It was the same face, but Troy’s gaze when he looked at Jiang Miao used to be more intense.
Jiang Miao lowered her eyes. “Sometimes.”
Yan He said, “I actually wouldn’t mind… starting something.”
“I mind!” Jiang Miao interrupted him, emphasizing, “I mind.”
“…Alright,” Yan He smiled.
Yan He was never the type of man to pester a woman endlessly. Once Jiang Miao expressed her refusal, he backed off.
But later that night, after Jiang Miao had put Rui Rui to bed, Yan He stopped her in the hallway.
“I think he was genuine too,” Yan He said.
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Kkydt Ykys ypjle, “Ebyv?”
“R’x vyzjkdt ycswv Masu,” Zyd Tl nzyakqkle.
Kkydt Ykys qasgl.
“R’x fwpv prlyjkdt qasx y xyd’p rlaprlnvkhl, Psnvsa.” Zyd Tl pvsse okvb bkp bydep kd bkp rsnjlvp, zlydkdt nypwyzzu ytykdpv vbl oyzz. Yyucl kv oyp clnywpl kv oyp dktbvvkxl, cwv bl zssjle zygu yde alzymle, okvb y wdkiwl jkde sq nbyax.
Tl nsdvkdwle, “Zsw’al yd yvvaynvkhl osxyd, yde qsa y xyd, vbyv’p ldswtb.”
Kkydt Ykys oyp prllnbzlpp.
“Mbydjp,” pbl alrzkle pyanypvknyzzu, nasppkdt bla yaxp. “Zsw xld alyzzu es byhl pkxrzl yde lypu-vs-wdelapvyde vbswtbv rasnlpplp.”
Zyd Tl awccle bkp qsalblye yde zywtble psqvzu.
“Just calling it as I see it,” he added. “How long were you together?”
Jiang Miao hesitated before saying, “More or less since before he got pregnant.”
Rui Rui was already seven months old, and Yan He did the math, a bit surprised. “That long?”
He honestly admitted, “I’ve never had a relationship last more than four months—at least, not since I became an adult.”
Such an honest and straightforward person, Jiang Miao thought. She rubbed her temples, realizing that in the Republic of Gita, both men and women were this honest—something she had to get used to.
The whole society was like this. Probably no one but her, an old-fashioned Earthling from another time, found it odd.
Yan He, especially, was unapologetically straightforward.
“Is it because of your job?” Jiang Miao asked.
“Mostly,” Yan He said. “Usually, by the time I get back from the front lines, I’ve already automatically become an ex. We’ve all gotten used to this. After all, who knows if we’ll come back next time, so it doesn’t really matter.”
Jiang Miao had heard that soldiers on the front lines, regardless of gender, were keen on living in the moment. It was practically an occupational hazard.
“So, is this supposed to be comforting me?” she asked skeptically.
Yan He sensed that Jiang Miao might be a bit slow to pick up on this, and he smiled, “So, did it comfort you?”
Before Jiang Miao could answer, he continued, “I hope you can move past these feelings soon.”
He paused and told Jiang Miao, “I received a notification this afternoon that I need to go to the base tomorrow to hear about the results. If… if in the future you might need to take care of the child alone, I hope you can be a bit happier.”
Jiang Miao was silent for a moment and asked, “What’s the worst possible outcome?”
“Probably, being sent to a remote border area, one of those places with no human habitation. Like a forward outpost,” Yan He said calmly.
Jiang Miao thought about his past glittering records and couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret. At this moment, she didn’t feel happy at all about the possibility that Yan He might be reassigned far away, leaving her with sole custody of their child.
Yan He left early the next morning.
Jiang Miao had lunch alone with Rui Rui, and after they finished eating, she was sunbathing with Rui Rui in the living room when Yan He came back.
As soon as he walked in, he lifted Rui Rui high up. Rui Rui loved it and laughed merrily. The carefree laughter of a child always brightens one’s mood.
Yan He seemed to be in a good mood, even quite cheerful. Jiang Miao felt a bit relieved and said, “Don’t make him too excited; it’ll affect his nap.”
“Okay,” Yan He agreed, but still held Rui Rui and spun him around a couple of times, rubbing his chin against Rui Rui’s cheek.
