Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 352: Chapter 334: Suspicion

”What are you thinking about?” A magnetic and pleasant voice came from behind Luo Qianqian. Startled slightly, she was about to deny it but then realized she was watching the financial channel, which made her feel quite embarrassed at the moment.

”I’m not thinking about anything,” Luo Qianqian shook her head and looked up at Xu Tianyi, ”Are you done?”

”Mhm, your grandfather lost, became furious, and shooed me away,” Xu Tianyi chuckled softly, then he squatted down to be at eye level with Luo Qianqian, ”Were you worried about me?”

Luo Qianqian nodded subconsciously, her face flushed red when she realized what she’d done. Despite her excuses, ”How could I be? What’s for dinner tonight?” her heart sighed at the young man’s sensitivity, just a moment of daydreaming had given him a glimpse into her thoughts.

”What can you eat, just porridge, why do you ask about things you can’t eat? Oh, and your medicine is almost finished, tell Hu Si tonight.” Xu Tianyi took Luo Qianqian’s hand, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and whispered, ”I dare to come and go in the Luo Family partly for protection, and partly to discourage those who have designs on you.”

Luo Qianqian was taken aback. She was aware of her own reasons since their ambiguous relationship wasn’t a day’s matter, but she had never considered Xu Tianyi was seeking protection. Hesitating for a moment before speaking cautiously, ”If I weren’t from the Luo Family...” She didn’t finish her sentence before Xu Tianyi’s finger pressed against her lips.

”There are no ifs. I am here because of you, not choosing you because of the Luo Family.” Xu Tianyi smiled as if he noticed none of Luo Qianqian’s hesitation, holding her hand, ”You overthink things. If I don’t tell you now, you’ll find out later and it might drive a wedge between us, right? I don’t want there to be any barriers between us, but my feelings for you are real.”

Luo Qianqian offered a smile, ”Mhm, let’s go have dinner.” Her heart, however, was still a bit troubled. After all, he first knew of the Luo Family, it was with their help that he transferred schools before their contact. Could she believe what he said? Yet, the smile on his face and the warmth from his hand couldn’t be faked. What should she do?

Xu Tianyi observed the absence of a smile in Luo Qianqian’s eyes but said nothing; such matters had to be resolved first-hand, and there was nothing an outsider could do.

She silently consumed the porridge, followed Xu Tianyi back to the base, and didn’t neglect any of her schoolwork or Hei Yu’s teaching. Yet, she did not speak a single word.

Xu Tianyi saw all this and hesitated for a long time, but in the end, said nothing and went back to his own dorm to sleep. However, it was Hu Si, who administered Luo Qianqian’s medication and set up her sleep monitor, who began a conversation with her.

”Discovering the world isn’t as simple as you thought, got a bit shocked?” Holding a cup in his hands, his eyes brimmed with amusement, as if others’ troubles were his entertainment.

Luo Qianqian opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, and remained silent.

Without waiting for her response, Hu Si continued, ”Families like the Luo Family, where siblings don’t fight with each other, are rare.” As if he knew what had happened, Hu Si looked up, his eyes filled with yearning, ”With your identity, could you even be aware if someone had designs on you? Kids love the romantic fantasies of courtship, the sweet nothings, the grand pledges of love that make them forget themselves.”

Luo Qianqian frowned, ”He’s not like that.”

”And you know what kind of person he is?” Hu Si raised an eyebrow, his piercing gaze startling Luo Qianqian, ”It’s hard to paint a dragon’s bones or to truly know someone’s heart.”

”Doctor Hu... have you been hurt?” Luo Qianqian hesitantly asked, not expecting Hu Si to answer since it was personal, but she felt Hu Si was somewhat extreme when it came to relationships.

”Is that so? I guess so.” To Luo Qianqian’s surprise, Hu Si responded, ”After all, this isn’t a fairytale. Not everyone you meet is your ’true love,’ not every relationship ends in a ’happily ever after.’ You must have the courage to face a ’bad ending.’”

Luo Qianqian fell silent.

After hesitating for a moment, she got out of bed and walked to the computer outside the bedroom, ”Doctor Hu, it’s been a trouble for you, but I won’t be needing the equipment tonight.”

Hu Si, hearing the expected answer, nodded his head and put down his cup, speaking indifferently, ”You still need to take your medicine. I’ll come by in two hours.”

Luo Qianqian powered up the computer and hacked directly into the database to review the information swirling in her mind. Her brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Half an hour later, after much hesitation, she still decided to call Qin Nuan, ”What’s wrong?” Qin Nuan’s concerned voice came through the telephone.

”Do you know what happened to Xu Tianyi of the Xu Family in the end?” Luo Qianqian asked resolutely.

Qin Nuan was taken aback by Luo Qianqian’s question and was momentarily stunned, ”I don’t really care about these things. What’s your relationship with him...?”

”There is something I’m suspicious of,” Luo Qianqian rubbed her temples, ”I don’t know if I am overthinking it or if it’s a case of pretending to lose in order to capture later.”

Qin Nuan bit her lip, ”But I do know something. I heard it through my brother’s friend, Hu Si. Your uncle, Luo Xiying, died at the hands of the Xu Family.”

”What?!” Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief. That was the Killer God, whose presence sent enemies fleeing in terror. How could he have died at the hands of the Xu Family?

”Moreover, that person has become the next Family Head of the Xu Family,” Qin Nuan added.

Luo Qianqian’s eyes reddened, ”Is this information reliable?”

”By the time I learned of it, he had been dead for who knows how long. My brother didn’t deny it either. It should be true,” Qin Nuan said, her voice suddenly softer, ”Moreover, it was someone who had always been overlooked. There were also deaths and injuries in the Xu Family before, but I don’t know the specifics.”

After a long silence, Qin Nuan finally spoke up, ”After all, so much is different from before. Even he is capable of change.”

Luo Qianqian chuckled bitterly twice and said, ”Right. You should get some sleep. Let’s hang out when you’re free.”

After hanging up the phone, Luo Qianqian had a profound look in her eyes. If it was him, if it really was him, with his dark and scheming mind, what could she do? If it wasn’t him, then why would he seek protection? Even in the Xu Family, he wouldn’t have to worry about food and clothing, at worst, he’d only be facing a predetermined future.

Hei Yu was in his own room, watching the activities on Luo Qianqian’s computer screen. He raised an eyebrow and said to Hu Si beside him, ”You’re really stirring up trouble. They were childhood sweethearts and innocent friends.”

”Is that so?” Hu Si, with narrowed eyes, sipped his coffee, his voice chilly, ”I’m just helping her to see the reality. Being so close now, they’ll grow tired of each other sooner or later.”

”I’ll bet you have ulterior motives, even though I don’t know why,” Hei Yu smirked, his fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard. He severed the tracking on Luo Qianqian’s computer and sent over a virus, ”This kid is still too green. She needs more practice.”

”I won’t bet with you. Whether you believe it or not, she’s going to resume normal interaction with that guy,” said Hu Si, his lips curling up revealing the calculation on his face.