Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 260: Chapter 244: Countdown

”Xiao Yu, do you want to make some pork rib soup?” Luo Qianqian whispered to He Wenyu.

Ever since Tang Chen had arrived, there seemed to be fewer things around. The countdown to the college entrance exam had quickly begun. Luo Shufan was actually doing okay; his mock exam results were good and his studies solid. But Bai Yizhu was practically trying to kill himself with effort because he had heard that the better the university, the higher the quality of the girls—beautiful and intelligent, and not the type to settle for just anyone. Bai Yizhu thus began to work like mad, and indeed, he saw results as his mock exam scores improved each time.

”Forget it, Brother Zhuzi loves pig trotters and soybean soup...”

”No way, soybeans make you fart. What if he gets diarrhea again? Is he going to move his desk into the bathroom? A little porridge in the morning will be good enough.” Luo Qianqian repeatedly shook her head.

In April, the two moved downstairs to live because Bai Yizhu, not sleeping at night, would often kick Luo Shufan awake to ask questions, leaving Luo Shufan severely sleep-deprived. Generously, Luo Qianqian gave up her room for him.

”Let’s go, the physical education exam is this weekend.” He Wenyu pulled Luo Qianqian to go running.

”Let’s not today, I’m going to school early to explain some problems to those geniuses. The exams are imminent, and I’m not going to cram at the last minute.” Luo Qianqian quickly shook her head, having already achieved excellence. She was resolutely not going to torture herself any further. She had to practice at school anyway, so it was better to help those few improve their scores.

Although only a few months had passed, rather than feeling as if time dragged on, the examinees felt there wasn’t enough time. Luo Shufan and Luo Qianqian were anxious because their friends were anxious, and thus they felt the same. Their parents didn’t dare to say much now, just throwing money at them, urging them to buy whatever they wanted quickly. Seeing their children study until dark circles formed under their eyes was distressing, but to secure their future, they swallowed their concern, fearing they would affect their children’s motivation.

Luo Qianqian pulled out her phone and sent two text messages. Before leaving, she saw the reply ”Hmm” and felt in great spirits.

”You should also keep an eye on me, why aren’t we in the same school?” He Wenyu grumbled, but then felt relieved thinking about how the time after school still belonged to her.

”Keep your voice down, my brother went to bed pretty late yesterday.”

”In less than a month, they will be free, and we still have two more months,” He Wenyu lowered her voice, her face showing a stifled expression: ”Feels like we’re getting the short end of the stick.”

”Once my brother finishes his exams, I’ll have him tutor you specifically. That way, I can relax. Now I finally understand why people decide against having a second child.” Because it might drive one mad.

”...And you have the nerve to say that, when you’re a second child.”

”Why don’t you say I was an accident?”

”You’re a weirdo.” He Wenyu shook her head. ”But honestly, I really have no confidence...”

”Haven’t we calculated it all? As long as you perform normally, you’ll definitely make it into Experimental High School. Just don’t be sloppy.” Luo Qianqian shook her head, consoling her.

”I’m worried about not being in the same class as you,” He Wenyu glared: ”Come on, let’s go. Don’t stand here and infuriate me. What are we having tonight? I’ll call my mom at noon.”

”Lately my brother and the others get home pretty late. Something easy to digest and nutritious is best. I don’t know how to cook, so why are you asking me? I’m fine with anything, as long as it’s not something I dislike.” Luo Qianqian resigned herself to the situation and squatting on the ground, began tying sandbags around her feet—essential preparation for the physical fitness test.

”When’s your Santa going to show up? You usually seem quite happy chatting with him.” He Wenyu closed the door and proceeded, smiling as she caught up to Luo Qianqian.

Santa was a boy who sent out random festive messages during Christmas, seeming to be from the same city. Luo Qianqian told him he had the wrong number, but he said the number was typed randomly, just randomly offering blessings.

Luo Qianqian felt he must be someone she knew, so she added his QQ and they began chatting. They became pretty good friends, and by the tone of it, he seemed to be a mature person, yet paradoxically his QQ profile picture was of a rabbit, revealing his true age.

