Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten-Chapter 182: Inner Feelings

Jiang Qian and Fang Meng were startled by Lin Zhengran’s voice, both blushing for different reasons.

Jiang Qian picked up the phone.

The driver said, “Second Miss, I’ve delivered the clothes to the entrance. They’re with the security guard.”

Jiang Qian responded, “I’ll go get them now.”

After hanging up, she stood up and looked at Lin Zhengran without answering his question. “I’m going to get the clothes. You guys wait here for me.”

“Alright, go ahead.” Lin Zhengran nodded.

Jiang Qian left quickly, almost as if she was escaping.

She couldn’t quite explain her feelings for Lin Zhengran. She only knew it was curiosity—but there were different kinds of curiosity.

As for whether she liked him… at the very least, she was sure she didn’t dislike him.

After Jiang Qian left, Lin Zhengran turned his attention to Fang Meng, who was still sitting there.

Fang Meng was hugging herself with one arm, pulling at her torn pants with the other. Her face was red, and her head was slightly lowered.

She finally spoke.

“I wasn’t talking nonsense… But what did you mean when you said that to Qian Qian?”

“Hm?”

Fang Meng hesitated, then continued, “Qian Qian told me just now… She said yesterday you mentioned ‘going to bed’ to her? Why would you say something like that to her?”

Lin Zhengran walked up to her, crouching down to meet her eyes.

Fang Meng’s heart raced. “Why are you getting so close?”

Lin Zhengran explained, “I overheard part of your conversation earlier. But I didn’t bring up ‘going to bed’—besides, weren’t you the one who mentioned it first?”

“I did? When did I—”

Suddenly, Fang Meng recalled what she had said last week:

She had told Lin Zhengran that she would agree to any request of his… except for going to bed.

Seeing the realization dawn on her face, Lin Zhengran simply asked, “Got it now? Back then, Jiang Qian also said she’d agree to a request from me. I assumed she meant under the same conditions as you, so I casually asked, ‘Anything except going to bed?’ She misunderstood, and I had to explain before she got it.”

Fang Meng murmured, “So that’s what happened… I understand now.”

Lin Zhengran stood up. “Good.”

Fang Meng understood—but her thoughts were still in turmoil.

Even if Lin Zhengran had mentioned ‘going to bed’ because of her, the fact remained: both she and Jiang Qian had agreed to fulfill one of his requests.

Her own condition had been that it couldn’t involve sleeping together.

But Jiang Qian… hadn’t set any such condition?

Did that mean Jiang Qian liked Lin Zhengran so much that she was even open to the idea of being with him in that way?

After all, ever since her personality changed, Jiang Qian had avoided physical contact with boys.

Countless guys had pursued her over the years, but she never spared them a glance.

Yet now, when facing Lin Zhengran, she had said she was willing to "give it a try."

And most importantly, the things Jiang Qian had muttered to herself just now… they were completely different from how she used to talk about Lin Zhengran in private back in first year.

Fang Meng lifted her head, watching Lin Zhengran as he scrolled through his phone.

Then she suddenly realized something—

What exactly was she thinking?

At first, she had thought Jiang Qian liking Lin Zhengran was a bit reckless.

But now… after knowing Lin Zhengran for so long, she was sure of one thing:

He was a good person.

He was excellent, kind, honest, and handsome—perfect in every way.

Jiang Qian dating him shouldn’t be a problem. She should be happy for her. She should even be helping her.

But…

Fang Meng pursed her lips tightly, staring at Lin Zhengran’s slightly gaunt side profile in confusion.

Why did she feel so reluctant about Jiang Qian and Lin Zhengran being together?

Why did she feel like she didn’t want him to be with any girl at all?

Was she… jealous?

Could it be that she… had also started liking him?

Liking the same boy Jiang Qian liked?

Lin Zhengran, still looking at his phone, sensed her gaze.

Fang Meng was still staring at him, her eyes unfocused.

Lin Zhengran asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

Fang Meng quickly looked away and pressed her legs together. “It’s nothing.”

