Seventeen Again: The Sweet Life with My Family

Chapter 220: Hiding

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Li Ke couldn’t hide her satisfaction as she heard Zhou Mei’s frustrated voice.

Wearing a smug smile, she swiftly ended the call and turned to Wen Yan. “Let’s go shopping.”

Wen Yan looked at Li Ke, her eyes widening slightly. “Is that all? What if she doesn’t believe it?”

Li Ke replied confidently, “Don’t overdo it.”

On their way back home, Wen Nian stole glances at Shen Jun while pondering Li Ke’s earlier conversation. It was hard to ignore the way her cousin’s eyes were practically glued to Shen Jun. Pouting, she remarked, “You certainly know how to attract attention!”

Shen Jun rubbed his nose and then had an idea. He smiled and said, “Doesn’t that just prove you have excellent taste?”

Upon hearing his words, Wen Nian’s lips curved slightly upward.

They soon arrived at Wen Nian’s house. Shen Jun held her hand, his voice slightly muffled. “It’s not even 4 o’clock yet. Isn’t it too early? Are you really not coming to my place for a study session?”

Wen Nian smiled, pursed her lips, and straightforwardly declined, “No, today is a day off.”

Shen Jun’s eyes darted around, wearing a somewhat pitiful expression. He continued, “By the way, we didn’t even have a proper lunch. We only had a few slices of bread. We’re still hungry. You’re being too hard on me, your diligent laborer. You must treat me to a meal.”

Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun’s aggrieved expression and understood that he wanted to spend more time with her. A smile gleamed in her eyes as she asked, “Alright, what would you like to eat?”

Shen Jun glanced at the residential building behind Wen Nian and replied, “1 want to eat the food you cook.”

Following Shen Jun’s gaze, Wen Nian chuckled softly and saw through his intentions. “So, you want to come into my house?”

Shen Jun met Wen Nian’s gaze directly and responded without a hint of embarrassment, “I’m helping you save money and time.”

Considering that her family members usually didn’t return home until after 9 p.m., Wen Nian reluctantly agreed to Shen Jun’s request. “Given the effort you put in today, I’ll reluctantly let you into my house.”

Wen Nian and Shen Jun ascended the stairs, one after the other, with a single step between them.

“Wen Nian, did you just come back from an outing?” A seductive voice echoed from above the staircase.

Wen Nian looked up and saw their neighbor, who loved to gossip, about to descend the stairs. She paused briefly, then continued climbing a few steps before stopping at her doorstep.

The middle-aged woman, with voluminous wavy hair, curiously glanced at Shen Jun standing behind Wen Nian. As her gaze landed on his features, a hint of amazement flashed in her eyes, followed by a meaningful gaze directed at Wen Nian.

Wen Nian discreetly made a gesture with her hand behind her back, and when Shen Jun noticed, he continued walking upstairs without hesitation. The woman was taken aback. “Wen Nian, you don’t know him?”

Wen Nian casually glanced toward Shen Jun’s direction, then calmly turned back, shaking her head. “Auntie Zhou, you look stunning today. Are you going out? Your nails look freshly done, they’re really nice.”

Shen Jun’s figure had already disappeared at the staircase entrance. The woman withdrew her gaze, her attention captivated by Wen Nian’s words. She raised her hands, satisfied, and smiled, “I got them done a few days ago. You have good taste; it cost me a few hundred yuan.”

Wen Nian engaged in small talk with the woman for a while before saying, “Auntie Zhou, since you have plans to go out, I’ll head home now. Let’s chat another day.”

After finishing her words, Wen Nian took out her keys, opened the door, and immediately crouched behind it, looking through the peephole. She saw her meddlesome neighbor glancing towards the staircase for a moment, then shifting her gaze towards Wen Nian’s closed door. Afterward, she leisurely left.

Wen Nian remained by the window, observing until the neighbor had completely departed, and then called Shen Jun to come down.

Shen Jun entered the house expressionlessly, and Wen Nian promptly closed the door. She turned around, looking at Shen Jun with a reassuring gaze, knowing it was somewhat unfair to make him hide like this, especially for someone as remarkable as him.

Wen Nian extended her finger and hooked Shen Jun’s pinky finger. “Auntie Zhou is infamous for being a gossipmonger around here. She can turn a molehill into a mountain. If she finds out about our relationship, I bet she’ll spread a version of us eloping. Please don’t get angry, okay?”

Shen Jun knew that, for now, they had to keep their relationship underground. Apart from toning down their affection in front of Wen Nian’s family, whether it was on set or in the classroom, they had never intentionally sought suspicion.

But now that they had entered Wen Nian’s family circle, they had to pretend not to know each other even in front of strangers. Shen Jun felt like a nameless mouse crossing the street, unseen and unnoticed.

However, he had chosen this path himself. Besides enduring, what else could he do?

Shen Jun suppressed the lingering frustration, adjusted his mindset, and slightly curved his lips. “I understand. I’m not angry..”