Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 116: Hint

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Hint

Picking up the phone, Shen Yubai’s voice was cold as it entered her ears, "What are you doing?"

Xu Chuning paused, slowly walked over to the desk in her room and sat down, speaking softly, "Just got back to my room, about to practice calligraphy."

Shen Yubai: "..."

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips slightly curling in, "Haven’t finished practicing with the copybook yet?"

"Almost." Xu Chuning glanced at it, "Just one book left."

Shen Yubai understood, "How does it feel?"

"I... don’t know." Xu Chuning faintly felt that her writing had improved a lot recently, but she couldn’t boast about it, could she? She wasn’t used to boasting and wasn’t the type who had much self-confidence.

"What does ’I don’t know’ mean?" Shen Yubai didn’t quite understand.

Xu Chuning was speechless, not wanting to continue this topic with him, "I don’t know just means I don’t know."

She muttered, "Did you call me just to ask about my calligraphy progress?"

Shen Yubai: "..."

He was amused by Xu Chuning’s question, his eyebrows slightly lifting as he said: "Xu Chuning."

Xu Chuning’s breathing hitched, and there was a slight bit of nervousness as she pursed her lips, "What?"

Shen Yubai: "Never mind, let’s not quibble over this."

He was being generous, "When do you plan to go to Linqiu Town?"

The sudden change of topic by Shen Yubai left Xu Chuning a bit stunned. She pondered for a few seconds, then said hesitantly, "Next week, perhaps."

It wouldn’t be good for her to leave Pingning immediately after coming back; she wanted to spend more time with her grandma.

Shen Yubai replied, "Have you checked the route from Pingning to Linqiu?"

"I have." Xu Chuning had researched the route early on; the most cost-effective way from Pingning to Linqiu was by train, but the train had to be taken from the city, which was relatively inconvenient. The most convenient option was to take the bus from the county town in Pingning Town to Linqiu; there was a direct bus to Linqiu Town, it’s just that the journey would be relatively longer, taking over three hours.

"Then are you planning to take the bus, or train with connections?" Shen Yubai asked.

Xu Chuning: "I’m still hesitating."

She had the time during the summer holiday and wanted to save as much money as possible.

Shen Yubai understood; he paused for a moment then asked again, "Are you planning to go alone?"

Xu Chuning: "...Yeah."

"How do you plan to explain it to Aunt You?" Shen Yubai pressed.

Xu Chuning: "I’ll just say I’m going to hang out with classmates for a few days; she won’t ask further."

You Shuzhen was very trusting of Xu Chuning; she had always been an open-minded parent. As long as Xu Chuning wished to do something, she supported her unconditionally. Likewise, wherever Xu Chuning wanted to go, she wouldn’t stop her.

Shen Yubai frowned, "Aren’t you afraid of going to Linqiu alone?"

"What is there to be afraid of?" Xu Chuning didn’t quite understand, "It’s not like I’m going into some deep, remote forest."

Shen Yubai had nothing to say.

After a moment of silence, Shen Yubai hinted again, "Have you ever thought about asking someone to accompany you?" He gave examples, "Like classmates or friends."

Xu Chuning responded without much thought, "No."

Firstly, the matter of looking for Li Xiaonan was something she intended to keep from You Shuzhen for now. If there was anticipation, there would be disappointment, and she was worried that once again, she might not be able to find Li Xiaonan. Secondly, if she invited classmates or friends to accompany her, it was sure that she would have to cover their expenses, and while Xu Chuning wasn’t short of a few hundred yuan, she also didn’t want to spend more than necessary.

Of course, the more important reason was that the parents of classmates and friends might not be at ease, so inviting them would naturally mean taking on certain responsibilities.

Xu Chuning was a rather rational person who weighed her options.

Unaware of Xu Chuning’s inner thoughts, Shen Yubai made an affirmative noise, his tone indifferent as he asked, "Not considering it at all?"

Xu Chuning was about to say no, but suddenly sensed something unusual about Shen Yubai today; usually, when she rejected an idea, he wouldn’t ask further. Yet today was an exception.

