Chapter 476 - 257: An Explanation Owed to Two Women and a Difficult Choice

Jiang Silu watched the figures of Lu Fan and Jiang Yixia walking side-by-side toward the wet market. She turned to Jiang Sifan and said with a smile, "Brother, I don't think Mom hates Dad anymore. What about you?"

Jiang Sifan was taken aback by her words.

He stood at the entrance of the flower shop, hands in his pockets, watching his parents' retreating figures in silence for a good while.

The streetlights had just flickered on, casting an orange-yellow glow on the two of them. Jiang Yixia walked on the inside, while Lu Fan walked on the side closer to the road.

A distance of half a step separated them—not too far, not too close. They were like two parallel lines, or like two railroad tracks running alongside each other.

"Brother?" Jiang Silu called out.

"I don't know." Jiang Sifan withdrew his gaze, his voice a bit muffled. "Don't ask."

Jiang Silu looked at her brother's face and opened her mouth, wanting to say more.

Wen Wan gently tugged her sleeve and shook her head.

Jiang Silu sighed, didn't press the matter, and turned to walk home.

Wen Wan stood beside Jiang Sifan, also silent, simply standing there and keeping him company.

After a moment, Jiang Sifan spoke up. "Let's go. I need to go back and take a shower, I'm all sweaty."

Wen Wan nodded and followed behind him.

The two of them walked along the old streets of Yangcheng.

Jiang Sifan's phone vibrated once in his pocket. He didn't look at it.

It vibrated again. He still didn't look.

Back at the apartment, Jiang Sifan went into his room, closed the door, and took out his phone.

It was a message from He Lingyi.

[Brother Sifan, I finished my exams! I think I did pretty well on the math section, hehe.]

[My mom said I can come to Yangcheng! I booked a flight for the day after tomorrow. I'll arrive at Baiyun International Airport at 10:30 AM. Can you come pick me up? Please?]

A screenshot of the flight booking followed.

Jiang Sifan stared at the screenshot for several seconds before locking his screen, tossing the phone onto the bed, and lying down.

'The day after tomorrow.'

'He Lingyi is arriving the day after tomorrow.'

'And he still hadn't told Wen Wan.'

He rolled over to face the wall, pulling the blanket over his head.

More than ten minutes later, his phone vibrated again.

He picked it up. It was He Lingyi again.

[Brother Sifan, why aren't you replying? Are you busy?]

[I won't bother you for now then. Remember to text me back when you're done, okay?]

[Good night!]

Jiang Sifan stared at the three messages. He typed a line of text, deleted it, typed another, and deleted it again.

Finally, he sent a single sentence: [Okay, I'll pick you up the day after tomorrow!]

After sending it, he placed his phone on the nightstand and turned off the light.

...

「Two days later. Baiyun International Airport.」

Jiang Sifan stood at the exit of the arrivals hall, watching the flight information scroll across the electronic screen.

He Lingyi's flight had already landed.

He was wearing a dark blue hoodie, his hands shoved in his pockets. He stood amidst the crowd like a post rooted to the ground.

People came out in waves, dragging suitcases and carrying bags. Some were on the phone, others were looking around.

Jiang Sifan stood on his tiptoes, searching for He Lingyi in the crowd.

And then he saw her.

He Lingyi was wearing a long, cream-colored trench coat over a black turtleneck sweater.

She had paired it with a dark gray pleated skirt and a pair of brown leather boots. Her hair was down, she wore a touch of makeup, and her lips were coated in a light shade of pink.

She was pushing a suitcase and scanning the crowd. The moment she saw Jiang Sifan, a smile exploded on her face like a firework.

"Brother Sifan!" She let go of her suitcase, ran over, and threw her arms around Jiang Sifan's arm, pressing her whole body against him. "Have you been waiting long?"

Jiang Sifan was a little stunned by her sudden action. He took half a step back to steady himself and said with a smile, "No, I just got here a little while ago."

"I missed you so much!" He Lingyi looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "The second I finished my exams, all I could think about was coming here. I didn't want to wait another second."

Looking at her excited face, Jiang Sifan felt a little flustered, but he still managed a smile. "Let's go. I'll take you to the hotel to drop off your luggage first."

"Okay!" He Lingyi linked her arm with his and followed him outside.

Outside the airport, Jiang Sifan hailed a taxi. He helped He Lingyi put her suitcase in the trunk, and then they both got in.

He Lingyi sat next to him in the back seat, her arm still linked through his, showing no intention of letting go.

"Brother Sifan, Yangcheng is so warm," He Lingyi marveled, looking at the streetscape outside the window. "It's freezing in Jinling. It was even drizzling when I left this morning."

"Yeah, Yangcheng's winters aren't cold," Jiang Sifan nodded.

"That building over there is so tall! What's it called?" He Lingyi pointed at a skyscraper with a glass curtain wall outside the window.

"That's the West Tower of Zhujiang New Town. There's an East Tower over there, too. They're pretty much the same."

He Lingyi said, "Oh," and continued to stare out the window, her mouth agape in wonder.

After a drive of more than forty minutes, they arrived at the hotel He Lingyi had booked.

It was a five-star hotel in the city center. The lobby was magnificent, with a crystal chandelier hanging down from the third floor, glittering brightly.

Jiang Sifan helped He Lingyi check in and then dragged the suitcase into the elevator.

"Brother Sifan, did you book this room for me?" He Lingyi asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah, your mom asked me to book it for you," Jiang Sifan nodded.

He Lingyi smiled, leaned against his shoulder, and said softly, "You're so good to me."

Jiang Sifan didn't reply, watching the floor numbers on the elevator display change one by one.

When they reached the room, Jiang Sifan swiped the key card and pushed the door open.

The room was spacious. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the Yangcheng skyline, with the Guangzhou Tower standing in the distance by the river like a silver needle.

The bed was large, covered with snow-white sheets. The bathroom was to the right of the entrance, separated by a wall of frosted glass.