Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 130: Childhood Photos

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Childhood Photos

No matter whether it was possible or not, the words blurted out by Shen Sinian were definitely the truth.

For a time, Shen Yubai and Xu Chuning fell into contemplation and reflection.

The two sat facing each other, and after a moment of silence, said, "When do you plan to return to Jiang City?"

Xu Chuning raised her eyes: "What do you want to do?"

Shen Yubai: "Do you want to come with me to the film crew?"

The future was something they couldn’t control for now. But Sinian had revealed the fact that they would accompany him too little in the future, and knowing this, they should make amends.

Xu Chuning had already gone out once this summer, and it might not be appropriate to go out again.

She pondered for a moment, "Let me think about it?"

Shen Yubai hummed in agreement, not in a hurry to push her to make an immediate decision.

"School doesn’t start for another half a month, take your time to consider," Shen Yubai said.

Xu Chuning nodded, her gaze inexplicably meeting his.

Shen Yubai’s eyes were beautiful, the perfect almond shape, with clear distinction between the black and white, dark and profound, carrying an innate sense of sternness, a tranquil vibe.

Occasionally catching sight of him, Xu Chuning would find herself at a loss for words, not knowing how to describe the beauty of his eyes.

Sinian’s eyes looked like his.

Noticing the fluctuation in Xu Chuning’s expression, Shen Yubai gently raised his eyebrows, "Why are you not speaking?"

Xu Chuning paused and then pressed her lips together, "You aren’t speaking either."

"..."

Apparently not expecting her to retort, Shen Yubai couldn’t help but slightly curve his lips into a faint smile, "Xu Chuning."

Xu Chuning was taken aback, "What?"

Why was he suddenly calling her by her full name so formally? Xu Chuning had many thoughts in her mind.

Shen Yubai moved his gaze away from her, speaking softly, "Nothing, just calling you."

Xu Chuning paused, and only after a delay did she realize, her cheeks flushing slightly, "Oh, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go downstairs."

Shen Yubai lowered his eyes, looking at the book she was holding, "Aren’t you going to take a nap?"

"I’m not sleepy yet." Xu Chuning spoke honestly, "I want to read for a bit."

Shen Yubai understood, "Then go ahead."

Xu Chuning: "Go where?"

She was a bit dazed.

Shen Yubai slightly lifted his chin, gesturing outward, "Didn’t you say you wanted to read?"

He was tall and stood up, towering over Xu Chuning by half a head, "I can’t sleep either, I’ll go to the living room for some air."

Xu Chuning: "..."

She looked slightly stunned, watching Shen Yubai’s composed demeanor, and wanted to remind him that there actually was a fan in his room, which would be comfortable enough. But the words reached the tip of her tongue, and she mysteriously suppressed them.

If he wanted to go to the living room, then let him go. After all, with more people around, she could accept it.

Even, she wouldn’t be so lonely.

The two went downstairs together, each busy with their own things.

Xu Chuning said she would read, and that’s what she did, without getting distracted. Shen Yubai, who came downstairs with her, sat on the sofa, his eyes lowered as he played with his phone, seemingly very casual.

Before this, no one ever thought that one day they would coexist in the same space so quietly, and with such harmony without disturbing each other.

A very strange feeling and experience.

The next two days, Xu Chuning took Shen Yubai and the others to the orchard and also for a hike.

They had experienced the life that the countryside could offer.

The day before returning to Jiang City, everyone was lazy and didn’t want to go out anymore.

Xu Chuning didn’t insist, so the group nested at home watching TV and helped You Shuzhen make sticky rice cakes. Pingning didn’t have much specialty, the only thing that was appetizing, was the sticky rice cakes that Xu Chuning loved as a child.

Sticky rice cake was simple, all you needed was flour.

You Shuzhen didn’t have much to send back with Deng Xitong to Jiang City, so she decided to make some glutinous rice cakes for them to take back.

Busy all morning, You Shuzhen fried two big pots of glutinous rice cakes.

The scent was rich, and Deng Xitong, who had a sweet tooth, ate two and then couldn’t eat any lunch.

In the afternoon, a group of them went to the orchard and vegetable gardens again, picking plenty of fruits and vegetables. Shen Yubai said he had arranged for a driver to pick them up, so You Shuzhen thought they might as well take some pesticide-free vegetables and fruits from the countryside back with them.

After everything was packed up and they had had dinner, Xu Chuning and the others went out for a walk.

"Time flies so fast," Cheng Mingyin lamented, "We’re going back tomorrow."

Deng Xitong nodded, linking arms with Xu Chuning, "I don’t want to leave at all."

Xu Chuning chuckled, "Have you forgotten your summer homework?"

Deng Xitong’s summer homework was still incomplete, and they had planned to go back tomorrow so that they could have a week to rush through it.

Hearing Xu Chuning mention it so directly, Deng Xitong wailed, "Why do you bring up the most heartbreaking thing when we’re having the happiest time?"

The others who hadn’t finished their summer homework also looked resentfully at Xu Chuning.

Xu Chuning laughed and touched her nose, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to."

Cheng Mingyin snorted, "I won’t hold it against you."

Xu Chuning smiled slightly, "Thanks for that."

The three girls walked in front, talking and laughing.

The boys walked behind, and Yu Gaoyi also expressed his feelings, "This place is really too comfortable."

Ban Shu nodded, "We could come again in the future."

He said this while looking at Shen Yubai.

Shen Yubai gave him a sidelong glance and didn’t join in the conversation.

They wish.

After the walk, everyone went back to pack their things, as they were leaving early the next morning and needed to get everything ready.

Xu Chuning went upstairs for a round and everyone said they didn’t need her help, so she obediently went downstairs and accompanied her grandmother to watch TV.

While watching, the grandmother suddenly asked out of the blue, "Ningning, do you remember where we keep our family photos?"

Xu Chuning was startled, "What do you want the photos for?"

"Just felt like taking a look," the grandmother said, watching the TV.

Xu Chuning looked up, glanced at the TV plot, and understood her grandmother was missing their relatives. She replied softly, "I’ll go get them for you now."

By the time Xu Chuning found those old family photos, Shen Yubai appeared in the living room.

Xu Chuning surprised, "Why did you come down?"

Shen Yubai: "I’ve packed my luggage."

Xu Chuning: "... Oh."

She handed the photos to her grandmother and was about to sit down when Deng Xitong called her from upstairs, "Ningning."

Xu Chuning responded, "Coming right up."

She turned to Shen Yubai, "Can you keep grandma company and chat for a bit?"

Shen Yubai nodded.

After Xu Chuning left, the grandmother happily shared Xu Chuning’s childhood pictures with Shen Yubai, "Have you ever seen Ningning’s pictures from when she was little?"

Shen Yubai shook his head: "No."

The grandmother smiled, "Look, wasn’t Ningning so adorable as a child?"

Shen Yubai lowered his gaze to the photo of the thin, yellow-complexioned little girl, furrowed his eyebrows in surprise, "Why was she so skinny as a child?"

Xu Chuning was thin now too, but not the malnourished thin like her childhood pictures suggested.

"No nutrition," the grandmother said bitterly, touching the photo, "She didn’t get to eat much when she was little."

Shen Yubai was surprised, "Was the family... not doing well?"

But You Shuzhen didn’t seem like someone who wouldn’t work hard to earn money to feed her daughter. You Shuzhen was skilled, and even without much rice, presumably she could make a variety of dishes from her own vegetables enough to feed Xu Chuning well.

For a moment, Shen Yubai felt that something was amiss.

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