Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten-Chapter 148: The Reasons Behind Those Promises

The curtains were drawn, but there was always a small gap between them that couldn’t be completely closed.

A sliver of light cut across the center of the bed.

In the quiet of the night, there was a subtle movement beneath the blanket—like the swishing of a fox’s tail.

Han Wenwen whispered softly, "Zhengran-ge? Don’t you feel uncomfortable sleeping with your pants on?"

Lin Zhengran had already closed his eyes the moment the lights were off. "It’s fine."

Han Wenwen immediately disagreed. "How can that be fine? Sleeping in pants is so uncomfortable, right?"

Lin Zhengran didn’t respond.

Han Wenwen lowered her voice even more. "Zhengran-ge? Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Still no answer.

"Zhengrange~ Say something~"

Lin Zhengran sighed and opened his eyes, looking at the excited little fox in the darkness.

"What exactly do you want? You think I can sleep without pants at your place? If this were one of those novels you always read, the book would get banned the moment I took them off."

Han Wenwen giggled at his response. Then, suddenly, she ducked under the blanket and magically pulled out a piece of sleepwear—specifically, a pair of loose pajama pants.

She handed them to him. "Here, wear these."

Lin Zhengran reached out to take them, puzzled. "When did you put these in the bed?"

"I put them in earlier! Pants are too uncomfortable to sleep in, but these are nice and loose. They’ll feel much better."

Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "Just pants? What about a top?"

Han Wenwen shook her head. "No top. I bought these online, but I only got the bottoms. And I already washed them, so they’re super clean—no worries!"

Lin Zhengran was completely speechless at this little fox.

Still, he went along with it and changed into the pajama pants.

Han Wenwen smiled in satisfaction.

By now, their eyes had fully adjusted to the dark, allowing them to see everything in the dimly lit room.

Han Wenwen lay there watching Lin Zhengran, who had closed his eyes again. She spoke softly, "Zhengran-ge~ Is this the first time you’ve stayed overnight at a girl’s place?"

As she asked, her small hand slowly sneaked out from under her blanket, quietly inching toward Lin Zhengran’s side.

Lin Zhengran answered honestly, "No."

"What?!" Han Wenwen was shocked. "Then whose place did you stay at first?"

"Yours," he replied. "You forgot already? That time you had a fever, I stayed here with you."

"Ohhh~ Right!"

At that moment, her hand had just made it into Lin Zhengran’s blanket—only to be smacked away.

Startled, she quickly pulled her hand back.

Lin Zhengran pretended to be confused. "Huh? I think I just hit something in my blanket. Something’s in there."

Han Wenwen pouted. "What could possibly be in there? It’s just a blanket."

"You sure?"

Lin Zhengran stared up at the ceiling.

"But your place is really quiet at night. You can barely hear anything from downstairs."

Han Wenwen nodded. "Yeah, it’s so quiet I can even hear my own heartbeat… thumping away."

Lin Zhengran glanced at her playfully.

She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, which was sprawled across the pillow. Her hand once again, very cautiously, extended toward his side.

"Well, of course, this place is different. Zhengran-ge picked it out for me, after all."

Feeling her little hand sneaking over, Lin Zhengran caught it in his own.

Han Wenwen looked up at him.

He raised an eyebrow. "Can’t you behave?"

Even with her hand caught, she shamelessly denied any wrongdoing. "What do you mean? Wenwen didn’t do anything."

Lin Zhengran knew there was no way he’d get a peaceful night’s sleep, so he turned to face her.

Their pillows were pressed together, and in the darkness, they studied each other’s faces.

Still holding her hand, Lin Zhengran asked, "Do you ever feel scared sleeping here alone?"

Feeling his warmth, Han Wenwen finally stayed still for a moment. She nodded lightly.

"Sometimes… Most of the time, I don’t really think about it. But if my mind starts wandering or I remember certain things from the past, I get scared."

Lin Zhengran’s voice was gentle. "Things from the past?"

Lin Zhengran reached out and gently brushed away a strand of hair from the corner of Han Wenwen’s lips.

Han Wenwen’s heart fluttered. "Mm… It’s about my mom when I was little, and my uncle too. You know… I wish I had met Zhengran-ge earlier. Even just one day earlier would’ve been enough."

"We met early enough," he said. "We’ve known each other since elementary school."

"Still too late. We should’ve met the moment we were born."

Both of them laughed softly.

But then, Lin Zhengran suddenly noticed something odd.

Surprised, he asked, "Wait… you didn’t take off your stockings?"

