CHAPTER 237: 226 CAPTAIN JIANG DOESN’T WANT TO TAKE THE BLAME (TWO IN ONE 4242)_2

Meng Shuyan wiggled around in his dad’s arms, his eyes darting around, searching.

"Are you looking for your mom?" Jiang Jinghuai asked, lowering his head.

"Mhm, mhm."

"Over there." Jiang Jinghuai’s voice was low as he took his little hand and pointed toward the very front, on the left.

Huh? Meng Shuyan followed the direction his dad pointed in. After a moment, his eyes lit up, "That’s Mom!"

The woman didn’t notice the two of them at all, seemingly engrossed in watching the stage. It was strange—despite the crowd, just one look, and he’d found her.

Jiang Jinghuai patted his son’s head and asked thoughtfully, "Did your mom use to sing often?"

"Yes, Daddy. Mom is amazing!" Meng Shuyan nodded enthusiastically and even started mimicking a performance, "Mom can sing, ’I have a tiny bird, I never ride it... One day I took it to the market... And then there’s that song, aah~~~ This——is——the——Qing——hai——Tibet——Plateau——ah——’"

Jiang Jinghuai chuckled softly, placing one hand on his overly excited son’s back.

"Back then, Chun Zisu loved listening to your mom sing too."

"Chun Zishu?"

"Yes. He used to live at our house."

A man? Jiang Jinghuai’s deep eyes darkened slightly.

As if recalling something, Meng Shuyan suddenly looked downcast, his gaze lowering. "But, Chun Zisu isn’t the same as he used to be. Chun Zisu, he... I don’t even know... He... has a twin..."

The words were piling up, but Meng Shuyan’s little head couldn’t come up with the right expressions or phrases to describe it.

"Yanyan," Jiang Jinghuai gently stroked his back, "Can you tell Daddy more about your Uncle Chun Zisu?"

"Okay." Meng Shuyan propped his chin on his hand, troubled. "But..."

Jiang Jinghuai, seeing his son’s little grown-up manner, couldn’t help but smile, "But what?"

"But, this story is too complicated... and too long..."

"It’s fine. Take your time. Daddy will listen to you."

Shui Lian stood poised and elegant, her soft smile warm yet distant, her eyes scanning the crowd beneath the stage as though looking for someone. Before long, she found the man she was searching for. Although it was from afar, and she could only see the handsome, lean outline of his face, she could still picture his eyes—those penetrating eyes that seemed to see straight through you, compelling you to follow.

Sure, Tian Sangsang had put on a surprisingly good performance. But she wasn’t inferior either. Each had their own charm.

Yet Shui Lian’s perfect smile faltered almost imperceptibly. He wasn’t even watching the stage. Instead, he was tilting his head, speaking to his son.

How could he? How could he! How could it be like this? Earlier, during Tian Sangsang’s performance, he hadn’t looked away from the stage, not even for a second!

Back in town, she had to compete with Tian Sangsang for Xu Yiyuan. Now, after painstakingly starting over and trying to forget the past, he had come into her life in her darkest hour as a ray of hope. Before Tian Sangsang showed up, their interactions had been harmonious. Though he rarely spoke, their shared interest in Ming dynasty history often gave them plenty to talk about.

They were so close.

If only it hadn’t been for that earthquake, slowly, gradually, their future might’ve turned out differently. It was all Tian Sangsang’s fault!

To Shui Lian, Tian Sangsang was her nemesis. At first glance, nothing about her stood out. But over time, she became unbearably intolerable!

"Look, Nini is the prettiest of all the kids," You Huixixi gushed excitedly to her husband.

"She is," Political Commissioner Lin said with a gratified smile as he looked at the stage. "Teacher Shui has taught her well."

Recalling the time Shui Lian had walked Nini home, Political Commissioner Lin added, "Teacher Shui really is a great teacher."

You Huixixi gave him a strange look, pulling her lips into an awkward smile. "You’re still bringing that up? Walking the child home—well, that’s just what a teacher should do."

The program wasn’t very long and finished quickly. Next up was the small family-style Mid-Autumn Festival dinner for each household. Tian Sangsang drifted along with the crowd, trying to find Jiang Jinghuai. From a distance, she spotted his tall, upright figure. As she walked closer, she saw him standing not too far away, talking with Shui Lian.

"Sister-in-law, you’re here!" Fang Tongzhou was holding Meng Shuyan and inwardly groaning. Of all the times, why did she have to see this?

In front of others, Tian Sangsang couldn’t lose her temper. She smiled, taking Meng Shuyan back into her arms. "Tongzhou, thank you for holding Yanyan. What is Teacher Shui discussing with Jinghuai?"

"Nothing important!" Fang Tongzhou quickly shook his head. "They just started talking a moment ago. Sister-in-law, please don’t overthink it... Ah, no, wait—it’s because there was something they needed to discuss..." His clumsy words made it sound even more suspicious.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Tian Sangsang wasn’t surprised anymore. She smiled faintly, saying, "I won’t overthink it. I’ll just take Yanyan back first. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Tongzhou."