Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 254: Chapter 237: Distant ’Guest

”Qianqian, didn’t you say you were going to buy a book? How did you end up in the pet section?” He Wenyu, with a puzzled expression, asked, ”You’re not seriously planning to buy a dog and then train it to make money to support the family, are you?”

”How could I... haha.” Watching Luo Qianqian laugh somewhat unnaturally, He Wenyu felt sure about what was on her mind—that was indeed her plan.

”But I don’t really like small dogs; I like the big ones that can protect their owners like a Knight,” Luo Qianqian said wistfully. ”Imagine walking one, nobody would dare to come close; how cool would that be?”

”Are you thinking of getting a wolf instead? Nobody dares to come close? Usually, when you see a large dog out for a walk, you’re the one who approaches them most frequently. You know all the big dogs in our neighborhood,” He Wenyu shook her head. ”But we can’t keep a dog. You used to be keen when you were younger, but once they grow up, you get too lazy to take care of them. How sad would that be for the puppy?”

”What do you think about us opening a pet store someday? Not for treatments, just selling cats, dogs, and pet food and supplies,” Luo Qianqian said, clasping her hands together under her chin in a hopeful expression.

”You said last time you wanted to open a flower shop because then you could bring flowers home every day to decorate the room. And the time before that, you wanted to open a coffee shop called ’Letters to Time.’ You have a new idea every day,” He Wenyu shook her head. At first, she seriously considered it, but then Luo Qianqian would change her mind after a few days, and she realized she was being played—it was like dealing with the most fickle woman.

”Is that so? But I really do want a dog,” Luo Qianqian admitted as she admired the furry creatures in the cages.

”Come on, let’s go. We still have to cook dinner,” He Wenyu shook her head, pulling her trump card: ”I’ll make your favorite chicken wings.”

”Okay.” Luo Qianqian grabbed He Wenyu’s arm and they both turned to leave.

When they arrived at the store, Huang Yueran was not there. A young girl they had asked to watch the shop was at the counter.

”Xiao Yu, Sister Huang was called out by a man to the restaurant across the street,” Xiao Mei pointed at a building across the way. ”He doesn’t look like a good guy; Sister Huang looked really upset.”

He Wenyu was about to head out the door, but Luo Qianqian stopped her and furrowed her brows, ”Let’s check the surveillance to see who it is.”

Concerned about potential dangers, Lin Xu had installed surveillance cameras in An Zilan’s store, and also in Huang Yueran’s, even though the two families didn’t particularly mind such details.

”Qianqian? What are you doing here?” An Zilan was surprised to see her daughter, not having seen her for several days. She quickly pulled her daughter closer to inspect, ”Is your brother picking on you? Wait till I talk to him.”

”Not at all...” Luo Qianqian was speechless. What kind of image did her brother have in her mother’s eyes? ”I just came to pick out glasses with Xiao Yu and we wanted to see who left with you on the surveillance footage.”

”Yueran? You guys handle it, I don’t really understand these things,” An Zilan nodded, a look of worry crossing her face. ”It’s not gangsters, right?”

”If that were the case, Aunt would have called. Mom can definitely hear it. Sister Xiao Mei meant it was someone Aunt knows,” Luo Qianqian watched as He Wenyu deftly operated the computer, bringing up the surveillance feed.

”This is...” He Wenyu’s face changed from shock to anger.

Seeing He Wenyu’s expression, Luo Qianqian quickly leaned forward for a closer look, and she was also surprised. Although his height and build had changed, she could still make out the outline: ”This is He Juncai!”

An Zilan, hearing this unfamiliar name, was stunned for a long moment before realizing, ”Xiao Yu’s uncle’s son from the elder’s family?”

”Why is he here? Looking at his outfit, he seems to have been out for a while. What is he doing?” He Wenyu frowned, pulling out her phone to call their father.

Luo Qianqian replayed the surveillance footage several times, carefully observing. The camera was positioned behind the cash register facing the door; though the image was blurry, it clearly showed He Juncai waiting at the door for a while before entering when there were no customers.

”Is he trying to extort money or what? Why is he avoiding people?” Luo Qianqian’s brow furrowed, her entire face twisted in confusion.

