Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Two days after being discharged, inside the two-story villa of the Jiang sisters in Zitong City.

Jiang Jingshi and Jiang Qian sat obediently on the sofa like they were being disciplined, while Fang Meng stood to the side with her head lowered, fingers nervously fidgeting in front of her.

Across from them were Father Jiang, Mother Jiang, and Grandpa, all scolding them sternly.

Mother Jiang placed a news magazine on the table.

Father Jiang said angrily, "Such a huge thing happened, and the three of you actually managed to keep it from us without anyone knowing?! You’ve really got guts, haven’t you? Jingshi!"

His last shout was especially furious, and Jiang Jingshi responded, "Yes, Dad, I’m listening."

"Listening, huh?! Are you really listening?! What if the illness hadn't been cured?! This was a terminal illness! A terminal illness! What if it hadn’t been cured? Were you planning on staying bedridden for the rest of your life—"

Mother Jiang smacked her husband’s arm, signaling that he shouldn’t say such unlucky things even if he was angry.

Father Jiang corrected himself, "When exactly were you planning to tell us? Huh? Tell me! Were you just planning to keep us in the dark forever? You clearly didn’t take me or your mother seriously!"

Her tone was gentle but not guilty as she said, "Dad, Mom, it’s not that I don’t take you seriously. I just didn’t want you to worry. I was afraid it would affect your work."

Mother Jiang pursed her lips, frowning with heartache.

"Work isn’t more important than you. In our hearts, you and Qianqian will always come first."

Father Jiang also didn’t understand.

"Affect our work? Affect us how? Sure, your mom and I are always busy making money, but if anything happens to you two, wouldn’t we drop everything immediately to take care of you?!

Do you have any idea how scared we were when we saw the news? It was a terminal illness! You might have been bedridden for life!"

After scolding the older daughter, Father Jiang turned to his younger daughter:

"Qianqian! And you too! It's one thing for your sister to not want to tell us because she was sick, but you?! This was so serious and you dared not to tell us?! And Xiaomeng too! You’ve really been led astray by Qianqian! You’re all getting bolder by the day!"

Fang Meng trembled in fear, lowering her head even more, and only dared to whisper,

"Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry."

Mother Jiang tried to smooth things over. "Don’t blame Xiaomeng. She was just being loyal to Qianqian — that’s a good thing too."

Father Jiang was speechless, but in truth, he knew how important it was that the assistant shared the same heart as his daughter. That kind of loyalty was something many entrepreneurs could only dream of, so he didn’t say more.

Grandpa, seeing that the scolding had gone on long enough, coughed a few times and interrupted:

"Alright, I think you’ve said enough. My eldest granddaughter just recovered from a major illness, and my little granddaughter took care of her for so long. A few words are enough."

He glared at his son and daughter-in-law, speaking angrily:

"And you two, don’t just push all the blame onto the kids! Jingshi was in the hospital for almost a week. If she didn’t tell you, you two wouldn’t have found out? In a whole week, you didn’t even spare a little time to visit your own daughter?!

If you had paid even a little more attention, would they have been able to hide it from you?!"

Grandpa said sternly, "To put it bluntly, it’s your failure too!"

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang were speechless, sitting there like students being lectured.

Jiang Jingshi couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Father and Mother Jiang turned to look at their daughter.

Jiang Jingshi quickly apologized with a bit of awkwardness,

"Grandpa, don’t blame Dad and Mom. They do care about me and Qianqian a lot. Besides, I hid it really well. If I hadn’t fainted in the yard that day, even Qianqian and Xiaomeng wouldn’t have known."

Grandpa sighed, picked up the magazine on the table, flipped it open, and looked at the poster of Jiang Jingshi.

Out of nowhere, he said,

"But you have to admit, ‘Angel’s Daughter Jiang Jingshi’ — that title isn’t bad. The reporters took some great photos too. My eldest granddaughter really is beautiful."