Two minutes later, Jiang Qian returned to the sports equipment storeroom, carrying two sets of new clothes.

“Xiao Meng, I got the clothes. I brought two sets—just in case something tears again.”

She handed the clothes to Fang Meng, who snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. “Thanks, Qian Qian. But I don’t think they’ll tear again. I’ll change now.”

Both girls turned to look at Lin Zhengran, who was still there.

Lin Zhengran extended a hand. “Give me my jacket back. I’ll wait outside.”

Fang Meng realized she was still wearing his jacket and quickly responded.

As Lin Zhengran turned around, she blushed and took off the jacket, handing it back to him. “Thanks.”

Lin Zhengran waved a hand casually. “No problem.”

He then stepped out of the storeroom.

Inside, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng exchanged glances. Having made up, they suddenly burst into laughter.

But just as Fang Meng was about to change into her new clothes—

Rip!

She froze.

At first, she thought she had torn her own clothes again.

But then Jiang Qian turned around and saw it—her pants had gotten caught on the sharp edge of a metal locker, ripping a hole.

It wasn’t as bad as Fang Meng’s, but the tear was right on her thigh, exposing her fair skin.

Jiang Qian looked at the damage, stunned. “Are you serious? This place just eats clothes, doesn’t it?”

Fang Meng couldn’t hold back her laughter. She handed her the spare set. “Good thing you brought two. You should change, too. These old lockers are full of sharp edges. It’s kind of dangerous.”

Jiang Qian took the clothes. “I guess I have no choice.”

Outside the storeroom, Lin Zhengran had just put his jacket back on when he noticed something—

Class 3, which He Qing belonged to, had finally arrived at the field.

The PE teacher had just finished explaining the fitness test simulation to them.

Meanwhile, He Qing, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli were looking for Lin Zhengran.

Since both their classes had PE together today, they were confused about why he wasn’t there.

Han Wenwen and the others went to Class 1’s area and asked a few boys.

Han Wenwen: “Where’s your class monitor? Why isn’t he here?”

A boy sitting on the grass said, “Class monitor? No idea. He went off with Fang Meng earlier for something and never came back.”

He Qing frowned. “With Fang Meng?”

Jiang Xueli scanned Class 1’s students, noticing that Fang Meng was missing as well.

The three girls started getting nervous.

Then Han Wenwen noticed something odd. “Wait a second… Where’s Jiang Qian? Why is your vice monitor missing too?”

The same boy shrugged. “No clue. The three of them are probably together. Lately, the vice monitor has been sticking to the class monitor a lot. Fang Meng too.”

He Qing scanned the area. Finally, she spotted a familiar figure near the storeroom.

She smiled. “Found him! Lin Zhengran’s over there!”

Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli followed her gaze.

Seeing him, they immediately ran over.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on novelbuddy.cσ๓.

At that moment, Lin Zhengran was just adjusting his clothes outside the storeroom.

Seeing them run over, he asked curiously, “Your class took so long to come down? PE class is almost over.”

He Qing answered, “The math teacher borrowed a class period, so we came late. What are you doing here, Lin Zhengran?”

Lin Zhengran: “Just handling a little issue. It’s already resolved.”

Jiang Xueli’s bright eyes sparkled with curiosity. “An issue?”

Han Wenwen’s sharp nose twitched.

She smelled something.

Another girl’s scent.

He Qing was confused. “What’s wrong, Wenwen? What are you sniffing for?”

Han Wenwen turned to Lin Zhengran, recalling what she had just seen. “Lin Zhengran… were you just putting your clothes back on?”

Before he could answer—

From inside the storeroom, the sound of girls talking could be heard.

He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen turned toward the door at the same time.

They exchanged glances.

Then, in unison, they shouted—

“There are girls inside?!”

Lin Zhengran answered calmly, “Yeah. It’s Jiang Qian and Fang Meng. They’re changing. They’ll be out soon.”

The three girls froze.

Then, recalling that Lin Zhengran himself had been outside changing, they all yelled—

“What?! Changing?!”

Lin Zhengran sighed. “Not what you’re thinking! What’s going through your heads?”