Jiang Xueli clutched her head and answered first, "They went to work. And who’s the one with a split personality here?"
Lin Zhengran walked into her bedroom, and Jiang Xueli followed closely behind, running her fingers through her freshly washed twin ponytails—silky smooth.
Sitting on the bed, Lin Zhengran said, "I checked the Children’s Talent Agency’s video updates a few days ago. You guys are hosting a competition in town next sumr?"
Jiang Xueli humd in agreent and sat beside him. "The agency said that anyone available can sign up. Pretty much everyone has already registered… but I haven’t yet."
Blushing slightly, she puffed out her cheeks and said tsunderely, "Not that I don’t think I’m good enough! I’m actually one of the best in the agency! It’s just… if I sign up on my own and soone gets upset, what then?"
She grumbled, "After all, I wouldn’t be where I am now without a certain big idiot’s help. If I just go ahead and do whatever I want, you’ll definitely say I’ve grown wings and started acting on my own. So shouldn’t I at least ask for your opinion first?"
Lin Zhengran stared at her, her face full of guilty conscience—she was a terrible liar.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Jiang Xueli, caught off guard, imdiately went into defense mode.
"Of course! What, do you think I need you to be there?!" She huffed. "I can handle everything by myself! If that’s what you think, then I’ll call them right now and tell them I’m signing up!"
Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "So I don’t need to go, then?"
Jiang Xueli froze.
Her tsundere bravado ca to a screeching halt. Panic flickered in her eyes.
"O-Of course… but, uh… You really won’t co?"
She hesitated, then tentatively offered, "A-Actually, the place we’re going has really beautiful scenery. If you co, you could enjoy the view too! And since you know , I could even get you a front-row seat—other people couldn’t even dream of that! Oh, and I could cover your travel expenses too!"
"Oh." Lin Zhengran’s face remained expressionless. "But I’m not really interested in scenery."
Jiang Xueli gaped at him, then clenched her teeth and shut her eyes.
She pounded her small fists against his arm.
"Why won’t you go?! Why won’t you go?! What’s the harm in just coming to watch?! It’s not like you’d lose a piece of yourself!"
Lin Zhengran sighed.
Did she really think these little punches felt like anything more than a ticklish scratch?
He let her vent before finally saying, "I was joking. This is your first big performance—I’d never miss it. After all, you’re soone I personally trained. You’re mine. How could I just leave you to fend for yourself?"
Jiang Xueli’s mind completely blanked.
…What did he just say?
Mine?
The phrasing was so strange—like he was saying she was his woman, his wife or sothing.
Her entire face turned bright red. Her forehead felt like it was about to catch fire.
Pretending to be annoyed but actually giddy beyond belief, she ran her fingers through her ponytails and muttered, "What nonsense… Go if you want, not like I care."
Her last two sentences were barely audible, afraid he’d take them as an invitation to back out.
Lin Zhengran yawned and lay back on the bed. "By the way, didn’t you say at school that you had sothing to talk to about?"
"Ah? I…"
Jiang Xueli’s face turned even redder.
"I said that? Did I really say that? I don’t think I did…"
Lin Zhengran didn’t bother arguing. "If it’s nothing, then let’s start practicing. I’m gonna nap for a bit first."
Jiang Xueli turned to him, seeing that he had already closed his eyes. She grumbled, "You really treat my house like a hotel… You’re acting like this is your bed."
"Don’t worry. Even if I fall asleep, I’ll wake up if you ss up a note." He pulled the blanket over himself and stopped talking.
Jiang Xueli sighed and went to get her guitar.
As she practiced, she kept sneaking glances at the peacefully resting Lin Zhengran.
Now’s the perfect ti… I should just invite him already. He’ll definitely say yes…
She hesitated.
Her lips parted slightly.
But before she could say anything, the house phone suddenly rang.
Jiang Xueli imdiately set her guitar down and went to answer it. Lin Zhengran opened his eyes to watch her.
Seeing that the caller ID was her mom, she picked up.
"Hello? Mom?"
Her mother’s voice ca through the receiver.
"Lili, your grandma really missed you, so she decided to take the bus over by herself! I’m heading to the station to pick her up. Can you stay ho this afternoon and keep her company?"
Jiang Xueli blinked.
"My grandma’s coming? Okay, got it. Do you need to co with you?"
"No need. She’s really sothing, though. Ever since I told her over the phone that you’ve been practicing singing, she’s been dying to see you. Who knew she’d just hop on a bus today without even telling us? But whatever, if you want to co, then just et at the station."
"Okay, Mom."
After hanging up, Jiang Xueli saw that Lin Zhengran had already sat up.
"Big idiot, we probably won’t be able to practice today. My grandma’s coming this afternoon, so I need to go et my mom."
Lin Zhengran nodded and got out of bed.
"I heard. Then let’s just practice tomorrow. The competition’s still far away, no rush."
He slipped on his slippers and walked to the living room. Jiang Xueli followed.
"You’re leaving already?"
Lin Zhengran humd. "Aren’t you heading out too?"
Jiang Xueli pursed her lips.
"Then wait for . Let’s go downstairs together."
Unlike last ti, she didn’t overthink it too much. As they walked down, she hesitated briefly at the stairwell before finally speaking up.
"Uh… Big idiot, can you co out for a bit this afternoon? I have sothing for you."
"This afternoon?"
Lin Zhengran suddenly rembered—He Qing had asked to et him at 5 PM too. She also wanted to give him sothing.
Jiang Xueli continued, "At 5 PM, under the small bridge by the park—you know, the one where the pigeons always gather."
I said it! I actually said it again! I’m amazing!
Then, as if afraid she’d lose her nerve, she suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Big idiot! You have to co at 5 PM! I’ll be waiting for you by the bridge! I have sothing to give you! You have to co!"
And with that, she bolted.
Sha flooded her entire body—there was no way she could stay near him any longer.
She didn’t even hear whatever Lin Zhengran called out to her.
She had already disappeared in the blink of an eye.
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