Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 93: Chapter 90: The Head of the Luo Family

”Qianqian, Shufan, let’s talk after dinner,” Luo Guohui looked at his grandchildren, glared at Luo Yanran who was still dealing with his nosebleed, and said softly.

”Qianqian?” Luo Shufan didn’t care. As long as his sister said to leave, he would even carry his sister back home on his back. Anyone who made his sister cry like this was not a good person!

”Okay.” Luo Qianqian tightly held her brother’s hand and huddled behind Luo Shufan.

”Come on, I prepared all our specialties today. Oldest son’s wife, Laoer’s wife, come help me serve the dishes.” The food had already been in the kitchen for half the day. If it weren’t for this incident, they probably could have started the meal by now.

Luo Guohui took his seat and pointed to the space on his right: ”Shufan, Qianqian, come sit here.”

Luo Shufan gently squeezed his sister’s hand and felt her squeeze back before they walked over: ”Then we’ll join you.” He then moved his sister’s chair next to his, sat down next to Luo Guohui, and Luo Qianqian sat down earnestly on her brother’s right, head bowed.

”I’m sitting here, nobody take it.” Luo Yanwu took the spot next to Luo Qianqian by virtue of being closest: ”Little sister, what do you want to eat? Brother will get it for you.”

Luo Qianqian felt the excessive enthusiasm of the boy beside her and moved a bit closer to Luo Shufan. Luo Yanwu looked hurt:

”Little sister, I’m not that bad egg Luo Yanran, I’m a good brother.” Sitting to the right of Luo Yanran, Luo Yanhai watched his younger brother with amusement and held him down, reaching over to speak to Luo Qianqian: ”Brother’s got long arms, just tell me what you want.”

”Hey, hey, hey, I was the first to take revenge for little sister, I should be the one sitting here.” Luo Yanhao, who was a step slow, took a seat to the right of Luo Yanhai anxiously.

”I only have one brother,” Luo Qianqian said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too quiet, which was heard by everyone present.

”What did you say?” Luo Yanran looked at his sister incredulously. He’d taken so many hits and she still wouldn’t acknowledge him? How wronged he felt.

”My brother is Luo Shufan. My brother’s sister is me; I am my brother’s sister. I only have one brother; it’s written this way in the family register. So please stop calling me ’little sister.’ Our family can’t afford such terms.” After calming down, Luo Qianqian knew where the problem lay. She’d read too many novels, but she still rejected having such relatives. If there really were such relatives, let alone love, the future direction of the family was probably doomed.

”What do you mean you can’t afford it? Luo Xinyue is your father, and if you listen to them, these are your brothers.” Luo Guohui looked at Luo Qianqian, having learned from his younger son’s investigations how smart this child was. He thought she was just scared by that rascal Luo Yanran and said, ”We’ll talk more after dinner.”

Luo Shufan looked at his sister. Her kneeling earlier had almost broken his heart. How could he overlook it when she was targeted instead of him? He didn’t care how his father acted because his father was already gone, but his sister was different. His sister was the sunshine of the home, and she absolutely couldn’t be wronged.

Luo Shufan and Luo Qianqian quietly ate their food, but the dish in front of them would suddenly have a piece of food added by someone else. He didn’t even recognize it, so he could only eat in silence.

”Shufan and Qianqian, come to the study with me. Wife, go to the room and bring out that thing,” Luo Guohui said softly after the siblings had put down their chopsticks, finished their water, and wiped their mouths.

Luo Qianqian and Luo Shufan silently followed Luo Guohui into the study, hand in hand.

”It’s all your fault, otherwise today little sister could have called me ’brother’!” Luo Yanhai slapped Luo Yanran on the head with his palm.

”Exactly, it’s your fault!” Luo Yanhao followed with a slap to Luo Yanran’s back.

”Your fault!” Luo Yanwu, only a few months older than Luo Yanran, also angrily punched him on the arm.

”Xiao Ran, come, let’s talk.” Luo Xihan, seeing her son being hit without showing any sign of pity, instead smiled and beckoned to him.

Luo Yanran inwardly resigned himself to his fate. Those who knew his father were aware that he usually didn’t smile. When he did, it surely meant he was plotting something...

”Shufan, Qianqian, you are both very smart. You should already know what I want to talk about, don’t you?” Luo Guohui sat in the rosewood chair and gestured to the two to sit down on the leather sofa beside him.

