When did he start smoking again?
Jiang Chen couldn’t remember the exact time. He only vaguely remembered that it was after Sun Jiao’s pregnancy. On the way home one day, he somehow went into a nearby store, bought a pack of cigarettes for around ten, and then put one in his mouth…
The taste was really nostalgic.
There was a hint of acridity in the taste.
How long has it been?
He couldn’t remember.
After he came out of his parents’ place, he didn’t drive home immediately. Instead, he went to the beach that was on the way.
Jiang Chen parked the car on the side of the road and rested his arms against the railing of the observation deck, with a pair of sunglasses, he gazed at the sea in the distance and zoned out.
As the Sun set, the woman juggling on the stone brick path, as well as the swimmers who played in the water, seemed to be a painting on a canvas. From the laughter that traveled along the sea breeze, he felt a familiar feeling
He seemed to be in the same position at that time.
It was just that, back then, he was a nobody. But now, even if he was taking a smoke here, there were at least a dozen people who protected him secretly…
He shook his head with a smile, then tossed the unfinished cigarette into the trash can next to him.
It was probably the last one.
He took off his sunglasses and stuffed them into his pocket. He ignored the passers-by who looked surprised or took out their phone in excitement as he walked slowly in the direction of his Luer 2020 Commemorative Model.
…
As time passed day by day, Sun Jiao’s belly gradually began to bulge.
She stared at her belly a little worriedly, because she never give birth to a child, and she never even thought that she would be a mother one day. Sometimes she looked confused, and sometimes, she had a joyful grin.
Every time she showed that happy smile, the girls would be envious.
Especially Ayesha.
From time to time, she would look at Jiang Chen eagerly with a hopeful expression.
Although she didn’t say anything, her eyes, like water, had already said what she wanted to say.
Xia Shiyu was also one of them. Although she said that she didn’t want children because it was too troublesome and she couldn’t take care of her work, every time she said that her eyes would be peeking at Jiang Chen’s body unnaturally.
During this period of time, Jiang Chen got skinner, as if all the extra meat had been transferred to Sun Jiao’s belly. It wasn’t because he was taking care of Sun Jiao. Since Qian Xia moved here, the presence of a professional made Jiang Chen feel a lot more relieved.
But at night…
For the first time, Jiang Chen felt that excessive happiness would also be problematic.
…
“Madam’s body is very healthy, even I was surprised. Generally speaking, about two months into the pregnancy, there will be a period of weakness, and this period is also the most vulnerable time for pregnant women… But from madam’s body, I can’t feel any weakness at all.”
After Qian Xia helped Sun Jiao to bed, she gently closed the door behind her and just happened to run into Jiang Chen in the hallway. The intelligent maid quickly understood why Jiang Chen was here, so she said softly.
After he let out a long breath, Jiang Chen smiled, relieved.
“Thanks a lot.”
“It’s okay, it’s my honor to serve.” Qian Xia smiled and bowed politely. After she instructed a few things for Jiang Chen to pay attention to during the pregnancy, she turned around and returned to her room.
Because of fear of affecting the baby, since Sun Jiao’s belly started to grow, the times she went to the apocalypse also decreased significantly.
In the past, most of the NAC’s government affairs were handled by the First Lady of the General. After only a mere one month of absence, the government affairs on the desk were piled up like a small mountain.
Even though he was reluctant to do so, at this time, Jiang Chen could only resolutely pick up the duties of the General again. As a result, many people were surprised to discover that the rarely seen General actually signed-in at the General’s Mansion every day for the first time.
Instead, it was Madam Sun, who used to appear every day, that disappeared from their sight.
Their confusion did not last long.
At one of the NAC high-level meetings, Jiang Chen picked an appropriate time. After Cheng Weiguo reported on the growth of the NAC’s reserves, he unexpectedly announced the good news to everyone.
“To make a long story short, I’m going to be a father.”
The meeting room became quiet.
From Wang Qing on the left, people’s reactions were stunned at first, and then joy, and eventually ecstasy…
Throughout this year, there were no more exciting news than this.
After people heard the good news, many people even burst into tears of excitement.
For an oligarchy like NAC, the descendants of the leader were more important than anything else, just like the emperor’s prince. For the subordinates loyal to NAC, with their lives integrated with NAC, even if NAC conquered more land and built more colonies overseas, it was not as crucial as Jiang Chen giving them a healthy heir.
This heir did not necessarily need to be better than his father, he could even be mediocre. As long as he was not too screwed up, it would be enough!
The territory that NAC conquered could last at least three to four generations.
They just needed someone that could protect this piece of land, and it would be sufficient.
The news spread like wildfire, since Jiang Chen did not deliberately conceal it.
The Sixth Street cheered and celebrated for a whole week, and joy was written on the faces of almost everyone.
Only those survivors who had just awakened from the low-temperature hibernation chamber had sad expressions on their faces. Because the dictator had a son, this piece of land was one step farther away from the once free and prosperous Pan-Asia Cooperation.
Of course, this small group of people only dared to think about it, they did not dare to speak out their minds.
Because the last one who drank too much and loudly accused the General of “tyranny” had his teeth beaten out by the mercenaries next to him.
Zhou Guoping, who was far away in North America, even ordered the guards of Outpost Town to set off fireworks all night. Lu Fan, once a member of the General Guards, rushed back to Wanghai from Shangjing. He personally offered congratulations to Jiang Chen and a precious gift— a coat weaved from the nape of the saber-toothed beast in the northern wasteland.
Almost everyone cheered for the upcoming successor.
The reason why more than half of the settlements destructed on the wasteland, no matter how strong they were, was due to the succession of the regime.
The prestige of the General was naturally unchallenged, and no one was qualified to challenge.
Whether it was his strategic foresight or individual bravery that was enough to battle against the Mother of Death Claws, he was already a myth in the minds of survivors throughout East Asia. Even the survivors in distant North America and Western Europe heard about the legendary tales of this great leader.
But all humans could not escape death.
Even if the General was already mystified by the survivors, the tale of myth was destined to conclude one day.
At least, in the eyes of most people.
