Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten-Chapter 18: The Investigation Squad

That evening, Jiang Xueli returned home with her schoolbag.

Her mother, seated on the sofa, noticed her daughter’s improved mood and asked curiously, "Xueli? Are you feeling better now?"

Jiang Xueli paused, her twin ponytails bouncing as she replied cheerfully, "I’m fine, Mom. I’m heading to my room."

Before she could enter, her mother added worriedly, "Don’t overthink things. At least your mom believes you."

Turning to her mom with a smile, Jiang Xueli reassured, "Thanks, Mom. I’ve been the Discipline Officer for years, so my heart is strong. Something this small won’t bring me down. Don’t worry."

She closed her door and leaned against it.

Only Jiang Xueli herself knew how much pressure the situation had caused her. But recalling Lin Zhengran’s words from earlier in the day—simple, straightforward trust—made her blush even in retrospect.

"Who knew his judgment was so sharp? He realized I was framed," she muttered to herself as she set her schoolbag on the table and took out her mom’s old phone from the drawer.

Curious about what Lin Zhengran meant by "tsundere," she searched for the term online.

The result popped up quickly.

Reading aloud, she murmured, "Tsundere refers to someone who acts contrary to their feelings to hide their embarrassment..."

The more she read, the redder her face grew, her eyes shimmering like rippling water. She glared at the screen in embarrassment. "What is this nonsense?! Who’s shy around him? I’m not tsundere! I absolutely despise—"

She trailed off, recalling his trust and their umbrella-sharing moment earlier. Her tone softened as she bit her lip, staring at the phone. "I despise that guy."

Then, she searched another question: "Do boys like tsundere girls?"

The answer displayed: "A divine personality since ancient times!"

Jiang Xueli’s eyes sparkled with delight. "That’s such a high evaluation!"

Encouraged, she searched again: "Would a boy who thinks he’s so mature like a tsundere girl?"

...

The next morning, Jiang Xueli’s alarm clock buzzed. She yawned, then sprang out of bed.

After changing out of her pajamas into her school uniform, she went to the bathroom and styled her long hair into twin ponytails. Examining her playful tiger-tooth smile in the mirror, she made a vow:

"Today, I’ll find out what’s really going on and clear my name!"

An hour later, Jiang Xueli had cornered Lin Zhengran in a small alley.

"You’re asking for my help? Why should I?" Lin Zhengran asked, puzzled.

Jiang Xueli glared at him stubbornly. "Why? Because we’re... we’re classmates, aren’t we?! I came to you because you’re smart—not just anyone would do!"

Lin Zhengran yawned and turned to leave, but Jiang Xueli grabbed his arm, panicking. "Wait! Okay, fine, I’ll be honest. I don’t have any leads, and I need help. Besides..."

She lowered her head, murmuring like a mosquito, "I feel like you’re the only one I can trust..."

"Hmm? I didn’t catch that."

Jiang Xueli clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and shouted, "You know I don’t have any other friends! Please help me! I’ll do anything if you do!"

Lin Zhengran’s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Anything?"

Jiang Xueli froze, backing up a few steps as she hugged herself, her heart racing. "W-what are you thinking?! I’m warning you, some things come with consequences! Don’t do anything impulsive!" She backed against the wall, unable to retreat further.

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Lin Zhengran stepped closer, and Jiang Xueli, trembling, shut her eyes and bit her lip.

A moment later, she felt a flick on her forehead.

"That’s the attitude you should have when asking for help. Otherwise, with your usual tsundere behavior, who would even bother?"

Rubbing her forehead, Jiang Xueli opened her eyes, her defiance returning. "Tsundere? I’m not tsundere!" She muttered inwardly, Idiot, pighead.

Lin Zhengran raised an eyebrow. "What’s with that weird look?"

Stepping back, he said, "Fine, I’ll help, but I’m not doing it for free. You’ll need to give me something in return."

"Something in return? Like what?"

[Miss Jiang’s matter has been decided. You know that a young girl wandering the world must have a few treasured belongings. Helping her today might earn you one, or you could choose to act out of pure chivalry.]

"Something precious?" Lin Zhengran thought, curious about what she might have. Could it be something like He Qing’s chocolates?

Jiang Xueli felt uneasy under his gaze.

"Do you have anything valuable? Something you rarely let others see?" he asked.

"Something valuable?" Jiang Xueli blinked, then hesitated. "I do, but... what do you want it for?"

"So you do have something. What is it?"

Blushing, she glanced away. "I’m not telling you. It’s mine."

"Fine. You don’t need to know why I want it. Just tell me if you’re willing to give it to me. If you are, I’ll help."

Jiang Xueli frowned, visibly struggling with the decision. Whatever it was seemed significant. After a moment, she reluctantly agreed. "Fine! As long as you help me, I’ll give it to you. It took me a long time to get it!"

She extended her pinky. "Pinky promise! You have to keep your word!"

Lin Zhengran, amused by how girls seemed to love this gesture, extended his hand as well. "Deal."

From that moment, they officially became an investigation squad.

Real-life mysteries weren’t as convoluted as those in novels. For Lin Zhengran, figuring out a childish conflict was simple.

First, he asked if Jiang Xueli had offended anyone recently—especially in the days before the incident.

Jiang Xueli mentioned a few names and added, "Actually, the day before the Class Monitor’s phone went missing, another girl in our class brought a phone to school. I reported her to the teacher."

Lin Zhengran sighed inwardly. She’s almost definitely involved.

Next, he told Jiang Xueli to stage a crying scene in the classroom.

"Why?" she asked.

"You haven’t noticed? Since everyone started calling you a thief, the Class Monitor—who lost the phone—hasn’t said a word against you. She won’t even look at you. That shows she’s feeling guilty. If you cry in front of her, she might spill the truth."

Jiang Xueli was amazed. "You’re a genius!"

"But... how do I cry?"

Lin Zhengran flicked her forehead. "You’re a girl, and you don’t know how to cry? Worst case, use eye drops."

After buying eye drops, Lin Zhengran applied them to Jiang Xueli’s eyes—perhaps too generously.

Tears streamed down her face as she punched him lightly. "You put in too much! It’s all running down my cheeks!"

Lin Zhengran laughed at her teary expression. "It’s perfect. The Class Monitor’s alone cleaning the classroom now. Go cry in front of her and see what happens."