CHAPTER 177: SINCERE HEART

Meng Shuyan’s eyes closed slightly, his long eyelashes trembling, "I’m a bit sleepy."

"Oh heavens." Tian Sangsang’s cheeks were damp, her hand reached to wipe them and she lowered her gaze, saying, "Son, don’t be sleepy, don’t sleep. Listen to Mom talking. What should I talk about? Let’s talk about your father."

"Let’s talk about your father... Aren’t you the one who loves your father the most? He will come to save you, to save us."

Meng Shuyan suddenly opened his eyes, a faint light flickering in them, and softly asked, "Really?"

Really? He had been waiting for so long, but Dad hadn’t come. Is he really still there? He must not want him anymore. If it was before, Meng Shuyan would still be cheerful, but today, for some reason, he felt sad.

"Really." Tian Sangsang kissed his forehead and said, "Listen closely, okay? Mom has never told you about him before, so now I’ll tell you."

Meng Shuyan nodded his head, looking at her expectantly.

"Your dad, his name is Jiang Jinghuai. Surname Jiang, do you know which Jiang it is?" Tian Sangsang purposely chatted with him, trying to lift his spirits.

"The Jiang from Yangtze River." Meng Shuyan blurted out, looking as if he wanted to be praised.

"Oh, how smart! It’s indeed the Jiang from Yangtze River, not the Jiang from ginger." Tian Sangsang slowed down her voice as she continued, "Jinghuai is such a good name. Jing, it means sunlight. Huai, it means capacity. Together, it implies he has a heart as bright as the sun, he’s someone radiant and warm like the sun."

"He’s a great person. Especially remarkable. When he was a child, every time he took an exam, he scored full marks. The kids in class were so envious and jealous of him. When he grew up, he joined the army, just like Comrade Lei Feng, always ready to help others. Whenever someone was in trouble, he was always the first to lend a hand."

"Mom, how do you even know about Dad’s childhood?" Meng Shuyan asked softly.

"Because he told me himself."

He guessed it. Dad was just that good. Good at studying, good at martial arts. Kind and polite. The child blinked his eyes.

"He’s also handsome." This time Tian Sangsang wasn’t making it up herself; she thought about Jiang Jinghuai’s appearance when she saw him that day. "Really handsome, good looks and a great build. There were so many girls chasing him in the military. Even though there were so many competitors, he just liked Mom. Do you know why?"

Meng Shuyan smiled, his eyes curving as he looked at her.

"Because Mom can cook. As the saying goes, the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. So, I captured him like that."

"And you know, about your dad and Mom, it’s not like what people say. Back then, your dad got injured and I saved him. Your dad gave me a thumb ring and said he would come back to find me in the future. He left for many years, not because he didn’t want to come back, but because he was too busy. He’s a soldier, he has to protect the country. It’s been so long, hasn’t it?"

"Even though he’s a soldier, we shouldn’t forgive him so easily. When he comes back, we should smack him, just like when you smacked Susu Purity, smack him hard and turn him into a panda. Blame him for being so busy, for making Yanyan wait for so long. It’s a must, we have to smack him hard!" Tian Sangsang said, and as she spoke, tears fell down. She hurriedly suppressed the urge to cry.

Actually, the one who should be smacked is herself. All these years, she had biases and even resentment toward Jiang Jinghuai. She didn’t want the father and son to reunite. So when there were two opportunities earlier, she deliberately avoided them. But she ignored Meng Shuyan. He was just a child, who needed his father’s love. She was far too selfish.

Meng Shuyan smiled faintly, the pale color on his face gaining some warmth, "Don’t smack him, just pat him."

"Hmm, let’s ask for a gentle pat." Tian Sangsang noticed his dry lips and asked, "Yanyan, are you thirsty?"

Meng Shuyan pressed his lips together, "Thirsty."

Tian Sangsang took out a bottle of mineral water, poured some into the bottle cap, and carefully fed him a few sips. The moisture brightened his lips again.

"Are you hungry? Do you need some food?"

"Not hungry, just thirsty." Meng Shuyan’s dark eyes scanned the surroundings and asked, "Mom, why did the house collapse? It’s so scary."

"It’s an earthquake." Tian Sangsang hugged him tightly, "Don’t be afraid. People will come to rescue us very soon."

"Will it be the liberation army uncles? Will it be Dad?"

"..." Tian Sangsang paused for a while, then nodded firmly, "Yes, he’s the one who does this kind of work. He will come. Your dad will come for us. We must believe in him!"

"Okay." Meng Shuyan seemed a bit excited, "Mom, I’ll sleep for a while. When I wake up, Dad will be here."

Tian Sangsang’s nose stung as she stroked his head, "Alright then, sleep. But remember, don’t sleep for too long. You have to wake up, okay?"

Meng Shuyan nestled into a comfortable position in her arms, and almost instantly fell asleep.

Inside this narrow space, the suffocating atmosphere was terrifying. Little Milk Tea sat lethargically on the ground, gazing at the mother and son huddled together.

In the soundless stillness, Tian Sangsang’s broken voice pierced the void, "Is anyone out there? Please save us, save my son." Tian Sangsang knew that earthquakes always had rescue teams; it’s just a matter of time. She wasn’t worried about herself, but she was terrified about her son’s leg. She feared that if the rescue team came too late, his leg would be in danger.

He’s so young, so fragile. She wished she could take his place, hoping the walls would crush her instead.

And what about outside? What was happening out there? Chen Ying should have gotten out, right? For the others, she hoped they were all safe. Hopefully, someone would discover them...

Tian Sangsang entered the dimensional space and took out a damp towel, wiping Meng Shuyan’s face and hands. Checking him over, she found only minor scrapes, nothing serious. The worst problem was his leg, tightly pinned beneath rubble. She made a simple bandage for her own foot; she didn’t really care about her own injuries. She wasn’t hungry or thirsty, only consumed by unease.

In her hazy state, Tian Sangsang heard someone calling her name. Listening closely, the voice wasn’t far away—it sounded like Chen Ying.

"Yingzi, is that you!?" Tian Sangsang raised her voice deliberately, afraid of waking Meng Shuyan.

"Sangsang, it’s me!"

"How are you and Yanyan?"

"I’m trapped. Can you come check on me?"

Tian Sangsang looked down at her son, carefully placed him on the ground, then checked the surroundings to make sure there wouldn’t be any unexpected danger before crawling over to the gap.

She turned back and said, "Milk Tea, I’m leaving Yanyan in your care."

Little Milk Tea wagged its tail and barked a response.

Following the voice, Tian Sangsang located Chen Ying. Chen Ying’s situation wasn’t good; like Meng Shuyan, she was trapped, but instead of being pinned to the ground, she was pressed against a wall, with stones covering her chest and her legs immobile. Tian Sangsang’s heart ached; she didn’t dare touch the stones. If these were moved, larger ones might fall from above—far too dangerous.