Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 88 I’ll Tell You After the Exam

Chapter 88: Chapter 88 I’ll Tell You After the Exam

Looking at the vastly different styles of their handwriting, Xu Chuning was slightly at a loss for words. Why did everyone else’s writing look so much better than hers?

Noticing her silence, Shen Yubai spoke in a light tone: "Have you practiced calligraphy before?"

Xu Chuning: "...I bought some copybooks a few years ago and practiced."

But with little success.

Moreover, Xu Chuning didn’t know what was wrong with her, she had the patience to persevere in everything else. The only exception was calligraphy, which she just couldn’t keep up with.

She would fish for three days and then dry her nets for two, with no willpower at all.

Shen Yubai looked up, "Did you buy them from a bookstore?"

Xu Chuning nodded.

"What style were you practicing?" Shen Yubai asked.

Xu Chuning glanced at him, "Regular script."

She couldn’t even write well in regular script, how could she possibly practice others.

Shen Yubai nodded, "Have you been practicing recently?"

"No," Xu Chuning muttered, "I gave up halfway."

Shen Yubai: "..."

It was rare to hear her speak in such a childish way. He resisted the urge, but couldn’t help curving the corner of his mouth, "Would you like your writing to become better-looking?"

Xu Chuning turned her head, her eyes suddenly lighting up, "Do you have a way?"

Shen Yubai: "Yes."

He looked down at her, keeping the suspense, "I’ll tell you after the exams."

Xu Chuning: "...Why can’t you tell me now?"

Shen Yubai: "Just because I can’t now."

Xu Chuning was taken aback, feeling that his words were as good as saying nothing.

Speechless and choked for a few seconds, she wanted to say something, but eventually gave up, "Fine, after the exams, we’ll see what you can do to make my writing look better."

She was looking forward to it.

The corners of Shen Yubai’s mouth curled inward, his demeanor relaxed, "Good luck."

Xu Chuning paused and pursed her lips, "Of course."

She was definitely going to work hard. She wanted to get the scholarship.

After they finished discussing the questions, customers gradually started to trickle into the store.

Xu Chuning went to help You Shuzhen, and Shen Yubai stood up, "I’m going to check out the bubble tea shop."

They parted ways.

Once Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen got through the busy period, Shen Yubai and their group came over. You Shuzhen cooked noodles specially for them; they ate and then they all went back to their own homes.

Before leaving, Shen Sinian quietly told Xu Chuning, "I will come with him for breakfast tomorrow morning."

Xu Chuning couldn’t help but chuckle, "Come early, there will be more people in the store tomorrow morning."

Shen Sinian gestured an OK sign towards her, "Got it."

In an instant, the bustling shop became quiet.

Just as Xu Chuning realized this, You Shuzhen sighed, "Once they leave, the store becomes quiet, I’m not yet accustomed to it."

Xu Chuning didn’t say anything, but she felt the same way in her heart.

She suddenly discovered that she actually really enjoyed hanging out with Deng Xitong and the others, whether it was for studying or playing, or even doing something meaningless, but happy.

"Ningning," You Shuzhen suddenly called her.

Xu Chuning looked up, "Mom."

You Shuzhen looked at her, her eyes and eyebrows softening, "Mom is very happy that you now have so many good friends."

Xu Chuning blanked out for a moment, then a slight smile curved her lips, "But my best friend is you."

Hearing this, You Shuzhen chuckled, "Of course."

She patted Xu Chuning’s head, "Let’s go, head back home early tonight and rest, you have an exam tomorrow."

Xu Chuning nodded her head.

After cleaning up, mother and daughter closed the shop and went home.

Before bed, Xu Chuning had wanted to study some more, but was stopped by You Shuzhen, "Go to sleep, you’ll perform better if you rest well."

Xu Chuning thought about it, and it did seem to make sense.

Mother and daughter rarely went to bed at the same time.

