Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 71: You Might Be Secretly Dating

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: You Might Be Secretly Dating

Shen Sinian actually didn’t have much hope for this last question, but he still wanted to try.

Actually, ever since he proved his identity upon arriving here, Shen Sinian really wanted to tell Shen Yubai that Xu Chuning is the true miss of the Xu Family, and Xu Zhiyan is an imposter.

But Xu Chuning wouldn’t allow it.

After Shen Sinian arrived and confirmed their identities, she made him swear not to tell anyone that she’s not You Shuzhen’s biological daughter, and even more so not to reveal that she is from the Xu Family.

Shen Sinian asked her why.

Xu Chuning’s reply was that she wanted to return to the Xu Family, and she would do it herself, without needing Shen Sinian’s help.

Shen Sinian didn’t understand her reasoning, he wanted to ask, but he knew Xu Chuning wouldn’t disclose it.

But at this moment, Shen Sinian really couldn’t help but ask one more question.

He really wanted to know why Xu Chuning wouldn’t let him tell Shen Yubai, to not tell anyone else, just to speak with Shen Yubai. Shen Yubai probably wouldn’t spread it around.

Seeing these messages from Shen Sinian, Xu Chuning was stunned for a moment: [When did he ask?]

Shen Sinian: [Just now.]

Xu Chuning: [How did you respond?]

Shen Sinian: [...I said you two in the future are not on great terms.]

Xu Chuning, slightly taken aback: [Did he believe that?]

Shen Sinian: [I don’t know, but he didn’t ask further.]

Xu Chuning exhaled in relief: [Alright, got it.]

Shen Sinian: [Ningning.]

Xu Chuning lowered her gaze: [What’s up?]

Shen Sinian felt wronged: [You still haven’t answered me, why can’t I tell him.]

Xu Chuning held her phone, pondering how to reply to him. You Shuzhen poured freshly boiled water into a cup and brought it over to her. She lowered her head and blew on it gently, her eyes and eyebrows soft, "Focus on your writing. Mommy will cool it down for you, wait until it’s a little cooler before you drink."

Xu Chuning was momentarily stunned, then lightly replied, "Thank you, Mom."

You Shuzhen looked at her with a smile brimming in her eyes, "Thank me for what? This is what Mommy should do."

She urged her, "Hurry up with your homework, then go to sleep early."

Xu Chuning obediently said, "Okay."

After blowing on the hot water until it was just cool enough to drink, You Shuzhen got up to leave, reminding Xu Chuning to finish her water.

Once she left, Xu Chuning opened her phone and replied to Shen Sinian’s question: [Because I really like my current identity.]

She really liked the identity as the daughter of You Shuzhen.

And this is something that the current Shen Sinian might not understand.

Being with You Shuzhen, Xu Chuning endured a lot of hardship, and life wasn’t lavish or extravagant, to the point where she couldn’t even afford a kitten costing more than a hundred yuan. But You Shuzhen gave her a lot, a lot of love.

This love is something that she can’t get from the Xu Family, even if she were to return now.

Because, they had given their love to someone else long ago.

Shen Sinian truly didn’t understand. In his eyes, even if Xu Chuning disclosed her identity, she is still You Shuzhen’s daughter; she could even have two mothers.

As if knowing what Shen Sinian would think, Xu Chuning added: [Anyway, you are not allowed to tell him.]

Shen Sinian: [Okay.]

He thought for a while, then asked: [What if he guesses and comes to ask me? Do I have to deny it?]

Xu Chuning: [He won’t be able to guess.]

Shen Sinian: [I’m saying, what if.]

Xu Chuning: [If that ’what if’ happens, tell him to come ask me.]

Shen Sinian: [Alright.]

Xu Chuning: [Hmm, what are you doing?]

She changed the subject.

Shen Sinian: [Just had a chat with Shen Yubai, now I’m chatting with you.]

Xu Chuning chuckled: [You mean, have you finished your homework?]

Shen Sinian: [...I’m writing it now.]

Xu Chuning: [Finish it and then go to sleep, no staying up late to play games.]

Shen Sinian replied with a whining tone: [Got it.]

He hadn’t expected that in the future he would be managed by Xu Chuning, and even now, he was still being managed by her.

Shen Sinian heaved a deep sigh, really not wanting to do his homework, but he had no choice since Xu Chuning had spoken, and he had to do it. There had never been a time when Shen Sinian didn’t do what Xu Chuning asked of him.

Regarding the matter of the relationship between Xu Chuning and Xu Zhiyan, Shen Yubai had thought about it for several days but still couldn’t figure it out.

Shen Sinian would play dumb whenever asked, and there was even less to conclude from Xu Chuning’s side.

With no other choice, he could only set the matter aside for the time being and plan for another important event.

*

In the blink of an eye, June arrived.

The second-year senior high school exams were in mid-July. As soon as June ended, Xu Chuning started to review.

Shen Sinian knew her goal and consciously didn’t bother her. Apart from showing up on time every morning to eat breakfast at the small shop, he would spend the rest of his time either with Shen Yubai or loafing around with Yu Gaoyi.

Apart from Yu Gaoyi, Shen Sinian had successively formed quite good relationships with several other male students at the school.

Boys are like this; they can become sworn brothers the first day they meet.

One day, Xu Chuning, Deng Xitong, and Cheng Mingyin ran into each other at the snack shop and bought water together.

Seeing Xu Chuning holding several bottles of water, Cheng Mingyin was surprised, "Why did you buy so much?"

Deng Xitong answered for her, "We’re going to the basketball court to deliver water to our classmates, do you want to come?"

Cheng Mingyin exclaimed, "Students from your class? Shen Sinian and the others?"

At the school, there was no student who didn’t know Shen Sinian; he hadn’t been at the school for even half a year, not even half a semester, yet he was already a notable figure at the school.

Moreover, he had once given a kitten figurine to Shen Yubai. After that story came out, students from the whole grade, even the entire school, almost all knew that their relationship was no shallow matter.

Just what degree of depth that relationship was, nobody was really clear.

Cheng Mingyin, however, didn’t see it that way. She felt that Shen Sinian’s relationship with Shen Yubai wasn’t as good as his relationship with Xu Chuning.

"It is him, it is him," Deng Xitong said with a smile, "You know him too?"

Cheng Mingyin: "Who in the school doesn’t know him?"

Speaking of which, she was rather curious, "Ningning, what is your relationship with Shen Sinian?"

She had wanted to ask this question before but was worried it might be too forward.

Now she really couldn’t help but ask.

Cheng Mingyin wasn’t the first person to ask this, with resignation Xu Chuning said: "Classmates."

Cheng Mingyin raised an eyebrow: "Is it that simple?"

She believed what Xu Chuning said, but the way the two of them interacted, it didn’t seem like that at all.

Xu Chuning, caught between laughter and tears, said softly, "...If I really must say, then it is more like we’re close friends?"

She certainly couldn’t tell the two that Shen Sinian was her son from the future.

Cheng Mingyin nodded, "I also didn’t think you were the type to start dating early, but you two really are very close. Many people at school say that you might be secretly dating."

Upon hearing this, Deng Xitong asked with curiosity, "Aren’t the schoolmates actually spreading rumors that Shen Yubai and Shen Sinian are secretly dating?"

Xu Chuning stunned: "There’s this rumor?"

It was the first time she had heard this rumor.

Deng Xitong: "You didn’t know?"

Xu Chuning looked at the two of them with a profound gaze: "...Do you think I should know?"