Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

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—who 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 hmph. “Zhengran-gege doesn’t understand girls at all. Or maybe… he understands too 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—I 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 does 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—I 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—who rarely called—awkwardly 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 their 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).