Chapter 349: Staying the Night - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 349: Staying the Night Returning to the villa, he opened the door with a key. The group entered, chatting and laughing, when Lin Zhengran’s phone rang. He glanced at it and saw it was Jiang Jingshi calling. She said she might be home a bit late since the school was organizing a meeting for the instructors. Lin Zhengran assured her there was no rush. After changing his shoes and sitting on the sofa with a glass of water, Xiao Heqing offered, “I’ll go make dinner. Everyone can relax a bit.” Han Wenwen was puzzled, “Heqing, you’re cooking? Aren’t we ordering in?” “We have a house now, why would we order in? Cooking ourselves is healthier.” Han Wenwen found this agreeable and laughed, “Alright, I’ll go help you pick vegetables.” “Great.” Jiang Xueli said, “I’ll go feed the fish in our pond and then join you both in the kitchen.” “There are fish in the pond?” Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes. Jiang Xueli nodded, “The other day I mentioned the pond was empty, and sister Jiang brought some goldfish to keep in it. I’m also planning to plant some lotus flowers later.” “Really? Take me to see!” Lin Zhengran observed the three young women bustling about, pondering for a moment. Seeing the two head to the garden, Xiao Heqing stood before Lin Zhengran and asked, “What would you like for dinner tonight? I’ll make it for you. If it’s not in the fridge, I can go buy it. There’s a big supermarket nearby with everything.” Instead of answering, Lin Zhengran asked, “Last week when Wenwen and I went south, did you cook all the meals?” “Last week? No, Jiang and I only cooked two or three times. Mostly, we ordered food since you weren’t back, and we didn’t feel like cooking much. Now that you’re back, it’s nice to eat at home.” Lin Zhengran extended his hand. Xiao Heqing blushed and slowly placed her small hand in his palm, “What is it?” “Nothing, no rush to cook, come sit here for a while.” Glimpsing at Wenwen and Xueli in the garden, Xiao Heqing sat beside Lin Zhengran. He put his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned on him softly, her voice gentle, “What’s on your mind, Lin Zhengran?” “I was thinking of hiring a housekeeper.” “A housekeeper? Why hire one? Isn’t that a waste of money? Plus, having a stranger living at home…” Seeing Xiao Heqing’s reluctance, Lin Zhengran said, “It’s not about the cost. The issue is, cooking for five people at home every day takes too much time. Once in a while is fine, but doing it daily is tiring. Besides, neither Wenwen nor Xueli can cook, and Jingshi is busy with her company and school.” Xiao Heqing replied dazedly, “It’s okay, I can do it. Cooking isn’t tiring. What else would I do after coming home every day?” Lin Zhengran looked at her earnest expression, “Are you a fool?” Caught off guard, Xiao Heqing hesitated, “I guess... I’m not a fool?” Lin Zhengran gave her a light flick on the forehead. “Ow,” she whimpered, holding her head and pouting, unsure why she was scolded. “If not you, then who?” Lin Zhengran asked. Xiao Heqing didn’t argue, “If you say I am, then I am… I’ll listen to you.” Lin Zhengran was speechless, “Hiring a housekeeper isn’t an issue of cost. You’re just not keen on having a stranger at home, right?” “We do live together, don’t we? What if they talk about us outside? Having an outsider at home makes me feel uneasy. I’d rather not have a housekeeper. Cooking isn’t hard, are you worried I’ll get tired?” Lin Zhengran touched her head, openly admitting, “Of course.” Blushing, Xiao Heqing said shyly, “I know you care about me, but I can handle a little thing like that. I cooked all the time at home for three to five people, it hardly takes any time.” Lin Zhengran pondered, “I’ll think about it.” “You take your time, but first, tell me what you want for dinner, or how will I know what to make?” Lin Zhengran said, “Let’s have seafood tonight. I’m craving it.” “Sounds good, I’ll go buy some!” “I’ll send you money.” “I still have what you gave me last month, no need to send more.” Xiao Heqing got up and, seeing Wenwen and Xueli weren’t around, planted a shy kiss on Lin Zhengran’s cheek. “I’m off to buy seafood.” Lin Zhengran turned toward the garden and called, “Wenwen!” Han Wenwen, who was watching the fish, perked up, “Did you call me, brother Zhengran?” “Yes, come over.” “Coming!” Back in the living room, Jiang Xueli saw Xiao Heqing preparing to leave and joined her to shop for groceries. Han Wenwen asked Lin Zhengran, “What is it, brother Zhengran?” He got up and headed to the study, “Wenwen, do you remember when you said long ago that when we all lived together everyone would be responsible for something?” Han Wenwen remembered, “Of course I do!” “Remind me of your thoughts at the time.” “Sure!” Later that night, after Xiao Heqing and Xueli returned with seafood, Jiang Jingshi also came back from school to the villa. Everyone gathered in the kitchen, chatting and laughing, as they prepared dinner together. After dinner, when night fell and silence enveloped them, the four women were busy preparing the beds. On a massive bed that could sleep seven, there were five single duvets placed side by side. Han Wenwen, curious since it was her first night staying over, asked, “Why are the blankets on the bed single-sized?” Xiao Heqing, Jiang Xueli, and Jiang Jingshi looked at her. Jiang Jingshi inquired, “What do you mean?” Han Wenwen suggested, “Shouldn’t we all be sleeping under one big blanket? Why sleep separately?” Everyone blushed, grateful that Lin Zhengran wasn’t present at that moment. They glanced at the doorway where Lin Zhengran hadn’t yet returned—he was showering. Xiao Heqing, her face red, said, “Last week, we planned to share a blanket, but since Lin Zhengran wasn’t here, we ended up using separate ones.” Han Wenwen giggled, “Were you all shy?” Jiang Xueli retorted haughtily, “How could we not be shy?” As the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Jingshi certainly never imagined sharing a bed with other girls and her boyfriend. “But Wenwen makes a good point. Since Zhengran is back, should we switch to a big blanket? Sleep together?” They all exchanged glances, eventually agreeing. The five single duvets were replaced with an enormous custom-made blanket. This large blanket was something Jiang Jingshi had specially commissioned the previous week—it was big enough to cover seven or eight people. As they made the bed, none of the four spoke, their faces tinged with pink. They imagined the possible events of the night until Lin Zhengran, freshly showered and dressed in pajamas, came in. “I’m done showering—why aren’t you going to bathe? Still making the bed?” The four women were startled, quickly finishing up the bedding, and responded in unison, “Going now, going now!” (End of Chapter)