The night of that day, after eating zhajiangmian in the shop, Shen Yubai left.
Xu Chuning found him somewhat baffling, but she didn't think too much of it.
The next day, Xu Chuning and Shen Sinian took the opportunity of their free time to move, as she knew from the night before that the residence Shen Yubai arranged for Shen Sinian was the house across from his own.
With the two living across from each other, Xu Chuning felt somewhat relieved.
Over the past few days, she learned that Shen Sinian was sensible and not one to cause trouble outside. However, he was still unfamiliar with life here, and compared to twenty-something years later, many things were different.
Living near Shen Yubai, he could ask Shen Yubai for advice if needed.
Even though Xu Chuning didn't find Shen Yubai particularly reliable, Shen Sinian was his son after all, so he should be somewhat concerned.
*
Monday that day, Shen Sinian went to school together with Shen Yubai.
He originally wanted to go with Xu Chuning, but Shen Yubai stopped him and proposed to accompany him to the principal's office.
Shen Sinian remembered what Xu Chuning told him, to listen to Shen Yubai at school as much as possible; he wouldn't harm him.
As for Xu Chuning, she entered the classroom at the usual time, as she always did.
Right after she sat down and took out her textbooks, the two classmates at the front desk turned around to gossip with Deng Xitong, "Xitong, did you hear? Our school is getting a really handsome new guy."
Deng Xitong: "Of course."
She closed the manga book in her hands and whispered, "I heard from someone that the guy is almost as handsome as Shen Yubai, it's just not sure which class he will transfer to."
"Ah, I really hope he comes to our class."
"Me too, looking at the freaks and geeks in our class, I'm really envious of the handsome guys in other classes."
"..."
While the three of them were excitedly discussing, Deng Xitong suddenly turned her head to look at Xu Chuning, who hadn't said a word, "Xu Chuning, what do you think?"
Xu Chuning was zoning out and was taken aback by being called out. She paused and asked, "What?"
"How can you not care about what's happening in school at all?" The classmate in front said, "We were just talking about the new student who transferred to our school."
Xu Chuning responded with an "Oh," knowing the transfer student they were talking about was Shen Sinian. She looked up at the three with a hint of confusion, "What about the transfer student?"
"Nothing much," Deng Xitong said, "We're just hoping that the transfer student comes to our class. They say he's very handsome. I hope he can come and raise the attractiveness of our class."
Hearing this, Xu Chuning blinked and said, "He probably will."
Deng Xitong, surprised, "How do you know?"
Xu Chuning, without changing her expression, flipped open her textbook, "I just guessed."
Deng Xitong and the other two classmates: "..."
After a few moments of silence, a classmate nearby exclaimed in surprise, "Why hasn't the teacher come for class today?"
The class bell had rung for about five minutes already.
Just as the words were spoken, the figure of the Chinese teacher, Mou Xue, appeared at the classroom door, and it seemed there was someone else with her.
Everyone looked up, and upon seeing the boy at the door, they collectively gasped in amazement, "Wow, handsome guy."
"Wow!" Deng Xitong was the most excited, she grabbed Xu Chuning's arm in astonishment, "My goodness, that must be the new student, I can't believe he's really in our class, Xu Chuning you're amazing."
"..."
Xu Chuning calmly freed her arm from her grasp and replied softly, "I was just talking nonsense."
"Quiet please," the Chinese teacher Mou Xue looked at the excited faces of the students helplessly and smiled, "As everyone can see, our class has a new student."
As her voice fell, she looked towards the doorway at Shen Sinian standing there, "Mr. Shen, come in and introduce yourself to your classmates."
Shen Sinian walked into the classroom; he was tall and slender, with distinct and handsome features, and his clear, bright peach blossom eyes emanated a sense of languidness that quickened one's heartbeat at a glance.
Xu Chuning, like the other students, rested her chin on her hands and assessed Shen Sinian. She had carefully observed Shen Sinian before and knew he was attractive, but she hadn't viewed him from this angle until now... and she found him even more similar in appearance to Shen Yubai.
Just as this thought crossed Xu Chuning's mind, Deng Xitong muttered beside her, "He really looks a lot like Shen Yubai, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
Xu Chuning did not join the conversation.
Shen Sinian had told her yesterday how Shen Yubai and Mr. Shen discussed revealing his identity. Therefore, she was not at all worried that the other classmates would notice the resemblance between him and Shen Yubai.
After all, since the day before yesterday, his and Shen Yubai's publicly acknowledged relationship was that of brothers.
Shen Sinian glanced around at his fellow students, made eye contact with Xu Chuning, then picked up the chalk from the podium and wrote three words on the blackboard—Shen Sinian.
"I am Shen Sinian."
That's what he said after putting down the chalk.
"..."
The classroom fell into silence for a few seconds as everyone awaited the rest of Shen Sinian's introduction.
After a few seconds, Mou Xue realized, "That's all for the introduction?"
Shen Sinian gave a slight nod.
Mou Xue: "...Alright."
She smiled awkwardly, then looked towards the back of the classroom, "Mr. Shen, there are two empty seats in the back, pick one and take a seat."
Shen Sinian looked over; one empty desk was behind Xu Chuning, and the other was at the back on the opposite side.
Without much thought, he hoisted his backpack and headed toward the row where Xu Chuning was sitting.
"Help!" Noticing his direction, Deng Xitong once again grabbed Xu Chuning's arm and shook it, "Xu Chuning, the new student is heading our way."
Xu Chuning: "...I see."
She let out a soft sigh, whispering lowly, "Xitong, you're hurting me."
Deng Xitong was startled and quickly let go, "Sorry, sorry, I just get like this when I'm excited."
Xu Chuning shook her head.
As they spoke, Shen Sinian took a seat at the empty desk behind them.
After he was seated, Mou Xue clapped her hands to draw the attention of the students and began the class.
During this Chinese lesson, not many students were seriously listening; their attention was on Shen Sinian, speculating about his looks and curious about his identity.
His surname was Shen—was he related to the Shen Family?
By the end of the lesson, nearly the whole second year of high school knew that Class 6 of the liberal arts stream had a new transfer student, a transfer student who was very handsome, on par with the school heartthrob Shen Yubai, and coincidently, he also shared the Shen surname.
Shen Yubai had gone to bed late last night and was sleeping at his desk in the morning when he arrived in the classroom.
He had barely closed his eyes when Ban Shu, unconcerned for his well-being, woke him up, "Brother Yu, something big has happened."
Shen Yubai forced his eyes open and gave him a cold look, his voice icy, "You better have something earth-shattering."
Ban Shu met his gaze and subconsciously shrank back, passing over his phone, "The school forum says a new transfer student came to our grade. He's as handsome as you and has the same surname."
Shen Yubai: "...You woke me up just for this?"
"Isn't this significant enough?" Ban Shu questioned, puzzled, "Brother Yu, your spot as the school heartthrob is at risk."
Shen Yubai held back, but eventually tossed the phone back to him and gave him two words: "Shut up."
His son sharing his good looks and surname - what's the problem with that?