Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 169: Chapter 158: Promise Under the Stars

”There’s a 10 kilometer weighted cross-country tonight; you guys prepare,” Luo Yanhai spoke softly to the siblings Luo Shufan and Luo Qianqian after dinner.

”Bro, isn’t this kind of like cheating?” blinked Luo Qianqian. ”You know, insider information.”

”If I catch any fish tonight, I’ll grill it for you,” Luo Yanhai, who knew his sister’s temperament well, rubbed Luo Qianqian’s head. ”But don’t tell anyone, okay?”

”Okay,” Luo Qianqian squinted. After several days of training, Luo Qianqian knew exactly how many clothes to wear, but considering it was nighttime, she still packed a sweater just in case. After all, it gets very cold in the north without heating—it’s like continuous bleeding from physical damage, even more so at night.

”Don’t bring anything unnecessary; this is training, not a leisure trip,” Luo Shufan knew his sister all too well. Watching her pout, he knew exactly what she was up to.

”Just don’t get caught,” winked Luo Yanhai, pulling out two hand warmers. ”Rub them and stick them on your clothes to keep the cold away.”

Luo Qianqian’s lips twitched. Weren’t these essential for girls? Had they become popular in the military now?

Luo Qianqian lay on her bed, her belongings already packed—personally by Luo Yanhai, because even Luo Shufan couldn’t stand the way Luo Qianqian folded her blanket.

After these days of interaction, Luo Qianqian had gained a new understanding of soldiers. In her past life, soldiers were just those who joined the army, only seen during earthquakes or fire rescue operations, usually living off taxpayer money and enjoying national benefits. Now, with conflicts rare and soldiers rarely on the battlefield, she’d realized that soldiers were just ordinary people, a group of passionate young individuals who weren’t idle but constantly trained to maintain their physical strength to deal with emergencies. With this new understanding, Luo Qianqian held immense admiration for her military grandfather, uncles, and the three brothers who had joined the army. Even though the three brothers might have chosen the military because of family traditions, one couldn’t deny that they looked dazzling in their uniforms. Even Luo Shufan had fallen in love with the military green. During the days of training, his admiration for his eldest brother had become unstoppable like rushing river waters.

Thinking of another young man who was in the military camp yet couldn’t meet due to distance, Luo Qianqian’s lips curled into a smile. That frail boy would surely grow enough to stand on his own in the military environment, wouldn’t he? She wondered if she would recognize him when they met again.

The assembly horn sounded. Luo Qianqian was not in a hurry since she hadn’t even changed out of her clothes and no one would check her dormitory. Faking compliance also required some common sense; she would wait until the footsteps outside became more frequent to blend in without arousing suspicion.

”Qianqian,” Luo Shufan waited at the door for Luo Qianqian, worried that his sister might rush out in excitement. Thankfully, she wasn’t too foolish, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing her brother, Luo Qianqian instantly knew why he was standing there. She pursed her lips and followed him to catch up with the main group.

Listening to the roll call and then setting off, everything was completed in a few breaths. Luo Qianqian, benefiting from the inside information, kept up without being the last to exit, but she wasn’t the slowest either, completing the exercise within three minutes. Luo Qianqian knew that these people didn’t have insider information; they managed purely on their own abilities, and she couldn’t help but feel impressed.

”Not bad, pretty fast; if you can’t carry it, just say so,” Class Three’s leader commented as he slowed down to run beside Luo Qianqian. As for Luo Shufan, everyone was completely confident in him. His performance in all the exercises was not much different; if he fell behind one day, he would catch up the next. His rapid progress had even earned him high praise from Luo Yanhai.

”Yes,” Luo Qianqian flashed a smile, secretly thanking Luo Yanhai inside. If it weren’t for the insider info, she might not even have gotten up yet, maybe even still in bed by the time others returned.

Huffing and puffing after running two kilometers, Luo Qianqian could barely move her legs. Seeing her slowing down, Luo Shufan immediately slowed down to stay by her side, and Wang Zhi also took over Luo Qianqian’s gear, sticking close by her side.

”Adjust your breathing, keep up. This isn’t the training field; if you fall behind here, you’re on your own. You never know when a grey wolf or big black bear might show up, and no one will be there to save you,” advised Wang Zhi, his breathing even, showing no sign of fatigue. After all, he was used to running five kilometers every morning.

”Huff... Lying... they’re... all... hibernating... huff...” Luo Qianqian gasped, her face turning red and her voice hoarse as her legs grew weak.

As if responding to her words, a howling sound came from the snow-covered woods, startling Luo Qianqian into sticking close to Wang Zhi. Why not stay with Luo Shufan? She feared her brother was too frail to fight off a wolf.

Luo Shufan shook his head and followed his sister, staying close. Supporting her was his duty as an older brother.

Half-running, half-walking, and even being carried for a bit, Luo Qianqian finally reached the destination with the help of others. She sighed with relief, just about to sit down when Wang Zhi picked her up, ”Keep walking a bit more until your breathing evens out before you rest.”