Lying in bed, Xu Chuning stared at the ceiling sleeplessly, "Mom."

You Shuzhen rested with her eyes closed, "Hmm?"

Xu Chuning asked, "When are we going to Pingning Town this year?"

Pingning Town is a small town under Ning City, an obscure and remote little town, and also the hometown of You Shuzhen.

You Shuzhen was quiet for a moment, then softly asked, "When do you want to go back?"

"I’m good with anytime." Xu Chuning said, "Mom, if Shen Sinian is free, is it convenient to invite him to Pingning Town for a visit?"

Upon hearing this, You Shuzhen was surprised, "Sinian wants to visit Pingning?"

Xu Chuning explained, "I was chatting with Xitong about summer plans today, and when I mentioned that we would be staying for a while in our hometown, he asked if he could go too."

You Shuzhen realized, "That’s fine, mom has no inconvenience."

But You Shuzhen had other concerns, "Will he be able to adapt?"

"He won’t," Xu Chuning said, "He will definitely like Pingning."

Even though Pingning doesn’t have amusement parks, convenient taxis, tall buildings, or the takeout, fast food restaurants, and so on that Jiang City has at one’s fingertips, Pingning has very natural scenery, with trees, wind, and streams. Most importantly, it’s You Shuzhen’s hometown, where Shen Sinian’s grandmother lives.

It was where Xu Chuning had found her new lease on life.

So, even though there were many inconveniences, Xu Chuning still firmly believed that Shen Sinian would like it.

Hearing what Xu Chuning said, You Shuzhen was surprised, "Sinian told you that?"

"He didn’t say it," Xu Chuning told the truth, "I guessed."

You Shuzhen paused for a moment, then laughed, saying, "Ningning, you really like Sinian a lot."

Xu Chuning let out an "ah," and quickly said, "Mom, I don’t feel that way towards him—"

Before she could finish her sentence, You Shuzhen said, "Mom knows, your feelings for Sinian aren’t like a boy and a girl liking each other, mom can see that."

She has been through it and can see these things clearly.

Xu Chuning made an acknowledging noise, then asked hesitantly, "Then why did you say that?"

"I don’t know either," You Shuzhen also felt strange, "but mom just feels that you really like Sinian, this child."

As she spoke, You Shuzhen got absorbed in her own thoughts, "But apart from you, mom likes Sinian too. He’s polite, measured, and has a sweet mouth, really good at sweet-talking."

Shen Sinian is sunny and attentive. He often notices details others miss, and in front of elders, he’s particularly sweet-spoken, uttering heartfelt pleasantries that don’t seem exaggerated. When he looks at you with his face, those eyes fixed on you, you have no defenses.

Continuing, You Shuzhen said, "His parents have raised him very well."

Xu Chuning was taken aback and blinked lightly, "Maybe it’s not that his parents raised him so well."

She had talked with Shen Sinian, who had revealed to her that his future self and Shen Yubai were very busy and rarely had time to take care of him at home. From childhood to adulthood, Shen Sinian grew up with his grandparents and nannies.

In this regard, she and Shen Yubai were failures.

Surprised to hear this, You Shuzhen asked, "Sinian told you this?"

Xu Chuning pursed her lips, "I guessed, he said his parents are busy."

You Shuzhen: "They’re busy, but they’d still think of him, you can tell he was brought up in a loving home."

Otherwise, Shen Sinian wouldn’t have been so sunny.

Of course, there are exceptions, but You Shuzhen was still firm in her belief that the family Shen Sinian grew up in was filled with love everywhere. Only a home filled with love can raise a young man as cheerful, interesting, kind, and attentive as he is.

Xu Chuning blinked lightly, feeling a bit apprehensive, "Is that so?"

You Shuzhen smiled to herself, "Of course, you should trust mom’s eye and intuition."

Xu Chuning didn’t doubt You Shuzhen, she was just afraid to consider what kind of love she and Shen Yubai had in the future.