”Mom, is Uncle coming to pick you up and take you home tonight?” Luo Qianqian asked softly, seemingly just concerned about her mother’s daily life.

An Zilan’s face turned slightly red and she nodded, ”Yes, he’s coming to close the shop with me and then we’ll head home together.”

”That’s quite sweet,” Luo Qianqian giggled, ”Then my brother and I can rest easy.”

”You cheeky thing, your mother is old enough not to need your worries. However, SOMETIMES remember to tell your mother, no matter what, I’ll always be your mother,” An Zilan gently flicked Luo Qianqian on the forehead.

”We know. We have enough pocket money and there’s usually nothing to fuss about. It’s just that my brother has become a nag, like a housewife. If I want to go out, I have to provide numbers of everyone I’ll be with,” Luo Qianqian pouted, playfully complaining, ”Brother will definitely be a strict father.”

Zilan An burst out laughing, ”You’re thinking about your brother becoming a dad already, and he’s not even that old?”

”It’s just that my brother treats me like his daughter, not his sister, and although I’m grown up, he nags me every time we go out, acting as if I’ll get lost if he doesn’t come along.” But she patted the wallet in her pocket and chuckled mischievously, ”He certainly doesn’t let my mouth suffer; he always lets me eat the good stuff.”

”Are you saying mom lets your mouth suffer?” Zilan An looked displeased, but when He Wenyu entered, she refrained from saying more, after all, she still wanted to save her daughter some face.

”No...” Luo Qianqian quickly denied, ”Xiao Yu, how is it going?”

”My dad doesn’t know, he said you can’t get through to grandma’s place by phone.” He Wenyu shook his head, looked across the street, ”Let’s go over and check it out; I’m worried.”

”Mom, you stay in the store; we’ll call you if there’s anything.” Seeing that Zilan An also seemed ready to go out, Luo Qianqian quickly stopped her, ”It’s a public place, don’t worry.”

Zilan An thought to herself, how could she not worry? The last time that family came, they nearly drove Xiao Yu’s home to divorce, and this time, who knows what trouble they’ll cause? But she still nodded her head.

Following He Wenyu into the café, Luo Qianqian realized something was not right. He Juncai had his back to them, but Huang Yueran’s face showed she was on the verge of tears—was it fright?

Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu sat down next to the two people, hidden by a partition, so they couldn’t be seen eavesdropping.

”One cappuccino and one milk,” Luo Qianqian ordered, and after the waiter left, the two of them pressed up against the partition behind them like thieves.

He Juncai: ”Thirty thousand, that’s the lowest.”

Huang Yueran: ”No.”

He Juncai: ”He Wenyu is not young anymore, right?”

Upon hearing that, Luo Qianqian suddenly shivered.

Huang Yueran: ”What are you trying to do?”

He Juncai: ”I’m her cousin, it’s not too much to ask for a little help in times of trouble, right?”

Huang Yueran: ”You have your own hands and feet. Can’t you do something by yourself? Your family has already taken enough advantage of ours!”

He Juncai: ”Those were all my dad, my mom, and grandma’s ideas; what could a kid like me do? This is the first time I’m asking.”

Huang Yueran knew well that agreeing this time would lead to a second time and then a recurring cycle, with no end in sight. So she clenched her teeth and firmly refused.

He Juncai: ”Does my uncle know how his sister-in-law is treating his only two nephews? Or does Aunt think that unseen brat is closer to her than her own nephew?”

Only two nephews? Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu were both startled.

The waiter, having set down the drinks, looked at the two strange kids and hurried away, clearly not wanting to mess with the people at the next table.

Huang Yueran: ”You have your own parents, isn’t coming to me a bit too much? Our families have been separated for a long while.”

He Juncai: ”Haha, I’ll come to you again.” Then he drank up the coffee in front of him and turned to leave.

He Wenyu and Luo Qianqian quickly pretended to be ordinary customers, bowing their heads and sipping their coffee.

Just then, Huang Yueran’s phone rang; it was He Jun’s: ”Hello?... What?...” The phone clattered to the floor, and Huang Yueran’s face was incredulous.

All that could be heard from the receiver was: ”Wife? Wife? What’s wrong? Wife?”