Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 144: Defending The Shortcomings

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Defending The Shortcomings

Father and son were sitting together when Xu Yiming rushed over.

The rarely seen flustered and hurried appearance of Xu Yiming caught both of their eyes; they exchanged a glance as Shen Xingyan stood up and gestured, "Please, have a seat."

"Has Ah Fang not arrived yet?" Xu Yiming asked.

"She is comforting Xu Zhiyan," Shen Xingyan replied, "She should be here soon."

No sooner had he spoken than the door to the private room was knocked.

Ye Qiongfang arrived, but Xu Zhiyan did not.

"Where is Zhixian?" Xu Yiming inquired.

Ye Qiongfang looked weary, as if completely drained, "I had my sister take her back."

Xu Yiming nodded.

No need to worry about Xu Zhiyan, Xu Yiming looked up at the father and son duo across him, and said in a deep voice: "Yubai, what did you mean by what you told Aunt Ye at school just now?"

Shen Yubai pursed his lips and spoke softly, "Uncle Xu, did you know that a few days ago my dad plucked one of your hairs?"

"...You took my hair for a test?" Xu Yiming naturally knew, that day Shen Xingyan had invited him to dine, mentioning there was official business to discuss, and Xu Yiming had gone.

After they had eaten, Shen Xingyan prepared to head to the restroom; as he walked past, he mentioned Xu Yiming having a white hair and decided to pluck it.

Xu Yiming hadn’t even had a chance to refuse before he acted.

At the time, Xu Yiming hadn’t thought much of it, but now, reminded by Shen Yubai, he suddenly realized that Shen Xingyan had premeditated the act.

With that in mind, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the two, "How did you guys know that girl is blood-related to us?"

Shen Xingyan: "She resembles Qiongfang a lot, haven’t you noticed?"

Xu Yiming naturally had noticed. The first time he saw Xu Chuning, he thought she looked like a younger Qiongfang. However, there are many people who look alike in this world, so he had not entertained the notion towards absurdity.

No matter what, Xu Zhiyan was the child that both he and his wife had brought home from the hospital and raised to this day.

They had never considered the possibility that Xu Zhiyan was not their own daughter; not at all.

Ye Qiongfang was puzzled, "So you only had such thoughts because she looks like me?"

That did not seem quite reasonable either.

Shen Yubai shook his head, "No."

He said concisely, "I only started looking into it after I knew she wasn’t her mother’s biological daughter."

Xu Yiming roughly understood what Shen Yubai meant; after finding out that Xu Chuning was not You Shuzhen’s biological daughter, he began investigating who her biological parents were. This investigation eventually led them to him and Ye Qiongfang.

"Then how can you be so sure that she is our daughter?" Xu Yiming was still doubtful, "Without being sure, you wouldn’t have had your dad pluck our hairs for a test, would you?"

Shen Yubai was silent for a moment, and instead of disclosing Shen Sinian’s existence to the two, he said, "Actually, not only did I know, but she also knew about it a long time ago."

Xu Yiming: "What?"

He stood up from the chair in surprise, "Are you saying that female classmate knew beforehand that she is our daughter?"

Shen Yubai hummed an affirmation.

He, too, wanted to know how Xu Chuning came to know of this.

Receiving an affirmative response from Shen Yubai, Xu Yiming and Ye Qiongfang exchanged glances, "How did she know?"

The two of them had just entertained a possibility. If what Shen Yubai was saying was all true and valid, then it meant their biological daughter must have been switched with someone else before they even left the hospital after her birth.

At that time, Xu Chuning would have been an infant, so she couldn’t have had any memories of it.

So how did she know that Xu Yiming was her biological father?!

For a moment, everyone was a little lost.

Silence lingered briefly, until Shen Xingyan spoke up, "Actually, that’s not the point. The real issue now is... do you believe what Yubai just said?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qiongfang became emotionally agitated and said, "If we didn’t come here with a belief, we wouldn’t be here."

Shen Xingyan felt assured in his mind, "Then let’s go get a DNA test."

He suggested, "You should do one with Zhixian, and also one with Xu Chuning." Speaking of Xu Chuning, Shen Xingyan too was troubled, "However, Xu Chuning might not agree to go to the hospital with you."

Ye Qiongfang was puzzled, "Why wouldn’t she agree?"

"Aunt Ye." Hearing Ye Qiongfang’s questioning, Shen Yubai became unhappy, "She’s a free person, she has the right to choose."

His tone was indifferent, clearly showing protectiveness, "To you, and to her, besides having a blood relationship, you’ve essentially been strangers for all these years."

Noticing Shen Yubai’s displeasure, Xu Yiming nodded somberly, "Yubai, I know that what you’re saying is the truth."

He pondered for a few seconds, "Let’s do this, we’ll first go have the test done with Zhixian. As for Xu Chuning you mentioned, I will ask for her opinion; if she agrees, we will proceed."

Shen Yubai replied and paused before saying, "Uncle Xu, she has suffered a lot. Whether she is willing to recognize you or not, I hope that you can be kinder and better to her."

Xu Yiming was startled, "Of course."

If Xu Chuning really is their daughter, they will surely treat her well, very well indeed.

After a brief discussion in the private room, Xu Yiming expressed the desire to see Xu Chuning, but Shen Yubai refused him. He suggested they first conduct the DNA test with Xu Zhiyan.

Before the results come back, do not seek out Xu Chuning.

Though Ye Qiongfang was somewhat dissatisfied, she still agreed.

After the two had left, Shen Xingyan patted Shen Yubai on the shoulder, "Let’s go. The parent-teacher meeting should be over by now."

Shen Yubai glanced at his phone, which hadn’t buzzed, and sighed lightly, feeling somewhat downcast as he followed Shen Xingyan to the school.

*

At the school, You Shuzhen was in a daze as she followed Xu Chuning to the classroom and sat in her seat to attend the parent-teacher meeting for her.

She looked at the person who sat silently with downcast eyes, wanting to ask many questions, but the timing was inappropriate.

After holding back, You Shuzhen still couldn’t resist calling out to her softly, "Ningning."

Xu Chuning looked up, "Mom."

You Shuzhen watched her intently for a while, then reached out to touch her head, "It’s okay, mom is here."

"..." Xu Chuning was taken aback, her eyes beginning to warm up; she forced a smile and leaned on You Shuzhen’s arm, whispering softly, "I know."

She paused before adding, "Sorry."

You Shuzhen: "You have nothing to apologize for."

"About what happened just now," Xu Chuning said, "she was too overbearing."

She was worried that You Shuzhen would feel aggrieved, inferior, guilty, and start having all sorts of negative thoughts.

You Shuzhen chuckled, "It’s not a big deal, we won’t hold it against her."

Xu Chuning nodded slightly.

"What Xiao Shen said just now..." You Shuzhen hesitated, "Is it true?"

When Xu Chuning met You Shuzhen’s gentle eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to deny it. She opened her mouth and softly hummed a confirmation, "Yes."

"When did you find out?" You Shuzhen was astonished.

Xu Chuning: "Over a year ago."

You Shuzhen was shocked: "What?"

She knew that Xu Yiming was her biological father so early?!