Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten-Chapter 197: A Kiss Without Regret

Lin Zhengran watched as Jiang Qian hurried away, then touched his cheek.

He frowned slightly. "How does ‘not being able to stand it’ relate to kissing me?"

Letting out a breath, he turned back toward the gym.

By the time he returned, Jiang Qian was already gone.

The Second Miss had dashed into the restroom to splash her face with water, then wandered outside to sit and stare into space.

Though her posture was poised and her expression cool, her mind was replaying that moment—kissing Lin Zhengran’s cheek.

Countless pink bubbles floated and popped inside her head.

Back inside, Lin Zhengran stayed busy for a while longer. Since everyone was eager to go home, he wrapped things up and let everyone leave once he saw that most of the work was done.

In the end, only Fang Meng remained, helping him finish the last few tasks.

Fang Meng checked off the last few props. "Everything’s accounted for—nothing missing."

Lin Zhengran glanced at the checklist. "Good. That means we’re done. I’ll just check the doors and windows one more time to make sure we didn’t leave anything unlocked. You can head out now."

Fang Meng nodded but didn’t move. "No rush. It’s only a few minutes—I’ll help you check."

Lin Zhengran didn’t mind. "Alright, suit yourself."

As they walked, she suddenly asked, "By the way, Lin Zhengran, where’s Qianqian? Haven’t seen her."

He climbed the steps and glanced around. "Maybe she left? I haven’t seen her in the last ten minutes."

Fang Meng thought that was possible but decided to call just in case.

She pulled out her phone but hesitated when she saw how empty the gym was—just her and Lin Zhengran.

After a moment, she quietly put the phone away and continued following him as he checked the windows and doors.

Lin Zhengran noticed. "You didn’t text her?"

"No, but she probably just wandered off. If she left, she’d let me know. I’ll call her later."

As he locked a window, Fang Meng gazed at the now-empty gym and sighed.

"I can’t believe we’ve graduated. It feels like just yesterday we were doing military training as first-years. And now... it’s over."

Lin Zhengran chuckled. "High school goes by fast. Most of the time, it’s just studying—there aren’t many other memories. But you’re only getting sentimental now? The college entrance exams ended days ago."

Fang Meng looked at his side profile as he checked the windows and recalled the moment she saw him singing at the KTV.

"I never used to get sentimental about graduating. No matter which school—elementary or middle—Qianqian was always first, and I was always by her side. I never thought high school would change that. But now, I actually feel nostalgic."

She smiled, voice sincere. "Honestly, I never expected Qianqian and I would become friends with you. At first, I thought you’d just be another one of Qianqian’s rivals—once she beat you, we’d never talk again."

Lin Zhengran smiled. "I didn’t expect it either."

Fang Meng’s lips parted slightly. "If... if we could redo high school, I think Qianqian would have bought you bubble tea during military training. And I would have too."

"Hm?" He turned his head just in time to see her stepping closer.

Before he could react, she gently tugged his sleeve, stood on tiptoe, and pressed a soft kiss to the right corner of his lips.

Then, blushing, she lowered herself back down and looked at him.

Lin Zhengran stared at her, feeling as though he’d entered some kind of parallel universe.

What’s up with these two today?

Fang Meng smiled shyly. "It doesn’t mean anything. I just wanted to kiss you. Isn’t that what graduation is for? Leaving no regrets."

Later, after locking up the gym, Lin Zhengran exhaled.

"A lot has happened these past two days."

But he hadn’t walked far when he spotted Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing heading his way.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you three back? After the ceremony, I told you to pack up in the dorms. I was going to call once we finished here."

Jiang Xueli scoffed. "There wasn’t much to pack. We finished the annoying stuff days ago."

He Qing mumbled timidly, "We didn’t have anything to do in the dorms, so we thought we’d come help."

Han Wenwen smiled but didn’t speak, her gaze meaningful.

Lin Zhengran sighed. "Help with what? The teachers left enough people to clean up. We finished in less than twenty minutes. But if you’re all packed, that’s good. I’ll return the gym keys, then we can head home."

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The three girls responded in unison. "Okay!"

Lin Zhengran called their class teacher to report that the gym was taken care of, then returned the keys.

As they left the school together, he thought, "Once we walk out today, we won’t be coming back. Even when vacation ends, high school will be over."

Meanwhile, back at the gym…

Fang Meng sat in the corner, blushing, lost in thought.

Her heart still pounded from kissing Lin Zhengran.

Then, suddenly, her phone rang.

Startled, she checked the screen—Jiang Qian was calling.

She picked up. "Hello? Qianqian, where are you?"

From just around the corner, Jiang Qian’s voice replied, "Xiao Meng, I’m right here."

Fang Meng turned, surprised to see Jiang Qian standing at the other end of the gym’s exterior.

"Qianqian? You were there?"

Jiang Qian nodded. "I’ve been sitting here. When I called, I heard your phone ring."

Realization dawned on them both—they had been spacing out in the same spot, just on opposite sides of the gym.

Fang Meng’s heart skipped a beat.

"Thank god I don’t have a habit of talking to myself," she thought. "If I had blurted out anything about kissing Lin Zhengran just now, Qianqian would’ve heard everything."

Then another thought struck her.

"Wait... Qianqian and I both like the same guy... What now?"

Jiang Qian extended a hand. "Let’s go home. There’s something I want to discuss with you."

Fang Meng reached out and let her pull her up. "Really? I also have something I want to talk to you about."

Their eyes met.

Then, at the same time, they smiled.

Neither said it out loud, but both already knew what the other wanted to discuss.

After a brief conversation, they left the school together.

As they walked, Jiang Qian called her parents.

"Hello, Dad? I need to tell you something. I don’t want to go to Stanford anymore. A school like that won’t help me improve. Xiao Meng and I have decided to go somewhere else."