Chapter 506 - 265: Jiang Sifan Calls ’Dad’ for the First Time on New Year’s Eve, No More Estrangement Between Father and Son

Two days before New Year's Eve, the villa was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, the festive atmosphere growing stronger by the day.

Jiang Silu added another string of colorful lights, winding them from the living room all the way to the staircase handrail. When they were switched on at night, the entire villa sparkled.

But Wen Wan had grown quiet these past two days.

When she woke up in the morning, she sat by the window, phone in hand, looking at it over and over.

Her grandfather's number was on the screen. She called, but no one answered.

She called again. Still no answer.

She placed her phone on the nightstand and stared into space for a while.

Jiang Silu pushed the door open and came in. Seeing her sitting on the edge of the bed, she asked, "Sister Wen Wan, why are you still in your pajamas? Hurry and get changed. We're going to the supermarket to buy New Year's supplies today."

Wen Wan snapped out of it and smiled. "Okay, right away."

She changed her clothes and followed Jiang Silu downstairs.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she pulled out her phone again for a look. Still no call back.

Jiang Yixia was busy in the kitchen. Chicken soup was simmering in a pot, its aroma filling the entire house.

Jiang Silu poked her head in and called out, "Mom, we're going to the supermarket!" Jiang Yixia replied, "Okay, come back early."

Chen He's car was parked at the entrance.

Jiang Silu pulled Wen Wan into the car. Jiang Sifan was sitting in the front, also looking at something on his phone.

"Bro, what are you looking at?" Jiang Silu asked.

"Nothing, just checking the mall's business hours." Jiang Sifan locked his screen.

The car headed toward the city center.

Wen Wan leaned against the window, gazing outside.

The streets were filled with New Year's decorations: red lanterns, "Fu" characters, and spring couplets. Festive music played from the storefronts.

She missed her grandfather.

Her eyes reddened. She lowered her head, pretending to look at her phone.

Jiang Silu noticed her expression and gently touched her arm. "Sister Wen Wan, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Wen Wan shook her head, forcing a smile.

"Are you missing your grandfather?" Jiang Silu asked.

Wen Wan paused for a moment, then nodded, her voice very soft. "Yeah."

Jiang Silu didn't ask any more questions, just squeezed her hand.

At the supermarket, Jiang Silu pushed a shopping cart, tossing things in one after another.

Sunflower seeds, peanuts, candy, drinks, fruit—she grabbed whatever she saw.

Wen Wan followed behind her, occasionally handing her things, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.

"Sister Wen Wan, do you think this candy is good?" Jiang Silu asked, turning around with a bag of milk candy.

Wen Wan glanced at it and nodded. "It's good."

"Then let's get two bags." Jiang Silu tossed them into the cart.

Nearby, Jiang Sifan was picking out couplets. He picked up a pair, looked at it, put it down, and then picked up another.

He spent a long time choosing, finally selecting a pair with neat calligraphy, deep black ink, and powerful brushstrokes.

"Bro, are you done picking?" Jiang Silu shouted.

"Done." Jiang Sifan put the couplets in the cart.

The three of them spent over an hour in the supermarket and bought a cartful of things.

Chen He helped them load everything into the car, filling the trunk to the brim.

Back home, Jiang Silu took the items out one by one to arrange them.

Wen Wan helped her, putting the candy in a candy dish, pouring the sunflower seeds and peanuts into a nut box, and washing the fruit to arrange in a basket.

She did it meticulously, arranging each item neatly, as if she were completing a very important task.

Jiang Sifan took the couplets to hang by the door.

He brought over a chair, stood on it, tore off the old couplets, and put up the new ones.

The first line, the second line, and the horizontal scroll—all hung perfectly straight.

Jiang Yixia came out of the kitchen, looked at the couplets, and nodded. "Not bad. It's straight."

Jiang Sifan hopped down from the chair, took two steps back to look, and smiled in satisfaction.

Jiang Silu ran out of the house, holding a "Fu" character. "Bro, where does this go?"

"On the main door, and hang it right side up," Jiang Sifan said.

"I know." Jiang Silu stood on her tiptoes, stuck the "Fu" character right in the middle of the door, patted it down, and took two steps back to look. "It's crooked."

"It's not crooked," Jiang Sifan said.

"It is," Jiang Silu insisted.

Jiang Sifan walked over to look. It really was a little crooked, so he helped her adjust it.

Only then was Jiang Silu satisfied. She clapped her hands and went back inside.

In the evening, after finishing the last of his work at the manor, Lu Fan sat in his study, phone in hand.

He found Chen He's number and dialed.

He asked, "Chen He, how are the arrangements for Wen Wan's grandfather coming along?"

"Boss, everything's been arranged. He'll arrive in Yangcheng tomorrow afternoon. A caregiver will be with him, and he'll be looked after the whole way," Chen He replied.

"Is the hotel booked?"

"Booked. It's a five-star hotel not far from the villa. The room is on the first floor to make it easy for the old gentleman to get in and out."

Lu Fan nodded. "Good. Go pick him up yourself tomorrow. Be careful on the road."

"Understood, Boss."

After hanging up, Lu Fan leaned back in his chair and gazed at the night outside his window.

The lights in the manor came on one by one, and the lamps on the lawn cast a dim yellow glow across the grass.

'He thought of that girl, Wen Wan. So quiet, never asking for anything.'

'When he bought her a phone and a computer, her eyes had turned red, and she kept insisting, "This is too expensive, I can't accept it."'

'It wasn't that she didn't want them; she was too embarrassed to ask.'

'No one had ever given her anything growing up, so she was used to shouldering everything herself.'

He smiled to himself, stood up, and went to take a shower.

The next morning, Jiang Sifan was pacing back and forth in his room.

He had wandered around the mall yesterday but hadn't bought anything.

If he didn't go again today, tomorrow would be New Year's Eve, and the shops would be closed.

He grabbed his jacket, left the house, and rode his electric scooter toward the city center.

Many shops on the street were already closed, their rolling shutters pulled down, with notices posted on them: "Closed for Spring Festival. Reopening on the eighth."