"Hello, Mom." Jiang Silu said after dialing Jiang Yixia’s number.

Jiang Yixia answered right away, "Lulu, what’s up? Is something wrong?"

Usually, the mother and daughter spoke on the phone in the evening.

With Jiang Silu calling so suddenly, Jiang Yixia figured it must be something urgent.

Jiang Silu looked at Lu Fan, hesitated for a moment, then said into the phone, "Mom, he came to the school. He said he wants to take me to dinner."

Facing Lu Fan, she still couldn’t bring herself to call him "Dad."

Of course, Lu Fan could understand.

After all, he had never been by their side for the past eighteen years.

It would certainly be difficult for them to accept him in this role right away.

After hearing what Jiang Silu said, Jiang Yixia went quiet for a moment.

She finally said, "Lulu, you’re an adult now. You don’t need to ask me about things like this. If he wants to take you to dinner, you should go if you want to, and don’t if you don’t. Don’t wrong yourself just to cater to someone else’s feelings. From my perspective, the fact that I haven’t forgiven your father is my business. But I hope you can make up with him. Ever since you were little, you’ve longed for a father’s love, for a dad who would dote on you. Now he’s here to make it up to you. You don’t need to feel guilty. Order whatever you want to eat."

Jiang Yixia’s words made Jiang Silu understand.

She replied, "Okay, Mom. I understand."

After hanging up, Jiang Silu hesitated for a moment before asking Lu Fan, "I just promised my roommate I’d have dinner with her... Can she come with us?"

"Of course." Lu Fan smiled. "I’d be honored to meet your classmate."

"Then... later, should I..."

Lu Fan knew exactly what Jiang Silu was thinking and explained, "Just say I’m an elder from your family. No need to say anything else."

"Okay." Jiang Silu nodded awkwardly.

She actually felt this was a bit disrespectful to Lu Fan.

He was her biological father, after all.

But the thought of openly introducing Lu Fan to Song Miaomiao made Jiang Silu feel awkward again.

She had only met this so-called father a few times.

Jiang Silu walked over to Song Miaomiao and said, "Miaomiao, this is an elder from my family. He’s inviting us to dinner."

"Really?!" Song Miaomiao looked at Lu Fan, recalling that she had seen him once before at the entrance of a restaurant.

So, Song Miaomiao immediately said sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle!"

"You’re welcome," Lu Fan said with a smile.

He had to admit, eighteen-year-old girls were truly sunny and lively.

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

"Miaomiao, Lulu, what are you guys doing here?!"

Jiang Silu turned to see Lu Yao walking over.

But instead of approaching Song Miaomiao, she went straight to Jiang Silu and linked arms with her. "Lulu, where are you guys headed?"

"We’re about to get dinner," Jiang Silu replied with a smile.

"Oh, you’re getting dinner? I haven’t eaten either. Can I come?!" Lu Yao said excitedly.

Jiang Silu felt a little awkward. She glanced at Lu Fan, looking for his reaction.

Lu Fan just smiled. "No problem. I’m treating everyone today."

As he spoke, he waved for Chen He to bring the car over.

Meanwhile, Lu Yao asked curiously, "Lulu, and this is?...."

"He’s an elder from Lulu’s family. He came to see her and is treating us to dinner," Song Miaomiao explained directly.

Hearing this, Lu Yao grew excited. "Yay! Haha, what perfect timing. Well, don’t mind if I do!"

Before she could finish her sentence, she saw a Maybach pull up slowly in front of them.

Lu Yao was stunned. "Oh my God, Lulu, is this elder of yours that rich? Look at that big Mercedes logo."

Hearing her words, Jiang Silu could only offer another awkward smile.

And so, the three girls got into the back seat.

After the door closed, Lu Fan, sitting in the passenger seat, asked, "Silu, what would you all like to eat?"

"I... I’m fine with anything." Jiang Silu wasn’t actually very picky about food, as long as it was filling and didn’t have cilantro.

Lu Fan then looked at the other two girls. "And you two?"

"I... I’m fine with anything, too." Song Miaomiao, of course, didn’t dare to overstep her place as a guest.

Only Lu Yao raised her hand enthusiastically, grinning as she said, "Uncle, can we have Japanese food?"

