Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten
Chapter 290: Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law

Jiang Jingshi hadn’t expected her grandfather to arrive early as well, and quickly greeted him.

“Grandpa, you came early too?”

Lin Zhengran also found the figure familiar—he’d seen him before in the photo albums of retired soldiers at his own grandfather’s home.

“Hello, Grandpa. I’m Lin Zhengran. Sorry to bother you today.”

“So I finally get to see you in person! This isn’t a bother at all. You’re the one who saved my precious granddaughter Jingshi’s life. You’re an honored guest in our home—how could we ever thank you enough? I imagine you know I’ve known your grandfather for a long time, right?”

He walked up to Lin Zhengran step by step, examining the young man’s demeanor and presence.

Even better than he imagined. A true standout among his peers—his aura set him apart at first glance.

Lin Zhengran smiled.

“Yes, I know you and my grandfather are old comrades. He mentioned you from time to time, and I’ve seen your photos at his house. Was it also the two of you who arranged the childhood engagement?”

“That’s right. Your childhood engagement with Jingshi was something your grandfather and I decided on back then. It’s been many years since, but once a childhood promise is made, it stays made. I’ve been keeping an eye on you. I know quite a lot about you. You’ve accomplished a lot at a young age—now the General Manager of Zhengshi Company. You and our Jingshi make a great match.”

Jiang Jingshi gave a shy smile.

But then Jiang Qian spoke coldly,

“Grandpa, how do Jiejie and Lin Zhengran make a great match? They just work together. At most, you could call them colleagues. Don’t overthink it.”

Grandpa Jiang glanced at his younger granddaughter, confused.

He thought to himself: Lately, Qianqian’s been talking back to her sister a lot, but she’d never lost her manners in front of outsiders before.

He gave a slightly awkward laugh.

“Don’t mind her, they’re just like this. Qianqian doesn’t mean to be unwelcoming—she just likes bickering with her sister. Isn’t that right, Qianqian?”

His voice took on a slightly stern tone, offering his younger granddaughter a way out.

Grandpa Jiang had originally thought Jiang Qian just didn’t like her sister bringing outsiders home and that she had a problem with Lin Zhengran. After all, back when he’d first arranged for Lin Zhengran to be her childhood fiancé, Qianqian had refused the matchmaking, and it ended up going to her older sister instead.

But right after saying that, Grandpa Jiang began to feel something wasn’t right. When Lin Zhengran saved Jingshi’s life, Qianqian didn’t seem to dislike the young man during the family meeting. She wasn’t the type to be rude toward someone who’d saved her sister’s life.

Jiang Qian nodded.

“Of course, I welcome Lin Zhengran to our home. We know each other well. But my sister and him—they’re just not a good match.”

Now Grandpa Jiang was even more confused.

What was that supposed to mean?

It sounded so... strange. Was it just his imagination?

Jiang Qian looked at Grandpa.

“Grandpa, since this is Lin Zhengran’s first time here, how about Xiaomeng and I show him around? It’s not polite to keep our guest standing around like this.”

Grandpa Jiang nodded slowly, still a bit puzzled.

“Alright, go ahead and show him around. He’s going to be a regular here sooner or later. Let him get familiar with where you and Jingshi usually stay.”

He turned to Lin Zhengran.

“Now that you’re here, make yourself at home. Treat it like your own house. After the tour, have a little rest, and join us for a simple dinner later.”

Lin Zhengran smiled.

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

Jiang Qian smiled and pulled Lin Zhengran along. Fang Meng added,

“Let’s start over here. This side has both Qianqian’s and the Eldest Miss’s personal studies.”

The three of them walked off into the distance.

Jiang Jingshi stood there dumbfounded, her hand half-raised in the air like a question mark.

Grandpa watched them walk off and muttered,

“Now that I think about it, Qianqian really doesn’t dislike this Lin Zhengran, huh?”

Jiang Jingshi puffed out her cheeks in frustration as she looked at the trio. But Lin Zhengran was already hers—she had this in the bag.

