Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 36 Awkwardness

Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Awkwardness

After the pleasantries, it was time for lunch.

Mr. Shen, in high spirits, even asked Uncle Li to bring some wine.

Shen Yubai glanced over, "Grandfather."

Mr. Shen looked at him, "Yubai, your grandpa is happy today."

Seeing Shen Yubai still silent, Mr. Shen whispered, "Grandpa will have just one cup."

Shen Yubai then spoke, "A small cup."

Uncle Li chuckled beside them, "Only the young master can manage the old master."

Mr. Shen shot him a glance.

After drinking a small cup, Mr. Shen was still somewhat unsatisfied, and Shen Sinian timely spoke up, "Grandpa..." He had just gotten used to the honorific, "Join me for a soft drink instead, it’s quite good."

Mr. Shen: "Alright alright."

He eagerly agreed.

Given the requests from the grandson who had just been found, he had no reason to refuse.

After lunch, Shen Sinian and Shen Yubai kept Mr. Shen company in the living room for a while before going upstairs to their respective rooms.

Before Shen Sinian returned, Mr. Shen had already arranged a room for him, right next to Shen Yubai’s. Shen Yubai led him upstairs to his room.

Opening the door, he stood at the entrance and looked at Shen Sinian next to him, "Do you like the style?"

"Wow," Shen Sinian’s eyes lit up, "A computer."

Shen Yubai: "..."

He glanced at his excited expression and tugged at his lip speechlessly, "Did you forget what Xu Chuning said?"

Shen Sinian: "... No."

He touched his nose sheepishly, muttering softly, "After the monthly test, Ningning probably won’t bother about my studies anymore, right?"

Hearing this, Shen Yubai raised his eyebrows, "Why? Are your grades very good?"

Shen Sinian: "Of course."

He said proudly, "I’m first in my grade."

"Is that so," Shen Yubai replied indifferently, without much emotion, "She is also first in her grade."

Although Xu Chuning’s math grades are average, her average is only relative to her other subjects. In her other subjects, except for Chinese and English, she often scores full marks in history and geography, hardly dropping below ninety-five in political science.

So, scores in the eighties for math look much poorer.

Shen Yubai’s tone was too casual, and Shen Sinian initially didn’t realize whom he was referring to as her. He froze for a moment before realizing it was Xu Chuning.

"You actually care about school rankings?" Shen Sinian was surprised, he thought Shen Yubai did not care about these things.

Hearing this, Shen Yubai looked at him with a detached gaze.

Shen Sinian evasively asked, "What about you, what’s your ranking?"

In Mingzhi Middle School, from sophomore year, arts and sciences begin to rank separately; Xu Chuning is the top student in humanities, and Shen Yubai... did not participate in the last test; he ranks last in the sciences.

Shen Sinian did not know this, hence his fearless inquiry.

Shen Yubai: "You’ll know in a week."

In a week, it would be Mingzhi Middle School’s monthly test.

Shen Sinian: "... Oh."

It seems his father’s grades aren’t great, contrary to what his grandmother stated about being excellent in both character and learning.

Shen Sinian criticized in his heart but dared not speak out.

On Sunday, knowing Mr. Shen wanted to spend more time with Shen Sinian, the two stayed for dinner at the Shen Family house before leaving.

Before leaving, Mr. Shen was worried about their nutrition and asked Shen Yubai if he should hire an aunt to take care of their meals; Shen Yubai had previously declined, and Mr. Shen hadn’t brought it up again.

But now he mentioned it again, it was clear he wanted to treat Shen Sinian better.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Yubai spoke lightly, "We’ll think about it."

Mr. Shen: "Okay."

As long as Shen Yubai didn’t outright refuse, there was still hope.

The two left the Shen Family home, and Mr. Shen had Uncle Li give them plenty of fruits and snacks.

The trunk was packed full and directly delivered to their house.

Seeing the house filled with fruits, Shen Sinian looked towards Shen Yubai walking to the kitchen, "I want to go to the convenience store."

It was only eight o’clock, the store would definitely still be open.

Shen Yubai came out with two glasses of water, heard this and glanced coldly, "If you want to go, then go."

Shen Sinian blinked, "Aren’t you going?"

Shen Yubai: "No."

He put down the water glass on the table and headed to his room.

Shen Sinian glanced at his indifferent figure, thinking about last night’s events, and scratched his head with a bit of annoyance, "Then I’ll go, I’ll bring them some fruits and milk."

