Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: On the March

”So boring, brother, let’s do something fun?” Luo Qianqian, tired of the view after a while, yawned and looked at Luo Shufan.

Luo Shufan looked at his sister speechlessly, ”What do you want to play on the train? Just read a book if you’ve got nothing else to do.” Luo Shufan had seen with his own eyes how she stuffed two books into her bag before they left.

”I don’t want to, study study study, there’s no you in the books,” Luo Qianqian blinked innocently, pointing to the other half of the carriage, ”See, they’re all playing cards.”

Luo Shufan flicked his sister’s forehead hard, ”Where’s the poker here? Who’s to play with you? You think you’re at home?”

”The auntie who walked past to buy water definitely sells poker too, hmph, even if you won’t play with me, there’s still the teacher and so many other brothers and sisters, how could there be no one to play with me?” Luo Qianqian, finding the three people sitting opposite her too uptight, couldn’t help feeling tired and snuggled into Luo Shufan’s embrace.

”Behave, here’s some candy.” While speaking, Luo Shufan took out a stick of yogurt-flavored candy, his sister’s favorite, from his backpack.

Luo Qianqian took the lollipop, looked towards Meng Xuedao’s serious face, and offered the candy, ”Teacher, have some candy, can you help me buy a set of playing cards later? I’ll reimburse you when we get to our destination.” She nodded affirmatively. Luo Shufan almost wished he could stuff this little ancestor of his into the suitcase for bribing the teacher.

”...Okay.” Under the stunned gaze of the four, Meng Xuedao took the candy and nodded at Luo Qianqian.

Luo Qianqian triumphantly jutted her chin at her brother.

”Um... I have some.” Among the three boys seated opposite, the one in the middle took out two decks of playing cards from the side pocket of his backpack, ”My mom was afraid I’d get bored on the trip.”

”Yay, what can you guys play?” Luo Qianqian squinted, it was only because they were too reserved that she had to act cutesy and whiny like a kid. She would die of exhaustion if it went on like this all the way.

Luo Shufan, with a frown, straightened up Luo Qianqian who was clinging onto him, ”Come on, tell me, who taught you to play cards?” She hardly even played video games normally, so when did she learn to play cards? And he, as her brother, had no idea?

”Playing cards? Count me in, I’ll switch seats with anyone who doesn’t know how to.” Yang Yang, who had been paying attention to the ’fun’ Luo Shufan was having with his sister, picked up his bag and came over from his seat across the aisle.

Luo Qianqian looked at him speechlessly; the three people sitting together clearly wanted to play among themselves, so who was he supposed to ask to switch seats? Her brother or Teacher Meng?

”No one, huh? Well, okay, then I’ll stand and play.” Yang Yang showed no intention of going back, staying put in front of the six people.

”You guys play, I’ll go sit over there,” said Meng Xuedao.

”No need, Teacher, my brother doesn’t know how to play, just let him watch. Plus, the teacher makes six, so we can split into either two or three groups.” Luo Qianqian invited energetically.

”Yes, how come you know stuff I don’t?” Luo Shufan looked at his sister annoyingly.

Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes, sizing up her brother from head to toe, pouted her lips and said with a hint of disdain, ”Brother, I can also make bracelets; can you?”

Luo Shufan turned his head, looking at his smart little sister who couldn’t even reach the floor while sitting in her chair, swinging back and forth and said with even more disdain, ”You also wet the bed, and wake up in the middle of the night asking for milk, how dare I compare with you?”

Luo Qianqian huffed and turned her head away, very dissatisfied that her brother mentioned those unfounded things, including the occasional incident that happened when she forgot to drink milk before bed and woke up in the middle of the night wanting some. She muttered under her breath, ”Jealousy, pure jealousy, jealous that I’m fairer than you and have better skin!!!”

Luo Shufan did not continue arguing with his sister. He was an adult, after all, and of course, he should give in to his sister, else what if she was snatched away by the watchful Yang Yang sitting aside?

Deep down, though, he was amazed; the way his sister framed her words was often something he hadn’t heard before, but upon careful thought, it all made sense.

”All right, all right, grab three black and three red cards, whoever gets the same color is on one team.” Luo Qianqian, unable to reach the playing cards while sitting, had to move a little, a tiring and bothersome task which led her to stand up to draw cards.

Luo Shufan, watching his sister with her short little arms and then his visibly tense friend, resignedly shifted his buttocks to his sister’s spot and lifted her up to sit on his lap.

With Luo Shufan acting as a human cushion, Luo Qianqian could not only sit comfortably but also reach out a little further. Meng Xuedao saw the emptied spot and moved in to let Yang Yang take a seat as well.

”See, sister cares for her brother; I’ll buy you candy in return,” Yang Yang flashed a big grin, laughing until his eyes were nearly shut.

