Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 87: Curiosity and a Private Meeting

“Lin Zhengran, Jiang Qian, you two have the best grades among this year’s freshmen—actually, among the past few years of freshmen. After much consideration, the school leadership has unanimously chosen you both as the male and female freshman representatives.”

Dressed in a military training uniform, Lin Zhengran was about half a head taller than Jiang Qian. This "Second Miss" stood with an air of elegance.

Her posture was straight, and her gaze was clear yet indifferent. If it were anyone else, they would surely be overshadowed by her cold and aloof aura. However, Lin Zhengran carried himself with a similar level of maturity, ensuring he wasn’t outshone.

The teacher sitting in the chair looked at the two students, who exuded a completely different aura from their peers, and thought to himself, Geniuses really are different from ordinary people. He smiled and said,

“So, over the next two days, you both need to prepare a speech. Tomorrow night, before the performances start, you’ll deliver it. You already know the requirements—it should be passionate and inspiring, something that can energize the students. Also, as school representatives, it would be best if you prepared a performance as well.”

Jiang Qian spoke coolly, “I’ve already signed up for a piano performance.”

The teacher nodded approvingly. “Ah, right. I heard about your piano teacher before. You’ve won quite a few piano competitions, haven’t you? Excelling in both academics and music—honestly, it’s almost unbelievable. What about you, Lin Zhengran?”

Lin Zhengran felt like he didn’t have anything particularly impressive to showcase.

After all, he had dabbled in many different things over the past two years, but none stood out as a specialty. He thought for a moment and said, “How about I play the piano too? Since our performances are back-to-back, it’ll save time setting up the stage.”

The moment he said this, both Jiang Qian and the teacher looked slightly taken aback. Even Jiang Qian, who usually remained expressionless, glanced at him in surprise.

The teacher asked curiously, “Oh? Lin Zhengran, you know how to play the piano?”

Lin Zhengran nodded, recalling that he had learned a bit in his past life. Although he wasn’t highly skilled, with some practice over the next two days, he should be able to manage. “I learned a little a long time ago. I’m not very skilled—I’ve only ever played accompaniment.”

The teacher considered this and said, “Really? In that case, why don’t you two perform a piano duet? If your skill level isn’t high, you can take the supporting role while Jiang Qian leads. I don’t know much about piano, though… Would that work, Jiang Qian?”

Jiang Qian withdrew her gaze from Lin Zhengran and said, “That’s fine. I’ll just pick a simpler piece. It’s just a performance, after all.”

The teacher nodded. “Great! Then it’s settled. Go sign up now—piano duet. After you finish your speeches, make sure to find time to practice. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly tomorrow night!”

Both of them nodded in agreement.

After leaving the office, Jiang Qian kept a straight face, but inwardly, she was quite surprised that Lin Zhengran could play the piano.

However, since he had admitted that his skill level wasn’t great, she didn’t feel particularly inclined to compare.

She said, “Let’s finish writing our speeches during the day, then start practicing in the stage rehearsal room tonight.”

“Sounds good. By the way, how many pianos does our school have?”

Jiang Qian looked ahead and replied, “The school doesn’t have any. I use my own, and you can use yours.”

Lin Zhengran blinked. Jiang Qian turned to look at him. An awkward silence filled the air.

Jiang Qian asked, “You don’t have a piano at home?”

“Nope. That’s why I said I’m pretty amateur. Maybe I should change my performance—singing could work too.” Lin Zhengran was straightforward.

Jiang Qian wondered how he had learned without a piano, but after two previous encounters with him, she had developed a growing curiosity about him. She was very interested in seeing just how “amateur” he really was.

“It’s fine. I have an extra piano at home. I’ll have it brought over,” she said. “We’ll still meet in the practice room tonight.”

By the time their conversation ended, they had already exited the teaching building. Jiang Qian headed off into the distance, where Fang Meng was waiting for her at the far end of the corridor.

Lin Zhengran called after her, “Thanks, I owe you one.”

Jiang Qian turned back slightly and glanced at him with curiosity. “No need to thank me. I’m just really interested in hearing you play.”

