Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 135: Brushed past each other

In his memory, there indeed was a girl like this, but her face was blurry.

Jiang Jinghuai looked at her indifferently, his voice carrying the faintness of someone severely injured: "I suppose I... remember." He still recalled the appearance of that snake to this day.

Chen Ying let out a breath and eagerly asked, "You—you came here looking for Tian Sangsang, didn’t you? Tian Sangsang, she..."

Before she could finish, Jiang Jinghuai’s gaze darkened abruptly. He pursed his lips and replied coldly, "No, I didn’t."

He turned and walked away. The intention he had earlier to visit Tian Family Village dissipated the moment she brought it up. Now that the thumb ring had been returned to its rightful owner, why go see her?

Chen Ying froze in place. He’s leaving? Just like that? Then what about Tian Sangsang?

No, she lifted her foot and started to run back. She needed to find Tian Sangsang!

Jiang Jinghuai walked aimlessly. The midday sun bore down intensely. Gradually, he furrowed his brows, feeling his energy draining.

"Ah... I fell." A soft, childlike mumble broke the hushed air.

Jiang Jinghuai lowered his head and saw a little boy in light blue clothes sprawled on the ground, bracing himself with his hands to stand up. Instinctively, Jiang Jinghuai looped one arm around the boy’s waist, hoisting his small body upright. Then, steadying him, he tousled the boy’s fluffy hair and said, "Be more careful when you walk next time."

After speaking, he didn’t bother to check on the boy further. Lost in his own thoughts, he continued forward alone.

"Oh, thank you, Uncle." From the sound of his voice, he must have thought Jiang Jinghuai was an uncle. Meng Shuyan obediently responded, lowering his head and lightly patting off the dirt on his pants and clothes. His hands clumsily rubbed together as he tried to remove the grime from his palms. He had always been someone who loved cleanliness—he couldn’t bear to be covered in dust. His mom was the same way.

As his small hands brushed against the area near his stomach, a flash of green streaked across Meng Shuyan’s thoughts.

As if drawn by some unseen force, he turned his head and searched with his clear, bright eyes for the man he had just encountered. But the street was scattered with passersby, and he couldn’t tell who it had been.

Just moments ago, there had been a pair of hands that wrapped around his waist and picked him up.

Strong, rough palms had lifted him off the ground in an instant.

So incredible.

And those hands seemed to be wearing a jade thumb ring—one that looked just like his dad’s.

Meng Shuyan pouted, his eyes shimmering with tears. He took a few steps forward, trying to find the figure, but he couldn’t see him anymore. Regret washed over him—why had he hurried to fix his clothes earlier and not looked at the man?

He had just lost the person who might have been his dad.

When would he find him again?

"Waa... Daddy..." The thought of this made Meng Shuyan break into sobs, bawling uncontrollably.

Don’t ask him why he’s crying. He just wants to cry.

Almost as if he could sense it, Jiang Jinghuai paused his steps and turned back to look.

Those narrow, jet-black eyes carried something concealed within—complex and inscrutable.

Just now, with the little boy... the familiar scent of flowers... the sudden urge to see his face...

"Captain!" A loud voice broke through his thoughts.

A few team members rushed over, having received news. Seeing that he wasn’t critically injured, they were genuinely relieved.

A military vehicle was parked not far away, here to pick him up.

"Jinghuai, is your injury severe?" Fang Tongzhou glanced at Jiang Jinghuai’s hand resting on his waist and abdomen. "Another mission already, and we only have twelve days of leave. Will your injury heal in twelve days?"

In fact, Jiang Jinghuai should rest longer. Judging by the state of his health, twelve days hardly seemed sufficient for full recovery.

"This isn’t my first time doing this job," Jiang Jinghuai shook his head and asked, "What’s the mission?"

Fang Tongzhou replied, "There’s been severe flooding in several provinces and cities near Lijiang. Orders from above—they want us to head there after twelve days to help with disaster relief and take over the previous team’s shift."

Jiang Jinghuai paused briefly and asked, "Who issued the directive?"

"Commander Lu," Fang Tongzhou answered.

"I see," Jiang Jinghuai remarked faintly, a trace of amusement in his tone. "Let’s go back."

"Sangsang, Tian Sangsang!" Chen Ying ran back to the shop in a rush, shouting, "Ye Jiang’s back!"

Tian Sangsang set down the task she was working on, momentarily dumbfounded. She murmured, "Ye Jiang? Who is that?"

Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Did you say Ye Jiang!?"

"Yes, Ye Jiang!" Chen Ying grabbed her hand and said in a flurry, "He’s over there. Hurry and follow me! If you go too late, he’ll be gone."

"All you need to do is apologize to him, then let him take both you and Yanyan away. You can’t keep living alone with your boy."

Despite her tugging, the person she held was as motionless as a statue. Chen Ying turned back, worried, and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

"I’m not going," Tian Sangsang said decisively.

"Why not?" Chen Ying was completely caught off guard by Tian Sangsang’s tranquility. She stammered, "You weren’t this timid before. You—you used to be so bold."

You actually mean shameless, don’t you?

Tian Sangsang sighed helplessly, pulling her hand free from Chen Ying’s hold. Her expression did not shift—it carried neither storm nor sunshine.

"Listen to me, Yingzi. Whether he’s Ye Jiang, Ye He, or Ye Hai, when I say I’ve forgotten him, I mean it. I won’t shamelessly plead with him."

"Why is it shameless to plead with him?" Chen Ying shook her head. "That’s Yanyan’s dad!"

"What’s so special about being a dad? All he did was provide a sperm cell. Four-legged frogs are rare, but two-legged men are everywhere." Tian Sangsang picked up a ball of dough and continued kneading it, entirely unmoved. "There’s plenty of fish in the sea. A good horse doesn’t backtrack for old grass. One day, when I earn enough money, someone will naturally volunteer to be my son’s stepdad."

"You’ve lost it... you’ve completely lost it..." Chen Ying’s face turned bright red as she staggered back like she had been startled. "You must be suffering from... lunacy."

What else, besides a lost mind, could make her say something so hopeless, so outrageous?

"Sangsang," Chen Ying stepped closer with genuine concern, clasping her hand and trying to transfer her warmth to keep Tian Sangsang’s icy heart from freezing entirely. "I know these years have been incredibly hard for you alone. You’ve been under immense pressure. My brother and I have always misunderstood you. But you can’t let this make you lose hope in life."

Tian Sangsang appeared exasperated.

When had she ever lost hope in life? Couldn’t they see how well she was living—strong teeth, good digestion, and enjoying every meal? If not for her diet plans, life would be even better.

It’s just that Ye Jiang truly was like an unshakable ghost haunting her!!!

Hadn’t he already left? Yet he hadn’t stayed far away—he even showed up in town to be spotted by familiar faces!

If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have saved him. Let him rot away in that mountain cave...

"What about Yanyan? If you won’t go, I’ll take Yanyan to see him." Chen Ying was dead set on making Ye Jiang reunite with them. If Tian Sangsang was beyond salvation, there was still Meng Shuyan—a sweet child, who couldn’t possibly live without a father!

She hadn’t even stopped to think: dashing off on her own—who else would remain standing in one spot without moving for so long without a reason?