Mother Jiang added softly,

"After all, Jingshi and Qianqian have always been the center of attention since they were little. No matter how you photograph them, it’s impossible for them to look bad."

Grandpa asked, "So what exactly happened? How did your illness get cured?"

Jiang Jingshi, Jiang Qian, and Fang Meng exchanged meaningful glances.

Father and Mother Jiang also exchanged a look, clearly realizing something was fishy.

Because if her terminal illness had really been cured inexplicably, their daughter wouldn’t be making that kind of face.

Father Jiang said helplessly, "Come on, there’s no outsiders here. Your mom, your grandpa, and I all promise not to breathe a word of this to anyone. And judging by your faces, you all know the truth.

Don’t just brush us off with a few words."

After exchanging a look with her sister, Jiang Qian sat up straight and suddenly said,

"It was Lin Zhengran who saved my sister."

Father Jiang, Mother Jiang, and Grandpa all looked shocked, their eyes widening in disbelief.

Grandpa said, "My comrade’s grandson?"

Father Jiang exclaimed, "What?! Lin Zhengran? He saved Jingshi? But how exactly? Did he know some famous expert or—"

Jiang Jingshi smiled. "What expert could compare to him? My illness was already proven to be terminal worldwide. It was after he found out I was sick that he managed to figure out a way to save me on his own and developed a special medicine."

Mother Jiang was stunned. "He researched it himself? That incredible?! And you were cured within just a few days of knowing you were sick?"

"That’s exactly what happened," Jiang Jingshi said, recalling that moment in the car, remembering the deep affection in Lin Zhengran’s eyes:

"At first, when he said he could save me, I didn’t believe him either — especially since the doctors had already made it very clear.

But... I’ve known him for so long, and he’s never lied to me about anything. I just had this feeling he could really do it, and in the end, facts spoke louder than words."

She lifted her head.

"If it weren’t for him, I don’t even dare imagine what kind of situation I’d be in right now. In short, I owe my life to him."

Father and Mother Jiang could hear, from her tone and expression, the moment when despair had turned into hope for her.

The two exchanged a silent glance.

Mother Jiang gazed off into the distance and sighed:

"This Lin Zhengran is truly a rare talent. And he even knows medicine? That’s practically being omnipotent.

He’s already impressed me more than once, but this time it’s just... incredible.

Just thanking him isn’t enough. Your dad and I have to personally visit him to show our gratitude."

Father Jiang nodded slowly. "I agree. Since our daughter’s life was saved by him, we must show our sincerity. Even though we’re elders, this isn’t something where we can act aloof. You go prepare some good gifts."

Mother Jiang nodded.

But Jiang Jingshi quickly raised her hand to stop them.

"Wait, no! I’m telling you, this isn’t something you can just go charging into!"

Father Jiang looked confused. "What’s wrong with that? We’re just going to thank him, nothing else."

Jiang Jingshi thought for a moment. "That may be true, but... I have to ask his opinion first. I can’t cause him any trouble.

Dad, Mom, you two shouldn’t take any actions on your own either."

Mother Jiang asked curiously, "So cautious?"

Grandpa said at this point:

"She’s right. As things stand, that kid’s future is limitless. He definitely has his own rhythm and way of doing things.

Besides, with Zhengshi Group’s popularity skyrocketing after this incident, the Jiang family is in the spotlight too.

If your parents move recklessly, it might cause unnecessary trouble."

Grandpa concluded,

"Let’s do as my eldest granddaughter says. You go ask Lin Zhengran what he thinks.

We’ll follow his lead.

Best if we find a time to invite him for a meal and properly host him — he’s our family’s most honored guest."

Jiang Jingshi nodded.

"Alright, Grandpa. I’ll talk to him in the next two days."

After speaking, she looked at her own photo on the magazine cover.

But in her mind’s eye, what floated up were all the little moments she shared with Lin Zhengran in the hospital.

She wondered what he was doing now.

Should she call him later, or just go find him directly..?