Chapter 348 - 215: Jiang Silu Cries in Front of Lu Fan for the First Time, Asking About His Progress with Her Mom

Chapter 348: Chapter 215: Jiang Silu Cries in Front of Lu Fan for the First Time, Asking About His Progress with Her Mom

After a long moment, Jiang Silu finally spoke, her voice catching. "I... I’m in trouble..."

Lu Fan said softly, "What kind of trouble? Take your time and tell me."

"The national competition... I don’t know what to design... My mind is a complete blank... The first draft is due in a month, and I don’t have a single idea... I’m afraid... I’m afraid I’ll fail to live up to Elder Meng’s expectations..." Jiang Silu sounded on the verge of a breakdown.

As she spoke, tears began to fall.

She covered her face and sobbed softly, her shoulders trembling.

Seeing her like this made Lu Fan’s heart ache.

He handed her a tissue and said comfortingly, "Silly girl, it’s normal to feel pressure, but you can’t push yourself this hard."

Jiang Silu took the tissue and wiped her tears. "But... but I can’t think of anything..."

"What if... you just don’t participate?" Lu Fan suggested after a moment’s thought.

Jiang Silu froze for a second, then shook her head vigorously, her tone firming up. "No! If I don’t participate, I’d be letting down Teacher Meng. Besides, I want to challenge myself. If I give up at the first sign of trouble, I know that’s not something you or Mom would want to see."

Lu Fan felt a surge of gratification upon hearing this.

He nodded, pleased. "Good. That’s the spirit. In that case, Dad will help you figure something out."

Jiang Silu looked up at him, her eyes, still red-rimmed, now filled with anticipation.

Lu Fan took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, is this Teacher He? This is Lu Fan. Yes, that’s right. I’m calling to ask for a small favor. My daughter is preparing for the National Landscape Design Competition and has run into a bit of a snag. I was hoping she could consult with you. I was wondering when you might be free?"

Teacher He Fengchun’s cheerful voice came from the other end, her enthusiasm palpable even through the phone. "Of course, no problem at all! Have Silu come over. As it happens, I’m in Suzhou for the next couple of days, so we can talk in person."

"That’s wonderful. Thank you so much, Teacher He," Lu Fan said with a smile.

"It’s no trouble at all, not at all," said Teacher He Fengchun. "Silu is a very bright girl with a natural spark. I’m quite fond of her."

After hanging up, Lu Fan said to Jiang Silu, "Teacher He agreed. We’re going to Suzhou to see her tomorrow."

Jiang Silu stared in disbelief. "Really? Teacher He has time? Won’t we be bothering her?"

"Not at all. She’s very happy that you’re coming," Lu Fan said, shaking his head with a smile.

Jiang Silu then thought of something else and said hesitantly, "But I have classes tomorrow..."

Lu Fan waved her concern away and dialed another number.

"Hello, is this Teacher Chen? This is Lu Fan, Silu’s father. Yes. I’m calling to ask a favor. Silu is preparing for the national competition and needs to go to Suzhou tomorrow to consult with Teacher He Fengchun, so I’d like to request a day of leave for her."

Teacher Chen’s very polite voice came over the line. "No problem at all, Mr. Lu. Please don’t worry. Just have Silu focus on preparing for the competition, I’ll take care of her leave of absence. This is a great opportunity, and it brings honor to our school!"

Lu Fan thanked him and hung up the phone.

A moment later, a message from Teacher Chen came through, sent directly to Jiang Silu: "Silu, don’t feel burdened by this at all. Focus on preparing for the competition. I’ll handle your leave request. You can do it!"

Reading the message, Jiang Silu felt a surge of warmth.

She looked up at Lu Fan, her eyes turning red again, but this time, it was from being moved.

She thanked him softly, "Thank you..."

Lu Fan laughed. "Silly girl, there’s no need to be so formal with your dad."

...

Early the next morning, the two boarded a high-speed train to Suzhou.

This time, Lu Fan didn’t have Chen He drive them. Instead, he made a point of taking Jiang Silu on the high-speed train himself.

’A chance to experience a form of transportation worth tens of millions.’

But the main reason was to help Jiang Silu relax and clear her head.

The carriage was quiet, and the scenery outside rushed by in a blur.

Fields, villages, and small rivers swept past like a series of paintings.

Jiang Silu leaned against the window, watching the scenery. Her mood was already much better than the day before.

The sunlight felt pleasantly warm on her face.

Lu Fan sat beside her, resting with his eyes closed.

After a little while, Jiang Silu suddenly spoke, asking softly, "You... how have you and Mom been lately?"

Lu Fan opened his eyes, looked at her, and chuckled. "Why the sudden interest?"

"I’m... just curious..." Jiang Silu said, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Lu Fan said cheerfully, "It’s going very well. She’s not so resistant to me anymore. She even cooks for me occasionally. And recently, I also went to see your grandparents."

Jiang Silu was taken aback. "You went to see my grandparents? Do they... Do they know who you are?"

"They don’t know I’m your and Sifan’s biological father," Lu Fan replied with a smile, shaking his head. "They just think I’m a researcher from the county named Lu Xiaofan."

Jiang Silu had mixed feelings when she heard this.

She hesitated, then asked cautiously, "Then... if they find out the truth, will they..."

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Lu Fan understood what she meant.

He recalled Jiang Guoqiang’s hatred for Silu and Sifan’s biological father, and then Pan Lanfang’s satisfied gaze when she looked at him. He felt uncertain himself.

But he just smiled and said in a lighthearted tone, "Don’t worry about it."

Jiang Silu looked at him, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Grandpa... ever since I was little, he’s said that if he ever met that bastard, he would break his legs..."

Lu Fan was taken aback for a moment. He then looked at Jiang Silu and said earnestly, "Silu, don’t worry. No matter how your grandparents feel about me, I will do everything I can to earn their forgiveness. If my legs get broken, so be it. The worst that can happen is I’ll end up in a wheelchair. As long as you kids are willing to forgive me, anything is worth it."

A current of warmth flowed through Jiang Silu’s heart as she listened.

She lowered her head, smiling shyly. "Don’t say such silly things... Your legs won’t get broken. I’ll plead with Grandpa for you."

Seeing her shy expression, Lu Fan’s heart felt warm as well.

The sun shone brightly outside, streaming warmly into the train carriage.

Jiang Silu leaned against the window, watching the scenery fly by, and a sudden sense of peace settled over her.

’With her dad by her side, it felt like there was nothing left to fear.’