Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 316: Chapter 298: The Task Luo Xiying Came For

”With your condition like this, can you still participate in the operation?” Qin Liang looked at Luo Xiying with a face full of disdain, as if to say, ’you point out my flaws, now I’ll detest you. What can you do about it if I don’t let you join?’”

”I didn’t plan to take part anyway. I’m just here to look after my kid.” Luo Xiying wore an air of nonchalance, showing no hint of unwillingness, as the large mug in his hand was quickly drained of more than half its water.

”That’s irresponsible of you!” Qin Liang gritted his teeth, his voice forced out from his throat.

Luo Xiying nodded as if it were only right: ”I am a patient, still on leave. You go for it.”

Bai Yixian joined in from the side, topping up Luo Xiying’s mug with some hot water. Meanwhile, Luo Qianqian sat obediently, eating her little cake and pretending not to hear a thing. She realized it was better not to get involved—clearly, Qin Liang was acquainted with her little uncle.

”Hmph, would you believe if I said I’d take your little niece along for the operation this time?” Qin Liang gnawed at the fruit Luo Xiying had brought all the way, as if he were chewing on Luo Xiying himself.

”I’d welcome that. She’s been here so long, it’s about time she gained some experience. How can she grow up if she spends all her time here, jumping around and matching wits with you?” Luo Xiying spoke carelessly. The upcoming operation wasn’t particularly dangerous, just a few ’little mice’; to veteran ’cats’ like them, it wasn’t much of a challenge.

”I really doubt if she’s your own flesh and blood.” Qin Liang muttered under his breath, glancing over at Luo Qianqian, who continued to eat her cake: ”Your little uncle has already sold you out, and you’re still eating.”

”Even if I’m sold, I still need to eat my fill so I have the strength to move,” Luo Qianqian reasoned. These days, no matter what was served, whether she liked it or not, she would eat her fill. Otherwise, her body couldn’t keep up, and she’d get hungry halfway through training.

Qin Liang looked speechlessly at the three people in the room, all clearly cut from the same cloth—a trio bound to infuriate others without remorse.

”Look at how you’re mistreating my little girl. When was the last time she had something nice to eat?” Luo Xiying looked at Luo Qianqian devouring her cake and felt a pang of distress. Yet, seeing the conditions here, he knew life couldn’t have been that great—she had obviously lost a lot of weight.

”Can you not slander me?” Qin Liang pointed at Luo Qianqian’s clearly rounder face, poking it gently: ”This is mistreatment? She’s the one with the best meals around, insisting on midnight snacks and brain food. I, the platoon leader, have become her chef.”

”Doesn’t that fit your role perfectly? Didn’t you study medicine? Not using those skills would be a waste of your medical degree. Nutritional balance and all that is a breeze for you. I feel very assured leaving my child in your hands.” Luo Xiying turned his head away, not wanting to see Qin Liang’s darkened expression. To use a platoon leader as a doctor, a nutritionist, a chef—who else has such treatment?

”Boss is that amazing?” Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had thought Qin Liang was self-taught, especially since the bandage he had wrapped for Bai Yixian was so unsightly it was painful to watch.

Qin Liang felt wronged. Did your family medicine even teach you how to bandage? Is that not what nurses are for?

”That’s right, let me tell you...” Luo Xiying was about to gossip with his niece, when Qin Liang’s voice, enraged and embarrassed, interrupted him.

”Did you finish your assignment today? No playing around; if you dawdle, there will be no dinner for you tonight!”

Luo Qianqian stuck out her tongue and fell silent. She needed to be disciplined, otherwise she would slack off; without being kept in check, she would never study. In no time, she polished off the cake in the box, wiped her hands clean, obediently picked up a pen, put on her headphones, and started working on her assignment to the sound of English, not daring to bother her little uncle again.

”Hey, bullying my niece right in front of me,” Luo Xiying said with a chuckle, even though the little girl had actually gone off to do as she was told.

”Alright, tell me, what are you thinking? Just under ten people? Are you sure?” Qin Liang pointed at the envelope on the table, clearly not worried about Luo Qianqian overhearing, since Bai Yixian wasn’t even within the range of his precautions.

”What do you mean, am I sure? Shouldn’t it be your job to confirm this? I’m just here to deliver a message...”

”Keep pretending,” Qin Liang rolled his eyes. Dragging such a body into this kind of environment, was it really just to check on Luo Qianqian? Why go through such trouble? After all, in two months the child would have to go back for her final exams and physical, and then again in another two months for more tests.

Luo Xiying regained her composure and said to Bai Yixian, ”Go stand guard outside.”

Qin Liang also put on a serious face. Was it necessary to stand guard?

”My brother suspects it’s not just smuggling. If it were purely smuggling, it shouldn’t be that after so long stationed here you haven’t heard a whisper, so...” Luo Xiying didn’t finish her sentence verbally but made a mouth shape instead.

Qin Liang looked stunned, ”How is that possible?” He’d been here so long, with just these few people, he could name each one; how could there be... an Insider?

”Believe it or not, it’s up to you. It’s your choice whether to strike directly at their lair or to play the long game and catch the big fish.” Luo Xiying seemed indifferent. She was well aware that her niece was here just for experience, skilled at her craft, and wouldn’t be staying long. If anyone were to be targeted, it certainly wouldn’t be her.

”I will have someone check into it. Where are you staying?” Qin Liang rested his chin in his hand, his eyes turning stern. If such a person really existed! His gaze turned icy. He would make sure they had no place to rest in death!

”You don’t have a place to stay yet?” Luo Xiying rolled her eyes. ”It’s too conspicuous for me to come and go often, and with my health being poor, I might get kidnapped and held hostage...”

”Pfft...” Before she could finish, she was mercilessly mocked by her own little niece.

Noticing the gazes of the two, Luo Qianqian covered her mouth, quietly working on her homework and turning up the volume on her Walkman a little.

Luo Xiying shook her head helplessly, not finishing what she started to say earlier, and looked to Qin Liang. ”Arrange a place for me to stay.”

”Okay, how long is your leave?” Qin Liang nodded. There was no shortage of space around here; he could even arrange for someone to stay without being detected by others.

”Till I’m well,” Luo Xiying rolled her eyes again. Could she continue with missions in such ill health? Health is a revolutionary’s capital, you know?

”Fine, I guess you won’t be getting well too quickly. When you go back to Capital City, keep an eye on my sister for me. I heard from my brother that she seems to be getting attention from the Han Family,” Qin Liang said with an expression of disdain. ”Being too good-looking is also a crime.”

”Are you praising yourself?” Luo Xiying rolled her eyes again. ”Pay attention to the earlier issue so you don’t drag my child into it.”

Qin Liang nodded, slipped the letter into one of the textbooks Luo Qianqian was using. Since Luo Qianqian started studying here, most of the books have turned into high school mandatory subjects. The rare couple that weren’t textbooks were on medical knowledge. The company commander’s office had been turned into a study room, even a library, of course with a very limited selection of books.