Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 302: Chapter 284: Is it Still a Trip if Nothing Happens?

”Little girl,” said a woman bunking above, who watched Luo Qianqian and Chang Xi chatting happily with plenty of snacks, and approached them to strike up a conversation.

Luo Qianqian was taken aback, and so was Chang Xi. Who was she calling?

”Little girl, you see, I’m holding a child, and it’s not convenient for me to sleep on the upper bunk...” The middle-aged woman gestured towards the child sleeping on a small chair in the aisle, about to say something when Luo Qianqian interrupted her.

”We are together, I’m sorry.” Even if they weren’t together, Luo Qianqian wouldn’t want to switch. The child was clearly seven or eight years old; what more could he need? Even if they hadn’t bought the tickets themselves, there was a price difference, and it seemed that lower bunks were still available: ”There’s an empty lower bunk over there. You can probably swap if you pay a little extra,” she pointed to the empty berth.

”You, young lady, trading places won’t disturb your chat. It’s just that the child of the auntie is still young.” The middle-aged woman continued.

Luo Qianqian chuckled lightly, ”I am young too, I’m a girl, and climbing up and down will worry my parents who aren’t by my side. That’s why they bought us lower bunks. Surely you wouldn’t bully us just because there’s no elder nearby?” Luo Qianqian pointed at her dress. Although she wore pants underneath, she wouldn’t tell that to the woman who was obviously trying to take advantage.

”Xiao Meng, come, you trade with me, and then I trade with you. It’s not my fault if this sleeping berth collapses and kills someone.” Chang Xi, who had also realized that Ye Meng was being bullied because of her age, interjected with a smile, ”Xiao Meng is young and honest, which is exactly why they don’t feel secure and let us come out together.”

The middle-aged woman was at a loss for words, glaring fiercely at Luo Qianqian. She kicked the kid she claimed was very young, waking the seven or eight-year-old boy: ”Sleep, sleep, sleep, that’s all you know. You’re sleeping as soon as we get on the train, were you deprived of sleep at home?”

Luo Qianqian and Chang Xi did not want to get involved with the clearly vexed woman’s performance, quietly munching snacks on the side: ”When do you think we’ll be able to get back?” Luo Qianqian took out the roasted duck that Xu Tianyi had bought especially for her and said with a grin, ”We can still get full without boxed meals.”

”This is greasy, forget it. I’ll take it for my brother to eat,” said Chang Xi, not standing on ceremony with Luo Qianqian. They had gotten along extremely well these past few days, and there was no need for any politeness between them.

”That’s true. My brother even packed a bunch of hand warmers for me.” With Chang Xi, Luo Qianqian would still call Ye Liang ”brother,” even though she really wanted to call him ”uncle.”

”You’ve got it good. My mom even packed a down jacket. Is it really that cold after the New Year?” Chang Xi grimaced.

Before Luo Qianqian had a chance to reply, she was startled by the sound of a boy crying. Turning to look, she saw the boy just kicked awake by the middle-aged woman, crying loudly at the sight of the snacks held by Luo Qianqian and Chang Xi, while the woman gazed out the window.

Luo Qianqian raised an eyebrow. Was this orchestrated by the middle-aged woman, or...?

But she shook her head at Chang Xi, who wasn’t fond of children in the first place and had turned her head away to continue, ”I wonder if my brother will get even tanner. He scared me with how dark he was when I saw him last year.”

”I also got quite tan after military training.” Definitely tanned a lot, but it was nothing compared to others.

”What’s all this crying about!” Seeing that the two girls were completely ignoring her, the middle-aged woman grew furious and kicked again, ”All you do is cry all day. I should sell you off!”

”I’m hungry!!!” Observing the boy’s attire, which was just average long sleeves, no different from many others on the train who mostly wore short sleeves. After all, it was only September; how cold could it be?

”Endure it!” Seeing that the two girls had no intention of sharing their snacks, ”This isn’t home. You’re hungry, but why should anyone give you food? We’re strangers to you. If you want to eat, go ask for it yourself!”

Luo Qianqian smiled and continued to quietly eat her cookies, ”You know, if we were at home, I wouldn’t spare such expensive things for others to eat. But Auntie, you are so generous, bringing it all with you.”

Chang Xi laughed softly, ”Why are you being polite with me? We’re practically family in the future.”

Luo Qianqian covered her mouth. After a few days of interaction, Chang Xi seemed even more resolute in obtaining Ye Liang. Whether this was good or bad, who knew?

The little boy shivered and stood in front of Luo Qianqian: ”Big sister, I’m hungry...”

Luo Qianqian handed him a biscuit, smiling softly, ”There are snacks for sale on the train. I’m giving this to you because of fate. Not giving would be proper. If you want to eat, ask your family, not rely on others’ charity. As a man, you should have some self-respect and not just follow what others say. Don’t be too naive.”

Chang Xi covered her mouth and chuckled, ”Right, exploiting someone just because they seem easy to bully? Can’t money buy anything? Must we be criticized if we don’t give? What kind of logic is that? If you’re capable, buy it yourself. Do you really think that shedding a couple of tears makes you part of a vulnerable group? Is everyone’s money just blown in by the wind?”

The middle-aged woman watched the little boy finish the biscuit, eyes hopeful, then slapped him to the ground with a slap: ”Eat, eat, eat, haven’t you heard what they’re saying about your dad and mom?”

Luo Qianqian stepped aside but bumped into her suitcase. She spoke softly, ”Educate your child at home. Don’t disturb others here. If you damage my things, you will have to compensate me for the original price.” Luo Qianqian looked indifferently at her suitcase, the cell phone, wallet, and snacks on the bed.

The middle-aged woman paused, and Chang Xi followed up, ”Who are you performing for? Not even sparing your child face; I really wonder if he’s your own child.”

After hearing Chang Xi’s words, Luo Qianqian noticed the middle-aged woman’s face change color several times. Frowning, she thought this matter was not as simple as it seemed.

”Auntie is taking me to find my dad and mom. She’s a good person.” The little boy clutched the woman’s sleeve, ”It’s my fault for not behaving. Don’t be mad, auntie.”

What? Auntie? Not his real mom? Chang Xi was confused. How could she dare to hit a child that’s not hers? Wasn’t she afraid the real parents would come looking?

”Little brother, where have your dad and mom gone? Why is this auntie taking you to find them?” Luo Qianqian’s eyes darkened slightly, but she asked gently on the surface.

”Dad and mom went to the South...”

”Xiao Qiang!” The middle-aged woman interrupted the little boy, her face tense with anxiety.

Luo Qianqian felt a chill in her heart; indeed, it was not a simple matter; they were on the road to the North.

”South? But this train is heading North,” Chang Xi frowned.

”We have to change trains,” the middle-aged woman hurriedly explained with a smile, tugging at the little boy, ”Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go get something to eat.” She then hurriedly walked away with the little boy.

”Change trains? This is Capital City. Isn’t every train routed through here?” Chang Xi furrowed her brows, looking at Luo Qianqian: ”Why do I feel like there’s something complicated going on?”

Luo Qianqian smiled, ”Officer Di has a point.”

Luo Qianqian very directly took her cell phone and waited to take a photo of the two people.

However, in a short while, the middle-aged woman returned, holding another child, but the little boy was nowhere to be seen.

Before Chang Xi and Luo Qianqian could ask anything, she said directly, ”This is my youngest son. He fell asleep; it was inconvenient for his dad to hold him in the hard seat area.”