Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Flee in Desperation

Luo Xiying’s Luo? The Luo family? Luo Qianqian was stunned, wondering why someone would suddenly come looking for her. Could their existence be threatening someone else’s interests, leading them to come and silence her by murder?

”I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Luo Qianqian lowered her head and put on the innocent face of a child: ”Who is Luo Xiying?”

”You’re called Luo Qianqian, right?” Luo Yanran chuckled lightly, revealing neatly aligned white teeth: ”You are the daughter of Luo Xinyue and An Zilan, and you have an older brother named Shufan.”

When Luo Qianqian heard her mother’s and brother’s names, she couldn’t pretend anymore. She stood up, slapped the table, and emitted an aura uncommon for a six-year-old, startling Luo Yanran: ”If you have any issues, direct them at me. What kind of man uses family as a threat!”

Luo Yanran was taken aback, then smiled slyly, his face cooling down deliberately: ”Really? I plan to release an album on Valentine’s Day, the kind with ten songs. How about that...?” He raised an eyebrow, provocatively staring at Luo Qianqian.

Luo Qianqian glanced at Zhou Yinyin then clenched her fists and closed her eyes in deep thought for a moment before saying, ”Fine, but I have two conditions.”

”Oh? Let’s hear them.” Luo Yanran had not expected Luo Qianqian to actually agree, and he was visibly surprised.

”First, Aunt Zhou has nothing to do with this matter. You must not harm, threaten, or intimidate her. Aunt Zhou was merely helping me with the music composition; she has nothing to do with this matter anymore. You find someone else to help me compose the music, and do not involve Aunt Zhou!!!” Luo Qianqian gently brushed Zhou Yinyin’s hand, shook her head to signal her not to interrupt, and continued: ”Second! Do not bother my mother or older brother. You have already found me, and you can direct all your frustrations at me, but do not trouble my mother or older brother again, including my godmother’s family. Do you agree?”

”No problem, I can agree to that. But if it’s not complete by the deadline, that would be a breach of contract, and I wouldn’t want to be held accountable for my actions,” Luo Yanran said, his serious tone becoming increasingly playful, his smile growing wider even though he did not know what his sister was up to. It seemed interesting; he thought it might be fun to play along since no one at home knew he had come to see his sister: ”It’s Valentine’s Day in the western world, not the deadline, you need to be ready at least one month beforehand.”

”I understand. From now on, if there’s anything, come directly to me, and don’t involve Aunt Zhou any further; she absolutely has no idea about our family’s affairs! Can you do that?” Luo Qianqian looked at Zhou Yinyin, who appeared conflicted, and hardened her resolve; she absolutely couldn’t let others be implicated.

”No problem at all. But how can I reach you? Should I go to your home? Your school?” Luo Yanran played with the watch strap on his wrist, pondering slowly for fun. The youngest child in the family was supposed to entertain their older brothers, and having just learned that he had a younger sister and brother, why not have a little fun?

”Don’t!” Going to her home or school would only arouse suspicion in her family. Luo Qianqian dared not let such a thing happen: ”I’m still in school, the next holiday should be New Year’s Day; I’ll find you then.” Luo Qianqian frowned, as she remembered being a fan. She vaguely remembered his songs, especially those that were hits throughout the country. But wasn’t it an apparent fact that Yhan Miyuan’s first album was released three years later?

”Certainly, here’s my contact information.” Luo Yanran said, flicking over a business card from Sun Zhichao, and with a pen he carried, he wrote down a series of numbers: ”I’m also in school, I should probably have a break, too.”

She, a person with memories from a past life, wouldn’t know? Attending school, huh, Luo Qianqian muttered to herself disdainfully. The man who reportedly never attended exams still needs school? What a joke.

”Is that so? Well, Mr. Luo is a busy man; we won’t bother you further.” Saying this, Luo Qianqian stood up, intending to leave but was stopped by Luo Yanran.

”Uh uh... What’s the rush? The food is already being prepared. Why waste it?” Luo Yanran turned his head towards the window, disguising his unease. Through the reflection on the glass, he watched his sister’s face.

Hearing this, Luo Qianqian thought for a moment and said, ”If Mr. Luo insists, we respectfully comply.”

Zhou Yinyin, observing the assertive Luo Qianqian beside her, felt somewhat dazed for a moment. Was this the same playful, cheerful little girl from home? Where did such a commanding presence come from?

From a distance, Sun Zhichao, seeing that the three had no intention of continuing their conversation, instructed the staff to serve the dishes. Smiling, he walked back to his seat: ”I ordered some desserts and cakes that children would like. Is that okay?” he asked Luo Qianqian, smiling kindly. Others might not know why the patriarch sought this young girl, but he, as the manager, surely did; his gaze became even warmer and more mellow.

”Uncle, please don’t smile; it scares me.” Luo Qianqian shuddered. That look was like staring at a delicious dish. Good thing her father had already passed away, otherwise, wouldn’t he be angered to death again by those plotting against his children? However, ”Mr. Yhan, do you happen to know where my father is buried?”

”People of the Luo family are not buried anywhere else,” Luo Yanran replied, spreading his hands. He secretly wondered if his sister had somehow twisted her thoughts too far. But calling him Mr. Yhan in front of Brother Sun still made him blush.

