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

"I know, you and I are impossible, and I’ve never deluded myself into coveting you. You don’t like me, but Tian Sangsang doesn’t deserve you either." Shui Lian’s gaze greedily fell on his stern face. "Do you know what ’good deeds’ she’s been up to while you were gone? She’s been ambiguous with Ji Yao’er’s boyfriend, Zhao Chun. I’ve seen them laughing and talking on the street twice. I’m not lying to you."

Jiang Jinghuai pressed his lips together, silent and expressionless.

Shui Lian let out a laugh and continued, "She doesn’t truly care about you. When she lived in the town, she liked a male teacher—my neighbor, Xu Yiyuan. That man had a child. She even entertained thoughts of becoming a stepmother for him. And as for your son, Yanyan, she never really took care of him before. She always left the child with her grandmother, and only after her grandmother passed did she take things a bit more seriously. Her kindness toward your son is merely because he’s smarter and cuter than other kids, making him easier to care for. And now, the only reason she’s still willing to be good to your child is because she wants to cling to you. Before marriage, her heart betrayed you; after marriage, not only did her heart betray you, but so did her body. I remember discussing a book with you once, and you mentioned your views. I could tell—you utterly despise betrayal, to a degree of extreme abhorrence. Though I don’t know the root of this hatred, you just can’t stand it."

She said all of this in a single breath, without pause. Shui Lian’s cheeks flushed as years of resentment spilled out.

"Finished?" Jiang Jinghuai slid one hand into his pocket and lifted his cold eyes. "Then it’s my turn to speak."

"You think you know me well, or that you know her well?" He chuckled softly and then paused, his tone laced with both derision and a sigh: "Well, let me tell you now—whether what you said is true or not, whether you think you understand or not, no matter what she’s like, I still love her, Tian Sangsang."

No matter what she’s like, I love her. "Why?" Shui Lian staggered back a step, her voice lost and muttering in confusion.

"Why? What’s wrong with me? Why am I always abandoned by everyone, like I’m nothing?"

"No one’s ever said you’re not good, and you’re excellent in other aspects." Jiang Jinghuai stressed calmly, "Except for one thing—your heart is too dark. Shui Lian, clean it up. I’m not suitable for you."

Was my heart dark from the beginning? It’s all because of you people! Shui Lian clutched her face in anguish, sorrow spreading in her mind.

Ah! Tian Sangsang! It’s all her! She’s the source of all my sin!

**

"Mom, I think the black one would look better," Meng Shuyan propped his chin with his hand, answering his mom’s earlier question.

"Shall we happily decide on that, then?" Tian Sangsang asked with a smile.

"Mmhmm!" Meng Shuyan nodded eagerly, his wide eyes curling into crescents, "Happily decided!"

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"Then when your dad’s on break, we’ll have him go buy the black one."

Meng Shuyan let out a cheer, his little face lighting up with excitement. "Will you show up in that black box later, Mom? With Chun Zisu?"

"Not for now, sweetheart—it’s a movie," Tian Sangsang explained softly to him.

The mother and son continued laughing and chatting until they saw Shui Lian and the others ahead. The sight of her almost made Tian Sangsang’s head explode from frustration!

She couldn’t be bothered to deal with her, and she didn’t want her son to even see Shui Lian. It felt like tainting his eyes.

But unexpectedly, Shui Lian loudly called out to her in front of everyone, "Tian Sangsang, stop right there! Since everyone’s here today, let’s clear things up once and for all! You’re shameless and unfaithful, seducing Yao’er’s boyfriend! Admit it, or not?!"

Tian Sangsang placed Meng Shuyan down and shielded him behind her, staring coldly at Shui Lian with a sneer.

Her fury boiled—what was Shui Lian’s aim? She had been nothing but clean and innocent in her dealings with Zhao Chun. Since when had things become as scandalous as people claimed?

And Ji Yao’er—was she brainless, leaving her boyfriend’s reputation to be dragged through the mud like this?

"What does whatever I do have to do with you? Don’t you think you’re overstepping, Teacher Shui?"

Shui Lian scoffed with disdain. "It’s not that I’m overstepping; it’s that you’re too shameless. Even if I don’t intervene, there will always be people who will. You knew Zhao Chun was Ji Yao’er’s boyfriend, and yet you went out with him like a couple. Oh, and by the way, in case everyone isn’t aware, she also acted with him in a play. Spending Jiang Jinghuai’s money while being promiscuous behind his back. When he’s away, you go about seducing men. Forget seducing random men—you seduced the same guy from the military district as Yao’er!"

By this point, others began to gather round, curiosity piqued. No one had expected that seemingly frail-looking Teacher Shui could speak with such pointed accusations.

But the drama surrounding Tian Sangsang had dragged on long enough—it was high time she gave everyone an explanation, wasn’t it?

"Teacher Shui." These three words slipped from Tian Sangsang’s lips one by one as she then casually said, "Do you realize I’ve been tolerating you for a long time."

Before anyone could react, she rolled up her sleeves in a fit of rage, stormed forward, grabbed Shui Lian by the collar, and delivered a vicious slap.

A sharp, resounding crack echoed in the air, leaving the crowd stunned into silence.

Just how much force did she put into that slap!

With her hand still clutching Shui Lian’s collar, Tian Sangsang hit her face five more times—palm and backhand alike. Shui Lian’s beautiful face swelled instantly, both cheeks bearing clear handprints.

Tian Sangsang threw her down to the ground, then shook her aching hand.

"Since the moment I moved into the family quarters in the military district, you’ve been spreading rumors that I was fooling around in the countryside. I’ve lived with integrity, but I chose not to argue. Yet my forbearance has only fueled your arrogance! Give you sunshine, you take liberties! Give you saliva, you flood the place! Give you colors, and you think you can open a dye factory in front of me, huh? Teacher Shui, you’ve got some nerve. Don’t think you can bully me just because I’m from the countryside or didn’t graduate with fancy degrees! While I may lack your education, I have conscience! Unlike you—full of dirty plots and scheming in the shadows! I held back again and again, but today, there is no reason to hold back any further!"

The crowd dared not even breathe, shocked into silence. Normally, Tian Sangsang came across as aloof and indifferent, but when enraged, she was nothing short of a tigress! And her sharp words—only someone from the countryside could deliver them with such raw power.

"And then you saw that the rumors weren’t working and began sowing discord between me and my husband. Shamelessly buying candied fruit, saying suggestive things to make me believe you had something going on with my husband. When my husband was on a mission, you stirred up even more rumors. I’ve never understood—what grudge do I bear against you that you have to provoke me so? I trust my husband; that’s why I didn’t fall for your schemes. I know my husband is exceptional. But for someone like you—a teacher who lusts for married men—how shameless are you? Do you not find yourself repugnant?"