Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 122: Do You Believe Me?

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Do You Believe Me?

Silently, the three of them returned to the hotel and got out of the car.

Brother Wang used a look to signal to Shen Yubai, "I’m going to buy some things. Call me if you need anything."

Shen Yubai nodded.

Walking upstairs with Xu Chuning, they reached the door of their room. Shen Yubai stopped her as she was about to enter, "Xu Chuning."

Xu Chuning turned, "What?"

Shen Yubai lowered his gaze to her reddened eyes and gently touched her head, "Don’t be disappointed, we will find her."

"..." Hearing Shen Yubai’s words, Xu Chuning, who had been suppressing her emotions, tried to resist but couldn’t help shedding tears, "I don’t want to be like this."

She raised her hand to wipe away the tears that had fallen, her lips pursed and her expression stubborn, "I couldn’t help it."

That’s just how people are; even if you know there’s little hope, you can’t help but hold onto a certain amount of expectation for something.

Xu Chuning prides herself on being strong, but when she heard what the orphanage director said and saw the living conditions there, she couldn’t control her sadness and heartache. Just thinking about how long You Shuzhen’s biological daughter had lived there and suffered made her heart ache and made it difficult for her to cope.

Shen Yubai rarely heard her say something so childish; Xu Chuning, in front of him and her other classmates, was exceptionally independent and mature.

Suddenly hearing her say this, Shen Yubai was, for a moment, uncertain about how to comfort her.

He quieted down and spoke softly, "I know."

He hesitantly raised his hand and gently patted her back in comfort, "I will help you find her, I promise."

Shen Yubai looked at Xu Chuning, his dark pupils filled with determination, "We didn’t find her this time, but there will be a next time." He locked eyes with her and said softly, "Trust me."

Xu Chuning paused.

The two locked eyes for a moment, and she blinked gently, tears falling from her lashes, "Okay."

She did trust him.

Shen Yubai comforted her for a while and told her to go wash her face in her room first; they would rest for a bit and then go eat something.

After saying this, he asked Xu Chuning, "Do you want to go back to Pingning this afternoon or stay here for a couple more days?"

Xu Chuning looked at him, "Can I think about it?"

Shen Yubai nodded, "Go wash your face first, and call me when you’re done."

Xu Chuning nodded.

Both went back to their rooms, washed their faces in the bathroom, and Xu Chuning looked up at the mirror to see her red, tear-streaked eyes. Suddenly, recalling the scene where she had cried in front of Shen Yubai, she felt belated embarrassment.

She covered her face with a hand, sighing with a tinge of helplessness.

Why couldn’t she have held back?

Xu Chuning regretted it dearly.

Washing her face in the bathroom and feeling slightly more awake, Xu Chuning stepped out and checked the time. It was past noon, and after some thought, she sent a message to Shen Yubai: "I’m ready. Shall we go eat now?"

Shen Yubai: "Sure, is there anything in particular you want to eat?"

Xu Chuning: "I’m fine with anything."

Shen Yubai: "."

Xu Chuning pursed her lips, about to ask what he meant by the period when there was a knock at the door.

She hurried to the door and opened it.

Their eyes met; Xu Chuning, feeling slightly embarrassed, averted her gaze and asked with moving lips, "What shall we eat?"

Shen Yubai: "How about some local specialties?"

Xu Chuning had no objections.

"What about Brother Wang?" Xu Chuning asked.

Shen Yubai: "He’s waiting for us downstairs."

The two went downstairs to meet Brother Wang and proceeded to a local specialty restaurant.

"How’s it going, Xu?" Brother Wang looked at her, "Are you okay?"

Xu Chuning smiled apologetically, "It’s alright."

Brother Wang nodded, "Don’t be too upset, looking for someone is inherently difficult. It was inevitable when the internet wasn’t well-developed."

Xu Chuning understood, "I know."

The three of them ordered a table full of dishes, and after eating, Xu Chuning looked at Shen Yubai, "Shall we return to Lixi today?"

Shen Yubai was surprised, "Not staying here for another day?"

Xu Chuning shook her head, "I don’t want to stay here any longer."

Shen Yubai agreed, then asked, "Why not directly return to Pingning?"

"If I go back just after two days, my mom will be suspicious," Xu Chuning said.

Shen Yubai smiled, "Okay, then let’s go back to Lixi first."

After discussing, the three of them went back to the hotel to pack up, checked out, and left.

The journey home felt a bit more oppressive than the trip coming here.

But Xu Chuning had good adaptability and self-regulation abilities.

By the time they arrived in Lixi, she had mostly recovered. Lixi was a county-level city above Pingning, and Xu Chuning hadn’t been there many times. As a child, her stomping grounds were limited to Pingning.

Later, when she grew up and went to Jiang City with You Shuzhen, that was her first time visiting the place called Lixi County.

Shen Yubai booked the same hotel they stayed in at the beginning.

After checking in, Xu Chuning remembered to ask Shen Yubai, "When do you plan to go back?"

"Go back where?" Shen Yubai casually asked without much thought.

Xu Chuning paused and looked at him with wide eyes, "Aren’t you going back to Jiang City?"

Shen Yubai glanced at her, his eyebrows lifted slightly, "What, you don’t welcome me to stay here for a few more days?"

Xu Chuning opened her mouth and quickly said, "That’s not what I mean."

"..." Shen Yubai looked at her nervously, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "Just kidding."

Xu Chuning gave him a sidelong glance.

Shen Yubai raised his hand and knocked on her head, then suddenly asked, "Didn’t Deng Xitong and the others say they wanted to visit your hometown? Did they set a date?"

Xu Chuning was momentarily stunned, then somewhat understood his intention, "You mean, go to Pingning with them?"

"Going by myself would be too abrupt," Shen Yubai said.

He and Xu Chuning currently had a clean and straightforward relationship as classmates, and You Shuzhen wouldn’t speculate about early romance because she knew how the two interacted. But Xu Chuning’s neighbors in her hometown might not see it the same way.

He didn’t want Xu Chuning to be the subject of gossip by the neighbors, saying unpleasant things.

Similarly, he didn’t want to go back to Jiang City and then return.

So the best solution was for Deng Xitong and the others to come to Pingning. In this way, if they all went out together, the neighbors would see and would not talk.

After knowing Shen Yubai’s intention, Xu Chuning hesitated for a few seconds, "Shall I ask if they’re free these few days?"

Shen Yubai responded, "Sure."

Ten minutes later, Xu Chuning looked up at Shen Yubai, "... Should we ask Ban Shu and Yu Gaoyi too?"

Shen Yubai said, "Up to you."

Xu Chuning considered; if Ban Shu and Yu Gaoyi also came, her home would need to squeeze in to accommodate everyone. But if they didn’t come, having Shen Yubai, a young man, stay over didn’t seem quite right either.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Xu Chuning still asked.

Soon, both Ban Shu and Yu Gaoyi gave her their replies—they were very happy to visit Pingning.

Finally, the group discussed in the chat and decided to buy tickets to come over the day after tomorrow.

After the arrangements were made, Ban Shu tagged Shen Yubai in the group, asking if he wanted to join.

Before Xu Chuning could stop Shen Yubai from replying, she saw his response pop up in the group: [I’m already here.]

Ban Shu and the others: [?????]

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