”Let’s talk about it after the exams,” Luo Qianqian wasn’t planning on meeting up; she’d show up when it was the right time to meet, wouldn’t she? That’s what she believed.

”By the way, our physical education exam will be in the same venue,” He Wenyu nodded, not particularly focused on the topic.

”Cheer for you after I finish my run,” Luo Qianqian smiled. She knew about this yesterday but didn’t tell her parents, or else the whole family would be anxious.

”Don’t embarrass yourself too much, oh, and I heard from classmates that some girl gave Brother a love letter. I didn’t dare to ask him about it,” He Wenyu thought for a moment and shared the latest gossip in a low voice. The ’Brother’ naturally referred to Luo Shufan.

”It’s normal, with good looks and decent grades, there will always be admirers,” Luo Qianqian trusted her brother, who, after all, had been reminded by the family not to date too early. Although she had blurred the issue when it had come up, her brother wouldn’t break the rules—family rules were still rules.

”If you say so...” He Wenyu had a mischievous grin on her face.

Luo Qianqian looked at her friend with disdain: ”Cool down tonight by doing two sets of math papers at home.”

He Wenyu was making a mournful face as she watched Luo Qianqian getting on the bus, still grumbling, ”It’d be better to go to school, it’s also exercise.”

Seeing the classmates on the bus all looking down at their books, whether standing or sitting, whether in ninth grade or eighth grade, Luo Qianqian felt emotion stir within her. Was it the nervousness stirred up by the upcoming parent-teacher meeting?

”Luo Qianqian, it really is you. Look at this, where did I write it wrong? I don’t think it’s much different from the answer, so why did I lose points?” Yang Weizhuang squeezed from the back to the front, handing her his paper.

It was a physics paper.

”You forgot to include the condition that it’s ’in the same uniform medium...’,” Luo Qianqian said softly as she looked at the problem.

”Ah, no wonder... how could I have forgotten that.” Yang Weizhuang was annoyed and put away his paper, ”How’s your PE practice going?” Among the familiar faces, apart from Chu Ci, only Luo Qianqian had poor grades. Li Qi was said to be lazy, as he skipped PE class to stay in the classroom, Xia Tian disliked the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter.

”Almost there, I should have no problem getting an excellent grade,” Luo Qianqian nodded, ”By the way, didn’t Chu Ci mention she wanted to go to that art-focused high school? Has she decided yet?”

”She’s not going. She said it’s happier to be with everyone. For her art, she’ll just work harder outside of school. She’s not relying on it for college, it’s just a hobby,” Yang Weizhuang shook his head, a light smile on his lips, ”Ah Yang said, she’s afraid of not finding friends in an unfamiliar place.”

”How could that be... in this world that judges by appearances, Chu Ci wouldn’t lack friends, but none are as important as me,” Luo Qianqian arrogantly tilted her head, ”Because I’m the cutest.”

”That’s enough, aren’t you afraid that your juniors will laugh at you?” Yang Weizhuang watched as the students who looked up from their books and shook his head, quickly pulling her to the side and whispering, ”By the way, Yanzhi said he wants to compete with you for the top rank in the grade on the midterms. If you lose, you have to agree to one thing for him.”

”When did he say that? How come I don’t know?” Luo Qianqian was utterly baffled. She didn’t remember anything like that, ”But, beat me? Hehe... what if he loses?”

”He said it last night when we were video chatting. He’s like an eternal second-place,” Yang Weizhuang said helplessly, ”If he loses, he’ll just agree to something for you, what else?”

”Tell him in class, if he loses, he agrees to do three things for me; if he wins, I’ll agree to one thing for him, as long as it’s not too unreasonable. If he agrees, I will too,” Luo Qianqian said with a mischievous smile, already having thought of what to make him do.

”Deal,” Yang Weizhuang nodded in a promise, assuring her the message would be delivered.

”But there’s something fishy about you two,” Luo Qianqian said with a sly look, ”You two video chat at night? You’re making my thoughts run wild.”