Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 119: Chapter 108: Bai Yixian Falls Ill?

After being reminded by Luo Yanwu, Luo Qianqian started preparing gifts the moment she got home from Grandma’s house. It was already too late for handmade chocolates, so she just bought two ready-made ones.

Luo Qianqian looked at the seven gifts in front of her and felt that the number ’seven’ was unlucky, so she added one more to make it eight. The chocolate bags still looked a bit empty, so she stuffed in the Patchwork Bears that Luo’s Mom and Mother He had made for the opening of ”God Luo,” each bag featuring a different colored bear. Unlike the initial version, the Patchwork Bear tails now bore the tag—God Luo.

”How much is this shipping going to cost?” Luo Shufan looked at his sister preparing Valentine’s Day gifts for others and felt a sting in his heart since he hadn’t received anything himself.

”It’s fine, it’s just a little token of appreciation, helping you out in the future is what really matters,” Luo Qianqian seemed indifferent as she sealed the package, ”By the way, when I went to buy the chocolate, I saw a new product, and I left a box on your desk.” She said nonchalantly, looking at her brother’s unexpected facial expression.

”A new product? I’ll go try it.” Hearing that he had something too, Luo Shufan’s mood lightened a bit.

These past few days, Luo’s Mom and Mother He were also extremely busy, planning to open during the Valentine’s craze. They dragged He’s father to help with wallpapering and moving cabinets. Fortunately, the setup was simple. ”Fragrance Comes” only required two big pots, a glass counter, matching plates, disposable gloves, and plastic bags. Following Luo Qianqian’s suggestion, they also brought in a freezer and a deep fryer. There were two tables, each with four chairs for in-store dining, and the health permit had been arranged in advance by someone. ”God Luo” mostly consisted of various display cabinets and racks. Apart from the cash register, only a sewing machine remained. The display cabinets were draped with various fabrics, creating a stylish look.

When Luo Qianqian, Luo Shufan, and He Wenyu arrived at the store after sending the packages, everything was ready except for the items still needed to be stocked. The floor was spotless, the glass flawless, and the counters were properly positioned. The only issue was with ”God Luo”—other than Patchwork Bears and a few shell keychains left from before, there was nothing else. Could it be that the entire store would be filled with Patchwork Bears?

”Either we buy a couple of mannequins and hang the clothes Godmother previously made, or we stock up on pretty trinkets like earrings, necklaces, keychains, and turn some elastic bands into pretty hair ties, clips, and such. After all, God Luo mainly targets female customers,” Luo Qianqian proposed, frowning.

”Right, I saw some phone covers before, that could also be a good choice,” He Wenyu chimed in with suggestions.

”Silk hats, scarves?” Luo Shufan tentatively suggested.

”That could work,” Mother He clapped her hands. ”I and Qhianqhian’s Mother will buy some materials to experiment at home, and you guys can look through the premade items to see what’s affordable.”

After exchanging glances with her brother, Luo Qianqian silently turned and sent a text message to Bai Yixian, only to see that he hadn’t replied to her New Year’s message yet. She thought about it and then made a call to Bai Yixian.

No one answered for quite a while.

Luo Qianqian paused, then called Bai Yizhu’s home. After two rings, someone finally picked up.

”Hello, who is it?” Bai Yizhu’s voice came through.

”Zhuzi? Where’s your brother? Did he get my message for the New Year?”

”He probably did,” came the somewhat uncertain reply. ”He went to Capital City before the New Year, and since he returned, I haven’t seen him with his phone, and he’s been barely speaking, just eating.”

”What happened?”

”I’m not sure how to say this, but I think he might have been dumped by a young lady...”

”.......” Luo Qianqian really wanted to crack open Bai Yizhu’s head. Was that how someone should talk about their brother? ”We’ll come by this afternoon to check on him. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

”I’ve been eating instant noodles for a long time, anything but that would be fine.”

