Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 96 I’ll Take You Upstairs

Chapter 96: Chapter 96 I’ll Take You Upstairs

Silent all the way into the small alley, Xu Chuning reached her destination.

The surroundings were pitch-black, and the alley was both narrow and long.

From the moment he stepped into the alley, Shen Yubai’s furrowed brows had never relaxed. He had been here before with Shen Sinian, but that was during daylight and they had not ventured far into the alley, only waiting outside. He didn’t know that it would be so dark here at night, the alley so narrow that if someone came from the opposite direction, they would have to sidestep to pass through smoothly.

There were streetlights high up in the alley, but they were spaced far apart, and some had broken down long ago.

The faint light seeping out from the densely packed houses was absolutely incapable of illuminating the path.

He looked around when the person beside him suddenly spoke, her pleasant voice entering his ears, "Shen Yubai."

Shen Yubai turned his gaze sideways, his eyes slightly moving, "What?"

Xu Chuning stood still, looking at him, "I’ve arrived."

Shen Yubai was momentarily stunned for a few seconds before he raised his head to look at the entrance to the stairs, and he nodded lightly, "Is there light on the stairs?"

Xu Chuning was taken aback, then hummed, "There was before."

"...Not anymore?" Shen Yubai asked in surprise.

Xu Chuning: "No."

She spoke softly, "It broke."

The tenants here had long reported it to the landlord, but the landlord claimed to be busy and had never come to replace it. Over time, everyone got used to groping their way upstairs in the dark to get home.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yubai furrowed his brows, "Doesn’t the landlord know?"

Xu Chuning calmly replied, "Didn’t have the chance to replace it yet."

Shen Yubai lowered his gaze at her, the dim surrounding light forcing them to barely make out each other’s expressions.

After a silent moment, Shen Yubai looked away and said, "Let’s go, I’ll walk you upstairs."

"No need," Xu Chuning refused, "I live on the second floor, it’s very quick."

Shen Yubai: "..."

Catching sight of Xu Chuning’s determined expression in the faint light, he conceded, "Okay, then...rest early."

Xu Chuning: "Be careful on your way back."

Shen Yubai, with one hand in his pocket, said indifferently, "Don’t worry."

Watching Xu Chuning enter the staircase and ascend, Shen Yubai withdrew his gaze. He took a few steps back and tilted his head slightly, hearing the sound of Xu Chuning calling You Shuzhen "Mom". The houses in the urban village had little soundproofing, and he could hear their conversation clearly from downstairs.

Once he was sure Xu Chuning was inside, Shen Yubai stood still for half a minute before turning and leaving.

Crossing through the narrow alley, Shen Yubai saw the bright lights.

If he had not taken Xu Chuning home today, Shen Yubai might never have known that there were such old, dirty, and cramped places in the center of the city. And that in such places, there lived many, many people.

The driver who was sent to pick up Shen Yubai parked the car by the roadside. Seeing him bend over to get in, the driver, Uncle Wu, turned and asked, "Young Master, heading home?"

Shen Yubai hummed, "Let’s go back."

Uncle Wu nodded.

The car was quiet inside, and Uncle Wu turned to glance at him. Shen Yubai was looking out the window, lost in thought.

Rarely seeing him with such an expression, Uncle Wu pondered for a moment then asked softly, "Young Master, what happened?"

Shen Yubai pulled back his thoughts and narrowed his eyes slightly, "Uncle Wu, have you ever been inside there?"

Uncle Wu was taken aback, "The place where your classmate lives?"

"Yeah," Shen Yubai muttered, "I didn’t even know Jiang City had such places."

Catching the surprise in his words, Uncle Wu smiled and spoke gently, "There are quite a few places like that in Jiang City."

But Shen Yubai was the eldest son of the Shen Family; if not for knowing Xu Chuning, he would have never set foot in urban villages like this in his life.

Hearing this, Shen Yubai did not respond.

Uncle Wu glanced back at him, "Do you find it hard to accept?"

