Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Love Should Be Spoken Out Loud

The remaining matters no longer had anything to do with Luo Qianqian and Luo’s Mom. Luo Xiying instructed the driver to take them home first, while he stayed behind to give a statement.

”Uncle, you can just wait here for that other uncle to finish,” Luo Qianqian said to the driver, who was waiting for the mother and daughter to get into the car, understanding the conflict in Luo’s Mom’s eyes as Luo Xiying walked into the police station with the officers.

”But...” the driver hesitated, not because he didn’t want to leave them, he was just worried that if he left and the one inside finished his business, he would be gone. But since ’Killer God’ had already spoken, it seemed he wasn’t fulfilling his duty as a driver if he didn’t follow orders.

”You don’t have to worry. When that uncle comes out, you can just tell him that my mom and I wanted to walk home, it wouldn’t be fair to trouble you over us when we’re already gone, right? So that’s settled. We’ll be going now, goodbye, uncle.” Luo Qianqian took her somewhat dazed mother by the hand and stepped onto the path that would take them home, ignoring the driver who reached out as if wanting to say something.

”Qianqian, why does this whole day feel so unreal to me?” Luo’s Mom gripped the girl’s small hand, feeling the familiar warmth and giving it a squeeze: ”Even if it’s all fake, a dream, at least Qianqian hasn’t been taken away by bad people.”

”Mom, you’re just exhausted. Whether it’s real or not, Qianqian is safely back, isn’t she?” Luo Qianqian held her mom’s hand, stopped walking, and shook her mom’s hands together: ”As long as we still have what we have now, and cherish what’s around us, and work hard for it, then regardless of what happens, we’ll have no regrets, right Mom?”

Luo’s Mom stopped walking and looked down at her daughter, who resembled so much the man who had resolutely decided to leave five years ago: ”Qianqian, do you miss your dad?”

Luo Qianqian was slightly stunned. In her past life, she often pestered her mom about where her dad had gone, causing both of them to be unhappy. Her mom didn’t know how to answer and could only soothe her by saying that her dad had gone to a very far place and would come back when she grew up. Every time she asked her mom, her mom’s pillow would be wet the next day, and she didn’t understand any of it. Later, when she grew up and understood a little more, she stopped asking.

”Mom, what can I do whether I miss dad or not? I don’t have any concept of what this ’dad’ role or person, even his image or voice, is like. How can I miss him?” Luo Qianqian expressed how she felt after she had grown up in her previous life: ”I may not have a dad, but I have the best mom and the best brother in the world. That’s enough, isn’t it? Besides, instead of pining for someone I’ll never see again, why not let mom find someone who really cares about me and lets me experience fatherly love? That would be more realistic.” Luo Qianqian stuck out her tongue. In her previous life, her mom had refrained from remarrying for fear of her and her brother suffering, so this time, since her mom had raised the question, Luo Qianqian generously indicated that she had no concept of a father and had no objections to her mom finding a new partner.

”Yes, when your dad left, you were just a bunch of cells. It’s Mom’s fault that you and your brother have suffered so much.” Luo’s Mom squatted down and hugged her daughter, tears sliding down once more: ”I thought he would come back to me. I thought my waiting was worthwhile, but Qianqian, I didn’t know that your dad was already gone.”

Luo Qianqian gently patted Luo’s Mom on the back: ”Mom, life is unpredictable, we must accept the sorrows with grace. You can’t be sad anymore. Even if Dad’s gone, you still have me and Brother. Moreover, he’s been gone for five years, not just a day or two. What difference does it make whether he’s here or not? Besides, after five years, how many people can remain unchanged by the passage of time? People change. Not everyone is like Qianqian, who loves Mom the most and will never change.” Pretending to be mature beyond her years, Luo Qianqian gently patted her mom’s back, letting her cry it out. Crying could sometimes help, and the sun was still going to rise tomorrow. When faced with the fragility of adults, all she could offer was gentle companionship and act as if nothing had happened the next day.

”Mom loves Qianqian the most too. You’re right, having you and your brother is enough for me,” said Luo’s Mom, feeling as though her daughter had grown up, now able to comfort others in her small frame.

”Mom, I wouldn’t mind if you found a new dad for me. Brother wouldn’t mind either. So if you meet a good man, don’t let him slip away.” Seeing that her mom seemed to have calmed down quite a bit, Luo Qianqian’s lips curled into a smile, teasing her mom.

”Off you go, go on, Mommy will carry you home.” Luo’s Mom wiped her tears, stayed in a crouching position, waiting for the girl to climb on by herself. After waiting for a while with no movement, she turned around only to see her daughter pouting:

”Mom, I’m a big kid now, I don’t need to be carried anymore. You’ve been tired all day, and I am the kindest, best child in the whole world.” Luo Qianqian stood with her hands on her hips, looking up, portraying an attitude of ’I am the third most important person in the world after heaven and earth.’ Luo’s Mom couldn’t help but stand up and ruffle her daughter’s messy soft hair.

”Have you eaten anything? What would you like to eat? I’ll buy it for you.” Luo’s Mom looked lovingly at her older daughter, who knew how to be considerate, and decided to give her a small reward.

Luo Qianqian touched her belly, the porridge from the evening hadn’t digested yet, and her stomach was still full. But she couldn’t say she had already eaten: ”I want to eat sausages and drink milk.” she said while pretending to crave it, which brought a delighted laugh from Luo’s Mom.

The milk was just like water, so drinking it would at worst mean a few extra trips to the bathroom, and the sausages wouldn’t spoil and could be saved for her brother. Luo Qianqian made up her mind and followed Luo’s Mom to the supermarket, bouncing along happily.

As the first ray of sunlight appeared, the He Family was completely awakened by noise:

”Qianqian!!! Where’s my Qianqian??? godfather, godfather, has Qianqian come back? Why can’t I find her? Where’s Qianqian? godmother, godmother, where did Qianqian go? Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, is Qianqian with you?” Luo Shufan woke up from a nightmare and started searching from room to room in the He Family’s home. His usual polite manners went out the window when it came to his sister.

”Qianqian?” He Wenyu, too, was startled awake and sprung up, searching the house for a familiar figure: ”Dad, Mom, has Qianqian come back? Where’s Qianqian?”

Mr. He and Mother He glanced at each other and smiled bitterly before getting up: ”You two settle down, what time do you think it is? Qianqian has come back, she’s fine. It wasn’t a dream. She should be at home sleeping right now. Continue sleeping, and she should be here soon. I’ll call you when she arrives.”

”Phew, that’s good. I’m not sleeping anymore. I’m going downstairs to wait for Qianqian.” He Wenyu, holding the already melting candy syrup from yesterday that he intended to share with Qianqian, halfway down, planned to head downstairs.

”You get back here.” Mr. He took a few big strides and grabbed He Wenyu, who was trying to dart out the door: ”Go wash your face, brush your teeth, and change clothes. You’ve become as dirty as a little spotted cat. Aren’t you afraid Qianqian will despise you? And you, stop running too, go freshen up.” Mr. He grabbed one by the pajama collar, He Wenyu, and one by the pajama collar, Luo Shufan, and threw them both into the restroom.

”Old He, go get me some pork feet, and also Qianqian’s favorite chicken wings. Right, and some mushrooms and tomatoes, I’ll make a lean pork porridge too. Qianqian loves that.” Mother He, sitting up in bed as if waking from a dream, started giving orders to Mr. He.

”Eating something so greasy early in the morning isn’t good for your health...” Mr. He was about to argue but saw his wife staring daggers at him: ”Fine fine fine, yes yes yes, I’m going now. Kids, hurry up and wash up, we are on a schedule here.”