CHAPTER 414: 399 VOMITING·RUPTURE

It’s over, it’s all over. Today was a rare family gathering, and it seems she’s ruined it again.

Tian Sangsang scooped a handful of cool water and splashed it on her face, feeling a bleak sadness in her heart.

Her face, moistened by the water, was nearly pale enough to be transparent.

She straightened up and froze.

Jiang Jinghuai was standing at the bathroom door, his cold eyes fixed on her: "Why did you throw up?"

"I don’t know either." She pressed her dry lips together and said apologetically, "I didn’t mean to, I don’t even know why it just..." This wasn’t something she could control. It wasn’t like she purposely chose this moment to throw up.

She really didn’t do it on purpose, okay?

She was just as puzzled herself.

Jiang Jinghuai’s voice was indifferent: "There wasn’t any celery in today’s dishes." Not even a trace of celery, not even the faintest hint of its smell.

Tian Sangsang opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she couldn’t utter a single word.

It felt as if her throat was being gripped, burning and uncomfortable.

She knew that even if she tried to explain, her explanations would be powerless and meaningless. Because she had a prior record. The last time, she threw up at the table when eating celery. This time, there wasn’t any celery, she didn’t have a stomach upset, yet somehow she threw up again. Last time there was celery as an excuse; what was she supposed to blame it on this time?

Perhaps the heavens wanted to make her life difficult, purposely stirring up conflict between her and her mother-in-law.

Jiang Jinghuai turned and walked away, leaving her with the disappointed silhouette of his back.

Tian Sangsang stood alone in the bathroom, not daring to step out. She had a gut feeling that stepping out would only lead to another round of deafening arguments. She had genuinely had enough of living like this.

Because of her throwing up, Ye Binyi’s suppressed anger finally erupted. She stood up suddenly, her usual graceful demeanor completely shattered as she lashed out. She turned to Jiang Jinghuai, anger flaring: "Look at her! What does she even look like? Because she’s allergic to celery, I specifically cooked everything according to her tastes today, without daring to add even a speck of celery. And yet, she goes out of her way to humiliate me like this!"

"Everyone in the world can eat celery, but she’s the only one acting so delicate."

"She throws up as soon as you come back; she’s doing it on purpose to show you, isn’t she? Anyone who doesn’t know would think my cooking is repulsive or something. How come she’s the only one who throws up every time? None of the rest of us do!"

In the midst of this chaotic outburst, Meng Shuyan was already frightened into shrinking silently into the corner, quietly watching them.

The little one blinked his wide, innocent eyes, completely unable to comprehend why they were fighting.

Mommy threw up, so why was no one concerned about her health, but instead blaming her?

And Grandma looked really terrifying.

Jiang’s father’s mind was in turmoil: "Binyi, please say less!"

Jiang Jinghuai lifted his eyes and said lightly, "Dad, this isn’t Mom’s fault." He had seen everything clearly from start to finish. Though he didn’t want to admit it, the reason the peace had been shattered today was his wife suddenly throwing up.

"I don’t think I can live like this anymore!" Ye Binyi spat out the harsh words, "From now on, either she stays in this house, or I do. You all figure it out!" Last time she pretended to throw up, this time again with the same act. This vixen was full of wicked schemes, it was revolting!

Red-faced from anger, her usually sickly complexion flushed. She spun around and stormed out the door.

"Mom!" Jiang Jinghuai realized something was wrong and hurried after her.

Jiang’s father let out a heavy sigh before following her as well.

It wasn’t until the bitter complaints outside had finally ceased that Tian Sangsang dared to come out of the bathroom.

Looking at the table of barely-touched dishes, she felt tears of grievance rolling down her cheeks.

Why? Why was it like this?

Things had been so harmonious moments ago, but everything changed just because she threw up.

People are cold, tea goes cold when the drinkers leave.

She crouched down in distress, holding herself tightly.

"Mommy." Meng Shuyan slowly shuffled toward her.

Tian Sangsang raised her head and saw her son’s tender little face.

He stretched out his small hand to wipe her tears: "Don’t cry."

"If you cry, I’ll cry too." His eyes were already red-rimmed.

"I’m sorry." Tian Sangsang hugged her son’s tiny body, holding him tightly.

But who was she apologizing to? What was she apologizing for? Why did she feel the need to say sorry?

Today, Ye Binyi was truly irrational with anger. She had never been this furious before. She was used to looking down on others, but never had anyone looked down on her. Yet, she had been humiliated twice by her despised daughter-in-law. To be thrown up after eating the food she prepared was a silent insult to her.

Perhaps it was her anger that gave her an unexpected burst of energy. Normally, she would be short of breath after running a certain distance, her heart unable to take it. But today, she just kept running, ignoring her son and husband’s shouting behind her, refusing to stop.

She wandered aimlessly, unable to see where she was heading, only feeling the exhaustion in her legs. When she finally was too tired and thought of taking a break, a piercing car horn blared and her son’s anxious voice sounded behind her. Then her vision blurred, and the world began spinning.

**

After comforting Meng Shuyan and carrying him to bed.

He fell into a deep sleep.

The little guy’s sleeping face looked peaceful. It reminded Tian Sangsang of the first time she saw him, back when he was even younger and more adorable than now. Those days, they spent time together—not necessarily happier than now, but always managing to make him cry. He was too pitiful, caught in the middle of the conflict between two groups of adults.

Jiang Jinghuai, Ye Binyi, and Jiang’s father still hadn’t returned by nightfall, and a sense of foreboding crept into Tian Sangsang’s heart. Where were they? Why hadn’t they come home?

She had no appetite for dinner. She didn’t touch the leftovers from lunch but instead made something small in the kitchen for her son to eat. After throwing up earlier, she hadn’t wanted to eat anything, perhaps due to the emotional toll.

That night, none of them came back.

The next morning, Tian Sangsang went downstairs and asked in the kitchen: "Aunt Zhang, did they come back?" Although she hadn’t really slept the night before, keeping an ear out for any movement in the house, it had been eerily quiet. She couldn’t help but ask Aunt Zhang just to make sure she hadn’t missed anything.

Aunt Zhang shook her head: "No. Don’t worry, Young Madam. They’re probably just held up by something. They’ll likely be back soon." She had barely spoken the words when faint sounds came from the living room. Tian Sangsang hurriedly walked over and saw Jiang Jinghuai, bringing with him a chill.

"You’re back." She cautiously glanced behind him, "Where are Dad and Mom?" She still needed to explain to her mother-in-law, still needed to tell her that she hadn’t been trying to insult her cooking; it had just been a physical reaction.

He looked significantly more haggard, lifting bloodshot eyes to look at her. "Mom was in a car accident." Without another word, he turned and went upstairs.

Tian Sangsang stood there, dumbfounded, her body swaying before Aunt Zhang caught her. Her mother-in-law had run out of the house and ended up in a car accident. How bad was it? Was it serious? Could this be considered her indirect responsibility?

A heavy sense of guilt flooded her heart.

When Jiang Jinghuai came downstairs again, he was holding a bag, presumably with a change of clothes. He instructed Aunt Zhang to prepare some food and nourishing soup to be delivered to the City First Hospital. Aunt Zhang quickly complied.