At that moment, her little feet were sneakily rubbing against his leg.

Han Wenwen, embarrassed, replied, "Of course not. I’m still wearing my sweater too. I didn’t even change."

Lin Zhengran had completely forgotten about that. "Now that you mention it, I never saw you change. Why didn’t you put on pajamas?"

Han Wenwen turned away shyly. "Because you’re here~ How could I change in front of you? My sleepwear is really loose, you know..."

Especially without a bra…

Lin Zhengran was unconvinced. This didn’t sound like the Han Wenwen he knew.

"You? Shy? Then why are your hands and feet sneaking into my blanket right now? Why do you always wear so little when you’re with me? And today, you even wore stockings?"

With each question, Han Wenwen ducked her head lower, her fox-like eyes filled with playful grievance.

"Zhengran-ge, stop talking~ That’s… That’s because I want you to see the prettiest side of me. But what’s normal on regular days is different from tonight. Tonight, you’re staying over… No matter how bold I usually act, I’m still a girl. Of course, I’d be shy."

She blinked at him, her long lashes fluttering. In this dim light, she looked even more alluring.

She spoke softly, "Actually… girls aren’t that different from one another. Especially when we’re with the person we like. Wenwen is the same… I get shy, I get nervous, but I also want to be close to Zhengran-ge. I want you to hug me more, spoil me more, look at me more. Even if it seems like I have no shame..."

She let out a small laugh at herself and added, "I mean in terms of restraint. I’m only shameless in front of Zhengran-ge. I’m not like this with anyone else."

Lin Zhengran chuckled. "I get it. Actually, I think you come off a little cold and distant in general. When I’m not around, you barely talk to anyone."

Han Wenwen let out a triumphant "hmph," clearly pleased.

"Of course! Ever since I fell for Zhengran-ge, I haven’t wanted to talk to any other guys. I don’t even want to acknowledge them. Wenwen belongs only to Zhengran-ge!"

Then, in a quieter voice, she admitted, "Even though I think about seducing Zhengran-ge all the time… I don’t always have the courage to actually do it. It’s not like I can act on every thought."

Her voice softened, becoming more sincere than usual.

Her expression turned a little vulnerable.

"Because… even though I know Zhengran-ge doesn’t lie, and you always keep your promises… I’m still scared that if I stop making the first move, you won’t want me anymore. That you’ll feel like having me around or not wouldn’t make a difference."

"What nonsense is that?"

She bit her lip.

"It’s true… Wenwen knows, even if I don’t want to admit it, that a woman like me is only suited to be a lover—someone to be played with and discarded when the novelty wears off. I can’t be like Qingqing or Lily, who are perfect in so many ways.

"I tried learning to cook and do housework, but I always mess up. Even I can’t stand the things I make. So other than clinging to Zhengran-ge every day and taking care of you, I’m basically useless…"

Lin Zhengran looked at her smile, but in that smile, he saw a hint of helplessness.

"So that’s why," he said, "you’ve been insisting on doing everything for me today—brushing my teeth, washing my feet—trying to keep me from doing anything myself?"

Han Wenwen nodded.

"Mm… I just want to be useful to Zhengran-ge. I want to have a place in your heart. That’s why, before anyone else dares to act spoiled with you, I want to be the first to do it.

"I’m scared that one day, you’ll start spoiling me less and less. You’ll realize that anyone can act cute and clingy. That’s why I always make you promise to spoil me the most.

"I’m just afraid of the future, so I try to find security in these silly little promises."

Lin Zhengran reached out and cupped her cheek, his palm warm against her soft skin.

Han Wenwen, like a little fox, nuzzled into his touch.

"You’re wrong," he said gently. "Haven’t you noticed? Your real strength is understanding people—knowing what they’re thinking and feeling.

"Like earlier today, when we talked about responsibilities, you could clearly see everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, and even their thoughts. That’s something incredibly valuable.

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

"That’s why I wanted you to be my secretary. Do you think it’s just because you’re beautiful?" He smirked. "Just because you’re the most beautiful?"

Han Wenwen let out a small laugh but still looked a little aggrieved. "That’s not what I meant… Wenwen knows I’m not the most beautiful. I just have… a unique charm, that’s all."

Lin Zhengran chuckled. "You’re being too modest. But I’m serious. There are things only you can do. There are ways only you can help me. No one else can replace you.

"You’re one of a kind. Always."

Han Wenwen stared into his warm eyes, her lips trembling as a smile broke through.

"Really?"

"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she leaned into him.

"I want a hug~ I want Zhengran-ge to hold me~"