"Tian Sangsang." Jiang Jinghuai furrowed his brows, his gaze suddenly darkened. "This is such an important matter, and you actually..."
"Stop, you don’t need to say it, I already know!" Tian Sangsang faced him without any fear. "You can hand over to the military! I’m willing to accept punishnt, I swear it with my body and soul!"
The two locked eyes for a mont before Jiang Jinghuai sighed deeply. "I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. What are the specific characteristics of the object?"
Tian Sangsang secretly exhaled in relief.
"Don’t try to muddle through it."
Tian Sangsang rolled her eyes. "It’s a bag, nothing important, just an ordinary bag."
"Be specific."
Tian Sangsang let out a resentful sigh and confessed, "Actually, that bag is mine."
"What are you scheming again?!" Jiang Jinghuai looked at her with mixed emotions.
"Well, truthfully, the bag is mine. Back then, I gave it to Kunling. As for how it ended up in the dormitory, I truly have no idea. Although Guan Kunling is now a suspect, she’s Yanyan’s savior after all, and I can’t bring myself to turn her in. Yanyan is your son, and you owe Kunling an imnse debt of gratitude. Besides, you can just talk to Chen Xiaobing about it, this issue didn’t cause the military significant loss. Let’s put it behind us. Xiaobing lost so food, and I’ll compensate him for that. What do you think?"
Tian Sangsang looked at him expectantly.
"Do you think the military is a marketplace?" Jiang Jinghuai’s deep eyes narrowed as he asked in a low voice, "Where is Guan Kunling?"
"I don’t know." Tian Sangsang shook her head firmly. Even if she knew, she wouldn’t say.
Jiang Jinghuai glanced at her. "Do you think I’m an ungrateful person?"
"Then why do you..." Tian Sangsang hesitated, still doubtful.
"I can promise you that I won’t hand her over to the military. But you—" Jiang Jinghuai added, "You must find her."
"Oh," Tian Sangsang muttered, propping her chin in thought as she watched him. "Why do I feel like you care a lot about her? Let tell you sothing, Jiang Jinghuai. She’s my girlfriend, you’re not allowed to make a move on her. You already have a..."
Jiang Jinghuai shot her a calm glare. "Shut your mouth."
"..."
"Co on, Yanyan, close your eyes, make a wish, and then blow out the candle." Tian Sangsang, unwilling to argue further, lit the small candle and gently said to ng Shuyan, "This way, your wish will co true."
"Hmm, hmm." ng Shuyan shyly clasped his hands together and slowly closed his eyes before softly saying, "From now on, for my birthdays, I want Dad and Mom and to..."
"Wait, Yanyan." Tian Sangsang was startled and quickly interrupted, "You’re supposed to keep your wish secret. If you say it out loud, it won’t co true."
"Really..." ng Shuyan lowered his bright eyes in frustration. "But this wish includes three people."
"It’s fine, go ahead and say it." Jiang Jinghuai reached out to stroke his hair, a smile flickering in his gaze. "What do you want to do with Mom and Dad?"
"Celebrate my birthday."
Jiang Jinghuai replied softly, his voice gentle, "Dad will try his best to celebrate with you every year."
Tian Sangsang raised a brow in surprise. Try his best... why not commit to ’always’?
She shifted the topic. "You’re really particular about celebrating birthdays."
Oops! Tian Sangsang took a deep breath. "When I was in high school, our teacher told us how Westerners celebrate birthdays."
"And did they also teach you about Christianity?"
What did he an? eting his deep gaze, Tian Sangsang chuckled awkwardly, her mind racing to recall anything she might’ve done related to Christianity, but nothing ca to mind.
"Hehe, yes."
"Your singing voice is pretty good too."
Talking about singing, Tian Sangsang boasted confidently, "Have you ever heard of the term... genius."
"Exactly. I’m that kind of genius, no surprise there. When the heavens grant a re mortal genius-level talent, they’re bound to demand a heavy price. I’ve paid the cost already; you could say it was devastating."
Jiang Jinghuai’s gaze turned downcast. "Let’s eat." He picked a small drumstick and placed it on his son’s plate.
Just as Tian Sangsang was about to grab her chopsticks, a sudden knock ca at the door. The knock sounded urgent.
At this mont, who would co knocking?
Tian Sangsang set down her untouched chopsticks and got up to open the door.
Standing outside was a stranger in a sharp military uniform. Tian Sangsang vaguely recognized him from the Mid-Autumn Festival party but wasn’t familiar with him.
Jiang Jinghuai’s expression instantly shifted upon seeing the man. He quickly stepped forward, raised his hand in a crisp salute, and spoke firmly, "Chief of Staff."
The chief of staff glanced at the couple, then addressed Jiang Jinghuai. "There’s an ergency. You have a task. Jinghuai, get ready and rendezvous with the others. You have five minutes—move quickly."
Jiang Jinghuai replied solemnly, "Understood."
The chief of staff left after delivering his orders, but his abrupt interruption brought an end to what should’ve been a family-reunion birthday dinner. The festivities hadn’t even really begun.
Jiang Jinghuai walked toward ng Shuyan, crouching down, his expression apologetic. "Yanyan, Dad will celebrate your birthday with you next ti."
ng Shuyan pursed his small lips, his eyes beginning to redden. "Dad, are you leaving?"
"Yes." He pulled the little boy into his arms briefly before letting go, then ruffled his hair. With a muffled voice, he said, "Listen to your mom."
ng Shuyan nodded vigorously.
There wasn’t ti for a lengthy goodbye. Jiang Jinghuai went to the bedroom. When he ca back, he was carrying an army-green backpack, still wearing his uniform. Then he noticed Tian Sangsang, who remained frozen in place, looking helpless and dazed.
Jiang Jinghuai glanced at her. "I’m leaving."
Tian Sangsang finally snapped out of it, her wide eyes staring blankly at him. "What are you going to do?"
Jiang Jinghuai stayed silent.
"What, you can’t tell ?" Tian Sangsang pulled a cold, humorless smile.
"It’s classified," he replied. "While I’m away, take good care of our son."
"This type of life... you’ll have to get used to it." After saying that, he looked at her deeply for a mont. "I’ll try to stay in touch with you." Seeing no response from her, he sighed softly, his gaze conflicted as he stepped out.
After a while, Tian Sangsang finally looked out the door. There was no one there. For the first ti, she truly realized the reality of her husband being a soldier—it ant inevitable separations. This period of ti had deluded her into thinking they were an ordinary couple. For the first ti, she began reevaluating her marriage. Isn’t this the kind of relationship she disliked most? This was not the life she wanted. Her husband was a soldier, while she was just an average person.
What she wanted was a husband who could stay and celebrate her son’s birthday, not soone who disappeared just as the celebration started.
She suddenly had a chilling realization: this wouldn’t be the only ti, it was just the first. There’d be countless instances of this in the future, all catching her off guard. She detested this inability to keep her hands on the steering wheel of her own life!
Tian Sangsang sat back down at her seat, stunned and silent.
"Mom?"
"Mom?"
"Hmm? Yanyan, what is it?"
"Mom, don’t be sad. Dad will co back."
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