Chapter 508: Jiang Sifan Calls ’Dad’ for the First Time on New Year’s Eve, No More Barrier Between Father and Son

Jiang Yixia came out of the kitchen. Seeing the old man, she hurried over to greet him. “Uncle, you’re here. Please, come inside and sit down. It’s cold out.”

Jiang Silu then took the initiative, helping Wen Wan guide the old man into the house. After he was seated on the sofa, she went to pour a cup of hot tea and brought it over.

The old man cupped the teacup with both hands, took a sip, and let out a long breath.

“This child is so thoughtful,” the old man said with a smile, looking at Jiang Silu.

Jiang Silu just smiled without saying anything.

Wen Wan knelt beside her grandfather, holding his hand. Her eyes were red, but she had a smile on her face.

She gazed at her grandfather’s face, at the wrinkles etched upon it, at his white hair. Her heart ached, yet it was filled with warmth.

“Grandpa, was the journey tiring?” she asked softly.

“Not at all. Master Chen is a steady driver. He even poured water for me along the way,” the old man said with a smile.

Wen Wan turned to glance at Chen He. He was standing by the door and gave her a small smile.

She nodded, then turned back to grip her grandfather’s hand.

Jiang Silu came closer and asked Wen Wan, “Sister Wen Wan, where is Grandpa staying? I can help get his room ready.”

Lu Fan, who was nearby, answered, “At the hotel next door. I’ve already booked it. The room is on the first floor to make it easy for him to get in and out.”

Wen Wan looked at Lu Fan, her eyes turning red again, and said softly, “Thank you, Uncle Lu.”

Lu Fan waved it off without a word.

In the evening, Jiang Yixia was busy in the kitchen.

Wen Wan wanted to go in and help, but Jiang Yixia ushered her out. “Go keep Grandpa company. Having Silu in the kitchen is enough.”

Wen Wan had no choice but to return to the living room and sit down next to her grandfather.

The old man was talking with Jiang Sifan.

Jiang Sifan answered his questions, and the old man listened, nodding from time to time.

“Good, good. A promising young man.” The old man patted Jiang Sifan’s hand.

Jiang Sifan smiled and glanced at Wen Wan.

Wen Wan was looking at her grandfather, a smile in her eyes.

Jiang Silu poked her head out of the kitchen and shouted, “Dinner’s ready!”

The New Year’s Eve dinner was laid out in the dining room, the long table groaning under the weight of many dishes.

Steamed mandarin fish, braised pork belly, white cut chicken, garlic-steamed oysters, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a large pot of chicken soup.

They weren’t exotic delicacies, just home-cooked dishes, but each one was prepared with care.

Lu Fan sat at the head of the table, with Jiang Yixia beside him. Jiang Silu sat next to Jiang Yixia. Jiang Sifan sat opposite Lu Fan, with Wen Wan beside him, and the old man sat next to Wen Wan.

Jiang Silu raised her glass and said with a smile, “Come on, let’s toast! Happy New Year!”

Everyone raised their glasses, clinking them together with a crisp sound.

The old man also raised his cup, which was filled with tea. He took a sip and smiled.

“This is the first time I’ve celebrated the New Year away from home,” the old man said. He then looked at Wen Wan, then at everyone else at the table. “It’s so lively. This is really nice.”

Wen Wan felt a prickling in her nose and held back her tears.

Jiang Silu picked up a piece of braised pork belly and placed it in the old man’s bowl. “Grandpa, you have to try this. My mom’s braised pork belly is delicious.”

The old man took a bite, chewed for a moment, and nodded. “Delicious. It’s rich but not greasy. Excellent cooking.”

Jiang Yixia smiled. “Uncle, please have some more.”

Halfway through the meal, the Spring Festival Gala began to play on the TV.

Jiang Silu ate while watching, bursting into laughter at the funny skits.

Wen Wan sat beside her grandfather, serving him food and pouring his tea. The old man didn’t eat much, but he tasted a little of everything.

As midnight approached, Jiang Silu turned up the TV volume and shouted, “The countdown is starting!”

Everyone put down their chopsticks and watched the TV screen.

The hosts began the countdown: “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!”

The sound of firecrackers erupted from outside, CRACKLING and POPPING, near and far, rising and falling in waves.

Jiang Silu ran to the window and pulled open the curtains. People were setting off fireworks outside, great big blooms of red, green, and purple that lit up the night sky.

“So beautiful!” she cried out.

Wen Wan stood next to her grandfather, also watching the fireworks, a smile playing on her lips.

Her grandfather squeezed her hand, patting it gently.

Lu Fan took out his phone and sent a red envelope in the family group chat.

Jiang Silu was the first to grab it. She opened it and her eyes went wide. “Whoa, Dad, you sent so much?”

“Happy New Year,” Lu Fan said with a smile.

Jiang Silu grabbed a few more; her luck was incredible.

