Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 121: Chapter 110: School Starts

Keeping busy in the store, spending free time at Elder Zhang’s home for lessons—it was a relaxed life indeed. Rotating Hotpot, driven by the efforts of Bai Yixian, had opened its doors and quickly became a hit. Even Luo’s mom and Mother He had dined there several times with Qianqian and her friends. The meals were filling and reasonably priced, and the restaurant was packed every day, still bustling even during off-peak hours.

Happy times always seemed brief, and Qianqian was feeling it more than ever. Just after a few joyful days, it was March first—back to school.

”Qianqian, Xiao Yu~” Zhang Sheng waved excitedly as he spotted two familiar figures, having arrived early at the front desk.

”Happy New Year.” Qianqian, noticing her two quite friendly peers seemed to have grown taller, felt a bit dismayed, as she was still quite short compared to her classmates. However, she was taller now than at the same age in her past life. It looked like this life might finally break the curse of not reaching one meter sixty.

”What’s this?” Ye Chen, glimpsing the small box in his hand, raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

”Isn’t Qianqian going to the finals? She brought back some gifts.” He Wenyu piped up from the side.

”Qianqian, you’re too kind, remembering us even amidst your busy schedule.” Zhang Sheng then opened his box, surprised and delighted to find a soccer keychain inside.

Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu exchanged glances, not bearing to tell him that it was only picked up yesterday from the store, albeit indeed sourced from the Capital City.

Ye Chen opened his box to find a basketball keychain and looked resentfully at Luo Qianqian, ”Did you just grab whatever ball you saw without choosing? I know boys like balls, but when did you ever see us playing basketball?”

”You will, you will in the future.” Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes, not foolish enough to admit that she had indeed picked randomly.

”Hey, you guys came so early?” Jiang Qian’s lively voice came through, and on staring at the girl at the door, Luo Qianqian was a bit staggered, for the girl was leading a familiar boy by hand.

”Jiang An? How come you’re here?” He Wenyu, seeing the boy, was also very surprised and hurriedly asked.

”Didn’t we agree to meet this term?” Jiang An smiled lightly, stepping past Jiang Qian to Luo Qianqian’s table: ”Desk mate, long time no see.”

”Long time no see, Happy New Year, congratulations.” Luo Qianqian was only slightly surprised before quickly returning to her usual demeanor, smiling as she spoke.

”Is this your brother?” Zhang Sheng asked with surprise looking at Jiang An.

Jiang Qian, looking at her brother who completely disregarded her as a sister and shook her head helplessly, ”He’s not my brother, he’s my Master! The teacher told him to wait in the office, but he insisted on coming to our classroom.”

”He’s not in our class?” He Wenyu asked in surprise.

”Yes, our class got you two last semester; this time it’s Class Two’s turn.” Jiang Qian spread her hands helplessly, ”This kid was almost angry enough not to come to school, but that teacher in Class Two...”

Luo Qianqian suddenly remembered that teacher who hit students. Could it be him?

”Anyway, it’s just next door; it’s convenient to find your sister,” He Wenyu patted Jiang An on the shoulder amicably.

”I heard you got the Silver Award? Congratulations.” Jiang An didn’t pay attention to his sister’s teasing, instead speaking directly to Luo Qianqian.

Luo Qianqian raised her eyebrows, her eyes narrowing: ”Well-informed, aren’t you? How did you know that?”

”I have a friend in Capital City who told me about it.” Jiang An took out a small box from his pocket, ”Here’s a gift for you.”

”Is this a New Year’s gift or a congratulatory gift?” He Wenyu peered at the box, ignoring Jiang Qian’s complaints, and quickly sat next to Luo Qianqian. ”Where’s my New Year’s gift?”

”I didn’t get one either,” Jiang Qian complained in a low voice, eyeing her brother’s box unhappily.

”It’s a congratulatory gift,” Jiang An laughed softly, ”Congratulations.”

”How have you become a bit fake over the break?” He Wenyu muttered to Luo Qianqian.

Jiang An’s smiling face almost fell apart. What did he mean by ’a bit fake’? This was called being a gentleman, for heaven’s sake.

Luo Qianqian then opened the box in her hand, staring at the crystal hairpin inside, then she closed the box and handed it back to Jiang An: ”It’s too valuable; we, as elementary students, shouldn’t be giving each other such expensive gifts.”

”Glass, not expensive.” Jiang An didn’t take the box but explained instead.

