Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

”Get out of here! You’re a candidate member of the party, yet you believe in ghosts and spirits?” Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes dismissively.

Qin Nuan looked at her skeptically. ”You don’t believe in them?”

Luo Qianqian blinked nonchalantly. ”I believe in myself, I believe in tomorrow, I believe in hope...” She hadn’t finished speaking when Qin Nuan smacked her on the head.

”Can’t you stop joking around for once?” Qin Nuan sighed helplessly.

Then she turned to Luo Qianqian. ”You didn’t lose that USB the other day, did you?”

Luo Qianqian paused, then her expression became uncertain.

Qin Nuan looked enlightened. ”I thought so.”

I thought so my ass, you know jack shit. Luo Qianqian rubbed her head, frustrated.

”Did the video have some details you hadn’t noticed before when you captured it?” Qin Nuan continued to ask.

Luo Qianqian hesitated slightly, then nodded with a hint of sorrow. ”I almost wish the USB really had been lost.”

”The person who took the photo, you know them,” Qin Nuan stated affirmatively.

Luo Qianqian fell silent for a moment before nodding again.

”Is it someone I know?” Qin Nuan pressed on.

Luo Qianqian rested her chin on her hand. ”Know? It would be more accurate to say I’ve seen them before...” Her face was full of reluctance, clearly not wanting to discuss this person further.

”I think I might have an idea who it is.” Qin Nuan paused momentarily, her expression tinged with helplessness before she changed the subject. ”So, do these two things have anything to do with each other?”

Luo Qianqian was caught off-guard by the question. Had they any connection? She truly hadn’t considered this.

But then, that incident too had ended with the other party needing to apologize; the specifics would only be known on Monday.

”I hadn’t thought about it, but it seems possible.” Luo Qianqian fell silent for a moment. ”But if that’s the case, it means...”

”It means what?”

Luo Qianqian shook her head. ”Nothing, I believe there’s no connection.” She was adamant in her belief.

She frowned tightly, which showed that she didn’t quite believe her own words.

Qin Nuan sighed. ”It must be tough on you. Oh, by the way, Jimo Cheng really came looking for you, and he brought you food.”

Luo Qianqian’s face immediately tensed. ”And then?”

”I told him you had diarrhea...” Qin Nuan said, her face cringing with awkwardness. ”Then he even brought you medicine. Talk about attentive.”

Diarrhea... Luo Qianqian’s face also showed a hint of helplessness, but it seemed like a good excuse because diarrhea would keep you from going out. When they came looking for her, she could simply say she was in the bathroom...

She nodded. ”Got it, I won’t blow our cover.”

”There’s one more thing.” Qin Nuan now had a peculiar look on her face. ”It seems that Jimo Cheng was looking for you for something else. He clearly couldn’t talk about it in front of me. When I told him to ask for you to come down, he said there was no need...”

Luo Qianqian paused for a moment. Jimo Cheng was looking for her?

She immediately unlocked her phone and called him back, gesturing a ’shush’ to Qin Nuan.

Qin Nuan nodded understandingly.

”Senior brother, what’s wrong?” Luo Qianqian pretended she had just woken up, her voice still a bit groggy.

”How’s your body feeling?” Jimo Cheng also felt somewhat relieved upon hearing Luo Qianqian’s voice, which clearly sounded like she just overslept without any signs of discomfort.

”It’s better now, thank you, senior brother.” Luo Qianqian’s voice was cheerful, so sweet that Qin Nuan made a face on the side.

Jimo Cheng showed his concern for Luo Qianqian for a few more moments before continuing, ”Remember the person from the internet cafe during the Golden Week?”

Luo Qianqian’s memory quickly recalled Hei Yu, then she thought of the young man who had exchanged contact information with Jimo Cheng, hmmmed, and then asked, ”Did he contact you?”

”Yes, he had arranged to meet us this afternoon, but since you were unwell, I said we’d reschedule.” Jimo Cheng spoke easily, ”But you didn’t get sick from eating crabs, did you?”

”How could that be? Even if I did overeat, I can’t blame the meat or crabs... It must be the vegetables,” Luo Qianqian said seriously, her tone full of playfulness, bringing a smile to Jimo Cheng’s face on the other end of the phone.

”Yes, yes, it’s the vegetables’ fault. Next time, eat more meat and that won’t happen.” The voice, full of indulgence, made Luo Qianqian laugh happily.

The two chatted casually for a few more sentences before hanging up.

Seeing Qin Nuan’s puzzled expression, Luo Qianqian shrugged, ”Do you know ’Seven’?”

”I suppose I know one, but whether the one you’re talking about is the one I know, I’m not sure,” Qin Nuan shrugged helplessly, looking at Luo Qianqian, ”After all, the seventh sibling in our family might also be called Xiao Qi, right?”

”...I’m talking about a hacker.” Luo Qianqian shrugged helplessly.

”Then I know.” Qin Nuan nodded. ”I’ve heard of him, don’t know who he is, so don’t look at me with those expectant eyes.”

Luo Qianqian pouted, her face full of reluctance to be exposed by Qin Nuan, ”Alright, it was like the last time I went home, Jimo Cheng happened to take me to a gathering of wizards, and then, by various coincidences, I ended up at the end and, also by coincidence, got some information about ’Seven’, and then that guy started cooperating with us.”

After speaking, Luo Qianqian shrugged, ”Until now, I am still confused. It seems like ever since Jimo Kong showed up, my life has been turned upside down, and after Jimo Cheng showed up, even more so...”

”You make a good point.” Qin Nuan was taken aback, thought carefully, and nodded in agreement, ”Before, at most, you were like the Flying Little Policewoman who throws Silver Needles. Oh, speaking of which, where are your Silver Needles?”

Luo Qianqian pouted, an expression of grievance on her face, ”Don’t even mention it, I can barely fit into my clothes, let alone think about a fatal move.”

Looking at the jackets they were wearing now, Qin Nuan somewhat understood Luo Qianqian’s helplessness and sighed, ”It can’t be helped... after all, it’s getting cold.”

”Exactly, but by the time summer comes around again, I might have forgotten everything.” Luo Qianqian sighed, but thankfully her previous experience with acupuncture made it not too hard for her to understand the current book in her hands.

”Why don’t you practice on my brother then?” Qin Nuan seriously suggested, ”After all, your brothers are not around.”

Luo Qianqian shook her head repeatedly, ”Qin Liang is your older brother, he’s my boss... I don’t dare.” She paused and added, ”Brother Qin Wen, sorry no offense, I dare not make a move.” Luo Qianqian blinked, her mind filled with various fatal moves...

”Coward.” Qin Nuan scoffed.

Then she picked up the cross-stitch, ”Hey, speaking of which, shouldn’t you talk to your brother... your real brother? To keep him from worrying?”

Luo Qianqian was stunned, then nodded, ”You’re right.”

She then turned and walked towards the study while Qin Nuan picked up a needle on the side and happily began to stitch a cushion to give to Luo Yanran.

”Good luck.” Luo Qianqian said.

She pushed open the study door but frowned and promptly closed the door again.