”Oh.” So he didn’t want to tell her then? Well, never mind. Luo Qianqian maintained her usual good child’s face, looking straight ahead with a faint smile.

Why had she stopped asking? Luo Yanran frowned. This wasn’t the scene he had imagined. His sister was supposed to tug at his sleeve, act coyly, and then he would offer to take her. Why had it gone quiet? After a long silence, he finally spoke: ”In Capital City.”

Luo Qianqian looked at Luo Yanran with surprise. Initially, her focus was on a flowerpot behind him, but his words made her look directly into his eyes, which were as black as ink and white as tiles, sparkling with life. She thought that if her older brother hadn’t developed nearsightedness from playing video games, he would probably have the same eyes. It seemed to have started just in the last two years, and she needed to keep an eye on him to prevent any further antics.

Luo Yanran’s face reddened a bit under Luo Qianqian’s steady gaze, and he coughed twice without her shifting her gaze. For a moment, he felt somewhat proud as his appearance was indeed a blessing from heaven; even his own sister seemed enchanted by it. Eventually, the arrival of the dishes snapped the daydreaming Luo Qianqian back to reality, and she shifted her eyes away.

The table slowly filled with dishes, all shiny and appetizing. Zhou Yinyin watched Luo Yanran, who was continuously pushing dishes towards Luo Qianqian. Was this really the serious matter that Luo Qianqian had talked about? His eyes seemed only filled with indulgence.

Luo Qianqian kept her head down as she ate, focusing on her bowl and the dish closest to her. However, the dishes in front of her kept being replaced, preventing her from getting sick of any particular one.

As she ate, she thought to herself that her brother and Xiao Yu would definitely enjoy this food, it was sweet and sour, clearly meant for children’s palates.

”Can I get this packed up?” Luo Qianqian suddenly looked up and said this, startling the three people at the table, ”Since we can’t finish it all, I can take it home for my brother and Xiao Yu to eat. It certainly won’t go to waste.” Her voice grew quieter as she spoke.

At Luo Yanran’s signal, Sun Zhichao left. Luo Qianqian continued to eat with her head down, hardly daring to look up.

”You think you’re the only one eating? These dishes wouldn’t even fill the gaps between my teeth, and you want to pack them up? Just eat quickly,” Luo Yanran teased, finding his sister’s cautious manner amusing.

Zhou Yinyin watched Luo Yanran switch plates occasionally and stayed silent, thinking it best not to comment on another family’s internal affairs.

After finishing the meal and seeing many dishes still remaining only to be cleared away, Luo Qianqian pursed her lips. She decided that one day she would bring her mother, brother, and Xiao Yu here for a meal to splurge against the dreaded capitalism.

A delicate cake was placed in front of her. Luo Qianqian looked at it and sneered slightly, thinking it was just a strawberry mousse with an extra layer of white chocolate crisp outside—did they think she couldn’t recognize it? She would have preferred a simple chocolate cake, but table manners compelled her to sit properly and slowly cut the cake with a small fork, putting it into her mouth. The moment the cake reached her mouth, Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened in surprise. This wasn’t strawberry mousse; the texture of the cheesecake melted instantly, leaving a lingering pleasant flavor. As it tasted so good, Luo Qianqian slowly squinted her eyes, savoring the dessert in front of her.

”It’s all packed up,” Sun Zhichao said, returning to his seat with two bags full of packed boxes, smiling as he placed the bags on the table.

”Hmm?” Luo Qianqian, engrossed in her cake, was momentarily confused at the sight of the two bags but kept silent as she still had cake in her mouth.

Luo Yanran picked up his cup and sipped some hot cocoa, then slowly said, ”Since you can’t eat it all, consider it a gift.”

Sun Zhichao, speechless at his young master’s attitude, thought to himself that even though he was asked to pack up the leftovers, saying it in such a manner might infuriate anyone, even if they accepted the gesture.

”How much is it? Let’s go Dutch on this meal, and I’ll pay you next time we meet,” Luo Qianqian said after swallowing the last piece of cake and wiping her mouth.

”Going Dutch with me?” Luo Yanran couldn’t help but feel a bit amused. Should he rethink his approach, feeling like his sister hadn’t sensed any of his affection?

”Then do you pay me a salary?” Luo Qianqian asked, seeing Luo Yanran nod and then flashing a smile. ”Then deduct it from my salary. I’ll cover this meal.”

Luo Yanran felt a bit deflated, wondering if his sister was getting too familiar. He waved his hand dismissively and said, ”Who’s the boss here? Just go; don’t stay here and annoy me.”

Luo Qianqian happily carried a bag of food and pressed the elevator button, while Luo Yanran watched her small figure intently. Sun Zhichao escorted Zhou Yinyin to the door and discreetly handed her an envelope, ”I trust you know what should and shouldn’t be said.” Seeing Zhou Yinyin nod, he smiled warmly and extended his right hand: ”Pleasure doing business.”

”Pleasure doing business.”

As heavy rain poured down, Luo Qianqian stood in front of the hotel, looking up at the sky, at a loss.