Chapter 511: Jiang Yixia: I Don’t Hate You Anymore

“Okay, okay, you’re more of a nag than Grandma,” Jiang Silu said with a laugh.

Jiang Silu hugged her again before letting go and turning to walk over to Lu Fan.

Lu Fan was talking to Jiang Sifan in a low voice, and Jiang Yixia couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Jiang Sifan nodded, uttered an “Mhm,” and then stepped to the side.

Lu Fan turned around, looked at Jiang Silu, and said with a smile, “What’s wrong? Your eyes are all red.”

“It’s nothing.” Jiang Silu wiped her eyes. “Dad, we’re leaving now. You have to eat well while you’re here by yourself.”

“I’m not by myself. Isn’t your mom here?” Lu Fan chuckled, glancing at Jiang Yixia.

Jiang Yixia turned her face away, pretending she hadn’t heard.

Jiang Silu looked at Lu Fan, then at Jiang Yixia. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

“Go on, head inside,” Lu Fan said, patting her on the shoulder.

Jiang Silu took two steps, then turned back and shouted to Jiang Yixia, “Mom, if you miss me, just give me a call. If I’m free on the weekend, I’ll come back to see you.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yixia nodded.

Jiang Silu gave her one last look before turning and walking into the terminal.

Jiang Sifan followed her, with Wen Wan walking last. Wen Wan bowed to Jiang Yixia and said, “Goodbye, Auntie.”

Jiang Yixia waved at her.

The three of them walked into the terminal and disappeared behind the glass doors.

Jiang Yixia stood at the entrance, staring at the glass doors for a long time.

“Let’s go. Time to head back,” Lu Fan said, walking over to stand beside her.

Jiang Yixia didn’t move, her gaze still fixed on the doors.

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

After a good while, Jiang Yixia finally turned and started walking toward the parking lot.

Lu Fan walked beside her. They walked side-by-side, neither of them speaking.

After a few steps, Jiang Yixia suddenly stopped and glanced back toward the terminal.

“What is it?” Lu Fan asked.

“Nothing.” She turned back and kept walking.

Once in the car, Jiang Yixia sat in the back, leaning against the window and watching the streetscape pass by.

The car moved slowly. She watched in the rearview mirror as the terminal shrank, eventually becoming a dot that vanished into the flow of traffic.

“That kid, Silu… has she always been such a homebody?” Lu Fan, sitting in the front, suddenly spoke up.

“Mhm.” Jiang Yixia’s voice was very soft.

When the car reached the villa’s entrance, Jiang Yixia got out and stood in the yard, looking at the plumeria tree.

The tree had already sprouted new, tiny green buds that swayed gently in the wind.

Lu Fan walked over to stand beside her.

“I’m heading back to Jinling in a week. I’ll go see the kids then.” Lu Fan tentatively added, “Do you want to come with me?”

Jiang Yixia froze for a moment, then turned to look at him. “Why would I go?”

“To see Silu and Sifan, and to get a change of scenery,” Lu Fan said with a smile. “You’re here all by yourself with nothing much to do anyway.”

Jiang Yixia thought about it. She didn’t agree, but she didn’t refuse either. “We’ll see,” she said before turning and going inside.

Lu Fan stood in the yard, watching her back as she entered the house, and smiled.

Meanwhile, inside the terminal, Jiang Silu passed through security and glanced back outside.

Jiang Yixia was already gone. Only travelers coming and going were at the entrance.

“Let’s go, brother,” she said, turning her head to Jiang Sifan.

Jiang Sifan carried the suitcase, walking beside her. Wen Wan was on her other side. The three of them walked side-by-side toward the boarding gate.

“Brother, what were you and Dad talking about just now?” Jiang Silu suddenly asked.

Jiang Sifan was taken aback for a second. “What do you mean, what were we talking about?”

“Back at the entrance, you and Dad were talking. What did you say?” Jiang Silu pressed.

Jiang Sifan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Nothing much. He just told me to take good care of you and Wen Wan.”

