Chapter 61: Same Confession Time

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Same Confession Time

Clutching her head, Jiang Xueli answered, "She went to work. Besides, who has a split personality?" Lin Zhengran headed into the bedroom with Jiang Xueli following close behind. She ran her fingers through her freshly washed twin pigtails, which felt incredibly smooth.

Lin Zhengran sat down on the bed. "A few days ago, I was looking at the Child Star Studio’s video updates. You’re holding a competition in town next summer?"

Jiang Xueli hummed in affirmation and sat down beside him. "The studio said anyone who’s free can sign up. Pretty much everyone has, but I haven’t yet."

Jiang Xueli’s face flushed as she said proudly, "It’s not that I don’t think I’m good enough! My skill level is considered very high at the studio. I was just worried... what if I signed up without permission and a certain someone got upset?"

She grumbled, "After all, a certain big idiot put in a lot of effort to get me where I am today. If I just did whatever I wanted, you’d definitely say my wings have grown and I’m just doing as I please. So I have to ask for your opinion, don’t I?"

Lin Zhengran looked at her. She was a terrible liar.

"Is that so?"

Exposed, Jiang Xueli grew flustered and angry. "What else could it be?! Did you really think I need you to go with me?! I can handle anything by myself! If that’s what you think, I’ll call them right now and tell them I’m signing up!"

Lin Zhengran asked curiously, "So I don’t have to go?"

Jiang Xueli froze. Her proud expression faltered, and a hint of fear crept in. "O-Of course... But are you really not going?" she stammered, fidgeting with her fingers.

"A-Actually, the place we’re going has really nice scenery. You could enjoy the view! And because you know me, I can get you a front-row seat. Other people couldn’t get one even if they wanted! I can even waive your travel fees."

"Oh," Lin Zhengran said, his face impassive. "But I’m not interested in scenery."

Jiang Xueli stared at him blankly. Then, suddenly, she gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and started pounding on Lin Zhengran with her small fists. "Why won’t you go! Why won’t you go! What’s the harm in going to watch?! It’s not like it’ll kill you!"

Lin Zhengran watched her, speechless. Her punches felt more like she was trying to tickle him.

"I was just teasing you. This is your first major performance, after all. How could I not go? I’m the one who’s trained you all this time. You’re my person. Do you think I could just wash my hands of you?"

’His words are so strange,’ Jiang Xueli thought. ’What does he mean, I’m ’his person’...? It’s almost as if he’s saying I’m his woman, or his wife.’

Jiang Xueli shyly looked away, her forehead practically steaming. She was pretending to be angry, but she was actually so happy she could fly; even her pigtails seemed ready to dance. Smoothing her hair, she said, "What nonsense... I don’t care if you go or not. Who needs you there anyway?"

She mumbled the last part, afraid that if Lin Zhengran heard her, he might change his mind and say he wasn’t going after all.

Lin Zhengran lay down on the bed and yawned. "Oh, right. Last time at school, didn’t you say you had something to talk to me about? What was it?"

"Huh? I..." she stammered, her face flushing red. "Did I say that? I don’t think I did..."

Lin Zhengran couldn’t be bothered to press her. "If it’s nothing, then start your vocal practice. I’m going to close my eyes for a bit and take a nap."

Jiang Xueli turned to see that he had already closed his eyes. She grumbled, "You really do treat my place like a hotel, acting as if this is your own bed."

"Don’t worry," he said, pulling the covers over himself. "If you sing a wrong note, I’ll wake up to correct you, even if I’m asleep." He then fell silent.

Jiang Xueli got up to get her guitar.

As she practiced, she kept looking over at the very still Lin Zhengran. ’Why haven’t I said it yet?’ Jiang Xueli thought. ’Now is the perfect time to invite him. He’ll probably say yes... He’ll definitely say yes.’

Hesitantly, Jiang Xueli parted her lips to speak.

Just then, the home phone suddenly rang.

Jiang Xueli put down her guitar to answer the phone, and Lin Zhengran opened his eyes to watch her.

Seeing the call was from her mother, Jiang Xueli answered, "Hello? Mom?"

Her mother said over the phone, "Lili, it seems your grandma was missing you—she took a bus here by herself! I’m about to go pick her up from the station. Can you wait at home and spend the afternoon with her?"

Jiang Xueli gasped softly and glanced at Lin Zhengran on the bed. "Grandma’s here? Okay, I get it. Do you want me to come with you to the station?"

"No, it’s fine. Your grandma is really something else. Ever since I told her on the phone that you’re learning to sing now, she’s been desperate to see you. But who knew that at her age, she’d just hop on a bus by herself today! On second thought, it’s fine if you come. Just take the bus over to meet me."

"Okay, Mom."

After hanging up, Jiang Xueli saw that Lin Zhengran was already out of bed. "Big idiot, we probably can’t practice today. My grandma is coming this afternoon, and I have to go meet my mom."

Lin Zhengran nodded. "I heard. We can just practice tomorrow, then. Spend the afternoon with your grandma. The competition isn’t until next year anyway, so there’s no rush."

He put on his slippers and walked out to the living room, with Jiang Xueli following him.

"Are you leaving?"

Lin Zhengran nodded. "Don’t you have to go meet your mom?"

Jiang Xueli pursed her lips. "Then wait for me, let’s go downstairs together." Thanks to her experience last time, she wasn’t as conflicted, though she did hesitate for a moment as they went downstairs.

But at the landing, she just blurted it out. "Hey, big idiot... can you come out for a bit this afternoon? I have something for you."

"This afternoon?" ’He Qing asked to meet at five,’ he recalled. ’She said she had something for me, too.’

Jiang Xueli replied, "At five this afternoon. Under the little bridge by the park, where the pigeons always gather."

’I said it! I actually said it! I’m so amazing!’

She suddenly let out a deafening shout. "Big idiot, you have to be there at five! I’ll meet you by the bridge! I have something to give you! You have to be there!"

With that, she turned and fled as if for her life. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, she couldn’t stand being near Lin Zhengran for another second.

She didn’t even hear what Lin Zhengran shouted after her.