Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 58 Flirting and Quarreling

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Flirting and Quarreling

Shen Yubai didn’t realize that when he stopped adamantly denying the possibility of a future between him and Xu Chuning, everything had already silently begun to change.

Hearing the sarcasm in Shen Yubai’s tone, Shen Sinian didn’t feel embarrassed at all, even boldly accepting, "In the future as well."

Shen Yubai: "..."

Speechless, he glanced at him and muttered, "Let’s go."

Shen Sinian: "Oh."

He quickly followed Shen Yubai.

As the summer sun set, its fragmented rays enveloped the father and son, elongating their shadows.

A student riding by on a bicycle saw the two walking shoulder to shoulder and couldn’t help feeling they looked very much alike.

When Shen Sinian and Shen Yubai reached the small eatery, You Shuzhen was preparing food. Seeing them, she paused and looked back, "Didn’t Ningning come back with you?"

Shen Sinian: "She’s got something to do; she’ll be back later."

He put down his backpack, "Aunt You, need help?"

You Shuzhen shook her head, "No need, just take a seat. Are you here for dinner?"

"We’ll eat later." Shen Yubai answered, "Aunt You, you go ahead with your work, we need to talk."

You Shuzhen looked at them, nodded with a smile, "Alright, make yourselves at home. Call me if you need anything."

"Sure."

It wasn’t suitable to talk business in the small shop. Summer had arrived, and there were a few tables set up outside the shop doorway, but sitting there was still slightly sun-drenched.

Shen Yubai looked around and asked Shen Sinian, "Want a drink?"

"I’d like some fruit juice," Shen Sinian said.

Shen Yubai: "...This place might not have the fruit juice you want."

Having been here for quite a while, Shen Yubai knew Shen Sinian’s preferences and requirements as they had dined together often. He seemed not picky about food, happy with ordinary home-cooked meals, but he was very particular about his beverages.

The milk tea and fruit juice near the school, he could hardly drink after a sip, finding them too synthetic, made from powder.

He liked fresh, freshly squeezed fruit juice.

The Shen Family could provide it, but hopes were slim in an outside shop.

"Alright then." Shen Sinian: "Let’s get Ningning a cup; she likes it."

Shen Yubai: "Let’s go."

They walked to a nearby tea shop where Shen Sinian, after looking around, ordered several cups of lemon tea. Lemon tea, he could manage to drink.

After buying them and returning to the eatery, Shen Sinian handed two of the lemon teas to You Shuzhen, then sat down outside on a small chair with Shen Yubai.

Shen Yubai sipped the lemon tea, his lips moved slightly, "Still not sure how to start?"

He noticed Shen Sinian hesitating.

Shen Sinian: "...Just figured it out."

Shen Yubai looked up, all ears.

Shen Sinian pursed his lips, speaking softly, "Do you remember the dance I did last time at the arcade?"

Shen Yubai glanced sideways, his dark, narrow eyes pausing on him momentarily, "A talent scout noticed you?"

It had to be said, Shen Yubai was clever.

Stunned, Shen Sinian was surprised by his precise guess. After opening his mouth, he finally nodded, "Yeah, they called me."

Shen Yubai: "Did you tell Xu Chuning?"

Shen Sinian: "I did."

"She’s okay with you going?" Shen Yubai was slightly surprised.

Shen Sinian: "She said it’s up to me."

Shen Yubai understood, looking down at him, "Do you want to go?"

Shen Sinian looked up, without much hesitation, he nodded, "I do."

Shen Yubai: "If you want to go, then go."

Shen Sinian was momentarily stunned, hesitantly asking, "You’re not stopping me?"

"Why would I stop you?" Shen Yubai asked in surprise.

Shen Sinian blinked, "No, I just said it casually."

Shen Yubai looked at him, "In the future, do we stop you from doing many things you want to do?"

Shen Sinian: "No, but you guys would analyze the pros and cons with me."

They would analyze with Shen Sinian, what things were suitable to do now, and what could wait. The future them were not like the present them, letting him act on his own thoughts and temperament.

Shen Yubai was startled, then thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it’s because the future us have more experiences, and our thoughts are more mature."

Shen Sinian: "Maybe."

The two were silent for a while, and Shen Yubai said softly, "Which entertainment company?"

"Mingri Entertainment." Shen Sinian told him the name.

Shen Yubai nodded, "Before discussing contract matters, tell me, I’ll have the family arrange a lawyer for you."

Shen Sinian was stunned, then slowly nodded, "Okay."

When Xu Chuning returned from seeing Cheng Mingyin, the matter between Shen Yubai and Shen Sinian had already been discussed.

Seeing her, Shen Sinian’s face lit up with joy, "Ningning."

Xu Chuning approached the two and asked in a lowered voice, "Did you tell him?"

Shen Sinian: "I did."

"What did he say?" Xu Chuning was curious.

Shen Sinian was about to speak when the person neglected on the side said softly, "You can ask me directly."

Xu Chuning: "..."

Shen Sinian: "..."

Both lowered their heads, their eyes met briefly, and Xu Chuning turned away, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Shen Sinian: "Anything is fine for me."

Xu Chuning: "...Is Mr. Shen eating here too?"

Shen Yubai looked up, brazenly saying, "If Xu doesn’t mind."

Xu Chuning: "You just pay for your meal."

Shen Yubai: "No problem."

Listening to his parents’ conversation, Shen Sinian, who was slow on the uptake, felt slightly superfluous. It seemed like his parents were flirting.

After dinner at the small restaurant, Shen Sinian and Shen Yubai returned to their place.

Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen finished cleaning up and went home to rest.

The next day, Saturday, it poured heavily in the morning.

Xu Chuning was woken up by the sound of rain and went to the small shop with You Shuzhen.

Due to the heavy rain, not many people went out, and the breakfast shop was less busy.

Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen busied themselves for a while, then attended to their own tasks.

Xu Chuning did her homework, and You Shuzhen cleaned.

By the time Xu Chuning had almost finished her homework, she looked up and noticed You Shuzhen had fallen asleep in a chair against the wall.

Outside the shop, the fog was dense, the water vapor forming lines, isolating inside from outside. The light outside was dim and gray. There were no customers inside the dark, unlit shop.

Xu Chuning stared blankly at You Shuzhen’s profile, her eyes suddenly feeling a bit sore.

After not observing for a while, You Shuzhen’s hair had become much whiter.

Xu Chuning looked on; as You Shuzhen’s eyelids twitched, about to wake up, she quickly lowered her eyes and continued looking at the open book on the table.

"I don’t know how I fell asleep," You Shuzhen muttered softly.

Xu Chuning pretended to be confused, "Huh?"

She raised her head towards You Shuzhen and said gently, "Mom, rest a bit if you’re tired, there probably won’t be many customers today."

You Shuzhen looked at the relentless rain outside the door and sighed softly, "Okay, you should also take breaks."

Xu Chuning: "I know."

The mother and daughter exchanged a few words, and once You Shuzhen went to the back to cook, Xu Chuning took out her phone and logged onto QQ.

After hesitating for a while, she sent Shen Yubai a message: "Any news about her yet?"