan Cheng Electronics, arrived at the company by car.


    At the entrance, the garbage truck was making its scheduled bi-weekly collection, operated by sanitation workers who mechanically lifted the bins, dumping their contents into the crusher.


    A loud, crunching noise echoed from the truck.


    The sound resembled scrap metal being crushed¡ªbecause it was.


    Last night, the remains of the safe that Lin Zhengran had destroyed had been thrown into one of those bins.


    Liu Yong ignored the workers and drove into the parking lot.


    At the entrance, a security guard greeted him. "Good morning, Director Liu!"


    Liu Yong briefly paused. "Everything alright last night?"


    The guards reported back, "No issues, Director Liu. Everything was normal."


    "Good."


    Liu Yong had only asked out of routine. Pan Cheng Electronics was a well-known company¡ªeven if there were thieves in the city, it was unlikely they¡¯d bother with a corporate office.


    Besides, there wasn¡¯t anything worth stealing.


    With that, Liu Yong parked his car and entered the corporate building.


    Along the way, he greeted several employees before taking the elevator up to the seventh floor¡ªwhere his office was located.


    He unlocked his office door with his key and stepped inside, humming a tune.


    As he sat down at his computer, he casually checked the New Star Ranking, letting out a cold sneer.


    He powered on his computer, navigated to the blackmail video file location¡ª


    And froze.


    The file was gone.


    At first, he thought he had simply clicked the wrong folder, so he closed and reopened it.


    Still nothing.


    A faint sense of unease crept up his spine.


    He sat up straight, his expression tense, and searched for the file name directly.


    No results.


    He tried again. Still nothing.


    He cursed under his breath, slamming his desk in frustration.


    Fortunately, he still had the USB drive with the original file.


    Getting up, he pulled out his office keys and walked over to his filing cabinet.


    He opened it and reached for his safe to retrieve the USB.


    Except¡­


    The entire safe was gone.


    "Huh?"


    Liu Yong stood frozen, his eyes widening in disbelief.


    For a moment, he thought he must be seeing things.


    He rubbed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked again.


    The safe was still missing.


    "WHERE THE HELL IS MY SAFE?!"


    His mind went blank.


    The first thought that crossed his mind wasn¡¯t that he had been robbed.


    Because a safe¡ªa big, heavy metal safe¡ªwasn¡¯t something that could just be stolen.


    This was his personal office.


    Even if someone broke in, who could have moved a damn safe without anyone noticing?


    Feeling a growing sense of dread, Liu Yong grabbed his phone and called the administrative department.


    The admin officer sounded just as confused.


    After hanging up, the admin officer cursed under his breath.


    A few minutes later, the admin officer called back, his voice filled with disbelief.


    "WHAT?!"


    Liu Yong stared blankly at his office, feeling an unnatural chill crawl up his spine.


    No¡ªthat was ridiculous.


    Wait.


    A horrifying realization struck him.


    If the safe was gone, then the USB drive was gone too.


    If the USB was gone, then the blackmail video was gone.


    Which meant¡ª


    He had lost all leverage over the music studio.


    His hands trembled as he frantically pulled out his phone and dialed the numbers of the two singers he had recruited.


    If he couldn¡¯t use the video, he could still rely on their testimonies and the lawsuit¡ª S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But¡­


    No one answered.


    His calls went straight to voicemail.


    A bad feeling began sinking deep into his gut.


    Something was very, very wrong.


    Meanwhile¡­


    That morning, Lin Zhengran took another day off and met up with Jiang Jingshi.


    The two of them, along with Ms. Wang and the young male singer, were currently standing in the storage warehouse of Jiang Jingshi¡¯s music team.


    But the four of them weren¡¯t alone.


    In front of them stood two people¡ª


    The very same two singers that Pan Cheng Electronics had recruited.


    The ones who had betrayed the music studio and falsely accused Ms. Wang of plagiarism.


    Jiang Jingshi and Ms. Wang exchanged glances.


    Then, Jiang Jingshi turned to Lin Zhengran.


    None of them had an answer.


    But this morning, when Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran arrived at the studio, they heard strange noises coming from the warehouse.


    When they went inside to check¡ª


    They found these two just standing there.


    Completely confused.


    So they immediately called Ms. Wang over.


    Now, Ms. Wang looked at them in utter disbelief.


    The two men, pale-faced and trembling, stared back at Ms. Wang.


    Ms. Wang didn¡¯t hesitate.


    One of them shook his head frantically. "We don¡¯t know! When we woke up, we were already locked in here!"


    The fear in their eyes was real.


    They had no clue how they had gotten here.


    But one thing was certain¡ª


    They were traitors.


    And their first instinct was that they had been kidnapped by the very people they betrayed.


    Their voices trembled.


    Ms. Wang¡¯s expression darkened, her anger boiling over.


    One of the men lowered his head.


    Ms. Wang gritted her teeth, hands clenched into fists.


    Just as the argument was heating up, Jiang Jingshi suddenly noticed something behind the two men.


    The two men blinked in confusion and turned around¡ªonly now realizing that there was a document folder on the floor behind them.


    Lin Zhengran picked it up, opened it¡ª


    And found their original contract with Pan Cheng Electronics inside.


    Unbelievable.


    Both Jiang Jingshi and Ms. Wang were momentarily stunned.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "This is just getting ridiculous. What is even happening here?"


    No one had an answer.


    Well¡ªexcept for Lin Zhengran.


    Because if he didn¡¯t know, then no one could.


    Even in a fictional novel, this kind of scenario would be unbelievable.


    In a romance novel? Completely outrageous.


    In a cultivation novel? At least somewhat reasonable.


    The young male singer, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly realized something.


    He paused¡ªthen lit up in excitement.


    His excitement grew.


    Ms. Wang blinked, suddenly realizing the same thing.


    Jiang Jingshi interjected.


    She smirked.


    Both Ms. Wang and the young singer nodded immediately.


    Lin Zhengran added,


    He then turned to the two former singers.


    Ms. Wang still had no idea how any of this was happening.


    But one thing she did know¡ª


    There was no such thing as supernatural phenomena.


    Which meant¡ª


    The only possible explanation was that Jiang Jingshi had orchestrated all of this behind the scenes.


    After all, only someone as powerful as President Jiang could pull off something like this.


    Ms. Wang smiled and bowed slightly.


    She even thanked her twice, just to emphasize her gratitude.


    Then, she turned back to the two trembling men.


    The two men, realizing there was no way out, quickly nodded.


    Without wasting another second, Ms. Wang and her young singer immediately got to work on publicly announcing their relationship and handling the contracts.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Jingshi suddenly broke into laughter.


    She walked over to Lin Zhengran, lowering her voice.


    Lin Zhengran kept a straight face, as if he was just as clueless as her.


    He let out a small laugh.


    Truthfully, if this situation had played out normally, it would have been a long, drawn-out process.


    Ms. Wang would have suffered, or Jiang Jingshi would have had to spend a fortune to settle things.


    Which was why Lin Zhengran had taken matters into his own hands.


    After all¡ª


    What he had done was completely unrealistic.


    In a realistic world, his actions were practically a Deus ex Machina.


    Because¡ªwho would ever expect that someone in real life was secretly a cultivator?


    Using his abilities like this was something he preferred to avoid¡ª


    Because if he really wanted to, he could use them to amass unimaginable wealth and power.


    But that kind of shortcut wouldn¡¯t lead to a stable, long-term life.


    Even if he obtained limitless resources, people in power would eventually investigate him.


    And once the authorities started tracking his assets, things would get complicated.


    So, unless it was absolutely necessary, he didn¡¯t like relying on his inhuman abilities to solve his problems.


    Still¡ª


    At this moment, Jiang Jingshi was quietly watching him.


    She didn¡¯t know what had happened¡ªbut her instincts told her that this was all Lin Zhengran¡¯s doing.


    The only problem was¡ª


    She couldn¡¯t figure out how he did it.


    She had been watching everything unfold¡ªthere were no calls, no external forces, no hired help.


    So how?


    How had he pulled this off?


    The more she thought about it¡ª


    The more curious she became.


    How could she not be curious?


    A slow, knowing smile spread across her lips.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her and let out a helpless chuckle.

 Chapter 141: The Establishment of Zhengshi Company

    After Wang Jie made her relationship with the young hunk public, her Moments instantly received tons of likes.


    Although all the comments below were full of blessings, everyone was actually shocked¡ªno one had expected these two to end up together, and no one knew when it even started.


    Naturally, Liu Yong, the Vice President of Pancheng Electronics, was among the first to find out about their announcement.


    He was so anxious that he even called the police, pointing at his phone as he said:


    ¡°Officer, I strongly suspect these two were behind it. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way my safe would¡¯ve gone missing. There were documents I needed in there! Things for my coo¡ªI mean, for our collaboration with them!¡±


    The two police officers called to the scene exchanged a glance.


    One of them asked:


    ¡°Mr. Liu, you''re saying that your safe was still there yesterday afternoon? It weighs forty to fifty kilos, and then it disappeared by this morning? You suspect someone snuck into your office late at night and stole it?¡±


    Liu Yong nodded, ¡°Yes, yes!¡±


    The other officer suddenly laughed, then awkwardly coughed twice to cover it up:


    ¡°Mr. Liu, no offense, but if someone really managed to get past your security last night, into an office building where plenty of people were working overtime...


    Then this person also somehow unlocked your office door, cracked the password on your computer, deleted your password-protected files, and carried off a forty-to-fifty-kilo safe¡ªand the most miraculous part is, your surveillance cameras conveniently malfunctioned last night...


    I can¡¯t help but wonder¡ªcould there be an inside man in your company? Otherwise, do you really think an outsider could pull that off? Unless we¡¯re talking about Superman.¡±


    ¡°An inside job?¡± He suddenly thought it was very possible¡ªeverything just seemed a little coincidental.


    The officer asked, ¡°Also, would those documents in your safe, if leaked, cause major financial loss to your company?¡±


    Liu Yong replied, ¡°Not exactly... It wouldn¡¯t cost the company much money, but inside... aside from the files for a studio collaboration, there were also...¡±


    ¡°There were also what?¡±


    He let out a quiet sigh. Truth be told, he couldn¡¯t make sense of it all himself, slumping in dejection.


    ¡°Nothing really. Honestly, nothing that valuable.¡±


    Officer: ¡°So basically, the only loss is the safe itself? Nothing else is missing.¡±


    The moment Liu Yong heard that, he knew the case was probably going nowhere. He looked over at the administrative department staff member nearby.


    The admin staff quickly raised his hands, ¡°Mr. Liu, I swear I¡¯m not the insider! I was in the office all day yesterday, and I don¡¯t even have the key to your room!¡±


    Liu Yong rolled his eyes at him in frustration, then slumped down on the couch alone. Though there was no direct financial loss...


    Losing the chance to buy the studio, plus another missing document, meant the loss of countless future assets. Worse, it seemed like the plan he had worked on for years was now going up in smoke.


    ...........


    Inside the private kitchen of the music studio, Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how every big boss seemed to have their own quirky habits upon learning that Jiang Jingshi had a private kitchen here too.


    Most people hide antiques or something, but Jiang Jingshi liked to stash¡­ kitchens?


    The sleek and luxurious private kitchen was about twenty square meters. Jiang Jingshi stood at the counter, inspecting the tomatoes and eggs that Lin Zhengran had bought yesterday.


    They were still pretty fresh after just one night.


    Jiang Jingshi turned around with a tomato in hand, ¡°Zhengran, you look a bit surprised?¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked around. ¡°A little. I just didn¡¯t expect you to have a private kitchen here too, Jiang Jie.¡±


    ¡°Besides temporary workspaces, any place I spend a lot of time in will have one. Sometimes I just feel like cooking something for myself. Even though I rarely get the chance, when the urge strikes, not having a place to cook would really drive me crazy.¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°I get that.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi skillfully blanched the tomatoes and peeled off their skins.


    She cut the tomato flesh into rough chunks, cracked the eggs into a bowl, added salt, and beat them evenly.


    Watching her skilled movements, Lin Zhengran could tell she was very good at this.


    As she heated the oil in the pan, Jiang Jingshi turned her head slightly to glance at him, ¡°It¡¯ll be ready in a bit. This dish is really easy.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Her movements were indeed practiced, but her mind didn¡¯t seem entirely on the task. She kept spacing out¡ªpartly curious about what happened at the warehouse this morning, and partly because every time she was alone with Lin Zhengran, the atmosphere just felt¡­ off.


    She couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it.


    Lost in thought, her hand accidentally touched the edge of the hot pan. She yelped in pain.


    Pulling her hand back, Lin Zhengran immediately said, ¡°Burned yourself? Rinse it under cold water, quick!¡±


    Jiang Jingshi replied and rushed to the sink, running her finger under the tap while Lin Zhengran turned off the stove.


    Feeling the cool water running over her fingers, she looked a little embarrassed. She almost never made mistakes in the kitchen, and here she was, trying to show off a bit, only to make such a rookie error.


    Lin Zhengran came over to check. The two of them were standing almost shoulder to shoulder.


    Jiang Jingshi could faintly smell his unique scent¡ªa kind of comforting fragrance.


    ¡°Is it okay now?¡± she asked.


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°Still feel that burning sensation?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡±


    ¡°Then keep rinsing a bit longer.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. She knew she didn¡¯t need to rush, but still couldn¡¯t help asking.


    Softly, she said, ¡°Sorry to let you see that, Zhengran. I just said I cook all the time, and here I go burning myself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing to laugh at. Who hasn¡¯t burned themselves while cooking? By the way, do you have any ointment for burns in the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°I do...¡± She looked toward a cabinet in the distance. ¡°Should be in there.¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded and went to get it. After grabbing it, he opened the tube.


    Jiang Jingshi figured she¡¯d rinsed long enough and pulled her hand back from the water. Her finger was slightly red, but there were no blisters.


    Nothing serious.


    She sighed in relief, ¡°Luckily, it¡¯s not too bad.¡±


    She turned to show it to Lin Zhengran, who instinctively held her hand to examine it. He saw it was just a bit red.


    Rinsing in time had helped.


    But Lin Zhengran clearly wasn¡¯t overthinking it: ¡°Not too bad. Just apply a little ointment and you¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s gaze trembled slightly as she looked at him holding her hand.


    Her heart was racing.


    He squeezed out a bit of ointment and gently spread it on her finger, carefully smoothing it out.


    ¡°If it hurts, just say so.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi shook her head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t. You can keep going.¡±


    She bit her lip lightly as she stared at her slightly cool, ointment-covered finger and Lin Zhengran¡¯s gentle, meticulous movements.


    When he finished, Lin Zhengran said, ¡°The rest of the dish is basically done. Let me finish it.¡±


    ¡°You? You know how to cook?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just tomato scrambled eggs. Even if it¡¯s not as good as yours, we¡¯re already near the end. I just need to cook it through, right?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded slightly. As he let go of her hand, her cheeks flushed. ¡°Alright then, go ahead. I¡¯ll watch.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Zhengran picked the wok back up. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Jingshi stared at her finger for a moment. When she saw he was almost done cooking, she added a bit of sugar to the dish.


    As she sprinkled it in, she commented, ¡°Zhengran, looks like you¡¯re not bad at this. Pretty skilled, actually.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled, thinking to himself that a certain skill was just way too useful.


    The dish was ready. Lin Zhengran brought over a plate, but instead of serving the food, Jiang Jingshi directly picked up a pair of chopsticks and fed him a bite of egg, one hand cupping underneath to prevent it from falling: ¡°Try it.¡±


    After the steak incident last time, Lin Zhengran was already used to this.


    He ate the egg from the chopsticks.


    After tasting it, he was pleasantly surprised: ¡°Tastes great! You really do cook well, Jiang Jie.¡±


    ¡°This time it doesn¡¯t count as just me cooking¡ªit was a joint effort.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled and picked up another bite of egg. Even though there were other chopsticks nearby, whether she forgot or did it on purpose,


    she used the same pair to feed herself another bite.


    After tasting it, she even lightly pressed her lips together and nodded, blushing: ¡°It¡¯s good.¡±


    Then she picked up a piece of tomato and once again brought it to Lin Zhengran¡¯s mouth: ¡°Try the tomato this time.¡±


    Of course, Lin Zhengran noticed she was still using the same chopsticks.


    But Jiang Jingshi looked at him with eyes soft as water: ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Try it. Open up.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had no choice but to eat the tomato off the chopsticks. He carefully tasted it and nodded in approval.


    ¡°The tomato¡¯s good too. Tasty.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s face visibly turned red.


    ¡°Zhengran, your reviews are so straightforward... but as long as it¡¯s tasty, that¡¯s what matters.¡±


    Just then, someone came in¡ªWang Jie and the young hunk.


    Since the kitchen door hadn¡¯t been closed, Wang Jie clearly saw the moment Jiang Jingshi was feeding Lin Zhengran.


    Such an intimate gesture... Their relationship needed no explanation.


    Besides, Jiang Jingshi had admitted it herself just yesterday.


    ¡°President Jiang... Zhengran.¡±


    The young hunk behind her politely added, ¡°President Jiang, Lin-ge.¡±


    Hearing their voices, Jiang Jingshi set down the chopsticks and turned to look: ¡°Wang Jie?¡±


    Lin Zhengran also looked toward the two at the door: ¡°Wang Jie? What¡¯s up?¡±


    Wang Jie¡¯s expression was full of gratitude: ¡°Nothing much. I just wanted to take this opportunity to talk with President Jiang and Zhengran about the studio.¡±


    Not long after, the group moved to the office.


    Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran sat together, while Wang Jie and the young man sat together on the other side.


    A secretary came over to pour tea for the four of them.


    But just as she was about to pour for Lin Zhengran, Jiang Jingshi stopped her: ¡°I¡¯ll do it. You can go.¡±


    The secretary didn¡¯t understand, but still nodded obediently: ¡°Okay, President Jiang.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi gently picked up the teapot and gracefully poured tea into Lin Zhengran¡¯s cup, even carefully wiping the rim before sliding it over: ¡°Mm, all set.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thanked her.


    Wang Jie and the young man exchanged a look, both clearly shocked.


    Sipping her own tea, Jiang Jingshi asked, ¡°Wang Jie, what did you want to discuss?¡±


    Wang Jie smiled before answering, ¡°President Jiang, it¡¯s like this¡ªboth of us are really grateful to you and Zhengran for everything.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled back: ¡°No need to thank us. Honestly, we didn¡¯t really do much.¡±


    Wang Jie knew this morning¡¯s events had to be their doing. No one else could¡¯ve pulled it off. The only reason Jiang Jingshi didn¡¯t admit it was because some things couldn¡¯t be said outright.


    ¡°Anyway, President Jiang, after everything that¡¯s happened, I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯ve always been a bit obsessed with music. For years, I¡¯ve tried to make the team better through my own efforts, but it¡¯s never really worked out.


    Even though we¡¯ve now got Jiang Xueli in the studio, she¡¯s a very special case. We barely trained her¡ªwe just helped sign her up for a few small competitions.


    Almost all of her growth came from Zhengran teaching her himself. Even when she signed the contract with us, it was a special agreement since she didn¡¯t need training. I know very well that we didn¡¯t contribute much to her success.¡±


    She paused: ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is¡ªI¡¯m very clear on my own level, and the studio¡¯s. Honestly, I probably don¡¯t have what it takes to train people. These years have proven that.


    And without your and Zhengran¡¯s help this time, I¡¯d be completely ruined. That compensation payment would¡¯ve destroyed me. I just don¡¯t have the ability to deal with those people. So, if you¡¯re willing... I¡¯d like to give the studio to you, no strings attached.¡±


    Even Jiang Jingshi was a bit surprised by that: ¡°What did you say? Give me the studio? You¡¯re not doing it anymore, Wang Jie?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m quitting. It¡¯s just... if not for Jiang Xueli, the studio wouldn¡¯t even be profitable now. These past few years, I¡¯ve just been forcing it to survive.¡±


    Lin Zhengran actually understood what she meant. Though her words were vague, Wang Jie was subconsciously hoping for a collaboration with the Jiang Group.


    But with her current resources, she had neither the standing nor the nerve to bring it up. So she went straight to offering the studio.


    After all, Jiang Xueli was the only artist worth anything in her hands¡ªand she was already on their side. If she left, the studio would collapse sooner or later.


    Wang Jie wasn¡¯t good at developing talent, but she was excellent at spotting it and running a company. Running a studio for years without any backing proved she had real skills. You couldn¡¯t fake that.


    Just then, Lin Zhengran noticed Jiang Jingshi subtly nudging him with her elbow.


    They exchanged a quick glance.


    Her gentle eyes were smiling¡ªshe clearly understood what Wang Jie was thinking.


    She was silently asking if he wanted to accept.


    Jiang Jingshi pulled out her phone and typed a message to show him.


    The screen read: ¡°You know Wang Jie¡¯s abilities better than I do. If you want to keep her, keep her. This new company¡ªI¡¯m the VP, and you¡¯re the president. So big sis listens to you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a helpless laugh.


    He spoke up:


    ¡°Wang Jie, we can¡¯t just take the studio like that. And I know you¡¯ve been in this business for a long time. I¡¯ve known you for years and I know you¡¯ve got what it takes. So how about this¡ªif you¡¯re willing, I¡¯d like to work with you. Let¡¯s team up from now on.¡±


    Wang Jie had really wanted a partnership with the Jiang Group, but she never expected them to actually bring it up first.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Once Lin Zhengran spoke, Jiang Jingshi followed up:


    ¡°Zhengran and I are planning to start a new company soon. Just like he said, if you¡¯re willing, you can join us.


    We¡¯ll definitely need to build multiple teams, and for the music side of things, we¡¯ll need someone in charge. We think you¡¯d be perfect.¡±


    Wang Jie was overwhelmed¡ªboth surprised and thrilled: ¡°Re... really, President Jiang? You really want to work with me? But with my abilities...¡±


    Jiang Jingshi replied, ¡°If Zhengran believes in you, I believe in you. After all, in this new company, I¡¯m just the VP. He¡¯s the one in charge.¡±


    That casual ¡°he¡¯s the one in charge¡± was enough to make it clear who held the reins.


    Lin Zhengran spoke: ¡°It¡¯s not like I just met you yesterday, Wang Jie. We¡¯ve known each other for years. I trust you¡ªit¡¯s just a matter of whether you want to work with us.¡±


    She looked at Lin Zhengran with heartfelt gratitude: ¡°Zhengran¡ªPresident Lin, of course I¡¯m willing! If I can work with you both, I¡¯d be over the moon! Thank you so much, President Lin, President Jiang!¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled: ¡°Then it¡¯s settled! From now on, we¡¯re all partners!¡±


    ¡°Yes! Thank you, really!¡± She couldn¡¯t express her gratitude in words and could only grin from ear to ear.


    A week later, the new company was tentatively established. Originally planned as just a studio, with Wang Jie (Wang Lan) on board, the three of them decided to restructure it as a limited company.


    The name was chosen jointly by Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi, combining parts of both their names: Zhengshi Media Co., Ltd.


    Zhengshi Media would serve as the main company, with three subsidiary branches: one music division headed by Wang Jie (Wang Lan),


    a sports division (led by taekwondo) temporarily overseen by Jiang Jingshi,


    and a streaming division.


    The company registration was being processed rapidly, with official operations expected to launch within a month.

 Chapter 142: The Saturday Date Arrives

    [Recent Events]


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s hometown faced attacks and slander from rival forces. Taking advantage of the night, you single-handedly eliminated the threats with ease.


    Later, you, the Empress of the Imperial City, and Lady Wang joined forces to officially establish a cultivation sect¡ªZhengshi Sect¡ªa major milestone in your cultivation journey.


    During the collaboration, the Empress personally prepared a bottle of Golden Red Agate Liquid for you to taste. After consuming it, you gained +1 Spirit Level and +3 Strength.


    This fortunate encounter also granted +1 Spirit Level, +1 Stamina, and +5 Endurance.


    In addition, with the founding of your sect, your Affinity with All Things skill advanced.


    [Current Stats]


    Spirit Level: 59 (Qi Refinement Phase, close to breakthrough)


    Strength: 90 (Unlocked: Strength Never Declines &Immunity to Disease)


    Endurance: 81 (Unlocked: Lifespan Extension, Enhanced Physical Durability, Double Cultivation Speed)


    Affinity with All Things: Level 2


    Intermediate Affinity: You now possess master-level proficiency in all skills equivalent to 30 years of experience in any field.


    Your disciples¡¯ learning speed is 1.4x faster, even without a contract.


    Those who have signed a contract with you will have 3x faster learning speed.


    Friday Morning.


    As Lin Zhengran finished listening to the system''s report, he couldn''t help but feel that his training efficiency was becoming absurdly high.


    With just one more level, he would reach Spirit Level 60¡ªa major milestone in his cultivation journey.


    After getting dressed, he left his dormitory, only to be met with an unexpected sight right outside the entrance.


    Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and Little He Qing were all standing at the dormitory entrance, looking anxious.


    Many male students nearby were also staring at the scene, obviously curious about why these three beautiful girls were waiting here.


    As soon as they saw him, the three of them immediately rushed over.


    "Zhengran!"


    "Lin Zhengran!"


    "Lin Zhengran, where have you been?!"


    Lin Zhengran was caught off guard by their worried expressions.


    He raised an eyebrow.


    The three girls exchanged glances.


    Little He Qing, her voice timid but full of concern, asked,


    Jiang Xueli quickly followed up,


    Meanwhile, Han Wenwen didn''t say much¡ªshe just stared at him, eyes full of worry.


    Lin Zhengran felt the weight of their concern¡ª


    And also noticed the envious and irritated looks from the surrounding male students.


    Their expressions seemed to scream:


    Ignoring the bitter resentment in the air, Lin Zhengran calmly explained.


    Of course, he kept things vague.


    He simply said that Jiang Xueli¡¯s music studio ran into some trouble, so he had to help resolve the issue.


    As for how he handled it, he deliberately kept it ambiguous.


    The three girls listened, but their expressions remained somewhat puzzled.


    Lin Zhengran summarized:


    Little He Qing let out a relieved sigh.


    She hadn¡¯t understood a single word about the music studio¡¯s problem.


    She only cared about one thing¡ª


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Little He Qing, who had been holding her breath in worry, finally relaxed.


    She clutched her chest, exhaled heavily, and gave a bright smile.


    The other two girls also let out a sigh of relief.


    This had been their biggest concern.


    However, Jiang Xueli caught onto something else.


    "Is my song back up? What¡¯s the ranking now?" Lin Zhengran asked.


    Jiang Xueli nodded excitedly. "Yep! It¡¯s back up, and it¡¯s still ranked number one!"


    Han Wenwen, linking arms with Little He Qing, pouted. "Lin Zhengran, next time you get busy, can you at least give us a heads-up? We were worried sick! And when we messaged you, all you did was reply with vague answers!"


    Lin Zhengran explained simply.


    "Still!"


    "Alright, alright. Let¡¯s go have breakfast and then head to class."


    "Mhm!" The three girls responded in unison.


    As the four of them walked toward the cafeteria, the surrounding male students could only watch with envy¡ª


    Back in class, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng were talking about something when Lin Zhengran walked in.


    As soon as Jiang Qian saw him, she immediately stood up.


    "You¡¯re back?"


    Lin Zhengran nodded and took his seat.


    Just as he sat down, Fang Meng suddenly reached over and grabbed his wrist.


    Jiang Qian asked, "How is he?"


    Fang Meng, after checking his pulse, looked slightly shocked.


    "He¡¯s completely fine. Actually¡­ he¡¯s more than fine. His pulse is incredibly strong¡ªway above normal human health levels¡­"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "What¡¯s with you two?"


    Fang Meng withdrew her hand and explained, "Jiang Qian was really worried about you. If you hadn¡¯t shown up today, we were planning to go look for you."


    Jiang Qian, pretending to be indifferent, flipped through her book without commenting.


    Now that Lin Zhengran was back, she felt relieved.


    Everything quickly returned to normal.


    "Thanks for checking on me," Lin Zhengran said politely. "I appreciate it."


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t respond, but Fang Meng smiled and returned to her seat.


    That Friday was unusually peaceful.


    Maybe it was because everyone was happy that Lin Zhengran had returned¡ª


    The entire day felt lighter, more cheerful than usual.


    Saturday Morning.


    Today was the day Lin Zhengran had promised to spend with Han Wenwen.


    So, a certain fox-eyed girl woke up bright and early, excitedly getting ready.


    Meanwhile, in the same dorm, Little He Qing sleepily rolled over, rubbing her eyes.


    "Wenwen? Why are you up so early?" she mumbled.


    Han Wenwen had already changed into a stylish outfit and was sitting in front of her mirror, brushing her hair.


    Her fox-like eyes shimmered with anticipation¡ª


    Because she had been waiting for this day for so long.


    "Mhm, I have to go back to my rental apartment today to film some gaming videos. So I need to leave early."


    Little He Qing, still half-asleep, stared at her for a moment, then curled back under the covers.


    "That means you won¡¯t be around to play with me this weekend¡­" she mumbled. "And Lin Zhengran is resting today too¡­ I have nothing to do."


    Han Wenwen laughed. "Didn¡¯t you just win a competition? Shouldn¡¯t you be resting properly in the dorm? Do you always need something to do?"


    Then, as if remembering something, she put down her mirror and opened her storage box under the bed.


    She pulled out a book, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.


    Walking over to Little He Qing¡¯s bedside, she leaned down and whispered softly into her ear:


    "Qingqing~ If you¡¯re really bored, I have a book for you to read."


    Little He Qing slowly opened her eyes, still drowsy.


    "A book? What kind of book?"


    Han Wenwen smirked.


    "Just read it and see. It¡¯s really interesting."


    She then leaned in close and whispered in her ear:


    "It¡¯s very¡­ ~"


    There was a moment of silence.


    Then¡ª


    Little He Qing¡¯s face turned bright red.


    Her eyes snapped open. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Huh?! Wenwen, what did you just say?!"


    Han Wenwen chuckled, slipping the book under the blanket.


    "I don¡¯t repeat myself, Qingqing. But you heard me the first time, didn¡¯t you?"


    She winked playfully.


    "Just read it over the next couple of days. You¡¯ll find it useful someday~"


    Little He Qing had always assumed that when people said "spicy books," they were joking.


    But if Han Wenwen said it was spicy¡ª


    Then it was definitely spicy.


    Her voice turned hesitant.


    "Wenwen¡­ where do you even find books like this?"


    Han Wenwen, satisfied with the reaction, grinned.


    "Online shopping, of course. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a normal romance novel. It just has¡­ for ."


    By now, she had finished getting ready.


    Waving a hand, she said, "Alright, I¡¯m heading out, Qingqing. You enjoy your book!"


    Little He Qing, still flustered, weakly waved back.


    "Bye¡­ Have a safe trip, Wenwen."


    "Mhm~"


    As Han Wenwen left the dorm, she hurried downstairs to meet Lin Zhengran.


    Meanwhile, Little He Qing hesitantly peeked under her blanket.


    The book title stared back at her:


    ¡¶My Husband Says I¡¯m Sexy¡·


    She blinked, feeling a little uneasy.


    "What kind of book is this? What a weird title¡­"


    Curious, she flipped it open and started reading a few pages¡ª


    Only to immediately realize¡ª


    This was a whole new world.


    Her face turned beet red.


    Her mouth fell open in shock.


    "W-W-WHAT IS THIS?! CAN YOU EVEN WRITE STUFF LIKE THIS?!"

 Chapter 143: A Date with the Little Fox

    "Today, I went to bed and pulled the curtains shut. My husband and I were about to do again. So, I brushed my teeth to keep my breath fresh and put on a lace top before heading to his bedroom, planning to¡­"


    Little He Qing had barely read a few lines before her entire face turned red.


    She snapped the book shut, biting her lip in embarrassment.


    She shoved the book under her pillow and buried herself under the covers, muttering to herself:


    But¡­


    That night, despite only reading for five minutes, He Qing had her first ever inappropriate dream¡­ and it involved Lin Zhengran.


    A beautiful Saturday morning.


    Han Wenwen skipped happily out of the dormitory.


    But as she reached the school gates, she suddenly slowed down.


    Because in the distance¡ª


    She saw Lin Zhengran standing there, talking to a girl.


    Her expression subtly changed.


    Then, she casually strolled forward, taking her time.


    The girl in front of Lin Zhengran was cute, with a round face that made her look even more youthful.


    She held a small envelope in her trembling hands, her face flushed red.


    Behind her, a group of her friends hid at a distance, cheering her on quietly.


    The girl hesitated for a moment before stammering:


    "S-Senpai¡­ I¡¯m from the high school next to yours. I¡¯ve seen you so many times¡­ and I was wondering if we could be friends?"


    Before Lin Zhengran could even respond¡ª


    Han Wenwen had already stepped in with a sweet smile.


    "Oh, this guy? He already has a girlfriend."


    The girl froze, her face turning even redder.


    "Huh?! R-Really?!"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes gleamed mischievously.


    "What do think?"


    The girl finally realized what she meant by .


    "I-I didn¡¯t know! I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to bother you!"


    She panicked and ran away, her group of friends quickly rushing to comfort her.


    Lin Zhengran watched her retreat, then turned back to Han Wenwen.


    Han Wenwen, arms crossed, also watched the girl leave, her voice soft but teasing:


    "Looks like all the girls in our school have already tried their luck, so now you¡¯re attracting girls too? Lin Zhengran, do you just never stop?"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow, noticing how she was clearly jealous but pretending to be calm.


    So, he played along.


    "Han Wenwen, when did I ever try to attract girls from other schools?"


    Han Wenwen puffed up her cheeks, dropping the act.


    "I it with my own eyes, and you¡¯re still pretending?!"


    "I was going to reject her. That counts as flirting?"


    "Yes, it does!"


    "That¡¯s ridiculous."


    She turned her head away, arms still crossed. "Hmph! I don¡¯t care."


    Lin Zhengran knocked her on the head.


    He ignored her fake protest and asked, "Where do you want to go today?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes sparkled.


    She pulled out her phone, opened her notes app, and handed it to him.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the list.


    "Only five places? That¡¯s manageable."


    Han Wenwen blinked.


    "Five? No, no, scroll down."


    Lin Zhengran swiped down¡ª


    And his face immediately turned deadpan.


    There were over a hundred locations.


    "...What?"


    Han Wenwen explained proudly, "I¡¯ve been collecting these spots little by little. A lot of couples go to these places, so I wanted to see them too!"


    Her invisible fox ears twitched excitedly.


    "Let¡¯s start! We only have one day!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "If we don¡¯t finish, don¡¯t blame me."


    "Oh, I blame you." She pouted playfully. "You always bully me."


    "I do not."


    She didn¡¯t answer¡ªjust smiled mischievously.


    Lin Zhengran hailed a taxi, and the two of them set off on their adventure.


    Despite Han Wenwen¡¯s calm and composed personality at school, once she was with Lin Zhengran, she completely let loose¡ª


    Like a fox set free in a giant playground.


    She dragged him around the arcade, jumping from game to game.


    She bought snacks and drinks without thinking, and whenever they passed by a stall, she kept asking:


    "Zhengran, do you want to try this?"


    "Zhengran, do you want to eat that?"


    "Zhengran, what about this?"


    Until finally¡ª


    "Han Wenwen, if you want it, just buy it. Can you even eat all of this?"


    She pouted. "I just want a little bit of everything!"


    And, of course, whenever she ate something¡ª


    She always took a bite first, then fed the rest to Lin Zhengran.


    So, technically, she was eating¡ª


    But in reality, they were sharing everything.


    The rides weren¡¯t huge, but they had mini roller coasters and drop towers¡ª


    And Han Wenwen rode everything enthusiastically.


    By the time they left, she was beaming with excitement¡ª


    Until she spotted something at the entrance.


    A massive ice cream cone, the size of a forearm.


    Her steps slowed.


    She grabbed Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm, her eyes sparkling like gold coins.


    "Look, Zhengran! Look! It¡¯s ! I want to try it!"


    Lin Zhengran followed her gaze¡ª


    And instantly knew that she wouldn¡¯t finish it.


    It was three times the size of a regular ice cream cone, and twice as expensive.


    The money wasn¡¯t the issue¡ª


    The issue was that Han Wenwen was infamous for not finishing big portions of food.


    Lin Zhengran crossed his arms.


    "You¡¯re not going to finish it." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Wenwen pouted dramatically.


    "I will! I promise! Just a few bites¡ªplease?"


    She tightened her grip on his arm and shook him gently, her fox-like eyes shimmering with fake tears.


    "Zhengran~ Pleeeeease~"


    "...No."


    "Ah?! So coldhearted!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "If you really want it, we¡¯ll share. But if you don¡¯t finish it, I¡¯m never buying you oversized food again."


    Han Wenwen immediately lit up, hugging his arm.


    "Deal!"


    And so¡ª


    A few minutes later, Han Wenwen stood happily holding her giant ice cream, taking tiny bites¡ª


    And then shoving it into Lin Zhengran¡¯s mouth to share.


    "Are you you can finish it?"


    Han Wenwen hesitated, biting her lip before flashing a guilty smile at Lin Zhengran.


    "I just¡­ wanted one bite."


    Without hesitation, Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    "Ow!"


    Feeling wronged, Han Wenwen leaned against his arm, clutching it tightly¡ªcompletely unrepentant.


    Just then, the ice cream vendor suddenly introduced a new mini version of the oversized ice cream.


    Han Wenwen immediately panicked.


    She clutched Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm like her life depended on it.


    "Look, look! There¡¯s a version! That one¡¯s okay, right?!"


    This time, Lin Zhengran sighed and gave in.


    Han Wenwen happily licked her new mini ice cream, while checking where to go next¡­


    And then¡­


    Her stomach rumbled ominously.


    1:00 PM ¨C Outside the Women''s Restroom


    This was already her third trip to the bathroom in the past thirty minutes.


    When she finally came out, she wobbled weakly toward Lin Zhengran and leaned against his arm.


    Her fox-like eyes looked pitiful.


    "Zhengran gege¡­ that ice cream was poisoned¡­"


    Lin Zhengran held back a laugh.


    "I don¡¯t think the ice cream was the problem. The issue was ¡ªyou ate too much random junk, skipped breakfast on purpose, and now you''re paying for it."


    Han Wenwen pouted, looking up at him with big, watery eyes.


    "But¡­ but you ate some too¡­"


    Lin Zhengran smirked.


    Han Wenwen finally accepted reality.


    "Okay, okay. I I had a strong stomach, but I guess I was wrong."


    Lin Zhengran shook his head, but his voice was gentle. "You¡¯re already stronger than most people. You just overdid it."


    He glanced at her. "Feeling better now? Do you want to keep going or take a break?"


    Han Wenwen leaned even closer, her voice soft.


    "I wanna go home."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "You were so confident earlier about visiting a places. And now you¡¯re done after just one morning?"


    Han Wenwen whined, her voice filled with a pitiful charm.


    "My tummy hurts¡­ I can¡¯t walk anymore¡­ I just wanna go home and lie in your arms for a bit."


    Lin Zhengran sighed but didn¡¯t refuse.


    "Fine. But let¡¯s stop by a pharmacy on the way back."


    "Mhm~"


    On the Way Home ¨C An Unexpected Encounter


    As they rode in the taxi, Han Wenwen spotted something on the roadside¡ª


    A stall selling plush toys.


    One particular plush caught their attention simultaneously.


    It was a massive plush dog, almost half the size of a person.


    For some reason, both Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran found themselves staring at it.


    After a moment¡ª


    Han Wenwen suddenly burst into giggles, clutching her stomach.


    "Zhengran gege, I can¡¯t¡ª!"


    She could barely breathe from laughing so hard.


    "Why does that dog¡­ kind of look like you?!"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    Han Wenwen quickly covered her mouth, shaking her head.


    Her voice dropped to a tiny whisper.


    "Wenwen didn¡¯t say anything. Zhengran gege didn¡¯t hear anything."


    Still giggling, she tugged his sleeve gently, her meaning clear¡ª


    She wanted it.


    Lin Zhengran was momentarily speechless.


    Because, honestly¡­


    It look a little like him.


    Especially the brows and the overall aura.


    After a brief pause, he sighed and paid for it in full.


    The Ride Home


    Sitting in the taxi, Han Wenwen hugged her new plush dog tightly.


    Her laughter filled the car.


    Her stomach hurt even more from laughing, but she didn¡¯t care.


    "I can¡¯t believe this! How is this funny?!"


    Then, her laughter softened, turning into a contented smile.


    She nuzzled against the plush dog, murmuring happily:


    "With this dog, I¡¯ll never feel lonely at night again~"

 Chapter 144: Just the Two of Them

    After stopping by the pharmacy to pick up some medicine for Han Wenwen¡¯s stomach, as well as a few groceries for dinner, Lin Zhengran and the little fox finally made their way back to her rental apartment.


    Even though she was hugging a giant plush dog that looked eerily like Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen still looked drained from the day¡¯s adventures.


    As soon as they got inside, Lin Zhengran placed the bags on the table, slipped off his shoes, and headed toward the bathroom.


    "I¡¯m going to use the restroom. You go ahead and warm up some hot water and take your medicine first."


    "Okay~"


    As Lin Zhengran stepped into the bathroom, Han Wenwen leaned against the wall, watching him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    Just as he was about to close the door, he paused¡ª


    Because Han Wenwen was still staring at him with that strange expression.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow, then suddenly stepped back out¡ª


    And flicked her forehead.


    Han Wenwen rubbed her head, looking wronged.


    "Zhengran gege, why are you hitting me? I didn¡¯t even say anything!"


    Her fox-like eyes blinked pitifully.


    "What were you just now?" Lin Zhengran asked, clearly seeing through her thoughts.


    Han Wenwen, caught red-handed, instinctively turned her head away and denied everything.


    "Nothing! I was just thinking¡­ boys don¡¯t really need to lock the bathroom door, right? It¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s going to peek."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.


    "Oh? Then¡­ would a fox peek?"


    Han Wenwen, without missing a beat, responded righteously:


    "Of course! Foxes aren¡¯t , so they peek!"


    She was so confident¡ª


    That she immediately got flicked on the forehead again.


    Han Wenwen pouted, thinking,


    Lin Zhengran ignored her complaints, locked the door, and went inside.


    "I¡¯ll take a shower while I¡¯m at it. You should freshen up too."


    Han Wenwen, hearing the word ¡®shower¡¯, suddenly felt like she had lost out big time.


    Still grumbling internally, Han Wenwen kicked off her shoes, then hooked her fingers behind her heel to pull off her socks¡ª


    Revealing her soft, fair little feet as she stepped onto the plush carpet near her bed.


    She wasn¡¯t a fan of lying directly on the bed;she preferred curling up on the fluffy rug.


    It was also where she usually changed her clothes.


    Han Wenwen opened the storage box by her bed, rummaging through it until she found a pair of ultra-short denim shorts and a loose off-shoulder sweater.


    Just as she was about to close the box, she suddenly remembered something.


    She reached deeper into the bottom of the box¡ª


    And found exactly what she was looking for.


    "I I had these!"


    Han Wenwen pulled out an unopened package of stockings.


    She had bought them on a whim while shopping at the supermarket a while back.


    After reading too many romance novels and watching too many dramas, Han Wenwen was very aware that guys had a serious weakness for stockings.


    Their smooth, semi-transparent texture had an irresistible allure¡ª


    So much so that stockings were practically a secret weapon in any romantic battle.


    They showed up in novels all the time.


    And if so many stories emphasized how powerful they were¡ª


    Then there must be truth to it.


    So, she had bought two pairs with the intention of testing their power someday.


    And today¡­


    Seemed like the perfect opportunity.


    The sound of running water filled the air as Lin Zhengran started showering.


    Han Wenwen glanced at the bathroom door, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.


    She held the package of stockings in her hands¡ª


    And started planning her move.


    Han Wenwen had never worn stockings before.


    Sitting on the bed, she carefully unwrapped the package and ran her fingers over the material.


    "So smooth~! I remember buying pantyhose, right?"


    She held them up, examining them closely¡ªyep, they were full-length stockings.


    Her cheeks flushed slightly as she slid off her skirt and began putting them on, starting from the tips of her toes and slowly pulling them up her legs.


    The smooth fabric hugged her fair skin, gradually stretching over her thighs until they fit snugly.


    Once she had them completely on, Han Wenwen stood up and looked down at her newly covered legs.


    Because of the dark color, they looked sleeker, more alluring than usual.


    They also felt¡­ different to the touch.


    But¡ª


    Something felt off.


    She frowned, tugging at the material around her hips.


    When she pulled it up, it snapped back down¡ª


    And then she realized the issue.


    "Oh! I see now!"


    Without hesitation, she peeled them off again and dug through her clothing box for a different pair of underwear.


    This time, she put on the stockings first, then the underwear over them¡ª


    And just like that, the uncomfortable feeling disappeared.


    It felt perfectly smooth and snug.


    "So this is how you¡¯re to wear them! Much better!"


    After putting her outfit together¡ªa loose, oversized off-shoulder sweater and ultra-short denim shorts¡ªshe stood in front of the mirror to check herself out.


    Since the sweater was so oversized, it completely covered her hips.


    And since her shorts were so tiny, it looked like she wasn¡¯t wearing anything underneath at first glance. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It gave the illusion of¡­


    Well¡ªsomething not so innocent.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s face flushed red as she imagined Lin Zhengran¡¯s reaction when he stepped out of the shower.


    Han Wenwen flopped onto her fuzzy rug, hugging the Lin Zhengran dog plush tightly.


    She admired herself for a moment before hearing Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice from the bathroom.


    "Did you take your medicine yet?"


    "Ah! I almost forgot!"


    She jumped up, rushing to heat some hot water.


    As soon as it was warm, she took her medicine, then poured an extra cup for Lin Zhengran.


    Finally, she returned to her cozy rug, lying on her back and lifting the plush dog above her head.


    "Little doggy~ What do you think is going to happen tonight~?"


    The silent plush dog seemed to answer:


    "You¡¯re overthinking. Nothing is going to happen."


    Han Wenwen pouted.


    "Lies! Who says nothing will happen?!"


    Her mind wandered¡ª


    Back to that time when she had boldly announced her 18th birthday wish to Lin Zhengran.


    Now, thinking about it¡­


    Had she ruined the surprise?


    Had she spoken too soon?


    From the bathroom, Lin Zhengran heard her talking to herself.


    "What are you mumbling about?"


    Han Wenwen immediately panicked.


    "N-Nothing! Keep showering, Zhengran gege! I was just talking to myself!"


    She let out an awkward little laugh, then lightly smacked the plush dog on the head.


    "Stupid dog! Making me flustered!"


    Then, she turned around, staring into space, absentmindedly tracing circles on the rug with her finger.


    At first, she was lost in thought about random things¡ª


    Until¡ª


    The bathroom door opened.


    Han Wenwen looked up¡ª


    And immediately froze.


    "Done already? That was fast! It¡¯s only been a few minutes!"


    Lin Zhengran walked out, drying his hair with a towel.


    "How long do you think a shower is supposed to take?"


    Han Wenwen blinked¡ª


    Because this was the first time she had seen him like this.


    He had put his pants back on, but¡ª


    His upper body was completely bare.


    She had felt his muscles before¡ªthrough his clothes¡ª


    But this was the first time she was seeing them so clearly.


    His chest, his abdomen, the defined lines of his muscles¡ª


    They weren¡¯t overly exaggerated like a bodybuilder¡¯s, but they were perfectly toned.


    His wet hair was still dripping slightly, making him look even more refined than usual.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s throat went dry.


    She gulped.


    And then, realizing what she just did¡ª


    She panicked and tried to act normal.


    "B-But I always take at least half an hour! You weren¡¯t even in there for ten minutes, were you?"


    "Guys shower fast. Did you take your medicine?"


    "Mhm."


    Lin Zhengran finished drying his hair¡ªbut he had also noticed something different about her.


    His gaze lowered slightly.


    "Why are you wearing stockings? Where did you get them?"


    Han Wenwen had originally planned to tease him with them.


    But now¡ª


    She was the one getting flustered instead.


    Seeing his current appearance, she suddenly lost her courage.


    She quickly grabbed the plush dog, hugging it in front of her legs as if to hide herself.


    Her face burned.


    "I¡­ I bought them, of course! Does Zhengran gege think they don¡¯t look good?"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t comment too much, but¡­


    Honestly, seeing Han Wenwen in stockings, short shorts, and an oversized sweater¡ª


    It did feel a bit too mature for a high school student.


    Most high school girls in the country didn¡¯t wear things like this casually.


    But then again, since they were just at home, it didn¡¯t really matter.


    Plus¡ª


    Among the three girls in his life, Han Wenwen had always felt more mature than He Qing and Jiang Xueli.


    Even though they were the same age, Han Wenwen had a different kind of presence.


    If it were He Qing or Jiang Xueli, seeing them wear this would probably feel strange.


    But with Han Wenwen¡ª


    It somehow¡­ fit.


    "It looks good."


    Then, in a calm, matter-of-fact voice, he added:


    "But don¡¯t wear this outside. If you want to wear stockings, just keep them for indoors. They help prevent varicose veins, anyway."


    Then, as if he had said something completely normal, he turned back to the bathroom to blow-dry his hair.


    Han Wenwen froze.


    "Varicose veins?!"


    She propped herself up on the rug, blinking in confusion.


    "How does Zhengran gege even that?!"


    Then¡ª


    Her expression softened, and she spoke softly:


    "Of course I wouldn¡¯t wear them outside¡­ I only wanted to wear them for Zhengran gege to see."


    She slowly stood up, walking toward the bathroom, where Lin Zhengran was blow-drying his hair.


    Standing behind him, she leaned in and whispered:


    "Want me to help dry your hair?"


    Lin Zhengran turned around, looking at her flushed face.


    "Why did you swallow just now?"


    "H-Huh?! I didn''t!"


    She subconsciously gulped again.


    "M-Maybe I was just hungry¡­ Yeah! I probably just need to eat something¡­ This isn¡¯t important!"


    She clung to his arm, looking up at him.


    "Come on~ Let me dry your hair! Zhengran gege can¡¯t do himself. What¡¯s the point of having me here?"


    Seeing her determined expression, Lin Zhengran handed her the blow-dryer.


    "Fine. Go ahead."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes lit up.


    "Yay!"

 Chapter 145: A Secretary Job is Within Reach

    Han Wenwen took the blow dryer and stepped in front of Lin Zhengran.


    But because she wasn¡¯t tall enough, she had to stand on her tiptoes to dry the front of his hair.


    Of course¡ª


    This gave her the perfect excuse to rest one hand on his chest.


    Her soft, fair hand gently pressed against his muscles, feeling their firm contours¡ª


    Her heart pounded faster.


    Biting her lip, Han Wenwen felt an immense sense of satisfaction.


    She had won.


    But at the same time¡ª


    She still had to focus on drying his hair without completely losing herself in her own thoughts.


    Lin Zhengran, seeing how tense she was, casually asked,


    "Aren¡¯t your feet getting tired standing like that?"


    Han Wenwen shook her head slightly.


    "Not at all~ Taking care of Zhengran gege isn¡¯t tiring at all! Wenwen was to take care of you."


    Lin Zhengran sighed internally.


    One minute later.


    Han Wenwen tried to reach the top of his head but found that¡ª


    Even standing on tiptoes wasn¡¯t enough.


    She grinned awkwardly.


    "Okay, maybe I¡¯m tired, but I¡¯m definitely . My arms aren¡¯t long enough!"


    Then, she brightened up.


    "How about we move to the bed? There¡¯s an outlet there¡ªI can dry your hair properly!"


    Lin Zhengran reached out his hand, signaling for her to hand over the blow dryer.


    "I¡¯ll do it myself. If we move to the bed, your hair will get all over it. You won¡¯t want to clean it up later."


    But Han Wenwen hugged the blow dryer to her chest, refusing to give it up.


    "No way~! So what if a few strands of hair end up on the bed? I¡¯d actually it if Zhengran gege¡¯s things stayed on my bed! I¡¯d sleep better at night."


    Lin Zhengran rubbed his temples.


    "Do you even hear yourself? You sound like a complete lunatic."


    Han Wenwen tilted her head, bit her lip, and smirked playfully.


    Her fox-like eyes gleamed mischievously.


    "Can you blame me~? I like Zhengran gege so much that of his makes me happy~"


    And so¡­ the battlefield moved to the bed.


    The time was only around 2 PM.


    Sunlight poured in through the windows, and outside, the sounds of children playing and dogs barking filled the neighborhood.


    Lin Zhengran leaned back against a pillow, while Han Wenwen plugged in the blow dryer and knelt beside him to start drying his hair.


    Now, this was much easier.


    Her hands alternated¡ªsometimes resting on his shoulder, sometimes pressing against his chest.


    The low hum of the blow dryer filled the air as his damp hair slowly dried.


    Lin Zhengran, for the first time, took a closer look at Han Wenwen¡¯s stockings.


    The tight fabric followed the natural curve of her legs¡ª


    Now that he was actually observing, he had to admit¡ª


    She suited them perfectly.


    Like they had been designed for her.


    Han Wenwen, being incredibly perceptive, immediately noticed his gaze.


    While blow-drying his hair, she suddenly teased,


    "Zhengran gege is such a perv~ Staring at my legs for so long. Are they really that nice to look at?"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    "You¡¯re one to talk. You¡¯ve been staring at my upper body this entire time. Is nice to look at?"


    Han Wenwen froze¡ª


    Then quickly looked away, clearly flustered.


    "Hmph! Zhengran gege is so mean! Making it sound like I¡¯m shameless! I wasn¡¯t looking¡­ not really! At least !"


    Her voice got quieter at the end.


    Lin Zhengran glanced down¡ª


    And saw that her hand was resting on his stomach.


    "Oh? So now you¡¯re not just ¡ªyou¡¯re ?"


    Han Wenwen immediately tried to play innocent. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She rubbed his abs slightly, grinning cheekily.


    "Touching? What touching? I¡¯m just my hand. When drying hair, I need to support myself, right?"


    Lin Zhengran grabbed her hand and moved it away.


    But Han Wenwen panicked and quickly put it back.


    "No! Don¡¯t move my hand away~! I resting my hand here!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    "You can hold onto the blanket or my , not my stomach."


    Han Wenwen immediately protested.


    "No! I to hold your stomach! And what do you mean I can¡¯t touch you?! Zhengran gege is ! I be able to touch!"


    Without waiting for a response, she reached back down and placed her hand on his abs again.


    "Besides, everyone¡¯s body is different. body is just naturally suited to holding onto Zhengran gege¡¯s stomach~"


    Lin Zhengran gave up.


    Just then, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone buzzed.


    It was a message from Jiang Jingshi.


    Jiang Jingshi:


    Lin Zhengran:


    Jiang Jingshi:


    Lin Zhengran:


    Jiang Jingshi:


    Lin Zhengran:


    As soon as he put his phone down, he realized something¡ª


    Han Wenwen had shifted closer.


    She was now leaning against his shoulder, reading over his messages.


    Although she hadn¡¯t seen everything, she had caught a glimpse of the name at the top.


    Her fox-like eyes narrowed suspiciously.


    "Jiang jie?"


    She stared at him, her expression filled with jealousy and suspicion.


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze.


    The blow dryer was still humming in the background¡ª


    But Han Wenwen¡¯s entire focus was now on him.


    Her eyes were full of accusation and possessiveness.


    Lin Zhengran explained calmly,


    "I told you before¡ªI have an older sister I know. You even smelled her scent on me last time. Recently, we started a business together, so we¡¯ve been handling paperwork."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s ears perked up.


    "A business?!"


    She quickly turned off the blow dryer and sat up on the bed, looking shocked.


    "Zhengran gege is running a now?! What kind of business?! Are you selling something?!"


    Lin Zhengran shook his head.


    "No. I¡¯ve been training Jiang Xueli and He Qing in their talents for years, right? But since they kept needing to rely on other studios, I figured it was time to start our own company."


    Han Wenwen blinked.


    "Mmm¡­ I don¡¯t get it¡­ but does this mean Zhengran gege is now?!"


    Lin Zhengran laughed.


    "The company isn¡¯t even officially launched yet. No profits yet."


    Han Wenwen grinned mischievously.


    "It make money! I knew Zhengran gege would be amazing! And if you¡¯re starting a company¡­ then my future secretary job is !"


    She raised a fist.


    **"Zhengran gege


    Han Wenwen finally brightened up, hugging Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm like a clingy little fox.


    "Mhm! No matter what, Wenwen and Zhengran gege are in this together! If Zhengran gege builds a company, Wenwen will become the most capable secretary ever! And if Zhengran gege ever becomes a beggar, then Wenwen will sit next to you, holding a bowl, begging right alongside you!"


    She smiled sweetly, her voice filled with absolute devotion.


    "No matter where Zhengran gege goes, Wenwen will follow. No matter what Zhengran gege does, Wenwen will support him unconditionally."


    Lin Zhengran paused, sensing a tiny flaw in her words.


    He reached out, ruffling her fluffy hair, before curiously asking:


    "And what if I do something bad?"


    Without any hesitation, Han Wenwen answered immediately:


    "Then Wenwen will do bad things too! After all, Wenwen was never a ¡®good girl¡¯ to begin with. I¡¯m Zhengran gege¡¯s little fox¡ªI only follow you. I don¡¯t care about ¡®good¡¯ or ¡®bad¡¯."


    She spoke with absolute conviction¡ª


    And Lin Zhengran knew she wasn¡¯t joking.


    This fox¡¯s entire future would depend on who she was obsessed with.


    She would follow that person¡¯s path, no matter where it led.


    Lin Zhengran sighed softly and cupped her cheek, gently rubbing it with his thumb.


    "Don¡¯t worry. Things will only get better¡ªnot worse."


    Han Wenwen beamed at him, eyes filled with admiration.


    "Oh! Zhengran gege, where is your company located? Can you take Wenwen to see it sometime?"


    "Mhm. When I get a chance, I¡¯ll bring you along."


    Han Wenwen hugged his neck, feeling completely satisfied¡ª


    But just as the conversation moved on, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone suddenly buzzed again.


    Another message from Jiang Jingshi.


    This time¡ª


    She sent two pictures of earrings.


    Jiang Jingshi:


    At that moment, both Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran were looking at the phone screen together.


    Han Wenwen blinked once.


    Then twice.


    Then¡ª


    Her fox-like eyes slowly narrowed.


    Her cheeks puffed up, and a storm of jealousy instantly filled the room.


    She clutched his arm tighter, her ears practically steaming with vinegar.


    "Hmph! What¡¯s this?! What kind of woman is texting Zhengran gege, asking for opinion on earrings?!"


    Her tail (if she had one) would¡¯ve been bristling with possessiveness.

 Chapter 146: The Little Fox’s Vision for the Future

    In a park''s parking area, families and couples could be seen enjoying themselves inside.


    Despite coming from a wealthy background, Jiang Jingshi liked spending time alone in places like this whenever she had free time. Sitting in her car with her legs crossed, she stared blankly at the residential scenery outside. Then, glancing down at her phone, she saw a message from Lin Zhengran:


    Seeing the message, Jiang Jingshi''s red lips curled into a smile.


    Her expression softened as she murmured to herself, "So he thinks I look better with cooler-toned earrings?"


    She wanted to send him another message but was interrupted when a new notification popped up¡ªan employee from Jiang Group had messaged her. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The message was about a difficult client that the sales department had been struggling with, and they had yet to secure a deal. Jiang Jingshi quickly replied,


    After sending the message, she suddenly had a thought.


    If her Zhengran was talented in so many fields, she wondered¡ªcould he also have a knack for business?


    If he did, then she could completely outsource Jiang Group¡¯s publicity work to the company she and Zhengran started together. That way, she wouldn''t have to juggle both sides anymore, saving time and avoiding duplicate efforts.


    Blinking thoughtfully, she mused, "But if that''s the case, wouldn''t that make him way too capable? Almost unbelievable¡­ I''ll test it out the next time we meet."


    Her eyes drifted back to Lin Zhengran''s message.


    Inside Han Wenwen''s rental apartment.


    Lin Zhengran leaned against the headboard, while a jealous little fox curled up with her legs folded, her upper body draped over his lap.


    Her small hands scratched at his stomach as he absentmindedly petted her head with one hand, his other hand occupied with his phone. Both He Qing and Jiang Xueli had messaged him, and he was replying to them.


    Han Wenwen peeked at him from time to time and asked, "Haven''t finished replying yet?"


    "Almost," Lin Zhengran replied. "Just chatting a little."


    Hearing that he wasn¡¯t done yet, Han Wenwen let out a displeased hum from her throat and closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of his hand stroking her hair¡ªlike a little animal enjoying its owner''s affection.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "What wasn''t clear? Didn''t I explain everything already?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s voice carried a playful whine as she grumbled,


    As she spoke, she snuggled deeper into his lap, pressing herself closer to his embrace.


    "But it¡¯s only natural for girls to like Zhengran-ge," she continued, "it just depends on whether you want to accept them or not."


    Saying that, she rubbed her head against his stomach.


    Lin Zhengran looked at her. "What are you doing?"


    Han Wenwen opened her captivating fox-like eyes and pouted. "Stop chatting with them~ Talk to me properly instead."


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "Aren''t I already with you?" He sent off the last few messages, then put his phone down. "Okay, I''m done. What do you want to talk about?"


    Han Wenwen lifted her gaze to meet his.


    Lin Zhengran lowered his eyes to look at her.


    The two of them just stared at each other, neither speaking, their reflections visible in each other¡¯s pupils.


    After a while, Han Wenwen''s face gradually turned red. Unable to hold back, she looked away with a shy laugh. "Why is Zhengran-ge staring at me like that? It¡¯s making me embarrassed."


    "You said you wanted to talk, so I was waiting for you to start a topic." He looked at her, confused.


    Han Wenwen let out a small and muttered, "Topic? What topic? I just don¡¯t want you chatting with other girls. Even if we¡¯re just sitting here in silence, I¡¯d rather have you with me instead of talking to them¡ªespecially when you¡¯re spending time with me alone."


    As she spoke, she suddenly caught sight of Lin Zhengran¡¯s toenails and leaned forward to take a closer look. "Zhengran-ge, let me trim your nails, okay? They don¡¯t look neat at all."


    "What¡¯s the point of having neatly trimmed nails as a guy? Besides, they¡¯re not even long. I just cut them last week."


    "Who cut them for you?"


    "Obviously myself."


    Han Wenwen turned to look at him and, in a tone of absolute seriousness, declared, "From now on, Zhengran-ge is not allowed to trim his own nails. That¡¯s my job. I''ll go get the clippers."


    She hopped off the bed, grabbed the nail clippers, and returned, settling back onto the bed. Before she started, she looked up at him expectantly.


    "Keep petting my head, Zhengran-ge. If you stop, I¡¯ll lose focus while trimming your nails."


    "How am I supposed to do that when you¡¯re all the way over there?"


    "Just bend your legs, duh. That way, you can reach."


    Lin Zhengran sighed in surrender. He had never seen a girl so obsessed with getting her head petted before¡ªtruly, foxes were foxes.


    But the moment his hand touched her head again, Han Wenwen visibly relaxed.


    She carefully trimmed his nails, even preparing wet wipes to clean up afterward. She had thought of everything.


    As she worked, a thought crossed her mind. "Oh, right, Zhengran-ge, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to discuss with you."


    "What is it?"


    Still focused on his nails, she spoke in a soft, meticulous tone.


    "Once Zhengran-ge becomes the head of the household, we¡¯ll need to divide responsibilities among all your girlfriends, right? Otherwise, things will get chaotic if everyone keeps trying to do the same things."


    She turned back and smiled at him. "So, how about I assign everyone their roles today? I¡¯ve been observing everyone¡¯s habits, so I know what they¡¯re best at. I promise to be fair!"


    Since today was a rest day, Lin Zhengran let her ramble on.


    She finished trimming one foot and moved on to the other.


    "Let¡¯s start with Qingqing. She¡¯s calm and doesn¡¯t like being in the spotlight. Once we all graduate and start working, I bet she¡¯ll spend most of her time at home, aside from occasionally competing in taekwondo tournaments. She¡¯s the best person to take care of day-to-day household matters¡ªlike organizing the house, shopping for necessities, and managing all the little things. What do you think, Zhengran-ge?"


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "That does sound like her. He Qing is very diligent and good at managing a home."


    Han Wenwen beamed proudly, handing him a pen and paper. "Write it down! This is the plan for our future household!"


    After finishing both feet, she moved on to his hands, switching to a different nail clipper and settling onto his lap with her legs apart, facing him directly.


    She stretched out her hands. "Give me your left hand."


    Lin Zhengran handed it over.


    She resumed her work and continued, "Next is Lily. She¡¯s energetic and lively. At first, I thought she was just spoiled, but turns out she¡¯s a whole new level of spoiled. So, I think she should be in charge of taking care of the kids¡ªlike teaching them and keeping them entertained."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "That¡¯s looking too far ahead, but raising kids is no easy task."


    Han Wenwen explained, "That¡¯s why she won¡¯t be doing it alone. She¡¯ll just be in charge of their education. I¡¯m too strict with kids, and Qingqing is too soft, so Lily is the perfect balance. So, if we ever have little ones, we¡¯ll all take care of our own, but when it comes to education, we follow Lily¡¯s lead. Deal?"


    Lin Zhengran laughed. "Sure."


    Han Wenwen finished his second hand, made him write it down, then grabbed his final hand.


    "And finally, me! I¡¯ll be responsible for taking care of Zhengran-ge personally¡ªclothes, nail trimming, massages, washing your hair, brushing your teeth, and all the little things. How about that?"


    She peeked up at him with her fox-like eyes.


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze, and both of them burst into laughter.


    "So, I don¡¯t have to do anything at all?" he teased.


    Han Wenwen laced their fingers together and smirked. "Of course not! You¡¯ll be in charge of all the big decisions¡ªyou¡¯re the head of the household and the pillar of our family~."

 Chapter 147: Preparations Before Bed

    The afternoon passed by without much notice, and soon, the sky darkened.


    At some point, Han Wenwen had taken a bath. When she came out, the entire room was filled with her unique fox-like scent, a sweet fragrance lingering in the air.


    During dinner, Lin Zhengran made a call to check in with his parents, asking if anything had happened at home this week.


    As usual, his mom, Lin Xiaoli, picked up the phone. "Hello? Zhengran? Nothing much going on at home. How''s school? Do you miss Mom and Dad?"


    Even though Lin Zhengran had gone back to town this week, he had told his parents that he was staying in the dorms. If he admitted that he was spending the night with Han Wenwen, they definitely wouldn¡¯t approve, worrying that something might happen.


    "School''s the same as always," he replied. "Glad to hear everything''s fine at home. As for missing you guys¡­ yeah, a little."


    Lin Xiaoli, feeling shy at her son''s directness, sighed in amazement.


    "Mom misses you too," she said. "By the way, ever since you started high school, you hardly come home anymore."


    "That''s just how high school is, isn''t it? Besides, staying at school is more convenient for studying. If I have time, I¡¯ll definitely come back."


    As he spoke, he glanced down at Han Wenwen, who was leaning against his shoulder. This little fox was being clingy even while eating.


    Lin Xiaoli continued, "Then, are you coming home next week? If you do, we¡¯ll have some guests over."


    "Yeah, I¡¯ll definitely come home next week. Guests? What kind of guests?"


    On the other end, Lin Xiaoli exchanged a look with her husband. Both of them smiled, thinking


    She quickly waved off the question. "Nothing, nothing! You''ll find out when you come home. Do you want to talk to your dear father for a bit?"


    "Sure, I haven''t heard from Dad yet."


    Lin Yingjun cleared his throat and spoke up. "I''ve been listening this whole time."


    Lin Xiaoli chuckled, "Your dad''s busy with work at the office."


    After exchanging a few more words, she wrapped up the call. "Alright then, if there''s nothing else, I''ll let you go. You must be busy, Zhengran."


    "Got it. Bye, Mom and Dad."


    After hanging up, Lin Zhengran took a few more bites before getting up to wash his hands. As he did, he casually asked, "Oh right, Wenwen, did you get my blanket?"


    "Of course!" she said proudly. She ran ahead of him to wash her hands first, then pulled a large box out from under the bed.


    With a dramatic flourish, she lifted out a brand-new cotton blanket. "Ta-da!"


    The blanket was a solid navy blue, without any patterns. It looked high-quality, and judging by its material, Han Wenwen had probably spent quite a bit on it.


    She carefully spread it out on the bed, then frowned in confusion. "It looked so luxurious when I bought it at the mall, but now that it''s in my rental apartment, it feels kinda¡­ ordinary?"


    When Lin Zhengran came out of the bathroom, he noticed that despite it being a single bed, there were now two blankets on it.


    "It''s probably just the environment," he commented. "Your rental apartment is a small single room, and you¡¯ve got a lot of stuff on the bed already. It makes the space look a bit cramped."


    He glanced around. Her "single bed" was actually much bigger than the standard ones found in student dorms. At first glance, it even looked like a small double bed.


    "Good thing your bed is this big¡ªalmost like a mini double bed. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be enough space for the two of us." He raised an eyebrow. "By the way, how much was this blanket? It doesn¡¯t look cheap."


    Han Wenwen covered her mouth and whispered the price into his ear.


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. "Damn, you really went all out. I bet your own blanket wasn¡¯t this expensive."


    "Of course not! It¡¯s different when it¡¯s for Zhengran-ge." She hooked her arm around his and purred, "Besides, a blanket isn¡¯t just any purchase. After you use it, I can use it too~"


    There was an underlying meaning in her words.


    She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with charm. "So, shall we sleep now? The bed is all set."


    "Now?" Lin Zhengran glanced at his phone. "It¡¯s only 6:30."


    Han Wenwen had her own little schemes in mind. Her fox-like eyes flickered, and after thinking for a moment, she looked up at him.


    "Well, there¡¯s nothing else to do tonight. You came home early today, and all the important stuff is done. Wouldn''t it be nice to soak our feet and relax in bed?"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t know what she was planning, but he didn¡¯t mind lying down early.


    Seeing him agree, Han Wenwen eagerly went to fetch the foot bath basin. "I¡¯ll go get the warm water! Zhengran-ge, just sit on the bed and wait!"


    Lin Zhengran shook his head with a chuckle. "Then I might as well brush my teeth first."


    But Han Wenwen immediately stopped him. "No, no! Zhengran-ge, don¡¯t brush your teeth¡ªI¡¯ll do it for you! Just wait!"


    Lin Zhengran blinked. He recalled their conversation from earlier in the day.


    "Are you serious, Wenwen? How are you even going to brush my teeth for me?"


    Placing the foot basin on the floor, she filled it with hot water and set it aside to cool. "Of course I¡¯m serious! And why wouldn¡¯t I be able to brush your teeth? I even learned how!"


    "You¡­ learned how?"


    "I specifically looked it up online. Try it, and you¡¯ll see!"


    She walked over to the cabinet and grabbed two toothbrushes¡ªone blue, one red. Holding them up in front of him, she swayed them back and forth.


    "Which one do you want, Zhengran-ge? The blue one on the left is brand new. The red one on the right is mine."


    Lin Zhengran was surprised that the two toothbrushes looked identical aside from the color.


    Most guys¡¯ toothbrushes would start looking frayed after a while, but hers still looked brand new.


    "I¡¯ll take the new blue one."


    Han Wenwen pursed her lips, but she had already expected this answer. She knew Zhengran-ge wouldn¡¯t share a toothbrush with her just yet.


    Han Wenwen pretended to sigh in disappointment. "Alright then," she said, squeezing some toothpaste onto the toothbrush and wetting it slightly so it wouldn¡¯t feel too dry in his mouth.


    "Ah~ Zhengran-ge, show your teeth first so I can brush the outside, then open your mouth afterward."


    This felt like a childish game, but Lin Zhengran indulged her. He obediently bared his teeth, making Han Wenwen giggle.


    "Zhengran-ge, you look so cute like this~"


    She carefully brushed the outer surfaces of his teeth before instructing him to open his mouth so she could clean the inside. As she observed his teeth up close, she was curious.


    "Zhengran-ge, how are your teeth so perfect? No cavities at all, and they''re so straight! Do you actually take special care of them?"


    "Where would I find the time for that?"


    "Then do you ever get toothaches?"


    "Nope."


    Han Wenwen filled his mouth with foamy toothpaste bubbles and pouted. "So unfair¡­ If I eat too many sweets, my teeth start hurting. Luckily, I brush diligently, or I¡¯d definitely get cavities."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s mind suddenly drifted to the time when Jiang Jingshi burned her finger. While his ability made him learn new skills quickly, medicine was an exception¡ªhe always needed actual tools or herbs to treat injuries. He figured he should research this more thoroughly in the future. After all, there would always be situations where he needed quick medical treatment.


    Once she was done brushing, Han Wenwen handed him a glass of water.


    "Alright, rinse your mouth and spit it out."


    She took meticulous care of every detail.


    After he finished, Han Wenwen proudly inspected his teeth from different angles, beaming at the flawless result.


    She even made him check his reflection in the mirror.


    Standing beside him, she asked expectantly, "Didn¡¯t I do a great job? See, I told you I was born to take care of Zhengran-ge! Other things might not be my strong suit, but when it comes to this, even Qingqing can¡¯t compare!"


    Lin Zhengran had no way to refute that. After all, just from the way she gave massages and handled all sorts of personal tasks, it was obvious¡ªwhen it came to taking care of someone, Han Wenwen was indeed better than He Qing.


    Han Wenwen grinned, looking like an invisible fox tail was swishing behind her, silently begging for praise.


    Lin Zhengran played along, patting her head. "Yeah, you¡¯re amazing."


    Satisfied, Han Wenwen beamed. "Then, Zhengran-ge, go soak your feet. I¡¯ll brush my teeth now."


    "Mm."


    Lin Zhengran returned to the bed and sat down. Meanwhile, Han Wenwen turned to look at the toothbrush he had just used.


    Carefully, she squeezed a bit more toothpaste onto it.


    Blushing, she placed it in her mouth and began brushing her own teeth.


    Technically, a cleaned toothbrush wasn¡¯t any different from a new one. But the thought that it had just been used by Lin Zhengran made her heartbeat speed up involuntarily.


    The more she thought about it, the faster her heart pounded. There was also a kind of secret thrill¡ª using something of his without him knowing.


    However, what she didn¡¯t expect was that Lin Zhengran, who had already gone to soak his feet, suddenly returned to the bathroom.


    Startled, Han Wenwen quickly pulled the toothbrush out of her mouth and held it in front of her, trying to block his view.


    With her mouth still full of toothpaste foam, she stammered, "Wh-what? Why are you back?"


    "Where¡¯s the towel for drying my feet?"


    "Oh, over there! I¡¯ll grab it later," she said, glancing to the side.


    Lin Zhengran picked up the towel, ready to leave. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something odd¡ªHan Wenwen was brushing her teeth, yet her pink toothbrush was still sitting untouched in the cup, completely dry and unused.


    Han Wenwen stared at his reflection in the mirror, guilty as hell.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t say anything. He just raised a hand and flicked her forehead before turning to leave.


    "You don¡¯t think that¡¯s gross?"


    Han Wenwen flinched, shrinking her neck slightly, then pouted, pretending to be confused. "Gross? I don¡¯t understand what you mean~"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother arguing.


    Only after he left did Han Wenwen sneak a glance over her shoulder before continuing to brush her teeth.


    she thought.


    She didn¡¯t dare finish the thought, her cheeks heating up.


    After finishing up, Han Wenwen quickly ran back to Lin Zhengran¡¯s side and climbed onto the bed. "I¡¯m not taking another bath. I already showered this afternoon."


    "Mm."


    Han Wenwen cleared the clutter off the bed and straightened out the blankets again.


    Looking at Lin Zhengran, who was sitting on the edge of the bed soaking his feet while playing on his phone, she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.


    Resting her head on his shoulder, she pressed her entire upper body against his back.


    A soft warmth spread across his back.


    "What are you thinking about, Zhengran-ge?" she asked deliberately.


    "Nothing much. Just thinking about Lily¡¯s rankings next week¡­"


    Unhappy, Han Wenwen covered his mouth with her hand. "What the heck! You¡¯re ruining the mood! How can you be thinking about that right now? You should be thinking about ¡­ events!"


    Lin Zhengran gave her a sideways glance, his voice muffled against her palm.


    He knew exactly what she was up to, so he teased, "What¡¯s going to happen tonight? We¡¯re just going to sleep."


    Han Wenwen bit her lip, looking both frustrated and embarrassed. "Technically, yes, but¡­" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She fidgeted, her expression both annoyed and amusing.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and pried her hand off. "Alright, go lie down. I¡¯ll join you after I¡¯m done soaking my feet."


    "Lie down? But I still have to pour out the foot water! Oh, and I need to wash Zhengran-ge¡¯s feet too."


    Lin Zhengran felt she was going a bit overboard. "There¡¯s no need. I can do it myself this time."


    But Han Wenwen didn¡¯t even hesitate. She slid off the bed and knelt on the rug, dipping her hands into the foot basin. Her alluring fox-like eyes were filled with stubborn determination.


    "Didn¡¯t I already say these things should be done by me? What do you mean ''no need''?"


    Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran clearly had different perspectives.


    To him, things like washing feet were just minor tasks¡ªhe didn¡¯t see the point in making a big deal out of them.


    But to Han Wenwen, it was different. First, she genuinely to do it. She found these intimate moments meaningful and enjoyed them.


    Second, if she didn¡¯t do it now, she was certain that one of the other girls would take over in the future.


    And foot washing was different from other tasks¡ªit was something done at night. If another girl took over, it would mean that Lin Zhengran would likely end up spending the night in room.


    She could already imagine the future¡ªif their relationships deepened, the girl who got to wash Zhengran-ge¡¯s feet would also be the one keeping him for the night.


    "You just don¡¯t get it," she muttered under her breath. "I already said I¡¯d do it. You¡¯re not allowed to secretly do it yourself."


    From that moment on, Lin Zhengran lost all autonomy over washing his own feet.


    Still, he insisted on at least pouring out the used water himself¡ªHan Wenwen had done too much for one day.


    He ruffled her hair. "Next time, you can do it. This time, I¡¯ll take care of it. Go wash your hands and get into bed."


    Hearing the word , Han Wenwen¡¯s ears turned red. She quickly nodded like a little chick pecking at rice.


    "Okay! Then I¡¯ll be waiting for Zhengran-ge in bed~"


    The night deepened, and the sky outside sparkled with stars.


    Though the sounds of children playing and adults chatting could still be heard from the residential area, the inside of the room was peaceful.


    Lin Zhengran lay under his blanket, staring at the ceiling with a relaxed sigh.


    Han Wenwen, on the other hand, was lying on her side, staring at Lin Zhengran.


    Her heart pounded with nervous excitement, and her voice was soft and sweet.


    "Should I turn off the lights?"


    "Aren¡¯t you going to play on your phone for a bit?" he asked.


    She shook her head slowly, biting her lip. "Why would I waste time on my phone when I could be with Zhengran-ge?"


    She pressed the remote, turning off the lights.


    Darkness filled the room.


    And with it, the tiny schemes of a certain fox spirit began to stir.

 Chapter 148: The Reasons Behind Those Promises

    The curtains were drawn, but there was always a small gap between them that couldn¡¯t be completely closed.


    A sliver of light cut across the center of the bed.


    In the quiet of the night, there was a subtle movement beneath the blanket¡ªlike the swishing of a fox¡¯s tail.


    Han Wenwen whispered softly, "Zhengran-ge? Don¡¯t you feel uncomfortable sleeping with your pants on?"


    Lin Zhengran had already closed his eyes the moment the lights were off. "It¡¯s fine."


    Han Wenwen immediately disagreed. "How can that be fine? Sleeping in pants is so uncomfortable, right?"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t respond.


    Han Wenwen lowered her voice even more. "Zhengran-ge? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still no answer.


    "Zhengrange~ Say something~"


    Lin Zhengran sighed and opened his eyes, looking at the excited little fox in the darkness.


    "What exactly do you want? You think I can sleep without pants at your place? If this were one of those novels you always read, the book would get banned the moment I took them off."


    Han Wenwen giggled at his response. Then, suddenly, she ducked under the blanket and magically pulled out a piece of sleepwear¡ªspecifically, a pair of loose pajama pants.


    She handed them to him. "Here, wear these."


    Lin Zhengran reached out to take them, puzzled. "When did you put these in the bed?"


    "I put them in earlier! Pants are too uncomfortable to sleep in, but these are nice and loose. They¡¯ll feel much better."


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "Just pants? What about a top?"


    Han Wenwen shook her head. "No top. I bought these online, but I only got the bottoms. And I already washed them, so they¡¯re super clean¡ªno worries!"


    Lin Zhengran was completely speechless at this little fox.


    Still, he went along with it and changed into the pajama pants.


    Han Wenwen smiled in satisfaction.


    By now, their eyes had fully adjusted to the dark, allowing them to see everything in the dimly lit room.


    Han Wenwen lay there watching Lin Zhengran, who had closed his eyes again. She spoke softly, "Zhengran-ge~ Is this the first time you¡¯ve stayed overnight at a girl¡¯s place?"


    As she asked, her small hand slowly sneaked out from under her blanket, quietly inching toward Lin Zhengran¡¯s side.


    Lin Zhengran answered honestly, "No."


    "What?!" Han Wenwen was shocked. "Then whose place did you stay at first?"


    "Yours," he replied. "You forgot already? That time you had a fever, I stayed here with you."


    "Ohhh~ Right!"


    At that moment, her hand had just made it into Lin Zhengran¡¯s blanket¡ªonly to be smacked away.


    Startled, she quickly pulled her hand back.


    Lin Zhengran pretended to be confused. "Huh? I think I just hit something in my blanket. Something¡¯s in there."


