Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack
Chapter 442 - 422: The Path Ahead for Lu Simiao

Chapter 442: Chapter 422: The Path Ahead for Lu Simiao

"Going to school?" Lu Simiao’s face lit up with thrilled surprise.

Luo Qianqian chuckled as she ruffled his hair, "You don’t think that tuition is going to be more expensive than your current boarding fees, do you? But I probably need to find you a boarding school because your sister has to go to school too."

A flash of disappointment crossed Lu Simiao’s eyes, but he quickly nodded, "I want to go to school."

Luo Qianqian, sitting on the bed while massaging her legs, looked towards the computer screen, "Are you going to elementary or middle school? It seems there aren’t any boarding options for elementary."

"Middle school," Lu Simiao said promptly, adhering to his principle of not causing extra trouble for his sister.

Yet, Luo Qianqian frowned, "I just thought of a problem..." Seeing Lu Simiao’s gaze turn towards her, she tried to twist her lips into a smile but couldn’t quite manage it, "Who will attend the parent-teacher meetings for you?"

Lu Simiao glanced at Luo Qianqian’s height and her youthful appearance and hesitated too.

"Also... grade skipping or being held back isn’t allowed anymore..." Looking at Lu Simiao, who was clearly just a child, Luo Qianqian said dishearteningly.

"Has your brother-in-law left?" Lu Simiao, chin in hand, his face full of conflict, was mindful of the issue with age.

Luo Qianqian nodded and started searching for suitable schools on her phone. Her eyes lit up, "This school would work, Capital City University’s affiliated primary, middle, and high school are all combined into an enclosed elite academy with boarding options. I can just come pick you up on the weekends."

Lu Simiao frowned, however, as each word—Capital City University, affiliated, enclosed, elite—signified steep tuition fees. He knew Luo Qianqian wasn’t short on money, but he still felt uneasy. Touched, he silently vowed to repay this serendipitous sister in the future.

"That’s great, it’s near our school too. Later I’ll go and rent or rather, buy a house. You can come home on the weekends, and I’ll cook for you," Luo Qianqian said excitedly, completely overlooking potential issues.

Like, whether she had enough money.

Or, whether what she cooked would be edible.

And, whether she would have time on the weekends.

Lu Simiao nodded without a word.

Once Luo Qianqian had an idea, she immediately started looking for someone to fill the parent role. If she went to the parent-teacher meeting, the teachers might mistake her for a student. She wouldn’t take that risk. She flicked through her contacts, Luo Yanran, pass. A celebrity parent at an elementary school would only invite gossip. As a sister, she didn’t want to put her brother in that position.

Qin Nuan was a continued pass. Although they were close, the youthful-looking Qin Nuan was out of the question. The main reason, however, was not wanting Luo Yanran to find out.

Scrolling through, it seemed as though her own brothers were all too busy. Uncles and aunts definitely wouldn’t agree to her adopting a child like a pet, and they might even send him to an orphanage, which wasn’t what Luo Qianqian wanted. Her great-uncle was always on the move, utterly unreliable, and Bai Yixian was always out and about with him, nearly impossible to find.

Bai Yizhu might look mature, but as far as she knew, his disdain for schools was at the top of his list of dislikes.

Lin Jiayou, who was still recovering from heartbreak, and their school year was starting late. By the time it started, Lu Simiao would need to be at school, so it wouldn’t work timing-wise. Besides, as a brother, Luo Qianqian would rather have Lin Jiayou stay home where he could keep an eye on their mother.

Hu Si and Hei Yu didn’t even come into consideration—one was too far away, and the other seemed like the kind of mad scientist who would never have children.

Qin Liang and Qin Wen, with Qin Liang also being distant and his work not allowing him to show up for parent-teacher meetings at any given time.

It seems that Qin Wen is the only suitable choice, with a trustworthy profession and an aura of righteousness—most importantly, he looks like a qualified guardian.

Qianqian wasted no time and called Qin Wen directly.

Qin Wen, having just finished his shower, thought for a moment upon hearing the private number, then smiled when he saw Cherry Maruko’s avatar and answered the phone.

Qianqian explained the situation to him, and Qin Wen said he could help, but because Lu Simiao was so young, an adoption procedure would be necessary.

Feeling compassion for Lu Simiao’s circumstances, he decided right then to proceed with the adoption, and Qianqian gratefully ended the call.

Having heard Qianqian’s conversation, Lu Simiao knew his issues were being resolved and heaved a sigh of relief. Before this, he had wondered what he could do, even considering whether he might end up living his whole life aimlessly in the hotel. To his surprise, not only did Qianqian suggest he go to school, but she truly treated him like family, empathetically considering his situation.

"Sis..." Lu Simiao called out to Qianqian, his eyes welling up.

Qianqian put down her phone, saw Lu Simiao’s teary eyes, and thought of his inner turmoil. She kept a straight face, "You see how hard I’m working? You’d better treat me well in the future, or else I’ll throw you into a restaurant to wash dishes." It was an empty threat without any real force behind it; at the foot of The Emperor, who would knowingly hire child labor?

However, Lu Simiao broke into a smile, "Sis, don’t worry. If I don’t treat you well, my parents will come to me in a dream and take me away." His tone was indescribably serious. Qianqian curled the corner of her lips and didn’t argue; it would do him good to express his thoughts rather than bottling them up and brooding over them.

"Then go play for now. Tomorrow..." Thinking about her legs that felt as if they were no longer her own, Qianqian immediately corrected herself, "The day after tomorrow, I’ll go with you to buy the things you need for school. You have to go to bed early tomorrow and are not allowed to play games anymore."

Lu Simiao promptly stood at attention and saluted smartly, replying with gusto, "Yes, ma’am!"

Qianqian chuckled, "Remember to look up what you want to eat. I’ll take you out for a meal, but I’m too tired today to take you out for dinner. Just have something simple on your own." As she spoke, she reached for her wallet again.

Before Qianqian could get the money out, Lu Simiao closed her wallet, "Sis, I haven’t even spent all the money you gave me last time. You’re going to spoil me rotten this way."

Seeing the earnest look on Lu Simiao’s face, Qianqian had no choice but to put away her wallet, nodding, "Then I’ll head back first. Don’t keep playing games."

Lu Simiao obediently agreed.

His interest in video games was only fleeting curiosity and, having played them every day, his interest had faded. Now, his hobby was anime.

Qianqian gave him a few more reminders before leaving. Lu Simiao closed the door behind her, a smile spreading unstoppably across his face as he looked out the window, "Dad, Mom, do you see? I have a sister, a very kind sister. I’m doing well. I will live well."

Qianqian took a cab and didn’t immediately head home; instead, she went to a supermarket to buy a yoga mat and dumbbells, then, feeling fully satisfied, returned home to the Luo Family, determined to maintain her abs.

The Luo Family home was left with only Old Master Luo and Yue Tingyu. Old Master Luo was affectionately massaging Yue Tingyu’s legs, as both daughters-in-law had left after a long day.

Seeing Qianqian return, Yue Tingyu immediately suggested, "Have a foot soak later to relax a bit."

Qianqian nodded, and Old Master Luo’s eyes drifted to the bags behind Qianqian, "What do you need that stuff for?"

With a look that said it should be obvious, Qianqian pouted, "To keep in shape, of course. I can’t wait until I’m at school to start thinking about losing weight, right?"

Old Master Luo was at a loss for words. Wasn’t this child maturing a bit too early?

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