Chapter 445 - 247: Lu Fan Handles It All! Reconciliation with Jiang Sifan

Chapter 445: Chapter 247: Lu Fan Handles It All! Reconciliation with Jiang Sifan

She knew this man was rich and powerful, not someone she could afford to cross.

But with him sitting right in front of her, she found she wasn’t as afraid.

’The richer he is, the more I can get out of him,’ she thought.

"Mrs. Wen, please relax. I’m here to have a chat with you." Lu Fan watched her, his tone calm, as if he were discussing a typical business deal. "You went to the university today to take Wen Wan home to meet a suitor, correct?"

Mrs. Wen’s expression faltered, and her gaze shifted, but she retorted stubbornly, "That’s our family’s business. What’s it got to do with you?"

Lu Fan smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth barely twitching upward.

"Wen Wan is my son’s girlfriend. That makes her business our business. So, name your price."

Mrs. Wen froze, her eyes widening. "What... What do you mean, name my price?"

Lu Fan looked at her, enunciating each word slowly but clearly. "How much will it take for you to agree to leave Wen Wan alone?"

Mrs. Wen’s face flushed crimson, and her voice rose as if she’d been stung. "What’s that supposed to mean? You think money makes you all-powerful? I raised my daughter, and you..."

Lu Fan cut her off. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut cleanly through hers. "Three hundred thousand. You accepted three hundred thousand in betrothal money from the Liu Family. I’ll give you four hundred thousand. Take the money, and never bother Wen Wan again. Whether she continues her studies, gets a job, or marries someone—it will have nothing to do with you."

Mrs. Wen’s mouth hung agape.

Four hundred thousand.

One hundred thousand more than the Liu Family.

Her hands were trembling, her lips were quivering, and the rims of her eyes flushed red.

She thought of her son’s tuition, the family’s debts, her husband’s bad back, and how she had toiled day and night all these years.

Four hundred thousand. It was enough to pay off all her debts, with plenty left over.

She could pay her son’s tuition, take her husband to see a doctor, and even buy herself a new outfit.

She’d never worn a single nice outfit in her entire life.

"Consider my offer." Lu Fan took a business card from his pocket and placed it on the nightstand. It was white with black print and gilt edges, standing out starkly in the dim room.

"That’s my number. Call me when you’ve decided. But I have conditions. If you take the money, you must sign a written pledge and have it legally notarized. From that moment on, you are to stay out of Wen Wan’s life. Who she’s with, if she marries, when she marries—none of it will be your concern."

Mrs. Wen stared at the business card for a long time.

Her hands trembled and her eyes were red. Tears welled, blurring her vision, but she fought to keep them from falling.

She remembered Wen Wan as a little girl, wearing two small pigtails and trailing after her, calling out, "Mama!"

She remembered the year Wen Wan was accepted into university. Her grandfather had slipped her five hundred yuan, and Wen Wan had cried all night.

She remembered the look in Wen Wan’s eyes in the office today—as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

She would never forget that look as long as she lived.

"I... I need to think about it." Mrs. Wen’s voice was hoarse, as if forcing the words out past a lump in her throat.

Lu Fan stood and straightened the collar of his overcoat, giving a slight nod. "Fine. Take your time. But I can’t wait long. If you don’t call me by tomorrow afternoon, I will consider the offer rejected. At that point, you won’t get a single cent, and Wen Wan won’t be going home with you."

With that, he turned and left.

Chen He followed. Their footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing fainter until they disappeared at the stairwell.

Mrs. Wen remained standing in the room, clutching the business card, for a very long time.

Her grip was so tight that the card creased, its corners curling upward.

She looked down and read the words on the card several times.

Lu Fan. Below it was a string of numbers and a company name she didn’t recognize.

She sat down, placed the business card on her lap, and stared at it blankly.

The sky outside gradually darkened, and the room grew dim, but she didn’t turn on a light.

She just sat there, motionless as a statue.

Lu Fan left the inn and got into the car.

Chen He started the engine. "Back to the estate, Boss?"

Lu Fan leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers lightly on his knee.

"To Jinling Institute of Technology."

Chen He hesitated for a second but didn’t ask why. He simply turned the car around and headed for the university.

The lights in the studio were still on, the fluorescent light bathing the entire room in a stark white.

Jiang Sifan and Wen Wan sat at the table, neither of them speaking.

The ledger was open, a pen lying next to it, not a single word written.

Wen Wan’s eyes and the tip of her nose were still red. With her head bowed, she traced endless circles on the tabletop with her finger.

Jiang Sifan sat beside her, watching. A heavy weight seemed to press down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what to say.

Any words of comfort seemed hollow in the face of three hundred thousand.

"Class President," Wen Wan said suddenly, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of startling something.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think... is there really anything we can do?" she asked, even though she knew he had just been trying to comfort her.

’But three hundred thousand... How could they possibly come up with that much money?’

Jiang Sifan reached out and took her hand.

Her hand was cool and still trembling, her fingertips like ice.

He squeezed a little tighter, as if to transfer his own warmth to her.

"There is. Trust me," he said, his voice firm, though he felt anything but certain.

’The only way is to ask my father, Lu Fan.’

Just as she was about to say something, there was a knock at the door.

They both turned as the door opened.

Lu Fan stood in the doorway, a casual and relaxed smile on his face, as if he’d just returned from a leisurely stroll.