CHAPTER 359: 344 FINALLY

Tian Sangsang returned to her room feeling a bit down, just in time to catch Jiang Jinghuai changing clothes—bumping into him head-on.

Their gazes met. The light was dim, the atmosphere ambiguous, spreading quietly like water.

He hadn’t put on his pajamas yet, and his well-built figure stood bare in the air. Although she had seen plenty of good-looking men, Tian Sangsang couldn’t help but be captivated by his physique. A faint blush appeared on her pale face.

But she knew the timing wasn’t right.

"Ahem." She coughed lightly, shifting her gaze awkwardly. "Aren’t you cold? Hurry up and put something on, or you’ll catch a chill."

Jiang Jinghuai’s dark eyes remained fixed on her as he slowly dressed in front of her. Once the clothes were on, some of the alluring energy dissipated with them.

Tian Sangsang’s attention, however, was drawn to the sweater resting on the side of the kang bed. A deep gray sweater, clearly worn thin and full of holes, nearly falling apart.

"Is this what you’re wearing under your coat?"

His deep, enigmatic eyes blinked in slight confusion. "Mm."

Tian Sangsang picked up the sweater and examined it closely, her face wrinkling. "I won’t deny that you look good no matter what you wear. But this sweater—it’s the spitting image of something patched up by an old uncle on the street. Are things at the barracks really this bad?"

"The barracks aren’t a place for luxury," he replied flatly.

"True, that’s fair enough. I understand the principle—wealth shouldn’t lead to indulgence," Tian Sangsang said, frowning slightly, her heart twinging with sorrow. "But isn’t wearing this a bit cold?"

Feeling the faint concern in her tone, Jiang Jinghuai’s heart warmed. He replied earnestly, "Not cold. A little exercise and you heat right up. It’s late; let’s get some rest."

Tian Sangsang knew how to knit sweaters—anything she made would be leagues better than the one Jiang Jinghuai was currently wearing. It was hard for her to believe that in the two months they hadn’t seen each other, he’d not only lost weight but also had his clothes practically fall apart. Good thing she was here now, or he’d end up looking like a beggar. She decided to knit him a sweater as a surprise.

Someone moved close behind her, and Jiang Jinghuai leaned in to whisper softly near her ear, "Going to sleep?"

Tian Sangsang felt a pang of guilt. She turned to him, her beautiful eyes meeting his as she licked her lips. "Honey, there’s actually something I’ve been wanting to tell you since lunch today. I—"

"Mommy. Daddy." A weak, childish voice, soft and syrupy, carried in a crying tone.

Both of them were startled.

Tian Sangsang looked toward the door. Their son stood there, his small body framed in the doorway. Under the yellow light, his curly hair appeared soft yet lonely. The little pitiful figure stood alone, his clothes fluttering in the breeze, swaying wistfully.

He looked like a little cabbage plant as he slowly approached them, wiping away hot tears. He lifted his head to feign composure, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his unease.

"Mommy, Daddy, today’s the first day. Can I sleep with you tonight? I promise that tomorrow—tomorrow I’ll sleep on my own."

To narrate properly, the little guy had firmly believed earlier that he could sleep alone. But as soon as he lay in bed, with the lights off and the bed empty of anyone beside him, fear crept in. It had always been warm before; tonight, no matter how cozy the kang felt, it couldn’t compare to the warmth of his parents’ embrace.

He was terrified of sleeping alone. His fears and the loneliness engulfed him.

"Of course, you can." Tian Sangsang pulled him tightly into her arms, surrendering on the spot. "Baby, you don’t have to sleep alone anymore. You can sleep with us every night until you’re five; then we can talk about separate rooms." Holding her son felt like hugging the whole world. The mother and child hugged each other for a while, and Meng Shuyan finally felt warmth.

Tian Sangsang carried him into the blankets. Meng Shuyan rolled around happily a few times. "Ooh yay! Mommy said one more year! Whatever happens next year can wait for next year. I’m going to treasure today."

The little guy was thrilled, lying in the middle with his head on a warm pillow, his whole body enveloped in heat. He pulled the blanket higher and higher until only a tiny head peeked out.

But... somehow, why did Daddy and Mommy feel a little strange?

Jiang Jinghuai also doted on his son and didn’t mind this arrangement much. Worst case, he and his wife would work around it—wait until the boy fell asleep and then head over to the West Room.

Except his wife wasn’t done talking. She leaned close to him and whispered shyly, a little embarrassed and guilty. "Actually, I meant to tell you at lunch—I got my period yesterday."

Silence. A long silence.

Jiang Jinghuai sighed heavily, frowned, and asked, "Why is it seven days late this time?"

He asked very earnestly, catching Tian Sangsang completely off guard. "You keep track of my cycle?"

Jiang Jinghuai pressed his thin lips into a faint smile, not answering her question but instead brushing her cheek gently with his hand. "It’s late. Are you feeling okay?"

"It’s because I missed you so much that my body got a little off track." Tian Sangsang feigned anger. "So yeah, it’s all your fault."

"My fault." Jiang Jinghuai chuckled quietly. "We have all the time in the world."

**

Tian Sangsang had truly fallen in love with Beijiang winters and the simple relationships here. Sometimes chatting with the neighbors brought so much joy. People came from all corners of the Four Seas and Eight Desolates, each carrying their unique tales that enriched her understanding of different customs and traditions.

Over the past three days, the snow had gradually melted, and today, the sun shone bright over the land.

Tian Sangsang took her family’s blankets outside, hanging them over two long drying racks. On rare sunny days like this, the damp, cold bedding needed to be warmed up a bit.

By noon, she flipped the blankets over to expose the other side for sunning.

As she was about to head back inside, a noise in the tree startled her. It was Shen Xiaohu, the son of Commander Shen. He was the most mischievous kid around, always climbing and jumping about. During her three days here, his antics had echoed constantly, a true troublemaker who had driven his mother nearly to gray hairs.

In comparison, her own Meng Shuyan was far more obedient.

"Sangsang Auntie, my mom says you’re the prettiest here, and I agree!" Xiaohu jumped down from the tree, his tone playful. "Can I marry you when I grow up?"

"You’ve got quite the sweet tongue." What does a child know about such things? Tian Sangsang pinched his cheek. "You just want candy, don’t you?" She pulled a few White Rabbit candies from her pocket and laughed. "Promise me you won’t say things like that anymore. I’m just an old auntie."

Unwilling to comply, Xiaohu smacked and chewed on the candies with utmost seriousness. "Auntie Sangsang, I really want to marry you when I grow up. You’re not old at all."

Tian Sangsang took a deep breath, feeling slightly helpless.

"Shen Xiaohu, who do you want to marry?"

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out behind them. They turned to see Jiang Jinghuai watching them with a faint smile, the gleam in his eyes indescribable.

Xiaohu shrank back instantly, retreating nervously. "Uncle Jiang is too scary; I can’t beat him up. Auntie Sangsang, I’m outta here! I’ll come back and marry you someday!"

In a flash, the boy disappeared without a trace.

That kid... Tian Sangsang shook her head with a smile and looked at Jiang Jinghuai. "You’re back?" The barracks had nothing going on today, so he’d gone hunting with the other men. She’d expected him to return later in the evening.