Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 90: Flirting Skills

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Flirting Skills

Shen Yubai wanted to ask, but wasn’t in a hurry.

After chatting for a bit, the head teacher entered the classroom. The biggest annoyance of the second year of high school was summer vacation homework.

With just the last crucial year remaining, nobody was going to have an easy time this summer vacation during the second year.

As per tradition, teachers from each subject entered the classroom to assign summer homework and to distribute printed exercise papers.

The stack of papers on Xu Chuning and others’ desks was piled up high, looking quite substantial.

After distributing the papers, Mou Xue looked around the classroom filled with frowning faces and said with a faint smile, "Cherish the summer homework of your last year, everyone."

Someone mumbled, "We still have the winter vacation though."

Winter vacation will be even more painful.

Mou Xue smiled, her voice gentle, "The end-of-term exams have finished. Whether everyone performed well or not, we don’t need to be too anxious. We still have one year to make a final push. I know everyone is looking forward to the summer vacation, and so am I. Similarly, I wish everyone a safe departure and return to school, and while enjoying your time, don’t forget to complete your homework and reading."

She paused, then spoke warmly, "It’s only the last year left. Let’s all work a little harder; spring will come very soon."

"..."

After Mou Xue finished speaking, her final words wished everyone a happy summer vacation and to be safe while traveling before she left.

After the teacher left, the students started to pack up their things one after one, preparing to leave.

Xu Chuning stuffed the papers into her backpack, cramming it full.

The others did the same.

After today, it might be two months before seeing each other again, which made them somewhat unwilling to part.

Mrs. Deng Xitong called her, saying she was waiting at the school gate.

She hung up, looking at Xu Chuning reluctantly, "I’ve got to go, let’s keep in touch on QQ."

Xu Chuning smiled and nodded, "Of course, I don’t spend much time on QQ, but I’ll respond when I see the messages."

Deng Xitong waved her hand, "I know, I won’t get mad at you."

She didn’t mind these things.

If she did, she wouldn’t be friends with Xu Chuning.

During the months of close friendship with Xu Chuning, Deng Xitong had come to understand her well; she was an apparently cold but warm person on the inside. Seemingly indifferent in many aspects of her personality, she was actually very attentive and thoughtful. Close to exam time, she would help them organize their review materials, and even when they didn’t ask, she would prepare everything properly. Despite being busy, she would even suggest using the lunch break to give them a half-hour extra class, and so on.

Xu Chuning looked at her backpack, "Is it heavy? Should we ask Shen Sinian to carry it for you?"

Deng Xitong looked at her with amusement, "Doesn’t Shen Sinian have to carry yours?"

Their papers were equally many.

Just as Xu Chuning was about to say she was strong enough to carry her own, Shen Sinian, who had been eavesdropping from behind, spoke at the right moment, "Ladies, are you underestimating me?"

They turned around.

Shen Sinian’s eyebrows raised slightly, his dashing face stamped with the word ’arrogant’, somewhat snobbish yet somewhat cute, "Just two backpacks, I can handle both."

Deng Xitong glanced at his bare arms, feeling inexplicably warm on her cheeks.

Summer had arrived, and both boys and girls wore school uniforms with long pants and short sleeves. Shen Sinian was slim but often exercised, so there were faint muscles on his arms, that, when he exerted himself, would reveal the well-trained and smooth biceps, making most girls too embarrassed to look too long.

Noticing Deng Xitong’s gaze, Xu Chuning felt a bit like laughing. She pursed her lips, trying to suppress her amusement, "Alright, then we’ll leave our backpacks to you."

Shen Sinian was confident, "Let’s go."

He took responsibility for carrying both of their backpacks.

As the three of them walked out of the classroom and reached the bottom of the teaching building, Shen Yubai and Ban Shu also emerged from the other side carrying their schoolbags.

They looked more carefree and relaxed than Shen Sinian, with their schoolbags slung over one shoulder, appearing languid and content.

After a quick glance and a comparison, Shen Sinian unhesitatingly handed Xu Chuning’s schoolbag to Shen Yubai, "Help carry one."

Shen Yubai looked down to see the slightly faded light-colored schoolbag in his arms and paused slightly, "Why is it so heavy?"

As he said this, his gaze was on Xu Chuning.

Xu Chuning saw how he naturally carried the schoolbag in one hand, the veins protruding from his wrist, and she was slightly stunned. She knew Shen Yubai had good-looking hands, but she hadn’t paid much attention to his arm’s contours, which were also pretty.

"Hm?" Without getting an answer from Xu Chuning, Shen Yubai raised his eyebrows inquisitively.

Xu Chuning snapped back to reality and shifted her gaze away a bit unnaturally, "...There were many test papers, and I also brought a few books. Don’t you have any?"

Shen Yubai: "We do, but not many."

Xu Chuning was surprised: "Even our summer homework is different?"

Shen Yubai dropped his gaze, capturing her surprised expression and slightly hooked his lips inward, "Want to know? We can compare later."

Xu Chuning was taken aback, "You... aren’t going back?"

"No rush," said Shen Yubai.

Xu Chuning made an acknowledging sound and asked no further.

Arriving at the school gates, Mrs. Deng Xitong came to pick her up.

Shen Sinian handed the schoolbag to her, and after a few pleasantries with Mrs. Deng Xitong, they left.

Ban Shu was also picked up.

After Ban Shu had gone, the three of them headed towards the small shop.

After walking a bit, Xu Chuning looked at Shen Yubai: "Why don’t I carry it for a while?"

The schoolbag was not especially heavy, but holding it continuously could make the arms sore and tired.

Hearing her offer, Shen Yubai glanced at her with a neutral expression, "No need."

Xu Chuning: "Aren’t your hands tired?"

"It’s alright," Shen Yubai replied, pausing for a moment before asking, "Why, worried about me?"

"?"

Xu Chuning looked up and suddenly felt his question was somewhat playful, even his expression seemed unusual.

She knew Shen Yubai was handsome and good-looking. His facial features were defined, his eyes deep, with a heroic brow and starry gaze, even more handsome than the male celebrities adored by many in their class. When his attractive, peach blossom eyes stared straight at you, it was easy to feel defenseless.

Realizing this, Xu Chuning pursed her lips lightly, pretending to be calm as she averted her gaze, "You’re overthinking it."

She was dead serious, "I’m just concerned that Young Master Shen might tire of carrying it, or be unable to carry it anymore, and just toss away my schoolbag."

Shen Yubai was taken aback, tugging at the corner of his mouth lightly, "What kind of person do you think I am?"

He would never do such a thing.

Xu Chuning did not pick up on the thread; her excuse was just a random thought, full of holes.

Fortunately for her, Shen Yubai did not press the matter.

The two continued to walk side by side, the warm afternoon sunlight casting their shadows, which at times overlapped on the ground.

Trailing two steps behind them and having heard their exchange, Shen Sinian silently looked to the sky. He wasn’t sure whether to say Shen Yubai was good at flirting, or to comment on how oblivious Xu Chuning was...

Could she really not hear or feel the meaning behind Shen Yubai’s words?