Jiang Qian almost ground her teeth in frustration. Glass? They wouldn’t even let her wear it and it was glass?

Luo Qianqian sighed and said, ”If you wanted to congratulate me, you should have given me something tasty instead. I don’t have a use for this sort of thing. Isn’t it just a waste of money?” Luo Qianqian playfully blinked, as if to affirm her point.

”You should go back now, almost everyone has arrived,” Jiang Qian said softly.

”Okay.” Jiang An turned and left. In Luo Qianqian’s glass-like eyes, a hint of an inscrutable expression reflected.

Now that he knew about her Silver Award, he must also know about her association with the Luo Family, right?

Luo Qianqian shook her head, not wanting to doubt her friend like that. Then, looking at the small box in her seat, she slapped her forehead: ”I forgot to give this to him.”

Looking at the box that was identical to the one she had received, Zhang Sheng asked, ”How many did you buy? Don’t tell me everyone got one.”

Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes and didn’t respond. Instead, He Wenyu, with distaste, looked at Zhang Sheng: ”Do you want it? If not, give it to me.”

”My brother and Zhuzi are waiting for us at the milk tea shop. They complained about the weather still being cold,” Luo Qianqian said, glancing at a text message.

”Having a cell phone is great. Anything happens, and you know with one call,” He Wenyu said enviously while packing up his school bag.

”You have to keep it a secret from us; my mom doesn’t even know yet,” Luo Qianqian said, putting books into the seat, her bag only held two notebooks and a pencil case since it was the first day of school and not much homework was assigned.

”Okay, but you have to let me play with it, that snake game,” He Wenyu quickly agreed, putting forth his condition.

Luo Qianqian nodded: ”But only after you finish your homework.”

”Deal.” He Wenyu smiled with joy, since cell phones were rare items and not many people had them. Those who bought cell phones were rich.

”Qianqian, why do I feel like that person is waiting for you?” As they walked side by side down the stairs and across the playground, He Wenyu suddenly stopped and pointed to someone at the school gate.

That person was indeed conspicuous. Despite the cold weather, he was wearing a suit as if he thought it was indoors. He also leaned against a silver-gray car, clearly a rich second-generation.

Luo Qianqian touched her arm, feeling that the man was underdressed for the weather, yet had to admit that he indeed seemed to be waiting for her. The form was somewhat familiar, but what was with the gloomy atmosphere surrounding him?

”Luo Qianqian?” The man spoke first, his tone not very pleasant, possibly because he was too cold to speak properly. As soon as he spoke, Luo Qianqian recognized him—it was Yi Muhuan.

”I am. What can I do for you?” Luo Qianqian had been infatuated with this man in her past life, but for some reason, every meeting in this life only erased the affection of her past life. The first time caused her brother to bleed profusely and he was still arrogant, the second time at the airport he was even more arrogant, bumping into her brother and not apologizing.

”My dad sent me to pick you up for the party tonight,” Yi Muhuan said, his face ashen, showing none of the graceful and elegant demeanor of his former life.

”Sorry, I never agreed to attend, and my family doesn’t know about it either. So, sorry,” Luo Qianqian frowned, very dissatisfied with Yi Muhuan’s attitude.

”Giving you a chance... We can call your family for you, and we will take you to buy a dress, we will pay, so you don’t need to worry about anything,” Yi Muhuan said, tapping the car window and taking out a cellphone.

Luo Qianqian, hearing the unfinished sentence, felt even more upset. With that face and that tone, she guessed what Yi Muhuan didn’t finish saying. She just didn’t understand, what made Yi Muhuan change his tune?

”Not necessary, I didn’t say I needed to be forcibly included, did I?” After finishing, Luo Qianqian walked past Yi Muhuan with a cold face, heading in the direction of her home.

”We already said no, what are you trying to do, kidnap us?” He Wenyu stared at Yi Muhuan, also quite resentful, as if Luo Qianqian owed him millions.

”Pah, you’re not from Luo Family, who would bother inviting you? You’re not even good looking!” Yi Muhuan spat in the direction the two were leaving, then yanked open the car door and got in. However, his voice carried right to their ears.

He Wenyu looked puzzled, while Luo Qianqian was shocked. Could it be in the past life it was because of the Luo Family that he acted that way? Luo Qianqian dared not continue that thought; but it was true that no member of the Luo Family had appeared around her in her past life.