Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Patchwork Bear Turmoil (Part 2)

”Qianqian, look, look, that big sister’s hair is really beautiful... Wow, even in a school uniform that big sister stands out from the others, just like a character from a TV show... Oh oh oh, quick, look at the Hello Kitty wallet that big sister is holding. It’s so pretty...” Ever since the three of them stood at the entrance of Experimental High School, they’ve been listening to He Wenyu’s endless exclamations.

It was the time when students at Experimental High School were leaving school and those from the senior class were heading out for a snack before their evening classes. Hearing He Wenyu’s exclamations, the high school students responded with kind smiles.

Luo Qianqian and Xiao Yu hadn’t brought their Little Bear from the He Family, so from the huge black plastic bag that Luo Shufan was carrying, they took out a ’Patchwork Bear’ and shouted with restraint, ”Is there any big brother or big sister willing to tutor my brother in English? I’m willing to trade a Little Bear for it. Our ’Patchwork Bear’ is one of a kind, you can’t buy it even with money. Those good at English, please look over here, priority will be given to those who can tutor elementary and middle school English.”

”Wow, Qianqian, I think your brother is going to hit you, should I hide for a while?” He Wenyu hurriedly stepped forward to stop Luo Qianqian, preventing her from continuing to shout after seeing Luo Shufan’s increasingly darkened expression.

Luo Qianqian, watching her brother’s face grow darker, decided to be more tactful to save some face for him. If her brother got unhappy and stopped studying, how could she ensure that he would still have a good future? ”Is there a big brother or big sister willing to tutor me in elementary and middle school English? My brother will help watch over me, I’ll be very good and won’t make trouble. Price is negotiable, and a unique ’Patchwork Bear’ is offered upon hiring.”

”Little sister, how much are you selling these Little Bears for? Can I buy one from you? My English isn’t good, but I really like your bears,” a backpack-carrying high school student who had been watching for a while finally asked the question that the other girls wanted to know.

”For a pretty big sister, it’s three yuan each. For a handsome big brother buying for a pretty big sister, it’s four yuan. For someone not good-looking, it’s ten yuan. My little fairy, angel English teacher gets one for free,” Luo Qianqian said with squinted eyes and a giggly smile to the high school student who had spoken, ”I’m just a kid, and kids never lie.” Watching a girl who seemed unconfident about her looks clutching five yuan and about to turn away, Luo Qianqian spoke in an overly sweet voice, ”Big sister, you’re so beautiful and radiant that it must be three yuan for you. Since you’re the first one to buy, I will find you the second prettiest bear... Why not the prettiest? The prettiest must be reserved for my little fairy, angel English teacher.”

”You’re really cute, little sister,” the girl said, her eyes sparkling as she took the Little Bear from Luo Qianqian. ”So this bear is called ’Patchwork Bear,’ right?”

”That’s right, beautiful big sister. Since you’re the first one to own our unique Patchwork Bear, I’ll tell you a secret: having bangs that are too thick and heavy looks oppressive and might even cause pimples. Your glasses hide the sparkle in your eyes and press down on the bridge of your nose. Although you’re still a student, lip balm isn’t just for adults. You’re really pretty; you just don’t know how to dress up,” Luo Qianqian couldn’t restrain herself from offering some beauty advice, channeling those beauty vloggers from her past life.

”Really, thank you, little sister!” the girl said as she hopped away cheerfully, achieving the intention of throwing a sprat to catch a herring—following that, the Patchwork Bears started to sell out rapidly.

”Little sister, little sister, how much do I owe?”

”I was here first, little sister, how much for me?”

”Move aside; I still have to go to class. Let me go first. Little sister, how much for me?”

”...”

Luo Qianqian felt overwhelmed. It could be understood that girls had a passion for shopping, but why did she still see several boys flipping their hair and making what they believed to be charming expressions?