    Han Wenwen pouted. "What could possibly be in there? It¡¯s just a blanket."


    "You sure?"


    Lin Zhengran stared up at the ceiling.


    "But your place is really quiet at night. You can barely hear anything from downstairs."


    Han Wenwen nodded. "Yeah, it¡¯s so quiet I can even hear my own heartbeat¡­ thumping away."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her playfully.


    She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, which was sprawled across the pillow. Her hand once again, very cautiously, extended toward his side.


    "Well, of course, this place is different. Zhengran-ge picked it out for me, after all."


    Feeling her little hand sneaking over, Lin Zhengran caught it in his own.


    Han Wenwen looked up at him.


    He raised an eyebrow. "Can¡¯t you behave?"


    Even with her hand caught, she shamelessly denied any wrongdoing. "What do you mean? Wenwen didn¡¯t do anything."


    Lin Zhengran knew there was no way he¡¯d get a peaceful night¡¯s sleep, so he turned to face her.


    Their pillows were pressed together, and in the darkness, they studied each other¡¯s faces.


    Still holding her hand, Lin Zhengran asked, "Do you ever feel scared sleeping here alone?"


    Feeling his warmth, Han Wenwen finally stayed still for a moment. She nodded lightly.


    "Sometimes¡­ Most of the time, I don¡¯t really think about it. But if my mind starts wandering or I remember certain things from the past, I get scared."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice was gentle. "Things from the past?"


    Lin Zhengran reached out and gently brushed away a strand of hair from the corner of Han Wenwen¡¯s lips.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s heart fluttered. "Mm¡­ It¡¯s about my mom when I was little, and my uncle too. You know¡­ I wish I had met Zhengran-ge earlier. Even just one day earlier would¡¯ve been enough."


    "We met early enough," he said. "We¡¯ve known each other since elementary school."


    "Still too late. We should¡¯ve met the moment we were born."


    Both of them laughed softly.


    But then, Lin Zhengran suddenly noticed something odd.


    Surprised, he asked, "Wait¡­ you didn¡¯t take off your stockings?"


    At that moment, her little feet were sneakily rubbing against his leg.


    Han Wenwen, embarrassed, replied, "Of course not. I¡¯m still wearing my sweater too. I didn¡¯t even change."


    Lin Zhengran had completely forgotten about that. "Now that you mention it, I never saw you change. Why didn¡¯t you put on pajamas?"


    Han Wenwen turned away shyly. "Because you¡¯re here~ How could I change in front of you? My sleepwear is really loose, you know..."


    Especially without a bra¡­


    Lin Zhengran was unconvinced. This didn¡¯t sound like the Han Wenwen he knew.


    "You? Shy? Then why are your hands and feet sneaking into my blanket right now? Why do you always wear so little when you¡¯re with me? And today, you even wore stockings?"


    With each question, Han Wenwen ducked her head lower, her fox-like eyes filled with playful grievance.


    "Zhengran-ge, stop talking~ That¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s because I want you to see the prettiest side of me. But what¡¯s normal on regular days is different from tonight. Tonight, you¡¯re staying over¡­ No matter how bold I usually act, I¡¯m still a girl. Of course, I¡¯d be shy."


    She blinked at him, her long lashes fluttering. In this dim light, she looked even more alluring.


    She spoke softly, "Actually¡­ girls aren¡¯t that different from one another. Especially when we¡¯re with the person we like. Wenwen is the same¡­ I get shy, I get nervous, but I also want to be close to Zhengran-ge. I want you to hug me more, spoil me more, look at me more. Even if it seems like I have no shame..."


    She let out a small laugh at herself and added, "I mean in terms of restraint. I¡¯m only shameless in front of Zhengran-ge. I¡¯m not like this with anyone else."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "I get it. Actually, I think you come off a little cold and distant in general. When I¡¯m not around, you barely talk to anyone."


    Han Wenwen let out a triumphant "hmph," clearly pleased.


    "Of course! Ever since I fell for Zhengran-ge, I haven¡¯t wanted to talk to any other guys. I don¡¯t even want to acknowledge them. Wenwen belongs only to Zhengran-ge!"


    Then, in a quieter voice, she admitted, "Even though I think about seducing Zhengran-ge all the time¡­ I don¡¯t always have the courage to actually do it. It¡¯s not like I can act on every thought."


    Her voice softened, becoming more sincere than usual.


    Her expression turned a little vulnerable.


    "Because¡­ even though I know Zhengran-ge doesn¡¯t lie, and you always keep your promises¡­ I¡¯m still scared that if I stop making the first move, you won¡¯t want me anymore. That you¡¯ll feel like having me around or not wouldn¡¯t make a difference."


    "What nonsense is that?"


    She bit her lip.


    "It¡¯s true¡­ Wenwen knows, even if I don¡¯t want to admit it, that a woman like me is only suited to be a lover¡ªsomeone to be played with and discarded when the novelty wears off. I can¡¯t be like Qingqing or Lily, who are perfect in so many ways.


    "I tried learning to cook and do housework, but I always mess up. Even I can¡¯t stand the things I make. So other than clinging to Zhengran-ge every day and taking care of you, I¡¯m basically useless¡­"


    Lin Zhengran looked at her smile, but in that smile, he saw a hint of helplessness.


    "So that¡¯s why," he said, "you¡¯ve been insisting on doing everything for me today¡ªbrushing my teeth, washing my feet¡ªtrying to keep me from doing anything myself?"


    Han Wenwen nodded.


    "Mm¡­ I just want to be useful to Zhengran-ge. I want to have a place in your heart. That¡¯s why, before anyone else dares to act spoiled with you, I want to be the first to do it.


    "I¡¯m scared that one day, you¡¯ll start spoiling me less and less. You¡¯ll realize that anyone can act cute and clingy. That¡¯s why I always make you promise to spoil me the most.


    "I¡¯m just afraid of the future, so I try to find security in these silly little promises."


    Lin Zhengran reached out and cupped her cheek, his palm warm against her soft skin.


    Han Wenwen, like a little fox, nuzzled into his touch.


    "You¡¯re wrong," he said gently. "Haven¡¯t you noticed? Your real strength is understanding people¡ªknowing what they¡¯re thinking and feeling.


    "Like earlier today, when we talked about responsibilities, you could clearly see everyone¡¯s strengths, weaknesses, and even their thoughts. That¡¯s something incredibly valuable.


    "That¡¯s why I wanted you to be my secretary. Do you think it¡¯s just because you¡¯re beautiful?" He smirked. "Just because you¡¯re the most beautiful?"


    Han Wenwen let out a small laugh but still looked a little aggrieved. "That¡¯s not what I meant¡­ Wenwen knows I¡¯m not the most beautiful. I just have¡­ a unique charm, that¡¯s all."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "You¡¯re being too modest. But I¡¯m serious. There are things only you can do. There are ways only you can help me. No one else can replace you.


    "You¡¯re one of a kind. Always."


    Han Wenwen stared into his warm eyes, her lips trembling as a smile broke through.


    "Really?"


    "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"


    Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she leaned into him.


    "I want a hug~ I want Zhengran-ge to hold me~"

 Chapter 149: Staying in Bed

    With the blanket between them.


    Han Wenwen kept trying to get closer.


    She pressed her face near him, her eyes seeming to say that these blankets were such a nuisance.


    "Zhengran-gege, what do you think? It¡¯s all these blankets¡¯ fault for keeping us apart."


    Lin Zhengran really had no way to deal with this little fox.


    So, he temporarily lifted the blanket. "Come over, but behave yourself."


    "Mm-hmm~"


    The little fox''s pitiful gaze instantly turned into joy as she happily burrowed into Lin Zhengran¡¯s blanket at the speed of light.


    Even though she was wearing a sweater and stockings, being wrapped in Lin Zhengran¡¯s arms, she still felt satisfied.


    Feeling the warmth of his embrace, she smiled and sighed, "Zhengran-gege¡¯s blanket is much warmer than Wenwen¡¯s, and Zhengran-gege is warm too."


    Her face rested against his chest, and her hands wrapped around his back.


    She even unconsciously clamped his leg between hers.


    Lin Zhengran stroked her long hair, feeling the little fox snuggling harder into his arms.


    But this time, Han Wenwen was actually behaving and didn¡¯t do anything extra. She was a little shy too.


    After a while, her face turned red as she whispered, "Can I stay in this blanket all night? Can I not go back? My blanket is cold."


    Lin Zhengran slowed down his hand as he patted her head. "It¡¯s not even winter yet. How are you cold?"


    "I just am! Girls are naturally cold! Okay, please~ Master~"


    Lin Zhengran let out a long sigh, glancing at the faint light from the curtains. "As long as you keep behaving like this, then fine."


    Han Wenwen smiled and lifted her head slightly to look at him.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her gaze and lowered his head. "What is it now?"


    Han Wenwen shook her head. "Nothing, I just wanted to ask¡­ Am I really one of a kind in Zhengran-gege¡¯s heart? I didn¡¯t get a clear look at your eyes just now, so now I want to stare at you while you say it again."


    Lin Zhengran had no choice but to look into her eyes and repeat, "It¡¯s true. In my heart, Wenwen is one of a kind, a very special existence."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes lit up with a smile, blooming with joy.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him to actually say it again, and that seductive charm of hers became even stronger. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Besides, she had actually seen clearly earlier¡ªasking again was just an excuse to hear it one more time.


    "In the next life, Zhengran-gege, remember to find Wenwen early. Wenwen still wants to be with Zhengran-gege, to always stay with you."


    After saying that, she planted a kiss on Lin Zhengran¡¯s cheek and immediately buried her face in his chest to escape responsibility. "That doesn¡¯t count as misbehaving! I won¡¯t say anything more. I just want to sleep comfortably in Zhengran-gege¡¯s arms. Good night~"


    "Mm, good night."


    Lin Zhengran stopped stroking her head. He had to admit, this little fox really did smell nice.


    With her this close, her scent was everywhere.


    Surprisingly, the night was much quieter than expected.


    After Han Wenwen fell asleep, she even had a dream¡ªdreaming that Lin Zhengran had found her when they were little.


    That back in kindergarten, he had taken care of her, held her hand as she grew up, played games with her, studied with her, and comforted her after her mother left, telling her not to be sad.


    Just like that, they had been childhood sweethearts all the way until today.


    On Sunday morning, after Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran woke up, they had originally planned to continue exploring the places they hadn¡¯t finished visiting yesterday.


    There were still more than ninety places left.


    But in the end, Han Wenwen just refused to get out of bed.


    Even when Lin Zhengran wanted to get up, she wouldn¡¯t let him, clinging to him and acting all spoiled, refusing to let him leave.


    Because she knew that once he got up, she wouldn¡¯t have another chance to lie like this anymore.


    Lin Zhengran: "Aren¡¯t you hungry?"


    "Nope, not hungry at all! You¡¯re not allowed to get up! Weekends are for staying in bed! If Zhengran-gege is hungry, I¡¯ll go get food for you, and you have to eat it in bed. You still can¡¯t get up! Just no getting up!"


    The two of them chatted aimlessly like this, talking about random things while refusing to leave the bed.


    They stayed like that until past 2 PM, when they really couldn¡¯t drag it out any longer.


    Only then did Han Wenwen reluctantly, unhappily crawl out of the blanket, freshen up, and have lunch.


    After that, they took the bus back to school.


    Another week passed, and the Little Star Rankings officially ended.


    Jiang Xueli was, without a doubt, the first place winner.


    And she had completely crushed the second place contestant.


    So, Jiang Jingshi planned to take advantage of Jiang Xueli¡¯s sudden rise in popularity and form a dedicated team for her.


    They would shoot a few music videos and release a couple of new songs.


    A full-on promotional push.

 Chapter 150: Purely Childhood Sweethearts

    ¡¾These past two days, you and the Demon Cult Maiden originally planned to challenge the Yanluo Pagoda for cultivation. It is said that this pagoda was forged by an ancient Demon Lord, possessing supreme pressure within. On the top floor, there are treasures and supreme techniques that can greatly enhance one''s abilities. However, you and the Demon Cult Maiden barely made it past the second floor before the overwhelming pressure of the pagoda forced you to retreat.¡¿


    ¡¾The Demon Cult Maiden even felt physically unwell and weak because of this, so you had no choice but to withdraw temporarily and rest, planning to return another day. After returning to your residence, the two of you spoke from the heart under the moonlight, holding each other closely, officially becoming cultivation partners.¡¿


    ¡¾This was your first official entry into Yanluo Pagoda. Although you did not complete the challenge, the powerful pressure still had an effect on you, strengthening your physical body. Over the past two days, the spiritual energy link between you and the Demon Cult Maiden has also become clearer.¡¿


    ¡¾You have gained +5 Strength, +3 Stamina, and an increase in Spirit Cultivation.¡¿


    Another weekend arrived. On Saturday morning, Lin Zhengran got up from his dormitory bed and went to the sink to brush his teeth and wash his face.


    Although spending time with these three little girls always seemed to trigger random adventures, he hadn''t expected that even shopping with Han Wenwen would count as "tower climbing" in the system¡¯s eyes.


    And according to the system, after visiting all one hundred locations, there would be a mysterious grand prize.


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but grow curious about what kind of reward he would receive.


    It seemed that the next time he was alone with Wenwen, he would have to continue shopping around.


    While washing up, his phone popped up with a message.


    It was from Jiang Jingshi.


    Jiang Jingshi: "Zhengran-di, are you up? When are you planning to come to the company?"


    Lin Zhengran replied: "I¡¯ll definitely be there before nine."


    "Alright, but something suddenly came up for me this morning, so I might be a bit late. You can chat with Sister Zhang about Lily¡¯s matters first, and then I¡¯ll take you to see our new company in the afternoon."


    "No problem."


    The speed at which Jingshi completed the company''s registration procedures was faster than Lin Zhengran had expected.


    It could only be said that she was exceptionally talented when it came to business affairs.


    What normally took others a month, or even half a year, she managed to get done in just one week.


    In this regard, her abilities were indeed unmatched.


    As Lin Zhengran returned to the dormitory to change clothes, another message popped up from Jiang Xueli.


    "Zhengran? Are you awake?"


    It was only a little past 7 AM. Since they had night study yesterday, Jiang Xueli had asked what time they would meet today. Lin Zhengran had casually said around 8 AM.


    So Jiang Xueli had gotten up early, taking on the role of an alarm clock.


    Instead of replying with a message, Lin Zhengran directly called her.


    This startled Jiang Xueli in her dorm, making her fumble with her phone, nearly dropping it several times before she quickly answered and ran to the balcony.


    "Hello? Zhengran? Why are you calling all of a sudden?"


    Lin Zhengran: "Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re already ready?"


    Jiang Xueli let out an "er" sound, glancing at the boys'' dormitory in the distance. "No way! Didn¡¯t you say 8 AM? I just woke up¡­"


    Lin Zhengran let out a long sigh as he gathered his things.


    "Every time I tell you guys a meeting time, you all seem to get ready an hour early. It makes me want to start saying a later time on purpose."


    Jiang Xueli thought to herself, That¡¯s because I want to see you earlier. Even if it¡¯s just five minutes earlier, it¡¯s still worth it.


    She didn¡¯t know what the others thought, but she figured most girls in love would feel the same way.


    In winter, staying in bed was nowhere near as important as seeing Lin Zhengran.


    Hmm¡­ actually, aside from extreme emergencies, nothing was more important than seeing Lin Zhengran.


    Lin Zhengran spoke over the phone: "If you¡¯re already ready, let¡¯s head down. We can grab some breakfast first and meet at the track."


    Jiang Xueli, hearing that it was time to go, grinned widely, revealing her little tiger teeth.


    "Okay! I¡¯m all set! See you at the track entrance!"


    With that, she eagerly pocketed her phone and practically flew down the dormitory stairs, her ponytail bouncing with every step.


    Lin Zhengran knew she had already been ready and also headed downstairs.


    By the time he arrived at the track entrance, Jiang Xueli was already there, naturally moving faster than him.


    From a distance, he spotted the proud little tsundere standing there under the crisp winter morning sunlight.


    She wasn¡¯t standing still¡ªshe was swaying back and forth like she was humming a song.


    Her low twin ponytails shimmered with a hint of gold under the sunlight.


    Compared to Han Wenwen and He Qing, Jiang Xueli¡¯s hair was longer. The other two only had hair that reached just below their shoulders when let down, but Jiang Xueli¡¯s hair already extended past her slim waist.


    Today, the little girl was wearing blue jeans and a gray-and-white wool sweater, looking surprisingly good.


    It was a well-fitted outfit, and anything she wore carried an energetic vibe.


    When Jiang Xueli spotted Lin Zhengran from afar, she waved her hand enthusiastically, as if to say, I¡¯m here! I¡¯m here!


    Lin Zhengran walked up to her, and Jiang Xueli eagerly took a few steps forward to meet him.


    "Zhengran! You¡¯re up so early!"


    Lin Zhengran was curious. "You probably woke up even earlier than me, right? What time did you get up?"


    Jiang Xueli clasped her hands behind her back, her expression betraying her fib.


    The truth was, she had woken up around 4 or 5 AM.


    Not because of an alarm, but because she was so excited to see Lin Zhengran that she naturally woke up way too early.


    Going back to sleep was impossible¡ªshe had just lain there, tossing and turning, thinking about meeting him today.


    "Just around 6:30. Then I brushed my teeth and washed my face, so now it¡¯s 7."


    Even her voice sounded different¡ªshe was a terrible liar.


    Lin Zhengran, already used to her antics, casually lifted his hand and flicked her forehead.


    Jiang Xueli yelped and clutched her head in protest. "Why are you hitting me for no reason?!"


    "You¡¯re terrible at lying. Every time you lie, your eyes wander, and you can¡¯t look at me properly."


    Jiang Xueli stubbornly turned her head away, face flushed. "No way~"


    Truth be told, even on normal days, she didn¡¯t dare to look Lin Zhengran in the eyes for too long.


    There was no way she wouldn¡¯t get shy.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her and commented, "By the way, I haven¡¯t seen you wear this outfit before. It actually looks pretty nice."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned even redder, her voice flustered. "I-it¡¯s nothing special! Just normal clothes! Nothing different!"


    She was clearly feeling pleased.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "Yeah, it¡¯s not much different. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re cute, so the outfit looks extra lively on you."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face practically started steaming. She had no idea when this idiot had started becoming so smooth with his words.


    Yet, at the same time, his tone felt oddly genuine.


    She didn¡¯t know what to make of this personality. "Enough already¡­ I¡¯m not that good-looking."


    Feeling the need to return the compliment, she shyly muttered, "You¡­ You look pretty handsome today too."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at his clothes. "Did I wear anything different from last week?"


    Jiang Xueli had nothing to say. "Nope."


    To her, he always looked good, no matter what he wore¡ªher affection bar was already maxed out.


    Lin Zhengran started walking toward the school gate. "Let¡¯s go, we can grab some breakfast outside while it¡¯s still early."


    "Oh!"


    Jiang Xueli quickly caught up, the two of them walking together with the many other students heading out for the weekend.


    Between them and the food street stood a massive intersection.


    As the light turned red, they stood by the roadside, waiting.


    Jiang Xueli kept her hands clasped behind her back, staying silent, but inside, a storm of emotions was raging.


    It had already been two weeks since they watched that movie together, and since he made her hot brown sugar water when she had cramps.


    A full fifteen days.


    Back then, she really felt like they were together. They had even held hands.


    But ever since that day, with He Qing and Han Wenwen around at school, their daily lives seemed to have returned to normal.


    They ate together, went to class, left school, and joked around as usual.


    It was nice, sure, but Jiang Xueli felt like she had lost all chances to be alone with Lin Zhengran.


    Forget deepening their relationship¡ªshe felt like it was regressing! It was too normal!


    And with the whole Little Star Rankings event taking up their attention, even when they did talk, it was mostly about the rankings.


    They hadn¡¯t talked about anything intimate, nothing couple-like.


    Other couples were out there whispering sweet nothings, kissing, hugging¡­


    Meanwhile, the two of them just talked about music and rankings all day.


    Could this really work?! Even relationships needed maintenance, right?


    Especially since they had just started dating!


    As her thoughts spun in circles, she suddenly noticed a couple arguing on the roadside early in the morning.


    The girl''s voice was loud:


    "What have you been doing all week? You don¡¯t even reply to my messages! I don¡¯t even know where you are!"


    The boy looked innocent, but he was just as irritated. They didn¡¯t seem to be from the same school.


    "I was studying! I¡¯m really busy! Do you think I just play around all day? I have to finish my work first so I can make time to see you! I¡¯m literally doing this so we can be together sooner!"


    "I never said you couldn¡¯t study! I know you¡¯re working hard! But I never get to see you! How am I supposed to date you if I never see you? Are you trying to break up with me again?!"


    The boy: "Fine, break up then! Who¡¯s afraid of who?! Let¡¯s just never see each other again!"


    "Fine! Break up!"


    After that, they stormed off in opposite directions.


    People around them had different reactions¡ªsome sighed, some wanted to laugh.


    But Lin Zhengran? He just thought there was no way those two were actually breaking up.


    High school relationships were often impulsive, but breakups caused by indifference were more likely to be real.


    These two? They were fighting because they missed each other.


    And from the way they looked at each other, all Lin Zhengran saw was sugar-coated drama.


    Breaking up like that?


    Yeah, not happening.


    But while he knew this, Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t.


    That clumsy, tsundere little idiot heard their conversation and froze.


    Suddenly, she realized¡ªwasn¡¯t this exactly how she and Zhengran had been acting all week?


    Even though they saw each other every day, they were too busy with their own things.


    Would Zhengran¡­ break up with her?


    It had only been half a month! Were they already going to split up?!


    ¡­Wait. Again?


    No, no, no! There was absolutely no way she was letting him break up with her!


    It had been eight years! She had finally gotten together with him!


    Did he have any idea what those eight years had been like for her?!


    She wouldn¡¯t break up even if it killed her!


    She had to think of something¡ªfast.


    "Z-Zhengran."


    Lin Zhengran looked at her curiously. "What¡¯s up?"


    Jiang Xueli had no idea what to say.


    When they were with the others, conversation was easy.


    Before dating, she could talk to him for hours.


    But now that they were alone as a couple, she didn¡¯t even know how to start.


    Her eyes darted to a nearby streetlamp, and she blurted out,


    "Zhengran, look at that streetlight. Doesn¡¯t it look old?"


    Lin Zhengran followed her gaze. The lamp was flickering slightly.


    "Looks pretty new to me."


    Jiang Xueli: "¡­"


    She blinked. "N-no way. Didn¡¯t it seem brighter yesterday when we passed by the school gate? It¡¯s dimmer now, so it must be old."


    Lin Zhengran was speechless. "That¡¯s because last night, there were no other light sources. It was dark, so the streetlamp looked brighter. It¡¯s daytime now, so of course it seems dimmer."


    Jiang Xueli awkwardly swallowed.


    "That¡¯s a thing?"


    What the hell am I even saying?! I should¡¯ve just kept my mouth shut! Now he probably thinks I¡¯m an idiot!


    Lin Zhengran looked at her, watching the gears turning in that ridiculous little head of hers.


    How did she even come up with a topic like whether the streetlamp was old or not?


    The red light turned green.


    Jiang Xueli saw people starting to walk across and instinctively stepped forward¡ª


    Only to be pulled back by Lin Zhengran.


    "Wait."


    Before she could react, a car sped past the school gate, honking loudly.


    A wave of angry curses followed.


    Especially from the old security guard:


    "You driving so fast in front of a school¡ªwhat, you trying to get reincarnated early?! Damn brat!"


    He really cared about the students, and he had a sharp tongue.


    Lin Zhengran turned to Jiang Xueli.


    "Why were you in such a hurry? Didn¡¯t you even check for cars?"


    His expression was serious.


    Jiang Xueli rarely saw him actually get mad, and she immediately apologized,


    "S-sorry¡­ I wasn¡¯t paying attention."


    Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.


    "Ow!" She clutched her head. "Why did you hit me?!" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You weren¡¯t even paying attention while crossing the street?"


    "I won¡¯t do it again¡­" She didn¡¯t even dare rub her forehead.


    Only then did Lin Zhengran grab her hand and lead her across.


    Jiang Xueli lowered her head, following him obediently¡ªuntil she noticed their hands.


    When did we start holding hands?


    Was it just now, when he pulled her back?


    Her cheeks burned red. She stared at their intertwined fingers, quietly trailing behind him.


    Lin Zhengran turned back to look at her.


    Jiang Xueli jumped, her body stiffening.


    "I-I really learned my lesson! I¡¯ll check for cars next time before I cross!"


    She looked up at him with big, determined eyes, as if making an oath.


    Lin Zhengran sighed and turned around.


    "As long as you remember."


    Only then did Jiang Xueli breathe a sigh of relief.


    Lin Zhengran rarely seriously got angry, but that look just now?


    Scared her to death.


    Once they crossed the street, Jiang Xueli glanced down at their linked hands.


    Quickly, she took two steps forward so she could walk beside him.


    Then, she gave his hand a little turn¡ªso she could interlock their fingers.


    She beamed.


    Good. Looks like breaking up had nothing to do with her after all.


    "Break up." Lin Zhengran suddenly said.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face froze.


    Just a second ago, she was smiling.


    Now, she turned to stone, her eyes welling up with tears¡ª


    Until she noticed the store in the distance.


    ¡¶Fen Shu Ba¡·.


    A potato chip franchise.


    It even had a subtitle: Official Direct Sale of Potato Chips.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the store. "Didn¡¯t expect to see a snack shop like this near our school. You wanna get some?"


    Immediately, Jiang Xueli snapped out of her panic.


    She wanted to smack him.


    Jiang Xueli blinked at Lin Zhengran, feeling the lump in her throat slowly ease.


    But she wasn¡¯t as much of a snack addict as He Qing.


    "Let¡¯s buy some after breakfast. Just one bag to try."


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Let¡¯s have soup dumplings for breakfast. That shop up ahead is pretty good."


    "Mm!"


    The two of them arrived at the bun shop and ordered three baskets of soup dumplings¡ªtwo beef, one pork.


    Jiang Xueli sat across from Lin Zhengran, grabbing chopsticks and some pickled vegetables.


    While waiting for the food, she stared at Lin Zhengran.


    He, on the other hand, was scrolling through some company documents Jiang Jingshi had sent him earlier.


    Without looking up, he asked, "Why do you keep staring at me? Your brain has been a mess since this morning, hasn¡¯t it?"


    "Huh?" Jiang Xueli¡¯s thoughts were exposed in an instant. "No, I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything!"


    "Oh? Then why did you zone out while waiting for the bus?"


    Jiang Xueli instantly broke into a cold sweat.


    She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.


    Lin Zhengran put his phone down and gave her a knowing look.


    He might not have been able to read every thought in her head, but when it came to overthinking, Jiang Xueli was in a league of her own.


    No one could beat the internal drama she played out in her mind.


    "What did Sister Wang tell you these past two days?"


    Jiang Xueli made a noise of acknowledgment and pulled out her phone, showing Lin Zhengran their chat.


    "Just read it yourself. Sister Wang said I got first place in the Little Star Rankings, right? So she asked me to come in today to discuss filming a personal MV for You Are My Star."


    "She also mentioned something about forming a team for me later on?"


    Jiang Xueli knew what the studio was capable of.


    That tiny little office¡ªwhat kind of "team" could they possibly put together?


    She let out a chuckle. "But I think that¡¯s just empty talk. I¡¯ve known those studio people for years, but I¡¯m not actually close to them. If I work with them, I doubt I¡¯ll be able to shoot anything decent. I bet you wouldn¡¯t agree either."


    To her surprise, Lin Zhengran had a completely different response this time.


    "No, I actually think it¡¯s not just talk. And I think it¡¯s time for you to have a team."


    "A solo singer still needs a team to support them. You need both individual performances and group collaborations¡ªit¡¯s just part of the process."


    "Huh? Seriously? But¡­" Jiang Xueli hesitated. "Didn¡¯t you say before that the studio¡¯s level doesn¡¯t match mine? Wouldn¡¯t working with them just bring me down?"


    "Yeah, that¡¯s what I said before."


    That was back then. Now, things had changed.


    Before, the biggest figure in the studio had been Sister Wang.


    Now, the owner was him.


    As long as he wanted to, Jiang Xueli could have all the resources a music company had to offer.


    Not to mention that Jiang Jingshi¡¯s team was also involved now.


    With the right selection process and Lin Zhengran¡¯s personal guidance, they could definitely form a high-level girl group around Jiang Xueli.


    Lin Zhengran handed her phone back.


    "Before, we were just laying the foundation. Now that the foundation is set, it¡¯s time to step onto the stage. Forming a team, releasing new songs, filming MVs¡ªit¡¯s a full process. If my guess is right, in less than six months, you¡¯ll be ridiculously famous. You¡¯ll probably even be holding your own concert."


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t usually believe what other people said.


    But if Lin Zhengran said it, she always believed him.


    "A¡­ concert?"


    Looking at his confident gaze, she felt both excited and nervous.


    A concert was every singer¡¯s dream.


    "I can hold a concert? But so far, I¡¯ve only competed in a small-town contest."


    "That¡¯s enough. With the right resources, you could¡¯ve been famous already with your previous level, let alone now. Just trust yourself. And if you can¡¯t do that, then trust me."


    Jiang Xueli pursed her lips, staring at him eagerly.


    Just then, three baskets of steaming hot soup dumplings arrived.


    Lin Zhengran picked up his chopsticks. "Eat first."


    Jiang Xueli nodded and picked up a dumpling, chewing on it slowly.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her hair and asked curiously, "By the way, don¡¯t you need a haircut? Your hair¡¯s gotten really long."


    Jiang Xueli looked down and saw that her twin ponytails nearly reached her waist when she sat down.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s a bit long. I¡¯ll see if I have time today. If I¡¯m not too busy, I¡¯ll go get it trimmed in the evening."


    Lin Zhengran dipped his dumpling in chili oil. "I¡¯ll go with you tonight."


    Jiang Xueli was surprised and looked up at him.


    She dipped her dumpling in the same chili oil, a little shy. "Okay."


    After that, Lin Zhengran continued eating.


    Jiang Xueli suddenly giggled. "You eat so fast. Can¡¯t you slow down a bit? It makes me anxious just watching you."


    Lin Zhengran: "I¡¯ve always eaten like this since I was little."


    Jiang Xueli sighed. "That¡¯s true. You¡¯ve always eaten fast. I kept telling you there¡¯s no benefit to it, but you never listened. You never change."


    Lin Zhengran reached for a napkin, but before he could, Jiang Xueli had already grabbed two and handed them to him instinctively.


    She asked, "But is beef dumpling really that good? You¡¯ve been eating it for years."


    "Haven¡¯t you been eating pork dumplings for years too?"


    "Yeah, but I still don¡¯t get why you like beef. It¡¯s too chewy."


    Saying that, she took a beef dumpling from Lin Zhengran¡¯s basket and popped it into her mouth.


    After chewing for a moment, she concluded, "Yup, still too chewy. Not tasty."


    Lin Zhengran watched her puffed-up cheeks as she chewed and was reminded of their elementary school days.


    Back then, they had always eaten together, and she would constantly steal his food.


    Feeling nostalgic, he took one of her pork dumplings and tried it.


    "Still, beef is better when it comes to soup dumplings."


    Jiang Xueli let out a tsk, unwilling to back down. "What do you know about soup dumplings, you big idiot?! Pork is obviously the best!"


    Out of the three girls, the one who knew Lin Zhengran best was Jiang Xueli.


    And the one who knew Jiang Xueli best was also Lin Zhengran.


    Though Lin Zhengran sometimes noticed these things, Jiang Xueli never really thought about it.


    She had never paid attention to the fact that she spent her entire life bickering with him.


    That from the moment they met, they had always been together, never separating.


    The purest childhood sweethearts.

 Chapter 151: My Money Is All with Him

    After breakfast, Lin Zhengran took Jiang Xueli to the new location of the music studio by taxi.


    While waiting for the car, Jiang Xueli scrolled through the message from Wang Lan that had been sent to all the studio''s singers.


    "Hey Zhengran, did you know? Our studio seems to have moved. Sister Wang sent a group announcement two days ago saying the old studio was rented out, and they changed locations. And they even changed the name! Now it¡¯s called ¡®Zhengshi Music Co., Ltd.¡¯ Sounds a bit fancier now. The name¡­ it sounds nice, but I feel like something¡¯s a little off. I just can¡¯t put my finger on it."


    Her instincts were sharp, but since Jiang Xueli never thought to connect Zheng and Shi with Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi¡¯s names, she couldn¡¯t figure out what was strange.


    A taxi pulled up in front of them, and Lin Zhengran opened the door. "I know about the rental. Didn¡¯t Sister Wang¡¯s studio run into some issues two weeks ago? So now it¡¯s merged with Jiang Jingshi¡¯s studio."


    "Oh¡­ wait, what?!"


    Jiang Xueli followed him into the car, still in shock. "Sister Wang¡¯s studio merged with Jiang Jingshi¡¯s? So¡­ our studio got bought out?!"


    "No, a buyout would mean Sister Wang has no shares. A merger means she still has a stake in the company. It¡¯s just that since she doesn¡¯t have many resources right now, her shares are smaller than Jiang Jingshi¡¯s."


    "So Sister Wang is working under Jiang Jingshi now?"


    The taxi drove off, disappearing into the city.


    At nearly the same time, Han Wenwen and He Qing walked out of the school gates.


    The two best friends crossed the street hand in hand, drawing plenty of attention from passing boys. Pretty girls always attracted stares.


    "Wenwen, did you hear?" He Qing said. "Some classmates were saying there¡¯s a new snack shop that just opened on this street. Apparently, they have a ton of variety."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes sparkled. "Of course, I heard! Why else would I come out for breakfast today? I came just to check out the new shop! This time, it¡¯s on me, Qingqing!"


    He Qing checked her phone. "No need, you treated me last time. I still have some money left."


    Han Wenwen peeked at her screen¡ªonly twenty yuan left. She was shocked. "You only have twenty left?! How did you spend it so fast? Didn¡¯t Auntie just send you money a few days ago?"


    He Qing gave her a knowing smile. "That¡¯s not the point. My wallet might be empty, but I just need to ask Zhengran for a little, and I¡¯ll have enough for next week¡¯s meals."


    Han Wenwen looked confused. "You¡¯re asking Lin Zhengran for money? You guys are¡­ pooling your money together now?"


    He Qing answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world, her face blushing slightly.


    "Of course! Lin Zhengran is my boyfriend, so of course he keeps the money. Now, whenever my mom sends me money, I transfer it all to him. And my leftover prize money too¡ªit¡¯s all with him. If I need to buy something, I just ask him for a little."


    Saying that, He Qing sent Lin Zhengran a message.


    He Qing: "Lin Zhengran, I want to buy some snacks. There¡¯s a new snack shop near the school gate, but I don¡¯t have much money left. Can you send me 100 yuan? I¡¯ll send you pictures after I buy them, I promise I won¡¯t waste it!"


    Not long after, Lin Zhengran sent her 100 yuan.


    Lin Zhengran: "No need to send pictures. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t trust you."


    He Qing: "Hehe, I¡¯ll send them anyway! Girls should always report to their boyfriends about what they buy. Do you want anything? I can get some for you too! (cute sticker)"


    Lin Zhengran: "No need, you go ahead. I haven¡¯t been craving snacks lately."


    He Qing: "Oh¡­ okay!"


    After chatting, He Qing waved her phone in front of Han Wenwen with a bright smile. "See, Wenwen? Zhengran sent me another hundred. That should be enough for next week¡¯s expenses!"


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes, filled with envy.


    But she suddenly remembered that back in middle school, when she tried giving money to Zhengran-gege, he wouldn¡¯t accept it.


    So why was he taking He Qing¡¯s money now?!


    No, no, this needed to be addressed.


    She needed to find a time to talk to Zhengran-gege about this.


    She also wanted to give him all her money and ask him for spending money like He Qing!


    That was how couples were supposed to be, right?


    What was the point of a girl keeping money herself?


    Only when a boy spent recklessly, or when a girl didn¡¯t trust him, would she hold onto the money.


    Normally, the one in charge of the household should keep it!


    "Wenwen? What are you thinking about? Why so quiet?" He Qing asked, noticing Han Wenwen spacing out.


    Han Wenwen snapped back to reality and smiled. "Nothing, nothing. Just thinking¡­ you and Lin Zhengran sure are getting closer. Even your wallets are combined now."


    She spoke with clear admiration.


    He Qing grinned. "It¡¯s just that I¡¯d waste money if I held onto it myself. I don¡¯t trust myself with it. But if he¡¯s holding it, I feel at ease."


    Han Wenwen let out a slightly displeased sigh and made a mental note of this. "Let¡¯s go find that shop!"


    "Mm!"


    The two snack-loving girls walked ahead excitedly until they spotted the store¡ª¡¶Fen Shu Ba¡·.


    Hand in hand, they eagerly ran inside.


    Just as Lin Zhengran had guessed, these two went crazy at the sight of a snack shop.


    Unlike Jiang Xueli.


    Earlier that morning, he and Jiang Xueli had agreed to buy a bag of chips to try after breakfast.


    But as soon as they left, they completely forgot about it. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t like snacks, but their interest in them was pathetically small.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the taxi had been driving for over thirty minutes, moving away from the city center.


    They finally arrived at the entrance of an extravagant two-story music company.


    Before, Wang Lan¡¯s studio had looked like just another storefront from the outside, only feeling slightly more spacious after stepping in.


    But this place¡­


    Even from the outside, it screamed luxury.


    It didn¡¯t feel like a studio at all!


    Though only two stories tall, it had a massive footprint with grand height and width.


    There were even security guards and a surrounding courtyard wall.


    It looked completely professional.


    As they stepped out of the taxi, Jiang Xueli stood beside Lin Zhengran, gazing up at the impressive building.


    On the courtyard wall, large characters gleamed under the sun¡ªZhengshi Music Media Co., Ltd.


    Jiang Xueli sighed in awe. "This new place is so fancy!"


    Although Lin Zhengran had already been here a few times two weeks ago, he was still surprised.


    In just half a month, the name, entrance, and even the walls had been renovated, making it look even more official.


    And this was just a branch company. It wasn¡¯t even the main headquarters.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine how much money Jiang Jingshi had invested in this within just two weeks.


    She was really serious about this new company.


    Fortunately, Lin Zhengran had already planned ahead.


    As long as he personally trained the staff and managed the company well, they would earn back the investment within a year.


    The two of them walked up to the gate.


    The security guard was a young man, probably a university student. "Do you have an entry pass?"


    Jiang Xueli pulled out her phone. "No, I used to be with Sister Wang¡¯s studio. It got merged, right? I¡¯m here to check in."


    The guard glanced at the information and nodded. "Alright, you can go in. What about him?"

 Chapter 152: Zhengran, Why Are They Calling You President Lin?

    Lin Zhengran instinctively said, ¡°I came with her.¡±


    ¡°With her? Weren¡¯t you a former member of the studio? Sorry, but I can¡¯t let you in. This place is strictly for internal personnel¡ª¡±


    Before the young security guard could finish his sentence, a woman in her thirties suddenly rushed out from inside the company.


    She had short hair that reached her neckline, not the type to give off a strong corporate presence but more of a mature academic vibe. She had a high-class appearance and wore a women''s suit.


    Lin Zhengran had seen her before¡ªduring the previous meeting with Jiang Jingshi, Sister Wang, and that young male artist in the office. This was the woman who had poured tea for everyone.


    At that time, Jiang Jingshi hadn¡¯t even let her pour tea for herself. If he remembered correctly, this woman was Jiang Jingshi¡¯s secretary or assistant.


    ¡°President Lin! I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be here this early. I was caught up with something just now and got delayed in receiving you, truly my apologies.¡± She approached quickly, speaking as she jogged over.


    The title "President Lin" didn¡¯t immediately register with anyone¡ªincluding Jiang Xueli¡ªso she was still stuck on what the young security guard had just said. She insisted, ¡°He can¡¯t enter? Of course, he can! He¡¯s always accompanied me before. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can call Sister Wang right now and you¡¯ll hear for yourself.¡±


    The young security guard, seeing the woman arrive, didn¡¯t pay much attention to what Lin Zhengran or Jiang Xueli were saying. Instead, he nodded toward her.


    ¡°Sister Pan! You¡¯re here!¡±


    The woman¡¯s full name was Pan Lin. She treated Lin Zhengran with great respect, afraid he might not have heard her explanation, so she quickly clarified why she was late.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to arrive so early. President Jiang told me you¡¯d be here at nine, so I thought I had more time. I didn¡¯t expect you to come before eight. My poor reception, truly sorry.¡±


    Pan Lin seemed a little flustered, clearly nervous about arriving late.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t mind. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I did come earlier than planned.¡±


    Pan Lin glanced at the security guard, who still looked a bit confused, and waved her hand, signaling him to continue his post. The meaning was clear¡ªshe would personally handle President Lin¡¯s reception.


    The young security guard nodded. He didn¡¯t understand much of what was going on, but he knew enough to follow orders. Returning to his post at the entrance, he couldn¡¯t help but glance back at Lin Zhengran, wondering who exactly this young man was.


    Wasn¡¯t Sister Pan President Jiang¡¯s secretary? Even Sister Wang was polite to her in the company, yet she was so deferential to this young man. Could he be some big boss¡¯s son? But that didn¡¯t seem right either¡ªhe looked even younger than himself.


    Just who was he?


    Pan Lin continued, ¡°President Lin, let me take you inside first. President Wang is still in a meeting with the members. She probably didn¡¯t expect you this early;otherwise, she would¡¯ve come to greet you personally.¡±


    Lin Zhengran could tell her nervousness was making the atmosphere awkward. He nodded. ¡°Alright. But there¡¯s no need to be so formal¡ªthere¡¯s no need for everyone to come and greet me.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, listening from the side, was utterly confused, her head filled with question marks.


    What was with all these "President" titles? And who was this woman? She¡¯d never seen her before. None of this made any sense.


    As the three of them walked into the company, Jiang Xueli whispered to Lin Zhengran, ¡°Zhengran, who is she?¡±


    Pan Lin seemed to notice Jiang Xueli¡¯s confusion. She recognized her.


    ¡°Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Pan Lin, President Jiang¡¯s secretary. She had something to do this morning and won¡¯t be back until noon, so she left me here to temporarily receive President Lin.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡± So this woman was Jiang Jingshi¡¯s secretary. Jiang Xueli quickly greeted her, ¡°I¡¯m Jiang Xueli. Hello, Sister.¡±


    Pan Lin smiled and nodded. ¡°Hello, I know you. I¡¯ve been keeping up with the Little Star Rankings recently¡ªyou¡¯re our company¡¯s most outstanding singer.¡±


    Jiang Xueli grinned sheepishly, feeling a bit unworthy of the praise. ¡°Not really¡­¡± Then she hesitated. ¡°But President Lin¡­ Who exactly is she talking about? Zhengran?¡±


    Pan Lin hadn¡¯t expected her to ask this. Did this girl not know?


    ¡°Uh¡­ President Lin is President Lin. Who else could it be?¡±


    ¡°Huh? It really is Zhengran?¡± Jiang Xueli stared at Lin Zhengran. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled at her. ¡°It¡¯s a bit complicated. I¡¯ll explain it to you properly later.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was even more confused. She had been with Zhengran almost every day¡ªgoing to and from school together. Except for the two days he had taken leave the previous week, she had seen him constantly.


    But now, it felt like she had been missing from his life for years¡ªlike something major had happened, and she was the only one left in the dark.


    They walked a few steps further into the company.


    As soon as they stepped through the entrance, the sensor doors slid open. Jiang Xueli¡¯s bright, clear eyes widened in shock.


    The spacious lobby had sleek, high-end, and modern decorations on the walls.


    Not only were there elevators on both sides, but also a grand spiral staircase, along with various soundproofed music rooms and large posters. The entire setup was on a completely different level compared to the old studio¡ªlike night and day.


    It felt like they had walked into the ultimate dream music base.


    At that moment, in the far end of the first-floor lobby, a long line of singers stood neatly in formation.


    There were at least a hundred of them, all standing silently.


    At the front, Wang Lan¡ªSister Wang¡ªwas addressing them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve all been here for over a week now, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve gotten familiar with the environment. According to¡ª¡±


    Hearing the door open, Wang Lan turned her head. Seeing Lin Zhengran, her face instantly filled with surprise and a hint of panic.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him to arrive so early.


    After what had happened last time, Wang Lan was now very aware of Lin Zhengran¡¯s current status. Without hesitation, she paused the meeting, telling the singers to wait for a moment, and then quickly jogged over.


    ¡°President Lin! Why are you here so early? I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d arrive this soon¡ªso sorry¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. Sister Wang¡¯s attitude had completely changed since last time. She had always been kind to him before, but now, there was unmistakable respect in her tone.


    Pan Lin, noticing Wang Lan¡¯s anxious expression, felt a similar panic earlier. If she didn¡¯t handle Lin Zhengran¡¯s reception properly, President Jiang would definitely be furious¡ªnot just a little, but extremely angry.


    After all, anyone who worked closely with President Jiang knew that Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi¡¯s relationship wasn¡¯t just business partners or simple friends.


    President Jiang even referred to him as her fianc¨¦ from time to time¡ªenough said.


    Pan Lin explained, ¡°I originally planned to come and wait for him at eight, but I didn¡¯t expect President Lin to arrive even earlier. So as soon as I saw him outside, I rushed over.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. So, Sister Wang, you were in a meeting?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the weekend, so I was holding an early meeting. Since I knew you and President Jiang were coming today, I wanted to set aside time for you.¡±


    Throughout their conversation, it seemed no one had paid much attention to Jiang Xueli standing beside Lin Zhengran.


    When Wang Lan had rushed over, Jiang Xueli had quickly greeted her¡ªbut Sister Wang had been so nervous that she didn¡¯t even hear her.


    Listening to their conversation, Jiang Xueli started feeling something was off¡­


    Was Sister Wang¡¯s status actually lower than Zhengran¡¯s?


    Back in the studio, she hadn¡¯t treated him with this much respect.


    As soon as that thought crossed Jiang Xueli¡¯s mind, Wang Lan happened to greet her. ¡°Lili, you¡¯re here too. Haven¡¯t seen you in two weeks.¡±


    Jiang Xueli responded, ¡°Morning, Sister Wang. Last week, I saw the announcement in the group chat about the studio¡¯s restructuring, so I didn¡¯t come by. Since I had time this week, I decided to drop in.¡± She glanced at the rows of singers standing in formation in the distance and asked quietly, ¡°Should I go line up too? I wasn¡¯t part of the meeting.¡±


    Wang Lan and Pan Lin both looked toward Lin Zhengran.


    With him here, Wang Lan knew she had to defer to him first.


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Sister Wang, Lili doesn¡¯t need to join the meeting, right? After all, she¡¯s mainly here today for a separate discussion.¡±


    Wang Lan quickly nodded. ¡°Of course, Lili doesn¡¯t need to attend.¡±


    Jiang Xueli blinked at Wang Lan, then at Lin Zhengran, then at this new acquaintance, Sister Pan¡­


    Why did it feel like they were all listening to Zhengran?


    What the hell was going on?!


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Sister Wang, go ahead and continue your meeting. We¡¯ll wait for Sister Jiang to return before discussing official matters.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then you two go rest in the office. I¡¯ll find you once the meeting is over.¡±


    Pan Lin added, ¡°Perfect timing. I¡¯ll take President Lin to see his new office.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded, and Wang Lan returned to the singers to continue the meeting.


    Among the hundred or so singers, many of them recognized Lin Zhengran. They were former artists from Wang Lan¡¯s previous studio and knew that he was Lili¡¯s boyfriend¡ªhe had often come by when she was recording.


    But now, something felt¡­ different.


    Even though they couldn¡¯t clearly hear the conversation just now, the way the three interacted didn¡¯t make Lin Zhengran seem like just an ordinary guest.


    Aside from Wang Lan, Pan Lin, and Lin Zhengran, nearly everyone else was completely baffled, their curiosity about this young man growing.


    As Lin Zhengran, Jiang Xueli, and Pan Lin made their way upstairs, Wang Lan finally clarified to the gathered singers.


    ¡°You all saw President Lin just now, right? This afternoon, he will be conducting a comprehensive training session for all of you. It¡¯ll be a long session, so don¡¯t schedule anything else. Make sure you¡¯re prepared¡ªit¡¯ll be extremely beneficial to you.¡±


    Upstairs, Pan Lin opened the door to Lin Zhengran¡¯s office.


    While his expression remained calm, Jiang Xueli froze at what she overheard.


    Zhengran was going to train everyone? Why?


    The amount of new information was overwhelming. What was happening?!


    Why did she know nothing about any of this?!


    Inside, Lin Zhengran¡¯s office was similar to Jiang Jingshi¡¯s. A sofa, coffee table, desk, and filing cabinets¡ªsimple yet high-end, with a nearly identical interior style to Jiang Jingshi¡¯s.


    The only real difference was that the feminine touches had been swapped out for a more masculine design.


    Pan Lin introduced, ¡°This is President Lin¡¯s office. It¡¯s right next to President Jiang¡¯s. As for the headquarters office, it¡¯s still under renovation. President Jiang said she¡¯d personally take you to see it once it¡¯s ready. I can¡¯t disclose the layout details here.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, still in a daze, stammered, ¡°Headquarters¡­?¡±


    What did she mean by headquarters now?!


    Pan Lin smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare some tea for President Lin. You two can rest here for a while.¡±


    With that, she left the office, gently closing the door behind her.


    Finally, only Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran were left in the office.


    Lin Zhengran examined the office layout, then sat down in front of the computer, booting it up to check various files. The company¡¯s artist profiles had already been uploaded.


    Before he could go through them in detail, a certain someone suddenly grabbed his arm and started shaking him violently.


    Her voice came out stammering, trembling, as if her brain had turned into a tangled ball of yarn.


    ¡°Z-Z-Z-Zhengran! Zhengran! What the hell is going on?! Tell me everything right now! What¡¯s happened?!¡±


    She was shaking him so hard his brain felt like it was being scrambled.


    Even his hand on the mouse wobbled unsteadily.


    Jiang Xueli, like a machine-gun, rattled off question after question.


    ¡°Why are people calling you President Lin?! Why do you have your own office?! What does headquarters even mean?! Why are you giving them training?! Why is Sister Wang suddenly so respectful to you?! Hurry up and explain what¡¯s going on!!¡±


    Lin Zhengran exhaled a long breath, raised his hand amid her violent shaking, and¡ªsmack¡ªflicked her forehead.


    Jiang Xueli yelped in pain, jerking her head back, finally calming down a little.


    She stopped shaking him.


    Clutching her forehead, she complained, ¡°That one really hurt! What was that for?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned to her. ¡°Why are you panicking? You nearly shook my brain loose. Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m now one of the¡­¡± He paused, choosing the right term. ¡°One of the people in charge here, along with Sister Wang and Sister Jiang. That¡¯s why they call me President Lin.¡±


    ¡°WHAT?!¡± Jiang Xueli completely forgot the pain in her forehead.


    ¡°What do you mean one of the people in charge? Are you saying that this company¡ª¡± She stretched out her arms dramatically. ¡°¡ªthis huge, fancy company¡ªhas you as part of it?! You¡¯re a boss now?! Like, a real boss who gets annual dividends?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Pretty much. Any profits the company makes, I get a share.¡±


    ¡°No way! But where did you get the money to start a company?! Isn¡¯t that super expensive?!¡±


    Regarding the money issue, Lin Zhengran had actually discussed this with Jiang Jingshi in detail.


    Right now, practically all the funding was coming from her, and it was a huge sum.


    Compared to her, the money he had was insignificant¡ªhe was just contributing his presence.


    But for some reason, Jiang Jingshi insisted on giving him a major stake in the company.


    So, he made her a promise.


    Lin Zhengran had personally guaranteed that within six months, he would increase the company¡¯s profit by at least 60%.


    If he failed¡ª


    Jiang Jingshi had covered his mouth before he could even finish, already knowing what he was about to say.


    ¡°Zhengran, you¡¯re not allowed to say anything negative about yourself. I trust you completely. When you trust someone, you trust them fully. If we lose money, I¡¯ll bear it myself¡ªyou¡¯re still the boss. And if we profit, we profit together.¡±


    For Lin Zhengran, making money with a platform like this was incredibly easy. He had only said six months to be conservative¡ªit wouldn¡¯t even take that long.


    In a way, his promise was simply a way to acknowledge how much Jiang Jingshi believed in him.


    Even so, he was still surprised at the extent of her trust.


    So at the time, he had simply replied, ¡°Then I won¡¯t say anything else. Sister Jiang, just wait and see in six months.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi had smiled warmly and nodded.


    Now, he explained to Jiang Xueli, ¡°I didn¡¯t invest money¡ªjust myself. I promised Jiang Jingshi that within six months, I¡¯d increase the company¡¯s profits by over 50%, which is why I became an investor.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s jaw nearly dropped. ¡°Over 50%?! How much is the company making now?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Do you mean individually or combined?¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, Zhengshi Company is structured as a headquarters model. Just now, you asked what headquarters meant, right? This is what it means¡ªcurrently, Zhengshi Company owns three subsidiaries: Zhengshi Sports, Zhengshi Music, and Zhengshi Streaming. We¡¯re in the music division now, so are you asking about¡ª¡±


    ¡°WAIT!¡± Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened as she practically screamed, ¡°You mean this company is only a subsidiary?! There are two more?! And then there¡¯s a headquarters on top of that?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but flick her forehead again. She winced.


    ¡°Keep your voice down! Good thing the music company¡¯s glass is soundproof¡ªotherwise, you¡¯d be screaming everyone¡¯s ears off. Yes, this is one of the subsidiaries. There are two more, making four companies in total.¡±


    ¡°Then how are you supposed to meet that promise?! That¡¯s insane!¡±


    ¡°You think I can¡¯t?¡± Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Since I dared to make the promise, of course, I have a plan.¡±


    Jiang Xueli looked into his eyes. Though she felt this kind of promise was a bit exaggerated¡­ she had always believed in Lin Zhengran.


    She had never been wrong following him.


    Suddenly, she laughed. ¡°Then if you succeed, Zhengran, how much will you be making in a year?¡±


    ¡°How would I know? It¡¯s based on dividends. If I fulfill my promise within six months, my earnings will be based on my shares after that.¡±


    Jiang Xueli racked her brain. ¡°I get it now. So that¡¯s why you¡¯re giving everyone a unified training session later¡ªbecause this company will be yours in the future. That means¡­ you¡¯re my boss now?!¡±


    ¡°Mm. From now on, we can train here, but I¡¯ll still train you one-on-one. The others will get group training. After all, I¡¯ve personally trained you since we were kids¡ªyou¡¯re different from them.¡±


    For a music company to make money, it mainly needed to focus on nurturing just three or four key artists, or even just one or two.


    Spreading resources too thin wouldn¡¯t bring in profits.


    In fact, in the future, Jiang Xueli alone might end up contributing over half of the company¡¯s earnings.


    Just as she was about to say something else, Pan Lin returned, carrying a tray with freshly brewed tea. ¡°President Lin, Lili, the tea is ready.¡±


    Jiang Xueli instinctively straightened up and replied nervously. Now that she understood the situation, she suddenly felt a bit excited.


    If Zhengran was now the boss, didn¡¯t that mean¡­ she was technically the boss¡¯s wife?


    And in the future, all the money she earned would practically be going into her own household! Zhengran would also be making a ton of money!


    Lin Zhengran got up to grab his tea, glancing at Jiang Xueli, who was still lost in thought.


    He smiled at her.


    Jiang Xueli, a little flustered, smiled back.


    Then she followed him to sit on the couch.


    Pan Lin placed the tea in front of them. ¡°President Jiang¡¯s driver just called. She¡¯s already on her way back and should arrive in about ten minutes. Please wait a little longer.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go tidy up President Jiang¡¯s office. If you need anything, just call me¡ªI¡¯ll be right next door.¡± With that, she exited the room, gently closing the door behind her.


    Jiang Xueli let out a breath only after Pan Lin left, then exchanged looks with Lin Zhengran.


    Lin Zhengran curiously gazed into her bright, sparkling eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? More questions?¡±


    Jiang Xueli shook her head, her twin ponytails swaying.


    She grinned. ¡°Nothing¡­ just thinking that you suddenly became so impressive. And not just a little impressive¡ªvery impressive.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not really sudden. It was bound to happen eventually. Didn¡¯t I tell you before that signing you with the studio was just a temporary step? In the end, I always planned to keep you by my side.¡±


    Jiang Xueli beamed and nodded.


    A few moments later, Wang Lan finished the meeting with the singers downstairs and headed up to discuss business with Lin Zhengran.


    At the same time, a Rolls-Royce pulled up at the company entrance.


    The security guard immediately lifted the barrier and greeted the passenger. ¡°Good day, President Jiang!¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled, and in the distance, Pan Lin hurried over to meet her. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°President Jiang, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    She promptly opened the car door for her.


    Jiang Jingshi asked, ¡°Zhengran is already here, right? What time did you receive him?¡±


    Pan Lin, feeling extremely on edge, cautiously recounted the morning¡¯s events. She knew this wasn¡¯t something she could gloss over¡ªif she tried to cover it up and Jiang Jingshi found out later, it would be much worse.


    ¡°President Jiang¡­ President Lin arrived at eight this morning. I thought he¡¯d be coming at nine, so when I was busy downstairs at eight¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s elegant brows furrowed, her expression gradually darkening.


    ¡°What did you say? Didn¡¯t I tell you to go down early to wait for him? Why did I leave you here if not for that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Jiang¡­ I¡­¡± She knew Jiang Jingshi would be upset, but she hadn¡¯t expected such a drastic change in her expression. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t upset, was he?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ President Lin is very kind. He was very polite to me.¡±


    ¡°I figured Zhengran wouldn¡¯t get angry over something so small. But don¡¯t let it happen again¡ªlearn from this.¡±


    Pan Lin nodded carefully. ¡°Understood, President Jiang.¡±


    With that, she followed Jiang Jingshi into the company.


    She felt slightly relieved now, but one thing was clear¡ªcompared to everyone else, Lin Zhengran definitely held a special place in Jiang Jingshi¡¯s heart.


    After all, when Jiang Jingshi had her investigate things, she had discovered that Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran had known each other since childhood.


    Childhood sweetheart connections were no joke.


    Jiang Jingshi entered the building and headed straight to the second floor, where she found Lin Zhengran talking with Wang Lan in the office.


    ¡°Zhengran, Sister Wang, sorry for being late.¡±


    As soon as she entered, Lin Zhengran, Jiang Xueli, and Wang Lan all stood up to greet her.


    ¡°President Jiang.¡±


    ¡°Sister Jiang.¡±


    ¡°President Jiang¡­¡± The last greeting came from Jiang Xueli.


    Jiang Jingshi walked over to them, but her eyes landed on Lin Zhengran first.


    ¡°Have a seat,¡± she said before turning to Jiang Xueli. ¡°Lili, you¡¯re here too? Then let¡¯s get straight to business.¡±

 Chapter 153: Sister Will Listen to You

    Since everyone was present, Jiang Jingshi got straight to the point.


    The three of them first discussed the new benefits system for the singers after the company merger. Jiang Jingshi felt that since Wang Jie¡¯s artists had transitioned from a small town to the city, their daily commute was a hassle. She believed they should at least arrange shuttle buses and provide additional subsidies for those traveling long distances. There were also other benefits that needed improvement.


    Lin Zhengran had no objections to this¡ªJiang Jingshi had enough experience in these matters.


    Sister Wang also shared her thoughts.


    Afterward, the three of them discussed the formation of new music groups. The company had decided to establish three music teams, with Jiang Xueli¡¯s girl group as the top priority for resources.


    They planned to push her new MV, organize a press release for her song, promote it through video platforms, and schedule interviews. With the unexpected popularity boost from the Little Star Rankings, as long as Jiang Xueli¡¯s new song maintained its quality, it would be easy for her to blow up.


    On top of that, Jiang Jingshi brought good news.


    She handed over a contract.


    ¡°This morning, I spoke with a fairly well-known director. He wants to use Lili¡¯s original song, Whale, as the ending theme for an upcoming movie.


    I watched the movie myself¡ªit¡¯s well made. Zhengran and Sister Wang, if you¡¯re interested, I can introduce you to the director so you can add him on WeChat.


    Even though an ending theme doesn¡¯t get as much exposure as the main theme, given Lili¡¯s current level of fame, this is still great publicity. Lili, what do you think?


    Take a look at the contract amount¡ªhow does it sound? If you¡¯re willing, we can finalize the deal in a few days.¡±


    Jiang Xueli had been listening to the conversation but felt like everything they were discussing was way too high-level.


    She was just a student¡ªhow had she suddenly gotten involved in company affairs?!


    Now that Jiang Jingshi was asking her opinion, she had no idea what to say. ¡°Me? I¡­¡± She turned to Lin Zhengran, not even registering the money part. ¡°Zhengran, what do you think? I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran skimmed the contract and nodded at Jiang Xueli. ¡°I think it¡¯s a good opportunity. As long as the movie isn¡¯t complete garbage, there¡¯s no downside.¡±


    Jiang Xueli smiled and nodded. ¡°If Zhengran says it¡¯s good, then it¡¯s good.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi observed their dynamic and smiled. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. That wraps up everything, right? All that¡¯s left is Zhengran¡¯s training session this afternoon and Lili¡¯s MV shoot today and tomorrow.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was caught off guard. ¡°The filming starts today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is your solo MV. We¡¯ll begin today with indoor scenes, then shoot the outdoor segments tomorrow. Next week, once Zhengran picks the right team for you, we¡¯ll plan the rest.¡±


    After wrapping up the meeting, Wang Jie took Jiang Xueli backstage for makeup and a wardrobe change. The indoor MV shoot would happen in the afternoon, followed by the outdoor shoot on Sunday.


    Lin Zhengran had volunteered to accompany her for the outdoor filming.


    As Jiang Xueli and Wang Jie left, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi stood at the office door, watching them go.


    Pan Lin was also standing nearby.


    She noticed Jiang Jingshi looking visibly exhausted¡ªclearly, she had been working herself to the bone lately.


    As a highly perceptive secretary, Pan Lin offered, ¡°President Jiang, your office hasn¡¯t been tidied in a few days. I¡¯ll go clean it up. Let me know if you need anything.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at her and hummed in agreement. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Pan Lin nodded, intentionally giving Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran some alone time. After all, if she was busy cleaning the office, President Jiang had the perfect excuse to stay here instead of returning to her own office.


    It was likely what Jiang Jingshi wanted too¡ªshe didn¡¯t seem inclined to go back and rest.


    After Pan Lin left, Jiang Jingshi noticed Jiang Xueli looking back at them while heading downstairs.


    Lin Zhengran waved at her.


    Jiang Xueli smiled brightly in response.


    Jiang Jingshi turned to him. ¡°Zhengran, you really dote on Lili, huh? Even following her to the MV shoot tomorrow.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°She¡¯s been with me since childhood. If I¡¯m not there, she¡¯ll probably feel nervous.¡±


    ¡°I could tell. When we mentioned filming outdoors, the moment you said you¡¯d be there, she visibly relaxed. You¡¯re really important to her.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s expression was subtle, carrying a hint of jealousy.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t comment and instead glanced at her, noticing how fatigued she seemed.


    ¡°Since Sister Pan is cleaning your office, why don¡¯t you rest here for a while? I already noticed you looked tired during the meeting.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled gently. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just wanted to make sure Lili¡¯s first collaboration went smoothly. That¡¯s why I had the movie contract reviewed by our lawyers this morning. I only came back after confirming there were no issues.¡±


    The two of them returned to Lin Zhengran¡¯s office and shut the door.


    Jiang Jingshi sat on the couch and glanced down at her heels.


    Lin Zhengran noticed. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I can lock the door, and you can take off your shoes to relax.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi hesitated but then chuckled. ¡°Then I won¡¯t keep up appearances in front of you, Zhengran.¡±


    She really was exhausted.


    She pulled out her phone and messaged Pan Lin.


    Shortly after, Pan Lin brought over a small, fluffy footrest.


    Lin Zhengran took it from her, locked the door, and handed it to Jiang Jingshi.


    Her face flushed slightly as she removed her high heels.


    Her feet, still clad in sheer stockings, slipped out of the red-bottomed heels.


    Jiang Jingshi had small, delicate feet, accentuated by the stockings, looking almost like a piece of art. She rubbed her sore ankle before placing both feet onto the footrest, letting out a satisfied sigh.


    Lin Zhengran, sitting beside her, remarked, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Sister Jiang. I know you¡¯ve been running all over to handle the company¡¯s paperwork. If you hadn¡¯t, everything wouldn¡¯t have come together this quickly.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi gazed at him with her soft, peach blossom eyes and smiled.


    ¡°Why so formal, Zhengran? This company belongs to both of us, of course I¡¯m going to give it my all. That said, it¡¯s not a big deal¡ªit¡¯s just a matter of walking around, signing papers, making calls. Eventually, the paperwork will be done. You, on the other hand, have to train and mentor all these singers. That¡¯s the real hard work.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that bad.¡±


    ¡°These singers won¡¯t be so easy to train,¡± she reminded him.


    Lin Zhengran simply smiled. Most people might struggle with training them, but for him, it was a different story.


    Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly furrowed her brows and looked down at her ankle.


    Lin Zhengran was surprised. ¡°Does your ankle hurt?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi massaged it lightly. ¡°Mm. It¡¯s been acting up for the past few days. I¡¯m not sure why, but it¡¯s probably nothing serious.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran suggested, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I can take a look?¡±


    ¡°You know how to check injuries?¡±


    Lin Zhengran knew everything¡ªhis mastery was comprehensive in every field.


    ¡°I know a little. Sister Jiang, move to the edge of the couch so I can examine it properly.¡±


    She nodded and adjusted her position.


    Lin Zhengran knelt in front of her, his expression serious.


    Jiang Jingshi, watching him from above, felt her cheeks grow warm.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably not an injury¡­ What should I do?¡± she asked, her voice slightly flustered.


    Lin Zhengran reached out, gently grasping her foot through the silk stocking and placing it on his knee.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything, Sister Jiang. Just relax.¡±


    The moment his hand touched her sole, Jiang Jingshi bit her lip slightly.


    It was¡­ a little ticklish.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s foot felt incredibly soft to the touch, though her ankle was slightly stiff from walking too much.


    Lin Zhengran gently pressed around her ankle, testing for sensitivity. ¡°Does it hurt here?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi winced slightly and furrowed her brows. She nodded. ¡°Right there. Be a little gentler.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran observed carefully. ¡°It¡¯s just fatigue. There¡¯s no major issue for now, but if you keep pushing yourself, it could lead to real damage. I can already feel the changes¡ªespecially with high heels making it worse. I¡¯ll massage it a bit, and it should feel much better right away.


    Tonight, make sure to soak your feet¡ªit¡¯ll help speed up lactic acid breakdown and improve circulation. Looks like you¡¯ve already applied some medicine?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it didn¡¯t help much.¡±


    ¡°Medicine is just an aid. What you really need is rest. Otherwise, this will turn into a bigger issue soon.¡±


    As she felt Lin Zhengran¡¯s hands kneading her sole and ankle, Jiang Jingshi, though slightly embarrassed, couldn¡¯t help but admit¡ªit felt really good.


    His technique was incredibly professional.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not that serious, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced up at her, his expression serious. Jiang Jingshi rarely saw him look this stern.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. High heels alone¡ª¡±


    She didn¡¯t hear the rest of what he said.


    She was too focused on his expression¡ªsomewhere between a warning and mild scolding.


    Her fingers, resting on the couch, curled slightly.


    In that moment, a long-buried memory surfaced.


    The first time she met Lin Zhengran, when they were little kids.


    He had looked at her exactly like this back then¡ªstrict, almost intimidating.


    Even though it had been so many years, and she had only realized much later that the boy she met in the supermarket that day was him, the overlapping familiarity of the scene made her feel¡­


    A little nervous.


    ¡°¡­I get it,¡± she mumbled softly.


    ¡°Big sister will listen to you.¡±

 Chapter 154: First Encounter

    Lin Zhengran looked up, noticing the slight change in Jiang Jingshi¡¯s expression¡ªdifferent from her usual demeanor. He was a bit surprised but still nodded. As long as she took his advice, that was what mattered.


    After finishing the massage, Lin Zhengran sat at his desk, reviewing the personal profiles of all the company¡¯s singers. He listened to samples of their songs to assess their skill levels in preparation for the afternoon meeting.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Jingshi remained on the couch, as Lin Zhengran had told her to rest. She had nothing else to do, so she simply sat there.


    Her face was still a little flushed from the massage, as if lost in thought. Occasionally, she would glance at Lin Zhengran working at his desk, her lips pressing together wordlessly.


    Before lunch, Lin Zhengran left to find Jiang Xueli.


    At the filming studio, he watched as she finished shooting the MV for You Are My Star with the help of the production crew.


    Jiang Xueli quickly noticed him standing nearby. The moment she saw him, she froze mid-action and was immediately reminded by the director: ¡°Lili, focus! Don¡¯t get distracted!¡±


    Jiang Xueli snapped out of it, flustered. ¡°Got it!¡± She hurriedly continued singing and following the instructed movements, her heartbeat racing as she forced herself not to look at Lin Zhengran again¡ªotherwise, she¡¯d get too nervous.


    Once the morning shoot was over, she walked over to him with her hands clasped behind her back. ¡°Well, Zhengran? How was it? Not bad, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Aside from the times you spaced out, the rest was pretty good.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, spaced out? I only¡ª¡± Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned red, and she averted her gaze. Of course, I spaced out! You were watching me! How could I focus?


    ¡°What was that?¡± Lin Zhengran asked.


    Jiang Xueli shook her head rapidly, like a little rattle drum. ¡°Nothing, nothing.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat lunch. I heard that the cafeteria here has a menu supervised by Sister Wang, and the food is really good.¡±


    ¡°They even provide meals here? Sister Wang¡¯s old studio never did that.¡±


    As they walked toward the cafeteria, Lin Zhengran explained, ¡°Back then, Sister Wang was running everything on limited funds. The studio wasn¡¯t making much, so covering meals wasn¡¯t feasible. Now, the management has changed, and the company has money, so meals were added.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was once again reminded that Lin Zhengran was the boss now.


    Walking beside him, she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that he had become a business owner. The gap in status was overwhelming¡ªone morning wasn¡¯t enough to fully process it.


    But as they left, neither of them noticed that Jiang Jingshi and Pan Lin had been standing near the entrance of the studio.


    Jiang Jingshi had come here personally to invite Lin Zhengran to lunch since he hadn¡¯t returned to the office.


    But the moment she arrived, she saw him chatting with Jiang Xueli, the two of them laughing and heading off to eat together.


    Pan Lin, naturally, saw this as well. She blinked, slightly surprised, then glanced at Jiang Jingshi to gauge her reaction.


    Sure enough, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s once cheerful expression subtly shifted.


    Her usually warm peach blossom eyes now carried a faint sense of disappointment.


    She silently watched Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli walk away.


    Wanting to smooth things over, Pan Lin softly said, ¡°Maybe President Lin just wanted to try the employee cafeteria since it¡¯s his first time here.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at her.


    Pan Lin swallowed nervously¡ªperhaps she had spoken too much.


    But Jiang Jingshi simply responded with a smile, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    She didn¡¯t show any signs of anger. Instead, she said lightly, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the office for lunch.¡±


    Pan Lin quickly nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get your meal for you.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi turned and headed back upstairs.


    Pan Lin watched her walk away.


    She had been working for Jiang Jingshi for years, witnessing her moments of anger, sadness, and excitement. She had seen all kinds of emotions.


    But this particular micro-expression¡­


    It was new.


    It wasn¡¯t obvious, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of quiet loneliness.


    At lunch, everyone, including Jiang Xueli and the other singers, had a well-balanced meal of three dishes and soup¡ªgenerous and filling.


    Jiang Xueli, sitting across from Lin Zhengran, marveled, ¡°The food here is amazing!¡± She took a bite and exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s way better than our school cafeteria! Zhengran, try it!¡±


    Lin Zhengran took a few bites and had to admit¡ªit was much better than the food at school. Clearly, Jiang Jingshi had put a lot of thought into the finer details.


    After lunch, Jiang Xueli continued filming the indoor MV, while Lin Zhengran headed to the main hall.


    By the time he arrived, over a hundred singers were already seated, along with Sister Wang. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He began the meeting, announcing that he would be providing a structured training session for everyone that afternoon, followed by individual guidance to address each singer¡¯s vocal weaknesses.


    His goal was to elevate the overall skill level of the company¡¯s artists in the shortest time possible.


    Meanwhile, just as Jiang Jingshi was about to head downstairs to observe the training, she received an urgent call from Jiang Corporation.


    They needed her back at the company for an important meeting.


    She had wanted to decline¡ªafter all, Lin Zhengran was only here for two days this week.


    But the issue seemed serious, leaving her no choice but to go.


    Before leaving, she went to find Lin Zhengran. ¡°Zhengran, something came up at Jiang Corporation, so I have to head back. I won¡¯t be able to stay with you this afternoon.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Go handle it, Sister Jiang. Just don¡¯t forget what I told you earlier¡ªget some rest.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled warmly. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll remember.¡±


    After a few simple exchanges, she and Pan Lin left, while Lin Zhengran officially started the training session.


    On the way back to Jiang Corporation, Pan Lin thought about how little Jiang Jingshi had eaten at lunch¡ªshe had barely touched her food.


    She had even helped tidy up the private dining area in the office, which made it clear¡ªJiang Jingshi¡¯s original plan had been to personally prepare lunch for Lin Zhengran.


    But he never came back.


    Instead, he had gone to watch Jiang Xueli¡¯s filming session.


    Sitting in the front seat, Pan Lin glanced back and hesitated before asking, ¡°President Jiang, should I buy you something to eat after the meeting? I don¡¯t think you ate enough at lunch.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi gazed out the window, then turned to look at her. ¡°I¡¯m not that hungry right now. I¡¯ll see after the meeting.¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    Just as Pan Lin was about to leave it at that, Jiang Jingshi suddenly said, ¡°Wait. After the meeting, buy me a cup of instant noodles. I¡¯ll eat it in the car.¡±


    Pan Lin immediately nodded. ¡°Got it, President Jiang.¡±


    The Rolls-Royce drove toward Jiang Corporation.


    Pan Lin accompanied Jiang Jingshi upstairs for the meeting.


    By the time they returned to the car, more than an hour had passed.


    Jiang Jingshi settled into her seat while Pan Lin, who had arranged for the purchase earlier, handed her a steaming cup of instant noodles¡ªMaster Kang¡¯s braised beef flavor.


    It was the only flavor President Jiang ever ate.


    In the past, she would only have one every few months.


    But lately, she had been eating it every week.


    A while ago, Pan Lin had curiously asked, ¡°President Jiang, what¡¯s so good about this brand of instant noodles? You always buy the same one.¡±


    At the time, Jiang Jingshi had simply replied, ¡°It just tastes good. I¡¯ve been eating it since I was a kid¡ªit¡¯s a habit.¡±


    Pan Lin hadn¡¯t thought much of it then.


    But about a month ago, she finally understood.


    Why would a CEO worth billions suddenly develop a fondness for the cheapest fast food?


    Sitting in the back of the Rolls-Royce, Jiang Jingshi quietly unwrapped the noodles and poured in the hot water.


    She sprinkled in half of the salt packet, along with all the vegetable and sauce packets.


    As soon as the hot water was poured in, the steaming instant noodles immediately released a rich, enticing aroma.


    Jiang Jingshi pierced the lid with a fork to trap the heat.


    Then, she placed the cup of noodles to the side and began the long five-minute wait.


    During those five minutes, the world around her fell into an eerie silence.


    Neither the driver nor Pan Lin dared to speak.


    Jiang Jingshi simply stared at the thin wisps of steam escaping from the lid¡¯s edges, her thoughts drifting away.


    And unknowingly, she was pulled back into a memory.


    Back to the very first time she met him.


    She was eight years old and in the second grade.


    At the time, the Jiang family was rapidly expanding its business, but Jiang Corporation had yet to be officially established.


    One day, eight-year-old Jiang Jingshi got food poisoning at school. After being excused from class, she went to the hospital for a check-up.


    Her parents were too busy with business meetings to pick her up, so her aunt¡ªwho worked as a kindergarten teacher nearby¡ªcame to get her.


    The doctor confirmed it was nothing serious and prescribed some medicine.


    "Little one, does it still hurt?"


    Young Jiang Jingshi, with her neatly tied ponytail and budding peach blossom eyes, held her aunt¡¯s hand and nodded softly. ¡°Not as much anymore. I just went to the restroom, and it feels better.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe you some medicine. Take two pills, and if your stomach still hurts in the afternoon, come back for a recheck.¡±


    Her aunt thanked the doctor and bought the medicine.


    Since she had only taken a short leave, she called her supervisor and then took Jiang Jingshi back to the kindergarten.


    Before heading to class, she instructed her, ¡°Jingshi, stay in my office. Don¡¯t wander around, okay? Your mom will come to pick you up after work.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded obediently. ¡°I understand, Auntie.¡±


    She had always been well-behaved and never caused trouble for adults.


    Once they arrived at the kindergarten, she was settled in her aunt¡¯s office.


    The other teachers liked her and complimented her on her looks, asking which school she attended and what her name was.


    At that moment, another teacher handed her aunt a class roster. ¡°Sis, here¡¯s the list for your class. That kid, Lin Zhengran, has amazing grades! Most kids his age just play around, but he already knows arithmetic.¡±


    Her aunt recalled the boy in question. He had always been different from the other children¡ªdetached yet outstanding. Whether it was music practice or simple math games, he was always the best.


    ¡°There are always a few exceptional kids every year.¡±


    She took the list and reminded Jiang Jingshi, ¡°Jingshi, I¡¯m going to class now. Stay in the office, alright? If you need to go to the restroom, you remember where it is, right?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded like a little adult. ¡°Yes, Auntie. Out the door and to the right.¡±


    Her aunt patted her head. ¡°Good girl. I¡¯ll be back later.¡±


    Once her aunt left, Jiang Jingshi sat quietly in a corner of the office, motionless, behaving perfectly.


    But after some time, a dull ache in her stomach made her frown. She got up, holding her belly, and walked toward the girls¡¯ restroom.


    After relieving herself, she sighed in relief.


    Just then, the kindergarten¡¯s break bell rang.


    Jiang Jingshi knew the younger kids would be coming soon, so she decided to leave before the restroom got crowded.


    But as she was about to step out, she suddenly heard a loud voice from outside.


    ¡°Hey, everyone, come look! This girl peed on her arm! She¡¯s washing it! She¡¯s washing her clothes!¡±


    A boy¡¯s voice¡ªfull of mean-spirited amusement.


    The hallway quickly became chaotic.


    Curious, Jiang Jingshi peeked outside.


    A small girl stood there, trembling, her eyes red-rimmed, her arm soaked.


    The surrounding children only gathered closer, whispering and giggling, as if watching some grand spectacle.


    Jiang Jingshi was taken aback.


    She felt bad for the little girl and hesitated, wanting to comfort her.


    But before she could take a step, a boy suddenly barged through the crowd, storming over with fierce momentum.


    He shoved his way past the gathered children and went straight to the crying girl.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he demanded.


    The little girl stammered out a response.


    And then, he scolded her.


    ¡°How do you not know who bullied you?¡±


    Then, he turned and glared at the crowd. ¡°Who said that just now? What¡¯s your problem? Come out!¡±


    His shout startled even Jiang Jingshi, a big kid.


    After all, he was just a five-year-old boy.


    But his eyes¡ªhis expression¡ªwere terrifyingly sharp.


    He questioned the crying girl again, pressing for the culprit¡¯s name.


    Once he identified the boy who had started it, he marched straight over.


    ¡°So it was you who bullied He Qing?! Why didn¡¯t you come out when I called you?!¡±


    Grabbing the boy¡¯s arm, he added, ¡°Come on, we¡¯re going to the teacher. If the teacher won¡¯t do anything, then we¡¯ll settle this outside!¡±


    The boy burst into tears, clutching his face and wailing apologies.


    The surrounding children, who had been entertained just moments ago, suddenly grew uneasy.


    Even Jiang Jingshi, watching from the side, felt a strange sense of awe.


    This kid¡¯s temper is scary.


    But once the troublemaker had apologized, the boy didn¡¯t push further.


    After issuing a stern warning, he led the frightened girl away.


    A group of girls nearby started whispering:


    ¡°That boy is so fierce.¡±


    ¡°I think he looks kinda cool.¡±


    ¡°If I got bullied, I¡¯d want someone to stand up for me like that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me too.¡±


    Listening to their murmurs, Jiang Jingshi followed their gazes toward the boy.


    She happened to lock eyes with the rescued girl, who turned back for one last look before leaving.


    That afternoon, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s mother came to pick her up.


    She left with her mother.


    At the time, she never imagined she would meet that boy again.


    And certainly not just a month later.


    One Saturday, though she no longer remembered the exact date, Jiang Jingshi accompanied her mother to visit her grandmother.


    Halfway there, her mother received an urgent business call.


    After a brief conversation, she turned to her daughter. ¡°Jingshi, I need to meet a client. Stay in the car, alright? I¡¯ll lock the doors¡ªdon¡¯t wander off.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. She was used to her parents being busy.


    Her mother, knowing her daughter was mature for her age, parked outside a residential complex, locked the car, and left to handle business.


    At first, Jiang Jingshi sat quietly in the car.


    She thought her mother would be back within an hour.


    But time dragged on¡ªfrom morning to afternoon.


    At first, she had been calm.


