Chapter 416 - 237: Jiang Silu Decides to Help Lu Fan! Seeking Jiang Guoqiang’s Forgiveness?

Chapter 416: Chapter 237: Jiang Silu Decides to Help Lu Fan! Seeking Jiang Guoqiang’s Forgiveness?

It was already getting dark by the time Pan Lanfang got home.

Jiang Guoqiang was sitting in the living room watching TV, a cup of tea in his hand. Seeing her come in, he looked up and asked, "You’re back? How’s Yixia?"

Pan Lanfang put her cloth bag on the table, changed her shoes, and said in as calm a voice as possible, "She’s doing well. Business at the shop is good, too."

Jiang Guoqiang nodded, asked no more questions, and went back to watching TV.

Pan Lanfang sat down next to him, picked up the remote, changed the channel, then changed it back.

Jiang Guoqiang glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

She made dinner.

She stir-fried some greens, steamed a fish, and heated up a bowl of leftover soup.

As Jiang Guoqiang ate, he would occasionally look up at her.

Her head was bowed, her chopsticks holding a piece of fish that she didn’t bring to her mouth for a long time.

"What on earth is wrong with you?" Jiang Guoqiang asked, putting down his bowl and frowning. "You haven’t been yourself since yesterday."

Pan Lanfang snapped out of it and quickly took a bite of rice. "Nothing’s wrong. I’m just a little tired."

Jiang Guoqiang stared at her for a few seconds but didn’t press the issue. He picked up his bowl and continued eating.

But when he picked up more food, he glanced at her again.

They had been married for decades. He could tell with a single glance if something was on her mind.

But if she didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t ask.

That night in bed, Jiang Guoqiang rolled over, his back to her, and soon began to snore.

Pan Lanfang lay with her eyes open, staring at the ceiling, her mind turning that photograph over and over.

She rolled over to face the wall, then rolled over again to face Jiang Guoqiang.

His snores were even. He was sleeping soundly.

She called out softly, "Old man."

No response.

She called out again. Still no response.

She breathed a sigh of relief, rolled over again, and faced the ceiling.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again.

She barely slept a wink that night.

The next morning, when Jiang Guoqiang got up, Pan Lanfang was already busy in the kitchen.

The congee was already cooked, and the side dishes were on the table.

She stood before the stove, her back to him, lost in thought.

"Up so early?" Jiang Guoqiang asked, walking in with a yawn.

Pan Lanfang explained, "I couldn’t sleep, so I got up."

"Are you hiding something from me?" Jiang Guoqiang asked, looking up at her after taking a couple of sips of congee.

Pan Lanfang’s hands paused for a moment before she broke into a smile. "What could I possibly hide from you? Hurry up and eat before the congee gets cold."

Jiang Guoqiang glanced at her but said no more.

After breakfast, he shouldered his hoe and went out.

Pan Lanfang stood in the doorway, watching his retreating figure until he was out of sight, then turned and went back inside.

She picked up her phone, found Lu Fan’s number, and let her finger hover over the screen for a good while before finally making the call.

The phone rang twice before someone picked up.

"Hello, Auntie?" Lu Fan’s voice came through the phone, tinged with a smile. "What made you decide to call me?"

Pan Lanfang clutched the phone, her voice a little nervous. "Xiaolu, Auntie needs to ask you something, and you have to tell me the truth."

Lu Fan heard the change in her tone and dropped his cheerful demeanor. "Please, go ahead," he said seriously.

"Are you Lu Xiaofan, or are you Lu Fan?" Pan Lanfang asked, taking a deep breath.

The other end of the line went silent for a few seconds.

When Lu Fan’s voice returned, it was much calmer. "Auntie, you found out?"

Tears instantly welled up in Pan Lanfang’s eyes. She wiped them away, her voice trembling. "That photo... I saw it. The one of you and my daughter when you were young."

Lu Fan was silent for a moment before apologizing. "Auntie, I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner."

Pan Lanfang didn’t answer, simply crying for a while.

Lu Fan didn’t rush her, just waited patiently.

When she had cried her fill, she finally spoke, her voice hoarse. "Tell me the truth. Are you really sincere about Yixia?"

Lu Fan’s tone was incredibly serious as he said, enunciating every word, "Auntie, I am sincere. I was wrong in the past. I was a bastard. I’ve been regretting it all these years. I want to make it up to her, to be good to her and the children. I know what I did is unforgivable, but I still want to try."

As Pan Lanfang listened, fresh tears began to fall.

She wiped her tears, and her voice softened. "Xiaolu, Auntie isn’t an unreasonable person. I’ve seen how good you’ve been these past two months."

Lu Fan didn’t say anything.

Pan Lanfang continued, "Your uncle doesn’t know yet. You know how he is—stubborn. If he finds out, he’ll definitely forbid you from seeing Yixia. Auntie can help you keep this a secret, but whether you can give Yixia a good life, whether you can get Sifan to accept you, and whether you can earn your uncle’s forgiveness... that’s all up to you."

"Auntie, thank you," Lu Fan said gratefully.

Pan Lanfang sighed. "Don’t thank me. I’m only doing this because of everything you’ve done these past two months. If you dare hurt Yixia again, I’ll be the first one to come after you."

Lu Fan said solemnly, "Don’t worry. I won’t."

After hanging up, Pan Lanfang sat on the edge of the bed, dazed, for a long time.

She put her phone down, picked it back up, then put it down again.

She let out a long breath. The stone in her heart felt a little lighter.

She just hoped her daughter wouldn’t be hurt again.

...

In a women’s dorm at Jinling University, Lu Yao was scrolling through her phone.

She suddenly sat up in bed, slapping the bedframe. "Girls! It’s time to sign up for the New Year’s Gala! Each class has to put on at least two acts. Should we choreograph a dance?"

Song Miaomiao poked her head out from under her covers. "A dance? Who’s gonna dance?"

Lu Yao grinned and looked at Jiang Silu. "Silu will! She’s so pretty, it’d be a shame not to have her dance on stage."

Jiang Silu was in the middle of a design sketch. Hearing her name, she said awkwardly, "I can’t dance."