Jiang Silu was still in a state of utter confusion.

Lu Yao, who was beside her, had already leaned over to her bedside. "Lulu," she asked, "who is that Uncle Lu from this afternoon?"

"He’s... a relative from my mom’s side." Jiang Silu had wanted to explain that Lu Fan was her biological father.

But knowing Lu Yao’s personality, she was afraid her friend wouldn’t be able to stop herself from telling others.

It was better to keep things simple.

"Oh, wow, Lulu, I get the feeling your family is really rich! Does your family own properties and collect rent in Yangcheng? I heard that place is full of landlords and landladies. I saw a video on TikTok about this old guy who starts collecting rent from three properties a day on the 1st of the month, and he doesn’t finish until the 31st," Lu Yao asked excitedly.

"Ah... I... My family isn’t rich," Jiang Silu said awkwardly.

Lu Yao clicked her tongue. "Look at you, being all humble again."

Just as they were speaking, Liu Shiting walked back into the dorm.

Seeing her, Lu Yao said, "Shiting, you really missed out today. Lulu’s relative took us to eat at that Guo Se Japanese restaurant in the Jinling City District. Have you ever been?"

Liu Shiting nodded. "My dad took me there for my birthday once. It’s a bit expensive, though."

"Right? I thought it was super expensive too. I didn’t see the final bill, but the few things I ordered were so pricey. I felt too embarrassed to order more," Lu Yao chimed in.

Hearing Lu Yao’s words, Song Miaomiao, who was off to the side, couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

’Embarrassed to order more? You were clearly the one ordering most enthusiastically.’

Noticing, Liu Shiting asked, "So you guys ate there tonight?"

"Yeah, it’s a shame you went home. Otherwise, the four of us from the dorm could have gone," Lu Yao replied.

Liu Shiting smiled. "It’s fine. That place is a bit pricey. If I had gone, it would’ve made him spend even more."

"It would’ve been fine! Lulu’s relative is loaded. He even drives a Maybach! He drove the three of us to the restaurant in it."

Then, Lu Yao looked at Jiang Silu again. "Lulu, how old is this relative of yours? He looks like he’s only about thirty."

"Uh, probably forty," Jiang Silu stammered.

"He’s forty? He looks so young! He has the air of a successful elite." Lu Yao sighed wistfully. "If only my boyfriend could be like that."

Song Miaomiao retorted, "Yaoyao, you want a middle-aged uncle for a boyfriend?"

"What’s wrong with that? I love Song Siming from the TV show ’Snail House’," Lu Yao said, as if it were a badge of honor. "I think he’s wise, humorous, cautious, and low-key. He has substance. And most importantly, he’s willing to spend money on a woman."

Listening to her questionable values, Song Miaomiao frowned. "I can’t say I agree with your views on love."

"What’s there to agree or disagree about? Marrying a good man, not having to work, and just enjoying life every day—isn’t that the happiness we’re all chasing?"

Lu Yao shot back, "We don’t come from good families like Lulu and Shiting. This is the only way for us to change our circumstances."

Hearing this, Jiang Silu felt it was a bit inappropriate, but they were someone else’s values, so she didn’t feel it was her place to say much.

She took out her laptop and continued working on her design draft.

Meanwhile, after having dinner with Jiang Silu and the others, Lu Fan returned to Yangcheng to find Jiang Yixia.

"Yixia, have you had dinner?"

Lu Fan arrived at the flower shop, leaning against the doorframe with a smile as he asked.

Jiang Yixia was arranging a vase. When she saw Lu Fan, she frowned. "Don’t you have anything better to do all day?"

"I do," Lu Fan said with a straight face. "My ’better thing to do’ is finding you and chatting with you."

Jiang Yixia was speechless.

She couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. "One bowl of soup a day, and not a drop more," she reminded him. "Don’t come looking for me right now."

"I’m not here for soup. I just wanted to see you," Lu Fan said with a smile.

Jiang Yixia didn’t want to deal with him, so she let him loiter in the doorway and went back to her work.

Meanwhile, Lu Fan watched Jiang Yixia, a gratified smile on his face.

The woman before him still had a girlishly trim and slender figure. She wore a slim-fit, light apricot knit top paired with high-waisted tight jeans.

The jeans cinched her waist until it looked like it could be encircled by a single hand. The cut of the pants accentuated the line of her legs, making them look perfectly long, straight, and slender, without a hint of looseness.

The cuffs barely covered her clean, white dad shoes. When she walked, the curve of her calves was firm and beautiful.