    But the longer she waited, the more uneasy she became.


    She began anxiously pressing her face against the glass, peering toward the complex.


    Why isn¡¯t Mom back yet?


    After what felt like forever, hunger gnawed at her.


    Finally, she decided to get out and look for her mother.


    But halfway to the complex entrance, she hesitated.


    What if I get lost?


    What if Mom comes back and I¡¯m not there?


    She turned back.


    But as she tried to retrace her steps, she realized¡ª


    Every intersection in this complex looks exactly the same.


    Little Jiang Jingshi panicked as tears welled up in her eyes. Completely disoriented, she ran aimlessly like a headless fly, unable to find her way back.


    In her frantic state, she suddenly spotted a road in the distance. Thinking it was the exit, she hurried toward it.


    But when she arrived, the scene before her was unfamiliar.


    ¡°¡­Mom.¡±


    The word slipped out in a whisper, but the tears could no longer be held back, streaming down her face. Her naturally quiet nature made her sob in small, stifled cries.


    At that moment, a boy happened to walk past.


    He initially ignored the crying little girl.


    But after a few steps, he stopped and sighed, turning back.


    What¡¯s with little girls in this world? Why are they always like this?


    He could have just walked away¡ªit had nothing to do with him.


    But after being reborn, he found that ignoring these troublesome little kids didn¡¯t sit well with his adult conscience.


    So he turned around and approached her.


    ¡°Did you lose your mom?¡±


    Hearing the voice, Jiang Jingshi blinked her teary eyes open, startled to find a boy standing close to her. She instinctively stepped back.


    Wasn¡¯t this¡­ the same boy from kindergarten?


    ¡°You¡­¡± Her lips quivered as if she was about to cry again.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. ¡°Stop crying.¡±


    His sharp tone startled her, making her recall how fierce he had been back at kindergarten.


    She was so scared that she immediately stopped crying, sniffling instead.


    Lin Zhengran asked again, ¡°You got lost?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi sniffled and nodded. ¡°Mm.¡±


    Since she was a little older, she was able to explain how she had gotten lost and why her mother had left.


    Lin Zhengran sighed in relief. At least this girl had some logic¡ªshe could clearly explain what happened.


    Much better than He Qing, who had just stood there, too scared to say a word.


    He pointed into the distance. ¡°If you¡¯re not mistaken, you¡¯re at the other entrance of the neighborhood. The place you came from should be over there.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi turned to look where he pointed but hesitated.


    She had already gotten lost once¡ªwhat if she got lost again?


    Lin Zhengran seemed to understand the hesitation that came with her age. With a sigh, he figured he might as well go all the way.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay.¡± She sniffled again.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. ¡°What are you still crying for?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi quickly wiped her eyes. ¡°I¡ªI wasn¡¯t crying. Just wiping my tears.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had no choice but to lead her back to the other entrance.


    The moment she saw her mother¡¯s car, her face lit up with joy, and she immediately ran toward it.


    Even though her mother wasn¡¯t there, just finding the car made her feel safe again.


    She turned back to Lin Zhengran. ¡°Thank you¡­ my name is¡ª¡±


    Lin Zhengran waved his hand dismissively. ¡°No need to tell me your name. I¡¯m not interested. You¡¯ve found your car, so just stay put next time. Your mom is probably busy, and if you wander off again, you¡¯ll just get lost.¡±


    Little Jiang Jingshi nodded obediently.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. Otherwise, my mom won¡¯t be able to find me.¡±


    He turned to go.


    But just as he was about to leave, he heard the unmistakable grumble of a hungry stomach.


    Jiang Jingshi immediately clutched her stomach in embarrassment.


    He looked back at her.


    She looked even more embarrassed.


    Not far away, there was a small supermarket in the neighborhood.


    ¡°Does your mom keep money in the car?¡± he asked.


    Jiang Jingshi hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Lin Zhengran opened the car door and rummaged through possible storage spots.


    Luckily, paper currency was still common at the time.


    He managed to find a few loose bills in the glove compartment.


    Without another word, he walked over to the small supermarket and bought a cup of braised beef instant noodles.


    He also borrowed some hot water from the cashier and handed the steaming cup to Jiang Jingshi.


    ¡°Eat this. When your mom comes back, just say you bought it yourself. Let it sit for a few minutes before eating.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    This time, he really left without lingering.


    For Lin Zhengran, moments like this were too numerous to count.


    So insignificant that they didn¡¯t even leave an impression in his memory.


    But for little Jiang Jingshi, as she held the cup of noodles and watched his figure disappear into the distance¡­


    This scene, without her realizing, etched itself into her mind.


    The heat from the noodles transferred to the cup, burning her fingers slightly.


    She quickly set it down.


    By the time she looked up again, Lin Zhengran was already gone.


    She blinked.


    Then softly muttered, ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±


    A few minutes later, she dug into the noodles.


    They tasted better than anything she had ever eaten before.

 Chapter 155: Do You Believe in Fate?

    Slurping up the delicious yet scalding noodles in small bites.


    Her mother finally hurried out from the residential complex, flustered. "Jingshi! Mom is late! Were you getting anxious? I was so caught up in business negotiations that I didn¡¯t even realize it¡¯s already past noon."


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s mother glanced at her daughter eating instant noodles, slightly surprised. "You bought this yourself?"


    Jiang Jingshi chewed and swallowed her noodles, remembering Lin Zhengran¡¯s reminder earlier. "Yeah, Mom, are you done with work? I was hungry, so I took money from the car¡¯s glove compartment and bought it."


    Her mother stroked her head, praising her. "Jingshi is so capable. Seeing you eat makes me hungry too. I''ll go buy a cup as well. Let''s eat together in the car."


    "Mm."


    With that, her mother also went to the store, got a cup of instant noodles with hot water, and the two of them sat in the car to eat.


    As they ate, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s mother spoke excitedly. "Mom just closed a big deal! Your dad is going to be so happy tonight. Our family might just get wealthier and wealthier!"


    Little Jiang Jingshi smiled softly.


    But in the middle of eating, she looked out the window in the direction where Lin Zhengran had disappeared, blinking those budding peach blossom eyes.


    That single blink spanned over ten years.


    Although she never forgot this childhood memory, it had never held much significance to her. She never paid much attention to who that boy was or what kind of person he grew up to be.


    She only knew that a small episode from her childhood made her develop a fondness for instant noodles.


    Until a few months ago, fate unexpectedly revealed to her that there was a boy in her younger sister¡¯s class who was far more talented than her sister.


    Then, by sheer coincidence, she ran into Lin Zhengran at the supermarket¡ªover a cup of instant noodles.


    After their conversation in the car that day, Jiang Jingshi had a dream about Lin Zhengran that night.


    She unexpectedly dreamt of that boy from her childhood.


    In the dream, their faces blurred and overlapped.


    The moment she woke up, she was so shaken that she immediately instructed her secretary, Pan Lin, to investigate which kindergarten Lin Zhengran had attended and where his family lived.


    She wanted to verify if this was all real.


    And to her shock, it really was.


    That fierce little boy from back then turned out to be her younger sister¡¯s deskmate¡ªLin Zhengran!


    So when she met him again at the Taekwondo competition, at the music contest, and then learned that her childhood engagement was actually with him¡ª


    At that moment, Jiang Jingshi, who was home with her sister and grandfather, held his personal file and murmured, "He was mine all along. It was just a twist of fate that made him my sister¡¯s childhood fianc¨¦. Now, it¡¯s time to return him to me."


    ¡­


    "President Jiang? President Jiang! Your noodles are ready!"


    At the entrance of Jiang Corporation, Jiang Jingshi was snapped out of her thoughts by Pan Lin¡¯s voice. She blinked back into focus. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Pan Lin glanced at the instant noodles that were nearly over-soaked. "Your noodles have been sitting for seven or eight minutes¡­ any longer, and they¡¯ll be inedible."


    Jiang Jingshi turned to the noodles beside her, responded with an "Mm," and quickly picked them up, peeling back the lid.


    She gave them a quick stir with her fork¡ªstill fine.


    Pan Lin saw her spacing out and exchanged a glance with the driver. The driver, an old employee, tactfully stepped out of the car, knowing when not to eavesdrop.


    Once he was gone, Pan Lin lowered her voice. "President Jiang¡­ why don¡¯t you go home and rest for a bit? You seem really tired today."


    Jiang Jingshi took a bite of the noodles.


    Ten years had passed, yet the taste remained unchanged.


    "I already rested for a while in Zhengran¡¯s office just now. I feel much better. I''ll finish this, then head back to Zhengshi Music. I want to see how Zhengran runs his meetings."


    Pan Lin gave a helpless smile. She knew President Jiang just wanted to take another look at Lin Zhengran.


    "Alright. But¡­ you''ve never worked this hard before. Lately, you¡¯ve been much busier than before. I¡¯m really worried about your health. Even Lin always tells you to rest more, doesn¡¯t he?"


    Bringing up Lin Zhengran was indeed effective. Jiang Jingshi replied, "I¡¯m fine. But you¡¯re right. I won¡¯t stay at the office tonight¡ªI¡¯ll go home and rest."


    "Mm."


    Jiang Jingshi took a few more bites, chewing thoughtfully. "Pan Lin."


    "Yes, President Jiang?"


    "You think¡­" She stared at the noodles and suddenly asked, "Do you think a girl being three years older than a guy is a big deal?"


    Pan Lin chuckled. "Not at all. Don¡¯t they say, ¡®A woman three years older is like holding a golden brick¡¯? A guy dating an older woman is perfectly normal¡ªcompletely normal. In fact, I¡¯m a year older than my husband. He always says he wishes I were three years older instead."


    "Who says stuff like that?"


    "It¡¯s true, President Jiang, I¡¯m not making it up. And besides, you¡¯re still so young."


    Jiang Jingshi took a few more bites. "Do you believe in fate?"


    Pan Lin chuckled softly and answered honestly, "To be honest, President Jiang, I haven¡¯t personally experienced it. But I do believe in fate. And what I do know is¡­ you and President Lin definitely have it."


    Jiang Jingshi lifted her gaze to her.


    Pan Lin felt a chill down her spine, suddenly nervous.


    Pan Lin: "I mean it! Otherwise, after all these years, how could such a coincidence happen? Even if President Lin doesn¡¯t fully remember yet, fate is fate¡ªit¡¯s unbreakable."


    Jiang Jingshi said nothing but smiled gently. "It¡¯s normal for him to forget. I only remembered recently myself. By the way, you¡¯ve been working overtime with me a lot lately, haven¡¯t you?"


    "Uh¡­ yeah¡­"


    Jiang Jingshi: "The New Year is coming up. I¡¯ll add an extra month¡¯s salary to your year-end bonus as an extra reward for you." She set down her noodle cup. "Let¡¯s go back to Zhengshi Music."


    Pan Lin beamed. "Thank you, President Jiang."


    She noticed Jiang Jingshi glancing toward the car window and caught sight of her earrings.


    A realization struck her¡ªshe suddenly understood why President Jiang wanted to go back to Zhengshi Music today.


    Those earrings¡ªshe had changed into them that morning. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And lately, she had been wearing earrings of a very particular style.


    If she wasn¡¯t mistaken¡­ weren¡¯t these the ones President Lin had picked out for her?


    The driver got back in, and the car turned toward Zhengshi Music.


    At the same time, in the lobby of Zhengshi Music¡ª


    That afternoon, Lin Zhengran had been explaining some practical knowledge to everyone.


    At first, the employees had serious doubts about him. He was too young and had no real influence in the music industry¡ªno one had ever even heard of him.


    But as he spoke, their opinions shifted dramatically within minutes.


    Doubt turned into admiration.


    Even though much of what he said wasn¡¯t entirely new¡ªafter all, music knowledge only went so far¡ªsomehow, the way he explained things made everything click.


    His words resonated deeply, making complex concepts easy to understand and allowing them to quickly identify their own singing flaws.


    One by one, they went from being skeptical to utterly shocked, realizing that a true boss was someone who had real ability.


    After covering the main points, Lin Zhengran proceeded to give each person a few minutes of one-on-one guidance, pointing out their individual weaknesses.


    With the speech just now, everyone eagerly lined up, waiting for Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance.


    As expected, everything Lin Zhengran said was genuinely useful¡ªno empty talk at all.


    In fact, the results were immediate. A song that some had struggled with for a long time¡ªafter just a simple correction from Lin Zhengran¡ªbecame much easier to master.


    His precise guidance allowed them to instantly grasp the pronunciation techniques, leaving the singers in awe.


    They couldn¡¯t help but admire this young CEO¡ªhis skills were truly remarkable.


    Even Sister Wang, standing off to the side, found herself repeatedly clapping in astonishment.


    She had long known how capable Lin Zhengran was¡ªafter all, Jiang Xueli had been personally trained by him.


    But since he had never formally taught anyone before, his true level remained a mystery.


    Now, with just a few casual instructions, Sister Wang was certain¡ªthis young man was a once-in-a-million genius.


    It was no surprise that he and Jiang Corporation¡¯s Jiang Jingshi were a couple¡ªordinary people simply couldn¡¯t match up.


    Before long, a Rolls-Royce pulled up outside the company.


    Jiang Jingshi and Pan Lin stepped into the lobby.

 Chapter 156: A Flustered Jiang Xueli

    Seeing Lin Zhengran conducting one-on-one coaching, Jiang Jingshi and Pan Lin slowed their steps to avoid disturbing him.


    Wang Lan walked over to greet them. "President Jiang, you¡¯re back."


    Jiang Jingshi nodded and raised her hand slightly, and Wang Lan immediately understood. The three of them quietly watched Lin Zhengran, listening as he passed on his techniques to the employees.


    During a brief moment when Lin Zhengran paused to take a sip of water, Pan Lin remarked, "President Lin really is a once-in-a-lifetime genius. If he ever decided to step onto the stage himself, I feel like no one else would even stand a chance."


    Her words were a bit exaggerated, but they reflected exactly what both Wang Lan and Jiang Jingshi were thinking. After all, neither of them had ever seen a sixteen-year-old who had completely mastered all theoretical knowledge, could teach others, and even tailor improvements to each individual¡¯s weaknesses.


    Wang Lan noticed Jiang Jingshi standing for a long time and softly reminded her, "President Jiang, have a seat. President Lin is probably going to be at this for a while."


    Jiang Jingshi replied that she was fine.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lin Zhengran turned around, noticed Jiang Jingshi, and smiled at her, pointing to the sofa beside him, that she finally nodded at him and took a seat along with the others to wait.


    Finally, around 4 PM, Lin Zhengran wrapped up his one-on-one coaching.


    As he stood up, Jiang Jingshi and the others approached.


    "Zhengran, you really teach well. I¡¯ve been listening in for so long, and even I¡¯ve learned quite a bit."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t boast, only responding politely, "Sister Jiang, are you done with your work?"


    "It was just a meeting. Once it was over, I came straight back."


    Wang Lan chimed in briefly before excusing herself to handle other matters.


    Hearing that only the two of them were left talking, Pan Lin figured that President Jiang and President Lin wouldn¡¯t sit down for a deep conversation today¡ªit was already getting late.


    She glanced at Jiang Jingshi¡¯s earrings, thinking of a way to subtly remind President Lin about them.


    Before she could, Jiang Xueli had already finished filming her MV, changed into her casual clothes, and walked over.


    "Zhengran!"


    Pan Lin¡¯s hopes were instantly crushed. With Jiang Xueli here, this was¡­


    But to her surprise, Lin Zhengran suddenly brought it up himself in the middle of their conversation.


    "Oh, right, Sister Jiang, I forgot to ask this morning¡ªthese earrings you¡¯re wearing, aren¡¯t they the ones from the picture you sent me last time? They look great."


    Jiang Jingshi was slightly taken aback, and Pan Lin immediately focused her attention on them.


    Hearing this, Jiang Jingshi lightly touched her earrings¡ªdelicate, refined, designed like scattered stars falling from the sky. Subtle yet intricate.


    "Mm, that¡¯s the one. You said before that this style suited me, so I bought it."


    Lin Zhengran complimented, "Sister Jiang, this kind of fine earring really does look beautiful on you. It suits your aura perfectly."


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly.


    Being praised by someone you care about feels completely different from being complimented by just anyone.


    Her expression softened, and she was clearly delighted by the small detail. "Really?"


    "Yeah, I mean it."


    Seeing Jiang Jingshi¡¯s happiness, Pan Lin smiled as well, thinking that President Jiang had finally gotten what she wanted.


    Jiang Xueli walked up and greeted Jiang Jingshi, mentioning that she had just finished recording her MV.


    Lin Zhengran then said his goodbyes. "Sister Jiang, if there¡¯s nothing else tonight, I¡¯ll be heading back. Lily has been filming all day too¡ªshe needs to rest, or tomorrow¡¯s outdoor shoot won¡¯t go well."


    Pan Lin asked, "President Lin, are you taking Lily home?"


    Her words carried a different meaning.


    Even though he was still a student, Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t an ordinary one, and at their age, being alone together at night was¡­


    Fortunately, Lin Zhengran answered, "Yeah, I¡¯ll drop her off."


    Pan Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Jiang Jingshi, staying polite, said, "Then get some rest early. Do you need me to arrange a ride for you?"


    "No need, Sister Jiang. We¡¯ll just take a cab. We¡¯re leaving now¡ªdon¡¯t forget to rest too."


    Jiang Xueli also politely bid farewell. "Goodbye, President Jiang."


    With that, the four parted ways.


    Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli left Zhengshi Music, while Jiang Jingshi and Pan Lin stood in the lobby, watching them go.


    Jiang Jingshi replayed his compliment in her mind.


    She couldn¡¯t help but touch her earring again, smiling to herself as she instructed Pan Lin, "Pan Lin, didn¡¯t I order some medium-sized earrings recently?"


    "Yes, a few of them were ones you¡¯d been wanting for a while. You said you really liked them," she replied.


    Jiang Jingshi didn¡¯t hesitate. "Switch all of them to fine earrings. Cancel the medium ones for now."


    Pan Lin couldn¡¯t help but think, Just because of that one sentence from President Lin¡­?


    "Got it. I¡¯ll contact the stores tonight and have them exchange all the medium-sized ones."


    After speaking, she followed Jiang Jingshi¡¯s gaze, looking in the direction Lin Zhengran had left.


    From a distance, he seemed to be chatting and laughing with Jiang Xueli.


    Even if she didn¡¯t want to admit it, Pan Lin knew¡ªsometimes, the things that seemed the easiest to obtain were the hardest for President Jiang to get.


    For example¡ªLin Zhengran.


    ¡ª


    Far away, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli took a cab back to the city.


    In the car, Jiang Xueli excitedly clenched her little fists, eagerly chatting about funny moments from the MV shoot that afternoon.


    Like how she messed up some shots, or how she couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh even when she was supposed to stay serious.


    She had no idea how the final cut would turn out.


    She also brought up the team situation. "Zhengran, if I have a team, does that mean I¡¯ll always perform as part of a group from now on?"


    Lin Zhengran explained,


    "Of course not. Even though we¡¯re selecting a team for you, 90% of your performances will still be solo. The main purpose of forming a team is to have backup singers who can complement you during group performances, which helps promote both you and our company. But fundamentally, you¡¯re still a solo artist."


    Jiang Xueli leaned back against the taxi seat. "Ohh, I thought it was going to be like a girl group."


    Lin Zhengran shook his head.


    "You¡¯re overthinking it. Girl groups are professional teams where all the members¡¯ skills are evenly matched, so they perform as a unit. But your skill level is way above the others in our company, so there¡¯s no way to form a proper group with them. And I never planned for you to go that route anyway."


    Jiang Xueli nodded in understanding. "What about the other girl groups in our company?"


    Lin Zhengran said, "They are actual professional teams. But you¡¯re a special case¡ªyou¡¯re different from them."


    Jiang Xueli grinned. "Well, whatever Zhengran tells me to do, I¡¯ll do it!" She patted her chest confidently. "No matter what performance, I won¡¯t mess up!"


    Lin Zhengran asked, "By the way, after we get your hair done, are you going back to the dorm to sleep, or heading home?"


    Jiang Xueli thought for a moment. "I¡¯ll go back to the dorm. If I go home, it¡¯ll be too late, and my parents have work tomorrow¡ªthey won¡¯t get a break even on weekends. I don¡¯t want to disturb them."


    "Alright, either way is fine."


    Jiang Xueli glanced at her phone to check the time. It was still early.


    She remembered that the girls¡¯ dorm usually locked up at 10 PM on weekdays and 11 PM on weekends.


    Getting a haircut and heading back should be fine.


    So, the two of them stopped by a restaurant to eat first.


    After finishing their meal¡ª


    They headed straight for a nearby hair salon.


    Since it was the weekend, the salon was packed.


    They checked out several places, but each one was full of young people getting their hair cut. With no other options, the two of them finally sat down in one of the salons, waiting patiently.


    The sound of scissors snipping filled the air as hairstylists trimmed their clients'' hair.


    Jiang Xueli ran her fingers through her twin ponytails, which reached down to her hips. After waiting for nearly an hour, it was almost her turn.


    "Zhengran, I shouldn¡¯t cut it too short, right?" She was worried that if she asked for it too short, the stylist might just chop it all off.


    Without her twin ponytails, would she still be Jiang Xueli? Of course not. They were her totem¡ªher very identity.


    Lin Zhengran: "Just cut it to your lower back."


    "My lower back?"


    Lin Zhengran reached out and lightly tapped her waist. "Here."


    The moment his fingers brushed against her, Jiang Xueli¡¯s body trembled slightly.


    Then, she suddenly heard a faint snapping sound from behind her.


    Something seemed to have broken the instant he touched her.


    A clasp.


    It snapped.


    Jiang Xueli panicked, immediately crossing her arms over her chest, blushing as she bent forward.


    Luckily, she had been sitting against the wall, with Lin Zhengran blocking her from view. Plus, the salon was noisy, so no one else seemed to notice.


    Lin Zhengran looked at her sudden movement and asked curiously, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip, dumbfounded. W-what¡­ How did it break?


    What was she supposed to do now, out in public like this?


    "Lily?" Lin Zhengran called her again.


    This time, as he glanced at her back, he immediately noticed that after she bent forward, there was no clasp visible on the back of her outfit.


    His eyes flickered¡ªhe realized what had happened.


    Jiang Xueli mumbled, "Z-zhengran¡­ come outside with me for a sec. There are too many people here."


    Without a word, Lin Zhengran took off his jacket and handed it to her.


    "Put this on. Zip it up."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s flushed face turned toward him.


    She was already wearing a coat¡ªit was winter, after all¡ªbut still, she shyly hid behind him, taking his jacket with a soft "thank you."


    She hurriedly put it on and zipped it up.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s jacket was huge, making it look extra loose on her. Since she already had her own coat underneath, nothing appeared out of the ordinary once she stood up.


    But the embarrassment was still there.


    Lin Zhengran led her out of the salon, taking her to a quiet corner in the night.


    Jiang Xueli crouched down again, hugging herself in embarrassment. "It¡­ it broke¡­ What do I do?"


    Lin Zhengran, seeing this situation for the first time in his life, was at a loss. "This¡­ can actually happen?"


    "I didn¡¯t expect it either¡­" Jiang Xueli peeked up at him, her face still red. "By the way, how did you even notice?"


    "I saw it from behind. When you bent forward, there was no clasp on your back, so I figured it out."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s blush deepened as she bit her lip. "Why are you looking at everything?! Don¡¯t just say it out loud like that!"


    "Weren¡¯t you the one who asked?"


    She fell silent.


    Fine. Let him look. He¡¯s my boyfriend anyway¡­


    After a moment, she asked in a small voice, "Is there a lingerie store nearby? I wasn¡¯t paying attention earlier, but I need to buy a new one."


    Lin Zhengran pulled out his phone and searched. "Looks like there¡¯s one nearby. I¡¯ll go buy it for you."


    The store wasn¡¯t exactly close¡ªit was at least a street away.


    Lin Zhengran figured she probably wouldn¡¯t want to walk that far in her current state.


    "W-wait, what? You¡¯re going to buy it? You¡¯re going to buy¡­ lingerie? For me?!"


    Lin Zhengran: "What else should we do?" He glanced at his phone. "The store isn¡¯t that close. If I don¡¯t go, are you going to walk all that way like this? No one else will notice, but you¡¯d probably feel really uncomfortable, wouldn¡¯t you?"


    Jiang Xueli struggled to explain, "That¡¯s¡­ true, but still¡ªit¡¯s lingerie! A girl''s lingerie! You can¡¯t just¡ª"


    Her face turned redder and redder, her voice stammering and trailing off.


    Lin Zhengran: "Yeah, I know it¡¯s lingerie. So what?"


    Jiang Xueli looked at him in disbelief. "¡®So what¡¯?! You¡¯re a guy! If you go buy it, people might think you¡¯re a pervert! Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?!"


    Lin Zhengran was completely unfazed. "You¡¯re my girlfriend. Why would I be embarrassed? And even if you go, I¡¯d have to go with you anyway¡ªI wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable letting you go alone. That would just slow us down even more."


    "That¡¯s different! If we go together, people won¡¯t misunderstand you!"


    Jiang Xueli was flustered. She knew Lin Zhengran was a straightforward person, but in this situation¡ªher lips parted, then closed again before she finally muttered,


    "I just¡­ I don¡¯t want people to misunderstand you."


    Lin Zhengran sighed, looking down at her. "It¡¯s fine. Even if they do, who cares? Besides, if I¡¯m going to buy lingerie for you now, chances are, in the future, you¡¯ll have to buy boxers for me. If my underwear ever rips, you wouldn¡¯t refuse to buy me a new one, would you?"


    "That kind of thing wouldn¡¯t just rip out of nowhere!"


    "Anything¡¯s possible. Just look at what happened today."


    "I¡ª"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s breath hitched.


    She looked up at him, her wide eyes trembling slightly.


    Her small hands gripped the jacket tightly as she lowered her head and whispered, "If that ever happens¡­ I¡¯m your girlfriend, so of course I¡¯d buy them for you."


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?"


    He crouched down to get a closer look at her embarrassed face.


    Jiang Xueli turned her head away.


    "What now? What else do you want to say?"


    Lin Zhengran continued, "Then what if, when you go buy boxers for me, someone calls you a pervert? What would you do then?"


    Jiang Xueli squeezed her eyes shut, even more flustered. "I¡­ I¡¯d just tell them I¡¯m buying them for my boyfriend!"


    "And what if they don¡¯t believe you?"


    Jiang Xueli instinctively shouted in embarrassment, "They can believe whatever they want! What does it have to do with me?!"


    Lin Zhengran let out a long sigh. "See? You already understand perfectly well."


    "But¡ª"


    Jiang Xueli looked up at him, gripping her jacket even tighter. "It¡¯s not the same. I don¡¯t care if people misunderstand me¡­ but I don¡¯t want them to misunderstand you."


    She tried to stand up.


    But Lin Zhengran suddenly said, "Stay put."


    She flinched, looking at him with wide, panicked eyes. "Why are you being so stern with me?!"


    Then¡ªbonk!


    She got a flick to the forehead.


    "Ow! That hurts!"


    Lin Zhengran: "Stop overthinking. It¡¯s just buying lingerie. Stay here and wait."


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t dare argue anymore.


    When Zhengran got serious, he was kind of scary.


    "What¡¯s your size?" he asked.


    Jiang Xueli hesitated for a moment, then quietly told him.


    Lin Zhengran was slightly surprised.


    It wasn¡¯t an A.


    It was the second size up.


    Jiang Xueli, still nervous, asked in a small voice, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Lin Zhengran shook his head. "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll go buy it."


    As he was about to leave, he suddenly asked, "By the way, I gave you my jacket¡ªaren¡¯t you cold?"


    Without turning around, he replied, "Not cold."


    "Come back soon, okay?"


    "I¡¯ll be back in a minute. Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be waiting long."


    Instead of taking the main road, Lin Zhengran chose a shortcut through the alleys so he could move faster without being seen. That way, Jiang Xueli wouldn¡¯t have to wait anxiously.


    Jiang Xueli watched him leave, her mind replaying what he had just said. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her face slowly turned red, burning hot.


    A boy buying lingerie for a girl.


    Even though Lin Zhengran had looked completely unfazed, Jiang Xueli was sure he must have been dying of embarrassment inside.


    Anyone in his place would be.


    But just like he said¡ªif his underwear ever ripped, she would buy him a new pair.


    If people called her a pervert, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal.


    Boys cared about their pride when they were out in public¡­ yet he still went to buy it for her.


    How much does he have to like me to do this?


    She felt like she should treat him even better in the future.


    But¡­ she already liked him with all her heart.


    If she treated him even better, how was she supposed to do that¡­?


    She pulled out her phone to check how far the lingerie store was.


    After searching, she was shocked¡ªit was nearly a kilometer away!


    If he walked, it would take at least ten minutes!


    "Why is it so far?!"


    Just as she said that, Lin Zhengran appeared at the entrance of the alley, holding a bag.


    "Here."


    "¡­Huh?"


    Jiang Xueli stared at him in disbelief. "That fast?! Isn¡¯t it a kilometer away?!"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, a kilometer?"


    Jiang Xueli showed him her phone. "It says the nearest lingerie store is a kilometer from here. How did you come back in under a minute?"


    Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t expected her to check.


    He casually made something up. "Oh, I was heading to that store at first, but then I saw another one much closer, so I just went there instead."


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t think too much about it. "Oh, I see."


    She took the bag from him and checked the lingerie inside.


    Simple, but nice-looking.


    She crouched down and said, "Turn around while I change. Also, keep an eye out for people."


    Lin Zhengran turned and stood at the alley entrance, watching the surroundings for her.


    Only then did Jiang Xueli quietly unzip her coat in the darkness, removing the broken one and replacing it with the new one.


    After she put her coat back on, she held the damaged lingerie in her hand and let out a relieved sigh.


    She walked back to Lin Zhengran, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Zhengran, I¡¯m done."


    Lin Zhengran turned and glanced at the lingerie in her hand.


    "As long as you¡¯re changed. Just throw that away."


    "Mm, but before that¡­"


    Jiang Xueli pulled out Lin Zhengran¡¯s jacket.


    Instead of handing it back, she helped him put it on directly.


    Lin Zhengran gave her a confused look.


    Jiang Xueli said, "What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m helping you put on your jacket."


    "I can wear it myself."


    Jiang Xueli, acting all proud, said, "Why should you? I refuse to let you! You¡¯ve been so good to me, so I¡¯ll help you put it on."


    But as she tried to dress him, her hands were all over the place, struggling with the sleeves and collar. Clearly, she wasn¡¯t good at this.


    In the middle of fumbling with the jacket, the lingerie in her hand slipped and fell.


    Lin Zhengran instinctively caught it.


    And then, without thinking, he muttered, "Huh¡­ this thing is actually really warm."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face instantly turned bright red.


    "Ah! Don¡¯t touch that! And¡ªwhat are you even saying?!"

 Chapter 157: I’ll Definitely Take Care of You for a Lifetime

    Jiang Xueli snatched the damaged lingerie from his hand, stuffing it against her chest, her face burning hot like steam was about to rise from her head.


    Of course, it would be warm¡ªit was something worn close to the body!


    Seeing her acting so tsundere, Lin Zhengran found it amusing as he finished putting on his jacket.


    This clumsy girl was clearly not as meticulous as Wenwen when it came to helping someone get dressed.


    "Stop being embarrassed. Let¡¯s go¡ªthrow that away, and I¡¯ll take you back to get your haircut. We were next in line just now, but because of this, you¡¯ll have to wait all over again."


    Jiang Xueli pouted, mumbling, "I don¡¯t mind waiting in line¡­ It¡¯s not like we have anything else to do tonight anyway."


    If anything, it just meant she could spend more time with Zhengran.


    As they walked over to a nearby trash bin, Jiang Xueli tossed the lingerie in.


    But for some reason, she felt uneasy¡ªwhat if some pervert picked it up? Or worse, what if a stray cat or dog dragged it off?


    Just imagining the scene made her shudder.


    So, she picked up a stick and carefully poked at the trash to make sure it was properly buried.


    Better safe than sorry.


    Lin Zhengran commented, "That¡¯s pretty thorough."


    Jiang Xueli glanced at him. It was fine when you touched it, but no one else can.


    On their way back to the salon, Jiang Xueli clasped her hands behind her back and asked softly,


    "Zhengran, when you went to buy the lingerie¡­ did the shopkeeper say anything? There weren¡¯t any other women in the store, right? Just thinking about it makes me embarrassed."


    Lin Zhengran recalled the experience.


    Keeping it simple, he said, "Funny you mention that. When I walked in, there were actually quite a few girls browsing. The store owner even asked me what I was looking for, and a bunch of people looked at me."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned even redder. "Huh?! Really?! What did you say?!"


    Lin Zhengran answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Obviously, I said I was there to buy lingerie."


    "And then?" Jiang Xueli asked nervously. "They didn¡¯t call you a pervert, did they?!"


    Lin Zhengran stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Hmmm¡­"


    "Wait, for real?!" Seeing his hesitation, she thought he was too embarrassed to say it.


    She clenched her fists anxiously and continued,


    "If that¡¯s the case, I have to go over there and explain! I need to tell them I¡¯m your girlfriend! That you were buying it for me! Otherwise, they might get the wrong idea!"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "But I¡¯m already back. Wouldn¡¯t that be pointless?"


    Jiang Xueli spoke with conviction. "How is that pointless?! You¡¯re my boyfriend! This happened because of me¡ªI can¡¯t let you get scolded because of me!"


    She grabbed his sleeve and started dragging him toward the store.


    "No way! I need to set the record straight! Tell me which store it was¡ªI won¡¯t let anyone talk badly about you! I¡¯ll stand up for you!"


    Jiang Xueli knew she had a bad temper, but if people were out there talking badly about Zhengran because of this, what kind of girlfriend would she be if she let that slide?


    She could handle being misunderstood¡ªbut no one was allowed to treat Zhengran unfairly.


    Lin Zhengran looked at the anxious girl tugging on his sleeve, then gently held her hand.


    "Relax, don¡¯t worry. No one said anything like that."


    Jiang Xueli turned to look at him. "Really?"


    Lin Zhengran smiled. "Of course. Besides, in real life, who actually calls someone a pervert to their face? That only happens in dramas. Unless someone is really upset, and even then, they¡¯d say ¡®damn pervert,¡¯ not just ¡®pervert.¡¯"


    Jiang Xueli thought about it and realized he had a point. "So¡­ what did happen in the store?"


    "You¡¯re acting like I went on some kind of adventure. I was just buying lingerie."


    Seeing that she was still anxious, he explained,


    "When I walked in, I told the store owner I needed lingerie in your size. She looked at me, and then the other girls in the store looked at me. Then¡­"


    Jiang Xueli repeated after him, "Then¡­?"


    Lin Zhengran continued,


    "Then, I guess the owner thought I didn¡¯t look like a pervert, so she suddenly started praising me. She said I was a great guy for buying something like this for my girlfriend. She even asked if it was my first time buying lingerie. When I said yes, she got really enthusiastic about helping me pick one out."


    "Huh?" Jiang Xueli was stunned. "And what about those girls who looked at you? Did they say anything?"


    Lin Zhengran said casually, "While I was shopping, some of the girls started chatting, saying guys like me are rare. And then, when I walked out of the store, a few of them actually asked for my WeChat. They said they wanted to be friends."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s jaw nearly dropped. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, she thought his story sounded ridiculous.


    But then she realized¡ªshe had completely overlooked something important.


    Zhengran was insanely handsome.


    And his aura was incredibly strong.


    With his looks and presence, it didn¡¯t matter what he was buying¡ªno one would think he was a pervert.


    Only those guys who acted all sneaky and shifty-eyed would raise suspicions.


    She suddenly muttered under her breath, "If I¡¯d known, I never would¡¯ve let you go¡­"


    Now it was Lin Zhengran¡¯s turn to be surprised. "Why? Didn¡¯t everything go smoothly?"


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists, speaking quickly in a jealous huff. Her large, watery eyes glared at him.


    "B-but some girls asked for your WeChat! You didn¡¯t give it to them, right?! You already have a girlfriend! Actually, two girlfriends! You can¡¯t have any more!"


    Lin Zhengran: "I didn¡¯t."


    "Are you sure?! You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?! You better not have added them! Zhengran, you cannot add more girls on WeChat!"


    "You don¡¯t trust me?"


    "Of course I trust you! I believe everything you say! But when it comes to girls¡­ I know you¡¯re a total playboy! Ugh, I should¡¯ve never let you go alone! I didn¡¯t even think about the fact that some girls might like you because of this!"


    Seeing her growing even more dramatic, Lin Zhengran turned toward the salon.


    "Stop making a fuss. Let¡¯s go get your hair cut."


    Jiang Xueli hurried to catch up with him.


    "Was she pretty?"


    Lin Zhengran gave her a bored glance.


    The tsundere Jiang Xueli knew she couldn¡¯t keep pushing, or else she¡¯d get smacked.


    Still, she pouted and huffed, thinking, Next time, I¡¯m definitely going with you. I can¡¯t let you go alone.


    On the way back to the salon, Jiang Xueli¡¯s small hand quietly reached for Lin Zhengran¡¯s.


    She pretended to look elsewhere, still acting jealous.


    Lin Zhengran had no choice but to hold her hand.


    Only then did the sour expression on her face soften a bit.


    She muttered, "It was my mistake letting you go to a place full of girls alone this time. But¡­ thanks for buying me the lingerie."


    "You¡¯re thanking me?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned red again.


    For a girl, a guy buying her feminine products¡ªwhether it was sanitary pads or lingerie¡ªwasn¡¯t a small thing.


    Most guys who didn¡¯t genuinely care wouldn¡¯t do something like that.


    "Well, I was really touched by what you did today. So if you ever get sick or can¡¯t do anything by yourself, I¡¯ll take care of you. For a lifetime."


    Lin Zhengran had no idea how this girl¡¯s mind worked.


    How did she even get there from this?


    They waited in line for over an hour before it was finally Jiang Xueli¡¯s turn.


    After the female assistant washed her hair and she sat down in the chair, the hairstylist suddenly commented,


    "Miss, your face shape and hairstyle would suit dyed hair really well. Have you ever considered going blonde?"


    "Huh? I¡¯m a student. My school doesn¡¯t allow dyed hair."


    "I know you can¡¯t dye it now, but I just think it¡¯d suit you so well. In my thirty years of experience, I¡¯ve never seen a girl as perfect for blonde hair as you."


    Jiang Xueli looked at the hairstylist in the mirror. "Sis, you don¡¯t look a day over twenty¡­"


    The hairstylist waved her hand with a grin. "Don¡¯t worry about that little detail."


    She picked up a color swatch and a dye chart, showing them to Jiang Xueli.


    "Look, this shade right here. You can¡¯t dye it now, but I highly recommend it for when you graduate. Blonde twin ponytails would look amazing on you."


    Jiang Xueli stared at the golden shade in the picture.


    For some reason¡­ it really did look nice.


    Maybe after university. I¡¯ll ask Zhengran about it then.


    With that thought, the hairstylist began snipping away, trimming Jiang Xueli¡¯s hair to her lower back.


    What she failed to notice, however, was that it was already 9:40 PM¡ª


    And the girls¡¯ dormitory would soon be locked for the night.

 Chapter 158: I Don’t Want to Go Back

    After getting her hair cut, Jiang Xueli felt completely refreshed.


    She turned her head left and right in front of the salon mirror, her newly trimmed twin ponytails swaying gently at her shoulders.


    Even the hairstylist sighed in admiration. "Miss, you¡¯re really gorgeous. Honestly, even without dyeing your hair, you already look great. But with some color? Even better."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she stayed quiet.


    She did feel like the new cut looked good, but someone had to say so for it to really count. After all, girls only dress up for the ones they like.


    She turned to Lin Zhengran expectantly. "Zhengran, what do you think?"


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her neatly trimmed twin ponytails, reaching out to gently run his fingers through them.


    She looked even more lively than before.


    "It looks good."


    Of course, it looked good. It was just a trim¡ªnothing major had changed.


    Still, Jiang Xueli beamed at his praise.


    After paying, the two of them left the salon and headed back to school.


    On the taxi ride back, Jiang Xueli pulled out her phone and started searching for images of blonde twin ponytails.


    To her surprise, there were quite a few results¡ªbut most of them were from anime. There weren¡¯t many real-life examples, which was a little strange.


    Still, she thought the hairstylist was onto something.


    Black twin ponytails looked cute, but blonde ones felt more energetic¡ªmore her.


    As she scrolled, she suddenly came across a picture of a guy holding onto a girl¡¯s twin ponytails from behind.


    Her face immediately turned red, and she quickly swiped past it before asking,


    "Zhengran, do you think blonde hair would suit me? The hairstylist said it would, but I¡¯ve never dyed my hair before, so I don¡¯t really know."


    Seeing her eager expression, Lin Zhengran instantly understood what she wanted to hear.


    "It¡¯ll look great," he said, humoring her.


    "Really?!" She lit up.


    "Of course. I also think you were practically born for it."


    Jiang Xueli pursed her lips, looking at him with bright eyes as she absentmindedly combed her fingers through her ponytail.


    "Then¡­ should I dye it as soon as I graduate from high school?" she asked in a small voice.


    Lin Zhengran smiled. "Sure. I¡¯ll go with you when the time comes."


    "It¡¯s a promise, then!"


    Jiang Xueli stared at her phone again, imagining how she¡¯d look with blonde hair.


    It would definitely be pretty.


    But then she happened to glance at the time.


    It was already past ten.


    She quickly reminded the driver, "Mister, we¡¯ll make it back before eleven, right?"


    The driver, casually shifting gears with one hand while speeding through the city, reassured her, "No problem. It¡¯s only a short distance. It¡¯s just past ten now¡ªI¡¯ll get you there in fifteen minutes, easy."


    Jiang Xueli relaxed. Eleven o¡¯clock was plenty of time.


    But then, the driver asked, "But why are you still going back to school at this hour?"


    "Huh? To sleep, obviously."


    The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror.


    He couldn''t help but think, Young couples these days sure know how to act innocent. It really takes me back to my own high school days.


    Chuckling, he said,


    "Sleep? The dorms lock up at ten. It¡¯s already past ten¡ªhow are you getting in?"


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    She waved her hand dismissively with a forced smile, but sweat was starting to form on her forehead.


    "Mister, you must be mistaken. The girls¡¯ dorm locks up at eleven, not ten. I double-checked a few days ago. Right, Zhengran?"


    Lin Zhengran, still looking out the window, answered truthfully,


    "The boys¡¯ dorm locks at ten. It¡¯s never been eleven. As for the girls¡¯ dorm, I¡¯m not sure."


    The smile on Jiang Xueli¡¯s face stiffened instantly.


    She turned into stone.


    "...Huh?"


    Her lips parted in shock as she turned to Lin Zhengran in horror. "Are you serious?! The boys¡¯ dorm locks at ten?!"


    "Yeah, that¡¯s the rule."


    The driver laughed.


    "Miss, you must¡¯ve misremembered. Your school¡¯s dorms all lock at ten. I¡¯ve been driving taxis for years¡ªI was just dropping students off around nine, and now at ten, you¡¯ll notice there aren¡¯t any students outside anymore." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli glanced at the streets.


    Sure enough¡ªthere weren¡¯t any students around.


    Her brain short-circuited.


    Then, full panic mode set in.


    She turned to Lin Zhengran and the driver, her voice growing loud and frantic.


    "Then¡­ then what do I do?! If the dorm is locked, I can¡¯t get in! Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?!"


    The driver barely held back a chuckle.


    "There¡¯s always a way."


    Jiang Xueli turned to Lin Zhengran. "Zhengran! If the boys¡¯ dorm is locked at ten, how are you getting in?! Are we seriously going to have to sleep on the streets?!"


    "I wasn¡¯t planning on going back to the dorm tonight," Lin Zhengran said casually. "I was going to find a place to shower and stay at a hotel nearby."


    "...A hotel?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s panicked mind came to an abrupt halt.


    Her pupils dilated slightly.


    And then, after a brief pause¡ª


    A deep blush spread across her pale face.


    Her gaze wavered.


    She suddenly realized why the driver had sounded so knowing earlier.


    She clamped her mouth shut, sitting up stiffly in her seat.


    Her head lowered slightly, her legs pressed together, and her hands curled into fists on her lap, her entire face burning red.


    A hotel¡­


    Was Zhengran hinting at something?


    Had he known all along that the dorms locked at ten?


    Was this his plan from the start¡­?


    Did he¡­


    Want to do that kind of thing tonight?


    Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.


    Wasn¡¯t it too soon?


    Some of their classmates might have already done it, but she and Zhengran had only held hands so far.


    They hadn¡¯t even gotten to that stage yet.


    But then again¡­


    Jiang Xueli clenched her hands tighter.


    She bit her lip.


    She suddenly remembered something her friends often said¡ª


    Boys at this age crave certain things.


    Zhengran was probably the same.


    He never showed it, but deep down, he must have wanted to do¡­


    That thing adults do¡­


    Tonight¡­


    "Alright, we¡¯re here."


    "Ah?!"


    Jiang Xueli barely registered the words.


    Had the driver just teleported them here?!


    He had said fifteen minutes, but her brain had been running wild, and time had completely slipped away.


    Lin Zhengran got out of the taxi.


    Still dazed, Jiang Xueli followed him out.


    The driver drove off, leaving her standing there, her small hands clenched tightly as her heart raced.


    "Z-zhengran¡­"


    But before she could spiral any further¡ª


    Lin Zhengran said, "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll talk to the dorm supervisor and get them to let you in."


    "Hmm¡­ huh?"


    Jiang Xueli looked up at him. "You¡¯re planning to send me back to the dorm?"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "What else would I do?"


    Jiang Xueli felt both embarrassed and confused.


    She couldn¡¯t figure out what Lin Zhengran was thinking.


    Was he playing hard to get?


    ¡­No way.


    Would Zhengran even do something like that?


    "But¡­ didn¡¯t you say you were getting a hotel room to shower or something?"


    "Yeah, I am."


    He actually had a vague idea of what she was thinking.


    He leaned down slightly, closing the distance between them, looking straight into her blushing, flustered eyes.


    Then, with a completely serious expression, he asked,


    "What¡¯s on your mind? Were you thinking of coming with me? Do you not want to go back to the girls¡¯ dorm?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart started pounding.


    She panicked and shut her eyes, using her little fists to weakly punch at him.


    "W-what are you even saying?! How could I think something like that?!"


    After hitting him a few times, she suddenly crouched down, covering her face with her hands.


    "I wasn¡¯t thinking about that! Not at all!"


    Lin Zhengran straightened up. "Then that¡¯s settled. Let¡¯s get you back."


    But just as he was about to step forward¡ª


    Jiang Xueli gently tugged at the hem of his pants.


    "Zhengran, wait¡­"


    Her voice was soft.


    She hesitated for a moment, her face still burning, before mumbling,


    "If I go back this late, I¡¯ll probably wake up my roommates¡­ Maybe it¡¯s better if I stay out with you. I don¡¯t¡­ want to go back."


    Her gaze was locked on the ground, her entire face flushed red.


    At this point, even she didn¡¯t know what she was saying anymore.

 Chapter 159: A Nervous Jiang Xueli

    Lin Zhengran lowered his head to look at her.


    After a brief silence, Jiang Xueli, not hearing a response, quietly raised her head to meet his gaze.


    Their eyes locked.


    Jiang Xueli''s face turned redder by the second until she suddenly stood up, flailing her arms in a flustered attempt to explain.


    ¡°No, that''s not what I meant! I¡¯m not saying that I plan to do that kind of thing with you tonight. I just meant... I just...¡± She looked away. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy all day too, and I just want to take a shower and sleep comfortably. If I go back to the dorm, I won¡¯t even be able to take a proper bath.¡±


    ¡°That kind of thing? What kind of thing?¡± Lin Zhengran deliberately emphasized the words.


    Jiang Xueli was at a loss for words. She suddenly bit her lip, trembling, and when embarrassment reached its peak, it turned into tears. She squatted back down, covering her face with both hands.


    ¡°Wahhh! Stop asking already! I didn¡¯t mean it that way!¡±


    As she cried, she shouted, ¡°You big idiot! Why do you always bully me? You obviously understand everything! I just think it¡¯s already so late, and since you¡¯re not going back to the dorm either, what¡¯s the point of me going back alone? It¡¯d be like I¡¯m intentionally leaving you outside! Can¡¯t we just find a place to sleep? It¡¯s just resting, that¡¯s all! I just want to stay with you!¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn''t help but laugh at her antics.


    He reached out and patted her head.


    Jiang Xueli was still sobbing.


    ¡°Lili,¡± he called her name.


    Only then did Jiang Xueli slowly lift her head, eyes glistening with unshed tears, though she wasn¡¯t truly crying yet.


    ¡°What, you big idiot!¡±


    Lin Zhengran extended his hand. ¡°Get up. Since you don¡¯t want to go back and want to stay with me, then come with me¡ªunless you''re scared.¡±


    Jiang Xueli looked up at Lin Zhengran¡¯s handsome, gentle expression.


    She hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed her hand in his, stopping for a brief second before gripping his palm. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Scared of what?¡± She let him pull her up. ¡°I¡¯ve known you for so many years. If I were scared of you, then I¡¯d be scared of everything.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a soft chuckle and led her toward a nearby hotel.


    Even though Jiang Xueli had just claimed she wasn¡¯t scared, being led by a guy to stay overnight outside¡ªespecially her childhood friend¡ªfelt a little strange.


    She was also curious about what he meant earlier. What did he mean by ¡°unless you¡¯re scared¡±?


    As they walked past an adult store, Jiang Xueli bit her lip, her face burning.


    She stopped in her tracks. ¡°Z-Zhengran...¡±


    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t know how to say it, so she cautiously pointed at the unstaffed store.


    ¡°Maybe... we should buy a box, just in case... you know, that thing...¡±


    Lin Zhengran followed her gaze.


    Without hesitation, he flicked her forehead.


    Jiang Xueli held her forehead, looking aggrieved. ¡°What was that for?! Why did you hit me again?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°What are you thinking? Weren¡¯t you the one who said we were just sleeping? If it¡¯s just sleeping, why would we need that?¡±


    Jiang Xueli avoided his gaze, feeling deeply embarrassed.


    "I just meant... just in case..." she muttered to herself.


    So Zhengran really didn¡¯t have any such intentions? If he didn¡¯t even consider buying one, did that mean he truly had no thoughts about it at all?


    But then Lin Zhengran casually added, ¡°There¡¯s already some in the room.¡±


    ¡°H-Huh?¡± Her eyes widened in shock.


    Lin Zhengran kept walking, pulling her along.


    Jiang Xueli panicked, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Zhengran! Zhengran! Y-You... I...¡±


    Another flick to the forehead.


    ¡°I was joking,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s going on in that head of yours? Do you think sleeping together always has to mean that? Don¡¯t you have things to do tomorrow? Are you planning to ditch all your responsibilities?¡±


    Jiang Xueli rubbed her forehead. ¡°How is this my fault? Isn¡¯t it common knowledge that guys in puberty have their heads full of... you know... that stuff?¡±


    Yellow waste.


    Lin Zhengran kept walking, looking exasperated.


    He wasn¡¯t even in puberty anymore. Sure, hormones still had an effect, but he was a full-grown adult now.


    ¡°That may be true, but I actually care about you guys. And let me guess, you were just thinking that if I really wanted to do that, you¡¯d have no choice but to go along with it, right?¡±


    Jiang Xueli blushed furiously and couldn¡¯t bring herself to respond.


    She really had been thinking that. She felt like it was part of her duty as a girlfriend, even if it was a bit early.


    Besides, a lot of her classmates had already...


    So if Zhengran really insisted, she wouldn¡¯t have minded too much.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t turn to look at her, but he spoke seriously.


    ¡°Other things don¡¯t matter much, but something this important¡ªespecially the first time¡ªshouldn¡¯t be decided just because you want to go along with me. If you¡¯re really ready, you should be the one to come to me.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You mean... I should be the one to ask... to do that?!¡± She was flustered. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! No way I¡¯d ever take the initiative for something like that!¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s impossible?¡±


    ¡°I... I mean, now that you ask me like that...¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her. ¡°What? What are you really thinking?¡±


    Jiang Xueli lowered her head, her face bright red, and mumbled.


    ¡°Maybe... one day. I want to take things slowly, step by step¡ªholding hands, hugging... If the time comes for that, maybe I¡¯ll take the initiative. But... I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t think the same way. We¡¯ve only just held hands. The rest is still far off.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked straight ahead again.


    Jiang Xueli''s voice became even quieter. ¡°Actually... I wanted to take the second step tonight...¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then let¡¯s take the second step tonight.¡±


    ¡°W-What?! R-Really?¡±


    ¡°For real this time. That kind of thing is too early, but the second step is fine.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart pounded.


    The second step¡ªhugging.


    But was hugging in a place like this really okay?!


    They chose a decent hotel.


    Since it was right outside the school, the owner seemed used to students staying there.


    ¡°ID cards.¡±


    Lin Zhengran handed over both his and Jiang Xueli¡¯s.


    The owner entered their information into the system and gave them their room key.


    ¡°Room 307.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took the key and pulled a completely flushed Jiang Xueli upstairs.


    This was the first time Jiang Xueli had ever been to a place like this, and with Zhengran, no less. Looking at her surroundings, she realized it wasn¡¯t quite like what she had seen in dramas.


    It felt surreal.


    Even though she knew Zhengran wouldn¡¯t do anything to her, her heart was still racing¡ªso fast it felt like it would leap out of her throat.


    With a beep, they swiped the card and entered the room.


    Jiang Xueli suddenly asked, ¡°Zhengran, how do you know how to book a hotel so well? You seem so experienced.¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied casually, ¡°I stayed at one before with my parents.¡±


    A simple excuse.


    Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t think much of it at all¡ªher trust in him was too high.


    He inserted the room card to turn on the lights.


    In front of them was a large bed with a neatly arranged white duvet.


    When Lin Zhengran shut the door behind them, Jiang Xueli instinctively shuddered.


    Seeing how nervous she was, he changed into slippers.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted a shower? Go ahead, I¡¯ll go after you.¡±


    Jiang Xueli glanced at him taking off his jacket and sitting on the bed.


    Her heart was still hammering.


    ¡°O-Okay.¡±


    She walked into the bathroom and found it quite nice¡ªclean and more upscale than the school facilities.


    But as she glanced around, she realized something.


    ¡°Zhengran, there¡¯s no shampoo or body wash here. How am I supposed to shower?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, looking at his phone, replied, ¡°There should be disposable ones somewhere on the wall. Check again.¡±


    Jiang Xueli searched but couldn¡¯t find them.


    She hesitated before poking her head out of the bathroom.


    ¡°Big idiot.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked up.


    Realizing her slip, she quickly corrected herself.


    ¡°Zhengran... help me find it. I can¡¯t find anything. I¡¯ve never been to a place like this before.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a long sigh.


    ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re helpless. I¡¯ll find it for you.¡±

 Chapter 160: Clumsy Moments in the Bathroom

    Lin Zhengran stepped into the bathroom and found a set of disposable toiletries¡ªtwo sets, to be exact¡ªon a small ledge. He handed one to Jiang Xueli.


    Jiang Xueli looked at the neatly packaged items in her palm.


    ¡°Oh, so they¡¯re this small. I thought they¡¯d be the big ones.¡±


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Do you need anything else?¡±


    Jiang Xueli appeared to be thinking, but in reality, her mind was a chaotic mess, completely short-circuited.


    ¡°Need anything else? Uh, no, nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, go ahead and shower. I¡¯ll reply to He Qing and that little fox.¡±


    ¡°Fox?¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat down on the bed. ¡°Han Wenwen.¡±


    Jiang Xueli blinked her big, bright eyes.


    Had Zhengran ever called Han Wenwen that before? Sure, she did look a bit like a fox, but after all these years, he had never referred to her that way.


    Besides¡­ why was Han Wenwen messaging Lin Zhengran? Was it because of He Qing?


    She didn¡¯t understand, nor did she dwell on it too much. She turned and walked into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting now,¡± she called out from inside.


    Lin Zhengran responded lazily, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°You better not peek, Zhengran.¡±


    ¡°You locked the door. How would I peek? At most, I can only listen¡ªto the sound of you showering.¡± He casually teased her while scrolling through his phone.


    Jiang Xueli turned bright red, swung the door open, and shouted, ¡°Zhengran, you pervert!¡±


    Then, with a loud , she shut the door again.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t even look up, just leaned against the headboard and first replied to He Qing¡¯s messages.


    She had sent them in the morning, but he hadn¡¯t had time to reply until now.


    He Qing:


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her detailed list, complete with various pictures, and replied:


    Lin Zhengran:


    He Qing:


    Lin Zhengran:


    He Qing: ^¡Ì^


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    He Qing: (She sent a picture.)


    Lin Zhengran:


    He Qing:


    Lin Zhengran:


    He Qing:


    Such a true foodie.


    He Qing:


    After chatting briefly with He Qing, he opened Han Wenwen¡¯s messages.


    As always, this little fox was as straightforward as ever.


    Han Wenwen:


    Lin Zhengran replied with a few brief words before putting his phone down.


    At this point, the sound of running water came from the bathroom¡ªJiang Xueli had started showering.


    Inside, Jiang Xueli removed her outerwear and clothes, placing them to the side. She loosened her twin ponytails, letting her hair cascade over her shoulders.


    As she turned on the showerhead and listened to the water flowing, a sudden thought hit her¡ªwas Lin Zhengran outside listening to the sound of her showering?


    Her face burned.


    Zhengran really was still a guy, after all. So perverted!


    But¡­


    The conversation they had earlier on the street resurfaced in her mind, making her heartbeat quicken.


    She squeezed some of the shower gel from the small packet into her palm.


    Since there was no loofah to foam it up, she could only rub it between her hands before applying it to her smooth, jade-like skin.


    If she were to take the initiative¡­ how exactly would she do it?


    She had never talked about this kind of thing with anyone before. But¡­


    She had accidentally stumbled upon of videos online before.


    Just once¡­ or maybe a couple of times¡­ or maybe¡­ more than a couple of times¡­


    She bit her lip, her watery eyes shimmering.


    Boys were truly terrifying.


    She used to think that only had one way to be done, but it turned out there were so many different methods.


    Her thoughts ran wild, and she crouched down in embarrassment.


    Then, she quickly shook her head, scolding herself for thinking too far ahead.


    Tonight was just about hugging.


    But even hugging¡­ Jiang Xueli found it hard to picture.


    She couldn''t imagine Zhengran, who was always so serious, actually knowing how to properly hug a girl.


    What if she hugged him and he just stood there stiffly, arms hanging awkwardly by his sides?


    Wouldn¡¯t that completely ruin the mood?


    ¡°Come to think of it, Zhengran might be a bit of a flirt, but compared to other boys, he¡¯s actually not that perverted, right?¡± she murmured to herself.


    ¡°After all, my classmates always say that guys at this age can¡¯t control themselves, like wolves. But Zhengran doesn¡¯t seem that way. He probably hasn¡¯t even watched of things before¡­¡±


    Unlike her, who had secretly sneaked a peek now and then.


    Suddenly, from outside the bathroom, Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°What are you muttering about in there?¡±


    Jiang Xueli froze.


    Wait¡­ had she just said all of that ?!


    She shot to her feet, almost slipping, and flailed her arms in panic. Her entire face turned red as steam.


    ¡°What? Nothing! I didn¡¯t say anything!¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t respond from outside.


    Jiang Xueli finally breathed a sigh of relief, but her thoughts only became more certain¡ªZhengran probably didn¡¯t know much about these things. She¡¯d have to teach him later.


    Half an hour later, after finishing her shower, Jiang Xueli pulled down the towel to dry her hair.


    Outside, Lin Zhengran heard the water stop and reminded her, ¡°Lili, don¡¯t wrap yourself in the towel when you come out. I still need to use it.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ ah?!¡± She suddenly realized.


    ¡°You still need it?! Then what am I supposed to do after you use it?!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Just use it like normal. Why do you think I let you shower first? So you could use the towel first.¡±


    Jiang Xueli looked at the towel in her hands. ¡°Wait¡­ You mean you¡¯re going to use the same towel I just used it? We¡¯re sharing one?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran, hearing her overreaction, replied matter-of-factly, ¡°Of course. I checked earlier, and there¡¯s only one. What, am I supposed to walk out dripping wet after I shower?¡±


    ¡°T-This¡ªthis¡ª¡±


    Seeing her panic, Lin Zhengran casually raised his hand and knocked his fingers against the wooden headboard.


    The sound reached the bathroom, and Jiang Xueli instantly felt as if she had been smacked on the head out of nowhere.


    She had been knocked on the forehead by Zhengran so many times that now, just hearing the sound made her instinctively cover her head and quiet down.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Calm down. That¡¯s just how it is here. And if you can¡¯t wrap yourself in the towel, then wear your clothes, duh.¡±


    Jiang Xueli thought about it¡ªhe was right. Since Zhengran still needed the towel, she had no choice but to get dressed.


    But even so, the thought of him using the towel she had just used¡­ it felt so .


    After all, she hadn¡¯t just dried her hair with it.


    Blushing furiously, she turned to grab her clothes¡ªonly to freeze in place.


    Her pants and top were sitting on the toilet lid, completely soaked, dripping water onto the floor.


    Jiang Xueli blinked in disbelief.


    She bent down, picked up her drenched, heavy clothes, and finally realized what she had done.


    ¡°My clothes!!¡± she cried out, eyes wide in horror.


    It was a habit¡ªwhenever she showered at home, she instinctively washed the clothes she had worn that day and changed into a fresh set.


    So she had just carelessly placed them aside without even thinking that she still needed them for tomorrow!


    ¡°Zhengran! M-My clothes are completely soaked! What do I do?!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, lying on the bed, frowned.


    What was this girl doing in there? Why was she always so troublesome?


    ¡°What do you mean your clothes are soaked? Where did you put them?¡±


    ¡°On the toilet lid!¡±


    ¡°Who puts their clothes there?! Who puts the clothes they need for tomorrow ?!¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI wasn¡¯t thinking! I always change into fresh clothes at home! I totally forgot! Now what do I do?!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re completely wet?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Even my socks! I can¡¯t wear any of it!¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    He was so done.


    A moment later, he unbuttoned his shirt, took it off, and walked to the bathroom door.


    ¡°Here, wear this for now.¡±


    Jiang Xueli cracked the door open just enough to slip her arm out, her pale, slender fingers blindly searching the air.


    Lin Zhengran had to push the shirt into her hand.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured, pulling her arm back in and locking the door again.


    She looked down at the shirt in her hands and hesitated.


    ¡°Zhengran, is this all you¡¯re giving me? Just a shirt?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s also my jacket. Why¡¯d you shut the door so fast?¡± He sighed.


    ¡°Oh.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She unlocked the door again, and Lin Zhengran handed her his jacket.


    Jiang Xueli took it, then hesitated again.


    ¡°What about pants?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any extra! What do you want me to wear if I give you my pants?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran explained, ¡°The shirt is oversized for you. Just wear it and tie my jacket around your waist like a skirt.¡±


    Jiang Xueli wanted to argue, but she had to admit¡ªhe was so smart.


    Not surprising. He had been the top student since they were kids.


    Not surprising at all¡ªit was Zhengran, after all.


    But tonight had been a total disaster for her. Her brain just wasn¡¯t working.


    ¡°Fine, whatever. Don¡¯t rub it in. I¡¯ll change now.¡±


    ¡°Mm, go ahead.¡±


    Inside the bathroom, Jiang Xueli slipped into his white button-up shirt.


    As soon as she put it on, she was engulfed in Zhengran¡¯s familiar scent.


    Her face grew even redder.


    She quickly tied his jacket around her waist, using the sleeves as a makeshift belt.


    Surprisingly, it worked pretty well.


    Aside from her thighs being a little exposed, everything else was properly covered.


    She looked at herself in the mirror and, after confirming that everything was decent, took a deep breath.


    She opened the door.


    ¡°Zhengran, I need to dry my hair. You can shower now.¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned to look at her and paused.


    Jiang Xueli also froze.


    She had just walked out of the bathroom, her long, damp hair cascading over her shoulders.


    Lin Zhengran, on the other hand, was now shirtless, since he had given her his clothes.


    The two stared at each other for a brief moment.


    Lin Zhengran casually noted that this girl really was growing prettier.


    Though in many ways, she was still the same as when they were kids.


    Jiang Xueli, on the other hand, was screaming internally.


    Her heart pounded wildly.

 Chapter 161: Always Bullying Me

    ¡°You actually look pretty good without the jacket too,¡± Lin Zhengran commented.


    Jiang Xueli blushed. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for compliments!¡±


    Lin Zhengran brushed past her and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him.


    Jiang Xueli shivered slightly, feeling inexplicably relieved.


    But then she realized¡ªshe hadn¡¯t heard the sound of the door locking.


    Concerned, she called out, ¡°Zhengran, you forgot to lock the door.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. It¡¯s not like peek, right? Since you won¡¯t, there¡¯s no reason for me to lock it.¡± His reasoning was flawless.


    Jiang Xueli blinked, finding his logic somewhat convincing¡­ but still¡­


    After hesitating for a moment, she slowly reached for the doorknob, gently twisting it open, and peeked her head inside.


    At that exact moment, Lin Zhengran turned around.


    Their eyes met.


    The next second, Lin Zhengran strode over and knocked her forehead with his knuckles.


    ¡°Are you a pervert? Were you really trying to peek?¡±


    Jiang Xueli let out a startled yelp, realizing too late what she had done.


    ¡°I¡ªI didn¡¯t think you left it unlocked! I thought I just didn¡¯t hear the sound of the lock clicking!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was speechless.


    ¡°Get back on the bed.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, utterly mortified, covered her face. ¡°Okay, okay!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed¡ªthis girl was dense.


    He locked the door this time.


    Sitting on the bed, Jiang Xueli started overthinking.


    Would Zhengran misunderstand her intentions? She was just curious if he locked the door¡­


    Then she heard the sound of running water.


    She looked down at her bare thighs.


    While standing, her outfit had looked fine, but once she sat down, the illusion shattered.


    Panicked, she clutched the jacket tied around her waist, pressing her legs tightly together and angling them inward.


    Meanwhile, water dripped from her hair.


    Normally, she would wrap a towel around her head to absorb the moisture, but that wasn¡¯t an option tonight.


    She grabbed the hairdryer, plugged it in, and started blow-drying.


    However, it wasn¡¯t very effective.


    ¡°Ugh, my hair is still wet. At least it¡¯s shorter than before¡­¡±


    Out of nowhere, Lin Zhengran¡¯s sharp voice rang from the bathroom.


    ¡°Jiang Xueli.¡±


    She jumped, almost dropping the hairdryer. ¡°What?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was staring at the damp towel in his hands.


    ¡°What the hell did you do to this towel? Why is it ?!¡±


    Jiang Xueli answered matter-of-factly, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s wet! I used it, didn¡¯t I? And since you¡¯re going to use it after me, I had to wash it first!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was utterly exasperated.


    ¡°At wring out the water, can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I wring it out!¡±


    Lin Zhengran squeezed the towel¡ªthough it wasn¡¯t dripping, the moment he applied pressure, water pooled in his hand and trickled down.


    A vein popped on his forehead.


    Did she to get smacked?


    ¡°You sure? I could wring out half a bucket of water from this, and you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s dry?¡±


    ¡°I my best! I don¡¯t have that much strength!¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t respond immediately, probably too frustrated to even argue.


    Realizing she had caused another problem, Jiang Xueli tried to fix it.


    ¡°If the wet towel bothers you, my shirt is still in there. I think only half of it got wet. You can use the dry part to wipe off instead. It¡¯s not like I can wear it tomorrow anyway.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just wring this out myself.¡±


    Jiang Xueli hunched her shoulders, already anticipating another forehead flick when he came out.


    She continued drying her hair.


    Barely two minutes passed before Lin Zhengran finished his shower and stepped out.


    Jiang Xueli turned in shock. ¡°Already?! That wasn¡¯t even five minutes, was it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded, ¡°More like ten. I washed everything I needed to.¡±


    Jiang Xueli glanced at him, fresh out of the shower, pants on but shirtless.


    His toned abs and chest muscles still carried a slight sheen of moisture, making them too eye-catching.


    She immediately turned away, continuing to blow-dry her hair as if nothing happened.


    ¡°I guys showered fast, but I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be fast¡­¡± she muttered under her breath.


    Right on cue, Lin Zhengran walked over and flicked her forehead.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Jiang Xueli yelped. She had been for that. At this point, getting smacked was routine.


    ¡°How much longer do you need to dry your hair?¡± he asked.


    Jiang Xueli held up the hairdryer, the buzzing noise filling the air. ¡°This thing isn¡¯t very powerful. Probably another half hour since my hair is so wet.¡±


    ¡°Half an hour? I could dry my whole head twice over in that time. How about I go first, then I¡¯ll help you after?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to dry my hair?¡±


    She turned to look at him¡ªthen turned away again because her eyes automatically drifted to his abs.


    Flustered, she shoved the hairdryer into his hands. ¡°Fine, you go first.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took it. ¡°I¡¯ll be quicker than you. Go sit on the bed and wait.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll just get under the covers.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself.¡±


    Jiang Xueli carefully climbed into bed, touching her still-damp hair.


    Lin Zhengran, meanwhile, swiftly dried his short hair, movements efficient and crisp.


    Jiang Xueli, lying under the covers, couldn¡¯t help but sneak glances at him.


    His sharp side profile and well-built frame were simply too attractive.


    Even though they always bickered and fooled around, she had to admit¡ªZhengran was good-looking.


    And his physique was flawless.


    Any girl would fall for a guy like this¡­


    A few minutes later, Lin Zhengran finished drying his hair and walked back to the bed, noticing that Jiang Xueli was deliberately staring out the window.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Jiang Xueli stiffened. ¡°N-Nothing! Just admiring the view! It¡¯s so dark tonight¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran ignored her excuse. ¡°Close the curtains.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    She bit her lip and sat up slightly to pull the curtains shut. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When she turned back, she saw that Lin Zhengran had also gotten into bed¡ªright next to her.


    She freaked out.


    ¡°Zhengran! Why are you so close?!¡±


    ¡°Can you stop being so paranoid? How else am I supposed to dry your hair? And because insisted on staying here, I have to sleep pants on.¡±


    Jiang Xueli understood, but still¡­


    Lin Zhengran gestured. ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll dry your hair.¡±


    ¡°¡­O-Okay¡­¡±


    Blushing, Jiang Xueli turned toward him.


    The hairdryer hummed as Lin Zhengran gathered her silky strands in his hands.


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fingers, biting her lip as she felt his fingers running through her hair, the warmth of the air flowing through it.


    Lin Zhengran noticed how tense she was. ¡°Are you nervous?¡±


    She jolted, her grip tightening.


    ¡°¡­N-Not really¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°And to think you were imagining all sorts of things earlier. If we actually something, you¡¯d probably start crying.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, completely humiliated, shot back, ¡°I am that weak! I just¡­¡±


    Her mind suddenly flashed to the image of a guy tugging on twin ponytails.


    Her face went red.


    ¡°I just¡­ feel embarrassed, okay?! Any girl would feel shy in this situation! Stop teasing me, you big idiot! You bully me! Ever since we were kids, all you¡¯ve ever done is bully me!¡±

 Chapter 162: Hugging Lesson

    The angry Jiang Xueli lightly tapped Lin Zhengran''s stomach with her little fist.


    But the gesture was clearly more like an act of affection than actual hitting. She didn¡¯t want to strike him, and she certainly didn¡¯t have the strength to do so.


    Lin Zhengran, while drying his hair, saw that she was being honest and stopped teasing her.


    The only sound in the room was the blow-dryer, and the atmosphere felt even more awkward.


    But now that Lin Zhengran had stopped talking and teasing her, it seemed like Jiang Xueli wasn¡¯t too happy about it. She stared at the muscles on his stomach and found a topic to break the silence. ¡°Zhengran... why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡±


    ¡°I thought you told me not to tease you, so I¡¯m not talking now. Is that okay?¡±


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip. ¡°I said not to tease me, not that you can¡¯t talk. When you don¡¯t say anything, the atmosphere gets so weird.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a light tap on the head, and she quieted down, though this time he didn¡¯t hit her, since his hands were busy with the blow-dryer.


    ¡°Zhengran.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡±


    Jiang Xueli actually wanted to ask him why he still wasn¡¯t speaking, but before she could, she changed the subject.


    ¡°You...¡± She tried to act casual. ¡°Do you often work out at home? Your body is in such good shape...¡±


    ¡°Occasionally. As for building muscle, I guess I¡¯ve just been lucky.¡±


    ¡°Lucky?¡±


    The more nervous Jiang Xueli became, the more likely she was to say something silly. She giggled. ¡°You think that¡¯s luck?¡± She looked up at him. ¡°Sometimes I think you¡¯re just dumb. Your head doesn¡¯t seem to work.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at Jiang Xueli, whose body was cute but far from toned. He thought, if it weren¡¯t for luck, there was no way to explain Jiang Xueli¡¯s figure.


    So, he was right about the luck part.


    Seeing Lin Zhengran¡¯s slightly mischievous expression, Jiang Xueli, still holding her upper body, questioned him with a glare, ¡°What are you staring at?¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother to respond.


    Jiang Xueli, however, noticed how seriously he was drying her hair. Though she didn¡¯t say anything, she was secretly moved. After all, her feelings for him had been building up for years.


    She tentatively reached out and touched Lin Zhengran¡¯s hair. He was curious about what she was doing.


    Jiang Xueli scrutinized him. ¡°Big fool. I don¡¯t want to compliment you, but how come you¡¯re so good-looking, so handsome? Even your hair... Even when I mess it up, it still looks good.¡±


    She made his hair fly up with a playful motion, then quietly chuckled to herself.


    Lin Zhengran warned her: ¡°Jiang Xueli, are you looking for trouble?¡±


    Jiang Xueli, startled, quickly fixed his hair back to its original style.


    ¡°I won¡¯t mess with it anymore, no need to get angry.¡±


    After finishing the front part of her hair, Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Turn around, I¡¯ll do the back.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Jiang Xueli shifted in the bed, turning her back to him. Lin Zhengran gently held her long hair. Though it was thick, it didn¡¯t have the same density as Han Wen¡¯s hair, but it was very smooth to the touch.


    ¡°Zhengran... how far have you and He Qing gone?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve held hands and linked arms.¡±


    Jiang Xueli half-turned her head in surprise but quickly received a warning from Lin Zhengran to stay still.


    She turned back to face the curtains, blinking her large, watery eyes a few times. She thought,


    After all, He Qing was much sweeter than herself. If she were a guy in a relationship with He Qing, she wouldn¡¯t be able to stop herself from getting physical. But Zhengran didn¡¯t do anything like that.


    Though this was Lin Zhengran showing his care for her, it also proved that he was really quite innocent.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve never hugged her?¡± Jiang Xueli asked.


    ¡°Hmm, not yet,¡± Lin Zhengran answered, ¡°I¡¯ve only hugged one certain fox, and I might have done it a little too many times.¡±


    Jiang Xueli suddenly laughed, confirming her own thoughts. She puffed out her chest, suddenly finding a strange kind of courage.


    With one hand proudly over her chest, she closed her eyes and spoke confidently:


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t think I¡¯m like this, but I actually know a lot about certain things. If you don¡¯t know, let me teach you how to hug a girl. Otherwise, you big fool might make a fool of yourself when you try to hug someone later.¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her curiously but didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Alright, but why do you know so much?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± Jiang Xueli hesitated, then answered proudly, ¡°I¡¯m a girl, and I¡¯m also a singer. Singers are very attentive, so I understand a lot about relationships between men and women! That¡¯s it!¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re impressive.¡± Lin Zhengran complimented her.


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip, trying to hide her satisfaction. ¡°Well, once your hair is done, I¡¯ll teach you how to hug. There are different ways.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The silly girl, Lin Zhengran thought to himself. He was curious to see what tricks she had up her sleeve.


    Once the hairdryer was set aside, Lin Zhengran spoke. ¡°Alright, hair¡¯s done. Now you can teach me.¡±


    Jiang Xueli took a deep breath, then turned back around to face him.


    In this atmosphere, she still felt nervous. ¡°Let¡¯s turn off the lights first,¡± she suggested.


    Lin Zhengran used the remote to turn off the lights, and the room immediately fell into darkness. He couldn¡¯t help but smile in the dim light but quickly composed himself. ¡°And then?¡±


    Jiang Xueli, remembering the things she had seen before, although those works were not suitable for children, only the pure love aspects stayed with her. So hugging was always a necessary part in those works:


    ¡°Then... we¡¯ll move closer, and I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    She shifted her position a little, closing the distance between them.


    Jiang Xueli could feel her heart pounding fast, almost like it was going to leap out of her chest.


    ¡°Open your arms,¡± she instructed.


    Lin Zhengran complied.


    Jiang Xueli continued, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you the first method, how a guy should react when a girl hugs him first.¡± She looked at Lin Zhengran¡¯s upper body. ¡°I¡¯m going to hug you now, but don¡¯t talk or get nervous. Don¡¯t be nervous, okay?¡±


    Seeing him nod gently, Jiang Xueli cautiously touched Lin Zhengran¡¯s skin with her small hand.


    She pulled back a little in surprise, but maybe it was the role she was playing as a teacher that gave her courage. She gritted her teeth and made a bold move.


    She directly wrapped her arms around Lin Zhengran and buried her face in his chest.


    Luckily, the room was dark, or Jiang Xueli¡¯s face would have been entirely red by now¡ªher ears even turned bright red.


    Her forehead rested against Lin Zhengran¡¯s chest, and she could clearly smell the unique scent that belonged to him.


    Her hands, trembling and nervous, tightly clung to the firm muscles on his back.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t speak at first but noticed how fast her breathing was. She was so close that he could feel her breath clearly against his chest. She had just washed her hair, and the scent was intoxicating.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s voice became small and cautious: ¡°Now, it¡¯s the girl¡¯s turn to hug you... How do you feel? Tell me your thoughts.¡±


    Lin Zhengran actually took a moment to feel it and then answered seriously:


    ¡°It feels pretty good. You smell nice. When your breath hits my chest, it feels a little ticklish. And your face feels a bit hot against me, but it¡¯s warm. But my arms are getting sore from holding them up.¡±


    Embarrassed, Jiang Xueli quickly said, ¡°No... don¡¯t go into such detail! Just a simple comment is fine.¡±


    ¡°A simple comment? Then I¡¯ll just say it¡¯s nice.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then you need to respond to me. When a girl hugs you first, the guy can¡¯t just stay still. He needs to hug back too. Try putting your hands on my back like I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Let me give it a try?¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded slightly.


    Then Lin Zhengran placed his hands on Jiang Xueli¡¯s back.


    As soon as she felt his hands there, Jiang Xueli was about to ask how it felt, but then she suddenly noticed that Lin Zhengran had applied a bit more force, pulling her fully into his embrace.


    ¡°Zheng... Zhengran!¡± she gasped, startled.


    Lin Zhengran was curious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you say I should hug your back? I haven¡¯t done anything else. What comes next?¡±


    ¡°I... I need to think,¡± she mumbled, her brain short-circuiting from how close they were. ¡°Let¡¯s just stay like this for a while. Let me think if there¡¯s anything else I should remember.¡±


    ¡°You can take your time, no rush.¡±


    Everything grew quiet. Jiang Xueli could clearly feel how Lin Zhengran was holding her, and it felt oddly comforting. There was a slight sense of urgency mixed with security, as though she was needed by him. It was an indescribable feeling.


    And it was really comfortable. Lin Zhengran¡¯s muscles were solid, and being held by him felt much better than she had imagined.


    At that moment, all Jiang Xueli could think was that she wanted time to stop and stay in this moment forever.


    She closed her eyes and hugged him tightly, her mind filled with memories of their time together.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed.


    Lin Zhengran noticed that Jiang Xueli was smiling with a peaceful expression, not saying anything. He leaned in close to her ear and asked, ¡°Still haven¡¯t remembered?¡±


    Startled, Jiang Xueli jumped and opened her eyes.


    She quickly responded, ¡°You idiot! How could it be so easy to think of? It¡¯ll take a while! Why are you so impatient? Don¡¯t you think holding me like this is nice? Why are you asking so many questions?¡±


    ¡°It is nice, but don¡¯t you think we look a little awkward like this? Your legs are straight, but your body is tilted, and your waist is twisted. Normally, hugging should feel comfortable, right?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Is it?¡± Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t even noticed that.


    She lowered her head and smiled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. ¡°Not bad, big fool. You¡¯re starting to get it, but...¡±


    ¡°How about we lie down and hug? That way our bodies won¡¯t be twisted.¡±


    ¡°Good idea... Let¡¯s do that.¡±


    There was a sound of them lying down on the bed, but hugging while lying down felt completely different from sitting.


    Jiang Xueli lay on the bed, looking at Lin Zhengran¡¯s face, which was now just a hair¡¯s breadth away from hers.


    The strange atmosphere made her shy all of a sudden. She didn¡¯t expect that just changing positions would create such a big difference in how it felt.


    ¡°Wait, wait, Zhengran! Let¡¯s not lie down yet. Let go of me first...¡± She pushed his hands away.


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes widened in panic. She didn¡¯t see any curiosity for knowledge in his eyes¡ªonly the mischievous glint of someone teasing her.


    ¡°Zhengran... you want me to...¡±


    Just as she was about to speak, he pulled her even closer.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face was buried in his neck.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled, ¡°Want you? I¡¯m just not very good at this. Keep going.¡±


    ¡°Liar... you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± Jiang Xueli bit her lip, her voice suddenly tinged with a little sadness. ¡°I really hate you. You¡¯re the person I hate the most in the world...¡±


    She finished saying that and wrapped her arms around his back again.

