CHAPTER 349: 334 AFRAID

Jiang Jinghuai pushed open the door and saw her, and she was in a daze.

His gaze fell on the blood on her body, still carrying a trace of warmth. His eyes deepened. From his years of experience, he could tell that the blood wasn’t hers; it was someone else’s, spilled accidently on her during some incident.

His heart ached. He squatted down in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders: "Sangsang... Sangbao..."

Her head tilted slightly, her delicate face lifeless, as if she hadn’t heard him speak.

"Sangsang." He called softly and gently shook her.

Only then did she slowly come back to her senses, looking at him blankly. "Jiang Jinghuai, why are you home today?"

"Scared silly?" His warm palm gently brushed across her face, wiping over the bloodstains, his voice tender, "Silly girl, it’s Sunday."

"Oh." She let out a tearful "oh," and then the tears rolled down, one after another.

Such a beautiful day. Yet she felt as if she were in hell on earth.

"Don’t cry." He held her close, his voice low and soothing, stroking her back, "Don’t be afraid, I’m here."

"Look at me, I’m covered in blood." She pressed her lips together. "Am I disgusting? So ugly, so cowardly, so utterly powerless..."

"No." He released her, looking at her intently and sincerely. "You’re beautiful."

"I want to take a bath."

"Alright, let’s take a bath."

She propped a hand on the floor to stand up, but as soon as she lifted herself, she collapsed again. Weakly, she said, "My legs are soft, my hands are weak, my whole body is limp, I have no strength."

"Sangsang." He pressed her down gently, his voice grounded. "It’s alright, let me fetch some water for you."

Jiang Jinghuai brought in a bucket of steaming water, diluted it with some cold water, and immediately the bathroom was filled with hazy steam, warm and comforting.

So cozy.

"Let me help you wash." His demeanor was serious, his gaze free from anything improper or wandering.

He wrung a towel with hot water and gently wiped the blood off her face—stroke by careful, extraordinarily tender stroke.

When her face was clean, he rinsed the towel, letting down her hair and wiping it strand by strand.

Her clothes, pants, and shoes were all stained with dried blood. He removed them piece by piece and threw them into a basin nearby.

Then, he lifted her arms to take off the last pieces.

When everything had been removed, she shivered from the cold.

He lightly wiped her, following the fair, warm skin with the soft fabric of the towel, each movement thorough and meticulous. Once she was clean, he picked up a long bath towel, wrapped her in it, and carried her to the bed. He then went to the wardrobe, found her clothes, dressed her layer by layer, and pulled the quilt over her.

"Don’t think too much. Get a good night’s sleep." His hand rested on the quilt, his voice calm, magnetic, and soothing.

Tian Sangsang nodded absently. She had just lain down when, suddenly, her whole body convulsed uncontrollably. Covering her mouth, she dry-heaved for a long time, yet nothing came out. She felt the smell of blood lingering on her, and horrifying scenes from earlier came crashing back to her mind.

"Sangbao!" He half-embraced her, patting her back. Smelling the tobacco scent on him, she leaned on him dependently, her voice weak. "I feel awful."

"I know." When he had first seen a body himself, he had felt nauseated as well, retching painfully yet bringing nothing up.

"It’s Ji Yao’er’s blood."

"Mm."

"I don’t know how to get rid of this feeling of nausea."

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Does this help with the nausea?"

"Still nauseous."

"Where do you feel it?"

"All over, inside and out."

"I’ll help you." He simply laid her down, pushing her clothes up and unbuttoning them. She was shivering uncontrollably. She looked truly pitiable, but her expression remained blank, as if she were trapped in her own world.

"Sangbao," his voice was slightly agitated.

Suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed, and she grasped at the quilt in discomfort. He seemed to be intent on making her forget all the unpleasant things, forcing her to focus solely on the sensations of her body. In the deep chill of winter, his presence made her want to suffocate—

A chaotic day.

It seemed like the sky was gradually brightening. The first light of dawn painted the heavens, and wind rippled through the curtains layer by layer. Tian Sangsang’s hair fell, brushing against her face—

The atmosphere in the bedroom seemed to finally dissipate.

**

Ji Yao’er’s death left everyone unsettled for quite some time, but life went on. The deceased had departed—it was bad luck. For those who remained alive, even if just clinging to existence, they had to keep living.

The official statement was that Ji Yao’er had died in a car accident. It was indeed true; they hadn’t caught the driver, and the matter simply fell by the wayside. Tian Sangsang knew that Ji Yao’er’s death wasn’t accidental—it was deliberate. Such a vibrant person, two lives lost in one, and yet no one sought justice for them. What a world...

Ji Yao’er had mentioned "brother-in-law" before she died. That meant it was Lu Chi. It was definitely Lu Chi. Lu Chi had always been a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

However, after witnessing Ji Yao’er’s death firsthand, Tian Sangsang no longer acted rashly. She didn’t even ask why, nor did she confide in Jiang Jinghuai. She understood that even if she spoke out, pointing a finger at Lu Chi, it wouldn’t change anything. Without evidence, what could she say? Without evidence, it was all just empty words.

Oh right, she had also seen Zhao Chun that day. Someone like him, seeing such a bloody scene, especially since Ji Yao’er had been his girlfriend, couldn’t be much better off than she was.

No matter if the child was his or not.

As kind-hearted as he was, he must be suffering.

Tian Sangsang went to Zhao Chun’s studio specifically to see him. He happened to be there. The handsome young man sat on the floor, hugging his knees, curling into a helpless ball.

"Zhao Chun." Tian Sangsang sat down beside him, observing his no-longer-innocent profile. "Are you okay?"

Zhao Chun turned his head blankly, seeing that it was her, and only then did a sliver of clarity return.

"Sangsang, I let Yao’er down." He spoke softly, tears streaming down his face as he whimpered quietly. "I let her down."

He cried—truly cried.

Tian Sangsang said, "It wasn’t your fault."

Zhao Chun shook his head, staring dazedly out the window. "I don’t know why she said it was me. But I... I did let her down. I caused her death. If I had admitted it, none of this would have happened. Maybe she wouldn’t have been hit by that car. I once promised her that I’d take her home to meet my mom. But now..." He had indeed thought about it—bringing Ji Yao’er home to let his mother meet her. If his mom accepted her, they could continue being together. But then the accident happened, and they were out of chances. He had failed her. Truly failed her.

Tian Sangsang patted his shoulder. "You shouldn’t burden yourself with something you didn’t do. Ji Yao’er died unjustly, but it wasn’t your doing."