Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 82: First Meeting at the School Gate

Originally, Lin Yingjun was supposed to drive the three of them to high school, but something came up at work that day.

So, they had to hire a van instead.

Fortunately, with Lin Zhengran leading the group, both Lin Yingjun and Jiang Xueli’s parents felt at ease.

The back of the van was packed with luggage.

As for the seating order in the back, from left to right: Han Wenwen, Lin Zhengran, and Jiang Xueli.

"Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything? Alright then, let’s go," the driver said as he started the vehicle and headed toward the city.

During the ride, Han Wenwen opened a big pack of sandwich biscuits and first offered one to Lin Zhengran. He refused.

Then she handed one to Jiang Xueli. “Lili, here.”

Jiang Xueli froze for a second, looking at her with a weird expression. “Lili...? What kind of nickname is that? Han Wenwen, don’t you usually call me Jiang Xueli-classmate?”

Han Wenwen smiled. “From now on, I’ll call you Lili. It sounds more affectionate.”

Jiang Xueli took the small packet of biscuits and said thanks, not really caring about the nickname, though the sudden closeness did make her get goosebumps.

"Whatever…"

Still, after opening the biscuits, she quietly asked Lin Zhengran, “What’s up with Han Wenwen?”

Lin Zhengran had no idea what the little fox was thinking. “How would I know?”

Han Wenwen also opened a packet for herself and asked Lin Zhengran again, “You really don’t want any?”

“No, I just ate breakfast.”

“Alright then.”

The little fox stared out the window, slowly chewing her biscuit, lost in thought.

Before, she had been a die-hard supporter of the Little Qingqing Party (meaning she supported He Qing as the "main wife"), but after what happened a few days ago, dividing things into parties no longer seemed realistic.

After all, Jiang Xueli was already Zhengran-gege’s person. That meant she and Jiang Xueli were destined to be sisters-in-arms.

Oh, wait—does that mean she could still be a part of the Little Qingqing Party?

Because He Qing could be the official girlfriend, while she could just be the most favored one! As long as she was Zhengran-gege’s favorite, nothing else mattered.

Han Wenwen bit her biscuit angrily.

Though she could accept Lin Zhengran dating multiple girls in special circumstances…

Three girlfriends?! Wasn’t that a bit too much?

For someone like Han Wenwen, who had a deeply obsessive personality when it came to love, once she fell for someone, she was all in—even if the person wasn’t good. Once she made up her mind, she would follow them no matter what.

But that also meant she was ridiculously jealous.

Because in her heart, Lin Zhengran was the only person she couldn’t live without.

Sitting in the middle, Lin Zhengran listened to the sound of biscuits being aggressively crunched beside him.

Seeing the little fox practically murdering her biscuit, he raised a brow.

“Han Wenwen, what did that biscuit ever do to you? Why are you chewing so loudly?”

Han Wenwen’s fox-like eyes glanced at him, and she smiled.

“Oh, nothing. I just imagined it as Lin Zhengran-classmate instead. I figured that flirty guys should be eaten up and swallowed whole… But since I can’t actually eat you, I’m settling for this biscuit.”

On the other side, Jiang Xueli heard this and assumed Han Wenwen was talking about the childhood engagement.

Well, that made sense.

Han Wenwen was a hardcore He Qing supporter, so if He Qing’s position was threatened, of course, her best friend would be upset too.

“Han Wenwen is right! Flirty guys should be eaten up and swallowed whole!”

She backed Han Wenwen up.

Then she also started aggressively munching on her biscuits, giving Lin Zhengran a tsundere glare before dramatically turning away with a “Hmph!”

Lin Zhengran was speechless.

Nope. He wasn’t going to entertain these two and their overly vivid imaginations.

His phone rang—it was He Qing.

The soft, sweet voice came through the speaker. “Lin Zhengran? When are you guys getting here? I’m already at the school gate waiting for you.”

