CHAPTER 245: 233 WHO CAN’T LEAVE WHO

"Son..." Seeing his innocent and obedient face, Tian Sangsang’s eyes burned, and a tear fell before she could stop it. She hugged him to her chest, "It’s just the two of us again." But really, it wasn’t much different from before. Getting married felt no different than not being married.

The commotion stirred up quite a scene. Almost everyone in the building knew that Jiang Jinghuai had suddenly been sent on a mission.

Not long after, You Huixixi came to Tian Sangsang’s home. Seeing a table full of delicious dishes, yet mother and son sitting there without touching their chopsticks, her brows furrowed slightly.

"Sangsang," You Huixixi sighed, "Is this your first time?"

"Hm? Sister Huihui?"

"Your first time dealing with something like this, right?" You Huixixi realized her question was a bit foolish—of course, this was the first time. Sangsang had only moved here earlier this year. As she spoke, she couldn’t help but gently pat Meng Shuyan’s head. What a good child—not crying or throwing a tantrum, though his eyes were wet, and his rims red. He must be heartbroken.

"As military wives, we have to get used to it, especially you. I know you and Jinghuai are deeply in love, so it’s only natural you’ll feel sad when separated so suddenly."

Tian Sangsang murmured in a daze, "I understand, Sister Huihui."

"As long as you understand." You Huixixi offered a few more words of comfort, then stood to leave. Situations like this had to be processed slowly on one’s own. She’d already said all she could.

However, just as she reached the door, Qin Lan came storming in with a dramatic flair. What her intentions were was anyone’s guess, but outwardly, she appeared to be deeply sorrowful, as though she were attending a wake.

"Huihui, you’re here too? Is Sangsang holding up alright?"

"She’s doing okay. Let’s give her some space," You Huixixi gently tugged at her hand.

Qin Lan was here purely to gawk at the situation, and there was no way she was leaving now. "Oh, this is such karma—seems even the heavens can’t turn a blind eye! Deserved!"

Her gaze greedily swept over the food on the table, and as she walked closer to Tian Sangsang, she said, "Honestly, what kind of mission is so urgent? The higher-ups don’t show any consideration at all. When they say go, you go. Look, they’re even leaving a child without his dad on his birthday. Isn’t there an old saying? ’Poor little cabbage, wilting in the field.’ Two or three years old, how pitiful!"

At those words, both Tian Sangsang and Meng Shuyan stared straight at her, their large, bright almond eyes unblinking...

Qin Lan felt smug satisfaction, but on the surface, she continued to feign sympathy. "Sangsang, don’t let it get to you. I know exactly how you feel. My husband, Old Luo, also frequently goes on missions with his unit. Sometimes he’s gone for seven or eight days, sometimes a month or two. I even heard he gets injured! And those tasks your Jinghuai handles aren’t even regular military ones—they’re all classified, much more dangerous. Once, I even saw him carried into the hospital—a gunshot wound, scary as hell! If anything were to happen to him..."

She trailed off ominously: "This is just the fate of us military wives. We have to accept it."

"Qin Lan..." You Huixixi cast her a warning glance. She couldn’t exactly drag her away, but seriously, what was she saying? Captain Jiang had just left, and here she was rubbing salt in the wound. It sounded like concern on the surface, but really, it was just a stab to the heart!

"Such a waste of food on this table," Qin Lan added. "You won’t be able to finish it all..."

"Who says we can’t finish it?" Tian Sangsang’s blank expression shifted into a dazzling smile. "Oh, Sister, I was feeling so down earlier that I didn’t even want to eat, and I thought about just clearing everything off the table. But after listening to your kind words of encouragement, I’ve suddenly had a breakthrough! You’re so right. As military wives, we need to adopt the right mindset. So now that I’ve come to my senses, I’ve decided to turn my sorrow into appetite and enjoy this meal fully. This entire table of food? It’s nothing for me and my son. We’ll even eat his dad’s share to make up for it. Come on, Yanyan, have a big chicken drumstick. This drumstick, you know, your mom used twelve spices to slow-cook it until it’s tender. Just a light poke with chopsticks, and the soft meat falls right off the bone. Smell that—it’s mouthwatering. Oh no, I’m drooling already..."

"Sister-in-law, you sure have a big appetite," Qin Lan chuckled awkwardly. "You just got your figure back; don’t go gaining it all back again. Twelve spices for a drumstick, huh..."

Watching Qin Lan get shut down, You Huixixi couldn’t help but press her lips together, stifling a giggle.

"If I gain weight, I’ll just lose it again; I can always run," Tian Sangsang said, standing up. "By the way, have you two eaten yet? How about staying to eat with us? Sister Huihui, have you had dinner?" Her tone was much more genuine now.

You Huixixi slowly shook her head. "I already ate. You and Yanyan go ahead. Qin Lan, let’s leave. We’ve seen her; she’s alright now."

Qin Lan remained rooted to the spot.

"I think I just heard Squad Leader Luo calling you," You Huixixi added.

"What!" Qin Lan’s face changed instantly, and she stormed out just as dramatically as she had entered. "I’ll be going now!"

Tian Sangsang watched her retreat with cold eyes, but she still courteously saw You Huixixi to the door.

Once You Huixixi and Qin Lan were gone, the house felt even quieter.

"Mama," Meng Shuyan murmured, tears suddenly streaming down his cheeks.

Tian Sangsang was startled and quickly pulled him onto her lap. "What’s wrong? Don’t cry, okay?"

"What that lady said... is it true?" The little boy’s jet-black eyes shimmered with terrified tears. "Is Dad... will Dad not come back? Is it dangerous?"

"That lady, she’s lying to you," Tian Sangsang said, taking a tissue to gently dab at his face and coax him. "You mustn’t believe a word she says—she always lies. When Dad gets to his destination, he’ll reach out to us. Trust what I say, not what outsiders say."

Meng Shuyan’s tears finally stopped, and he buried his face in Tian Sangsang’s arms, as if deep in thought. With his mother’s reassurance, he felt much calmer.

"Come on, it’s your birthday today, and we haven’t eaten yet. Let’s eat and finish Dad’s share for him."

"Okay!" Meng Shuyan suddenly perked up, grabbing his chopsticks. His red-rimmed eyes now sparkled with resilience.

Tian Sangsang found the meal oddly hard to swallow—flavorless and unsatisfying. By the end, her tears dropped into her rice bowl, and she realized she was already too full.

Really, in life, beyond the joy of reunions and the sorrow of partings, most of it is simply about living. Living is just you doing your work while I do mine.

That evening, bedtime came early.

"I want to sleep in Dad’s bed~" Meng Shuyan whispered. "Mama, come with me."

"Alright," Tian Sangsang said, carrying him to Jiang Jinghuai’s bed. She pulled the army-green quilt over them, its faint smokey scent wrapping around her... This was only the second time she’d slept in Jiang Jinghuai’s bed.

The next morning, Tian Sangsang woke up, stretched lazily, and glanced outside. The sun was shining brightly. Life goes on. No one is truly indispensable, are they? Even love gets diluted with time. What remains is simply living side by side.

**

In recent days, Tian Sangsang had been preoccupied with working on her skin-brightening essential oils. For now, she had settled on releasing two products: rose essential oil and lily essential oil.

Of course, there were other beauty products beyond oils, but she hadn’t had time to experiment with them. For the initial launch, essential oils would suffice.