CHAPTER 411: 396 LISTEN TO MY EXPLANATION

Here is the line-by-line translation of the provided text:

---

Tian Sangsang marveled at her own self-awareness, refraining from making a scene and walking away dejectedly. However, upon hearing her words, she raised her elegant eyebrows coldly: "Who in this world doesn’t have questions?"

"My questions are about you." Jia Wenxiu gritted her teeth unwillingly. "I still can’t understand—why are you unharmed? How did you switch my medicine?!" Her voice was a bit out of control.

Afraid of waking the people upstairs, Tian Sangsang sneered dismissively, "Let’s talk outside. I’ll give you an explanation." Between her and Jia Wenxiu, today should be the end of things.

Jia Wenxiu followed behind her as they walked out the door, standing together in the front yard.

Calmly, Tian Sangsang said, "Don’t worry about how I’m unharmed or how I switched the medicine. The point is, I’ve known for a long time about your malicious intentions and wasn’t about to let you succeed. Otherwise, why do you think I’d so willingly let you work in my shop?"

"So you knew all along!" Jia Wenxiu’s eyes widened as she drew a sharp breath. "I never thought you’d be this despicable! Using such an insidious method to set me up!"

"I simply repaid you in kind," Tian Sangsang said expressionlessly.

"So everything that happened today—was all part of your plan? I foolishly fell right into your trap." Jia Wenxiu’s face twisted in fury. "Even my brother was fooled by you. You’re the one with the deepest schemes!"

Tian Sangsang pursed her lips unnaturally. She hadn’t deceived him; she just wanted to protect what was hers and turn her passive position into an active one.

"You swapped mine for d-medicine," Jia Wenxiu said. "Weren’t you afraid my brother and Yanyan might actually drink that tea? Tian Sangsang, you’re truly bold!"

"Afraid? Do you think I wasn’t afraid?"

In that moment, her heart had been racing. But Jiang Jinghuai didn’t disappoint her; he quickly realized there was something wrong with the tea.

"I bet on him, gambled that he would notice something off. Even if he hadn’t, I had a way to stop him and Yanyan from drinking. To ensure I never have to see someone as disgusting as you again, I had to do it. It was worth it," Tian Sangsang said, as if convincing herself.

Jia Wenxiu suddenly laughed brightly. "Congratulations—you no longer have to endure my disgust~" Her gaze subtly swept past Tian Sangsang’s shoulder before she casually lifted her luggage and walked toward the courtyard gate.

In that instant, she felt as though she had achieved her revenge.

Tian Sangsang squinted in suspicion, her heart filled with unease. She turned around slowly and nearly lost her balance.

Jiang Jinghuai was standing opposite her, staring at her with an unnervingly calm expression.

"Why are you here?" When had he arrived? How much had he heard?

"I came down because I saw you hadn’t gone upstairs for a long time."

She stepped forward, nervously grabbing his hand and stammering, "Let me explain..."

He asked indifferently, "What have you done? What’s left to explain?"

She wanted to respond but could not utter a word.

"You’re using me, Sangsang," Jiang Jinghuai said as he gently but firmly pulled her hand away. "Did it ever occur to you that Yanyan might truly drink that tea? Where does your confidence come from, gambling so recklessly?"

"Or perhaps... you’ve never loved me. That’s why you’re indifferent to my feelings?" His reddened eyes betrayed his anger as he turned and went upstairs.

Tian Sangsang watched his desolate silhouette, blinking back tears, until a single drop fell heavily to the ground.

**

In the afternoon, Ye Binyi finally noticed something amiss.

Tian Sangsang returned from the shop, but Jia Wenxiu didn’t follow.

Ye Binyi cast a frosty glance in Tian Sangsang’s direction. "Where is Wenxiu? Why didn’t she come back with you? I didn’t see her at work during lunchtime either."

Tian Sangsang’s heart was overwhelmed with grief; she didn’t even register Ye Binyi’s question.

Ye Binyi’s expression darkened, her voice raising: "Sangsang! I asked you where Wenxiu is!"

Tian Sangsang snapped out of her daze, looking at her uncomfortably.

"Mom," Jiang Jinghuai descended from upstairs to explain matter-of-factly, "Wenxiu went back to East Sea."

"What?" Ye Binyi was shocked. "Why would she leave for East Sea so suddenly?"

"Wenxiu has been deceiving you all along. Her motives were malicious. Today, at Sangsang’s shop, she spiked the tea with poison. If I hadn’t spotted it in time, Yanyan almost drank that tea."

Initially struggling to believe it, Ye Binyi’s demeanor changed at the mention of Yanyan. "What about Yanyan? Is he all right?" she quickly asked.

Jiang Jinghuai wrapped an arm around her shoulders and reassured her softly, "Yanyan is fine. I stopped him from drinking."

"Thank goodness!" Ye Binyi exhaled in relief, clutching her chest. "Wenxiu is so foolish. Good riddance! This is such a serious matter—why are you only just informing me now? If anything had happened to Yanyan, I wouldn’t have let her off! Sigh—" Her body swayed slightly, her expression visibly sorrowful.

Despite everything, she still felt reluctant to let go. Ye Binyi inwardly considered: If Wenxiu truly wanted to poison them, why didn’t she act sooner? Why did she choose Sangsang’s shop specifically? Regardless, this incident implicated Tian Sangsang and endangered her grandson. Ever since Tian Sangsang entered their lives, her heart had not known peace.

As her sadness lingered, her disdain for her daughter-in-law intensified.

**

Tian Sangsang had never anticipated things deteriorating into this state. Between her and Jiang Jinghuai, it suddenly felt like they were being polite strangers. The next day, Jiang Jinghuai returned to his unit, leaving her unable to ask him to stay or offer an explanation.

Although he had weekly leave, during his first return, the two didn’t interact. It was as if they had reverted to their initial acquaintance, where he was distant and she unfamiliar.

During his second return, he was out all day, only coming home late at night.

One evening, a half-asleep Tian Sangsang felt something heavy pressing down on her. Opening her eyes, she became wide awake in an instant.

"Jiang Jinghuai, you’re drunk." It had been far too long since they had been physically close. She didn’t resist and spoke gently, "You smell of alcohol. Can you wash up first?"

But he seemed not to hear her, pressing her onto the bed...

The heavy odor of alcohol repulsed her. Tian Sangsang struggled and pushed him. "Don’t be like this..."

"Can you just stop resisting!" His voice suddenly sounded strained, low and hoarse, nearly unrecognizable.

She froze, raising her eyes toward him.

And in his gaze, she saw sparkle at the corners of his eyes.

She saw pain.

She saw yearning.

She saw everything.

Tears welled in her eyes.

She stopped fighting back.

Perhaps, in this moment, they could finally wash away the barriers between them. Perhaps this was the only way she could make amends. Perhaps, by doing this, they could return to harmony, and he could forgive her.

What followed came naturally and without resistance.

For a quiet second, they locked eyes before she leaned forward and took the initiative to kiss his lips.

His large hand curled around her slender back, holding her up, quickly switching from passive to dominant.

He looked into her eyes with his deep, dark gaze, so profound it resembled an unfathomable night sky.

He wrapped his arms around her waist.

---