Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 132: Chapter 121: Freshman Class 19

”Today is the first day of school, and according to the school tradition, we have to take a mock test. Today’s test is on junior high knowledge, so there’s no need to feel any pressure,” the teacher spoke leisurely while looking at the students sitting below, his gaze landing on Luo Qianqian. He emphasized, ”Bring out your best level, and don’t slack off.”

”Ah, a test right at the start of the semester...”

”No way, school has only started for one day...”

No sooner had the teacher’s voice faded than a chorus of complaints rose from the students, creating a hubbub of confusion.

The classroom was divided into three large groups, each consisting of ten people. The teacher handed out the test papers to the first row of each group and then had them passed back. Luo Qianqian received her paper and couldn’t help but sigh at the questions. They were not as difficult as the ones in the competition she’d been in; it seemed the head teacher was intent on letting her stand out. It looked like math couldn’t be her weak spot; she could only afford to slip up in other subjects if she wanted to lay low.

Li Qi, who had been swiftly filling in answers yet was still sighing, couldn’t help but be curious. But seeing that the classroom was very quiet, he swallowed his curiosity and decided to ask after class.

After finishing the test, Luo Qianqian just sat quietly, looking out the window. She didn’t want to be labeled as a bad student for sleeping or looking around; she only wanted to be an unnoticed and non-problematic quiet presence.

Finally, the bell signalled the end of class. Luo Qianqian, although as an irresponsible class representative, dutifully laid her head on the desk. Li Qi hurriedly tugged at her, whispering, ”Luo Qianqian, could you really answer all those questions on the test?”

Luo Qianqian nodded, feeling two dark lines form on her forehead at her desk mate’s admiring look, ”The questions I had during competitions were harder than these.” So even if she said she didn’t know, no one would believe her anyway.

”I could only do two problems before I got stuck. For most of them, I could only solve half. I was startled to see your paper all filled out when it looked like you were just staring out the window,” Li Qi looked at Luo Qianqian with admiration, ”I’m Li Qi. From now on, you’re my idol.”

A twitch tugged at Luo Qianqian’s mouth, ”You haven’t seen a real genius,” Luo Qianqian said as she thought of that handsome but cold young boy. She wondered how he was doing now, ”You’ll know it too once you learn it.”

”But I haven’t learned it now,” Li Qi complained while looking at Luo Qianqian’s workbook, which she had already started writing in, ”I’m just not good at math, but my mom says there’ll be physics in eighth grade and chemistry in ninth. I’m dreading it; it sounds ridiculously hard.”

”It’s okay, you can choose liberal arts in high school, and that’s easier,” Luo Qianqian reassured her, a bit taken aback, but she continued in a good-natured tone. Relationships with desk mates were usually not bad. Xiao Yu was not here, and this Li Qi seemed easy to get along with.

”Do you guys know?” A voice that wasn’t particularly loud but clear enough for the whole class to hear came from the other side of the room, catching everyone’s attention.

Seeing the whole class looking at him, a boy proudly stood on his chair, ”Our class and Class Ten are the special classes of the grade; everyone comes in through the back door.”

”Pfft~” As some turned their heads away, ignoring him, the boy became anxious and continued, ”Our class’s Luo Qianqian is the youngest in our grade. She skipped grades in primary school and even won awards in a national competition, but...”

Luo Qianqian frowned, watching the boy capture the class’s attention. What did this have to do with her? Why was he dragging her into it?

”But what? Out with it!”

”Yeah, tell us already.”

”But,” the boy raised his voice as he saw Luo Qianqian wasn’t looking at him, ”but everyone says she’s a wild child, born with a father but not raised by one. Who knows who her real dad is? Her mom could be a mistress for all we know!”

Luo Qianqian lifted her head upon hearing this and looked coldly at the boy who had spoken, ”I didn’t expect someone would actually take special interest in investigating me. Have you guys thoroughly checked to see who my father really is?” Luo Qianqian said in a soft voice, but she stood up and moved closer to the boy, ”But there’s one thing I can be sure of. Even if I were picked up from the streets, I definitely have nothing to do with a family like yours. Do you know why?”