“Alright, alright, give him to me. Have you eaten?” Jiang Miao said, seeing that it was not working, and quickly took Rui Rui from Yan He. “I’ll put him to sleep. If you haven’t eaten, take care of it yourself.”
Yan He asked, “Is there any wine?”
“Yes, the wine cabinet is over there. Help yourself,” Jiang Miao pointed out and went back to the room with Rui Rui.
The little chubby baby had eaten and sunbathed, and if it weren’t for Yan He suddenly coming back and causing a commotion, he would have been asleep already. Jiang Miao placed him in the crib and gently patted him a couple of times. His eyes began to droop, and with a few more pats, he was asleep.
When Jiang Miao returned to the living room, she found Yan He sitting on the floor in a white shirt, leaning against the sofa. There was an open bottle of wine and two glasses on the coffee table.
“Let’s have a drink together,” he said, smiling when he saw her.
Jiang Miao walked over and sat down on the floor as well. “So, things aren’t too bad?”
Yan He nodded, “Much better than expected.”
“New intel came in from the front lines. The task I was assigned to in the Nash control area was actually part of the Troy plan,” Yan He explained. “Our spies there were compromised and provided false information to lure us in.”
“Oh? So that means…”
“We were lured into a trap,” Yan He said. “We were essentially delivered as prey. My comrades… were all executed.”
His voice carried no joy of escaping, only the sorrow of hearing about his comrades’ deaths.
Jiang Miao couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
“So, what about this situation…”
“The military intelligence system has to bear greater responsibility,” Yan He said. “The responsibility falling on me has decreased. I’ve been transferred to the transport unit.”
“That should be much better than being sent to a forward outpost, right?” Jiang Miao asked cautiously.
Her careful demeanor made Yan He smile. He said, “There’s probably no chance to go to the front lines or any opportunities for merits or promotions, but it’s steady, and that’s not bad.”
For those without grand ambitions, it was a decent assignment.
Jiang Miao understood and felt relieved. “It’s indeed much better than expected. It’s worth celebrating.”
“Yes, and I requested a post in the capital star system, which has been approved,” Yan He said. “This way, I can fulfill the role of a supporter.”
That was truly good news.
Although Jiang Miao could raise Rui Rui alone, she had grown accustomed to having a man in the house, someone to help her care for and raise Rui Rui.
“Cheers.”
The two glasses clinked gently together.
On this sunny afternoon, with the child asleep, a bottle of red wine, and major issues settled, the quiet of the house was filled with an indescribable sense of comfort and relaxation.
The adult pair, slightly tipsy, opened up to each other.
“So many! I’ve lost count!” Jiang Miao exclaimed.
Yan He laughed, covering his forehead. “Why count? I don’t even remember how many.”
Jiang Miao murmured, “I can’t believe you’ve dated so many women.”
Yan He looked at her askance. “Aren’t people generally like this? You’re the strange one, only having dated three? Really?”
Jiang Miao, with a trembling hand, extended four fingers and said proudly, “They all think it’s four.”
“What’s the difference?” Yan He took hold of her four slender fingers and shook them. “Does k70 count as a man too?”
“Much better than a man. At least it doesn’t lie or run away,” Jiang Miao finished the wine in her glass. “It has all the functions a man has.”
Jiang Miao propped her elbows on the sofa, tilting her head. The deep V-neck of her knitted top revealed her slender, graceful neck and delicate collarbone. The fair skin of her neck gleamed in the sunlight, with faint blue veins visible underneath.
The most tempting were her rosy lips.
At this moment, Yan He understood Troy very well.
Being under the same roof with a woman like this and not having something happen would be a waste of being a man.
“Oh, really?” He grabbed Jiang Miao’s wrist and asked, “Does this function also exist?”
Jiang Miao blinked, and Yan He was already kissing her.
The kissing function is something the k70 also has, and reportedly there are 108 different kissing techniques. But kissing a robot is too strange, and Jiang Miao had never used that function.
Jiang Miao opened her eyes and found herself pressed onto the carpet by Yan He. That kiss had indeed been wonderful.
But it was different from what she remembered. It turns out that everyone is different. Even if the face is the same, the experience is not the same.