Shen Yubai: "I know the environment she lives in isn’t very good. I’ve been there during the day before, and it seemed okay, but at night, there aren’t even any streetlights, and the ones that are there are broken."

Uncle Wu understood, "That’s how it is at night. This area probably isn’t well taken care of, landlords are reluctant to spend the money, and as for the tenants, most who rent here are poor and even less likely to fork out for repairs."

Shen Yubai furrowed his brow: "No one’s in charge?"

Uncle Wu grinned: "They can’t keep up."

Shen Yubai realized and stopped talking.

Seeing Shen Yubai lost in thought, Uncle Wu also tactfully remained silent.

All was quiet on the way home, where Sang Menglan was sitting in the living room watching her latest favorite period drama. Hearing them, she turned around and asked in surprise, "Why are you back today? Weren’t you supposed to return tomorrow?"

Shen Yubai’s trip to Beicheng was a call from Mr. Shen asking for help. Although Yubai had not yet graduated from high school, the Shen Family did not tolerate idleness. Starting in his first year of high school, Mr. Shen gradually introduced Shen Yubai to some business matters, calling him for help occasionally if needed.

A few days ago, there was a financial summit in Beicheng that Mr. Shen attended, asking Shen Yubai to assist him for a few days.

The summit ended this afternoon, and Sang Menglan had called Mr. Shen, who mentioned that Shen Yubai would return home tomorrow.

Shen Yubai hummed, "I changed the flight."

Sang Menglan raised an eyebrow: "In such a hurry to come back?"

Meeting Sang Menglan’s curious gaze, Shen Yubai glanced around, "Has Shen Sinian not come back yet?"

After the summer break, Shen Sinian had stayed in the old house for two days. But because the old house was too far from the training location Sinian frequented, and Yubai knew he wasn’t too comfortable staying there, he spoke to the elderly master to arrange for Sinian to stay with them.

It’s more comfortable for people of the same age to be together. Although the elderly master wished to bond more with Sinian, he did not reject Yubai’s suggestion.

So, Sinian had been living with them in recent times.

Sang Menglan: "Not yet, he usually gets back around ten o’clock."

Shen Yubai frowned: "His classes run that late?"

"Yes," Sang Menglan muttered while watching the TV, "If you ask me, why does Sinian have to endure so much hardship? Our family doesn’t need him to work and earn money so early."

Shen Yubai: "He likes it."

Sang Menglan cast a resentful glance at him, "Mom knows he likes it, so I don’t say much. I just feel a bit sorry for the kid."

After suffering a lot outside since he was young, he finally returned to the Shen Family. Before he could properly enjoy the comfort and ease the Shen Family brought him, he went back to enduring hardships.

Shen Yubai understood: "Then, mom, you should be extra kind to him."

Sang Menglan: "You don’t need to tell me that."

She liked Shen Sinian very much. Sang Menglan couldn’t quite explain why, but she felt that Sinian was very considerate. Seeing him always sparked a sense of closeness in her.

Besides, Sinian had a sweet mouth; he was more articulate than Shen Yubai, often able to make her beam with joy, much to her delight.

While the mother and son were talking, Shen Sinian returned.

Seeing Shen Yubai, Shen Sinian was just as surprised as Sang Menglan, "How come you’re back early?"

Shen Yubai looked up, "I came back since there was nothing much going on."

He glanced sideways at him, "Tired?"

Shen Sinian was silent for a few seconds before whispering, "A bit, but I can keep going."

Shen Yubai’s lips curved slightly, his eyes showing approval: "Good."

The two had a brief chat in front of Sang Menglan, and Shen Yubai said, "Mom, we’re going upstairs first."

Sang Menglan waved them off: "Go on, make sure to sleep early Sinian, you have classes tomorrow."

Shen Sinian: "Okay, auntie, you should also rest early."

Watching the two head upstairs one after another, Sang Menglan inexplicably felt that they didn’t seem like brothers, but rather like father and son.

No sooner had this thought flickered through her mind than Sang Menglan tapped her own forehead. She must’ve watched too many dramas about time travel, to even harbor such an absurd idea.

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