Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 128: Heartache

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Heartache

Xu Chuning had been clingy with her grandmother for quite a while before she noticed someone in the staircase.

She instinctively looked up, and the moment her eyes met Shen Yubai’s, her mind was a bit bewildered, "You..."

She blinked and said incredulously, "How come you are up so early?"

Grandmother also looked up, "Xiao Shen, did we wake you up?"

"No, grandma." Shen Yubai walked down the last few steps, smiled and said, "I went to bed early last night."

That was the truth; it had been a long time since he went to bed at eleven.

The countryside seemed to have the power to hypnotize, making him and the other night owls feel sleepy early.

Hearing this, grandma was relieved, "That’s good. If you’re tired, go back to sleep for a while."

"It’s okay." Shen Yubai looked at Xu Chuning, "I’m going to see if Aunt You needs any help."

Xu Chuning: "My mom plans to water the vegetable garden. Do you want to go?"

Shen Yubai raised his eyebrows: "How to water?"

He didn’t know.

Xu Chuning paused, glanced at his strong arms, and couldn’t help asking, "Are you strong?"

"?"

Shen Yubai was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Xu Chuning: "We need to carry water from the well or bring water to the vegetable garden."

Shen Yubai: "..."

He fell silent for three seconds, staring directly at Xu Chuning, "Will you teach me?"

Breakfast was too early, and after Shen Yubai nodded, the three of them went to the vegetable garden. You Shuzhen was initially reluctant because she didn’t believe Shen Yubai could carry two buckets of water, but since Shen Yubai insisted, she went with him anyway.

After all, if he couldn’t manage, she was there.

The three first went to draw water from the well, You Shuzhen demonstrated, and Shen Yubai understood.

At first, Shen Yubai indeed didn’t think two buckets of water would be too heavy, but he overlooked that he had never done farm work before and never carried such heavy things on his shoulders.

Thus, when he got up, Shen Yubai was caught off guard, and his legs even felt a bit weak.

"Xiao Shen!" You Shuzhen quickly called out, "Why don’t I do it instead?"

Shen Yubai was stunned for a moment, covered his mouth and said, "Aunt You, I can do it."

He saw Xu Chuning’s worried expression from a distance and explained, "I just wasn’t prepared just now, trust me, I can carry it."

You Shuzhen hesitated: "Really? Don’t hurt yourself."

"I won’t." Shen Yubai nodded firmly, "Let me try again."

The second time, Shen Yubai was psychologically prepared and used more strength. This time, he stably picked up the water, and then Xu Chuning led the way to the vegetable garden.

Xu Chuning was responsible for watering, You Shuzhen took care of weeding.

The three of them cooperated and completed the task in less than an hour, leaving the vegetable garden spotless.

When they got back home, it was only seven o’clock.

Noticing something off with Shen Yubai, Xu Chuning poured a glass of water and approached him, asking softly, "Are you okay?"

Shen Yubai: "Do you guys always work like this?"

Xu Chuning replied, "Hmm," "What’s wrong?"

Shen Yubai frowned and after a pause asked, "The water I carried, Aunt You said you could carry it too."

"Yes." Xu Chuning didn’t quite understand what he meant, "You get used to it."

Shen Yubai was silent for a while.

Xu Chuning turned her head in confusion, "Why aren’t you talking?"

Shen Yubai pulled back his wandering thoughts, looked at her and said, "Sorry."

"Huh?" Xu Chuning didn’t understand why he was apologizing to her.

Shen Yubai looked at her bewildered expression and did not intend to explain further. His apology was for his past perception of Xu Chuning. He knew she came from an ordinary family, but he had never imagined she would need to do so much, so many things... that even a big guy like him might not be able to handle.

He suddenly felt a bit of heartache for Xu Chuning.

What Shen Yubai didn’t realize at the moment was that the sympathy and emotional pain he felt for someone had already set him on a path of no return.

Shen Yubai was silent for a moment, picked up the glass of water she poured, and said softly, "It’s okay."

Xu Chuning: "..."

She frowned, feeling that Shen Yubai was acting oddly. Just as she was about to ask more, the sound of Deng Xitong and Ban Shu talking came from the stairs.

Xu Chuning turned her head, "You’re awake."

"Mm-hm." Deng Xitong nodded, surprised, "What time did you guys get up?"

So early.

Xu Chuning: "We woke up rather early."

Ban Shu blinked, looking at Shen Yubai: "How early is ’rather early’?"

Shen Yubai gave him a glance, "5:30."

Ban Shu: "..."

Deng Xitong: "..."

Nothing to say.

But fortunately, they weren’t the last ones up. When Deng Xitong walked out of the room, Cheng Mingyin was still sleeping.

"You guys go freshen up, breakfast will be ready soon," Xu Chuning said.

Deng Xitong nodded her head, "Okay."

Shortly after, Cheng Mingyin and Yu Gaoyi also got up.

After everyone freshened up, breakfast was ready.

After breakfast, the sun wasn’t too harsh outside, everyone was full of energy, changed their clothes, and set off to the pond to catch fish.

The pond belonged to a family in town, You Shuzhen had spoken to them, and the group went over to experience the joy of fishing.

Xu Chuning didn’t go into the pond, she had experienced it quite early and didn’t find it novel.

Before Shen Yubai went down, he asked her, "Really not going?"

Xu Chuning shook her head: "Be careful, I’ll stay here and look after things."

Shen Yubai hummed, took out his cellphone from his pocket, "Call us if you need anything."

Xu Chuning responded.

After seeing a few people go down to the pond, Xu Chuning picked up her phone, took a couple of photos, and sent them to Shen Sinian.

Shen Sinian happened to see it after finishing his scene, and quickly called Xu Chuning.

"Ningning!" Hearing his energetic voice, Xu Chuning smiled slightly: "Are you resting?"

She asked.

Shen Sinian: "Yeah, what are they doing?"

"They are catching fish in the pond," Xu Chuning told him, "Have you done this when I brought you back to Pingning before?"

Shen Sinian: "No."

Each time Xu Chuning took Shen Sinian back to her hometown in the future, it was during Qingming festival. She took him there to pay respects to You Shuzhen and her grandmother.

Hearing this, Xu Chuning was somewhat surprised, "I never took you to experience these activities?"

Shen Sinian hummed.

Xu Chuning began to doubt her future self, was she that much of a failure? She hadn’t even shared these ordinary joys of Pingning with Shen Sinian.

Noticing Xu Chuning’s shift in mood, Shen Sinian covered his mouth and coughed before asking, "How long have they been down there, did they catch any fish?"

Xu Chuning: "No."

She gathered her thoughts, gently saying, "Is filming tiring?"

"Not tiring," Shen Sinian said, "But I kind of want to go to Pingning."

Xu Chuning laughed softly, "When you have time, I’ll accompany you."

She wants to come back just with him alone.

Shen Sinian happily, "Really?"

"Of course." Xu Chuning asked, "When have I ever lied to you?"

Shen Sinian was silent.

Xu Chuning was startled, "Did I really lie to you?"

Shen Sinian hesitated, "Not really a lie, you’re just busy with work."

"..." Xu Chuning regretful, "I’m sorry."

She apologized on behalf of her future self.