Yan He supported himself above her and stared at her for a moment. When he was about to kiss her again, Jiang Miao blocked him with her palm.
“Sorry…” she said, “I mistook you for someone else.”
Yan He was speechless: “That’s really the most disappointing thing I’ve ever heard.”
He lay down beside her, propping his head up: “You’re just saying that because you don’t actually want to do this, right?”
“I don’t want to be your collection,” Jiang Miao said.
“Isn’t everyone collecting each other?” Yan He asked, confused.
Jiang Miao closed her eyes: “Not everyone.”
Yan He looked at her for a while and said, “You’re a weirdo.”
He turned onto his side, and they lay head-to-head on the carpet.
The afternoon sunlight was so comforting, making them feel like sleeping.
Both of them fell asleep.
This was truly… the most comfortable and relaxing sleep since the Capitol Hill incident.
Jiang Miao was awakened by Rui Rui’s little hands.
“Mama, Mama, get up and play,” Rui Rui’s little hands patted Jiang Miao’s face.
Jiang Miao: “…”
With Xiaona and the care robots, Rui Rui was well taken care of and didn’t need her to worry at home. So Jiang Miao was reluctant to open her eyes and muttered, “Call your dad.”
Immediately, she heard the sound of clapping, and Jiang Miao woke up, opening her eyes to find she had been sleeping on Yan He’s chest and had left a smudge, possibly drool, on his white shirt.
Yan He was watching her with his eyes open, and his arm was even around her waist.
She remembered what had happened earlier.
This is terrible!
Jiang Miao climbed up with some effort.
Yan He covered his eyes and silently laughed, his chest vibrating.
At times like this, men tend to be thicker-skinned.
Jiang Miao made room, and Rui Rui immediately climbed onto Yan He: “Daddy, Daddy!”
His drool landed on Yan He’s shirt, conveniently erasing any evidence of Jiang Miao’s own drool!
Well done!
One advantage of adults is their ability to forget, or at least pretend to forget. Some things are just understood between people.
Occasionally, when faced with teasing or sarcastic looks from the other party, a big eye-roll is sufficient.
Life has to go on.
Yan He’s work usually takes him away for more than half a month to a month, then he returns for about a week of rest. He also has parental leave—Troy had taken seven months off for him, leaving him with eleven more months.
When Yan He returned from a mission, it was just in time for him to take a month off for parental leave. Jiang Miao’s life returned to its previous rhythm.
To outsiders, everything seemed just as it had before.
“Alright, I’ve spread the rumor about you two breaking up on social media,” Tanaka said with hands on his hips. “From now on, just go your separate ways. You should thank me.”
As someone in the know, Tanaka had been quite helpful, especially for Yan He, who was unfamiliar with life in the Capitol Star area. Tanaka had shown him around and taken him to various places.
Although Yan He had rejected Tanaka’s advances, they had maintained a good relationship. He was very skilled at handling such interpersonal relationships.
Jiang Miao and Yan He had Tanaka over for a meal and drank a bit.
Tanaka complained: “What’s so good about institutional cuisine? I really miss that guy… sigh.”
Yan He recalled watching surveillance footage from Jiang Miao’s house at the National Security Bureau. Troy had been a skilled cook. Excellent cooking was a skill that significantly increased one’s attractiveness in romantic relationships.
Unfortunately, Yan He had little talent in this area.
After Tanaka left, Jiang Miao and Yan He discussed things.
“I won’t interfere with your relationships with others, but I won’t accept you bringing others here to stay overnight,” she made her stance clear.
Living together requires clarifying such matters in advance to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
Yan He said it was no problem and then asked, “What about you?”
Jiang Miao straightened her back: “I won’t bring anyone home either.”
Yan He, half-smiling, asked, “Is it because of the k75 release?”
Jiang Miao threw a cushion at his face.
“Hey, don’t waste your life like this,” Yan He asked, holding the cushion. “It’s not like we’re Puritans.”
“Life isn’t just about these trivial matters,” Jiang Miao said with a straight face. “I have many things I want to do.”
Yan He placed the cushion behind his waist and said, “Weirdo.”
Jiang Miao huffed: “Minorities have the right to exist too.”
Yan He replied, “Alright.”
