Chapter 49: Forming a Contract with Han Wenwen

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Forming a Contract with Han Wenwen

"Anyway, I think it’s better if you ask Lin Zhengran yourself, Qingqing," Han Wenwen said, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Otherwise... I feel like you won’t be able to sleep at all tonight."

Over the phone, He Qing nodded furiously. "Mhm, I think so too. I’ll call him again tonight to ask for the details. Thank you, Wenwen. I feel so much better after chatting with you for a bit."

She might have felt better, but Han Wenwen was panicking. "Don’t overthink it. Lin Zhengran definitely wouldn’t do something like that. Well, I have a few things to take care of on my end, so I’ll let you go, okay?"

"Bye-bye, Wenwen."

"Bye-bye, Qingqing."

As the call ended, Han Wenwen heaved a sigh of relief. But immediately after, she forced a tight smile and reminded the boy beside her, "Lin Zhengran, if Qingqing calls you tonight, could you please not tell her you’re at my place? Otherwise, she’ll definitely be mad at me."

"I’m not stupid. However..." Lin Zhengran handed her breakfast. "Speaking of He Qing, back on the sports field, you said you wouldn’t be able to see me and He Qing once we start high school. Was that what you really thought?"

Han Wenwen took the meat bun and took a small bite. Her rumbling stomach found some relief. "Yeah. Right now, I can’t even do one thing well between making money and studying, let alone balance both. Besides, once Qingqing starts high school, she’ll definitely make new friends. The same goes for you, Lin Zhengran..."

As she spoke, she chewed on her bun, sounding suddenly a bit jealous. "You’ll also get a new, even prettier female desk-mate. How could you possibly remember that a Little Fox once sat beside you? You’ll definitely forget all about it. After all, even the best of friendships need to be maintained."

Lin Zhengran hummed in agreement. "Indeed."

Han Wenwen glared at him in anger, then suddenly turned her head away. "Hmph! I knew all along that you were the type of guy who would abandon his friends for a pretty face! You’re nowhere near being a good man!"

Lin Zhengran sweatdropped, feeling that her phrasing was rather odd. "But you also said before that He Qing was your only friend. Don’t you think it’s a pity to just give up like this?"

Han Wenwen clenched her fingers and calmed down. "How could I not think it’s a pity? Qingqing is my best friend. If possible, I definitely want to go to the same school as her." She turned to look at Lin Zhengran, her voice devoid of strength. "But... what else can I do?"

At that moment, Lin Zhengran suddenly reached out his hand. Han Wenwen didn’t know what it meant.

Lin Zhengran spoke very seriously. "When I taught Jiang Xueli and He Qing, there was a procedure. The condition is that the other party must willingly and sincerely follow me for the rest of their life. Only then will I teach them. If you’re willing, I’ve said before that I can teach you how to make money and improve your grades along the way."

Han Wenwen instinctively found it amusing. She covered her mouth, smiling just like a sly fox. "That sounds so interesting. What do you mean by willingly following you for the rest of my life? And if I follow you, does that mean my grades will actually improve, and I really can make a lot of..."

She didn’t utter the last word, "money," because as she looked into Lin Zhengran’s eyes, she rarely saw him looking so serious.

It didn’t seem like he was joking with her at all.

Han Wenwen’s smile froze, her fox-like eyes trembling slightly. "Are you serious, Lin Zhengran?"

"What else would I be? I’m only inviting you this once. If you’re not willing, then forget it. After all, I’m already busy enough as it is."

The moment he finished speaking, Han Wenwen suddenly placed her delicate hand into his palm.

She didn’t hesitate at all. "In that case, regardless of whether your demand for me to ’follow you’ means following you to make money, or even if it means my entire being belongs to you, it doesn’t matter. I am willing."

She smiled as she gazed at him, her slender fingers intertwining with his as they clasped hands. Her expression was full of craftiness, making it impossible to tell if her words were true or false.

But Han Wenwen herself knew she was being completely sincere. She was willing to follow Lin Zhengran in doing anything. Her cunning fox-like demeanor was merely a disguise.