 Chapter 163: The Jealous Little Fox

    The night... was far from over.


    It was already past 1 AM.


    Jiang Xueli''s eyes were barely open, just a slit. She couldn''t fall asleep in Lin Zhengran''s arms because her mind was racing with thoughts.


    Her smooth, youthful legs shifted slightly.


    Lin Zhengran, eyes closed, spoke up: ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡±


    Jiang Xueli flinched, panicked. ¡°Zhengran, you¡¯re not asleep either?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, still with his eyes closed, replied, ¡°What do you think? You keep moving your legs, one moment this way, then the other, how am I supposed to sleep?¡±


    She froze her legs in place. ¡°That¡¯s because... it¡¯s your fault! You asked me to! And then you stopped talking.¡±


    ¡°Forget about that now. How can you fall asleep?¡±


    Jiang Xueli pressed her face against his neck. ¡°At home, I always sleep with my legs wrapped around a pillow. If I don¡¯t have something to hold, I can¡¯t sleep.¡±


    ¡°So, you want me to be your pillow?¡±


    Her face turned red. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that! You said it first! And I don¡¯t mean anything else! It¡¯s just... a habit! Can you understand?¡±


    ¡°No need to explain, here you go.¡±


    Lin Zhengran extended one of his legs.


    Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t expected him to be so straightforward. She blushed and closed her eyes. After settling in, she suddenly smiled:


    ¡°Alright, this is good. Time to sleep. Goodnight, Zhengran.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight.¡±


    At 2 AM, Jiang Xueli suddenly panicked. ¡°Oh right, Zhengran! My clothes! I don¡¯t have anything to wear tomorrow! How am I going to go out?¡±


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t hold back and gave her a tap on the head.


    Jiang Xueli winced in pain.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to get your clothes from the dorm tomorrow. Go to sleep, you¡¯ve got the MV shoot tomorrow, and I still have to head home in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going home tomorrow afternoon? What for?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. My mom wants me to meet someone. I¡¯ll be back by night. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Ah... okay.¡±


    This time, the night really passed.


    The next morning, even before the sun had fully risen, Lin Zhengran woke up around 6 AM. His energy was different from most people;just a little sleep made him feel completely refreshed.


    Even if he didn¡¯t sleep for a few days, it didn¡¯t bother him.


    But Jiang Xueli, having stayed up late last night, was still completely out of it.


    However, once she fell asleep, she was much more well-behaved than a certain fox.


    She was exactly the same after falling asleep as she was before.


    Lin Zhengran decided to try pulling his leg out from under her, only to find that she was holding onto him tightly with her legs.


    After some struggle, he finally pulled his leg free, only to hear her mutter in her sleep:


    ¡°Big fool... I¡¯m not tsundere, I¡¯m not a failure... I¡¯m a winner... right?¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran tried to get up but found her hugging him tightly.


    ¡°Zhengran, you tell me, I¡¯m not a failure, am I? Say it! Say that I¡¯m not a failure, that Xueli is not a failure... or I¡¯ll cry.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed and replied, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re not a failure. You¡¯re a winner.¡±


    Jiang Xueli smiled slightly and continued to sleep.


    ¡°Zhengran... I like you...¡±


    Lin Zhengran slowly lifted her hand that was wrapped around his back and gently patted her head. ¡°I¡¯m going to get your clothes. You keep sleeping.¡±


    He got up and headed to the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he realized a key issue: he didn¡¯t have a shirt.


    The shirt was on Jiang Xueli.


    There was no way he could go to the girls¡¯ dorm without a shirt, right? If he did, he''d probably make headlines again at school.


    So, Lin Zhengran grabbed his phone and called someone.


    He opened the chat with He Qing and Han Wenwen. Without much thought, he dialed Han Wenwen¡¯s number.


    The phone buzzed for a while before Han Wenwen, still half-asleep in the dorm, answered groggily. ¡°Hello? Who is it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, with his toothbrush still in his mouth, responded, ¡°Wenwen, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Her drowsiness evaporated as soon as she heard his voice. The morning light was still dim outside.


    ¡°Zhengran Ge?¡± Han Wenwen pulled the phone away from her ear and glanced at the bed across the room, where He Qing was still asleep.


    The little fox covered her head with the blanket, glanced at the time, and answered softly, ¡°Zhengran Ge? Why are you calling me so early? Miss me?¡±


    Her voice turned suddenly sweet.


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Actually, I miss you both, no matter when.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes blinked seductively. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know that... Then, should I get dressed and meet you downstairs in secret?¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised a finger, ¡°Hmm, but before that, I need a favor. Can you go to Xueli¡¯s dorm and bring me a set of her clothes?¡±


    Han Wenwen was confused at first, then Lin Zhengran clarified, ¡°I spent the night with her, and her clothes got wet when she showered. So¡­¡±


    Before she could respond, he hung up.


    Lin Zhengran looked at his phone and thought,


    But no one could outdo Lin Zhengran.


    Three seconds later, the phone rang again. Han Wenwen was furious. ¡°Zhengran Ge, you shameless jerk! You spent the night with Xueli?!¡±


    Her voice was a mixture of pouting and anger.


    Lin Zhengran quickly tried to explain, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, actually... Well, maybe it is. It¡¯s hard to explain over the phone, but bring me the clothes first, and I¡¯ll explain everything when we meet.¡±


    Han Wenwen, still upset, grumbled, ¡°Where should I meet you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you the address. How long will it take?¡±


    Han Wenwen looked at the location and found it was at a nearby hotel.


    ¡°Half an hour. I¡¯ll get ready. But once I get there, Zhengran Ge, you have to explain everything clearly! You can¡¯t leave anything out!¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Bye, Zhengran Ge.¡±


    ¡°Bye.¡±


    She hung up, and Lin Zhengran finished brushing his teeth and washing up.


    Meanwhile, Han Wenwen, still stewing, glanced at the address sent to her on her phone.


    Sneaking around was normal, but this was too much, wasn¡¯t it?


    The little fox quietly got out of bed, making sure not to wake He Qing. She grabbed a basin and the necessary toiletries to brush her teeth, then quickly got dressed.


    Once ready, she went to Jiang Xueli¡¯s dorm, knocking softly on the door. She knew someone was there over the weekend.


    She woke up Jiang Xueli¡¯s roommate and found a set of clothes under the bed. After packing them in a bag, she hurried out of the dorm.


    About half an hour later, Han Wenwen called Lin Zhengran. ¡°What room? Tell me!¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded, ¡°307.¡±


    Han Wenwen then headed to the third floor.


    Lin Zhengran opened the door for her before she even reached the room.


    When Han Wenwen saw Lin Zhengran shirtless, her mind nearly short-circuited. And then she saw Jiang Xueli still sleeping in bed.


    Her eyes widened.


    Lin Zhengran quickly gestured for her to come in and closed the door behind them.


    In the narrow bathroom, Han Wenwen, full of jealousy, stared at Lin Zhengran. She could smell Xueli¡¯s scent lingering on him.


    Before Lin Zhengran could speak, Han Wenwen squatted down and puffed her cheeks, holding the bag with Xueli¡¯s clothes. ¡°Zhengran Ge, just get angry with me, let me be your jealous little fox. You¡¯re trying to make me lose my mind, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lin Zhengran squatted down too, eyeing Han Wenwen¡¯s lips, slightly glossy from lip balm. Curious, he asked, ¡°Did you put on lip balm?¡±


    Han Wenwen, irritated, snorted. ¡°How could I meet you without making myself presentable?¡±


    She looked at the floor. ¡°Hurry up and hug me. Otherwise, I¡¯m not speaking to you for a minute. Hurry up~¡±

 Chapter 164: The Bathroom Incident

    Lin Zhengran saw the little fox pouting and stretched out his hand.


    Han Wenwen looked at Lin Zhengran but didn¡¯t shake his hand. Instead, she half-rose and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into an embrace.


    She whispered in his ear, her voice dripping with allure: ¡°At least you have a bit of a conscience, Zhengran Ge. But tell me, what did you two do last night?!¡±


    Her tone carried a hint of interrogation, and her warm breath brushed against Lin Zhengran¡¯s earlobe. ¡°Why were you at a hotel?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, still holding the little fox, didn¡¯t immediately answer. Instead, he gently petted her head.


    Han Wenwen, with her fox-like eyes fixed on him, finally leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.


    Her voice softened as she asked, ¡°Was there some kind of surprise?¡±


    Lin Zhengran explained, ¡°There was no surprise. Last night, I just helped her with her haircut, then bought some lingerie for her. The dorms were closed, so we stayed at the hotel. Nothing special happened.¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The information was a bit much for the little fox to handle.


    She opened her eyes, her mouth slightly agape, and pulled back just enough to look at him, frowning. ¡°A haircut I understand, but buying lingerie? What do you mean by that?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled lightly and continued, ¡°It¡¯s actually a bit of a strange story. We were at the hair salon last night, and while we were there, she ended up needing some lingerie. So, I bought it for her.¡±


    He explained last night¡¯s events in simple terms, all the while noticing Han Wenwen¡¯s increasingly jealous gaze, which was completely devoid of any other emotion.


    After taking a few deep breaths, Han Wenwen spoke again, her voice a little sharper:


    ¡°You bought lingerie for Xueli? Zhengran Ge, do you realize how important this is for girls? You¡¯ve never bought me anything like that, not even sanitary pads!¡±


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a special situation? Besides, when we were together, you never had to worry about running out of sanitary pads.¡±


    ¡°True, but that¡¯s different! For a girl, something so personal, like buying lingerie, is something that¡¯s very meaningful. When a guy does that for a girl, it¡¯s touching. It¡¯s a big deal!¡±


    Lin Zhengran hushed her, signaling her to lower her voice.


    Han Wenwen, hearing his words, was even more jealous, her fur bristling like a little fox in a rage.


    She bumped her head into Lin Zhengran¡¯s face, which, from an observer¡¯s perspective, might¡¯ve looked like a fox nuzzling its owner. She applied a little more force than usual, though.


    This made Lin Zhengran laugh. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Bumping into you! Can¡¯t I bump into you because I miss you?!¡±


    Han Wenwen buried her face in his shoulder, her voice small as she murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Zhengran Ge, you have to buy me something, you promised me that you¡¯d spoil me the most, and you can¡¯t go back on it.¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Of course not now.¡±


    As soon as Han Wenwen heard that Lin Zhengran was being nice to another girl, she didn¡¯t mind that he was a bit of a flirt, but it always felt like something was missing in her heart.


    It felt like someone was trying to take her most treasured possession.


    She clung to her Zhengran Ge even tighter, her voice continuing:


    ¡°Right now, asking you to go buy it for me would be unreasonable, wouldn¡¯t it? Even if I¡¯m jealous, I won¡¯t make things hard for you. A little fox like me wouldn¡¯t bother her own master. But next time, when it¡¯s just the two of us, and we pass by an underwear shop, I¡¯ll wait outside, and you¡¯ll go inside and buy me lingerie and sanitary pads. You buy everything! I¡¯ll pay for it.¡±


    She gently poked Lin Zhengran¡¯s face with her finger, her tone sweetening as she continued, ¡°And as a bonus, I¡¯ll buy you underwear, shaving cream, and all sorts of personal things. What do you say? Do you agree?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, helpless, could only smile. Han Wenwen had an undeniable talent for acting cute.


    He nodded slowly, ¡°Alright, next time we pass by an underwear store, I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s lips curled into a victorious smile, and she bit her lip happily.


    She retracted her hand and, this time, asked with less jealousy: ¡°So, last night, you stayed in the hotel because you got back too late to the girls'' dorm?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes and, sounding reasonable, asked, ¡°Then why did you book a big bed room? Why not a twin room? You could sleep in a double bed, too.¡±


    ¡°Right, I forgot about that.¡±


    Han Wenwen clicked her tongue.


    ¡°Zhengran Ge, be serious! I don¡¯t believe you forgot! Only Xueli and the others think you¡¯re a fool when it comes to these things, but I know better. Your mind is full of all kinds of stuff.¡±


    ¡°You know that?¡±


    Han Wenwen tilted her head, confidently answering, ¡°Yeah, last time when we were in that rented apartment, I knew something was up when you wrapped your arm around my waist. I can read people¡¯s eyes. I may not fully understand what you¡¯re thinking, but I can pick up on things sometimes.¡±


    She placed her hand over Lin Zhengran¡¯s lips and continued, ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re just being careful with us because you care about us. You don¡¯t want to rush into things, but it doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re clueless. It¡¯s like how wolves raise sheep, fattening them up before they eat them. I know the truth. When the time comes, Zhengran Ge will make sure to devour us three, leaving nothing behind.¡±


    Lin Zhengran, taken aback, replied, ¡°Why are you making me sound like some kind of villain? As for the twin room thing, last night, I just casually suggested a big bed room. I didn¡¯t think much about it.¡±


    Han Wenwen raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, you¡¯re a natural born bad boy, huh?¡±


    Lin Zhengran asked, pretending not to understand, ¡°What?¡±


    Han Wenwen turned away and snorted, ¡°I said you¡¯re a natural warm-hearted guy, so warm that it¡¯s unbearable.¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and reached out his hand. ¡°Now, can you give me Xueli¡¯s clothes? We¡¯ve been talking about this forever.¡±


    Han Wenwen handed him the clothes, ¡°Here you go, but why aren¡¯t you wearing a shirt?¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked and responded, ¡°Because her clothes got wet last night, so I wore them for her. Didn¡¯t you notice?¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?!¡±


    ¡°Zhengran?¡±


    Suddenly, Jiang Xueli woke up groggily in the bed. When she saw that Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t in the bed, she became a bit panicked, as she was in an unfamiliar environment.


    ¡°Zhengran? Where are you? Zhengran?¡± She sat up.


    In the bathroom, Lin Zhengran quickly covered Han Wenwen¡¯s mouth.


    He shouted loudly, ¡°Is Xueli awake? I¡¯m in the bathroom.¡±


    Jiang Xueli heard his voice and relaxed. ¡°Oh, what time is it?¡±


    ¡°Seven o¡¯clock. Don¡¯t worry, you can sleep a bit more.¡±


    Jiang Xueli was still a little disoriented from staying up late last night. ¡°It¡¯s still early, but how long will you be? I need to use the bathroom too.¡±


    Han Wenwen, eyes wide, seemed to ask what to do now.


    Lin Zhengran looked at her and silently mouthed,


    Han Wenwen furrowed her brows, thinking to herself,


    Lin Zhengran, seeing her panic, deliberately spoke louder, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m almost done. Xueli, you can come over now.¡±


    Han Wenwen immediately panicked, thinking,

 Chapter 165: The Guest at Home

    Jiang Xueli heard footsteps and got out of bed, walking barefoot toward the bathroom.


    Since she had spent the whole night in Lin Zhengran¡¯s jacket, it had been crushed under her all night, and now it seemed like she wouldn¡¯t be able to wear it today.


    Inside the bathroom, Lin Zhengran pointed at the door.


    The little fox, quick-witted as always, understood what he meant and hid behind the door.


    A moment later, the bathroom door cracked open, and Lin Zhengran, still shirtless, stood there.


    When Jiang Xueli saw him like this, her face turned slightly red as memories of the previous night rushed back. She stood in the doorway, while Lin Zhengran stood facing her.


    They stared at each other for half a minute.


    In unison, they spoke:


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°Come in.¡±


    Jiang Xueli: ¡°You go out.¡±


    Jiang Xueli paused, then added, ¡°Wait, how am I supposed to use the bathroom if you don¡¯t leave?¡±


    If Lin Zhengran left, Han Wenwen, who was hiding behind the door, would be exposed. The little fox was lucky she didn¡¯t have a tail in real life;otherwise, her tail, along with her waist and hips, would have given her away.


    Lin Zhengran shrugged and said, ¡°You come in first, then I¡¯ll go out.¡±


    Jiang Xueli blinked, ¡°What a strange way of doing things...¡± She mumbled, but still stepped inside.


    Lin Zhengran gently turned her around by the shoulder, but when he noticed the mirror, he realized they might get caught, so he just embraced Jiang Xueli instead.


    Suddenly being held in his arms in the morning flustered Jiang Xueli.


    Her face buried in his chest, she stuttered, ¡°Zheng... Zhengran! What are you doing, you big fool?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran gently held her head, not allowing her to look up. ¡°I¡¯m not doing anything, just wanted to hold you for a bit.¡±


    Behind the door, Han Wenwen watched the scene, her eyes wide, completely stunned.


    Lin Zhengran then gave her a meaningful glance, signaling her to leave.


    With a resentful sigh, Han Wenwen bit Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm in a playful manner before silently slipping out of the bathroom and out of the room.


    Lin Zhengran let out a breath of relief.


    Jiang Xueli, her face still red from being held, slowly placed her hands on Lin Zhengran¡¯s back.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we already hug all night? Why are you still hugging me? Really... I don¡¯t understand you.¡±


    Just as she was about to return his hug, Lin Zhengran suddenly loosened his grip.


    ¡°Alright, the hug¡¯s over. You can use the bathroom now, I¡¯ll step out.¡±


    Jiang Xueli stood there in confusion, ¡°...¡±


    After a moment of stunned silence, her face turned completely red in embarrassment, and she grumbled, ¡°Did you just wake up, you idiot?! Pighead! Stupid!¡±


    She slammed the bathroom door shut.


    Lin Zhengran simply shrugged and sat back down on the bed.


    Half a minute later, Jiang Xueli came out of the bathroom. The door was knocked on immediately.


    She was curious, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, sitting on the bed, reminded her, ¡°It should be Han Wenwen. I texted her to bring you some clothes this morning.¡±


    From outside the door, Han Wenwen¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Xueli, Zhengran, it¡¯s me!¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡±


    Jiang Xueli looked down at her current outfit. She was still wearing Lin Zhengran¡¯s shirt on top, and her lower body was barely covered by the jacket, making it look more like a dress. She was essentially in her underwear.


    ¡°You go open the door, Zhengran. I¡¯ll hide in the bathroom for a bit! If I open the door like this, I¡¯ll be too embarrassed.¡±


    Lin Zhengran waved his hand. She had no choice but to hide back in the bathroom. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two of them were a bit foolish, really.


    So, Lin Zhengran stood up again and went to open the door. Han Wenwen was acting completely serious, holding up the clothes and grinning. ¡°Zhengran, I¡¯m here to deliver clothes for you and Xueli. Where¡¯s Xueli?¡±


    Lin Zhengran played along, pointing toward the bathroom, making sure Xueli could hear, ¡°She¡¯s in the bathroom.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding. ¡°I see.¡±


    Once she knew Xueli couldn¡¯t see, her eyes turned jealous again, and she grabbed Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand to nibble on it. She didn¡¯t apply much pressure, but still, she asked in a voice low enough only he could hear, ¡°Zhengran Ge, you¡¯re hugging her in front of me, huh?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded softly, ¡°If I didn¡¯t hug her, do you think you¡¯d be standing here, nibbling on my hand right now?¡±


    Han Wenwen huffed, ¡°Still trying to defend yourself? It¡¯s clearly just like a dog¡¯s paw!¡±


    The little fox puffed out her cheeks and then, acting all dramatic, said loudly, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll just leave the clothes here. I¡¯ll go now. I won¡¯t disturb you two anymore!¡±


    She shot Lin Zhengran a glare, then asked in a low voice, ¡°Am I really leaving?¡±


    She slowly extended her arms. ¡°Zhengran Ge, hug me again.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled and, by the door, gave her a quick hug. The little fox waved him off before heading back to school.


    She sighed as she walked away. The past half hour had been packed with jealousy, joy, and emotions¡ªit was far more eventful than her entire day yesterday.


    After Han Wenwen left, Lin Zhengran knocked on the bathroom door again, holding the clothes. ¡°Han Wenwen¡¯s gone. You can change now.¡±


    Jiang Xueli opened the door, her face still flushed. She took the clothes from him and headed back into the bathroom, thinking to herself,


    An hour later, Lin Zhengran, dressed in just a shirt, and the well-dressed Jiang Xueli checked out of the hotel.


    Afterward, Lin Zhengran had to go back to the dorm to grab a jacket, and Jiang Xueli had to return her wet clothes from last night to the dorm as well.


    On the way back, seeing Lin Zhengran in just a shirt, Jiang Xueli, feeling a bit sorry for him, said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold, Zhengran? I know I used your jacket as a dress last night, but it should still be wearable. You¡¯ll catch a cold wearing just a shirt, so wear it over your shoulders.¡±


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t really bothered by the cold, and the jacket was more of an accessory. ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡±


    Jiang Xueli thought,


    ¡°As compensation, when the money from the New Star rankings comes through, I¡¯ll buy you a new jacket!¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave a noncommittal hum, not refusing, ¡°Alright.¡±


    As they walked, Jiang Xueli suddenly realized, ¡°Wait, you¡¯re the boss now. Doesn¡¯t that mean the money¡¯s coming from you? Is this really me buying you something?¡±


    Lin Zhengran tapped her on the head, ¡°Why overthink it? You¡¯re mine, so it¡¯s all the same.¡±


    Jiang Xueli blushed and grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m not denying it, but you don¡¯t have to say it so confidently.¡±


    After a quick stop at the dorm to pack, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli returned to Zhengshi Music.


    The day seemed uneventful for a Sunday¡ªJiang Xueli recorded her MV, while Jiang Jingshi was busy with things related to the Jiang Group and didn¡¯t make it.


    So, Lin Zhengran spent the day outdoors watching Jiang Xueli film her scenes.


    Before long, it was afternoon, and Lin Zhengran, bidding farewell to Wang Jie and Jiang Xueli, headed home.


    Jiang Xueli waved at him from the street corner, ¡°Zhengran, be careful on the way home! See you at school tonight!¡±


    Lin Zhengran waved back as he got into the car.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Jiang Xueli stood at the corner, watching the car disappear, a faint blush on her cheeks. The twin ponytails danced in the wind, and the memories of last night felt like an unforgettable experience to her. Holding hands, hugging¡ªit was all becoming so intimate now.


    And what remained... were things even more intimate.


    Soon after, Lin Zhengran arrived home in the small town. On the way, Lin Xiaoli called him to ask when he¡¯d be coming back, saying he¡¯d been too busy to see him lately.


    Lin Zhengran honestly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy. I¡¯ll be home in five minutes. By the way, who¡¯s the guest today that Mom insisted I meet?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli laughed on the other end. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you get here. The person¡¯s already sitting here chatting with us.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t know what game his mom was playing, but when he got home and opened the door, he saw his parents, some unfamiliar uncles and aunts, and Fang Meng sitting in the living room, drinking tea.


    Fang Meng, with her side ponytail, wasn¡¯t surprised to see Lin Zhengran


    and waved at him, ¡°Zhengran, you¡¯re here?¡±


    Lin Zhengran stood frozen in place, confused. ¡°Fang Meng?¡±

 Chapter 166: The Fleeting Passage of Time

    ¡°Zhengran, you''re back? Come, let me introduce you. This is Uncle Fang, and that¡¯s Aunt Huihui. And this is Fang Meng¡ªyou should know her, right? She mentioned that you two are in the same class?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli got up and walked over to Lin Zhengran, gesturing for him to sit down.


    Lin Zhengran, still a bit confused, responded with a polite greeting. He hadn¡¯t expected that his family actually knew Fang Meng¡¯s family. What a coincidence.


    "Hello, Uncle Fang. Hello, Auntie."


    Fang Meng¡¯s parents'' eyes lit up slightly when they saw Lin Zhengran.


    After all, he looked even better in person than in photos. Plus, everyone had just been discussing his academic achievements¡ªtop scorer in town, first place in various competitions. A nearly flawless young man like him was naturally well-liked by elders.


    Fang Meng¡¯s mother greeted him warmly. ¡°So we finally get to meet Zhengran! You¡¯re even more handsome in person! And you have such a great presence!¡±


    Fang Meng¡¯s father, though a man of few words, also praised him. ¡°A fine young man, indeed.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli urged her son to sit down on the sofa.


    Zhengran turned to his parents. ¡°Uncle Fang¡¯s family has known us for a long time?¡±


    Lin Yingjun hesitated slightly, feeling like he might have just made things more complicated for his son. But life was unfair like that¡ªsome people didn¡¯t even have a single childhood sweetheart, while his son... four or five was considered on the lower end.


    He explained, ¡°Yes, your mom and I were actually college classmates with Uncle Fang. We were really close back in the day, but as life got busy and we all started our families and careers, we lost touch. Now that the kids have grown up, we¡¯re reconnecting again.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    Zhengran turned his gaze to Fang Meng, who had been staring at him the whole time. She sat properly, looking well-behaved, but she wasn¡¯t as shy and timid as He Qing.


    After a brief moment of eye contact, Fang Meng spoke slowly, ¡°Lin Zhengran, did you know? We have a childhood engagement.¡±


    Silence filled the room. Even the adults didn¡¯t interrupt.


    Zhengran¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking he had misheard. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I said, we have a childhood engagement,¡± she repeated.


    This time, he heard it loud and clear.


    Fang Meng couldn¡¯t help but smile and elaborated, ¡°It was arranged when our parents were younger. They agreed that if we got along, we could get married after we graduate from university.¡±


    Still in shock, Zhengran turned to look at his parents, Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun.


    Both of them gave awkward, sheepish smiles.


    Their expressions seemed to say:


    Meanwhile, Fang Meng¡¯s parents exchanged glances.


    Fang Meng¡¯s mother whispered, ¡°Did we ever tell Mengmeng about the part where they get married after university? Wasn¡¯t it just a childhood engagement?¡±


    Her father, who had already taken a strong liking to Lin Zhengran after hearing about his achievements, lowered his voice and said, ¡°They¡¯re classmates. I think she might¡¯ve said that on purpose. No need to correct her.¡±


    Still a bit puzzled, Fang Meng¡¯s mother nodded.


    On the sofa, Fang Meng and Zhengran continued looking at each other.


    Then, out of nowhere, she spoke again. ¡°Starting today, I¡¯ll be talking to you a lot more, my childhood fianc¨¦, Lin Zhengran.¡±


    Zhengran blinked, wondering what she was up to.


    ¡ª


    ¡¾This month, after you and the Empress of the Imperial City established the Zhengshi Sect, the two of you, as the founding ancestors, expanded the sect, recruited disciples, and set up sect rules and rankings.¡¿


    ¡¾The sect grew quickly, even branching into three smaller sub-sects. Jiang, who had been traveling with you, joined immediately and stayed by your side every day.¡¿


    ¡¾Despite her usual carefree attitude, Jiang proved to be incredibly diligent. She actively contributed to the sect¡¯s development and decided to join one of the three sub-sects, Little Bamboo Peak.¡¿


    ¡¾Little Bamboo Peak, with its mountaintop clouds and steep cliffs, was an area filled with harmonious spiritual energy, perfect for female disciples to cultivate. Upon joining, Jiang quickly became the first senior disciple, using her lively personality to lead and mentor the younger disciples.¡¿


    ¡¾One night, while traveling down the mountain, you and Jiang encountered an unexpected situation and had no choice but to share a guest room. Despite the commotion, the Demon Cult Maiden even tried to "catch you in the act," but in the end, it was just another moonlit night.¡¿


    ¡¾Not long after, you received a secret letter from your family, summoning you home to meet an old acquaintance. Curious, you returned, only to discover that your family had arranged yet another engagement for you years ago!¡¿


    ¡¾And the fianc¨¦e this time? A deadly assassin under the Grand Princess, Miss Fang! Even the heavens seemed to marvel at your ridiculous romantic luck¡ªit was as if every beautiful woman was destined to marry you at birth.¡¿


    Zhengran: ¡°???¡±


    ¡¾Due to these events, you gained: +3 cultivation levels, +5 stamina, +10 strength, and +5 endurance.¡¿


    ¡¾You successfully broke through the bottleneck at Level 60 of the Qi Refinement Stage, advancing from Level 59 to Level 62.¡¿


    ¡¾Your current stats are as follows:¡¿


    Spirit Level: 61 (Core Formation Stage)


    Strength: Maxed Out


    Endurance: 88 (Unlocked: Lifespan Extension, Enhanced Body Strength, Double Training Efficiency)


    Stamina: 89 (Unlocked: Enhanced Offspring Potential, Seven Times a Night Ability)


    Affinity with All Things: Level 2 (All disciples you teach receive significant boosts. Those who form contracts with you gain triple the benefits.£©


    New Talent Unlocked: Spiritual Power¡ªLike Affinity with All Things, this ability has five levels. At Level 1, you can now use Spiritual Energy Manipulation, meaning you are no longer limited to physical combat.


    This breakthrough was something Zhengran hadn¡¯t anticipated. Spiritual Energy Manipulation was a much more noticeable improvement compared to his previous boosts.


    After the childhood engagement reveal, time passed quickly.


    Before he knew it, a year and a half had gone by.


    During this time, Lin Zhengran had been incredibly busy.


    In the music industry, he worked with Jiang Xueli to shoot her first MV and later helped her appear on a few entertainment programs. Thanks to this, she officially debuted on screen. She also created her own personal music account, rapidly growing into a rising star. Even her parents, Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang, were surprised by how far she had come.


    Meanwhile, Zhengshi Company was handling far more than he had initially expected. Managing all the foundational work took a great deal of effort, but after a year and a half, the company had finally stabilized.


    On the sports side, Zhengran dedicated time to training members of Zhengshi Sports, and under his guidance, they progressed rapidly.


    However, no one could compare to He Qing and Jiang Xueli. Jiang had become Zhengshi Music¡¯s top artist, while He Qing, after rigorous training, entered the city¡¯s championship tournament and easily won first place, securing a spot at the provincial level.


    In just a year and a half, they had moved from junior year to senior year, now only one semester away from graduation. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 167: Maid Fang Meng

    Spring had arrived, filling the world with life. Everything was awakening once more¡ªit was the perfect season for... studying.


    While most high school seniors were drowning in academic pressure, Lin Zhengran remained unaffected.


    Others were studying tirelessly, but he carried on as usual, relaxed as ever.


    On this particular Sunday morning, around eight o¡¯clock, he was jolted awake by the sound of his phone ringing. He groggily picked it up and saw that it was Pan Lin, the secretary for Jiang Jingshi.


    Since Han Wenwen was currently focused on preparing for the college entrance exams, Zhengran had decided to delay her appointment as his personal secretary until university.


    For now, Pan Lin was the only secretary handling all matters for the two CEOs of Zhengshi Company.


    "President Lin, are you awake? Sorry to disturb you."


    Still staring at the ceiling, Zhengran replied, "No problem. What¡¯s up?"


    "You asked about the live-streaming competition last night. It''s tentatively scheduled for late this year, right before New Year''s. But President Jiang said that if you¡¯d like, we can move it up earlier."


    Zhengran recalled how the competition had been postponed during his first two years of high school due to the company¡¯s establishment. Initially, they had planned to hold it in the first semester of senior year, but Han Wenwen¡¯s academic performance¡­


    Even with three times the tutoring effort, that little fox was still struggling. She was simply not cut out for studying.


    Just yesterday, on Saturday, Zhengran had spent the entire afternoon tutoring her. But instead of studying, all she did was drape herself over him, calling him in every possible way.


    So in the end, the competition schedule had been adjusted to fit Han Wenwen¡¯s timeline.


    "We¡¯ll keep it as planned, right before New Year¡¯s. After the college entrance exams, I¡¯ll have free time too."


    Pan Lin hesitated for a moment on the other end of the call.


    "Understood. I¡¯ll finalize the competition date for before New Year¡¯s. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer¡ªfeel free to call me if you need anything."


    "Thanks for your hard work."


    After hanging up, Zhengran lay in bed, thinking about the college entrance exams.


    From a financial standpoint, whether he took them or not didn¡¯t really matter.


    In fact, he didn¡¯t even need to attend university. But for the three little troublemakers in his life, it was a major milestone.


    And having been reborn, he wanted to experience university life again himself.


    He turned his head to the nightstand where a glass of water sat just out of reach. Without moving, he flicked his fingers, and the glass floated smoothly into his palm.


    Spiritual Energy Manipulation was easily one of the most convenient abilities he had gained in the past two years. It saved him both time and effort.


    After taking a sip of water, he changed into fresh clothes and stepped out of his bedroom.


    "Mom? Dad?"


    No response.


    Instead, an unexpected voice answered him.


    Fang Meng emerged from the kitchen, dressed in a maid outfit, carrying a tray of breakfast.


    Her tone was calm as she placed the food on the dining table.


    "Uncle and Auntie went out. I¡¯m the only one home. I made your usual breakfast, just like Auntie said. You can eat after washing up."


    Zhengran stood there, dumbfounded.


    She was serious¡ªcompletely serious. Wearing a maid headband, apron¡­ even black stockings.


    "...Fang Meng? What are you doing here? In my house?"


    Fang Meng glanced at him, taking in his half-awake state. His upper body was well-defined, his muscles clearly visible. He was wearing pants, at least. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His hair was a mess, but he still looked handsome.


    She pulled out a notebook from her pocket and started jotting things down while speaking.


    "Lin Zhengran appears to exercise frequently at home. Otherwise, his muscle definition wouldn¡¯t be this prominent."


    Zhengran ignored her note-taking.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time someone had done this. Han Wenwen had done it. Jiang Qian had done it. And now Fang Meng.


    He¡¯d seen it too many times to care.


    "You still haven¡¯t answered my question," he said.


    Without pausing her writing, Fang Meng replied, "Since we became childhood fianc¨¦ and fianc¨¦e, I¡¯ve been visiting your house often for over a year now. Uncle and Auntie know me well. Coming over is normal, isn¡¯t it?


    "Our families live just thirty minutes apart by car. And I just got my driver¡¯s license¡ªI passed the test right after my eighteenth birthday."


    She pulled out her license from her pocket and flashed it at him.


    "So now I can come over anytime. It¡¯s very convenient."


    She wasn¡¯t wrong.


    Ever since that incident a year ago, Fang Meng had started dropping by frequently. And in front of his parents, no less, she would openly take notes on his daily life.


    When asked why, she sometimes joked, "I¡¯m just observing my childhood fianc¨¦. After all, Lin Zhengran might be my future husband."


    Other times, she was more straightforward. "I¡¯m helping Jiang Qian keep an eye on you."


    She was spying on him for Jiang Qian.


    Jiang Qian had long stopped keeping a meticulous record of his actions¡ªshe was too busy in full-blown overachiever mode.


    In an attempt to surpass him, she had gone overboard, enrolling in over thirty tutoring programs to train in every possible subject.


    Zhengran didn¡¯t respond and just headed to the bathroom.


    "You have way too much free time," he said. "Jiang Qian only recorded my actions for a semester. You¡¯ve been at this for over a year."


    Fang Meng flipped through her notebook, filled with densely written pages.


    "I didn¡¯t expect it either. I originally wanted to find your flaws to help Qianqian, but after a year and thousands of notes, I still haven¡¯t found anything.


    "I¡¯m seriously starting to suspect that you¡¯re not even human. Maybe you have superpowers."


    Zhengran froze for a moment and looked back at her.


    He let out a short laugh. "If only that were true."


    With that, he stepped into the bathroom and used his ability to shut the door behind him.


    Back at the dining table, Fang Meng let out a breath.


    "I guess so. You¡¯re certainly exceptional, but not extraordinary. Besides, superpowers don¡¯t exist in this world."


    After freshening up, Zhengran returned to his room, put on a shirt, and sat at the dining table.


    He looked at Fang Meng, who stood neatly beside him, her side ponytail tied perfectly in place.


    She was undeniably pretty¡ªhigh nose bridge, delicate lips, the kind of sharp, intellectual beauty typical of a top student.


    But dressed as a maid, she just looked... odd.


    "That outfit¡­" he began.


    "Does it not look good?" she asked.


    "Uh, no, it¡¯s fine¡­ I was just wondering¡ªdid you wear this when you came over? Even the stockings? My parents must have been terrified."


    Fang Meng pulled out her notebook again and wrote down: ¡®Lin Zhengran does not like maid outfits or stockings.¡¯


    Then she clarified, "Of course not. I only changed after they left. It was a last-minute experiment to see your reaction.


    "And judging by your response, you¡¯re clearly not interested. I¡¯ll change out of it later."


    "It¡¯s not that I dislike it. If a girl I liked wore it, I might enjoy it. But for just a normal friend, I don¡¯t really care."


    Fang Meng tilted her head, as if intrigued.


    "So what you¡¯re saying is¡­ I¡¯m not within your range of romantic interest? That¡¯s surprising. You already have three childhood sweethearts, plus the rich heiress Jiang Jingshi constantly around you. And Qianqian clearly cares a lot about you. I thought you didn¡¯t have high standards."


    Zhengran ignored her and continued eating.


    "Speaking of which, you¡¯ve been hanging around me a lot lately. What about Jiang Qian? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be her assistant?"


    Fang Meng¡¯s hand paused mid-writing. Her voice softened, and her eyes showed something else¡ªa flicker of emotion.


    "Ever since she met you, Qianqian has been overwhelmingly busy. Even I don¡¯t have much to do anymore¡­ so I have plenty of time to visit you."


    Zhengran nodded. "Yeah, she¡¯s always been like that. Anyway, you gonna sit down and eat?"


    "I already ate."


    She went back to the kitchen and brought over a glass of milk.


    "Drink this. Stay healthy."


    "Thanks."


    As he took a sip, he casually remarked, "You¡¯re pretty meticulous. The milk is the perfect temperature."


    "It¡¯s only fair that I take care of you in return for observing you. Besides, I¡¯m good at this. It¡¯s my profession, after all."


    "That¡¯s true."


    Fang Meng suddenly asked, "Zhengran, I have a question I wasn¡¯t sure about. I wanted to ask you directly.


    "Are you two-timing?"


    Zhengran looked at her, both of them locking eyes.


    He answered honestly.


    "No. I¡¯m not."


    "Oh. My mistake then. I apologize."


    ¡­It was three-timing.

 Chapter 168: College Applications

    After breakfast, Lin Zhengran headed for the door and turned to Fang Meng. ¡°I have to go out for a bit. Are you heading home, or¡­?¡±


    Fang Meng continued wiping the table. ¡°I¡¯ll leave after I finish cleaning up.¡±


    ¡°I already wiped that,¡± he reminded her.


    ¡°I can make it cleaner,¡± she replied, not stopping.


    Seeing no point in arguing, Zhengran left the house. His plan for the morning was to get a haircut and then tutor Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli.


    With college entrance exams approaching, he wasn¡¯t worried in the slightest. But both Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen had side careers, which meant their studies were bound to suffer.


    Luckily, with Zhengran¡¯s help, they were still ranking near the top of their class. Getting into a good university wouldn¡¯t be a problem for them.


    As he stepped out of the building and reached the residential complex entrance, he was surprised to see Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen waiting for him.


    One stood with her hands behind her back, glancing around idly. The other had her head tilted down, scrolling through her phone, occasionally smiling as she exchanged messages.


    Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡±


    Both girls turned to him and took a few steps forward.


    Jiang Xueli hadn¡¯t changed much in the past two years. At least in terms of looks and figure, Zhengran didn¡¯t see much of a difference.


    But since she had been filming videos and performing on stage more often, her presence had improved significantly.


    And among the three girls, she had the slimmest legs¡ªwhich somehow kept getting more and more shapely. A very¡­ peculiar development.


    "Zhengran, we¡¯ve been waiting for you forever," Jiang Xueli said.


    She recalled the night after her first haircut at Zhengshi Music, a memory she still cherished. Even though it had been a long time, it remained vivid in her mind.


    ¡°You mentioned last night that you were getting a haircut today, right? So I thought... well, back then, you also went with me when I got mine,¡± she said, her cheeks turning slightly red. ¡°So this time, I should accompany you.¡±


    Zhengran frowned. He barely remembered that. ¡°That was ages ago. Must¡¯ve been back in our first year, right?¡±


    Jiang Xueli pouted. ¡°Yeah, but who cares how long ago it was? I¡¯m your girlfriend. Do I need a reason to go with you?¡±


    "...Fair point."


    She turned her head to the side smugly.


    Han Wenwen, who had been listening in, smiled on the surface, but deep down, her fox instincts were itching to fight.


    The moment Jiang Xueli said ¡°girlfriend¡±, Han Wenwen¡¯s jealousy flared up.


    If women were made of water, then Han Wenwen was made of pure vinegar.


    Zhengran turned to her. ¡°So what about you? Same reason?¡±


    Han Wenwen gave a sweet smile. ¡°Oh, but I¡¯m not Lin Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend. I¡¯m just someone he¡¯s been tutoring recently, so I figured I¡¯d tag along for the haircut.¡±


    As if she¡¯d let him be alone with Jiang Xueli.


    This was Zhengran¡¯s rest day¡ªa rare weekend when he wasn¡¯t obligated to accompany anyone. No way was she going to give Jiang Xueli a free pass to have him all to herself.


    Jiang Xueli glanced at Han Wenwen and couldn¡¯t help but tease. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Han Wenwen, you know¡­ you don¡¯t actually have to come. Sleeping in sounds like a great way to spend your morning. It¡¯s not like you need to monitor Lin Zhengran like you did back in middle school. I mean¡­ He Qing and I are already his, so¡­¡±


    If Han Wenwen wasn¡¯t here, then during the haircut, she could cling to Zhengran¡¯s arm, whisper sweet nothings, maybe even sneak in a hug or a kiss if the mood was right.


    But with her here? None of that would be possible.


    Han Wenwen, looking as innocent as ever, waved her hand dismissively.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not monitoring anything. Not at all.¡±


    Jiang Xueli sweatdropped.


    She was sure He Qing had sent Han Wenwen here to keep her from getting too close to Zhengran.


    Zhengran, the leader of this chaotic trio, shook his head. ¡°Alright, alright. Since you¡¯re both here, let¡¯s just go together. Then we¡¯ll head to your place, Lily, so I can tutor you two.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Both girls answered in perfect sync.


    ¡ª


    The haircut and tutoring session were more uneventful than usual.


    With a triangle formation, things were naturally more stable¡ªand less eventful.


    Even so, some things still happened.


    While Jiang Xueli was studying, she would tap her foot lightly against Zhengran¡¯s leg, acting all tough before cutely pouting afterward.


    Han Wenwen, on the other hand, seized every opportunity¡ªthe moment Jiang Xueli left for the bathroom, she would hug Zhengran and steal a quick moment of affection.


    By the afternoon, the three of them took a taxi back to school.


    That¡¯s when they noticed something¡­ odd.


    Inside the taxi, someone was already sitting in the front seat.


    The person wore a mask and a hat, making them look like a random rideshare passenger.


    At first, the trio didn¡¯t think much of it.


    But midway through the ride, Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like nose twitched.


    She recognized the scent.


    ¡°Wait a second¡­ The person in the front seat¡­ Isn¡¯t that Fang Meng?¡±


    She narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°The one who¡¯s Jiang Qian¡¯s best friend?¡±


    Fang Meng, startled, removed her mask and turned around. ¡°How did you know it was me?¡±


    The three of them blinked in surprise.


    It really was her.


    Han Wenwen smiled slyly. ¡°I smelled you.¡±


    Fang Meng blinked. ¡°You... smelled me?¡±


    Han Wenwen giggled. ¡°Every girl has a unique scent.¡±


    Fang Meng still didn¡¯t get it.


    Zhengran, on the other hand, was more curious. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Fang Meng glanced at him, then turned her eyes back to the road ahead.


    ¡°I just happened to take the same car. Total coincidence.¡±


    Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    Somehow, he didn¡¯t believe that.


    Especially since he recognized the driver¡ªone of the Jiang family''s chauffeurs.


    Out of nowhere, Fang Meng added, ¡°Also, I¡¯m not Jiang Qian¡¯s best friend. I¡¯m just her assistant.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, who didn¡¯t know much about Fang Meng, found this surprising. ¡°Assistant? But you two seem close. It feels like you¡¯re more than just that.¡±


    Fang Meng answered calmly, ¡°No. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh. Alright then.¡±


    Han Wenwen, however, wasn¡¯t convinced.


    Something about this whole situation felt off.


    Her sharp fox instincts started working overtime.


    Fang Meng wasn¡¯t from this town.


    If she was, Han Wenwen would have met her long ago.


    So why was she here?


    ¡°Fang Meng, does your family live in this town?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Fang Meng replied smoothly. ¡°I came here this morning to meet a friend. Just a coincidence that I ran into you.¡±


    ¡°¡­A friend?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. A male friend.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s ears twitched.


    ¡°¡­You have a boyfriend?¡±


    Fang Meng clarified immediately. ¡°I said male friend.¡±


    Han Wenwen smirked. ¡°Drop the word ¡®male,¡¯ and it changes the meaning entirely.¡±


    She stopped talking after that.


    But in her sharp fox brain, she was making connections.


    She slowly turned her head to look at Zhengran.


    ¡­Could it be?


    Was her "male friend" actually¡­ Zhengran?


    Zhengran, noticing her staring, raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°¡­Why are you looking at me?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Oh, nothing¡­¡±


    If Fang Meng was his type, then she needed to be on guard.


    She still remembered when Zhengran had a maximum of seven girlfriends in his past life.


    And until he reached that number, any pretty girl was a potential threat.


    Fang Meng, sitting in the front seat, felt a cold sweat drip down her forehead.

 Chapter 169: Jiang Qian

    The class monitor spoke honestly, ¡°Lin Zhengran has his own ideas. He said... he said he¡¯s not interested in Stanford University. He wants to attend a domestic university.¡±


    Jiang Qian frowned slightly. A few days ago, her father had visited the school to discuss university choices with the teachers. Ultimately, it was more or less decided that she would be attending Stanford. However, after her father left, Jiang Qian had taken the initiative to meet with the teachers again.


    She had specifically told the homeroom teacher, ¡°Teacher, if you ever talk to Lin Zhengran about university choices, I¡¯d like you to recommend Stanford to him. It¡¯s the best option for him. I¡¯ll help him as well, but of course, if he refuses, then so be it.¡±


    The homeroom teacher had chatted with Jiang Qian briefly back then. She didn¡¯t really understand the relationship between Jiang Qian and Lin Zhengran, but recommending a prestigious university was well within her responsibilities. And for these two top students, Stanford was undoubtedly an excellent platform.


    That was how the current situation had come to be.


    Now, with a clear answer in hand, the homeroom teacher said decisively, ¡°Lin Zhengran has no interest in Stanford. I¡¯ve already recommended it, but he turned it down without hesitation. So, Jiang Qian, you¡¯re still set on Stanford, right? If you are, I can arrange your recommendation letter and¡ª¡±


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t catch the rest of the sentence. She simply replied, ¡°I want to think about it again.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You still need time to consider?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll think about it some more.¡±


    Not long after, Jiang Qian left the office. The homeroom teacher watched her retreating figure. As an adult, she could sense that something was going on. She murmured to herself, ¡°Jiang Qian and Lin Zhengran¡­ are they dating? But I vaguely remember that Lin Zhengran has a few girls around him.¡±


    She shook her head slowly. ¡°The love lives of top students are way too complicated. Feels like I¡¯m watching a drama.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s expression remained cold as she left the office, but her eyes carried an indescribable trace of frustration. She returned to the classroom, walked straight to Lin Zhengran, and stood beside him.


    ¡°Class monitor, I have something to ask you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned his head to meet her sharp, icy gaze.


    Jiang Qian frowned. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you choose a better, bigger platform? With your abilities, you could achieve much more if you went somewhere with better opportunities. Why limit yourself? Is it because of those girls?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Lin Zhengran looked at her, slightly taken aback.


    Not far away, Fang Meng watched Jiang Qian with wide, dazed eyes.


    The school bell rang.


    That night, after evening self-study, a Rolls-Royce arrived at the school gate as usual to pick them up. Fang Meng followed Jiang Qian into the car.


    After the doors closed and the car headed back to the villa, Fang Meng stared out the window at the passing scenery before glancing at Jiang Qian, who had remained silent the entire ride.


    Suddenly, her phone vibrated with a message¡ªit was from the eldest miss, saying she¡¯d be coming home for dinner tonight. Along with the message, she had sent two pictures of ingredients.


    Fang Meng was just about to inform Jiang Qian when, while scrolling through the photos, she accidentally swiped to an old picture.


    It was a childhood photo of her and Jiang Qian.


    She had looked at this photo many times before because certain memories always lingered in her heart.


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of nostalgia.


    She had met Jiang Qian in the second grade of elementary school. In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.


    Thinking back, it felt almost surreal. The first time she met Jiang Qian, Jiang Qian had been warm and outgoing, a little girl who loved helping others and cared deeply about her classmates. She had many friends. Back then, her family was wealthy, but it wasn¡¯t as extravagant as it was now.


    On the other hand, Fang Meng had been quiet and reserved as a child.


    Their friendship had truly begun one day when Fang Meng fainted in class due to low blood sugar. Jiang Qian was the one who ran to call the teacher.


    Not only that, but she had also figured out that Fang Meng had probably skipped breakfast. She went out of her way to buy something from the school store and brought it back for her.


    From that moment on, they became friends.


    After recovering, Fang Meng had been curious and asked, ¡°How did you know I had low blood sugar? And what exactly is low blood sugar?¡±


    Jiang Qian blinked her beautiful eyes and answered, ¡°My grandfather used to be a military doctor, so I learned a few things from him. Low blood sugar usually happens when you don¡¯t eat in the morning.¡±


    Oh, I see... You''re amazing."


    Back then, Fang Meng¡¯s family had fallen into debt due to business troubles. They borrowed money from everywhere, but it was never enough. Even she hadn¡¯t expected that, in the end, it was Jiang Qian who helped resolve the crisis.


    She had casually mentioned her family¡¯s situation to Jiang Qian, who, upon learning about the debt, went to her mother and persistently pleaded for help.


    It wasn¡¯t a particularly large sum, but since they weren¡¯t relatives, no one was willing to lend money.


    No one knew how Jiang Qian had convinced her family, but somehow, they actually stepped in and helped Fang Meng¡¯s parents. Even Fang Meng¡¯s parents were shocked¡ªwho would¡¯ve thought that the person to pull them out of their financial crisis would be their daughter¡¯s elementary school classmate?


    From then on, their two families became close, and their friendship deepened.


    Fang Meng and Jiang Qian spent every day together, playing and laughing like any pair of best friends.


    But just a few years later, in the sixth grade, an unexpected disaster struck the Jiang family.


    They ran into major trouble and needed a huge sum of money to overcome the crisis. Jiang Qian¡¯s mother sought help everywhere but found no one willing to lend them money. Desperate, she finally turned to her daughter.


    "As long as we get through this, our family will only get better from here! Qianqian, your father and I have no other options. You always help your classmates, right? This time, ask them to help us. Have them ask their parents to lend us anything they can. I¡¯ll talk to them myself."


    Jiang Qian¡¯s father scoffed, "What¡¯s the point of asking Qianqian? Her classmates are just kids!"


    But her mother, at her wit¡¯s end, snapped back, "We¡¯ve already borrowed from everyone we could! Maybe some of her close friends¡¯ families can help us!"


    Before her father could respond, Jiang Qian, who had already grasped the gravity of the situation, spoke up with surprising maturity.


    "It¡¯s okay, Dad! I have great relationships with my classmates. I have so many good friends. I always help them with their studies or when they get into trouble. If I ask them, their parents will definitely be willing to lend us money. I¡¯ll talk to them tomorrow at school!"


    She grinned, full of confidence, as if she had already secured the money.


    The next day, Jiang Qian returned to school.


    At first, everything went smoothly. She approached her closest friends, including those she had helped in the past, and asked if they could talk to their parents about lending her family some money. She assured them it would be repaid in the future.


    Many of them agreed to bring it up at home.


    Fang Meng was among them.


    But by the third day, when it was time to check on the results, the only response Jiang Qian received was from Fang Meng¡¯s family.


    Not a single other person was willing to help.


    Jiang Qian asked, "Did you all talk to your parents?"


    Her classmates exchanged glances before answering, "We did, but our parents ignored us."


    Jiang Qian, being sharp, immediately understood the situation. She reassured them, "That¡¯s normal. After all, we¡¯re just kids. But this is about borrowing money, so you need to be more persistent. Tell your parents I¡¯m your best friend. Try convincing them just a little. I¡¯ll have my mom call them, and I promise we¡¯ll pay them back! Even a small amount would help!"


    Her classmates looked visibly uncomfortable.


    For most kids, if their parents refused, there was nothing they could do.


    None of them had the same determination Jiang Qian had shown years ago when she begged her mother to lend money to Fang Meng¡¯s family.


    Jiang Qian pressed on, "If your family ever needs money, I¡¯ll ask my parents to lend it to you! Please, just try talking to them again tonight!"


    Fang Meng stood beside her, doing her best to help Jiang Qian convince others, but it was like trying to stop a flood with a single cup of water.


    As Jiang Qian kept pushing, not only did she fail to get more money, but she also started irritating her friends. Some of them began avoiding her altogether.


    One of the girls she had once helped finally snapped.


    "Are you done yet?! You keep pestering me every day! I already told you, my parents don¡¯t want to lend money! And besides, my mom said that if your family is in financial trouble, why should we help you? If we were struggling, would you lend us money?"


    Jiang Qian argued, "I already said, if you ever need help, I¡¯d ask my mom¡ª"


    "Yeah, right! Who knows if you actually would? Besides, my family needs money right now. If you lend us some first, then I¡¯ll talk to my mom about lending you some."


    "What did you say¡ª"


    "See? That¡¯s why no one¡¯s going to lend you money."


    Jiang Qian stared at the girl.


    She still remembered how, during a self-study session, this same girl had suffered from a stomachache. It was Jiang Qian who had immediately gone to get the teacher and accompanied her to the nurse¡¯s office. They had been friends for years. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Furious, Jiang Qian grabbed the girl¡¯s collar and yelled, "How can you say that?! Aren¡¯t we friends?!"


    "Who wants to be friends with a doormat like you?! My mom said your family is so deep in debt that soon you won¡¯t even have money for food! Who would want to stay friends with someone like that?!"


    "Shut up!"


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes went wide with rage as she slapped the girl across the face. A red mark instantly appeared on her cheek.


    The classroom fell into stunned silence. The girl was shocked, then burst into tears and tried to fight back, but Fang Meng rushed in to stop her.


    "Qianqian!"


    The school ended up calling the parents.


    After that incident...


    One day, during a break, Jiang Qian asked Fang Meng, "Xiaomeng, if I hadn¡¯t asked my mom to lend your family money back then, would you still have helped me this time?"


    "I..."


    Fang Meng hesitated.


    Back in second grade, she hadn¡¯t even thought about where the money came from when her family was in trouble. At the time, they had all been too young.


    Seeing her pause, Jiang Qian¡¯s expression shifted slightly. "I see... So I really am just a fool. But no matter what, thank you for helping my family this time. We¡¯re still good friends."


    "Qianqian..."


    In the end, fate intervened. The Jiang family unexpectedly received a windfall¡ªan old war buddy of Jiang Qian¡¯s grandfather, a man named Lin, had made a fortune in the antique business and shared some of it with them.


    By sheer luck, they overcame the crisis.


    From that moment on, the Jiang family¡¯s fortune skyrocketed.


    But with their rise, Jiang Qian¡¯s personality changed as well.


    She no longer helped others. She focused entirely on her own strength. To the adults, this was the "right path"¡ªbut her extreme competitiveness, coupled with her natural talent, pushed her into an almost obsessive drive.


    She became colder, more distant.


    Until she met Lin Zhengran.


    No matter how hard she worked, she couldn¡¯t surpass him.


    And every time she saw the strong friendships he built, she was reminded of the person she used to be.

 Chapter 170: The Assistant and the Best Friend

    The Rolls-Royce passed through a bustling intersection, the noise of the street snapping Fang Meng out of her thoughts.


    She put away her phone. ¡°Qianqian, the eldest miss said she¡¯s coming home for dinner tonight.¡±


    Jiang Qian, who had been expressionless, turned her head.


    ¡°My sister is coming back? It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Over the past year, she knew that her sister had started a new company. The business was sizable, and from what little she had gathered, it seemed to have some connection to Lin Zhengran.


    But exactly what had transpired between her sister and Lin Zhengran remained a mystery. Not even Fang Meng could uncover the details.


    Tonight was a good chance to ask.


    ¡°Alright, I got it. I actually do want to see her.¡±


    Fang Meng stared at Jiang Qian¡¯s face for a moment before asking, ¡°Qianqian, about your university choices¡ªdo you want to go to the same school as Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t deny it. She nodded.


    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t have any other motives. I just think it¡¯s the right choice. Someone with his talent deserves a better platform. He shouldn¡¯t be held back just because of other people.¡±


    ¡°Qianqian, it¡¯s been years since you¡¯ve cared about someone this much, since you¡¯ve wanted to help someone.¡±


    Jiang Qian immediately responded, ¡°That¡¯s because most people are ungrateful. But Lin Zhengran¡­¡±


    She and Fang Meng locked eyes, both pausing as childhood memories surfaced.


    Jiang Qian turned to look out the window. ¡°He¡¯s different. He¡¯s a good person.¡±


    She recalled the moment in the piano room during their first year of high school. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t let others affect his future.¡±


    After a moment of silence, she added, ¡°And just to be clear, when I mentioned ¡®ungrateful people¡¯ earlier, I wasn¡¯t including you. Don¡¯t misunderstand. Also, you don¡¯t need to stay in the same school as me just because of me. What happened back then¡ªI really don¡¯t care about it anymore.¡±


    Fang Meng, who had been calm, suddenly clenched her fists slightly.


    The driver, drenched in sweat, could already sense the tension in the car. Although the second miss and Fang Meng had exchanged only a few words, the atmosphere was unmistakably off.


    All he could think about now was driving as fast as possible to the villa¡ªbecause if he didn¡¯t, something terrifying might happen inside the car.


    In the backseat, Fang Meng took a deep breath and spoke clearly to Jiang Qian.


    ¡°Qianqian, I¡¯m going to be honest with you. Based on my observations, Lin Zhengran isn¡¯t like you. He¡¯s much better at judging people. The people he cares about are all genuinely good to him.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before she could even finish, Jiang Qian cut her off.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. It¡¯s just that nothing has happened yet. The moment something goes wrong, he¡¯ll realize that no one will truly help him except himself.¡±


    ¡°Why do you always think like that?!¡± Fang Meng clenched her fists tighter, raising her voice slightly before she even realized it.


    The moment the words left her mouth, she froze, her expression shifting as she tried to calm herself.


    Jiang Qian stared at her, surprised yet still cold.


    The driver swallowed nervously.


    Jiang Qian asked, ¡°What are you so angry about?¡±


    Fang Meng quickly explained, ¡°I¡¯m not angry. You¡¯re my best friend¡ªwhy would I be angry with you? I just¡­¡±


    She tried to steady her emotions, but when she saw Jiang Qian looking at her with that unreadable, detached gaze, she finally asked, baffled,


    ¡°Fine. I a little angry. Forget about Lin Zhengran. Let¡¯s talk about this past year. Why have you been giving me so much time off? I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you about this for a while!¡±


    Jiang Qian remained calm. ¡°What¡¯s there to ask? More time off is a good thing, isn¡¯t it? You get more personal time, and I¡¯ve been busy lately.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s good!¡± Fang Meng shot back immediately.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been attending tutoring and training courses. I know I can¡¯t help with those, but I could still be there for you every day. Instead, you keep giving me days off¡ªwhy?!


    "And I¡¯m not just talking about this year. Last year alone, out of 365 days, I had days off!¡±


    "And what was that you just said about not wanting me to follow you to university? That you don¡¯t care about what happened back then? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?!"


    Jiang Qian answered flatly, "I meant exactly what I said."


    Fang Meng stared at her, cutting her off, enunciating each word clearly:


    "So what you¡¯re saying is that all these years I¡¯ve spent by your side, us growing up together¡ªwas just me making up for what I owed you? Now that my ¡®debt¡¯ is repaid, there¡¯s no reason for us to stay together anymore? Is that what you think?"


    Jiang Qian looked at Fang Meng¡ªsomeone who had almost never lost her temper in all these years.


    "I just think your life shouldn¡¯t always be tied to mine¡­"


    "So you think I became your assistant out of guilt," Fang Meng said, her voice trembling, disbelief flashing across her eyes.


    "You think I¡¯m only with you because I feel guilty. That we were never truly friends."


    This time, she was truly angry.


    "Yes, I hesitated when you asked me that question back then. That¡¯s because I didn¡¯t want to lie to you! As a child, I never thought about whether friendships could be tied to family matters. I never imagined you¡¯d be the one to help my family get through that crisis.


    "Qianqian, you were more mature than me. But that doesn¡¯t mean that if family had been in trouble, I would¡¯ve stood by and done nothing. I just hadn¡¯t thought about it at the time. But if you had asked, I would¡¯ve helped you!


    "Because to me, you¡¯re my friend. I¡¯m like those other people!"


    Fang Meng clenched her fists tightly.


    "I regret hesitating back then. If I could go back, I wouldn¡¯t even pause for a second¡ªI would¡¯ve told you immediately. But I know that no matter what I say now, you won¡¯t believe me. What happened .


    "But all these years by your side? That out of guilt! I to be with you. I to stay. I see you as my and friend¡ªthat¡¯s why I did everything I could as your assistant!"


    Jiang Qian slightly parted her lips but said nothing.


    Fang Meng¡¯s eyes glistened, her teeth clenched.


    "I don¡¯t like this version of you, Qianqian. You¡¯re so much worse than Lin Zhengran. No wonder you can¡¯t measure up to him in anything."


    She suddenly changed her tone.


    "Second Miss, I quit. I¡¯m resigning."


    Then she turned to the driver.


    "Stop the car."


    The driver, who had been listening to everything, immediately tensed. He slammed on the brakes and turned around, his voice shaking.


    "F-Fang Meng, don¡¯t fight with Second Miss. You two have always been best friends, haven¡¯t you?"


    Fang Meng ignored him. She opened the door, got out, and flagged down a taxi going in the opposite direction.


    "Fang Meng!" The driver called after her.


    He sat there in stunned silence as the taxi disappeared into the distance. Then he turned back to Jiang Qian.


    "Second Miss¡­ did it have to come to this? Fang Meng truly cares about you. And after all these years, I know you care about her too, so¡ª"


    "Shut up."


    "Y-Yes!" The driver straightened his back immediately.


    "Drive home."


    "Understood¡­" The driver swallowed nervously and continued the journey, his nerves stretched taut.


    Jiang Qian closed her eyes, remaining silent for a long time before finally letting out a slow breath.


    She stared at the road in the car¡¯s rearview mirror, watching the empty street where Fang Meng had disappeared. She had no idea where she had gone.


    Then, she turned her head and, as if nothing had happened, continued watching the scenery outside the window.


    She wiped the corner of her reddened eyes with the back of her hand.


    When she arrived at the villa, Jiang Jingshi was already sitting on the sofa, elegantly dressed in a full women¡¯s business suit. Her long legs were crossed, and she held a cup of steaming tea, sipping it slowly while waiting for her sister and Fang Meng.


    But when the car stopped, only Jiang Qian walked in with a cold expression.


    Jiang Jingshi raised an eyebrow. "Qianqian, you¡¯re back? Where¡¯s Xiaomeng?"


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t respond.


    Jiang Jingshi frowned. "Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Don¡¯t tell me you gave her another day off? Let me remind you¡ªif you keep doing that, she won¡¯t be grateful. She¡¯ll just get mad at you."


    Jiang Qian stopped in her tracks, turning to face her sister.


    "You sure talk a lot. You haven¡¯t been home in a while¡ªwhat have you been up to?"


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled and took another sip of tea. "Busy with work."


    After a short pause, Jiang Qian scoffed. "Fine. If you don¡¯t want to talk, I¡¯m going upstairs."


    "Huh?!" Jiang Jingshi watched as her sister actually headed upstairs.


    Something was definitely off.


    She casually called out, "Aren¡¯t you curious about who I¡¯ve been spending time with lately?"


    Jiang Qian halted mid-step. "Who?"


    Jiang Jingshi smirked. "Not telling."


    Jiang Qian slammed the door to her bedroom shut.


    Jiang Jingshi let out a long sigh.


    "Looks like something happened. And it doesn¡¯t seem to be because of Zhengran. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have reacted to my comment just now."


    She twirled her teacup between her fingers and murmured to herself, "It must have been a fight with Xiaomeng. If that¡¯s the case¡­ well, it¡¯s about time. After all these years, they finally had a real argument."


    She took another slow sip of tea, deep in thought.


    "A fight isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Some things fester when left unsaid for too long.


    "Certain words¡­ should¡¯ve been spoken a long time ago."

 Chapter 171: The Battlefield That Shouldn’t Exist

    The next morning, it wasn¡¯t just Lin Zhengran who noticed¡ªeveryone in the class could tell that something was off between Fang Meng and Jiang Qian.


    The two, who were usually inseparable, suddenly stopped talking to each other. Even when they met in the classroom, they would only exchange a glance before walking past each other in silence.


    At lunchtime, they even deliberately sat apart instead of eating together.


    In the afternoon, the study committee member approached Fang Meng. "Fang Meng, can you pass this to the vice monitor? It¡¯s hers."


    Fang Meng took it out of habit, but after a brief pause, she handed it back. "You should give it to her yourself."


    "Huh? But Jiang Qian isn¡¯t here right now. Didn¡¯t you say before that if she wasn¡¯t around, I could just leave things with you?"


    Fang Meng sat at her desk, looking sulky. "That was before. From now on, just give her things to her directly."


    The student stood there, dumbfounded.


    The same thing happened on Jiang Qian¡¯s side. In the past, if someone couldn¡¯t find Fang Meng, they would often turn to Jiang Qian instead. But now, Jiang Qian would simply reply, "Go find her yourself. Talking to me won¡¯t help."


    Confused, the classmate asked, "Aren¡¯t you two best friends? I figured telling you would be the same, and you could just pass the message along later."


    Jiang Qian¡¯s face remained expressionless. "She wouldn¡¯t listen to me anyway."


    Nearby, Fang Meng happened to overhear the conversation. She glanced at Jiang Qian, who was coldly speaking to their classmate, and her brows furrowed slightly.


    Though Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t seen everything firsthand, he could still tell that these two had gotten into a serious fight¡ªway beyond a simple argument.


    Of course, on principle, a fight between two best friends had nothing to do with him.


    But sometimes, it wasn¡¯t that went looking for trouble¡ªtrouble came looking for .


    During PE class on Thursday, Lin Zhengran sat on the edge of the track, resting.


    Fang Meng, having just finished running, was still panting, clearly carrying some unresolved frustration. She spotted Lin Zhengran¡¯s jacket casually tossed to the side, walked over, sat down beside him, and picked it up.


    Then, with precise and deliberate movements, she began folding it neatly.


    Lin Zhengran was stunned. "What are you doing? You¡¯re bored that you¡¯re folding my stuff now?"


    Fang Meng responded matter-of-factly, "You¡¯re right. I bored. It¡¯s been too long since I tidied up for someone, and my hands were itching. Besides, I technically your childhood fianc¨¦e, so folding your things isn¡¯t a big deal."


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­?"


    What was this person even talking about?


    After finishing, Fang Meng placed the neatly folded jacket beside him and asked, "I¡¯m going to buy a drink. Want me to grab one for you?"


    "No need. I¡¯m not thirsty."


    "Alright, then I won¡¯t get you one."


    With that, Fang Meng stood up and left.


    But after buying her drink at the school store, she realized she had ended up with bottles.


    It was just instinct¡ªwhenever she bought water, she always grabbed one for Jiang Qian, a habit so ingrained it was practically in her DNA.


    With no way to finish both by herself, she had no choice but to give the extra bottle to Lin Zhengran.


    However, just as she was walking back to the track with two bottles in hand¡ª


    She suddenly noticed Jiang Qian approaching from the opposite direction, also carrying bottles of water.


    Because, of course, it was the same for Jiang Qian.


    Whenever she bought water, she had always bought one for Fang Meng too. A habit that was hard to break.


    At this moment, both girls stood on opposite sides of the path, each holding two bottles of water.


    After exchanging a glance, neither chose to give the water to their former best friend.


    Instead, they both walked toward Lin Zhengran and handed him a bottle at the same time.


    In perfect unison: ¡°Here, this is for you.¡±


    The students resting on the track were stunned.


    They gawked at the scene, whispering among themselves, enjoying the unexpected drama.


    ¡°Look, look!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? I heard they had a fight recently.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s because of the class monitor?¡±


    ¡­


    Sweat formed on Lin Zhengran¡¯s forehead. ¡°What are you two doing? People are going to misunderstand and think you¡¯re fighting because of , when I literally have nothing to do with this. I don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re mad at each other.¡±


    Just as he finished speaking, he suddenly sensed an unpleasant gaze from afar.


    Turning toward the distant school building, he spotted a familiar figure by the classroom window¡ª


    A certain fox-eyed girl holding a small pair of binoculars, watching the scene unfold.


    The moment Han Wenwen realized Lin Zhengran had noticed her, she gave him a bright, friendly smile from inside the classroom.


    Then, she was immediately caught by the teacher and ordered to stand up and recite the lesson as punishment.


    Back on the track, Lin Zhengran felt even more exhausted.


    On Friday, the homeroom teacher held a short meeting.


    Afterward, she announced something that made the entire class cheer.


    ¡°If your scores on next week¡¯s mock exams are satisfactory, I¡¯ll let you watch a movie during Chinese class.¡±


    A rare treat for high school seniors cramming for the college entrance exams.


    One student eagerly raised a hand. ¡°Teacher, if we¡¯re watching a movie, can we switch seats with our friends?¡±


    The homeroom teacher sighed, amused. ¡°You guys are really pushing it, huh? You should be grateful that I¡¯m even letting you watch a movie. And now you want to change seats, too? No way. The class monitor will be responsible for keeping order.¡±


    Despite that, the students cheered, promising to behave and not make too much noise.


    Friends immediately started planning¡ªwho would sit with whom, who would switch seats.


    Everyone acted as if their victory in next week¡¯s mock exams was already secured.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng remained in their seats, showing no intention of speaking to each other.


    That Saturday, Lin Zhengran¡¯s mother, Lin Xiaoli, came down with a cold.


    Since she wasn¡¯t feeling well, he decided to go home and check on her.


    But when he stepped into the house with his backpack, he realized that there was someone else in his mother¡¯s bedroom.


    A soft voice drifted out.


    ¡°Auntie, drink it slowly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, but I can do it myself, no need to be so meticulous.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Auntie, I¡¯m good at taking care of people.¡±


    ¡°You say that, but you¡¯re even holding the cup for me, haha.¡±


    At first, Lin Zhengran thought his father was home.


    But something about the voice sounded familiar.


    A moment later, he figured out exactly who it was.


    When he pushed open the door, sure enough, he saw Fang Meng inside, carefully holding a cup of medicine for his mother.


    ¡°Fang Meng?¡±


    Both Fang Meng and Lin Xiaoli turned to look at him.


    Fang Meng greeted him casually. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli, still holding the cup, smiled. ¡°Ranran, you¡¯re home? Xiaomeng found out I was sick this week and came to visit.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave a vague response, eyeing Fang Meng.


    He walked over. ¡°Mom, how are you feeling?¡±


    Lin Xiaoli coughed lightly. ¡°Nothing serious. Your dad and I went hiking last week, and I caught a cold afterward.¡±


    ¡°Hiking?¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Xiaoli let out an awkward laugh. ¡°We didn¡¯t tell you because we were sneaking off to have fun. Guess we got caught now.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was long used to his parents¡¯ little "secret dates."


    Honestly, he was more surprised that, after all these years, they still hadn¡¯t given him a younger sibling.


    They were too clingy as a married couple.


    Fang Meng said, ¡°I checked Auntie¡¯s pulse. It¡¯s just a minor cold, nothing to worry about.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know Xiaomeng could check pulses. That¡¯s really impressive.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave a small nod, then glanced at Fang Meng.


    Fang Meng stared back.


    The two of them locked eyes for a long moment.


    Lin Xiaoli lay back down to rest, and Fang Meng followed Lin Zhengran into his bedroom¡ª


    And immediately started taking off her clothes.


    Inside his room, Fang Meng looked at him in surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking off your clothes? What are you doing?¡±


    Lin Zhengran pulled off his jacket.


    ¡°Changing clothes. The real question is¡ªwhy did come into my bedroom?¡±

 Chapter 172: Peculiar Habits

    Fang Meng walked out of the bedroom after a moment.


    "Go ahead and change. Call me when you''re done." She closed the door behind her.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her before taking off his jacket and changing.


    Fang Meng¡¯s usual outfits were quite stylish. Today, she wore a light yellow jacket, a pleated skirt, and a snug-fitting white long-sleeve top. The side ponytail completed her look, giving off the vibe of a "school sweetheart."


    At least, that was the impression Lin Xiaoli, his mother, had the first time she saw this girl.


    After changing, Lin Zhengran called out, "Fang Meng, I''m done."


    Standing properly in the living room, Fang Meng re-entered his bedroom and sat on his bed.


    Lin Zhengran turned to look at her.


    She also turned to look at him.


    Silent eye contact.


    No one blushed.


    Lin Zhengran broke the silence, "So? Why are you here again?"


    "I''m here to take care of your mom."


    "Emmm¡­ I appreciate that, but coming all the way just to take care of her? Do you even believe that reason yourself? Because I sure don¡¯t."


    Fang Meng stared at him and blinked.


    "You''re right. Actually, I came to see you. I''ve been feeling down lately and wanted someone to talk to, but I don¡¯t really have friends, so you¡¯re my only option."


    Lin Zhengran: "..."


    Fang Meng pulled a few hundred-yuan bills from her pocket. "Take this as payment for chatting with me. I hope you¡¯ll spare me some time."


    A drop of sweat formed on Lin Zhengran¡¯s forehead. "That¡¯s not necessary. You¡¯ve already helped take care of my mom¡ªif I take your money on top of that, I¡¯d feel like a real scumbag. Besides, I¡¯m not short on cash."


    Fang Meng blinked again, as if she caught onto something important. Then, out of nowhere, she started singing:


    "Di-di-di-di¡­ di-di-da-da¡­ di ba di li dao~"


    Lin Zhengran was stunned into awkward silence. After a moment, he finally asked, "What the hell are you singing¡­?"


    Even Fang Meng thought she was being ridiculous. She snapped out of it and looked ahead. "Nothing, just being weird. But I think I just discovered your weakness, Lin Zhengran. Not that it matters anymore."


    "My weakness?"


    "Yeah. If someone treats you or the people around you sincerely, you¡¯ll return the kindness. Like how I took care of your mom just now, and you immediately softened toward me."


    "That¡¯s a weakness? That¡¯s just normal behavior. Any decent person would do the same. As long as the other party is genuine and doesn¡¯t have any malicious intent."


    "True sincerity is hard to measure. Most of the time, people don¡¯t even know what others are really thinking. But a weakness is a weakness¡ªafter all, not everyone would act the way you do."


    Lin Zhengran hummed in response, then sighed. "You really are acting weird today. Normally, you¡¯d be jotting all this down in your notebook, but now you¡¯re just rambling about life instead."


    He imagined Fang Meng glowing like a holy figure.


    Out of nowhere, she pulled out a book titled .


    Holding it up like scripture, she declared, "There¡¯s no need to keep doing things just because. Like this book says¡ªif people could ignore all societal norms, they¡¯d be truly free. For example, eating with chopsticks instead of a spoon, drinking soup with a straw, pulling up your pants without wiping after using the toilet¡ªfreeing yourself from the eyes of the world."


    "Wait¡­ people actually do those things? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve tried them all?"


    Fang Meng hesitated. "I did try the first two¡­ but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do the third one. I¡¯m not that enlightened yet."


    Lin Zhengran knocked her lightly on the head with his knuckle.


    The imaginary holy glow around her shattered.


    "Sorry," he said, "force of habit. You were acting so insane just now that it felt oddly familiar, so my hand moved on its own."


    Fang Meng rubbed her forehead, though it didn¡¯t hurt. "It¡¯s fine. Getting smacked actually felt kinda nice. I like pain."


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "Why does that sound so wrong? That¡¯s a really misleading thing to say."


    "It¡¯s not misleading. It¡¯s exactly what you think it is. If I had a boyfriend, I¡¯d want him to be a little rough with me. I wouldn¡¯t even mind getting spanked once in a while¡ªassuming he could beat me, that is. Otherwise, I¡¯d hit back without hesitation."


    Lin Zhengran lifted his hand, exasperated. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Enough! Why am I even talking about this with you? My free time is precious. Just get to the point¡ªyou came all this way to talk, right? Out of gratitude for taking care of my mom, I¡¯ll listen."


    He lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and said, "Go ahead. I¡¯ll rest while you talk."


    Fang Meng looked at him lying there. Her expression darkened, and her voice dropped.


    "Honestly, I don¡¯t even know where to start¡­ and it¡¯s a long story."


    "Then just say the important parts!" Lin Zhengran interrupted.


    Fang Meng flinched.


    "You¡¯re really aggressive sometimes¡­ weirdly enough, you actually fit my ideal boyfriend standards. Not that I think I¡¯ll ever fall in love. Especially considering how complicated Qianqian¡¯s feelings for you are."


    Lin Zhengran found this oddly familiar¡­ Who else had told him something like this before? Oh¡ªFox Spirit?


    Fang Meng adjusted her posture and started talking non-stop, recounting her past like she was telling a story.


    Lin Zhengran listened with his eyes closed, not interrupting once.


    By the end, Fang Meng lowered her gaze to the floor. "And that¡¯s how it all happened. That night in the car, after our argument, it was over between us."


    Still no response from Lin Zhengran.


    Fang Meng turned her head and saw that he seemed asleep. Annoyed, she reached out and pushed him.


    "Hey! Did you actually fall asleep? I was pouring my heart out! You said you¡¯d listen! This is so rude!"


    But Lin Zhengran opened his eyes. He had actually fallen asleep¡ªbut not in the normal way. His stamina was so high that his "sleep" was closer to meditation. His brain could keep functioning even while resting.


    A portion of it remained active.


    He stretched lazily, letting out a satisfied sigh.


    Fang Meng frowned. "You really were asleep?"


    Ignoring her, he yawned. "I heard every word. So¡­ you regret it, don¡¯t you? You want to make up with her, but you¡¯re scared she never actually saw you as a friend?"


    Fang Meng¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "No wonder you¡¯re so far ahead of Qianqian. Wait¡ªcan you seriously process information while sleeping? I read about geniuses who could do that¡­ some could even solve math problems in their dreams. I thought it was nonsense, but I guess it¡¯s real."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother discussing himself. He stared at the ceiling and said, "Whether Jiang Qian saw you as a friend isn¡¯t something anyone else can answer. You know her best¡ªyou should know if she ever treated you sincerely. But that incident from back then? That¡¯s a thorn in her heart. You two need to talk about it. I¡¯m honestly shocked you¡¯ve both held back for this long. Something this important should¡¯ve been settled years ago."


    Fang Meng pursed her lips, hesitating. "I just¡­ don¡¯t know where I stand with her anymore."


    Suddenly, she lay down beside him, sharing his pillow.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "What are you doing? This is my bed."


    Fang Meng turned her back to him, looking defeated. "I¡¯m exhausted. Come drink and sing karaoke with me. My treat."


    "You seriously think I have time for that?" He scoffed, unimpressed. "And I hate dragging out emotions like this. Just talk it out. Drinking won¡¯t solve anything."


    She fell silent.


    Then, without warning, Lin Zhengran flipped her onto her back and pinned her down.


    Her cheeks flushed as she stared up at him, her hair fanned across the pillow.


    His grip was strong¡ªso strong that her wrists ached under his hold.


    He said firmly, "If you want to make up with her, then do it properly. Don¡¯t run away halfway. Say everything you need to say. Whether it works out or falls apart, at least get closure. And don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t notice that she bought you a bottle of water last week during PE, just like you did for me."


    Fang Meng¡¯s expression flickered.


    She remembered.


    Lin Zhengran let go and got up. "I¡¯m going to the bathroom. That¡¯s all I have to say. Stop making things so complicated."


    He left.


    Fang Meng remained on the bed, arms sprawled out, staring at the ceiling.


    She muttered to herself, "My wrists really hurt¡­ If he spanked me, it¡¯d probably hurt like hell."

 Chapter 173: So-Called Weaknesses

    Around ten in the morning, Fang Meng checked in on Lin Xiaoli again, asking how she was feeling and helping her wipe her face and massage her.


    Lin Xiaoli felt a little embarrassed by all the attention.


    Afterward, Fang Meng went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.


    She planned to make a nourishing soup with corn, carrots, and pork ribs. Though she was used to cooking, she still wasn¡¯t very skilled at peeling, cutting, and chopping the ingredients.


    Lin Zhengran walked into the kitchen, puzzled. ¡°Why are you making lunch? And why so early?¡±


    Fang Meng glanced at him.