She answered,

“Grandpa, you’re just realizing that now? Qianqian doesn’t just not dislike him—she’s head over heels for him. They even sat next to each other in high school! Isn’t it obvious she doesn’t dislike him?”

Grandpa Jiang looked at her face, seeing the joy written all over it.

“Mm, it is pretty obvious. But it’s not quite logical. If Qianqian didn’t dislike Lin Zhengran, then why didn’t she go on that arranged meeting three years ago and gave the chance to you instead? Did she dislike him then and change her mind later?”

Jiang Jingshi recalled that night three years ago and said softly,

“That’s because at the time, Qianqian didn’t know her blind date was with Lin Zhengran. Otherwise, there’s no way she would’ve handed it over to me.”

“Huh?” Grandpa Jiang was stunned. This was news to him.

“Wait, Jingshi, are you saying... Qianqian has feelings for Lin Zhengran?”

Jiang Jingshi sighed.

The whole “little sister-in-law has a crush on her brother-in-law” thing—it just sounded outrageous.

But if she really was going to marry Lin Zhengran, this issue had to be resolved. Qianqian needed to give her sincere blessing to their relationship.

“That’s how it is. But Grandpa, you don’t need to worry about it. Let young people handle young people’s business. I’m going to change clothes. You go rest too.”

With that, Jiang Jingshi walked toward the bedroom, thinking she should hurry and get changed. She wanted to accompany Lin Zhengran while he toured the house. Otherwise, was she just going to let Qianqian handle everything?

Once she left, Grandpa stood there alone, blinking in a daze.

He muttered to himself,

“So... both of my granddaughters are in love with the Lin family’s grandson? Then why did I bother pushing them into a matchmaking meeting back then? What a waste of effort. But now... this suddenly seems like a real mess.”

He turned to head to his room to grab a change of clothes, muttering in his mind,

“Sister-in-law loves her brother-in-law. The sister loves her sister’s guy... No matter how this turns out, it’s not going to be easy.”

Just then, Jiang Jingshi suddenly paused and turned back, gently reminding him,

“By the way, Grandpa—don’t overthink it. I’m not ‘competing fairly’ with Qianqian anymore. I’ve already won.”

Grandpa also stopped walking.

“You’ve already won? So, Jingshi, you and Lin Zhengran are already...?”

“Mm, we’re already together. But Qianqian doesn’t know yet. I’m planning to tell her during dinner tonight and surprise her.”

With that, she returned to her room.

Grandpa suddenly had a feeling that tonight’s dinner was going to be anything but ordinary.

Downstairs, in the various rooms, Fang Meng and Jiang Qian were giving Lin Zhengran a tour—showing him the studies, the collection room, the storage room with the printer, and the kitchen.

Every room was spacious and luxuriously designed, totally unlike your typical apartment.

Lin Zhengran marveled,

“Your place is beautifully decorated. You really don’t have to go out for anything. It’s got everything you could possibly need.”

Fang Meng said,

“Even if you want to go shopping, you don’t have to go far. Just west of here is a large shopping area stocked with everyday essentials, meant just for the residents here.”

“A dedicated shopping mall... Definitely a villa neighborhood.”

The three of them reached a private kitchen, and Fang Meng explained,

“This is the Eldest Miss’s personal kitchen. Lin Zhengran, you might not know, but when she’s alone, she sometimes cooks here—it’s a little hobby of hers... a form of relaxation...”

Before she could finish, Lin Zhengran interrupted,

“I know. She really enjoys cooking—and she’s great at it. I’ve eaten her cooking plenty of times.”

The moment he said that, Fang Meng and Jiang Qian both froze.

One simple sentence, but packed with implications.

Fang Meng looked surprised.

“You knew that? And the Eldest Miss has cooked just for you?”

“Yeah.”

Fang Meng explained,

“Very few people know that the Eldest Miss cooks, and even Qianqian has rarely tasted her food.”

Jiang Qian’s expression turned ice cold, her fists subtly clenched.

Sister... Do you really think these little tricks are enough to steal Lin Zhengran from me?

She said,

“Stop looking at this dumb kitchen. Let’s go upstairs to my piano room.”