The two left the classroom, one after the other, and unsurprisingly, it caused quite a stir.
Students playing in the corridor stopped in unison upon seeing the two together. Those who could manage to exchange a word or two with Shen Yubai were stunned for a few seconds before mumbling, "Brother Yu, where are you guys headed?"
Shen Yubai didn't even spare that person a glance, and headed straight for the rooftop of the teaching building.
Xu Chuning wanted to call out to him several times, but held back due to the other students nearby.
The door to the rooftop was locked, but Shen Yubai somehow had the key. In front of Xu Chuning, he unlocked the door with an indifferent tone, "Come up."
Xu Chuning: "...Shen Yubai."
She was two steps behind him, slightly looking up at him as she reminded, "I have class soon."
Shen Yubai's lips were pressed tight, his tone strained, "I have something to tell you, are you sure you can focus if you go back to class?"
"Can't it wait until the lunch break?" Xu Chuning didn't understand.
Shen Yubai: "No."
His thin lips moved slightly, releasing three words: "Shen Sinian."
The name "Shen Sinian" caught Xu Chuning off-guard. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped forward and walked onto the rooftop.
To prevent anyone from following, Shen Yubai secured the iron door after Xu Chuning entered.
Hearing the sound of the bolt, Xu Chuning's brow twitched, instinctively stepping back two paces and warily looking at the boy before her, "Shen Yubai, you know murder is illegal."
Shen Yubai: "..."
He paused, giving her a somewhat speechless look, "Why would you believe the ridiculous things Shen Sinian said?"
"?"
The question came so abruptly that Xu Chuning was momentarily stunned before realizing what he meant by ridiculous things. She pursed her lips slightly, observing the annoyance on Shen Yubai's face, and speculated, "You're starting to believe it too, aren't you?"
Shen Yubai looked directly at her.
Xu Chuning has always been skilled in reading expressions. Growing up in a small shop, she habitually observed every customer's micro-expressions to gauge whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with their noodles or porridge.
Of course, she could also tell from the subtle emotions of the customers whether they were in a good mood or not.
Thus, she was able to guess what was on Shen Yubai's mind right away.
"Am I wrong?" Now knowing that Shen Yubai had known the results of the DNA test before her, Xu Chuning was no longer as afraid of him, "You know the test results, right?"
The last sentence was affirmative.
Shen Yubai stared at her for a moment before asking in a deep voice, "Don't you find it strange?"
"Strange," Xu Chuning answered, "Of course it's strange, but with the DNA report right in front of me, no matter how absurd or unbelievable the facts are, I have no choice but to believe what Shen Sinian said."
Hearing her say this, Shen Yubai didn't respond. His mood wasn't much better than Xu Chuning's when she first saw the report.
Even though Shen Yubai had been exposed to strange tales since childhood, knowing many absurd stories,
the fact that it happened to him still left him shocked and troubled.
He had never considered that in the coming years, he would fall in love with Xu Chuning, marry her, and even have a son.
Admittedly, Shen Yubai did not dislike Xu Chuning.
But he didn't like her either.
The two remained silently in silence, even when the class bell rang, it couldn't bring them back from their wandering thoughts.
After a while, Shen Yubai seemed to have digested this shocking news and slightly raised his eyebrows to look at Xu Chuning, "You haven't gotten the paternity test report between him and me, why would you believe his words that I am his..."
The word "dad," Shen Yubai couldn't bring himself to say it yet.
Xu Chuning was stunned for a moment, not expecting Shen Yubai would ask such a "tricky" question.
She paused, then honestly said, "… I've seen the paternity test report between him and me, he didn't lie about me being his mom, so there's no need to use him..." She also couldn't say the word "dad," her words trailing off, "to deceive me, right?"
Shen Yubai was silent.
His argument wasn't convincing, but he was unable to refute it either.
After another long silence, Xu Chuning looked up at the person standing with one hand in his pocket and furrowed brows, "Shen Yubai."
Shen Yubai glanced at her.
Xu Chuning pursed her lips, then spoke out what she had prepared over the last few days, "I didn't take your and Shen Sinian's hair for testing because I wanted to cling to you. I did it because I hope you would come forward and let Shen Sinian attend school. As for the future events Shen Sinian mentioned... no one can control them, I don't have any thoughts of early romance, nor any intention to start a relationship with you, I don't like you."
"What did you say?" After hearing what Xu Chuning said, Shen Yubai stared at her displeased, his tone cold.
Xu Chuning uttered, "Was I not clear enough?"
Contemplating, she calmly reiterated her request, "I hope you can get an ID card for Shen Sinian allowing him to temporarily live here, and since he's also at the high school level back in his original place, you will also need to arrange for him to transfer to school and continue his studies here."
Sinian shouldn't stop studying at seventeen and help around at a breakfast shop every day.
What if one day he goes back, being unable to keep up with his studies?
Unable to put herself in the role of Shen Sinian's mother, but with evidence right in front of her eyes, Xu Chuning had no choice but to worry about Shen Sinian's affairs.
Especially after spending a few days together, Xu Chuning gradually accepted the fact that she has a son so big.
As the last word fell, Xu Chuning looked at Shen Yubai's expression—she couldn't make anything out; he wore a cold face, seemingly uninterested in engaging with her.
"Shen Yubai," Xu Chuning couldn't help but call him, "Did you hear what I just said?"
Shen Yubai looked down at Xu Chuning disconcertedly, really puzzled about how she could accept so calmly that their son from twenty-plus years into the future came looking for them.
"…"
"Hey," noticing that Shen Yubai's expression was a bit off, Xu Chuning furrowed her delicate brows, walked closer to him, and waved her hand in front of his eyes, "Can you say something?"
Honestly, after what happened with Shen Sinian, Xu Chuning was starting to believe in spirits and ghosts; she wasn't afraid of ghosts before, but now she was starting to get scared.
Just as she finished speaking, Xu Chuning's delicate wrist was seized by Shen Yubai, his palm large, fingers long and joints strong, the warm touch spreading to Xu Chuning's side made her breathing shallow, "You…"
She widened her eyes struggling, "What are you trying to do?"
Shen Yubai ignored her struggles and questions, his brows were knit tightly as he stared at her, "Xu Chuning."
"What?"
Shen Yubai: "I will arrange for someone to handle the matters regarding Shen Sinian's identity and schooling, but you need to answer me a question."
Xu Chuning frowned, "What question?"
Shen Yubai: "Did he ever tell you when we were together?"
Xu Chuning: "…"
Is this really a question worth pursuing?