Childhood Sweetheart

Before they went home, Han Wenwen teased Little He Qing a few more times.

Little He Qing knew how to get shy now too, and after that she pretended to be angry. Han Wenwen laughed and went to coax her again.

"Oh, right, He Qing, what's the name of the school you're applying to? It just so happens my uncle is taking me to The North for a trip this year, so I'm planning to go take a look around the school."

"I haven't asked yet. I'll ask him when I get back tonight."

"Then tell me once you know the name. See you tomorrow. Bye, He Qing."

"Bye, Wenwen."

Night deepened. Tonight, Little He Qing could not even taste her dinner. She hurriedly swallowed it down, then took her mother's phone to the bedroom to make a call.

Perhaps it really was just that coincidental, but at the time, Jiang Xueli happened to be at Lin Zhengran's house.

And just as she was about to go home, she happened to see Aunt Lin's expression after she picked up the phone. "Hello? Is that Qingqing? Ranran, he's..."

Lin Xiaoli looked at Jiang Xueli, who was walking toward the door, then at her son beside her, and smiled helplessly. "Ranran... it's Qingqing calling."

"Oh. Have her wait a bit. I'll walk Jiang Xueli downstairs, then call her back in a while." He looked completely unconcerned, forming a sharp contrast with the awkwardness on Mom's face.

Lin Xiaoli nodded. "All right, then I'll tell Qingqing." Mom repeated her son's words exactly as they were. Because Little He Qing had had fun today, she did not overthink it, and nodded happily. "Okay, Auntie. I'll just wait for him."

Lin Zhengran walked out the door, puzzled as to why Certain Person was spacing out. "Jiang Xueli, let's go. I'll walk you downstairs and talk to you about registration while I'm at it."

Jiang Xueli glanced at Auntie as she spoke with that mysterious girl, answered, and followed behind Lin Zhengran.

In her heart, she grew even more curious about who that girl was and why she contacted Big Dummy so frequently.

More than a year had passed since that farce in fourth grade.

Because He Qing had left, Lin Zhengran had encountered fewer extraordinary events over the years. One could only say fate was just that coincidental; another Jiang Guniang who liked singing had popped up by his side.

So a year ago, after he learned that Jiang Xueli liked singing and had just happened to hit a certain musical bottleneck that was troubling her, Lin Zhengran asked Jiang Xueli one question: "Seeing how badly stuck you are learning this, do you want me to teach you?"

Jiang Xueli had been stunned on the spot. She clutched her stomach and burst out laughing. "Teach me what? Do you even know how to sing, and you want to teach me?"

Lin Zhengran did not say much. Instead, in music class that day, he rarely sang a song. Though he was not at an extremely professional level, as a transmigrator, he had taught himself some things in his previous life. After the teacher heard him, even she praised Lin Zhengran's vocal technique as quite good and said he had talent.

That simple and direct move shocked Jiang Xueli, and also made Lin Zhengran a little famous among several classes.

After class, Jiang Xueli found him, her eyes blank. "You actually sing that well, and I didn't even know."

"There are plenty of things you don't know." Lin Zhengran reminded her, "So do you want to learn from me or not? If you want to learn, nod and say you'll follow me from now on. If you don't, then forget it. I won't force you."

Jiang Xueli caught the blind spot. "F-follow you?" Her little face flushed bright red. This time, however, she was not particularly tsundere and nodded. She really did like singing. "F-fine. If you, Big Dummy, actually have real ability, then teach me! I'll follow you for the rest of my life!"

Like Little He Qing back then, she held out her little pinky, and Lin Zhengran pinky swore with her.

The system's voice then emerged along with it.

You have successfully formed a bond of fortune with Jiang Guniang. From now on, when Jiang Guniang cultivates, you will receive double cultivation feedback. Additionally, because of the effect of the Level Twenty skill, when you teach the other party a cultivation method, the other party can also gain double cultivation speed.

After forming the bond of fortune, over the past year or so, Lin Zhengran began using his free time, breaks between classes, after school, Saturdays, and Sundays to teach Jiang Xueli how to sing better and what the methods for creating songs were.

In any case, the two of them did not need to avoid suspicion. Rumors had already been flying everywhere for ages.

And with the system's feedback, every time Jiang Xueli advanced a step in her realm, Lin Zhengran could improve by double that amount. Every time she got stuck, he could give her the most crucial guidance.

This also made Jiang Xueli feel shocked, and at the same time, a sliver of admiration she was unwilling to admit arose in her heart toward him. "So you actually understand music this well? I feel like if I'd met you earlier, maybe I would've become a star ages ago. After learning from you, my progress has been practically explosive..."

Lin Zhengran flicked her on the forehead. Seeing her cry out in pain, he retorted, "It's not too late now either. Recently, I found out there's a Child Star Studio in our little town. You can register once you're twelve or older, meaning when you're in middle school. The managers and everything are pretty proper. When the time comes, if you really want to enter this line of work, you can register and give it a try."

Jiang Xueli felt that he truly had arranged everything. That line from back then—"I think you can do it"—actually had not been a joke.

So that day, Jiang Xueli blushed again and excitedly asked the same question. "Although I really do like this line of work, are you sure I can become a singer? Everyone says this path is really hard. Big Dummy, do you really think I can do it?!"

Lin Zhengran said confidently, "Why wouldn't you be able to? Even if you can't do it yourself, don't you have me to teach you?"

The destructive power of some words was something even Lin Zhengran himself could not imagine. When Jiang Xueli heard those words at the time, she felt that in this life, she was definitely going to fall into this idiot's hands.

After a boy said words like that to a girl, she did not know how she was supposed to grow up and like anyone else.

Time came to one year later, which was today.

Winter days were short, and the streetlights had already lit up.

Jiang Xueli's ponytail bounced along behind Lin Zhengran as they went downstairs.

Lin Zhengran said, "In another half a year, we'll be moving up to middle school. I've been looking at that studio's posts recently and found out they're scouting child stars at various schools now. Occasionally, they'll sit in on school evening galas. As it happens, the middle school we're going to is on their observation list, so I think the first New Student Evening Gala after middle school starts in half a year will be your best chance to show yourself."

Lin Zhengran looked back at her. "Your dad and mom weren't that opposed to you learning music in the first place. When the other side takes the initiative to invite you, Uncle and Auntie definitely won't refuse."

Jiang Xueli nodded. "Mm!"

The two of them walked under the community's streetlights. Lin Zhengran said from ahead, "For this half year, I won't teach you any other techniques. The main focus will be improving your live performance ability and consolidating the singing methods you've learned. Not getting stage fright and having presence are huge pluses for a kid."

"Mm."

After saying that, veins suddenly bulged on Lin Zhengran's forehead. He turned back and knocked Jiang Xueli hard on the forehead.

"Mm, my foot! Why are you spacing out? Did you hear what I said?!"

Jiang Xueli clutched her head unconvinced. "I heard you! I'll definitely study seriously, okay? When have I ever not been serious?!"

"Then what's with that expression?" He looked disdainfully at the jealous way Jiang Xueli was staring at him.

Jiang Xueli's cheeks puffed up in anger. She turned her head and huffed. "It's nothing. I just wanted to ask, who was that girl who called you just now? Is she called Qingqing?" She muttered softly, "Why does she keep calling you? What's your relationship?"

Lin Zhengran told the truth. "She's my childhood sweetheart. She transferred away before, but we're still in touch now."

"Huh?!" She could not understand. "Childhood sweetheart? Isn't your childhood sweetheart me?! I've known you since first grade!"