CHAPTER 351: 336 KNOW THE TRUTH, CHASE HUSBAND AT THE TRAIN STATION

On the second day, just as the first streak of orange dawn broke through the horizon, Tian Sangsang felt Jiang Jinghuai getting out of bed. The faint rustling sounds reached her ears, but she didn’t dare open her eyes, pretending to still be asleep. Sensing a gaze fall on her, she instinctively knew it was him. After a long while, that gaze disappeared, followed by the sound of the door opening.

Then, there was a prolonged silence.

In truth, she had been awake for quite some time but chose not to get up. When she finally opened her eyes, she realized the corners of her eyes were slightly damp.

"Pathetic, Tian Sangsang, what are you crying for!" she scolded herself, giving her own head a light slap.

She got up in the morning and had breakfast. The absence of one person in the house would take some getting used to. Meng Shuyan seemed more composed; his father had spoken extensively to him yesterday. Though saddened, he understood. He needed to behave and wait for his father’s return.

Tian Sangsang felt an empty void in her chest. She went downstairs and wandered around a bit, just in time to brush past Hua Jun, who was approaching from the opposite direction.

Hua Jun was dressed sharply in full military attire, stepping in boots that resonated with authority. Her curvaceous figure was perfectly concealed beneath the uniform. In the regiment, she always had a near-flawless reputation. Now she was headed back to Beijing. With Jiang Jinghuai gone, there was no point in her lingering here any longer.

Seeing Tian Sangsang’s slovenly appearance, Hua Jun faintly shook her head, her eyes carrying a mixture of mockery and aloof superiority.

Tian Sangsang’s temper flared. She came to a halt on the spot.

Damn it, what she hated most was the kind of condescending, self-righteous expression that others projected when sizing her up. What did they think she was—an ant? Did Hua Jun think she was some kind of god?

Just because she came from Beijing, she thought she was special? Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, so what? What gave her the right to always look at her with eyes like that?

Noticing the shift in her mood, Hua Jun also stopped, offering her a cordial smile. "Miss Tian, do you not have anything to do every day? What a carefree life you lead."

Wasn’t that just a jab, implying she lounged around idly all day, aimless enough to go for a relaxed stroll at this hour? Tian Sangsang couldn’t be bothered to explain herself.

"Jinghuai has been transferred to the border regiment. Who knows when he’ll be back. Miss Tian, aren’t you going to see him off?" Hua Jun continued, her tone carrying a thinly veiled barb. "After all, you two are married, right?"

Only then did Tian Sangsang realize she hadn’t even packed his clothes, hadn’t prepared breakfast for him, hadn’t given him anything to take along. Barely holding it together, she replied stiffly, "I already saw him off at home. Those superficial gestures don’t mean much to us. As long as the sentiments are there, it’s enough."

"Oh." Hua Jun’s lips curved into a mock smile. "But I thought, seeing as he demoted himself, willingly accepting a transfer to such a remote area in X Province for your sake, maybe you’d put in a bit more effort than just seeing him off at home."

"What are you talking about?" Tian Sangsang’s breath caught. Her gaze locked steadily onto Hua Jun. "What demotion, what transfer?" Her voice was as cold as ice.

"Oh, so you didn’t know. Well, then, I suppose I’ve said too much." Hua Jun let out a sharp laugh and appeared ready to walk away.

"Explain yourself!" Tian Sangsang blocked her path. "What demotion, what transfer?"

"Well, Miss Tian, you certainly know how to grasp the key points." Hua Jun gave her a sidelong glance. "Do you think you got released just like that? Do you know what kind of reputation you jeopardized with your misconduct charges? Do you think those were forgotten without someone standing up for you? Without Jinghuai, you wouldn’t have even seen the light of day."

With that, Hua Jun showed no further interest in her. To her, Tian Sangsang was just a burdensome woman who could only destroy her husband’s future, bringing nothing but trouble. It didn’t matter whether they were married or not—her temperament would never allow her to integrate into the Jiang Family.

Hua Jun wasn’t in a rush; she didn’t want to interfere. She would simply stand back and see how long Tian Sangsang could maintain her blissful ignorance.

Tian Sangsang was stunned, frozen in place as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. What did that mean? No one had ever told her anything about demotions or transfers. Not even Jiang Jinghuai.

In that instant, everything became clear to her. Of course, it all made sense now—how easily she had been released that day. Wiping her damp face, she muttered to herself, "You fool! Who asked you to do that? Who needs it? Who even wants it? Do you think I’d be grateful to you for it? Not a chance! Not a damn chance!"

Yet her legs seemed to move on their own. She pushed past Hua Jun, broke into a run, and kept running. She ran to the nearest bus stop, climbed aboard, and stayed until the last stop at the train station.

The station was far away, and with each passing second, time seemed to slip through her fingers. Outside the bus window, rows of poplar trees blurred into fleeting memories. As the scenes of her past reappeared one by one, she let her tears silently fall.

She didn’t know how long it had been, but at last, she arrived at the train station. The crowd was overwhelming, and she didn’t know where to look. A train had just begun pulling out of the station as she entered. The moment she set foot inside, the train rumbled forward at a steady pace.

"No, no." She chanted those words in disbelief and sprinted desperately toward it. But just as she reached the platform, the train accelerated. It flashed past her eyes, the last car disappearing into the distance.

She collapsed onto the ground, covering her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. She hadn’t even seen him. She hadn’t said a single word. In that moment, all the past misunderstandings felt meaningless. They didn’t matter anymore. None of it mattered. She only knew that she couldn’t bear to lose her temper so easily anymore.

She just wanted to see him, even if it was only once more.

Suddenly, a hand gently patted her head. A warm, familiar male voice rang above her. "Tian Sangsang."

She stood up and looked at him quietly.

Through her blurry vision, she saw a face—Jiang Jinghuai’s face.

Her dark, tear-soaked lashes quivered. "You—you’re still here?"

"I didn’t board that train. Mine is on the next one." Even as he spoke, tears kept falling from her eyes. "Why are you still here?"

She choked on her sobs and threw herself into his arms, burying her head into his chest like a wounded kitten and crying miserably.

Her cries softened even the hardest of hearts. Jiang Jinghuai gently rubbed her back and coaxed her in a low voice. "Stop crying."

He paused for a moment. "I didn’t expect you to come."

Through muffled sobs, she murmured, "Don’t leave. I don’t want you to leave."

Jiang Jinghuai was momentarily overwhelmed with emotion and couldn’t find the right words, so he simply pursed his lips.

Tian Sangsang, however, abruptly pulled away from his embrace, tears streaming as she glared at him indignantly. "Oh, I nearly forgot—what were you thinking?! My God... How did I never realize you were such a fool? Always acting cool and self-sacrificing. Who on earth asked for your stupid demotion? Do you know how valuable ranks are? A rank! You can’t even buy one! Do you know how difficult it is to get one? How am I supposed to brag when you’re down to some measly position? Are you trying to have me and Yanyan sleeping on the streets next week?"

Sniffling, hiccupping, and sobbing, she rambled on, her puffy eyes as red as peaches.

And then, mid-rant, "Why did I even marry such an idiot? You’re making m—" Her words were abruptly cut off as his lips captured hers. The firm, overwhelming scent of masculinity engulfed her, and the faint aroma of tobacco lingered. His strong arms held her tightly, the kiss beginning intense before softening into tenderness.

He rested his forehead against hers, his breath slightly unsteady. "I’ll earn it back for you."

"Who asked you to," she muttered, punching him lightly.

The rumble of the train in the distance broke their quiet embrace.