Luo Qianqian was utterly confused. What had she done? It was her brother who had given up his seat, and he did it for her, what did it have to do with this person???

”Oh my, what a coincidence, I’m in the same group as my sister,” Luo Qianqian flipped over her card, the five of hearts, while Yang Yang turned over the seven of diamonds, Meng Xuedao got the ace of spades, and went to the opposite side, beckoning a boy from the opposite side to come over.

Since the small table was too far inside and inconvenient, they simply laid the luggage on the floor and spread out some papers that everyone could reach.

”We agreed, right? The loser has to give the winner lollipops~” Luo Qianqian pointed at the lollipops in Meng Xuedao’s hand and chuckled mischievously.

Meng Xuedao raised his eyebrows, amusedly looked at Luo Qianqian whose face was written with cravings for food, ”Sure, just be careful not to lose all your rations for the next few days.” He even glanced over at the backpack that Luo Shufan was guarding by his side.

Luo Shufan really wanted to stuff his gluttonous little sister into the luggage; they had only brought so few, and she still thought about making bets, fearless of losing. If she lost everything, he would not buy more for her.

”Brother, you have to believe in me.” Sensing that her brother holding her backpack tensed up, she comforted him with a laugh. Joking aside, she was the person who hadn’t spent a penny on mobile phone Landlord but had won over three hundred thousand beans. Bored people like her would study any game, especially when they didn’t have money to flaunt around, and time without classes was accompanied by various mobile games.”

”...” Yeah right, as if I’d believe you. Luo Shufan turned his head to look at the scenery outside the window, ignoring his too opinionated little sister.

There are only one hundred and eight cards, after all. It’s all about memory, what cards have been played and what are left, calculating strategies for playing with and against the wind.

Luo Qianqian followed Yang Yang and the other person’s card strategy, easily winning three games.

”Come on, I can’t believe this. Let’s play another round.” The train had been moving for quite a while, and the novelty of the journey had worn off for the passengers, who were quickly drawn to the sounds of cheering from their side.

”Teacher Meng, you agreed to the bet; you have to accept the loss, haha.” Yang Yang looked proudly at his now empty hands, laughing triumphantly.

”Brother, do you want to play?” Luo Qianqian lost interest after two games; as long as the atmosphere around was not so dull, she was happy.

Luo Shufan had already helped his sister to pick and play cards several times. When he heard her ask, he subconsciously nodded his head, then came to his senses and looked at her, ”Are you not playing anymore?”

”I’m still a child, you know, whatever I do, I only have a three-minute passion for it. It’s enough to play for a while.” Saying that, Luo Qianqian stuck out her tongue and snuggled into the gap between her brother and the window where the backpack was, ”I’m going to sleep now, I woke up too early this morning, and don’t you lose all my lollipops.”

Speaking, Luo Qianqian donned the hood of her hoodie, hugged her backpack, and lay her head on the table to close her eyes.

”Win and run; hey, Xiao Fan, keep it up.” Yang Yang looked at Luo Qianqian, who was already unresponsive, and did not force her. He watched the other side shuffle the cards, full of excitement. Winning against Teacher Meng was one of the rare occasions in life, after all.

”Get her a jacket so she doesn’t catch a cold. Kids don’t have strong constitutions,” Teacher Meng cast a glance at Luo Qianqian and let her sleep, the siblings were alike.

Luo Qianqian, lying down, originally just wanted to rest her eyes, but unexpectedly, she fell asleep amidst the noisy environment.

”Qianqian, wake up,” she felt someone calling her as she came to, opening her eyes groggily to see everyone putting on their backpacks.

”Are we there?” Luo Qianqian rubbed her eyes and stretched, looking at the scenery outside the train slow down until it came to a stop.

”What were you doing last night, sleeping this much is still not enough for you?” Luo Shufan looked dissatisfiedly at his sister, had she been sneaking off to read comic books again? Last time he found a whole set at Xiao Yu’s place, one that gets updated monthly.

”Kids have to sleep a lot to grow tall,” Luo Qianqian pouted, ”Did we win or lose? Even if you lost, you’re not allowed to use my rations.”

”I lost two games,” Luo Shufan said as he pulled his sister up, fixing her clothes as he spoke.

”Two games, huh? Then I’ll generously lend you two sticks~” Luo Qianqian, seeing her brother also carrying her little backpack, said somewhat sheepishly.

”Absolutely, I lost two games but won more than ten. I still have to buy candies for you little ones when we get to our accommodation,” Teacher Meng said. Although he sounded like he was complaining, his expression was clearly a happy one.

”Brother, you tricked me!” Luo Qianqian put her hands on her hips and glared at her brother.

”It’s because you didn’t let me finish,” Luo Shufan touched his nose, the obvious playfulness on his face did not escape Luo Qianqian’s notice.