Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 557: Chapter 537: Intricate and Confusing (19)

Luo Qianqian stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, and with a surprised face, she looked back from her position on the ground.

”The Jade Pendant is in your bag, come find me anytime if you need.” Old Master Jimo said calmly, waving his hand and then turning around.

Luo Qianqian struggled to get up from the ground and watched Old Master Jimo’s receding figure: ”Why did today feel so fantastical?”

Her attempt to help a righteous cause had failed, but more bizarrely, she had ended up meeting her grandfather’s friend. And she had somehow acquired a so-called fiancé?

Luo Qianqian was in no rush to leave: holding the letter wrapped carefully in kraft paper by Old Master Jimo, her face was filled with confusion.

When Luo Qianqian finally adjusted her mood and came out with a calm expression, Qin Nuan had already bought a Jade Hairpin, Cong Rong had bought a bracelet, and Qin Wen was impatiently drinking tea on the side.

”Miss Luo, you’re out. Young Master Kong said that you can take anything you like, just chalk it up to his account,” the steward said with an easygoing face, quite different from the stern look he had earlier.

Seeing the puzzled looks from Qin Wen and the others, Luo Qianqian’s mouth twitched, and she waved her hand: ”No, thanks, Young, Master, Kong, for the, kind, gesture.” Luo Qianqian paused between each word, trying hard to control the changes in her facial expressions.

The steward nodded without a word.

Afterward, the four of them left the store; just before getting into the car, Qin Wen glanced at Luo Qianqian and said coldly, ”Luo Qianqian, get in the front passenger seat.”

Luo Qianqian pouted and hesitantly climbed into the front passenger seat, then watched as Qin Wen and the others each boarded the vehicle. After Qin Wen got in, he didn’t start the car immediately but just quietly turned and looked at Luo Qianqian.

Luo Qianqian shuddered, ”If you have any questions, just ask; how am I supposed to know what you want to know?”

”Did you get the gifts?” Qin Nuan was the first to ask, Luo Qianqian wouldn’t ask about things she didn’t want to say—this was the tacit understanding between friends.

”Yes,” Luo Qianqian patted the kraft paper in her lap.

Cong Rong had been silent, watching her with a smile.

Qin Wen rolled his eyes at his sister’s jokes, waving impatiently: ”Enough, what was up with that man’s attitude earlier?”

”That steward? It’s because the ’Young Master Kong’ at the door is a friend of my grandfather. But all this was due to the incident with the Jade Pendant,” Luo Qianqian briefly explained what happened inside; however, she pretended not to know about the arranged marriage, since for all she knew, the other party might already have a girlfriend, which would make all their talk moot.

”Ah, he was Grandpa Luo’s friend! I knew it,” Qin Nuan sighed in relief. She hadn’t asked, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t been wildly guessing and worrying.

”What else? You think a few photos could elicit that kind of attitude from him?” Luo Qianqian snorted.

Qin Nuan nodded repeatedly: ”Exactly.”

Qin Wen sighed and started the car, ”Are you heading back to school or planning to buy something delicious?”

”Back to school,” Qin Nuan immediately responded.

Luo Qianqian and Cong Rong said nothing, agreeing with Qin Nuan’s suggestion by default.

After getting out of the car, Qin Wen took care of Luo Qianqian and Qin Nuan’s packages and departed, while the three walked side-by-side into the school, and settled down by the lake.

”Do you feel a bit down?” Qin Nuan stopped Luo Qianqian by the arm, her face full of smiles: ”Tell your sister if something’s wrong; I’ve got your back.”

Luo Qianqian just shook her head, forced a smile, and sat down in a chair to watch the lake water ripple with the breeze.

”You know?” Cong Rong suddenly spoke.

Luo Qianqian and Qin Nuan both turned their eyes toward her.

Cong Rong smiled, ”I had the same expression as you when I knew something shocking but couldn’t tell anyone.”

Luo Qianqian blinked.

”My dad had an affair,” Cong Rong said calmly while smiling, ”I saw it right before my college entrance exams.”

Qin Nuan covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.

”Who actually wants to always smile calmly when something happens? Some things are destined to be resolved alone. Complaining, crying, and making noise are useless. I’ve known this for a long time.”

”At that time, I skipped class for a day. When I went home that evening, I still had to smile at my mom.”

”But my mom slapped me and asked why I skipped class.”

”Why? It was precisely the reason I couldn’t tell her.”

”I said I was under too much stress, but do you know what kind of response I got?”

Cong Rong looked up at the sky, her profile looking very gentle.

Both Qin Nuan and Luo Qianqian shook their heads in unison.

”My dad said, what stress could a kid have? Adults don’t complain about being unable to bear the stress, so you, young kid, just sit aside.”

Luo Qianqian covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief. Was this really Cong Rong’s experience? The always gentle and mythical Cong Rong’s experience? It was hard to believe.

Qin Nuan tugged at the corner of her mouth. Who doesn’t have an untellable story?

Luo Qianqian, deep in thought, propped her chin with her hand. Now, this matter isn’t entirely unspeakable; it’s just that she didn’t want to talk about it.

It all seemed like a dream, utter nonsense, something about Grandpa’s friend, something about that friend’s grandson, all nonsense.

”Some things are fine as long as they make you happy. If you feel better keeping it to yourself then keep it, but if it feels better to talk about it, then talk. As long as you’re happy,” Qin Nuan smiled, understanding Cong Rong’s meaning.

”Don’t worry, I get it. Whenever you need to share, even if you and Luo Yanran are having your wedding night, I won’t hesitate to call and bother you,” Luo Qianqian laughed.

Qin Nuan’s mouth twitched, ”Do you believe that without me lifting a finger, he would just kill you on the spot?”

Cong Rong covered her mouth and laughed—these two really knew how to talk nonsense.

Luo Qianqian pouted, showing disdain. ”If he dares to hit me, the next second he won’t be busy about having his wedding night, but will be on his way to the hospital for a three days and two nights tour.”

”Why three days and two nights?” Cong Rong asked, puzzled.

”Because anything shorter won’t compensate for my fragile heart,” Luo Qianqian said, dead serious.

Qin Nuan was speechless. If Luo Yanran really did react, it could indeed end up like that; not to mention that his family protective circle might actually make a move.

”By the way, have you guys attended a banquet before?” Luo Qianqian suddenly asked.

”What about it?” Qin Nuan nodded, and Cong Rong also nodded lightly.

”I feel like I don’t have experience. Should I first bolster my courage with a drink? But underage drinking is prohibited,” Luo Qianqian said matter-of-factly, straightening her back and covering her mouth with the back of her hand, making a noblewoman-like laughing sound, ”hohoho.”

”You’re absolutely crazy. Tell me honestly, what exactly happened this afternoon to drive you mad?” Qin Nuan’s mouth twitched, trying to laugh but finding herself unable to.