Chapter 498 - 262: Jiang Sifan Publicly Speaks Up for Lu Fan for the First Time

Chapter 498: Chapter 262: Jiang Sifan Publicly Speaks Up for Lu Fan for the First Time

The phone rang twice before someone picked up.

"Silu?" Lu Fan’s voice came from the other end of the line, sounding noticeably more energetic. "What’s up?"

Jiang Silu placed the phone on the coffee table and called out sweetly, "Daddy, what are you doing?"

Her voice was so sweet and soft that Wen Wan, listening from the side, couldn’t help but laugh.

Jiang Yixia laughed too and shook her head.

Lu Fan laughed on the other end of the line. "I just got out of a meeting. What about you all? Have you eaten dinner?"

"We have. Mom cooked," Jiang Silu said, glancing at Jiang Yixia.

Jiang Yixia turned her head away, pretending to look at her phone, but her ears were pricked.

"Mom’s cooking is good, isn’t it?" Lu Fan asked with a laugh.

"It’s delicious! A hundred times better than the cafeteria’s," Jiang Silu said, shooting another glance at Jiang Yixia. "Dad, when are you coming back?"

"It’ll be a few more days. I’ll head back as soon as the conference is over." Lu Fan paused for a moment. "What’s up? Do you miss your dad?"

Jiang Silu laughed. "Of course I do. I miss you a lot, and Mom misses you too."

"Jiang Silu!" Jiang Yixia’s face instantly flushed crimson as she reached for the phone.

Jiang Silu quickly snatched the phone away and dodged to the other end of the sofa, laughing. "Mom, don’t grab it! I’m not finished yet."

On the other end of the line, Lu Fan burst out laughing, a hearty, unrestrained sound. "Your mom misses me? Did she say so herself?"

"She didn’t say it, but I can tell," Jiang Silu said with a laugh. "She’s been constantly checking her phone these past few days. It’s obvious she’s waiting for a message from you."

Jiang Yixia stood up and went to snatch the phone, but Jiang Silu bolted. The two of them started chasing each other around the sofa.

Wen Wan was cracking up on the sidelines, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook with laughter.

"Jiang Silu, give me that phone!" After chasing her for two laps without success, Jiang Yixia stood in the middle of the living room, torn between anger and amusement.

"Not unless you admit you miss Dad," Jiang Silu said, holding the phone aloft from behind the sofa, panting for breath.

"Since when do I miss him? Don’t be ridiculous." Jiang Yixia’s face was as red as a cooked shrimp.

On the other end of the line, Lu Fan started laughing again, even harder this time. "Silu, stop teasing your mom. She’s thin-skinned and gets embarrassed easily."

"Dad, whose side are you on?" Jiang Silu asked, feigning anger.

"I’m on the side of reason, not just because you’re family," Lu Fan chuckled.

Jiang Silu laughed, then put the phone to her ear and turned off the speaker. "Okay, Dad. You should get some rest. Don’t work too hard."

"Alright. You all get to bed early too. You have to go to the flower shop tomorrow, don’t you?"

"Mhm, we are. Sister Wen Wan is coming too. She’s incredible—she already knows how to use the POS system."

"Oh, really? In that case, please thank Wen Wan for me for helping take care of your mom."

Jiang Silu glanced at Wen Wan and smiled. "Okay, I’ll pass that along."

After hanging up, Jiang Silu placed her phone on the coffee table and looked at Jiang Yixia with a triumphant smile.

Jiang Yixia shot her a glare. "Don’t you go spouting nonsense on the phone like that ever again."

"I wasn’t spouting nonsense; I was telling the truth." Jiang Silu sat down beside her and linked arms. "Mom, you were listening the whole time, weren’t you? If you really didn’t miss Dad, you would’ve walked away. You wouldn’t have just sat there listening to me talk to him."

Jiang Yixia was at a loss for words. She opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Wen Wan chuckled softly nearby.

Jiang Yixia looked from Wen Wan to Jiang Silu and sighed. "You two are ganging up on me."

Jiang Silu laughed and leaned against her mother’s shoulder. "Mom, don’t be shy. It’s okay to miss him. It’s nothing to be ashamed of."

Jiang Yixia didn’t answer, but she didn’t push her away either.

The living room fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the ticking of the wall clock.

Jiang Silu suddenly asked, "Mom, what do you think Dad is doing right now?"

"He just said he was resting, didn’t he?" Jiang Yixia replied.

"I mean... he’s all alone, and with the New Year coming up... don’t you think he might feel lonely?"

Jiang Yixia didn’t say anything, her gaze drifting out the window.

"He’s a grown man. What’s there to be lonely about?" she said aloud, though that wasn’t what she thought at all.