Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

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.”

Lin Zhengran let go.

Jiang Xueli used both hands to reenact the scene, mimicking He Qing’s actions just now—tying 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—then 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—what 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—did 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—my 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—He 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—even 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—

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—a 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—want 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—completely dropping all suspicion about the He Qing situation.

“Sister Zhang, let me introduce him. This is Lin Zhengran—he’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—though… 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—and 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—the 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—but 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—newbies 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—why 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.”