Lin Zhengran froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You're going to protect me? Did you misspeak?"
Xiao Heqing nodded, then feeling it wasn't right, she shook her head. Looking like a little chick, she spoke up, "Because you always make the teachers and classmates mad at preschool, and no boys play with you. I thought if anyone bullies you in the future, I'll help you teach them a lesson... and vent your anger for you."
Lin Zhengran was thoroughly amused. Xiao Heqing blushed profusely, keeping her head down and not daring to make a peep.
"But you're still being bullied by them every day. You can't even protect yourself, yet you want to help me teach them a lesson?" Lin Zhengran asked with a smile.
Xiao Heqing bit her lip, her voice even lower than before. "No... Recently, you've been teaching me to do bad things. The teachers all say I've been led astray by you, so no one bullies me anymore... Now, it's only you who bullies me."
Lin Zhengran's smile faded. "True. Thinking about it, no one else seems to have troubled you lately except me. But since you know I bully you, why do you still want to protect me?"
She kept her head down. In truth, she didn't know why either, but she just had this thought.
Lin Zhengran reached out a hand. Xiao Heqing thought he was going to pinch her cheek again and quickly squeezed her eyes shut, shrinking her neck. Surprisingly, he just patted her on the shoulder.
He smiled and said, "Although I'm not counting on you to protect me, thanks anyway." He turned to look at the Taekwondo advertisement. "As for this Taekwondo, if you really want to learn it, just ask Mrs. He to sign you up. Who knows, maybe you really will become super strong in the future."
Xiao Heqing looked at Lin Zhengran in surprise. "R-Really?"
"Of course. You can never say for sure with these things," Lin Zhengran said casually.
Children couldn't clearly distinguish many emotions in their hearts. But even so, He Qing began to realize why she didn't mind being bullied solely by him. It was because Lin Zhengran never shot down her ideas. In fact, whenever she was too timid and cowardly to do certain things, he would always push her forward and give her confidence.
Lin Xiaoli's shout came from the distance; his mom was calling Lin Zhengran to go back. Lin Zhengran replied to her and said his goodbyes to He Qing. "I have to go find my mom. See you at school tomorrow. Remember to bring me snacks."
[Your words have subtly influenced He Fairy's heart, altering her future destiny to some extent.]
[Encounter Reward: Charm +1]
He wondered, "Huh? Does this count as a hidden event?"
Watching Lin Zhengran's retreating back, Xiao Heqing waved her little hand, a slight blush creeping onto her face. A moment later, she also turned around and returned to the cafe where her parents were.
That night, Mrs. He brought Xiao Heqing home in a huff. Xiao Heqing watched her mother shed non-stop tears on the sofa. Every time she met with her father, her mother would end up like this. Today was the first time she had taken the initiative to interfere in their business. She fetched a glass of water, handed it to her mother, and said, "Mom, you should divorce Dad. Don't be unhappy anymore."
Mrs. He froze in shock at those words. Looking at her daughter who rarely spoke, her tears fell even harder. Yet, she broke into a tearful smile and asked in a trembling voice, "Who taught you this? You actually know how to say such things?"
Xiao Heqing just didn't like talking; she wasn't an idiot. There were some things she had wanted to say for a long time, and Lin Zhengran's "leading her astray" over the past month had given her the courage to finally speak up.
Mrs. He hugged her daughter and stroked her head. "Okay, Mom will listen to you and be happy from now on."
Another month passed.
It was Wednesday morning, and Lin Yingjun was driving Lin Zhengran to school. Lin Zhengran was flipping through a preschool reading book in the car. When the system's voice chimed in, tears welled up in his eyes. Finally! After two months of tricking and coaxing Xiao Heqing, coupled with his arduous Cultivation, he had finally reached level ten!
[After two months of Cultivation, you have finally broken through to level ten! This will be the first milestone on your Cultivation journey! You will unlock your first exclusive talent. However, as proof of a powerhouse, the low-level Elixirs provided by the fairy can no longer give you any effective enhancement.]
Lin Zhengran wasn't surprised by the system's prompt. He had eaten way too many snacks over the past two months. Besides, many candies didn't taste as good after eating them so often. Translated into terms of Elixirs, it should be considered building up a drug resistance.
[Your current stats are as follows:]
[Strength: 3]
[Energy: 2]
[Physical Strength: 4]
[Charm: 2]
[First exclusive skill unlocked.]
[Qi Fortune Link: Your bond with He Fairy has caused some changes in your Cultivation journey. Over the past two months, you unexpectedly discovered that whenever He Fairy improves, you actually improve as well. In the Cultivation Realm, this is known as a fortune meridian, which is the core principle behind establishing sects and factions. Thus, you delved deeply into this method and have finally achieved minor success.]
[Usage method: You simply need to form a contract with a fairy who is willing to follow you. When the other party's Cultivation improves, your improvement will be doubled. Just note that forming the contract requires the other party's genuine consent; otherwise, it will fail.]
He mused, "Form a contract? Why does this setup feel so familiar too... But this ability is strong. I like top-up rebates."
[Coincidentally, He Fairy appears before your eyes again today. As a companion who has traveled with you for two months, do you wish to form a contract with her, or choose someone else?]
"Ranran, we're at school. Dad is going to work now."
Lin Yingjun parked the car at the school gates. Lin Zhengran gave an affirmative grunt, opened the door, and hopped out of the car. "Drive safe, Dad."
Looking into the distance, he indeed spotted He Qing talking to her mother near the school gates not far away. Mrs. He's complexion seemed much better today than usual. She patted her daughter's head and said something to Xiao Heqing. It was mostly just the usual reminders to listen to the teachers at school and such.
Xiao Heqing, wearing her little backpack, had a smile on her face as she waved goodbye to her mother. "Bye, Mom! Be careful on your way to work."
Lin Zhengran walked over. Seeing him approach, Xiao Heqing immediately stood up straight, her voice sweet. "Lin Zhengran... good morning."
Lin Zhengran watched curiously as Mrs. He drove off in a taxi. "Your mom seems to be in a good mood today."
Xiao Heqing nodded gently and followed his gaze. "After Mom and Dad got divorced, both of them have been much happier."
She pulled a packet of candy from her pocket and handed it to Lin Zhengran. "Oh, here! This is today's candy. I specifically asked Mom to buy it for me. They're all your favorite flavors."
Two months had passed, and the current Xiao Heqing had already been cured of some of her bad habits by Lin Zhengran. She talked more and wasn't as secretive as before. Even though she was still a bit guarded at times, it was definitely much better than before.
Lin Zhengran waved his hand dismissively. "From today onwards, you don't need to give me candy anymore. I don't want it."
"Huh?" Xiao Heqing, who had been in a great mood, immediately panicked. She stood there frozen, on the verge of tears. "Why? Are you not going to snatch my things anymore? Why don't you want it?"
"What do you mean snatch... When have I ever snatched your things?" Lin Zhengran said, completely speechless.
"No... I mean... why don't you want it all of a sudden?" she asked in a panic, thinking she had done something wrong.
Lin Zhengran explained casually, "I just don't feel like eating it, that's all. Keep it for yourself." He thought to himself, "Eating this stuff doesn't give me any improvements anymore, so there's no need to keep eating it."
...
Lin Zhengran looked at her with disdain. "What are you crying for?"