Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 26 What is the Significance of Shen Sinian Coming Here from the Future?

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 What is the Significance of Shen Sinian Coming Here from the Future?

"That would be for the best," Shen Sinian said.

Xu Chuning: "..."

She rubbed her temples with a slight headache, "You need to revise your self-criticism."

Shen Sinian looked at her with an aggrieved expression, "I don’t know how."

After a stalemate between mother and son, Xu Chuning put the self-criticism paper back on his desk, "We’ll talk after school."

She might really have to write a self-criticism for her own son.

Hearing this, Shen Sinian’s eyes brightened, "Alright then."

Xu Chuning saw his beaming face and vaguely felt... like she might have fallen into a trap dug by Shen Sinian. Otherwise, why would he be so happy at the mention of talking after school?

Just in time, the bell for class rang, and Xu Chuning had to temporarily put aside her concerns.

The half-hour lunch break refreshed her considerably, and she felt much more alert for the afternoon classes.

When the school bell signalled the end of the day, Shen Sinian poked her shoulder with a pen, "Shall we go?"

Xu Chuning glanced at him lightly, "Let’s go."

The two packed up and left the classroom, and just as they stepped out of the school building, Xu Chuning saw Lin Jingjing and the others who had blocked her path last time. However, this time, as soon as Lin Jingjing saw her, she didn’t approach her but immediately pulled the person next to her and walked in the opposite direction.

"?"

Xu Chuning asked Shen Sinian in confusion, "Do I look that scary today?"

Shen Sinian glanced at the retreating figures, "Not scary at all, you look good today."

"..."

Xu Chuning was taken aback by his sudden compliment and humorously squinted at him, "Shen Sinian, where did you learn to be such a smooth talker?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Sinian lowered his head and told her mysteriously, "I learned it from my dad."

Xu Chuning: "......"

Listening to Shen Sinian’s words, she felt a sudden throb in her temples, a strange, unbelievable emotion surged up. Learned from his dad? Shen Yubai? Shen Yubai... talks like that?

Noticing Xu Chuning’s incredulous look, Shen Sinian asked, "You don’t believe me?"

Xu Chuning nodded honestly, who would believe that if it were said out loud.

Shen Sinian: "But that’s the truth. My dad often says that to you."

"?"

Xu Chuning was dumbstruck, her lips slightly parted in disbelief, "You mean to say, these words are what... Shen Yubai will say to me in the future?"

Shen Sinian: "Exactly."

When he was very young, Shen Yubai and Xu Chuning weren’t so busy; they would take Shen Sinian out on weekends, and spend both morning and evening at home, with less frequent business trips.

Every morning, when Xu Chuning went to the company, Shen Sinian would hear Shen Yubai tell her, "My wife looks beautiful today," and similar phrases.

Influenced by what he constantly heard, Shen Sinian also habitually complimented Xu Chuning and Sang Menglan.

With his sweet mouth, he was especially favored by the elders.

Apart from himself, no one knew that his sweet-talking was inherited from Shen Yubai. After all, in front of others, Shen Yubai was indeed so cold that it seemed bothersome for him to utter an extra word.

Seeing Shen Sinian nodding so firmly, Xu Chuning felt a very subtle sense of dissonance... Considering her current relationship with Shen Yubai and given Shen Yubai’s personality, would he really be one to compliment her on her looks?

While they were lost in thought, "Cao Cao" arrived.

"What are you two doing?" Shen Yubai appeared alongside Ban Shu.

Mother and son turned to look at him, their expressions complicated.

Shen Yubai narrowed his eyes in confusion, "What’s wrong?"

Why are they looking at him like that?

Shen Sinian shook his head, "Nothing."

Shen Yubai’s gaze fell on Xu Chuning, who lifted her head to meet his eyes and after three seconds of silence said, "Nothing."

She just found it very magical.

Not only would she and Shen Yubai get married in the future and have such a cute and handsome son like Shen Sinian, but Shen Yubai would even start complimenting her every day one day in the future.

This is shocking no matter how you think about it.

Shen Yubai frowned, the look Xu Chuning gave him wasn’t one that appeared like nothing was wrong.

But this was not the time to talk about that, he reined in his full head of question marks, "Are you heading back to the store now?"

Xu Chuning uttered an affirmative, "Almost."

Shen Yubai: "What do you mean almost?"

Xu Chuning looked at him, "What’s wrong, do you have something on your mind?"

Hearing her resistant tone, Shen Yubai choked up slightly, "I want to talk to you about your sister’s situation."

Xu Chuning was stunned for a moment, surprised that he still remembered this matter, she pursed her lips, glanced at Ban Shu behind him, and hesitantly nodded, "Shall we find a place to talk?"

There was still half an hour before the dinner rush, if Xu Chuning returned to the store half an hour late, You Shuzhen wouldn’t say much.

Shen Yubai: "Alright."

The group ended up going to a dessert and drink shop not far from Xu Chuning’s family’s small store. The shop was newly opened and the decor was quite trendy.

After entering, Ban Shu asked the two, "What would you like to drink?"

Xu Chuning: "I don’t need any."

She doesn’t drink these kinds of beverages; they’re addictive.

Shen Sinian: "I don’t want any either."

Ban Shu: "...What about Brother Yu?"

Shen Yubai glanced at the two, "Order a glass of milk for each of them, I’ll have a glass of milk too."

Ban Shu: "..."

The two sitting opposite him: "..."

Ban Shu went to place the order and finally brought back four glasses of milk.

The four drank milk and chatted, Shen Yubai asked Xu Chuning, "Can you tell me the specific small town where your sister was trafficked, as well as the precise location?"

Xu Chuning paused, then nodded and agreed, "I’ll have to ask my mother for specifics."

Shen Yubai nodded, "After all these years, has there been no word from the police?"

Holding the glass of milk, Xu Chuning shook her head, "None."

Shen Yubai furrowed his brows, although this kind of situation wasn’t unheard of, Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen’s persistent search over the years should have produced at least some clue.

He fell into deep thought when Ban Shu’s phone rang. After excusing himself, he went out of the shop to answer the call.

Once he left, Xu Chuning immediately turned to ask Shen Sinian, "I wanted to ask you this morning, did she appear in the future?"

Shen Yubai also looked at Shen Sinian.

Shen Sinian nodded, "She did."

He responded to Xu Chuning, "But when she appeared, it was after you and my dad got married."

He had heard this from Sang Meng Lan, who said that Shen Yubai only found clues about his aunt when Xu Chuning was pregnant, and they managed to bring her back.

By then, You Shuzhen had already passed away.

Shen Sinian didn’t dare to mention this to Xu Chuning, worried that she would become concerned about You Shuzhen’s demise right now.

Upon hearing the word ’marriage’, Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai inexplicably exchanged glances. Soon after, she diverted her gaze, regretfully saying, "Did we really find her that late?"

Shen Sinian pursed his lips, "Yeah, information wasn’t as readily available back then."

Hearing this, Xu Chuning’s face showed nothing but disappointment.

Shen Yubai saw her despondent expression and cleared his throat, "Xu Chuning."

Xu Chuning looked up, "What is it?"

Shen Yubai spoke in a light tone, hitting the nail on the head, "Sinian’s arrival from the future is perhaps to help you find her as soon as possible."

Otherwise, what was the point of Shen Sinian coming here from the future?

Shen Yubai couldn’t understand.

Since fate had arranged for him to come here, then he must have come with some kind of task.