CHAPTER 336: 322 MISUNDERSTANDING

He thought about how they hadn’t really been close in a long time. Clearly, it had only been two months, but it felt like a year. Once you’ve savored something, it’s hard to go back to deprivation. Yet here he was, suddenly back to his days of monk-like solitude. She was truly heartless—more ruthless than anyone he’d ever known.

But then, thinking about the terrible things he’d done, he couldn’t deny that her heartlessness was justified. After all, it was their son—his own flesh and blood. Back then, his arrogance had nearly cost their son his life. In his heart, their son had already died once. The same mistake—he wouldn’t allow it to happen again.

But it was clear she no longer trusted him.

How could he warm her heart again? How could he make her trust him again?

Even as thoughts like these churned in his mind, his face remained composed and serious, as if he hadn’t even considered anything as intimate or vulnerable as those shared moments in bed.

"Knock knock." Jiang Jinghuai raised his hand and lightly tapped on the door.

Tian Sangsang furrowed her brow in annoyance. If you’re going to come in, just come in. This study isn’t hers, so what’s the point of knocking? Did he think she was some sort of monster who required such cautious gestures?

"What do you want?"

He walked in slowly, his deep eyes glancing at her before pulling up a chair to sit beside her.

"Sangbao..." His low voice carried an unmistakable tenderness.

Tian Sangsang cast him a detached glance. "If you have something to say, say it. Don’t call names unnecessarily."

He masked the flicker of frustration in his gaze, as though he wanted to say something but stopped himself, only to suddenly cough a few times, unable to suppress it.

Back then, the freezing pool of water had pierced his lungs, and the doctor had said it would take a long time to fully heal. Whenever it got cold, he would start coughing again, no matter how much he tried to avoid looking weak in front of her.

Serves him right, suffering from his own actions, Tian Sangsang snarked silently to herself.

Jiang Jinghuai said, "In a couple of days, officials from Beijing will be deployed to various locations to address problems. Especially in places like this, inspections will be stricter than ever."

Tian Sangsang asked curiously, "Address the conduct of the military? Has the atmosphere been particularly bad lately?"

"The focus will be on military families—improper relationships, brawling, and other issues," Jiang Jinghuai explained briefly.

Tian Sangsang’s heart sank. Seeing the look on Jiang Jinghuai’s face and recalling the tension in the military region recently, she knew things were serious.

"Don’t worry. As long as we haven’t done anything we shouldn’t, there’s nothing to fear," Jiang Jinghuai added reassuringly. "Just try to be more mindful in general."

"Am I normally not mindful, hmm?"

His remark had been a kind reminder, nothing more. "You know I didn’t mean it like that..."

"Forget it," Tian Sangsang said seriously. "I’ll be careful. After all, I’m not alone anymore—I have a family to take care of. I won’t be careless like before. Don’t worry."

She stood up, lazily resting one hand on her hip. Her tone was less icy than usual, carrying a hint of warmth. "I’m heading to bed. Goodnight~"

She hadn’t expected Jiang Jinghuai to tell her this voluntarily. She’d originally planned to ask You Huixixi. But given how important the information he provided was, she decided to use a gentler tone and show a bit of kindness for once.

However, that touch of warmth and kindness had completely backfired. If she could, she wouldn’t have done it—but alas, it was too late...

His hands wrapped around her waist. The contact startled her; his hands were ice-cold, pressing against her lower abdomen and making her shiver. She tried to pull away, only to bump into his chest.

A clash of extremes—fire and ice.

"Jiang Jinghuai, what are you doing? Let go of me!" she demanded, both embarrassed and furious.

"Were you inviting me just now?" His low, alluring voice sighed. "Sangbao, I’ve missed you to death."

Who the hell invited him?! She didn’t owe him anything! Tian Sangsang, enraged, cursed him internally.

She growled viciously, "Get lost!"

Her words seemed to provoke him. Suddenly, he grasped her waist and stood up, spinning her around until they were face-to-face. Her head barely reached his chin.

Looking up, she saw the dim, half-closed depth of his jet-black eyes, a dark fire smoldering within them. The glint of danger was unmistakable, and she knew exactly what it meant.

He sat back down, pulling her firmly onto his lap. The faint scent of roses on her body sent his heart racing wildly.

After a long pause, his lips finally left hers. She leaned back slightly, her small face flushed and her breath uneven, unable to form a complete sentence.

No. No, this couldn’t happen. She had her pride too. The stubborn knot in her heart hadn’t been undone yet—she hadn’t made up her mind. She had resolved not to forgive, and that was that. In the haze of the moment, Tian Sangsang suddenly snapped back to her senses. Her hand, which had been pushing lightly against his shoulder, suddenly delivered a sharp shove downwards.

"Mm..." Jiang Jinghuai grunted in pain, his brow furrowing as he sucked in a breath. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "Do you really want to live like a widow forever?"

"Living like a widow is still better than feeling this disgust." Tian Sangsang had already moved away from him, standing a short distance away, her words cutting without hesitation.

A shadow of bitterness flickered in Jiang Jinghuai’s eyes. "Don’t be angry, okay, Sangbao."

"I was never angry. I’m not angry now either," Tian Sangsang replied, wiping her mouth and speaking sternly. "I just want you to respect me."

"Why didn’t you just say so in the first place..." They’d been mere moments from going further, and she’d suddenly gone cold. It was torture.

"Did you ever give me the chance to speak?"

"I didn’t exactly keep your mouth clamped shut," he said innocently.

Tian Sangsang threw her hands up in frustration, covering her ears as her face burned crimson. Could he sound any more blameless? She gradually steadied her breathing, tidied her clothes, and strolled calmly back to the bedroom.

Jiang Jinghuai watched her retreat, her back showing no trace of hesitation or warmth. A chill crept through his entire body, and his gaze turned icy and foreboding.

In the middle of the night, Tian Sangsang was startled awake by a fierce bout of coughing. She opened her eyes but didn’t move. The coughs soon grew muffled and sporadic.

A strange, inexpressible feeling stirred in her chest. She was no stranger to the pain of illness. The memory of looking after her father in the hospital—of witnessing the torment of sickness, the helplessness in its face—remained vividly etched in her mind. The way life seemed to drain away, beyond the reach of sheer willpower, was something she could never forget. The melancholy thoughts anchored her heart, softening it, broadening it.