Chapter 359: Treasure - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 359: Treasure The next morning, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli bid farewell to Lin Yingjun and his wife and headed to the factory to check on the situation. They found that Uncle Jiang was extremely busy yet very composed. The procurement of new materials had already begun, and the factory was swiftly getting back on track. Feeling reassured, Lin Zhengran and Xueli returned to their villa. However, during the car ride, Jiang Xueli noticed something unusual. In the backseat of the taxi, she inadvertently saw her face reflected on her phone's darkened screen. She touched her cheek curiously, "Huh?" Switching to selfie mode, she took a closer look. In selfie mode, any human skin imperfections are particularly noticeable, especially from a close distance. But to her surprise, despite hardly resting and staying up until almost three in the morning with Zhengran, her skin showed no signs of dryness or dark circles when she woke up early. In fact, her skin seemed better than last week—more beautiful and radiant! Her complexion was tight and hydrated, flawless without any blemishes or acne scars. She looked vibrant, as if she had just returned from a rejuvenating hot spring holiday. Thinking it over, her mental state was remarkably good too, unlike the usual aftermath of a sleepless night. Jiang Xueli put down her phone. "Zhengran, has my skin improved?" Lin Zhengran, gazing out the window, glanced at her. He already knew the answer. After all, they had been deeply intimate so many times the previous day. "Yes, it has." "Really? But why? Ever since we returned from the hot springs, I've been curious about this, but as it didn't happen again, I stopped paying attention. But now..." She pondered to herself, "If it's not due to the hot springs, what could be the common factor in these instances? Previously, Wenwen and He Qing suggested it might be because of the hot springs, but I always thought that was off..." Lin Zhengran chuckled inexplicably, looking out the window. Jiang Xueli heard his soft laugh and was about to ask, "Why are you laughing?" Suddenly, a realization hit her, leaving her speechless, "Right, Zhengran, why aren't you surprised? It's like you knew this would happen—this time, last time, even the first time Wenwen suddenly looked better in the hotel." Lin Zhengran countered, "Wasn't I shocked the first time?" Her tone was playful, "No way! You were only curious, while He Qing and I were the ones amazed! Wait a second! Saying you should have been surprised the first time—doesn't that mean you already knew the reason?! Do you know why?" Lin Zhengran gave Jiang Xueli a meaningful look. Jiang Xueli clicked her tongue, tugging on his arm, "Tell me! What's going on? What's the reason?" "Didn't you almost figure it out?" "Huh?" "You said it yourself, there was something in common both times. Can't you figure it out with a little thought? Recall if He Qing and Wenwen did anything similar." Jiang Xueli pondered deeply—the same situation, was it skipping breakfast? A certain event occurred? Going out? Images of their intimacy from last night flashed through her mind, causing her face to blush like a ripe tomato. Mouth trembling, she stammered, "Could it be... because of..." Lin Zhengran hushed her, gesturing that the driver might overhear. Jiang Xueli's face was ablaze, her voice a hushed whisper like discovering a new continent, "Is that really the cause?! Could doing that with Zhengran really result in..." Lin Zhengran offered an explanation, "Since I practice medicine, I occasionally regulate my body. Being intimate allows harmonization between us, which surely benefits you all." "Is that really true..." she said with embarrassment, struggling to find words. But she immediately spotted a flaw: "Wait a minute! Zhengran, you said He Qing was the first one with you, right? You admitted it yourself!" "Yes." "Then this doesn't add up, because it was Han Wenwen's skin that improved first, not He Qing's! And at that time, Han Wenwen hadn't..." Mid-sentence, Jiang Xueli clasped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with realization. Her quick-wittedness brought clarity. According to Zhengran, being intimate with him improves a girl's health, hinting at absorbing his essence. And such absorption need not include intimacy alone; there was another method... It meant that fox had long been using her own... Jiang Xueli glared at Lin Zhengran, flustered. Closing her eyes, she cursed, "Stupid Zhengran! Bad fox!" Startling the driver. As expected, upon returning to the villa, the flustered and embarrassed Jiang Xueli immediately sought Han Wenwen, "Fox! You did that with Zhengran so early on! And we hadn't even gone on the trip yet!" The clever little fox cornered by Xueli immediately understood what she implied. Noting Xueli's dramatically improved skin from the night before, Han Wenwen smiled slyly, "So, Xueli finally realized, huh? Couldn't help it, I suppose. I've got a sweet tooth." "Is 'sweet tooth' something you can say in a situation like this?!" At the villa, Jiang Jingshi and Little He Qing were puzzled. Jiang Jingshi asked, "Why is Xueli being so noisy as soon as she gets back? Nothing wrong at home, right?" Jiang Xueli sheepishly turned, "Nothing wrong! Everything's sorted!" Little He Qing asked, "So what are you talking about?" Jiang Xueli stammered, "Well..." She shielded her mouth and asked Han Wenwen, "Naughty fox, should we tell them? Share with everyone the method for better skin and spirits." Han Wenwen pondered and whispered in Jiang Xueli's ear, "We can, but I think Zhengran might have some trouble then." Jiang Xueli saw her point but whispered back, "People will notice sooner or later; it's too obvious. By the way, when did you figure it out?" Han Wenwen lamented, "I suspected during the trip and confirmed later, but it's hard to act on. Since school started, I haven’t had much chance with Zhengran." "True... opportunities are hard to come by." Jiang Xueli looked disdainful, "However, your skin's been great lately..." Han Wenwen covered her face, squinting her eyes, "Let me ask you, whose skin hasn't been good recently? I was the first to discover this secret. I can tell when someone's been sneaking snacks just by their skin." Jiang Xueli was stumped, realizing any secret rendezvous with Zhengran would be visible in their complexion, making lies pointless. Now she avoided looking at Han Wenwen, knowing full well her own occasional indulgence. Han Wenwen continued, "But your skin transformed overnight, rapid and glowing. Last night must have been quite a night with Zhengran, huh?" Jiang Xueli was flustered, "That..." "How many times?" Han Wenwen was both jealous and curious. "That's a private matter! I won't say!" She covered her ears defiantly. Seeing the secretive exchange, Little He Qing and Jiang Jingshi were at a loss. Jiang Jingshi inquired, "What exactly are you two discussing?" Han Wenwen nudged Xueli, prompting a wordless understanding between them. Han Wenwen revealed, "Little Qing, Sister Jiang, next, Xueli and I will share a secret with you." Thus, they whispered the secret into Little He Qing and Jiang Jingshi’s ears. Once they heard, Little He Qing and Jiang Jingshi’s faces turned beet red. In unison, they exclaimed, "Seriously?!" Jiang Xueli reassured them, "I tested it myself, no doubt about it. You'll realize once you think it over." Little He Qing was embarrassed, face hidden in her hands on the sofa. Meanwhile, Jiang Jingshi touched her cheeks, noting the warmth, "No wonder my skin's improved lately... I was wondering why..." At this moment, Lin Zhengran emerged from the restroom, catching all four women staring at him intensely, like discovering newly unearthed treasure. Lin Zhengran asked, "What kind of look is that you're all giving me?" (End of chapter)