The Winter Break and the Lianxin Festival

Because Han Wenwen had agreed to keep an eye on Certain Person for Little He Qing,

whenever a pretty girl her age came to the classroom to borrow something from Lin Zhengran,

Han Wenwen would lie across her desk and deliberately give Lin Zhengran a fox-like look, her voice tender as water: "Classmate Lin Zhengran, are you still coming to my house this week? I bought a new dress."

Girls tended to understand romance early, so they could naturally read a lot into those words. Blushing, they would leave.

Lin Zhengran gave Han Wenwen an exasperated sidelong glance. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Han Wenwen said whatever came to mind. "I'm helping my Qingqing keep an eye on her Childhood Sweetheart. Just one Jiang Xueli is enough to trouble our Qingqing. I can't let any other love rivals join in. That wouldn't be good for Qingqing."

Lin Zhengran did not want to comment on this fox's behavior, but when he saw the resentful looks from the boys in class, he remembered that Han Wenwen had always been their White Moonlight ever since she joined the class.

So whenever Han Wenwen said things like that, the boys looked at him murderously, as if they wished they could stuff Certain Person into their mouths, chew him up, and swallow him.

Ever since the Demonic Cult's Enchantress appeared at your side, the righteous cultivators had increasingly viewed you as an outsider. Many had even started spreading rumors that you had joined the Demonic Cult. Naturally, you had to be more careful about the road ahead.

Lin Zhengran: "."

This did not happen only once. Rather, many such incidents occurred during the days before winter break.

It was not just girls talking to him. Sometimes, when other girls secretly glanced at Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen would deliberately move closer to him, stare curiously at the girl, and smile as she declared her Bestie's ownership.

One day during PE Class, she went completely overboard.

That day, a girl from another class boldly came over and asked Lin Zhengran for his phone number.

Han Wenwen appeared beside Lin Zhengran without a sound, grabbed the corner of his clothes, and said pitifully, "Zhengran Gege, who is she? Isn't having me enough? Are you going to break up with me?" As she spoke, she looked ready to cry.

When the girl heard that he already had a girlfriend, she took two steps back and hurriedly ran away.

Han Wenwen covered her stomach and laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.

Lin Zhengran looked disdainfully at the Fox clutching her stomach. "Han Wenwen, if you keep acting crazy like this, everyone else is really going to think you're my girlfriend. I'm telling you, that's enough."

After laughing for a long while, Han Wenwen looked up at him and straightened. "Is Classmate Lin Zhengran afraid of such rumors? But you don't need to think that. I believe everyone in class already assumes I'm your person." She reminded him, "After all, the boys have been looking at you rather strangely lately."

"Can I take that to mean you find all those other boys confessing to you troublesome, so you're using me as a scapegoat?"

Han Wenwen pretended to be surprised. Covering her tiny mouth, she stared at him blankly.

"Oh my, Classmate Lin Zhengran is so clever. Wen Wen can't hide anything from Classmate Lin Zhengran. To be honest, ever since everyone misunderstood me to be your girlfriend, it really has saved me a lot of trouble. You could say it was an unexpected gain."

She looked into the distance, poking a finger against her Red Lips.

"But my main purpose in doing all this is still to stop other girls from approaching you. But who can blame Classmate Lin Zhengran for being so outstanding? There are so many girls trying to get close to you that I have to keep changing tactics to separate you from them. As for the rumors, I warned Little Qing Qing about them long ago. I'm not afraid."

She deliberately scrutinized Lin Zhengran's expression again. "Huh? Could it be that Classmate Lin Zhengran really likes me? So when everyone says I'm your girlfriend, you get embarrassed?"

She once again pretended to be shy, covering her face as she spoke word by word. "If that's the case, I'll have to tell Little Qing Qing. We can't do anything that would betray Qingqing, even if I do think Classmate Lin Zhengran would make a very suitable boyfriend."

Lin Zhengran sighed and turned to leave. There was no point saying anything more to this Fox Spirit. After all, she had stopped acting like a human being.

Foxes could not understand human speech, either.

Fortunately, winter break arrived soon.

Lin Zhengran no longer had to see that green-tea Fox and that Silly Girl acting crazy in front of him all day.

When winter break arrived, the school was quieter than expected, and nothing happened.

Since Little He Qing and Han Wenwen had to return to their Southern Town Hometown for the New Year, the four of them parted at the station.

Han Wenwen and Little He Qing pulled their suitcases and waved at the other two.

Little Fox smiled brightly. "Classmate Lin Zhengran, Classmate Jiang Xueli, see you next year. I had a lot of fun this semester."

Little He Qing gazed at Lin Zhengran reluctantly, moving her little hand only slightly as she whispered, "Lin Zhengran, Wen Wen and I are heading back. See you when school starts next year. I'll call you if anything happens. And Jiang Xueli, see you next year."

Jiang Xueli waved.

Lin Zhengran waved as well. "Be careful on the ride, you two."

The High-Speed Rail started up and headed into the distance. It meant that Jiang Xueli and He Qing's battle for love had temporarily entered a truce, and Lin Zhengran could finally rest for a short while.

On the way back, Lin Zhengran asked Jiang Xueli whether she had any performances to attend during this winter break.

Jiang Xueli shook her head. "No. The studio said it needs to update some equipment this year, so I won't start appearing on programs again until next year. When the time comes, Big Dummy, will you come with me? I don't mean anything by it. I just thought you like watching the excitement, so I invited you."

Lin Zhengran did not argue with her. "I'll definitely accompany you for your first performance outside, so you don't have an accident. But now that you mention it, the rest of this year really will be relaxing."

When Jiang Xueli heard that he would accompany her, she happily bit her lip, held both hands behind her back, and bounced along as she walked.

"Mhm. I can get a good rest during winter break this year."

Winter break passed exceptionally quickly. The days before the New Year seemed to be over in less than the time it took to blink.

On the day before the New Year, Lin Zhengran's level unexpectedly broke through to Level Thirty-Nine.

He was only one level away from unlocking a new skill.

Since entering the cultivation world, you had first met Fairy He when she descended the mountain, then encountered Jiang Guniang wandering the martial world alone, and now you had been targeted by the Demonic Cult's Enchantress and accompanied her on her travels. After enduring hardship upon hardship, you had finally reached Level Thirty-Nine and were gradually taking on the bearing of a strong cultivator.

Your current attributes were:

Strength: 34. Reaching 50 will grant the special ability to develop muscles without exercising.

Energy: 29. Reaching 60 will grant the special ability to perform seven times in one night without fatigue.

Physical Strength: 36. Reaching 70 will grant the special abilities of doubled physical strength and triple endurance.

Charm: 40. Reaching 40 grants the special ability to gain double the other party's favor through your words and actions. Unlocked.

You had gained the ability to receive double favor from your actions. This would noticeably improve your interpersonal relationships while you traveled the martial world, and strangers would be happy to speak with you.

The New Year arrived.

Outside a certain bungalow in a Southern Town, a Fox had dressed and was chatting with her Bestie on the phone while offering New Year's greetings.

In Little Fox's palm was a Wooden Token. It was the token she had once obtained at the Lianxin Festival, and the character "Lin" was carved into it.

Today, she planned to go again—alone.

Thank you to the esteemed "Perhaps Humans Exist" for rewarding 100 Qidian Coins.

Thank you to the esteemed "Wenjiu Zuiren" for rewarding 100 Qidian Coins.

Thank you to the esteemed "20221229051440297" for rewarding 100 Qidian Coins.