    ¡°Cooking now means it¡¯ll be ready by eleven¡ªperfect timing. And I thought about what you said. You¡¯re right. Sitting around and overthinking is pointless. If I want to reconcile with Qianqian, I have to talk to her. Whether we end up as friends again or not, I¡¯ll accept the outcome.¡±


    Lin Zhengran let out a relieved breath. ¡°It¡¯s great that you figured it out so quickly. And don¡¯t be too pessimistic¡ªI think she wants to make up with you too.¡±


    That was exactly what Fang Meng wanted to hear. ¡°You really think so?¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He nodded. ¡°Of course. You both see this as a big deal, but to others, it probably just looks like a typical argument between best friends. Everyone probably assumes you¡¯ll patch things up by next week.¡±


    Fang Meng held his gaze for a while before lowering her head and continuing to chop vegetables. In a calm voice, she said, ¡°I finally understand why so many girls like you. Even Qianqian and Jiang Jingshi were drawn to you. Lin Zhengran, you have a unique charm¡ªthe way you talk makes girls¡¯ hearts flutter.¡±


    He remained completely unfazed. ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Fang Meng admitted, ¡°Even I feel a bit of it now. But it¡¯s just a passing fondness, nothing close to real feelings.¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    ¡°So¡­ is that why you¡¯re still here making lunch? Are you planning to stay the whole day?¡±


    ¡°Are you not happy to have me here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about being happy or not. I just don¡¯t see why you¡¯re staying. I mean, what kind of girl spends the entire day taking care of another guy¡¯s mom? Especially while he¡¯s still at home. My dad¡¯s coming back for lunch too.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, good point.¡± She started boiling the soup. ¡°But I do have a reason. Like I said, overthinking won¡¯t help, but¡­ I still don¡¯t have the courage to be completely honest with Qianqian. I figured after your dad gets back, you could come sing karaoke and have a drink with me¡ªto hype me up.¡±


    Lin Zhengran groaned. ¡°You¡¯re still stuck on that? Can I say no?¡±


    Fang Meng stirred the soup and added the ribs as the broth bubbled.


    ¡°You can¡­ but you won¡¯t. Because now I know your weakness¡ªif I treat you or your family well, you¡¯ll help me out. And this isn¡¯t even a big favor.¡±


    ¡°You really think that¡¯s my weakness?¡± He watched as she carefully tended to the soup. ¡°Even if it is, now that you¡¯ve said it out loud, why would I agree? It¡¯s too obvious.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you test it out?¡± she said casually. ¡°I¡¯ve been observing you for over a year and a half. I might not know everything, but I understand you just as well as I understand Qianqian.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s some detailed observation.¡±


    ¡°Not really. You¡¯re just an interesting person. You stand out. Among guys, you¡¯re the first one I¡¯ve met with this kind of presence. Girls are naturally drawn to guys like you.¡±


    Lin Zhengran noted how steady her tone was. ¡°I honestly never noticed.¡±


    Fang Meng didn¡¯t respond and simply focused on making the soup. Once it was ready, she carried it to Lin Xiaoli¡¯s room, gently helping her sit up.


    ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s time for some soup. I made this especially for you.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli was overwhelmed by her care.


    Touched, she said, ¡°Xiaomeng, it¡¯s just a cold, and your uncle will be back soon. You don¡¯t have to go to all this trouble.¡±


    Fang Meng sat beside her with the bowl in hand.


    Lin Zhengran entered the room too, but at this point, he felt completely unnecessary.


    Fang Meng scooped up some soup, blew on it gently, and said, ¡°Of course I have to. If we were living in ancient times, and I had an arranged marriage, I¡¯d already be your future daughter-in-law. Taking care of my mother-in-law would be my duty.¡±


    She lifted the spoon to Lin Xiaoli¡¯s lips. ¡°Say ¡®ahh,¡¯ Auntie.¡±


    Both Lin Xiaoli and Lin Zhengran were stunned.


    What the hell did she just say?


    Lin Xiaoli¡¯s face turned red. ¡°D-Daughter-in-law?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll definitely end up with Lin Zhengran, but I want to give it my best shot¡ªeven if there¡¯s only a slim chance.¡± Her voice softened. ¡°Please, have some soup.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli sipped a little. Deep down, she already suspected Fang Meng liked Zhengran. After all, she had been coming over frequently for over a year. But hearing her say it outright was unexpected.


    Then, Fang Meng spoke her real request. ¡°Auntie, once Uncle gets back, can I ask Lin Zhengran to come sing karaoke with me? Today is really important to me. I hope he can be there, even just for a little while. Please put in a good word for me?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Today is important to you?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. I can¡¯t explain, but it really means a lot.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli knew her son was always surrounded by admirers, so she hesitated. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not really my decision¡­¡±


    She turned to look at Lin Zhengran, who stood by the door, looking completely lost.


    ¡°Zhengran¡­ what do you think?¡±


    Sweat formed on Lin Zhengran¡¯s forehead.


    His mother looked like she truly felt bad for Fang Meng, and Fang Meng herself was giving him the most pitiful look ever.


    She spoke sincerely.


    ¡°I know using Auntie as leverage to get you to help me is a bit manipulative, but¡­ you know how much this means to me. I just need a little encouragement.¡± Her voice cracked, and she even teared up. ¡°Please, help me. I¡¯ll do anything in return.¡±


    Lin Xiaoli patted her back to comfort her, then looked at Lin Zhengran. ¡°Zhengran¡­¡±


    At that moment, he realized¡ªwhen a woman wants to act dramatic, no one can outdo her.


    Especially when she¡¯s being genuine about it.


    Fine. He had already helped her this much. Might as well go all the way.


    Lin Zhengran slowly nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go with you this morning.¡±


    Tears still in her eyes, Fang Meng¡¯s face lit up with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Lin Zhengran! Really, thank you!¡±


    Not long after, Lin Yingjun returned home.


    Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng headed downstairs together.


    As they reached the street, he was about to ask which karaoke place they were going to when Fang Meng suddenly stopped, turned to him, and bowed deeply.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for using such a sneaky method to get your help. I know it wasn¡¯t really effective¡ªyou¡¯re just a good person, and that¡¯s why you agreed. It wasn¡¯t because I found your weakness or tricked you.¡±


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°In the future, even if I take care of Auntie again, I won¡¯t do something like this. This will be the last time. And as for repayment, I¡¯ll do anything you ask¡ªexcept sleeping with you. Anything else, I swear.¡±


    Lin Zhengran stared at the girl bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle.


    ¡°You really have a way with words. I¡¯ll remember this favor, then. Someday, I¡¯ll use it.¡±


    Fang Meng straightened up, watching him with a small smile. ¡°Alright. Thank you. You really are the most handsome guy I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    ¡°The last part was so fake, you didn¡¯t need to say it.¡±


    She didn¡¯t reply.


    Because, in truth, she meant every word.


    And now, she was starting to understand why Qianqian cared so much about Lin Zhengran¡¯s future plans.


    A guy like him¡ªstrong yet kind¡ªit was only natural she¡¯d want the best for him.

 Chapter 174: Heroic Deed

    They randomly picked a local KTV in town.


    In Lin Zhengran¡¯s impression, KTVs weren¡¯t as popular anymore, but to his surprise, this one was quite lively.


    As soon as they walked in, they were greeted by loud cheers. Various groups of people were singing their hearts out, as if they were professional performers.


    After choosing a private room, Fang Meng ordered half a crate of beer.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think you can finish all that?¡±


    Fang Meng, sitting on the plush KTV sofa, stared at the beers. ¡°I¡¯ll drink as much as I can. I just need a little courage.¡±


    Without even starting to sing, she clinked her bottle against his and chugged down over half of it in one go.


    It was clear that she was really anxious about her upcoming conversation with Jiang Qian next week.


    She selected a few love songs, grabbed the microphone, and exhaled a faint trace of alcohol.


    Her voice was loud and clear. While not as breathtaking as Jiang Xueli¡¯s, she was still a decent singer. She sang with emotion, fully immersed in the moment.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t mind. As long as she could relax, that was all that mattered. Though, he had to admit, this song was kind of old.


    After nearly half an hour of singing, Fang Meng had downed three to five bottles of beer. Her face was flushed, her voice hoarse, and she was visibly tipsy as she slumped against the sofa.


    Drunkenly, she glanced at Lin Zhengran. ¡°You barely drank anything.¡±


    He looked at the empty bottles in front of him. ¡°I drank the same amount as you.¡±


    Fang Meng held the microphone, puzzled. ¡°But you don¡¯t look drunk at all?¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°Guess that just means I can hold my liquor better than you.¡±


    She blinked and accepted reality, leaning back into the couch while the KTV screen continued playing. ¡°Can I ask you a question, Lin Zhengran?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± He cracked open another beer and took a sip.


    Fang Meng stared at him. ¡°If you were Qianqian¡­ and the people you helped when you were younger never returned the favor, how would you feel?¡±


    Lin Zhengran, seated beside her, replied calmly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t feel anything. I¡¯d just keep doing my own thing.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Exactly what I said. First of all, I only help people selectively¡ªI¡¯m not wasting my time on just anyone. Usually, there¡¯s some kind of return involved. Second, aside from my childhood friends, I only help others with minor things. If it¡¯s a small favor, I don¡¯t expect anything in return. If they do repay me, great. If not, it doesn¡¯t affect me.¡±


    He glanced at Fang Meng.


    ¡°Jiang Qian¡¯s issue was that she didn¡¯t know how to judge people. Not everyone in this world is worth helping, but not everyone is undeserving either. You have to be able to tell the difference. Of course, kids don¡¯t understand that¡ªit¡¯s part of growing up.¡±


    Fang Meng observed Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression. Unlike other people their age, there wasn¡¯t a trace of uncertainty in his eyes.


    She sighed in admiration. ¡°You really do feel like an older brother sometimes, Zhengran. You¡¯re right¡­ it really is that simple.¡±


    She handed him the microphone. ¡°I¡¯ve been singing this whole time. Do you sing?¡±


    He took the mic. ¡°A little.¡±


    The song she had queued up was already playing, so he didn¡¯t bother changing it.


    As the lyrics scrolled across the screen, he began singing.


    Fang Meng¡¯s fingers trembled slightly.


    Her heartbeat quickened.


    She hadn¡¯t expected his voice to be this good.


    Staring at his sharp jawline under the dim KTV lights, she subconsciously pressed her lips together.


    She picked up the second microphone and joined him.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, at the KTV entrance, two boys and two girls¡ªstudents¡ªwere laughing and chatting as they approached the front desk to book a room.


    Just as they were about to finalize their reservation, a group of ten police officers walked in and spoke to the staff.


    ¡°We suspect drug activity on the premises. Lock the front and back doors.¡±


    The staff were startled but immediately nodded. ¡°Understood, officer! We¡¯ll fully cooperate.¡±


    The four students, intrigued, tried to follow the officers at a distance, only to be scolded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get involved!¡±


    The police, accompanied by KTV staff, began checking suspicious rooms.


    When they reached one particular door, they spotted a man outside, smoking and keeping watch.


    The moment he saw the officers, he panicked and tried to warn those inside.


    But before he could react, the officers rushed him, pinning him down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±


    Inside the room, the gangsters heard the commotion and were about to check when they were met with a swarm of police.


    Panic set in.


    Some surrendered. Others tried to flee.


    The police managed to subdue most of them, but one managed to escape and bolted down the hallway.


    As the officers gave chase, the suspect sprinted past the men¡¯s restroom¡ªwhere Lin Zhengran happened to be washing his hands.


    ¡°Stop! You really think you can outrun us?!¡± one of the officers shouted.


    Stepping out of the restroom, Lin Zhengran saw the man charging toward him.


    His face was sallow, his expression twisted in desperation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Get out of my way, kid! Move, or I¡¯ll f***ing kill you!¡± the man roared.


    Lin Zhengran took a step back.


    Then, just as the guy passed by¡ª


    He grabbed the back of his shirt and slammed him into the wall with a loud .


    What seemed like a simple motion made the criminal feel as if an enormous boulder had crushed him.


    He couldn¡¯t breathe.


    His face turned pale.


    The pursuing officers quickly caught up and restrained him. ¡°Still think you can escape? We¡¯ve got officers at every exit!¡±


    Though Lin Zhengran¡¯s move was effortless, the police were impressed.


    One of them patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Thanks, kid. You¡¯re pretty strong.¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°No problem. Just a reflex.¡±


    ¡ª


    Back in their room, Fang Meng had heard the commotion outside.


    Opening the door, she saw Lin Zhengran surrounded by police and quickly ran over.


    ¡°What happened?!¡± she asked, a bit panicked.


    He shrugged. ¡°Nothing much. The police were making an arrest, and the guy happened to run past me, so I stopped him.¡±


    ¡°You just¡ª him?¡±


    She looked at the restrained man.


    He seemed dazed but was clearly not someone an average person could casually subdue.


    But then she remembered how effortlessly Lin Zhengran had pinned down earlier that morning.


    Yeah¡­ it made sense.


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that the class monitor and Fang Meng?!¡± a voice called out.


    The four students who had been watching from afar walked over excitedly.


    Two of the boys were actually from their class.


    ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± Fang Meng asked.


    ¡°We live in this town too! What a coincidence! Were you guys ?¡± one of them grinned. ¡°And, damn, class monitor, I saw you take that guy down! That was badass!¡±


    A nearby officer turned to Lin Zhengran. ¡°You said your name is Lin Zhengran? What school do you go to?¡±


    One of the classmates answered for him. ¡°He¡¯s our class monitor! We¡¯re from First High School.¡±


    The officer smiled. ¡°First High? Good students, huh? Got it.¡±


    After giving him a final pat on the shoulder, the officers finished their operation and left.


    ¡ª


    The following Monday, during a self-study session¡ª


    The homeroom teacher and the academic director walked into the classroom, grinning ear to ear.


    The director cleared his throat.


    ¡°Alright, everyone, quiet down! Let¡¯s give a big round of applause to your class monitor, Lin Zhengran! The police informed us that during last week¡¯s operation, a student assisted them in apprehending a suspect. Apparently, he was with his at the time and acted out of bravery!¡±


    ¡°The footage is now on the school¡¯s official page. Though it¡¯s censored, you can still tell it¡¯s Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng! The school will formally commend them at the next assembly!¡±


    The classroom erupted into whispers.


    Half were shocked that Lin Zhengran had taken down a criminal.


    The other half were shocked that Fang Meng was supposedly his .


    Lin Zhengran, Fang Meng, and Jiang Qian all had their mouths slightly open in disbelief.


    The homeroom teacher chuckled to herself.


    She sighed. ¡°Lin Zhengran, Fang Meng¡ªcome with us for a moment.¡±

 Chapter 175: Unexpected

    As the discipline director gave an inspiring speech, the classroom erupted into applause.


    Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng stood up together and walked out of the classroom.


    A certain Second Miss widened her cool, clear eyes in disbelief. She had never considered the possibility¡ªnever thought that Fang Meng and Lin Zhengran had this kind of relationship¡­ She had always assumed they weren¡¯t close.


    Outside the classroom, Fang Meng and Lin Zhengran stood face to face with both the discipline director and their homeroom teacher.


    The discipline director was particularly enthusiastic. Though most students didn''t have a great impression of his position, ever since Lin Zhengran started high school, the man always spoke to him with a smile.


    After all, being ranked first in the entire grade carried its own weight.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, I never expected you to not only excel in academics but also be so courageous and capable. The school is truly proud of you! With the college entrance exams approaching, all the teachers unanimously agreed that you should be the one to give the motivational speech at the pre-exam assembly. It¡¯ll definitely boost everyone¡¯s morale!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was already used to this kind of thing. After a few more compliments from the discipline director, the man left, reminding him that the formal recognition would happen during the assembly. Before leaving, he also made an offhand remark to Fang Meng:


    ¡°Fang Meng, your grades are outstanding too. And you have good taste.¡±


    Fang Meng: ¡°Huh?¡±


    After he left, the homeroom teacher let out a long breath and suddenly chuckled.


    ¡°Did you two catch what he meant in those last two sentences?¡±


    Fang Meng glanced at the teacher.


    The homeroom teacher smiled.


    ¡°Good thing the ones making the news this time were Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng, and it was for something positive¡ªheroically stopping a criminal. Otherwise, if it had been about early romance, the school would¡¯ve handled it very strictly. This time, they¡¯re letting it slide.


    ¡°With exams approaching, just be mindful not to let anything affect your scores. When we praise you during the assembly, we¡¯ll say that ¡®Lin Zhengran and his friend were out having fun when they heroically captured the criminal.¡¯ No other details will be mentioned.¡±


    Noticing that both students wanted to say something, the teacher preemptively added, ¡°Of course, you two might not actually be in a relationship, right? Honestly, I don¡¯t care, and it¡¯s not important. Just don¡¯t let it distract you from the college entrance exams.¡±


    Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng exchanged a glance and nodded.


    ¡°Alright, head back to class.¡±


    Just as they were about to leave, the homeroom teacher called Lin Zhengran back alone.


    ¡°Something else, Teacher?¡±


    The teacher chuckled, looking quite amicable. ¡°Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you''re still thinking about changing your university preference.¡±


    Lin Zhengran shook his head. ¡°No changes. I¡¯ll stick with the one I originally chose.¡±


    The teacher nodded. ¡°Alright, got it.¡±


    As Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng walked back, the homeroom teacher stood in the hallway, watching his departing figure.


    She had been teaching these kids for over three years, and Lin Zhengran¡¯s popularity was something she had witnessed firsthand. If she weren¡¯t a teacher bound by professional ethics, she would have loved to gossip¡ªwhat exactly had he been through with all these girls?


    Back in the classroom, Lin Zhengran sat down while Fang Meng noticed her classmates staring at her with curiosity.


    Even Jiang Qian, her former close friend, was scrutinizing her with an expression of surprise. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a moment, the two ex-best friends made eye contact¡­ and neither said a word. Who knew what was going through their minds?


    Meanwhile, in Class 3, chatter filled the room during the break.


    Jiang Xueli was busy with her studies while Han Wenwen and He Qing planned to go to the restroom together.


    Before they could leave, they overheard a conversation:


    ¡°Did you hear? Last week, Lin Zhengran from the next class acted heroically! He helped the police take down a criminal!¡±


    Classmate A animatedly gestured as he spoke.


    ¡°I heard! They say the criminal was 1.7 meters tall with a half-meter-long scar on his face, and Lin Zhengran held him down all by himself!¡±


    Classmate B slammed the desk in disagreement.


    ¡°No way! I heard the criminal was 1.8 meters tall, built like a tank, and even had a knife. The police didn¡¯t dare approach him, but Lin Zhengran just took him down in one move!¡±


    Classmate C scoffed, spitting as he spoke.


    ¡°Your versions are nonsense! The guy was only about 1.6 meters, not that strong, but he have a weapon. Word is, he had a Gatling gun a cannon. And Lin Zhengran wrestled them out of his hands.¡±


    The discussion escalated.


    ¡°Is this for real? I heard an armed helicopter was involved! There were even tanks! Some people even claim Lin Zhengran was piloting a Transformer!¡±


    Classmate D sighed. ¡°The rumors are getting ridiculous. The school¡¯s official WeChat page posted the video. He just pinned the guy against the wall¡ªthough, to be fair, it impressive. He took down a full-grown man with one hand.¡±


    Hearing all this, He Qing and Han Wenwen stopped in their tracks, exchanging a look.


    Even Jiang Xueli, who had been focused on her studies, perked up with curiosity.


    Little He Qing leaned in and asked softly, ¡°What are you guys talking about? Transformers?¡±


    A female classmate, noticing their interest, replied,


    ¡°You guys don¡¯t know? Aren¡¯t you three always with Lin Zhengran? He stopped a criminal last week while he was on a date with his girlfriend. The footage is on the school¡¯s WeChat page. He looked cool!¡±


    Upon hearing Lin Zhengran being praised, He Qing, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli were all visibly pleased.


    He Qing¡¯s clear, innocent eyes widened. ¡°Lin Zhengran is amazing?! This happened last week?¡±


    Jiang Xueli was equally shocked. ¡°Zhengran took down a criminal?¡±


    The girl nodded. ¡°Yeah, last weekend, and¡ª¡±


    Han Wenwen was about to smile when she suddenly caught an important detail that had been glossed over.


    ¡°Wait¡­ what did you just say?¡±


    The girl blinked. ¡°That he stopped a criminal? I said that multiple times already.¡±


    Han Wenwen shook her head, pointing upward. ¡°No, the sentence that. You said Lin Zhengran was on a with his girlfriend before stopping the criminal?¡±


    The girl nodded. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a video.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s words made He Qing and Jiang Xueli freeze.


    They turned to look at each other and, in perfect unison, said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t with me.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s instincts flared.


    The little fox rummaged through her pocket, pulled out her phone, and quickly searched the school¡¯s WeChat page.


    ¡°I found the video! Let¡¯s watch.¡±


    The three of them huddled together, eyes locked on the screen.


    The video was shot from the police¡¯s perspective, with faces blurred out.


    But Lin Zhengran¡¯s figure and presence were unmistakable to the three girls.


    All three exclaimed simultaneously:


    ¡°That¡¯s Lin Zhengran!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Zhengran!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Lin Zhengran, for sure! And wait¡­ the location¡­ a KTV? He went last week?¡±


    They watched as Lin Zhengran effortlessly pinned the criminal against the wall.


    The girls gasped in awe, but just then, a girl appeared on the screen¡ªa blurred-out figure wearing a thin outer jacket over a pure white long-sleeved pleated dress.


    The three girls instantly went on high alert.


    The girl in the video rushed to Lin Zhengran¡¯s side, grabbed his sleeve, and asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay? What happened?¡±


    The footage cut off there, replaced by a news report.


    The girl¡¯s appearance was brief, and her face was heavily pixelated, making her unrecognizable.


    But her outfit¡­ her voice¡­


    The three of them exchanged a glance, thought for a moment, and then simultaneously asked:


    ¡°Was that Fang Meng?¡±


    After confirming their suspicions, they all turned back to the screen, each feeling a mix of frustration and jealousy.


    They to know what was going on!

 Chapter 176: Overwhelming Information

    During the lunch break, as the teacher announced, ¡°Class dismissed,¡± the exhausted students sat up, chatting about random topics before heading to the cafeteria.


    Jiang Qian also got up to leave, but only Fang Meng and Lin Zhengran remained in their seats.


    Ever since the discipline director mentioned the heroic act that morning, countless students¡ªespecially many girls¡ªhad been approaching Fang Meng between classes, bombarding her with questions.


    Oddly enough, no one asked Lin Zhengran directly. The reason? Jiang Qian was sitting right beside him.


    Everyone in the class knew¡ªwhether it was true or not¡ªthat the vice monitor had a crush on the class monitor. At the very least, that¡¯s what everyone assumed. The relationship between the two monitors had always been delicate.


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal, Fang Meng? When did you and the class monitor get together?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, did you steal the vice monitor¡¯s crush?¡±


    ¡°How many dates have you two gone on? How far have you progressed? Have you kissed? Or are you already¡­ close?¡±


    ¡°Does the class monitor act cute around you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so jealous, Fang Meng.¡±


    The flood of ridiculous questions gave Fang Meng a headache. No matter how many times she clarified that they weren¡¯t in that kind of relationship, the more she blushed at the more questions, the less anyone believed her.


    In their minds, it wasn¡¯t that she was denying it¡ªit was just that she couldn¡¯t openly admit it at school. Perhaps even the teachers had given them a warning just now. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, the school¡¯s official page had already posted the video. And in that footage, Fang Meng had been standing quite close to Lin Zhengran. Even if she denied it, everyone still assumed they were together.


    Leaning against the wall, Jiang Qian¡¯s expression remained tense. Her fingers clenched slightly, an unconscious reaction to everything she was hearing.


    Fang Meng noticed her reaction, sighing internally.


    As the lunch bell rang, Jiang Qian left the classroom, as cold and untouchable as an ice lotus with thorns.


    Fang Meng stared at Jiang Qian¡¯s departing figure, then let out a deep sigh and slumped over her desk, burying her face in her arms.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m screwed.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t turn around. He glanced out of the classroom instead¡ªthose three hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Looked like their class was still in session.


    Fang Meng lifted her head slightly, looking at him. ¡°Lin Zhengran, why aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡±


    ¡°Waiting,¡± he replied. ¡°For those three to get out of class.¡±


    Fang Meng immediately thought of the three beautiful girls from the next class.


    ¡°By the way¡­ everyone knows about your heroic act now. I¡¯m sure those three know about it too. Sorry, I dragged you into this. If you need me to clarify things for you, just let me know.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had already predicted this scenario when the homeroom teacher brought it up in the morning.


    With a helpless smile, he said, ¡°Thanks, but it¡¯s fine. We¡¯re not actually a couple, so it¡¯s easy for me to explain. You, on the other hand¡ªwhen do you plan to come clean to Jiang Qian? You¡¯ve already sung, already had drinks. Got the courage now?¡±


    Fang Meng stared at the desk. ¡°Tonight.


    ¡°Even with this extra complication, I¡¯ll talk to Qianqian tonight. Whatever happens, happens.¡±


    She stood up. ¡°I¡¯m heading to lunch.¡±


    ¡°Alright, take care.¡±


    Just as she reached the door, she hesitated and turned back.


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯m really curious¡ªwho your girlfriend? At first, I thought it was He Qing, but then I started noticing how close Jiang Xueli is to you. As for Han Wenwen¡­ well, she¡¯s hard to read. She feels like a fox¡ªdeep and unreadable.¡±


    Fang Meng casually voiced a thought she herself found ridiculous. ¡°You said you weren¡¯t two-timing before. That doesn¡¯t mean¡­ you¡¯re actually -timing now, does it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran looked at her.


    They locked eyes again, holding each other¡¯s gaze.


    Neither of them knew how many times they had done this before.


    In the past, Fang Meng always maintained a neutral expression. But after the KTV incident, she suddenly recalled how Lin Zhengran had comforted her while singing.


    Her face started heating up.


    Embarrassed, she quickly turned away.


    ¡°Forget it. I doubt you¡¯d do something like that. Not my business anyway. I¡¯m off to eat. If you need me to explain anything, just ask. Also, I still owe you a favor¡ªI won¡¯t forget that.¡±


    She left the classroom, walking down the hallway. But she slowly clenched her hand over her chest.


    Her heart was pounding.


    She didn¡¯t understand what was happening.


    ¡ª


    A little later, Class 3¡¯s lunch break finally arrived.


    As the students crowded toward the cafeteria, He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen appeared at Lin Zhengran¡¯s classroom door.


    The ¡°Big Three¡± stood there, staring at him intensely, all clearly with something to say.


    Inside, Lin Zhengran sighed, standing up.


    As expected, as the four of them left the building, He Qing kept her hands clasped in front of her, head down.


    Jiang Xueli had her hands behind her back, lips pursed.


    Han Wenwen clung to He Qing¡¯s arm, occasionally glancing at Lin Zhengran.


    Each had their own subtle actions.


    Lin Zhengran broke the silence first. ¡°So you three already know what happened last week?¡±


    They stiffened in unison and turned toward him.


    But before questioning him, they him first.


    He Qing spoke softly, ¡°We saw it. Lin Zhengran, you were cool.¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded. ¡°It really was impressive. Holding that guy down all by yourself¡­ I was in awe watching the video.¡±


    Han Wenwen chuckled. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve gained a lot more fangirls at school.¡±


    Whether that was a compliment or not was unclear.


    But after that, the three fell silent, waiting for Lin Zhengran to explain.


    He didn¡¯t beat around the bush.


    ¡°I was just helping her out. She took care of my mom, so I was just repaying the favor. There¡¯s nothing between us like the rumors are saying. You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s expression sharpened. ¡°Took care of your mom?¡±


    Jiang Xueli frowned. ¡°Repaying a favor?¡±


    He Qing hesitated. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a lot of information. Wait, does that mean she knows Uncle and Auntie? She¡¯s even been to your house?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    Han Wenwen smiled mischievously.


    Jiang Xueli turned her head, letting out a little ¡°hmph.¡±


    He Qing, looking pitiful, spoke hesitantly, ¡°Okay, I believe you two aren¡¯t together. I believe most of what you say. But this time¡­ I can only believe a bit. Because, Lin Zhengran, you would never spend time alone with a girl you don¡¯t like, right?


    ¡°And your flirtatious nature isn¡¯t new. You¡¯ve always been like this¡ªsince we were kids. Always playing with pretty girls and stealing their hearts.¡±


    Lin Zhengran felt something was off.


    Jiang Xueli crossed her arms. ¡°I agree. The second I take my eyes off you, you start charming another pretty girl. Can¡¯t help yourself, huh? Casanova.¡±


    Han Wenwen added, ¡°Bottom line, Lin Zhengran, this kind of scandal isn¡¯t something you can brush off with a couple of sentences. And besides, just now, you let slip too much information in one go. It¡¯s not going to be easy explaining this to Lili and Qingqing.


    ¡°But it¡¯ll be easier if you explain it .¡±


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing both nodded at this.


    Not only did they want alone time with him, but deep down, they felt¡­


    Han Wenwen smiled. ¡°See? We all agree.¡±


    She was technically helping him out¡ªfor now.


    But if she ever got a private moment with Lin Zhengran, she get to the bottom of what really happened with Fang Meng.


    Because even if she believed he wasn¡¯t dating Fang Meng¡­


    She had a strong feeling¡ª


    That Fang Meng¡­ might be starting to like him.

 Chapter 177: Any Request Will Do

    After agreeing to discuss things further during PE class in the afternoon, the four of them headed to the cafeteria.


    Even though the news about Lin Zhengran¡¯s "heroic act" had stirred jealousy in the three girls, they still treated him as they always did¡ªpicking food for him, pouring water for him.


    They weren¡¯t the type to stay upset for long. After all, Lin Zhengran had already given them a general explanation.


    Though he hadn¡¯t shared every little detail, he hadn¡¯t tried to hide anything either. The three girls fully trusted him. If he really had started dating someone, he would¡¯ve just told them directly.


    After lunch, everyone returned to the classroom early to study.


    In order to get into the same university next year, Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli had been working incredibly hard. Aside from their weekends spent with Lin Zhengran, all their time was devoted to their studies.


    Once the four of them split up, Lin Zhengran headed to the restroom.


    When he stepped out, he was surprised to see Jiang Qian, her long, straight black hair cascading over her shoulders, standing outside the restroom, waiting for him.


    As he met her cool gaze, she spoke, ¡°Class monitor, do you have a moment? I¡¯d like to talk.¡±


    Lin Zhengran had a good idea of what she wanted to talk about.


    Before he could reply, Jiang Qian pulled out a bank card.


    ¡°I know your time is valuable, so consider this as payment for five minutes of it. There¡¯s twenty thousand on this card. It may not be enough, but that¡¯s all of my allowance for the week.¡±


    ¡°Twenty thousand?! You sure put a high price on my time,¡± Lin Zhengran remarked in surprise.


    Jiang Qian explained calmly, ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to refuse. After all, what I want to ask might seem trivial to you.¡±


    Without a word, Lin Zhengran turned to leave.


    Jiang Qian watched him go, thinking he was rejecting her outright.


    But then, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to talk.¡±


    It was best to get this over with as soon as possible. Since he was already involved, he might as well deal with it. At least he¡¯d get some system rewards out of it.


    Now that he thought about it, his system seemed to have changed. Instead of appearing a task, it now gave him summaries the fact.


    Jiang Qian, slightly surprised, gave a small nod and followed him.


    At noon, the school was bustling¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single quiet place to be found.


    Except for the piano room on the first floor.


    As a senior, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t visit the piano room as often anymore, but back in his first and second year, whenever there was nowhere else to go, he would always bring the "three little ones" here.


    He still remembered how Han Wenwen used to pester him to play the piano.


    The little fox had clapped excitedly after his performance, eyes full of admiration. ¡°That was amazing! As expected of Lin Zhengran!¡±


    Now, inside the piano room, Lin Zhengran found a seat.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said.


    Jiang Qian wasted no time getting to the point.


    ¡°Have you and Fang Meng slept together?¡±


    Lin Zhengran froze mid-motion, his body going stiff.


    He turned his head to look at her, stunned.


    ¡°¡­Where did that idea come from?¡±


    Jiang Qian remained expressionless.


    ¡°I was watching the video during lunch and thought about it. After all, KTVs are places for of things, right? I heard they even provide condoms. Since you two went there, I figured you must¡¯ve already done it.¡±


    Lin Zhengran wiped the sudden cold sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°¡­Where are you getting all this nonsense from? KTVs are just for singing.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Qian replied honestly, ¡°I know that¡¯s what they¡¯re to be for. I¡¯ve never been to one, but from what I¡¯ve read in famous books and seen in movies, KTVs are places criminals frequent¡­ or places where men and women go to have of encounters. No exceptions. The same applies to bars, internet cafes, and underground clubs.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sat down, completely speechless.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been by movies. That¡¯s just dramatization. A normal KTV is just a place to sing, and not full of criminals.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then how do you explain the fact that caught a criminal a KTV last week?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°¡­¡±


    It an extremely rare event. In reality, police arrests weren¡¯t something you saw every day.


    Letting out a deep sigh, he said, ¡°It was a rare occurrence. You can¡¯t judge an entire place based on one unlikely incident. Even elementary school exams teach that rare events don¡¯t define the whole.¡±


    Jiang Qian sat across from him.


    ¡°Fair enough. But even if you sleep together, it¡¯s fine. Fang Meng is already eighteen¡ªshe has her own freedom. I was just surprised that she would get pregnant so early.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a .


    ¡°¡­What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Were you even listening to me?¡±


    ¡°I was listening. But you didn¡¯t outright deny it. Instead, you tried to change the subject.¡±


    Ridiculous.


    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t sleep with her. And even if I had, you aced middle school biology, didn¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you remember the chapter on reproduction? Pregnancy isn¡¯t easy¡ªit¡¯s a low-probability event.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes widened in genuine surprise.


    ¡°Pregnancy is ? I didn¡¯t know that. I mean, I studied biology, but the chapter on sex education was only two pages long. The teacher skipped it, saying it wouldn¡¯t be on the test. So, I only know the basics.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    Most schools left students to that part. But for Jiang Qian to be clueless was surprising.


    She really had spent all her time purely on academics.


    Jiang Qian met his gaze, asking again, ¡°So¡­ you really haven¡¯t done anything?¡±


    ¡°No. And I¡¯m not dating her either. We¡¯re just friends.¡±


    ¡°Really? So the girlfriend rumors are false too? What about the other girls in our school? Have you slept with any of them?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Jiang Qian seemed genuinely surprised.


    Then, for some reason, she suddenly smiled.


    A small, rare smile.


    And, strangely, she felt .


    Lin Zhengran frowned. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡±


    Jiang Qian blinked, confused. ¡°Happy? Am I happy?¡±


    Her smile faded as she tilted her head in thought.


    Lin Zhengran let out another long sigh.


    ¡°So, you just wanted to ask whether I slept with Fang Meng?¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s expression changed slightly, her voice losing some of its usual coldness.


    ¡°That was just one part. Honestly, I always thought you two weren¡¯t close. This really caught me off guard.¡±


    Lin Zhengran remained silent.


    Jiang Qian clenched her slender fingers into a fist, still looking at him.


    ¡°I came to you today because I need advice about me and Fang Meng. I know it has nothing to do with you, but¡­ I can¡¯t solve it on my own.


    ¡°It¡¯s affecting my studies. I haven¡¯t been able to sleep for days. No matter how much I think about it, you¡¯re the only person I can ask for advice.


    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to listen, I¡¯ll compensate you. You can ask for anything¡ª.¡±


    Lin Zhengran suddenly thought of Fang Meng.


    These two best friends were more alike than they realized.


    Both of them were offering ¡°anything,¡± with one specific exception.


    Smirking, he mimicked Fang Meng¡¯s words.


    ¡°Anything? Except sleeping with you?¡±


    Jiang Qian was startled by his response.


    Her face turned slightly pink.


    ¡°Sleeping together? You mean¡­ you me to be your girlfriend?¡±


    She hesitated.


    ¡°That¡¯s a big request. I¡¯ll have to think about it. I never imagined you¡¯d ask for that. But¡­ out of all the guys, you¡¯re the only one I don¡¯t dislike.¡±


    She paused.


    ¡°¡­Fine. We can try dating.¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

 Chapter 178: A Different Kind of

    Jiang Qian spoke seriously:


    "From now on, I¡¯m your girlfriend. We can sleep together whenever you want, because I¡¯m actually quite curious about what it¡¯s like with a guy. Exploring human origins sounds fascinating, at least according to books. But there¡¯s one condition¡ªyou have to marry me. I can only accept doing that with my husband. After we get married, I can support you, but you can''t cheat on me."


    "Stop!" Lin Zhengran raised his hand. "What nonsense are you talking about? When did I confess to you?"


    Jiang Qian looked at him and helped him recall:


    "Just now. I told you to make a request, and you said you wanted to sleep with me. Isn¡¯t that a confession? I agreed, but only if you marry me first."


    "Stop again!" He looked helpless. "That¡¯s not what I said! I said everything except sleeping together was fine!"


    Jiang Qian nodded. "Yes, but you asked it as a question. You asked if everything except sleeping together was okay, right? And my answer was that sleeping together is also fine¡ªon the condition that you marry me first."


    Lin Zhengran interrupted, "So the choice is mine, right? Right now, I have no interest in sleeping with you, and that¡¯s not the kind of reward I want. I haven¡¯t even told you what I want yet."


    Jiang Qian hesitated, clearly confused.


    "Why? I thought sleeping with me would be the ultimate request. Do you not find me attractive? But plenty of guys have confessed to me. I don¡¯t think they were just being polite when they said I was pretty. I¡¯ve also kept my figure in shape¡ªI¡¯m even a C-cup."


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s male instincts made him instinctively glance at a certain area. He had never really paid attention to this kind of thing before, but he had to admit, Jiang Qian did have a great figure. He just didn¡¯t expect her to be so blunt about it.


    "What are we even talking about? Honestly, yeah, I do find you attractive. A lot of people like girls with long black hair. But just because you¡¯re pretty doesn¡¯t mean my request has to be sleeping with you. Besides, I have a girlfriend."


    Jiang Qian¡¯s expression was a bit strange at first, but when she heard the last part, she visibly lowered her head, looking a little hurt.


    "I know. But before you get married, you still have the right to choose your partner, don¡¯t you? A lover is a lover, a spouse is a spouse. You can change lovers, but a spouse is for life. And I already agreed¡­ Out of the hundreds of guys who have confessed to me since I was a kid, you¡¯re the only one I¡¯ve said yes to."


    Seeing her change in expression, Lin Zhengran asked curiously, "Jiang Qian, do you like me?"


    Jiang Qian¡¯s face turned slightly red. Her pupils shifted as she looked away.


    "No," she corrected herself. "I mean, not to the extent of liking. I just think you¡¯re a good person, and I care about you a little. So I think marrying you would be okay."


    She was being honest. The truth was, she didn¡¯t even know what liking someone really meant. She had never liked anyone before.


    Lin Zhengran blinked.


    "Is that so? Well, anyway, I¡¯ll agree to your request, but my reward won¡¯t be making you my girlfriend or sleeping with you. I have something else in mind¡ªI just haven¡¯t decided what yet." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Qian looked at him and accepted reality.


    "Alright. Then I¡¯ll owe you a huge favor today. I¡¯ll definitely repay it in the future. And before you give yourself to someone else, if your request is to sleep with me and get married, I¡¯ll agree to it anytime."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and dropped the subject.


    "Got it. Now, let¡¯s talk about you and Fang Meng. That¡¯s the real reason you came to me today, isn¡¯t it?"


    Jiang Qian nodded.


    "I met Fang Meng back in second grade¡­"


    The general story was the same, but Lin Zhengran knew that when people recall memories, they always tell them from their own perspective. The same story could sound completely different depending on who was telling it.


    So if he heard the key points from both sides, he could predict the outcome of their conflict in advance.


    And sure enough, things were just as he expected.


    Jiang Qian genuinely cared about Fang Meng and truly considered her a friend. But back then, she had asked Fang Meng a question:


    "If I hadn¡¯t lent you money first, and today my family was in trouble, would you have lent me money?"


    That question had deeply hurt her. Even after all these years, she had never completely let it go.


    Until¡­ the real conflict exploded a year ago.


    Jiang Qian explained, "A year ago, Fang Meng¡¯s parents came over for a visit. My parents were there too. We were talking about university applications, and I said I wanted to go to Stanford. Fang Meng¡¯s parents said that when she was younger, her dream was always Tsinghua."


    "And then?"


    Jiang Qian recalled,


    "Fang Meng wasn¡¯t in the living room when they asked. I don¡¯t remember what she was doing at the time. I only remember that later, when I asked her privately about her university choice, she said, ¡®Since you¡¯re going to Stanford, I¡¯ll try my best to go with you.¡¯ That was when it hit me¡ªI might have been holding her back all these years."


    Lin Zhengran sighed. These two were so casual about it, as if Stanford and Tsinghua were just places you could pick and choose.


    "So a year ago, you started giving her space? And then last time, when you two finally had a huge argument, that was the end of it?"


    Jiang Qian looked regretful.


    "Yeah¡­ Actually, I made things very clear when we were in the car that day. I just didn¡¯t want to influence her life. That¡¯s all. But I don¡¯t know why it turned out like this. I got over what happened years ago a long time ago¡­"


    "Really?" Lin Zhengran pressed. "Are you sure you¡¯re really over it? If you were, why do you keep bringing it up?"


    Jiang Qian clenched her fists on her lap. "I¡­"


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    "Weren¡¯t you just being super direct earlier? But now, with this, you can¡¯t be straightforward? If you still care about what happened back then, just say it. Tell her how much it hurt you at the time. Ask her why she didn¡¯t answer you back then. Be honest with Fang Meng."


    Jiang Qian hesitated. "But wouldn¡¯t that just start another fight?"


    "Aren¡¯t you already fighting? Keeping things bottled up doesn¡¯t help. Sooner or later, it¡¯ll become a ticking time bomb. The only way to resolve things is to talk it out¡ªeven if it leads to an argument. Best friends fighting is totally normal.


    "Besides, you misunderstood something. Fang Meng might feel guilty about the past, but I think she wants to go to Stanford with you simply because she wants to be with you. It has nothing to do with the past. People change. Maybe she just doesn¡¯t want to go to Tsinghua anymore.


    "But instead of believing that, you assumed you were holding her back. So you tried to push her away. But isn¡¯t that also a way of influencing her? All she sees is that you don¡¯t want her to go with you. To her, it just feels like you¡¯re trying to break away from her."


    Jiang Qian listened carefully, her expression showing a sense of realization.


    Lin Zhengran asked,


    "You get it now? It¡¯s actually pretty simple."


    "Yeah¡­ The way you explained it, I finally understand what Fang Meng was thinking. Good thing I came to you. It¡¯s like you can read everyone¡¯s mind or something."


    Lin Zhengran smirked.


    Well, that¡¯s only because you guys keep coming to me with your problems.


    Jiang Qian was more decisive than Fang Meng.


    "I¡¯ll talk to her properly this afternoon."


    "Good. That¡¯s for the best." Lin Zhengran glanced at his phone¡ªit was almost time for class. "Alright, let¡¯s wrap this up. We¡¯ve been talking long enough."


    As he stood up, Jiang Qian spoke softly, her red lips parting slightly.


    "Thank you. You really are different from the others. You¡¯re a good guy."


    Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and she smiled gently.

 Chapter 179: Fang Meng in the Sports Equipment Room

    A few minutes before class started, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian walked back to the classroom together from the piano room.


    As they climbed the stairs, they unexpectedly ran into Han Wenwen and He Qing, who had just returned from the restroom.


    The two best friends were holding hands and casually glanced down the stairs, only to see Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian walking side by side.


    At the same time, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian looked up at the "Little Fox" and "Little He Qing."


    Their gazes met, and for a moment, all four of them were stunned.


    Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes and suddenly smirked.


    "Lin Zhengran, you''re really something, huh?"


    Before he could respond, the bell rang.


    The third and fourth periods in the afternoon were PE class.


    Before class started, the PE teacher came to the classroom and announced that these two periods would be used for a simulated physical fitness test.


    The PE committee was tasked with counting the number of students, and both boys and girls were selected to go to the sports equipment room to bring out the necessary gear.


    As class president, Lin Zhengran led a group of boys, while Jiang Qian stayed behind to take attendance. The girls'' representative was Fang Meng, who led the group to pick up the equipment.


    Both groups arrived at the storage room behind the field and started looking for the required fitness test equipment.


    While moving things, Fang Meng walked up to Lin Zhengran.


    "What were you doing during lunch? I saw you come back with Jiang Qian."


    Since she asked, Lin Zhengran answered honestly.


    "She wanted to talk."


    "About what?"


    "A lot of things. Mostly sex education."


    Fang Meng''s pupils dilated slightly. "Huh? Did I mishear? About what?"


    Lin Zhengran continued directing the others to grab more equipment as he casually replied,


    "Not important. Anyway, just have a good talk with her this afternoon, and it''ll all be fine."


    "Mm¡­ Now I get what you two were talking about."


    Seeing that he was about to leave, she reached out and tugged on his sleeve.


    "After today¡­ Jiang Qian and I won¡¯t end up falling out, right?"


    Lin Zhengran turned to look at her and answered matter-of-factly,


    "Of course not."


    Fang Meng finally smiled, feeling much more at ease.


    Once all the sports equipment was placed on the field, something unexpected happened¡ªHe Qing¡¯s class hadn¡¯t arrived.


    Lin Zhengran figured their PE teacher was either sick, their class had been taken over by another subject teacher, or they still had unfinished coursework to go through.


    Even though all senior year classes had the same PE teacher, at this moment, their teacher was focused on explaining the key points of the physical fitness test.


    The PE teacher said,


    "The senior year fitness test won¡¯t affect your college entrance exam or university admissions, but you still need to take it seriously. Some very specific schools do consider fitness scores, and failing the test could even affect your high school diploma."


    Then, the teacher turned to look at Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian.


    "Alright, let¡¯s have Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian¡ªour class president and vice president¡ªdemonstrate for everyone¡­"


    Noticing that Jiang Qian was still taking attendance, the teacher changed her mind.


    "Never mind, the vice president is busy. Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng, you two will demonstrate instead."


    Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng stepped forward.


    The PE teacher continued,


    "They¡¯ll go through all the test exercises while I explain some key points. Pay attention. If you don¡¯t understand something after watching, ask me. It¡¯s all quite simple."


    The demonstration went smoothly, and both Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng performed exceptionally well with precise movements.


    The PE teacher clapped.


    "Not bad, not bad! Especially Lin Zhengran¡ªour class president really is top-tier in both academics and physical ability. Alright, let¡¯s all get started. Give it a try."


    Just as the class was about to begin, the PE teacher noticed that a small component in the testing equipment was broken.


    She tried to fix it but couldn¡¯t, so she turned to Fang Meng.


    "Fang Meng, go to the storage room and grab a replacement part. It should be in the corner of the equipment room."


    Fang Meng nodded.


    "Got it, teacher."


    She ran off to the equipment room.


    Inside, the room was packed with various gear¡ªlarge and small, along with stacked mats, making the space feel cramped.


    Fang Meng made her way to the corner and found a large box filled with spare parts. She bent down to search for the specific component the teacher needed.


    As soon as she picked it up¡ª


    She froze.


    Looking down, she saw that her shirt had been torn by a sharp metal edge on the box.


    And it wasn¡¯t a small tear¡ªit stretched diagonally up to her stomach.


    She panicked.


    "My shirt!"


    She tried to set the part down to check her clothes, but as she turned, ¡ªher pants caught on something and tore along her right thigh.


    Her exposed skin and the edge of her underwear were now visible. Fang Meng gasped and immediately covered herself.


    "What the hell?!"


    As she bent down to shield her pants, she accidentally knocked against a cabinet.


    The unstable stacks of gear on top began to sway.


    Fang Meng heard objects sliding and looked up¡ªher eyes widened in horror.


    A pile of equipment came crashing down on her.


    She tumbled to the ground, accompanied by a series of ripping sounds¡­


    Back on the field, the PE teacher had continued fiddling with the equipment, and to his surprise, he actually managed to fix it!


    His face lit up.


    "It¡¯s working! No need to change parts after all!"


    The class resumed the exercises, but Lin Zhengran glanced toward the equipment room, wondering why Fang Meng hadn¡¯t come back yet.


    How long did it take to find one small component?


    Since he had already finished his demonstration, he suggested,


    "Teacher, since we don¡¯t need the spare part anymore, I¡¯ll go tell Fang Meng she doesn¡¯t have to bring it."


    The PE teacher casually agreed.


    "Go ahead. Actually, she really is taking a long time, isn¡¯t she?"


    Lin Zhengran headed toward the equipment room to check things out. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, he didn¡¯t see anyone inside. But as soon as he stepped through the door¡ª


    "Who¡¯s there?! Don¡¯t come in!"


    The voice was sharp and commanding, filled with wariness and even a hint of aggression.


    But Lin Zhengran recognized it instantly.


    "Fang Meng?"


    Upon realizing it was him, Fang Meng¡¯s fierce tone softened immediately.


    Her voice carried a mix of relief and embarrassment.


    "Lin Zhengran? Is that you? D-Don¡¯t come in yet! Close the door first¡­ My clothes are ripped¡­"


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow but did as she asked, shutting the door.


    "Alright, the door¡¯s closed. What do you mean, your clothes are ripped?"


    "They¡¯re ripped everywhere."


    "Huh?"


    Lin Zhengran stepped forward and saw Fang Meng crouched in the corner, holding a wooden board to cover herself. Only half her face peeked out.


    The area around her was a complete mess, with scattered equipment and mats covering the floor.


    Her face was red as she glared at him.


    "Why did you come in? I just told you everything¡¯s ripped!"


    Thanks to his height and sharp vision, Lin Zhengran could still vaguely make out the large tear in her pants, exposing the edge of her pink underwear. Even her bra straps were visible.


    He raised an eyebrow.


    "How did this even happen? Your clothes are practically shredded."


    Fang Meng¡¯s face burned as she threw a small mat at him, which he effortlessly caught.


    "You can that?!"


    "I don¡¯t know what happened! I just came to grab a part, and then my shirt got caught and ripped, then my pants, and then everything fell on me. And now, if I stand up, I¡¯ll be completely exposed!"


    Lin Zhengran found it ridiculous.


    "Seriously? That¡¯s some insane bad luck."


    Fang Meng pouted.


    "Just keep watch! If anyone else sees me like this, I¡¯ll die of embarrassment!"


    "I already saw."


    "That doesn¡¯t count! Only you can see, no one else!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    "I can¡¯t just stay here forever. Want me to get Jiang Qian to send you clothes?"


    Before she could answer, a high-pitched squeak came from the corner.


    Fang Meng turned, saw a small mouse scurrying toward her, and shrieked¡ª


    She dropped the wooden board and bolted toward Lin Zhengran, clutching his arm and burying her face in his chest.


    "Aaah! There¡¯s a mouse!"

 Chapter 180: You Two Didn’t Even Close the Door Before Doing This?

    The mouse, instead of running away like a normal rodent, seemed oddly arrogant. It squeaked defiantly and charged straight at Fang Meng.


    Her face turned pale with fear as she clung even tighter to Lin Zhengran.


    Before the mouse could get any closer, Lin Zhengran swiftly kicked it into the air. It arced beautifully before vanishing into the piles of clutter in the storage room.


    He glanced down at Fang Meng, who still had her face buried against his arm.


    "It¡¯s gone. Are you seriously scared of a little mouse? I thought you practiced martial arts?"


    Fang Meng cautiously turned back, confirming the mouse was gone. She let out a small sigh of relief and mumbled,


    "Just because I know martial arts doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t be afraid of mice. Everyone has their own fears."


    Lin Zhengran met her gaze, but his eyes unconsciously drifted downward.


    Now that she had stood up, the tear in her pants was fully exposed, revealing a pair of pink lace underwear¡ªan obviously youthful design.


    Her upper body wasn¡¯t spared either. Her torn shirt exposed the matching pink bra from the side.


    Realizing where he was looking, Fang Meng blushed furiously, quickly squatting down and pulling at her shredded clothes.


    "Pervert! Stop looking!"


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    "You were the one who ran to my side in the first place. How does that make me the pervert?"


    "I¡­" Her voice grew softer. "Just don¡¯t look, okay?" She knew this whole situation was her fault.


    "How about I get my jacket for you? I left it outside when we first came to move stuff."


    Fang Meng hesitated before nodding slightly.


    "That¡­ that works. Thanks."


    "Wait here."


    Just as Lin Zhengran turned to leave, Fang Meng grabbed his pant leg.


    "Come back quickly, okay? There are still mice here¡­ I¡¯m scared."


    He turned back and looked at her, remembering how she had spent over a year expressionless, silently watching over him like Jiang Qian¡¯s ironclad bodyguard.


    Now, not only did she show emotions, but she also blushed, got scared, and even worried about things.


    Fang Meng frowned slightly.


    "Why are you just staring at me? And what¡¯s with that expression?"


    Lin Zhengran smirked.


    "Nothing. I was just thinking about how we¡¯re getting a lot closer. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be right back."


    He handed her his phone.


    "Call Jiang Qian while I¡¯m gone. Ask her to bring you some clothes."


    "Mm¡­"


    Fang Meng took the phone and crouched back down, watching him leave with a faint blush on her cheeks.


    She muttered to herself,


    "Getting a lot closer? What does that mean?"


    The memory of them singing together at KTV last week surfaced in her mind. Her heart pounded, but she quickly shook her head, trying to calm herself down.


    Lin Zhengran retrieved his jacket from outside and headed back.


    But at that very moment, Jiang Qian, who had been taking attendance on the field, happened to notice him.


    She watched from a distance, her cold eyes following his unusual behavior.


    PE class wasn¡¯t over yet. So why was he getting his jacket?


    Wasn¡¯t he just supposed to tell Fang Meng that she didn¡¯t need to get the spare part anymore?


    But it had been so long, and Fang Meng still hadn¡¯t come back. And now, Lin Zhengran had returned to the storage room multiple times¡­


    Doubt crept into her mind. A certain rumor about couples sneaking off to do things surfaced in her thoughts.


    Even though Lin Zhengran had already denied it¡­


    Jiang Qian approached the PE teacher.


    "Teacher, I¡¯ve almost finished taking attendance. May I go to the restroom?"


    The teacher took the list from her.


    "Sure. I¡¯ll handle the rest. Go ahead."


    "Thank you, teacher."


    Jiang Qian walked toward the equipment storage.


    Just as she neared the door, her phone vibrated¡ªit was Lin Zhengran calling.


    She ignored it. Instead, she slipped through a gap in the doorway, entering unnoticed.


    Inside, she immediately heard voices coming from the corner.


    Fang Meng: "You got the jacket?"


    Lin Zhengran: "Yeah, but your shirt is covered in dust and already torn up. You should just throw it away, or else my jacket will get dirty too."


    Fang Meng: "Huh?"


    Lin Zhengran: "What? It¡¯s already ruined, and you¡¯re still wearing a bra. What¡¯s the big deal?"


    Jiang Qian froze.


    Did she just hear that right?


    Taking off clothes?


    Her fingers clenched around the still-vibrating phone.


    She walked toward the voices, and when she turned the corner, her eyes widened in shock.


    Lin Zhengran was holding his jacket, and Fang Meng had already taken off her shirt.


    She was only wearing a bra on top.


    Her pants were practically in shreds.


    And the two of them¡­ seemed to be in the middle of something.


    Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng both turned, seeing Jiang Qian standing there.


    Three people. Six eyes. All frozen in place.


    Jiang Qian''s expression shifted, her fists tightening. Her voice trembled with disbelief.


    "You two¡­ were so desperate that you decided to do it here? Without even closing the door?!"


    Fang Meng frantically waved her hands.


    "N-No! Jiang Qian, you misunderstood! We weren¡¯t¡ª"


    After a lot of explaining, Jiang Qian believed them.


    "So you¡¯re saying¡­ you came to get a part, but your shirt got caught and tore. Then when you turned, your pants got ripped too. And then, a bunch of stuff fell on you, making everything worse. And that¡¯s how Lin Zhengran happened to walk in on you like this?"


    Fang Meng, now wrapped in Lin Zhengran¡¯s jacket, sat on the floor.


    "I know it sounds ridiculous, but that¡¯s really what happened. I don¡¯t know why I was so unlucky¡­"


    Jiang Qian looked at Lin Zhengran, who was still fully dressed.


    "Alright¡­ as ridiculous as it sounds, I¡¯d rather believe than believe you two were actually doing something in here."


    Fang Meng frowned.


    "What does that mean? I don¡¯t get it."


    "Nothing."


    It meant that, deep down, Jiang Qian couldn¡¯t accept the idea of Lin Zhengran and Fang Meng sleeping together. So she¡¯d rather believe the absurd excuse.


    At that moment, Fang Meng and Jiang Qian locked eyes.


    They both remembered the tension between them over the past few days.


    Lin Zhengran spoke up,


    "Jiang Qian, Fang Meng can¡¯t leave like this. Call your driver and have him bring some clothes for her."


    Jiang Qian nodded.


    "Got it."


    She quickly pulled out her phone and called her family¡¯s driver.


    Before she could press the dial button, Fang Meng suddenly whispered,


    "¡­Thanks, Jiang Qian."


    Jiang Qian glanced at her and smiled.


    "No need to thank me. Even though you¡¯re not my assistant anymore, we¡¯re still best friends. This is nothing."


    Fang Meng¡¯s pupils trembled slightly as she looked up at her.


    Jiang Qian relayed the request over the phone, and the driver confirmed that he¡¯d arrive with the clothes within ten minutes.


    After hanging up, she turned to Fang Meng.


    "It¡¯ll be here soon. Just wait a little."


    Fang Meng nodded.


    For the next ten minutes, an unusual silence filled the room. Fang Meng sat on a sports mat while Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian stood nearby.


    Lin Zhengran, sensing the atmosphere, smirked.


    "This is a good chance. You two don¡¯t even have to wait until later to talk things out."


    He casually walked toward the entrance.


    "I¡¯ll keep watch outside. You two stay here."


    Then, he left the storage room.


    Jiang Qian and Fang Meng both turned to watch him go, immediately understanding what he was doing.


    The two best friends hesitated for a moment before finally gathering their courage.


    Almost at the same time, they spoke.


    "Jiang Qian, I¡¯m sorry for what happened before."


    "Fang Meng, I¡¯m sorry for what happened before."


    They both froze. Then, suddenly, they burst into laughter. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once a girl starts laughing, it¡¯s hard to stop.


    Jiang Qian and Fang Meng sat together on the mat, finally voicing all their thoughts to each other.

 Chapter 181: Xiao Meng, Do You Like Lin Zhengran?

    Jiang Qian looked at Fang Meng and said,


    "That day in the car, I didn¡¯t mean to stop you from studying abroad with me. I only said that because a year ago, I heard your parents say your dream was to go to Tsinghua."


    Fang Meng hadn¡¯t had a real heart-to-heart with Jiang Qian since elementary school. Over the years, Jiang Qian had always been cold and distant, never opening up to anyone.


    But today, Fang Meng smiled.


    "Tsinghua? That must¡¯ve been something I told my parents when I was a kid. I changed my mind in middle school¡ªI¡¯ve always just wanted to be with you."


    Jiang Qian chuckled.


    Fang Meng continued,


    "And that day in the car, I got upset for no reason. I shouldn¡¯t have snapped at you¡­ I¡¯ve always known you considered me a friend, but¡­"


    She had so much she wanted to say, but at this moment, neither of them knew how to put their feelings into words.


    Fang Meng lowered her head.


    "The real reason we fought this time is still because of what happened back then, isn¡¯t it? Jiang Qian¡­ can we finally talk about it properly?"


    Jiang Qian took a deep breath.


    "Alright, let¡¯s be honest today. Back then, when I got into that fight and asked you that question, you didn¡¯t answer me. I¡­ I was really angry."


    Fang Meng¡¯s eyes widened.


    Jiang Qian stared ahead, lost in memory.


    "I never brought it up all these years, and I kept telling myself it didn¡¯t matter. That your hesitation didn¡¯t mean anything. But¡­ every time I think about it, it still hurts. Back then¡­"


    Her voice suddenly wavered, becoming raspy with emotion. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why didn¡¯t you answer me? Even if you had just nodded, I would¡¯ve felt like everything I did for you as a kid wasn¡¯t a joke. I always thought of you as my best friend. Anyone else could hesitate, but you. And yet¡­"


    Fang Meng clutched Jiang Qian¡¯s sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears.


    "Jiang Qian, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really am. I¡¯ve regretted my hesitation so many times over the years. I¡¯ve always wanted to tell you that if I could do it over, I¡¯d say yes without a second thought.


    "I just¡­ I didn¡¯t react in time. And later, no matter how many times I wanted to talk to you about it¡­ no matter how much I tried¡­"


    Tears slipped down her cheeks, her voice trembling as she tightened her grip on Jiang Qian¡¯s sleeve.


    "Every time I tried to bring it up, I could see the doubt and resentment in your eyes. I knew that no matter what I said afterward, you wouldn¡¯t believe me. But I ¡ªI always thought of you as my best friend. How could I not have helped you?"


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes reddened as she met Fang Meng¡¯s gaze. Tears rolled down her face as well.


    Outside the sports equipment room, Lin Zhengran stood at a distance, watching the students who had finished their physical fitness test playing around on the field.


    Having heightened senses wasn¡¯t always a good thing.


    Sometimes, even when he didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop, if he focused just a little, he could hear everything clearly.


    But no matter what, it seemed like the conflict between these two best friends was finally coming to an end.


    A little while later, in the corner of the storage room, Fang Meng took some tissues from the torn pocket of her clothes and wiped Jiang Qian¡¯s tears.


    With a smile, she said,


    "It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen you cry, Jiang Qian. You actually remind me of how you used to be when we were kids."


    The two best friends sat hand in hand.


    Jiang Qian sighed.


    "I always knew you did a lot of things for me. My sister told me. She said you trained in martial arts so you could protect me if I ever got into fights. And that you studied medicine because of that time I took you to the school infirmary."


    Fang Meng lowered her head shyly.


    "Yeah¡­ Your sister asked me about it once. I didn¡¯t want to admit it, but I can¡¯t really keep secrets from her."


    Jiang Qian took a deep breath and suggested,


    "Come back and be my assistant, Fang Meng. Ever since you quit, everything¡¯s been a mess. I can¡¯t sleep well, I can¡¯t study properly. Forget about surpassing Lin Zhengran¡ªI can¡¯t even surpass my past self anymore."


    Fang Meng smiled and nodded.


    "Okay. But Jiang Qian¡­ are you still trying to find Lin Zhengran¡¯s weaknesses? Honestly, maybe you should just give up. He¡¯s¡­ different.


    "I observed him for over a year, and he¡¯s just a normal person. If he actually wanted to be famous, he¡¯d be number one in . He can even think while he¡¯s asleep." She laughed lightly. "Though I know you¡¯d admit defeat."


    Jiang Qian thought about Lin Zhengran, her face heating up slightly.


    "Honestly¡­ after fighting with you, I realized my curiosity about him changed a long time ago.


    "At first, I just wanted to compete with him and surpass him. But ever since he taught me piano¡­ and then two days ago, when I went to talk to him about ¡­ I finally admitted to myself that it¡¯s not just about his abilities anymore.


    "I feel like I him. He¡¯s so similar to how I used to be¡­ but so much . I don¡¯t even understand my own feelings right now.


    "All I know is¡­ I want to understand everything about him. And yesterday, he even confessed to me¡ªthough he took it back right after."


    Fang Meng had been listening carefully, but then¡ª


    "Wait. What? ?!"


    Jiang Qian explained,


    "Yesterday, when I asked him to make a request, he suddenly said ¡®anything except sleeping together.¡¯ I thought he meant he wanted me to be his girlfriend, and I figured¡­ why not? I was open to trying. But then he immediately clarified that¡¯s what he meant."


    Fang Meng stared blankly at Jiang Qian.


    For some reason, hearing the word made her feel¡­ odd.


    Empty.


    Jiang Qian suddenly asked,


    "By the way, Fang Meng, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask¡ªyou and Lin Zhengran seem close. Last week, you even went to KTV together.


    "And if I heard correctly just now, you said you¡¯ve been watching him for over a year? You even know he thinks while he sleeps? What, are you watching him sleep now?


    "Does that mean¡­ every time I gave you time off, you were spending it with ?"


    Seeing Jiang Qian¡¯s curiosity, Fang Meng suddenly chuckled.


    "That¡¯s a long story. The short version is¡­ I have a childhood engagement with him."


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes widened.


    "WHAT?! You too?! Just how many childhood engagements does he have?!"


    Fang Meng answered but immediately turned the tables.


    "As far as I know, just two¡ªme and your sister. But this is a complicated story. I¡¯ll explain everything tonight.


    "But we¡¯re not done talking about yet.


    "Why did Lin Zhengran even mention in front of you? Why did you misunderstand it as a confession? And most importantly¡ª"


    Fang Meng locked eyes with Jiang Qian.


    "Tell me the truth. You¡¯ve already fallen for him, haven¡¯t you?"


    Jiang Qian stiffened.


    "I¡­"


    She averted her gaze, cheeks flushed.


    "I don¡¯t even know what ¡®liking¡¯ someone feels like. So¡­ probably not?"


    Jiang Qian then turned to Fang Meng.


    "But recently, everyone¡¯s been saying his girlfriend. He told me you¡¯re not. Fang Meng, don¡¯t like Lin Zhengran, right?"


    Fang Meng immediately waved her hands.


    "Of course I don¡¯t li¡ª"


    She didn¡¯t even finish.


    All the moments she had spent alone with him suddenly flashed through her mind.


    For a second, she couldn¡¯t say the last word.


    Did she not like him?


    Before she could figure out her answer, Jiang Qian¡¯s phone rang¡ªit was the driver.


    At the same time, Lin Zhengran, who had been waiting outside, finally walked back in.


    He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.


    "What the hell are you two going on about now?"

 Chapter 182: Inner Feelings

    Jiang Qian and Fang Meng were startled by Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice, both blushing for different reasons.


    Jiang Qian picked up the phone.


    The driver said, ¡°Second Miss, I¡¯ve delivered the clothes to the entrance. They¡¯re with the security guard.¡±


    Jiang Qian responded, ¡°I¡¯ll go get them now.¡±


    After hanging up, she stood up and looked at Lin Zhengran without answering his question. ¡°I¡¯m going to get the clothes. You guys wait here for me.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± Lin Zhengran nodded.


    Jiang Qian left quickly, almost as if she was escaping.


    She couldn¡¯t quite explain her feelings for Lin Zhengran. She only knew it was curiosity¡ªbut there were different kinds of curiosity.


    As for whether she liked him¡­ at the very least, she was sure she didn¡¯t dislike him.


    After Jiang Qian left, Lin Zhengran turned his attention to Fang Meng, who was still sitting there.


    Fang Meng was hugging herself with one arm, pulling at her torn pants with the other. Her face was red, and her head was slightly lowered.


    She finally spoke.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking nonsense¡­ But what did you mean when you said that to Qian Qian?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Fang Meng hesitated, then continued, ¡°Qian Qian told me just now¡­ She said yesterday you mentioned ¡®going to bed¡¯ to her? Why would you say something like that to her?¡±


    Lin Zhengran walked up to her, crouching down to meet her eyes.


    Fang Meng¡¯s heart raced. ¡°Why are you getting so close?¡±


    Lin Zhengran explained, ¡°I overheard part of your conversation earlier. But I didn¡¯t bring up ¡®going to bed¡¯¡ªbesides, weren¡¯t you the one who mentioned it first?¡±


    ¡°I did? When did I¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, Fang Meng recalled what she had said last week:


    She had told Lin Zhengran that she would agree to any request of his¡­ except for going to bed.


    Seeing the realization dawn on her face, Lin Zhengran simply asked, ¡°Got it now? Back then, Jiang Qian also said she¡¯d agree to a request from me. I assumed she meant under the same conditions as you, so I casually asked, ¡®Anything except going to bed?¡¯ She misunderstood, and I had to explain before she got it.¡±


    Fang Meng murmured, ¡°So that¡¯s what happened¡­ I understand now.¡±


    Lin Zhengran stood up. ¡°Good.¡±


    Fang Meng understood¡ªbut her thoughts were still in turmoil.


    Even if Lin Zhengran had mentioned ¡®going to bed¡¯ because of her, the fact remained: both she and Jiang Qian had agreed to fulfill one of his requests.


    Her own condition had been that it couldn¡¯t involve sleeping together.


    But Jiang Qian¡­ hadn¡¯t set any such condition?


    Did that mean Jiang Qian liked Lin Zhengran so much that she was even open to the idea of being with him in that way?


    After all, ever since her personality changed, Jiang Qian had avoided physical contact with boys.


    Countless guys had pursued her over the years, but she never spared them a glance.


    Yet now, when facing Lin Zhengran, she had said she was willing to "give it a try."


    And most importantly, the things Jiang Qian had muttered to herself just now¡­ they were completely different from how she used to talk about Lin Zhengran in private back in first year.


    Fang Meng lifted her head, watching Lin Zhengran as he scrolled through his phone.


    Then she suddenly realized something¡ª


    What exactly was she thinking?


    At first, she had thought Jiang Qian liking Lin Zhengran was a bit reckless.


    But now¡­ after knowing Lin Zhengran for so long, she was sure of one thing:


    He was a good person.


    He was excellent, kind, honest, and handsome¡ªperfect in every way.


    Jiang Qian dating him shouldn¡¯t be a problem. She should be happy for her. She should even be helping her.


    But¡­


    Fang Meng pursed her lips tightly, staring at Lin Zhengran¡¯s slightly gaunt side profile in confusion.


    Why did she feel so reluctant about Jiang Qian and Lin Zhengran being together?


    Why did she feel like she didn¡¯t want him to be with any girl at all?


    Was she¡­ jealous?


    Could it be that she¡­ had also started liking him?


    Liking the same boy Jiang Qian liked?


    Lin Zhengran, still looking at his phone, sensed her gaze.


    Fang Meng was still staring at him, her eyes unfocused.


    Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡±


    Fang Meng quickly looked away and pressed her legs together. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Two minutes later, Jiang Qian returned to the sports equipment storeroom, carrying two sets of new clothes.


    ¡°Xiao Meng, I got the clothes. I brought two sets¡ªjust in case something tears again.¡±


    She handed the clothes to Fang Meng, who snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. ¡°Thanks, Qian Qian. But I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll tear again. I¡¯ll change now.¡±


    Both girls turned to look at Lin Zhengran, who was still there.


    Lin Zhengran extended a hand. ¡°Give me my jacket back. I¡¯ll wait outside.¡±


    Fang Meng realized she was still wearing his jacket and quickly responded.


    As Lin Zhengran turned around, she blushed and took off the jacket, handing it back to him. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Lin Zhengran waved a hand casually. ¡°No problem.¡±


    He then stepped out of the storeroom.


    Inside, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng exchanged glances. Having made up, they suddenly burst into laughter.


    But just as Fang Meng was about to change into her new clothes¡ª


    Rip!


    She froze.


    At first, she thought she had torn her own clothes again.


    But then Jiang Qian turned around and saw it¡ªher pants had gotten caught on the sharp edge of a metal locker, ripping a hole.


    It wasn¡¯t as bad as Fang Meng¡¯s, but the tear was right on her thigh, exposing her fair skin.


    Jiang Qian looked at the damage, stunned. ¡°Are you serious? This place just eats clothes, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Fang Meng couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. She handed her the spare set. ¡°Good thing you brought two. You should change, too. These old lockers are full of sharp edges. It¡¯s kind of dangerous.¡±


    Jiang Qian took the clothes. ¡°I guess I have no choice.¡±


    Outside the storeroom, Lin Zhengran had just put his jacket back on when he noticed something¡ª


    Class 3, which He Qing belonged to, had finally arrived at the field.


    The PE teacher had just finished explaining the fitness test simulation to them.


    Meanwhile, He Qing, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli were looking for Lin Zhengran.


    Since both their classes had PE together today, they were confused about why he wasn¡¯t there.


    Han Wenwen and the others went to Class 1¡¯s area and asked a few boys.


    Han Wenwen: ¡°Where¡¯s your class monitor? Why isn¡¯t he here?¡±


    A boy sitting on the grass said, ¡°Class monitor? No idea. He went off with Fang Meng earlier for something and never came back.¡±


    He Qing frowned. ¡°With Fang Meng?¡±


    Jiang Xueli scanned Class 1¡¯s students, noticing that Fang Meng was missing as well.


    The three girls started getting nervous.


    Then Han Wenwen noticed something odd. ¡°Wait a second¡­ Where¡¯s Jiang Qian? Why is your vice monitor missing too?¡±


    The same boy shrugged. ¡°No clue. The three of them are probably together. Lately, the vice monitor has been sticking to the class monitor a lot. Fang Meng too.¡±


    He Qing scanned the area. Finally, she spotted a familiar figure near the storeroom.


    She smiled. ¡°Found him! Lin Zhengran¡¯s over there!¡±


    Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli followed her gaze.


    Seeing him, they immediately ran over.


    At that moment, Lin Zhengran was just adjusting his clothes outside the storeroom.


    Seeing them run over, he asked curiously, ¡°Your class took so long to come down? PE class is almost over.¡±


    He Qing answered, ¡°The math teacher borrowed a class period, so we came late. What are you doing here, Lin Zhengran?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°Just handling a little issue. It¡¯s already resolved.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s bright eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°An issue?¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s sharp nose twitched.


    She smelled something.


    Another girl¡¯s scent.


    He Qing was confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Wenwen? What are you sniffing for?¡±


    Han Wenwen turned to Lin Zhengran, recalling what she had just seen. ¡°Lin Zhengran¡­ were you just putting your clothes back on?¡±


    Before he could answer¡ª


    From inside the storeroom, the sound of girls talking could be heard.


    He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen turned toward the door at the same time.


    They exchanged glances.


    Then, in unison, they shouted¡ª


    ¡°There are girls inside?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran answered calmly, ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s Jiang Qian and Fang Meng. They¡¯re changing. They¡¯ll be out soon.¡±


    The three girls froze.


    Then, recalling that Lin Zhengran himself had been outside changing, they all yelled¡ª


    ¡°What?! Changing?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°Not what you¡¯re thinking! What¡¯s going through your heads?¡±

 Chapter 183: Travel and Instant Noodles

    Not long after, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng walked out of the storeroom. The three girls found themselves face-to-face with Jiang Qian and Fang Meng at such close proximity for the first time. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The five girls examined each other.


    A silent clash of sixth senses between girls.


    In the distance, the Class 3 monitor called out, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t wander off! We¡¯re starting the fitness test simulation! Everyone, gather up!¡±


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Your class is about to start testing. I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    The three girls nodded in unison.


    Lin Zhengran turned back to Jiang Qian and Fang Meng. ¡°We¡¯re done with class, right? I¡¯ll go with them.¡±


    Jiang Qian slowly shook her head. ¡°Yeah, the teacher already dismissed us. We¡¯re free to do whatever.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled and walked off with the three girls to watch their fitness test.


    The three girls followed Lin Zhengran as they left.


    Unlike that time outside the piano room in their first year, this time, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng watched Lin Zhengran¡¯s back as he walked away with those three.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s emotions grew even more complicated.


    Even Fang Meng felt a ripple in her heart.


    Jiang Qian stared at the girl with the ponytail and asked, ¡°Is Lin Zhengran¡¯s girlfriend that sweet-looking girl? I think her name is He Qing.¡±


    Fang Meng shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know anymore. That girl with the twin ponytails, Jiang Xueli, seems to have a special relationship with him too. And then there¡¯s Han Wenwen¡­ she and Lin Zhengran don¡¯t seem like just normal friends either.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s fingers tightened slightly, her eyes locked on Lin Zhengran.


    She didn¡¯t say anything.


    During Class 3¡¯s fitness test, the students from Class 1, who were free to do as they pleased, gathered around to watch.


    Lin Zhengran sat on the green grass, with Han Wenwen and He Qing sitting beside him, enjoying the sight of Jiang Xueli performing the standing long jump under the sun.


    He Qing hugged her knees and muttered unhappily, ¡°Lili and I were planning to talk to you alone during PE class, but now we lost a whole period and have to do this test. We don¡¯t have time anymore.¡±


    Han Wenwen wrapped her arm around He Qing¡¯s. ¡°And not only that, but now Jiang Qian is in the mix too. Things just got more complicated.¡±


    Both of them stared at Lin Zhengran.


    Even Jiang Xueli, preparing for her jump, threw a jealous glance his way.


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°It¡¯s not that complicated. It¡¯s just a few things to talk about. If we can¡¯t do it now, we¡¯ll find another time. I¡¯m with you guys all the time anyway. Oh, right, in two months, after the college entrance exam, do you three want to go on a trip?¡±


    Hearing this, Jiang Xueli completely botched her jump.


    He Qing and Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes widened in excitement.


    At the same time, they exclaimed, ¡°A trip?!¡±


    Jiang Xueli hurried over after recording her score. ¡°Wait, did I hear that right, Zhengran? A trip?! You¡¯re talking about a trip?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Ever since our second year, you three have been busy with your own things while studying hard. Even though I helped out, you still had a lot on your plates. We never really had a chance to go out and have fun together. Once we graduate, the pressure will be gone. So, I thought we should take a trip and relax.¡±


    The three of them cheered, ¡°Yes! We want to go! Where?¡±


    Lin Zhengran pulled out his phone and showed them three options. ¡°Grasslands, deep mountains, or the seaside¡ªpick one.¡±


    Han Wenwen raised her hand. ¡°Deep mountains!¡±


    Jiang Xueli, sitting beside Lin Zhengran, said, ¡°I want to go to the seaside!¡±


    He Qing spoke softly, ¡°I want to see the grasslands.¡±


    The three had different opinions.


    Han Wenwen argued, ¡°The mountains are great! There are mushrooms, little animals, and even foxes! Plus, there are hot springs.¡±


    He Qing said, ¡°Grasslands are nice too. There are sheep, cows, and little bunnies.¡±


    Jiang Xueli playfully added, ¡°At the seaside, we can catch turtles and jellyfish! There are sea rabbits, sea sheep, sea cows, and seahorses!¡±


    Han Wenwen frowned in confusion. ¡°Sea sheep? What kind of creature is that? Sounds kind of evil.¡±


    Jiang Xueli huffed, ¡°A sea sheep is a sea sheep! A big sea sheep! Don¡¯t you want to see the vast ocean?¡±


    Han Wenwen was still puzzled.


    He Qing realized what was going on and explained, ¡°Wenwen, Lili¡¯s making a pun. ¡®Haiyang¡¯ (ocean) sounds like ¡®sea sheep¡¯ in Chinese.¡±


    Han Wenwen finally understood. ¡°Oh! I thought it was an actual animal.¡±


    The three girls laughed together.


    After a short discussion, they all turned to Lin Zhengran¡ªultimately, he had the final say.


    Lin Zhengran suggested, ¡°Someone go get me a piece of paper. Let¡¯s draw lots. Whoever picks the marked one decides where we go. And don¡¯t worry¡ªwherever we don¡¯t go this time, I¡¯ll take you there when we¡¯re in college.¡±


    The three were surprised. ¡°We¡¯re going to all three places?¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Yeah, since you all want different places, we¡¯ll just go to all of them, one after the other.¡±


    He Qing beamed. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the paper! Wait here.¡±


    She ran off to get some paper from the class committee, tore it into three pieces, and Lin Zhengran marked one with a horizontal line.


    He crumpled them into balls and mixed them up.


    Each girl grabbed one.


    Han Wenwen opened hers and her fox-like eyes widened. ¡°I got it! We¡¯re going to the mountains!¡±


    Lin Zhengran grinned. ¡°Alright, since Han Wenwen won the draw, after the college entrance exams, we¡¯re heading to the mountains for hot springs!¡±


    That evening, the city¡¯s lights glowed brightly.


    Jiang Qian and Fang Meng got out of the car in front of a two-story villa.


    Seeing the Rolls-Royce parked in the courtyard, they immediately knew who had returned.


    Fang Meng stood behind Jiang Qian. ¡°The Eldest Miss is back?¡±


    A driver polishing the car greeted them politely. ¡°Second Miss, you¡¯re back. And Miss Meng too? I heard you took a leave of absence.¡±


    Fang Meng glanced at Jiang Qian.


    She had told everyone she was on leave? But hadn¡¯t she actually resigned?


    Fang Meng smiled. ¡°I had something to take care of, but now I¡¯m back.¡±


    The two of them entered the villa.


    In the first-floor living room, Jiang Jingshi was lounging on the sofa.


    She was dressed in pajamas and slippers, her long hair draped over her shoulders¡ªclearly fresh out of the shower.


    She was calmly eating a bowl of instant noodles.


    Seeing Fang Meng return, Jiang Jingshi smiled and said gently, ¡°Xiao Meng, you¡¯re back? Looks like you two made up. That was fast.¡±


    Fang Meng smiled and nodded. ¡°Good evening, Eldest Miss.¡±


    Jiang Qian walked past her sister. ¡°You don¡¯t seem as busy these days. You¡¯re home a lot more.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi twirled her noodles with a fork. ¡°The college entrance exams are coming up. There¡¯s not much for me to do. I have to wait until you¡¯re done before I can move forward with anything.¡±


    Jiang Qian headed upstairs, glancing at her sister. ¡°What does our college entrance exam have to do with you?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled, eating another bite of noodles. ¡°It has a lot to do with me.¡±


    If you don¡¯t finish your exams, he won¡¯t have time to come to the company.


    Near her room, Jiang Qian suddenly remembered something her sister had said during her fight with Fang Meng. ¡°By the way, who have you been spending time with lately?¡±


    No response.


    She looked back downstairs¡ªJiang Jingshi had already taken her noodles and gone to her room.


    As if she had just been waiting to see if Jiang Qian and Fang Meng had made up.


    Fang Meng commented, ¡°The Eldest Miss just went back to her room.¡±


    Jiang Qian frowned, then asked, ¡°Xiao Meng, do you think my sister has changed over the past year?¡±


    Fang Meng was puzzled. ¡°Changed?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t noticed how much more often she eats instant noodles?¡±


    Fang Meng hadn¡¯t expected that. But she nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. She used to have them once a month, but now she eats them two or three times a week. But it¡¯s not a big deal, right? Instant noodles are one of her guilty pleasures.¡±


    Jiang Qian entered her room. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nothing¡­ But now I kind of want some too. You in?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go make two bowls.¡±

 Chapter 184: The End of the College Entrance Exam

    Fang Meng took two cups of instant noodles from the kitchen cabinet where they were stored, peeled off the lids, and poured in hot water.


