Chapter 42: Winter Vacation and Heart Connection Festival

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Winter Vacation and Heart Connection Festival

Han Wenwen had promised Xiao Heqing that she would keep a close eye on a certain someone.

So, whenever pretty girls of the same age came up to Lin Zhengran in class to borrow something, Han Wenwen would lean on her desk, deliberately putting on a fox-like expression, and gaze at him tenderly. "Classmate Lin Zhengran, are you still coming to my house this week? I bought a new dress."

Girls mature early when it comes to romance, so naturally, they imagined all sorts of things upon hearing this and would hurry away, blushing.

Lin Zhengran would shoot Han Wenwen a speechless look. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Han Wenwen, however, was always blunt. "I’m helping my Qingqing guard her childhood sweetheart. That Jiang Xueli is already enough trouble for our Qingqing. I definitely can’t let any more love rivals join the fray. That would put Qingqing at a disadvantage."

Lin Zhengran didn’t want to comment on the fox’s behavior. But seeing the resentful glares from the boys in the class... Ever since Han Wenwen transferred in, she had been the unattainable dream girl for this bunch.

Thus, when Han Wenwen said those things, the boys glared at him with murderous intent, looking as though they wanted nothing more than to chew a certain someone to pieces and swallow him whole.

[Ever since the Demon Sect Witch appeared by your side, the righteous cultivators have increasingly viewed you as an anomaly. Many even rumor that you have joined the Demon Sect. You must tread the future path with utmost caution.]

Lin Zhengran was left completely speechless.

Such incidents didn’t just happen once; they occurred frequently in the days leading up to the winter break.

Let alone girls striking up conversations with him, even when other girls sneaked glances at Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen would deliberately lean close to him, peer curiously at the girl, and smile—asserting dominance on behalf of her best friend.

One day during P.E. class, she had her craziest episode yet.

A girl from another class had mustered the courage to ask Lin Zhengran for his phone number.

Han Wenwen silently appeared by Lin Zhengran’s side, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and said pitifully, "Zhengran, who is she? Am I not enough for you? Are you breaking up with me?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.

Hearing that he already had a girlfriend, the girl took two steps back and hastily fled.

This amused Han Wenwen so much that she clutched her stomach, laughing out loud.

Lin Zhengran looked disdainfully at the fox clutching her belly. "Han Wenwen, if you keep pulling these crazy stunts, people are actually going to think you’re my girlfriend. I’m telling you, enough is enough."

Han Wenwen laughed for a long time before looking up at him and standing up straight. "Is Classmate Lin Zhengran afraid of such rumors? But they aren’t just ’thinking’ it. I’m pretty sure the whole class has already accepted that I’m your woman." She reminded him, "After all, the boys have been giving you very strange looks lately."

"Should I take this to mean that you find it annoying when other boys confess to you, so you’re using me as a scapegoat?"

Han Wenwen feigned surprise, covering her small mouth as she stared at him blankly. "Oh my, Classmate Lin Zhengran is so smart. You see right through me. To be honest, ever since everyone misunderstood that I’m your girlfriend, it has indeed saved me a lot of trouble. I guess you could call it an unexpected harvest."

She gazed into the distance, tapping her red lips with a finger. "But my main goal in doing all this is still to prevent other girls from getting close to you. Who told Classmate Lin Zhengran to be so outstanding? With so many girls trying to approach you, I have to constantly come up with new tricks to keep them away from you. As for the rumors, I already warned Qingqing beforehand, so I’m not afraid."

She deliberately re-examined Lin Zhengran’s expression. "Huh? Could it be that Classmate Lin Zhengran actually likes me? Is that why you got shy when people said I was your girlfriend?"

She then feigned shyness, covering her face as she enunciated every word, "If that’s the case, I’ll have to tell Qingqing. We can’t do anything to betray her, even if I do think Classmate Lin Zhengran would make a very suitable boyfriend."

Lin Zhengran sighed and turned to leave. It was useless to say anything more to this vixen; after all, she didn’t even act human.

And foxes couldn’t understand human speech.

Fortunately, winter break arrived quickly. Lin Zhengran would no longer have to spend all day watching this manipulative little fox and that silly girl act crazy in front of him.

As the winter break began, the school was quieter than expected, with nothing eventful happening.

Because Xiao Heqing and Han Wenwen had to return to their hometowns in the South for the Lunar New Year, the four of them parted ways at the station.

Han Wenwen and Xiao Heqing pulled their suitcases, waving goodbye to the other two.

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

Xiao Heqing looked at Lin Zhengran reluctantly, waving her small hand slightly. Still speaking in her soft voice, she said, "Lin Zhengran, Wenwen and I are heading back now. See you next year when school starts. I’ll call you if anything comes up. And Jiang Xueli, see you next year."

Jiang Xueli waved her hand.

Lin Zhengran also waved. "Stay safe on the train, you two."

The high-speed rail started up and sped off into the distance, signaling a temporary truce in the romance war between Jiang Xueli and He Qing. Lin Zhengran could finally enjoy a brief period of rest.

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

Jiang Xueli shook her head. "No, the studio said they need to upgrade equipment and stuff this year, so they won’t have me participate in any shows until next year. Will you go with me then, you big idiot? I don’t mean anything by it; I just think you like watching the excitement, so I’m inviting you."

Lin Zhengran didn’t bicker with her this time. "It’s your first time performing out of town, so of course I’ll go with you to make sure nothing goes wrong. But putting it that way, the rest of this year is going to be really relaxing."

Hearing that he would accompany her, Jiang Xueli happily bit her lip, clasping her hands behind her back as she skipped along.

"Yeah, we can get a good rest this winter break."

The winter break passed especially fast. The days leading up to the Lunar New Year seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.

On the day before New Year’s Eve, Lin Zhengran’s level unexpectedly broke through to thirty-nine.

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

[Ever since you first entered the Cultivation Realm, you met the He Fairy who descended from the mountain. Later, you encountered Miss Jiang wandering the Jianghu alone. Now, you have been targeted and accompanied by the Demon Sect Witch on your travels. After going through layers of hardships, you have finally reached level thirty-nine, gradually acquiring the demeanor of a powerhouse.]

[Your current attributes are:]

[Strength: 34] [Upon reaching a value of 50, you will gain the special ability to maintain muscle mass without exercising.]

[Energy: 29] [Upon reaching a value of 60, you will gain the special ability to go seven rounds a night without feeling fatigued.]

[Physical Strength: 36] [Upon reaching a value of 70, you will gain the special ability of double Physical Strength and triple endurance in tasks.]

[Charm: 40] [Upon reaching a value of 40, you will gain the special ability to earn double the affection when speaking and acting.] [Unlocked]

[You have acquired the ability to gain double the affection through your actions. This will significantly improve your interpersonal relationships while adventuring in the Jianghu, and strangers will gladly interact with you.]

The New Year arrived.

Outside a single-story house in a small town in the South, a certain fox had finished dressing and was on the phone, chatting and exchanging New Year’s greetings with her best friend.

In the palm of the Little Fox’s hand rested a wooden tag—the very tag she had prayed for during the Heart Connection Festival, engraved with the character "Lin."

Today, she planned to visit that place again.

Alone.