CHAPTER 255: 243 MISSES DADDY

After finishing making the rose essential oil and jasmine essential oil in the space, Tian Sangsang left the space, took out her phone, and sat on Jiang Jinghuai’s bed. Jiang Jinghuai wasn’t home, so everything was convenient. To be cautious, she didn’t use her phone in the living room but used it in the room instead.

However, when her phone was taken out into reality, it had no internet connection. It had to be inside the space to have online access. Tian Sangsang had no choice but to enter the space again. Once connected to the internet, it was like a tadpole finding its mother, a fish returning to water, and she felt utterly at ease.

The phone’s notification sounds kept going "ding ding ding," nonstop.

Opening it, she saw messages on Weibo. Only then did Tian Sangsang recall that she had registered a Weibo account last time. The username was "MrsJiang1980."

Weibo: 1

Following: 24

Followers: 62,021

"Did I just get botted?" Tian Sangsang wiped her eyes, looking incredulous. When she first registered, her follower count was still at 0. Now it had soared to 62,021 in just a few days.

7K+ new comments, 3K+ new private messages, 100K+ likes—these stats were exploding off the charts.

Tian Sangsang clicked on the new notifications. They were all "Someone liked your post" or "Someone commented on your post."

Scrolling down, these were the comments:

—Anji, Anji, I’m sorry, Auntie has now become a fan of this little boy. But don’t worry, Auntie still loves you~

—Lu Zhu, is this your son? Why not let him join *Where Are We Going, Dad?* He would absolutely become an overnight sensation.

—I really wish I had a son like Lu Zhu, and a daughter like Alalei.

—That’s it, let’s form a group to raid Lu Zhu’s house and kidnap the kid.

—So adorable~ Looks just like a little angel! Such soft-looking skin, rosy lips, and large, bright, innocent eyes! And don’t forget that mop of curly hair.

—It’s like I’m seeing a character from an anime.

—Definitely Sakata Gintoki’s son, confirmed!

—First time seeing someone able to pull off that curly hair. You know, in real life, it’s hard to make hair like that work without looking outdated.

—Recommendation: Lu Zhu, dye your son’s hair silver.

—Char, Char!

—No, it’s Natsume, Natsume!

—Bubu, Ba Wei, I’m Ba Wei!

—Enough already, it’s clearly Conan!

Want to see Lu Zhu.

Want to see Lu Zhu +1.

Want to see Lu Zhu +2.

...

Want to see Mr. Jiang.

Want to see Mr. Jiang +1.

Want to see Mr. Jiang +2.

...

Want to see Mrs. Jiang and Mr. Jiang together.

Want to see Mrs. Jiang and Mr. Jiang together +1.

Want to see Mrs. Jiang and Mr. Jiang together +2.

...

No one noticed the little angel’s cat, did they?

Lu Zhu, is your family secretly running a cuteness factory? Even the cat is adorable.

By the way, Lu Zhu, don’t you think it’s time to upgrade your couch? It feels a bit aged.

Yeah, the walls look a bit old too.

Am I the only one who thinks that’s actually a dog?

This dog looks awfully familiar.

As someone currently watching *Gintama*, is this dog by any chance the son of Sadaharu Amon, Sadaharu Bmon?

Whoa! This dog is spot on!

Lu Zhu, come on, just tell me. Are you Hijikata Toshiro? Is your man Sakata Gintoki? Is your home the All-purpose Shop?

...

Tian Sangsang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; her son’s hair did resemble Sakata Gintoki’s, and it was hard not to want to touch it, but their looks were nothing alike.

All metrics kept rising, and even private messages popped up: [Hello, I’m a talent scout from XX Entertainment Company. I saw your son’s photo online and have started following you. We’re currently looking for some child models, and I’m wondering if your son is interested. If so, please contact me at this number **********. Mr. X.]

This kind of private message wasn’t unusual—entertainment companies, advertising agencies... Only in the space did Tian Sangsang feel grounded in reality.

