"Maybe because we're on the same wavelength? Haha, we are father and daughter, after all." Lu Fan naturally wasn't going to tell Jiang Silu it was because he'd sent bodyguards to protect her in secret.
Jiang Silu felt a little exasperated listening to him.
'He's just like my brother, Jiang Sifan.'
'Oh, right. They're father and son, so it makes sense they're alike.'
Jiang Silu decided not to dwell on how Lu Fan always managed to find her. She looked at her biological father and asked, "So, was there something you needed?"
She had assumed Lu Fan was going to ask if she'd given the box to Jiang Sifan.
But to her surprise, Lu Fan pulled two bank cards from his pocket. "Here are two bank cards. One is for you, and the other is for your brother. I'll deposit some money into them each month. That way, you and your brother won't have to work part-time jobs and can focus on your studies."
Jiang Silu glanced at them and shook her head. "Thank you, but I don't need them. I can cover my own living expenses."
"It's not a lot of money," Lu Fan explained. "I'll deposit ten thousand into each every month. If it's not enough, just let me know."
Jiang Silu's expression turned to one of shock.
'Ten thousand a month?!'
'And into two separate cards?!'
She looked at Lu Fan's calm expression, thinking, 'My biological father really is loaded.'
Of course, she wasn't a greedy person.
Ever since she was little, Jiang Yixia had taught her that whatever you accept from others comes with an equal measure of responsibility and risk.
Jiang Silu had already accepted the gifts Lu Fan sent the other day, and Jiang Sifan had given her an earful for it.
'If I take these two bank cards, too...'
'...who knows what Jiang Sifan would think of me.'
Besides, she wasn't short on money. Working part-time jobs each month, she could even manage to save a few hundred.
Moreover, she hadn't discussed this with her mother, Jiang Yixia, so Jiang Silu didn't dare make such a decision on her own.
'I do like money. Who doesn't?'
'Everyone wants money to improve their life.'
But she wouldn't disregard her mother and brother's feelings for the sake of money.
So, Jiang Silu refused decisively. "Uncle Lu, I can't accept your bank card. If my brother is willing to take his, you can give it to him. But I won't take mine."
「At this moment.」
「Inside the restaurant.」
He Haipeng was burning with anxiety.
He had just seen Lu Fan hand bank cards to Jiang Silu!
'Aargh!! This is infuriating!!'
He Haipeng's heart ached.
He hated that he wasn't born rich.
'If I were rich, maybe I could be her sugar... no, maybe I could help Jiang Silu.'
He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to run outside and punch the guy.
Just then, Song Miaomiao asked curiously, "Hai Peng, why do you keep biting your chopsticks?"
"It's... nothing." He Haipeng immediately lowered his head and pretended to eat.
Outside, Jiang Silu ultimately refused Lu Fan's bank cards.
But before he left, she hesitated for a couple of seconds, then said, "I know you want to make it up to us, but some things can't be fixed with money. Still, thank you. I have enough for my living expenses, and ten thousand is too much. Please, take the cards back."
With that, she entered the restaurant.
Although Jiang Silu hadn't taken the bank card, Lu Fan was very pleased.
At the very least, she had said "thank you."
He turned and walked away.
Jiang Silu returned to their table and apologized to He Haipeng and Song Miaomiao. "Sorry about that. Let's get back to eating."
"Okay~" Song Miaomiao didn't seem to mind. Instead, she asked curiously, "Lulu, who was that man just now?"
"Uhm..." Jiang Silu hesitated, embarrassed. "He's a friend of my mom's from work."
"Oh, I see! Wow, that guy has great taste. He's so handsome, and he totally looks like one of those rich types," Song Miaomiao immediately gushed.
He Haipeng, however, offered a different opinion. "I think middle-aged guys like that are sleazy no matter how they dress."
"I don't know about that," Song Miaomiao countered. "He didn't look sleazy to me at all. And he's in pretty good shape. He's probably only around thirty, maybe ten years older than us."
Listening to Song Miaomiao's assessment, Jiang Silu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
'So my own father looks that young to my roommate.'
"No way he's in his thirties. He's clearly in his forties. Did you see the wrinkles on his face?" He Haipeng shot back. "Besides, a guy that age would probably be gasping for air after running two laps."
He deliberately glanced at Jiang Silu as he spoke, trying to gauge her reaction.
Jiang Silu's expression didn't change. 'After all, their opinions of Lu Fan have nothing to do with me.'
Her eyes were fixed on the grilled fish in front of her. It was just too delicious.
She'd been gone for a while, and Song Miaomiao had eaten so much of it. Jiang Silu decided she needed to eat a few extra bites to make up for it.
「Meanwhile.」
Lu Fan returned to his car.
Chen He couldn't wait to ask, "Boss, did the Young Miss accept the bank cards?"
Lu Fan shook his head. "She didn't."
"What should we do then? Should we find out her current bank account number and secretly transfer the money to her?" Chen He asked.
Lu Fan waved him off. "No need. Her refusal was firm. There wasn't a trace of desire for that ten thousand in her eyes. At the very least, she feels her current living expenses are sufficient. She doesn't want to take too much. My daughter understands that taking things from others puts you in their debt."
"The Young Miss is very sensible and has good values. It proves the Madam raised her well," Jiali analyzed from the side.
"You're right about that," Lu Fan said with a smile. "To be honest, I would have been happy if she'd taken the ten thousand. But the fact that she didn't makes me even happier."
He sighed. "You know, for a single mother to raise two well-behaved, high-achieving children is incredibly difficult. In that respect, I truly owe Yixia a great deal."
At this thought, Lu Fan urged Chen He, "Alright, it's time we set off for Yangcheng."
On the way to Yangcheng, Jiali reported, "Boss, we've found the Madam's address. We also purchased the apartment next to hers on the same floor for a premium. You'll be her neighbor now. However, the interior still needs to be decorated, which should take a day or two."
"Good. No rush. Thank you for your hard work," Lu Fan replied.
He gazed out the window of the private jet, thinking, 'Soon I'll be able to see Jiang Yixia every day again.'
'Even if it's just as neighbors.'
Soon, they disembarked from the plane.
When they were fifty meters from the flower shop, Chen He's phone rang.
Three seconds later, Chen He said urgently to Lu Fan, "Boss, a drunkard showed up at the Madam's flower shop. It looks like he's trying to harass her and cause a scene. Should I have Lao Jiu and his men step in?"
The moment Lu Fan heard this, he ordered, "Stop the car."
The car came to a smooth stop the next second.
Lu Fan threw open the car door and immediately sprinted toward the flower shop.
Jiali remained in the car, a smile playing on her lips as she watched her boss vault over a railing. "Looks like our boss is about to play the hero saving the damsel in distress."