Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

As summer approached, the evening breeze carried a hint of warmth.

Standing on the street, the two of them locked eyes. Jiang Xueli’s twin ponytails swayed slightly in the wind, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

Lin Zhengran heard her words but simply pressed his hand on her head and continued walking forward. “I don’t know. And do you even understand what getting married means before saying you’ll marry me?”

Jiang Xueli swatted his hand away. “Who says I don’t understand?! It just means marrying you and having babies, right?”

Lin Zhengran turned back in disbelief and saw her blushing as she added, “But since I’m only marrying you out of pity, I’ll only have one kid with you. Don’t expect more.”

He couldn’t be bothered to respond.

Anyone who took a kid’s words seriously would lose.

Seeing him walking farther away, Jiang Xueli quickly chased after him. “Hey! Slow down! You’re really not going to react at all to what I just said?! You big idiot!”

—

“Ranran’s back?” Lin Yingjun opened the door at the sound of knocking, only to see Jiang Xueli standing behind his son.

This wasn’t her first time at their house. Ever since she discovered they lived close to each other, she had come over three or four times.

Jiang Xueli greeted him, looking both shy and reserved. “Hello, Uncle. I came to bring Lin Zhengran home.”

Lin Zhengran thought, You didn’t need to walk me all the way to my door, though.

His father, Lin Yingjun, was usually a laid-back person. But as a parent in this moment, he found himself feeling a little awkward. “Hello, Xiaoli.”

The reason for the awkwardness was that his wife was in the living room, on the phone. Lin Xiaoli heard their son return and rushed over with the phone in hand. “Ranran, you’re back? Perfect timing—Qingqing called for you! Come take the call.”

She stopped in her tracks when she noticed Jiang Xueli standing at the doorway.

Her anxious expression instantly turned into a blank stare. Her brain shut down for a moment.

Jiang Xueli, only half-understanding the situation, continued greeting politely, “Hello, Auntie! I came to drop Lin Zhengran home.”

Lin Xiaoli exchanged looks with her husband. Lin Yingjun glanced back at her. Then, forcing an awkward yet polite smile, Lin Xiaoli said, “Xiaoli, have you eaten dinner yet? Why don’t you stay and eat with us?”

Jiang Xueli quickly shook her head. “No need, Auntie! I still have homework to do, so I should head back.” She then turned to Lin Zhengran. “Alright, I’m going home. See you next week, Lin Zhengran.”

She waved at his parents as well. “Bye, Uncle and Auntie!”

Lin Zhengran nodded. “Be careful on your way back.”

“Got it.”

As soon as he stepped inside, he took the phone from his mom. “Hello? Why are you calling me again?” he asked, heading straight to his room.

Before heading downstairs, Jiang Xueli took one last glance at Lin Zhengran talking on the phone.

Qingqing… That was a girl’s name.

Why did it sound so familiar?

Was she a classmate?

She walked down the stairs slowly, lost in thought.

Then suddenly, it clicked.

Back in first or second grade, there was a girl who used to stick around Lin Zhengran all the time!

But at some point, that girl disappeared.

Did she move away? Transfer schools?

But if that were the case, why were they still in contact?

Was she a relative? A cousin?

As she descended the stairs, her twin ponytails bounced with each step, and she seemed deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli peeked out from their room, whispering.

“Xiaoli, be careful on your way back! You’re welcome here anytime,” Lin Yingjun called out.

Jiang Xueli paused, then turned around, blushing. “Thank you, Uncle and Auntie! I’ll come over again if I get the chance. Bye!”

Then she hurried downstairs.

Lin Xiaoli nudged her husband with her elbow. “Ugh, that was so awkward! Why didn’t you warn me?”

Lin Yingjun sighed. “How was I supposed to know she’d walk our son all the way home? I never had this kind of treatment when I was a kid.” He glanced at his wife. “You think Qingqing heard all that?”

“She definitely did. The call was still connected.”

The couple sighed in unison.

Lin Yingjun rubbed his temples. “Why do I have this bad feeling that our son’s future love life is going to be a mess?”

Lin Xiaoli nodded. “I feel the same. Especially with Xiaoli and Little He Qing—both of them seem really nice. And…” She looked at her husband. “Ranran’s still in elementary school…”

—

Back in his room, Lin Zhengran closed the door.

On the other end of the line, He Qing asked, “Did you just get home? Were you out today?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t home all day.”

“Oh…” He Qing hesitated before carefully asking, “I might’ve misheard, but… was that a girl’s voice just now?”

Lin Zhengran sat down on his bed and answered naturally, “Yeah, just a classmate. I wanted something from her, so I helped her out. I was at her house earlier to pick it up.”

“Oh…” He Qing sounded a bit unsure. “Then… why did she walk you home?”

Lin Zhengran scoffed. “How should I know? Maybe she felt guilty because I didn’t take her gift. Anyway, what did you want?”

Hearing his usual tone, He Qing felt a little relieved.

“Oh, I just made a really good friend recently! Remember that girl I mentioned before—the one who looks like a little fox? A lot of boys are chasing after her, but she’s actually really nice! She helps me a lot, and I found out we’re neighbors. Now we walk to school, eat lunch, and go home together every day!”

Lin Zhengran glanced at the water cup on his desk and decided to go to the living room to get some water.

The moment he stepped out, his parents, who had been casually watching TV, suddenly sat up straight.

His mom even asked with concern, “Ranran, how’s your call with Qingqing going? You two aren’t fighting, are you?”

“Huh?” Lin Zhengran filled his glass. “Why would I fight with He Qing?”

—

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time he moved up to fifth grade, he finally broke through the Spirit Level 30 threshold.

【After a period of cultivation, you have successfully reached the Level 30 milestone! A new hidden ability has been unlocked, making you even more formidable in the martial world!】

【New Ability: Medium Limit—When any of your four main attributes reach a certain value, you will gain a transformation effect!】

【Your current stats are as follows:】

• Strength: 13 (Reaching 50 will grant the ability to maintain muscle mass without exercise!)
• Stamina: 15 (Reaching 60 will grant limitless endurance! )
• Physical Energy: 19 (Reaching 70 will double stamina and triple endurance!)
• Charisma: 20 (Reaching 40 will double the goodwill you receive from others!)

Looking at the additional effects, Lin Zhengran thought:

Why do these descriptions sound kinda weird…?

—

Another year passed.

Sixth grade—the final year of elementary school—had arrived.

Today was a special day in the southern town.

It was Lianxin Festival.

Legend had it that tying a red ribbon onto the Tree of Devotion on this day would bring good fortune.

For singles, the heavens would grant them a fated match.

For couples, their love would remain blessed and unbreakable.

So, He Qing made a plan.

She invited her best friend, Han Wenwen, and the two of them decided to sneak out—without telling any adults—to tie their ribbons during the festival.