Chapter 346: Divination - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 346: Divination After coughing and looking at Fang Meng with a face full of water, Jiang Xue Li apologized, "Sorry, I choked! But what kind of question was that? Is this supposed to be a minor issue?!" Fang Meng didn't have much of a reaction. She simply put down her notebook and stood up, "I'm going to the restroom to wash my face, wait for me." Jiang Xue Li looked at the departing Fang Meng with confusion, wondering what she was up to. After a short while, Fang Meng returned, wiped the remaining water stains on the table with a tissue, and said, "Alright, let's continue. But please, don't drink water while answering." Jiang Xue Li was about to take another sip, but upon hearing this, she put down her drink, "Continue with what? Why should I answer this kind of question? If it were truly minor, it would be fine, but I have the right to remain silent on this." Fang Meng fixed her gaze on Jiang Xue Li, "Why remain silent?" Jiang Xue Li blushed and retorted, "Why does it matter? I simply don't want to say! Your questions are quite abstract! How could Zheng Ran possibly be seeing three, no, four girls at once!" Why is Fang Meng interested in such matters? Fang Meng picked her notebook back up and, with seriousness, said: "Let me ask you this. Do you like Lin Zheng Ran? Does He Qing or Han Wen Wen also like him? I recall Han Wen Wen mentioned something like that on the first day of school." Jiang Xue Li felt a bit flustered, "So what if they do? Does liking someone prove Zheng Ran is seeing multiple girls?" "It certainly doesn't completely prove it, but it does at least prove ten percent. After all, a harem wouldn't be possible if all the girls didn't like him, correct?" "Fine, let's say it's ten percent; what about it?" Fang Meng continued, "I met you all in high school. Back then, I asked He Qing, and she told me she was Lin Zheng Ran's girlfriend, she told me this herself. And at the time, you seemed unhappy about it, which you can't deny, right?" "Yes, but so what?" "If He Qing is already his girlfriend and they haven't broken up, why do you spend so much time with him?" "Can't I just want to?! I simply enjoy being with him; we're childhood friends." "But when a guy already has a girlfriend, being that close seems like third wheel behavior." Jiang Xue Li jumped to her feet, but noticing the surrounding people, she retorted in a low voice, "Who are you calling a third wheel?! I'm definitely not one; I'm the legitimate--" "Legitimate girlfriend, right?" Fang Meng asked. Jiang Xue Li covered her mouth in embarrassment and sat back down, feeling foolish for getting riled up. "I didn't say that; I meant a female friend." Fang Meng pressed on, "So you're not Lin Zheng Ran's girlfriend? You're merely an acquaintance? A stranger? Someone less close than He Qing?" Jiang Xue Li's face turned a deeper shade of red before she finally couldn't hold back and exclaimed, "Nonsense, in Zheng Ran's heart, I'm as important as He Qing, we're both his most valued people!" Provoking Li Li seemed to work. "I thought so too. I remember asking you about your relationship with Lin Zheng Ran in high school and you said you were his girlfriend." Jiang Xue Li was awkward, "If you already knew, why bother tricking me into saying it? And what about that ten percent?!" "I just find you cute, wanted to tease you a bit." Jiang Xue Li clenched her small fists in embarrassment, her twin tails jumping as she moved, "You have issues!" Fang Meng noted down in her book, "So you're admitting Lin Zheng Ran is seeing at least two people, right?" Jiang Xue Li sucked on her drink in silence. Fang Meng continued her musings, "Our class adviser, the young lady herself, is also Lin Zheng Ran's girlfriend. Lin Zheng Ran admitted this himself. So that's at least three." Jiang Xue Li looked away. Fang Meng added, "Finally, there's Han Wen Wen." Li Li suddenly became serious, "I don't know what your aim is, but don't tell anyone else. It would cause trouble for Zheng Ran. We don't mind amongst ourselves, but if you insist on talking, we won't be friends anymore." Fang Meng interrupted herself: "Don't worry, whether it's for the young lady's benefit or our friendship with Lin Zheng Ran, I won't tell anyone. I swear on my body; if I lie, Lin Zheng Ran can freely use me in the future." Jiang Xue Li was dumbfounded, "???? What did I just hear?" Fang Meng continued with her note-taking, "Alright, let's proceed. Lin Zheng Ran seems to be," a hint of jealousy in her voice, "juggling four relationships. Quite the playboy." Jiang Xue Li interjected, "Wait... what did you just say?" Fang Meng disregarded her, "Alright, let's move onto the second question." Jiang Xue Li was puzzled, "You've already asked so many questions, how is this the second one? What did you say earlier?" "It was just a form of punishment, representing my resolve. And all the prior questions were under one question, not separate." "Ridiculous! Do you really think I'm so free? I'll answer just one more question, then you tell me how to escape Mercury retrograde, deal over!" Fang Meng thought for a moment, "Alright, one last question. What do you like to eat or play with? When do you normally go to bed? What do you do in your free time? And why do you like Lin Zheng Ran?" She added, "Don't worry, I won't share the answers unless it’s with Qian Qian or it's just like the previous punishment." Jiang Xue Li felt exasperated, "Do you have a crush on me or something?" "I don't like girls, though I admit you're quite cute." Despite this, Jiang Xue Li still answered since these questions weren't exactly secrets. After noting down, Fang Meng said, "Got it. It's similar to what I've observed, though there's a bit of a difference. But it fits your habits, except for the last part, which is vague. You said you like everything about Lin Zheng Ran. That's too broad." Jiang Xue Li finished her drink, putting the cup down and countered: "Broad? I think not. What kind of mindset do you think I have saying that? I've loved Zheng Ran for over ten years, my feelings for him are absolute!" Fang Meng paused in her writing, asking one more question: "If your feelings weren't absolute, would you have tolerated a boyfriend with a harem? Those who don't love as deeply would have left long ago." Jiang Xue Li huffed and remained silent. "Alright, thank you for your answer. I'll now tell you how to escape Mercury retrograde." Fang Meng took out a stack of divination cards from her pocket, spread them out, and let Jiang Xue Li choose. Jiang Xue Li, finding it quite formal, picked one and handed it to her. Fang Meng interpreted the card and said, "The way to break free from Mercury retrograde is... eat chocolate chewed by your boyfriend," and blushed. Jiang Xue Li's face grew hot, "What kind of divination is that? And chocolate melts when chewed!" "That's not my problem, it's what the card says." Jiang Xue Li turned to leave but stopped after a few steps, back turned to Fang Meng, "Hey, Fang Meng, you like Zheng Ran too, don't you?" (End of chapter)