Seeing no one else sitting down, Luo Qianqian knew it was for her own good. Holding back a grimace, she dragged her weakened legs, staggering slightly.

”Not bad at all,” Luo Yanhao once again came up beside Luo Qianqian. ”I thought you’d cry halfway through.”

”You’re the one crying, big brother,” Luo Qianqian glared at Luo Yanhao. ”Aren’t you afraid big brother will give you trouble for chatting idly?”

”He went hunting for you,” Luo Yanhao pouted. ”I came because I was worried you’d be bored. Are you hungry? Big brother isn’t that petty, nor will he hold a grudge. You think too much, little sister.”

Luo Qianqian shook her head. ”All this way just to hunt in the middle of the night? It’s so cold.” She hadn’t felt the wind’s chill while running, but now that she had stopped, its biting force was all too apparent as she tucked in her neck and tightened her clothes.

”Of course not, I’m here for you, late at night,” Luo Yanhao acknowledged Class Three’s leader with a nod and led Luo Qianqian away.

”Where are you going?” Luo Qianqian really didn’t want to take another step; she was just too tired.

Luo Yanhao looked at the not-so-tall figure ahead, ”Isn’t it because school is about to start? He wants to see you.” He said, tilting his chin forward.

Luo Qianqian looked ahead and recognized the figure...

”Scholar God?” Luo Qianqian, ignoring her sore legs, rushed toward the boy with joy.

”Truly a girl can’t be kept at home.” Luo Yanhao shook his head, turned to the side, and looked up at the starry sky. He had no regrets about abusing his power for such an arrangement. After all, arranging any training was within his rights as a brother. The only thing was making a phone call to ask other districts for cooperation, which was purely a matter of relationships.

”Qianqian.” Xu Tianyi looked at the girl before him, his face tired but smiling, a pang of heartache hitting him, ”I’m sorry about Xu Xiaoxiao’s matter.”

Luo Qianqian blinked, ”What is your relationship with Xu Xiaoxiao?”

”No relationship,” Xu Tianyi was stunned at first, but soon understood the meaning behind Luo Qianqian’s words. He smiled gently, placed his hand on Luo Qianqian’s head, and gave it a rub, ”You’ve been wronged.”

Luo Qianqian showed her little tiger teeth, ”I didn’t suffer a loss.”

”Study hard when you go back,” Xu Tianyi and Luo Qianqian tacitly didn’t mention why Xu Tianyi appeared there. Xu Tianyi, acting like an elder, spoke to Luo Qianqian.

”My grades are pretty good.” Luo Qianqian pouted, dissatisfied with Xu Tianyi’s words. Except for not matching up to you, the living ’Scholar God,’ she wasn’t afraid of middle school textbooks.

”Which university do you want to go to? What do you want to do in the future?” Xu Tianyi asked softly, taking a piece of milk candy from his pocket, unwrapping it, and putting it in Luo Qianqian’s mouth, ”No chocolate here, let’s make do with this.”

”I want to go to the best university in Huaxia.” Luo Qianqian squinted and smiled like a little fox, ”I want to be the most beautiful bride.”

”...Okay.” Xu Tianyi nodded seriously.

Luo Qianqian was at a loss for words; she was joking, so why was he nodding so seriously?

”Will you wait for me?” Xu Tianyi stared intently at Luo Qianqian’s shining eyes. In the dark night, both pairs of eyes reflected a faint light.

Luo Qianqian was stunned for a moment, ”I will.”

Xu Tianyi hugged Luo Qianqian tightly, ”Trust me, wait for me.” Then he turned and left.

”What was that about?” Luo Qianqian, unable to see Xu Tianyi’s figure anymore, stood there dumbfounded. Her mind felt muddy, as if her left brain was filled with water and her right with flour, turning into a paste with any movement.

A promise for a lifetime? Luo Qianqian blinked confusedly, the road ahead barely lit by a dim light, no longer able to see that figure.

”What happened?” Luo Yanhai appeared beside Luo Yanhao with the fish he had caught, ”Why is Qianqian standing there looking silly?”

”The Xu family’s kid just left; I didn’t dare to watch the details,” Luo Yanhao spread his hands, ”Probably said something she’s not processing yet?”

”Aren’t you afraid he might be bullying Qianqian?” Luo Yanhai handed the pole to Luo Yanhao, ”I’ll go check.”

”Qianqian?” Luo Yanhai tentatively called out to Luo Qianqian.

”Big brother, soldiers can be trusted, right?” Luo Qianqian didn’t turn around, but her voice carried back.

”Of course.” Luo Yanhai answered instinctively.

Well, Xu Tianyi, I’ll wait for you then. Considering you’re still young. Luo Qianqian watched the starry sky, her little tiger teeth showing, her gaze deep and longing as she looked toward the sky.