Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 102: Familiar Eyes

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Familiar Eyes

Xu Yiming had not noticed anything unusual about the restaurant. He was here for a bowl of noodles.

Interestingly, not long ago, Ye Qiongfang had rarely accompanied him to inspect a nearby supermarket and happened to encounter an employee entering the office with takeout. Xu Yiming himself didn’t think much of it, as it was lunch break and employees had the freedom to eat and drink as they wished, and he wouldn’t interfere excessively.

In fact, the employee had indeed opened the takeout and was preparing to eat.

Xu Yiming glanced and then left with Ye Qiongfang.

Today, the two were again inspecting the supermarket.

Having just finished, Xu Yiming and Ye Qiongfang discussed what to have for lunch. Ye Qiongfang had not been having much of an appetite recently, barely able to eat much.

Hearing his question, Ye Qiongfang inexplicably recalled the noodles that the employee had eaten that day. She smelled the aroma and felt that the noodles were delicious. She was a bit tempted to try them.

Ye Qiongfang occasionally craved something tasty, which Xu Yiming understood very well.

So after she suggested it, Xu Yiming asked the employees where the noodles were from. That’s what led to the current situation.

Walking into the small restaurant, Xu Yiming saw two people inside and vaguely felt that Xu Chuning looked somewhat familiar. He paused, and as the other woman spoke, his thoughts were pulled back.

"What would you like?" You Shuzhen, oblivious to their odd behavior, asked as she looked up.

Xu Yiming: "Do you have zhajiangmian?"

It was well past normal lunchtime. Xu Yiming worried the shop might have stopped serving.

You Shuzhen checked, "Yes, how many would you like?"

Xu Yiming thought for a moment, "Two portions."

You Shuzhen nodded, "To go, or will you eat here?"

She gestured, "Feel free to sit anywhere."

Xu Yiming: "To go."

You Shuzhen went to cook the noodles, while Xu Chuning during their conversation pulled her wandering thoughts back. She shifted her gaze away from the man and was about to go help You Shuzhen when Xu Yiming suddenly spoke, "Classmate."

Xu Chuning’s steps halted, and she turned stiffly, "Hello, do you need anything?"

Xu Yiming met her eyes and smiled gently, "No, I don’t need anything. I just thought you looked familiar."

He asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"

Xu Yiming had a good memory, but he was usually too busy and met too many people to remember every face clearly that he occasionally encountered.

But looking at Xu Chuning, he felt she was very familiar.

Hearing Xu Yiming’s question, Xu Chuning paused and forced a smile, "Probably not, I’m still a student. You might have mistaken me for someone else."

Xu Yiming looked startled, suddenly feeling a sense of loss, "Sorry, maybe I did."

Xu Chuning hummed in acknowledgment, not continuing the conversation.

She walked not far to where You Shuzhen was, took out the takeaway boxes, and placed them in front of her for easy packing.

Soon, the two zhajiangmian were ready.

After packing them up and handing them to Xu Yiming, he paid and left.

The whole process seemed to take just about ten minutes, but Xu Chuning felt that the two bowls of noodles You Shuzhen made took a very long time.

Watching Xu Yiming walk away, his figure even disappearing from sight, Xu Chuning lowered her gaze and turned to sit on a nearby bench.

New customers came into the restaurant, and You Shuzhen continued to be busy.

Xu Chuning quietly sat in the corner, mechanically pulling out a calligraphy practice book from her bag, preparing to practice her writing. When she opened the book and picked up the pen to start tracing the strokes, she realized her hand was trembling.

Despite having no hopes or feelings whatsoever towards them.

For some unknown reasons, each time she confronted them face-to-face, Xu Chuning’s body would uncontrollably undergo significant emotional fluctuations.

If it wasn’t for the restrictions, Xu Chuning really wanted to see a psychologist to find out the reason.

As she was lost in chaotic thoughts, You Shuzhen’s voice entered her ears, "Ningning."

Xu Chuning suddenly looked up, "Huh?"

Noticing something amiss, You Shuzhen furrowed her brows and came over, "What’s wrong? You look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"

She raised her hand to touch Xu Chuning’s forehead, feeling that her temperature was slightly lower than usual, "You’re not having a heatstroke, are you?"

Xu Chuning hesitated before shaking her head, "I shouldn’t be."

You Shuzhen: "Whether it is or isn’t, you went out with Xiao Shen today, and it was too hot outside. Drink some Huoxiang Zhengqi water."

Xu Chuning: "..."

She blinked slowly and hastily said, "Mom, I’m fine. I’m definitely not having a heatstroke, I probably just..."

Xu Chuning struggled to find an excuse, not wanting to drink Huoxiang Zhengqi water. However, You Shuzhen wasn’t listening. She turned around to get the Huoxiang Zhengqi water and placed it in front of her, "Have some. Even if you haven’t had heatstroke, you can drink it to prevent one."

...

If there’s something Xu Chuning hated the most in summer, it was definitely Huoxiang Zhengqi water.

Before high school, she often fell ill.

During the summer, just stepping out briefly and returning home could cause her to have heatstroke. Over time, You Shuzhen always had Huoxiang Zhengqi water ready, and whenever Xu Chuning showed the slightest discomfort, she would definitely make her drink one or two bottles of it.

Every time she thought of the taste of Huoxiang Zhengqi water, Xu Chuning felt like fainting.

Mother and daughter stood firm, You Shuzhen raised her hand and tapped her head, "Drink up, Mom will pour you a glass of warm water."

Knowing she couldn’t escape the Huoxiang Zhengqi water that day, Xu Chuning sighed helplessly and compromised, "Okay, but I won’t drink it tomorrow."

You Shuzhen couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "As long as you don’t feel unwell, Mom won’t make you drink it."

Xu Chuning wanted to say that she wasn’t feeling unwell at the moment either; she had just seen someone unexpectedly, which caused her emotional fluctuation.

But these words, she could not tell You Shuzhen for now.

After drinking the Huoxiang Zhengqi water, Xu Chuning also drank a large glass of warm water that You Shuzhen had poured for her, barely managing to suppress the pungent taste.

She slowed down and lazily told You Shuzhen, "Mom, I’ve finished drinking."

You Shuzhen smiled, "Good, Mom saw it. Are you tired? Why don’t you go home and rest for a while?"

"No need," Xu Chuning softly said, "I’ll just rest in the shop."

She didn’t want to go back alone, nor did she want to leave You Shuzhen alone in the shop.

Occasionally seeing You Shuzhen alone in the shop, Xu Chuning always felt she looked so lonely. She wanted to spend more time with her.

You Shuzhen knew about Xu Chuning’s stubbornness and didn’t try to persuade her further.

Xu Chuning exhaled a breath and picked up the pen to resume her writing practice.

Suddenly, she thought of something, looked up at You Shuzhen and said, "Mom."

You Shuzhen: "What is it?"

Putting down her pen, recalling the few words Xu Yiming had just spoken with You Shuzhen in the shop and Shen Yubai’s suggestion from before, she discussed with You Shuzhen, "Have you really not considered opening a bigger restaurant?"

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