Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

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.

—

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—no 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."

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."

—

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 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.