Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 240: Chapter 223: Luo Family Symposium

”Shufan, you should try independent recruitment, that way you have a better chance, even though I’m confident in your grades.” An Zilan looked at her son’s anxious face, ”Look at your brother, he did well, and you can’t afford to lag behind his whole year of hard work.”

Luo Shufan was speechless. He was worried about what to do with his sister, and even if he didn’t consider her, he wouldn’t want to participate in independent recruitment.

”According to mom, it’d be best to also try for an arts exam; passing that would increase your chances even more,” Luo Qianqian chimed in.

”You should listen carefully too, you’ll need this in three years,” An Zilan said sternly, looking at her daughter’s disdainful expression.

Lin Xu, on the other hand, was completely composed, ”You’re just overthinking it. Look at Xiao Hu, after following Xiao Fan’s advice, didn’t he also get admitted? The child has his own ideas, you just watch.”

”Exactly, mom doesn’t even trust brother, haven’t you been missing parent-teacher meetings recently? Brother, you guys must have a parent meeting coming up, right? Hurry up and ask mom to attend, to understand your status,” Luo Qianqian said nonchalantly, her brother wasn’t a little kid anymore, he always performed well and was studious.

He Wenyu and Bai Yizhu were silently eating fruit on the side, not speaking, in front of them was another family’s child dealing with educational advancement issues, but they couldn’t relate at all. Do parents now really encourage their kids like this?

Speaking of which, parent-teacher meetings haven’t been held since summer vacation ended,” An Zilan propped her chin up, ”It’s time for a parent-teacher meeting.”

”How about next Friday?” Luo Shufan touched his nose, ”Mom, you better not go.”

”Is it because you haven’t been studying properly?” An Zilan’s eyes widened upon hearing this, her face full of sternness.

”I’m afraid you might actually suggest to the teacher that I go for the arts exam...” Luo Shufan shook his head, ”Uncle has time, let him go. Isn’t your store busy too?”

Lin Xu looked at Luo Shufan with surprise. He generally didn’t get involved with matters concerning Luo Shufan and Luo Qianqian, fearing the children might resent it.

An Zilan thoughtfully looked at Luo Qianqian, who was smiling cheekily, and shook her head, ”Zhuzi, when is your parent meeting?”

”Wednesday...” Bai Yizhu responded subconsciously, then incredulously looked at An Zilan, then with a mournful face, ”Auntie, you’re not going too, are you?”

”Your brother won’t be there, originally I was thinking of asking your uncle to help out, but since my own son despises me, I’ll have to go myself.” An Zilan replied cheerfully; Bai Yixian entrusting his child to their family was a sign of trust.

”Oh no, good thing my parent meeting starts first,” Bai Yizhu cried with a mournful face, ”Auntie, please go easy on me.”

An Zilan nodded cooperatively, ”At most, let Xiao Yu take a couple of days off, and let Qianqian cook.”

”Mom, that’s a calamity for all four of us!” Luo Shufan paled and waved his hands repeatedly, ”It’s fine if he doesn’t do well, I’ll just double his homework load and not let him sleep until it’s done.”

Bai Yizhu and He Wenyu also nodded repeatedly, their eyes growing more fearful as they looked at Luo Qianqian. Could they dare to eat the cooking of someone who made porridge that sent them running to the bathroom thirteen times in one night?

”Mom, cooking for them is no problem, but I really don’t want to eat my own cooking.” Although she was unhappy with their rejection, she was very aware that her creations were only good for afflicting others.

”At least you’re self-aware,” Luo Shufan shook his head, ”Mom, please talk to the teacher nicely on Zhuzi’s behalf, he’ll work hard.”

Bai Yizhu nodded vigorously; as long as he was not harmed by Luo Qianqian Brand ’delicacies’, he was more than happy to study.

”Mom, don’t worry, Zhuzi is very hardworking, even after we go to bed, he’ll still sit in the kitchen snacking on instant noodles...” Luo Qianqian said earnestly.

”...” Bai Yizhu held his forehead, was that one incident still to be remembered for so long? Wasn’t it just because someone played a prank that day and the rice was undercooked?”

”Let’s go, let’s not disturb the kids studying anymore.” Lin Xu, along with An Zilan, stood up to leave. The four of them walked them to the door, faintly hearing the question ”What to wear for the parent-teacher meeting?” from upstairs, and as soon as they exited the stairwell, the couple headed straight for the mall.

”So, are you still going to hold a parent-teacher meeting for me?” Bai Yizhu slumped onto the couch, and a moment later pulled Luo Shufan back to the room: ”Hurry, hurry, get studying.”

”It’s my first time seeing Zhuzi this passionate about studying,” He Wenyu said with a sigh.

”You think you won’t have passion once your parent-teacher conference is over?” Luo Qianqian casually ate the fruit Lin Xu had brought, ”Don’t forget, this time it’s a joint exam with four schools, including First Middle School.”

He Wenyu immediately slumped his head, looking at Luo Qianqian with a face full of resentment, ”Lend me your brain for two days.”

”Why don’t you just say I should take the test for you?” Luo Qianqian walked away, heading back to her room. Shortly after, He Wenyu followed her, ”Hurry up and work on the papers. My mom will definitely compare me to you again, sigh, is being friends with you a blessing or a curse?”

”How about you eat my meals for a week, and I turn in a blank paper?” Luo Qianqian jokingly suggested.

He Wenyu seriously pondered for a while, then dejectedly flipped open his workbook, ”Compared to death, what’s a test really?”

”Aren’t you afraid I’ll retaliate?” Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes, lying on the bed, watching her brother finish his papers. They were now exchanging completed papers to check each other’s work before comparing answers.

”Stop bothering me, I’m studying,” He Wenyu quietly began working on his papers.

——

”Does this look too old?” Lin Xu held up a dark striped suit, measuring it on himself, looking at An Zilan with hopeful eyes.

”This one is better, it’s casual. Why dress so formally for a parent-teacher meeting?” An Zilan shook her head, holding a beige casual suit, ”Is a parent-teacher meeting something to be so nervous about?”

”When we used to attend Xiao Hu’s parent-teacher meetings, it was always about being criticized. It doesn’t hurt to be a little cautious; Shufan is different, naturally we should care a bit about the image,” Lin Xu said earnestly.

”Then are you going to wear makeup and a bow tie when you go for Qianqian’s meeting?” An Zilan shook her head, ”I have to give a speech at Qianqian’s conference.”

”Ah? There’s a speech too?” Lin Xu’s face showed longing.

”Let’s hurry up and buy it, and don’t forget to buy gifts. If they do well, we should reward them,” An Zilan glanced at a black coat on one side, ”This looks like it would suit Zhuzi well.”

”I think that’s a good idea, shall we also buy clothes for Qianqian, Shufan, and Xiao Yu?” Lin Xu nodded.

”Sure, you hurry and choose, I’ll go pick something for Qianqian and Xiao Yu, and you can see what’s there for Shufan,” An Zilan, bag in hand, headed for the women’s department.

”Hehe, all right.” Lin Xu nodded, not bothering about his own clothes anymore, stopping a salesperson, ”Where is the clothing most popular with teenagers over here?”

”Sir, our section is for formal attire...” the salesperson said with a smile.