Jiang Silu glanced at him but didn’t ask any more questions.

The three of them found their gate and sat down to wait for their flight.

Jiang Silu took out her phone and sent a message to Jiang Yixia: [Mom, we’re through security. The plane is about to take off.]

Jiang Yixia quickly replied: [Okay. Message me when you land.]

Jiang Silu sent another one: [Mom, if you miss me, give me a call.]

Jiang Yixia sent back an “Mhm.”

Jiang Silu looked at the “Mhm” and started to smile.

Jiang Sifan, sitting next to her, was also looking at something on his phone.

Wen Wan sat beside him, leaning back against the chair with her eyes closed.

“Sister Wen Wan, are you sleepy?” Jiang Silu asked.

“A little,” Wen Wan said, opening her eyes with a small smile.

“Then you should get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to board.”

Wen Wan nodded and closed her eyes again.

Jiang Sifan glanced at her, then took off his jacket and gently draped it over her.

Wen Wan stirred but didn’t open her eyes, though the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

Jiang Silu saw this and winked at Jiang Sifan.

Jiang Sifan shot her a glare, then turned his head back and pretended to look at his phone.

As the plane took off, Jiang Silu leaned back in her seat and looked out the window at the clouds.

The layer of clouds was thick, a vast expanse of white with no end in sight.

She thought about her mother at the airport entrance, how Jiang Yixia had stood there with red-rimmed eyes, holding back her tears.

“Mom couldn’t bear to see us go,” she said softly.

Jiang Sifan glanced at her but said nothing.

“She couldn’t bear to leave Dad either,” Jiang Silu added.

Jiang Sifan still didn’t speak, but his ears turned a little red.

Jiang Silu smiled and didn’t say anything more.

By the time the plane landed, it was almost dark.

The three of them collected their luggage, left the airport, and found the car Chen He had arranged to take them back to school.

The car first stopped in front of the women’s dormitory at Jinling Institute of Technology.

Wen Wan got out, waved to Jiang Sifan and Jiang Silu, and turned to enter the building.

The car then drove to the men’s dormitory.

Jiang Sifan got out, said to Jiang Silu, “Message me when you get there,” and went into the building.

Finally, the car stopped in front of the women’s dormitory at Jinling University.

Jiang Silu got out and dragged her suitcase toward the building.

When she reached the entrance, she stopped and glanced back.

The car was still parked there; the driver was waiting for her to go inside.

She smiled, turned around, and entered the building.

Back in her dorm room, Song Miaomiao was already in bed. When she saw her come in, she poked her head out from under the covers. “Silu, you’re back! Did you bring any good snacks?”

“Chinese sausage, chick biscuits, and sweetheart cakes. They’re all in the suitcase,” Jiang Silu said, laying her suitcase down and unzipping it.

Song Miaomiao jumped down from her bed, squatted next to the suitcase, and started rummaging for the food, muttering as she did, “This is delicious, this is delicious too… Silu, your mom is the best.”

Jiang Silu smiled, climbed onto her bed, and lay down.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Jiang Yixia: [Mom, I’m back at the dorm.]

Jiang Yixia replied: [Okay, get some sleep soon.]

Jiang Silu sent another one: [Mom, I miss you.]

This time, there was a few seconds of silence from Jiang Yixia’s end before she replied: [Mom misses you too.]

Jiang Silu stared at the message, her eyes turning red.

She placed her phone next to her pillow, rolled over, and pulled the covers over her head.

Meanwhile, Song Miaomiao called out from below, “Silu, are you going to eat this chick biscuit? If not, I’m eating it all.”

“You can have it,” came Jiang Silu’s muffled voice.

Song Miaomiao heard the change in her voice and looked up. “What’s wrong with you? Are you crying?”

“No.” Jiang Silu poked her head out from the covers. Her eyes were red, but she had a smile on her face. “I just miss my mom a little. We only just said goodbye this morning, but I can’t help missing her. Miaomiao, I had such a happy holiday… So this is what it feels like to be a family… It’s really wonderful…”