    Placing them on a tray, she carried them to Jiang Qian¡¯s bedroom.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s room was large but cluttered. Around the massive black bed, stacks of books, half as tall as a person, formed walls, leaving only a single path to walk through.


    Despite the chaotic arrangement, even the maids who came to clean daily didn¡¯t dare touch them. Some books had fallen to the floor, but no one picked them up¡ªbecause if they disrupted the order, Jiang Qian would have to spend a long time reorganizing them.


    Fang Meng moved the table over and curiously asked, ¡°Did your room get even more books recently?¡±


    While waiting for the noodles to soak, Jiang Qian had already changed out of her school uniform into a comfortable black pajama set. Her cool eyes swept over the books around her. ¡°You weren¡¯t here, and no one else dared touch them. Later, help me take out the ones I¡¯ve finished reading.¡±


    She quickly pointed to about forty books.


    Fang Meng nodded. ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll take them out after we eat.¡±


    Jiang Qian remained expressionless. ¡°It¡¯s easier when you¡¯re here. Other people never remember what I say. By the way, Xiao Meng, tell me in detail¡ªwhat exactly is going on between you and Lin Zhengran?¡±


    She patted the bed beside her, signaling for Fang Meng to sit down and talk.


    Fang Meng sat on the edge of the bed and began recounting how she had met Lin Zhengran over the past year, how she had observed him, and what she had learned.


    Jiang Qian sighed, ¡°So that¡¯s how it was¡­ And after I gave you time off, you kept going to see him?¡±


    Fang Meng nodded. ¡°Want to hear my full assessment of him after all this time?¡±


    She spoke in detail:


    ¡°I noticed that Lin Zhengran doesn¡¯t have a strict schedule. He does whatever he feels like. He reads when he has time, but unlike you, he doesn¡¯t get lost in deep thought¡ªhe¡¯s just a pure genius.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes stayed locked on Fang Meng, completely focused.


    Fang Meng continued, ¡°Also, he has a great physique. I¡¯ve never seen him work out, but his muscles are well-defined and naturally shaped¡­¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s small hand clenched slightly, her cheeks turning a faint red. ¡°Mm, go on¡­¡±


    Fang Meng went on, ¡°His approach to studying isn¡¯t much different from yours, but in daily life¡­¡±


    Jiang Qian interrupted, ¡°Tell me more about his daily habits¡ªhis favorite foods, favorite colors, what time he eats, what kind of tissues he uses in the bathroom, that kind of stuff.¡±


    Fang Meng was momentarily stunned.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s curiosity about Lin Zhengran was different now.


    Before, she had only cared about how he studied.


    But now¡­ she wanted to know everything.


    Fang Meng took out her notebook. ¡°He likes a brand of tissues from the supermarket called ¡®Shufen.¡¯ They¡¯re soft and gentle on the skin¡­¡±


    The last two months leading up to the college entrance exam flew by in a blur.


    For most seniors, the days felt like they were chasing each other, leaving little room for rest. Everyone had their own things to focus on.


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t just tutoring one of the girls per week anymore. Instead, every weekend, he gathered all three together.


    They studied at his home, sitting around a table in his bedroom.


    Lin Zhengran played the role of an old professor, either patrolling around them or sitting across from them, watching them answer questions.


    Whenever they had doubts, they¡¯d raise their hands.


    As the one with the worst academic talent, Han Wenwen was the most frequent hand-raiser. ¡°Teacher! I don¡¯t know how to do this question!¡±


    Lin Zhengran would walk over and explain, pointing at the steps.


    The little fox¡¯s drowsy brain would suddenly clear up. ¡°Oh! I get it now! Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re amazing.¡±


    ¡°Call me teacher.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned. ¡°Teacher.¡± Then she went back to doing problems.


    Jiang Xueli had the second-highest hand-raising rate. ¡°Zhengran-laoshi!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    More explanations. More pointers.


    Among them, He Qing was actually the smartest.


    However, she always got nervous during important exams.


    It was the reason Lin Zhengran thought she¡¯d end up in the same class as Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli in the first place.


    So during their study sessions, he didn¡¯t need to help her much academically. Instead, he reassured her whenever she seemed anxious.


    He would gently pat her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just take your time and answer the questions. You know this stuff. If you stay calm, you¡¯ll perform beyond your usual level.¡±


    He Qing, seeing him be so gentle, shyly nodded, her voice soft, ¡°Okay¡­ I understand, Lin Zhengran-laoshi.¡±


    Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen, seeing this, grew a little jealous mid-problem-solving.


    But Lin Zhengran was fair to all three of them.


    He focused on helping each girl with their specific weaknesses.


    He hoped they would all achieve the results they wanted.


    At that moment, the door opened.


    His mother, Lin Xiaoli, walked in, carrying a fruit platter. ¡°Teacher Zhengran, here¡¯s some fruit!¡±


    His kind but airheaded mother loved getting involved in the atmosphere.


    Lin Zhengran took the platter from her. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡±


    Lin Yingjun popped his head in too. ¡°Good luck, you four!¡±


    The three girls responded in unison.


    Two months later, the college entrance exam arrived.


    The day was tense.


    Parents gathered in droves at the school gate.


    A banner hung over the road outside, stating: Road Closed for the College Entrance Exam


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s parents came.


    Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli came.


    Even He Qing¡¯s mother showed up, all standing in the crowded entrance.


    As students walked in, parents whispered last-minute encouragements.


    Though they were mostly the usual lines¡ª¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, just do your best.¡±¡ªthey still carried some weight.


    Only Han Wenwen had no one to see her off.


    Her uncle sent her a text instead:


    "Haohua is sick today, so I can¡¯t come. Good luck, Wenwen!"


    Haohua was her uncle¡¯s son.


    Han Wenwen replied to his message, then looked up to see Lin Zhengran approaching.


    Their eyes met, and they stepped into a quiet corner.


    The little fox tightly hugged Lin Zhengran, feeling a mix of nervousness and grievance.


    She had gotten used to this over the years.


    If no one comforted her, she would¡¯ve been fine.


    But with Lin Zhengran here, her subconscious sadness bubbled up.


    Lin Zhengran said, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. Do your best. I¡¯m here with you.¡±


    Han Wenwen bit his neck lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely do my best¡­ so we can go to the same university.¡±


    She stared into Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes, her fox-like gaze filled with charm, admiration, and affection.


    Then, she bit his neck again.


    The most nerve-wracking part of exams wasn¡¯t actually checking the results.


    It was the moments before the test began.


    Once the exam started, that tension naturally faded.


    Sitting in the exam room, Lin Zhengran looked down at the paper.


    The questions that might have made others sweat bullets¡ª


    To him, they practically had the answers written underneath.


    He filled them in effortlessly.


    And just like that, before he even realized it¡ª


    The college entrance exam was over.

 Chapter 185: Rising Five Levels in a Row

    For the past year, you often encountered the Crown Princess¡¯s personal assassin trailing behind you during your travels, silently observing your every move. Sometimes, she even served you tea and water. At first, you thought she had sinister intentions, maybe even plotting to assassinate you.


    But over time, you realized that wasn¡¯t the case. She bore no hostility toward you, and gradually, you and this assassin girl developed a deeper bond.


    A month ago, you noticed that the Crown Princess and the assassin had stopped speaking to each other, as if some internal conflict had arisen. The assassin, feeling depressed, sought your help. You agreed, but on the condition that she promise to do something for you in the future.


    She accepted and confided in you about an old grievance between her and the Crown Princess, dating back to a large-scale war before the Human Empress ascended the throne decades ago.


    Back then, the Crown Princess had generously aided many friends and formed strong connections with those she deemed trustworthy. The assassin¡¯s organization, led by Fang Meng, was among them. However, when the palace faced an invasion and was nearly destroyed, none of those so-called friends came to her aid¡ªexcept Fang Meng. This betrayal became a lasting scar on the Crown Princess¡¯s heart, marking her transformation from a kind soul into a cold and ruthless ruler. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After hearing Fang Meng¡¯s side of the story, you gave her some advice. The next day, the Crown Princess herself sought you out and shared her own perspective on the matter. In return for your assistance, she offered to grant you a favor¡ªunlike the assassin, her offer had almost no limits. She even went as far as proposing to become your cultivation partner and, one day, share a wedding chamber with you.


    With your mediation, the Crown Princess and the assassin reconciled, and both of them grew even closer to you.


    Later, the three of you, along with Jiang Xueli, He Xianzi, and a demon sect witch, prepared to face the incoming invasion of the Yao Tribe, a powerful force that had declared war over a decade ago. This attack was monumental, shaking the heavens and the earth.


    As you witnessed the citizens of the imperial city rise up in defiance, you and your companions led the imperial army into battle outside the city walls.


    The enemy¡¯s strength was terrifying. Their army numbered in the millions, and the Yao Tribe¡¯s leader possessed power surpassing even that of the Crown Princess.


    But you were no stranger to the ways of the world. Alone, you carried the strength of a million warriors. To protect the people, you fought alongside He Xianzi, Jiang Xueli, and the demon sect witch, cutting a bloody path through the enemy ranks. The Crown Princess and Fang Meng also clashed fiercely with the monstrous horde.


    After days of battle, covered in blood, you stood atop a mountain of corpses before the awestruck citizens. As the central figure of this war, you wielded your sword with godlike might, opening the gates of the heavens. Your sheer presence alone was as if an army of millions had descended upon the battlefield. The Yao Tribe¡¯s forces were utterly overwhelmed, unable to fight back, retreating in fear.


    In a final, decisive move, you unleashed a sword strike that pierced the enemy leader¡¯s skull from a hundred paces away. The entire city trembled in shock.


    Victorious, you returned home in triumph.


    After this war, your name was destined to spread across the entire Lingqi Continent, forever etched into the annals of history.


    Reconciled the Crown Princess and the assassin ¡ú Gained vast resources, +1 Level, +3 Stamina, +3 Energy.


    Slaughtered a million Yao Tribe monsters, stopped their invasion ¡ú +4 Spirit Level, +1 Spirit Attribute, +5 Stamina, +5 Energy.


    Spirit Level: 66 (Core Formation Stage)


    Spirit Control: Level 2 (Can manipulate objects with spirit power, walk on water)


    Stamina: 97 (Unlocked ability: Lifespan surpasses limits, physical strength doubled, cultivation efficiency increased)


    Energy: 98 (Unlocked ability: Strong descendants, endurance for seven rounds in a night)


    Affinity with All Things: Level 2 (Absolute talent in all fields;disciples under your guidance improve rapidly, contract partners receive triple benefits)


    When Lin Zhengran arrived at school the next day, the system¡¯s incessant chatter filled his ears for nearly half the morning.


    His stats had skyrocketed.


    Who would have thought that taking the college entrance exam would boost his level this much?


    More importantly, now that his Spirit Control had reached Level 2, Lin Zhengran was curious about the system¡¯s claim that he could now walk on water.


    Since he had nothing urgent to do that morning, he requested a short leave from his teacher.


    He went to the small pond behind the school¡ªa secluded place with no surveillance cameras.


    Testing it out, he placed one foot on the water¡¯s surface¡­ and it worked. As long as he concentrated, he could stand on the water as if walking on solid ground.


    He marveled, ¡°This really feels more and more like true cultivation¡­ but does it only work on water?¡±


    Turning toward the wall behind him, he hesitated before stepping onto it.


    To his amazement, his foot stuck to the surface.


    His body tilted horizontally as he walked up the wall toward the rooftop.


    In the grass nearby, a stray cat was dozing off.


    Upon waking, it saw a human walking sideways up a wall and was utterly shocked.


    Its eyes widened in disbelief.


    Rubbing its face with its paws, it confirmed that it wasn¡¯t hallucinating.


    Its jaw dropped even further.


    What the hell?! A terrifying upright ape!


    Just then, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone vibrated, startling him.


    Because of his tilted position on the wall, his phone slipped from his pocket.


    He quickly caught it and saw that the caller was Jiang Qian.


    Answering the call, he heard her usual cool and composed voice turn noticeably softer when speaking to him. Though still somewhat cold, it was much gentler compared to how she spoke with others.


    ¡°Where are you, Class President? You¡¯ve been gone for so long. The teacher just said we have a meeting soon.¡±


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Yeah, I told the teacher I¡¯d be out for a bit.¡±


    Jiang Qian hesitated before asking, ¡°Are you feeling unwell? Last time, you got sick¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran jumped off the wall. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m perfectly fine. I¡¯ll head back now.¡±


    Jiang Qian sighed in relief. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you in the classroom.¡±


    When Lin Zhengran returned, the classroom was filled with post-exam chatter.


    Some students were anxious, others relieved, and some were just babbling nonsense.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s gaze brightened slightly when she saw him.


    As he sat down, she asked, ¡°How did you do yesterday?¡±


    Lin Zhengran grinned. ¡°Same as the usual mock exams.¡±


    Jiang Qian seemed reflective. ¡°You really don¡¯t get nervous at all. I think I did well this time too. Let¡¯s see if I can surpass you when the results come out.¡±


    It was the first time Lin Zhengran had heard her openly declare that she wanted to beat him.


    Soon, the homeroom teacher entered with a big smile, clapping his hands.


    ¡°Alright, class, settle down! The intense college entrance exam is finally over! No need to stress about results now¡ªjust focus on the future.¡±


    ¡°The reason we¡¯re meeting today is to discuss the graduation ceremony. This marks the end of your three years of high school, and each class is required to prepare a few performances. I encourage everyone to participate.¡±


    He smiled warmly. ¡°Class President and Vice President, you two will compile the performance list. Now, I just want to say¡ªI hope each of you finds success in whatever path you choose after graduation. No matter the results, I wish you all a bright future.¡±


    As the class erupted into cheers and laughter, the teacher chuckled, ¡°Alright, discuss your performances¡ªbut keep your voices down!¡±

 Chapter 186: Class Gathering

    After the homeroom teacher left, the classroom buzzed with two main topics¡ªsome students discussed performances, while others simply chatted. The noise seemed to have quieted down, yet at the same time, it felt even more chaotic.


    As Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian took down the names of students signing up for performances, a few girls suddenly asked curiously,


    "Class President, we heard that other classes are organizing class gatherings. Should we have one tonight too? We can even invite the teacher!"


    A boy chimed in, "Yeah! Now that high school is over, everyone else is gathering. Do we still have any class funds left? If we do, we can use it for dinner, and if it¡¯s not enough, we can all split the cost."


    Seeing that the class was enthusiastic about the idea, Lin Zhengran smiled and nodded.


    "A class gathering sounds good. Let me ask everyone first. We do still have some class funds left. I was originally planning to distribute them, but if everyone prefers, we can use them for dinner instead."


    Cheers erupted from both the boys and girls.


    Lin Zhengran stood on the podium and asked, "Who wants to join the gathering tonight? Raise your hand, and I¡¯ll count."


    As soon as the words left his mouth, every single person raised their hand.


    Since the graduation ceremony was still upcoming, no one could leave just yet. A gathering was a great idea¡ªafter all, once the ceremony was over, some classmates might never see each other again for the rest of their lives.


    Lin Zhengran grinned. "Alright, since everyone¡¯s in, let¡¯s meet this afternoon. The class funds will cover part of it, and if there¡¯s any shortfall, I¡¯ll pay¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Jiang Qian walked up to the podium and interjected, "I¡¯ll cover the rest. I¡¯ll treat everyone to dinner."


    Then, in a low voice only the two of them could hear, she added, "You don¡¯t need to pay either¡ªconsider it my treat for you too."


    The whole class cheered in unison, "Thank you, Class President and Vice President! Wishing you both prosperity as vast as the East Sea and longevity as great as the Southern Mountains!"


    Fang Meng, sitting below, smiled to herself.


    She quietly watched the two of them.


    Once the gathering was settled, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian went to inform the teacher.


    Hearing about the dinner, the homeroom teacher was delighted. "That sounds great! Let me finish my work for today, and I¡¯ll join you all for dinner tonight!"


    The restaurant they picked was a large barbecue place with two floors.


    Coincidentally, Class 3-3, which included He Qing and her friends, had also chosen this restaurant for their gathering. However, their group was seated on the first floor, while Lin Zhengran¡¯s class took the second-floor private room.


    Lin Zhengran found out about this earlier in the afternoon when he called his three usual friends. Since both classes were planning gatherings, they figured they might as well meet at the same location.


    Inside the spacious second-floor private room, students chatted and laughed while eating. Some students clinked glasses with the homeroom teacher, imitating adults with their toasts, talking about how they would miss everyone and hoped they could still meet up in the future.


    Some girls even got emotional, crying uncontrollably, wiping away tears and snot as they talked about their memories.


    The homeroom teacher, smiling gently, reminded everyone, "Drink in moderation tonight, and if you''re a girl, try not to drink at all if you can."


    At their table, Lin Zhengran sat with Jiang Qian and Fang Meng.


    He drank beer, while the two girls originally had fruit juice.


    However, when they saw that he had opened a bottle of beer, they both silently switched to alcohol as well.


    Amidst the lively atmosphere, Lin Zhengran said, "I know you have money, but every time we collected class fees, you always contributed the most. As Class President, I can¡¯t let you pay for everything. The teacher also just pulled me aside and insisted on covering part of the cost, so how about we just split it among the three of us? No more arguing."


    Jiang Qian glanced at the teacher in the distance. Since Lin Zhengran had already said so, she could only agree.


    Then, in her usual cool tone, she asked, "Are you signing up for a performance at the graduation ceremony? You and I are doing the student representative speeches, so technically, we¡¯re supposed to perform too. But I noticed you haven¡¯t signed up yet."


    Lin Zhengran shrugged. "I haven¡¯t decided what to do yet. I¡¯ll just pick something random."


    Jiang Qian cut him off, "Let¡¯s do a piano duet. I¡¯ll be your accompaniment this time."


    He had no particular preference, so he agreed casually. "Alright. That actually fits nicely with how we started high school."


    Jiang Qian smiled.


    Fang Meng, sitting beside them, took a sip of her drink, feeling an unfamiliar twinge of discomfort in her chest.


    Ever since their reconciliation a month ago, both Fang Meng and Jiang Qian had started seeing Lin Zhengran differently.


    Fang Meng couldn¡¯t deny that she had begun to care about him.


    Though the past two months had been consumed by studying for the college entrance exam, leaving little time for conversation, Fang Meng found that her gaze would often drift toward Lin Zhengran whenever she looked up from her desk.


    She didn¡¯t know when exactly her feelings had changed¡ªmaybe when they sang together at the karaoke night, or maybe even earlier.


    But one thing was clear¡ªshe was paying attention to him now.


    Similarly, Jiang Qian had also started seeing Lin Zhengran differently.


    After their reconciliation, Fang Meng had spent an evening carefully explaining his habits, his outlook on life, and his values.


    That was when Jiang Qian finally understood the source of her curiosity about him.


    She had already suspected it before, but now she was sure¡ªLin Zhengran was like a stronger version of herself.


    If she had never gone through that painful experience in middle school, if she had grown up without being shaped by it, she might have turned out just like him¡ªstrong, confident, and unshaken by doubt.


    She had always admired his self-assurance, his refusal to sacrifice his personal life just for ambition, and his ability to balance strength and ease.


    Deep down, Jiang Qian envied that.


    Because, in reality, she hadn¡¯t been happy for a long time.


    She longed to be free from her own obsessive nature¡ªto be herself again, just like when she was a child.


    Jiang Qian suddenly asked, "Have you finalized your university choice? Are you sure you won¡¯t change your mind again?"


    Lin Zhengran nodded, remembering their previous argument. "You and Fang Meng are still planning to go to Stanford, right? It¡¯s a great school, especially for finance. Huge potential."


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t reply.


    Instead, she took a sip of her drink, eyes fixed on her glass, lost in thought.


    She had once wanted to attend Stanford because it was the best finance school in the world.


    But now, she wasn¡¯t so sure if going there was the right choice anymore.


    Suddenly, the private room door opened.


    A small fox-like face peeked in.


    "Is the Class President here?"


    Lin Zhengran turned and saw that it was Han Wenwen. Smiling, he got up and walked over.


    As he reached the door, he noticed that the other two troublemakers were also waiting outside.


    He chuckled, "You three came upstairs? Your dinner¡¯s over already?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The three girls shook their heads.


    He Qing, always the well-behaved one, said sweetly, "No, everyone downstairs is drinking, but we don¡¯t drink, so we came up to see what you were up to."


    Jiang Xueli asked curiously, "Zhengran, have you been drinking?"


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Just a little."


    Jiang Qian and Fang Meng watched as Lin Zhengran laughed and chatted with the three girls at the door.


    Their emotions were complicated.


    The next day, Lin Zhengran had just finished compiling all the performance sign-ups and was about to submit them to the teacher.


    Just then, a male classmate suddenly approached him nervously.


    "Class President! I¡ª I need your help with something!"


    "...I like you!"


    Lin Zhengran: "Huh?"

 Chapter 187: Second Miss’s Heartbeat

    The boy¡¯s name was Jiang Chengxin, an average student in the class.


    He wasn¡¯t particularly outstanding in looks, but he had a decent, clean-cut appearance. His biggest trait was his extreme shyness.


    Lin Zhengran had always remembered his name because it reminded him of a character from an old TV show he had watched. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Jiang Chengxin¡¯s serious expression, Lin Zhengran blinked in surprise.


    "You said what?"


    Jiang Chengxin froze for a second, then realized what he had just blurted out. He quickly waved his hands in a panic.


    "N-No! I misspoke! I don¡¯t mean that I like you, Class President! I mean, I like a girl in our class and wanted to ask for your advice!"


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "You¡¯re asking for my opinion? Who do you like?"


    Jiang Chengxin glanced around to make sure the hallway was empty, then whispered cautiously, "It¡¯s Fan Momo. I¡¯ve liked her for a long time."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the sign-up sheet in his hand. "Let me turn in the performance list to the teacher first, then I¡¯ll come back to talk."


    "Alright."


    After submitting the performance list, Lin Zhengran met Jiang Chengxin at the rooftop entrance.


    What they didn¡¯t notice was that Jiang Qian had also come upstairs and was now standing at the stairwell, turning her head to look at them.


    The rooftop door was locked, so they could only sit on the steps at the entrance. Since few people ever came here, it was a quiet, secluded spot.


    Jiang Chengxin sat on the steps and started talking.


    "I met Fan Momo in middle school¡ªeighth grade. She had just broken up with her boyfriend back then and was crying a lot at school. I went over to comfort her, and that¡¯s when I started liking her."


    "For years, we¡¯ve been friends. I¡¯d buy her snacks sometimes, and occasionally, she¡¯d give me something too¡ªbut that didn¡¯t happen often."


    Lin Zhengran, standing beside him, asked curiously, "How often is ¡®not often¡¯?"


    Jiang Chengxin scratched his head. "Maybe two or three times. After we started high school, she got really into eating these super expensive bananas¡ªshe said it was for ¡®practicing her technique.¡¯"


    He chuckled awkwardly. "She jokes around a lot. Sometimes, when she doesn¡¯t finish them, she gives me two."


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­Go on."


    Jiang Chengxin hesitated. "Well, now that we¡¯re graduating, I asked her which university she¡¯s applying to, and¡­ turns out, we¡¯re both going to the same school. So, I¡¯ve been thinking¡ªdo you think that means she likes me too? I want to confess before we graduate."


    Jiang Chengxin looked up at Lin Zhengran expectantly.


    "I know you have a lot of girls around you," he quickly explained. "I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re a player or anything, but let¡¯s be honest, all the girls around you are insanely pretty. So, I wanted to ask for your advice."


    Just as he finished speaking, a faint rustling sound came from below.


    Jiang Chengxin was so startled that he jumped to his feet and grabbed the railing.


    "Who¡¯s down there?!"


    Both of them looked down at the staircase landing below¡ªand spotted Jiang Qian standing there.


    Jiang Chengxin¡¯s jaw dropped.


    "Vice President?!"


    Lin Zhengran also raised an eyebrow.


    "Jiang Qian?"


    Her cool, composed gaze remained unchanged, but deep inside, she felt a little awkward.


    "I was just passing by," she said calmly. "But I heard everything."


    Originally, Jiang Qian had no intention of eavesdropping.


    She had just been on her way back to the classroom when she noticed Lin Zhengran and a boy sneaking off into a quiet corner.


    At first, she wasn¡¯t going to follow them, but then she thought¡ª If things got physical, she could at least help Lin Zhengran.


    So, she decided to check it out.


    And then¡­ she heard everything.


    Jiang Chengxin turned red with embarrassment.


    "Vice President, you¡­ you heard all that?"


    Jiang Qian walked up the steps. "I heard everything."


    Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes.


    "This place is on the way to somewhere?"


    Jiang Qian¡¯s cool demeanor faltered for a split second.


    But she kept her tone ice-cold. "Just out for a walk. I really didn¡¯t mean to overhear. Apologies."


    Jiang Chengxin waved his hands. "It¡¯s fine."


    Jiang Qian turned to him.


    "Can I give you my opinion?"


    Jiang Chengxin hesitated before nodding. "Of course. You¡¯re a girl¡ªgirls probably understand other girls better."


    She stood next to Lin Zhengran.


    "I strongly advise against confessing to Fan Momo," she said.


    "You two have completely different personalities. She¡¯s outgoing and gets along with everyone, while you¡¯re quiet and reserved. Even though you¡¯ve been friends for years, I highly doubt she has feelings for you."


    Jiang Chengxin lowered his head, clenching his hands together.


    "So¡­ it¡¯s as I thought, huh¡­"


    Jiang Qian turned to Lin Zhengran. "You agree with me, right?"


    To her surprise, Lin Zhengran shook his head.


    "No, I don¡¯t agree. I actually think Jiang Chengxin should confess. Even if the chances are low, a chance is still a chance."


    Both Jiang Qian and Jiang Chengxin looked at him in shock.


    Jiang Chengxin¡¯s eyes lit up with hope.


    "You really think I should go for it, Class President?!"


    Lin Zhengran nodded seriously. "Of course. Graduation is the best time to confess. If you don¡¯t do it now, when will you?"


    Jiang Chengxin got excited and started gesturing with his hands.


    "I was thinking about setting up candles, balloons, maybe a park or something¡ª"


    Lin Zhengran cut him off.


    "No need for all that. Just buy a small bouquet of flowers. A confession is about sincerity, not spectacle. Find a quiet place with just the two of you and speak your heart."


    Jiang Chengxin hesitated. "That simple? Wouldn¡¯t a more elaborate setup increase my chances?"


    Lin Zhengran held up two fingers.


    "Then buy two bouquets. Double your chances."


    "¡­Huh?"


    "That¡¯s settled then. When¡¯s the confession?"


    "I was thinking after the graduation ceremony. I¡¯m performing at the graduation party, and the song I¡¯m singing is for her."


    "Sounds good."


    Lin Zhengran patted him on the shoulder.


    "Then good luck! Give it your best shot!"


    Jiang Chengxin nodded enthusiastically. "Got it! No problem!"


    He glanced at Jiang Qian.


    She sighed and reluctantly added, "Well¡­ I guess it might work. Give it your best."


    Jiang Chengxin beamed.


    "Thank you, Class President and Vice President! I hope your love lasts forever and brings you happiness!"


    Jiang Qian froze.


    Her face instantly flushed red.


    She lowered her gaze and stared at the stairs, her mind blank for a second.


    Jiang Chengxin walked off but suddenly stopped, as if realizing something.


    "Wait¡­ didn¡¯t the teacher say a while ago that you two are dating?"


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t respond.


    Jiang Chengxin grinned and waved as he left.


    Jiang Qian secretly glanced at Lin Zhengran, trying to gauge his reaction.


    To her surprise, he looked completely unfazed.


    Lin Zhengran had dealt with rumors his whole life. He wasn¡¯t the type to care about such things.


    Jiang Qian, however, was having a hard time calming down.


    Her tone softened considerably.


    "Why did you tell him to confess? I still think his chances of success are practically zero."


    Lin Zhengran laughed.


    "You could¡¯ve just said zero percent instead of trying to sound all mathematical."


    "Then why?"


    Lin Zhengran shrugged.


    "Why not? He¡¯s been thinking about this for months, maybe even years. He¡¯s going to confess eventually, whether we support him or not. Might as well do it now and get an answer."


    Jiang Qian stared at him in silence.


    As he walked away, she placed a hand over her chest, feeling her racing heartbeat.


    Her long eyelashes trembled as her eyes glimmered.


    She muttered to herself,


    "Why is my heart beating so fast¡­? What¡¯s wrong with me¡­?"

 Chapter 188: Dopamine

    In the classroom, Fang Meng sat at her desk, reviewing the finalized program schedule for the upcoming graduation ceremony.


    She noticed Lin Zhengran returning to the room, followed shortly by Jiang Qian.


    Just as she was about to greet Jiang Qian and discuss the performances, she suddenly noticed something unusual¡ªJiang Qian¡¯s cheeks had a faint blush.


    Although her expression remained as cold as ever, Fang Meng knew her well enough to detect even the smallest changes.


    Jiang Qian sat down beside Lin Zhengran, stole a quick glance at him, then hurriedly opened a random book, pretending to read.


    It was obvious she was trying to hide something.


    Fang Meng blinked twice.


    Two Days Before the Graduation Ceremony


    On their way home, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng happened to see a female student struggling to lift a large suitcase up a flight of stairs.


    In the past, Jiang Qian would have ignored such situations.


    After all, carrying luggage was a matter of strength¡ªsooner or later, the girl would manage on her own.


    There was no reason for Jiang Qian to waste her time helping.


    But today¡­


    Fang Meng saw Jiang Qian stop and look at the girl.


    After hesitating for a moment, she did something shocking¡ªshe walked over and asked,


    The girl, unfamiliar with Jiang Qian, was stunned by her presence and beauty.


    Blushing slightly, she stammered, "T-Thank you! But my suitcase is really heavy¡­"


    "I¡¯ll give it a try."


    Since Jiang Qian exercised regularly, what was heavy for most girls was nothing to her.


    With ease, she lifted the suitcase up the stairs.


    The girl was extremely grateful.


    She handed Jiang Qian a lollipop.


    Jiang Qian accepted it, and the girl waved goodbye before leaving.


    Standing a few steps away, Fang Meng was frozen in shock.


    Once she snapped out of it, she hurried over.


    Jiang Qian turned to her, expression neutral. "What about it?"


    Fang Meng stared at her, blinking in disbelief.


    She couldn¡¯t quite describe the expression on Jiang Qian¡¯s face¡ªit was something between relief and nostalgia.


    Jiang Qian looked down at the lollipop in her hand, then at the girl walking away with her luggage. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For some reason, she smiled.


    It had been so easy to do something she had always wanted to do.


    In that moment, Jiang Qian suddenly questioned herself¡ª


    It felt as if she had spent years bottling up resentment, forcing herself to see everyone around her as ungrateful and selfish¡ªas if she were punishing the world for what happened in her childhood.


    But looking back now, she realized her childhood self had simply been too naive.


    She had placed too much faith in others, expecting everyone to be inherently good.


    She had never been punishing others¡ªshe had been punishing her own past self for being too kind.


    Jiang Qian exhaled softly.


    She glanced at Fang Meng, then turned toward the school gates.


    Fang Meng watched her walk ahead, her figure still graceful and composed¡ªbut for the first time in years, she caught a glimpse of the Jiang Qian from their childhood.


    She had changed.


    But the kind Jiang Qian was coming back.


    Fang Meng didn¡¯t know exactly what had caused this change, but she had a pretty good idea.


    After all, there was only one person who could get through to Jiang Qian¡¯s heart.


    She smiled and ran after Jiang Qian.


    That Night


    Jiang Qian, dressed in silky pajamas, lay in bed and had a dream.


    In her dream, she saw her younger self.


    Little Jiang Qian sat alone, curled up in a corner, crying after being betrayed by her friends.


    But then¡ª


    A six-winged angel descended from the sky.


    The angel looked exactly like Lin Zhengran.


    He gently stroked Little Jiang Qian¡¯s hair, comforting her, guiding her toward the right path.


    After saving her, he turned his gaze toward the older Jiang Qian, standing within the dream.


    He walked over and took her hand.


    he asked.


    Jiang Qian looked at him with admiration, her voice soft and dreamy.


    The angel smiled¡ªand slowly nodded.


    In the dream, Jiang Qian blushed, lowered her head, and was then pulled into a warm embrace.


    She buried herself happily in his chest.


    And then¡ª


    She woke up.


    Sitting dazed on her bed, Jiang Qian felt her face burning hot.


    Dressed in pajamas, she stared blankly ahead, her heart racing uncontrollably.


    One hand covered her mouth, the other clutched her chest.


    The strange fluttering sensation she had felt earlier that day came rushing back¡ªbut this time, it was even more intense and undeniable.


    Her heart thumped violently against her ribs.


    The Next Morning


    The sun shone brightly¡ªonly one more day until the graduation ceremony.


    But when Fang Meng went upstairs to wake Jiang Qian, she found her lying in bed, sick.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s face was flushed red, beads of cold sweat on her forehead.


    She clutched her chest, breathing heavily.


    Fang Meng panicked.


    Jiang Qian shook her head weakly, her voice faint and breathy.


    Fang Meng grabbed her phone.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s private doctor arrived quickly.


    After a full examination, he looked completely confused.


    Fang Meng anxiously asked, "Doctor, what¡¯s wrong with her?!"


    Jiang Qian, still flushed and sweating, frowned. "Am I okay? My heart feels so weird¡­"


    The doctor studied her reaction carefully, deep in thought.


    Jiang Qian, face burning, shook her head. "Never. This is the first time."


    Fang Meng tensed. "Is it something serious?"


    the doctor replied.


    At the private hospital, Jiang Qian underwent a full-body scan with advanced equipment.


    Even Jiang Jingshi rushed over upon hearing her sister was sick.


    She stood beside Fang Meng, watching the doctor nervously.


    After analyzing the data, the doctor¡¯s expression grew more puzzled.


    Jiang Jingshi asked, "Well?"


    The doctor looked at the charts, then at Jiang Qian.

 Chapter 189: Lovesickness

    Jiang Jingshi was confused. ¡°High dopamine levels?¡±


    The doctor explained seriously, ¡°If dopamine levels are imbalanced, it can lead to neurological dysfunction. But to be sure, we need to run some tests.¡±


    He brought over some medical equipment and instructed the nurse to attach the sensors to Jiang Qian¡¯s body while she lay on the bed for monitoring. Sitting beside her, the doctor looked over a record sheet and asked,


    ¡°Recently, the person who spends the most time with Second Miss is Miss Xiaomeng, correct?¡±


    Fang Meng nodded. ¡°Yes, I basically know everything about Qianqian.¡±


    The doctor pondered for a moment. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask Second Miss some questions. If anything is incorrect, you can supplement the information. Just make sure to be honest.¡±


    Both women nodded.


    The doctor asked, ¡°Second Miss, have you ever experienced similar heart discomfort before? Is today the first time? Has your heart always been stable?¡±


    Lying on the bed, Jiang Qian shook her head. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s happened a few times before, but never as intense as today. It usually disappears quickly.¡±


    Observing the monitor, the doctor asked, ¡°Oh? Can you recall when those instances occurred? Take your time and describe them in detail.¡±


    Jiang Qian thought for a moment. ¡°The most recent time was when a boy in our class liked a girl.¡±


    The doctor continued to monitor the readings, noticing no significant fluctuations.


    Jiang Qian continued, ¡°Then¡­ that boy went to our class monitor for advice on confessing. I overheard their conversation and shared my opinion, but the monitor disagreed with me...¡± She briefly recounted what happened that day.


    Jiang Jingshi listened attentively, while Fang Meng was surprised to learn about this incident.


    After finishing, the doctor noted something and asked, ¡°What about the time before that?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Qian recalled, ¡°The last time I felt uncomfortable was when I had an argument with Xiaomeng. I wasn¡¯t sleeping well for a few days, waking up in the middle of the night, and I felt mentally exhausted. Could that be the reason?¡±


    The doctor observed the monitor, saw no unusual fluctuations, and shook his head. ¡°Unlikely. Keep going.¡±


    Then, Jiang Qian thought of Lin Zhengran, and her heart started racing. ¡°After the argument, I asked our class monitor for advice, and he told me it would be best to talk things out with Xiaomeng directly.¡±


    ¡°The class monitor again? You seem to be quite close to him.¡±


    Jiang Qian hesitated. ¡°We¡¯re just¡­ alright.¡±


    The doctor carefully observed the monitor¡¯s data. Jiang Jingshi couldn¡¯t understand the medical readings, but Fang Meng noticed something¡ªevery time Qianqian mentioned Lin Zhengran, her heart rate and certain readings spiked.


    The doctor had also picked up on this pattern. He gestured for everyone else to step outside.


    Jiang Jingshi and Xiaomeng left the room, leaving only the doctor, the nurse, and Jiang Qian.


    Setting down the record sheet, the doctor asked, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about the past for now. What¡¯s your class monitor¡¯s name?¡±


    Jiang Qian looked at the doctor, recalling her dream from the previous night. Her fingers clenched slightly. ¡°Lin Zhengran.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with him?¡±


    ¡°Classmates¡­ friends.¡±


    ¡°Second Miss, do you like him?¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s face instantly flushed, her eyes filled with confusion. The monitor¡¯s numbers suddenly started beeping rapidly.


    ¡°What does this have to do with my condition?¡±


    The doctor remained serious. ¡°Do you like him?¡±


    Jiang Qian lowered her gaze and hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never thought about it¡­¡±


    The doctor and the nurse exchanged a few whispered words before the nurse asked cautiously, ¡°Miss Jiang Qian, I¡¯m going to describe a few scenarios. Please close your eyes and imagine them.¡±


    Jiang Qian shut her eyes but found it impossible to relax. Her fists remained tightly clenched.


    The nurse said, ¡°Imagine it¡¯s early morning in an empty park, and you¡¯re taking a quiet walk alone with Mr. Lin Zhengran. Can you picture it?¡±


    The doctor muted the monitor¡¯s sound while observing the data.


    Jiang Qian nodded. ¡°Yes, I can imagine it.¡±


    The nurse continued, ¡°Now, imagine he tells you he likes you. Then the two of you hold hands, embrace each other¡­ and share a passionate kiss.¡±


    The nurse paused for about thirty seconds between each statement. Jiang Qian¡¯s brow furrowed, her heart growing more and more uncomfortable. One hand slowly grasped at the fabric over her chest as her heartbeat quickened.


    The doctor signaled the nurse.


    The nurse suddenly switched the scenario. ¡°Alright, now relax. This time, imagine that instead of Lin Zhengran, there¡¯s a bright blue sky, and you¡¯re with Miss Xiaomeng and your sister.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Qian instantly calmed down.


    Then the nurse said, ¡°You¡¯re having a picnic with your family. Suddenly, your phone rings¡ªit¡¯s Lin Zhengran. He tells you he¡¯s breaking up with you. He says he hates you, doesn¡¯t like you anymore, and never wants to see you again.¡±


    As Jiang Qian imagined this scenario, her eyes snapped open.


    The doctor and nurse were stunned.


    Jiang Qian frowned and turned to them. ¡°What does any of this have to do with my condition? Why are you making me imagine these things?¡±


    The doctor asked, ¡°Is your heart still hurting? I understand that what we just described might have stirred some emotions, but is your heart still uncomfortable?¡±


    Jiang Qian blinked, placed a hand over her chest, and, to her surprise, shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel as bad anymore. It¡¯s much better.¡±


    The doctor then asked, ¡°When the nurse said the last sentence, you couldn¡¯t fully picture that scene, could you?¡±


    Jiang Qian coldly nodded. ¡°I stopped halfway. I couldn¡¯t keep imagining it. That kind of thing would never happen.¡±


    Nurse: ¡°¡­..¡±


    The doctor jotted something down and said, ¡°Alright, Second Miss, you can sit up now. I know the cause.¡±


    He gestured for the nurse to remove the sensors. As she did, she chuckled before leaving the room.


    Jiang Qian sat up. ¡°You figured it out? What illness is it?¡±


    The doctor smiled at first but then explained seriously,


    ¡°Well, Second Miss, your nervous system is slightly different from that of an average person. Your emotional sensitivity is relatively low, meaning you don¡¯t experience extreme sadness or joy as intensely as others. However, in contrast, your focus and concentration are exceptionally high. It¡¯s a rather unique condition.¡±


    Jiang Qian nodded.


    The doctor continued, ¡°But due to certain special circumstances, you¡¯ve fixated too much on one particular matter, which has excessively influenced your emotional perception, causing physical discomfort. That¡¯s the reason.¡±


    Jiang Qian was puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand. Is it serious?¡±


    The doctor sighed. ¡°To put it simply¡­ you¡¯re lovesick.¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Jiang Qian looked utterly baffled. ¡°Lovesick? Me?¡±


    She pointed at herself.


    The doctor clarified, ¡°I don¡¯t mean this as a metaphor. It¡¯s literal. Based on the data, your recent focus on Mr. Lin Zhengran has been exceptionally high. Normally, people in love balance their thoughts¡ªhalf on their partner and half on other things. But you? You¡¯re at a nine-to-one ratio, with almost no mental rest.


    ¡°I¡¯d bet that every night, your dreams revolve around him. You probably had a particularly happy dream last night, which is why your condition worsened today.¡±


    Jiang Qian didn¡¯t know how to respond. Her face was completely red.


    The doctor asked, ¡°Are you two about to be together? Or are you separating?¡±


    Jiang Qian stammered, ¡°S-Separating¡­ Our aspirations are different¡­¡±


    The doctor nodded. ¡°That explains it. This situation is the biggest trigger. Given your condition, my advice is to rest, relax, and try to distract yourself. Of course, the best cure would be to see him more often. In simple terms, you¡¯re missing him so much it¡¯s making you physically ill.¡±


    Jiang Qian pursed her lips, her face burning as she clenched her fists.


    She wanted to dig a hole and disappear.

 Chapter 190: The Same Illness

    The doctor looked at the report in his hands. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t prescribe any medication for Second Miss. Medicine always has side effects, so if you can regulate it yourself, that¡¯s the best option.¡±


    Jiang Qian¡¯s lips parted slightly. ¡°No, prescribe something. Just give me some calcium tablets, but take off the label. And don¡¯t tell anyone about this, especially my sister and Xiaomeng.¡±


    The doctor, understanding that this was an embarrassing matter for a young girl, nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll find some medicine. Please wait a moment.¡±


    With that, he left the room.


    Outside the examination room, Jiang Jingshi and Fang Meng stood together.


    Jiang Jingshi frowned anxiously and asked Fang Meng, who had some knowledge of both Chinese and Western medicine, ¡°The doctor mentioned that high dopamine levels can cause neurological disorders. That sounds really serious. Should I be worried?¡±


    Fang Meng recalled the monitor readings from earlier and had a vague suspicion of what was going on. However, since she had left the room before the results were fully explained, she didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Jiang. The doctor will be out soon. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s anything serious. I could understand some of the monitor¡¯s readings earlier, and they definitely weren¡¯t at the level to cause neurological disorders.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi felt somewhat relieved. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s definitely not that serious. The data doesn¡¯t lie.¡±


    Just then, the doctor opened the door and stepped out. Jiang Jingshi and Fang Meng immediately approached him, with Jiang Jingshi quickly asking, ¡°How is my sister?¡±


    The doctor smiled, and with that, most of their worries dissipated.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. She¡¯s probably just been overworking herself and hasn¡¯t been getting enough rest. Her body is a bit fatigued. I¡¯m getting her some medicine, and she should recover in a few days.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi pressed for details. ¡°It¡¯s just exhaustion?¡±


    The doctor nodded. ¡°Yes. Her focus on certain matters has been too intense, leading to mental fatigue and an increased heart rate. It¡¯s not a medical condition.¡±


    Hearing this, Jiang Jingshi finally relaxed completely, and Fang Meng also let out a sigh of relief.


    After thanking the doctor, they went back into the room. By now, Jiang Qian had composed herself and stepped out.


    Jiang Jingshi asked, ¡°The doctor said you¡¯ve been too exhausted lately? This is the first time you¡¯ve pushed yourself to the point of going to the hospital. Looks like I can¡¯t let you bury yourself in studying all day anymore.¡±


    Jiang Qian felt her face burn with embarrassment but quickly put on a cold expression and responded, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ve just been too focused on the college entrance exams and haven¡¯t been resting properly. Once the exams are over, this won¡¯t happen again. By the way, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°As soon as I got Xiaomeng¡¯s call saying your heart was acting up, I dropped everything at the company and rushed over. Good thing it was just a false alarm.¡±


    Seeing her sister¡¯s concern, Jiang Qian felt a warmth in her heart. Though the two often bickered at home, family was still family.


    ¡°I¡¯m really fine. You should head back to work. I¡¯ll go home and rest for a bit.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. ¡°Wait for the doctor to bring your medicine, then go home. If you¡¯re feeling too tired tomorrow, you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Qian immediately interrupted, ¡°No! I¡¯m going!¡±


    Opportunities to spend a long time with Lin Zhengran were already rare. But tomorrow, not only would she be performing on stage with him, but they would also be giving a speech together. On top of that, a male classmate was planning a confession.


    She would practically be spending the entire day with Lin Zhengran. There was no way she was missing that¡ªnot even if a zombie apocalypse broke out. Even if the world was ending, she¡¯d pilot a helicopter to that graduation ceremony if she had to. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Jingshi saw her sister¡¯s determined expression and didn¡¯t argue further.


    However, a small sense of suspicion grew in her mind. When the doctor returned, she asked, ¡°Will attending the graduation ceremony tomorrow be okay for my sister?¡±


    As the doctor handed over the medicine, he naturally agreed. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. In fact, it¡¯s better if she goes¡ªit won¡¯t affect her daily life.¡±


    Jiang Qian took the medicine and left the hospital with Xiaomeng.


    She practically fled.


    This whole situation was just too humiliating. Not another second could she stand in that place.


    Who the hell gets hospitalized for lovesickness? She needed to get home and lie down immediately. If word of this got out, she¡¯d never be able to show her face again.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Jingshi stayed behind.


    She turned back to the doctor, her expression serious. ¡°What¡¯s really going on? You said she just needed rest, but then you also said attending the graduation ceremony would be better. What exactly caused my sister¡¯s heart discomfort? You weren¡¯t completely honest with me earlier, were you?¡±


    The doctor hesitated, his smile turning awkward.


    He could see that Jiang Jingshi wasn¡¯t someone he could brush off with vague answers. On top of that, this hospital was partially funded by her investments¡ªshe was technically one of the shareholders.


    But he had promised Second Miss that he wouldn¡¯t tell anyone.


    So, the doctor chose an alternative solution¡ªhe let the nurse explain.


    If the nurse said it, then technically, he hadn¡¯t broken his promise.


    The young nurse leaned over and whispered the whole story into Jiang Jingshi¡¯s ear.


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s initially serious expression slowly shifted into something strange. Her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Lovesickness? That¡¯s considered an actual illness?¡±


    The nurse nodded. ¡°Yes. Miss Jiang Qian¡¯s focus is naturally stronger than most people¡¯s, and lately, she has been missing a certain someone far too much, which led to today¡¯s situation.


    ¡°Dopamine secretion naturally causes excitement. Second Miss probably had a certain kind of dream last night or did something that triggered excessive dopamine release, which is why her heart was affected.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi paused for half a minute before suddenly bursting into laughter.


    She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, trying to suppress her amusement. ¡°My sister is way too funny.¡±


    The doctor chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Just so you know, I didn¡¯t tell you this. I promised Second Miss I wouldn¡¯t say anything, so please don¡¯t tell her it was me.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi glanced at him, cleared her throat, and composed herself. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The nurse told me, not you.¡±


    She then smirked. ¡°No wonder what you said earlier didn¡¯t add up. So the cure for lovesickness¡­ is just more rest?¡±


    The doctor nodded. ¡°Yes. But while rest helps, the best solution is to see the person she misses. That¡¯s why I said attending the graduation ceremony would be beneficial.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. ¡°Got it.¡±


    Just then, a nurse handed the doctor another report. He glanced at it and was suddenly surprised.


    ¡°Wait a moment, Miss Jiang. I just noticed you¡¯ve scheduled an appointment with one of our doctors for the day after tomorrow? Are you feeling unwell? If you have time now, we can do a check-up immediately.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi hesitated. ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been having trouble sleeping. I feel sluggish during the day and¡­.¡±


    She suddenly realized something.


    Lately, she had been dreaming about Lin Zhengran a lot.


    Because of the college entrance exams, Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t been at the company much. Even when he came in, he only looked at documents before leaving. He barely stayed.


    On the day of the exams, Jiang Jingshi had been delayed by a company meeting and arrived a few minutes late, missing the chance to see him before the test began. That had left her feeling even worse, and her insomnia had only gotten worse over the past few days.


    Thinking back now¡­ did she have lovesickness too?


    Was she also suffering from this just because she missed Zhengran?


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s laughter died instantly. Her expression grew awkward. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I probably just haven¡¯t been resting well lately.¡±


    The doctor offered, ¡°If it¡¯s just sleep issues, I can check your pulse. If nothing else is wrong, I can prescribe you some herbal medicine.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi slowly nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±


    The doctor respectfully gestured for her to sit down.


    As she extended her arm, a realization struck her.


    She, the older sister, had ended up suffering from the exact same lovesickness over the same guy as her little sister.


    This was¡­


    Jiang Jingshi took a deep breath and sternly warned the doctor, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about my sleep issues. Especially not Qianqian or Xiaomeng.¡±


    She turned to the nurse. ¡°And you too. Keep it a secret. No one must know.¡±


    The nurse and doctor both nodded immediately.

 Chapter 191: The Biting Fox

    After leaving the hospital, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng took a car back to the villa.


    In her bedroom, Jiang Qian took off her shoes and sat on her bed, swallowing two of the so-called "pills."


    Fang Meng tucked the blanket over her and said, ¡°Qianqian, don¡¯t go to school today. Just rest at home properly so you¡¯ll be in good shape for the graduation ceremony tomorrow.¡±


    Jiang Qian nodded lightly and slowly lay down.


    Fang Meng gathered her loose hair together and continued, ¡°We¡¯re short on people for setting up the graduation ceremony, so I have to go to school and help Lin Zhengran prepare the stage. If anything happens, call me right away.¡±


    Lying on her side, Jiang Qian stared at Fang Meng, already aware of this arrangement.


    ¡°If Lin Zhengran asks why I didn¡¯t come to school today, just say I¡¯m busy. I¡¯ll go to our piano rehearsal tonight as planned. If he doesn¡¯t ask, then don¡¯t bother explaining.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still going tonight?¡±


    Jiang Qian nodded again. ¡°Since it¡¯s a duet, we should at least rehearse a few times.¡±


    In reality, she and Lin Zhengran had already agreed¡ªthey would only practice the night before the performance to avoid wasting time during the day.


    Otherwise, if they rehearsed during the day too, Jiang Qian might have already rushed to school just to be with him, unwilling to part for even a second.


    Fang Meng sighed. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡±


    Watching Jiang Qian close her eyes, Fang Meng finally left the room for school.


    However, the moment Fang Meng walked out, Jiang Qian opened her eyes slightly. Her gaze was hazy as she recalled the doctor¡¯s words from earlier.


    Slowly biting her soft lower lip, she pictured Lin Zhengran¡¯s familiar figure in her mind.


    ¡°Lovesickness¡­ So, I¡¯ve already fallen for him¡­¡±


    Under the blanket, her hand pressed over her heart.


    ¡°Liking someone feels this overwhelming? I just want to be with him¡­ I want him to hold me¡­¡±


    The graduation ceremony was set to take place in the school¡¯s large gymnasium, the go-to venue for major events.


    Right now, students from various classes who had signed up for performances were rehearsing in the backstage area.


    Lin Zhengran was there too. As a student representative, he was responsible for observing and supervising all the performances.


    And, interestingly enough, Han Wenwen was also present.


    At the moment, Lin Zhengran was sitting in the practice room¡¯s corner, near a few rows of tables and chairs reserved for the judging panel tomorrow.


    He glanced over at Class 3¡¯s rehearsal area.


    Han Wenwen was playing the role of an immobile tree in her class¡¯s stage play¡ªbasically, all she had to do was stand still and hold up a sign.


    During the rehearsal, her fox-like eyes frequently flicked toward Lin Zhengran.


    Lin Zhengran smirked, not knowing how many bizarre performances she had participated in by now.


    When Class 3¡¯s rehearsal ended, Han Wenwen trotted over and leaned on the table in front of him, propping herself up with both hands.


    ¡°What did Teacher Lin Zhengran think of my performance? I saw you watching me the whole time.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In public, this little fox wasn¡¯t as clingy. Instead, her tone carried a teasing, seductive quality¡ªlike that of a classic femme fatale.


    Lin Zhengran looked up at her. ¡°Not bad. You were as stiff as a plank of wood.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned and subtly traced a finger along his back before sitting beside him, tilting her head.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s high praise! Since I was playing a tree, staying still means I played it convincingly.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    Her fox-like eyes shimmered mischievously as she noticed Lin Zhengran¡¯s gaze shifting to other performances.


    Because the table in front of them was cluttered with papers and props, no one else in the crowded backstage could see what was happening underneath.


    Han Wenwen pouted. ¡°I sat down, and yet, you¡¯re still looking at others instead of me?¡±


    Without even looking at her, Lin Zhengran casually kicked her leg under the table.


    This little fox had slipped off her shoes and was lightly brushing his calf with her bare foot.


    After getting kicked away, she looked disgruntled and tried again, her smooth, soft foot teasing against his leg.


    Lin Zhengran exhaled and muttered, ¡°You could be resting in your dorm or classroom, yet you insist on performing in every event. Why?¡±


    Han Wenwen leaned back in her chair. ¡°Because I have a deep love for performing.¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a look.


    Seeing his gaze on her, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh and whisper in an even softer, more flirtatious tone,


    ¡°Mainly, if I didn¡¯t sign up for performances, how else could I get some alone time with Zhengran-ge? Look at you¡ªeveryone else is relaxing after exams, but you¡¯re buried in work.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just these couple of days. Once the graduation ceremony is over, I¡¯ll be completely free. Then I¡¯ll have all the time in the world to spend with you guys.¡±


    He placed a hand on Han Wenwen¡¯s thigh, intending to stop her from messing with his leg.


    But instead, Han Wenwen smirked and grabbed his hand under the table, pressing it against her thigh while gently stroking it back and forth.


    Then, in an audacious whisper only they could hear, she teased,


    ¡°Zhengran-ge, why are you touching my leg? Taking advantage of me?¡±


    Lin Zhengran shot her a look. ¡°What¡¯s up with you today? Acting all weird. And there are people around, you know.¡±


    Blushing, Han Wenwen leaned in close and whispered in his ear,


    ¡°Girls tend to feel extra needy before their time of the month. I just want Zhengran-ge to take advantage of me a little.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed, exasperated.


    He subtly tightened his grip on her thigh, making her jolt in surprise.


    Her face turned completely red, and she nearly let out a yelp.


    Quickly, she covered her mouth and shot him a teary-eyed glare, filled with silent protest.


    Not daring to let him continue, she released his hand and instead simply held it under the table, fingers intertwined.


    With a shy hum, Han Wenwen softly asked,


    ¡°Alright, enough messing around. Tell me¡ªwhat¡¯s going on with Fang Meng and Jiang Qian? Since it¡¯s just the two of us now, I want to know. Why did you go sing with Fang Meng that day? And why did you say she took care of Auntie? You have some explaining to do.¡±


    Lin Zhengran kept his gaze on the rehearsing students and replied, ¡°It¡¯s actually pretty simple. Fang Meng and I had an arranged childhood engagement. She¡¯s been visiting my house a lot in the past year.¡±


    ¡°Wait, hold on!¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Another childhood engagement?! Zhengran-ge, how many of these do you have? This is endless!¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded casually, ¡°Just two. One with Fang Meng and one with Jiang Jingshi.¡±


    ¡°Two is already a lot! Wait¡ªwho? Jiang Jingshi?! I thought your first engagement was with Jiang Qian!¡±


    Seeing her astonished expression, Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. ¡°I never told you? The engagement my grandfather arranged for me wasn¡¯t with Jiang Qian¡ªit was with her older sister, Jiang Jingshi.


    ¡°I even mentioned that I met with her one evening because of Lily¡¯s music competition.¡±


    Han Wenwen blinked in shock. ¡°Yeah, you did say you met with her at night.¡±


    She slowly shook her head. ¡°But you never told me she was your childhood fianc¨¦e! I might forget other things, but I remember everything about you crystal clear.¡±


    Her cheeks puffed up in jealousy, her little vinegar jar practically spilling over.


    ¡°So, without me knowing, Zhengran-ge has been entangled with three different girls?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®entangled¡¯? I haven¡¯t done anything like that.¡±


    ¡°Three childhood engagements! If that¡¯s not entangled, what is?!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a very misleading way to put it.¡±


    Han Wenwen bit her lip angrily, her brows furrowing.


    ¡°I¡¯m so mad my stomach hurts!¡±


    She suddenly ducked under the table and chomped down on Lin Zhengran¡¯s thigh.


    At that moment, Fang Meng pushed open the practice room door.


    She saw Lin Zhengran sitting there alone, his expression slightly tense.


    Her gaze shifted subtly as she slowly walked over.

 Chapter 192: Getting Used to Secretary Work in Advance

    ¡°Lin Zhengran, something came up at home, so I arrived a little late. Is there anything left to do?¡±


    Fang Meng walked up to Lin Zhengran¡¯s desk.


    Lin Zhengran looked up at her, and Han Wenwen also heard her voice.


    Under the desk, a certain little fox got even more jealous, opening her mouth wide and continuing to bite his thigh.


    Lin Zhengran helplessly felt the fox¡¯s conflicted little bites¡ªclearly trying to be aggressive but also unwilling to use too much force. He covered Han Wenwen¡¯s mouth with one hand and replied to Fang Meng,


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing much left. I already checked the stage setup this morning. Only some props haven¡¯t been inspected yet, but we can check them in the afternoon.¡±


    The reason Lin Zhengran covered Han Wenwen¡¯s mouth was that his pants weren¡¯t exactly clean, and she was still biting away like she didn¡¯t mind. But Han Wenwen didn¡¯t care about that¡ªshe was already jealous, and now Fang Meng was talking to Lin Zhengran.


    She didn¡¯t care why he was covering her mouth¡ªwhatever was in front of her, she was going to bite.


    Under the desk, she chomped down on Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand.


    Fang Meng said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go check the props. I already arrived late, so I can¡¯t just stand around doing nothing.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t refuse. He just thought it¡¯d be easier to calm the fox down once Fang Meng left.


    ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡±


    Fang Meng nodded, but just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly heard a girlish, coquettish sound.


    She looked around in confusion.


    In reality, under the desk, Han Wenwen had gotten uncomfortable because the space was too cramped. Her legs were in an awkward position, and she ended up kneeling between Lin Zhengran¡¯s legs.


    Fang Meng turned back to him. ¡°Lin Zhengran, did you just hear something? I think I heard a girl¡¯s voice.¡±


    Lin Zhengran remained completely serious.


    ¡°Did you? I didn¡¯t hear anything.¡±


    Fang Meng glanced around again, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Besides, the practice room was filled with people rehearsing, so it wasn¡¯t unusual to mishear things.


    She let it go and left to check on the props.


    Not long after, her phone buzzed with a message from Jiang Qian:


    "Xiao Meng, are you at school? Did Lin Zhengran ask why I didn¡¯t come?"


    Fang Meng was puzzled. Qianqian¡¯s still awake?


    She replied: "He hasn¡¯t asked yet. He just finished up and probably didn¡¯t notice. Why aren¡¯t you resting yet?"


    There was no way to tell Jiang Qian¡¯s expression from the text, but Fang Meng somehow felt a sense of dejection from her words.


    "Got it¡­ I¡¯ll go to sleep now."


    In a villa, Jiang Qian looked at her phone with a disappointed expression. That familiar dull ache in her chest returned. She mumbled to herself,


    "He didn¡¯t even ask about me¡­ Is he really that busy¡­?"


    Back in the practice room, amid the background noise of other students rehearsing, Lin Zhengran lowered his head and whispered to Han Wenwen, still kneeling under the desk.


    ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up and get out.¡±


    Han Wenwen looked up at him, still jealous. She dodged the question and instead complained,


    ¡°The space under the desk is too small. My legs are uncomfortable.¡±


    Before he could say anything else, a group of students from another class approached.


    They seemed to be coming over to ask about the performance arrangements.


    Lin Zhengran had no choice but to sit up straight, leaning closer to the desk to block Han Wenwen from view.


    A student asked, ¡°Lin Zhengran, our class needs an extra lighting effect for our performance. Do you think you can adjust it during the show?¡±


    Lin Zhengran responded in a professional manner, but at the same time, he could feel that the fox under the desk wasn¡¯t behaving herself again.


    She had been biting his hand earlier, but it wasn¡¯t enough to vent her frustration.


    As she lifted her head, she suddenly noticed¡­ a certain abyss.


    She stared for a moment, her face instantly turning red.


    Her mind immediately wandered to those¡­ scenes she had read in novels and watched in certain shows.


    Actually, Han Wenwen had always been curious about those kinds of things. She had even imagined doing such things with Zhengran before.


    Of course, today¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t the right place for that. But¡­ there were other ways.


    She glanced at Lin Zhengran¡¯s stomach.


    Slowly, she inched forward on her knees and lifted his shirt slightly.


    Then, she shoved her little head inside and bit down on his stomach.


    Lin Zhengran was completely done with this fox.


    He barely managed to finish answering the students¡¯ questions.


    Once they left, he immediately grabbed Han Wenwen¡¯s head, lowered his voice, and warned,


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid someone will see you?!¡±


    Han Wenwen leaned back, her fox-like eyes glinting mischievously.


    ¡°The desk is so high, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? Besides, I¡¯m going to be your secretary in the future. Isn¡¯t it normal for a secretary to hide under the boss¡¯s desk?¡±


    Lin Zhengran felt a drop of sweat roll down his forehead.


    Just then, another group of girls approached¡ªthis time, from Han Wenwen¡¯s own class.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, have you seen Han Wenwen? I thought I saw her come to you earlier, but now I can¡¯t find her.¡±


    Lin Zhengran remained composed.


    ¡°She did come to find me, but she left afterward.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the girl blushed. In truth, many girls in high school secretly had a crush on Lin Zhengran, but most didn¡¯t act on it.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. We finished most of our practice this morning, so we were planning to continue in the afternoon. If we can¡¯t find her, I¡¯ll just message her.¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded.


    ¡°Alright, if I see her, I¡¯ll let her know.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Lin Zhengran.¡±


    The girls took out their phones to message Han Wenwen, but just then, a familiar ding sound came from under the desk.


    Some heard it, some didn¡¯t.


    Luckily, no one thought much of it. After all, who would expect someone to actually be under the desk?


    As the girls chatted about their performance, they eventually left.


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    This fox was still biting his stomach.


    He took the opportunity while no one was looking, grabbed Han Wenwen¡¯s hand, and pulled her out from under the desk.


    Then, he dragged her straight into a nearby storage room.


    The tiny storage room was cluttered with old costumes, curtains, and random props.


    It was barely two square meters in size.


    Once they were inside, Lin Zhengran shut the door and knocked on her head.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting bolder, huh?! I already told you¡ªthere are tons of people in the practice room! And now my stomach is covered in your saliva!¡±


    The room was pitch black.


    Han Wenwen clutched her head in pain but didn¡¯t back down this time. She pouted.


    ¡°So what? This time, I¡¯m in the right. I was jealous because you were being a flirt!¡±


    ¡°You and He Qing really are best friends. You both have the same crazy levels of guts.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    As they spoke, footsteps passed by outside.


    Lin Zhengran saw that Han Wenwen was about to say something, so he quickly covered her mouth and pulled her into his arms.


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t talk. Someone¡¯s outside.¡±


    Being held like this made Han Wenwen¡¯s face turn red. She inhaled his familiar scent and let out a soft hum.


    Then, she tilted her head slightly and whispered,


    ¡°Zhengran, you¡¯re getting really smooth at hugging girls now. You used to be all awkward.¡±


    Another group of students walked past outside.


    Lin Zhengran looked down at her.


    Han Wenwen looked up at him.


    Their faces were only inches apart.


    She had been jealous at first, but seeing him staring at her like that¡­ she suddenly realized something.


    Her already flushed face turned even redder.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that, Zhengran?¡±


    She slowly wrapped her arms around his back.


    As if knowing what was about to happen.


    Lin Zhengran held her waist and leaned in.


    Han Wenwen, both shy and excited, closed her eyes, tilted her head up, and slightly parted her lips¡­

 Chapter 193: The First Kiss of Graduation Season

    The warm breath from those red lips gently brushed against Lin Zhengran¡¯s face¡ªfragrant and hot.


    Just as he was about to close the distance and kiss her, he suddenly asked,


    "Are you not mad anymore?"


    Han Wenwen, dazed by his voice, opened her fox-like eyes in confusion.


    "Huh? What?"


    "I asked if you¡¯re still jealous."


    Seeing the teasing look on Lin Zhengran¡¯s face, she immediately understood.


    Her face turned as red as a cherry, her cheeks puffing up.


    If she really had a fox¡¯s tail, all nine of them would be standing straight up right now.


    "Zhengran-gege, you¡¯re such a big meanie! All you do is bully me¡ª"


    Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Zhengran suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her, pressing their lips together.


    A jolt of electricity seemed to rush through Han Wenwen¡¯s entire body.


    Her eyes, which had been filled with all sorts of emotions just a moment ago, suddenly turned blank and dreamy.


    The warmth on her lips made her heartbeat race.


    Her hands clutched tightly onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s back, and just as she was about to close her eyes and let out a soft hum to respond¡ª


    He pulled away.


    She had been stunned for too long.


    "Still mad?" he asked.


    At this point, Han Wenwen had no room for any other emotions. She looked at Lin Zhengran, her face completely flushed.


    She hadn¡¯t had enough.


    She hadn¡¯t even started enjoying it yet.


    "Mad? Who¡¯s mad? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about." She asked coyly.


    "Just now, weren¡¯t you biting me left and right?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s brain short-circuited for a moment. She shyly shook her head but kept her eyes locked on him.


    "I wasn¡¯t mad at Zhengran-gege. I was just jealous¡­ Wenwen would never dare to be mad at Zhengran-gege. But those things don¡¯t matter right now. I suddenly don¡¯t want to talk about them anymore. Let¡¯s talk about them some other day¡­"


    She gently traced Lin Zhengran¡¯s lips with her fingers, still lost in a daze.


    "Was that Zhengran-gege¡¯s first kiss? Have you ever kissed anyone before?"


    Lin Zhengran shook his head.


    "You¡¯re the first."


    The little fox¡¯s invisible nine tails swayed excitedly, wagging nonstop.


    Her fingers continued to rub against his lips as she shyly but happily asked,


    "You gave your first kiss to me? But why did Zhengran-gege kiss me? You¡¯re usually not this proactive. I thought you were just teasing me earlier¡­"


    She silently stood on her tiptoes.


    Lin Zhengran raised a brow.


    "Was I really that reserved? I was busy tutoring you guys before the college entrance exams, and there were other things going on too. I didn¡¯t have much time to spend alone with you. But now that we¡¯ve graduated, isn¡¯t it time to make up for some things?"


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes shimmered with a seductive glow, as if they could drip honey.


    A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.


    "Is that so? But the kiss just now was so sudden that I barely felt it¡­ And I didn¡¯t even have time to stick my¡ª"


    Her cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red. She hesitated but then went straight to the point.


    "Let¡¯s do it again. Come on, one more time. Hurry up."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and pulled Han Wenwen into his arms again.


    The little fox, overjoyed, placed her hands on his shoulders and tiptoed to lean in.


    But the floor was covered in too many scattered fabrics, and she lost her balance when she stretched too far.


    With a , she knocked over a pile of cloth behind Lin Zhengran, and both of them tumbled backward, landing on a heap of costumes.


    Lin Zhengran ended up at the bottom.


    Han Wenwen landed directly on top of him with a heavy


    He wasn¡¯t hurt, but he was still concerned.


    "Are you okay, Wenwen?"


    Han Wenwen let out a small yelp, slowly pushing herself up from his chest and shaking her head.


    "I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just clothes and curtains in here¡ªit doesn¡¯t hurt."


    But right after saying that, she completely ignored the fall.


    Her eyes locked onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s lips.


    There was nothing else in her vision.


    She hesitated, bit her lip shyly, and was just about to say something¡ª


    S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    The loud ringtone shattered the mood.


    Lin Zhengran took out his phone to check, but before he could, Han Wenwen felt an instinctive urge to stop him.


    If he picked up the call, they¡¯d be interrupted for sure!


    But she was too slow.


    Lin Zhengran had already seen the screen.


    It was Jiang Xueli.


    "Lili¡¯s calling?" Lin Zhengran muttered. "I¡¯ll pick up real quick."


    Han Wenwen, full of jealousy, pouted but could only rest her head against his chest and wait for him to finish.


    Just as Lin Zhengran answered, Han Wenwen¡¯s own phone started ringing too.


    She quickly put it on silent and glanced at the screen¡ª


    It was He Qing.


    Han Wenwen immediately had a bad feeling.


    She had no choice but to sit up, cover her lips, and take the call.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran lay on the pile of clothes and answered his phone.


    "Hello? Lili? What¡¯s up?"


    In the practice room, Jiang Xueli asked,


    "Zhengran, where are you? You¡¯re not in the practice room? He Qing and I came looking for you, but no one knows where you went."


    Lin Zhengran was surprised.


    "You and He Qing are here?"


    Jiang Xueli, with a tsundere tone, replied,


    "Yeah, we¡¯ve been here for a while. There aren¡¯t any classes right now, so He Qing and I were bored. We thought we¡¯d come check out everyone¡¯s rehearsals. Where did you go? Isn¡¯t Han Wenwen rehearsing here too? She¡¯s not here either, so He Qing is calling her."


    Lying on the pile of clothes, Lin Zhengran turned his head toward Han Wenwen, who was covering her mouth and also on the phone.


    He let out a helpless smile.


    "I¡¯m out handling something with her. Just wait a bit, I¡¯ll be back soon."


    Jiang Xueli replied,


    "Alright, we¡¯ll wait for you in the practice room."


    After ending his call, Han Wenwen also finished hers with He Qing, laughing as she spoke.


    "Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m with Lin Zhengran. We¡¯re busy with something, but we¡¯ll be back soon. Alright, Xiaoqingqing, I¡¯ll hang up now, okay?"


    She ended the call.


    Then let out a long sigh of disappointment.


    She had originally planned to kiss Lin Zhengran for half an hour¡ªor even a whole hour.


    Now, there was no time for that.


    Lin Zhengran sat up.


    "He Qing and Lili are looking for us."


    Han Wenwen gave a small and met his gaze.


    After a brief moment of silence, the little fox quickly climbed back onto Lin Zhengran¡¯s lap and placed her hands on his shoulders.


    "I know¡­ but¡­ let¡¯s wait one more minute. No¡ªthree minutes! Three minutes isn¡¯t long. Just let them wait a little bit longer."


    Lin Zhengran could feel her warm breath against his lips, and he could clearly see the desire in her eyes.


    He chuckled.


    "Wenwen, your face is so red."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes were full of adoration as she whispered,


    "Of course Wenwen¡¯s face gets red in front of Zhengran-gege~"


    She leaned in, parting her red lips bit by bit¡ª


    Until she kissed him again.


    Letting out a soft hum, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing against him on the pile of fabric.


    Their lips intertwined.


    "Zhengran-gege¡­ is mine."


    Five minutes later¡ª


    In the practice room, He Qing and Jiang Xueli stood around, watching other classes rehearse.


    Jiang Xueli casually asked,


    "He Qing, I¡¯ve always had this question¡ªdoes Han Wenwen not like boys?"


    He Qing was confused.


    "Why do you think that?"


    Jiang Xueli explained,


    "I¡¯ve known her for years. So many guys have confessed to her¡ªprobably hundreds by now¡ªbut she¡¯s never liked anyone. Isn¡¯t that strange?"


    He Qing blinked innocently.


    "Not really. Wenwen¡¯s always been like that¡ªshe¡¯s just picky. I¡¯ve known her since we were kids, and she¡¯s always been like this."


    She covered her lips and whispered,


    "I actually asked her before, and she told me she definitely likes boys, not girls."


    "Really¡­?" Jiang Xueli glanced at the practice room¡¯s entrance.


    "Then do you think she has a crush on Zhengran? I feel like she treats him differently from other guys."


    "Huh? Wenwen likes Lin Zhengran?"


    "I was just saying." Jiang Xueli sighed.


    "It just feels like every girl in the world is trying to steal our boyfriends. And Zhengran¡­ is way too much of a flirt."


    She turned toward the door.


    "He Qing, look! They¡¯re back!"

 Chapter 194: Plans After University

    At the entrance of the practice room, Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen walked in one after the other.


    Back in the storage room, five minutes had passed in the blink of an eye.


    Originally, Han Wenwen had thought three minutes was too short, so Lin Zhengran had kissed her for an extra two minutes¡ªbut even then, she still didn¡¯t feel satisfied.


    The lingering sensation on her lips was utterly intoxicating.


    She never imagined that kissing could feel so magical and addictive.


    The moment their lips touched, it was as if her entire body melted into the kiss.


    If she had known it felt this good, she would have seduced Zhengran-gege much earlier¡­


    Because of those thoughts, even though she tried to act normal now, her face still carried a faint blush.


    Her legs were also a little weak.


    Lin Zhengran, on the other hand, looked much more composed after entering the practice room, though he could still faintly taste the sweetness left behind in his mouth.


    This little fox really was delicious.


    "Lili, He Qing, you guys came?"


    Jiang Xueli was the first to walk over, her voice still lively with a hint of tsundere.


    "The classroom was too boring, so we came to check out everyone¡¯s performances."


    The underlying meaning was clear:


    Lin Zhengran reached out and patted her head.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned red. She quickly looked around and, sure enough, many girls in the room were watching¡ªsome envious, some jealous.


    Feeling both proud and embarrassed, Jiang Xueli stammered,


    "T-T-There are so many people watching! Zhengran, why are you patting my head? I¡¯m not a kid!"


    Han Wenwen felt a pang of jealousy but couldn¡¯t say anything about it.


    He Qing slowly walked over, watching Lin Zhengran pat Jiang Xueli¡¯s head.


    She also felt a little jealous, but she was more focused on something else¡ªthe conversation from earlier.


    At first, she thought it was impossible.


    They had all been together for so long. If Wenwen liked Lin Zhengran, she would have shown it by now.


    But thinking back, was it really impossible?


    She had never considered it before, but now that the idea was planted in her mind, it started making sense.


    Wenwen always paid special attention to Lin Zhengran.


    And whenever he was being a flirt, she would get jealous¡ªeven though she always claimed it was just for fun.


    But what if that was a lie?


    Could it be that Wenwen had secretly liked Lin Zhengran this whole time?!


    He Qing turned to look at Han Wenwen, who had been standing quietly behind them. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wasn¡¯t speaking¡ªjust staring at Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli.


    "Wenwen?" He Qing called out. "Where did you two go just now?"


    Lin Zhengran replied smoothly,


    "I had to take something to a teacher. It was too much to carry alone, so I asked Han Wenwen to help me."


    The little fox had no words.


    She was still lost in the lingering feeling of their kiss.


    She pressed her lips together, her heart itching terribly, afraid that if she spoke too much, she¡¯d accidentally give herself away.


    He Qing called out again,


    "Wenwen?"


    Han Wenwen, startled out of her daze, flinched.


    "Huh? What?"


    She turned to He Qing with an awkward smile.


    "What¡¯s up, Xiaoqingqing?"


    She quickly walked over and linked arms with He Qing.


    He Qing smiled and shook her head.


    "Nothing. You just seemed a little out of it."


    Han Wenwen leaned in and whispered,


    "My period¡¯s coming soon. I¡¯m just waiting for it."


    "Ohh, that makes sense. Wenwen¡¯s cycle is coming up soon, huh?"


    Han Wenwen chuckled, but her eyes still drifted back to Lin Zhengran, who was still patting Jiang Xueli¡¯s head.


    Jealousy filled her gaze.


    Meanwhile, He Qing continued observing Han Wenwen¡¯s expressions.


    She glanced between Wenwen and Lin Zhengran, her thoughts spinning.


    Wenwen¡­ is staring at Lin Zhengran.


    After a bit more small talk, Lin Zhengran led the three girls to sit at the judges¡¯ table.


    "You three can sit here. This spot has a great view, and you can get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes too."


    Jiang Xueli took the seat to Lin Zhengran¡¯s right, while He Qing and Han Wenwen sat on his left.


    The twin-tailed Jiang Xueli admired the wide view.


    "By the way, Zhengran," she suddenly said, "I was thinking about something. Back in high school, you were the student representative. Now that you¡¯re going to university, are you going to become the student council president?"


    "Even in college, I doubt anyone could beat you. You¡¯re definitely going to be the president, right?"


    Lin Zhengran immediately saw through her thoughts.


    "What are you planning? You missed out on being the discipline officer in high school because of all your singing practice, so now you¡¯re itching for it again?"


    Jiang Xueli scratched her head, blushing as she looked away.


    "I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m for it! I just think handling discipline is a great way to build leadership skills. And I heard you can earn academic credits too. Plus, it helps maintain order on campus¡ªit¡¯s meaningful work!"


    She grinned.


    "I¡¯ve decided¡ªif you become the student council president, I¡¯m going to be the head of the disciplinary committee!"


    He Qing asked curiously,


    "Lili, do you really want to join the student council? Wouldn¡¯t it be a lot of work?"


    Jiang Xueli nodded confidently.


    "Normally, yeah, it¡¯d be a lot of work. But if Zhengran is the president, then we¡¯d be busy together!"


    She spread her arms dramatically.


    "And he¡¯d have a big office all to himself! If we have free time, we can just hang out there every day. If there¡¯s an event, we¡¯ll help out together¡ªit¡¯d be perfect!"


    He Qing laughed.


    "I get it! I watched an anime like that once. If that¡¯s the case, I want to join too!" She raised her hand.


    Han Wenwen narrowed her fox-like eyes playfully.


    "Then I¡¯ll join too. I¡¯ll be Lin Zhengran¡¯s secretary."


    She smirked.


    "I remember the university student council has a secretariat, which handles organizing documents for the president."


    Jiang Xueli got even more excited.


    "Great! It¡¯s settled then! If Zhengran becomes president, we¡¯ll all join. If he doesn¡¯t, then we won¡¯t join either¡ªwe¡¯ll just stay the way we are now."


    He Qing happily agreed, but at the same time, she shot a meaningful glance at Han Wenwen.


    Meanwhile, across the room, Fang Meng was still busy checking props for tomorrow¡¯s performances.


    She turned her head and saw Lin Zhengran happily chatting with three girls at the judges¡¯ table.


    An unexplainable feeling surfaced in her chest.


    Just then, her phone buzzed again.


    Another message from Jiang Qian.


    "Did Lin Zhengran ask why I didn¡¯t come today? If he didn¡¯t, then never mind."


    Fang Meng sighed.


    This was the third time Qianqian had asked her that.


    She replied,


    "Not yet. He¡¯s still busy. If he asks, I¡¯ll let you know."


    Jiang Qian: "Got it. It¡¯s normal that he didn¡¯t ask."


    But even as she typed that, inside her villa, Jiang Qian buried half her face into her pillow, looking completely lost.


    Just before lunch, rehearsals wrapped up.


    Lin Zhengran planned to take the three girls out for a meal.


    On the way out, he spotted Fang Meng still tallying props.


    He finally thought to ask,


    "By the way, Fang Meng, Jiang Qian didn¡¯t come today?"


    Fang Meng blinked.


    "She had something to do. But she said she¡¯ll be here tonight for piano practice with you."


    Lin Zhengran smiled.


    "Got it. Go eat something first. You can finish tallying later."


    "Okay." Fang Meng¡¯s cheeks turned pink.


    Once Lin Zhengran left, she quickly sent Jiang Qian a message.


    "Qianqian, he asked about you. He asked why you didn¡¯t come."


    Inside the villa, Jiang Qian¡¯s heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

 Chapter 195: Graduation and Confession

    Fang Meng could feel Qianqian¡¯s excitement just from reading her texts.


    She copied the brief conversation word for word and sent it to Jiang Qian.


    Jiang Qian only replied with a simple "Mm" on WeChat.


    But in reality, the Second Miss was already hugging her pillow under the covers, lost in daydreams.


    "He really did ask me..."


    After waiting all morning, she could finally drift into sleep, resting up to prepare for tonight¡¯s piano practice with Lin Zhengran.


    The afternoon passed quickly as everyone was focused on rehearsing.


    Even Han Wenwen, who only had a few lines as a tree, was too busy to reminisce about the morning¡¯s events, let alone find time to get close to Lin Zhengran.


    Before they knew it, night had fallen. The sky was exceptionally clear, and the stars were dazzling¡ªan unusually beautiful evening, with the Milky Way stretching across the horizon.


    Even Lin Zhengran found himself pausing outside the stadium to admire the night sky.


    "So many stars."


    At the end of the dark pathway, Jiang Qian approached with her long, sleek black hair, exuding a refined elegance.


