Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Time flew by, and just like that, three more weeks had passed.

The annual Freshman Talent Showcase at Xincheng First Middle School was finally about to begin.

Over these three weeks, since Jiang Xueli's situation was more urgent, Lin Zhengran had spent more time with her.

He would go see her on weekends and lie on her bed.

Listening to her strumming the guitar or humming softly while sitting on the edge of the bed.

If something was off, he’d give a bit of advice, like tapping the back of his hand on her thigh: “Your breath control is off. Lower the pressure for the first line. Start again.”

Jiang Xueli would respond and rub the spot he had just touched, her heart skipping a beat.

Then she’d sneak a glance at Lin Zhengran, who was lying on her pillow staring up at the ceiling.

She’d think, This big idiot’s never even been seen practicing, yet his musical talent is so off the charts. I’ll never catch up to him.

“That’s because I wasn’t there. With me around, it’s fine.”

Big idiot is so full of himself… Jiang Xueli thought.

She followed his instructions and ran through it again. And this time, the improvement wasn’t just a little—it was a lot. She looked genuinely surprised.

Lin Zhengran looked at her with satisfaction. “Not bad. If you’re still not smooth with it, just sing it a few more times. Follow my method. Adjust the pitch...”

Jiang Xueli nodded and sang it a few more times, each time better than the last.

She couldn’t help but marvel, “It’s seriously weird. I actually noticed this a while ago—whenever you teach me, I learn at least twice as fast as I do on my own. It’s not just about technique either. There are lots of techniques I know, but it still takes me forever to get them right. Yet if you’re around, I can pick them up instantly. Isn’t that just... too freaky?”

She looked at Lin Zhengran curiously. “Big idiot, did your mouth get blessed or something?”

Lin Zhengran sat up unhurriedly, and under Jiang Xueli’s confused gaze, curled his fingers and flicked her on the forehead.

She yelped in pain, pouting and rubbing her head. “Why’d you hit me?!”

Lin Zhengran lay back down. “Quit talking nonsense and keep practicing your breath control. The Freshman Talent Showcase is coming up. Whether you get selected or not is all up to your skills. This is the first step toward achieving your dream. Take it seriously.”

He yawned, turned over, and pulled her blanket over himself like he was about to sleep.

Jiang Xueli blushed as she saw her personal blanket now wrapped around him, thinking, How am I supposed to sleep with you using that tonight? Don’t you know I don’t like wearing pajamas when I sleep?!

She shut her eyes in frustration and snapped, “Big idiot!”

With his eyes still closed, Lin Zhengran replied, “You know, every time you insult me, it sounds like you’re being all cutesy. Can’t you at least tell me why you’re mad? Otherwise, how am I supposed to know what I did wrong?”

Jiang Xueli’s face turned bright red at a visible speed, her voice stammering, “C-cutesy?!”

Her little fists launched rapid punches against his back like she was giving him a high-speed massage, the force surprisingly perfect.

“Who’s being cutesy?! I’d never act like that with you! And who cares why I’m scolding you?! I’ll do it even without a reason! Big idiot! I hate you! You’re the absolute worst!”

Lin Zhengran ignored what she said, only noticing the pressure from her tiny fists.

He calmly reminded her, “Hit a little higher.”

“You think I’m actually giving you a massage?!” she grumbled, but still moved her fists up a bit, grumbling under her breath after she was done, “Well? How was it?”

“Not bad,” he murmured. “Decent pressure.”

“Hmph! You’re sick.” She muttered one more “Ugh, so annoying,” then went back to practicing.

But there was something Lin Zhengran never knew.

Every time he lay on her bed, Jiang Xueli would tell herself she had to change the blanket right away—it had been ‘contaminated’ by that big idiot.

But when she returned to her room alone and stared at the blanket he had used, her cheeks would flush red as she bit her lip.

This girl in the middle of her youth would sit down ceremoniously, gently place her guitar aside, and hug the blanket to her chest to sniff it.

Her face would turn even redder, and she’d mumble, “Ugh, now the whole blanket smells like him... though, it actually smells kinda nice.”

