Upon hearing Shen Yubai’s words, Xu Chuning really wanted to direct two words his way.
But considering that he had co all the way from Jiang City to Ning City, and then to this remote little county, and still had to go to an even more secluded small town and village, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
"What do you want to say?" Noticing her hesitation to speak, Shen Yubai raised his eyebrows lightly, his eyes half-closed, pupils deep. His lashes were distinct and stood out, longer than most girls’, resembling a lash-fairy.
Xu Chuning looked at his deep, undulating black eyes, pressed her lips together slightly, "Nothing."
"Cursing in your mind?" She said it was nothing, but Shen Yubai didn’t buy it and didn’t let her off the hook so easily.
Xu Chuning choked back a response, helplessly glaring at him, "Do you really want to know that much?"
Shen Yubai lifted his chin slightly, "Try ."
Xu Chuning: "..."
She tried to hold it in, but eventually couldn’t resist, and delivered him two words: "Childish."
Now the person who fell silent was Shen Yubai. Xu Chuning’s comnt amused and frustrated him to laughter. He leaned in close and asked, "Where have I been childish?"
When Shen Yubai leaned over, Xu Chuning belatedly realized the innate oppressiveness about him. Her breathing hitched as she stared at his handso face, so close within reach, and she unnaturally swallowed, "Shen Yubai."
Shen Yubai looked down, "Hmm?"
His Adam’s apple moved as he deliberately lowered his tone, his voice husky and tantalizing.
Xu Chuning’s ears tingled, and she raised her hand to poke his arm as a reminder, "Can you sit properly? We’re about to get on the highway."
Shen Yubai: "..."
He paused, glancing at Xu Chuning’s blushing ears and his eyebrows lifted. He intended to tease her a bit more but then noticed Brother Wang in the driver’s seat.
After a few seconds, Shen Yubai returned to his seat, all serious, "Fasten your seatbelt."
He reminded Xu Chuning.
Xu Chuning murmured in agreent, awkwardly adding, "I know."
Both sat up straight, fastened their seatbelts, and neither brought up the recent phone call again.
Actually, You Shuzhen hadn’t said much to Shen Yubai; she simply asked him to take good care of Xu Chuning and expressed her gratitude. In the end, she also ntioned that Shen Yubai was welco to visit Pingning whenever he had ti.
Thinking of You Shuzhen’s courteous manner over the phone, Shen Yubai glanced sideways at Xu Chuning, who was now looking out the window, and sohow felt that You Shuzhen was overly courteous toward him.
Upon second thought, Shen Yubai felt You Shuzhen’s politeness was appropriate. They were still high school students and going out alone did indeed pose certain safety concerns.
Thinking of this, Shen Yubai took out his phone and sent a ssage to the person beside him, who was rarely shy: [Your mom didn’t say much, she’s probably worried about us not being sensible when out, and asked to take good care of you.]
After sending it, he lightly tapped Xu Chuning’s arm, suppressing his voice, "Check QQ."
Xu Chuning turned her head to look at him, "Huh?"
Shen Yubai picked up his phone and gestured to her.
Xu Chuning understood, pulled out her phone and opened it. After reading Shen Yubai’s ssage, Xu Chuning typed a reply: [I guessed as much just now.]
You Shuzhen wasn’t the type to say much; she was just unable to completely trust Shen Yubai. Therefore, her phone call with him was mostly just a few words of reminder.
Shen Yubai: [What were you thinking just now?]
With the driver present and considering Xu Chuning’s shyness, the two could only chat this way.
Xu Chuning: [We won’t return empty-handed, will we?]
She didn’t want to.
Shen Yubai was taken aback and after so thought replied: [Don’t get your hopes up too much.]
After all, the police hadn’t found any further clues yet, and their presence wouldn’t change much. But Shen Yubai knew Xu Chuning wanted to visit the orphanage where Li Xiaonan had stayed, wanted to understand the place where she had lived, to know what it was like and what conditions she lived under. Hence, he didn’t stop her.