    Although the Second Miss was thrilled to see her crush¡ªshe had even taken a bath, applied a face mask, shaped her brows, and trimmed her nails before coming¡ªher expression remained composed and indifferent, as if she didn¡¯t care about anything.


    "Class monitor, I¡¯m here."


    Lin Zhengran turned to look at her.


    "You came? Fang Meng said you had something to do today. If you''re busy, we don¡¯t have to practice¡ªit¡¯s not like it makes much difference. I know your piano skills well enough. We can just do a quick run-through tomorrow morning."


    Jiang Qian stopped in front of him, her heart racing, but her face remained unreadable.


    "Still, tomorrow is graduation. It wouldn¡¯t be right to be too casual about it, so even if I¡¯m busy, I need to practice a few times."


    Lin Zhengran turned and started walking.


    "Is that so? Alright then, let¡¯s go to the piano room."


    Jiang Qian nodded and watched as he walked ahead, her face unreadable, though inside she was swooning.


    "So handsome~ The way he turns is so handsome, his side profile is so handsome... Even the way he walks is handsome¡­ Everything about him is handsome..."


    Noticing she wasn¡¯t following, Lin Zhengran turned back, puzzled.


    "What¡¯s wrong? Let¡¯s go."


    Jiang Qian snapped out of her daze and responded coolly.


    "Alright."


    His voice is so nice too¡­


    I really have fallen for him. Before, I cared, but this feeling is completely different...


    Inside the piano room, they each sat at separate pianos.


    Practice went smoothly, just as expected. Jiang Qian couldn¡¯t help but admire Lin Zhengran¡¯s playing¡ªhis level still felt far beyond what a high school student should be capable of.


    Lin Zhengran also commented, "You¡¯ve improved again. You¡¯re even better than before."


    Jiang Qian stared at the piano, feeling warm inside at the compliment. But her voice remained cool and composed.


    "You taught me some techniques before, and I¡¯ve been working hard for the past two years. Of course, I had to improve."


    "Shall we practice a few more times? Another ten minutes or so should be enough."


    "Class monitor, I have something I want to ask you¡­"


    "Hm?"


    Jiang Qian blushed slightly, still looking at the piano.


    "Before, when you helped me make up with Xiao Meng, I said I¡¯d grant you one request. But now we¡¯re about to go to college, and you still haven¡¯t thought of one?"


    Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t really given it much thought. His plan was to bring it up only if he actually needed something in the future. If not, he figured he¡¯d just leave it be¡ªit felt like a waste to ask for something random.


    Besides, he and Jiang Jingshi were now business partners, so it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d never see Jiang Qian again.


    But Jiang Qian didn¡¯t know what he was thinking. She simply added,


    "Any request is fine. Whatever you ask, I should be able to agree to it. You can ask for anything¡ªeven the kind of request you mentioned last time is okay..."


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "Does it have to be now?"


    Jiang Qian, her face still flushed, looked at him in confusion.


    "Now? Use what? Use me? Is this¡­ a confession? If it is, as your girlfriend, I guess I can let you ¡®use¡¯ me however you want."


    Lin Zhengran froze. "How did this turn into a confession?! And what nonsense are you talking about... I meant, does this request have to be used now? Is there a deadline?"


    Jiang Qian blinked, then shook her head. "No, there¡¯s no deadline."


    Lin Zhengran placed his hands on the piano keys again.


    "Then I¡¯ll keep it for now, since I haven¡¯t decided yet. If I need it in the future, I¡¯ll let you know. After all, it¡¯s not like we won¡¯t see each other again."


    He had said it casually, but Jiang Qian, in a daze, mistook his words for something deeper¡ª


    That he


    A soft redness bloomed in her usually cool and distant eyes.


    She slowly nodded. "Mm¡­ That¡¯s true. It¡¯s not like we won¡¯t see each other again."


    The piano music continued in the room.


    Jiang Qian had never played accompaniment for anyone before¡ªshe had always performed solo.


    But with Lin Zhengran, she found that she didn¡¯t mind losing to him. In fact, being his accompanist felt¡­ wonderful.


    After all, who in this world could possibly outshine Lin Zhengran?


    To her, no such person existed.


    He was the best man in the world. No contest.


    He would always be first.


    And she¡­ would always be the Second Miss.


    The next day, the high school graduation ceremony took place as scheduled.


    Everyone was dressed formally, taking photos and lining up to enter the packed stadium.


    Each class had worked hard to prepare various performances, each more dazzling than the last.


    But the highlight of the entire event was undeniably the piano duet by Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian.


    After all, no one could say exactly how many girls had a crush on Lin Zhengran, nor how many boys secretly liked Jiang Qian.


    Han Wenwen, however, could tell just from the overwhelming applause when they stepped onto the stage.


    Some of the more emotional girls even burst into tears the moment they saw Lin Zhengran.


    Crying. Sniffling.


    They weren¡¯t just crying because of the performance¡ª


    They were mourning the fact that they would never again meet someone like Lin Zhengran in their lifetime.


    Years later, when they were working and catching up with old friends, they might still say¡ª


    "You know, we had this guy in high school who was insanely handsome! I still remember his name¡ªLin Zhengran! Not only was he good-looking, but he was amazing at everything! If I¡¯d had the guts back then, maybe I could have ended up with him! If I could go back in time, I I would¡¯ve chased him!" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian performed, Jiang Xueli and Little He Qing sat together, clapping and watching the excited crowd.


    Jiang Xueli mused, "Zhengran and Jiang Qian¡¯s popularity is insane now. It wasn¡¯t this extreme in our first year, but in three years, it¡¯s skyrocketed. Their hype is on a completely different level from anyone else."


    Little He Qing clasped her hands together. She wasn¡¯t paying attention to anyone else¡ªher eyes were locked solely on Lin Zhengran at the piano.


    Just like when she had cheered for him in competitions as a child, today she was silently rooting for him again.


    "Go, Lin Zhengran! Lin Zhengran is so handsome~ His playing is amazing!"


    Time flew by in the blink of an eye.


    And after the graduation ceremony, a shy boy named Jiang Chengxin finally found the courage to confess to the girl he had liked for years¡ªFan Momo.


    Hiding behind the stadium¡¯s bushes, he pulled out two bouquets he had stashed earlier and nervously stammered,


    "Momo, I... I like you... I¡¯ve liked you for years. Will you be with me?"


    Fan Momo, munching on a banana, looked stunned.


    Blushing, she hesitated before saying,


    "Xiao Xin, you¡¯re confessing to me? I don¡¯t want to lie to you¡­ I¡¯ve always seen you as my best friend. I actually like our class monitor, Lin Zhengran. I¡¯ve liked him since our first year¡ªfor three whole years."


    "What?! You like our class monitor?!"


    "I thought you knew. I never say anything when people talk about whether he has a girlfriend. I always get jealous¡­ In fact, I was planning to confess to him later."

 Chapter 196: So Many Defeated Rivals

    Jiang Chengxin was baffled. "But the class monitor already has a girlfriend. You''re still going to confess to him?"


    Fan Momo shrugged. "Why not? I just like him. I even think about him at night when I... you know. He''s so handsome."


    Jiang Chengxin was utterly stunned. He knew Fan Momo was lively and often spoke her thoughts aloud, but he never expected her to outright admit what¡ªor rather, ¡ªshe fantasized about.


    After the graduation ceremony, Lin Zhengran saw Jiang Chengxin again while helping Fang Meng, Jiang Qian, and the others wrap up the event.


    Jiang Chengxin walked over, holding two drooping roses, looking completely defeated.


    "Jiang Chengxin?" Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    Jiang Chengxin sighed. "Class monitor... I..." He held up the flowers, looking utterly dejected. "I failed. Momo doesn¡¯t like me. She only sees me as a friend."


    Jiang Qian walked over just in time to hear this. "Jiang Chengxin, you failed?"


    He nodded helplessly.


    She wasn¡¯t surprised. "So what¡¯s your plan? Are you going to keep pursuing her or give up?"


    Jiang Chengxin hesitated, glanced at Jiang Qian, then indirectly changed the subject. "I''ll give up. But, class monitor, can I ask you something? Are you... a ¡®pure love¡¯ believer?"


    Jiang Qian hadn¡¯t expected him to ask something like that and was a little curious herself.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t hesitate. "Of course." At least, he considered himself one.


    Jiang Qian found him incredibly handsome as he said that.


    Jiang Chengxin let out a sigh. "I get it now. Looks like Momo and I are the same¡ªwe both fell for someone we could never have. Some feelings are doomed from the start."


    Jiang Qian tilted her head. "Momo has a crush on someone?"


    Jiang Chengxin sighed again. He couldn¡¯t exactly admit that Momo liked the class monitor while Jiang Qian was standing right there.


    He glanced at Lin Zhengran. "Yeah, but I can¡¯t say who."


    Lin Zhengran patted his shoulder. "Don¡¯t lose hope. One day, you¡¯ll find someone who truly likes you back."


    Jiang Chengxin looked up at him, staring into Lin Zhengran¡¯s confident eyes.


    Because Lin Zhengran¡¯s was so ridiculously high, for a brief moment, Jiang Chengxin felt his heart skip a beat. His face turned red as he blurted out,


    "Class monitor, you''re really handsome... If I were a girl in my next life, I¡¯d want to be your woman. I''d want to have your kids¡ªlots of them." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fang Meng, who had been drinking water nearby, nearly choked.


    Jiang Qian¡¯s gaze darkened, a barely perceptible hint of menace flickering in her eyes. "What did you just say?"


    Lin Zhengran, however, remained completely serious. "Then you¡¯d better stay a guy in your next life. If you become a girl, let¡¯s just not meet."


    Jiang Chengxin, still blushing, took a deep breath, feeling revitalized by Lin Zhengran¡¯s words. "But you¡¯re right, class monitor! One day, I find a girl who likes me! I''ll work hard in college!"


    With that, he turned and left, saying goodbye to Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian. Before he left, he even wished them happiness together forever.


    This, of course, made Jiang Qian blush.


    She muttered, "Honestly, this guy acts more like a girl. Even the way he talks is so shy."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "Yeah, but some girls like that kind of guy. He may be timid, but at least he has the courage to handle rejection. That¡¯s admirable."


    He turned to her. "Alright, let¡¯s finish cleaning up. The sooner we¡¯re done, the sooner we can leave."


    Jiang Qian nodded.


    A few minutes later, Lin Zhengran stepped outside to throw away some trash.


    That¡¯s when he noticed a familiar girl¡ªwearing a short skirt and fidgeting nervously¡ªapproaching him.


    It was none other than Jiang Chengxin¡¯s crush, Fan Momo.


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "Fan Momo?"


    She hesitated before stepping closer, clearly flustered. "Class monitor... do you have a moment? I want to talk to you."


    "I have time for a few words. Just say it."


    Thinking they were alone, Fan Momo decided to get straight to the point.


    She had no idea that, a short distance away near the door, Jiang Qian had just stepped outside and was now watching them.


    Taking a deep breath, Fan Momo stared at Lin Zhengran and declared,


    "Class monitor, I like you! I¡¯ve liked you for a long time! I want to be your girlfriend! Will you go out with me?!"


    Jiang Qian¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    But Lin Zhengran had already seen this coming.


    After hearing Jiang Chengxin¡¯s cryptic words earlier, he had a vague suspicion.


    Now, that suspicion was confirmed.


    "Sorry, I don¡¯t like you."


    Fan Momo was stunned. "Why? Am I not pretty? Is my body not good enough?"


    She hadn¡¯t expected such a blunt rejection. Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t even waver.


    "It¡¯s not about that. Whether you¡¯re pretty or not doesn¡¯t matter¡ªI just don¡¯t like you."


    Tears welled up in Fan Momo¡¯s eyes. She clutched her chest, overwhelmed.


    "Is it... is it because I¡¯m not a virgin?! Is that why you don¡¯t like me?!"


    Before Lin Zhengran could reply, Jiang Qian suddenly stepped forward.


    "Why are you clinging onto him? If you confess, you have to accept that rejection is a possibility. Once it happens, just move on. What¡¯s the point of saying all this?"


    Fan Momo turned in surprise. "Vice class monitor...?"


    Jiang Qian walked up to Lin Zhengran and stated coldly,


    "Begging and lowering yourself will only make men care about you even . If a girl wants to be with the person she likes, it¡¯s the same as when a guy chases a girl¡ªthe only real option is to become better. Now leave."


    Fan Momo frowned. "But¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Jiang Qian suddenly stood on her toes, grabbed Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm, and .


    Lin Zhengran froze.


    Fan Momo¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    Jiang Qian, her expression still ice-cold, looked straight at Fan Momo.


    "I already told you¡ªthe only way to be with the person you like is to become better. Begging only makes you look worthless. Though, I doubt you¡¯ll really understand."


    Fan Momo stumbled back two steps.


    Seeing Jiang Qian¡¯s overwhelming presence, she suddenly realized something¡ª


    The kind of girl who could stand beside Lin Zhengran¡­ was a completely different breed.


    Tears streamed down her face as she turned and ran away.


    Jiang Qian watched her leave, then recalled Lin Zhengran¡¯s earlier words about Jiang Chengxin.


    She muttered, "I think I finally understand why Jiang Chengxin might be popular with girls in the future. He¡¯s still got some masculinity in him."


    ...Of course, compared to the man in the world, Lin Zhengran, he was still behind.


    The stadium grounds fell silent again.


    Jiang Qian turned and met Lin Zhengran¡¯s gaze.


    He was still staring at her.


    She blinked, her face already flushed, but she tried to maintain her usual cool demeanor.


    "I just couldn¡¯t stand seeing her lower herself like that as a girl. A girl shouldn¡¯t use pity to get love¡ªit doesn¡¯t mean anything else."


    She pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket, took one out, and gently wiped his cheek.


    "I¡¯m heading back to the gym to finish up. There''s still a lot left to do. See you."


    And with that, she quickly left.


    The moment she turned around, her face turned redder than a ripe peach.


    She bit her lip, heart pounding wildly.


    His face was so soft¡­


    So is what it feels like to kiss him¡­


    I really want to do it again.


    Damn, my face is burning. I need to go splash some cold water on it!

 Chapter 197: A Kiss Without Regret

    Lin Zhengran watched as Jiang Qian hurried away, then touched his cheek.


    He frowned slightly. "How does ¡®not being able to stand it¡¯ relate to kissing me?"


    Letting out a breath, he turned back toward the gym.


    By the time he returned, Jiang Qian was already gone.


    The Second Miss had dashed into the restroom to splash her face with water, then wandered outside to sit and stare into space.


    Though her posture was poised and her expression cool, her mind was replaying that moment¡ªkissing Lin Zhengran¡¯s cheek.


    Countless pink bubbles floated and popped inside her head.


    Back inside, Lin Zhengran stayed busy for a while longer. Since everyone was eager to go home, he wrapped things up and let everyone leave once he saw that most of the work was done.


    In the end, only Fang Meng remained, helping him finish the last few tasks.


    Fang Meng checked off the last few props. "Everything¡¯s accounted for¡ªnothing missing."


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the checklist. "Good. That means we¡¯re done. I¡¯ll just check the doors and windows one more time to make sure we didn¡¯t leave anything unlocked. You can head out now."


    Fang Meng nodded but didn¡¯t move. "No rush. It¡¯s only a few minutes¡ªI¡¯ll help you check."


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t mind. "Alright, suit yourself."


    As they walked, she suddenly asked, "By the way, Lin Zhengran, where¡¯s Qianqian? Haven¡¯t seen her."


    He climbed the steps and glanced around. "Maybe she left? I haven¡¯t seen her in the last ten minutes."


    Fang Meng thought that was possible but decided to call just in case.


    She pulled out her phone but hesitated when she saw how empty the gym was¡ªjust her and Lin Zhengran.


    After a moment, she quietly put the phone away and continued following him as he checked the windows and doors.


    Lin Zhengran noticed. "You didn¡¯t text her?"


    "No, but she probably just wandered off. If she left, she¡¯d let me know. I¡¯ll call her later."


    As he locked a window, Fang Meng gazed at the now-empty gym and sighed.


    "I can¡¯t believe we¡¯ve graduated. It feels like just yesterday we were doing military training as first-years. And now... it¡¯s over."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "High school goes by fast. Most of the time, it¡¯s just studying¡ªthere aren¡¯t many other memories. But you¡¯re only getting sentimental now? The college entrance exams ended days ago."


    Fang Meng looked at his side profile as he checked the windows and recalled the moment she saw him singing at the KTV.


    "I never used to get sentimental about graduating. No matter which school¡ªelementary or middle¡ªQianqian was always first, and I was always by her side. I never thought high school would change that. But now, I actually feel nostalgic."


    She smiled, voice sincere. "Honestly, I never expected Qianqian and I would become friends with you. At first, I thought you¡¯d just be another one of Qianqian¡¯s rivals¡ªonce she beat you, we¡¯d never talk again."


    Lin Zhengran smiled. "I didn¡¯t expect it either."


    Fang Meng¡¯s lips parted slightly. "If... if we could redo high school, I think Qianqian would have bought you bubble tea during military training. And I would have too."


    "Hm?" He turned his head just in time to see her stepping closer.


    Before he could react, she gently tugged his sleeve, stood on tiptoe, and pressed a soft kiss to the right corner of his lips.


    Then, blushing, she lowered herself back down and looked at him.


    Lin Zhengran stared at her, feeling as though he¡¯d entered some kind of parallel universe.


    What¡¯s up with these two today?


    Fang Meng smiled shyly. "It doesn¡¯t mean anything. I just wanted to kiss you. Isn¡¯t that what graduation is for? Leaving no regrets."


    Later, after locking up the gym, Lin Zhengran exhaled.


    "A lot has happened these past two days."


    But he hadn¡¯t walked far when he spotted Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing heading his way.


    He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you three back? After the ceremony, I told you to pack up in the dorms. I was going to call once we finished here."


    Jiang Xueli scoffed. "There wasn¡¯t much to pack. We finished the annoying stuff days ago."


    He Qing mumbled timidly, "We didn¡¯t have anything to do in the dorms, so we thought we¡¯d come help."


    Han Wenwen smiled but didn¡¯t speak, her gaze meaningful.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "Help with what? The teachers left enough people to clean up. We finished in less than twenty minutes. But if you¡¯re all packed, that¡¯s good. I¡¯ll return the gym keys, then we can head home."


    The three girls responded in unison. "Okay!"


    Lin Zhengran called their class teacher to report that the gym was taken care of, then returned the keys.


    As they left the school together, he thought, "Once we walk out today, we won¡¯t be coming back. Even when vacation ends, high school will be over."


    Meanwhile, back at the gym¡­


    Fang Meng sat in the corner, blushing, lost in thought.


    Her heart still pounded from kissing Lin Zhengran.


    Then, suddenly, her phone rang.


    Startled, she checked the screen¡ªJiang Qian was calling.


    She picked up. "Hello? Qianqian, where are you?"


    From just around the corner, Jiang Qian¡¯s voice replied, "Xiao Meng, I¡¯m right here."


    Fang Meng turned, surprised to see Jiang Qian standing at the other end of the gym¡¯s exterior.


    "Qianqian? You were there?"


    Jiang Qian nodded. "I¡¯ve been sitting here. When I called, I heard your phone ring."


    Realization dawned on them both¡ªthey had been spacing out in the spot, just on opposite sides of the gym.


    Fang Meng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank god I don¡¯t have a habit of talking to myself," she thought. "If I had blurted out anything about kissing Lin Zhengran just now, Qianqian would¡¯ve heard everything."


    Then another thought struck her.


    "Wait... Qianqian and I both like the same guy... What now?"


    Jiang Qian extended a hand. "Let¡¯s go home. There¡¯s something I want to discuss with you."


    Fang Meng reached out and let her pull her up. "Really? I also have something I want to talk to you about."


    Their eyes met.


    Then, at the same time, they smiled.


    Neither said it out loud, but both already knew what the other wanted to discuss.


    After a brief conversation, they left the school together.


    As they walked, Jiang Qian called her parents.


    "Hello, Dad? I need to tell you something. I don¡¯t want to go to Stanford anymore. A school like that won¡¯t help me improve. Xiao Meng and I have decided to go somewhere else."

 Chapter 198: Jiang Jingshi’s Longing

    Three days after the graduation ceremony.


    Outside the hallway of the General Manager¡¯s office at Zhengshi Company, Jiang Jingshi entered the office by inputting the password. She opened the window, as part of her daily routine, to ventilate Lin Zhengran¡¯s office. Then, she stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the vast city before her.


    Two years ago, after a discussion with Lin Zhengran, they decided that Zhengshi Company''s headquarters would be established in a seven-story building south of Zitong City. And now, this very location stood as a testament to that decision.


    Since the company currently had only three subsidiaries, it wasn¡¯t yet considered a conglomerate. For now, it was still referred to as the headquarters.


    In these past two years, Lin Zhengran, limited by his schedule, didn¡¯t visit the company every day or participate in every meeting, big or small. But even with just the occasional visits to train the trainees at the three subsidiaries, the company¡¯s profits had increased more than tenfold.


    Originally, he had promised a 70% increase in profits¡ªless than doubling the original amount¡ªbut what actually happened far surpassed expectations. Even Jiang Jingshi hadn¡¯t anticipated such explosive growth.


    Now, the sports company had significantly expanded its enrollment, with official employees growing to six or seven times their original numbers. The branch offices continued to expand as well.


    Because the sports industry had few competitors, and with Lin Zhengran¡¯s presence, many trainees experienced rapid improvement upon joining. Word spread like wildfire, attracting both professional and amateur sports enthusiasts willing to pay membership fees just to attend one of his lectures or exchange knowledge with other skilled athletes.


    This was how resource concentration worked¡ªthe better a place was, the more people it attracted. If people stayed, the business would grow;the more money it made, the better it became, forming a positive cycle.


    The same principle applied to the other two subsidiaries. The music company, under Lin Zhengran¡¯s guidance, had flourished at an astonishing rate. Many competitors were shocked by how quickly Zhengshi Music¡¯s trainees were improving.


    Countless girl groups and independent singers were making a name for themselves online and on various shows, generating substantial profits for the company.


    And this was without even factoring in Jiang Xueli¡ªwho had earned an overwhelming amount from music copyright alone over the past two years.


    As for the streaming company, Lin Zhengran had visited less frequently due to his college entrance exam preparations. Even so, many streamers had improved under his influence, and the company''s profits had increased several times over.


    Outsiders didn¡¯t understand how Zhengshi Company, in just two years, had managed to achieve such an exponential growth in profits.


    Only those who were well-acquainted with Jiang Jingshi and had met the elusive young CEO knew the truth¡ªpeople really couldn¡¯t be judged by appearances. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every time that young CEO showed up, the company¡¯s profits for the following month would undoubtedly rise, and everyone''s bonuses would double.


    Even President Jiang herself would be in high spirits for several days.


    At this moment, in the General Manager¡¯s office on the seventh floor, Jiang Jingshi was still gazing out the window, reminiscing about the company''s rapid development over the years.


    At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before Zhengshi Company monopolized the sports, music, and streaming industries in Zitong City. Surpassing the Jiang Corporation was only a matter of time.


    Zhengran was truly an invaluable treasure. Having him was undoubtedly the greatest stroke of luck she¡¯d had in recent years.


    Though, what Jiang Jingshi wanted wasn¡¯t just Lin Zhengran¡¯s talent¡ªshe wanted him.


    A knock on the office door interrupted her thoughts. It was her secretary, Pan Lin, holding a document.


    ¡°President Jiang, the company¡¯s financial report and income statement for this month have been compiled.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi responded with a hum and reached out her hand.


    Pan Lin walked over and handed her the report.


    Having worked closely with President Jiang for years, Pan Lin had noticed her recent changes¡ªconstantly caught between happiness and longing.


    Dressed in a stylish women¡¯s suit, Jiang Jingshi exuded elegance and warmth as she casually flipped through the pages.


    ¡°This month¡¯s revenue has increased again.¡±


    Pan Lin smiled. ¡°Profits are up another 20% from last month, and that¡¯s with President Lin only coming in for three days. If he had been here more often, the numbers would be even higher! With the city¡¯s focus on college entrance exams, a slight dip in entertainment revenue is expected.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi chuckled.


    ¡°He¡¯s been busy with the exams. I don¡¯t want to disturb him too much. But with the company growing so fast and new hires constantly joining, I think it¡¯s time to improve our policies. Schedule a meeting for 2 PM today. I need to discuss the company¡¯s regulations¡ªthere are too many new employees, and our policies need further refinement.¡±


    Pan Lin nodded. ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll send out the notice. Also, President Jiang¡­ The Jiang Corporation seems to be expanding into new projects. They¡¯ve asked you to attend a few meetings next week.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi responded nonchalantly, as if she had expected this.


    ¡°I figured as much. We¡¯ll deal with that next week. Just arrange my schedule accordingly.¡±


    Pan Lin hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.


    ¡°Your schedule is already packed next week, but I can push back the less important meetings. President Jiang¡­ if I may?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. You¡¯ve worked with me for years¡ªno need to be so formal.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you¡¯ve been juggling too much. You barely have time to rest. Managing Zhengshi Company is already demanding, and now the Jiang Corporation keeps calling you in as well¡­ I think¡­ since Second Miss has finished her college entrance exams, it¡¯s time for her to take on some responsibilities. Don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi smiled, pondering for a moment.


    ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that already. And honestly, I don¡¯t even need to say anything¡ªFather will definitely start handing over important tasks to Qianqian now that her exams are over. She might even ask for them herself. My little sister has an even stronger sense of responsibility toward the family than I do.¡±


    Pan Lin was delighted to hear this. She knew that President Jiang and her sister were close, with no sense of rivalry between them, so she dared to bring it up.


    ¡°That¡¯s great! Then President Jiang can focus entirely on Zhengshi Company. You¡¯ll finally have some breathing room.¡±


    However, rather than looking relieved, Jiang Jingshi¡¯s expression dimmed.


    She handed the report back to Pan Lin and turned toward the window again.


    ¡°Honestly, having more free time isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. With nothing to do, I¡¯d rather keep myself busy with work.¡±


    Pan Lin suggested, ¡°Didn¡¯t you used to enjoy driving around the city or spending time at your cat caf¨¦ to relax?¡±


    A gentle light flickered in Jiang Jingshi¡¯s eyes, as if a certain someone had come to mind.


    ¡°That was before. Now¡­ my heart isn¡¯t in those things anymore. I don¡¯t even feel like doing them alone, let alone consider them relaxing.¡±


    Pan Lin understood exactly what¡ªor rather, who¡ªwas on Jiang Jingshi¡¯s mind.


    Lately, she was only truly happy when he was around.


    Suddenly, the sound of a message notification interrupted Jiang Jingshi¡¯s thoughts.


    For the past three days, every time her phone chimed, she had immediately checked it¡ªonly to be disappointed.


    But this time, when she looked, her gentle eyes clearly saw the sender¡¯s name: Lin Zhengran.


    Her joy was visible to the naked eye.


    Pan Lin also guessed who it was from Jiang Jingshi¡¯s radiant expression.


    Jiang Jingshi quickly opened the message.


    "Jiang Jie, I didn¡¯t call because I figured you¡¯d be busy. I saw the files you sent me. I¡¯ll come to the company the day after tomorrow to discuss them with you. I¡¯ll take care of these tasks first."


    She immediately replied: "Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the company the day after tomorrow."


    After exchanging a few more messages, a faint blush appeared on Jiang Jingshi¡¯s face. She suddenly felt reinvigorated and turned to Pan Lin excitedly.


    ¡°Lin is coming the day after tomorrow! Move today¡¯s meeting to 12:30. We¡¯ll start as soon as the workday begins. After that, come shopping with me¡ªI need new clothes and accessories. I won¡¯t be coming in tomorrow. I need to prepare at home.¡±


    Pan Lin, swept up in her enthusiasm, grinned.


    ¡°Lin is coming?! That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll send out the meeting notice right away!¡±


    ¡°Go quickly.¡±


    After Pan Lin left, Jiang Jingshi reread the messages, looking out at the city once more¡ªno longer reminiscing, but thinking about how to dress up for their meeting.


    ¡°Two more days¡­ But I don¡¯t want to wait that long.¡±

 Chapter 199: The Impatient Little He Qing

    On the other side, after finishing his messages with Jiang Jingshi, Lin Zhengran walked out of the bathroom and sat on his bed.


    Just as he was about to take a nap, his phone started buzzing again.


    On the day of the graduation ceremony, among the three of them, only Little He Qing had returned to her hometown in the South. But since they had already planned a trip, she had promised at the station that she would be back in a week.


    However, for some reason, this time He Qing missed Lin Zhengran terribly. It had only been two days, but she already couldn¡¯t stand it. Maybe it was because things with Fang Meng hadn¡¯t been properly resolved. Maybe it was for some other reason.


    All she knew was that, for the past two days, she hadn¡¯t been able to sleep well in her room alone. Even eating felt like a chore. Her mother thought she was just anxious about her exam results and reassured her not to stress.


    But He Qing had simply replied, "Mom, I miss Lin Zhengran. I want to see him."


    Her mother didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    "Didn¡¯t you just come back from the North? And aren¡¯t you planning to go back in a week?"


    He Qing sat at home with her head down. "I know¡­ but I still miss him."


    And that was how Lin Zhengran ended up receiving a flood of messages from her.


    He Qing:


    He Qing sent a photo:


    He Qing:


    He Qing:


    Seeing the flood of messages, Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t bother replying¡ªhe just called her directly.


    In her room down South, He Qing, caught off guard, immediately sat up in bed. She nervously tucked her stray hairs behind her ears before carefully answering the call.


    Leaning against his headboard, Lin Zhengran yawned.


    He Qing blinked her clear apricot eyes.


    Lin Zhengran scrolled through his phone.


    He Qing blushed.


    Lin Zhengran: "¡­"


    Why was he never a good person in her dreams?


    Then, in a hushed voice, He Qing asked curiously,


    Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t even realized he had that habit.


    He Qing beamed.


    He Qing hesitated, looking at her phone anxiously.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. He thought for a moment.


    He Qing giggled.


    He Qing shook her head vigorously¡ªeven though he couldn¡¯t see her.


    Silence.


    Then, the call disconnected.


    He Qing blinked, momentarily stunned, before breaking into a wide smile. She immediately called him on video. Curling up on her bed, she held her phone with both hands, looking as sweet and adorable as ever.


    The moment the video connected, she saw Lin Zhengran¡¯s exasperated face¡ªand burst into laughter.


    Lin Zhengran sighed.


    He Qing stared at his face, refusing to look away.


    Lin Zhengran studied her expression¡ªinnocent, endearing, naturally affectionate. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blushing, He Qing shook her head.


    She suddenly pointed at his hair.


    Lin Zhengran ran his hand through his hair.


    She grinned, satisfied.


    Lin Zhengran asked,


    Lowering her voice, she covered her mouth and whispered,


    Wearing her pajamas, He Qing turned the camera to show the packed suitcase by her bed.


    Beaming, she said, She grabbed one from a plate, took a bite, and showed him the filling before chewing happily.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled.


    He Qing licked the sweetness off her lips.


    Her cheeks turned pink as she softly refused,


    Then, in a tiny voice, she mumbled,


    She bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Lin Zhengran wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d actually heard her or if he was imagining things. But he couldn¡¯t help smirking.


    She shook her head.


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment.


    He Qing beamed.

 Chapter 200: Departure

    After finishing the call with Lin Zhengran, Little He Qing, still buzzing with excitement, climbed out of bed in her pink strawberry-patterned pajamas.


    She carefully cracked open her bedroom door, peeking out. The living room was quiet, but from the kitchen, she could hear her mother making breakfast¡ªboiling noodles.


    Swallowing nervously, He Qing tiptoed out, moving so silently that her mother jumped when she appeared.


    He Qing blinked innocently.


    Her mother sighed.


    He Qing hesitated.


    her mother asked, eyeing her daughter suspiciously.


    He Qing gave a sheepish grin, fidgeting with her fingers.


    Her mother narrowed her eyes. She knew her daughter all too well. The moment He Qing smiled like that, she could guess exactly what was coming.


    These days, many parents worried about their daughters not finding a boyfriend after graduation. Especially if their daughters were introverted and not fond of socializing.


    But He Qing¡¯s mother never had that concern.


    She had known for years that her daughter¡¯s heart had already been stolen¡ªby a certain boy.


    Despite being shy and not making many friends, He Qing had always been devoted to someone since childhood.


    Her daughter fluttered her innocent apricot eyes and said softly,  S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her mother frowned slightly.


    He Qing bit her lip, murmuring under her breath,


    Her mother rolled her eyes.


    He Qing stuck out her tongue playfully.


    she thought to herself.


    Her mother exhaled, used to this by now.


    He Qing protested immediately.


    He Qing¡¯s mother turned off the stove and walked into her daughter¡¯s room.


    Sure enough, when He Qing pulled out her suitcase, it was stuffed full.


    Her mother bent down, patting the overfilled luggage.


    He Qing admitted in a small voice.


    Her mother could only sigh, exasperated.


    Even though He Qing was timid, her expression was unwavering, full of determination.


    Hands on her hips, her mother locked eyes with her daughter for a moment before relenting.


    He Qing lit up.


    She even kissed her mother¡¯s cheek before pulling out an outfit she had picked out the night before¡ªa gray pleated skirt and a white long-sleeved top.


    Her mother chuckled and shook her head before heading back to the kitchen.


    Meanwhile, He Qing quickly changed into her outfit, combing her freshly washed hair into a neat ponytail. She always liked swishing her head after tying it up, making the ponytail bounce.


    Slipping on her shoes, she peeked out again. Seeing her mom busy serving noodles, He Qing quickly closed her bedroom door.


    Blushing, she hurried to her wardrobe and opened a hidden box in the corner.


    Inside were two pairs of white stockings.


    She had never worn stockings before but had seen an ad while online shopping two days ago.


    Would Lin Zhengran like them?


    Curious, she had asked the customer service chat:


    The customer service rep, clearly used to such questions, responded,


    Then, they sent her a link¡­ to a very different type of stockings.


    He Qing¡¯s face had gone bright red.


    And yet¡­ after thinking for a moment, she had switched stores and secretly ordered one pair of those "special" stockings¡ªjust in case.


    Now, in her hands were two pairs: one normal, one¡­ not-so-normal.


    She had deliberately not packed them last night in case her mother checked her suitcase. That would have been way too embarrassing.


    Now, she carefully tucked them into the hidden corners of her luggage.


    Once that was done, she headed to her grandmother¡¯s room and knocked.


    Her grandmother, already up and getting dressed, looked at her in surprise.


    She ran over and gave her grandma a quick kiss before rushing out with her suitcase.


    Her mother, setting a bowl of noodles on the table, sighed.


    He Qing blinked.


    Her mother had no choice but to walk her to the door.


    As He Qing waved and smiled, pulling her suitcase along, her mother couldn¡¯t help but ask,


    He Qing grinned.


    Her mother, reading her daughter¡¯s expression, wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. But she just patted He Qing¡¯s head.


    Blushing, He Qing nodded.


    After saying goodbye, she walked off with her suitcase, sending a message to Lin Zhengran.

 Chapter 201: I Can Agree to Anything

    "He Qing, I''m heading out now! Here''s a photo of me leaving. I''ll call you when I''m almost there."


    Lin Zhengran quickly replied: "Got it. I¡¯m just going to catch some extra sleep. Let me know if anything comes up."


    "Okay! Sleep well."


    Little He Qing took a taxi to the station, while in the northern town, Lin Zhengran lay in bed, staring at his phone.


    He thought,


    He put down his phone, pulled the blanket over himself, and was just about to close his eyes for a short nap when¡ª


    His phone rang again. Lin Zhengran thought it was that girl calling back already, but when he checked, it wasn¡¯t He Qing¡ªit was Jiang Xueli.


    He answered, "Hello? What do you want now?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s tsundere tone came through the phone, completely different from He Qing¡¯s soft and sweet voice. Even when she was embarrassed, she was still full of energy.


    "What do you mean ''what do I want now''? I haven''t even messaged you today! And this is the first time I''ve called you since the break started. Why do you make it sound like we''ve been talking all day? Wait a minute¡­ don¡¯t tell me He Qing just called you?"


    Her tsundere alarm went off immediately.


    Lin Zhengran stared at the ceiling. "You¡¯re sharp. What¡¯s up?"


    "I knew it!" Jiang Xueli muttered, slightly jealous. Then she hesitated. "I don¡¯t really have anything important. Can''t I just call you? I''m your girlfriend. We''re in the most intimate relationship. I should be allowed to call, right?"


    "Sure, but I know you too well. You usually text me instead of calling¡ªunless something''s up."


    Jiang Xueli sighed. "You¡¯ve got a point."


    "Of course, you''re my girl. Wouldn''t I know?"


    Jiang Xueli blushed. "How do you always say such shameless things so confidently? You have no shame."


    Even as she said it, she was secretly smiling on the other end of the call. She coughed lightly to compose herself before speaking again.


    "Are you free today? I want to get a haircut. Can you come with me?"


    "A haircut?"


    Ten minutes later, Lin Zhengran came downstairs.


    At the entrance of the residential complex, Jiang Xueli stood playing with her hair, twirling the long strands around her fingers, deep in thought. Seeing him come down, she excitedly waved.


    "Zhengran! Over here!" She ran up to him.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the length of her hair, which barely reached her lower back. "It¡¯s not even that long. Do you really need a cut?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli lifted her ponytail.


    "It¡¯s not that long, but¡­ I¡¯m not just getting a cut. I want to dye it too. You said back in our first year that I¡¯d look good with blonde hair. I¡¯ve remembered that ever since. I¡¯ve been waiting until we graduated to do it."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled.


    Jiang Xueli clenched her little fists, looking confused. "What are you laughing at?! Don''t tell me you forgot?!"


    "I didn¡¯t forget. Let''s go."


    As he walked ahead, Jiang Xueli hurried after him, still puzzled. "Then what were you laughing at? Tell me! You¡¯re making me feel weird!"


    "I was just thinking that the day has finally come. I¡¯ve been curious about how cute you¡¯d look with blonde hair since we were little."


    "Really? You were that curious?"


    "Yeah. After all, yellow is the signature color of tsunderes. You¡¯ll finally reach your full form."


    Jiang Xueli clasped her hands behind her back and flashed a grin. "What tsundere? I¡¯m not a tsundere! Tsunderes are losers. I¡¯m a winner."


    Lin Zhengran reached out and patted her head.


    Jiang Xueli froze, her face turning red. As he ruffled her hair, she hesitated, wanting to reach up and hold the hand that was patting her.


    But before she could, Lin Zhengran pulled his hand away.


    Their fingers brushed for a moment. Lin Zhengran glanced at her.


    Jiang Xueli awkwardly looked to the side and retracted her hand. "What? Why are you looking at me?"


    Lin Zhengran smirked and kept walking.


    As they walked side by side, Jiang Xueli peeked at his hand near hers and hesitantly nudged it with the back of her hand.


    Lin Zhengran turned to look at her again, and she quickly looked away.


    The third time she brushed against his hand, he finally stopped teasing and held it properly.


    Jiang Xueli stiffened for a second, biting her lip in embarrassment. But as their fingers intertwined, she couldn''t help but smile secretly to herself.


    "Zhengran, what have you been up to these past few days? You haven¡¯t been out much."


    "I¡¯ve been busy. My parents took me around to visit relatives, and there was a lot of work at the company that piled up during exams. I¡¯ve been catching up on that too."


    Jiang Xueli pouted sympathetically. "That busy? I thought you were just relaxing. Is there anything I can help with?"


    "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be going to the company in two days to discuss some major things with Jiang Jingshi. She¡¯s already handled most of it, so it¡¯s not that bad. Just a couple of days of work should be enough."


    Jiang Xueli thought hard. "Well, if you ever feel tired, let me know! I can learn online how to give massages, or you can rest on my lap. I¡¯ll help you relax!"


    Lin Zhengran gave her a weird look.


    Jiang Xueli blinked. "What? That¡¯s all I can do! I can¡¯t help with anything else. But if I could, I definitely would!"


    Lin Zhengran stuffed her hand into his jacket pocket.


    When they arrived at the salon, it was packed. Tons of students were getting haircuts, especially those about to start university¡ªmany getting dyes and perms.


    Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli were both surprised by the crowd.


    The busy owner glanced at them. "Haircut?"


    Jiang Xueli answered, "Dyeing."


    The owner nodded. "You''ll have to wait a bit. There''s one more girl in line before you."


    Jiang Xueli thought for a moment, then whispered, "Zhengran, how about we go somewhere else first and come back later? There¡¯s a place I want to take you!"


    "Where?"


    "You¡¯ll see when we get there! Come on!"


    She eagerly led him to a taxi, taking him to a newly opened men''s clothing store in town.


    The store was quite large, and business seemed to be booming.


    Jiang Xueli beamed. "Ta-da! This is the place! I came here with my mom a few days ago, and we found a lot of stylish clothes inside."


    "So¡­ you want to buy me clothes?" Lin Zhengran asked, amused.


    "Yep! Remember when you took me for a haircut in our first year? We¡­ um, stayed in a hotel, and I wrinkled your shirt. I promised I¡¯d get you a new one, but I got busy. I wanted to buy one online, but that felt too insincere. So today, I¡¯m making it up to you properly!"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "My dear girlfriend Jiang Xueli, you wrinkled my shirt in our first year. We¡¯ve already graduated now. That was two years ago."


    Hearing him call her that, Jiang Xueli¡¯s expression turned complicated. She blushed and huffed.


    "What could I do?! I kept it in mind! But high school flew by so fast, and you were always busy! It felt like it all passed in a blink. I kept putting it off until now. How about I make it up to you in another way too? As an apology!"


    "Make it up how?"


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fist and, blushing, declared, "I mean¡­ whatever you want! Just name something, and I¡¯ll agree! Anything you want!"


    She nervously stared into his eyes, stammering, "I-I¡¯m your girlfriend, so¡­ whatever you ask, I¡¯ll do¡­ anything at all¡­"


    Lin Zhengran smirked at her flustered expression. "Deal. You said anything, right?"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned bright red as she realized what she had just promised.


    "Zhengran! Don¡¯t mess with me! I said I¡¯d do anything, but¡­ but you have to be gentle!"


    Panicked, she instinctively covered her butt.


    She suddenly remembered the way he used to tug her twin ponytails.


    Lin Zhengran teased with a serious face, "Don¡¯t worry. People don¡¯t break that easily. I¡¯ll take my time. Now, let¡¯s go pick out some clothes."


    "Ah?!" Jiang Xueli was dragged into the store, her heart racing as her brain short-circuited.

 Chapter 202: The Cautious Little Fox and the Scheming Lily

    Lin Zhengran held Jiang Xueli¡¯s burning-hot hand as he led her forward. Meanwhile, her mind was full of scenes from a certain night¡ªwhen Lin Zhengran had completely overwhelmed her without holding back.


    She snuck a glance at his side profile, her brain filled with inappropriate thoughts.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t continue the conversation but instead asked, "So, you¡¯re buying me a jacket, right?"


    Jiang Xueli flinched.


    Lin Zhengran had no choice but to flick her forehead, forcing her to calm down. "We¡¯ll talk about that when the time comes. Why are you thinking about it now while buying clothes?"


    Jiang Xueli clutched her forehead, wanting to argue¡ªuntil she processed one particular word. Her face turned impossibly red. "W-what do you mean ''when the time comes''?"


    Another forehead flick. Another forced reset.


    At that moment, a female store clerk approached them. "Welcome! Are you looking for tops or bottoms?"


    Lin Zhengran replied, "We¡¯ll browse on our own."


    The store clerk couldn¡¯t help but admire his striking looks. What a pity he had a girlfriend. Still, she blushed slightly and nodded. "Alright! If you need anything, just ask."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s romance instincts were sharper than ever. She could vaguely sense the admiration in the store clerk¡¯s gaze. Without a word, she shifted closer to Lin Zhengran, subtly declaring her claim.


    Thanks to the forehead flicks, the inappropriate thoughts in her mind had mostly faded.


    The two of them walked over to the jackets section.


    Jiang Xueli, still holding Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand, examined different jackets. "Zhengran, do you prefer gray or white? I think both would suit you."


    "White," Lin Zhengran answered. "My mom already got me a gray one before."


    "White it is! This one!"


    She picked out a sleek, stylish white jacket and held it up to compare it against Lin Zhengran.


    But then, realization struck her. She grabbed a few more jackets and quickly held them up to him for comparison.


    Jiang Xueli felt both proud and helpless. "This is unfair. I can¡¯t even judge which one is better because they all look good on you."


    Lin Zhengran shrugged. "Just pick whatever. I like the ones you chose earlier."


    Jiang Xueli shook her head. "No, no, that¡¯s too careless. Besides this white one, I was just randomly picking the others for comparison. If I¡¯m buying you clothes, I need to choose properly."


    She made a mental note of the white jacket and continued browsing. Anyway, He Qing wasn¡¯t around for a few days¡ªZhengran was all hers.


    At that moment, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone vibrated.


    It was a message from Han Wenwen.


    Han Wenwen: Zhengran-ge, are you awake?


    Lin Zhengran replied: Been up for a while. Out shopping with Lily.


    Han Wenwen: ???


    A cartoon fox emoji with gritted teeth followed the question marks.


    But before Lin Zhengran could put his phone away¡ª


    "Han Wenwen?!"


    Jiang Xueli, holding Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand, turned a corner and suddenly saw a familiar face.


    A girl with long, flowing hair stood there, wearing a dress, idly playing with her phone in one hand while holding a white jacket in the other. Her fox-like eyes were glued to the screen.


    It was the little fox herself¡ªHan Wenwen.


    Hearing Jiang Xueli¡¯s voice, Han Wenwen turned her head in surprise, spotting them both.


    Neither she nor Lin Zhengran had expected to run into each other here.


    Both of them quickly put away their phones.


    Han Wenwen forced a smile and waved. "Wow, what a coincidence! Good morning, you two!" But then, she noticed their interlocked fingers, and her heart skipped a beat.


    Jiang Xueli nodded. "Yeah, what a coincidence." She continued, "Zhengran and I are here to buy clothes. What about you?"


    "Me?" Han Wenwen answered casually, "Just shopping."


    Jiang Xueli frowned slightly. "Shopping?" She gestured around at the store¡¯s clearly visible signboards. "But this is a men¡¯s clothing store. You came here alone¡­ to browse? And you¡¯re holding a men¡¯s jacket. Who¡¯s it for?"


    Han Wenwen glanced down at the white jacket in her hands and quickly put it back on the rack.


    In reality, she had been planning to buy a few pieces for Lin Zhengran as a surprise¡ªand to store them at her apartment as his backup wardrobe.


    Back when they used to spend more time together, she had mentioned wanting to keep a few of his clothes at her place for convenience.


    Han Wenwen forced a laugh. "It¡¯s a new store, so I just came in to look around. I wasn¡¯t buying for anyone in particular."


    Jiang Xueli narrowed her eyes slightly, her woman¡¯s intuition kicking in. But before she could press further, Han Wenwen quickly changed the subject.


    "Lily, you¡¯re buying clothes for Lin Zhengran, right? I¡¯m free today¡ªwhy don¡¯t I help you pick?"


    Jiang Xueli was momentarily distracted and smiled. "Sure! I was struggling to choose because Zhengran looks good in everything."


    Han Wenwen silently agreed. That was exactly why she hadn¡¯t been able to decide on anything either, despite shopping all morning.


    Just like that, the two girls naturally teamed up to pick clothes for Lin Zhengran.


    They say three women make a drama. Honestly, two were more than enough.


    Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen launched into an in-depth debate about what style suited Lin Zhengran best, analyzing every detail.


    At some point, when Han Wenwen was busy browsing, Jiang Xueli secretly reached for Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand again, holding it intimately.


    Not to be outdone, Han Wenwen found her own opportunity¡ªwhen Jiang Xueli wasn¡¯t looking, she quickly leaned in and stole a kiss on Lin Zhengran¡¯s cheek, then shot him a playful, jealous glance before continuing to browse as if nothing had happened.


    After over half an hour, they had narrowed it down to two white jackets and one gray one.


    Lin Zhengran said, "One is enough."


    Jiang Xueli looked at the three jackets in her hands. "But we really couldn¡¯t decide between these. Let¡¯s just get them all! It¡¯s not like money¡¯s an issue."


    Ever since she became a singer, her pocket money had been more than plentiful.


    After leaving the store with their purchases, Han Wenwen asked, "Where are you two going next for your date?"


    Lin Zhengran replied, "Lily¡¯s haircut. That¡¯s why we went out in the first place¡ªshopping was just along the way."


    "Haircut?" Han Wenwen glanced at Jiang Xueli¡¯s ponytail. "It¡¯s not even long yet. Mine¡¯s still longer."


    Jiang Xueli blushed. "I¡¯m not cutting it¡ªI¡¯m dyeing it. Zhengran said I¡¯d look good with blonde hair, and I think so too."


    Han Wenwen blinked in surprise and blurted out, "Blonde? That actually suits you!"


    Jiang Xueli tilted her head. "You think so too?"


    Han Wenwen nodded immediately.


    But deep down, she felt a bit bitter.


    Han Wenwen smiled. "Alright then, I won¡¯t interrupt your date any longer. I¡¯ll head back. You two enjoy yourselves."


    She waved goodbye.


    Jiang Xueli nodded. "Take care on your way home." She turned to Lin Zhengran. "Let¡¯s head to the salon. It should be less crowded now."


    "Yeah."


    As Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli walked off, Han Wenwen turned a corner, then suddenly stopped and peeked back at them, jealousy all over her face.


    "Dyeing her hair? Something¡¯s off¡­ Her expression didn¡¯t match what she was saying. And buying extra clothes¡­" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes widened.


    "Wait¡­ are they planning to get a hotel room?! Are those extra clothes for changing afterward?!"


    Before turning 18, she never worried about this. Lin Zhengran had strong principles.


    But now? He wasn¡¯t that innocent anymore.


    Determined, the little fox secretly started tailing them.

 Chapter 203: Jiang Xueli’s First Experience

    After the little fox secretly followed them for a while, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli finally got into a taxi headed for the salon.


    But as the car moved, Lin Zhengran gazed out the window, first puzzled, then helpless.


    A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Xueli, sitting beside him, nervously bit her lip and tried her best to sound casual.


    "Zhengran¡­ After I finish dyeing my hair, why don¡¯t we¡­ find a place where you can try on your new clothes?"


    Lin Zhengran turned to her. "Find a place to try on clothes?"


    "Mm-hmm. And¡­ I didn¡¯t sleep well last night, so I want to take a nap at noon..."


    Jiang Xueli stared straight ahead. Since the taxi driver was focused on the radio, as long as she kept her voice low, he wouldn¡¯t hear their conversation.


    "So¡­ I was thinking¡­ maybe we could¡­ book a room for a while? You can try on your clothes, and we can rest a bit."


    She rushed through the last part, stumbling over her words.


    "I already told my parents this morning that I might be home late tonight, so we have plenty of time. And since you mentioned wanting me to make it up to you¡­ why don¡¯t we just¡­"


    Blushing furiously, she quickly clarified, "But! Let me be clear! I don¡¯t know what kind of ¡®compensation¡¯ you had in mind! I just want to try on clothes and take a nap with you! That¡¯s it! If you have other ideas, that¡¯s on you! Though¡­ I wouldn¡¯t mind, but I wasn¡¯t thinking about that!"


    Lin Zhengran couldn¡¯t help but feel amused.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face grew redder as Lin Zhengran continued staring at her.


    Then, he suddenly smiled. "Sure. Dyeing hair can be exhausting. Afterward, we¡¯ll book a room, and you can nap with me after I try on my clothes."


    "Ah¡ª"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s lips parted slightly, and her vibrant eyes widened in shock.


    "O-okay¡­" Jiang Xueli whispered, lowering her head in embarrassment.


    This time, she actively squeezed Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand.


    Then, as if surrendering herself, she leaned against his shoulder, voice still tsundere but filled with nervous anticipation. "After my hair¡¯s done¡­ we¡¯ll go¡­ and get a room."


    "Mm."


    Lin Zhengran held her hand tighter while using his other hand to gently play with one of her twin ponytails.


    For once, Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t snatch her hair back.


    She let him touch it freely¡ªbecause he would be holding her soon anyway, so what did it matter?


    She was his girlfriend.


    He could touch her anywhere, anytime.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, on the high-speed train, Little He Qing kept sneezing nonstop.


    Staring out the window at the passing scenery, she missed Zhengran more and more.


    For the past two days, she had felt this intense longing, like something in her heart was missing if she didn¡¯t see him soon.


    ¡ª


    Before long, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli arrived at the salon.


    The crowd had thinned compared to the morning rush, but not by much¡ªsome people had left, but new customers had arrived.


    After a short wait, it was Jiang Xueli¡¯s turn.


    She sat down in the chair, and the hairstylist confirmed, "You wanted a dye job, right? What color are you thinking? Based on your face shape and style, I¡¯d recommend¡ª"


    "Blonde."


    The hairstylist¡¯s eyes lit up. "Yes! Blonde would suit you best!"


    Jiang Xueli blinked.


    The stylist pulled out a color chart. "But there are different shades of blonde. Here are some options¡ªtake a look and pick one."


    Jiang Xueli scanned the chart but felt they all looked similar. "Zhengran! Come pick one for me!"


    Lin Zhengran walked over, glanced at the options, and pointed to a slightly lighter blonde. "This one. It¡¯s nice."


    The stylist nodded. "Good choice. Since your girlfriend has thick hair, a lighter shade will look better¡ªtoo dark would be overwhelming. This one will give a more natural effect. Should we go with this?"


    Jiang Xueli immediately nodded. "Yes! I¡¯ll go with what my boyfriend chose."


    "Alright then, let¡¯s get started. Sit tight."


    Jiang Xueli obediently sat still as the stylist prepared the dye, mixing the color and applying it evenly to her hair.


    Then, an odd thought popped into her head.


    The dyeing process was long and boring.


    At least, for most people.


    For Jiang Xueli, however, the entire time her heart was restless.


    Nervous. Excited. A little scared.


    She had watched plenty of questionable movies alone growing up, but experiencing it firsthand was different.


    And kissing¡ªso many girls at school said kissing was soft and sweet, like eating cotton candy, but she couldn¡¯t even imagine it.


    The stylist checked her hair and suddenly noticed her flushed cheeks. "Your face is really red. Are you allergic to anything?"


    Heads turned toward her.


    Embarrassed, Jiang Xueli quickly waved her hands. She pointed to the infrared light overhead. "No, no! It¡¯s just the light! I have fair skin, so it looks redder under it!"


    She held up her arm. "See? My hands and arms are normal."


    The stylist nodded. "Alright. Let me know if you feel uncomfortable. Your patch test showed no reaction earlier."


    Jiang Xueli chuckled nervously. "I¡¯m fine, really!"


    She peeked at Lin Zhengran.


    He was smiling at her.


    Jiang Xueli blushed harder, hurriedly pulling out her phone and pretending to browse.


    But in reality, she was just flipping between her alarm and calendar apps to distract herself. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her heart was pounding.


    ¡ª


    At around 11 AM, the dye job was finally complete.


    After rinsing off the dye and applying a hair-setting treatment, the stylist blow-dried her hair.


    Jiang Xueli stared at her reflection, marveling at the soft golden hue.


    Lin Zhengran approached. "It really suits you. A total transformation."


    His praise filled her with even more satisfaction.


    "I think it looks great too," she said, picking up a hair tie and styling her hair into twin ponytails.


    Even the stylist and some customers turned to look.


    "Wow, that really suits her."


    Jiang Xueli examined herself in the mirror.


    She smoothed her hair down, then glanced at Lin Zhengran.


    He ran his fingers through her hair, admiring it. "Shall we go? I¡¯ll take a closer look later."


    She understood exactly what he meant.


    Blushing, she nodded. "Okay."


    They paid, held hands, and left the salon.


    On the way, they stopped to buy some snacks.


    Then, without hesitation, they headed straight for a nearby hotel.

 Chapter 204: The Second Time Booking a Room

    The dyeing process took about two hours.


    During this entire time, Little Fox Han Wenwen sat in a milk tea shop across the street, sipping her drink while keeping a close eye on them.


    She was relentless.


    Even though she couldn¡¯t see exactly what was happening inside the salon, as long as they didn¡¯t go book a hotel room, she could tolerate it.


    But to her horror, after Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli walked out of the salon, they didn¡¯t head to a restaurant for a proper meal. Instead, they bought some food from a fast-food place.


    Han Wenwen, lurking behind them, hid at a corner, carefully tucking away her nine invisible fox tails.


    She frowned.


    Her fox-like eyes lingered on Jiang Xueli¡¯s golden twin ponytails, and she froze for a moment, genuinely impressed.


    "Lily looks really good with blonde hair. Her looks leveled up several notches."


    She glanced at her own long, dark hair and hesitated.


    While she muttered to herself, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli finished buying their food and got into a taxi, holding hands.


    Han Wenwen quickly followed.


    Then, she saw where they were going.


    A hotel.


    The little fox, still in her taxi, practically exploded.


    "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"


    She watched as the two of them got out of the car and walked straight into the hotel lobby.


    Panicked, she grabbed her phone and rapidly spammed Lin Zhengran with angry fox emojis, claws out, scratching at a screen.


    Then, she added a message:


    "Zhengran-ge, what are you and Lily doing? Where are you two having your date?"


    ¡ª


    Inside the hotel lobby, Lin Zhengran felt his phone buzzing like crazy in his pocket.


    He took it out and checked the messages, a small smirk appearing on his face.


    Jiang Xueli, still blushing, saw him looking at his phone and asked curiously, "What¡¯s up, Zhengran? Who¡¯s messaging you?"


    Lin Zhengran casually replied, "A very well-bred canine species."


    At this moment, Jiang Xueli¡¯s brain was only functioning at half capacity, and with her thoughts completely scrambled, she couldn¡¯t even process what ¡®canine species¡¯ referred to.


    She had no idea it was Han Wenwen.


    Lin Zhengran quickly sent a reply.


    ¡ª


    Outside, Han Wenwen, still lurking, received a message from him:


    "I¡¯ll come out and talk to you in a bit. Just wait outside."


    She blinked in shock. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She shook her head.


    Just as she was about to text him again¡ª


    Another message popped up.


    "Lily and I are booking a room first. I¡¯ll talk to you later. There¡¯s a caf¨¦ nearby, so just grab a drink and wait. I¡¯ll probably be a while."


    Han Wenwen¡¯s fox eyes widened.


    She was furious.


    But no matter how frustrated she was, she knew that as Zhengran-ge¡¯s little fox, she couldn¡¯t just barge in and interrupt. That would definitely piss him off.


    But¡­


    She glared at the hotel, her fox eyes brimming with jealousy.


    ""


    ¡ª


    Inside the hotel, Lin Zhengran put his phone away.


    At the front desk, the receptionist asked, "A king-sized bed? Temporary stay or overnight?"


    Lin Zhengran replied smoothly, "A king-sized room, temporary stay. Here¡¯s my ID."


    Then, he turned to Jiang Xueli. "Did you bring yours?"


    Jiang Xueli, still flushed, nodded and fumbled in her pocket, pulling out her ID.


    She had actually brought it with her on purpose when she left the house that morning.


    At the time, she wasn¡¯t sure if it would actually be used, but just in case Zhengran had any ideas¡­


    Who knew it would actually come in handy?!


    The receptionist took their IDs and registered the room.


    Then, she handed them a keycard. "Room 207, second floor."


    Lin Zhengran took the card, thanked her, and pulled Jiang Xueli toward the stairs.


    This was now Jiang Xueli¡¯s second time booking a hotel room with Lin Zhengran.


    Having experienced it once before, she was much more familiar with the environment.


    But this time, what she was really nervous about was what was about to happen inside.


    As they walked, her free hand clenched tightly, her lips pressed together. She could clearly hear her own racing heartbeat.


    She glanced up at Lin Zhengran¡¯s handsome profile.


    "Z-Zhengran¡­"


    "Hm?" Lin Zhengran turned to her, their footsteps still moving.


    Jiang Xueli tensed up, stammering, "I-I¡¯m a little nervous. Not scared! Just¡­ nervous. Are you nervous?"


    Lin Zhengran could feel the sweat in her palm.


    Smiling, he reassured her, "Don¡¯t worry. Just relax and enjoy it when the time comes."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart skipped several beats. She quickly averted her gaze.


    "Enjoy¡­ what kind of word is that¡­"


    ¡ª


    The hotel room door unlocked.


    Compared to the hotel they had booked near their school last time, this one was noticeably more upscale.


    It had a cozy ambiance, a large bathroom, and a king-sized bed.


    But this time, there was no couch¡ªonly a big bed.


    And scattered rose petals.


    And¡­ a remote control on the bed.


    Jiang Xueli, having watched of movies, turned beet red the moment she saw it.


    "R-Remote control?!"


    Lin Zhengran also spotted it and casually commented, "That¡¯ll come in handy later. That¡¯s the main reason I picked this place."


    "Huh¡ª?!"


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s ears turned a deep shade of red.


    Lin Zhengran placed the shopping bags with their new clothes aside.


    Jiang Xueli, too nervous to move, only snapped back to reality when he gently reminded her to put down the food.


    Then¡ª


    Lin Zhengran took off his jacket.


    Then his shirt.


    Jiang Xueli stared at his toned, sculpted muscles, her breathing suddenly heavier.


    Her gaze flickered to the large window.


    Then, she made a bold move¡ª


    She walked over and drew the curtains shut, plunging the room into dim lighting.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled at her nervous yet decisive actions.


    "You showered this morning, right? You smelled nice when I saw you earlier."


    Jiang Xueli fidgeted. "Mm¡­ I always shower before seeing you. I wash up really thoroughly."


    "I didn¡¯t shower last night. I¡¯ll take a quick one¡ªten minutes."


    Jiang Xueli swallowed hard.


    "Mm. No rush¡­ You have four hours to play anyway."


    "Me? Play?"


    Jiang Xueli clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing what she had just implied.


    Lin Zhengran stepped closer and gently touched her cheek.


    Jiang Xueli felt like she was floating.


    Instinctively, she tilted her head up, her eyes trembling as she looked at him.


    Lin Zhengran twirled a golden ponytail around his fingers.


    "It really does look good. I¡¯ll make sure to play with it properly later."


    Then, he turned and entered the bathroom, locking the door behind him.


    Jiang Xueli, left sitting on the bed, buried her face in her hands.


    Lying down, she gripped the blanket, her heart racing as she whispered frantically,


    "I¡¯m so nervous! I¡¯m so nervous! I¡¯m so nervous!! What will it feel like? It shouldn¡¯t hurt, right?"


    She gulped.


    ¡ª


    From the bathroom, the sound of running water filled the room.


    Then, Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice came through the barely soundproof door.


    "This bathroom has almost no noise isolation. I can hear everything you¡¯re saying."


    "¡­Huh?!"


    Jiang Xueli shot upright, mortified.


    "You¡ª! B-Big idiot! Zhengran, you big idiot! Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?!"

 Chapter 205: Something I’ve Always Wanted to Do

    Lin Zhengran was genuinely innocent this time. "I just found out too. Who would''ve thought I''d be able to hear everything you were mumbling so clearly? I bet you¡¯ll hear my shower sounds just as clearly in a bit."


    The sounds from the bathroom were indeed obvious. Sitting on the bed, Jiang Xueli could hear the water flowing from the showerhead as it splashed against Lin Zhengran¡¯s body.


    Lin Zhengran asked, "See what I mean?"


    Jiang Xueli was flustered by the thought. "Stop talking already!"


    Lin Zhengran observed the surroundings. "I just realized there''s no bath towel in here. Lili, can you go get one for me?"


    Jiang Xueli blinked blankly. "No bath towel?"


    "Yeah, I didn¡¯t notice at first. The cleaning lady probably forgot to put one in. Just tell the front desk."


    "Okay, got it."


    Jiang Xueli got off the bed, ready to go. But then, she suddenly remembered something. She glanced at the nightstand¡ªand realized that something was missing.


    Last time they booked a room, it was there.


    Could it be that they forgot to stock it too?


    Did Zhengran bring any¡­?


    There was no way she could ask about something like this. Forget it. I¡¯ll just buy some myself.


    Blushing, Jiang Xueli left the room and went downstairs. Instead of heading straight to the front desk for the bath towel, she first walked out of the hotel in search of a nearby convenience store.


    Sure enough, there was one right next to the hotel.


    She walked in.


    But unbeknownst to her, Han Wenwen, who had been lurking in the shadows, saw her leaving alone.


    The little fox frowned. Why is Lili going out by herself? What is she up to?


    Jiang Xueli searched the store but couldn''t find what she was looking for. The female store owner, munching on sunflower seeds, asked curiously, "Looking for something? Just ask me."


    Jiang Xueli was extremely embarrassed, but after hesitating, she stammered, "Do you¡­ uh, have any¡­ con¡­ con¡ª"


    The store owner filled in the blank for her. "Condoms?"


    "Mm." Jiang Xueli averted her gaze, utterly ashamed.


    The store owner nodded. "Yep. How many boxes do you want?"


    Boxes?


    Jiang Xueli had no idea how many came in one box. Would one be enough? Better to buy more just in case.


    "Two¡­ no, three¡ªfour boxes."


    The store owner paused her sunflower seed munching. Ah, young people these days. But this girl was really pretty, so she supposed it made sense.


    She handed four boxes to Jiang Xueli.


    Jiang Xueli quickly paid and stuffed them into her pocket, sighing at how expensive they were.


    Then, she hurried back to the hotel.


    From her hiding spot, Han Wenwen watched her go back in.


    Huh? She didn¡¯t seem to be carrying anything.


    Suspicious, Han Wenwen sneaked over to the store and asked, "Boss."


    The store owner turned her head, thinking, Wow, another good-looking customer today?


    "Yeah? What do you need, pretty girl?"


    Han Wenwen smiled. "That girl who was just here¡ªwhat did she buy?"


    "Hm? Who are you?" The store owner was wary.


    Han Wenwen thought for a moment, then smiled sweetly. "She¡¯s my friend. I just happened to see her, so I was curious."


    The store owner gave her a meaningful look. "Why ask me? Just follow her and you¡¯ll know what she bought. I can¡¯t tell you that."


    Han Wenwen, sharp as ever, instantly connected the dots from the owner¡¯s expression.


    Oh.


    Oh.


    C¡ªCondoms¡­?!


    Zhengran-gege!!!


    She hurriedly sent Lin Zhengran a message to warn him!


    Meanwhile, in the hotel lobby, Jiang Xueli approached the front desk. "Excuse me, our room doesn¡¯t have a bath towel. I came to get one."


    The receptionist looked puzzled. "No bath towel? Ugh, the cleaning lady forgot again. Let me get you a new one."


    She got up, retrieved a fresh towel from the storage room, and handed it to Jiang Xueli.


    Then, she politely asked, "Are you missing anything else? Shampoo, toiletries? Also, if you need extra condoms, we can provide them for an additional charge."


    Jiang Xueli took the towel and shook her head. "Everything else should be fine¡ª"


    Then she suddenly registered what the receptionist had just said.


    "Wait¡­ there are already some in the room?"


    The receptionist replied, "You mean the condoms? Yeah, they¡¯re in the drawer. Didn¡¯t you see them?"


    Jiang Xueli was mortified. "I¡­ I didn¡¯t check the drawer. But no need, we have enough."


    Just as she was about to take the towel and leave, a car pulled up outside the hotel.


    A middle-aged man and woman stepped out, chatting and laughing as they entered the lobby.


    Jiang Xueli instinctively glanced over¡ª


    And immediately froze in shock.


    She spun around and bolted up the stairs to the second floor.


    Because those two people¡­


    Were none other than her high school Class 3 homeroom teacher and Lin Zhengran¡¯s Class 1 homeroom teacher.


    As she fled, Jiang Xueli couldn¡¯t help but sneak another look back, just to be sure she wasn¡¯t mistaken.


    Nope. It was them.


    And then she heard them tell the receptionist¡ª


    "One king-sized bed, just for tonight."


    Jiang Xueli was floored. "No way! Our homeroom teacher and Zhengran¡¯s homeroom teacher¡­ are a couple?! And they just so happened to pick the same hotel as us?!"


    The receptionist handed them a key. "Your room is 206."


    Jiang Xueli nearly choked.


    "Our¡­ next-door room?!"


    She rushed to their room and knocked frantically.


    "Zhengran, it¡¯s me! Open the door! I got the bath towel!"


    She was terrified the teachers would see her.


    Inside, Lin Zhengran called out, "Coming!"


    The door opened, and Jiang Xueli dove inside, finally able to breathe.


    Then she turned and saw Lin Zhengran¡ª


    Standing there, dripping wet, covered in soap suds.


    In an¡­ unguarded state.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes involuntarily flicked toward¡­ a certain sacred place.


    And then she saw the truth of the world.


    Her face turned bright red.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    She spun around instantly, covering her face, unable to form words. Even her twin ponytails bounced from the sudden movement.


    "Z-Z-Zhengran, why did you open the door like that?! I saw everything!!!"


    Even Zhengran¡¯s¡­


    Lin Zhengran took the towel from her hands, helplessly explaining, "You¡¯re my girlfriend, what are you afraid of? I was in the middle of showering, so of course, I had to open the door like this. I didn¡¯t have a towel."


    With that, he went back into the bathroom. "I¡¯ll just rinse off quickly. Go sit on the bed and wait."


    Jiang Xueli had no strength left.


    She was way too nervous.


    Slowly, she sank to the floor, hugging her knees, face still burning.


    Even though it had only been a split second¡­ even though the room was dark¡­


    Still.


    Zhengran¡­ so that¡¯s what he looked like¡­


    She heard voices outside¡ªthe teachers entering the room next door.


    Jiang Xueli exhaled shakily.


    She forced herself up, sat on the bed, and¡ªblushing furiously¡ªtook off her shoes and socks, stuffing them into her shoes.


    Then she pulled the condoms from her pocket and hid them under her pillow.


    She crawled into bed, leaning against the headboard, hugging her knees.


    I¡¯ll let Zhengran take the lead. Otherwise, it¡¯ll seem like I¡¯m being too forward¡­


    She bit her lip, quietly waiting.


    Before long, Lin Zhengran stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.


    Seeing her already curled up in bed, her face bright red, he teased, "Weren¡¯t you gonna help me try on clothes? Why are you in bed already?"


    Jiang Xueli barely had the strength to argue. Feeling him sit beside her, she mumbled, "W-What¡¯s there to try on, you big idiot? Let¡¯s just do it when we leave¡­"


    Lin Zhengran smiled. "Lili."


    Jiang Xueli flinched, stiffly turning to look at him. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-What is it, dumb Zhengran¡­?"


    Lin Zhengran gazed into her eyes, his voice suddenly soft. "Are you nervous?"


    Jiang Xueli clenched her fists. "N-No¡­ I¡¯m not nerv-zous."


    She even said it wrong.


    Lin Zhengran chuckled, reaching out to gently stroke her hair, playing with her ponytail.


    Jiang Xueli watched him toy with her hair, her body frozen.


    Then Lin Zhengran asked, "Do you remember? That thing you always wanted to do with me but never could?"

 Chapter 206: The Atmosphere

    Jiang Xueli''s mind was a complete mess.


    She slowly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ What is it?¡±


    Lin Zhengran almost laughed at her dazed expression. ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    Jiang Xueli swallowed nervously but obediently shut her eyes, tilting her head up slightly without realizing it. Her hands clenched tighter.


    What is Zhengran planning to do¡­?


    She heard Lin Zhengran rummaging around for something, and after a few moments, he said, ¡°Found it.¡±


    At that moment, Lin Zhengran picked up the remote from the bedside table.


    He pointed it at the wall and pressed a button.


    Something dropped down from an inconspicuous spot above.


    A low mechanical filled the air.


    Jiang Xueli furrowed her brows, blushing. The sound was unfamiliar.


    It seemed¡­ far away?


    Lin Zhengran leaned against the headboard. ¡°Alright, you can open your eyes now. Take a look.¡±


    Jiang Xueli nervously opened her eyes.


    The once-dim room, darkened by the drawn curtains, was now illuminated by a faint glow. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The light came from the wall. She turned her head¡ª


    A giant screen had appeared, displaying various movie options, with a beam of light projecting onto it.


    Jiang Xueli looked up at the ceiling and discovered a projector hidden near the lighting fixture.


    ¡°This is¡­?¡±


    Lin Zhengran explained, ¡°It¡¯s a movie-themed hotel. Didn¡¯t you always want to watch a movie with me alone? But every time we went to the theater, you¡¯d fall asleep before the movie even started. You never once made it through a full film.¡±


    He looked at the large screen. ¡°I originally planned to buy a projector so we could watch movies at home, but since we had this chance today, I figured¡ªwhy not just book a movie-themed hotel? The experience is the same. This way, your wish is granted, it¡¯s quiet, and it¡¯s just the two of us. Plus, watching in bed is way more comfortable.¡±


    Jiang Xueli stared blankly at the large screen on the wall, the moving images reflecting in her shimmering eyes.


    Her heart hadn¡¯t calmed down one bit.


    She hadn¡¯t expected this¡ªhadn¡¯t expected to remember.


    A wave of emotions surged through her, making her eyes glisten.


    ¡°A movie¡­ You actually remembered this?¡±


    ¡°Of course I did. Why wouldn¡¯t I? You¡¯re my girlfriend.¡± Lin Zhengran¡¯s voice was warm. ¡°You even bought clothes for me earlier. Watching a movie with you is nothing. I still remember how last time, you cried because you regretted falling asleep. I thought¡ªI have to make sure we properly watch a movie together at least once.¡±


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip and then, unexpectedly, let out a soft laugh. Tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled that moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s because every time I try to watch a movie with you, I somehow end up falling asleep¡­ But I actually my time with you, Zhengran. That¡¯s why¡­¡± She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. ¡°I¡¯m just really touched right now. I never expected you to remember something like this. I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smirked. ¡°It¡¯s not like I set it up myself. This place is literally called ¡®Movie-Themed Hotel.¡¯ Didn¡¯t you see the sign?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face instantly turned red. She awkwardly shook her head.


    How could she have noticed those words? She only saw the word at the end.


    Lin Zhengran wiped the remaining tears from her eyes, then lifted the remote. ¡°And the remote was right on the bed. You didn¡¯t think to connect the dots?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s blush deepened.


    She seen the remote¡­


    But she thought it was¡ª


    For¡­ .


    Since they were in a hotel, her mind just¡­ went in a direction.


    Lin Zhengran studied her expression and gave a knowing smirk. ¡°You must watch a lot of those¡­ questionable things when you¡¯re alone, huh?¡±


    Jiang Xueli panicked, waving her hands frantically. ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t make stuff up, Zhengran!¡±


    She averted her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m just a normal girl! I don¡¯t watch that kind of thing at all. I have zero interest in it! I¡¯m totally pure! I don¡¯t know anything about that stuff!¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is! Absolutely!¡±


    Lin Zhengran was about to tease her more when his phone suddenly rang.


    It was He Qing.


    Jiang Xueli watched as he picked up the call.


    Lin Zhengran gently wiped the tears from her face once more. ¡°Hello? He Qing?¡±


    Little He Qing was still on the high-speed train. Her voice was sweet and delicate.


    ¡°Lin Zhengran, I¡¯ll be there in three to four hours. I won¡¯t take the bus when I arrive¡ªI¡¯ll just grab a taxi to find you. Have you had lunch yet?¡±


    Lin Zhengran reminded her, ¡°No need to take a bus or taxi. Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d pick you up tonight? I¡¯ll leave an hour and a half early so I¡¯ll be there when you get off the train. You should see me right away.¡±


    On the train, He Qing¡¯s lips curled into a happy smile.


    She¡¯d get to see him sooner.


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll listen to you, then. But¡­ have you eaten lunch yet?¡±


    Since the hotel room was so quiet, Jiang Xueli could faintly hear parts of their conversation.


    It was He Qing¡¯s voice¡­


    And the way she talked to Zhengran¡ªso soft and sweet, so delicate and affectionate¡­


    Lin Zhengran replied, ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ll eat soon.¡±


    He Qing checked the time, twirling a strand of her hair before stopping. Her voice carried a hint of concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s already late! You haven¡¯t eaten yet? That¡¯s bad for your health! Go eat something, okay? It¡¯s already afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll eat now. Nothing else? I¡¯ll hang up then.¡±


    ¡°Okay, bye-bye, Lin Zhengran.¡±


    ¡°Bye-bye.¡±


    He Qing hung up, blushing as she hugged her phone, looking forward to seeing him that night.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran looked at his phone, where another batch of messages was popping up.


    Not from He Qing.


    But from .


    Clearly, the fact that he was staying at a hotel with Lili had completely freaked Han Wenwen out.


    At first, she had sent a bunch of aggressive, clawing-cat emojis.


    Then they gradually turned into pitiful, teary-eyed ones.


    And just now, she had sent:


    "Zhengran-gege, don¡¯t come out to find me later. I booked a room here too¡ª104. Just come straight to my room. Don¡¯t take too long. I¡¯ll be waiting for you."


    Lin Zhengran replied:


    "Got it. Rest for a bit. I¡¯ll come over later."


    Han Wenwen instantly sent another sulky cartoon fox sticker, looking completely deflated.


    Jiang Xueli finally processed everything and asked, ¡°Zhengran, is He Qing coming this afternoon? You¡¯re going to pick her up?¡±


    Lin Zhengran put his phone under his pillow. ¡°Yeah. She was supposed to come in a week, but she suddenly decided to come early. I¡¯ll head out around four.¡±


    ¡°Four¡­¡± Jiang Xueli did the math. That was only about three hours away.


    ¡°So that means¡­ we¡¯re really just here to watch a movie? You¡¯re leaving at four?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her complicated expression. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like watching movies?¡±


    Jiang Xueli bit her lip.


    She was deeply moved by everything he¡¯d done for her today.


    And precisely of that¡­


    She wanted .


    Stammering, she said, ¡°N-no¡­ I do like it. I really do. But¡­ but¡­¡±


    She clenched the bedsheets tightly.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her ears turning red.


    He suddenly held her hand and sighed, speaking honestly.


    ¡°I was planning to just watch the movie. But¡­ the atmosphere now isn¡¯t the same as before. And with you like this¡­ it¡¯s hard for me to just sit here and do nothing. I don¡¯t think I can hold back.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    She had felt a little disappointed earlier, but now¡ªher eyes instantly brightened.


    She held her breath as Lin Zhengran¡¯s arm wrapped around her waist.


    Her chest rose and fell, her previously conflicted gaze now becoming crystal clear.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m the same as always¡­ right?¡± she whispered. ¡°And¡­ Zhengran, what do you mean by ¡®hold back¡¯¡­?¡±


    Lin Zhengran pulled her into his embrace.


    She leaned closer.


    He murmured, ¡°You¡¯re different. Your face is so red it could drip water.¡±


    Then he cupped her cheeks, his thumb brushing against her lips.


    Jiang Xueli trembled.


    Then, slowly, she parted her lips¡ª


    And bit his finger.

 Chapter 207: Lili and Wenwen

    Jiang Xueli¡¯s heart pounded wildly, but at this moment, she could barely hear it.


    She simply followed Lin Zhengran¡¯s lead, yet there was also a trace of her own initiative as their lips pressed together.


    A faint sound, like sipping a drink through a straw, echoed in the quiet room.


    So¡­ this is what kissing feels like?


    It was like eating cotton candy¡­ but also not. It wasn¡¯t comparable to anything else¡ªjust a sensation that couldn¡¯t be described.


    She wanted to keep kissing Zhengran forever.


    How magical¡­


    Her breathing became uneven.


    Soft, whimpering sounds slipped from her throat.


    She felt Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand slide down her back, fingers slowly unfastening a certain clasp.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s eyes fluttered open slightly, her usual lively gaze now glistening with moisture.


    Lin Zhengran paused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She hesitated, then whispered, ¡°Nothing¡­¡±


    But feeling his hands starting to misbehave, she grew flustered and murmured, ¡°Idiot Zhengran¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran chuckled and leaned in again, continuing to kiss her. Jiang Xueli responded shyly, her hand resting lightly against his chest.


    Then, slowly, her other hand slid down¡ªbrushing against his firm abdominal muscles.


    And then¡­


    She blushed even harder, suddenly remembering the she had seen earlier when she first entered the room.


    It¡­ seemed a bit different now.


    Just as she was about to move closer¡ª


    A familiar voice came from the room next door.


    ¡°Hurry up, hurry up! Why is this jacket so hard to take off?!¡±


    A man¡¯s voice.


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Seriously?¡± A woman¡¯s voice¡ªalso familiar.


    ¡°Well, the one who made me eat all that softshell turtle, lamb kidney, and chicken gizzard earlier. Now I feel all over. My forehead is literally burning.¡±


    ¡°Pfft.¡± The woman chuckled. ¡°And you call yourself a teacher? Look how impatient you are. Besides, were the one who said you liked eating kidneys, so I took you there. Now look at you.¡±


    ¡°Well, you shouldn¡¯t have ordered so much! I couldn¡¯t waste it, so I had to finish it all, and now¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, ordered too much?¡± The woman scoffed. ¡°Who was the one who said during our date the other day that they were kidneys? And who also said that while Jia Baoyu was born with a piece of enchanted jade in his mouth, must have been born with a piece of lamb kidney, since you need to eat them all the time?¡±


    Their conversation was .


    At first, Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t think much of it.


    But when it got to part¡ª


    They burst into laughter.


    They turned to look at each other, grinning from ear to ear.


    Lin Zhengran frowned playfully. ¡°Why do their voices sound so familiar? Especially the woman¡¯s¡­ She sounds kinda like¡­ our homeroom teacher?¡±


    Jiang Xueli, still blushing, leaned in and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s not ¡ªit them. Our homeroom teacher and the Class 1 homeroom teacher. I saw them earlier downstairs. I guess they were just passing by and decided to stop here for a room.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was shocked. Then, thoughtful.


