Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

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—a 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.

—

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—though 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.

—

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—click!"

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.

—

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—then 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.

—

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—his 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!"

—

They split into two cars and headed to Lin Zhengran’s house.

Once they arrived, the girls politely helped out—setting 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—this 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—

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.