CHAPTER 340: 326 OLD FRIEND, HUA JUN

She wiped the sweat off her brow and saw a military jeep parked in the distance. A wave of respect rose within her. Jeeps had always struck her as stylish and commanding.

Beside the jeep stood two women in military uniforms. The crisp uniforms accentuated their sharp, competent demeanor, setting them apart from ordinary women.

But their stern faces seemed to bear an invisible message: "No strangers allowed."

As Tian Sangsang walked past them, they squinted at her, scrutinizing her like inspecting merchandise. It felt as though they were examining her from the inside out, which made her extremely uncomfortable.

"Where are you from?"

Meeting their gaze steadily but without arrogance or submission, Tian Sangsang smiled lightly and said, "I live upstairs. Military family member."

"Oh, then go ahead," one of the women replied in a commanding tone.

Tian Sangsang couldn’t hide her curiosity. Where had these people come from? Could they be...?

Lost in thought as she continued walking, she was startled by a faint voice from a woman nearby. She looked up and froze.

The woman truly exuded a powerful presence, standing out starkly among the crowd. Even if her aura hadn’t been overpowering, Tian Sangsang would have taken notice anyway—because standing beside her was her husband.

She wasn’t like Shui Lian, who carried an air of small-town charm. This woman radiated an aristocratic poise and elegance borne of a distinguished lineage. Tian Sangsang could discern that. Unlike Shui Lian’s delicate and demure style, this woman was dressed in military boots, pants, and a uniform, her face beautiful yet resolute. Short, clean-cut hair, a tall stature, exuding a striking yet feminine charisma.

Nor was she like Guan Kunling, whose demeanor was cold and distant. This woman was bright and dazzling.

And Jiang Jinghuai clearly knew her.

Tian Sangsang’s expression remained calm, pretending not to recognize either of them. She planned to bypass them and head upstairs.

And indeed, that was her intention. She certainly wasn’t going to react the way she once did—furious whenever he and Shui Lian were together. She had learned to remain silent, neither happy nor sad.

She didn’t overthink it, nor did she want to. After all, it had nothing to do with her.

Yet her hand was gently but firmly pulled, the undeniable force drawing her to his side, their fingers interlocking. Jiang Jinghuai solemnly introduced her: "My wife, Tian Sangsang."

Caught off guard by his unexpected introduction, Tian Sangsang stared blankly at his profile, a strange emotion stirring within her.

Hua Jun was momentarily stunned, her gaze subtly landing on their clasped hands, a hint of change in her eyes.

She pressed her lips together and smiled lightly, asking, "You got married?"

Realizing the question was intrusive, Hua Jun added, "I hadn’t heard anything from Aunt about it in Beijing... Truly surprising. None of us knew you were married. Why haven’t you returned to Beijing?"

Jiang Jinghuai replied, "Haven’t had the time to go home yet."

That single sentence explained it all. It wasn’t a matter of unwillingness but a lack of time.

Hua Jun nodded thoughtfully and turned to Tian Sangsang with an approachable smile. "Hello, I’m Hua Jun, an old classmate of Jinghuai’s. I’ll be staying here for a few days for work. It’s nice meeting you, and I hope we can get along."

Tian Sangsang shook her hand briefly and introduced herself by name.

With a quick follow-up, Hua Jun continued nonchalantly, "Our families are actually longtime friends."

She shifted topics again, asking, "By the way, Miss Tian, where do you work?"

Work...?

Tian Sangsang fell silent for a moment.

Seeing her hesitation, sensing it was an inconvenient topic, Hua Jun quickly changed the subject. "I thought you looked familiar. Recently there was a movie, *Lushan Love*. You played Zhou Yun, the descendant of a national general, didn’t you? So you’re an actress. The male lead seemed quite familiar—was it Zhao Chun?"

Looking at Jiang Jinghuai, her gaze softened with nostalgia. "I remember Zhao Chun. When we were little, he always came looking for you to play and ended up being bullied by us constantly."

Jiang Jinghuai grunted in acknowledgment, his eyes showing a faint smile, seemingly lost in past memories.

Tian Sangsang didn’t know what to say. While Hua Jun’s questions were entirely reasonable, each one left her feeling stumped. It was as though none were considered respectable professions. Was this what being unable to rise to the occasion felt like? She had always been indifferent about such matters, instinctively seeing herself as a person from the 21st century. Yet in the eyes of others, she was merely a rural woman, a high school dropout with a tarnished reputation, running a small business and acting in a single movie.

After a brief pause, Jiang Jinghuai snapped out of his daze and said, "Sangsang, I’ll go pick up Yanyan. You head upstairs and start cooking."

Their gazes met in the air, and Tian Sangsang forced a smile. "Okay, what would you like for dinner? How about stir-fried dried bamboo shoots with cured meat?"

"Up to you." Jiang Jinghuai raised a brow slightly, his expression puzzled by the dish name...

Even a composed woman like Hua Jun couldn’t avoid a slight slip. Watching Jiang Jinghuai’s departing figure, she asked Tian Sangsang, "Your son?"

"Yes. He’s four now. He’s in kindergarten." After politely answering, Tian Sangsang went upstairs.

Hua Jun bore a faint expression poised between amusement and disbelief. She had never heard that Jiang Jinghuai had a son. How was this possible?

And this woman—not only his sudden wife?

Jiang Jinghuai wasn’t someone who acted out of order. But now it seemed he had just married—while having a four-year-old son? Wasn’t the sequence reversed?

Standing in place, Hua Jun recalled that woman’s appearance. A truly beautiful and charismatic woman. She seemed busy or had just returned from work, her bangs slightly damp. But it didn’t detract from her radiance, instead adding an air of "a pearl covered in dust" or "a jade clouded over." Her skin was exceptionally fair, her features delicate, her figure alluring. A captivating combination of purity and vibrancy.

She looked barely in her twenties, whereas Hua Jun herself was nearing thirty. Ah, youth.

Yet her origins didn’t seem particularly good, judging from their cautious manner earlier? Jiang Jinghuai wasn’t one to prioritize appearances. So why would he marry her secretly? Not afraid of family opposition?

The crux was that he truly was married—with no consideration for their past feelings.

Hua Jun pondered, feeling a bitter pang in her heart.

With the door opened and closed, Tian Sangsang leaned against it, quietly steadying her breath. Despite all the time since her transmigration, it was the first time she had been intimidated by a woman. Hua Jun? She hadn’t come across her in the original story. She must belong to the crowd from Beijing’s elite circles, though the details remained vague to her—a complete blank.

She stepped onto the balcony and looked down. Unexpectedly, Hua Jun hadn’t left yet, her imposing figure still clad in military uniform. She suddenly looked up, her gaze meeting Tian Sangsang’s directly.

Startled, Tian Sangsang quickly dodged out of view, leaning against the wall and staying silent. After a while, she frustratedly slapped her forehead. So this was what it felt like to be self-conscious and intimidated? What was she afraid of? Hua Jun didn’t seem like someone with a scheming nature. She was candid—even bold. So what was there to fear?

Hua Jun noticed the fleeting shadow and lifted the corners of her strikingly beautiful lips, stepping away with her military boots softly hitting the ground. Could she no longer hold her composure? Then she’d take a closer look at what kind of woman she was. What had attracted Jiang Jinghuai—or was it purely her looks?

Beautiful appearances are common, but an interesting soul is truly rare.