Yan He had his life, and Jiang Miao had hers. With their requirements clearly stated, they got along very well.
The shadow of Troy gradually faded away.
After all, he was a man whose face and voice she didn’t even know.
Before she knew it, Rui Rui turned three, and Yan He had fulfilled his role as a helper. According to most situations in this society, at this point, the helper should gradually withdraw from the child’s life.
Jiang Miao had previously looked forward to the helper automatically leaving after three years, so the child would belong solely to her.
When the time actually came, she felt a bit lost. Although Yan He had come in midway, he quickly became an exemplary father, and Rui Rui was particularly fond of him. She never brought up the topic herself and had a mindset of delaying it as long as possible.
Unexpectedly, Yan He was the one to bring it up first.
“In the future, I’ll need to visit him. My investment property is rented out, so if I come back here, I can only stay in dormitories or hotels,” he said. “So I was wondering if I could continue staying here. I can pay you rent.”
Yan He wasn’t sure if Jiang Miao would accept this proposal. But living with Jiang Miao and Rui Rui over the past two years had been very comfortable and pleasant for him.
Working in the transport unit didn’t have the same stress as the front lines. Every time he returned from a mission to this house, he could see Jiang Miao’s smiling face and Rui Rui running to him with outstretched arms shouting “Daddy! Daddy!” This was a life he had never experienced in the past few decades.
Yan He really enjoyed his time with Jiang Miao. They weren’t seeking each other out as romantic partners and didn’t need to try to please each other or guess each other’s thoughts.
Of course, they had different personal habits, but they had already adjusted to each other’s way of life over the past two years.
This kind of life brought a sense of unspoken relaxation and tranquility.
Yan He’s upbringing and social values couldn’t explain why this was so.
Sansukini: I think, this Yan He has a different set of values than the Yan He from the main story. The og Yan He is ambitious and wanted to go back to the frontline. That’s why he spied on Jiang Miao after Troy went missing. While this extra Yan He easily accepted the transport assignment, is happy with the laid back life, and easily integrated into the family life. Even when the og Yan He spent years of close friendship with Jiang Miao, in the end, he still dated others. That’s why I always view these extras as a separate story.
On a side note, I will start another translation after ISD. There will be 2 new novels, but I think I will delay the other novel by a week to compile some chapters first. Please stay tuned.
Here is the synopsis for the new novel which will start next Sunday. It will have the same Saturday, Sunday, Monday schedule as ISD.
Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)
You can also check out my other translations Here
I’ll Share The Bed With You
Jiang Xingxing originally lived in a damp basement, working as an extra on film sets every day, earning just enough for a boxed meal. One day, she picked up a down-and-out “little wolf pup.” He was homeless and didn’t speak much. Jiang Xingxing, with her soft heart, took meticulous care of him, sharing half of her boxed meal with him every day. Later, even her bed was shared.
A few months later, the man disappeared, leaving Jiang Xingxing heartbroken for a long time.
One day, Jiang Xingxing was brought to a bedroom in a luxurious mansion, with a king-sized bed and a French breakfast spread out on the dining table. Outside the window was a stunning view of the deep blue ocean.
Jiang Xingxing was stunned for a few seconds, thinking she was dreaming.
At that moment, a man wrapped in a white bath towel emerged from the bathroom. He had a high, defined brow, a clean and handsome face, beautiful collarbones, and a chocolate bar-like six-pack abs.
The man walked up to her, gently wrapped his arm around her slender waist, leaned close to her ear, and said in a sexy voice, “Forgot about me after sleeping together, huh?”
~
Rumors had it that Shang Jie, the richest man in Jiangcheng, was ascetic and reserved, but after that day, Jiang Xingxing became his wife in name only.**
“In name only”? Then why are we sleeping together!
Hey, hey, who told you to take off your clothes? So what if you have an eight-pack and a V-line!
Shang Jie tugged at the collar of his shirt, his cold eyes slightly lifting, and his thin lips parting lightly—
“Don’t move. Be good.”
To Wake the Sleeping Beauty, All It Takes Is a French Kiss
A step-by-step scheming, dual-personality, domineering CEO x a cute, naive, and energetic girl.
Tags: Modern Romance, Split Personality, Entertainment Circle
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