Chapter 322 - 205: Lu Fan: A Direct Showdown?! I Am the Child’s Father

Chapter 322: Chapter 205: Lu Fan: A Direct Showdown?! I Am the Child’s Father

But Jiang Yixia knew this guy was anything but honest.

...

Dinner was a lavish spread: braised pork belly, stewed hen, scrambled eggs, and vegetable soup covered the entire table.

Pan Lanfang kept piling food onto Lu Fan’s plate, saying, "Xiaolu, eat up. We grew all of this ourselves, so it’s fresh."

Lu Fan ate everything she gave him with great relish. "Ma’am," he praised as he ate, "your cooking is better than any restaurant chef’s. Especially this braised pork belly. It’s rich but not greasy and just melts in your mouth. It’s incredible."

"If you like it, then eat up! Come over more often in the future, and I’ll cook for you every day." Pan Lanfang was grinning from ear to ear.

Jiang Guoqiang was happy, too. He poured a glass of liquor and said to Lu Fan, "Xiaolu, you’re driving, so you can’t drink. You can toast with tea and have a drink with me."

Lu Fan smiled and replied, "Alright. To you, Sir."

The two of them clinked their glasses and downed their drinks.

Jiang Guoqiang’s face was flushed. He clapped Lu Fan on the shoulder and said, "Xiaolu, let me tell you, my daughter is a great girl. Don’t be fooled by how quiet she usually is—she’s very thoughtful and caring."

Jiang Yixia, who was listening beside them, blushed and muttered under her breath, "Dad, what are you talking about..."

"I’m telling the truth." Jiang Guoqiang ignored her and continued, "Xiaolu, you’d be a lucky man if you could marry my daughter."

Lu Fan glanced at Jiang Yixia, a smile in his eyes, and nodded seriously. "I know, Sir. I would be the lucky one."

When he looked at her like that, Jiang Yixia’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head and pretended to be absorbed in her food.

Pan Lanfang watched from the side, inwardly ecstatic, and placed another piece of meat on Lu Fan’s plate.

They chatted for a while after dinner, and by the time they finished, the sky had grown completely dark.

Lu Fan stood up to say goodbye to her parents.

Pan Lanfang took his hand, reluctant to see him leave. "Xiaolu, you must come back often, okay? Just tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make it for you."

Lu Fan smiled and replied, "I will, Ma’am. I’ll be sure to visit often."

Jiang Guoqiang also patted his shoulder. "Drive safe, and let us know when you get there."

"Will do, Sir," Lu Fan nodded.

Jiang Yixia stood nearby, silent.

Pan Lanfang looked at her and gave her a little nudge. "Honey, go walk Xiaolu out."

Resigned, Jiang Yixia followed Lu Fan outside.

When they reached the courtyard gate, Lu Fan stopped and turned to face her.

Looking at her, Lu Fan suddenly felt a sense of calm.

Jiang Yixia felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. She averted her eyes and asked softly, "What’s your plan?"

Lu Fan paused, then asked tentatively, "How about... we just come clean? Tell your parents that I’m the child’s biological father."

The color drained from Jiang Yixia’s face. She quickly waved her hands. "No! Are you crazy? That would definitely cause a huge fight!"

He was amused by her panicked reaction, but he put on an innocent expression. "Then what should we do? We can’t keep it from them forever, can we?"

Jiang Yixia shot him a glare, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Do you have any idea what my dad’s been saying all these years? He’s said it countless times—if he ever met that bastard, he’d kill him with his bare hands. You think he’s joking?"

"Wouldn’t I be walking right into the lion’s den, then?" Lu Fan shrank back, feigning fear. "Guess it’s safer to lay low for now."

His antics made her laugh in exasperation, but once the laughter died down, she fell into a thoughtful silence.

She thought about how happy her parents had been at the dinner table, the satisfied look in their eyes as they watched Lu Fan, and their heartfelt smiles.

’If I tell them the truth now,’ she thought, ’all of this will vanish.’

Suddenly, Jiang Yixia couldn’t bear the thought.

She bit her lip and finally made up her mind. Her tone grew serious as she said, "Okay, here’s the plan. I’ll tell my parents that we’re going to be friends for now. If you want to come and spend time with them, you can. But..."

She paused, glaring at him as she warned, "And I’m warning you, don’t you dare say anything out of line. We are not together right now."

Lu Fan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay, I won’t. I absolutely won’t say a thing."

He was beaming, unable to hold back his smile.

"What are you grinning at?" Seeing his expression, Jiang Yixia couldn’t help but shoot him another glare.

"I’m not smiling, I’m just happy," Lu Fan said with a straight face. "I’m happy we get to be friends."

Jiang Yixia turned her head away, not wanting to look at him.

But the corner of her mouth quirked up, though she quickly suppressed the smile.

But Lu Fan decided to push his luck. He quietly shuffled a little closer, then reached out and tentatively placed his hand on her shoulder.

"So, does this count as a normal friendly..." he asked with a grin.

Before he could finish, Jiang Yixia slapped his hand away with a sharp SMACK!

"Lu Fan!" she glared, her face as red as a ripe tomato. "What do you think you’re doing?!"

Lu Fan clutched his hand, feigning a wounded expression. "I was just trying to be friendly..."

"Who asked you to be friendly like that!" Jiang Yixia seethed through gritted teeth. "You get handsy again, and I’ll chop them off!"

Seeing her like this, Lu Fan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

His laughter made Jiang Yixia even more furious. Just as she was about to explode, she suddenly heard Pan Lanfang’s voice from behind them. "Still here? Xiaolu has to drive home in the dark."

They both turned around to see Pan Lanfang standing in the doorway, watching them with a wide, knowing smile.

In the moonlight, her smile looked exceptionally kind, but it also held a knowing, ’I-understand-everything’ sort of air.

Jiang Yixia’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into and disappear.

Lu Fan, on the other hand, wasn’t the least bit flustered. He just smiled and said, "Leaving now, Ma’am. Just saying goodbye to Yixia."

"Oh, of course, of course. Say your goodbyes," Pan Lanfang said, waving her hand cheerfully. "You young people should chat a little longer. I won’t disturb you."

With that, she turned and went back into the house, not forgetting to pull the door shut behind her.

Jiang Yixia: ...

Lu Fan glanced at the closed door, then back at Jiang Yixia’s thoroughly flushed face, and his grin deepened.

"Your mom’s really open-minded," he remarked.

Jiang Yixia glared at him. "Just get out of here!"

Lu Fan got in his car, started the engine, and then leaned out the window to look at Jiang Yixia, his eyes brimming with amusement. "Why don’t you come back to Yangcheng with me?"

As he spoke, he raised his voice and called toward the house, "Sir, Ma’am, what if I give Yixia a ride back to Yangcheng?"

Pan Lanfang’s voice drifted out from the house. "Of course! You young people should go where you want and do what you want."

With her parents’ approval secured, he looked at Jiang Yixia and said, "Your parents agreed. So, are you getting in?"

Jiang Yixia hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she got into Lu Fan’s car.