Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 56 An Eyesore

Chapter 56: Chapter 56 An Eyesore

In Xu Chuning’s mind, Shen Sinian’s happiness came first, with other matters needing consideration falling into lesser importance.

As long as Shen Sinian wanted to go, she would support him.

Xu Chuning wasn’t sure whether her future self would be too controlling over Shen Sinian because she also didn’t know what she would become in the future, as one’s thoughts inevitably differ at various ages.

She had no way of knowing about her future self.

But her present self was clear about one thing—she hoped Shen Sinian was happy, doing what he wanted to do. As long as he was happy, and it wasn’t illegal or criminal, anything he wanted to do was fine.

Hearing Xu Chuning’s response, Shen Sinian was dumbfounded and somewhat uncertain, "Really?"

Xu Chuning: "Does the future me often lie to you?"

Shen Sinian didn’t speak.

The future Xu Chuning didn’t usually deceive him either. He knew she had many obligations, thus sometimes couldn’t fulfill the promises she made to him.

After a moment of silence, Shen Sinian murmured softly, "I’m afraid I won’t do well."

"What does that matter?" Xu Chuning said with a chuckle, looking at him, "Since when did my son lack confidence in himself?"

She said the first three words very softly.

Shen Sinian lowered his eyes; his attractive peach blossom eyes were clean and moist, resembling translucent, glittering glass beads, staring straight at her as he whispered in defense, "I’m just a tiny bit unconfident."

Xu Chuning laughed, "Alright."

She encouraged him, "If you want to go, just go. Let’s give it a try. If you like it, then continue. If not, we’ll stop."

Shen Sinian hummed in agreement, then quietly said, "I still need to ask him."

Both knew whom ’he’ referred to.

Xu Chuning nodded, "You want to ask, or should I help you ask?"

"I’ll ask," Shen Sinian still had that much courage.

Xu Chuning agreed.

During the lunch break, the two stood talking in the corridor, looking very close.

Neither of them noticed that quite a few people were watching them.

Shen Yubai and Ban Shu had lingered outside for a while before returning. Just as they were about to walk into the classroom, Ban Shu, with sharp eyes, spotted the two in the corridor and called out, "Brother Yu, Xu Chuning and the rest."

Shen Yubai lifted his eyelids to look over, just in time to catch the scene of Xu Chuning smiling at Shen Sinian. She looked very happy, a smile different from the ones she used to give him. Her smile for Shen Sinian was pure, genuine.

For some reason, Shen Yubai found her present smile somewhat irritating.

"What exactly is going on with those two?" Ban Shu was still curious, "Does the younger brother really not fancy Xu Chuning?"

Shen Yubai: "It’s not the kind of liking you’re thinking of."

Of course, Shen Sinian liked Xu Chuning; that was obvious to anyone with eyes.

It’s just that his liking for Xu Chuning was not like what everyone thought.

Ban Shu was puzzled, "What kind of liking is it then? Just as ordinary friends? Doesn’t seem to look it though."

Shen Yubai ignored his mutterings, his gaze narrowing and fixing directly on the pair not far away.

Besides Shen Yubai and Ban Shu, there were others who took notice of the two, including Xu Zhiyan and several classmates from the international class, all of whom turned their attention that way.

Xu Zhiyan had intended to walk up to Shen Yubai and have a chat, knowing that Aunt Sang had returned and wanting to ask if he would go back to the Shen Family for dinner over the weekend. She first saw the two people downstairs.

Xu Zhiyan paused, following his line of sight, having a vague sense that the two people at the corridor downstairs looked familiar.

As she was ruminating, the nearby Tang Ruqing whispered, "Isn’t that the girl who sat with Shen Yubai in the cafeteria last time?"

Xu Zhiyan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, "It’s her."

Tang Ruqing uttered a sound of agreement, looking at the pair downstairs interacting, "Are they two involved in puppy love?"

Xu Zhiyan glanced at her, "Qingqing, we shouldn’t spread rumors about things we’re not certain of."

Mingzhi Middle School strictly regulates early romances, and they are very strict about it.

Tang Ruqing awkwardly said, "It’s not like early romance where a boy and a girl are so close, with physical contact... that’s also being ambiguous, right?"

Speaking of this, she muttered, "This girl is pretty skilled."

Xu Zhiyan didn’t say anything.

Tang Ruqing muttered to herself for a few more sentences, then suddenly asked, "Why is Shen Yubai watching them, could he also..." She frowned, quite displeased, "He couldn’t possibly like this type of girl, could he?"

Hearing this, Xu Zhiyan became unhappy, "Ruqing."

Tang Ruqing realized it later, "Sorry, I misspoke just now."

She cajoled Xu Zhiyan, "Shen Yubai’s taste isn’t that bad, he definitely wouldn’t like that kind, he would surely prefer someone like you."

"Don’t talk nonsense," Xu Zhiyan, with a faint smile emerging on her face, said somewhat shyly, "If others heard this, they would laugh at us."

Tang Ruqing snorted: "Who dares?"

Given the wealth and power of the Xu Family, aside from Shen Yubai, none of the other students at the school dared to offend Xu Zhiyan. She is the only young mistress of the Xu Family, the darling that the Xu Family dotes on the most.

Xu Zhiyan: "We can’t be so domineering."

Tang Ruqing gave an "ah" sound, thought for a while, then agreed, "That’s true."

She nodded earnestly, "We still have to keep a low profile."

Xu Zhiyan pursed her lips, then looked downstairs again.

During their conversation, the two people downstairs had disappeared. At the same time, Shen Yubai and Ban Shu also pulled back their gaze and turned towards them.

Xu Zhiyan lit up with joy, ready to call out to him, but Shen Yubai walked past her with eyes straight ahead, as if he didn’t see her at all.

"..."

Xu Zhiyan’s smile froze on her face, and she incredulously widened her eyes, staring at his retreating figure as it turned into a distant classroom.

What does Shen Yubai mean by this?

Is he deliberately ignoring her?

Or did he really not see her?

Noticing that something was off with Xu Zhiyan’s expression, Tang Ruqing’s lips moved slightly, somewhat anxiously, "Zhixian, Shen Yubai... probably didn’t see us, right?"

She guessed.

Xu Zhiyan furrowed her brow, "But we’re two living people standing right here, how could he possibly not see us?"

Tang Ruqing began to feel a headache, "He was just playing with his phone."

She made up a story.

Xu Zhiyan hadn’t noticed this, and she hesitated, asking uncertainly, "Really?"

Tang Ruqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "Of course it’s true, he was just bending his head and playing with his phone, totally unaware of who was standing beside him."

She soothed Xu Zhiyan, "If he knew it was us standing there, he definitely would have greeted us."

Xu Zhiyan pursed her lips, "But what if..."

"There’s no ’what if’," Tang Ruqing pulled her towards the classroom, diverting the topic, "Didn’t you have something to tell him? Shall we go now?"

Xu Zhiyan’s attention was diverted, and she returned to the classroom with Tang Ruqing.

Meanwhile, Xu Chuning and Shen Sinian in another building had no idea about this.

After staying in the hallway for a while, the two went back to the classroom for a nap.

Shen Sinian replied to Min Jian with a message, saying he hadn’t discussed it with his family, and if his family had no objections, he would contact him.

Min Jian immediately replied: [If you’re not confident in persuading your parents, you can give me their contact information, and I will help convince them.]

Shen Sinian: [No need for now.]

If Min Jian found out his parents were high schoolers, he might just call the police.