"Sure." Lu Fan smiled and then said to Chen He, "Let’s go to that Japanese restaurant in the Jinling City District."

Chen He replied, "Understood!"

Song Miaomiao was speechless, seeing how Lu Yao was making herself completely at home.

’This roommate is so annoying, she has no sense of propriety at all!’

’It’s someone else’s family elder treating them to a meal, and here you are, a mere roommate, jumping in and making demands!’

During the drive, Lu Yao asked, "Uncle, what should we call you?"

"You can just call me Uncle Lu," Lu Fan answered.

Lu Yao perked up instantly. "Haha, Uncle Lu, we have the same surname! I’m a Lu, too. Maybe our ancestors were both Lu You!"

"You’re a university student, you’re cultured, so it’s possible. I, on the other hand, didn’t get much of an education. My ancestors didn’t pass down the scholarly genes to me," Lu Fan explained.

Lu Yao laughed. "Hah, what’s the point of being a good student? You still end up with a job paying a few thousand a month. Uncle Lu, you’re so successful you can drive a Mercedes-Maybach. You must be in big business."

She looked at Jiang Silu and asked, "Lulu, does Uncle Lu run a big company?"

Jiang Silu felt awkward all over again.

Judging from the gifts and their previous interactions, her biological father was probably a rich man.

But she really had no idea what he did specifically.

Jiang Silu could only give a vague reply. "I think... so."

And so, Lu Yao launched into another round of enthusiastic praise.

A short while later, they arrived at a high-end Japanese restaurant.

Because Lu Fan had asked Jiali to book a VIP private room in advance, a waiter guided them directly to their room upon arrival.

Faced with the restaurant’s luxurious atmosphere, the young college students were clearly stunned.

They entered the private room and looked around.

The floor was covered with soft tatami mats, and each table was separated by a natural wood screen, providing maximum privacy.

Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow that gave the ukiyo-e paintings on the walls a sense of texture. Even the air held the faint aroma of sake and fresh sashimi.

"Oh my God..." Lu Yao subconsciously covered her mouth, her voice dropping to a whisper.

She was used to street food and cheap fast-food joints; she had never seen a place this exquisite.

The tatami under her feet felt so soft that she didn’t dare to step too heavily, afraid she might break it.

The ceramic tableware on the table was as exquisite as a work of art, its edges inlaid with fine gold patterns. She reached out to touch it, then quickly pulled her hand back, afraid of leaving a fingerprint.

Beside her, Song Miaomiao’s eyes were fixed on the plating at a nearby table. The sashimi was cut into uniform slices and arranged like a flower, garnished with fresh shiso leaves and an ice sculpture. She swallowed quietly just looking at it.

She tugged on Jiang Silu’s sleeve and whispered, "Look at that tableware. Do you think it’s handmade? I saw something similar in a museum once. I think it was pretty expensive..."

Although Jiang Silu didn’t say a word, the luxurious surroundings were absolutely more than just a little shocking to her.

Just then, a waiter approached with a menu, intending to hand it to Lu Fan.

But Lu Fan gestured for the waiter to give it to Jiang Silu instead.

The waiter was dressed in a crisp kimono. They were respectful and polite, bowing as they led the way and speaking in a soft, low voice.

"Hello, please take a look at the menu. What would you like to eat?"

Jiang Silu nervously opened the menu, and the prices inside made her pupils contract.

A single sashimi platter cost several hundred yuan—nearly two weeks of her living expenses!

She quietly tugged at the hem of her clothes, her palms growing sweaty. Sitting on the tatami, she didn’t dare move casually, afraid her posture would look unsophisticated. She looked at Lu Fan and said, "This seems... too expensive."

"It’s okay. Order whatever you like." Lu Fan knew that changing a person’s mindset about spending money was a gradual process.

He moved to Jiang Silu’s side and said, "You can try any of these, they’re all quite good. Oh, and this one, I think you’ll really like this..."

As Lu Fan made his recommendations, Jiang Silu looked at him and suddenly felt that this was the very scene she had always imagined: a father ordering food for his daughter.

Warm and happy.

But she had waited a full eighteen years for this moment.