Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

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 that 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 shipping a couple, whispering things like "Go for it!"

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 one question? Feels like three. And why am I the one being interrogated?”

“Who cares how many?! Who cares who 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—he 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 seven years. For seven years, we’ve practically been together every day. Yeah, you can be loud and annoying sometimes, but if you really did 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.

“I figured you’d say something unexpected, but... I didn’t think I’d be this 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 say things like that?!”

Lin Zhengran watched her “punch” his arm—it was more like a light massage, really—and said blankly, “Are you insane? Didn’t you 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. “That’s not cheesy?! Then what is considered cheesy?! Ugh, I hate 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—it has tigers and lions! You probably haven’t even been to a zoo before, right? This is the perfect chance to go! And it’s not like you have to pay—I 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 you want to go?”

Jiang Xueli blushed. “Mhm... more like, I want to go with you.”

Oh god, what am I saying?! I must be insane! But... whatever! If I’m gonna die of embarrassment, then so be it! He already said something so bold, so I can be a little reckless too! I’ll just go down with the ship!

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 exploded with joy!

She couldn’t sit still—she jumped up, grinning ear to ear. “For real?! Big idiot, you’re really gonna take me to a movie?! And you even... initiated 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—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Xueli frantically cut him off. “I’m going! Who said I wasn’t going?! I definitely 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 your guidance—and with my natural talent—I’m basically the best in the studio! I was just being humble before!

“If I really want to win... as long as you’re by my side, I will 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 won’t 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—the 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 this much talent.”

Jiang Xueli, throughout her entire performance, never took her eyes off Lin Zhengran.

As she sang the final lyrics—‘You are my forever star’—her cheeks flushed. She smiled at him with her eyes closed.

Big idiot... with what you just said, I’ll never be afraid again.

You’re mine. No one can take you from me.

Jiang Xueli... will definitely win!