Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 157: Chapter 146: Luo’s Mom’s Love Story

”Zilan, we’ve known each other for so long, how come you’ve never brought me to meet your children?” The man held An Zilan’s hand as they strolled down the street, and even though it was a bit cold, smiles adorned both their faces.

”I’m afraid the children...” An Zilan shook her head, ”Let’s take it slow.” If her children didn’t agree, she wouldn’t be with this man. Although she was happy with him, her children’s happiness was what really mattered.

The man pinched An Zilan’s hand, ”You don’t even ask, we’re officially dating, but it feels like we’re having a secret love affair, sneaking around.”

An Zilan looked at the man’s slightly aggrieved expression and felt a twinge of heartache, ”I’ll ask them soon. They’re having exams these days, and I don’t want this to affect their mood.”

The man nodded quickly, ”You’re right, their grades are the most important. I heard walnuts are good for the brain, I’ll buy some later for you to take home after work.”

An Zilan chuckled, her affection for the man’s tenderness and attentiveness was clear, ”It’s alright, they both have money in hand. They buy whatever they want to eat.” She thought about giving the children their allowance when she got back.

”Then don’t keep the shop open so late these days, go home early and cook for the kids,” the man said seriously.

An Zilan shook her head, ”They are sensible about it, I don’t need to worry. When it comes to their studies, they make their own decisions. They’ll discuss things they are uncertain about. They are more mature than you think, both Shufan and Qianqian.”

”Yes, yes, your kids are all excellent. Not like my naughty boy,” the man chuckled lightly, his gaze on An Zilan filled with tenderness.

”Don’t say that, your kid is even older than Shufan. He’s probably just going through puberty, don’t be too strict,” An Zilan advised softly.

The man sighed, ”Dare I discipline him? If I do, he’ll spend the whole night at the internet café playing games.”

”Alright, off you go to work. I need to clean up the shop,” An Zilan said with a smile, pushing the man slightly as they arrived at the shop entrance.

”Okay, then I’ll come again at noon,” the man waved goodbye, his face radiating sweetness.

An Zilan nodded, opened the door, and saw Huang Yueran standing in the neighboring store ’Fragrance Comes’ with a smile on his face, watching her.

”What’s this? Thinking of bringing him home for the kids to meet?” Huang Yueran knew about this man since they worked together every day, but they hadn’t talked to their families about it.

An Zilan sighed, ”Do you think the two of them would agree? Qianqian especially, she hasn’t had the concept of a father for so many years, and Shufan...”

Huang Yueran looked at An Zilan’s conflicted expression with amusement, ”What’s that got to do with your relationship with the kids?”

”What if he’s not good to the kids? What if the children don’t like him?” An Zilan looked at Huang Yueran with a worried frown.

Huang Yueran furrowed his brows, ”Why don’t you wait until after their exams, take the kids out for a meal, and pretend to bump into him? That way they can get a first impression?”

An Zilan’s eyes lit up but then dimmed immediately, ”These two kids are so clever, sharp as tacks. When they see him later, won’t they suspect I don’t care about them, end up hating me?”

”Then just tell them directly, someone wants to treat them to a meal, and see how they react,” Huang Yueran couldn’t help but feel torn between laughter and tears at the sight of An Zilan. Do single mothers really need to consider so much?

”Let’s wait until after their exams,” An Zilan sighed, ”My mom also told me to broach the subject with the kids first.”

”You’ll figure it out. If it doesn’t work out, you can leave the kids at my place too, they’re practically my kids,” Huang Yueran chuckled lightly.

An Zilan shook her head, making a joke, ”Keep dreaming, they are mine.”

Yet, she was deep in thought about how to approach the subject with her children.

After the end-of-term exams, Luo Qianqian felt that her mother was acting a bit strangely, getting off work much earlier than usual as if there was something on her mind.

That day, as Luo Shufan finished his tutoring for the year and sat at home with his sister, they watched their mother, who seemed hesitant to speak. Luo Qianqian couldn’t hold back anymore, ”Mom, what’s going on? Just say it.”

”Ah?” An Zilan was startled, ”No, there’s nothing wrong.”

”Mom has been acting weird these past few days; there must be something.” Luo Qianqian frowned, ”We’re a family; what can’t we discuss? Is it that Mom is sick and afraid to tell us?” Luo Qianqian blurted out anxiously.

Luo Shufan also looked at Luo’s Mom earnestly.

”No, no,” An Zilan waved her hands repeatedly, ”since you’ve finished your exams, Mom has a friend who wants to treat you to a meal. I wanted to ask if you’d like to go?”

