Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 582: Chapter 562: The Stance of the Luo Family (Part 3)

Luo Qianqian knew perfectly well that the Luo Family’s interference was only really about the direction of her future development. She was still clueless at present, not knowing which direction to take or what to do later. Following her family’s advice was one way to go.

Right now, she was only striving so hard to welcome Luo Shufan back; otherwise, she would prefer to take things step by step, slowly experiencing her high school and college days with her best friends.

Once Luo Shufan returned, she intended to be a cultured freeloader, the kind that annoyed people by doing nothing. That was her ideal life.

Luo Xihan looked deeply at Luo Qianqian before sighing. Hopefully, she truly wouldn’t blame the family.

”Nuannuan, it’s time to go home,” Qin Wen said, calling out to Qin Nuan upon seeing Luo Qianqian’s sleepy demeanor.

Qin Nuan was startled, nodded her head, and after saying goodbye to Luo Yanran, she didn’t forget to carefully stress to Luo Qianqian the importance of treating her neck properly. Though there was no visible wound, the handprint was still starkly apparent. Even now, under the gauze, it was vivid in her memory.

Luo Qianqian nodded repeatedly, and Cong Rong also reluctantly said farewell to Luo Yanwu, not forgetting to remind Luo Qianqian to take good care of her nose before leaving with Qin Nuan.

Yue Tingyu was shooed off by her daughters-in-law to get some sleep and not to fuss about anymore. Old Master Luo was still in the study. Seeing that everyone who needed to leave had gone, Luo Xihan whispered to Jia Ning, ”You and my sister-in-law stay here. I’ll take Luo Yanran back with me.”

Luo Yanwu shivered for some reason and then looked sympathetically at Luo Yanran. He patted his shoulder, pulled Luo Qianqian upstairs, and remembered to take with him an entire basin of strawberries that had been picked and cleaned from the bouquet.

Luo Yanran felt a chill up his spine, sensing that his father’s approach was not friendly. With a pleading grip on Jia Ning’s sleeve, he said, ”Mom, let’s go back together. You can call for me tomorrow.”

Jia Ning shook her head, ”It’s time you and your father had a talk.” Her expression was stern, clearly siding with Luo Xihan.

Luo Yanran’s face froze, then he frowned and pleaded, ”Dad, go easy on me, alright? Please don’t hit my face.”

Luo Xihan didn’t even look at him. He neatly folded the newspaper, placed it on the coffee table, grabbed his car keys, and stood up to leave.

Hesitant for a moment, Luo Yanran still followed suit with a grimace. He dared not disobey his father, who was not only his parent but also his boss at the company.

Getting into the car, and to keep a safe distance, Luo Yanran chose not to sit in the passenger seat but instead properly settled in the back, even giving up driving his own car.

He seriously doubted that he would have the energy to drive and pick up Qin Nuan in the morning, so he figured it was better to just take a cab, as it would also prevent giving anything away.

The car glided smoothly along the road, and it wasn’t long before they arrived downstairs. However, Luo Xihan didn’t get out. He turned off the car lights, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one.

Luo Yanran’s expression turned solemn because of that cigarette—his mother disliked the smell of smoke, so although his father carried cigarettes on him, he never smoked.

What could possibly be bothering his father so much? Was he wrestling with the idea of hitting him? Or considering what to hit him with? Weren’t slippers, belts, and feather dusters at home enough???

Luo Yanran looked around the dim environment in alarm; was his father eyeing the decorative trees?

”Ah Ran, what would you do if the family arranged a marriage for you before you had established a relationship with Qin Nuan?”

Luo Yanran was taken aback and shook his head rapidly, his emotions running high, ”But we’ve already established our relationship, Dad. I won’t marry anyone but her.”

Luo Xihan glared at him irritably and blew a smoke ring, ”I said ’if’!”

”If?” Luo Yanran was stunned. Did that mean the family had no intention of breaking them up? ”If I hadn’t realized my feelings, it wouldn’t matter, right? After all, the girl my family introduces would still be beautiful, gentle, and come from a good background. If I had realized, I probably wouldn’t agree, right? Since I already have someone I like.”

”Sigh,” Luo Xihan exhaled and stubbed out his cigarette. ”Then tell me, if it were Qianqian, what would her choice be?”

”Qianqian? Qianqian?! Qianqian!!!” Luo Yanran repeated the name before suddenly shouting as if something dawned on him.

”Keep it down!”

Luo Yanran quickly calmed himself and thought carefully: ”Qianqian likes Xu Tianyi; it’s common knowledge, even willing to help him leave this place. Xu Tianyi should also have feelings for Qianqian. But the Luo family has done a lot to encourage this, like my younger uncle arranging for Xu Tianyi to go to school where Qianqian was, even though he was called back as soon as a hint of trouble arose, but the seeds between them were probably sown then...”

”I asked you for the outcome, why all this nonsense?” Luo Xihan said irritably as he threw the family portrait in front of him at Luo Yanran.

Luo Yanran fell silent for a moment: ”Qianqian would accept.” His eyes were indifferent: ”But I hope such a thing doesn’t happen to her, I’d rather it be me.”

Although he always fought and bickered with Luo Qianqian, it was undeniable that their bond was the strongest among the brothers. Therefore, compared to his other brothers, he was the one who understood Luo Qianqian the best.

”I figured as much,” Luo Xihan’s voice was hoarse: ”Then tell me, what if Qianqian fell in love with that person on her own?”

”Which person? Dad, what exactly happened?” Luo Yanran gripped the family portrait tightly. The glass cracked, and shards cut his palm, but he seemed oblivious to the pain.

”It’s nothing, nothing...” Luo Xihan lit another cigarette: ”Go upstairs for now, I’ll deal with you later for today’s incident.”

But Luo Yanran refused to comply: ”Dad, even if you beat me now, I still have to ask. She’s my only sister!”

”That’s my only niece, damn it!” Luo Xihan’s face was a mix of shock and rage: ”Get the hell out of here, clean yourself up and wait for me to skin you alive!!”

Luo Yanran felt a chill in his heart; Luo Xihan had always been a refined and cultured gentleman, so why was he speaking like this now?

Could it be an issue that even his father couldn’t change?

Meaning, was it decided by Grandpa?

His mind racing, Luo Yanran clenched his fists tightly: ”Dad, Qianqian is my sister, willing to disregard her own life for me, I cannot accept her giving up her happiness for anything!”

Luo Xihan paused, snuffed out his cigarette, and turned: ”Disregarding her life for you? Wasn’t Qianqian injured by someone from the Han family? What does that have to do with you?”

Luo Yanran was taken aback and then relayed the afternoon’s events without omission.

Luo Xihan glared at him furiously: ”Cancel all your plans for the second half of the year! Get lost to your eldest uncle’s place for a few months!” Then his tightly clenched fist relaxed: ”The Han family, the Xu family... if it wasn’t for these issues, there would still be the old master... You say, why did you have to bump into them? ...Even if you hadn’t, you would’ve found out on Friday, it’s all unavoidable, huh... the Will of Heaven.”