Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 23 He is My Younger Brother

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 He is My Younger Brother

After chatting with You Lingshan for a bit and agreeing on a time, You Shuzhen came out of the bathroom, "Ningning, it’s your turn to shower."

Xu Chuning replied: "Right away."

She said something to You Lingshan and then put down her phone.

When Xu Chuning finished her shower, You Shuzhen had already laid down to rest in bed.

The rented apartment for the mother and daughter was small, a one-bedroom, but the room was divided to fit two single beds and a very small desk, convenient for Xu Chuning to do her homework.

You Shuzhen slept in the bed near the door, while Xu Chuning slept on the bed by the window.

She moved quietly, turning on the small desk lamp, trying not to disturb You Shuzhen’s sleep.

"Are you done washing?" You Shuzhen woke up a bit groggily when she heard the noise.

Xu Chuning hummed, "Mom, I still have a bit of homework left, you go to sleep first."

You Shuzhen, having had a busy day, was indeed tired. She yawned and softly responded, "Don’t stay up too late."

Xu Chuning: "I know."

After You Shuzhen went to sleep, Xu Chuning read for a while, went to the restroom, and then prepared to go to bed.

As she passed by You Shuzhen’s bed, she noticed that You Shuzhen had kicked her blanket off quite a bit. Xu Chuning sighed softly, carefully walked over, and covered her with the blanket again.

Suddenly, You Shuzhen turned over and a photo that was on her chest fell down.

Xu Chuning bent down to pick it up, and by the light of the desk lamp, she saw the person in the photo. It was in black and white, the lens was blurry, and the image wasn’t clear. But Xu Chuning knew who it was.

It was You Shuzhen’s daughter who was lost when she was young, her sister.

Staring at the photo for a long time, Xu Chuning gently placed the photo beside her pillow, covered her with the blanket again, and returned to her own bed to sleep.

Actually, Xu Chuning was quite tired by the end of the day, but when she closed her eyes, she couldn’t fall asleep.

Her mind was too full of thoughts, Xu Chuning tossed and turned restlessly.

Suddenly, she thought of Shen Sinian.

Yes, Xu Chuning opened her eyes, looking at the faint moonlight outside the window, thinking, how could she forget Shen Sinian? He came from the future, so he might know where to find You Shuzhen’s daughter.

Thinking this, Xu Chuning wished it was already morning.

With too many thoughts in her mind the night before, Xu Chuning did not sleep well. When she woke up the next morning, she felt dizzy.

You Shuzhen, seeing her like this, told her to sleep a bit more at home and not to accompany her to the market to buy groceries, but Xu Chuning refused.

"Mom, it’s faster with an extra person."

You Shuzhen couldn’t win over Xu Chuning in many things, so she had to let her come along.

Both of them went to the market first, bought the freshest pork and vegetables, and then returned to the shop to start preparing breakfast. The flour had been fermented by You Shuzhen the night before, and the meat sauce was freshly minced, making it taste much better.

The shop wasn’t very crowded, so they didn’t have to prepare too much, which made the work somewhat easier.

After finishing steaming the buns and bread, Xu Chuning went to wash the beans, preparing to make soy milk, while You Shuzhen prepared to fry dough sticks.

By about 5 AM, customers gradually started coming in to buy breakfast.

In the morning, it was generally buns and bread; not many people ate rice noodles or noodles.

After a busy period, at 7:30 AM, You Lingshan and a classmate came over for breakfast. Her family was well-off, and she didn’t worry about spending money, so she ordered two bowls of rice noodles.

You Shuzhen cooked for the two of them, while Xu Chuning stood at the doorway selling buns.

After having a bowl of rice noodles, You Lingshan took the homework book that Xu Chuning had helped complete, "Thanks."

You Lingshan looked at her, "Didn’t you sleep well last night?"

Xu Chuning: "I had insomnia."

You Lingshan made a sound of realization, "It’s not because of the massive amount of homework we have, is it?"

"No," Xu Chuning chuckled as she explained, "I finished your homework by 10 PM."

Hearing this, You Lingshan relaxed, "That’s good."

She thought for a moment, took out a bottle of milk from her backpack, and handed it to her, "My mom forced it on me; I don’t want to drink it. Can you help your senior sister with it?"

Xu Chuning looked up at her, understanding her intention, "Yes, thanks, senior sister."

You Lingshan shook the homework book in her hand, briskly said, "I should be thanking you."

Lowering her voice, she added, "Your mom is watching from behind, I’ll give you the money on Friday, okay?"

Xu Chuning agreed.

Just as You Lingshan and her classmate left, Shen Yubai and Shen Sinian arrived.

"Mom... Ningning..." Shen Sinian blurted out, then quickly corrected himself, "Good morning."

Xu Chuning was amused by his embarrassed face and her eyes curved in a smile, "Good morning."

Shen Yubai, indifferent, glanced at them and flatly said, "One serving of rice noodles."

Shen Sinian: "I’ll have one too."

Xu Chuning mentioned it to You Shuzhen, who looked at the two appearing together, somewhat surprised, "Xiao Shen, Sinian, you guys came together?"

Last time when Shen Yubai came looking for Shen Sinian, You Shuzhen wanted to ask about their relationship but forgot as soon as she turned away. Seeing them now, she couldn’t help her curiosity, "Did you know each other before?"

If the two knew each other before, she would be more at ease about Shen Sinian.

You Shuzhen trusted that Xu Chuning was a sensible child, but many of Shen Sinian’s behaviors and manners also revealed oddities. Occasionally, she still worried about Xu Chuning’s friendships.

Hearing You Shuzhen’s question, Shen Yubai was stunned for a moment, sending an inquiring look at Xu Chuning—Didn’t you tell your mom Shen Sinian’s identity?

Xu Chuning looked back at him—How was I supposed to say it?

Shen Yubai choked slightly, then smiled softly looking at You Shuzhen, "Aunt You, he is my younger brother."

You Shuzhen was taken aback, "Younger brother?"

She was surprised, "Xiao Shen, weren’t you an only child?"

You Shuzhen had chatted with Shen Yubai before and asked Xu Chuning, knew he was their international classmate, also knew he was the child of the wealthy Shen Family from Jiang City, and that he was an only child, without any siblings.

Shen Yubai hummed, thought for a moment, then said, "He is my uncle’s son, recently found."

"What?" Hearing the words ’recently found,’ You Shuzhen stared at the two in shock, a flicker of surprise and hope passing through her eyes, "Sinian..."

Her eyes widened as she looked at Shen Sinian, her voice trembling, "Were you kidnapped?"