Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 139 Breath Falls on Her Cheek

Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Breath Falls on Her Cheek

Looking at the father and son before her, Sang Menglan had a gut feeling that they were hiding something from her. She furrowed her brows, "Are you two... keeping any secrets from me?"

Shen Xingyan stopped short, "No."

Sang Menglan narrowed her eyes slightly, turning to Shen Yubai.

Shen Yubai: "Mom, what kind of secrets could we possibly hide from you?"

Sang Menglan thought for a moment, indeed there were none.

However, the father and son’s understanding today was too implicit, so much so that she couldn’t help but feel a bit suspicious.

After a moment of silence, Sang Menglan temporarily let go of the matter about secrets, "Are you sure you want to get Qiongfang’s hair?"

Shen Yubai nodded, looking at Shen Xingyan: "Dad, can you get Uncle Xu’s for me?"

Shen Xingyan raised an eyebrow: "Do you mean, you want both Uncle Xu’s and Aunt Ye’s?"

Shen Yubai hummed in affirmation, "It’s safer that way."

"... Alright." Shen Xingyan agreed, "I’ll arrange to have dinner with Uncle Xu tomorrow."

After saying this, he looked at Sang Menglan, "How about we both invite them to dinner together?"

"No need," Sang Menglan flatly refused without a moment’s hesitation, "You arrange your meeting, and I’ll arrange mine."

Shen Xingyan: "That works too."

Having tentatively settled on the details, Shen Yubai went upstairs first.

Once he was gone, Sang Menglan turned her head and stared at her husband, her gaze full of scrutiny, "What are you and Yubai up to?"

Shen Xingyan feigned ignorance, "What?"

Sang Menglan: "Do you believe what Yubai said?"

"You believe it too, don’t you?" Shen Xingyan countered, "If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have agreed."

Sang Menglan opened her mouth but found herself unable to retort in the moment.

In fact, she didn’t want to believe it, but she had interacted with Ye Qionfang and Xu Zhiyan more often than the father and son had. Long ago, Sang Menglan had felt that Xu Zhiyan’s appearance and personality didn’t resemble Xu Yiming and Ye Qionfang at all.

But she had never contemplated the possibility that Xu Zhiyan wasn’t their biological daughter.

After all, that seemed a bit absurd, quite preposterous.

The Xu Family had always been meticulous in their affairs, and it was unlikely for such a mistake to occur.

Only when Shen Yubai brought it up tonight did Sang Menglan begin to seriously think about it. Apart from the fact that Xu Zhiyan looked nothing like her supposed parents, her demeanor really lacked the air of a pampered heiress.

All her life, Xu Zhiyan had been lavishly raised by the Xu Family, getting whatever she wanted and experiencing much of the world.

When she was in elementary school, she and Shen Yubai were even sent to attend summer camps abroad to enrich their extracurricular life. In addition to that, the Xu Family arranged for her to have etiquette and talent tutors come to the house for lessons.

But strangely, her demeanor never improved, nor did she fully grasp any of the talents she learned, not at all resembling the child of those two clever people, Ye Qionfang.

Of course, these things weren’t for others to comment on.

They weren’t the kind of elders to pressure children, just feeling that if she wasn’t interested, then she needn’t force it. It was also fine for her to live a comfortable and easy life.

Now thinking about it, it probably did have a little something to do with genetics.

If she wasn’t the biological child of Xu Yiming and Ye Qionfang, then her not inheriting their intelligence and quick-wittedness was also quite normal.

"..."

Sang Menglan fell silent for a long time before looking at Shen Xingyan: "Do you think they can accept it if they knew?"

Shen Xingyan pondered for a moment, "Whether they can accept it or not, they should know."

Sang Menglan understood what Shen Xingyan meant, and she sighed softly, "How could such a coincidence happen?"

Shen Xingyan: "Indeed."

"Yubai’s classmate." Sang Menglan remembered, "Have you met her?"

Shen Xingyan: "No."

He had previously guessed Xu Chuning’s identity, but he hadn’t inquired too much with Shen Yubai and Shen Sinian. He had promised them he wouldn’t interfere too much.

Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai were just high school classmates for now, even if he knew they would be together in the future, at this point in time, it was inappropriate for Shen Xingyan to intervene. If he did something that led to Shen Sinian returning to the future with deviations in Shen Yubai and Xu Chuning’s relationship, that wouldn’t be good.

Therefore, Shen Xingyan had been very restrained and had not been paying attention to their family’s future daughter-in-law.

But now, they had no choice but to pay attention.

Sang Menglan nodded, "Do you think I can go have a look?"

"I suggest you not get involved," Shen Xingyan said, "How about we get the hair first, send it for medical testing, and then discuss it?"

Sang Menglan pondered, "Alright."

*

The next morning, Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen got up early to open the store.

After a break and reopening, Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen thought there wouldn’t be many customers, but to their surprise, there were more than when Xu Chuning was still in school.

The mother and daughter were busy all morning and didn’t get a chance to rest until nearly ten o’clock.

"Why are there suddenly so many customers," You Shuzhen massaged her sore back, "all the noodles are sold out."

Xu Chuning came over to her side, pressed her down to sit on a chair, "Mom, take a rest for a while."

You Shuzhen: "I still have to clean up."

"I’ll do it," Xu Chuning said, "You sit for ten minutes."

You Shuzhen’s lips parted, wanting to refuse.

Before she could speak, a familiar voice came from outside, "Aunt You, just listen to Xu Chuning."

Both of them in the store looked up in unison at the person who appeared at the doorway.

Silently for a few seconds, Xu Chuning was surprised, "How come you are here?"

Shen Yubai hummed a response, first greeted You Shuzhen, then answered her, "I was bored at home, came to see if there was anything I could help with."

Xu Chuning uttered an "oh," then quietly asked, "Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes," Shen Yubai answered.

He walked over to Xu Chuning’s side and noticed the bowls and chopsticks in the basin, "These need to be washed?"

Xu Chuning nodded her head: "No need, I can manage."

As soon as her words fell, Shen Yubai had already sat down on a small stool.

Xu Chuning: "..."

Shen Yubai looked up, "You go tidy the tables."

"...Thank you." Xu Chuning clearly understood that once Shen Yubai decided on something, no one could change it, "Call me if you feel tired."

Shen Yubai: "Got it."

You Shuzhen watched the two working together in cooperation, genuinely smiling with satisfaction.

After resting for a moment, she too joined in.

Soon, the shop was clean, and all the bowls and chopsticks used in the morning were washed.

There were fewer customers coming into the shop for lunch, just one or two trickling in.

After a busy lunchtime, the three of them finally had time to rest.

After lunch, You Shuzhen said she was going to the next-door shop to watch TV for a while and asked the two to watch the shop for her.

Although Xu Chuning found You Shuzhen’s action a bit surprising, she didn’t say anything. She knew You Shuzhen was worried that she and Shen Yubai will feel awkward being alone in the shop.

Watching You Shuzhen walk away, Xu Chuning retracted her gaze and turned around, suddenly meeting Shen Yubai’s eyes.

He was leaning over, his warm breath landing on her cheek.

In that moment, Xu Chuning felt as if her heartbeat had stopped.

Suddenly, she felt pain on her scalp.

Xu Chuning let out a light "ah," looking up at him indignantly, "Shen Yubai, what are you doing?"

Shen Yubai’s eyelashes were dense and bushy, like little fans, he stared straight at Xu Chuning with an innocent look, "You have a white hair on your head."

"..."