Luo Shufan was just about to say something when Luo Qianqian, holding his hand, squeezed it hard and said, ”Please excuse us, as Qianqian and big brother are still young and don’t understand; could the elderly gentleman explain it clearly?”

”Is that your answer?” Luo Guohui chuckled, listening to his little granddaughter call him an elderly gentleman.

”If you think it is, then it is,” Luo Qianqian didn’t let Luo Shufan speak. She would handle everything today so that her brother could still come to the Luo Family if he had any difficulties in the future.

Luo Guohui looked at his granddaughter with determined eyes, and with feigned seriousness, asked, ”Why? You can at least explain your reasons. The Luo Family is vast and influential, and can provide you with no small amount of protection.”

”Because the family is vast and influential, there will be issues of financial interest. In the face of personal benefits, who can guarantee that kinship will always prevail? Because the family is large and the business vast, there could be forced marriages. I believe in love and also trust mom and big brother, so I don’t want it,” Luo Qianqian said calmly, her eyes steadily on Luo Guohui.

”What about you? Do you think the same way?” Luo Guohui, still smiling but keeping a straight face, asked Luo Shufan.

”Little sister has already spoken my thoughts,” Luo Shufan said firmly, ignoring his sister’s objection, ”As long as my sister trusts me, I can protect her myself.”

”Hahaha, have you been watching too many TV dramas?” Luo Guohui laughed heartily, his hand clapping on his leg to create a smacking sound.

”Indeed, as children of our family, a suitable match is expected. But that doesn’t mean we would sacrifice you to such notions of status. Most of our family’s wealth comes from Laoer’s business ventures. The oldest, the third, the fourth, as well as Luo Yanhai and Luo Yanhao, are military men, and even I am too. Do you think a military family would force their children into a marriage alliance?” Luo Guohui spoke slowly, ”Back in the day...”

Yue Tingyu was still knocking on the door to deliver things when Luo Guohui was recounting her love story.

”Then why didn’t you agree with dad and mom...” Luo Shufan asked as he wiped away his tears.

”Your father, he’s the pride of our family, but he couldn’t do it. He’s not an ordinary soldier, and marrying your mom could have endangered her,” Luo Guohui gently shook his head, tears flowing, ”He made the resolute decision to leave and disappear. By the time we found out, there was already Shufan. But his adversaries, how could they let him go easily? Once he found out, he divorced your mom, but still, he didn’t escape...”

”Old man, why are you talking about those things? You’ve made the kids cry,” Yue Tingyu placed the box on the table and, picking up a tissue box, squatted in front of the couch to wipe the tears from Luo Shufan and Luo Qianqian’s eyes.

Luo Qianqian had never imagined this was the case. Hearing such an answer, she became completely stunned, and tears couldn’t help but fall continuously. Her father loved their mother, he didn’t abandon her; he left to protect their mother and big brother.

Luo Shufan hadn’t expected such an answer either. Before his sister was born, the neighbors said they were abandoned by their dad. He was still young but had already learned to be sensible. He had to protect the younger brother or sister who hadn’t yet been born, so he never shared the grievances he suffered with Luo’s Mom. He hadn’t imagined this was the truth.

”Then why did you let mom leave with nothing?” Luo Qianqian thought back to the warm family life her brother had spoken of, which she had never once seen.

”It wasn’t safe there, child. You would only be safe if the third couldn’t find you himself,” Yue Tingyu’s gentle voice soothed Luo Qianqian.

”We can acknowledge your existence, but I have my conditions,” Luo Qianqian pondered for a moment then said.

”Go ahead,” Luo Guohui said, looking affectionately at his young granddaughter who, despite her young age, had already endured so much.

”First, there’s no need to tell mom; she has nothing to do with you all, and you must not hinder her if she remarries,” Luo Qianqian declared with a firm voice.

”Qianqian!” Luo Shufan exclaimed in surprise, looking at his sister. How could she say such a thing?

”Second, we don’t need your interference in our matters, whether it’s school, further education, or life in general. We have the capability ourselves,” Luo Qianqian squeezed her brother’s hand and shook her head, then continued, ”Third, freedom to marry. We don’t accept any arrangements. You can vet and then share your opinions with us, but you are not allowed to write a check to make someone leave us. We choose our own lives, and we don’t need too much meddling.” Luo Qianqian tilted her head towards Luo Guohui, her red eyes showing a hint of amusement, ”Do you agree?”