Chapter 303 - 199: Jiang Sifan Thanks Lu Fan in Person, Are the Father and Son Reconciling?

After lunch and a short break, the second case began at two in the afternoon.

This was the case Jiang Sifan and Wen Wan were most familiar with: the Zhuoyue Limited Company fraud case.

Walking into the courtroom, Jiang Sifan saw a few familiar faces.

Pan Lindong and Liang Jinhua were both standing in the defendant's dock.

They were dressed in prison uniforms, their heads bowed, completely devoid of the arrogance they'd shown in their office.

A few young people were sitting in the gallery. Jiang Sifan recognized them as the other students who had been scammed.

The trial began.

The prosecutor read the indictment, accusing Zhuoyue Limited Company of using a fraudulent "campus entrepreneurship project" to trick multiple university students into paying large "startup funds." The amount involved reached several hundred thousand yuan, the circumstances were serious, and it constituted suspected fraud.

Next was the presentation of evidence.

The prosecutor presented a mountain of evidence: the company's false promotional brochures, fabricated success stories, the victims' bank transfer records, Pan Lindong and the others' chat logs... Every piece of evidence was crystal clear.

The most dramatic part was a recording played in court.

It was a conversation Jiang Sifan had secretly recorded of Pan Lindong threatening him over the phone.

"If you don't pay up, we'll go to your school and cause a scene. We'll ruin your reputation!"

Pan Lindong's face turned pale as the recording played.

The defense attorney tried to argue that this was merely a "business dispute," not fraud.

But the prosecutor immediately retorted, "If this were a normal business dispute, why fabricate success stories? Why threaten the victims? Why take the money and run?"

The questions left the defense attorney speechless.

The entire trial lasted over two hours.

Finally, the presiding judge announced a recess, with the verdict to be delivered on a later date.

It was already past four in the afternoon when they walked out of the courthouse.

The afternoon sun cast a warm, slanted glow on the steps of the courthouse entrance.

Jiang Silu let out a long breath and said excitedly, "That was so satisfying! Those scammers are finally going to jail!"

Wen Wan smiled too, her eyes a little red. The money they were cheated out of, the days and nights of torment—it was all finally coming to a close.

Jiang Sifan stood on the steps, gazing at the distant sky with mixed feelings.

There was satisfaction, relief, and some other emotions he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Lu Fan walked over, glanced at the time, and suggested, "It's getting late. Let me give you all a ride back."

Jiang Sifan froze for a moment, then nodded.

This time, he didn't refuse.

The car first drove to Jinling University.

Jiang Silu got out of the car, waved to those inside, and said to Jiang Sifan with a smile, "Bro, didn't you get some sweet revenge today?"

Jiang Sifan nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly upward.

Jiang Silu then looked at Lu Fan. Although she didn't call him "Dad" to his face, she waved and said, "Thank you, for helping my brother get his revenge. I'll be going now~"

Lu Fan smiled and waved back. "Go on, get some rest."

Jiang Silu hummed in agreement and turned, running through the school gates.

The car continued on, soon arriving at Jinling Institute of Technology.

Jiang Sifan and Wen Wan got out.

Wen Wan thanked Lu Fan, then stood to the side, waiting for Jiang Sifan.

Jiang Sifan stood by the car, hesitating.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to start.

Lu Fan looked at him without rushing, just waiting quietly.

After several seconds, Jiang Sifan finally spoke, his voice somewhat low. "Today... thank you."

After saying that, he turned and walked away. His pace was fast, almost as if he were fleeing into the school gates.

Wen Wan was stunned for a moment, then hurried after him.

Sitting in the car, Lu Fan watched Jiang Sifan's retreating back, a slow smile forming on his lips.

Chen He glanced in the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "Boss, it seems the Young Master isn't so resistant to you anymore."

Lu Fan just smiled and said nothing.

Just then, a message arrived from Jiang Silu: [Don't mind him. My brother is just concerned about saving face. Deep down, he's not as hostile toward you anymore. I'm sure that with a little more time, he'll be willing to connect with you!]

Lu Fan looked at the message, a warm feeling spreading through his chest.

He replied: [It's okay. As long as he's doing well, that's all that matters to me.]

After sending the message, he put his phone away and said to Chen He, "Let's go. Back to the manor."

The car drove slowly into the night.

Lu Fan leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, but his mind was replaying Jiang Sifan's "thank you" from earlier.

It was only two words, but to him, it was more than enough.

...

「Meanwhile.」

It was nearly eight in the evening when Mr. Xu got home.

He changed his shoes and walked into the living room.

Mrs. Xu was watching TV on the sofa. Seeing him return, she quickly stood up and asked, "Why are you so late today?"

Mr. Xu didn't say anything. He just sat down on the sofa and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Mrs. Xu could see something was wrong with his expression and asked cautiously, "What is it? Did the case not go well?"

"That Jiang Sifan, and his father, were both in the gallery today," Mr. Xu said, looking up at her with a serious tone.

Mrs. Xu paused, then asked curiously, "And?"

Mr. Xu continued, "His father is no simple man. For those two cases, the chain of evidence was absolutely watertight. The defense attorneys couldn't even get a word in. Especially in Lin Qiang's case—some of the evidence they presented was stuff even the police hadn't found. The legal team he hired is nationally renowned."

Hearing this, Mrs. Xu started to feel a little panicked.

Mr. Xu stared at her and said, word by word, "You tell Jun Jie to stop provoking that Jiang Sifan. He's someone we can't afford to cross."

"I know, I know. I'll talk to Jun Jie," Mrs. Xu nodded hastily, though her heart wasn't in it as she spoke.

Mr. Xu sighed, stood up, and pushed open the bedroom door to go inside.

But Mrs. Xu remained on the sofa, her face pale.

She recalled how Xu Junjie had come home asking for money a couple of days ago, remembered him saying, "I'm close to succeeding."

A sudden, ominous premonition washed over her.

She picked up her phone, wanting to call Xu Junjie, but her finger hovered over the screen, unable to press the button.

'What if... what if he really is still going against that Jiang Sifan?'