Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 65: You All Together on Saturday

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: You All Together on Saturday

Shen Yubai always looks aloof and hard to approach, but there are many people leaving comments on his QQ space.

Seeing the comment "Is this trinket even worth posting about?" Xu Chuning deeply felt that the person was quite rude. How is a 4.8 yuan item not worth a post?

Of course, if she knew Shen Yubai would post about it so seriously, she would have been willing to buy the slightly more expensive, larger version of the kitten figurine.

For a moment, Xu Chuning regretted her choice.

Suddenly, her phone pinged again with a message from Deng Xitong: [Did you see it?]

Xu Chuning quickly gathered her wandering thoughts: [I saw it.]

Deng Xitong: [What do you say?]

Xu Chuning: [Uh?]

Deng Xitong: [I mean that post from Shen Yubai, the figurine in his photo, looks like something a girl would give, right? Is he dating someone?]

Reading this, Xu Chuning pursed her lips. She hesitated for a moment before replying doubtfully to Deng Xitong: [...Based on that post alone, I don’t think so.]

Deng Xitong: [How would you know?]

After some thought, Xu Chuning decided to tell her the truth. She and Deng Xitong were desk-mates, and they had grown somewhat closer this semester compared to other classmates. Though Deng Xitong could occasionally be a bit of a princess, she was straightforward, and Xu Chuning actually enjoyed hanging out with her.

Though Xu Chuning hadn’t thought about making friends at school before high school, nor did she particularly need friends.

But recently, after blending in with her classmates for a while, she realized... she actually quite liked being with everyone, joking and chatting.

She needed friends more than she had thought.

Therefore, Xu Chuning didn’t want to hide the truth from her real friends.

With this in mind, she responded: [You have to promise to keep it a secret.]

Deng Xitong: [I swear, whatever you tell me, I won’t tell anyone else.]

She thought Xu Chuning knew some secret about Shen Yubai that others didn’t.

Xu Chuning: [...That little figurine, it’s a gift from Shen Sinian and me to him.]

Deng Xitong: [?]

Seeing the question mark she sent, Xu Chuning nervously licked her lips: [You... don’t believe me?]

It seemed Deng Xitong came to a realization: [No.]

Deng Xitong: [I see.]

Xu Chuning: [What do you see?]

Deng Xitong: [Oh, I just hadn’t thought before that the thing could have been given by you. It totally makes sense that it was your gift.]

Xu Chuning was surprised: [Really?]

Is it really that obvious?

Deng Xitong: [I just thought about it carefully, and among Shen Yubai’s classmates, indeed only you would gift such a cheap little thing.]

Xu Chuning: [... You don’t seem to be complimenting me.]

Deng Xitong: [Oh come on, don’t overthink it. I meant... your gift is very unique.]

Xu Chuning: [So, should I be thanking you then?]

Deng Xitong: [You’re welcome.]

Xu Chuning couldn’t help but laugh, just as she was about to say something more, Deng Xitong sent another message: [Don’t worry, I will keep this secret for you, but I do want to know... why did you and Shen Sinian give it to him together?]

Xu Chuning thought for a bit: [He invited Shen Sinian for lunch, and then I had to look for Shen Sinian for something; it was a compensatory gift.]

Deng Xitong: [Got it.]

They exchanged a few more messages on QQ, and then Xu Chuning logged off.

Before exiting, out of habit, she clicked on Shen Yubai’s post again, and this time upon viewing it, several more comments had appeared below.

This time, Xu Chuning didn’t delve into the comments anymore, and she decisively logged off the internet.

Yet, Xu Chuning didn’t expect that come Monday at school, most of the classmates were discussing Shen Yubai’s social media post.

Shen Yubai only had a few classmates added on QQ, mostly from the international class, but his QQ space was open to the public, visible to anyone who had added him as a friend. There were tight-lipped students in the international class, and there were also blabbermouths.

Last night, someone took screenshots of his post and shared them in various groups, stirring secret gossips and discussions among everyone.

Similarly, some people thought like Deng Xitong, assuming Shen Yubai might be in a relationship; that little ornament was clearly something girls would like - a gift given to him.

Hearing the classmates speak this way, Xu Chuning’s breathing tightened subtly, feeling unexplainably nervous.

But the very next moment, she was stunned by another classmate’s words.

"It might not necessarily be a relationship; it could also be a flirtatious friendship, you know? I heard from a student in the international class that the small ornament was a gift from Xu Zhiyan—Shen Yubai’s childhood sweetheart."

"Really? How do you know Xu Zhiyan gave it?"

"The international classmate mentioned they saw the same ornament on Xu Zhiyan’s desk."

"That explains it then; it must have indeed been given by Xu Zhiyan."

"But someone asked Xu Zhiyan, and she didn’t admit to it."

"She definitely wouldn’t admit it, though. Although the school teachers wouldn’t dare mess with Shen Yubai and Xu Zhiyan, if the two were openly dating, the school would still try to give them a warning, right?"

"You have a good point."

"..."

Hearing a few classmates discuss, Xu Chuning blinked slowly, somewhat surprised. Did Xu Zhiyan have that ornament too?

Lost in thought, Deng Xitong came in from outside the classroom and sat down next to her, huffing, "I am so furious."

Xu Chuning turned to look at her puffy face and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Deng Xitong turned her head, her face still puffed up, "Didn’t you hear the rumors at school?"

Xu Chuning was momentarily taken aback, "...the ones about Shen Yubai and the others?"

"Yes," Deng Xitong glanced at her sideways, somewhat disappointed, "Aren’t you angry? Everyone is saying that ornament from Shen Yubai was given by Xu Zhiyan, and they also say Xu Zhiyan has a similar one. Both of their ornaments are even couple versions."

Xu Chuning: "But we know it’s not true."

Deng Xitong was lost for words, "So you’re not angry?"

Especially when that thing was clearly given to Shen Yubai by her, and other classmates and even Xu Zhiyan were acknowledging it in default. How could Xu Chuning not be angry?

For a moment, Deng Xitong didn’t know whether to say Xu Chuning was too indifferent or... she really didn’t have those kind of feelings for Shen Yubai anymore.

But if she really had no such feelings for Shen Yubai, then why would she give him a gift?

Even though last night Xu Chuning told her the little ornament on Shen Yubai’s QQ space was a joint gift from her with Shen Sinian, Deng Xitong wasn’t a fool. Knowing Xu Chuning for so long, she knew her well; if they merely had a purely platonic relationship, Xu Chuning wouldn’t just randomly gift him such a cute little cat ornament, especially when it wasn’t even his birthday or any special occasion.

Even though that thing might cost less than ten yuan.

Hearing Deng Xitong say this, Xu Chuning hesitated and nodded slowly, "...It seems there’s nothing to be angry about."

Compared to bigger issues, Xu Chuning really didn’t take this small matter to heart.

Hearing this response, Deng Xitong looked at her disapprovingly, "Then let me tell you something else."

Xu Chuning: "What?"

"People said that Xu Zhiyan went to Shen Yubai’s house on Saturday to have dinner together." Deng Xitong was very upset, "If that’s true, then Shen Yubai is really going too far."

Xu Chuning was startled, "Saturday?"

"Yes."

"...That can’t be," Xu Chuning muttered.

Deng Xitong blinked blankly, her eyes suddenly brightening up, smart to the point it surprised Xu Chuning, "How do you know it can’t be? Were you with them on Saturday?"

If that was the case, Deng Xitong would burst out laughing.