Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 268: Chapter 250: First Arrival at Experimental High School

”Qianqian, we’re not in the same class...” He Wenyu pursed her lips, looking at Luo Qianqian with a sense of grievance.

Luo Qianqian surveyed the announcement board. She had been assigned to Class One. In First Middle School, only Gu Yanzhi, Chu Ci, and Qiao Xiyang were in the same class with her, the others were all spread out.

After becoming the Top Scholar in the middle school exams, her brother took her to the Capital City with great joy. While her brother was interning, she stayed at home with the elderly Luo couple until just before school started. It was only then that Luo Shufan took Luo Qianqian back home to wait for the school term to begin. Luo Qianqian’s school year started relatively early, while Luo Shufan’s was later. Bai Yizhu had already gone to report to another school in the Capital City.

Seeing her friend’s reluctance, Luo Qianqian quickly consoled her, ”You’re still okay. You have Li Qi and Pei Yutian. Isn’t Yang Weizhuang all alone? And Pei Yuhao is even worse—he isn’t even in our school.”

He Wenyu sulked, then finally broke into laughter after a long silence, ”I just saw Jiang An and Jiang Qian’s names too, but they’re also not in the same class.”

”Yeah, but Zhang Sheng isn’t here, and neither is Ye Chen. What kind of boys’ school are they attending...” Luo Qianqian also complained.

Despite having gone out together a few times during the holidays, three days earlier, the two had packed their bags and reported to school, a boarding institution of the kind where they might not even come home on weekends. It was baffling to them why their friends had made such a choice.

He Wenyu let out a sigh. Zhao Wenxuan didn’t get into Experimental High School either and went to a vocational school instead, which perplexed He Wenyu. Yet, she couldn’t discuss it with Luo Qianqian, knowing full well that she disapproved of Zhao Wenxuan. Wasn’t it just asking for trouble? Despite being able to attend a regular high school, he chose to go to a vocational school known for its chaos.

”Qianqian, we’re finally in the same class.” Chu Ci said with joy on her face upon reading the class assignment notice: she had finally gotten her wish after three years in junior high.

”Humph, next time there’s a class placement test, I’ll be in the same class as you,” He Wenyu grumbled on the side while Luo Qianqian smiled without a word.

”Luo Qianqian, I’ve long admired your name.” While she was talking with her friend, a girl suddenly appeared beside her, ”We’re in the same class. I’m your classmate Chu Yu, and I look forward to being friends with you.” The girl was straightforward, yet her eyes carried a hint of disdain, especially when she looked at Chu Ci.

”Oh, elder sister, you’re here too. Look at me; I didn’t even notice.” Chu Yu looked at Chu Ci with a brief flash of harshness in her eyes.

Chu Ci stayed silent and lowered her head.

Luo Qianqian paused, recalling a news story from her past life. Father Chu had had an affair during his marriage and, during his wife’s pregnancy, took a mistress. As a result, after giving birth to Chu Ci, Mother Chu died of postpartum hemorrhage. At that time, the mistress was eight months pregnant, and despite his family’s objections, Father Chu insisted on marrying her as the new Lady Chu during his late wife’s mourning period. So, was the Chu Yu in front of her the child of that mistress, now the daughter of the Chu couple?

Luo Qianqian frowned, vaguely remembering some gossip but since her life was now completely different from her past one, she dared not jump to conclusions.

”Hello, classmate Chu Yu,” Luo Qianqian said, pulling Chu Ci’s hand with a light smile.

Hearing Luo Qianqian’s address, both Chu Ci and Chu Yu were taken aback.

”Elder sister’s friend is truly extraordinary,” Chu Yu smiled, clenching her teeth secretly. So shameless; why did Chu Ci, that wretched girl, have to be so well-liked by everyone?

”Ordinary people couldn’t possibly be worthy of being Chu Ci’s friend,” Luo Qianqian said cheerfully as she pulled Chu Ci away, leaving behind a comment: ”After all, birds of a feather flock together.”

”Is Qianqian cursing someone?” He Wenyu whispered to Li Qi, who was standing nearby, as they watched the girl beside Chu Yu primp and preen, giggling quietly.

”Keep it down. What if someone hears us?” Li Qi pulled He Wenyu away from the crowd.

At that moment, Luo Qianqian pulled Chu Ci into a secluded corner and patted her hand: ”It must be tough having a sister like that.”

Chu Ci appeared surprised as she looked at Luo Qianqian, then let out a liberated laugh, ”Indeed. For someone as smart as Qianqian, what can’t you guess?”

Luo Qianqian nodded, ”Don’t mind her. You have us, your friends. Even if we don’t say it, we are your friends and won’t abandon you easily.”

”You’re thinking of abandoning me?” Chu Ci smiled and, after looking up at the sky for a long time, continued, ”Chu Yu is my stepmother’s daughter, a little over a month younger than me. I hate her and my stepmother because of them, I never got to see my mother.”

An idea struck Luo Qianqian, ”Chu Ci, have you ever met your mother’s family?

”No,” Chu Ci shook her head gently. ”I only remember when I was young, an elderly person told me that my maternal grandparents once wanted to take me in, but my father refused.”

