Chapter 510: Jiang Yixia: I Don’t Hate You Anymore

Lu Fan gazed at the lake before him. The wind tousled his hair, his profile sharp in the sunlight.

He didn’t look at Jiang Yixia, but his words were meant for her.

Jiang Yixia turned her head back and kept walking.

Her heart hammered a little faster, and her ears felt warm.

“You certainly are confident,” Jiang Yixia teased.

“I have to be, confident or not,” Lu Fan chuckled. “I can’t just give up halfway. I’ve come this far.”

Jiang Yixia didn’t answer, but she couldn’t help but stifle a small laugh.

She quickly composed herself, afraid he might see.

Up ahead, Jiang Silu had already run to the end of the boardwalk.

A wooden viewing platform extended out over the lake.

She stood on the platform, holding the railing, and shouted back, “Mom, hurry up! It’s so beautiful here!”

Jiang Yixia picked up her pace and went to stand beside Jiang Silu, looking where she was pointing.

There were mountains in the distance and water up close. A few wild ducks swam on the surface, leaving trails of ripples behind them.

“Beautiful, right?” Jiang Silu said with a smile.

Jiang Yixia nodded. “It is.”

Jiang Sifan stood on the other side of the viewing platform, taking photos with his phone.

He snapped a few shots of the scenery, then turned and secretly took a picture of Wen Wan.

Wen Wan was leaning over the railing, watching the fish in the water, and hadn’t noticed him.

Jiang Silu saw him. She sidled up to him and asked in a hushed voice, “Bro, are you taking sneaky pictures of Sister Wen Wan?”

Jiang Sifan blushed and put his phone away. “No, I’m not.”

“I saw you,” Jiang Silu said with a grin. “How did it turn out? Let me see.”

“No way.” Jiang Sifan shoved his phone into his pocket.

Jiang Silu huffed and turned to find Lu Fan.

Lu Fan was still on the boardwalk; he hadn’t come onto the viewing platform.

He was leaning against the railing, gazing at the lake, lost in thought.

“Dad, why didn’t you come over?” Jiang Silu ran up and grabbed his arm.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Lu Fan let her pull him forward, his steps a little unsteady.

Jiang Silu pulled him onto the viewing platform, positioning him next to Jiang Yixia.

She glanced at Lu Fan, then at Jiang Yixia, and suddenly said with a grin, “You know, you two look really good together, like a married couple.”

Jiang Yixia blushed. “Silu, what are you saying?!”

“I’m not making it up, it’s true.” Jiang Silu put on an innocent face and looked at Lu Fan. “Dad, wouldn’t you agree?”

Lu Fan just smiled, not answering.

Jiang Yixia’s face grew even redder. She turned and started walking back toward the boardwalk.

Jiang Silu called after her, “Mom, don’t go! I was just joking.”

Jiang Yixia didn’t turn back, but her pace slowed.

Lu Fan glanced at Jiang Silu and smiled. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Jiang Silu blinked, grinning like a cat that had just stolen a fish. “I’m helping you, Dad.”

“More like making things worse,” Lu Fan said with a smile, shaking his head as he followed Yixia.

Jiang Silu stood in place, watching their retreating figures, and broke into a smile.

Jiang Silu stood on the viewing platform, taking it all in. She took a deep breath, turned to Wen Wan, and said, “Sister Wen Wan, look. Isn’t it beautiful?”

Wen Wan, standing beside her, nodded. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“We should come here every year for the New Year,” Jiang Silu said, smiling.

Wen Wan smiled without a word, but her eyes were shining.

By the time the car was heading back, the sky had already begun to darken.

Jiang Silu leaned against Wen Wan’s shoulder, her eyes closed. It was hard to tell if she was asleep.

Wen Wan leaned against the window, watching the passing streetscape as streetlights flickered by, casting a rhythm of light and shadow.

Jiang Yixia sat in the back, leaning against her seat and gazing out the window.

She stole a sideways glance at Lu Fan in the front passenger seat. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be asleep.

After a few seconds, she looked away.

…

The winter break passed faster than expected. In the blink of an eye, it was time to return to Jinling.

Jiang Silu started packing the night before.

She folded and unfolded her clothes, then folded them again, constantly feeling like she was forgetting something.

She packed the local specialties for her roommates into her suitcase one by one—cured sausages from Yangcheng, chicken biscuits, and sweetheart cakes—until the suitcase was stuffed full.

“Mom, should I pack two more bags of this sausage? Miaomiao said she absolutely loved it last time I brought some back,” Jiang Silu asked, looking up at Jiang Yixia from her spot on the floor next to the suitcase.

“If you think it’ll fit, then take it,” Jiang Yixia said, watching her daughter’s frantic packing from the doorway.

“Okay, two more bags it is.” Jiang Silu crammed two more in and, with considerable effort, managed to pull the zipper closed.

Jiang Sifan had less to pack; one suitcase was enough for him.

He tossed his account books, laptop, and a few changes of clothes inside, shut the lid, and set the suitcase by the door.

Wen Wan didn’t have much to pack, either.

She had arrived with one suitcase and was leaving with just one.

Jiang Yixia cleaned up the kitchen.

She threw out the leftovers and froze whatever ingredients she could in the refrigerator.

She wiped down the stovetop once, then a second time. Standing in the middle of the kitchen, she scanned the room to make sure nothing was missed before finally leaving.

「The next morning, at the airport.」

Chen He pulled up to the curb at the departure hall and helped them unload their luggage.

Jiang Silu stood by the car, clinging to Jiang Yixia’s hand, refusing to let go.

“Mom, I don’t want to go,” she said, her voice muffled and her eyes red-rimmed.

Looking at her, Jiang Yixia’s heart ached with a bittersweet fondness.

She reached out to stroke Jiang Silu’s hair and said with a gentle smile, “So you’re just not going to go? What about school?”

“I’ll miss you too much,” Jiang Silu mumbled, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder.

“What’s there to be sad about? Summer break is just a few months away, and you’ll be back before you know it.” Jiang Yixia gently patted her back. “Now hurry inside, or you’ll miss your flight.”

Jiang Silu lifted her head, her eyes red. She sniffled. “Mom, you have to eat well. Don’t just make do with whatever. And if the flower shop gets too busy, hire some help. Don’t try to handle everything on your own.”