He supported her decision to co.
Xu Chuning subdued her gaze, took a deep breath and said: [I’ll try my best.]
Shen Yubai: [We’ve still got several hours to go, take a nap if you’re tired.]
Xu Chuning: [Okay.]
The two chatted on QQ for a while, and to prevent motion sickness, Xu Chuning soon put down her phone.
The traffic on the highway wasn’t heavy, and Xu Chuning looked at the scenery outside the window for a while before closing her eyes to rest. Noticing this, Shen Yubai slightly raised his eyebrows and told Brother Wang to turn up the air conditioning a bit, making it more comfortable for Xu Chuning to sleep.
From Lixi to Linqiu, the three of them stopped at a service station to take a break, used the restroom, bought so snacks, and then continued on their way.
By the ti they arrived at Linqiu Town, it was just past one o’clock.
Shen Yubai had booked the hotel in advance, so they went straight there.
After checking into the hotel, Brother Wang looked at the two before entering his room, "I’ll be staying in this room, co find if you need anything."
Shen Yubai nodded.
Shen Yubai had booked three rooms, all on the sa floor, and right next to each other.
For safety reasons, he had Xu Chuning stay in the middle room, with himself and Brother Wang in the rooms on either side.
Before Xu Chuning entered her room, Shen Yubai glanced at her, "Hungry?"
Xu Chuning candidly replied: "I’m fine, but Brother Wang should be hungry, right?"
Shen Yubai smiled, "First, tell if you want to go out to eat."
"I... don’t really feel like it right now," Xu Chuning honestly said, "The sun is too strong outside."
Shen Yubai replied, "Alright."
He lifted his hand and flicked her forehead, "Then I’ll go out with Brother Wang later and bring you back so food."
Xu Chuning blinked lightly, "Thank you."
Shen Yubai said, "Call if you need anything."
Xu Chuning acknowledged.
As soon as Xu Chuning got into her room, she called You Shuzhen to let her know she was safe. After finishing the call, she sent a ssage to Shen Sinian, telling him she had arrived in Linqiu and not to worry.
After doing all this, Xu Chuning, feeling a bit tired, lay on the bed to rest and looked out at the bright sunshine through the window.
Linqiu was even hotter than Pingning, the sun glaring, making it hard for her to even keep her eyes open.
After a mont’s rest, Xu Chuning took out the research notes from her suitcase, aware that the orphanage where Li Xiaonan had lived was so distance away; because the orphanage was remotely located, there were no hotels nearby. This hotel they were staying at was the best in Linqiu and sowhat acceptable to Shen Yubai.
Xu Chuning was looking at this when her mobile phone vibrated again.
She checked, and it was Shen Yubai asking if there was anything specific she wanted to eat.
Xu Chuning: [Nothing in particular, just bring sothing random.]
Shen Yubai: [Understood.]
Half an hour after the conversation ended, the doorbell to Xu Chuning’s room rang. She went to the door, looked through the peephole to see Shen Yubai, and then opened the door feeling reassured, "You’re back so soon?"
Shen Yubai humd a response, lowering his eyes to look at her, "What are you doing?"
Xu Chuning took the lunch he offered and said quietly, "Looking at the map."
"..."
Shen Yubai uttered, "How is it going?"
Xu Chuning asked, "What ti shall we leave tomorrow?"
Considering Brother Wang drove for over three hours on the highway today, they had agreed to visit the orphanage the next day.
Shen Yubai asked, "Anxious?"
"A little," Xu Chuning didn’t hide it from him.
Shen Yubai raised an eyebrow, tapped her forehead, and said, "You eat first, I’ll tell you after you’re done."
Xu Chuning: "..."
After a few seconds of silent standoff, Xu Chuning pursed her lips, "Okay, see you then?"
Shen Yubai humd, his gaze fixed on her for a mont, "If you need anything, just call , or knock on the wall."
"..."
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