Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten-Chapter 4: A Month of Changes

This system really seems to understand what I want.

I’m not a terrible person at heart. If I take something from it, I should give something back.

From the kitchen, his mom shouted, “Ranran, Qingqing, come eat! The shrimp is steamed and ready!”

Lin Zhengran and little He Qing left the bedroom in response. The two kids sat at the dining table, while Lin Xiaoli placed a plate of shrimp in front of them. “You two peel and eat these yourselves. Qingqing, don’t hold back here at Auntie’s house.”

He Qing hesitated, waiting for Lin Zhengran to make the first move before she dared to take a shrimp. Her timid movements couldn’t hide her inner glutton. She snapped the shrimp’s head off and bit into it, savoring the flavor. The sweetness of the shrimp brought an unmistakable look of joy to her face.

She then placed the body of the shrimp in front of Lin Zhengran.

“Why are you giving this to me?” Lin Zhengran asked curiously. “Do you not like it? Are you picky?”

He Qing stammered, “I’m not picky...”

Lin Zhengran understood immediately—she was trying to give him the tastiest part of the shrimp. He Qing had a kind heart, a deep sense of gratitude for even the smallest kindness. She just didn’t express it aloud, making it difficult for other kids to understand her. Only someone like Lin Zhengran, who had been reborn, could guess her thoughts.

“If you’re not picky, then take it back,” he said firmly.

He Qing wanted to explain that the shrimp meat was delicious and that’s why she was giving it to him, but Lin Zhengran’s stern look silenced her. She reluctantly took the shrimp back, lowered her head, and nibbled on it timidly.

That evening, Auntie He came home from overtime and took He Qing away. Auntie He was a stern woman, always with a serious expression that gave the impression of a heavy burden. Her strictness, combined with the absence of He Qing’s father, was likely the root of He Qing’s timid nature.

On their way home, Auntie He held her daughter’s hand and asked, “Qingqing, why do I feel like you’re afraid of your Ranran Brother? Don’t you like playing with him?”

He Qing answered without hesitation, “I do.”

“Then why do you keep calling him Lin Zhengran instead of Ranran Brother?”

At first, He Qing had called him Ranran Brother, but Lin Zhengran didn’t like it, so she switched to using his full name. Auntie He didn’t press further when her daughter fell silent again.

“Let’s go visit Grandma this winter, okay? It’s been a long time since we went back home.”

“Mm, okay.”

That night, in his bedroom, Lin Zhengran ate the box of candy He Qing had given him. Each piece made him feel stronger, more energetic, or more vitalized—just like a cultivation elixir. The candy was so effective that he finished the entire box in one night.

Good thing kids have strong teeth! Even after eating a whole box, he didn’t feel any pain.

For the next month, Lin Zhengran made it a habit to ask He Qing for snacks every day. In exchange, he would give her some of the snacks his parents gave him. He wasn’t interested in the snacks themselves but in the system rewards they brought.

During this time, he also began teaching He Qing how to stand up for herself—or, as others might see it, how to cause trouble.

For example, during class, if someone whispered bad things about He Qing, Lin Zhengran would tell her to throw a paper ball at them.

He Qing didn’t want to.

“You heard them bad-mouthing you, didn’t you? Throw it!” Lin Zhengran demanded.

When she still hesitated, he pinched her cheek. “Do as I say! You promised, didn’t you? Or do you want to break your promise?”

Under the tyranny of Lin Zhengran, He Qing had no choice but to comply. But when the other kids saw it was He Qing who threw the paper ball, they simply glanced at Lin Zhengran and said nothing further.

Lin Zhengran pushed her in other ways too.

At lunch, if He Qing didn’t get enough to eat, she used to stay hungry until dinner. But now, Lin Zhengran would make her raise her hand and call out, “Teacher, I’m still hungry!” If her voice was too soft, Lin Zhengran would poke her leg. “Speak up! Who can hear you whispering like a mosquito?”

He also made her ask for partners during activities, call for the teacher when she was scared to go to the restroom alone, and more.

By the end of the month, He Qing didn’t know what had gotten into Lin Zhengran. He seemed to be bullying her more than ever. But while she initially couldn’t do anything and later realized resistance was futile, she found herself less shy about speaking up as time went on.

One day, Lin Xiaoli took Lin Zhengran shopping at the mall. She loved browsing for clothes and shoes, taking forever at each store. Lin Zhengran, bored out of his mind, stood at the entrance and noticed a familiar figure outside the children’s Taekwondo studio.

It was He Qing, standing by herself and watching a promotional video on repeat.

【Today, while out, you accidentally discover Fairy He studying a certain sect’s martial art technique. You feel curious and wonder if you should approach her.】

He walked over and tapped her on the shoulder. “He Qing?”

She jumped, relaxing only when she saw it was him. She clasped her hands nervously in front of her like she’d done something wrong.

“Why do you always have your head down when I see you? Next time, try looking up when you talk to me,” Lin Zhengran said bluntly.

He Qing lifted her head but still looked timid.

Lin Zhengran sighed. “What are you doing here? Did your mom bring you?”

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He Qing pointed to a nearby café. Following her gaze, Lin Zhengran spotted Auntie He sitting with a man. Her expression was as stern as ever, and it looked like she might start yelling at any moment.

“That’s your dad?”

He Qing nodded. “Mm. Mom’s arguing with him again. I didn’t want to hear them fight, so I came outside.” Her voice grew softer. “They rarely meet, but they always argue. I hate it.”

Despite the heavy atmosphere, Lin Zhengran couldn’t help but laugh. “You actually expressed your feelings? You’re learning to dislike things now? Seems like my ‘bullying’ this past month wasn’t for nothing.”

He Qing blushed and quickly covered her mouth, shaking her head to indicate she hadn’t meant to slip up.

Lin Zhengran pulled her hands away, scolding, “Why are you shaking your head? Speaking your mind isn’t a bad thing. Keeping silent all the time—do you think that’s good? Do you think people like that?”

He Qing pressed her lips together, wringing her hands nervously before whispering, “But if I talk too much, I’m afraid people will get annoyed...”

Lin Zhengran sighed. He could imagine Auntie He coming home after work with a cold expression, making He Qing too scared to bother her.

“Even so, it’s better than being silent all the time. When you’re with me, just say whatever you’re thinking, got it?”

He Qing nodded vigorously.

Lin Zhengran turned his attention to the Taekwondo promotional video. “Taekwondo? I didn’t think you’d be interested in something like this. Are you planning to learn it?”

He Qing blushed and shook her head. “Not really. I just think it looks cool, and I want to...” She trailed off again, unable to finish her sentence.

Frustrated, Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead.

“Ow!” He Qing clutched her head, her eyes welling with tears.

“Speak up!” Lin Zhengran demanded. “Didn’t I tell you to say what you’re thinking?!”

He Qing mustered her courage and stammered, “I just want to protect you. If someone bullies you in the future, I can protect you.”