”Alright.” Luo Qianqian hung up the phone, looking around at the still festive atmosphere, where only a few stores were open.

After pondering, she made a call to Little Uncle’s phone:

”Little Uncle, happy New Year, what are you up to?”

”Qianqian?” Hearing the soft, sticky voice, Luo Xiying sat up from his bed.

”Little Uncle needs a favor.”

”Speak, I knew you wouldn’t call unless it was something.”

”I urgently need a batch of jewelry, like earrings and necklaces to sell, the kind that aren’t too costly. Can you find them?”

”Sure, when do you need them?”

”In the next couple of days.”

”Okay, I’ll get them and call you.” Luo Xiying rubbed her head in irritation, perhaps her idleness these past few days was the cause of her wild thoughts, so she agreed.

”Don’t hang up, there’s another thing.” Luo Qianqian’s intuition told her that Bai Yixian’s issues were related to Luo Xiying.

”What is it?”

”Bai Yixian is acting strange, seems like he got dumped, it started after he returned from the Capital City. Do you know anything about it?”

”What?” Luo Xiying yelled into the phone, causing Luo Qianqian to quickly pull the phone away from her ear. After the noise died down, she brought it back, hearing a faint ”How could that be?” before silently hanging up.

She merely wanted to inquire about the girls Bai Yixian had been around those days; such a reaction surely meant it was related to Luo Xiying herself, right?

”What’s wrong?” Seeing that his sister hadn’t returned, Shufan stepped outside and saw his sister holding the phone with an inexplicably expectant look on her face, which gave him a chill.

”Nothing’s wrong, everything’s sorted. I heard Zhuzi’s brother is ill, let’s buy some food and visit him this afternoon.” Luo Qianqian wouldn’t disclose the unintended secret she stumbled upon, growing more excited by the prospects of what would unfold.

”Bai Yixian? Just by looking at his pale complexion you can tell he’s not healthy.” Shufan pondered what to buy for the patient visit, then noticed his sister tapping away at her phone, likely messaging someone. Getting closer, he was taken aback to see she was plotting to have Luo Yanwu spy on Luo Xiying—his lips quivered, his sister’s thoughts were beyond him.

”Brother, you know... Never mind.” Luo Qianqian hesitated.

”Do you know how annoying it is when you stop halfway through? Come on, just say it.” Shufan watched his sister, internally frantic.

”Mom, we three are going to see a classmate this afternoon, we’ll be back late.” Luo Qianqian made sure to notify her beforehand, otherwise the concern of seeing three kids not home might cause an unnecessary panic.

”Okay, I heard Grandpa Zhang is back in town, make sure to bring something and visit him tomorrow.” Luo’s Mom notified her incessantly busy but mysterious kids ahead of time.

”Alright.” She agreed cheerfully.

Then the trio took a cab from a spot out of sight from adults straight to a supermarket where they bought a variety of snacks and fruits before heading to Bai Yizhu’s home.

”Where’s your brother?” Seeing no trace of festive spirit in the house and instant noodles everywhere, Luo Qianqian was desperate to understand what calamity had struck to leave things so grim here.

”He’s sleeping inside.” Bai Yizhu looked deadbeat, his face sallow; his already slim face appeared terribly gaunt, as if he was made-up to play a zombie in ’Resident Evil’ without needing any makeup.

”Here’s some snacks, eat something first.” He Wenyu looked at Bai Yizhu’s condition with a sigh of relief about buying frozen dumplings, otherwise, there’d be no reason even to turn on the gas during the New Year. He then started tidying up the room, not out of cleanliness obsession, but because the mess was just unbearable.

When Bai Yixian got up to eat, despite the cleaner environment, he showed no expression and didn’t care whether the food before him was hot or cold, he just shoved it into his mouth.

He looked even worse than Bai Yizhu; had she not been sure it wasn’t serious, Luo Qianqian might have suspected tuberculosis or something dire enough to wear someone down like this.