Seeing their mom’s demeanor, the ’friend’ she referred to was clear to Luo Qianqian and Luo Shufan. The siblings exchanged glances and after a moment, Luo Qianqian said, ”Tomorrow? It’s a bit late today. Should we eat at home or go out?”

”Out, outside.” An Zilan was stunned by the children’s prompt agreement, not even a single question asked as she hurriedly replied.

”Where to? And at what time?” Luo Shufan continued along his sister’s line of questioning, his face showing no signs of discomfort.

”How about that restaurant right outside the complex? Would tomorrow at seven in the evening be okay?” An Zilan said, still somewhat startled but quickly.

”Okay, then we’ll meet at the restaurant’s entrance at seven,” Luo Qianqian nodded, tugging Luo Shufan with her into the bedroom and closing the door.

”Brother, what do you think?” Luo Qianqian asked softly, looking at Luo Shufan’s indifferent expression.

”This is a sign of falling in love, yes, just like this. No worries, even if Mom gets married later, you still have your brother. I’ll take care of you,” Luo Shufan said soothingly, looking at his sister’s puzzled face.

”I’m not worried about that. Do you really think the IQ of someone in love drops to zero?” Luo Qianqian pursed her lips and tilted her chin toward the living room. ”Doesn’t Mom seem a bit silly?”

”I feel the same, can’t date before the college entrance examination,” Luo Shufan nodded emphatically.

Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes, ”You’re stating the obvious. You’re how old? Even after the exams, you’re still underage, no early dating allowed.”

Despite their private discussion, when the time came, the siblings still appeared at the restaurant’s entrance, dressed in nice clothes. An Zilan was already there with a man who was oddly dressed in a suit without a coat in the middle of winter, standing at the entrance.

”Mom,” Luo Qianqian called out to her mother and Luo Shufan followed closely behind his sister.

”You’re here. Let’s go inside,” An Zilan said softly, looking at the man shivering from the cold. The siblings had no objections.

The man had already called for a private room and ordered the dishes before entering. He said shyly, ”Hello, I’m Lin Xu. Nice to meet you for the first time. Uncle doesn’t know what you like, so I just got some trifles. I hope you’ll like them.”

Luo Qianqian smiled as she accepted the box, ”I’m Luo Qianqian, and this is my brother, Luo Shufan. Hello, Uncle.”

”Hello, Uncle,” said Luo Shufan, glancing at the man twice but not saying much; his sister’s presence was sufficient in this situation.

”Uncle often hears your mother talking about you. You both are good children, beautiful and smart,” Lin Xu said reservedly, looking at the siblings.

Luo Qianqian blinked, ”Uncle, don’t be nervous. We are Mom’s children, yes, but your relationship with Mom is your business.” Seeing both An Zilan and Lin Xu’s expressions change, Luo Qianqian continued with a smile, ”As long as you treat Mom well, we won’t have any objections. My brother and I can live on our own, we can even board at school, and we won’t be a burden to Mom.”

”Qianqian, what are you saying?” An Zilan looked disapprovingly at her daughter.

”Mom, don’t rush, listen to our sincere thoughts,” Luo Qianqian said while pouring juice for the adults at the table, ”We’re not little anymore and understand the significance of today’s meeting. Don’t feel pressured, how my brother and I feel about you won’t change. No matter what happens, you’re still our mom, and we want you to pursue your own happiness. Since you’ve brought Uncle Lin to meet us, it means you approve of him, and we have no objections. But after you’re married, my brother and I will live separately, not with you. On one hand, it won’t disturb your independent space, and on the other hand, by the looks of it, Uncle Lin, you must have been married before, right? Do you have children?”

”Yes, a boy, he’s in his second year of high school,” Lin Xu responded instinctively to Luo Qianqian’s interrogation.

”See, another reason is to avoid causing family conflict and keeping Mom from being caught in the middle, suffering inside and out. Mom won’t make things difficult for your child, and we hope that when your child complains, you’ll investigate thoroughly before blaming anyone. If you let Mom down, we won’t let you off the hook,” Luo Qianqian said, her determined gaze fixed on Lin Xu.

”Rest assured, Uncle will never treat your mom that way,” Lin Xu nodded.

”Then that’s settled. For the wedding matters, you can discuss them with Grandma and Mom; we have no objections.” Luo Qianqian said, holding Luo Shufan’s hand and nodding,

An Zilan was flabbergasted. Were these her children? Had they just given her away to Lin Xu?

”Uncle, thank you. Don’t worry, Uncle will never let your mom down in this lifetime,” Lin Xu said, meeting the siblings’ gazes with unwavering determination in his eyes.