Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

He Wenyu, holding several pages of scratch paper, couldn't control the tears streaming down her face, "Qianqian, wuwu, Qianqian, I'm sorry, wuwu."

Luo Qianqian quickly hugged He Wenyu, her small hand frantically wiping He Wenyu's face, "Godmom, it's just the multiplication table, we haven't even gotten to commutative law yet. Xiao Yu has memorized it well, so why make it hard for Xiao Yu?"

"Yeah, Godmom, she just learned it so don't study too much at once, biting off more than you can chew. Xiao Yu is already amazing, she didn't drink water or eat fruit this afternoon, and only went to the bathroom once." Luo Shufan also hurried to explain to He Wenyu. Although his sister was very impressive, after all, she was 'someone else's child,' there was no need to be so strict with their own child, especially since he, her own brother, could testify that aside from helping him with his homework and occasionally observing him while he did his homework, his sister truly hadn't studied much. She preferred fairy tales to textbooks and novels even more than fairy tales.

"Xiao Yu, I'm sorry, Mom didn't know. Look what this is, Mom knew you could do it, and had already made the necklace for you. You and Qianqian each have one, and they're exactly the same," Mother He, seeing her own daughter crying with snot and tears all over her face, also felt a bit guilty. She hurriedly showed the pendants hidden behind Little Bear, "And look, the blue bear is wearing denim shorts, and the yellow bear is wearing a denim skirt, they are unique to you two."

"Hmph, give it to me when I've earned it, Qianqian said you can't reap without sowing, a promise must be kept." He Wenyu spread out the scratch paper and began the addition calculation in the blank space, 4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4= how much, "Equals thirty-two, right? It's thirty-two."

"Xiao Yu is really amazing, this is your prize, the winner's prize." Mother He handed the two bears dressed in blue and yellow to her own daughter.

He Wenyu happily placed the yellow bear into Luo Qianqian's hands, "One for you and one for me, we will always be good friends like the little bears."

Which of your eyes can tell these two bears are good friends? Nevertheless, Luo Qianqian still nodded forcefully, "Mmm, best friends for a lifetime."

"Xiao Fan, since you're a boy, I didn't make such a big one for you, here, hang it on your keys." Mother He handed a 'Patchwork Bear' holding a football and wearing sneakers to Luo Shufan, who looked envious yet awkwardly turned his face away, "It was Qianqian's idea, and as her brother, you should definitely support it."

"As her brother, well then I shall reluctantly accept it, for the sake of having been made by Godmom," Luo Shufan didn't look at his sister's slightly amused gaze, but the tips of his ears turned red. He carefully took the Little Bear, taking out the key that felt so inconspicuous in his pocket. He vigorously rubbed the key with his clothes before tying the small cord on Patchwork Bear onto the key.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no one around him was looking, carefully putting away the key. He couldn't show signs of being happy, lest his sister became smug. He couldn't spoil his sister; otherwise, she wouldn't tell him things in the future.

Watching her brother's cautious manner, Luo Qianqian covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, and then promptly claimed, "My brother will definitely support me. My brother is the best brother in the world, smart and good-looking too, see how much his big eyes look like mine."

Luo Shufan was absolutely confident in his eyesight (vision), believing that as a good student, maintaining good vision and getting good grades was what truly defined a good student. He found staying up late, striving without enjoyment in play, and exhausting studies were very unpleasant things.

Luo Shufan, hearing his sister say he was the best brother and thus should support her, thought to himself that he'd always support his sister. After all, who else was the brother here if not him? He was meant to indulge her. Besides, watching his sister snicker was like watching a little mouse, easily bullied. Not only did he need to excel in his studies, but he also needed to grow tall so no one would dare to bully his sister and so he could earn some respect for her.

"Humph, if anyone should be grateful, it should be you. I was born way earlier than you," Luo Shufan said, feigning indifference and acting as if his support was a favor to her.

Luo Qianqian truly didn't want to mock her brother, but she couldn't know more than him and make him lose face. She rolled her eyes, silently pleading for forgiveness from Luo's Mom, who was at work, and her as-yet-unmet Dad Luo.

"Brother, I see other people's brothers speaking English. All I hear you doing is reciting words all day, but you never speak. Could it be that you're just not good at it?"

"Who says that? I just don't feel like speaking! If I memorize the words, then, then, then I'll definitely be able to speak English. It seems like English is getting harder and harder..." Luo Shufan was taken aback by his sister's jab, his spirits dampening. He knew all too well his shortcomings in English without her mentioning them. If it hadn't been for those half a month before exams when she watched over him, reciting vocabulary and reading English for thirty minutes a day, he would have likely not scored so high this time. Remembering the thick middle school English book he had seen in the bookstore made his head ache. Could it be that he wouldn't be able to become an enviable and admirable older brother?

"It's not like that, brother. Let's go and have a look around Experimental High School, okay? We can see how the older students study and even make a little money with 'Patchwork Bear' while we're at it." Luo Qianqian, truly unable to contribute towards English, could only hope that someone would be tempted by 'Patchwork Bear' and be willing to give her brother a few lessons to improve his parroting level of English.

"Yes, let's! I've been craving the fried chicken skewers sold at the door of Experimental High School for so long, six for one yuan. I usually can't bring myself to indulge," He Wenyu quickly stopped mistreating the Patchwork Bear wearing jeans in her hands and grabbed Luo Qianqian, "Qianqian, shall we go eat later? I've heard from Bolun Bosi and his siblings downstairs that it's really delicious with sweet, sour and sweet, spicy, and salty flavors to choose from."

"Brother, I want to eat too. Let's not bring our money bags, just some loose change will do. High school students won't have much money on them; it should all be small change, no need for change," Luo Qianqian said, not knowing just how wise her approach was at the time.

"Fine, one yuan each should be enough for us, right? We still have dinner later. Let's bring three yuan. But knowing you two, you'll definitely want ice cream after you're full. I'll take five yuan; that should suffice." Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu nodded happily in agreement. Then Luo Qianqian went to find a bag to pack the 'Patchwork Bears' that Mother He had finished, while He Wenyu hid the money pouch where it wouldn't be easily found, just as Luo Qianqian suggested.

"Go out and have fun, and don't fight with the kids over a few 'Patchwork Bears', you hear? If we run out of Little Bears, Mother He can make more for you. But if you get hurt and cry, that will break Mother He's heart," Mother He assumed the three kids were going out to show off 'Patchwork Bears' and give them away to their friends, thinking of them as just a bunch of old fabric scraps. She wasn't sentimental about it since there wasn't much else to do at home; making little toys to keep the kids happy seemed like a good thing.

"Mother He, don't worry, we won't fight. Besides, we'll be fine with brother around," Luo Qianqian stuck out her tongue, fully aware that her mischievousness held no sway in the eyes of elders, leaving her no choice but to use the usually dependable and sensible Luo Shufan as a shield.

Luo Shufan deployed the Luo family's signature move—a roll of the eyes—directed at his sister, followed by a sincere promise, "Mother He, don't worry, we'll be back before dinner."

"Brother, I'll let you carry the bag, it's so big. Look, I'm just like what mom says: 'a kitten carrying a big mouse.'" Luo Qianqian, seeing Mother He's nod of approval, happily set out without changing her clothes, wearing a loose-fitting dress just like the one He Wenyu wore as pajamas, following excitedly behind Luo Shufan.