Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 425: Chapter 405: Little Fireworks

After the meal, Luo Qianqian indeed received quite a few gifts. Because of Qianqian’s request and An Zilan’s health, the family didn’t hold an educational celebration, particularly since they had just had one last year. Feeling it was too ostentatious, Zilan agreed with her daughter’s opinion, and not even the elders mentioned it.

Watching Zhao Wenxuan take He Wenyu home, Lin Jiayou decided not to follow. Turning to Luo Qianqian, he asked, ”Shall we buy some fireworks to set off?”

”Are they available for sale now?” Luo Qianqian nodded repeatedly, always envious of the firework displays in the anime events of Dwarf Country in the summertime, bursting with various types of small fireworks.

Lin Jiayou nodded and smiled, ”Others may not be able to get them, but I, your brother...” Seeing Luo Qianqian’s expectant and admiring look, he spoke contentedly, ”Of course, I have my ways. You two go buy some snacks, and we’ll get in touch by phone later.” Having said that, Lin Jiayou patted his bottom and left.

It turns out, this was the first time that day Luo Qianqian and Xu Tianyi were alone together; there always had been other people around before.

The two sat on a bench on one side of the park, looking up at the sky.

”Actually, you don’t have to try to keep up with me,” Xu Tianyi suddenly said, not knowing why he thought to bring it up.

Luo Qianqian looked at him, puzzled.

”Because I will wait for you.” If you don’t come to me, I will come to you. Xu Tianyi pointed to the sky, ”You see that star is Vega, also called Lyra alpha, the brightest star in the Lyra constellation and the second-brightest star in the northern hemisphere, the fifth-brightest star in the night sky.” Then he pointed in another direction, ”That’s Altair, also known as Aquila alpha, part of the Summer Triangle, the twelfth-brightest star in the night sky. What do you think?”

Luo Qianqian was startled, gazing at the starry sky. Then, she sneakily glanced at Xu Tianyi, who was looking up, and said in a daze, ”You seem to be so knowledgeable; you know everything.”

Xu Tianyi was both irritated and amused, looking at the girl who was looking at him, ”Not that.”

Luo Qianqian turned her head towards the sky, her cheeks coloring slightly, ”Vega and Altair can’t cross the Milky Way to meet? Are stars not just stones? So, are these the legendary Waiting-for-Husband Stone and Waiting-for-Wife Stone?”

Xu Tianyi didn’t know what to say, glancing at the earnest-faced Luo Qianqian, then continuing to look at the sky, ”They were connected due to their brightness, not because they shone brightly due to their legend.”

”That doesn’t make sense either,” Luo Qianqian pouted, looking at the night sky, ”Stars have been around much longer than the myths. I mean, the stars wouldn’t know about the roles these boring extraterrestrial beings have given them, right?”

Xu Tianyi sighed, deciding to lay it out plainly, ”What I mean is you’re already dazzling, you don’t have to change for me. I like you as you are; you don’t need to follow in my footsteps. If you can’t keep up, I’ll wait for you, I will protect you as you grow.”

Luo Qianqian blushed as she listened to Xu Tianyi, the corners of her mouth lifting, ”You believe that stuff you tell others? Why would I follow in your footsteps? I’m not going abroad.” As they spoke, the mood shifted from romantic to serious. Indeed, what lay ahead of them would soon become a journey of a thousand miles.

Xu Tianyi was silent for a moment, then drew Luo Qianqian into his arms, embracing her, ”Trust me, wait for me,” liking you, waiting for you, ”okay?”

Luo Qianqian didn’t struggle but obediently leaned her head against Xu Tianyi’s chest, murmuring, ”Okay.” Feeling each other’s heartbeat, the two embraced under the streetlamp.

It wasn’t until Lin Jiayou’s call came through that Luo Qianqian, her face flushed, pushed Xu Tianyi away and answered the phone, giving the location.

Xu Tianyi touched his heart, watching the girl on the phone with a tender smile on his face.

Luo Qianqian was not a teenager anymore, she knew she had set her heart on this seemingly mature little brat. Her mental age was twenty, didn’t she view Xu Tianyi as a little brat? But she couldn’t be sure Xu Tianyi would remain true to his heart. Fortunately, they had met early. In five years’ time, she would be in the prime of her life and it would still be early enough to give up on him if he did.

Luo Qianqian had never thought about whether she would still feel so deeply for someone after they parted. Maybe she had been back for too long and had completely forgotten her past life’s preferences. Now, she only liked the boy in front of her.

Xu Tianyi had never thought about separation. Accustomed to living through life-or-death situations since childhood, once he was committed to someone, he would never let go, especially when that person was all he ever yearned for.

Lin Jiayou brought back a whole box of small fireworks. The park was large enough, and funny enough, all the nearby residents had gone to the newly built park, leaving this one almost deserted, so they could play without worries.

Lin Jiayou lit a candle and set it aside, then borrowed a bucket and filled it halfway with water from the park restroom, setting it aside as well.

Clutching a small sparkler, Luo Qianqian cautiously lit it and watched in surprise and delight as the sparkler suddenly brightened. She waved the sparkler around, hopping and skipping joyfully around the two of them.

She had never played like this in either of her lives and was exceedingly happy.

Watching Luo Qianqian like this, Lin Jiayou felt that this should be the expression of a carefree teenager full of innocence.

Xu Tianyi watched with a smile as Luo Qianqian seemed to transform into someone else, his face also lighting up with a smile. Neither of them moved; the fireworks seemed plenty but were actually not that much, and there were a few large ones he feared Luo Qianqian might hesitate to handle later.

The first sparkler quickly burned out, and Luo Qianqian happily lit another one. Then she dug out one of the big ones from the box—it was clear it couldn’t be lit with a candle—and handed it to her brother and Xu Tianyi, standing obediently aside.

Lin Jiayou lit the firework with a lighter, and like a fountain, it suddenly burst forth with countless sparkles and shifting colors, casting youthful hues on the faces of the trio.

While playing, she didn’t forget to have the two take a couple of pictures to show off to He Wenyu and Qin Nuan. Looking at the small face on the screen, barely made out even with the sparkler’s light, Xu Tianyi’s eyes softened. How could he forget? No matter how much she’d experienced, she was still a child at heart, fond of the same things that children like?

Once the fireworks were done, Luo Qianqian’s face still glowed with excitement, an expression of pure joy.

He Wenyu, too, made a phone call. Hearing they had finished, he complained in a mournful tone about her heartlessness, to which she just giggled.

”As her brother, what I want to say is, don’t take her young love for granted,” Lin Jiayou said, looking at the girl showing off on the phone and speaking to the young man beside him: ”If one day she gets hurt, I won’t let you off easily.”

Xu Tianyi replied with a smile, ”That day will never come.” Why would he choose Luo Qianqian, a girl with a bunch of protective brothers, if he anticipated a breakup? Once he had made up his mind, he never planned for a farewell.