Rebirth in the 90s: Her Counterattack and Redemption

Chapter 723: Chapter 431: What Is the Purpose?

Luo Lian sized up Zhan Ping and nodded with a smile, ”Of course I remember. Actually, after we parted ways, I’ve kept in touch with Sister Qingzhu and even discussed your recent situation.”

”You’ve been in contact with Sister Qingzhu?” Zhan Ping looked at Luo Lian with surprise. ”You really have kept in touch, but how come I didn’t know about it?”

Luo Lian spread her hands: ”That... I wouldn’t know.”

Ye Qinghe gave Zhan Ping a white look: ”You are too introverted, you never showed any sign that you liked Luo Lian. How would I know what you’re thinking?”

”True.” Zhan Ping scratched his head embarrassedly, ”Mainly because we didn’t see each other much before, and there was no chance to say it, Lianlian, do you... have someone you like?”

Everyone was speechless, that was a bit too hurried, right? Even Ye Xuan, who usually doesn’t show his emotions, twitched the corners of his mouth a few times.

Luo Lian cleared her throat, ”Zhan Ping, can we... wait until we get to know each other a bit better before asking this question?”

”Alright, alright.” Zhan Ping quickly agreed, ”I was too impatient, hehe...”

”It’s over, I’m out of luck again,” Ye Shuo said supinely, leaning on Ye Qinghe’s shoulder, ”Sister, I need consolation, someone’s heartbroken here.”

”Knock it off!” Ye Qinghe flicked his forehead, ”Look at you, lacking respect for elders.”

Ye Shuo looked pitifully at Luo Lian, ”Sister Lianlian, take a good look at me, I’m actually quite handsome. If you think big brother isn’t right for you, could you consider me as a backup?”

Luo Lian pretended to scrutinize him and nodded: ”Indeed, you’re quite handsome, but a bit young. If you were a bit more mature, maybe I would really consider it.”

”That’s too much to ask,” Ye Shuo stroked the fuzz above his lips, looking conflicted, ”If it really won’t do, should I start shaving tomorrow?”

”Step aside,” Zhan Ping shoved him, ”Do you feel no shame in trying to steal your brother’s girl?”

Ye Shuo rolled his eyes at him: ”Big brother, you should know, love is selfish, and everyone is equal in the face of love.” His gaze shifted back to Luo Lian, ”Right, Sister Lianlian?”

”Right.” Luo Lian nodded in agreement, then quickly changed the subject, ”But considering your age, you’re not quite there yet.”

”Zhan Ping, be a little more subtle, that look in your eyes, as if you want to gobble up Lianlian, is giving me goosebumps all over,” Luo Ye said as he stretched his wrist out for everyone to see; Ye Xuan quickly grabbed it back and pushed away the peeking head, ”Back off!”

”Big brother, turns out you’re the jealous type,” Ye Shuo quipped, ”It’s just a look at a wrist, did it need to make you so nervous? I refuse to believe, in the summer little sister-in-law doesn’t wear short sleeves? At the military academy, little sister-in-law doesn’t stand in line with male classmates? In the future at work...”

”Enough, stop nagging,” Ye Xuan interrupted him, ”I’m worried about Ye’er getting cold, how come at such a young age you can’t think positively?”

”Really?” Ye Shuo looked doubtful, ”Why do I find that hard to believe?”

”...”

...

Inside the bathroom, Li Xueqin patted the sobbing Miao Lin, who was gasping for breath, and said softly, ”Lin Lin, didn’t you say earlier that if he’s not suitable, you’d give Sun Linjian a chance to try?

You haven’t hardly done anything yet, so why be so heartbroken? If you really can’t let him go, then just continue to chase him. Maybe one day he’ll like you, right?”

Miao Lin wiped her tears and murmured, ”It’s so hard to love someone, always thinking about him, wanting to know what he’s doing, wondering if he also thinks of me. There’s so much I want to know, but I don’t dare to ask and I lack the courage.

I hate feeling like a fish out of water, every additional breath brings me closer to suffocation. I want to break free, but the more I struggle, the tighter it binds...”

”Sigh... Cry it out, maybe it will be better. Let all the depression out with your tears and once you clear your heart, you’ll be able to understand what you truly want.”

A quarter hour later, Miao Lin, with her makeup reapplied, and Li Xueqin, arm in arm, walked out. Sun Linjian, who had been waiting anxiously outside the bathroom, looked at her with concern, on the verge of speaking but holding back.

Miao Lin forced a smile: ”If you have something to say, just say it.”

Sun Linjian swallowed hard and took the plunge: ”That girl Zhan Ping mentioned... is here.”

”Really?” Miao Lin looked surprised, ”Didn’t Zhan Ping say earlier that the girl was overseas and it wasn’t certain whether they would ever meet in this lifetime?”

Sun Linjian nodded: ”Yes, some things are just such coincidences. That girl happens to be a friend of Zhan Ping’s sister-in-law. They came here to wait for her.”

”I’ll go and take a look.” Miao Lin took a deep breath and walked forward with her chest puffed out.

”Lin Lin...” Li Xueqin pulled at her wrist with some worry, ”Do you really have to go?”

”Rest assured, I won’t make a scene. I’m not that superficial. I just want to see what kind of girl can make Zhan Ping think about her all the time.”

Sun Linjian hesitated for a moment, ”Actually, you’ve already met her.”

Miao Lin suddenly slapped her forehead, ”Right, how could I be so muddled? The girl who bumped into me just now was heading to Zhan Ping’s table. Ha, I must be getting old before my time, to overlook such a simple clue.