    ¡°I remember hearing rumors at school that they were a couple, but I never really paid attention¡­ So it¡¯s actually true? And they just to book a room next to ours? What are the odds?¡±


    Jiang Xueli glanced at the wall beside them and murmured, ¡°But¡­ why can we hear them so clearly? Is the soundproofing bad?¡±


    Lin Zhengran turned to inspect the wall.


    ¡°Well, poor soundproofing is normal for small-town hotels. Plus, their voices are pretty loud. But technically, their bed shouldn¡¯t be against wall. This side should be¡­ the bathroom.¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face red.


    ¡°¡­Wait, you mean they¡¯re in the bathroom¡­?¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as she spoke¡ª


    A loud sound came from next door.


    And it wasn¡¯t small.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s face turned beet red.


    She bit her lip in mortification.


    Because these were voices they .


    Lin Zhengran, meanwhile, looked deeply uncomfortable.


    It wasn¡¯t that this sort of thing was unusual. Everyone did it.


    But hearing his own in the next room making noises¡­?


    Yeah. needed that mental image.


    He could picture their usual serious expressions from the classroom.


    Jiang Xueli also sensed the mood shift.


    And just then¡ª


    Her stomach let out a loud .


    She froze.


    Then she to make eye contact with Lin Zhengran.


    Lin Zhengran, of course, heard it. ¡°You¡¯re hungry?¡±


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s voice was barely audible. The noises next door were still going, so she had to whisper.


    ¡°¡­Kind of.¡± She wanted to . ¡°B-but it¡¯s not important! The main thing is that¡­ that¡­¡±


    She was practically inside. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ way too awkward.¡±


    Lin Zhengran sighed, running a hand over her waist again, watching as her brows furrowed and her face burned even brighter.


    ¡°¡­Zhengran¡­¡± She covered her lips with her hand.


    The truth was, Lin Zhengran hadn¡¯t to take things any further.


    But now?


    Lili¡¯s soft, teasing touches, her breathy whimpers, even the way she bit his finger earlier¡ªshe was better at this than he expected.


    Clearly, she had seen some¡­ questionable content before.


    But¡ª


    There was still a certain little fox waiting in another room for him.


    And in a few hours, he had to pick up He Qing.


    ¡°Too much going on today,¡± he finally said. ¡°Even if the teachers weren¡¯t making those noises, two hours is too rushed. If we can¡¯t take our time and enjoy it, there¡¯s no point.¡±


    Jiang Xueli slowly looked up at him.


    He wasn¡¯t wrong.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ You¡¯re right,¡± she murmured. ¡°And if you do¡­ ¡­ and then immediately went to pick up He Qing, I¡¯d just feel weird about it.¡±


    She hesitated for a moment, then, for once, .


    ¡°¡­How about this?¡±


    She bit her lip. ¡°Next week, when we go on our trip, we¡¯ll all book separate rooms, right? I¡¯ll come to yours at night. I¡¯ll come early.¡±


    Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow.


    Then, he smirked.


    Jiang Xueli felt her face heat up even more. ¡°W-why are you smiling, Zhengran?! I ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to explain? Unless you had a meaning?¡±


    Jiang Xueli clenched her lips together.


    ¡°¡­Fine. No explanation needed. I exactly what I said.¡±


    But as they spoke, the sounds from next door continued.


    Which made conversation feel¡­ extremely .


    Lin Zhengran ruffled Jiang Xueli¡¯s hair. She buried her forehead against his chest.


    Thirty minutes later¡ª


    Lin Zhengran stepped out of the room, fully dressed.


    Time to go find a certain little fox.


    Sure enough, Lili watched movies, she would fall asleep¡ªso long as it was with him.


    Even with food.


    Even with¡­ from next door.


    She still curled up against him and dozed off.


    But¡­


    Lin Zhengran had to admit¡ª


    For the first time in years, Lili had actually to ignite a fire in him.


    That¡­ was unexpected.


    Now, he stood outside Room 104.


    Knocking lightly, he called out, ¡°Wenwen? It¡¯s me. Open up.¡±


    Inside, the dimly lit room was silent.


    Han Wenwen sat on the edge of the bed, legs hanging off the side.


    Her fox-like eyes were downcast, full of longing.


    She had been waiting.


    And now, hearing his voice¡ª


    She lit up again.


    She rushed to open the door.


    As soon as she saw him¡ª


    She herself into his arms.


    ¡°Zhengran-gege, you came!¡±


    And before he could say a word¡ª


    Han Wenwen hooked her arms around his neck¡ª


    And kissed him.

 Chapter 208: Captivating and Enchanting

    The little fox¡¯s delicate figure pressed up against Lin Zhengran.


    Leaning against the room door, Lin Zhengran felt the fox¡¯s proactive and affectionate demeanor. Han Wenwen¡¯s slender hands wrapped gently around his neck, her warm breath brushing against his cheek.


    Their lips met.


    During the kiss, the lingering frustration in Lin Zhengran¡¯s heart flared up again. He pulled Han Wenwen closer, his arms encircling her slim waist.


    Each of the three girls had their own charms, but Han Wenwen¡¯s figure¡ªher waist and hips¡ªwas unmatched. As his hands traced along her slender waist, he couldn¡¯t find a single flaw in her silhouette. Holding her close, he felt the perfect curves within his embrace.


    His hand slipped under her top.


    Sensing something different in Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen¡¯s fox-like eyes slowly opened, her cheeks flushed. She had been waiting for nearly an hour, feeling restless and anxious.


    "Brother Zhengran?"


    She wasn¡¯t calm at the moment. The thought of the man she adored being with someone else under the same roof had made her uneasy. When she saw Lily buying certain things at the store, her heart clenched.


    Even though Lily was also his girlfriend, Wenwen had her own desires. Seeing Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression now¡ªhis heartbeat, the warmth of his breath, the hint of impulse in his eyes¡ªshe suddenly realized something.


    A trace of joy flashed across her face. "Brother Zhengran¡­ you didn¡¯t sleep with Lily, did you? Even though you smell just like her, and your lips¡­"


    Their eyes met. In Wenwen¡¯s pupils, Lin Zhengran¡¯s reflection was clear as if imprinted there forever.


    Lin Zhengran responded, "Sleep with Lily? Do you know how many messages you sent me while I was with her? I could practically see you panicking through my phone. Besides, I still have to pick up He Qing this afternoon, and with everything that happened in the next room¡­"


    Han Wenwen chuckled. The conversation was packed with information, but she chose not to ask for details, not wanting to ruin the mood.


    Lin Zhengran continued, "And anyway, the whole reason I got a room with Lily was to watch a movie together. Although later¡­"


    Han Wenwen pressed a finger against his lips. "That¡¯s enough, Brother Zhengran. I don¡¯t need to hear about you and Lily. All I need to know is that you didn¡¯t sleep with her."


    During their kiss earlier, she could taste a faint sweetness on his lips¡ªa lingering trace of Lily. If it were any other time, she would have been jealous for days. But compared to everything else, this was trivial.


    A smile curved on her lips. Standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms tightly around him before resting her ear against his chest, listening to his heartbeat¡ªfaster than usual.


    Her gaze changed. A mix of allure and shyness filled her eyes as she looked up at him again.


    She didn¡¯t need words to know¡ªLily had clearly stirred something in him.


    Lin Zhengran was not only more assertive than usual but also had an intense look in his eyes, like a predator eyeing its prey.


    Though she didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened, she had a feeling that if Lily had continued to push things further¡­


    Han Wenwen¡¯s heartbeat quickened.


    She suddenly took his hand and guided it lower, placing it on her waist¡ªjust a bit further down.


    Feeling the warmth of his palm, Lin Zhengran¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. "Wenwen?"


    Han Wenwen bit her lower lip, her rosy lips turning slightly pale from the pressure.


    "Wenwen can fulfill any of Brother Zhengran¡¯s desires. If we have enough time, we don¡¯t have to leave this room for two days. But if time is short¡­"


    She leaned in, whispering against his ear, "I can still help you relax in another way, ease some of that stress."


    Then, she playfully bit his earlobe. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her voice was soft and teasing, each word spoken slowly:


    "Brother Zhengran, you don¡¯t have to hold back with me. Just do whatever feels best. As long as you¡¯re happy, I¡¯m happy. I belong to you completely, and I¡¯ll do anything for you."


    The breath from her lips seemed to stoke the fire in his eyes.


    They locked gazes, and in the next instant, their lips met again, without hesitation.


    One of Han Wenwen¡¯s hands cradled the back of his head, while the other trailed down his chest, slowly moving lower¡­


    ¡­¡­


    Lin Zhengran let out a deep breath, his eyes slowly closing as he ran a hand through Han Wenwen¡¯s hair. His earlier frustration had finally eased.


    He glanced at the clock¡ªalready past three in the afternoon.


    Han Wenwen playfully opened her mouth and glanced at him.


    Lin Zhengran shook his head with a wry smile, ruffling her hair.


    She gazed up at him with those bright, enchanting eyes, unmoving, until he pulled her into his embrace.


    Still blushing, Han Wenwen licked her lips. "Brother Zhengran, are you feeling calmer now? Not as tense anymore?"


    Lin Zhengran took in the scent of her hair and held her tightly.


    "I was perfectly calm when I came looking for you. But then you threw yourself at me the moment I stepped in. Come here, let¡¯s just lie down and rest for a bit¡ªyou must be exhausted."


    Han Wenwen shook her head, secretly pleased. "Not at all. I¡¯m your girl, Brother Zhengran. How could I be tired from taking care of you? I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way."


    She leaned in for another kiss but hesitated, blushing. "I¡¯ll just go wash my face first. Wait for me."


    Lin Zhengran raised a brow. "Do you really need to?"


    She nuzzled against his neck playfully. "Of course! Otherwise, I¡¯ll feel weird when we kiss again. Okay, Brother Zhengran?" She tilted her head, eyes sparkling. "Master~"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled, brushing his thumb over her lips.


    This fox¡­ she always seemed to know exactly what to do, as if it was instinct.


    Even if she wasn¡¯t experienced at first, she learned quickly, adjusting to his every reaction.


    "Go ahead."


    "Mhm, I¡¯ll be quick!"


    Smiling, she skipped off to the bathroom, while Lin Zhengran sat on the bed, letting out a quiet sigh.


    When he left the house this morning, he never expected any of this to happen¡ªespecially not Han Wenwen taking it upon herself to help him unwind.


    A few moments later, she returned from the bathroom.


    She had planned to throw herself into his arms again but stumbled slightly, her legs a bit weak.


    Lin Zhengran, quick to react, reached out and caught her just in time.


    Han Wenwen, both embarrassed and shy, said, "My legs feel a bit weak... I want to lie on Brother Zhengran¡¯s lap and rest for a while. I want you to pet my head."


    They shared a brief kiss.


    Lin Zhengran leaned against the headboard, while the little fox kicked off her shoes and lay down on his lap, using her arms as a pillow. Her legs curled up, making her look just like a small animal relying on its owner.


    "As expected, Brother Zhengran is really fierce. You were a bit rough just now too¡­ If only we had more time today¡­"


    Enjoying the way he stroked her hair, Han Wenwen closed her eyes comfortably, biting her lip as she replayed the moment in her mind.


    Lin Zhengran doted on her, saying, "It was too sudden today, and I didn¡¯t have time to hold you properly. Next time, I¡¯ll come to your place."


    "Really?!" Han Wenwen was delighted to hear that, but "next time" felt too vague. A thought crossed her mind.


    "Brother Zhengran, forget next time. Aren¡¯t we going on a trip to the mountains soon? When we¡¯re there, I¡¯ll find a way to sneak over to you."


    She rubbed her face against his hand, her fox-like eyes gleaming with irresistible charm.

 Chapter 209: Adorable Lily

    Just then, Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone rang.


    Jiang Xueli had woken up in the hotel room after sleeping for over an hour, only to find that Lin Zhengran was nowhere to be seen. Being in an unfamiliar place, waking up alone made her panic, so she immediately called him.


    Lin Zhengran glanced at the caller ID and answered.


    Jiang Xueli anxiously asked, "Hello? Zhengran, where did you go? Why aren¡¯t you in the room?"


    Lin Zhengran was still stroking Han Wenwen¡¯s hair. The little fox, though a bit jealous, felt secretly proud after what had just happened.


    While Lin Zhengran was on the phone, she slowly sat up and leaned closer to him.


    "I¡¯m out buying water," Lin Zhengran replied. "There wasn¡¯t any left in the room. I¡¯ll be back soon."


    "Buying water? Oh, okay¡­ then hurry back."


    "Mm, I¡¯ll be there in three minutes."


    Just as he spoke, Han Wenwen bit down gently on his ear.


    Lin Zhengran tightened his grip around her waist and said to Lily, "Alright, I¡¯m hanging up now."


    After ending the call, he turned to the fox. "What are you up to this time?"


    Han Wenwen smiled mischievously. "Nothing~ Just checking if Zhengran gege is still fired up."


    "You really know how to stir things up."


    Lin Zhengran pulled her into another kiss.


    After a while, Han Wenwen blushed and asked, "I didn¡¯t get the chance to ask earlier¡­ was it good?"


    Lin Zhengran smirked. "What do you think? My Wenwen is amazing."


    That little compliment filled her with pride. She thought to herself that now that things had progressed to this point, Zhengran gege was clearly no longer the reserved type.


    Before, he wouldn¡¯t even hold her for too long, but now, his arm stayed around her waist the entire time. The difference seemed subtle, but to her, it meant everything.


    Lin Zhengran said, "I¡¯m heading back to Lily. Take your time getting home."


    The little fox nodded obediently.


    She walked him to the door, waved him off, and watched as he headed up to the second floor.


    A flicker of jealousy crept into her heart again.


    She returned to the room and sat in the spot where Lin Zhengran had been lying. Leaning against the headboard, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders.


    Her body had no energy left.


    She lightly touched her lips with her slender fingers¡ªit felt like she had chewed too much gum.


    A little exhausted, yes¡­


    But at the same time, there was a deep sense of satisfaction, like savoring a perfect meal.


    Lingering, unforgettable.


    "I¡¯ve never seen Zhengran gege make that expression before."


    She recalled the moment when his brow had relaxed, her heartbeat quickening. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So cute¡­ Every little thing I did made his expression change, and his eyes were only on me."


    Her hand slid to her thigh, and she slowly closed her eyes.


    "If we had more time today¡­ I definitely would¡¯ve had Zhengran gege all to myself."


    She let out a soft sigh.


    Her mind wandered.


    "Zhengran gege¡­ Zhengran gege¡­ Wenwen wants you¡­ I¡¯ll do whatever you want me to do¡­"


    ¡ª¡ª


    Walking out of the first-floor room, Lin Zhengran felt a sense of ease.


    That past hour had relieved some of the tension he had unknowingly accumulated over the years.


    He went to the front desk and bought two bottles of water.


    By the time he returned to the second-floor room, Jiang Xueli was still sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, lost in thought.


    She had just woken from a dream¡ªone she wouldn¡¯t dare speak of.


    A dream where she and Zhengran¡­ were doing things in a secluded forest.


    The sound of the door opening startled her.


    "Zhengran? Is that you?"


    Lin Zhengran walked in, placing the water bottles on the nightstand. "Yeah, you¡¯re awake?"


    Jiang Xueli, her twin tails slightly tousled, let out a breath of relief when she saw him.


    But as she recalled her dream and the events before she fell asleep, she could still feel a certain warmth lingering in her palms¡­


    His warmth.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m awake. What time are you picking up He Qing?"


    Lin Zhengran lifted the blanket and sat down beside her. Checking his phone, he replied, "It¡¯s 3:20 now. Probably before 4. I¡¯ll take a cab there."


    He explained, "Even though He Qing arrives around six, the high-speed rail station is in the city center, so it¡¯ll take me about an hour to get there."


    Jiang Xueli nodded blankly.


    Only twenty minutes left¡­


    Lin Zhengran noticed her staring at him. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Jiang Xueli snapped out of it and quickly looked away. "I-I wasn¡¯t looking at you!"


    Sitting on the bed, Lin Zhengran recalled how she had fallen asleep during their movie and asked curiously, "Lily, you¡¯re kind of amazing, you know? Every time we watch a movie together, you end up dozing off. Does that happen when you¡¯re watching at home too?"


    Jiang Xueli huffed.


    "Of course not! I can watch movies just fine with my parents at home! Even in class, when teachers played movies, I never fell asleep!"


    "That makes it even more interesting."


    Jiang Xueli pouted. "Who knows¡­ Maybe I get too nervous when I¡¯m with you, and then when the movie starts, I relax too much and just fall asleep¡­"


    She quickly added, "Of course, that¡¯s just a guess! I don¡¯t actually know why it happens!"


    Even though they didn¡¯t get to watch the movie this time either, the fact that Zhengran had taken her somewhere special like this still made her heart warm.


    And the memory of their kiss¡­ was still vivid in her mind.


    She clenched her fists slightly.


    Just then, she felt Lin Zhengran¡¯s hand gently touching her twin tails.


    She froze. "Z-Zhengran, what are you doing?"


    "Nothing." He casually replied, "Just feeling your hair. I have to say, Lily, your blonde hair looks really good. I used to imagine what you¡¯d look like with this color, but seeing it in person¡­ it¡¯s way cuter than I thought."


    Her face turned bright red. "Is it really that nice? You¡¯re exaggerating!"


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t answer directly.


    Instead, he simply said, "I¡¯ve told you before, haven¡¯t I? In my eyes, you¡¯re the cutest girl. You¡¯re always loud and full of energy, but every time you walk or turn your head, your twin tails bounce up and down. It¡¯s fun to watch."


    Jiang Xueli pursed her lips, then turned her head away. "Tch! You make it sound like I¡¯m some hyperactive kid."


    After a pause, she mumbled softly, "But¡­ as long as you like it, that¡¯s all that matters."


    "Mm?"


    Flustered, Jiang Xueli squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out¡ª


    "I said, as long as you''re happy! I mean, I dress up every day just for you, you big idiot! If you think it''s cute, I''ll keep tying my hair like this. If you don''t like it, I''ll change it. Either way¡­ either way¡­ I''m your girlfriend, so whatever makes you happy."


    Lin Zhengran chuckled softly and patted her head dotingly. "That good to me, huh?"


    Jiang Xueli lowered her head slightly and muttered, "When have I ever been bad to you¡­ idiot¡­"


    She really liked the way Zhengran stroked her hair¡ªit felt comforting. But¡­ she also kind of wanted to kiss him again, like they had before she fell asleep.


    After all, Zhengran was about to go pick up He Qing.


    If she didn¡¯t kiss him now, once He Qing arrived, she¡¯d probably be staying at Zhengran¡¯s place, right? Who knew when the next chance would come?


    But how was she supposed to ask for a kiss? Should she just say it outright? That¡¯d be so weird¡­


    Her eyes landed on the bottle of water on the nightstand, and suddenly, an idea popped into her head.


    "Z-Zhengran¡­ are you thirsty?"


    Lin Zhengran absentmindedly played with her twin tails, enjoying how silky smooth they felt. "I¡¯m fine."


    Jiang Xueli looked up at him. "What do you mean ''fine''? Didn''t you go out to buy water because you were thirsty? That means you must be thirsty. Here, let me open a bottle for you."


    She reached for the water but realized Zhengran still hadn¡¯t let go of her hair. Left with no choice, she awkwardly leaned forward, letting him continue playing with her twin tails while grabbing the bottle.


    She tried to twist it open but found the cap surprisingly tight.


    Lin Zhengran reached over. "Here, I got it."


    He effortlessly twisted the cap open, but just as he was about to take a sip, Jiang Xueli suddenly snatched the bottle away.


    "Wait! Let me drink first!"


    She raised the bottle and took a big gulp.


    Lin Zhengran stared at her, puzzled. What was this girl up to now?


    Her face flushed red as she mumbled, "You know¡­ mineral water doesn¡¯t have any taste, it¡¯s so bland. So, you could taste it through a kis¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Lin Zhengran suddenly pulled her into his arms.


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to say, but with how red your face is, I can already guess. Just kiss me yourself."


    Jiang Xueli stared at him blankly.


    Zhengran¡¯s expression¡­ it almost seemed like he was reminiscing about their last kiss, like he hadn¡¯t had enough.


    Did that mean¡­ he missed it too?


    Her lips gently brushed against his, then she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in completely as their lips met again.


    But just as she reached out with her other hand to hold onto him¡­


    Her fingers touched the bed where she had been lying earlier.


    The sheets felt a little damp.

 Chapter 210: Playboy

    The dampness on the sheets instantly brought Jiang Xueli back to her senses.


    She touched the spot again, confirming that it was indeed wet, and immediately felt both embarrassed and awkward. She instinctively reached for the blanket to cover it up.


    What the heck? she panicked. Did I¡­ wet the bed?!


    Then, she remembered the dream she had earlier.


    No way¡­ That would be way too embarrassing.


    Lin Zhengran noticed her strange behavior. He pulled back slightly and looked at her curiously. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Jiang Xueli immediately denied it. "Nothing! What do you mean, what¡¯s wrong?"


    Seeing her act all flustered and trying to cover something, he tilted his head, trying to peek. She quickly shifted her body to block him.


    Lin Zhengran frowned. "What are you hiding? Move aside."


    "No way!" She bit her lip hard in embarrassment.


    "Come on, let me see."


    "I said no!"


    Lin Zhengran reached out, cupping her face. Jiang Xueli shuddered slightly at his touch, and in that split second, he took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, exposing the part of the bed she had been trying to hide.


    On the sheets, there was a small but visible damp patch.


    "Huh?"


    Jiang Xueli wanted to bury herself in the ground. She quickly reached out, trying to cover his eyes. "Don¡¯t look, you idiot!"


    But Lin Zhengran had already seen it.


    "What¡¯s this? Did you wet the bed?"


    She froze. "No way! I¡¯m not a kid anymore! Why would I wet the bed?! I¡­ I must¡¯ve spilled water on it when I was drinking just now!"


    "Really?"


    "Of course! What else could it be¡­?"


    Jiang Xueli was at a complete loss for words. She turned her face away, avoiding his gaze, but her red ears gave her away.


    Lin Zhengran observed her reaction and shrugged. "Well, that¡¯s some serious clumsiness."


    She stayed silent.


    After a moment, she mumbled, "Why do you care anyway¡­"


    The room fell into an awkward silence.


    Jiang Xueli glanced away and quietly asked, "Zhengran¡­ why aren¡¯t you saying anything?"


    "Say what?"


    She huffed, "Anything! It just feels weird when you don¡¯t talk."


    "Nothing to say. I believe you."


    "You¡ª! Hmph!"


    "But I do remember you saying we should take things slow¡ªholding hands first, then hugging, then kissing. Well, now that we¡¯ve gone through all of that¡­ Since there¡¯s no time today, next time I really won¡¯t hold back."


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s voice trembled slightly.


    "Mm¡­ We already agreed, didn¡¯t we? When we go on the mountain trip, I¡¯ll sneak over to you at night. When that happens¡­ you can do whatever you want."


    It was almost 4 PM, time to pack up and check out.


    Jiang Xueli got out of bed, sat at the edge, and slipped on her little white socks and shoes. She then untied her twin-tail ribbons, ran her fingers through her hair, and neatly re-tied them.


    Before heading to the bathroom, she suddenly glanced at Lin Zhengran, who was scrolling through his phone.


    "Zhengran¡­"


    "Mm?"


    "I¡¯m not¡­ too small, right?"


    He looked up. "What do you mean?"


    She pursed her lips. "Like¡­ my height, weight, proportions¡­?"


    Lin Zhengran chuckled. "You¡¯re just right. You¡¯re not super tall, and your figure is perfect for you. It suits you well."


    Feeling reassured, Jiang Xueli walked into the bathroom, muttering under her breath, "Good¡­ But Zhengran, you on the other hand¡­ hmph¡­"


    Lin Zhengran overheard her mumbling something, sweat forming on his forehead.


    No way, it¡¯s not that bad¡­


    As he got up to put on his jacket, he accidentally knocked over Jiang Xueli¡¯s pillow.


    That¡¯s when he noticed something underneath it.


    Four full boxes of condoms.


    Each box containing ten.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "Damn, Lily, that¡¯s quite a stash. When did you buy so many?"


    Jiang Xueli, still in the bathroom, immediately responded in a flustered tone. "What?! I just didn¡¯t know how many came in a box, so I bought a few extra! I grabbed them when I was getting you a towel! It¡¯s not about ¡®having a big appetite¡¯ or whatever!"


    Lin Zhengran remembered that the bathroom was barely soundproof.


    He smirked. "Well, they won¡¯t go to waste. We can use them later."


    Jiang Xueli went silent.


    There was nothing she could say to that.


    But sitting on the toilet, she checked a certain something.


    Well¡­ that¡¯s ruined. These won¡¯t be usable at all. Might as well toss them¡­


    After packing up, Jiang Xueli finally took out the clothes she had bought for Lin Zhengran and had him try them on. Satisfied with how they looked, she packed them up, and they left the hotel.


    On the roadside, Jiang Xueli asked, "Zhengran, are we heading straight to pick up He Qing?"


    "Yeah, better to go early. If she gets off the train and doesn¡¯t see me, she¡¯ll probably keep blowing up my phone." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli sighed. Zhengran really likes He Qing¡­


    This idiot was great at everything¡ªexcept he was way too much of a playboy.


    Then, Lin Zhengran glanced at her. "Wait, you¡¯re coming too?"


    Jiang Xueli nodded. "Of course. He Qing and I are both your girlfriends. We¡¯ll be living together in the future. Since she¡¯s coming to town, how could I not go pick her up? We¡¯re basically sisters."


    Lin Zhengran nodded. "Alright, let¡¯s go together. I¡¯ll call a cab."


    While waiting for the taxi, Jiang Xueli casually asked, "Is He Qing staying at your place tonight?"


    "I originally planned for her to, but she said she¡¯d rather stay at a hotel for a few days. She thinks staying at my place would be inconvenient. So after picking her up, I¡¯ll help her find a place to stay."


    "Mm." Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t think much of it at first. "Makes sense. Even though He Qing is close with your parents, she¡¯s still technically a guest at your house."


    The taxi was about to arrive when something suddenly clicked in her mind.


    "Wait a second! Zhengran, are you saying you were originally planning to get a hotel with her tonight?!"


    Lin Zhengran looked down at her shocked expression. "Technically speaking, yeah."


    Her hands balled into fists. "So were you even planning to go home tonight?!"


    "We¡¯ll see."


    "Who would believe that?! You¡¯d have all night together! You two would obviously end up doing everything!"


    No way!


    She couldn¡¯t let Zhengran and He Qing stay together alone tonight.


    Just remembering how his hands had wandered when he kissed her earlier¡­ If they had an entire night together, he would definitely¡­


    Jiang Xueli blurted out, "If He Qing is afraid of sleeping alone, I¡¯ll stay with her for the next few nights! And if you don¡¯t leave, then I¡¯m staying too! No way am I letting you two be alone overnight!"


    Lin Zhengran blinked at her.


    She instantly pointed at him. "See! I knew you weren¡¯t planning to go home! You look so disappointed right now!"


    The taxi arrived.


    Lin Zhengran sighed. "What look? Get in the car."


    Jiang Xueli puffed out her cheeks in jealousy, turned away with a huff, and climbed in.


    Stupid playboy. Seriously the worst.

 Chapter 211: Coincidence

    Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli got in the car and headed out.


    But right after the taxi pulled away, inside the hotel lobby, a little fox was hiding in the corner, secretly eavesdropping on their conversation.


    She was a little shocked.


    Little Qingqing is getting a room with Brother Zhengran tonight? Not staying at his place?


    When Brother Zhengran came looking for her just now, he did mention it briefly.


    But since she was in the middle of kind of thing, she didn¡¯t ask much or think too hard about it. Now that she was piecing it together¡­ Little Qingqing came all the way from the south to the town and didn¡¯t even tell her?


    Han Wenwen took out her phone and double-checked that He Qing hadn¡¯t messaged her.


    Since there was no message, that meant Little Qingqing hadn¡¯t planned to tell anyone at all. In other words, if Brother Zhengran went to pick her up alone, then something was going to happen tonight...


    Looks like ever since graduating high school, everyone¡¯s been eyeing Brother Zhengran. They all want to be his first...


    Han Wenwen finished the thought and subconsciously touched her lips.


    She could still faintly taste Brother Zhengran on them.


    Blushing, she grabbed her room card and walked to the front desk. ¡°I¡¯d like to check out.¡±


    Once the room was checked out, Han Wenwen stepped out and hailed a cab to the station as well.


    ...


    Inside the taxi, Jiang Xueli sat beside Lin Zhengran, sneaking glances at him the whole time.


    Lin Zhengran was staring out the window at the scenery. Suddenly, he turned back and asked, ¡°Why do you keep staring at me?¡±


    Jiang Xueli froze. She thought to herself, If she talked too much, the driver might overhear, so she just mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ I just have a question for you. I¡¯ll ask when we get to the station.¡±


    Lin Zhengran was a bit confused but didn¡¯t press it.


    After saying that, Jiang Xueli gently leaned against Lin Zhengran¡¯s shoulder, testing the waters.


    She let out a silent sigh.


    The hour-long ride was quiet. Jiang Xueli didn¡¯t say much.


    When they finally got to the station, the two of them found a quiet spot to sit down. Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°So, what was it you wanted to say?¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing big¡­ it¡¯s just, you never really explained what happened with Fang Meng. It¡¯s been days. Are you two close or something? Why were you out singing karaoke with her? And there were rumors... plus she was supposedly taking care of your uncle and aunt?¡±


    Lin Zhengran blinked. ¡°So that¡¯s what this is about.¡±


    Jiang Xueli pouted, jealous.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d forgotten, did you?! That kind of thing is way too important to forget! If I didn¡¯t care about stuff like this, I¡¯d be a pretty lousy girlfriend, wouldn¡¯t I? You¡¯re the most¡­ the most important person to me!¡± She always liked to clench her little fists when she got nervous.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Honestly, there¡¯s not much between me and Fang Meng. Nothing happened. I went to the KTV with her because she¡¯d been fighting with Jiang Qian at the time. As for why I helped her¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran gave her a quick summary of what had happened.


    Jiang Xueli¡¯s lively, cute eyes widened slowly. ¡°What?! You and Fang Meng were childhood betrothed too? How is there suddenly childhood engagement?!¡±


    She spoke a bit too loudly. People around them turned to look. Embarrassed, Jiang Xueli apologized to the others.


    Then she turned back, full of jealousy. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Zhengran?! Another childhood betrothal?! Wasn¡¯t it Jiang Qian before?¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought to himself,


    ¡°My engagement with Fang Meng was arranged by my parents. As for Jiang Qian... she¡¯s not the one. My other childhood fianc¨¦e is actually Jiang Jingshi.¡±


    ¡°Jiang Jingshi? Wait a second¡ªdid you say Jiang Jing¡ª?!¡±


    Lin Zhengran quickly covered her mouth, motioning for her to lower her voice. Even though Lili wasn¡¯t being loud, they were still at a station.


    With his hand over her mouth, Jiang Xueli thought back to that beautiful, gentle president of Zhengshi Group. No wonder something had felt off when they first met.


    It was because she had treated Zhengran a little well... sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And Zhengran being the general manager of Zhengshi Group while Jiang Jingshi was the deputy GM¡ªof course their relationship would be close.


    Even though nothing had happened between them , this still wasn¡¯t exactly good news.


    Jiang Xueli gave two muffled sounds to say, ¡°Okay, let go, I won¡¯t yell.¡±


    Only then did Lin Zhengran move his hand away.


    With her hair dyed golden, Full-Power Mode Lili glared at Lin Zhengran like a proud tsundere, then turned her head and huffed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to say anymore. Every pretty girl seems to have something going on with you! You¡¯re such a player.¡±


    ¡°Have I been a player lately? It¡¯s still just you few.¡±


    Jiang Xueli wanted to argue, but when she thought about it, it wasn¡¯t really Zhengran¡¯s fault. The childhood betrothals weren¡¯t something he chose¡ªthey basically fell out of the sky.


    Still... Fang Meng, Jiang Qian, Jiang Jingshi¡ªnone of them were easy to deal with. All beautiful, all constantly in contact with Zhengran.


    She noticed the collar of his shirt was a little crooked and, annoyed, reached out to fix it for him.


    At that moment, out of the corner of her eye, Lili suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the distance, slowly walking toward them.


    She thought, This was the second time today: ¡°Han Wenwen?¡±


    Wearing a yellow-and-white dress, Han Wenwen walked over. The little fox had a shopping bag in her hand, like she¡¯d just been out at the mall.


    ¡°Lili, Lin Zhengran? What a coincidence, running into you again.¡± She waved with a smile.


    Both Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli looked over at her.


    Lin Zhengran¡¯s expression shifted slightly, as if asking with his eyes,


    Han Wenwen gently bit her lip. Just from that, Lin Zhengran knew exactly what she meant. This clingy fox had always been like this.


    Han Wenwen smiled and said, ¡°What are you two doing here? And Lili, did you dye your hair? It looks amazing!¡±


    Jiang Xueli was flattered by the compliment and smoothed her hair with her hand, though she couldn¡¯t help thinking how this was.


    ¡°Thanks. Han Wenwen, what are you doing out shopping here? You came to the city alone?¡±


    Han Wenwen made up an excuse on the spot:


    ¡°It¡¯s break anyway and I had nothing to do. I saw a video online about a dessert shop that opened in the city, so I came to check it out. Was just wandering around and happened to bump into you two. So, what brings to the station?¡±


    Lin Zhengran: ¡°We¡¯re here to pick up He Qing.¡±


    Han Wenwen sat down on Lin Zhengran¡¯s other side. ¡°Little Qingqing¡¯s coming?¡±


    Jiang Xueli was curious: ¡°She didn¡¯t tell you?¡±


    Han Wenwen shook her head. ¡°Nope. Didn¡¯t she say she¡¯d come a week after graduation? I thought that¡¯s when she was showing up.¡±


    Jiang Xueli thought for a moment.


    Han Wenwen: ¡°Well, since we ran into each other, let¡¯s wait together.¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded.


    Han Wenwen pulled a lollipop from her bag and handed one each to Jiang Xueli and Lin Zhengran. Lili took it and thanked her.


    Lin Zhengran said he didn¡¯t want any.


    Han Wenwen opened one for herself and moved to put it in her mouth¡ªthen suddenly winced. ¡°Ow¡ª¡±


    Jiang Xueli asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Han Wenwen blushed a little and brushed it off. ¡°Nothing, my mouth¡¯s just kinda sore. A bit numb.¡±


    ¡°Your mouth¡¯s tired? How does a mouth get tired?¡± Lili didn¡¯t get it.


    ¡°Probably from chewing gum. I had too much today. I¡¯ll skip the candy.¡± She wrapped the lollipop in a tissue and tossed it in the trash can nearby.


    Just then, Lin Zhengran watched her movements. Han Wenwen, after sitting down properly again, sneakily bit her lower lip and gave Lin Zhengran a quick glance¡ªthat spoiled, flirty look in her eyes seemed to say,

 Chapter 212: Sense of Responsibility

    It was almost 6 p.m. when Lin Zhengran¡¯s phone rang.


    It was Little He Qing calling: ¡°Hey, Zhengran? Are you there yet? My train¡¯s about to arrive.¡±


    While Lin Zhengran was on the call, both girls beside him looked over.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been here. You¡¯ll see me as soon as you come out.¡±


    On the high-speed train, Little He Qing replied sweetly, then used her phone as a mirror to fix the loose strands around her forehead and temples, hoping to make a good impression on Lin Zhengran.


    She thought about what might happen tonight. If it ended up being just the two of them...


    Even if they didn¡¯t anything, holding hands and cuddling would be okay, right?


    After all, the college entrance exams were over. It was time for her and him to get a little closer.


    The announcement played as the train slowed to a stop.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the Lvteng City passenger train. On behalf of the entire crew, we wish you a pleasant journey! For your safety, please note the following¡­¡±


    Everyone waiting for arriving passengers stood up to greet friends and family.


    Before long, the train doors opened, and a crowd of people poured out.


    In the middle of the crowd, Little He Qing pulled her suitcase along. The girl wore a cute dress with a white sheer blouse, and her ponytail swayed as she walked. Her sweet eyes scanned the crowd, searching for someone.


    When she finally spotted Lin Zhengran, she lit up and called out happily, ¡°Lin Zhengran!¡±


    She was just about to speed up, when she suddenly noticed two familiar figures standing behind him.


    Little He Qing froze on the spot, a feeling of ¡°plan failed¡± written all over her face. ¡°Lili¡­ Wenwen? Why are here too? And Lili¡¯s hair¡­¡±


    She saw Lili¡¯s golden twin ponytails¡ªabsolutely gorgeous.


    The four of them gathered together.


    Little He Qing smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here! Wenwen, Lili, you two came to pick me up too?¡±


    Jiang Xueli put her hands behind her back and smiled. ¡°I overheard while shopping with Zhengran that you were coming. We¡¯re close sisters¡ªof course I had to come meet you.¡±


    Han Wenwen grinned. ¡°I just happened to run into Lin Zhengran and Lili by chance. When I heard you were coming, I stayed to wait with them. But didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d be here next week? What made you come early?¡±


    Little He Qing glanced at Lin Zhengran. Though she was disappointed that her plan had flopped, she was still happy to see him.


    She really had missed him so much back home. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even eating hadn¡¯t been enjoyable.


    Giggling, she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t have anything to do at home, and you guys are all here. It was boring being alone in the south, so I came early on a whim. By the way, Lili, your hair! You look pretty with the blonde! It suits you so well! When did you get it done?¡±


    Jiang Xueli shyly tucked her hair behind her ear. ¡°Really? I just dyed it today. I¡¯ve actually wanted to do it for a while. Zhengran also said I¡¯d look good with blonde, so I finally found time to go for it.¡±


    Little He Qing felt a twinge of jealousy and gave Lin Zhengran another glance.


    Lin Zhengran reached out to take her suitcase. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat? You¡¯ve been on the train all day, and it¡¯s almost six.¡±


    None of the girls had any objections.


    Whenever Lin Zhengran spoke, they naturally went along.


    As he picked up her suitcase, Little He Qing softly said, ¡°I can carry it myself. It¡¯s pretty heavy.¡±


    ¡°Anything valuable inside?¡±


    ¡°No, just some clothes and daily stuff for the trip,¡± she shook her head.


    ¡°Then let me take it.¡±


    Seeing how firm he was, Little He Qing handed it over obediently. ¡°If it gets too heavy, let¡¯s take turns.¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not that serious. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Jiang Xueli, hearing their exchange, pretended not to care and walked beside Lin Zhengran, though inside she was thinking,


    Han Wenwen linked arms with Little He Qing. She didn¡¯t have any deep thoughts¡ªafter all, the two of them were ridiculously close¡ªbut she still felt a little jealous.


    They found a noodle shop nearby. These places were everywhere near the station.


    And the three girls were all hungry, so no one bothered looking elsewhere.


    Sitting at the table, Little He Qing thoughtfully wiped everyone¡¯s chopsticks and handed them out.


    Everyone thanked her.


    While they waited for their noodles, Little He Qing asked the other two girls, ¡°Do you guys like sweets? I brought some sticky rice cakes from home. My mom made them¡ªthey¡¯re super tasty! I¡¯ll let you try a few. I didn¡¯t bring a lot, though.¡±


    She had actually packed most of the sticky rice cakes separately¡ªthose were for Lin Zhengran. No one else was allowed to touch them.


    The moment Han Wenwen heard ¡°sticky rice cakes,¡± she lit up. Both girls were big fans of traditional snacks like these.


    ¡°Auntie made them again this year? Awesome, I want one!¡±


    Lili nodded too. ¡°Thanks, He Qing.¡±


    Little He Qing opened her suitcase. ¡°Hang on a sec.¡±


    She pulled out one big box and one small one. After finding the small one, she placed it on the table¡ªinside were six mini sticky rice cakes.


    These were the ones she had already prepared for Wenwen and Lili.


    She handed one to Lin Zhengran first. ¡°Lin Zhengran, this one¡¯s for you. Try it!¡±


    After he took his, she gave the others to the girls.


    Everyone took a bite.


    Lin Zhengran was surprised. ¡°Auntie¡¯s cooking is seriously good.¡±


    Little He Qing giggled. ¡°Right? I think so too. If you like it, I¡¯ll learn from my mom sometime and make them for you myself.¡±


    Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen both nodded in agreement after trying them. But out of nowhere, Han Wenwen¡¯s chewing started to slow down.


    Little He Qing noticed something was off. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Wenwen? You don¡¯t like it? You seem kinda weird eating it.¡±


    Han Wenwen¡¯s cheeks flushed pink. She thought back to earlier in the hotel¡ªshe hadn¡¯t felt anything then.


    But now, her lips were definitely feeling sore.


    Still not used to it.


    ¡°No, I just ate too much today. My cheeks are sore.¡±


    Little He Qing blinked. ¡°Your cheeks? Did you eat a ton of snacks today?¡±


    Han Wenwen answered casually, ¡°Not too many. I was walking around and saw this really strange kind of candy¡ªwhite, sticky, super sweet. Kinda tiring to eat.¡±


    Little He Qing was surprised. ¡°What candy is that? Sounds like those chewy ones we used to eat as kids. Those would wear my mouth out too. Where¡¯d you buy it?¡±


    Han Wenwen waved her hand.


    ¡°Not that kind. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve never had before. Tastes great, but the shopkeeper said it was still experimental and not for sale yet. If I get the chance, I¡¯ll take you down that street with me, see if we can find it again. If we do, we can¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but laugh mid-sentence because it was getting off track. ¡°...we can buy it together.¡±


    ¡°Sounds great! I¡¯m in!¡±


    After that, Han Wenwen slowly finished her sticky rice cake, chewing carefully. Lin Zhengran, on the other hand, shot a helpless look at the little fox.


    The noodles came soon after. The taste was average, but they were filling.


    After leaving the noodle shop, Lin Zhengran hailed a cab. Once the four of them got in, he sat up front while the girls took the back seat.


    ¡°He Qing, once we¡¯re back in town, I¡¯ll help you find a place to stay,¡± he said.


    Little He Qing nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Jiang Xueli whispered to her, ¡°He Qing, how about I stay with you at the hotel tonight? We can chat and hang out.¡±


    Little He Qing had hoped to be alone with Lin Zhengran, but with both Wenwen and Lili around, that clearly wasn¡¯t happening.


    ¡°Sure! I¡¯ve never stayed in a hotel before. I¡¯m kinda nervous about it.¡±


    Han Wenwen added, ¡°Then I¡¯ll join too. No point going back alone just to sleep by myself.¡±


    Little He Qing nodded again. ¡°Awesome, come with us, Wenwen!¡±


    After they agreed, the three girls unconsciously glanced at Lin Zhengran in sync.


    Just then, Lin Zhengran happened to turn around and noticed all three of them staring at him. Casually, he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I stay too? I know there¡¯s three of you, but I¡¯d feel uneasy leaving you all alone on your first night.¡±


    The girls were surprised, but not entirely against it. The taxi driver, however, was stunned.


    He paused¡ª


    Oh, right. He must mean he¡¯s staying at the same hotel . One of these girls is probably his girlfriend. No way he¡¯s staying in the same . Yeah, definitely not.

 Chapter 213: Supreme Spirit Liquid

    After getting out of the taxi, Lin Zhengran led the three girls to a hotel near his home in town.


    He picked a place with the best environment he could find.


    Since He Qing had lived in town when she was little and often came to visit during middle and high school, she was very familiar with the area. So even though it was her first time staying at a hotel, Little He Qing wasn¡¯t all that nervous.


    Pulling her suitcase along, she entered the hotel.


    When the front desk lady saw the four of them, she asked curiously, ¡°Staying overnight?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. One room with a big bed, for one week. If we need more time after that, we¡¯ll extend the stay.¡±


    ¡°One room for a week? Just one? For all of you?¡±


    Little He Qing glanced at Lin Zhengran, as if asking how to respond.


    Lin Zhengran told the clerk and gestured at He Qing, ¡°Yeah, just her. We¡¯re just here to drop her off¡ªwe¡¯ll leave in a bit.¡±


    Little He Qing followed up, ¡°Right, just me.¡±


    The front desk nodded and processed her ID, then handed over the room card. ¡°All set. Room 203.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thanked her, and the four of them headed upstairs to the second floor.


    On the way, Han Wenwen linked arms with her and asked curiously, ¡°So Little Qingqing, you planning to stay at the hotel for the whole trip?¡±


    Little He Qing nodded. ¡°Yeah, hotels are more convenient. I actually thought about staying at Lin Zhengran¡¯s or your place, Wenwen, but I didn¡¯t want to bother you guys. It might not be convenient.¡±


    Han Wenwen looked puzzled. ¡°Bother? You and I have been roommates for years¡ªwhy would it be inconvenient to stay with me?¡±


    Little He Qing looked at her shyly, eyes saying more than words.


    Han Wenwen instantly got it¡ªshe clearly wanted to have some alone time with Lin Zhengran, so staying at anyone¡¯s house would be awkward. A hotel was definitely more convenient for that.


    They swiped into the room, and since all four were present, what would usually be a somewhat ambiguous place suddenly felt like a dorm. The atmosphere wasn¡¯t romantic at all.


    Lin Zhengran moved naturally, inserting the card to turn on the power. Little He Qing sat on the bed, pulling her suitcase over, clearly tired from the day.


    She let out a soft sigh. ¡°Sitting on a train all day really wears you out. So you¡¯re all staying here with me tonight?¡±


    Everyone agreed.


    Lin Zhengran took off his jacket and put it to the side.


    ¡°You just got here today, so I¡¯ll stay tonight. Tomorrow, you all can take a day to rest. The day after that, let¡¯s pack up and head out for the trip.¡±


    Everyone chimed in with a ¡°got it.¡±


    At that moment, Little He Qing snuck a glance at someone, thinking


    Lili stood nearby thinking the same thing¡ªthank goodness she¡¯d dragged Zhengran out to get her hair dyed today. Otherwise, He Qing definitely would¡¯ve ended up doing with him tonight. It was obvious Zhengran had no intention of going home.


    Han Wenwen didn¡¯t say a word. She just kept staring at Lin Zhengran, her mind replaying what had happened during their alone time earlier in the day.


    Later that night, the small town was quiet and still.


    Lin Zhengran lay in the center of the bed. Fully clothed, Little He Qing was on his left, and Jiang Xueli was on his right.


    Next to Little He Qing was Han Wenwen.


    The four of them lay flat on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.


    Han Wenwen held the remote. ¡°Should I turn off the light?¡±


    All together: ¡°Yeah.¡±


    The lights went out.


    Total darkness.


    In the dark, Lin Zhengran asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little cramped?¡±


    Jiang Xueli sighed. ¡°Well, there four of us. Even if it¡¯s a big bed, four people is kind of a lot.¡±


    Little He Qing whispered, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect everyone would end up sleeping together tonight.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought, At least one big bed at home¡ªsince they¡¯ll probably end up sleeping together sometimes. Especially girls¡ªthey love bonding like that.


    Jiang Xueli asked, ¡°Zhengran, why¡¯d you go quiet? What are you thinking about?¡±


    Lin Zhengran answered honestly, ¡°I was thinking, once we start college, maybe I should buy a place. A bigger one. That way, none of you would have to stay in the dorms¡ªyou could all just live with me.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The girls were all shocked.


    First, because the idea of living together was already wild. Second, a place? Even crazier.


    Han Wenwen gasped. ¡°Lin Zhengran wants to buy a house?! That¡¯d cost a fortune!¡±


    Little He Qing agreed. ¡°Renting sounds more realistic. If we all pitch in, maybe. But buying? That¡¯s impossible. We¡¯re in a first-tier city. A 100-square-meter place would be, like, several million!¡±


    Jiang Xueli also felt the topic didn¡¯t quite match the moment.


    But... if Zhengran want to buy one, it probably wouldn¡¯t be an issue. After all, he the general manager of Zhengshi Group¡­ though she didn¡¯t know exactly how much he made per year.


    Still, no way he afford it.


    Wait, did He Qing and Han Wenwen not know that Zhengran was a GM?


    Lin Zhengran closed his eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s just an idea for now. We¡¯ll talk about it after college starts. If I really do buy a place, I¡¯ll bring you all to check it out together.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lin Zhengran suddenly added, ¡°By the way, you girls all smell really nice. Did you all shower before coming out? I don¡¯t remember you smelling this nice at school. It feels like I¡¯m lying in a bed of flowers.¡±


    All three girls blushed in the dark.


    But almost immediately, Little He Qing felt something off¡ªwhy did Lin Zhengran say ¡°you ¡±?


    Technically... even though Wenwen and Zhengran were close, talking about how she smells was kind of private. And Lin Zhengran never said that kind of thing to girls who his girlfriend.


    ¡¾A few days ago, after you and Princess He Xianzi, Jiang the Discipline Officer, and the Demon Sect enchantress led your forces to repel the enemy outside the city, the capital held a multi-day feast to celebrate.¡¿


    ¡¾During this time, when a civilian woman confessed to you, the cold and battle-hardened princess kissed you in public to help you out. Though she didn¡¯t say she liked you, her actions spoke volumes¡ªshe had never done anything like that for a man before.¡¿


    ¡¾After the celebration, the princess¡¯s personal assassin, the strongest woman in the royal city¡ªFang Meng¡ªalso kissed you on the cheek in private. She had clearly developed feelings for you.¡¿


    ¡¾Later, during the peaceful days after the battle, you spent your time cultivating at home. Jiang invited you to the market, showing off a new hairstyle and outfit. While shopping, she even bought some high-quality clothes for you. The two of you, feeling the romantic mood, checked into an inn.¡¿


    ¡¾Though you didn¡¯t have time for anything too intimate, you still shared a passionate moment. Unfortunately, it was interrupted when the Demon Sect enchantress, who had followed you, took full advantage of the situation.¡¿


    ¡¾Seeing that Jiang had aroused your qi and blood and left you overheated and unable to concentrate, the enchantress used her unique technique to relieve your pressure¡ªand in doing so, received your unique .¡¿


    ¡¾From these events, you¡¯ve gained: +2 Stamina, +1 Energy, +1 Spirit Level¡¿


    ¡¾Current Attributes¡¿


    ¡¾Spirit Level: 67¡¿¡¾Core Formation Stage¡¿


    ¡¾Spirit Control: Level 2¡¿¡¾You can control objects with spirit power, and walk across rivers with ease¡¿


    ¡¾Stamina: 99¡¿¡¾Unlocked: Lifespan Limit Breakthrough, Enhanced Physical Strength, Double Cultivation Speed¡¿


    ¡¾Energy: 99¡¿¡¾Unlocked: Strong Offspring, Seven Times a Night Ability¡¿


    ¡¾Affinity with All Things: Level 2¡¿¡¾You possess unparalleled affinity with all beings;all disciples you teach receive buffs, and contract partners gain a 3x boost¡¿


    Lying in bed, almost asleep, Lin Zhengran listened to the system settling the results again. He thought,


    The next morning.


    Everyone woke up early. Han Wenwen, for some reason, felt full of energy. The soreness in her lips from yesterday had vanished¡ªher whole body felt light.


    She got up, planning to wash her face in the bathroom. On her way down from the bed, Little He Qing, rummaging through her clothes, suddenly asked:


    ¡°Huh? Wenwen, what did you do last night? Why does your skin look so good today?¡±

 Chapter 214: Lin Zhengran Owns a Company?

    The little fox stretched lazily, not quite grasping what He Qing meant at first.


    ¡°What do you mean my skin looks better?¡±


    Jiang Xueli also sat up and looked at Han Wenwen. She noticed that Han Wenwen, who already had fair skin, now had a faintly radiant, translucent glow. After a night¡¯s sleep, most people would look a bit disheveled¡ªeven pretty girls wouldn¡¯t usually wake up looking refreshed. They¡¯d feel sluggish.


    But Han Wenwen¡¯s eyes, with their naturally seductive charm, were bright and clear. Her skin looked smooth and delicate, practically glowing under the sunlight.


    Though a few strands of her long hair were stuck to her face from sleeping, her overall complexion was glowing with health.


    She looked like a real-life Sleeping Beauty¡ªradiant and dazzling.


    ¡°For real! Han Wenwen, you look gorgeous this morning!¡±


    Little He Qing was convinced she hadn¡¯t imagined it. ¡°Right, Lily? Wenwen definitely looks different from last night!¡±


    Jiang Xueli nodded enthusiastically.


    Lin Zhengran had also noticed the change in Han Wenwen, but after a moment, he figured it out. This must be the effect of the Stamina stat, right?


    When that stat increased, the System had mentioned that if a girl signed a Pact with him and they shared a room, her lifespan, appearance, and physical constitution would all receive partial boosts based on his attributes.


    He just hadn¡¯t had the time to make use of that ability before¡ªand didn¡¯t expect what happened last night to have triggered it.


    Come to think of it, didn¡¯t the System mention something about Premium Spirit Liquid before bed last night?


    Now, sitting on the bed dazed, Han Wenwen noticed everyone staring at her in admiration. She touched her face. ¡°Are you guys serious? I¡¯m going to the bathroom to check!¡±


    She slipped on her slippers and headed to the bathroom.


    The moment she saw her reflection in the mirror, Han Wenwen was stunned.


    Her beautiful, fox-like eyes widened in disbelief as she saw her own radiant complexion. She looked alert and full of life. Clutching her face, she gasped, ¡°Whoa! Is this for real? What the heck?!¡±


    She leaned closer to the mirror, examining herself from side to side¡ªeven her lips looked naturally flushed and enticing.


    Jiang Xueli and He Qing followed her into the bathroom.


    Little He Qing asked enviously, ¡°Wenwen, what did you last night? Or maybe these past few days? How can one night change you this much?¡±


    Jiang Xueli was just as puzzled. ¡°Yeah, seriously¡ªhow¡¯d you pull this off? Can you teach us?¡±


    Han Wenwen was thrilled, but honestly confused. ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t want to tell you guys¡ªI really don¡¯t know what happened. My life¡¯s been the same these days, except for...¡±


    Little He Qing: ¡°Except for?¡±


    The little fox absentmindedly touched her lips, thinking back to yesterday afternoon. If she had to name something different she did, it would be... helping out Brother Zhengran with some stress relief at the hotel.


    Could it really be ?


    Han Wenwen had read a ton of novels, and in many of them, girls would show improved complexion and vitality after sleeping with someone they loved.


    She always thought it was just nonsense. But now... was it actually ?


    Staring into the mirror again, she thought, if this was real, then it beat all those masks and toners by a mile!


    No¡ª just a mile. This was on a whole different level.


    If this really worked, then wouldn¡¯t chasing after Brother Zhengran every day for ¡°that¡± be the ultimate beauty hack? Though it was just a guess... Han Wenwen was pretty sure she was right.


    Jiang Xueli asked, ¡°Wenwen? Did you remember something?¡±


    Han Wenwen snapped out of it, laughed nervously, and waved her hands.


    ¡°No, no! I was just thinking back on what I did the past couple of days. But honestly, my routine hasn¡¯t changed much. Maybe... I¡¯ve just been going to bed earlier?¡±


    He Qing blinked her innocent eyes. ¡°Sleeping early does this? I haven¡¯t gone to bed early in forever, but... can staying up late vs. sleeping early make much of a difference?¡±


    Han Wenwen shrugged it off. ¡°I¡¯m just guessing, who knows what¡¯s really going on, hehe.¡±


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhengran was sitting on the bed checking his phone. He had a message from Jiang Jingshi, asking when he¡¯d be coming over.


    He¡¯d promised to visit the company today.


    He sent back a quick reply, then hurried to sit up, pulling on his socks and jacket. The sooner he left, the sooner he could get it over with. ¡°You three, I¡¯ve got something to take care of today. Just relax for the next couple days and get ready for next week¡¯s trip.¡±


    The girls stepped out of the bathroom to look at him.


    Han Wenwen asked curiously, ¡°Lin Zhengran, you¡¯re heading out?¡±


    He Qing chimed in, ¡°You¡¯ve got something going on today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just some personal stuff. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± He didn¡¯t bother explaining more¡ªjust washed his face and walked straight to the door.


    The three girls quickly followed him to the room¡¯s entrance to see him off.


    As Lin Zhengran put on his shoes, he turned back and said, ¡°No need to walk me out. I¡¯m heading off now.¡±


    Jiang Xueli thought to herself, He did mention it yesterday when they met. ¡°Zhengran, are you coming back tonight?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll probably stop by. I¡¯ll call you once I¡¯m done. But I¡¯m guessing the three of you are still staying here tonight, right? So I¡¯m not crashing here¡ªit¡¯s already crowded with four people in this bed. Alright, I¡¯m out!¡±


    He raised his hand as a casual goodbye.


    Little He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen all stared after Lin Zhengran¡¯s departing figure.


    He Qing whispered, ¡°Me and Lily are both here¡ªwhat¡¯s he rushing off for? Could something be going on at home?¡±


    Han Wenwen shook her head.


    Jiang Xueli blurted out, ¡°He¡¯s probably going to the company.¡±


    Both He Qing and Han Wenwen turned to her, confused. ¡°Company? What company?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Xueli laughed. ¡°So you guys really didn¡¯t know. Zhengran¡¯s actually the general manager of a company¡ªand it¡¯s not a small one either. He hasn¡¯t had time to go recently, but I bet he¡¯s heading there for a meeting or something today.¡±


    He Qing and Han Wenwen were momentarily stunned.


    Then came the disbelief: ¡°He¡¯s a company¡¯s general manager?! Since when?!¡±


    Jiang Xueli scratched her forehead, a little awkward. ¡°I thought you two already knew. The company¡¯s been running for over two years now. It¡¯s the one that¡¯s been super popular in the city recently¡ªZhengshi Entertainment.¡±


    Their minds were still blank, like hearing something out of a dream.


    Jiang Xueli simplified it:


    ¡°You know the company I signed with? Zhengshi Music? That¡¯s part of Zhengran¡¯s business. I¡¯m technically his employee. And He Qing, remember when Zhengran helped you join that sports company and enter the city¡¯s competition? That was Zhengshi Sports.¡±


    Little He Qing had never even considered it. ¡°Wait¡ªso you¡¯re saying Zhengshi Sports, the one I competed under, belongs to ?! But he¡¯s only eighteen! Where¡¯d he get the money to start a company? Is that even legal?¡±


    Jiang Xueli sighed.


    ¡°Eighteen¡¯s not that crazy. I found out about it when he was sixteen. As for the money, I¡¯m not totally sure. He said it was a joint investment with someone. But yeah¡ªhe¡¯s definitely the GM. And come on, does Zhengran seem like a normal person to you?¡±


    She blinked her big, lively eyes.


    ¡°Zhengran¡¯s been top of the class since forever. He wins all the awards without even trying. He¡¯s good-looking, in shape, has great presence. And somehow he¡¯s got two girls in love with him¡ªwithout even causing drama¡ªand both are all-in for him.¡±


    She swallowed. ¡°Add ¡®runs a company¡¯ to that, and sure, it sounds crazy for anyone else. But for Zhengran? Totally checks out. Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    A moment of silence.


    He Qing: ¡°Yeah, no kidding. I¡¯ve always felt like Lin Zhengran has zero flaws when it comes to important stuff. Except maybe being a little mean sometimes... and a bit of a flirt...¡±


    Jiang Xueli added, ¡°And kinda mouthy... actually, I feel like he¡¯s been getting even mouthy lately.¡±

 Chapter 215: The Young CEO

    Lin Zhengran took a taxi to the headquarters of Zhengshi Company.


    At that moment, in the General Manager¡¯s Office on the seventh floor of Zhengshi, Jiang Jingshi was personally wiping down Lin Zhengran¡¯s desk with a freshly unwrapped white cloth.


    Today was easily the most meticulously dressed she¡¯d been in recent days. While it still looked like her usual women¡¯s business suit on the surface, almost every small detail had been updated.


    She¡¯d gotten her hair professionally styled the day before. What used to be flat from long hours of work had now been brought back to life with soft curls. The silver necklace and earrings were also new, as was the shirt she wore under her blazer¡ªall carefully chosen.


    Even her nails had been specially trimmed and shaped last night.


    And she¡¯d taken a hot shower this morning.


    Her entire aura felt completely different from usual¡ªbrighter, more vibrant.


    Secretary Pan Lin walked up from outside the office and knocked on the door. ¡°Vice President Jiang.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi turned to her with a smile. ¡°Has President Lin arrived?!¡±


    Pan Lin shook her head, inwardly marveling at how unusually cheerful Jiang Jingshi was today¡ªtotally different from how she¡¯d been recently.


    ¡°Not yet. I already told security to let me know the moment he arrives. I texted President Lin earlier asking if he wanted a car to pick him up, but he said no¡ªhe¡¯s just taking a taxi.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. ¡°Alright, let him come however he likes. He always took taxis when going to Zhengshi Music with Lily, too.¡±


    Pan Lin held out some documents. ¡°These are from the finance department.¡±


    ¡°Just set them down. I¡¯ll go over them with him later.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Pan Lin entered and placed the files on the already-crowded coffee table. Judging by the sheer amount of paperwork, it looked like President Lin would be staying a while today.


    As she finished, she turned and saw Jiang Jingshi still carefully wiping down the desk.


    ¡°Vice President Jiang, let me do that. President Lin should be arriving any moment¡ªyou should go wash your hands.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi wiped the final corner and handed over the cloth. ¡°How¡¯s my makeup today?¡±


    She was wearing light makeup¡ªjust a bit of touch-up on her lips and face.


    Pan Lin smiled. ¡°You asked me this morning already. It¡¯s perfect¡ªflawless.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi went to wash her hands, while Pan Lin quietly readjusted the items on the desk, making sure they were precisely aligned.


    The office had already been thoroughly cleaned by Pan Lin earlier that morning, but clearly, Jiang Jingshi was extra invested today and had redone everything herself.


    Suddenly, a message alert came through.


    Pan Lin smiled. ¡°Vice President Jiang, security says President Lin has arrived!¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡± Jiang Jingshi returned from washing up, beaming. She rushed to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down toward the entrance. Her soft eyes lit up instantly.


    She saw a taxi approaching the company entrance from down the road.


    Pan Lin offered, ¡°I¡¯ll head down to greet him and let him know you¡¯re waiting upstairs.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Outside at the company gate, the security booth¡ªwhich normally had two guards¡ªwas completely empty.


    All four guards had stepped outside to stand at attention, including the head and deputy of the security team.


    They all stood upright and alert. One of the younger guards, new to the job for the past two months, asked in a low voice, ¡°Captain, Vice Captain, who¡¯s coming today? Why the full squad?¡±


    The captain, a man in his thirties and a former soldier, replied, ¡°Our company¡¯s General Manager. Heard he¡¯s coming today.¡±


    ¡°The General Manager?¡± The young guard looked puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Vice President Jiang? The super pretty one?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the VP. The GM isn¡¯t her. I used to think so too, but after being here a while, I learned she¡¯s not the top boss. Our real GM is a young guy. Doesn¡¯t come in often, so you haven¡¯t met him.¡±


    The young guard nodded. ¡°Oh, I see. A young guy, huh? Like, around Vice President Jiang¡¯s age? Early twenties? How come the big boss of such a big company is so young?¡±


    The captain didn¡¯t answer directly¡ªjust chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough. Looks like he¡¯s here!¡±


    He quickly sent a message to Pan Lin.


    The young guard stood straighter, curious what kind of car this big-shot boss would arrive in.


    But when he peeked out toward the road, he didn¡¯t see any luxury cars.


    Just an Audi A4 and a taxi approaching.


    the guard thought.


    Both cars stopped at the same time. From the Audi stepped a middle-aged man in his forties¡ªthe deputy head of the purchasing department. He didn¡¯t think much of the taxi and walked forward. But after a few steps, something clicked in his mind.


    He turned and took a closer look at the young man stepping out of the taxi¡ªand instantly froze.


    Then he spun around and hurried back to greet him, reaching out for a handshake. ¡°President Lin?! You¡¯re here at the company?¡±


    Lin Zhengran had a sharp memory. If he¡¯d met someone even once, he¡¯d remember. He shook the man¡¯s hand in return.


    Just then, Pan Lin came jogging over from the office building. As Jiang Jingshi¡¯s secretary, she held considerable authority¡ªmany department heads had to greet her respectfully.


    The security captain quickly nodded. ¡°Morning, Secretary Pan.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s President Lin?¡± she asked.


    The captain pointed. ¡°He¡¯s already gotten out of the car!¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Pan Lin went to meet him. The young security guard turned to his captain, whispering, ¡°That guy looks like he¡¯s in his forties. Isn¡¯t that the boss?¡±


    The captain looked speechless. ¡°You¡¯ve been here almost a month and you still can¡¯t recognize people. That guy¡¯s the deputy head of Purchasing. The one who looks seventeen or eighteen? our GM.¡±


    ¡°The teenager?! That young and he¡¯s already the boss?!¡±


    The captain chuckled.


    ¡°Surprising, right? I was shocked too the first time. But don¡¯t let his age fool you¡ªhe¡¯s seriously capable. People say the reason our company¡¯s grown so fast these past two years is all thanks to him.


    ¡°Hey, perk up¡ªPresident Lin is really easygoing. If he notices you and says a few words, you might just get lucky.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±


    Up ahead, Lin Zhengran finished shaking hands with the Purchasing deputy. Pan Lin reached him with a smile. ¡°President Lin, welcome.¡±


    Lin Zhengran greeted her politely. They weren¡¯t strangers, after all.


    ¡°Pan-jie, long time no see.¡±


    Pan Lin was flattered. ¡°You still call me that? You can just use my name. Vice President Jiang is waiting in your office.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m used to calling you that. Let¡¯s head up.¡±


    Lin Zhengran took the lead into the building. Pan Lin and the deputy followed close behind.


    The security captain respectfully saluted. ¡°Good morning, President Lin!¡±


    Lin Zhengran smiled at him and noticed a new face. ¡°You¡¯re new?¡±


    The young guard quickly nodded. ¡°President Lin, I¡¯m Jiang Ming. Been here two months¡ªstill in the probation period.¡±


    ¡°Mm, work hard.¡±


    As they walked, Lin Zhengran casually asked Pan Lin,


    ¡°Is our probation still three months? Wasn¡¯t it just one month before?¡±


    Pan Lin nodded. ¡°Yeah, Vice President Jiang revised the benefits policy. We had a huge influx of applicants in the past year, so it was changed six months ago.¡±


    Lin acknowledged it with a hum. He didn¡¯t ask further. When it came to operations, Jiang Jingshi was a genius¡ªhe didn¡¯t micromanage.


    The new guard watched Lin Zhengran walk by, thinking luck definitely wasn¡¯t on his side...


    But then Pan Lin turned back to glance at him. ¡°He can skip the last month of probation¡ªgo to Admin later and finalize the paperwork.¡±


    The young guard was stunned.


    Once Lin Zhengran and Pan Lin were out of earshot, the captain smiled.


    ¡°Lucky kid. You just got a month¡¯s salary bump. I¡¯m telling you, President Lin might not come often, but his word is absolute around here.¡±

 Chapter 216: Jiang Jingshi’s Nervousness

    On the way into the first-floor lobby of the office building, Lin Zhengran and Pan Lin happened to cross paths with a group of employees heading downstairs.


    Although many people in the company didn¡¯t recognize Lin Zhengran, everyone greeted Pan Lin and the deputy director with polite nods. Out of respect, they also nodded toward the young man walking slightly ahead¡ªLin Zhengran.


    Pan Lin pressed the elevator button in advance for him. Once the group was inside and the elevator doors closed, the employees began to whisper among themselves.


    ¡°Who was that just now? Even Pan-jie was walking behind him. He¡¯s super handsome.¡±


    A veteran employee smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t know? That¡¯s our boss.¡±


    Those unfamiliar were shocked. ¡°That guy was our company¡¯s president? President Lin everyone talks about?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so young!¡±


    Someone asked, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t there a rumor that Vice President Jiang is in a relationship with him?¡±


    The veteran coughed. ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t know about that. There¡¯s been talk, but who knows if it¡¯s true.¡±


    Inside the elevator, the deputy director got off a few floors early, leaving just Lin Zhengran and Pan Lin.


    ¡°You don¡¯t come to the office much,¡± Pan Lin commented. ¡°So a lot of people here still don¡¯t know you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± Lin Zhengran replied with a smile. ¡°Even when I have time, I rarely stop by headquarters. I¡¯ve probably only been here three or four times. Every time I come, something¡¯s changed.¡±


    ¡°Two years ago, this place wasn¡¯t even fully set up. But now, Zhengshi has started to gain real influence among the city¡¯s businesses.¡±


    Lin Zhengran knew very well how much of that was thanks to Jiang Jingshi. She had leveraged all the connections she¡¯d built during her time at the Jiang Corporation and poured them into building this company.


    Then Pan Lin suddenly said something unexpected.


    ¡°Vice President Jiang was especially happy when she heard you were coming today. She hasn¡¯t been doing too well lately¡ªJiang Corporation matters have really worn her out. But the moment you messaged her the other day, she totally perked up.¡±


    ¡°Things at Jiang Corporation have been that busy lately?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her.


    ¡°Mm. She¡¯s had a lot of calls to deal with, and a ton of decisions fall on her shoulders.¡±


    Though Pan Lin had been Jiang Jingshi¡¯s secretary for years and knew better than to overstep¡ªafter all, saying too much around big bosses could backfire¡ªshe still wanted to advocate for Jiang Jingshi however she could.


    Meanwhile, on the seventh floor, inside the General Manager¡¯s Office¡­


    Wearing high heels and a sharp women¡¯s suit, her softly curled hair draped over her shoulders, Jiang Jingshi couldn¡¯t sit still. She paced anxiously from the door to the inner office, waiting for a certain someone to arrive.


    Now and then, she checked her phone, lightly brushing the hair by her ear. Occasionally, she took a deep breath, clearly frustrated with herself for being so nervous.


    It hadn¡¯t even been that long¡ªjust over a month.


    Finally, the elevator .


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s body tensed, and she quickly adjusted her expression, elegantly sitting down on the couch as though she hadn¡¯t been pacing like crazy just seconds before.


    Lin Zhengran and Pan Lin entered the office. Jiang Jingshi stood up gracefully, acting like she hadn¡¯t been waiting at all. ¡°Zhengran, you¡¯re here!¡±


    Lin Zhengran nodded. ¡°Jiang-jie, long time no see. I¡¯ve been busy with college entrance exams lately, sorry for not checking in. Thanks for holding down the fort here at the company.¡±


    Seeing the person she¡¯d been missing so much, Jiang Jingshi couldn¡¯t hide the subtle joy on her face. Her red lips curved into a soft smile. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. The company¡¯s just doing its usual. Come, have a seat.¡±


    Pan Lin poured tea for both of them. ¡°I¡¯ll head back downstairs. Just call me if you need anything.¡± She quietly closed the door on her way out.


    Lin Zhengran sat down with Jiang Jingshi. One look at the mountain of files on the table told him just how much had piled up at the company.


    At first, since it had been a month or so since they¡¯d seen each other, their conversation felt a bit stiff. But they didn¡¯t dwell on small talk and quickly moved on to business.


    About half an hour passed before Jiang Jingshi seemed to fully settle in. Her mood lightened, and though her heart still fluttered a bit whenever she looked at him, at least she could now talk calmly.


    ¡°The entrance exam results are coming out soon, right?¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced up from the papers. ¡°Yeah, pretty soon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll probably come out on top again? Provincial top scorer? I¡¯ve always been confident in you.¡±


    ¡°No one can claim that title before the results are out. But I¡¯m sure I did well enough to get into my target university. By the way, the company¡¯s grown fast. Adding up all the subsidiaries and the main branch, we¡¯ve got over fifteen thousand people now.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s been fast, for sure. Two years ago, before we started working together, my Taekwondo, music, and streaming teams had maybe seven or eight hundred people combined.


    ¡°Now the number of employees has grown over tenfold¡ªand that¡¯s with strict screening. Revenue¡¯s been climbing steadily every month.¡±


    Seeing that Lin Zhengran had finished his tea, she refilled his cup. ¡°At this rate, it¡¯s not impossible for us to surpass my family¡¯s Jiang Corporation in another two years.¡±


    Lin Zhengran glanced at her with a smile. ¡°Uncle and Auntie must¡¯ve already brought this up with you, right?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi beamed.


    ¡°More than just brought it up. They¡¯ve been shocked by the growth. They ask me about the company all the time. I just brush it off since most of it¡¯s confidential anyway. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But they know you¡¯re my business partner, and they can¡¯t stop praising you. ¡®Talented at a young age,¡¯ ¡®brilliant beyond your years¡¯¡ªthey¡¯ve said it all. They¡¯ve wanted to meet you for dinner so many times. I kept turning them down because of your exams.¡±


    Lin Zhengran thought for a moment. The Jiang and Lin families had known each other since the older generation¡ªthey were definitely longtime friends. He was also familiar with Jiang Qian and Jiang Jingshi, the likely heirs of the Jiang family. There was no reason to avoid a visit.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find a time to visit Uncle and Auntie myself. It¡¯s only proper.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi hadn¡¯t expected him to bring it up himself. She couldn¡¯t hide her delight.


    ¡°You want to come to my house? That¡¯s great! Just let me know when you¡¯re free¡ªI¡¯ll help get everything ready. I¡¯ll talk to my parents.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. Thanks, Jiang-jie.¡±


    Just then, her phone rang¡ªit was another call from Jiang Corporation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this real quick,¡± she said, standing and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window with her phone. She chatted for a while with whoever was on the other end.


    As she spoke, Lin Zhengran looked at the documents in front of him, recalling what Pan Lin had said in the elevator.


    Clearly, Jiang Jingshi had been insanely busy lately.


    Even though she looked radiant today, he could tell she¡¯d been running on fumes. That energy she showed was more of a temporary boost than a lasting glow.


    Around noon, after going through the files, Pan Lin popped her head in before lunch. ¡°Vice President Jiang, should I have the kitchen prepare lunch or...?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi looked at Lin Zhengran. ¡°How about I cook lunch for you?¡±


    ¡°No need, Jiang-jie. Cooking¡¯s tiring, and we¡¯ve already been reviewing documents all morning. Let the kitchen handle it.¡±


    She smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all if it¡¯s for you. It¡¯s settled.¡±


    Then she told Pan Lin, ¡°Have the private kitchen cleaned up. I¡¯ll be making lunch for President Lin.¡±


    ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡±

 Chapter 217: The Future

    After Pan Lin left the office, Jiang Jingshi smiled and led Lin Zhengran to the private kitchen specially built for him at the company.


    It was actually Lin Zhengran¡¯s first time visiting this kitchen. It was located on the third floor of a smaller building behind the main office. The first two floors were designated for employees to cook and eat, since the company didn¡¯t have dorms yet. Only the General Manager¡¯s and Vice General Manager¡¯s offices had their own private bedrooms.


    The kitchen on the third floor wasn¡¯t very large, but it was refined and well-equipped.


    When Lin Zhengran walked in and saw the shiny cooking utensils, along with the collection of wines and tableware stored in the cabinets, he couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Jiang-jie really does have a kitchen wherever she goes.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi took off her blazer and hung it on the wall, revealing a soft, white fitted shirt underneath. Her fair, delicate neck looked especially elegant.


    Her figure was beautiful¡ªnothing overtly eye-catching at a glance, but everything about her was perfectly proportioned, giving her a kind of classic, graceful silhouette.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a hobby,¡± she said. ¡°Speaking of which, what¡¯s your hobby, Zhengran? I still don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Reading.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± She was taken aback.


    ¡°I said reading,¡± he repeated.


    Jiang Jingshi laughed. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty unusual hobby... common but uncommon. No wonder you¡¯re good at everything.¡±


    In his previous life, Lin Zhengran had loved reading all kinds of random books¡ªnovels, unofficial histories, encyclopedias, and even borderline inappropriate ones. He didn¡¯t care for academic books, but he could get hooked on the strangest reads. He read so much that he¡¯d forget half of it.


    But in this life, thanks to the System treating reading as a form of cultivation, he¡¯d started reading constantly. Not only could he cultivate by doing it¡ªit was genuinely enjoyable for him now.


    Jiang Jingshi was just about to start cooking when her phone rang again. Her expression turned a little annoyed. Normally, calls from Jiang Corporation didn¡¯t bother her, even if they were tiring.


    But today was different. She didn¡¯t want to waste her precious time dealing with work¡ªespecially not work she couldn¡¯t handle together with Lin Zhengran.


    ¡°Not answering?¡± he asked.


    She looked at the phone and then at him, apologetic. ¡°Sorry, Zhengran. Give me just a moment.¡±


    She stepped aside to answer, giving instructions to whoever was on the line. After a few minutes, she added firmly:


    ¡°I have something important going on today. Unless it¡¯s absolutely urgent, don¡¯t call me again for now. Handle the client issues on your own. I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    She returned, tied on her apron, and resumed cooking.


    Lin Zhengran sat nearby on a stool. ¡°Has it always been this busy over at Jiang Corporation?¡±


    ¡°Mm. I¡¯m in charge of PR, after all. The company constantly needs me to attract investment or expand the client base. Most clients are easy to deal with, but the ones from other provinces can be a pain. They usually call me when they don¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    She let out a sigh.


    ¡°Not gonna lie, Jiang Corporation¡¯s performance has actually been on a slow decline these past few years. Ever since the rise of the internet, a lot of the company¡¯s old products just don¡¯t have a market anymore. The only reason it hasn¡¯t been obvious is because of the new projects I brought in.¡±


    She added, ¡°Of course, this isn¡¯t some big secret. The internet¡¯s wiped out a ton of old industries¡ªespecially for small individual businesses. Most of them can¡¯t make money anymore.¡±


    ¡°So now that your focus has shifted here,¡± Lin Zhengran said, ¡°the decline on that side¡¯s become more noticeable, and they¡¯re giving you even more work to make up for it. Feels like I dragged you over here.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi paused, then turned with a smile. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I the one who pulled in? I¡¯m the one who asked to work with you, remember? How did this turn into you stealing me away?¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t say anything more¡ªthey simply exchanged a look.


    Then he suddenly sniffed the air. ¡°Hey, the pan¡¯s gonna burn.¡±


    Jiang Jingshi snapped out of it and quickly flipped the food, a bit flustered.


    Not just from almost burning the dish¡ªbut because what Lin Zhengran said had hit home. Especially from her parents¡¯ perspective, it really did seem like she had been ¡°poached,¡± since the general manager of this new company wasn¡¯t her¡ªit was Lin Zhengran.


    But... she thought back to something from their childhood. Maybe it was just her personality. No matter how capable she was as a woman, she still wanted to follow the man she liked... instead of the other way around.


    As he watched her back while she cooked, Lin Zhengran suddenly asked, ¡°Jiang-jie, did we meet when we were kids?¡±


    Her pupils widened, a blush creeping across her cheeks.


    She froze for a moment, spatula in hand, then slowly resumed stirring.


    Without turning around, she said softly, ¡°Why do you ask? Did you remember something?¡±


    Lin Zhengran recalled the countless pretty girls he¡¯d met as a kid¡ªtoo many to keep track of. And girls looked so different after growing up. It was nearly impossible to match a grown woman with a childhood encounter.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ve been so kind to me from the very beginning. You said it was because you admired me, or because I was Jiang Qian¡¯s classmate. But honestly, I¡¯ve always had this faint feeling¡ªmaybe we met before?¡±


    Jiang Jingshi¡¯s lips curved gently. She spoke in a very quiet voice:


    ¡°You mean I¡¯ve been too nice to you? You probably won¡¯t believe it, but this is me being... already quite restrained.¡±


    The last four words were barely audible¡ªmost people wouldn¡¯t have caught them.


    Then her voice grew louder, as she tried to shift the topic away. She didn¡¯t want to emphasize that one childhood encounter.


    If she really did end up with Lin Zhengran someday, she hoped it would be because he liked who she was now. That way, their childhood meeting could truly be called fate.


    Otherwise... it would just be a twist of fate¡ªclose, but no real connection.


    ¡°Whether we met before or not,¡± she said, ¡°what really matters is the future. That¡¯s what¡¯s most important.¡±


    Lunch was soon ready. Lin Zhengran sat at the table in the private dining room, genuinely impressed.


    Her dishes weren¡¯t just delicious¡ªthey were plated like gourmet restaurant meals.


    At the liquor cabinet, Jiang Jingshi asked, ¡°Drink or soft drink?¡±


    ¡°Mm, I¡¯ll skip the alcohol.¡±


    As she reached for a bottle of soda, her steps faltered.


    Lin Zhengran quickly stood up to catch her. ¡°Careful!¡±


    She stumbled slightly into his arms, face flushed. She steadied herself by holding his arm.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine... my head just suddenly felt fuzzy. I don¡¯t even know why¡­¡±


    Lin Zhengran supported her gently. ¡°Sit down and rest. Let me check.¡±


    ¡°Mm... that¡¯s not necessary. Probably just sleep deprivation.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a quick check of your pulse. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    They sat at the table, and Lin Zhengran took her wrist.


    Blushing, she asked, ¡°Nothing serious, right? Every time I think about how you even know how to check pulses, it blows my mind... you¡¯re too talented.¡±


    Lin Zhengran didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he slowly looked up at her, brows furrowed.


    This time was different¡ªhis skill had reached Level 2.


    ¡°Jiang-jie, is there any history of hereditary illness in your family? Specifically heart or vascular conditions?¡±


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°What?¡±