Lin Zhengran also knew she was sincere. Because the system’s voice would only prompt him if the other party was truly willing to follow.

[The Demon Sect Witch accidentally contracted a fire poison. Relying on your connections in the Jianghu, you helped her obtain the antidote. After saving her, you proposed to form a contract. Although the Demon Sect Witch seemingly teased you on the surface, agreeing to the contract as if it were just for fun, your fate successfully connected with hers. This proves that she truly wants to follow you.]

[You have successfully formed a contract with the Demon Sect Witch. When the other party cultivates, you will instantly gain double the cultivation progress.]

[Special Event: You have successfully formed contracts with three Jade Maidens from different sects. Your sect’s power has begun to take shape. The tripled Yin-natured fate has massively boosted your cultivation. You gain Spiritual Power Level +1, Strength +3, Energy +3, Physical Strength +3, Charm +3.]

[Congratulations on successfully breaking through to Spiritual Power Level 40. You have finally gained some renown in the Jianghu. Ordinary fellow cultivators can no longer pose any threat to you.]

[You have acquired a new Level 40 skill - Creation from Nothingness.]

[Creation from Nothingness: No matter the era, resources are an unavoidable hurdle when establishing a sect. Even the strongest sects still need to buy and sell Elixirs and medicinal herbs, and craft weapons and clothing for their disciples. Even a hero can be stumped by a single penny. After learning Creation from Nothingness, you will no longer be troubled by such trivial matters. From now on, whenever any of your contracted Jade Maidens venture into the Jianghu and obtain gold coins, Spirit Stones, or other resources, you will receive double the amount.]

Lin Zhengran’s spirits lifted upon hearing the system’s voice.

He had originally just wanted to connect his fate with Han Wenwen’s. He didn’t expect it would not only abruptly boost him by an entire level, but also grant him a new rebate skill. Initially, Lin Zhengran had planned to start earning some startup capital after entering high school.

This would save him a lot of time.

Lin Zhengran looked at the seemingly nonchalant Han Wenwen. "Then it’s settled."

Han Wenwen pulled her hand back, a faint blush on her face. "Okay."

Although he said he would teach Han Wenwen how to make money and study, Lin Zhengran wasn’t in a hurry. After all, a certain Little Fox was still running a fever. It wouldn’t be too late to get to work after resting for a couple of days.

That night, after Lin Zhengran returned home, Xiao Heqing’s call came exactly as expected.

Her tone was very cautious, probing him, "Lin Zhengran... what did you do last night? I called you, and your mom said you weren’t home and had gone to stay overnight at a classmate’s house... I was a little worried about you."

Lin Zhengran leaned against his bed as he took the call. "What’s there to worry about? I just went to hang out at a classmate’s place."

"What do you mean ’hang out’... hanging out doing what?"

"Huh?"

"No! I mean..." On the other end of the line, Xiao Heqing squatted on her bed, her finger drawing circles on her knee. "Can I ask... was it a boy or a girl? Do I know them?"

Lin Zhengran answered casually, "Well, it wasn’t a girl. What are you thinking about?"

He wasn’t exactly lying. After all, there was no such thing as a "girl" fox, only a "vixen."

"I wasn’t thinking about anything." Hearing Lin Zhengran say this, Xiao Heqing immediately felt relieved. She would never doubt Lin Zhengran, and she said happily, "As long as it wasn’t a girl, then it’s fine, hehe. So, what are you doing right now? I want to chat with you. Today, my mom and I went to the supermarket..."

That night, Xiao Heqing chatted with Lin Zhengran about a whole bunch of random things. Even though she was the most timid, she was actually better than anyone else when it came to taking the initiative to call him.

In the rented apartment tonight, Han Wenwen lay alone in bed, still running a slight fever. She looked at the spot where Lin Zhengran had lain last night. Her pristine hand gently caressed the half of the pillow he had slept on.

"He actually stayed here with me all night last night..." she thought, feeling her face burn. "I feel like I’m falling harder and harder for Lin Zhengran. Even just thinking about him talking on the phone with Qingqing tonight actually makes me a bit jealous..."