Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 24 Discussion on All Xu Chuning’s Posts Being Deleted

Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Discussion on All Xu Chuning’s Posts Being Deleted

’Human trafficking’ is an extremely sensitive topic for You Shuzhen. Shen Yubai has eaten at her small shop many times and has naturally noticed the missing person notices posted at the entrance and the nearby pillar.

He hesitated for a moment and exchanged a glance with Xu Chuning, who was not far away, regretting bringing up the topic. "Aunt You, Sinian he—"

Shen Yubai hadn’t finished speaking when Shen Sinian suddenly interjected, "Aunt You, you go ahead with your matters, I’ll talk to you about mine later."

He then added, "I have never been trafficked."

Hearing this, You Shuzhen’s emotions became complicated. She was relieved that Shen Sinian had not been trafficked, but the hope she had just felt was instantly extinguished.

Xu Chuning could roughly guess what You Shuzhen was thinking. She sighed lightly and softly said, "Mom, we still have to go to school, you prepare rice noodles for them first, I’ll have Shen Sinian come over for lunch at the shop and chat with you."

With the reassurance from Xu Chuning, You Shuzhen finally snapped back to reality. "Okay."

She agreed several times, her movements slightly slow as she prepared breakfast for the two.

Xu Chuning watched her for a moment then turned to the two, "You guys find a place to sit first."

After breakfast, the three of them went to school together.

Xu Chuning initially did not intend to walk with Shen Yubai, but given both were waiting for her at the shop entrance, and You Shuzhen also urged her to go to school with her classmates, she decided to go as there were not many customers left, and she could handle the shop alone.

The shop was a long street away from the school, and the three of them walked at different paces.

After walking for a while, Shen Yubai turned his head towards Xu Chuning, who was a step behind, and said in a faint voice, "Sorry."

Xu Chuning was momentarily startled, "It’s not your fault."

Shen Yubai and Shen Sinian were close, and You Shuzhen would definitely ask about their relationship. It was good that Shen Yubai spoke up today to prevent her from being stuck on how to address it with You Shuzhen.

It’s always better to know early than late.

Shen Yubai hummed and paused before asking, "Do you need help?"

Xu Chuning looked up at him, surprised, "What?"

Shen Yubai said, "Ads like yours, searching for people is like finding a needle in the ocean." He spoke concisely, "Have you reported it to the police?"

Xu Chuning replied, "We did, but the cases of trafficking were too numerous back then, and the internet wasn’t widespread, it’s tough to find a trafficked little girl."

Moreover, given the current capabilities of You Shuzhen and Xu Chuning, what they could do was limited.

Shen Yubai understood her meaning, remained quiet for a moment, then asked, "Where was your sister abducted?"

Xu Chuning named a place.

Shen Yubai frowned; he seemed to have never heard of it.

Shen Sinian timely spoke, "That’s Ningning’s hometown, a remote town under Ning City."

"..."

Shen Yubai raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised as he looked at Xu Chuning, "You’re not from Jiang City?"

How had he not noticed this before?

Hearing his question, Xu Chuning choked up slightly, "Haven’t you heard the rumors about me at school?"

Shen Yubai asked, "What?"

He did not pay much attention to Xu Chuning, nor was he keen on listening to various gossips.

Xu Chuning’s mouth twitched, seeing his curious look, she didn’t feel like telling him, "It’s nothing."

Shen Yubai: "..."

He slightly frowned, looking at Xu Chuning discontentedly, "Why do you stop halfway through your sentence?"

Xu Chuning replied, "I like to."

Shen Yubai was taken aback, seemingly the first time a girl had responded to his question in this manner. The girls he usually encountered, upon seeing him, would all be eagerly trying to engage him in conversation, not him initiating it.

Shen Sinian followed behind the two, listening to their conversation, occasionally turning his head to look at Xu Chuning, then twisting it to look at Shen Yubai. After a moment, he faintly felt something was off.

His parents... why does it feel like they’re heading toward becoming joyous enemies?

Their progress seems way too fast.

Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai didn’t know what Shen Sinian was thinking. As they were about to reach the school gate, Xu Chuning stopped, "Shen Sinian, I need to buy two pens at the store, do you want to come with me?"

Caught off guard when named, Shen Sinian uttered an "Ah", glanced at Shen Yubai who was left aside, and quickly nodded, "Yes, I need to buy an eraser too."

The two made plans, and Xu Chuning turned her head, "Shen Yubai, we’re heading to the store then, goodbye."

She didn’t give Shen Yubai a chance to say he wanted to go to the store too.

Watching the two walk toward the nearby store, Shen Yubai understood Xu Chuning’s avoidance and sneered somewhat displeasedly.

"Brother Yu," Ban Shu had just arrived and heard him, standing beside him, following his gaze to the other side, but saw nothing, "What are you looking at?"

Shen Yubai gave him a cold glance.

Ban Shu shrank his neck, scared, "What happened? Who offended you? Just say the word, and I’ll handle them for you."

Shen Yubai tugged at his lip, too lazy to engage him.

He turned and walked into the school, took a few steps, then suddenly remembered the topic he had just discussed with Xu Chuning, "Ban Shu."

Ban Shu, "Eh, Brother Yu, what do you need?"

Shen Yubai glared at him, nonchalantly, "Do you know what rumors about Xu Chuning are circulating in school?"

"?"

Ban Shu was startled, failing to grasp why he was asking this question, "What’s up?"

Shen Yubai: "I’m asking you, not for you to question me back."

Ban Shu: "..."

Realizing Shen Yubai wasn’t in the best mood, Ban Shu slowly recalled the current triangle among Shen Yubai, Xu Chuning, and Shen Sinian, and gently rubbed his nose, slowly saying, "Not really, not many people in school discuss Xu Chuning."

Shen Yubai: "Really?"

Hearing his indifferent tone, Ban Shu racked his brains, then suddenly exclaimed, "Oh I remembered."

Shen Yubai stopped walking.

Ban Shu: "Isn’t Xu Chuning’s mom running a small store at the school gate? And Xu Chuning attends our school with a scholarship and financial aid, so some people gossip behind her back, calling her poor and uncouth, saying she’s a country bumpkin with no experience, stuff like that..."

While talking, Ban Shu got a deadly glare from Shen Yubai, terrifyingly rubbed his neck, defending himself, "Brother Yu, I’ve never said any of these, it’s all from the school forums and behind-the-scenes discussions among classmates, I’ve only heard about it."

"School forum has this stuff?" asked Shen Yubai.

Ban Shu: "Yes, it’s a gossip hotspot, you haven’t seen it, some classmates say really exaggerated stuff."

Shen Yubai scoffed lightly, "They really have too much free time."

Ban Shu nodded in agreement.

The two entered the classroom, and as Ban Shu was pulling out an unfinished comic from his desk, Shen Yubai suddenly asked, "Send me the link to the forum."

Ban Shu: "Ah?"

Shen Yubai looked at him.

Ban Shu quickly reacted, "Right away."

After sending the link to Shen Yubai, Ban Shu watched him open it on his phone, cautiously asked, "Brother Yu, what are you planning to do?"

Shen Yubai ignored him, letting him focus on his comic.

Ban Shu silently withdrew his gaze.

Half an hour later, when he remembered and clicked on that link, the page was blank.

In the school forum, all posts discussing Xu Chuning had been deleted.

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