She’d take off her shoes, sit properly against the headboard, pull more of the blanket into her arms, and pout, “Well... I just changed it yesterday. It’s a pain to wash again. I guess I’ll just sleep with it tonight.”

She even lied to herself, “It’s all that guy’s fault for messing up my blanket.”

She’d curl up under the blanket that still carried Lin Zhengran’s scent, eyes closed, looking so happy and content—like he was right there beside her.

A week before the competition, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli were walking through school.

Jiang Xueli, trailing slightly behind, asked, “Big idiot, if I do get picked, does that mean I’ll have to spend a lot of time practicing in the training room?”

Lin Zhengran replied, “Not necessarily. It depends. Most new people do train in the studio since they have professional instructors. But if the singer has their own resources, then yeah, they might not need to.”

Jiang Xueli hesitated and looked ahead. “But... but I don’t really like practicing with other singers. I still want you to help me with my singing practice...” she lifted her chin arrogantly,

“Don’t get the wrong idea though! I just think you’re actually really good at this singing stuff. That’s all.”

Lin Zhengran shot her a disdainful look. “Oh really? Then I should thank Miss Jiang for thinking so highly of me.”

She bit her lip and huffed, “What do you mean, ‘thank me’? That sounded so passive-aggressive.”

Lin Zhengran had already made plans.

That children’s talent agency, still running in a small town despite struggling, was owned by a middle-aged woman who was deeply committed to her dreams.

She didn’t cut corners—only valued real skill.

So Lin Zhengran’s plan was to help Jiang Xueli build up popularity before the audition.

Then, once he had saved up enough money, he’d buy the agency outright. That way, Jiang Xueli would become a singer under his company, and her future would be secure.

It would also prevent her from being affected by unnecessary nonsense—after all, he’d be the boss.

Lin Zhengran said,

“Relax. I’m letting you join the studio just to give you a platform—a place to see more of the world for now. With that platform’s help, you can participate in all kinds of performances and build experience. That way, you won’t get tricked trying to navigate the scene alone. I’ll be there when I can, but I can’t always go with you.”

“Why not always?” she asked softly.

He answered honestly, “Because I have to teach He Qing too. She’ll be entering competitions later as well. I need to help her too, right?”

“You—! You’re such a player! Hope you get so busy you drop dead!” she fumed, stomping her foot.

Lin Zhengran went on, “As for the training, I’ll still be the one teaching you. You’re basically a singer I personally cultivated. I’ll definitely be charging you later.”

Jiang Xueli didn’t deny that part. Without his help, she definitely wouldn’t be as skilled as she was now.

But when it came to that “payment”...

She ran up ahead of him, completely unaware that not far away, a ponytailed, innocent-looking girl had spotted Lin Zhengran.

She had wanted to run over, but stopped when she saw the two of them.

Jiang Xueli turned toward him, body leaning forward, hands behind her back, and with that little bit of confidence she’d gained from being more assertive last time, said:

“Big idiot, even if I become super famous in the future, I’ll still keep my promise. I said I’d repay your kindness, so I’ll marry you—but only because I don’t want you growing old and lonely, okay? Don’t read too much into it!”

Lin Zhengran flicked her on the forehead as he walked past. “Who said that’s the payment I want? And do you, a twelve-year-old girl, even understand what getting married means?”

Jiang Xueli fumed, “I’m not a little kid anymore! I used to not know, but I do now! It just means getting married to you, right?”

She clenched her little fists and yelled, “I’m not scared at all! And I’m just paying you back, that’s it!”

The two of them bickered and laughed as they walked off into the distance.

Little He Qing stood there in a daze, watching Lin Zhengran and listening to what had just been said.

“Married... Jiang Xueli actually said she wanted to marry Lin Zhengran someday...”

A moment later, Han Wenwen walked up, seeing her best friend frozen in place.

She asked what was wrong, then suddenly saw He Qing start crying again and throw herself into her arms.

“What do I do, Wenwen? It feels like the two of them are getting closer and closer. Am I... am I going to lose?”

“What should I do?”

Han Wenwen tilted her head to comfort He Qing and thought, No way... can tsundere types really win?

If Little Qingqing really was falling behind, then she’d just have to step in herself and give them both a little push—help speed up their romance a bit.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you come up with something.”