A classmate asked the question everyone else wanted to ask, and other classmates stopped hiding their curiosity, bombarding Xu Chuning with questions.
Suddenly, people crowded around Xu Chuning, surrounding her in her seat, making it hard even to breathe.
"…"
Noticing even more classmates squeezing in, Xu Chuning closed her eyes momentarily and promptly spoke up, "Stop for a moment."
Instantly, the surrounding classmates fell silent.
Feeling the gaze of everyone on her, Xu Chuning squeezed out a difficult smile, thinking about the question they had just asked, she vaguely said, "I'm not familiar with Shen Yubai."
"Not familiar but he specifically came to the class to find you?" A female classmate asked further.
Xu Chuning was at a loss for words, her brain spinning rapidly, she found a random excuse, "He came to give me money because he forgot to pay when he had breakfast at our family's breakfast shop this morning."
Most classmates knew that Xu Chuning's mother owned a breakfast shop not far from the school.
Hearing her say this, while everyone felt it was far-fetched, they were willing to believe it.
Because, they really couldn't think of any other reason why Shen Yubai would ask her out. In the hearts of most students, the name Xu Chuning was not worthy to be placed alongside Shen Yubai's name.
They especially did not want to think that Shen Yubai was seeing Xu Chuning for some private matter.
Xu Chuning was well aware of the majority's mentality, hence she offered an unlikely but generally acceptable reason.
The classmates surrounding Xu Chuning dispersed, and she watched as the surroundings cleared, breathing out softly.
Suddenly, Deng Xitong tugged her clothes, "Xu Chuning."
Xu Chuning turned around, "What's up?"
Deng Xitong studied her expression, lowering her voice, "Shen Yubai came to see you, it wasn't just about the breakfast money, was it?"
Xu Chuning: "…"
She paused slightly, meeting Deng Xitong's probing gaze, and smiled faintly, "It really was just for the breakfast money, what else could he want from me?"
Hearing this, Deng Xitong glanced at her, thought for a bit and said, "Alright, if you say so, I won't expose you."
"…" Xu Chuning did not engage in further conversation.
The two fell silent for a moment until the bell rang for class.
Xu Chuning organized her textbooks on the desk, flipping out her English book.
The last two classes in the morning passed by rather peacefully for Xu Chuning.
During lunchtime, Xu Chuning usually chose to eat in the school cafeteria, but sometimes she would go back to the shop to help You Shuzhen. However, You Shuzhen did not wish for Xu Chuning to come back to the shop during her lunch break, fearing it would affect her studies.
These past few days, however, Xu Chuning was frequently visiting the shop at noon, and the reason was simple: Shen Sinian was there.
Today was no different.
When the school bell rang, Xu Chuning quickly left the teaching building, left the school, and returned to the shop.
With Shen Sinian, now in the shop after several days of training with his clever mind, gradually getting the hang of things, the pace of clearing tables and washing dishes significantly sped up.
Seeing Xu Chuning panting, Shen Sinian's peach blossom eyes, similar to Shen Yubai's, brightened, "Ningning, you're back."
Xu Chuning didn't allow Shen Sinian to call her mom, Shen Sinian felt calling her full name too impersonal and not close enough. Thus, without asking if Xu Chuning minded, he took the liberty to call her Ningning himself.
The name was just a nickname, Xu Chuning wasn't much particular about it and naturally left it up to Shen Sinian however he wished to call her.
"Yeah," she responded to Shen Sinian, looking at him, "Was it busy this morning?"
Shen Sinian shook his head, and as Xu Chuning was about to take over the dishwashing, he refused, "I'll wash; you rest for a while."
Xu Chuning: "There isn't much to rest for."
Hearing their conversation, You Shuzhen, who just finished boiling noodles for a customer, spoke up, "Ningning, listen, you've been at lessons all morning, you're tired, rest for a while first. Mom is frying dishes now, we'll eat soon."
Xu Chuning smiled wryly and said softly, "Mom, leave the cooking to me, there are still customers in the restaurant."
You Shuzhen glanced at the customers who entered the restaurant, hesitated for a few seconds, and nodded, "I've prepared the ingredients, they're in the back."
Xu Chuning: "Got it."
Xu Chuning had learned to cook when she was in the fifth grade of elementary school, but back then her skills were just passable, not fatally bad. By middle school, she had grown a bit, and after getting a better estimate for seasoning amounts, her cooking skills had significantly improved.
The design of the breakfast restaurant was somewhat unique; the front had a stove for cooking the customers' meals.
The back kitchen was used for washing dishes. You Shuzhen, not wanting to disturb the customers, had set up a small stove in the back for cooking their own meals.
Xu Chuning went to the back and skillfully started cooking.
Just as she finished a dish, Shen Sinian, who was clearing tables in the front, suddenly came over, "Ningning, Shen Yubai is here."
Xu Chuning looked up in surprise, "...What's he doing here?"
Shen Sinian shook his head.
Xu Chuning then remembered that she hadn't told Shen Sinian yet that Shen Yubai knew the results of their paternity test. She was hesitating whether to tell Shen Sinian now when You Shuzhen called from the front, "Ningning, a classmate is looking for you."
Xu Chuning responded, "Okay, I'll be there in a moment."
All the customers' meals were prepared, and You Shuzhen went to the back to take over Xu Chuning's cooking duties.
Xu Chuning and Shen Sinian walked out together and saw Shen Yubai, who had arrived in the restaurant, and… a boy who often followed next to him.
It seemed his name was Ban Shu.
Xu Chuning recalled for a second.
"Uncle Ban..." She hadn't finished the word 'uncle' when Shen Sinian urgently shut his mouth.
Ban Shu, who vaguely heard his own name, looked at the slender, dashing figure in front of him, slowly turned his head to look at Shen Yubai, and hesitantly said, "Brother Yu, he looks a lot like you."
Shen Yubai: "..."
Xu Chuning: "..."
What kind of sharp eyes does Ban Shu have?
Could this be what they mean by 'a bystander sees things clearer'?
Why didn't Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai notice the resemblance when they first met Shen Sinian?
"Oh no, wait," Ban Shu said, then turned to look at Xu Chuning, and exclaimed in shock, "He also looks a bit like Xu Chuning."
"..."
Unwillingly, Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai locked eyes, seeing the word "shocked" in each other's gaze.
Ban Shu must be divinely observant.
"Why is no one speaking?" Ban Shu muttered to himself, then raised his arm and nudged Shen Yubai with his elbow.
Shen Yubai snapped back to reality, glanced at him coldly with scathing sarcasm, "You're the one with the problem."
Ban Shu: "...You're the one with the problem."
He picked up on Shen Yubai's sardonic tone, grumbled, "They really do look alike."
Silence fell for a few seconds, Shen Yubai looked up at Shen Sinian, his eyes assessing him.
Feeling Shen Yubai's gaze, Shen Sinian scoffed, harboring deep resentment, and sneered, "What are you looking at? You're not thinking of starting another fight, are you?"
Shen Yubai: "I never solve problems with my fists."
Shen Sinian: "..."
Ban Shu, who had been involved in a group fight with Shen Yubai just last week: "…?"