Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 148: Drive Xu Zhiyan Out.

Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Drive Xu Zhiyan Out.

You Shuzhen had no choice, whispering softly, "Mom won’t think that way."

Xu Chuning managed to squeeze out a smile with teary eyes, "I only came to understand this myself this year."

"..."

Mother and daughter were silent for a long time, You Shuzhen touched her head lightly, "You’ve had it tough."

Xu Chuning shook her head, "Aren’t you angry with me?"

Hearing this, You Shuzhen felt it funny, "Why should I be angry with you?"

Xu Chuning moved her lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

You Shuzhen knew what she meant, her voice gentle: "I won’t be angry with you, you did nothing wrong."

She looked at Xu Chuning, speaking slowly, "What are your plans after the results come out?"

Xu Chuning didn’t hesitate, "I won’t leave you."

"But—" You Shuzhen tried to reason with her.

"There are no buts." Xu Chuning said, with rimmed red eyes, "Or do you mean, you no longer need me as your daughter?"

You Shuzhen shook her head, "How could that be."

Without Xu Chuning, she couldn’t have made it through all these years.

Rather than saying she rescued Xu Chuning from the orphanage, it was more like Xu Chuning saved her then, heartbroken as she was. They were mother and daughter, saving each other.

Xu Chuning: "Then that’s settled."

She pursed her lips, and after a quiet moment said, "Moreover, just because I am their biological daughter, doesn’t mean they will acknowledge me."

You Shuzhen: "That’s impossible."

"They’ve been very good to Xu Zhiyan, and Xu Zhiyan has been with them for over a decade," Xu Chuning analyzed seriously, "Sometimes, blood relations aren’t that important."

You Shuzhen, who wasn’t very educated, seemed unable to refute these words.

Silently for a while, You Shuzhen sighed lightly, "Let’s just wait and see."

Xu Chuning: "Yeah, regardless of what their decision is, mine won’t change."

She wouldn’t leave You Shuzhen.

You Shuzhen didn’t respond, just hugged Xu Chuning tightly, "You’re too tired today, shall we go back and rest earlier?"

"...Okay."

The mother and daughter closed the shop early.

Back home, You Shuzhen went into the kitchen to make dinner for Xu Chuning.

After dinner, Xu Chuning saw a few missed calls from Shen Sinian. She hurriedly called back, and only when the call connected did she say, "I’m okay."

Shen Sinian was quiet for a while on the other end, then spoke softly, "He suddenly asked me outright a few days ago, so I told him."

Xu Chuning: "I guessed as much, I’m not angry with you."

Shen Sinian spoke softly, "Are you angry with him then?"

"...No," Xu Chuning resignedly, "Do you guys really see me as that unreasonable?"

Shen Sinian touched his nose and stuttered, "Well, no, but you can be quite unreasonable when you’re angry."

Xu Chuning: "..."

After a pause, Xu Chuning half laughed, "Have you finished filming?"

"Just wrapped up," said Shen Sinian, "Shen Yubai has been asking about you, he seems hesitant to call you."

Xu Chuning paused, thought for a while, and said, "I’m not angry, but I don’t really feel like talking to him right now."

Shen Sinian understood, "Alright, I’ll tell him that later."

Xu Chuning didn’t continue the conversation, remained quiet for a while, then suddenly said, "Shen Sinian."

Shen Sinian: "Hmm?"

"Will me getting along with them in the future really be that bad?" Xu Chuning was curious.

Shen Sinian repeated his usual words, "They are quite polite to you."

Xu Chuning understood, "Okay."

"If they want to recognize you back, what do you plan to do? Go back to the Xu Family?" Shen Sinian asked curiously.

Xu Chuning: "No, what about your grandmother if I go back?"

Shen Sinian: "I mean, your grandmother can come with us."

"She wouldn’t agree." Xu Chuning said, "And, they might not agree either."

The future is unpredictable.

Shen Sinian’s lips moved, wanting to comfort her, but didn’t know how to start.

After a pause, he softly said, "Whatever decision you make, I’ll support you."

Hearing this, Xu Chuning laughed, "Got it, you should go back to the hotel to rest early."

Shen Sinian: "Hmm, you can also come to me if you can’t sleep at night."

Xu Chuning: "Hanging up."

After ending the call, Xu Chuning logged onto QQ and saw the messages from Shen Yubai and Deng Xitong.

During the parents’ meeting, Deng Xitong felt that Xu Chuning was a bit off, but it wasn’t appropriate to ask because there were too many people.

Later, she heard from schoolmates that Xu Chuning and Xu Zhiyan seemed to have had a conflict at school, but no one was clear about the specifics. Some classmates said Xu Zhiyan didn’t even attend the parents’ meeting, and her parents weren’t present either.

Some also said, Shen Yubai didn’t go either.

Confused, Deng Xitong sent a message to Xu Chuning to inquire.

Xu Chuning replied to her: [I’m fine, what’s up?]

Deng Xitong briefly mentioned the school gossip.

Xu Chuning thought for a moment: [I can’t tell you yet, let’s wait a few days.]

Deng Xitong: [Sure, as long as you’re fine. See you tomorrow? I’m going to the diner for breakfast, I miss Aunt You’s cooking.]

The corners of Xu Chuning’s lips curved: [Okay.]

After chatting briefly with Deng Xitong, Xu Chuning leisurely replied to Shen Yubai’s message: [Just finished dinner.]

Shen Yubai asked her what she was doing.

After this message, Shen Yubai asked: [Want to go for a walk?]

Xu Chuning didn’t hesitate much: [No, I’m really tired today.]

Shen Yubai: [Okay, then rest early?]

Xu Chuning: [Hmm.]

Ending the conversation with Shen Yubai, Xu Chuning stood by the window for a long time. It wasn’t until You Shuzhen called her that she picked up her pajamas and went to take a shower.

On the first day of school, Xu Chuning only found out during lunch in the cafeteria that Xu Zhiyan hadn’t come to school to register.

Because of this, when she bumped into Tang Ruqing after leaving the cafeteria, she glared fiercely at her.

Deng Xitong glared back for her, "She must be crazy."

Xu Chuning shook her head, not explaining further.

That afternoon, the rushed DNA test report came out.

Because when school was dismissed at Mingzhi Middle School, Xu Chuning saw Xu Yiming and Ye Qiongfang at the school gate.

After exchanging a glance, Xu Chuning hesitated slightly and said, "Shall we talk somewhere else?"

"What about the supermarket office?" suggested Xu Yiming, "It’s also close to the diner."

Xu Chuning nodded.

Stepping into this familiar supermarket again and going upstairs, Xu Chuning’s mindset was completely different from the first time she was there.

As the office door closed, Xu Chuning looked up at the excited couple and lightly pursed her lips, "The report is out, isn’t it?"

Ye Qiongfang excitedly nodded, "We... are sorry for you."

"Get to the point," Xu Chuning didn’t want to dramatize, "What are your thoughts?"

Xu Yiming’s expression shifted slightly, admitting, "Of course, we want to acknowledge you again, to bring you back."

"So—" Xu Chuning set her terms, "My condition for going back is that you have to drive Xu Zhiyan out."

After saying this, she looked up at the astonished couple, "Can you do that?"