”...If you were with your maternal family, everything would have been different,” Luo Qianqian shook her head and then patted Chu Ci on the shoulder. ”If you ever need help, come to me. I’ll be there for you.”

”Thank you,” Chu Ci said with a smile and a nod. She wouldn’t refuse kindness; she would simply be even nicer to Luo Qianqian.

As Luo Qianqian followed Chu Ci into the classroom, her mind was still preoccupied with the earlier incident. The memories of her past life were fading; how could she remember it all clearly?

It wasn’t until after Chu Ci became famous that these old stories were dug up. And then, it seemed... Chu Ci went abroad?

”Qianqian, Qianqian!” Chu Ci suddenly shook the daydreaming Luo Qianqian awake, whispering, ”It’s your turn to introduce yourself.”

”Oh, Luo Qianqian, female, likes to eat.” Luo Qianqian stood up, spoke ten words, then sat down again, ignoring the stunned looks from everyone around her.

Luo Qianqian suddenly felt her heart skip a beat, as if she remembered something but then forgot it in an instant.

Chu Ci frowned at the sight of her friend zoning out. Was she displeased with her?

”Chu Ci, what’s your mother’s name?” Luo Qianqian suddenly asked. She finally remembered the fleeting thought—Chu Ci wasn’t from the city; her family was from the Provincial City!

”Name? I remember seeing it on a medical record once, it seemed to be Li Ge,” Chu Ci thought for a bit and then answered.

Luo Qianqian finally recalled the gossip. The Li Family was most famous in the Provincial City, and the Li Family from there had three sons and one daughter, the daughter having passed away many years ago, named Ge. Luo Qianqian hadn’t expected that Chu Ci’s maternal family was the Provincial City’s Li Family, the future wealthiest family in the province who later moved overseas. Wait, moved overseas?

”Chu Ci, I think I might have stumbled upon a secret. I’ll tell you once I’ve confirmed it,” Luo Qianqian murmured to Chu Ci, taking out her phone to send a message to Luo Xiying, who seemed to know the most people around.

Chu Ci nodded her head, relieved to see that Luo Qianqian was no longer lost in her thoughts.

At that moment, the homeroom teacher was conducting the class officer elections, starting with the self-nomination process.

”I want to be the study committee member,” Chu Yu raised her hand and stood up. ”My grades are among the top of the class, and I am also very willing to help others.” The teacher nodded and made a note under ’study committee member’ on the blackboard.

”What can suppress a study committee member and yet not be tiring?” Luo Qianqian knew just by looking at Chu Yu’s expression that she must be looking for trouble, envious of Chu Ci’s greater excellence.

”You could run for class president, and I’ll be your vice president.” Gu Yanzhi, who was sitting behind Luo Qianqian, suddenly spoke up.

”Ah!” Luo Qianqian got startled, turning back to look at Gu Yanzhi and Qiao Xiyang, who was sharing a desk with him: ”Why are you guys sitting here?”

Chu Ci chuckled lightly. It seemed that the Luo Qianqian who had been so lost in thought hadn’t just been ignoring her; she hadn’t noticed these two either. Chu Ci felt a secret thrill—Luo Qianqian didn’t despise her.

”...I’m really sad that you’ve only just noticed us after sitting there for so long,” Qiao Xiyang sighed. ”How about we team up and take over the study committee? Whatever position she runs for, we’ll contest it.” He had some understanding of Chu Ci’s family background. Although Chu Ci never talked about it, they went to school together and lived in the same neighborhood—how could he know nothing at all?

”Great idea.” Luo Qianqian’s eyes sparkled as she stood up, raising her hand: ”Teacher, I’m the top scholar from the middle school exams, no one in this class has better grades than me, I’m running for study committee member.”

Chu Ci bowed her head in her seat, twitching at the corners of her mouth. How had she never known that Luo Qianqian had such a side to her?

Upon hearing Luo Qianqian’s words, Chu Yu too ground her teeth in displeasure. Luo Qianqian claimed her own academic excellence, and now produced the actual results. It was a direct challenge. She really didn’t know what kind of mind-bewitching drug that little bitch Chu Ci had fed to those guys to have them so protective of her.

”Teacher, I agree with what Luo Qianqian said. We are from the same middle school; I’ve always been ranked second and never first.” There were even times she ranked third, but on those occasions, Luo Qianqian was second, and furthermore, that person later transferred, so it didn’t count. ”If Luo Qianqian is elected, I would truly admire her.”

”I agree too, and just to mention, this year’s top scholar in the science subject for college entrance exams, Luo Shufan, is Luo Qianqian’s biological brother,” Qiao Xiyang quickly added, recalling the smug message Luo Qianqian sent him in the past.

Luo Qianqian’s cheeks flushed instantly. It was supposed to be a competition, so why did it turn into them canvassing for her?

The homeroom teacher’s eyes brightened, and she nodded her head: ”Then it’s decided that Luo Qianqian will be the study committee member. Do well and don’t be arrogant.”

Appointed as a class officer without an election, Luo Qianqian was utterly baffled.