Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten
Chapter 298: Jealousy and Rivalry

Jiang Father shook his head and sat on the sofa with a tired sigh:

“Out there, everyone says our Jiang family has produced an angel and a genius. They all say that whether it’s Jingshi or Qianqian, there are few men in this world who could measure up. They say neither of you would be easily impressed by anyone…

And yet? Now it’s not about who’s worthy of our daughters anymore—it’s my two daughters fighting over a man!

They’re throwing away the company, throwing away manners.

At dinner, first Qianqian confessed, then Jingshi confessed, then Qianqian kissed him, then her sister kissed him!”

He threw his hands in the air:

“I’ve been your father all these years, and neither of you has ever kissed me on the cheek! But today? Right in front of me, you kissed another man on the lips!

And you’re pushing around the company your mom and I spent decades building like it’s nothing!”

Jiang Jingshi and Jiang Qian still said nothing, but deep down, both of them were a bit embarrassed about what had just happened.

After all, it was in front of their parents.

Seeing the two remain silent, Jiang Father grew angrier and raised his hand, shouting at his wife:

“I’m done! I can’t deal with this! There’s not even a sliver of compromise here—how am I supposed to mediate?! Let’s just have another kid and let the two of them fight it out. The company can go to the new daughter!”

Jiang Mother said helplessly, “Have another kid? Let’s not even get into whether the two of us at this age can even have another child.

Even if we could—what if she’s not as talented as Jingshi and Qianqian? And what if she grows up and ends up liking Lin Zhengran too?”

Jiang Father’s eyes popped wide: “What are you talking about?! How would a new child like Lin Zhengran? Do you know how big the age gap would be?!”

“You think girls liking older men is rare?” Jiang Mother laughed. “I’m just making a point—saying your comment was just you blowing off steam.

Look at how flustered you are. And really, the only one upset by your words is yourself.”

Jiang Father had no comeback. He let out a heavy sigh.

In the end, it was Grandpa who finally stepped in. He set down his teacup:

“Alright. What happened today isn’t like any of the usual family meetings we’ve had. This isn’t about money or interests—it’s about feelings.

And when it comes to love, you can’t just tell someone not to like someone and expect it to work.

We can’t make this decision for them.

Grandpa knows both Jingshi and Qianqian are girls who love deeply. But even with the deepest love, not everything goes your way.

This isn’t the old days where sisters could just marry the same man.”

Jiang Father, hearing this, quickly raised his hand in alarm—Dad, please don’t say things like that! That kind of talk is dangerous!

Jiang Jingshi was puzzled. “Grandpa, I’m already with him. Doesn’t that count as a result?”

Grandpa nodded.

“Technically, yes. But Qianqian isn’t wrong either. You’re not married yet. The next four years—you’ll need to keep a close eye on Lin Zhengran.”

Jiang Jingshi’s lips parted slightly as if to speak but found herself speechless.

Grandpa continued,

“So I think it’s best that your parents and I stay out of this. All I want is a promise from both of you:

No matter who ends up with Lin Zhengran and who doesn’t, you must not hate your own family.

You’re sisters—blood sisters who grew up together.”

Suddenly, in unison, both Jiang Jingshi and Jiang Qian said:

“Don’t worry. I won’t lose.”

Jiang Father and Jiang Mother: “...”

Jiang Father frowned and asked again: “And what if you do lose?”

Once again, both sisters responded in unison:

“There is no ‘what if.’ I absolutely won’t lose.”

Seeing this, Grandpa actually laughed:

“Alright. With this level of synchronicity between you two, I doubt you’ll ever truly turn on each other.

Since you won’t become enemies, then let this matter run its course.

What do you two say? Matters of the heart can’t be forced by parents anyway.”

Jiang Father stayed silent, his expression stiff.

Jiang Mother spoke on his behalf:

“That’s the only way we can handle this—just let things take their course.”

She turned again to look at her daughters.

But... even if, in the end, one of them wins and the other loses…

Can the one who loses truly fall in love with someone else again?

Whether it’s Jingshi or Qianqian…

They’re likely more devoted than people realize.

If they weren’t, this wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

That night, Jiang Father and Jiang Mother didn’t stay at the villa.

Grandpa also retired to his room after putting an end to the conversation.

At the entrance, Jiang Qian, Jiang Jingshi, and Fang Meng saw the elders off.

Jiang Father glanced at his daughters, didn’t say a word, and coldly snorted as he got in the car.

Jiang Mother looked back and said,

“Your father and I are leaving now. Rest early tonight. As for Lin Zhengran…”

Both sisters visibly focused.

Jiang Mother emphasized,

“I mean him coming to dinner tonight—after all, he saved Jingshi’s life.

We didn’t even give him a proper meal—that’s on us.

Next time, we’ll invite him over again, but with even higher standards.

However! The two of you absolutely must not show up at the dinner table fighting over him again!

One time is already too much—there will not be a second! Got it?!”

The two sisters had no choice but to answer,

“Yes.”

Jiang Mother nodded.

“Alright, go back inside. No need to see us off.”

She and Jiang Father got in the car. The driver shut the door and returned to the driver’s seat, then drove off into the night.

Jiang Qian and Jiang Jingshi stood silently watching their parents’ car drive away—only to lock eyes again unintentionally.

They both let out another cold snort and stormed back into the house.

Fang Meng followed behind Jiang Qian.

In the back seat of the Rolls-Royce leaving the villa, Jiang Mother looked at her husband, who was still fuming and staring out the window.

She nudged him with her elbow.

“What’s wrong now? Why are you still sulking? We already finished talking it through.”

Jiang Father glanced back at his wife.

“Finished? What’s finished? Is this your first day knowing Jingshi and Qianqian?

Don’t you know their personalities?

If this keeps going, one of our daughters is going to end up single for life. The kind that never marries.”

Jiang Mother hadn’t expected her husband to share the same concern she did. She looked a bit troubled.

“It really is a tough situation. Both of our daughters are the type who don’t fall in love easily,

but once they do, it’s all or nothing.

This really might be a dead end.”

Jiang Father gazed out into the long, dark night and shook his head, doubting reality:

“And as a father, watching my carefully raised daughters get so intimate with another man…

Fighting over him…

Kissing him right in front of me…

My heart… it’s cold. So cold.

I’m jealous of Lin Zhengran—for winning both of their hearts.”

Jiang Mother couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Oh, come on. Didn’t you say you really liked him before? Said you had to make him our son-in-law?

What now? Changed your mind?”

“It’s not that I don’t like him. It’s just… watching my daughters get that close to another man,

it’s hard not to feel a little unwilling.

But I guess when you first chose me, your father probably looked at me the same way.”

Jiang Mother smiled.

“Well, of course.

Back then, you weren’t even as capable as Lin Zhengran. Just a regular guy.

At first, my dad was definitely against me being with you.”

Jiang Father grinned proudly.

“Yeah, but in the end, I still got you.

Whatever. Let’s take it one step at a time.

When the boat reaches the bridge, it’ll straighten itself out.

Maybe someday this whole mess will just magically solve itself.”

Jiang Mother shook her head.

“I honestly can’t imagine how it’ll get resolved.

Unless…”

She suddenly recalled what Grandpa had said earlier.

Her husband looked puzzled.

Jiang Mother chuckled.

“Nothing. Like you said—when the boat reaches the bridge, it’ll straighten itself.

Let’s talk about it later.”