”Brother, you take the money, four yuan for guys, three for girls. Xiao Yu, keep an eye on things and make sure no one grabs something and runs off without paying,” Luo Qianqian whispered, then raised her voice and said, ”If you have any questions after paying, you can ask me. If you’re paying, go to my brother. Although he’s older than I am, he’s still a kid, and kids don’t lie. So, we’ll still charge based on looks—the better-looking you are, the cheaper it is.”

”Big sister, you’re really pretty, and if you change your hairstyle, it would be even better. Your face shape doesn’t really suit short hair. But you’re still in school, so don’t worry about it too much. Once you graduate and grow your hair out, surely a lot of handsome guys will confess to you.”

”Big sister, you have a nice figure, so don’t slouch or hunch over. Doing that will make your figure look bad and even make you appear heavier.”

”Big sister, you must like spicy food, right? Eating less spicy food and getting to bed earlier will make your skin better,”

”Big brother, I’m only this short, are you sure I’m the right person to ask about how to grow taller? But eating more ribs and drinking more bone soup is always right, plus getting plenty of sunshine and exercise,”

”Big sister, I can’t do anything about the mosquito bites. Maybe put on some cooling oil?”

”Big brother, that’s over the line—you know I’m just a kid. Is it really appropriate to ask me about how to confess your feelings?”

When have you ever acted like a normal kid! Her older brother Luo Shufan, his good friend He Wenyu, and the rest of the onlookers unanimously agreed that Luo Qianqian was either precocious or a prodigy. The idea of prodigy could be ruled out right away—didn’t she know herself? She had simply lived those extra ten or so years, understanding more was inevitable. It wasn’t even about intentionally learning, just being exposed to things meant she would know. She wasn’t precocious either; anyone who lived an extra dozen years wouldn’t remain clueless.

”With exams, just do your best. The most important thing is to keep a calm mindset. As long as you’ve tried your hardest, you know you’ve done well. Test scores are a standard for assessing academic achievement, but they’re not the only measure of whether you’ve learned something. Seeking peace of mind by praying at a temple is understandable. But you can’t ask Confucius for help with your English exam, right? Just do your best,”

Luo Shufan looked at the darkening sky and, feeling pity, bought a bag of milk for his sister: ”The ordeal is finally over, let’s go. I’ll buy you some chicken skewers over there,”

”Hey, the brat just made a good amount of money, didn’t she? Come on, hand it over for us to spend.” A few individuals with hair dyed in the colors of the rainbow and wearing brightly colored clothes were blocking the path of the three people.

Luo Shufan immediately moved Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu behind him.

”Who are you calling, brat?” Luo Qianqian innocently grasped Luo Shufan’s hand and peered out from behind him.

”We’re calling you brats. Hand over the money quick, and save yourselves some physical suffering,” the green-haired youth said, fiercely extinguishing his smoldering cigarette butt underfoot.

Thinking of his sister’s money-loving ways, Luo Shufan clenched his pocket: ”We are just kids, we don’t have any money.”

”Damn it, brat, you think Master’s blind?” The red-haired youth grabbed Luo Shufan’s collar and hoisted him up, slapping him across the face: ”Master isn’t blind; hand over the money fast!”

”Brother!” Seeing her brother’s mouth slowly drip with blood, Luo Qianqian’s hand trembled as she clung to He Wenyu, tears swirling in her eyes: ”Let my brother go! Aren’t you afraid of the police? If you don’t let go of my brother now, I’m going to tell the teachers!”

”Qianqian... pff, hurry and go home, Xiao Yu, take Qianqian away,” Luo Shufan, seeing his sister on the verge of tears, was filled with a mix of heartache and fear that she might be bullied. He thought it was his duty to protect her, yet here she was, squawking protectively like a mother hen trying to save her chick from an eagle.

”I’m not leaving! If you want to hit someone, hit me! Don’t touch my brother!”

”Don’t you dare touch Qianqian!”

”If you want to hit someone, hit me! Don’t touch my two sisters!!!”