Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 292: Chapter 274: Deliberate Pettiness

Luo Qianqian had made up her mind and wouldn’t allow anyone to change her decision. Once she had decided to do something, it wasn’t something that could be changed with just a few words, even if the person speaking was someone she valued, even if to others the matter seemed like giving up watermelons to pick up sesame seeds. As long as she deemed it worthwhile, it was worth it.

”Luo Qianqian, once you assume this identity, you won’t be able to contact your family during this period. Any slip could cause trouble,” Wild Wolf said after thinking for a moment.

Luo Qianqian frowned, took out her phone, and looked at the home numbers saved in her contacts, hesitating for a moment: ”Then how should I contact Mom? She’ll worry if I don’t get in touch for a long time.”

”You can’t contact her. You wouldn’t want your mom to become a target, would you?” Wild Wolf still shook his head resolutely.

”I’ll think about it.”

”Okay.” Wild Wolf returned to his room, taking the other two people with him, leaving only Luo Qianqian and Xu Tianyi in the vast living room.

”What do you think I should do?” Luo Qianqian looked at Xu Tianyi, her expression bitter: ”On one hand, I have my family, who love me deeply, and my mom, who, even though she has her own little family, will be alright without me for a while. On the other hand, there’s my brother, who I don’t know what kind of situation he’s in—he could be beaten or tormented by others. I don’t want to let go of either side. Xu Tianyi, if you were me, how would you choose?” She plopped down on the sofa, her eyes full of bewilderment.

Xu Tianyi patted Luo Qianqian on the head and sat next to her: ”Do whatever you want to do, follow your heart. Your brother and mom wouldn’t blame you if they knew the truth, because you are their sister, their daughter, you’re family. But if it were me, I would choose the option that causes the least harm to everyone, not just one person, but everyone. And where I wouldn’t suffer much harm either.”

The least harm, huh? Mom and brother wouldn’t blame me, would they? Is that how it is? If so, she would still choose her brother. The terror of the unknown was far greater. Despite her mother’s anger being more approachable, the unknown dangers seemed more frightening because they were unknown. For the known, even if fearsome, one would find a way to avoid and probe until the best solution was found.

After musing for a moment, Luo Qianqian made up her mind and immediately called An Zilan.

”Mom...”

”Qianqian? Has your brother returned?” An Zilan was surprised that her daughter would call at this hour. School was about to start, and according to her daughter’s character, she should be sound asleep to rest up, right?

”Mom, Brother called last night and said he got the qualification to study abroad in M country, so he’s leaving. I came to see him off. He just left a while ago to go through the procedures. By the way, Mom, can I transfer to Capital City for school? The educational standards are different. Our grandparents offered to let me stay with them and be a registered borrower for three years, then return before the college entrance exam,” Luo Qianqian brewed her emotions, then racked her brain for a way to make this lie seem believable.

”What?” An Zilan was so startled by her daughter’s words that she was practically ’shocked into sitting up from a deathbed illness.’ So sudden? Why was she, the mother, completely unaware?

”I said I want to study at Grandpa’s house in the Capital City because the educational environment there is a bit better,” Luo Qianqian hesitated for a moment before repeating, sensing her mother’s anger but knowing this wasn’t the time to be soft-hearted.

”Luo Qianqian, your brother is going abroad without even saying a word to me, his mother. If you’re not here either, do you not want your mother anymore?” An Zilan’s voice, tinged with grievance, came through the phone, and one could tell from her tone that she was already in tears.

”Mom, my brother is an adult now, he knows what he’s doing, so there’s no need to worry. As for me, doesn’t Mom want her daughter to soar like a phoenix? Don’t you want me to excel? My current level isn’t such that you’d look at me the way you did when Brother got his acceptance letter, right? Mom, both my brother and I know what we want, so please stop worrying unnecessarily, okay?” Luo Qianqian had been planning to have a big fight and run away to her grandfather’s house to finish it off, but her mother didn’t react as Luo Qianqian had expected. Instead of having a big fight, she opted for a tearful strategy, which Luo Qianqian couldn’t withstand, because her mom’s tears were among the three things Luo Qianqian feared most: ”Mom, you still have Uncle Lin, and there will be children from you and Uncle Lin too, so please let my brother and me do what we want to do? I want to make you proud just like my brother did.”

”You’re already Mom’s pride. Even if you do a bit worse later on, it’s still okay. But Mom doesn’t understand, why do you and your brother have to leave? Your brother was also attending university in another city. There’s no difference between studying domestically or abroad. But you’re different. Even though we didn’t live together, I could still visit you at home whenever I missed you. If you’re in the Capital City, how will I see you?” An Zilan explained with great sorrow.

Luo Qianqian was at a loss for words, and after a long pause finally said, ”Mom, even if I’m in the Capital City, you can come visit me whenever you want.”

An Zilan choked up, ”Plane tickets, time, and I have to watch the store. How could I find so much time to visit you whenever I want?”

”Mom, please, I beg you, Qianqian isn’t against you guys having a little brother or sister, but Mom, I must stay. I have to stay.” After saying that, tears started to fall, fortunately, the call had already been hung up at the other end.

”Mom is angry now,” Luo Qianqian said with a smile, ”This is good, now she won’t contact me.”

”You still have a bunch of friends,” Xu Tianyi chipped in.

”Yes, Xiao Yu and Chu Ci already know a bit about it. It’s impossible to keep it a secret from everyone. Just tell them I’ve decided to study here, and for the others, make up an excuse, saying that Grandpa insisted I study in the Capital City because he feared I wouldn’t study diligently at home or something,” Luo Qianqian tilted her head, looking at Xu Tianyi, ”From now on, my family, my friends, they’re all in your care.” Luo Qianqian looked at Xu Tianyi very seriously, stood straight, and bowed deeply to him, ”When I return, I will reward you with my hand in marriage.”

”Actually, I’d really like to go with you,” Xu Tianyi pursed his lips, looking at the suddenly matured girl in front of him, he muttered softly, ”It’s just that I’m afraid they won’t believe what I say and will still insist on contacting you.”

Xu Tianyi arched an eyebrow, watching as Luo Qianqian furrowed her brows and began to send a message: ”Dear Xiao Yu (Chu Ci, Gu Yanzhi, Qiao Xiyang, Yang Weizhuang, Pei Yutian, Pei Yuhao, Li Qi, Zhang Jingjing, Jiang An, Jiang Qian, Ye Chen, Zhang Sheng, Tang Chen,)

I’ve decided to study in the Capital City, and I do not know when I’ll return. Goodbye, I will always remember you all. For details, ask Xu Tianyi.”

”Are you delegating full responsibility to me?” Xu Tianyi’s mouth twitched, looking at Luo Qianqian with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, ”I’ll cover for you for a year, but then I have to get busy with my own stuff. I can’t let you pull me too far behind.”