CHAPTER 401: 386 LONG DROUGHT MEETS SWEET DEW (MIDDLE)

The night was serene, like flowing water. After the lights were turned off, Jiang Jinghuai remained as composed as the night before, as unmoving and restrained as a virtuous gentleman.

Under the covers, Tian Sangsang revealed only her head. She tilted it slightly, staring quietly at his broad back.

Taking a deep breath, she clenched her teeth and initiated contact, her hand mischievously teasing the muscles on his abdomen.

"Hey, are you mad at me?" she asked gloomily, her tone carrying the grievance of a neglected wife. "It’s because I accidentally threw up that time and upset your mom, isn’t it? So now you’re mad at me, right?"

His body immediately tensed, letting out a sharp intake of breath...

He grabbed her wrist, stopping her wandering hand, then rolled over to face her, his dark eyes glowing as they locked onto hers.

"That’s not true. I trust you, and I’ve never blamed you."

"Then why won’t you touch me anymore? You weren’t like this before."

"I was training with Jingshan and the others all day. I’m just a bit tired," he said while pulling her waist closer, letting out a low sigh. "Sangsang, go to sleep."

Sleep, sleep, always just sleep!

What kind of married couple lies under the same blanket and only chats?!

If this isn’t sleeping in the same bed but dreaming in different worlds, then what is it?

Tian Sangsang’s chest simmered with a faint anger. What exactly had she done wrong for him to treat her so coldly?

**

After wrapping up things at Hua Zifeng’s factory, teaching them the entire recipe for instant noodles, Tian Sangsang finally felt relieved. With that task over, she could now spare time to look after her own factory.

Beijing in later generations would be a place where every inch of land was worth gold. But now, it was a network of connections and relationships. For instance, she was really eager to acquire the land next to the factory. However, as she understood, this required approval. Asking Hua Zifeng once was enough—she really didn’t want to ask him a second time. So, she came up with a compromise. Going forward, the ingredients for her products would still be sourced from Chen Ying and Chen Ming, and by drying the flowers, it would extend their shelf life.

She had already picked out a storefront on West City Road but hadn’t set it up yet. The factory had been cleaned and tidied by people Hua Zifeng had sent, and it was now spotless. She also ordered some purification machines, scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

Success in business, failure in love.

That night, Jiang Jinghuai once again did nothing but go to sleep.

Tian Sangsang couldn’t fall asleep. That once-joyful heart of hers was now almost lifeless. In the middle of the night, half-asleep, she woke up to find the man beside her still fast asleep. Gently lifting the blanket, she pulled back the curtains and slightly opened the window.

The silent night heightened the sense of her own loneliness. In the vast sky, there were no stars to be seen, only the moon. An overwhelming wave of grievance and heartache surged within her. She truly didn’t know what had gone wrong for Jiang Jinghuai to turn into someone so distant and indifferent. A woman losing her allure to her man—what did that signify? It signified he no longer cherished her!

She had originally thought that his return would give her someone to rely on. She had thought that his return would heal the emotional wounds caused by her mother-in-law. But now that he was back, she found herself feeling even more wretched.

The cold night wind continuously penetrated her body, making her shiver uncontrollably. She was only wearing a white nightgown, one that didn’t even reach her ankles. And underneath, she wasn’t wearing anything at all. If this continued, she’d freeze like a stray dog.

Instinctively, she turned back, intending to crawl under the blankets for warmth—only to bump into a wall of flesh.

Wait... a wall of flesh?!

She didn’t even have time to rub her throbbing forehead before recoiling in shock, retreating step by step until her back hit the actual wall, leaving her with nowhere to go. Slowly, she raised her head to look at the flesh... wall.

This flesh wall was tall and imposing, exuding cold and fierce energy. Under the faint moonlight, the contours of his face gradually became clear. Deep-set brows, a straight nose, lightly pressed lips, and sharp, chiseled features—without question, it was!!!

...Jiang Jinghuai...

"Oh my god..." Tian Sangsang clutched her chest, her trembling legs finally straightening up. "In the middle of the night, Jiang Jinghuai, are you trying to scare me to death? Are you wishing I’d die so you can find someone new?"

Jiang Jinghuai frowned helplessly, walked over, and grabbed her. "I was about to ask you the same thing. Standing by the window, dressed in white—what were you doing?"

"I couldn’t sleep," Tian Sangsang said, her eyes glistening red in the dark. She sniffled, her sadness deepening. "Do you not love me anymore?"

"No," he answered sincerely.

"If it’s not that your feelings have changed, then it must mean... you can’t perform. You have the will, but not the ability," Tian Sangsang concluded, her tears subsiding as she regained her confidence as a woman. "Every man faces this one day. You’re just stubborn about saving face. Look where that’s gotten you. I still have some Cordyceps left. If you want to replenish your vitality, you can have those. I’ve told you ages ago that you should start toning up, but you wouldn’t listen."

Jiang Jinghuai’s anger turned into a helpless laugh, his smile tinged with gritted teeth. "I just wanted to give us some time to ease back in—I was worried you couldn’t handle it."

"Stop pretending," Tian Sangsang chuckled dismissively. What nonsense!

Jiang Jinghuai took her cold hand, kissed it lightly, and then pulled her into his arms, leaning down to whisper hotly into her ear, "Have you missed me?"

"So what if I did? You still can’t perform." Tian Sangsang teased him lightly.

A dark, unreadable light flickered in his deep eyes. "If you can’t sleep, then let’s do something fun. Look, the moonlight is perfect right now," he suggested.

With an icy smile, Tian Sangsang pushed his hand away. "Something fun? For me, that’s looking at the moon." She could clearly hear the subtext of his words. But it was always on his terms—when he wanted, when he didn’t, when he was cold, when he was warm. What did he take her for? At his beck and call? Well, she wasn’t having it. She, Tian Sangsang, wasn’t one to be pushed around. Three-legged toads might be rare, but two-legged men were everywhere. If he pissed her off... if he pissed her off, she’d... wait, what was her plan again?

Jiang Jinghuai let out a husky laugh, his voice magnetic. "So, you like standing by the window, is that it?"

Tian Sangsang’s heart fluttered at his tone, but she quickly decided to play it cool. Otherwise, where would her dignity go?

She coldly uttered three words: "I do not."

Jiang Jinghuai responded with a low, drawn-out "Oh."

Before she could react, she found herself lifted off the ground. Tian Sangsang was stunned, her legs flailing as she whispered, "What are you doing?"

Cool composure was no match for raw power. She was pressed down onto the bed.

"A couple of days without discipline, and you’re getting bold again, aren’t you, Sangbao?" he said, his voice teasing yet dangerous. "Hmm?"

Tian Sangsang pushed against him, glaring at him with her pretty eyes, unwilling to back down. "Get off me! Let me tell you, my husband’s not home. You better behave yourself!"

"After what you just said, I promise you won’t get a wink of sleep tonight. Want to test me?" His hand caressed her soft, smooth cheek.

Tian Sangsang was about to retort but froze when she met his heated gaze. A shiver ran through her as memories of past experiences came flooding back. This man—he still had some tricks up his sleeve.

Jiang Jinghuai chuckled deeply, his laughter rich and low. "Acting tough earlier, but scared now?"

"Alright, alright, big brother, stop messing around," she said, lowering her pride. "Let’s talk this through. It’s the modern age—we can settle things peacefully. It’s the middle of the night, and if we disturb the neighbors, it’ll be trouble."