Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

”Luo Qianqian, are you really that gutless?” Xu Xiaoxiao looked at Qin Wen, whom she didn’t recognize, but was still annoyed to have an adult meddling in this matter.

”I was gutless to begin with, or do you have some guts?” Luo Qianqian sneered, glanced at Xu Xiaoxiao’s abdomen with a sudden look of realization, ”Then I really must congratulate you.”

Qin Wen, caught off guard by Luo Qianqian’s bold words, coughed twice in shock.

”You’re full of it!” Xu Xiaoxiao, who totally got the insinuation, immediately became infuriated with shame and anger.

Luo Qianqian spread her hands, ”I didn’t say anything.”

The man behind Xu Xiaoxiao watched Qin Wen without making a move, while Luo Qianqi observed carefully. Noticing that, aside from her feet, Xu Xiaoxiao’s body hadn’t touched water and her hair was meticulously curled and her nails were delicately manicured, he deduced that she planned to attend the same auction that evening as he did.

”Looking at your outfit, you’re going to the auction tonight too, right? How about we bet on who can buy the item with the best value for money? The loser keeps a three-meter distance upon meeting in the future?” Luo Qianqian huffed, sizing up the man beside Xu Xiaoxiao, thinking about how Xu Tianyi grew up in such an environment, which pissed her off no end.

Who knew Xu Xiaoxiao would look at Qin Wen, nod her head with a beaming smile, ”Sure, but I forgot to mention, my friend here is quite the distinguished gentleman, unlike you, who mixes with just anyone.”

Luo Qianqian nodded with feigned understanding, glanced at the man behind Xu Xiaoxiao, then back at Qin Wen, ”Isn’t that the truth? Who are you, Xu Xiaoxiao, to not have men beside you? Every time we meet, you bring a different man to make a scene. I have to admit, you’re quite the charmer. I’m not that lucky, besides my brothers, no one takes me out to play. Quite pitiful, really.”

Xu Xiaoxiao was just about to feel triumphant, but then she realized something was off. Looking at the man behind her whose face had darkened, she gritted her teeth in annoyance, ”Stop spreading rumors!”

”You know very well whether I’m spreading rumors or not!” If you wanted me to let you go, you shouldn’t have come to mess with me in the first place!

Unexpectedly, the man spoke up, ”What’s the point of betting? We might as well make friends. Whatever you fancy today, just charge it to my account.” But his gaze wasn’t on Xu Xiaoxiao, it went straight to Luo Qianqian’s figure beneath her swimsuit. Luo Qianqian shivered and the next second ducked behind Qin Wen, sensing the man’s ill intentions.

Qin Wen’s eyes coldly met those of the man, ”I’d rather not trouble you with caring for my child.”

Your child, my ass. Could you even birth someone her age? Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes behind Qin Wen, yet said nothing.

”No worries, oh, and I haven’t introduced myself yet, my name is Long Yin.” The man extended a hand.

Neither Qin Wen nor Luo Qianqian showed any interest in shaking that hand.

Luo Qianqian turned to Qin Wen, ”There are people with the surname Long too? Are there any with the surname Phoenix?”

”What do you think?” Qin Wen, in a good mood, educated Luo Qianqian, ”Don’t just talk about dragon or phoenix, there are even Maogous. If only you paid attention in school.”

Luo Qianqian pretended to take the lesson to heart, asking slyly, ”So, is the Long Family rich or influential?”

”Let’s see, their status isn’t too high, and they’re not overflowing with money. They fall short of the best but surpass the worst. Though, you don’t really have a use for the Long Family’s connections; after all, you can’t even draw a line to their official influence.”

”I don’t need it, do I? Can they even make things difficult for me? I might not study hard, but I’m a good kid,” Luo Qianqian said with a smile, but upon catching Long Yin’s gaze landing on her chest, and at the small rise that was barely developed, wondering what was there to look at? Yet, an unbelievable and frightening thought crossed her mind.

Qin Wen also noticed that the man’s gaze was off and pulled Luo Qianqian behind him, smiling calmly, ”Mr. Long, if you keep looking like that, I’m afraid if anything happens to my sister, everyone would associate it with you.”

He also made a mental note to himself; this man seemed like the spiteful type. Having crossed paths with him now, it probably wouldn’t end well.

Xu Xiaoxiao, seeing the look in Long Yin’s eyes, felt a bit uncomfortable and immediately clung to his arm, ”Brother Long, let’s not bother with them and go out instead. We shouldn’t let it spoil our good mood.” Saying this, the two headed towards their respective changing rooms, and the meaningful look Long Yin gave Luo Qianqian right before he entered made her heart skip a beat.

”I’ll go check out this guy, so don’t be scared,” Qin Wen said, having seen that look too. He had just swum a lap but now had lost the heart for it, and the two sat on the side, each lost in thought.

A moment later, Luo Qianqian asked, ”Compared to my family, what’s the Long family like?”

”You’re giving them too much credit,” Qin Wen shook his head, ”The Luo family holds a place in both the military and business sectors; they just follow behind and sip at our leftovers.” It’s just that it seems the Long family might be...

Luo Qianqian frowned slightly, things definitely weren’t that simple, but she didn’t ask further since Qin Wen didn’t continue.

If they were that kind of family, why would Xu Xiaoxiao from the Xu family cling to them? Wasn’t she someone who would only be with the strong?

But the guy didn’t look too bad, not as good as Qin Wen, of course. His height was average, and without clothes on, she couldn’t tell his aesthetics or family background; she certainly couldn’t recognize the brand of a plain swimsuit.

”I suspect he might retaliate against me,” Luo Qianqian looked down at her chest, pouting, ”After he looked at me, it felt like an insult to my swimsuit.”

”He wouldn’t dare just yet, and I’ll look into it. Aren’t you going to swim?” Qin Wen glanced at the kids who were having fun in the water and picked up the swimming goggles.

Luo Qianqian shook her head, ”I came to play in the water, I don’t know how to swim.”

Qin Wen couldn’t help but burst out laughing, ”You don’t plan on asking your boyfriend the, ’if his mother and I fell into the water, who would he rescue?’ question, do you?”

”I wouldn’t do that,” Luo Qianqian waved her hand dismissively, ”I don’t want a man who isn’t filial, nor one who doesn’t love me, so I’d never ask that.” She glanced at the pool, ”I wouldn’t want to swim in the same pool as middle-aged aunties, so how could we possibly fall into the water together?”

”Well said,” Qin Wen gave her a thumbs up and looked towards the swimmers, ”The Luo family’s treatment of Nuannuan...”

”Nuannuan is doing well, and she’s very much liked by the family,” Luo Qianqian cut off Qin Wen’s words, ”You could ask anyone this, but you shouldn’t ask me. I like Nuannuan, but I won’t meddle in her relationship with my brother, not fights nor sweet moments. I stay out of it.”

Qin Wen nodded, somewhat understanding Luo Qianqian’s stance, and picked up the swimming goggles, ”Let’s go, we’ll get something cold to drink and fix our hair, change our clothes.”

The two left the swimming hall in good spirits, Luo Qianqian not wet anywhere except her feet.

Later in the car, she called the Luo family to report their itinerary and happily went out to have a good time with Qin Wen.

However, at the stylist’s, they ran into someone familiar...