Chapter 444 - 247: Lu Fan Handles Everything and Mends His Relationship with Jiang Sifan

Chapter 444: Chapter 247: Lu Fan Handles Everything and Mends His Relationship with Jiang Sifan

The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, falling warmly on the flower shop floor and stretching the shadows of the lilies long.

Jiang Yixia was behind the counter, organizing her ledgers. The tip of her pen scratched softly against the paper. She would occasionally pause to think, then continue writing.

Lu Fan sat on a chair in the corner, holding a cup of tea. It had already gone cold, but he hadn’t drunk any of it.

His gaze was fixed on Jiang Yixia, following her movements, from the strands of hair that fell forward when she looked down to write, to the curve of her fingers as she turned a page.

A row of flower stands separated them. The fragrance of lilies mingled with the sweetness of roses, slowly diffusing through the air.

Jiang Yixia could feel his gaze, but she didn’t look up.

Her ears felt a little hot, and her cheeks were warm, but she feigned ignorance and continued writing the numbers in her ledger.

Lu Fan didn’t say anything either, just watched her, a smile on his lips.

Chen He walked in through the door, phone in hand, his expression a little off.

He walked quickly to Lu Fan’s side, leaned over, and whispered a few words to him in a low voice.

Lu Fan’s smile slowly faded. He set down his teacup, glanced at Jiang Yixia, and stood up.

"I’m stepping out for a moment," he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but Jiang Yixia heard him.

Jiang Yixia looked up and glanced at him.

His expression hadn’t changed, but having known him for so many years, she could see that subtle difference in his eyes.

She didn’t ask anything. She just nodded and lowered her head to continue writing.

Lu Fan turned and followed Chen He out of the flower shop.

Once they reached the street corner, Chen He stopped and handed him the phone.

On the screen was a message from the bodyguard, Lao Liu. It said Wen Wan’s mother had come to the school, was causing a scene in an office, and wanted to take Wen Wan home for an arranged marriage. The message added that she’d already accepted a 300,000 yuan betrothal gift.

A few photos were attached. Mrs. Wen stood at the entrance of the academic building, wearing a bright red padded jacket. She didn’t look happy and was carrying a canvas bag.

Lu Fan’s brow furrowed after he finished reading.

He handed the phone back to Chen He and asked calmly, "Where is she now?"

Chen He answered immediately, "She’s still near the school. Lao Liu said she’s on the street behind the back gate. It looks like she’s searching for a motel, so she doesn’t seem to be leaving just yet."

"Let’s go have a look."

Meanwhile, Mrs. Wen had left the school but was in no hurry to go to the station.

She wandered down the street behind the school’s back gate, checked several motels, and finally picked the cheapest one.

The landlady asked for eighty, but she haggled for a long time and finally settled on sixty.

The room was on the first floor, with a window facing an alley. The lighting was dim, the sheets didn’t look very clean, and there were yellowed stains on the pillow.

But she didn’t care.

She placed her canvas bag on the bed, sat down, and stared into space for a long time. ℴ

The room had a damp, musty odor mixed with the smell of disinfectant, which was unsettling.

But she didn’t open the window or turn on the light.

She just sat on the edge of the bed, hands on her knees, staring at a patch of peeling paint on the opposite wall.

She remembered Wen Wan as a little girl, wearing two small pigtails, following behind her and calling for "Mama." Her voice was soft and sweet, like a freshly cooked sweet dumpling.

They were poor back then, but every time she went to the market, she would bring back a piece of candy for Wen Wan. It would be wrapped in wax paper and tucked in her pocket. By the time she got home, the candy would have melted and stuck to the paper, but Wen Wan would still eat it happily, even licking the paper clean.

Later, after her son was born, money grew even tighter. There was no more candy, and no more new clothes.

’It wasn’t that she didn’t dote on Wen Wan; she just couldn’t. Her son was a boy. He had to carry on the family line, get married, and buy a house in the future.’

’What could a woman like me do?’

’She thought of her husband’s back—once he bent over, he couldn’t straighten up again. He couldn’t do any heavy labor, so she was the only one left to work their fields.’

’She thought of her son’s tuition, thousands a year just to attend a better school, not to mention his living expenses.’

’She thought about how, for all these years, she had never bought a single decent piece of clothing or eaten a single decent meal.’

’It wasn’t that she didn’t want to treat Wen Wan well; she simply couldn’t manage it.’

Just as she was lost in thought, a knock came at the door.

It wasn’t a heavy knock. Three rhythmic taps.

"Who is it?" She stood up and walked to the door, her heart suddenly racing as if she had a premonition.

The door opened. A man was standing outside.

He wore a dark gray overcoat, was very tall, and had an imposing aura. Just his presence was enough to make a person feel short of breath.

Behind him stood another person in a black jacket, expressionless, sticking close like a shadow.

When Mrs. Wen saw his face, her heart lurched.

’She recognized him.’

’The last time Wen Wan and Jiang Sifan came back to their hometown, he was the one who had arranged for Grandpa to be transferred to a better hospital and even called in specialists.’

’At the time, she’d wondered how that class monitor’s family could be so influential.’

"You must be Wen Wan’s mother. We met a while ago," the man said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried weight, as if every word was carefully considered.

Mrs. Wen nodded, her throat tight. "You... you’re Jiang Sifan’s father?"

Lu Fan gave a slight nod, the corner of his mouth twitching in what might be considered a smile.

"May I come in and sit for a moment?"

Mrs. Wen stepped aside to let him in.

Lu Fan stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the surroundings—the yellowed bedsheets, the peeling paint on the walls, the dust settled on the floor.

His expression remained unchanged as he sat down on the only chair in the room, the hem of his overcoat draping over its sides.

Chen He remained standing at the entrance. He didn’t come in, just pulled the door to, leaving it slightly ajar.

Mrs. Wen stood by the bed, unsure of what to say.

’She had seen him once before, at the hospital. He had just been standing there, yet the hospital director was at his side and the head nurse was personally pouring him water.’