Luo Qianqian’s thin lips parted slightly, ”My family isn’t that low.” After speaking, she kicked the boy in the leg, sending him tumbling off his stool to the ground where he sat dazed, staring up at her.

”If you’re interested in me, come and get to know me for yourself. Seeing is believing,” Luo Qianqian said with icy eyes to the surrounding classmates, noticing Sun Xuan’s retreating gaze and understood, ”Since we’re on the topic, I might as well clear things up for myself and save me the trouble of always having to deal with disgraceful people insulting my father. My father has passed away, and I have never seen him since I was born, but it’s not your place to judge him! Watch your mouth. If I hear any of you gossiping about other people’s families again, believe it or not, I will tear your mouths apart.”

”Luo Qianqian is right, even though I don’t know where you heard those rumors, Luo Qianqian is our classmate and you’ve gone too far!” Pei Yuhao said to the boy on the ground, ”I remember your name is Wang Wei, right? Wang Lijun should be your father.” He finished, casting a sinister look at Wang Wei on the floor.

Wang Wei shivered instinctively under Pei Yuhao’s gaze, his eyes desperately searching for a familiar face for help, but finding none, he hardened his resolve and said, ”Rumors must have some basis in truth, right? Otherwise, how could such stories spread? Everyone understands that flies don’t bother eggs without cracks!”

”Haha, whether the spirit of my late father will visit me in my dreams tonight, I can’t say, but I’d advise you to show some decency. Don’t talk ill of the deceased; your actions are watched from above. If I’m upright, I have no fear of a crooked shadow.” Luo Qianqian scoffed twice and returned to her seat. She would not have bothered if it weren’t for the fact that they spoke about her parents. Wasn’t it the same situation with Zhang Jingjing before? Those who try to boost their presence aren’t worth too much attention.

”Damn, scared of you, am I?” Wang Wei spat in the direction of Luo Qianqian’s back, then the class president led him out. Watching the student responsible for cleanliness drag the mop around discontentedly, Luo Qianqian felt her mood inexplicably lighten.

”Don’t mind him; the guy just has a nasty mouth.” Li Qi said, looking at his usually quiet and calm deskmate, not without some concern.

”It’s fine, I’m not taking it to heart. Whatever I’ve faced, my brother has too, but who looks down on my brother now?” Luo Qianqian chuckled and shook her head.

”I know your brother, Luo Shufan, right? The top scholar of the middle school entrance exams, I’ve seen him,” Li Qi explained softly, noticing Luo Qianqian’s puzzled look, ”I was there at the ceremony for the city’s awards.”

”There was prize money???” Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened, how come she didn’t know about it?

”Yeah, it’s not much, but it’s an honor all the same, and it was even in the papers. Didn’t you know?” Li Qi was surprised at Luo Qianqian’s astonished expression.

Luo Qianqian puckered her lips, ”We have a lot of freedom at home, Mom doesn’t deal with our studies, she only shows up for the parents’ meeting.” Now, Mom doesn’t even ask about their grades anymore. When other people ask, she’d just say ’probably first again’ and that shuts them right up.

”Your family sounds great,” Li Qi remarked.

Luo Qianqian didn’t really care about Sun Xuan’s look, who needs to worry about child’s play when you’re cautious?

Besides physical education and minor subjects (history, geography, politics, biology), they tested on the major subjects that day. For English, Luo Qianqian simply alternated between A, B, C, and D without much thought, and she didn’t bother with the reading portion in the Chinese exam.

After school in the afternoon, Luo Qianqian packed up her bag and left the school, walking home. Her brother was still at military training and Xiao Yu lived too far to accompany her. She had to stroll home alone. Although she caught the bus in the morning, she didn’t feel like squeezing with the commuters at night; it was too stuffy.

After walking past two bus stops and seeing a bus with room to spare, Luo Qianqian decided to get on since she had a monthly pass. When she reached the entrance of her residential area, she saw He Wenyu in the Experimental Junior High uniform sitting on the flowerbed with a smile. Luo Qianqian shouted enthusiastically, ”Xiao Yu!” and ran towards the girl by the flowerbed.