Beaming, she held up her phone for Jiang Yixia to see. “Mom, look! I got over eight hundred!”

Jiang Yixia laughed and shook her head.

Jiang Silu then sent a red envelope to the group with the note, “For Mom and Dad.”

Lu Fan opened it: two hundred. Jiang Yixia opened hers: also two hundred.

“Where did you get the money?” Jiang Yixia asked.

“I saved it up, from my allowance,” Jiang Silu said with a smile. “Happy New Year, Mom. Happy New Year, Dad.”

Lu Fan looked at the message, a smile never leaving his lips.

Jiang Sifan also sent a red envelope to the group, one that everyone could grab a share of.

He didn’t send much, but it was the thought that counted.

Jiang Silu grabbed it and said with a laugh, “Bro, you’re so stingy!”

Jiang Sifan shot her a glare. “If you think it’s too little, then don’t take it.”

“I already grabbed it, so no refunds,” Jiang Silu said, hiding her phone behind her back.

Everyone burst out laughing.

After midnight, everyone gradually started heading back to their rooms.

Jiang Silu took the opportunity to give her painting to Lu Fan.

Lu Fan was very pleased as he looked at the painting of the family. “Thank you, Silu,” he said.

“You’re welcome~~”

Meanwhile, Chen He was taking the old man to the hotel next door. Wen Wan walked him to the door, clinging to his hand, unwilling to let go.

The old man patted her hand. “Wan’Er, Grandpa will be back tomorrow. Don’t see me out, it’s cold outside.”

Wen Wan nodded. She watched her grandfather get into the car, and even after it drove away, she remained standing at the door.

Jiang Sifan walked over to stand beside her. “Let’s go inside,” he said softly. “It’s cold out.”

Wen Wan nodded and turned to go back inside.

Only Jiang Yixia and Lu Fan were left in the living room.

The TV was still on, the Gala still playing with the volume turned down. A host was singing.

Jiang Yixia stood up, glanced at Lu Fan, and said, “Wait here a moment.”

She went upstairs and came back down a moment later, holding a bag. She walked up to Lu Fan and handed it to him, her face slightly flushed. “For you.”

Lu Fan took it, looked at the bag, and asked with a smile, “What’s this?”

“Open it and see.” Jiang Yixia turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.

Lu Fan opened the bag and took out a box. Opening it, he found a scarf.

It was dark gray, the yarn was very soft, and the knitting wasn’t perfectly even—a little loose in some places, a little tight in others—but it looked wonderfully warm.

Lu Fan held the scarf, looking at it for a long moment before smiling. “Thank you.”

“I’m giving you a gift because you’ve been so good to the children lately,” Jiang Yixia explained. She paused, then added, “And to me, of course, and to my parents. Don’t read too much into it.”

With that, she turned and hurried upstairs.

Lu Fan watched her retreating back and asked with a grin, “Are you sure it’s not your ID card?”

Jiang Yixia stopped and looked back at him, confused. “What ID card?”

“I thought maybe you wanted to wait for the Civil Affairs Bureau to open on the seventh day of the New Year and go register our marriage,” Lu Fan chuckled.

Jiang Yixia’s face instantly turned bright red. She shot him a glare. “Definitely not!”

She quickly walked up the stairs and disappeared at the top.

Lu Fan stood in the living room, took the scarf out of the box, and wrapped it around his neck.

The yarn was soft against his cheek, and very warm. He smiled, folded the scarf neatly, put it back in the box, and went upstairs.

He reached his bedroom door and was about to open it when he caught sight of a figure at the end of the hallway out of the corner of his eye.

Jiang Sifan was standing there, leaning against the wall, clutching something in his hand. He clearly tensed up when he saw Lu Fan.

Lu Fan stopped and looked at him.

“Sifan? What is it?” he asked.

Jiang Sifan hesitated for a moment before walking over to stand in front of Lu Fan.

His hands were trembling, and his face and ears were red.

“I…” He opened his mouth, but the words seemed to be stuck in his throat.

Lu Fan didn’t rush him, just stood there, waiting.

Jiang Sifan took a deep breath, pulled a leather bracelet out of his pocket, and held it out. Lu Fan took it and looked at it. An “F” was engraved on the bracelet—the first letter of his surname.

“This is…” Lu Fan was taken aback for a second.

Jiang Sifan suddenly bent at the waist in a deep bow. His voice trembled, but he managed to say, “Thank you, Dad. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Wen Wan.”

After speaking, he straightened up, turned, and ran.

The sound of his footsteps, THUMP THUMP THUMP, echoed down the hallway, growing more distant until a door slammed shut.

Lu Fan stood in the hallway for a long time, clutching the leather bracelet in his hand.

Then he smiled—a soft smile, but his eyes were shining.

Lu Fan put the bracelet on his wrist. It was a perfect fit.