If it’s her, then I can lose without shame. Just by looks and temperament alone, she’s a top-notch person. It doesn’t matter anymore, I cannot lose the battle even if I lose the person, I can’t just run away like this.”

Seeing Miao Lin and the others approaching, Zhan Ping stood up and pointed to Luo Lian, introducing her, ”Miao Lin, this is the girl I like, Luo Lian.”

”Hello.” Luo Lian stood up, smiling and reaching out her hand, ”I’m very happy to meet you.”

”Me too.” Miao Lin said with a bitter smile, ”I won’t lie to you, I’ve liked Zhan Ping for a long time, but he has never responded to me.

I always thought that as long as I persisted, as long as I kept the title of Zhan Ping’s girlfriend, one day, he would accept me.

But today I finally understand that some things really can’t be forced. The old me was really too naive. Zhan Ping, rest assured, I won’t force you anymore. However, you should remember, it’s not that you don’t want me, it’s that I’m the one who dumped you.”

”Uh...” Zhan Ping wanted to retort, there was no ’dumping’ to begin with, but was glared at by Luo Lian and quickly said, ”Right, right, you dumped me.” He looked at Sun Linjian, ”Brother Sun, let’s not be at odds with each other anymore. She’s dumped me already.”

”Got it.” Sun Linjian nodded his head, ”If she still doesn’t accept me, that just shows I still need to work on improving myself. In any case, I’ll keep going.”

Miao Lin smiled, ”Today, I won’t disturb your gathering anymore. When we have time, I’d like to invite everyone for a meal, I hope you’ll honor me with your presence.”

”No problem, as long as we are in Beijing and time permits, we will surely come.” Ye Qinghe said, standing up and pulling her, ”Miao Lin, I really admire you, I wish you happiness in the future!”

”Thanks, feel free to come over and hang out with me in the future. Even if Zhan Ping and I aren’t lovers, we’re still friends.” Miao Lin said, looking at Luo Lian, ”Lianlian, you don’t mind, do you?”

Luo Lian shook her head with a smile, ”Right now, it seems I’m not in any position to say anything.”

”Who’s going to accompany me to the restroom?” Ye Shuo stood up, frowning, ”I think I’ve got a stomachache, it hurts a bit.”

”Did you sneakily eat ice cream this morning?” Ye Xuan glared at him, ”How many times have I said, you have a weak stomach and can’t eat too many cold foods. Why won’t you listen? Come on, I’ll go with you.”

”Big brother is the best.” Ye Shuo chuckled and brown-nosed.

Ye Qinghe rolled her eyes, ”If big brother doesn’t accompany you, do you expect me to? Do you want people to think I’m a pervert and arrest me?”

”Hehe... whether it’s third sister, little sister-in-law, or third brother...” They heard Ye Shuo rambling all the way to the restroom with Ye Xuan, while Luo Ye shook his head amusedly, ”Shuoshuo and Little Pumpkin would definitely become friends, their personalities are so alike.”

Ye Qinghe sighed lightly, ”When aunt (jiu shen) was pregnant with Shuoshuo, her health wasn’t great and she considered an abortion, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to do it. After he was born, his health was always poor, and it’s only through continuous care over these years that he’s become like a normal person.

Perhaps it’s the torment from his previous health issues that’s made Shuoshuo’s character much more open-minded than other kids his age. You see how he pretends to be funny; in reality, he’s very aware of what’s going on.”

”His health is alright now, isn’t it?” Miao Lin, who had taken a few steps away, came back.

”It’s fine now.” Ye Qinghe quickly replied.

Luo Lian smiled lightly, ”Miao Lin, you’re a kind-hearted girl. Zhan Ping, I advise you to take a good look at Miao Lin and think about who you really like. If you miss her, you’ll regret it.”

”I know she’s good, otherwise when she aggressively claimed she was my girlfriend, I wouldn’t have just avoided the issue instead of stopping her. But that’s how feelings are, there’s really no reason for why one likes someone...”

Suddenly feeling something was off, Luo Ye turned his head and saw Qiao Xiaowan, wearing a hat and covering most of her face with a large mask, walking over. He was so sure it was Qiao Xiaowan, naturally because of the look in her eyes. He stood up quickly, looking at her, ”What are you doing here?”

”Interesting, isn’t a café open to the public? You’re allowed to be here and I’m not?” Qiao Xiaowan snorted and continued, ”I’m not looking for you, don’t flatter yourself. I’m looking for Luo Lian.”

Luo Lian looked at her coldly, ”What do you want with me?”

”I am your sister, an undeniable fact. So, I hope that we can have a calm and peaceful talk and determine how we’ll get along in the future so our elders don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

Luo Lian looked at her skeptically, ”This really doesn’t seem like something you would do.”

”And what do you think I should do? Watch grandpa, grandma, and dad suffer because of the issues between you and me? Do you think I don’t feel anything? My face may be ruined, but my heart isn’t.” Qiao Xiaowan softened her tone, ”I don’t have many demands, just that when I return to the Qiao Family home, please don’t go back. Of course, when you’re there, I won’t return either. Is that acceptable?”

”That’s all?” Luo Lian appraised her, ”You could have simply made a phone call for this matter, why go to all this trouble?”

----

This is Nu’an’s second update; special thanks to ”Lonely Star112” for the reward, and to Pink for Nuan and all our subscribers with authentic subscriptions. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to go to Qidian () and cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)