Realizing what Shen Yubai was implying, Xu Chuning froze, her lips slightly parted, "What are you trying to say?"

Shen Yubai: "I’m free these days."

Xu Chuning: "..."

She raised her hand to touch her nose and blinked lightly, "Aren’t you going to visit Shen Sinian?"

"He’s not in a hurry," Shen Yubai replied.

Hearing this, Xu Chuning felt a bit amused. She pressed down the corners of her lips that were curling up and said vaguely, "Does Shen Sinian know you’re being so excessive?"

Shen Yubai hummed affirmatively, justified, "How am I being excessive?"

Xu Chuning couldn’t argue with him.

Silence fell for a while, then Xu Chuning spoke softly, "If it’s not too much trouble, I don’t mind having one more person going to Linqiu."

No sooner had her words fallen than Xu Chuning heard Shen Yubai’s reply, "Understood."

He told her, "Before we go, I will contact the police there."

Xu Chuning pursed her lips, "Thank you."

Shen Yubai: "Say that after we find the person."

Xu Chuning: "...Oh."

The conversation was over, but the call wasn’t disconnected.

Hearing the breathing of the person on the other end, Xu Chuning’s heartbeat was a bit irregular. She awkwardly touched the ear that was against the phone, "So shall I hang up? Any issues, we talk on QQ?"

Shen Yubai said indifferently, "Tell them to go to Pingning later."

Both knew who ’they’ referred to.

Xu Chuning thought for a moment, "I’ll let them know later."

After hanging up the call, Xu Chuning sat in front of her desk in a daze for a while before she gathered her wandering thoughts and started practicing calligraphy.

After practicing calligraphy, she remembered the arrangements she made with Shen Yubai and asked Deng Xitong and Cheng Mingyin in a small group of girls if they could come to Pingning half a month later. She’s been a bit busy recently and would be freer after half a month.

Deng Xitong and Cheng Mingyin had no objections; they listened to Xu Chuning’s arrangements.

Anyway, it would only be mid-July after half a month. After playing in Pingning for a few days and returning home, they would still have a few days to rest before school started.

Having tentatively settled the matter, Xu Chuning felt much more at ease.

The next evening, Xu Chuning told You Shuzhen about her wish to go out and have fun for a few days.

You Shuzhen was stunned and asked with whom she was going.

Xu Chuning directly mentioned Shen Yubai’s name.

You Shuzhen fell silent for a while, her eyes hesitating before saying, "Ningning, Mom won’t stop you from going out with Xiao Shen to have fun, but I still need to say this: be careful and know your limits."

Xu Chuning saw the look of concern on You Shuzhen’s face and nodded lightly, "Mom, I know what you’re worried about. Rest assured, it’s not what you think."

You Shuzhen understood, "I know you’re not impulsive, but Mom still needs to remind you."

"I have something to do going out with Shen Yubai, but I can’t tell you what it is for now," Xu Chuning candidly said, "Once it’s taken care of, I’ll tell you right away."

You Shuzhen nodded, "Okay."

After agreeing, she asked, "When are you planning to go?"

"Next week."

"Is Xiao Shen coming to Pingning to leave with you, or are you meeting at the destination?"

Xu Chuning: "...I think we are supposed to meet at the destination."

They hadn’t discussed how to meet up, but Xu Chuning guessed they were likely to meet in Linqiu. Linqiu is closer to Jiang City, so it didn’t make sense for Shen Yubai to come to Pingning and then travel to Linqiu with her—it would be a huge detour and quite unnecessary.

You Shuzhen nodded, "Alright."

However, what Xu Chuning did not expect at all was that Shen Yubai really did take a big detour.

The day before they set off, when Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai were discussing where to meet in Linqiu, Shen Yubai responded with a message: "I’m in Lixi."

Lixi is the county town of Pingning.

Xu Chuning was stunned: "Huh? Why are you in Lixi?"

Shen Yubai: "Is there a problem going from Lixi to Linqiu?"