Lin Zhengran glanced out the window. “Another ten minutes or so.”

—

Not long after, the van arrived at their new high school.

The three of them were a little taken aback.

Though it wasn’t some ultra-luxurious private school, the spacious campus, the towering statue of Confucius, and the overall grandeur of the entrance made it feel much more impressive than their small-town middle school.

Standing at the gate, He Qing spotted them and waved excitedly. “Lin Zhengran! Wenwen! Jiang Xueli! Over here!”

The three of them walked over. Han Wenwen was the first to hug He Qing in an affectionate reunion. Jiang Xueli also chatted with He Qing, asking her when she had arrived.

Suddenly, they heard voices from nearby.

“Whoa, look at those three over there. They’re gorgeous!”

“Yeah, especially the one with her hair down—she looks just like a little fox! I’ve never seen anyone that pretty before.”

Some passing students were whispering among themselves, blushing as they admired Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli.

Lin Zhengran was already used to it. Pretty girls were admired wherever they went.

But as he stood there watching them chat, he had a thought.

They don’t seem that different from middle school…

But then, as he observed them more closely—

Wait.

Maybe they actually have changed.

Maybe because they were always together, he had never noticed it before.

At some point, all three of them had… developed.

Sixteen really was a defining age for girls.

For example, aside from all three of them having slender figures—

He Qing, compared to most girls, had a noticeably curvier upper body.

Han Wenwen, on the other hand, had a waist-to-hip ratio that was way beyond ordinary. Even now, in her pleated skirt, her natural advantage was obvious. Not to mention, when she wore tight-fitting outfits at home…

As for Jiang Xueli…

Ehhh… okay, she hadn’t changed at all.

Jiang Xueli turned around and saw Lin Zhengran staring at them.

Blushing, she walked over. “Hey, idiot? What are you daydreaming about? What are you thinking?”

For some reason, Lin Zhengran suddenly felt a little bad for her.

Maybe this is just the fate of a tsundere…

He reached out and patted her head. “Nothing much. You should eat more. Try to build up your strength.”

Maybe there’s still hope for a second growth spurt.

Jiang Xueli had no idea what he meant.

Feeling her face heat up from the sudden head pat, she stammered, “W-what do you mean? Why are you suddenly so nice to me? Do you need a favor or something?”

Lin Zhengran withdrew his hand. “Nope. Just saying what came to mind.”

Jiang Xueli turned even redder.

What’s up with this idiot? Since when did he become so gentle?

She lowered her head, hands behind her back.

“I-I eat plenty! You think I’m too skinny? I was actually planning on dieting this year, but now you’re making me second-guess it… Should I lose weight or not?”

“There’s no need to diet…”

Before he could finish, a Rolls-Royce suddenly pulled up in front of the school.

All the students turned to look.

The car door opened, and a long-haired, cold-looking girl stepped out.

She wore a short skirt and long sleeves, her elegant demeanor completely unfazed by the attention she received.

Beside her, another beautiful girl with a side ponytail followed, equally expressionless.

The students at the gate whispered excitedly.

“A Rolls-Royce?! This girl must be loaded! And she’s gorgeous too.”

“She’s probably a freshman. She doesn’t look like an upperclassman.”

Han Wenwen and He Qing also noticed them.

He Qing admired the new arrival. “Wow, she’s so pretty. But… what’s a Rolls-Royce?”

Han Wenwen sighed. “It’s the name of that car. They cost millions.”

“Huh?! That expensive?!”

Han Wenwen squinted at the girl. “More importantly… doesn’t she look kinda familiar?”

He Qing blinked. “No way. I don’t recognize her.”

Jiang Xueli walked over. “I kinda feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before too, but I can’t remember where.”

Lin Zhengran blinked.

Oh…

He knew exactly who she was.

He Qing suddenly gasped.

“Wait… now that you mention it, doesn’t she look kinda like the girl in that photo?!”