Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 393: Chapter 374: Heart-to-Heart Talk between Mother and Daughter

”Is your brother by your side?” Luo Qianqian reflected for a moment and realized that Grandma hadn’t mentioned going to find her brother to play, and if it really came up, she couldn’t explain it well. Could she still say he went to the bathroom if her mom asked her brother to take the phone?

”No, Brother hasn’t started his holiday yet,” Luo Qianqian explained cheerily.

”When are you coming back? I was thinking the admission letter will arrive in a few days. Which university did you apply to?” An Zilan felt a pang of guilt, the child had taken the college entrance exam, and she hadn’t even known, thinking it was just a simple rebellious phase, never even calling to ask.

”I applied to a university in Capital City.” Luo Qianqian dared not mention that she also needed to arrange a leave of absence, as her mother would surely suspect something.

”I thought so. Don’t trouble your grandparents too much, and if you need money, just tell your mom, she’ll give you some.” An Zilan’s voice carried a hint of joy, ”Uncle Lin made quite a bit from his business, and my store did well too, enough for you to have some fun.”

Luo Qianqian smiled. She probably had more money than her mother did, but she didn’t say this out loud, just murmured a response and then joked, ”Mom, are you not working and just resting at home because Uncle Lin is worried you might trip and hurt the little brother or sister?”

”You think you know everything,” An Zilan immediately became annoyed, ”You don’t even come back. Uncle Lin said it would be best to have a little sister cuter than you, so you’d lose favor. That would make you hurry back.” An Zilan laughed as she said this, full of anticipation for the life in her belly. Before, she wasn’t sure about her daughter’s attitude, but seeing her initiative now, where was there a hint of estrangement?

”How could anyone be cuter than me? I’m the cutest!” Luo Qianqian cried out, but tears couldn’t help falling. She missed her mom so much, but would her mom still laugh like this if she knew about her brother’s situation? She wouldn’t.

”Yes, yes, you’re the cutest. When will you come back? Mom will make you something delicious.”

”When is that.” Luo Qianqian hesitated as she looked at Hu Si, but noticed that everyone in the room was looking at her with a peculiarly sympathetic gaze. Somewhat surprised, she glanced at Hu Si, gestured with a finger, and said, ”In about a month then, it’s rare to have a holiday without any homework, I want to enjoy it.”

Hu Si rolled his eyes. He should have gestured two fingers, but thinking about Luo Qianqian’s personality, she might well have said two weeks.

An Zilan paused for a moment then laughed, ”That’s also true. Last year it was your brother’s college entrance exam, this year it’s yours. Both of you really save me a lot of worries.”

”Hehe, Brother Jiayou also doesn’t cause mom any worries. Just take care of Uncle Lin and the baby in your belly,” Luo Qianqian smiled, then suddenly remembered something: ”Mom, that thing I sent before, did you get it?”

”Oh, those supplements and baby clothes?” An Zilan suddenly realized, she had been wondering who sent them, asking around without finding out and curious enough not to use them, just keeping them at home.

”Yeah, Granny and Aunt prepared them for me. Don’t be polite mom, just use them. I will show my filial respect to them as a return gift,” Luo Qianqian relaxed upon hearing her mom received them.

An Zilan chided, ”Being filial is proper, why mention thanks?”

Luo Qianqian was surprised, ”Mom, are you possessed by an Alien?”

Hearing her daughter’s tone, An Zilan knew what she was thinking; she definitely felt her attitude towards those on the other side was strange: ”No matter what, you are my daughter, and you are also Granny’s granddaughter and Aunt’s niece. That will never change. I might not have a relationship with that side anymore, but you still do.”

It was strange indeed, since marrying Luo Xinyue, An Zilan had never contacted that side before, she knew their attitude too. Yet, today’s phone call unexpectedly changed her impression of them, they weren’t the family she thought they were.

Luo Qianqian understood this, but hearing it from her mother always felt obedient, given that it was her mother’s ex-mother-in-law.

”Mom, you need to keep yourself healthy and have a healthy little brother or sister for me. It doesn’t matter how cute they are, health is very important.” Luo Qianqian said with an older sister’s demeanor; after all, she was an older sister, with two younger female cousins. It’s just that she hadn’t seen them for a long time, not as familiar as in her past life.

”You’ve grown up,” An Zilan remarked with emotion. Her child had grown up, yet she didn’t know when it had happened. Was there anything more self-reproaching for a mother?

”In front of Mom, I’ll always be a child,” Luo Qianqian said with a smile, wiping away tears, ”It seems I need to earn money to buy gifts for my younger siblings.”

”You earning money,” An Zilan chuckled, her voice much lighter than when she had first answered the phone, ”Be careful, don’t run around too much, and don’t get hurt...”

Mom’s nagging was the same old thing, but somehow, as Luo Qianqian listened and wiped her tears, her hand wasn’t enough; it was completely soaked with tears.

Hu Si, unable to stand it any longer, frowned and passed her a piece of clean gauze.

After calming down a bit, Luo Qianqian said, ”I’m not a child anymore. Now, holding an exam admission ticket, I can get discounts everywhere, which is great.”

An Zilan smiled. She was an open-minded parent. Her child was delightful to the heart, and she would not overly inhibit her interests.

”Then you should enjoy yourself. Tomorrow, Mom will ask Uncle to send you some money,” An Zilan said, then laughed again, ”I’m looking forward to you sending me money when you’re eighty.”

Luo Qianqian also laughed. Thirteen years old, the amount of money at each birthday, Mom had actually discovered this purpose.

”No need, Mom, I still have some. I’ll call you when it runs out. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t be shy,” Luo Qianqian said very resolutely, amusing An Zilan.

Hearing the sound of a door opening, Luo Qianqian asked, ”Has Lin Xu come back?”

An Zilan gave an affirmative hum, then heard a deep male voice, ”Mobile phones have radiation. Who are you talking to?”

An Zilan replied, ”Qianqian.”

”Oh?” The next second, Luo Qianqian heard the voice through the phone, ”Qianqian?”

”Uncle Lin,” Luo Qianqian immediately responded.

Recognizing it was indeed Luo Qianqian’s voice, Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief and then asked with warm concern before handing back the mobile to An Zilan. He then entered the kitchen with the groceries he had just bought, humming a tune.

After talking for a while and knowing An Zilan’s phone was about to die, they ended the call. Luo Qianqian used the gauze to carelessly wipe her face and sent a selfie from a previous birthday to her mom. Then, she reverted to her previous demeanor.

The grown-ups watching were stunned. Wasn’t that a bit too quick of a change? Indeed, women were a creature not to be provoked.

”I said a quarter, you changed it to a month. Your demands on yourself won’t be so relaxed,” Hu Si spoke first, although he indeed hadn’t planned on showing mercy. He understood the child’s eagerness to return home, yet his therapy intensity would not be reduced because of it.

”No problem,” Luo Qianqian lifted her face, nothing compared to family. Trying to see her mom sooner made her happy to strive harder.