Shen Yubai: "If you want to bring, just bring."

Shen Sinian: "I’ll be back soon."

In the living room, he picked out some items. The ones Mr. Shen had arranged to be sent over were all health supplements, the milk was imported, and there were also quite a few imported fruits, all very fresh.

Thinking about Xu Chuning’s preferences, Shen Sinian took two cartons of milk, found a large bag, and filled it with various snacks and fruits for her.

After packing, Shen Sinian said to the people in the room, which was ajar but not closed tightly, "I’m leaving."

"..."

No one responded to him.

Shen Sinian felt slightly annoyed, but didn’t argue over it.

*

On the other end, Xu Chuning, who had spent a whole day at the amusement park yesterday, didn’t go anywhere today and had been helping out in the store since morning.

It wasn’t until evening that she finally had some time to rest.

You Shuzhen asked her to sit for a while, and got up to pour her a glass of water, "How come Sinian didn’t come over today?"

Xu Chuning: "...He went back to the Shen Family."

Shen Sinian had sent her a message in the morning.

You Shuzhen nodded, "It’s good to go home."

The mother and daughter sat in silence.

After a moment of silence, Xu Chuning looked up at her, "Mom, are you missing her?"

Hearing this, You Shuzhen smiled faintly at Xu Chuning, "Ningning, mom saying she doesn’t miss her would be a lie. I dreamt about her a few days ago."

Xu Chuning was slightly stunned and gently held her hand, "Mom, we will definitely find her."

You Shuzhen hummed, "Mom believes too."

As long as she persisted, she believed she would see her daughter again.

"Let’s not talk about this," the topic was too heavy, You Shuzhen smiled and changed the subject, "You seemed a bit down all day today, did you not enjoy yourself at the amusement park yesterday?"

Originally, You Shuzhen had wanted to ask Xu Chuning in the morning, but there were always customers in the store and she had been busy, eventually forgetting to ask.

Xu Chuning was surprised, asking blankly, "Did I?"

You Shuzhen: "Weren’t you happy?"

"No, I had fun yesterday," Xu Chuning said.

You Shuzhen frowned, vaguely feeling that Xu Chuning’s mood was not very upbeat today. Just as she was about to say something more, Shen Sinian’s clear, pleasant voice came from outside the shop, "Aunt You, Ningning."

Both of them turned their heads, and Shen Sinian entered the shop with his hands full, "Did you miss me?"

You Shuzhen chuckled softly, her eyes gentle, "We did, we were just talking about why you didn’t come over today."

"I knew Aunt You liked me the most." Shen Sinian sweetly said, "I went back to the Shen Family today and brought you guys some food."

You Shuzhen looked down at the items in his hands, astounded, "... What are these?"

"Milk," Shen Sinian lifted a carton onto the table, "Aunt You, I checked, and this is particularly suitable for you and Ningning to drink. You work too hard typically, you should replenish some nutrients."

You Shuzhen: "But this is too much."

Shen Sinian: "Not at all."

He gave Xu Chuning a look, asking her to persuade Aunt You to accept them.

Xu Chuning: "..."

She looked at the large and small bags Shen Sinian had brought, "Did you leave any for yourself?"

"Yes," Shen Sinian told her, "Shen Yubai doesn’t drink milk, he told me to take it all."

Suddenly hearing this name, Xu Chuning responded "Oh," "Does he know you came here?"

Shen Sinian nodded.

Xu Chuning understood, fell silent for a moment, then looked at You Shuzhen, "Mom, just accept what Sinian brought. It’s his kind intention."

Shen Sinian chimed in, "Right, Aunt You, if you don’t accept it, I’ll be embarrassed to come here for meals next time."

Shen Sinian and Xu Chuning played their parts in perfect harmony, interjecting one after another, making it hard for You Shuzhen to refuse.

Eventually, You Shuzhen had no choice but to accept this generous gift.

After a few exchanges of pleasantries, Shen Sinian had to leave.

Xu Chuning walked him to the corner, "How did you come here?"

Shen Sinian: "By bike."

"Did he come with you?" Xu Chuning asked instinctively.

Shen Sinian: "...My dad?"

After the counter-question, Shen Sinian noticed Xu Chuning’s slightly stiff expression and couldn’t help teasing her, "Ningning, did you and Shen Yubai have a falling out?"