CHAPTER 98: 096 CHUNZI SUSU, IT’S ALSO VERY BIG OH

"Tian Sangsang, do you even have a conscience?" he questioned loudly.

Looking at the two of them, Meng Shuyan thought, Poor thing... Is Mom bullying Chun Zisu again...

Tian Sangsang reached out and touched her chest. Nonsense, my conscience is still here, alive and well. Such a strong heartbeat—what else could it be but my conscience?

"Zhao Chun, don’t get so worked up. I get it, those few days each month always make one emotional and prone to tears. Listen to me, from someone who’s been through it—stop crying. There’s a saying: ’One tear equals ten drops of blood,’ which is harm to your heart and kidneys. Why do this to yourself? When you’re old, you’ll regret the health problems you’re causing now."

A metallic taste rose in Zhao Chun’s throat. He glanced feebly at Tian Sangsang, then walked over to Meng Shuyan and handed him the malt sugar he was holding. "Xiaoyan, this is what Uncle bought for you."

"Thank you, Chun Zisu." Meng Shuyan planted a smooch on his cheek. "No more crying, okay?"

Then, his eyes lit up as he gazed at the malt sugar in his hands. The sugary syrup wrapped around a wooden stick, golden and sticky, emitted a tempting sweetness that lingered in the air.

"Chun Zisu, do you want some?" Meng Shuyan asked.

Before Zhao Chun could respond, Tian Sangsang interjected, "Yanyan, since he gave it to you, just eat it up. Your precious Chun Zisu, after all, should be sticking to brown sugar these days, not malt sugar."

"Oh." Meng Shuyan nodded, half understanding. "Mom, do you want some then?"

"Mommy doesn’t eat this; Mommy’s dieting, you know." Tian Sangsang replied with a wide grin.

Same family, but why was the gap between mother and son so vast? Zhao Chun hoisted the endearing little Meng Shuyan in one arm, no longer inclined to exchange words with Tian Sangsang.

His retreating figure brimmed with an inexplicable sorrow.

Tian Sangsang rubbed her nose. What the heck—why was this grown man so fragile? It’s just that time of the month; hasn’t everyone been through it? Women, you know, are an extraordinary species—they bleed for seven days a month and still survive. Don’t be scared—there’s really nothing to fear.

At worst, she’d feed him some extra KFC later to replenish him.

Zhao Chun, supporting himself with a crutch in one hand while holding Meng Shuyan in the other, hobbled forward like a seventy-year-old man.

Tian Sangsang felt a twinge of guilt and beckoned to Meng Shuyan, "Come here, Yanyan. Let Mommy hold you. Chun Zisu is having a special time today and can’t carry you."

Her pair of strong arms reached out to take Meng Shuyan.

Meng Shuyan’s big dark eyes blinked. Oh, right, Chun Zisu has to manage both the crutch and him—so pitiful.

The somewhat clueless Zhao Chun didn’t catch the odd undertone and said, rather smugly, "It’s fine, Xiaoyan. Stay right here in Uncle’s arms. I’m a grown man—I’ve got this. Your Uncle, you know, grew up fighting and has a strong build. Just because I’m a little skinny doesn’t mean I’m weak; it’s just the clothes hiding it all."

Meng Shuyan stuck out his little tongue to lick the malt sugar, then looked at Zhao Chun’s side profile with admiration, mulling something over. "Yep, it is pretty big."

This was a conversation between men.

Zhao Chun raised an eyebrow. "I remember this one time, back when I and some of the boys set up a fight with another group of kids. There were five of us and seven of them—we beat them against the odds. Then, I bought each of my teammates an ice pop. Ever since that day, all the kids in the compound would tremble at the mention of my name. But alas, your Uncle’s lifelong reputation was ruined by someone."

"Was it that older boy from last time?" Meng Shuyan pondered aloud.

Zhao Chun nodded.

Tian Sangsang, listening to the endless chatter between the two, couldn’t understand a word nor insert a single comment.

Older boy? Who was that?

Oh, Zhao Chun, how many grand narratives had you been spinning for her son while she wasn’t around? And the fool felt proud about it too. Proud of what? Winning a fight only to treat the others to ice pops—if that wasn’t dumb, what was?

"Fine, if you insist." Tian Sangsang cut off their conversation. If his body gave out, he couldn’t blame her.

Zhao Chun shuddered. Damn it, that phrase again. Every time he heard it, he could almost feel something warm and wet behind him.

So Tian Sangsang lifted Little Milk Tea and strode briskly home, leaving Zhao Chun wobbling unsteadily behind her with his supposedly solid physique.

"That young man looks so pitiable."

"Yeah, he’s been tagging along with Tian Sangsang to the town market these past few days—probably helping her sell stuff."

"Didn’t you see? The poor guy’s even limping. She just left the kid with him and walked off carefree."

For crying out loud. This was a total distortion of the facts—Tian Sangsang felt deeply wronged.

Tian Tian, watching Tian Sangsang’s leisurely demeanor, had a flash of envy in her eyes. Turning to head home, she unexpectedly bumped into Chen Ying and Chen Ming.

She lowered her watery eyes, standing there looking frail.

Chen Ming’s eyes lit up, but his gaze quickly moved to her thin frame, filling with concern.

"Bro, what are you staring for? She’s putting on an act. What’s so great about someone that conniving?" Chen Ying huffed, unimpressed. Clearly, her brother still couldn’t let go of Tian Tian.

Chen Ming sighed helplessly. "Yingzi, don’t talk like that. Tian Tian didn’t do it on purpose. Plus, she’s already apologized."

"’Not on purpose’?" Chen Ying sneered. "She did all those awful things, and just because it didn’t work out, she says it wasn’t on purpose and expects forgiveness? If Tian Sangsang hadn’t found Yanyan back then, Tian Tian would probably still be snickering under her blanket. An apology? Of course, she has to apologize! Once she got caught, what choice did she have?"

Her logic was sound, but standing a meter away, Tian Tian’s face seemed increasingly pale, leaving Chen Ming stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Chen Ying deliberately raised her voice, wanting Tian Tian to hear every word. She was truly infuriated—ever since Tian Tian was dismissed from school, she thought things would quiet down. But who knew what tricks Tian Tian pulled? Last time her brother went to the county, he bought her gifts, and she shamelessly accepted them! How could she be so audacious?

That money was hard-earned through her brother’s frugality, yet it got spent on useless beauty products and some perfume!

Was Tian Tian planning to cling to her brother forever?

Feigning nonchalance, Chen Ming asked, "Tiantian, on your way home?"

See, this was Tian Tian—no matter how harshly his sister spoke, she wouldn’t argue.

"Mm, Chen Ming, Yingzi." Tian Tian gave a weak smile. "I’ve been pretty free lately, just wandering around. Earlier, I saw that city guy Sangsang brought back—he’s injured, yet he’s still helping her carry the kid. Quite pitiful."

Chen Ying fixed her sharp gaze on her.

Tian Tian continued meekly, unperturbed. "Everyone’s saying how they can’t stand it—how Sangsang basically brought in a live-in helper. Working during the day, and at night... But that’s a misunderstanding of Sangsang. I know she’s not like that. She’s been trying hard to change. This is just a big misunderstanding."