Lin Zhengran smiled. He wasn’t blind—he had long noticed that Jiang Qian seemed to secretly compare herself to him. But that didn’t matter to him.

He would just keep doing what he wanted to do.

Jiang Qian reached Fang Meng’s side, and the two girls disappeared from Lin Zhengran’s view.

As they walked away, Fang Meng noticed Jiang Qian’s slightly odd expression and asked, “What’s wrong, Qianqian? The student representative thing was decided ages ago. Why do you look surprised?”

Jiang Qian replied, “I’m not surprised about the representative part. I’m surprised that Lin Zhengran can play the piano.”

“Huh? He can play piano too? What doesn’t he know?”

“I’m just curious. He doesn’t have a piano at home and even admitted he’s not very good… But even so, it was unexpected. My father hired countless professional tutors for me to reach my level, but he’s clearly self-taught.”

Jiang Qian turned to Fang Meng. “Have your family send over two pianos to the school. I’ll start practicing with him tonight.”

Fang Meng nodded, but at that moment, she noticed something unusual in Jiang Qian’s gaze.

She had grown up with Jiang Qian and knew her well—this Second Miss was highly competitive, but she had never shown interest in any guy.

Yet now…

She was clearly very curious about Lin Zhengran.

And once a girl starts getting curious about a guy, that curiosity doesn’t fade easily.

In the final two days of military training, the instructors and students were finally able to rest. Those without performances studied in the classroom, while those with performances used the time to prepare.

That afternoon, Lin Zhengran sat in an empty classroom near the practice rooms, writing his speech.

Although it was called an “empty classroom,” it was actually used as a storage space. Since no one rehearsed there, it was quiet enough for him to concentrate.

As his carbon pen moved across the paper, filling it with dense text, a little fox suddenly passed by outside the hallway.

She saw Lin Zhengran through the window and muttered to herself, “Knew I’d find him here.”

She tiptoed in, but Lin Zhengran still heard her and turned around.

Han Wenwen smiled and waved, holding a bottle of juice.

Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. “Han Wenwen? What are you doing here?”

The little fox closed the door behind her, pulled a chair over, and sat right beside him—very close. “I missed you, so I came to see you. What are you writing, Zhengran-ge?”

“I mean, shouldn’t you be in the classroom? If you don’t have a performance, you shouldn’t be able to come here, right?”

Han Wenwen peeked at his speech draft and replied, “Of course, I couldn’t come if I didn’t have a performance. That’s why I signed up for one! I joined the girls’ skit team as a background character—just a one-second appearance, and I’m done.”

Lin Zhengran narrowed his eyes. “So you joined just so you could—”

“Exactly! Just so I could sneak over to see Zhengran-ge. Why else would I bother?” She playfully winked at him. “And I haven’t told Qingqing the real reason. I told her I just really liked the skit.”

Lin Zhengran was used to this little fox’s antics and continued writing.

Han Wenwen propped herself up on the desk. “A speech as a freshman representative, huh? Zhengran-ge is really amazing. And I heard you’re performing a piano duet with Jiang Qian—your fiancée.”

Lin Zhengran didn’t even look up. “The school assigned us together. I just went with the easiest option.”

Han Wenwen had expected that answer and pouted. “I knew you’d say that… But still—”

She suddenly leaned her face against his arm.

“No matter what you say, after this, you two will officially know each other. And with how flirty you are, can you really just let her go? I’ve been jealous ever since I heard about it—so jealous I couldn’t eat all day.”

She blinked up at him, looking pitiful. “Really. My stomach hurts from how jealous I am.”

Lin Zhengran glanced at the bottle in her hand. “Then why are you holding a cold drink?”

Han Wenwen froze, then quickly set the lemonade aside. “Hmph! During military training, you drank from Qingqing’s bottle and Lily’s bottle, but not mine. If that’s not favoritism, then what is?”

She pouted on the desk, sulking.

Lin Zhengran thought for a moment and said, “After school, there’s a street near campus with good food. Want to go?”

The little fox perked up. “Really? But just the two of us! No one else.”

Lin Zhengran picked up his pen. “Fine. Now let me finish writing.”

Han Wenwen grinned. “Then can I rest my head on your shoulder?”

“No.”