Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s

Chapter 582: Return the Bright Pearl to the Lord (Part 1)

Yeah. She just thought of Kunling. Where could she be?

After seeing that gruesome corpse in the forest earlier, she felt like a drowning person struggling to stay afloat, overwhelmed by a suffocating sense of despair and fear. Submerged by the tide, resurfacing, submerged again, resurfacing. The cycle repeated endlessly, leaving her chilled to the bone with a profound, unsettling coldness.

**

Tian Sangsang asked Xu Zhengyang to take her to the Jiang Family’s house, not to Yipin Xiangju or the courtyard house. Meng Shuyan was temporarily staying at Ye Binyi’s place. To avoid worrying them, she had immediately brought Little Tangyuan over.

"Found him, finally found him..."

Ye Binyi, Father Jiang, and Meng Shuyan rushed out excitedly.

Before Tian Sangsang could react, the little one in her arms disappeared from her sight.

Meng Shuyan slowly walked up to her. Tian Sangsang reached out and gently placed her hand on his small head.

Ye Binyi hugged Little Tangyuan, tears streaming down her face with heartache, "Little Tangyuan, my dear grandchild, you’ve suffered so much. Don’t be scared, don’t be scared anymore. Is your tummy full? Your face has turned so pale. Those damned traffickers!"

"Grandma, let me hold him~" Meng Shuyan tilted his head upward, looking at her eagerly, speaking in a soft and tender voice.

Ye Binyi handed Little Tangyuan to him, and Meng Shuyan’s arms were completely filled by the little one. He reached out and poked Little Tangyuan’s cheek. The baby blinked in confusion and grabbed his finger as if to gnaw on it.

The eldest grandson holding the youngest grandson—Ye Binyi was utterly comforted by the sight.

"Tangyuan’s clothes are all dirty. I’ll take him upstairs with Yanyan to clean him up. Lunch is ready too; you can eat after you’re done before leaving." Ye Binyi, having little to say to Tian Sangsang, found this remark slightly awkward. Their only shared topic was likely these two children.

Tian Sangsang nodded wearily but did not refuse.

**

Since then, Tian Sangsang had not dared to let the two children leave her sight. They went everywhere with her. Every day at Yipin Xiangju, she kept the back door of the shop tightly shut, ensuring that Meng Shuyan stayed either in the small loft or upstairs. Whenever customers came, she carefully checked on the two children.

After the incident of Tangyuan being kidnapped, Jin Zhi bore undeniable responsibility and was detained for a period of re-education. Tian Sangsang didn’t deliberately inquire about the other traffickers’ outcomes, but she trusted the police would not let them off lightly, and that was enough for her.

Hiring employees wasn’t easy. Training newcomers was no small trouble. So Tian Sangsang decided not to hire anyone, managing everything personally. She ran the shop during the day, did the bookkeeping at night, and juggled caring for Little Tangyuan and Meng Shuyan in between. Not only that, she visited the factory daily and took additional orders from elsewhere, leaving her spinning like a top. Thankfully, after the ordeal, Meng Shuyan grew particularly attentive to his younger brother and helped out with many tasks.

Even so, Tian Sangsang eventually fell ill.

A sudden illness hit her like a mountain.

She didn’t know why it happened or at what moment some negligence allowed the illness to invade her body.

Yesterday morning, when she woke up, she felt a dull headache and a scratchy throat.

It was the prelude to a cold.

Spring had already arrived, and people had shed their thick cotton coats, replacing them with light and warm spring outfits. The streets were once again filled with vibrant colors. Yet in such a season of blooming flowers and thriving life, Tian Sangsang had caught a cold, even though it wasn’t uncommon.

Yesterday, she took some cold medicine at home, but today her condition hadn’t improved. Her headache subsided, but she felt groggy, and her throat was hoarse. Taking the children with her, Tian Sangsang went to the hospital.

Carrying the medication prescribed by the doctor, she unexpectedly ran into Hua Jun at the hospital gate on her way out.

"Mrs. Jiang."

Hua Jun smiled lightly, her gaze scanning Tian Sangsang’s pale face. "What a coincidence. Are you here to see a doctor?"

Tian Sangsang responded blandly, "Just a cold."

Hua Jun let out a casual "Oh" and, with a detached tone, said, "This season, many people are falling ill. I’m here because I’m not feeling well either."

Unable to resist, Tian Sangsang asked, "Why didn’t Comrade Ye come with you?"

"He’s quite busy with work at the station. Otherwise, he’d be here."

A month and a half had passed in a flash. Suddenly, Tian Sangsang recalled the corpse in the forest from that day. She hadn’t heard anything about it since. With deliberate sarcasm, she said, "No matter how busy, a wife’s health is just as important. Busy with what exactly?"

"They found a corpse in the woods by the highway. Not just one—there were several bodies. One of them is said to be a prominent military leader. DNA samples were sent to the United States for comparison, and the results should come back soon," Hua Jun explained truthfully.

"And what about the other bodies?"

Hua Jun saw her level of interest but couldn’t gauge her thoughts.

"All the other bodies were male. I can’t disclose details, as you know, such cases require confidentiality about specifics." Hua Jun suddenly pressed her lips together, her eyebrows and eyes showing an incongruous shyness. "By the way, Mrs. Jiang, you’re experienced—my stomach hasn’t been feeling well recently, and I’ve been nauseous a lot. Do you think I might be pregnant?"

Tian Sangsang froze, her gaze fixed on Hua Jun’s face. "But isn’t your husband... incapable?"

"That’s just a rumor. Surely you don’t believe rumors, Mrs. Jiang?"

"Then congratulations," she said coldly, throwing out the sentence before walking away.

**

The cold had worsened—at least that’s what Tian Sangsang believed.

She seemingly had a fever, her body alternating between hot and cold. Closing Yipin Xiangju, she went home, took some medicine, and lay down on her bed to nap for a while. Knowing she was unwell, Meng Shuyan dutifully watched over Little Tangyuan, making sure not to disturb her.

Even during a short nap, Tian Sangsang had a nightmare. Once again, it was a pitch-black night with no moonlight. The window was slightly ajar, cold wind fluttering the curtains. Someone was calling her name as she slowly woke up and turned towards the window.

There stood a figure, indistinct at first, until the moonlight gradually illuminated it. She then saw—it was the corpse she had seen in the forest that day, walking towards her.

Frightened out of her wits, she clutched herself tightly, retreating until her back pressed against the icy headboard of the bed.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Her son’s clear and childlike voice called out.

Tian Sangsang jolted awake to find a small, adorable face with twinkling eyes before her!

"Mommy, Chun Zisu is back!" Meng Shuyan’s large eyes sparkled brightly!

"Who? Who did you say is back?"

"Chun Zisu!" Meng Shuyan tugged at her hand.

The cold, desolate courtyard house suddenly felt warm and lively. The fear from her nightmare vanished without a trace. Tian Sangsang threw off the quilt. "Mommy is going to change her clothes! By the way, don’t tell Chun Zisu about your little brother being kidnapped, understand?"

"Okay!" Meng Shuyan responded cheerfully as he bounded out of the room.

Tian Sangsang quickly changed into a new outfit, glanced at herself in the mirror, picked up a comb, and brushed her long, glossy black hair. Without lingering further, she tied it into a simple ponytail as she hurried out.

He looked less youthful now, somewhat like a middle-aged man. His once-handsome face carried traces of wear and tear from his journey. Dressed casually, a slight stubble shadowed his chin, giving him the look of one of those directors with a past.