**

Tian Sangsang carried a bucket of water to the field to water the flowers. She scooped some water with a wooden ladle and poured it onto the plants. Her eyes darkened—two rose plants were missing. Over the past two days, she had felt like someone was secretly watching her no matter where she went. Now, two more roses were gone? What’s going on?

She casually glanced upward, and the military wives upstairs hurriedly turned their heads away. They seemed very interested in her flowers. Tian Sangsang couldn’t help but shake her head, slightly exasperated.

When she got back home, she placed the bucket in the corner and went to the bathroom to wash her hands. Upon coming out, she glanced at her son, curled up on the sofa, "Yanyan, we’re going to Aunt Guān’s today. Let’s bring Little Milk Tea along too."

"Okay!" Meng Shuyan’s head was lowered low.

Her own son—when something was off about him, how could she not notice? Tian Sangsang walked over worriedly, sat beside him, and asked softly, "What’s wrong, Yanyan? Are you upset?"

Surprised that she came over, Meng Shuyan quickly turned his small body away and clumsily wiped his face with his little hands.

"What’s the matter?" Tian Sangsang pulled him into her arms and looked down at him. The little guy’s eyes were red.

"I’m fine, Mom~ There’s just some sand in my eyes~" he said childishly, his soft, sticky voice tinged with a bit of hoarseness.

"The house is spotless. Where would sand come from?"

"It flew in from the window."

Tian Sangsang didn’t expose his little lie. She stroked his soft curls and sighed gently, "Are you missing your dad?"

There was a pause before tears streamed down Meng Shuyan’s face. He buried his little head into her embrace, his small arms clutching her waist.

"Mommy, when will Dad come back? He doesn’t even call us... I miss him so much."

Who knows? How could anyone know? Tian Sangsang curled her lips mockingly but patted his back tenderly, "Yanyan, you have to get used to it. You have to get used to this kind of life. Your dad is different from other people, he’s destined to be with us only sporadically."

Saying such words felt cruel, but she thought it was better for him to develop this mindset early. Once you’re used to it, you go numb. Without expectations, there won’t be disappointment.

"Why?" Meng Shuyan asked, his tearful eyes looking up at her.

"Because," Tian Sangsang looked back at him seriously and said, "he’s a soldier." You can’t invest too much emotionally in him, or else you’ll only end up disappointed.

"I want to wait for Dad," Meng Shuyan wiped his tears and said resolutely.

This time, it was Tian Sangsang’s turn to ask, "Why?"

"Because just thinking about him coming back makes me happy."

"But you’re not happy right now; you’re sad. Yanyan, you’re not happy at all."

After thinking for a moment, Meng Shuyan said, "The sadness now is for the happiness that comes later."

"But after you’re happy, you’ll be sad again. It’ll be this endless cycle of sadness..."

Round and round it went; Meng Shuyan’s little head couldn’t process such a complex concept. He pursed his tiny lips firmly, "But I still want to wait for Dad."

"Why?"

"Because he’s my dad."

Tian Sangsang was stunned.

Yes, he was his dad. They shared a blood bond. But what about her? What was she to him? She was nothing. She had no connection with Jiang Jinghuai; there was no obligation for her to do anything for him—not even wait.

"Yanyan, it’s good that you think this way," Tian Sangsang smiled warmly, "You’re right because he’s your dad. If your dad knew how much you think of him, it would make him... uh, very happy."

"Really?" Meng Shuyan’s big eyes lit up as he asked eagerly, "Mom, do you feel the same way I do?"

"Of course," Tian Sangsang lied without missing a beat, "We’ll wait together."

"Mhm mhm!" Meng Shuyan grinned and threw himself into her arms.

A knock on the door interrupted their heartwarming moment.

Tian Sangsang went to open the door.

Before she could say a word or even see who it was clearly, a group of women had already poured into her home.

Well... this was certainly impolite...