Anyone who saw those legs would never associate her with a woman approaching forty.

Jiang Yixia suddenly noticed a pair of lecherous eyes sizing her up. She immediately spun around to face Lu Fan. "Are you a pervert?"

"What did I do?" Lu Fan asked, feigning confusion.

"You... You keep staring at me! Staring at my legs! And you say you’re not a pervert?" Jiang Yixia said angrily.

Lu Fan shook his head and took the opportunity to walk inside. He sighed and said in a grave, heartfelt tone, "Yixia, I have to explain something to you. When a man wants to look at your legs, it’s not because he’s superficial. In his heart, he actually wants to see the path you’ve walked, the sweetness and bitterness you’ve experienced. He wants to walk firmly by your side into the future. That is true love. If you encounter it, please cherish it."

"Besides, it’s not that I’m a lecher; it’s that the flower is in full, vibrant bloom. If I didn’t look, it would just show that I don’t know how to appreciate beauty."

As he spoke, Lu Fan walked up to Jiang Yixia and tried to take her hand.

Jiang Yixia, however, pointed outside with a deadpan expression. "Believe it or not, I’m going to call the cops and report you for harassment."

"Look at you, so quick to get angry. I was just joking with you," Lu Fan said with a laugh, taking a few steps back. He nearly tripped on the threshold and almost slipped.

After seeing him leave in a flurry, Jiang Yixia couldn’t help but hide a smile.

"Serves you right..." she muttered under her breath, turning back to arrange the flowers.

Although Lu Fan had already walked out of the flower shop, his keen eyes had noticed Jiang Yixia’s hidden smile.

’That means she still has a place for me in her heart.’

’As long as I can win over my daughter, I can use her to slowly change Jiang Yixia’s attitude.’

’Then things might progress twice as fast.’

’It’s just that on my son’s side, there hasn’t been any progress in our father-son relationship yet.’

’But I saw that Jiang Sifan has already started on that campus startup project. He’ll probably get scammed soon.’

’When the time comes, I’ll step in and sort things out for him.’

’Maybe that will earn me some goodwill.’

As for Jiang Sifan’s girlfriend, Lu Fan felt that a girl like her wasn’t worthy of his son.

’When the time is right, I’ll find a chance to tell Jiang Sifan.’

At that moment, Jiang Sifan was on a date with Huang Hui, strolling around campus.

Huang Hui had been in a great mood for the past two days.

After she gave Lin Qiang a piece of her mind, he hadn’t contacted her again.

And she was now holding a brand-new iPhone 17.

Although some unpleasant things had happened, she figured that at least she hadn’t betrayed Jiang Sifan and had still managed to get the iPhone 17.

At times, Huang Hui even admired her own cleverness.

Seeing that Jiang Sifan was distracted during their date, she asked curiously, "Babe, what’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to be on a date with me?"

"No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about something," Jiang Sifan said with a smile.

"What are you thinking about? Need me to help you sort out your troubles?" Huang Hui asked.

"It’s about the startup capital for that project," Jiang Sifan said awkwardly. "I’ve already used up more than a month of my tutoring fees in advance, but it’s far from enough. I’m still short 7,000 yuan."

"That’s a lot," Huang Hui said, testing the waters. "How about this? I have a few hundred yuan here. I can lend it to you."

Hearing Huang Hui offer him money, Jiang Sifan was happy at first, but he quickly shook his head. "No, it’s okay. You keep your living expenses for yourself. I’ll figure something out. I can’t take your money."

"What’s this ’yours’ and ’mine’? Aren’t we a couple?" Huang Hui pressed.

As expected, Jiang Sifan was deeply moved by her sweet words and said even more firmly, "No, I can’t let my problems affect your quality of life. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way myself."

"Oh, babe, you’re so good to me. Come on, one kiss." Saying this, Huang Hui planted a kiss on Jiang Sifan.

The kiss went straight to Jiang Sifan’s head. He blushed and, after a moment’s hesitation, asked in a low voice, "Huihui, it’s getting late, and the dorms are about to close, but I want to spend more time with you. What if... what if we get a hotel room for the night?..."

"Okay! I don’t want to stay in the dorms either," Huang Hui agreed immediately, without a second thought.

Jiang Sifan was instantly thrilled. He swallowed hard, his gaze darting to a nearby convenience store, thinking about buying something like "bubble gum."

But in the next second, Huang Hui warned him, "But you can’t do anything naughty, or I won’t forgive you. We agreed, remember? No sleeping together before marriage."

"Huh?... O-Okay..." Jiang Sifan suddenly felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. Both of them.